Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Idomu ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DB/Z/GT or any of the characters found in this fic. They are the property of TOEI ANIMATION in Japan and FUNimation in the U.S.A. I am not making any profit from this.

 

Rating - NC-17

 

Warnings - INCEST. And although I don't know that it is so much a warning for this group as it is an encouragement…Yaoi (M/M, M/M/M). Followed by, ice, fire, body modification, voyeurism, bonding, tails, S & M, slave/master, character death, lemons, limes, random Japanese terms, A/U, wishes. (And I apologize for any other warnings I have forgotten!)

 

Pairings - (stepping out on a limb here folks) Lemons: Prince Vegeta/Kakarott/Gohan, K/Gh, PV/K, Radditz/Gh, V/Gh, V/G.

 

A/N: THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME HOSHI!

 

 

 

Idomu - Chapter 4

 

 

 

Pan grunted from her crouch on the floor. Two months of training with Vegeta and she still hadn't achieved a noticeable amount of stamina, “Vegeta, I need a break…Please!” She whined to the older sayian.

 

“Your father won't be getting breaks when he begs for them,” Vegeta replied, sending a ki blast in the brat's direction.

 

Goten cringed as he observed the amount of effort his niece had to go through in order just to keep up, but he didn't feel sorry for her…just slightly amazed. Vegeta had never trained him or Trunks this hard, and yet he had always thought the sayian had been pushing them too hard as children. Now he knew better.

 

Pan was receiving no quarter from the prince until she failed with exhaustion. She had only tried to fake it once and the punishment for that had been severe enough she hadn't done it a second time. Even tears would not move the prince to let up on her. She thought her father had been harsh on her…now she missed his disappointed face.

 

She hadn't thought there could be a punishment worse than grounding and manual labor. When her mother had told her that she and her grandfather were going to hand her over to Vegeta for training, she had thought they were insane to think of it as a punishment. Oh, how hindsight was 20/20.

 

She dodged another ki blast, landing flat out on the floor, unable to push her self up. She tried and failed several times. Pan snarled and clutched at his foot as it nudged her in her bruised ribs, “You sadistic bastard,” she growled up at him.

 

She yelped as Vegeta reached down and pulled her up to face him by her shirtfront, “You know nothing of hurt, little one,” he told her with a calmness that was chilling.

 

“I miss my father,” she whispered quietly, uncertain why that had been her response, but knowing it was true all the same. She was slightly amazed when Vegeta didn't mock her any more, just gently set her back on the floor to crumble into an exhausted heap as he left the G.R.

 

Trunks snorted from the window he had been using to observe `the punishment', “Took her long enough,” he said to his friend.

 

Goten nodded, “Yeah, but if she had said it any sooner, I don't think it would have been quite as heart felt,” he responded to Trunks as he let go of the energy he was using in order to levitate up to the portal window.

 

 

~o0o~~o0o~

 

 

Gohan hissed as he woke. He jerked slightly before settling back down, “They didn't heal over night,” the concubine's voice came from behind him, something being soothed over his lashes. Gohan clawed at the edge of the cot as he hissed again.

 

Kakarott examined the wounds closely, as he placed a healing salve on them. They certainly weren't as deep as they should have been if the slave was to keep par with his fellow ki depraved class, but after having witnessed the hole closing in its hand the day before, the progress was comparatively slow. The concubine laid linen strips of cloth over the wounds after he had treated them.

 

Gohan wondered at this bizarre behavior. He had been certain Kakarott was going to start treating him as he thought appropriate to a slave's station, but the tending of wounds could not be considered a part of that. If Kakarott had seen fit to have them dressed, someone in his station should have brought a servant in to do the task; not lowered himself to do the chore.

 

“I was scared,” Gohan kept his mouth shut, “And then I got angry at you, for scaring me. And then I was angry with myself for even being concerned for you,” Kakarott said, “The other concubines are right; Vegeta wishes you to be with me in his presence too often,” there was that hint of the malice Gohan had witnessed on the floor of the training room the day before.

 

Gohan swallowed, not knowing how to answer other than he already had; he would not willingly come between the concubine and the prince. “I have no choice but to be there if he orders it,” he finally whispered to the concubine.

 

“Don't lie to me. I know you like what he does to you…what he makes me do to you,” Kakarott said quietly as he got off the edge of the cot.

 

“Makes?” Gohan asked; his voice muffled by the pillow. He had truly thought the concubine enjoyed doing things to him. As a matter of fact, he thought it had been more of a task on the other's part to keep his hands off of him.

 

Kakarott smiled sadly, “Okay, `lets' me do to you.”

 

“But you do not feel as strongly for me as you do the prince,” Gohan falsely added jealousy to his response.

 

“Of course not, you are a slave,” Kakarott said with some pride.

 

“It's more than that,” Gohan said boldly. Someone had to wake these two up to what was going on between them. He yelped as his hair was used to pull his head off of the pillow.

 

“Do not attempt to tell me how I feel,” Kakarott whispered harshly, “You are nothing. You know nothing.”

 

“The-the prince feels the same!” Gohan said quickly, “I am nothing but a slave to him. He doesn't get excited to see me. His pleasure in me being there is watching how you interact with me!”

 

“He's testing me?” Kakarott said with some concern, dropping the slave's head.

 

“No, he's observing you,” Gohan said. Why did it have to be so difficult to explain? Why couldn't Kakarott just see the emotions the prince was poorly hiding?

