A.N.: Hello, peeps! Thank you so much for all the patients that you had while waiting for us to publish this chapter. Unfortunately, things in my life are still going just a little bit crazy, so from now on updates for the story will be a little bit sporadic.
Kakarot's soft purrs soothed Vegeta as he gently brushed his fingers through the ends of his mate's hair. The beta was clean and wearing soft clothes curled up in Vegeta's bed asleep. The beta had been sleeping frequently since their rescue. At first from the light sedatives while they were on the ship, and now from stress and exhaustion because of his pregnancy according to Chorri.
Kakarot had not handled being on a ship well at first. He panicked and lashed out at both him and Bardock. It wasn't until Vegeta entered the dream world that he found out Kakarot had been the one to first wake up, and he suffered a violent flashback. The little beta wouldn't or couldn't tell him what he remembered, and Toa was upset as well so the prince let the matter drop. They did slip him a low grade sedative to take the edge off things for him the first few days after that. Truth be told, Vegeta found himself needing them as well so he could rest.
He knew they were safe, that they were with allies and going home; but he couldn't stop feeling like a threat was around every corner. Sometimes he felt anxiety start creeping in for no reason that he could understand.
Kakarot shifted in his sleep then burrowing closer to him. The beta's hair and tail were still a terrible mess of tangles, but he hadn't wanted Vegeta to comb it. He wondered if Toa's near violent refusal had to do with a nearly forgotten need to hide his identity. Vegeta's eyes went to the burnt tags he managed to pick up from their cell. Kakarot had gone to a great deal of trouble to hide his name and any connection to Bardock, even hiding his appearance under layers of grime, blood and sweat. From the memories alone, the prince knew Kakarot could have spared himself so much pain if he just told them his name. The bath had been more enlightening than any of them realized. Kakarot had yet again flipped out when he saw the basin of water, going as far as actually biting him and Bardock in an effort to put as much distance between himself and the water as possible. Vegeta finally took the beta and ended up sitting in the shower with him to Bardock's ire. That hadn't been a pleasant conversation with his father in law after the fact.
Flashback
The prince felt his hair stand on end when Bardock shut the door as he entered the room and sat down across from him.
"Tell me everything you know."
"Bardock-"
"I'm not asking as his father!" The older male snapped, and Vegeta could see the emotional stress this whole ordeal was putting on the general. "I'm asking as a commanding officer. Kakarot was...technically still is a soldier under my command. I have to know what happened so I can report it and figure out if..." The prince nodded. His teacher was right.
There was going to be an inquiry about this whole mess. Kakarot should have never been on that world, never been in the position to be captured in the first place. And while the Kakarot he remembered was terrifyingly crafty, he would have never gotten off world without someone's help or someone's severe negligence in duty. Taking off without permission to the CZ was grounds for arrest and dismissal from military. It was the last thing the beta would have done no matter how angry he was at Bardock. Kakarot wanted to prove himself not ruin any chance he had at ever accomplishing that goal.
"I don't know much, not about how he was on that world anyways."
"You've been with him since your capture, don't tell me you didn't ask." Bardock growled.
"He can't tell me." Vegeta snarled back. "Or won't. I'm not even sure he remembers how he got there, Bardock. The one time I asked he broke down not making any sense at all."
"Explain."
"All of my communication with Kakarot is inside the Ao Tokonoga. He's..." Vegeta trailed off not knowing how to say what he had to. "He's not right, not entirely. It's not just Kakarot in there anymore. The feral side of him that you've seen...that's not Kakarot."
"Of course that's Kakarot."
"No, it's not. That his body, but it's not him. His mind...split itself. That's the only way I know how to describe it. There's two of them, and they are fully aware of each other. The personality you keep seeing, the feral one, I call him Toa. He doesn't speak and has more or less been the one in control for the last few years if what I've pieced together is true."
"Dual personalities, are you certain?" The older alpha asked oddly detached.
"He's the one I first met. I didn't figure out he was Kakarot until Toa let me see. I...his memories are badly fragmented and unstable enough to affect his dreamscape. He shoved me out in the beginning, I didn't know that was even possible. Or the fact I could experience his memories..." He shuddered remembering some of the memories he saw. "The tub was one of them. I didn't realize he'd react so badly...they used water torture on him in the beginning, maybe even after that."
"How bad is his mind..."
