DD/N:Yay! I'm back… after a very long time. Gomen for letting you wait that long, but I really suck at fighting scenes… [IMPORTANT] I parted this chapter into two parts, because the first part is by me, beta read by MCcH and the second is by MCcH, co-written by me (you can see the difference by looking at the spelling of Gokou's name). There, that said, in the first part isn't much action, because I wrote it… instead I ended up writing a poem. ^^° It suits tho, but it's a major spoiler for the next chapter. Whoever can guess what is going to happen next chap get's a beautiful, but sad Angel Gokou doujin piccie!!!!!
MCcH: "Whoa wait… you don't have any Doujinshi pics."
But you do…
MCcH: "Yeah, I… wha… WHAT?! YOU'RE GIVING THEM PICS FROM MY HOLY AND SACRED STASH?!"
XP BE-DA!!!!
MCcH: "CHIKAKUSO! KISAMA! *get's one of her Vegeta rage moments*"
O.o Uuh… I'll calm her down, while you read… if there's no note by me in the end, then I'm in hospital, just to let you know.
Warning: BAD MAN ALARM!!! (Not really a warning… ^^° *get's punched* OW!)
Chapter V, Part I: Angel, Angel
The commentator of the Budokai stepped out onto the ring and was greeted with booming applause and cheers. He grinned at the crowd: "Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 23. Tekaichi Budokai here on Papaya Island. We have finally found out who will be competing in the Finals! In the first round, the newcomer Tao BaiBai competes against the defending champ Tenshinhan! Second up are Beelzebub and Krillin! In the third round we have the runner-up of the last Budokai, Son-Gokou against Chao-zu and in the fourth its Yamcha against an anonym fighter!! Let the finals begin!!!"
(DD/N: I'm jumping the unimportant fights. Meaning the first three rounds, since the winners are obvious (if not, they are: Tenshinhan, Beelzebub and Gokou).)
"This is the last quarter final fight!!! I bid Yamcha and the anonym fighter into the ring!!!", the commentator boomed, eager to see a good fight.
The anonymous fighter walked past the other finalists, until he reached Gokou. He stood still for a moment, then looked up into the eyes of the taller, flashing his teeth: "Never forget, who you are, Kakarotto… Shoyuken wa no Saiyajin Vegeta… OUJI!", with that said, he stepped out into the arena, earning roars of approval.
A cold shiver went through Gokou's body. The mere voice of the prince made his instincts run haywire and now they were telling to run. Run as far as he could, run, away from the Saiyajin no Ouji and from the imprisonment in a golden cage.
Animal, caught in a hunters trap.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped away, almost fearfully, but then he noticed that it was his friend Yamcha and calmed down: "S-sorry…"
"Is that…", Yamcha started and Gokou interrupted him, though he only nodded mutely.
But it was enough to tell Yamcha who the anonymous person was: the Prince of the Saiyajin. Upon seeing the small monarch his hate towards the Saiyajin royalty was fueled. It had been enough to start hating them by just seeing what they had imprinted onto the skin of the younger warrior, but now, after seeing how much fear the prince spread within his friend, he hated him even more.
A look of determination crossed his scarred features. He would never allow this unfairness and stop the prince before he could even touch Gokou. Quickly he turned to his smaller friend and joked: "Do not fear, young lad! The evil prince will not lay a hand upon you!"
Yamcha turned and ran into the ring, leaving a slightly stunned Gokou behind. Slowly a sad look overcame his face: "It is not him I fear, Yamcha…"
The fight began. For all the onlookers, it was a simple fight. But the truth was, that this fight was to decide the fate of a young man. It was to decide if a secret shall be revealed or if it should stay hidden forever in the deep depths of a young heart.
Secret, hidden and chained. Protected and restrained.
At the beginning the fight seemed promising for Yamcha. He landed many blows and kept the offensive throughout the whole time. But he didn't become lenient with his opponent, as he normally would have. With each and every attack he began, he raised his power higher. That was when he noticed. No matter how much he raised his power, the prince kept his cool and evaded his attacks with ease. Not one bead of sweat was to be seen on the tanned skin of the warrior, nor was he out of breath. He was just as fresh as he had been at the beginning of their fight.
After one last punch performed by Yamcha, they broke apart and took their respective stances. Yamcha was sweating: "I know you are the prince of the Saiyajins… but what is your name?"
"Vegeta no Ouji.", the prince answered cockily: "You know that I'm in charge of the boy… so why still fight for him?"
"He is my friend and I owe him my life, Vegeta 'no Ouji'", Yamcha answered, adding sarcasm to the title.
