Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Chibi Kappa ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z © Akira Toriyama; Chibi Kappa © Vegge's Mate

Warning: Violence, and bad language...occasionally. Not too much... I think... ^_^; But definitely violence in later chapters.

Chibi Kappa

Chapter 1

Water splashed up into her face. She smiled back at the little offender sitting in the small, shallow tub as he vivaciously kept up his water play. His up swoop dark red hair wilted with the steam of the room as his bangs clung to his face. She sprinkled some water over his head and his giggling burst to life.

"You're just a little angel, aren't you aisoku?" she said. It was bath time. And her adorable son was having the time of his little life. It warmed her heart like nothing else to see her precious baby full of joy. She raked her fingers through her black, spiky bangs and flipped the long braid that was her hair behind her. The little boy continued giggling up at his mother and clapped his hands together as if to agree. She laughed lightheartedly, loving the time she got to spend with her son.

Precious. And would be few and far in between as he got older. But for now…

"Must you play with him all the time?" came a gruff voice from behind her. If he was expecting her to start at his close vicinity, he was disappointed. He should know by now that he could not surprise her like that anymore, no matter how much he wanted to.

She smirked with her back still towards him. It wasn't unexpected for him to make such a comment; every time he saw the two giggling he frowned disapprovingly. So when she turned around to look at him, she wasn't surprised to see him standing rigid with his arms crossed and brow furrowed.

"Oh hush, Vejiita," she said, as her smirk formed into a smile, "can't you see he loves it."

"It isn't a matter of whether he loves it or not," he said as he sat down beside her on the raised platform. Their attention went to the little boy who continued to play with the water in blissful abandon. "He is a Saiya-jin prince. You shouldn't baby him like you do."

"Well he is a baby," she stated and ignored her mate's agitation as she continued to splash water with her son.

Vejiita stared at the two. He couldn't deny that his heart melted when he saw them together. It was so perfect, the love they shared. If only life could be understanding and allowed them to have this peace, to let them just be happy. But that wishful thought amounted to nothing. He was the Saiya-jin no Ou, and as such he had to act indifferent, cold-hearted, aloof, even with his family-at least in public. But these private moments were fleeting and scarce at best. Once the boy got a bit older, he would have to be taught the ways of a prince. And soon after that he would be thrust under the public's watchful eyes. He would have to learn the harshness of life and assume the façade or else it would be his undoing.

King Vejiita sighed. He reached out a hand and smoothed the boy's hair from his face. With bright eyes full of promise and affection, the little one looked up at his father and reach out with his chubby hands. The king picked him up and sat him on his lap, not caring of the water that began soak his navy blue bodysuit.

"Chibi kappa, you enjoyed your bath?"

Their son attempted to say yes as he made sounds of satisfaction. The queen giggled in amusement as she grabbed a towel to hand to her mate.

"You're just as bad as he is, Vejiita," she said playfully.

"Silly onna," he chided lightly and stood up to flare his ki, disregarding her offer as he dried both himself and his son instantly.

It was nighttime. In their huge, dim bedroom, they lied upon their bed with little Vejiita in between them. He was quickly becoming tired because of his playful bath time and resigned to sucking on the puffy brown thing that was his tail.

"Tamatasu, as much as I would not mind that you play with the boy," the king said, "you mustn't continue." She huffed flippantly but he continued. "You know that it can't go on. We don't have the luxury."

"Vejiita, it isn't fair," she said with irritation, knowing full well the circumstances surrounding them and not liking it one bit, "It shouldn't matter what anyone thinks. Why should their stupidity cheat our son out of happiness?"

"Aisai," the king said softly, attempting to appease her, "you know the pains royalty has to go through." He hated that they could not live as they pleased. But if anyone ever knew how he was allowing the prince to be raised, they'd think he was weak, and that the prince would be-not to mention what they would think of the queen, a thought he would rather not consider. And it all would destroy any chances of a future for their son, that is, until the prince could prove them wrong-the thought of him not even getting the chance, he pushed from his mind.

"I know," she sighed as she looked down at their son. She pulled him close and began to play with his tail, smoothing its full length and then massaging the base. It wasn't long before little Vejiita was asleep. "I don't like it," she finally said as she got up with her precious child, pulling his little blue blanket around him. She carried him over to his crib at the other side of the room and placed him in.

