Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Taking of Bulma ❯ The Beast of Cronas ( Chapter 3 )

The Beast of Cronas by Kaialicious

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or the DBZ characters. Akira Toriyama owns all rights to DragonBall Z and its characters. I in no way make a profit from DragonBall Z and its merchandise.

Warning: This story contains some LEMON, and obscene language. This story is NOT intended for under aged readers. If this tale is not to your liking, please do not read it.

Author's Note: This is the sequel to The Vampire Saiyan. As you can see, I do not believe in writing small chapters, so get comfortable. In this episode, Bulma is called upon to save the people of Cronas. Impossible, you say. Well read on and discover how this is made viable. Also, keep in mind that hentai scenes are my specialty, not action scenes. ^_^!

-Japanese Words and Definitions (If I got any wrong, my bad!)-

*Baka-Stupid

*Onna-Woman

*****

She felt delightfully well rested. She stretched out and found that she was alone. Vegeta had left her to her own designs. He had been quite upset. Some time during the night, he had wakened her, wanting to be intimate, but Bulma had stopped him, telling him that she was on her menstrual cycle. She had told him the lie because she had been afraid of the feelings that he provoked in her.

The Saiyan was an unbelievably great lover, which made things more difficult for her. A part of her wanted his sinful attention and another part of her detested it. The part of her that hated him urged her to get up and seek out Khale.

"That sounds like a good idea."

She bathed and picked out one of the silken red robes with the gold symbols on it. The robe hugged her figure. Its neckline dipped low over her breasts. The hem of the skirt reached her ankles, but the skirt had slits up to the top of her thigh on either side of it, exposing a great deal of skin. A filmy white band of underwear beneath prevented the outfit from being too risqué. She braided her hair in a single plait and secured the end with a golden ribbon. Calf length red leather boots graced her feet. She had chosen the outfit for Khale and for Vegeta too, certain that it would anger the dark haired prince.

For some reason, she enjoyed getting him mad. To her consternation, her nipples were getting hard just thinking about the scowling little alien.

"Stop that!" she scolded herself and pinched her cheeks to add some color to them.

A servant showed her where Khale was. The handsome red head was having breakfast. At Bulma's appearance, he stood and bowed to her, then greeted her.

"Good morning, Bulma." He smiled cheerfully at her.

"Good morning, Khale," she softly said his name.

"Are you hungry?" he asked her.

His words made sinful images of him naked appear in her head. "Yes."

"Then come, sit and eat with me."

Bulma sat down next to him. She looked at the fare spread out before them and said, "For a vampire, you sure do eat a lot of food."

"I am half Saiyan," he reminded her, "and I have a healthy appetite."

"But not only for food," the moment that it slipped out of her mouth, she regretted the words. They sounded too suggestive. In an effort to hide her embarrassment, she asked him, "What do you do when you...want blood?"

"Once a month I choose a servant," he told her. "I feed off the chosen's blood, but I do not kill them. I do not drink from them if they do not want me too, but that has never happened. My people are very loyal to me."

Bulma wondered how it would feel to have Khale feeding off her. She blushed at the thought.

Khale realized what she was doing and laughed. "You are a very strange woman, Bulma, strange but delightful."

Delightful isn't bad, she thought and reached for a nuos berry. Too bad a certain Saiyan prince thought that she was a nuisance.

Where is the arrogant bastard anyway?

*****

Vegeta kicked at a tuft of grass and grumbled. How could she possibly let a little thing like her monthly cycle come between them? Besides, he knew that her claim had been false. He had smelled an all together different scent coming from her, and it was not blood. It was desire. She was in heat and he had had the perfect solution for both of their needs. It was her stupid pride that had made both of them go hungry.

"Baka…"

He kicked a stone. It hit a rock wall in the ruins. The sound that it made was hollow. Vegeta walked over to the wall and knocked his knuckles against the rock. It was hollow. He punched into the brick face and peered into the hole that he had made. Something shimmered inside. Vegeta widened the hole until he could walk into the darkened space. He reached for the glittering object. It glowed when he touched it. Intrigued, Vegeta lifted the object from its secret place. When he pulled it into the light, he saw that, it was a statue. It was made of black stone and was fashioned in the form of a lizard, and a grotesque one at that. It reminded him of the tyrant Frieza.

