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Taw Shi Chapter Two By chibi_vegeta The elder Vegeta shrugged past the guards flanking the entry to the royal viewing box. He suspected the ouji would be found here on the sparring grounds and he wasn't disappointed. Vegeta's upswept flame of hair made him easily distinguishable from other warriors, his skintight bodysuit no different from that of the varied fighters assembled, only offset by immaculate white boots and gloves. It was a point of pride with him to return from his day's exertions with the accessories still spotless. The Ou watched for a time, his hands wrapped around the ornate stone railing of the balcony. There were no seats here, anyone within the arena was subject to challenge, one did not come without being willing to fight. Vegeta was often to be found sparring with more than one partner, his skills were unmatched by any but his father, but on occasion he found a single warrior who could challenge him. It seemed that this was just such a day. King Vegeta's eyes sharpened as he watched his son, also taking in the brawny fighter the ouji had chosen to trounce. ~Good looking boy…~ The Ou assessed the unnamed warrior, musing over the muscular and fit build, the quick reflexes. Not as fast nor as furious as his son no, but very very good. ~Hn…perhaps…?~ Vegeta was in the midst of a flurry of punches and kicks when he caught sight of his father, momentarily distracted, his opponent's fist found a sudden opening and slammed painfully into his jaw. Stars flashed behind his vision and he found himself falling backward. ~Oh great…father will think I'm completely incompetent…~ Warm arms caught him, sliding around his shoulders and lifting him upright with a single fluid movement. He flashed a grateful glance behind him at his sparring partner. "Hn…" Ou Vegeta scowled as he saw the muscular saiya-jin land a particularly sweet punch to his son's jaw, knowing the prince had been distracted, but also knowing that it shouldn't have happened. Vegeta must be more apprehensive than he'd realized. All the better reason to get on with this. "Vegeta!" He called down to his son, standing with arms folded as he glared up at the Ou, his opponent standing to one side with a slightly confused expression. ~Probably wondering how he managed to get past Danji's defenses…~ He snorted and smirked. ~You won't get that chance again boy…whoever you are…~ The Ouji's scowl rivaled his father's, he floated up, arms still crossed, to stare eye to eye with the Ou. "Yes Father? There was something you required of me?" The statement seemed innocent on the surface, but the elder royal caught the fine nuance, knew that his son's pride still smarted from the threat he'd been given a few days before. "You know what is required of you boy," The King sneered, "I simply don't understand why you have to be so damned obstinate…" "Tch!" Vegeta glowered a moment at his father, likely the only being in the universe who could get away with such, but he was pushing his luck. "Father…" "Don't 'Father' me Danji!" The Ou's gaze slid from his heir to the prince's sparring partner, still intrigued. "That one looks strong…" He left the implication dangling, hoping that perhaps the stubborn little ouji was at least entertaining possibilities. Vegeta followed his father's line of sight, also taking a moment to assess the warrior who was simply standing and waiting, stretching occasionally to keep limber. "Hai, he is strong…" The Ouji smirked as he returned to glowering at his father. "He's also third class…" ~So much for your matchmaking Father…~ The Ou scowled in surprise and disappointment. What a pity, the warrior was finely made and gave every appearance of being at least first class, but why then was Vegeta sparring with him? He looked askance at the young warrior before him. "I don't do the evaluations Father." Vegeta smirked, the Ou's thoughts were almost palpable to his son. "Nor do I care…he's strong enough to provide me challenge for today…" "Who is he then Danji?" The King's curiosity was piqued, it wasn't often third class warriors did so, but this one seemed to have an air about him. Vegeta shrugged, "Just some idiot from the fringes Father, his name is Kakarrot, if I recall…he's been hanging around for a few weeks…" "Hn…too bad Danji…" ~Hai…~ the Ouji nodded to himself, nostrils flaring as if scenting prey. ~He's certainly built like an elite…~ Ou Vegeta slanted a stern look at his son, reminded of why he was there in the first place. "You have six months…" The prince's