Chapter 12 – Freedom
The king steps back, admiring the two destroyed bodies in front of him. Then he gasps in surprise. Both Vegeta and Mirai Trunks turn around, open their eyes and look at him. Halos appear over their heads.
"Now it's our turn," they say simultaneously. With swift movements they break the chains and approach the king, slowly and threateningly.
Clashing their left and right hand together, Vegeta and Mirai stretch out their arms towards the king.
Their lips form ancient words in Saiya-go and soon the king falls to his knees, grabbing his head in despair.
'It's over, you bastard. Never mess with me again.' Mirai's voice echoes into the king's mind. The king's body becomes transparent and then vanishes.
Mirai is free again.
"You son of a bitch," Vegeta hisses as he glares at Mirai. "I told you to stay put."
"What can I say? Like father, like son. You never listen to anyone anyway, then why should I listen to you?"
Vegeta punches Mirai in the chest.
"I'm serious, you baka! How the hell can anyone wish us back when Mirai Bulma can't take our Dragon Balls to this dimension? You used the other Time Machine!"
"And it can be used again," Mirai states confidently.
"Nani?" Vegeta looks at him like he's lost his marbles.
"It's called programming, Vegeta. I sent the Time Machine back on its own to get my mom and the Dragon Balls. What do you think I am, stupid?"
Vegeta smiles at him, obviously relieved. "I never knew that damn thing could be programmed," he admits.
"Thank Kami you do know your stuff about mind spells and breaking them," Mirai says. "Hell, even now I don't know what we said to make him crawl. Was that Saiya-go? I don't even speak the language!"
"That's why I was in charge. Once we bond, you'll be able to speak it too."
"That's so awesome!" Mirai looks around the destroyed throne room. "Can we get out of here now?"
"Absolutely."
Mirai Bulma wishes them back with the Dragon Balls. They reappear on Chikyuu, right outside of Capsule Corp.
"I guess you want to go back to the other dimension?" Mirai Bulma asks her son.
Mirai Trunks nods. "If I stay here, I'd probably go on a rampage again."
His mother swallows hard as she embraces him tightly.
"I'll miss you so much," she sobs. "But I know you'll be happy there."
"I'll visit you every once and a while," Trunks promises. He gently peels off her arms and steps back.
"Vegeta," Mirai Bulma says as they get into the Time Machines. "Take good care of him."
"I will, onna," Vegeta replies.
The Time Machines lift off and vanish.
Goku awaits them as they return, with a huge grin on his face.
"I knew you two could do it," he says. He happily hugs them both, then steps back.
"You two need to hurry. There will be a full moon tonight."
"Tonight?" Vegeta gasps. "Kami damn it! Then we should hurry. Follow me, Trunks."
Vegeta takes off into the blue sky.
They land on deserted grounds. Vegeta motions Trunks to sit down.
"This is the place where I first fought Kakarot," he explains. "I'll show you what you need to know about the ritual we'll perform tonight."
Mirai Trunks closes his eyes as Vegeta gently puts their foreheads together. Images are fed into his mind; flashes of pain and pleasure travel through his nerve cells. The ritual is very intense and the images make him realize that there is a chance that one of them will die while performing it.
The sun is already on its way down as they open their eyes again. Trunks breathes in deeply, trying to process the new information he has received.
"I never thought it would be this dangerous," he says.
Vegeta looks at him intently. "What did you expect? A devil's bond is the most dangerous kind of bond. The ritual reflects the nature of the relationship that is to be."
Trunks hesitates a moment before he asks: "Are you really… willing to risk all this?"
Onyx eyes meet his crystal ones. Vegeta reassures Trunks without words that he is willing to risk the universe in order to establish this bond. They kiss each other tenderly, both knowing that tonight, there won't be anything even slightly resembling the tenderness they display now.
There will only be two dominant Saiyans trying to tear each other apart under the influence of the moonlight.
Goku rubs Trunks chest with a bar of soap. They're both in the hot tub outside of Goku's house. Vegeta is getting ready at Capsule Corp. Alone.
