Royal Pain and it\'s Sequel Boundaries

Hi I wanted to thank everyone who responded. I also wanted to thank my new beta Wolf Guillen (aka BrokenDesire) for working so hard on it. Finally a story free of spelling errors. Anyways I hope you enjoy!

Ethereal

Chapter 3

Goku flew off towards Capsule Corp. Where he could now sense his sons and the others. Though, he’d moved to where the two new comers had landed and was to far away from Vegeta to hear him. He had the feeling Vegeta wasn’t to happy with him at the moment. Goku narrowed his eyes in a look of determination. He was going and that was that. He wouldn’t let Vegeta have all the fun. He’d find a way. He knew the others could take care of Earth by themselves. They wouldn’t be happy about it but they would let him go in the end. He didn’t know what to expect from the two new Saiyans, but he’d just like to see them try and keep him away from Vegeta. As for Vegeta himself, that would be his greatest challenge. After all, Vegeta was known for his stubbornness. But then again, so was Goku. He just wasn’t as up front about it as Vegeta was.

As he neared Capsule Corp. he could just make out the tiny amount of an unfamiliar energy down below in front of the main building. He knew very well who it was. He hovered downward, landing gently in front of the Saiyan newcomer.

~~~

“Damn you Kakorot!” Vegeta yelled for well over the thousandth time in his life. The baka couldn’t be serous could he?! Kakorot would never last a DAY in Saiyan lifestyle. Not only that, but how the hell was he supposed to mate with that sad excuse for a Saiyan Prince when Kakorot was lingering around distracting him?! And then there was that! Of all the people to fall in love with in the universe it just had to be him! “Why does fate torment me so? Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?!” He shouted at the top of his lungs (which was pretty loud) not caring who overheard.

How had that freak show Nassu survived Vegeta-sei’s destruction anyhow? Vegeta had looked upon the death of his soon to be mate as one of the few good things that had come out of his planet’s destruction. Now that babbling Saiyan that never should have been a prince, save for his bloodline, was alive and all too well. And Kakorot, Vegeta’s head started to spin. He didn’t even want to think about that. Yet, as always, Kakorot hung in his mind, forcing his way into Vegeta’s thoughts.

But Vegeta’s thoughts towards the other Saiyan were no longer of hate. Vegeta wasn’t even sure they had ever been. It seemed he wasn’t sure of anything anymore. No, his thoughts for Kakorot were quite the opposite of hate.

He fell to the ground, it seemed even his own body had turned against him, collapsing with exhaustion. Lately, that had been the way it was. He’d work and work until his body rebelled and he found he couldn’t move an inch. It helped keep his mind off of everything he could never be though; a father, a friend, and now a lover. Vegeta lay there, waiting for his body to recover. There was so much he had to do. He needed to talk to Trunks, to confront Nassu, to yell at Kakorot, and yet all he could do was lay there, lay there and wait.

~~~

Daikon waited as the low level Saiyan floated down to the ground. He had much respect for this fighter. For, though he was called a low level Saiyan, Daikon could sense his strength and knew better than to cause touble. “Did you find Vegeta?” His voice was as clear and level as ever. Daikon never let his feelings leak into his voice with anyone but Nassu. Whether they were of anger or not. It wasn’t his way. The other Saiyan nodded. “Yes he told me why you’ve come.” Daikon returned the nod, “Then he must have also told you that he has to come with us.\" Daikon said it as a statement though in truth it was a question. Any responsible prince would accept it, but Daikon knew nothing of Vegeta except for his reputation.

“Yeah, he told me that he and your Prince Nassu had to mate.” Kakorot’s words hit Daikon like an energy blast the size of a planet. For a few seconds Daikon lost his calm exterior and his whole body jerked. A few tears pushed their way from his eyes and he took half a step back. All of this happened in seconds. Kakorot hadn’t seen him, thank heavens. The low-level Saiyan’s head had been turned down toward the ground as he had spoken. Kakorot’s face was hidden from Daikon’s view. There was something odd about the way Kakorot had said the words, though Daikon couldn’t quite place it. However, when Kakorot raised his head to meet Daikon face to face, Daikon’s features were back to their normal smoothness. He’d have to try to get used to the idea of Prince Vegeta and Nassu together, it was just…


No, it was over. There was no way he and Nassu could continue. He would just have to learn to live with it or die trying. The future of the Saiyan race would come first. That was something both he and Nassu had agreed on.

