CHAPTER 20

Many hours later…

Bulma woke up to the sound of the ship humming and the little beeps consistent of Vegeta plotting a course in the main control panel. She laid there as the vivid images and sensations of the night before washed through her mind. She was still quite awestruck that what had happened had actually happened. WOW. In her mind she could see his face all over again. The pain and withdraw in his eyes, the torment in his soul. Her face blushed as she recollected her bold act of assertion over him, well, at least for 30 seconds before her assertion was turned into her becoming the very-willing and able victim of his aggression. She smirked as her mind continued to wander to the things they did.

She attempted to roll over, but was restricted by an aching pain. Her thighs were on fire, her hips were aching, her back was throbbing, and her *ahem* sensitive area was quite raw from being worked over. Bulma had never had so much sex in one night in her life. She never had that great of sex, that consistently, and for that long. She never climaxed that many times, ever. There was no comparison for her if she was ever to tell anyone—ever—about this little 'sexcapade'. She eventually found the energy to roll over to her side, and when she did something caught her eye. Something was placed on the bed for her.

"What the hell…?"

It was her salve.

Her face immediately turned red at the thought of Vegeta leaving her this little 'gift' because he KNEW when she woke up she was going to need it. He KNEW how he was going to absolutely dominate her, and he KNEW that she was going to need to even get out of bed after the dirty things they did not too long ago. Her mind wandered back to a few of those not so conventional positions that she allowed herself to be put into, and the ecstasy they brought her. Her face turned an even brighter shade of red. She laid there just a wee bit embarrassed. She had a lot of fun for sure, but now she was going to have to pay the piper and interact with him at some point. But, as usual, her mind wandered back to all the naughty happenings not too far in the past.

She was brought out of her sexy flashback when a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Woman, get up and get dressed. We have matters to discuss."

He watched her face sneer in pain, as she moved herself across the bed. He turned and made his way back to the controls. Bulma sat on the edges of the fluffy round bed and wrapped the sheet around her naked body.

Looks like someone is back to normal.

She smiled to herself, but then stood up to make her way to her room to dress. She tried to stand up straight, but there was so much "damage" done to her all over that she could barely even walk. She looked at the jar of salve in her hand, and then back to the door. She grimaced. Using it now would signal defeat, and Vegeta would be proven right. She couldn't have that. She wanted to keep her dignity intact.

I can make it! Ok, Bulma…be smooth…don't give him the satisfaction…!

Her last mental thought made her face drop.

Really Bulma…like there wasn't any satisfaction going on just hours ago…idiot.

Satisfaction was all that she was giving him hours earlier. To be fair, it was definitely a 2-way street. She received probably more physical satisfaction than he did, but right now wasn't the time to comb through the semantics.

She gimped, and shuffled and hobbled out into the main corridor only to turn and see Vegeta standing there, arms crossed, and leaning against the pilot's chair staring at her with amusement. He stood tall and firm, but his face was changed. He looked slightly content. But only slightly.

"Woman, this whole endeavor would go faster if you just use the salve."

Bulma's face turned SO red. She froze for a moment as his words churned in her mind. This was equal to the walk of shame, and Vegeta was eating it UP. Watching her hobble across the ship was like a badge of honor to his masculinity. It may had been quite a while for the Prince, but watching as she struggled to walk a straight line, or straight up, or even with smooth stride definitely reinforced a job well done. Bulma watched as a small little smirk began to cross his lips.

"I'm fine thank you!"

*shuffle *shuffle* shuffle*

He watched as she shuffled, slightly bent over, to her room, and disappeared from sight as Vegeta left his post at the console and made his way to the baskets left by the aliens. By the time Bulma rounded the corner she dropped the sheet, opened the jar, and applied her magic salve to pretty much everywhere.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH…OHHHH MAAAAAAN…

Her eyes rolled back in her head as she embraced the cooling sensation of the salve as it did its magic on her body. Outside in the main corridor Vegeta could sense her pain easing up as soon as she turned the corner. His smirk grew as he placed his hands on his lower back and stretched a bit. He'd never tell her, but prior to placing that salve on the bed next to her, he had used just a touch of it on his lower back. I guess sometimes it is forgotten the muscles we neglect until they are used.

Bulma exhaled in utter relief as she tightened up the lid, and proceeded to gather some articles of clothing to wear for the day.

He needs to speak to me…I wonder if it's about what happened on that planet.

Her thoughts trailed off…

Ooooor…he might want to talk about—other—things.

