CHAPTER 9:

Kakarrotto's face was frowned in concentration as he mixed the different herbs together. He did not want to make another mistake again. This was a young boy's life he was trying to save. And not just any young boy, but the one he had come to love and admire. He watched idly as the smoke began rising from the potion. Muttering several chants to increase its potency, he was finally able to relax a little as he looked at the final result. It wasn't going to be very tasty, but it should do the trick. Walking out of the brightly colored bathroom, he carried the medicine carefully into the Gundam Wing themed bedroom. He looked up and smiled warmly into the pale blue eyes of the botchan, as they lit up in happiness again.

"Here we go, Trunks-kun. This is going to make you feel much better again. Okay?" he said softly, as he propped the boy up against the headboards and gently began raising the cup to his lips.

"Eeeww...it smells funny." Trunks complained.

"I know. But if you drink it really fast, I bet you wouldn't even realize it’s gone."

"Okay." he replied morosely, reasoning that if Goku-san said it would make him feel better, then it would make him feel better. Looking up into warm teal eyes, he suddenly blurted out, "Aisheteru, Goku-san." And then shutting his eyes, he took the cup and swallowed the bitter tasting medicine down in a gulp.

Kakarrotto felt numb. ~A...Ashi...Ashiteru? Oh, Trunks...why did you have to say that?~ His heart felt heavy with both mixed feelings of joy and sadness. He couldn't stay. When this was over and the boy was well again, he would have to leave. Back to his simple yet boring life in the mountains.

He watched as Trunks's eyes grew heavy with the effects of the drug. Taking the cup away gently from the boy's limp hands, he began tucking the blankets around him, when Trunks murmured tiredly, "Please, stay, Goku-san. Please, don't leave me again."

"I am here, Trunks. I will always be with you." ~ In spirit, at least.~

Kissing the sleeping boy’s head softly, he began clearing away the things he had come with. His hands were trembling with the many emotions that flickered through him. The drive up to the house had been a difficult one for him. All he could think and hope and pray was that Vegeta wouldn't be home. He couldn't bear to see him again. He had thought he would be over the man by now, but it had turned out to be completely and totally hopeless. As they had approached the gates leading to the estate, he had felt so terrified and depressed, it had taken every ounce of control not to leap out of the car. It wasn't until Aoki had said quietly that Vegeta was in Hong-Kong on a business trip, did he manage to relax.

He had walked into rooms he had called home for six months and had been genuinely surprised at the warm greetings he had received from many of the servants, even Suzuki! However, his mind had been concerned with worry for the little botchan, whose energy level was considerably low. Kakarrotto had walked into the room and had seen the unmistakable joy that had lit the boy’s face. He smiled as he remembered the hug that Trunks had given him. Kami! His neck still hurt from it. The boy had begun going into stories of all that had happened in the last three months and Kakarrotto had listened patiently. His ears had especially perked up when he heard that Launch and Vegeta hadn't gotten married after all. He had felt a slight happiness at that news, but had squelched it when he remembered that Vegeta didn't exactly have plans for him either.

Sighing, he locked up his bag with a snap. He would leave now and probably get on the next  train to Okayama by dusk. Hopefully, the medicine would restore the boy's health and he wouldn't be needed here anymore. Taking one last look at the sleeping boy, he whispered back softly, "Aishiteru, Trunks-kun."

Shutting the door quietly behind him and walking down the stairs, he saw Aoki, Kimi and Suzuki all waiting for him at the bottom.

"How is he, Goku-sama?" Kimi asked, wringing her hands together in agitation.

Smiling gently at the woman, Kakarrotto replied, "He will be fine. The medicine has made him sleep and he should be up and about as soon as he gets up." Turning to Aoki he said, "I would like to leave as soon as possible. Do you think you could arrange for a car to take me to the train station?"

"Why the rush, Goku-sama? Wouldn't you like to at least stay for dinner. You have not had a rest since you came here and surely you must be hungry." Aoki asked with a strange gleam in his eyes.

Kakarrotto was about to protest, when his stomach gave out an ear splitting growl. Blushing furiously at the knowing glances from the servants, he answered sheepishly, "Annoo... hehehe.... I think dinner would do just fine."

Smiling quietly, Aoki led the starving man into the kitchens, glancing at his watch and nodding.

~ Hai, everything is going as planned.~

*********************************

"Can't this baka no machine move any faster?! At this rate, Trunks would have grown old and probably would have died on me before I get there!!"

"I am really sorry, Vegeta-sama, but I cannot control the traffic." the flustered chauffeur replied.

"Grrrrrrr..." Vegeta scowled in frustration and mumbled off a string of curses at the incompetence of the general public. Picking up his cell-phone again, he began punching in the numbers to the house.

"Vegeta-sama's residence." Suzuki answered steadily.

"Suzuki!! How is Trunks?! Is he alright?! Kami forbid, he isn't dead, is he?! Answer me, you baka!!" Vegeta asked in a rush, not even giving Suzuki the time to breathe.