Vegeta growled: "Hn… pathetic. That boy must've lost his touch over all these years. Tell me, ningen: Did he ever show you anything of his true power?"
The scarred man was taken by surprise: "His true power?"
"I'll take that as a no. Good. At least he held that promise.", the prince turned to the other contestants, waiting at the side and looking in interest, but one was missing: "WHERE IS THAT WEAKLING BAKAROTTO?!!!"
Krillin was taken by surprise: "Who?"
"Don't play dumb with me, ningen!! Tell me where the boy is!!", Vegeta hissed.
Krillin was about to tell him angrily that he knew of no one going along the lines of 'Bakarotto', but Tenshinhan held him back with a firm grip: "Gokou is missing… maybe he means him."
Slowly the midget nodded and turned to search for his best friend: "GOKOU!!"
The teen came out of the waiting hall and looked at him questioningly: "What?"
"This Vegeta guy is looking for someone called 'Bakarotto'. We wondered if you knew anything.", Krillin explained.
Gokou turned to glare at Vegeta: "Didn't get off the habit, I see."
Vegeta returned the glare with equal power: "Don't forget who I am, boy. Why do you want to stay under these ningen? They are weak and cannot give you what you want. They don't even KNOW what you desire, Kakarotto…"
"This is not the appropriate time and place to discuss this matter, Ouji.", Gokou shot back.
"Oh, but I think this is the perfect time and place to discuss this matter, boy.", Vegeta mocked.
A low growl emitted from Gokou's throat: "End it."
Slowly Vegeta rose from his stance: "Was that a command?", he cocked a brow.
"End the fight, Vegeta Sendosha. When we fight, we talk."
Yamcha didn't understand anything anymore. At first Gokou was scared of Vegeta and now he was actually giving him orders.
"Fine."
Quickly Yamcha whirled his head around to stare in shock at Vegeta. He was the prince of Gokou and shouldn't take any commands, but he did. He looked closer and noticed that the prince was grinding his teeth, as if very angry with his own answer. Then Vegeta turned to him and glowered: "You heard your 'friend'. I will end this fight.", he lifted his hand: "HA!"
A gigantic wave of energy surged from Vegeta and took Yamcha by surprise. It slammed brutally into his chest, knocking the wind out of his lungs and throwing him back, far back. While he flew further backwards, he stole a glance to Gokou. Upon his face stood pure shock. He had wanted the fight to end before it got ugly, but he hadn't wanted Yamcha injured. Yamcha closed his eyes, knowing he was going to slam into the walls of the arena and break several of his bones.
Medallion, two sides, one always in the other will confide.
But nothing happened.
He felt that he had slammed into something, but it was soft and warm. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked around. Beautiful white wings surrounded him, glistening in the warm sunlight. Behind him someone wheezed. Surprised, he leaped up and turned around and found the one he least wanted to see hurt because of him. Gokou clutched his chest and gasped for air, Yamcha had knocked the wind out of him, but he wasn't surprised. The former thief was far bigger and brawnier than himself, so he was much heavier and Vegeta had performed such a powerful surge, that it had been almost impossible to catch the scarred man. He felt how someone grabbed his wrists and pulled him to his feet, holding his arms above his head so that he could catch his breath again.
Yamcha sucked in his breath when he saw the almost helpless position Gokou was in. The only reason why he was standing was because Tenshinhan held him up by his wrists, but the rest of his body hung almost lifelessly and he was gasping desperately for breath. Yamcha blushed when his thoughts wandered a bit off and Vegeta almost spoke out his fantasy: "My, my, Kakarotto… the resemblance you have to your mother in this position is almost uncanny. Just as breathless and lifeless. Though she was breathless from something else. She was one…"
"Don't you dare talk about Kaa-san that way!!", Gokou interrupted him and tore himself loose from Tenshinhan's grip.
"Temper, temper, boy… exactly like her. I talk about her the way I wish and if I think that she was a slut, then she was.", Vegeta grinned: "And seeing that you have come after her more than after your father, from whom you only got the looks, I might wonder if you are such a good lay too."
The wild-haired teen flashed his teeth at his prince: "Don't tempt me to kill you."
Vegeta chuckled: "Kill me? You? Empty promises, boy."
But Gokou kept his cool: "You know very well as I do what my true name is."
"You wouldn't dare call him.", Vegeta's face was a mask, but his voice was slightly shaken: "Calling upon demons is a sin."
"We're stalling the tournament, Vegeta. We should keep our talk for later.", Gokou replied and slowly his wings became transparent, disappearing into thin air.
Angel, never dirty your hands.
