A/N: Finally, Chapter 6! I made this one extra long to help make up for the
length between the posting of this chapter and the last.
Disclaimer: I may not own DBZ but as long as I don't get paid, I can sure as hell act like I do! ::MOV makes an evil laugh::
Love By Another Name~
Chapter 6. Rooftop Conversations
Bulma was worried. She had time to set the table AND clean up her cooking mess. That NEVER happens! *Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..* Placing a small feast inside a few nearby capsules, she headed up to his room.
When there was no response to her persistent knocking, Bulma cracked the door open and scanned the empty space. The French doors connected to the balcony were open, granting the warm summer breeze entrance. She watched the sheer curtains billow and wane as she stood there silently, capsule in hand.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Bulma sighed heavily, not caring that her freshly combed tresses were now madly dancing in the wind. Sitting lightly on the railing, she let her legs dangle perilously over the edge. *I can't believe he left. If I had known this would happen..* A single crystalline tear traced its way down her cheek, briefly hesitating at her jaw, before plunging to its death on the lawn below; followed shortly by some of its brethren. *Why should I care if he leaves or not?*
Touching her hand to her face, her fingers were greeted with the salty drops, ridding her mind of any doubts she may have had about her feelings towards the saiyan houseguest.
~*~
He had been watching the little blue-haired female for a while now, from his perch above her. The moonlight shown off her newly shed tears, revealing others that threatened to be born at the borders of her eyes. She was marveling at the liquid emotions that were clinging to her fingertips, as though to question their existence.
Vegeta felt his heart ache, yearning to alleviate her pain in any way possible. The saiyan's concern, however, did not override his pride. "Woman, what the hell are you doing?" he said gruffly.
His voice cut harshly through the silent night air and was more than enough to scare the crap out of a certain self-proclaimed genius. She turned wide- eyed and managed to catch a glimpse of his floating form before falling off the railing. A strong hand grabbed her arm gingerly while another circled her waist, slowly separating the gap between the two forms.
Vegeta gazed down at the woman in his arms who was extremely pale and starring off into the distance. He shook her gently, awakening her to reality and the present situation. Bulma flushed furiously and prayed to Kami that he would put her down and put her down now. The answer the guardian of the Earth gave her appeared in the form of a smirk from her newly appointed savior. *Well at least she's not crying anymore.* He mused.
Bulma could see the laughter dancing in his eyes and it only fueled her embarrassment. "Um.. Thanks Vegeta but could you put me down now please?" She begged him silently with her eyes.
*The woman actually said 'please'. She must be EXTREMELY uncomfortable.* His smirk broadened as he leaned down and whispered, "Whatever you say onna." She shivered involuntarily as his warm breath tickled her neck.
He set her down on the roof, releasing her from his grasp with some hesitancy and stretched out on some nearby tiles. Vegeta could tell she was still upset; her tail kept swishing around nervously behind her.
"I hope you aren't mad about your tail." She almost whispered, after the silence became too much for her; his expression reflected one of shock.
"Mad about my tail?" He inquired incredulously, "Mad about my tail?" He slowly made his way over to the blue saiyan and gently held her shoulders. "Do you know nothing about a saiyan's tail?" From the intense, raw emotion in his gaze Bulma felt her icy pride melt.
"Um.. Not really." She replied meekly while trying to fend off the rising heat in her cheeks and look anywhere but at his face. "I'm sorry Vegeta I shouldn't have done that. Especially since I didn't know fully what I was doing." Her head lowly hung.
*Well that was out of character!* He mused, his shocked features never faltering. That was the first time he ever heard the woman admit she didn't know something or apologize and frankly it scared the hell out of him. The last time she acted so vulnerable and weak in his presence was a few months after he had started living at Capsule Corp. and baldy had paid her a visit.
~*~Flashback~*~
Krillin was trying his best not to piss off the more powerful fighter sitting at the table but it seemed that someone had already taken that pleasure. Bulma was making the world's largest batch of stir-fry at the stove, all the while muttering curses that were no doubt aimed towards the saiyan across from him.
"Stupid baka, thinks all do is sit around waiting for his royal stick-up- his-ass highness to give me permission to breathe." She attacked the pan fiercely, causing the contents to sizzle louder before continuing to rant.