"Hai, Vegeta-sama. Trunks is going to be fine. The doctor said he will be."

Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Vegeta said, "Thank Kami. Make sure that doctor stays there. I have to see him in person and thank him personally. Oh and by the way, how much does he want for his services?"

"I am not really sure...."

"Well, whatever he wants, no amount is too large for my son's life. Hmm...can he come to the phone right now? I need to speak to him."

"OH, NO! Annoo...he is in the ...he is in..." a slight pause, as if listening to someone else, " Ah...he is in the bathroom, Vegeta-sama. So he cannot come to the phone right now."

Vegeta frowned. Suzuki was hiding something and he didn't like it one bit.

"Alright then, Suzuki." he said in a cold voice. "I should be home soon, so this doctor better stay put. Understand?"

"Hai, Vegeta-sama."

Shutting up his phone, Vegeta stared out the window, his unease growing. ~ They are hiding something from me. And by Kami, I will find out what it is. ~

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"Sugoi, Kimi-sama, you have really outdone yourself this time." Kakarrotto belched in satisfaction, noting the happy flush that rose to the woman's cheeks.

"Ah, you flatter me too much, Goku-sama." she said coyly. Lowering her voice, she continued, "We have really missed you here. The house has seemed a whole lot emptier since you left, and poor Trunks-kun. The boy has really had it bad, why just the other week..."

Kakarrotto gripped the glass in his hand so tight that it threatened to break at any second. ~Stop it! Stop it!~ His mind screamed. He didn't want any one reminding him of how much his presence had been missed. The one person he really wished that had missed him could care less about him. Looking at his watch, he cut into Kimi's rant almost too sharply.

"I am really sorry, Kimi-san, but I have to leave now. As I said your cooking was wonderful as usual."

Kimi looked as if she was about to blurt out a 'wait' when a familiar voice was heard, literally barking in the hallway. Kimi watched in fascination as Kakarroto seemed to lose a lot of color. She watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists in agitation and practically bolted out of the chair and nervously to the doorway. Smiling quietly, she began heading towards the commotion, realizing that Aoki-sama had been right after all.

********************

"Well, Aoki? I didn't fly all the way from Hong-Kong to see an empty house! Where the hell is the miracle doctor?" Vegeta asked angrily. He had lost his patience for everyone and everything at the moment. Hell! Since he got into the driveway, everyone had been acting suspiciously and he was at his breaking point. Aoki didn't help matters as he remained as calm as ever.

"I think you will find him in the dining room, sir. He just finished eating a few moments ago."

Not waiting for him to finish, Vegeta strode purposefully into said room...only to find it empty. Mumbling curses under his breath, he turned to see the quick whispered exchange between Aoki and Suzuki before they quickly turned blank faces to him. Folding his arms in growing irritation and annoyance, Vegeta asked in a deceptively calm voice,

"Unless I need my eyes checked, Aoki-sama, I do not see anyone in the dining room. Or perhaps he is hiding...." he stopped suddenly as the familiar scent kicked in.

~ Oh, Kami! It can't be...it can't be...onegai...please...don't let it be who I think it is...~ he begged the gods fervently as he walked as if in a daze towards the living room section. He entered the room slowly and felt time stand still as he drank in the living apparition of his constant thoughts. Obsidian and teal clashed as the air thickened  with unspoken emotions. Vegeta felt his body heat up in a slow rush of desire. He began to feel faint. His legs felt weak and he felt the air had been sucked out from his lungs. His stomach fluttered nervously and his whole being trembled. He had unconsciously been gripping the doorknob so tightly that he never noticed as it snapped off its hinges.

~ Wh...wh...what is he doing here? ~ he thought wildly, as he swallowed through suddenly parched lips. Shutting his eyes, as if to get rid of the vision in front of him and to prevent himself from jumping into the man's arms like a total baka, he summoned up the little anger he had left and suddenly felt the need to lash out at someone...anyone. Spinning on his heels, he glared at his trusted servant.

"Aoki?"

"Hai, Vegeta-sama" the man replied, trying hard to prevent the smile that was threatening to cross his face.

"Remind me to fire you, when I am through with...with..."

"The doctor, sir? Of course, I understand. Should I make sure that all calls are diverted for say....the rest of the day?" he quirked in amusement.

"I should kill you, you know?" Vegeta smirked, unable to stop the glow that was spreading across his visage.

"I know, sir...oh and Vegeta." the man said, as he began making his way out, "I hope you make the right decision this time." Not waiting for a reply, the trusted old servant walked away from his bewildered master.

