Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Principles know no Love ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

This part is dedicated to Winged Revenge for being such a loyal reviewer.

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them greatly! ^-^

For everyone else- Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Kakarott looked up into the sky. The sun was already setting and cast light shadows over the landscape. He sighed heavily, somewhat loosening his grip on the stallion´s mane.

He stretched his neck, letting his head fall back slightly, gazing up once again.

"Stop your wriggling!" A gruff voice rang out behind him. Kakarott grinned, not taking his eyes off the glowing red ball on the horizon. "I´m not wriggling, it´s called breathing." He retorted smugly, his fingers playing with the horses coarse hair.

The leader `hnn´-ed.

Half an hour of silence followed.

****

"We are there. Get off!"

Kakarott frowned, eyeing the small building wearely. Finally he jumped down, landing on the ground with a thump.

The leader followed suit, though touching the earth much more gracefully.

Kakarott watched an old, wrinkled woman shuffling out of the house, her clothes dusty and a white towel wound around her head. The leader grinned, stepping forward to meet her halfway.

He wrapped his arms around the woman, embracing her amicably.

"Oh, it´s so good to see you again." She greeted the leader, her eyes softening for a split moment. "Me too, Anna, me too." She then turned to look at the sheriff, cocking her head to the side in a questioning way. "And who did you bring with you? Who´s that well-built lad over there, hm?" She nodded her head at Kakarott.

The leader titled his head to the side. "It´s the new sheriff from South-Valley." He shrugged, his voice uncaring and calm.

"So they finally found somebody dumb enough to do the job, huh?!" She laughed, the sound occasionally interrupted by her rough coughing.

"Well, boy, what´s your name anyway?" Anna asked, stepping up to the offended sheriff, whose eyes narrowed immediately: "What´s so dumb about ensuring law and order for those innocent -" The leader slapped a palm to his forehead and groaned out loud. "Oh, stop it already. I´m positively tired of your constant moralizing lectures." He turned his head to the side. "Anna, can we stay with you for the night?"

The woman smiled. Nodding once and going back into the house, she motioned for them to follow her.

Kakarott frowned slightly, stepping through the treshold, the leader right behind him.

Anna had already settled onto a small chair, her back facing the two men while she continued to stir whatever it was that bubbled in the large pot in front of her.

"Sit down. Dinner is almost ready." The leader sank into a comfortable, cushioned chair, Kakarott settling down opposite him. He watched the woman for a moment, his nostrils flaring when the strong smell of food surrounded him heavily.

Out of the corner of his eye he watched his abducter though, averting his gaze back to Anna whenever the leader would look his way. While the sheriff scrutinized the other´s features carefully his brows suddenly lowered, his field of vision concentrating on the leader´s lower half. His frown darkened visibly as his eyes stayed pinned to the thin trickle of red liquid sipping through the material of the male´s shirt.

Unexpectadly the leader turned his head towards the sheriff, his lips pressing together in a firm line. "What´s so damn intrigueing about me that you can´t seem to stop looking?!" Kakarott jerked back in suprise, his cheeks discolouring into an interesting shade of red. ----

"Cut it out Vegeta. You know how shy those Greenhorns can be." She giggled girlishly, turning to the pair and placing the heavy pot onto the table.

"Vegeta, huh?" Kakarott´s eyes flashed in victory, his earlier smile returning while he remained blissfully unaware of the insult that had followed that first statement.

The leader grumbled quietly to himself, twisting around so he would not have to look at the smug sheriff.

"Wow Anna, you always cook more than you´d need to." He leaned nearer to the grinning woman.

"And it smells delicious as always." Anna nodded proudly, taking hold of the ladle and filling three bowls with steaming soup.

****

"Well Vegeta, do you want to come out with me? Keeping me company?" The leader cocked his head to the side, letting his gaze linger on the sheriff for a moment before turning back to Anna.

"Yeah sounds good, but our little guest here is coming as well." He indicated for Kakarott to follow them, lazily waving his Colt to emphazise the `request´.

