Chapter 23: Beautiful Stranger

"Dammit!" Bulma cursed as she fell down on the hard ground once more.

Vegeta hadn't told her how difficult this "Hunt" thing was going to be. He'd led her out into the middle of the forest and left her, telling the woman that he would search her out in two hours' time; and that was almost three hours ago!

'Yeah right. Fat chance he'll find me now, I'm totally lost!' she thought grumpily, slamming her hands on the ground in frustration. Bulma glanced around into the dark, no sign of him as of yet. She sighed. Vegeta hadn't even explained all of the rules to her, he just told her to run and hide until he came about and found her. Bulma warily got up to her feet and shivered in the cold night air.

**Woman...** Vegeta's telepathic voice called softly. **I'm on my way to retrieve you now...my little weakling...**

Bulma growled at his insult, well she'd just have to show him! She would give him the challenge of his life in searching for her. The woman clambered back to her feet and took off into the dark, not sure of where she was running but going there nonetheless.

* * * * *

Ungo chuckled. That Earthling was more determined than he had ever seen her.

"Laughing again? What could be so humorous as to continuously entertain you?" inquired Celeria, stepping from behind one of the massive computers.

"My little female is quite confident in her abilities to match the Prince in the hunting game that he's enlisted them in."

"You're actually going to let him go through with the Hunt?" questioned the Saiyan seductress, disbelieving.

"And why not?" asked Ungo, raising the muscle where an eyebrow would be if he were a mammal.

"Er...ah...well, you do know what occurs after the Hunt, don't you?" she stammered.

"Of course I do. Why, is there something that you're not telling me?"

"Um, I'm not sure. Tell me my Lord, which Hunt do you retain knowledge of?"

"There's more than one?" his eyebrow-less muscle rising even higher with his inquisition.

"Yes. There's two actually, one for the nobles and another for the commoners. It was designed that way so that the more powerful males and females, or nobles to us Saiyans, did not outclass the lower ranked warriors, the commoners." Celeria explained.

"Oh really?" stated Ungo with interest.

"Duh, that's what I just said isn't it?" replied Celeria with sarcastic sweetness.

"WOMAN! You would do well to bite your insolent tongue when in my presence!" roared the doctor.

"Whatever." she muttered before stalking angrily back over to her machine.

Ungo simply glared at her for a minute before going back to reading his numerous charts on the little blue Earthling.

* * * * *

Bulma ran through the forest at a speed that surprised even herself. But then again, she did have a rabid Saiyan on her tail. She grinned into the wind and thought of how far behind Mr. Prince was sure to be by this time.

Her tattered dress fluttered behind her like wings, giving her an almost angelic appearance to anyone who chanced to be nearby. And there just so happened to be such a person, hidden in the shadows of the immense trees. Her yellow eyes reflected the green moons' glow and her white hair sprawled down her back in wild disarray. The female's lightly-furred, brown face pulled into a scowl as she watched the blue-haired Earthling scramble across the ground in a most sloppy manner. Leitiisa had to restrain herself from smacking the clumsy woman upside the head. But Ryothony would never forgive her if she did, she was not to interfere with anything, just to see to it that the woman was ready for her future with the prince. After all, the survival of the entire universe depended on them and their offspring.

Bulma felt like she was being watched as she gracefully (at least in her opinion) dodged the vegetation around her. She darted to the side of a large tree and collapsed, exhausted. Her breathing came out in heavy pants as she sought to control her weary shaking.

Leitiisa halted in her silent tracks as she saw the Earthling stop to rest. 'Now is as good a time as any to confront the little tramp.' she thought bitterly. This wasn't her idea of an exciting assignment, but then, it was what the Fates had created her people for: to prevent the future from being destroyed. She ran a clawed hand through her naturally tangled locks and began skulking over to the woman.

Bulma tensed as she heard the quiet crack of a twig underfoot. The time spent with Vegeta had heightened her sense of hearing and she suppressed a scream as she realized that the thing was most likely headed in her direction. And damn it all, she had no one there to protect her if it turned out to be some vicious animal...again! She considered yelling out to the Saiyan Prince but was worried that the creature would just be able to lock onto her position more quickly...like before. So instead, she curled up and glanced around apprehensively as the night continued to get colder.

The stalking woman chuckled lowly as she smelled the Earthling's fear hanging thickly in the air. Her puffy, cat-like tail curled and uncurled behind her in anticipation. She grinned toothily and licked her oversized canines as she continued to prowl towards Bulma.

**Oh Kami, oh Kami! Please just let it leave me alone! Please, Kami, please!** Bulma thought wildly to herself, numb from the cold and her fear…but mostly from fear.

**Woman? Woman, what's wrong with you now?!** demanded Vegeta's welcome voice.

**Oh Kami, Vegeta, you scared me! Who are you to listen to my thoughts!** reprimanded Bulma, temporarily forgetting her predicament.

**Quit with the lecturing woman and tell me why the hell you are chanting your god's name over and over!** he growled.

**Vegeta, something's after me! It's headed in my direction now, maybe thirty meters or so away! Please help me, Vegeta! Please...** she sobbed.

