N. Konbonwa minna. Chapter three at long last. Sorry that it took so long,
a lot has been going on in my life and when I get in the mood to write
someone blows up at me and it kind of throws the whole thing out the window
if you know what I mean. Anyway, here's chapter three.
Warnings ~ Violence, Yaoi, Lemon, Language, Sexual Assault. Not in every chapter but this is a general warning for the whole fic.
Disclaimer ~ I own nothing at all! Sue and you will receive a bucket of Kobo drool.
SWAN LAKE
Chapter Three
Kakarot carefully picked his way through the familiar shrubbery and undergrowth as he led his escort towards the lake where he had met the enchanted prince. He was quite certain that Vegeta would have to return to that lake in order to take on human form, or at least he hoped that was the case. The prince could hear his large friend stumbling through the densely packed greenery behind him, cursing softly as he caught his foot in a root or clunked his head on a low tree branch.
"Nappa just take your time, we have until nightfall to get there." He chuckled lightly as his escort merely grunted a soft, annoyed reply. Kakarot glanced up at the beams of sunlight that filtered through the thick canopy above him. From what little he could see he had to assume it was close to mid afternoon; that meant he had about three hours before the moon rose.
Raditz sat sullenly on his bed and tenderly placed a cold cloth over the large bruise on his right cheek. His father had been less than pleased when he had been unable to correctly enact the metamorphosis spell. Raditz had simply been too nervous and had spoken the wrong word, causing the spell to completely fail. It wasn't as though it had been a dire mistake, he could have merely tried the spell again, but his father had gone into a rage over his incompetence and had struck him hard, knocking him to the floor before storming out of the room. The young man had not seen him for the rest of the day, which he was rather thankful for. He turned his dark eyes toward the window, watching as the sunlight played across the tops of the great forest outside the castle. How long had it been since he had gone out into the woods? It had to have been a week at least since he had last ventured outside of the castle doors. Raditz stood and strode purposely from his room, dropping his cloth as he walked past the table by his door. He slipped quietly down the long flight of stairs, careful not to arouse his father's attention, and crept out the large door.
It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the brightness of the glittering sunlight, but once they had he was obliged to pause and stare at the beauty of the landscape before him. He mused to himself about what he should do now that he was outside while idly twirling a few strands of his dark locks around a finger. An idea came to him after a few moments; he would pay a visit to Vegeta's lake and escort him back once night fell. It would give him time to be away from his father and he could enjoy the woods while he waited for the prince. Raditz began walking down the path that led to the lake, smiling as he listened to birds twittering out songs and closing his eyes against the gentle breeze that played through his long ebony tresses.
"Kakarot, how much longer must we endure this bothersome bush?" Nappa growled as he ripped yet another root from around his ankles. His prince laughed at him, a bemused twinkle in his eyes.
"Not long Nappa, see, the lake is there beyond the next cluster of trees." He pointed to a small gathering of tall trunks, which stood before a gleaming expanse of blue water. "Come. It is not far." The prince hurried on, excitement causing his heart to beat faster within his chest. His escort ambled after him, not nearly as enthusiastic in his stride. The two men walked out of the woods and paused at what they saw before them, their mouths opened in surprise and eyes widened in confused shock. A strange young man stood upon the far shore of the lake, looking as perplexed as they were. He was too tall to be Vegeta, and though he did have a widow's peak, his hair didn't rise into a dark flame, it instead cascaded down to his knees in a flowing mane of ebony. His coal black eyes were round with surprise and his voice seemed to hold a tremor of disbelief in it as he called out to them.
"Who are you? How did you find this place?" Raditz could hardly believe his eyes; yet there on the other side of the lake, were people. Living, breathing people, not some figment of his imagination! It had been so long since he had seen any living soul save that of his father and the prince; he had started to think there weren't any others in the world.
