AN: Sooo.. I've this chapter lying around for a few months now. I didn't give up. I've just been busy... Adulting is hard

Warning: More explicit lemony content, as an apology for the long wait.

Disclaimer:. I don't own DB, DBZ or DBS or any rights to their characters. I'm just having fun with them.

Chapter 16 (Priorities)

The fresh mountain air was instantly replaced by the scents and scenery of West City as Bulma was teleported back to Capsule Corp. She waited for the initial dizziness to pass that seemed to accompany instant transmission. Rubbing at a kink in her shoulder, Bulma considered the crazy haired Saiyan beside her and his slave-driving wife.

"I'm telling you Goku," she started, "If your wife were a mermaid, I would have hired her as one of my elite guards on the spot. Does she know she's wasting her talent slaving over cooking pots?" she teased.

At the mention of cooking, Goku's stomach rumbled loudly, his hand flying to it, seeming to rub it soothingly. Bulma laughed.

"I don't know If I fully agree with that, Bulma. She makes a mean sweet and sour pork dumpling. I'd say her talent is properly applied."

"Is that Goku the warrior speaking - or Goku the bottomless pit?"

To that his head tilted to the side, face scrunched up like he was contemplating a life changing epiphany.

"Chichi was a martial artist when we met. Our dates mostly consisted of eating then sparring the day away… When she was expecting Gohan, though, it feels like she became a different person overnight. I can't say I don't miss my warrior princess, but I definitely enjoy the wifely side of her much more." he said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Why Goku, you devil. You're not as dimwitted as I was lead to believe."

To which her reply was a mischievous grin.

"I guess it doesn't really matter whether she decides to spend her time training or cooking, As long as she's happy, I'm fine with either."

Bulma could suddenly see why so many people were drawn to this unconventional warrior. His simplicity was disarming, but he had a hidden intelligence that snuck up on you and demanded your respect, despite his apparent naivety.

Another rumble floated from the vicinity of Goku's gut and he straightened like a soldier at attention.

"Well, gotta jet," he said, "sure you don't want to join us for dinner?"

"After seeing the way you Saiyans eat, I'm not sure there'll be enough to share."

"Suit yourself," he said with a shrug, and disappeared.

It was sunset, and that meant she had been without sleep for over 36 hours and her body was definitely protesting to the abuse. Almost every muscle in her body ached with exhaustion and strain. Despite all of that, the sight of Vegeta's spandex-clad body, lazing with deceptive casualness against the domed wall of the complex still sent a tingle of heat through her body, and her heart rate sped up with anticipation.

"Hey Vegeta," she called, opting for casual as well, "spying on me, are you?"

He scoffed gruffly. "Colluding with my arch nemesis, Woman? Where's your sense of loyalty?"

"Oh please." she said with an eye roll, " You make it sound as if you're actively plotting his demise."

"I am"

"Oh really? To me it seems that Goku's no worse than an arch rival and you're inflated sense of pride just won't admit it." she said airily, attempting to pass him. His hand caught her wrist.

"Bulma." he said with a tone that indicated their bantering was over. She turned to face him, noting his serious expression warily. He held her eyes for a moment before speaking.

"I'm leaving; in a week's time."

"Leaving where?" she asked in slight bewilderment.

"Space. I need to train."

She blinked… twice. Not fully understanding. Then her confusion quickly gave way to hurt. She was all to familiar with this sequence of events. Why! He was no-better than that no-good ranch-hand José in her favorite soap Amor en el Rancho. He wanted her body and now that he had it, he was discarding her. He had used her! Mentally replaying all of their interactions, she looked for some sign that what they had together was not as mutual as she first thought.

"Space?" she frowned, "Why space? Why can't you train here?

"It's not… optimal."

"Not optimal how?"

"Dammit Woman, just accept that I can't reach my full potential here on Earth"

"Don't 'Dammit Woman' me, you arrogant son of an Eel-bastard. How the kelp am I supposed to feel when…" Feeling her eyes prickling alarmingly, the sensation completely foreign, Bulma suddenly realised that she was making a scene worthy of the jilted senorina, Valentina in Amor en el Rancho. She looked around warily, deciding it best not to air dirty laundry -as the human's say - where people like her colleagues can see them. So she switched to telepathy.

'How do you think I feel,' she hissed into his mind, 'when, after last night you so easily dismiss me like inadequate guppy. Now you're telling me that you're leaving… have you no considerations for my feelings at all? Couldn't you, at least pretend that it meant something?'

"Your feelings are stupid, Woman. I'm simply doing what's necessary. An example you'll do well to imitate." he answered her aloud.

'So that's it, then? You got what you wanted, and now you're pissing off?'

