Chapter 15 : Hidden Emotion, Eternal Devotion
“Hamburger...I need a hamburger...! With fries and a large Sprite!” Bulma moaned, lounging by the fire and once again examining her belt. “Gah! It’s no use! No matter what I do, I can’t get my mind off of hunger! I’m starving!”
“Good.” Vegeta grunted, walking from the forest with a freshly killed deer-like creature slung over his shoulders. “But just remember that I need sustinance too!”
“Yeah yeah, now cook the damn thing already so we can eat!”
“In due time.” Vegeta answered as he dropped the carcass on the ground in front of the fire. He proceeded to rip off choice portions of the kill and stick them on some branches from the pile of wood for the fire. When he had set the most tender parts of the animal in the blaze, he turned to the remaining pieces and began to tear them from the bones. Bulma was appalled when he started to eat the strips of meat.
“Uh, Vegeta?” she ventured.
“Hm?” came the reply.
“Well, um, don’t you want to cook that before you e-eat it?”
“No.” he answered simply, returning to his meal.
“Oh, all right. But rest assured I won’t come near you until you’ve cleaned up!”
“Humph.”
Bulma sighed and began to investigate her lavish waistband while her food cooked. She ran her small fingers over the curly metal alloy and around the strange gemstones embedded in it. After a short time, the aroma of the raw meat and the sight of Vegeta devouring it caused her stomach to lurch. Covering her mouth with a small hand, she darted into the forest.
“No...” Vegeta protested softly as her scent reached his nose when she ran into the woods. It became more fragrant with every step she took, eventually overpowering the sick odor around her. It was happening again, he was losing his self-control...but this time it was because of her heated aroma. He felt his stomach flip-flop and his mind go blank except for one sole instinct...to mate. His body began to move without his permission, and he stealthily made his way over to Bulma’s position.
The woman was puking into a bush, she put her hands on her knees and stood bent over as she struggled to keep the rest of the bile down. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ she questioned herself.
“Woman.” a husky voice she recognized immediately grunted from behind her.
“Vegeta! Why the hell are you over here?! I’m trying to do something if you don’t mind!”
She turned her head to glare at him and came nose to nose with his face. Her breathing shortened in surprise and her eyes instinctively swept up to stare into his. Shining within their ebony depths Bulma could clearly see his loneliness and...and hunger? That couldn’t be right. She focused on them once again and more precisely named the emotion shining there...lust. Yep lust, she lightly nodded her head as she continued to explore his eyes. All of a sudden her observation hit her full-force. LUST?!
‘Oh my Kami, oh my Kami! He’s gonna rape me!’ she thought in panic.
Vegeta was examining Bulma when he caught the subtle change in her scent. The smell of her fright soon hung heavy in the air, slowly bringing him back to reality.
‘Gods! What did I almost do?! I lost control for five minutes and I nearly...nearly...mated with her! To think what I could have done to her!’
“Sorry.” he grunted softly, quickly retreating back over to the fire.
“Sorry? Sorry! Kami Vegeta, that’s the second time you’ve practically raped me! I no longer feel I can trust you, I’m beginning to consider going back to Ungo just to be safe from you!” she growled, her body still shaking in fear.
The human woman stood next to her bush, watching the Saiyan with a critical eye for a few minutes more. After slightly assuring herself that it was just a two-time thing, she warily mader her way back towards the campfire.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” she demanded as she sat across from him, taking a vicious bite of a piece of cooked meat.
“I don’t.” was his answer.
“I do believe you owe me an explanation for your suddenly weird attitude around me.” the woman prompted.
“You are in heat.” Vegeta replied nonchalantly, staring intently into the fire.
“What?”
“You are in heat.” he repeated, briefly glancing up to look at Bulma.
“Heat? Isn’t that what you used to describe female Saiyans during their period?”
“No, heat comes after what you call a period. Only female Saiyans skip the period and go straight into heat. And you are in heat. Everyone knows that a male Saiyan cannot...”
“Can’t what?”
“Cannot...resist a female in heat.”
“But I have my period every month, you never seemed to be attracted to me before. Why now?”