"I'm not sure exactly. He's definitely improved. He forgot he was a saiyan, or Toa did anyways. Kakarot...he calls it the safe place. It's a house in his dreamscape, his memories can't get to him inside. They form storms when something stirs them up. Kakarot had been asleep inside there since Seba was born. Kakarot's gotten more lucid since I managed to wake him up that first time. I tried asking him what happened, but...I don't know like his memories were bleeding together? He was very confused and easily upset. Kakarot still "sleeps" a lot but I think it's helping him now. He's getting more aware..." Vegeta trailed off not knowing how to tell his teacher about the memory Kakarot kept tormenting himself with.
"What?"
"Can I tell you something on a personal level? You said this was in an official capacity." Confused Bardock nodded.
"He keeps replaying the last time he saw you in his head." The older male looked like someone slugged him in the stomach at that. "Kakarot...he doesn't think you'll want him anymore, Bardock. He thinks you'll hate him for being so weak, those are his words." Vegeta didn't say anything as Bardock buried his hands in his hair with a bowed head. After a moment, the other alpha took a breath, but it didn't hide how his voice shook.
"Rusak'maan" Bardock said breaking the silence.
"What?"
"It's what's wrong with Kakarot. I'm not surprised you've never heard of it. It's also called battle mind. It happens to soldiers under high levels of prolonged stress. With your status as a Royal, you are purposely not sent on the types of assignments that can induce the syndrome. Kakarot has been under so much stress for all these years, he basically reverted to using his instincts more and more to cope. Normally...normally we find soldiers before they progress this far."
"And you're sure? Can we do anything to help him."
"Mostly sure. He has a lot of the signs. Increased aggression, confusion, problems remember things, memory gaps, violent reactions to specific triggers..." Bardock sighed tiredly. "He's never going to serve in the military again after this. Even if he wants continue his service, he'd be a liability to any unit with a risk of a relapse at anytime. And it will make any inquiry performed that much more difficult. Treatment varies with each individual...but there are things we can try, therapy, medications, taking as much stress off of him as possible and basically let him rest. How much he recovers is up to Kakarot to be honest. I've never seen a case this...this severe."
Flashback End
Knowing there was a name for what was wrong with his mate helped. Like his tatama and father said though, this wasn't going to be easy. Even having only been back home a day had shown Vegeta that. Rumors were already spreading about Kakarot's return from the dead. He was grateful they kept their return to the palace discrete. Kakarot wouldn't have been able to cope with any fanfare or accusations. Vegeta couldn't said he'd fair much better to be honest between his worry for the small beta and the cubs.
Speaking of the cubs, it made the prince glad that the royal wing of the palace had a nursery built in. Chorri was looking after Kakarot's two sons and another unexpected cub at the moment.
Turles had a half saiyan half matu cub under his care named Tasik who was roughly the same age as Seba. Vegeta couldn't help but be surprised the first time he saw the small boy.
Flashback
Vegeta allowed his head to fall back against the wall as he held Kakarot and the two cubs close to him on the bed of the small but private room Turles had provided for them after the feral beta's first violent episode when he woke up on the ship. Kakarot had done much better in the small room even if he was still very anxious and skittish.
A noise that sounded like small tapping pulled Vegeta from remembering that disaster to his relief and annoyance. It had been happening more frequently as they traveled back home, and the alpha wanted to find the source and stop it. It was beginning to grate in his nerves.
For a second, Vegeta thought it was his imagination, but the sound was getting louder. Shifting the cubs closer to Kakarot the alpha got up when he heard a squeaking coming from the corner. With a soft ping, a screw fell out quickly followed by another, and the grate for the air duct slid outward.
Growling Vegeta snaked his hand inside fully expecting to pull out one of Turles's crew members. There were two that he'd seen small enough for this nonsense. He wasn't expecting the small hiss that came as his hand closed around something like a tail. That hiss woke the boys and Kakarot.
It was a cub, a hybrid for certain. He had a silvery purple tint to the fur on his tail and hair in addition to a pair of what looked like cat ears. His eyes were blue, and Vegeta could see there was a slight slit shape to to pupil. The cub hissed at him again and swiped at him.
"Sorry cub, what were you doing in there in the first place?" The cub backed away from Vegeta with his ears laid back. A soft trill from Seba made him stop though. He climbed from Kakarot's hold and crept closer to the edge of the bed and this strange new cub. Immediately the other cubs ears perked up, and he inched closer to the bed giving Vegeta a wide berth.
