Raimi froze, staring at Gohan as she heard Vegeta stomp on Goku repeatedly, and felt her temper rise, blocking out her pain. She saw herself as if from a distance, planting her left foot firmly beneath her crouched form. She saw herself rise so fast she was a blur, and punch Vegeta in the jaw. His head snapped back, and he stumbled a few steps backward, finally falling onto his rear. He looked up, and his fury at her blow turned into amazement.BR
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She stood over Goku, hair free of its ties and floating around her like she was in a windstorm. Her IKi/I wreathed her in a Blue-Violet nimbus, cracking like lightning, and her eyes had gone solid black. She looked like an avenging Goddess, powerful and unstoppable. She hissed at him, tail lashing like an angry cats.BR
"That's enough! Stop being a pig like Nappa, and be a man for once in your life, Oji-sama..." She spat the honorific like a curse. "I will not endure one more blow aimed at this man, he did his best and lost, it's OVER!" She stepped forward, and Vegeta actually felt himself cringe. He shook it off and stood, looking down at her from his scant advantage in height.BR
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"The fight ends when one of us is dead, not before! That's how Saiyans fight, you know that. Now out of my way!" He said, his voice quiet and deadly. Raimi didn't move. He raised one hand, finger pointed like a gun, and rested it between her eyes. Raimi stood as straight as she could, and stared into his eyes. He felt his grudging for her respect grow; she was tough, and brave, that was undeniable. Too bad he had to kill her. He knew she would do everything in her power to keep him away from Kakarrot, and he needed to kill him. His Pride demanded it; he had no other choice...BR
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"Stop it... " Gohan said behind him. Vegeta spared a glance over his shoulder at the boy.BR
"Stop it." Gohan repeated, his voice louder this time. Vegeta laughed, and turned back to Raimi and Goku.BR
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"I SAID STOP!!!" Gohan's small child's voice was now full of grown-up Saiyan rage. Vegeta couldn't ignore it this time. He turned around and looked at the boy condescendingly. "I'll... I'll... Kill you for this!" Gohan growled, shaking with a fury he couldn't understand or control. Vegeta raised one eyebrow and smiled.BR
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"You will kill me? Ha!" He didn't seem to care about the immense aura of IKi/I around Gohan, but he learned to care quickly. Gohan shot a beam at the Prince, who shot up out of its way. Raimi swayed to the side and fell as it came at her, and it shot by.BR
As Raimi hit the valley floor, she looked up, and saw Gohan land a sweet kick on Vegeta's jaw. The Saiyan flew, Gohan behind him. Vegeta recovered quickly, and slammed his foot into Gohan's forehead. The boy paused, grabbing his face, and then jumped into a spar with the Prince. After a flurry of blows, the boy took another hit, which sent him flying, the arrogant Vegeta in pursuit.BR
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As this was happening, Kurilin crept over to Goku and Raimi, clutching his arm, which looked dislocated. Raimi felt her rush of adrenaline start to fade, leaving her body throbbing with pain. She knelt over Goku, wiping the fresh blood away, and calling to him. He woke again, groaning softly. Raimi felt bad, bringing him back to the pain consciousness must bring to him, but they needed that Genki-dama.BR
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"Goku, this is hopeless! He's just too strong... why didn't you tell Gohan to run?" Kurilin sighed, already writing himself off. Raimi shook her head.BR
"Goku has an ace up his sleeve, Kurilin, don't give up yet!" She told him.BR
"She's right, I've gotta give this to you before it's too late!" Goku agreed weakly.BR
"Give me what?"BR
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"The Genki-dama, Kurilin, the last chance." Raimi sighed, watching the combatants above. Gohan was doing surprisingly good against Vegeta. However, even tired, Vegeta was a supreme warrior, and was giving the game Gohan a nice thrashing.BR
"...Yeah, the Genki-dama, it's made of IKi/I that I gathered from all over the Earth... Most of it got away, but I think there's enough to beat him, while he's weakened... " Goku said. Kurilin didn't understand, and shook his head, baffled.BR
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"But... But..."BR
"Kurilin, hold... hold my hand..." Goku ordered.BR
"But I don't get how..." Kurilin hedged. Goku and Raimi glared at him.BR
"Hurry! Or Gohan will die! He can't last much longer!" The said in unison. Kurilin winced at the double tone of reproach.BR
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"Just hold your hand..." He said, and took a hold of Goku's battered arm. "...Like this?" He said, and he heard the broken bones grind together in Goku's arm.BR
"Y-your arm is broken Goku!" He choked, feeling nausea sweep over him. His friend was so badly injured, how could he still be alive? And Raimi's armor and boots were drenched in her own blood from her injuries as well.BR
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"Just... hold it! Please, don't... don't let go!" Goku groaned. Kurilin held Goku's wrist gingerly, as he concentrated and his hand began to glow. The glow spread to Kurilin's hand, and he gasped as he felt the power he now held.BR
"Yeeee-oww! What IS this?!" The monk whispered. The IKi/I in this... I've never felt anything like it, it's incredible!"BR
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"Turn your palm up... good, now concentrate... it'll become a sphere... " Goku coached, hope in his voice again. Kurilin's brow furrowed as he focused on the Genki-dama. Raimi had been watching the fight above, but snuck a glance at her friends face as he succeeded in making it turn into a sphere. Goku held his breath. Kurilin sweated. Then, with a soft booming noise, a beautiful blue ball rose and hung above Kurilin's palm.BR
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"Is this... Is this... Is this... Is this it?" Kurilin said, awe and pleasure in his voice as he gazed at the Genki-dama lovingly. He had done it!BR