She blushed as she looked out the window, and watched as the stars went whizzing by. They've been through so much together, and she almost felt saddened when the thought of her going back to Earth crossed her mind. No more traveling among the solar systems at risk of constant danger. She rummaged through the little basket that Ary'on had left on the ship for her. There were so many garments in it. One by one she pulled out items, until she realized that the basket was magic, and held a considerable number of items!

"Fucking SWEET!"

From the main corridor, she heard Vegeta yell to her, "What is 'sweet', woman?! Are you eating in there or getting dressed?!" Bulma stifled back a small laugh.

"No, no it's just an expression of…glee, I guess…I'll be out in a minute."

His voice carried across the ship once more. "Glee?! Woman stop your reminiscing and hurry the Hell up!"

Bulma's smile turned into a sweat drop. Really…THAT'S what he thinks I'm thinking about?!

But in fairness, her mind started to wander right to the events that transpired not long ago, and she exhaled deep. Bulma get a grip! You know what that was. She selected a few garments, a satin-like long sleeve loose pearlescent shirt that laced up the front, paired with jeans that were repaired and laundered. Damn, I'm going to miss those aliens…such a great sense of style and fashion.

Bulma exited her room, and hit the bathroom to quickly shower, brush her teeth and dress. When she was all put together she met Vegeta out in the main corridor where he was going through some of the textiles the aliens had left them on the ship. Food, water, linens, and assorted things that were valuable for use.

"You wanted to speak with me?" Bulma stood in front of Vegeta as she put her hair up in a pony-tail waiting for him to lecture her on whatever it was he felt she needed to hear. However, the lecture never came. "Your suit is now repaired, is it not?"

Bulma looked towards the room where her suit was laid out, and nodded, "Yes…I guess they took care of it at some point."

Vegeta remained focused at his benign task of rummaging through the wares in front of him, "And your suit…will it provide protection under at least 10 times your planet's own gravity?"

Bulma nodded, "Yes, I designed it to withstand at least 10, but it won't support more than 15."

Vegeta stood up and made his way over to the flight deck, turned, and sat down into one of the chairs. "Make sure it is in order. Our next destination will require you to withstand these forces." He spun around while picking up his feet and placed them on the panel. He put his arms behind his head, and just stared out the window. Bulma remained quiet, and left him to himself as she contemplated what to do to pass the time. She decided to perform a system check on the ship to pass the time. It was evident that Vegeta wasn't going to divulge anything about what happened on the planet with Ary'on, and she learned many times it's best to pick your battles with him. He seemed back to his old self after their little bedroom extravaganza which noticeably corrected his outward behavior. Sometimes a good screw is all anyone needs to get back on track in life. She made her way down below the ship, and began her self-appointed task.

The 'days' went by without incident. It was very quiet in the ship. There wasn't much for her to do, so she did whatever kept her busy. Vegeta remained scarce around the ship, and only made his presence known when Bulma pulled out a new food item from her stash. The choices were becoming less and less the more time they spent together. Soon she'd exhaust all the new menu options forcing him to have to repeat a food item recorded in the replicator.

One of her many self-appointed tasks involved her stuffing as much of everything she could get her hands on into one of those baskets. She was like a child that discovered the flusher on a toilet, except this didn't overflow when jam packed. It held everything!

It's like my capsule technology…except better! Of course it's better.

One of the most prized possessions she was gifted was a bottle of wine. There was a note attached to it that read,

"To Dearest Bulma,

You'll be needing this in your continued journeys with the Saiyan maniac. And yes, it's endless.

Best-

Ary'on"

The bottle was indeed endless. Endless wine, endless delicious wine…and it didn't make you sick or hungover. It got you drunk, but then you sobered up overnight, with no consequence from consuming too much. This bottle was especially useful on one particular 'evening'—shit it was hard to tell what day or time it was on Earth anymore. Bulma reorganized the entire stock of the ship, and cleaned as much as she could. But, she was bored. Vegeta wasn't much of a conversationalist, and their interaction was few and far between. Bulma was going a bit stir crazy, and homesick. Back on Earth, when things got boring…enter alcohol.

She sat on the pile of blankets she now used as a mattress since her alien friends took it away. She uncorked the bottle, grabbed a glass, and watched as the stars went by. It was peaceful. In the corner of her eye she caught glimpse of a photo—her photo—wedged in the glass and wall. Her friends all happy, and cheering. The blue sky of Earth…the green grass…the bustle of the city. She raised her glass to the photo, "Cheers to you all."

