Chapter 12 - Take the Day Off?!
A Saiya-jin Prince Never Rests
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With a determined glint in her eye eyes, Bulma Briefs walked towards
her destination.  Everything was in order, all she had to do was catch   .
. . err, persuade her companion.  The idea had come to her the night
before and she'd spent all morning planning.  As she walked the halls,
every saiya-jin she passed bowed and/or saluted her.  It was quite
flattering and a bit overwhelming for someone who'd lived most of her
life as a slave to suddenly be treated with such respect.   Being the
friend and protectorate of the saiya-jin no ouji had its perks.   Still, it
didn't take long for the aqua-haired beauty to reach the conference
room where Vegeta sat poring over a mass of legal documents.  Hoping
he wouldn't notice, Bulma slipped into the room and crept silently up
behind him.  "Are we having fun yet?" she whispered in his ear.
Vegeta nearly hit the ceiling, he been so pre-occupied with his work he
hadn't heard her come in.  "Onna!" he growled at the laughing scientist,
his scowl fading as he watched Bulma laugh.  Her cheeks were flushed,
her eyes sparkling and her voice light and carefree.  She was so
different from the woman he had rescued all those months ago, bolder
and more alive her spirit set free.   "Nandato, onna?  I have things to
do," he mock-growled, crossing his arms over his chest.
Calming herself, Bulma smiled at the grouchy prince, undaunted by his
attitude.  She knew he wasn't really mad at her.  "I came to tell you that
you're taking the day off."
Vegeta arched an eyebrow at her, never changing his stance, "Oh
really?  And just what will I be doing with my time then?"
Bulma smiled brightly at him, "Spending it with me of course!"
"NANI?!"
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Even though he'd been brought out by force Vegeta had to admit, it was
a nice day.  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh
air.
"See, you're enjoying yourself already."   Looking over at the woman by
his side, Vegeta snorted causing Bulma to break into a fit of giggles.
"Enough of your foolishness," he crossed his arms and scowled, "and
where did you put lunch?"  She *had* promised him a huge lunch if he
came.
"Right here," she chirped, waving a capsule at him.  "You didn't expect
me to fit it in a basket did you?"  Vegeta looked a bit confused, what did
a basket have to do with lunch?  Realizing he hadn't understood the
reference, Bulma giggled and shook her head, "Never mind, let's just
go!"
'Women,' he thought, striding over to pick her up.   "Where to?" he
asked, lifting her into his arms.
"I can fly myself, remember?" she complained half-heartedly.
"I know, I"m the one that taught you," he smirked at her.  "But you're too
slow."
"Too slow?!" she shrieked, punching his arm, "Itai!"
He shook his head sadly, "Haven't you learned not to do that yet,
onna?"
"Oh, shut up," she snapped shaking her hand, it felt like she'd just
punched a wall.  Vegeta merely chuckled in reply as he levitated above
the treeline.
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Rise and fall.  Rise and fall.  Bulma smiled as she watched the dozing
ouji lying next to her.  'I could watch him all day and still not get
enough.'  Laying down beside him, she propped her head up on one
elbow, continuing her self-indulgent study of the saiya-jin no ouji.
Starting at the top, Bulma's eyes traveled down Vegeta's upswept raven
hair, wondering what the texture of it would be and how it defied gravity
like that yet still bent freely under wind and water.  A near-overpowering
urge to run her fingers through it came over her and she nearly
succumbed, only the knowledge that it would wake her sleeping prince
kept her still.  Continuing her downward journey, Bulma traced the sharp
angles of his face, handsome and regal, his features clearly marked him
as royalty.  Sighing softly to herself, Bulma's eyes lingered on his mouth
remembering their first(and still only) kiss.   The next day, Vegeta acted
as though nothing had happened and Bulma had let him get away with
it, so far.  'That's about to change, Veggie-chan,' she thought
determinedly.  Sighing again, she stared out across the clearing they
were resting in.  Surrounded by deep forest on all sides it almost
seemed like they were alone in the world.  The sight of wildflowers
swaying in the breeze gave her a great idea, smiling to herself Bulma
rolled onto her stomach and began picking flowers for a necklace.   It
didn't take long for her to clear the area around them, so soon she was
heading towards the clearing's edge.  Moving from patch to patch,
Bulma never noticed just how far way their picnic site was getting.
"Ah, finished!" she cried triumphantly, a delighted smile on her face.
Still smiling, she turned around only to realize that she had no idea
where she was.  Forcing down her intense feelings of dread, Bulma
scanned about for the clearing.  Not seeing anything even remotely
familiar her first instinct was to sit down and cry, which she promptly
stifled.  What would Vegeta think?  Realizing she had no other choice,
Bulma mustered her courage and took in a lungfull of air, it was time to
yell for Vegeta.  A low growl sounded behind her and Bulma's cry died
in her throat, uttering a choked whimper she spun around and fell on her
rear, coming face to face with a sabre-tooth tiger.  Scrambling to her
feet, Bulma ran as fast as her legs would carry her pursued closely by
the hungry tiger.   Tired of the chase the beast pounced, pinning the
blue-haired beauty to the ground.   Terrified, Bulma did the only thing
she could think of, she screamed, "VEGETA!!!!!!!!!!  HELP ME!!!!"
Above her the tiger licked it's lips raising a paw, claws extended, to
silence its prey.  Bulma squeezed her eyes shut to avoid seeing the
inevitable, when suddenly the weight pinning her down vanished.
Blinking in surprise, Bulma rolled onto her back and immediately had to
shield her eyes from the bright flash of a ki blast.  When she opened her
eyes again, Vegeta stood above her, a smug grin on his face.
"Crazy onna, I leave you alone and this is what happens?" he teased,
lifting her off the ground and into his arms.
Wrapping her own arms around the ouji's neck, Bulma smiled
suggestively, all thoughts of her near-death gone from her mind.
"Maybe you should keep a closer eye on me," she murmured, her voice
low and husky.
Suppressing a shiver, Vegeta gazed into sapphire pools, a light blush
streaking across the bridge of his nose.  "Perhaps I should," he replied,
his own voice dropping in tone.
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Soft music wafted through Bulma's quarters adding to the relaxed
atmosphere.  It was getting late in the evening, dinner had already been
eaten and cleaned-up, leaving the rest of the day for relaxing.  Sitting on
the couch, Vegeta no ouji gently stroked the soft hair of the beautiful
angel whose head rested in his lap.  Bulma sighed happily in response
and nuzzled closer, her arms curling around his waist.  Ebony eyes
shining in the dim light, Vegeta smiled down at her and if Bulma had
been awake she would have been stunned by the intense love in his
gaze.  'Bulma-chan, I promise as long as I live, no one will ever harm
you.'   Content in his resolve, Vegeta closed his eyes and drifted off, his
tail unconsciously coiling around Bulma's waist.

August 30, 2002