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Boiling to Eruption

Slowly waking up Bulma eyelashes fluttered open for a moment before closing as the suns rays reached them. Awake enough to feel the warmth of the sun, meaning that it was time to get up, Bulma seriously considered throwing her blanket over her head. She was tired, God damn it. Vegeta had kept her up most of the night and what sleep she'd gotten hadn't been a hell of a lot. Not that it would effect HIM in the least, Bulma thought as her lips turned up in a sneer. Oh no, he'd be the same as always Mr. Not Human. Sometimes she wondered if he even needed sleep. Of course she'd never seen him in the morning so what would she know? As early as she tried to rise he was always gone before she even began to stir. She was pretty sure he left as soon as he was done with her. The bastard. She really should kick him out of her bedroom. Lock him out for good measure too. Of course it was kind of hard to do that when he could break said door down with a flick of his finger. She couldn't do the ice queen routine either since she didn't seem to have any self control where he was concerned. Then again she'd like to meet a woman or gay guy who could see Vegeta naked and still have their brain function normally. Basically she was stuck with him until he grew bored and what exactly did that make her? Disgusted with herself and things in general Bulma pulled her blankets over her head, hiding from view. This proved to be a mistake since her sheets smelled like him. Giving a short scream of exasperation Bulma threw the blanket off and naked strolled into her bathroom. Getting into the shower Bulma turned it on hot and slapping her hands onto the tiled walls leaned against it while the water rushed over her body, not even bothering to wipe the water from her face. Damn it. What the hell was she supposed to do? She was getting..attached, damn it. He treated her the way he always did, had done before the whole snow accident with one exception. He now visited her after hours for mind blowing sex and then left like nothing had happened. When something was happening. At least it was happening to her. She never would have believed it but she'd give up her whole wardrobe if he would just hold her for no reason other then he wanted to. To show her some small bit of affection that had nothing to do with sex. Yeah..like that was ever going to happen.

Spitting out water Bulma sighed and pushing off the wall grabbed her shampoo and began her usual routine of shampooing and conditioning her hair before adding her body wash. Rinsing off Bulma turned off the water then opening the screen slightly felt around for the towel rack. Grabbing one Bulma pulled it on, rubbing her face dry before wrapping it around her body. Pushing the screen door completely open Bulma stepped out and walking across the room headed for her bedroom since she was pretty sure she'd left her favorite brush on her night stand. Walking into the room Bulma came to a screeching halt, her hands automatically crossing in front of her breasts as she stared at Vegeta. He was calmly sitting on the edge of her bed and just what the hell was he doing there?

"Sleeping in?" Vegeta asked with a faint sneer, raising his eyebrow tauntingly as his eyes took their fill. They knew her body well now but the sight of it still filled him with hunger. The thought that he was already on the bed and she undressed crossed his mind, only to be squished quickly. Now was not the time.

"Do I look like I'm sleeping to you?" Bulma shot back, sending him a dark look. "And believe me I wish I was. Do you have any idea how little sleep I've been getting? It's a wonder I haven't accidentally sawed a hand off."

"You were sleeping fine when I left." Vegeta pointed out, the idea that she'd been lacking sleep due to him having never occurred to him. Though it was appealing in a strange sort of way.

"Yeah, you're even better at leaving then you are at pissing me off." Bulma shot back coldly. "Now as I recall you don't visit me unless you've broken something or want to get horizontal so which is it? And for the record, if it's the second one you can leave now because I won't be accommodating you."

"Is that so?" Vegeta said softly, rising slowly to his feet. "And what makes you think you have a choice?"

"Oh I'm well aware that you can make me want you but you see I have an ace up my sleeve." Bulma fibbed, her mind racing before she blurted out the first thing that came to her. "If you do, seduce me after I say no then I'll...I'll refuse to fix your machines."

"You'll what?" Vegeta demanded, his face the picture of surprised shock.

"I won't fix your machines." Bulma repeated, confidence coming into her voice as her fingers flexed against her damp towel. "You break something and it won't be getting fixed any time soon, pal. You may be able to control my hormones but you can't make me fix your toys."

"You'd dare to?" Vegeta uttered, the idea completely ludicrous and unbelievable to him. You would think he'd been forcing himself on her. The woman came willing into his arms and how dare she think she could tell him what to do. She was his and she'd do what he damn well told her.

"Yeah, I would. You may be turning me into your God damn concubine but I'll die laughing before I stoop to being a spineless one." Bulma snarled, marching across the room to stand in front of him, one hand clutching her towel closed while the other lifted to poke him in the chest. "You may be a great Saiyan warrior and you may be the toughest bad ass I've ever met but I won't let you treat me badly. I won't let you turn me into some doormat." Bulma sputtered out, not even realizing that their were angry tears gathering in her eyes. "And I will refuse to cater to you if I damn well want to. It's not like you ever do anything for my sole benefit. I suppose I should be grateful you at least bother with foreplay given how selfish and self centered you are, you bastard."

