A/N: Okay, here we go. Another exciting chapter! Well, I hope you find it exciting. It's uh, up to you. Be nice!

Disclaimer: This is the song that doesn't end…yes it goes on and on my friend… alright I'm done.

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Melting a Winter Heart

Chapter Eight: Revelations, Resolutions and Such

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Rain on his shoulders, Vegeta landed in front of Kakarrot's dwelling. A pit formed in his stomach and he winced. Why oh why did Kakarrot have to be the only other pureblooded Saiya-jin on this planet? He'd rather not talk about this with anyone, but for once, the prince had a problem he couldn't solve himself. Either way, it was cold, so with a growl of surrender, he approached the door.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

"Coming!" Gokou called as he bounded down stairs. He opened the front door to reveal a wet and chilly-looking Saiya-jin prince, his fist raised to strike.

"Don't hit me! Don't hit me!" he yelped and ducked instinctively. After a moment, he realized he wasn't being attacked and stood up with a sheepish grin. "Oh, hi Vegeta. Sorry, about…uh come on in. Boy, it's a cold one out there." He ushered Vegeta inside, closing the door against the cold rain.

The prince let his ki flare a moment to dry his rain-soaked body and stood there for a while, his arms folded and his back to Gokou. Finally he turned to face his rival, a deep frown on his face. This confused Gokou, who always knew him to sport a scowl or a smirk; both expressions masked any emotion quite well. But Vegeta looked confused at the moment and it completely threw off the taller Saiya-jin.

"Kakarrot?"

Gokou gasped, surprised out of his thoughts by Vegeta's impatient voice. "Yeah, sorry. Um, can I get you anything? Food or drink?"

"No," Vegeta waved off his offers. "This is not a social call Kakarrot. I've come for…advice on a situation."

Gokou gaped. Vegeta, the Prince of All Saiya-jins, had come to him for help? This had to be something big. But what could he possibly need from him? He'd already made it very clear that he would accept no help with attaining Super Saiya-jin status so…

Suddenly, he noticed a faint, familiar scent emanating from the prince's person. Bulma.

"I know it's bizarre, but they'll find their way to each other pretty soon. But if they get wind of it, it might not happen. Promise you wont' tell them Gokou, or I might not be born…"

Gokou swallowed hard remembering Trunks' words. If this was what Vegeta was here about, he had to be very careful about what he said. "Uh, advice?"

"Kakarrot," Vegeta warned, becoming intensely commanding, "I would not be here unless I thought you could be trusted."

"Of course you can trust me Vegeta."

The prince's expression deepened. "Understand soldier, this in no way makes us 'friends.' There is nothing I seek more than your defeat at my hands. But I have observed your actions, on and off of the battlefield. I hope I have come to the conclusion that trust is not an issue for you."

Gokou fought back the smallest of smiles. That Vegeta, always analyzing. But this wasn't a time to joke. "Vegeta," he said, looking very serious, "I swear, on my honor as a Saiya-jin, that nothing leaves the room. Okay?"

Vegeta suddenly glared, approaching him dangerously until they were face to face. "Do you understand that by swearing me that, I will have every right, as the Prince of All Saiya-jins, to execute you if you betray this trust?" Vegeta asked him, his voice now very dark. The taller Saiya-jin didn't flinch or waver, but merely squared his shoulders and nodded. Vegeta thought he looked more like the warrior that he could have become on Vegeta-sei.

He stood there, staring at him, searching him for any untruth in his oath. Finding none, he nodded and finally sat down heavily on the couch. He tried to find a way to begin. Damn pride! One word; that's all he needed to say! He cleared his throat, wondering why it was constricting all of a sudden. He was a Saiya-jin. He wasn't supposed to be afraid of anything.

"Bulma." There he'd said it. Now what; Wait for a response or go on talking? He looked up at his fellow Saiya-jin, the look in his eyes showing the consequences of any ridicule on the subject.

So it is about that, Gokou thought and began racking his brain for a way to possibly keep the future intact. "Uh, what about her?" he asked, deciding to just let the prince talk before he tried to say anything. He watched him struggle for the words before his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I don't know," the prince muttered. Gokou cocked an eyebrow.

"You don't know?"

"What are you a damn parrot?" Vegeta growled. "Don't mock me Kakarrot!"

"Whoa, I'm not! Take it easy!" Gokou stammered trying to calm him and avoid being punched.

"'Take it easy?' How can I 'take it easy' when everything is turning on its head?" the prince stormed, standing to his feet. Gokou watched him pace madly like a tiger. "I haven't been able to fully concentrate on my training in weeks! I can't sleep or shut my mind off… I'm going insane! And everything seems to be linked to that woman!"

