Chapter Thirty Four: Closer

Authors Notes: I hope you all enjoyed the Lemon. This time, I tried to go for a more 'emotionally explicit' Lemon rather than just the physical. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Back on the Capsule Corp ship, the nine Roctorns were struggling with the fact that they were obviously not allowed to destroy the ship again. When their owners had returned, they had suffered much verbal abuse, and didn't want to go through with it again.

However, Bulma and Vegeta had not said anything about eating the food from the well-stocked pantry, of which there was plenty.

Another thing the nine 'not so infant' Roctorns were finding interesting was the sudden and quite rapid change in their bodies. Only moments ago they had been the size of large dog's, but now, somehow, they found themselves as large as Tigers. This was clearly confusing for the Roctorn's, but inside, it was all explained as simple instinct; a coding in their DNA that told them this was all very normal.

So, like any normal rampaging monstrosity, they decided to use it to their advantage for the hard to reach food.

Bulma stared into the water at the edge of the pond, far from where the still sleeping Vegeta lay on his back in the sand. She had managed to squirm out of his embrace, feeling quite embarrassed and ashamed of herself. Just what had happened last night? She hardly remembered anything, except for the fact that she had experienced the most emotionally and physically satisfying sex she had ever had in her life. Now, she was left with the knowledge that she had done what she had wanted to do with Vegeta since day one.

Bulma kneeled down at the waters edge and looked at her reflection. The very definite bite mark on her neck was very prominent. Ugly red dots covered her once clear flesh. She touched it gently with her fingers, running them over the already healing bumps. She wasn't sure how to feel about them. It left her unsettled, yet.

Vegeta.

Of all people, it had been Vegeta who she had experienced these feelings with. She had never felt so touched in all her life, never so loved. Even with Yaumcha, when he had been so terribly romantic with his candlelight, silk sheets and roses. Here, on this barren, ugly Planet so far from home, she had felt alive and loved for the first time in her. It overwhelmed her.

She spun around when she heard footsteps, and saw Vegeta standing beside her, wearing only his pants. His hair was disgruntled, even more so than usual and wet clumps of sand stuck to different areas of his body. She could not deny that he looked incredibly sexy. She flushed and looked back at her reflection.

"What are you doing, way over here?"

Bulma blinked, confused, when she heard the unmistakable hurt in the Prince's voice. Was he offended that she had chosen to come here, by herself, rather than wake up beside him? Without knowing it, her fingers came up and gently touched the bite marks. She shook her head dumbly. What was there to say?

"I."

Then, suddenly, he was sitting beside her, not close enough to be affectionate, but not far enough to be cold. He looked out over the pond with steady eyes, and she followed his gaze, looking out across the murky water toward the lush trees and small shapes darting among them. She realized she was holding her breath.

"Bulma-san," Vegeta started, and she looked up hopefully, praying that he would say something perfect that would magically solve everything. "You and I are mates, now."

She watched him. His guard was up, as usual, but a large piece of his barrier had somehow crumbled, letting her see glimpses of his secrets she had not been allowed before. She took a shaky breath and smiled to herself. It was so unbelievably crazy, and she loved it. Mates? She didn't know exactly what that meant, but she knew it to be something along the lines of 'partners' in the more intimate sense. Yaumcha didn't even cross her mind, and he hadn't for a long while. Still smiling, she looked up into Vegeta's face, into eyes that were begging her in their own dark way to accept him for who he was, but asking in a very carefully disguised manner. She gently closed her hand over his own, and saw the almost imperceptible release of breath escape his body. He seemed to relax, and in this she realized her power over him. Should she abuse it, this new and wonderful thing could be ruined.

She didn't want that.

She leaned against him, wanting the same warmth he had given her last night, wanting for the first time in her life to be genuinely held. She wanted to be embraced in love, not because it was expected.

She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thank you, Vegeta."

"For what?" he asked after a moment.

"For loving me."

"Hn," Vegeta shifted where he sat and a ghost of a frown crossed his handsome features, "Don't go all mushy on me, woman."

Bulma just smiled. She could feel sleep coming on, and she felt so absolutely perfect. There was no desire inside her to argue with him; she simply wanted to enjoy this feeling while it lasted because tomorrow was a new day, and by then, who knows how Vegeta would act around her? It was like holding onto gossamer; like he would break and shatter before her eyes if she did anything to disrupt the newfound balance in her life. Bulma sighed pleasurably and felt herself falling asleep. She concentrated on the rhythmic breathing of Vegeta until she nodded off.

