Year 1282, Planet Jurai
Azusa Masaki Jurai, emperor of planet Jurai, could tell you many things about his life. He could tell you about all the luxuries of planet Jurai, like the lavish living quarters, the servants who saw to your every need, and the beautiful women that threw themselves at you(though he never did get to fully enjoy that last one). However, though many knew about it, he was never asked about the other side of his life. His life before Jurai, that is.
He grew up on a space colony in the outer reaches of Juraian territory. His life there was good, though nothing like what he had now. Here he had two beautiful wives, and two wonderful children. Funaho was beautiful and proper, with their son Yosho taking after her quite a bit in that regard. His other wife Misaki, however, was...different. He loved her dearly, just as he did Funaho. But where Funaho was graceful and proper, Misaki was...spontaneous and emotional.
She was over the top about almost anything, which made for quite a show to anyone not involved in her antics. He loved and married her nonetheless, however, and she blessed him with a beautiful baby girl. Ayeka was only four years old, but Azusa could already see how she was and was not like her mother. Ayeka was definitely emotional and childish, as expected of one so young, but unlike her mother, she showed remarkable restraint, even at such a young age. She minded her manners and behaved as a princess should. He couldn't be more proud of his daughter.
Azusa stepped out onto the balcony, looking out at the stars of Jurai, smiling. Yes, he had family here, and that was all well and good. What he didn't have, however, were friends. He was the emperor, yes, and knew many people, but he didn't have any friendships he felt were genuine. Everyone always tried to cozy up to him to gain his favor. He wasn't very surprised at this, however. After all, he could count on one hand the number of real friends he had in his place of birth. One finger, actually. He smiled, remembering his best friend. They had been born just a few months apart, and grew up together like siblings. Even now, being so far from each other, Azusa still made sure to keep in touch with him. As Azusa smiled, remembering his younger days, he saw a white light streak across the sky and crash in the courtyard. This brought the emperor back to his senses. Being so lost in thought, he had completely forgotten that his friend was coming to visit him today. He walked back inside and headed down to the courtyard.
Azusa arrived, smiling. He laughed to himself at the shocked looks on some of the servants' faces, quickly assuring them that there was nothing to worry about. He turned towards the craft, admiring its design. It was incredibly simple, essentially being a sphere with a hatch on the front. Lacking any form of landing gear, every landing was a crash. This was fine for the ship itself, but not for the royal courtyard. He smiled as he headed towards the crater, just in time to see a hand grasp the edge. The figure pulled himself out of the pod, looking around. "So this is Jurai? Hmm. It's definitely fancy." He turned and saw Azusa, and immediately smiled, floating up towards him. He stopped in front of Azusa, grinning happily. The emperor extended his hand, only to be pulled into a brotherly hug by the man, surprising him, as they both laughed.
The man smiled, his features full on display. He stood about six feet tall, with broad shoulders and tanned skin. His hair was short and spiky, being black as night, with his eyes matching it. He sported a small scar under his left eye, which added to his rugged, tough look. Overall, he looked like he was in his early twenties, though Azusa knew that he was almost forty, the same as him. His outfit was as out of place on Jurai as he was. He wore a skintight black bodysuit, with sleeves stopping just before his elbows. Over the bodysuit he wore a form of battle armor, with simple colors. The shoulder pads and stomach area were a dark brown, almost like stained wood. The chest area was nearly as black as his hair. The whole suit was outlined by a white trim. On his wrists were two black wrist bands. On his feet he wore white boots with brown at the toes to match his armor. His most notable feature, however, was around his waist. What appeared to be some form of belt was actually a tail, identifying him as a Saiyan. The brown, furry appendage was truly a sight to behold.
As their laughter ceased, the man clapped Azusa on the back. "Good to see you, Azz. It's been a long time." Azusa smiled. "Yes, Berkum. It's been too long. Almost thirty years, to be exact. I'm glad to see you're doing well." The man, now identified as Berkum, laughed again. "Me? I'm more interested in you. When that hag took you away after the pirate attack, I knew you would be doing great things, but I never imagined you'd become emperor of Jurai! Boy was that a shock!" Azusa smiled. "It was quite a surprise to me when I was given the title as well. And you have done quite well yourself, I hear. Hunting pirates, is it?"
Berkum shrugged. "While the rest of my race was busy conquering planets, I figured I might as well do some good. Plus, the pay is amazing. Or well, it was amazing." Azusa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Did they cut your payments? I can help you with that, you know. All it would take is one message." Berkum shook his head. "I actually...quit the whole pirate hunting thing...about eight years ago." The emperor's eyes widened. "But...why, Berkum? You were the best hunter in 2000 years!"
