Sarro returned minutes later and sat primly back in her seat. She
folded her hands in her lap and glanced around the room. She smiled as
she watched everyone unconsciously move closer as she took a breath.
" Chichi, dear, you look as though your tea is running low, would you like a refill? " Sarro asked sweetly.
Chichi blinked as though she thought Sarro insane. Perhaps she was. " No, " she answered, " I think I'm fine. "
" Get on with it, " Vejiita growled.
Sarro couldn't resist. " Maybe we should invite Katera to hear the rest. " No one seemed to favor the idea. In truth, Sarro didn't either. " No? Then where was I...? "
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Nappa's foot came down with a resounding crack.
Kyande couldn't bring herself to look. Already her mind was painting pictures of Gohan's flattened head, of the blood and brains splattered about. She heard Yamcha gasp and felt like crying.
Then Gohan's voice cut through her coming panic. " K-Kintoun! "
" Hah? " Kyande looked up and blinked back tears that were now of relief as she caught sight of Gohan riding the little golden cloud.
" What the hell is that? " Nappa demanded.
Kyande looked over at the other two Saiyajin. Both were glaring into the sky at a figure in an orange gi.
" Gokuu! " Kyande cried in relief.
Gokuu silently descended to the ground. He landed with a soft 'tp' sound and faced the group of friends and foes without a word.
" What are you doing here, Kakarrot? " Vejiita sneered happily, " You're not going to lecture us are you? "
Katera, still with the scouter on, said quietly. " Still six thousand twenty. There's no mistake. "
Gokuu walked over to where Gohan floated with the Kintoun. Nappa attempted to block his way, but Gokuu made it around him before he could even realize. Stooping, Gokuu felt for Piccolo's pulse and found none. " Piccolo. "
" He died trying to save me, " Gohan informed him.
Gokuu straightened up and looked around. " Tenshinhan, " in the other direction, " Yamcha. "
" I'm all right, Gokuu, " Yamcha assured weakly.
" Yeah, yeah, all your lame friends are dead. There were two others, blown to bits as I recall, " Nappa taunted, " The funny thing was, they were all waiting for you to come and save them! "
Gokuu looked angry, but ignored the big Saiyajin and led Gohan over to where Yamcha was.
Kyande made a run in that direction, but stopped short when Katera suddenly moved in a blur to block her path. The shorter warrior stood with her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed in a condescending manner that made Kyande feel as though she were the smaller one. Kyande gulped and took a step back.
" Go ahead, Katera, " Vejiita said needlessly, " Nappa will take care of Kakarrot, you can appease yourself on her. "
Kyande bristled. " Just you wait, Vejiita! " she shouted, " Watch Nappa get the crap beaten out of him, then we'll see how-- "
Kyande was cut off as Katera smacked her across the face with her fist.
" Have respect when you address the prince, " she snapped.
" You know, " Kyande stated, straightening up and spitting blood off to the side, " that sounds really ironic coming from you. "
Katera punched at her again, but this time Kyande was prepared and caught it easily. She caught the other one as well, and blocked the kick that followed.
" Katera, " Kyande smiled, making her voice as sweet as her name, " I'm disappointed if that's the best you can do. "
Katera bared her teeth in anger and tightened her fists within Kyande's grip. Narrowing her eyes in a way that made Kyande uneasy she shouted, " Concussion! "
The resulting pulse of ki blasts seared Kyande's hands and threw her back quite a ways. As she sat up she reminded herself, Right, this Katera will have different attacks. No Ice Blade, no Kori no Shi, no Absolute Zero, no ice at all probably.
Kyande's mind snapped back to the problem at hand as soon as Katera's knee met her face. Kyande let her back hit the ground and kicked out at Katera's ankles. Katera jumped over, and brought one of her feet down on Kyande's ankle. Kyande gasped at the pain that shot up her leg and rolled over. Propelling herself with all four limbs she took to the air.
Katera grinned maliciously and followed.
Kyande paused when she'd hit a fair height and looked down for Katera. Katera was not there. Katera was above her, as Kyande found out when the other warrior kicked her viciously in the small of the back.
Kyande turned as she sailed forward and ki blasted in response. Katera dodged to the side, but Kyande was pleased to see some of her shoulder armor blown off.
