Chapter 12

Bulma's mind had ceased all brain function, unable to bring even the basics of speech to pass her lips. Her heart thundered in her chest cavity, pounding blood through her like a machine on overdrive. Fleetingly her mouth opened, but all that escaped was her short breath. No words could overcome the unbelievable wave of terror that had sunk her into the deepest waters of fear. Her eyes stared transfixed on Vegeta, her joints freezing and locking in place, hindering her of movement.

It was the look he was giving her. The look that made her blood run cold and captivated her all at the same time. Bulma gulped, trying to swallow away the sudden tremors of queasiness. His eyes seemed to glow with his rage. They were giant, two pools of burning hot coals, red with fire scorching her on the spot. She couldn't look away. His appearance somehow grew fiercer. He suddenly looked much taller, more ferocious and deadly. The grip on her arm grew tighter, but Bulma didn't feel any pain, her fear acted as a drug to any physical ache.

It was only until she heard his growl that Bulma had snapped back to her senses. She flinched and looked around in a panic, as if she had been in a deep sleep and was only now aware of her surroundings. The breath left her lungs faster, quickened by her trepidation. Her lips moved but no sound came out, only her straggled gasps. He took a step closer to her and Bulma regained control of herself. She tugged at his grasp already knowing he wouldn't release her. He was too strong.

Vegeta growled again. Bulma looked up frighteningly to see his teeth visible through his snarl. She struggled harder, fighting with all her body's strength. Her muscles grew weary and tired quickly, but she kept struggling. She gasped and squealed in panic as she fraught, but was quickly quelled when his other hand locked both arms to her side, capturing her against the wall like a cornered mouse.

"Treacherous little bitch…" He growled out, his grip on her arms tightening and making her shriek out in pain. The tone in his voice was deeper, seeping with malice and underlined hatred. Her head thrashed from side to side, trying to ignore his words. One of her knees came up to strike him where all men were vulnerable, but the shift he made avoided her assault. In counter he lifted her slightly then slammed her body against the rocks with sheer force. Bulma screamed as she felt the jagged rocks contact her back, the sharp edges taking a bite into her tattered clothes and ripping her skin, drawing out her rich blood.

"Let me go!" Bulma thrashed wildly.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your worthless life right now, you devious little witch."

She screeched in outrage and turned her fury onto any part of his body she could harm, kicking and lashing back and forth in a heated frenzy. Her head sprung forward and her teeth latched on to his bottom lip where she bit down as hard as she could. She heard his howl and he wrenched her away, unprepared for her snake like strike. Vegeta growled low in his throat, swatting her across the face hard. Bulma landed painfully on the ground, crashing into the medical kit she had used to cure his wounds. The medical tape and supplies spilt angrily across the ground in a noisy symphony of clanking and crashing. Her cheek burned and she glared vengefully at Vegeta. His lip was leaking with his vital fluids, a steady flowing stream of cherry red. Bulma took some pleasure in being able to cause his pain and to actually make him bleed.

She watched as his hand came up to wipe away at the blood. His eyes shifted to his gloved hand with a mixture of surprise. Then he looked back at her and smirked. Bulma felt the beginnings of a shudder scratch at her, but held it in. It was that same demented smirk he gave to his opponents right before he ended their lives. Bulma's hand reached out and felt around. It fisted a syringe she found and held it behind her back, her eyes carefully studying his movements.

"Do you know what I will do to you because of your little charade?" Vegeta advanced on her, his movements as slow and as confident as a panther and his voice as gruff and deep as a bear's growl.

"Go to hell!" Bulma snarled. Her eyes flashed a defiant red, painting over the blue of her irises and burning with the intensity of an inferno.

Vegeta only smirked at her, he in fact had seemed to found some sort of amusement, "a little late to be brave don't you think? The Dragonballs are all found now. You have no more use to me."

His words held an icy truth that nailed Bulma hard in the gut like a staple. There was no more reason for him to keep her. Freeza owned four of the balls now and he still had two hidden in the rocks, which left this one the last one. She knew eventually that a confrontation of this sort would have had arisen, but Bulma had imagined that her own cunning and witty mind would have worked out a solution in time. A small part of her even thought over the possibility of him willingly releasing her. She felt unbelievably stupid now. Bulma slapped herself mentally for thinking that he could be anything but a monster. He obviously did not feel like his mercy or kindness was earned by her. He was just a heartless bastard, and she hated herself for trying to believe otherwise.

"Just do it," Bulma graveled out in a silent, bitter tone. Her eyes glazed over, hardened like stones, and turned to stare away seemingly in defeat.

"What was that?"

"I said just do it you fucking coward!"

