Quest
Sequel to Maintaining
By Pixelgoddess

Summary: Maintaining sequel. Frieza has caused some incredible issues for the Saiyans to overcome, but they are trying. What will it take for them to finally become mates? Yaoi, Yuri. Goku x Vegeta, Chichi x Rezu (OC)
Disclaimer: If I owned it, don't you think there would have been more decent girls to write about?
Warnings: *snickers* Whaddya got? Sex. Rape and it's aftermath. Violence. Bad words. Gay marriage. Krillin-bashing. Dyke Chichi. Straight Gohan. Confused Dende. Smart-ass Piccolo. I think that covers it - for now.
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Chapter 14 - Healed

Vegeta opened his eyes to see an elderly Namek, his healer Iyasu, smiling at him.

"Well done."

That experience had not been what he had anticipated. He had expected to be horrified and traumatized the entire time - instead he felt almost peaceful as a result. "I'm cured."

"Yes. It took several days, but you have successfully freed yourself from the ice-jin's control."

Vegeta propped himself up and looked around. He became concerned when he realized Kakorr's scent was not strong here. He had half expected to wake with his lover at his side. "Where is Kakorr?"

"Your companion is with the children, nearby. Sukui just recently completed healing him."

"Healing?" he interrupted, "What happened? Why would he need-?" He sat bolt upright, searching out his ki, prepared to go to Kakorr.

"Calm yourself," Iyasu said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Sukui was removing the last traces of control placed by the Kais. They will not be able to use him without his knowledge again.

"He wanted to stay with you, but you had not finished yet. You were at a critical stage, and I felt his presence would interfere since he was hovering over you, getting in my way. I made him stop and sit down - but that was worse. He was practically twitching with inactivity - so I ordered him outside." The old man chuckled. "The children are trying unsuccessfully to wear him out."

Vegeta relaxed and smiled. He was worried over nothing; the Nameks had done nothing but help them. He was playing - when he concentrated he could feel Kakorr's happiness and hear the brats' laughter. "I'm surprised you were able to make him leave."

"I couldn't. Muri sent the children in to drag him out. He was defenseless against the youngsters."

"You've discovered his weakness," Vegeta smirked. He felt...good. A little worn out, but good.

"Yours too, I suspect. Here," the old man smiled as he handed him a bowl of broth that smelled of strong herbs, "Drink this." Vegeta frowned at the scent but drank it, feeling better as it went down. "I noticed you did not erase any memories."

He was right - he had felt the Namek brushing against his thoughts, not intruding, just there when he needed assistance. During some of the worst moments it was as if he gathered the strands that had escaped and drew them near until Vegeta was ready for them.

"If I had I would have been lying to myself. Those...events...they are part of who I am," he said seriously.

"Excellent, excellent. I'm glad you realized that," he said smiling, rubbing his hands together. Vegeta almost grinned back at the little Namek - short, busy, little know-it-all. Iyasu took his head and turned it from side to side, studying his neck. "Good. Those bruises are gone. Now let me check your back."

Vegeta did so, but twisted his head around to see what the healer was doing. "What are you looking at?"

"Second wish - the chip and its connections to your body were totally removed." He trailed his fingers over his shoulder and down his spine with a doctor's familiarity. His hand brushed lightly over the faint scars that were all that was left of Zarbon's torture. "This has healed nicely - Dende did an excellent job. It is difficult to heal old wounds."

Vegeta tried not to pull away at a stranger's touch. He was surprised at the chip's removal - he hadn't even thought of asking for it.

"Why? It was burned out." Why waste a wish on that?

"Even though it didn't work, it was still damaging your body. We couldn't restore the height you lost because of it and the injuries you received while growing up, but we could ensure it didn't cause you any more pain."

Vegeta snorted in amusement. Years ago he would have cared about his height - he had felt like a runt around Radditz and Nappa - but not anymore. He was shorter than any Saiyan he had ever known, but now his techniques depended on his smaller stature. Besides, his opponents often underestimated him as a result.

Iyasu continued to pass his hands over his back and Vegeta was suddenly concerned.

"You're not removing my scars, are you?" he asked, worried.

"No," Iyasu answered, surprised. "I'm just checking for any unhealed injuries. Why? Did you want me to try?"

"No," he answered quickly. He had had them for so long - they were a part of him. He wouldn't recognize himself without them. And - he grinned to himself - Kakorr enjoyed them and any excuse for his lover to touch him was good.

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Vegeta stood in the doorway unnoticed, Muri at his side, watching Kakorr playing with the children. They had managed to trip his lover and were trying to tickle him, crawling over him almost like little green puppies. He grinned - he would have to tease Piccolo about that image. All they needed were tails and the picture would be complete.

