CHAPTER THREE:

Bardock stretched aching muscles as he stepped out of the trap door that led to his lab. He smiled and greeted his neighbors as they went about trying to gather their little ones for dinner. Breathing in the sweet, clear air, the sharp delicious smell of his mate’s cooking penetrated his senses, causing his stomach to growl in hunger again.

~ Hmm…we are having smoked a’kai  tonight. Guess I better call the boys. ~

And so shutting his eyes, he stretched out his senses seeking for their ki signatures.

“Ha’ku Re’sun  Bardock.” Came a deep voice beside him. “Long time no see.”

Snapping his eyes open, Bardock jerked around as he noticed the familiar scarred face of his former rebel wa’zua and friend.

“A...Azusa?” he gasped out in disbelief.

“Ahi , Bardock.” Came the quiet reply as a small smile graced the sensual lips.

Bardock could only stare, flabbergasted, at the tall, shorthaired Saiyan fighter, who was draped in the traditional robes but hidden within the confines of a hood, in front of him. This was impossible.

“I thought…I thought… that the king had captured you as well. What…what… happened to you?” Bardock asked in a rush, his mind whirling with contradictory emotions.

“It is a long story, Bardock. Come fly a little way with me.” Seeing the worried glance the other man gave towards his house, Azusa continued quickly, “I promise to return you home, before the wife notices your absence.”

“Alright. Let’s go.” Bardock muttered softly, not sure if he wanted to go with the man he had…

~ Za’ani ! I can’t start thinking about that now. ~

But he couldn’t help it. Openly gaping at Azusa, as they flew over the slopes of the running hills towards the surrounding woodland area, he drank in the sight of the Saiyan he had thought lost forever. He could still remember the anguish that had speared through him at the news of his disappearance. Bardock had never forgiven himself for allowing Azusa to go after the King’s army on his own. To him, Azusa had been like a brother, a friend and a…a…lover and feeling his face heat up with memories of their shared moments together, he coughed slightly and maintained a safe distance away from the other handsome scarred face warrior.

They eventually landed at the outskirts of the town, each man silent as years of separation hung like a noose above their heads.

“What happened, Azusa?” Bardock asked softly, trying very hard not to look at the other man, but failing miserably. His heart was thumping so wildly now, that he thought Azusa must have heard it. “Where were you all these years?”

“Nu ra’hi …” Azusa whispered quietly, his dark velvet eyes holding Bardock’s captive as he leaned forward to brush cold ones against the warmth waiting for him. Bardock whimpered softly as he felt Azusa’s velvety tongue slide into his mouth. Groaning now, he reached for the short locks and pressing himself tightly against the other rebel, he deepened the kiss, as tails intertwined and curled in seductive caresses against each other. For several sweet torturous minutes, they clung together in their intimate embrace, neither wanting to let the other go as memories of a passion once shared resonated in frazzled minds. Finally releasing each other for air, Bardock gasped out raggedly,

“I can’t believe I am doing this with you now. I have Laetha…”

“I know, nu ra’hi .” Azusa gasped out, as he trailed his lips down the muscled neck. “But I burn for you. I have waited long enough and I can wait no longer.”

Bardock tried to will his thoughts into coherency. “You…you… promised to tell me what happened to you...”

“Ahi, all in time. But for now…” Azusa muttered softly as he claimed Bardock’s lips again in a bruising kiss. This time, he pulled the unresisting Saiyan ex-rebel to the soft grassy earth and for the next hour, no words needed to be said.

-*-*-*-*-

The morning mist is whiter than a ship
A transparent stone of faraway tears
Stones buried in the cruel earth
Even midwinter flowers freeze, I call
The color of cold flesh
I call shrilly in the whirling wind
And walk on alone, just walk on.

Laetha hummed softly to herself as she mixed the thick dough for the bread that her men loved to eat. Dressed in a navy blue she’olai , her long shaggy locks were done in a long ponytail that draped gracefully down her slender back. She had the body of a wa’zua  and she was darn proud of it. She could hold her own in battle and she made no qualms about protecting her little boys…although they were old enough to take care of themselves.

Marriage had definitely been good to her. She couldn’t be happier with her lot and though she had missed her husband for seven years due to the rebellion, she was satisfied knowing that he still loved her as much as she loved him. She had been supportive in his decision to leave the rebel group, and had tried to hide her happiness at his decision. She had not dared bring up the conversation of leaving in the earlier days of their union and she had thanked Za’ani  for making him come to his senses. Bardock had resigned and had spent the last years with their second son, who was just as wild as his father had been.

