"Dragonball AS: 32nd Budokai Saga"

Chapter 53- "Rivalry Rekindled: Part 2"

By- Tiny

The crowd watched in disbelief as two shimmering white Saiya-jin warriors clashed furiously in the center of the ring, the sheer force of the blows rattling the ring around like an earthquake. By this point in time, even the vid-screens were having a very hard time keeping up with the two super warriors as they constantly phased out of sight and doing hit and run attacks. Still, nobody was more puzzled by the fight than a certain Saiya-jin king and his mate...

"I just don't understand what's going on," Vegita grumbled, "Kakarot should be mopping the floor with my son and yet Vegeta actually seems to have the upper hand."

"Why is that so surprising?" Bulma shrugged, "They've always pushed each other like that, ever since they met!"

"Because Kakarot is the Legendary!" Vegita exclaimed, "He is supposed to be more powerful than any other of his generation!"

"And he is, but Vegeta has designed a special fighting style he only uses against Goku and, occasionally, Gohan," Bulma pointed out, "Haven't you noticed that he relies more on his ki sensing abilities in this match than he did in any of the others?"

"Yes, but I figured that was just reacting to the situation," Vegita mused, "You mean he designed a style specifically for fighting against Kakarot?"

"That pretty much sums it up," Bulma nodded, "He tried to teach it to Trunks too, but our son wasn't so eager to beat Goku as his father."

"I would imagine not," the Saiya-jin laughed, "But why would he do such a thing?"

"Let's just say they have a bit of a rivalry," Bulma giggled, "A long standing, unresolved rivalry."

"That serious, huh?"

"Oh, believe me!" Bulma sighed, "You have no idea...."

Vegeta ducked under yet another blow aimed for his head, trying to follow up his dodge with a blow to Goku's stomach. The younger Saiya-jin saw the moved coming, however, and grabbed Vegeta's arm just before it would've hit him. This infuriated the proud prince, as was quite evident, and he lashed out by driving a kick into the younger Saiya-jin's ribs.

Goku clutched his side where the blow had connected, pain shooting through his body faster than he could imagine. While the Saiya-jin warrior was distracted, Vegeta phased above his head and brought a hammer blow down at Goku's head. The blow went clean through Goku's afterimage, however, and Vegeta didn't have time to seek out where his opponent had went as a powerful fist drove into the side of his head.

Goku smirked at his success in hitting the older fighter, following up on his punch with a knee to Vegeta's chest. Vegeta was launched forward from the impact of the blow, but he refused to allow his opponent to see him hurting. The Saiya-jin prince quickly regained his composure and lunged angrily at his long time rival.

"Why don't you just give up, Vegeta?" Goku chuckled in the Saiya-jin dialect, dodging a punch, "It would save you a whole world of hurt!"

"I will NEVER give in to you, Kakarot!" Vegeta spat, "I would die before I would sink to that level!"

"You wish is my command, my prince!" Goku smirked, driving a fist into the smaller man's stomach.

A small amount of blood spilled out onto the Saiya-jin prince's fur, but the young man didn't have time to reflect on the blow as another drove into the lower half of the fighter's spine. If Vegeta had been angry before, he was absolutely furious as he whipped around and drove his knee into the other Saiya-jin's stomach. Goku lurched forward from the pain, leaving himself open for a fist on the top of his head.

"Good, then I have a command for you," Vegeta smirked, "DIE!!!!"

Goku moved out of the way just in time to avoid a massive yellow energy attack, allowing it to cascade down at the ring and bounce back at Vegeta. The Saiya-jin prince clearly didn't anticipate that the attack would come back at him, so he was completely caught off-guard when the yellow beam struck him right in the chest. Goku phased into the smoke with a smug look on his face and people could hear the fighting going on, but could see absolutely nothing.

After a few minutes, the two men emerged from the smoke in what had to be the worst condition anyone had ever seen them in. The formerly pure white fur was either spotted with blood or had simply burned away and the shimmering silver hair was burned on the edges and frayed all over the place. Not to mention the burns and scars all over their bodies already, showing exactly how intensely they had actually been fighting. Nobody, even the people who had seen this kind of fighting before, could believe what they were seeing and watched in awe as the two went at it again.

