THE SAIYAN EMPIRE

CHAPTER SEVEN: Accepting Circumstances

"He'll likely want you to stay outside." Kijah smirked to Chatsu as they reached Shinto's quarters.

Chatsu shrugged. "No big deal." He stepped behind her though, just so that Shinto would get a glimpse of him as he opened the door.

Kijah knocked "Shin, its me. "

A scowling face appeared as the door opened. "What?"

She grinned as he saw Chatsu and his face went through a few twists and turns of anger. "I heard that you messaged me, so I figured why not walk? Its good exercise." Her grin dropped to a smirk as he snorted.

"Fine. Come in. I've got a message from Dad." He glared to Chatsu. "He can wait outside."

Kijah nodded with a small smile and turned to wink at Chatsu, who stepped beside the door and folded his arms, waiting for her to come back out.

She stepped in and looked around. The child was still as messy as he used to be. Kijah looked her brother over before speaking "Ok, why's your tail in a knot?"

Shinto turned to face her, his fluffed tail around his waist. "First, what's with you and that hybrid?"

Kijah shrugged "He's a friend. I thought I came here about dad?"

Shinto bared his teeth, but looked down so as not to direct the challenge to his sister. " If he's just a friend, then why did he stay in your quarters last night? "

Kijah sighed and rolled her eyes. "Shin, just keep your nose out of my business. Now what did Dad want? Or would you like me to message him myself?" Kijah's eyes flashed with a bit of anger as her patience slowly drained dry.

Shinto sighed, giving up. If she messaged him, he'd likely get angry and who else to blame but him? "He wants us to visit within four solar periods and bring....mates"

Kiajh raised a brow "Mates? How does he expect-"

"Potential mates." Shinto corrected himself with a sigh.

"Oh." Kijah said, looking around in thought. "Fine. Anything else?"

Shinto sneered and shook his head.

"Right. I'll be off. Good day, dear brother." She turned and walked out, leaving her own airy nature in her wake.

Shinto decided maybe he should get to training early today

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'll see ya tonight then I guess?" He asked.

"Yeah. I have duty until the sun sets, and then I'm free for a session." Her brows lifted as she spoke to him.

"Ok! Definitely tonight then." Kakarott grinned and walked out. His tail showed his nature as it swayed around in all different directions.

Liena shut the door and sat down heavily behind it. "Now what the hell was that all about?"

They had dressed and began talking about duties and when he'd have time to train her. Somehow it seemed like the privious night was forgotten. Or at least he had lost all memory of it.

Liena sighed. Maybe he was just a bit too shy to talk about it. In that case, she had little room to talk.

She stood and walked to her steam room, shifting through the cases that held armor and warm up clothes. She pulled out her work armor and slipped it on over her body-suit.

Liena sighed as she settled on her bed. That scent was still in the air, the bed itself was still disheveled. Liena spotted the string she'd used to tie her hair back and picked it up. She looked at it in thought, although she wasn't able to concentrate on just one thought.

"What exactly is bonding? " she wondered to herself.

Then, all at once, her thoughts molded back into their normal trail. She thought rationally as she always did, and figured she could easily ask and find out information about bonding., and the one who knew it better than most was Kijah.

Regardless, she had a lot to tell Kijah.

Liena pulled her hair back and slipped on her boots and wrist weights. She was out the door a few seconds after that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kakarott's mind swirled. He'd always had trouble with putting his thoughts in check, but this was horrible. He definately remembered the night before. He still had her scent on him, and that feeling that he couldn't bring himself to assess.

"What is going on with me?" he asked himself as he looked in the reflective surface of his armor shelf. "No matter now. I have to get to work." He spoke to himself, resigning his mind to focus elsewhere.

Kakarott may not have been very bright but when it came to training or battle, he aced the subject with flying colors.

His mindset completely changed as he slipped on his armor.

He'd need to go through warrior files today and make sure everyone's skills had been assessed for the upcoming tournament. He knew they'd forget their predjudices of him for the time being and ask to be trained.

