Disclaimer: All characters and worlds are copyright to their rightful, oh so awesome, owner - Toriyama Akira-sama. So don't sue me! I've got soooooo much stuff to buy, I can't spend little money I have on court or other things.

(Ah -- the Edit/Preview function hates me, it won't cooperate with me nicely so there are no bigger spaces between the titles and the content... blah)

Beta'd by the greatest Jyasumine! ( jyasumine.deviantart. com)

On with the story & have a nice reading!

The Prince of Air by schu-was-here

05. Of antenna and dedication

Gokuu didn't need much time to catch up to the prince but Vejiita ignored his presence and kept on flying. He didn't mind though. Vejiita was upset with how things with Bra turned out.

He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to say to Vejiita to make things better. Bulma was maybe right about him being little selfish about the tails, but she could've handled it more smoothly. But then again, she had no idea what a tail meant to a Saiyajin. And especially a proud prince of Saiyajin, for whom everything connected with his heritage mattered the most.

Gokuu, now more than ever, knew about Vejiita's feelings towards his race. He'd felt them during the fusion. He understood how important it was to the prince not to forsake the memory of his home planet and it's people. He supposed the seclusion Vejiita felt staying on Earth made him realize how important Vejiita-sei was to him, how lonely it was to have no one who could fully understand him. But being the proud prince that he was, Vejiita would never admit to feeling forlorn and instead hid within a cocoon of hate and aversion towards the human race. He interpreted any signs of compassion or kindness as pity, which he found as most insulting. So he stayed in his angry, solitary world, away from people. He did not want to become like them.

That was, Gokuu thought, what had triggered Vejiita's decision to give into evil and become Majin. He was so desperate as not to let humanity change him, that he had become something he thought similar to his own kind. But that had been a grave mistake for which he had paid a high price.

Gokuu knew that Vejiita was no longer the blood thirsty tyrant that had arrived on Earth to destroy him all those years ago. That day, when they had fought in Hell together had made it clear for Gokuu that the prince had learned his lesson the hardest way(1).

But still he was an alien prince, fighting for his rightful place in the world. That was why he was so pleased with Gokuu, who, although accidentally, had made them even more unique and unlike humans.

For as long as he could remember, being different from everybody else had never seemed like a bad thing to Gokuu. He had never bothered to act like what was expected of him, always being his not very smart and somewhat uncivilised self. But now he understood how important it had been to protect his identity. And he realized what Vejiita was trying to do, acting the way he always did. He wanted to preserve the essence of Saiyajin, being one of the last of the species, and most importantly their prince.

Having been one with Vejiita, even for the short period of time they had fought against Buu as Vejitto, made him realize all this and let him relate to the prince. He had been somehow affect with Vejiita's longing and he simply wanted to know more of his ancestors. And now that he thought about it, maybe it wasn't just a coincidence that he had made that wish. Maybe subconsciously he felt the need to retrieve this part of who he was, who they all were.

He shook himself out of his trance, noticing Vejiita descend and followed suit. They landed in the middle of nowhere – but it wasn't really, at least not to the two Saiyans. It was one of their three favourite sparring spots. This one was a vast meadow, with no trees or rocks for miles, blanketed by thick yellowish grass, with a few visible patches of flowers here and there. The place where they trained was of course more bare, with a few small craters created by "falling Saiyajin".

Vejiita stood where the dirt of their sparring grounds met the grass and turned to face Gokuu as he arrived a second later, about twenty feet away. He could see the prince was highly agitated. Gokuu waited for him to say or do something; he wasn't going to press the matter if Vejiita didn't want to discuss it.

The shorter Saiyajin had his arms crossed defensively, his tail wrapped tightly around his waist. He had a scowl on his face, his jaw clenched and shaking. He was angry, yes, but it was almost as if the prince was trying to deal with some new emotion he was completely unused to cope with.