His friend smiled. "Let's just say...I found something worth more to me than all that fame and money." Azusa's jaw dropped. "Berkum, did you...get married?", he asked in disbelief. Berkum chuckled and scratched the back of his head. Azusa grinned madly, and started laughing loudly. "Well well, so you finally found someone willing to put up with you? So? Where is the poor woman?" Immediately, Berkum's smile dropped. "She uhh, she's no longer with us." Azusa's eyes widened in shock. "You mean she…?" Berkum nodded sadly. "Himiko...she passed away four years ago."
Azusa raised another eyebrow. "Himiko? That's an Earthling name." Berkum nodded. "It was back after your fight with Kagato. When the hag told me you were missing, I took off into space. Missed out on a pretty good job, too. I tracked your energy signature for days, until I finally found Earth. By the time I arrived, though, you were already gone. I stayed there for a few days, met her, and...well, the rest is history."
Azusa smiled sadly, and patted his friend's shoulder. "Well, I'm sorry, my friend. I'm sure she was wonderful." Berkum nodded. "Yeah, she was. But, you could say she isn't completely gone. She left me a little something." He walked back towards his space pod, leaning down and nudging something. Berkum chuckled. "Look at you. You were so excited to come here, and now that we've arrived you're fast asleep? C'mon, wake up." A small groan was heard, and Berkum floated back up, carrying a small figure in his arms. It was a little boy, no older than four. He was clad in a red kimono, with a furry tail of his own hanging lazily from the back. Berkum set him down, and he rubbed his eyes, looking at the man before him. Azusa looked the boy up and down, marvelling at how much he resembled a young Berkum.
His skin tone was a bit lighter than Berkum's. His eyes and hair were a chocolate brown. His hair spiked to the side in the front, and was tied in a short ponytail behind him. It was just as wild and unkempt as his father's. Other than the color differences, however, it was like looking at Berkum's clone. The Saiyan clapped the boy on his shoulder. "This here, is my son. His name is Maezon. Go on, boy. Say hello." Maezon fidgeted in place nervously, obviously intimidated by the emperor. "He-hello.", the boy croaked out.
Azusa chuckled and looked at his friend proudly. "I'm proud of you, Berkum. He seems like a fine boy, although a bit nervous." Berkum sweat-dropped. "Yeah...I've been trying to get him out of that. You should feel lucky though. Once the kid starts talking, he never shuts up. Hahaha!" This earned him a smack from said kid. "D-dad!", the boy said, embarrassed. Azusa started laughing like a madman, seeing that the similarities between father and son went past their appearance.
"Father!" Azusa was pulled from his laughter as he looked back toward the royal palace. A small blue-haired girl was running towards him, a big smile on her face. Azusa picked her up and spinned her around, laughing happily before setting her down. She tugged on his sleeve, and he looked towards her. "Father, who are these two?", she asked with curiosity. Azusa smiled and ushered her towards the two visitors. "Ayeka, this is my childhood friend Berkum. We've known each other since we were babies. The little boy with him is his son, Maezon. He's about your age. Why don't you say hello?"
Immediately, the girl turned towards the two Saiyans and bowed. "How do you do, Lord Berkum? Lord Maezon? My name is Ayeka Masaki Jurai. It is a pleasure to meet you both." Maezon hid behind his father's leg as Berkum whistled. "Proper little tyke, ain't she?", he said, mildly impressed with her manners. Azusa smiled with pride as Berkum walked up to her and patted her head. "But there's no need for the 'Lord', little one. Neither myself nor my son carry any blood worth mentioning."
Ayeka nodded, then turned towards Maezon, a big smile on her face. "Would you like to play with me?", she asked happily. Slowly, Maezon stuck his head out from behind his father's leg. "You...want me to play with you?" Ayeka nodded, and the boy started tearing up. "R-really? You really mean it?" Once again, the little girl flashed him a smile. "Mhmm!", she exclaimed. Maezon wiped his tears, a smile of his own gracing his features. "Okay! What do you want to play?", he asked happily.