King Vejiita wanted the boy to sleep in his own room and be attended to by nursemaids but the queen would not allow it. She wanted to see to his upbringing personally. It had been one of their most heated arguments; albeit, telepathically so they would not be overheard, but an argument nonetheless. Vejiita was extremely adamant about not having the prince be perceived as weak, but his mate, she had always been revolutionary, wanting to change circumstances beyond her control. It was one of the reasons the king chose her as his mate. She was strong and determined, and in many cases way too stubborn for her own good. So he allowed her to have her way, even though it was against Saiya-jin custom to have the royal family interact with their young so closely. But she made sure none of the royal council had anything to say about it when she beat up every last one of them and told them her boy would get the same treatment if he ever crossed her. It was clear to them. But the king knew better. His mate would spoil the child rotten and shamelessly, too.

"I don't like it one bit," she repeated when she came back to their bed and laid down beside him.

"Neither do I," he said. "But knowing that he'll eventually have to deal with Frieza is all the more reason we have to be more than cautious. Our son needs to be able to assert himself against his enemies. We can't afford to handicap him with softness."

"I don't want him to grow up coldhearted like most princes."

"Oh? So you think I was?" he asked playfully.

"Yes, until I had the foresight to tame you."

"Believe what you wish," he said, gently nipping her nose, "but I was never that bad to begin with."

"I honestly think you are an anomaly. You weren't that bad; I'll have to agree with you on that. But the way you are with strangers is a crime in itself. With me of course you're… sweet. But damn! Kami forbid anyone talked disrespectfully to you."

"As they shouldn't! I am the king and I must command respect without even speaking. A Saiya-jin doesn't just have that. He must acquire it and if his disposition is one of compassion and kindness, mercy or love, his enemies will use it against him. It isn't a myth, 'Tasu, it's a fact of life-one that will become a harsh reality to that boy if we allow him such weaknesses."

"Those aren't weaknesses and you know it. So cut the crap, 'Jiita. You sound like your father."

"And you sound like your mother," he retorted with a smirk, "But do you see me complaining?"

Ignoring his playfulness, she continued, "I want to break the chain. We can do it. We can show them that love and affection aren't weakness. It was already prophesied that he would be the legendary. He will be a great king. I just know it. But I don't think he can if we raise him like our customs dictate. Our ways aren't always the best ways, you know?"

He shook his head. "It's too precarious and considering the fact that Frieza has already talked about Vejiita going into his army, I cannot allow it."

Her eyes went wide. "I thought he was only jesting." She knew the bastard Ice-jin was a sadist but this would be quite the ruthless conformation.

"One can never assume so. That atrocity has taken many Saiya-jin warriors into his army. He has gotten rather bold in his ways since King Kold has given him free reign of his portion of their empire. I don't doubt he would try for a Saiya-jin prince next."

The stricken gaze from his mate was painful for him. With the reality of their situation seeming to be grim, he couldn't allow his son to be raised differently. For the sake of little Vejiita, the child could not know weakness.

The queen rested her head on her pillow, eyes cast down. She would not allow her son's fate to be in anyone's hands but her own. She would give him the love he needed and teach him about a different strength even if she'd have to do it behind her mate's back.

"Don't conspire against me 'Tasu."

Fury eyes looked up to meet the smug glint from her mate's. "Damn our bond!"

"Shush!" he quickly said covering her mouth. "Do you want everyone to know we bonded, aisai?" The warning was not in anger for though he scowled his eyes were alight with amusement, and more so because of her perturbation. He knew her stubbornness well and would not otherwise cross her. But this was serious. This was their son's fate they were dealing with.

She moved his hand from over her mouth and with imploring eyes, which did not for a second yield her stubborn determination, she said, "I can't allow him to be without heart."

"I know, aisai," the king said softly. He leaned closer to her and captured her lips with his in a soft kiss, as his tail wound around her waist. "We'll think of something," he conceded.

"We had better!"

"Calm yourself," he retorted with a ghost of a smile. "We will."

"Alright," she accepted as she moved on top of him, smirking wickedly, "or you'll have hell to pay."

~~***~~

I hope you all are enjoying this. ^_^ Please send me a review at vegges_mate@yahoo.com. Constructive criticism as always is welcomed.

Japanese Translated:

Aisai: beloved wife

Aisoku: beloved son; cute boy

Chibi: little, small

Kappa: water demon

Onna: woman

Ou: king

Ouhi: queen

Ouji: prince

Tamatasu: made up name for the queen, 'Tasu for short ^_^