Chapter 7: Care

"I'm sorry Usagi but I can't help you out."

"Are you sure that you can't even get out of there for even an hour?"

"I'm sorry but I truly can't. Have you called Chichi and ask her if she could help you out?"

Usagi lets out a frustrated sigh. "I had but she's busy with the kids and Goku is beyond reachable. I'm practically stuck here alone with Vegeta!" Usagi twirled the phone cord, the second object she could vent her frustration on.

"Have you tried asking that zaru-baka? It's a slim chance but no harm trying."

Usagi thought over the suggestion. The voice over the line continued as if sensing her doubts. "Who knows you got him in his very rare moods…"

Bulma had a point there but Vegeta hardly have good moods unless he is… a crimson blush covered her face.

"Are you there? Hello?"

Realizing that she had dazed out, Usagi quickly rushed out. "I'll try."

Closing her eyes Usagi collected her near-frayed nerves and prayed that it will stay glued until after she stepped out of the bedroom. "Come on now gal, if you can kick the Negaverse back to hell, then you can do this!"

Usagi rolled her eyes in disgust when she realized she had been talking to herself. Again. Damn that monkey, even outside his bedroom he had caused her near insanity. Determination in check, Usagi took a deep breath and reached out to open the door.

"What do you want onna?"

A surprise scream echoed through the marbled hallway. Vegeta suppressed an amuse smile and settled for his trademark smirk. Watching the near hyperventilated woman, he added a silent reminder to add this into his new hobby.

Having finally able to glue back her traitorous frayed nerves, Usagi frowned. "Don't you dare do that to me again!"

An eyebrow arched upwards. "And why shouldn't I?"

Instead of feeling intimidated, Usagi felt a burst of fire sparked in her. Taking a step forward, Usagi poked the bare-chested Saiyan before her, a habit which she had picked up lately. "That's because you nearly gave me a heart-attack!"

"Ahh… the lack of oxygen caused by the momentary lapse of the heart." Shifting away from his position beside the door frame, Vegeta straightened and leaned his head down, stopping when he was only a breath away from her. "Worry not fair maiden for I know the operation of mouth-to-mouth respiratory."

Usagi blinked. Are her ears failing her or did she just hear the rude and arrogant monkey calling her a fair maiden?

Taking the advantage of her flustered position, Vegeta wound his arms around her waist and pressed her flush against him. Leaning down, he licked a tempting earlobe. Vegeta smiled against her ear when he felt her shudders. "I can show you the demonstration if you want, Usagi."

Usagi gulped as she pulled away. She needs to put some distance between them fast before her reserve deserted her and she ended up being a pile of goo. Standing an arm's length away, Usagi looked up and slightly cringed at the frown on Vegeta's face. Settling her gaze on anywhere but his face and… "Actually Vegeta what I want to do is totally different from what you have in mind."

Vegeta smirked again as he stepped towards the beauty before him, fully intending to pull her back in his embrace. "And what is this totally different thing you want to do?"

"Accompany me shopping." Instantly Vegeta stopped and blinked. Did he just hear her correctly?

On seeing his surprised face, Usagi quickly rushed out. "Actually I want you to send me to town. You need not accompany me or fetch me back for that matter. I can take the cab."

The changes in Vegeta were instantaneous. A menacing stance with a matching expression took over the teasingly seductive man. "No," Vegeta growled out as he slammed the bedroom door open.

Usagi was flabbergasted. Why he…

"Why the hell not?" Usagi asked out angrily as she followed the walking monkey in. Yes, this monkey can walk…

Taking a towel from a surprisingly neat rack, Vegeta leisurely toweled his hair dry, plainly ignoring the fuming Lunarian in the room.

Usagi shot out the question again. Minutes went by before he answered. "I'm busy."

"I can't believe this!" she threw her hands up in defeat and marched out off the room. In the middle of her march, she took sweet revenge and pushed the bend over prince hard on the derriere, throwing him totally onto the large bed and continued her march but before she had a good look at his startled face. Strings of curses resonated through the hallway.