"I hate lizards."

He threw the statue into the ruins and smirked in satisfaction as he heard it break.

If only that had truly been the loathsome Frieza, he thought, which reminded him that he was ready to leave this miserable planet. As soon as he returned to Khale's palace, he was collecting the woman and leaving for Vegetasia.

As the Saiyan prince headed back to the palace, a wisp of thick red steam poured forth from the broken shards of the statue. The mist encompassed the site of the ruins, veiling it in its deep crimson fog.

Whispers floated on the wind. They were the voices of the past, ghosts, and victims of the creature that was now taking form.

Angry black tentacles ran along the ground, crushing everything in its path. A blood-curdling cry shook the ancient former city of Cronas, signaling the rebirth of the walking death.

The beast of Cronas had awakened.

*****

Word of the creature's awakening arrived to the palace shortly after Vegeta had reached there. Apparently, a group of farmers had seen the beast towering over the trees and had hid in a nearby cave until the creature had passed them. They had immediately sent word to the palace through a Cronasian communication device.

"Evacuate the city. Get everyone into the underground shelter," Khale ordered his guards.

"I had thought that the Moami legend was just a story that parents told their children to keep them away from the ruins," he admitted.

"The ruins?" Vegeta repeated. "I was there earlier."

"My prince…was it you who awakened the beast?" Khale inquired.

Vegeta thought on this for a moment.

"Moami was entombed in an ancient statue and buried in the palace wall of the ancient city. The ruins are where the ancient city was located," Khale explained.

Vegeta tilted his head and said, "Perhaps I did awaken the beast."

"What does it want?" Bulma asked.

"Blood," Khale answered.

"Well that's fantastic," Vegeta scoffed. He was still angry that he had returned to find his slave and the hybrid eating together. "Where do you get yours?"

Khale ignored the insult and said, "Moami drinks the blood of anyone he chooses."

"This is ridiculous! Instead of standing here waiting for that thing to kill you, I have a simple solution to your problem!" Vegeta left the balcony, flying towards the distant figure of the beast.

"Prince Vegeta, wait! Destroying the creature is not so easy! A mere Saiyan male cannot defeat, Moami!"

"How dare you call me a mere Saiyan? I am prince Vegeta, all fall before me, and so will that abomination!"

*****

The creature was at least five stories high. Its body was bipedal, red, and leathery. Razor sharp black spikes lined its spine and shoulders. Its tail was as long as its body. The tip was also covered in spikes. Its clawed feet seemed too narrow for such a large body. Its head was elongated. Three neon green eyes were centered in the middle of the beast's forehead.

"You are an ugly creature," Vegeta said. "I do not like the look of you. It is a good thing that I am putting you out of your misery. A face like that could scare someone to death."

The lizard attempted to jump off the ground and snap at the being that taunted him. Vegeta flew out of the range of the beast's snapping jaws.

Moami awkwardly followed him.

"You're probably not used to chasing your prey."

Moami halted and gave a great cry. The lizard's rancid breath nearly overwhelmed Vegeta. The prince covered his nose and said, "You stink from the inside out! You must taste horrible!"

Moami shot his tentacles at Vegeta. The fleshy tendrils were lightning fast. He barely had time to avoid them.

"I have had enough of you!"

Vegeta sent an energy blast at the lumbering lizard. The huge yellow orb passed straight through the monster and slammed into the mountainside. His attack should have blown a hole out of the lizard's chest cavity, but the creature's flesh had somehow remained intact.

"Not even a scratch!" Vegeta was shocked.

The half-breed had been right. A male could not destroy the beast, not even a Saiyan.

"Kuso!"

Moami roared at him and reached for him again with its tentacles. One of the appendages whizzed by his ear and left it ringing.

"You want something to eat? Eat this!" Vegeta used his Gattling Gun Blast, blasting out much of the countryside.

