Chapter 24: In which every resource is used against Buu, whether said resources like it or not.
/
By the contented patting of Majin Buu's pink belly and the chilling proclamation of our friends' whereabouts, Gotenks charged into action, his sparking ki nearly knocking Piccolo and me over.
"YOU KILLED MY FRIENDS, YOU MONSTER!"
Majin Buu welcomed the furiously approaching super-saiyan-three with a sinisterly anticipating look.
CRASH
I threw my hands up—Piccolo made an alarmed exclamation—and when the debris ceased to spew we saw that the two fighters had moved on, taking a great portion of architecture with them.
But my thoughts were still wrapped around my ill-fated friends…
'Damn him… That son of a bitch… Everyone eaten…' With my upset gaze to the floor, I clenched both fists.
I tried not to imagine their last moments, but I couldn't keep my mind from the imagery. It haunted me; so many 'hows' and 'what-ifs'. And worst of all… we could no longer wish them back. For all I knew, the boys, Piccolo and I were the only survivors of Buu's rampage on this planet.
My teary eyes rose to where the action was taking place, expression darkening as I let out a shaky breath. 'But this will end today…'
Gotenks was railing on Majin Buu in the distance, that I could see. But, with the boy fighting on pure emotion, Buu was able to catch an opening, seizing Gotenks by the leg. He began swinging him in circles.
I gulped. 'Uh-oh…'
Majin Buu released the fused child, causing him to rocket our way.
"Oh Kais—"
Both Piccolo and I momentarily froze, unsure which way to move when the boy's body shot through the center of the lookout like a cannon ball and down towards the Earth.
I stumbled a bit, trying to make my way towards the wreckage as the foundation shook.
The hole was bigger than expected, with a clear view of a large lake down below.
Majin Buu wasted no time pursuing the fallen boy. Down he went, eventually a speck hovering over the water. He was waiting for Gotenks.
That's when a golden dot broke the surface, maneuvering a blast that soared up and then down onto Majin Buu's head.
I gawked shamelessly. "Did he just split Majin Buu in half?!" A grin soon took me as Gotenks quickly blasted the two halves into near nothingness.
"PERFECT!" Piccolo exclaimed from beside me. "That's a super saiyan!"
The execution and ease of it truly showed just how much Gotenks had powered up, and I began to feel—truly—that our boys would be able to win.
Even if Majin Buu had regenerated himself once more…
…
Their fight had taken them out of our field of vision, but we could sense what was happening.
Gotenks was keeping Buu on the ropes, but the fused half-saiyan was still toying around to an extent…
Remaining still, eyes closed, I felt Buu's ki spike momentarily; some kind of blast. Gotenks was nearing our location, and fast.
"MIDORI! WATCH OUT!"
I blinked, whipping my head to the side—
CRASH
The floor beneath me was suddenly in shambles, concrete flying and the foundation tilting as I flailed my arms in surprise. "AHHH—" I began falling, but caught myself in midair just as the fragile lookout split into two right before my eyes.
I was shocked to silence at the disastrous sight, while Piccolo was thrown into near hysteria from the destruction of what was essentially his sacred home.
And the enchanted structure remained floating despite being broken apart…
Piccolo gaped at the unintended remodeling, then shouting angrily, "GOTENKS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Just as I made it to the stunned namekian, Gotenks dropped down beside me and brushed rubble from his hair before straightening up. "What are you so freaked out about?" He questioned him nonchalantly, hands going to his hips.
Really?
I sent the small super saiyan a dubious look. "Have you even bothered to see what you've done to this place?"
"Oh." Gotenks' gaze shifted a bit, his smiling fading. "Yeah…"
"Yeah," I repeated mockingly, glaring.
Majin Buu appeared above us then, causing our fused fighter to don an easy smirk. "I'll get 'im, Piccolo."
But Piccolo couldn't be reached at that moment, as he was still wrapped up in the bulldozing of the lookout. The devastated namekian was cradling a block of cement in astonishment. "All gone..!" he muttered, eyes about to leave their sockets. "All gone!"
I watched this for a few seconds, feeling bad for him, until Majin Buu began moving in the background. Looking that way, I saw that he was contorting himself into the shape of a… ball…
Gotenks inquired as to what his actions may be, and I replied lowly, "We may need to move..." then made my way to Piccolo, grabbing an arm. "Now," I added with more urgency.
"YOU GUYS, HEADS UP!"
Just as I looked up, something—Majin Buu—came barreling at us and broke through the tile beside our feet.
Both of us were knocked off balance, landing ungracefully on the angled floor.
Gotenks rushed to our aid then, but with Majin Buu circling back around to target the young fighter, I shot a hand up to stop the boy's approach. "Wait—AGH!"
The three of us were launched into the air like bowling pins, more and more of the remaining lookout being turned to rubble as Buu tore in and out of the structure to toy with us.
'God damn him!'
I dove to my left, the pink cannon ball narrowly missing me for about the fifth time before I yelled "GOTENKS, COME ON!" through the hanging leftovers of the lookout. "HIT HIM BEFORE HE COMES BACK AROUND!"
From this I received Gotenks waving his arms around, "A SCREAMING BANSHEE ATTA—" only to have Majin Buu knock him down (and Piccolo, in his path) a second later.
I touched my forehead in migraine-reacting fashion. 'Kais, help us!'
While grappling a large chunk of the lookout, as if he couldn't fly, Piccolo bellowed "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" He then let go, allowing himself to float. "STOP YELLING AND JUST ATTACK HIM BEFORE HE KILLS US!"
Gotenks turned to him, looking genuinely unsure of such a command. "But… that's a little boring, don'tchu think?" His blue eyes turned to me next. "Isn't it, aunt Dori?"
With the hundredth nerve hit in such a short period of time, I held a finger up at shoulder level, leaning forward with deadly look. "I'll show your ass boring in the Other World, if you don't hurry up and finish this!"
An odd threat, but…
"Fine…" His pout was moody when he faced the returning death-ball, but Gotenks shifted back into gear quickly enough as he held his hands out. "Hang onto your socks, Majin Buu!"
Several rings of energy shot from the boy's hands, and before I knew it Majin Buu was encased in what looked like a yellow, cartoony hornet hive.
'But how long will that hold?' I wondered as Gotenks fiddled with his beach ball-turned opponent.
"I know! I'll do a Spiking Buu-Ball Slam!"
A what?
Deep skepticism was painted all through my eyebrows and the single-sided curve of my lips.
"What the heck does that mean?!" Piccolo voiced in aggravation from his spot in our triangle formation.
"It's a new move!" Gotenks replied proudly. "Fresh off the presses! You guys wanna help?"
I grunted, responding "Let's just do this quickly before he starts building his energy."
"Alright!" The fused boy prepared himself for a good pitch, asking "Are you ready, Piccolo?"
The namekian had his hands raised halfheartedly, looking as grumpy as could be, and really, I wasn't too far off.
But Gotenks wasn't having his less-than-a-hundred-percent attitude. "C'mon, if we're going to work as a team, I need you to answer me when I ask you a question!"
I eyed the yellow object cagily as Gotenks ironically chastised his mentor on being a team player.
Sigh…
Finally, he served Majin Buu in an underhand volleyball fashion, sending him my way.
'Okay.' I watched the approaching object carefully, quickly shooting my arms up at the right moment. The palms of my hands slapped the oddly textured cocoon, sending it back into the air, where Piccolo hit it even further up.
