Bonds
It's cold. The snow is waist deep on the ground, billowing in wild gusts as the gale howls across the land. Radittsu is snarling, but I can't hear him above the noise of the wind...
We're both half naked, clothing ripped to shreds long ago, battered, bruised, the whiteness below flecked with our blood. It's a measure of how hard I've worked, how far I've come, that we're now almost equally matched. Oh, he's physically stronger than me, of course - I don't have and never will have his size and muscle power. But ki for ki I have the edge, and I'm much much faster...
I flick the sweat from my eyes, watch him do the same. It's probably just as well it's so cold - this workout has been so long and so hard I'd probably have dropped from heat exhaustion by now if it had been warmer.
I flip sideways to avoid a ki blast, diving behind him to plant a fast and painful blow to his neck, driving him downwards - then dive below him and bring my knees up hard into his groin, shattering the guard there and making agonising contact with the heavy genitals beneath. He howls and curls over on himself: a last double-handed blow to the back of his neck sends him hurtling to the ground. I follow him down, hovering just out of reach, ready to run if necessary.
"Uh.... sorry...."
He hauls himself to his knees in the snow, biting back a groan, and glares up at me.
"Bitch."
I bite my lip, and he slumps, hand rubbing at his groin and wincing.
"Got to admit, though, it works."
I breathe a sigh of relief. He's not going to try to kill me. Well, not right now, anyway. "Are we done?"
"We're done."
I reach a hand to help him up, and he drapes an arm around my shoulders, companionably. It's only then that I realise I've actually beaten him. All right, maybe it wasn't exactly what you'd call a fair fight, but you have to use what you have. I grin to myself, and he cuffs my head - but gently.
"You did well, little warrior."
"I think she did rather better than that."
Radittsu yanked his arm from my shoulders, guiltily, and turned to the Prince.
"Uh, my lord..?"
Vejiita stood in the shadow of a scrubby, windblown tree, previously-suppressed ki now shining bright and pure in our minds. He moved towards us, wrapping a cloak around me before I could begin to shiver: now that the fight was over I suddenly realised how cold it really was. He smiled at me.
"An... interesting technique. You both fought well." His gaze switched to the big male beside me. "Your training has obviously been successful. Are you injured?"
"My pride more than anything."
The Prince smiled broadly, chuckling, then gestured us forwards.
"Back to the base. No doubt you're both in need of refreshment..."
At the entrance we parted ways, Radittsu to join his companions in the dining hall, Vejiita and I to the Prince's private quarters. Initially I'd been worried that being singled out like this would cause resentment amongst his warriors, but apart from a few ribald comments I'd had no real problems. Although to start with I was treated as something of a joke, as though Vejiita's wishing me to join the elite guard was a passing fancy, to be humoured but not taken seriously. He'd soon disabused them. And once I'd started training in earnest, so had I. They'd learned very early that I was absolutely serious in my desire to be a warrior. And over time I'd gained a measure of respect, although just occasionally I found myself the focus of some good-natured, if rough and decidedly bawdy, teasing...
I slid into the steaming bath with a sigh of pure relief, letting my head roll back. The hot water eased the aches of the last few hours, and I could feel myself growing drowsy within minutes. Vejiita sat behind me, his hands on my shoulders, kneading and stroking. I leaned back into his caress, my eyes closing as I relaxed. His arms slid around me to cup my breasts, thumbs stroking my nipples as he nuzzled the back of my neck. I shivered and shifted back against him, feeling him hard against my back: I wrapped my tail around his waist, raised myself slightly and slid him into me, twisted to kiss him - and reached for his tail with both hands...
His hands clenched, digging into me as he gasped, then shoved me forward against the other side of the bath, his teeth closing on my shoulder and biting viciously. I just had time to bring my arms up to stop myself cracking my head on the edge of the bath, suddenly frightened. He held me still, hands bruising as they tightened on my breasts and blood welling into his mouth from my torn shoulder, and pounded in to me, growling in my ear. He came quickly and wrenched out of me, hauling me upright by the hair and dragging me over to the sleeping platform, throwing me down onto the furs and slamming into me again, fingers biting into my shoulders. Forcing down terror I fought to keep from crying out and tried to push him away a little so I could breathe, but he caught my wrists and shoved them above my head, snarling down into my face, teeth bared.
*No! My lord, please, no!*
He bit my throat, reaching for my tail and wrapping it around his hand, still pumping within me, savagely. It went on and on, relentless, agonising. I could feel myself bleeding, rubbed raw inside. Horrified, I heard myself whimpering, powerless to stop.
"Please.. my lord.... please... you're hurting me..."
His eyes were wide and blank, terrifying. And suddenly his mind opened to me.
Pain beyond anything I'd ever imagined. I screamed into the void that had opened before me, tumbling down the edge of agony into a yawning pit of fire. Vejiita gripped my tail almost to breaking point and slammed into me brutally, screaming as he came, then collapsed heavily onto me, gasping. I felt ribs crack. The pain in my mind became unbearable. I passed out.
I came to some hours later, shivering. The fire had gone out and the room was freezing, the sleeping furs in a pile on the floor. The bed cold and empty. The Prince had gone.
Frozen for a moment, choking back a sob that threatened to suffocate me, I buried my head in arms, fighting for control and failing. He'd hurt me and he'd gone. And for probably the first time ever I broke down, sobbing into the fur below me. Never felt so helpless, so lonely, so lost.
