Far Apart, Part Four

By Kaycee Ronin

I don't own Dragonball Z or anything even close to it. Heck, if I did I'd actually have money and I wouldn't be going to college in the middle of nowhere. Don't sue…you'd only get about three bucks out of it. Enjoy the fic now that I've finally got it out. Remember to read and review!

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Vegita knew very well what Trunks was going to do. If the boy used this much power for one measly attack, he would have nothing left. The Saiya-Jin prince would be the victor, but not because of his skills.

He would win because his son was a fool.

Trunks was concerned only with the attack he was busy still gathering strength to use. He didn't even notice Vegita's movements below him. The older warrior could easily use that to his advantage. He pulled himself together from the near beating the boy had just given him and made a beeline straight for Trunks.

He stopped ten feet or so in front of the half Saiya-Jin, keeping his body taut with caution. The boy was completely unhinged. As much as he hated to admit it, Trunks was dangerous, extremely dangerous at the moment. He had a pretty good grasp of what the boy could do when he was angry. He had seen it before. Vegita would have to watch it if he didn't want to get fried. Even if he simply charged forward he wouldn't escape unscathed. Perhaps if he tried to reason with him things could be better.

"Baka," He hissed as he looked over to Trunks. "What the hell do you think you're doing brat? Do you know what will happen if you let that attack go?"

"Do you think I care? I know you don't." Trunks shot back instantly, his tone colder than any he had ever used. Had he been himself at the moment it probably would have scared him. He had finally just taken too much from Vegita.

"Kisama…" Vegita clenched his teeth.

"You only care about yourself. Isn't that right Vegita?" Trunks grinned darkly and carefully aimed his attack. "I can't believe I thought there was more to you. Kaasan told me that everyone has some good in them but you're the exception. All this time I've believed there was something behind all of that arrogance and pride you always show, but I was wrong! Temee! I've defended you in front of everybody for nothing! How could I be so stupid as to think you could possibly have something good in you? You lack such respect for life...you're almost as bad as the androids! I'd be doing this world a favor if I just got rid of you."

"What?!"

"If I destroyed you, this planet would be a whole lot better off."

Vegita was taken aback for a moment, his eyes wide in surprise. Then a slow smile crept across his face. "You want to try and kill me? You wouldn't stand a chance brat. Have you forgotten that I've already pounded you into the ground once already today? Perhaps I should give you another demonstration." His sneer only grew wider when he added, "You don't even have it in you."

"Don't treat me like such a pushover Vegita!" Trunks snapped. "I don't think I need to tell you you're in a pretty sticky situation here. I doubt someone even as great as you would have trouble escaping this blast unscathed. After all…I'm your son."

"Temee…" The eyes of the Saiya-Jin prince narrowed dangerously.

"Just how great are you Vegita?" The half Saiya-Jin's tone sounded exactly like Vegita's normal one. "Or maybe you should be asking yourself how great your son is. You're about to find out…if it doesn't kill you that is."

Vegita's shout of surprise was drowned out by Trunks' cry as he released his attack. The bright light coming from the attack blinded him and made impossible to dodge what was coming. How in the hell had the boy managed to pull together so much power for an attack so quickly? He had barely been able to pick himself up off the ground just a minute ago.

He couldn't dodge. Vegita barely had time to think before the blast was on top of him. The shot of hot power and fury hit the Saiya-Jin prince full-force before he could even attempt to block. The attack drove him to the ground and sent him skidding backwards wildly until he hit a cliff face and fell into the dirt face first as the world around him faded into darkness.

Far above him, Trunks looked down to Vegita with a triumphant look on his face. "I win," The boy said with a smile. "I'm the better Saiya-Jin after all."

Something told him to leave right then. He had won. The younger Saiya-Jin had proven himself. He could leave now and both he and Vegita would know whom the better one was. Again he glanced down to where the Saiya-Jin prince still lay unmoving and smiled proudly to himself. Lavender strands of hair began to fall across his face as Trunks calmed down.