Kakarott groaned out loud, but obeyed nontheless- though reluctantly. He greedily sucked in a breath of fresh air as he stepped outside, looking at the dark sky above, stars twinkling enticingly.

He twisted his head to the side, watching as Vegeta and Anna sat down onto a rotten, wooden bench near by. He leaned against the wall, watching them converse intimately with each other, his eyes flickering back and forth between them.

Vegeta had settled back on the bench, his eyes locked with Anna`s as they talked about everything and nothing at all. Searching through her loose clothing,, Anna came up with a packet of cigarettes, offering Vegeta one. The leader took it wordlessly, lightening one end and taking a deep puff. He held the smoke in for a moment, his eyes falling closed halfway.

Anna grinned exuberantly, poking Vegeta in the chest with one skinny finger.

The leader only smirked, exhaling the smoke and taking up their conversation once again.

Kakarott closed his eyes when the cloud of smoke floated into his direction, maliciously tickling his lungs and eliciting a light cough. The sheriff screwed up his face in disgust, resisting the urge to cough again.

His eyes fell upon the pair, anger glinting briefly in them: "Could you please just stop your smoking. It stinks! And over all it is harmull for your health-and mine as well!"

To sets of eyes turned to him, one sizing him up the other pair twinkling in amusement. "I gave up smoking, drinking and sex." Anna stated, leaning back against Vegeta´s shoulder. "It was the most terrible 15 minutes of my life!" She laughed out loud at her own joke, the sound floating with the wind.

The leader only shook his head, staring at Kakarott. He pulled once again at his cigarette, his eyes staying loched to Kakarott´s before he exhaled a lungful and blew it right into the sheriff face.

"If my smoking bothers you-Don´t breath."

A smug expression entered his face, his voice casual.

Kakarott growled low in his throat, tensing visibly, while his fingers curled and uncurled rhytmically.

The leader finishd his cigarette in silence, not looking at the sheriff though still holding the Colt in one hand alertly.

Flinging the stub to the ground carelessly before standing up and stepping onto it, he turned back to their host.

"Come on, Anna. Let´s call it a day and go to bed. We will leave you early tomorrow and I don´t want to sleep in."

Anna snorted slightly. "As if you ever would." But nontheless lifted herself off the bench, a groan following that movement. "You don´t intend to sneak out like the last time, do you? Without even saying goodbye. That was really impolite, I´m still mad at you!"

Vegeta grinned playfully, wrapping his arms around the scrawny woman and squeezing briefly. "You have to forgive me, but I was in a real hurry!" Anna gave a sigh, pouting slightly

"You always are."

"Well, it can´t be helped and tomorrow it won´t be any different. But you knew that already, didn´t you?!." he stated, pulling the woman back inside.

Regarding Anna with a wary look, Kakarott followed the pair, his fists clenching subconsciously.

****

"Sit down. Your squirming won´t do you any good!"

Kakarott narrowed his eyes, taking a step back, his behind pressing against the wall. "I don´t like getting tied up!" he said, eyeing his abducter distrustfully.

"And I´m sure you don´t like being shoot any better, so sit down already!" Despite his harsh words the leader´s voice was even, his black orbs fixed on the other male. Kakarott shuffled his feet, not moving to comply.

With a sudden movement, Vegeta rushed forward unexpectadly, pushing onto the sheriff´s shoulders roughly and catching the other´s hands in his own in one fluid movement. Kakarott had only enough time to blink before a thick rope was thightly wound around his wrists and secured to a leg of the onliest bed in the room, preventing him from fleeing.

"See, that wasn´t so bad now, was it?!" The leader said, grinning with malicious pleasure for a moment. Finally he turned away from the scene, leaving a tied up, glaring sheriff behind as he made his way to the bathroom.

Shutting the door carefully behind him, he took off his vest and cautiously opened his shirt. When he tried to peel it off his body, he suddenly started, hissing sharply and doubling up with pain.

"Fuck." He whispered, his calm tone contrasting with the severity of his statement.

