(23/10/2002)
Vegeta no Ouji strode confidently through the stone hallways
of his father’s castle. Finally, his lessons for the day were done and he
couldn’t wait to see his koi again. Kakarrot should be training in the courtyard
at this time of the day; the annual Tournament was coming up in a couple of
weeks and his mate was eager to defend his status as the Tournament Youth
Champion. Lost in pleasant thoughts about his handsome lover, he almost ran
into a small figure as he rounded the corner. A prickling of the fine hairs on
the back of his neck warned him and he barely managed to avoid colliding into
the royal Seer.
“Ouji-sama!” Chao-tzu squeaked. “Oh! I’m terribly sorry! I
did not see you coming, are you all right?”
“Feh! Get away from me! Don’t touch me!” Vegeta yelled in
anger and disgust, jumping back in the nick of time to avoid the little midget
saiyan’s tiny hands as they pawed at him.
“A thousand apologies, ouji-sama!” The tiny figure bobbed his
head fawningly and bent to pick up the papers that were strewed on the floor.
“Here are your papers...”
“Hn.” Vegeta snatched his homework and flicked his cape as
he stalked away, holding his nose high. Once around the corner though, he took
a quick peek over his shoulder and shuddered. The little clown gave him the
creeps, forever staring at him with those beady round eyes. And that pasty
white face with the red spots on the cheeks… He shuddered again and took off at
a fast jog towards the courtyard, wanting to get away from the tiny Saiyan as
quickly as possible, his tail puffed out. He was sure that freak had some
obsession with him; he seemed to be running into the white clown wherever he
went. Sometimes he could feel goose bumps prickling along his upper arms and he
would look up to see those round black eyes staring at him.
Most people found Chao-tzu cute, if odd, with his high
squeaky voice and doll-like stature. But Vegeta knew better; that freaky clown
of a saiyan was evil. Even though everyone knew that he and Kakarrot were a
couple, the diminutive saiyan kept hanging around the prince, always staring…
Vegeta scowled darkly. And he couldn’t do a damned thing
about it; as royal Seer, Chao-tzu enjoyed a special immunity status. Every time
he told his father about it, his father would just laugh at him, saying that
he’s overreacting. That it was just a harmless crush. As soon as he was crowned
Ou though, he would fire Chao-tzu and hire a new clairvoyant … It couldn’t be
that difficult to find a new one.
The teenage ouji slowed down and paused at the courtyard
entrance, his thoughts now on his mate as he admired the sweaty, muscular
figure punching and kicking in the sunny courtyard. He was proud of his chosen
mate; not only was Kakarrot extremely good looking, but he was also the finest
warrior in the land. The tall teen’s sweat-soaked training suit hugged the
perfect body like a second skin as muscles flexed and rippled. Kakarrot’s
movements were fluid and powerful, and Vegeta watched in open appreciation for
a while longer.
“Ho! Kakarrot!”
From his vantage point on the second floor, Chao-tzu watched
the teenage prince silently, an inscrutable expression on his face. When the
tall teen acknowledged the slim prince’s call cheerfully and floated back to
the ground, he turned and walked away.
“Geta!” Kakarrot grinned broadly and opened his arms,
intending to hug his shorter mate.
“Ick! Don’t you dare, baka!” Vegeta neatly sidestepped the
sweaty hug with a grimace.
Kakarrot threw back his head with a rich laugh and grabbed
the towel he left lying on the stone bench. “Ok, ok… How were your lessons
today?”
Vegeta rolled his eyes and snorted, grumbling as the two
teens started walking towards the prince’s room. As crown prince, Vegeta had
heavy responsibilities, which included a much more intensive schooling. Though
he may complain of his heavier workload, he knew the importance of a good
education and in truth, he did enjoy pushing himself mentally. There was
something eminently satisfying about learning for the intrinsic sake of
learning, a feeling that he had tried to explain to Kakarrot before and finally
concluded in exasperation that it was “intellectual masturbation and I like it,
ok?”
“So, koi, all ready to defend your title for the
Tournament?”
Kakarrot nodded confidently. “Yes, and you know why.” He
winked at his mate.
“But have you learned to exert better control over it?”
“Hai, I’ve been training hard in secret over the past few weeks.”
When Vegeta sighed enviously, Kakarrot gave a reassuring grin. “And I’m sure
you’ll be able to achieve it soon.”
