To AnonymousDBZFan,

I'm so stoked you got a kick out of the interactions between T. Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz! :D It was so fun to write those parts and take into consideration where each of them are at right now. Their canon depictions gave me so much inspiration, and placing them in a situation where some time has gone by allows for some creativity in their current portrayal. Like Vegeta's rustiness with telepathy: Coupled with his low Life Force circulation and thus muddled thinking, I figured that should further impact this very mental-leaning ability.

When I first began writing this story I decided from the get-go that Touketsu Vegeta should be like Namek Saga Vegeta in temperament. He's essentially picking up where he left off, as everything after his death are nothing more than jumbled visions and dreams. Unlike Namek Vegeta however, he has a subconscious recollection of a family, and that affects his mood. He's got an underlying sadness that isn't expressed in Namek Vegeta, but he's still a smart ass and very immature, lol. That's something that he also has in common with Android Saga Vegeta, but unlike him, Touketsu Vegeta doesn't really have that drive to prove himself. His journey is all about self-mastery and progressing forward.

I'd already depicted Touketsu Vegeta in the first story as a representation of Vegeta's two extremes: The unhinged, emotional berserker, and the cold, calculating tactician. Since Touketsu Vegeta has regained his memories by the time he enters the arena – and since he's itching for battle at this point – I figured his animal-like berserker side would be offset by playfulness, resulting in a sort of scary, manic glee. I'd written the arena scenes months before posting them, and it was while I was working out the rest of the story that Ultra Ego made his debut. I was delighted by their parallels, and I couldn't wait to start posting!

I LOVE your observation of the parallels between Vegeta's Forced Spirit Fission technique in Super and Touketsu Vegeta's Kuroshimo. It's interesting because they can both draw out spirit energy with a touch, but they're almost opposite in their application. Vegeta uses his Forced Spirit Fission against Moro to take stolen spirit energy and give it back to the rightful vessels. Kuroshimo steals energy so Touketsu Vegeta can use it for himself. Far less noble, lol!

I'm so excited to have found someone as into all these little DB intricacies and developments as much as me! I could nerd out forever with you, lol. I don't have words for how moved and heartened I feel that my story has got you thinking about how it would all fit into the DB world, and it's the best thing I've heard yet. I'm so happy you're enjoying the ride! Thank you so much for reading and commenting, AnonymousDBZFan!

Bad Man

Sniffling back tears of fear, Bra raced through the sky of snow clouds. Her trajectory began lowering, and she realized what was happening. "No. Focus," she told herself, and she calmed. Hovering in the air, she looked around. She didn't know where Mr. Touketsu and his friends were, and she didn't know how to sense ki. Fearful that the bad guys would hear her if she called for them, she tried her telepathy.

"Mr. Touketsu! Mr. Nappa! Mr. Raditz! Are you all ok?" She persisted, but when she heard nothing back, she began to fret for them. There was another fearful matter: She was lost. She noticed an inlet of garnet seawater a short distance away. Remembering her geography lessons, she followed it. Bodies of water like that emptied out into the ocean, and Mr. Touketsu's friends lived near the beach. Hopefully, they were nearby and alright.

She didn't realize she was going in the wrong direction.

High above ground, Touketsu sniffed the air. Unable to pick up Bra's scent at ground level, he'd climbed a tall conifer in hopes of catching it on the air currents. The constantly shifting winds made it difficult to get a good lock, but he brightened when he was finally rewarded with a faint lead. She was apparently still airborne and traveling inland. Following the elusive scent, he leapt from tree to tree.

At length he flubbed his landing. With a yelp he went pinballing down through branches until he landed on his back in the snow. He sat up with a groan. His poor Life Force circulation was affecting him mentally and physically. Some food helped to offset its effects, but he'd barely eaten a thing since his escape onto the Physical Plane. He cursed himself for avoiding the dark ki in battle only to blow up on his cohorts. How far had he set himself back?

He held up his hand and with effort generated a bead-sized ball of true ki. "Damn it," he hissed as he stared at the tiny spark. He was back to where he started, but at least the connection wasn't completely severed. His body alternating between dark and light, he circulated the energy to undo some damage.

"You've again been sneaking around behind your mother's back," Marenna spoke to her speechless daughters. "You retrieved the effigy without telling me, then you gave it to Touketsu and enabled his escape."

The sisters glanced at each other. How did their mother find out? Zeema twisted her fingers together anxiously. "Mama. You…you were sad. We were only trying to help."

