Her eyes narrowed as she licked the blood from the corner of her lips. Smirking ever so slightly, she lifted a few feet from the ground. A crimson haze enveloped her irises.

"Now you've done it."

She brought her hands forward, allowing the burning red orb to surface, her ki concentrated on the ball. He took a step back, unsure of what was happening.

"Crimson Absolution!" She released the deadly sphere watching it move towards him. The Effian's eyes widened in terror as he brought both arms up to shield himself. However, just as the red death came upon him, a blazing orange being came into view.

Chimera.

He flung himself in front of the energy ball, and Bulma screamed as she watched it collide with the animal. A brilliant flash of light emitted from the explosion and as the dust settled, Chimera was no more.

****

"NO! CHIMERA!" She tore forward, her arms reaching for him, her eyes searching for his body. However, the world around her seemed to have changed. Bulma gasped and blinked her eyes. Something was wrong. Where was Galvan? Why was it so dark?

"Woman!" She jumped at the voice, and turned herself around. Vegeta was beside her.

"Chimera! He's dead!" She cried, grasping at the thing wrapped around her.

"What are you talking about woman?" Bulma looked down to what she was holding. A sheet; she was in bed!

"I…I…" She could not find words. This didn't make sense. It had been too real.

"You had a nightmare, woman. It's happened before, though you've never been so loud."

Bulma brought her knees forward to her chest, and laid her forehead down on them. Taking slow breaths, she calmed herself down. She had never dreamed like that before. It seemed so… She couldn't describe it. Rubbing her hands over her face she combated the veil of reality, still confusing it with the surreal. Dende, she could still taste the blood in her mouth.

"I… I had a dream," she finally uttered.

"Yes, I know that," Vegeta replied, with a tone softer than his sarcastic remark implied. She looked up and stared out the window where her drapes had been the previous day. The moons glistened in the twilight. They were beautiful but offered no solace to the pain.

"It was so real," she muttered, closing her eyes tightly as if to blot out the memory.

"What happened?"

She didn't want to discuss it, but she noted the hint of concern in his voice. Staring back at the balcony, she answered.

"I was fighting Galvan. I went into the Blood Rage. I attacked him with the Crimson Absolution. Just as he was about to be killed, Chimera jumped in front of my attack and took the entire blow. He died."

Her statement was met with silence as they both pondered the dream's meaning.

"Well," Vegeta was first to comment. "It just shows that you're thinking too much about the battle. Perhaps you're confused about your motives."

Bulma laughed dryly and set her gaze into space. Oh, she knew her motives all right.

****

When she had landed the other day, in the woodlands of Remina, Galvan had been there to greet her. His haughty stance always seemed to make her sick, and as she looked at him she could feel the bile rise in her throat. A disgusting being he was, truly a freak of nature.

Galvan smiled upon her coolly with an omniscient glance that insisted power. She returned his smile with a blank countenance and said in almost a monotone voice, "What do you want?"

Galvan had laughed, leaning back his head to display his straight white teeth. Bulma considered punching him in the mouth, and knocking each pearl out. She inwardly grinned at the thought of a toothless Galvan. Sighing, she knew that soon she could do whatever she wanted with him.

Patience.

"I've only come to relay a message, Bulma!"

"Then relay it," she said curtly.

"That I will!" He said, cocking his head to the side as if to radiate his arrogance. "You have 3 days."

"I only need one."

"Yes," Galvan replied. "I know you are more than capable, but there's a new addition to our little game, and she needs three days." Bulma's eyes widened. "Ah!" Galvan said. "So you know who she is?"

"I do."

"Then you need no further information?"

"No."

"Then good bye, my perfect creature, and be ready."

"Go to hell, Galvan," she spat out. He laughed easily.

"Ladies first!" With that, Galvan disappeared. Bulma growled and releasing her pint up fury, blasted a tree.

'Bulma, Remina will face plenty of destruction in a few days. I suggest we attempt to conserve what we have so far.'

'Sorry, I was angry.'

