HIGH VELOCITY

High velocity

Chapter two

PARENTS' REACTIONS

"Oh, Kurama, I was just on my way to apologize for my cousin's abrupt behavior. I hope you don't think that I act like him. I mean I do but... URGH! I don't know what I'm saying!" Hiei hid his face in embarrassment, then beckoned for Kurama to stand.

"Why should you apologize, this is your country and truth to tell, I know British aristocrats are spoiled rotten. So would you mind showing me around your home?" Kurama asked, wringing his hands together in nervousness.

Hiei smiled, "Sure. C'mon. I do need to show you where the dining room is, anyway," the Duke's son said as he led the young red head from where the bedchambers were located.


Prince Vegeta needed something to occupy himself with; thus he escaped his rooms via a secret exit and made his way to a music room. He smiled as he headed for a grand piano the same color as his hair; however, he by passed the piano and picked up an electric guitar that stood in the corner of the room. After turning on the amp, the sound mixer and various other instruments he usually toyed with, the prince struck a chord, loudly. The sound reverberated throughout the manor home and found the sensitive ears of the king, the duke and their visitors.

"That boy, I told him not so loud! Such raucusness is appropriate for the stage but not for a closed house! Broli, tell him to tone it down!" King Vegeta snarled as the metallic sound echoed through the dwelling.

Broli bowed, "Yes, your majesty, but you know how the boy thumbs his nose at restrictions and such. Might I say that I am of the opinion that why he does not fancy the fair sex is because-" Broli found himself on the floor with a booted foot crushing his windpipe.

"You dare mention such in front of company?! I shall make a necklace of that cursed tongue of yours. Get out of my sight!" the slighter sized king picked the larger man up from the ground and tossed him from his presence. "Upper class dog! I know what my son is, no one else has to!" King Vegeta sighed and shook his head.

"Your majesty, I know it's not my place and I'm just a guest here but I overheard my son and nephew talking once before a photo shoot. They were looking at a photo in 'Martial Arts Times' that featured your two boys. They were saying things like how they would love to meet them and treat them like kings," Bardock spoke and the king regarded the man with wide black eyes.

"You say your boys were discussing our boys? Nappa told me he had heard our lads discussing your lads and now they're together in the same house!" the king stated in a worried tone.

"My king...

"Lord Tien... No, no more hiding the fact. We are what we are. Why do you think we two are yet unmarried? Why our sons get ill at the mention of marriage? I know they're rock musicians and such ways are part of that sort of world but I think our boys sincere. Sir, madam, would it offend you if our sons did form some sort of thing between themselves? I mean they're in two separate occupations and the chances of them ever seeing one another would be next to nil," the king began.

"Vegeta, my tournament! See if the boys are worthy of our sons. Look, if it's heirs we desire, we both have daughters and I think Vegeta and Hiei would much prefer females they are familiar with and who could handle them instead of the dainty lasses available," the duke remarked.

"No, it won't work. People already think that way about our boys because, well, let's put it plain. Kurama is very feminine in appearance and Kakarrot; although he's very masculine does have some soft tendencies. Their agency would drop them like hot potatoes if their preference surfaced," Jolene fretted.

"Both Hiei and Vegeta are very masculine but they shun females like the plague, however, I've seen my son when he looks at a photo of Kurama, he all but dissolves into a puddle of goo,' the duke remarked.

"I shudder to think what this will do to the monarchy but I want my son to be happy as well and if such a union will make a smile appear on that sour face of his, I'm for it,' the king nodded, surprising all who were gathered.

"I'm sure our sons will be very happy to hear their parents approve," Tien remarked.

"Does that mean we can tell it now, your majesty?" Bardock leaned over to the king and whispered.

The king smirked. King Vegeta and Bardock had grown up in the palace, as Bardock was the son of the king's uncle, the Duke of Wiltshire and the two were inseparable until Bardock's family had to relocate to America to begin a new life. The reason being that Bardock's sire had been accused of killing a rival member of the gentry in a duel over a female. The charge was false, but the then king wanted to hear nothing of it. King Vegeta suspected that his own sire had discovered his and Bardock's relationship and wanted to put an end to it. Nonetheless, King Vegeta growled, "Go to your rooms. You, I will speak with in my private den," he said giving Bardock a stern look.

