N. It seems this fic is nearing its end at last. Just one or two chapters
left to go minna.
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 Seven
Kakarot stared expressionlessly upon the vast sea of people before him. There were easily over five hundred guests in attendance. His father had extended the invitations beyond the farthest borders of his kingdom to include some of the well to do nobles and royalty from allied empires. This had of course been another last minute suggestion from Fasha, but Bardock was nearly as eager as she to get Kakarot a mate. So here he stood, lavishly dressed and bored out of his mind, while woman after woman presented herself to him. The presentations alone would have been enough to drive a sane person mad, but the crown heir had to endure it all with as much dignity and grace he could possibly muster.
A young woman with soft dark hair approached him with her escort. She was fitted in a gown of vivid crimson that puffed out in the sleeves and skirt but was drawn tight about her torso, pushing her ample bosom nearly out of the seam. She curtsied prettily and batted her long curvy eyelashes at the unimpressed prince. Toma's voice introduced her as the daughter of a neighboring ruler, but Kakarot only nodded his head shortly in response to her coy smiles. She frowned as she stood, not caring for the prince's curt response, and dragged her escort off into the crowd. Kakarot sighed inwardly; he hated all of this. Every woman acted the same way. She would approach with her escort and curtsey, bat her eyes, smile, and then be introduced to him by Toma. The only differences in them were the style and color of their gowns, hair and makeup. The one person he did wish to see was not at the ball yet. Kakarot hoped his love would make it. He didn't know what he was going to do when the time came for his announcement if Vegeta wasn't there. The prince continued to gaze absently over the crowed, but was continually glancing towards the main staircase in desperate hope that his lithe prince would appear.
Carriages rolled across the cobblestone path pulled easily by large horses bedecked in extravagant harnesses, guided by the rein and whips of their drivers. Footmen rested against the walls, sharing drink and story while the ball music echoed from within the guarded halls. A lone bird flew silently through the sky over the courtyard and landed gently in the cool waters of the large fountain at the right end of the courtyard. The black swan spread its midnight wings and transformed in a waterfall of green mist. Small booted feet padded steadily toward the entrance of the ballroom.
Nappa shook his head as he watched the prince barely acknowledge another flirty female. None of them seemed to realize that he wasn't interested. Duchesses, princesses, countesses, and all ladies of noble birth tried to impress the solemn prince with their smiles and expensive clothes, but Kakarot paid each and every one the same amount of attention he would give to an insect. In the royal escort's opinion the prince looked miserable. He had been forced to wear an ivory suit with large, gold-tasseled shoulder pads and small golden buttons on both sides of the chest. His boots were the same shade of white and a short ivory cape with gold lining hung down to his mid thigh. A ceremonial blade was sheathed and clasped to his white belt, and the last things to accentuate his ensemble were his pristine ivory gloves and his small golden crown. Nappa felt immensely sorry for his prince as the young man suffered through yet another giggling introduction. A few of the ladies had become nervous upon meeting him and started giggling or chattering at him halfway through their introductions. Nappa wondered how Kakarot could have lasted through all of them, but finally the line was down to its last four women.
The band began to play another waltz as the ladies and their escorts twirled about the polished floor. Kakarot seated himself beside his father on the dais. He exhaled a deep breath and idly watched the way the dresses the ladies wore twisted with their movements. His father frowned at him, concern flashing briefly in his eyes before he cleared his throat to speak.
"Kakarot come now, surely this is not all that bad. All of the finest women in our kingdom are gathered here, for you. You cannot tell me that none of them please you." His voice took a note of surprise as Kakarot shook his head. The prince let his eyes roam over the extravagant decorations and large gatherings of flowers. He stared out on the sea of twirling twisting bodies and then up the steps to the entrance. His lips parted slightly as his dark eyes widened in shocked joy.
