* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I’M SO SORRY!

I understand it has been around 3 months. I’m very sorry. Lets just say I hit rock bottom and am finally climbing back up. Science fair is completely over but parents, school, and, ugh, love, is getting to me. I’ve ran out of a lot of time I used to write plus needing help from others. I hope this chapter makes up for everything. And I’m very sorry. The next chapter won’t be out for a while because I’m leaving for Asia May 28 and won’t be back till August 7. I don’t think I’ll have access to a computer that much, unless I’m in major cities where they have cyber bars. But you are welcome to write me E-mail!

I’d also like to thank Marua-Chan for all her help in this chapter. (The fighting scene… and rape scene) She is a talented writer and seems to always help me out. THANKS!

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A man sitting in the middle of a forest in the depths of the planet Earth sat up quickly from his sleeping position. His heart raced as the darkness engulfed him. His onna, his mate, his Bulma... "No…"

The morning sun rised out from the horizon awaking the little tree nymph and his guest Iris. Iris yawned as she stumbled out of the cave bending over in a little stretch. Kalu-Kalu ran around the field claiming he was stretching too. Iris shrugged, her eyes scanned around the perimeter in search of Vegeta. *Where is he?!* Last she saw of him he was training at some blinding speed and pace. Punching, kicking, doing numerous pushups and sit-ups. Sweat covered his body and his growls roared endlessly… and every once and while he would stop in midair, in mid-jump or punch and whisper Bulma. *Argh! Where is he?!* She sighed as she tightened up her kimono. She wasn’t going to take the time to continue her search. She had to keep her promise to Kalu-Kalu and cook.

Vegeta sat at the edge of a river staring out into oblivion as he took a chomp out of a fish. Fried with perfection he did little to savor the taste as he shoved one after the other to his bottomless stomach. Hunger really didn’t disturb him, he didn’t notice that he had even eaten 27 fishes nor did he realize that it was only around 10 in the morning. The only thing that ran through his mind was of obtaining the dragon balls and wishing for immortality. He purposely forgot about that yearning in the back of his mind that reminded him of Bulma and her untimely death. He sat up quickly and dove into the water deep down to the bottom where hundreds of other fish swam.

Iris ate her breakfast happily with Kalu-Kalu enjoying his little quirks. "Um… Excuse me?"

Kalu-Kalu looked up from his food little pieces of egg clinging to his chubby cheeks. She smiled as he reminded her of a squirrel. "Yes?"

Iris played with her food, "When can we make a wish with the dragon bawws? We reawwy need to do something. I know that the eviw creature is coming really soon…"

Kalu-Kalu scratched his head, "How about this. When Vegeta wanders back here, I’ll call the dragon, got it?"

Iris smiled, *Buwma, we’re coming*

* * * * *

Freeza stared at Scarlet from across the control room. His snaking tongue licked his lips as he glared at her luscious figure. Scarlet groaned as she ran her hand through her red hair, her pale skin glowing, she was getting exited. Freeza sauntered over to her his tail running up between her legs. Scarlet gasped.

"Mmmmhehehe, we are almost there, my pretty." His hand came up to push her hair back.

Scarlet grumbled as she felt his tail snaking further, "I know that, Lord Freeza."

Freeza smiled, he loved it when she called him Lord Freeza. His tail came up further between her legs rubbing gently from under her clothes. Scarlet growled as he nails came down upon his tail pulling it away from her. "Stop it."

Freeza giggled, "Perhaps later." He laughed as he walked away from her. Not only would he be killing Vegeta in only a few hours but he would claim Scarlet as well."

* * * * *

Vegeta gasped as he stuck his head into the cave. He was breathing hard and strained his eyes in the dark, "Kalu-Kalu where the hell are you!"

Kalu-Kalu jumped out of his seat and ran to Vegeta’s leg hugging it tightly imitating a woman’s voice he clinged tightly, "Oh I just knew you would return!"

Vegeta sweat dropped as he shook his leg ferociously, "Get off you fag!"