Ayeka stopped to think for a moment, before smiling and tapping Maezon on the shoulder. "Let's play tag! You're it!", she exclaimed, taking off as fast as her little legs could carry her. Maezon simply turned to his father in confusion. "Dad, how do you play tag?" Azusa doubled over, and Berkum chuckled awkwardly, before pointing after Ayeka. "You gotta chase her and lightly tap her, yelling 'Tag! You're it!' Then you have to run away from her as she tries to tag you. Now go on, son. Have fun!", he said with a smile. Maezon smiled happily, before shooting off after the young princess.
Two hours later
Azusa and Berkum sat on a hill, watching their children chase each other happily around the courtyard, laughing together as though they had been friends forever. Azusa laughed. "You know, I said to the council that I wanted my children to mix with blood from other planets. They weren't happy about it, of course, but they can't really stop it. I was thinking of having Ayeka marry her brother Yosho, seeing as he's half human. His mother Funaho agreed with me on that. But, after seeing those two get along like this, I have to ask. Would you be interested in forming a marriage pact between them?", he asked. Berkum turned towards the emperor and laughed. "Haha! As if! The boy would pass out the minute I suggested that. Besides, if the council was against the general idea, I know they won't want Juraians and Saiyans mixing. We aren't exactly well liked in the universe."
As Azusa hung his head in defeat, he noticed Berkum wearing a proud smile. "She's his first friend, you know? That's why he didn't know how to play tag. He's never done it before." Azusa's eyes widened in shock. "You mean he doesn't have any friends on Earth?" Berkum shook his head sadly. "Not a single one. We live in a forest near his mother's village. I built us a house there, as Himiko didn't want to be too far from her home. If it was me, though, I would have wanted to get as far away from there as possible."
He turned towards Azusa, visibly angry. "Everyone in that village loved her at first. She was the kindest, most beautiful woman I have ever known. She had a smile that could just light up your day, Azusa. But the minute I came into her life, they cast her out, calling her a monster and a freak. They're the reason she died, you know?" Azusa turned to Berkum in shock. "Did they kill her?"
The Saiyan shook his head. "No. Well, not directly. You see, she got sick about a week before she gave birth to Maezon. I was hopeful, because she started to look better in the days leading up to it. But after she popped him out, she got so much worse. She could barely stay conscious, and her breathing was very shallow. Her pulse was so weak, I was terrified. I...I knew I couldn't make it to a medical station in time, and that even if I could, they wouldn't treat her because Earth was a developing civilization. So...I did the only thing I could. I went back to that village, swallowed my pride, and I begged."
This caused Azusa's jaw to drop. Berkum may not have been raised like a conventional Saiyan, but there was one thing universal to all of them: pride. A Saiyan valued their pride more than anything else, even their own life. So the fact that Berkum was willing to swallow it proved just how much Himiko must have meant to him. The emperor finally managed to find his words. "And? What happened?"
Berkum scowled, his fists clenching. "They didn't care. I sat there, on my knees, crying, begging them to save her, saying that I would take her and leave after, that they would never see us ever again. And you know what the village leader said to me?" He turned to Azusa. "He said 'Why should we help? If she dies, there will be one less monster in the world. I say good riddance.' That man...was Himiko's father. I killed him after he said that. Drove my fist right through his stomach in anger. I'm not proud of it, but I don't regret it." Azusa's face contorted into a snarl, and his own fists clenched. "I see. I...I'm sorry, Berkum. I know that must have been hard for you. I can only imagine what you must have felt."
The Saiyan tucked his knees into his body, shaking his head and wiping his eyes. "Hah...look at me. Crying like a baby. Can't have that. She'll give me an earful when I finally see her again." He stood up, and offered Azusa his hand, helping him to his feet. "Well, Azusa, it's been fun. But I know you've got a busy day tomorrow, and the brat and I have to get back to Earth. Let me know when you've got another free day, alright? We'll come back so you and I can catch up. And so they can play together again." He gave the emperor a smile that he knew was fake, and Azusa came to the heart-shattering realization of just how broken his friend was.
As Berkum began to walk away, Azusa stopped him. "Berkum, why don't...why don't you and Maezon just stay here, on Jurai?" Berkum turned to look at him with wide eyes. "What? Azz, do you know what you're saying? The council was already on you about the whole interbreeding thing. You don't need to give them anymore reasons to hate you!" Azusa shook his head, determination in his eyes. "I don't care what the council thinks! Do you honestly expect me to leave you be when I can see just how much you're suffering?! Please, Berkum, stay here. I'll work something out with the council. I know that Funaho and Misaki will help me." Berkum shook his head. "I'm sorry, Azz. I appreciate the offer. Really, I do. But...I can't."