In a few hours Bulma had accomplished what she'd set out to do—get drunk. She remained quiet as she continued to peer into the vast emptiness of space. It was almost therapeutic. What she didn't realize is that with every little memory that would surface of her friends, she would giggle just a bit. This quiet little giggle caught the attention of an equally bored Saiyan.

Without any warning Vegeta turned the corner into her room to see what she was so happy about. It didn't take long for him to piece it together.

"Are you drunk?"

She didn't respond to him right away, but eventually she mustered up and answer. "I'm comfortable." She sat there on her little nest of blankets just staring away. It wasn't until Vegeta was halfway in her room that she even noticed him.

"Can I help you…Vegeta?"

He rolled his eyes. He was about to turn away when something in her room caught his attention. It wasn't the wine bottle—he knew that existed when she'd brought it out to dinner once. What he didn't notice was her bed—or lack thereof. He hadn't been in her room since she was debilitated from the monster on Enid.

"Woman—where is your bed?"

Bulma smiled as she quietly sipped from her glass, "Oh…the aliens took it…I guess they didn't like it…"

Vegeta tilted his head a bit as he watched her stare out into the vast nothingness. It wasn't unusual for anyone to inebriate themselves on long journeys, but watching her do it just seemed out of place. She was buzzed pretty hard, but not hammered. Even though she could get hammered, she opted just for a controlled buzz.

"You've been sleeping on a stack of blankets this whole time?"

Bulma lifted her glass to her lips, "Yuuup."

Vegeta was growing a bit irritated at the situation, "I thought you had another one of those beds in one of your capsules!"

Bulma nodded her head as she finished her glass of wine, put her glass away on the little table, and corked the bottle back up. "I did…"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, HARD. Dealing with a drunk Bulma was like dealing with an average human idiot.

"Well then where is it?!"

Bulma turned her head to slowly look at Vegeta. She locked eyes with him, and could see the irritation all over his face. She raised her eyebrow, and parted her lips.

"You blew it up."

She turned her head and stared back out to the stars. Vegeta blinked. It was in the capsule in her backpack…on Enid…which was now dust. He released his clenched jaw at her confession as she spun on her rear and fluffed up her blankets. "Okaaay Vegeta…good talk…g'night…I'll be quiet." She flopped on her side and closed her eyes—her head on a folded towel for support. Vegeta closed his eyes as his jaw began to clench once more, but was ultimately distracted by Bulma.

"Oh wait…yeah…!"

She flung off her shorts and shirt into any arbitrary direction, and laid back down in her under garments.

"That's better."

He was silent. He stood for a moment with his arms crossed, and his line of vision distorted. He slowly pulled her shirt she had flung from his face, and dropped it to the floor.

Damn this woman…

"This is quite enough." He walked over to her and picked her up over his shoulder. She had no clue it was coming, nor was she prepared to be manhandled by Vegeta in her underwear. "Hey—what—what are you doing?" Bulma attempted to protest, but she couldn't really fight much at all in her condition. She felt herself being flung onto the giant bed in Vegeta's room. "No Vegeta it's…it's fine…this isn't my bed…I can sleep on the…the…blankets…"

Vegeta pushed her down with one hand. "I will not have you sleeping on the floor like some wounded animal." He held her down until her protests stopped which was quicker than he'd thought. He turned to leave when her voice perked up from behind him.

"I'm sorry Vegeta…"

He closed his eyes, "Woman just go to bed." He continued out the door when her words stopped him in his tracks.

"…I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I tried…I really did…I felt so bad…"

This admission made him turn to face her slightly. She was now sitting up in the bed with her knees pulled to her chest.

"…I saw you lying there, and I thought to myself…what if that was me…what if I was left to die and no one cared…"

She was talking about the events on Namek. Vegeta took a few steps towards her—the shadows falling on his muscular form. "Woman enough with your babbling and go to bed."

Shut up is what she didn't do. "Y'know…I thought what if you had us…maybe if I knew you before Frieza…you'd be safe…like…I could've…like…protected you…" She faced forward with her head on her arms resting on her knees.

Vegeta stiffened at her confession. Protect me?

She closed her eyes.

"…the other night…I knew what that was…I'd do it again if it…if it helped you…but I knew…and I'm okay with that…"

Bulma opened her eyes and looked at Vegeta. Her eyes were so different. They were glassy not from the alcohol, but from sadness, "…but of what use am I…I'm useless…now."