Was he upset about scaring Bra, Gokuu thought. He knew that Vejiita wasn't emotionless when it came to his children, like he tried to pretend, but he had never looked so anguished before. Gokuu felt bad for Bra but he knew Vejiita just lost control and didn't mean for her to run away from him, crying. What father would've wanted that?

"What did you follow me for, Kakarotto?" Vejiita's voice was hard but also resigned, like he knew it was pointless to even start this discussion. "I don't need you telling me I acted like a total asshole towards my own brat. The woman made it quite clear."

"Vejiita, that wasn't what I was going to say…" Gokuu smiled a sad but hopeful smile - at least the prince was talking to him. "I really don't think about you that way, you just… were upset and… it slipped out?"

"Hn." Vejiita's tailed uncoiled itself and started twitching behind him. He uncrossed his arms and raised them in a familiar position, fists clenched, ready for battle. Gokuu thought he had seen a flash of relief in the prince's eyes for a second but now they were hard and focused once again. "So, are you just going to stand there whole day, staring like a baka, or are we going to spar?"

Gokuu smiled widely. Maybe beating each other wasn't going to help Vejiita deal with the problem, but it would surely ease the tension. Anything to help the prince.

"Yosh, Vejiita!"

----

There was a commotion in the Otherworld.

It seemed that every dead fighter, from every galaxy wanted to see the source of the massive wave of energy that had shaken all the Otherworld, including Hell, Heaven and Enma's Palace. It was even more powerful than when Kid Buu (2) had appeared to create mayhem.

A gigantic crowd of warriors gathered at the stadium to watch Gokuu's transformation into oozaru on a large TV beam. The video recording was looped so that each time the video Gokuu noticed the moon the spectators held their breath and each time an island was destroyed with too much energy that was needed, everyone gasped, ooh'd and ahh'd. Never in the galaxies has there been a greater force than this.

Kaio-sama was gloating.

It was his former pupil that was, once again, the main attraction. He accepted praises and words of admiration for Gokuu with the same glee as if it was himself on that screen, not the Saiyajin. It gave him a great deal of satisfaction when even the West Kai admitted that his strongest warrior, Paikuhan, was no match for this force.

"Gokuu really knows no limits, does he? Each time we hear of him he's even stronger than before. Won't he ever stop growing?" Paikuhan admired the screen where his old rival was sprouting fur and changing into a raging monster.

"Hehehe, what did you expect from my Gokuu?" Kaio-sama was having too much fun to notice East Kai's suddenly distressed expression as she tried to push herself through the crowd in the stands to the old Kai's lounge.

"This is no time for laughing! I have bad news!"

"What is it, baba? Can't you see? Gokuu is the strongest…"

"Just be quiet and listen! Your Gokuu's energy was so strong," Kaio-sama smiled widely at that, "that it had reached the Eastern Galaxy!"

"Of course," Kaio-sama commented with superiority leaking from his tone.

"Shush! It's not good. The Polizeijin(3) have registered it and are now preparing to leave for Earth."

"So?"

"'So'! Don't you remember they are the Inter-Galactic Court and Law Enforcement?" The North Kai was about to tell a joke about them, it was so good, but then it hit him.

"Oh no! They have the equipment to classify types of energy! They've realized it was Saiyan!"

"Yes! Exactly! And now they're heading for Earth in order to get your Gokuu. They probably already know that he isn't the only one. They will want to get Vejiita and the rest of them too."

Kaio-sama sat, or rather fell on the ground, shaking.

"This is a disaster!" he said in a panicky voice. The Saiyajin would never submit to anyone. They would fight! But they have no idea what they would be up against!

"I have to warn them!"

----

Pant. Pant. Pant.

The sound of heavy, hoarse breaths was all that could be heard in the still, yellow grass.

Two bodies lay sprawled on the bare and charred ground, their clothes torn, skin bruised and blooded, the ruffled fur of their tails and black hair coated with dirt. They had only sparred for two hours but it had been intense. Gokuu wanted Vejiita to unwind from the stress, keeping himself from punching too hard. It wasn't a normal work out, the prince needed an outlet not a beating. Still he didn't want to offend him with going easy on him, so he had sent a few good kicks and blows, but just for pretence.