 

“I don't get it,” Kakarott stated.

 

“Just…just pay attention next time. Without letting him know you are,” Gohan suggested.

 

Kakarott grunted, wondering why he was foolishly listening to a slave's advice. It was making things sound as though…impossible, “Stay down, I have to tape the strips in place,” Kakarott said before he left the room.

 

Gohan sighed. He hadn't explained it the way he had wanted to. Trying to drop these heavy hints wasn't working. The two of them were going to drive him to the point he lost it, and just said it. He held still as the concubine sat back on the edge of the cot, started tearing strips of tape up, and pressing them onto his skin.

 

Gohan sat up as the concubine got up, “There are several hours…I just hope they close up before we see him,” Kakarott also hoped the prince would show him at least some amount of forgiveness. Jealousy was not a strong enough word to express how he felt when he thought about Rue in Vegeta's bed. He wasn't even certain how he was going to react upon seeing her this morning. The sly, knowing looks the other concubines had given him as the servant had left after delivering the prince's message….

 

Gohan nodded. Kakarott could get in serious trouble for damaging the prince's property. The concubine certainly hadn't been thinking beyond the moment last night. He walked to the closet and pulled a plain shirt on over his head, before donning some pants. He lifted his head obediently when the concubine brought the collar over. It was strange how this had become something almost normal to him…Gohan had a difficult time even thinking about leaving the room without it on now.

 

Kakarott grabbed the leash, shuddering with the memory…he sighed, and opened the door. His eyes went immediately to Rue's place, which was still empty. He walked into unexpected silence from the remaining concubines. There was tenseness in the room where he had been expecting gloating, “Where is she?” he asked, his unease getting the better of him. If she had spent the whole night with the prince….

 

“Rumor is, she's gracing a regeneration tank with her presence this morning,” Yerba answered solemnly.

 

Both Kakarott and Gohan started at this bit of information. Vegeta wasn't known for being rough with his concubines. He had every right to be…he just usually wasn't.

 

Breakfast was a silent affair. Everyone letting their thoughts consume their energy while they consumed their food.

 

They all shifted as Parral shoved his plate away, “I am going to go and see her,” he said quietly. Everyone nodded their heads as they either finished up quickly, or pressed their plates away also.

 

There were several incredulous looks directed their way as the group walked silently down the halls of the palace. Seeing all the prince's concubines in one crowd was unusual; the fact they were silent even more so. Kakarott and Gohan brought up the rear of the group as Parral led the way.

 

The attendant in the medical wing bowed and let them all in, “She's in tank 124,” was all he said. Once again, Parral took the lead.

 

More of the tanks were empty than were full as they wound their way to the one they were looking for. Yerba gasped and ran forward as the one they were in search of came in sight.

 

By the time the rest of them had caught up, she had her fingers pressed against the glass of the tank, and Rue was matching her hold. The concubine's undamaged side of her mouth lifted in a sad smile, “Oh, sweetie, what did he do to you?” Yerba asked with tears in her eyes as she typed the same question into the LCD screen in the tank's window.

 

Gohan's back tingled in sympathy at the damage the concubine had obviously taken. He watched as Rue eyed the group with surprise. The look turned to a glare as her one open eye settled on Kakarott. She made an obscene gesture and then pointed back the way they had come.

 

Kakarott nodded sadly, “I am sorry,” he said before he turned to go. The look Rue gave him for his apology spoke volumes of how worthless she deemed it.

 

They were just leaving as several stretchers were headed into the medical wing. Every one of the sayians sporting armor, broken bones, and blood. One of them actually reached for Kakarott's hand as they passed, “He's lost it,” and Gohan suddenly realized it was Radditz that addressed the concubine. Kakarott waited for his brother's bloody hand to slip from its grasp as the emergency team continued on before turning down the hall at a run, Gohan being forced to follow.

 

Gohan had a damn good idea who `he' was and wondered why he hadn't felt the prince's ki spike, since he was causing so much obvious destruction. He was barely able to stop Kakarott from entering the training arena as explosions were heard outside the thick doors, “Stop!” he yelled, dragging Kakarott back by the leash. Those energy attacks weren't emitting from the prince, but were from soldiers trying to fend him off.

 

“He…he doesn't need to be doing this!” Kakarott turned on him.

 

“He's doing this because of yesterday. He almost killed you and he isn't dealing with it well. You step in there without some sort of warning, and you're going to scare him again!” Gohan stated in a rush.

 

“What do I do?” Kakarott asked; the logic making him forget it was a mere slave addressing him. They both stepped to the side as the doors opened, another emergency team leaving as quickly as possible.

 

Gohan pressed the concubine further out of the way of the doors and then pressed on his shoulders until the other sat down, “Breathe,” he stated, looking the concubine in the eyes.

 

Kakarott's panicked panting slowed as he looked into the slave's composed eyes, “Close your eyes and reach for him,” Gohan coached. He knew his father and Vegeta had some sort of connection on Earth. It had become even more apparent after their potara fusion…but it had been there before. Vegeta had always had a sense of when his father was in trouble. Maybe they had something similar here.

 

Kakarott closed his eyes, directing his thoughts towards his prince. He didn't know what else to do.