The lavender haired boy paused just before the bed and watched the younger boy with curious eyes. He rested on his knees with his hands and chin on the bed covers. His nose twitched as the cub took in the new smells.
Vegeta was watching Toa on the off chance he didn't like the other cub being in his space, but the beta was acting like he was curious like his boys.
Seba tilted his head to the side as he looked at the other boy. He moved closer and unexpectedly licked the lavender haired boy on the nose making him sneeze.
The black haired cub laughed and waged his tail. The slightly bigger cub wrinkled his nose and scrubbed it with his fist.
Hi! Seba signed to the other boy. You look like Cat Lady!
Blue eyes blinked owlishly as he watched the younger cub sign. Seba tilted his head confused why the other boy wasn't responding.
"Seba, not everyone knows how to sign." Vegeta said softly. A huff of indignation came from the other cub as his hands came up and slowly responded.
I can sign. Seba's tail wagged fiercely as he trilled in happiness. Here was another cub his size and they could sign! The other boy softly smiled at Seba's excitement, his own tail swaying as he crept onto the bed and sniffed at Kome and Kakarot. Toa sniffed the cub back and gave him a gentle nuzzle on the top of his head before Seba practically knocked the hybrid over and crawled on top of him to get a look at the cat ears the other boy had.
The smaller pair rolled around on the bed playfully, and the alpha smiled at the sight they made. It was good to see Seba playing with another cub his age. Kakarot and Kome moved further out of the way while they played.
There was a knock on the door before it opened, and Turles walked inside the room. Toa and his sons tensed while the prince stood in front of the group.
"What is it?"
"I apologize for the intrusion, but," the pirate spotted a light purple tail just behind the bed. "Tasik!"
The tail whipped out of view, and the cub moved to peek around the bed. His ears lowered at the stern expression on the taller alpha's face.
"I've told you to leave these people be."
I'm sorry. Tasik signed to Turles. I heard there were other cubs. I wanted to see them.
"Seba was having a good time and Kakarot didn't mind." Vegeta said getting Turles's attention. "Where did Tasik come from? He doesn't exactly smell like he's yours."
"He's not, not officially or anything." Turles explained taking a seat and letting Tasik climb into his lap and was immediately followed by Seba. "His father was a member of my crew years ago. He met a Matu girl that he fell in love with and left to start a family. About 4 years ago, he called me begging for help. Frieza's men were hunting them. By the time I got there, Mato and Shiza were dead, Tasik was hidden in a cupboard. He must have recognized me from stories or something, but he wouldn't talk to me. He had blood on him and I'm pretty sure he saw his parent's killed." Vegeta winced at that.
"He would have been what….3 years old?" Turles nodded. "I kept him with me because he wasn't comfortable with any one else. I planned on leaving him with some of Shiza's family, but I haven't been able to find any of them. The Matu were scattered when their planet was destroyed."
Flashback End
Just then, the loud noise of a door slamming made the prince flinch and Kakarot whine. Vegeta purred and brushed his tail over the younger saiyan's back until he was soothed back into a deep sleep.
The alpha growled lightly as he picked the sounds of his father's and teacher's voices in what sounded like a heated discussion. It took some maneuvering, but the alpha managed to slip out from under his mate and left him curled around the pillow and fur he was using as he stalked out to see what was going on.
"-can't stay here! That is my son, and I want him home!" Bardock snarled out at the king as his tail lashed behind him.
"Well, old friend," bared his teeth at the general making the youngest saiyan in the room widen his eyes. "He's mated to my son, and they are better protected here in the palace! I just got him back!"
"And I didn't get my son, who has been missing for fifteen years back either?! Fifteen years, Vegeta! He's coming home!"
A sigh drew Vegeta's attention over to Yasi who had come with the other alphas, but he was rubbing his head with an exasperated expression on his face.
"Tatama?" The prince came closer to the consort. "What is going on?"
"Those two are being idiots is what's going on." Yasi huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Both of them are wanting to keep you boys close, but the royal wing wasn't designed to have so many of us cooped up together. Bardock and Geta are feeling territorial. Damn alpha instincts…"
The prince could sympathize with both of the older saiyans. He wanted to remain close to his family after everything that had happened, but being on top of each other like they were was grating on him as well.
Yasi and the younger Vegeta watched the pair snarl and lash out at each other, but when it looked like they would come to blows the youngest alpha stepped in.