"I don't see the point," Trunks complains. "Why get all washed up, when in an hour or so we'll be at each other's throats trying to kill each other?"
"It's a matter of respect," Goku explains. Vegeta already told him about the ritual and its meaning.
"You must be clean before you start, thus showing your future mate you're willing to give up your past and offer him a future with you."
"Vegeta already knows that," Trunks growls.
"It's all about tradition. Rituals never make sense to people."
"Hn."
Goku gasps and blinks in surprise.
"What?" Trunks asks.
"You just copied Vegeta."
"So?"
"That's not supposed to happen until after you bond."
Trunks shrugs. "Vegeta and I are very much alike. I don't think this was copying."
Goku continues working on Trunks' back.
"You two are a very special couple, Trunks. Whatever happens tonight, it'll be okay."
Trunks sighs. "I don't want to hurt him."
Goku laughs out loud. "Wait until moonrise, Trunks. You won't know what hits you. Two Trans-Oozarus! I hope the planet holds together!"
"Is it that bad?" Trunks lifts an eyebrow.
"He showed you the images, didn't he?"
"He did…"
Goku nods. "You've never seen a real Trans-Oozaru before. I became one once."
Trunks turns his head to look at Goku. He is shocked when he sees the pain on Goku's face.
"I tore him apart… It was horrible. I can still feel the pain he suffered that day."
"Why didn't he become Trans-Oozaru as well?"
"We never had the potential to achieve a devil's bond. Once I became Trans-Oozaru, he was powerless to do so. There is some kind of mechanism inside of every Saiyan that blocks the ability to become Trans-Oozaru when there's already another Trans-Oozaru stomping around. Two Trans-Oozarus fighting each other can cause a planet to explode. Vegeta became a victim of that defense mechanism."
"But… what'll happen to Chikyuu when we fight tonight?"
"Hah! You don't think you will be fighting on this planet, or do you?"
"I see…"
"Get dressed. If I'd get you any cleaner, your skin would come off."
Trunks steps out of the tub and dries himself with ki. He puts on the black pants that Goku put there for him.
"Now for decoration. Sit down." Goku gets the small bowl filled with Trunks' blood. With his index finger, he paints Trunks' face with ritual figures.
"Kami, I don't want to know how I look right now," Trunks sighs, suspecting that Goku made him look like some kind of circus clown.
He gets up and adjusts his waistband. The light of the setting sun makes him look like he's on fire.
"You look divine," Goku whispers. He averts his eyes from Trunks; he's not supposed to lust for him right now.
"Go now," Goku says and turns to Saiya-go for a formal farewell. "Fare well in battle and death."
Trunks nods and takes off.
Vegeta has prepared for the ritual alone. He wants to be able to focus on Mirai Trunks and he knows he will not be able to do so when Goku is around. When he steps outside, he feels his blood rush through his veins. His heart rate is becoming higher every second.
'Kami damn it, I've been in denial. I've never felt such an urge to bond.'
He takes off into the darkening skies. The place where they'll meet is the same place where he first fought Goku. As he touches down on a huge rock, he looks around with predator gaze. He doesn't have to wait long.
On a rock opposite from him, Mirai Trunks emerges from the shadows. It takes all of Vegeta's self-control not to gape at him in awe.
The warrior standing in front of him looks like a god.
Mirai Trunks experiences the same feelings as does Vegeta. He looks at the Saiyan Prince well-defined features in amazement. It's like he truly sees Vegeta; not just his physique, but the whole package at once.
The torment in his past, his shattered pride, his honor. The knowledge of how to be a true warrior, the sense of power and how to use it. And the love.
Mirai Trunks had never expected it, but Vegeta's love is what really throws him off his feet. The raw, passionate love. The will to defend his loved ones even beyond the claws of death. It burns in Vegeta's dark eyes like an unholy fire.
He watches how Vegeta puts two fingers to his forehead. He mirrors the movement and they faze out to reappear on an abandoned planet.