I do not own any of the characters that I choose to use in this fanfiction…

It was dark that much he knew. Vegeta slowly came to, wincing as the throbbing in his head began to rise to a horrid stabbing. Opening his eyes, he looked around at the bleak cavern lit only by one lantern overhead in which he was now occupying. His breath coming in shallow gasps, the Saiyan groaned at the pain from his broken ribs. From what he could tell, he had been shackled to the floor with his hands tied behind his back. A collar pressed tightly around his throat, and beeped as it suppressed his energy within him. Though unsure as to how he got here, Vegeta had a feeling he knew who was behind his abduction, and as he waited in the dark, his suspicions were soon proved correct.

"Ah," a voice hissed in the shadows. "You finally awoke!"

"Frieza!" the Saiyan snarled.

"Not completely," the voice answered as a figure stepped out of the darkness into the circle of light provided by the oil lamp. "More like Ultimate Frieza."

Vegeta gasped at the form of his formerly dead adversary. Frieza had changed, his face more humanoid, though he still had no hair. Tan skin now covered the creature, and he had human hands and feet, but his tail still whipped the air behind him. Sporting only a simple white tank top, and khaki pants with black shoes, he walked towards the captured Saiyan.

"What happened to you?" Vegeta said his voice cocky and smug. "Looks like you got quite the makeover."

"Heh," the alien laughed. "You really want to know? Fine I'll tell you."

Crossing his arms, the former lizard closed his eyes, reliving the memory of how he had come to be in that new form. "It all began after I died," he said jovially, as if he were telling a mere bedtime story. "I ran around Hell, searching for a way out. It wasn't until after I had been there for quite some time that I discovered the stairway leading up into King Yema's desk. Of course, I knew I couldn't escape that way, otherwise I would have been caught. So I walked down the stairs determined to find another way out. Fortunately for me, I did not have to search for very long. Not even halfway down, I discovered a rift in the space where the stairway existed. Deciding that taking a chance was better than returning back from where I had come, I dove into that space, and found myself here in this cave."

"While that's very interesting," the prince growled. "I don't see how that explains your new body."

"I'm getting there," Frieza snapped and then returned to his story. "Once I crawled out of the rift in space and into this cave, I walked around searching for an exit. Little did I know that I would make a most intriguing discovery. A human within the body of another human, trapped within the branches of a tree, screaming and thrashing around. While this was very entertaining to see, I wanted to know why it was like that to begin with, and so I freed it from the tree. I later learned that this human was a super powered psychic by the name of Toguro, who had possessed the body of another human psychic that was called Gourmet. He had been trapped within that tree as punishment by a Spirit Detective and his team, namely the one they call Kurama…"

Vegeta's eyes widened when he heard the name. Frieza had teamed up with an old enemy of his nephew's? Frieza merely laughed at his expression. "Recognize that name?" he mocked. "You should! Apparently your nephew and his team of miscreants brutally murdered Toguro's younger brother, which made it all the easier to decide to help Toguro in killing him when I found out he was related to you. It was then that I hired an assassin to seek and kill your nephew, thereby making you eventually come to me. But the man was far too talkative for my taste, and almost ruined my plans; needless to say, he was dealt with before he could do any such thing. But I soon realized that bringing you here would not be enough, especially considering your new power, so after speaking with my new friend, we decided to forge an alliance, seeking revenge on those who had humiliated us."

"An… alliance?"

"Yes," the former lizard nodded. "I stole two potara earrings made by the Kais, and then fused my body with his."

Vegeta sneered in disgust. "Though I'm sure that was a wonderful experience, I'm not sure I'm quite as afraid as you think I should be. Who cares if you fused with some pathetic life form my nephew has already defeated?"

"Oh," Frieza purred. "He's not pathetic, not pathetic at all. Care to try your strength against mine?"

"I would," the prince smiled. "If only to remind you how pathetically weak you are compared to me."