Smiling softly, she pondered on what the future held for her boys. Radditsu had mated with Saida and they were about to have a s’au  on the way, and as for Kakkarrot, her little kin’tai  was to be mated with Kayla in the upcoming Sai’joun  festival. Laetha grinned. Her sons had chosen strong women for themselves and she couldn’t be prouder. Her only bleak spot was from the fact that her older boy would be leaving for the elite forces next week. Sighing, she pounded the dough harder wishing that there were some other way for Radditsu to stay. She kept having this nasty feeling that something foreboding was in the future.

~ And where in Vegetasei are those men anyway? ~

Dusting her hands on her apron, she stepped out onto the porch and frowning in growing irritation, she shut her eyes and began to call them with their mental link.

~ Radditsu? ~

~ I am on my way mother. ~

~ Well? Hurry up then!! Have you seen your brother? ~

~ Ahi…the last time I saw him, he was still at old Mamar’s stall, cleaning up. ~

~ Oh…well then come on home and wash up. It is time for the evening meal. ~

Shutting her link with Radditsu up, she reached for her baby’s thoughts.

~ Kakkarrot? ~

Silence.

~ Kakkarrot?! ~

~ Ahi, ma’un . ~

~ Come home for dinner...Now!! ~

~ But…

~ No buts, Kakkarrot. Or you will starve! Hatt’ni !! ~

~ Ahi, ma’un  ~

Shutting her link with Kakkarrot up, she finally tried to focus on her mate’s ki. For several seconds her face was scrunched up in intense concentration.

~ Ja’ri ? Why can’t I feel his ki or his thoughts? ~

For several more minutes she tried to call her mate and after getting no response, she shrugged and walked back into her kitchen.

~ Probably at some other stupid science meeting. ~

-*-*-*-*-*-

Bardock sighed contentedly against his lover’s sweaty skin, breathing in the heady musky scent of Azusa. Tails wrapped around muscled bodies as the two Saiyans purred softly.

“Ahi , Azusa…this is just like old times, ne?” Bardock whispered softly, trailing lean fingers down the scarred chest.

“Ahi nu ra’hi . I have waited for this moment for years. I never stopped loving you, Bardock.” Azusa replied, raising himself up and staring deeply into the languid dark eyes beneath him. Trailing a hand down the side of the former rebel’s face, he traced the scar that somehow gave the Saiyan an air of mystery and intrigue. Continuing softly, he said,

“But I see that you and your mate seem to be doing all right.”

Bardock flushed lightly and turned his face away, knowing the question was in Azusa’s eyes.

“I love Laetha.” He whispered, “I love my boys and…

“H’anan  Bardock.” Azusa muttered sadly, as he placed a finger over Bardock’s lips. “I understand. It would have been a bit too much to ask you to leave your family for me, ne?”

“Ahi …”

“But, your family is grown up now and that is why I am here, nu ra’hi .” Azusa said quickly, interrupting Bardock’s sentence.

“Ja’ri ? What do you mean?.” Bardock asked quizzically, watching as the other Saiyan began dressing back up again.

Azusa gave him an enigmatic smile and stretching out his hands, he pulled Bardock back to his feet. Holding the warm hands within his grasp, Azusa shut his eyes and in a calm voice, he spoke out again,

“I promised to tell you what happened to me, did I not? Search my feelings, nu ra’hi . I do not need words to covey to you the pain and struggles I went through.”

Bardock gasped as the memories and thoughts of his best friend flashed through his mind. He could see Azusa leave the camp with his army that early doomed morning. He could see their ambush and the way the king’s elite forces had captured them. He could see the floggings and abuse they had received on their arrival to the main city. He could see the dungeon Azusa had been thrown into for years. He could see the determination of the Saiyan warrior as he had begun making friends with some of the king’s wa’zuai . He saw the way his friend had somehow organized his fellow prisoners and had escaped from the palace, seeing the fight and valiant battle they had put up in defeating the enemy.

With another gasp, Bardock tore his hands away from Azusa’s, unconsciously rubbing them together as he stared at his lover in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you went through all of that.” He finally blurted out, reluctant admiration resonating in his voice.

“Ahi , Bardock.” Azusa replied calmly. “And that is why I need you back.”

“Ja’ri ?” Bardock asked sharply, his eyebrows raised in confusion, as he noticed the dangerous glint that flashed in the other man’s eyes.  “I don’t under…

“It is quite simple.” Azusa said, the dark glint sparkling brightly in his eyes. “We need you back for the rebellion, Bardock sa’un ni  Taika. Will you join us?”