Chapter the Fifth

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any other trademarked materials in this fanfiction.

Vegeta could have killed himself without the help of Freeza at that moment. Why had he told her yes? Why was he risking his life for some human woman whom he wasn't even sure he wanted to spend any time with? Yet, there was that part inside of him that was telling him to go with it, that he loved her, and that he should risk his life for the love of her. And that's exactly why he thought himself crazy.

Bulma pulled away from Vegeta, ending the first kiss they'd shared in their relationship. "Vegeta . . . you don't know how glad I am to hear that you are finally learning to break away, but . . . I have to go home now to sleep. It's about four in the morning, and my parents will be wondering where I am." She said.

Vegeta nodded. "Okay." He said.

Bulma leaned in and gave him a kiss, pushing his lips into hers as hard as she could. "Okay, bye, Vegeta." She started to walk away towards her flying machine, but then remembered something. "Oh, Vegeta, can you meet me tomorrow at 12:00 PM beside this space ship? I'd love to see you again." She pleaded.

Vegeta crossed his arms, then smirked. "Yes. I think I could do that, unless something comes up. I'll try to lie up a good reason to Freeza as to why I'll be gone." He stepped forward a little bit. It was obvious that his body wanted a little bit more.

Bulma came forward and gave him one last kiss for that night.

Vegeta's body went haywire. His tail, which he had managed to calm down somewhat, came down and wrapped around Bulma's slender body. *Dammit! * Vegeta thought, stomping a foot slightly. He felt Bulma bring a hand down and place it on his tail as they kissed. She then pulled away, peeling his tail from around her. She held it in one hand.

"Ah-hah. I knew you really wanted to kiss me." She said.

Vegeta blushed. "Uh . . . Yes. Now, I think you'd better leave before Zarbon comes out and wonders what's taking me so long. He's nosy like that, you know."

Bulma's face grew frantic. "Oh yeah! Bye!" She waved, then took off at a run towards her flying machine.

Vegeta didn't say bye. He simply stared after her flying machine as it went off, with his arms crossed and his cheeks red with embarrassment. *Why did I do that? I know I'm just risking my life! * He thought, as he sat back down against his tree.

Zarbon came out. "I didn't hear any ki blasts, Vegeta! What's going on, and where's the girl? If you didn't have the heart to kill her, then I will!"

Vegeta smirked. "No worries, Zarbon. I rung her neck and through her in the . . . river. I killed her, so you shouldn't be pecking around in my business." He stood up on two feet to walk away, but Zarbon violently grabbed his arm. Vegeta froze in place. "What are you doing?" He demanded, knowing very well what was coming to him for no reason at all. Or, maybe because of the way he had talked to Zarbon.

"I'm tired of your smart mouth." Zarbon growled at him.

Vegeta whirled around, shaking with anger/fear of what was about to happen to him. It always scared him when he knew he was about to get beat, and he just hoped that Zarbon didn't take him to Freeza to get beaten. But God wasn't with him this time, and Zarbon took strong hold of Vegeta's wrist.

"You're coming with me. I know you didn't kill that girl, and I'm telling Master Freeza. I'm also going to tell him about the disrespect you've been treating Dodoria and I with." He growled at Vegeta.

Vegeta didn't say anything; he just stared at Zarbon with anger in his eyes. Why didn't they live like he did? Why didn't they get beat? More than anything, he just wished that it would be them instead of he. He hated them so much.

"You're hurting me!" He growled at Zarbon, taking note of his fingernails digging into his arm. He started trying to break free, hoping he could run away and fly off, and then Zarbon would forget about it. But he wasn't that lucky. Zarbon started to drag him into the ship, Vegeta struggling all of the way. But, like always, Zarbon won, and Vegeta found himself thrown into Freeza's quarters against his will.

"Lord Freeza, Vegeta lied to me. We found this girl in the ship, and he said he'd kill her himself, and he never did. He let her go. And, he's been treating Dodoria and I with disrespect." He tattled.

