Author's mini-little-tiny rant: Ok guys. Go get the tissues if you're sensitive and/or if final atonement always makes you cry anyway. I cried writing it (all right I know it's pitiful to cry at your own stuff, but still, I had to mention it XD)

Chapter 34: Vegeta's Atonement

"Ok, so that makes already two of them," Yamcha said. "Where's the next one, Bulma?"

He got no answer, and he frowned.

"Hey, B."

Her head lifted: Yamcha hadn't called her like that for so long that it felt like centuries had passed since those days.

"What?"
"I'm ok with being the pilot, but would you mind telling me where the hell I am going right now?" he asked.

He sounded calm, and yet he was very mad at Vegeta. Fuck you, goddamn Saiyan prince. You have no right to steal the woman I love from me and then destroying her like that.

"Just..."

Bulma sighed heavily and glanced down at her radar.

"Go a bit further to the North," she finally said.

The scientist leaned back on her seat, staring at her knees. What had happened to the one she loved? All those innocent people killed for no apparent reason, and that horrible smirk on his lips...

"I'm... I'm sorry guys... for the way I am right now... I just... I don't understand. Why, why, why would Vegeta do such a thing?" she asked, a hint of despair in her voice. "I-I mean this isn't like him... I know him, I've married him! I know he's not an angel, I know he's done horrible things before, things that he won't ever tell me about, but... but that... why would he?"

She stared at Yamcha: years ago, he had warned her against Vegeta, and she had never believed him. But now...

"You told me," Bulma continued with her shaking voice. "You told me and I didn't listen-"
"No," Yamcha replied, his jaw tense in an effort to hold back his hatred towards Vegeta. "I told you Vegeta would never love you, not that he would go crazy and kill dozens of people for nothing. The thing is..."

He sighed heavily. Had he not been the pilot, he would've looked at her right into the eyes.

"I was wrong on that," he finally dropped. "It kills me to admit it, but he does love you, in his own weird and selfish way."
"But then those innocents!" she insisted. "He knew I was there, why would he do that if front of me? I could've been in this section, Trunks could've been in this section! And yet he just... he just..."

Master Roshi put a comforting hand on her shoulder - and, for once, he did not try to touch her breast or glance down at her cleavage, which proved that the situation was tough for everyone in the Capsule Corp jet.

"This was not Vegeta," he said very firmly. "The Vegeta we know is hot-headed, arrogant and narcissic, but he wouldn't kill innocent people like that, not anymore. I still can't figure out what happened exactly... but this wasn't Vegeta."

Bulma sniffed and leaned her forehead on the window.

"I hope you're right," she whispered.

She suddenly got on her feet.

"Wait! He must be fighting Goku now, right?"
"Possibly," Yamcha replied. "That's all he ever wanted to do anyway."
"B-but if Vegeta's now on the other side... what if Goku..."

The blue-haired young woman bit her bottom lip, unable to finish her sentence. Right now, she was devastated and she was ready to kick her husband's butt, but if Goku killed him... she would never accept it.

"No," Videl suddenly said. "Gohan told me a lot about his father, and that man would never kill anyone."
"She's right," Chichi said very firmly. "Come on, Bulma, you know Goku. This isn't like him to kill Vegeta."

"This isn't like you," Goku said, his hand clutching at his very painful arm.

Vegeta smirked cunningly, wiping some dirt away from his shoulder.

"What isn't?" he harshly asked.
"Being anyone's slave. After Frieza, I mean. You're the last person I'd expect to be anyone's puppet ever again."

Vegeta's green eyes narrowed dangerously.

"A slave?" he said. "What do you know about slavery?"

Goku said nothing. Yes, that was true: unlike Vegeta, he had spent his whole life as a free man. Quite ironically, among all Saiyans, it seemed that the prince had had it the worst. Vegeta took one step forward, his eyes glaring at him with all the hatred one could possibly put in his gaze, and yet the other Saiyan did not move.

"Tell me, Kakarot," he continued, "Is that slavery when you get what you want?"
"When you..." Goku started.

Then, his dark eyes suddenly widened. He couldn't possibly mean...

"Y-you mean... no, you wouldn't have!"

The Saiyan prince's smirk grew bigger on his lips.

"You mean, provocking Babidi's attempt to take control over my mind and body? Purposely allow Dabura to see how tainted my heart and soul are? Hell yeah."
"Tainted? What do you mean, tainted? You're one of us now!"

Vegeta laughed - though his laugh was humourless and cold, almost cruel.

"One of you, right," he sneered. "Have you already forgotten who I am? My hands are dirty with the blood of thousands of people. A murderer," he continued after glancing down at his gloved hands for few seconds. "A ruthless warrior. That's what I am. Thanks to Babidi's magic, I am back the way I used to be, I'm back the way I should be. And I even got a little power up, how's that? Is that slavery? I don't think so!"

Goku slowly shook his head.

