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Mark Of Destiny
Chapter Five: ...Two worlds will shake...
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Last time, on "Mark of Destiny":
Bulma let out a shrill scream before backing up as far as she could on the counter. Her face paled visibly, and for a moment she actually thought she might lose consciousness. When she found her voice again, she uttered one of the many words that she hadn't been able to speak since the day her world had exploded.
"Goku?"
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Raditz merely stared at her for a moment as though she'd lost her mind, before glaring back at his father. "What's she talking about?"
"I have no idea.." Bardock mumbled, obviously puzzled.
Before she realized what she was doing, Bulma was off of the counter, and within arms distance of the stumped Bardock. "You're not Goku, are you?"
"Afraid not, ma'am.. Why don't you just sit back down so we can check that hand out?" He replied, in what he thought was an effort to placate a crazy woman.
"But.. your looks.. you look identical!" Bulma exclaimed, before a the proverbial light bulb once again clicked on over her head. "You're his father, aren't you?"
"Bulma, Bardock is MY father.. there's no possible way for him to be this... Oh Kami... you're talking about Kakarot." Raditz spoke, thoroughly astounded.
"She knew Kakarot?" Bardock asked, his attention in the matter having tripled.
"They were both on Earth... I guess I just never assumed they knew each other."
"Goku was a Saiyan?!" Bulma exclaimed, before realizing that she'd just interrupted the conversation the two were having.
"He was sent off planet as a baby... To purge the Earth, I assume. And you actually knew him?" Raditz asked, obviously slightly jealous.
"Well, yeah.. I knew him really well, actually... He was my best friend. We basically did everything together."
"Everything?" Raditz asked, his eyebrow cocked.
"Not that, you perv! I had a boyfriend, and Goku was...well... to be honest, too pure for me." (AN: Ok. I'd just like to point out how hard that was for me to type.)
"You had a boyfriend?" Raditz asked, the new information from Bulma obviously shocking him more than the fact that she'd known his brother.
"Can we get back on topic, here?" Bardock asked, obviously annoyed with his son's childish behavior. "Bulma, if you'll take your seat, we'll check out that hand, and then we can talk more about Kakarot." Bardock spoke, his voice betraying his obvious desire to learn more about his son. He turned to the other Saiyans then and drew in a deep breath before speaking. "Well, to be honest, the situation doesn't look to be anywhere near as serious as my idiot son described it to be. Frankly, I don't think there's any need for the tank. It would be almost pointless to use it, considering the fact that it's only her hand that was injured. Is that alright Miss Briefs?"
"Fine with me... I really don't have any desire to get into anything that small.. I'm claustrophobic." She explained, before realizing her close proximity to Raditz and backing off slightly.
Raditz took note of this, and with a heavy heart, backed away from her, the hurt obvious on his face. Bardock noted the obvious tension between the two, and with a roll of his eyes, turned to face his son.
"It's too cramped in here. Why don't you go wait outside?"
Raditz glared at his father for a moment, before giving a small sigh, and exiting the room.
"Thank you."
Bardock merely smiled at the small female, a rather uncharacteristic look for a Saiyan. He took Bulma's hand and turned it over, wincing once when Bulma let out a sharp cry. "I don't mean to be harsh, but Saiyan hearing is ranked among the best in the galaxy. If you're going to scream, do me a favor, and warn me next time."
Bulma merely nodded her head.
"The good news is, I don't think anything's broken. You've got one hell of a sprain though."
Bulma grimaced. "Am I going to have to wear a splint or something?"
Bardock gave a hearty laugh. "I don't think so... But, if it gives you any further problems, let me know, and we can figure something else out."
With a weak smile, Bulma thanked the man, before exiting the bathroom, and running promptly into her lover... Or former lover... Or whatever exactly he was.
"Sorry..." She mumbled softly, before moving to walk past him.
"Don't run.. not from me... I couldn't stand it if you did."
"I'm not running..." She replied, her eyes never leaving their resting point on the floor.
"Right, and I'm actually enjoying this."
"Enjoying what?"
"Enjoying the choice I'm about to give you." Raditz answered, his voice threatening to waver slightly at the end.
"And what choice might that be? Oh, let me guess, the choice of being in the room next time you decide to insult me?"
"You know that's not what I meant, Bulma. I meant that's what Vegeta would have you be." Raditz glanced away from Bulma for a moment to give his father a brief nod. Then, Bardock left the room, leaving the quarrelling couple alone.
"And what am I to you, Raditz? What do you consider me? Am I your girlfriend? Am I your whore? What am I?!" She screamed angrily, making Raditz wince a bit.
"I would've had you as my mate, Bulma, had you asked it of me. But since you haven't, then there's nothing I can do, except to give you this choice. Either stay here with me, as my mate or not, or leave."
