Quest: Jihibiki

Chapter 30 - Jihibiki

Goku scowled. “The fusion was a plot?”

“Possibly,” Rouba nodded, bones clicking. “I believe the ones you call Kais are afraid of your Vegeta. If their plan had succeeded, they would have been rid of him.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Goku insisted. “The plan was for me to fuse with my son – not Vegeta.” The old Kai had said it was the only way to defeat Buu – but he was supposed to fuse with Gohan. How could the Kais have known how wrong things would go? He had been desperate when he realized the original plan had failed – and relieved beyond words when Vegeta had shown up at the last possible minute.

“A good plan allows for many contingencies. If successful, your fusion would have accomplished many things. They may have believed you and your son would be able to stop your Vegeta. Perhaps joining with him was a second, acceptable alternative if the first plan failed. I cannot be positive, shadow. However, I saw your memories – and I have met Osekkai. I know how their devious, manipulative minds work better than most.”

Sakka sat on the bench, fingering his own tail thoughtfully. “You two have already been touched by their web, you know. I don’t think you are going to be able to avoid bloodshed – even though you probably want to. If I read your memories right, there isn’t even a way to get to them for a preemptive strike. The timetable is theirs. The best you can do is be prepared for when they make their move – make sure the blood shed is theirs, not yours.”

Goku sat down heavily beside him, tail wrapped around his ankle. “I had always believed they were my friends. They’d helped me in the past. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am without King Kai’s help.” The possibilities were dizzying. Fused with Gohan, would he have ever bonded with Vegeta? Would his prince have even brought back to life? He hated to think of Vegeta trapped in hell, constantly raped and tortured by Frieza.

“Shadow – you respect everyone. You expect the same. I saw your memories of how they treated you, little one. You didn’t realize it, but you were a pet. A well-cared for pet, but still a pet.”

He growled at the idea. People had always called him names because of his tail. He had laughed it off then, but it hurt. He wasn’t an animal or a monkey. He wasn’t someone’s pet. He was a Saiyan, damn it – one of the strongest who ever lived.

“Just like the other fighters, they groomed you and trained you,” Rouba continued, “brought you out and showed you off. These Kais were willing to sacrifice you – and possibly your cub - to protect themselves from your Vegeta.”

“But Vegeta’s changed so much. Why are they still so afraid of him? What is the prophecy the Osekkai mentioned?” Goku pleaded.

He looked up as he heard Vegeta’s answering growl. He hadn’t realized his prince had been at the entrance, listening. “They are afraid I am going to destroy them, aren’t they?” Vegeta said, entering the den. “I don’t know why, or even how, since I can’t get to their world, but they believe it is true. They are doing everything in their power to prevent it.”

“Cub, why are you back here?” Rouba asked gently.

Vegeta wrapped his tail around his waist and looked at the floor like a scolded child before meeting her eyes, arms crossed over his chest.

“Ground’s shaking,” he said simply.

::Vegeta?:: His prince was suffering from so much disappointment and guilt, it made Goku coil his tail around his own waist in sympathy.

::Later, Kakorr,:: he answered, resisting all further attempts to communicate.

Rouba and Sakka closed their eyes, sensing the surrounding area. Goku could feel it as well – a strange, vibrating wave of powerful ki was headed towards them.

“What’s that?” Goku asked.

“Trouble,” Sakka said. “There is a huge jihibiki headed this way.”

“Rouya,” Rouba said, taking charge, “Signal the farmers. It is going to take the entire pack to take this one down. Then start evacuations. This one is too big and too close – we’re going to lose the settlement. Hopefully we can save the next one.”

“We can stop it,” Goku said. ::Can’t we, Vegeta?::

Vegeta mentally shrugged. ::Probably. Our ki is down, but it is still higher than anyone else here.::

Rouba studied both of them for a moment. “I believe you can, children. But remember, you may not transform.”

Vegeta scowled, “I know that.”

“Very well, cubs,” Rouba said. “Sakka – go with them. Let me know what happens.”

Vegeta nodded and flew away. Goku quickly caught up and flew beside him. ::Vegeta… Are you okay?::

Vegeta looked at him, pain evident in his blue eyes, but didn’t answer his question. ::We should have enough ki to do this.:: He turned in midair to face Sakka, pointing at the groups of people who had begun evacuating their dens. “Keep them out of the way, boy.”

As they got closer, Goku could feel the vibrations even through the air. There was a sound that seemed to bore right through him. Then he saw it. The jihibiki was massive – it was like a freight train barreling through the desert, throwing waves of sand as it advanced. He could see boulders and rock formations explode and shatter into dust as it passed beneath them before rising to the surface again.

“I’ve never seen one that big,” Sakka breathed, obviously impressed by its size. “It had to come from deep in the desert. I don’t even know why it would come here – no one hunts that far out. A hunting pack shouldn’t have been able to bother something that big, even by accident.”

Vegeta ignored the Rouya, intent on his prey, his eyes narrowed as he tracked it. ::Now, Kakorr. While it is on the surface.::

Goku dropped to the ground, directly in its path, gritting his teeth as the vibrations passed through him, making him unsteady on his feet. “Ka-me-ha-me-ha!” The blast hit the creature, too much of it sliding around, pushed away by its own ki. He changed his focus, targeting a smaller area, drawing on his depleted ki, realizing he didn’t have enough to ascend now even if he wanted to.

Vegeta landed next to him and added his own power. The jihibiki got closer and Goku began to wonder if they might fail after all. If the jihibiki advanced any further, they would have to retreat or be crushed by its massive jaws. Then he and Vegeta found the frequency that negated the beast’s vibrations and it began to slow, finally stopping its forward momentum, thrashing violently in place.