"I am Prince Kakarot, son of King Bardock. This is my escort and friend, Nappa. We came here to find Prince Vegeta, do you know him by chance?" Kakarot called out hopefully, his heart thudding in his chest as the longhaired stranger blinked at him.
Raditz was dumbstruck. Not only were these two men important people, a prince and his royal escort no less, but they knew Vegeta! The sorcerer's son couldn't fathom how the enchanted prince had managed to get involved with these two men, but if they were looking for Vegeta then perhaps he would let them stay. After all they didn't seem too intimidating, well the prince didn't, and when Vegeta returned they could always escape them easily enough if they were enemies. He glanced back towards the direction his home was in, a shadow of foreboding suddenly descending on his soul. The feeling passed as quickly as it came, and he allowed a small smile to grace his lips.
"Aye, I do know the prince, quite well actually. You may join me in waiting for his return if you wish." He motioned for them to come and sit beside him on the stone steps near his side of the lake. The two men made their way over and reclined upon the cool rocks under the slightly distrustful eye of Raditz. The young prince he assumed was close to Vegeta's age, a few years younger at the most. His escort had to be about three years older than he was himself. He balked slightly when he realized the large bald man was staring intensely at him.
"Tell me sir, what is your name?" The prince's question was a welcome escape for the young man's attention. He quickly shifted his gaze to Kakarot's curious face.
"My name is Raditz. I am the son of Lord Paraguas, who owns the lake and the forest beyond, watching over it from his fortress some ways behind us." Raditz waited for his audience to absorb his information before he cracked a smirk. The confusion on their faces was more than amusing for him.
"Lord Paraguas? That is not possible, my father owns this land. He has claimed it since the great destruction of Emperor Vejito's palace." Kakarot stared at Raditz with a mixture of confusion, annoyance, and disbelief in his dark orbs. The manned head shook slightly as a soft chuckle punctured the quiet afternoon air. Raditz looked at him and raised a brow.
"Do you truly wish to know the entire tale? It is not a pleasant one I can promise you that." His eyes seemed harder now; angry though there was an embittered gleam behind the furry that swelled in the twin onyx globes. Kakarot nodded his head silently, fascinated at the prospect of learning some secretive history. Raditz looked out over the smooth surface of the shimmering lake and inhaled deeply of the crisp air before beginning his tale in a quiet tone.
"Many years ago, there were two kingdoms whose borders met at the edge of this forest. The one kingdom belonged to your grandfather, and the other to the father of Vejito, whose name I have since forgotten. The emperor passed away one night from a terrible sickness, and the empire was handed down to Vejito. Your grandfather and his son came to the funeral to pay respect to the dead and to welcome the new emperor to his throne. At some point during this visit your father and Vejito were left by themselves for a period of time and became rather close. Over the first few years of Vejito's reign they spent much time together, one would have almost thought your father was courting the emperor." Raditz cast a sly grin towards the prince, who seemed a bit flustered about thinking of his father's love interests in any way. The sorcerer's son sighed, his eyes looking shamed and remorseful as he continued. "Years passed, Bardock was given the crown and succeeded his father to the throne, and both kingdoms were blessed with new princes. Vejito was immensely proud of his young son, and all that lived in the palace were fond of the inquisitive child. There was one who seemed too fond of the youngster. One knight in particular seemed to have an unnatural fascination with the toddler and could always be found playing with him or lurking in the background watching him. The young prince was oblivious to the possible harm of the strange closeness the man shared with him; it was not lost on the emperor though. When Vejito confronted his knight about the matter a heated argument ensued and the knight was forbidden to come anywhere near the young prince. Twisted minds are rarely quelled by spoken orders, and this knight bent his every thought and desire upon the child. He secretly studied the dark arts and formulated a plan to get revenge on the emperor and take the prince for his own." Again Raditz paused, he seemed paler then he had been before and his eyes held an intriguing, sad rage in their dark depths. His voice became harsh, cold and sharp as he continued to speak. "The knight went to the kings chambers one bleak eve, his intent as black as the clouds in the night sky. He gained audience with the emperor and shared pleasant greetings with him. Within moments of the chamber doors closing though, things changed dramatically. The knight had well learned the ways of sorcery and he put his new craft to use upon the unsuspecting king and all those in the palace save the prince. A vile shadow crept through the silent halls and stole into each room, seeking out all those living and wrenching their souls from within them. Darkness was suddenly filled with sharp wails of terror and then silence came again in the next instant. The shadow carried its stolen burden back to the knight, who would use his victims souls to give him power; draining each one till it vanished from this realm forever. Once he had captured all of their energy he went to the prince's bed and collected his slumbering prize, the child never woke to hear the demise of his beloved father. After the knight had carried the young one out of the palace, he set the great structure ablaze with a black flame. None could see the dark tongues of fire as they burned away the evidence of the knight's misdeeds under the shadow of night." Raditz trailed off in a melancholy tone as his audience tried to assimilate the entire tale. Kakarot was the first to speak. His eyes were wide in shocked understanding.