Bulma's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "What did you say?"
"I said, either stay with me, or leave. The choice is yours. There's a small cargo ship departing at midnight. I've made an arrangement with the pilot for you to be onboard when it leaves."
Bulma made sort of a choking noise, before turning pleading eyes to Raditz once more. "I can go?"
Those three words broke the large Saiyans heart more than anything he'd ever heard. He never faltered, however, just gave a brisk nod.
"And you'll let me?" She asked.
Another nod.
She made a sort of a squealing noise, before literally throwing herself into his arms.
"Oh Kami Raditz! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Without thinking, she pulled the man's face down to hers and captured his lips in a deep kiss.
One that he returned gratefully.
And rather passionately.
She pulled away abruptly, her bright blue eyes shining at him questioningly. "You would still have me? Even after all I've done?"
He never answered, just crushed her lips against his again. This time, however, his hands trailed across her shoulders, and then down her sides, coming to rest on her waist. In one swift motion, she had been lifted up to his chest, her legs wrapped tightly around his hips. She gave a strangled sort of cry against his lips, and only then did it dawn on him that he might've injured her hand.
"Are you ok?" He whispered softly, their lips never parting.
"Fine.. you just surprised me, that's all." She answered truthfully, as she brought her hands up to rest on his shoulders.
"Can I be with you again, little one?" He mumbled softly into her hair, before taking her earlobe into his mouth and biting at it gently.
Bulma gave a gentle sigh, before tangling her good hand into the Saiyan's hair.
That was all the clearance Raditz needed.
In less that an instant, Bulma found herself once again lying on their bed.
Only this time, rather than being covered by her warm, soft, blanket, she was covered by a warm, hard muscled Saiyan.
She quickly decided she liked the Saiyan better.
She didn't even hesitate before she began pulling at his shirt, her frustration quickly growing at the realization that she wouldn't be able to remove anything with one hand, much less the Spandex armor of a Saiyan warrior.
"I can't do it." She muttered softly, before glancing up at him, her eyes pleading.
Raditz merely chuckled slightly, before proceeding to rid both himself and Bulma of their clothing.
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11:48.
Twelve minutes before she left.
Twelve minutes until he'd never see her again.
Raditz shook the woman that lay beside him awake gently. "Time to go little one."
Bulma shook her head sadly. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Hadn't this been what she'd dreamed about since the day the Saiyans had first destroyed her home? She glanced at the clock. 11:50. No time to worry about her feelings now. She needed to get away from here. She needed to get away from the Saiyans, and their Prince, and Raditz.
She needed to get away from the things that made her feel human again.
There was no way she could love again. No way she could ever feel whole, or right about the situation. Her friends had given their lives in a vain attempt to save the Earth. She owed it to them not to fall in love with the people that had murdered them.
No matter whose orders they'd been acting under.
Raditz grabbed her arm, rather gently, and pulled her through the doorway and down the hall. As much as he wanted her to stay, as much as he wanted to beg her to remain with him, he knew he couldn't. She didn't belong here. She belonged with others that could love her.
Creatures that hadn't taken everything from her.
There was no time to reminisce, no time for second thoughts. If they weren't there when that ship departed, there would be no hope for Bulma to make her escape.. Not for a long time.
He smiled a bit. At least she'd always think of him on her birthday.
His smile quickly turned to a frown. Kami help him if she ever found out what would happen when Vegeta discovered she was missing.
Kami help him when she realized he'd given his life for her.
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It took less than a minute to reach the docking bay, and less that twenty seconds to get her settled into the cargo bay, where she would ride until the pilot was sure there was no way for the Prince to discover she was on board.
"Bulma, this is an old friend of mine," he spoke, before turning to face the older man that stood beside him. "Belloch, this is Bulma." He introduced them, before lowering his voice menacingly. "Protect her with your life, Belloch. If anything happens to her, it will mean your head."
Belloch moved to speak, only to be silenced once more by the Saiyan. "I don't care. Even if I'm not the one to do it, someone will. Her life and safety are all that matter to me now."
The man shook his head, before turning gentle eyes to the frightened human female. "Just sit tight Miss Bulma. It won't take us long to get far enough from the ship, and Vegeta's view for you to get out of this dusty old cargo hold, and up in the cockpit with me.
Bulma flashed the man a quick smile, before turning sad eyes back to Raditz. "Belloch, could we have a moment?"
The man nodded in agreement, before exiting the ship to do a last minute check.
"I'll miss you." She stated simply, before attempting to bite back that crystalline tears that welled up in her azure eyes.
"And I you, little one. Shed no tears, Bulma. Soon you will be back where you belong... Or at least where you can start a new life. A life more befitting a seventeen year old girl."