head whipped around, black eyes flashing. "Nani? Six months until what? You execute me for treason?" He knew his father had Vegeta-sei's best interests at heart, knew he was in no life-threatening danger, but still he seethed at being forced into something he did not want…not yet…not with anyone he knew thus far. "Tch! You know better Danji…you are simply trying to provoke me…" The Ou smirked in return, rather enjoying his son's discomfort; he'd been through hell the last five years with the boy, there was simply no pleasing the proud ouji. He left the young saiya-jin prince to stew for a moment as their gazes clashed. Ou Vegeta's smile quirked, his eyes steely, "You have six months to choose boy, or that choice will be made for you…" "Blast it! You keep saying that Father!" Vegeta felt the spikes on the back of his neck lifting as he saw the look of pure determination on the elder saiya-jin's face. "You know it is against the law to force me into mating!" King Vegeta's smile widened into a grin, "Hai boy, I myself cannot force you…" He cast another disappointed gaze at his son's sparring partner, now watching them curiously but from a polite distance. "But that doesn't mean another cannot…" Vegeta barely restrained a growl of frustration, his hands curling into fists. "Speak plainly Father! I am tired of this intrigue!" The Ou's eyes locked onto his son's, and for a moment he wavered, wishing he could make some royal decree that would produce a soul-mate for his heir. His resolve stiffened though, knowing he must either take this one option or his line would vanish. His voice was soft, but almost threatening, Vegeta bristled into a defensive posture. "Taw Shi…" It was all he needed to say. Vegeta's face drained of all color, his heart seemed to stop in his chest, a cold sweat washed over his skin. "N-no…" He couldn't force his voice above a whisper, his throat had seemed to close off all breath. The expression on his son's face tore at the Ou's heart, he knew this was the only path left to him, he also knew that it might break the young ouji. The boy's pride was great, so might his fall be as well. But the brat had defied him, defied his duty, Vegeta no Ou felt his own anger ignite. "Dammit Danji! You brought this on yourself!" He reached across the balcony rail and fisted his hand in Vegeta's suitfront, jerking him closer to hiss at him. "Six months boy, six months…" He nearly threw the young saiya-jin back into the arena, glaring at him as only the enraged Ou could, and turned on his heel to stalk off. The Ouji's chest hitched as he choked back a howl of rage and trepidation, his teeth bared in fury, he turned midair and launched himself at the unsuspecting third class warrior. Kakarrot stood patiently as the royals conferred, he'd been hanging around for weeks now, awaiting his chance to spar with the prince, it wouldn't kill him to take a small break from it. He folded his arms and stood watching the other combatants fight, thinking how he himself would attack and block. A sudden flare of voices and temper drew his attention back to the prince, his eyes widened at the obvious conflict, the Ou had Vegeta practically by the throat and was now whispering sibilantly the prince. ~Hah…so it's true then…~ The rumors had started some months back, word had it that the Ou was insisting that Vegeta mate and carry on the line. Word also had it that the ouji was being less than agreeable. Kakarrot had hoped to impress the prince, had hoped also to catch his eye, and he had, well at least the first part. His gaze sharpened as he watched the spat between father and son, the Ou's dismissive release of the younger, then suddenly had his horizon filled with an enraged ouji out for blood. "What the…!" Kakarrot barely blocked the first barrage, disadvantaged in his surprise, it quickly became easier as the young saiya-jin imperial's control slipped, whatever it was that had enraged him must have been powerful indeed. "Damn you Kakarrot! Fight me!" The ouji snarled, his eyes crazed at the edges, desperately needing to pound something. The brawny warrior stepped back and lowered his chin, pitching his voice to low reasonable tones. "Iye Ouji-san…" He shook his head, wild black spikes tossing. "I will not fight you if you are not fighting me…" He spared a look at his prince. "I am not what you are fighting right now…" Vegeta gaped and paused mid-punch, assuming a bored demeanor. "What the hell are you talking about Kakarrot?" Kakarrot snorted softly, turning his side to the prince and seeming to watch the