Konnichiwa minna-san ^^ It's been an inexcusably long time… ^^;;;; However, this is a decently long chapter by my standards. So sit back and enjoy Chapter 5!
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Chapter 5
Ambush
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Broken rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, the warm light gently awakening the sleeping phoenix. Bulma found herself lying on a bed of soft ferns. She lay gazing up through the trees, She sighed softly and then glanced casually to the side. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she found the dragon himself to be sleeping just a few yards away. But then, what she had long ago dubbed as morning amnesia dispersed, and the memories of the previous day washed over her conscious; the battle with the dragon, that awful boar, the dragon saving her life, and the begrudging, yet unspoken, alliance that had been made.
Mindful of her own injuries, Bulma heaved a sigh and slowly sat up. This forest was really very beautiful, she decided, like the tropical jungles of her home planet. She had never had the chance to visit the rainforests of Chikyuu, but she had seen pictures, and watched a few documentaries on such exotic places. And if the forests of this planet were anything like those of Chikyuu then she knew they would be teaming with strange and exotic creatures, and plants, both medicinal and toxic. Speaking of strange creatures, Bulma thought, glancing over at the boar carcass. "My Kami," she grimaced. The dragon had been eating the thing raw. She felt rather ill at that thought, but it was not enough to quell the demands of her grumbling stomach. She debated on starting a fire and cooking the boar or digging into her already meager rations. Her silent debate was interrupted as she heard the dragon groan.
She stealthfully crept over to the half-asleep man. He really was handsome, she decided. If she had to be stranded on a remote planet, then at least she was stranded with a handsome man. Smiling contentedly to herself, she nudged her new companion awake. She soon learned, however, that the dragon was not yet tamed.
Vegeta in his half asleep state suddenly felt something push on his body, and completely out of reflex he reached out and grabbed the offending creature about the neck. He found himself staring into the frightened blue eyes of the phoenix woman.
He loosened his grip slightly but he did not fully release the woman. "What the hell do you think your doing, phoenix?"
"I was just…waking you" she managed to gasp out. He dropped her completely shooting her a wicked glare.
"I am not some child who requires a wakeup call."
"I never said you were," she snapped. She leapt up from the ground rather to quickly and found herself feeling a might dizzy. She stumbled into the dragon, who stood stock still, giving her and odd look as she leant on him for support.
"What is your problem?" He sneered shoving, her backwards, and at the lack of support, she collapsed onto the ground.
She sat crouched on her knees, glaring up at him with a pained expression on her face. "What was that for!?"
"I could ask the same of you?" sneered the dragon. "What happened to all that energy from last night hmm? You certainly had no problems running from that boar."
"There is a little something called adrenaline, you know." She slowly picked herself off from the ground. I'll admit, I still haven't healed from our battle, and somehow I doubt that you have either. She poked his side to prove her point and when he jerked away from her she smirked in triumph. "Don't think I've forgotten that knife wound I gave you, you're just as injured as I am."
"Feh, what do you know? Unlike you I will heal at a much faster rate. You will still be limping about by the time I am fully healed."
"Humph, is that so?" she chuckled crossing her arms. "And what species pray tell has such amazing healing capabilities."
"The Saiyans" he stated with a smirk.
"Well that explains your freakish strength," she grumbled. A long silence ensued, before Bulma finally spoke, "Hey aren't you going to ask about my people?"
"Why should I care to learn the name of such a weak species?" he growled turning and walking towards the boar, fully intent on filling his belly. However the Phoenix woman jumped in front of him, "Hey! This weak species kicked your ass yesterday!" she shouted poking him in the chest, "So give us some credit"
"Fine I will give you this, you have radical technologies and without it you would be dead." He snarled. "Now get out of my way," he said shoving her to the side. Bulma rolled her eyes and followed him over to their breakfast. Bulma nearly gagged as they neared it. The humid jungle air had caused the beast to rot at an increased rate. "My Kami do not even tell me you are going to eat that." Vegeta stared down at the boar disdainfully, it seemed he would need to hunt for something fresher. "Do not even insinuate that I am desperate enough to eat that garbage"
"Well at least you're not a complete beast. But look, I think we should get out of hear before any local predators sniff out this carcass."
Vegeta chuckled, "its too late for that now woman. We're already surrounded."
Su…surrounded? Bulma glanced about the forest nervously. She didn't see anything but…she could hear the feint fall of footsteps coming ever nearer, and the sound seemed to be coming from every possible direction. "What is it?" she whispered.
"How the hell should I know?" he sneered. "I never studied the fauna of this planet."
The pair continued to look about them wondering when this unseen danger would emerge. And as quickly as the thought struck, they found themselves surrounded. The creatures circled the pair at a feverous pace, growling furiously. "Wolves", Bulma gasped. But these weren't any wolves of the like she had ever seen. They were massive in size, at least 4 foot at the shoulder blade. They were gray in color and bore large blades at their sides. Their front paws were humanoid in appearance. Bulma's terror increased ten-fold as the creatures suddenly stood erect bearing scythe like blades and swords alike.
Bulma and Vegeta suddenly found themselves back to back against this seemingly endless force of wolf-like creatures.