Eventually he ended up hurting pretty much, but it wasn't that bad. He was more concerned with Vejiita's state of mind - he didn't want his friend to blame himself for what had happened. He wanted to ask some trouble-free question, to check if the tension between them has lessened, but Vejiita beat him to it.

"I'm an awful father, aren't I?" Gokuu, who was trying to pull himself to his knees, looked up at the prince, who was staring into the reddening sky. He sounded so sad, that the younger Saiyajin felt his heart clench. "First to Trunks and now to Bra. They hate me."

"Vejiita! That's not true!" Gokuu crawled to his friend and, kneeling, loomed over him, trying to read the emotions that were hidden behind the black pools. They held each other's gaze for a while, then the prince turned his head – he hated all that compassion the gentle baka was assaulting him with.

"Vejiita, it's not true… You and me both know it. Trunks is fond of you, he respects you and wants your acknowledgment. And Bra loves you too! Every time she drags you for shopping or to the amusement park she's boasting - she's so proud of having you as a dad." Gokuu's tail flicked, amused. He was hoping some good memories would wash away the grief.

Vejiita didn't answer. He knew about all that. His kids had always clung to him but he had still been cold towards them. A part of him reasoned that it was the way of Saiyajin, but that wasn't entirely true.

On Vejiita-sei, kids with low energy levels like Kakarotto, were treated like trash, although it wasn't always so. These were bad times – endless wars and struggle for power. Then came Frieza(4), and it all became worse. Strength had been turned into obsession - it was the only way to keep the Icejin at bay and away from their throats. But it all turned against them in the end. Vejiita had wondered sometimes, that maybe if the Saiyajin stayed how they had been before the wars, their planet's fate could've been different.

Before, each newborn cub had been treated with care. The family packs had always treasured their children and protected them. Life was normal, a bit like on Earth. It wasn't a constant race for power. Nobody had ever dreamed of becoming the legendary Super Saiyajin – it was treated more like a story than a possibility. At least in the lower classes. He had genuinely believed he was the one who would become the legend.

But he hadn't.

He wasn't the first, nor the strongest Super Saiyajin. The one that had beat him to it was now seated at his side, a lowly third-class, who did not understand what he had been in his youth and now refused to acknowledge what he was supposed to be - a follower, not leader. Vejiita was supposed to be the best, but had been out taken by this man, who was now gazing at him with those sickeningly affectionate eyes. He didn't need this. He didn't want it, either.

Or did he?

Why was he so upset about his kid being troubled? Since when did he start to care about what others think of him or if they liked him or not. He didn't give a damn about Trunks when he was little. He only spent time with him when training. His well being didn't matter as much as his progress. But with Bra… it couldn't be that she was a girl. No. Saiyajin didn't have that idiotic attitude towards sexes like humans did – they were fighters first, then family and society members. Women had been just as strong as men only not so numerous. During peaceful times their task was to bare children and watch over them, men providing food and protection. But still, with the division of duties, the sexes were treated equally.

But then what was the difference? Could he have changed so much in those ten years since Buu? He didn't want to change, he didn't even try. When had it happened? How?

"Vejiita…"

"Kakarotto, I…" Vejiita pulled himself up, not wanting his supposed subject to watch him from above. Gokuu was observing him intently, waiting for his words like a devotee for the preacher to teach. He sighed. "I don't know... I never wanted," he put his hand over his chest, "…it to be like this. It never was…"

"Maybe it's the fusion." Gokuu offered.

"Fusion?" Vejiita asked, apprehensively.

"I think it's because of the fusion your feelings towards some things have changed," Gokuu could see the shock on Vejiita's face. Heh, it was like this for him too, when he first realized. "I think that during the fusion you had felt some of my thoughts. You got to know what it means to have friends and family from me. And I got to understand about Saiyajin and the connection towards our heritage from you. I guess that's a fair deal."