**Fine, but where the devil are you?** he questioned.

**I-I...I dunno. Can't you just lock onto my ki and find me?** she stuttered.

**Yes, but it'd go faster if I had some idea of which area to look in.** Vegeta stated matter-of-factly.

**Well, Mr. High-and-Mighty, if you knew me well enough, then you'd know that I have a horrible sense of direction! I couldn't tell North from South even if I was standing on a damn compass!** she snarled angrily.

**No need to squawk, woman. I'll find you, at least what's left of you.** he laughed cruelly before severing the connection.

Bulma could still hear his laughter echoing through her head even after his presence was gone, and man did it ever piss her off.

"Damn Saiyan trash. Ooo how I hate him! I hate his coal-black eyes, I hate his cruel half-smirk, I hate the way his hair is always a flame-like mess, I hate his low eyebrows, I hate his fabulous, god-like body, I hate his thin but soft lips, I hate his deep...sensuous...slightly accented...dreamy voice..." Bulma sighed, who was she kidding? She was head-over-heels in love with the goddamn man!

Leitiisa sniffed the air in confusion. One minute the little woman had been petrified, and now...well, now it smelled like she was...aroused. The creature shook her head, 'Humans...I'll never understand them.' she thought. She shrugged her shoulders and continued to make her way closer to the Earthling, faster than before for she sensed that the prince was nearing and had yet to talk with the human woman privately. Leitiisa was sure that Vegeta would not let the girl out of his sight so long as he was able, which made it imperative for her to approach Bulma quickly. She crouched behind a bush across from her target's tree and once more raked her paw throughout her mane before walking into Bulma's field of vision.

Bulma gasped as the furry woman stepped up to her. The female had bright yellow eyes, large, predator-like teeth, long white hair, brown animal-like fur growing from most of her exposed skin, sharp, claw-like fingernails, two big, fuzzy brown ears and a long tail that reminded the human of a feline's. She was dressed in a lowly cut, black, tube-top dress with thigh- high leather boots on her feet and a short, dark green cape draped over her shoulders. Despite her animalistic appearance, Bulma couldn't help but acknowledge the alien's haunting beauty.

"Wh-who are you?" queried Bulma in fear.

"I am no one that would harm you." Leitiisa answered, deciding that a friendly approach was the best.

"That doesn't answer my question." pointed out Bulma.

"Your explanation does not come from what I say, it comes from what you believe. I know you, yet you do not know me. But there is someone close to you that does." responded the cat-woman, her composure wearing thin with the Earthling's obliviousness.

"Come again?"

"Dumb bitch! Your Kami knows me!" roared Leitiisa, patience now gone.

"Well you don't need to bite off my goddamn head you know! Geesh! And how the hell do you know Kami?!" Bulma screeched back, satisfied when Leitiisa covered up her huge ears and winced.

"That is beside the point, I came here for a different reason. To talk with you."

"Me? Why?"

"Are you not Vegeta's chosen mate?"

Bulma blushed. "Kinda, sorta, I guess so."

"I'll take that as a yes. Therefore, I must speak to you about him, privately."

"Well, since you asked so nicely...fine. But first, hang on a second." Bulma closed her eyes and began forcing herself into Vegeta's mind.

**Woman, what the hell do you want now? I'm on my way to save your ass and it's much harder with you inside my head.** he grumbled.

**Gomen Vegeta, but it was a false alarm. Just some rodent thing foraging in a bush.** she lied. **Why don't you go back to hunting me. But I bet'cha you won't be able to catch me!** she taunted happily.

**I'll take that bet, but what do I get when I win?** she saw him smirk mentally.

**You mean IF you win, ah...you can do whatever the hell you want with me. Even drop me back off at Ungo's.** she answered, knowing that the Saiyan was too proud to ever do that to her again.

**I look forward to it.** Bulma sensed his mental smirk widen and his dark eyes twinkle mischievously.

**Till later then!**

**Nan-de-moh.**

"There! All done! Vegeta won't be bothering us for a while so you can say whatever it is you need to me. But I'm warning you, Missy, I can call that pain-in-the-ass prince to my side in less than two minutes. So don't try anything."

"I won't." reassured Leitiisa, confused as to what the girl before her was talking about. "This should be a good enough spot for us to speak."

"So," Bulma began as the female before her sat down and crossed her furry legs, "what's your name?"

"My name is Leitiisa Comear Ursi Shelss Ieso-eqke," she replied promptly, "but you may call me Leitiisa."

"Fine. Leitiisa, what are you?"

"I am Ceqirian."

"What's a Ceqirian?"

"A species that is part cat, part human. But now, onto more important issues. You are to be the Prince's mate."

"Yeah, so?"

"I was sent here by my Lord, Master, and mate to see if you were ready to do all that the Fates have set before you."

"Fates? You mean like the Fates in mythology?"

"Yes. Unlike most beings in the galaxy, your position in the universe is possibly the most important of all. But you will not be able to fulfill your purpose if you are not ready for what you must sacrifice and how you must suffer to do so."

"Suffer? Why would I have to suffer if I'm Vegeta's mate? Couldn't he protect me?"

