Disclaimer: Yep you guessed it… I don't own DBZ.

Chapter Twenty Two

Who needs a Ritual?

He didn't know what time it was. The miniscule amount of light that managed to filter it's way through the double backed blinds of the first story laboratories in the eastern med-wing, hinted at early morning, but it was hard to tell. Momentarily his face twisted into a scowl of distain, as something fell deadweight across his cheek, added with the double insult of having the audacity to stay there. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes Vegeta tried to see through the haziness of waking stupor to understand his situation a little better. The memories of the previous few days skipped through his mind into some kind of disjointed order, and his breathing slowed as he realized the arm that now rested across him was that of his mate.

Instantaneously any presumptuousness in his character fled and his mind and body solely concentrated on the being that was restricting his movement, laying face down against his sculpted chest, drooling ever so slightly down his back, and breathing in short but even breaths against his neck. Despite the clumsy arm that he now pulled gently to the side, he couldn't help but let out a deep breath, closing his eyes and whispering a silent thank you, to anyone who might care.

Although she was an almost alabaster white, Bulma's ki was stable, the rising and falling of her chest confirming that the energy had been accepted. That she still wasn't awake worried him slightly, but it was put to rest as she squirmed on top of him, mumbling something indistinguishable into his chest. Instantly it told him, when tempered with the recovery of her ki, that she was merely exhausted and sleeping rather than unconscious as he had at first feared.

Almost reflexively his arm extricated from the crispness of fresh sheets to stroke away the hair that gently fell over her face. He scolded himself as soon as his hand touched her pale cheek. The contact made her fine, dark eyelashes flutter, moving in irritation at the intrusion. Fortunately she didn't wake up. That was the last thing he wanted. It was bad enough that he had all these… feelings (he almost dissolved in shame at the ease with which the word crept in) that were so messed up and congealed in his mind that he couldn't quite decipher his own thoughts, but even worse than this, was the knowledge that she would want answers to the situation in which they both now found themselves. In this moment, caught in the uncertainty that was his own tradition, he knew he wouldn't be able to answer them. This wasn't something that couldn't be fully digested in the haze and confusion of tiredness that had eventually shut his thoughts out from the world, succumbing him to sleep the previous night, but rather a something that required alert senses, and careful consideration to comprehend.

A lung full of oxygen escaped his body as he mulled the situation over. The bond was complete, he could feel a softness to his power that literally breathed humanity and even though he had been victim to it before this day, it seemed now, a little more familiar than he could have wished. The frequency of it could even be called comforting, linked as it was to the very source of his desire - a desire that still had yet to be sated. He lifted his head by a fraction or two to take in the form that was so delectably content in his arms.

There was another dilemma to be worked through. What happened now? The ritual had not been completed. There may well be only one rite left to perform, but they were still not officially mated without it. His scowl deepened, the ebony depths of his gaze scorching Bulma's body onto the retina. Damn tradition, spat his mind, as lust took the place of his reason. What did it mean if they missed one measly little joining ceremony? They had successfully completed the two more important. Was it really that imperative that Kandai sanctioned it for them now? The old fool had been dead for twenty years, Vegeta-sei gone with him. Who would it really bother if things progressed without it?

There was a slight grumbling at the back of his head, a consciousness that perhaps it did matter because he cared. It was important to him. Then again wasn't that just being selfish? His want was what had caused so much trouble in the first place. His desire to stick with tradition had led them to the game. His curiosity of a past that was best left alone, had introduced the Ko-oni-jin to what had been a perfectly harmless activity. He had instigated the energy sharing that had almost led to the destruction of the very thing he had sought! It was his fault… all of it was his fault. His pride, determination… his desperation for trying to cling onto a past culture that was his, but which would never be invoked or realized again. Everything crumbled down to the ghosts of his damnable past and his inability to let them go!

Closing his eyes, his jaw clenched as his mind made the decision that he knew was right, even though his heritage scorned the very notion, and he whispered the resolution out in a barely audible hiss, "Fuck the ritual! I will have no more part of it. The energy unites us, that is all we need. We are mated, and so we shall always be!"

There was silence as his thoughts amended. There really wasn't much chance of it being completed even if he did want it. There was only one way left open to him and he'd be damned if he ever went near another scouter in his life. He shifted position, his senses alert as he tried to balance out the movement. Then he remembered, "Shit! No tail!" he cursed as he released a leg for balance. His face, hardened at the thought. It was the only part of the miserable game he would miss, and he just knew now that every time he bathed, trained, made love; it would remind him of how things really stood. His face was still as immovable as stone, but resolution washed through the eyes. "Just a stupid ceremony," he grumbled under the breath, "I have to get over this… but I'll be damned if the tail was just the sexiest thing when owned by her!"

