CHAPTER THREE:

 

Kakkarrot added some more wood to the already growing fire and dusting his hands against his knees, he straightened up and stretched his aching muscles, unconsciously displaying his finely toned physique. Although he didn’t train as hard as his father would have liked, he still had the muscles and strength that was envied by many of his peers. Bending down to pick up a stray wood chip in the corner, his eyes again came in contact with lazy obsidian depths that burned with something he couldn’t quite define. Swallowing tightly, Kakkarrot stood up again, subconsciously tightening his tail around his waist. Why was the prince still staring at him? Had he done something wrong? He hoped he wasn’t still angry at the earlier blunder. It had been an honest mistake…

 

~ Kakkarrot! ~

 

He started visibly as his father’s voice rang out clearly in his head. ~ Ahi, pa’un. ~

 

~ What is taking you so long? The sun is set and I am going back home without you. ~

~ I have decided to stay the night, father. I will return with brother tomorrow. ~

 

~ Your mother will not be pleased, Kakkarrot. I gave her my word that you would come with me…why do I sense some strong power levels, Kakkarrot? ~

 

~ Ahi. The prince and some of the wa’zaui are here, pa’un. ~

 

~ Ah! No wonder! Now don’t mess this up for your brother, Kakkarrot. You know how much he wants to become an elite fighter, ne? ~

 

Kakkarrot frowned. Why was everyone on his case? ~ I understand father. I will stay out of his way. ~

 

~ Good. Now take care of yourself or your mother will have my head. Ha’ku Ra’nan, Kakkarrot. ~

 

~ Ha’ku Ra’nan, pa’un. ~

 

The sound of boisterous singing was suddenly heard and Kakkarrot ran up the small slope to watch his brother and his friends return with enough game to feed an entire village. Racing up to catch the chanting males, Kakkarrot got close to his brother and receiving a warm smile in greeting, he placed his hands beneath the large ni’heru Radditsu had caught. Opening his mouth, he added his own rich baritone voice to the happy chant, smiling in glee at the fact that he somehow fit in the group now.

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

Vegeta opened up his eyes again as the singing became louder. Sitting back up, he watched as the males walked towards the clearing and began dumping the various wildlife they had caught. Vegeta felt his stomach growl and his mouth water as they began skinning the delicacies. He could hardly wait. The sharp smell of the ni’heru being roasted over the fire was enough to drive him mad.

 

“Well-cooked or rare, my lord?” came the soft voice of Saida, as she placed a bowl of fresh water beside him.

 

Running an approving eye over the beautiful female in front of him, Vegeta said gruffly, “Rare.”

 

Vegeta watched in approval as she walked back to the group of males around the fire. She was a fine specimen indeed, for the she’olai she wore did little to hide the curvaceous figure underneath. He raised his eyebrows as he watched Radditsu pull her down roughly beside him, brutally crushing his lips against hers in a display clearly meaning ‘back off, she is mine’, which in turn earned him a good smack on the face. Smiling softly, he watched her return with a whole ni’heru on her arms. Placing the food in front of him, she bowed and then walked back to her position amongst her mates.

 

Vegeta bit into the meaty flesh of the beast, savoring the spicy taste coupled with the blood, which they had thankfully not drained. Eating with a ferocity that he knew would give his royal subjects cause for alarm, he finished the meal in record time, earning a sort of stunned silence from the group, especially his wa’zuai.

Feeling his face heat up in embarrassment, he quickly fixed a scowl on his face and pointed out for some more.

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

Kakkarrot sat next to his brother and dug into his own food with an eagerness that rivaled the princes’. He had barely eaten all-day and coupled with his earlier exertions, he needed the nourishment. Licking his fingers, he began chewing on the bones that were left, collapsing onto his back on the floor and staring idly at the stars that were now beginning to make their way out in the dark sky. Thankfully, there would be m’ohun tonight, so there was no chance of anyone becoming oozaru. He sighed in content. This was the life. No worries, no problems, no…

 

“Kakkarrot. I need you to take this to the prince.”

 

“N’ai?”

 

“Because, you are the youngest and it is the youngest who always gets to give the final meal to the prince. Now go!”

