author: FireCracker KLee624820@a...
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HOUSE OF VEGETA pt.13a: The wisdom of Celipe




Raditz was silent a moment. "I understand. But she has elite in her,
so I suppose I shouldn't worry."

Celipe pointed at her ex-mate. "Your father is a reverse example. He
was presumed third class, but had elite characteristics."

"Celipe." Bardock warned.

The saucy saiyan flipped her hand in a casual gesture. "Hn, and wired
like one, too. Always so touchy."

"That has nothing to do with it here. The subject is Xenna, not me."

"True. But ratings and parentage are not always obvious, no?"

That earned her open stares. Celipe laughed at their reaction.

"The three of you are something else...I wish I had a digital of your
faces!"

"Your sense of humor escapes me sometimes." Bardock finally said.

She eyed him. "Den'rarde su cedunde (Still handsome and sexy)."

Kakarot gawked at her. "Mother!!"

Bardock shook his head. "She's playing again. Enough, woman!"

Raditz suddenly let out an earsplitting screech, leaping from his
chair.

"What ails you, boy?!" Bardock demanded.

Raditz hopped up and down, rubbing his tail. "She bit me!!"

Bardock only laughed. "Now you know what I went through!"

Kakarot picked up his clucking niece, who looked around innocently.
Dark eyes shone as she curled quietly in her uncle's lap, wrapping
her tail around his forearm.

"Raditz, you don't wave your tail around a chibi. Believe me, Vegeta
and I found out the hard way."

Raditz dropped heavily in his chair, still massaging his wounded
appendage. "I get the point. Kami, those teeth are like needles!"

"Ah, the joys of parenthood." Celipe grinned.

****

The brothers prepared to leave. Celipe looked over both her sons
closely.

"Listen to me, both of you. I've never been more proud. Both of you
are intelligent and handsome, and have graced me with fine chikki."

The young men blushed. "Adieru, mother."

Bardock stood in the hallway, arms folded as he leaned against the
wall. "Go on, both of you...I'll see you later at the palace."

Kakarot eyed him suspiciously. "Hn, staying for cake, father?"

"Insolent cub." Celipe snipped.

Black eyes burned like flint. "You aren't too old to have that nose
broken, boy. Now get going!"

Radtiz adjusted the canvas papoose that held Xenna. "This is a nice
pouch you rigged, mother."

Celipe kissed the baby. "I told you before, a grandmother is always
prepared." She looked at her eldest seriously a moment.

"Raditz...don't worry. Xenna is a beautiful chibi, and she'll do
well. If you want specific tests for her, I can arrange it."

"I'd appreciate that, mother."

"Now beat it, like your father said."

****

They arrived at the castle hours later. Xenna was viewed as a
curiosity by many onlookers as the brothers made their way through
the great halls.

"Don't mind them, Raditz. These lip flappers just like to gossip."
Kakarot advised.

The burly saiyan glared about. "Not at the expense of my daughter.
She'll rule all their asses someday."

Kakarot coughed. Raditz grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. AND Nuru and Tezar."

"Much better."

"So there you are!!" a familiar voice rung out. Kakarot and Raditz
turned. The ouji strutted their way, his silvery cape billowing.
Nervous attendants skittered at his side.

"Away with you! I would speak with the oujian!" he waved them off.
They scattered like seeds.

A smirk. "So, my errant family decides to return. And with my pretty
vii (niece), as well!"

Xenna squeaked in her pouch, fat legs kicking.

"I'm glad to see you too, booky."

Raditz looked about. "Vegeta, is it wise to-"

The ouji motioned him to silence. "Come on, this way. These corridors
are sound deadened."

"I missed you." Kakarot purred.

Vegeta glanced over his shoulder smugly. "Later, koi...you made me
wait a night...now it's your turn!"

Raditz was curious. "Where are we going, Vegeta?"

Another smirk. "You'll see."

****

They entered the private nursery. Nuru and Tezar crawled and rolled
about, shrieking in greeting when their parents arrived.

Kakarot went to them immediately, scooping them up. "Dedarde, chibis.
Tosi says hello!"

They clung like vines, chirping wildly. Xenna turned in her pouch at
the sound of their voices.

"Now give me that baby!" Vegeta plucked her out of the papoose. He
nuzzled Xenna affectionately. A fat tail coiled his arm.

"Hn, little flower bud. Would you like to see your present?"

Xenna poked her tongue out, grinning. Raditz looked around the room
as Kakarot plopped his cubs down on soft carpet.