"Your mate is very loyal," the Namek said.

"He-," he began to answer before pausing. He would be his mate someday - he wanted him to be... "He is," he repeated, this time responding to the second half of the remark.

Muri must have noticed his hesitation, because he looked at him with surprise. "You aren't mated? He acts like you are."

"Not yet. I believed it would be safer to wait until the brainwashing was gone - it was too risky. Now...I want him to be my mate as a Saiyan - but I haven't learned how yet."

"I understand - your hesitation was reasonable. But I hope - for both of your sakes - it doesn't take long. He needs you, especially after the Kais betrayal. Even though he is thrilled over your cure - his ki is up so much as a result he was interfering with your healing-"

"I heard."

"It was difficult to free him from their influence. Sukui says he resisted the healing because he had considered the Kais his friends for so long. It is understandable - through their assistance and training he reached new levels of power. He finds it difficult to believe they had ulterior motives."

Vegeta knew how trusting he was. Somehow he could see the good in anyone, willing to give them a second or even third chance. How many chances had Kakorr given him? How many times did he deserve to die at his hands? He owed his happiness - hell, his very existence - to Kakorr's forgiveness. "I know..."

"They have been using him for years...Sukui believes it started when he died the first time."

"After fighting against Radditz...and he learned I was coming to Earth..." Vegeta said slowly. Was all of this his fault?

"Possibly - the Kais usually make plans decades in the future, so it is difficult to understand their actions with anything but hindsight. When they are rushed, they are careless - which is why it was not difficult to stop him. Goku never realized what was happening, so he didn't resist; they were so deep in his mind it was almost as if he was brainwashed as well. Now that he has some idea of what they did to him...just as you required help, so will he. He will need you and your strength in order to fully recover," Muri said.

"I still don't understand why the bastards tried to use him like that. If he had realized what he was doing..." He shook his head in disbelief. If the Kais had been successful he would have died and Kakorr would have been destroyed as a result. "They never cared about me, but I thought they liked Kakorr - needed him at least." His tail was flicking in agitation.

"I'm sorry it happened," Muri said apologetically. "We knew your memories had been affected, but we never expected them to have that type of control over him. We didn't know they were even capable of it. Fortunately we were able to prevent your death."

"Fortunately," Vegeta muttered, rubbing his throat. As he watched Kakorr bounced to his feet, covered in laughing children. "Does he know he tried to kill me?"

"No. And between Porunga and Sukui we have ensured it cannot happen again. The Kais will no longer be able to influence him without his knowledge," Muri explained.

"Good." The Kais had tried a desperate method to get rid of him. He didn't know how they had done it, but it was almost like when Frieza had taken over his body. Muri had told him that Kakorr had tried to strangle him as he was speaking the second wish. Whoever had been controlling him had apparently been inexperienced and the younger Saiyan had been easily knocked out. The third wish was then used to protect their minds from the Kais' control. When Kakorr had come to he had no memory of what he had done.

"I don't want him to find out." Kakorr would blame himself even though it wasn't his fault. Vegeta knew how it felt and wanted to protect his lover from that pain.

"Sukui has assured me he will not."

"I had thought removing the brainwashing was the end of it," Vegeta said, frowning. He would prefer to live peacefully now - he enjoyed fighting, but he was tired of life and death battles. He wanted to find out what kind of person he really was now that he was free from the lizard. And he wanted Kakorr to be happy - something he kept failing at, but was willing to work at for the rest of his life.

"It might be - they had to have been desperate to act so openly."

"You don't believe that," he said dryly.

"No. I believe the day will come when we will have to fight them. You are not their only target. They have never liked the existence of the dragonballs - I would not be surprised if they attacked us one day," the Namek said sadly.

"I will kill them all if I have to in order to protect those I care for," he snapped.

"Perhaps that is what they are afraid of," Muri shrugged.

"Then they should have left my family and me alone," he growled.

"What will you do now?" Muri studied him seriously.

Damn it - he just wanted to be left alone for once. Now it seemed like the Kais had decided they were enemies. Why? He didn't care about them, but he would not let them destroy his life like Frieza had. He could not ignore his obligation to the Nameks for their help either, but he wouldn't go looking for a fight. "They are cowards - not worth my time. It's simple. If they don't bother me - or you - again, they live. If they do, they die."

They fell silent, watching Kakorr and the children. He suddenly wanted to leave - he needed to see Trunks. "I'll be ready when the war comes, but I'm not going to put my life on hold because of those bastards," he said, "I'm going home to see my son. We've been kept apart long enough."