Her eyes were shut completely she exhaled into her arms. She was referring to their midnight sexual dalliance. She knew that there was nothing meaningful about it—it was strictly superficial. His mind wandered over her words, but his memory of the actions from several nights prior resurfaced. She had given him a physical and emotional outlet for his anger and torment. She let him use her, and she allowed herself to be used, to try to protect him—to help him in a way no other could. She'd even let him take her again if it healed him in some way that nothing else could. However, her question resonated in him deeply. It was a question he didn't have an answer to, at least, not one he'd openly try to discuss.

He could only stare at her for a little while longer before turning and walking away. He made his way into the cargo room and sat at the table staring at the sink in front of him. He sat there for a good long time, but his aggravation was unsettling. At what point did this woman, a prisoner on his ship to take heed of his command, ever give a shit about his well being? Shit, she cared even prior to her seclusion on his ship! It didn't make sense to him.

Why care?! Why the fuck would she care?! What's in it for her?!

His thoughts wandered to her companions. He stood up and went into her room to take a good hard look at the photo she'd toasted not long before. That face—that damn face of Kakarot was just beaming away as she held his son. He was so much stronger than Vegeta. It made no sense. Vegeta was the warrior. He was the one imprisoned by Frieza in a lifetime duty of service to the tyrant. But what did he have to show for it?

He was traveling through space as the 2nd best, without anyone that could give a shit less if he were alive or dead. Vegeta paused at that thought, and it was if he had a small moment of clarity. He did have someone who cared, and she was in his room right in her own mental crisis. Her life was on hold the longer she remained. Plus there was no guarantee that the dragon balls were even in existence anymore. He looked at the photo again. Maybe Kakarot achieved his Super Saiyan status not only by training his body, but maybe it had something to do with training his emotions.

"Preposterous."

Vegeta broke his gaze from the photo when he heard a few light sounds coming from the other side of the ship. He walked into his room to be met with the sight of Bulma sitting on the same end of the bed staring out the window as he did many days earlier. The difference though was he wasn't intimidated to walk up next to her and inquire silently about her mental state. He sat next to her in silence as she took the opportunity to lean onto his left side. The silence was broken when she reached over her lap with her left arm to touch his forearm. He looked to her, and met her blue eyes with his dark ones.

"Vegeta…don't…"

She hesitated.

"…don't leave…"

He sighed in defeat.

"5 minutes woman."

He pulled her onto the bed as she snuggled up to his side, and fell asleep almost immediately. She had a death lock around his arm that would be borderline uncomfortable for a human, but to him, it was more annoying than anything. His mind drifted back to Kakarot, and his expression of happiness in that damn photo. Vegeta was jealous. He was jealous that Kakarot was living the life that he should be living. Vegeta should be the one to achieve Super Saiyan. He should be the one surrounded by people who admire him. He should have the glory, the respect, the girl, the son…

He turned his head to Bulma who was burrowed into his side now. He looked out the window, and then back to the ceiling.

"SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHHH."

Bulma woke up from her little nap and yawned loudly. She was alone in the bed as her mind wandered to how she ended up there in the first place. Oh…right Vegeta brought me here.

She threw the covers to the side, and made her way to her bedroom to grab a change of clothes. They should be arriving at their destination soon, so she needed to make sure she was ready to depart the ship. Vegeta wasn't in the main corridor, nor was he in the pilot's chair where he'd usually be. She walked towards the shower, and found Vegeta in the cargo room. He was half dressed, and paid no attention to her. Bulma walked by and made no mention of his presence. She turned on the shower, and began her day. Her thoughts would wander to various miscellaneous topics, none of any consequence as she shampooed her hair. The details of the night before would enter her head, and she would smile. He could've left. He could've let her sleep on the blankets. There were a million things he could've done that were in line with his character, but didn't do. Instead he silently consoled a buzzed homesick human with no purpose.

She leaned her head back into the hot cascade of water when she felt something wet and furry snake around her abdomen. She practically jumped out of her skin before she realized it was Vegeta's tail. The soap was washing down her face so she couldn't really open her eyes until she made it back under the welcoming warmth of the shower.

"VEGETA DAMN IT YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!"

He was still behind her as she frantically tried to rise herself off so she could scold him face to face. He lowered his lips to her neck, and then bit her ear, "Woman, I was in line first." Bulma bit her lip. Vegeta was half dressed in the cargo room, but in reality, he was half undressed about to hit the shower before she marched in and just jumped right in. She smirked.