"Oh for fuck's sake. Don't be so sensitive. This is exactly the reason I can't stay on this wretched Mudball: you and your emotional bullshit are wreaking havoc on my concentration. I can't focus when you're around. You're a distraction."

His words felt like a blow to the chest. She felt like she was breaking apart inside. If this was the consequences of being in love then she wanted no part of it. Her eyes prickled again and she clenched her jaw in frustration. If he didn't care about her then she'll be damned before she let him see how much he hurt her. He wasn't the only one with pride.

Bulma squared her shoulders and met the black depths of his stare. Forcing her insecurities down, she asked the million-zenny question:

"So, where does this leave us?"

His brows forked downwards, as he noted her sudden icy countenance. Bulma's eyes widened, when instead of keeping his own stone demeanor firmly in place, his gaze became heated with passion. He stepped into her body until they stood nose to nose.

"This changes nothing between us, you daft fish." He spat heatedly, "You've given yourself to me. That makes you mine, Woman. Better get used to it."

Relief felt like a lazy tidal wave washing over her, thawing her from head to toe. The note of possession in his voice made her hot in all the right places. And just like that. She melted. He must have sensed it too because she was suddenly hauled into his hard body, his hand immediately finding the curve of her ass and lifting, prompting her to wrap her legs around his waist. The dizzying sensation of flying fast ended abruptly when cool sheets hit her back. Her clothes came off quickly and his even faster. Before she had time to gather her breath he was on her; and then inside her with a quick brutal thrust. There was no foreplay this time, but she was already half-slick with welcoming juices, accepting him with only a little difficulty.

He paused, letting her body adjust to the burning intrusion, so when he eventually started rocking into her, the pressure easily bloomed into pleasure that echoed up her spine to the base of her neck with every thrust. His hands captured her wrists and he squeezed, just enough to make her feel suitably restrained. He knew just how to work her body to maximize her pleasure. Their long night together endowed him with the intimate knowledge of all the secret places her body needed to be stroked. And Bulma, unaccustomed to the responses of her own body, learned with him. He kept a slightly painful grip on her wrists above her head, his superior strength preventing her from moving; preventing her from clawing at his back as she so desperately wanted to. She was at his mercy he made her feel it. Bulma was a strong woman, someone used to being in command. That was why she was more than a little surprised when she realized that she had a strong sexual need to surrender, to submit Vegeta's dominant tendencies. At least, that had been the case the previous evening.

Now, his absolute control suddenly felt disconcerting. His grip felt restrictive. His power over her heart felt dangerous.

The trust she had in him the past evening, when she gave him her body, suddenly felt so fragile. He was abandoning her, a little irrational voice inside Bulma screamed with indignation and she suddenly she resented his hold on her both emotionally and physically.

Acting mostly in instinct, she wrenched her wrists from his grip, uncaring of the twinge of pain accompanying the action. His eyes widened slightly in surprise and he faltered in his rhythm. She used the opportunity to push at his chest. He followed her body's cues, despite the confusion evident in his expression. She had no words of explanation for him, just the needs of her body. He caught on fast enough however, when she pushed his back to the bed, catching her hips when she proceeded to straddle his waist. His confused gaze gave way to heat as he watched her lower herself onto him, agonizingly slow.

She set the pace this time, his hand on her hips steadying her as her body undulated as if she were back in the ocean, milking every drop of pleasure from their joining. In that moment, she forgot the hurt and the pain and feelings of abandonment. She forgot everything and just felt. Focusing solely on the way he made her feel; the fiery drag of him all through her sensitive inner tissues, the intense pressure deep inside as she sank back down, impaling him to the hilt with lazily rolling hips. She emerged herself in the kaleidoscope of sensation, watching his reaction to her every movement. And when his gaze became too hard to bare, she threw back her head, let the tips of her hair trail over his thighs, and rode until she felt her lower abdomen clench and spasm, signaling her readiness to come. Then she slid her hand across her belly, down between her thighs to find the little bud at the top of her sex. Using her index finger to rub tight little circles around it, she launched herself right over the edge. Pleasure shot like arcs of lightning from her womb outward to the extremities of her body like a massive inner explosion. She was vaguely aware of Vegeta. His own grip tightening on her hips. She barely heard his guttural mutterings of intergalactic expletives. Her focus remained solely on the point where they were joined. She felt his seed jetting into her into her periodically as he found his own crest, felt her own walls still pulsing around him rhythmically. It was a while before she became fully aware her her surroundings outside that.

The first sensation she registered beyond her own pleasure was the wet streaks trailing off the side of her face into her hair.

Tears.

