Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sympathy For The Devil ❯ Words ( Chapter 3 )

Sympathy For The Devil

Author's Notes: Thanks and hugs to Raven for betaing!

*irked glare* Someone has asked me if this is yaoi. *glares silently* No one reads the author's notes. I'm gonna quit bothering! If you don't like what you read FLAME ME, DAMMIT!

That's what the flame page on my website is for! Wanna check it out? It's fun mocking people!! www.angelfire.com/darkside/jadyarewar

Words:

From the battlefield Nappa watched as the ship descended. They were already too late to help, but Furiza had yet to learn of Raditzu's sudden, yet brief betrayal. He would go unpunished after a few coarse words from Vejita and Zarbon. Nappa had to admit, he was quite curious about this son of Bardock, brother of Raditzu. The power of his family line was erratic. Some of his ancestors had been more powerful than the Saiyajin no Ou, and had once nearly come close to taking over the royal linage, while other times, like with Raditzu, they were fairly weak. Bardock had been neither weak nor powerful, but his mate had been an elite, shunned for her choice in mates. Raditzu took after her in appearance, though not in power.

The planet was peaceful, itself, though the inhabitants not. They had fought fiercely, but like always, they had lost. Bodies coated the city in which Nappa, Vejita, Zarbon, and other nameless warriors stood, finishing off some prisoners while capturing other suitable slaves for Furiza. The race itself was fairly attractive, lithe, agile, and quite feminine. Their skin was a soft sapphire shade, eyes and hair varying in color and length. There was little special about them. They could fly. They could control ki. They were not trained fighters, though if trained properly, they could have been.

Now their race was verging on extinction… just as the Saiyajin race had almost been. Nappa couldn't help pitying them somewhat, but years of callousness had caused his pity to fade, and no longer affect his thoughts or actions. He merely scowled and turned away from the carnage. "Vejita-sama, they have returned."

He could almost hear the air whistle as Vejita spun around sharply, eyes following Nappa's with a snarl burning in the back of his throat. Perhaps Raditzu would suffer just a little more than a few crude words. The ship, aglow as the alloys fought to not catch on fire, descended from the heavens, crashing into the ground, crushing bodies that lay sprawled out on the roads. A crater was formed from the impact. "The boy is with him," Vejita muttered callously, gathering his removed cape, and throwing it over his shoulder. Nappa nodded absently, trusting Vejita's sharp vision. The two moved forward to the edge, watching with curious eyes as the door slid open, revealing two black-haired figures from within.

"Oh… shit…" Vejita cursed with a growl, tossing the cloth on the ground in frustration. A faint chuckle left Nappa as he watched the young boy yawn and stretch. Raditzu scowled within, and muttered a curse, shoving his brother out and onto the ground before climbing out himself. Long raven hair was stiff and uncombed. His eyes were sharp, though, not missing a beat. Functioning after such an abrupt awakening came only from years of experience… experience that the boy had obviously not had. "I should kill you," Vejita snarled as Raditzu rose from the crater and landed before the two warriors. He offered Vejita a soft smile that begged for forgiveness, but such tricks didn't work. Vejita moved past the Saiyajin and looked over the crater, watching as the boy wiped sleep from his eyes and coiled his tail. "Nappa! Scan him!"

Nappa stared at Raditzu for a few moments, eyes wandering over the carefully sculpted form that haunted his dreams for so many nights. He saw the frightened nervousness in the Saiyajin's eyes and knew instantly that Raditzu's brother was not at all powerful. The trip to Chikyuu had been a complete waste of time and energy, and Raditzu knew he would be punished. Had his brother been powerful, Vejita would have viewed the boy as an asset in the war he was plotting against the Icejin - though it would never come to pass. Weak Saiyajin, however, were not vital to any mission. They would merely get in the way, or die trying to help.

He could not disobey a direct command from Vejita, though. His mind knew Vejita was no longer Saiyajin no Ouji, therefore had no command over him, but his heart held Vejita as his prince. He moved forward to the edge and pressed the side of his scouter, watching as numbers flashed within the screen. Nappa eyed Vejita warily as the flashes began to slow. Vejita rarely wore his scouter anymore. He viewed them as a waste of time. Furiza's power could not be truly calculated, and if… or when he faced Furiza, he would not be able to depend on such a device. Vejita had not worn a scouter in months.