Kalu-Kalu giggled as he stepped back bowing in a gentlemen, "What can I do for you today sir?"

Vegeta shook his head, "It’s time to make the wish."

Iris stepped out from the shadows, her gem glowing slightly in interest. Kalu-Kalu stepped forward, "Oh I see, you wish to make a wish huh?"

Vegeta growled, "I do not wish to make a wish, I demand that I make my wish, now where are those dragon balls."

Kalu-Kalu looked over to Iris who nodded and he went over to his mantle and put all seven into his hat. Motioning for them to follow he stepped out of the cave and set all the dragon balls onto the ground. "Are you sure you are ready?"

Vegeta nodded, "Yes"

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

"YES!"

"How sure is that?"

"Extremely, now call it."

Kalu-Kalu stared at the balls then grinned, "So whatcha gonna wish for?"

Vegeta growled once more, "DAMNIT CALL THE FUCKING DRAGON BAKA-YARO!"

Kalu-Kalu sighed and began to call the creature that would alter their lives.

It was an amazing site as the dragon soared over the sky. The blue blue world above them thundered black as the immense being glowered down at them from above. His voice boomed across the land as he talked to the three people below. "I am the eternal dragon and whoever has summoned me may have one wish, what is it that you wish for?"

Vegeta stared up at the dragon, his eyes squinting in his glory. Iris fidgeted beside Kalu-Kalu as she stared into Vegeta’s eyes. *I can’t tell what he is going to wish for…*

Vegeta spoke up finally, "Dragon I wish for…"

He stopped as he stared at the blackness above them as a ship streaked across the sky cutting the moment into smithereens as the ship landed only a mile from where they stood. Kalu-Kalu ducked into his cave while Iris stepped up to Vegeta. "Vegeta?"

Vegeta’s eyes widened in immense fear as he looked at the ship that laid so near him. He stood there so long, unmoving, looking at that ship that he feared so. More, he feared that thing that ascended from the ship. *Oh dear kami, I’m so sorry.* Vegeta could do nothing, he had no chance to prepare. He looked down at Iris who shook slightly as she stood her ground. Vegeta, in his cowardice pride flew away to a place where he’d be safe, or really just safer.

She was actually quite beautiful, her red hair falling over her shoulders. Her black fighting dress hugged tightly as she placed her hands on her hips. *Now where is my little monkey, and little girl.* She walked slowly away from the ship sniffing the air for the presence of her victims. Her fangs clawed at her lips in her impatience as she walked briskly through the brush. The dark sky accentuated her pale skin as she wandered below the black sky. The immense dragon loomed above as she smiled at where they were. *So they’ve called the dragons, fools.* She floated up and flew low towards the dragon until the dragon suddenly zipped from out of the sky and returned to the seven balls. *Now I know they didn’t make a wish, the must have seen our ship, shit.*

As she entered the clearing there was no trace of anything. "Where are you?" She sung as she walked around the circle.

"Who are you?" Iris spoke up from behind a rock as she stood up revealing her gem.

Scarlet smiled as she walked sweetly to the girl, "Why hello child, would you happen to be Iris?"

Iris gulped as she realized this woman worked for Freeza. She knew it was too late to run and her gem did little to comfort her. *Oh dear kami…*

Scarlet was finally above the Xyart-jin eyeing her neck as a peaceful place to rest her teeth. "So you are."

Her hand reached out quickly and grabbed the little girl in blinding speed. Iris squirmed as her air was being stolen from her. Her design clawed at her in agony as she tried to speak but couldn’t.

"Don’t fight it dear, just let it happen. You know you were meant to die since Feeza used you, you little brat. Just, just admire my beauty as your last moment." Scarlet giggled as she pressed her teeth against the child’s neck drawing blood for her hungry stomach. Feeling the girl wiggle beneath her gave her that sadistic sense of pleasure. Scarlet felt the new energy recharge her as she drank more until Iris fell limp beneath her. Scarlet licked her lips and through the girl down. She giggled at her new power, that was until she was kicked down.

