CHAPTER TWO:

“Mmm…yess….ooooohhh…Kakkarrot…you are so…ouch!”

“Sorry.”

“Tak’na ! Kakkarrot! Why do you keep doing that?!”

“I said I was sorry.”

“I swear if you do that one more time, we end this right now.”

“I promise not to do it again, Kayla.”

“All right. Let’s try this one more time. You may kiss me now.”

Gritting his teeth, Kakkarrot fixed a wan smile on his face and leaned forward slowly again to claim the rose colored lips of his betrothed. Sighing softly as his lips touched the soft ones beneath him, he began to gently increase the pressure of the kiss, his hands beginning to roam in circles down the full curves now writhing beneath him. Cupping a full breast beneath the she’olai , he rubbed his thumb against a hardened nipple, listening with mounting pleasure at the soft gasp that erupted out of the female’s mouth.

“Za’ani , Kayla…” He murmured huskily, needing to do more than this.

“No…Kakkarrot…we have to wait…”

~ Like hell I am. ~

And with a groan he stuck his tongue roughly into the now squirming Kayla, aware that the motions did more to increase his arousal. He was getting a bit tired of the innocent girl act and he needed to do more than just the usual kissing and necking.

“KAKKARROT! STOP IT THIS INSTANT!!” Kayla screamed, tearing her lips away from the flushed boy in front of her.

“I don’t think so, Kayla. You want this as much as I do.” Kakkarrot replied, bending down to claim her lips again.

“Mmmpff…Kakkarrotmmphff…”

“Ouch! Kayla!!” He screamed out, as he felt her tail slash against his face and back repeatedly. Growling, he grabbed a hold of the wandering tail and squeezed it firmly but gently, listening to the sharp cry of pain from his mate-to-be.

Releasing her, he stared down at her flushed face. Both of them were heaving now, clearly aware of how much they both wanted to go further. Smirking lightly, Kayla whispered.

“You don’t know how much I hate you, Kakkarrot.”

“You have no idea how much I hate you too, Kayla.” He teased, leaning down to worry her neck and causing her to giggle lightly at the ticklish sensations.

“Kakkarrot! Kayla! Are you both in here?!”

Both Saiyans jerked alert at the call. The voice belonged to their best friend Makaru and from the sound of his desperate cry, it seemed like he had been searching for them for quite some time. Smiling softly at each other, the young lovers straightened out each other’s tousled clothes and hair.

“Kakkarrot!” came the loud cry again.

“Coming! Just a minute!” Kakkarrot yelled back, and giving Kayla one last breathless kiss, he took her hand and leapt down from their perch on the hidden barn loft.

“Tak’na !” The plump Saiyan boy on the ground gasped out in shock as his two best friends landed in front of him. “You both scared me!”

“Za’ani , Makaru! You are scared of everything…” Kayla began in a teasing voice, as she gave him a mock jab on his arm.

“Now, Kayla. You mustn’t tease Makaru so. Why he is just one of the greatest wa’zua  we have in this town.” Kakkarrot said lightly, placing an arm around the shorter boy’s neck.

“You got that right.” Makaru said in a mock stern voice, as the three of them walked out into the hot afternoon sunshine. “I can take you on anytime, any day!”

The three best friends laughed in glee at the incredulity of the statement and looping arms around each other, they made their way towards the main downtown city of Tarun.
Kakkarrot cast a sly glance at his laughing friends and felt a slow warmth of content fill his body. This was the way it was always meant to be. He, Makaru and Kayla had been friends from childhood and the three of them were well known for their brand of trouble. Not that they did it on purpose. It was all just in good fun.

~ And I am to become her mate soon. ~

He grinned as he watched Kayla try to mock wrestle Makaru. She was a stunning female, and Kakkarrot couldn’t be any prouder of his choice.

“Well, look at what we have here. If it isn’t Kakkarrot and his merry band.”

The trio froze in their tracks as they glared at the motley group of five in front of them. It was none other than the west Pa’hi . They were the rivals to Kakkarrot’s own group and they had always had the need to best the other in their hunting competitions. Coincidentally enough, the leader of this group was none other than Pakaru’s younger brother, Sevaru.

Kakkarrot spat out in disgust and growled softly as he noticed the leery look that was given to Kayla.

“What do you want, Sevaru?” He asked coldly.

Sevaru’s lean visage broke out into a sunny grin. “Why, just the female, Kakkarrot. Who else? She is a fine specimen.”

“Shut up, Sevaru!!” Kayla shouted in irritation. “Go pick on the next whore on the street!!”

“Why, wouldn’t you fit in that category, Kayla?” Sevaru mocked, “After all, word is that you are not as innocent as you claim to be….Oommphff!!”
His face became a mask of pain as he doubled over from the punch that Kakkarrot had given to him. Feeling his hair yanked up painfully, he stared into cold, hate-filled eyes.