"Well that would explain why none could tell my father what had happened to the emperor or his palace." He furrowed his brows together. "What ever happened to the little prince?" Dark, wide eyes stared imploringly at Raditz.
"Aye, and how did your father come to supposedly own this land?" Nappa glared at the sorcerer's son. He was rather taken with the young man's beauty, but he was suspicious as well. Something inside him was doubtful of Raditz. He didn't think he was lying, but perhaps, he was hiding something from them? Raditz shifted uncomfortably under the heavy gaze of the tall escort. His escape came suddenly in the cry of a bird. All eyes turning to the sunset tinted sky as a white swan descended upon the smooth surface of the lake. The long, elegant neck stretched and bent while the bird paddled itself into the center of the water, awaiting the rise of the moon. Raditz stood and swiftly strode to the edge of the lake even as the last golden rays of the sun slipped behind the horizon. Starlight twinkled in the blue-green heavens, silvery moonlight cascading down over the earth in glowing streams. The swan went through its nightly change, turning from an animal into the handsome prince. Vegeta looked slightly surprised to see Kakarot and Nappa, but his mouth dropped when he saw his third visitor.
"Raditz! What in hell are you doing here?" His voice was demanding but Raditz could see the fear and worry in his eyes. He waited uneasily as the prince stepped out from the cool water and looked up at him expectantly.
"I couldn't stand it any longer Vegeta. I had to get outside again; it's been so long you know. Besides, I had a rather pleasant time waiting for you with these two men. That one claims himself the son of King Bardock, I do not doubt that from his looks, but do you know him as he states you to?" The two of them looked long at Kakarot and his escort. Vegeta's eyes narrowed into black slits, a few silent breaths passing before he nodded once.
"Aye Raditz. I have met him before." Vegeta narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the other prince. "Kakarot, why did you come back to this place?" He smirked to himself at seeing the prince jump at his sharp question. Kakarot fidgeted and blushed slightly; he glanced up at his escort for help but found none as Nappa was staring steadfastly at Raditz, who seemed less than appreciative of the attention, if the glare he was giving the bald man was any indication. Kakarot sighed as he faced the smaller prince's burning ebon eyes.
"I returned because I wished to see you again, and perhaps to talk with you. When last we met, you ran away so quickly, I would much like to spend more time in your company Prince Vegeta." He looked hopefully at the surprised prince. Vegeta felt a shockingly strong inclination to stay and talk as the other had asked. Perhaps it was just from not having much attention from people, or maybe he just didn't want to go home, but for whatever reason, he wanted to spend time with him. The prince opened his mouth to speak, but Raditz's gasp cut him off.
