Seclusion

"I should have stayed with him."
      Hijau sighed silently in frustration and stroked his bondmate's shoulders soothingly.
      "The Ssii'iin wanted you - wanted us - to have this time to ourselves. He wouldn't have let you stay, zkai'da. You know that."
      Zha'haarak nodded reluctantly. Hijau kissed the back of his neck.
      "Come. I want to make love to you."
      The gentle zn'hre glanced over his shoulder, golden eyes warm and loving and sparkling with arousal.
      "In the sea?"
      The Saiyan nodded.
      *In the sea.*
      Hand in hand they walked down the cove, to shallow water warmed by the suns on the white sand below…

Hijau had been, privately, very uncertain about the wisdom of this trip. He hadn't been 'home' since his mother had killed Setela and in turn been killed by his father: Merica's father Gelaga had still been Lord of Rumput at the time. Things were very different now…
      The castle was huge, a solid bulk of grey rock perched on a steep hillside, looking like part of the hill itself. A broad path zig-zagged up to it - a new thing, that, the original had been narrow and straight and steep - and the entrance was wide with only two guards on duty. They'd been greeted cordially by members of staff and ushered to their luxurious quarters, then led down to the main banqueting hall, where Serendah had organised a feast to welcome them. Merica's younger brother was smaller and less muscular than the guard, but nevertheless had the family's smouldering good looks. He grinned widely as he grabbed his brother and Jagung into a bruising hug, then turned and bowed to Hijau and Zha'haarak.
      "Welcome to my home!"
      The Captain saluted as the prince inclined his head in thanks.
      "We appreciate your hospitality."
      Serendah chuckled as the children moved warily forwards to say hello.
      "Well, what handsome brats! I hope you enjoy your stay."
      Kinu bowed his head.
      "We thank you, Serendah-sama."
      The Lord of Rumput smiled, then gestured to the heavily-laden tables.
      "Shall we eat…?"

"S'nice here, papa."
      'jau rolled onto his stomach and grinned at Hijau. The visitors were sprawled on the white sand of a small cove ten minutes easy flight from the castle, enjoying the heat of the late afternoon after a day spent exploring - in the case of the children - and making love - in Hijau and Zha'haarak's case. The Captain chuckled and ruffled the little hybrid's mane.
      "I'm glad you like it."
      "… do you think we could come and live here? Later, when we're grown up?"
      Hijau blinked. That possibility simply hadn't occurred to him.
      "I don't know, zk'viss. Shall we wait and see what happens?"
      "I s'pose…" The hybrid sat up and brushed his tail over his dozing bondmate: Kinu wriggled and sighed. "I'm going to swim."
      Kinu rolled over and reached for 'jau's hand.
      "Then so am I. Like to hunt?"
      'jau grinned widely.
      "Yeah! Let's catch a meal!"
      Chuckling, Hijau watched the pair take to the air and race each other down the beach and out into the ocean, followed at a slight distance by the grinning elder hybrids, who seemed to have allocated themselves the youngster's guards for the duration of the trip. Such a beautiful sight…
      Zha'haarak brushed a kiss over his shoulder.
      **And you are so proud of them both - of them all**
      The Saiyan leaned back into his zn'hre's cool embrace.
      *Of course. So are you.*
      **Indeed…** Zha'haarak nuzzled Hijau's neck. **It might be as well to start considering their future. It seems clear to me that 'jau sees his reason for being is to guard Kinu**
      Hijau nodded languidly.
      *Uhuh. And Kinu is skilled with languages and very tactful. I'm going to suggest Mahrayne let him spend some time with Manzano or Zyelenyi. He'd make a good diplomat, I think. If he likes the idea, that is.* He stretched and pulled his bondmate into his arms. *But it can wait until we return. Right now I'm pleasantly weary, and hot, and just want to lie here with you, enjoying you, enjoying the rest. It feels like forever since we had time to ourselves…*

