Risk
Chapter 44
Vegeta was getting thrashed. Each part of his body ached not to rise again; however, pride drove him forward towards Majin Buu with everything left within him. He knew he was fighting a losing battle, but something continued egging him on; to ensure that the family he had was to be protected from this beast.
"Perhaps maybe I should let you die before I kill your family after I heal you this last time," Buu broadly boasted. He could have murdered Vegeta a hundred times over; however, he was acting like a cat sparing a mouse from being eaten in hopes of being entertained. As the pink healing light faded, the very prince in question suddenly snapped.
Anger and the idea of this creature, this monster touching what was his was unforgivable. He roared in anger as the flaxen hair lengthened slightly; bolts of lightning sparkling within his once calm, yet destructive aura. Without a doubt, the Saiya-jin prince had finally done what Kakarrot and Gohan before him had done: Vegeta had finally transcended into a Super Saiya-jin 2.
"It'd be over my dead body before I allow one hair of the woman and the brat to be touched, asshole!" Vegeta growled and with renewed vigor, he lunged at the pink demon.
"Bring it on then my pet, bring it on…" Buu beckoned, his interest renewed for the moment. 'I should have done this a while ago…'
"The time chamber? Goku, that's too dangerous for you to go alone!" Mr. Popo followed in a flustered fashion.
"I need to do this though, Vegeta's putting his all on the line right now and I need to focus on reaching Super Saiya-jin 3 without bringing Majin Buu up here," Goku admitted. 'Plus, I need to figure out how to control it while Kakarrot's a part of me…' he mentally added.
"Right, well, good luck…" Mr. Popo allowed the Earth-raised Saiya-jin to enter the time chamber for the first time in years. The minute he felt nothing from Earth on his side, he walked out into the white void and closed his eyes.
'Well, it's now or never…' Goku thought to himself before powering up. The surge of energy crackled around his form and his voice echoed throughout the area. It was almost though he was taking no chances controlling the amount of output for the time being; rather measuring how much he could release without putting too much of a strain on his body. The very room seemed unaffected by this massive release of power as he ascended beyond the first level of Super Saiya-jin and was heading straight into the third.
Suddenly, the power died down from around him before he fell to the ground paralyzed in utmost pain. His mouth opened and closed and his eyes were frozen open in a horrified expression. Something had kept him from opening the dam of power and now left warrior that lay exposed to the horrid elements.
'Why can't I move… come on Goku, get up…' the Earth-raised Saiya-jin attempted to get up when he saw fire building on the horizon. 'Please…'
'Why am I doing this again?' Chi-chi thought silently to herself while standing for the first time in hours. Elder Kai, despite sporting several slaps and two black eyes, seemed no worse than wear as he told the female to power up so he could observe her completed power. Not wasting much time, she powered up, the sparkling silver aura raging around her form. It was unlike what it used to be whenever she powered up. Her long hair seemed to billow in the winds unbound by any hair accessories whatsoever, but at that moment, she didn't care what it looked like, she was totally immersed in the aura that seemed almost unlike her at that very moment.
"Wow… that's incredible…" Shin stated. He never imagined Chi-chi to become this powerful.
"Is… is this really me?" Chi-chi asked in almost a whisper after it died down from around her. She felt almost on par with her husband and mate right now and for once, she was enjoying this sensation.
"Yes, this is your true power… you will no longer need to worry about gauging your power with any difficulty," Elder Kai stated. "And though you were uncomfortable with all the prodding, they only helped to quicken the awakening of your powers…"
"W-what? Really?" Chi-chi felt guilty. All of those unnecessary slaps and punches were only so he could quicken the ceremony?
"Normally, it would have taken twenty-five hours to awaken one's power, but since I was touching you often, it helped unleash your power and made it easier to mold it." Elder Kai explained. "…but I will admit, I also enjoyed it…"
This was a short-lived pity session towards the Kai ended quickly when he got kicked in the head by Chi-chi's foot. She huffed and walked off rather pissed off at the perverted Kaioshin.
