Puss in Boots.

By Zoicyte aka Johnnyjosh

Fandom: DBZ, crossover with the `puss in boots' fable, and some elements of the `Jewels of the sun', `Tears of the moon' and `Heart of the sea' books as well.

Rating; NC-17

Warnings; Yaoi, lime, lemon, language, violence.

Couple; Yamcha/Vegeta.

Notes; OOC, AU, TWT, general insanity. Yet another of JJ's Fabulously Fractured Fairy Tales *LOL*.

Disclaimer; Don't own DBZ or the story, or the novels for that matter T_T.

Archive; geocities.com/johnnyjosh/index.html all others ask first, no mst'ing.

Special thanks to Anubiset for beta reading this little monster for me! *glomps*

“Speaking”

*Thoughts*

~~oOo~~ Change of scene or POV

 

~~oOo~~

 

Once upon a time there lived an old miller and his three sons, Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha. The old miller, a widower for many years, was quite ill, and was afraid that when he died his sons would fight bitterly over the mill, the house and all his land. So, when he felt his time drawing to an end, he summoned the three boys to his bedside, and asked the good doctor to be his witness.

 

"Tien, my eldest son, you are a hard worker, with a good head for business. The grain and corn fields, and the mill will go to you," the old man wheezed. A tall, bald three eyed man stepped forward and looked down.

 

"Thank you, father," he said, his face set in a stoic mask as he tried not to show his sadness.

 

"Krillin, my second son," the miller turned his head slightly, to look at the short, also bald man that stood to his other side. "The house, the barn and the livestock are yours..."

 

Krillin thanked his father quietly, before both brothers looked at each other, then at their youngest sibling.

 

Yamcha stood at the foot of the bed, his head down. *I knew this would happen,* he thought sadly. *Tis the way of things, the eldest boys inherit first, only in this case, there is nothing left after Tien and Krillin were given their inheritance. Well, it would seem I have to go out and make my own place in the world.* He turned and made to leave the room, before grief and anger made him say something he might regret.

 

The old man tried to sit up in the bed, weakly calling for his son, as the doctor restrained him gently. "No," the old man whispered. "Wait, son. I would speak with you, alone."

 

Yamcha paused, and looked over his shoulder at his father, before nodding and coming back to stand beside his bed.

 

The miller waited for Tien and Krillin to leave the room. "I have no land...or anything else of great monetary value to give you, but," he paused, a coughing spell overtaking him. "I have three things for you." He gestured to the doctor, and the younger man immediately jumped to his feet, going over and opening the miller's wardrobe.

 

"The first thing, is my finest clothes, they are not very old, I only bought them four years ago, and wore them but once." The doctor pulled out a deep red waistcoat, black pants, knee high boots, fine leather gloves, a long black cape, and a hat to match the waistcoat. "The second thing is my sword." Yamcha smiled softly as he saw the family heirloom brought out. "This sword has been passed down for five generations, from father to son, it's time for you to have it now."

 

"Thank you, father," Yamcha said quietly, taking the clothes and sword from the doctor.

 

"The third thing...is Puar, who has been a true and loyal friend to me all my life. She will do all she can to help you make your way son," the old man said, as a large, odd looking blue cat jumped into his lap, purring as the miller reached up a shaking hand to stroke her head. "Puar..." He spoke softly, and the cat purred and turned her head, blinking up at him. "Be as good a friend to Yamcha as you were to me, better if that's possible...alright, old friend?" Puar mewled softly and nodded once, before bounding from the bed and into Yamcha's lap, standing on her hind legs, and nuzzling the young man's chin.

"Find your place in the world, my son."

 

Yamcha blinked in surprise, reaching out and rubbing the cat's back, smiling as she butted her head against his chest before curling up in his lap. "Thank you, I'll take good care of her father." He looked down at her. "At least I'll have a friend on my journeys, hmm? That makes things a bit more bearable."

