Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Even the Ruthless Fall in Love ❯ Hearts for Hearts ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: I am just about SICK OF THIS! I do not own or claim to own DragonBall Z or any of it's characters! If you're willing to sell me Yamcha, I'll leave you alone!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

EVEN THE RUTHLESS FALL IN LOVE: Chapter 10 - Hearts for Hearts

Okie day, because I got sooo many (HAHAHAHA o.O) awesome reviews, I decided to pull away from my ElfQuest (yes, you heard me, ELFQUEST!) long enough to write something for you guys. This is for Lewis, my awesome reviewer who's been there for me from the beginning. ^_^ He's reviewed like, all of my *really* good work (which is like, 0.001% of everything I do). Thank you Sawnya, Talec, and ChristaBelev for your constructive reviews ^_^ I agree, I do need more reviews! *bows* Wait! Just a second! Urk.. *jerks away from reading the adorable 20 year old comic book* Okay, let's move on...

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Khune awoke, shifting when she felt the weight of a large arm across her chest. Opening her eyes, she saw a big, muscular arm draped around her, followed by a familiar face with eyes closed. She was about to shriek in shock when the events of the previous night settled in her mind.

Oh fuck, Khune groaned, curling up in a big ball next to her mate. She was stuck with the big oaf, again.

Radditz opened his eyes, feeling Khune's movement beside him. He rolled over, pulling her close in a feeling he had almost forgotten. She melted in his grasp, remembering with fear and hope, that although things would never be the same, perhaps all would work out. This thought comforted Khune, so she curled up tightly to Radditz and brushed a finger through his hair, closing her eyes and kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"Where do we go from here?" Khune asked at length, whisking a strand of green hair from her emerald eyes. Radditz sighed, a black lock falling in front of his face, the smaller Saiyan in his arms nuzzling up, looking through the tress before her.

"I don't know. I don't take a regular pod when I come here, I usually swipe one of the older ones we used to use to send off Saiyan children. They don't know I'm here, but I'm sure someone will go looking for me... Khune, we're a hopeless case," Radditz pushed her face away and rolled onto his other side, tail wrapping around his waist sordidly. Khune threw off the leather-like blanket, swiftly putting on a robe and stomping out of the tent.

It was too early for much of the village to be awake, and too late for the hunters to be getting ready. The thoroughfare was deserted, much to Khune's relief. She sat on a small crate, her tail beating the tent's outer wall without her noticing.

Why? Why the hell am I so stupid? I... I am bonded with him, I always will be. But it's not logical! Khune beat herself, struggling to regain composure as she held her head. Since when have I been logical? She stood up, pacing back and forth. Suddenly, the tent's flap burst open and a poorly-clothed Radditz stormed out, looking around before spotting Khune right beside him.

"STOP WITH ALL THIS NOISE, WOMAN!" He roared, hair in a fluff. She stopped briefly to look up and raise an eyebrow.

"And what, pray tell, are you going to do about it, otoko?" Khune asked calmly, putting her hands on her hips. Radditz felt his eyes dropping to her almost bare chest beneath the robes, but quickly jumped back to her face.

"Damnit! I don't know what you expect! Would you rather we be tracked and killed?!" He demanded, crossing his arms and glaring.

"Here? They don't even KNOW we're here, Radditz!! Stop it. Just stop already," Khune's voice decreased in volume as she came closer, looking up from beneath locks of her green mane. He felt the urge to step back, her glowing jade eyes piercing into him in a way nothing else ever did or ever would. Radditz put his strong hands on her shoulders, peering deeply into those emerald orbs. "I... I just don't know what to do! You're here now, but you act like you shouldn't be! We can't go anywhere. This is our only place in the universe... It is your choice," Khune said at length, her voice wavering. He watched with semi shock at her words, then suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Shh. I'm staying here... I can't stand to be away from you two. When I found you here again, I knew being separated from you would be my downfall," Radditz confided, sighing deeply. Khune raised an eyebrow, putting a small hand on his olive, battle-hardened face. Suddenly he reached down, lifting her up and ducking back inside the tent flap. He placed his green-haired mate onto the small bed of pelts, watching her interested expression as he got up, getting out the food that the Letas had set aside the night before.

After a hearty breakfast in silence, the tent flap burst open and a small, wild looking little girl came galloping through. Radditz looked up just in time as a laughing Ona tackled him, knocking the big Saiyan onto the ground. He was about to strike back from reflex, but stopped himself as the forest-haired girl leaped onto her mother's lap, diving headfirst into the food that sat before her. Khune raised an eyebrow at Radditz, who was still recovering by smoothing back his hair and readjusting the only thing he wore: a tight pair of leather bottoms. His mate grinned devilishly at the low riding garment, plucking Ona off her lap and setting her down in front of the food. Khune winked and left the tent, leaving Radditz with a bewildered expression on his usually scowling face.