"Ancestor, you really shouldn't have pushed her that far," Shin muttered.
"Thou does not know the wonders of a woman," Elder Kai muttered in bliss. Despite the ideas of being beaten often, he still enjoyed everything that was a prelude to those beatings.
'…that's it… get up…' Goku encouraged himself while the fires drew closer. '…I need to get back where it's safe until I recover…'
His hands suddenly slipped and he fallen face down against the ground with a muffled moan of pain. What the hell was wrong with his body?
Gohan continued sparring with Piccolo outside on the lookout. He wanted to avenge his youngest brother's death and wasn't holding much physical strength back from his former sensei and best friend.
"Gohan, let's take a break," Piccolo suggested.
"You're right, I'm starting to get hungry," Gohan smiled softly while his stomach grumbled.
"We need to be prepared to go in the time chamber ourselves once your father's done in there," Piccolo suggested.
"Right."
The flames were literally near him now as Goku felt the smallest ones near his knuckles.
'Would Chi-chi want us to die like this?'
Goku's eyes suddenly opened and he rolled away from the flames with what strength he had before righting himself up to his knees. Did Kakarrot just say those words?
'Keep going back under the fucking thing and worry about that later!' Kakarrot's mental voice rapport impatiently in the back of the warrior's mind
'And I figured I was going anal…' Goku thought back sarcastically.
'Just run you idiot!' Goku got back to his feet and did just that. Moments later, the floor itself was flooded by what seemed like the flames of damnation. In the mirror that was in the nearby hallway, Kakarrot appeared there.
"Thanks," Goku smiled.
"Next time, try not to choke when drawing more power…" Kakarrot protested. "That's the problem with you and power… you keep thinking that it'll come fast when it takes time to pull out carefully…"
"I guess I got impatient…"
"Impatient's right… now whose saying to take your fucking time?" Kakarrot's image vanished and of course, so did his personality afterwards.
"Gotta love Kakarrot for giving a mental kick in the ass…" Goku muttered while laying down to rest off the stress from where he was standing at. He didn't mind the floor at the moment since it seemed much cooler than the beds.
Chi-chi trained for an hour to stretch her stiff muscles from sitting those long and boring eight hours. She was eager to go and battle Majin Buu and ensure that the threat to her family was all but wiped out. After she trained, she ate as much as she could before heading into the bathroom to get cleaned for battle. She made absolutely sure that Elder Kai didn't enter or even peep into the bathing quarters. Satin nickel seemed to be the house's main theme from the curtain rods to the very towel racks.
Sinking into the warm water, she sighed in relief before closing her eyes; her mind thinking about the pending battle to come, her homecoming and then…
'…oh gods… what if Goku doesn't accept me after all that's happened? Kakarrot too… what if they find that I'm no longer fertile and leave me?' Chi-chi's eyes opened in alarm. 'If that's the case, I'll see if Shenron could reverse what happened… maybe he can fix everything…'
With the last negative thoughts out of her mind about her homecoming, she focused on preparing to fight Majin Buu and get her life back.
It felt like an eternity for Goku before he finally managed to start training again. When he finally transformed into a Super Saiya-jin 3, he focused heavily on trying to extend its longevity and lessen the strain it put upon his body for holding it for so long. The level itself was powerful; however, the downside of holding it was the fact that it required more energy than he was used to putting into it.
The other downside was the fact that his lengthened hair seemed to weigh down his body and leave him open for anyone to grab his hair and use that to their advantage. It was said that those with exposed weaknesses could easily take advantage of someone. Unlike his tail, he couldn't easily cut off his lengthened hair and had to learn not to let it be used against him. Easier said than done though since he had yet to fight Majin Buu.
'Once I get used to this, I'll be okay…' Goku thought to himself while he continued to train with what time he had.
By this time, roughly a day had passed and Vegeta was growing less and less involved with the battle. Majin Buu had goaded him into fighting on; however, with little to no sleep, Vegeta felt his body aching for rest now that the monster refused to grant. Now, it was only a matter of time before sleep no longer became a need, but a desire well met.