Vegeta huffed: "Have your way, boy. One way or the other, you will serve my family as you were always meant to.", he stalked away from the ring, obviously angry.
Gokou stared after him, until he disappeared behind the walls bordering the ring and sighed deeply: "Let's clear the ring.", he stepped back onto the platform of the ring and followed Vegeta. His friends silently looked at each other, questions over questions crowding their already confused minds, but Gokou didn't seem like he would be giving answers anytime soon. The only one who looked less puzzled was Chao-zu, but he too wondered about some things. Mainly about the second last sentence of the Ouji.
Calling upon demons is a sin.
The rest of the quarterfinals went uneventful, just like the next two fights. In the end, two were left, just as predicted. Both from the same blood, the only thing that was alike between them. Two opposites, prince and pauper, kind and cold, friend and foe. Nothing was the same between them, only blood, the connection to the undying passion of their entire race: battle, fierce and bloody battle.
To death.
Tiger, vicious in a hunters trap, ready to pounce death.
Secret, hidden and chained, protecting you from what is restrained.
Medallion, when light can't fight, in darkness it will confide.
Angel, you have fallen and dirtied your hands.
Calling upon demons is a sin.
Forever… to death.
MCcH: "It's me, because Ichigo is a bit pre-occupied."
[Ichigo wrings with MCcH's zombies in the background.]
MCcH: "I think this chapter is a bit short, don't you?"
[Ichigo: Don't even dare write something from your hand to it! ARGH! SOMEBODY HELP ME!]
MCcH: "Time for some butt kicking action!! Goku versus Vegeta! You didn't think that this was all of the chapter, did you?! HERE WE GO!!!!"
Chapter V, Part II: Medallion
(Subtitle: Angelic demon… no… uh… demonic angel… Ie… that wasn't it… darn…)
Nothing was the same between them, only blood, the connection to the undying passion of their entire race: battle, fierce and bloody battle.
It was so long ago, one might wonder if it had even taken place, so dusty was the memory of the ancient battle. Ancient, foreseen years before, anticipated, but still feared. So long ago. Still, he could remember every moment of it, it seemed like he only would have to look back not more than a day, when the Saiyajins were all alive and well and the battle between the two mightiest families of the race had been still raging. The royal family, the Sendosha and the eldest family of the Saiyajins, the Satsugaisha.
A battle of that might was the highest event in history, every Saiyajin in the world came, just to watch this spectacle. Nobody sat at home and watched it over TV… they wanted to see it live, roar and cheer for their favorites with thousands of other bloodthirsty Saiyajins.
He could still hear them, calling his name above the one of the younger. He could feel the sweat and dust clinging to his skin, piercing his wounds and the rush of adrenaline pulsing in his veins, calling for battle. The battle maybe even had something holy and sacred to it, the highest priests had bathed and clothed them in the most wonderful and expensive clothes, only to see them ripped into shreds by the two youngest of the families.
And here he was again. Standing in front of a cheering crowd, calling his name. Sweat and dust clung to his skin, itching him. But this was just a mere festival of the ningen. There was nothing holy and sacred about it, he hadn't bathed in holy water and neither was he clothed in expensive clothes. Vegeta almost laughed at the irony of the situation.
Goku saw Vegeta chuckle and cocked a brow: "Nani?"
"Seems like destiny is playing games with us, Kakarotto. Don't you remember? The first time we met, the ancient clash of the two families. The same old situation… just with less appreciation. These ningen really don't have respect, do they? What keeps you with them?", Vegeta asked, almost mockingly.
The younger warrior growled: "YAMERO!"
Now it was the prince's turn to cock a brow: "Make me, Bakarotto."
"You should use that talking-energy for movement, Vegeta.", Goku hissed, baring his teeth at the prince, who kept his cool: "Straight forward as always, I see.", Vegeta's gaze hardened and he growled: "You said it yourself: When we fight, we talk. Answer my questions or else I'm going to blast these ningen you love so much. Now… tell me: Why do you stay under this… parasite?", the prince looked around disdainfully, obviously disgusted by the presence of the other race.
Slowly Goku unclenched and clenched his fists, contemplating if he should attack or not. He would risk many lives if he would, but he wasn't keen on answering the Ouji's questions either. Like so often, he decided that the lives of the others were prior to his and he answered, almost unwillingly: "This 'parasite', as you call it, doesn't judge me as what I am, but for who I am, compared to us Saiyajins. I'm sick and tired of trying to fit into the Saiyajin community. I have more freedom under this 'parasite'."