 

Grumbling beneath his breath, Kakkarrot picked up the roasted ta’pai and making sure he didn’t trip over any one’s feet, he made his way over to Vegeta.

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

~ Must be tired, that’s all. ~ Vegeta thought, feeling his mouth go dry again as he watched Kakkarrot approach him with the meal. Leaning his chin on his raised knee, he tried to portray a feeling of non-chalance.

 

~ Za’ani…he is something else. I don’t understand it. What is wrong with me? Why should I feel this sense of …longing? ~

 

“Here you are, my lord.” Kakkarrot said quietly, getting down on his knees before him as he presented the food to him.

 

Vegeta sat up and reached for the offering, as their hands suddenly made contact with each other’s. Nearly dropping the ta’pai as the shock jolted through them, both males gasped and stared at each other in disbelief. Kakkarrot felt his heart rate speed up and his face grow hot as he found himself nearly drowning within the twin dark pools of heat in front of him. Vegeta felt he was drowning and if he didn’t pull himself back out soon enough, he was going to be lost for sure.

 

Somewhere in the background, a slight cough was heard, “Umm…my lord?” Gradun called out softly. When he received no response, he tried a bit louder. “My lord!”

 

“Huh?” Vegeta said dully, his eyes still locked with Kakkarrot’s.

 

“My lord, you are supposed to accept the meal now. You ought to thank him.”

 

“Ahi…I accept…you…” Vegeta said softly, not realizing the words that had popped out of his mouth, although everyone else had. A collective gasp was heard and Gradun felt himself get embarrassed at the lovesick display his prince was putting up.

 

“My lord! Snap out of it!” He whispered harshly into Vegeta’s ear. “You are supposed to accept the meal, not…not…him!!”

 

Vegeta shook his head lightly as the words finally sunk in. Spinning around sharply, he noticed with growing agitation that the entire site was as still as death, everyone now staring at him with mixtures of curiosity, shock and amusement. Coughing lightly, he stared at a spiky lock in front of him, refusing to stare into those eyes again.

 

“I accept this meal!” He said loudly, earning a cheer from the commoners, and waiting patiently for the noise to die down, he continued, “And now, let Ra’un begin!”

 

-*-*-*-*-

 

Kakkarrot sat next to his brother, watching absentmindedly as Saida rubbed the sweet smelling pa’kun all over his exposed flesh. All the fighters were now out of their robes and were clad in only their inner wear. The object of doing so being not only to display their strengths, but also to display their masculinity and sexual appeal in the hopes of perhaps attracting the royal watchers attention. Tonight, the fighters had even more reason to strut. The prince was here and that in itself was enough to get any one going. The pa’kun created a slick shiny glow over Radditsu’s well-toned body and even Kakkarrot had to gasp in awe at how good his brother looked.

 

“Mo’zoi, Radditsu. You are going to win this fight for sure. There is no way they couldn’t choose you.”

 

Radditsu chuckled lightly. “Ahi, ba’rana. Although it seems like the prince has made his choice already.” He burst out in laughter as he noticed the furious red blush that had now darkened his younger brother’s face. Saida chuckled as well, lightly stroking the blushing boy’s face with her tail.

 

“Now, now, Radditsu. Be nice to Kakkarrot. All this is pretty new to him.”

 

“Ahi, Saida.” Radditsu said, leaning down to brush his lips against the soft ones before him. “Wish me luck, nu’ ra’hi?”

 

“Ni ahi, Radditsu. E ra’hi ta’i.”[Of course, Radditsu. I love you.]

 

“Ba’rana? Wish me luck?” Radditsu said, turning to Kakkarrot.

 

“Ni ahi! You are going to become a wa’zuai come morning!”

 

“Ahi…”Radditsu said softly, as the loud announcement was suddenly heard.

 

“ALL FIGHTERS TO THE CLEARING NOW.”

 

“This is it.” Radditsu said, smiling at the grin that was plastered on his brother’s face and giving one last kiss to Saida, he stepped up to the makeshift ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translations:

Ha’ku Ra’nan – Goodnight or goodbye

M’ohun – moon

N’ai – why

Ta’pai – rabbit-like wild beast

She’olai – traditional robes worn by female Saiyans when not in battle.