"Enough!" Vegeta barked at his father and teacher. He fought the urge to show his own fangs at the sight of other aggressive dominant saiyans. He knew it was only because they were this close to his pregnant mate. "I know you both are sick of each other, but do not drag this in here where Kakarot is trying to rest! I'm sure we can come up with a solution where we are not at one another's throats all the time!"
Yasi watched his oldest son defuse the tension between Bardock and with a proud smile on his face when a noise behind him make him turn. Kakarot or Toa, Yasi couldn't really tell who was in control at the moment, was timidly watching the commotion as he peered around the doorframe of his son's bed room nervously.
"Hello, sweetheart." The older beta cooed at the younger with a soft expression. "Is everything alright?"
Yasi's voice made Vegeta glance over to see his mate, but he continued to scold his elders with a glare. His tatama practically adopted Kakarot as soon as he saw him once they finally got Kakarot home, and he knew the younger submissive was in good hands. Just thinking about that memory almost made him smile in mid tirade. Yasi had taken one look at the smaller beta and immediately taken him under his wing. Kakarot had been sat down at a low table while Yasi began setting all manner of food out for him and the cubs.
Flashback
"Now you and the boys just sit here and enjoy. We need to get some more weight on you for those little cubs you have on the way." Yasi said softly as he set down another plate of sliced meat. Kakarot was crouched anxiously with his tail twitching, and Vegeta could see Toa watching his Tatama. They hoped his relaxed acceptance of Yasi, and the food would ease the beta into relaxing.
Seba and Kome were pleased though and were thoroughly investigating the food. The tiny cub was half on the table sniffing at various dishes with his tail wagging before grabbing things and putting them in his mouth. Kome was a little more reserved but was also trying things. The cubs froze when Vegeta's father approached the side table where other plates of food were before scurrying under the table. Kakarot also shrank back against the younger Vegeta anxiously. Suddenly Yasi's dark tail snapped out and slapped his mate's hand before he could help himself to any of the food.
"Yasi-"
"That is for Kakarot and the cubs not you." He growled sternly. "Your dinner is in the dinning room where it always is."
"And what about Vegeta?" The older alpha growled. "I don't see him eating in there."
"I'm not eating anything until Kakarot and the cubs have had their fill. I'm just sitting here so he and the boy's will relax."
Flashback End
"Are you hungry, sweetheart?" Yasi asked softly. The other beta whimpered a bit and anxiously glanced at the bickering alphas, worry for Vegeta obvious in his eyes. "Oh, don't worry about them, sweetheart, they're just bickering. Alphas do that sometimes. No one is going to do more than yell." Slowly Kakarot nodded, and Yasi could see some of the tension in the smaller beta fade out. A loud gurgle had the smaller male blushing and ducking back into the bedroom. Yasi merely chuckled and gently ruffled Kakarot's hair and coaxed him out of the bedroom and to his usual table.
"It's perfectly normal for you to be hungry, sweetheart. You just sit here, and I'll be right back." Turning he glared at the males noticing Kakarot was still nervously watching them argue while Vege tried to play peacemaker. Even after he fetched some food from the suite's kitchen they were still arguing to the point Kakarot was looking ready to bolt or hide under the table.
"That's enough!" He snapped stunning the alphas into silence. "Your yelling is upsetting Kakarot." Both of the older alpha's muttered apologies while Vegeta strode over to the table and sat next to his mate. Kakarot leaned against Vegeta's side and gave Yasi a small smile.
"You're welcome, sweetheart." He said giving the younger beta a gentle ruffle of the hair while setting the plate in front of him. "Now, there's a simple solution to this. The boys and the cubs can stay in the guest house."
"The guesthouse?" Bardock said confused.
"It was originally meant for visiting royalty or dignitaries; but with the war, its not used anymore." Yasi explained "It's big enough for the boys and cubs, plus Bardock and Raditz if they're determined to stay 24/7. And its here in the palace grounds beside the gardens, nice and quiet for Kakarot and the cubs."
The King and commander looked at each other before nodding their heads. This arrangement would probably work for the best. Now all the alphas won't be at each other's throats all the time.
"I'll go let Raditz know so we can move our stuff in." Bardock huffed as he rubbed the back of his head. He took a glance back at his younger son. "Will that be alright with you, Kakarot?"
The young beta glance up at his father from his plate of food before nodding with a smile.
"Alright then." A grin formed on his face all of a sudden. "I'll have a surprise there waiting for you when you get there."