"You mean Bulma?"

"YES I mean Bulma!" He whirled on Gokou fiercely, who jumped back. Better let the prince have his rant, Gokou thought. Almost immediately, a strange calm came over Vegeta. The faraway look that came into the royal's black eyes wasn't lost on Gokou at all. "Ever since that first snowfall, things have been changing. And I can't explain it, no matter how hard I try! And then that asshole ex-boyfriend of hers—"

"Wait! Bulma and Yamcha broke up?" Gokou gasped, hiding the fact that he already knew they would. "What happened?"

"Wouldn't you know?" Vegeta sneered. "Her devoted weakling lapdog has been screwing Baldy's little ex-whore behind her back!"

"He cheated on her!" The normally calm Saiya-jin suddenly found himself incensed. He knew they'd break up, but he didn't know the "someone new" was a bit on the side! "That son of a bitch, I'll kill him! Just wait 'til I see him again! I'll kill him!" Vegeta stared at him, giving a quick, wry thought to why he couldn't be that nasty on the battlefield.

Gokou noticed his stare and calmed down, rubbing his neck. "Uh, sorry. It's just, Bulma's one of my best friends. I'm not stingy, feel free to assist in the killing." The prince snorted a short laugh, somewhat glad for the release of tension, small as it was. "So… is she okay? Cause I know she can be a little sensitive."

Vegeta chuckled ruefully. "Sensitive. A true understatement Kakarrot, but yes, she's alright." His brow darkened remembering the near catatonic state of depression she was in before. "She wasn't at first. She didn't eat or sleep for days. I mean…she was…fragile. That fucker made that fiery, stubborn woman fragile." He recalled the way his gut burned with rage at the weakling. "I hated seeing her like that. And I don't know why. Everything's new to me and I don't understand it and I hate it!" He raged, falling back onto the couch, trying to reign in the emotions that boiled in him.

"Hate what? The fact you don't understand the feeling, or the feeling itself?" asked Gokou, finally finding a safe way to ask.

Vegeta blinked at him, turning the question around in his head. He never thought to look at it that way. Did he truly hate the way he felt about Bulma?

"I'm not sure," he said. "The way I feel is one thing. It's distracting, but it's also… exhilarating. What I hate is that I can't decipher my own…emotion."

"That's a hard word for you huh?" Gokou smiled and sat next to him. Vegeta scowled, but not directly at him. "So what do you feel? Not emotion, just, when you feel like this, what do you think about?"

"Her. Nothing but her." The answer came out smoothly. The distant look entered his eyes again. He almost forgot he was speaking to anyone. "When she leaves the room, I want to go with her. I feel like I'm missing out on something when she's not around. Every time she looks at me, in any way, I feel like she can see my soul." Vegeta shivered at that thought. "And I don't want her to. I've lived my whole life in darkness, solitude, and the business of death. I don't want her to be a part of that; she's much too good. It would be better for her, for both of us, if I left and never returned. But…the thought of not being around her…" He stopped. He couldn't voice his next thought. It would destroy him as a Saiya-jin and a warrior.

"You feel like you want to die, huh?" Gokou asked.

Vegeta whipped his head around to face him, completely shocked. The very words that were on his tongue… "How did you…"

"That's how I feel when Chi-Chi's not around."

Vegeta shook his head immediately. "But that is different. She is your mate. You are bonded to her."

"It isn't just that Vegeta," Gokou explained, sensing that the prince was very close to the answer he wanted. He just had to be careful not to scare him or give away his destiny with Bulma. "Even before I married Chi-Chi, I felt the same way. I mean sure, my childhood was much more carefree than yours was, but we both feel the same way about fighting. I guess it's in our blood."

"Damn straight it's in our blood," Vegeta remarked proudly. Gokou smiled.

"That's why I stayed away from Chi-Chi for so long, because I was afraid of being distracted. But I realized that I couldn't. I loved her."

"But I don't…know what that is," the prince admitted. Black memories of his cold childhood gripped him and filled him with anger. "I can't define love anymore than I can define this feeling!"

"Well, that might tell you something," Gokou suggested. Vegeta frowned and was just about to ask what in the world that meant when the realization hit him. This feeling…the mystery of it…the one thing he could never before define…

He had no time to feel anything as panic began creeping into him again. His hand flew to his forehead, pulling away when he felt sweat beading on his brow. It was all too much to process all at once. He had to get out of there. He had to figure out what to do.

"I have to go," he said, rising quickly.