Vegeta spat at Zarbon's heels as he left the room and shut the door, leaving him with Freeza. *Right now's my chance to make an excuse for being gone tomorrow. * He thought. *Freeza will think that I killed her. He knows that I give no mercy . . . usually. He won't believe Zarbon. * Vegeta stood up, looking confident. "Master Freeza, I—"

When he saw Freeza's tail flicking impatiently, he knew that Zarbon had picked the wrong time to put him in there. He knew that this would be a long, painful night. "Vegeta, I don't want to hear you out until I'm good and ready." He growled. "You'd do good to shut your mouth."

Vegeta prayed that his body wouldn't start going haywire for Bulma while he talked to Freeza, because he knew how much Freeza was educated about Saiyan body language.

"I thought you were actually shaping up when you brought me that Dragonball." Freeza snarled, taking a step closer to Vegeta. He smirked a little bit when Vegeta took a step backward, obviously scared of him. But whenever Freeza looked into his eyes he could see Vegeta's future of rebellion. Just like his father. And, Vegeta's rebellion would end the same way too. With death.

"Master Freeza, I did too kill the girl!" Vegeta shouted. He jutted a thumb towards the door. "Zarbon's lying, he doesn't know anything about it at all! He wasn't outside when I was with her—"

Freeza whipped Vegeta across the face with his tail, making Vegeta scream with pain until his throat hurt. Vegeta spread his hands over his face as he felt the blood gush out. A single tear leaked out of his eye—but he only allowed that. He stood up strong and tall against Freeza now.

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" Freeza yelled at Vegeta, coming over and kicking him in the stomach.

Vegeta crumpled up on the floor, one hand grabbing his stomach and the other gripping his stinging and burning face. Spit and blood dribbled out of his mouth and plopped onto the cold floor. Vegeta couldn't control his temper anymore. "STOP IT, JUST STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, I'M TIRED OF BEING BEAT, JUST STOP IT!" He roared, pulling himself to his knees. He bowed his head and looked at the ground. *Great, now things are about to get worse. Stupid temper! * He thought.

Freeza stepped in front of the pitiful image that was now all crumpled up on the floor and close to tears of pain. Freeza knew that Vegeta's spirited nature wouldn't allow this any longer, and that pretty soon Vegeta wouldn't be taking his beatings anymore without a fight. But somewhere deep in Freeza's cold heart, he felt sorry for Vegeta. Just a little. It was this part of Freeza that caused him to want to reason with Vegeta, ask him what he had been about to say when Freeza had beaten him.

"What were you going to say?" He demanded.

Vegeta got himself together. "Uh—I—" He stuttered, scared to say anything, for fear it would bring on another viscous beating. He just looked down at the floor, clutching his stomach and hoping that another blow wouldn't be inflicted on him. You could never really tell with Freeza. He coughed and blood came flying onto the pavement.

"I asked you a question. Do you want to be hit again?" Freeza asked him.

Vegeta pulled himself into the sitting position, taking deep note of the nausea he was now feeling due to the punch in the gut, and the fact that he couldn't see out of his left eye because of the blood running in it. "Zarbon wasn't even out there with me and Bulma—I mean the girl." Vegeta answered.

Freeza looked at Vegeta questioningly. *How did he know the girl's name? Why would the girl tell him her name when he was killing her? * Freeza thought. He smirked, then chuckled.

Vegeta's heart dropped into his stomach when he heard Freeza laugh, that icy chuckle. It always meant something bad was going to happen.

"Vegeta, you're a riot."

It wasn't very much longer until Vegeta felt Freeza grab him painfully by the chin and yank his head up, causing him to yelp. "What?" He asked, automatically knowing that saying Bulma's name had been a dire mistake on his part. "How do you know the girl's name if you simply just killed her? Huh?" Freeza asked. "Oh, I'll bet you didn't kill her. You let her go, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU!"

Vegeta gulped. "Master Freeza, I'm quite sure that you know me better than that." He stated. "I did not keep her alive, I'd never do that." He said. He gently managed to yank his face away from Freeza's grip. "I know her name because I'd met her before."

"How?"

Vegeta gulped. "Well, Because I got that Dragonball from her."

"But why would she tell you her name?"