Black boots rested firmly upon the burgundy carpet that led down the wide staircase. Fitted trousers made with ebony cloth clung worshipfully against lean legs and sender hips. A dark belt of leather clasped the waistband around a narrow waist and over the chiseled torso laid a full shirt of soft black silk. Shadowed violet shoulder pads held up the sides of a floor length cape, midnight black in color and lined with the same violet as his shoulder pads and matching gloves. Clasped at the collar of the shirt was a small emerald orb set in gold and fastened to a chain around the elegant neck. Sharp angular features and bottomless onyx eyes gazed silently upon the room. A shock of upswept obsidian hair aided the slight figure with his exotic appearance. The crowd stilled in their dancing to stare quietly from the man at the top of the stairs, to the prince and back to the man again. Kakarot stood before his father could speak and stepped briskly to the end of the steps as the shorter male descended.
He extended his white hand, clasping the purple one firmly in his larger palm. A small grin eased onto his lips as he rested his other hand on the slighter prince's waist and felt Vegeta's free hand lie over his left shoulder pad. The band had stopped playing when everyone had noticed the new arrival but they uncertainly began another waltz for the prince and his partner. The guests all watched in a mixture of surprise, envy, anger, and bemusement as the two young men danced together. Bardock could dimly be heard arguing with Toma and Fasha in the background, but Kakarot was focused only upon the quiet visage slowly spinning across the floor with him. They dipped and twirled, twisted and spun in time to the changing music of the waltz. Eventually the other ladies began to dance once more with their escorts; joining the two princes in the twirling circle that moved fluidly around the room in an undulating arc. Kakarot beamed at his prince.
"I was afraid you weren't going to come." He gently squeezed the hand he held. "I am going to make my announcement soon. After this waltz has ended I shall introduce you to everyone as my chosen." His smile faltered at the strange, sad look that flashed through his beloved's black eyes. "Vegeta is everything alright? Do not worry my love, whatever my father or his council says, I shall not give you up. I pledged to free you from your curse and I intend to do so and then we shall wed. No one can change that." Kakarot laid his head against the shorter prince's left temple, completely missing the anguished look that twisted the angled features.
Some miles away Vegeta gazed in hopeless frustration in the direction of the palace where the ball was taking place. He wondered what Kakarot was doing at the moment and wished he could get away and see him. If only Raditz was around he could help, but Vegeta hadn't seen the longhaired sorcerer all day. A heavy sigh passed his lips as he sank down the wall and sat on the floor. Vegeta glanced around his room and then blinked as a thought struck him. Raditz could help him, in fact he already had. The prince pulled the key out from its hiding place and quietly unlocked his door. He silently thanked Raditz again as he slipped down the winding stairs and out the large doors. For whatever reason, Paragaus was nowhere in sight, but Vegeta could not have cared what he was doing as long as he was gone for now. The slight prince began running as fast as his legs would carry him through the dark woods towards the palace.
Kakarot and his partner came to a halt as the waltz abruptly ended and clapped with the rest of the guests. The tall prince locked eyes with his father and spoke calmly but firmly while securing an arm around his lover's waist.
"Father, council, and all those gathered here, I wish to make known to all of you that on this evening I make my choice for my mate. You have all come here tonight in hopes of being selected to rule beside me and out of all of you invited I have finally made my decision. There is only one person with whom I could imagine spending the rest of my days with; one person who could perfectly fit with me as a friend, ruler, and lover. That one person is standing beside me now. I have made my choice, and I choose Prince Vegeta as my mate. For he is the only person I have ever loved so deeply." As he finished his declaration, Kakarot turned and captured the unresisting prince's lips in a heated kiss, cupping the back of the figures head while probing his tongue within the warm moist depths of his beloved's orifice. He pulled back after a moment, blinking in silent confusion at the distinctly different taste of his lover's mouth. Just as he was about to question the prince at his side a loud cry echoed through the silent room.