A rusty red liquid slowly slid over his skin, following the lines and curves of his chiselled stomach. Vegeta looked down his body, a frown forming on his features as his eyes fell upon the wound. Part of the shirt´s fabric remained stuck to his flesh, dried blood mixing with the material, getting soaked up and effectively sticking together.

Gripping the shirt with tense fingers, he ripped it from his body with a jerk, forcing the fabric off his skin and causing the wound to reopen.

A groaned escaped his throat, ragged breathing following shortly.

Kakarott looked up from his brooding when a muffled sound came through the closed door, his head lifting and turning into said direction. He titled it to the side when only silence greeted is questioning eyes. He pulled at the ropes once again, only succeeding in moving the bed around the small room, creating a scratching noise as the legs scraped over the wooden floor.

Suddenly the door opened again and Kakarott halted every attempt at escape at once, leaning his back against the wall swiftly and regarding the leader with vigilant eyes.

Vegeta did not even look his way though as he went to the single bed with long, eager strides, claiming it with a satisfied sigh and wrapping the covers tightly around himself.

Kakarott merely blinked at his abducter´s back for a moment, only able to gaze over the edge of the bed in his sitting position. He then uncomfortably shifted around, probing how far he could stand with his wrists still tied to the furniture´s leg. A rustle made him look up again though, his eyes locking with equal black orbs; fires blazing.

"Uh, you aren´t going to let me sit here all night, are you?" he asked timidly, titling his head to the side in an innocent way.

"What´s your problem? Never slept outside a bed?" Vegeta lifted an eyebrow in indifference. "I think that place is just fine for you."

The discussion was over; the leader turned around once again, keeping a good distance away and out of the sheriff´s reach.

Kakarott pushed his lower lip forward, a pout forming on his face. He settled back against the hard wall then, drawing his knees up to his chest and wounding his arms around them.

A `click´ ripped through the silence.

"And don´t try something stupid- you´d only live to regret it."

A grunt followed that statement. Then there was only silence.

****

Kakarott woke early the next morning, his eyelids fluttering closed repeatedly before they finally decided to stay open. He frowned slightly, his gaze wandering through the room then over to the bed, sticking to the lone figure lying there.

Kakarott´s features darkened when the leader turned in his sleep, coming face to face with the sheriff, his expression contorted and pained.

A quiet groan errupted from Vegeta´s throat and he slowly curled up. Kakarott cocked his head to the side, regarding the leader with confusion evident in his dark orbs. His eyes roamed over the other´s form thoughtfully, widening however when they came across the lower portion of Vegeta´s chest, locking onto a dark patch smeared over his shirt.

Again a sound rumbled deep within the leader´s chest and fueled Kakarott´s interest further. He quietly scooted closer and tentativly reached out with one hand. When his fingers touched the intended area, thick, red liquid smeared over the pale skin of his fingertips. With a deep frown he took the limb back and regarded it with pensive attention.

After a moment of consideration, he lifted his arm, sticking one long finger into his mouth, sampling the taste for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened to their double extent; recognition dawning in them.

With worry reflecting in his dark orbs he turned back to look at the leader, his brows lowering with every groan Vegeta painfully emitted. Finaly he shifted to a kneeling position and drew even closer to the bed, leaning over slightly and resting his elbows on the soft material of the white sheets.

He extended his hand again and took hold the hem of Vegeta´s shirt, carefully pulling it up little by little. The bloodflow got faster when the thin barrier was gone and part of the flesh had reopened. Kakarott pressed his lips together and began scrutinizing the wound cautiously. A sharp intake of air, however, halted his every activity and he slowly -forebodingly- lifted his head.

The circular opening of a gun´s barrel was pointing lovingly at his face, the black metal shining in the first light of the day.

Ungracefully Kakarott let himself flop back onto his bottom, an uneasy smile crawling over his features. "Good morning." He scartched the back of his neck in nervousness. "Vegeta…"

He lifted his eyes to see Vegeta staring at him with hard, cold eyes, almost piercing in their intensity. Long minutes passed where only the occasional neigh from the nearby stable interrupted the deathly silence.

Kakarott shifted uncomfortably, his eyes glued those of the leader, his fingers twisting aroung each other erratically.

