Chapter 11
"Okay...I think that's all of them." Bulma mused aloud. Vegeta said nothing, merely counting the balls for himself making sure they were all accounted for.
After they'd barely managed to dodge Frieza's soldiers by diving into the lake below them, they'd swam a little farther out just to be sure they'd successfully gotten the slip on their pursuers. A while later, they had surfaced, out of breath but extremely satisfied with their small victory. Once they'd gotten out of the water, Bulma had asked Vegeta to use the dragon radar to help them locate the balls.
There had just been one problem…
Flashback
"Now we can use the radar to help us find the balls. Take it out and lead the way Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed with a bright smile.
Raising his eyebrow at her unusual cheeriness, he reached into his armour and took out the little gizmo. Or rather, what was left of it.
"My radar! What the hell did you do to it?!" She yelled, snatching it out of his hands.
Vegeta scoffed, looking at her like she was a clueless child. "I got beaten to an inch of my life by Zarbon and it obviously got destroyed in the process. I'm surprised your genius brain didn't take that possibility into consideration."
"Excuse me?! Why I ought to-!" She started, her fists clenched before she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "You know what? We don't have time for this. Do you at least know in which general direction you threw them?"
He merely gave her a look that said 'don't be stupid' and crossed his arms.
"Well then let's go! Or do you plan to keep staring at me the whole time?!" She said, stomping her foot.
The Prince rolled his eyes, not deemed to comment on her childish act. He tossed her over his shoulder and flew towards the dragon balls.
"Vegeta put me down! This is not how you carry a lady!" Bulma screamed through the wind.
He stopped midair, shrugging nonchalantly. "Alright. Just don't complain when you end up a bloody mess on the ground."
Vegeta waited for her to speak, smirking when she kept silent. Oh, she didn't like that. He could practically feel the holes she was burning into his back with her eyes.
"That's what I thought." He said, his tone dripping with satisfaction.
"Fucking smartass." The heiress mumbled.
"I heard that."
With that, he flew off towards their destination.
End Flashback
And now they stood in front of the magical orbs, making sure they were all there. Kami knows they needed a break after all they've been through.
"Yep, there's definitely five balls here. I just wish I had the proper storage capsules so we could take them back to the house. I'm not too comfortable leaving them out in the open like this." Bulma said.
She looked around, looking for any place to hide them in…
"Ah! We can put them in that little opening." She said, pointing at a small crevice.
They moved the dragon balls to their hiding spot and took a step back, making sure they looked well hidden.
"Well, that ought to do it." Bulma said with a smile. "Now-"
"Now," Vegeta cut her off sharply, "I want answers. You didn't answer my question that I asked you before."
She raised an eyebrow, her gaze questioning.
"Why were you on Frieza's ship?" He asked with a heavy frown.
"What? What kind of a question is that?" She said with a frown of her own.
"Just answer me woman!"
Bulma took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Of course he wanted to know why she was on that tyrant's ship. But he didn't have to yell at her and demand things like she was his servant!
"For the same reason you were. I was captured by Zarbon along with you." She said in a reasonable tone. Though how she managed to stay cool, she wasn't sure.
"And how did Pretty Boy manage to find you? I bet, in their excitement, your little idiot friends unknowingly led him to the hideout in a pathetic attempt to save you and take my dragon ball so you can attempt to wish your other pitiful friends back!"
That was it! Screw being calm! No one insulted her friends and got away with it. "First of all, how did you even find out they were here?! And secondly, of course they would try to rescue me and wish our friends back! In case you forgot your Highness, you forced me to come to this planet with you by threatening the lives of our friends AND-" she poked him in the chest with her finger, "our other friends are dead because of your little green freaks and that big brute so naturally, we'd want to wish them back!"
Vegeta scoffed, swiping her hand off his chest. "I'm not stupid woman. After I discovered how intelligent you are, I knew you would make some sorry attempt to take the dragon balls from me and wish your little gang back once we arrived on Namek. Unfortunately for you pitiful lot, that isn't going to happen. But that's all besides the point. Now answer the damn question, did they lead him to you?!"
"No of course not! They would've sensed his energy if he was close!"
"Then how did he find you?"