“I’m going with you.” Daikon was startled away from his thoughts by Kakorot’s quiet, yet stubborn, statement. Daikon was shocked. He didn’t have any problem with Kakorot coming along. After all, he was a Saiyan which gave him every right. But Daikon couldn’t understand why Kakorot, or anyone for that matter, would choose to go when it wasn’t necessary. Ship life was hard and without recreation and for a low level it was worse. Why didn’t Kakorot choose to stay on a planet where the locals worshiped him then? Either way, it was none of his business. He nodded to Kakorot and without another word left to tell Nassu of this small change in plans.

~~~

“So you’re half Saiyan then?” His young host nodded his head. Nassu laughed, “And we thought Kakorot hadn’t taken Earth because he wasn’t strong enough but who’d have thought he’d befriend the planet’s people! And they say I don’t act properly for a Saiyan!”

“That’s because you don’t.” Nassu turned, knowing the voice’s owner instantly. “Well and aren’t we just sooo prefect!” he shot back. Daikon smiled for a second, but then his face turned serious. “Nassu we need to talk,” he glanced at Gohan, “alone.” Nassu sighed. Figures, just when they were going for a bite to eat too. Gohan nodded, “Here, I’ll show you a room you two can use if you’d like.”

“Yes, thank you.” And with that, Daikon dragged Nassu after Gohan, eager to get this off his chest.

~~~

“That other Saiyan Kakorot came back.” Nassu whipped his head around. Gohan had dropped them both off in the room about 10 minutes ago. So far neither of them had said a word until it had gotten to the point that if Daikon didn’t talk soon Nassu felt his head would blow off. Now he only wished they could have just sat there a little while longer in silence. There was no way to avoid where this conversation would lead. “And Vegeta?”

Daikon shook his head. “He’s still nowhere to be found, but Kakorot did say that he, accepted it.”

Nassu sighed heavily, there was no need to say what “it” was, and they both knew all too well. “Then it’s over.” Daikon looked as if he was doing everything to hold back his tears, “Nassu I-”

“Don’t Daikon, don’t start.” If we start we can never stop. “It can’t work out. We have no choice. It’s over Daikon; it’s all over. I do love you but…” Daikon moved over to Nassu, his touch like a gentle summer breeze. “Daikon please don’t--” Tears forced their way down Nassu face, “Please don’t ever leave me.” Daikon smiled, “Oh my Prince, you should know me better than that.” Prince, that dammed word brought an unwilling Nassu back into the cruel reality of the universe. The Saiyan race, his duties…... he couldn’t put himself first. Daikon leaned in toward him, their lips coming oh so close but Nassu had to pull away. He had to go against his feelings, for his race. “No Daikon we can’t.” His words came out in an unwanted whimper. Daikon sniffled and pulled his head up, his face too was drenched in tears. He gulped, gave one sharp nod then spun.

“Daikon no wait!” But it was no use, Daikon was out the door and dashing down the hall without a single glance back. Nassu put one hand on his rapidly beating heart, an icy chill ran through him. “Daikon, I’m so sorry.”

~~~

‘Damn that baka! Who does he think he is? He can’t go.’ Vegeta thought to himself as he landed in front of Capsule Corp., crushing the cement beneath his feet with the force of his out of control speed. Kakorot stood a short distance away, his back to Vegeta. He was staring at something in the distance. “Welcome back Vegeta!” he said in his usual cheerful voice. “How you doing?”

“How am I doing Kakorot!? How do you think I’m doing?!” Kakorot turned to him, his foolishly beautiful face coming into view. ‘What the hell is wrong with me! This is Kakorot I’m having these thoughts about!’ Vegeta berated himself.

“Now Vegeta, you’re starting to sound like Chichi used to.”

“You are comparing me to that woman?!” Kakorot nodded cheerfully. Chichi was Kakorot’s past wife. She had disappeared with out a trace 3 years ago and no one seemed to miss her. Vegeta could understand why, she was loud, annoying, and far too commanding. He couldn’t believe Kakorot would compare him to her. At the same time she had been his wife… bad thought! Kakorot couldn’t have meant it that way. Besides he had to mate with Nassu now. Kakorot smiled. “Anyways Daikon, that’s the other Saiyan, already said I could come.” Vegeta’s mouth dropped open, and for once he was speechless. Kakorot smiled once, then turned and left him there again. Vegeta shouted out the words meant for Kakorot into the open air once more. “DAMN YOU KAKOROT!!”

~~~

“Hey Trunks I really don’t think this is a good idea.” Goten whimpered for the sixth time that day. “Oh come on what would be the worst thing to happen if we got caught?”

“Well let’s see, we could get killed!” A second later Goten wished he’d kept his voice down. Trunks put his finger to his lips, “Ssshh, quiet or we will get caught.”