Stunned speechless Vegeta stared into her teary bluish eyes as they glared up at him. There were so many things to yell at her for he just had no idea where to start. First of all since when was she spineless? Even after he'd taken her to bed she still constantly nagged and bitched at him. He doubted she went even half a day without yelling at him at least once for something. He let her get away with so much it wasn't even funny. Any other Saiyan would have killed her by now she was that annoying. She should thank him for letting her live. And as for concubine, well if she was one then she was the worst he'd ever seen. Concubines were supposed to be accommodating, respectful and prepared to do whatever it took to please their master. Since when had she been even close to that? The only way she could be even remotely considered his concubine was the fact that they were involved sexually. That being the only area he couldn't find fault with when it came to her. She was loud, annoying, argumentative and worse a human. She should feel privileged to have held his interest this long.

"So why did you come in?" Bulma blurted out, the threatening look in his black eyes un nerving her. He looked on the edge of being thoroughly pissed off and that was never a good thing. She wasn't really afraid of him but still...

Blinking Vegeta broke free of his dark thoughts to process her question, noticing the faintest hint of fear in her eyes. An unfamiliar feeling, an unpleasant one, came to his notice then. For some strange reason...he didn't like seeing that hint of fear in her eyes. Why that was he had no idea. She should fear him. Everyone should. That was how he liked it. He'd always enjoyed the sight of fear rising in the eyes of his victims. Seeing the challenge and arrogance melt away to sheer terror once they realized what they were dealing with, that their lives were about to end. But somehow, for some reason...he didn't like seeing it in hers. Without meaning to Vegeta raised his hand, setting it against her cheek as he watched her eyes go wide with surprise. "Do you think I'd hurt you..if you refused to fix my machines?"

"Maybe."

"Yet you still threatened it." Vegeta said thoughtfully, his thumb absently caressing her cheek in a show of affection he wasn't even aware he was making.

Well aware of it Bulma fought the urge to ask him if he realized he was doing it, knowing instinctively that he'd stop if she pointed it out. Taking a deep breath Bulma nodded. "I did. I don't think you'd kill me over it anyway. That would defeat the purpose." Bulma said softly, a hesitant smile coming over her face before turning into a scowl. "And you know...I think this is the first time you've been in my bedroom when the sun's actually up."

"True. It's hard to teach you a lesson when you're no longer living. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if your idiot friends went hunting for the Dragonballs and brought you back."

"And I'm sure you'd do everything in your power to discourage them." Bulma shot back sarcastically as she moved her hands to her hips then cursed when her towel began to slip down, the curse turning to a yelp when Vegeta grabbed it and simply yanked it off, holding it loosely at his side. "Give that back!" Bulma snapped angrily, one hand wrapping protectively across her breasts while the other covered between her thighs.

Perilously close to grinning Vegeta raised an eyebrow as he smirked at her. "Isn't that a little pointless? I've seen every inch of your skin already."

"You've done more then seen it. Now give it back!" Bulma demanded, feeling, well, naked. She was tempted to snatch it back but knowing him he'd just hold it out of her reach. Either that or shred it just to piss her off.

"Why should I? I prefer you this way." Vegeta replied silkily, deliberately pissing her off by making a pointed study of her exposed body while she glared at him. She really was an appealing sight. He stuck by his observation that he'd seen better but all in all, there was little about her body that displeased him. In fact at the moment he couldn't think of a single negative thing to say about it. Pushing aside their argument from his mind Vegeta's thoughts turned to the one activity that was almost worth missing training for.

Knowing the look that was slowly coming into his eyes Bulma backed away slowly, her eyes going weary as she watched him like a deer sensing the presence of a predator. "Don't even think about it. You don't like to touch me during the day, remember? You hate it when I so much as try to touch your shoulder."

"Who said I hated it?" Vegeta said as he took a step closer. "And I will touch you whenever I please, woman."

"Like hell you will. Get out of my room this instant, Vegeta. You lay one hand on me and I WILL stop making you things and I'll give all your present training machines to GOKU!" Bulma yelled, her eyes flashing with anger, nearly full out rage. He'd took the towel just to humiliate her and put her in her place. Well she'd be damned if she'd go there this time.

Eyes flashing Vegeta stared at her for a moment before throwing the towel in her face. "You make it sound like leaving your presence is a hardship. I assure you, it's not." Vegeta said coldly before turning on his heels and marching out the door with eyes shimmering with controlled anger and rage. Had he gone back to Bulma's room he would have found her looking very similar.