Aiming an energy blast at the Saiyan's shackles, Frieza leapt into the air, his fists gathering energy for his assault. Vegeta scrambled to his feet, rolling away as he barely avoided the blast, reaching up and crumbling the collar limiting his power at the same time. Sprinting around the edge of the cavern, the Saiyan ran up the wall of rock, and launched himself out towards the middle of the cavern, his fists loaded and glowing with energy.

"Eat this Frieza!"

With that cry, the prince dealt several crushing blows to his foe, each one blocked, or slapped aside by his speedy limbs. With roars of anger and frustration, Vegeta increased the speed of his flying fists, throwing in kicks for good measure, but was still defeated in his effort. With a careless smirk, the former lizard caught one fist, and then punched Vegeta hard across the jaw sending him flying across the chamber, and into the wall at least five feet deep.

"Ha!" Frieza laughed, casually flicking his tail as he flew towards the hole in the wall. "Looks like my new body is stronger than you think!"

Leaning down to better look into the hole, Frieza had barely enough time to pale in shock as a large golden blast sent him tumbling head over heels to the other side of the cave. Rocks and grit falling off as he moved, Vegeta stepped out of the hole, his body glowing with energy as he had ascended to Super Saiyan before blasting his enemy. But even as his aura roared as yellow flame, the Saiyan's shoulders heaved as he gasped for air, already feeling the strain of how little energy he had available to him.

Stumbling out from the rock, the prince wiped his mouth, and glared at the blood. Walking over to where Frieza had fallen, Vegeta scanned the area for his enemy, watching for any movement that would betray his position. With a crash, the former lizard rolled a boulder off of him, and then stood up. Frieza cracked his neck, sending a smug glare towards his adversary. The prince gave a cocky smirk at the state of the lizard's body. Frieza had been hit by the blast; almost his entire right side had been demolished, while his arm hung uselessly.

"What's wrong Frieza," Vegeta chuckled. "Need a hand?"

"Oh, I'm just fine," the alien lizard hissed. "This is nothing to worry about."

Suddenly Frieza's body began to ripple and bulge, blood pouring from his wound. The Saiyan warrior gasped as he watched the creature's arm heal and the hole fill in.

"What?"

"It's the marvelous thing about this new body!" Frieza cackled. "Remember how I said that human was a powerful psychic? Well his power was being able to regenerate his body, even out of practically nothing! If even a cell remains, he can re-grow his entire body, given time, and energy. I'm immortal!"

With a shout of defiance, Vegeta once again shot forward, hoping that he would find some way to exterminate this new monster.

…..

Hiei flew through the sky, his face cold and impassive, but fierce worry battled in his mind. Just the day before, he had struggled to control his energy output in order to gain the ability to fly, but need had sharpened his resolve, and opened the door to learning the art of flight quickly. An unnamable emotion churned in his stomach as the fire demon cut through a cloud. He had been trying to identify it, but all he knew was that it had something to do with Vegeta. Something felt off, like something very big and terrible was taking place, but he hadn't found out what yet. Slicing through yet another cloud, the small apparition's eyes widened as he recognized the hole from which the trail of energy was leaking out.

The cave where they had their final battle with Sensui, and abandoned the elder Toguro brother within the branches of one of Kurama's plants.

Without a second thought he dove inside, flying at full speed, allowing his senses to direct him. What had taken hours the first time he had entered the cave, Hiei was determined to shave it down to minutes.

….

Vegeta lay on the ground, gasping in pain, cradling his broken arm.

Frieza stood over his prone figure, shrieking in laughter at the Saiyan's helplessness. "Doesn't this feel like the old days?" the alien lizard cried. "It reminds me of when you were a child, and I had to beat respect into you day and night. You would lay on the ground then much like you are now, the only difference being you were crying as I chopped off your tail."

The space warrior snarled in anger, and used his one good arm to fire an energy beam at his enemy, but the creature dodged it nimbly, and appeared before Vegeta just long enough to kick him in the ribs and send him flying across the room and into a stalactite on the ceiling. The Saiyan fell, rock and debris crashing onto his back causing him to cry out in anguish. Frieza's snickers grew to an uproarious bellow of laughter as he watched the prince drag himself out from under the stone.

"Oh my," the fused alien mocked. "Did you hurt yourself Vegeta? Here let me see."