Vegeta was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say to Freeza on this question. He just stood up on shaky legs and hung his head. He was ashamed that he let himself take these beatings like this, when he would never in his right mind let anyone else beat him. "I have no answer to that." He boldly stated, crossing his arms and staring at Freeza straight in the eye.

Freeza simply stared at him, flicking that long and whip-like tail in the way he usually did when he was irritated with someone. But he didn't inflict any beatings on Vegeta right now. He simply decided to reason with Vegeta. "Vegeta, I'm going to excuse this for now. I'm quite sure you didn't let the girl go, and Zarbon should have known that. It's not your nature to let people go. You're ruthless, Vegeta."

Vegeta found himself smirking.

"And, as for the disrespect to Zarbon and Dodoria . . . You even slip at me sometimes. I'm just going to let that one go, but one more report . . . And I'll kill you. You know that they and I are your Masters, and you must respect us. You are a slave." Freeza said, telling Vegeta as If he didn't already know.

Before Freeza could walk away, Vegeta decided to make his excuse for being gone the next day. "Master Freeza!" He shouted.

Freeza turned around.

"I . . . tomorrow, I'm going to be looking for Dragonballs. Is that Okay?" He asked. "I probably won't be here at all . . ."

"Yes that's fine. As long as you're back before dark."

When Freeza walked away, Vegeta wondered into the place where he slept and was kept when he was usually not out doing something (A dark room with only an uncomfortable cot, a toilet and a bench) and went to sleep eventually in happiness of getting to see Bulma again the following day without a fuss.

* * * * * * * * *

Bulma found herself awake the next day in the middle of the floor, with her pony-tail still in and her clothing still on from when she had went to visit Vegeta. She had fallen asleep in the middle of the floor from being so tired, and now she was awake. She couldn't stop thinking about the night before, and the wonderful events that had happened. Vegeta saving her life, Vegeta's body hungering for her. It was all too good to be true.

She yawned and stretched, then took her ponytail down and brushed her medium length hair out by the mirror. Her make-up was still all smeared where Vegeta had kissed her, and she could almost swear that her legs still itched from where Vegeta's tail had touched them. She shuddered just thinking about him, and how today at twelve she would get to see him again. Looking at her watch, that was three hours away. She didn't think she could wait that long.

"Oh, Vegeta, if only you were able to persuade Freeza to let you come out today . . . " She said to herself, as she put a barrette in her hair. She couldn't even imagine how Vegeta would look when she was to see him today from Freeza beating him, and she wasn't even expecting what would happen to him because of it.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Vegeta awoke on the uncomfortable cot about an hour later than Bulma had woke up, immediately thinking about how he would get to see her today. Throbbing pain immediately shot up his face, and his stomach's being nauseous was enough to kill anyone. "But all of this will be healed today at twelve." He said to himself, getting up and stretching his back, legs, and arms. He couldn't help but notice his anxiousness to see Bulma was making his tail wave around and twitch again, but Vegeta couldn't care less about that right now. He was just happy to be out of the ship for all day, away from Freeza's beatings and everything else.

He went and looked into the small, cracked mirror on the wall. His reflection was now even worse than it had been when he'd looked into the make-up mirror. Now, He had a huge cut across his face that was oozing something he couldn't describe. He was sure that if he lifted his shirt he'd see a disgusting, black bruise on his stomach, but he decided it was best not to look. He knew something bad had resorted from the kick because of the way that he had been feeling lately, all nauseous and light-headed.

Vegeta slipped into the small and rusty shower stall that Freeza had provided him with that had only cold water, stripped, and turned it on. Even though the cold water on his skin caused him to shiver it still refreshed him somewhat. He had no shampoo; just the water and a small bar of uncomfortable, scratchy soap that left more light scratches on his body than it did kill germs. But, Vegeta didn't care. He just wanted to be nice and clean for his meeting with Bulma.

When Vegeta was in the middle of his shower, he heard someone unlock the door of his chambers and come inside. "I'm in the shower, can't you just—" He began, but shut his mouth. He remembered Freeza's warning. "Who is it!" He shouted.

"I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU, VEGETA!"

