Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Ai no Kakarotto ❯ Captured ( Chapter 6 )

Sumimasen mina-san. I know I said this chapter was going to be called "Surrender", but I got these new twisted plot turns ideas for the fic. so I will have to delay Surrender a bit, I know you'll enjoy this chapter nonetheless, especially because in the next couple of chapters I will be introducing some new characters. Everyone please enjoy and don't forget to review ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or anybody but Chivaa

NC-17 for graphic sexual situations, bad language and adult content.

Chapter Five: Capture

We ran and ran into the dark night without looking back, afraid if we stopped Vegeta would be there to take us back to the palace. I kept feeling his inner emotions in turmoil but tried my best to ignore them. Chivaa's soft hand squeezing mine reminded me that I now had a life depending on me to be strong, not to give into my weakness and turn back to loose myself with the one I was leaving behind, the one I bowed to kill but now I wanted to hold more than anything. Why did it get like this, why did I have to be so weak? I felt Chivaa's heavy breathing and her speed started decreasing rapidly, I stopped confident we've cover a decent distance. I had no idea how long we been running, but it seemed we left the city behind a long time ago.

" Are you alright?" I asked almost as out of breath as she was. She just nodded unable to speak, doubling over and grabbing her chest trying to catch her breath, then nodded again. I pulled her to a tree and made her sit against its trunk. " Sorry I pushed you so hard," she shook her head and looked up to me.

" Never mind that... Where are we going?" she asked out of breath.

" To the forest." I said dryly. Her eyes widened and she went dead white.

" I'm not going to the forest," she said sternly. I gave her a puzzled, angry look, this wasn't a good time to get difficult, I didn't need this shit from her.

" And why is that?" I asked hoping she had a good reason other than not wanting to deal with the swamps and insects.

" The `Hunters' live in the forest" her voice barely above a whisper. I had never left the slums before I went to defy Vegeta. My father never allowed it, so I didn't really know much outside my home's domain.

" Hunters?"

" I rather get caught and brought back to the palace before I go to the forest." She added stonily ignoring my question.

" Who are the Hunters?" I asked again louder this time. She gave me a ` I can't believe you don't know who the hunters are' look and said.

" They are the ones who hunts us and sell us as pets to the elites. They have their hideaway in the forest...or so I'm told." I never really wondered where the pets came from before, but I couldn't brood on it now.

" So you're not sure," I said matter-of-factly, already conjuring a plan in my head.

"No...I mean I do know I just don't know the exact location."

" Where you caught by them?" She looked down and said nothing, "where you?" I insisted, she raised her face to look at me, her eyes full of tears, but resolve and will as well.

" My father is a hunter, he gave me up to his boss to be sold as a pet." She dried the tears from her eyes and tried to look strong. I realized then, that I knew nothing of the woman I had sealed my fate with, nothing but her name.

" I am sorry." I managed to say, still stunned by the admission, wishing I hadn't brought it up.

" Is alright I was little so I don't remember much of him anyways." She said apparently feeling much better. I wanted to say more, to show that I cared somehow, to know more about the woman who shared my fate, but really what else could I say?

" We should go to the mountains," she said after a long awkward pause.

" I thought about it...but the winter is coming , we'll never make it through it." I responded relieved for the change of subject. She thought about it for a second.

" About the slums?" her face lit up with hope.

" That will be the first place they'll look for us." I said looking away, hoping my father and the others would be alright.

" Then?" her small hand grabbed mine. I looked at it wondering the same thing, wondering how was I supposed to protect her.

" Let's cover as much distance as we can tonight, tomorrow we'll think this through from all possible angles." She nodded satisfied with the suggestion.

We started running again towards the north. What will this path bring? I yet did not know, but whatever that may be, I am willing to give everything I got to overcome any obstacles...I will survive...I will grow strong and defeat all those who have ever oppressed us lower beings. And I will survive to kill the being that now held my will in the palm of his hand...Vegeta.

