Lament
"Why is mama so unhappy?"
Setela paused, his toes in the warm water at the beach's edge, watching the slow waves wash over his feet. Beside him his twin sighed and looped his tail around his brother's skinny waist.
"Don't know. Maybe because papa's so far away?"
Setela nodded.
"I guess so... Will he come home soon?"
Six-year-old Hijau hoped so with all his heart. Mama was... irritable when papa was away, and when she was irritable she vented her anger and frustration on the twins - more specifically, on Hijau. His ribs still ached from the beating she'd delivered two days ago. But his brother was watching him expectantly, waiting for an answer. He wrapped his arms around Setela's shoulders and hugged him hard.
"I'm sure he will." He flinched at his twin's answering hug, then pulled away, forcing himself to smile, before Setela could ask him what was wrong. "I'm hungry. Shall we catch some dinner?"
Setela let out a small cheer, pulled away from his brother and raced down the beach towards the low rock and the tidal pool that had never yet failed them. Unlike their mother...
Half an hour later, munching on a handful of young blackfin, Hijau watched as his brother lay on his back, belly full for once and content just to lie in the sun, in peace, away from mama's shrill, nagging voice, his dark green eyes slowly drifting closed.
Hijau rubbed gingerly at his ribs, wincing. He knew why his mother always attacked him, rather than Setela: it was because he hardly ever bruised, no matter how hard he was hit. His twin, on the other hand, bruised very easily, and Kelichi did not want to start tongues wagging. But Hijau preferred it that way, anyway. He loved his sweet-natured, sunny-tempered brother and would do anything to protect him.
But sometimes he wished he could escape from the pain.
Papa spent a lot of time away from home. But he had a very important job as one of King Vejiita's Elite Guard, and had to stay in the capital on the mainland away to the north. Mama wanted to go with him. The last time he'd come home to spend his down-time with his family she'd complained all the time about how bored she was, out here on the island, how she wanted to mix with other females of her status, wanted all the delights a big city could offer. And, she'd growled in an undertone that Hijau wasn't supposed to hear, she'd soon put a stop to her mate's whoring and drinking - one way or another...
Limau had laughed at her - which had enraged her even further. Almost before he'd boarded the shuttle back to Vejiitamachi she'd rounded on Hijau and beaten him until her hands - and his body - were bleeding. He'd snuck out of the house much later that night and limped his way down to the pool, finally allowing himself the luxury of tears.
He didn't dare cry in the house. Too many people might hear.
He'd lowered himself gingerly into the water, biting his lip as the salt stung the cuts and grazes on his skinny little body - then buried his face in his hands and sobbed.
There had to be something better than this, surely. The other brats on the island seemed to be happy - as far as he could tell, anyway: mama thought the family was too high-ranking to mix with their neighbours. Hijau didn't understand what that meant: he only knew that mama punished him if he ever talked to the other children. Not that he tried very often, anyway - his tentative overtures of friendship had resulted in him being kicked and punched and jeered at, and he'd soon given up. But he was very lonely. Life would have been unbearable without his brother.
He rubbed his eyes and shivered - there was a cool wind blowing off the sea, and the water in the pool was cold. Time to get back...
Setela's hand on his leg roused him from the painful memories. The dark green eyes were gazing at him.
"Hi-kun, will we be all right?"
For a moment Hijau was tempted to tell his twin that he simply didn't know, that right now everything looked so bleak he couldn't think any further than the next couple of hours, but Setela's expression was so trusting, so anxious, he just couldn't. There were times - and they came more and more frequently these days - that he felt like Setela's older brother rather than his twin.
He smiled.
"Of course we will. I'll look after you."
...but who will look after you?...
He pulled himself upright and held out a hand to his brother.
"We'd better go back. Mama will be wondering where we are."
And that usually meant trouble. But Kelichi seemed to be in an unusually gracious mood today. As the children tried to sneak quietly into the house she called out to them from what she called the 'reception room', and they were reluctantly forced to enter.
The reason for mama's good temper was obvious: another Saiyan female was with her, one wearing sleek white robes, and even jewellery. Kelichi beckoned her sons to stand in front of her, a hand on the shoulder of each.
"My, what a handsome pair!"
The strange female patted them both on the head, ruffling their flame-coloured manes, then smirked at Kelichi.
"I assume Limau-sama will have them join the military?"
Kelichi's smile had dimmed a little.
"That's the plan, certainly."
"Well, it will be much easier with his promotion, of course."
There was a startled silence, and Hijau watched mama closely. She obviously wanted to ask the other female something, but was afraid of looking foolish. Finally she sighed, mouth making a small moue of irritation.
"I'm a little out of touch. Limau-san was posted to the far north and hasn't had the chance to contact me for nearly twenty days."
