To Win a Royal Heart

To Win a Royal Heart



A/N: This is where we start bouncing back and forth between the past and present...hopefully you can follow it relatively well ^^;



Chapter 3



Vegeta paced, his brows drawn down into a deep frown. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Woman, I know you’re smarter than that, get on it already! I want Kakarotto back, and I want him back NOW!” He yelled, stomping his foot to exaggerate the fact. “What is the delay already?”



Having been the victim of Vegeta’s temper tantrums plenty of times before, Bulma laughed. “Vegeta, you look like a spoiled little boy when you do that. As a matter of fact, you ARE a spoiled little boy!” She ignored his hiss and went on to explain, her voice softening slightly. “Vegeta, I want to get Goku and Goten back too, but I really need more time to examine this box. It’s very mysterious…I can’t find anything written about it anywhere; it’s most likely alien, and that means some heavy duty searching and studying.”



“Well just don’t take forever…get all those scientists that are forever cowering before you and kissing your ass to come over here and work on it with you. Do whatever it takes, woman.” Vegeta finished softly before turning to leave the room.



“Vegeta…you know, I thought you would have been happy to have Goku gone. I mean, you complain about him every minute of your waking day, and you’re constantly telling him to his face that you don’t like him, and don’t want him hanging around. Now all of a sudden, you act all freaked out when he’s gone for a few hours. If it weren’t you and he we were talking about, I’d say you’d developed a little crush!”



Vegeta froze at the door, gritting his teeth before he turned back. “Kakarotto, no matter how annoying and mind-numbingly idiotic, is the only other like me left….” He paused, closing his eyes briefly. “Don’t waste time asking questions, just get him back.” He said, turning and disappearing out the door.



He wanted to kill something. He wanted to blow something up, to make someone suffer for making him suffer. It had been eighteen hours…forty-four minutes…and sixteen seconds since Goku had disappeared. At first, it hadn’t seemed very bad at all, though he had been worried about the baka and his slightly demented offspring. Then he had gone to bed, slipping into an exhausted sleep after all the fighting that had been done the past few days; that’s when the dreams started. Strange dreams of his youth that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember them when he awoke. For some reason he knew they included Goku somewhere, but how the earth-raised Saiyan fit into the dreams, he had no clue. When he awoke, it was there…a strong pull deep inside him that created an incessant need to see and touch the man, to know that he was ok and not dead. Again.



*****



Shortly after his defeat of Nappa, Bardock led Goku to another armory, where he was issued new armor; armor reserved for the Elite. Goku didn’t see much of a difference between the armor aside from the color, but he shrugged and accepted it without a word of protest. Bardock waited until they stepped out of the armory before he spoke.



“I must say, you surprised me. I really didn’t think you would turn out to be that good of a fighter.” He said without much emotion.



Goku smiled and shrugged. “Not everyone is what they seem.”



“By the way. Your son…Goten. He was ranked second class, and came out with the highest rating out of those he tested with. Two surprises in one day, I’m not sure I could take much more..” Bardock quipped sarcastically. “If you want to see him, I’ll show you where his living quarters are.”



Goku blinked and turned towards his father. “Living quarters…you mean we’re not staying in the empty barracks anymore?”



Bardock snorted. “Hardly. Goten’s quarters are on the third floor, east wing.” He replied, turning down another hallway. Goku tried his best to memorize their travels, but it was near impossible with all the hallways that looked the same. They climbed a wide flight of stairs, giving way to a quiet hallway. They stopped before a door and Bardock lifted his hand, pressing the small button next to the sign that read “#343s Goten”. Goku’s smile beamed as the door slid open, revealing a very tired but happy Goten.



“Son! I heard how you did in your testing, that’s great!” he cried, stepping inside to clap his hand on his son’s shoulder.



“Thanks dad…I heard you did pretty well too…heard you beat the crap out of that guy Nappa!”



Goku snickered softly, casting a glance at Bardock, who stood in the doorway watching them with interest. Bardock, caught staring, coughed lightly and looked away.



Goten stepped forward. “So Bardock…do you have any sons?” He asked innocently. Goku inhaled deeply and choked while Bardock nodded softly.



“I do. Two.”



“Yea? Where are they?” Goten pressed, still acting as nonchalant as possible while Goku fidgeted nervously.