His eyes flashed a sparkle of remembrance as his thoughts raced to the dance they had shared at the beginning of the festival. He remembered the feeling it elicited and the arousal it had spawned in anticipation for part three of the mating ritual. Perhaps this was why he was so disappointed? The tail union was the only part of the ritual that he would never get to experience again, and from what he had learned from Nappa and Raditz it was the most intimate experience that mates could share.

Of course he relinquished the crudeness that it had been stated in. Their lack of good breeding, and desire for (literally) all things carnal, meant that their vulgarisms belonged in the gutter with their minds, but it had been enough information to make the young prince curious. This curiosity couldn't be put away and he had eventually been unable to resist the urge to, yet again, use the scouter as a reference library for his own customs.

At the impressionable age of twelve, the young prince could not have been prepared for the images that presented themselves when he did a data search under the words 'tail union.' He had stumbled on a whole ten pages of data files, all depicting this one act. His face pinked slightly as he remembered easily bypassing the security ratings that automatically restricted his viewing pleasure, in relation to his age, and was soon knee deep in works of fiction, scientific looking diagrams and, inevitably, pornography, as his search intensified.

Stifling a pang of real regret at the lack of completion he was doomed to, he managed to free the fingers of his right hand from under Bulma's body, rendering his own free. Again he felt regret. This time it was leaving her embrace when realistically he wanted to remain tangled up in her limbs until she awoke, but he couldn't lay anything to chance. Now his mind had caught up, it was time for an action that should have been performed the moment his body were recovered enough. Realistically he had to do this before either the old man returned, or Bulma woke up.

Over the passed year and a half he had taken a mental hold of their singularly scientific minds. He had known the obsession well and respected it as similarities to his own striving perfection couldn't help but shine through, but now he would act before either could get in the way. Their thirst for knowledge and research would undoubtedly lead to the machines being used again, even if it was shelved for years, he knew their minds. He could not allow that to happen. It was his place to prevent such an event, his right to destroy it, leveraging himself from the last demon of his childhood on Vegeta-sei. He would destroy the scouters - both of them, making sure the Ko-oni-jin were extinct once and for all.

His eyebrows pinched menacingly in the middle as he saw a glint of light that gave his body the direction he wished for. He was right to have been on edge about the Briefs' thirst for understanding, even as he stretched the sleep from his body, the contraptions were still on, hooked up to the main Capsule Corp. data base. A light flashed intermittently on the visor of the scouter he had worn and to his horror Vegeta realized in an instant what it signified, "Shit!" he expostulated, running to the machine and yanking a bundle of wires out in the process, "Baka's! I'm surround by absolute fools! Kami only knows what the old man was planning to use the information for?"

The small machine lay awkwardly in strong hands. All he needed to do was clench his fist and it would be gone, the memories associated with it, good and bad. Why was it so damned hard? A muscle pulsed in his cheek as his hand contracted around the metallic object. The memories of when his own father had given it to him flashing wildly before his eyes. Not many months ago that would have done little to stay his hand or even merit hesitation, but now… Kami! Now all about him had changed… he had changed! For some reason he knew that these memories were more than dreams, they were ideals, life-giving effects that fortified and coerced.

No! He scrunched up his eyes and his hand closed with them. He couldn't afford to think like that. It was not the scouter that held these thoughts… he didn't need the machine for anything. Nothing would stop him from his purpose, and with resolution renewed his hand glowed a soft blue, disintegrating the machine on impact. In a blur, and less time than it took for the ashes in his hand to fall to the floor, another ki beam had been fired, this time blowing a large chunk of computer up along with the one remaining scouter.

For longer than was necessary he watched the small fire, as the smell of burning plastic pungently filled the air. Sighing in exasperation he walked to the opposite side of the lab and found the fire extinguisher before the fire alarms sounded and the Doctor appeared to interrupt what might well prove to be a very productive morning.

Having doused the flames, Vegeta's attention was now forced back towards the bed he had just escaped from. A shifting of covers, the slick skim of cotton sheets, intimated to him that Bulma was waking up, especially as it was joined shortly afterwards by the dry begins of a coughing fit.