"Uh, okay. So, did you-"

Without another word, the Saiya-jin prince exited the house and disappeared into the cold stormy night.

Gokou relaxed into the sofa, letting the recent turn of events tumble through his mind. Well, he'd been told it would happen, but now that it was in motion, he still found it hard to believe.

"Gokou! I'm home!" Chi-Chi called as she pushed the door open, groceries in one hand and an open umbrella in the other. She shook off the raindrops and put the bag on an end table. "I just saw Vegeta blasting off when I drove up. Is everything okay?"

Gokou looked up at his wife and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Yeah, sure. Everything's fine."

I hope, he thought as she sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. He smiled and kissed her dark head, feeling grateful he was sure of his love.

--

Bulma sat silent at her desk in her father's lab. Her hand was beginning to cramp up a little, but she tried to ignore it and gripped the stubby pencil harder. She was in the zone and all around her were sheets of paper with hastily scribbled equations and formulas on them.

She'd woken up about an hour ago, feeling awake and more like her old self. Ravenous as hell too, and after a meal of Saiya-jin proportions, ideas began multiplying in her brilliant brain. She couldn't seem to find enough paper to pen, pencil or sharpie her plans and projects on. In the corner, a sad-looking pizza box had been turned into a makeshift notepad covered with diagrams of a large spaceship shaped like a burrito.

At last, her fingers could no longer hold the pencil properly. It slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, rolling under her father's supercomputer.

"Ack! No! That's my last pencil!" She cried, crouching close to the floor, trying to see where it went. "Stupid friggin' piece of supercrap," she muttered, trying to wiggle her fingers under the narrow space between the floor and the underside of the huge piece of equipment.

"Onna, what are you doing?"

Bulma gasped and whipped her head towards the door. Vegeta stood there, arms folded, no expression on his face.

"Uh, Vegeta, hi. This is umm…nice and embarrassing," she laughed quietly, sitting up. She stood and brushed the dust from her body. The prince stared at her. She was dressed in a pair of blue sweatpants and a baggy red sweatshirt. Her hair was twisted up into an easy style, but it didn't prevent a few tendrils from falling around her face. His insides felt warm as he gazed at her, and Vegeta frowned inwardly. If he could still find her attractive in this rather drab state…oh boy was he in trouble.

Bulma noticed his examination and let out an uncomfortable laugh. "Well, I guess I can definitely take a break from writing for a bit huh?" she smiled, trying to ease the awkwardness she suddenly felt. Like she had started to shiver uncontrollably from the inside.

"What were you doing?"

"Just brainstorming, getting some ideas out on paper," she shrugged.

"No, I mean when I came in," he clarified, approaching her.

Bulma gulped as the prince closed the gap between them. His eyes locked onto hers, something behind them burning steadily. She quickly fell into those smooth, black eyes. She'd been doing that many times lately. Finally, she shook herself free of the strange trance, blushed and chuckled nervously. "I uh, dropped my last pencil and it rolled under this heap," she answered, jerking a thumb towards the computer.

Then she saw the unusual look Vegeta was giving her. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched his gloved hand reach gracefully up into her hair. Part of her felt like a trapped animal, but closing her eyes, she remembered how those fingers felt, ungloved, running through her tresses only hours ago. His body was warm from his aura, and a hot flare licked through her body. She leaned forward a little. Just get it over with and kiss me…she thought, her stomach flip-flopping.

"Onna…"

"Hmm?"

She felt her hair falling down from the quick 'do she'd put it in. Her eyes flicked open to see Vegeta dangling the pencil she'd twisted into her hair in front of her face. A sudden urge to pummel him silly rose up in her, but she only cleared her throat and snatched the pencil away from him. "Um, yes, well, thanks. Uh, cool, I had it the whole…um, bye!" Before Vegeta could say a word, she darted out of the lab and slammed the door behind her.

Vegeta normally would've loved to ridicule her obvious embarrassment, but he was too immersed in what she was embarrassed about. No, it wasn't the forgotten pencil. It was the same thing he'd felt that day in the GR when she'd teased him about not being a blond yet. Then, he half-expected her to kiss him, as he surmised she had just done.

Somewhere in the recesses of his confusion, he knew he wanted to. Kami, when he saw those blue eyes flaring with life… when her hair tumbled down… the heat from her body…

No. No. No! No more of this wondering! He'd had enough! Once and for all, the prince was going to discover just what was going on with himself!

--

Bulma lay across her bed, trying to come down from that state of giddiness she'd felt in the lab. Ooh, that prince! How could he do that? Get her all worked up and then, typically for him, tease her. She sat up and grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest with her knees. "Ooh, you! I'll get you for that!" she vowed.