+++

I left them at the gates of the palace I stared at their running figures until they were nothing more than an illusion on the street ahead. I will let him go now, but each passing day I am deprived of the right to bring his life to an end. The more I will torture him for it. Making my way back to the palace, I realized I've wasted too much time. No doubt Vegeta, as well as everyone else were already at the gathering. I hurried to my quarters and changed hastily in one of my formal armors, thinking of an excuse to give not only Vegeta but the king as well. This weekly gatherings were the only times I saw him, other than those nights he felt especially aroused and sent for me. As I rushed to the dance hall it stroked me that Vegeta might come back to look for that bastard...shit! What was I supposed to say? There would be too much of a coincidence if Kakarotto was discovered gone the same night I was mysteriously late to an engagement I never missed.

I made a sharp turn the harem, coming in and grabbing by the arm the first female to cross my path. I took her back to my room and fucked the shit out of her, making sure it was as messy as it could possibly can. I left her crying on my bed with threats of death and torture if she didn't say exactly as I told her if asked. But If Vegeta didn't believe my innocence I would blame the slave. I praised myself at my clever thinking of allowing the low class fool to take her with him. I could always say they escaped together as lovers. That would definitely take the attention off me, all I had to do was convince Vegeta they ran away as lovers and that would seal their fates. Even if Vegeta does find them, he will kill them in the most horrible way... Hn, their friendship will be their downfall; I smirked satisfied with my plan. I rushed to the party that was well underway and came to stand loyally behind my prince, as I always have.

" Raditz," he addressed mentally and I felt my pulse raise. " If you wanted to fuck you should have said so from the start you didn't have to go through all the trouble of lying to me." I smirked relieved he was humoring me. "You could have at least gotten the smell of sex off you." He looked forward at the guest gathered and nodded to a lucky few. "Just don't go near my father, you know how he gets when you have...fun without him." He smirked and I flinched. Vegeta knew about my relationship with his father, it just hurt every time he made mentioned of it.

" I know." I said out loud, my smirk gone

" He seems very...agreeable tonight, I'd say be ready." My prince gave me one of those mischievous smirks I haven't seen since that ingrate child came. Is amazing how well he is taking the fact that he'd just gotten marked by that third class parasite.

" I shall be," I said hoping that it would be so. While with Vegeta no Ou, his son will not seek me for anything, I would have a few more hours to get my story straight. " What will you do?" I asked hoping the answer did not have anything to do with the third class....Kuso; he was being more troublesome than he was worth.

" I am tired." Was all Vegeta said.

" Will you be training your...pet tomorrow?" I threw him in purposively with the intent of being exonerated from any suspicion later. Vegeta only smirked

" I don't know...since when are you concerned with my activities with him?"

" Just wondering how long can I sleep in...Your father ..."

"You need not elaborate Raditz." He stopped me from finishing the sentence like I knew he would, "sleep all you want, meet me at noon at the training grounds.

" Thank you." I muted as the king's mental call came, " I have to go." I said to Vegeta.

" Have fun..." he gave me one of his gorgeous smirks as I passed him to go meet his father.

+++

We finally stopped consumed by exhaustion and hunger. We came to a clearing and I left Chivaa building a fire while I went to hunt.

As we sat by the fire in silence I felt him again...so confused... as I was confused. I shook myself trying to get rid of these feelings. I needed to keep my mind clear, my thoughts only on where we would go, on how we were going to survive. Chivaa sat there; her eye on me the whole while, as if she wanted to say something, but was afraid to.

" Why did you marked him?" Hn, so much for that... I almost choked on my food from surprise.

" I don't want to talk about it." I said finally after coughing myself red, hoping she got the message... but I was not to be so lucky.

" Why not? You did do it." Her accusing eyes on me made me feel uneasy.

" Chivaa...we're friends," I started, " but there are certain things I will not discuss with you...and that is one of them." The accusation in her eyes grew deeper.

" So in other words, you're running away from it like the scared little boy you are." Her flat words touched deeper than she could ever imagine.

" I am...not scared." I tried to defend myself but from everywhere you looked at it she was right. " I just rather forget about it...if that's all right with you." I said giving her a sharp look, but she was having none of it.