 

The explosions stopped. The doors opened moments later with several damaged, but able sayians filing out, “GET OUT!” Gohan heard Vegeta's voice herding them away. Seconds later, Vegeta was at the door: his anger surrounding him like a halo. He pulled Kakarott up from his sitting position on the floor by his shirtfront and dragged the concubine, who had not let go of the leash, into the training room. Gohan stumbled forward, the doors barely missing his feet as they closed.

 

Vegeta growled as he fisted his bloody hands in his concubine's clothing. He pulled the other closer to him, shoving his nose to the other's neck and breathing in deep.

 

Kakarott dropped the leash in order to run his hands soothingly over Vegeta's back, and along his tail, “I am here,” was all he was able to say before the prince was tearing his clothing apart, kissing and biting the concubine's exposed skin savagely.

 

Gohan settled away from the other two as quietly as possible. He took in the damage the room had taken. Ki scorches marred the walls, ceiling and flooring. Blood splattered everywhere, bits and pieces of armor scattered, shreds of fabric: quite a few of those articles and fragments Vegeta's. Physical testaments to the tempest of the prince's emotions.

 

He turned his attention back to the other two as Vegeta spoke, “You will become stronger,” he growled. The prince had his forehead pressed to the concubine's, glaring directly into the other's eyes as he instructed the other. Kakarott barely gave a nod in acknowledgement before the prince was tearing into him once again.

 

Gohan witnessed as the prince took the concubine harshly. There was desperateness about the act the slave could not pinpoint. Vegeta wasn't touching so much as mauling. Where Gohan had seen sex between these two, this was fucking: violent, swift. The concubine's calls were desperate also: high, needing, and in a fascinating way, welcoming.

 

Vegeta moved his mouth to the other side of the Kakarott's neck as he continued to thrust into his concubine, and Gohan was able to see the damage left behind. The prince had sucked to the point blood welled from the bruised flesh. The concubine whined and leaned his cheek onto the back of the prince's head as he wrapped his legs around his aggressor's hips, and surrounded him protectively with his arms, “Oujisama, I will always be here,” he whispered, the words sticking in odd places as the prince continued to abuse his body.

 

Vegeta stilled, panting harshly, “You almost weren't yesterday,” he growled back, his aura still angry and flaring.

 

Kakarott couldn't deny this; his death had truly been close. Instead he placed his palms on either side of the prince's face and turned Vegeta's head until he could kiss the other's lips soothingly. The joining became much more controlled and deliberate after.

 

Kakarott leaned his head back to the floor, staring up at the ceiling as he moaned. He clutched at Vegeta's back as he survived the remainder of the storm. Vegeta lifted his torso away from the other at the last moment possible, roaring his climax. The shockwaves from the howl alone lifted and tossed around the loose debris from the floor. Gohan gasped as the prince's eyes flickered teal; he hadn't realized the other was so close to ascension.

 

There was a long period of stillness and random kisses that Gohan did not dare interfere. He shifted uncomfortably as the decision was taken out of his hands, “Someone comes,” he stated, having felt an large energy grow closer to their location. He stood and began taking his clothes off; even his plain linen clothing would be better for the concubine than the rags Kakarott now wore.

 

Vegeta nuzzled into Kakarott's neck once more, breathing deeply before he stood, helping the concubine to his feet. The prince intentionally turned his back, adjusting his damaged garments, as Kakarott started stripping what remained of his clothing off. The concubine took the attire Gohan handed to him without a word. Vegeta picked up his scouter and read the settings, “It's my father,” he stated without much emotion. He should have known a tantrum of this size would reach the king's attention at some time.

 

Once Kakarott had dressed he turned to Gohan, “Turn,” he demanded, and started taking the bandages off of the slave's back. The prince arched one eyebrow in curiosity at the still obvious lash marks on the slave. Once the concubine had added the bandages to the rags on the floor Vegeta turned the pile to ash with a quick low ki blast.

 

The smoke had barely dissipated when the doors opened, allowing the King and an entourage in, “Vegeta,” the King stated as he looked around the mess of the training facility, barely acknowledging the presence of the concubine and slave.

 

“Father,” the prince replied, not certain what was to happen.

 

“Care to tell me what this was about?” the King asked; his son was a bloody mess, but none of it was from any apparent injuries of his own.

 

“It has been settled,” Vegeta said, eyes shifting ever so slightly to the two prostrated on the floor.

 

The king took a quick glance, noticing the lashes on the naked slave's back, “Next time, take it out on the responsible party, Vegeta. I do not enjoy being called out of council meetings to be asked to control my adult son,” was all he said as he turned back the way he had come, the group of elites with him quickly following.

 

Vegeta waited until the doors closed, “Get up. Go to my quarters. We will train there,” he instructed the other two while pointedly glaring into one of the cameras.

 

Kakarott and Gohan stood. They didn't ask questions as they left, heading one direction, as the prince went in another. The concubine kept pulling the neckline of the shirt he wore up when ever they would pass other groups in the hallways, and Gohan had to wonder why. Kakarott usually wore the marks Vegeta gave him with some pride, although these were certainly worse than usual.

 

Someone had apparently taken the hint, and by the time Vegeta reached the surveillance room, it was deserted. He took the disk of the morning's events, and replaced it with a new one. Second hand information could only be called rumor. It was best his father never saw what had happened with his own eyes.

 

Vegeta molded the substance of the disk into a ball as he strode down the hallways to his quarters. He knew what he had to do, and the decision was not making him happy. He'd put it off for as long as possible, but the day was close where he wouldn't remember himself. It had taken every amount of whatever will power he'd still had not to give the concubine mating marks in the training room.

