Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Price You Pay ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

Insert standard disclaimer here.

 

The Price You Pay: Chapter Twelve

 

"Yes," said Vegeta answering Bulma's question. "The truth is that the melding of our energies, in an uncontrolled manner, could possibly lead to great destruction."

Bulma's eyes were wide.

 

"What kind of destruction?" Vegeta was one of the most powerful fighters in the universe, nothing was too big for him. She learned that the hard way.

 

"I'm not sure exactly, but this planet would definitely be on the list. Keep in mind, onna, that you contain half of my power. My body is strong, but could still implode with all the pressure created from the melding of power levels spiking up to a quarter million."

 

"Oh." She was speechless. Who knew it was that strong?

 

They both looked at opposite sides of the room.

 

“It's probably just the energy, but for some reason, pretending I'm not drawn to you now is like pretending that gravity doesn't exist. Futile.” Her words broke the awkward silence. She wasn't used to being this open with him either, but she felt that due to the current situation, it was necessary for her to be up front with him at all times.

 

"I have felt it as well."

 

"Is it normal?" she asked.

 

"As far as I know. I have never been bonded before. I can't tell you from experience," stated Vegeta. "This," he said motioning to the both of them, "bonding," he added, "is a once in a lifetime thing. I can only describe to you what I have read or what the elders have told me." He seemed cold again, emotionless, she hadn't seen that in him since the morning before, and for some reason, it seemed like an eternity ago.

 

Bulma sat up and leaned back into the sofa with a sigh.

 

"Vegeta, I need to tell you something, and feel it's very important," said Bulma, staring out into space. Vegeta just nodded his head in response. She needed to get this out before he totally retreated back into himself. She grunted. "I imagine the first thing you probably wondered was why you didn't lock the door to your room. You must regret it every moment you look at me," Bulma whispered to herself. Vegeta looked up. Bulma stopped and lowered her head slightly. There was silence, thick penetrating silence.

 

"Onna—"

 

"But I want you to know, I don't regret it," she said, cutting him off, still looking down.

 

"Bul—"

 

"This isn't what I had planned either."

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

So she didn't regret it. Vegeta had to admit he was a little irritated that she kept cutting him off. He even went as far as to call her by her name.

 

But he was intrigued.

 

Bulma got up to leave. Vegeta's lack of comment had caused her enough embarrassment. If he didn't care, then she didn't care. All his unresponsiveness seemed to do was confirm her suspicions.

 

"Onna," called Vegeta from his position on the sofa. Bulma stopped and turned, struck by a sense of déjà vu from the night before. Vegeta tried to measure her. "We aren't done here." Vegeta gave her a 'come hither' look (whether by accident or not) and Bulma reluctantly reseated herself on the sofa, as far away from the Saiya-jin no Ouji as the small piece of furniture would allow.

 

"Well, are we going to discuss? Or are you going to sit there in silence forever?" asked Bulma. Vegeta's eyes flashed as he looked up to glare at the woman sitting beside him.

 

"Don't presume to order me around, onna. I'm just as confused as you are. I've never had to explain myself to anyone before," he said begrudgingly. Bulma sighed. Why was he always so difficult?

 

"Fine," she said flatly.

 

"I will not, cannot lie to you, onna. Many of the things you said held true to my initial reaction, but I am telling you, that in this situation, at least for now, there is no forcing either of us to do anything." Vegeta paused. "We still are not completely bonded to one another, understand? I think it's clear by now that there was a, however disturbing, attraction between the both of us before."

 

Bulma's face reddened.

 

"But—"

 

"I could kill you for what you've done. I wanted to. But you haven't ruined anything yet."

 

Yet. You've just completely altered everything I've ever known.

 

It was the 'yet' that filled him with the most lingering sense of horror at the whole situation.

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

He was attracted to her, well, of course he was now, and quite literally, but he said he was before this whole mess. As far as she'd known, he hated her. But now that she thought about it, just because he was attracted to her didn't mean that he couldn't resent her at the same time. Most of the time, she hated his guts too.

 

Bulma scooted over, nearer to Vegeta, and tentatively rested her head on his shoulder. She was shocked when he didn't immediately shrug her off. It wasn't the most comfortable position, considering his arms were still folded, but she decided she liked being close to him.

 

"Thank you."

 

Vegeta simply nodded his head.

 

Bulma wrapped her arm around Vegeta's exposed stomach and took in a deep breath. If she was going to try this thing out, she had to start with baby steps. Vegeta stiffened a little. Bulma closed her eyes and focused on falling asleep. He was just going to have to learn.

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

The onna scooted next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

 

"Thank you." He knew she was thanking him for telling her how he felt, but he couldn't help but sense a deeper meaning to the words.

 

He knew he should be training, and he told himself that he would get up as soon as the onna fell asleep.

 

Bulma wrapped her arm around Vegeta's stomach and snuggled herself up to his side even tighter. Her fingers were cold against his overheated flesh and he fought back a hiss as they trailed across his unprotected skin. It was strange that despite her fingers' temperature they still left a hot trail over his abdominal muscles. He hoped she'd fall asleep soon.

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

Bulma awoke to find herself back in Vegeta's room. She was covered by his thick gray comforter and black sheets. The pillow she was using smelled like him, she noticed as she took in another deep breath.

 

The whole room was saturated with his scent, and she began to realize why he'd brought her here and not to her own bed chamber. Last night had proven that neither of them would be able to sleep anywhere that didn't remind them of the other.

 

She sighed, rolled over, grabbed the nearest pillow, and put it over her head like she had that morning.

 

How was she supposed to explain this to her parents? She knew they'd always fancied the idea of her and Vegeta possibly getting together, but this was way outside the scope of normal courtship. Her mother was going to flip, Bulma thought with a mocking smile. The woman loved a good intrigue.

 

Goku had even mentioned something to her, and he wasn't exactly the most intelligent person by nature. How was it that everyone else seemed to see the chemistry between her and the brutish Saiya-jin no Ouji except she and the prince?

 

Friends do have a way of seeing the things in your life that you would rather leave unnoticed.

 

~~~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~~~

 

Hopefully she would sleep better in his quarters. After all, she was going to have to sleep there from now on. Vegeta, himself could go without much sleep for weeks, but there was a breaking point, and the woman, well, the signs of exhaustion had started to show up after only one night without sleep.

 

If they were sharing the same quarters and things continued to progress between them the way they currently were, the rituals were going to have to be performed immediately. There was too great of a risk in waiting.

 

Some time later this week or in the next few days.

 

Maybe even the next day.

 

Vegeta tried to re-focus on his training and upped the gravity another 50 gs. All the energy stored during the Khon'daia na had to get out somewhere, and training had always been his best vent.

 

I must rise to the level of the Legendary.

 

Vegeta began another series of katas and began to feel the power building inside of him. It was intoxicating. He was so close. If he could only push himself a little further.

 

The onna must be waking by now.

 

His thoughts drifted to her sleeping form as the image of her lying in his bed flooded his mind.

 

Something alien in him stirred. It pushed against his mental walls with a life of its own.

 

There was a sudden burst of energy and Vegeta flung his head back and screamed. It was as if something had clicked inside of him. The power was building quickly—just the way he imagined it would.

 

His eyes flashed blue and his hair gold.

 

I did it. I am the Legendary.

 

At once, he collapsed to the floor of the GR in pain. The blue of his eyes slowly returned to its usual dusky, goldish brown and his hair, black. The lights above him were red and blinking on and off.

 

So close…