"You're still in my head?" Vejiita scowled. It was this baka's fault he was feeling all confused! It was his bent ideas that made him notice all those stupidly trivial things as someone's discomfort! "Why the hell didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"Vejiita…" sighing, Gokuu stood up, his tail hanging, its tip twitching in frustration. "Don't make it sound so bad. Is it really that big of a deal?"

"You know well how I feel about fusions!"

"Yare, yare. Vejiita, why won't you quit it already?" Gokuu meant to sound annoyed – he was getting tired of Vejiita's stubbornness, at least on this particular subject. The prince reached out and grabbed Gokuu by the collar, pulling him down so they were eye to eye.

"Don't you tell me what to do! I don't want this! It's your fault I'm having all these sappy thoughts. I don't want them!" he spit with fury.

"But you have them and can't do anything about it!" Gokuu pulled himself away, leaving Vejiita stunned and then livid.

"Bastard!" He raised his fist and smashed it into Gokuu's face, who didn't even move to shield himself. Vejiita took his hand away, shaking with annoyance. Gokuu turned back around slowly to face him, blood beginning to slip from his nose, staining his shirt. But his eyes showed more hurt than the injury on his face.

"I understand, Vejiita. I really do… but still… I hope you can someday lose all that hate for me and let us finally be friends."

The prince stared at the taller Saiyajin as he wiped the blood on his green(5) wristband. He started to leave with his head hung and tail limply, dragging in the dirt. Vejiita felt a pang of hurt and guilt and before he could stop himself, he grabbed him by the shoulder.

Ah damn it!

Gokuu stopped and turned his head slightly to see the prince's face, his eyes hopeful.

Words were suddenly stuck in Vejiita's throat. He couldn't stand seeing Gokuu looking so needy, so he stared at the ground to avoid the agonizing display of emotions before him. Yet still he felt the piercing, kind gaze on him, as though it was burning his skin. He swallowed a lump that was starting to choke him but could not find words to tell the younger Saiyajin what he really thought about him. That it was no longer hate, but something quite different.

But the fact that the prince had stopped him from going was enough for Gokuu. Somehow he felt what the other couldn't put into words and it made him happy. He wanted to assure Vejiita it's all right between them and was about to bear-hug him… when suddenly Kaio's loud and shrieking voice rung in his head, making him lose balance. He missed the prince by a few inches, and hit the ground face down, his tail sticking up in the air.

/Gokuu! This is a disaster/

Standing up, Gokuu mumbled some obscenities at the deity, some of them known only thanks to Vejiita. He ignored the prince's bewildered expression and hid the embarrassment he felt under his usual grin.

"What is it Kaio-sama?" Vejiita lifted his head, curious. The little bugs only spoke to Gokuu when there was something seriously wrong.

/Gokuu, there are five alien ships coming to Earth/

"…And?"

/They're the Polizeijin! Your oozaru's energy has reached their planet in the Eastern Galaxy and now they're coming to collect you/

"Huh? Collect? What's this all about? Do they want my power or something?" At the mention of his arch-rival's power Vejiita's interest increased, his tail flicking inquisitively.

"Hey, Kai! Let me listen too! I want to know what's going on."

/Hmph, this is a private conversation./

"Kaio-sama," Gokuu growled making the shorter Saiyajin start and raise his brows in question. "Let Vejiita hear. He has the right to know and maybe he'll figure something out."

"What the hell is going on? What about Kakarotto's power?"

/It has alerted the Polizeijin about your existence./

"Who?"

/Gah! Are you stupid? They are the Inter-Galactic Court and Law Enforcement! They will most likely want you to take responsibility for the death your race had caused! And since Vejiita is the prince, he'll take most of it/

"Che. Do you think I'll let some weaklings try me for something I hadn't taken charge of?" Vejiita puffed, crossing his arms and taking his usual proud pose.