To be ranked high in any of the tournament seasons was a definite title. Whether it was a Palace worker or a Field worker, a high ranking blanketed a sense of pride over the entire family.

Kakarott stepped out of his quarters quickly, so quickly that he almost ran over Kijah and Chatsu on their way back from Shinto's quarters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hello there Ka-san!" Chatsu saluted with a grin.

Kijah waved a greeting also "In a hurry there?" she smirked.

"Ah, you know me. I've got work to do." he replied, a hand scratching the back of his head habitually.

"Indeed. So how was you're evening?" Kijah raised a wary, yet smug brow.

Kakarott fought a blush, and failed. "It was fine. I mean... nice night off. You know. Heh. Well, gotta go!" He ran off before anyone could reply.

Kijah's face twisted a bit. "I'll have to talk to Li."

Chatsu smirked, holding back a reply as a few other guards passed. Kijah eyed them also as she recognised them, her tail bristling.

"Ooh look who it is! That lucky bitch who happened to jump in front of Dorzan's light beam attack." one of them said very softly. He kept it on a level that she could hear, eyes straining to make sure he saw her anger.

Kijah craned her neck to shoot a wicked glare at them, and they took the challenge.

"You got a problem, bitch?" One with green based hair turned, his tail fluffing as his eyes flashed with anger. It was obvious he'd been waiting for a change to release pent up rage on someone.

Kijah wheeled and opened her mouth, but cut off as she saw Chatsu out of the corner of her eye. She looked to see him glaring worse than she'd ever achieved, those light eyes were now hard with warning, and his hair and tail bristled to its full extent. A low growl slowly emitted from his throat as he spoke.

"Her name is Kijah and her rank is higher than yours. Watch how you speak to higher authority." He stood rock still, his cold eyes producing a perverbial chill in the hall they all stood in.

Kijah was speechless to a point where she found herself scraping for a reply of her own. Before she could form one though, she heard another familiar voice.

"He's right. And anyway I wouldn't want to mess with any of us. Kijah knew Dorzan was going to fire that blast and I have a feeling you did also. Treason boys, its a death wish." Kijah recognised Liena's voice from behind.

They practically ran. Shooting one more wicked glare at Kijah, only to be retaliated by Chatsu's growl. Kijah looked back at Liena as she stepped up to her with a smirk. "That was fun!"

Kijah smirked back. "Thanks Li."

Liena nodded as they both turned to look at Chatsu

He turned to look at them also as his tail calmed down and his eyes softened again. "What?" He asked.

Kijah had to fight a laugh. "Getting a little protective hmm?"

Chatsu looked away again, doing his best to hide the color on his cheekbones. "I should get to work... but I have to get my armor." he hesitated before continueing. "So I'll get that." He waved without eye contact. "See ya Kij, bye Liena"

He ran off almost as quickly as Kakarott had.

Kijah watched him go questioningly. "I wonder whats wrong." Then she snapped out of it. "Who cares. Anyway," She looked to Liena and started walking "Whats up?"

Liena looked to her friend, speculating. Kijah always hid her feelings, and she was positive that there was much more going on under that cool demeanor than what was on the surface. She was in a hurry though, and promised to pick at her later. Now, she focused on herself for the moment.

"What exactly is this bonding all about?" Liena looked down a bit as Kijah caught on to her little plight.

Kijah decided she owed her one and didn't pry. "It's pretty simple, from what I know. It starts when one gets the other's scent. Then vice versa, so both are at least interested. Then either before or after, usually after mating, the two come to realize their own inseparability. Slowly. But the bond is definately there. Eventually you'll be able to read thoughts and in extreme cases, see through their eyes and feel their pain." She diverted her eyes to Liena, who was obviously thinking

Kijah found herself thinking about her own speech. They both walked silently to Kijah's quarters and then began talking again on the way to their duties.

