Bringer of Death

Otherworld Saga, Part 5: A Battle for Pride

Otherworld Saga, Part 5: A Battle for Pride

TOC. A pair of white boots landed on the ring.

CLAK. Opposite them, two blue boots touched down in the corner across.

Two Saiyans, quite possibly the two strongest mortals in the universe, stood face to face unblinkingly. Silence hung in the air, an unspoken weight felt by everyone. Competitors and spectators alike seemed to be trying to contain their nerves.

"This is it..." King Kai gulped, being himself one of many. "One for the record books, you can count on it."

The Kais had been able to use some of their magic to restore the arena to a presentable state—basic essentials like a level surface and even boundaries. However disheveled it still appeared, though, it in no way diminished the anticipation of either the crowd or the combatants. This was the finals, the match everyone had been waiting for.

The shorter Saiyan wore a tight blue gi, a white chestplate with a left shoulder-guard, and a half-ripped red cape. Vegeta kept his arms crossed over his armor, a slight frown on his face as he stared across. Goku, his opponent, was clad in his favorite and most comfortable orange and blue gi, emblazoned with the kanji of King Kai. He wore a friendly but battle-toughened face. For a moment, neither spoke as they took in the moment.

"So...here we are," a deep, slightly annoyed-sounding voice said.

"Yeah...looks like this is it." The other man's voice was even and cheerful, but had an underlying air of anticipation and excitement.

"I wonder...do you have any idea how long I've been looking forward to this?" The prince tilted his head to one side, cracking his neck in anticipation.

Goku's serious expression turned upwards into a half smirk. "Well, actually...I might," he chuckled. "You know you're not the only one who's wanted a rematch, Vegeta. I guess I've never been one to take losing a fight easily—especially when I know I could've won." Maintaining eye contact with his foe, he slowly twisted his torso from side to side, causing his spine to pop several times.

"Reeeally?" Vegeta replied, elongating his vowels. "You think you could've won, huh!? I seem to recall whipping you quite thoroughly the last time we fought. Then again, I wouldn't rely on your memory to paint any kind of accurate picture. After all, how often does the "great hero" Kakarott lose a battle?"

"Eh, more than you'd think," Goku replied, adding in a humble yet playful laugh. "Maybe it would've been impossible for me to win, but I like to think there's always something else I could've done."

"If you're referring to the way you seemed to be holding your own against a Super Saiyan," Vegeta began, "recall that your display was only barely enough to intrigue my curiosity. Hell, if I hadn't been in such a good mood from killing Frieza even that might not have been enough."

"Yeah, well, whatever your reason, it has been a little longer than the one year I promised you, hasn't it?" he said, keeping his voice steady. "Too bad, I would've liked to knock you down a few pegs a lot sooner."

"Hah!" the prince laughed aloud. "It took every ounce of willpower I had to refrain from permanently putting an end to that insufferable clownish grin of yours," Vegeta observed wryly. "Each day I saw you was like a slap in the face, reminding me that I had willingly agreed to postpone our battle."

"That bad, huh? Well, I guess there's no time like the present," Goku added.

Vegeta paused a moment, lowering his hands to his sides and seeming to calm down slightly. "Indeed, even if we're a couple of corpses. I'd say this proves once and for all that some feuds have the power to transcend even death."