'You usually are.'

'I'm not angry now, so be happy.'

'Who is the female addition?'

Bulma froze. She didn't know what to say. Blocking off Chimera for the moment, she considered Arwen. There would be no good in the two meeting, yet perhaps if Chimera found his partner again then… Bulma was at a loss. Opening the doors of her mind once more, she relayed the safest message she could think of.

'A strong fighter. However, I have a feeling we won't have to deal with her. She's on Chikyuu and Goku is there, he'll take care of her.'

'Why are you being so evasive.'

'Because! Because, I…'

'Bulma, I wish you wouldn't lie to me.'

'I'm not lying to you, I just…' Bulma was out of options. She only had one other trick up her sleeve. 'Chimera…' With that she pretended to faint, making sure to roll her eyes back and braced her arms so that she would not reach back to catch herself. Once she had crumpled to the ground, Chimera was next to her in a flash.

'Bulma!'

Suddenly, there was the sound of boots touching down on the ground. Heavy strides moved forward fast.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Vegeta's angry voice growled and he bent down by her side. Picking her up gently he geared his angry face at Chimera.

'I did nothing, human!'

"I am not a human!"

'Fine, you're a monkey! But I did nothing to Bulma!'

Bulma fought to keep her eyes closed. At this rate, things were going to get dangerous, but she wanted to truly convince Chimera that she had fainted. She just needed to wait until one of them did something loud.

"Well obviously some one did! She's out cold!"

'Well it was not me!'

"THEN WHO WAS IT!?"

Bingo.

Bulma's eyes fluttered open and she gasped. Vegeta looked down in surprise.

"Woman? What's wrong with you?"

"Hmm?" She asked, dazedly, attempting to keep some irrationality in her voice. Looking around as if she didn't know what had happened, she looked back to Vegeta, her eyes wide. "I must have fainted!" Looking down thoughtfully, she pretended to contemplate why. Suddenly she burst with an "Ah ha!" that made both Vegeta and Chimera jump.

"Well?" Vegeta asked.

"I didn't eat breakfast this morning." If Chimera's face could have expressed emotion, it would have been quite a humorous sight to see. Vegeta, however, could and Bulma fought back the laughter that spawned from his flabbergasted face. Sighing in agitation, Vegeta set her down.

"Well then go eat before you pass out again!"

"Yes, your majesty!" With that sarcastic remark, Bulma flew back to the palace, a conniving smirk planted mischievously on her face.

****

And so that day had come and gone and now Bulma was back in bed. But the nightmare had welcomed her in the realm of Hypnos and she did not want to sleep again. Dragging the sheets up around her, she slid out of bed.

Vegeta growled as she stood.

"Woman, we need to talk for a moment." She sighed and turned around.

"Vegeta, I told you. I'm just not in the mood, I can't think straight much less…"

"Let me finish."

Bulma became quiet and waited for what he had to say.

"First of all, come back here."

She did as told, the sheets whispering against the floor as she slid into bed yet again. Vegeta wrapped an arm about her waist and pulled her to him. She did not resist.

"So," Bulma said softly. "You want to talk?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow as if her statement surprised him. Laughing to himself he looked at her waiting face.

"Yes," he said, as if amazed by his own words. "I want to talk."

"About?" Bulma didn't seem to notice the almost monumental words that had just recently came from Vegeta's mouth, and he did not care to make her aware.

"You've been brooding too much. I believe that you're thinking about things a lot more then you should." Bulma shook her head and smiled, brushing off the comment with a baffled look.

"Vegeta, you of anyone should know I'm perfectly fine! Yes, I've been thinking about killing Galvan a lot, but so would anyone. It's going to be a big battle."

"That it will, but if you wear yourself out, then you'll be no use."

"I'm not wearing myself out!"

"You fainted today."

"Vegeta," Bulma began, but then stopped herself. It wouldn't be good if he knew she had been playing around, especially when he had shown some concern. Besides, only Goku knew of Arwen, and that was for his own good. Vegeta would learn of her when the time came.

