Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Chibi Kappa ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

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

Warning: Violence and bad language... mainly in later chapters.

Chapter 3

Prince Vejiita hit hard against the wall with a stunned yelp, and slumped down to the floor, coughing up blood. His side pulsated painfully from where he received a vicious kick. The pain of his tender ribs was only a miner distraction from the rest of his throbbing and aching body.

He had been training since early morning and already he felt as though he had been battling for days.

"Is that all you got?" came the acrid taunt from his father. The king had been watching keenly as his son just laid there, propped up on his elbows but lying there nonetheless. If he were an enemy he'd be breaking in the boy's ribs right now.

It had been almost a year since the incident in the garden. Ever since he witnessing his son's weakness as Nappa carried him into their private chambers, the king decided that is was time to stop going easy on the boy. His affection for his son caused too much laxity when teaching him the ways of a prince. He not only had to become stricter with his son in that regard, but he had to also increase the level of prince's training so that he would have greater endurance, resistance to pain, and amplified strength and agility.

'Get up!' he mentally screamed but did not project his mind's voice. He wanted to see the boy bounce back instantly without having to command him.

The prince growled and struggled onto his hands and knees. His eyes squinted with the effort to not look dazed. But he had been knocked around: punched, kicked, swung around and propelled into the air, only to be kneed in the gut, then kicked in the ribs, and collide with the wall. How was he expected to recover so swiftly from that?

He could feel his father's angry glare on him, knowing he was taking too long to bounce back.

"I'll show you what I've got!" the prince's words seemed to slur.

"Then show me, boy! This isn't nap time!"

That cutting remarked forced him to make his body respond to his will. He knew he stayed down too long. But dammit! The pain was new to him. And it hurt!

Once he got to his knees he shakily stood upright. The king watched with masked fascination at his son's will. Even though he wanted him to be more resilient, he knew that he had only been training the boy at an increasingly rigorous level for a few weeks. Teaching him to tolerate greater pain would take a while. Although the boy's progressive fighting skills were increasing abnormally fast anyway, the king's paternal instincts told him it was not nearly enough. Not if he wanted to survive.

His mussing was sharply cut off as the boy attacked with a scream. Vejiita Ou was too fast for him, though, so the blow didn't connect; but the fact that the boy attacked in rapid succession spoke volumes of the little one's improvement, not to mention his need to be on guard against the little tike.

The king laughed. "This is all you got?" he taunted, moving to the side as another punch was evaded. "What a poor display!"

The prince growled and put more force behind his attack. But wanting more force he neglected speed.

Vejiita Ou caught one flying fist in his hand and took up his knee to the boy's stomach savagely near those tender ribs. His little body fell hard to the floor as his arms clutching his middle. His eyes shut tightly. His canines pierced his tongue in an attempt to no cry out. But tears defiantly sprung out at the sides of his eyes as he made a growling noise in his throat.

The king scowled down at his son. Even though his heart ached for the boy, he had to learn that such weaknesses could not be tolerated.

"Get up boy!" the king snarled harshly. "Do not shame yourself by bawling like a baby! You are a prince! And though your weakness in fighting is shameful don't make it worse by this display!"

The turmoil the prince felt at the moment was too overwhelming. He wanted nothing more than to cry and to feel the comfort of his mother's embrace. But such things were weakness. And he was weak. But he would make his father proud somehow. He would get strong. He would train everyday, even if he had to miss his meals. He'd do it!

However, the pain was so much. Just sitting up was onerous. But he forced himself to stand, and scowled angrily.

"Clean up, brat. We're done for today."

The prince couldn't help the relief he felt but struggled not to allow the smile that was begging to be set free come to fruition. Kami he loved to fight but the tender bruise near his fractured ribs was just too much to endure.

He nodded his head curtly and tried not to limp his way out of the huge training room.

~~***~~

After ten minutes in the regeneration tank and a pleasant thirty minute nape after lunch, the prince walked down one of the enormous corridors to get to the throne room. He wanted to sneak around and spy the different warriors that he was sure would be there to see the king and talk about their successes in battle. He was supposed to go to the study and meet with his tutor, but he was in no mood to learn anything. Since the beating he was served this morning, his body was sore and he could see nothing more enjoyable than spying and hearing battle stories.

'Not stories but reports,' he mentally amended.

He already made sure to get a servant to tell his tutor he had to recover from injuries and would not make it there till late. It was enough to bide himself some time and he planed on enjoying it thoroughly.

On his way to the throne room, he heard voices coming from a conference room nearby, and stopped dead in his tracks. One was unmistakable to ever forget, the gruff voice of his father. But the other was effeminate, one he hadn't heard before. He immediately crushed himself to the wall so that no one behind the ajar door could get a look at him, especially as he inched himself closer.