Vegeta immediately knew that it was Zarbon from the accent in the voice. "Bone to pick with me? Why?" He asked. "Didn't you already pick your bone with me? You told on me, and got me beaten—"

"GET YOUR CLOTHES ON AND COME OUT HERE! I DON'T WANT ANY LIP FROM YOU!"

Even though Vegeta wore a smirk on his face his body was trembling from head to tail. He obediently got out and put his clothes and armor on, then came out to face Zarbon. "What?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. *Crap, he probably knows me better than this. He knows that I wouldn't voluntarily go and look for Dragonballs, it's too hard. * He thought.

This was exactly the point that Zarbon wanted to stress.

"Tell me what's up with you, Vegeta." He ordered. "I know that something's going on, because you wouldn't ask to go and look for Dragonballs like Lord Freeza told me you did."

Vegeta shrugged. "And, why are you taking care of it? If Master Freeza thought it was such a problem, wouldn't he come and talk to me about it? Rather talk to me up close?" He asked, jabbing a finger at the cut across his face.

"Didn't I say that I didn't want any lip from you? Now tell me, or I'll beat you—"

Vegeta was silent. "I have nothing to tell. I told Master Freeza the reason why I was going and he believes me. That means you should too. Master Freeza would probably kill you for getting on my case right now."

"Actually he's the one who told me to get on your case."

Vegeta just stared at Zarbon with silence. "Like I said, I have nothing to tell."

Zarbon stared at Vegeta for a while more before turning on one heel and walking off, but not without giving Vegeta a look of pure hatred. Vegeta smirked. "He's going to be the first one to find out, if anyone does." Vegeta said to himself, walking out of the room a little bit after Zarbon to tell Freeza that he was leaving.

* * * * * * * * * *

After carefully looking around for any of the aliens Bulma landed her flying machine not very far from where Freeza's ship lay, but she didn't see Vegeta yet. "He's probably still inside, getting ready or making up an excuse for coming with me." Bulma thought. She planned on once Vegeta got out; they'd go somewhere else so that Freeza or his minions wouldn't spy them. But what Vegeta had said about the two aliens that had tried to capture her lurking around still scared her a bit for Vegeta's life. What if they did find them together? Would Vegeta really be violently killed?

Before Bulma had left today, she had to sneak away from Goku and Krillin to get here. After she'd told them about her adventures with Zarbon and Dodoria they'd told her not to go anywhere else, but she couldn't stand staying at home and not seeing Vegeta again. She had to see if anything else had happened to him since last night.

When Vegeta came staggering out (Bulma took deep note of the way he was staggering, almost as if it hurt to walk) Bulma noticed the huge cut across his face. She ran up to him and jumped into his arms, almost knocking Vegeta down with her weight. She pressed her lips onto his and gave him a kiss. Vegeta returned her kiss with passion.

"Vegeta . . . what happened to your face?" Bulma asked her lover, staring at the deep cut that was now visible across his face.

"One guess." Vegeta remarked.

Bulma stared at him for a moment before bursting into tears and hugging him really tight around his strong and firm neck. "He beat you again, didn't he? Why, Vegeta, why? Why did he do it? Was there a reason, or—"

Vegeta removed her from him, being very careful not to hurt her. "No, he thought there was a reason. He thought I let you go, just like I did." When he saw Bulma's face break back out into tears, he smirked a bit. "Shut up, there's no reason to cry about it. I'm perfectly fine. I just got a little scratch."

After Vegeta said this, he coughed into his hand from the kick in the stomach the previous day. He was still gagging and coughing up blood from that. He was sure there was something wrong, but if it was serious, he thought he'd already be dead. But he was dead wrong.

"Are you alright?" Bulma asked.

Vegeta nodded. "Hope so." He said. "Now come on, we'd better get away from here before Freeza or the others come out and see me with you. Did you have somewhere in particular we should go today, or can we just fly around and look for someplace?"

Bulma hugged him, laying her head on his chest. "I couldn't. I know that you know Zarbon and Dodoria better than I do, so you'd probably think of the best place." She said. "But, I thought that we could go someplace deep in the woods behind Capsule Corporation. There, the trees are thick so nobody could see us from above, and somebody would have to dodge a lot of trees to find us."

