Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ REPRISAL UNBOUND ❯ Chapter 25 ( Chapter 25 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
AN: Thoughts and mental speech;
Flashbacks (if any) are clearly noted.
Previous speech recalled (if any);
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The phenomenal energies of the simultaneous duel blasts collided in a shockwave that was felt earth wide in repeated waves. Each fighter pushed more and more of their reserves into winning this battle of ki beams. Even when Vegeta had given it all he could he made up the deficit by tapping into the power and living energy of his own soul.
However, when he felt his life waning and slipping away he wouldn't give up despite knowing that he could never win this. In fact he never had any intention to. The opportunity for which he was looking for ever since he had begun this battle was now before him, and with the grief and regret for the pain that he had caused the ones he loved, as well as would cause them thereafter, he surrendered himself to the only fate that he knew he deserved. Death.
~ Bulma…Trunks please…I beg you to forgive me… ~ Taking one last look into the determined eyes of his justly self appointed executioner, Vegeta smiled a secret sad smile, and in a fraction of a second he ceased his attack, dropped his arms and decreased his power to absolutely nothing. Closing his eyes and putting up no defence, he awaited his end "Arigatou gozaimasu Kakarotto…"
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Had he not been blessed with the super senses that his saiyajin blood afforded him he would have missed it, but even so it was too late to cease or decrease the power of his attack, and his perceptional faculties had never once played tricks on him before. But Vegeta; the dark saiyajin no ouji, the murderer and rapists of hundreds of star systems, the torturer of hundreds of thousands, the impartial massacrist of defenseless billions encompassing the elderly to the sleeping unborn, was smiling.
The expression that had seemed to have just appeared upon surface from within had taken complete control over his face. It wasn't a sneer, it wasn't the characteristic smirk, it didn't have the appearance of a snarl or grin.
Gokou took a moment in time to study the surprising occurrence. Yet all he could see was a smile. It was a simple smile that presented so much. A heart breaking, soul crushing sadness as if borne of guilt made up the large part of that plain expression. However a sense of gratitude and accomplishment was present also.
Before he could digest the vision his eyes recorded, he saw Vegeta's ki beam abruptly vanish and noticed how he lowered his hands to his sides. Even though the almost blinding light of his kamehameha blast showered the tan skin and hair of his rival, a sudden alteration in the pigmentation of Vegeta hair was noticed. As if looking for confirmation, when Gokou searched out with his senses and felt for the ki energy of this fellow saiyajin, it was nil. Upon staring upon the saiyan prince's face once more, full comprehension of what he had been lead to believe and what he had been duped into doing struck his heart. Even if he had been willing to put an end to his part in the tragedy the shock of it all not only prevented any other action but also any thought beyond.
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As Vegeta thanked Gokou for playing his part to the full he centred his last moment of life recalling all the good, the happiness, the contentment and love he had been blessed to possess, even though it had been for a short period. All being composites of one undeserved gift that never seemed to have limits, all being a single gift from the human female with eyes as everlasting as the sky and hair of the clearest and deepest emerald green ocean. His thought also featured the child that they had created together, truly a fruit of love, love she had unfailingly maintained and given to him since the very beginning. Vegeta's heart broke with the though that of her doubting him for his, both she and their son. Gods knew he had always given reason to, and now it was too late to prove otherwise.
Yet, maybe, just perhaps this, his final act would show them all, even a little of the true value they held, they had held in his life.
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As the battle continued before them, there was nothing that either could do to stop it. The duelers were far from evening noticing their presence. This was especially so as the battle suddenly intensified and both saiyajins seemed to take on the will to kill the other.
"This is insane!" Gaila cried almost hopelessly. "We have to stop them!" The impetuous adolescent moved to act but was brought to an unyielding halt when Yamchua took fast hold of her forearm.
"NO! We have to wait." He warned. "As they both are they're much too dangerous."
"You're going to allow them to destroy each other!" She screamed incredulously. "Even if the saiyan prince was to die, don't think Sarumi will stop there in her maniacal thirst for vengeance. She'll continue to go after his child, and the woman you profess to love!"