"What the fuck?!" She yelled loudly as she saw the saiyan stand above her. Her eyes gleamed with pleasure, *Finally, the prince…* He stood back as he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes piercing her own. *Good prince, just keep holding my eyes, you are doing me a great pleasure.* "Well well well, you must be Vegeta, or should I say Prince Vegeta?" She quickly went into a kneeling position mocking his royalty.

Vegeta growled as he watched the mockery perform before him. "So, has Freeza sent you here to fight me?"

Scarlet giggled as she stood up, "I ‘spose if you want me to."

She quickly jumped up and landed a punch in his gut and flew a good few miles to the south of him. "BITCH, COME BACK HERE!"

Scarlet licked her lips, feeling the warm blood of the little girl flow into her parched veins. Now to get to the good part, she thought as she saw Vegeta approaching quickly. And with this little brat’s power, he’ll be unable to stop me from… getting what I want from him… Scarlet’s eyes flashed red for a moment as the lustful thoughts began to run through her mind. He was just so beautiful… She had to have him.

"Where are you, bitch!?" A dangerously cold voice called. Scarlet grinned evilly, twisting around to face her prey.

"Right here, monkey boy!" She replied smoothly, confident in her new ability and feeling sensual waves of excitement as she thought of what was to come.

Scarlet was more than ready when Vegeta charged at her, fury glittering in his black eyes. She dodged easily, slamming him into the ground with a powerful hammer blow to the neck. He growled at the sudden pain before righting himself and phasing out of sight.

Scarlet laughed, simply moving to the side at the last moment when he struck her from behind. Vegeta gave a snarl of surprise and anger. How had she sensed him? The vampire smirked at the Saiyan, taunting him as he tried to beat her down. But every time, Scarlet was able to read his moves a few moments before his actual attack.

She could see the bewilderment and raging frustration in the black coal eyes of the Saiyan. She loved it, feeding off his confusion and burgeoning fear. Finally, Scarlet couldn’t take just dodging him. She had to touch him… the perfect body of the Saiyan Prince had to be hers.

He gave a cry of pained surprise when she suddenly took the offensive. Long claws grew from her fingertips and her teeth elongated in her blood lust. She lunged at him, flitting around his defenses as she predicted his moves. Vegeta plummeted down into the ground after a vicious blow, growling as he straightened his body before landing in a crouch on the ground.

A few moments later his whole body was covered in gashes, rivulets of blood tricking down his shredded clothing, marring his bronze, sleek body with brutal marks. Vegeta felt his muscles beginning to tremble from fatigue and agony, but he couldn’t give up… not him… Not when the dragonballs were the prize… He had to get his mate back… But what about immortality? Isn’t that more important? Vegeta thought to himself. He mentally slapped himself. Just shut up and fight!

Vegeta’s senses unexpectedly screamed at him. He dove to the side, barely avoiding Scarlet’s vicious attack. He winced as she whirled around, sharp claws striking him and drawing huge gouges down his chest. Vegeta howled in furious agony before he lashed out with a powerful ki blast, perfectly on target. Scarlet used Iris’s power and leaped from the path of the deadly beam, but still the energy burned her right arm badly. She scowled, eyes narrowing in anger and need.

"That was a very foolish thing to do, Prince." She whispered under her breath. "I shall make you suffer more for that."

Vegeta cursed himself. He was such a weakling! He hadn’t even been fighting for more than ten minutes, and already he was being beat… by a blood-sucking corpse! Somehow she predicted every move he made… countered every attack he attempted… But most of his attacks should have been impossible to dodge! Like that ki beam he’d just shot off… she was only three feet in front of him when he’d released it… How the hell had she moved so fast to get out of the way… especially since she didn’t know it was even coming?

He had no time to ponder more on his confusion as Scarlet slammed into him, sending his body careening into a nearby cliff. Vegeta winced, painfully extracting himself from the rocks before glaring defiantly at the vampire. Scarlet laughed, eyes glittering with strange emotions that sent a spark of fear into the Saiyan Prince’s heart. He’d seen that emotion before… many females under Freeza’s command had given him that look… of lust… But Vegeta had never seen it look so… greedy… so immoral. She was on fire… for him.

