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Uncertainty and Pride	By : TristaML Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1864 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or anything of the sort and I make no money from writing this piece of fanfiction

Chapter List
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Chapter 2
Raditz’s teasing went on relentlessly for weeks. He’d call Kakarot up just to laugh at how silly he’d been or send him a message through other devices to ask him if he still felt stupid. His antics only worsened when he actually came home for a holiday.
It was just such a night when Bardock and his good friend Tora sat down to dinner with the two sons. For a little while Raditz’s attention was fixated on Tora, a man he’s always liked and respected. He was a second father to him and their connection went deeper than that of a family friend. As far as the Son’s were concerned, Tora is family. So they did some catching up and he spoke very vividly to his father of how busy everyone at the castle has been. After all the normal pleasantries were through he turned to his younger brother and said, “I have been keeping something from you.” He could tell, as Kakarot continued eating, that he is disinterested in him since he’s been so mean lately, but Raditz didn’t let it faze him. He explained, casually, “Since I was scheduled on leave for the week, the King sent me back with a mission.”
“He usually does,” Bardock chuckled.
Raditz smirked but ignored the comment and said, “I am to deliver this to you ‘tonight at eight.’ Well, it’s now seven fifty eight, so here, it’s a letter for you from the King.”
Kakarot’s food got caught in his throat for a moment before he swallowed hard and looked down at the thick, yellow envelope. “From the King?” he asked, shocked.
“Well, I don’t believe he’s in the habit of making others write personal letters for him,” Raditz snubbed before handing the letter over.
“That’s odd,” Kakarot said nervously, “I don’t believe you! This is just another one of your jokes!”
Raditz laughed but convinced him, “I wish! Did I not tell you how you’ve pissed him off?! I can assure you this is not something he wants to get out to the general public! That’s why I’m delivering it!” Never mind the fact that Tora was there, Raditz knew that King Vegeta knew enough about his family, including Tora, to know that they were not the kind to spread around personal business. After all, they’ve known each other for thirty years and no secrets or embarrassments have ever come back to him.
Kakarot opened it with nimble and shaky fingers, and then regretted it immediately because now he has to read it for the first time in front of all of them.
Bardock waited eagerly and Tora laughed, knowing more about the true situation than Raditz, but still ever persuasive and logical, and he found it more peculiar and sweet than anything. It seemed obvious to him that the young Kakarot has a crush on their King, which was not at all a strange thing to hear amongst those lucky enough to be around the King’s age, and so his behavior could easily be seen as understandable and common.
“Well?” Bardock asked impatiently as he watched his son’s facial expression change.
Kakarot, who was no more shocked than upset or happy than terrified, (nor was he apt to showing his true feelings,) only said, “Oh! He’s certainly demanding! I have no choice!”
“What does it say?” Tora asked as his curiosity piqued.
Raditz snatched the paper out of his brother’s hand and read it aloud with a brotherly smirk and a smile in his voice, “‘Kakarot Son, Son of Bardock Son, A recent inquiry of you from your elder brother,” he laughed and Bardock chuckled, “was answered with good tidings on your health. Therefore, you are hereby requested to attend a rendezvous with your King, his Majesty, at noon on the 1^st of Hondal. You may bring your father, if you wish.” Bardock’s ears perked at that as he continued, “When you come to the gates, simply state your name and that you have been summoned and they will direct you from there. Should you miss your appointment, there will be consequences. I should think it wise you take this seriously. King Vegeta.’ Ha!”
“Well!!” Tora laughed, completely entertained and gave a sidelong glance at Bardock.
Kakarot took the paper back from his brother to inspect it. “That’s tomorrow!” He exclaimed and gave out an exasperated moan.
“Which would also explain why he wanted me to deliver it tonight,” Raditz noted and then went back to his meal, not at all surprised at the contents of the letter.