Vegeta waited until he was sure she was asleep. Then, as carefully as he could, he leaned down and softly kissed the top of her head.

"You're welcome." He whispered.

Koru knocked once more on the Capsule Corp ship, wondering where on earth her friend Bulma was. She turned to Arden, who stood behind her, and he only shrugged in response.

"Maybe they're.?" he paused, leaving the suggestion open. Koru blushed nonetheless.

"They're not like that." She insisted, walking back down the steps and around the ship. Arden followed her close behind, casting looks about them. "Bulma said he's arrogant and annoying."

Arden smiled. "Sssounds like a girl in love, that'sss for sssure."

Koru turned to her friend and raised an armored eyebrow. "Oh really? And you'd be an expert?"

Arden looked down at the red earth and blushed, trying to think of something to say. "I.I didn't sssay that, Koru." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "I wasss jussst trying to suggessst what they might be.doing."

Koru regarded him a moment longer and smiled. "You're very adorable when you're blushing, you know that?" she said. Arden only blushed more. Koru laughed.

"Well, I really can't think of where they would be." She paused. "Maybe they went somewhere.like." she bit her bottom lip in thought. There were not exactly very many places on R'haksin that were tourist friendly, much less desirable. She had only known her for a while now, but Koru could tell that Bulma was not the type to enjoy roughing it. She sighed impatiently.

"You know, if they have gone somewhere, they've left all those Roctorn's inside, alone." She frowned. "Which, if you ask me, isn't the smartest thing to do."

"That'sss right, the Roctornsss." Arden said. "What do you sssuppossse they're going to do with them once they leave?"

Koru shrugged. "I don't know, but I know they can't take them with them." she walked back toward the ship, "That would be insanity."

"I wonder," Arden said as he followed behind, "If they would allow me to take one in?"

Koru shrugged, testing the door. It was unlocked. She shook her head, silently scolding Bulma for her carelessness. There were plenty of Storkrin's around who would love to trash the ship. "I don't know why not." She said. "They really are quite cute."

Koru cried out as 832 pounds of adolescent Roctorn slammed into her, licking at her face, it's tails wagging furiously. Luckily for Koru, Arden was behind her to catch her as she stumbled backward. The Roctorn was overjoyed to see somebody, and sat on its haunches, staring up at them with its tongue hanging out of a grinning mouth.

"You!" Koru abolished. "What -are- you doing in there?" she steadied herself and peered into the darkness of the ship. "Where's your owners, huh?"

The Roctorn cocked its head, clearly confused. It whined, eager to have attention lavished on it. Koru was about to walk inside the ship when she noticed something. She bent closer to the Roctorn, peering curiously at it.

"You know.there's something weird about these guys." she watched as the rest of the Roctorns clambered into the doorway, all wanting to see who was entering their territory. "They're."

"Huge?" Arden cried. The Roctorn growled playfully at the Storkrin's outburst.

"That's it." Koru said. "It must be their second growth spurt. Strifelon said they go through a number of growth spurts before they reach their final stage."

"Which isss.?" Arden asked slowly.

"Much, -much- bigger than this." Koru said with a grin. "I think they're terribly adorable, and I'd love it if they'd let us have." she trailed off and blushed, as if catching what she was saying. "I mean, if they let -you- have one.that's what I meant." she sputtered, knowing she sounded like a complete idiot.

Arden smiled. "Koru.I alssso think it would be great if 'we' could have one."

The Roctorn's whined and wagged their tails in rapt attention as the two Storkrin's embraced tenderly on their doorstep. It wasn't all that often that they got to see adult members of their society showing affection to one another, seeing as their 'dad' was a cold-hearted weirdo. It really wasn't fair.

Bulma couldn't help but let out a tiny groan of disappointment when she saw the gleaming white roof of their ship. She loved flying with Vegeta. Before, she had always imagined it as a terrifying and ugly experience. Now.

She smiled, feeling her cheeks heating. Everything was different now.

"What's wrong, woman?" Vegeta asked as they touched down. Bulma slid easily out of his arms, noticing the way neither of them seemed too happy about it. "I like flying." She said happily. "I didn't before.but now." she looked at him. "It's fun."