He was on her before she had time to glare. She could feel Vegeta's fingers fit around her neck and choke her, his eyes glaring blindly with rage as she sank further into the ground.

"How dare you…" His fist tightened, "You don't know anything you weak little bitch."

Her eyes challenged his authority, narrowing into maddened slits, "I know that you are heartless to kill a woman who can't possibly defend herself against you."

"Your pathetic little words won't be enough to save your life," He flashed. Bulma's eyes widened slightly. Clenching her teeth Bulma continued to claw at his hand, even though she knew she could not get free unless he permitted it first.

"You die now," Vegeta stared down from on top of her. His fist tightened again as he slowly began to squeeze the life out of her, yet faltered. Bulma peered up into his face and witnessed with utmost surprise, the hesitant look in his eyes. His teeth clenched, yet his hand did not. He looked torn, like he was fighting a battle in his mind. She could see things floating in his steely eyes that she had never noticed before. The deep heated look in his face mirrored in her blue irises. He looked down at her in a fury of emotions, challenging his facade with the foreign expressions of regret and uncertainty. He was...hesitant on killing her, but why? Taking advantage of his weakened state Bulma opened her mouth and let escape ragged and choked words.

"Don't I get a good-bye kiss?"

Vegeta's expression changed and he stared down into her reddened face with eyes wide in surprise. His heavy brows narrowed and his head tilted to observe her with consideration. Bulma bit her lip nervously; working how she would just have to help him decide. Bulma's tongue peeked out from her mouth and attentively brushed it against her lips enticingly as she could. She had caught his attention, as immediately his eyes darted down to stare at her little mouth. They stayed there, his own tongue coming out to lick his lips in anticipation. He didn't move for the longest time, as if trying his hardest to come to a decision. Then, he growled again and his mouth descended on hers once more. The same brutal kiss as before, hard and meant to possess.

Bulma sighed as the grip on her neck effectively loosened. Her hand that had previously clawed at freedom now rose into his hair. Even though she knew he was an unpredictable madman, as well as her enemy, she felt compelled to feel his warm lips on hers. It sparked something inside her she never felt before, leaving her feeling both naughty and sinful. Her rebellious side relished every minute of it. Kisses with Yamcha were always sweet and innocent, but Bulma secretly yearned for the rawness of a rough lover.

Vegeta's body stiffened suddenly, pulling away from her and grabbing her guilty hand. He glared at it then back at her, his hand tightening so hard it made her drop the now empty syringe. It clanked bleakly against the hot ground, immediately forgotten as the two stared. Bulma's glare matched his own, unflinching and challenging. Vegeta snarled, knowing that he had lost and tried once again to strangle her. His hand had made it to her neck, and had even prepared the other with a small blast just as the sedative kicked in and he slumped on top of her.

Bulma sighed in relief as she felt Vegeta relax and sprawl on her in dead weight. She grunted as she shifted under him, his weight slightly painful, until she had successfully rolled him off her. She stayed there on the ground for a while, slowly catching her breath and slowing the fast pace of her heart. The clouds overhead whisked by thoughtlessly, unaware that she had come so close to dying under them.

Sighing, Bulma stood up and walked over to the blameworthy Dragonball. She stared at it for a while, trying to understand the reason it always seemed to bring more harm than good. All those who had ever searched for them were bonded with misfortune and grief along their journey. She guessed that the balls were secretly cursed. Why wouldn't they be? Everything in life had a cost. Man's most yearning desire of all time; a way to grant their every wish, why wouldn't such a thing be anchored with suffering and heartache? Pain and misery, how many had died or thrown their lives away perusing the magical balls for some selfish reason? It seemed that when they were made, they were not meant to be found, or ever used. The balls gleamed with torment and a shadow of death glossed over them meant to ward off greedy humans and aliens alike.

The Dragonball stared back at her innocently.

Bulma lifted the accursed ball and deposited it in the basket of her motorbike. Collecting her medical supplies she encapsulated them and fit them back in her pocket. With a hefty sigh Bulma took one last look at Vegeta. Her lips thinned as she wandered closer. Kneeling down Bulma stared into the hardened face of Vegeta. His expression was stiff and narrowed, yet still handsome and clean. Her hand reached out and glided across his cheek. She could still not believe such a calloused warrior could have such soft skin. It was begging to be touched, stroked, caressed. He had refrained from killing her, and the carnal look that was in his eyes when he stared at her made her tremble.

"If only things could have been different, Vegeta."

He didn't move, not even to flinch. His body remained relaxed and still, calm and listless, effects from the drugs she gave administered him. Bulma returned to her bike and sat upon it. Putting the key in the ignition she listened as the engine began to purr. Taking one last fleeting look at the slumbering Vegeta, Bulma revved up her hover bike and sped off, not taking another look behind.