Only One Shot

Chapter 27: Phase II—Rivals

"Vegeta," Salvatore's voice echoed down the hall. "Come out come out where ever you are. I promise it won't hurt…much…"

Vegeta scowled and gripped his bleeding shoulder. "Find me yourself bastard!"

The saiya-jin prince blinked rapidly, his vision was beginning to blur and blood was starting to pool around his body. The saiya-jin bullet was lodged into his shoulder and he had nothing to get it out with. Taking his hand off his shoulder he went for his gun, closing his eyes and trying to see if he could find Salvatore with his ears.

Salvatore chuckled, walking about the hallways with a malicious smile. He eyed what he perceived was Vegeta in the dark and shot once. He moved towards it only to find a propped up jacket covered in blood. Frowning he grunted and turned, only to stare at the quivering barrel of a .49 mm. He was scared for a fleeting second then smiled tauntingly.

"Vegeta, Vegeta, Vegeta," he chided with a smile, "Didn't your mother tell you not to play with dangerous toys?"

Salvatore slapped the gun from his face and Vegeta fell to the floor with a scowl, he was too weak from the saiya-jin bullet to fight back. The old Spanish mobster shot him in the stomach and received a groan from the saiya-jin. More blood pooled onto the floor and Vegeta could only look down the barrel of Salvatore's gun, angry at his weakness.

The Spanish mobster cocked his gun and smiled. "Tell your people I said hi."

A shot was heard and Salvatore's face grew surprised. Both his and Vegeta's eyes moved downwards to stare at the hole in his chest. Salvatore turned to see the angry eyes of Amon and a smoking gun. The mobster dropped his gun and fell to the ground, clutching the wound dangerously close to his heart.

Amon spit on the dying man, kicking the gun away from his hand. "Tell the devil I said hi."

Salvatore's eyes rolled and his head fell to the side, blood coming out of his mouth and pooling onto the once clean floor. Amon knelt by Vegeta, taking off his shirt and ripping off parts of it. Taking out a butterfly knife he proceeded to get out the saiya-jin bullets, earning a hiss from the saiya-jin prince.

Amon dropped the saiya-jin bullets on the ground and began to quickly bandage Vegeta's still bleeding shoulder. "Did you set up the explosives?"

Vegeta snorted and grabbed some pieces, rolled them together like gauze, and pressed it tightly against the wound on his stomach. "I was half-way done when that bastard came out of nowhere and shot me. You'll have to finish the rest."

"Alright, you stay here and I'll go finish the rest—" Amon began, like a mother telling her child to stay in one place.

"You act like I'm going to get up and walk off…" Vegeta muttered. Amon ignored his comment and continued to talk.

"—of the explosives. Once I'm done I'll come back and get you out of here before anything big happens." he finished and began taking the rest of Vegeta's explosives.

"Alright mother hen, go do your duty." Vegeta said sarcastedly, saluting for good measure before grabbing his gun and attempting to get comfortable.

Amon smiled and saluted back, earning a roll of the eyes from the saiya-jin prince. "Thank you for your support Uncle Sam sir! I will do my best"

"Run along soldier." Vegeta played along, watching Amon's salute and then his retreating back. Somehow he knew the human was smiling. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes again he closed them and snorted. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he murmured, "Crazy ningen."

XX

Heiji drove frantically through traffic, Videl yelling at him to go faster the entire time. Trunks was picked to stay home with Nanami so she wouldn't get caught in any crossfire, Syracuse with him. He swerved, barely missing a van, before shooting through about three red lights and a ringing rail road crossing.

"What do you mean Gohan's trying to kill Cortez?" Videl yelled, "Why didn't you tell me earlier so I'd know what to look out for?"

Heiji frowned and turned to Videl. "Listen Videl, I respect you and all but do you have to keep yelling in my ear like that? It wasn't like we knew he'd go out and—"

"LOOK OUT!" Videl screamed, grabbing the wheel and turning it abruptly to the side.

They barely missed the honking and screeching cars in front of them as Heiji had brought them to the other side of the road. Heiji pushed off Videl's hands and grabbed the wheel himself, earning a shocked gasp from the young woman. Growling she slapped him on the side of the head. In turn, he held his head in shock.

"I know damn well you did not just hit me!"

"What do you think you're going to do about it?"

"If you weren't Gohan's fiancée I'd kick your ass!"

"Kick my ass? Kick my ass? If Gohan didn't see you as an important figure in his life as he was growing up I'd slap you back to hell!"

Heiji scoffed. "I'd like to see you try!"

Videl growled dangerously. "Don't make me grab my frying pan!"

Heiji growled back. "I wish you would!"

ERRRRN! ERRRRN!

Their eyes widened as large as the approaching truck lights coming their way. The two grabbed each other in fear, their scream cutting through the night. Finally, and not a moment later, they both grabbed the wheel and turned it sharply to the right, missing the screeching 18 wheeler by a hair. They swerved straight off the road and into a tree.

They sat in silence for a moment before Videl threw her hands up into the air. "Great, just great! Now what are we going to do?"