Kakarot couldn’t put his thoughts away, and Bardock was reading them, but he didn’t have to since his son began rambling most of them. “Will you come with me, father? What could he want? Why did he wait until the last minute to send this to me?”
Tora smiled and explained, in his own opinion, “To see that you make it without pretense this time, I’m sure. You’ve already been there once now, so he knows you exist!” He joked, but added seriously, “You have to go.”
Kakarot put the letter away in the carrier and said, “I know,” and it was clear to Tora and Bardock that he was a little in shock.
Never before had it been a personal letter, it was always a general invitation which included his name along with the other members of the house. Bardock wondered if he should go, and finally he figured that he ought to, since the letter suggested it. It has been almost a year since he’s been to the castle on business or otherwise except for the Coronation. He knows the Prince, they’d been around each other when he was a younger man, and so he’s always treated him justly, like a family friend, but he never talked much to him since his main relationship with the throne was one of more exclusivity with the former King.
Bardock’s heart swelled up in his chest and he tried his best to stop thinking about it and focus on his son’s new predicament. Finally he said to Kakarot, “I think I will join you tomorrow.”
“Really!?” Kakarot asked, and then said suspiciously, “You made the decision fast.”
Bardock smirked, and answered in his classic jovial sarcasm, “I don’t expect our King to behave in any way uncivilly. Why would I not wish to go?”
Kakarot balked for a moment before recollecting himself and he explained, “It’s not that. It’s just that… I do feel bad for ignoring him for so long. I guess I really didn’t think it through.”
Tora smiled at him and noticed the demeanor changing in Raditz’s face as he listened, so he said in good sense, “Don’t worry Kakarot, I think that it’s all circumstantial. If Raditz wasn’t in his army as a close guard and you weren’t his brother, the King probably never would have even noticed that you were avoiding him. In fact, I’m certain that there are other Saiyans who have avoided him, and they simply went unnoticed.”
He could see the logic in what Tora had said and Kakarot laughed at how silly it seems to talk about it like this, especially when he knew that no one could possibly understand. He nodded and excused himself from the table.
               “Don’t be late, baby brother!” Raditz hollered to him as he left the dining room, grinning to himself as he stuffed food into his mouth. He ignored the underlying emotions he felt towards the situation for now.
               Bardock laughed and let them be, not wanting to draw more attention to the situation than there already is and he was grateful for Tora’s wit and style in handling little moments like these. He has much to think about.


               The next morning came quickly enough, as Kakarot fell asleep regardless of the anxiety he was feeling. The rise of the morning brought something different upon him and he no longer feared speaking with his king, he just wished he knew all the right things to say. He wondered to himself about Tora’s words and about what the old Kanassan had said and whether or not King Vegeta felt anything towards him at all besides animosity, but he couldn’t be dissuaded entirely from the truth. He knows his temper well from his knowledge of the other Vegeta. Now that they’ve met once, Kakarot was more determined to understand the King, and get him to understand, than ever. He will see the truth, even if it takes a lifetime.
               Bardock was surprised by how accommodating Kakarot was behaving. He wasn’t trying to run or come up with pitiful excuses. His son must have accepted his fate, or at least some part of it. They were already nearing the gate when Kakarot’s stomach dropped and his mind screamed for the millionth time that he is going to face the man, have a conversation with him, and he didn’t want to ruin it by talking about his experiences from another dimension or losing it entirely on him. There was so much he wanted to say to him! ‘Damnit,’ he thought, ‘This can’t possibly go right.’
“There now,” Bardock said to him, “It will go just as it is meant to, my son.”
Kakarot was not comforted by those words, though, and it was too late to turn back. A large Saiyan man looked at them strangely as they approached and he asked them, “What is your business here?” his barrel chest puffing out and he seemed determined to turn them away.
Kakarot replied, not even noticing his intimidation tactics, “My name is Kakarot Son, this is my father, Bardock Son. We have been summoned.”