Azusa clasped the Saiyan's shoulder and pointed in the distance, where Maezon and Ayeka were still playing together. Ayeka blew a dandelion into Maezon's face, causing him to sneeze. He smiled at her, and they both started laughing. "Look at them, Berkum. He was so shy when he first showed up, but now he's completely opened up to her. And I couldn't think of anything better for Ayeka. I'm so unbelievably proud of how mature she is, but I do wish she could enjoy being a child more often. With you and Maezon here, I think both of our children will get exactly what they need. Please, my friend, if not for yourself, do it for your son.", he requested.
Berkum stared off into the distance, watching his son play with the princess. He bowed his head and clenched his fists, and Azusa saw tears roll down his cheeks. The emperor clasped a hand on Berkum's shoulder, and the Saiyan turned to look at him, pain in his eyes. Azusa nodded, and Berkum took a deep breath, then sighed, calling his son over to them. Maezon ran over to them and looked up at his father, grinning happily. " Dad! Dad! Guess what?! Ayeka's really fun! She's been showing me all kinds of neat games to play. Can we stay just a little longer? Please?", he begged.
Berkum smiled, dropped to one knee, and ruffled the boy's hair. "Son, do you like it here on Jurai?" Immediately, the boy nodded vigorously. "Uh-huh! It's super pretty here, and I"m having lots of fun!", he said. The older Saiyan smiled. "Ayeka's father has invited us to live here with them. Would you like that son? To live here on Jurai with them?"
The child's eyes widened, but then a frown came over his face. He turned to his father. "But, Dad? If we come to live here, what about Mom? She'll be all alone on Earth. I don't want Mom to be lonely.", he said sadly. Berkum visibly flinched at this, his son's words tearing into old wounds. He smiled sadly at the boy, ruffling his hair. "You're right, son. Can't leave her all alone. Why don't you stay here, then? I can go back to Earth and keep Mom company, okay?" The child stamped his foot. "No! Then you'll be all alone! I like it here, but I don't wanna leave Earth. Earth is special." Azusa raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes it so special to you?", he asked.
The child turned to him with a grin. "Cuz it's where my dad met my mom!", he said cheerfully. Berkum's eyes widened, and a tear dripped down his face as he pulled his son into a hug, surprising the boy. "Dad?! W-what's wrong?", he asked, embarrassed. Berkum smiled at him and wiped his eyes. "Nothing, son. Nothing at all. Tell ya what? Why don't you and Ayeka go play some more? We can stay a little longer. I'll call you when it's time to leave." Maezon smiled, and rushed back towards the young princess, chasing her all around the courtyard.
A few hours later
The sun was beginning to set over the planet Jurai, and Berkum decided it was time for he and Maezon to return home. Hugs and tears were given freely, along with a promise to come back. The two Saiyans climbed into their space pod, and blasted off into the stars, heading towards home. Maezon talked Berkum's head off the whole way, going on and on about what a wonderful time he had playing with the young princess. Berkum simply smiled and listened, knowing he would have to endure this every time he brought his son back to Jurai.
And so they did. Berkum returned with his son many times, catching up with the emperor and letting Maezon and Ayeka spend time with one another. As Berkum had declined Azusa's offer, the emperor and his wife Funaho created a marriage pact for Ayeka and her brother Yosho. This resulted in her being made to spend a lot of time with her brother, with the young half-saiyan joining them on days he was there. Maezon was slightly jealous of Yosho, as he had developed a slight crush on the princess, though he never let anyone know about it. Or, he thought no one knew. In reality the only ones who didn't know were his father and Ayeka herself. The second empress, Misaki, who was also Ayeka's mother, tried to intervene in the marriage pact, stating that Maezon and Ayeka would be "so much cuter together", but she was denied, as Azusa and Funaho stated they had to respect Berkum's wishes.
Some years later, in 1289, Second Empress Misaki gave birth to another little girl, who she named Sasami. Ayeka and Maezon immediately fell in love with the child, spoiling her rotten whenever they could. Ayeka would regularly abandon her duties to play with her sister, and Maezon would bring the child gifts from Earth and take her flying when he came to visit. Maezon had no siblings, but he wondered if this was how it felt to be a big brother. That being said, he still made sure to spend plenty of time with Ayeka as well. Being half-saiyan, the boy was easily able to carry the princess, and they would sometimes sneak up to the roof of the palace to talk. It was innocent, childish talk, mostly involving funny things they had seen or trying to make each other laugh. Ayeka wasn't aware of it, but the real reason Maezon kept bringing her up there was to confess to her. Unfortunately, the young half-saiyan never quite worked up the nerve, so it simply became their hangout spot.
