- A New Era -

Part 2 - Brothers.

 
 
Ten months had passed and Raditz had been visiting the prince more and more often. Followed by his little brother...
 
 
 
"Let go of my leg, Kakarotto!"
 
 
As the little boy giggled and tightened his grip on the young prince, Vegeta slapped him, throwing him on the floor. The baby started crying immediately and Raditz turned to look angrily at Vegeta.
 
 
"Why did you do that? He's only a baby!"
 
"I never permitted him to touch me. I'm his prince, he's not allowed to be so friendly with me."
 
"But he can't understand this! Don't beat him again!"
 
 
Raditz took his crying brother in his arms, trying to calm him. Vegeta was amazed. This boy had been yelling at him, looking at him angrily, and giving him orders. And yet the prince didn't try to make him pay for daring doing this. Or just reproach him all this. As he looked at the two brothers he could only feel something bitter. He was jealous. He had always been. He couldn't stand seeing Raditz taking care of his brother instead of him. If only Kakarotto wasn't there... or if he was Raditz's brother himself... He just stood there, waiting for the baby to stop crying. He had been thinking a lot about what brotherhood meant and had come to the conclusion that he needed a brother who would give him the affection and care he had always been lacking. Without a word to his friend he turned and headed to his father's rooms. The guards bowed as he approached the study but as he was about to open the door they tried to stop him.
 
 
"You can't enter now, the king gave orders. He's working with his staff and we can't let anyone in."
 
"Don't even try to stop me. I'm not in the mood for being merciful."
 
 
The guard gulped and backed away, knowing the boy's temper too well. Vegeta opened the door and found a few men looking at him. He bowed before his father. The men bowed before the prince. The king almost laughed at the sight.
 
 
"What are you doing here? I gave orders-"
 
"I have to talk to you."
 
"Are we under attack?"
 
"No..."
 
"So why did you think you could come here against my orders?! Go into my bedroom and wait for me."
 
 
The young prince bowed obediently and headed to the door leading from the study to his father's room. A few minutes later the king joined him.
 
 
"So, what was that important thing you had to tell me?"
 
"I want a brother."
 
"You WHAT?! And you disturbed me to tell me that?"
 
"I'm serious, father."
 
 
The king looked at his son and softened when he saw the serious look on the little boy's face. That look reminded him of his beloved lost wife: serious and strong outside to hide something gentle and almost fragile inside. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and guided him to a couch where they sat.
 
 
"So you want a brother? I'll see if I can find a worthy mother among my harem. You know he would only be a bastard. Not even a true Saiyajin. And maybe it will be a sister, not a brother."
 
"Don't worry, you won't need to do anything. I already found one."
 
"You found a mother for him?"
 
"No, I found a brother."
 
"That's what I feared... And... do I know his father?"
 
"Yes. And you know that boy, too."
 
"Don't tell me... Since the only kid you had around is that boy named Raditz, I presume he's the one you chose."
 
 
Vegeta looked up at his father, a big smile on his lips. The king was surprised to see his son smiling like this. He seldom saw him smile, anyway. He sighed and shook his head.
 
 
"He's a low class kid, I hope you're not asking me to adopt him."
 
"I just want him to be my brother, to act like a brother with me. I want to be able to see him whenever I want, to have him train with me, take care of me like he does with his little brother."
 
"You mean you want him to live here."
 
"Yes!"
 
 
The king sighed again. Even he had a weakness: his son. He could do anything for him. But allowing that brat to live in the Palace...
 
 
"All right, I'll order to prepare a room for him. But what about his brother? I've seen he's always with him. Did he agree to live here without him?"
 
"Actually... I haven't discussed about all this with him, yet."
 
"You haven't... he doesn't know he'll be living here?"
 
"I wasn't sure you would say yes..."
 
"We'll discuss this with him later."
 
"He was still here when I came to see you. And even if he's gone home, he doesn't live far. Maybe we could talk to him now?"
 