Truthfully, there was something else that held Gokou under the humans. It wasn't only his friends, which he since long saw as his family. It was the person who changed his life forever. He would never leave her side and always protect her, even if she was unaware of his true feelings for her, he had promised himself he would never let harm come towards her and this vow, alongside to the powerful feeling he never thought he would feel, held him there where he was. And he was glad it did.
At first Vegeta didn't react to his answer, but then he burst out laughing: "Freedom? You? You forget, the sign on your back shows the status of your freedom: NONE. You may have no freedom if I don't permit it."
"And this brings us to the point where I tell you that you have no command over me, unless you prove yourself stronger!", Goku shot back, staying as calm as possible.
"So you really want to fight this battle?", Vegeta questioned.
"Not that I want to… but I must. It's time to put an end to all.", the younger Saiyajin responded and sank into a defending position. Vegeta didn't question any further, but answered in form of the same move, getting ready to attack his fellow Saiyajin.
The sun was already setting at the horizon, casting orange and red lights across the sky and the scattered clouds. Silently the moon waited, it's light becoming stronger every moment the sunlight became weaker.
Medallion, when light can't fight, in darkness it will confide.
Slowly all surrounding sounds escaped the minds of the two Saiyajins, their senses began to sharpen, aiming themselves now only to their respectful opponent, allowing nothing to enter the conscious of their owners and making this battle unpreventable.
Nobody knew when it began. This battle. Was it when the two families started to despise each other? When the two clans had traded their places, unintentionally? Or was it the day two children of fate met, taking their rightful places with light and darkness?
Yamcha watched almost hypnotized the two Saiyajins. They stood there, unmoving, but yet, inside both of them was an inner turmoil, so powerful it couldn't be ignored. The atmosphere created by the two waiting warriors entranced the whole crowd, making them fall into expecting silence.
Like all others, Chao-zu watched, silently wondering when the apocalypse would begin. Surely, both, Vegeta and Son-Goku, were gifted warriors, but it wasn't alone their power that endangered everyone on the island. It was their heritage. Many seers had known of this battle, had seen what would happen if the two most powerful clashed. 'The Phoenix and the Dragon' they had said 'will face to decide who truly is the king of the heavens.'. Of course, it was a poetical way to express it, but it said what was needed. But the question was… who was the Phoenix, always able to be reborn in flames and who was the Dragon, the wild and ruthless holder of the world?
Suddenly the atmosphere shifted… and everybody felt it. Thousand flocks of birds suddenly shot into the air, hesitantly leaving their nests and the island. They could feel it, like every other animal on the island. Death.
It was so predictable, yet it came so sudden, that everybody in the arena flinched when Vegeta pushed off the ground to shoot towards his opponent, fists raised. The mystique of the moment was broken, shattered into pieces like glass and in between the fallen splitters, the proud elder warrior leapt. More movements came to his own as the younger began to sprint, accepting his challenge.
Just a mere second long, the two fighters disappeared from sight, only to reappear in the middle of the ring, neither having succeeded in their attack. Their fists had hit each other instead of the bodies of one another and a small struggle began. Hands locked to decide who was more powerful, but they were even, neither one budging from his current position and seemingly not even contemplating to give in. But that was what everybody thought. Vegeta leaned backwards, pulling Goku along, who noticed the shift to late until two powerful feet slammed into his stomach, forcing his lungs to free themselves of any air and his body sailed upwards from the mere force put into the kick. Swiftly Vegeta moved back on his feet and looked upwards, deciding not to jump after the other Saiyajin.
Goku gasped for air and quickly regained control of his body, but still he couldn't stop the unintended flight towards the heavens. His instincts screamed to him to stop this, but he had learned to control his feelings just like he could control his body. He turned onto his side, so that his left arm faced the ground and his body started spiraling, allowing him to gain a powerful swing. Energy shot through his body to his right hand and was sent to the ring below so quickly, hardly anybody registered Goku's attack until the entire fighting area was blown to dust and debris.
Of course, except for one that is. The younger Saiyajin caught his flight and used the last of his swing to let his arm sail straight into the face of the Ouji, who was caught off-guard, since he himself had been attacking in just that moment. Goku used that moment of shock to attack with full force, slamming his fists into the lithe form of the smaller Saiyajin and slowly wounds started to tear open, small droplets of blood escaping from them and painting his skin and clothes crimson. But he couldn't care less at the moment.
A low growl came from the Ouji, but he ignored it, injuring the prince almost frantically and his attacks become more panicked and unprepared, which many of the other fighters noticed. Goku became desperate and that was his mistake.
