Déjà vu anyone?

The Smallest Courage

Coge: "Ha-ha-ha! The Hogyoku is MINE!"

With the Hogyoku in Coge's possession, there was nothing that anyone could do. The mad saiyan used the Hogyoku to transform himself into a giant, powerful monster. He looked like a spinosaurus and a dragon combined. He towered over everyone! And his power was overwhelming. It was too much for anyone to try and fight alone.

Coge: "With this much power, I'll have no problem annihilating all you weaklings!"

But they would still try.

Yamamoto: "I'm issuing an immediate order! Everyone is to concentrate their power onto this monster!"

All together, the 13 Court Guard Squads attacked Coge! But none of them seemed to do much except annoy him. Meanwhile, the Z-Fighters just looked on.

Yamcha: "Should we help them?!"

Krillin: "Why should we?! It's because of THEM that the situation's gotten this bad!"

Gohan: "But Coge's OUR problem!"

Piccolo: "And it was THEIR creation that he used to become THAT!"

Goten: "What do we do, dad?"

Goten looked up at his father. Even Goku was torn as to what to do. Sure Coge was their problem. But the Soul Reapers were the ones who owned the Hogyoku.

Vegeta: "Kakarot?"

Goku: "... We'll finish what's left."

They weren't going to help the Soul Reapers. That is until Coge spotted them and opened his mouth. The Z-Fighters all started to get sucked in and they all flew off to get away. But Goku couldn't get out of the vacuum and he wasn't the only one! Yamamoto was also getting sucked in!

Gohan: "Dad!"

Ukitake: "Head-Captain!"

Soifon: "This is all your fault!"

Krillin: "OUR fault!? Coge used YOUR thing!"

Renji: "And HE'S with YOU!"

Yamcha: "With US?!"

Vegeta: "ENOUGH!"

Piccolo: "THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE ARGUING!"

Ichigo: "I hate to say it, but he's right! We have to do something and fast!"

And in a flash, their answer came with a roar!

Hitsugaya: "Up there!"

Like a flash of lightning, a familiar shape shot across the sky towards Coge! Just when it seemed that Coge was about to eat Yamamoto and Goku, an energy blast hit him square on the nose! Yamamoto and Goku started to plummet towards the earth when they both were suddenly snatched right out of the sky!

Goku: "What the-?"

They both looked at each other. Then they heard a voice.

Toushiro: "You get 'em?!"

The next thing they knew, the future Vegeta was smiling at them both.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Yeah I got 'em!"

Goku: "Future Vegeta!?"

In seconds, Vegeta flew them over to a safe spot and let them go. The saiyan landed and Goku got a better look at the future Vegeta. He was wearing a strange saddle that had wings coming out of it!

Goku: "So it's true... You can't fly."

Then Yamamoto spotted the other Toushiro.

Yamamoto: "Toushiro Hitsugaya!?"

Toushiro: "You two alright?!"

Both Goku and Yamamoto could just barely nod. Toushiro was riding on Vegeta's back in the saddle.

Yamamoto: "H-How-"

A roar from Coge shifted their attentions.

Toushiro: "Look! We'll explain later! For now just stay back and let us handle this! Come on, Vegeta!"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Right!"

And Vegeta flew off towards Coge with Toushiro on his back. The Z-Fighters and 13 Court Guard Squads all joined Goku and Yamamoto as they watched the two beings from the other universe head towards the monstrous Coge! As he watched, Hitsugaya suddenly thought back to the lieutenants badge that he cut off of our Vegeta. Coge payed no attention to the two flying up towards the clouds. Toushiro looked down and saw that Coge had wings in this strange mutated form.

Toushiro: "Hey he's got wings..."

As if their minds were synced, both Vegeta and Toushiro knew what to do.

Toushiro: "Alright, let's see if he can use them! Let's do what we do best, Vegeta- Let's get him mad!"

And Vegeta spun around in the clouds. With lightning fast speed, he started to dive towards Coge! As he did, both he and Toushiro prepared to strike! Just as they were only a few feet away, they both unleashed their attacks and scored direct hits! Coge crashed to the ground slightly dazed while Vegeta and Toushiro stayed in the air.

Toushiro: "Did it work?"

