Welcome to Boxer & Rice

► Chapter 01     Chapter 02     Chapter 03     Chapter 04     Chapter 05     Chapter 06     Chapter 07     Chapter 08     Chapter 09     Chapter 10     Chapter 11     Chapter 12     Chapter 13 Author's Note : This fic is an even bigger fantasy than "Deep Circle". So, if you feel uncomfortable wandering through my fantasy world – turn around and go somewhere else. I took my time creating different standpoints and ambience. I spiced this fic with many of my experienced events and my standpoints (about my standpoints you should already know – those who have ever read my fics, know that my fics are full of them.) I had great fun while writing this, like I usually do. Hope you'll have fun while reading.

XXXXX

Calm and quiet. Only bird’s chirping and the rustling leaves of trees. Purling of the cascades and the small rippling lake. These sounds were silence to his ears that were used to the city’s turmoil and howl. That’s why he liked here. He found this place not so long ago, only before several months when he ran away as usual. He had never seen any other people around. He liked that. He was young but already tired of unending problems. He wanted some time for himself. Maybe that was selfish, but he didn’t actually care. He cared about many things, but not about this.

The place was really relaxing. At some point he began to doze in the warm sun. But then he started when there was a sound of splashing water somewhere nearby. He raised his head above the high grass to observe the lake. At first he couldn’t see anything but then suddenly he saw someone’s black-haired head emerge above water’s surface. The swimmer shook his head getting rid of water, dove again then resurfaced further, near the cascades. It was a young boy. Now he could see the disturber: the boy was probably around the same age as him, short hair, light skin. Oh. Oooh. Oh-hohoh… The disturber had a very nice body…

He silently watched the ‘boy’ rinsing his hair while sitting on one of the stones near the cascades. Probably the simple etiquette was something still uncharted for this boy. Well, with such a body, nudity wasn’t a sin…

He watched the boy reach for his tail. He knew he should look away or at least stop looking at the boy’s tail, but he couldn’t. It was something… he had never seen anyone touch their tails like that, less to be naked while doing that. Besides he felt quite safe and comfortable in his hiding place. He wanted to see everything.

His eyes followed each gentle movement of the skilful fingers while they cleaned and ruffled the brown fur. The boy concentrated on what he was doing. He began cleansing his tail from the very base then slowly moved through the entire length to the very tip.

That was the longest ever observed wash in his life, but still it was too short. He saw the boy sliding down the stone back into the water. At first he couldn’t quite discern the face when the disturber was farther from him, but now he could see his face much better as the boy was swimming towards the shore. He was beautiful. Big beautiful eyes, lush lips, high cheekbones, small and graceful nose; beautiful features. The boy WAS around the same age as him: fifteen, sixteen, maybe a bit younger than him.

The boy waded from the water, quickly wrung his hair then gently brushed over his tail to wipe the water off the fur. He had to raise his head higher to see the boy bend down to his clothes. He watched the boy dress. When the boy was completely dressed, he moved, intending to go to the boy and talk to him. But then he froze hearing someone’s shouts echoing in the air.

“Kakarott! Kakarott! What are you doing there so long?! It’s only several minutes left before father returns! You will get us into trouble again!”

“Shut up, Radditz! Remember that it was YOU, who induced me into this trip only to see your pretty boy!” Kakarott shouted back, already rising into the sky to meet a young man that was quickly approaching.

He ducked lower in the grass not to be noticed. He could hear voices arguing then laughing, and then both, Kakarott and Radditz, sped off into the sky.

He stared after them for some time. He considered following them. Rejected the idea. It was stupid. Why did he need to follow them?

Afraid that he might lose them from his sight he shot into the air after them. He was being stupid following them; he knew that.

They flew to the north for more than half an hour. It was darkening already. They flew fast; probably they were afraid that their father would return earlier and would notice them missing. When the darkness drew closer it became easier to follow them: the shadows became longer and he didn’t need to fly so low to avoid being noticed.

Ten minutes later they reached another city, and he noticed that the brothers began to land. He landed a bit farter from them. He stepped into the crowd and followed them. He was glad that it was dark.

They walked for about two minutes until they reached a small unnoticeable house. He saw someone standing in the yard with his arms crossed and he saw the brothers falter. So, the father was already at home…

“Get the fuck into the house!” the obviously angry man hissed at both of them.

