Shadows of the Heart: A Love Reborn

Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

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The wind whipped past them as Goku and Vegeta flew toward their ship, the heavy weight of the battle still lingering in the air. Karia lay unconscious in Goku's arms, her body drained from the intense fight with Broly. Despite the concern in Goku's eyes, there was a deep sense of confusion gnawing at him. What had happened back there? Broly had always been a force of nature, unpredictable and wild, but never like this.

Vegeta flew beside them, his expression hard as stone. The fight had left him agitated, but more than that, he knew exactly what Broly had done-and it infuriated him.

"What the hell was that, Kakarot?" Vegeta snapped, glancing at Goku with a look of exasperation. "Broly bit her, Kakarot. You let him bite her!"

Goku frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "I don't get it, Vegeta. What happened? I've fought Broly before, but this... this was different. What was with that attack? And why did he bite her like that? I don't understand."

Vegeta's scowl deepened. He knew exactly what Broly had done, but explaining it to Goku right now seemed like a waste of time. The situation was urgent, and the fight was still fresh in his mind. Karia's safety was his priority, and if Broly had truly claimed her, things were about to get much worse.

"That's not just a fight, Kakarot. Broly didn't just hurt her-he marked her. That bite... it's a claim. He's asserting dominance," Vegeta explained through clenched teeth, his voice low and grim. "Broly isn't just some brute anymore. That was a declaration."

Goku's face remained puzzled, but a look of realization began to seep in. "A claim? What do you mean by that? I don't get it. Why would Broly do that? What's his game?"

Vegeta's gaze hardened, and he glanced over at Karia's unconscious form. "Broly has always been unpredictable, but this... this is different. The way he bit her-it wasn't just random. It's a Saiyan thing, Kakarot. We don't bite people like that unless we mean something by it. He's marked her as his. I'm sure of it."

Goku's eyes widened. The realization hit him hard. He had seen Saiyans fight before, but he had never encountered anything like this. Broly wasn't just fighting Karia-he was claiming her. That bite wasn't just a sign of power; it was personal. But Goku couldn't wrap his mind around why Broly would do that. It made no sense.

Karia stirred in Goku's arms, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She groaned softly, a pained expression crossing her face as she tried to move. Her hand instinctively reached for her neck, and when she touched the area where Broly had bitten her, she winced.

"What... happened?" Karia whispered, her voice weak and hoarse. "What... what did he do to me?"

"We're almost back to the ship, Karia," Goku said gently, his concern for her apparent. "You're safe now. We'll get you back inside and let the healing systems do their work. You passed out after the fight."

Karia's head was spinning, and her vision was blurry as she struggled to piece together the events. She remembered the fight with Broly-the way he had appeared out of nowhere, the intense clash between them-but the moment he had bitten her still sent shivers down her spine.

"He... he bit me?" Karia murmured, looking up at Goku, her voice filled with confusion. "Why would he do that?"

Goku exchanged a glance with Vegeta, who was hovering nearby, his arms crossed and his expression stone-cold.

Vegeta let out a sigh of frustration. "I told you, Kakarot. Broly didn't just bite her to hurt her. He marked her. That's what Saiyans do when they claim someone. And now that she's been marked, Broly's not going to let her go so easily."

Karia's heart skipped a beat at Vegeta's words. Her hand instinctively went to her neck again, the feeling of the bite still fresh in her mind. "Marked me? What does that even mean?"

Goku's confusion mirrored her own. "I don't understand, Vegeta. Why would Broly do that? We've fought him before, and he's always been unpredictable, but this is... different. What is he trying to do?"

Vegeta looked at Goku with a mixture of annoyance and understanding. "It means that Broly has some kind of claim over her now. He's a Saiyan, Kakarot. And you know how we are. We don't just fight for fun. If he bit her like that, it's because he wants her for himself. Whether she likes it or not, he's marked her, and he's not going to just let her walk away from this."

Karia's head was spinning with this new information. Broly-who had always been an unstoppable force-had done something completely foreign to her. He had marked her like she was some kind of trophy, and the realization sent a wave of anger through her chest.

"I don't care what Broly thinks," Karia growled, her voice filled with defiance as she glared at Vegeta. "I'm not some object for him to claim. I'll fight him again if I have to."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp as he studied her. "You'd better be ready, Karia. Broly isn't someone you can take lightly. He won't back off so easily."

Karia nodded, her resolve firming up. "I'll handle him. No matter what he thinks he's doing, I won't let him control me."

As they reached the ship, Goku carefully set Karia down on a medical bed. The ship's systems kicked in immediately, working to heal her injuries. But despite the comfort of the ship's technology, Karia could still feel the weight of Broly's bite, both physically and emotionally. It wasn't just about the fight anymore. Broly had left a mark on her, one that she wasn't sure she could shake.

Goku looked down at her, his voice soft. "Don't worry, Karia. We'll figure this out. We won't let him take you. I promise."

But Karia wasn't so sure. Broly's actions had left her with more questions than answers, and the uneasy feeling in her chest only grew stronger.

"I hope you're right, Goku," Karia whispered. "But I'm not sure what's coming next."

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