Chapter Thirty Eight: Delightful Hangover
Authors Notes: Well, the Psytrim is in good health and growing at unexpected rates ^_^ And there are two of them! I hope you guys liked that little twist, even though I'm sure you knew I wouldn't kill off Koru, she's grown on me. Anyway, enjoy the chappie! P.S I apologize for the little accident concerning the last chapter's title: Discovery. As you all noticed, I'm sure, it was actually 'Two little Miracles'. Sorry 'bout that!
Storkrin wine, Bulma discovered, packed much more of a punch than human wine did. It had a bitter taste and an even nastier aftertaste, but she found she liked it, more or less. Although she knew she was ridiculously inebriated, Bulma wasn't about to give in to shame. After all, she was going home soon, and her friend was getting another chance at life.
It simply called for a celebration. When one believes themselves to be dying, it's quite an uplifting feeling when they find out that there is a cure in sight. And that was precisely what she and Koru did. They celebrated until they could celebrate no longer.
However, when one is drunk, they have no sense of time, and the time usually flies by unnaturally fast, as it always does when one is having an immensely good time.
Vegeta and Arden had declined from drinking, and Arden had simply watched his newfound love as she and her friend celebrated life. Vegeta had taken to standing outside while he waited for Bulma to pass out. It didn't take long.
It was silent in the underground cavern when he approached the table. Arden was already tucking his female into bed; Vegeta did the same. He gently lifted Bulma's head and slowly patted her on the cheek.
"Hmmm?" she groaned, her eyes opening slowly.
"You're drunk as hell, woman." Vegeta sighed. "Hope you've enjoyed yourself, because I'm taking you home now."
"No." Bulma slurred, reaching for the overturned bottle. "I'm.not done.by a shot long.long." she trailed off, her head flopping into Vegeta's waiting hands. He sighed and hefted her easily into his arms, and headed for the stairs.
Arden was waiting for him. "It'sss a good thing they quit when they did." He said, smiling.
"Yes." Vegeta agreed. "I doubt Bulma's body could have taken much more of that foul stuff."
"Ssstorkrin wine not to your liking, Prince?"
He shook his head. "Neither was Vegetasei wine."
Arden nodded and clasped Vegeta on the shoulder. He was silent, seeming to struggle for the right words. "Many thingsss are not to onesss liking, yet they mussst tolerate them, nonethelesss."
"You're starting to sound like that crazy old man." Vegeta snorted. "What makes you say such a thing?"
Arden shrugged. "At thisss point, I do not know myssself." He blinked rapidly, suddenly, and looked up at the roof. "I am overcome with happinesss thisss night."
Vegeta turned to head up the stairs. "And you should be." Was all he said. Reaching up with one hand, he undid the latch, letting in the dark red sky and the glittering orbs of stars in its depths. He closed the door behind him, leaving the stairs in darkness.
Spider and his sibblings lifted their heads as the door to the ship opened. Vegeta fumbled inside for the light, switched it on, and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and sighed.
Was it truly coming to an end? Was their time here truly done, in such a short time? He looked down at the Roctorns, their wagging tails, and was suddenly overwhelmed. He didn't want to admit it, but he had become attached to so many things here.the people, the wildlife, the entertainment.and most of all, the snoring woman in his arms, who he had endured so much for. He walked forward, setting out toward the bedroom.
It seemed only yesterday, as corny as it sounded, that he had fought a battle with himself as to whether or not he was actually -up- to saving the woman's life. Now, as he looked down at her sleeping (and slightly drooling) face, he found himself smiling faintly. How could he have ever denied himself this? He lay her down on the bed and shut the door behind him. Spider whined outside, but he ignored him.
He brushed aside a strand of her loose hair. "How could I have ever considered turning you away?" he whispered very softly, and then felt foolish. He was a changed man, he knew, and there was no turning back, but it was still so very hard to admit to these new feelings.
Bulma moaned softly in her sleep, and he pulled back from her, the seemingly lost part of him that still loved to hate afraid that she had heard him. But she only whimpered and curled into him, the movement so fluid and familiar that Vegeta felt his hands trembling.