“Hn.” Vegeta frowned. He knew he, too, was on the verge… He
was this close. Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. “Oh yes, I’ve just
remembered. That brat is coming back home for the Tournament too.”
“Trunks?”
Vegeta nodded. The younger prince had expressed a keen
interest in sword fighting and the best school for weaponry training was in a
neighboring country. The lavender-haired prince usually came back a few times a
year to visit during the holidays. Though his younger brother was only 2 years
younger than him; Vegeta had just turned 18, he still persisted in calling the
younger prince ‘brat’.
“And today, again I ran into…yiiiii!!!” The ouji leapt to
the side with a yell of horror as the topic of his next sentence appeared
before him, and crashed into Kakarrot.
“Ouji-sama! Again I am so sorry!” Chao-tzu bobbed his head
as he squeaked out an abject apology. “I seem to always be running into you!”
Vegeta clutched his lover’s sweaty arm almost desperately as
he tried to calm his racing heart. It had to be some sick coincidence. He
stiffened his back and faced the midget seer with an impassive face, although
one hand was still gripping the brawny fighter’s forearm tightly. “What is it,
Chao-tzu?”
“Ah, I was wondering, ouji-sama, if my most unworthy self
may be so bold as to humbly request, though I have already obtained approval
from your most esteemed father and beautiful mother…”
“Spit it out…” Vegeta gritted his teeth, slitting his eyes
in impatience. When Chao-tzu went on a long-winded ramble like that, it usually
meant something bad.
“I was wondering if I may have the honor of your company
during the Tournament.” Chao-tzu squeaked out breathlessly. “Seeing as how
Kakarrot will be competing and…”
“Ile! No, I can’t!” Vegeta was filled with sudden panic.
What?! Spend an afternoon beside that freaky clown? “I, uh, I’m taking part in
the tournament as well!”
“You are?” The round white face fell.
“Hai, I am! It was supposed to be a surprise.” Vegeta nodded
frantically. “Well, gotta go! Later!” He called out as he pulled his startled
mate down the corridor. “Not!” He hissed vehemently under his breath.
“You’re taking part, koi?”
The irritated youth snorted. “Yes, now I am. Anything to
avoid spending time with that..that freak!” Seeing the look on his lover’s
face, he continued heatedly. “That clown is just plain evil! There’s something
not right about him! He’s stalking me, I tell you. I run across him almost
every day! And he seems to take any excuse to brush past me or touch me.”
Vegeta gave a shudder.
Kakarrot narrowed his eyes with a possessive growl. “Whaaat?
He has tried to touch you?”
“Hai!” Vegeta nodded emphatically, pleased that someone was
taking him seriously about Chao-tzu for once. “I was just about to tell you
that I ran across him today, and just now, you saw how he wanted to sit beside
me for the tournament!”
Kakarrot’s tail came up to coil around Vegeta’s thigh as he
snaked an arm around the prince’s slim waist. “Mine!” He nipped playfully at
the side of the smooth, unblemished neck, raking his teeth lightly across the
lightly bronzed skin. “And come this Hallow Moon…”
Vegeta forgot his earlier objections about hugging his
sweaty mate and leaned into the taller teen’s embrace, wrapping his arm around
Kakarrot’s waist as well and nuzzling his koi’s neck, licking the sweat off
seductively and purring.
The Tournament was held on the annual Hallow Moon, a popular
mating night. Saiyans can Choose their mates any time, but legend has it that a
Mating done during a Hallow Moon was especially true and the annual Hallow Moon
had become a favorite time for lovers everywhere to declare their love. The two
Saiyan teens had decided to hold their Mating this year, after the Tournament,
now that both of them had turned 18.
A pair of bright, round eyes watched the young lovers as
they practically made out in the fortunately empty hallway.
-----
Vegeta and Kakarrot lay sprawled out on the prince’s huge
bed, looking up at the bedroom ceiling. Dressed only in shorts, they had just
finished a grueling training session, and both were still slightly damp from
their shower.
“I ache all over…”
“You did this to yourself.” The taller teen chucked.
“You’re supposed to be sympathetic, you baka!”
“You can always back out, koi…”
A low growl. “No! I said I would enter!”
“You don’t have to actually win…” Kakarrot grinned, knowing
this would set off a tirade, as Vegeta was highly competitive.
“Nani?! How could I, the prince of Saiyan-jins, lose?? If I
said I would take part in the Tournament, then I would and I would try my best!
