Goten lifted an eyebrow when he felt Trunks' ki increase. Turning his head to Gohan, his innocent eyes held back nothing. Goten was worried for his friend.
Gohan offered his brother a comforting smile and then passed him another plate of food. Poor Honto had been dishing out meals ever since they arrived. However, at the promise of all the money he would get in return for his services, he continued to slave away happily.
Goten looked down at his plate blandly. It didn't seem right that he stay here and be happy while Trunks was off fighting. Even if Gohan had told him to remain seated, Goten was considering not listening to his brother. Looking up, Goten realized he didn't have it in him. He couldn't disobey his big brother even if he wanted to. He trusted Gohan more than anyone.
Suddenly another familiar ki shocked him from behind. Goten swiveled around on his stool to see his father. Gohan stood up in surprise.
"Dad!" He exclaimed, scurrying over to him. "What happened? What was wrong?" Goku smiled upon him, his very countenance urging his son to remain calm.
"Everything's fine Gohan, but I have a feeling we won't be staying with Bulma much longer." Goten's eyes widened.
"But why? What happened on Earth?" Goku looked to the numerous plates that lined the bar. Grinning he walked up to them.
"I'll tell you while I eat!" He promised. Goten and Gohan both grimaced and sat down, realizing they'd be waiting quite awhile for information.
****
Vegeta came back into himself almost painfully. His own body suddenly seemed so foreign to him. He longed to be back within Bulma's mind. They had been so happy there. For awhile, he remain prostrate, not even wanting to move. Then suddenly, he remembered himself and opened his eyes.
As the minutes passed by in a sullen silence, Vegeta became reaccustomed to his own body. Slowly, he moved his fingers, gripping them into a frail fist and then clenching them tighter. He brought himself up to his knees and rubbed a hand over his face. Looking down he observed that hand, and realized it was his own.
The world around him seemed to spin. He dared not move, lest he fall into the madness and chaos that encumbered his vision. Vegeta soon found, however, that by blinking and giving his eyes time to adjust, the spinning ceased. He found his feet and stood up carefully. He had never felt so uncoordinated.
Chimera, once again in his own beastly body, peered up at him from the ground. The great animal seemed fine with the new transition. Vegeta envied his casualness.
"Father!" Trunks exclaimed rushing to his side. "Are you all right?" Vegeta was surprised by the presence of his son and turned quickly in shock. However, he regained himself and implanted a scowl upon his face.
"Of course I'm all right!" He croaked, his voice hoarse. Vegeta mentally cursed himself. He could barely even speak and it was his own damn body! Trunks obviously believed his assertion, for he soon turned and sped over to where Bulma lay.
"Mom!" He screamed, crouching down to her crumpled figure. He rolled her onto her back and brought his ear down to her chest. Trunks listened for a moment until he heard Bulma's heart beat and felt the slight movement of her chest as she breathed. Sighing in relief he came back up and grasped her hand. Trunks turned his head back to Vegeta. "What happened?"
Vegeta blinked and allowed his eyes to focus on his son. Shaking his head he emptied his mind and aligned his random thoughts. Vegeta cleared his throat and took a step forward. Luckily for him, his body was his own again, and he could move easily. Slowly, he brought himself to Trunks and crouched down beside Bulma. Trunks looked at him from across Bulma's silent figure, eyes still full of question.
"Your mother..." Vegeta managed, trying to figure out where to begin. His eyebrows furrowed. He didn't have a clue as to where he was supposed to start. This answer was a delicate one, and he wasn't sure if he could handle it. Looking down upon Bulma, Vegeta was at a loss for words.
'I'll talk to him, Vegeta. Make sure that Bulma is all right.' Vegeta's eyes widened at the unexpected intrusion. He turned to Chimera and smirked, trying to hide his surprise.
"Very well then." Turning to Trunks he said, "Go to the animal and talk to him." Trunks looked from father to beast in uncertainty. Finally his eyes met Vegeta again, and the look he saw on his father's face made him go. He ambled over to Chimera still filled with a mixture of questionable emotions, wrought by the chaotic scene. Vegeta turned back to Bulma.