Gotenks darted higher than the traveling ball, energy sparking as he awaited its arrival with a raised hand. "SPIKING BUU-BALL SLAM!"
BAM
Down Majin Buu went, a yellow blur, cutting through the clouds and back down to Earth in just a little more than the blink of an eye.
"Ha-ha!" Gotenks briefly flexed, then zipped away to wherever the crash site was.
And after a moment I faced my taller comrade, the fact that his normally green cheeks were suddenly red not being lost to me.
"I know," I stated softly, then moved to his side to touch his overhanging shoulder pad. 'I know…'
With a quick roll of my eyes we teleported to where Gotenks was celebrating, just above an enormous crater.
He turned a huge grin to us. "Not too shabby, huh? We make a good team!"
Piccolo immediately shouted "STAY FOCUSED, GOTENKS!" causing the young super-saiyan-three to recoil at such a sudden increase in volume.
And while the namekian regained his composure I added seriously, "We're not done here."
We'd already beaten him once… But, in all technicality, beating someone and killing someone were different. This enemy was a prime example of that.
"Are you sure?" Gotenks pointed down while his beaming eyes and falsely knowing grin remained on us.
Somehow I didn't have it in me in that moment to snap at him. "Just go and see for yourself," I replied tiredly.
Gotenks mouth moved around in a contemplative manner, eyes flickering upward. He then turned around to address Buu's crater. "HELLO~ I know you're still there, Majin Buu!" the super-powered boy taunted. "C'mon! I've only got five more minutes, then we'll have to wait half an hour 'till I can do fusion again!"
I looked at my fused nephew as if he were five kinds of crazy, suddenly feeling enough energy in me to yell "WILL YOU SHUT UP?"
"WHAT?!"
"YOU DON'T GO ADVERTISING YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS TO YOUR ENEMY, THAT'S WHAT!" I then made a frustrated noise, for both him and me, as I'd loudly helped clarify what exactly said weakness was.
With my head tilted back and a hand over my eyes, I then frowned. 'What..?' I looked down below, where the two males' gazes were already settled.
With an unexpected spark of energy, a pink light appeared at the center of the crater, and before I could speak our enemy's full name in my mind it flooded out and up, pushing us back.
"Urg—!" I managed to take control of my movement after a few heart pounding seconds, and found that the three of us had been separated quite a bit as the light died down.
"Wow, check that out!"
I looked over to where Gotenks' voice came from and saw the energy leaving Earth's atmosphere.
"Don't drop your guard just yet, Gotenks," Piccolo advised as he too watched the departing blast.
I moved my narrowing gaze back to the crater. "Yes… I can guarantee there's more where that came from."
And sure enough, with the smoke blowing away, Buu could be seen with a hand raised straight up and a smirk on his face.
"Listen," I started back up. "You need to finish this now. No more playing around. The end of your fusion means game over."
Gotenks was watching Buu instead of acknowledging my imploring words… I had to hope that he understood the gravity of the situation.
"I'll give him something to smile about," the fused boy threatened just before he lifted his hands up and began firing a barrage of ki blasts.
They hit the Earth (and his target) with an unforgiving force, and soon I could feel the trembling of the ground despite being airborne.
I wondered if the concentration on such a relatively small area would cause Gotenks to pierce too deep into the ground, causing a disruption towards the deeper layers of the planet… It wasn't something I was unfamiliar with…
Piccolo must have been feeling the same way, as he reigned Gotenks' fury in with the reminder that such damage could be particularly disastrous should a dragon ball be in the vicinity.
'That's right…' I thought as the boy ceased fire in realization. My uncomfortable gaze then slid to my right as Majin Buu emerged from beneath the ground like a sprouting, pink parasite from Earth's flesh.
And he didn't look too hot, either.
Gotenks spat out, "The guy's barely even bruised!" but I was inclined to disagree.
As Piccolo so eloquently put, Majin Buu's pride had most definitely been bruised, (as he floated there, dirty and fuming) because the monster had most likely never known a fighter that was his match.
With a chest puffed full of arrogance, Gotenks then exclaimed, "Gimme five more minutes with him and he's toast!"
I looked over at him, unease returning. "Do you even have five minutes? Gotenks… you need to go for the kill. Now."
"Your fusion won't last forever," Piccolo backed me up gravely.
But the fused boy only laughed off our heeding words.
Majin Buu charged then, zipping past us and successfully silencing Gotenks as he rammed him full on.
I gaped at the sudden attack that took them off into the distance.
Piccolo growled lowly, "That boy should learn some modesty…"
…
I flinched harshly, some few minutes later, when Gotenks' normal form was thrown ruthlessly into the rocks.
We didn't make it… and we'd been so close…
One of my palms was digging into my eye as I exhaled an uneven breath, eyelids shut tight. "What do we do now..?" I asked nervously, finally eyeing both boys as they popped up from the rubble.
The sudden sight of them made my heart skip a beat.
Buu was staring the children down with a renewed sense of… sadistic pleasure to be taken from killing them… His obstacle was gone.
Piccolo and I locked eyes. I nodded, and he held a hand out for me to grab as I slid my fingers underneath my bangs.
We were the ones under Buu's anticipating gaze then, as I let go of my comrade and put on a tough demeanor.
Goten cried out "Piccolo! Dori!" from just behind us.
I swallowed the thickness in my throat. "You two can't have all the fun," I said, eyes narrowing at the alien ahead.
"Now it's our turn," Piccolo added with a solid mask of assurance. "We'll do the best that we can. If it doesn't work, then at least we'll die together."
I couldn't help a dry chuckle.
"What do you mean the best that you can?!" came Trunks' interjection. "We were both fused together and super saiyan three, and we still couldn't beat him!"
Goten joined in with, "Yeah, it might not matter to you guys because you're old!" causing me to arch an eyebrow. "But we're just little kids, we don't wanna die!"
A strike of pain found my heart at his words, and my eyes strayed from Majin Buu to the rugged floor. It had hurt from the beginning, allowing them to fight such a monster in the first place, but now…
'I have to be strong for them…' My gaze flickered back to Majin Buu, watching to see when he would strike, not quite catching the boys' low scheming.
"Yeah," I heard Trunks elaborate, "we just tell 'im that we're sorry! Why not? And we give 'im tons of candy and chocolate an' stuff as a peace offering!"
As the two boys agreed on such an idea, I looked over at Piccolo with a furrowed brow and skeptically curved lips. His expression wasn't too far off.
At that point even Majin Buu had become more lax, and so I felt less paranoid of a potential attack when I turned to see my nephew pointing to the sky.
"AAAALRIGHT, GOTEN! GO AND GET US SOME CANDY, PAL!"
Just as Goten's feet left the ground I snapped "There aren't any damn stores around here, sit down!"
Both boys jerked to attention at my outburst, Goten even stumbling backwards and plopping onto his butt.
I noticed Majin Buu seemed even duller than before, although his penetrating gaze was still on us.
"Do you think Piccolo would materialize some for us?" Goten asked.
"Idunno… It's worth a try," Trunks replied.
Gods…
It was Piccolo's turn to snap. "NO! IT'S NOT WORTH A TRY!"
That's when Majin Buu opened his mouth to let out a loud yawn, causing all of us to grow tense.
My fists went up on instinct when he began moving, but…
"What?" Piccolo questioned sharply after Buu sat down, head bowed as if sleeping.