I’m not a coward! Dammit, I will not lose to any of the lower-class bakas in
the …”
Kakarrot rolled over and silenced the ranting prince with a
hard kiss. “Not even to me?”
Vegeta shivered at the smoldering gaze his mate was giving
him, his cheeks flushing as he shifted his gaze back to his bedroom ceiling.
“Well…only to you…”
“You like it, don’t you?” Kakarrot grinned at the prince’s
sudden shyness. His tail came up to stroke Vegeta’s bare thigh sensually.
“No! Like what?” Vegeta thought his face couldn’t get any
hotter. “I meant losing to you in the Tournament! What are you thinking of, you
big baka?” Abruptly, he sat up to scramble off the bed. “Time for dinner!”
Kakarrot growled playfully and grabbed the smaller prince
from behind, giving a playful nip at the nape of his neck. “Somehow we often
end up like this, ne?”
A delightful shiver ran down Vegeta’s spine as he tried to
suppress his moan. “Nnngh… baka! Stop playing! It’s time for dinner!” His
complaints would have come out better if he weren’t breathing so hard.
Kakarrot’s stomach rumbled as he pulled away with a laugh.
He gave the royal butt one last grope, ignoring the squawk of protest. “Good
idea… We’ll need our strength for later…”
The two teens finally stumbled into the royal dining room,
straightening their slightly disheveled clothes as they hurried to sit down
under the stern glare of the blue-haired Queen. Everyone else was there and the
first course had been served. The dining table was large and rectangular, the Ou
on one end and the Ouhi on the other, with their sons between them.
“And why were the two of you late again for dinner?” Queen
Bulma’s impressive voice rolled like a tidal wave over them as they quickly
snagged the bread and meat rolls before the servers could remove the platter.
She took in their slightly rumpled appearance and her eldest son’s slightly red
face with narrowed eyes; she knew of course but she wanted to hear Vegeta’s
latest excuse.
“We were sparring…”
“Oh riiiight.” Trunks snickered, hiding his grin as he took
a sip from his glass of water.
“Shut your trap, brat. I was training for the Tournament.”
Vegeta growled at his younger sibling. “And are you taking part this year?”
“Vegeta! That’s no way to call your brother!”
“Hai.” A cocky grin.
“So confident, dear brother of mine?”
Bulma’s left eye twitched as she regarded her elder son
steely. Vegeta may look exactly like his father but he had her attitude, and he
returned her gaze calmly.
“And what about Kakarrot?” Trunks waved a fork at the tall
teen, who wisely kept quiet and kept eating.
“He was sparring with me.” Vegeta speared a choice piece of
meat coolly, his lips quirking. He would never admit it, but he had missed the
daily verbal jousts with his brother ever since Trunks had left.
“I was actually asking about how you plan to win with
Kakarrot in the same category as you, but I see your mind was still on
…sparring.” Trunks flashed a grin. Point!
“Of course.” Damn, he had been careless. “Unlike the
sword-fighting section, there’s actually some competition in my category and
I’ve been training hard.”
“Very hard.” Trunks nodded sarcastically.
“Boys….”
“Yes, I’ve been sparring every day.” A bland smile, dark
eyes giving nothing away.
“Horizontal sparring?” The younger prince’s blue eyes
sparkled with mischief, even as his face remained carefully impassive.
“Trunks!”
His ebon-haired brother rose to the challenge with a smirk.
“And how would you know anything about …horizontal sparring, brat?”
“Vegeta!!” The queen was starting to lose it.
The 16-year old teen flushed slightly. “How do you know I
don’t?”
Vegeta shook his head with a knowing grin, pleased at the reaction
he got from his younger sibling, but a scream cut off his snide reply.
“Enough!!”
The two boys took one look at their mother, long blue hair
starting to float up as her ki rose rapidly and prudently closed their mouths.
When they turned their attention back to their food, they simultaneously
groaned in dismay. “Shiiit…”
The Ou had also wisely kept out of the bickering, and
between the burly monarch and well-built teen, they had finished most of the
roast.
-----
Vegeta and Trunks continued their …brotherly discussions
after dinner. The topic was now on bare-handed fighting versus weaponry.
Neither had any real objection to his brother’s choice of martial arts; they
just liked to argue for the sake of it.
“Ile! I still maintain that the purest form of fighting is
with your own body. Using weapons is like cheating, somehow.” The sable-haired
teen shook his head vehemently as they strode through the corridors.