" You two `are' linked you know," she paused giving me time to absorb her words, "He can communicate with you mentally...that is if he hasn't already and you're not telling me.

" No he has not... and Raditz said we're not bonded!" I protested rolling my eyes at her like a two year old, resigned to speak of it whether I wanted or not... maybe this way she would give it a rest soon.

" Don't tell me you believe him?!" she eyed me in awe.

" I do...he didn't lie on anything else," then it hit me. " And how did he find out?" I shot him a nasty glare.

" I told him." no regret whatsoever in her admission.

" Why...you were not supposed to tell anyone."

" Why...because your mate told me not to?" she was really beginning to aggravate me.

" What did you say?!" I glared at her with one of the looks I reserve only for Vegeta...Vegeta... I was five seconds away from smacking her.

" You heard me!" I didn't even know what to say, had I known she was this annoying I would have left her behind, although at least she was distracting me from other very real emotions.

" You're a bitch!" I said, " I'm done talking about this." I turned to the fire and watched it crack.

" And you're in denial." she answered using the same sour tone I just did. " You do not go around marking people just because they make you feel good... I did too, and before he did and here, look!" she drew her tunic back to reveal her shoulder and pointed it obnoxiously, " I got no mark to show for." Her angry accusing eyes seeking mine... why was she acting like this? " This is a classic case of ` I love the Ouji but I'm too stubborn and stupid to admit it'" she continued. Her eyes turned to the fire as well and I was left out in the cold with her words to slap me on the face with all their veracity.

" I... don't... love him." I said weakly but even I didn't believe it.

" You do...why don't you just go back and beg him to forgive you...he might, he seems very into you." no more accusations in her voice, only resignation to something I unspoken admitted to.

" I need your help." I didn't bother to reply to her...what's the use? I came around and sat next to her. " I do have feeling for him," the first truth I've spoken since I was brought to his presence. " I do not know what those are, I...I hate him... I know I do, but I feel other things for him as well. I need to focus on the hate; I need to rely on it to guide me through what I must do." I took her by the shoulders and brought her close.

" Which is?" she muttered after a while.

" I must kill him and end our oppression." I stated flatly, matter-of-factly.

" End our oppression?!" she lifted her head from my shoulder and looked at me in the eye, " how killing the Ouji will end our oppression?"

" If I kill his father and Raditz as well we might have a better shot at winning against the elites. With no king to rule, no prince to take over and the strongest of them dead, havoc is bound to break, the elites will be weakened and if we all unite we can take over and start anew." I couldn't help but swell with hope as I said the words I hadn't spoken since I came to the palace.

" Oh, when you say it like that..." Chivaa said sarcastically, "You're a dreamer Kakarotto." she smiled and went back to leaning on my shoulder.

" Don't you think we can make it work?"

" You and what army?" She looked at me again.

" That is exactly why it hasn't been done! Not because they're too strong, but because no body believes it can be done...we are our own oppressors." I wanted to make her see my point, I needed her to understand and believe in me, I needed it so I wouldn't feel so...alone.

" Ok let's say you do kill Raditz and by a long shot of luck you kill the Ou as well...what about Vegeta-sama...will you be able to kill him?" she deepened her gaze, no joke in her voice anymore.

" I will."

" Then... I will help you." Even if her words were half hearted, it made me feel better not to be alone on this impossible cause I took upon myself. "But first," she sat up startling me. " we have to figure out where to hide...you must not think about Vegeta sama, he might be able to track us if you do."

"I can't communicate with him!" I insisted, " Raditz said we only have a half formed bond, he can't get into my mind and I can't get into his."

" Don't believe a word that man said...you can. Basically you were the one marking him, which means you `can' get into his mind at any time you want with ease...and if you do that he will be able to as well and...Boom! He'll know exactly where we are." She looked thoughtful for a minute, and I was too baffled to say anything. " He is very skilled with his mind, so I guess he can guard himself from you...but could he get into your mind without you opening a link?" she continued more to herself than to me.