"My affairs are my own, and I have duties to uphold. I gave Touketsu the option of traveling to the Physical Plane before he threw my offer to the ocean like so much refuse and before he violated Volkfangr rules. Now how long have you had the effigy?" They were silent. Tell me."

They felt their mother's will push on their minds, insisting they confess. Zeema's loyalties divided between their secret and her obedience to her mother, she slipped up. Marenna got a fleeting mental glimpse of what had transpired. Her face stern, she turned to Kuma.

"Kuma, how could you? You were sitting next to me that very night, allowing me to think the effigy was lost to the depths. You keep secrets from your mother?"

After a moment, Kuma shrugged. "Just practicing what you taught us." Zeema gasped softly. "We know you put an enchantment on the effigy to watch us, Mother. You wanted to watch Touketsu through it, too. How's that not secretive?"

Marenna was silent for a moment. "I did so in order to watch over the four of you and protect you from yourselves. You three have proven your immaturity, and Touketsu has likewise shown himself to be an irresponsible child. After his conduct in the arena, he is now beyond my help, and only because his Obfuscation Charm wore off did I find out about your treachery, Kuma. What would our subjects think if they knew my own daughters had aided a criminal?"

Likha's jaw dropped open, incredulous over her mother's hypocrisy. "Oh, I don't know, Mom," she said sarcastically. "Maybe they'd think the same thing about you?" Zeema squeaked when her mother turned icy eyes on her sister. "Are you seriously in denial about how much you've been bending the rules for him?"

"I had a responsibility for him just as I do you."

"Because of Zhernobog?" Kuma asked bluntly. Marenna's eyes widened as she looked at her youngest.

"Touketsu told us everything, Mama," Zeema said softly. "He said he was taken and transformed by someone named Zhernobog. He said he's part of his soul now, and…he said you were once married to him."

"Were you ever going to tell us any of this?" Kuma asked.

Long moments passed. "Some things are best left unsaid," Marenna said quietly. "I have a reputation to protect, and I have yours to protect as well. It is the very reason why the residents of this planet don't know of your needs."

"Why? Are they 'unbecoming' of goddesses?" Likha asked bitterly.

"What is unbecoming of goddesses is indulging in their base natures within my kingdom! It is because of your transgressions in the bathhouse that we are all in this situation!" Marenna cried. The princesses were stunned to silence. "You are all grounded until I say otherwise. And if your youth, vitality, and powers must wither away before I lift your punishment and allow you to hunt again, then so be it. You will learn."

The sisters could only watch as their mother lifted her hand to them, and their environment whirled around them.

Following the inlet, Bra saw something beginning to emerge through the foggy atmosphere. "Is that a…palace?" she whispered in awe as she approached. Its white walls of sparkling gypsum sharply contrasted with its black gabled roofs and spires, glittering gargoyles of gold and silver accenting the structure. Two towering doors marked its entrance, one black, one white, and each elaborately carved with a dragon. The entrance made little sense to Bra. Beneath it was an abrupt cliff that descended to the inlet below. How could anyone get in?

She flew over the palace. Like a pair of arms embracing something most precious, great walls connecting from either side of the immense building encircled a sprawling kingdom. There was what looked like a stadium and a giant upside-down ship, the surrounding streets and buildings spiraling out in a labyrinth of concentric circles. Bra descended in without a problem, the magic barrier only attuned to repel Inimicus.

"Wow," Bra breathed as she looked around. Some kind of celebration was going on. There were decorations strung on lines over the streets, colorful vending stalls offering different wares, and musicians. Children were playing and people were talking, all of various races and all with halos over their heads. Few were levitating, everyone more interested in staying on the ground where the festivities were being held.

People began to notice Bra, many doing a double take. There was curious whispering and pointing before she was approached by a young man with silver skin, street fare in one hand. "Little girl, are you lost?" Chisto asked as he cast a perplexed glance where her halo should have been.

Bra hesitated. She wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, but even Mr. Touketsu was a stranger once. He'd warned her that she should not be seen, but he'd also confirmed that she wouldn't get in trouble for being alive. This was an emergency. "Um, yes I am."

"What is your name?"

"Bra."

"My name is Chisto," he said with a friendly smile. "Are you, uh, from the Mortal World?" She nodded. He shook his head in wonder. "How did you end up here?"

"I'm not really sure how, but I got here through my closet."