"So, you know it's my birthday then?" She asked with a sigh, before standing on her tiptoes, and planting a kiss on the Saiyan's cheek. "I'll never forget you, Raditz. Or everything you've done for me."
"Thank you." He replied simply, before kissing her forehead, and exiting the plane. He closed the cargo door behind him, leaving Bulma in total darkness, save the small rectangle of light that came from the door leading to the cockpit.
Then, Bulma Briefs allowed herself to cry.
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Raditz stood by to watch the ship depart the docks, before giving a sigh, and walking to Kyra's chambers. He gave a swift knock, before walking in.
He suddenly found himself very thankful that Kyra had been alone.
The thought had never crossed his mind that the woman might have been occupied with some... task.
"Raditz.. what brings you to my corner of the world? Wait.. is Bulma ok?" She asked quickly, upon noticing his saddened features.
"She's fine. Actually, she's probably better now than she has been in awhile."
Kyra eyed him warily. "You didn't kill her did you? Because if you did.."
"Now isn't a time for games." He reprimanded, before taking seat on the woman's bed.
"I wasn't playing. The last time I saw you two, you were fighting, remember?"
"She's gone." He replied simply, before running a hand through the top of his spiky mane.
"What do you mean she's GONE?" Kyra asked, her blood suddenly turning to ice.
"I sent her to Yardrat with Belloch."
"But she's coming back with him, right?"
"Belloch will return.. Bulma won't."
"Raditz.. do you know what's going to happen to you if Vegeta finds out you let her go?"
"I know exactly what will happen. And there's no if. I'm going to make sure Prince Vegeta knows exactly what I've done."
"And why in Kami's name would you want to do that?!" Kyra shrieked, before seemingly remembering the Saiyan's sensitive hearing.
"Because, if I can't live with her, then I choose not to live at all." Was the only reply he gave before exiting the room, headed in the direction of the Saiyan training grounds, where Prince Vegeta, and the other Elite guards would be training.
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Less than ten minutes after takeoff, Belloch opened the door leading to where Bulma sat, and invited her to join him. She dried her eyes quickly, before ascending the small set of metal stairs.
"Raditz thinks a lot of you." Bulma spoke softly as she took her seat beside the older man.
"Raditz has always been a fine lad... What he's doing for you should prove that." Belloch replied.
"Yes, I suppose it does." She answered, before proceeding to stare out the window, into the dark recesses of space.
"You SUPPOSE? Kami girl, what does a man have to give up to please you?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Raditz hasn't given anything up.. Nothing but me, that is."
"That should be enough. But then when you factor in what his punishment is going to be for releasing you.. I'd venture to say that giving his life for yours should be enough to at least make you feel SOMETHING!"
"What do you mean his life for mine?" Bulma spoke, her voice suddenly sounding less like that woman she'd become, and more like the frightened teenager she had been less than two months ago.
"So, he didn't tell you, did he? I'd guessed as much. I suppose since you're already off the ship it won't matter if I clue you in a bit."
Bulma nodded eagerly.
"The punishment for releasing a slave without royal consent is death. There is no other option. The only difference is that if he reveals where the escaped slave his hiding, his death will be quick."
Bulma had grown seven shades paler at mention of Raditz' death.
"Rest assured though Miss Bulma. Raditz will never tell your secret, just as I won't. Your life will be a long, healthy one."
She glanced at him, pleadingly. She didn't want to hear anymore.
Belloch either didn't understand, or didn't care. "Raditz' death will be long, and excruciating.. But he will carry your whereabouts to his grave."
Something within Bulma snapped then. Raditz, the only person that had cared about her since she'd reached the Planet Vegeta, was giving his life for hers.
That wasn't a debt she took lightly.
"Belloch, we have to go back."
"I'd guessed you might say as much.. But I can't return until I've gotten more supplies. Vegeta will have my head, and yours, on a platter if I turn back now."
"But.. how long will Raditz have?!"
"I can't say, my lady. That just depends on how long it takes for people to notice you're missing."
A slight amount of color returned to Bulma's cheeks then. "How long before we reach Yardrat?"
"Another thirty minutes there, plus fifteen to load up, and another hour back, provided there aren't any delays."
"So, two hours.. Raditz and everyone else should still be sleeping then!" She exclaimed happily, before something clicked in the back of her mind. "Oh Kami.. he's got training at one.."
"That doesn't necessarily mean they'll know you're gone." Belloch replied soothingly, before turning his eyes back to his controls. It would probably go better for Bulma if she DIDN'T know Raditz' plan. With a little luck, however.. maybe they could still get back in time to save him.
Or at least quickly enough for Bulma to say goodbye.
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Go check out The WONDERFUL Raditz/Bulma pic that Maria S drew me! To see it, go to ; and leave her a review to let her know what you think about it!
Till next time!
Lovies!
~*VP*~