" How do you know all this?" I finally asked, I didn't expect her to know about this...this woman surprised me at every turn.

" I read about it," she said as if it was obvious. " Those who mate can get into each other's thoughts as easily and naturally as breathing. As opposed it would take a lot of training and attuning to do the same with someone you're not mated to." she continued pausing for me to absorb all this.

" You lost me." I said scratching the back of my head and giving her a confused smile.

" Ok...Vegeta no Ou and Ouji can communicate mentally and probably are somewhat attuned with each others' feelings, because they're closely related. Now Raditz and Vegeta-sama can only communicate mentally through training. Raditz has been the Ouji's guard since birth, so naturally he schooled the prince on this...only communication though, no feelings or any of that involved...you follow me/" she looked at me.

" I think so." I responded still doubtful.

" You marked the price, which means you should be able to get in and out of his head at will. He didn't mark you so he won't be able to get into your mind unless you allow him. But since he is trained and probably very familiar with his own physical, as well as mental limitations, he most likely be able to feel you if you even try to invade his thoughts and be able to get into yours even uninvited...and it doesn't help that you have no idea what I'm talking about." She said looking at my puzzle face, she was absolutely right, I had no idea what she was saying; she lost me somewhere when she talked about the marking. " A very stupid thing you did Kakarotto, how are you going to be able to keep him at bay if you can't even grasp what you did?"

" I didn't realize it was so bad...You think I wanted to mark him...I...I just did what I felt at the moment without thinking." I said hopelessly, slouching my shoulders and dropping my head between them.

" Oh is bad...you can't even control your own mind. How are you going to keep him out?"

" You're scaring me." I whispered.

"You're scaring me! And you talk abut killing them." she threw her hands in the air in exasperation.

" I WILL kill them!" I glared at her, there was no point in stressing about it, what's done is done. Hopefully since I don't know how to keep him out I won't know how to let him in...It has to work both ways right?

" And I am more stupid for believing you." she added ignoring my tirade.

" Do you believe me?" I smiled.

" I believe you can do anything you set your mind to...you got Vegeta-sama to fall in love with you, you got Raditz to help you escape and you got me believing in this crazy mission of yours...you can do anything." she ended giving me a warm smile, I answered her with one of my own.

" Thank you." I muttered lying down on the floor and bringing her to lie on top of me. I closed my eyes and whished upon my lucky star that everything would work out.

+++

It's been a week and Vegeta has not mentioned anything. It seems all my effort was for nothing... But I couldn't say that I was not glad. We've actually had a very pleasant time. We've trained like we used to, we've shared meals and I've followed him around like his shadow, the way it was before... him.

Vegeta hadn't mentioned the fool. And I of course did not bring him up, lest he remember and felt compelled in seeing him. Everything was working out for the best, letting the idiot escape had prove to be a wise decision. Maybe Vegeta realized after being marked how stupid and irrational he was acting.

I made my way to the training grounds, confident that we would have another productive day. Vegeta stood alone in the middle of the room, murder in his eyes; I braced myself for the worst. Never in my life have I felt this dark force emanating from my prince.

" Where is he?" he asked simply, his voice so low and menacing I could hardly hear him.

" What... who?" I stuttered playing stupid... the worst thing I could have done... but what else was I to say?

" Where is the pet?" It stuck me that he would call him that, after all Vegeta was the marked mate of the third class filthy fool.

" In his room... I suppose," I still played innocent. Vegeta's eyes darkened, if that was at all possible.

" I will ask you once more... where is my pet?" I could actually see the malice coming out of him.

" I...I don't know." I answered fearfully, I will not change my stand, but it was sure hard to keep it up. If Vegeta found out I lied there is no force strong enough to save me from his wrath. " Should I bring him?" I asked innocently, taking a more confidant tone. He took a menacing step toward me; instinctively I took a step back.

" He is not in his room... or the keep... or the pen... or the harem... or anywhere else in this palace." He took another step, but this time I stood in place.