 

Kakarott and Gohan settled as best they could in the prince's chambers as they waited for Vegeta to arrive. Usually the concubine would have already stripped naked and had the both of them waiting for the prince in his bedroom. It was very strange not to be here for something other than sex. So Kakarott sat on the edge of a plush chair, his body tense, with the slave kneeling on a rug beside him.

 

Vegeta sent what remained of the surveillance data up in a poof of smoke before he reached to open his door. His lips set into a firm line as he first took note of Kakarott and the slave. The prince shook his head as he strode through his welcoming room, and into his bedchamber.

 

Kakarott stood hesitantly, not knowing if he were to follow or not. He was half way to the door, the slave following him, when Vegeta came out, changed into something cleaner and the plainest set of clothing he owned draped over one arm. “Here,” Vegeta passed the items to Kakarott, who in turn passed them to Gohan.

 

Vegeta scowled as the slave started to put the clothes on, and reached over to undo the collar, “Don't think your station has changed,” he said as the slave jerked to a halt at the touch.

 

Gohan nodded, “Yes, your Highness,” he said, dropping his head slightly before he returned to dressing himself. He actually felt more naked without the collar in the prince's presence than when he had no clothing on.

 

Vegeta eyed the lash marks as the slave turned at an angle to make them noticeable and turned his gaze to the concubine. Kakarott paled at the prince's scrutiny, but didn't know how to explain the emotions he had been feeling when he had laid the leash into the slave's back. Thankfully it didn't seem as though the prince was going to press him for answers.

 

Gohan cleared his throat to get their attention, hoping he wouldn't be beaten for his in sub ordinance. “My pardon, your Highness,” Gohan said, ducking his head again.

 

Vegeta sneered. This was going to be very different. He had never thought he would wish to learn something from someone in a slave's position. “Well?”

 

Gohan took a seat on the floor. He almost laughed as the other two stayed standing, but knew that would not help matters, “I-I guess, I need to know how you meditate…” Gohan began, “I usually do so with some contact with the ground, in a position as comfortable as possible.”

 

Vegeta grunted before taking a seat on the floor, mirroring the slave's position. As Kakarott began to sit in the chair, Vegeta waved him to the floor, “I want you to learn this also,” and the concubine joined the other two on the floor.

 

Gohan closed his eyes, in order to think more clearly. On Earth, Vegeta had been so determined to be independent of the Z fighters he had learned this on his own. It had also been so long, and Gohan had been so young, when he had first learned this, he wasn't very certain what the best approach was going to be to start.

 

He started as he heard Vegeta growl in impatience, “First, you have to become aware of your own ki, your Highness,” Gohan said. He explained further, “Your ki will be the best gauge as to whether someone's ki is higher than yours or not,” he sighed as the prince scowled at him for insinuating someone may have a higher ki level than his, “Okay…your ki is going to blind you to others, if you can't look past it. In order to look past it you have to know what to look through.” He could tell he still wasn't making sense. He sighed, looking for an example.

 

Gohan smiled as he stood and took a couple of candles from their places. He almost dropped them at the looks he was receiving when he turned around. He fretted a moment before scowling, “This is going to be much easier if I don't have to worry about my head being blown off at any second,” he stated boldly, “I am going to do my best, but the ideas and ways of training are going to be different…”

 

Vegeta crossed his arms, still scowling. He finally sighed, “Fine. While training some of the formalities may be overlooked. If I catch you being too familiar after training, you will be punished,” the prince stated.

 

Gohan nodded as he moved to retake his seat. He looked sadly at the wicks for a moment, “Will one of you please light them for me?” he asked.

 

Kakarott reached for one wick and lit it, while the prince showed off and lit the other without moving. Gohan tried not to smile at the very Vegeta like gesture, “Okay,” he said, picking them up. He started lifting one towards Vegeta's face, but the prince caught his wrist before he got close enough to show him what it was he wanted the other to see.

 

“What are you doing?” Vegeta asked.

 

“This one represents your ki,” Gohan said, as though it was obvious. Vegeta grunted and sneered. His ki being compared to that of a candle was ridiculous, but he let the slave's hand go, and Gohan moved the candle until the wick was even with the prince's eyes, and wax actually touched his nose.

 

“Get that thing out of my face,” Vegeta growled, but didn't move to remove the object himself.

 

“Just…one moment more,” Gohan said, holding the other candle to Kakarott's face in a like manner. “Okay, can you see the other candle?” he addressed both of them.

 

“How can I see it, when the light from this one is blinding me?” Kakarott asked in annoyance, “Oh…” he stated at his own words.

 

The prince grunted his understanding of what the slave was getting at, and Gohan smiled, pulling the candles away. He stretched over and put them on a table top before turning back to the other two, “I know your kis are much stronger than candle flames. So, imagine a torch, or even a bonfire blinding you from every other light that might be in the same area as you.”

 

Both the prince and the concubine nodded, “And that is why it is necessary for you to learn your own ki intimately before you'll be able to see other's.”

 

“I can manipulate my ki into attacks. I'd call that `knowing' my ki,” Vegeta stated.

 

Gohan nodded, “And can you sense when another's ki attack is heading towards your back?” he asked.

 

“Of course!” Vegeta scoffed.

 

“So, you can sense another's ki in battle situations. Unfortunately, battle kis are rarely the readings you find when people are walking around every day. Their normal kis are not going to be such an obvious beacon,” Gohan warned, “Does that make sense?” he asked.