"Vegeta it's late. He'll be furious if we are gone much longer." The young man's voice was low, inaudible to any but the enchanted prince. Vegeta knew they were all ready in for some amount of trouble at being this late, but perhaps if they hurried there wouldn't be any serious injury done to them. He had noticed the large bruise on Raditz's face but not said a word. The two of them rarely spoke about any strange marks that occasionally appeared on their bodies. He sighed as he looked up at the moon in the sky it was indeed late. The prince longed to stay, to spend time in the company of Kakarot, who seemed so kind and curious. He had no choice in the matter though.
"I must go, I am sorry Kakarot." Vegeta and Raditz turned to leave but stopped when the other prince grabbed hold of Vegeta's left arm. The grip was firm but so gentle, so unlike Paraguas'.
"Why? Please Vegeta, I didn't mean to offend you, I just want to talk. If not tonight then tomorrow? Please?" The voice was so sweetly plaintive, the words so softly spoken. Vegeta felt his resolve slipping. He turned to command the other to release him and stared up into the largest pair of desperately imploring ebony hues he had ever seen. Raditz shook his head as he watched the firmness of the prince's demeanor crumble and fall away. Vegeta turned towards him with an almost helpless look on his face.
"Prince Kakarot, tomorrow evening you will wait here as you did tonight, Prince Vegeta will stay with you for one hour. That is all the time he can afford though so please release him now." Raditz smiled as the other nodded and let go of Vegeta's arm. The two of them then hurried off up the stone steps and vanished into the darkness of the woods. Vegeta looked at him as though he had gone insane.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? You can't expect me to stay an hour tomorrow!" Vegeta gaped at the grim smile on the taller man's lips.
"I will find a way to occupy my father until you return. I think I know the best way. You just stay there for one hour exactly then get your ass back." Raditz wouldn't enjoy what he was going to do, but he would sacrifice himself to it to give Vegeta an hour of freedom. The small prince sighed softly beside him.
"Such is the torment of the damned." He mumbled. Raditz shook his head.
"Innocents are not damned Vegeta, we are enslaved, but freedom will come one day I promise you." He felt his heart sink even as he spoke. There ahead of them was the castle and Paraguas on the front step, rage brimming in his one hateful eye.
Warnings ~ Violence, Yaoi, Lemon, Language, Sexual Assault. Not in every chapter but this is a general warning for the whole fic.
Disclaimer ~ I own nothing at all! Sue and you will receive a bucket of Kobo drool.
SWAN LAKE
Chapter Three
Kakarot carefully picked his way through the familiar shrubbery and undergrowth as he led his escort towards the lake where he had met the enchanted prince. He was quite certain that Vegeta would have to return to that lake in order to take on human form, or at least he hoped that was the case. The prince could hear his large friend stumbling through the densely packed greenery behind him, cursing softly as he caught his foot in a root or clunked his head on a low tree branch.
"Nappa just take your time, we have until nightfall to get there." He chuckled lightly as his escort merely grunted a soft, annoyed reply. Kakarot glanced up at the beams of sunlight that filtered through the thick canopy above him. From what little he could see he had to assume it was close to mid afternoon; that meant he had about three hours before the moon rose.
Raditz sat sullenly on his bed and tenderly placed a cold cloth over the large bruise on his right cheek. His father had been less than pleased when he had been unable to correctly enact the metamorphosis spell. Raditz had simply been too nervous and had spoken the wrong word, causing the spell to completely fail. It wasn't as though it had been a dire mistake, he could have merely tried the spell again, but his father had gone into a rage over his incompetence and had struck him hard, knocking him to the floor before storming out of the room. The young man had not seen him for the rest of the day, which he was rather thankful for. He turned his dark eyes toward the window, watching as the sunlight played across the tops of the great forest outside the castle. How long had it been since he had gone out into the woods? It had to have been a week at least since he had last ventured outside of the castle doors. Raditz stood and strode purposely from his room, dropping his cloth as he walked past the table by his door. He slipped quietly down the long flight of stairs, careful not to arouse his father's attention, and crept out the large door.