Maybe this bonding thing wasn't as simple as they'd thought. Or maybe it was hitting them all at once, as if neither of them had ever thought 'it would happen to them'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bulma opened one eye, then closed it again quickly. DAMN! He was still looking at her. She had made it a challenge to catch the man asleep.

"You can wake up now. Duties are starting for the workers, and you seem to have some "things" to finish?" He drawled softly

Bulma sneered a bit and kept her eyes closed.

"Suit yourself." He said simply and slid out of bed.

She scowled and opened her eyes again as she sat up. Vegeta was already putting on his black onyx lined armor, and matching cape. She knew he'd just train in them and end up using up another set.

Vegeta, (now fully armored) turned to look her over. That did it again. She stifled a blush and scowled. "What?"

He shook his head, stared for a second longer and then raised a finger. "I'll be back in one hour to check on you." She opened her mouth to ask, but he dematerialized and was gone.

Bulma sat there and wondered. " Check on me? What did they feed us last night?" She got up and took a quick steam bath. Regardless of his strange behavior, he had been right. She did have a few things to finish today before she could move on to her next project.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the next few days, Kijah and Liena trained hard, Chatsu got used to his new job, and Kakarott began accepting training requests for potential tournament entries. Shinto awaited the begrudged visit that was coming, and Bulma became more and more irritated by Vegeta's odd behavior.

Soon, Kijah's training was complete, and the day had arrived conveniently that she was to go and visit her father. Even more convenient was the call from the queen she got, around an hour before she was to leave for her father's. It was something she couldn't ignore, since her job was one of the highest ranked on the planet. Naturally, her parents had both understood. Her brother on the other hand....

"Ok now that is the worst flat out lie I have ever heard, Kijah" Shinto glared into the message screen.

"Actually it isn't. I've talked to dad and he said it was alright." She smirked. This day had turned out much better than she'd thought.

Shinto snorted. "Whatever." The screen went blank as he stood and stormed out to the launch facility.

Shinto was still glaring from underneath blue based bangs when he reached the small dome structure that held the transport vehicles. His eyes blazed with anger, focuing only on the task ahead of him.

"Aww, I though you'd be happy to see your dad. Him being an off world soldier and all. " A female voice drawled.

"Shush Ral. We have to go." He said to the famale as they both stepped into the oblong pod. Somehow he'd always managed to keep his temper around her, at least keep it from exploding as it had a tendency to do.

"Where's Kijah?" Raleiko said curiously as she clicked a few buttons, causing the pod to hum as the engine started up.

"Shes not coming. Just don't ask. Now lets go over you're lines-" he ordered, staring as the sky flew past them.

Ral and Shinto practiced proper 'manners' as they approached the south west continent. As they stepped into the dry, hot climate, Raleiko and Shinto were both glad to have shorter hair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The beam flew past him as he dodged, but it grazed his light hair, sending a few thick strands onto the floor. "Ahhh nice shot. Bullseye." He teased in a raspy voice.

Chatsu smirked, held his stance and winked.

The male bared his teeth just in time to be hit from behind by the same directed blast. This sent more than hair everywhere.

Chatsu bowed to the remains of his opponent. "Never be to pompus, boys. This one thought less of me than he should have. That's another lesson. Never underestimate an enemy, as they could have worthwhile battle plans."

He sneered and turned to his students, all standing at attention. Many tried to control their tails, exited by death alone.

Chatsu shook his head a bit. "Alright, go ahead and spar. Warriors stand down!"

They did so happily. He walked to a nearby door guard and stood there watching for a minute, yelling corrections and such.

He ignored the odd feeling he'd had since Kijah completed her training. He himself hadn't taught her, but he had been able to watch her at least. Now Chatsu was beginning to realize that he was her mate, and being away from her was a pain in its own.

He clicked out of his thoughts and turned his attention to the guard standing at attention next to him "Get that would you?" he said and shifted his head to the pile of what used to be a Saiyan on the floor.

The guard nodded and proceeded to do so.