“You are never, NEVER, to address my mate in that manner. Do I make myself clear?”

Sevaru could only nod in response, before he felt himself flying across the rocky road path. Staggering to his feet and wiping the thin trail of blood from his lip, he smirked lightly.

“This is not the last of me…us, Kakkarrot.”

“Just get lost!” Kakkarrot yelled, as he spun away and began his journey back to the town.

Sevaru laughed spitefully and continued, knowing that his next words might be the end of his life. “You know what you are, Kakkarrot? You and your entire family? You are all traitors!! Everyone knows that! Your father intends to send your brother to the king…to our enemies!! Traitor!!”

Kakkarrot clenched his jaw and gripped his hands tightly. He shut his eyes and took several deep breaths. The last thing he wanted to do now was to get too upset. He might end up killing someone. Feeling that he was now in control of his emotions, he finally spun around to face the taunting boy.

“Not today, Sevaru. I am in too good a mood to allow a stupid fool like you to ruin it. So, I leave you in peace for now, but rest assured, this will be the last time.”

And not waiting to see or hear Sevaru’s reaction, he took off into the afternoon sky.

-*-*-*-*-

Bardock frowned in concentration as he screwed in the last bolt onto his invention. Hands that had killed thousands before were now enclosed in gloves, as they handled its job with delicate precision. With a final twist, he straightened up and stretched aching muscles eyeing the small machine with skeptical eyes. He hoped this would work. He was beginning to get a lot of complaints from his superiors at the Institute on how long this particular job was taking.

~ And now to test this baby. ~

Moving over to the corner of his large underground laboratory, he selected a few of the maize crops that he had gathered up earlier in the day. Pushing on the red button, he listened with silent satisfaction at the low hum that was heard.

~ So far, so good. ~

With careful deliberation, he dropped a cob into the machine and held his breath as the engine bucked and whirled in complaint. Just when he thought that his shredding machine had died on him, he could barely contain his grin of excitement as he watched a perfectly, well-shredded corncob fall out of the slot. Having to restrain himself from dancing for joy, he tested the remaining ones in his arms. Everything came out looking perfect.

~ Ahi . Now I can get the money I really, really need. ~

This invention had been given to him by the Institute of Science and Technology, his alma mater, as his current job. The farmers in the Middle Lands had begun complaining about their difficulties in shredding their crops and naturally, the Department of Agriculture had been bombarded with ridiculous requests to do something to rectify the situation. Of course, the department had in turn asked the Institute for help. Bardock had been sent for immediately. He was well known for his genius at such things, since he had been a student of one of the greatest scientists Vegetasei had ever produced, and he had eagerly accepted the challenge. Well, actually, the only reason he had accepted it was because he had been bored and had had nothing else to do since his resignation from the rebellion.

He sighed deeply as memories of his days as a renegade came rushing back. He had been young, wild and restless. Born into a middle class family, he had had to watch his parents struggle through the oppression and depression of the earlier days. His father had been one for non-violence and conformity and Bardock had never been able to understand that. He had loved his parents to death, but the wild streak in him had watched in growing anger as the Ha’an  continued their tyranny on them. Their cities were always attacked; their women and children raped and sent to the main city of Vegetasei, no income for families’….Bardock had seen enough. By his eighteenth birthday, he and a group of his friends had organized themselves into a formidable rebellious team. Together, they had set out to destroy any or all of the King’s fighters or soldiers, whenever they had been sent to the city.

Naturally, his parents had not been too happy with his decision, but they had been powerless to stop him. Bardock had gradually become a symbol of hope for the Ba’an . He had had several victories against some of the Ha’j’s  men and his reputation as a rebel became widely known. He had been feared and respected and…a sucker for love. Ahi , Bardock met his mate, Laetha, the daughter of a local chief in the South Lands, while on one of his many journeys to the north. A strong, beautiful and fearless female, she succeeded in stealing his heart.

However, Laetha had not been too happy about his journeys to his various battles. She had been pregnant with Radditsu and Bardock had not been home. He had not had a chance to watch Radditsu grow up and that thought had made him very unhappy, but the people…his people had needed him. He could still remember their argument on the night he had been set to leave for the Southern quadrant. Laetha had been furious. Almost due with their child, she had yelled and screamed at him and for the first and only time in his life, Bardock had hit her.

He stared at his hands in a daze. He had never hit a female before and the pain that had seared through him at that moment was one that he had never wanted to experience again. He had stormed out of the house in rage. Never caring about the weeping woman or the turbulent storms that raged outside, and for seven years, he was never seen or heard from.

He had succeeded in the near capture of the main city of Vegeta, but a strange twist of fate had befallen on his men. Someone had betrayed them and many of his cohorts had been captured and arrested. Bardock had then asked for the impossible, a chance to speak to the Ha’j  in person. After several days of waiting in the palace dungeons, he had finally been given the permission. Bardock was a man who believed in optimism and so he had listened to the King’s plans for a peaceful solution to ending the war.