"This place is loaded with toys, Vegeta. What did you get her?"

"You'll see." the ouji turned. Nuru and Tezar looked up, seeing
Xenna. The three chibis screeched at each other in greeting.

Kakarot held his ears. "Kre'daddka!!"

Vegeta winced as the babies shrieked like banshees. "Hai, my hearing
won't hold up to this for long!" he plopped Xenna down near her
cousins. They immediately tumbled into each other, squalling a blood
chilling pitch.

"That racket's enough to wake the dead!" Raditz complained, holding
his ears also. "Where's that gift? Maybe it will quiet them down!"

"Hai!" the prince went into a side closet, dragging out a giant
stuffed scorpion. It had eyes of black buttons, and bright red fur.

"Jeudune (incredible)." Kakarot stared.

Raditz had to smile. "Oh, they'll love that!"

Vegeta chirruped at the cubs. They immediately screeched again,
clambering over the huge toy and rolling wildly.

The ouji was pleased, hands on hips. "I knew she'd like it."

"You're spoiling her, Vegeta."

Vegeta pulled a silken cord in the corner. "A princess should always
be spoiled. Now a quiet meal is in order."

Kakarot smacked his lips. "Agreed...the private parlor?"

"Of course. But first I'll have Tobokk and Asoli stay with the cubs.
They'll need pesto soon anyway."

****

The three brothers ate in good company. Raditz filled Vegeta in on
recent events.

Vegeta cracked a bone. "Hn, so Xenna's genetics could be a concern."

Radtiz gulped lizard eye soup. "Ai, it's possible her mother is
second class. The bones in her tail are somewhat rough, as well you
know."

"I noticed. But if necessary, we can arrange to have the proper
documents created to say otherwise. No elite in polite society feels
another's tail anyway."

"Hasn't there been enough of that?" Kakarot disagreed.

Raditz shook his head. "No, Vegeta's right. I want my daughter
protected. Would you have her go through the same chaos we did
growing up?"

A sigh. "No...I don't have an alternative, but it still bothers me."

"She's of the Vegeta line, and I won't see her denied."

The ouji approved. "Well said, Raditz. Once the war is done, the
three of us will review the secret archives."

Kakarot poked at his fish heads. "The ones revealing royal
bloodlines..."

"Hai, koi. Thousands of years back. And I suspect a final secret even
the two of you are unaware of."

"Tell us!"

A yawn. "In due time. By the time you see the records, it may become
clear anyway."

Raditz sipped his wine. "More secrets? Do all royals read like a
mystery novel?"

Vegeta nearly laughed. "Oh, there's drama and twists all right...and
since I was raised as royal, the hidden information is neither
shocking nor unexpected."

Kakarot eyed his kin warily. "I'm almost afraid to ask now."

"Actually, you should be proud...blood in a saiyan is everything, not
to mention bones."

"I want your bones right now."

"Hentai. Do you think of nothing else?"

"Plenty, but we weren't together last night."

"Do I need to hear this?" Raditz complained. "Eat, both of you."

Vegeta and Kakarot eyed each other hotly over the table. "That comes
later."


****

It was a night of _hanare,_ or family relaxation. In customary
tradition, everyone would eat and sleep together, sharing
companionship as an affirmation of blood.

In the imperial chambers, no excess was deemed unusual. Vaulted
ceilings were adorned with classic artwork centuries old, depicting
ancestral battle scenes. Thick, insulated walls were covered with
velvet and brocade, emphasizing stately quiet. Furnishings were
emblazioned with wild color, symbolizing the fiery passion of an
ancient race.

The brothers stretched in luxurious comfort, clad in soft velveteen
robes emblazoned with the seal of Vegeta. Their burbling chibis
tumbled and rolled across the giant bed they all lay upon. Bright
round faces lit with squeals as the cubs disappeared under folds of
fur.

Vegeta sipped his wine, red candleglow dancing on his dark
features. "I've longed for this day...when we would all be
acknowledged as brothers."

Raditz looked about, his high cheekbones shaded in stark
contrast. "Should this be said here? If servants are about-"

Kakarot turned sleepy eyes in his direction, mellow from food and
liquor. "No, it's all right...these chambers are secluded. It feels
good to be done with secrets."

Raditz leaned back into satin pillows. "Ai, true enough. Although it
was a poor secret kept from me."

Dark eyes blinked. "I don't understand...are you saying you knew all
along?!"

"Didn't you?"

"I...never dwelled on it..."

"That doesn't answer the question, Kakarot. And I'm pressed to
believe your instincts never led you."