It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the brightness of the glittering sunlight, but once they had he was obliged to pause and stare at the beauty of the landscape before him. He mused to himself about what he should do now that he was outside while idly twirling a few strands of his dark locks around a finger. An idea came to him after a few moments; he would pay a visit to Vegeta's lake and escort him back once night fell. It would give him time to be away from his father and he could enjoy the woods while he waited for the prince. Raditz began walking down the path that led to the lake, smiling as he listened to birds twittering out songs and closing his eyes against the gentle breeze that played through his long ebony tresses.
"Kakarot, how much longer must we endure this bothersome bush?" Nappa growled as he ripped yet another root from around his ankles. His prince laughed at him, a bemused twinkle in his eyes.
"Not long Nappa, see, the lake is there beyond the next cluster of trees." He pointed to a small gathering of tall trunks, which stood before a gleaming expanse of blue water. "Come. It is not far." The prince hurried on, excitement causing his heart to beat faster within his chest. His escort ambled after him, not nearly as enthusiastic in his stride. The two men walked out of the woods and paused at what they saw before them, their mouths opened in surprise and eyes widened in confused shock. A strange young man stood upon the far shore of the lake, looking as perplexed as they were. He was too tall to be Vegeta, and though he did have a widow's peak, his hair didn't rise into a dark flame, it instead cascaded down to his knees in a flowing mane of ebony. His coal black eyes were round with surprise and his voice seemed to hold a tremor of disbelief in it as he called out to them.
"Who are you? How did you find this place?" Raditz could hardly believe his eyes; yet there on the other side of the lake, were people. Living, breathing people, not some figment of his imagination! It had been so long since he had seen any living soul save that of his father and the prince; he had started to think there weren't any others in the world.
"I am Prince Kakarot, son of King Bardock. This is my escort and friend, Nappa. We came here to find Prince Vegeta, do you know him by chance?" Kakarot called out hopefully, his heart thudding in his chest as the longhaired stranger blinked at him.
Raditz was dumbstruck. Not only were these two men important people, a prince and his royal escort no less, but they knew Vegeta! The sorcerer's son couldn't fathom how the enchanted prince had managed to get involved with these two men, but if they were looking for Vegeta then perhaps he would let them stay. After all they didn't seem too intimidating, well the prince didn't, and when Vegeta returned they could always escape them easily enough if they were enemies. He glanced back towards the direction his home was in, a shadow of foreboding suddenly descending on his soul. The feeling passed as quickly as it came, and he allowed a small smile to grace his lips.
"Aye, I do know the prince, quite well actually. You may join me in waiting for his return if you wish." He motioned for them to come and sit beside him on the stone steps near his side of the lake. The two men made their way over and reclined upon the cool rocks under the slightly distrustful eye of Raditz. The young prince he assumed was close to Vegeta's age, a few years younger at the most. His escort had to be about three years older than he was himself. He balked slightly when he realized the large bald man was staring intensely at him.
"Tell me sir, what is your name?" The prince's question was a welcome escape for the young man's attention. He quickly shifted his gaze to Kakarot's curious face.
"My name is Raditz. I am the son of Lord Paraguas, who owns the lake and the forest beyond, watching over it from his fortress some ways behind us." Raditz waited for his audience to absorb his information before he cracked a smirk. The confusion on their faces was more than amusing for him.
"Lord Paraguas? That is not possible, my father owns this land. He has claimed it since the great destruction of Emperor Vejito's palace." Kakarot stared at Raditz with a mixture of confusion, annoyance, and disbelief in his dark orbs. The manned head shook slightly as a soft chuckle punctured the quiet afternoon air. Raditz looked at him and raised a brow.