His eyes widened as she approached. No… She… she couldn’t be thinking of… of… Vegeta snarled as it hit him. That fucking bitch! She wasn’t going to get him… Not willingly at least.

Scarlet giggled almost childishly as she read his thoughts. So the Prince had finally figured it out… For being such a smart being, Vegeta could be amazingly dense on some subjects. She saw him baring his teeth at her, his hackles raising in defensive fear. His tail bristled as she ignored his threats, and finally the tension got to him. Vegeta lunged at her, dodging at the last moment to the side and darting away. Scarlet let the thrill of the chase overtake her body as she phased in front of him, loving his look of startled fury. He growled, diving below her and shooting ki blasts for distraction, but once again Iris’ power served Scarlet as she apprehended ever move the Saiyan Prince made.

She grinned sadistically, reveling in every look of frustration and fury in Prince’s eyes… and then there was that growing realization that he was helpless to escape her… Scarlet savored the fear in his dark fathomless eyes before making her move. She was getting much too turned on to continue like this… She had to take him… NOW…

Vegeta screamed in heartfelt agony as Scarlet flitted around his defense and savagely wrenched his tail. The Prince paled as she began to squeeze, twisting the furry appendage cruelly around her wrist, laughing at his obvious pain. He struggled as she wrapped her free arm around his neck, pulling him back against her. The Saiyan snarled something inarticulate that was cut off as he cried out in agonizing torment. Scarlet yanked his unwilling form to the grass covered ground, pinning him beneath her.

She groaned in perverse pleasure at the feeling of the Saiyan’s powerful, lithe body writhing beneath her. A fire lit within her belly. Scarlet released his tail, grabbing both his wrists and pinning them above his head. Vegeta finally gave up his struggling, trembling in fatigue, pain, and rage. His black eyes snapped fire and hatred at Scarlet, teeth bared and muscles rigid. She laughed at him, eyes gleaming as she took in his supine form. He was hers… at last, he was at her mercy… And oh how she’d make it a time to remember… for the both of them.

At first, Scarlet thought about using her powers to seduce him…to make him enjoy it… but now seeing him so helpless and tormented beneath her… turned her on like nothing had before. She wanted to see him bleed… to see him beg her for mercy… The vampire licked her lips, tasting the tinge of blood in the air as his wounds still bled.

"Get off me!" He hissed, beginning to struggle again. Her silent scrutiny was unnerving him more than her unnatural fighting had. The way she was looking at him… Vegeta shuddered in horror, but no matter how hard he fought, somehow she kept him helplessly pinned, her eyes laughing at him, mocking him.

Vegeta bared his teeth, dark eyes narrowing in undisguised loathing. "Get off me, you fucking whore." Her hand lashed out, striking him brutally on the cheek.

"Temper, temper, my Prince." Scarlet tsked. "That was uncalled for." An unpleasant grin grew on her face. "And besides, little monkey, you’re going to be the ‘fucking whore.’"

He snarled, fighting with a new purpose, growling and spitting like a cornered panther, but to no avail. Scarlet rejoiced in her new role of captor. She leaned down, licking his cheek to clean off a bit of blood. A shiver of anticipation ran through her. He’s delicious…

"As you can see, Vegeta, I’ve got this… thing… for you." Scarlet ignored Vegeta’s indignant roar of anger, thwarting his attempts to escape with ease. "I’m going to use you, Vegeta… use you like you’ve never been used. But unfortunately for you…" She chuckled huskily, suddenly sinking her fangs into the tender flesh between the neck and the breastbone. Vegeta gave a startled sound of pain. "Vegeta… you see… I love to hear my victims… scream…"

A shudder of terror ran up the Saiyan’s spine. But no matter how much he struggled, it was as if he was only a child… Scarlet’s twisted glee made him cringe as her strangely powerful body held him almost unconsciously. She grinned.