 

"Go now son, put the clothes and sword in your own wardrobe, and keep Puar in your room." His father said. Yamcha nodded and stood, the doctor opening the door for him.

 

A heavy sadness hung over the house that night, as the old miller's condition grew steadily worse. In the wee hours of the morning, the old man drew his last shaky breath, and grew still.

 

The next day, Tien took over the funeral arrangements, being strong for his younger brother Krillin, who was devastated by their father's death. Yamcha tried as best he could to comfort his brother, and stayed out of Tien's way, the older man's cold efficiency a poor mask for the grief he felt.

 

A day and a half later, the old man was buried, in the field behind the house.

 

"I know father would have approved, Tien." Yamcha said softly.

 

Tien gave a tight lipped smile and nodded. He had asked that their father be buried facing the huge oak tree that sat in the middle of the yard, in about the same spot he always used to sit when watching the boys climbing the tree, or using it as home for games of hide and seek, and tag.

 

As soon as the funeral was over, Yamcha went up to his room and packed all his clothes, along with a warm blanket, and his few other possessions. He carefully packed up the fine clothes and sword in a separate bag, and prepared to leave. He was stopped at the door by his two brothers, who begged him not to go.

 

"Yamcha, wait! You don't have to leave!" Krillin grabbed his hand. "This house is more than large enough for the three of us, stay!"

 

"Krillin is right." Tien nodded. "You can work in the mill with us, we'll get by just fine, there's no need for you to strike out on your own like this..."

 

Yamcha shook his head, long dark hair tumbling around his shoulders. "No, I won't just stay here and live off your kindness. I must try and find my own place in the world, just like father said." He cradled Puar to his chest, carrying a bag with all his clothes and possessions in it.

 

"At least let us give you food and water for your journey!" Krillin exclaimed, moving quickly to the kitchen and stuffing an large sack with bread, cheese, dried meat, fruit and vegetables, and a large flask for water.

 

"Thank you." Yamcha set down his clothes, and Puar, grabbing each of his brothers in a bear hug. "I'll come back when I've made something of myself..." He promised.

 

Krillin waggled his finger in his face. "You'd better come back, even if you don't make something of yourself right away! Don't you disappear for years on end!" Both men looked at him sternly.

 

Yamcha laughed. "Very well, I will come back and visit soon, I swear." He went out the door, pausing at the bottom of the steps to turn back and wave a final time. "See you soon, brothers." The young man smiled and started walking down the road, Puar bounding ahead.

 

~~oOo~~

 

Four hours later...

 

The young man and his blue cat walked slowly down the dusty road, weary, sore, thirsty and hungry. "We should find somewhere to rest for the night, I guess, right, Puar?" Yamcha asked. "The sun has almost set, and I think we are both hungry, and in need of sleep." He paused as Puar lifted her nose and sniffed the air, whiskers twitching, before bounding into the forest. "Puar! Wait!" He shouted, running after her. They twisted and darted through the trees and brush, until at last they came to a clearing. There, in the fading light, stood an abandoned cabin. "Puar, this is perfect! How did you know?" Yamcha scooped up his friend and stroked her head, chuckling as she purred and nuzzled his chin.

 

The cabin was small, and a bit dusty, but still, Yamcha was happy with it. It had a fireplace, a tiny table and one chair, and an old bed in the corner. He tested the mattress gently, and grinned as he sat down and kicked off his boots.

After several tries, Yamcha managed to get the fireplace lit, and sat on the bed once more, enjoying the warmth.

"Lets eat!" Yamcha said, as he pulled out their food. "Hmm...we're going into the city, so we'll need food for the journey. Once we're there I can find a job of some sort to put food on the table, and I have a little money to pay for lodging until I can get work.." He separated the food into rations. "There, if we stick to these rations, and catch some fish and small game, we'll be just fine."