"Do you truly wish to know the entire tale? It is not a pleasant one I can promise you that." His eyes seemed harder now; angry though there was an embittered gleam behind the furry that swelled in the twin onyx globes. Kakarot nodded his head silently, fascinated at the prospect of learning some secretive history. Raditz looked out over the smooth surface of the shimmering lake and inhaled deeply of the crisp air before beginning his tale in a quiet tone.
"Many years ago, there were two kingdoms whose borders met at the edge of this forest. The one kingdom belonged to your grandfather, and the other to the father of Vejito, whose name I have since forgotten. The emperor passed away one night from a terrible sickness, and the empire was handed down to Vejito. Your grandfather and his son came to the funeral to pay respect to the dead and to welcome the new emperor to his throne. At some point during this visit your father and Vejito were left by themselves for a period of time and became rather close. Over the first few years of Vejito's reign they spent much time together, one would have almost thought your father was courting the emperor." Raditz cast a sly grin towards the prince, who seemed a bit flustered about thinking of his father's love interests in any way. The sorcerer's son sighed, his eyes looking shamed and remorseful as he continued. "Years passed, Bardock was given the crown and succeeded his father to the throne, and both kingdoms were blessed with new princes. Vejito was immensely proud of his young son, and all that lived in the palace were fond of the inquisitive child. There was one who seemed too fond of the youngster. One knight in particular seemed to have an unnatural fascination with the toddler and could always be found playing with him or lurking in the background watching him. The young prince was oblivious to the possible harm of the strange closeness the man shared with him; it was not lost on the emperor though. When Vejito confronted his knight about the matter a heated argument ensued and the knight was forbidden to come anywhere near the young prince. Twisted minds are rarely quelled by spoken orders, and this knight bent his every thought and desire upon the child. He secretly studied the dark arts and formulated a plan to get revenge on the emperor and take the prince for his own." Again Raditz paused, he seemed paler then he had been before and his eyes held an intriguing, sad rage in their dark depths. His voice became harsh, cold and sharp as he continued to speak. "The knight went to the kings chambers one bleak eve, his intent as black as the clouds in the night sky. He gained audience with the emperor and shared pleasant greetings with him. Within moments of the chamber doors closing though, things changed dramatically. The knight had well learned the ways of sorcery and he put his new craft to use upon the unsuspecting king and all those in the palace save the prince. A vile shadow crept through the silent halls and stole into each room, seeking out all those living and wrenching their souls from within them. Darkness was suddenly filled with sharp wails of terror and then silence came again in the next instant. The shadow carried its stolen burden back to the knight, who would use his victims souls to give him power; draining each one till it vanished from this realm forever. Once he had captured all of their energy he went to the prince's bed and collected his slumbering prize, the child never woke to hear the demise of his beloved father. After the knight had carried the young one out of the palace, he set the great structure ablaze with a black flame. None could see the dark tongues of fire as they burned away the evidence of the knight's misdeeds under the shadow of night." Raditz trailed off in a melancholy tone as his audience tried to assimilate the entire tale. Kakarot was the first to speak. His eyes were wide in shocked understanding.
"Well that would explain why none could tell my father what had happened to the emperor or his palace." He furrowed his brows together. "What ever happened to the little prince?" Dark, wide eyes stared imploringly at Raditz.
"Aye, and how did your father come to supposedly own this land?" Nappa glared at the sorcerer's son. He was rather taken with the young man's beauty, but he was suspicious as well. Something inside him was doubtful of Raditz. He didn't think he was lying, but perhaps, he was hiding something from them? Raditz shifted uncomfortably under the heavy gaze of the tall escort. His escape came suddenly in the cry of a bird. All eyes turning to the sunset tinted sky as a white swan descended upon the smooth surface of the lake. The long, elegant neck stretched and bent while the bird paddled itself into the center of the water, awaiting the rise of the moon. Raditz stood and swiftly strode to the edge of the lake even as the last golden rays of the sun slipped behind the horizon. Starlight twinkled in the blue-green heavens, silvery moonlight cascading down over the earth in glowing streams. The swan went through its nightly change, turning from an animal into the handsome prince. Vegeta looked slightly surprised to see Kakarot and Nappa, but his mouth dropped when he saw his third visitor.