Inside the bedroom, Vegeta pushed himself off the bed and let a small smile escaped his lips. He couldn't help tease the high-strung onna and relished her reaction. Perhaps he should accompany her; it would be amusing to see her reaction at the sudden thought that had just popped out. Yes, he should. Reaching out, he pushed a small button beside a full length mirror. Instantly a secret door opened and hangers of clothes beckoned him. Smirking, he began choosing.

"Stupid, inconsiderate, overbearing monkey. Training and flirting, he has all the time in the world. But sending me to town, he has no time. Bloody hell!" Dry leaves crunched underneath her feet as a highly frisked Usagi trekked through the Black Forest to her destination, every woman's paradise, the shopping boulevard.

Clad in only a white gossamer blouse and a pair of tight jeans, Usagi regretted her choice of clothes. Bloodthirsty insects constantly reminded her of her unpleasant situation and her sandals were not much of help either. Twigs and mud had soiled her mutilated sandals. A sigh escaped her. At least she still has her make-up pen.

Flicking her wrist, a black whole appeared before her. Reaching her hands into it, she began to search for her ever reliable pen. After a few minutes, a horrified gasp pierced the serenity of the forest. Damn it! She left it back at the house!

Still determined to spend to her heart's content, she continued her journey, undeterred by the slight downturn. Unknowingly instead of heading north as she was supposed to, she headed west, deeper into the dark foliage where creatures wish were thought to be long dead roamed around.

Wind pushed against as a Saiyan prince shot through the air, defying the law that Isaac Newton had so proudly found ages ago, may lord rest his soul. His eyes scanned through the familiar forest, in search of a tinge of gold. Finding none, he flared out his senses, searching for the clam balming aura. A slight frown marred his face when he had finally found the aura.

"What the hell is she doing there?"

Gathering a bit of his ki, Vegeta blasted through the air towards a soft scream that had managed to capture his attention.

"What in the world is this place?" Usagi muttered as she took in her awe inspiring surroundings. Acres of dusty ground stretched to the horizon. Hills of rocks and large unique palm trees and cactus littered the place. Still intense in her obsessions, she didn't notice the presence of a creature that was supposed to be buried seven feet under centuries ago.

Usagi suddenly stopped. Her legs began to shake as the tremors shook around her. Confused as to what had caused such effects, she turned around. It was a mistake. A ten meters overgrown lizard roared at her, its razor sharp teeth promising a terrible death to those around it.

On instinct Usagi began to run for her dear life. Not even wanting to know if the reptile was still on pursuit, she quickly scanned for the nearest safe spot. Lady luck wasn't on her side.

The reptile's powerful limbs had covered the meager distance between them. Roaring, the creature swiveled its menacing tail towards Usagi. A horrified scream reverberated through the air as the tail connected with Usagi's back. In an instant, the terror stricken woman crashed with a sickening thud against a pile of rocks.

As if satisfied with its work, the creature roared again and slowly made its way towards the fallen form. The drool that slipped past its teeth left a sizzling path on the ground. The creature was only a meter away from its prey before it suddenly found itself flying through the air.

Onyx eyes scanned frantically for any signs of living on the fallen form. A sigh of relief was Vegeta's only reaction when he caught the slight moving of her chest. But instantly a scowl and a murderous look took over as he caught the sight of the blood from the side of the head and her torn clothes. Turning his attention to the now staggering reptile, Vegeta flared up his ki in challenge. Roaring, the reptile accepted it and began charging towards the Saiyan prince. Before it could even blink, a large white-hot energy ball slammed into it, leaving dust in its wake.

Up in the air, a reptile winged creature quacked loudly as the hair defying gravity man it glared at it. In an instant a silent message were conveyed between them, beating its powerful wings, the creature quacked one last time and left the creatures beneath it alone, searching for new preys.

Satisfied that none would disturb him, Vegeta turned around and walked towards the limp form. Taking her into his arms, he was careful to check for any broken bones. Satisfied that none was broken and only small wounds were inflected, Vegeta lightly slapped her cheeks.

Dark long lashes fluttered a few times before it finally opened. Glazed cerulean eyes shifted a bit to get rid of the gritty blur that it was encompassed in. Even in her dazed state of mind, Usagi couldn't help but notice the deliciously sexy handsome man that held her. Odd, but his hair defying gravity seems very familiar. It took her a few moments before her temporary rusty wheels and gears chugged.