"Aww… perhaps it's time I put you to bed… permanently…" Buu spoke in such a horribly comforting voice. Vegeta braced himself for the next blow; however, it did not come. He saw a bright light and red garments as Chi-chi kicked Majin Buu out of the way.
"Woman, how the hell did you get here?" Vegeta stammered.
"It's a long story; now get out of here Vegeta!" Chi-chi yelled at him.
"Fine, but I expect you to tell me later…" Vegeta retreated, thankful that someone else has decided to step in where he couldn't even leave a mark. Buu emerged from the rubble a moment later before eyeing the female.
"So you're the one who gave me the power for my release…" Buu stated. "I see… I will make sure you are given a reward for your efforts…"
"Yeah, well, I'm going to destroy you!" Chi-chi growled before she lunged at the demon that stood before her. The battle went from Buu dominating Vegeta to Chi-chi coming and ensuring Buu met his match in the very best Earth had to offer: a mere human.
While this transpired, the door to the time chamber finally opened and Goku emerged in his normal form before pausing to feel Chi-chi's newly transformed state. He ran to the edge where the others gawked at her form. Vegeta, on the other hand, had just arrived and was barely standing when he fell to the ground, completely spent.
"Vegeta!" Goku exclaimed.
"He fought a long battle," Piccolo explained, "…but you should go help your wife. Gohan and I will be there soon to assist you."
"Alright, we'll keep him busy for awhile," Goku vowed before teleporting to where he felt his wife. 'Hang on Chi-chi…'
Chi-chi delivered a back flip double-kick to Buu's face as he stumbled backwards. She nearly lost her balance when Goku appeared to catch her.
"Goku?" Chi-chi looked from her position upside down to see her husband there. "How did you…?"
"Chi-chi, let's fight together," Goku stated. "Vegeta came back to the lookout a mess and if he did that to him, it'd be easier if we…"
"Goku, it's my fault that he was released," Chi-chi admitted. "I want to make sure he ends up dying after putting everyone at risk…"
"Yeah, but it was my fault that he was released again and Goten…" Goku noticed his wife's eyes widened.
"Goten? You mean…" Tears filled her eyes and she turned to the monster in question. "Did you kill my son?"
"If you mean the man who clutched the boy before he and the others left earlier, then yes, I did kill him…" Buu laughed darkly.
"You monster!" Chi-chi yelled; rushing towards the demon, punching and kicking him in total abandonment. She wasn't as focused as she was earlier and was leaving herself open more and more. Goku knew this wasn't a good thing for any experienced martial artist to go through. He quickly transformed into a Super Saiya-jin 3 and joined the battle right behind his wife. Both fighters fought against this creature with the best of their abilities. Eventually, Chi-chi pulled back and focused her energy.
"Shin-tou-ka!" Chi-chi yelled before releasing her attack at Majin Buu who wasn't affected by such a move that normally would paralyze any creature with some sort of density. Perhaps because he was one of magic, he was immune to such an effort to stop him. "What the-?"
"Were you really expecting to do something with that pitiful attack?" Buu stated in such a mocking state. He kicked Chi-chi aside with ease and the female quickly righted herself in midair. "If that's the best you got, then you might as well give up…"
'Don't fire anything else…' Goku mentally communicated to his wife. She looked at him almost though he was crazy.
'Why?' Chi-chi thought. 'The only other attack is…'
'Buu copied something from Vegeta earlier,' Goku explained quickly. 'There's one of two ways we can get him off-guard before one of us unleashes it…'
'How do you propose we do that?'
'I'll go in since I'm more agile, just start charging up…'
'Alright… Goku, if this doesn't work, I… I love you…'
'I love you too Chi-chi…' Chi-chi's eyes widened when she heard that despite all that's happened, her husband and mate still loved her. 'Don't die on me. If anything were to happen, then Buu would have wished he never threatened Earth…'
'I'll try not to die Goku, Kakarrot…' Goku drew closer to Buu while below, Chi-chi began to concentrate her energy into the final and dire attack she could have thought of using.