“Bah. You’ve just no skill with weapons.” Trunks tossed his
spiky lavender locks.
“But what happens should your sword break during your
fight?” Vegeta took a glance around. “And why are you headed towards the
transport hanger?”
“I’m picking up a friend of mine from the Academy. He’s also
taking part in the Tournament. You planning to follow me there?” Trunks looked
at his brother. “A good blade shouldn’t break during a fight.”
“A good blade costs money, and not everyone is as rich as
you. That’s an unfair advantage.” Vegeta snorted disapprovingly. He took in his
brother’s expression with a knowing smirk. “And yes, I’m free now. Why not? I
want to see who has got you all happy and excited. Kakarrot?”
“Hm? Oh yeah, sure.” Kakarrot grinned, his tail waving
happily. Dinner had been great; he loved eating with the royal family. They
served such good food! He told his parents that he would be moving in with
Vegeta after their Mating, but heck, he’s spending so much time in the castle
that he’s practically living with the prince now.
“Why wouldn’t I be happy? Goten’s my best friend!” Trunks
squeaked, then flushed as he cleared his throat. “A good blade need not cost
much money; you’re thinking of those ceremonial swords. Those are too fancy and
just plain useless.”
Vegeta grinned at Kakarrot as they entered the hanger. Best
friend, eh? The two snickered but Trunks didn’t seem to have noticed. His
purple tail wagged happily.
“Hey! Trunks!” A tall black-haired boy waved from a bench.
Hoisting a large duffel bag onto his shoulder, he weaved through the crowd and
made his way over to the other three teens.
“Goten, this is my rude brother and his mate.” Trunks
chattered excitedly as Goten smiled at the older teens.
Before Vegeta or Kakarrot could reply, a high-pitched voice
piped up. “Good evening, ouji-samas!”
“Auuugh!!” Vegeta jumped up. “What are you doing here, you
little freak??”
“Vegeta!” Trunks scolded. “That’s not a nice thing to say!”
“Bah!” Vegeta scowled darkly, his mood abruptly souring.
“C’mon, Kakarrot.” He shot his brother and Chao-tzu an irritated look before he
turn to walk away.
“Heh…sorry about that…” Kakarrot gave an apologetic smile
before hurrying after his temperamental mate. “Vegeta!” He hissed as he neared
the frowning prince. “That wasn’t very nice. What’s gotten into you?”
“I don’t know…” A shudder ran through his lithe frame,
making his tail bristle. “Something about that clown seriously disturbs me.”
“He’s not a clown…”
“He sure looks like one.” Vegeta frowned at his mate. “Look,
let’s not talk about that freak anymore. I’ve a bad feeling about him.”
Trunks laughed in embarrassment. “Sorry about that, but you
know what an asshole my brother can be…”
The small white face fell. “I do not know why Vegeta-sama
does not like me. I only want to be his friend.”
“Hey, don’t worry. We’ll be your friends.” Goten smiled
cheerfully, feeling sorry for the midget Saiyan. Some people can’t help the way
they look.
“You will?” Round shining black eyes turned up to look at the black haired teen in adoration. “I only wanted to ask Vegeta-sama if I could sit with him during the Tournament Dinner. Could I sit with you instead?”
Goten laughed nervously and exchanged a quick glance with
Trunks. “Ah, sure. Why not?”
“Arigato, Goten-sama.” Chao-tzu bobbed his head. “And now I
must go.”
“Awww, why did you do that for, Goten? Chao-tzu isn’t the
most fun person to be around.” Trunks complained, once the small Seer was out
of sight.
Goten shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I just felt sorry for
the little guy.”
tbc...
-----
A/N: This is supposed to be a Halloween fic… Where’s the
horror you ask? *smirks*
And in case anyone was wondering, I see Trunks with the
distinctive spiky locks of Saiyans here, think Super Saiyan Trunks with purple
hair. ^_^
My first AU…so my apologies if there’s some confusion over
the cast:
Vegeta (crown prince) and Kakarrot are both 18.
Trunks, brother to Vegeta, and Goten are both 16. Goten is
not related to Kakarrot at all.
Vegeta gets his looks from their father and Trunks from
their mother (Bulma).
Everyone here’s a Saiyan (at least I think so…*cackles*) and
everyone’s on Vegetasei.
-----
Onto Chapter 2
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DBZ Yaoi Series