The parents all went their separate ways and the king threw Bardock into his private study. After shutting the door and locking it, the king pushed the bigger man into the door then crushed their lips together. Bardock's arms went around the king and they melted into the kiss.

"God, Bardock, I never thought I'd see you again, cousin, and our son has grown so handsomely!" King Vegeta said against Bardock's lips.

"I never told Raditz anything. I couldn't believe it when I found I could have children. I was so scared and poppa hated me when he found out. That was why I was sent away, love, because I was carrying our son. Vegeta is a handsome piece of art and looks so like you!" Bardock nuzzled his head into the king's flame shaped head of spikes. "Mmmm, I missed you, koi. May hap that's why after Kakarrot's mother had delivered him and passed from his birth I never sought another. I'm glad fate has brought us back together, love," the large warrior kissed the side of the king's face.

"What will our sons think when they find out they're not weird but have such desires naturally?" the king smirked as he inhaled Bardock's scent. "Oh how I missed that wood spice scent of yours!" the king exclaimed.

"Vegeta, I can't wait, I have taste you now," Bardock all but whined but the king pushed him away.

"No, love, desert after dinner and this place has plenty of hiding spaces. Go, you leave first then I'll follow," the king said, as he unlocked the door then pushed Bardock out after he had opened it.


Finding no solace in his music, the prince left the manor house and entered a spacious garden where a marble statue of himself and the king stood from which water flowed.

"Oh, Kakarrot, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I can never make a positive impression on anyone. What's wrong with me?" the prince asked himself.

"You're in love and your heart's desire is sharing your home for a bit until they return to town and forget you exists!" a teasing female voice giggled from behind the prince.

Vegeta looked down and smirked. "Squirt, what are you about?" the prince asked his little sister.

"Getting over the shock of "K 'N' K" being stranded under our roof and that their next photo shoot will be at the palace! Oh, Vegeta, can you believe how fortunate we are for our fantasies to come true in this manner?" Cornelia exclaimed and inhaled a deep breath.

"What if Hiei wants Kurama the way you do?" the prince asked his sister.

"Oh, I just think they're lovely to look at. One of my gender could never hope to touch them the way you and Hiei could. I didn't miss the looks they were giving you when they were bowing nor the look Bardock was giving sire," the girl smirked.

"Bardock was looking at dad?" Vegeta asked.

Before the princess could reply the sound of a gong signaled dinner, thus the prince offered his sister his arm and escorted her to the dining room. The prince immediately noticed that his couand and Kakarrot's cousin were seated rather closely and that the only other available seat would put him smack beside Kakarrot. Vegeta felt his legs turn to jelly as he moved to his seat. Could he keep his hands to himself when he wanted to ravish the tall ebony spike haired large man? Inhaling deeply, the son of King Vegeta took his seat at the opposite end of the table from the king. The prince called on his royal pride, something that always protected him in tense situations such as this. With his pride he wouldn't fall victim to the emotions that were warring within him at having his heart's desire, the subject of his every fantasy at his fingertips but could not even touch him for fear of a scandal.

Dinner was tense for the prince, however, he did occasionally catch his cousin and Kurama lean a little too close to one another, albeit, in a tasteful manner. Following desert, Cornelia took Yokina and Jolene out of the dining room so that the males can be amongst themselves.

"Vegeta, you hardly said two words to Kakarrot through dinner, that is most improper," the king admond.
d.

Vegeta shuddered and Kakarrot turned his face away. "I snapped at him earlier for not addressing me as Prince Vegeta. If I caused injury to his person, I apologize," the prince nodded in Kakarrot's direction. "I may be excused?" Vegeta said rather than asked and the king indicated that he could go.

After the prince had left, silence hung like a stone until, "Have I offended him in any way, your majesty?" Kakarrot asked, his voice tight any.
y.