"Um.. Papa?" Ona asked quietly, a piece of fruit hanging half out of her mouth. Radditz paused before reacting, not yet realizing that was his new title.

"Yeah?"

"Are you and mom... er... Are you staying?" She asked, her voice shaking. "Please! Please stay!" Ona began to cry, rushing over and begging. Radditz raised an eyebrow, then picked the little girl up by her shoulders, setting her on her feet.

"Alright, alright. I'm staying..." He replied with a sigh. Ona jumped up, wrapping her arms around her shocked father's neck.

"YAYAYAYAYAY!"

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

That year was peaceful, passing by like a warm, summer night. I'm sure if you asked either parent, they couldn't tell you exactly what happened during that time, only that it was the best of their lives. Of course Radditz nor Khune showed it, evil smirks plastered to their harsh faces. Only did their fierce, shielded expressions change when the tumbly ball of Saiyan known as Ona would leap through the tent flap, uninvited, and dive headfirst into her parents' leather bed.

Khune woke up early that morning, holding her head in pain. She pushed aside the blanket, her tail squeezing itself, smarting violently as she walked groggily outside, where she dunked her head into a bucket of water.

Radditz awoke, feeling the absence of his mate's warm company. He got up, noting the tent's emptiness as he opened the flap, stepping into the silent, village thoroughfare. Suddenly, Radditz spotted Khune with her head in a bucket of water, her body collapsed beside it. He suppressed a shriek as he lifted her up, clearing the water from her face and mouth as she sputtered for air.

"What the hell were you doing, you crazy woman?!" Radditz demanded as he lay her upon the leather mats.

"Huh? I woke up... terrible head-cramp. I dunked to put some water on my face... Now I'm here. What happened?!" Khune croaked, her vision swimming as she struggled to recompose from a dizzy spell. Radditz lay a hand on her forehead and another beneath, supporting her as she sat up. He removed his palm and navigated the table, finally resting his hand on a small, water filled cup. Pressing it against her lips, Khune drank slowly as she recovered.

When she sat up on her own, Radditz quickly moved away and took up a harsh vigil against the tent's far wall. Khune rubbed her head, then sank back into the covers.

"It's still too early... Come on, Radditz," she said, grinning mischievously. He returned the smirk, and joined her beneath the light leather insulate.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"So how was your stay at Em's?" Khune asked as they flew home. Ona had stayed for a few weeks in another village a few hundred miles away for one of the Letas' birthdays.

"Awesome! Bee's really growing up... He loved the doll I made him. You know, the one with the wooden bow?" Ona replied, doing small twirls in the air. Khune raised an eyebrow at her enigmatic daughter, then snorted.

"Your father's been pretty uptight, so you might want to avoid him for a bit. He's getting antsy about getting some training done, so you might want to brush up on your skills in case he corners you for a fight," Khune advised as they reeled to a stop as they arrived. Ona nodded and ran off, eager to tell her friends about her adventures.

Radditz looked up as his mate entered the tent.

"You look like shit," he commented as she sat down.

"Thanks. You're so flattering," she replied snidely. "If it helps any, I feel like shit too. That took a lot out of me..." Khune flopped back against a thick pillow, crossing her arms behind her head.

"You should have let me get her," Radditz growled, then walked over to her, kneeling down. Khune squeezed her eyes as a head-cramp ran through her, suddenly causing her hand to twitch with violence. He grabbed her palm, squeezing it until the shiver passed. "What the hell is wrong with you? I'm getting the village healer, whether you like it or not," Radditz announced, getting up and hastily leaving the tent.

Within twenty minutes, an oddly-robed old Leta was crouched over Khune, examining her from head to toe. Radditz had made sure not to alert Ona, insisting to her playmate's parents to keep knowledge of current events from her. The village was in a semi-stir, for the illness of their protector was definitely a concern to all.

I think I understand, to some extent. She has the Shivers, a condition that we have yet to determine the origin of. She... She probably won't last much longer, for it wears away at her nerves until she dies from exhaustion, the healer said at length. Radditz leaped to his feet, stepping back into the tent's wall. He began to shake his head violently, tearing at the shelter's cloth.

"You're lying! Get out!" He demanded, pointing to the tent flap. The shaman sighed and nodded, hastily leaving the dwelling. Radditz paced briefly before sitting down at her side. Khune was still shaking, but consciousness began to creep back to her.