Silently he walked up to the nightstand that had been provided for their comfort, taking the pitcher of water off to gently fill a plastic cup. He watched in a mixture of wonder and apprehension as her small arms pushed at the bedding, trying to lift her fragile body into a sitting position. His pulse quickened for a second, but she easily sat up, wiping bangs of aquamarine hair away from her eyes. Not wanting the relief he felt in the pit of his stomach to be too obvious he deliberately deepened his scowl as she blinked through the haze of cerulean eyes.

"V…Vegeta?" she questioned, looking lost, and as though her mind was processing information, trying to work out what dreamland her thoughts were invading this time.

Vegeta's only response was to roughly shove the plastic cup under her nose and order in a tone of voice that he knew could not be refused, to "Drink!"

Shakily her hands reached out to claim the cup, her eyes now fixed to his face, immovable as realization seemed to stream across her features. Slowly she took a sip of the clear liquid before laying it down carefully on the opposite side of the bed.

Vegeta found himself immobile under the spell as the direction of her eyes never faulted for a second. Not another word had been offered to break the tension and there was no way that it was going to be him that broke it. His vision was agreeably engaged, his mind smirking at the appetizing prospect that was before him. His thoughts were free of restraint as a playful wickedness fell across his powerful features.

Carefully he moved forward, kneeling gently on the edge of the bed, the satisfaction he was feeling, doubled as she backed shyly away. It still seemed as though her mind had not fully caught up. She was on the back foot, unprepared, he held the advantage, and would exploit it to the fullest. His hand reached out to her, gently cupping the curves of her face, bringing her forward, and quieting the doubts of his substantiality that he had seen flickering enigmatically in her eyes.

The contact was not enough, not after everything that had happened, and even though silence still held its spell over them both, Vegeta's grip became more intense. He gently pulled the blue-haired human to his chest, fawning over her as though she were the most precious thing he had ever held. The need invoked by the contact was as violent as any he had held before, streaming through his chest as her nervousness gave way to the same desire. In a moment of release and clarity all apprehensions seemed to dissolve and she flung her arms around his waist, pushing him back slightly, burying her head even deeper into his chest than he had held it before.

Then it came. The moisture, flowing down his abs, as she shook in his arms, sobbing with a great swelling of emotion, as every feeling crushed down on her body in wave after wave of release. All the hype, tension, nervousness, drama, pain, everything was freed in sob after heart-wrenching sob. The silence finally broken as she repeated over and over, "You're alive, you're alive, oh Kami, you're alive!" in differing orders and almost completely indecipherable under the tears.

Vegeta scorned his weakness, as he lifted her tear-drenched face to his, brushing his thumb across the cheek in a vain effort to clear the moisture, "I am alive," he confirmed, "I am strong, it takes a lot to kill the Saiyan no Ouji… definitely more than some stupid computer game."

Her head lowered slightly, but Vegeta carefully brought it back up to face his, "The ritual is irrelevant," he sermonised, "You are mine as truly as I am yours." Hesitantly he lowered his head until their lips touched, the taste salty with tears, "Do not do anything so reckless as that again woman, do you understand?" he admonished as her lips sandwiched his with a passion he would not have believed anyone could hold for him.

In a twisting of limbs they fell back to the soft mattress, Vegeta enclosing Bulma's body pushing her into the covers with his need as the kiss intensified. His fingers searched eagerly down her sides untying the back of the long white silk nightgown she had been dressed in as they went. Carefully he slid the sheer material over her shoulder, blazing a trail of hot kisses down the neck and over the recently exposed skin. It tasted good as he moved down, the whimpers of pleasure escaping Bulma's throat, driving him on as he got low enough to take a hardened nipple in his mouth.

Nipping gently at the peek, his tongue worked around the darkened area, one strong hand encircling the base, the other hand dipping lower to trace her sides, pulling her even closer. His mind raced, as her hands meandered a path meaningfully down the back, curling with concentric beauty as they moved down to stroke the line of spandex that denoted his training shorts. The purr that vibrated through his chest couldn't be stifled as her fingers found the way under the hem and flicked gently over where his tail had once been.

He closed his eyes from the vision of what it signified, the loss of what they should have been destined to share, but it didn't last long as another feeling overtook it in quick succession. She may not have known about the tail union, but she sure as hell knew about the powerfully erotic feeling that it could elicit if stroked with care and gentleness, and although there was little more than a furry stub left of his, she seemed to know instinctively that this was the place to touch.

"You are playing a dangerous game touching me there Onna," he panted onto her breast.