"I'll believe it when you do Vegeta," he replied. "Why on Earth would you do that? You've never accepted anyone's help before, so why, of all people, would you chose Babidi and risk your freedom just to get more power? Do you truly think it's worth it?"
"You have some nerves!" Vegeta yelled, unable to contain his anger any longer. "Telling me that it isn't worth it! You don't know what you're talking about! Do you have the slightest idea how it feels when you've been told all your life that you were the elite, only to be unable to surpass a low-class clown like yourself later? I've trained every goddamn day since you died, and yet, yet, you were still stronger than me!"

He took a deep breath, his fists shaking from the tension.

"This is unbearable, do you get that? I understood what had happened to me earlier in Babidi's ship. I had grown softer," he reluctantly admitted. "I had planned on leaving after fighting the androids, but then... then I found myself with a son, a family. Can you believe I truly decided that Earth was a fine place for me to stay and proposed that woman? I've trained every day since you died, but my trainings were not as intense as they used to be, as I had the little one with me! I even got late at some trainings because of that damned woman you put on my path, Kakarot! Back there in the ship, I realised... they were holding me back. They've been holding me back for about eight years now. But thanks to Babidi..."

Vegeta opened his arms widely.

"I'm free. Not only did he make me more powerful than before, but he also unsealed the darkness in my heart - I don't care anymore. And I swear, Kakarot, it feels fucking good."

For one split second, Goku thought about bringing Bulma here with Instant Transmission: perhaps his own words were useless, perhaps she was the only one who could actually bring Vegeta back to reality. But, if she - like he feared - she had witnessed him killing those innocents, then she wouldn't hesitate in yelling at her husband or even trying to strangle him with her bare hands, which would eventually lead to a tragical end for her. Furthermore, he did not want her to suffer anymore that she probably did right now by forcing her to hear Vegeta claiming that he did not give a damn about her and Trunks anymore.

Bad idea.

So, instead of doing that... he punched him with all his strength.

"I've told you, Vegeta," he spat. "Talk all you want, as long as you won't believe your own words, I won't believe them either."
"Fool!"

Vegeta rushed him - only to be interrupted by the ground shaking under them. Vegeta fell on his knees.

"What the hell is that?" Vegeta grunted, getting on his feet again. "Can't I just get to fight you without being interrupted?! Don't I DESERVE that fight, for fuck's sake?!"
"Majin Buu," Goku immediately said, sensing a new evil power. "Our fight awoke him. We've got to go and handle this, Vegeta."

The prince did not reply.

"We must go," Goku insisted. "We can finish our fight later, but this thing is going to destroy the Earth you know!"

Vegeta remained silent for a short while: when he opened his mouth, he had made his decision.

"Right," he said, taking one step forward his rival. "Gimme one of those Senzu Beans, we'll have to be at full power if we want a chance."

Goku smiled.

"Geez, thanks - you scared me, you know? I thought you were really-"

The hero would never finish that sentence: Vegeta's elbow cut his breathing and sent stars dancing in front of his eyes. Clutching at his stomach, Goku fell on the rocky ground, the Senzu Beans bag rolling off his other hand. Without a single word, Vegeta took the bag, swallowed one green bean, and took flight towards Majin Buu's energy.

"Aw, man," Goten whimpered, hiding himself behind the rocks again. "I can't stand it..."

Trunks' small and white fist was shaking.

"We go down there," he said firmly.
"What?" his friend asked. "Are you insane, this thing's beating your dad up!"
"I've noticed, thank you very much!" he snapped.
"B-but I meant... if your father... then we don't stand a chance!"
"Aw, come on Goten!"

He stood up.

"There's two of us. Three if you count my dad. That thing won't know what's happening."
"But we'll get in troubles - my mom will be mad!"
"Dah, whatever. Do as you wish, but I'm going."

With these words, he darted in the air.

"Hey, wait - I didn't mean to - WAIT!" Goten yelled, following him as he flew quickly towards Vegeta and Majin Buu.

Their combined kick threw the pink monster pretty far away. Without losing one second, Trunks started to get rid of the thick, pink ribbon wrapping his father - or at least he tried.

"Come on, dad," he said. "You've got to wake up, this thing's gonna come back!"
"Do you think he's still alive?" Goten asked shyly.

Trunks glanced at him over his shoulder and gave him his most deadly glare.

"Of course! My dad's the strongest guy in the Universe!"
"Yeah, but he got beaten up pretty badly..."

The other boy's angry blue eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Listen, Goten," he said, rather annoyed. "Do you know what my mom told me once? She told me that my dad used to be the prince off all Saiyans!"
"Your dad's a prince? Aw, man, that's so cool..."
"Yeah, he is! So he can't be dead, you hear me? Princes are tougher than that, princes don't die like that!" Trunks shouted, tears coming up his eyes as he shook his father's motionless body.

I can't die like that.

"Come on, wake up!"

Princes don't die like that.

"Please, hurry up, it's gonna come back!"

Princes... are tougher than that.

"DAD, FOR THE LOVE OF-"

Vegeta's eyes opened at once: surprised, Trunks moved back and fell on his butt in the dirt.

"Dad!"

