Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sympathy For The Devil ❯ Conclusion ( Chapter 13 )

Conclusion:

He could feel the approach of the all-too familiar being, and it only drove his rage and shattered his sanity. In the back of his mind, something was lurking, itching and scratching, trying to claw its way to the surface. Vejita halted midair when he saw the red blur growing. He scowled with rage, palms alit with every intention to kill the bastard. There was no reason behind the madness, but Vejita had long ago given up on such things.

Jeice halted just out of Vejita's range, his scouter blinking madly, but ignored. Raising a brow, Vejita looked the warrior over. Jeice was scarred and bruised, worn and exhausted. His hair was unattended, frizzy and jerking in the cold breeze. In the few hours that Vejita had been here, he'd already grown to hate this strange, planet. The idea of watching it implode beneath his power sent erotic shivers throughout him, but there was no time, and such a thing would do nothing but piss Furiza off.

…and kill Kakarrotto.

It flashed briefly in his thoughts, but then was shoved down deep inside him where he could ignore it. Kakarrotto was the cause of all these problems! There would be time for proper punishment later.

He could almost see the beautiful Saiyajin chained in a dark corner of the palace of Vejitasei, tanned body well-oiled, groomed and marked as a royal pet, writhing under the strokes as he was prepared. Those lustful lips would be parted in pleading moans, begging for forgiveness, for mercy, and it would not be granted. He could already hear the jangling of the beads that would adorn that dark tail… feel the warm breath against his chest as Kakarrotto leaned against-

Lust…

Damn Saiyajin lust!

The ki blast grew larger in his fist, but Jeice halted Vejita's movements with his hands in the air. "Furiza-sama doesn't know I'm here!"

"Furiza-sama," Vejita echoed with a snort. "Run, you coward, before I send you to your corner of Hell!"

"Kakarrotto has been captured," Jeice stated, leaving Vejita silent. "Furiza has those things, the Dragon Balls. I'll take you to them."

Vejita licked his lips, eyeing the red demon hungrily, wondering just how chewy his flesh would be, how it would smell as it was cooked throughout the night and seasoned properly. "And give me the reason I should trust you."

Jeice shrugged, folding his arms across his chest. "Because this isn't one of Furiza's methods for luring an enemy in." With a chuckle, Jeice turned and vanished through the skies, leaving only a small trail for the rightful Saiyajin prince to follow. Vejita chuckled at the warrior's words, his stomach growling and his pants far too tight. With a shake of his head, he followed, only to come to a harsh realization as the flew, the wind whipping through his hair and stinging his eyes.

If Jeice wasn't lying, Kakarrotto had been captured.

The ache in the back of his mind grew more painful, and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

~*~

Chuckling faintly, Zarbon leaned against the back of the spaceship, his eyes closed, savoring the soft feel of the wind against his perfect sea green skin. His arms were folded over his chest, nails tapping the surface of his smooth flesh. A warm smile rested on his full lips as he listened to the quiet clicks of the scouter over his eye. Moments passed, and the clicking increased. He laughed aloud as he raised one well-manicured finger to the earpiece. "Do you realize what you are doing, my beautiful pet?"

There was deadly silence on the other end for long moments before a sigh came through. "I will not explain myself to you, Zarbon," Jeice responded coldly.

"Your words wound me," Zarbon laughed in reply before standing from the ship and taking a few absentminded steps forward, his eyes rising to the sky, searching for the telltale signs of Vejita's approach. Jeice was already a dot in the sky, growing larger with each second. "I do understand, though," he chuckled with a smile. "However, I promise you, it will not work. No one can defeat Furiza-sama."

"Aren't you tired of respecting a bastard that you loathe?" Jeice snarled.

"Yes, but life is what it is." He shrugged. "I won't interfere, but I won't help you, either. I fear Furiza's wrath too much for such a small chance."

He could almost hear the amused sickness dripping from the man's voice. "A chance at what, Zarbon?"

Zarbon scowled and turned off the scouter, ripping it from his face and crushing it in his grip. He couldn't even consider the idea. It hurt to much to know he could never be free.

~*~

Impatiently, lost within his own vivid fantasy world, Furiza paced in front of the limp Kakarrotto, chains that were wrapped around his arms jingling. Kakarrotto watched in a deaf and silent daze. Had he the energy to wonder, he would have asked the Icejin had wrapped the chains around himself, but it didn't matter at this moment. In long, yet hurried strides, he continued his hurried pacing, spinning as he reached one wall and continuing onward. Furiza's footsteps were loud, and they echoed in Kakarrotto's ears, but as he felt the quiet sullenness approaching, everything else in the universe felt silence.

