TITLE: Price of Redemption
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the show.
Chapter 15
They landed lightly, their gaze not leaving the warrior before them. He sat silently in the shadow of the wood, brooding. No reaction came from him, even though one of the two kis was familiar to him. There were others more deserving than me. Why was I chosen to be redeemed? I have nothing to offer a world of peace. His years in Hell had changed him, no longer was he the dark masked killing machine of old.
Finally, he realized the couple near him wouldn't leave if he ignored them. A saddened sigh escaped him as he still avoided meeting their gaze. "I'm not going to do anything, so leave me." He stated. It was clear to them that he was not who he had been when they had first heard of him.
"What kind of attitude is that?" Chichi snapped, the Goddess of Fire showing through. "Saiya-jins are rare, and each one is needed."
Her tone caused him to look up. In that moment he was identified. Raditz had the light enough within to attempt the task, and the strength enough to have succeeded.
"Aria-sama." The warrior averted his gaze, not wanting to look into divine eyes. Plus the fact that he was more than a little embarrassed. "I didn't deserve this chance."
She snorted as Goku placed his arm around her waist. The amazon kept her gaze on the shattered warrior, knowing that he was lying to himself. "Tell that to your heart. Cora knew what she was doing. So snap out of the depression already."
Goku looked his older brother in the eye. "I know there was more to you than met the eye. Don't even think about denying it." He commanded when his brother began to object. "There was a part of you Frieza couldn't touch or corrupt. That's why you are here now."
Raditz snorted. "Kakkarott, change is difficult when you have lived your life according to codes that have now become obsolete. I doubt I can keep this up for long."
A feminine chuckle reached their ears. Cora appeared before them, her eyes sparkling with merriment; even under the gloomy light of the forest. "Raditz, don't doubt yourself. You will be fine."
He didn't look up, causing the goddess to let out an irritated growl. She grabbed his arm, yanked him to his feet with a strength none knew she had, and slapped him. His eyes widened as he put his hand to his now red cheek. What was that all about? "Aria, Kakkarott, we need some time alone." The couple nodded and flew back to their home, leaving the others in the shadowed land.
"Look at me." Cora commanded.
Reluctantly, Raditz met her gaze. The light he found in her eyes reminded him of someone he'd seen only in his dreams. Confusion welled up in him, showing on every feature.
"Why do you think I came to you in your dreams? Raditz, I felt something deep inside you that wanted to come out. Then I helped you, remember?" Her gaze softened, becoming more loving. She reached up and unfastened the jeweled clasp, letting her cape fall to the ground.
The scar on her shoulder startled him even more than he thought it would. He blinked, remembering something that happened long, long ago...
~f
Raditz gazed over the landscape, not caring about what was going on. Vejitasei was gone, destroyed. All who had been on the world were gone. His gaze fell to his feet. Surely his dream-mate was dead. The warrior had never been able to locate her, in spite of all his efforts when home. He so wanted to join her. A pair of arms wrapped around him, joined by a tail.
"Stop being so gloomy, lover."
"Cora!" He exclaimed, whirling around. "I thought you were gone!" A radiant smile banished all doubt.
Her light laugh caused some of the sorrow to melt away. "You won't find me for a while yet. Don't worry, I'm fine." She lowered her head to his shoulder. "When I first saw you, I could tell that we were meant to be. I can see you for who you really are. Don't let Frieza and his lies take that from you."
The warrior lifted her face up to his gaze. Love shone in her eyes, speaking volumes. They had to complete this while they still could. And he was finally ready. Ready to complete their bond.
Raditz forced her to the ground, growling softly. His hands found their way to the top of her body suit, peeling it down. Unknown to him, she had done the same operation on his. His scent filled her body with complete calm and a soothing warmth.
A predatory snarl escaped him as he sank his teeth into her shoulder. She cried out before returning the action.
f~
"C-cora? But how?" His tone bore complete confusion. A brilliant smile banished all doubt growing in him.
"It was me all along, Raditz. Now is the time for the goddesses to make their homes among men." She wrapped her arms and tail around him, united with her mate at last. Hesitantly, his arms and tail snaked their way around her.
They made eye contact, and he felt his heart melt. All around them was forgotten as their lips met in a passionate kiss.