“Hn,” the burly man replied looking at him curiously, and then he gave them directions, as he was commanded, which were easy enough. In fact, they weren’t to go inside the castle itself, only into the wall which surrounded it, which opened up only at the gate they entered in by.
As they walked on Kakarot marveled at the architecture, and Bardock noted that it was so different from what it used to be, but still practical and beautiful. (Of course the Saiyans don’t need walls to surround them because they fly, but it was something that has always stood, and even though it has been damaged during times of war they still fix it up to be even more grand.) They were heading towards an outhouse, which they saw in the distance, where they expected to see the King.
The journey took no time at all for they had the company of their own busy minds as they walked and soon they could see that King Vegeta was not there to greet them as they had expected. There was only the army General, Nappa, who acknowledged Bardock with common respect and a salutation of their acquaintanceship but he stared at Kakarot blankly. Bardock assessed that he was ‘not surprised that the King would be interested in such a handsome young man,’ and he was taken aback by their likeness, which, though not uncommon, is still uncanny, more so than other relative look-a-likes that he’s seen. He sent word through the technology he carried with him that the King’s guests have arrived, and on time. With that they all waited in silence for a few minutes, which went by in a blink, until King Vegeta himself flew in from the sky and landed with more grace than could be commanded by anyone of less practice and technique.
Kakarot hid a squeak as he saw him coming, but avoided looking directly at him, and all three men bowed low, getting on one knee and saluting him with their right hand over their chest and across their hearts.
“Good, Nappa, you may go,” King Vegeta said and waved him off without thinking more of it. He stood proudly in front of both of the Son’s and commanded that they stand up as Nappa left quickly. “Bardock,” he said in a suave but intimidating voice, or that could just be his natural tone, “it’s been a while. I am pleased you found time in your schedule to make it.”
Bardock smiled at the King and bowed again before saying, “It’s an honor and a pleasure, my Liege.” As he lifted his head up to look at the young King he caught in his eye something akin to nostalgia and he knew that he must be thinking of his late father. Wasting no time, Bardock began, “Please, your Highness, allow me to introduce to you my youngest Son, Kakarot.”
King Vegeta’s satirical eye turned to the younger man, and his thoughts melted into something more of curiosity than the anger they were usually filled with. He stare was still, however, cold and distant.
“My Liege,” Kakarot said, and it came out in the slightest of whispers, and the young man laughed nervously at himself and couldn’t help but bring a hand up to the back of his head, and he scratched there at nothing. When he focused on his King’s intense gaze, his head wouldn’t stop its incessant spinning.
“Hmm,” the King spoke, and he ascertained that the young man is nervous, but his own thoughts were not clear. So, he said the only thing he’d planned on saying, “Kakarot, were you feeling ill the other day, when you practically ran away from me at the coronation, you know, I had hoped to meet you then.” That wasn’t what he’d planned on saying at all! Vegeta thought to himself briefly where that had come from.
Kakarot looked his King squarely in the eye and replied, without thinking on it first, “I am sorry, I had my reasons.”
The King lifted his brow, almost angered by his indignation, but he ignored it, surprised by him and said, “I have wished to meet you for so long now that I have planned something a little more than a simple day of talking between two men.” He turned now to Bardock and said, “You wouldn’t mind if I took your son to the training ground for a little fun, would you? I have something else in mind for you to spend an enjoyable day here at your leisure.”
Bardock was pleasantly surprised and he answered quickly, “I don’t deny you anything you wish, my Lord, and I’m sure Kakarot would like that very much.”
“Good,” the King nodded and he called for one of his men. When he arrived, he commanded him to escort Bardock around wherever he likes, after he gets something to eat. “We will have dinner tonight at seven,” he promised.
Bardock bowed and gave the king one last long look before turning away. King Vegeta could only imagine what was meant by it, but he figured that Bardock, too, was missing his father. He put the thought out of his mind and noticed that silence has taken over himself and his subject.