Striding over to where the warrior laid, the creature used one foot to roughly flip Vegeta onto his has back, a pained cough accompanied by blood coming from the figure on the floor.

"Oh dear, that looks serious," Frieza hissed. "Why don't I give you something that will take away the pain…permanently."

Raising his right index finger, the monster created a small orb of energy, and prepared to shoot the ball through the Saiyan's heart. "Good night, little prince."

"LEAVE HIM ALOOOONE!"

Suddenly a black blur knocked into Frieza, sending him skidding and crashing along the stone floor. Vegeta opened one eye, and looked in disbelief at the person standing over him.

"Hiei," he choked out. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't blame me when you're the one too stupid to make it home safely in one piece!" the fire demon spat, indignant face looking down at his injured teacher.

Allowing the small apparition to help him stand and walk over to the side of the cave, the prince looked down at the boy in both wonder and fury. "How did you find me?"

"How do you think?" Hiei growled. "I used my third eye."

"You aren't supposed to be here," Vegeta said gravely. "You need to go back home."

"No!" the fire demon snarled. "You honestly think I'm going to leave you? Don't insult your intelligence any more than you already have! I'm staying here, and helping you fight, end of story."

"Frieza is too strong," the warrior gasped, attempting to stand and block Hiei from walking onto the battlefield. "He fused with a creature known as elder Toguro, and now has his regenerative abilities."

Hiei's eyes widened slightly at the news, but quickly narrowed again as he stared his teacher in the eye. "I know you think I'm weak," he said harshly, "but if what I've been learning for the past three months wasn't in preparation for this, then what have you been training me for?"

"You are not weak," Vegeta gasped, his body shaking with the effort it took to stay standing, "but neither are you strong enough to take on Frieza as he is in this form."

"Oh yes," the fire demon said sarcastically rolling his eyes in emphasis, "because you're so healthy and ready to take on an enemy like this on your own."

"I'm serious Hiei!"

"As am I!"

Stepping up to his teacher, the half koorime cast determined eyes straight into the gaze of his uncle. "Please," he said softly. "Let me do this. Let me fight knowing that at least someone in my whole messed up family tree trusts me to do the right thing, and wants me to win. For the first time in my miserable life, let me know what it feels like having someone who shares my blood, have faith in me."

For several moments Vegeta stood, blocking Hiei's way, until finally with a sigh, he stepped aside, and allowed him to pass. With a nod of gratitude, the apparition walked past his uncle and towards the middle of the cavern, one hand already gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Frieza," he greeted. "It's nice to finally meet you; though there are some parts of you I have already had the displeasure of knowing."

"Indeed," the creature purred. "Toguro has told me so much about you and your friends, and after learning your relation to my traitorous former slave, I will share equal enjoyment in destroying you."

"Heh," Hiei scoffed. "If you can catch me."

Flash stepping into nothingness, the boy disappeared from view, only to reappear behind the creature. Frieza flipped backwards, narrowly avoiding the flashing steel of Hiei's sword. But the demon wasn't done, for that swing was just a diversion. Once more disappearing, he came up right above the creature, and focusing his energy into his right leg, he gave a powerful kick, watching as Frieza flew to the cavern floor and crashed causing a small crater in the stone. Landing gracefully in front of where his uncle sat, Hiei laughed at the monster's current predicament.

"You see Vegeta," Hiei spoke loudly so Frieza could hear. "There is only one way to deal with a body that regenerates, and that is to make sure that every part of it is incinerated to oblivion. My friend Kurama could not do this, and I did not interfere with the way he ended his battle, content to let it end the way he wished it to. But now it's my turn, and I will not be quite so merciful."

Attempting to stand, Frieza cried out in pain as he realized that somewhere during all the commotion, Hiei had snuck behind him, and planted his sword firmly through his tail, and deep into the earth. With panicked movements the alien lizard grunted and groaned as he pulled at the blade, trying to free it from the stone, but to no avail.

"Watch me uncle!" the fire demon cried an evil grin lighting his face. "And let me show you just how strong I am!"

