“Buruma-san made no exception when she stated her demands this morning. Niisan left with everyone else to…” Taburu’s brow furrowed as he reached for the coffee pot. After a moment, he nodded. “’See Santa’. Yes, that was it. They went to see someone named Santa.” He smiled, lifting it from the machine. “Trunks seemed very excited by it.”

Gohan laughed, leaning languidly against the kitchen counter.

“I can imagine.”

“I don’t claim to understand this human holiday,” Taburu confessed, pouring rich black liquid into two worn mugs, each bearing a different incarnation of the Capsule Corporation logo.

“Neither do I, actually,” Gohan admitted, pushing his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose. “I had a friend of mine try to explain it to me once, but she lost me after the bit about getting presents on someone else’s birthday.”

Taburu nodded. “Saiya-jin holy days were treated very differently. Even after I was sent away, I continued to observe the major ones. The minor ones…” He made a dismissive gesture.

“What do you celebrate?” Gohan asked with poorly concealed interest.

The slight Saiya-jin wrinkled his nose in concentration, a trait that Gohan began to realize was a trademark characteristic.

“The most important one deals with remembering the dead and asking the gods for favour in battle.”

“That seems about right,” Gohan agreed, accepting his coffee with a grateful nod and taking a seat at the table. A thought struck him and he set aside what he had been about to drink. “Do you think…that Vegiita-san still observes it?”

The younger prince arched a brow over his own mug, swallowing and setting it down. He licked any remnants from his lips before responding. “Well…he seems to. He still wears our House colours…which were symbolic of the God-Emperor’s favourtism of our line.”

The half-breed cocked his head. “What are your house colours?”

Taburu took another sip off the top. “Blue and white. Sometimes black. Though that’s mostly a sacrificial colour.”

Gohan blinked, staring into the toffee coloured coffee cup, remembering the one time he could recall Vegiita wearing black--on Namek. He felt a little sick as it all sank in.

“So what do you know about the Saiya-jin culture?” Taburu asked with genuine curiosity.

The demi-Saiya-jin pursed his lips in thought, tracing the rim of his mug with his thumb.

“Not much at all, unfortunately. Vegiita-san complains all the time that my father’s not Saiya-jin enough, but I’m not sure he’s ever taken the time to explain exactly what that is.”

“How does he treat the rest of you?” Taburu asked. “Half-breeds, I mean,” he clarified. “They were something of a taboo on our planet. The only thing worse than crossing the class barrier was having inter-species offspring.”

Gohan was surprised. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that.” He took a precautionary sip of coffee and found it strong and to his liking. “We were all kinda shocked when he and Buruma-san got together, but Vegiita-san never seemed to make a big deal out of it. And it’s obvious that he’s proud of Trunks.” He smiled. “You saw that when you came here and the kids fought.” His eyes softened. “It may not seem like it, but I think Vegiita-san would do anything for Trunks.” He cleared his throat. “Within reason, of course. He’s not pampered, that’s for sure.” Cupping the warm mug with both hands, he tilted his head inquisitively.

“Do you have children, Taburu-san? With Gure-san?”

The Saiya-jin’s eyes brightened. “Yes. Two girls. One of them is about Trunks’ age. The other is a little younger.”

“Are they back on your planet?”

Taburu nodded, idly studying the faded black lettering on his mug. “Yes. That’s why Gure went back before me. We don’t like to leave them alone for too long if it’s avoidable.”

Gohan grinned. “It’s still strange to think that there are others like us out there.” He rested back in his chair and stretched his legs.

His smaller companion sighed unexpectedly. “That’s why I’m concerned about Niisan. He seems a little…lonely, don’t you think?”

The half-breed blinked. “Lonely? Well…I don’t know. Vegiita-san’s always been solitary--“

Taburu sighed again and shook his auburn head. “That’s not what I mean.” He winced. “You probably have no idea what the Saiya-jin family structure was like, do you?”

“No…” Gohan admitted a little defensively. “Considering how eager everyone is to talk about it and the model parents I’ve got.” He couldn’t mask the sarcasm and felt immediately immature for it.

“I’m sorry,” the Saiya-jin apologized instead. “I didn’t mean it that way. Of course you wouldn’t know. It’s just…regardless of species, Saiya-jin aren’t meant for this opposite sex singularity. I traveled through several galaxies and planets when I was younger, and I’ve never seen a social system quite like this one. It’s almost ridiculous the way the two species attempt to coexist.”