" I... I don't know where he could be. Did you ask the salve who tends to him?" I saw a flash of doubt cross his eyes, but it was gone just as fast. I saw a ray of light at the end of my tunnel; if I can instill the very real chance that they might be together I can come clean out of this, just as I had planned from the start.

" Get her!" he commanded and I could not leave the room fast enough. I went to the harem and raised havoc there, scaring and screaming at them all.

"... You will tell me where she is or I will..." I screeched at a random female, she was white with fear and I smirked sadistically making her babble incoherently. I pointed my Ki infused fore finger right between her eyes; the female began crying uncontrollably...Hn what weakness. " I will kill her at the count of three if none of you filthy whores tell me what I need to know!" I snapped letting my ki burn her skin.

" Let her go Raditz." I turned sharply to see Vegeta standing at the door. He's never been in this room before. The ones who have not seen him gasped and the rest looked in wonder at the royal heir. He came to us; I let the woman go and bowed to him in respect. Vegeta kneeled next to her and took her by the shoulders

" Do you know where the woman is?" she nodded and swallowed her tears. " Will you tell me?" she nodded again, he patted her back for comfort and I just stood there watching stupefied at their interaction. " Nothing will befall you... Or any of you." Vegeta looked at the others who were all gathered in one corner hugging each other trembling. He turned to the blue haired woman and waited for her to say something.

" That boy," she began lowly, " that boy who was in your quarters, came a few nights ago to get her... she hasn't returned since." Vegeta's face changed into something horrible I do not want to ever recall again, He stood seemingly lost and not knowing whether to blast the place to hell or beat the shit out of somebody. He turned in place looking at everything and nothing at the same time, looking but not seeing anything, no doubt trying to collect himself.

" How long ago?" He snapped suddenly, her sobbing had stopped, begun again, but promptly ceased as the prince's dark tone addressed her.

" About... five nights ago," she whispered trying her best to give an accurate answer but not sure if she had. Vegeta's eyes turned to me, and I swear my soul left my body.

" That would be the night of the gathering." I nodded stupidly, much as the girl had, " you were not there until late," he continued getting even darker. My eyes opened wide, as he began walking maddeningly slowly towards me.

" Vegeta... I have nothing to do with this, you heard her yourself. He came to get the pet himself!" He stopped, dropping to his knees and bringing a hand to his shoulder... the shoulder that held the mark that bastard left on my prince's skin. I came out of my shock and approach the slave cautiously and shook her by the shoulders.

" Did they say where they were going?" Vegeta looked at us hopeful and the woman just shook her head hopelessly cried louder. I wanted to kill her so bad... to kill all of them if only to take my frustrations at not being able to console the one I loved the most, the one that I myself caused to suffer. Vegeta stood and phased out of sight, I followed him trying my hardest to catch up to him. After a few turns I didn't have to though, I knew exactly where he was headed.

Kakarotto's room was dark, obviously unoccupied for days. The boy's scent still lingered weakly. Vegeta lay on his bed still grabbing his shoulder, rubbing it gently. My heart tied in knots to see him like this... what have I done? He took the pillow and held it tight as if it would tell him what to do.

" Why... why... why." it was a low growl coming straight from his soul. I ventured closer." Why... why." It wretched my heart... why him, why that filthy idiot who didn't deserve all the pain he was causing my prince. How far does Vegeta's obsession with that child go... to have him reduced to this?

" Vegeta..." I offered, putting my hand on his shoulder. He recoiled immediately, making me realize `which' shoulder I'd lay my hand on. He suddenly roared and grabbed the pillow and hugging it tightly for a few moments... it felt as if he reached the hardest decision he'd ever have to make.

" Why... why... why." the pillow was torn surrounding us with a rain of thousands of fathers. " why... didn't I treat you well?" He began destroying everything in his path. "Didn't I give you everything you asked for... didn't I let you... claim me?" the last part barely above a whisper.

So it hadn't been an accident, Vegeta had allowed himself to be marked by the lesser vermin. I felt tears forming in my eyes. I watched my prince, the prince I've served since his birth... the prince that was rumored to be the most likely candidate to become legendary... the prince who I fell in love with... Devastated.