"Really?" she smiled skimming the soft fur again, and shuddering in delight as he let out a hoarse moan and sunk his head in her cleavage, his breathing erratic as he fought for control, "Dangerous for me or you?" she asked with a smirk, "Is it possible that the prince of all Saiyan's is afraid of losing control under the power of a mere human?"

Damn! He cursed silently into her chest as a long smooth leg ran gently over his, her hand still playing at the base of his spine, "You have no idea do you wo…" fingers stroked mini circles, "…man? Yes I am afraid of losing control, because if I completely lose control then I will hurt you."

The determinedness that was expressed in these words stopped Bulma mid teasing, allowing a hand to reach up and gently touch his cheek, "But I want you to enjoy this Vegeta, how are you going to enjoy it if you can't lose yourself to the feelings? I want you to lose control, I want to be the one to give you pleasure like you have never experienced before. I know you will not hurt me."

"How can you be so certain?" he growled.

"I don't know, there's just a something extra inside of me that seems to feel like an extension of your being, I can feel its will and its strong, refusing to break no matter what!"

"Of course… the bond! I had no idea it could," his eyes glinted in the semi light, "come in so handy!"

"So you finally get around to telling me about the energy bond then? It's about time!"

Vegeta stopped the attention to her breast under the slight reprimand, though his focus never moved an inch, "Why tell you what you already know?" he countered, moving his hand down, ripping the material that hindered contact with her skin. "Besides," he continued, "you never spoke of it either."

"That's not the…" she had to stop speech as his hand found its way to crawl enticingly up her thigh, rubbing lightly over her panties, "… point!"

"Discussion is not necessary Bulma… you can feel it. That feeling is more than any words can describe." He closed his eyes, pulling up the power from the pit of his stomach, pushing it through to the Chikyu girl as his kisses lowered.

Bulma's body arched up as he drew a pattern with his lips over her flat stomach, but he knew it wasn't just because of the touches of affection - he could feel it too. It was the rush of power filled adrenaline surging through them both joining their souls, letting the natural ties that drew them together, be fortified and strengthened along with the flowing of heat and lust that seemed to transcend all normal boundaries, entwining their very essence and locking them together. He could feel Bulma's fingers skimming through his hair, holding onto anything she could as the sensations poured through her. Her body shook in near climactic proportions as the power fuelled their desire. "You see what I mean?" he asked in full smugness.

"Kami! Yes!" she barely replied under the loss of breath.

"Don't worry though Onna," He replied, pushing her panties down and over the over the ankles, stroking her legs as he went, "You will not get used to it anytime soon, because I promise you that it will only get better from here on in."

As if to prove a point, he put her legs down, positioning himself between them, lowering his kisses to her, now unprotected, entrance, his hands moving in long caresses up and down her thighs. "This is your last chance to back out Bulma," his hot breathe teasing against her most sensitive area, "Do you want me to stop?"

"Oh Kami no!" she literally screamed.

"Good, because I have no intention of doing anything so foolish!" he chided, not giving her any chance to reply as his teeth grazed ever so gently against her clit. Her legs kicked out under the sensation, wrapping around his shoulders, as she pushed her pelvis up to meet him. Her want for him was so enticing, making his own desire nearly brake. There was nothing more he wanted to do than lay his body down in hers making their union complete, but he knew it would be more satisfying this way, giving her the pleasure she deserved. He enjoyed that his mere touch had such an overwhelming affect on her body, he liked the taste of her in his mouth. The greed he had for power, made him understand that nothing was so sweet as knowing that you worked hard to get the best possible result, and just as he enjoyed the release of pure energy that training scorched through his veins, he also enjoyed the body searing brutality it took to achieve it, nothing was so rewarding as when you knew you had earned it.

As his tongue lowered a hand replaced the stimulation further up and he lapped at her whilst he could feel her buck her hips in a more haphazard motion than before, her breaths coming in irregular beats. She was close and he knew it, the soft contact that was elegantly placed earlier was now replaced with a controlled roughness as his desire increased under Bulma's growing pleasure, and he could feel small vibrations of pleasure raking through his own body as she climaxed, beautifully against him. Her vocal chords screamed with the sensations that flooded over her, and she gasped for breath, but Vegeta smirked as in an instant he was over her, licking at her neck, determined that he would continue, this was only the start of the satisfaction he would give and take.