He leaned back against the wall, eating slowly. "The city..." Yamcha said wistfully. The markets, all the people, it always sounded so exciting when mother spoke of it. Oh, and the palace...King and Prince Vegeta are there..." The young man sighed. "I wonder what the palace looks like, do you think they'd let us go inside? I would love to see it." He chattered on excitedly, about the palace, and all the other things he wanted to see.

 

Puar bumped her head against his arm and purred. *That's right master Yamcha.* She thought. *You make your plans...I'll make mine...* You see, Puar was no ordinary cat, she was a magical creature, capable of speaking, flying, and shape shifting. She was also a very wise creature, and she knew that their journey would eventually take them into the territory of the evil ogre, Oolong. *I have plans for you, Oolong, and bigger plans for you, master Yamcha..* Her eyes narrowed as her keen mind worked out the best way to implement her plans.

 

Two hours later found Yamcha sprawled on the bed, snoring softly, as Puar crept through the woods, making her way to the house of the man that owned the cabin. She shape-shifted into a young teenage boy and put on some of the clothes Yamcha had brought with him before knocking on the door. She squeaked in surprise as the door opened and a huge man loomed above her.

 

"Well hello there, little fella!" The enormous man said as he took in the short, slender boy, standing on his doorstep. The boy had shoulder length chestnut hair, and large, dark brown eyes. "What are you doing out so late? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

 

Puar looked up at the man and smiled. *Perfect...* "No sir!" She said. "I...um...." She put on her best chibi-eyed, sad look, and stared up at him.

 

The large man, a kindly farmer named Ox, who often took his livestock and crops into the city to sell in the market, put a huge hand on the boy's shoulder. "What is it, son? Come on, why don't you come inside, and we can talk about it."

 

And so, Puar did go inside, telling her tale of their father who had recently died, his brother Yamcha, and all about how the older brothers had inherited first, leaving nothing for Yamcha and himself. Puar told Ox about Yamcha's plans to go to the city, walking straight through ogre territory. "He mustn't go yet! He...thinks he knows everything about the city, but he knows very little, I am worried something bad will happen to him there! Or that he'll get hurt trying to go through the ogre's lands. Can he stay in your cabin for a while, maybe learn from you a little of the city's ways? Please? He wouldn't be any trouble, he is a hard worker, a good, and honest person...."

 

Ox nodded sagely. "Well, the city is a dangerous place for those that don't know how to get by, or don't understand its laws. The ogre's territory is an extremely dangerous place, as well,” he sat back and thought for a moment. “I suppose I could use an extra pair of hands around here. All right, he can stay. I go in to the city to sell my crops and livestock at the market quite often, he could see the city firsthand, while helping me out." he looked over at Puar. "You two should stay in the house though, that cabin is too small for the two of you."

 

"Oh, no!" Puar waved her hands. "I am going back home. I merely followed him here, and had heard you owned these lands. Please sir, you mustn't tell him I came here, and asked you to take him on. He'll leave and go on to the city straight away. My brother can be very headstrong and proud..." Puar sighed.

 

Ox laughed. "I understand, I was like that myself when I was young." He turned and looked up toward the stairs. "As long as your brother stays away from my little girl, Chi-Chi, he can stay."

 

"Oh thank you, kind sir!" Puar ran over and hugged him. "Now, I must be getting home so I can tell my other brothers Yamcha will be okay."

 

"Yes, you run along, my young friend. I will do my best to make sure your brother stays safe." Ox grinned and waved, as Puar ran out the door and sprinted down the lane.

 

A few minutes later, Puar crept back into the cabin, removing Yamcha's clothes and carefully replacing them in his bag before resuming her normal cat form, and floating up onto the bed. She snuggled up against his arm and yawned, purring in satisfaction. *Mission one, accomplished,* she thought, before drifting off.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…

Well, interesting beginnings, eh? I always thought Puar would make a good puss in boots, now whatever will happen to our poor miller's son, hm? Lemme know how you liked.

Johnny