" Vegeta..." I whispered once more, his eyes met mine; the he flew away, out the window and into the sky. I did not follow, that would only make matters worst. Let him go away and think about how ridiculous this was, how stupidly he was behaving.

And by all the Gods, I hope Kakarotto hid himself well. " I will hunt you down Kakarotto... I will make you pay with blood all the tears we have shed because of you"

+++

Vegeta's been meditating for five days straight, not even coming out to eat *

I feared to imagine what was he plotting. The prince admitted to have let Kakarotto mark him on purpose... so it was very doubtful he'll let him go that easily.

" Raditz- san!" a voice brought me out of my thoughts, " Vegeta no Ou sends for you." Fuck... this is all I need; no doubt the king senses something is amiss.

" Thank you. " I muttered walking toward his private rooms; never does he summons me anywhere else... I only hope I can rest his doubts assured. I let myself in without knocking like I always do. He sat regally on his chair... an exact replica of his throne, only smaller.

" Ouji-sama," I bowed my head, I only used the most formal bow for public displays of respect.

" Come." He beckoned and I obeyed, kneeling at his feet, he promptly began stroking my hair... like always... hmph, this was so monotonous, I could write it in paper and it would happen the same way every single time. " I been hearing things," Hmph... right to the point eh? My heart stopped. I swear one of these days I will pine up and die from heart failure.

" About?" I used my most innocent tone, leaning my head into his touch and letting my low purr increase in volume... the things I must do for love.

" About Vegeta," The king stated, I wrapped my tail around his chest as he caressed me, and snaked it up and down his torso... to lull him into things other than talking about Vegeta. " I am also hearing things about you." My purr halted and I looked at him in the eye, I hardly do this, but I couldn't help it.

" What sort of things?" my tone almost scared.

" Where is Vegeta now?" he ignored my question.

"Meditating."

" Is that all?" The tone he used told me my answer didn't quite satisfy him. His caresses came to a halt and he fisted his hand on my mane pulling at it somewhat hard.

" There isn't anything you need to tell me." He pulled harder.

" I...I do not know what you mean." Holding my ground was the only option, to do otherwise...

" Raditz," He let go of my hair and began caressing again. His lips touched my own in a light kiss. " You know how I feel about you... that is why it would pain me tremendously if you lied to me... and it would pain me even more to have to punish you."... Yes I know exactly how you feel for me you bastard! I know you killed my father because he refused to give me to you, and I know you use my feelings towards my prince to keep me at your side.

" I am not lying to you Vegeta." I rarely called him by name... because I know he likes it... and because on the other hand it felt odd to. Vegeta to me was my lost and confused one in the meditation room trying to find that bastard child... or perhaps himself. " If you tell me what you heard, I can clarify any doubts you might have." I got up and straddle him, I took my armor off, letting it fall with a loud thump on the floor... It always ended up this way, me having to pimp myself to get what I wanted from him.

" That hot headed brat of mine recently acquired a pet, and I hear he's been going through a lot of trouble to keep it.." his lips were so close to mine that they touched every time he spoke.

" Yes... he did acquired a pet on his birthday," I answered, " he fetched it himself, it got hurt and he got Talis to treat it... what of it?" I continued matter-of -factly, pretending it was the most normal thing, even if Vegeta had sent back to his father countless of mutilated pets, saying that he'd rather die before putting his hands on those filthy parasites... hmph, but you let the lowest one of all claim you as mate. " That is hardly going through any trouble... I personally approved of it to be worthy of your heir." He gave me a skeptical look and a light chuckle

" You... personally?" he repeated, " I never thought you'd approve of anyone to get close to my child." he said kissing his way up my throat.

" I'm growing." I answered coldly.

" About time." I felt his teeth bite my lobe, drawing blood.

" Is nothing to worry about." I added. " Do not trouble yourself. I will see that he does not get attached to the pet." Too late.

"I am sure you will," he chuckled once more, " but that is not what I'm concerned about... I've heard endless rumors of him skipping training and even that this pet is a third class."