Five days after their arrival Hijau had left Zha'haarak and the brats in Merica and Jagung's care and flown down to the old family estate, not expecting to find anything - in Rumput's hot and humid atmosphere anything not built of stone was soon eaten up by jungle, or the swarming insects, or the weather. To his surprise the house was still there, and in good repair, even the grounds around it fairly well-kept. He landed at the front and climbed the steps, dropping into a defensive stance as the main door opened…
      "Collee?"
      "Hi… Hijau-sama?" The elderly housekeeper's wrinkled face broke into a grin as she bowed. "Oh, it's good to see you sir!"
      Hijau gestured around himself.
      "This is your work?"
      "All of us, sir. Your father left the house in our care, in case you should ever want to return here - you or your children." Collee inclined her head. "The little one isn't with you?"
      "Not this time. But now I know the house is habitable… I'll bring the family down for a trip before we return."
      Collee sighed happily.
      "That would be wonderful, sir… I'll have to make sure we have enough supplies…" Her face fell momentarily. "It's not really fit for a prince, though."
      Hijau chuckled.
      "Zha'haarak won't mind. And the brats will love it here."
      Collee's ears pricked.
      "Brats? I thought you only had the one, sir."
      "'jau's bondmate Kinu is with us - so are…" He paused for a moment, then shrugged. Explanations could come later. "…two of their friends."
      "Ah… It will be lovely to have children in the house again." Her voice was wistful. "When do you think you might be able to visit, sir?"
      Hijau considered the idea for a moment, then smirked.
      "Let's say, in four days time. Will that give you long enough to get ready?"
      The old female beamed.
      "Oh yes, sir! What are the children's favourite foods?"
      Hijau chuckled.
      "Anything as long as it's meat."
      "Very good. And his highness?"
      "Pretty much the same."
      "We'll have everything ready for you sir." She hesitated for a moment, then glanced over her shoulder towards the main door. "Would you like to look around the house? It's a bit different to how it used to be…"
      He shook his head firmly. He'd much rather wait until they were all together. That way the old memories could be overlaid with happy new ones.
      "Very good sir. Then if you'll forgive me, I'll go let the rest of the staff know and start getting ready…"

"Your home, from when you were little?"
      'jau's eyes were huge. Hijau cuddled him and nodded.
      "Down by the ocean. There's a beach, and rock pools, and you can hunt in the jungle…" The Saiyan glanced at his smiling bondmate. "It'll be good for Ti'ani and Le'leen too."
      "Will there be room for us all?"
      Hijau nodded.
      "It's not a big place, but large enough. Very different from the palace, and this place." He gestured around the huge suite they'd been allocated. "I think you'll like it. And the area is beautiful."
      "Can we go now?"
      Hijau ruffled his sireling's mane, laughing.
      "Collee needs time to prepare, bratling. We're going in four days." He smiled at his bondmate. "I'd better let Merica know."

Merica was sparring with the elder hybrids in the castle's central courtyard when Hijau sought him out. The warrior grinned as he called the session to a halt.
"They're good. But then, with Rad-san training them I wouldn't expect anything else…"
Hijau nodded, watching - and scenting - the youngsters. They were much calmer now, their equilibrium almost restored: being somewhere unfamiliar seemed to have helped a great deal, as had Zha'haarak's gentle, unconditional, loving attention. And they'd all learned a great deal from the experience: Zha'haabron had arranged a series of meetings with Vinas and Manzano to decide on the best way to handle the next shizun - because no-one doubted there would be more, and were working on the assumption that all the hybrids would suffer the same. The construction of what had been dubbed 'the harem' was already underway, in a secluded part of the palace grounds, and Zha'haabron had started making a list of the most appropriate aliens to tempt into service…

