Author's Note: Thanks for the amazing comments! I really didn't think I'd get any attention with this story simply because of the pairing. It's good to know there are some shippers out there that aren't all for Vegeta. And I didn't get flames from the Bugeta lover's either! Awesome! I do want to add, however, that I like Vegeta with Bulma just as much as Piccolo. They are a lot alike, but also extremely different. That's pretty much why this story is being written. It's going to explore that.

Also, I can't remember if I mentioned that there's going to be lemon. Tangy lemon. Later. I plan on starting with a splash of citrus, though, just because I hate waiting.

Okay, I know this is a long author's note, sorry, but I also want to mention that this is based more off of the manga than the anime series. I figured that would be important to put out there.

I also don't own anything except for my internet connection. That's right, I don't even own my laptop .

Chapter One: Wanting

Bulma's mother had used the myriad of rooms in Capsule Corp. to their full advantage. That woman didn't throw away anything. Bulma coughed as she moved the boxes around in the cellar. This was where she had found her first dragon ball. In her mind, she considered this the place where her life had really started. Before her quest, before Gokou, there was nothing worth remembering. Sure, bad things seem to follow him, but she was always up for the ride. She thought she might almost start missing all of the action, but she enjoyed the peace, too.

Here were her highschool belongings. Bunny had saved everything—right down to the clothes that would no longer fit her and she would no way in hell offer to her daughter. Bra had way more fashion sense than to wear last generation's style. She took after her mom.

Bulma clicked open the capsule that had the date of the same year she had met Gokou. They popped up before her perfectly folded and pressed, untouched by the time that had passed. Her heart fluttered in her throat as she looked down at the petite pink skirt and shirt that had her name typed on the front and 97 on the back. She frowned as she held up the skirt. There was no way in hell she'd be able to fit into it now. She sighed as she let the skirt fall into her lap. Time was the world's enemy right now, and not even Gokou could save her. Only the dragon balls…

That was it! Oh, she was so happy that Dende had upgraded the dragon balls to two wishes! She was going to wish for her youth back! She giggled and gathered the clothes into her arms. As soon as she wished for her gorgeous looks back (or should she say gorgeous-er?) she was going to prance around in those adorable miniskirts like there was no tomorrow!

After she dumped the old clothes onto her bed she swept her hands through her hair, grimacing as the dust floated through the air. She was definitely going to need a bath before her quest. As she reached a hand out towards the bathroom door, she was surprised when it opened before she could even grab the knob as Vegeta towered in front of her. He was certainly shorter than most men that she knew, but damn if he couldn't make his presence make him seem as if he exceeded six feet. There were times that his demeanor alone could make him seem like the most powerful man in the world. She knew differently, however, but she never let that thought pass her lips.

"Well, hey sexy," she grinned as she eyed his glistening body, wet down to his towel-covered waist from the shower he had just taken. "What a surprise. Training over already?"

"It would seem so," his voice came out as a dangerous purr, and she drew her eyes up to meet his. He looked hungry, and not for her cooking. Her mouth twitched slightly in pleasure at the attention he was giving her. Finally.

Then a thought occurred to her, which made her heart sink. Maybe he wasn't here simply because he wanted to be with her. "You didn't break the gravity room, did you?"

He scoffed, his arms bulging as they crossed over his chest. "I think I can control myself better than that." He smirked at her, "maybe you'd like to see just how well I can control my strength…"

She let her eyebrow arch. "Oh really? And here I was hoping you wouldn't hold back." She gave him her best mimic of a Vegeta smirk she could as she lowered her eyelids seductively.

His smile widened, his canines flashing. "Oh, really?" this time he was mimicking her voice playfully. He growled in the back of his throat, drawing his body close to her. He always radiated such intense heat. It was delectable.

Bulma giggled, deciding to play hard to get. "Move," she said, putting her fingertips on his chest and pushing. "I need a shower."

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her further to him. "Maybe you should wait. Something tells me you might get… dirtier." His gravelly voice sent chills down her spine, and she could feel the twist of need between her thighs.

Cocking her head, she gave him a smile with a hint of evil in it. "I don't like dirt. Besides, maybe I'm used to playing alone. After all," she tossed her hair willfully, "I have been tragically alone for quite some time now."

