Lamb Without Blemish [Discontinued]

Revised - November 2, 2010


Lamb Without Blemish


"Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go."

(Song of Solomon 3:4)


Chapter Three


Boarding the space ship, Vegeta felt like something was tugging on his heart to stay. He pushed back the thought and took his seat, sitting across from his father. He loathed the burning in his soul to see his new friend. 'I just saw him a couple of days ago.' He told himself, trying to feel guilty for his treacherous desires. His father's words shook him from his trance.

"Prince Vegeta, have you prepared for our meeting?"

"Yes, Father. I have read the materials you asked me to, and I am confident in my knowledge of their customs."

"Excellent. Though, I wish to speak to you about the situation regarding your mate ceremony." With no interjection from his son, King Vegeta continued. "You know that you must choose a mate within the next six months and present that Saiyan at the ceremony, or the line will go to another noble family."

"I understand, Father. I assure you that is the last thing I want. I will do my best to fulfill my obligations to our family."

"Ah, well. Then, have you found someone that would be suitable?" His father rubbed the hair around his chin.

"Not exactly, Father. All those of noble birth are…vile. Several of them have concubines kept for them at their castles. A couple of the men sell drugs, and the others take part in the slavery of minors. I could not have the next Saiyan king be born from such lowly creatures."

"I understand, Son, but you must remember your duty. Simply choose someone to produce an heir. You could send them back to their home afterwards." He said in his usual calm tone, showing no sign of remorse or any other feeling.

"Father, I could not mate with another Saiyan and just turn them away. How could I treat the bearer of my child that way?" Vegeta was appalled by his father's callousness.

"It is not that hard, Vegeta. The one that birthed you was a good sort of person, but he wanted to take you away from the castle. He wanted you to be raised among his family." King Vegeta looked out the window from boredom rather than regret.

"What happened to him?" Vegeta never heard his father speak of his bearer before.

"One night, he snuck into your room and tried to escape with you to the other side of the planet. He was captured and terminated." King Vegeta delivered the news with true apathy.

"You had my bearer killed? Father, why?" Vegeta's mask came down for a moment to show his discontent at his father's attitude. Noticing his father's eyes and how much they widened with surprise, Vegeta pulled the veil back up. "Father, surely there was another way."

"No, there wasn't. He did what he was meant to, which was birth you. After that, I really had no use for him." His father turned his gaze from the window to catch Vegeta's. "You should choose an honorable mate, or you will have to do what I did. Remember that, Son. There are no second chances for traitors on our planet."

Vegeta pulled his eyes from the King's to peer out of the large glass window. Looking at the planet, Vegeta wondered where one person in those millions was at this moment. Then, the overwhelming gloom his father created gripped his heart. His father killed any remaining hope for a relationship with Kakarrot. He gave his awaiting father an earnest reply. "Yes, Father. I understand."

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On the Saiyan home planet, Kakarrot just finished training with his older brother, Raditz. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Wow, Raditz. I hadn't realized how strong you've gotten. I guess I need to keep working on it." Kakarrot pulled his arm behind his head and smiled.

"Yes, you need to keep training. We may be third classes, but that doesn't mean we can't kick some a…" Bardock opened the door and called for his sons.

"Kakarrot, Raditz, come inside." He paused, hoping to entice his sons. He said, "I made dinner." Upon hearing this, both men ran at the back door at full speed. Raditz arrived at the door first and made himself a plate before Kakarrot reached the house.

"Raditz." Kakarrot huffed. "I'll beat you one day."

"I'm sure." Raditz said with a half full mouth of food.

"No fighting in the house." Their father broke in. "I had to fix this house enough when you two were teenagers. If you mess it up now, I'm going to make you repair it."

"Alright, Dad. I won't fight in the house. I'll beat Kakarrot in the yard as always." Raditz smiled at his brother, now finished with his bite.

"You will not." By now, Kakarrot had made himself a plate and was seated next to his brother. He stuffed the delectable food into his mouth. "I'll beat you next time." The words were nearly unrecognizable, so Bardock again spoke.

"Both of you, be quiet and eat. I'm too old for this all the time. I know you're Saiyans, but fighting isn't the only exciting thing to do on this planet."

"That's right." Kakarrot said with his mouth finally empty. "My friend and I are trying to help other people."

"Are you talking about Veggan? That fellow I met the other day?" Bardock took his seat at the head of the small table, able to eat at last.

"Yes. He's the first new friend I've made in a few years. All the other guys I meet end up being a part of some drug gang or sex ring or something." Kakarrot played with his food for a moment before shoveling in another bite.

"I'm glad you have a new friend, Kakarrot. What about you, Raditz? When are you going to bring home new friends or maybe even a mate? I'm not getting younger. You need to find a nice mate and have some children already. By the time I was your age, I already had you." He grinned at his son.

"I've been looking for a mate but without much success. As Kakarrot said, people are just turning to darker pleasures these days." Raditz wanted to pick at his younger brother's inexperience with romance, so he smirked at Kakarrot and said, "What about you, Kakarrot? Where's your mate?"

Kakarrot blushed slightly. Romantic relationships were the only thing that would make him blush, at least as far as he knew. He always had friendships and never ventured into the area of romance. Although his father had given him the speech about mating and pregnancy several years ago, Kakarrot still felt very shy in his dealings with love and sex.

Seeing the hesitation, Raditz probed further. "Come on, Kaka. Where's your mate? When should we expect to meet him?"

"I don't have a mate. You know that. And, I don't know when I will have one. I would like to find one sometime within the next year or two. I still want to be young when my kids are born." Kakarrot finally replied.

"Oh, so… You are going to be the giver? You won't be the bearer?" Raditz gave his brother a devilish grin.

Kakarrot played with his food again, at an attempt to avoid his brother's gaze. It was a persistent issue between Saiyans. Because their society comprised entirely of men, one male, typically the weaker one, became the bearer of the offspring, while the stronger one became the giver. Most males did not brag about being the bearer. In the fighting world of Saiyans, it was almost shameful to admit weakness, even if it was for the purpose of childbearing.

In an effort to comfort his youngest son, Bardock said, "No one knows if they will become the bearer or giver until they mate. So," he continued, winking at Kakarrot, "there is no need to worry about those things now."

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After dinner was finished and with the kitchen cleaned, Kakarrot walked to the backyard. Seating himself against his favorite tree, he began to wonder about his future mate. 'I wonder what he looks like. What will his name be? Will he be taller than me? I hope he likes training. I want at least a couple of kids, so I hope he'll want that too'. He continued. 'I wonder if we have already met.'

With this thought, Kakarrot's mind filtered through all his past and present acquaintances. He gave back an answer in the negative to all proposed mates, but when his mind stopped on his newest friend, Veggan, Kakarrot felt puzzled. He did not notice any particular attachment on Veggan's side. He figured that they had some things in common, but other than that he was completely unsure.

With these ruminations, Kakarrot sat by his tree for a long while. His father's call forced him to leave the yard and return to prepare for bed. Before reaching the house, Kakarrot resolved to know his friend better. He told himself that it was not for the purpose of finding a mate. 'I just want to learn more about Veggan.'He tried to convince himself, but the seed of interest had already been planted. Raditz's questions started the chain reaction that was leading his younger brother's heart down a new path.

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While Vegeta was gone, both Saiyans had no idea how quickly their affections grew. The time apart passed by in an agonizingly slow manner. When their meeting was only a day away, Vegeta and Kakarrot were nervous but ready to prove to themselves that they lacked any romantic feelings toward the other.

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TBC