Befuddled for a moment, Chisto smiled. "My family is just over there," he said as he pointed to them. "Come. We'll see what we can do to help."

Touketsu tore through the forest, the snow drifting down around him. "Shit," he breathed. "Shit!" He'd resumed his tracking, and he'd finally gotten a good lock on Bra's scent: In the direction of a large concentration of ki signatures. She'd discovered the kingdom, and doubtless she'd landed there. Touketsu soon came upon the walls at the adjacent side of the kingdom.

He looked up at the towering barricade. He'd have to scale it. There went his gains. His body darkening in protection, he put his hand to it. His features tensed as his body faded back to white. No barrier. This reeked of a trap, but what could he do? He had to reach Bra. Touketsu quickly climbed up the wall and peered over the top.

The streets were positively bustling, but fortunately no one appeared to be flying; there seemed to be some festival going on at the city center. Touketsu timed his move and leapt up onto the top of a tall building. Flattening himself against the gabled roof, he low-crawled to the next. He repeated the process, stealthily closing in on Bra's scent.

"Mother, Izo, I found this lost little girl. She needs help."

The Luscepians turned around, their eyes widening at the sight of the living girl. They looked at Chisto for a moment, who could only offer a bewildered shake of his head. "My goodness," said Zarkala. "Hello, little girl. My name is Queen Zarkala."

Bra's face lit up. "You're a queen?"

She smiled warmly. "Why, yes. This is my elder son Prince Izo, and you've already met my younger son, Prince Chisto."

"Oh! Well, I'm a princess! Princess Bra Eschalot Briefs," she said with a bow. Pleased to meet you!"

"We're pleased to me you," Zarkala said, charmed. "Where are you traveling to, my dear? You must be very far from home."

"Um, yes actually. Mr. Touketsu said he was going to help me get back home tonight.

The Luscepians looked thunderstruck. "I…I'm sorry my dear, you said a…Mr. Touketsu?" Zarkala asked.

"Yeah, I was with him and his friends when some bad guys attacked us. I…I got scared and flew away," she said shamefully, "but now I'm lost. I hope they're all ok." The Luscepians looked at each other seriously. Vegeta was alive. And unbelievably, there was now a living child in Nav.

"She said she got here through her…closet?" Chisto asked as he turned to her.

"Uh huh," Bra nodded. "Mr. Touketsu came to visit me, and he left through my closet. I followed him to give him his dolly back." Bra pulled the unremarkable looking ragdoll from her pocket. She showed it to them before stuffing it back in. "I have to keep it safe," she smiled. "It's very special to him."

The family looked at each other again. Vegeta lured this girl here with a toy. Why, and how did he bring her here? It seemed the demonic Saiyan's strange abilities were not limited to his destructive powers.

"You are safe now, my dear," Zarkala said. "We shall do our best to get you home. There is another queen here, her name is Queen Marenna, and she is the ruler of this world. I'm sure she will know what to do. Come," she smiled. "The queen is a bit late presiding over the festival, but she will make her appearance soon. When she does, we'll take you to her, and she'll get this all sorted out."

High on a rooftop, Touketsu had arrived just in time to see them walk away with Bra. Zarkala. God DAMN it, of all the blasted things! He doubted he could reach Bra through telepathy, but it would do no good anyway. He couldn't direct her over to him so long as the Luscepians were nearby. Stealthily hopping from one building to another, he trailed after them.

Bra's stomach gurgled loudly, and they all stopped. "You must be very hungry," Izo said.

"Um, yes. I'm tired, too. Can I sit down please?"

"Yes, of course," Izo said. Being of the Mortal World, she couldn't have been doing too well here. "Come, sit down on this bench. I'll get you some food from that vendor over there," he said as he pointed to a stall. Zarkala and Chisto stood near Bra as Izo got into the que.

"Here, Bra," do you want to have my jam blini?" Chisto asked with a friendly smile as he offered her his food. "I barely touched it."

"Thank you, Chisto!"

Peering over a roof ridge, Touketsu grit his teeth. He ducked down. How was he going to get her? A line of laundry hanging between the buildings caught his eye. It had been hung out after the morning storm had dispersed. He got an idea. He leapt down and snatched the largest thing there which happened to be a bright red sheet. He landed on a balcony and stilled. On another balcony below, a large, young adult Familia carrying a pot of tea walked out. He set the tea down and removed his copper jingasa from his head before going back inside, presumably for teacups.