"Ah, I see." The other nodded sagely. "And his promotion only came through five days ago. My, it's even possible that he hasn't heard about it yet!" She grinned, eyes slitted, the faintest hint of malice tingeing her voice. "Perhaps I should stop there, let him tell you himself once he's been informed."
Kelichi forced herself to smile.
"I'm sure he won't mind."
The other was silent for a moment, regarding her hostess calculatingly. Then she nodded.
"Very well. His Majesty has decreed that Limau-sama is to join his Council. It's a very important post."
Kelichi's slanted eyes had widened, her lips parting slightly.
"Indeed it is! I suppose that will mean he'll need to stay in the capital full-time?"
"I expect so."
"And are the mates of Council members also expected to move to the capital?"
"Oh no, that's not at all necessary. Although some do, of course. Why, would you like to?"
Kelichi nodded, and the other smirked.
"Well, I can understand that. Life here must be so tiresome for you. You'd best have a word with your mate."
"Oh, I shall..."
And mama was in a good mood after that - until papa came home for a couple of days' down-time thirteen days later...
Hijau and Setela had cowered in their room, not wanting to listen to the screaming but unable to shut it out.
"I can smell the bitch all over you, you bastard! Who was it? Some cheap slut? How much did she charge? Or was she so desperate she paid you to fuck her?"
There was the sound of a slap, a second's silence, then an outraged shriek as Kelichi flung herself at her mate.
Setela trembled in his brother's arms as the sound of smashing furniture echoed down the hall.
"H... Hi-kun?"
Hijau held his twin closer, eyes screwed shut, heart racing, not knowing what to do.
The fight didn't last long - Kelichi was weak compared to her mate, and soon overcome. The twins listened to their father's low voice telling her he wasn't staying a moment longer with such an akuma, and if she thought he was taking her to Vejiitamachi with him she could think again. As the main door slammed shut, Kelichi gave one scream of absolute fury - and then they heard her heavy tread coming towards their room.
"Hi-kun? What should we do...?" Setela had gripped his brother's mane tightly in his fear, tears tracking down his face. Hijau pushed him in the direction of their bathroom, ignoring the pain in his scalp as the terrified child refused to let go of his hair.
"Go! Lock the door."
"But... what about you?"
"I'm used to her!" Hijau hissed, shoving Setela away from him. As the snarling Kelichi yanked at the door Setela finally scurried to the inner room - leaving his brother to face their mother alone.
The next few minutes remained a blur ever after - perhaps fortunately, given how badly Hijau was hurt. He remembered being slammed from wall to wall, mama holding him by one thin arm until it broke in several places. He vaguely remembered her kicking him in the ribs, over and over again, dimly conscious of them snapping. But when she grabbed his tail and began to break the bones, one by one - that's when he lost consciousness, his throat raw from screaming.
He came to moments later, not quite believing it was possible to hurt so much and still be alive. Then he struggled to his knees, ignoring the pain in a futile attempt to rise.
Setela was standing between him and their mother, shaking like a leaf in a storm but nevertheless trying to shield his brother.
Kelichi's stared, her face a study in disbelief. Then she sneered, slowly.
"You stupid brat. You want some too?"
"L... leave him a... alone... pl..."
Hijau cried out as his brother hit the wall and slid down to the floor, white with shock and fear and sudden pain - then staggered back up to his feet and resumed his position in front of his twin.
"You hurt him... Please, mama, don't hurt him..."
He slammed into the wall a second time: Hijau heard the sound of bone breaking. Setela whimpered and dragged himself to his feet, one hand cradling a broken collarbone, the other arm hanging limply, the shoulder dislocated.
*No, Set-kun! She's too strong! Run. Get help!*
Setela glanced at his twin, expression suddenly decades older than his few physical years.
*There's no one to help us, Hi-kun. Papa doesn't care. No-one cares. And I don't want you hurt any more...*
He limped to face their mother, staring up into her contorted, livid face. His voice was clear, pain ignored.
"I hate you. You aren't a mama, you're... you're a monster. You drove papa away. And you hurt Hi-kun."
With a shriek of insane rage, Kelichi grabbed the child, raised him into the air, then slammed him to the ground.
The sound of his neck snapping was plainly audible.
For a few seconds there was silence. Then Kelichi dropped to her knees beside Setela's body, eyes huge, hands to her mouth. Hijau could only just hear her whispered, "oh gods - what have I done?"
Then papa came back.
Hijau found out later that he'd taken off and headed for the mainland in a fit of sheer fury, but after a few minutes had calmed a little and realised that running away wasn't going to solve anything. He needed to talk with his mate - even if the idea was abhorrent. He'd claimed her and she'd borne his sons - he ought to make some sort of effort to smooth things out.
So he'd reversed his course - and arrived just a minute too late...
"How often?"
Collee was trembling.
"When... whenever she's angry, sir."
"And you did nothing?!"
The old housekeeper dropped to her knees.
"Sir, what could I do?"