 

He waited, giving the others enough time to process what he had just said before continuing at their nods, “May I get your scouter, please?” Gohan asked the prince.

 

Vegeta nodded and Gohan stood to go to the prince's armor stand, taking the scouter off of the dummy's head, and returned, handing it towards Vegeta, “I'll want you to use it,” he instructed, and Vegeta fitted the scouter over his head before switching it on. “Okay, Kakarott,” Gohan turned to the other, “I want you to get angry.”

 

The concubine looked at the slave like he was out of his mind, “How's that going to help?” he asked.

 

Gohan sneered at him intentionally, “Just remember what you were feeling last night…” the scouter blipped as his actions drew out the desired affect and the concubine started to growl.

 

Gohan wiped the look from his face, turning expectantly back to Vegeta, “Well?”

 

“His ki spiked,” Vegeta said, wondering why the slave wanted him to acknowledge something so obvious.

 

“And you can raise your ki when needed?” Gohan continued.

 

“Of course,” Vegeta stated.

 

“Show me,” Gohan requested.

 

Vegeta sighed, not knowing what was so important about this exercise but did it any way. The scouter beeped and started throwing out readings, “Okay?” Vegeta asked, before settling back down.

 

Gohan nodded, “Now, can you lower your ki at will? Below your normal level?”

 

“What?!” the prince asked, “Why would I wish to do that?”

 

“Believe me, it is of great use,” Gohan assured him, “If everyone has these scouters, imagine how useful it would be in order to lower your ki until it could not be detected.”

 

“I have no reason to hide,” the prince stated proudly.

 

“I am not saying you need to hide. Just bluff?” Gohan asked.

 

Vegeta smirked at the idea. Having an over confident opponent was always an advantage, “Okay. How do I lower my ki?”

 

Gohan turned to Kakarott, “Can you meditate?” he asked.

 

Kakarott shrugged. He'd had little time to himself the past two, almost three, months. His schedule had been greatly disrupted by the addition of the slave to his everyday life, “It may take a moment…” he said before he closed his eyes. He started by breathing in slowly through his nose, and exhaling through his mouth. He pictured his father's lab, and in the lab, a slowly simmering beaker with green liquid in it. Kakarott knew it was a strange thing to picture when trying to slow one's mind, but it worked for him.

 

Gohan waited until he saw the concubine's shoulders relax, “Now, do you know how to slow your heart?” he asked. The concubine nodded without opening his eyes. Everyone had to learn how to slow their hearts for long-range space travel. “Okay, instead of focusing on the muscle of your heart, I want you to focus on your energy…find that place you reach for when you form ki blasts…”

 

Kakarott grimaced…the thing the slave was asking him to do…it had been so long since he'd had to think about where his energy came from. He found himself focusing on the flame being emitted from the burner below the beaker. The concubine's face smoothed out as he imagined reaching for the dial of the burner, turning it down…

 

Vegeta's scouter blipped, indicating a drop of his concubine's ki, “It's working,” the prince said.

 

Kakarott turned the image of the flame down further, and further…

 

Vegeta's scouter beeped in quick succession, finally flashing a warning that someone's ki had become critical, “Kakarott, stop,” he hissed in concern.

 

The concubine did as asked, the flame now only a blue glow in his mind's eye. “Okay, now, keep your energy level there, and open your eyes,” Gohan instructed.

 

As soon as Kakarott opened his eyes, the scouter started flashing new readings at the prince, “You're energy has gone back to what it was,” Vegeta stated when it stopped.

 

They all sighed, “Okay…I guess this is where you'll have to start practicing,” he told the concubine before turning to Vegeta, “Your turn, your Highness,” Gohan said.

 

Vegeta nodded, closing his eyes…if his concubine could do at least that much, he shouldn't have a problem…

 

….Except for the scouter beeping at him when he finally got control over his ki to lower it. He growled as he took the device off, handing it to the concubine. The prince closed his eyes and started the exercise again.

 

The device started flashing data, and Kakarott put it on hurriedly, “Okay…your Highness, you've reached critical,” Kakarott said in warning, and the prince stopped. He didn't wait for the slave to tell him to open his eyes. Instead he did so slowly, trying to keep his ki under control as he once again became aware of his surroundings.

 

He smirked in triumph, as the scouter did not indicate any alterations to its readings. “So far, so good,” he said to the slave in whisper, not realizing he was doing so.

 

Gohan smiled at the achievement, “Okay…now, close your eyes again. You remember how you said you could detect ki blasts when they were coming at your back?” he asked the prince. He continued when the prince nodded, “Now, almost everyone's ki is a potential threat in the state you are currently in. Expand your awareness to find the `threats',” Gohan instructed.

 

It took a little while for Vegeta to put the slave's instructions to work. Suddenly he growled and shifted back, opening his eyes to see his concubine's concerned face. The scouter started flashing and beeping at the quick increase of the prince's ki. Gohan smiled, “You felt Kakarott,” he said calmly, “With your ki that low, you could `see' him.”

 

Vegeta grunted, gaining his composure back. It had been more like looking at a sun directly from the cockpit of a space pod that was about to crash into it. He looked wearily at the slave, “And you do this all the time?” he wasn't certain this technique was worth learning….

 

Gohan shrugged, “It's second nature now,” he commented, “And it really does have its uses,” he said, waiting to see if the prince wanted to continue.