::Hold it there, Kakorr. I have to go overhead to kill it.::

Goku nodded, concentrating on keeping the jihibiki from moving forward.

“Big Bang Attack!” Vegeta’s beam was a pinpoint of energy, burning straight through the beast. The creature thrashed once more, before collapsing, dead.

Goku waited, continuing to press against the jihibiki with his ki until the vibrations stopped. He let his arms drop to his side and grinned at Vegeta, tail swaying, exhausted. Vegeta crossed his arms and smirked back at him. That had taken more effort than he expected, but they had saved the settlement.

“You did it!”

Goku turned and looked at the source of the announcement. The runaway prince had reappeared, looking at them in amazement.

“Brat,” Vegeta growled at Yasai, “Where in the hell are your guards?”

Yasai shrugged, grinning. “Trying to catch up with me. I was hoping I could help, but I see you stopped the jihibiki with ease.”

::Hey Vegeta, didn’t you say jihibiki have some kind of pearls in them? We don’t need it; maybe Yasai could use it?::

Vegeta looked at him, wide-eyed. ::Is that where he gets it from?:: he asked himself more than Goku. He stared at Yasai for a moment, and then chuckled at some private joke. “Come with me, brat,” he said to the prince, flicking his tail at him.

Goku was about to follow, when Rouba called him to her side. He took a quick glance at the two princes kneeling next to the body of the jihibiki. Vegeta was directing Yasai in burning through it with his ki. “Yes, Rouba?”

“That was well done, shadow. Never before have so few brought down a jihibiki before, especially one that large. Your victory will be sung for generations,” she said, touching her tail to the back of his hand.

Goku grinned, and scratched the back of his head, embarrassed at the praise. “Thanks. I wasn’t really sure what to do. I had only seen one in a picture.”

“But your Vegeta told you,” she said, smiling. She studied him a moment and frowned. “It has drained your strength – you will be leaving sooner than you planned because of this.”

He shrugged. “Yeah. But I guess we are about done here.” He could already feel the faint pull of the room beginning to draw him back. It was a strange, confusing sensation, different from last time he had used the room. It felt like he was being pulled in two different directions – his feet dragging him down through the sands and his head pulled toward the suns.

She nodded. “You have everything you need, child. Tell my cub… I will remember him. I will love him well when he is mine again. Just as you love him well while he is yours.”

Goku smiled sadly. “I’m glad he got to see you again.” He would have liked to stay longer and get to know Rouba better.

Rouba chuckled, bells ringing as her body shook. “Pity I won’t be able to see all of your cubs. They will surely be full if mischief and light.”

“My oldest has settled down, but the two youngest are always up to something.”

“I’m sure the others will be even more of a handful,” she said with a laugh.

Goku scratched the back of his head, confused. “There’s only the three…” He hesitated. “…You aren’t saying that Vegeta or I can—?”

Rouba looked at him in surprise for a moment before laughing, bells ringing. “No shadow – Saiyans are not one of the races where males can bear young. Men just aren’t strong enough for childbirth.”

“Oh,” he said, embarrassed at his own stupidity. Of course men couldn’t have babies.

“Surely you know about dairi? Choose well and the two of you can build a strong pack.”

He finally realized what she was suggesting. “Oh!” he exclaimed.

She brushed her tail over the back of his hand. “You have learned from each other how to be good parents. I hope you have many cubs.”

Goku grinned as he pictured himself surrounded by little copies of Vegeta and himself. “That would be…nice.”

Rouba smiled a moment before frowning and looking around the area. He could feel her sweeping the area and did the same, trying to figure out what had disturbed her.

“There’s a presence that doesn’t belong,” she muttered.

As she spoke he saw it begin, fighting uselessly against the growing pull of time shifting and twisting around him, keeping him from moving fast enough. He resisted the room’s draw, straining against another, stronger tide of ki pushing him back, slowing him down even more. Even as he was pushed and pulled away he could see it happening, a slow motion dance of hell, and he couldn’t get there in time to stop it.

He knew Vegeta felt it when he did – he saw his prince react, felt the shock through their bond, twisting to face the growing crowd in disbelief. Goku could only watch, trapped in this treacle of ki, not able to get there. If they hadn’t fought the jihibiki they could fight this, but they were too weak to prevent it now.

Yasai turned and shouted something at the woman firing a deadly spear of ki directly at the young prince. The crest of the wave hit Yasai before Vegeta was able to move enough to shove him out of the path, taking the brunt of the bolt on his crossed arms, skidding back, struggling to tap his already exhausted ki.

Goku could see it – feel it – pushing through the block, burning through Vegeta’s barrier, overwhelming his dwindling defenses. He had to stop the attack. He had to save his prince. He tried to push through the barrier, but in his weakened state it required more strength than he could achieve.

Goku had a clear shot at the attacker - a large female Saiyan. Maybe, if he couldn’t get to his prince he could stop her. He gathered his ki, fully intending to kill her.

He could barely move – barely focus. He could feel the bond twisting and Vegeta’s pain was his own. His heart was pounding and he could feel the ki beating against him, crushing him against the body of the jihibiki. He felt his ribs cracking and grinding together as the onslaught continued. Organs were crushed and pummeled by the still building attack. Nerves sang in agony as heated desert sand was blasted at him, through him, burning and cutting his skin.

It was too hot, too strong, too overwhelming. He didn’t have enough energy left to protect himself. He was collapsing, strength fading, defenses failing - dying.

TBC