"You could have told me, for a start!"
"But sir, we thought you knew..."
Limau stared at the three servants disbelievingly. They really believed he'd sanction the abuse of his own children?
He closed his eyes in grief as realisation sank in. It really wasn't that surprising. He was never there. He'd shown very little interest in his sons. He'd hardly been any kind of proper father, had he?
He knelt for a moment beside Setela's thin little body, stroking the thick, bloodstained mane.
*I'm sorry, little cub. So sorry...*
He glanced back up at the terrified servants.
"Prepare him for the Farewell. I must take care of the living before I can honour the dead." He looked quickly at Hijau, lying semi-conscious and suffering nearby, and laid a hand very gently on his son's head.
"Be brave, brat. I'll get you help soon. But first..."
He rose and glowered at his mate, cowering on the floor.
"You are dead meat, fit only for carrion beasts. Let the household witness your crimes - and my punishment." He grinned mirthlessly. "At least my vengeance will be swift."
And before she could even try to object, he dragged her upright, broke her neck and dropped her carcass to the ground - immediately turning to Hijau and gathering him into strong arms. The child tried hard to be silent, but it hurt too much: he whimpered as broken bones grated together and scraped against flesh and muscle. Limau nuzzled his mane gently, his voice a soothing murmur.
"I know, little one, I know. I'm sorry. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
He regarded the servants, now bestirring themselves to carry out his orders.
"Is there a medic on the island?"
Collee cleared her throat nervously and shook her head.
"No sir. The nearest is on Pankuzu."
I might as well just fly him straight to Vejiitamachi, the officer thought to himself. He nodded.
"Very well. I will return for the Farewell in five days time. As to that - " he nudged Kelichi's body with a booted foot, " - take it into the forest and leave it to the scavengers. I want no trace of it left in the house when I return."
Hijau drifted awake in a strange place, warm, richly scented, dimly lit, unfamiliar. Nose wrinkling, he sniffed at the air - papa's scent was there, but that was the only one he recognised. Alarmed, he tried to sit up, collapsing back with a gasped cry. Every part of him hurt...
"You all right?"
His eyes snapped open to see another Saiyan youngster, a couple of years or so older than him, sitting crossed-legged beside him on the bed in which he lay. The stranger scowled.
"Can you speak or did your tongue get broken too?"
"I can speak." Hijau rasped. The other nodded.
"How you feeling?"
"Hurts."
"Apart from that."
Hijau stared for a moment at the youngster, absently taking in the long, long, thick mane of black hair - then suddenly remembered what had happened. He bit his lip to stop himself crying: the other briefly touched his unbroken arm.
"S'all right to cry. Long as you don't let anyone else see. Or tell anyone I said so."
Hijau turned his face away and wept, silently, fiercely, for his dead twin.
Radittsu - as he later discovered his companion was called - sat beside him as he grieved, offering a strange, silent, awkward but very welcome sort of compassion that Hijau would never forget.
(In later years he asked his fellow Guardsman why he'd been so... comforting, so gentle: Radittsu had shrugged his shoulders and smirked.
"No idea. Just seemed like you needed it."
Hijau grinned and nodded, then kissed him, tail wrapping around his waist.
"I did. Thanks."
Radittsu yanked him close, large strong hands buried in flame-bright hair as he leaned down to nip at the golden-tanned throat.
*Don't mention it...*)
An hour or so later Limau arrived, accompanied by a medic. He bowed his head slightly to Radittsu and smiled at his son.
"Feeling better?"
Hijau nodded, hesitantly, and Limau very carefully stroked his mane.
"Good. The medics say there's no internal injuries" - though that's not for want of trying! he thought angrily to himself - "and you should be up and about again in four days or so."
Hijau smiled weakly, then gathered his courage.
"Papa, what will happen then?"
Limau inclined his head.
"You'll be staying here with me of course."
Which sounded good, but -
"But papa, you have important things to do..."
Limau nodded.
"And you'll be joining the infant training group..." he caught himself as Radittsu glared at him, "... your pardon, I mean the young warrior training group."
Hijau glanced enquiringly at Radittsu, who smirked.
"You'll like it. We don't just fight, there's other things as well. Like ki-control. Bukuujutsu. Different combat styles. And," he added disparagingly, gaze sweeping over Hijau's skinny body silhouetted by the thin sheet, a marked contrast to his own solid, chunky, already muscular frame, "we get to eat as much as we want."
Hijau met his father's eyes, his own apprehensive.
"And you'll be here?"
Limau stroked the child's mane reassuringly.
"Yes, I'll be here. On duty most of the time - but not far away."
Hijau glanced at Radittsu. The young warrior grinned.
"We have fun, too..."
Hijau settled back, slowly relaxing, and smiled tremulously at his father.
"I think... I think I like it here..."
© 2002 April 6th Joules Taylor
Devil, evil spirit, fiend....
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