"Leteetza?..."
*....what?..... go away........ Just let me die in peace.....*
"Hey, little warrior..."
I turned my head slightly, wincing as the movement jarred my ribs. Radittsu stood there, frowning. At the sight of my face he sat on the edge of the platform and reached towards me - but not touching me. I choked back a sob.
"Go away. Just leave me alone."
He shook his head, heavy mane tumbling around his shoulders.
"Can't do that. The King wouldn't like it. You hurt?"
I dragged myself to my knees, arms wrapped around my ribs, shuddering violently. There seemed to be an awful lot of blood gluing the fur together where I'd been lying. I felt bitterly cold and horribly weak, though more from shock than blood loss I thought. I nodded.
"Can you walk? Or fly?"
What a stupid question! "No."
He chewed his lip, hesitating. I couldn't work out why. Then he scowled at me.
"Then I'll have to carry you. I want your word you'll confirm I had no choice."
"What... the hell are you... talking about?" I managed through chattering teeth. He looked puzzled.
"I shouldn't touch you. You're in heat."
I stared at him, momentarily too startled to shiver. I was?
"You didn't realise?"
I shook my head. I'd completely lost track of time. Amazing how that can happen when you're enjoying yourself...
Thinking about it, he was right. It had been about half a year since... last time. Must have only just have happened, though. And it went some way to explaining why the Prince had behaved as he had... Vejiita... I bit my lip hard, refusing to cry in front of a fellow warrior.
Radittsu grabbed a fur and wrapped it quickly round me, trying not to touch my skin, then lifted me into his arms, holding me awkwardly as far from him as possible: I could feel the tension in his body even through the fur. I couldn't see why it mattered any more, and slumped against him, too miserable to care about anything.
"Well, you're a little battered, but nothing too serious. You're young and tough. Couple of days and you'll be up and about again." The ancient doctor finished strapping my ribs and patted my shoulder. He smiled. "I have some of Ajo's anti-conception drug. She's improved it - the effect lasts for the whole time you're in heat now. You'd better take some."
"Why?"
He frowned. "Why?"
I shook my head wearily. Didn't they know what had happened? Hadn't Radittsu told them?
The doctor patted me on the head, apparently humouring me. "You wouldn't want to miss the celebrations, would you?"
I gave up trying to make sense of what was happening and just took the damned drug.
An hour or so later Radittsu came to see me, carefully sitting some distance away from the bed, opposite the door.
"How you feeling?"
"Like shit."
"You up to a visit?"
"I suppose so..."
"Good." His eyes lifted to the door, then he stood, dropping to one knee with his head lowered, his forearm across his thigh.
"Sire."
Wearily I struggled to turn to the King, wondering why the hell he would come here. I must be in some sort of trouble. I no longer cared.
My jaw dropped. I stopped breathing.
"Wha...?"
The Prince stood in the doorway. No, I realised, gasping, my eyes drawn to the starburst insignia on a heavy chain around his neck. No longer the Prince. The King. But that meant...
I hauled myself to my knees, refusing to wince as my body complained, and lowered my head, my eyes tightly closed.
"Sire..."
I sensed, rather than saw, him nod slightly to Radittsu, who left quietly, closing the door behind him.
"I regret hurting you."
I risked looking up. He was standing at the side of the bed, watching me, his expression sombre. There was something in his eyes I hadn't seen before. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and cupped my chin in his hand, very gently. I started to object.
"Sire..."
He laid a finger lightly across my mouth.
"When I am with you, my mind is... open. And I have always had a close bond with my father. His death was... slow, and agonising. I could not close the link." He lowered his eyes, the confession difficult for him, and I held my breath, hardly able to believe he was being so open with me. "I... lost control. You suffered for it."
My lips parted in shock - it was an apology. I reached for his hand.
"Sire... I am yours to command. I always have been."
He looked up, frowning slightly.
"That is not what I want."
It wasn't? I frowned inquiringly.
"I want - a companion. Someone to share my thoughts, my bed... my self."
Unconsciously, I pulled slightly backwards. "A mate?"
He shook his head. "There will be a mate, to bear children, and to raise them. The King's Companion will be quite different."
I was silent for a moment, considering the matter. A lifetime shared with Vejiita. Or was it just until he grew bored of me?
Uh, hang on - he hadn't actually asked me yet.... I took a deep breath and grabbed my courage in both hands.
"Sire... what sort of position would this be?"
I swear his eyes twinkled!
*I could say 'on your back', but I appreciate why you are asking...*
"Reciprocal, and mutually satisfying. Close, binding, and... loving..."
I stared at him. He smiled slightly.
"For as long as we both wish it to continue."
It was as close to an invitation as I was likely to get. I grinned.
"Sire..."
He laid his fingers over my lips.
"Call me Vejiita."
I leaned back against his powerful chest, sighing, my body glowing in the aftermath of making love. He'd been so - tender, so careful not to hurt me. He stroked my cheek gently, and I twisted to smile at him. I'd never seen him look so relaxed.
"They'll talk."
He shrugged infinitesimally. "Let them. I am the Saiya-jin no Ou. I am not bound by the opinions of others." He smiled slyly. "Besides, you are a brother warrior." He frowned thoughtfully. "Or should that be sister warrior?" He shook his head. "No matter. I want you with me."
His lips whispered along my shoulder, and I melted into his caress...
And the rest? That's another story. Click below to read on...
© 2001 Joules Taylor