“My oldest son recently returned from clearing out the planet Gorushka. My youngest son….” He trailed off slightly, and then squared his shoulders as he looked at both of them. “My youngest son was sent to the planet Earth, but hasn’t…returned.” He paused, and then stepped forward, his hand rising slightly. “I’m sure he’s fine…but…years have passed, the planet should have been purged by now. However, the son of a third class isn’t worth going to look for, I was told.” He added, his chin rising slightly as his eyes flashed with anger.



Goku suddenly felt ill. He had never thought that his father might have thought much about him, but it was clear now that Bardock had tried to get his superiors to look for him, but had failed. It’s the way it was meant to be…if they had found you, you wouldn’t be the person you are today…and the earth wouldn’t have been saved repeatedly. He thought, swallowing the lump in his throat. The silence in the room grew, and finally Bardock cleared his throat, the other two saiyans looking up sharply from their own thoughts.



“Anyway…I’ll show you to your quarters, Goku, and then you two can spend some time together before Goten leaves in the morning.” Bardock said, turning towards the door.



“Huh…wait! Leaves? Leaves where?!” Goku exclaimed, noting the blank look on his son’s face. Bardock turned slowly back to them, his eyes darting between father and son. “Goten is scheduled to leave for duty upon Frieza’s ship for three months. He leaves in the morning.”



Goten’s face drained of all it’s color. “F..f…frieza?” He asked quietly, licking his lips as he turned towards Goku.



Oh Kami…. “Ah…are you sure he’s going to be leaving…I mean, after all, he just got here…” Goku said, his voice taking on a strained tone.



“Yes, I’m positive. Anyway, let me show you to your quarters so I can go home. It’s been a long day.” Bardock said as he walked through the door before turning to look back at Goten. “You’re a strong young man, Goten. Work hard and make us all proud.” He said softly before disappearing around the corner.



Up and up they went, following the steep winding staircase; Goku counted the levels as they passed them, and had decided, by the time they stepped past the last set of guards and into a plush hallway, that they were on the 25th floor. This floor was distinctly different than the rest they had been past, with it’s dark plush carpeting and tapestry covered walls. Dim lights shined forth from jeweled sconces on the walls, and every twenty feet or so, the ceiling gave way to thick glass that allowed you to look into the dark sky.



They passed a few doors before passing a wide hall to the right that led to a small staircase and two huge double doors, a pair of guards standing stoically in front of them.



Goku’s dark eyes slid toward Bardock, who didn’t so much as glance in his direction. “What was down that hallway back there?” Goku asked, jerking his head to the side as they passed another set of massive double doors; these were not guarded, however. Just past the double doors, they slowed at a smaller set of doors; Goku frowned slightly, looking to Bardock for an answer.



As he slowed, Bardock threw a glance over his shoulder. “The hall back there? That leads to King Vegeta’s chambers.”



Goku’s jaw dropped. “Well…then…. so this is the royal family’s living area?!” Goku whispered harshly, hoping they wouldn’t get caught there. “What are we doing here, Bardock?”



Bardock cast him a narrowed look and snorted, pushing the double doors open to reveal a dimly lit room that was devoid of any personal possessions. Five steps led down into the sunken room and gave way to an exquisite yet simply decorated sitting room that contained a few extravagant plush chairs, a table and a fireplace. The room curved in a half circle until it met with the wide opening at the far end, giving Goku a good view of the large bed and other sparse furnishings in the room beyond.



“Where did you think the Prince’s defender would sleep? Halfway across the keep?” Bardock asked with wry amusement.



Goku paused. “This…this is MY room?!” He exclaimed, following Bardock into the bedroom beyond.



“Yes, these are your new quarters. This door here…” He motioned with his hand to the small door on the north wall of his bedroom. “Is the door to Prince Vegeta’s quarters; your rooms are joined by this door in case of emergency. Here’s the main rule. If you’re called for, or if you hear something suspicious or a struggle, you crash through that door and kill anyone who attempts to lay a hand on the Prince, unless it’s the King, of course. Aside from that, you don’t touch this door. Understood?”



Goku stared at the door, blinking. “Yes…I understand.”



“Good.” Bardock answered with a nod. “Your breakfast will be sent up at six a.m.; if you don’t answer your door, they will leave it outside for you. You’ll most likely be called by the Prince shortly after eight, so make sure you’re around.”



“All right.” Goku said softly, his mind spinning.



“Good night, Goku.” Bardock said, making his way back out of the bedroom. As he climbed the steps to the front door, he turned and waved. Goku lifted his hand in a silent goodbye and watched as his father disappeared into the hall, closing the double doors behind him.