All eyes turned to stare in wide bewilderment as a man who looked identical to the one at the prince's side fell to his knees at the top of the stairs. The figure glared in betrayed torment at Kakarot and then the slight person beside him. A choked voice heavy with sorrow and rage called out across the room.
"How could you? I trusted you, I loved you, how could you do this to me? Why have you betrayed me Kakarot? I thought you loved me." Vegeta bit his lower lip as he felt hot dampness caress his cheeks. He stood up and fled the room in shame and bitter loss; running back into the night from whence he came. Kakarot stared in muted shock at where the prince had been a moment ago. He looked at the saddened figure at his side. There was a brief second of silence and then a green flash lit up and pulsed around the form as it shifted shape, growing taller and more muscular until it faded away to reveal the son of Paragaus in the place where Vegeta's form had once been. The young sorcerer looked away in abashed regret as gasps echoed throughout the ballroom. Kakarot wasted no more time and bolted up the stairs, vanishing out the doors after the real Vegeta.
Nappa stepped forward as Raditz dropped to his knees on the floor, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. The burly escort placed a heavy hand on the sorcerer's soft ebony waterfall of hair and waited for the man to glance up at him. Staring deeply into teary wells of coal, he could see the flurry of emotions that brimmed inside the tainted soul. He could sense that Raditz had not committed this treachery willingly, but there would be time for explanations later. The most pressing need at the moment was too calm the young man down and get him away from the hundreds of confused, angry people in the room. He helped Raditz stand and began leading him towards the inner hall when the young man broke free of his grip and wildly shook his head.
"No we have to go after them! My father was watching everything and he knows that Kakarot has followed Vegeta, he will find them and kill your prince for certain. We have to reach them first." Raditz hoped Nappa would understand. He knew there was something different about the escort, something he couldn't put his finger on, but he trusted the man and felt secure that he would go with him, but he needed to understand the urgency of the situation. His father had held a strong power over him through the amulet he wore; watching all the events unfold and keeping enough control over his son so he could not speak and spoil his father's plans. Raditz knew he had seen Vegeta arrive, had seen Kakarot's realization dawn even as Raditz had broken enough of the hold on himself to transform, and he knew that his father would be going out to kill the prince and reclaim Vegeta at this very moment.
Nappa watched the young sorcerer with growing concern, if what he said was true then his prince was in great danger. He nodded to the king and grabbed Raditz by the wrist. The two of them hurried up the stairs and out to the stables. Nappa mounted Kakarot's stallion quickly, pulling Raditz up behind him before spurring the stead out of the courtyard at a gallop. Raditz held onto his waist as they sped after the two princes. He couldn't help the small content feeling he got with the sorcerer's arms wrapped around him, or the way the smaller man pressed up against his back so as not to fall off the galloping horse. Raditz's voice cut into his thoughts and quickly reminded him of the pressing matter at hand.
"Head to the right, I can take you through a shortcut to the lake." Nappa blinked back at him as he directed the horse towards the right.
"Why are we going to the lake?" He questioned while tilting his head to the side to avoid the branches that whipped past them. Raditz tightened his grip and leaned closer to his ear.
"The lake is the only place Vegeta would go at a time like this. He's hurt and angry, the lake is a place where he can think about things and it is a place where he can feel some form of peace." Raditz narrowed his eyes as a hedge appeared across the road. Long thorns jutted out of thick vines and barred the way across the road. The hedge stood nearly nine feet high and looked just as thick as it was tall. The young sorcerer cursed angrily. "Damn that fucking bastard. He cut off our path! We'll have to go around. Hurry Nappa!" He clenched his jaw and silently prayed his father wouldn't reach the prince's before they did.
