Okay! So here's the next exciting installment.er.yeah. I'm so thankful for all the response I've gotten from this fic - you guys rock! Anyway, once I wrap things up on Planet Vegetasei, then they're going to be taking another little trip.somewhere else. Somewhere you all want them to go. Wow, everyone really wanted Usagi to transform. The truth is, that option didn't really present itself to me before, and it really isn't fair to beat up people who are weaker than you just because they're being poo-monkeys, so.well, I hope what happens is good enough.

If you like my writing style, then please check out my newest fic, "Cold Day in July." It's only a one shot, it wouldn't take too long, and it's about everyone's favorite lavender haired wonder. Besides, it's in desperate need of reviews. You can find it in the DBZ section, or just go to my profile. Thanks.

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"Please, my prince! You must reconsider!" Gerpepa begged desperately. "The soul binding ceremony hasn't been used in years, and it's incredibly painful, even dangerous."
The Prince's mate glanced at him, noting the stubborn look on her face, and took his hand, smiling at the holy man. "I trust Vegeta's judgement, if he says it's important, then I'll do anything for him." The Prince gave a startled jerk, looking down at the beautiful woman in surprise. She smiled adoringly up at him, and Gerpepa felt a sense of awe, as if he were seeing something rare and beautiful.
"If you're sure." He agreed reluctantly.
The soul binding ceremony had originated in the early days of Vegetasei, when Saiyans still lived in warring clans. Sometimes a warrior would steal a mate from a rival clan, and soul bind himself to her to prevent her being taken back. After the Saiyans had been united under their chosen king, the first King Vegeta, the strongest warrior of the time, the number of ceremonies performed slacked off, and finally ended. Very rarely the ceremony was performed in the case of an arranged mating, such as that of Vegeta's parents. The concept of a pair actually wanting to go through the ceremony, volunteering for it, was alien to Gerpepa.
Vegeta nodded, satisfied. "No one would kill her if it meant taking me with her."
"Fine. You always were too stubborn for words." He grunted. "But, for the girl's benefit, I'll explain what's to be done. You will each drink from the sacred vial, which will weaken your spirits against attack for a short while. While they are weakened, I will cut out a piece from each of your souls and replace it with a piece from your mates. When the ceremony is over, you will have some sharing of thought and feeling. With practice, you will be able to control this sharing, some even manage it to a very fine degree, but you must remember that, without some control, what one experiences the other does. If one feels pain, it is mirrored in the other. If one dies, so too, does his mate. You would not be able to wage the battles you are no doubt used to, once this is done, Vegeta. Not without having this girl feel every blow. Would you give that up?"
He nodded grimly, giving his mate's hand a slight squeeze. "Even if I never learned to shield her from the pain, it would be worth it, to have her live."
"Vegeta.are you sure?" She whispered.
Gerpepa smiled gently. "I am required to ask that, child. Usually it only takes a day or so for couples who are truly in love, such as yourselves, to fine tune their control. He'll probably be able to shield you from any pain he experiences, and take away any pain you yourself might feel. I only had to let him know that there was a chance he wouldn't be able to."
She took a deep breath, obviously troubled, but didn't make further comment.
"During the ceremony, you cannot see each other. Each must go through the trial alone, without taking strength from the other." Gerpepa continued. "This will be the hardest thing either of you has ever done, and whatever hurt you are imagining you will take doesn't begin to compare with what you will actually experience. Be brave, and remember you are hurting for the one you love. Let us begin."

The room Gerpepa had directed her to was small and bare, but for a small cot in the corner. Usagi shivered, cold in nothing but a thin cotton nightdress, as she heard the door close and lock behind her. The aftertaste of the liquid the holy man had forced her to drink was still bitter in her mouth, and didn't help the feeling of sick fear in her stomach. She didn't know what to expect. She trusted Vegeta with all her heart, but she couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he was overreacting a little bit.
She sat on the cot, rubbing her hands against her arms in an effort to relieve goosebumps, wondering what Vegeta was doing. She knew he was in the next room, but it offered little comfort. She always felt safer in his presence, despite the power she knew she had.
Gerpepa had warned them against any type of transformation during their ceremony. They had to be in the bodies they were born with, at low power, or else it would destroy them both. They were, she realized, extremely vulnerable to attack right now.
She felt a slight pressure building behind her eyes, a slight sting in her heart like heartburn, but she brushed them away.
She hoped Veggie and Trunks were safe. If anything happened to them because she wasn't there to watch them, she would never forgive herself. What if someone went after them because they couldn't find her? Trunks could probably take care of himself, but Veggie was just a baby. Vegeta had wanted to start him on his training, but he wasn't old enough yet.
Usagi fell off the cot screaming as sudden pain ripped through her body.