After he was alone, he glanced around his new home, his eyes wide with wonder. So deep were his thoughts that he nearly jumped at the soft tapping on the double doors as the hollow sound echoed through the room. He ran up the steps and opened the doors, smiling as Goten’s face appeared. “Goten! I was just about to go back to your room!” Goku exclaimed, opening the door for his son to enter.



Goten grinned widely, his eyes wandering over the rooms his father was given. “Yeah, well I thought your room would be much more comfortable than mine, and I was right!” He exclaimed, flopping his tall frame into one of the plush chairs. Goku laughed softly, sitting in the chair across from him.



“Son…I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow.” He started, watching as his son shifted uncomfortably.



“I know, dad. I have to go, don’t I?” He asked softly.



Goku sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with a frown. “I wish I could say no, you don’t, but I can’t say that, Goten. Until we find a way home…we are under their control. We are no longer Saiyans living as Humans, but Saiyans living as Saiyans, and that means we’re ruled over like all the rest. We must do what is necessary to fit in until we can get out of here. Even…even if it means working for Frieza. It won’t be for long, I’m sure. Bulma will find a way to bring us back, I know she will.”



Goten nodded and sighed softly. “But dad, remember, I’m not all Saiyan like you…it’s harder for me…” He said, hoping he didn’t sound like he was whining.



“No son, I don’t think it is.” He smiled. “You’ll do fine.” He stood, pulling his son out of the chair and into a hug.



“Ok dad, but what about Frieza? He’s supposed to blow the planet up, and we don’t know when! I don’t want to leave you here not knowing that!” Goten said, nearly growling in frustration.



“Goten, don’t worry about it. Remember, Vegeta will be off of the planet when it blows, which means I will be too. I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon anyway, so don’t get upset, son.” He flashed a reassuring smile to his uneasy son.



Finally managing a smile, Goten stood, stretching slightly. “Well, I’d better get back and get some sleep, I have to get up really early…” he complained.



“Take care of yourself, Goten. Keep your mind open so I can link with you if I need to get a hold of you, all right son? And be careful…remember to play the part no matter what.”



“Ok dad; I’ll miss you…be careful.” Goten said as he stood, watching as his father simply nodded in response. Goten strode to the double doors and opened them, stopping as he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.



“Son, I’m very proud of you. I just want you to know that.” Goku said with a small smile.



*****





Vegeta tapped his chin, his eyes rising to look toward the solitary door across the room. Behind that door was his new bodyguard, a mysterious man that no one seemed to have any information about.



“His name is Goku…” Vegeta muttered softly, a thin index finger stroking itself over the curve of his narrow chin. “He has a son, a year older than I, whose name is Goten. Neither name is Saiyan.” He mused, wondering if anyone else had noticed that small yet obvious fact. “Probably not, they’re all idiots.” He briefly pondered his race’s abilities when one put all the facts together; the man was mysterious, no one knew him. He couldn’t name the township he was from, he wasn’t listed on any of the township and village rosters, nor was the name “Goku” or “Goten” found in the birth registers. “Who the hell is he?” Vegeta growled, standing to pace around his room.



The man angered him, and he couldn’t put a finger on why; he was suspicious, true, but that wasn’t it. Just looking at the man infuriated him in the most annoying way, and even more aggravating was the way it seemed to just make him more curious; he had to know more about this “Goku”. Vegeta paused in his pacing, the man’s image flashing through his mind; licking his lips, he reached out, his sweat dampened hand coming in contact with the cold, smooth surface of the metal door handle. As softly as he could, he pressed the handle and pushed the door open, his eyes narrowing to peer through the slowly widening crack between the door and the door jam. Very dim light lit the room beyond, and he could see off to his right that the sitting room was completely dark. ‘He must be in bed..’



Straightening his shoulders, he pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped into the room, his nose immediately lifting to breathe the man’s scent deeply into his lungs. He closed his eyes as he ran the scent over his tongue, surprised that the man’s scent affected him in such away. Never before had another man’s scent done so. Or a woman’s for that matter. Frowning, he shook himself lightly, immediately turning his head to the left to inspect the sleeping form of Goku, who was laying on his back in bed, the sheets wrapped loosely around his narrow hips. One solid arm bent at the elbow to drape it’s hand over the sculpted abs that rose slowly with each breath, which were expelled softly through slightly parted lips. Vegeta stared, his dark eyes confused as he felt drawn to the man, not noticing as his feet took one step after another until he suddenly found himself next to the bed, his head tilted downwards to look over the man with unabashed awe.