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the show.
Chapter 15
They landed lightly, their gaze not leaving the warrior before them. He sat silently in the shadow of the wood, brooding. No reaction came from him, even though one of the two kis was familiar to him. There were others more deserving than me. Why was I chosen to be redeemed? I have nothing to offer a world of peace. His years in Hell had changed him, no longer was he the dark masked killing machine of old.
Finally, he realized the couple near him wouldn't leave if he ignored them. A saddened sigh escaped him as he still avoided meeting their gaze. "I'm not going to do anything, so leave me." He stated. It was clear to them that he was not who he had been when they had first heard of him.
"What kind of attitude is that?" Chichi snapped, the Goddess of Fire showing through. "Saiya-jins are rare, and each one is needed."
Her tone caused him to look up. In that moment he was identified. Raditz had the light enough within to attempt the task, and the strength enough to have succeeded.
"Aria-sama." The warrior averted his gaze, not wanting to look into divine eyes. Plus the fact that he was more than a little embarrassed. "I didn't deserve this chance."
She snorted as Goku placed his arm around her waist. The amazon kept her gaze on the shattered warrior, knowing that he was lying to himself. "Tell that to your heart. Cora knew what she was doing. So snap out of the depression already."
Goku looked his older brother in the eye. "I know there was more to you than met the eye. Don't even think about denying it." He commanded when his brother began to object. "There was a part of you Frieza couldn't touch or corrupt. That's why you are here now."
Raditz snorted. "Kakkarott, change is difficult when you have lived your life according to codes that have now become obsolete. I doubt I can keep this up for long."
A feminine chuckle reached their ears. Cora appeared before them, her eyes sparkling with merriment; even under the gloomy light of the forest. "Raditz, don't doubt yourself. You will be fine."
He didn't look up, causing the goddess to let out an irritated growl. She grabbed his arm, yanked him to his feet with a strength none knew she had, and slapped him. His eyes widened as he put his hand to his now red cheek. What was that all about? "Aria, Kakkarott, we need some time alone." The couple nodded and flew back to their home, leaving the others in the shadowed land.
"Look at me." Cora commanded.
Reluctantly, Raditz met her gaze. The light he found in her eyes reminded him of someone he'd seen only in his dreams. Confusion welled up in him, showing on every feature.
"Why do you think I came to you in your dreams? Raditz, I felt something deep inside you that wanted to come out. Then I helped you, remember?" Her gaze softened, becoming more loving. She reached up and unfastened the jeweled clasp, letting her cape fall to the ground.
The scar on her shoulder startled him even more than he thought it would. He blinked, remembering something that happened long, long ago...
~f
Raditz gazed over the landscape, not caring about what was going on. Vejitasei was gone, destroyed. All who had been on the world were gone. His gaze fell to his feet. Surely his dream-mate was dead. The warrior had never been able to locate her, in spite of all his efforts when home. He so wanted to join her. A pair of arms wrapped around him, joined by a tail.
"Stop being so gloomy, lover."
"Cora!" He exclaimed, whirling around. "I thought you were gone!" A radiant smile banished all doubt.
Her light laugh caused some of the sorrow to melt away. "You won't find me for a while yet. Don't worry, I'm fine." She lowered her head to his shoulder. "When I first saw you, I could tell that we were meant to be. I can see you for who you really are. Don't let Frieza and his lies take that from you."
The warrior lifted her face up to his gaze. Love shone in her eyes, speaking volumes. They had to complete this while they still could. And he was finally ready. Ready to complete their bond.
Raditz forced her to the ground, growling softly. His hands found their way to the top of her body suit, peeling it down. Unknown to him, she had done the same operation on his. His scent filled her body with complete calm and a soothing warmth.
A predatory snarl escaped him as he sank his teeth into her shoulder. She cried out before returning the action.
f~
"C-cora? But how?" His tone bore complete confusion. A brilliant smile banished all doubt growing in him.
"It was me all along, Raditz. Now is the time for the goddesses to make their homes among men." She wrapped her arms and tail around him, united with her mate at last. Hesitantly, his arms and tail snaked their way around her.
They made eye contact, and he felt his heart melt. All around them was forgotten as their lips met in a passionate kiss.