"Tell me when you’re ready, my Prince." She murmured. Vegeta snapped at her, thrashing to get leverage… He had no warning for her first move. He didn’t even see it coming. All Vegeta knew was that suddenly he was stark naked and pinned to the earth on his back with four ki rings around the wrists and ankles. His temper flared at the humiliation of it all.

"Damn you…" He hissed. Scarlet frowned mockingly.

"I’d be nice, Vegeta… The more you defy me, the more… punishment… you receive."

Vegeta just glowered at her, the dark rage boiling in his ebony eyes. Scarlet licked her lips, smiling.

"So, have you decided to be a good boy?" She crooned, leaning forward to kiss him. Vegeta lifted his lip in a silent snarl, spitting in her face. She jerked back, black waves of furious wrath overwhelming her.

"Why you little son of a monkey slut!" She screeched. "How dare you!" She began to beat him over and over, venting her rage on his prone form. He didn’t give into the pain, just snapped and snarled, inflicting his share of damage, despite him being bound.

After a long while, Scarlet suddenly realized he wasn’t fighting her much anymore. She reigned in her anger, backing off to stare at the bloody, bruised figure at her feet. She let out a barking laugh at his pathetic state. His whole body was covered in scratches and dark bruises… But as her eyes trailed up to his elegant face, she gritted her teeth in frustration.

His black eyes shown with his deep hatred and a promise for revenge… but she couldn’t see any fear… any pain… any of the emotions she longed to see in his dark gaze. Scarlet snarled, about to leap at him again when she finally remembered what she needed so badly.

"So, Vegeta… you want it rough?" She whispered huskily into his ear. The Saiyan stiffened, bronze muscles taut. Scarlet gave a low laugh. "Well, Vegeta… after I’m done with you… you shall know pain…"

At first she was gentle… Ever so gentle to try and arouse his tense form… But no matter how much she stroked or fondled him, he wouldn’t respond, his jaw was set in determination and he obviously had great control of his body. Scarlet paused, squeezing the flaccid organ just a bit to hard, earning a hiss of pain from her captive. Then it struck her. Scarlet sent him one of his own memories, making him remember the vivid times he’d spent with his mate.

Vegeta’s whole body spasmed as the insane rush of passion overtook him unwillingly. He saw… remembered… and almost even felt the soft touches of his mate… of his love for her… of her crying out for him…

Scarlet watched in amusement as he hardened almost immediately, trembling in the restraints that held him, no longer struggling against her. His eyes were clenched shut, small gasping hitches in his breathing showing that his control was demolished. She gave a cruel grin.

"Not so tough now, are we, my little love monkey?" She purred. "And now it’s my turn…" That snapped Vegeta out of the fantasy Scarlet had tried to lock him in. His eyes snapped open, staring in shocked horror as he realized what had happened… She had tricked him… Vegeta had briefly felt the missing part of himself when he’d seen Bulma again… But it struck him hard that she was still gone… because he had killed her.

Scarlet watched in interest as emotions flickered through Vegeta’s eyes, but she brushed it off… His thoughts weren’t her focus now… It was his body…

She leaned down, dragging her nails over his chest, licking up the beading blood droplets as they immerged from under her touch. Vegeta winced, eyes closing in shame when he found it impossible to get his arousal to diminish. It was part of Saiyan instinct… once aroused, a Saiyan must be coaxed into release by one of the opposite sex…And she was the only being around… So he was in her mercy…

"So beautiful…" Scarlet murmured to the bound Saiyan. Vegeta growled, but was cut off by a vicious blow. "Shut it, Saiyan. I want you to be silent, bitch! You’re mine, Vegeta… Say it…" Scarlet demanded. Vegeta was defiant… refusing to bow to her. Scarlet frowned. "SAY IT!" She shrieked, grabbing his tail and savagely twisting it, hearing the small delicate bones snap under her grip. Vegeta bit his lip so hard that blood trickled down his chin, but he stared at her with glittering black eyes, not making a sound. She ground the bones together, grinning in grotesque pleasure as the Saiyan let a tortured sound slip from his throat. But he still said nothing, fist clenched and trembling under the onslaught of complete mind tearing pain, sweat trickling down his overly pale skin.