The Saiyan waited for her answer with his own obsidian silence. Bulma sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Leaning against his chest, she snuggled in close and drew a lazy finger over his bare flesh.

"I'll be ok," she whispered.

"You'll be dead," he said. Bulma noticed how his throat constricted on those words and looked up. The expression on his face surprised her.

Vegeta was worried.

"You're concerned about my safety, aren't you? You don't think I can manage it?"

Vegeta sighed at her words and closed his eyes.

"I… I don't like the idea. You don't fight, woman. You've never fought. What if he hurts you?"

At this Bulma smiled.

"I have an idea, Vegeta. Tomorrow I have some business that has long been in need of getting done. Come with me and I'll show you what I can do."

"Are we taking the foot rug?"

"No. CHIMERA will remain here. And that is what he is called by the way!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"Unlike humans, Saiyans don't name their pets."

"He's not a pet!"

"Woman, I honestly don't give a damn."

"Nice to know that, Rhett!"

"What?"

"Never mind."

She closed her eyes, and attempted sleep. It didn't come.

"I'm sorry we couldn't have sex tonight," she said softly. It was intended to be an apologetic comment, but came out humorous. Vegeta laughed and looked down at her.

"I'm sorry too! After two years, I don't know how I can ever manage." Bulma growled and snatched up a pillow, going after Vegeta's head he moved just in time.

"Bastard!" She exclaimed, laughing hard. Bulma drew herself over him, straddling his chest with her arms. Vegeta looked up and held his breath.

She was perfection.

Her cheeks were rosy hued from the excitement, and her bright blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight. The cerulean hair that had been tied back earlier that morning was now flowing wildly down her shoulders. He reached for a lock of it, and curled it within his fingers.

"I'm glad you grew it out more."

Bulma raised an eyebrow at his statement, and then looked quizzically at her hair.

"You know," she began. "It's really ironic I did. It would have been so much easier to crop it short. Especially in my line of work." She pondered the thought for a minute and then sighed, smiling softly she laid back down on his chest. "You always seemed to like it long, maybe that's why I kept it."

Vegeta wrapped his arms around her slender figure, and ran a hand through the flaxen strands he so enjoyed.

"I do like it long," he nearly whispered. He went to kiss her head and lingered there, breathing in the scent of her sweet hair. As he moved back she looked up at him.

Her eyes looked so blue.

"I love you," she said, smiling up at him. He pulled her close and sighed.

"I love you too," he mumbled.

Damn her! If they hadn't been separated for so long, he would never have considered saying that. But now… Now he felt he had to. Almost as if to prove his remorse, and show her his guilt.

"Vegeta," she whispered, knocking him out of his reverie.

"What?" He muttered irritably.

"You don't have to say it if you don't want to."

Her words were nearly inaudible, but their melodic sound reached his ears and the full meaning embraced his thoughts. After a moment of silence between the two, Vegeta made his reply.

"I do want to."

The moons cast ethereal hospice into the bedroom as night commenced to day. And as Aurora reached with rosy fingers of dawn onto Remina's surface, she did not fail to touch the two content figures, preoccupied with their slumber.

A new morning dismissed the twilight, and Remina was alive again.

2 more days.

****

Author's Note: Ok, hopefully this was a little bit longer than usual! I tried to keep up the pace and make this fic MOVE for once! Woo hoo! Ok, if you had problems with the flashback scene thingy, let me clarify!

First of all the beginning paragraph was a dream Bulma had. Then she woke up to the night AFTER she touched down with Chimera! After that she reminisces of earlier that day when she consulted with Galvan. After that fast forward to the night of that day. That's where Bulma and Vegeta are chilling! I didn't say chilling… no not me…

Alrighty, as I said earlier, if you would like to join the Chimera/Mermaid Update List, E-MAIL me! Puh-lease… if you ask me to give you e-mail notification in your reviews I might not get it until later… So please, help me out!

Ok, that is all! Much luv and yadda yadda yadda…

~JZero