Legend

Chapter warning: Angst. Poor smitten Vejita!

Disclaimer: see Prologue

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Legend: Liaison


“General, you will be under the prince’s command on this mission.
You will take five of your best men. That should be sufficient. And take
your new recruit — what was her name, Vejita?”

“Nashika, father.”

I glance at the prince’s face and hope that mine shows no emotion
whatever. But he’s not supressing his emotion. The smirk, the body
language, the lowered eyebrows all tell me one thing — this is his
doing and he’s gloating about it.

“Nashika. How is she doing, General? She was one hellcat of a fighter!”

“She’s doing very well, sire. The masters are impressed with
her skill.”

The king strokes his beard for moment. “There’s something about
her style that seems familiar.” He drifts off for a moment, reflecting
on this thought, then shrugs slightly and laughs.

“I’m out of shape and practice, General. That’s why Vejita
is leading this mission. I’m sure I don’t need to emphasize
the importance of it and the faith we’re placing in you.”

“I have no doubt that the general will fulfill this mission quickly
and efficiently, father,” Vejita says. His eyes have never left my
face.

I’m dismissed, so I bow formally to the king and prince and take
my leave, but Vejita follows me out the door. He’s several steps
behind me when I hear him call my name.

I wait to round a corner before turning. He pulls up short as he nearly
runs into me and, by his expression, I can tell he knows what I’m
thinking.

“Kakarotto,” he says again, and I see fear and longing in his
eyes.

“Sire.” The look I give him is cold, formal, and I draw myself
up to my full height. If we were to engage in battle — and I’ve
sparred often enough with him to know — the only fighting advantage
I would have on the prince would be my height and my weight. His battle
skills are second to none. But, in my battle armor and standing rigidly
at attention, and taking full advantage of his feelings for me —
his only weakness — the effect is immediate and dramatic as
I stare down at him.

He takes one step backward. His lips part slightly and he raises his chin.

Neither of us say a word. I spin on my heel and leave him.


**********

(Vejita)

Maybe I won’t wait to see her die in battle. Maybe I’ll kill
the bitch with my own hand. If he thinks he can ignore me — if he
thinks he can intimidate me... Two days and she’s already
come between us.

Koibito, what I’d give to have you in my bed every night! And when
this campaign is done and she’s dead, I’ll rip you over the
edge and into my arms forever!

I always get what I want.


**********


(Nashika)

I’m handed a note by the barracks master, and I flop on my cot to
read it.

“Midnight, the gardens. Be careful. K.”

I crumple the paper and hold it tightly in my fist. My heart is beating
wildly. If I were wise, I’d ignore the summons. But I haven’t
been wise since I set foot in this place, and I find that I’m desperate
to see him.

At midnight, dressed in black, I slip out. Keeping to the shadows along
the edges of the compound, I find my way to the gardens. I see the silhouette
of a tall man, his solid body blacker than the surrounding darkness. He
turns and I catch a glint of his eye in the pale sliver of moonlight.

The very next moment, I’m swept into his arms and his hungry mouth
is claiming mine. As I respond to his kiss, I realize with some horror
that I’ve already doomed my plan to usurp the throne. I’m in
love.


**********


(Kakarotto)

Kami, kami, kami...she feels so good that I never want to let her go!
But I do.

I take her to the very centf thf the gardens and we sit on the cool, damp
ground.
“I’m sure I’m being followed,” I say, and I can see
the sharp turn of her head in the pale moonlight. “It doesn’t
matter, anyway. Vejita is sending us on a mission with the sole purpose
of seeing you destroyed. There’s a death star that Vejita wants to
apprehend and destroy even though he isn’t sure if it’s headed
this way.”

I feel her movement, and I put my arm around her shoulders. She leans
against me and sighs.

“When do we leave?”

“In two days. Vejita is in charge.”

“Then maybe I have more to fear from him than from the battle.”

She’s quiet for a minute, then she takes a breath as if she’s
about to say something, then stops. One more inhale and she whispers,
“I’m going to tell you my secret.”

I know she’s hesitant to trust me with this, so I say, “You
don’t have to. I still need to beat you in battle, you know.”
It’s my pitiful attempt at levity, but she’s serious. What she
says next makes my heart sink in fear.

“The prince — Vejita — is my...half-brother. The king is
my father.”


...continued