other fighters, his voice still low. "Something's pissed you off Ouji-san…why don't you tell me?" Vegeta blinked stupidly at him for a moment, confide in this third-class baka? He scowled and folded his arms across his chest. he'd never had a friend; sparring partners by the hundreds, servants abounded in the palace, advisors and toadies crowded the halls. But never once had he thought to befriend any of them, and apparently none of them had any interest in befriending the prince. He had only his father for comfort and now, that too, was stripped from him. He became aware of his own long pause, eyes flicking to the big fighter, following his line of sight to watch as well and speaking in a low voice rough with rage. "Taw Shi, Kakarrot…" "Hhn? What is that?" Kakarrot half-turned to listen, amazed at the paleness of the ouji's face. Vegeta ground his teeth together, his eyes seeming to glow with wrath. "What kind of idiot are you Kakarrot? Everyone's heard of the Taw Shi…" He scowled in bewildered consternation. "Well Vegeta…" Kakarrot grinned and raked fingers through his spikes. "I've spent most of my life training…" He didn't lie, not outright; he knew the Taw Shi had to do with old mating rituals for the royal house of Vegeta-sei, what he didn't know were the details, and he most definitely wanted them. The Ouji was too wrapped up in his own thoughts for the moment to catch the glitter that flashed through the burly saiya-jin's eyes, but finally stepping closer and speaking quietly, needing to unburden himself at least to some extent. "Kakarrot…" He began then stopped, taking a deep breath to steady himself, "The Taw Shi has not been conducted in a millennium or more…" Vegeta shook his head and continued, the words flowing from him almost mechanically. "Taw Shi was created to assure the continuation of the Imperial line; should the heir to the throne have no offers of mating, all of Vegeta-sei are called forth to send their best warriors, male and female, to stake a claim. Usually the Taw Shi was only invoked if the heir was somehow undesirable, it assured that only the strongest would assume the throne, continue the line." Vegeta slanted a look at his erstwhile companion, scowling and gritting his teeth. "They are brought together to fight over who gets to claim the heir as their mate, it is brutal Kakarrot, masked as competitive dance though oftentimes lethal." Kakarrot could barely suppress his eagerness. "So you're saying that all the warriors on the planet are eligible to compete?" Not only was there a fight to be had, but the prize would be Vegeta himself. He noted the prince's cheeks darkening, with either rage or shame, he wasn't sure. "Yes Kakarrot, that is what I'm saying, though only elites fight of course since the lower ranks would be far surpassed…" "But anyone at all is eligible?" "Yes of course…" The ouji scowled and waved a hand. "Arigato Vegeta-san…" Kakarrot nodded blandly. "Thank you for the history lesson…" It was all he could do to pretend indifference to the prince's words, his heart thudded in his chest and he was grateful for the sheen of sweat on his skin as goosebumps rippled over his shoulders. He was drawn from his musings at the sharp hiss of indrawn breath from the Ouji, Vegeta's eyes were locked on the tower of the palace. A standard was slowly being raised beneath the royal crest that had flown there for time immemorial. About half the size of the seal of Vegeta-sei, the blood-red banner was blazoned with a black moon overwritten with the imperial mark in gold. A slow hush seemed to spread over the city, as if holding its breath, but only seconds later chanting rose from a whisper to a howl, echoing through the streets. "Taw Shi! Taw Shi! Taw Shi! Taw Shi! TAW SHI!! TAW SHIII!!!" The Ouji's fists clenched, his face staining a slow crimson, he shuddered visibly and howled, launching himself into the air to vanish within seconds. Kakarrot hesitated, his natural inclination was to follow the prince, he felt protective and a little possessive, but Vegeta was not likely to be in a companionable mood just now. He looked up at the banner, now snapping lazily in the breeze, the shouting from the streets finally ebbing. A slow grin curved his lips as he glanced in the direction Vegeta had gone. ~Well well Ouji-sama…I suppose I have some serious training to do…~ He laughed lightly to himself and gathered his ki, leaping into the air to begin his preparations. ~Heh…too bad for you Ouji-sama…too good for me!~ Back to Guest Fiction Main Page / Chapter 1 / Chapter 3 |