" Only rumors... do you think I would allow such a thing to happen?" I nipped his nose; his hand found my sex under my clothes and began stroking it... I closed my eyes and thought... as I always do, about Vegeta... the things I must do for him.

" I hope you don't... for your own sake." with a flick of his wrist my top was ripped from my body and discarded on the floor, his mouth found my nipple and sucked at it hard.

" Don't worry, you know that after you... your son is what I care about the most. I will not let anything amiss as far as he goes." I whispered throwing my head back.

" I am not so sure about the order, but I do know you value him... but I warn you I will not accept any more of these "rumors"... now, let us forget this nonsense and concentrate on the real purpose of my call..."

+++

I came determined to pry him out of that room. I didn't fucking care anymore. One thing is to love him more than life itself, but another very different is to risk lying to the king again. There is just so much I can take. Vegeta will have to understand that he cannot revolve his life around that fucking, filthy third class idiot. I kicked the door open and to my surprise the room was empty. I stretched my senses and called for him.

" Vegeta?!" went my mental call.

" Where the fuck are you?!" came the reply, " get you sorry ass to the training room right now!" I smiled, it sounded like the Vegeta I knew. I was there in less than a flash.

He was freshly changed into a training suit, fighting an invisible foe. Halting he faced me and smirked broadly, before I could say anything he beckoned me to come.

" Fight me" he said just like he used to. I smirked and lunged myself at him full throttle.

We fought long and hard, winding up spent on the floor.

I feared his reaction... but I had to know.

" What are you going to do?"

" About?"

" The pet." he turned his head to look at me.

" Nothing... for now." he said after a while.

" I refused to believe you'll let it be."

" He chose to escape with a female pet. She will be dealt with like any other escapee... when the time is right, he... he will be hunt down and killed for plotting my assassination." I had not thought about it... in fact I had forgotten all about the pets and slaves tracking devises. More likely than not Kakarotto did not had one... but the woman... Kuso! all Vegeta had to do was press a button and they'd be found... and I sent her with him with the hopes to set them up... fuck... I went through all that trouble for nothing! Its been about two weeks and Vegeta has not tried to hunt them... it must be a pride issue now.

" When the time is right?" I asked curious, I know Vegeta like I know myself. He will not let this go, nor will he have the third class hunt down by others. He is plotting something.

" Let them think they got away..." He continued, surprising me, he was not known for talking openly about his feelings or plans. " Let them enjoy the little time they have left. I have other things to worry about before I take care of them." Vegeta finished calmly. This change of attitude scared me. That fool better be ready... as a matter of fact Vegeta was taking this too calmly, this isn't something Vegeta would let fly regardless of who it is. My prince was violent by nature, anybody dumb enough to try and pull one over him, got his day in the sun in the most horrible way... And we are talking about his... undeserving mate!

" Raditz." he addressed me bringing me out of my thoughts. " Promise you won't say anything about the mark." This was the first time he spoke of it to me.

" Vegeta..." I can't believe he would even ask that of me. "You know I would never do anything to hurt you or discredit you in front of anyone... especially your father."

" I know... I needed to be sure." he said nothing more. I wanted to ask him more, to know more of this Vegeta who shared his feelings and concerns, to talk some more about what he planned to do with Kakarotto... I wanted to know anything, anything at all.

" This isn't a mistake that will go away." I said not expecting an answer.

" It isn't a mistake." he responded to my dismay. " I do not think there is anyone on this planet I would ever considering mating... other than him." I didn't know what to think.

I'm not sure what hurts me most, that he would never consider me to be his... or, that even after that bastard left, Vegeta still thought him worthy.

" I don't understand you."

" Neither do I." He smirked bitterly.

" Then?"

" Then what?"

" What are you going to do about him?" He looked ahead, deep in thought, and then took a few steps towards the center of the training area.

" Enough of this pointless chatter," he turned facing me and assumed his fighting stance. " Fight me!" and again I was left to ponder on his real intentions.