"Radditz? What the hell...?" Khune asked, opening her deep, emerald eyes.

"Shutup. Here, eat a little bit... I gotta tell you something," Radditz said quietly, his eye twitching. She raised an eyebrow but complied as he gave her a small biscuit to keep her mouth busy. "There's something wrong with you, called the "Shivers," or something to that effect. The healer says... Says you don't have a lot of time," he confided at last. Khune spit whatever she had been chewing and turned to stare at him. Suddenly, she sneered.

"Yah right, you're just pulling my chain like you always do," Khune snickered, giving him a playful punch. She looked up, but his stern face and sullen, onyx eyes caused her to do a double-take.

"It's not a joke, Khune," Radditz assured her. Khune's eyes widened and she backed up from her seat, feeling the ground shakily. He pulled her back, embracing his mate tightly. Khune returned the grip as she began to shake viciously again.

"Mom! Guess what! I-" Ona paused, seeing her parents sitting side by side in their bed, her mother tremoring. "MOM?!" She rushed over, but Radditz gave her a glare the little girl had never seen before.

"Ona, go. I'll talk to you in a minute," he commanded. She nodded quickly and rushed out of the tent, leaving Radditz to lay the shaking Khune down and pad her down with leather blankets.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Oh mom... How long?" Ona asked, still wiping tears from her redlined face.

"A few weeks, perhaps a 100 mile herd-trek maximum," the healer replied. They counted anything longer than about five days by how long it would take for a herd of the village's favorite prey to go a certain distance. A hundred miles was less than a month.

"WHAT?!" Ona cried, breaking down into sobs once more. Radditz pulled the forest-haired girl in close, squeezing her tightly. Khune was fast asleep, but her body still twitched slightly at times. They watched her shaking body with unspoken grief, and the healer quickly removed Ona from the tent to leave the two in peace.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

The tent became closed of, large boulders set to block the entrance. Ona knew how to get in through a small flap hidden beneath the tent's overhang, but seldom did so. She wished to see her mother, but the sight of her father, Radditz, kneeling over his shaking, green-haired mate night and day gave the little girl spine-chills.

He watched Khune's tense face as another shudder ran through her body. Parting her shaggy jade-colored mane around her face, Raditz tipped a bowl of water lightly to her sealed lips. Khune sipped, her fingers clenching tightly onto his arms as she struggled to keep her head and neck upright.

"Relax, woman," he said in a quiet, solemn voice. The last two weeks had forced Radditz into nearly complete silence as he kept a dark vigil over his dying companion. Sometimes, when she would briefly regain her strength, Khune would go into bouts of non-stop, meaningless chatter that Radditz gladly listened to. He would not hear her soft, sweet voice for much longer.

The sun had long disappeared over the distant, grassy horizon when Khune opened her eyes.

"Radditz, bring Ona to me," she asked in a hoarse, barely audible voice. He nodded and stood up stiffly, retrieving his grievous yet still jumpy daughter.

Khune grinned sideways as the little forest-haired girl entered, hopping over and kneeling quickly beside her mother.

"I wanted to tell you goodbye, while I can. The sickness is giving me a few moments of peace, so I will use them to wish you well," the older, female Saiyan brushed a finger through her hair. Ona merely nodded, wrapping her tail around her limp mother's. When she left, Khune beckoned to Radditz.

"You know what to do, right? The pod," she told him quietly. The black-haired man nodded, brushing a lock from her face before leaving.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Yeah. Mom would be out here every day working on that thing. I guess she was just bored a lot, before you came back, Papa," Ona explained as they approached the pod. "She was always speaking strange languages and programming this or building additions." Radditz examined the extremely well-kept pod. He wound a tail tightly around his small daughter, and she sighed, snuggling up close to his tall leg.

That night, he snuck into her tent silently. Ona slept like a log, making it easy for Radditz to lift her and carry her outside without a sound. He made his way through the dead village towards where the pod sat, and he quietly placed her inside. Radditz thought, entering in coordinates that were millions of miles away, hopefully a place Frieza would never reach. He closed the pod's hatch, watching his still sleeping daughter yawn lightly and shift positions as the space ship powered up. Radditz turned and walked away, just barely inside his tent when he heard the pod's takeoff.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

The shivers had completely left Khune's body. Death lingered days away, for the real effects of her sickness now began to take over. She had energy and seemed to be in perfect health, but her eyes were pale of late, her skin white.

The night seemed to have passed so quickly as Khune closed her eyes, curling up to the naked Radditz beside her. He held her tight with strength and protectiveness as she pulled the leather blankets up tighter.