Chatsu liked his new job.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dodge, block, blow, dodge....

Liena concentrated on her moves as they sparred. She found it hard as her thoughs wandered. Oddly, they had been doing that in the past few days. Kakarott and herself hadn't shared but a few words and Liena wondered if she'd had any affect on him at all.

At the same time, he was wondering the exact thing. The two were strangely 'shy' for Saiyans, and hadn't said more than two words about the evening a few nights ago. Frankly, Liena felt a sense of uneasiness. Whether it was Kakarott's or partly hers, she had no idea.

"Damn!" She yelled as he got her in the ribs. She jumped back a few feet and returned to her stance, panting, but holding her own.

Kakarott stopped and looked at her for a second.

"What?" she asked, ready to strike.

He shook his head "You're okay, right?"

Liena sneered and shot forward, beginning the spar once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She bowed and looked up, waiting to be reprieved.

"Oh you really don't have to do that! Vegeta just thinks you'll lose respect... or something."

Kijah smirked and stood up straight, facing Bulma. The woman had no sense of tradition, or heirarchy... but she was kind.

Bulma stood and paced around the room. Checking on things on her desk and glancing out the huge clear window. She thought of how to put this directly, and turned to Kijah.

Then she noticed the way she was staring at her.

Bulma's brows drew down a bit. "That is the look! Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kijah started a bit before she realized that Bulma knew she knew. Kijah had felt it the minute she'd layed eyes on Bulma.

"I'm sorry, my Queen?" she lied.

Bulma snorted and folded her arms. Uh oh.

Kijah looked down. "Alright. But if the King hasn't told you-"

"The king should have told me. You are one of my few guards, and the only female. The reason I called you in here was because I believed I could trust and relate to you. Please Kijah, tell me the truth."

Kijah gaped. She was more honored than she had ever been in her entire life. The Queen of Vegetasei trusted and related to her. There was only one thing she could do to such a statement. " I'm sorry my Queen. It just came to me as I saw you...that.. " How could she say this? She looked into the Queens eyes, a daring measure. "You carry the heir, my Queen."

Bulma stood unscathed for a second, then her arms dropped. Uh oh.

"I carry the...you mean-" the blue haired woman paced, turned, and faced Kijah again. " I- I'm pregnant?" she began to look around wildly as if she'd lost something.

Kijah could barely understand the mixed languages she was speaking "I'm sorry my Queen?"

"Oh! " Bulma turned to Kijah as she made the frustrated sound. "You mean I am with child?" She said clearly, and Kijah nodded to this. She slowly lost a bit of color in her face, and Kijah saw this as the 'moment before the drop.' She'd seen opponents faint or lose conciousness and quickly darted to get the Queen's chair.

Bulma took the offereing graciously.

"How- I mean you're Saiyan, but how did you know? How can you tell just by looking at me?" Bulma questioned, her blue eyes gazing half heartedly at Kijah.

She remained at perfect attention as she spoke "It is in your aura. Your smell, the way you- " Kijah sneered in thought, and Bulma held up a hand and nodded.

"I see. So I cannot go out in public without the entire Palace finding out?" She looked a bit more concerned.

Kijah nodded solemnly. "At least most of them, your highness."

Kijah almost jumped as the Queen's hand rested on her arm. She looked forward blankly as she spat out her thoughts. "You'll need to keep it a secret, right? Please. I'll not go out for a while, the tournaments are coming up and I don't want to cause such a ruckus."

Kijah smirked at that. The woman was quite intelligent. She nodded "It is safe with me, my Queen."

Bulma looked to her. "Oh, call me Bulma. You'll likely be spending too much time with me these next nine months."

Kijah quirked her brows "Is it not six, my Queen?"

Bulma leaned back in the chair and dropped both hands in her lap, cursing in her own language.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vegeta sighed. He had no formidable opponents. The ones he did spar either ended up dead, or just were afraid to face him directly.

