DBZ: In This Forever

Is There Still Hope? United Once More!

"I love you." Zara closed her eyes tight as Buu reached her, feeling the air leave her lungs as she slammed into the rocks behind her. She weakly picked her head up, watching Buu march towards her as she slowly pushed against the ground. She groaned before her arms gave out and she dropped onto her back, waiting for Buu to reach her when she felt a surge of energy. She blinked hard as she propped herself up.

"That can't be right..." Buu charged a blast, aiming it at Zara until a familiar blue suited, spiky haired man fazed into sight between them. Zara's eye widened and she let a weak laugh slip before she dropped her head. "I hope... that's really... you."

Vegeta dropped his fingers from his head, lifting his hand as a ball of energy expanded in his palm. "Stay down, Mizuna. You'll die if you keep this up." He heard her wheeze. "I think I would've died... either way."

He smirked slightly and launched his attack, watching the smoke from the explosion carefully. "He can...absorb people..." Vegeta glanced back to her as she pushed a rock away from her. "Like Cell?" She nodded before falling back down. "Except...you can't stop it...once he gets you." He heard her exhale and felt her energy stabilize as she fell out of consciousness.

"You dare lay your hands on her!? The last creature to act so foolishly, I turned to dust. I'll make you pay!" Vegeta clenched his fist in front of him, bursting into Super Saiyan 2 before launching towards Buu. The monster crouched into Goku's stance, stunning Vegeta before the Prince felt a knee slam into his head. He pressed his hand against the ground and flipped himself to the side, landing on his feet. He pressed a hand to his stinging cheek and smirked. "At least you can hit like Kakarot does." Vegeta launched forwards, digging his fist into Buu's stomach with a demonstration of his full speed. Buu slid back a few feet as Vegeta followed him, launching into a barrage of punches and kicks that put Buu on the defensive. Vegeta raised both of his hands together and drove them into the top of Buu's head, knocking him to a knee before the Prince leaned back to the ground and kicked up. Buu landed on his back as Vegeta straightened up.

"I expected more from someone who so easily bested Kakarot and Mizuna. Maybe it's been so long since I've compared myself to her that I didn't realize how strong I've become." Buu got to his feet and growled as his new golden aura lit up, making Vegeta lose his smirk as he narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm. You take on the traits of those you absorb, which is why you mimic Kakarot so easily. That should apply to his lesser known abilities as well, like our Saiyan ability to become stronger after nearly dying. I bet you're manipulating that ability to convert any damage you take into power."

Buu smirked and crouched into Goku's stance. "This Kakarot you speak of holds you in high regards. It's impressive how quickly you caught on."

Vegeta smirked once more. "A cheap perversion of a warrior won't be enough to defeat a Saiyan, let alone the Prince of all Saiyans!" He bared his teeth and powered up, his aura tearing at the ground around him as the wind howled in his ears. "Time to die!"

He launched forwards, closing in on Buu in a flash as their fists met. Electricity danced around them as they pressed against each other. "Kakarot is disappointed, Prince. He thought you were stronger than this." Buu smirked at the snarl that escaped Vegeta's mouth.

"Don't...listen to him!" Vegeta's mouth shut tight as Zara's voice reached his ears. "He's trying to use your pride against you. He knows what Goku knows, remember?"

Zara got to a knee, growling as she got to her feet. "Mizuna, stay down! I won't say it again!" She growled and staggered slightly before shaking her head. "Dammit, Vegeta! Did you forget who I am!? You fought Frieza alone. You fought Cell alone. You fought Buu alone! You've spent your whole life fighting alone, always just surviving. I will not leave you alone anymore! We are a team! I'd rather die fighting with you than live knowing you fought by yourself! Now make some damn room!"