Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ THE GUARDIAN ❯ Conclusion ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

"Conclusion"

Cosorce landed lightly beside Vegeta. She looked him up and down. "You look pretty roughed up." She said. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to heal you."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "And let me guess, Healer's Touch, right?" Cosorce nodded with an amused smile. "Sorry, but you don't want to be walking around with broken ribs and all, right?"

Vegeta sighed. "Fine, fine. Make it quick." He smirked. "Guess I must be pretty damn irresistible then, mm?"

Cosorce shrugged. "Neh. Who knows? I'm a professional, and men are pigs. I don't look at them that way."

"Oh," Vegeta said knowingly, "so you're more into the ladies then?"

Cosorce's eyes widened indignantly. "Most certainly not! I just don't have time for love, I'm too busy chasing a spoiled, royal brat everywhere and saving his ass from super-powered, maniac villains! Now do you want to be healed or not?!"

Vegeta shrugged carelessly. "It doesn't really matter."

Cosorce now rolled her eyes. "Yes you do! Get off your high horse! Look," she said, pointing, "you're bleeding everywhere! Get over here!" Vegeta stepped grudgingly forward to receive his treatment.

Trunks skidded to a halt, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. "H-hey!" He yelled. "What's going on?!" Vegeta stepped back from Cosorce with a gasp. At first, Trunks took it as surprise that he had been caught, but then he noticed the girl's face looked serious and his father's face was white as if in pain.

"AAARRGGHHH!!!" He yelled, his voice choked, doubling over and holding his sides.

"What did you do to him?!" Trunks screamed.

Cosorce narrowed her eyes. "Quiet, Trunks." She said, her voice and eyes cold. She then turned to Vegeta and put a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Prince. It's just your ribs healing. I know it hurts but hey, nothing you can't handle, right?"

Vegeta's voice was still strained. "Damn right." He coughed then straightened, the colour returning to his face. He seemed perfectly fine. "See, no problem." He said lightly.

Trunks had had enough. He stepped forward. "What the hell is going on here?!" Vegeta patted his back and started towards home. "Not what it looks like let me assure you. Hey can you run home and see if your mom's home?" Trunks nodded slowly, now seriously suspicious and dashed off through the forest.

As the trees ended, Capsule Corp. now clearly visible, Vegeta turned to Cosorce, his eyes thoughtful. "I guess it's a choice between you and home...isn't it?" He said slowly.

Cosorce shook her head modestly. "I should think the choice is very clear." She said smoothly, sliding closer to him. She gazed up at him for a moment, and then pointed at Capsule Corp. "That," she said matter-of-factly, "is your home. I couldn't, but what I can be is your friend." She stepped back slowly and smiled. Vegeta turned the word "friend" over in his mind. He'd never really had a real friend. "Alright." He finally agreed.

Cosorce grinned. "Good, cause you know I'm always gonna be around. Only this time you'll know what that lurking shadow is, and that all you have to do is call my name and that shadow will have a face once more." Vegeta grinned back, then turned as Trunks came running back. His expression was black with suspicion. "Mom's home." He said quietly.

"Good." Vegeta said simply and walked forward. Trunks eyed Cosorce warily. Vegeta stopped and put an arm out to stop Trunks as well. "Look," he said, "you're my son and I wouldn't betray you. Like I said, it's not what it seems." He drew Trunks close in a hug.

"AAAAAAWWWWWWW!!!!!!!" Cosorce said mockingly, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. Vegeta withdrew and poked her in the ribs. "Quiet!" Cosorce smirked and walked towards Capsule Corp. Vegeta quickly caught up, walking with one arm about Trunks' shoulders. "So...just who is she?" Trunks asked, looking over at Cosorce.

Vegeta sighed. "It's a long, long story. Let's wait `till we get home so I can tell you and your mom at once."

"With a little help from ME!" Cosorce butted in. Vegeta nodded.

Suddenly, thunder rumbled loudly and a bolt of lightning struck the ground only a few paces in front of the group. They stopped abruptly and Vegeta cursed. "What the hell was that!!?" He yelled.

"Uuumm...a bolt of lightning?" Trunks suggested.

"No," Cosorce said, "he's coming." Her eyes were wide, as a rainbow curved from the sky to where the lightning had struck. "Who's coming?" Vegeta asked in alarm. Cosorce was silent and dropped to one knee. "What? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!!" Vegeta roared.

"Quiet, Prince." A deep, male voice said. A silver wolf was prancing down the rainbow like it was a road. He was huge, the size of a large elephant. Every time Vegeta blinked, he had changed colour. His voice was rich and firm with a sort of growl throughout it. "The Great Wolf?" Vegeta asked quietly. The wolf bowed his head in acknowledgement. "That I am."

Vegeta suddenly remembered something Cosorce had told him and bowed regally. Trunks blinked slowly, thoroughly confused. "Great what? Who? Why bow?...Huh?"

"A God." Vegeta told him quietly. Trunks' eyes widened and he bowed as well.

Great Wolf grinned in a wolf's way. "At ease." He said commandingly. All three straightened and Cosorce gulped nervously.

"Did I mess up?" She asked tentatively.

Great Wolf chuckled. "You did fine, pup. I came to congratulate you for your courage, efforts and success."

Cosorce breathed a sigh of relief and blushed. "Uh thanks." She said lamely.

Great Wolf nodded. "I knew you would. You have your whole life. I knew you'd be the best choice the moment I saw you. Well done, and not just today. I came to thank you for your many years of excellent service both as a Sacred Wolf and a Guardian." He nodded again in closure and turned to the rainbow. "I bid you farewell, pup, and wish you good luck." He trotted back up the rainbow, which disappeared at his heels.

"Wow." Cosorce breathed as they continued their travel, still a deep shade of red. "I just don't believe it."

"A God." Trunks said in shock. "Of wolves...interesting."

"Yeah, yeah, ooh, ahh." Vegeta said. "Right now I'm more concerned about going home. Bulma'll have my head for being...days late. Damn."

Cosorce grinned and patted his arm reassuringly. "Not while I'm around." She had retrieved her cape long ago and was carrying it folded over one arm. She put it on with one smooth motion and buckled the clasp. Vegeta hadn't noticed, but she was no longer a Sacred Saiyan. She looked just like she had when he first saw her, a mysterious girl on the street.

THE END