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 9 - Restraint

"Vegeta...are you sure about this?" Piccolo asked, handing him a box.

Vegeta sighed, grimacing as he checked the contents. "I'm running out of time - I can't wait for the dragonballs to return. Unless you or the old man have come up with something, I have to consider other possibilities."

"Personally I think it would be a better idea to lock you in with a nest of cobras. That would be fun to watch at least."

Vegeta smirked. "Yeah, me surrounded by hundreds of your relatives. Maybe we should throw you in instead - tails, teeth, and tongues - think of all the fun you could have."

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, monkey-boy. Might be more fun to put those things on you and dangle you by your tail over Bulma and Chichi. Vegeta, the Piņata Prince."

Vegeta snorted. "I'm not giving those two an excuse to hit me - especially the blue-haired one. From what I hear, she is furious at me right now."

"What in the hell did you expect? All she knows is that you hurt her precious Goku."

"What I don't understand is why his woman is not as annoyed at me as Bulma is."

"For some crazy reason, Chichi likes you -"

"No accounting for taste," he said wryly.

"My thoughts exactly. Anyway, she believed you. You haven't spoken to Bulma, and she was pretty pissed when I asked her for those. Asked if you were planning on beating up Goku again or if you were going to give him a chance to return the favor."

Vegeta frowned. "I would if I thought it would help," he said softly. Over the past few days Kakorr had started to become withdrawn, doing little but training, speaking only when necessary.

"Hey Vegeta, I'm sorry," Piccolo said guiltily. "I thought I got rid of all the copies. I never thought about the computer backup."

He waved away the apology. "Maybe it is better that she has seen it. She'll believe that at least."

He picked up one of the ki-restraint cuffs and studied it with distaste. It had been bad enough when Frieza had put them on him - but now he was planning on doing it to himself.

"Goku's not going to like this, you know," Piccolo said dubiously.

"I know," he said absently, checking the settings. "I wish there was another way."

"Look Matchstick. If you are so damn all-fired up for them to know, let me or Goku do it."

He sighed. "Kakorr won't tell them everything, trying to protect me - or try to make it sound like it is his fault. And you know as well as I do the woman won't believe you. She'll pick up the phone and call me anyway, screeching, demanding the truth instead of 'a lame-ass excuse'. I have to do this."

"Do you really think she can help?"

"I don't see how," he frowned. "But Kakorr is convinced - has been the entire time. And even if she can't help I will need her cooperation in order to keep the brat away - he tried to sneak over again."

"I still think you're nuts. If something goes wrong...I don't know if Goku and I are strong enough anymore to stop you."

"That's what these are for," he said, holding up the cuffs. He should have been pleased - he was the most powerful being on the planet now. But he couldn't feel pride in the accomplishment - only fear. It was getting more and more difficult to resist the evil impulses. When the brat showed up - Kakorr had to IT them away and begin to power up to hold him. He had felt it then...if he hadn't been resisting the commands, Kakorr wouldn't have been able to stop him.

"Disgusting things. I can't believe you actually keep them."

"They are actually necessary sometimes - medical reasons - other problems," he shrugged.

They sat in silence as he tested the locks. Bulma's programming skills had been put to good use. As much as he disliked the damn things, he did have to admit they were cleverly done. The thumb lock was a nice touch - no codes to remember - and no way of escaping them. He set the program so the Namek could open them in case Kakorr couldn't.

Piccolo shook his head as he put the cuffs away. He wondered if Vegeta still thought he needed to be punished for what had happened. Goku didn't blame him, so he was not going to do it. Goku had problems of his own. "Has he said anything about his ki dropping?"

He sighed. "No, and I'm not going to push him about it right now. He's feels bad enough as it is. I'll just keep an eye on him in case it slips more. At first I thought it was just that I had gotten stronger. But we were sparring the other day and he could barely hold on to level three. I don't understand why it is happening to him."

"I don't know how the kid did it, but Dende got him to sit still long enough to be checked out. He couldn't find anything wrong." The Guardian was totally different now, actually sticking up for Vegeta against the Kais. He had walked into a one-sided discussion and he swore the brat was actually shouting at the idiot bug.

