Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ REPRISAL UNBOUND ❯ Chapter 26 ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter 26

 

 

NOTICE

 

Thoughts and mental speech;

 

< Almost.>

 

 

Now on with the story!

 

 

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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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Though there now existed no target to hit, the beam continued. So strong was the shock of the revelation, there was nothing else that Gokou could do. The severity even meant that he was oblivious to Yamchua's presence as well as to what had just happened.

 

Vegeta numbed, looked at his fellow saiyajin, who continued to senselessly pour out his energies. Manoeuvring well below the beam and coming about, the saiyan prince grasped Gokou with both arms from behind, pinning his own to his sides and succeeding in completely disrupting the kamehameha blast. However Vegeta did not take for granted that if Gokou had not been so mentally immobilized his stopping him would had been so easy. He brought his mouth close to the younger saiyan's ear and spoke in a calm but firm whisper, unable to find the strength speak loudly.

 

“It's over Kakarotto. The fight has finished.” When he felt no resistance from him, his grip loosened but he still maintained his closeness. “Though you didn't … there is no point in continuing now.”

 

~~~~

 

From the moment the beam had first touch her skin to when her body or what was left of it landed in the dirt and the kamehameha blast had ceased altogether an eternity had seemed to pass. At least that's how it felt to Yamchua, as he watched it all in excruciatingly slow motion. However before even half a second could pass, he was beside her, while forcing himself to glance upon her he could neither blink nor breathe. The physical damage that she'd sustained when she had come to free him from imprisonment was nothing compared this! Then, all that could be seen were burned skin, bruises and a dislocated and broken arm. But this?!

 

Her right arm was as a mangled beyond all recognition, and as for rest of her limbs… they were no longer a part of her body. The smell of her horrendously burnt flesh, muscle and even bone pushed Yamchua almost to the brink of violent physical sickness. A significant part of her was ash and he could no longer recognize the jerarjin lying before him.

 

“Gaila…You should…have…listened…” Yamchua voice was as almost broken as her body. “Why?”

 

What was once insurmountable pain was quickly becoming a fading ache, and Gaila knew that her very life was bleeding away. Yet the question posed by the human male had not been completely lost to her hearing. Why had she broken cover to dive foolhardily into the path of an energy beam that was intended to terminate the life of an incredibly powerful saiyajin prince?

 

Gaila moved her charred and bloody lips, intent on saying, < To save Vegeta's life. > But even as she thought that, she knew is was a lie. She had wanted to stop it. Not the senseless fight she had been witnessing, but the scene that had been forever engraved burned into her mind and heart. A living memory she wanted to abolish, at all eternal costs, despite the fact that she knew it was an impossible deed. It was an experience that she knew in her secret heart she could never live with.

 

When she forced her vision to take in the tearful expression of the only being who had ever shown true concern for her. She realized a dual fact; she could neither lie to him nor could she tell him the truth.

 

“…geta…must speak… Ve…ge…ta…”

 

For a moment Yamchua stared at her, wondering how her last thoughts could be for that saiyan prince. But pushing all ill thoughts aside he turned his head to locate the one she desired to speak to, only to see him already approaching.

 

“What is the meaning of this human?”

 

As hard stares passed between the two, Yamchua couldn't pick up in any derision in the tone of the prince; though it was clear he wanted answers. “She will explain what she can.”

 

 

~~~~

 

 

“Can either of you boys sense your fathers yet?!” Chichi yelled in question, more than loud enough to be heard by the heighten hearing of the demi-saiyajin children.

 

“Yes kaasan, we're close, but it feels like they've stopped fighting…” Goten began.

 

“And they're not alone.” Trunks finished.

 

“Huh,” Chichi was more than unsure it what they said was true. “Are you certain?”

 

“Yes, I am.” Trunks spoke trying to control his annoyance that she doubted him. “Gokou-san and my outousan's power levels have dropped low and I'm feeling two others.”

 

“Yeah, Trunks is right kaasan.” Goten spoke up in defense of his friend. “One is small, but I remember sensing it before, but the other one I haven't and it seems to be getter smaller all the time…”

 

“Can't any of you two tell me who it is?” Chichi's frustrations were beginning to get the better of her.

 

Ignoring her question, since it was already one that had long since been on his own mind, Trunks concentrated on pinpointing the identity of the other kis he felt. “It's Yamchua!”

 

“Yamchua?!” Chichi cried incredulously.

 

“I thought we left him beat up at the hospital?” Trunks eyes widened when he realized the other didn't resemble any species he had ever felt before and his worry began to mount when he felt it failing, as if dieing, until it was nothing. < Something's very wrong. >

 

“Let's kick it up a gear, Goten!” The older child suggested.

 

“Right!” Goten spoke in full agreement, his face taking on a concentrated and determined look like that of his friend.

 

With an extra burst in energy, that propelled them at a much greater velocity, Chichi's surprised screams of terror were swallowed up in the wind. Before her pulse could recovery however, she found them nearing a smoke filled and ruined landscape. All clear indications that they were entering what had just recently been a battlefield. Then there, what were tiny dots quickly began to grow until they distinguishably body shapes. Very soon the boys and their passenger touched down on the terrain and they carried on at quickened pace to the group a short distance ahead on them, and finally in a sprint closed it. While Chichi and Goten ran to Gokou, Trunks slowly began to approach his sire.