We spent a short while pondering over the odd behavior, the boys cautiously peeking out from between Piccolo and me.
'He can't seriously be sleeping…' My fists tightened in ready; I couldn't trust what I was seeing. 'He must be waiting for us to let our guard down… That's when he'll strike,' I thought, glaring at the crouched villain.
"Wait—" Piccolo hurriedly whispered. "Do you hear that..? Listen."
My eyes widened after a moment of silence.
"Oh my god," I whispered back, indignant eyes on Piccolo. "He's snoring!"
With more disbelief filling me, I turned then to look at Buu.
And saw the boys halfway through the distance between us and him.
My jaw dropped.
Trying my best to keep my voice quiet, I loudly whispered "Boys!" as they scampered forward.
Piccolo called out (lowly), "Are you nuts?! What do you think you're doing?!" his deep voice carrying more than mine and putting me on edge.
I didn't want anything to wake Buu if he really was sleeping. That being said, the kids were nearly to their target.
We watched with bated breath as they snuck around him, but I finally shook my head and decided to take action.
Lifting a hand to my forehead I concentrated on the two half saiyans' energies.
A green hand ripped my wrist down; Piccolo.
"Wait, Midori! If you do that he'll sense your energy!"
"We have to get the hell out of here, Piccolo!"
Two kiddish yelps drew our attention back in as we witnessed Goten and Trunks ducking behind a nearby rock.
My sharp eyes studied Majin Buu as I attempted to quell my anxiousness. He was still… sleeping…
The boys realized this too, as they moved back in, Goten taking interest in Buu's head tentacle.
They must have whispered something amongst themselves that only Piccolo's extra sensitive hearing could detect, because my Namekian comrade was suddenly gaping, terrified.
"Nooo!" He called out as quietly as possible, raising his fists. "No! No! No boost! No Boost!"
Goten was reaching towards the hanging appendage, but not quite tall enough to get there.
Were they trying to grab him?!
My expression mirrored Piccolo's as he continued. "Are you two insane?! We finally get a chance to buy a little extra time, and you two want to wake him—UP?!"
I spun around just as Piccolo slapped both hands over his mouth from the loud exclamation. "Careful!" I snapped through gritted teeth.
And through his hands, my taller companion exclaimed, "You two are making me crazy!" continuing to tell them that we could use this time to prepare for another fusion.
When the two left Majin Buu's side hesitantly, I could feel my blood pressure lowering… all the while Buu remained still.
When they were close enough I added, "It's our only chance… come on, you two…" while beckoning them in with both hands, knees slightly bent.
Hmm?
No sooner than I'd sensed it did Piccolo and the boys gasp, whilst Majin Buu was roused from his slumber, expression unpleasant.
With a deeply furrowed brow I turned around, completely ignoring the children and Buu to hone in on the enormous source of energy traveling towards us. "What… in the hell… is that?"
Piccolo stuttered "I-It's mind boggling!"
Trunks spoke up tentatively, "It's... a person…" Goten replying, "Yeah! Someone's coming!"
"But who is it?" Piccolo questioned tensely. "I've never experienced a power like this!" He quickly commanded the boys to stay near, Majin Buu seemingly not a threat anymore.
Majin Buu was waiting in suspense alongside us, after all.
And it was outrageously strong, the approaching ki…
I then shook my head in a jerky manner, blinking. "Hold on…" I'd felt this somewhere before. "I think I know this energy…"
That's when an orange dot became visible, stopping my heart.
'I don't believe it…' I thought, both hands going to my chest, relief like none other washing over me.
"IT'S GOKU!" Piccolo shouted in disbelief.
And with such power… how had he done it again?
Goten inhaled a dramatic breath as Goku further neared. "No, it's my brother, you guys! GOHAN!" he joyously exclaimed.
I took my eyes off the approaching figure for a second to blink in surprise at the boy, then back at—Gohan—who was suddenly right before us, swooping in and landing on skidding feet between our group and Majin Buu.
He was dressed in his father's uniform!
Barely surfaced disappointment made way to shock, and my mouth hung open unabashedly, hands still glued to my sternum. "Wow…"
Gohan… He was alive! Actually alive, here, with no halo!
And Majin Buu looked far from happy, glowering at the confidently-posed teen.
Gohan took that moment to turn his head slightly towards us. "Hey, guys," he greeted smoothly, "what's happening?"
Still in shock, the four of us stood speechlessly until Goten chirped "Hi Gohan, what's up?! We all thought that you were dead!"
"I would've been if it wasn't for the help of Supreme Kai."
Oh? So, he had lived as well? Things were starting to add up…
"But that's all in the past," Gohan continued with a bit more firmness. "I think it's time to focus on the here and now."
My chin rose a bit, eyes narrowing. 'Look at him… he's changed…' I pondered over what he might've been through under the Supreme Kai's care these last couple days. 'To have improved so much..?' I couldn't quite gauge his power level… but I could tell by his demeanor alone that Gohan knew what he was doing.
But would it be enough with Buu's unprecedented regenerative abilities?
When the teen asked of the others' whereabouts, Trunks informed him of their untimely demise, Dende included. Gohan showed anger at this, especially when Majin Buu took credit for "gobbling" them all up, but quickly relaxed and proceeded to walk calmly to his adversary.
I gulped as Goten's brother stopped within arm's length of the towering, pink monster.
He just stood there… silently.
Majin Buu chuckled at being sized up. "So, hotshot, you want to fight Majin Buu?"
"Fight you?" Gohan questioned back with a slightly deeper, mocking tone. "No. I wanna kill you."
Ooo..!
My eyebrows rose considerably as my chin lowered and I briefly glanced from side to side.
This was definitely a whole new Gohan.
The two shared a few more words, Majin Buu arrogantly inviting the teen to fight, when I heard whisperings behind me of fusion.
I glanced down in an unconscious attempt to eavesdrop. Goten was pleading with Trunks to give the dance another shot despite half an hour not having passed yet.
"I can't lose him..! He's my brother, I love him!"
I turned fully, with an empathetic smile. "Goten…"
Both boys looked up at me, the younger ready to shed tears.
"I know you're worried, but… understand that Gohan wouldn't just jump so casually back in front of Majin Buu if he didn't have a foolproof plan… or had gotten stronger…"
"But—!"
A sudden roar from Majin Buu froze us, and when I gazed upon him he had the demeanor of an angry bull staring down a matador.
Gohan took a sturdier footing and, with the slightest exertion, sent a warning wave of energy over us that caused the pink being to gape (as well as myself) and dust to cloud the immediate area.
This was no joke. If my words hadn't soothed the children's fears, then Majin Buu's face alone should've.
The teen suddenly jutted a foot into Majin Buu's ankle to throw off his equilibrium and—
WAM
—back-fisted him in the face with an audible force that left his cheek entirely indented and sent him stumbling backwards.
After a moment of recovery, Majin Buu growled in his most sinister tone yet, "You're making a mistake… I'll make you dead…"
To which Gohan lunged upward, slamming his leg into Buu's face, causing the villain to skid further back before the teen landed easily behind him.
But something was different… Despite Gotenks having delivered more lethal attacks beforehand, Majin Buu seemed more stunned, more shocked, by Gohan's minor attacks. That was because it had been so effortless… And that had just been the beginning…
A mere ten minutes had seen Majin Buu smacked around plenty, his energy attacks brushed aside, and body thrown into the air like a rag doll.