Vegeta blasted Buu's "skin" away from his body with his energy and got on his feet.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked roughly.
"Weeeell," Trunks replied, scratching his head, "That's kind of a long story..."
"Buuuuuu!" a pitchy voice said from afar, sending chills down Vegeta's spine.
"Majin Buu's coming back. You two would be wise to leave now."
"No," Trunks said, "We'll fight with you!"
"Yeah!"
"Don't be ridiculous. You may be strong for your age, but you're still children. Go now," he ordered, starting to walk away.

He stopped after one or two steps.

"Trunks..."

He glanced at his on over his shoulder.

"I want you to take care of your mother. Will you?"

Trunks blinked several times.

"Take care of mom? Why? Are you doing somewhere?"

Yes, son. Down in Hell again.

Vegeta's head lowered a little. He'd never... he couldn't just...

"Trunks, you are my only son... and yet, I haven't held you once since you were a baby, have I?" he finally said, with a voice that was much softer than usual.

Trunks blinked again as his father turned to face him, slightly opening his arms.

"Come here," he said, getting closer to the boy.
"Dad, what's up with you?" Trunks asked as Vegeta closed his arms around him. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Vegeta did not speak, nor did he move one single muscle.

"Dad, come on," Trunks continued, blushing. "Aw, man, this is getting embarrassing..."

The prince closed his eyes for a very short moment: he wished his son would understand what was going on and appreciate this moment as much as he did. But if he explained him, then he wouldn't leave, and Majin Buu would kill him. He had been foolish enough to allow this thing to come out its egg: he would deal with it alone and, more importantly, make sure that his family was safe.

"Trunks, you must know..."

He looked down at him and gave him a small, subtle smile.

"You've made me proud, my son."

Trunks' eyes barely had the time to widened before Vegeta could do the hardest thing he had ever done: knocking out his own child.

"HEY!" Goten yelled, outraged. "Why did you do that?! What's wrong with you, why did you do that to Trunks? You might've killed him, who are you, are you crazy? WHY?"

He seized the Saiyan's waist and started to shake him, tears coming up his green eyes as he kept on yelling:

"Why did you do that? Tell me, why did you do that to Trunks?"

He started to give him small punches. His shouted words, however, hurt the prince much more than his tiny fists:

"You're his dad, dads aren't supposed to do bad things to their sons! Why did you hit him, why did you hurt him like that? Why, why?"

If only you knew, kiddo... it's the first and last time in my life I've ever acted like a true father.

With one punch to the stomach, Goten fell on the ground too. Few seconds later, Piccolo landed gracefully between the uncouncious boys.

"Take them as far away as you can," Vegeta ordered to the Namek.
"Of course."

Piccolo carefully took the two children in his arms as Vegeta walked away.

"Hurry," Vegeta pressed him.

Piccolo started at him in silence for a short while.

"You'll die, you know?" he said.

Vegeta didn't reply. Of course he knew it. But, having seen Buu's power, he had no other option left.

"Just tell me... will I meet that clown Kakarot in the other world?"
"I'm not going to lie to you, Vegeta, although you might not like the truth," Piccolo replied. "Goku devoted his entire life to helping and protecting the others. Because of that, when he died, he was allowed to keep his body and travel to King Kai's planet. You, on the other hand, have devoted your life pursuing nothing but your own selfish desires. You've caused too much pain: when you die, you will not receive the same reward."

The prince nodded one time and closed his eyes for a short moment.

"Oh well," he said. "So be it."

He looked at Majin Buu approaching awkwardly, yet dangerously.

"That'll be all. Get out of here with them while you can."

Without any more word, Piccolo took flight.

"You stay!" Majin Buu said happily. "You fight Buu!"
"YES!" Vegeta replied with all his anger and hatred. "That's right, I'll fight you! Got it?!"
"Me no like you! Buu angry!"

Vegeta smirked as steam went out Buu's holes.

"You talk mean to Buu! Me make you hurt bad! Me want fight!"
"I think I finally understand you - let's go!"

The prince took a deep breath before allowing the energy to flow freeling and wildly through his veins: now, there was no turning back. All he hoped was that Piccolo and the children were far enough now.

Fly as fast as you can, Namek. This is gonna be one hell of a blast.

He was surrounded by a golden light, more brilliant than ever: sand and dirt flew around him like a tornado, and yet Majin Buu did nothing but stare at him with the utmost interest.

"I'll make you chocolate!"

Vegeta laughed. How could such a stupid creature be so powerful? That was absurd!

"You are a fool. I'm going to crush you - and throw you into the wind!"

Bulma's face appeared before his eyes: he truly hoped she hadn't seen him killing those people at the tournament.

Trunks, Bulma... I'm doing this for you. And yes... yes, even for you... Kakarot.

He was ready now, ready to crush that thing. The Saiyan prince had had very little control over his own life in the past.

This day, however... he had full control over his death.

End of the chapter: MY VEGETAAAAAAAAA! All right that's Bulma's Vegeta ^^' aww, damn, do I love this episod, I hope I did it as good as it is meant to be :D