Vegeta paced back and forth in the small room he remembered hiding in as a child, casting glares at the wall he knew he shared with Usagi and occasionally stopping to listen. No sound came from her room that he could hear. He hoped the ceremony wasn't as bad as Gerpepa claimed. Not for his sake, but for that of his mate.
He knew how strong Usagi was, how much pain she had gone through in her life. She certainly didn't deserve more.maybe it would be within the range that she could handle. After all, she had given birth to Veggie without crying and she had survived five years of torture without loosing her sanity. Surely this would be nothing for her.
And him? He was a warrior; he could take it without flinching.
He stopped pacing, taking inventory of himself as he felt a slight pressure building in his head. So far, it was nothing. He snorted, all the rumors must have just been the rantings of weaklings, of the holy men trying to scare people off from it. He gave a quiet laugh as the pressure began to build, a burning sensation to grow. This was nothing. This was.
He heard a scream coming from the room next to him only moments before he began his own screaming.

The pain washed over her in waves without ceasing, without lessening, and she screamed and writhed until her voice left her, and it was all she could go to twist painfully on the floor, sobbing and gasping for breath, praying for death to come and relieve her. Pain was her entire universe; she had no sons, no husband, and no friends. She had no past or future, just the now and the hurting, the continuous hurting, forever and ever in darkness with no relief and no respite.
She didn't even realize it was over until she'd been laying there sobbing for several moments, trembling violently. She pulled herself into a fetal position, hugging her knees to her chest and crying, just crying.
There was a warmth in her mind, a strange presence that hadn't been there before. She fled to it, hoping to find escape.

Gasping or breath, Vegeta raised his head from the floor after several minutes went by without pain. He was shaking, throat raw from screaming. With a weak, shaking hand, he wiped wetness from his cheeks, then buried his face in the carpet, wetting it with more tears like a small, weak child.
He didn't care. He wasn't thinking about his pride, why should he? There was no one around. Nothing he had experienced in his life could have prepared him for that hellish experience. He wasn't ashamed of his tears, just thankful that it was all over. The room next to his was quiet, but he had momentarily forgotten his mate.
Without realizing it, he drifted toward a warm, bright light in his mind, sighing in pleasure as it embraced him and erased the pain.

She saw through the eyes of a small boy, naive and innocent in a world where innocence was crushed. She watched through every beating the boy's father had put him through, beatings the boy, in his search for parental love, couldn't understand. The innocence drained away, leaving an arrogant, cruel-hearted prince who didn't even cry when his home was destroyed in its place.
Through Vegeta's memories, she saw his life growing up on Frieza's ship, heart wrenching at every hurt, every humiliating and degrading experience. His pride was all he had. He was the last of his race, he had to be strong, he had to be ruthless!
He locked away his guilt after every killing, after every planet he'd destroyed, until he felt regret for nothing. He came to Earth, and felt fury at the Saiyan who had kept his innocence, who had maintained his conscience. Without really understanding it, he felt envy for a man who had everything he himself had always wanted, envy to the point of hatred. She felt his desperation to prove himself worthy of his birthright, his shame at always falling short.
She was there when, in his loneliness, he permitted himself to mate with Bulma, to feel things for her. Things he didn't understand, but needed so desperately. She felt his pride at the birth of his son, and the stab of agony at Bulma's betrayal. The hope that she would come back to him if he could only show himself worthy, and the tide of fury, depression, and self- loathing that accompanied the announcement of her engagement.
For the first time, Usagi understood the rage she had sensed from Vegeta in the beginning, and sympathized. He'd had every right to those feelings, and for anyone to fault him for it, was just cruel.
And suddenly, there she was, in his memories. Vegeta had never said the "L" word to her before, and though she had had no complaints, she had sometimes longed to hear it from him.
When she felt the waves of love, pride, and adoration he felt for her, she began to cry, for the first time realizing the depth of his feelings.
She was his world

He didn't deserve it.
Vegeta had watched Usagi's life through her eyes, watching the experiences that had shaped the person he had mated. There were countless instances of pain and heartache, but she had remained strong through them all, as he had never been able to to. His pride and admiration in her had only increased.
Then he had reached her memories of him.
He had never in his life believed that another person could truly love him, not until her, but he'd had no idea just how mush she loved him. He didn't deserve such strong feelings, not from someone like her. Not after all he'd done. He had to see her. Had she seen his past, as he had seen hers? Surely she would no longer love him once she saw what a horrible person he was. He had changed, but he was still tainted.
The room seemed to close in around him, and his breathing became labored. He picked himself up from the floor, and turned toward the door. He had to see her. He couldn't wait another moment. He had to get OUT of that room.

"You can't go in there yet! You can't see her until she comes out!"
"I'll kill you if you try to stand in my way, old fool! YOU WON"T KEEP ME FROM MY MATE!!!"
Sniffling, Usagi raised her head from the carpet and looked to the door, just as it was swung violently open. It seemed Vegeta stood there forever, eyes running over her as if to assure him she was there, as if he was afraid she would disappear. She tried to get up, but in an instant he was there, crushing her tightly to his chest, nose buried in her hair. The part of her mind she knew contained his thoughts radiated relief and even more love. She clutched desperately at him.
"Let's get out of here." She sobbed. "Please. Let's just get out of here."

To Be Continued