 

Vegeta frowned and then sighed, nodding his head, “So, what do we do now?”

 

Gohan shook his head, “Now? Kakarott has to learn to keep his ki suppressed when he opens his eyes,” he said, looking over at the concubine, who nodded. The concubine handed the scouter to Gohan before closing his eyes to practice.

 

“And you have to learn to see without reacting, your Highness,” Gohan told the prince, “With enough practice from both of you, neither of you will have to continue to lower your kis. You'll be able to do this at full power,” Gohan encouraged, just as Kakarott gasped, reaching a hand out while his eyes were closed.

 

“I can feel you; see you…” Kakarott said to the prince.

 

“Well, I guess you are both practicing the same thing then,” Gohan said with a smile, as he closed his own eyes, planning on monitoring their progress while these two continued to train.

 

After a while, Gohan turned the scouter off, and the room became peacefully quiet; only their breathing and a surprised gasp every once in a while marring it.

 

“I can feel my father,” Vegeta stated once.

 

To which Kakarott responded, “I can feel Radditz!” More silence following as the two of them continued to explore the new sensory they had gained.

 

Gohan let them continue to explore the planet as he moved farther out with some caution. He had not forgotten the incident that had happened weeks prior, and it still bothered him. He didn't bother with checking Vegeta-sei…the disturbance had been further out than Earth.

 

He used Namek as a stepping-stone, glad to feel that the planet was still peaceful. He took longer at Earth, knowing its inhabitants more intimately, and wanting to assure himself things were okay. His awareness was brought back to Vegeta-sei as the concubine gasped, “Who are they?”

 

“What?” Gohan almost screamed as he pulled his awareness back to the planet he was currently on…why had he been so careless?

 

“Who are they?” Kakarott asked again, “So many kis…you know some of them!” he accused, having been able to feel when the slave had stopped for some time on someone in particular.

 

“You…You were following me!?” Gohan asked. He had thought the other two were so engrossed in their training…wait! How did someone follow someone else's awareness?

 

By now Vegeta had been distracted by their interaction, “What does he speak of?” Vegeta asked. Gohan gulped, and then closed his mouth tightly. He hoped the concubine would not be able to direct Vegeta to Earth without his help.

 

Vegeta backhanded the slave, “You over step your bounds with your silence. I should kill you for your insolence. Tell me; what was Kakarott speaking of?” he demanded.

 

Even the hope he would be wished back to his own time line was not enough to get Gohan to speak of Earth in this one. He did the stupidest thing he had done on this planet so far, and reached for the prince's hand, positioning it palm open against his forehead. Kakarott reached to remove the prince's hand from the slave's forehead, “Don't…there were so many people…who were they?” he asked the slave calmly.

 

Gohan turned his eyes away from the concubine and stared into Vegeta's as he adjusted the prince's hand over his heart. He refused to answer, and there was no turning back.

 

Vegeta growled and turned to his concubine, “Did these people seem as though they would be a threat to Vegeta-sei?”

 

Kakarott shook his head, “This ki sensing is still so new, your Highness…but, if I were to guess, no. They would pose no threat to Vegeta-sei. They barely had more ki than the slave,” he said, nodding towards Gohan.

 

Vegeta drew his hand back from the slave's chest in order to sit more comfortably. The slave was not speaking, and would rather die than address this issue. These people Kakarott had sensed meant much to this slave. He watched the slave keenly as he asked his next question, “Was this your home world?” the shift of eyes and tensing of body were all the prince needed see to know the answer. “How far away was this planet?” Vegeta asked his concubine without turning his gaze away from the slave.

 

It was Kakarott's turn to gulp, “I do not know, your Highness. This is still new to me…” he said, closing his eyes again, looking for the place the slave had drawn back from.

 

Vegeta grunted in understanding. Distances were difficult to tell with what little experience he currently had, also. “We will hunt them. With kis as weak as theirs' it will be easy to subdue them…” Vegeta bluffed.

 

“NO!” Gohan gasped before he thought better of it.

 

Vegeta narrowed his eyes, “For one of demon and sayian heritage, you certainly care too much for people on such a far away planet…” as far as he was concerned demons were a mystical race…even if one did manage to exist on this plane of existence to breed with a sayian Vegeta doubted there were a whole planet of them.

 

Gohan's mind writhed with chaos. In his current state, he was too weak to do anything if the sayians did decide to attack Earth. Vegeta held all the cards; there was nothing to bargain with. Even his life was no longer available for leverage. They knew.

 

Gohan glanced at the concubine's passive features. He dreaded it wouldn't be long before Kakarott was able to confirm Earth's existence without his aid…wait, there was something Vegeta wanted badly enough, “Idomu!” Gohan hissed as he turned his focus back to the prince.

 

Both Kakarott's and Vegeta's eyes opened wide at the word. It wasn't a word commonly used from the old tongue. Vegeta's eyes narrowed, “What would you know of Idomu?” he asked. He had not even told Kakarott of his goal of having the concubine challenge his birth class. He had been training the concubine with the pretense that it was exercise the other needed….

 

“If you leave them alone, I will train Kakarott,” Gohan stated.

 

Vegeta threw his head back and laughed, “What would a slave know of battle training? You don't even have enough power to make third class!”

 

Gohan's eyes narrowed dangerously, “Only because of the slave's block: fuujiru,” Gohan hissed.