So, Kyande was stronger: and she hadn't even powered up yet.
Suddenly both the opponents paused as a new ki alerted Kyande's senses and Katera's scouter. Gokuu was powering up, and everyone felt it. Kyande cocked her head to the side when he stopped. It was awfully low for him.
" Ten thousand! " Katera cried aloud in shock.
Or not. It was higher than Kyande figured it should have been.
Katera ripped off her scouter and threw it to the ground. She turned a glare on Kyande and demanded. " You! How is it possible that he raised his power that much? How?! "
" You don't know the half of it, " Kyande said smugly, " Just wait until he uses Kaiou-ken. "
" Stop spouting nonsense you little wretch, and answer me straight! "
" Or what? " Kyande smirked, " You'll kill me? "
" I'll kill you either way! Never mind, " Katera smiled, and Kyande
was somewhat disturbed to find herself missing her Katera's reckless grin.
This Katera's smile was colder, more calculated, more worrysome. " It's
only ten thousand. Surprising, but nothing nonetheless. Maybe he'll get
rid of Nappa for me, then I'll show Kakarrot a true warrior, " Katera gathered
her ki in her hands and concluded her tirade, " as I'm going to show you.
"
Yamcha took a moment to look away from the fight, or rather farce, going on between Gokuu and Nappa to observe the fight between the strange girl and the other Saiyajin. Their's was a more spectacular battle, it seemed they were more evenly matched, unlike Gokuu and Nappa. Gokuu was making a complete fool out of Nappa. The girl was fighting for her life, and barely, just barely, winning.
Nappa and Gokuu had taken their battle to the air, and it was becoming
more fast and furious by the minute as Nappa's fighting
tactics turned to blind rage and desperation. Suddenly Nappa drew back
and regarded Gokuu with a grin that was anything but friendly. Opening
his mouth so wide one would swear it unhinged, he spit out a massive ki
blast.
Gokuu's eyes widened and he stopped the point-blank range attack with
a forceful " Ha! "
Katera caught sight of this out of the corner of her eye and exclaimed, " No way! "
Kyande took the opportunity and caught Katera in the side with a quick barrage of kicks, before spinning upwards to put in one final kick to Katera's face. Katera bent over backwards and blood flew from her mouth under the blow. She straightened up and wiped at her mouth.
" First blood to you, brat, " she commented. Somehow Kyande felt it was a compliment.
Then Katera came at her with a multiple strike attack that had Kyande
pushing herself just to defend against it. Suddenly Katera
dissappeared and Kyande felt strong hands enclose her throat. Katera
tightened her grip and Kyande choked
Katera whispered in Kyande's ear, " So, will you give me answers now, you little shitbrat? " She tightened her grip again, " Or am I going to have to find my answers elsewhere? "
Kyande brought her hands up to hold them at the back of her head with
the palms facing Katera. Forcing out the words, " Go to hell, " she gave
a loud battle cry and blasted Katera full in the face.
Vejiita was irritated. Not only was getting the Dragonballs proving to be harder than he had antisipated, but a third class warrior was making a fool-- more of one than usual-- out of Nappa, and consequently, him. Katera was busy fighting the little loudmouth that was one of the other causes of his irritation, which meant that he would have to fight Kakarrot.
" Nappa, " he snapped, getting the other Saiyajin's attention, " enough. Get down here, you're finished. "
Nappa, Gokuu, Yamcha, and Gohan stared at him.
" But-- " Nappa started.
" Just shut up and get down here. You're making a disgrace of yourself and me. I'll take over from here. "
Nappa turned back to Gokuu and said, " Well, you're in for it now, Kakarrot. Vejiita's going to mop the floor with you. " He started to descend to the ground, " Now, what can I do for fun? "
[I don't know if that line was in the original, but I luved it in the english, so, here it is.]
Nappa spotted Gohan and Yamcha off to the side and his trademark grin returned. He had an idea.
Gokuu looked from Vejiita to Nappa just as Gohan started yelling in fright.
" He's going after them! " Gokuu exclaimed. Quick as he could, he followed. But Nappa had a headstart. Yamcha and Gohan were frozen to the spot. Nappa was opening his mouth for a repeat performance of his mouth blast. Gokuu had no choice. " Kaiou-ken! "
Gokuu's ki aura flared red, bathing him in the colour. His speed increased dramatically. Before Vejiita's very eyes he slammed both fists into Nappa's back and then dove underneath him to catch the larger Saiyajin with one hand over his head.