The heiress hesitated, trying to find an excuse to give him. She couldn't tell him she tried to save him. He'd blow her intentions way out of proportion and they didn't have the time to discuss her failed rescue attempt. Though with the way he was acting towards her, she had a good mind to just blurt it all out and tell him to go to hell, screw the consequences!
"Woman." He said in an impatient growl.
"Wh-Why do you even care so much about how he found me?!" She stuttered.
"It's not a matter of me caring. It's a matter of you disobeying my orders again! Only this time, it could've had dire results. So I'll ask you one more time. How did he find you?"
Damn it. She was trapped with no way out.
'Whatever. If he wants to know so bad I'll tell him.'
Bulma opened her mouth to speak, only someone else beat her to it.
"Oh, a lover's quarrel. How very unlike you Vegeta." A familiar voice said in a mocking tone.
Both of them turned towards the source of the voice, unsurprised to see Zarbon landing elegantly on one leg in front of them, flicking his emerald braid over his shoulder with a smirk on his face.
"Zarbon. How good to see you. Tell me, how did Frieza like his little present? He wasn't too hard on you was he?" Vegeta said sarcastically.
"Actually he liked it very much." His smirk widened at Vegeta's confused expression. "So much so that he wants me to bring you, the girl and the dragon balls back so he can...chat with the both of you."
Without thinking, Vegeta moved to stand in front of Bulma, shielding her from his gaze. "The only way I'm going back to Frieza is if you bring me to him dead."
"I can easily arrange that Vegeta. Although, close to dead would be more appropriate. It would be just like old times, wouldn't you say? And think, your little companion can join in on the fun seeing as Frieza was absolutely taken by her the first time." He looked at Bulma over Vegeta's shoulder. "By the way, how's your arm doing love? You lost quite a bit of blood before."
The Prince's tail bristled slightly after hearing that. He turned his head and, for the first time, noticed the bandage on her right arm. It travelled from her wrist all the way up to her elbow. His fists clenched at the sight, anger washing through him in waves. He wanted to kill something, and the succubus before him was the pick of the day.
"So then? Are you going to make this easy and cooperate? Or will we have to do this the hard way?" The green warrior said.
"Woman. Head back to the house, right now. I'll take care of this." Vegeta ordered in a calm tone.
Bulma's eyes widened, her heart lurching slightly. "Are you insane? He almost killed you the first time!"
The Prince groaned in frustration, ignoring Zarbon's amused expression. He'd wipe it off of him soon enough. "For once, can you just do as I say without question?"
"But-"
"Bulma."
She paused, looking in his eyes as he faced her again. He'd said her name again. She knew he only did that when he was serious. His eyes conveyed that seriousness...and something else. Bulma hesitated for a second before sighing in defeat.
"Okay, I'll go. But you better come back in one piece otherwise I'll wish you back to life and kill you myself. You got that?"
Vegeta bit his cheek to hide his smirk and nodded once.
'Such a fiery spirit.' He thought to himself.
She took out her hover bike capsule and pressed the button. Once it appeared, she quickly boarded and took off, not looking back once.
'Why would he try and fight that creep on his own after what happened last time?! He's gonna get himself killed!'
As much as she wanted to turn around, she carried on in she presumed was the direction of the house. Obviously she could find a place to hide and watch the battle from afar but something was holding her back.
'It was his eyes. They'd shown me how serious he was but I spotted something else. If I didn't know any better I'd say I spotted a hint of...concern. For me. But why? That doesn't make any sense. He only cares about himself...doesn't he?'
Whatever the case may be, she would wait in the capsule house for his return. She could only hope that he would kill that bastard, just so he isn't taken back to Frieza.
"How in the world did she conjure up that vehicle?" Zarbon looked on stunned as Bulma sped away from the battlefield. It had just appeared out of nowhere!
"What? You're not going to try and go after her?"
Zarbon shrugged. "The girl won't get very far. I'll take care of you first and then I'll find her afterwards. What I want to know is how she made a vehicle pop out of thin air."
"She invented that little trick. Encapsulating objects of any size and taking them with you anywhere you go." Vegeta explained.
Zarbon looked stunned for a second before smiling deviously. "Well, that certainly explains how she managed to escape unnoticed. She's quite resourceful. And thanks to your big mouth, she'll be an incredible addition to our science division."
Vegeta smirked right back. "That's where you're wrong Zarbon. I told you because I'm certain you won't tell your lord and saviour Frieza."