Maybe the birth of his heir would make his life a bit more.... interesting. He was sure the child would be as strong as, or even stronger than himself. That alone was good enough to hold him over.

Then it struck him. He had yet to tell his mate that she was carrying the heir to Vegetasei.

He sighed, silently wishing he wouldn't have that task.

Vegeta stood and began to make his way back to his quarters, noting to mention his lack of competition to his mate. She always had some little invention in mind. He walked down the cooridors, ignoring guards who dropped to their feet as he passed.

Silently, he also wondered what this child of his would look like; if striking blue eyes like Bulma's were carried through genes.

"Vegeta, focus on training. These people need to be impressed." he said in his thoughts. The tournament for this season was coming up soon, and a few off world Kings, Presidents... whatever. "Important beings" would be attending.

It was Vegeta's goal to scare the wits out of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shinto picked at the loose shirt he had on. This entire visit had been utterly pointless, and caused him no more than a missed day of training.

"I expect you'll both be in the tournament then?" Rotek said to both Shinto and Raleiko. They nodded respectfully.

"At least they're letting our kids in." Shinto's mother's raspy voice came from another section of their dwelling.

"Oi, Kai, you can't expect to be in every tournament in you're life." Rotek sneered in her direction. Obviously both children had inherited his softer voice.

There was a snort from her direction, and Rotek turned back to the two. "Well then, you must be off to train." He nodded to Raleiko as she bowed to him.

"See you in the pod, Shin." she said as she exited the room.

Shinto's brows dropped as soon as the manners did. "Why did Kijah get out of this? Did she not have a mate to propose to you?" his tail lashed.

Rotek stood, rolling his eyes. He turned so that all that was seen of him was the massive amount of hair that ran down to his waist. "She did indeed, brat. You really must stop meddling in your sister's business. If I were you, I'd save that anger for the battle field."

Shinto snorted. "I don't like that Chatsu guy."

Rotek smirked, keeping his back to his son. "That 'Chatsu guy' is a high ranked warrior, and I've heard he is showing more than adequate skills at his new job. I'm glad Kijah has taken interest in him. Now.." he turned and glared to Shinto. "Please be on your way. Your mother and I have business to attend to. The palace isn't the only busy place on the planet."

Shinto sneered and stood, bowing half heartedly to his father, and walked to the exit. "I'll show her and her 'mate' at that tournament." he growled, tail lashing all the way to the pod.

Rotek sighed and shook his head, then turned as his mate walked into the room. "You know he gets that temper from you. " she smirked.

He snorted. "Yeah, well lets just hope his fighting skills are inherited also. I'd like one of our brats to make it to the finals."

She waved a hand in the air "Dont worry about it. They've got renound power. They're palace guards! BOTH of them! Now lets go, we've got a trade meeting"

He groaned and followed her out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ugh.." Liena thought as she stood at attention outside her post. This new armor Kakarott had given her was heavier than the last. He'd told her that the highest royal guards wear heavy armor, and that fighting or training under such weight would increase power.

Liena could feel that 'power' in her straining muscles.

She sighed. These past few days had been hard, and she knew that Kakarott was the reason.

They had just about ignored each other, and it was actually hurting her. She had these feeling she couldn't explain and it was as if she were in heat, but it was not the season for that.

She sneered and kept a wary eye out as people passed by the door she guarded.

This would be a long day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kijah flopped onto her bed.

She'd spent the day trying to convince the Queen to keep the hier in a gestation tank. She'd have nothing to do with it. Kijah was utterly relieved when Vegeta showed up and ordered her out without a sideways glance.

She turned onto her back and pulled off the armor top. Weighted training or not, she was tired.

Kijah was just about asleep when here stomach did a flip, and she sat up immediately, taking a defence stance.

"Hellfire, use the damned door, Chatsu!"

His hands fought not to cover his ears. He shrugged "It was quicker this way, and I knew you'd be sleeping."