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Goku crawled out from under the pile of laughing kids. After Sukui was done with him, he had wanted to stay with his prince, but Iyasu made him leave. At least he had been allowed to visit. And Sukui had been very nice to him, feeding and talking to him.

He felt better now...when Porunga had appeared and Vegeta collapsed he had been close to panic. His prince's eyes were dull black and unseeing, and it had frightened him. He was so desperate he hadn't even growled at Iyasu when he came close, passing his hands over Vegeta, face lined in concentration. He must have done something that affected him through their bond, because the next thing he remembered was waking up in Sukui's den.

But it had worked and things were going to be better now, he was sure. Vegeta was cured. They didn't have to worry about Frieza or brainwashing or ki-restraints any more. He grinned. Just in time for Chichi and Rezu's wedding - and he would make Vegeta go whether he wanted to or not.

Now he was just waiting for Vegeta to finish with Muri so they could leave. He had been right - Bulma was the answer. He smirked - he owed Vegeta an 'I told you so.' He couldn't wait to see him. He could feel how much lighter Vegeta was - the darkness that had always blanketed him had faded. He still couldn't feel all of his ki - it had worried him before Sukui explained the healer's dens were shielded for fewer distractions. That was when he stopped trying so hard to read Vegeta - he was getting a headache from the strain. He contented himself with sensing enough to know he was better.

They had been lucky the Kais didn't think Bulma would ever get involved - her memories weren't changed. But who would have thought they would hide the dragonballs from them on purpose? He felt really bad about it - the Kais had helped him so much before. He still didn't understand why they had changed. He would do his best not to let it bother him - they had failed and Vegeta was safe.

He stood up and noticed his playmates were suddenly silent, staring at something behind him.

::Vegeta?::

::Kakorr.::

Goku smiled, turned around - and froze. Magnificent. That was the only word - over and over and over. Vegeta's ki was alive and liquid, swirling and coiling around him. With every heartbeat it seemed to reach out, pulling him closer to Vegeta's warmth. He was surrounded by pure, effortless power, confidence rolling off of him with each breath.

He dropped to his knees and stared, breathless and awe-struck.

"My prince," he whispered worshipfully. His ki was radiant, life-giving. It touched Goku and protected him - he was safe and loved.

"Kakorr?"

He heard the concern in Vegeta's voice, but was struck dumb as golden ki danced around his prince. He knelt in front of him, but all Goku could do was gaze in wonder.

Vegeta's hands were on his arm, his chest, his face, touching him, charging him, filling him until he nearly moaned with joy at being close to his prince.

::Kakorr...please...tell me what's wrong?::

Didn't Vegeta know what he had become? He was brilliant and gleaming - a god. He was weak, helpless, in the face of such splendor. ::My prince. My beautiful prince.::

"Nothing's wrong," he breathed. "Everything is perfect. You are perfect. My prince. My Makoto."

Vegeta couldn't help himself. He smiled at his lover. He had been worried for a moment that he was hurting Kakorr with his changed energy, since he didn't have it totally under control yet, but now he knew the reverse was true. He could feel how much Kakorr adored him - so much that his own ki rose in response. He knew his ki was higher now, but he never expected a reception like this.

"Baka," he purred, sliding his fingers through Kakorr's silken spikes, pulling him close so he could press their mouths together, grinning as his ki sparked and his lover moaned. A purr exploded from Kakorr's chest and he was suddenly crushed against his young lover by firm, muscled arms. Vegeta ignored the watching Nameks, devoting his full attention to Kakorr, listening to the whispers of happiness in his head. 'Vegeta loves me.'

::Of course I do, Kakorr.::

He wanted this perfect moment to last forever, but he was barely holding onto his ki. It was too new, too strong - swirling wildly out of control around them - lightning in his hands. It had to end, and after they broke for gasping breaths of air, he rocked back on his heels and rose to his feet, smiling down at Kakorr's flushed cheeks. Kakorr whimpered in protest until he helped him to his feet and pressed his fingers against his lover's lips before he could capture his mouth again.

::It's time to go back, Kakorr.::

Kakorr grinned at him - Vegeta knew he wanted to go right home and make love.

::Not yet. You made a promise, and I intend to keep it. I want to see my son.::

They said their goodbyes and got ready to leave, Kakorr at his back, hand on his shoulder. He reached up and put his own hand over his lover's and they left.

When they reappeared he took an involuntary step back until he was pressed against Kakorr's broad chest.

He never expected them to be waiting for him.

TBC