The shorter man thanked Kami he learned how to laugh on the inside because he was mentally rolling. Partly because of what Bulma had said but mostly due to the fact that he knew she was completely aware that Vegeta had heard every word. Growing up with Goku had made them both learn in a hurry not to say anything you didn't want anyone else to pick up; no matter how quietly it comes out.
"Onna, make me food because I lived all my life in a cave and have never learned to push the start button on the microwave. Onna, fix the gravity machine because, being the overbearing dumb ass that I am, I used more energy than I knew it could handle." Bulma mimicked in a perfect imitation of Vegeta's voice.
*Damn, she is getting good at that! * Krillin's face was now red with his pent up laughter. Vegeta, on the other hand, was growling low in his throat and contemplating the woman's death.
"Onna, lick my boots because you're just some weak pathetic human who doesn't deserve to be in my 'all mighty' presence and the only reason I haven't killed you yet is because I like to bug the shit out of you on a daily basis." She was slowly becoming lost in her thoughts and her speech less sarcastic.
Krillin's mirth and Vegeta's ire somewhat diminished at the drastic change in her tone. They exchanged a confused glance and looked at the still raving female.
"Onna, why don't you go out of your way for me again and again so I can just spit in your face?" Her grip on the pan and spatula tighten until her knuckles whitened. The impression of the prince was gradually fading with each word. "You're the baka that cared about me in the first place when I never gave a flying fuck about you."
The blue-haired female place a clean plate in front of each guest and set the food filled pan on a wooden block in the center of the table.
"I'll be in my lab." She stated in an emotionless voice, more to herself, and headed out through the sliding glass door.
Vegeta took a hesitant taste of his meal and found it to be rich in salt. The shaker had been at his side the whole time.
~*~End Flashback~*~
After that episode in the kitchen he made a serious effort to keep her from crying. She was always prone to fits, this is Bulma we are talking about, but they were rarely, if ever, his doing. Sure he was still an all around jackass but now knew what buttons not to push.
There were even a few times when she questioned him about her miraculously awakenings in bed when she had fallen asleep somewhere else, or mysterious trays of food popping up in her lab when she had been in there for extended periods of time.
Vegeta shook his head of those thoughts and starred into the oceanic eyes of his ultimate weakness. They were still a glossy red from recent tears but remained as breathtaking as ever; he brushed the hair from her face. "Why were you crying?" He inquired with a hint of care.
Confusion clouded at this sudden change in subject but dissipated quickly. She smiled a soft sweet smile and murmured, "Hopefully for a reason that I never will again." He raised a single brow at her but decided not to pry. Releasing her, he settled back into his lying position on the roof.
"You never told me everything about tails." Bulma stated, breaking the silence again.
"I haven't told you anything about tails." He point out with a smirk.
"Grr.. I know that! Were you planning on telling me or do I have to go ask Goku?"
"Don't you dare ask that baka! He doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'saiyan'!" He roared at her with fire in his eyes.
*Hahaha.. I knew that would work!* "Well if you don't want me to go speak with that 'baka' as you like to call him, then I suggest you start talking, buster."
"Fine." Vegeta growled and rolled onto one elbow. "A saiyan's tail is the key to their strength. It is also their weakness. It allows the giant ape transformation which significantly increases a saiyan's strength but at the same time can rack their body with intense pain if not properly trained." He held up his hand when he noticed her about to speak. "Yes woman I know how to do this and will teach you."
"A saiyan also finds immense pride in their tail and is not truly a saiyan without it. On Vegeta-sei heretics and criminals were known to have them removed as an ultimate punishment. A tail is also a crucial tool used to form a bond with a possible or future mate."
"Bond?" She interrupted.
"Yes, bond, though I do not feel this is the proper time to fully delve into that topic. Without a tail the bond is not possible to initiate, though only a few third class warriors were foolish enough to commit the act. Another important fact that I believe will come to your attention sooner or later is if someone other than yourself comes into contact with your tail it will be automatically.. stimulated."
"Stimulated?" The little female questioned with a tilted of her head.
*Shit. Why must I always spell it out?* "It will cause your body to react whether you like it or not."
"React how?" She picked up the appendage in question and looked at it worriedly.
*I bet you're getting a good laugh out of this one you wrinkled green bastard!* He shot a glance to the sky before sighing and scooting over to her.