"That so?"

"Ack!" she yelped and leapt up, brandishing her pillow. Again, he stood in her doorway, his smirk now gone. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She warned, shaking her pillow at him. She went silent when he offered her no retort, only gazed at her from the door. "What?" He didn't answer, but walked slowly and deliberately towards her. Her heart skipped a beat and that warmth permeated her body again. On instinct, she took a step in his direction. As the distance between them grew shorter and shorter, heated thoughts began billowing in their minds.

What's going on? She asked herself. Oh, great Kami, his eyes…

Just once, that's all…He told himself. That's all I'll need…

As they met in the middle, he plucked the forgotten pillow from her hands and dropped it. They stood staring into the depths of their eyes. Bulma found herself falling gently through darkness, while Vegeta floated on seas of sapphire.

Please, she begged him silently.

Yes, was his reply through his eyes.

The moment their lips met, a jolt of electricity shot through their bodies. Bulma rested her hands on his warm, hard chest and let out an unavoidable moan. The sound fueled the Saiya-jin prince's desire, the one kiss he promised himself turning into a fiery embrace. He wrapped his arms sensuously around her body, trailing his tongue along her parting lips. She pulled him in with an amazed breath, her body melting against his and shut her eyes against the incredible passion in her soul. The supple curves beneath her baggy clothes made him emit a moan of his own, causing his hands to run over her back and caress her softly. Bulma's hands slid up his chest and ran through his thick, spiky hair, tangling her fingers into it, pulling his head down to further the kiss. Vegeta clutched her tightly, not caring about the tempest of emotions he felt. He let them run free in this indescribable, life-changing kiss.

When they finally drew apart, Bulma's eyes were still closed and Vegeta let his gaze travel her face.

She was too beautiful…and too deserving of a better man.

Bulma felt him pull away and she opened her eyes. His back was to her as he began to walk out of her room. "Wait," she called.

He didn't turn, but stopped in his track. "Forgive me for that, onna," he requested his voice very hoarse.

"Not on your life!" she almost laughed. "That was…well it was…wow, most brilliant mind on Chikyuu-sei and I can't even describe one kiss…"

"Onna," he interrupted, finally turning. He did his best not to fall into her eyes again, as he had something to say. "I have to go."

She frowned, confused with this sudden change in emotion. "I-I don't under—"

"Away from here. I must leave."

His words shattered the euphoria she'd been feeling and she gasped, her hand flying to her lips. Had he just kissed her? Did it happen?

"What?"

"I cannot stay here. Not now."

Bulma's head began spinning with panic. "But…you kissed me…you wanted me…"

"Yes, I kissed you. And it was…beyond words. But that is why I have to leave," he admitted, his heart heavy.

"Why?" She asked. "What's wrong?"

Vegeta's face fell as he watched the tears brimming in her crystal blue eyes. "I have to train, onna. I have to focus and be ready for this enemy when the time comes." He said this, but he left out all of the soul-searching he planned to do. Such a thing would never be admitted by the prince. A tear fell from one of her sweet eyes and he reached up, pushing the need to leave aside for a moment, to wipe it away.

Bulma leaned into his hand as he brushed falling tears away. "Vegeta…" she moaned sadly. He'd just let himself kiss her, now he was leaving. She didn't know where or for how long. Would he come back?

"Possibly," he said, making her realize she'd said it out loud. "I must apologize for this, but you've been a distraction to me as of late. If this hurts you," he paused, feeling a twist in his chest as he contemplated that. "I'm sorry."

"But, I'm better now," she insisted, stepping forward to hold him. He gently held her away at arms length, not looking at her. "I'm fine now, I can focus. You don't need to worry about me. I promise I won't bother you. Please don't go."

"I-I must onna. Please. Just let me go. I need to do this."

On that note, he left the room, leaving Bulma with confusion and turmoil in her heart. She stood frozen in the middle of the empty room, holding a sob in as she hoped that he would run back in and kiss her again.

As she heard him blast off into the night, she pushed out that long-held sob and fell to the floor in a heap, burying her face into her hands. The man she had just begun to open her heart to was leaving her, and she couldn't do anything but weep for her broken-heart.

Outside, Vegeta set a mental course for a faraway mountain as he flew blindly through the storm. He was running. He was running away. How very low the Prince of All Saiya-jins has sunk…he thought bitterly, blaming the tears streaking across his face on the sheer speed of his flight.

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Wahhhh! So SAAAAD! Oh well, it's called a build up. I can't give you guys the happy couple yet can I? Review me pleeeeze!