Touketsu jumped down, grabbed the broad brimmed hat, and dropped to the cobblestone pavement before ducking into another alley. He quickly wound the sheet around him like a robe and put on the jingasa. The oversized hat was large enough to fit over his horns, but his disguise wasn't complete. Without a halo he'd draw immediate attention to himself. Manipulating ki into rings of energy was a simple enough matter, but not so simple when one suffered from ki blockages.

I only need to maintain this for a minute. With difficulty, he channeled his true ki. A very thin, blue-white aura emanated from him before traveling up his body, coalescing into an anemic ring of spinning energy above his head. It didn't look exactly like a real halo, but it was passable so long as no one looked too long.

He crept out to the edge of the alley, his eyes on Bra. He needed to create a diversion. His eyes alighted on a bell tower ahead. Touketsu dug his claws into the side of the wall he was leaning against and pulled out a chunk of masonry. Winding his arm back, he sent the concrete rocketing towards the bell.

The bell was struck and sent violently swinging back and forth, making a terrific noise. Everyone turned and looked towards it, confused. Focusing on keeping the energy hovering above his head, Touketsu weaved around the distracted people as he strode towards a bewildered Bra. Without a word he grabbed her up by the wrist and yanked her up, eliciting a surprised little yelp from her as she dropped her rolled-up pancake. Several nearby people turned their heads, but the pair had already disappeared into the crowd.

"Shhh!" He admonished as they walked. "It's just me."

Bra looked up, her expression lighting up with joy and relief upon seeing the familiar face under the hat. "Mr. Touket-!"

"Shut up!" he snapped under his breath. Bra's face fell. They turned a corner into another alley, and he released the flickering, thinning energy above his head with a gasp. "Damn it, didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers?"

"No, you didn't!"

"…Well you should know better! What did you say to those people?"

"Nothing!"

"Nothing?"

Her eyes flicked down. "Well, I told them my name…"

"What else? Did you tell them who your parents were?"

"NO!" she sassed.

He frowned, but relaxed. "Watch your tone, brat."

Back where the festival was being held, a small group of people were talking and pointing, Izo and Chisto among them. After a minute Zarkala arrived. Right behind her was a mountain of a figure, his three heads looming high over the crowd.

"Where were they headed?" Zeygorn asked the group.

Touketsu and Bra walked on through the alleys, hand in hand as they headed in the direction of the Necropolis. "You have the doll on you, Bra?" he asked urgently.

"Yes, I have it in my pocket," she said, opening her robe pocket up a little for him to see.

He let out a breath of relief. "Good."

She mused for a moment as they walked. "Mr. Touketsu, why does it matter if I told anyone about Mama and Daddy?"

"Because it's none of their business. You shouldn't have spoken to anyone at all."

"But they were nice! They were getting me food, and they said they'd help me get home."

"I'M getting you home, runt," he snarled before grumbling, "Lucky, fucking me." He stopped and stiffened when he caught a whiff of sulfur and smoke. Suddenly a gale of wind sailed over the pair and a massive black dragon with three heads dropped down in front of them.

"HALT!"

Bra shrieked in terror, and behind Touketsu and Bra a crowd of people hurried up, Izo, Chisto, and Zarkala in the lead.

"Citizens, step back!" Zeygorn shouted, holding out his hand to them. He trained his hand on Touketsu, and it started to glow with power. "I see you survived. Adding kidnapping to that rap sheet of yours, Vegeta?" The crowd behind them erupted with surprise.

"Prince Vegeta!"

"It's the fugitive!"

"He's alive?!"

Bra's brow wrinkled in confusion as she looked around. Everyone in this strange world was confusing Mr. Touketsu with her father!

"Vegeta, you are hereby under arrest," Zeygorn's three heads spoke in unison. "Step away from the girl and put your hands behind your head."

Touketsu's mind raced through his options. He was now completely outclassed by Zeygorn in both speed and power. He couldn't even so much as fly. He glanced down at Bra. Going all out with the dark ki would reverse his small gains in rehabilitation, but more importantly it could jeopardize the girl's life. His aura alone could do devastating harm to a five-year-old girl with no power to speak of.

Bra looked at the armor-clad dragon and spied the royal Nav insignia on the center of the breastplate. It was the same symbol emblazoned on the flags she'd seen about the kingdom. He must work for that Queen Marenna, so he was obviously a good guy. This was just a big misunderstanding…

"Prince Vegeta!" Zeygorn boomed as his hand grew brighter with fiery ki. "Step away NOW!"