Yamchua glared angrily at both her words and the clear tone in which they were spoken, but they had no influence on his actions. "I don't doubt that, but just as you have experience as regards your former leader's deeds. I have experience as regards the power of sayajins in the heat of battle. And once they've engaged nothing can stop them." Seeing that she was beginning to understand his grip loosened as he continued. "We have to wait for the right opportunity, so that when we do gain their attention they won't blast us both to hell." Yamchua tore his eyes away from Gaila and refocused on the battle ensuing.
As he observed, his warrior's instinct balled out to him that as familiar as this scene was due to the few Gokou versus Vegeta sparring matches he had been privileged to witness over the past years, something was extremely wrong with the bout he was now seeing. Such as the ferocity of the fight, though it had always existed, never had it been as intense as it was now. Also the usual excitement and `joy' that both displayed was lacking altogether. And the whole theme of the fight seemed to have a finality about it, as what was now occurring never would again. The feeling in him not only twisted his gut but sent klaxon like alarms ringing painfully in his mind as well.
~ This is so very wrong. ~ Yamchua though again as he shook his head.
Not having any inkling as to the true nature of her companion's thoughts or reaction, Gaila's frustration increased and as it did so, so did her anger.
Just what was Yamchua thinking? They had to do something before it was too late. Did he think her so helpless, so useless, that he'd rather remain inactive instead of acting? How dare he?! She was not helpless! The powers she possessed dwarfed all the collective powers of the entire populous of the planet. She herself was not only an experienced space pilot and traveler but also a season fighter. She could more than hold her own. And how could he ever think her useless. Especially after eye-witness how fast her body had healed after the repeating torture she had to endure. He didn't rescue her, he couldn't, in fact he was incapable of rescuing his own self! She had to do it. She had to save both herself and him. He had been the helpless one! It was he who had been the one useless! And he hadn't even been through what she had! He hadn't been beaten and abandoned by someone he had been loyal to all his life. He hadn't been handed over as it nothing more than a worthless whore to a beast whom not only resumed the beatings but raped her innocence away and continually defiled her thereafter.
Gaila slammed her eyes close trying desperately to banish the memories and feelings that she herself had conjured up.
~ Stop remembering! Stop remembering! ~
Despite the effort she put into clearing her mind the visions and emotional and mental turmoil continued to resurface and tears that fought for release burned her eyes.
~ I wish it never happened! O how I want to forget! ~ A small sob escaped her then, but it went unnoticed by her companion, so captivated by the fight taking place before his eyes.
That was it! She needed a distraction; she needed something that would consume her complete attention. On sheer will alone she forced view onto the two battling warriors, both who now were locked in a heated battle of ki beams.
In a shocking move both onlookers saw the hair colouring of the saiyajin no ouji change to black, the golden power of aura that surrounded him diminished to nothing and his hands that once emitted ki ceased doing so as his arms dropped to his sides.
"What the fuck…" Yamchua cursed in disbelief
~ No! He's deliberately losing?! ~ Gaila fearfully realized. ~ We can't let this happen! ~ Pulling away from Yamchua, Gaila sped away from their safe location and straight in between the battling saiyajin.
Using her full weight and momentum as well as having caught Vegeta off guard Gaila was able to push him clear of the oncoming beam. ~ If you won't end this fight saiyajin no ouji I'll do it myself. ~ Bracing herself for the impact Gaila brought her arms and knees up for protection summoned the sum of her powers to form a defensive shield. ~ Though I'll take no chances, you'll see for yourself what I can do Yamchua, despite everything I've been through. ~
The moment the kamehameha beam hit her, Gaila realized how rash and to what degree her judgment and sequential actions were foolhardy. She also was forced to acknowledge that as a final result, she would also lose her life. As the force of the blast easily vanquished her shielding, pushed through the defensive positioning of her limbs, breaking them as a hurricane would a twig, and when the heat of the beam began to literally disintegrate her skin, flesh, muscle and more her fear was only reconfirmed.
Immobilised by shock Yamchua was able to do no more than look on and observe the destruction of the young Jerarjin all the while her howls of pain, horror and anguish. The knowledge of knowing there was nothing to be done from his efforts brought no ease.
The second the agonized screams pierced his sensitive ears Vegeta knew they should have been his own. The body he saw being demolished as it was blown back should have been his. The soul falling to the earth and striking it should have been him.
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