Hours later Bulma walked in the cool night air, anger still left over from that morning present in her eyes. She'd spent most of the day in her work area, trying to distract herself without much luck. She hadn't seen Vegeta once but just the thought of him got her all riled up again. Wishing absently she'd warn a coat over her sweater Bulma absently rubbed her arms as she picked up the pace. Even the great music pumping through her headphones wasn't enough to improve her mood. Forcing herself to concentrate on the music Bulma quietly began to sing along, putting a bit of a swig to her hips as she moved to the beat. Suddenly feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up Bulma got the strangest feeling in her stomach. An unpleasant one at that. Turning around Bulma looked around her but couldn't see anything. The park she was walking in was pretty much deserted and she couldn't even hear the sound of traffic. Guess someone had walked over her grave, Bulma thought with a smirk though she couldn't shake the strange feeling in her stomach. Minutes later she was back to singing, the feeling pretty much forgotten in the back of her mind. She never saw it coming. One minute she was walking the next she was crashing to the ground, her head feeling as though someone had split it open as it exploded in pain. Somewhere in the back of her mind it registered that someone had hit her from behind with something but for now all there was was the pain.

Vaguely aware of what was going on Bulma felt an unfamiliar body straddle her, the vague sound of her sweater being sliced open as she lay there, too stunned to do anything. Hearing heavy breathing Bulma felt hands race across her exposed skin, words muttered in a deep, whispery voice she didn't recognize but that sent spikes of fear through her system, forcing her mind to fight back the pain so that it could realize what was happening. Shifting slightly Bulma's mind cleared in a flash when she felt her wrists being encircled, wrapping around them like vises as they yanked her arms above her head, his body weighing her down as she began to struggle beneath him even as he ordered her to stop it. Only vaguely hearing his threats Bulma screamed, crying out for help which turned to a whimper when he let go of one of her wrists to backhand her across her face. His free hand grabbing something he'd dropped beside her Bulma's eyes widened with horror when she saw that it was rope. Oh God. This was planned. He knew what he was doing. Mind whirling with images of what he was going to do to her circling her mind Bulma was all sent to scream again when a voice came into her head. A familiar voice that was Vegeta's, telling her that she was acting like a pathetically weak human and that he couldn't believe she was just laying there, taking it. She had to be pretty stupid and pathetic to have been around so many fighters over the years and still not be able to protect herself. To just lay there and take it. Spurred on by that voice Bulma began to struggle harder, moving her arms and hands as best she could to interfere with the tying. Feeling one of his hands let hers go, likely to strike her again, Bulma did the only thing she could think to do in her present situation. Fight as dirty as Vegeta would. Rearing up as best she could Bulma opened her mouth and closed it over his nose, biting down as hard as she could. It was his turn to scream. Ignoring the blood that filled her mouth and slid down her face Bulma held on as long as she could, even as his hands went around her neck in an attempt to strangle her into letting go. Finally needing air too much Bulma let go, absently lashing out with her elbow to his throat as she fell to the ground, gasping for air. Struggling up to her hands and knees Bulma looked at him on his knees, bent forward with his hands covering his nose. Eyes going hard Bulma got to her feet and picking up the bat he'd discarded started forward. Oh it was on now. And payback was going to be a bitch.

Coming into the house with the intent to get a bottle of water Vegeta came to a quick halt when he heard voices in the kitchen that made him pause.

"...and she was covered in blood. Her sweater was sliced down the middle and if the officer hadn't been nearly holding her up she wouldn't have been standing." Came Bulma's mother's voice, the edge of hysteria in her voice catching Vegeta's attention. "My God but our poor baby! First there was the accident in those mountains and now this. The officer said that her attacker was likely the same man responsible for several rape/homicides that have been happening in the city!"

Not hearing anything else as his blood went cold Vegeta forgot about the water and backing away quickly moved to the stairs and was up them and down the hallway without a pause. Coming to her room he threw it open then came to a grinding halt once more as he stared at the figure looking so small and pale on the bed. She was holding an ice pack to the back of her head, her left cheek bruising heavily already as she looked at him wearily. Marching across the room Vegeta loomed over her, his eyes taking in the bruises around her neck and wrists where the delicate skin had been held and battered. "Who did this to you?" Vegeta demanded hoarsely, the beginnings of a rage he'd never felt before welling up inside of him. "Who put these marks on your body?"

"Didn't know him." Bulma said weakly, feeling to weak and worn now that the adrenaline was wearing off. She'd won and now that she had her body was letting her have it. Big time.

"Where else are you hurt?"

"Better question would be where don't I. If you've come for an arguement..we'll have to postpone. All I want to do is curl up and die right now." Bulma said wearily, wincing as her head started to pound a bit more, as if Vegeta's very presence were enough to give her one. Eyes widening when he simply leaned closer to gently trace her bruised cheek with his finger tip Bulma closed her eyes at the caress. "Careful..I might think you cared."