Legend

Chapter Warning: Yaoi romance. Conclusion. I know I said the battle
wasn’t over yet, but this somehow made more sense. If I write a sequel,
there will be more fighting. Guaranteed!

Disclaimer: See Prologue


***********

Legend: Desires

(Kakarotto)

I can’t leave his side. The arm works, moves, and looks like a real
arm, but he says he can’t feel. I massage his shoulders and arms,
working the new arm up and down, stimulating it with my touch, just as
the doctors have ordered. The feel of his smooth skin is like silk. I
touch his scars and knead his muscles as he lies naked, belly-down on
the bed.

When I stop my ministrations, he turns over and gazes at me, then sits
up. I strip my clothes off as he stands and closes the distance between
us.

“When I touch you,” he says, his dark eyes liquid, “I know
I’m touching you, but the feeling isn’t the same.”

Vejita puts both hands on the sides of my face and his right hand caresses
me, but his left just lies there.

“I love you, Kakarotto,” he says, and suddenly the events of
the recent past are a distant memory. “All I ever wanted was you,”
he says simply.

I take hold of his wrists and pull him to me, the momentum carrying us
backward on the bed. We make love all night.


*********

(Nashika)

My father has planned a celebration to announce me as heir. Sparing no
expense, he says, for the daughter of his true love. When he looks at
me, I know he sees her, and sometimes I feel uneasy. Knowing that I’ve
attained the status reserved foyaltyalty, at least in h is eyes, makes
this fitting and necessary. Would he dare do otherwise with the proof
of his infidelity staring him in the face? Would he dare do otherwise
if I decided to usurp his throne? He knows I’m unstoppable.
Yet, I know he loves me. I have that to cling to.

Vejita and Kakarotto are together all the time now, and the prince is
in disgrace for his betrayal. I can’t possibly imagine Vejita’s
letting this happen, but love has a funny way of trivializing otheingsings.
It’s obvious to me that Vejita loves Kakarotto. I stumbled into a
long-time affair and turned the general’s head for a brief time,
but it’s always been Vejita for him. I accept that.

So Vejita hands me the throne, and Kakarotto hands me his rank. Now, I
will be princess, next in line to the throne and general to the king’s
army. This is what I came here for. This is what I wanted.

It’s a cruel, hollow victory.

-owari-