********************

Kakarrotto looked unseeingly into the gardens below. He heard as Vegeta spoke quietly to Aoki and he clenched his fists with a dull sense of anger, as well. Hearing Vegeta's voice alone had turned him into a pile of mush, and he had slipped like a coward into the living room hoping to gain some semblance of self-control. And then the moment he had walked in, all self-control had threatened to fly out the window. He had wanted to crush the man to him, to blurt out his feelings, not caring about the consequences, to kiss those lips that had haunted him for many days and nights, Kami-sama, to love the man with a passion that threatened to burn his very soul. He had watched as Vegeta's face had gone through several emotions before settling down on his usual cold scowl. Kakarrotto had suddenly gone from happiness and pleasure to pain and hurt at the expression and now his own anger began to set in. ~ How dare he look at me like that? He told me to leave. It's not as if I wanted to come back. I came for Trunks and that is all there is to it. ~ He heard the door shut behind him, and  bracing himself, he turned perfectly blank features to the equally unreadable look on his former employer's face.

"So....you came back...." Vegeta began, after several awkward moments of silence.

"No...I didn't." Kakarrotto said evenly. "I came to heal Trunks and I have done that. Now, if I may leave...I have a late train to catch."

Vegeta winced inwardly at the coldness of Kakarrotto's voice. ~ Kuso! This isn't going so well..~ Walking towards a side table, he began pulling out drawers, looking for something. Finally finding it, he laid out a checkbook on the table and began writing on it.

"Alright, Kakarrotto...how much do you want?"

Kakarrotto felt his anger rising. ~ Does he think that everything comes down to money?~

"Thank you, Vegeta-sama, but I do not need your money." he replied curtly.

"Chikuso, Kakarrotto! Everyone needs money and I know you need it, so please cut the goody-two-shoes bullshit and tell me how much I owe you!"

"Listen, Vegeta! I told you, your money is no good to me! I don't need it! So please take it away!

"Then if you won't take money, what then do you want?!" Vegeta yelled back, quite frankly at his wits end. The last thing he needed now was to make Kakarrotto walk out again from his life and he was damned if he knew how he was going to do that.

~ I want you, Vegeta. Just you.~ Kakarrotto thought sadly.

Turning away to hide the pain that pierced through his heart. He answered quietly, "All I want is to leave. I have to catch the next..."

"I can't let you do that, Kakarrotto." Vegeta replied shortly.

"Why not?!"

"Because...because...."Vegeta ran weary hands through his hair in frustration. "Because my son needs you....and...and...."  ~Kami-sama, I need you, too.~

"Dammit, Vegeta! Why are you making this so difficult?!"  Kakarrotto asked in desperation, turning eyes that burned with unshed tears towards his heart's desire, who had somehow closed the distance between them.

Black, velvety eyes stared deeply into the shimmering teal ones before him. Raising his hands to lightly caress his face, Vegeta whispered softly, "Because, Kakarrotto, I have traveled too far to let you out of my life again." Leaning up, he brushed his lips tentatively against the pliant ones above him, hearing the heavy thud of his heart as past memories of a passion once shared rushed to his mind. Sinking his hands into the blond locks, he breathed in the scent that was his love and whispered fervently against the warm lips, "I have missed you, Kakarrotto. Everyday since you left has been torture for me. Every waking hour and minute. It's been a nightmare and now that you are here again, I have no intentions of letting you go."

"Vegeta I..."

"Onegai...Kakarrotto.....say you will stay with me....with us." he begged feverishly.

Staring deep into the shiny, obsidian depths, Kakarrotto saw what the stubborn man would never be able to say, at least for now. He replied softly, with his own emotions filled in his voice and gaze,

"Kami, Vegeta....H...hai, I will st...."

Not allowing the man to finish, Vegeta seized his lips in a kiss so hungry and desperate that Kakarrotto did not have the reason to think anymore. Wrapping his arms around the smaller man, he practically lifted him off his feet as he returned the kiss with equal passion. Finally releasing each other for air, they gasped breathlessly against each other.

"Chikuso....You drive me insane, Vegeta."

"Hn, you should talk, sensei. I almost started seeing a shrink."

"Mmm...then maybe I should heal you, as well..."Kakarrotto answered thickly, as his lips began trailing hot kisses and nips along his lover's jaw and neck.

"Aaaahhhh...H...h...hai" Vegeta gasped in delight, giving himself up to the wondrous magic of his lover's hands.

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"I think you owe me some money, Suzuki-sama." Aoki said, beaming in victory, as he moved away from his eavesdropping position at the door.

Suzuki grumbled lightheartedly and gave the older man his winnings.

"Who would have thought that Vegeta-sama and Goku-san would have been partners?" he asked bemusedly.

"Hn....it is the way the Fates have seen fit." Aoki replied, his face thoughtful.

They both looked up as light footsteps came down the stairs.

"Ah...Master Trunks. You are looking well." Aoki said cheerily.

"Hai." Trunks replied shortly. "Where is my father and Goku-san?"

"I think you will find them too busy for you right now, Trunks. Why don't we go outside..."

He watched in amusement as the boy ignored him in his usual fashion and headed towards the living room doors. His smile widened as two simultaneous screams erupted from the room.

"TRUNKS?!!!"

Grinning, he turned and headed out with Suzuki and Kimi in tow. ~ Hai...things are going to be very interesting from now on. ~

THE END....