Toushiro turned around just in time to see Coge spread his wings and take off after them. Compared to his body size, his wings were just big enough to get him airborne. As for flying...

Toushiro: "Well he can fly..."

Toushiro strapped his harness to Vegeta's saddle. Time for some fancy flying.

Toushiro: "But can he FLY?... Let's go, Vegeta!"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Hold on!"

And with that, Vegeta and Toushiro flew off with amazing speed! Coge followed close behind as he chased the two through the rocky coast. Vegeta bobbed and weaved around the rock arches and mountains with unsurpassable speed! They past the others as they cheered them on, only to cover themselves as Coge burst through a rock pillar. Somehow, Coge was keeping up. But the size difference was responsible. For every one flap of Coge's wings, Vegeta had to make 5 just to stay ahead. Toushiro looked back in time to see the monster getting ready to snap down.

Toushiro: "Hard left, Vegeta! Now!"

With a quick turn to the left, they avoided those massive jaws. But flying away wasn't doing them much good. They had to find a way to turn the odds in their favor. That was when Toushiro looked up and saw the dark storm clouds up above. This was perfect cuz Vegeta could pull off a neat trick.

Toushiro: "Alright, Vegeta! Make us disappear!"

And upwards they climbed toward the dark heavens! Coge followed close behind as the saiyan and Soul Reaper reached the dark clouds. Coge watched as Vegeta turned around to look down at him. And right before his eyes, Vegeta and Toushiro just disappeared! The monster looked around the storm clouds for them but nothing. There was an eerie silence as the crowd below watched and waited. Back up above, Coge still looked around. Then, out of the darkness, a blast came and struck Coge at one of his wings! Then came another and another! Coge kept looking around as the onslaught continued! But even with both Vegeta and Toushiro firing at him, they did not reveal themselves. Below, everyone watched in awe as only the light from the attacks gave hint to what was going on above their heads. Angry, Coge roared and breathed out a huge amount of fire in every direction! The fire did its job!

Toushiro: "Look out!"

One of Vegeta's wings was now on fire and burning away fast!

Toushiro: "Shit! Now what!?"

Suddenly, Vegeta turned around and flew right at Coge's head! Toushiro didn't know what Vegeta was doing! He tried to control the saiyan but he seemed dead set on doing something else! The prince roared at his mutated brother, mocking him. When Coge roared back with anger, Vegeta made a beeline dash straight down! Angry, the giant monster followed. The clouds were rushing past them as they headed straight down. Toushiro looked at the burning wing and it was halfway gone.

Toushiro: "Vegeta! What are you doing?!"

Vegeta glanced over his shoulder at Toushiro.

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Do you trust me?!"

Toushiro: "What?!"

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Do you trust me, Toushiro?!"

Toushiro looked squarely into the saiyan's eye just as the clouds parted and the earth became visible. He glanced back at Coge who was closing in. Turning back, he made his decision. And it wasn't a hard one.

Toushiro: "... ... I do, Vegeta. More than you'll ever know..."

Lieutenant Vegeta: "Then let's end this."

Toushiro wrapped his arms around the saiyan's neck and held on tightly. He watched as the wing continued to burn, and started to feel Vegeta's flying getting rougher. Coge was so close to them and they were getting closer and closer to the ground. Then, the monster started preparing to breathe another huge blast of fire. This is what Vegeta was waiting for! He turned around with his back to the ground just as Coge opened his mouth! Toushiro watched as Vegeta fired an energy blast directly into the gas filled mouth of the monster. The second the energy blast made contact with the gas, it exploded into an inferno! Coge was burning from the inside! All attention suddenly went towards the incoming ground! Vegeta spun around and opened his wings up to catch a blast of air and shot straight up past Coge! The monster tried to do the same, but when he opened his wings, he discovered what Toushiro and Vegeta had done. Their attacks had completely destroyed the thin skin that made up his wings! Coge went hurling towards the ground until he crashed into it! A cloud of fire engulfed him as it shot straight up! Everyone else soon turned towards the sky once again. It wasn't over yet. Vegeta was flying as fast as he could to stay ahead of the approaching cloud of flames! Just then, the last of his right wing burned away! Without that wing, Vegeta couldn't fly and they quickly began to plummet. Everyone could only watch in horror as the young captain and saiyan prince fell back down. Vegeta quickly tore Toushiro off of his back and squeezed him firmly against his chest. What his arms didn't cover, he used his remaining wing to cover the rest of Toushiro. The great prince squeezed his eyes shut just as they fell back and were engulfed by a billowing cloud of flames. It took at least an hour for the whole chaos to settle down. The whole battle ground was still covered in a thick blanket of ash, silt and smolders. The air smelled heavy with smoke and was littered with particles of ash still falling to earth. Visibility was limited, only a few feet. But still, that didn't stop the Z-Fighters and Soul Reapers. Once the area was relatively safe, they all rushed in to search for any survivors. Goku and Yamamoto were the first ones to go into the center to search.