Vejita.

He was being lead here. It didn't matter by whom, or for what. He would come, and he would defeat the insane Icejin, and they would return to their castle and rule, safe in each other's arms.

It was a beautiful fantasy.

Furiza spun suddenly and glared hatefully at the young captive and bloody Saiyajin. "Return Bardock to me!" he demanded, voice trembling. Kakarrotto stared blankly back into those dark, lost eyes, struggling not to feel sympathy, struggling not to respond. How could be grant this demon such a wish, even if it was somehow possible. "You took him from me, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU!" A fist circled Kakarrotto's throat, leaving him without air, and for the first time in hours, he struggled against it, fought to breathe, to find air. Vejita was coming to save him. He couldn't die now!

"You took him away from everyone!" he gasped out, yanking his head away as Furiza froze, grip motionless and soft. Kakarrotto spat away blood that had begun filling his mouth. "Only you are responsible for my father's death. Deal with it, Furiza. You're alone in this world."

"No…" Furiza's voice shook, tears threatening to fall.

"Yeah," Kakarrotto moaned, leaning his head back against the icy wall, eyelids sliding closed. He didn't care if Furiza was suffering. Vejita was closing in, approaching closer with every moment. Soon, Kakarrotto would be free.

Perhaps they could return home… back to the beautiful blue-green planet where his friends and real family were waiting for him.

~*~

Zarbon smiled softly as he watched the two land, skidding to a halt on the ground. Vejita paused there, arms limp at his side, staring at the changeling. Jeice didn't notice the small, silent moment, his excitement too focused on the collection of Dragon Balls resting on the ground. They were quite large, the stars that marked them almost an angelic white. "You… you stole them from Furiza's chambers?" the red demon gasped, staring at the changeling.

Shrugging, Zarbon nodded to Vejita. "Go ahead. Fix this mess if you think you can."

Vejita grinned, stepping over to the collection of orbs. "You're not too bad a guy," he chuckled. Zarbon merely shrugged in response, stepping away, eyes wide with repressed anticipation. Vejita smirked as he gazed down, almost memorizing the moment, the beautiful of the large spheres that Kakarrotto had spent hours describing.

It almost seemed as if he had done this before.

"Rise, Dragon, and grant my wish!"

Jeice nearly collapsed at the explosion which erupted from the collection. Violent wind rushed through his hair as sand flew into his eyes, causing him to blink rapidly. From the four-star ball in the center, a magnificent beast arose, his golden body circling the heavens and twirling through the clouds. Zarbon protected himself from the wind with his cape, his gaze fixated on the heavens above as the golden shades faded, replaced by shimmering green scales of a gigantic dragon with glowing ember eyes. The universe around them seemed to tremble as the wind settled and the beast's body curled around itself, as if the sky wasn't large enough to contain it. Spikes seemed to grow from its spine as it slowly slid downwards to gaze upon those had awaken it from its slumber.

"Name your three wishes, and they shall be granted."

Midnight eyes wide, Vejita stared up at the beast, his lips parted in disbelief. "Kill Furiza!" he roared only seconds later. Honor and pride, the lust for battle, no longer mattered to the Saiyajin. Furiza could never be defeated… not by mortal hands.

"This is not within my power!" the dragon growled back, fangs glistening in the dimming sunlight. Vejita scowled in response, but paused briefly and chuckled. "Then grant me… no, grant myself and Kakarrotto immortality so we can kill him ourselves!"

"Your reasons are not important. Your wish has been granted."

~*~

The damn monkey was right about everything. Furiza spun away from him, feeling the coolness of the chains that circled his pale skin. He could almost feel Bardock's last breath in his mind, and it was all true. He had taken Bardock away, not anyone else. How could he bring the damn warrior back? How could they be together if Bardock really was dead? There had to be a way around this, a way to escape. Could he find a way to Hell? Could he free Bardock from what he had sent the Saiyajin into?

A pale light began to glow from the corner. Furiza scowled and glanced at Kakarrotto, his temper slowly growing thin. Did the brat really think a ki blast would save him? He was too weak to break those chains. He couldn't escape, and if he wasn't going to help Furiza, then he could just rot there for the rest of eternity.

The Icejin froze as he saw the wounds on that pale flesh slowly healing. Kakarrotto's eyes were closed, a soft smile on his wet, bloody lips. "What… what is this madness?" Furiza cried, his hands fisting the chains that circled his body. Faintly purring, Kakarrotto could only grin more as he felt his strength returning, the cuts closing, and the bruises fading. A warm tingle rushed through his nerves and he could almost feel Vejita's power behind whatever was happening.