A plume of dust and debris shot up into the air, clouding the area where Moami had been standing.

Something moved beneath the column of dust and lashed out at him. A tentacle. It caught Vegeta on his shoulder and knocked him into a tree. The tree broke under Vegeta's weight and sent him tumbling to the ground.

The thing had survived his assault and it was sizing him up. It sluggishly walked towards him, giving Vegeta enough time to fly to safety.

*****

"By the hand of a woman the dagger must be thrust into the beast. That is the only way that it can be killed. That is the legend."

"Well get one of your female warriors to do it," Vegeta ordered.

"There is one problem."

"Only one?"

"The woman who faces Moami cannot be of Cronasian blood."

His announcement silenced Vegeta.

Khale lowered his gaze.

Vegeta crossed his arms and looked at Bulma. "You will have to find one. Are there any migrant civilians in the city?"

"No."

Vegeta kept his eyes on Bulma. She had been very quiet since his return. It was obvious that Khale had informed her of their plight. She knew what had to be done. She knew that she was their only option.

She fidgeted with the end of her braid. She was pale and clearly frightened.

Vegeta frowned at her weakness. "You will have to fight Moami. It is the only way."

She nodded and said, "I know."

"I will train you, and you will kill him. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, my prince."

"Good. We will start your lessons now." He gave her attire a cursory glance. His brows knitted together in fury. He had not noticed her sensual garments until now.

What is she doing wearing this before Khale? Has she no sense?

"Get rid of that ridiculous robe and dress in something more appropriate!"

Bulma rushed off to do as he had commanded.

"Hurry Bulma, we will be evacuating the palace as well," Khale told her.

"Since when have I given you permission to address my slave so informally?"

Khale realized his mistake and bowed to Vegeta. "My apologies, my prince. It will not happen again."

Vegeta growled out an indistinct reply and followed his slave. He would make certain that she wore only Saiyan armor.

*****

"She is not strong enough. You're asking too much of her."

Vegeta looked askance at the hybrid and snorted rudely. Wasn't it just like a weakling to point out the obvious? "We don't have a choice, do we? I don't suppose that you have another female lurking about Cronas who wasn't born here?"

The red headed half Saiyan lowered his head in defeat.

"Humph." Vegeta returned his attention to the heavily panting human and shouted, "Again!"

Bulma gritted her teeth and punched at the padded pillar of stone. She had been training since sunrise and her fists were bruised and swollen. She was at the point of exhaustion.

"She is not like us. She will be killed," Khale was saying.

"Don't you think that I know that?"

"There is still some time. I could turn her and give her the power that she needs," Khale insisted.

"But then she would be under your control. I cannot allow that, Khale."

"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you awakened the beast!"

"You are trying my patience, hybrid!"

"You guys," Bulma intervened. "You aren't helping much by arguing. I'm right here and you're both talking about me as if I'm in the next room. We're in this together, remember?"

She sat down on the floor. "I'm taking a break," she informed Vegeta.

For once, he did not object. She had been training hard. Although she was by no means as strong as even a Saiyan babe, she had done her best. Nevertheless, as Khale had said, her best wasn't enough.

So, it has come to this.

The great prince had to rely on a mere human to save the day. It was degrading. If his father only heard of this occurrence, Vegeta would not be able to live with the shame.

"Um," the woman was flexing her fingers. "I can't feel my hands any more."

"Fine, take a break then," the prince ordered.

"It's a good thing that I finished that combat suit I was working on last night."

"Combat suit?" Khale repeated.

Bulma perked up. "Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot to tell you guys about it. I was worried about facing Moami without adequate body protection, so I made a full body suit that is literally dent proof. He won't be able to scratch me."

"I want to see this suit of yours," Vegeta stated.

Bulma stood and left her temporary training quarters. Khale and Vegeta followed her.

"I used what was available in the maintenance room. I hope you don't mind, Khale." She looked over her shoulder at the tall Saiyan/vampire male. He was cute. The thought never escaped her. Vegeta on the other hand, was ruggedly handsome -in a regal sort of way.