It was then he realized how exhausted he was. He shouldn't have used such a powerful attack without realizing how much it would drain him. Trunks suddenly began to fall, lacking the strength to stay in the air any longer. He cursed himself aloud as he fell, starting to feel like a fool for acting the way he had. How many times had he been told it was impossible to put up a good fight when he was angry?

~~ What in the heck was I doing? ~~

His breath left him and he momentarily blacked out as he hit the ground. Trunks coughed sorely as he slowly lifted his head to look around. Dust rose around him, blocking his vision for the most part. The half Saiya-Jin moaned as darkness pulled at him. He vaguely heard a sound, something like rock breaking apart very close by. Instincts told him to move, but he couldn't get his body to respond to his commands. He was far too tired. Finally he gave up and closed his eyes, forgetting about the disturbing sound and allowing unconsciousness to take over.

Vegita woke up slowly, awareness coming back along with a stabbing pain in his head. Once he cleared his mind of persistent cobwebs, the Saiya-Jin prince looked to the sky in search of Trunks. The boy was nowhere to be seen. He pulled himself to his feet slowly, grasping his rather sore shoulder and scanned the ground for any sign of movement. Near a cliff edge he noticed an unmoving figure. ~~ Stupid boy, ~~ Vegita thought as he started towards Trunks. The boy had hit the ground so hard that the edge of the cliff was beginning to break apart. In his current state, there was no way the half Saiya-Jin would be able to survive a long fall from the decimated cliff.

Trunks woke up with a low moan, his body racked with exhaustion and pain. Something was faintly still nagging him, urging him to move but his trodden mind could not comprehend what it meant. He slowly pulled himself to his hands and knees, choking out a cough as he did so. The nearby rumbling had grown louder now, and it was beginning to bother him. The Half Saiya-Jin noticed the ground breaking apart just in front of him and impulsively moved. He wasn't getting far enough, however, and soon enough the cracks had surrounded him and were threatening to take Trunks down with the rest of the collapsing cliff.

"Kuso," The boy cursed aloud as he pressed his body against the ground. He could not fly now with so much energy used wastefully, so it he thought it better to cling to something relatively solid. The ground underneath him began to break away and Trunks made a desperate grab for the new edge of the cliff. He made it with ease but could barely manage to hold on. The fight and his last attack had taken far too much out of him.

His grasp on the rock face slipped slowly but gradually, and Trunks knew he could not hang on for long. ~~Because I'm an idiot, ~~ He thought with a low growl, cursing himself. ~~ Because I had to go and flaunt my arrogance…I'm no better than I claim Vegita, no…Otousan…is. He is my father no matter what I have to say about it. ~~ His body jerked involuntarily as he sagged, his grip slacking even more. ~~ Baka, ~~ He chided himself once more. ~~ Maybe I deserve to go this way…~~

Trunks closed his eyes as his final few fingers slipped from the cliff and he began to fall. It was a long way down, so at least he would die without much pain. He would just make a big splat on the cavern ground below. But at almost the same instant as he let go, he felt a strong hand grab his wrist and yank him upward.

"Stupid brat," The harsh voice spoke coldly, but Trunks was suddenly grateful to be hearing anything at all. "No son of mine could possibly be as stupid as you…a Saiya-Jin would not even make an attempt to take his own life in such disgrace…you're the biggest fool I've ever met," Vegita smiled at the boy darkly as he pulled him back to the safe ground. "Must take after your mother…Softies tend to be fools," He grumbled.