"Like this." He took the silky thing from her grasp and proceeded to pet it tenderly.
Bulma could feel a tingling sensation slowly travel down her tail to the base and along her spine. His movements changed to long strokes and the tingling exploded to her nerves. She felt as if this were the first time she had truly been touched and her body screamed in the pleasure of it. "Oh wow." She had never wanted to give herself to somebody as much as she did Vegeta right now.
He looked up and met her gaze, noting the profound lust he relinquished her tail. Up until that point she had been concocting a plan of how to successfully jump the saiyan no ouji. The end of his contact allowed some rational thought to enter her mind but she was still in an aroused stupor.
"I see your point." Bulma said after she regained her voice. "I think I am going to take a shower.. a cold shower." She made her way to the edge of the roof, keeping her eyes straight ahead; thinking another glimpse of him could cause her to go through with her plan, and jumped gracefully on to balcony below.
Following her example, he leapt down and entered his room, where a few food- laden capsules were waiting on his nightstand. He allowed himself a chuckle when the woman's shrieks echoed through the complex.
*Damn Vegeta having to demonstrate.. Urgh he could have just told me!* She adjusted the temperature to one she could stand and allowed the water to work its magic. *I wonder if it feels the same when anyone touches it.*
Donning a black cotton nightgown, Bulma slipped under her covers, still suffering slightly from the after effects of 'Vegeta'. "Annoying bastard, one of these days I am going to get him for that. Him and his stupid sexy smirk." Her statement came out less venomous than she had intended, making her growl loudly.
Vegeta's laughter could be heard through the wall separating their room. "Grr.. I HATE YOU VEGETA!" She roared and heard his mirth intensify. *This is going to be a long night.* Wiggling under the sheets until only the crown of her head remained exposed, the blue-haired woman released a heavy sigh.
A/N: I finally finished this freakin' chapter. I know a lot of you have been waiting much more patiently than I would and I thank you for that! I am not sure when I will have another Chapter out but it will be a much shorter amount of time than it took for this one. Let me know how you think this is going and thanks again for the reviews! They really help clear up writer's block! ::Hint-Hint-Wink-Wink:: ;P
Disclaimer: I may not own DBZ but as long as I don't get paid, I can sure as hell act like I do! ::MOV makes an evil laugh::
Love By Another Name~
Chapter 6. Rooftop Conversations
Bulma was worried. She had time to set the table AND clean up her cooking mess. That NEVER happens! *Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..* Placing a small feast inside a few nearby capsules, she headed up to his room.
When there was no response to her persistent knocking, Bulma cracked the door open and scanned the empty space. The French doors connected to the balcony were open, granting the warm summer breeze entrance. She watched the sheer curtains billow and wane as she stood there silently, capsule in hand.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Bulma sighed heavily, not caring that her freshly combed tresses were now madly dancing in the wind. Sitting lightly on the railing, she let her legs dangle perilously over the edge. *I can't believe he left. If I had known this would happen..* A single crystalline tear traced its way down her cheek, briefly hesitating at her jaw, before plunging to its death on the lawn below; followed shortly by some of its brethren. *Why should I care if he leaves or not?*
Touching her hand to her face, her fingers were greeted with the salty drops, ridding her mind of any doubts she may have had about her feelings towards the saiyan houseguest.
~*~
He had been watching the little blue-haired female for a while now, from his perch above her. The moonlight shown off her newly shed tears, revealing others that threatened to be born at the borders of her eyes. She was marveling at the liquid emotions that were clinging to her fingertips, as though to question their existence.
Vegeta felt his heart ache, yearning to alleviate her pain in any way possible. The saiyan's concern, however, did not override his pride. "Woman, what the hell are you doing?" he said gruffly.
His voice cut harshly through the silent night air and was more than enough to scare the crap out of a certain self-proclaimed genius. She turned wide- eyed and managed to catch a glimpse of his floating form before falling off the railing. A strong hand grabbed her arm gingerly while another circled her waist, slowly separating the gap between the two forms.
Vegeta gazed down at the woman in his arms who was extremely pale and starring off into the distance. He shook her gently, awakening her to reality and the present situation. Bulma flushed furiously and prayed to Kami that he would put her down and put her down now. The answer the guardian of the Earth gave her appeared in the form of a smirk from her newly appointed savior. *Well at least she's not crying anymore.* He mused.