They entered the maintenance room and watched as Bulma approached a large object hidden beneath a blanket. She tugged on the covering and said, "I give you the Anti Moami Body Unit. Ambu for short. It's equipped with missiles, cutting blades, and most importantly, anti piercing metal." She gave the outer gray shell a small kick.

When did she have time to make this? Vegeta mused in shock.

She was unbelievably brilliant. Of course, he would never admit it to her. Khale, however, had no such qualms about that.

"Bulma, it is amazing!"

"Thanks, Khale. I wasn't sure that it could work, but now, I am certain that it will. Moami is just a lizard, right? He has no real powers except the ability to go transparent, but only when he's attacked by a male."

"Do you really think that hunk of junk will make a difference?" Vegeta asked her. "So its dent proof. That still doesn't change the fact that he could knock you around until your body gives in."

"Oh, Kami. You're right. How could I have overlooked that?" she began to panic. "I can't do this!"

She clenched her hair in her fists. Her eyes started to water. Khale stepped forward to console her. "I have faith in you, Bulma. You are a strong woman. You will not fail."

His confidence in her overwhelmed her. She saw it gleaming fiercely in his brown eyes. She saw something else as well. A deep longing that warmed and surprised her. He wanted her.

She lowered her lashes and blushed. Khale was so supportive.

"If you two are finished staring at each other, the break is over!" the prince's harsh voice broke the moment.

Bulma glared at him.

"Get back to training!" he barked.

*****

"My guards have reported that Moami has destroyed most of the city. The creature is feeding on anything it can find, mostly birds, wild game, stray animals. Its sense of smell cannot be very strong if it has not found us by now."

They had remained underground for four days. In all that time, Vegeta had progressively trained Bulma in preparation for her duel with Moami. On the fifth day, he announced that it was time for her to fight the beast.

"You are not ready," Vegeta told her, "but I am tired of this wretched hole."

"I think that it's unfair that you're sending me off to my death just because you're getting claustrophobic," she told him, then added, "my prince."

He disregarded her comment and gave Khale a nod.

Khale handed her the dagger. It seemed fragile.

"It is made out of the same material as Moami's former prison. The material was made by a wise man that discovered how to trap the beast long ago. You must make sure that the entire blade enters Moami's body. Sink it in to the base. Once this is done, it will immobilize him and return him to his statue like state."

"Okay, if you're sure that's what will happen…" Bulma had a death grip around the handle of the dagger. Her hands were shaking.

"Steady, onna," Vegeta told her.

She tried to calm down. She did not want Vegeta to get angry with her.

"You'll do fine…" Khale said and bowed to her.

"Let's go," Vegeta said harshly. He had no patience left. "The sooner that we get started, the sooner that it will be over."

Bulma got into the Anti Moami Body Unit. It covered her entire body, giving her complete protection. Bulma placed the dagger in a hidden niche within the suit. When the time came for her to use it, it would slip out into the suit's mechanical hand through a special compartment in the suit's arm.

Khale walked them towards one of the shelter's many portals. This entryway led to the inner courtyard of the palace. They were under an alcove that faced the southern side of the city. Moami was reportedly on the northern side, near the forest.

"No more dawdling, onna." Vegeta slowly ascended into the air.

Bulma stepped out from under the alcove. She pressed a green switch above her head, pulled on a crankshaft and steadied the body of the suit by making it bend slightly at the knees. Two metal panels folded out of the back of the Ambu suit. Bulma hit another button. Her action ignited the jet rockets in the Ambu's feet and sent her shooting off the ground.

Vegeta raised a brow in surprise.

"Impressed?" she smugly asked him.

"Only if you survive the battle," he smirked, and took off towards the north.

Bulma made a cry of aggravation and followed him, suddenly remembering why she hated him.

*****

Moami dropped the animal carcass that he had been feeding on and sniffed the air. He smelled fresh blood, alien blood that was not of Cronas. It called to him. He wanted to feast on this new delicacy and suck on its bones until the corpse was dry.

"Hey you big ugly jerk!"