Suddenly a purple aura surrounded the fire demon, and electricity crackled around him as he focused on his two fists in front of his body. Vegeta gazed in shock as he immediately recognized the technique.

"My…" he whispered in awe, "my Galick Gun! But how?"

"Remember?" Hiei replied voice strained with the effort it took to channel his energy. "You showed it to me once as an example of what a true Saiyan is capable of. I memorized how you did it, and even though this is my first try, I'm pretty sure it will turn out just as good as yours, if not better."

With a grim chuckle full of evil intent, the fire demon allowed the energy to destroy the bandages around his right arm. "And now," he said in a voice filled with excited malice, "my own trick to add to it."

As the purple electric aura grew stronger and stronger, a black flame accompanied it, and soon morphed into a dark dragon swirling and dancing alongside the energy. Grunting with strain, Hiei raised both hands above his head, and focused all his attention on the panicked alien trapped to the cave floor not one hundred feet away. Swinging his arms down with enough force to crack the stone floor, Hiei unleashed the two attacks, forging them into one enormous devastating blow.

"GALICK DRAGON!"

And just like that a wave of purple energy laced with black flame, and topped with the head of a dragon shot forward, engulfing the terrified Frieza in its gaping jaws. Incinerating the alien in one moment, the dragon continued its flight, carving a tunnel deep into the cave. Vegeta stared in shock at the colossal attack, before turning his attention to the now wobbling form of his nephew. Hiei stumbled backwards a few steps, his body swaying back and forth like a puppet deprived of its strings, before finally collapsing on the ground. His body was covered in sweat, and his chest heaved as he labored for air. Vegeta rushed over as quickly as his battered body would allow to kneel at the boy's side.

"S-see?" the small demon gasped, his eyes fluttering as he tried to maintain consciousness. "The Dragon is a living force, not as easy as you think."

"Heh," Vegeta laughed. "On that, I can definitely agree with you."

Using his good arm, the Saiyan warrior pulled the boy close, and held his head against his chest. "I'm proud of you, Hiei."

At those few last words, the fire demon found himself able to give a genuine smile, and drifted off into sleep.

…

Confetti popped and kazoos blew a horrible racket at Genkai shrine two weeks later. The entire team had gotten together and was giving Hiei a going away party, though the fire demon insisted that it wasn't going to be anything permanent, just a short trip to meet these Z Fighters and see if they are the warriors his uncle claimed them to be. But nonetheless, the crew was undaunted, and demanded they be allowed to throw him a party. It had taken all of a week for both warriors to get back on their feet and begin training again after the fight with Frieza, and though neither would admit it, they were happy to have the excuse to sit down and allow themselves a break. But Hiei knew that the party couldn't last forever, and soon found himself in the small room Genkai had rented out to him, packing his small amount of possessions. It was while he was doing this that an unexpected guest came, one that Hiei had been waiting to speak to his entire life.

"Hiei?"

The fire demon froze at the voice of his twin sister, and whirled around, eyes wide with fear and shock. "Yukina…" he said softly.

"Since you're leaving soon," she said with her eyes looking at the floor shyly. "I thought I should talk to you now, before you leave."

"Talk about what?"

"Oh Hiei," she sighed at his attempt to play dumb. "You know exactly what; I want to talk about this."

Reaching into the sleeve of her kimono, she pulled out a small tear gem, its black depths glittering darkly against her pale skin. Hiei found that he couldn't speak, he could barely breathe, and as he struggled to get his thoughts together he could only choke out. "Yukina… I'm sorry; I only want to protect you…"

Yukina jumped forward enveloping her brother in a hug, cutting off any other words he might have had to say. "You don't have to explain," she cried. "I know that you have been told horrible things by many people, and that even your existence has been considered as something disgusting, but that's not how I feel. I'm not happy that you lied to me, but I know how cruel the koorime are, and so I cannot blame you for what you did. I only ask that you please promise to write me while you're gone, and know that I love you with all my heart."

Swallowing the lump that was forming in his throat, Hiei awkwardly returned the hug, and could only whisper into his sister's hair. "I promise."