Wait a minute! Hair defying gravity?

Instantly her eyes snapped into clarity. "You!" Usagi screamed which happened to be her undoing. A wave of headache pounded into her, rattling her bruised gears.

"Oww…"

Vegeta rolled his eyes at the pitiful moan. "Crazy onna," he muttered softly as he sat on the ground, cushioning her head and back with his chest.

Usagi decided to let that insult pass. It would be pointless to entertain him in the condition she is in. Furthermore, snuggling deeper into his embrace, he makes a very good substitute for a feather pillow.

Vegeta sighed inwardly, an action that he seldom does. Taking the end of his trench coat, he wiped the patch of blood on the blond's temple. As a matter of fact, ever since her arrival, he has been doing things that he either has never done or rarely did. Not liking where the thought is leading, he inwardly shook his head and chucked the subject into the dark cobwebs filled part of his mind.

He'll be damned if he starts acting like a lovesick fool!

A long silence stretched before Usagi decided to break it. "Vegeta, thank you for saving my life." A loud grunt was Vegeta's answer.

"Can I ask you a question?" Silence stretched again and she took it as a yes.

"Why do you train so hard?"

"I'm a warrior. That is what I do." Vegeta answered as he unconsciously stroke her back.

Usagi shifted until her back was supported by his arm and looked into his face. "But don't you get lonely? I always see you train alone except once in while with Goku."

Vegeta didn't like where the topic would lead but as he looked down, he realized he might as well answer her. God knows the onna can be extremely irritating. Are all onna irritating? "As long as it makes me strong it doesn't matter."

Her brows furrowed. "If what you say is true, then you don't have any friends." Seeing his nod, her mind finally clicked the pieces together and realization kicked her hard. That explains the weird mood swings, cold and brute exterior and the sweet seductive man personality he has. Nobody cared for him! Her heart clenched painfully at that thought.

Vegeta watched nonchalantly as the woman in his arms suddenly bit her lower lip. Her eyes had gone soft with an emotion he had thought it would never exist for him. He swallowed the feeling of uneasiness and watched as she reached out and trailed her fingers along his jaw. The words that flowed from her lips had awakened raw emotion.

"No one had cared about you."

"I don't need you pity onna," Vegeta growled loudly and began to push the offending woman off. He was shocked to stupor when he felt soft yet strong arms surrounding his form followed by the soft whispered words in his ear.

"Don't worry Veggie-kun, I'll always be here to care for you."

A miracle and an answer to heaven's cry, for the first time in his life, the ice that surrounded the Saiyan prince melted and ever so slowly the prince returned the embrace.

It was a long while since that talk and both had decided that it would be best for the injured woman to rest before leaving. It was enough time for the ice price to think through the events that had just passed. Never in his life had he ever felt vulnerable and the feeling was very not much appreciated by the said prince. In his servitude with Frietza, his life was never peaceful. He was tortured to near death for trivial mistakes and were drilled that showing emotions is a weakness, fatal to warriors. And yet, he looked down at the warm bundle in his arms, this woman who is thoroughly ill-opinionated, stubborn and rude to his measures had brought a sense of peace and contentment in him.

Is she the miracle that he had prayed for?

Vegeta suppressed a groan as the woman in his arms wriggled her derriere again and unconsciously against his pelvis. Gritting his teeth, he gave her a gentle squeeze as she once again wriggled. Bloody onna, doesn't she knows what she is doing to him?

Feeling the slight pressure, Usagi stopped. If the obnoxious ape finds her snuggles irritating, then she will tell him that he was partly to blame. After all he feels so extremely comfortable and warm like her old quilt that she had before she bought a new one. Closing her eyes, she nuzzled his neck, innocently taking a whiff of his scent. Her actions had reacted a loud growl from the ape and she silently wondered what his problem was.

It took her quite a while before her mind registered that something was amiss. Suddenly the in between words of her thoughts rung the bell.

"I still haven't shopped yet!"

A/N: hey there! Sorry for the late update. I thoroughly got brain dead on trying to get this chapter out. It was a relief when I finally got this idea. At least I can concentrate on my other fics without constantly being reminded of this chapter. It would be a long time before the next update. So I better take my leave now before anyone of you decides to murder me.. hehehe

zackire