Moami squatted low to the ground as he heard the sound of a living creature. He was ready to pounce.

The thing came down from the sky and landed several feet away from him.

The tasty smell was coming from it.

Moami snapped his jaws and shot his tentacles out at the object.

"Oh, Kami!" Bulma backed up too late.

The beast wrapped its tentacles around the Ambu suit and lifted Bulma into the air. Bulma screamed.

Moami hung her upside down and examined the strange looking covering that kept him from the squishy treat inside. He placed it in his mouth and tried to bite it with his razor sharp teeth.

"VEGETA!" Bulma cried out in terror. "THIS WAS A STUPID IDEA!"

The hard outer shell proved to be unbreakable.

Moami gave the object a shake. Bulma emitted another shriek. The noise hurt the beast's ears. He roared and shook his massive head, then flung his prey. The suit crashed against a pile of rocks.

Bulma was badly shaken by the impact. She had no time to collect herself. Moami was above her. His lion's mane of tentacles snaked out to grab her limbs.

Bulma released the dagger into the suit's mechanical hand and waited.

Moami brushed his huge, slimy snout over her. His nostrils flared, as he smelled her. His breathing fogged up the expanse of protective glass on the suit.

Bulma felt herself being raised into the air again. Then, she was slammed back down into the rocks. The force of the blow made her head spin. Moami repeated his actions several times.

He's trying to tenderize me!

"VEGETA!"

Why wasn't he helping her? Didn't he see that she was in trouble?

Moami roared over her yelling, blocking out her cries. The creature was frustrated that the outer shell of his prey did not break over the rocks. Losing its patience, it dropped the suit and gave it a final pummel with its deadly tail. The force of the blow shook Bulma much too hard. She was knocked unconscious.

Disgusted with his inaccessible meal, Moami picked up the suit and flung it clear across a mountainous ridge.

No meal was worth the irritation.

*****

It was dent proof, but it wasn't waterproof. The Ambu suit immediately sank into the lake. A froth of bubbles appeared where it went under.

Vegeta dove into the water and went after the drowning woman. He was disappointed with her performance. She had missed several opportunities to slay the creature. Her constant weeping and inopportune hesitations had caused the misfortune.

Foolish woman! He thought angrily. Have you forgotten everything that I have taught you!

He found the suit dragging along the bottom of the lake. Peering inside of the protective glass of the helmet, he could see that the thing was taking on water. The woman was unconscious, and the water line was up to her chin.

Damn it!

She would drown if he didn't get her out of there, and fast.

He held on to one of the arms and powered up his energy level. He burst free of the water with the unit in tow and gently dropped it on the ground.

It took some time for him to get to her. He had to melt off the protective glass with a small beam of energy. He rolled her on to her stomach, letting the water drain from the suit. Once that was done, he turned her back over and found the release hatch within her suit.

He pulled her free of the water-damaged machine.

He could see her breath coming out in puffs of white clouds. Her lips were turning blue, and her skin was deathly pale. She had disappeared beneath the surface of the icy water for about a few minutes, but Vegeta could feel her energy slipping away. He held her close in his arms and let out an angry cry as he summoned his ki. The hot blast of energy enflamed them both, driving the cold away from Bulma's frozen body.

"Wake up, damn you!" he commanded, willing her to live. He had not saved her just to see her perish in his arms. She was needed here in this world and he would not rest until that overgrown lizard was destroyed. Only Bulma could ensure Moami's death.

By the hand of a woman.

That was the legend and that was the only way.

It irritated Vegeta that he was useless against the mystical creature.

Moami had immediately gone after Bulma, intent on finishing her off before she could get to him. Now it was Vegeta's responsibility to make sure that his powerless slave killed the ugly beast.

He gave her a small slap.

Bulma stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. She looked dazed, confused, and frightened.

"Huh? W-What happened?"

"You mean that you don't remember?" he asked in disbelief.

"Remember what?"

"You fell into the lake," he explained.

