Gohan took in a deep breath steadying his heartbeat. Never before had he found himself facing an opponent head on alone. In spite of himself he even longed for the berserker rage he'd gotten when he'd fought cell. His eyes never left Vegeta who stood regal with his tail swishing with the wind.
"Do you plan on staring at me all night or are you here to fight boy?" Vegeta's gruff voice demanded snapping him out of his thoughts.
"I came to fight," Gohan replied clenching his hands into fists.
Vegeta smirked but his eyes remained cold and unfeeling. "Then it's only fair that like your teacher you land the first blow," he said slumping his arms in a relaxed manner.
Gohan hesitated only for a second before charging forward in lightening speed.
-/-
Bulma groaned as she slowly regained consciousness. Her thoughts were slightly muddled and she had to blink several times to steady her gaze. She was on the floor cramped into a broken cabinet. Slowly the events of earlier in the evening began to come back. The bloody gloves, the symbol, Vegeta and finally the blast that was supposed to have killed her- only she wasn't dead.
Well at least she didn't think the afterlife resembled her lab. With a groan she crawled on the floor grasping onto a desk. Panting heavily she cursed under her breath, she'd find that monkey. Evil/possessed alien or whatever Vegeta had become, she'd find him and give him a piece of her mind! The stupid idiot had thrown a Ki blast at her, missed but thrown it all the same.
First, she'd get herself some medical supplies to clean up the bleeding cut on her forehead, get the fastest aircraft Capsule Corp had and then she'd track him down! If there was one person who could talk some sense into that thick skull it was her.
She'd just swallow the fear and trepidation she felt and face the demon that was now her husband.
-/-
Gohan's fists landed squarely on Vegeta's jaw causing the older Saiyin to stumble back a few feet. When Vegeta gained balance he righted himself, turning his head and causing a muscle to crack in his neck. The runt had landed a solid punch, he thought begrudgingly. He spat out the blood from his mouth and wiped at the residue with the back of his hand. "Now that's out of the way…we can begin," he bit out flexing his hands.
The two warriors charged forward simultaneously, each throwing an attack. Krillin watched wide eyed as the two seemed to be going head to head. Vegeta dodged narrowly missing a kick to his abdomen and instead plunged a kick into Gohan's chest, which sent the younger Saiyin spiraling back to the ground. Only by then Vegeta was already waiting for him with a kick to the back sending him back to the air.
Krillin watched tensely as it seemed Vegeta had gained the upper hand yet again, throwing Gohan around like a punching bag.
Vegeta grabbed a patch of Gohan's hair, yanking him forward. "Is this the challenge you promised me boy?" Vegeta demanded his fury causing him to pant. The bruised up teenager raised his head, opening a swelling eye. "This isn't even close to being over Vegeta," he ground out. Vegeta tightened his hold enjoying the flinch that crossed the boy's face.
"Oh from where am standing you're finished," Vegeta stated with a smirk.
Gohan coughed and blood splattered out. "That's the thing Vegeta you aren't…" he said steadily before thrusting a powerful punch into Vegeta's gut. Momentarily winded Vegeta lost his grip and began to plummet to the ground. "-standing," Gohan finished flying to the ground and landing with a soft thud.
The dust surrounding Vegeta's fallen form began to clear as the Prince raised to his feet a look of pure anger gracing his face. "Good move boy too bad it's your last," he growled out.
Gohan shook his head slightly. "Am afraid it's just the beginning, Vegeta," he stated and began to power up. Golden sparks began to emit from him as the earth began to shake under him. A white blaze of light seemed to enfold the teenager as he powered up to Super Saiyin II. "Forgot I could do that Vegeta?" he asked grinning.
Vegeta clenched his teeth. "That makes no difference to me, I'm still far superior in strength," He gritted out.
Gohan chuckled. "Okay then Vegeta, I'll try my best to go easy on you, you know to give you a fighting chance and all," he said getting into a battle stance.
Vegeta quirked an eyebrow, "Your father's stupidity seems to be the only inheritance he left you boy," Vegeta said his fists clenched.
Gohan eyes narrowed. "For someone who hates my father so much you sure are obsessed with him," he said and his comment got the desired effect as Vegeta came charging forward. His anger making his attacks though powerful, sloppy and making him an easy target for Gohan who was anticipating them.
Soon the battle had shifted power yet again with Gohan seeming to be in his element while Vegeta began to crumble. His inner demons wagering over him and forcing him into a blind rage. He knew he was making reckless errors but he was no longer fighting Gohan but his own insecurities. Voices in his head taunted him, reminding him repeatedly of his own failures.
And when Gohan sent a ki blast into his chest propelling him to the ground he was numb, his own body freezing in a state of shock. And slowly he began to remember…
There was screaming, so much screaming that his sensitive ears seemed to bleed in pain. He clutched his hands to his ears, closing his eyes in an attempt to block out the insistent noise. And above the screaming he could hear the laugh, that laugh that served to torment and belittle him.
Would that screaming ever stop? The pain he could take - sometimes he even smiled over it- even the constant humiliation he endured he could stand. Not this, not the screaming, the screaming that said he was breaking, had failed. The screaming coursing through his own throat and vibrating over his gaping mouth.
He snapped his eyes open staring at his oppressor, the pink fiend pursed black lips and bent closer, whispering softly into his ear five words, "Nothing but a stupid monkey."
Vegeta reeled backwards eyes bulging as he began to tumble backwards into the dark pit. He landed with a thud and a hole in his chest. Peering at him from above was the golden warrior in the orange gi, and then everything went black.
"Kakarottttttt!" he screamed out as he shot from the ground seeing nothing but red.
Indebted. That is what he was. Indebted to that inferior third class warrior!
It was true he hated how Kakarot had defeated him on earth all those years ago, but then he had told himself if not for that blob Yajirobi he would have won. But that was not the true core reason he loathed the other Saiyin. It was because not only had he avenged his, Vegeta's, people but also more maddening was the fact that he owed his very existence to that third class Saiyin.
It made his skin crawl and his hands burn. The Saiyin Prince could not be indebted to anyone. His gaze landed on Gohan but he no longer saw the young fighter but Kakarot. Oh he'd repay his debt; he'll soak the very earth with his blood. Then when he'd snuff the life out of the other warrior he would have at last ascended to greatness.
"You," Vegeta shouted at a bewildered Krillin. "Start digging…your friend here is going to need a very deep grave when I'm done with him."
