House of Vegeta Chronicles

A/U

HOUSE OF VEGETA CHRONICLES 4

The princeling no Ouji skipped through the corridors of the castle,
his long tail swinging wildly. Various courtiers and military
officers about the great halls smiled in greeting as the small prince
bounded through.

Despite his tender age, Vegeta had a sense of pride and place. He
abruptly stopped, tilting his chin high.

"What are you laughing at? Do you make fun of your prince?!"

The adults coughed, forcing themselves to serious expressions. One
officer spoke first, a captain of the third court.

"Ahem. We meant no offense, great one. But why such excitement going
through the castle, eh?"

The heart shaped face took on a haughty air. "Well, there's a strange
cub in the upper chambers. I wanna see it."

The others stared in open curiosity, murmuring amongst themselves.

Another saiyan stood forward, a thickset female in dented battle
armor. "Hn, perhaps it's merely a child of an elite guest,
princeling."

The young Ouji shrugged. "Maybe. I'll ask paba. Now goodbye!"

And with that the royal prince Vegeta no Ouji stalked away, taking
his leave. The adults smiled as he retreated.

****

Vegeta Ou was about the castle as well, preparing speeches for
several conferences. One of the servants, Dashke, raced to her king
and kneeled.

"Milord. The princeling is in the upper chambers, on the north side!"

Vegeta paused, looking up from his private desk. "He's where?!"

The young saiyan pointed past the doorways to cavernous halls. "Ai,
about an hour ago...he made mention of a chibi he wanted to-"

The Ou was already past her in a blur.

****

Vegeta nearly strangled several servants on the way up. He found the
royal physician Glerunn in a short alcove near the top levels. The
grizzled saiyan was arguing with several naa'te (nursekeepers).

The imposing king stormed them all. "What is this nonsense?!" he
thundered. In horror they collapsed to their knees. Even Glerunn
stood off a bit.

"Where is Vegeta?!!"

A quivering naa'te indicated a room nearby. "In there, o King. The
cub got past us before we could stop him!"

Vegeta rounded on Glerunn. "Well? These are under your watch!!"

The elder saiyan stammered. "I...it is an error, Vegeta. I had no
idea the ouji even knew of the chibi, much less where to find him."

"Bah" the Ou pushed past them all. "Get out of my face, all of you!!"

The saiyans scattered like seeds.

****

The Ou nearly fainted once inside. On a large bed covered in velvet
lay the tender prince, asleep beside a snoring chibi. A reddish black
tail coiled protectively around the infant.

Vegeta put a hand to his head. _Kami, what to do here?_

Bright round eyes opened blearily as the princeling blinked,
sniffing. "Father?"

The King approached the bed slowly. "Ai, boy. What do you here?!"

The small prince nosed the baby, running his face along soft skin. "I
wanted to see...I thought there was a chibi here."

"What do you mean, you 'thought?'"

A long tail thumped as the young prince pressed against the cub,
burying his face against the thick little mop. The chibi sucked its
tongue in sleep.

"Stop smelling him and answer me, child!"

The wild flame of hair was disheveled from sleep. "Well, I kept
feeling a baby around here somewhere. And I could smell him, so-"

"So you went looking."

Vegeta no ouji sat up on the bed, his blue unisuit a sharp contrast
to red velvet bedsheets.

"Ai. I saw the servants cover him up sometimes and go in dark places."

The Ou was stunned, sitting next to the boy. "How...how long have you
known about this?"

The young prince shrugged. "A week or two."

Their conversation was interrupted as the chibi opened enormous black
eyes. The tousled little head wobbled as the baby looked about.

The king watched his princeling son. Vegeta purred, his voice high.
The soft young face stared at the chibi tenderly.

"Paba, he's pretty. Can I keep him? He smells good!"

As if in response a small bluish black tail coiled a reddish black
one.

The Ou stammered, at a loss for words. _Utter madness, even now he
knows..._

"No, Vegeta. The cub's parents will be here later to pick him up."

The small prince was crestfallen. "Oh."

The king gathered him in and kissed. "Go now...your oozaru training
will start in an hour. Vehane awaits you."

Vegeta slipped from the bed. "All right." he glanced once more at the
chibi before leaving.

"I still wish I could keep him."

"That's enough, Vegeta. Begone!"

With a snarl the prince spun and bolted. His sire sighed as small
footsteps faded.

_What am I going to do?_

****

Vegeta cradled the baby, barely awake. The chibi growled thinly, tail
puffing.

Handsome features smiled. "Silly daza (demon). Your father comes for
you, Kakarot."

"True enough."

Startled, the Ou glared at a dark corner of the room. Bardock slipped
between partitions, his deep eyes intense.

"Are you mad!"

"I used the secret corridor, Vegeta. No one saw me."

"Hn! You're getting too good at sneaking up...I didn't sense you!"

Bardock smiled, approaching the bed. "He's beautiful." fingers ran
through thick strands of blue black hair. The chibi purred.

"Hai" the king managed, feeling warm. Kakarot squashed in tight.

"He looks so small in your arms like that, Vegeta."

Vegeta chuckled. "Mine alone, it seems...the hell ball bit five
servants today!"

The commander laughed. "You're kidding." he poked a finger at the
baby. Kakarot nibbled the tip.

"You aren't feeding him enough."

"Bah...the loon's already had three bottles of liver meal. I spend
half the time cleaning his poop."

Bardock laughed again. "In one end, out the other. It's all good,
Vegeta!"

The king made a face. "I'll take your word for it. Have arrangements
been made with Celipe?"

A shadow crossed the handsome saiyan's face. "Not exactly...I haven't
had time to tell her."

"Bardock!!"

Kakarot started chirping, his tail coiling like a spring. The Ou
pulled it straight.

"Fool...you can't just walk in with a baby!"

A pause. "I'll come up with something. Now give him to me!" Bardock
lifted the baby from Vegeta's arms. Kakarot cuddled, wrapping his
tail around a thick forearm.

"Ase'da ne pauy, Kakarot."

The chibi shrieked in response. Bardock nuzzled the sweet skin,
inhaling. "He bites a lot, eh?"

The Ou folded his arms, grinning. "Ai, he's sunk teeth in
everyone...Glerunn couldn't give him his worm shots without wearing
armor!"

Bardock bounced his mini-self. "Mostri! (Monster!) You need a muzzle."

"grawwrrrarww" needle teeth shone. Stubby legs kicked madly.

The Ou pointed at a bag on the table. "Those provisions should get
you started, until you can buy more."

Bardock stood with the cub. "Well enough."

"Time is of the essence, Bardock. Vegeta knows!"

Dark eyes went wide with shock. "He WHAT??"

"Ai, he senses their connection. I found them curled together earlier
today, asleep."

Bardock thought that over. "If I had known, I would've come earlier."

"No, it's just as well...the castle is busy today" he stood also.

"Come here."

"Hn?" Bardock turned. The Ou grabbed him in a tight embrace. Kakarot
was pressed between them.

Sticky kiss. /Care for him well./

Soft purr. /I will./

Vegeta kissed the chibi next. "Menarni (be strong) my little one,
since I will be watching. And know you are loved."

Kakarot purred. The Ou turned his back abruptly.

"Take him and go."

Nodding silently, Bardock glided out. Vegeta shut his eyes in pain,
fighting tears.

"Firestorm." he whispered to himself.


THE END