"And what makes you so sure? I hold no loyalties to you monkey boy. I could go and tell Lord Frieza right now if I wanted to."
Vegeta chuckled wickedly. "I'm well aware. That's why I'm going to kill you first. You already managed to capture us before. You won't get the same opportunity again."
"It's funny you should say that. Your little friend said something very similar to me before I took you both in." Amused at the confused expression on Vegeta's face, he elaborated. "You should have seen her. She was bent over your unconscious form, looking more than a bit distraught and near tears at the pitiful sight of you. The poor thing looked frightened for your life." He said in mock worry.
Vegeta's expression went blank, masking the shock he felt at those words. She went to him after his fight? And she was worried that he would die?Why?! What did she have to gain from being worried about him?! If anything, that was her chance to gather the rest of the dragon balls with her useless friends and wish her other useless friends back to life. As far as he was concerned, she didn't give a damn about him and the feeling was mutual!
"But of course, I shouldn't have known you won't go for a meek woman. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she had a fighter's spirit. She was so defensive of you when I mentioned bringing you in to see Frieza. I must say Vegeta, I am impressed that you managed to find someone who was willing to put up with you and has so much fire in them. However, it was that same fire that got her in trouble with Frieza."
The Prince's tail unconsciously tightened around his waist but he fought to keep his face blank.
"Her sharp tongue and short temper resulted in her almost losing her arm. A small punishment courtesy of Lord Frieza." His smirk widened when he saw Vegeta's eyes flash with rage, growing more and more prominent by the second. "Her screams bounced off the walls, blood dripping down her arm, it was truly a sight. Maybe next time she'll think twice before insulting the emperor."
Vegeta's tail bristled three times its size and whipped behind him after hearing that.
'Why does the thought of her getting hurt make me so angry?! I don't care about her! Let her get tortured and see what life is really like outside of her cozy bubble!'
As if to prove him wrong, he imagined Bulma screaming in agony, her blue hair in disarray and stained with her blood, her eyes flooded with tears of pain under Frieza or Zarbon's torture flashed and a fierce growl escaped his throat, his teeth bared threateningly. He'd rip both of them to shreds before they had a chance to lay a finger on her!
"Is something wrong, your Highness?" Zarbon asked in mock concern.
"Shut up! I've had enough of your talking! It's time for you to put up or shut up!" He said, falling into a fighting stance.
"Oh my, did I strike a nerve? Very well, I'll play with you little monkey. Then when we're done, I'll fetch your little girlfriend and we'll all head back together." The handsome warrior smiled widely. "Maybe before I take her back to Frieza, I'll keep her for myself so I can properly take care of her-"
Whack!
Zarbon's head flew to the side with the force of Vegeta's punch, before he found himself flying through the air from a powerful kick. He landed roughly, scarring his formerly flawless face. He twitched before standing up. He looked over at the Prince, murder visible in his gold eyes.
"You'll pay dearly for that Vegeta!"
Without a second thought, he charged straight for his foe. Vegeta quickly followed suit, the gap between them getting smaller by the second before they collided in a flurry of punches and kicks.
Zarbon threw a punch at Vegeta, only for him to duck the move. He quickly followed with a sweep, trying to trip his opponent up. The Prince jumped up and flew into the air. Not wasting a moment, Zarbon quickly followed, charging in at full speed.
Vegeta watched his foe approach him and he clenched his fists, his aura beginning to glow around him. He charged a ki attack and thrust his arm towards Zarbon.
"Take this!" He quickly fired consecutive ki blasts at Zarbon. The green warrior dodged them as best he could, nearing Vegeta with every passing second.
Zarbon phased behind Vegeta, holding his hands together as he brought them down to hammer on his foe, only for him to strike the air as Vegeta phased out of sight. He looked around, not seeing him anywhere-
"I'm over here fool!"
The handsome fighter's eyes bulged as he felt himself get struck in the back. He turned around preparing to attack, only for his eyes to meet an already charged ki attack. Before he could lift a finger, Vegeta fired, the force of the blast sending him plummeting towards the earth. He skidded across the rough terrain before coming to a halt, groaning in pain.
Vegeta landed behind him, his arms crossed arrogantly. "I'm beginning to think you like eating dirt Zarbon because that's twice I've knocked you to the ground now."