"That seems out of sorts, Lord Frieza," his father said, as the prince quelled his ki and calmed his vibe so he was not sensed by him, "besides do you not think it is a bit soon for any warrior?"

"Well it might be," was the soft reply. "You'll have to forgive my anxiousness. Good prodigies are so hard to come by these days."

"You flatter me."

"As intended, King Vejiita."

His father laughed. But before little Vejiita could hear any more he was yanked away from the door by the back of his collar, since he was out of his training clothes. He didn't scream. His father taught him that a warrior never does something so craven. Instead he allowed a little yelp.

'Where have you been?' the voice of his mother filled his mind with the mock sternness he has always known.

He knew he forgot to cover all bases but it was not like she would punish him… well, too severely at least.

Once she let go of him, he spun around quickly and wrapped his arms around her neck glad she had gotten on her knees for easy reaching. 'Mom!' he responded excitedly, as their tails intertwined.

She kissed his cheek. 'Come, my love,' she said as she stood up, wrapping her tail around her waist as he took her example. She was still in her armor but it was one without shoulder guards, and therefore she was not wearing a cape. Likewise she wore a navy spandex body suite and white boots.

She went to reach for his hand but a few Elite Guards turned the corner towards them that instant. She resigned with nudging him forward, as the guards moved aside and bowed their heads.

"Mother," the little prince said once they were out of earshot of anyone, especially of those in that conference room. He was never really told but something about discretion between his mother and himself always seemed to be what was needed. "I heard father talking to someone in that conference room. Do you know who it is?"

"Yes, aisoku, but you do not need to concern yourself about him."

"Why? Does father not like him?"

"It's very complicated."

"I should not trust him then?"

"Trust no one but your father and me, understand?"

"Yes, mother, I haven't forgotten."

She smiled down at her son. "Good, because I have a treat for you."

"Really?" his face lit up.

"Yes," she said, winking at him. She had not been able to meet with him for lunch since her duties carried on in to noon this day and she could not neglect them. Frieza would have otherwise taken it as an invitation to meet with her son. And she did not want that …just yet, since it was inevitable.

"Come."

Once they got to their private quarters, she led him into the dinning room. There was a silver covered tray in the middle of the table. She picked it up and placed it in front of him as he sat down. She uncovered the lid and his eyes widened with delight. It was filled with pastry cakes and chocolate candy, the latter being little Vejiita's most favorite, an alien delicacy he had instantly fell in love with.

Forgetting to thank his mother, Vejiita dug in. The queen just sat down next to him with her face in her gloved hands and joyfully watched her son attempt table manners while he scarf down his treats.

"Don't let your father see you eat like that," she said too enwrapped in her joy to notice her mate coming near.

"Too late," was the response from across the room.

Prince Vejiita froze. It might not look so bad considering he didn't get any crumbs anywhere and he was sure his face was clean. But his fingers were sort of sticky.

"Don't scare him like that," the queen said, recovering quickly from the surprise, as she observed the petrified look on her son's face.

"If he isn't doing anything wrong he would have nothing to be afraid about." With crossed arms the king walked into the room.

"Nonsense! He's only eating in the privacy of our quarters."

The king's eyes narrowed. It wasn't the point that they weren't around others. Why have pretenses of the simplest things if one could do the easy thing by making it habitual?

"Boy, wipe your mouth…" he looked down at the sticky fingers, "and them too. And then go to your tutor. No more ditching your lessons or else your ass is mine!"

"Yes, father," little Vejiita said as he was handed a napkin from his mother. He wiped himself thoroughly as possible then got up, thinking to make a stop at the washroom just to make sure he was presentable. But before moving away from his treats he looked at his mother, in a silent question.

Tamatasu smiled at him. "Don't worry. I won't let your father take any of them."

The king uncrossed an arm to nudge his son from the back of his head. "I don't give orders to wait for them to be carried out! Next time I'll throw you through the wall!"

The little prince then scurried from the room, completely forgetting his resignation to check himself.

"Must you be such a prick?" she said covering the tray.

"Must you be so doting?"

"First of all I am not! And second, just because you men have a problem with femininity doesn't mean we women have to conform to your brutish behaviors. So if I am a little affectionate with my baby that is my business! Not yours!"

Angrily he turned and walked towards the door. "And you wonder why," he said coldly over his shoulder, "some of the council members are beginning to disapprove of your influence on the boy."

She stormed after him into the living room. 'I'm his mother! No one raises him but me!' she yelled through their bond.

'I am his father!' the king spat back. 'You think I would like to see him unhappy or hurt? Do you think I will take pleasure in that when it comes?! And it will! And you know this! Is it not better for him to know how to cope? To know how to prevent most of it? Or do you think it's better for him to be a sissy and cry?!'

Her feature twisted into an angry scowl and she balled her fist.