Vegeta crossed his arms and smirked. "That's quite a change. Before you acted like a complete sniveling wimp."

Bulma nodded. "I know. I like it now, though. I guess I just didn't want it to end." She looked down at herself. "I -do- need a shower, though. It'll be nice to get in some clean water."

Vegeta walked past her, and Bulma stole a quick peek at his firm behind. "I need one too. No sense wasting water." He looked over his shoulder and flashed her a sensual grin. "We'll shower together."

"Will we?" Bulma raised an eyebrow. She caught up to him and together they walked side by side toward the ship. It was a nice enough day, she supposed. She still felt strange from she and Vegeta's lovemaking. Perhaps not strange about the lovemaking.more so the bite marks on her neck. She had tried her best to conceal them with her shirt, but the collar was too low. She remembered how insulted Vegeta had looked when she caught him watching her try to cover them up. Perhaps the bite marks symbolized more than she knew. She sighed; she wanted to know more about them. She wanted to know the reason they were there. It wasn't just some strange Sayajin thing.somehow she felt that.there was more to it than that.

She gasped when she noticed the lights on in the ship.

"Vegeta.!" she whispered, pointing to the lights, but the Prince's Ki was already flaring, and she recognized well the look of defense on his face. He pushed her roughly behind him with one muscled arm.

"Who do you think.?" she began, but he motioned for her to be quiet. "Shut up and stay here. I'll go see."

"Wait.!" Bulma started, but he was already on his way toward the ship. She looked to the side and jogged over to a cluster of boulders. There, she crouched down behind them and waited.

A second later, after she saw the Prince's dark form vanish into the doorway, Bulma heard a short scream, a crash, growling noises, and the silence. Her heart hammered at the possibilities of what may lay in wait in the ship. Then, after a few seconds of suspenseful waiting, she saw Vegeta emerge with an annoyed frown on his face. He waved her over. Hesitantly, she emerged from behind the boulders and approached the ship. She was all too happy (and a bit surprised) to see Koru standing behind the Prince with a sheepish look on her face.

"Koru?" she laughed, and then saw Arden appear behind her, looking equally as embarrassed. "Arden?"

Koru hugged her friend quickly and then pulled way, eager to explain herself. "We're sorry, you guys. We came over to see you two, and when we saw you weren't here, we." she trailed off, smiling lopsidedly. "Vegeta here scared the life out of me."

"Caught usss red-handed." Arden finished.

Bulma smiled and waved the matter away with her hand. "That's all right. You two know -you're- always welcome here." She paused. "It's just that we don't trust anyone else, you know?"

Koru and Arden nodded. "Anyway," Koru said as the four of them shut the door behind them and walked into the kitchen, "As you can see, the Roctorns are getting much, much bigger."

Bulma gasped as the horde of them waggled their way into her arms. Her face was covered with a million slobbery kisses. "Oh, you guys!" she cried happily. "Look what you've done!"

The damage wasn't that great, really. It could have been much worse. There was only about a quarter of the first pantry demolished, and cartons and packages lay in tatters on the floor. Bulma felt a pang of guilt for not feeding them before they left. "You poor guys were probably starving to death, weren't you?" she patted them and they growled happily. "I'm sorry."

She turned to catch Vegeta's reaction and was surprised to see that he didn't look angry at all. In fact, the Prince looked all too enthralled with her. She blushed as she caught his look. He stood staring at her, his face a relaxed, sensual mask of affection. He wasn't even looking at the Roctorn's as they padded up to him. He stroked their soft fur, staring all the while at her. At last she shrugged it off as him being weird and stood. Koru and Arden seemed to catch the sudden mood change in the air and turned to Bulma.

"We'll be going now." Koru smiled at her friend. "Again, we're sorry about breaking in. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Bulma nodded. Her mind was on whatever Vegeta had in store for her. She silently prayed that they would leave as quickly as possible.

Arden watched the two of them exchange another heat filled look. "Uh.yesss, we're sssorry. Goodnight."

They let themselves out. The door shut behind them, leaving the two in the darkened ship alone, with only the noise of the panting Roctorn's filling the air.

"Vegeta.?" Bulma ventured.

"About that shower."

Bulma cried out as she was grabbed around the middle and dragged down the hallway.