Heiji scowled at her. "Well you're the smartass aren't you? Why don't you tell me what we're going to do?"

She glared darkly at him. "You did not just call me a smartass."

Heiji gave her the best mock bow he could. "Oh hail the great smartass."

"Why you--that's it!"

Videl took off her seat belt and lunged, grabbing Heiji's neck and choking the life out of the poor retired mobster. Heiji tried to weakly pry her hands off his neck as she slammed his head against the window. A knock on the cracked window and a bright beam of light caused Videl to look up. The light moved to show Trunks' sheepish smile.

Videl stared at him as he gave a nervous laugh and glanced at the unconscious body of the swirly-eyed Heiji Haruto. The hacker stared a bit more before blinking and motioning to the car parked up on the side of the road in silence. Videl glanced down at the unconscious Heiji and with a sigh let go of his neck.

Heiji's limp body slumped against the door and Videl opened the door, Heiji's dead-weight body hanging out. "Help me get his ass into your car."

"Do I...Do I even want to ask what happened?" Trunks asked nervously.

"Yelling, traffic, arguing, running lights, screeching cars, honking horns, rail road crossing, steering wheel, more arguing, big lights, 18 wheeler, swerving off road, tree, more arguing, choking, and you. Now help me get his unconscious ass into your car." Videl snapped, pushing Heiji out of the car and onto the dirt ground.

"Sorry I asked then…" Trunks muttered and began dragging Heiji up the hill towards his car, Videl following him as he continued muttering about women with snappy attitudes who don't help with any work.

XX

Avon, Vincent, and Gohan ran down the hall until they met up with a man standing in their way, a shot gun in his hand. He wore a wide brimmed hat that covered his features and a large overcoat to hide his body. All three saiya-jins narrowed their eyes, but Avon narrowed his the most.

"Vincent, Gohan, go meet Cortez, I'll deal with this 'son of Avon' who dares to stain the name of my son Anthony." Avon said strongly. Vincent and Gohan nodded, obeying his wishes, and ran past the man who didn't try to stop them.

The 'son of Avon' smirked. "So you are the great Avon. It is nice to finally meet you."

Avon glared. "Who are you and why are you impersonating as my son?"

The man just began to walk, Avon following him so they were both circling each other, both with their hands on their guns. The man smirked. "Funny what the years will do to one isn't it? Do you still hate my father Avon? Or maybe my mother for leaving you for him?"

Avon thought for a minute then his eyes widened. "Rachel?"

If possible the man smirked even wider. "So I see you do remember my mother."

He growled dangerously. "Yes and I remember your father too."

The man grinned this time. "I bet you do, he took your woman away from you after all."

Avon gritted his teeth into a fanged smile. "So how is that old purple dinosaur doing now-a-days? Did you inherit his gay looks? His gay charm? Or is it both? Please, enlighten me."

The man growled this time. "How dare you old timer! I'll show you the wonderful looks I have acquired from my mother and father!"

The 'son of Avon' took off his hat and Avon stared in shock. "It's you!"

XX

Cortez puffed nervously on his Cuban cigar, pacing about the room and glancing now and then at the little girl unconscious on the table. Rico looked absolutely delighted about the whole situation. The shooting had stopped for a moment but resumed with renewed vigor, a clash of Cortez vs. Valentine.

"Ooh I bet Vinny is on his way here now!" Rico said happily, playing with his black revolver.

Cortez stared at him like he was insane. "Are you crazy? That means Gohan is coming this way too! If my defenses don't kill them we're all going to die!"

Richard stared with wide eyes. "Die? Hell no I'm not dying yet! I still have money to gain, companies to steal, people to con!"

Richard got up quick and took off towards the back door. Cortez pulled out his gun while Rico ignored them, a sadistic smile still on his face. Cortez managed to get Richard in the leg but the millionaire merely stumbled and kept going. He scowled at his miss and glared at Rico with his good eye, the other in a patch.

"Why the hell didn't you help me?"

Rico smiled like the Cheshire Cat. "Why my dear Hesus you never asked."

"What do you mean I never asked?" Cortez growled, a vein throbbing on his forehead, "He could've got away and told everyone about what we've done! Aren't you even the slightest worried about this whole affair in that 'Alice and Wonderland' mind of yours?"

Cortez hit the ground hard as a puma held him down, growling and hissing angrily in his face. Hesus gulped in horror, his mind reeling back to the black panther Vincent Valentine owned. Rico just smiled at his fear, as if getting incredible satisfaction and pleasure from all of it. He stood up, cocking his gun, and glanced at Cortez.

"I do not care about this 'Richard' nor do I care about this feud you have between this 'Gohan' character. The only reason I am here is for Vincent's head. My revolver and I believe it is time for a reunion, right Gato?"

The mountain lion growled in response and eventually got off Cortez. The Mob Boss stumbled a bit as he got up, his shoulders bleeding from where Gato's claws dug in. Gato purred happily, licking his chops as he stared at Cortez who was beginning to get nervous. Rico stroked the gun and looked at Cortez with a carefree smile.