“You know the best way not to get caught is to just leave now.”

“Goten stop being such a pussy.”

“I am not a pussy.”

“Oh yes you are. Besides, those two Saiyans are hiding something and I’m going to find out what it is even if I have to tear this ship apart to do it.” Goten gulped, for some reason he had a feeling Trunks wasn’t going to turn back. He sighed. ‘How’d I ever get dragged into this?’

~~~

Goku watched his family and friends from the viewing window with great worry. Any moment, he prayed, he’d see Goten and Trunks running up to say goodbye but they never did. The two of them hadn’t been seen for a while and Goku was very worried. However, Vegeta had said if Goku didn’t go now he wasn’t coming so Goku had no choice but to leave without saying goodbye to his youngest son and Trunks. He carried a little communicator that Gohan said he’d contact him on when they showed up. And so, reluctantly, he’d boarded the Saiyan ship, the Tensai, and had left his beloved planet.

Now he could no longer see his friends. “I will come back one day, I promise.” Goku whispered before turning from the window. He saw Vegeta standing in a corner, his arms crossed and against his chest. Daikon was manning the ship quietly. Neither of them looked like they wanted to talk so Goku headed for his quarters to grab a bite to eat. As he passed an open door of a storage room he automatically glanced in then, not seeing any food walked on. He didn’t notice the two small heads of Goten and Trunks peeking out from behind a few storage bins.

Goku walked onward to his room. It was very small with a single small bed and a refrigerator that, from its size, could hold about ¼ of one of Goku’s meals within it.

There was a small nightstand beside the bed. Goku just prayed there was a kitchen located somewhere in the ship that he could use. Otherwise he was going to starve. Another horror came to his mind. What if he was expected to cook his own meals?! He hadn’t thought of that. He prayed Vegeta would cook him something. The smaller Saiyan wasn’t too happy with him right now though. He was in big trouble.

His stomach growled as if on cue. “Ok Goku you can do This. Just try to think about something else.” He scanned the tiny room franticly looking for a distraction. On the top of the nightstand there was a suit of armor similar to the one Daikon wore. Goku guessed he was supposed to put it on. He sighed and pulled off his familiar orange and blue gi. He found himself staring down at the familiar fabric, running his hands over it. So many memories were held in its threads. Of his friends and family, as well as his adopted planet, the only place he’d ever known as home. He held the cloth to his face and inhaled its scent. He would most likely never wear it in the service of Earth again.

He sighed and opened the top drawer placing his old suit within. He closed the drawer back up and it seemed a large part of him disappeared from sight along with his old suit. He then went to get the black spandex under garment of his new armor and pulled it on.

It fit well enough but still felt foreign. With a sigh, he pulled the top piece of armor over his head. It was white and stiff, but made in a way that still allowed room for movement. It had a shoulder plate and a neck guard as well. In appearance it had looked very heavy but in truth it was extremely light and flexible. He picked up the white gloves and slipped them on. They reached just below his elbows and were made of a strong comfortable material similar to that of Vegeta’s gloves. Next came the bottom section of the outfit. It too was white and included jointed leg armor and boots. Now fully dressed, he peered down at himself. The armor had amber colored marks running down it and a sash built into the waist. It covered every inch of him, save for his head, yet he still felt naked as he stepped out of his room. His stomach growled and his hunger returned. He moaned then went to see if he could beg a meal out of Vegeta despite how unhappy he was with Goku at that time.


~~~

“Hey Goten I think you’d better come and look at this.” Trunks stood in front of the tiny viewing window, his expression one of utter shock. Goten moved to stand beside him but jumped back when he looked at the viewing window. “Stars, but there wouldn’t be any stars on Earth.”

“We’re in space, baka.” Trunks said gruffly.

Goten stared at him, now even more worried. “Trunks what’s wrong?” Trunks shook his head. “I think this ship’s taken off.” Goten stared at his best friend in shock.

“You mean were not on Earth?!” Trunks nodded slowly.

Goten felt a sudden mixture of fear and self-blame. Fear because they were trapped in outer space on a Saiyan ship. Self-blame because it was his fault for not saying no. If he had they wouldn’t be there in the first place. He sat down hard where he previously stood. Trunks saw the shame written all over his best friend’s face. He knelt down, taking the younger boy in his arms. “It’s okay Goten, we’ll get through this alright. Listen, I think I saw Goku pass by a little while ago.” Goten looked up, confused. “Tou-san?” Trunks nodded.