 

Vegeta backhanded the slave across its other cheek, “Let this be a lesson. Teach a slave to read, and they come up with the most outlandish things.”

 

Gohan licked his bloodied lip as he turned back. The time had come to take advantage of his knowledge of things, “Your father was so insecure about your station that he attempted to have a male sayian, born the same day as Kakarott, and his father executed, because this child had even greater potential to become the legendary than you.”

 

“You lie,” Vegeta hissed, reaching for the slave's tongue. Kakarott's eyes had grown huge at the slave's words. To plan against the next legendary was high treason to the Sayian people. Not even something a king could get away with.

 

Gohan jerked his head out of range, “Go ahead, Vegeta. Ask your father about Peragus and Brolli.”

 

Vegeta had never heard mention of Brolli, but was familiar with the name of Peragus. There had been an encounter between his house and the other's before he was born…a short excerpt in the Achieves about failed legislative attempts to remove his grandfather from the throne of Vegeta-sei. If they had been successful, Peragus would have been king instead of his father.

 

Yes, a child born with legendary potential from that house would have certainly been enough to put the throne of Vegeta-sei into contention once again. Even so… “Why do you tell me something I should have your tongue cut out for?” Vegeta glared.

 

“Because I also know there are higher levels than legendary that sayians can obtain. Both you and my father are capable of these ascensions,” Gohan said.

 

“Higher than Legendary?” Kakarott asked. There hadn't been a legendary in a millennium or more. How could this slave, younger than both the prince and himself, possibly know of higher levels?

 

“Impossible,” Vegeta scoffed.

 

“Remove the fuujiru, and I will show you the impossible,” Gohan dared, “If I lie, it will be a simple thing to kill me after,” Gohan shrugged, as if he didn't give a damn any more.

 

“Not even I have the rights to remove the fuujiru once it has been put in place,” Vegeta said, frowning.

 

“But if Kakarott issues Idomu, then `by any means deemed necessary' he will be allowed to train for his challenge,” Gohan bartered.

 

“If you are as strong as you claim to be…then what is to stop you from over running the planet once the fuurjiru has been removed?” Vegeta questioned.

 

“I will give you the information you desire on the planet Kakarott followed me to prior to its removal,” Gohan said. It was a reckless move, but his only chance to set things to an even playing field, even if they weren't to his or Earth's advantage.

 

“Tell me the name of this planet, and I'll think about it,” Vegeta countered.

 

Gohan gave the prince a weighty look as he thought it over, “Earth,” he finally admitted.

 

“Never heard of it,” Vegeta said.

 

Gohan shrugged, “The Universe is a big place. Sayians haven't even explored a quarter of it,” he assured the prince. Gohan knew there was something that had stopped the Cold and Vegeta Empires from meeting in this time line…he just didn't know what. Some things were different here, because of this. Like the material for battles suits and armor didn't stretch to fit. Scouters were low-tech relics from the time of the Tuffles; futile gadgets that had been used to watch and try to keep sayians in the stone age. Apparently, regeneration tanks were a variant of Tuffle cloning technology, which Gohan still found surprising: he had always assumed they were a borrowed technology from the ice-jin. Vegeta-sei still existed for that matter. His father had never been sent to conquer a planet as a baby in the name of the Cold Empire.

 

Vegeta stood. There was one way to know if the slave was speaking truth or not, “You two will stay in my quarters until I return,” he ordered. Then he turned to the concubine, “Still its tongue,” he additionally ordered Kakarott. The concubine stood and went to the bedroom, returning with a tiny silver chain.

 

Vegeta gave them both one last look before he left his quarters. Approaching his father with this heresy would to be touchy.

 

Gohan sighed as Kakarott held up the chain, sticking his tongue out; he really hated this. It made his mouth dry, and often his tongue would try to Charlie horse on him. The concubine clasped the chain to the tiny ring pierced through the tip of the slave's tongue before attaching it to the clavicle piercing. Then the concubine bound the slave's hands behind its back with the collar's leash.

 

~o0o~

 

 

Vegeta entered the council hall just as people were leaving. “Father,” he spoke tartly as he made it half way down the table, and the elder had still not acknowledged his presence.

 

King Vejita turned his head from the conversation still being discussed by one of his senior councilmen, “Vegeta,” he acknowledged annoyed. He was angry his son had decided not to be here this afternoon, for his duties as prince.

 

“I need to speak with you,” the prince informed his father. He sighed when his father gave him a patiently waiting look, “Alone. One witness,” Vegeta expounded.

 

King Vejita sneered, having little time for his son's seemingly important matters. He was a prince and an adult for the Legendary's sake! He should be able to handle matters of import without his guidance. If this had anything to do with the exchange that happened this morning, he was going to take his son back to the training room and kick his ass. “Excuse us, Councilman Jerosh,” the king commanded.

 

“Of course, your Majesty,” Councilman Jerosh nodded, “We can discuss this at another time.”

 

“General Nappa,” the king turned to his most trusted aid, “Will you attend us?” the king requested as he strode to the private exit of the chamber.

 

Vegeta followed the king and the general to the King's private audience chamber. Once he closed the doors behind them he turned to his father, “Do you have any surveillance in this room?” he asked.

 

This received curious looks from both the General and the King. The king stood and opened a cupboard, unplugging something inside, “Now I don't. What is it you wish to discuss?” he asked, sitting in his chair again.

 

Vegeta paced back and forth on the carpet, thinking…

 

“Vegeta, I do not have all day,” the king said with exasperation.