"Well?"

"Decent for his age, but he needs a lot of training."

Vejita nodded, accepting the vague numberless answer. He rarely depended on scouter numbers for anything anymore. Nappa removed the device, disgusted with how easy it was for him to lie to his prince, and glanced over to Raditzu, glaring at the man. Raditzu mouthed gratitude for the lie. Nappa nodded once before turning away. He couldn't even look at Raditzu. How could he be pleased they had deceived Vejita? The boy wasn't any more powerful than an infant elite.

"His name?" Vejita demanded.

"Kakarrotto, but he refers to himself as Son Gokou - a name of Chikyuu."

Vejita snorted. "He will be Kakarrotto." Vejita rose to his feet, eyes never leaving the young teenager. "He looks too much like Bardock. Furiza will…" Vejita trailed off, and Nappa didn't blame him. Furiza could not be predicted, and since no one even knew what had occurred seconds after the death of Bardock, there was no telling how the Icejin would react to seeing the mirror image of that Saiyajin warrior. Vejita turned to Raditzu, scowling. "Scuff him up. Give him scars. Give him muscles. Cut his hair. Change his clothes. Keep him away from Furiza for as long as you can."

"Hai, Vejita-sama," Raditzu said, bowing his head. Vejita nodded, glancing over his shoulder one last time. Kakarrotto was climbing out of the crater, and not having much success. Vejita snarled, his voice dripping with disgust. "Can he not fly?" he nearly shouted.

"He can," Raditzu quickly exclaimed. "He's just… he hasn't had much practice, I don't believe."

"Gods," Vejita huffed in frustration, turning and stalking away with Nappa just as Kakarrotto climbed out of the crater and stood tall, smiling brightly. "Hey, where are they going?" he asked, watching the tailed warriors saunter away. Raditzu sighed, running a hand through his hair. He watched as his brother noticed the field of corpses, eyes growing wide and fearful. Raditzu scowled and stepped forward, reaching out and grabbing the back of his brother's head, pulling Kakarrotto forward. Their noses brushed together as Raditzu made sure the teenager didn't see anything outside of his eyes. "Listen to me, brother," he growled. "From this moment forward, things are different. Things are not cheerful, or happy. There is no family breakfast where we sit around reminiscing about old days, wondering what tomorrow has to offer for us. Take a big whiff, Kakarrotto - and believe me, you are Kakarrotto! Let the scent of blood fill your lungs. It will become your air. You will learn to want it… need it. You will cause the chaos you just saw, and you will be rewarded for it."

His brother was nearly trembling in his arms, but Raditzu gritted his teeth. "Believe yourself a new person if you so desire! Believe Son Gokou and Kakarrotto two different people! I don't care! Do what you must to get over this… this thing you have become. You are Kakarrotto, the son of Bardock! You will be infamous here. Everyone knows your name, just as everyone knows mine. You will train, you will fight, you will kill, you will suffer… and you will change. Now come with me…" he trailed off before smirking. "The changes begin now."

Kakarrotto swallowed as Raditzu pulled back, stalking off towards a small spacecraft that rested near the forest's edge. The white surface glistened beneath the sunlight, allowing him one brief last look at goodness. The scent of blood returned, and that illusion faded. He bowed his head with a painful sigh. "Kakarrotto…" he whispered, testing the name… becoming the name.

~*~

In the tiles of the shower, as water fell from the showerhead, warming his skin, he stared at the vague reflection that was offered. Was this… was this really him? The warm spray stung his wounds. Blood ran down his body, pooling around his feet before running down that small drain. He could barely move, he ached so badly. Even the idea of using soap caused him to wince. A long bleeding scar ran down his right arm. It would heal, but the mark would not fade for many months. His cheek was bruised and nearly black in color. It hurt to blink.

Raditzu had chopped off all his hair after the brutal battle. The locks were short and spiky, trying vainly to stick out in all direction but the locks lacked the length to do so. He didn't look anything like himself anymore.

So… this creature was Kakarrotto.

He had never wanted Bulma more in his entire life, but the mere idea of letting her see him like this, letting her know what he was becoming… it was too much to bear. He was slowly beginning to realize that every action had a reaction. He had heard Bulma say that phrase years ago, but the meaning had escaped him until now. He had made a very unwise decision, and there was little chance he would ever see any of his friends again.