"I think you're mistaken, sir!" Bra called out. "His name is Mr. Touketsu, and he's the God of Travelers and Crossroads. Doesn't anyone here know that?" she asked as she looked around. "He's not kidnapping me. He's just trying to get me home!"

The left and right heads burst out laughing as the middle, ram-horned head glowered. "Just what lies have you been feeding this child, Vegeta?" it growled.

"That's not his name!" Bra shouted defensively, but she wasn't really angry at the dragon man. Did Mr. Touketsu lie to her about being a god? Did he lie to everyone here that he was Vegeta? That was her father's name, not his!

The Jozop head on the dragon's left looked at her. "He's a bad man, little one, and he's been lying to you. He's a demon and a wanted felon."

Bra's face fell. A demon? She looked up at Touketsu. "Did you lie to me?"

Touketsu looked down at her, guilt stabbing through his heart at the familiar sight of betrayal in those blue orbs. "Bra, no. I…not really-"

She frowned, her eyes beginning to glisten as she pulled away. "Let go of me."

"Kid, you misunderstand-"

"Let go!" she yelled as she futilely tried prying his fingers from her wrist.

He tightened his grip. "Bra!"

"Ow! You're hurting me!"

"LET HER GO!" Zeygorn's three heads roared.

"Alrightalright!" Touketsu shouted as he let go and raised his hands, the growing crowd behind him stirring and murmuring in distress for the little girl. His stomach dropped as he watched Bra run to hide behind Zeygorn.

"Hands behind your head."

"Alright." Touketsu began to carefully do as ordered, and his fingers alighted on the brim of the jingasa. The metal hat was suddenly tearing through the air like a high-speed frisbee towards Zeygorn.

All three of the dragon's heads were decapitated, blood erupting from the stumps of his necks like fountains. Touketsu leapt forward and snatched up the still airborne heads, one in each hand and the third in his tail before flinging them up into the air in different directions.

It happened so fast Bra's reaction was delayed. She screamed in abject horror at the sight of the stumbling, headless soldier before Touketsu performed a leg sweep on him. The crowd dispersed in panic as the terrified little girl turned and made a clumsy attempt at flight. Touketsu snatched her out of the air before scaling up the side of a building.

"Let me go! Help! Help!" she shrieked.

"Shut up!"

Wrapping his tail around her and freeing his other arm, Touketsu leap-frogged on all fours over rooftops and between buildings. Bra's tiny body jostled and jarred, she cried out in terror over the speed they were traveling. He abruptly dropped down to an empty alley before clapping his hand over her mouth with a livid hiss. He pulled her up against him.

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up or I'll just destroy you and be done with you!" His bluff worked, for she stiffened and fell silent in fear. "You will be quiet from here on out. You will not draw any attention, understand?" Eyes wide and not looking his way, she nodded mutely. "Good." He tamped down the guilt rising in his chest as he drew his hand away.

Hoisting her against his hip, he made his way down the alley. He stopped and pressed his back against a building wall to peer around. The Necropolis lay some distance away beyond a plaza. He'd have to walk the rest of the way, but the area was bustling with people.

"You killed him," Bra whimpered.

"Shh. He'll be fine."

"I saw it. He's not fine." She began to weep. "He's dead."

"Think what you want, Princess. You want to go home, don't you? Well, you're going to need my help to do it. Now stop it!" he hissed as he gave her a little shake. He huffed as he watched her sniffle, observing her lack of a halo. That was going to be a problem. He pulled the red robes over his head like a hood and opened them up a bit at the front. "Come on," he coaxed as he began to pull the robes around to cover her. "Wrap your legs around my waist and hang on." Intimidated after witnessing his brutality, she did as she was told. He finished concealing her.

One hand supporting her bottom and the other over her back, he again manifested his false halo and walked out of the alley. Act casual. Ignoring the feel of Bra's small, shuddering form and her tears against his skin, he focused on the spinning ring of energy over his head and walked purposefully through the crowds. He almost swore out loud when a pale green woman with a child in each hand and a baby swaddled over her front stepped in his path.

"Oh my dear, I just wanted to offer you my condolences. You're obviously new here and this must be very difficult for you." His mouth the only thing visible beneath the hood, Touketsu was gritting his teeth. "I went through the same thing myself, but look at my sweet darling now! You just hang in there, hon. You'll be seeing your brand new little one in no time at all!"

