Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, being computerless and all. Well, just for that, I'll make this a two-chapter update. YAY!! They're all short, but good, if I do say so myself. Chocolate bars for anyone who reviews!



Chapter 11: Final Hour

No one could tell who started it, and only the practiced eyes of the onlooking warriors could keep up with the furious blur of movement. They were not playing now. Both were out to cause serious damage. Through their fighting they still shouted angrily. Vegeta was beyond reason. Jita was beyond logic. Betrayal had tainted their feelings for so long. They fought the whole morning through, and it was close to noon. Both warriors were thoroughly exhausted - having gone without water, food, or rest since the previous morning. Pure adrenaline was keeping them going.

Goku remarked grimly, "This fight should have ended long ago."

Trunks, Gohan, and Goten nodded in agreement. The women had finally gone to their respective homes, after Bulma had secured a promise that no one would let Vegeta die.

Goten, not meaning to speak it aloud, said, "Why hasn't it ended?"

Goku glared in concentration. "Both have had opportunities to finish off each other, but they keep holding back. They don't want to kill each other."

At that moment, in the heat of battle, both Vegeta and Jita screamed, "Why did you betray me?!"

Suddenly, they stopped fighting. They stared at each other, breathing heavily. Though no one could tell what had been said, everyone understood that the end was near.

Jita wanted to pass out so badly. Sweat dripped from her body, along with blood from her many wounds. Only her iron will, or maybe stubbornness, prevented her from succumbing to weakness. She suspected that Vegeta felt the same way. The battle had lasted too long, and they both knew the reason. They kept holding back. She kept holding back.

Vegeta straightened from his hunched position and gathered what power he had remaining. "It's time."

Jita straightened and prepared herself. Now was her time - her chance. She prepared herself to use her most powerful attack - something she knew Vegeta had no chance against. Of the warriors, only Goku could see the subtle difference between a regular energy attack and what she was preparing to do.

Vegeta felt a peace about himself. He knew he couldn't kill her with a blast of the last of his energy. He didn't know if she could kill him, but he suddenly understood that she wouldn't. 'She's not like me,' he thought. 'She's - better. She's too smart - too good - to kill me. But if she does, I could only pity her. She's never known - love.' Vegeta felt sorrow. She had known love - for him - but he had ruined it. He realized, for the first time, that he had loved her - his sister - his first real family. He always had. He had to tell her. So he said it, having to use an archaic form of Saiyan. "I love you. And I'm proud of you, my sister."

Jita stopped cold. Was this Vegeta? Her brain was a confused jumble. She realized she could not do it. She could not kill him. She stopped what she was doing and went for an energy attack.

With a scream, both warriors released the blasts - both impressive considering their dwindling energy levels. The two blasts connected - and exploded. The four onlooking Saiyans closed their eyes against the searing brightness. When they were able to look again, they found the barrier down and both Vegeta and Jita laying unconscious on the ground - now reverted to their normal forms.





Trunks immediately ran for his father, and felt relief wash over him when he saw Vegeta breathing, albeit weakly. Trunks quickly picked his father up and shot toward Capsule Corp.

Goku, Gohan, and Goten slowly walked to Jita. "She's still alive," declared Goten. The warriors were unsure of what to do with her. Suddenly, they aw her hand move ever so slightly. Gradually, Jita began to awaken. She reached for something in her pocket and pressed a button on it. A spaceship appeared nearby, and the three Saiyans watched as Jita clawed at the battle-scarred ground to reach it - reminding Goku of the struggle of a certain Saiyan prince so many years ago. But the princess couldn't make it. After a moment's struggle, Jita passed out.

Goten regarded the one he had actually considered loving. He had been attracted to her sharp wit and strange beauty - and to find out what - who - she was. She had lied to him - used him in her path to vengeance. He should hate her, and in a way he did. But the story Trunks told of her. It was all so tragic. She never had a chance. And she looked so small and vulnerable now - not even able to crawl a few feet through the dirt.

Goku put a hand on Goten's shoulder. "It's time to go."

Goten jerked away from this gesture of familiarity. Gohan had flown home with without a sound, and now he was left with his father, who was trying to be all comforting. He turned away from his father and looked back at the girl - the princess. He walked to Jita and turned her over. Even in her bruised and bloodied state, she was beautiful. He stooped over and gently picked her up. Ignoring his father's stare, he carried her into the spaceship and carefully laid her on a pallet. He realized he couldn't work any of the technology, but was startled when a robot rolled up to the pallet and began to tend to Jita's injuries. He stubbornly wiped a single tear from his cheek, determined not to show his father, and walked out of the ship. "She'll be all right," was all he could say, and headed for home.