"Well then I guess I'll have to make it up to you."

She turned around, and leaned into Vegeta as she ran her hand from his chest down to his abdominals resting just below his navel. His eyebrow raised, "I'm listening." The water poured down both of their rock-hard bodies as the steam began to grow thick. She smiled, "Dealer's choice." He grinned.

It wasn't long before she was pressed up against the shower being dominated over and over by Vegeta, who had no idea that his day was going to start out this way. He wasn't object to it, at all, and the fact that he was defiling Kakarot's best friend—again—brought him more satisfaction than he had anticipated. Time passed as he kept Bulma's complete attention, so much in fact she broke from her bliss to notice the shower was still running.

"Ve—ve—Vegeta…we…"

He thrust deeper inside of her which made her nails scratch down his back.

"Aaaahhhhh!"

He didn't like it when she would speak, so at every opportunity he'd make sure she'd either be moaning, or screaming his name.

"Hnnnnnnn…oooohhhh…water…the water…"

Vegeta nipped at the crook of her neck, "We'll get more…"

He continued pleasuring her, but in the back of his mind, she had a damn good point. He reached back, and turned off the water. Then in a sudden blast of air Bulma was transported out of the shower, and onto her back, soaking wet on the bed as they continued their impromptu sexual romp in the sheets. Bulma was in ecstasy as Vegeta pumped and rocked her body like no other could ever do. It was sex like this that made Bulma appreciate the invention of the IUD! She pleased him back as she put her abdominal and vaginal muscles to good use on him.

Vegeta smiled on the inside—today was going to be a great day.

But that smile soon ended when the ship came to a halt and the glow of red illuminated the room where the two were quite deep into each other. The sudden brightness only garnered his attention for a split second, but then that second turned into many. He was on top of her at the time holding her arms over her head and thrusting in deep when he looked up, and just stopped. She was biting on his ear, and then felt him thrust, and then stop. It was quite awkward for her, both physically and mentally. She laid there underneath him, her arms still pinned over her head, his body still quite deep into hers as she watched a wave of disbelief wash over his face. She managed to turn her head on the bed, and look out the window where she saw a huge red planet just floating there.

Is that…?

Vegeta's home planet was quite real.

Bulma sweat dropped.

Talk about a mood killer.

He looked at it through the window, and slowly began to tighten his fists. His whole demeanor changed at the sight, and it scared Bulma. It also scared her because he still had her hands in his which were getting tighter and tighter.

"Vegeta…"

He remained fixated on the image through the window.

She squirmed a bit under him, "Vegeta…"

His gaze shot down at her—it was murderous. His eyes were so different—so cold. Whoever he was prior to her influence was who he was at this moment on top of her. Bulma could only whisper in slight fear…

"…you're hurting me…"

Like a flip of a switch his murderous tone lifted, and he was brought back to the reality before him. He looked at Bulma, and loosened his grip on her. He was so fixated on his anger from the past that he lost himself in his own rage, at least until a little voice came from the dark recesses of his mind and pulled him out of his fall. She watched as his face softened back to the rigid Saiyan she'd come to know. It wasn't much of a difference—he went from murderous bloodlust to just murderous, but at least she knew if it was her on his radar.

"I guess it's time to go…"

She began to move her arms to her sides when he tightened his hands on them once more, and pinned them back over her head. She gasped at his movement—she had no clue what he was about to do, or what mental state he was in. Speaking of 'in', he was still quite deeply 'in' her. He grinned—an action that Bulma scarcely seen him do—and she froze up. He could feel her tension all over her body, and on parts of his too.

"Woman…"

He dragged his mouth across hers, then stopped.

"I fully plan to complete the task at hand before starting a new one."

As if nothing had changed he was back at it with the same fervor as he had before. Except Bulma had to inquire because she was really worried about his mental health at this moment. She didn't need to be on the receiving end of a neck snap in case he looked up again and lost his cool.

"Vegeta are you sure…"

He brought his lips to her ear.

"Woman, if that fucking planet has been there this long…it can wait another hour."

It took Bulma a few moments to get her mind back into the game, but it wasn't hard to do with the caliber of sex that he could provide. She figured why not enjoy it—every psychopathic moment of it because one day she'll be back on Earth looking for something to hold to his standard fully knowing that there was no comparison to be made.

Men on Earth are gonna suck now.

Her mind then caught up to Vegeta's words.

"WAIT…AN HOUR?!"