A.N. Ok that's all for now. You'll find out what happens in the next chapter. Will Kakarot reach Vegeta before Paragaus does? Will Vegeta forgive him? Will Paragaus kill Kakarot before Nappa and Raditz can get to them? Lots of "wills" there, but to find out the answers you'll have to be patient...and review of course. -=Grins.=-
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 Seven
Kakarot stared expressionlessly upon the vast sea of people before him. There were easily over five hundred guests in attendance. His father had extended the invitations beyond the farthest borders of his kingdom to include some of the well to do nobles and royalty from allied empires. This had of course been another last minute suggestion from Fasha, but Bardock was nearly as eager as she to get Kakarot a mate. So here he stood, lavishly dressed and bored out of his mind, while woman after woman presented herself to him. The presentations alone would have been enough to drive a sane person mad, but the crown heir had to endure it all with as much dignity and grace he could possibly muster.
A young woman with soft dark hair approached him with her escort. She was fitted in a gown of vivid crimson that puffed out in the sleeves and skirt but was drawn tight about her torso, pushing her ample bosom nearly out of the seam. She curtsied prettily and batted her long curvy eyelashes at the unimpressed prince. Toma's voice introduced her as the daughter of a neighboring ruler, but Kakarot only nodded his head shortly in response to her coy smiles. She frowned as she stood, not caring for the prince's curt response, and dragged her escort off into the crowd. Kakarot sighed inwardly; he hated all of this. Every woman acted the same way. She would approach with her escort and curtsey, bat her eyes, smile, and then be introduced to him by Toma. The only differences in them were the style and color of their gowns, hair and makeup. The one person he did wish to see was not at the ball yet. Kakarot hoped his love would make it. He didn't know what he was going to do when the time came for his announcement if Vegeta wasn't there. The prince continued to gaze absently over the crowed, but was continually glancing towards the main staircase in desperate hope that his lithe prince would appear.
Carriages rolled across the cobblestone path pulled easily by large horses bedecked in extravagant harnesses, guided by the rein and whips of their drivers. Footmen rested against the walls, sharing drink and story while the ball music echoed from within the guarded halls. A lone bird flew silently through the sky over the courtyard and landed gently in the cool waters of the large fountain at the right end of the courtyard. The black swan spread its midnight wings and transformed in a waterfall of green mist. Small booted feet padded steadily toward the entrance of the ballroom.
Nappa shook his head as he watched the prince barely acknowledge another flirty female. None of them seemed to realize that he wasn't interested. Duchesses, princesses, countesses, and all ladies of noble birth tried to impress the solemn prince with their smiles and expensive clothes, but Kakarot paid each and every one the same amount of attention he would give to an insect. In the royal escort's opinion the prince looked miserable. He had been forced to wear an ivory suit with large, gold-tasseled shoulder pads and small golden buttons on both sides of the chest. His boots were the same shade of white and a short ivory cape with gold lining hung down to his mid thigh. A ceremonial blade was sheathed and clasped to his white belt, and the last things to accentuate his ensemble were his pristine ivory gloves and his small golden crown. Nappa felt immensely sorry for his prince as the young man suffered through yet another giggling introduction. A few of the ladies had become nervous upon meeting him and started giggling or chattering at him halfway through their introductions. Nappa wondered how Kakarot could have lasted through all of them, but finally the line was down to its last four women.
The band began to play another waltz as the ladies and their escorts twirled about the polished floor. Kakarot seated himself beside his father on the dais. He exhaled a deep breath and idly watched the way the dresses the ladies wore twisted with their movements. His father frowned at him, concern flashing briefly in his eyes before he cleared his throat to speak.
"Kakarot come now, surely this is not all that bad. All of the finest women in our kingdom are gathered here, for you. You cannot tell me that none of them please you." His voice took a note of surprise as Kakarot shook his head. The prince let his eyes roam over the extravagant decorations and large gatherings of flowers. He stared out on the sea of twirling twisting bodies and then up the steps to the entrance. His lips parted slightly as his dark eyes widened in shocked joy.