"Kakorr is avoiding it, but I think he knows or suspects why he has gotten weaker and doesn't want me to know. I had Frieza attacking me constantly through the chip, but I doubt something like that is why his has gone down."

"Make him tell you then. Hell, with this bond of yours I thought you couldn't hide anything from each other."

Vegeta grinned at that. "I can tell you've never been involved with anyone. There are always secrets, Greenbean."

"Damn it, don't you start that crap too. Nail has been enough of a pain in the ass."

"Are you serious? I thought Nail was the quiet one."

"Hell, he's got some bug up his ass. I think he just wants to get laid."

"What?" Vegeta said, grinning. "I thought you said that was a once in a lifetime thing...heat or something."

Piccolo shrugged. "That's how it has been for me. Nail says it isn't the same for all Nameks."

"You didn't know?"

"How in the hell would I, Shorty?" he said, annoyed. "I grew up here, remember? It's never been an issue before. Hadn't been until you and Goku started your games. Now Nail keeps pestering me."

Vegeta chuckled. "Must be hell to have two other guys stuck in your head."

"Tell me about it. The idiot keeps saying I should go to New Namek for a visit - see how other Nameks live."

"We can't afford to leave Earth unprotected," Vegeta said quickly. He frowned. For some reason, it almost sounded like a good idea, but doing so would endanger his adopted planet.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I told him. It's not a good idea. The planet would be endangered. It isn't safe."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow in question at his answer. It had echoed his thoughts almost exactly.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it, alright?" Piccolo said tersely.

"Sure, Elf-boy. So are the women coming?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah. Tomorrow. Does Goku know?"

"Not about these..." he pointed at the box. "But as far as telling them...yeah. It's weird - he's this strange mix of happy, sad, scared, hopeful... This might not be the right method - me telling them - but the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it is the right thing to do."

"You two are so fucked up, you know that, don't you?" Piccolo said, shaking his head.

Vegeta grinned and scratched the back of his head.

"Damn it! Look! You're doing it again! Knock it the hell off!"

Vegeta looked at him in confusion. "Doing what?"

"You asshole. Look where your hand is."

Vegeta paid attention and his eyes widened in momentary alarm before he shrugged. "Bond, that's all."

"That's all? Vegeta, do you even know when it happens?"

"Sometimes."

"What if it gets worse, or you two swap permanently, or something stupid like that?"

He chuckled. He usually noticed when it happened, but even when he missed it, it didn't bother him much. Kakorr seemed to be coping with it as well, so he wasn't going to get too concerned yet. Mostly it was just little flashes of weirdness. "One issue at a time, Namek. The chip is finished. Brainwashing next. Then I worry about our bond."

"Are you still planning on mating with Goku? What did he say?"

"If I can find out how. But I'm not asking him until whatever Frieza did to me is taken care of. It's supposed to be a strong mental connection and I'm concerned the brainwashing might affect him somehow. This has been hard enough on him as it is. If it turns out it can't be removed...I won't raise his hopes - I can't mate with him and risk exposing him anymore of this."

"Well, we - Kami and I - haven't been able to find out anything yet, but at the moment I'm only working on it when I can't stand thinking about the damned lizard anymore."

Vegeta picked up the box and got ready to leave.

"You'll be close?"

"Yeah. Don't worry Shorty, things will work out."

Vegeta nodded and flew away.

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"Vegeta...is this the best way?" Goku asked, no longer sure he agreed with his prince's decision. Vegeta and Bulma in the same room? He knew his prince really cared about her, no matter what he had said and done in the past. It was even more apparent now that they were no longer together. What if something went terribly wrong?

Vegeta turned and looked at him with his intense jet eyes. "I'm telling them. You are right. The w- Bulma may be able to help. And I want you to be able to talk to...Chichi without worrying about keeping secrets."

Goku sat on the couch heavily and looked up to see Vegeta studying him carefully.

"Tell me - would this hurt you the way you were when the Nameks read my memories? I won't do it if it hurts you."

"No... I don't think so... but..." He didn't object to Chichi knowing - since returning after Buu they had developed a comfortable friendship. He trusted her and knew she wouldn't laugh at him. He wouldn't have to keep pretending - that was getting harder to do around her.

"Kakorr...I need to do something to help you. I'm tired of protecting my pride at your expense."