Vegeta sighed, watching the chibis play between them. "He speaks
true. Our relationship was never typical, even before we acknowledged
kinship."

Kakarot propped himself up, thinking. "Maybe on some level I did
know...but felt it perverse in some way."

Raditz almost laughed. "Perversity for a saiyan is a stretch, to say
the least...watch your tail, Kakarot!!"

"Hn?" Kakarot flipped up the furry coil before it got chomped. A
disappointed Nuru rattled a thin growl.

Kakarot rolled the cranky chibi over his hip into his lap. "Trying to
bite me, eh?"

Nuru spat in reply. Kakarot cuffed his son playfully, sending him
rolling into the other cubs.

"Tosi says go over there a bit. Bite a blanket!"

Tezar and Xenna yowled happily as Nuru bounced off them. Seconds
later the three were a squalling blur once again, spinning under
thick blankets.

The adults laughed at their noisy antics. They savored wines and
brandies from golden goblets on crystal trays. Silver bowls were
filled with meaty delicacies and sweetbreads.

Vegeta's eyes nearly closed. "Hn, this is living...I wonder how
ragtails spend their free time?"

"Taking oil baths and sliding through alleys." Raditz snorted. "They
used to call it ass glossing. The idiots would race through the
streets butt bare, covered in oil!"

Kakarot laughed at the memory. "Ai, we had neighbors who were into
that...they'd drink and fight afterward."

Vegeta lifted an eyebrow. "Sounds like you participated."

"Hell yeah...it beat thinking about living in squalor. You came up
with diversions to make living in slums tolerable."

The ouji stretched out, staring at the ceiling. "And now look where
you are."

"It does seem almost like a fantasy."

Raditz cradled in a sleepy Tezar. "Reality, brother. This is where
we've always belonged, and none will deny us."

Kakarot tickled Xenna's nose. "I know...it feels good to truly belong
somewhere, not being seen as changeling."

Vegeta was curious, plumping pillows behind him. "How so, Kakarot?
Father raised you well, considering your station."

"You wouldn't understand this, koi...your life was dictated by a
single lifestyle. We were shuttled back and forth between low slums
and palace elite."

"Chaotic, to say the least. Not to mention confusing for any child."
Raditz commented. Tezar nestled in masses of hair, nearly asleep. Fat
little fingers clutched thick strands.

Vegeta was silent a moment. "I often wondered how I might be
different had I been raised as third class."

Kakarot pulled his tail teasingly. "It wouldn't work, you're too
regal."

"Flatterer. No, I mean seriously."

"You'd take everything too personally, Vegeta...I imagine you'd spend
all your time fighting."

"That doesn't sound too bad. I'd raze every neighborhood."

Raditz laughed at that. "Ai, that would work, up to a point. But
third class always fight in packs, and vendettas are endless."

Vegeta shrugged indifferently, soothing Nuru to sleep. "Bah. I've
enough power to counteract any such foolishness."

Kakarot and Raditz smirked knowingly. The eldest brother chuckled.

"You may be prince, but we know how their minds work. You couldn't
watch everybody all the time...short of killing them in herds, you
wouldn't stop them all. And then you'd have _oneri_ (blood revenge)
on your hands."

Vegeta snorted. "You think I'd be too soft? Since when?!"

"It's not about being soft. Even the mightiest can fall to cunning,
Vegeta. Surely our saba has taught you that."

The prince was silent a moment. "Perhaps. Still, it's difficult to
imagine ragtails overpowering me in some sinister manner."

"Is the Ou overconfident? A ruler doesn't last by blind arrogance."

Kakarot shifted his tail away from a curious Xenna. "Hai, I remember
all the security precautions about the palace. Even as a cub I
wondered at it all. The secrecy seemed strange and excessive. Third
class saiyans always do everything in the open."

Vegeta canted his head to one side. "And would you trade that life
for this one?"

A pause. "There are certain simple pleasures to enjoy, but for the
most part no. There's no romance in being poor and miserable, always
fighting with no hope of life being better."

Dark eyes surveyed the other saiyan. "And you, Raditz?"

The finely boned face tilted upward. "I sensed all along my true
heritage lay elsewhere, Vegeta. But I could never prove it, and was
mocked at school because of my belief."

Kakarot perked up at that. "You never told me..."

"I was older, and despised showing any weakness to you. But my very
appearance inspired jealousy. Third class but not a ragtail!"

Vegeta put his nose up a bit also. "Surely not. Conformation and
bones always speak true!"