Bulma could see the laughter dancing in his eyes and it only fueled her embarrassment. "Um.. Thanks Vegeta but could you put me down now please?" She begged him silently with her eyes.
*The woman actually said 'please'. She must be EXTREMELY uncomfortable.* His smirk broadened as he leaned down and whispered, "Whatever you say onna." She shivered involuntarily as his warm breath tickled her neck.
He set her down on the roof, releasing her from his grasp with some hesitancy and stretched out on some nearby tiles. Vegeta could tell she was still upset; her tail kept swishing around nervously behind her.
"I hope you aren't mad about your tail." She almost whispered, after the silence became too much for her; his expression reflected one of shock.
"Mad about my tail?" He inquired incredulously, "Mad about my tail?" He slowly made his way over to the blue saiyan and gently held her shoulders. "Do you know nothing about a saiyan's tail?" From the intense, raw emotion in his gaze Bulma felt her icy pride melt.
"Um.. Not really." She replied meekly while trying to fend off the rising heat in her cheeks and look anywhere but at his face. "I'm sorry Vegeta I shouldn't have done that. Especially since I didn't know fully what I was doing." Her head lowly hung.
*Well that was out of character!* He mused, his shocked features never faltering. That was the first time he ever heard the woman admit she didn't know something or apologize and frankly it scared the hell out of him. The last time she acted so vulnerable and weak in his presence was a few months after he had started living at Capsule Corp. and baldy had paid her a visit.
~*~Flashback~*~
Krillin was trying his best not to piss off the more powerful fighter sitting at the table but it seemed that someone had already taken that pleasure. Bulma was making the world's largest batch of stir-fry at the stove, all the while muttering curses that were no doubt aimed towards the saiyan across from him.
"Stupid baka, thinks all do is sit around waiting for his royal stick-up- his-ass highness to give me permission to breathe." She attacked the pan fiercely, causing the contents to sizzle louder before continuing to rant.
The shorter man thanked Kami he learned how to laugh on the inside because he was mentally rolling. Partly because of what Bulma had said but mostly due to the fact that he knew she was completely aware that Vegeta had heard every word. Growing up with Goku had made them both learn in a hurry not to say anything you didn't want anyone else to pick up; no matter how quietly it comes out.
"Onna, make me food because I lived all my life in a cave and have never learned to push the start button on the microwave. Onna, fix the gravity machine because, being the overbearing dumb ass that I am, I used more energy than I knew it could handle." Bulma mimicked in a perfect imitation of Vegeta's voice.
*Damn, she is getting good at that! * Krillin's face was now red with his pent up laughter. Vegeta, on the other hand, was growling low in his throat and contemplating the woman's death.
"Onna, lick my boots because you're just some weak pathetic human who doesn't deserve to be in my 'all mighty' presence and the only reason I haven't killed you yet is because I like to bug the shit out of you on a daily basis." She was slowly becoming lost in her thoughts and her speech less sarcastic.
Krillin's mirth and Vegeta's ire somewhat diminished at the drastic change in her tone. They exchanged a confused glance and looked at the still raving female.
"Onna, why don't you go out of your way for me again and again so I can just spit in your face?" Her grip on the pan and spatula tighten until her knuckles whitened. The impression of the prince was gradually fading with each word. "You're the baka that cared about me in the first place when I never gave a flying fuck about you."
The blue-haired female place a clean plate in front of each guest and set the food filled pan on a wooden block in the center of the table.
"I'll be in my lab." She stated in an emotionless voice, more to herself, and headed out through the sliding glass door.
Vegeta took a hesitant taste of his meal and found it to be rich in salt. The shaker had been at his side the whole time.
~*~End Flashback~*~
After that episode in the kitchen he made a serious effort to keep her from crying. She was always prone to fits, this is Bulma we are talking about, but they were rarely, if ever, his doing. Sure he was still an all around jackass but now knew what buttons not to push.
There were even a few times when she questioned him about her miraculously awakenings in bed when she had fallen asleep somewhere else, or mysterious trays of food popping up in her lab when she had been in there for extended periods of time.