Scarlet scowled angrily, releasing his tail in irritation. "Damn you monkeys and your toleration for pain." She growled. She suddenly sighed in mock regret. "I suppose I’ll just have to rush to the grand finale earlier than I’d hoped." Vegeta watched in sickened shame as Scarlet grinned, sharp teeth bared before rending her own clothing off and spearing herself on his hardened state. But she wasn’t about to give him any pleasure… Scarlet manipulated her ki to make herself burn around him… spikes of electricity darting up his nerve ends and shaking him in the terrible agony as she raped his unwilling form.

His head lashed from side to side, nails digging into his palms as he struggled to stay silent. Scarlet groaned in perverted pleasure, thrusting herself on his unwilling heat… But her want was uncompleted… She needed to here him scream… to hear him cry…

"Hnnn… Ahh… Vegeta…" She purred, the sensations of feeling his chained form bucking in agony beneath her making her build up. She continued to pump, her long claws digging into his shoulders, tearing his flesh as waves of pleasure made her jerk.

Vegeta couldn’t help but let loose a small cry of pain when she suddenly sunk her teeth in his neck, gnawing savagely, tearing the vulnerable skin open as if she was rending out his throat. His breath hitched convulsively as she sent him thoughts of his mate… Bulma… seeing him… despising him… because of what was happening…

No… please no… stop… Vegeta’s mind whimpered, the torturous waves of never ending searing flames ripping through his nerves, tearing his body apart as he shrieked mentally… unable to handle the thought of his mate hating him…

::I hate you, Vegeta! How could you do that with her?! You kill me and now this?! I’ll never forgive you, you bastard!!:: Bulma’s voice rang in his mind. He gave a small cry of denial, trying to make her listen… to tell her it wasn’t his fault… but she gave him a look of pure sickened disgust that tore his heart open… ::Don’t you get it? I DESPISE YOU… Leave me, Vegeta… I never want to see you again…::

Scarlet felt a wave of twisted orgasmic sensuality as Vegeta finally began to make sounds, crying out under her brutal torrent of mental and physical abuse. It wasn’t until she once again reached one of her hands to clutch his tail in a cruel caress that the Saiyan finally snapped.

Vegeta screamed at the utter shame, loss, and agony that overwhelmed him. He gasped in tortured breaths, rearing beneath her, trying desperately to throw her off of him. She looked at him, shivering in delight as tears began to seep from his black eyes, strained whimpers tearing from his ravaged body.

"P-please…stop…no…n…no…ahh…sto..stop…," He moaned weakly, his sleek body slick with blood and tortured sweat. Scarlet felt a wave of unbelievable pleasure crest over her as her release hit her hard when she heard him beg. She yelled out her completion, feeling it double as Vegeta arched into her, screaming as the pain became too much for him.

It took her a long moment to recover, just sprawled across the shuddering Saiyan’s bloody body, hearing his erratic breathing as he struggled to control his agony. Finally Scarlet pushed herself off him, stretching as a shiver of delight ran down her spine. That had been… amazing. Scarlet had never felt such a powerful release in her life… and she’d had a lot of experience with the male species.

The vampire licked her lips, eyes gleaming in perverted pleasure at seeing the Saiyan Prince so broken at her feet. He had withstood her longer than any male ever had, and he hadn’t given into her until the very end. Scarlet was impressed, actually. He was extremely stubborn and his determination made him a formidable foe… Even if he was against a much stronger creature.

Scarlet dissipated the ki rings that had held him down, watching in amusement as he curled up, tremors running through his sleek, ravaged body. She crouched down beside him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at her. His eyes were clenched shut, small streaks on his face showing the path of his tears. But when his eyes snapped open, Scarlet recoiled in shock.