What was this, anyhow? Was this his new life? Was this what he was destined to discover, upon setting his murderous feet on the Earth those years ago?
"Best get you changed." He said, trying to abandon his thoughts. He stood and gently lifted her from the bed, untying her jeans and slowly slipping them off her. He paused, his eyes never missing an inch of her as they trailed down her glorious form. Next came her top, and her bra, and he slipped her under the covers next to his own naked body, and spooned up behind her.
"If this is my new life." he started, but paused, unsure of how to finish the sentence. He let his head fall back to the pillow and stared out the window at the glittering stars.
He would know how to end it, some day.
Koru had never before been drunk.
Not once, in her entire life had she drank. Being the Del'kili, she was not entitled to indulge in such behavior.
She winced as Arden brought the lantern into the pitch-black room and shone it clear in her face.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her. In one hand was a tray of freshly cut fruit. Her mouth watered, and she tried to sit up, but her head hurt far too much.
He set the tray down beside the bed. "Not too good, huh?"
She smiled. "Well.I don't know, Arden. My head hurts, but I haven't been this happy since." she trailed off.
She had -never- been this happy.
"Where's Bulma?" she asked.
Arden sat down on the bed beside her. His weight sank into it heavily. He looked down at her and smiled. "Ssshe'sss back at the ssship. They left last night."
Koru didn't exactly care. Right now, she was too involved with the handsome man staring down at her with such affection, with freshly cut fruit and all the cares in the world.
"You treat me like a Goddess." She whispered.
He reached out and cupped the side of her face. "God knowsss you dessserve it." He said, and he leaned down and kissed her.
They sat there together, in Arden's giant bed, enjoying life as it was and munching on fruit and sipping at water. Occasionally they would abandon the fruit for each other, at which point they knocked over both the tray and the fruit slices and had the best tickle fest Koru ever remembered having. Afterwards they were content to lay in each other's arms, staring at the ceiling and listening to one another's breathing.
"There are some things I want to do today." Koru said softly, interrupting the silence.
"Hmm?" Arden inquired.
"I'm going to visit the other three women that lived through The Dungeons, and then I'm going to visit my little sisters grave." She paused. "I was so wrapped up in finally being out of there that.I didn't even go see her."
Arden placed a hand on her arm. "Don't feel bad. Nobody could have expected you to right away."
"Well, that's what I'm going to do."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
She thought for a moment, and then rolled over and smiled gently at him. "No, thank you Arden, but these are two things I feel I have to do on my own."
"I underssstand." He said.
And he did.
Bulma groaned and waved a hand in front of her face, trying to ward off the licking and chirping of her pets. They would not be thwarted, however, and she only succeeded in bringing them up onto the bed, which further aggravated her.
Luckily, Vegeta came to the rescue. He entered the room with an Aspirin, a glass of water and a dry piece of bread. He shooed Ghost and the other Roctorn's away and then seated himself on the bed beside her.
"Drink this." He ordered, unclenching her fingers and placing the pill in her palm. He lifted her up with his other hand and placed the glass of water against her lips. She drank it without question.
"My head hurts." Was all she said when she finished.
Vegeta made a 'I don't believe it' face. "Really?" he exclaimed.
She scowled.
"Here." He smirked, and reached over for the bread. "You should eat this."
She finally sat up, and looked suspiciously at the toast. "Bread and water. Thank you, Mr. Warden."
"If you're going to be an asshole, then you can just spend the day barfing."
She sighed and took the toast from him, taking small bites from it. It was very unappealing, but she ate it anyway. "So what's the deal? Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Well," Vegeta said, "These are very expensive bedsheets, and I don't want to be sleeping in Bulma vomit tonight, you know."
She slapped him, munching on the toast as she did so. "You're a prick, Vegeta." She swallowed and smiled, suddenly. "I heard you last night."
Vegeta looked alarmed. It was absolutely adorable.
"Heard me what?" he snorted, trying to mask his surprise by crossing his arms and looking ignorant.