"Wake up woman!" He commanded, his regal voice stirring the night air. She didn't wake, nor did she move. Her soft breathing was ever so slight, and he had to strain his ears to pick it up. Putting his hand to her chest he found that her heart still beat. Sighing, Vegeta put his arms around her and brought her up to a sitting position. He allowed her limp body to lean against his own as he adjusted her carefully. When she was comfortably situated, he put an absent hand to her face. "Come back to me," he whispered, his words inaudible to all except her.
As if on cue, her eyelids flickered and then completely opened. Vegeta nearly smiled at the sight of her blue eyes. He hadn't realized how much he had missed them. She pondered his presence for a minute, glancing around from his own face to that of her surroundings.
Chimera had seemingly associated conversation with Trunks, and they sat not to far off in deep, silent communication. Vegeta vaguely noticed this, for he was more intent to look at Bulma. When she finally regained her total consciousness, she smiled softly.
"You're here," she stated. He raised an eyebrow.
"So are you."
"Yes, I know," she replied. "But I didn't think you would be." He frowned and brought her closer to him.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked, locking eyes with her. She smiled wider.
"I thought that maybe..." She trailed, looking away. "Maybe all your words had been to end my madness." Vegeta growled. Bulma was about to say more, until his lips found her own again. She nearly wept, but contained herself. The feel of him so close was almost unimaginable. His touch left her breathless. It was the first time they had physically kissed, and the contact seemed fresh, as if it were the first time. And yet each knew the other to such a full extent. Almost as if they had never been apart, their bodies met each other with an epic familiarity. When they withdrew, to each other's unhappiness, Vegeta smirked.
"So you see," he said finally. "I told you the truth, woman! Make no mistake of that."
"Yes sir," she replied, still a bit dazed from their personal contact. Vegeta looked around warily.
"We need to go somewhere fast," he said. Her eyes became glassy with need.
"Where do you want to go?" She asked. It was then that Vegeta realized they could go anywhere. With Chimera's assistance that was. The only unfortunate part to all of that was the whether or not of Chimera's wanting to do such a thing. His and Bulma's renewed relationship could in fact prove to end Chimera's affections towards her. He frowned at his sudden epiphany and looked down to her.
"What if your friend doesn't want to take us?" He asked matter of factly. Bulma looked at him questioningly for some time and then smiled mischievously. Looking down, she contemplated her answer. Vegeta was vexed by her silence and soon found he did not have the patience.
"Well?" He asked, looking down at her in determination.
"Well..." Bulma began, looking away.
"Come out with it woman!" Vegeta growled. Bulma smiled at his sudden urgency. In his desire he had grown careless with his emotion. He soon realized his sudden flaw and quickly controlled himself. She looked once to Chimera and then back to him again.
"We don't need Chimera," she replied. At her sudden confession, Vegeta raised an eyebrow.
"Just what are you saying?" He asked softly.
"I'm saying," she managed. "That I can take us." Vegeta's eyes widened as he scrutinized the woman that lay within his arms.
"And just how can you do that?" He asked, demanding an answer. She paused for a moment and Vegeta could tell she was ashamed of her ability. Finally, in due time, she answered.
"As I have become more adjusted to Chimera, I've learned many things. For instance, I learned to harness his powers. Well... I also learned to teleport on my own." Vegeta's eyebrows furrowed.
"Why are you so... uneasy about doing it then?"
"Because," she said, frowning. "Chimera means so much to me, and I didn't want him to know that I didn't need him anymore. I mean, I needed him but not that way." Bulma sighed and looked down. "I was so lonely, that I couldn't bare to lose him. He was the only creature that really cared about me."
Vegeta looked down and closed his eyes. Pain and guilt were a wave that washed over him. He was consumed by that horrible feeling that was his past. Looking out into space, he wondered vaguely if he could ever forgive himself.
"Vegeta?" Her words found him and brought him back to reality. Blinking he looked back down at her.
"What woman?" She smiled.
"Thought I'd lost you there for a second." He shook his head.
"I'm just feeling odd, after being out of my mind for so long." Bulma laughed lightly. "What?" He asked.
"You've always been out of your mind!" He smirked.