Trunks looked up in slight surprise at the hand grasping his wrist. "Nani?" He managed. His blue eyes met Vegita's in confusion. ~~ He saved me... but why? ~~

Vegita dropped his son to the ground and wandered a few steps away. ~~ I'm getting too soft, ~~ He scolded himself, not looking at the bewildered Trunks. ~~ I saved a life…one besides my own…a comrade's so to say…my son's…~~ The Saiya-Jin Prince looked down at the boy as he started to pull himself to his feet. ~~ His spirit proves it…He is a Saiya-Jin…He is my son. ~~

Trunks could not even look at his father as he slowly climbed to his feet. He kept his blue eyes on the ground in shame, not wanting to see the look of disappointment and…hatred on Vegita's face. His entire body ached, but he gave it little notice. His face was deep red in embarrassment of how he had acted and all he had said. "Baka," The boy hissed angrily, scolding himself. Vegita was right. He was stupid, foolish. Hardly worthy to be called a Saiya-Jin.

"You're supposed to still be able to stand when you win," Vegita spoke coldly, folding his arms. "And if you ever pull another trick like that one," He pointed to the cliff, "I'll make sure you won't be standing for a very long time boy."

Trunks raised his head, a bit surprised by the choice of words. "Win...?" He stuttered. It seemed to be the only word he had caught.

"What's the matter?" Vegita smirked slightly as he took a step closer to his son. "A few minutes ago I couldn't get you to shut up; and now you're speechless." He shook his head and looked away again. Perhaps it was better not to know some things...

Trunks faltered a bit on his feet and quickly leaned a hand against a large bolder to hold himself up. "Just...burning rage I guess..." He spoke rather regretfully, keeping his eyes on the ground rather than watching Vegita. He was still rather ashamed and didn't want to look at his father.

"That's not the way to do it," Vegita narrowed his eyes, staring at the far off horizon. "I'm sure someone had to teach you to control your feelings when you fight. Be more careful next time boy," He grumbled, grasping his sore shoulder. "Before you kill somebody on your own side..."

"Hai," Trunks spoke in a quiet tone as he raised his head gazed at Vegita apologetically, relieved his father wasn't looking back. He wanted nothing but to kick himself for acting like such an idiot. If the Saiya-Jin Prince had seen him as lowly before, he couldn't possibly think anything of him by now. At least as nothing more than a loose cannon and a fool. He sighed as he stood up straight, still watching Vegita with a sorry expression.

Vegita could feel the boy's gaze burning into his backside. It was so pathetically pitiful it made him ill. He clenched his fists and teeth in anger as he weighed out his options. One, ignore him and hope he'd just stop. Two, make fun of him...but then the whole mess could start over again. Three...say something to make him quit it.

"Saiya-Jin's are supposed to be pleased when they win a battle," He said matter-of-factly as he turned to face Trunks again. He scowled at the look in the boy's eyes and continued. "Yet you're looking as though somebody's just died. Don't you have any pride?"

"Not for acting like an idiot," Trunks replied flatly. "If I hadn't been trying to blow you to kingdom come, I might have thought I had really, actually accomplished something." ~~ What would that be? ~~ His mind taunted. ~~ Is this father-son bonding? ~~

Vegita eyed his son coldly for a moment, raising a brow and carefully choosing his words before he spoke again. "Saiya-Jin's are a powerful and proud great race," He said, eyeing his son calmly. "And one has never existed that wouldn't want you around for help in a fight. You are one of the strongest I've ever known."

Trunks had to struggle to keep his mouth from dropping open. Had he just heard right, Was he just actually...complimented? By Vegita? The words rang over and over in his mind and the half Saiya-Jin smiled slightly. After all the things he had said and done, he managed to receive a word of praise and approval...all he had really wanted the entire time.

"Of course, being strong is expected," Vegita said as he flew into the air. "After all, you are my son."

Trunks smiled and started after his father, lingering a bit behind him on purpose. He had nothing to be upset about now. Finally... finally he was accepted by the only person who had not given him recognition before. The person he had grown up hearing was so cold hearted and empty had given him a word of praise.

And somehow... that made everything worth it.

~~ Blinks in shock ~~ It's... done....It's DONE!!! *dances* Hooray! It's been such a long time I know, but ladies and gentlemen, Far Apart is now completed! I hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for more fics! I've got two new rather angsty ones coming up.

Please leave a review if you have the time ^_^ Sankyuu!