3

The next few Regions were uneventful; even so, Vegeta and Bulma made sure to stick to the cards. Hating himself for it, Vegeta took the role of the main speaker from Bulma. Tightly gripping the cards, Vegeta's gravelly voice rang out, "The Woman and I wish to share our victory with you. And our gratitude to President Freeza and the Capital for bringing us together. Though our Bond was forged in dragon flame, it was and is the best prize we could've ever won. For it is because of true love that we could endure the hardship of the Game. Love is what will mend our broken hearts and spirits. Love is what will chase away our lonely nights, and love is what will give meaning to our lives. We are also here to share your sorrow for your fallen Competitors."

Looking up from his card, Vegeta scanned the crowd. They aren't buying it… He cleared his throat and pressed onwards, "The Competitors of this Region fought bravely and with dignity. And through their death, they brought honor to their families and their home. It is through our Game that we learned that both, living Winners and departed Competitors, are all united for a common purpose. Thanks to the great mercy of President Freeza." The expressions of the people of Region 9, the second-largest Region, stared blankly at him as Bulma read from her card. Hopefully, they'll buy her spiel more than they did mine. Speaking of which, I'm going to break the Bald One's neck for writing such a sorry excuse of a speech. We're supposed to pacify the people with our sincerity, not rile them up with obviously fake sentimental words. At least Bulma's well-delivered speech seemed to garner a reaction from the stone-faced people, and it was not one of hatred or rebellion.

That night, Vegeta shot awake to the sound of Bulma screaming. Practically flying through the train to her room in nothing but a pair of shorts, Vegeta paused in the doorway as wide blue eyes stared at him in fear. Watching her heaving chest, Vegeta whispered, "You're fine, Woman. Go back to sleep." "Vegeta." Bulma called to his bare back, her broken voice keeping from leaving, "Can you stay with me? Please?" Sighing, Vegeta turned to face his Woman, intending to tell her no; but as soon as he saw tears glistening in those deep, blue eyes, Vegeta knew he couldn't leave her alone. "Fine. But just for tonight." Vegeta growled as he crossed the room and crawled into bed beside Bulma. She laid her head on his chest and rested a hand on his right pectoral, murmuring sleepily, "Thank you, Veggie…" Gently petting her blue hair, the teenage warrior let the soft breaths of his young Mate lull him into a dreamless sleep for the first time in six months.


After a near-riot in Region 8, Krillin rewrote the speeches with some input from Bulma. At least they no longer sounded so impersonal, but the frilly words that Krillin insisted they use were still having an adverse effect on the heated crowds in the lower Regions. The only thing that made the trip bearable was sleeping in Bulma's bed every night to ward off her nightmares, and his own.

Sitting with the teens in the lounge car, Piccolo frowned, "No doubt Freeza's been watching you two, and he's not going to be happy. Not with how the Regions are more riled up now than they were before you two arrived." "You try reading the stuff Krillin writes for us." Vegeta snarled, his mood was getting fouler by the day. "Feel free to explain that to Freeza when you see him. Two days from now!" Piccolo shot back, frustrated at their inability to act unless their lives depended on it; which it did.

Leaning back, Vegeta ground out, "Got any ideas in that silly little head of yours, Woman?" "I do actually." Bulma stated calmly, not taking the bait like she usually would, "We could get married." She flinched, worried about how the volatile Saiyan would react. "You've got to be kidding, Woman. Is that seriously the best you could come up with?" Vegeta spat venomously, he knew that his words would hurt her but at the moment he didn't care. Pain flickered across her perfect porcelain face before it was replaced with a fiery passion, "I didn't have to choose you back, Vegeta; yet I did. Plus, as Mr. Piccolo said, we're going to be dragged into the spotlight every year, it'd have to happen eventually. So why not now?" The blond man rubbed his chin thoughtfully, nodding, "It'd make a statement, that's for sure." "Fine! No one ever asked my opinion on this harebrained idea anyway!" Vegeta growled as he stormed out of the car to work out his frustrations on the empty air in his room.

Bulma started to follow the flame-haired teen with a matching personality when Piccolo stopped her, "Let him go. Vegeta has to come to terms with this on his own." "But I thought he wanted to marry me?" Bulma sighed dejectedly, absentmindedly rubbing Vegeta's bite mark on her neck. Shaking his head, Piccolo tried to ease the young woman's mind, "And I'm sure he does, Bulma, but he probably wanted to do it in his own time. And in his own way. Has he told you how Saiyans mate?" Slowly nodding, she answered, "Yeah, during the first night of marriage both 'Mark' the other, like Vegeta did to me in the cave. But that was an accident, so we're technically not Mated by Saiyan culture."

"And that's where you're wrong," Piccolo stated, which caused Bulma's blue eyebrows to furrow in confusion. He continued, "You may not be Mated to Vegeta but he is Mated to you. Right now he is having to deal with a one-sided Bond that can only be completed by you returning the Mating Mark to him. Honestly, I'm surprised that he's made it this long." "What's that supposed to mean?" Bulma was starting to get worried now. Reaching for the glass decanter to pour himself a drink, the man shrugged, "Typically a Saiyan in Vegeta's position would've gone insane within a month of not completing the Bond; and yet he's still sane… err, normal, after six. I'm impressed with his tenacity. And his dedication to you." They sat in silence as Bulma mulled over Piccolo's words.


Later that night, Vegeta slipped into Bulma's room as he had the past week. Sliding under the covers, he was surprised to find her still awake, "I thought you would be asleep by now." "I was waiting for you." Bulma yawned, getting comfortable on his muscled chest. "Well, you don't have to wait any longer," Vegeta smirked, stroking her soft hair to coax her to sleep. Bulma mumbled something against his skin that even his sensitive ears struggled to pick up, "Why didn't you tell me?" Intrigued, Vegeta asked, "Tell you what, Woman?" But she was already fast asleep. I'll have to ask her about that tomorrow. Vegeta yawned as his eyelids slid shut and he fell into the welcomed darkness.