Legend

Chapter warning: Too many secrets - a prelude to the
final action-packed chapters!
Thank you to Koneko and vaderboy for your kind reviews, and to all
my forum family who like to read and comment on my little narratives.
Feedback is important, as you well know!

Disclaimer: see Prologue

___________________________________________________________


Legend: Sacrifice

I’m aboard the prince’s battleship and I have yet to see the
General since our last night together. Was I fool} sto share my secret
with him? No matter. There’s no one on this ship, including the prince
or his general, who can threaten me. I will do what I have to do.

We’re already well on our way toward meeting the death star, five
of us besides the prince, Kakarotto and the engineers — four men
and one woman with a mission. Then he’s here.

“Everyone to the bridge for briefing,” he says and his eyes
avoid my face. We follow him out to the bridge. I can’t take my eyes
off his broad back as he moves, powerful, sleek as a cat.

The prince is there, regal, handsome, relaxed, arms folded across his
chest. It’s the first time I can study him up close. As Kakarotto
joins his side, the prince’s eyes move from man to man and finally
rest on me. One side of his mouth crooks up and his eyebrows draw down
in a look that I can’t possibly interpret. He leans toward the General
to whisper something, and Kakarotto’s head turns as he bendsn
n
to hear him. As he does so, his neck is exposed.

Everyone is suddenly staring at me. Someone has gasped and stifled a cry.
I realize with horror that it’s me and that my hand is covering my
mouth. The prince is laughing with glee. My eyes finally seek Kakarotto’s
and pain is etched in his face as clearly as if someone has taken a knife
and carved it in. His eyes beg me to understand.

Oh, Kakarotto! It wasn’t necessary! If only you had spoken to me
first. If only if only if only!!

Somehow I make it through the briefing though I can barely remember a
word of it. I feel their eyes on me constantly, the prince’s cruel
gloating gaze, Kakarotto’s sad eyes. I can’t take my eyes off
him, willing him to tell me why why why he did it.

As the ship hurtles through space, I toss on my cot, unable to sleep for
the third time since I started this journey. How could so much have happened
so fast? How could I have gone from the goals and ambitions I set for
myself to being in such a mess?

It’s late. Here in space, time ceases to exist and the darkness is
pervading. On Vejita-sei, it’s two a.m., the time we’re using,
and I’ll need to be up in three hours. I’m not going to be able
to sleep, so I get up and quietly make my way through the ship to the
galley.

I start getting a glass of water and then wonder if there’s something
stronger, so I rummage through the bottles, finding some strong Saiya-jin
liquor. I raise my power level slightly and pop the top off with my bare
hands, then slam the bottle on a table and sit there stewing.

Half a bottle later, my eyelids are getting heavy and I lay my head on
the table for just a moment to rest.


**********

(Kakarotto)

I feel the short burst of her ki and quietly slip out of bed. Vejita’s
chest is rising and falling with that rhythmic movement of one who’s
deeply asleep. I want to touch him — no, I’m compelled to touch
him — but I restrain myself. The bonding isn’t quite complete
yet, and I still have some autonomy, so I pull on pajama bottoms and follow
her ki to the galley.

She’s fast asleep with her head on a table and a half-drunk bottle
of whiskey in front of her. Amazing! I would have expected to find her
passed out on the floor after that much!

I don’t know how to rouse her without startling her, so I pull a
chair up and gently touch her shoulder. She snores and rolls her head,
so I shake her a little. When she finally looks up at me, I can tell she’s
having trouble focusing.

“K-kakarotto?”

I grin at her. With a shake of her short hair, she manages to sit up and
gaze at me. I touch her face, laying my palm along her cheek.

“Forgive me,” I whisper.

“You’re such a fool, General,” she whispers, and kisses
my palm. “It wasn’t necessary.”

I nod. “Yes, it was.”

“No, it wasn’t.” She’s adamant. “And you will
soon know why.”


********

(Nashika)

He looks confused, and I desperately want to reassure him, but I can’t.
I lace my fingers in his and I’m thrilled to feel his pulse quicken.

“The bonding isn’t complete?” I ask, barely able to contain
my joy.

He smiles ruefully. “It takes more than just one sip. But he won’t
wait much longer. So whatever your second secret is, you better reveal
it soon.”

“Hold him off until after the battle. Can you?”

He pulls me to him and kisses my forehead. “He’s compelling,
Nashika, and I’m uke. But I’ll try.”

We return to our rooms and I’m finally able to sleep.


******

(Kakarotto)

I slip between the covers next to Vejita and feel him stir beside me.


His voice is sleepy. “Where were you, koi?”

“I just needed a drink.” I curl up behind his small form, spooning
him. He sighs and snuggles into me, taking my hand from his hip and lacing
his fingers through mine, just as Nashika had done moments before. My
pulse quickens at his touch.

What a mess I’ve gotten myself into!

continued.....