Yanking at the binds that held him to the wall, Kakarrotto fell free, smirking at the ice lord. "You will learn the power of the Saiyajin soon enough, Furiza." Perhaps he could have begun a battle then, destroyed the warrior, but still, inside him, he couldn't find such cold-heartedness. The lost look in those black eyes left him with a somberness inside.

Bowing his head to Furiza, Kakarrotto turned towards the doorway and left, taking to the air in the hallways of the spaceship, reaching for Vejita with his mind. The prince was so close, and Kakarrotto couldn't wait to touch him.

The light from the hallway spilled over Furiza as he watched the long, dark appendage of Kakarrotto's tail snap with the final movement, before he vanished down the hallway. Cold terror slowly engulfed him as he stared into the brightness, his hands shaking, his lips pressed into a thin line as he struggled for air.

"…come back…" his voice trembled, but he fell silent as his knees gave way before him. The chains clattered to the ground and he fell forward onto his hands, panting for breath, his vision going black.

Bardock.

He was there!

Furiza whimpered, falling forward on the ground, burying his head between his folded arms as he gasped for air he couldn't find. Bardock was there… and the infant… Kakarrotto…

"The royal mate of Vejita Ouji!"

Cheers. Applause. Shouts. Angered cries.

"SILENCE!"

Quiet…

Children screaming. Daggers gleaming in the night skies. Skin pierced.

Healed.

Awed silence.

Amazed warriors.

"Your future kings!"

Cheers.

Midnight eyes were narrowed with rage. A long white tail thrashed, striking the floor as the lord slowly slid up, shoving aside the chains and climbing to his feet, hands fisted as he slowly approached the hallway.

Kakarrotto was the key to retrieving Bardock.

His vision had just proved that.

~*~

"Immortality!" Zarbon screamed, blinded by the waves of enraged ki rolling through him. Vejita merely snickered as he stared at the changeling, eyes narrowed in amusement. "You want to challenge me, Zarbon? Feel free!" he laughed almost madly, extending his arms outward, mocking the changeling's helplessness.

Almost breathless, Jeice merely stared at the prince. "You… you can kill Furiza now, right mate?"

"I almost did once before. I can now." Vejita shook back his hair, eyeing the looming dragon with sick amusement. "I don't think you'll be needed much more, but why not hang around a bit?"

The dragon merely glared down in response, his heartbeat seemingly like thunder of an approaching storm. The glow of the Dragon Balls before the prince illuminated the sudden darkness that had accompanied the birth of the beast. Snickering, Vejita nodded in a motion of respect before turning towards the distance. "Kakarrotto, it's about time."

Zarbon and Jeice spun with the words, their eyes widening as they saw the kidnapped Saiyajin fly towards them, appearing through the thick blackness. Dried blood stained his skin, but he was perfectly healed.

As any would expect a immortal to be.

Skidding to a halt in front of Vejita, the warrior's wide dark eyes gazed up. "What did you do, Vejita?"

"We are immortal, Kakarrotto," Vejita grinned.

Nodding vaguely, he turned back to his prince. "I caused all of this. I'm sorry."

"Shut up. Where is Furiza?"

Eyes lowered, Kakarrotto sighed. "Let's just go. Let Furiza leave the planet. Make him stay away from Vejitasei. Please, just…"

"Silence, Kakarrotto!" Vejita growled, stiffening suddenly and shoving aside the younger immortal. His eyes narrowed as he gazed through the shadows of the mocking night. "He's coming."

From his safety in the darkness, Furiza stared silently at the looming dragon. Slowly, a dark grin grew across his bloody lips and he flew upwards, mad laughter escaping his lips. "DRAGON! RETURN BARDOCK TO ME!"

Screams of protest from beneath echoed out, but the dragon's voice overpowered all. "Your wish has been granted."

~*~

Dark eyes swam through the thickness of fresh air. His chest ached suddenly, and his skin stung. They were familiar sensations that only death could make a person miss, and it was far to obvious to Bardock that life had been returned from him. The hum of the cleansing machine had vanished. The sounds of battling, suffering, and struggling Saiyajin was gone. The rattle of chains and the screams of pain were no more.

Climbing to his feet with painful creeks in this bones, the warrior stretched his shoulders and back as he looked around. This planet was not Vejitasei, but its beauty was obvious, yet quite simple. The darkness loomed around him, leaving coldness in his veins. He swallowed and paused as the silence became far too much.