"Get out."

He winced at the harsh tone and turned as he saw Raditzu step into the bathroom. It was a small circular room, with the shower in the corner, toilet and sink side by side just a few steps away. Kakarrotto looked out through the thin plastic curtain that kept the floors from getting wet, watching fearfully as his brother moved forward and grabbed the plastic, ripping it aside with a scowl. "Get out!" he roared.

Why was Raditzu so mean? He hadn't seemed like that when they first met. Raditzu had been kind and had spoken softly, like Kakarrotto had believed a brother was. Things had changed after Raditzu had spoken with those other two Saiyajin. Kakarrotto stepped out, water mixed with blood rolling down his skin, staining the pale white tiles. He watched in silence as Raditzu scowled at him. "I'm… I'm sorry."

Raditzu blinked, his scowl fading. "For what?" he demanded impatiently.

"For being weak… for looking like Dad." Kakarrotto sniffed, on the verge of tears. Raditzu sighed and grabbed a towel that was resting on the sink, shoving it into his brother's bruised ribs. "It's not your fault, chibi." He said, offering the teenager a smile. Kakarrotto wrapped the towel around his waist, wincing with every movement. Raditzu chuckled softly. He'd taken a little too much aggression out on the boy, but there wasn't much time. Kakarrotto had to get more powerful. That goodness inside him needed to be ripped out, and the only way Raditzu knew for that to happen… without breaking the boy and driving him to the verge of madness was through violence. "And that's not the reason I fought you so hard."

"Then why?" Kakarrotto begged. Raditzu offered a smile. "You've got potential, brother. You can be powerful, but you need as much training as you can get. Do you understand?" He paused, watching as the young teenager nodded. "Good," Raditzu muttered, nodding towards the door. Kakarrotto followed as Raditzu led him out into a large bedroom. It was Raditzu's. There were few belongings outside of a small stack of clothes and armor in one corner of the room, sitting atop a small table. Across a small bed against the wall rested another stack of clothes. Raditzu motioned to it with a scowl at his brother.

Kakarrotto nodded and moved over, sitting on the edge and grabbing the pants. Raditzu stood against the wall and leaned back, eyes sliding closed. "You just don't understand, Kakarrotto," he whispered. "There's no room for goodness or joy around here, brother. When you meet Furiza… when you see Dodoria… you'll understand. You have to be ready for what will come to you. I have to make sure you're ready."

"Wow… this is nice!" The teenager laughed as he rose to his feet, looking down at the clothes. The material felt and looked like silk against his body, but it stretched like elastic. The shirt was sleeveless and a dark shade of blue, the pants black and tight against his body. He held the pair of black boots in his hand, feet bare against the cold white floors. His tail twisted and twirled happily behind him through a small slit.

Raditzu opened his eyes and smiled, looking over his brother in approval. The changes in appearance had helped. There was still a similar appearance between Kakarrotto and Bardock, but it was no longer obvious. "Keep your hair short, and never wear solid black."

Kakarrotto frowned, running a hand through the short locks. He'd never paid any attention to his hair, but he knew it grew fast when cut. He would have to start worrying about his appearance. He didn't like that idea, but he nodded his head.

"Come on, now," Raditzu shook his head, turning towards the doorway. The door slid open with a quiet sound of air being slit. Kakarrotto watched with wide curious eyes as Raditzu walked out of the room. "Oi! Wait up!" he called out, hopping as he struggled to pull on his boots.

~*~

"You do know that it's perfectly okay for you to come and find me." Vejita's voice broke through the thick silence of the room. Zarbon scowled at himself in the mirror, brush in his hand falling to the small dresser. "You don't have to send a messenger just to tell me something."

"I am quite aware of that, Saiyajin," Zarbon retorted gruffly, watching as Vejita's form became visible in the reflective glass. Vejita stared at him, a scowl firmly in place… as always. The warrior never smiled, he thought somberly, looking down to the brush on the table. Zarbon's room was the most lavish of all the rooms on the ship, next to Furiza's, of course. The head of his bed stood against the wall, covered in soft blue silk sheets, an endless number of pillows decorating the head and wall behind it. The dresser Zarbon sat at rested across from the bed, a large mirror hanging on the wall, surrounded in a golden frame that sparkled even in the darkness. A door rested beside the dresser, leading into a bathroom. In the corner of the room, just steps away from Vejita, stood a large trunk filled with various clothes, shoes, jewelry, and other endless items that Zarbon only wore on Furiza's command.

