-Son Family; Med wing of Palace-
"Papa, what's wrong with him?" Kakarot asked, biting his nails in worry as they waited outside the examination room.
"Kakarot. You said that he's been acting strange for a while now. When did this all begin?"
"Huh? Ohh, well it was a full moon, that much I know. He was having a nightmare and I did my best to comfort. He then began having a panic attack and I opened the window. I remember seeing it was tinted red before he fainted..."
"It was red!" Radditzu asked, looking slightly deranged as Toma suckled on the bottle in his hands. "Papa-!"
"Kakarot. Sit down." Burdock said and the did just that.
Kakarot took a moment to steady himself before looking at his father.
"There is a legend here on Vegetasei. As you know the three moons of Vegetasei control our more primal instincts such as to hunt, mate and reproduce. Well every few cycles, the second moon glows red and they say that if an Iompróir, looks at it then they will be blessed by the gods of Vegetasei. Many have looked upon it, but none were blessed..."
"Until Gohan... But why-?"
"The goddess of fertility is gracing him with her presence so if he mates and becomes pregnant, he will produce a god like child. Perfectly healthy, strong, smart, powerful as well as beautiful; every inch a Saiyan. And that child will be named the new King of Vegetasei... It's a blessing and a curse." Burdock said.
"But, how is it a curse, papa?" Radditzu asked, confused.
"Because many of the dominants will target Gohan. His fertility would be the highest value because they can pick up in his scent... Mating season is soon and unless we do something now, then he's in danger."
"What can we do!" Kakarot asked, fearing that what happened to him would happen to his son.
"I am pulling him out of the academy and I'll have some of the harem girls watch over him. No one allowed near the harem unless granted permission by the king; so he'll be safe from harm. Aside from that he has to find a mate or we find one for him. Kakarot, you realize that not only Saiyans will be after him but off worlders too. Saiyan's have high sexual drives and their fertility is legendary. Why do you think there are so few women on this planet?" Burdock ask.
"Shit..." Radditzu hiss, his hands covering Toma's ears for that moment. "We're being visited by several planets at that time! And if any of them see Gohan or catch his scent it'll spark a war if one of them can't have him!"
"WHAT!" Kakarot cried.
"Excuse me, Admiral?" The doctor called as he walked out of the room.
It was a maroon colored alien with big dark gold eyes and had no nose. They were a strange species, they didn't have a sense of smell so the way they chose a mate was pretty weird. They'd let out these odd sounds that sounded like a T-rex being strangled with live wires. But because of this oddity, they were the perfect doctors for Gohan, for the moment at least.
"Yes?"
"The boy... he's fine, just really tired... but... but he's..." he whispered in his ear and Burdock sighed and hung his head.
"You are sure of this? There's no mistaking it?"
"He is truly the Brídeach an Gealach Dearg."
They turned when Radditzu let out a small shriek to find that Kakarot had passed out. Burdock rushed to his youngest's side and picked up his head, checking for bumps as the doctor went to find some smelling salts. When they finally got Kakarot up, Nappa had arrived with Cornelius and both were looking kinda panicked.
"Kakarot!" Cornelius gasped and hurried to his mate's side.
Said mate didn't fight him, just leaned his head on his shoulder and was mumbling what had happened to him. Burdock kept a sharp eye on Cornelius as he stroked Kakarot's hair. When Kakarot was done he looked up at his mate, and the bigger male sighed and pulled him into another hug.
"The doctor's said he's fine, no need to worry-"
"But mating season is soon and I don't want what happened to me to happen to him. And with the off worlders coming..."
"I see... Well I'm still serving my sentence so I can't exactly play overprotective dad. But I can at the least tell you this. The cave I brought you to when I had first saved you; do you remember where it is?"
"Yes..."
"If you have to, take him there and wait out mating season. It's high enough that no one can fly to it, and it's well hidden that unless you've been there before it's impossible to climb up the mountain." Cornelius said.
"It's not that simple, Grunt." Burdock hissed at him, still angry at the Saiyan for impregnating his son against his will. "The boy is the Brídeach an Gealach Dearg."
That stunned the two males who just joined the group. When it seemed to have finally processed, Cornelius passed out and Burdock smacked himself in the forehead, rubbing his temples as Nappa bent over, keeping his between his knees as Radditzu rubbed his back...
-Son's house-
Radditzu answered the door to and blinked seeing Cayenne there. The young Saiyan was a little out of breath as he tried to catch it again.
"I'm sorry to bother you... but may I see Gohan please?" He asked.
"Brat, what are you doing here? Did you run all the way here?"
"Yes and no... my fiancé brought me here, but he wants to keep his distance from the house, Gohan's scent is pretty strong..." Cayenne said, blushing a bit. "I ran here from the forest edge."
"Hn... come in... Nappa! Atlis' boy is at the forest edge; keep him company, will you?" Ditzu asked, nuzzling the burly Saiyan's neck affectionately.
"Hn." Nappa got up and quickly left.
He may be mated, but the scent coming off his nephew was a bit too tempting for his tastes. Ditzu sighed and led the young redhead up to Gohan's room and they walked in. Kakarot was sitting with him, talking to him softly and Gohan looked more less alright with what was going on, though the scared look and the flushed face told them that he was frightened of mating season now that he was worth way more than a third rate piece of tail.
"Kaka, the brat's friend came by to see him." Radditzu said as he walked in.
"Hi! You must be Cayenne! I'm Kakarot, you can call me Goku if you want." Kakarot said, smiling brightly at him, though it was dimmed with worry.