Bulma giggled. "Oh, nothing." She put the toast down and slid back under the covers, pulling them around her chin. Muffled laughter followed afterward. "Why do you care?"
"I don't" Vegeta pouted. "So shut up."
"I love you."
"Humph."
Bulma erupted in a fit of hysterical giggles. Vegeta stood, seething, and abruptly left the room. Bulma kicked out at the sheets and guffawed for a good five minute's before the Prince returned. He stood in the doorway, his face red, and his hands on his hips. Ghost cocked his head and stared from his vantagepoint on the bedside table.
"You think you're pretty funny, don't you?" he scowled, a smirk on his face.
Bulma tried to hold in her laughter. It didn't work.
Suddenly, Vegeta was across the room and holding her down, wrapped tightly in the bedsheets. She squeaked in surprise and struggled uselessly, only to discover that she was hopelessly and entirely screwed.
"Now who's laughing?" he growled.
"Me.!" she cried, her giggles returning, "After all, the jokes on you, Vegeta!"
Vegeta flipped her over in one smooth motion and straddled her. "I am in complete control, now, woman." He leaned over and growled into her ear. "Just try and escape."
"I don't know." Bulma said, her giggles suddenly gone and replaced by an aroused tone, "I kind of like where you've got me."
Vegeta realized that her firm little behind was exactly where his pelvis was. He felt himself growing hard, but he tried to push it from his mind.
"Don't turn this around, woman." He tried to remember how frustrated she had made him. "You can't." he broke off in a moan when she raised her bottom and wiggled it against him. "You're not." he couldn't help it any longer. After all, she was completely naked, the door was closed, and they had all the time in the world.
"All right, minx, you asked for it."
Bulma what she asked for.
Azul held his breath as he delicately began to remove the soil from around the first Psytrim. If anything went wrong, it was very possible that he could damage the plants roots and forever diminish any chance of it working properly.
His claws sliced through the soil and touched root. He let out his breath, knowing lives rested on his experience, and slid the first Psytrim out as slowly as he could. He held it up in front of his face. The roots were fine. He turned to his side and placed the fragile flower in a glass box.
Then he turned to the other.
Authors Notes: Well, the Psytrim is in good health and growing at unexpected rates ^_^ And there are two of them! I hope you guys liked that little twist, even though I'm sure you knew I wouldn't kill off Koru, she's grown on me. Anyway, enjoy the chappie! P.S I apologize for the little accident concerning the last chapter's title: Discovery. As you all noticed, I'm sure, it was actually 'Two little Miracles'. Sorry 'bout that!
Storkrin wine, Bulma discovered, packed much more of a punch than human wine did. It had a bitter taste and an even nastier aftertaste, but she found she liked it, more or less. Although she knew she was ridiculously inebriated, Bulma wasn't about to give in to shame. After all, she was going home soon, and her friend was getting another chance at life.
It simply called for a celebration. When one believes themselves to be dying, it's quite an uplifting feeling when they find out that there is a cure in sight. And that was precisely what she and Koru did. They celebrated until they could celebrate no longer.
However, when one is drunk, they have no sense of time, and the time usually flies by unnaturally fast, as it always does when one is having an immensely good time.
Vegeta and Arden had declined from drinking, and Arden had simply watched his newfound love as she and her friend celebrated life. Vegeta had taken to standing outside while he waited for Bulma to pass out. It didn't take long.
It was silent in the underground cavern when he approached the table. Arden was already tucking his female into bed; Vegeta did the same. He gently lifted Bulma's head and slowly patted her on the cheek.
"Hmmm?" she groaned, her eyes opening slowly.
"You're drunk as hell, woman." Vegeta sighed. "Hope you've enjoyed yourself, because I'm taking you home now."
"No." Bulma slurred, reaching for the overturned bottle. "I'm.not done.by a shot long.long." she trailed off, her head flopping into Vegeta's waiting hands. He sighed and hefted her easily into his arms, and headed for the stairs.
Arden was waiting for him. "It'sss a good thing they quit when they did." He said, smiling.
"Yes." Vegeta agreed. "I doubt Bulma's body could have taken much more of that foul stuff."