The brothers complied without any word of protest. He watched Kakarott’s back disappear in the doorway, waited until he was sure that no one noticed him, walked a bit farther from the house and shot into the air. It was about the time to see his own father…

XXXXX

He wanted to see Kakarott again. He didn’t know why, he just wanted. He couldn’t forget Kakarott. He would remember him while listening to his father’s boring talks, while taking part in some parties and watching other young men smile and laugh. Once he almost broke his wrist during training when he lost his attention while remembering how Kakarott was washing his tail. He thought about Kakarott before going to sleep and he thought about him while sleeping. He didn’t even know that boy but he wanted to see him again. He was feeling the urge to see Kakarott. But the problem was that Kakarott didn’t know that he even existed.

He was going to make sure Kakarott knew about him.

XXXXX

It was a sunny day again. Like most days on Vegetasei. Kakarott stretched his sore back and leaned his shovel on the tree for a moment. He brushed sweat off his forehead. From the very morning he had been digging a trench. His father had been very stern about that little run. It was the seventh day now he had been digging holes in their back yard. At first he sunk a well that they didn’t need, then he sunk a well for their neighbors then he dug out a trench, then he filled up the trench, then he dug up a trench, then he filled up the trench, then he again dug up a trench then he again filled up a trench. As said, his father was stern.

At least he didn’t end up like Radditz – his poor brother had been sent to carry out his military service. Father decided that it was enough for Radditz to sponge at home at his family’s expense. Kakarott smiled. Yeah, now his brother would sponge at the state’s expense. Nothing and nobody would ever change his brother. Radditz knew what he wanted and knew how to get it.

As for him…he chose to endure his tyrannical father for now; he didn’t know yet what he wanted. He hoped that it would be soon when he figured out what he wanted, because living with his crazed father was becoming less and less appealing.

Kakarott brushed over his forehead again and took the shovel back into his hands.

XXXXX

He watched the boy digging. Any other time he would have been interested in why Kakarott was doing this useless work, but now he was simply content to watch him working. Kakarott’s upper half was naked, his shirt hanging farther on an apple tree twig. He could see muscles flexing and rippling under that light colored skin, the sweat gathering on his back. Maybe it wasn’t useless work after all… Kakarott’s hair was dry this time. Kakarott had beautiful hair, very spiky, very Saiyan.

“Hello.”

Kakarott raised his head to look at him. “Hi.”

“What are you doing here?” The question was pretty stupid, he knew that, but at the moment he didn’t have anything better. He couldn’t just say: I saw you bathe naked in the lake. I think that you are the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen.

“Err…” Kakarott scratched his head then looked at him and smiled. “And how does it look?”

“It looks pretty useless to me…”

Kakarott laughed. Kakarott had a very nice laugh: warm and resonant.

“You are right,” Kakarott smiled. “I have been a naughty boy so my father decided to teach me some discipline. It’s the seventh day now I’m digging this damn garden.”

“Found something useful?” For Gods’ sake, where did THAT question come from?!

“Actually, yes,” Kakarott laughed again. “A full can of earthworms. After my father relents a bit, I’m going fishing.”

“You like fishing?” That was good. He needed to know more about his Kakarott.

“Yes. I love fishing. I know a very good place. It’s a bit too far, but it’s worth traveling.”

He could bet he knew what place Kakarott was talking about. “I have never been fishing.”

Kakarott looked genuinely shocked.

“Impossible. You don’t like fishing?” Kakarott asked.

“I don’t know, I have never tried.”

“That’s inconceivable!” Kakarott looked serious, even aghast. “Tell you this: after my father finally stops going crazy, I’m taking you fishing. Do you want to have a try?”

Yes! Oh yes! Yes!!!!!!!! Oh yeah!!!!! Yes, yes, yes! “Yes.”

Kakarott suddenly seemed a bit puzzled. “But I’ll need to let you know when I can go. Where do you live?” Kakarott suddenly smiled sheepishly. “Err…what’s your name?” Kakarott reached his hand. “I’m Kakarott, son of Bardock.”

Oh my, why he didn’t think about it earlier?! “Err…Veliro, son of…Miro.” Well, that was pretty stupid too. Today he simply was being stupid.

Kakarott blinked while shaking his hand. “Kind of rhymes, doesn’t it?”

Yes, another note: Kakarott speaks what he thinks. Not a very good trait – if it weren’t him, Kakarott would have a black eye now. “Yeah, my parents had a sense of humor.”