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"Yes, I knew... you could do it, Kurilin! Now listen... You have to... hit him with it... first try!!" I... don't have the strength to make another one... you have to hit him with this one..." Goku said carefully. Raimi swallowed nervously. Kurilin actually held up well under pressure, but he lacked confidence, especially now that he felt he'd failed his friends. He had to believe that he could do this, or else they were doomed.BR
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While the trio was huddled together, working on the Genki-dama, Gohan was slowly losing to Vegeta, who was lading more and more hits on the boy. There was no way strength could make up for experience in this fight, Vegeta was too well prepared by his past. He could read many of Gohan's moves before the boy even decided on them himself. He lost sight of Vegeta and paused midair, looking about for him. Vegeta re-appeared in front of Gohan, and slammed him to the ground. Gohan landed on hands and knees, and hopped up right away.BR
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"Man! Dad weakened him, but he's still so strong... Ok, try this! Masenko!" He yelled, and shot his special attack at the Prince. Vegeta laughed in delight.BR
"That's the spirit! One last futile effort!!" He laughed, and blurred out before the blast reached him. Gohan's eyes widened with surprise, but he remembered to "feel" his opponent out, and readied another bolt for the Saiyan. They repeated the sequence over and over, as Vegeta gambled on tiring his young opponent out. It wouldn't take long at this rate...BR
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"Don't worry, Goku, just leave it to me!" Kurilin assured his friend, and looking at Raimi significantly. She nodded and smiled, reasserting what he was hoping; she knew that he'd hit Vegeta from her unique knowledge of these events. She pointed to a granite pile nearby, and he took off. He landed on the top, which afforded a clear view of the surrounding area, including Gohan and Vegeta's struggle. Unfortunately, Vegeta was moving around so fast, that Kurilin could barely see him.BR
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"Damn you! Hold still! If you keep jumping around like that, I'll never hit you!!" Kurilin cursed, unable to guess where the Saiyan would be next.BR
'Don't use your eyes. Feel his evil IKi/I and throw... ' A disembodied voice echoed in Kurilin's mind. The monk jumped, and looked around him in bafflement.BR
"Who... who SAID that?!" He squeaked in alarm.BR
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'I am Kaio the Lord of Worlds. I taught Son Goku the Genki-dama. You hold in your hand the IKi/I... and the hope... of an entire planet!!' The voice said; Kurilin saw Raimi and Goku look up. They could hear the voice too!BR
"The Lord of Worlds...? Okaaay... Feel evil IKi/I, and throw... got it... " Kurilin closed his eyes, and calmed himself. He centered himself and waited for this evil IKi/I to rise...BR
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"Heh. I tried to tell your father... even an infinite number of lesser Saiyans is no match for one of the Elite... and I am above even that!" Vegeta said to Gohan as he strode forward, closing the distance between them slowly. Gohan waited, tired and out of breath. Suddenly, the Prince stopped and spread his feet apart. He tightened his arms, and reached back, then began machine-gunning IKi/I balls at the stunned Gohan. The boy stared at the Makosen bolts headed for him, and barely jumped away in time to keep from getting killed. He ran backwards, as the balls landed exactly half his height in front of him every step of the way. Vegeta was using tremendous control, keeping the explosions just out of range of really hurting Gohan.BR
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Raimi held Goku up, letting him rest against her so he could watch the drama himself.BR
"Why is he doing that?" Goku gasped.BR
"He wants to do it with his hands, or at least in close range, that's why. Killing another Saiyan is a rare thrill for the Elite. He wants to make the most of this... " Raimi said softly. Goku's jaw tightened, but his face showed no emotion as she spoke. They watched as one blast hit too close, and Gohan flew into a cliff, shattering it with his small body.BR
"Kurilin, please!" Goku choked.BR
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"Feel it... Feel the IKi/I... " Kurilin coached himself, waiting with eyes closed. He could feel Gohan's IKi/I dropping, but Vegeta's was as well. The Prince was too tired and hurt to maintain this high power level for much longer. He hoped the signal came soon; he was going to lose his nerve if this kept up...BR
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Gohan crept out of the rock fall that covered him, and shook his head. He was dizzy, and knew he had to regain control quickly. Vegeta didn't plan on letting him do it though.BR
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"Take a long look, Kakarrot! Say farewell to your son!!" The Saiyan called as he sprinted towards the woozy Gohan. Goku gasped fearfully, and Raimi bit her lip with worry. Suddenly, Kurilin yelped from above.BR
"That was it!! I've got it!!" Unfortunately, Yajirobei, who had been watching from nearby, suddenly yelled at Kurilin.BR
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"What the heck are you doing, you moron! Just throw it already!" Raimi and Goku froze in shock; the damned fool had gotten Vegeta's attention!BR
"I should have poisoned him back on the Tenka!" Raimi hissed, forgetting that he'd cut off Vegeta's tail, which made him somewhat of a hero.BR
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"What? Throw what...?" Vegeta snapped as he slowed his run.BR
"No! Bakayaro!" Kurilin yelled; he tossed the ball anyway, as his instinct told him to do. The Genki-dama swung in a broad arch, skimming the ground, and making its way towards the startled Prince. Vegeta stopped and turned to face the thing, eye wide with disbelief.BR
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"What the... This is... " He didn't finish the thought, but jumped straight up at the last instant.BR
"Ohshitohshitohshit..." Yajirobei chanted as the ball passed under Vegeta and shot towards Gohan instead.BR