Kakarot felt that he should not say anything unless spoken to, and his King, after turning to give his undivided attention, seemed likewise to be more interested in staring him down than laying a case against him at the moment.
King Vegeta was amused by Kakarot at the moment, his blank inquisitive stare and his obvious innocence were clear enough, but he knows there is something more to him than that, though he didn’t know where the notion was stemming from. Finally King Vegeta said, “I’ll be frank with you. I know that you’ve been avoiding me.”
‘No, Raditz couldn’t have told him,’ he thought in panic, and then tensely answered, “I’ve been consumed by other matters, your Highness.”
King Vegeta’s rage began to surface at that response as he was not finished speaking, still he replied, “Your brother says you are kinder than the reflection of your character that I have seen.”
Kakarot was glad but surprised Raditz spoke well of him, and he explained, honestly, “I realize now that perhaps I behaved wrongly. It was not my intention to spite you, and I do apologize for it, and for inconveniencing you, but, and pardon me for saying so, I just didn’t think that it would be such a big deal, to you, my Liege.” Kakarot regretted his blunt answer as he began to see that Vegeta has no recollection of him, not in the way that he knows him, and he feared this conversation was doomed to end badly and probably by his own fault. Even he didn’t know what came over him in speaking so frankly to his King. What good could acting like he was on the same level as him prove?
Anger kindled in his King’s eyes at the cheekiness of Kakarot’s statement, but his thoughts were more focused on how strange Kakarot is. He saw no lie in him, and heard no falsity in his voice. The two stared one another down, each one wondering about very different things.
Who is Kakarot to him to bring about such an odd mixture of feelings and considerations? He is the King, and he is just a third-class! Finally he replied after calming himself down, “Whatever your reasons, you have bound me to curiosity and I must confess, some degree of spite, yes, that is a good word for it. Now, let me be clear. I wish to fight you in the training room, and I think that from there we can settle this peculiar affair simply.” At those words Kakarot smiled and the King saw it and was caught off guard by it, and thought more of it than he should have as he heard the young man answer.
“Whatever you say, my Lord,” Kakarot responded in good nature, thrilled by the idea. Then, as he thought on it, he didn’t know why he’d been so… real with him, yet again. King Vegeta doesn’t know his character, and would surely think him rude, and he worried for a moment that he would be punished, but the King only stared at him with more contemplation and focused intent than ever. Kakarot thought that maybe he was becoming aware of him.
“Enough! Let’s go,” the King declared, and although he was feeling strange as he stared into the young man’s eyes, he ignored it, and took off into the sky. His speed was great, but Kakarot kept up just fine and they landed moments later outside of an enormous chamber, which was guarded on the outside, but was empty on the inside, since he had apparently planned out this whole day, and the men who watched it saluted him, having expected his arrival around this time. They opened the doors to allow them to enter, and then they remained outside to keep their fight private until the King was finished.
Upon entering the building Kakarot was impressed to say the least. There was plenty of open space walled in by the best in shock absorbing pads. There was also water and towels, and benches surrounded by other equipment Kakarot thought must be used in more tactical training sequences. He briefly wondered what it must be like to be Raditz, or any of the men who live at the castle and study under such regimen.
“Well, Kakarot, are you ready?” The King asked, taking off his cloak and trinkets.
Kakarot turned to him and noticed, not for the first or last time, how handsome he is, and the King would have noticed his face flushing red if he hadn’t looked away and said, “Yes! But, this room is enormous! It’s crazy just to take in.” Kakarot could admit to himself that he was nervous to fight him. He has no clue what his true power is and he knows that even though he has undergone a rather more rigorous training than usual, even for a Saiyan, he was probably still too weak.
King Vegeta frowned. “You’ll get used to it,” he said and he got in a loose fighting stance. “No more talking.”
