AN: Wow. What mixed reviews…Some are really kind and supportive and the others are, uh…ambivalent. Kay, moving onto the replies…
J-Girl: Ah, thank you kindly! Here's another chapter!
John Perry: I really like that idea! Nappa the babysitter! Heh, I'll definitely think about it, and maybe have a go at it! And I'm so glad you catch the idea of a break before throwing in some action. You're very supportive and I appreciate it!
Kevornman: Hmm, the idea did occur to me but it would be horribly clichéd and no one reads sequels anyway. As it is I have SEVENTEEN unfinished stories…
glares at muse
Brolly: What did I do?
Your fault, baka, for getting me started on so many ideas! So don't worry, there won't be a sequel…unless this one is wildly successful…which it isn't…
M-Python-Girl: Welcome back! I haven't heard from you in ages! Mind you, I was offline for four solid months earlier this year so I'm not one to talk!
Chuquita: I was worried when I didn't hear from you! I think the 'I liked being tall' line is one of my top five favourites from this story! "Karidasu" ended too soon! Waaah! I wanted more! But I trust you'll continue soon! Most importantly, I think there's going to be a big turn in the Kaka-war…which Vegeta will win! Bwahahahaha! Uh, right. I'd better leave all of that for the review. Shame, Goku was sick but he's better now…only to get his ass kicked! I kinda like 'Vedge' because I used 'Geta' too much way back when and I think 'Ouji' is better for shonen-ai and yaoi. Oh, I wrote a one-shot inspired by 'Fic 100', with Veggie wearing Kaks' shirt! I ADORED that part and I just had to write something about it! I'll send it to you sometime soon. And I'll make sure they find the DB's…Vegeta can have one wish for himself for a change. Oh, and what's the link for Veggie's mushy cooking song?
Yami Persephone: Heh, I didn't really think about the logistics of the suns...smacks forehead but I'll take your theory that they are small…I guess the orbits are aligned differently. But as author, it is my decree that these three suns can pass through each other! Cower before my demented author-logic! I like the sound of those chocolates…I work in a bar most of the week and those would be awesome to put with the cocktails! And your dad's motto is brilliant…because it is often very true. Methinks that denial is a good thing too! As for Vedge, it's not really original in fanfiction…but it isn't used often. I've read it before in several stories but they were in pretty obscure websites and not on Agamemnon: I like the pacing of their relationship too and here's another chapter!
Naydin: Ah, one of the ambivalent reviews. The Nameks did wish an entirely new planet for themselves when theirs got blown up and I used that logic. I didn't really want the Saiyans back, just the planet. That way, its just Vegeta and Kakarot's big playground and Vegeta won't get suckered into ruling and administration. Vegeta's illness is mentioned very far back in chapter two…actually four or five paragraphs about it. Maybe you only read chapter nine? Uh, thanks for saying that is some of the good stuff…and its okay to not review sometimes, although there are hit counts for every chapter and it really hurts to see how many people read the thing but don't review. It leads one to believe that the story is shit because no one takes time to review…
brightens up
But my reviewers, small in number but big in heart, make it all worth it!
However, I think there are very few good writers left on is one…the good ones have all been banned. Camaro, Rena Sama, Kitty Kat…I might just leave someday too, if the rules get any more restrictive. Apparently, these reviewer replies are illegal too…Whew! Long reply!
Brolly: Aye.
And thank you for reviewing! I hope you'll stick around for the rest.
Nitara: Well…you'll just have to see.
Spruceton Spook: Whoo hoo! What an amazingly flattering review! I feel my tattered author pride returning! I did put more work into this story than any other I've written and that's why I'm taking negative crits so hard. But, I do see where others are coming from and take note if they have a valid point. I also look forward to Sundays too! And very cool screen name as well, I'd like to hear the story behind it. Thank you for your fantastic review and I hope you'll return to 'haunt' me.
Brolly: That was an awful joke.
Zo: cheesy grin Sorry, couldn't help it!
Omnimalevolent: Ah, always so generous in both good and bad, aren't you? Doesn't matter, because you still keep coming back, which is a good thing! Heh, 'happy Ouji and tousan camping trip' sounds like fun! Shame, poor Veggie does deserve some good moments. I kinda like 'Vedge' but yes, it is a personal thing in the Art of Vegeta, ya know? Personally, I like my veggies with a dash of lemon but eh, what can I do?
Brolly: Sick hentai child.
Aye! I like the sunsets too, but Yami pointed out the logistics…the ONLY thing I didn't stop to consider! whacks self idiot Zo! Overlooking such a detail! The sad stuff is coming later but here's some gore. Hope you like it! Hmm, just when I thought I was being kinda original…look, as far as I'm concerned the only truly original fanfiction writers out there I've mentioned several times, namely Camaro (who is just untouchable when it comes to "Monster" and the Chuquita universe, as well as Card and the "Pornstar Dragon Series" oh, and Xero Sky and Gutterball wield the written word with such style... shrugs I haven't been writing for all that long but my original stuff that I'm putting into manga is far better. Dbz fanfiction has been around as long as the series has and nothing is original any more.