Gohan shook his head. “I’m sorry, but you’ve lost me. What two species?”

The Saiya-jin leaned forward. “Men and women. Male and female. Everyone understands that there’s a need to come together for procreation, but only on this planet and one other in the frontier region of the Southern Galaxy have I seen the societal necessity to remain together.”

Intensely confused, Gohan leaned forward. “But you and Gure-san--“

“Each have consorts who tend to us. She’s the mother of my children, but she’s not my constant companion. And I’m not hers.”

Dumbfounded, the half-breed’s jaw dropped. “Then why did she come with you?”

“Oh,” Taburu smiled. “I can see why you’re confused. Her people have been mapping the universe for millennia. When I found out where Niisan had settled, she agreed to come with me. I’m not adept at wormhole transport and she--“

“Wait, wait, wait,” Gohan interrupted, for once unconcerned about how rude it might have seemed. “You’re saying that most species, including Saiya-jin, have children with the opposite sex and then…” his face reddened. “Take lovers of the same sex?”

Taburu’s brow dipped over his large, Saiya-jin eyes. “Well doesn’t that make sense?”

Gohan opened his mouth to contradict, but found that he was at a loss for words. “I’m not sure what to say,” he concluded. Memories of arguments with Videl, the woman he knew his mother had wanted him to marry, and the screaming and fighting that took place between his parents effectively silenced his protests.

“There is no unnecessary need to attempt to comprehend a species that is completely different from yourself and it tends to be far more satisfying on a physical level--“

“Taburu-san!” Gohan’s eyes squeezed shut and he was mortified to hear his voice break on the honourific.

“Gohan-san,” Taburu admonished lightly. “You wouldn’t have me believe that at nineteen you’ve never--“

Gohan’s eyes snapped open in abject terror. “I really don’t think I’m comfortable talking about this, Taburu-san.”

The Saiya-jin cocked his head. “But you’re a handsome young man. Surely--“

And it occurred to Gohan, as he happened to be freaking out, that Vegiita’s younger brother might have been hitting on him. He wasn’t sure how ok he was with that.

Gohan made to stand. “I-I’m sorry, but maybe I should go--“

“Sit down,” Taburu commanded; stunned at the abrupt, authoritative shift in tone, Gohan slowly complied. “I understand if you don’t wish to discuss yourself, but you’re not still so young that you have to flee at the mention of it.” His narrowed eyes softened slightly. “Drink your coffee. You’ll feel better.”

Gohan nodded and drank. And did feel a little bit better for it.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered at last.

“Didn’t your father talk to you about these things?” Taburu asked sincerely.

Gohan almost snorted his coffee. Coughing into the back of his hand, he tried valiantly to compose himself. “My father? Are you kidding? I couldn’t even imagine having this discussion with him. I’m pretty sure my mother tricked him into marrying her.”

“That’s so odd,” Taburu insisted, getting up to refill his cup. “I’ve never been to a place where people find it so natural to be miserable.”

Feeling a little hysterical, Gohan chuckled. “Yeah, maybe Vegiita-san isn’t angry, he’s just frustrated.”

“Well, that’s my point,” Taburu concurred unexpectedly, padding back to the table.

Gohan balked. “But I don’t think it works like that, Taburu-san. I mean, Buruma-san would flip.”

The Saiya-jin arched a brow and Gohan was struck again by the uncanny resemblance he held to his brother. “You don’t think their difference in strength is uncomfortably apparent to both of them?”

Again, the young man couldn’t counter. He’d been privy to one or two arguments between his parents that he was never meant to hear concerning that very subject. Being younger, it hadn’t quite sunk in; now, older and more advanced in such matters, he could understand and, well, relate.

“It is hard, isn’t it?” he mused quietly. Gohan furrowed his brow and spitefully sipped his coffee. “But Saiya-jin seem to be…well, volatile. Isn’t jealousy an issue?”

Taburu’s brow knit. “Does it seem strange to you that there isn’t? I think it’s brilliant. My parents kept such a tight, efficient household it was infuriating. Their consorts were so attentive with us it was almost impossible to get away with anything.” He shifted in his seat, leaning toward the skeptical half-breed. “Listen…there’s a word in our language that I think would help you understand. Bahnktoriish. Loosely translated, it’s the ultimate in stupidity. But it’s not a word. Not like you think.

