Mark of Destiny
Chapter Three: ...Two hearts will be bound...
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"Now, Miss Briefs, I must ask you, should we attend your chambers or mine?" He asked once they'd exited the crowded ballroom.
Bulma couldn't help but feel that it was a trick question, so she took a moment to recall nearly everything that had been said to her about her duties. There was something she felt she needed to remember... But she couldn't quite... And then, a lightbulb clicked on.
"Why Raditz, you of all people should know, considering you're the one that told me. All of my business is to be conducted in my chambers." She replied with a grin.
"Ah good, you were listening. I find most of the time that the concubines are well..."
"Ditzy?" She finished for him, earning her yet another smile.
"Exactly.
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"Kyra?" The young Prince asked as he approached the older woman.
"Yes, my lord?" She asked in reply as she gave a small curtsy.
"My father would like to know who it was that left with Raditz just now?" He asked simply, feigning disinterest.
"With Raditz? Oh, yes.. Bulma Briefs, my lord.. She joined us this afternoon."
"THAT is the same woman that arrived this afternoon?" Vegeta asked, obviously astonished.
"Yes, sire. I take it she looks differently than before?" Kyra remarked with a sly grin.
"Slightly. It's amazing what they can do with make-up these days." He remarked gruffly, in an attempt to hide his astonishment in Bulma's improved appearance.
"Well sir, tell your father that if he wishes an audience with Bulma, all he need do is ask." She replied as the Prince turned to leave. "Oh, and Prince Vegeta?" She called as he walked away.
"Yes?"
"The same goes for you as well."
The Prince merely blushed and walked away.
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(There was a lemon here, but since I can't post it on ff.net, It's not included. To check out the full, unedited chapter, head over to http://www.ffump.com/fics/story.php?no=27 and take a looksie!)
Bulma lie in his arms for nearly twenty minutes afterward, neither speaking a single word, for fear that their voices would shatter the moment, and the calm serenity that they'd found. Finally, when she could bare the silence no more, she spoke.
"Kami.. you're incredible." She mumbled breathlessly as he fiddled with her hair.
"I've never.. not like that.. You just ignite something inside of me." He replied, before motioning at the window. "It's daylight... My time with you is over now.. But if you're willing, I'd love to see you again.."
"When?" She asked softly, her chest still heaving from uncaught breath.
"Tonight, if you'll permit me."
"Well, I'll have to speak with Kyra first, I imagine.. But if it's up to me, then please.. come."
"Rest well, little one. You're feigning sleep now, I can tell. And rest assured, if it's within my power, you'll never be a whore." He spoke softly, but she was already sound asleep. He kissed her forehead gently, and left the room, a smile playing on his face that no one had seen in years.
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Vegeta, on the other hand, did not have such a peaceful night. his dreams were haunted by distorted visions of Frieza carrying something very important to Vegeta, but unseen by him, away on his back. There was a great flapping of wings behind him as he watched Frieza leave, and a Falcon emerged from nowhere. The great bird flew directly toward Vegeta, but just as it came within arm's reach, it disappeared.
The dreams were not uncommon.. He'd actually had then all of his life. But there was something more unnerving about this one.. Something...
Real.
After deciding that sleep was no longer an option, the Saiyan No Ouji climbed from his bed and threw on his clothes. Now wide awake, he journeyed the long corridors of the palace, stopping for no apparent reason in front of an unmarked door where loud shrieks and moans could be heard from within. Two ki signatures spiked suddenly from within, and Vegeta couldn't help but laugh to himself. So, Raditz was having a good time with the new whore, eh? Perhaps keeping her around had been worth the while after all.
She was a great beauty, he'd give her that much. From what he was hearing from within, her sexual tendencies left little to be desired either... Perhaps he'd take Kyra up on that offer after all.. Just to see...
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Two hours later, Vegeta, who was seated down the hall from Bulma's room, looked up just in time to see Raditz exit and turn to walk in the opposite direction from where he sat.