Such a strange occurrence. It felt completely foreign to have water running out from her eyes, yet logically she knew that land dwellers do it all the time. Since she was a land dweller now too, it stands to reason that it would happen to her. It was like her emotions were too much for her body to contain: sadness, love, fear, frustration, and now it was leaking from her eyes. So stupid… yet, why couldn't she stop?

Though her view was currently of the ceiling, she was aware of Vegeta watching her warily through their mental bond. His emotions, however was carefully closed off from her. He was tracing slow circles on her hips, with his thumbs, finding the symmetrical circles that formed part of her lumo-pattern that was etched into her skin even in human form. The sensation raised goosebumps on her skin, reminding her that he was still with her. He wasn't gone yet. To continue wallowing in melancholy would be a waste of their time left together.

"When will you be back?" she suddenly asked, her voice a little hoarse. She still kept her gaze on the ceiling and let out a surprised gasp when she felt herself being swung around. Her back hit the mattress and she was once again face to face with her frowning lover as he loomed over her. He had yet to retreat from her body, she noted.

"Only weaklings let their emotions rule them" he lectured, and she sneered at the insult. "You need to get stronger. I need to achieve the Legendary Super Saiyan. That is the first priority. Whatever is between us now comes after."

When he says it that way it really is hard to stay angry at him, Bulma thought with a defeated sigh.

"Stop frowning at me, Vegeta, I see your point." she scolded. "I don't have to like it but that doesn't mean I don't see the wisdom of your words."

"Good" he said with a self satisfied smirk. He hissed as he withdrew from her, leaving a sticky residue in his wake. That's the second time he spilled his seed into her without restraint, she thought idly, recalling once again the details of the prophecy. She wondered if Vegeta had considered it too.

Bulma had long since quit trying to circumvent the path that the Gods have set out for her. They had not lead her astray thus far. If her heir was meant to save the planet, then who was she to prevent his birth. What shall be will be, she decided pragmatically.

With a lazy, satisfied grin, she watched Vegeta's firm backside disappear into the attached bathroom and chewed on the corner of her lip. The shower switched on not a minute later. As a mermaid, she always thought the most attractive feature of the opposite sex was their slightly larger and thicker tails. The strength it represented as she watched them flex and burst forward with little to no difficulty. Female tails were slimmer and more flexible, built for agility and maneuverability, while Mermen could use their powerful tails very effectively as a club. It always sent a shiver down her spine despite the fact that she was destined to remain chaste… but damn, she thought with a little flutter in her womb as she recalled the sight of Vegeta's ass disappearing into the bathroom. There is definitely something about a pair of muscular legs and tight buttocks that couldn't be denied. The way it tightened with each step made her itch to take a bite. Neptune damnit, she needed to stop this train of thought before she lost all control and jumped him in the shower. She was too exhausted for another romp. Plus, she was kind of tender. A relaxing swim in her customized pool should sooth all those pleasantly aching placed… after a nice long nap, that is.

She flopped back onto the bed, sighing, and considered her immediate problems. She had too many duties. Although she hate admitting it, Vegeta was right. She needed to get her priorities sorted and her continued study on the daily life of the land-dwellers should be scrapped from her schedule. No more Amor en el Rancho! She chided herself sternly. She needed to put more time and effort into training. Her correspondence Engineering degree will also have to be put on hold till the earth is safe. From now on, the only research she will need to be be doing is research into a manner to destroy the androids. To destroy the androids however she needs to be able to create them. She would have to ask doctor Briefs' opinion on the matter, surely he'll be able to point her into the right direction. She couldn't abandon Gohan's tutoring however, since it was the bargaining material for her own training. Her head suddenly hurt. Simplifying one's life isn't as easy as she had hoped. It was probably a good thing that he was leaving, she thought with a self-depreciating sigh. She could not deny that they distracted each other oh so deliciously from their respective goals. She wouldn't, however, admit that to him under pain of death.

Yes… things will certainly be much simpler, albeit much duller too, with His Pompousness out of the way.

When his team exited the tunnel, they were at first nearly blinded by the brightness of the water. The water was turquoise blue around them, as if lit by a school of bioluminescent jellies all round them. In awe, Ray followed the streaks of light from the water surface until it illuminated a world full of bright colors as far as he could see. Corals were bright red, tiny fish swam around in all shades and patterns. It seemed a paradise. It was the not-so-mythical Reef. So distracted by this new world that he almost missed their audience:

Two mermen were swimming towards them, their features to far away to make out. It was when they drew close enough to identify them that his jaw went slack with shock, for they were not mammal as he was, neither seph or eel-kin. What he had first assumed was a closely cropped hairstyle turned out to be darkly-colored skin. Their fins swished vertically from side-to-side and not up and down like the Mammalians. These were Selachimorphians, or more commonly known as mersharks.