Blow after blow was exchanged with unparalleled intensity as the two Saiya-jin battled it out to see just who would come out on top at the Budokai. The sad part is, they were loving every moment of it...

"I see you've learned a few new tricks over the years," Goku snickered, ducking under an elbow, "Last time you fought this evenly with me, we were about thirty years younger!"

"It has been a long time," Vegeta agreed, stopping a fist, "However, this time will be different. I am going to defeat you fair and square this time, Kakarot!!!"

"I don't see how...."

"Then let me open your eyes!!!"

Goku's entire body shook as Vegeta drove a powerful fist into the younger man's stomach, the energy he put behind the blow causing a massive glob of blood to shoot out of the other Saiya-jin's mouth. Smirking at the development, Vegeta drove another fist, equally charged, into Goku's chest shattering the ribs. Pain shot through younger man's body as he tried to hold on, but it seemed almost impossible as he raised his head to glare at Vegeta.

"You think you've won, don't you?" Goku heaved, "DON'T YOU!?!"

"Are you saying that I haven't?" Vegeta smirked, powering up a ki blast, "I'd like to know why you think that, Kakarot. Just look at yourself! You can hardly even move, let alone defeat me in this condition!"

"I beg to differ!" Goku snarled, "OMEGA CANNON!!!!"

Vegeta looked shocked as a massive golden beam of energy shot out of Goku's open mouth, trying desperately to move out of the way of the blast. It was futile, however, and the beam hit the Saiya-jin prince full on, engulfing his entire body in a blinding light that spread over the entire stadium. Spectators had to look away so as not to be permanently blind, but couldn't believe what they saw when they looked down at the ring...

Goku and Vegeta both lay motionless on the tiled arena floor, the only movement from either being their shallow breathing that only came in raspy gasps. Both warriors had used up so much energy either attacking or defending in the last assault that they could no longer maintain even the basic SSJ stage. It was an unbelievable sight to say the least, but one that drove the fans absolutely wild with excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it looks as though our two fighters have worn each other out almost completely!" Bardock gulped, "I'm going to start the ten count and the first one to make it to his feet will be declared the winner. 1....2....3...."

"I...have to win this..." Goku wheezed, moving up from the ground, "I can not....let Vegeta win...."

"4....5...."

"Kakarot is not going to defeat me!" Vegeta snarled, pushing himself up, "I will not...suffer through that humiliation again..."

"6....7....8...."

Both fighters launched themselves up into the air with what little strength they had left, neither willing to let the other claim victory. Two pairs of feet fell onto the tiled floor at almost exactly the same time, making it hard for the crowd to decide who had won, but it was quite easy for Bardock to determine the winner.

"Well folks, that decides the match," Bardock sighed, "The winner of the match and the person going on to face Son Gohan in the finals is...Son Goku!!! Let's hear it for this great warrior!!!"

Vegeta collapsed to his knees when he heard the winner declared, furious with himself for being beaten by his greatest rival yet again. Goku seemed even more happy than usual about beating the Saiya-jin prince in battle, waving stupidly to the cheering crowd despite the pain that rocketed through his body with every movement he made. One member of the crowd in particular, his light hair waving in the slight breeze, caught Goku's attention and brought a smile to his face.

"That one was for you, Trunks," Goku smirked, "You and Diive both."

And even though he couldn't prove it, since he passed out soon after spotting the lavender-haired fighter, Goku could've sworn he saw Trunks smile back at him....

NEXT TIME: Goku has beaten his archrival Vegeta yet again, humiliating the Saiya-jin prince for the sake of Vegeta's own son. Now Goku must face his own son in the final round of the Budokai, a match that promises to be almost, if not more, explosive than the fight with Vegeta! Who will emerge the victor in a battle between the two Legendary Super Saiya-jin? Find out in the next installment of Dragonball AS!!!!!!