Shaking his head, Bardock cursed himself for how gullible he had been. He had listened to the King with a hopeful heart. He had listened to all the empty promises of a good and better treatment to the Ba’an  and like a little baby he had believed every single word. He had been released and he had returned to Tarun with joy and celebration in his heart. The news had been delivered to the people and there was great jubilation in the streets. For a week, the entire city was in high spirits. Everyone had hopes for the future, and as for Bardock, he had felt that it was time for him to resign, since the rebellion would no longer be required.

He had been present at the birth of Kakkarrot and he had been amused to see the shocking resemblance. The boy had displayed a remarkable resilience that had made Bardock proud and he had vowed to remain with both of his sons until they were old enough to fend for themselves.

Alas, the good fortune was not to last long, for the King did not keep his promise. A year of peace had gone by, but on one unexpected night, the attacks had begun again. Bardock could only watch helplessly as his people became hunted down and destroyed all over again. He had been tempted to rejoin his rebel friends again, but that was quickly erased as news of their capture came to him. Saddened and disappointed, Bardock could only sit back and watch. There was nothing else he could do.

Shuffling tiredly to his closet, he brought out a broom and began to sweep up the mess on the floor. At least, his sons were fine young men now. Radditsu and Saida were expecting their little one soon and his wild one, Kakkarrot, was about to become a full Saiyan in just a few months to his betrothed.

~ I feel your heart is heavy, nu ra’hi . ~

Bardock felt a small smile come onto his visage as his wife’s thoughts filtered through.

~ Ahi , nu  Laetha. I worry about many things. ~

~ We have no control over what the fates have for us, nu ra’hi.  ~

~ I know, but one can only….~

A low growling sound was heard and Bardock felt his face flush.

~ Ahh….it seems like the husband is hungry, ne? ~

~ Ahi. The husband has not eaten since morning. ~

~ Well then….why doesn’t the husband come back to the house and perhaps the wife can fix up something for him? ~

A feral grin flashed onto the handsome face.

~ Hmmm…yes, Laetha. I think I just might take you up on your offer. ~

And dropping the broom with barely restrained excitement, he bounded out of the lab to his waiting wife.

-*-*-*-*-*

Twin orbs of obsidian black, gleamed with feverish excitement, as they observed their prey. The hunter’s face broke into a feral grin as he surveyed his surroundings. Nodding in satisfaction at how clear his path was, he began to stalk slowly towards his waiting prize. Twisting his head around to make sure that the coast was really clear, he dove head first into the spread and with a burst of speed, he dashed out of the area.

“Hey!! Come back here!! Bring back my fruits!! Stop thief!!”

“Oh, oh….busted!”

The thief in question raced through the busy market streets, knocking over stalls and merchandise as he made his quick escape. Stuffing the sinfully sweet fruits into his mouth, he looked over his shoulder to realize with slight panic that several people were now chasing him. Smirking with devilish intent, he immediately burst with a surge of energy and took off into the early evening air, laughing out loud as he noticed the shocked and irritated looks on his pursuers.

~ Good one! You are just a genius. You should be given an… ~

His thoughts were suddenly cut off as he screeched to a halt in mid-air. Floating in front of him, with arms crossed against his chest and a scowl on his face, was the formidable presence of Radditsu. Dressed in his casual training clothes, his long hair rising and falling as the wind passed through, he was not a very happy Saiyan.

“Well?” Came the curt question.

“I know, I know…I have to go back and return them.” Came the mumbled reply.

“Tak’na , Kakkarrot! This is the second time in one week! Pa’un  and Ma’un  are not finding it very funny.”

“Alright! I said I would return it!” Kakkarrot snapped back, kicking himself for being caught.

“You had better.” Radditsu snarled. “Or I will have to punish you myself.”

Floating back to the ground, Kakkarrot had to bear the insults and curses that were flung at him from the angry vendors. He had knocked down quite a number of stalls and let’s just say that an already chaotic market square was now in even more chaos. It was like a war-zone.

Kakkarrot finally reached the scene of the crime and mumbling softly, he apologized to the older man, who was somewhere in the midst of a sea of fruits.

“E lli g’aru, ta’hi Mamar .”(I am sorry, Honorable Mamar)

Old Mamar raised his head and sighed. “That’s okay, Kakkarrot. I know how you young ones tend to be excitable at this age.”

Kakkarrot eyes lit up with barely concealed relief. “Does that mean I can go now?”

“Ahh….n’ehi , my good boy.” Mamar said, a small grin coming onto the wise face. “You are going to help me clean up my stall. You will have to pick these up and then fetch some water and help with the washing of the floor and then…”

Kakkarrot sighed in resignation as he picked up a broom, realizing morosely, that his evening of fun had gone right out the window.