Kakarot turned to him and smirked as he settled into position. He did have one thing up his sleeve. He could see them fighting together in his mind. He knows just how sneaky and quick he can be. This, the stare-off they share now, so much like the one in his memories, it cannot be matched and Kakarot figured his King was waiting for him to make the first move, that is, until he was punched in the face and sent skidding backwards. He maintained his balance but grabbed his nose and shook his head. The pain he felt was… titillating. It’s been a long time since anyone’s been able to really hurt him and that hurt. He knew, though, that the King was not planning on taking it easy on him, and he relished in the thrill of the fight.
King Vegeta was smirking at him and he was smiling right back. Kakarot decided it was his turn and he flew in for a mock punch, but disappeared and reappeared behind him, attempting to send a swift kick to King Vegeta’s spine. The King, however, intercepted it and hurled him forward before darting after him. From there they each went blow for blow.
Kakarot was a better fighter than the King had imagined, though he did expect him to be more than decent. Still, in his anger he made rough moves and shot Kakarot to the ground three times before he saw a glimpse of the beast that lays dormant behind those subtly calm eyes. There’s the fighter Bardock molded, he is his father after all, and he is a man of renowned strength and impressive battle history. Distracted by his own thoughts as he watched Kakarot move and tried to turn this fight into something more aggressive, he got punched square in the jaw. He growled through the pain, wounded more than he could remember in a long time, and he spat some blood and then turned to the other man and said, with a fiery expression, “Is that all you’ve got?”
“I thought you said ‘no talking?’” Kakarot smiled.
King Vegeta’s jaw dropped slightly before he recollected himself and he laughed at the statement and they went back to it, more exhilarated than before, straining their bodies with the overtly enjoyable rush of competition. Never has he been talked to like that, not since the days of Frieza. Something about his boldness was urging the King on.
The battle took them longer than Vegeta thought it would as they spent much of their time distracted in their own heads. As It went on, the soldiers who guarded the arena began to take notice and wondered at what could be going on inside.
King Vegeta’s mind changed from wanting to defeat him, to wanting to see just how far he could take this fight, how long he could last, and what strength he really has. He was consumed by the intensity in Kakarot’s eyes and convinced of the power which lay hidden inside of him.
In the end, after hours of an exhausting match, the two men turned from boxing and mixed martial arts, to something more of grappling and wrestling. Neither wanted to call the fight to an end, nor did they wish to deal a final blow. Sweated dripped down the King’s nose and Kakarot’s cheeks and suddenly they both realized that something else had changed in their moods as they struggled equally. The King’s fierce onyx eyes were staring dead into Kakarot’s obsidian ones. They were breathing heavily, and they felt drained yet satisfied.
King Vegeta decided to finish it, and made a move he was sure would do it. He let go of the grip on his hands and then head-butt the hell out of the younger man, which in turn only caused him more pain than he thought it would, but it did cause Kakarot to fall backwards onto his ass and admit that he was done.
The King stood proudly, as he does naturally, though he wished to lie on the floor out of exhaustion. He held his head to stop it from spinning and he peered down at Kakarot, who sat now, doing much the same and couldn’t help but feel a familiarity with him, but of course that was impossible. He threw the thought from his mind and walked over to the younger man. He said, putting his hands on his hips, “That’s enough. Now! I have come to a decision. ”
“What’s that, your Highness?” Kakarot asked, standing up on wobbly legs.
“You must stay in the castle and train here, with my men,” the King offered as though it was obvious. What he said next surprised Kakarot, “I find it interesting, you see, that you are stronger than Raditz, he does not have your power. Does he know that?”
“Well, I don’t think we’ve ever fought, but I can’t say he’s wholly ignorant of me,” Kakarot admitted, but then he said, to the point, “and I’m flattered, your Highness, but, my father, I would hate to leave him.”