“Because you obviously haven’t noticed, I’ll tell you; each time you finish your period and I sense you going into heat, I leave. If I don’t, I’m afraid that I may wind up not being able to help myself from doing something I might regret.”
“Like...?”
“There is no need for you to know.”
“Oh Vegeta! Fine, if you want to be that way then I won’t pressure you.”
“Good.”
“Let’s change the subject. So, do you think we will ever get home?”
“I have no home.”
“Earth is your home!”
“It is simply a place I stay to fulfill my needs. It is not my home.”
“Well, it could be your home if you wanted it to.”
“That’s just it, I don’t want it to be my home. As soon as I kick Kakarrot’s ass I am going to leave to conquer all of space and rule over it as was my birthright.”
“Damn, talk about ambitious.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“Well at least I don’t want to take over the entire universe! Who the hell taught you to want that?”
“It has always been my goal, and it is my right as well. I am Prince of all Saiyans and it is my destiny to become a Super Saiyan and to rule over all.”
“By yourself?”
“Of course by myself! Why would it be any different?”
“Nevermind. I don’t know why I even said that.”
“Yes, you do know why. And for once I actually care about what you have to say. So spill it.”
“Okay, it’s just that I think ruling over...everything by yourself would become kind of lonely. I don’t think you really want to be alone. I think that the only reason you isolate yourself is because you are afraid of the company of others.”
“Really.”
“Yes, but you don’t have to be separated from the rest of the world. If you can find someone to accept you for who you are, then you will be more satisfied in that way than in any other. Even ruling the universe can’t compare to the love of a companion.”
“Humph.”
“You can ‘humph’ all you want, but it doesn’t change a thing. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to sleep. It’s late and I’m tired. Try anything while I’m resting and I swear I will be so bitchy towards you for the next million years that even your decendants will regret it!”
All she earned from Mr. Prince was an icy glare and another ‘humph’ in response. Feeling satisfied and more than a little wary, Bulma curled up on a small nest of leaves and drifted off in minutes flat.
Vegeta watched the Earthling’s sleeping form, pondering her truthful words for a while.
“I’ve already found someone who accepts me. Trouble is, she doesn’t feel the way I do. What can I say other than I am destined to be alone...forever.”
“Oh really, Vegeta? I don’t think that even you believe that.” spoke up a feminine voice.
“You know, Ungo’s minions really should stop sneaking around. You are no match for a Saiyan prince!” Vegeta growled, jump-kicking above towards a branch where the voice had originated. He was really surprised to find that the branch was empty by the time his kick landed. “Where the hell did you go?!” he demanded, glaring into the darkness of the forest.
“Why, I’m right over here!” cooed the woman’s voice from behind him.
Vegeta jerked his head in the direction of the fire and was most unhappy to see the female alien kneeling next to Bulma and gently stroking the human’s hair.
“Mrph mmh.” Bulma mumbled in her slumber, rolling onto her side with her eyes still closed.
“Quite the pretty little thing, don’t you think? Absolute perfection.” whispered the figure, turning her face towards Vegeta.
The Saiyan male was shocked by the features he saw distinctly resembling his own in her appearance. The triangular cheekbones and thin lips were mirror images of his own. Even her sharp chin was his. He didn’t know what to make of it, especially when he saw the light brown tail swaying behind her. She was Saiyan.
“Some said you were exactly like your father, what liars they are. True you do have some of his traits mentally, but physically...we could be twins.” she commented, getting up and making her way over to him.
“Who are you, dammit?! And what the hell do you want?!” Vegeta ordered.
“Tsk, tsk. Don’t you recognize your own...mother, Vegeta?” she answered, reaching her hand up to touch Vegeta’s face.
The prince jerked away from her and snarled.
“Impossible!” he spat. “My mother was nothing but a mere whore who died when Planet Vegeta blew up!”
“That is where you are wrong...son.” she replied, her voice hardening and her eyes narrowing. “Our planet did blow up, but I was not on it when it did. I was here, on Kraston, with my mate.”
“You lie. If you really were my mother, your mate would be my father.”
“You speak the truth, Vegeta. However, I had chosen my mate long before your father made me assist him in creating you. My mate was one of his foreign advisors, a mutant genius named Doctor Ungo!”