"Raditz! What in hell are you doing here?" His voice was demanding but Raditz could see the fear and worry in his eyes. He waited uneasily as the prince stepped out from the cool water and looked up at him expectantly.
"I couldn't stand it any longer Vegeta. I had to get outside again; it's been so long you know. Besides, I had a rather pleasant time waiting for you with these two men. That one claims himself the son of King Bardock, I do not doubt that from his looks, but do you know him as he states you to?" The two of them looked long at Kakarot and his escort. Vegeta's eyes narrowed into black slits, a few silent breaths passing before he nodded once.
"Aye Raditz. I have met him before." Vegeta narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the other prince. "Kakarot, why did you come back to this place?" He smirked to himself at seeing the prince jump at his sharp question. Kakarot fidgeted and blushed slightly; he glanced up at his escort for help but found none as Nappa was staring steadfastly at Raditz, who seemed less than appreciative of the attention, if the glare he was giving the bald man was any indication. Kakarot sighed as he faced the smaller prince's burning ebon eyes.
"I returned because I wished to see you again, and perhaps to talk with you. When last we met, you ran away so quickly, I would much like to spend more time in your company Prince Vegeta." He looked hopefully at the surprised prince. Vegeta felt a shockingly strong inclination to stay and talk as the other had asked. Perhaps it was just from not having much attention from people, or maybe he just didn't want to go home, but for whatever reason, he wanted to spend time with him. The prince opened his mouth to speak, but Raditz's gasp cut him off.
"Vegeta it's late. He'll be furious if we are gone much longer." The young man's voice was low, inaudible to any but the enchanted prince. Vegeta knew they were all ready in for some amount of trouble at being this late, but perhaps if they hurried there wouldn't be any serious injury done to them. He had noticed the large bruise on Raditz's face but not said a word. The two of them rarely spoke about any strange marks that occasionally appeared on their bodies. He sighed as he looked up at the moon in the sky it was indeed late. The prince longed to stay, to spend time in the company of Kakarot, who seemed so kind and curious. He had no choice in the matter though.
"I must go, I am sorry Kakarot." Vegeta and Raditz turned to leave but stopped when the other prince grabbed hold of Vegeta's left arm. The grip was firm but so gentle, so unlike Paraguas'.
"Why? Please Vegeta, I didn't mean to offend you, I just want to talk. If not tonight then tomorrow? Please?" The voice was so sweetly plaintive, the words so softly spoken. Vegeta felt his resolve slipping. He turned to command the other to release him and stared up into the largest pair of desperately imploring ebony hues he had ever seen. Raditz shook his head as he watched the firmness of the prince's demeanor crumble and fall away. Vegeta turned towards him with an almost helpless look on his face.
"Prince Kakarot, tomorrow evening you will wait here as you did tonight, Prince Vegeta will stay with you for one hour. That is all the time he can afford though so please release him now." Raditz smiled as the other nodded and let go of Vegeta's arm. The two of them then hurried off up the stone steps and vanished into the darkness of the woods. Vegeta looked at him as though he had gone insane.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? You can't expect me to stay an hour tomorrow!" Vegeta gaped at the grim smile on the taller man's lips.
"I will find a way to occupy my father until you return. I think I know the best way. You just stay there for one hour exactly then get your ass back." Raditz wouldn't enjoy what he was going to do, but he would sacrifice himself to it to give Vegeta an hour of freedom. The small prince sighed softly beside him.
"Such is the torment of the damned." He mumbled. Raditz shook his head.
"Innocents are not damned Vegeta, we are enslaved, but freedom will come one day I promise you." He felt his heart sink even as he spoke. There ahead of them was the castle and Paraguas on the front step, rage brimming in his one hateful eye.