Ray's straightened his spine, trying to recall everything he could about this species of mer. The foremost fact in his mind being that they were cannibals .

'Incoming' he announced, and like a well oiled machine his squad followed his lead, positioning themselves defensively, their tridents at a ready. Upon observing their defensive party, the approaching mers froze, seemed to confer some private communication and then continued toward them at a notable slower pace.

Ray was not the only one who noticed the peculiarity of their company.

'Lieutenant…' came Marlin's hesitant voice, 'Is that...?'

'I thought they were exstinct.' Lapis chimed in.

'Obviously not.' Ray answered tersely.

"What do you want to do Lieutenant?" asked Lapis.

'Hold,' he ordered, 'wait for hostile intent.'

'Peace friends' one of them said as soon as they reached broadcasting range.

'We mean you know harm.' the other injected. The two stopped before their party, a non threatening distance away. Ray noted however, that they did not sheath their weapons.

'We have come searching for our lost companion' Ray called out, opting for diplomacy to which their reaction toward one another was two sets of raised eyebrows. After conferring silently, one of the mermen swam a little closer towards Rays team. Ray's skin prickled.

'We do not get much in the sense of travellers this way.' he spoke directly to Ray. 'If you are amenable, you may accompany us to the village. There you will find the answers you seek.' Then he turned away and started back with his companion. Eager to follow the first solid lead they've had in what seemed an eternity, Ray made to follow, only to feel a delicate hand grip his wrist.

He turned to meet the worried gaze of Lapis. 'You do not know that it is safe' she reminded gently, sensing his eagerness. Then she grinned slyly before adding. 'Let's ask them first, shall we?'

Returning her grin, Ray halted his advance then called out to the retreating mermen.

The same one swam towards them again. Ray noted that his tail was a pale shade spotted with brown. The spots seemingly to lighten to mere shadows as his tail met his torso and appeared again as a light dusting of brown on the crown of his head. The other, seemingly subordinate merman was light-grey from top to tail, with his belly face and torso being the only soft and pale-fleshed parts. Their human parts look remarkably like that of the mammalian mers except for their teeth and pupils which resembled that of their shark-companions. However, it was still disconcerting to note the vertical sway of their tails.

'Before we accompany you,' Ray said to the sharkmers, 'We need some guarantee that we will not come to any harm in your village.'

The spotted mer seemed to hesitate momentarily, then nodded his aquascience.

'I need the words' Lapis interjected before they turned to go again. This seemed to garner her an odd look from the strange mermen, but they answered anyway.

'You shall be safe and treated with hospitality in our village. I give you my word.' Spotty said, somewhat exasperated. Murky looked mildly offended. Ray looked towards Lapis for verification, who in turn looked towards the rest of the team before confirming 'Truth'.

Ray observed his squad that currently seated around him. All of his team members still wore a the slightly bewildered look expectations unmet. All except Marlin, who was currently stuffing his twelfth shark-maki into his mouth while Blade watched on with a not-very-well concealed queasy look on his face. To meet a half-legendary tribe of cannibalistic-berserker mers that were thought to have gone extinct centuries past and have them calmly serve you fine-cuisine and tell you to 'please wait a moment' on an audience with their elders - like it was the most natural thing in the world would throw any self-respecting soldier off his game. At least they were making progress with their search, for at least now they had enough information, thanks to Ray needling it out of their escort on the way to the village. A blue haired mermaid had been temporarily hosted by the sharkmers, but she had left shortly afterwards. Ray tried to get more but their escort clammed up when he tried to interrogate him as to the manner of her leaving or her destination. Suffice to say, Ray was starting to have doubts about their hosts. Something was definitely amiss, and besides Marlin - who was still stuffing his gob - they all seemed to sense it. Ray was starting to get twitchy waiting for these 'elders' to grace them with their presence. He felt Abby's hand settle onto his shoulder, squeezing gently and tried to take a calming breath.

Suddenly the doors swung open and Murky from their escort swam through.

'The elders will see you now' he announced and left again, prompting Ray and his team to follow. For the second time in what appeared a very short time, Ray found himself before a panel of leaders once again. One separated himself from the rest of the panel and swam forward.

'I am Zyke' he said, 'I shall speak on behalf of this council. We have been informed that you seek one of yours.'

'And your patrolman has confirmed that she was here.' he answered. 'I am Ray. This is my team.' he indicated his companions, 'The mermaid that we seek is very important to our Queendom. We would like to return her to her home.'

