Chapter 2

The wounded earth saiyan was hunched over and sitting quietly for what seemed like an eternity to Vegeta, who was beginning to grow uneasy as time passed and the power in the distance grew.

After his response to Kakarot's inquiry as to why Vegeta had ravaged him, the younger saiyan had clammed up and refused to even look him in the eyes anymore.

Reaching out tentatively, Vegeta brushed over Kakarot's hand to offer comfort and apology in his own way, but the action earned him a growl from the edgy saiyan and Kakarot finally raised his head to glare up at him, "Don't."

Goku's dark eyes pierced through Vegeta and a wary look flashed over their surface as he regarded the older saiyan, who was knelt in front of him, before speaking again.

"You know what made the earth tremble just now?" Goku asked, looking off into the distance at some far away point.

Grunting Vegeta replied, "Majin Buu, I'm assuming."

Vegeta lowered his head and held his breath considering what options were left to him at present. It was obvious how the younger saiyan felt about him and it wasn't encouraging. Not that he could blame Kakarot.

"We have to stop him, Vegeta," Kakarot's voice broke through the older saiyan's tumultuous thoughts, "Or he will destroy the earth and there won't be anything left."

"We?" Vegeta questioned, gazing into the face of his battered rival, trying to figure out what the man intended to do.

Goku flashing a wistful smile responded cautiously, "I can put aside what happened in exchange for saving the earth, though I cannot promise you I'll easily forget what you did to me."

Vegeta considered Kakarot's words for some time before nodding.

"Understood," the prince acknowledged, again reaching toward Kakarot, who seemed to be more receptive to him now.

"I said don't touch me, damnit," Goku boomed abruptly, making Vegeta flinch and retract his hand like a fire had just burned it, "You have no fucking right!"

This time Vegeta could feel the rage and incredible power that was hidden deep within Kakarot rising up, threatening to break the surface of its master's control.

Had Kakarot found a way to surpass a SS2? The idea brought a brief hint of anger to Vegeta, who had the impression the earth saiyan had been fighting at full strength during their battle earlier.

Vegeta had opened his mouth to question the other man but promptly closed it. Kakarot was right. He had no right to anything at the present from him. Not even an explanation about the power he might be holding back.

Vegeta had after all just raped his rival viciously and yet Kakarot was still asking for his help to save the planet from destruction, willing to put aside what had just transpired between them.

"Alright, Kakarot," the weak and unpleasant emotions Vegeta tried to suppress had moved him and he heard himself agreeing to the earth saiyan's proposal, even as the wheels in his mind were spinning with other possibilities.

"Good," Kakarot scrutinized him with searching eyes but appeared content with his answer.

Vegeta giving the other saiyan his back heard Kakarot rise and begin searching for scraps of clothing to cover his naked lower half and after some time and creative use of his outer gi shirt, Kakarot had covered the more intimate regions of his body to his satisfaction.

"I'm almost done," Goku called out from his bent position.

Searching through his salvaged belongings, Goku's hand came across a tiny brown bag and he dug out one of the healing beans to give Vegeta, his prince of a dead race, the very prince who had just raped his body into the unforgiving rocks of the canyon.

But it couldn't be helped; Goku needed the other man. The power he had felt earlier was tremendous and it would take their combined strength to defeat him.

"Here, take this," Goku held out his fingers with the senzu for his companion to accept without having to touch him.

But instead of taking the offered sustenance, Vegeta did the only thing his pride would allow and lunged forward, fisting his hands together and knocking Kakarot soundly behind the neck.

Kakarot never saw it coming and Vegeta watched as the taller saiyan dropped, his golden spikes of hair shifting back to sable as he fell face forward onto the ground.

"You were always too trusting, Kakarot," Vegeta whispered, his dark eyes fixing the man's unconscious form and putting it into memory, "even now."

Bending down to pick up the bean from its place near the fallen one's hand, Vegeta placed it between his teeth and winced as he chewed and bitterness engulfed his mouth.

A flash of something, a not so distant memory, now passed through Vegeta's thoughts. It was him on the ground with a hole in his chest, reaching out to Kakarot, begging him to destroy Frieza for killing their people.

Kakarot had been true to his word that day, soundly defeating the bastard who had blown up their entire planet and its population. Yet Vegeta had hated him for it - Hated that it was a third class nobody and not Prince Vegeta who had ascended and achieved the impossible.

But what benefit did hatred earn Vegeta except for pain and trouble tenfold? Had he not been possessed and busy torturing his fellow saiyan, the threat now looming like a dark shadow over the planet wouldn't have been awoken.

"I won't let you interfere this time," Vegeta whispered as the memories were fading and his obsidian eyes gazed resolutely at the man near his feet.

If Kakarot had been conscious he might have seen the moment the hard prince softened his features before standing back up.

"Majin Buu will die by my hands, Kakarot. When you wake I may not be around but this planet will be safe."

Giving his rival one last glance, Vegeta turned and began to make his way to the location of the enemy and his likely demise.

Knowing this as clear as day, Vegeta felt no regrets. His crimes were too numerous to remember now and he was determined to pay the debt back with blood. Even if it was his own.

Somewhere off in the distance, two great powers would wage a battle for the survival of the planet and its people, but earth's greatest hero would not bear witness to the sacrifice made by the prince or hear Vegeta's last words spoken in the fiery wind.

"Trunks, Bulma, I do this for you…and yes, even for you Kakarot."