Vegeta nodded. "Sounds good." He said.

Bulma grabbed his hand and started to drag him towards the flying machine. "I'll drive, because I'm pretty sure that you do not know how." She said.

Vegeta kept his feet firm on the ground. "Woman, it'd be easier for me to just carry you. I'm sure that flying machine doesn't go faster than a Saiyan."

Bulma smiled. "I'd like that Vegeta." She said, putting her flying machine back into the capsule and pocketing it. "But before we go, there's something I'd like to know."

"Yes?"

"What did you tell Freeza to make him let you come? If he rules with as much tightness as you say that he does, than how come he let you come? It must have been something genius." She walked over to him and stared into his eyes, showing him that she wanted the truth, even though it may not be that hard for Vegeta to give it to her.

"Oh, I told him that I'd be looking for Dragonballs." Vegeta said, grabbing Bulma and picking her up baby-style. "If I don't come back with Dragonballs, I don't know what will happen, but hopefully Freeza won't beat me." He started to fly.

Bulma's mind was raving with questions. Before she could stop herself, she had started to chew Vegeta out for this. "VEGETA, YOU IDIOT! WHAT IF YOU DON'T FIND A DRAGONBALL AND HE BEATS YOU?" She hollered, about ready to beat him herself. "Couldn't you have made up a better lie than you did? Now you're in trouble, because I don't have anymore Dragonballs!" And that was a lie. Bulma knew where Goku and Krillin had hidden the Dragonballs, but she knew that if Vegeta got hold of them, Freeza would take them from him and make a devastating wish. Even though she loved him, Vegeta was EVIL.

Vegeta snarled. "Shut your mouth, woman! I made up the best lie that I could, and don't you think that's better than not being here right now?" He didn't let Bulma answer his question before he asked another one. "Where's the place you want me to take you at?"

Bulma, still a little bit upset and worried for her lover, pointed north. "Just a little bit North. It's the woods that should be past a big building that has the word 'Capsule Corporation' on it." She said. "Anyplace that's not too heavily wooded should do."

* * * * * * * * *

Soon Vegeta saw a place in the woods and landed, being very careful not to hurt Bulma when he put her down on the ground and released her. As soon as he did this though, she was on him again and was kissing him fiercely. He went with it for a while; then eventually pushed her away and asked her what the hell was wrong.

"I know that you risked your life to come here." She said, kissing him again, "But I also know that you have to go back. When?" She hugged him really tight, and his tail wrapped around her waist to her delight.

"I have to be back by dark, meaning Freeza will probably start sending out Zarbon and Dodoria to come look for me by four or five. Freeza's like that." Vegeta responded, hugging her back. He couldn't help thinking that maybe them being together would resort into mating, but he wouldn't let that happen. He may be letting himself be her lover; but never would he decide to mate with her. That was way against the codes of Saiyan pride.

Bulma placed a hand on his tail and stroked it, sending noticeable tingles up the Saiyan's body. She knew that a Saiyan's tail was the most sensitive part of the body, therefore it could make due when having sex was just out of the question.

Vegeta smiled as his tail went wacky and hugged her up to him tighter. As Bulma continued to stroke it, it twitched and waved back and forth almost without control. Bulma had to literally hold on to it to keep it still, and to keep it from whapping her or Vegeta in the face.

Vegeta thought he was all right, and that maybe this moment would last forever, when the sudden urge to gag and cough sprouted into his throat, and the wave of nausea returned. He coughed out blood into his hand, gagging and having to double over.

Bulma shrieked. "VEGETA! OH MY GOD!" She shouted, patting his back. "What's wrong?"

When Vegeta stopped coughing he answered her. "Freeza kicked me in the stomach last night." He said. "I've been coughing up blood ever since, and—"

Bulma hugged Vegeta really tight. "Vegeta, I can't take seeing you like this anymore." She bawled. "I'm going to get you away from Freeza, if it's the last thing I do."

Vegeta smiled, but he wasn't so sure. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get away from him.

End of chappy five.

R and R, and the next chapter really doesn't have anything important that I need to say, but It'll be just as good!