saiyan1

I'll never forget that Summer. That summer I first touched the meaning of true love. The kind of stuff people write songs about, the ground shaking trembling that happens to you at a glance. The pure emotion that can only be love at its most distilled form. So sweet. Amazing that such beautiful feelings could spring up in a time that was marked with tragedy. Even today I can't look back at the war without smiling. The war was when I broke through the ice. When for the first time I saw the real him. It was the summer of my Saiyan soldier.
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It was cold. Yamcha could still feel the chill of the approching fall, even through his jacket. He walked quickly toward the town's small store. People around him were all talking about the war that had been declared, against anyone who was not human. Non or demi humans, especially the powerful Saiyan blooded citizens of Earth were being rounded of and thrown into work camps. Prison camps.

The ball player shivered. So many of his friends had been taken. He hadn't even been aware that someone knew there were Saiyans on Earth, it wasn't as if they stuck out as anything but human, not without their tails. Still, someone had known, and then the soldiers came. Goku and Gohan, Goten, Trunks, Vegita, Bra. . . all of them were locked behind strong fences and kept chained. The heros of Earth. Didn't the humans see that they were locking up their strongest allies?!

He entered the store and loitered around the shelves, trying to stay as long as he could in the warmth before he would have to go back into the cold. A little ki would warm him, but if he let anyone realize what he was. . . //God I'm getting as bad as them, thinking of Saiyan kind as what instead of who.//

The chime on the door sounded and he looked up to see the camp guards letting the prisoners in. He bit his lip while he watched them file through the doors to spend what little they were allowed for their work.

Piccolo had been one of the lucky ones. He had no identity on the planet. People had sen him, but he didn't have a home to raid or family to threaten, and he was too powerful to attack without some kind of leverage. Thank kami no one has realized that they have their leverage already in the camps. "He misses you too." Yamcha whispered, "He said if I saw you to tell you he loves you dearly and he would find a way to stop this madness." A smile reached his eyes and he chuckled, "He also says you had better keep practicing, being locked up is no excuse for slacking."

Gohan smiled brightly, "That's Piccolo alright!" He nodded and then wipped away a tear, "Tell him I miss him ok?"

Yamcha nodded, they had both been in more harsh situations than this. "I wish I could help."

"Things will be back to normal as soon as the humans realize they're afraid of a dead people."

Contrary to his easy manner, Yamcha hadn't given up the belief that something wasn't right. Goku had looked at Vegita like the guy was dying! He added a few items to his basket for apperence' sake and wandered over to stand by Vegita. "Ready to kill Goku yet?"

"Well I just thought after being in an enclosed place with him for over a month you must be about ready to kill him."

That startled Yamcha, it wasn't like Vegita to admit defeat, especially relating to Goku. "Don't loose hope Vegita, you'll all be free soon."

"I am the prince of the Saiyans. They won't release me with the others, they'll hold me as a political prisoner and once they find out Vegita-sei is dead, they will kill me."

Yamcha couldn't say anything else to him since the guards choose that time to begin rounding them up.

Vegita's voice played through his head that night. The pained look in his eyes as he said it wouldn't stop haunting him.

A clatter outside brought him jumping to his feat. Yamcha slid quietly out and peeked around the side of the house. "Vegita!"

He ran to the shorter man's side and lifted him carefully, blood oozed out of his leg and side. He was unconsious. The clattering sound had been the prince falling into the pitching net he had build to keep his arm in shape. Not thinking of the consequences Yamcha carried Vegita inside and lay him on the bed the hurried for the first aid kit to clean out his wounds.

Yamcha was caught off guard, why *was* he helping? Because they were friends. "You're my friend. Even if we don't really know eachother too well, we're still friends."

"Now don't waist your strength insulting me!" He insisted. "Rest. Heal up. No one will find you here."

"That isn't a request." Yamcha insisted, "Now can you eat some soup or do you need my help?"

The ball player helped Vegita to sit up and fed him carefully. Not asking permission and therefor saving the Saiyan's pride.

"Shh, I'll help you finish this then you're going to sleep ok? The bed is big enough and I'm not leaving you alone. Kami knows what you'd do to my house!"

Yamcha finished the dishes and went to lay beside Vegita careful not to make to much noise.

He jumped, "SHIT! Vegita! You scared me!" He touched the man's forehead, "How are you feeling now?"

Yamcha laughed and slid, fully dressed, between the covers. "How did you escape?"

Yamcha gave he a 'look' and Vegita rolled his eyes, "I killed a couole guards and flew out fast as I could. Didn't get clear before they started shooting though."

Yamcha grinned, "A grumpy, tired Saiyan is not very safe company. Go on, catch some Zs."

"Hn." Vegita glarred but he turned onto his side and closed his eyes, that small gesture meant he felt safe. That was enough for Yamcha.

Vegita woke up to the sounds of life. A deep voice humming and water running. Yamcha immerged a moment later with a tray of food for him, "There you go. I know it's not much but they're rationing food now. . ."

"Yes." Yamcha reached into his baggy pants and pulled his tail free gently, "See?"