"That's my point. You will have endure this great pain because of his protection...and your love for each other. It is all very complicated, but the issue is, do you think you are ready to become Vegeta's mate?"

"Not until you give me a little more insight into what I have to do and withstand." replied Bulma stubbornly.

"Fear, doubt, pain, anger, futility, death. Within the next 15 years of your life, you will have to learn to both live with and accept all of these. That is all you need to know. Now, your answer?"

"So long as I know Vegeta will be there to go through it all with me, yes."

"That I cannot guarantee. But I can say that he will fare far worse than you. He will have to brave loss, failure, denial, hatred, and regret in addition to the others." stated Leitiisa with sadness in her voice.

"But...but...nobody deserves to be tortured by so much!" protested the woman.

"I am truly sorry, but that does not change the fact that Vegeta must go through it all to fulfill his destiny. It is what the Fates have proclaimed, there is nothing that you nor I can do to change it."

"I see..." said Bulma softly.

"Do you still accept the challenges that both you and he will have to face?"

"Y-yes. I think I do."

"Good. Then my work here is done. My ship is about 100 kilometers from here, I must go now." Leitiisa finished, standing to leave.

"Wait. I don't suppose you could give Vegeta and I a ride back to Earth?" questioned the Earthling meekly.

"I'm afraid not. You need to be here right now. But don't worry, you will get home very soon." Leitiisa smiled warmly at the youthful woman before her. "Sayonara, Bulma." the Ceqirian waved at her before disappearing quickly into the forest.

"Sayonara." Bulma whispered, suddenly wondering who she was bidding farewell to.

* * * * *

Leitiisa grinned down at the triangular device in her hand. It had erased all of Bulma's knowledge of her and her news. Now the woman would simply have a vague sense of their meeting. It was for the best. With the information Leitiisa had divulged, Bulma might have reconsidered taking the Saiyan as her mate, and that would cause major problems, so it was necessary that it be wiped from her memory. After all, it was Ceqirian protocol, tell them what you need to say and then see to it that they don't stray from the path assigned to them by the Fates.

* * * * *

Bulma got up off the ground quickly, suddenly realizing that Vegeta was still hunting her. She must have passed out from the cold, she reasoned to herself. But now that she was awake, it was time to get going, lest she let Vegeta get his monkey paws on her too easily. She took off into the direction opposite her tree, running as fast as her legs could carry her. Bulma was concentrating so hard on getting as far away as she could from the prince that she didn't notice the barrier in her path until she rammed into it and was caught from falling by tanned, muscular arms.

"Tsk tsk. And I thought that this would be difficult, that I would have to search you out. Not that you would come running into my arms." said Vegeta, smirking in pleasure.

"Arg! I was trying to get away from you!" groaned Bulma, sticking out her lower lip in a pout.

"Come now, you haven't done too terribly. You managed to elude me for well over three hours." he commented, drawing closer.

Bulma snuggled into his chest, grateful for the warmth that his body emanated. She sighed and was nodding off when she found herself suddenly flung up over Vegeta's shoulder roughly.

"Hey!" she protested.

"Woman, we had a deal. If I found you, then I got to do whatever I wanted with you." Vegeta reminded her.

"We did? I don't remember anything about making a deal with you." she mused.

"I won fair and square, so pretending that you never agreed to anything of the sort won't work." stated the Saiyan.

"Humph. Well, I'm telling you, I don't remember betting with you. Oh well, maybe I said that before I lost consciousness?"

"Nan-de-moh. It doesn't matter now because we had a deal and I am going to see to it that you hold up your end of the bargain."

"Fine. But I must say, Vegeta, nice view." Bulma commented.

"You like? Well, the scene up here isn't too bad either." Vegeta smacked Bulma's butt to emphasize his statement.

"Hey! That is not the appropriate way to treat a lady, Mister!" complained Bulma.

"Shut your mouth, woman. I was only paying you back for doing the same to me earlier."

"Not fair. You dropped me from almost 50 kilometers up for pay-back, which means that I get to even the score!"

"And how are you planning on doing that to me? We had a deal that I could do whatever I wanted to you, and I wanted to slap your ass...which means that you would be going back on our agreement if you tried anything right now." his smirk widened as he saw her composure droop in defeat, he had her on that one and she knew it.

"Vegeta?" she ventured as she continued to stare at the only sight worth her attention, his anus.

He grunted in question.

"Where are we going?"

"To a cave I found earlier. You should be able to warm up there."

"Oh, okay. How far is it?"

"Three steps." he answered, stopping and returning her feet to the ground.

Bulma straightened up and she turned to look at the cavern he spoke of. It was a small shelter carved into the side of a huge boulder, very obviously made by one of Vegeta's ki blasts. Deciding to act oblivious to his evident concern for her, Bulma stepped into the cave and out of the chilled wind that had just started to blow.

"So we're sleeping here for the night?" Bulma inquired.

"Who said anything about sleeping?" purred Vegeta, snaking a muscled arm around her waist and bringing his mouth down to her ear.

* * * * *

A/N: I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but please review this one for me! Arigatou!