“I wouldn’t call it like that. I’d call it tastelessness.”

Whoa. Another mental note: not only that Kakarott speaks what he thinks but also he doesn’t have any sense of self-preservation.

“So how I could find you, Veliro?” Kakarott asked, letting go of his hand all too soon.

“Hmm…” Tricky. “Don’t bother, I’ll find you,” he assured Kakarott. That was true, he would find Kakarott no matter what.

Kakarott just shrugged at that. “Okay.”

Another mental note: Kakarott doesn’t bother thinking about strange things as strange.

XXXXX

He waited for three days. Probably it was too short, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He wanted to see Kakarott.

When he landed in the yard he was glad not to find any trenches there. The yard, of course, was a complete mess, but, thank Gods, there were no trenches. He knocked at the door. It was probably the first time in his life when he had been knocking on someone’s door.

The door opened.

“What do you want?” the man very similar to Kakarott but much older asked.

“Hello, I’m Veliro, son of Miro. I’d like to see Kakarott.” He was being polite. Something new too. He wanted to be in good standing with Kakarott’s relatives.

Bardock looked Veliro up and down. “Who the hell are you? Never heard about any Miro.”

Stubborn blockhead. “I’m not from this city. I’m from Laniara.”

“The capital? How the fuck did you appear here then?”

Not only a blockhead and stubborn but also impolite and rude. Poor Kakarott. “I met Kakarott ten days ago in Laniara. He promised to show me around.”

Bardock’s memory seemed finally to work. “Ah. That damn Radditz took him there. Say he promised to show you around? He did, didn’t he? Idiot. What is your social status?” Bardock looked him up and down again.

“What?” He couldn’t believe this. The family clearly was the lowest class – third-class. Why the fuck was Bardock asking HIS status? “Elite.” For proof he showed his white tail tip.

Bardock’s face suddenly lit up. “So why you didn’t tell me right away? Come in, come in,” Bardock thrust open the door widely for him. “Kakarott!” he shouted. “Your friend from Laniara came to see you! Hurry up, don’t make him wait! Kakarott! Kaaakaaarottt!”

“I’m sure he heard you…” Veliro rubbed his ears.

“What friend from Laniara? I don’t ha-” Kakarott entered the room. “Oh, hello, my friend from Laniara,” Kakarott grinned at Veliro.

“What you are waiting here for?” Bardock tugged at Kakarott’s clothes soiled with soot and sweat. “Change! Don’t keep him waiting!” he shoved Kakarott out off the door.

Veliro saw Kakarott give him a surprised look before he was pushed into another room.

“He’s a bit tired, usually he isn’t so dense,” Bardock smiled at Veliro, worming into Veliro’s good graces.

Veliro’s brow rose. “I didn’t notice that he would be dense.” No, he thought, it’s you who is completely dense.

“Yes, yes, of course, he isn’t,” Bardock quickly nodded, agreeing.

XXXXX

They were flying back to Laniara. Veliro presumed that they really were heading to the same lake he first saw Kakarott. They were carrying fishing rods.

“What the hell is wrong with your father?” Veliro asked.

Kakarott frowned. “I’m not very sure. Another time he would have kicked you out; I still have to carry out seven orders until the next week. Have no idea what came over him.” (Elites usually were very respected and feared, but also usually only after they became a bit older than this boy).

Veliro just scratched his chin. Bardock wouldn’t have had any chance in kicking him out, he would have leveled the house to the ground if only he had tried, but Bardock was a bad influence on his Kakarott. “What orders?”

“I’m a blacksmith. I still have to make three armors and four swords.”

“Oh.” That would explain how Kakarott got that gorgeous body. A blacksmith. Not bad, even somewhat honorable profession. He had been prepared for something worse: his Kakarott might have been a potter or even a street sweeper. Yes, a blacksmith was definitely much better. “How old are you? You are very young for this job.”

Kakarott grinned at him heartily. “I’m sixteen. Believe me, it was what I had been telling my father from when I was three years old. But now – I don’t want to boast – I’m good at what I’m doing.”

“Good for you. If I ordered an armor, how long it would take for you to make it?”

“It depends how good you want it, what decorations you want, what metal you want it from, how much you would pay me.” Kakarott laughed then. “Well, for you, I could manage in two days.”

“Deal.”

