"This is terrible…" Roshi muttered under his breath.
Goten and Trunks nodded simultaneously. The dread that they were losing was sinking into their childish minds.
Yamcha fell first, landing near Gohan. He was conscious and in much pain. Surely both his legs were broken and there was a terrible pain in his side.
Krillin fell next, landing near Piccolo. He was also conscious, sputtering blood as he continued to breathe heavily. It was something internal. He could feel it.
Tien was last, his head hitting first as he landed right beside Yamcha. His right arm was next to useless as well as his left leg, and his head ached with such severity that he was actually worried about dying. Chiaotzu was immediately by his side.
"Oh, Tien, you’re head…" the small warrior said, his eyes widening at the size of the large puddle of blood that was forming around his best friend’s head.
Grunting, Piccolo sat up, his head spinning as he slowly lifted into the air.
"Oh, so you want some more, green man?" Burokkori mused, watching as the Namek slowly made his way toward him, clutching his side.
Powering up to his max, Piccolo began building a large amount of energy in his palms. Slowly, he held his arms before him, letting it build further. Then, without much thought to it, he released an impressive energy wave for a man so badly injured.
"Not good enough!" the enemy yelled, deflecting the blast towards the injured onlookers.
"No!" Piccolo growled through clenched teeth as he moved painfully fast, letting his own attack make contact as he shielded it from his friends.
"Piccolo…"
Vejita looked to his right. Kakarotto was getting up. He was surely injured worse than all of them, and he was the one getting up.
"What’s going on?" Chi-Chi asked, looking from the two boys to the old man, "Tell me. I can handle it!"
"All of them have been knocked down." Roshi said quietly.
"All of them…" Oolong echoed.
"All? But… What about Gohan?" Chi-Chi asked the air, letting it ignore her worry.
"Otosan…" Goten whispered.
"Son-kun?" Bulma questioned, waiting for the boy to continue.
"He’s getting up." Trunks finished for Goten.
"I knew there’d still be life in you." Burokkori snickered, powering up, causing small flashes of blue electricity to generate now and then.
Goku was amazed. The guy was so strong and he was only in the first stage of Super Saiyajin. How was he doing it? Then he remembered Piccolo… Looking down, Goku could see that the Namek was conscious but badly injured. He wouldn’t be fighting anymore. Gohan was moving over to him. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin… They were all hurt. They wouldn’t be fighting anymore either. Poor Chiaotzu… He was grieving over his friend’s injuries. Goku then let his gaze stretch a little further near where he was just lying. Vejita… Vejita was hurt too. He still had fight though.
"Why are you doing this?" he screamed in an angry fit.
Snickering, Burokkori answered, "Because I can. I will be the strongest. I will be the new lord of the universe."
"A reputation! All of this for a reputation!" Goku was a little more than pissed.
All of his friends lay there hurt. They would die if he didn’t win. All the people would die and the Earth would be destroyed. He had to win. Once again, Goku felt purpose welling up within him. He had purpose again, but he didn’t feel any better. It wasn’t the purpose he’d been longing for.
Lunging forward, Goku threw several swift punches as he powered back up to his max. The long blonde haired that accompanied being a Super Saiyajin Three was getting in his way though and he wasn’t able to move as fast as he needed to.
"Kakarotto…" Vejita growled through clenched teeth, rising to his feet and moving to the others.
"Vejita, you’re okay…" Gohan said, more to himself than to the older man.
"Of course. I’m not beaten so easily."
"Does Dad have a chance?" Gohan asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Of course, but it’s slim."
Just as Vejita said it he heard a painful scream. Looking up, he saw that Kakarotto was in his natural state again and falling rather quickly. He smashed into the rock hard ground, creating a crater in the shape of his body.
Tien grunted, turning his head in the small hands of his friend. Beside him was a very bloody Goku.
Moving quickly, Vejita knelt beside Kakarotto, inspecting all his wounds. They were pretty major. He wouldn’t be fighting anymore in this battle.
Tien just watched as Vejita’s face smoothed, something the three-eyed man thought he’d never see. It was concern. Vejita was feeling concern. Maybe even worry.
Piccolo sat up, gasping as his violet-colored blood dripped from his chin as it slowly dribbled out of his mouth. He chanced a glance at the prince as well. The secret Dende had revealed to him was playing out.
Vejita knew they were all watching. He didn’t care. It was all too much. He felt something deep down. Something inside was warming his soul, and when he touched Kakarotto’s surprisingly smooth skin, the younger man felt like ice. Was his life slipping away? Why had he let this happen?