Turning slowly, he looked over his shoulder, eyes growing wide as he saw a small collection of people, some familiar, others only slightly.

One figure, far too familiar.

"Kakarrotto?"

Standing next to a man who looked much like Vejita Ou, the teenager stood statuesque, staring at him with disbelieving eyes. Their moments of reminiscing were cut short with a cry from above. Stumbling back, hands fisted and prepared for a fight, Bardock stared overhead and watched as the Icejin lord shot from the heaves. "FURIZA!" he gasped, spinning and jumping into the sky to protect his son from the battle.

The two figured halted midair.

Kakarrotto cautiously stepped forward, staring at the man who resembled him so much. Their eyes… the hair… even their battle stances were so similar. Vejita's grip on his arm had him halting, and he froze at the protective touch, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't let his father die… not after they had just seen each other for the first time.

So many years without each other…

This was all his fault.

Furiza grinned as he floated before the familiar warrior. His hand rose and crimson claws pressed against his temple as he stared ahead. "You did this to me, didn't you, Bardock?"

Smirking, the Saiyajin shrugged. "I didn't need my visions in Hell, Furiza."

The Icejin nodded, his hands slowly returning to his side. "Icejin weren't meant to have such power. Didn't you know this?"

"I've heard of your insanity. Some of your most trustworthy subjects were sent to Hell because they spoke to you at the wrong moments." He allowed his eyes to trace over Furiza in his final form, seeing small details, tiny scars and faded bruises that blemished the Icejin's flesh. "Yet, I must admit, Furiza, you are quite beautiful."

"Why thank you, Bardock," the Icejin chuckled in response, folding his arms across his chest. "I've always been quite fond of you, even if I only knew your through what you gave me."

"Hmm… funny, Furiza. I've always pitied you."

Furiza's rosy lips parted in a moment of shock. His eyes grew wide as he stared at the statuesque Saiyajin that hovered calmly before him. "You… can't mean that, Bardock."

"I do," he responded with a curt nod. "You've never know love of any kind. I saw the moments of heartache, the sorrow… the loneliness you felt throughout your entire life." Bardock hovered closer, reaching out and running his knuckles along the Icejin's cheek. "You think this is a motion of love. You truly believe that we share love." He laughed. "This is an obsession of yours, Furiza. I've never loved you. I've never felt any emotion for you other than disgust.

"I hate you, Furiza-sama."

The Icejin trembled, his body engulfed in power. The Saiyajin warrior shot downwards, landing on the ground, his eyes never leaving the mentally disturbed white-skinned beast. "We have to get out of here. Furiza will kill himself and take us with him!"

Staring blankly ahead, Kakarrotto numbly nodded. The planet would be destroyed. All the creatures that crawled on its surface would die in the blast, and nothing would be left but himself and Vejita. Even if they managed to get Furiza's spaceship off the ground, the explosion would shake space itself, and it was doubtful that anything alive could survive such a thing.

Vejita grabbed Bardock and darted off into the black skies, believing that Kakarrotto would grab Jeice and Zarbon, then follow. Furiza's henchmen were already trailing the prince, unaware that Kakarrotto had not done the same.

Midnight eyes rising to the impatient dragon, Kakarrotto slowly hovered upwards to pause in front of the nameless dragon. "I want to make a wish."

"Then make it, child."

The wind rustled his spikes of coarse hair as Kakarrotto stared forward, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowed with determination. He could still feel Furiza's power growing, and he wanted so desperately to stop it… kill the Icejin. He regretted not doing so before, but it seemed his entire life was nothing but one giant mistake.

So he would fix it.

"I wish that this world was different… that I had never left Vejitasei as an infant." Kakarrotto whispered, his eyelids sliding shut and his breath halting. His life would now end, but it wouldn't be the end.

The dragon seemed to almost grin. "Your wish has been granted."

Then the world around them faded, and darkness took on an entirely different meaning.

~*~

Epilogue:

Midnight eyes stared up into an equally shaded sky. The stars twinkled red, tainted and stained with blood of recent battles fought. Muscular arms were folded across a dark torso, eyes narrowed with somber thoughts. Within the royal palace, warriors and commoners gathered, awaiting anticipated news that had been discovered within the last week.

It wasn't unusual for Saiyajin to find their mates at such young ages. That wasn't what bothered Bardock at all.

It was these visions.