Zarbon stood up on shaky legs, wiping his lip. He grimaced at the sight of his blood on his sleeve before looking up Vegeta.
"You're awfully cocky monkey boy. You're so sure you've already won. Have you forgotten about what happened last time?"
"Of course not. How could I ever forget how hideous you looked when you transformed? Though if I'm being honest, there really isn't much of a difference between how you look now and when you've transformed." Vegeta said with a cruel smirk.
Zarbon shook his head with a sardonic smile. "Such awful manners. And you call yourself a prince? I guess I'll just have to teach you a lesson in etiquette."
"Oh no, I'm shaking in my boots." Vegeta remarked sarcastically. "Hurry up and transform so we can get this over with."
Zarbon merely smirked in reply before he clenched his fists, his arms and legs bulging twice their size, his chest growing before he threw his head forward, his face completely different and grotesque.
Vegeta frowned, still creeped out by that monster's face before he dropped into a stance, ready and waiting.
Wasting no time, Zarbon charged at Vegeta full steam ahead. The Prince followed, flying to meet his foe head on.
It was on.
Zarbon swung his fist at Vegeta, who easily caught it and spun him around, tossing him higher into the air and following him up. The monster quickly recovered and flew down towards his foe. Vegeta was caught off guard when Zarbon punched him in the stomach, spit flying out of his mouth. The monster then brought his hands up, held together, and brought them down, slamming into Vegeta's back and sending him flying down.
The Prince took control of himself before he crashed and landed on his hands, somersaulting and getting to his feet. Instantly, his head whipped to the side when Zarbon unexpectedly punched him. He quickly followed with a roundhouse kick of his own, his guard up as Zarbon recovered quickly and sped towards him.
Zarbon was elated, Vegeta was struggling against him just as he expected. If this kept up then his victory would be assured and he could complete his mission.
Only moments later, that elation started turning into doubt as Vegeta suddenly upped the ante. The Prince quickly gained the upper hand and the fight started to turn into a massacre. Vegeta punched Zarbon straight in the nose, grinning at the audible crunch. The monster screamed and held his nose, trying to stem the bleeding. Seeing an opening he charged a ki blast and fired, sending Zarbon flying.
Zarbon stood up, his armor torn to shreds, and glared at Vegeta with hate in his eyes. "How? How are you beating me? It doesn't make any sense!"
Vegeta laughed, his arms crossed. "It makes perfect sense Pretty Boy. Since our last fight, I've become stronger, much stronger than you. When beaten near death, a Saiyan always comes back even stronger than before. And I was on the brink not long ago. But thanks to you putting me in the chamber, I'm more powerful than I've ever been."
The monster felt his heart start to beat faster, slowly beginning to understand just how grave his situation was.
"N-no. It can't be...you're lying!" He cried out.
"I can assure you I'm being completely honest. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be as strong as I am now." Vegeta smiled darkly at the fear in his rival's eyes. How he'd longed to see that look on Zarbon's face for years. It just made the wait that much sweeter. "I guess I should thank you for this. And what better way than to send you to hell where you belong."
"NO! I WON'T LET IT END LIKE THIS!" Zarbon yelled before firing continuous ki blasts where Vegeta was standing. The terrain shook with the force of his blasts, smoke and dust rising into the air with each passing second.
A moment later, he stopped, panting heavily and feeling exhausted to the bone. He kept his eyes on that spot, standing as still as a statue. His lips started turning up in a smile when the smoke cleared and there wasn't a trace of Vegeta to be seen. Zarbon chuckled softly before laughing hysterically.
"I did it! That filthy Saiyan is no more!" He laughed harder, his excitement going through the roof, before he calmed down slightly.
"Lord Frieza won't be too pleased when he finds out he's gone. But I think he'll understand once I bring the dragon balls and the girl back ."
"I wouldn't worry about Frieza if I were you."
Zarbon quickly turned around to face the source of the voice, only to gasp in pained shock when he felt a fist go through his abdomen.
"He'll be joining you soon enough." Vegeta said, relishing the surprise in Zarbon's eyes at his fatal attack.
Zarbon looked at Vegeta, panic coursing through his body. "Vegeta...please. I was just following orders."
"Oh, is that right?"