And, as Majin Buu crashed back to earth with the help of Gohan's strong arm, he seemed scared… truly scared.
The fear in his eyes when he turned to see Gohan standing confidently behind him? It was almost vindication for his crimes against humanity… almost.
'I only hope Gohan doesn't continue to play around with Majin Buu the way he did with Cell…' I thought, flashes of the android's bloated body coming back to me.
Ahead, Gohan asked teasingly "What's the matter, Boo-boo?"
"BUU," the pink monster countered angrily, "NOT BOO-BOO."
I cracked my first smirk in a while.
"FOOL! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
My smirk dropped.
I seemed to be experiencing déjà vu…
But Majin Buu's efforts to jump Gohan were foiled as he was knocked into a small rocky hill. And of course, again, when he lunged forward, attempting to mouth-blast the teen point blank.
Thinking quickly, Gohan put his hands over Majin Buu's mouth, causing the monster to implode, briefly blinding us.
'Well,' I thought as Gohan served up the second ass-whooping of the century, 'as great as this is, I'm ready for this to be over…'
Really. I didn't want a repeat of the past…
But Majin Buu was dusting himself off and having some words with Gohan that seemed to unnerve the teen.
My eyebrows lowered. "Piccolo… can you hear them?"
"He's known about Gohan all along. He was merely using his fight with Gotenks as a warm-up!"
Still… Even if he had… Buu wasn't exactly faring well against his current opponent…
To the point that the menace began to throw a tantrum that manifested as a great, pink cyclone.
There was a bit of effort on our part to remain anchored to the ground, but once the wind died down I realized that may not have been what we needed.
For when I refocused my vision back on Majin Buu, I could see the disturbingly pulsing veins and the insane look on his face; a wide-eyed, mesmerized smile. Unhinged. Uncaring. Energy circulating around him in a less controlled manner.
I gasped, my entire body bristling with the grim premonition that had come true. "GOHAN!"
You could see the realization in the way he jerked back from Majin Buu. The teenager then swiftly retreated.
That was my cue to turn and snatch up the boys before blasting off, Gohan grabbing Piccolo in my peripheral vision.
When the blast came we'd had just the couple of precious seconds needed to avoid being hurt, but the force pushed against our backs as we flew away at a high angle, far above exploding mountains. The boys yelped as I gripped their wrists tighter, my own eyes squeezing shut as I struggled to keep balance.
"Hang on!" I pulled them into my body, a shield quickly surrounding us to block the dangerous spewage.
A few adrenaline-filled seconds later saw the sky return to its natural blue, smoke rolling on, and the earth ceasing to shake.
I relinquished my shield and hold on the boys at once, allowing them to hover in stunned silence beside me. The crater left by Majin Buu was the largest I'd seen in my lifetime… But he'd failed at taking us with him.
I breathed in and out deeply.
…
A mile away from the explosion site we stood on an overlooking cliff, the five of us solemn. The crater was no less sobering from our far distance than up close.
"Well, what do you think?" Piccolo questioned seriously. "Is he dead?"
Gohan answered with a definite "No way" causing the boys to turn in surprise.
I looked down at their shocked faces before turning to Gohan, nodding. "I agree."
My nephew pointed out "But he blew himself up! He was trying to take you with 'im!"
Gohan's watchful gaze narrowed. "Yeah, that's exactly what he wanted us to believe alright, but that freak is still out there somewhere…"
From the teenager's left side, I leaned forward. "I would be more surprised if he'd actually died. After everything Gotenks did to him, he still came back for more… Maybe this time it'd just take him a little longer to regenerate…"
For now, we couldn't sense his energy… but I was in a hundred percent agreement with Gohan.
And so, we stood in contemplative silence, steeled for an ambush.
Goten and Trunks weren't so worried though, having Gohan's incredible strength at our disposal. It was their comments that drew my gaze up to my right, where it settled on Gohan's matured face.
A slow smile took my lips, eyes narrowed appraisingly. 'Am I proud because I've been able to see him grow into this fine young man? Or is it because he, a saiyan, has reached such a pinnacle of strength?'
I laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. When he looked down at me I nodded, muttering a soft "thank you."
Gohan smirked, reaching to clap a strong hand on top of mine, then rubbing it briefly as a sign of affection.
But we soon fell back to our cautious positions; it wasn't time to celebrate yet.
However, after a rather defeated conversation of Dende's and the dragon balls' fates, Gohan brought it to our attention that Dende, in fact, was alive! We'd all felt him after trying, and the others instinctively turned to me for our mode of transportation.
I cringed. "I… ah… I don't think I have enough energy to move all five of us…"
Piccolo was surprised. "How come? You didn't sustain that much damage from the fight earlier, did you?"
Flashback of being knocked around—despite not being part of the damn fight—came to me. "…No, but…"
My stomach chose then to fill the silence with a loud growling noise that each male reacted to.
As Gohan laughed lightheartedly, Goten exclaimed in worry "She's still starving!"
Sigh… you could say that again…
"Look," I held up a hand, not bothering to hide my weariness. "I'll be fine. Let's just… go…"
And so, with instant transmission off the table, we took flight to find our guardian.
I suppose things worked out for the better that way, because soon enough we happened upon a single straggler that was not Dende.
"There's a man!" Gohan pointed out. "And a dog!"
Focusing ahead, I saw them. 'But wait…' I then found myself rolling my eyes.
Of all the people to survive…
We came to a stop, high above the unsuspecting Hercule Satan.
Trunks watched with a disapproving eye. "We're not gonna help that guy, are we? He's a cheater, and he lies a lot, too."
I gave a soft snort of amusement.
Piccolo stated in a surprisingly easygoing manner "Yes, but I think that he's paid his dues. Deep down he's a decent guy. I've been keeping tabs on the man lately."
That's right… He had attempted to stop the original Majin Buu… and ended up befriending him… or so I'd heard.
So as Piccolo and Goten swooped in to grab the two, I called down "You're better than me, Piccolo!" And to Gohan's soft chuckle I shrugged.
I just had no love for the man.
Needless to say, the human was more than terrified by the green alien that came for him. His hysteria was enough to make me want to laugh, but after noticing the rest of our familiar faces, Hercule calmed down.
…
I could feel Dende's energy better than ever. We were extremely close, and when we did locate the short namekian, there was a moment of warm greetings. Of course, this moment was swept under the rug by Hercule's sorrow following the description of our friends' demise…
I did feel for Mr. Satan in that moment, as he wailed over Videl's untimely death, but…
I turned sharply, the others following suit. "He's back…"
"That didn't take long," Gohan said from the atop the boulder I was previously leaned against.
"But why?" Piccolo questioned gruffly. "Surely he doesn't want to fight Gohan… Unless he's managed to improve in the last hour…"
I glared unto the horizon, where a small figure appeared. Slightly turning my head, I then stated "You're up again, Gohan." in a dry manner.
"Yeah…" The scuffling above me indicated his rising. "I'm gonna go see what he's up to. Don't get sucked into the fight, you guys. Stay here!"
As the teenager flew off, I rolled my neck around to the young ones, casually adding, "That means you two." before turning back and following after Gohan.
Two HEYs came from behind me, but I was already jumping across rugged terrain to find a better seat.
Up ahead Gohan stood fearlessly before Majin Buu, who was just as smug as ever.
Why, though?
The others drew near to me, the boys flanking my sides.
