Chapter 5: It would be an honor
We land far away from Capsule Corp. We are on a steep slope. Directly below us is the sea. The view is impressive. I feel we both enjoy the tranquility on this slope. I turn to the Namekian, for once he is not in his meditation pose. Grinning, I sit down next to him and, like him, let my feet dangle on the hillside. He snorts and says "he's not always predictable either." I grin at him and lean back on my hands. Look at him sideways and revel in my thoughts. He seems to be enjoying the quiet too. Sighing, I am the first to break the comfortable silence.
I speak "How can you ignore it?" he shrugs and looks off into the distance "So do you Vegeta, you don't care about others either." I snort and mean. "Not the Namekians. I mean Chichi. You're Gohan's companion. You trained him to survive, you even sacrificed yourself, and even that still doesn't change how she despises you. Gohan, he lets her, his defenses aren't enough, he has to stand up for you, why is he so not Saiyajin."
"Vegeta. I do not know why you always talk about companions. I'm not that for Gohan. Why can't you believe me." He turns purple again at the last words. His response makes me snort, "If you say so Piccolo." But I notice someone interjecting. I grin as I realize it's Nail. And thus I'm still grinning as I close my eyes and concentrate. Den, if there's one thing I've learned this past week, it's that Piccolo lowers his barriers when talking to Nail. Smart Nail definitely didn't fall on his head and so I listen to the two of them talk.
"Shut up Nail!"
"What Piccolo, I just want to help."
"No you don't. He doesn't reciprocate."
"But he always thinks Gohan is your mate, Piccolo. Why? Are you telling him ...?" but Piccolo interrupts Nail.
"Let me, I'm talking to him alone so, stay out of it Nail! "
"But Piccolo tell him that you want it with him. Tell him that Gohan is just a friend. I can see the way he looks at you. "
"Stop stop Nail. Don't say that, don't make me more ready than I already am. "
Shocked but happy, I continue to listen to the two of them.
"O.K., Piccolo, but at least ask him what exactly he means by companions. I want to know. I only know about Namek mating not Saiyajin. So if you want me to be quiet, at least find out. "
"Alright. But not a word after that."
"O.K., but ask him?"
I tune out. I notice when the conversation is over. Piccolo changes his facial expression. I notice. That my pulse increases with relief. Did I actually get that right? He is not interested in Gohan.
I look at him questioningly. He notices, I wait. He turns purple again, has he ever actually told him how cute he is. God, sometimes I think I have a nail in my head myself. Where do thoughts like that come from? I snorted and asked him. "What does Nail think about this.", he gulps. Catches his breath.
"Alright, Vegeta Nail wants to know what you mean by companions."
"TS. Why doesn't he know something like that. Surely it's similar to you Namekians, right?"
I notice again that Nail is butting in. This time I wait as the conversation seems short. Funny how I already know him the way it was as Piccolo quickly turns purple.
"So Nail says that Namekians only mate with one partner. And often already in childhood find and accept their Makaa. But it's completed by a mating ritual." I just grin. He snorts and continues. "After the ritual, they are bonded, become stronger. The bond brings more strength to both of them. As the energy and strengths of both is increased for both partners. Above all, they get mentally close, you feel each other, always know where the other is, how the other feels. When one dies, the other dies shortly after. So they are connected until the end."
I marvel at the similarities myself, but just say. "Mm, similar to Saiyajin. We call the companions Minaiya. Except I'm not aware that it makes them stronger, or more specifically, that they take on the strengths of their partner. With us, it's more like the stronger partner protects the weaker one."
Piccolo whispered "What does the M word mean with you guys?""You mean Minaiya?" asked Vegeta, and Piccolo nodded. "Mm, I don't know if there's a good translation. I suppose it literally means 'the soul of my tail,' which sounds silly in your tongue, but the Saiyajin tail is sacred to us. Thus, it means everything to us."
Grinning, I notice that Nail interferes again. I try my luck and listen again.
"Piccolo ask him if he has a mate yet."
"Nail. You promised you'd leave it alone."
Nail is about to say something in reply when he senses my presence. Nail laughs.
"I'm telling you, the Saiyajin is a piece of work, look who's listening."
Piccolo now looks at me in horror. Fuck, I've been caught. "How dare you! You're getting into my thoughts. What do you think."
Feeling the blush rise to my face, I quickly look away from him "You said yourself. It's your own fault if you don't lock up. But to answer the question. No, so far I don't have a companion and in the days of Frieza, I would never have taken one myself. Well, until a few weeks ago, I didn't find a suitable one either." I'm still looking away, as I just notice more blush coming to my face, because I've actually said too much. Piccolo agrees with me "Yes. You're right about that, in Frieza times it would have been the death of you." Then I notice how we both stare at each other. "So what does Nail think?"
He snorts and says. "Nail is quiet, but I want to ask something, what did you just say?" I answered him honestly "Well, until a few weeks ago I didn't find a match either." Piccolo of course listens properly "So there is someone?"
I feel caught. But my inner voice, which oddly enough bears an awful resemblance to Raddiz, cheers because he can remember Nail's words. "Yes, there is someone. I'm looking at him." I notice him look at me uncertainly and take a deep breath. "Vegeta. How do Saiyajin advertise? How does a Saiyajin realize they've found their mate."
"They usually just notice. Feel comfortable. Trust and respect is there relatively quickly. Quite uncharacteristic of Saiyajin actually and courtship is easy. They fight. See who's stronger, take care of each other. The stronger hunts food and shares it only with his chosen one. Trains his weaker partner. See if they are sexually compatible. Until they both decide to enter into the Minaiya bond. It is sacred and sealed with a bite. Blood exchange, so to speak. You now belong to the other. You now belong to him completely, as they are one. It is the highest expression of love to call someone your minaiya is to tell the world that this person is your world. Your mate. Your chosen one."
"O. K." Came from Piccolo lips. It seems that Nail is getting involved again. But he's quickly back to me. He sighed, so you can tell he is uncomfortable.
I want to get up because I don't want to hear his answer, I'm afraid and I haven't been afraid very often in my life. Just now I have this that he rejects me, that's why I have to leave here. He reaches for me. I look at him standing. He is still sitting. "Vegeta, why are you leaving."
I look away from him then, feeling hurt. Yes, weak even. Want to get out of here. But his hand doesn't let go. He even pulls me back to him. We look at each other.
And he swallows and speaks. "It would be my honor. To be your companion Vegeta."
I look at him, feeling happy, feeling for the first time like I have my home back. My feet go up to him and I kiss him softly. "It would be an honor for me too, Piccolo." He looks at me and smiles. "Let's test the compact imitation of us, then." The coloring came back to his. Face.
I look at Piccolo, shocked but in love. "Did you really say that."
We laugh together. Kiss him but in between, as I've been longing for him for a long time. And yes, we are compatible.