Goku: "Future Vegeta!"

Yamamoto: "Toushiro Hitsugaya!"

They both kept calling as they searched. Everyone else began digging through the ash and debris to see if they had been buried. After a few minutes, many were beginning to give up. There was no sign of either of them. Goku and Yamamoto looked at each other in sadness. Toushiro and Vegeta's fight against Coge together had opened their eyes. And their sacrifice brought their hearts together.

Goku: *Sigh* "I just wanna say that I'm sorry. This was all our fault."

Yamamoto: "No. I'm the one who should be apologizing. Coge used the Hogyoku to do all this and the Hogyoku was our responsibility. So... I'm the one who should be apologizing."

Goku: "The fault is with both sides. We were all so caught up in our stupid rivalry over a big misunderstanding that we let things get out of control. If anything... The fault is on both of us."

Yamamoto: "... I agree."

Goku held out his hand to Yamamoto. The old man started to reach out with his own when something stopped him. Goku stared at the old Soul Reaper's eyes. They were gazing at something with shock and surprise. Goku turned around to see what he was looking at. Soon enough, he saw it. A slight movement. Goku quickly ran over to the ash covered slab of stone and quickly lifted it up. And there he was.

Goku: "WE FOUND VEGETA!"

Everyone was soon rushing towards Goku and Yamamoto as the two checked on our Vegeta. His final wing was gone and they both could see the extent of his injuries. Nearly all of his body was covered in burns, some more severe than others. What parts weren't burned had cuts, scratches and open wounds. The only part of him that wasn't burned or open was where his saddle had been. The saddle was barely recognizable. The frames of the wings had been bent by the heat. One of the straps had been burned apart. The saddle itself was torn, burned and shredded. As everyone quietly gathered behind them, Goku and Yamamoto checked for any sign of life within the great saiyan. He was just barely alive. Only just. Then they both suddenly realized something was missing. Where was Toushiro?! There was no sign of him what-so-ever! As they looked around, Vegeta opened his eyes just slightly. Both men gazed into them, both sets of eyes asking the same thing. Vegeta closed his eyes again and both Goku and Yamamoto feared the worst. But then they both gasped as they saw Vegeta bearing the immense pain he was in and uncurled his arms with the very last of his strength. It was covered with ash and soot, but there was no mistaking what was in the prince's embrace. It was Toushiro. His haori was nearly gone, burned away up to the insignia. His waraji had been burned off of his feet and his tabi had holes in them with strong evidence of burning. The snow white hair that made him so distinguishable had been dyed almost as black as Vegeta's by the ash and soot. There were some burns on him, but they were small. And he was alive, more so than Vegeta. It was obvious to all why Toushiro was in much better condition than Vegeta. Vegeta, using his bigger and stronger body, had shielded him from the fire and taken the brunt of their fall. He had ensured that, if anything, at least Toushiro would survive. It wasn't just because the prince liked the boy and cared about him. It was also because the war between Vegeta and Coge was one he was never really apart of. The only reason Toushiro was now apart of it was because he had befriended the mighty saiyan prince. So Vegeta felt responsible for everything that had just happened to the boy. But he was also proud of him too. There aren't many people who would stand up to Coge as bravely as Toushiro does. For that very reason, Vegeta was proud to call him his captain. Goku almost couldn't believe the level this Vegeta went to protect this boy. The fact that he was on the verge of death said it all. And Yamamoto was in awe at the level of trust this Toushiro Hitsugaya had at the saiyan prince. Thanks to Toushiro and Vegeta, this world could now rest in peace... And so could they.