 

Vegeta finally stopped in front of his father's desk, “Have you heard of Peragus or his son Brolli?” he finally asked. He wasn't expecting his father's quick reaction; he still didn't believe the slave.

 

Vejita stood and reached for his son across the desk. He pulled the other's torso across by his shirt front, “You will forget you heard those names,” the king hissed, “If I find this is a sad attempt to take over the throne early….”

 

Vegeta shook his head…that was the last thing he had on his mind, “No father,” was all he said. He had his answer without getting into the details in front of a witness. The slave apparently did know what it was talking about. Maybe other things it said were possible.

 

“Then this discussion over?” the king asked. He let go of his son as soon as he got the nod from him. “I will see you at dinner,” the king said, leaving the room with a confused Nappa at his back.

 

Vegeta stayed in the room a bit longer, thinking things through slowly. He sighed and shook his head before heading back towards his quarters. Simple glares were enough to keep all petitioners away from him until he reached his rooms. He sighed, opening his door.

 

Kakarott looked up from the book he had picked off of the prince's shelf and was reading to keep himself distracted as the door opened. Gohan turned his gaze up from where it was being forced to the floor from his bondage, thankful that what ever the prince had decided to do had taken less than an hour.

 

Vegeta closed his door quietly before approaching the other two. He glanced at the slave, “You can remove the chain,” he instructed Kakarott. The concubine nodded and removed the chain from the slave's tongue, “It seems at least part of what you spoke was true. Although I have serious questions as to how someone of your station would know of such matters…” Vegeta gave the slave a careful look over. Other than being extremely beautiful, there was nothing indicating that its heritage may have come from one of the higher families privy to such information.

 

Gohan smiled, “I am sorry, your Highness, but I think there are some things not even you would believe about me. It's best to take a few things on honor and in faith than have to think I am a pathological liar.”

 

Vegeta snorted. This slave, when given the chance, certainly did not sound like a slave. Some where in its past, it had received some excellent education. He shook himself from his musing; turning his attention back to his concubine, “Go shower,” he told the slave. He wanted some time alone to discuss things with Kakarott.

 

Gohan stood and turned his bound hands towards Kakarott, who deftly undid the chain. Once the slave had crossed behind the bedchamber's doors, Kakarott turned to his prince, “Your Highness…” he stopped as Vegeta pressed a finger to his lips.

 

“Call me Vegeta,” the older sayian purred, “I love it when you say my name.”

 

Kakarott shivered and his stomach fluttered, “Vegeta…” he started again, and was stopped as the prince pressed his lips to his. He moaned into the kiss with confusion and want.

 

Vegeta ran his hands over Kakarott's arms as he kissed him. Was this actually possible? He couldn't believe it. If his concubine challenged his birth class, and gained the class of elite…they could be together….

 

Kakarott forced himself to stop, as much as he wanted to let things deteriorate around them, he needed answers; like, “Why Idomu?” he was finally able to say. All the negotiating he had witnessed between the prince and the slave had made no sense to him. If he challenged now he knew he would not go beyond first class. And the question still remained, “What do you hope to gain from this?”

 

Vegeta grudgingly stopped. He lifted his hands to the neckline of the slave clothes his concubine wore, and nudged it down slightly, until he could see the two marks he had left earlier. He traced them with his thumbs, “I almost didn't stop myself…today,” Vegeta whispered. He smiled as Kakarott shivered and closed his eyes at the touch, “I hope to gain you,” Vegeta said, pressing his lips against Kakarott's again.

 

Kakarott whined as his mouth was devoured. He had forgotten about the marks in the midst of everything else that had happened until Vegeta touched them. He gasped as his jaw was pressed back, and Vegeta was kissing his neck, “Idomu?” he persisted shakily.

 

“Yes…the challenge. I need you to become stronger. Strong enough to gain elite class,” Vegeta said as he ran his nose slowly across Kakarott's collarbone so he could kiss the other mark. “I want to make these real,” he whispered in the other's ear as he drew his lips away from their temptation. He was taken by surprise as his concubine's arms wrapped him in a hug and felt the other's head nod. Was his concubine shaking?

 

Kakarott pulled away. Even if this was real, and Vegeta was talking about mating seriously, it was still the prince: not much of a hugger.

 

Vegeta shook his head at the smile Kakarott wore, “You smile now. Training to become elite class from first class readings in a year…you may just hate me before this is done,” the prince told the concubine seriously.

 

“I have a goal! With you here to train me…” he stopped as Vegeta shook his head, “What?”

 

“You can not train in the capital,” Vegeta told him with a frown, “My father is a smart man. He will eventually figure out what is happening…and find a way to stop it.”

 

“Why?” Kakarott asked.

 

“Bonding between a prince and a concubine? Even if my father were not to object, there are many others from my house that would,” Vegeta told Kakarott unhappily.

 

Kakarott growled, “But the chemistry is there! How is this supposed to work? Don't get my hopes…” Kakarott started.

 

Vegeta turned his gaze toward the area the slave was in, “It all depends on him,” he said quietly, “And his belief in himself.” Vegeta vaguely questioned himself on putting so much trust in one person. I was not like him…but if it would achieve this…

 

Kakarott's eyes narrowed, “What if he is lying? What if this is just some plot to get him unbound?”

 

“Then I will kill him,” Vegeta said with conviction.

 

 

~o0o~~o0o~