 

The little boy froze when his sights fell upon the carcass. Though he was no stranger to death especially by violent means, despite his young age, he had never seen firsthand a body in such a condition.

 

“Oh Gokou, thank goodness! You're alright!” Chichi rested a hand n her husband's shoulder and slightly shook him when he seemed unresponsive. In fact he wasn't even looking at her, but his attention was affixed on something else. Following his line of sight, the woman saw nothing she could understand could imprison his attention so. When she looked into his eyes again she realized for the first time that regardless to where they were directed, his true focus was within his own mind. “Gokou what wrong?”

 

Chichi shook harder and when no change came about, her composure snapped and screamed lividly at entranced saiyajin. The shrill pitched sound made all heads turn in her direction, but Vegeta's automatic reaction did not limit his actions to just that.

 

“What is wrong with you woman, the blasted fool is fine.” Clearly showed his rage at the considerable discomfort his ear had felt at the sound of her voice was centred on her. “Do not raise your voice in such a manner within my presence again.”

 

“How dare you?!” Chichi own rage came to the fore. “What have you done to me husband?!”

 

“Not a fucking thing!”

 

“O…tousama…?” Trunks spoke in a broken voice, the scene before him, the behaviour of his father and the revelations of the day almost becoming too much for him.

 

Vegeta had clearly been too absorbed in all that had so far transpired to notice his son. He slowly rose from his crouched position besides the dead girl and took in the mixed expression on his son's face. Instantly he regretted the lack of self-control he had just displayed in regards to his choice of language. “Trunks…what are you doing here?”

 

“I had to know that you were alright…” the boy answered in an obedient and quiet tone.

 

“You should be with your mother!”

 

Trunks gasped at his father's words. How was he to understand? His father…he had hurt his mother. Yet he seemed to be angry that he had left her alone. < Father…could you still…love us? >

 

“Vegeta we don't have time for this, we have to save Bulma.” Yamchua quickly stood as he reminded the saiyajin.

 

“My memory does not need to be refreshed by you.” Vegeta responded to the words that sounded far too much like orders. But even before what were said registered he knew then to be right, yet something was holding him back, and he knew what it was. < Bulma, how can I face you again? >

 

“You are positively unbelievable.” Yamchua said with disgust. “Even now, with things as dire as you know them to be. How the hell can you…”

 

“Yamchua what are you doing here?!” Chichi asked angrily. “You should be in hospital, with Bulma!”

 

It was then that Trunks also noticed the older man, with quite amount of conspicuous suspicion. Though his clothes were in similar state to one who had been fighting the amount of dirt, sweat and other undesirably substances on him, indicated a period of imprisonment. The demi-saiyajin was left to wondering how such a drastic change could come about within a period of time that would not allow it to be so. He also considered if it was possible that his friend, his mother and self were traveling so slow that Yamchua could overtake them.

 

< Could this be the same man? But surely we would have felt him pass us. > Trunks reasoned.

 

“You must understand Chichi,” Yamchua urged the frantic woman. “Whoever it is that you're talking about, it is not me.”

 

“Yamchua now is not the time for jokes!”

 

“This is not a joke and I don't have time to explain!” Despite the effort expended to control his frustration, it still seeped into his words. “Bulma is in grave danger, and unless we go to her now we could all lose her!”

 

“Huh?” It was at the mention of his mother's name that Trunks' entire attention focused upon the man's word not his appearance. “What are you talking about?”

 

“I'm sorry Trunks but there's no time to say.” Rushing up to Gokou he took hold of his friend's shoulder so he'd acknowledge him. “Gokou, you have to take us to Bulma. She needs us buddy.”

 

The unadulterated truth of his words, of someone he loved in trouble, was all that was needed to bring Gokou to his senses.

 

“You're right Yamchua, everyone grab hold.” Gokou waited as his instruction was followed, by all but two. Trunks glanced at his father as he Vegeta looked levelly at his fellow saiyajin.

 

Though Trunks desperately wanted to grasp hold of his best friend's father to he could teleport him to his mother, the permission would first have to come from his own father.

 

As for Vegeta and Gokou, it was as if wordless dialogue passed between the two, but neither was willing at that moment to allow the other to hear his thoughts. However, Gokou knew that things between them would have to be resolved at another date. “Vegeta, if you wish to save time, then both you and Trunks come with me.”

 

Silently agreeing with the other's resolution, Vegeta deftly approached, placed his left hand on Gokou's upper back and took hold of his son's hand with his right.

 

Yamchua watched as Gokou brought his index and middle finger of one of his hand to his forehead, casting the Gaila's remains a glance, he promised to return as soon as he could and give her a proper burial, the very least of what she was owed. In a split second the entire party disappeared.

 

 

 

 

 

to be continued…

 

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After such an EXTREMELY large gap (special note: please nobody tell me) since my last update...

 

I have no flaming excuse so I won't even bother to make one up.

 

Gotta love me for my honesty…… he he!!

 

That's all for now, but there will be more to come.

 

Hope you enjoyed and please drop any questions or comments my way!

 

imajineer@hotmail.com