"No, boy, you did nothing to offend him. We need to tell you boys something about yourselves and then maybe one of you can tell the prince. What you feel for one another is not wrong or outrageous; it's natural, just like breathing. Our families are not from this planet but a place called Vegeta. We came here hundreds of years ago, settled among the natives and acquired their highly regarded places. In our race it is not unusual for two males to fall in love with one another matemate and have a child," the king moved behind Bardock's seat, placed his hands on the big man and leaned to kiss him. "This is the man that I love and have since I was aware of such feelings. Hiei, if you desire Kurama and he you, it is as it should be. Kakarrot, be very careful with him. He'll fight you because he thinks he'll bring shame this house, but that will never happen, and I don't care if he never produces an heir, our race enjoys a very lengthy life span. Go, Kakarrot, and claim what you long for," the king tossed his head for the youth to leave.

Kakarrot wasted no time and nearly burst from the manor with an excited shout of elation. Kakarrot had the ability to sense a person's energy and pinpoint their location thus he had no trouble finding the prince. His senses led him to a spacious garden where the tall teen found a lone figure prone to the ground. Kakarrot turned his head. Crying? Why would the prince be crying? Kakarrot slowly approached the stricken figure when the figure raised its head.

"It not fair. It's not bloody fair! Why do I have these screwed up feelings? Why am I backwards? I should desire females not a male. I became a rock musician to hide what I am so that I could have a reason to always avoid being home to look into dark eyes that will never see. Fantasize about kissing lips I'll never feel and long to be held in arms that could never hold me. Why me? Now, he's here and I've fallen completely apart. I want to hold him so badly but to do so breathes scandal for the two of us. Oh, Kakarrot, you'll never know how much I love you," the prince wailed and threw his head back into his arms.

Feeling his own heart clench with the prince's anguish, Kakarrot moved closer then knelt beside the smaller teen. Hesitantly raising his hand, Kakarrot ran his palm over the prince's soft ebony waist length hair. Feeling something brush against him, Vegeta's head sprang up. He was speechless for several moments then his brain finally registered what happened and his body jumped away from the offensive being.

"Where do you get off touching me in such a familiar manner?" Vegeta spat.

"The king said you would fight," Kakarrot responded.

"My sire? What's he got to do with anyg?" g?" Vegeta shot back.

"Everything. He told us after you left that we were not Earthlings but from a place called Vegeta. He said the families had come to this planet hundreds of years ago and simulated the natives but that's not the point. He said that in our race that it was ok for two men to fall in love, mate and have children. Your highness, am I worthy of you as Hiei has found Kurama worthy of himself?" Kakarrot asked as he bowed to the prince.

"S- Sire said it was all right? That it was ok for two men to love one another? Kakarrot!" Vegeta flew from his spot and tackled the large teen to the ground, his lips sealed to the lips of the other.

"Is this a yes, my lord?" Kakarrot asked.

"Forget that lord stuff! Oh, Kakarrot, I love you with everything I have in me!" Vegeta exclaimed then reclaimed his love's lips.

"I think our cousins have just found the secret of true happiness, hey, Kurama?" Hiei asked his koi as the two peered out of the library window.

"They'll be as happy as we are. Oh, wait our careers!" Hiei exclaimed.

Kurama lost his cheery smile at that reminder. "I guess one of us had to remember. Damn it!" the fire headed Adonis cursed then closed his eyes. 'Kakarrot, come, we need to speak with you and his highness,' Kurama said in a mental voice.

"Kurama!" Kakarrot broke form the passionate embrace he and the prince shared.

"K-san, what is it?" the prince asked as he lifted himself off Kakarrot's wide chest.

"Kurama. He and I have a kind of link where we can talk to one another in our minds. He said they need to talk to us," Kakarrot sighed as he stood then reached to pull the prince up.

Vegeta shook his head to untangle his hair. "I can guess about what but I didn't want to think about it. C'mon, love. Oh, I'm being too forward," the prince cupped shook his head as he lead Kakarrot back to the manor.

"Don't be, you highness, I want to call you the same thing," the large teen smiled as they entered the library where had had caught sight of their cousins.

