Legend

Legend: Reflection

“Kakarotto!”

I didn’t want to face the prince just yet, but he has followed me
to the barracks. My bac to to him, which gives me time to compose my
face. I know there’s no point in hiding what has just happened, but
I’m not up for a confrontation.

I turn to him, putting on my best face.

“Sire.”

I’m not surprised by his scowl. He looks like that most of the time!
I am surprised by the pain I see behind his eyes. He’s struggling
to compose his next remark, mouth opening and then closing again.

“Vejita...” Blood is dripping down my face, but before I can
wipe it away, he reaches up and strokes it away with his own hand, lingering
there for a moment before removing it.

“Kakarotto, will you...join me for dinner?” There’s just
the slightest hint of a quiver in his voice. The prince is darkly handsome,
compact and powerfully b. I . I feel my hearheart soften as I look at
him. His body language is screaming anger, but his face is registering
hurt.

“I would be honored, sire,” I say and take his hand wearing
the blood red stone that represents the house of Vejita. I kiss the ring,
looking up at him, then step back with a deep formal bow and a smile.

“Kakarotto, you know...”

“I know, sire.” He’s smiling now, so I give him one of
my two-finger salutes and wink at him, then turn to leave.


********


(Vejita)

He’s the only one who can get away with that! Anyone else I’d
kill on the spot! But I watch his retreating form and my heart tightens
like a bow. No one affects me like he does! If I could have changed the
way I feel, I would. But it happened and no one can take his place —
no man, no woman. Not even battle is as exciting as spending just an hour
with him!

Ah, Kakarotto. If she comes between us, I’ll kill her. It’s
as simple as that.


********


(Nashika)

The barracks is relatively empty and I’m grateful for that. I’m
shown to my cot and throw my few meager belongings in my locker. A battle
suit is hanging there and I finger the material thinking of how it will
feel against my skin. But now I just want a shower and a chance to rest.


My clothes are torn and bloody, so I throw them away without a further
thought. It’s like throwing away that part of my life that I prefer
to forget — the fear, the hiding.

I stand in the shower and watch the rivulets of blood flow down the drain
as I think. I swirl the blood in the water with my toe and it’s like
a child’s pinwheel, mesmerizing.

My mother was beautiful and I loved her. As a Saiyan woman, she loved
the battle. She showed such great promise that the masters took notice
of her and trained her until she had surpassed even them. But an accident
in battle caused her to lose her tail, and along with that, her Saiyan
aggression. She became a master to the king’s troops and then the
king took notice of her. She became his personal trainer and eventually
his mistress. When she became pregnant, she simply disappeared. A very
jealous queen was not the kind of enemy she wanted. Once the queen died,
it was too late to go back.

And now, here I am, fully prepared to take what is mine — my place
next in line to the king. Or in place of him. It doesn’t matter
which to me. And no Saiyan prince — or general — will stand
in my way.

continued...