Brolly: Are we living in the Matrix?
Zo: pats eight foot Saiyan on butt since head is out of reach No, Brolly-dono, we're living in a nice suburb in South Africa.
Clarobell: Well, we'll just have to see how things go, ne? I didn't even put warnings on this story so that no one would know what's going to happen! Maybe Vegeta will live, maybe he'll die…who knows?
And in closing from me
Ah, well, I can't keep everyone happy. I have a terrible feeling that very few are going to stay with me when the major climaxes happen and I'll get my ass flamed to a crisp but, meh, I'm 19, a waitress and bartender and as such, I've developed really thick skin! I guess all that really matters is that whatever happens, it is justified and written appropriately. And I really hope that all of you will stay and read right through to the end.
And if anyone has links to really obscure Dbz knowledge and weird daizenshyuu (and doujinshi is welcome too) stuff, please send them to me! I've heard of Veggie's cooking song but I don't know where to find it!
And I've started the side-story for veggie's bedtime story…but its turning out a lot darker than I anticipated! So, I'll send it to those who really want it!
As always, arigato for the reviews and hope to hear from you over the course of the week!
Ja mata,
Zogeta and Brolly
(And suggestions for the story are welcome as well and odd-pairings)
Chapter Ten:
Stage Five:
Pain Tolerance
"Get up, Kakarot."
"I can't, Vegeta!"
A broken arm. A fractured and twisted ankle, too many snapped ribs and concussion. Internal bleeding, cracked collarbone, blood everywhere and tailbones snapped out of place. My nerves are being pinned and ground between splinters of broken bone and the pain shrieks all over my head and body. I can't think for all the pain and I can't do this any more. I've been hurt before, but this is worse…maybe it's because I'm not fighting to save the Earth, but against a friend…Vegeta grabs the front of my vest and hauls me up onto my knees.
"Do you think an enemy will show you compassion? Learn to focus past the pain and get up! Use those precious emotions of yours! Rage, or anger, or just plain determination, whatever works! Just get up!"
"I CAN"T, VEGETA!"
"YOU CAN, DAMMIT!"
I grit my teeth and try to think past the pain. But I can't think, can't even hear Vegeta yell at me anymore. My head lolls as my body slumps, the fight leaking out. Vegeta growls and throws me down; only to stamp on my broken elbow joint. There is nothing left to do but scream as nerves are minced between bones, liquid agony screaming into my head and amplifying the already incredible pain roaring inside my skull.
He pushes his foot down, twisting his ankle while he watches me writhe. "What if I were Frieza, Kakarot, and I had your son's head in my hand? What if I was about to destroy Earth and grant it the same fate as Vegeta-sei? Get up and fight, dammit! GET UP!"
He adds more pressure and I want to black out. I want to die if it will end this pain. No one has ever compounded my injuries this way, ever given so much thought to torturing me.
I can't even think…I can't hold onto my consciousness any more. I feel myself slipping.
"I c-can't…"
He kicks me in the side, turning me onto my stomach. He drops down and digs his knee into the centre of my spine before grabbing the back of my head and slamming my face over and over again into the rock, my nose giving way and blood spattering across the dull, brown granite below me.
"What happened to the strongest warrior in the universe! What happened to the most powerful Saiyan ever known! This isn't you, Kakarot! Get the fuck up and fight me! You allow yourself to feel pain! I was worse off than this when I fought you and your son so long ago! Latch onto something and let it give you strength!"
He grinds my face into the rock, his hard, unforgiving hand fisted into my hair. I can't respond, can't see out of the fog that I'm stumbling in. I groan and go limp, which only angers him more.
"WEAK! You are weak! Spineless, worthless IDIOT! So stupid that you wanted to let Frieza live even after he destroyed your friend! So unfathomably naïve that you wanted to give Cell a chance! After all this time I've spent on you, you lie there and whimper about pain! You know nothing about pain!"
Vegeta tugs my head back, baring my neck. He whispers into my ear, his voice laced with a venom I haven't heard in years. "I could break you right now if I wanted. I could strip you of your innocence and destroy your honour and pride. I could deal you the worst mental humiliation that would make this pain seem as pleasant as a ten course meal! I would not do such a thing, but there are those that will! There are those like Frieza who will smile while they rape you and slaughter your family and wipe their blood on your FACE! So stop whimpering like a kicked dog and focus on your inner strength!"
Vegeta lets go of my hair and stands up. "This is not the Kakarot I know. What happened, Kakarot?"
I just cough blood, feel it lodge in my bruised throat. Feel pain wrack and clench my body. Vegeta stands and watches. Such hard words…and so much pain behind them. Vegeta…do you just want to protect me from the horrors you had to face? Does my wellbeing matter so much to you that you would reveal some of your past in order to help me find strength?