Black boots rested firmly upon the burgundy carpet that led down the wide staircase. Fitted trousers made with ebony cloth clung worshipfully against lean legs and sender hips. A dark belt of leather clasped the waistband around a narrow waist and over the chiseled torso laid a full shirt of soft black silk. Shadowed violet shoulder pads held up the sides of a floor length cape, midnight black in color and lined with the same violet as his shoulder pads and matching gloves. Clasped at the collar of the shirt was a small emerald orb set in gold and fastened to a chain around the elegant neck. Sharp angular features and bottomless onyx eyes gazed silently upon the room. A shock of upswept obsidian hair aided the slight figure with his exotic appearance. The crowd stilled in their dancing to stare quietly from the man at the top of the stairs, to the prince and back to the man again. Kakarot stood before his father could speak and stepped briskly to the end of the steps as the shorter male descended.
He extended his white hand, clasping the purple one firmly in his larger palm. A small grin eased onto his lips as he rested his other hand on the slighter prince's waist and felt Vegeta's free hand lie over his left shoulder pad. The band had stopped playing when everyone had noticed the new arrival but they uncertainly began another waltz for the prince and his partner. The guests all watched in a mixture of surprise, envy, anger, and bemusement as the two young men danced together. Bardock could dimly be heard arguing with Toma and Fasha in the background, but Kakarot was focused only upon the quiet visage slowly spinning across the floor with him. They dipped and twirled, twisted and spun in time to the changing music of the waltz. Eventually the other ladies began to dance once more with their escorts; joining the two princes in the twirling circle that moved fluidly around the room in an undulating arc. Kakarot beamed at his prince.
"I was afraid you weren't going to come." He gently squeezed the hand he held. "I am going to make my announcement soon. After this waltz has ended I shall introduce you to everyone as my chosen." His smile faltered at the strange, sad look that flashed through his beloved's black eyes. "Vegeta is everything alright? Do not worry my love, whatever my father or his council says, I shall not give you up. I pledged to free you from your curse and I intend to do so and then we shall wed. No one can change that." Kakarot laid his head against the shorter prince's left temple, completely missing the anguished look that twisted the angled features.
Some miles away Vegeta gazed in hopeless frustration in the direction of the palace where the ball was taking place. He wondered what Kakarot was doing at the moment and wished he could get away and see him. If only Raditz was around he could help, but Vegeta hadn't seen the longhaired sorcerer all day. A heavy sigh passed his lips as he sank down the wall and sat on the floor. Vegeta glanced around his room and then blinked as a thought struck him. Raditz could help him, in fact he already had. The prince pulled the key out from its hiding place and quietly unlocked his door. He silently thanked Raditz again as he slipped down the winding stairs and out the large doors. For whatever reason, Paragaus was nowhere in sight, but Vegeta could not have cared what he was doing as long as he was gone for now. The slight prince began running as fast as his legs would carry him through the dark woods towards the palace.
Kakarot and his partner came to a halt as the waltz abruptly ended and clapped with the rest of the guests. The tall prince locked eyes with his father and spoke calmly but firmly while securing an arm around his lover's waist.
"Father, council, and all those gathered here, I wish to make known to all of you that on this evening I make my choice for my mate. You have all come here tonight in hopes of being selected to rule beside me and out of all of you invited I have finally made my decision. There is only one person with whom I could imagine spending the rest of my days with; one person who could perfectly fit with me as a friend, ruler, and lover. That one person is standing beside me now. I have made my choice, and I choose Prince Vegeta as my mate. For he is the only person I have ever loved so deeply." As he finished his declaration, Kakarot turned and captured the unresisting prince's lips in a heated kiss, cupping the back of the figures head while probing his tongue within the warm moist depths of his beloved's orifice. He pulled back after a moment, blinking in silent confusion at the distinctly different taste of his lover's mouth. Just as he was about to question the prince at his side a loud cry echoed through the silent room.