"Thank you for coming back for us. What will you do when I'm gone?" She asked. Radditz looked down at his beautiful, green-haired mate.

"It was my duty, and even without that I could never just abandon you. I suppose I'll return to Frieza, invent some amazing story, and hope he doesn't kill me too. But, that wouldn't be too much of a shame, now would it?" He replied, snickering. Khune smirked, feeling along his face with one small, pale hand. Radditz reached up with his own, massive palm and covered hers, closing his eyes. Suddenly, the hand went limp.

"Khune?" He asked worriedly. He looked down, her eyes half open and a small smile on her face.

"Guess now's my time to go," she uttered quietly, her tiny grip fading quickly.

"NO! Khune!" Radditz cried out as her eyes began to close. Tears sprang to his eyes, flowing swiftly and harshly as he brushed them away with vigor. "NO!" He took her face into his hands, pressing his nose against hers. Khune's eyes fluttered open to look into his deep, onyx irises, which were watery and full of pain and regret. She smiled faintly.

"Don't regret," she spoke in a voice so quiet, it was barely audible except to her mate's finely tuned ears. His eyes moved frantically, searching her face in anguish. Khune's eyes closed, and her breathing slowed.

"Khune.. I.." Radditz stuttered, but when those emerald beads opened once more, he finished with ease. "I love you." Khune smiled, her breath stopping with her last words.

"I love you, too."

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Her body had disappeared in a strange flash, and he knew she had moved on. Radditz was boiled over, filled with every emotion, as he fetched his pod. He threw it into space, where it would await him as he flew off, screaming. He knew space was limitless, a vast expanse of nothing. And now, it was nothing. He would never see his daughter again, and the only one he loved was dead.

The boiling rage took over, and Radditz began to fire blasts in every direction. He mustered all the strength he knew was within him, gathering it into a huge pulsating ball. He screamed in sheer agony, letting the ball loose in any direction.

It was too late when he turned and watched the beautiful, green orb that his mate had treasured so, explode. The blast was a brilliant flame, expanding in every direction and shedding rock as far as the eye could see. Radditz crawled inside the pod as he regained his breath, the cold, airless space making his skin shiver and burn. He had destroyed what his love had revered so, admired. Thick, heavy tears ran freely down the warrior's face as he drifted off into sleep, the pod destined for Frieza's Ship.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Earth was different, all these years later. Five? Ten? Radditz didn't know. All he knew was that his brother was on this planet, and he had been sent to find out why the inhabitants had not yet been eradicated.

What he found was more than he had bargained for.

Radditz' brother, Kakarot, had allied with the pathetic Earth inhabitants; humans. He had no tail, yet he had a blubbery, spoiled little brat for a son. Radditz had encountered a strange, green alien who he recognized as a Namek. He had briefly fought with the "strongest" warriors on Earth, but had resorted to capturing his nephew, the boisterous little pipsqueak.

He had an oddly high power level, and it took everything Radditz had to keep himself from comforting the screaming kid. The tailed half-breed reminded him too much of Ona for his own good.

I'll be happy to be rid of him, Radditz thought, sneering at the sobbing brat. Oh, then his father showed up, allied with that bloody Namek.

Radditz accepted his fate, held hostage by his own brother as one of the disgusting green alien's "special beams" hurtled towards the long-haired Saiyan. He almost smiled at the prospect; death was so welcome. Death... He would see his love again, he would see Khune.

Don't be stupid. She, in her own way, is a pure soul. She is resting in heaven now. I am destined for the rest of our kin in hell... Perhaps they would let me see her, Radditz thought with hope as the beam shattered his insides.

Something about Dragonballs. Oh well, he didn't care. The message had been relayed via scouter to Vegeta and his low-life body guard. That was enough for Radditz, that was all he felt bound to do. From here on out, he could be with his mate again.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

HAH! I finished. *wipes forehead* This took me FOUR DAYS to crank out! That's pretty darn thought-out! I almost made myself cry. But, luckily, I wrote it, so I felt everything as I sat here typing. What is it now.. Ah yes, almost midnight. On a school night. Gee, aren't I smart? >< Big thanks to "Schizophrenic Eggplant" on his beeee-autiful, comprehensive review :) I totally agree.

So. EPILOGUE! *yay!* I'll write that when I get the chance. Anyways, I need at least ten reviews before I attempt a sequel, I want to know if you guys think it's worth it! I'm planning on finding our old friend Ona, perhaps, bring her to Earth in some weird, ErieDragon-style A/U! HAH! ^_^

Love y'all, thank ya sooo much for reading!

~Majin Niña~