'Ah.. I see, and would she have liked to return home with you, I wonder.' Zyke replied, seemingly to himself, to which Ray remained silent. It was a moot point if Bulma had already left again anyway. Which reminded Ray: 'I was told she is no longer in your care.'

'No unfortunately not. She couldn't stay, even if she wanted to. You see, your young warrior mermaid had a higher purpose. Her coming to us was prophesied, so was her leaving.'

Ray felt the blood freezing in his veins. A look at his teammates revealed expressions ranging from disbelieve, to warriness to outrage - himself falling in the latter category. Blade, who's wound was treated upon arrival, looked like he lost all the blood she had just recently recovered.

'Explain yourself!' Ray shouted. Things could not get more convoluted without adding another prophecy to the cauldron. Undaunted by Ray's outburst, Zyke continued his narrative, relating how Bulma's arrival - which Ray only then discovered was another heart-stopping ordeal altogether - set in motion a series of events that had his princess coming face to face with a monster of legend, the Imoogi of all things, and ended with her swimming fiercely into its coils which would apparently lead to her retrieving the heir that will unite Land and Sea. Now where had he heard that one before… he thought sarcastically.

Ray's head was throbbing. His thoughts were spinning. The meeting had ended a while ago, the water was again a soothingly familiar dark blue. His team had once again returned to the quarters they were assigned to for the evening after he sent them out to verify the story that the elder Zyke had relayed to them. According to Lapis everyone they interviewed spoke truth of what they witnessed. The events of the offering ceremony happened exactly as it was described to him in the meeting. His princess was spirited away by a colossal sea serpent.

He attempted to make sense of what was happening and what he knew to be true. Lapis was staring at him strangely, but he had no inclination to address her at that moment. It was all so far-fetched he was almost tempted to believe that everyone in that Neptune-forsaken place was part of some delusional cult taking hallucinogens to induce fantastical visions… And yet, it was all to much of a coincidence, he admitted: their people's prophecy, the Shark-people's 'Vessel' prophecy, Bulma leaving, Marron's supposed confession and now this place. The legends; all true and validated by the existence of their very location. How could he refute the existence of something everyone in that place had already witnessed. How could he deny that Bulma might have left, not because of fear, but because it was her destiny to do so. What does this mean for him? For this quest? Are they circumventing destiny by trying to retrieve her?

He eyed Abby, who was sleeping soundly. Trying to recover as soon as possible. She'd taken care of Blade's wounds and patched up her own scrapes and was now trying to recover her energy she spent on the chi-healing arts. Blade was outside the door, keeping watch. What should he tell them? Should they continue on this quest?

'Even if what they told us is true...' Lapis interrupted his train of thought.

'Hundreds of witnesses Lapis!' He snapped, suddenly angry. 'Accounts validated by a truthseer, by you!'

'Look on the bright side, Barracuda' Marlin interjected, 'She's probably still alive and well.'

'Yeah - and out there getting impregnated by some land-dweller' Ray sneered, his stomach rolling uneasily at the idea of it.

'Exactly.' said, Marlin before seeming to backtrack 'wait, what… dude. Gross'

'Regardless,' Lapis started again 'Even so, we told the Council that we'd return her to her home. To her rightful place as heir to the throne. Just because there are external forces at work here doesn't mean our own quest is fruitless. Think about it, she has to come back anyway. She is destined to birth the King that will usher in a new era.'

'"Heir to Land and to the Sea."'Abby's thoughts echoed groggily in their minds. 'A united earth' she said with wonder. Ray's gaze swung towards a now awake Abby.

'Hey sleepyhead.' he said softly, 'How long have you been awake?'

'Just a few minutes.'

'How are you feeling?'

'Much better, thanks… I think Lapis is right. We shouldn't quit this quest. For all we know we are also pawns in this divine game, destined to return Bulma and her heir to their home.'

'I hear you, but there's something else you guys are not thinking about. Bulma might be out there getting freaky with some two-legged lug, right?' Marlin said, 'Who says she wants to come back at all?'

'Well somehow she is… coming back, that is' Lapis answered. 'Something pushed her into going to the surface. Fate, destiny, the gods.. I don't care but she ended up going right where she was foretold to go. Well, the prophecy is not done and she has to return. By hook or crook, the fate of the world depends on it apparently. Bulma will come back and we'll be coming back with her, right Ray?'

'Right.' Ray confirmed, feeling the determination building in him anew. He was still on the right path. He would find Bulma and he would bring her home. If that is her destiny then whatever she has with the surface-dweller is temporary, right?

'Alright!' Marlin cheered. 'The adventure is still a-go. I wonder what the surface is like?'

AN: It's shorter that usual, I know. So-wee