"I think that I would have remembered something like that." She sighed and wondered how she had survived a plunge in the lake. As far as Bulma could tell, the high altitude that they were at would ensure that the lake was freezing. If she had truly fallen into the lake, she would have been suffering from hypothermia this very instant. She would have perhaps been floating in a watery grave.

A thought occurred to her. "You saved me. Oh, Vegeta!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

The prince stiffened at her display of emotion. Such frivolous sentiments were for the weak; his father had always told him.

"I have no time for this, woman!" he snapped, and pushed her away. "We have work to do. Now get off your ass and act like a warrior!"

"You don't expect me to fight that thing, do you?" she shot to her feet.

Vegeta worked the dagger free from the suit's arm and handed it to her.

"Stop being a coward! You alone can kill that thing and I will brook no argument from you!"

She wanted to wail and scream at him, but instead she swallowed her cries and muttered, "Yes, my prince."

*****

Moami was rooting around in a crevice in the ground. He had smelled the den of a small animal.

Bulma tentatively approached him, scared even to breathe.

Don't turn around, don't turn around, she kept chanting.

She was almost near his tail. All she had to do was thrust the dagger completely into him and run for cover.

She raised the blade high over her head and froze as Moami turned around and faced her.

She hid the dagger behind her back and laughed nervously. "Uh, hi…"

Moami licked his chops.

Bulma screamed and sprinted for a nearby cliff, screaming Vegeta's name all the way.

She climbed the rocky precipice, hoping to get out of his reach. She made it to a ledge some distance above the lizard and panted heavily in relief.

Vegeta hovered in the air some distance away, watching her.

"Why didn't you help me? He could have eaten me!" she shouted at him.

"You're still alive, aren't you?" he told her. His gaze moved from her. "Pay attention, woman!"

A tentacle had crept up the rock face and wrapped around her ankle.

"I don't want to do this anymore!" she screamed as the beast wrenched her free from the protection of the ledge. "Vegeta, do something!" she cried out.

A warrior she is not, he thought. After all the time that he had wasted teaching her the basics of combat, she still resorted to acting like a weakling.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, woman! I thought that you were strong, but you are just a coward! Moami deserves to fill his belly on your useless flesh!"

Bulma's lower lip trembled for a second. Her eyes darkened with anger. Her hands clenched into fists as she focused on the haughty Saiyan.

"I have had enough of you, Vegeta!" she shouted and kicked at Moami with her free leg.

She grabbed the tentacle that was wrapped around her ankle and pulled herself up along it. She was almost near the beast's mouth. His gaping maw and writhing tongue opened before her. Bulma pulled the dagger from out of her armor and waited until her hair had touched Moami's snout. She plunged the blade into the fleshy portion between the lizard's nostrils, used both of her hands to force it in down to its base.

Moami bellowed and thrashed his head. He clawed at the weapon, tearing his skin in the process.

Bulma was flailed about as the beast forgot about her. Moami loosened his hold and Bulma slipped out of his grasp. Vegeta caught her before she could fall to the ground. He carried her out of the way of the thrashing monster.

They watched as the dagger sank completely into the beast of its own volition. A flare of blue light emanated from the wound and spread out over Moami's body. The creature let out a pain-filled cry and curled its tail around its haunches.

Moami's form began to shrink. The creature's roars were soon silenced. The blue light faded away and all that was left of Moami was a statue of black stone.

"I did it," Bulma was shocked.

She had expected Vegeta's praise, but all that she got was, "I am surprised that you survived."

She supposed that that was the only compliment that she would be getting from him.

In the end, she sighed halfheartedly and muttered, "I'm surprised too."

*****

Bulma's adrenaline was still pumping through her veins. The fight with Moami had left her extremely tense. She needed to release some of her energy.

They had returned to the palace. The fortress had virtually been untouched by Moami's rampant destruction.

At Vegeta's urging, Khale had buried the statue of Moami beneath the mountain lake.

Vegeta returned to their chamber. The servants who had tended to her minor cuts and bruises gathered up their things and left the room.

Bulma stared at the brooding prince. He looked so serious.

A flicker of heat pooled in her belly. Her nipples hardened.

Vegeta smirked. He knew of her dilemma.