"Thank you," he muttered as he quickly moved on. His "halo" was on the verge of flickering out.

She waved after him. "May you have an easy and happy birth!"

They arrived in the solitude of the Necropolis just as his ki disguise disappeared. His movements frenzied with haste now, he pushed back the hood and opened up the robes. Pulling Bra from her hiding place, he set her down and fervently searched her pockets for the effigy. To his relief it was still there in spite of their panicked getaway. Snatching it up, he grabbed her hand and ran towards the torii.

Bra yelped, her little legs barely able to keep up as she was all but dragged. "Let go of me! I don't want to go with you anymore! You're bad!"

Gods, he'd had it with this little troublemaker! "You're going home right now!" He glanced around, hoping that the princesses were at their favorite haunt. The hotspot would dump them in a random place on Earth, but if he could enlist their help, they could escort the girl home while he went on his way to the next hotspot. Luck was not on his side, however. They were nowhere in sight.

Touketsu dragged Bra up the steps to the vermillion torii. Her eyes shut, Bra was pulling uselessly in his grip as he held the effigy out. His eyes lit up when a portal to a graveyard somewhere on planet Earth revealed itself. Yes. It worked! He charged through and stopped, huffing in relief. One final task of getting Bra to her parents, and he could finally be on his way. He took a step when he noticed that Bra had let her legs go limp in protest.

"Bra," he snapped in annoyance as he gave her arm a little jerk. "Brat, pick up your…" It was then he noticed the thin thread of white energy connected to her back. He looked over his shoulder where the ever-thinning thread of energy lead. His jaw dropped. The portal to Nav was still open but barely, and beyond it was Bra. She was standing catatonically in the Necropolis, shimmering and increasingly translucent as particles of energy drifted from her.

His head swung back down to the double he was gripping by the hand. He flipped her over, and to his horror saw that her eyes were rolled back. "BRA!" clutching her tight, he turned and ran back through the hotspot. The apparition standing in Nav disappeared, and the body in his arms gasped, her blue eyes wide. Touketsu shook her. "Bra. Bra, are you alright?" Blinking, she was suddenly thrashing and kicking.

"Let me go!"

"Bra, just-"

"Let go of me!"

He put her down. "Bra, damn it, calm down!"

"What happened?! You left me!" She was hyperventilating in fear and confusion after seeing him drag her body away. He straightened, his features tight with guilt. "You said you could bring me home!" she shouted up at him. "You said you were the God of Travelers and Crossroads!" Her face crumpled. "You lied, you left me!"

He didn't know what the hell happened. He could only shake his head. "I wasn't trying to hurt you. Really, Bra, I'm trying to get you home-"

"You said you were going to destroy me!"

"I didn't mean it!" he said defensively. "I needed you to shut up, you were making too much noise!"

"You lie about everything! You lied to me about being a god, and you lied to everyone here about your name! Vegeta is my daddy's name, not yours! You ARE a bad man!"

Touketsu stood seething, his body pulsing between light and dark before plunging jet black as he fought to contain himself. Bra thought her father was some knight in shining armor. That armor was spattered in blood. Touketsu and Vegeta were one and the same. Yet, it was he that was paying for the sins of the Saiyan Prince while Vegeta was exalted by his family. The icy light strumming through his markings flared red before turning purple. His pride was through with being the scapegoat.

"I've got news for you, kid," said the shadow, its voice low as its eyes flashed to magenta. "Your dear daddy brought a hell of a lot of people to this place." An ugly, dark satisfaction bloomed within Touketsu as he watched the utter confusion crawl across the little girl's face. "That's right. He's a murderer. He's destroyed planets. He's killed billions uponbillions of people. He's slaughtered families, he's killed children, just like you. Still think he's a hero?"

Bra was speechless. "That's not true," she whimpered. Her face quickly hardened as fury overtook her. "That's not true! You're a liar! You don't know anything about my daddy!"

Touketsu threw his head back and laughed heartily as though he was standing over a defeated enemy. "I know everything about him. Do you know why?" She faltered. "Why do you think I look like him? Sound like him? Speak like him? Why the hell do you think everyone here calls me Vegeta?!Fool girl, it's because I AM him!"

She gaped at the bizarre claim. "That's stupid! Are not! My daddy's at home, and you're an ugly devil!"