Kijah snorted and leaned back on the bed, folding her arms. She'd been much more uneasy around him lately. Those eyes had some odd effect on her. "So whats going on?"

He stepped closer to the bed and sat on the edge "Nothing. I mean, I just wanted to see how... your first day of work went?" he seemed ecstatic at his own idea.

"It was fine. Now, why are you really here?" She dared to look straight into his eyes, as if trying to prove something to herself.

He sighed and diverted his own look. "Fine. I'll say it and get it overwith. I can't get my mind off of you, damnit. I don't know why, but when I'm not with you or at least cant sense or see you, I feel.. empty or something. Kind of like a warrior who's lost his fellow guard. " He sneered and shook his head, thinking of how dumb that sounded.

Kijah looked at him, realizing for herself that it was true, and there was no way around it. She'd felt the exact same things, and actually understood what he was saying completely. They were bonded.

He looked up after the long silence. "Kij?"

She shook her head quickly. "Well its simple. I cant believe you haven't figured it out." She pulled the usual scowl over her feelings. "We're bonded. Stuck together for life, genius."

He smirked to the floor, and then looked at her.

"What?" She said, knowing what he was thinking nonetheless.

He shrugged and smiled. It looked odd on a Saiyan warrior's face. "'Stuck together'. Thats just something you'd say."

Kijah shrugged.

She somehow yearned for this moment to be over but knew once he left, she'd want him right back there with her.

Chatsu stood slowly. "Well I'm glad we cleared it up. I have to get back to those greenie troops. Luckily I've only had to kill four to get them to understand that I actually AM worth being their trainer."

Kijah smirked. She could tell he loved his new job. And actually felt herself calm down inwardly as she though about both of their high occupations. Her family was upgraded, and any children would live prosperously in the Palace.

"Right. So-" Kijah lowered her brows. This 'connection' to him was still a bit awkward "You'll be back later." Her pride forced her to direct it as a statement rather than a question.

Chatsu grinned. "Of course!" He touched his temple with two fingers. "Bye, Ki-chan!"

She growled at his exit. "I hate being called that!"

Chatsu smirked all the way back to his arena.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was just about asleep when she felt a familiar ki and woke up fully, sitting up. "Kakarott, why are you here?" She looked at him through the darkness. Her keen eyesight made it easy to see every detail. He was simply dressed in his warm up outfit, as if he'd actually planned to come here.

He shrugged. "I just- Well, I'm bored, and... my heat! Its not working. So its a bit cold in my quarters. Mind if I stay here?" He knew it sounded stupid, but thay excuse was better and easier than saying the truth.

Liena could read his lie easily, as not much heat was being used this season anyway. She moved over nonetheless, knowing the feeling she'd get deep down if she refused.

Kakarott obliged, carful not to invade 'her space'. It took awhile. In fact it was only upon waking up in the middle of the night that Liena finally saw him sleeping comfortably at her side.

Needless to say she didn't make a move to wake him up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many things actually took place that evening that would determine the way these warriors lived.

Chatsu began staying with Kijah, and she actually did not object.

Kakarott did the same with Liena, although it took her a second to realize why he insisted on staying with her. He would never tell her so but Kakarott had actually taken Chatsu's advice, and accepted the bond that he had with Liena.

Vegeta and Bulma discussed the future of the heir, and Bulma convinced Vegeta that a gestation tank was not needed and likely wouldn't be. He only seemed to care about his future child's power level, and Bulma had a feeling that he would not be dissapointed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE END...... for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What will happen to our warrior's in the future?

Will Shinto finally get over his hate for Chatsu, or will the tournament prove to be his chance to "show his true strength"?

Who will win the tounament? Our strongest Palace guards, or a suprize visitor?

Will Bulma's pregnancy go smoothly, or will there be problems due to her human genes?

And finally, what would the Saiyan Empire be without enemies? How will Vegeta face the strongest being he's ever met?

~~~ All these questions, and more will be answered in Part Two of "The Saiyan Empire" ~~~