“So the rumor was true? That the reason you did not become queen was because you had chosen another before my father?”
“Yes. Your father raped me. He forced me and I had no choice in the matter. I loved and still do love Ungo, he is the only reason I was saved from the awful fate of becoming King Vegeta’s forced mate.”
“So you don’t love him, you just owe your life to him. Pitiful. You are too weak to ever be the mate of a powerful Saiyan like my father!”
“And I never wanted to even have sex with the bastard you call your father! I would never wish to be tied to a baka like him for all eternity, which is why I bonded with Incoz only weeks after I first noticed your father facied me!”
“Oh really? I couldn’t care less as to why you bonded with that mutant freak, but I want you to tell me why the hell you are here! Did Ungo send you?”
“As a matter of fact, he did. He wishes for me to bring both you and this lovely girl back to him. The doctor has been extremely worried about how you have been whilst out here. And he is anxious to have his two prized test subjects back. He believes that she may have already conceived the child, I mean, after all you are out in the wilderness with nothing but each other to keep company...”
“I have not violated her in any way. She does not wish for me and I do not wish for her.” Vegeta grumbled.
“Hm. Ah well, the doctor says that if you will not take her then one of his men may have her.” Celeria smirked at the flash of anger she saw burning in her son’s eyes at her comment. “She is such a sensual female and would make an excellent plaything for any soldier. Even if you don’t give Ungo the child he will still have you two to distribute accordingly throughout the planet. And when her youth and beauty steadily fade as she does, you will be there to look on as she is disposed of. But when her life ends, you will still be alive; she will be free and you will be stuck here for centuries more.”
“Humph, like I really care about what happens to her. She is of no concern of mine. And rest assured that I will find a way off this damn planet!”
“If you say so Vegeta. Just thought you should know what will happen if you continue to rebel against Ungo’s orders. He’s not known for his patience.”
“Nan-de-moh. Why don’t you leave before I make you. I don’t care if you are the bitch who birthed me, I won’t hesitate to destroy you if you continue to cross me.” he warned.
“Alright. And since you so obviously don’t care about the woman, I’ll take her with me.”
“Huh? Who’re you?” mumbled Bulma tiredly as she sat up.
“Why hello dear. My name is Celeria, and I am Vegeta’s mother.” greeted the female Saiyan.
“M-m-mother?” the woman stuttered in surprise.
“Yes, mother. My son has volunteered you to come back with me to Doctor Ungo.”
“He what? Vegeta?”
“That’s right. You said you wanted to go back to Ungo, said you didn’t feel safe with me. So why not leave while you have the chance to?” Vegeta answered, averting her watery eyes.
“B-but you said you would protect me! And the only reason I don’t feel safe is because you continue to attempt to rape me!”
“Hm? Rape? My, my, my...this is certainly getting interesting! I thought you said you that you didn’t want her?” commented Celeria as Bulma climbed to her feet and approached Vegeta.
“I don’t. If you couldn’t tell, she is in heat. You know as well as I that a male Saiyan loses all his conscious thought and becomes an animal when he is around a female in heat. I was simply reacting to my hormones.” Vegeta replied haughtily.
“If you believe that...”
“Why Vegeta? Why would you risk your life so many times, trying to keep me from Ungo, just to give me up on the slightest whim? Why?” the Earthling questioned dejectedly, stopping a few feet from Vegeta and willing him to look at her.
He didn’t oblige. Rather, he kept his head turned and answered her curtly.
“Because. I’ve said before that there is no need for me to justify myself to you. And you said you wanted it. Now take her away!” he commanded Celeria.
“As you wish...Prince.” she replied smugly, stalking up silently behind Bulma.
Bulma gave Vegeta one last, saddened look before the female Saiyan chopped her neck and rendered her unconcious. The blue-haired woman didn’t see the painful expression on Vegeta’s face as Celeria threw her up over her shoulder clumsily.
“Just know, I’ll be back for you.” Celeria blew a kiss to Vegeta and ran away into the forest.
“I’m counting on it.” Vegeta replied softly when his mother was out of sight. “Just take care of the woman. There will be hell to pay if she gets injured.”