Nappa obviously had a broken back, from the way he hung there quivering from Gokuu's hand. Without barely any sign of exertion, Gokuu tossed Nappa at Vejiita's feet and said quietly, " I suggest you find him some help. I don't think he'll be fighting anymore. "
Vejiita was fuming. He's so sure of himself...
Vejiita tried to listen in as Gokuu explained his newfound ability to his allies, but was distracted by a quivering hand entering his field of vision and Nappa's equally shaky voice calling hoarsely, " V-V-Vejiita... help... me... "
Vejiita smiled a slow, sure smile. Perhaps this would work out to his advantage. He still had Katera.
Taking Nappa's hand he agreed nonchalantly, " Sure. "
Nappa smiled back gratefully. " Th-thank you, Vejiita. "
In response, Vejiita tightened his grip on Nappa's hand and with one powerful thrust lifted the massive warrior off the ground and threw him into the air.
Nappa, arms flailing, cried out, " Vejiita! Nooo! "
" What good are you if you can't fight, Nappa?! " Vejiita shouted after
him.
Kyande's ki blast threw Katera backwards, causing her to release her grip on Kyande's throat. They hung there for a moment, both catching their bearings. One look at Katera's bloodied face told Kyande that the battle would pick up from here on in. This far back in time, she hoped she wouldn't have to resort to going Super Saiyajin.
She wasn't that much of an idiot. Really, she wasn't.
Katera flew at her, the blood on her face adding to the menacing expression it held. Kyande braced herself for the attack, but still found herself hit.
Hit many times, to be exact. Katera made it through more of Kyande's defenses than she cared to admit. She had taken so many hits to the face her vision swam and she barely felt the blood running from a broken nose. Katera's knee connected with her side and Kyande could feel her ribs crack under the blow. Katera hit her with a blow between the shoulder blades, and Kyande's midriff buckled as it hit Katera's upraised knee. Kyande cried out and she barely registered on the deep crimson of her blood splattering the front of Katera's armor.
Kyande needed distance. She needed a pause, even just a short one. She needed time to power up. She was stronger than Katera at this time. She was.
So why was she losing so miserably?
Suddenly the distraction she needed came in the form of Nappa flying past. Rather, he flew through the girls, breaking them apart and sending them spinning away from each other.
" Hah? Nappa? " Katera wondered aloud, her attention momentarily elsewhere.
This was all Kyande needed. Carefully, gingerly, she began to raise
her ki level. She'd show Katera a true warrior.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Vejiita's ki had hit the peak he wanted and he answered his own question.
" None! " he declared and shot the dazzling white aura around him upwards after Nappa.
" Wh-what power! " Yamcha exclaimed just as Gokuu grabbed him by the arm and carried him upwards to safety.
Vejiita's blast screamed past, filling the distance between Kyande and Katera. Kyande paid it no attention and continued on with her ki buildup.
" Noooo! " Nappa screamed again as the ki enveloped him. His cries died in an instant as the blast took it's effect and Nappa ceased to exist.
The blacklash from Vejiita's attack blew out in a shockwave around him
and the ground disappeared in a cloud of dust.
" Good riddance, " Katera commented, turning her gaze from where Nappa had been to Kyande. " You're next little girl. " Katera stopped short as Kyande's ki ball filled her vision.
Kyande chuckled weakly, working around the blood in her mouth and throat
she countered weakly, " You were saying? " Pointing at Katera she raised
her voice and commanded, " Soukidan! "
" Another of my attacks! " Yamcha exclaimed from where Gokuu held him
safe over the ground.
Katera's eyes widened and she tried to evade the ki ball. But with a
slight alteration of her finger positions Kyande kept the attack following
her, and gaining, until it finally struck Katera in the back.
Vejiita heard Katera's resulting cry just as the dust around him cleared. His eyes snapped upwards to where she had her back arched in pain as the Soukidan took it's effect.
" Katera! " he yelled.
Almost as if on cue, the Soukidan ended then, and Katera fell limply to the ground.