The creatures growled among themselves in a strange guttural language, and began closing in on the wary pair. "Kuso! This planet was supposed to be uninhabited!" Bulma cursed. "Kami, Dragon, if we get out of this, remind me to kill whoever scouted this planet!"
"Gladly, he smirked, "I'll even help you skin him alive. But what are you worried about woman, you're a warrior aren't you? Let's just annihilate these beasts." "Bulma smiled grimly, as she watched the pack continue to circle them, "Your right you know, After facing you these mongrels should be a peace of cake." I just hope I can withstand my own injuries, she thought grimly.
Vegeta powered up slightly, causing the creatures to look on at him with wonder before they growled ferociously and began to creep ever closer. Bulma reached up to her shoulder guard, grabbing two capsules. She deployed the first revealing her Carakarr, and then the second, which revealed the gun that she had earlier used upon the dragon. Quickly strapping the Carakarr to her wrist guards, the Phoenix raised her gun and aimed at a section of the wolf pack. Vegeta glanced back at the phoenix woman, seeing what she was plotting. He smirked to himself, and turned to face the pack. "All right woman, at my signal we'll both fire into the pack. We should be able to take out a large expanse of them with one blow."
"Why are you suddenly the boss?" she growled.
"Just shut up, woman, and follow my lead if you want to survive!" She nodded, and leveled her weapon at the pack, as Vegeta began to gather his Ki. "Ready woman?" he shouted.
"Hai!" she confirmed.
"Then Fire!" At Vegeta's signal the pair fired simultaneous blasts into the wolf pack, taking out a large number of them. However, more immediately moved in to take their place, trying to complete the circle once again. But the two warriors had already begun to move. Bulma, brandishing her Carakarr slashed yet another hole into their defenses. On the other half of the circle Vegeta was carrying out a massacre of his own. The wolves now abandoned their circular formation and attacked the pair full out, wielding their heavy blades. "Where the hell are they all coming from!?" Bulma shouted as she cut yet another wolf being in half. No matter how many they killed more and more kept coming at them in seemingly endless numbers. Her stamina was quickly failing her and she found herself back to back with the dragon once again.
"I have no idea, but this is a waste of time!" he sneered cutting down yet another beast with his bare hands."
I agree, but how are we going to get out of here! Bulma shouted over the din of battle. Wait a minute can you fly?"
"Of course I can fly woman." Vegeta snarled, realization dawning on him. In the heat of battle he had not even thought of escape so caught up was he in the joy of the kill. But this was truly a waste of time and energy and though he wouldn't dare admit it to the phoenix, he was slowly wearing down. My injuries must be worse then I initially believed, he thought to himself. It's definitely time to abandon this battle, he thought, as he began to rise into the air.
"What are you doing!?" Bulma shouted spinning around to prevent an attack from her now unguarded rear. "You can't abandon me here!" she shouted. Without the aide of the dragon, Bulma was quickly being overcome by the sheer numbers that now surrounded her on all sides. Vegeta hovered just above her chuckling wickedly at her predicament. She glared at him and then reached up and grabbed his foot nearly pulling him out of the sky.
"What are you doing you fool!" he bellowed, as he shot up well above the ground and far out of the reach of the wolves.
"How dare you leave me to die you bastard!" shouted Bulma, who now found herself well out of the way of the wolves. Yet she now found herself in yet another life threatening position. She was high above the earth clinging desperately to the boot of the Dragon warrior. "You had better help me up, you stupid bastard! I'm not ready to die just yet!"
'So what concern is that of mine," he said coldly. "I could just kick you off and leave you as fare for the wolves, and then I'd be rid of your annoying presence.
"Dragon…please you can't," her voice cracked in fear, and wanton tears brimmed her eyes. "I wont die this day!" She shouted reaching her freehand up to clutch at his armor. With strength that can only be born of adrenalin the Phoenix pulled her-self up until she was flush against the dragon warrior.
"Feh, why didn't you do that in the first place?" he smirked at her, clearly amused by her fear, and perhaps her proximity was also at fault for his jovial expression.
"You stupid bastard! How could you leave me to die? We are supposed to be partners for the time being don't you understand that!?" she said, slapping him across the face.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her, the slap did not faze him, but the fact that she had the audacity to do it did. "It seems to me woman, that it's not I that needs assistance but you. If I weren't around then you would surely have died before morning. So what do I need with a helpless creature such as yourself?"
"Dragon," Bulma growled, getting extremely agitated with his attitude, "maybe I'm not that strong, but I killed my fare share of those creatures down there! So do not insinuate that I am a helpless woman that cannot take care of herself! Bulma casually glanced down at the wolves, "Shit, they have bows!"
"They have what?" Vegeta snarled, clearly confused.
"They have bows and arrows, idiot! They're going to try and shoot us from the sky! Look at the moment I know I need some help, and I can admit that. So please just get us the hell out of here."
Vegeta reluctantly admitted, if only to his self, that she did have some skill, and that it might not hurt to have her around. "Fine woman but if you get to be too much trouble I'll take you back to the wolves." Vegeta growled as he rocketed off into the sky.
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How was that minna-san ^^ Let me know by leaving me tons of reviews! SB's birthday is fast approaching ^_~ so you'll want to make it a happy one teehee ^^ SO REVIEW!!!
Ja ne minna!
The Saiyan Butterfly ^_~