"So have you, woman!" There was a moment of silence where they looked upon each other intently. The peculiar togetherness seemed so sudden and so wonderful they both found themselves unsure of what to do. For that single period of staring at each other, they found the completion they had needed for so long.
And then Bulma sighed. Looking down, she ran a hand over her face in agitation.
"I want to go..." she trailed.
"But we can't," he finished. She looked up and realized that he understood. He offered her a smirk.
"Not until Galvan's dead. I can't go anywhere until Galvan's been destroyed! At least not tonight." Vegeta frowned and looked down.
"I'm hoping your not going to make me wait until this whole damn thing is over and done with!"
A hand found his face and moved it to her own. His met her gaze and found she was smiling. For a moment he didn't know what seemed odd to him and then it hit. Bulma's smile. That one single gesture seemed so foreign to her face. Especially because she meant it.
"Don't worry," she said. "As soon as everything under control, and I have had a good chat with everyone, then we can."
"It had better be soon!"
"It will be," she replied. "By the way, have you noticed that Goku left Adria and came back?" Vegeta blinked and looked up in shock. Bulma laughed. "I guess not!"
"How did you know?" He inquired looking back down at her. She smirked darkly, and Vegeta saw a part of himself in her eyes.
"I have my ways," she replied.
"Why did he leave?" Bulma rolled her eyes.
"Just because I can sense ki doesn't mean I'm a mind reader! If you want to know why he left, ask him yourself!" Vegeta's eyes narrowed, and he moved Bulma so that he could stand up.
"Fine, woman, I'll do just that! And don't expect me to tell you why he left, either! You can find out your own answers!" Bulma stood up and wiped herself off.
"Oh yeah?" She said, putting her hands on her hips. "Well I will then! Too bad I can teleport over there and you'll have to fly! Guess I'll be there first!" Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest.
"Now woman," he said. "You wouldn't want to demonstrate your powers of TELEPORTATION in front of Chimera would you?" Bulma growled and looked to Chimera. The beast showed no sign of recognition.
"Vegeta, you are..."
"I'm what woman?" She stamped over to him until she was an inch away. Her blue eyes sparkled with anger.
"You're a..." Vegeta smirked and looked down at her.
"Something wrong?" He asked. She looked up, face full of anger, and opened her mouth.
Then she closed it.
Her countenance softened and she smiled. Putting her hands around his neck, she laughed lightly.
"We're fighting again." Vegeta nodded and put his arms around her waist.
"So did you miss me?" He asked.
"Terribly," she replied. They kissed again. Deep and long it lasted within a moment of forever. And then they withdrew. "Vegeta," she said, her voice soft and dazed.
"What woman?"
"You're a bastard."
****
Author's Note: G'Lordy! I have so much to say! First of all, here's the chapter that everyone's been pleading for. Sorry to disappoint anyone. Hopefully it's a bit longer than the last. I'm sorry if it's boring, but sometimes that's required, especially in a transition chapter such as this. I dunno....
Anyhoo, let's discuss Mermaid! I've gotten a lot of good and happy feedback, so yes I shall be continuing it! However, don't think that just because I'm starting a new fic I'll discontinue, or pause my work with Chimera. This story consists of a delicate and thick plot line... I'm going to be resorting to something much less complicated with Mermaid. I only write Chimera when I'm fully in the mood because if you write something when you don't want to, it generally sux!
****PLUG IN PLUG IN PLUG IN PLUG IN PLUG IN****
Alrighty, H_A, here's my chapter... now where's yours??? Well??? =)
And for something new! This is JZero's Fic of the week! Lol, can you see that I'm bored? Well I AM! It is called: No Time Like the Past, by Tempestor. Category: Sailor Moon. Even if you don't like SM I highly recommend it, mainly because of the intellectual writing style that it has! (Haven't seen a lot of THAT lately)
If you don't like SM, try this one for size! It's by Sailor_Star and it's entitled: SSJ Bulma: The Journey begins. Of course I'd like this one, I mean, Bulma gets POWER!! Lol, so please, check it out! =) (Just an idea of course)
Much luv to EVERYONE!!!!
That is all
~JZero