Kyande watched, her face set into an emotionless mask, as Katera hit the ground and stayed there. Her mask broke as Yamcha and Gohan called out congratulations, and she blushed at how good it felt to beat Katera in battle.
Her blush disappeared and she became serious in a flash as she suddenly
noticed Vejiita.
Vejiita slowly approached the fallen Katera and stood over her. Seemingly impassive, he stared down at her silently for what seemed like a long time.
Katera gazed up at him and whispered, " Vejiitaojisama, I have failed you. "
Kyande's pride quickly turned to regret. Those five words were all it took to remind her that this Katera was completely different from the one she knew... well, not completely different. But it still was not the same Katera that Kyande had frequently teased, argued with, and attempted fighting full out.
Katera offered the still stony Vejiita a weak smile of relent. " I accept whatever punishment you see fit, for surely it is death. "
Kyande's regret then turned to pity, then back to panic. If Vejiita killed Katera for losing to her--!
But this was not to be.
Vejiita reached down and offered Katera his hand. Memory of Nappa's
demise led Katera to gratefully take it. For a moment it
looked as though Katera would meet the same fate as Nappa.
Then Vejiita did what not only suprised Katera and Kyande, but everyone else as well. Katera's hand in both of his, he crouched down and, still ever so solemn, Vejiita kissed the back of Katera's gloved hand and touched her cheek with one hand. He then set her hand gently down, gave her one long look of parting, and walked away.
Kyande couldn't believe it. Looked like Katera wasn't the only one to take a drastic personality change.
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Privately, it was taking all of Sarro's self control to keep from bursting out laughing at the look on Vejiita's face.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Katera didn't seem to be able to believe it either.
" Ojisama? " she called weakly, questioningly. No response. " Ojisama?! " Katera forced herself up slightly to watch Vejiita go. She looked almost alarmed, and vaguely angry. " Ojisama! " she called, and still received no answer from the Saiyan prince. " Ojisama! Ojisama! " She called a few more times, succeeding only in angering herself, " Do Your Duty, Ojisama! " Katera leaned forward and shouted once more, " Ojisama! " before dropping all formality.
Gathering the last of her ki Katera blasted at Vejiita's back.
Quick as a flash, Vejiita turned, deflected the meagar blast, and fired one of his own back.
Katera slammed into a rock face some distance back and tumbled to the ground.
Kyande winced.
Vejiita turned away and looked up at Gokuu, who was still in the air holding Yamcha and Gohan.
" So, Kakarrot, " he invited, the steadiness in his voice sounding forced, " Shall we begin? "
Kyande flew over to join Gokuu and the other two. She took Gohan from his father and met Gokuu's gaze. " Go ahead, I know you can win. But don't fight here, there is a way for you to revive the others. "
Dang, so there will be a Dende.
" I don't know who you are, " Gokuu said to her, " But thanks for all your help. "
Kyande felt herself blush again. " No problem. " She looked down at Vejiita. " Just be careful, he's much stronger than he looks. "
" Are we going to be fighting today, Kakarrot? " Vejiita demanded angrilly.
Kyande gave him an inquisitive look. He'd shown no remorse at Nappa's death, but Katera's seemed to be bothering him.
Could Nappa have been right about the mistress thing?! Could Katera and Vejiita have truly been lovers?
Kyande didn't want to think about it to be perfectly honest.
" Sure, " Gokuu called back to Vejiita, his tone careless, as if the impending battle meant nothing to him. Some things never changed, Kyande supposed. " But not here, I know a place. " Gokuu let Yamcha hang in the air of his own power and then took off towards the horizon. Vejiita followed.
Kyande, Yamcha, and Gohan watched them go, and couldn't help but feel
a sense of impending doom.
Once Gokuu and Vejiita had disappeared over the horizon, the three survivors of the battle descended to the ground. Kyande set Gohan down and in an attempt to cheer the boy up said cheerily, " See? I told you you'd be okay! "
" But Piccolosan... " Gohan trailed off.
Kyande crouched down and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "
I know a way to bring him and everyone else back. "
Kyande offered Gohan a smile he weakly returned. She then looked up
to invite Yamcha to accompany them to the Kame House.