“Bahnktoriish was the name of a third class soldier who lived about fifty lunar cycles ago--“ he wrinkled his nose and did some quick calculations. “I guess that would be about one hundred and forty of your years. Because of his strength, he had the opportunity to qualify as one of the king’s consorts, an incredibly high political position. But, for one reason or another, he continuously pursued the attentions of a first-class female. It made no sense to anyone who knew him and on top of it, she was already partnered and even had children, if I recall correctly.” He shook his head. “But do you see why it’s the ultimate idiocy, Gohan-san?”

The half-breed nodded slowly as this new interpretation of life as he knew it began to make sense.

“Because who in their right mind would give up the chance to be the king’s constant companion for a woman that would only sleep with him once or twice…” Gohan surmised thoughtfully. His complexion flushed as the implication of it all sunk in. His dark eyes widened. “I think I’ve heard Vegiita-san call my father this…you don’t think he means anything else by it, do you?”

Taburu blinked and sat back, seemingly surprised. Curling his fingers loosely around the worn edge of the table, he replied, “I’m not certain…but, no. No, I don’t think so.” He wrinkled his nose definitively. “It’s impossible. Kakarotto-san’s entirely too territorial to ever agree to that; although Niisan should have at least one consort by now, I don’t think it could ever be your father.”

Gohan realized with a start how much about the Saiya-jin race he didn’t know. He looked down at his coffee without seeing it. Everything that Taburu said made sense to him on an intrinsic level--if he allowed himself to acknowledge it. Within him, there was a strong, savage, selfish animal that clawed for freedom from its human social constraints. And maybe…as the years had gone by, he had felt a kinship with the Saiya-jin no Ouji, though it had taken speaking at length with his younger brother to fully understand and accept that.

Nodding mostly to himself, he finished his coffee, politely declining the offer of a second cup.

“What makes you think Otousan is territorial?”

Taburu arched a disbelieving brow. “The signs are obvious if you know what to look for. His unbelievable strength, his desire to fight any and everything. The way he takes control of situations.”

Gohan frowned. “But you just described Vegiita-san, as well.”

“Exactly!” the small Saiya-jin exclaimed. “And that’s what keeps them from getting along. If not for that, I’ve no doubt that they would be lovers by now.”

The half-breed’s lips tightened. There was an uncomfortable knot in his stomach that he attributed to the dark coffee.

“Having traveled through at least two different galaxies, I’ve come to realize that Saiya-jin have maintained quite a bit of our animal ancestry, as opposed to other civilized nations.” Taburu elaborated. “Maybe it has to do with the full-moon change, the connection we retain to our primal states. Whatever the reason, we hold instinct more closely than most other species with a spoken or written language. Some of us are more territorial than others.”

Gohan worried thoughtfully at his lower lip. “You know…before I met you, I was convinced that I wouldn’t have fit into Saiya-jin society.” He shrugged self-consciously. “Otousan and Vegiita-san share the overwhelming desire for strength and the kids seem to have that, too. Or at least Trunks does and Goten follows him.” He sighed. “And I…I don’t know if it was the way I was raised, or if it was because I always had to train for a specific event, but I don’t find fighting as fun as the others do.”

Taburu’s smile was soft and understanding. “You know, Gohan-san…not all Saiya-jin devoted their lives to fighting. We had doctors and scholars and historians, too.”

“Really?” Gohan asked hopefully.

“Yes. Things started to change with the Kohld alliance, but before the draft, we were just another race struggling to survive. Sure, it’s in our blood to fight. It’s the only way we feel truly alive, but…”

The Saiya-jin shrugged. “That doesn’t mean we define ourselves by it. You just happened to grow up under the influence of two very territorial Saiya-jin. That’s enough to make anyone question their place in the world. They’ve probably spent the entire time they’ve known each other fixated on their relationship.”

The young man swallowed. “Well…yes, actually…”

Taburu scowled. “It’s unfortunate. They’ll continue that way until one of them takes on another distraction.”

“You mean a lover.”

Nodding, the Saiya-jin finished his coffee. “Can you imagine the attention they’d give a lover if that’s the fixation they have with their rival?”

Gohan’s face flushed; warmth spread through his chest and he raised his mug only to realize that he had finished his coffee some time ago....