/You did some massive damage to many planets yourself, Vejiita, when you worked for Frieza./

"And what about him?" interrupted Gokuu. "Have they made his people responsible for what he had done?"

/Ah… I don't know. But the Icejin are…/

"Then why don't they leave us alone? Vejiita isn't the same person he was then."

"Kakarotto, I can speak for myself." Gokuu looked at the prince pleadingly, afraid that he might fight with the Kai, but seeing Vejiita's firm stare, he just nodded and let him speak.

"You're telling me that they want to make the us and our brats responsible for my father's and Frieza's deeds, right? Well fuck them! As I see it, it's only me that has done anything to be judged for by those aliens, but that's none of their business. I've never heard of them and have done them no harm."

"Vejiita, but…" began Gokuu but the prince paid him no attention.

"I'll make them stop disgracing my race's honour just because of my father's mistakes and that damn lizard."

/Is that what you want? Ok, then. As long as Earth doesn't get involved it's fine by me./

"Fine." Vejiita turned around as the connection was broken.

"Vejiita, what are you doing? You're not going to do it alone!" Gokuu was outraged. He grabbed Vejiita by the shoulders but the prince shook his hands off. Gokuu tried Vejiita's forearms, then finally caught his wrists in a strong grip and pinned his arms by his sides.

"I'm doing what I want to do. And I am going alone! Let go of me!" the prince snarled, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"No!"

"Release me, NOW!"

"Not until you listen to me!" Vejiita glared daggers at him but stood still. Gokuu took a breath and let it out audibly. "How can you think I'll let you go alone?"

"Why would you want to go? You don't care about Saiyan pride anyway."

"I do!" Gokuu's grip hardened. "I do care, now, after all this time with you around, after the fusion. I've just told you, your feelings about our legacy have stayed behind in my head and thanks to it I can understand how you're feeling. So don't you forget my being a full-blooded Saiyajin. It's my race as well as yours. Besides I don't want any of our kids getting punished for something they haven't done." He looked into Vejiita's eyes, trying to make him see he really did care, that it wasn't just words. When he saw no sign of scorn coming from Vejiita, he decided to add: "I care because you care. Isn't that what friendship is about?"

"Hn. Who said I was your friend?" Vejiita mumble coldly, but then smirked, eyes flickering with a dose of satisfaction.

"Vejiita? So… does that mean I can go with you?" Vejiita nodded, wanting it to seem unenthusiastic, but Gokuu paid it no mind, he was too happy to notice. Vejiita shook his head at the Earth-raised baka and turned to leave.

"I still don't get it why you suddenly decided to take interest in my kind's business, but all I can say is 'finally'. Just don't whine when you start regretting it." Added the prince in the most emotionless voice he could manage. But before he could jump into air and leave the grinning idiot behind, Gokuu grabbed him around the chest and squeezed hard, making the smaller prince struggle for breath.

"I won't! Thanks!"

"Let go… baka…!"

"Vejiita! I won't let you down!"

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(1) I know the timeline in the movies are a bit different than in anime, but i think what happened in Movie 12 is too important for the character's development to omit. For those who haven't seen the movie, Vejii makes it clear that the horror of hell has made him understand not to be evil again… or something like that.. if my translation is correct ;p

(2) I stick with anime version on this

(3) Ehehe oO; German people take no offence, please. I like the word 'Polizei' and it was the first thing that popped when I was trying to name the aliens

(4) Damn him and his name! I've seen so many variations of it that i just stopped caring about it. So if you see me spelling it differently later on, just ignore it, plz.

(5) Yes! The end of DBZ had brought spectacular changes in Gokuu's outfit, meaning changin the gi and pants' colors! OMG! So on with the changes! Heh, and since i like green, i'll have him wear it :D

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R&R is LUV :333

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BlackTigerG2 - Nyah, there's gonna be some of that fluff pretty soon, like 3 chappies (is that soon? lol)

Miako6 - no Goku/Vageta fluff yet and no, Veggie isn't uke... oO;;;

Thanx to all who decided to review the previous chappies :)