It took her a moment to find him, but she did eventually. Her face broke into a fond smile as she noticed him heading in the direction of where Vejiita had left Katera. Stretching her senses she noted that there was still a faint wisp of Katera's ki present. Leaving Gohan to follow her, Kyande followed Yamcha.
She caught up to him just as he straightened up from taking Katera's pulse.
" Is she going to be alright? "
" I think so, " Yamcha said grimly, " but she needs a doctor right away.
I don't know why I'm doing this, " he said, grunting as he
gathered Katera into his arms, " must be Gokuu's influence. "
" Gokuu is a very good man, " Kyande agreed.
Yamcha gave her a serious look that seemed out of place on his face " Like Gokuu said, I don't know who you are, but you saved my life today. Arigato Gozaimasu. "
" Oh! " Kyande was at a loss for words, " It-- It was nothing, " her eyes trailed down to Katera, and she felt a pang as she remembered how things were supposed to be, " It was the least I could do. "
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Yamcha sat up straight and gave his daughter a wide grin, " You could say that, Kyande. "
Kyande slouched down lower. " Quiet dad, " she moaned.
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Gokuu streaked towards the area he had in mind. Things weren't going quite as he'd expected-- he hadn't really thought anyone would die. He'd considered the possibility, but still... Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Chaou-zu, and Piccolo; all dead, and only one Saiyajin had followed them to the afterlife to make up for it. If Gokuu were a joking man, he would have commented on how Nappa probably weighed about as much as the other four put together. But that's just the writer's strange little mind.
He glanced back and watched his opponent for a moment. The other warrior was keeping up with him no problem. Somehow this worried Gokuu slightly, and he wondered how the impending battle would go.
Gokuu looked ahead, just in time to see the desert he had in mind come
into view. No matter, either way it would be a good fight. He could sense
it, and to be perfectly honest (because, really, does Gokuu know how to
be anything but?) he wouldn't have it any other way.
Gokuu landed first, and watched as Vejiita landed a short distance in front of him. A small canyon separated them. The air was hot and dry, heavy in his lungs. But there was no one around, no one who could be hurt in the coming battle. No one, but himself and his opponent.
They blustered a bit, mouthing off at each other back and forth. Gokuu didn't pay much attention to what was said, he just mentally prepared his body.
Vejiita was small but strong. He didn't need to be told to see that. About chest height to Gokuu, not counting the wild, upswept mass of black hair, Vejiita had an angular face and a dramatic widow's peak that accented his arched eyebrows. He had broad shoulders for someone of his height, and thick, well muscled arms. These he had crossed before his pristine off-white armor. His white booted feet were placed in a good, firm stance; shoulder-width apart. He held his head tilted ever-so-slightly to the left, and his face held a self-confident smile that knew exactly what his limits were.
But even as Gokuu sized up Vejiita, Vejiita sized up Gokuu. The taller man looked so much like his father it was uncanny. But there were some subtle differences; wider eyes, a face without so many lines, and an expression that retained a slightly clueless undertone no matter how seriously he regarded Vejiita. He dressed simply, in a bright orange gi with the kanji symbol for 'Kame' or 'Turtle' on the front and another kanji that Vejiita didn't recognize on the back. Perhaps it had something to do with the 'Kaiou-ken' he'd used earlier, Vejiita mused.
Gokuu's wild black hair wavered in the wind, and he ignored it. Vejiita felt his smile tug at the corner of his mouth, he wanted to smile wider. This might yet be a good fight. Gokuu had the one-track mind of a true fighter. How unusual.
They leaped at each other on some mutual signal that would have been lost upon any spectators. All that remained of the world was the land, the sky, and the battle.
Vejiita struck first, catching Gokuu's jaw with a well placed fist. Gokuu's head snapped back, and he used the momentum to flip over backwards and catch Vejiita in his jaw with two stinging kicks. Vejiita caught him by the ankles and with a sharp twist sent Gokuu plummeting to the ground.
Gokuu caught himself half of the way down into the canyon and shook his head slightly. The Prince of the Saiyajin was good, very good. This would be a good fight.
A steel blue ki blast hit Gokuu full on in the chest. He had barely enough time to throw up a ki shield, and even then he'd been driven back several centemetres.
" Come on, Kakarrot, " Vejiita sneered from above.