If that is the case…then I will find strength.
I get up onto my elbows, reaching into the middle of my mind, holding onto one small thought. The same thought that has got me through so many battles.
I will never let anything terrible happen to anyone I care about.
I push to my knees, hands on the ground and head hanging. The pain slowly ebbs, my sudden resolve putting a muffler on the screaming, searing agony. Slowly, agonisingly, I manage to get to my feet, swaying as nausea and muted pain clash. I take a shaky stance and Vegeta smirks, looking…proud?
"That's it, Kakarot. Welcome back."
He falls into a stance, only pausing a moment before flying at me. Something about his pride gives me a much needed energy boost and I can counter, can catch his fists and kick back. He flutters around me, still light-footed and unscathed, but I can see his excitement. I can see how much my determination pleases him.
And I'm more than willing to keep him proud of me.
VVVVVVV
Yes! He's done it! I can't believe that he found a source of strength so quickly!
He really is something else. He's dripping blood all over the rocks and his right arm is tucked into his pants to stop it from flailing, but he's matching me and if he were transformed, he could easily outpace me despite his injuries. After an hour of painful combat (painful for both of us) I call a halt to it.
"Alright, Kakarot. That's enough."
He grins, then his eyes roll up into his head and he passes out. I shake my head and kneel next to him. He must be exhausted. With a lot of huffing, I get him onto my back, his legs wrapped around my waist and his arms hanging limply around my neck. With a grunt I start walking towards the ship. I did get caught up in the moment and I did say something I would have preferred to keep to myself, but it seems to have worked. Something set him off and pushed him to get up.
Frieza did break me, and it took years to come right, and I never want that sort of disgrace to befall Kakarot. I don't want his honour stained and his innocence broken. I want him strong enough to defeat those like Frieza and he has to be able to push through pain and hurt to destroy those that bring about pain.
I don't want Kakarot to feel weak and helpless and ashamed. I watched so many like him lose the light in their souls because of Frieza. I was a good kid; sarcastic and rude, maybe, but I was still innocent. Still wanted to play with my friends and spar and do the impractical, pointless things that kids do.
All it took was one horrible act when I was ten years old and I lost what little dignity and innocence I had left.
I never want it to happen to anyone else. Kakarot has to be strong enough to protect himself; if any other tyrants like Frieza show up, he'll be a prime target. His strength and innocence are the finest delicacies to those who value power. And I'm not entirely sure that his mind, as pure as it is, would survive. Physically, I healed and had no scars to show. But I was out of my mind for years; some of my most brutal purges took place after that. I was outstripping his elites, driven by rage and frustration. Knowing how it feels to be insane, how it feels to be truly weak and helpless, I want to protect Kakarot from feeling what I felt so long ago.
How sentimental I've become.
I'm glad that we didn't go too far from the ship today; he's heavy. I'm also starting to worry about his injuries; I want to get a senzu into his system soon so that there is no permanent damage. But, then again…Kakarot is practically indestructible. So many battles and wars and he's still the same. Maybe older, maybe wiser and a little more cautious, but he's stayed the same through all these years. I suppose I've always seen him as some sort of constant; even when he was dead, he never really left. His friends and family kept his memory alive and I was so determined to not forget my defeat that I kept his spirit alive as well.
My life is so full of ironies.
I've never been happier to see the ship before. I shift his weight so that I can stretch my arm out and open the gangway. The ramp slides out and comes down, hitting the snow with a soft 'thump'. With a grunt I start walking up the ramp and hurry to his room. I sit on the edge of his bed and lower him down, shrugging his arms off my shoulders. Once he's prone I fetch the senzus from my room. I find the biggest bean in the pouch then go back to Kakarot. He hasn't stirred and he looks a little too pale. I know he isn't exactly tanned at the best of times, but that's a bit pallid, even for him.
I lift his head up and prise his mouth open with my gloved fingers before I place the bean at the back of his throat and poke it down until his throat swallows around it reflexively. In a moment his eyes open and he blinks at me.
"Vegeta?"
I lower his head down and wrap my tail around his wrist to let him know I'm here and that he's safe.
"How are you feeling?"
He flexes a few muscles, shifts and tests joints. "Physically, I'm alright. I'm exhausted though."
"That's understandable. You did well today. I didn't mean to go overboard, but I needed to push you as far as I could. And as unpleasant as it sounds, we're going to do all these exercises at least once more before I give you your final exam."
He manages a tired grin, his hand reaching up to rest on my knee. "That's okay, Vegeta. I'm still having fun."
I stand and tug his blankets over him. "Get some sleep, Kakarot."
He nods, yawning as he does so. He absently waves at me before burrowing under his blankets, tail puffing out then lashing once to lay the fur right. And before I even get to the door, he's sleeping and snoring like a jet engine.
Baka.