He nodded vigorously."Yes. Spare me...and we can...work-"
"Let me guess, we can work together and bring Frieza down once and for all?" Vegeta smirked at the hopeful look in Zarbon's eyes. It was almost sad seeing his tormentor look so pathetic.
Almost.
"You and Cui must think I was born yesterday if you believe for one minute I would actually take your offers seriously. I know a two faced mongrel when I see one and you definitely fit the bill." He said with furrowed eyebrows.
Zarbon frowned heavily, deciding to drop all pretenses right then. "You really think you...have what it takes to defeat Frieza? You're an even bigger fool than I thought. No one can stand up to him, he's the most powerful being in the universe."
"Even with one foot in death's door, you insist on sucking up to that lizard?"
"I'm not sucking up Vegeta. I'm merely...telling the truth. You don't have what it takes to...defeat him." He groaned, coughing up blood as Vegeta shoved his fist even deeper. His vision began to blur but he marched on, his eyes locked on his adversary.
"Frieza will kill you for your mutiny...but not before he makes you watch him torment...your little blue haired friend." Zarbon smiled when he saw the anger in Vegeta's eyes at his words, his tail unravelled and whipping behind him in agitation. "Her days are numbered just as much as yours are. Frieza's already shed her blood and he won't stop until he's had you...witness him break her frail body and dispose it into the cold reaches of space."
Vegeta growled deep in his throat, his rage building by the second, before he closed his eyes. He opened them a second later, a deadly smirk crossing his lips. "That's where you're wrong Zarbon. I'm going to destroy Frieza and send him to hell where he belongs. And for all her blood he's spilled, he's going to pay back tenfold."
His smirk turned into a grin, a ki attack gathering in his buried hand. "He'll never lay another hand on her. Nobody will. And that's because..." He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a deceptively soft whisper. "She's mine."
"Ve...geta!"
"See you in hell Zarbon!" Ignoring his enemy's cries, the Prince fired his attack, the blast going straight through him and sending him flying through the air, his lifeless body hurtling before crashing into the lake. The water rippled on the surface before becoming completely still, hiding the corpse of Frieza's former right hand forever.
Vegeta lowered his hand and stared out at the water, his mind flying at top speed. He'd fulfilled the life long dream of killing one of this greatest tormentors.
But that wasn't what was on his mind at the moment.
"I said...she was mine. I made a claim on the woman. A claim I have no business making!" He said, scowling heavily.
Vegeta remembered the conclusion he'd almost come to about Bulma when he first went after Zarbon. The more he thought about it, the more the possibility threatened to turn into a reality. Her scent, her spirit, her temper to rival his own. Not to mention, he'd almost marked her. She'd made him lose all his inhibitions until all he wanted was to bask in the softness of her body, the creaminess of her skin, the sweetness of her rosy lips.
And just the mere thought of anyone laying a hand on her, the thought that Frieza had dared to mark her flawless skin…
Vegeta growled savagely, his tail lashing the air behind him.
His mate.
She was his mate. All the gods and their children be damned!
"Of all the sick jokes the universe could play on me, this takes the cup! I don't need a mate! She's nothing but a distraction! A hindrance in my plans to destroy Frieza and rule the universe as my own!" He yelled, his fists clenched so tight the only thing protecting his palms were his gloves.
Vegeta took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. She wasn't even around and she was making him lose his control. He refused to let something as insignificant as this ruin his plans. He's wanted this for far too long for it all to be tossed aside because of some weakling woman. There was only one thing left to do. Something he should've done a long time ago.
He levitated into the air before blasting off in the direction of the Capsule house. The Prince looked at the horizon with a stony expression, his eyes betraying the bloodlust he felt pounding through him by the second.
He needed to kill Bulma Briefs.
Author's Note: I present to you another chapter! Yay! Blasts fireworks!
I'm sorry this chapter took so long to come out. I'm very busy with varsity now so updates are going to take longer than before and this will carry on for a good while. I do appreciate your patience and wonderful comments though. Thank you so much guys!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! As always, thank you to RoyalBlueRoses, johncorn, Rosise, Dances-With-Pen and Becky L. Sly for your reviews on the last chapter! You guys are the best! And thank you to everyone who liked and saved or subscribed to this story!
Don't forget to review! Peace, love and good vibes to you all. Until next time everyone! Take care.
RR18
