Caught Between Two Worlds

Chapter 3

Landing on the parapet, Vegeta leapt to the courtyard below, his purposeful stride drawing him down dark corridors to the West Wing of the palace. Dust stirred around his black and gold boots as he walked the empty hallways. Vegeta had demanded this section closed after the death of his beloved. The memories haunted him, but this is where he felt the closest to him. And right now he needed to feel his lover if not physically then at least in his mind once more.

He pushed open the great oak doors that led into their bedroom. Kakkarot’s essence filled his senses as he stumbled forward. He breathed deeply of the precious scent. Vegeta’s gaze took in the room, the rumpled linens from their last morning together, still strewn across the massive bed. He walked forward and grabbed the dark blue gi that lay over the arm of a chair and lifted it to his face inhaling deeply. The spicy sweet smell of his lover filled his mind as the memories of their first meeting washed over him. Vegeta fell backwards across the foot of the bed as they engulfed his awareness.

***The day had dawned with the red haze of fog, damp mist clung to every surface, making it slippery as he started his morning workout on the sparring grounds. He was to meet his father for breakfast, dreading the inevitable argument that would ensue. He understood his father’s side but Vegeta just couldn‘t give in, not yet. He had just reached his majority at the age of twenty-four and he wasn’t ready to give up his freedom. His father wanted him to claim a life-mate so that he could assume the throne. Vegeta wasn’t ready for a mate, still enjoying the casual relationships that brought him enough sexual fulfillment for now. Besides he hadn’t found anyone that touched his soul, one that he would be willing to share everything with. And he definitely wasn’t ready for the responsibility of governing the immense Kingdom of Saiyans, those that resided on planet Vegeta-sei and those that sailed the vast reaches of the universe. He just wasn’t ready.

He heard his name called and turned to find his usual sparring partner, Radditz, flying towards him. Following close behind him was another Saiyan, much younger than Radditz and a few years younger than himself, who looked very familiar. Knowing he was going to be late, Vegeta allowed curiosity to stay his feet as Radditz landed with the younger Saiyan not more than two steps behind him. They both bowed their heads in the typical greeting of respect and then Radditz moved forward to introduce the younger man.

“Prince Vegeta, this is my baby brother Kakkarot, I have brought him to replace me as your sparring partner, if that is acceptable? I have been promoted to first class and will be shipped off planet for the next year.” Radditz informed the smaller Saiyan prince.

Vegeta gaze perused the younger man. Kakkarot wasn’t as tall as his brother but he was still a full two hand widths taller than Vegeta. Nor was he as bulky as his older brother, slender but well toned and muscular, he moved with a supple flow of grace, much as Vegeta himself did. The younger man was dressed in a loose dark blue gi with an orange sash around his waist. Wild black hair spike all over his head and his dark chocolate eyes stared back at the assessing Prince. Then he realized who he was reminded of.

“You look like Bardock.” Vegeta said in surprise.

“Of course, he is my father,” Kakkarot replied with a wide smile and a twinkle in his eye.

“Yes, I know that!” Vegeta growled back, angry at letting himself get caught off guard by the younger man. “How old are you?”

“I have just reached my twentieth year, Sire.”

“Radditz, he is barely trained; he will not be able to keep up with me! Has he even been tested? I am far stronger than you are and you are ten years older than I am. How am I to get a decent work out with him? No, find me another partner, someone with experience.” Vegeta turned to walk away when he felt a gentle touch on his arm that sent a tingling awareness through him. Turning in shock that someone would dare to touch his royal personage without permission, he lifted his eyes to be caught in the warm liquid gaze of the younger Saiyan and all thoughts of anger fled before that chocolate sweetness.

“Please do not be mad at Radditz, my prince, I practically begged him to bring me. I just wanted a chance to prove myself.” Kakkarot’s husky voice pleaded. Vegeta noticed that Radditz had backed away from the two of them and couldn’t possibly hear what was being said. But his eyes were riveted to his brother’s hand which was still grasping the Prince’s arm, eyes that were filled with fear at what might just happen to his younger brother.

Vegeta broke free from Kakkarot’s gaze to quickly glance down at his arm. He lifted his other hand and tugged off the offending hand that really hadn’t felt offensive in the least.

“Fine. After breakfast we will fight. If you manage to live you will be my new sparring partner. Follow me!” Vegeta commanded as he headed towards the Royal Dining Room. He was already late, and he did not wish to rouse his father’s anger anymore than it was already. He could feel the younger man’s presence behind him and wondered why he hadn’t left Kakkarot waiting for him at the sparring grounds. He didn’t have long enough to consider because he had arrived at the dining room.