Suddenly a loud "HEY! MAJIN BUU!" came from behind me; Hercule… "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU PROMISED NOT TO KILL ANYMORE, REMEMBER?!"
The monstrosity was laughing openly…
My gaze flickered to the side before returning to its previous place. 'It's no use…' I brooded as Piccolo voiced similar thoughts. 'This Majin Buu is way too far gone for familiar reason…'
Though that did raise the question as to how he was spared after Majin Buu's extinction attack on the planet…
"Hey," my nephew spoke up. "I'll bet he's bluffing, guys! Ten-to-one he runs away again!"
When Buu faced our way, I met his gaze with iciness.
"COME ON, THEN! LITTLE WORMS!" the villain shouted to us with an oddly cocky grin. "I WANT TO FIGHT YOU NOW!"
The two boys froze and the "HELL NO!" that escaped my lips couldn't have come faster, or in any more outrage as the others gasped.
Gohan interrupted the round of incredulity with "That is not gonna happen! You're fighting me, Buu, you got it?!"
This was a trap. It had tricky written all over it…
Majin Buu's ensuing laughter was nauseating… "I HAVE A SCORE TO SETTLE WITH THEM FIRST! Then I'll take care of you… STUPID BOY!"
The kids hopped forward to Gohan's side, despite all of our warnings. They seemed to think they'd have not a single thing to worry about with Gohan by their side.
In theory, they were right: the super-saiyan-three Gotenks who proved to be the perfect match for Buu, and Gohan's overwhelming strength to back him up. Majin Buu should've been shivering in his boots.
But he wasn't.
'Even so, Gohan is here… and I don't think Majin Buu can get anything by him…' I wiped sweat from my brow absentmindedly. 'Could he..?'
"Are you ready, Goten?" Trunks asked the younger boy.
"Yeah! This time we should definitely start off as super saiyan three!"
Gohan actually took a step back, even turning to throw me a smirk, but my returned smile was halfhearted. After all that I'd seen in such a short time, there was no feeling comfortable until every atom of Buu's being was erased.
The boys executed the fusion technique flawlessly then.
"Whoa," Gohan ogled in awe at the glowing children. "So that's what fusion looks like…"
And after a few more seconds the young super saiyan was before us again, extending a victory sign.
"Sorry you were missing me, ugly, but now I'm back and stronger than ever!"
Through my anxiety, I rolled my eyes.
Gotenks was stretching his reborn muscles in preparation. "Well Gohan, I hope you don't mind if I take it from here. You're looking like you could use a little break." He then stood up. "I'll beat on Buu for a little while, then… I might be nice enough to give you another shot at him."
Between the puppy barking in the background and the fused boy's arrogant banter, I grunted in annoyance. However, Gohan played along.
"Nice attitude. You've definitely got some Vegeta in you."
"Thank you." The boy moved forward, undoubtedly smirking at the prospect of a rematch.
As was Buu… who's eyes flashed noticeably pink, causing me to freeze in my spot.
'What was that?' I'd felt an odd chill surge though me, sending a tingle all the way to the tip of my tail, when suddenly the puppy ran by, Hercule in tow.
I saw something out of the corner of my eye, among the rocks, causing me to whip my head to the left. "What was that?!"
Gohan and Gotenks turned to me, when a startled shout nabbed our attention to Piccolo.
As I turned my heart skipped a beat.
Dende had dropped to his knees, "PICCOLO!" hands raised in vain as the older namekian fought against pink goo that had engulfed his entire body.
'Oh my god—' Before I could take another step, an exclamation from Gohan turned me back around. "BOYS!"
Gohan had frozen in horror, but I jumped forward as Gotenks thrashed against the same substance, yelling "GET THIS NASTY GOO OFFA ME!"
I reached into the pink mass—"HANG ON!"—but the melted putty seemed to suck me in as well.
I screamed. Majin Buu cackled. My instincts kicked in.
Electricity surged around my arms as I yelled forcefully, and with Buu's matter retracting in pain I was able to rip myself free—"Ugh!"—falling harshly onto my back.
"STOP IT—!" Gotenks hollered, "—AUNTY!"
I gasped, rolling onto my side in time to see a small, reaching hand—a glimpse of desperation—and Gotenks' knee hit the floor.
The pink mass flattened to the ground, as if the boy was no more—my heart sunk—and the goo ripped itself off the floor and into the air, to none other than Majin Buu himself.
As soon as it hit his body, followed by another mass—Piccolo—I clamped a hand over my mouth, stomach turning as the villain became a giant morphing form.
"NO!" Gohan finally cried out in vain. "WHAT'S HE DOING TO THEM?!"
'He took them..!' I scrambled to my knees, breathing erratically into my hand. 'He took them!'
I couldn't look. My burning eyes were glued to the clenched hand that was holding me up as I leaned forward. I was going to be sick.
Majin Buu's power was climbing yet again. Soaring to heights that made me tremble.
He'd taken our children..! Our children, and Piccolo!
Energy crackled and the atmosphere filled with evil again as the revolting noises of Buu's churning metamorphosis reached my ears.
In the Other World, Goku and the Kais watched with bated breath and nerves high. The situation had gone far down hill; Gohan wasn't faring well… at all.
And through the smoke and rubble he couldn't be seen, energy suddenly difficult to feel out.
The Supreme Kai leaned forward onto hands and knees. "I can't seem to find him anywhere! Is he..?"
Goku glared at the crystal ball. "Don't even think like that, okay?! He's alive!"
The elder Kai, who was standing just behind them, stated calmly "I tell you I… think this fight's over."
But to prove the doubtful Kais wrong, Gohan charged Buu from the depths of the mountains… without avail…
Meanwhile Majin Buu was playing games, using techniques of their loved ones against the teen that left him fighting for consciousness.
There were hardly any words to accurately describe the pain of a father having to watch one son become a part of a monster and the other being beaten mercilessly.
Goku slammed a shaking fist into the grass. "He can't keep this up any longer! There's got to be something we can do!" He felt as if he were being torn apart.
"That's an interesting point you've made, Goku..." said the Elder Kai. "Perhaps we can help Gohan by sending you down to fight?"
The old man's words sucked the immediate tension from the younger men, ushering a soft "Huh?" from Shin and Goku.
A slight smile came to the saiyan's face, albeit somewhat confused. "But… I can't go."
But as the Supreme Kai backed up Goku with the facts, the Elder Kai held his ground. "You think I don't know that?" He snipped in annoyance, despite his even exterior. He then smiled gently. "I'll give you the life that's left inside of me… Then you can make your return to Earth."
Such a notion hit Goku like a bucket of cold water to a sleeping person, causing him to stutter "You—mean—you're giving up your life—FOR ME?!"
Of course, Kibito and Shin protested against the idea; their venerable elder giving up his life. The Supreme Kai even offered up his own life, readily and full of determination and pleading.
It was all so much for Goku, who was filled with a humbling sadness, lips parted but no words articulated.
The elder Kai's smile seemed to grow. "You're ambitious. Let the old men sacrifice their lives so that the young ones can live."
Shin could only stare for a moment, eyes brimming with tears. "My dear Kai…"
Goku looked up at the elder Kai, returning a saddened smile of his own. "You're… too kind…"
And so, as the great ancestor sat, the three men rose to stand in somber silence.
My brow furrowed deeply as ki blazed around me. "I SAID STAND BACK!"