Buu flew backwards with another blow to the face while Goku fired a chain of blasts at the monster to slow him down. While the dust built, the Earth-raised Saiya-jin kept his guard up, ready for any counter-attack since he knew for sure these blasts were nothing compared to the bigger ones he usually would have unleashed in battle. From behind and below Majin Buu, Chi-chi was already summoning her attack as the sphere of light grew slightly in her hands; however, she kept it mostly at her side almost obscured by the garments of her clothing so the monster had no idea that she had a hidden attack up her sleeve so to speak.
As a pink arm came at Goku outstretched, he cocked his head to the right slightly to let the punch fly by; however, the demon ended up head butting the Saiya-jin in the face moments later as the two went up in the heavens spinning head over heels from the recent blow. Goku alighted himself and fired more random blasts in which Buu countered with his own. The dust again began to gather into the skies; obscuring both warriors in the process as each blast against each other cancelled each other out.
"I grow tired of your games, are you going to take me seriously or should I continue firing these random things at you?" Buu finally stated after a minute of this idle duel to see whose blast was stronger than the other's contest that they had unwillingly gotten themselves into. It ended seconds later when Goku materialized to the side of Buu and kicked him in the side of the head; grabbing the antenna by a fist and swung the helpless creature by it before Buu allowed it to fall off of him.
"Gah!" Goku hissed ensnared moments later by the same antenna he had tried to take advantage of.
"I suppose I should suggest it is futile to fight me… even to try a sneak attack upon me like your lady friend is down there…" Buu stated.
'Shit, he knows…' Chi-chi growled.
"Still, I will be fair and allow you to hit me with it if you are so eager to fire such a thing you hold in your hands…" Buu stated with a smirk on his face. "You only have one try and afterwards, you are finished.
'Better make this count then…' Chi-chi focused all of her chi into her hands before releasing the blast. Buu, who had already been prepared to counter, threw up a hand. It was then Goku broke free from Buu's antenna being wrapped around him and charged up his own blast.
"What the fu-?" Buu didn't expect Goku to have even tried to break free, let alone suspected another attack.
"HA!" Goku roared as Buu got caught in the crossfire of both blasts.
The blasts soon ended and Goku reverted back to his normal form while Chi-chi powered down. She sighed in relief while looking up at her husband.
"We did it!" Chi-chi smiled before flying up to her husband's awaiting arms. She never thought that together, they would do such a thing, but it was a miracle that they managed to work together and defeat Majin Buu.
However, that celebration was short-lived when Buu suddenly reappeared out of nowhere in between both husband and wife. They were only a few feet apart, but for the oddest reason, it felt much farther.
"Damn it, why won't you just die?" Goku growled.
"Because I am fated to destroy this universe… even if it means through dire means…"
"Dire means?" Goku realized then that Buu vanished and grabbed Chi-chi from behind. "Chi-chi!"
"Ah, so I see you have feelings for this one… let's see how much you want her after she becomes part of me…" Buu hissed. Chi-chi struggled as Buu began to absorb the female's form. Goku quickly grabbed onto his wife's hand. "What?"
"Goku, don't be a fool, you have to save Earth…" Chi-chi muttered, her form starting to fade within Buu.
"I can't do this without you Chi-chi; I already told you what might happen if I lose you again…" Goku admitted. He felt afraid that without her, he might end up snapping again even worse than he did when Frieza killed her.
"Goku, it's alright, it's a risk that all of us have to take… I took my risk; it's time for you to take yours…" Chi-chi had a tear run down her cheek and her hand slipped out of his before she was fully absorbed in the monster. The creature glowed before his clothes changed to reflect who he had within him: the earthen woman's clothing.