"I'm what your father really looks like," he sneered, jabbing a thumb at himself. "He's a monster, kid. And guess what? Eventually he's going straight to where I come from: Hell." He watched the tears fill her eyes, and he twisted the knife right into his own heart. "I do lie, and I lied to you about him going to heaven, you loudmouthed brat. This is the truth," he said, gesturing to himself, "and it's ugly." She covered her ears and shook her head in denial, tears streaming down her face as the monster continued its merciless attack. "Your father and I are one and the same. I'm his past and his future! I know everything about his life and-"

"Then why didn't you know who I was?!" she screamed, her red, tear-streaked face livid. Touketsu's sadistic grin wavered. "You didn't remember my birthday! Do you remember Trunk's first day of school? Do you remember when he went Super Saiyan 2? Do you remember when we went to the arcade last weekend? Or when we went to the petting zoo? Or when you and Mama got married?"

His smile was completely gone now. The black shadow left his body, and his eyes returned to red as his throat bobbed spastically. Of course he didn't know of that life. All that he knew of it came in the form of disjointed visions and nightmares. He blinked slowly, disarmed. He'd missed out on even more with his wife and son after exiling himself, and this girl…he'd had zero hand in her conception.

"You don't know anything about my daddy! You're not him! You-"

"I AM VEGETA!" He roared, his eyes flashing purple once with indignant pride. "But you're right about one thing, kid: I am not your father." His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a vindictive hiss. "And you're not my problem. You don't want my help? Fine. The queen can go through the trouble of getting your ass home, brat."

Her lower lip was trembling. "I hate you!" she sobbed as she turned and ran off.

He watched her disappear beyond the birch trees. "You'll have to do better than that, kid," he growled. Conflicted, he turned to the torii. What had nearly happened left him shaken. He no longer trusted himself to take Bra back. Marenna was a powerful goddess, and she'd know how to get her home. Unless he wanted to be apprehended, he had to leave. Now.

He hesitated. Zarkala. Her resentment towards him was without end. What if she were to find out that Bra was Vegeta's daughter? As much as that woman hated him, would she find a way to manipulate Nav's judicial system? Could she? He shook his head. "No. This planet is a sanctuary for children and mothers. Marenna wouldn't condone punishing a child for revenge against an Inimicus. It's ridiculous." He swallowed. Marenna was powerful, influential…and now unstable. He'd rejected her advances twice now. He let out a shaky breath. She resents me as much as Zarkala…

Raking an anxious hand through his hair, he spun around to face the direction Bra went before looking at the effigy in consternation. Bra's soul had been left behind while he carried her dying body with him. Her dissolute spirit had been coming apart, presumably to go to Check-In Station. "What the hell happened!?" he snarled. Wasn't he supposed to be able to bring objects to and from the Physical Plane so long as he held the effigy? Bra certainly had no problem getting into Nav with the thing.

His eyes snapped wide when he recalled something he'd barely heard Kuma say:

"Just don't try bringing your 'souvenir' back onto the Physical Plane if it's a small animal."

"Idiot!" he hissed at himself as he tore towards the Necropolis entrance. The effigy granted him the ability to carry objects between planes. Bra was no object! A living creature would leave its spirit in Other World if it wasn't in contact with the supernatural doll. Being an unnatural creature that walked the line between life and death, he was the only exception. "Bra, wait! I know what went wrong, I can take-"

He skid to a halt. Standing shoulder to shoulder in their black kimonos was a wall of Marenna's various anthropomorphic attendants. A raven woman stepped forward. "Prince Vegeta. We were sent by Queen Marenna to take you into custody."

He snorted and relaxed his stance. "Seriously? If you really want to make yourselves useful you can make me a-"

They transformed into hulking male samurai and drew their katanas with a unified war cry.

"…sandwich."

"Surrender, Prince Vegeta," rumbled a panther samurai. "Queen Marenna knows of the girl, and she saw you nearly kill her in your attempted escape."

Touketsu looked accusingly at the effigy. Kuma. Your CRAP charm failed! He wanted to drop the effigy right there, but the fact remained that he needed it. "A mistake that won't happen again."

"It will not. Come quietly. It is in your best interests."

Not taking his eyes off them, Touketsu wound his tail tightly around the effigy and brought it behind him. "No. I'm leaving with the girl."

They charged him, but he wasn't about to undo his gains on these nobodies. He sailed over them with a somersaulting leap, but one brought down a katana and slashed through the right sleeve of his makeshift robe. Touketsu landed on his feet and looked over at the frost racing up the cloth. Realizing this magic was going to freeze him in his tracks, he tore the cloth from his chest down to his arm and threw the rigid piece of material to the ground.