"What ails, dear cousin? I thought that the two of you would be burning down the manner by now," Vegeta smirked.

"The thought was there. Kurama just remembered our careers. We work in two different branches of the glamour world. We could never work," Hiei remarked in a disheartened tone.

Vegeta folded his arms across his chest to hold himself. He knew it. He just knew this was too good to be true and that happiness was a fleet footed gazelle. He would not break down again and once again pulled his pride around him like a cloak. He turned his back on the others, looked over his shoulder and down his nose.

"So why even begin something we can't see to the end? I don't want it if it's just a one chance thing," the prince said in a tight tone of voice. "I'm going to bed," and with that the prince left the other three.

"I hate to say it, but the prince is right. Oh, why'd you have to bring that up? Go, both of you to bed," Hiei tossed his head for the two cousins to leave and Kurama led Kakarrot back to their rooms.

Sighing, Hiei went to his cousin's room where he found the prince staring at one wall that was covered with shots of Kakarrot. Both the prince and the marquis had transformed their rooms into shrines dedicated to one 'K' or the other. Vegeta was torn as to how to handle this latest development when he felt his cousin's presence.

"I can't stand it, Hiei. So close, cous, we were so close. My hand touched him and I felt the heat despite my gloves. When we kissed, oh God, the earth moved. I had never been so happy, so free, nor felt so alive than I was with him. Now..." the prince trailed off, sucked in a deep breath to calm himself.

"How do think I feel? Kurama and I would be rolling the sheets now had he not mentioned our careers. For what it's worth, I'd give it all up just to be with him forever," the marquis sniffed as he looked over his cousin's room wide shrine to Kakarrot. Heaving a heavy sigh, the demi- duke rose. "At least we can keep them in our dreams as they have been since we first heard of them. Night, cousin," Hiei bade as he walked to the door of the prince's room.

"Night, Hiei," Vegeta bade and the younger teen left. Vegeta the prince had no choice but to change for bed.


In the king's chamber, that high royal himself had just indulged his wilder side with the man he had loved since his younger years. He had never forgotten the one he had lost his heart to despite the fact that Bardock was his cousin by marriage. The two had taken to one another like a duck to water when Lord Wiltshire had first introduced the boys in a training center for martial arts. Following that they became inseparable and both the then king and his brother-in-law, the duke began to worry over their sons as both were displaying an 'unnatural' interest in one another, so for status sake, the duke had sent his son and family away. Today, however, was a different story, a different king and a different more tolerant time. Nonetheless, the king and his lover lay in one another's embrace after they had rekindled their passion and declared their love for one another.

"Oh, my king, I never want this to end!" Bardock sighed as he played with the king's hair.

"I hope our boys are as happy, now," Vegeta Ou mentioned, which caused Bardock to cease his play.

"Sad to say, love, they're not. They're not even together!" the larger man remarked.

The king sat up. Both the king and Bardock had the ability to sense out their offspring as well their nephews just as Kakarrot could sense a loved one's exact location.

"You are correct, mi amour. They all appear distressed over something. Oh, hell, their careers! Oh, wait, I could take them on! Can "K 'N' K" brake their contract with the current agency?" the king asked and Bardock brightened.

"You have an agency?" the larger man asked and received a kiss in response. "Well, this shoot was to be the final one for this contract. Yes! Yes, my love, we'll sigh with you!" Bardock hugged the king.

"Great, I'll have Paragus draw the papers up in the morning. It's going to be so great having my love and my every breath with me once again!" the king sighed. "I'll inform Nottingham of the change, Lord Wiltshire. I'm sure he would be very happy."

"As I'm sure Jolene will be when I tell her. Oh, this is going to be one hell of a celebration when we can finally tell the world of our love! Sleep well, my royal one!" Bardock bade with a sloppy kiss.

"And you as well, my love of loves!" the king returned then the two embraced once again.

After having solved the crisis of how to handle the careers of their nephews and sons, the two lay once again within the others arms and awaited slumber to borrow their consciousness.