Suddenly, there was a scream. No, more like a shout. Piccolo and the others all turned to see the half-Saiyajin teen blast off into the air, transforming into Super Saiyajin Two as he charged the much stronger warrior.
"No! Gohan!" Piccolo called, falling back against the rough earth.
"What happened to Goku?!" Chi-Chi wailed, annoyed beyond belief since she was unable to sense what was happening.
"He fell again. I’m afraid he won’t be fighting anymore in this battle." Roshi said honestly, leaving everyone in open-mouth stares.
"He’ll be lucky if he lives." Goten whispered.
"This can’t be happening." Oolong whined.
"What about Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Krillin!?" Bulma screeched, thinking there was still a chance.
"They were beaten a long time ago." Trunks replied quickly.
"Oh, Yamcha… Poor Yamcha." Puar said, fainting more dramatically this time.
"Krillin? Is he still alive?" Number Eighteen asked quietly, looking into the eyes of the small boys and the perverted old man she shared a home with.
"Daddy?" Marron, who had been napping quietly in her mother’s lap, said at the mention of her father’s name.
"He’s alive, but he’s hurt. He won’t be fighting anymore either. All that’s left is Gohan and Vejita." Roshi said, rubbing his long beard with worry.
"Brother!" Goten suddenly screamed, falling back against the couch in tears.
"All that’s left is Vejita now." Roshi said, correcting himself.
Gohan screamed in pain as he was punched in the face, thrown into the air, elbowed back towards Earth, and then fired at by a series of small energy waves. He was falling fast with the force of the enemy’s attacks. He smashed into the ground in the same place beside Piccolo, sending dirt and rocks flying.
"Kakarotto… Don’t die…" Vejita whispered, letting his rage build.
"Ve… Vejita…" Goku whispered, followed by coughing.
Vejita’s eyes shot open in surprise and quickly turned the warrior on his side. He watched as Kakarotto coughed up large amounts of blood.
"Otosan…" Gohan grunted as he sat up painfully, watching as Vejita worried over his father.
Vejita could feel all their eyes on him again and he quickly looked up at them, "Why are you all just sitting there? Kakarotto needs help. He’s dying!"
"Vejita, there’s nothing we can do." Piccolo said, knowing the cause of the pain the prince was feeling.
"A… A Senzu bean… Do any of you have one of those damn things?" Vejita asked, watching as they all shook their heads, their eyes wide in disbelief.
"Is he okay?" Gohan asked quietly, feeling the sadness sink in as he forgot about Burokkori.
"Of course not! He’s fucking dying! It’s all my fault…"
Yamcha looked up at the sky… Dark clouds were gathering. It would be raining soon. At least the blood would be washed away.
"Oh, my prince, have I upset you?" Burokkori asked, swiftly descending, landing near the bodies of the warriors he’d easily beaten.
"It’s all my fault…" Vejita whispered again, tracing Kakarotto’s jaw.
He had such handsome features, yet so feminine and innocent. He never told the younger man how much he really cared. Never let him know that he was there for him. He’d simply stayed away because it was easier.
"It’s all my fault…" he repeated.
"Of course it is," Burokkori said through a smirk, standing close to his prince, "You’re supposed to be the strongest. It seems you’re not though. It’s pathetic."
"Ve…"
Vejita quickly looked back down at Kakarotto, who he’d turned back onto his back, "Na… Nani?" the prince stuttered.
"W… Win." And then Goku slipped into unconsciousness just as the rain began to fall.
Gohan held out a hand to catch the cool rain. It was soothing and it washed away the blood, something that needed to be done.
A deep growl could be heard by all of them as Vejita stood. They watched as he walked swiftly toward the enemy, powering up to his max as he did so. The sight of him as a Super Saiyajin Three made him only look angrier.
"He’s… He’s winning." Gohan whispered in disbelief, almost thirty minutes after Vejita had begun his assault on the enemy.
"This is our only hope." Piccolo said, his deep voice echoing in the soft rain.
"Papa!" Trunks shouted, immediately calming himself when he remembered Goten’s sadness.
"Yes, it looks as though Vejita may win this." Roshi said, looking up at all his friend’s faces that were all glowing with hope.
"Let’s start over there. By the time we get there it should be over!" Bulma announced happily.
After they had all agreed, they used two large aircraft capsules, one of them was Bulma’s, the other Meijin Roshi’s.
Vejita felt as if he were defending Kakarotto as his fist made contact with Burokkori’s face yet again. It felt so good, winning. One thing bothered him, why was the enemy smiling?