Bulma blushed.

Vegeta sat down beside her and brushed his fingers over her bruised cheek.

"The good thing about surviving a battle onna is that you get to reap the rewards of your efforts…"

*****

It was still dark out. Vegeta awakened to the sound of someone weeping. He reached for the small body beside him and pulled her close. She was trembling.

"Why do you cry?" he asked her. "You defeated the beast, and lived to tell the tale. You should be proud."

"I was so scared. I didn't want to fail. I was thinking of all the times when Yamcha, Goku, or Krillen had to save me. I was on my own this time and it petrified me," she confessed.

The names meant nothing to him, but he could sense great pain in her, a loss so strong that it bothered him. He wondered whom those men were that they had won the heart of the blue haired beauty.

"There is nothing to worry about now. You are safe." He kissed her temple.

"I'm not so sure," she whispered.

He knew what she meant. She would never be safe as long as she was with him, but it was of little importance now.

"I didn't think that you had it in you," he told her. "You impressed me with your battle, onna." He ran his hand down her thigh. "You were outstanding."

"Really?" a sob broke her voice.

"Mmmm," he bit her shoulder. "I am thinking of making you my permanent student."

"Well, I-"

"You have much to learn if you are to travel the universe with the prince of all Saiyans."

"I am not much of a fighter, Vegeta."

"Come now, do not be so modest." He grinned. He did so enjoy teasing her. "Surely the slayer of Moami can accept the challenge of having me as her teacher."

"Vegeta, training is so unnecessary. After all, I'm a scientist, not a superhero," she sounded a bit annoyed.

He leaned over her on his strong arms and raised an inquiring, dark eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

She tentatively stroked a lean finger up and down the center of his muscular chest. "I don't like fighting. I'm better off on the sidelines."

The corners of his mouth twitched for a second and then turned downwards in a scowl. "You disappoint me, onna. I expected more from you."

She touched his face and sat up to kiss his arrogant mouth. "I don't care if I made you as mad as a hornet. I know when you're bluffing."

He laughed.

"Permanent student…please!" she thought aloud. "You don't have the patience for it!"

"Hmmm," he stole a kiss from her.

"Why I put up with you is a mystery," she complained.

He silenced her with another kiss.

"Yes, I-I think I know why now," she said and closed her eyes as he lowered his lips once more. He delved his tongue into her warm mouth, tasting her. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Kami, Vegeta, being with you feels so right."

"Does it?" he removed her gown and nipped at her collarbone.

"Yes," she sighed. "I like being with you."

"Do you?" he nudged her legs open with his knee and settled between them. "Ah, onna. I like being with you as well. I especially like being…" he entered her, garnering a gasp from her, "…inside of you."

"Vegeta…" she shivered with pleasure.

"You hold much power over me my lovely. Not many can say that."

She cried out as he took her with his words and his body. The assault on her senses became too much. Her climax shocked her. She could barely contain the words that threatened to spill free from her mouth. The three little words would give him unimaginable power over her. To prevent her demise, she clamped her teeth down on his neck and bit down hard. She heard him utter a deep groan.

He found one of his marks on her neck and bit her there. She quivered beneath him. He could feel the evidence of her heightened arousal. He smelled her moist heat.

She lifted her hips to him to receive his full, powerful strokes. She craved his release, wanted it maybe even more than he did. She wrapped her legs around his waist, being careful not to touch his writhing tail.

The furry appendage had thoughts of its own. It caressed her smooth legs, adding another degree of intimacy to their joining.

"You're so strong," she told him affectionately. "So handsome," she scraped her nails over his sleek back. "You are beautiful, my prince."

Her endearment sent him over the edge. He increased his thrusts, ravishing her with his eyes, teeth, hands, and manhood. His passion went unfettered, and soon, his seed spilled into her, triggering another one of her orgasms. She cried out and arched into him.

"Onna…" he collapsed against her.

Bulma stroked his dark hair and thought of her friends. Had she betrayed them by accepting the Saiyan into her heart? She feared that she had. Guilt assailed her.