Kakarot rolled his eyes. "Ai, you're both arrogant like royals."

"It isn't arrogance if you have the breeding, little brother." Raditz
sniffed. "I've told you that many times."

"More than I care to remember."

"You sound like father, Kakarot." Vegeta chimed in. "He treats
breeding like a skin you put on and take off."

The youngest brother stretched languidly against fur and satin. His
bright eyed niece squashed against him.

"Ijke" he tugged Xenna's little pony tail. "Stop wiggling, vii."

Raditz poured himself another drink. "Father was raised as third
class, but his demeanor was always different. Because of that I knew
we were something else."

"He has a charisma." Vegeta noted. "It's what drew me to him
initially...when I was too young to understand what was going on."

"Blood tells in the end, Vegeta." Kakarot stated. "I resisted the
notion we could be related, but some part of me knew all along."

"And?"

A slow smile. "And I didn't care...I only knew how I felt about you."

"Typical wild luni." Raditz yawned, flashing perfect points. "Heat
boils your brain, but admittedly you have no delusions."

"I won't apologize for being a moon cub, Raditz. My instincts are
always true to form, regardless of trickery or deception. I merely
follow them."

Vegeta stared, placing a sleeping Nuru at his side. "What say you?"

A pause. "I think back to when I met the Ou. We discussed this,
Vegeta."

The prince nodded, tucking fur around his snoring chibi. "Hai, you
told me your first impression. Your ability to see hidden truths has
always impressed me, Kakarot."

Wild black eyes sparked in stark truth. "I couldn't understand the
way he'd look at me, as if I were special."

"Understandable." Raditz stated. Tezar slept contentedly in arms like
cables.

The wild one continued. "I was told I got loose as chibi oozaru, and
ate some of the flowers in the royal garden. But instead of being
angry, saba just smiled and kissed me."

"Hn, he always had a soft spot for you. At times I was jealous,
though I was too young to understand why."

"It doesn't matter, koi. I didn't 'get it' either, but I could feel
something else going on."

"As did I." Raditz admitted. "I too felt a strange warmth,
a 'connection', around saba I couldn't explain. His kindness
perplexed me, since seemingly we had no history or common ground.
Little did I suspect the truth until later."

Kakarot moved his tail away from Xenna again. "Later? What happened?"

Raditz glanced down at his sleeping nephew. "Some things said about
the castle made me wonder. I loved sneaking around and overhearing
conversations."

"Something the servants said?" Vegeta wondered.

Dark features lit with a wolfish grin. "Ai, I'd heard hushed whispers
about ovees (bastard royals) and secret loves. Servants often said I
favored the king. Many times I'd enter a room only to clear it
immediately afterwards."

"Servants can be most annoying at times." Vegeta stated.

Kakarot snorted. "I went through that also. You'd think we had some
sort of disease."

Raditz nearly laughed. "A disease of royal blood, and those fools
knew it. Anyway, I roamed about the royal farmhouse, and strange
noises captured my attention."

Kakarot snickered. "I know where you're going..."

"Quiet! Anyway, as you know the farmlands at the castle outskirts are
huge. But the sounds were unmistakable."

Vegeta's eyes nearly popped. "Hold, are you saying that-"

"I snuck about the rafters, catching odd scent. It wasn't that of
farm animals either, but it affected me strangely. I stole a look..."

"Krukka!" Vegeta exclaimed. "I know this movie."

"Oh? The scent became stronger as I scaled the upper loft. The noises
I heard were clearly sounds of passion. Most of the farm animals had
fled outside from the racket."

The ouji's expression was indescribable. Kakarot cracked up.

"You should see yourself, Vegeta! How'd you think we got here, a
handshake?!"

"Shut up, fool! I want to hear this..."

Raditz continued. "Anyway, I peeped up the loft. Father and saba were
going at it, nearly breaking a cross beam. They used saba's robes as
bedcover in the hay."

Kakarot made a ridiculous face. "Can you imagine trying to get those
robes cleaned in secret?!"

"Idiot! Let me finish. I was confused by the affect their scent had
on me."

"You were still years away from first rut." Vegeta managed.

"True, but I was old enough to be influenced. I tried to hide, but
they sensed me."

Kakarot was enthralled. "What happened then? Were they angry?"

Dark eyes glazed in memory. "No. They just looked at me and...smiled.
Before I could do anything, they went back at it."

"And you watched?" Vegeta was incredulous.