"Do I sense eagerness in your voice?"
 
 
The king rose and called a guard, asking him to bring them Raditz. A few minutes later, the boy was shyly entering the room. Vegeta didn't lie when he said the king's room was bigger than his. Now Raditz wondered how he could live in such a small room as his. He felt more comfortable here. The king motioned for him to come closer before he could even kneel. The little boy by his side was doing his best to hide his excitement.
 
 
"Go back to your place and pack your belongings, then come back here."
 
"Are you sending me away? Prince Vegeta, I didn't mean to be disrespectful, I just wanted to protect my brother..."
 
 
The young prince rolled his eyes and punched his friend softly in the stomach.
 
 
"We're not sending you away, stupid. You're coming here. To live in the Palace. With me."
 
"Errr... I'm not sure I understand everything, but I won't be long. I want to be back before you change your mind!"
 
 
After a short bow he rushed out to his house.
 
*What does it mean? Is the prince serious? It can't be a joke, the king wouldn't waste his time with stupid jokes like this. Not with kids. No, it had to be true. I'm going to live at the Palace with my prince! But what about my brother?*
 
He stopped mid-air at the thought. That was too good, but he couldn't leave his little brother. His father had been mocking him several times for his caring for that kid, but he couldn't help it. His feeling for that baby boy were stronger. But were they stronger than the ones he had for his prince? And what was the nature of his feelings for the prince, exactly? He had been dreaming of him for a while, now, and was wondering where this would lead him. He would find a way to have his brother with him somehow. He resumed his flight and quickly packed his stuff while explaining to his once again amazed mother what was happening.
 
 
"I'll come back to take care of Kakarotto. Maybe they'll let me take him with me!"
 
 
As he heard his name, the little boy came out of his room and looked questioningly at his brother.
 
 
"Wha' you doin', Raditz?"
 
 
Raditz stopped when he heard it. His name was the only word the little boy was able to say properly, yet. He started to wonder if he wasn't going to stay.
 
 
"A' you leavi' me?"
 
"I'm not leaving you, I'll never leave you. I'm going to live... somewhere else. The king invited me to live with the prince at the Palace."
 
"Am goin' too?"
 
"Not now, maybe later. But I'll come to see you often, I promise. And I'm sure you'll be able to come to see us, too."
 
 
He hugged the little boy and kissed him then left for his new home. When he reached the king's room, an excited little prince grabbed his hand and dragged him outside along the corridor.
 
 
"Come with me, I'll show you your room. It's not far from mine."
 
 
The king looked at them and smiled. His son had changed so much since that boy had been around. He followed them and found Raditz looking around himself in the middle of his new room.
 
 
"I'm really going to live here?"
 
"Yes. This room is not as big as mine, but it's a big one."
 
"But... why am I allowed to stay here?"
 
"My son asked for a brother and told me he already found one. It was you."
 
 
Raditz turned a surprised face to the king.
 
 
"A brother?"
 
 
Raditz looked at the king and the prince to try to figure out if it wasn't a joke, after all.
 
 
"I'm not adopting you, I'm just allowing you to behave like his brother."
 
"Errr... And what about my real brother? I'd like to be able to see him..."
 
"You're not a servant or a slave, you're free. You can go back to see him whenever you want. You can even go back to live with your parents if you want to."
 
"I think I prefer to stay here. But..."
 
"But you want to have Kakarotto here with you. He's always in my way!"
 
 
The young prince was upset. Everything was going fine, so far. He didn't want this brat to mess his new life.
 
 
"Stop being capricious, son. Paragas' son is always lonely and his father uses to complain because his son is shy. Raditz, I think your little brother could help shaking him a bit. They're the same age, they could be raised together. This way you'll be able to see him often, without having him always with you. What do you two think of this solution?"
 
 
Both boys grinned at the king, tails waving happily. Good! He had feared for a while that he would have to be trapped in the middle of a kids' fight. He still wondered how he could become so weak when his son was around.