"Greetings, Goku-san... hey, Gohan, you feeling okay?"
"Yea, more or less... Uh, daddy? Can we get some privacy?"
"Sure son, just remember what I said."
"Yes."
With that the tall Saiyan left with his brother to let the two friends talk in private, their hearing picking up everything that was being said. They walked into the nursery and looked at Toma who was crawling all over the place, picking up toys and then chucking them if they didn't entertain him enough.
"You think it's okay to have them talk alone?"
"Yea, it's fine. Cayenne doesn't seem the type to pry. He's more worried about Gohan rather than what he is. Besides I doubt anyone knows that he..."
"The Brídeach an Gealach Dearg?" Ditzu asked. "Well I know ask the Red moon whenever it appears for one, but we didn't expect to be him... the best we can do now is only hope that he finds a suitable mate soon."
"... But he hasn't made any indications of liking anyone. As smart as he is, he's completely unguarded. You can read him like a book..."
"So no one's caught his fancy?"
"Someone has, but he's confused about it and so am I... Mating season's in a month and half, what can we do?"
"Honestly?" Ditzu asked.
He nodded.
"Nothing, except keeping a close eye on him. We can't interfere with courting or mating, unless it's rape and he obviously doesn't want it, but we can't there all the time, we too will go into heat and our mate's will go into rut. And we both know that once they start-"
"They don't stop... I just hope we can fight it off long enough for him to find a good mate... That's all I ask.."
Ditzu nodded his head in understanding as they headed back to Gohan's room with Toma to join the chatting teens. Gohan was looking better now that he was laughing as cayenne reenacted the dinner and how everyone reacted to Devon choosing a second class Saiyan for his mate...
-Royal Palace-
Vegeta was not pleased. His Iompróir was ill and he could do nothing to help him. He was currently in the palace library, hunched over a pile of medical books and even some of the older remedy books that were considered witchcraft, but still used to explain illnesses that they couldn't explain. And so far, he found nothing of use. He cursed foully in the Saiyan language before he set the book aside and sat back, rubbing his throbbing temples.
'Gods above, why does he affect me so!'
Because you love him, you imbecile.
He growled at the voice in his head, but said nothing in return. He knew this from the moment he first meet the boy. He couldn't shake the image of a small figure shivering under those blankets, nor could he forget those large dark eyes that looked at him with fear and silent pleads for help. And then the scent...
'I know, Oozuru... I know... but still, it is maddening enough as is without worrying that he's ill.'
I doubt the Iompróir is ill... mating season is soon and we all know that many of the Iompróirí become weakened around this time.
'Your right... I shouldn't worry to much, but I can't help it.' he sighed again and finally put his hand down.
He stood up and began picking up the books and putting them back. He was still displeased, but at least now he felt a little better. As he left the library, he noted his father coming towards him.
"Vegeta."
"Father." He greeted back with a small bow of the head.
"Let's walk." He said, directing with his hand where they were going.
As they walked they were both silent, nodding their heads every now and again to the palace staff and guards as they passed before they reached the private garden. Once they were there, Vegeto sighed as he clasped his hands behind his back and took lazy steps, letting his body relax.
"Vegeta... I know I've never forced you to do anything and I never gave you that many expectations in life... But don't you think it's time you settle down and find a mate?"
"Worried about Frieza?" Vegeta asked.
"More than worried..." Vegeto said. "He took from us, your mother..."
"... I know." Vegeta said, feeling the familiar hot sting of tears behind his eyes, but he scolded his emotions to remain hidden until after they were done talking, though the comforting hand on his shoulder helped ease some of the pain.
"There are a lot of Iompròirí that are going into heat for the first time; planet will be in chaos because the call to mate and repopulate will be too much. Frieza will be here by the evening and he'll want to look around and find a... pet." Vegeto hissed.
Vegeta growled as he thought of Frieza's annoying voice mocking the Saiyans because they rely on a celestial body to become stronger where as he can change at will. But for someone who found Saiyans inferior, he sure liked to indulge himself in their sexual habits and needs.
"... Vegeta?"
"Yes?"
"Has anyone, anyone at all, caught your eye?" Vegeto asked, a slight desperate tone lacing in with his question.
Vegeta knew why he was worried, Frieza had a sick obsession with torturing Vegeta while he stayed here if he couldn't find someone 'appealing enough.' Vegeta grunted and Vegeto sighed.
"You don't have to tell me... just make sure that you treat them well with all the love in your heart." Vegeto told him.
"I know father... Have you heard from Burdock?"
"He says that things are going well and that his grandson is doing fine, just still tired from the fever he got. He also informed me that he won't be attending the academy since it's too dangerous for him to be on his own for his first heat. So he'll be here with Burdock."
"Here?"
"Yes." Vegeto said, not catching the slightly pleased tone in his son's voice as he leaned forward to inspect one of the many Saiyan Rose bushes. "Hm... I wonder if I give some of these to Burdock, would he be happy or worry I'm trying to replace your mother..."
"Father... I know you loved mother, but we'd all have to blind, deaf and dumb not to know that you have loved Burdock since you were both cubs." Vegeta said, snickering when he saw his father's ears turn red as the man snarled something about flooring him for his smart mouth.
"Go find a mate!" he bellowed as Vegeta laughed and walked away.
"You will know soon, father..." he called back, disappearing around the corner.
Vegeto stared at the corner where his son disappeared before he smiled softly and went back to looking at the bush he was about to devastate for Burdock...