Golden hair…

Inane mutters of ice…

Living birds that lived in death…

Dragon Balls… Chikyuu… weak ningen…

Ningen… he'd never even heard of such a race. They would have been easily conquered… if they even existed. The distance was too far to travel at the moment, but one day, Bardock would have to discover if these were truths or just odd dreams without meaning.

These… dreams… would answer many of his questions, though.

Like why Kakarrotto and Vejita couldn't die.

Like why Furiza had screamed his name in death.

He was able to feel the Icejin's pain, and it frightened the young, low-class warrior. Furiza's desperation had matched his own, and now that the ice lord was gone, there was a hollowness building inside Bardock, and he had no clue why. It had been sudden, an epiphany or some sorts. Furiza's insanity had most certainly been caused by the visions that the Icejin was rumored to have, and it left Bardock wondering if he would be able to sustain the magnitude of his own.

Would he one day find himself on the edge of sanity?

A hand touched his hip, causing his vision to snap down from the skies… to stare into the dark face of the future prince. It was so different from the warm smiles that the Super Saiyajin in his visions had offered.

Perhaps this was the reason that the future of this world wouldn't follow the other world's. Kakarrotto's sanity…

Bardock sighed and nodded, turning towards the castle.

~*~

The crowd was breathless as they stared forward at their king and his most loyal warrior. Two children stood on either side of them. One was the regal Vejita Ouji, future prince of the proud and powerful Saiyajin. The second was only a commoner, son of the mighty and infamous Bardock. The two children were almost of the same age, and currently dressed in very similar clothing, which left the warriors in the crowded throne room silent and curious

Vejita Ouji occasionally threw a glance at his best friend and biggest rival, a smirk on his lips as his tail thrashed in anticipation. Kakarrotto only grinned back, a feral expression on his anxious face as the end of his tail flickered every few moments. Bardock stood at his son's side, watching Vejita Ou in amusement.

The crowd seemed to fall mute for a moment, and Vejita Ou made his announcement.

"Vejita Ouji has chosen his future mate! Bow to Kakarrotto Ouji!"

The screams of protest were expected, and Vejita Ou greeted them with sly smiles. The discovery of Vejita and Kakarrotto's uniqueness had only come months ago, but Bardock had been telling Vejita of such things since young Kakarrotto had been walking. His visions were a mighty thing, and though unexplainable, they were not something to be reckoned with.

Dagger blades gleamed in the pale light of the room, and at this the protests dimmed slightly. Kakarrotto and the younger Vejita stepped side by side and offered their wrists to their father.

Blood was drawn through fatal wounds.

The crowed was again mute.

In horrified and amazed silence, they watched as blood freely flowed to the ground below. Guards close to the king watched in amusement, holding back confused and lesser guards with snickers.

Then, the wounds slowly closed.

"There shall never be another Saiyajin no Ou after my son! Great your eternal king and his eternal mate!"

Cheers erupted.

~*~

Vejita Ou stroked the spiky locks of hair as his sweaty, naked mate leaned against him. The coolness of the room didn't help settle their heated blood. The smell of food made their stomachs rumble, but the two were too satisfied and lazy to move at this moment. "You realize the line may never continue," Bardock whispered, staring at the back of his eyelids.

The king nodded with a faint yawn. "It's not important anymore. My son will rule Vejitasei well, with honor and pride."

"He has that, alright," Bardock nodded. "He'll be the first Super Saiyajin as well."

"He will?" Vejita sat up abruptly, causing the younger warrior to fall out of the bed, landing with a thud on the cold floors. Shivering, Bardock glared up. "Yeah, he will," he huffed in annoyance.

Smirking, Vejita leaned across the bed, ankles crossed in the air as he stroked his goatee. "How interesting… my son destroyed Furiza just weeks ago, suddenly revealed he is immortal along with your son, and shall become the first Super Saiyajin."

Bardock shrugged with a sigh, climbing to his feet. No one else needed to know how wrong things went in the other universe. He was quite content to live out the rest of his years with Vejita Ou… staring at his butt. "Oi! Pervert!" he spun, glaring.

Vejita licked his lips hungrily, sliding off the bed and grabbing the firm, tanned rear of his mate. Shoving Bardock back against the wall, he licked the warrior's neck with a subtle purr. "You're hiding secrets from me, Bardock. I can feel it in your mind." He chuckled at the tenseness of his mate, but only smiled, hands sliding down to caress sensitive flesh. "Perhaps I should torture it out of you," he grinned darkly.

Laughing, Bardock grabbed his king's shoulders and reversed their places, eyeing his king with narrowed, lust-filled eyes. "I could think of better ways to spend our time."

THEND