When they landed, they were shocked to see all of them but Vejita sprawled out in the mud, the rain washing the blood into small pools.
"Why did you come?!" Gohan asked in angry confusion.
The happy crowd looked up along with the injured warriors when they heard a painful scream.
Vejita crashed into the Earth not far from them and soon the supposed enemy landed near him. He was losing? But a moment ago he was winning.
"Hmph. Prince indeed." Burokkori scoffed as he kicked the smaller man into the air, causing him to land with the same crash.
"Oh no…" Bulma gasped, watching the horror along with all the others.
Goten was the only one that acted.
He quickly ran to his father, "Otosan, wake up!" he sobbed, shaking his father’s firm yet limp body.
Goku could feel pain. It was dark, but he could feel pain. Something was happening. Everyone’s ki was so low. So small. They were dying. They were all dying. Even Vejita. Vejita. That was where the pain was coming from. Vejita. He was being beaten. But how? He was supposed to be stronger, but he still wasn’t strong enough. Goku could hear the others. They were worried. They were scared. Why weren’t they doing anything? He didn’t like his purpose anymore. This responsibly to keep everyone safe… He didn’t want it. It wasn’t the purpose he wanted. It suddenly all became clear, a way to cure his loneliness. He finally understood his feelings. All he wanted was Vejita. All the frustration and confusion he held because he was unable to understand that he cared for another man. It was still odd, but it made sense, the last two Saiyajin of pureblood. He wanted Vejita. That wasn’t going to be possible soon though. Vejita was slipping away faster and faster with each breath.
"You should have joined me when you had the chance. I’ve been searching for you for years. When I finally find you, you’re living with these weaklings in peace! It’s pathetic!" Burokkori yelled, kicking his prince high into the air and then elbowing him the back, causing him to crash into the Earth yet again.
Vejita screamed in pain. He could feel the warmth of the blood spreading over his body. Now he was dying. It hurt like Hell, but at least now it would be over.
"Otosan?" Goten said, cocking his head to the side in disbelief.
Goku grunted, slowly pushing himself up. Vejita. He had to hurry.
"Goku!" almost all of them yelled in surprise, moments ago most of them had figured him dead.
They all watched in anticipation. He was slowly rising to his feet, though it was obvious that he was feeling much pain. There was so much blood pouring from untended wounds. He was up. Chi-Chi was grinning with relief, hoping he’d turn to her and give her one of his usual don’t-worry-about-it smiles, but he didn’t.
Burokkori looked up to see that the legendary Kakarotto was up. He gave the limp Saiyajin at his feet one last kick, causing the bloody body to crash into the ground at Kakarotto’s feet.
Goku let his eyes focus and looked down at the bloody body. He could hardly recognize who it was. Then it dawned on him… The tall, gravity-defying black hair… The black spandex… The compact muscles… It was Vejita. He was too late. Quickly, Goku dropped to the blood-soaked body.
"Vejita?" he whispered, wiping the lightly tanned skin clean.
He was cold. Too cold. How could this have happened? Life’s mysteries had seemed so faded, but he’d just figured it all out. Vejita… Vejita was what he wanted. Now here he was just drowning in the rain with only his rage left to comfort him.
Chi-Chi, along with the others, watched as shiny drops fell from Goku’s eyes. Was he crying? None of them had ever seen the man cry. They were even more surprised when he lifted the body in his arms, hugging what looked so much like a corpse rather than a body.
Goku looked at his audience, they were just starring, "Why…" he started.
"Son…" Piccolo started, being the only one that knew of the feelings his Saiyajin friend was having.
Goku could sense a small amount of ki surging in what was once Vejita, and the firm, compact chest was moving ever so slightly with each of the dying man’s faint breaths. Goku laid his most desired down, looking quickly to Piccolo and holding the gaze until the green man nodded. Just as he was getting up…
"Kaka… Don’t… He’ll kill you." Vejita said through spasms as he coughed up too large an amount of blood.
It was too much. He had to win. He had to avenge Vejita. Goku quickly stood.
Piccolo knew what Goku wanted. He wanted him to take care of Vejita. He was sure the others had gotten this from him as well. The look in his eyes said it better than any words could have. They all watched as Goku slowly looked up to the sky and screamed like a mad man laughing at the rain. He seemed a little out of touch and a little insane, but that was just his way of dealing with the pain.
"Seems you’re not as weak as I had thought." Burokkori said, stepping forward.
Goku had an aura of red energy surrounding his body, licking at the rain like flames, "I don’t want my friends involved."
With that Goku blasted off into the air, speeding away, shortly followed by the enemy.