A breif flash o envy shot through the smaller man's face, but he quickly covered it. "And you don't know about Vegita-Sei?"

"Why did I save your hide?" Yamcha huffed and walked from the room, "And you owe me a new practice net!"

"If it weren't for that net catching you you'd have plowed right into my wall and I'd be scooping Saiyan brains off the concrete." He rolled his eyes, "Don't tell me about Vegita-sei if you don't want to. It's not like it matters anymore."

Vegita looked at the Saiyan warrior's back and felt a pang of . . . what? Guilt?! //I don't do guilt. Hn. Damn ningen-saiyan. He should have been locked up with the rest of us. Coward.//

"So what if I'm a coward? I can't help anyone from the inside of a wired cell now can I?"

The prince waited a few minuets then growled, "Fine, sit down. I'll tell you about the fucking planet."

"It was a lot like earth. Greener, more advanced technology, brighter moon, but still alot like Earth."

"Father made sure I knew everything I needed to about being a Prince, not that I'd need it but he didn't know that. Freezer took me away when I was very young, I never saw it again."

"My father was ashamed of me. I love to fight but I hate to actually 'kill' which made me worthless as a Saiyan. Then he found out about my . . . ability."

"Yeah. It isn't really developed, but it was there and he said it made me broken. He. . ."

"Shit!" Yamcha grabbed Vegita's hand and rushed him over to a chest in the corner. He opened it and pulled everything loose then opened the bottom, "Get in, it's an old World War two bunker. Lock it from the inside and don't make a sound!"

Vegita nodded, the thought that he was being ordered around by a low class outsider didn't occur to him at the time, though once he was safely hidden he cursed himself and Yamcha fluently in at least thirty languages.

Yamcha scrubbed his hair to look disheveled and overed the door, yamning and looking at the police officers through sleepy eyes. "Uh. . . I didn't do it?"

The officer laughed, "Hey no trouble slugger, we're just looking for a escaped Saiyan."

Yamcha grinned. A fan! Kami was smiling today all right! "Hey no sweat, had to be getting up anyway. No Sian here." He smiled and tripped over the name as if it were unfamiliar, "Um. . . Seein'? Saying? What is it again?"

"One Coke comin' up." He walked into the kitchen after spreading his hands in a go ahead gesture, "Check whatever you need to."

Yamcha walked back into the room and handed him the cold can, "Yeah, my pleasure."

"Great!" He stood up from searching under the couch and bed. when he got to the chest though he paused. "Why is this bolted down?"

"That's my ball playing gear, that last earthquake we had knocked the who thing over so I bolted it there for safety after I saw the mess."

"Good idea. My daughter lost her whole china doll collection in the quake." He smiled and accepted the autograph happily, "Well all set."

"To tell you the truth I'm glad I didn't find him. I think the cheif's crazy for doing this, but he's the boss you know. Wherever he is though, he should stay hidden for the next few months. It'll take at least that for things to cool down here."

Yamcha grinned, "I totally agree, but don't quote me on that. Hope I see you aroung man."

Vegita listened to the whole conversation from his spot beneath the chest. Yamcha lied far too easily. //Kakarotto did say he was a thief before he joined them, probably a con man too. He's protecting me.// That was a painful thought. For his pride he added a sarcastic thought of, //Maybe I should just turn myself in.//

When the officer had been gone a good three hours Yamcha knocked on the bottom of the chest. "All clear. I think he was on our side, but better safe than sorry."

Vegita glarred at him and Yamcha shoved some food and a flashlight into the bunker, "What are you doing?"

"He was right, things are too hot around here for you right now. You need to stay out of sight." He tossed some blankets and a pillow in as well and paused, "Do you read or something? You know, to pass the time?"

"No chance of that. way to attention getting." He tossed in some book, paper and writing utensils, "There, I know it isn't much but bordom can kill you know."

"You need to stay hidden. I know you hate taking orders from anyone so I'm asking, not telling, but it would be much safer."

Vegita glarred but nodded and turned back toward the chest. "Why are you helping me?"

After he was locked safely away again he thought back on that blush with little mental ease. The image followed him into sleep.

You're my prince

No one had expected the war to just smooth out, but none of us could have prepared for how horrible it really got. The world was becoming mad. After they caught another huminoid whos kind became more poweful with the moon's light, the human's destroyed the moon. This was different than when Piccolo had done the same thing, somehow he'd kept the planet regulated afterward. Humans didn't have that kind of natural pull. They blew up the moon, messed up the tidal pull and climate and earth's rotation and lost about half of the ocean side cities of Earth to massive flooding. My home was now on a small island, I was just lucky it was up high enough to begin with. The capitol city faired fine too. Just far enough away and high enough up. I'm greatful. That meant that the camps were still above water, so Goku and his family were all safe.

I remembered that officer, the one who's little girl had lost her dolls in the earthquake. I couldn't help but wonder how that family had been hit. If they lost their house, or their lives. Of course, everything was blamed on the non and demi humans. The media ate it up. Our differences gave people the excuse they needed to overlook what their hate had done. It was our fault. Everything was our fault.