King Vegeta frowned and something in his eyes darkened and he said, “Indeed, but we all must leave our fathers at some point in time when remembering that eventually they will leave on their own accord.” Kakarot realized he pissed him off or hurt his feelings or something and he regretted bringing up his loss inadvertently, but the King seemed rather apt in his decision and he wasn’t backing down. King Vegeta argued without a response from him, “Bardock will understand when I discuss it with him at dinner, tonight. You, however, must not attend our meeting.”
“What?” Kakarot asked, confused, dropping the formalities entirely.
The King ignored it, his nose in the air. He decision is final. He explained, casually, “I wished only to see what power you possessed, if any, and while I wasn’t fighting at my full potential, I am impressed with what I have seen. I think I can put you to good use here.”
“Well!” Kakarot replied, a little irked by him, and he would have said more if they hadn’t been interrupted.
“King Vegeta!” Nappa entered into the training grounds and bowed low, “Excuse me for disturbing you, Sire! I, uh,” he stalled as he noticed the two men staring each other down, standing a little closer than Nappa could remember seeing his King stand with a fighting partner. He wondered at what was going on.
“Spit it out, Nappa!” King Vegeta barked, realizing his proximity to Kakarot and taking a few steps away, heading in the direction of some water.
“Y-you’ve missed several of your appointments, Sire, some of which will have to be rescheduled.”
King Vegeta didn’t seem to care in the least. Yes, the fight had gone on longer than he expected, but so many more important things were going on in his life at the moment besides the interplanetary goals his father had laid out before he died. Things he’s told no man about who didn’t need to know.
Nappa was scared into silence. He knew he could be reprimanded for interjecting with his King and he clearly interrupted something, but he also knew better than to run his mouth about it. His main thought consisted of the King’s reputation, which he didn’t want to be seen as poor by his disrespectful ways, but who is he to say any of that. The only thing he could say was, “Your Highness, would you like me to cancel the rest of your appointments for today?”
King Vegeta replied in a testy manner, “Yes, and go and fetch Bardock and tell him to meet me in my personal dining hall.”
Nappa wondered what this was all about, but he nodded and then bowed and left right away.
“You may go,” King Vegeta said to Kakarot without even glancing at him.
“Is that all?” Kakarot replied angrily. “I thought that-”
“I said you may go!” The King growled at him, crushing the drink in his hand as he sent him an angry glare.
Kakarot bowed but the look in his eyes was not lost on his King. In fact, the King knew that Kakarot was displeased with him and, furthermore, that he was not afraid to show it. King Vegeta remained, teeth bearing at the young man, until he left altogether. That was not exactly how he wanted it to end, or even go at all! The young man shouldn’t have been that strong even, and his behavior is peculiar to say the least. There is something about him, though, something that is making King Vegeta think twice.
Never mind that, he has a lot to do.
Kakarot stopped jogging after some time, he was tired, after all, but he was still within the castle gates. He had so much on his mind, but after a few minutes his heart gave up the worrying to enjoy the fresh air as he was leaving. He didn’t bother to notice that there was another man approaching him who would pass him by very shortly. At first Kakarot paid no attention to him, but upon throwing a quick glance his direction, he noticed the tall, handsome man giving him a queer look, and darting his eyes up and down his body in acute scrutiny. He realized almost immediately that the man must be Rori, King Vegeta’s lover, and that Kakarot is a new face, and not only does he look very out of place, he smells like the King. Kakarot only walked on strongly, he had nothing to prove, for he did nothing wrong, but the other man paused to catch another glimpse of him anyways before continuing on his path.

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Thank you Kit-Kit, they are kind of connected, aren't they? I actually thought about making it a complete parallel, but I decided to change up a few things. I'm glad you liked it so far!
Thank you Rachel- I do intend to update regularly! This story is finished already, so no worries whether or not it'll ever end either. I'm happy to see that you're enjoying it!
Thank you to everyone who reads my stories! I adore you guys because I get to share some creativity and emotion with perfect strangers :D !
TristaML
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Uncertainty and Pride