Her breathing calmed a little under his ministrations, "Round two?" he grinned into her neck, and he was nudging her legs apart, even before she nodded her consent against his lips. Not waiting for any more encouragement, his tip brushed enticingly at her entrance, a couple of times, before all restraint he could muster in his body dissolved, and he pushed slowly into her. The thought of hurting her still pressed on his mind and he thought it would be best to let her adjust to him a little at a time.

This supposition seemed to be false, though, as Bulma pulled his head up, letting his obsidian stare, burn into her own, "For the love of Kami Vegeta, stop teasing me!" Saying as much he felt her contract around him, drawing him in deeper, her need shining through her eyes as she did so.

He felt a smirk of satisfaction pull at his cheek, "As you wish," he chuckled, finally letting everything go and pushing into her with all the necessity he could feel in his body. It was a feeling like none he had ever experienced before, the small gasp of achievement that escaped Bulma's lips and his own, adding to the delicious feeling of being physically united. The sensations were doubly rewarding as he soon realized how well they fitted together. There was no clumsiness or needless shifts of position, their strokes were evenly matched, building in intensity and desire, as they accepted each other almost as another part of their being.

The golden power flickered over the skin at their joining, adding to the craving that they shared, and reacted to the action, building the feeling even more, as Vegeta moved hungrily on top of her. His lips searched out Bulma's not letting them go and still keeping pace as his hands smoothed over her whole body, not even allowing an inch to be left untouched.

It seemed that this action was too much for her to cope with and her pace quickened and walls clenched around him, as her second climax of the coupling poured in quick succession through her small body, her nails digging into his back in release. Her orgasm though, wasn't just restricted to herself, the bond they shared was an emotional tie, linking them both in the most intimate way, and Vegeta had to bite his lip as her pleasure shot through the energy that surrounded them and into himself, melting the control he had barely been able to control through the delicious feelings that fell over the appendage inside her. He tried to hold on to it, not liking being completely out of control, but there was no helping it. The power that flew through him was like none he had ever experienced before, upsetting the balance of his mind and letting years of restraint and emotional barriers fall away. In an animalistic jolt his body let out a growl that was so low it was more of a feeling than a sound, and he pulled Bulma closer to him, pushing his thrusts meaningfully into her as he climaxed, barely being able to breath through the pleasure it afforded.

It took him several minutes to get his breath back and some cognisance of his surroundings, but as he did, he could feel Bulma still writhing underneath him, her eyes still fluttering in pleasure. He watched in wonder, as her breathing was still deep and undulating, and smirked as he realized she was feeling the same sensations that had wracked through his own body moments ago. His stare burnt down at her, as he brushed the tangle of aquamarine hair away that criss-crossed her face, and had the gratification of seeing those amazing eyes, heady from his pleasure, the moment they flickered open. He barely had a chance to let out a throaty chuckle as she pushed up from the bedclothes and caught his lips in a searing kiss.

Fiercely he returned it. "Who needs the ritual?" his mouth breathed in gasp's against Bulma's. "If that is what I will miss adhering to my customs then I disown my heritage!"

Bulma smiled slightly, but there seemed to be a hinge of doubt etched into her brow, "I had forgotten that we didn't finish the ceremony," she said, voicing her thoughts, "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologise for. It should be me. I have imposed on you, by rights you should hate me for it."

"You're right," she ceded, "but I can't. The only regret I have is that you had to break your planets tradition to be with me. I know how important it is to you to be Saiyan. I see the pride it instils in you. There has to be a way to complete the ritual. Perhaps, we could go back…"

"No!" he growled determinedly, "There is no fucking way that I will allow it. Neither of us will go back in that game ever again! I have seen to that!"

Bulma arched an eyebrow, "You've seen to it?" Dawning realization creeping slowly across her features, "Oh shit! Vegeta, what did you do to the scouters?"

"Not much…" he grinned evilly, sitting up and pulling Bulma up with him, letting her see the remains of the computer for herself. "Just that."

He couldn't stifle the laugh as her jaw dropped, "Vegeta! You son of a BITCH! You melted it! Completely and totally, fucking destroyed it…" The tirade flew on, but all Vegeta did was bring her closer to his upright body, not caring that the chuckles vibrating through his chest only served to make her even angrier.

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A/N - Well there it was! The long awaited lemon scene. *wipes brow* B/V citrus is just too much fun to write! Sorry this chapter was a little devoid of plot, but I will more than make up for that in the next chappie.

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Ok… well that's the advert over, please take a look and also check out the mediaminer forum's as well. I'm addicted to that place! The more members the merrier!

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~Ember~.