The utter loathing, the revulsion that his black eyes held was frightening in its intensity. She’d thought before hand that he’d hated her… but now… She shuddered, looking back down to see he’d closed his eyes again, face carefully blank. But the shaking of his muscles gave away the weakness and pain he felt. Scarlet took a deep breath. True, he may hate her, but he was helpless. She grinned, her confidence returning as she grabbed her clothing.

"Stay here." She crooned to Vegeta, ignoring his weak snarl of rage. She left, flying to the nearby lake to wash his blood off her body.

Vegeta just lay there, pain wracking his every breath. He felt his broken ribs scrape against his lungs as he rasped in agonizing droughts of air. He couldn’t move… most every bone in his body was either damaged or broken. Vegeta succumbed to the tears once again as he felt the vampire leave him. How could he have been so weak? How could he have allowed this to happen? He was the Saiyan Prince… And he’d been… dominated… brutally.

He shivered, curling up into a ball of anguish, feeling the silent tears trickle down his cheeks. He felt so dirty… so used… And he felt like he’d betrayed his mate… He hadn’t been able to stop the bitch from molesting him… He felt… helpless.

If there was one thing Vegeta hated, it was feeling helpless. The rage he felt was aimed at himself. Vegeta didn’t know how he could ever face anyone again with the memory that he had failed… again. And how could he face his mate? She’d hate him… She probably already hates me for killing her… And now this!? She’ll loathe me… Vegeta thought bitterly, a small whimper escaping his lips. It wasn’t so much the physical pain that hurt him, though it didn’t help any. Vegeta could handle physical pain… It was these emotions that hit him through his carefully built shield. And Bulma had breached the walls around his heart… He loved her…It’d just taken this horrifying event to make him realize it… How would he tell her? How could he ever touch her again without the devastating guilt and shame hitting him?

Vegeta shivered as the wind blew over his torn flesh, a small moan of pain coming from his battered form. He felt someone approaching him. The vampire bitch is going to finish me off now… Vegeta’s mind thought with cynical humor. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about his mate… He’d go straight to hell and never see her again.

That sent a pang of utter despair into his heart. He couldn’t live without her… He… he needed her… He just hadn’t been able to admit it aloud.

"V..V-Vegeta?" A tentative young voice pierced his dim coherency. His dark eyes slowly opened, blinking as they blurred into focus. It was the brat… the little brat, Iris, who Bulma had taken such a liking to… Vegeta closed his eyes again, gritting his teeth in helpless humiliation. To have her see him like this… to have anyone see him like this. He just prayed she didn’t know what had happened.

Iris had seen his eyes open for that brief moment… She had seen the flash of absolute anguish spark before his ebony eyes had dulled, a strange gray mist taking out their usual flame. It terrified her. True, Iris thought he was a big jerk… But she’d seen the misery he had been suffering through at the death of his mate… And she was almost positive that he’d wish Bulma back to life instead of for immortality.

The young girl had seen what had happened… Had felt the radiating loss, sorrow, and mortification that pervaded his mind. Iris found herself unable to comprehend the pain he’d just been through… for that to happen to such a proud man… She sighed… She didn’t know if he’d recover from this or not… Right now his mind seemed… fragile… As if one harsh word could shatter his sanity and his will to live.

She saw his torn neck and shuddered, her hand covering her own bite wound defensively. The pain from the vampire woman drinking her blood had been unbelievable… but luckily Iris’ kind regenerate fast, so it hadn’t taken her long to heal. Her young eyes examined the tortured prince, horrified at what they saw.

His wounds were much worse than anything she’d ever seen. Gouges were torn everywhere on his usually smooth bronze skin, his pallor was slowly changing to a sickly gray color, and his whole body was trembling in the excruciating penalty of Scarlet’s ‘ministrations.’ Iris bit her lip. She knew she had to hurry and do something, but what?

***************************

Oh please tell me that this makes up for the wait. PLEASE! By the way, thanks again to Marua-Chan who once again helped me out. She is such a beautiful writer, almost disturbing… I’ll try and write while I’m in Asia. ^_^ Luv you all!

~*~Laura~*~