All eyes turned to stare in wide bewilderment as a man who looked identical to the one at the prince's side fell to his knees at the top of the stairs. The figure glared in betrayed torment at Kakarot and then the slight person beside him. A choked voice heavy with sorrow and rage called out across the room.
"How could you? I trusted you, I loved you, how could you do this to me? Why have you betrayed me Kakarot? I thought you loved me." Vegeta bit his lower lip as he felt hot dampness caress his cheeks. He stood up and fled the room in shame and bitter loss; running back into the night from whence he came. Kakarot stared in muted shock at where the prince had been a moment ago. He looked at the saddened figure at his side. There was a brief second of silence and then a green flash lit up and pulsed around the form as it shifted shape, growing taller and more muscular until it faded away to reveal the son of Paragaus in the place where Vegeta's form had once been. The young sorcerer looked away in abashed regret as gasps echoed throughout the ballroom. Kakarot wasted no more time and bolted up the stairs, vanishing out the doors after the real Vegeta.
Nappa stepped forward as Raditz dropped to his knees on the floor, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. The burly escort placed a heavy hand on the sorcerer's soft ebony waterfall of hair and waited for the man to glance up at him. Staring deeply into teary wells of coal, he could see the flurry of emotions that brimmed inside the tainted soul. He could sense that Raditz had not committed this treachery willingly, but there would be time for explanations later. The most pressing need at the moment was too calm the young man down and get him away from the hundreds of confused, angry people in the room. He helped Raditz stand and began leading him towards the inner hall when the young man broke free of his grip and wildly shook his head.
"No we have to go after them! My father was watching everything and he knows that Kakarot has followed Vegeta, he will find them and kill your prince for certain. We have to reach them first." Raditz hoped Nappa would understand. He knew there was something different about the escort, something he couldn't put his finger on, but he trusted the man and felt secure that he would go with him, but he needed to understand the urgency of the situation. His father had held a strong power over him through the amulet he wore; watching all the events unfold and keeping enough control over his son so he could not speak and spoil his father's plans. Raditz knew he had seen Vegeta arrive, had seen Kakarot's realization dawn even as Raditz had broken enough of the hold on himself to transform, and he knew that his father would be going out to kill the prince and reclaim Vegeta at this very moment.
Nappa watched the young sorcerer with growing concern, if what he said was true then his prince was in great danger. He nodded to the king and grabbed Raditz by the wrist. The two of them hurried up the stairs and out to the stables. Nappa mounted Kakarot's stallion quickly, pulling Raditz up behind him before spurring the stead out of the courtyard at a gallop. Raditz held onto his waist as they sped after the two princes. He couldn't help the small content feeling he got with the sorcerer's arms wrapped around him, or the way the smaller man pressed up against his back so as not to fall off the galloping horse. Raditz's voice cut into his thoughts and quickly reminded him of the pressing matter at hand.
"Head to the right, I can take you through a shortcut to the lake." Nappa blinked back at him as he directed the horse towards the right.
"Why are we going to the lake?" He questioned while tilting his head to the side to avoid the branches that whipped past them. Raditz tightened his grip and leaned closer to his ear.
"The lake is the only place Vegeta would go at a time like this. He's hurt and angry, the lake is a place where he can think about things and it is a place where he can feel some form of peace." Raditz narrowed his eyes as a hedge appeared across the road. Long thorns jutted out of thick vines and barred the way across the road. The hedge stood nearly nine feet high and looked just as thick as it was tall. The young sorcerer cursed angrily. "Damn that fucking bastard. He cut off our path! We'll have to go around. Hurry Nappa!" He clenched his jaw and silently prayed his father wouldn't reach the prince's before they did.
A.N. Ok that's all for now. You'll find out what happens in the next chapter. Will Kakarot reach Vegeta before Paragaus does? Will Vegeta forgive him? Will Paragaus kill Kakarot before Nappa and Raditz can get to them? Lots of "wills" there, but to find out the answers you'll have to be patient...and review of course. -=Grins.=-