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To Win A Royal Heart By Kami Kaze Part 5 Vegeta growled. “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. 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. “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 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 weirded out when he’s gone for a few hours.” Vegeta froze at the door, gritting his teeth before he turned back. “Kakarotto, no matter how annoying, is the only other like me left….” He paused, closing his eyes briefly. “Don’t ask 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 a incessant need to see and touch the man, to know that he was ok and not dead. Again. ***** Shortly after his defeat of Nappa, Goku was led by Bardock 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, then seemed to square his shoulders as he looked at both of them. “My youngest son was sent to the planet Earth, but hasn’t… returned.” He paused, 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 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 Freeza-san’s ship for three months. He leaves in the morning.” Goten’s face drained of all it’s color. “F..f…freeza?” 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. Goten stared after his grandfather. “Dad…” “Shh..Goten, I’ll be back here in a while, and we’ll talk about this.” He squoze his son’s shoulder. “Don’t worry yourself, everything will work out.” Goku smiled and followed after Bardock. ***** 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 glanced at Bardock, who didn’t even glance in that 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. “Hai…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 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. “Yea, 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 Freeza. 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 Freeza? 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. Guest Main Page / Chapter 4 / Chapter 6 |