Vegeta frowned as he gripped her shoulders. "Shut up," he pushed her backwards towards the bed, and she fell with a squeak onto the plush lavender duvet. Vegeta slid over her with cat-like reflexes, his face close to her skin as he breathed in her scent as he crawled over her. His hand hit the pile of clothes next to her and he looked up with curiosity, picking up the pink skirt on top. He looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. "Planning on going somewhere?"

Bulma looked at the skirt, her lips twitching as her mind raced. She couldn't tell him what she was planning on. Then again, he might not care. Better be prudent, however.

"You don't really think that would fit me, do you? I just bought those for Bra." Thank Dende he had no idea what girls wore on Earth.

"Hmph." He threw the short skirt out of the way, and with a sweep of a hand cleared the rest of the bed from the pile of clothes before staring down at her again. "I'd rather not think of them right now." His face plunged down as he captured her lips with her own, biting them softly as he urged her to open her lips for him. She complied and immediately felt his tongue dart in, plundering her own soft mouth like a conquest. He liked it when she fought back. He liked the challenge. What would happen if she didn't give him that satisfaction? What if, for just one night, she let herself be the submissive, compliant female?

As tempting as it was, she realized that it just wasn't her. In a way, if she did that, it would just be another way to fight back. She giggled against his lips at the thought of this.

"What's so funny?" he whispered as his hands slid up her dress, his fingers hooking into the band of her lacy underwear. "Do I amuse you?"

"No," she told him, her eyes dark with desire. "You excite me."

Vegeta smiled ruthlessly as he ripped her panties down her thighs and traced his hands back up to her pelvis. The dress bunched up above his wrists as his hands advanced up her body, revealing her creamy skin to him. He leaned down and gently bit the inside of her thigh, breathing deeply as he took in the scent of her sex. She writhed underneath him with need, that private cache squirming in invitation. It had been so long since he had felt himself buried within her. As much as he wanted to drag it out and play with her, he couldn't prolong his need. He tore her dress off unceremoniously, ignoring her cry of dismay. Later he would have to listen to her complain about losing yet another garment, but right now he didn't care.

He closed his eyes as he shoved his hips against hers. He closed his eyes as his member invaded her body. She gasped as she was filled, lovely and excruciating. She stared at him, her eyes filled with desire. His eyes were still closed.

He pounded into her with a rampant fever, seeking an ends to a mean. His hands gripped her thighs as he pulled her up against him, closing in on her as if he meant to absorb her into his own body. She felt as if she had been splayed like a piece of meat, her legs sprawled against his shoulders, her fingers clawing at the biceps that held her down.

And then it was over. She had only just begun to enjoy it, but he had clearly had his fill. He inhaled deeply in satisfaction before his body leaned over hers, slowly softening in content. He grunted into her neck as he rested for a moment, gathering his wits. Usually, this would be the time when he would harden again and move her somewhere else; either in a different position or into a different part of the house—something more to toy with. Just something more.

But he pushed himself up; away. He glanced into her eyes only for a second before he turned and gathered his clothes, murmuring something about training some more.

"Vegeta," she murmured, but he was already out the door. Bulma stared at the eggshell carpet, blinking against the tears that refused to percolate. She had never cried for a man before, she wasn't going to start now. No, she was going to do something about it. She had never been as strong as the others; but that had never stopped her. No way. Now her mind was made up more than ever.

She wasn't going to be used. And she wasn't going to spend the rest of her life questioning her feelings. When had she become the puppet?

The lunches were packed and the note had been written. Knowing Vegeta's schedule, he wouldn't realize what had happened until she was long gone. And he wouldn't be able to trace her ki. If he tried. She doubted that he would try.

She pressed the button of the dragon radar once to show the location of all of the dragon balls. With another press, it zoomed in on the closest one to her. Close to Karin's tower. Not a surprise. For some reason, at least one ball always landed near that location, as if it were looking for home. That would be her first stop.

She was going to head off in one of her fastest jets. She had packed a submarine, two motorcycles, a car and a small hoi poi house to rest in. She never was the type of camping girl, so her new hoi poi house capsule had plenty of room for any visitor she might need. It would be nice to meet some other alien boy to help her on her journey, but the chances of that weren't likely. Still, experience encouraged her to plan ahead.

A/N Again: I meant for this to be longer, but encountered a block (go figure). I hope the next one won't take too long to write, but I do have finals coming up, and this is my last year of college.

And when the lemon occurs again (and it will) it's going to be a lot stronger than it was in this chapter. If it doesn't get taken down. This one mostly focused on emotion.

Next chapter Piccolo makes his appearance, don't fret.