"Ssstorkrin wine not to your liking, Prince?"
He shook his head. "Neither was Vegetasei wine."
Arden nodded and clasped Vegeta on the shoulder. He was silent, seeming to struggle for the right words. "Many thingsss are not to onesss liking, yet they mussst tolerate them, nonethelesss."
"You're starting to sound like that crazy old man." Vegeta snorted. "What makes you say such a thing?"
Arden shrugged. "At thisss point, I do not know myssself." He blinked rapidly, suddenly, and looked up at the roof. "I am overcome with happinesss thisss night."
Vegeta turned to head up the stairs. "And you should be." Was all he said. Reaching up with one hand, he undid the latch, letting in the dark red sky and the glittering orbs of stars in its depths. He closed the door behind him, leaving the stairs in darkness.
Spider and his sibblings lifted their heads as the door to the ship opened. Vegeta fumbled inside for the light, switched it on, and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and sighed.
Was it truly coming to an end? Was their time here truly done, in such a short time? He looked down at the Roctorns, their wagging tails, and was suddenly overwhelmed. He didn't want to admit it, but he had become attached to so many things here.the people, the wildlife, the entertainment.and most of all, the snoring woman in his arms, who he had endured so much for. He walked forward, setting out toward the bedroom.
It seemed only yesterday, as corny as it sounded, that he had fought a battle with himself as to whether or not he was actually -up- to saving the woman's life. Now, as he looked down at her sleeping (and slightly drooling) face, he found himself smiling faintly. How could he have ever denied himself this? He lay her down on the bed and shut the door behind him. Spider whined outside, but he ignored him.
He brushed aside a strand of her loose hair. "How could I have ever considered turning you away?" he whispered very softly, and then felt foolish. He was a changed man, he knew, and there was no turning back, but it was still so very hard to admit to these new feelings.
Bulma moaned softly in her sleep, and he pulled back from her, the seemingly lost part of him that still loved to hate afraid that she had heard him. But she only whimpered and curled into him, the movement so fluid and familiar that Vegeta felt his hands trembling.
What was this, anyhow? Was this his new life? Was this what he was destined to discover, upon setting his murderous feet on the Earth those years ago?
"Best get you changed." He said, trying to abandon his thoughts. He stood and gently lifted her from the bed, untying her jeans and slowly slipping them off her. He paused, his eyes never missing an inch of her as they trailed down her glorious form. Next came her top, and her bra, and he slipped her under the covers next to his own naked body, and spooned up behind her.
"If this is my new life." he started, but paused, unsure of how to finish the sentence. He let his head fall back to the pillow and stared out the window at the glittering stars.
He would know how to end it, some day.
Koru had never before been drunk.
Not once, in her entire life had she drank. Being the Del'kili, she was not entitled to indulge in such behavior.
She winced as Arden brought the lantern into the pitch-black room and shone it clear in her face.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her. In one hand was a tray of freshly cut fruit. Her mouth watered, and she tried to sit up, but her head hurt far too much.
He set the tray down beside the bed. "Not too good, huh?"
She smiled. "Well.I don't know, Arden. My head hurts, but I haven't been this happy since." she trailed off.
She had -never- been this happy.
"Where's Bulma?" she asked.
Arden sat down on the bed beside her. His weight sank into it heavily. He looked down at her and smiled. "Ssshe'sss back at the ssship. They left last night."
Koru didn't exactly care. Right now, she was too involved with the handsome man staring down at her with such affection, with freshly cut fruit and all the cares in the world.
"You treat me like a Goddess." She whispered.
He reached out and cupped the side of her face. "God knowsss you dessserve it." He said, and he leaned down and kissed her.
They sat there together, in Arden's giant bed, enjoying life as it was and munching on fruit and sipping at water. Occasionally they would abandon the fruit for each other, at which point they knocked over both the tray and the fruit slices and had the best tickle fest Koru ever remembered having. Afterwards they were content to lay in each other's arms, staring at the ceiling and listening to one another's breathing.
"There are some things I want to do today." Koru said softly, interrupting the silence.
"Hmm?" Arden inquired.