How dare he! As if she was so blissfully unaware of what was happening… what was going to happen to her son. He was not there while she had to entertain that Ice-jin and his crony Zarbon for the latter half of the morning. No, he was busy having it easy training their son.

How dare he make it seem she didn't know what she was doing!

The smack was not calculated. It just happened like most of her violence born out of anger. It was vicious and reckless.

His eyes widened, contrasting so much with her narrow ones. But she wasn't done with him yet. With a ki blast he crashed into the wall.

"Fuck you, Vejiita!"

Like a storm of fury she flew up to the second story from the foyer they were in and went into their bedroom, slamming the door.

How dare he speak to her like that as if she didn't know what she was doing! As if she didn't know how to raise her own son! She walked with agitation around the room, trying to calm her fuming emotions, and quiet her up surged ki.

Instantly, although not unexpected, the doors were flung open and she found herself upon the bed and under him.

"What the fuck did you hope to accomplish with that stunt? Do you think you have won this battle? Or were you just not thinking with that fury temper of yours?"

"Get off Vejiita or I will make you regret it!" With her hands pinned above her head it was difficult to struggle against him. He was stronger than her and he only flaunted his strength when they were at each other's throats.

"Oh, I already do regret it," he said gruffly, with a cold glare. "I regret that I gave you the privilege of raising the boy."

She stiffened as if she was the one slapped this time. But the blow was more precise and hurtful.

Slowly the muscles in her jaw started to work again.

"Is that what you want then? For him to be like this… to be so uncaring even to those who care so much about him? Would you be proud of him then… when you and me mean nothing to him at all? Because that will happen if you give them the chance to do it."

He growled in anger, but not at her, rather at himself and their circumstances. He leaned his head into the crook of her neck and relaxed his straining grip. He sighed deeply.

"Gomen nasai, Aisai…" he uttered, "gomen nasai."

She wrapped her arms around him and then allowed a few tears to fall.

For moments they just laid there in their torment, each not wanting the fate they knew would befall their son, split on how to give him what he needed, and powerless to prevent what would come to pass.

"He wants him," Vejiita's voice rose above the silence.

"Soon?"

"Not so soon. But anytime would be too soon, I think. He is willing to wait till he is older but I fear we won't…" He couldn't speak anymore as he felt his mate tremble.

"No… Vejiita please. I've never begged you for anything but I'm willing to disgrace myself for my son."

"It is not in my power…all I can do is procrastinate, but I fear…"

"No, Vejiita," she said trying not to cry so openly. But she knew her mate could feel the hurt inside, "he won't go. I won't let him take my baby."

"He won't be a baby at that time," he said, not seeing any need in arguing that he wasn't one now. The fact that his mate was expressing feelings he wished he could express and at the same time wish he could never, was too much for him anyway. "I will prepare him. He will be strong then, I promise."

"No, he will not go! I will not allow it!"

"Tamatasu, listen to yourself! Do we even have a choice? That bastard will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The fact that he is stronger than me makes me very wary." He lowered his voice, feeling the impact of the situation as he revealed it. "We cannot defeat him. And he will make, not only us pay for crossing him, but our whole race will suffer. I am the king, aisai. No matter how much I care for Chibi Kappa, I can't put all of us at risk. I would be damning our whole planet."

She didn't respond at first but then in a defeated voice… "You know, you haven't called him that in the longest time."

The king smiled sadly. "I wish I could call him that forever."

She almost cried anew at his confession but stopped herself. "We mustn't let Frieza take him."

"'Tasu, you know we haven't a choice."

"We do. We just haven't exhausted all our possibilities."

The king scrutinized her. "What are you contriving?"

"We can send him away."

"Away? Are you mad?!"

"Just think about it!" she said cupping his face, "When the time comes that Frieza demands to have our son, we will secretly send him off world to a planet where he will not be bothered for a long time."

"Who will take care of him? How will he train? What will we tell Frieza?" the king looked fearful. "And more pointedly, how are we to be assured he won't retaliate with the blood of our people?"

"We can think more elaborately about that later. Is it not an excellent idea?"

"I worry."

"So do I but if we can successfully pull it off then why not try?"

"Aisai, I-I don't…"

She put her finger over his lips. "Not now. Later we will think into it. But know this Vejiita. We owe it to our son to give him the best chance he needs. Nothing of what you speak about gives that. Besides, if it works out, in time we can get him back to rule our planet when he is ready. Why not take such a chance if it can be successful?"

"Like you said…we will think into it later."

~~***~~

Please review! Constructive criticism as always is welcomed. ^_^

Japanese Translated:

Aisai: beloved wife

Aisoku: beloved son; cute boy

Chibi: little, small

Gomen: sorry (gomen nasai: very sorry)

Kappa: water demon

Onna: woman

Ou: king

Ouhi: queen

Ouji: prince

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