"Chi-chi…" Goku held his head downcast. The power seemed to build inside of him again. It was almost though he had lost her on Namek again; however, this time, he knew that she was a part of Majin Buu, the demon, in the worst way he could ever imagine. He had once again let her down only because he believed he could have defeated such a monster with such strategy alone. Once again, he felt he was far too weak to realize he wasn't strong enough to save her.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Before I kill you, I will let you see her one last time before I cast you and the rest of this planet to hell…" Buu stated while preparing to blast the Earth-raised Saiya-jin where he stood trembling.
Yet, this trembling wasn't that of fear, instead, it was that of rage. Buu had foolishly done something that Frieza had done more than a decade prior: he had taken the Saiya-jin very lightly and did not do away with him as a threat first.
"Hell? Oh, you're mistaken…" Goku's voice seemed to echo with utter, sheer madness as it sent a shiver down the demon's spine. "The only one going to hell is the one who underestimated a Saiya-jin… especially one who's going to ensure that you should have stayed in your damn fucking ball to begin with!"
"Eh?" Buu stared at Goku who looked up at the demon with a maddening gaze. Instead of cobalt eyes, they were filled with red; almost though he were about to go Oozaru without a moon. His hair flared gold as he transformed effortlessly into a Super Saiya-jin and went straight to the third level again; however, the energy output was much more raw and violent than usual; almost though the warrior in question no longer had any idea how to control it.
Moving much quicker than he was earlier in that form, Buu lost track of the insane Saiya-jin before he felt a knee straight into his gut horribly filling his midsection with absolute agony from the very blow. It was far worse than any other warrior had ever given him. Before he could nurse such a wound, another hit him in the back at an equally amount of pain ever registered. Each blow that followed did not seem to weaken or waver in the slightest; it almost seemed that this Saiya-jin had totally lost the merciless side of him the minute he saw his beloved absorbed and now was ensuring Buu got every ounce of pain he felt through his blows.
If Buu were made of flesh and blood, he would have broken limbs, displaced joints, internal bleeding, and every possible wound bleeding and mutilated. Yet as a creature of magic, he could easily shift vital organs to other areas of the body without much consequence or worry of being killed anytime soon. Unless he was blasted to atoms, he had every way of staying in existence as long as possible so he could carry out what he was created to do.
"Stop hurting me!" Buu yelled angrily. He was rewarded with another punch to his face; this one bloodying his nose.
"Have you ever stopped when people asked you to?" Goku asked in a horribly sarcastic voice; one that held more malice than one could ever admit. "You made millions suffer, so why should I stop? I will ensure you die, but only after I ensure that you suffer enough in return…"
"You're a monster!" Buu yelled.
"You're a monster!" The very exclamation echoed in Goku's ears and for a fleeting moment, he paused. The reddened eyes flickered for a fleeting moment; almost though he was trying to regain some sense of sanity within himself. 'I… I can't… I need to fight this for Chi-chi!'
Fingers dug into the soft flesh of Majin Buu, almost though on a mission in itself. Ignoring the pink creature's painful cries, Goku summoned a blast inside of that hand; one that he knew would destroy the monster's heart since he had it beating directly within his grasp at that moment. When the blast cleaved through Majin Buu moments later, another blast from below disintegrated the demon entirely that came out of the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's grasp. Falling earthward, Goku passed out and had it not been for his son catching him at that moment, he would have perished upon impact.
"Dad, dad, wake up…" Gohan shook his father to no avail. He seemed not worse than wear; however, he seemed horribly pale, his tail seemingly limp behind him.
"I don't see your mother anywhere…" Piccolo stated. He had been scanning the skies for the Earthen woman and wondered where she had vanished to.
"Don't tell me Buu…" Gohan hissed. "I should have gotten here sooner…"
"It's alright, we'll wish her and the others back with the Dragon Balls from Namek soon enough, for now, we should gather our own and fix the mess before heading to the planet itself." Piccolo commented.
"Right! I can't wait to have Goten and mom back!" Gohan smiled.
"And I'm sure your father feels the same way," Piccolo commented.
To Be Concluded…