“Come on, lets go see if we can find him.” Goten smiled and nodded. Trunks smiled back, getting up then reaching out a hand to help Goten up as well. Together, they left their spot among the storage bins in search of Goku.

Goku stopped straight in his tracks, dazzled. Then he fell down, cracking up and completely out of control.

“Vegeta, what are you wearing!!” He practically screamed as he stared up at Vegeta though eyes that were now tearing because of how hard he was laughing. You see, Vegeta had changed too, into something Goku had never dreamed to see him wearing. Instead of his usual blue and white armor, he wore a long white robe with blue trimmings. It was the kind worn in ancient Earth, though, Goku never dreamed to see one on Vegeta. The prince’s face was turning bright red against the white fabric. “For your information Kakorot, this is what is considered proper attire for a Saiyan Prince to wear to a festivity. Goku giggled, “And what do you wear into battle, dresses?” Vegeta’s face turned even redder, though Goku couldn’t tell whether from anger, or embarrassment. “We wear armor you baka! This is not a dress. This has been worn for many generations by men on both Vegeta-sei and Earth!” Goku giggled again, “Hey, take it easy Vegeta. It actually
looks kinda good on you.”

“I do not remember asking for your opinion on the matter Kakorot!”

“Ok, ok sorry.” Goku got to his feet and put his hand on the back of his head and a very pleading expression appeared on his face. “Ah Vegeta?”

“What is it now Kakorot?”

He started twiddling his fingers together, “Well you see they don’t have any cooked food on this ship and I’m really hungry!”

Vegeta stared at him for a moment then, to both his and Goku’s surprise, his laughter filled the air. “Oh alright Kakorot, I’ll make you something.” Goku’s face beamed and a huge smile emerged. He then followed Vegeta to the ship\'s kitchen, mouth watering.

~~~


Daikon’s hands flew over the control plane with great skill. He keyed in their course. Once it was laid he double and triple checked it because once the Tensai’s controls were set, it was impossible to change course.

It had been set up that way on Vegeta-sei long ago so that if, by chance there was a traitor on board, he couldn’t change course and start the ship on a run for disaster. Indeed the Tensai was savage proof, even for the crew. Once they started off there would be no turning back; the ship would fly itself straight to their destination, a planet similar to Vegeta-sei where they could start over. Daikon sighed remembering Nassu’s beautiful but sad face staring at him so Longingly. The only problem was that he didn’t want to start over.

~~~

It was not Goku that Trunks and Gotten found, or rather were found by. It was one of the strangers. He now stared down at them, his eyes completely blank. Trunks stood in front of Goten; he wouldn’t let his friend get hurt. Goten stared up into the eyes of the Saiyan. “Come.” The Saiyan turned slowly then without looking back started off. The two best friends exchanged a quick glance before darting after him.

~~~

Daikon could hear the two young half Saiyans behind him running to catch up. Now that his face was out of sight he let the great amount of worry he held show there. He knew the two, the first was Kakorot’s younger son, Goten. The second worried him more. He was Trunks, Vegeta’s son. By “right” the young half-breed had every say to the thrown after Nassu’s and Vegeta’s fall. However, he knew the pain that being royalty would cause the boy and had tried to leave him out of this. Now he wasn’t certain he’d have a choice. The Tensai’s course was laid and the ship only had enough power to make one jump. In a jump a yearlong journey can take only a day. But first they would have to go to the new planet. Then, and only then, could they get the two back to where they belong. He found Vegeta in the Tensai’s kitchen, Kakorot was with him.

“Daddy!!” The happy wail came form behind him.

“Goten?! What are you doing here?” Goten ran for his father squeezing him in a huge hug. “I’m so, so sorry daddy I’ll never do it again.”

“Do what Goten?”

“I snuck onto the ship with Trunks. We didn’t mean anything by it really.”

“Trunks?” Vegeta’s cold voice called his son to him. Trunks walked up nervously to his father. “Gomen, Tou-san, it won’t happen again.”

Vegeta stared down at Trunks, horror filling him. He wanted so much to protect the boy from the obligations of this bloodline. Trunk’s head was held down in shame. Vegeta sighed, the boy hadn’t meant any harm. He nodded slowly before turning to Daikon. “How soon can we get them back?”

Daikon turned to Vegeta, “We don’t have the power for another jump, we’ll have to wait until we reach the new planet.” Vegeta nodded, “And how long will that take?”

“Eight days, seven at best.” Reluctantly Vegeta placed an hand on Trunks shoulder. The boy looked up at him in surprise. Vegeta allowed a small smile to spread across his lips, “Then I suppose we’d better get a couple of rooms set up for these two.”