Just as Dende stumbled backwards, the electricity started flowing, popping in his direction and startling Mr. Satan.
"Midori, wait!" Dende protested, a green hand outstretched in my peripheral. "You can't!"
Sickening blows—the sound of Gohan being pounded into the earth—caused me to bare my teeth.
'More!' My fists clenched at my sides, veins began to bulge. "Haaaa-AAAAHH!"
The heat at my core burst outward, the rocks around us fell away, foundation under me becoming concave.
Dende had already taken the human and pup back a way's. "You'll be killed!" He called out to me.
My entire body shook as everything I had circulated around me. "LISTEN! MAJIN BUU IS GOING TO COME UP HERE ANY SECOND, AND WHEN HE DOES YOU NEED TO HEAL GOHAN!" And to his silence I added gruffly, "He can't hit me when I'm at full power…"
Whether it was to comfort Dende, or myself, I couldn't be sure, but when an orange figure was flung into the air, followed by a pink one—
WAM
Before Buu's body fully went back from the first blow—
POW
—I backed up as he lurched forward from the second blow, allowing Majin Buu to gain his wits back, a dent in the back of his head and the front when he turned to me.
Shock was quickly replaced by a wicked smirk, his demonic eyes wide as his flesh healed. "You must have a death wish," he stated in a smoother voice than he'd previously had, his new nose crinkling deviously. "Better now than later I suppose…" Buu added, showing off his fangs.
I glanced down.
Dende was on the move.
"HA!"
As Majin Buu's fist tore through my after-image, I was already above him, swinging my leg with a force strong enough to sink into his face and send him flying. And when he caught himself in midair I was there to slam my fist into his jaw.
'Come on, Dende!"
Every swing Majin Buu took I dodged with ease, to his growing displeasure. But the hits I returned were like pebbles to a beehive. His fangs, previously bared from grinning, were now visible through snarls.
I hit him with a right—left—right—left—dodged his fist. Landed five more hits. All of this in merely three seconds.
'Come on!'
Gohan was still out of commission.
"You're really beginning to annoy me," growled Majin Buu as I backed off again.
"Good," I snapped back.
This drew another smirk from the villain. "I know what you're doing."
I arched an eyebrow at his sly tone. "And?"
His smirk dropped to a slight scowl as he quickly glanced below me. "I could blow past you if I wanted… I thought I might have fun with you first, but you're faster than I gave you credit for."
I scoffed, before tensing up. "That's—RIGHT!" I was inches from the pink monster when—
"HAA!"
"—Ugh!" An invisible force knocked me back with a nasty stunning power; Buu's energy.
A loud squelching then caused me to gasp loudly, my hands clutching Majin Buu's arm as he leaned closer to my face.
I tried not to whimper… It hurt… so bad… his hand though my abdomen.
My eyes squinted in agony as his narrowed in approval.
Pink lips nearly brushed my ear. "Good night, sweet princess…"
He snatched his hand back. My cries echoed around the desert.
I was falling… Gohan… was calling my name from below… But, the light that came from above… closing in… the heat…
I closed my eyes…
…
… …
… … …
… …
… …
… … … …
…Sigh…
… … …
… … … …
… … …
… …
…
'But it doesn't hurt anymore…'
I'd been floating in an absolute weightlessness. The darkness was comforting, but… Oh? There was light again.
My body was being drawn towards clouds… lots of clouds… Talking clouds? People clouds.
Oh…
"I'm dead…" I mumbled without much emotion.
How again?
…Majin Buu…
His evil eyes boring into mine seemed like a fuzzy memory.
So much chatter around me… so many dead people lined up, but only a few behind me…
The feeling of weightlessness… I had no body. I was a cloud… a spirit…
"There you are," called an old woman on a levitating crystal ball.
'I know this… this…'
"You're coming with me."
Pop— "Whoa! — I landed on my feet, balance wobbly as I immediately grabbed my abdomen, patting, gasping for air.
There was no hole. No pain. Thoughts much, much clearer.
I had my body back!
I could feel my eyebrows lower, the ground beneath my feet, the fabric on my skin, and my tail slightly curling.
I looked over to Baba in amazement. "What's going on?"
"No time to explain here," she replied, turning away. "Follow me."
Only then, as she flew away, did I notice the hush that had come over the crowd. The faceless, bodiless souls seemed to be staring at me…. And when I took to the air after Baba, there was an immediate uproar.
I blinked in confusion at it all. The roadway that weaved over orangey clouds. Real clouds, albeit like cotton candy.
Up ahead was a building with a large welcome sign. I entered just behind the old witch to be greeted by blue ogres in business attire.
'Strange…' My eyes scanned the room; the vastness… an incredibly high ceiling… and an incredibly large desk with an incredibly large man that made me stop in my tracks.
He didn't look happy to see me, the giant ogre, reminiscent of something from eastern folklore (minus the business suit). When he addressed me, it was in an appropriately booming voice. "I REALIZE THAT YOU'VE ONLY JUST ARRIVED HERE, MIDORI, BUT I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEND YOU BACK."
Back?
"YOU AND VEGETA BOTH—"
My eyes bulged.
"YOU'RE THE BEST FIGHTERS WE HAVE!"
Using my senses for the first time since passing I immediately whipped around, spotting my deceased brother off to the side, staring back at me with his usual hardness. The halo above him added no amount of saintliness.
"Vegeta…" There was something stirring within me. Something upsetting. Did I want to punch his arrogant ass, or hug him?
"YOU TWO MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU'RE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! NOW GO!"
The upsetting feeling intensified.
I'd just lost my life, and they were sending me back to die again? What would happen to me? To us?
Were we immortal or not?
I didn't realize that I'd kept my gaze locked with Vegeta's the entire time, and he was smirking at me as I gazed back in discomfort.
'He wants this rematch…'
They began ushering us out. Baba was to take us back to Earth, the way she had with Goku on that recent, fateful day.
Vegeta moved forward, as did I, and when we were beside each other I told him quietly "He's more than doubled his power, brother… I know you're eager to fight, but—"
"Don't try to assert your fears unto me, sister," he interrupted, not bothering to speak low. "I am not afraid of Majin Buu." And without a single word more he took to the air after Baba.
I hesitated, glaring after him.
With everything that had happened, I had unconsciously forgiven the prince, but… the fact remained that he had played a part in setting these events into motion.
'And after all that he's still acting smug…' I frowned, flying behind him, alongside Baba.
I wanted badly to tell him what had happened, to everyone we were close to, to his own son included. But, the thought alone made my throat thicken.
"There," called the old witch, as the golden clouds beneath us began to lighten up ahead.
The three of us descended into the bright fluff. I squinted my eyes through the atmospheric change. It felt like passing through normal clouds; a cool, refreshing mist as our surroundings gradually brightened.
'Oh…' I then blinked in surprise.
Earth…
It was all happening so fast… How long had it been since I'd been killed? And yet here I was again so soon…
'I'm dead,' I had to mentally remind myself. 'I'm actually not alive.'
The area we had arrived at was uncivilized; mostly mountains and a body of water nearby.
"This is as far as I go," Baba stated once we'd stopped. "I'm sorry we're not closer, but I've got my health to think about you know."
Vegeta gave short, dry laugh. "That's fine. We can wait here for now. I'm sure Buu will find me soon enough."
I raised my bowed head to look at the prince with narrowed eyes. 'I was sure he'd charge straight into battle… Maybe he's prepared not to make the same mistakes again…'
Without warning something appeared, causing us to turn in surprise.