Knocking several oncoming attackers into their cohorts with a spin kick, Touketsu backflipped out of the fray and delivered a windmill kick to a long birch tree branch. He caught it and ran a hand down its length, knocking off its protruding branches. He laid into his attackers with the swiftly crafted bo staff, one arm bare like a warrior monk in a Kasaya robe.

The samurai couldn't withstand the sheer kinetic power behind his moves. The white beings turning to snow upon impact, the black to soil, Touketsu was soon surrounded by eddying particles. He stood panting for a moment, his low Life Force circulation leaving him wiped out. To his chagrin, the particles swirled around and reformed into the warriors one by one.

Damn it! He dodged an overhead swing of a katana from behind. These things will just keep coming back! He brought up the bo staff and blocked an incoming katana, ice ripping through the branch on contact. With a snarl he pushed away and lobbed it like a javelin at his attacker. He turned and fled - he had to find Bra! Knowing his cover was blown, he ran out of the Necropolis.

Crowds of curious onlookers had gathered, and they scattered screaming in alarm upon sight of the infamous criminal."Bra!" he called out over the din, ignoring the fleeing, panicking people. Unable to get a lock on her scent in the suddenly shifting winds, he fervently scanned the sky as he spun around. "Bra?!"

His senses registered an enormous presence at the same time the pavement shook behind him. Rooted to the spot, he looked behind his shoulder with a gasp. Zeygorn brought a massive fist down right over his head. Stars exploded in Touketsu's vision. His tail went slack, and the effigy fell from its grip.

Seeing double, Touketsu stumbled back. He squinted through one eye up at his towering adversary. So much for the Life Force. What he was about to do was going to at last destroy the tenuous connection he'd tried so hard to maintain. With a roar he summoned Svaroken and leapt at the three-headed dragon warrior, the dark sword aimed for his heart. Zeygorn held his hand up to block the incoming blade.

Touketsu's face fell in dismay as he watched the weapon drive into the blazing palm only to be smothered. The dragon's fingers closed around his fist and yanked him forward, and a strangled cry escaped his lips when was punched in the stomach. Twisting Touketsu's captured arm behind his back, Zeygorn hoisted him up before slamming him face-first onto the cobblestone plaza. Touketsu choked and coughed when a giant knee pressed into the back of his neck and cut off his airway.

"No - no, wait! Don't hurt him!"

Bra. His nose bleeding, Touketsu barely managed to raise his eyes in her direction. A short distance away Zarkala was holding her in a protective embrace, her sons nearby.

"It's alright, child. You're safe now. My family and I will bring you to Queen Marenna and get you taken care of," Zarkala told her soothingly. She looked at the dragon warrior. "Thank you for your service in apprehending this criminal, Lord Zeygorn. My family and the rest of Vegeta's Familia are in your debt." Cheers erupted for the Royal Executioner as Izo hoisted Bra into his arms. She looked over her shoulder at Touketsu as they walked away, her brow furrowing.

"Bra…no," Touketsu's strained voice was drowned out amidst the din of the excited crowd. His expression darkened. "Get off me!" he raged, his arm still pinned awkwardly behind him and his tail flailing. Zeygorn's giant hand grabbed his tail before jolting him with powerful ki. His body going completely rigid, Touketsu grit his teeth painfully tight as he was relentlessly electrocuted. He was barely aware of Zeygorn shouting to the people to remain calm before he blacked out.

Touketsu Vegeta's disguise was a reference to Jizo, a Japanese patron deity of deceased children. Invoked for safe traveling, especially when passing to spirit world, Jizo is a guardian of children, unborn babies, and women in childbirth. He's depicted as a monk in a kasaya robe, and in one story he hides the spirits of children in his robes to protect them from oni. Dosojin statues of Jizo are often decorated with red bibs and placed along roads, at crossroads, and in graveyards.

The scene where Touketsu Vegeta decapitates Zeygorn with a jingasa is inspired by the Russian folktale of Dobrynya and Zmey Gorynych (a multi-headed dragon). In it, Dobrynya is said to defeat the dragon with "a hat of the Greek land" and that it was something worn by pilgrims to Mount Athos. I thought, "How do you defeat a dragon with a frickin' hat?" I figured the broad-brimmed hat of a traveling pilgrim might work if it was metal, and that inspired me to add the jingasa to Vegeta's disguise.

Thank you for reading!