Vegeta shook his head of those thoughts and starred into the oceanic eyes of his ultimate weakness. They were still a glossy red from recent tears but remained as breathtaking as ever; he brushed the hair from her face. "Why were you crying?" He inquired with a hint of care.
Confusion clouded at this sudden change in subject but dissipated quickly. She smiled a soft sweet smile and murmured, "Hopefully for a reason that I never will again." He raised a single brow at her but decided not to pry. Releasing her, he settled back into his lying position on the roof.
"You never told me everything about tails." Bulma stated, breaking the silence again.
"I haven't told you anything about tails." He point out with a smirk.
"Grr.. I know that! Were you planning on telling me or do I have to go ask Goku?"
"Don't you dare ask that baka! He doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'saiyan'!" He roared at her with fire in his eyes.
*Hahaha.. I knew that would work!* "Well if you don't want me to go speak with that 'baka' as you like to call him, then I suggest you start talking, buster."
"Fine." Vegeta growled and rolled onto one elbow. "A saiyan's tail is the key to their strength. It is also their weakness. It allows the giant ape transformation which significantly increases a saiyan's strength but at the same time can rack their body with intense pain if not properly trained." He held up his hand when he noticed her about to speak. "Yes woman I know how to do this and will teach you."
"A saiyan also finds immense pride in their tail and is not truly a saiyan without it. On Vegeta-sei heretics and criminals were known to have them removed as an ultimate punishment. A tail is also a crucial tool used to form a bond with a possible or future mate."
"Bond?" She interrupted.
"Yes, bond, though I do not feel this is the proper time to fully delve into that topic. Without a tail the bond is not possible to initiate, though only a few third class warriors were foolish enough to commit the act. Another important fact that I believe will come to your attention sooner or later is if someone other than yourself comes into contact with your tail it will be automatically.. stimulated."
"Stimulated?" The little female questioned with a tilted of her head.
*Shit. Why must I always spell it out?* "It will cause your body to react whether you like it or not."
"React how?" She picked up the appendage in question and looked at it worriedly.
*I bet you're getting a good laugh out of this one you wrinkled green bastard!* He shot a glance to the sky before sighing and scooting over to her.
"Like this." He took the silky thing from her grasp and proceeded to pet it tenderly.
Bulma could feel a tingling sensation slowly travel down her tail to the base and along her spine. His movements changed to long strokes and the tingling exploded to her nerves. She felt as if this were the first time she had truly been touched and her body screamed in the pleasure of it. "Oh wow." She had never wanted to give herself to somebody as much as she did Vegeta right now.
He looked up and met her gaze, noting the profound lust he relinquished her tail. Up until that point she had been concocting a plan of how to successfully jump the saiyan no ouji. The end of his contact allowed some rational thought to enter her mind but she was still in an aroused stupor.
"I see your point." Bulma said after she regained her voice. "I think I am going to take a shower.. a cold shower." She made her way to the edge of the roof, keeping her eyes straight ahead; thinking another glimpse of him could cause her to go through with her plan, and jumped gracefully on to balcony below.
Following her example, he leapt down and entered his room, where a few food- laden capsules were waiting on his nightstand. He allowed himself a chuckle when the woman's shrieks echoed through the complex.
*Damn Vegeta having to demonstrate.. Urgh he could have just told me!* She adjusted the temperature to one she could stand and allowed the water to work its magic. *I wonder if it feels the same when anyone touches it.*
Donning a black cotton nightgown, Bulma slipped under her covers, still suffering slightly from the after effects of 'Vegeta'. "Annoying bastard, one of these days I am going to get him for that. Him and his stupid sexy smirk." Her statement came out less venomous than she had intended, making her growl loudly.
Vegeta's laughter could be heard through the wall separating their room. "Grr.. I HATE YOU VEGETA!" She roared and heard his mirth intensify. *This is going to be a long night.* Wiggling under the sheets until only the crown of her head remained exposed, the blue-haired woman released a heavy sigh.
A/N: I finally finished this freakin' chapter. I know a lot of you have been waiting much more patiently than I would and I thank you for that! I am not sure when I will have another Chapter out but it will be a much shorter amount of time than it took for this one. Let me know how you think this is going and thanks again for the reviews! They really help clear up writer's block! ::Hint-Hint-Wink-Wink:: ;P