Year 1292, Earth
Maezon was excited. In another week, he and his father were set to make another trip to planet Jurai. He couldn't wait to see Ayeka and Sasami again. 'And Yosho too, I guess.', he thought with a frown, still jealous of Ayeka's brother/fiancee. He still couldn't understand the logic behind that. Why would anyone marry their family, let alone someone as closely related as their sibling? It just seemed weird to him, but, then again, his father always told him that Juraians did a lot of things other people wouldn't think of. "Oh well, I might as well go see if I can find some food for lunch. Dad'll be grumpy if it isn't ready by the time he gets back.", he said.
The fourteen year old half-saiyan walked down to a nearby river, and stripped down to his undergarments. He faced the water, his eyes scanning it for...something. All of a sudden, he smirked, and his body leapt forward, diving into the water. For a few seconds, all was quiet. Then suddenly Maezon burst from the water with a huge fish. It was easily the size of a man and must have weighed a ton, yet he carried it as though it were nothing. He plopped it down on the shore as he collected his clothes, admiring his catch. "This one is pretty big, it should last us until dinner." Fully dressed, he made his way back to the house, setting the fish to roast on a spit.
A few hours later
It was after dark now, and Berkum had still not returned from the mountains. Maezon was beginning to worry about his father. As he prepared to search for him, a glimmering light in the sky caught the boy's eye, and his senses flared to life. 'One? No, two? No, four! One of them is Dad and another is...Yosho?! What's he doing here?!' Forgetting his food, the half-saiyan took off to the skies, flaring his energy and blasting through the air at top speed. He arrived at the site to see his father and Yosho locked in combat with someone new. She had long spiky silver-cyan hair, and was dressed in a red and black body-suit. Her eyes were glowing bright red, and her face was twisted in a vicious snarl. He began running towards the three, calling out for his father. Berkum turned towards his son, then his eyes widened. "No! Maezon, get away! It's too dangerous!"
The boy continued running nonetheless, determined to help his father and Yosho. The woman sent Yosho flying with a blast of energy, and the prince was out of sight for the moment. As Maezon approached, he was forced to watch in horror as the woman stabbed his father with a blade of energy right in the stomach. Berkum coughed up a glob of blood and dropped to the ground. Maezon's eyes widened, and his face twisted in rage. "FATHER!" His aura flared, and he blasted towards the woman, throwing caution to the wind.
He landed a punch right across her face, sending her flying, and followed it up with a massive beam of energy. "HAAAAA!", he yelled, firing the blast, taking out a good chunk of the forest. Yosho, who had recovered at this point, charged after her, but Maezon didn't care. His aura faded away, and he rushed to his father, worry etched on his face. "Dad?! Are you okay?", he asked with a shaky voice. Berkum looked at his son, his breathing ragged. "Maezon, listen to me. You need to go. That woman...her name is Ryoko. She's a space pirate, a really powerful one. She's destroyed almost thirty planets. Get in the pod, and go to Jurai. You'll be safe there."
Maezon grabbed his father's hand, tears pooling in his eyes. "No! I can't! If I leave, she'll kill you, and she'll destroy the Earth too." Berkum's eyes widened, and he smiled at his son, coughing more blood. "My boy, you've really grown, haven't you? You've already found your pride, and I never even noticed. You really love this planet, don't you?" Maezon nodded. "It's my home. And yours, Dad. It was mom's too. I can't abandon it." The saiyan smiled at his son. "Fine, then. Go, and fight with everything you have. But, I have to tell you something before you go. Lean closer, son."
Maezon leaned down, and his father whispered something in his ear. The boy's eyes widened, and he looked at his dying father in shock. "R-really?" The older saiyan nodded. "Yes. No one else knows. And now, it falls to you, my son. Do me proud. And you better...not...die." With that, Berkum spoke his last words, and left his son behind. Maezon laid his father down gently, looking at his face one last time, before standing up and wiping his tears. He grit his teeth, then charged up to maximum power and took off towards Ryoko and Yosho, the full moon illuminating the Earth beneath him as he shot through the air, his tail flowing behind him.
And that's a wrap!
Hope you all enjoyed the newly rewritten first chapter. Put a lot more work into this one, so I hope you feel as great about it as I do. Follow me on Twitter @D3vilB4sket for updates on all my other stories.
This is D3vilB4sket, signing off!