"RAAAH!", Vegeta roared and caught Goku's fists. Without letting the other even realize what happened, he clamped his legs around the neck of his enemy, allowing no air to the lungs of the other and ending the one-sided battle phase. With the power of his ki Vegeta flipped backwards and let go of Goku just when he was facing the ground. Yet again Goku was sent sailing, but this time he couldn't catch his fall and his body collided painfully with the ground below. A crater formed and dust whirled up, but Vegeta didn't care. Quickly he flew after the younger Saiyajin, ready to slam his knee into the ribs of the other.
But Goku knew of the planned attack, he sensed it long before it came and he rolled out of the way, just in time. The Ouji's knee slammed onto the ground right there where his body had laid and left a deep imprint on the floor. Vegeta noticed his mistake far too late, because Goku transferred his weight into his hands to perform a spinning kick into his ribs, breaking one or two in the procedure. Vegeta hacked and gasped for air, but Goku left him no time to recover and pushed off the ground, knocking Vegeta off his feet and landing on his chest, breaking more ribs and forcing the Ouji to cough up some blood.
The younger Saiyajin leapt to the sky and took his hands to the side, cupping them: "KA… ME…"
That was when something happened that changed the whole situation of the battle and turned the tables. Vegeta recovered, quicker than expected. Faster than Goku could finish his own attack, he slammed his wrists together and fired with everything he had: "FINAL FLASH!!"
Quickly Goku finished his attack, but Vegeta's Final Flash had come far too close already and with the power of hope to survive this attack, Goku fired: "…HAME HA!"
The weakness of the Kamehame-ha was shown, right then and there. It needed time to become powerful, unlike many other attacks he knew. The longer it was loaded, the stronger the attack of the Kamesennin was. But time was short. The Final Flash forced the Kamehame-ha back in record time and before Goku could even fade out of the way, the attack consumed him.
He screamed in pain and agony and clenched his eyes shut, knowing well he would become blind if he allowed the light to pass his retina. Never before had he felt this terrible pain, not even against Piccolo Daimao. It didn't disturb him that his clothes tore and ripped, but it did when the energy sliced his skin, cutting deep wounds and making him scream even louder. A cut landed dangerously at his neck, almost hitting the blood vessel.
A cold shiver went down Bulma's back as she listened, helplessly, to the painful screams of her best friend. She felt nauseous by just hearing him, so she clamped her hands over her ears and closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to see Gokou drop to the floor, bloodied and bruised.
The ray of energy flickered away and there he was, floating in the air, his eyes closed and his limbs limp (funny way to word it). His energy left him and he dropped to the ground, lifelessly.
Vegeta got up and dusted himself off, smirking triumphantly. Slowly he stalked towards the bloody body of his enemy and stood above him, like it should be, servant before king. But it was not enough. He would let Goku suffer for back then, when they had battled. Goku had come out as winner and now Vegeta wanted revenge. He sat down on the back of the suffering warrior and pressed his face down, mockingly: "Here you are again, at my feet, just like always.", then he noticed the old scar of his enemy: "Ah yes… my mark. Looks a bit old, ne? How about I refresh it for you, since you can't mark yourself. Aren't I a kind ruler?"
Slowly, his finger traced Goku's muscles up towards the scar and when he reached it, a small ray of energy shot out and he retraced the lines of the marking, muffling the pained screams of his opponent by pressing his face into the dirt.
Bulma couldn't stand it any longer, even though she had clamped her eyes and ears shut, she could still feel it. Gokou's pain. It drove her to the brink of insanity, until she couldn't take it any longer: "STOP IT!"
Gokou opened his eyes, not feeling the burning energy on his back or any other wound he had anymore. He only heard her plea, remembering his oath again. She felt pain, pain she shouldn't feel and that he could stop. Stop it. For her.
Vegeta was taken by surprise when Goku suddenly flipped around, throwing him off his back and getting up. The prince stood up himself and snarled: "Nani??!"
Suddenly the heat increased and energy began to crackle around Goku's body, making his hair float upwards, only leaving a few bangs in his face to cover his eyes: "There is nothing to wonder… Ouji-sama…", his voice was ice cold and held sarcasm, that Vegeta shivered.
Vegeta clenched his hands to fists: "Ohayoo to you too… Phoenix."
To be continued…MCcH: "MUAHAHAHA…"
Ichigo: "*tied up and flanked by zombies* Stop scaring my readers!"
MCcH: "I love evil Cliffys."
Ichigo: "ARGH!"
MCcH: "Watcha think of me co-writing the fight scenes? Huh? Please tell … us… *sneers at Ichigo* We'll be seeing each other next chap."
Just another love-spell @ MCcH's home base
Buh-huy and Lot's of fun and bubblegum,
Melli XT & MCcH =3