"I wouldn't think so by the way you're acting." Vejita stepped forward, pausing behind Zarbon. The changeling became breathless as he felt Vejita's soft gloved hands run through his long aqua hair, taking it and beginning a loose braid. Zarbon closed his eyes, engulfed in the sensual feeling of Vejita's guarded touch.

Perhaps there were two reasons he had grown out his hair. Vejita loved braiding, though so few people knew about it. When the long locks had begun to get annoying so many years ago, Zarbon had been outraged when Vejita had growled and stepped up behind him, yanking him down to his knees and braiding the locks callously, each tug of hair painful. Furiza, however, had approved of the change, and Zarbon had little choice but to learn to braid hair and keep his braided. He still had trouble with it, and Vejita was always willing to help. He'd asked the warrior, once, why he loved to braid. Vejita had merely replied that it was a mindless art and had offered no further explanation.

Zarbon loved the feel of Vejita's hands too much to demand any other excuse.

"So go on!" Vejita growled. Zarbon sighed at the demanding tone. So prince-like, and yet no longer a prince. It was almost pathetic. "Furiza's called for us… all of us. Word about the new Saiyajin has gotten to him. He wants to see the boy."

Vejita finished off the braid, throwing it over Zarbon's shoulder angrily. Zarbon chuckled softly and grabbed the end, tying it off with a small strand of black fabric that had been ripped off one of Vejita's old uniforms after a brutal battle some months prior. He could still smell the dried blood in the cloth. "Shit! We're not ready yet!"

"Why do you care?" Zarbon frowned, rising from the dresser. Vejita turned to him, eyes blazing in loathing. Sighing, Zarbon regretted the words. Of course Vejita hated him. There wasn't a reason for the Saiyajin not to. "Do you not know who that boy is?" demanded the warrior. Zarbon offered a careless smile and shrug. "That is the youngest son of Bardock! Could you not tell from his appearance? He is Raditzu's brother! Bardock…" Vejita trailed off with a painful sigh, sitting on the edge of Zarbon's bed. "Rumors had it that Bardock was becoming more powerful than even the elites. Some people even believed that within the year he would challenge my father."

"Bardock was a traitor as well?"

Vejita scoffed. "No, not at all." He grinned as he looked up to Zarbon. "Bardock was loyal to Furiza. He and his crew… crew… gods, he even had a woman with him."

"His… mate?"

"No, of course not. She'd been dead for weeks. His mate died while he was carrying out a purge for Furiza… and he didn't even mourn her. He shrugged his shoulders, muttered `all in the name of Furiza' and continued the battle." Vejita's grin turned to a scowl. "You cannot buy that kind of loyalty."

"I agree," Zarbon nodded with a faint smile, crossing his arms over his chest. It was amazing that Furiza had ever gained the favor of such a Saiyajin. "So this boy… you think he'll be the end of Furiza?"

"No, I think I will be the end of Furiza."

Zarbon chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course… for you are that Great Golden Thing… right?"

"Super Saiyajin, and yes, I am. It's only a matter of time, Zarbon."

"Right," he nodded, clicking in tongue.

Vejita ignored the sarcasm, gazing towards the door. "But we're not ready. Kakarrotto isn't prepared to face Furiza yet."

"Those who fail in their first battle live longer."

"That's a load of shit, Zarbon, and you know it." Vejita rose to his feet with a growl. "If Kakarrotto faces Furiza, he'll die. He's cocky. He's never faced a true challenge before, and he thinks he's indestructible."

"You have a single day, Vejita. We arrive at Furiza-sei tomorrow after breakfast." Zarbon shrugged and nodded towards the door. Vejita didn't move from beside the bed, eyes watching Zarbon with suspicion, and what Zarbon wanted to believe was lust. He couldn't know and he was not going to force anything on Vejita tonight. The Saiyajin had too much to attend to with Kakarrotto.

"Hn," snorted the Saiyajin with a flick of his tail, breaking the tension. He turned and walked out. The door clicked shut behind him and Zarbon sighed in frustration. He couldn't take many more encounters like that, and he would swear Vejita was doing it on purpose, just to watch him squirm.

~*~

To Be Continued

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~Jady