I nearly choked. "GOKU?!"
The orange-clad saiyan smiled the brightest I'd seen to-date. "You guys! Alright, I knew it!"
My brother actually gasped. "Kakarot…"
Even Baba was shocked as I slapped a hand over my chest in astonishment, losing a few inches of altitude before I pulled myself back up.
"Hi!" He greeted, as if to neighbors on the street.
Baba then inquired "What happened to your halo?"
It was gone.
"You're—alive?" I blurted out in confusion.
For a split second he seemed surprised as well. "Uh—Oh yeah!" He scratched the top of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "That's kind of a long story, but basically this old Kai gave me his own life and uh—"
I was already looking past Goku and to the horizon when he paused. 'It's him… and he's stronger… What happened to Gohan?'
The three of us steeled ourselves for what was coming.
"Darn, Majin Buu's coming!" Goku exclaimed. "He must be getting very anxious to fight with me!" He then urged the old fortune teller to leave, which she happily did while wishing us well.
That's when Goku turned back to us. "You guys won't believe how glad I am to see you." He then focused on my brother. "Especially you, Vegeta!"
Vegeta scoffed as I arched an eyebrow.
"I've got a plan to beat Majin Buu, and with your help I know we can make it work, Vegeta!"
The prince didn't seem too interested, but when Goku held up an earring I perked up a bit.
He was wearing the other one to the set.
"Put this on. Right now. I know it sounds strange, but you hav'ta do it. Please, hurry!"
I squinted at the small accessory dangling from his fingertips. A small, shimmering, yellow orb. "What is that?"
"And what for?" Vegeta asked evenly.
"Once you put this on, you and I will be able to combine bodies!"
In unison, my brother and I said, "Fusion?" me in shock, him unmoved.
As Goku explained the obvious perks, I looked back and forth between the two with a slack jaw. This was the answer to our FREAKING PRAYERS!
"Do it," I added, staring wide-eyed at the prince.
But Vegeta simply laughed in a relaxed manner, replying, "Sorry. The offer's tempting, but I decline."
WHAT?
Before Goku could even protest I shoved Vegeta roughly, almost into the other saiyan, causing my brother to round on me with a glare. I got in his face, hands around his collar as I growled through gritted teeth, "Put the fucking earring on!"
He snatched up my vest as well, teeth bared. "I'll make you wish you were in Other World if you don't take your hands off me!"
The moment we began yanking on each other, growls increasing, there was an extra hand on both of our shoulders and we were forcefully pushed apart.
"GUYS! THIS IS NO TIME FOR US TO ARGUE!"
I was the one shoved roughly that time by the prince as Goku further exclaimed "WE HAVE TO DO THIS!"
"Get away from me, Kakarot!" Vegeta yelled in contempt, "I'D RATHER LOSE MY BODY THAN HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU!"
I gawked at the exceptionally stubborn statement. 'Fucking hell..! What's wrong with him?!' I then twitched at the sudden laughter in the distance.
"I FOUND YOU!"
Shit…
"Here he comes!" Even Goku sounded nervous.
Which made me nervous…
But I powered up, followed by Vegeta. What fucking choice did we have?!
"LISTEN TO ME, VEGETA, WE'VE TRIED THIS!" The force in Goku's voice was surprising. "YOU CAN'T BEAT 'IM LIKE THAT! THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE!" He was holding the earring up again.
Vegeta wouldn't even offer him eye contact, "Really. And just why should I believe you?" granted, his sights were honed on Majin Buu's now visible, nearing form. And with Buu's also visible energy ball in hand, the prince moved forward, readily building one of his own. "Outta my way!" He exclaimed, pushing past Goku and me.
The taller saiyan wore a look of deep frustration, and that I could empathize with, but at the moment we had to act and if it wasn't going to be fusion, well…
I concentrated energy in my right hand as Goku transformed to super level—Buu chucked his attack our way—and one after another we launched ours—Vegeta, me, and Goku. The three blasts hit Buu's and sent it off course, sparing us of the damage the environment below took.
Majin Buu appeared just before us then, all smirks as he eyed each of us.
I glared in disbelief at what I was seeing.
When Gotenks and Piccolo had been absorbed, Buu's physical appearance and attire had changed. He'd worn the open fusion vest of the boys', and now…
The orange and blue gi on the pink monster was an atrocious sight.
'Gohan…' My fists clenched even tighter.
This monster had everyone we loved. Everyone.
"Strange… I know I killed you…" Buu acknowledged with his red eyes on me. "And you… I've fought with you before…" He trailed off, eyeing Vegeta then.
We stood our ground as Majin Buu continued. "You're not the ones I'm after, but I'll be GLAD TO DESTROY YOU ALL!" He then released a pulse of energy from his body that pushed us back.
But not one of us moved, until the taunts came— "Come on, why don't you attack me? It's three against one!" —which of course baited Vegeta into powering up again.
"Cool it, Vegeta!" Goku urged from my right. "You've got to understand that Buu's powers have increased a lot since you last fought! There's no way that you can win!"
"Listen to him!" I pleaded to the growingly upset prince.
Though his eyes were searing into Majin Buu's cocky, relaxed form, Vegeta replied, "You think he's the most powerful being in the universe, and maybe he is…" His expression then turned for the intense. "BUT JUST LIKE YOU, HE DOES NOT HAVE TRUE PRIIIDE!"
As Goku made frustrated noises I looked at my brother warily.
"I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND—NOT YOU, KAKAROT! I SENT MYSELF INTO A COLD OBLIVION AND I DID IT ALL A LIE!"
I froze, eyebrows scrunching in confusion as Vegeta's super saiyan energy burst outwards again.
"THE SAIYAN PRINCE WILL NOT FALL AGAIN!" This declaration was followed by a barrage of energy blasts; his scatter shot that Buu easily foiled with a shield that sent the blasts scattering towards us instead.
Goku and I were able to evade, but Vegeta was already on the move, charging the villain head-on.
Screaming his name did me no good, and Buu had that quickly sent him crashing into a mountainside. "We have to help him!" I urged as Vegeta shot from the smoke, straight to Buu. But as I leaned forward a hand caught my wrist.
"Wait—please!"
I locked eyes with Goku, my pain and regret meeting his desperation before I ripped away from him and into the fray.
But it was futile, our attempts; each of us charging Majin Buu, one after the other, only because we had to keep each other alive, and much to the prince's chagrin ("DO NOT HELP ME!").
Through the scuffle a pink fist slammed my gut hard, nearly taking my breath. 'Damn-it!'
Even with all three of us, we were being blocked and batted away like nothing… the hits painful…. the frustration even worse. But, he was still just toying with us.
After a moment, Majin Buu allowed us to breathe, all-the-while laughing heartily at our bruised and battered bodies.
"Listen to me, Vegeta!" Goku started up again. "You see? You can't fight him on your own! There's only one thing left to do! I don't know why you're so angry!"
He was livid, actually. Shaking from head to toe as he glared ahead at Majin Buu as if ignoring Goku's reason.
'He's not refusing it anymore though,' I thought before adding "Please, time's running out!"
Vegeta remained quiet.
"You have to let it go!" Goku continued in a nearly pleading voice, but when all the saiyan received was more silence, his exasperation reached a new peak. "…VEGETA!"
"QUIET!" The prince barked back.
