House of Vegeta Highlights

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA HIGHLIGHTS 5

The first family of Vegetaseii spent the next two days recovering
from their foolish brawl. Servants carried them to the medicinal salt
baths, since they were too incapacitated to move themselves. The
chibis were taken by the naa'ti (nursekeepers) in the meantime.

Day three of their healing involved still more soaking in the salt
baths. In true saiyan fashion, fighting settled all disagreements for
the time being. Five weary figures glistened in purplish water, their
spiky hair rakish. Steam filled the air, giving an eerie atmosphere
to the enclosed chambers.

Vegeta Ou lay across green marble steps, partially submerged. A thick
towel wrapped his chiseled midsection. "Hn...it's been some time
since I needed such a recovery."

Bardock purred quietly at his side. "Kingly duties prevent such
problems."

"Even so." the king paused as a thick length coiled his neck gently.

"Aren't you too sore to party?" Kakarot barely lifted his head,
watching them.

"It's called affection, loon. You might try it sometime. Everything
doesn't have to be a freak session!"

The ouji snorted. "I resent that."

"You would." Raditz tilted his head slowly around. "Our heir
ascendant, the chibi factory. Saba's right. You just got lucky the
last time around!"

Vegeta no ouji glared behind puffy eyes. "If I weren't so tired I'd
kick your natural ass."

"Ha! You tried that already."

"Not as a super saiyan. Besides, you cheated."

Raditz managed to flex a bicep. "Nah, I just made it a matter of
muscle."

Kakarot sniffed. "You can't match his speed, Raditz. Vegeta just
needed more room to maneuver."

Bardock grimaced at his still painful injuries. "At least he isn't so
quick to bite everything."

Kakarot shrugged. "That's what teeth are for. Why are you
complaining, father? I seem to remember someone latching onto my leg
pretty good."

Bardock flashed a toothy smile in response.

The Ou stretched carefully alongside his mate. "Hn, you came out
biting. Some things never change."

The ouji burst into laughter suddenly. The others stared in surprise.

"What's your trip?" Raditz wanted to know.

A chuckle. "I was just remembering what father said the other day to
me."

"What I said?" the Ou wondered.

"Ai, you said maybe you squeezed too hard when we popped out."

Bardock giggled. "Damn, that's funny!!" he clutched his stomach.

Kakarot snickered, glancing at his mate. "Yeah...but what were you
talking about?"

A pause. "Well...we were talking about auras, changeling saiyans and
stink."

"Say what??" Raditz blinked blandly.

The Ou groaned. "Not this again."

Kakarot perked up. "The secret? You were talking about that earlier?"

"What secret!" Bardock was exasperated now. "Look, we just finished a
fight. You want to start another one?!"

Kakarot held his aching head. "No thanks. For once, I've had enough.
Besides, I don't feel like sitting in this soup for a week!"

"Well, I want to know." Raditz groused. "Not that we can expect any
answers."

"None from me anyway." the Ou was short.

"Mother said something interesting at the hospital." Raditz
began. "It seems as though she mistook Kakarot for father."

Even the ouji was nonplussed. "So what? Most would."

Kakarot nodded, lighting up. "I know what he means!"

The Ou rolled his eyes. "I'm glad someone does."

"Before you go on, I have a question of my own." Bardock
interrupted. "That power surge I sensed...are you insane? Why did you
go super saiyan!"

His son was caught off guard. "I was angry about mother's situation.
Just reacted, that's all."

Dark eyes narrowed on him. "Hn. Be more cautious in the future,
Kakarot. You know the need for security."

Equally deep eyes returned the look. "I think...I understand a great
deal more right now."

"Loon!" the Ou cracked. "Speak clearly."

Small smile. "Mother mistook me for father. _After_ I turned super
saiyan."

Bardock and the Ou went stiff.

The ouji lifted an eyebrow. "How very curious."

Raditz folded his arms, smug. "Look at them. You'd swear someone had
cut off their tails!"

"Your mother had a fever." Bardock spoke with care. "Between that and
the medications-"

Kakarot examined his healing hand. "We thought so too at first. But
something else she said made us wonder."

"Patients often speak under the influence, it proves nothing." the Ou
said hurriedly. "Enough of this silly talk!"

"Not so silly, saba." Raditz disagreed. "Mother mentioned hot blood
and keeping the secret safe."

"So?"

Raditz watched his father as he spoke. "There's more. She also said
that father would know the right time to reveal it."

"Not to mention watching over us." Kakarot added.

Bardock blinked in confusion. "What do you expect me to say?"

The ouji grinned slyly now. "And did Celipe refer to Kakarot as
father the whole time?"

"Ai, she touched his hair and said it was like before-"

"Enough." the Ou interrupted. "Peace and quiet, I say...it will
enhance our recovery time."

"'Overbred fool' I believe is the term mother used." Kakarot smiled
at his father.

Bardock frowned. "Your saba's right. Some silence would be
appreciated."

"And if I told you our suspicion?"

"I'd say go to hell." Bardock sank into the tub again, curling next
to the Ou.

The prince eased over to his own mate. "I suppose we'll burst into
flame for daring to think it."

"Think what you will, but be quiet!!" the Ou roared, closing his
eyes. Bardock followed suit.

Raditz grunted, his voice low. "Mother had seen something in the past-
"

"I'm warning you!" Bardock's eyes snapped open. "Shut up."

"I'm not a child."

"I can still beat you like one. Clamp it!!"

Kakarot laughed before the ouji silenced him with a kiss. /Enough,
we'll get nowhere with this tack./

Kakarot sucked silky lips. /I'd rather do this now, anyway./

/I'm too sore for anything else./

Raditz eased to a resting position, his face barely above the salt
solution. Wild hair trailed everywhere at the surface. /Stubborn
assholes./

Bardock tucked next to his Ou. /Damn them, Vegeta...I tire of this!/

The Ou appeared to be sleeping. /I knew one day that ragtail would be
the end of us!/

/Stop it! It isn't her fault./

The Ou opened an eye, watching his brood. Everyone seemed to have
settled, deciding rest a better option than another possible fight.

Nodding in satisfaction, he snuggled against Bardock again. /I'd
rather be on the battlefield than endure this nonstop foolishness./

A soft sigh. /My own temper is to blame, koi. Celipe kept what she
knew./

A snuff against a golden neck. /Soon Frieza will occupy their
thoughts, not the past./

/You'd better hope so, Vegeta. We're sitting on a time bomb./

Sticky kiss. "Sleep."

Embracing tightly, the elders joined their brood in rest.


THE END