“Keep quiet unless spoken too. Do you understand?” Vegeta asked as he looked once more on the younger man’s handsome visage. After Kakkarot’s swift nod he shoved open the large wooden doors and swiftly moved to his seat at the other end of the table from his father and indicated the seat next to him for the younger man.

“I see you have finally decided to join me, son.”

“Radditz informed me that he has been assigned off planet and was introducing me to his younger brother, Kakkarot here, as a potential sparring partner. The time slipped away from me.” Vegeta replied calmly without a hint of remorse in his tone. He watched as the servants quickly filled his and Kakkarot’s plates with a large variety of foods, and smirked as the younger man instantly started to devour his.

“You are Bardock’s youngest then. I can see the uncanny resemblance. Are you as strong as Radditz?” The King asked Kakkarot.

“No,” the young man replied between bites, then smiled gamely. “Actually I am stronger.”

“Braggart,” Vegeta chuckled warmly as he looked over at Kakkarot, his gaze lingering on the younger man’s attractive features. “Well, we’ll find out soon enough. Why don’t you join us down at the sparring grounds after breakfast, father? I have promised Kakkarot a chance to prove himself. If I don’t kill him today, he will be my new training partner.”

“I will not die today, my prince, and I will be your partner,” Kakkarot’s voice was quiet yet forceful as his warm dark gaze once again ensnared the Prince’s, neither looked away until the King’s voice interrupted them.

“Sounds like fine entertainment, I think I will watch. Son, we can have our little talk this evening instead.” The King looked purposely at his son and Vegeta nodded once in angry agreement before finishing his meal.

By the time breakfast was over the fog and mist had been burned off by the two red suns, perfect sparring weather. Vegeta stripped off the top of his gi leaving him only in his royal blue spandex pants with white, gold tip boots and his customary white gloves. His eyes lingered on the muscular torso Kakkarot revealed as the younger man also removed his own top. Radditz wrapped his younger brother’s knuckles and wrists before leaving the sparring grounds. Both men settled into a fighting stance, each evaluating the other for any possible weakness. Then Vegeta attacked.

Kakkarot blocked, then twisted around to deliver a kick to Vegeta’s side. Vegeta leapt to the side so that the other man’s foot only grazed as he twisted to connect his fist with Kakkarot’s face; this move was again blocked. First one then the other would be on the offense, each delivering their strikes and blocking the other’s. The fight continued on for hours, neither one admitting defeat. The sun rose high above them causing the air around them to steam and sweat to sheen over their tense muscles. Kakkarot had a black eye and several small gashes on his upper chest. Vegeta sported a busted lip and a large swollen bruise on his right side indicating a possible broken rib. Vegeta jumped forward to bring his knee up to connect with Kakkarot’s chin, but he missed because Kakkarot had flipped backwards. He spun around to face Vegeta both hands cupped together at his side as he summoned his energy.

“Solar...” He roared as Vegeta powered up and braced his other arm that was raised palm forward to face the younger man. It ended now.

“Final...”

“Strike!”

“Flash!” Kakkarot’s pure white energy arced against Vegeta’s brilliant blue as they poured every bit of their power into the blasts. The beams battled and sparked as they collided together. Sweat dripped from Vegeta’s brow as he felt the drain, he couldn’t see the younger man through the clashing energy, but he could feel the other’s white energy starting to overwhelm his. He barely had time to cross his arms in a defensive energy block when the white energy surrounded him, searing away at his exposed flesh. Vegeta had lost.

He had awoken the next morning in a regeneration tank. Staring through the green tinted healing fluid he found the younger man dozing beside the tank, one arm draped over it as though to protect. Vegeta felt a surge of longing overwhelm him as he gazed upon Kakkarot’s face. How could someone he had met less than a day before have this strong an effect on him? This gentle warrior had beaten him in battle and it didn’t bother him as much as he would have thought. The tank started to drain as the dome rose, awaking Kakkarot, who hurriedly grabbed a robe to wrap around Vegeta as he emerged, dripping green fluid. Vegeta grabbed a towel to help remove some of the fluid that dripped from his peaked black hair, when he felt large warm hands squeeze his shoulders. He looked back to find the hot passion filled gaze of the younger man sliced through his resistance as an answering wave of desire washed over him...***