CHAPTER TWO

"Is that all you've got, Kakarot?!" A low, husky voice bellowed from below.

"Not on your life! I'm just getting started!" The other voice growled back.

Serenity opened the large doors of her palatial bedroom and peered over the balcony at the two large, level four Saiyans sparring in the field below. She leaned her elbows on the balcony, silently watching. The two fighters lunged at each other, swinging fists and gliding back and forth, dodging and countering each other's moves. The taller one finally landed a solid hit on the shorter one, momentarily knocking him to the ground, leaving a small crater from the impact.

"Told you I was just getting started, Vegeta." The taller one stood back, cracked his knuckles, and smirked. He brushed one of his red furred arms over his forehead while his tail swished proudly behind him.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, KAKAROT!" The shorter one yelled. He sprang back in to action, angrily speeding toward his rival.

'Oh Vegeta, what has you so wound up today?' Serenity wondered. "Hmmm... The full Earth must be approaching," she remarked with a smile, and then glanced up at the sky briefly to affirm her observation before she gazed back down at them. Vegeta, the hot-tempered and gruff prince of the Saiyans, had somehow developed a soft spot for the moon princess, and had quickly become like family to her after the Great Destruction had forced the Saiyans to become inhabitants of the moon. He had told her about the full Earth's effect on the Saiyan mating instinct. Unmated Saiyans always became agitated in the days leading up to the full Earth, with their aggression steadily increasing until after the phase passed. To stave off their frustration, they would spar with one another, sometimes beating the other within an inch of their life.

Serenity sighed, shaking her head, her silvery blonde hair dancing around her. Even after five years, there were some things about these warriors she felt she would never understand. She closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and peered back down at the warriors. Her heart fluttered as her eyes fixed on the taller of the two males below the balcony. "Kakarot..." Serenity whispered to herself, feeling her cheeks flush.

She would swear that she had loved him almost instantly, from the first time she had met him five years ago. She loved everything about him, from his usual gentle, kindhearted, easygoing nature to the stoic, fierce warrior he became in battle. She loved him in a way that she couldn't quite elaborate in words-it felt as if he had somehow become a part of her. Every time she made eye contact with him, she felt drawn to him, as if they were bound by an invisible force, being pulled together. She loved him, she needed him, and yet... He barely acknowledged her outside of his guard duties.

"Huh?" Kakarot stopped. His ears had picked up a faint, barely there whisper of his name, Kakarot took a step backward, lowered his arms, and glanced up toward the palace. He locked eyes with the princess and felt that all-too-familiar, sharp tugging feeling deep in his stomach that left him breathless every time. Damn it. He couldn't help but continue to gaze at her, guiltily savoring the feeling of the pull. Serenity's breath caught in her chest as she felt the strands of fate pulling her in his direction. 'Does she feel it too?' He wondered, seeing her reaction. He knew that all Saiyans had a strong mating instinct, and since he understood it, he could recognize it in himself and in the others. However, he was unsure of its effect on another race. What he was sure of was that he wanted her and needed her so badly that it hurt.

"Kakarot, you eternal idiot! Snap out of it." Vegeta barked, recognizing the look on his closest friend's face. Kakarot's cheeks burned as he broke eye contact with the princess. He looked at Vegeta, who smirked at him, and then looked down at his feet.

"Oh... Sorry... I just..."

Vegeta, suddenly feeling sympathy for his friend, shifted his tone. "Why don't you just-" He began, but he stopped himself. "Nevermind. We should clean up. Let's go." He shifted down to his regular form and began walking inside.

He knew. He and Nappa had found out about Kakarot feeling the pull for the princess one night after Kakarot had shown up to the training room late after his guard shift and had immediately began to punch and kick the training equipment in a fit of rage...

"KAKAROT! What the hell has gotten into you?!" Nappa yelled, surprised to see the usually good-natured Saiyan so erratic. He walked toward Kakarot in an attempt to get his attention, but as soon as he got close, Kakarot growled and pushed him back with all his strength, slamming him into the wall.

Vegeta stared at the scene in shock, confused and slightly dazed. Kakarot, his closest friend, had never acted like this. He quickly shook off the feeling and went to help a now very pissed off Nappa up. Before Nappa could return the attack, Vegeta stopped him.

Kakarot stopped his assault on the training equipment. "C'mon Nappa, what are you waiting for?" He said icily, sneering back at them and cracking his knuckles. His eyes were cold, yet blazing with rage. Vegeta held Nappa back again with a sharp look.

Vegeta had seen this before. That look... But where? Then it hit him. Kakarot was in the white hot center of a burning phase. Burning is always a horrible time for Saiyans, but it doesn't ever get this bad unless...

"Who is it, Kakarot?" He smirked at his best friend, who became even more enraged at the insinuation. Yes, he was right, Kakarot had definitely felt the pull. But for who? He had a feeling he already knew, but he wanted confirmation. Kakarot remained silent, glaring back at him. In the blink of an eye, Vegeta crashed in to him, using all of his strength to pin him against the wall. "WHO IS IT, DAMN IT?!"

"Like hell I'll ever tell you!" Kakarot yelled back, pushing Vegeta backwards.

Vegeta braced himself, preparing to attack again, but lowered his hands after a minute of thought. "No... On second thought, I won't beat the living hell out of you." He smirked.

"...Maybe then, you'll still have an opportunity to mate with the moon princess, hmm?"

Kakarot reddened, clenched his fists, and immediately shifted his power level up, screaming in rage. He flew towards Vegeta, ready to strike.

"Yes, Kakarot, I'm right, aren't I?!" Vegeta taunted as he dodged and countered his closest friend's attacks. Just a little longer and he should be worn down and back to normal. "I've seen the way you look at her. If you want to hide it, try being a little less obvious."

"GODS DAMN IT!" Kakarot thrust Vegeta aside, panting hard, and threw one last hard punch at the wall before surrendering. He stood in hard silence for a few minutes before finally speaking, much calmer now.

"It doesn't matter anyway. I'll never be good enough for her... Not for a princess." He sighed dejectedly. "You can't tell her-or anyone-please. I'll handle it on my own."

Vegeta began to interrupt, but was stopped by a cold, harsh look from Kakarot.

"Got it?!"

"... Kakarot, I... You have my word."

"Nappa?" He barked through clenched teeth.

"Oh!" The tall, bulky warrior had gotten so lost in watching the scene that he had almost forgotten that he was involved now. "Oh... Uh, yeah! You... Have my word too."

"Good. Then this won't be a problem." With that, Kakarot turned away and walked out the door.

''That damned fool is as stubborn as he ever was.' Vegeta thought, continuing towards the palace.

Kakarot longingly glanced back up at the princess for a moment and sighed. He returned to his regular form and jogged in to the palace behind the Saiyan prince. "Wait up, Vegeta!" He called.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright! First two chapters are up! Sorry that we haven't gotten into too much major plot stuff yet, but I promise it's coming! I was just dying to upload what I had so far! Please R&R and tell me what you're hoping for in the next update! :)

With love,

Blooberri