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    Yamcha checked the police and military frequencies on his radio and made sure that no patrols were around his area, before he knocked a succesion of raps and scrapes on the equipment chest. A moment later, Vegita unbarred it and slipped up to a standing possition, stretching his cramped legs and shoulders and breathing in fresh air. "No patrols are schedualed for a while."

    Vegita nodded and gave a slight, "Hn." Before offering Yamcha the latest novel he'd finished. Down in that hole, there wasn't much else to do. And this had become a daily ritual for both of them.

    "Given up yet?" Yamcha asked as he turned to fix them something to eat. He didn't mind scavenging and stealing in order to keep them both well fed reguarless of the meger rations they were given legally.

    "Not yet." Vegita snatched a new novel from the bookshelf and tossed it into his bunker, then put the batteries of his flashlight in the charger.

    The ball player watched this out of the corner of his eye and smiled. Vegita was doing well without using his ki above human levels. Of course the Prince of the Saiyans would know how to adjust to any situation, but the royal had surprised him with just how calm and rational he could be in a tight spot. In battle Vegita was an unstopping force that wouldn't let up until he was completely crushed. Yamcha hadn't realized that as royalty, the other man would know how to fight different battles with the same stubbourn pride. Catching Vegita's questioning gaze he shock himsel ffrom his thoughts, "What did you say?"

    "I asked if there was news about the camps."

    He dished the thick stew he'd thrown together out to Vegita and himself, and sat down at the table, "They're still not allowing visitors, but I stopped by the prison shop while Goku's block was stationed there. Trunks said they're putting warring races together in the bunks and fights break out all the time. The guards don't bother stopping them, they take bets on them instead. Parimeter security has been raised because of some green alien nighttime visitors. . ."

    "Piccolo?"

    "Probably Dende. Piccolo wouldn't have gotten caught."

    "Ah." Vegita went back to eating and waved Yamcha to continue.

    "The search for the Saiyan home planet continues. In fact they've enlisted Bulma to help them build a better way to search the stars. She agreed because it allows her to visit her kids. Your kids. They both say hi by the way."

    He snorted, and Yamcha didn't mention the tears that pooled in his eyes.

    "There's a candidate in the new elections coming up, who's campaign promise is to end the war and let the camp prisoners go free. There might be an end in sight after . . ."

    The radio crackled to life and Yamcha tipped over his chair in a rush to get to it and tune it in.

    "Gonna call it a day Chris, nothin' in this sector."

    "What about the ball player's island?"

    "The guy's probably asleep. Big game tomorrow. We don't wanna disturb 'im. I've got money on that game."

    "Whatever, see you at base."

    "Yeah. Over an' out."

    The Saiyan warrior slumped to the ground shaking and Vegita slowly stood and approached him. This was the first time Yamcha had shown any weakness. He stood above the shivering man, unsure of what to do to help him. Being as close as he was, he still only barely heard when the scarred man began to mumble. "to close. oh kami to close."

    "They aren't coming here." Vegita finally said, looking down at him.

    He nodded and slipped to his rear, leaning against the couch. "I know."

    "What else?"

    "Hm?"

    "News."

    His breathing became normal again and Vegita sat beside him on the floor after bringing the food down and setting it in front of them. He continued to eat while Yamcha told him about how Krillan had taken 18 and 17 and fled the planet to warn all of the worlds that might end up targeted. He laughed at the idea of the tiny monk amassing an army big enough to come to Earth and stop the camps. Then he spoke in a more somber mood about how Krillan had gone because no on ewas sure if androids would be targetted next. Tien and Chattsu had been staying with Dende at the lookout for protection and Master Roshi was annoyed that the porn industry had hit a rut.

    The last news earned a snort from Vegita and Yamcha smiled a bit and finished off his meal, taking the dishes to wash and dry them immidiately. If the military decided to visit, a set of two dirty plates could be enough to damn them both.

    Vegita picked up the drying towel without a second thought and put them in the cupboard then turned around just in time to catch Yamcha as he collapsed. He'd been expecting it for weeks, the other man had lasted longer than the prince had expected. But the world was going mad and harboring a Saiyan, hiding your own heritage, stealing food and information and balancing a job that put him in a bright and unsupposing light was all taking it's toll.

    The smaller Saiyan placed his protector on the bed and set the clock to make sure he woke up in time to get to his game, then he stripped him down to his boxers and pulled the blanket over the heavily scarred body. An odd feeling had been creeping up on the prince for months whenever he witnessed the hidden weaknesses of the other man. Instead of scorning him for them, Vegita wanted to protect him, and keep him from knowing the hate and predjudice that was forcused against their people. This kind of urge was not heard of on Vegita-Sei or among Freezers minions.

    Yamcha hummed in his sleep and curled up around a pillow, hugging it tightly and smiling.

    Vegita decided that maybe unheard of did not mean wrong. He took the batteries from the charger and slipped back into his bunker, locking himself inside. He had a lot to think about.

~tbc~