Jronia
Written by: SaiyanWarrior-Vegeta
Author: Well here we are again Vegeta, back to the readers with another chapter complete. This story is going to be getting faster now and some time jumps will be involved. Don't think they want to hear about every single day of 23 years. This chapter is not the end though, there's more to do before Ghost comes to the picture and when he does, I think the people will be interested in this "Urban Legend". Though that is still a ways off yet. A lot has to happen before that comes around.
Vegeta: The story is picking up to a good swing. However, like a good story, its best to build up to it. Though you are right. Ghost is going to be a very interesting character in this story.
Author: Shall we let them read on then? They'll be eager to continue on in their story, plus we have yet another chapter to plot out and get written. Thank you Vegeta for being a good sport through this as well, not often one can write a good fic with the Prince of Saiyans.
Vegeta: As long as you don't make me all soft and pansy, I don't mind. Besides, many forget about the Saiyan's abilities to become stronger after every battle. The way this is going, I'll be gaining power at a good pace. Can't wait until they see my full glory come forth in this story, but on with the fic for now.
Chapter 8
The City Life
Cold fingers of ice curled around Vegeta's body as he slowly opened his coal eyes. He had fallen asleep standing, still tied to the cart and he shifted a bit feeling how heavy the weight of the cart had become. The Saiyan shifted his weight slightly feeling a throb in his feet. The muzzle was still locked upon him tightly, not allowing him to yawn easily, then his stomach rumbled and he knelt down finally, the hunger was far too great for him to ignore. The pain doubled him over his eyes closing in the agony of hunger. His hands clamped upon the iced over steel shafts of the cart, glad he was wearing his white gloves still. The white coverings provided a barrier between his skin and the shafts keeping them free of the poles.
Cirrento came out into the chilled winter morning and glared at Vegeta. "You have four people to deliver to. It will take you four hours tops to make them and then be back here until called for again."
The Prince nodded quietly, wishing for something to go on. He was only fed when they felt the want to feed him. And now that winter had come, it was more important than before. However, through the past four months, he found that he was only fed enough to keep him on his feet, but work burned off the energy before the day was through and the food wasn't pleasant either. It was called "sludge" looking fifty times worse than pig slop and tasted even worse. Rotten foods and other things were thrown into the mix, then left to ferment for a time before being given to slaves to eat. He had been on this diet now for the last four months and each time he choked down this sludge, he suffered stomach cramps for the next week.
Silently he began to move from his Master and picked up to a light jog, careful not to get too wreckless on the now ice covered grounds. He reminisced about how they fed him as he pulled. They would force a tube through the mesh of the muzzle and down into his throat. Then they would funnel the sludge through the tube and run it down toward his mouth where he couldn't refuse but to eat it. After a couple of months, it started to become an aquired taste, but still left him feeling ill afterwards. He looked up only to see the names of the passing store fronts.
White puffs of breath came from his breathing as he jogged it. The sweat and cold mixed, chilled him to the bone making him unwillingly shiver. Light crunching of the frosted ice under foot could be heard with the usual rattle of the cart he pulled behind him. Vegeta was getting to know this vast city and very well in such a short time. With hard work, he had gained a bit of independance from being constantly bombarded by his owner and he had in a way come to look forward to pulling the cart. He made it to his first stop as he eased the cart to a stop behind a large building that looked like it could be a department store, and he lowered the shafts to the ground.
Irritated by the black band around his throat, Vegeta reached up and tugged it down lower to the base of his thick neck. It was cold to the skin and touch. Quietly he made his way to the door and gave it a rapping his eyes narrowing in the thought of receiving the usual treatment. A kind word here was only as gentle as a whip's lash or a club's blow upon his body. His eyes lowered down in wait, his head tucking a little, knowing if he made one misstep, his Master would beat him for it. Slowly the door creaked open and his breath caught in his throat unable to say anything, he hoped they would realize the fact that he was a cart pulling slave in this sprawling metropolis.
Thick leather hide boots was what he noted first with the warmer clothing the Free preferred. Silently he shivered and then the man's deep voice came harshly to his ears. "Damn slave, you're supposed to bow to me, now do it stupid beast."
Quietly under a glaring scowl he gave a bow as demanded and then rose up in time for a hard smack upside his temple with a steel bar, sending him down the stairs and onto the ground. Shifting his weight, Vegeta slowly stood up again wishing he could talk now more than ever to this man. It was the Saiyan's hide out here in the freezing temperatures working to get the Free what they desired upon whim. Every passing day, his anger grew quietly, balled up inside waiting for the right moment to release his pent up rage.
Forced to bite his tongue, Vegeta went to the cart and then pulled out several items taking them to the desired place in the building, setting it in one corner of a large warehouse section. Boxes were strewn here and there, wooden pallets stacked up in a heaping pile instead of being stacked. However he noted the temperature was a lot warmer in here. Setting down his load of boxes he again went out to retrieve more then reentered the grey brick building. Once more the man came to him and cracked the whip down on his back, causing Vegeta to jump at the sudden sting of the lash.
A strong grip twisted the collar upon the Prince's throat choking him, forcing him to kneel down. The baritone voice again bit harshly into his thoughts and rang in his ears. "Lazy beast, get it over with and get out. I don't want your carcass to linger in my building. Now put a step on it monkey."
Vegeta clenched his jaw against the words moving quicker more out of hatred than from the order. Soon enough he was back out in the biting cold of the winter afternoon. He picked up the cart shafts and moved on to his next stop, then the next, the Free only tolerating him long enough for him to get his work done and out of there, no longer. By the time he was headed to his final stop, his body was numbed from the cold wind that swirled around the Saiyan in a blanket of ice. His tail that was kept snug upon his waist was starting to freeze as well. The brown fur showed of the ice coating it and making it turn white hewn.
Finally at the last stop he gazed to the dim light of the sun through the overcast skies. He was an hour ahead of time if he was correct. He shivered again as the door opened again, his body too cold to respond quickly as he gathered the items and gave the warmly dressed woman a bow, noting her as a Free. Taking care to not drop anything, bit his tongue hard as he kept his eyes down firmly. The other stops had only beaten him, cursing him and shoving him around. The ice on the muzzle formed bits of small icicles and his tattered navy blue shirt didn't really serve any purpose to keep him warm. In short, he was miserable and longing for the warmth of a fire.
Sizing up the shivering slave on her doorstep, she was one of few that actually cared for the slaves in this chaotic place. Kienna shook her head. "Come inside and rest for a little." She turned and then went for a blanket, a thick woolen cape, and a bowl of warm broth. The woman directed to where he was to place his burdens and then he sat back in a corner then she placed the blanket in a corner and then placed the cover over his shoulders.
Sitting upon the blanket after she motioned him over, he sat down and then gazed to the roaring blaze in the fireplace. His coal eyes reflected the image as it danced viciously in the black depths as if it were speaking right to his own soul that raged in silence. Kienna reached over slowly and unclasped the muzzle from his head and removed it. She turned and put it into hot water in the sink letting the steel warm up once more. She figured if he had to wear it upon whim of his Master, he could at least have it warmed occasionally.
Vegeta felt the muzzle part from his face and then he lightly chomped his teeth as if eating but he seemed to relax more as he again as he received this tender care. How long had it been since he had felt a gentle hand? How long had it been since he had known a kind word or a decent bite of food? Vegeta closed his eyes just glad to have the muzzle off as his mind wandered in to his past.