"Raditz!" Vegeta called, sending the other Saiyan whirling around wildly.
"Yes, my prince?" The man asked quickly, eager to make up for the mistake of not seeing him in the first place.
"At ease. From what I've heard, and the fact that you're just NOW leaving... I assume our new whore meets your standards?"
Raditz nearly snapped at the other man for the use of the word whore pertaining to Bulma, but he quickly checked his anger upon remembering who, exactly, it was that he talking to. "Yes my lord... She was all I expected, and more." He replied honestly.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself so much, because I'm dragging you on this damned purging mission."
"If you don't mind, sir, could you tell me how long we'll be off planet?"
"Not less than three months... Not more than six. Other than that, it's anyone's guess." Vegeta replied, before, for some reason, casting a discreet glance to Bulma's door.
"If I may, sir.. Are we permitted to bring concubines?" Raditz asked, hopefully.
"She's that good, is she?" Vegeta asked, the slight blush that stained Raditz' cheeks not going unnoticed. "As for concubines, you'll have to talk to Kyra. A total of four will be going. Which four, I'm not certain. I will tell you this, however, if your little minx clouds your mind, or comes between you and your job, I'll kill her myself. Is that clear?" Vegeta replied, his voice having gone from joking to malicious in an instant.
"Perfectly clear, my lord."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see his lizardship off. We leave tonight, Raditz, I suggest you be at the docks no later than 7:00."
"Yes sir." Raditz replied to the Prince's already retreating figure.
"Kyra..." He mumbled.. He needed to speak with the woman now.. Never mind the fact that his stomach was cramping from hunger pains... Bulma was more important.
Wow... this WAS serious...
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Bulma woke several hours later to yet another insistent banging at the door. She quickly glanced around the room to find something to cover herself with, before locating a robe and throwing it on.
"Coming!" She called to whomever happened to be on the other side of the door. She opened it, and Kyra burst in instantly, and huge grin plastered on her face.
"It's too early to be happy." Bulma muttered before trudging back toward her bedroom and plopping down on her bed once again.
"Early? Bulma, dear, it's a quarter of five.. Not QUITE what I would call early."
"WHAT?!" Bulma shrieked, obviously a tad bit embarrassed for sleeping as long as she had.
"You heard me! Besides, if we don't hurry, we'll never get you packed!"
"Packed? For what? Where am I going?" Bulma asked, obviously frightened.
"Did neither of them come by to tell you? Sheesh.. that's a man for you. Both Prince Vegeta and Raditz came by my chambers this morning to request that you be one of the girls that went with them on the purging mission." Kyra squeaked out, the grin that had covered her face before was back, only this time, it had increased ten fold.
"Raditz? He wants me to go with him? Really?"
"Really... And let's not forget that Prince Vegeta asked as well. I dare say you've intrigued him."
"Kyra.. how many elites are stronger than Raditz?" Bulma asked, having heard none of what the other woman had said about Vegeta.
"Nappa and Prince Vegeta are the only ones I can think of... With the exception of Noino... and he's gay." She replied with a smile.
"That's it, huh? Not much to worry about...." She mused, much to the other woman's delight.
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"My lord..." Raditz called as he entered the Elite training grounds where Vegeta stood, watching the soldiers spar.
"Yes, Raditz?" He questioned, without ever turning around to see the bearer of the voice.
"My lord, I just wanted to inform you that the concubine we spoke of earlier was one listed for the trip."
"Your point being?"
"With you permission, sir... I'd like it if Bulma could be housed in my quarters."
"You do, of course, realize that you'll have to beat the others off of her, correct?"
"I realize that, sir.. And I alone will take full responsibility for anything that happens while she's under my supervision."
"Make sure you do, Raditz."
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Der we go! And yes, it's a V/B ficcie.. I just felt like throwing a bit of B/R action in there. *Shrugs* What can I say? I'm a special person. :)