Gokuu almost missed blocking the blow Vejiita aimed at his chest, hell, he'd almost missed the prince's movement. They fell into a deadly midair dance of exchanged blows. Gokuu felt a sweat break out on his forehead as they spun higher and higher into the air.
Vejiita's smirk never fell. He taunted further, " This isn't the power you defeated Nappa with. " Ducking back under Gokuu's attempted headbunt, Vejiita caught the other Saiyajin in the side with a scissor kick. " Stop holding back on me, Kakarrot. " Vejiita raised a double fist over his head, demanding as he brought it down on Gokuu's head, " Show Me! "
Gokuu cratered the ground with his impact. Standing, he felt the adrenaline rush through his veins and was perfectly willing to comply with Vejiita's wishes.
Crouching into his wide-legged fighting stance, Gokuu licked the blood from his lips (that last blow had caused him to bite his tongue) and escalated his ki as high as it would go.
Vejiita hung in the air watching impassively.
Then Gokuu pushed his limits, " Kaiou-ken! "
Vejiita watching in both surprise and pleasure as Gokuu's aura flared into a fiery red and bathed him in the glow. Nice, very nice, but he was so much better. Still, Vejiita had learned the infinate pleasures of playing with one's opponents. Keeping his face a mask of surprise alone, he watched as a now sorely overconfident Gokuu came at him.
Vejiita allowed his opponent a few blows, one to the ribs, another to the back, Gokuu was coming in for one to the face when Vejiita decided he'd played enough. Wiping the surprise off his face, Vejiita's visage became all angles and hard lines again, as he kicked his opponent in the jaw. As Gokuu spun away in surprise, Vejiita forced a polite smile to his lips and commented, " Nice trick. "
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Kyande was so distracted by keeping tabs on the ki energy released by Gokuu and Vejiita's battle, she wondered if her father possessed some sort of psychic abilities when Bulma, Pouar and Kame Sen'nin arrived in an airship. Then she'd mentally kicked herself when she noticed the communications device in his hand.
Duh.
Bulma set the ship down and the three occupants came rushing out. Bulma immediately threw herself in Yamcha's arms and Kyande felt a pang of resentment.
Bulma must have noticed, because she just as quickly withdrew from Yamcha's arms. Giving Kyande a curious look, she strode over and inquired, " Who are you? "
Kyande mentally kicked herself again. Of course she knew that her father and Bulma had once been lovers, that shouldn't have bothered her. Then she kicked herself again for going this far without introducing herself. How rude.
" My name is Kyande, " she was at least smart enough to keep her last name out of it. No sense in having to work her way around that.
[Does Yamcha even have a last name?]
" Oh, " Bulma stepped back, placing her hands on her hips, " Do I know you? "
" Not yet! " Kyande responded cheerily.
" If introductions are through, " Yamcha stated, from where he and Kame Sen'nin stood with Katera on a stretcher.
" Oh, right. " Kyande rushed to help, and tried to ignore the nosebleed Kame Sen'nin was in the process of getting.
Bulma peered down at Katera's expressionless face as they lifted the heavy Saiyan warrior into the back of the airship. " Who's this guy? "
" Girl, " Kyande corrected.
Bulma gaped at her. " You're kidding! "
Kyande shook her head, chuckling. " Nope, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind the mistake. "
Yamcha gave her a look. " How do you know so much about the Saiyajin anyway? " he asked.
Kyande thought for a moment of a way to get out of that with as little words as possible. Hitting upon an idea she unfurled her tail and flicked it into view.
" Oh, " Yamcha and Bulma said, their eyes wide.
Kyande looked to the horizon as Gokuu's powerup assaulted her ki sensitive senses. She reviewed what her senses had told her about Vejiita and cringed.
Kami, I hope Gokuu's powerful enough to win this...
¤¤
[Don't we all? Gokuu and Vejiita have started that oh-so-landmarked battle! Both are stronger due to Kyande's meddling, but who has gained the most power? Gokuu or Vejiita? Will Kyande be forced to intervene in that battle as well? And what of Katera? Will she be revived, and if so, is that a good thing? This story still needs a name, but it has now a part four; The Landmark Battle! Gokuu Versus Vejiita All Over Again!]
[Written by Inseiko, 1999]
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