"Only for a bit. I was too flustered, and nearly hit my head on a
wall brace. I all but toppled from the loft and ran from the barn."

"Must have been a hell of a thing to see." Kakarot surmised.

Raditz grinned slowly. "Father talked to me later about it briefly,
and said they couldn't love openly."

Vegeta rubbed his eyes. "I'm getting a headache."

"I may have been young, but I had sense enough to know there was more
between them than affection."

"Us, for starters." Kakarot commented. "Vegeta, you look a little
pale."

"I was thinking of the time frame. You weren't much older than Xenna,
and I was a toddler. Kami, they couldn't keep their hands off each
other!"

Raditz roared with mirth. "Now who does that sound like, eh?"

Button black eyes popped open. Kakarot sighed.

"Loudmouthed fool. Now Nuru and Tezar are awake!"

Raditz glanced down at his burbling nephew. "So I see."

Nuru rolled over, bright eyes peeping. He crawled across the bed as
the others watched.

Kakarot lashed his tail in annoyance, moving it away from Xenna yet
another time.

The ouji laughed then. "It's funny...we were lectured about not
having control, and it seems as if they were just as bad!"

"If not worse." Raditz added, smirking. "Can you imagine the two of
them sneaking around? And on the palace grounds, yet!"

Kakarot sniffed indignantly. "I can imagine most anything at this
point. What a mental scene! Saba rolling in a barn over his own
robes...not very kingly!"

The wild one gave a sick laugh, but it was short lived. His
persistent niece finally hit paydirt, sinking needle teeth into his
tail.

Nuru and Tezar screeched gleefully as their father howled. Vegeta and
Raditz likewise couldn't help but laugh as Kakarot rolled around
holding his wounded tail.

"I'm glad everyone thinks it's so damn funny!!"

Xenna pushed up to a sitting position and chirped at him. Kakarot
shook a finger at her.

"You be quiet, too. I oughta throw you in a cooking pot!"

****

The Ou glided into the room awhile later, seeing his entire brood
asleep. Each adult held a snoring chibi.

Small smile. "Hn, peace and quiet finally. All that talking, and they
finally wore themselves out."

Bardock appeared silently at his side. "I didn't think Raditz
remembered seeing us together."

"We weren't exactly quiet, koi."

"You made more noise than I did!"

"With all that growling I could hardly tell. Enough, you'll wake up
the chibis!"

Bardock smirked. "Too late." he pointed. Shiny eyes trained in their
direction, tongues clicking.

The Ou adjusted his robes. "Well, that's done it. They won't sleep
for hours now!"

Bardock climbed across the huge bed. "At least they're
settled...'idi'e naza, chikki!"

The chibis chirped in response, straining in the arms of their
parents. Bardock laughed softly.

"Well, what are you waiting for, Vegeta. There's plenty of room here!"

The Ou sniffed. "Don't rush me, a king must have dignity."

"Give it a rest. Climb over here already!"

Vegeta clambered over his slumbering cubs. "Madness...I see they've
been drinking prime stock from the winery."

Bardock reached across Vegeta, nibbling an entrail from a silver
bowl. "Sweetmeats and breads, too. At least there's some left for us."

The Ou squinted. "Pass me that bowl. I haven't eaten in nearly two
hours!"

"Hn, I see the little ones come this way."

The elders smiled as the three chibis squeezed free from their
parents and crawled over. Happy purrs rolled in small throats.

"I think they want some." Bardock grinned, stretching out. Xenna
plopped across his legs.

The Ou watched in amusement as Nuru nipped his toes. "Silly
chikki...you're as bad as your saba was. Always biting people's feet!"

Bardock chuckled. "Ai, it's like seeing Vegeta all over again...save
for Kakarot's coloring."

Not to be outdone, Tezar scuttled over, sticking his face in a bowl.
The Ou picked him up by the tail and dropped him by his sibling.

Bardock had enough presence of mind to wrap his tail securely about
the waist. A disappointed Xenna spat.

"Little mostri (monster). I know your plan! Here, bite this instead."
he fed her a small entrail. The chibi ate greedily.

Vegeta Ou sipped brandy from a crystal goblet. "That won't work, you
know." he nodded at the other cubs who showed great interest.

Bardock waved another entrail. "Gedac'se, chikki...come taste!"

Nuru and Tezar practically fell over each other biting the entrail.
The Ou rubbed the thick little mops.

"Not too much, Bardock...you know organ meats are rich for their
systems right now."

"A little won't hurt. Besides, it's my right to spoil them."