The DragonBalls were gone. She would have to find some other means of reviving her companions. She vowed that she would find a way.

*****

"You must return home at once," said the gruff voice on the communication link.

Vegeta watched his father's hardened features. The old man seemed more rigid than usual. He wondered what was bothering him.

"Why?"

"Lord Frieza and his army are here."

The king's words shocked him. Why had Frieza brought his army with him? Surely, Vegeta had not angered him to the point where he had decided to wage war with his Saiyan allies because of it. The overbearing alien was known for his temper. Perhaps he had found Vegeta's behavior towards him unappealing and intended to make the people of Vegetasia pay for his disobedience. Vegeta could not allow this to happen. He would leave Cronas immediately.

"I will return, father."

*****

Vegeta went in search of the woman. He was going to tell her that they were leaving soon. He happened upon her and Khale. They were alone in one of the Cronasian prince's vast chambers. Vegeta hid in an alcove and observed them.

Khale hesitantly reached a hand out to touch her hair.

Vegeta watched in anger as Bulma allowed the hybrid bastard touch her.

How could she? Had they not shared a modicum of understanding? Had the little human tricked him into thinking that she would accept only his advances? Why, the little…

"No, Khale. I can't," she gave him a gentle shove and retreated a bit, "at least not with you."

The hybrid looked confused. "I thought that you liked me."

Bulma gave him a weak smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I do."

Vegeta heard his knuckles crack as he clenched his fists.

"I like you very much," she continued, "but I…love Vegeta even more."

Vegeta's eyes widened as he heard her confession. His anger melted away like ice beneath a ki blast. His mind reeled. What did this mean? Had her foolish heart linked her to him faster than his threats had?

Love.

It is a curious and useless emotion, he thought.

Nevertheless, knowing that she loved him more than the pathetic, red headed, bloodsucker filled him with such elation that it fueled his ego.

He smirked beneath the alcove.

I have you right where I want you, onna.

"Bulma, you are the first person that I have ever wanted for my mate. You deny me too much. I don't know if I could ever live without you," Khale told her, his expression pained.

Bulma stared at him, trying not to burst into tears. This was hard. She had thought herself in love with the handsome lug, but an arrogant, hot-tempered prince had caught her heart instead.

"You'll find someone else. I know you will," she assured him.

She started to leave, but Khale stopped her. He could not let her go without telling her one last thing. "If he ever mistreats you, Bulma, come to me. I will take care of you."

Never! Vegeta cried out mentally. I would never let her leave me, and certainly not for you! She is mine, hybrid, mine!

Bulma just smiled at Khale and walked out of the room.

Vegeta receded into the shadows of the alcove as she walked past him. Her flowery scent beckoned.

He steeled himself before the urge to grab her and thrust into her right there in the hall took over his senses.

What a woman. He had not forgotten how responsive she could be to his ministrations. He looked forward to sparring with her again.

His veins pulsed with desire. He licked his lips and left the alcove, intent on claiming his mate.

*****

Bulma threw herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow to hide her tears. It was done. She had spurned Khale's affections.

She did have feelings for him. She really did, but they would have to remain dormant.

She had sensed that Vegeta was listening to them. She had felt him. It was strange, but ever since the great struggle between them, her body had been synchronized with his own.

Her sudden affection for him was not a ruse. She cared about the little ape, perhaps too much. She had reasoned that the only way that she could get her revenge was to use her love for the Saiyan against him. He would think that she was completely loyal to him and would trust her enough to let her roam freely around their surroundings. She would probably even get the chance to learn how to operate his ship. Then, when he least expected it, she would leave him and seek out what she needed on her own.

*****

Please review. It is important that you do.

Hey, that rhymes.

Go me! Just kidding.

That sounded so corny *snicker*.

Special thanks to BVTBear for threatening -uh, motivating me to finish this fic.* I've never cried so hard since I saw Bambi* (I'm just joshing, I didn't cry but I sure as heck felt awful for taking so long on this fic)

Next: The Temperamental Frieza, starring Zarbon and Frieza, the terror duo! ^_^