I would've chastised my brother, but Buu's movement distracted me. 'He's backing off..?'
The pink villain had fallen back to a jagged rock formation to watch us, as if showing consideration…
"You've got some nerve— asking me to help you! You still don't think I know what you did to me?!"
My eyes slid over to Vegeta as I gulped. I'd already figured out what was eating my brother after his previous statement of his unnecessary death… The only reason I wasn't mad at Goku was because of Vegeta's role in the recent events that lead us to these problems…
But he lifted an accusing finger to the taller male. "I have traveled to the Other World. I know all about your technique—your super-saiyan-three!" he spat disdainfully. "You hid it from me during our battle! You allowed me to believe that I could—beat you!"
Goku's demeanor lost all hardness. He was slumped forward, gazing back at my brother like a sad, sorry child. "Yeah… that's part true… I do have the ability to become a super-saiyan-three…" He then lifted himself a bit. "But, hey, I can only do it for a short time!"
I couldn't blame my brother for his annoyed reaction then.
"Are we really doing this?" I asked with just as much irritability, drawing in their attention. "Both of you fucked up! I~ should be the one pointing fingers!"
That's when Majin Buu jetted for us, his perch collapsing and causing us to flinch.
We barely had time to evade the laser shots fired at us; so many of them it had to be from each of his fingertips. And once Buu had flown past us he circled around, shooting more.
Things were getting hectic. We could barely see through the flashing lights and mountains up in smoke.
"Ugh!" I shot a hand up too late when something sharp nicked me under my left eye. "Oof!" My hands grabbed a hold of Goku, who I'd crashed into, and without thinking I pushed him down into the rocks, Vegeta close behind me.
Majin Buu passed over us.
I backed into a large boulder, eyes closed and brows knit in pain as I breathed heavily, my brother cursing bitterly.
Wait…
"Goku."
He looked at me from his shadowed area, also heaving deep breaths.
"Those fusion earrings. Are they compatible for males and females—together?"
His eyes slowly widened as he breathed through his mouth.
"Well?" I ignored the glare from my brother, and his sharp growling of my name.
"Y-yeah, but…"
I immediately held my hand out. "Give it to me! I'll do it!"
The look on his face, I didn't understand it, but I didn't care anymore. This was more than just my pain, and the pain of my loved ones. This was life as we knew it. Galaxies… Maybe even the entire universe.
I'd been here before… I'd lived this before… Why would I allow anyone else to be in this position?
His balled fist was raised, I shook my hand in urgency.
"GOKU!"
"I—" His pained look turned to fear as he shouted "HE'S COMING BACK!"
I spun around to see red energy rings flung at us.
We blasted them with everything we had. They ripped right through our atta—
BOOM!
The ground underneath me exploded—heat seared my skin.
…
…
…
…Voices… Ugh…
One voice was louder than the other… despite the other being rougher.
They were arguing, I realized as I cracked an eye open.
'Goku..?'
He was kneeling beside me, one hand cradling my neck, the other crossed over my chest, protectively, on my shoulder. He was no longer a super saiyan.
"LET'S NOT LOSE THIS ONE TOO!"
My eyes snapped open completely at the rough determination in Goku's voice, and he took immediate notice, his glare lessening as he helped me sit up.
Keeping a hold of his closest hand, I looked up at him—the contained anger in his eyes—before looking over to Vegeta.
He seemed more serious than before, gazing from me to Goku with a hint of contemplation.
A wave of sadness hit me.
All of this, and still…
"Brother…" My voice cracked. "Please…" I felt Goku's previously limp fingers wrap more securely around mine.
Vegeta stood without warning. "Kakarot… How do you know this fusion will be enough to stop him?"
I nearly gasped as Goku got to his feet and I took to one knee.
"I don't know for sure, but I know it's the best chance we have of saving the Earth!"
There was another moment of hesitation. From far off suddenly came "YOU THREE HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH!"
I did gasp that time, jumping to my feet as I spotted Majin Buu racing towards us with an even deadlier attack ready.
The prince finally extended his gloved hand. "Here—give it to me!"
Goku smiled in relief. My jaw dropped.
"What are you waiting for?! Give it now!"
"You bet!" Goku tossed the earring without any more delay, his rival catching it easily.
It was happening.
But—Kais!
I ran to my brother, who was having trouble fitting the accessory onto his lobe. "You're doing it wrong!" I pulled at his ear to give his clumsy hands more room.
"Ugh! Come on!"
In our frenzy Goku called, "And one more thing—once we join our bodies, we'll be stuck in that form… forever."
Both the prince and I stopped moving, turning twin looks of shock to the taller saiyan.
"IMBECILE! You tell me now?! DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION?!"
I no longer tried to aid Vegeta. I felt… limp… in my soul. Majin Buu was close, and I could only stare at my brother as he finally snapped it into place.
'My brother…'
When I turned to look at Goku, our eyes met. He was smiling calmly, and nodded.
'And Goku…'
It wasn't the same, but even they were going to be taken from me…
Blue light spread from both earrings as Goku uttered his last words. "Thanks, Vegeta…"
My brother's body was pulled away from me by an invisible force—Goku was being pulled forward.
I watched in awe as their bodies met and the light intensified, the two men sinking into each other.
A blinding energy shot forth from them, causing me to turn away, cringing.
My heart beat fast with anticipation.
Who was this man being brought into the world? This… combined form of the two most important men in my life…
The light died down and I slowly turned, eyes to the floor. Hesitantly I raised them…
Vegeta's boots… Goku's uniform, but color-inverted… Vegeta's gloves…
His head was rising, arms as well.
"ALL-RIGHT!" This man, who had my brother's vertical hair, and bangs reminiscent of Goku's, laughed victoriously before me, his face strikingly familiar, yet new at the same time. His voice was two, as had been the case with Gotenks; the only thing that lightened my heart.
"Um…" I moved closer, leaning to the side.
He turned to me, eyebrows raised before he smiled in pleasant surprise. "Ahh! Hey, baby girl!"
My head went back, brows high. "What?"
What did he call me? And whose influence was that?
He chuckled, Goku's tenor noticeable first before Vegeta's bass tones became more prominent. "What, I can't greet my little sister now?"
"I…" Something came over me then, and I shook my head. All of the emotions from the last few days, including the ones I had to swallow, all came rushing back to me, breaking the strength in my legs and causing me to collapse to my knees.
A more serious "Hey" came from the fused saiyan, and his feet came into my line of vision. "That's no place for a saiyan princess."
I looked up to see his gloved hand and smirk behind it.
Yes, a very familiar smirk…
I grasped the hand, and allowed him to pull me up, no sooner grabbing his shoulders for support as his hands lingered near my elbows.
He was taller than my brother, yet shorter than Goku; my height.
"Please, listen…" I started up shakily, gazing into the subtle intensity in his eyes. "Don't play around. You have to end this—Go–geta— now."
But he had turned his head somewhat, looking at me as if I'd said something distasteful.
"What?" I whispered nervously.
"Mmmm…" The new man placed his hands over mine, slowly removing them from his person as he turned his gaze to the sky. "I wouldn't call me that…"
As the saiyan took a step back and folded his arms, I stood, dazed, with parted lips. I didn't know what to do or say as he consulted the clouds.
Removing thoughtful fingers from his chin, he then looked to me, a devilish smirk forming on his handsome face, with a twinkle in his eye. "Call me Vegeto."
/