The Ou chomped a sweetbread, propping himself up near Kakarot. "Hn, a
night like this is long overdue for all of us."

"There are still secrets, koi." Bardock's voice held a hint of
warning.

Vegeta gathered in their chikki. "We'll deal with that when
necessary."

Bardock sighed. "A plague on royal secrecy...sometimes I'm glad I
came up third class."

"You never were, Bardock-"

The dark saiyan shushed his mate quickly. Hard eyes were on them both.

"Don't stop on account of me." Kakarot said suspiciously, watching
them closely.

His parents paused a moment. The Ou grinned slyly. "Go back to sleep,
this conversation doesn't concern you."

"On the contrary saba, this talk fascinates me. Maybe I should wake
up Vegeta and Raditz. I'm certain they'd like to hear it, too!"

"You'll do nothing of the kind. Stay your place, boy!"

The wild one sat up slowly, sniffing. "No wonder the chibis keep
biting. You stink."

"You aren't a drop of perfume either."

Another sniff. "And you clearly rolled before coming in here."

Bardock made a fist. "Put that nose on ice, loon. It won't look good
pointed in the wrong direction!"

"Ai, go smell something else." the Ou agreed. "This is a quiet family
evening, not an alley fight. But my crown's never too tight to oblige
a foulmouthed cub!"

The wild one glowered. "I can't help it. It's the first thing I
noticed before I woke up."

"Oh? I seem to recall Xenna biting you also."

A pause. "What are the other secrets?"

The Ou looked about blandly."Secrets? What secrets?"

Kakarot huffed, rolling on his side. "Fine, if that's the way you
want to be. I'm going to sleep!"

"An excellent suggestion."

The chibis started growling. Kakarot grinned smugly, wrapping fur
about himself.

"Sleep with one eye open, and watch your tails!"

The Ou curled next to Bardock. "Insolent cub."

****

Quiet kisses permeated the candlelit chamber.

"Bardock, enough. It took forever to calm the chibis again."

The dark warrior purred, stretching against his mate. "Maybe they're
calm, but I'm not. One more kiss!"

The Ou gave him a sticky one. "Now sleep! I've been bitten enough for
one evening, and now's not the time to relive the past!"

Bardock sighed, rolling to his side. "Ai, I spent enough nights
watching my tail with these big ones. Celipe had to muzzle Kakarot
more than once, and Raditz wasn't much better."

"Not surprising. It's a miracle I have any toes left, no thanks to
that one." the Ou pointed at the sleeping prince.

Bardock pulled his king into a tight embrace. "I'll sleep...for now.
But I want some later."

Vegeta purred contentedly. "Greedy hentai. I sometimes wonder if
you're a moon baby too!"

Dark eyes were lidded. "Kakarot's more like me than even he
knows...but I never was a hothead."

"My trait, I'm afraid." Vegeta Ou admitted. "He and Vegeta share my
impulsiveness, it seems. Raditz gets his cunning and ferocity from
you."

"We always related well in that aspect. I must admit he was always
the most level headed cub."

"Vegeta's temperamental and fiery. Typical high bred, eh?"

"True, but Raditz shares impatience and a short fuse. Kakarot on the
other hand..."

Vegeta Ou thought a moment. "Still explosive and high strung. I
haven't ruled out having him examined again."

Bardock's eyes narrowed. "Why at this stage? He's an adult." it was
nearly a whisper.

"Ai, but my concerns remain about his stability...if only we'd stayed
inside during that jungle moon in Ardwett!"

Bardock glanced at his near image, solidly asleep nearby. "We share
fault in that, koi. But I never regretted the result."

A sigh. "Nor I. Maybe I worry needlessly. I make allowances because
of his birth, but still there are times when-"

"You want to brain him. I know...if he tells me I'm not super saiyan
once more-"

The Ou shushed him hurriedly. "Do you want them to hear?!"

"I'll keep the promise, koi...but sometimes he tempts me!"

The king nestled against his mate snugly. "Ai, promises held and
kept."

Bardock rubbed cheeks, nuzzling. "I still believe they must be told
the rest of it, Vegeta. Would you have them find out from the
archives?"

Vegeta clamped a hand over his mouth. "Quiet, I say!" he hissed. "All
things in their own time."

And barely three feet away a wide awake ouji smiled in secret, his
back to them both. Powerful arms cradled Tezar gently in piles of fur.

/One already knows./

With a blissful sigh, Vegeta no Ouji drifted to dreamless sleep.

THE END


Next: House of Vegeta pt. 14: Frieza Looms