Kakarott looked at Veliro in surprise. “You are serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’ll bring everything tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’ll make a discount for you. I’d do it for free but you know, my father would go crazy.” Then Kakarott scratched his head. “Or maybe not, he liked you for some reason… What did you tell him? I could use that with my other friends.”

“Other friends?” Danger. Danger!

“Yeah, guys from my town.”

“Guys?”

Kakarott looked at him a bit surprised. “Well, friends.”

“Oh, friends…”

“And what are YOU doing?” Kakarott asked Veliro.

“Me? Err…not much actually. I’m studying economics, history, war tactics and such.”

“Whoa. You are lucky. I always wanted to study. I just finished school this year. I’d like one day to go to War Academy.” There a thoughtful look suddenly appeared on Kakarott’s face. “And one day I’ll go. I’ll save enough money and I’ll go.”

Veliro suddenly felt uneasy. “It would cost you very much probably?”

Kakarott softly laughed at him. “Well, if I started to save now, probably when I’m sixty I could afford going there.”

Veliro was silent for a long time.

XXXXX

“You just put an earthworm on the fish-hook and cast the line into the water,” Kakarott explained for Veliro who was watching him fumble with the poor earthworm. As Veliro presumed they were back near Laniara at the same small lake with cascades.

Veliro looked at the small can with worms. “It’s gross.”

Kakarott grinned at him. He handed him the second fishing rod. “Give it a try.”

Veliro took the rod then hesitantly looked at the can. He reached out to take one earthworm. His nose scrunched at the feel of sluggish body between his fingers. Any other time he would never do that, but now Kakarott was watching him.

Scowling, Veliro brought himself to thread the earthworm on the hook. He quickly wiped his hand on his shirt.

“Good, now cast the line,” Kakarott nodded. He cast his own line far into the water.

Following Kakarott he cast his too. It fell one meter away from the shore. Kakarott laughed. That was so embarrassing!

“Pull it out and try again,” Kakarott smiled at Veliro. “Don’t worry, I didn’t manage to cast it at all my first time.”

He pulled the line out of the water and cast again. At the same he was thinking that he would have to find something else that they could do together – he with Kakarott – now he knew that fishing wasn’t his favorite sport.

He watched Kakarott sitting farther from him in the bushes, who was keeping an eye on his bob that was rolling in the clear water. He probably should watch his bob too, but he found Kakarott much more interesting to watch. The bob was only a bob after all.

Veliro pulled out his line to observe the gnawed earthworm then swung his arm throwing the line back into the water. Stupid fish were playing with his earthworm but weren’t stupid enough to eat it, or maybe he just didn’t notice when his bob had been under water.

Veliro looked surprised when something offered some resistance for him. He tried to swing his arm again. He looked around. His cheeks blushed noticing the line entangled high in the nearest tree behind his back. He met Kakarott’s eyes that noticed his misfortune. Without words Kakarott put his rod on the grass and levitated in the air to look at the tree and his entangled fishing line.

“Well, it’s lost,” announced Kakarott after he landed back on the grass. “I will give you mine,” he reached for his fishing rod that was lying on the ground.

“No,” Veliro shook his head, “keep it.” He didn’t have any wish to play with fish anymore.

Kakarott handed the rod to him. “It’s your first time, have fun.”

Veliro chuckled. “Nah, actually I didn’t quite like it. I’ll better watch you fishing.”

Kakarott’s face saddened a bit. “Oh, I thought you did. Okay, I’ll give you several fish so that your trip would pay off.”

Veliro laughed softly. “I’m really from Laniara. So I’m practically home.”

“Oh, you are? I thought you had been telling tales to my father. So what have you been doing in Madar?” Kakarott wondered.

“My parents went to your city to take care of some business, so then I saw you digging those holes in your backyard,” Veliro lied.

“Oh, anyway, you came long way to Madar and then back, you are going to take some fish, whether you want or not,” Kakarott grinned at Veliro.

XXXXX

Veliro raised his hand to stare at the three swimming fish in the cellophane bag filled with water. What was he supposed to do with them now? He didn’t want to throw them away or give to his father’s dog to eat, but they weren’t a clover or a rose that one could put in a diary to dry up to keep the memories. Fish weren’t so romantic and they were smelly. ► Chapter 01     Chapter 02     Chapter 03     Chapter 04     Chapter 05     Chapter 06     Chapter 07     Chapter 08     Chapter 09     Chapter 10     Chapter 11     Chapter 12     Chapter 13