Vejiita had been bemused when told.
      "So, let me get this straight. It's similar to Saiyan heat?"
      Zha'haabron had nodded.
      "Although rather more intense. And as yet we do not know the frequency."
      The Saiya-jin-no-Ou had frowned. "Going to be a bit awkward if it strikes without warning in the middle of a combat situation." He smirked evilly. "Though I suppose they could always fuck the enemy to death…"
      Zha'haabron stared at him for a moment, then realised it was - partially - a joke, so didn't bother pointing out the shortcomings of the idea.
      "I'm sure we can make allowances."
      "That'll be interesting."
      Zha'haabron shook his head. Leteetza had once mentioned that the king had a bizarre sense of humour; apparently she was right.
      "We shall, of course, endeavour not to have the situation cause any major problems. To that end, we are in the process of establishing a… harem."
      One heavy black eyebrow rose.
      "Indeed…? And with what do you intend to stock it?"
      "Aliens incompatible with Saiya-jin and R'ren'nkh'ia-jin, initially. Others, later, should it be found that other hybrids are also subject to shizun."
      Vejiita nodded pensively.
      "A sensible idea. You'll ensure that nothing endangers the Empire, of course."
      "Of course."
      "Then I'll leave it all to you." His smirk muted. "What news?"
      Zha'haabron closed his eyes, feeling the emptiness again. The battle for Zaisan was dragging on, despite the Alliance's efforts. The Karilun Empire's military force was well-organised, ruthless, and determined: Nappa's force was holding them at bay, and the special squad were proving their worth - but the Hyoujin homeworld was so far away… Karilun could call on reinforcements at a moment's notice, while it took the Alliance days to travel there. And Radittsu was in the thick of it, directing his squad, fighting with them, using their tiny zn'hre combat force to discern the Warui-jin so they could be destroyed.
      Twenty special squad warriors had already died. Zha'haabron lived with the constant fear that his bondmate would be next.
      He swallowed and eyed the Saiya-jin-no-Ou. Of course Vejiita received the standard hourly reports from Nappa's comm's officer, but he also liked to be kept advised of the more personal side of the battle.
      "None."
      The Saiyan nodded.
      "You will let me know if anything changes."
      Zha'haabron inclined his head, then rose.
      "If there is nothing else?"
      "Nothing at present." As the zn'hre turned to leave, Vejiita spoke again, quietly. "Shall I have him return home?"
      Zha'haabron's shoulders slumped, but he did not look at the king.
      "He would not obey. To leave our allies unprotected would be dishonourable."
      Vejiita watched in silence as he walked away. There really wasn't anything more to be said.

The suite was so empty. With Ti'aasaan on Pankuzu with Zorun and the guard's sirelings, and Zha'haarak and Hijau with the hybrids on Rumput, Zha'haabron felt lonely. Not that he didn't have more than enough to keep him busy, but… He rubbed at his neck, feeling the tension across his shoulders. His entire body had been aching since Radittsu had left, unable to relax, now *aware* of the fatigue in his bondmate's body, the stress of having to be constantly, continuously alert.
He sat cross-legged on the sleeping platform and wondered why he was here. He should be with his zkai'da. He wasn't, strictly speaking, needed here, not right now: the hostlings were growing into strong, independent beings, and Gh'heegonan, 'haabron and Kobis were a strong and effective team on R'ren'nkh'ia, perfectly able to take over running the planet if he were no longer here to do so. He smiled mirthlessly to himself. Let us be honest, they already are ruling R'ren'nkh'ia… Which was as he wanted it, it left him free to be here, with his bondmate, where he belonged. They still requested his authority for any major matters, but handled day to day affairs without reference to the High King.
Radittsu was asleep right now - Zha'haabron could *feel* his exhausted, dreamless slumber, a brief respite between battles - but later, when he was awake and could spare a moment, the zn'hre would *express* his intention of joining the combat. The Saiyan would object, he knew, but he was confident he could convince his bondmate that they'd both be happier fighting together…

Lord Kurumi couldn't do enough to make sure Ti'aasaan, and Zorun, and all the hostlings, were as comfortable as was physically possible. The little zn'hre had *commented* to his bondmate that the noble Saiyan seemed to be trying to make up for his daughter's behaviour - to which Zorun had grunted agreement, privately dismayed at how old Kurumi now looked. Not that that stopped him from absolutely doting on the brats, however.
      He adored them all, even 'vaasaan, who was quite taken by the male and snuggled up to him at least once every day. Korena and Kuri ran rings around their grandfather - literally on occasion - and listened to his stories with becoming patience. All in all it was proving a very successful visit, and they had every expectation of it continuing to be so when the rest of the hostlings arrived: on hearing that Hijau and Zha'haarak and the children were on Rumput Kurumi had immediately extended the invitation to include the Captain, his bondmate, and the twin hybrids, and after a little debate Hijau had accepted. They'd all fly over to spend the last six days of their downtime on Pankuzu, then all return to Vejiitamachi together.
      But for now Ti'aasaan was simply enjoying the tranquillity of the island, taking leisurely walks by himself or with 'vaasaan along the shoreline, the peace of the place sinking into his soul.
      He realised, with a sudden and unexpected lightening of heart, that he was happy. Happy with himself, his life, and blissfully happy with his bondmate. Quite when that had happened he couldn't say - most likely it had simply, slowly, grown, unnoticed in the scurry of life in the family - but at last he felt he was home.
      In the golden light of the sunsset, the slow waves shirring over pale sand, he'd asked Zorun to claim him, and the Saiyan, *feeling* the rightness of it, had taken him, the bite as gentle as he could make it, laving the loving wound then lifting his zn'hre into his arms to make love in the soft evening air…