+++

" We can't hide here forever." Chivaa's words broke my concentration, making me fall flat on my behind,

" I told you not to talk to me when I'm meditating!" I yelled at her rubbing myself. With nothing to do she was restless. We had settled on a cave not too far from the forest... much to her distaste, according to her this was Hunter territory and it was not safe. In my opinion we weren't safe anywhere. I kept waking up in the middle of the night expecting to find Vegeta waiting for me to wake up... sitting there just staring at me, like he used to, Or his tail around my neck tickling behind my ear... but Instead all I had was Chivaa to annoy me to the core, talking about Hunters I have not seen or hear in the two weeks we've been here.

" Well I' am sorry to interrupt "your majesty".... but we been here way too long. You said it would be a couple of days and is already going on two weeks. "I can hardly stand the woman anymore, if she kept on down this path, I will either kill her or very well kill myself. She is bossy, controlling and demanding to say the least, she thought me her mate or something, always telling me to clear my mind, not to think about Vegeta... hmph like that is easy to do... I could hardly get any training done; she wouldn't even let me go to the bathroom in peace. The longer we spent together the more convinced I became that it had been a big mistake to bring her along. At first I thought she'd keep me company... but now I just wish she'd go away.

" We'll move in a couple of days." I said dryly trying to reassume my meditation.

" I think we should go today." She insisted, I rolled my eyes resigning myself that my training was over

" Why?" I stood and made my way to the cave.

" Its been too quite around here."

" And that is bad... because?"

" The Hunters are probably out hunting, which means they're bound to come back... I say we go before they do."

" You keep saying that, but you don't know where they live... or even what they look like, maybe they don't live in the forest anymore... maybe this isn't the entrance route... maybe..."

" Kakarotto, You don't know the Hunters like I do, I tell you that you don't want to take any chances with them."

" I may not, but I do know that I haven't seen anything suspicious, and that you think you know it all." I snapped angrily, my patience with her was wearing very thin, and it didn't help that I hadn't been able to feel him... it's been a few days now. Why does it bother me, I do not know... but it did. I felt his power surge to unbelievably strong lengths about five days ago ** and just like that it was gone... I haven't felt him since.

I told myself that he's probably hiding his emotions from me, like Chivaa said, but still I should be able to sense something... unless... something happened to him, which is very unlikely. I'm sure I would have felt it... all this wondering and speculation, plus Chivaa on my back non stop was driving me crazy.

Chivaa stood glaring at me, as if I owed her something. I chose to ignore her and made my way to the river near by. I needed to clear my head, and the cold water was the best thing for that... although lately no matter what I did I was just as restless.

I got to the river bank and stripped, I felt a presence, very weak so I dismissed it as an animal or something. I left my clothes on a rock and inhaled the fresh air... there it was... I felt it again. I smirked, amused at whatever was stalking me... hmph, as if I'd let some weak animal hunt me... I stood immobile, waiting for my dinner to make its move. Something moved over by the bushes. I readied myself to leap on whatever it was the moment it decided to attack. Moving cautiously to the rock I left my garments on, never taking my eyes off the bush... again a shift, I hurried taking care not to alarm my prey. Blindly I reached for my clothes... nothing... they were not there. I turned to see what I was doing, knowing full well that I was giving my pray the chance to prey on me.

My clothes indeed were not there, instead I was met by a pair of animal skin boots, I followed them up, to meet the eyes of a tall, rough looking Saiyan. At that moment Chivaa screamed and before I could even react the man smirked at me.

" You should have listened to your girlfriend... mate." and everything went black

++++

A/N (*) those of you who read "Interlude" will know exactly where Vegeta went after he left Kakarotto's room ^^

(**) again, those who read "Interlude" will know what huge power surge Kakarotto is talking about^^

I will keep the next chappy as a mystery... I don't want to pull a chapter name change on you guys again. I will say this though... It will not be "Surrender" O_o

Ok... I will say this too... some revelations are on the way...;)

Stay Tuned... and keep those feedbacks coming, your kind... or not so kind words are what's motivating me to keep on writing this thing ^^

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