"I'm going to visit the other three women that lived through The Dungeons, and then I'm going to visit my little sisters grave." She paused. "I was so wrapped up in finally being out of there that.I didn't even go see her."
Arden placed a hand on her arm. "Don't feel bad. Nobody could have expected you to right away."
"Well, that's what I'm going to do."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
She thought for a moment, and then rolled over and smiled gently at him. "No, thank you Arden, but these are two things I feel I have to do on my own."
"I underssstand." He said.
And he did.
Bulma groaned and waved a hand in front of her face, trying to ward off the licking and chirping of her pets. They would not be thwarted, however, and she only succeeded in bringing them up onto the bed, which further aggravated her.
Luckily, Vegeta came to the rescue. He entered the room with an Aspirin, a glass of water and a dry piece of bread. He shooed Ghost and the other Roctorn's away and then seated himself on the bed beside her.
"Drink this." He ordered, unclenching her fingers and placing the pill in her palm. He lifted her up with his other hand and placed the glass of water against her lips. She drank it without question.
"My head hurts." Was all she said when she finished.
Vegeta made a 'I don't believe it' face. "Really?" he exclaimed.
She scowled.
"Here." He smirked, and reached over for the bread. "You should eat this."
She finally sat up, and looked suspiciously at the toast. "Bread and water. Thank you, Mr. Warden."
"If you're going to be an asshole, then you can just spend the day barfing."
She sighed and took the toast from him, taking small bites from it. It was very unappealing, but she ate it anyway. "So what's the deal? Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Well," Vegeta said, "These are very expensive bedsheets, and I don't want to be sleeping in Bulma vomit tonight, you know."
She slapped him, munching on the toast as she did so. "You're a prick, Vegeta." She swallowed and smiled, suddenly. "I heard you last night."
Vegeta looked alarmed. It was absolutely adorable.
"Heard me what?" he snorted, trying to mask his surprise by crossing his arms and looking ignorant.
Bulma giggled. "Oh, nothing." She put the toast down and slid back under the covers, pulling them around her chin. Muffled laughter followed afterward. "Why do you care?"
"I don't" Vegeta pouted. "So shut up."
"I love you."
"Humph."
Bulma erupted in a fit of hysterical giggles. Vegeta stood, seething, and abruptly left the room. Bulma kicked out at the sheets and guffawed for a good five minute's before the Prince returned. He stood in the doorway, his face red, and his hands on his hips. Ghost cocked his head and stared from his vantagepoint on the bedside table.
"You think you're pretty funny, don't you?" he scowled, a smirk on his face.
Bulma tried to hold in her laughter. It didn't work.
Suddenly, Vegeta was across the room and holding her down, wrapped tightly in the bedsheets. She squeaked in surprise and struggled uselessly, only to discover that she was hopelessly and entirely screwed.
"Now who's laughing?" he growled.
"Me.!" she cried, her giggles returning, "After all, the jokes on you, Vegeta!"
Vegeta flipped her over in one smooth motion and straddled her. "I am in complete control, now, woman." He leaned over and growled into her ear. "Just try and escape."
"I don't know." Bulma said, her giggles suddenly gone and replaced by an aroused tone, "I kind of like where you've got me."
Vegeta realized that her firm little behind was exactly where his pelvis was. He felt himself growing hard, but he tried to push it from his mind.
"Don't turn this around, woman." He tried to remember how frustrated she had made him. "You can't." he broke off in a moan when she raised her bottom and wiggled it against him. "You're not." he couldn't help it any longer. After all, she was completely naked, the door was closed, and they had all the time in the world.
"All right, minx, you asked for it."
Bulma what she asked for.
Azul held his breath as he delicately began to remove the soil from around the first Psytrim. If anything went wrong, it was very possible that he could damage the plants roots and forever diminish any chance of it working properly.
His claws sliced through the soil and touched root. He let out his breath, knowing lives rested on his experience, and slid the first Psytrim out as slowly as he could. He held it up in front of his face. The roots were fine. He turned to his side and placed the fragile flower in a glass box.
Then he turned to the other.