Suddenly Vegeta stood.

"Don´t you ever touch me again." The sentence was spoken with a calmness that betrayed the dangerous undertone, much more effective than a shout could ever be. Kakarott nodded hastily, averting his eyes to the lone window, partly hidden behind old, washed out curtains.

When Vegeta made his way to the bathroom, he didn´t notice the concerned expression on his hostage´s face, to preoccupied with laboriously walking as straight as possible, pressing his arm against the badly stinging wound and swiftly shutting the door behind himself.

****

Kakarott was absently picking at his food, every now and then stealing a quick glance at Vegeta, who was intendly concentrating on his own meal. Anna looked back and forth between the two men, lifting an eyebrow in confusion. She watched with amusement when the sheriff lifted his folk to his mouth, stopping halfway, bending it and resulting in letting the smashed potatoes drop back down onto his plate unceremoniously.

Particle of food splashed in every which direction, some lending next to Vegeta´s arm, only missing it narrowly. The leader regarded the small potatoe-heap with open disdain, looking at Kakarott under lowered eyebrows. The sheriff ducked his head slightly, though meeting the other´s gaze straightforward.

A light chuckle brought them out of their staring contest, their heads turning to the laughing woman simultaneously.

"What´s so funny, woman?"

Anna quirked an eyebrow at him. "Oh, are we back at the `woman-level´ once again?!" She gave him a mock-scolding look. "You two are really entertaining though, don´t you want to stay a little while longer. I haven´t laughed so hard for some time now." She continued to giggle, not even stopping when Vegeta growled threateningly at her.

Meanwhile Kakarott had changed his tactic from shyly stealing an occasional glance to watching the leader openly now, observing the area around the lower half of his chest more closely. When the body shifted and folded arms suddenly blocked his field of vision, he looked up and into the angry scowling face of his abducter.

Imperturbable Kakarott spoke up: "You really need to tend to it more carefully. It´ll most likely become inflamed if you don´t-"

"I don´t have to do anything. And what´s it got to do with you anyway? Next thing you are offering to do it yourself, huh?!"

Just as Kakarott was about to replay, Anna put her hand to the table -hard, getting both of their attention.

"What in the hell are you two bickering about now?!" Her expression brightened slightly. "You sound like an old married couple."

The sheriff instantly went as red as a tomato, averting his gaze to the ground and trying hard to fight down the inadvertent blush.

Vegeta only narrowed his eyes, the characteristic crease between his eyes deepening.

"Nothing Anna. Sit down already."

"Oh, don´t tell me what to do, that´s my house, after all." Before the leader could answer to that, Anna threw a strict look at him, daring him to disobey her.

She then turned to look at Kakarott piercingly: "Now you tell me what´s that all about?"

The sheriff lifted his head, an almost inperceptible smile of triumph playing at the corners of his mouth.

"He got wounded yesterday and has bled all over the sheets this morning. But he won´t let me have a look at it."

Kakarott accused, the little smile transforming into a grin.

"Ah yes? And why would you act all concerned now? I´m still your abducter if you already forget."

Vegeta ground out in hostility through gritted teeth.

"I haven´t forgetten, but just maybe I want you alive so you can´t avoid your lawful punishment." He spit back just as spitefully.

Anna wrinkled her brow, watching the pair squabble for awhile. Finally, though, she had had enough:

"Take it easy you two!"

She stood up from her chair and went over to a oblong, dust-covered box. "Boy! You behave like little children." She muttered to herself while searching through the box´s contents with nimble fingers.

"Aha!" she exclaimed loudly, whirling around and standing right before Vegeta the next second. "Now sit still, I´m going to bandage your wound." She said, pushing down onto the leader´s shoulder as he tried to lift himself off the chair.

"And I don´t want to hear anything…"

Kakarott´s grin became gloating.

"From the both of you!"

The grin vanished in an instant.

****

I know, it wasn´t very interesting and all, but I hope you´ll still stick with me, ne ?! *looks with puppy dog eyes at her audience*

Please review! (Sounds like a mantra already, ne?) ^-^