"Oh yes, before I go I'd like to remind you not to ever speak to me like that again or I may not hesitate to kill you! Well, either I or Gato as Gato has less patience than I do. Farewell Hesus Cortez! May the Diablos welcome you with open arms! Come Gato, let us hunt."

The puma roared and took off down the hall, Rico calmly following him. Now alone, Cortez sat down hard on a chair and looked around the empty room. It was eerily quiet except for his and Avril's breathing. He ran a shaky hand through his now messy hair and nervously puffed his cigar again, putting a clip into his guns.

"If I'm going to die," he murmured against the cigar, "Then you're all going to die with me."

XX

"So who else do you think is down this hall dad?" Gohan said in between breaths.

Vincent shrugged as they dodged bullets and knocked out two more of Cortez's men and continued running down the hall. "I don't know but I'm pretty sure—"

A large roar came out of nowhere and all the saiya-jins saw was a flash of tan then a flash of black colliding with each other. When the tan and black separated it was Rico's puma Gato and Vincent's panther Leone.

Leone snarled at Gato who snarled back in response. Vincent's eyes narrowed as Rico's approaching form appeared from the shadows of the hall, a black yet shiny revolver glistening in the lit hall. Rico's sadistic and wide smile could compare to the shine of his gun.

In response Vincent pulled out his own revolver, a matching black pair. If one looked close enough you could see the black lion etched on the barrel of the guns. Vincent gave a fanged smile at the sadistic smiling Rico, reaching into his jacket to pull out a rose.

"I've been waiting a long time for this Rico," Vincent glanced at Gohan, "Go, quickly, this fight doesn't concern you Gohan."

Gohan stared at him. "You can't be serious father!"

"Now, now, boys must always listen to their fathers. Only two black lions can fight amidst roses with one as the victor, three lions only bring trouble." Rico said in a sing-song voice, a smile ever present on his face.

Gohan frowned then sighed. He gave his father a small smile and patted Leone on the head, earning a purr. "Good luck you two, don't die on me."

"Die?" Vincent laughed, "Don't count on it!"

Gohan almost rolled his eyes. Looking at the two he moved past them. When he noticed that Rico didn't so much as bat an eyelash at him he run past, he continued on without looking back. Be safe father…

Rico smiled almost gleefully. "Now there's nothing standing between us!"

Vincent glared at his sing-song voice. "You sadistic bastard, are you ready to fight?"

Rico gave a wide almost fanged grin. "I'm always ready to fight Valentine of all people you should know that by now. I've been ready to fight you ever since you burned down the Vatican Church and took over Italy!"

Vincent laughed. "Oh yes, I did take over your territory didn't I? And are you still sore about me taking down the Vatican Church before you? Oh I'm sorry."

Rico laughed. "Oh I'll live. Believe me when I say this, I just want to kill you. After all what would your dear son say when he finds out that I am his uncle?"

"He will wonder as I have why our saiya-jin father chose a human after his mate's death. Quite dishonorable to my mother if I do say so myself." Vincent replied.

"Oh he'll get over it. Now, I am ready to fight the one who killed our father." Rico smiled.

Vincent grinned as well. "And I am ready to fight the child who shamed my mother."

Both pulled out their roses and placed them in the pocket near their heart. Gato and Leone growled and snarled at each other by their master's sides, teeth bared and impatient claws scratching the tile floor.

Saiya-jin and demi-saiya-jin placed hand on the rose in their pockets before reciting in almost practiced unison, "As the sons of Lord Antonio Gaspar Valentine we pledge these roses as a sign of our fight to the death. May the last son standing take the defeated son's rose as a sign of their victory over the other's house. May God have mercy on the loser's soul, amen."

Rico smiled almost cheekily at Vincent and said in his overly happy sing-song voice, "Are you ready to fight half-brother Valentine?"

Vincent gave him a fanged grin. "Ready when you are half-brother Gaspar!"

XX

Gohan stared at the door as if he could see through it. Gathering his resolve he opened it to see Cortez grinning almost madly at him, a gun in his hand and to his surprise his unconscious daughter lying on the table with the barrel aimed at her head.

"Well, well, well, Gohan Son or should I say Gohan Valentine?" Cortez chuckled. "Fancy meeting you here eh? Your daughter and I were just getting acquainted."

Gohan growled at him, his fangs bared and tail bristling. "Don't you dare harm a hair on her head you malicious bastard!"

Cortez held his hand up with a cocky smile, the other still trained on Avril's head. He grinned at Gohan, showing his gold front teeth. "Oh course not Gohan! We were just playing castle! And guess what?"

The angry father glared darkly at him. "What?"

Cortez's smile got wider and if possible, colder. "You're just in time to play the knight…"

Sorry if this took so long. My internet was down and it was horrible! I was bored for nearly three weeks…ahem, this story is back to running again and the next three chapters should be out before I go to school. The big climax is coming up and I doubt anyone wouldn't be surprised at what is going to happen next!

Next chapters: (Hehe, placed specifically to make you more anxious!)

Chapter 28: Fight to the Death! Good vs. Evil

Chapter 29: Farewell

Chapter 30: And life goes on…