He wasn’t a large man, but power radiated from him in waves that accented his finely muscled body perfectly, each muscle like a sculpture whose artist had slaved over for years to get it perfect; all those muscles had been sewn together and bound in silky flesh and formed into the most perfect male specimen Vegeta had ever seen. He was spellbound, his lithe body bending to hover over the other man, his eyes wide and curious as they stared closely at Goku’s soft chiseled features, his breath catching as the dark thick lashes that lay against the man’s pink-tinted cheeks quivered slightly. He froze, praying to all the gods that he had not awoken the man, and relaxed visibly as Goku’s breaths continued softly and evenly.



‘What is it about this man that draws me so? Why do I find him so…attractive? It’s like I’m under a spell of some kind.’ Vegeta thought idly as he lowered his face, exhaling shakily as his lips brushed the sleeping man’s ever so softly, the prince’s dark eyes rolling closed at the heat that flared unexpectedly between his legs; a small moan escaped his throat before he could quell it.

His eyes were suddenly wide as power exploded around him, a strong hand wrapping itself around his throat. He choked out a small cry as he was lifted off the ground by his neck, his hands clawing at the offending appendage before his struggles stopped all together as awe set in. His bulging eyes were still as he watched the strange metamorphosis before him, as Goku’s hair was suddenly on fire with a golden haze, the power beating against him was deliciously arousing, it’s taste like ambrosia on his tongue. That was his last thought before he passed out, hanging limply from the man’s clenched hand.



Goku had heard the noise, and slowly swam to the surface of consciousness to feel someone bending over him, something brushing his lips softly. With a silent growl his power spiked, his hand lashing out to grab that someone by the throat; He slowly sat up, his eyes cracking open sleepily before realizing that the figure had stopped struggling; his eyes lifted to the figure, whose familiar dark eyes were wide with shock. ‘VEGETA!’ His mind screamed just as the young man’s eyes fell closed. “SHIT!” He cursed, releasing the young man and laying the prince down onto the bed. He cringed at the rough redness around Vegeta’s throat. He powered down, releasing the Super Saiyan form that he had burst into while still partially asleep; and he knew by the stunned look on the young saiyan’s features before passing out that Vegeta had seen it all.



“Vegeta?” He asked softly, patting the young man’s cheek. “Hey Vegeta, are you ok?” After a few seconds, a small moan was issued, followed by a choked cough before the obsidian eyes opened slowly to look up at Goku blankly.



Goku could tell that Vegeta was determining whether or not he had really seen what he thought he saw; of course, his pride would throw the idea right out the window, or so Goku was hoping. He was rewarded a second later when the prince resumed his ranting.



“Well, what do you have to say? Are you mute, or what? Speak, man!” Vegeta growled, his hands resting on his slim hips.



Goku’s eyebrows lifted, then nodded slowly. “Ah…sorry about that; but you should never sneak up on a sleeping man. If I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have acted so harshly, but…” He was abruptly cut off.



“Don’t presume to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. This is MY home, I am YOUR prince, and YOU are MY bodyguard. Nothing more. I can enter these rooms at any time I like, so get used to it. One more incident like that, and I will kill you without warning.” He huffed, stomping over to the still-opened door that led to his chambers. “You will be expected to travel with me to Frieza-sama’s ship tomorrow after breakfast so be ready. “He snapped, throwing a deadly glare over his shoulder before walking through the doorway and slamming the door behind him. On the other side he stopped short, leaning his back against the wall, his right hand absently rubbing the sore flesh at his throat. He was so aroused it hurt. “What the hell is happening to me?” He asked himself softly. This would have to stop; he had never been aroused by anyone or anything before, and it was foreign to him. ‘Damn it that man infuriates me!’ He growled silently before launching himself away from the door to ready himself for bed.



Goku stood in his room, still staring at the closed door, his arms crossed across his bare chest. A small smile crept upon his lips as he remembered the sensation of soft lips brushing against his; Vegeta had been kissing him before he had attacked, but why? Goku sighed and scratched his head as he slipped back under the sheets of his bed, then lay back to stare up at the ceiling. He had always had secret desires concerning Vegeta, ever since their first fight. The man had so much passion, so much feeling, yet he would not share any of it, and that is the one thing Goku wanted...to feel that passion, to experience it. Goku shook his head softly, his eyes closing as an image assaulted his mind, his manhood responding readily. Tomorrow would be a long day.