All he could do was open and close his mouth, shocked speechless. He knew Vegeta loved him - but he would forget his pride...for him?<

Vegeta smirked at him. "It looks like I've found another method besides kissing to keep you quiet."

"But Vegeta," he protested, ignoring the comment. What would Bulma do? He didn't want her to ever hate his prince. What if she didn't understand? "What if Bulma-?"

"Hates me? It might be safer for her in the long run. I'll deal with it, Kakorr. She's your friend - she won't blame you, no matter what."

He just stared. What could he say? Vegeta knew how he felt - no words could express it. Vegeta was exposing himself for him and he was grateful, proud, and very, very afraid for his prince.

Vegeta's hand cupped his cheek, sliding back to tangle in his hair, tilting his head back. ::I'm worried too, Kakorr. But you are right - it has to be done.:: His prince bent down, pressing the heat of his lips against his own and for that moment all he could think of was how his tongue was a flame and his kisses burned.

When he broke the kiss, Vegeta continued to look at him with a dark intensity and Goku suddenly felt uneasy. Vegeta wanted something from him...and was worried he would refuse.

"I want you to put these on me, Kakorr," he said seriously, producing a pair of ki-restraint cuffs.

"No!" he said, horrified. "No Vegeta. I can't. I won't." He remembered how helpless he felt with them on. Just being around them made him sick.

"Listen to me. I don't know why, but you currently aren't strong enough to stop me if something goes wrong. I don't want it to turn into a battle - I don't want you to get hurt," Vegeta said calmly.

Goku blanched. He had hoped Vegeta wouldn't have noticed, but after he had lost that spar so miserably... Vegeta's ki had gone up as he recovered - his increasing confidence and happiness had caused a huge increase. Meanwhile, his was slipping. Krillin hadn't affected it much, but the latest break with the Kais had caused a big drop. It was almost like Otherworld all over again - but that didn't make sense since he was so close to his prince now. Maybe it was just because everything that had happened was wearing on him and he was depressed. He didn't know if it was real or imagined, but either way he didn't feel as strong. And now...Vegeta couldn't count on him because of it.

"No Vegeta, I can't do that to you. I won't. Those are..." There was no word for what they were - offensive, vile, evil, disgusting. They stole your power and made you weak. Vegeta was strength. How could he even think of using them?

"Kakorr-"

"NO! Think of something else. I won't put those on you."

"You have to," Vegeta said quietly, holding them out.

When he backed off, trying to get away from those things he knew he was being childish. He didn't care. He couldn't believe Vegeta was still being calm and reasonable. His own tail was thrashing wildly, torn between anger and fear. This was the first time they had ever really disagreed about anything and he just wanted to shout 'No!' over and over.

"I can't!" he insisted, his voice cracking and he realized fear was winning.

"Kakorr...I'm running out of time. You know how close I've been to losing control. Even if I don't tell them, I'm going to have to wear them in order to protect-" Vegeta said and he knew his prince didn't want to do this either - he just didn't know any other way.

"Please Vegeta," he nearly begged, "I remember... please don't ask me to do that to you..."

Goku's breathing was shaky as he watched through his bangs while Vegeta studied him - he could feel him comparing their kis. He raised his head in time to see Vegeta placing the cuffs on his own wrists.

"Vegeta - no..." His prince was supposed to be strong. Wearing the cuffs was like making him a prisoner again and the thought of Vegeta being forced to be weak appalled him.

Vegeta ignored his protests and continued adjusting the cuffs. Goku felt his ki waver before settling on a level equal to his un-powered state.

"Put your thumbs here," Vegeta said with a calm Goku knew he didn't feel, holding out his wrists.

"No," he whispered. Vegeta would be weak, helpless, trusting him to be strong enough to protect him.

Vegeta looked up at him with dark eyes filled with desperation and Goku knew his prince hated this as much as he did. "Please Kakorr - do this for me. I don't want to hurt anyone else because of the lizard. I have to help you. I need to be able to see my son again. I will do anything."

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. If he did this, the cuffs would be locked onto Vegeta; his ki suppressed, his massive power not available to him.

"I hate this, Vegeta," he said, pressing his thumbs into the locks.

"I know Kakorr - so do I."

TBC