Family: Ox King
Letting Go
It was a bittersweet day for Gyu-Mao. Today, ChiChi, his daughter, his only child, married. She married Son Goku, the adopted grandson of his former martial arts sparring partner, Son Gohan.
Son Goku was a happy, naïve young man. He was also the World Strongest Man defeating the son of King Piccolo at the World Martial Arts Tournament. Gyu-Mao didn't know what the future lied for the two but he hoped for a long and happy marriage.
He wanted them to have more than he had with his wife. Gyu-Mao and his beloved queen only had three years together. His wife had over a year with ChiChi before she died. Her death sent Gyu-Mao spiraling into a sea of despair and anger. His daughter was the only bright spot in his life but it didn't squelch his thirst for anger, wickedness and greed for his growing treasures. It took him much too long to realize his own actions brought the curse of the fire around his castle.
It wasn't until a chance meeting of Son Goku carrying the power pole of his former sparring partner that brought the end to the curse. The boy was amazing. He helped ended the curse around his castle and bonded himself to his daughter that brought them to this very day.
His daughter's wedding.
Eighteen years ago when he held baby ChiChi in his arms, he imagined her future like any parent. He also imagined the day he will give his daughter away to her husband. Gyu-Mao always imagined he would give his future son-in-law a hard time. ChiChi was precious to him and any man who wanted her as his wife would have to prove himself worthy of his daughter.
Gyu-Mao never imagined a man like Son Goku for his daughter. So happy, so strong, so naïve and so in love with food. He laughed recalling how much Goku ate at the reception. Gohan was the same way around food. Ah, Gohan. Wherever he is, his heart was bursting with pride seeing how his grandson turned out.
Right now, Goku and ChiChi were on the dance floor, having their first dance as a married couple. The band played a love ballad ChiChi picked herself. It was one of ChiChi's favorite songs. Her eyes were closed as she leaned on Goku as they danced. She looked so happy whereas Goku's face was completely red with embarrassment holding ChiChi so close to him. Gyu-Mao figured Goku was also concentrating on the dance steps in his head. He saw the two practiced this dance for days. It impressed him how Goku was so focused on getting this right for ChiChi. Gyu-Mao never heard Goku openly declare his feelings for ChiChi but he knew the young man cared for his daughter and those feeling will grow into something more over time.
As the love ballad came to an end, Gyu-Mao found himself rising from his seat and walking onto the dancefloor where his daughter and son-in-law stood. Another song began. One he picked out. Having gone through rehearsals, Goku knew what this song was and what he had to do. Goku stepped aside and moved to the edge of the dancefloor.
Gyu-Mao took ChiChi's hand in his as they stood alone in the center of the dance floor. It was their moment now.
It was time for the father/daughter dance.
Gyu-Mao gazed at his daughter lovingly as they moved to the song. Eighteen years passed in a blink of an eye. He felt as if it was yesterday he held his baby girl for the first time. Her tiny body could fit in one of his large hands. He vowed to never leave her, never let her go. Now eighteen years later, he was being forced to break his own words. He had to let her go to her husband.
"You look so beautiful, ChiChi. Just like your mother."
"Thank you, Dad." The smile she gave her father at the compliment faded as she confessed, "I wish she was here."
"She's here. In my heart. In yours. She will always be here."
"What would Mom think of Goku?"
Gyu-Mao glanced at his son-in-law for a moment. "She would've loved him. She would think he's a bit strange but she would've loved him." ChiChi giggled. She looked so different today. Gyu-Mao known ChiChi all his life but he never saw this bliss on her face before. "I've never seen you so happy, ChiChi."
"I've never been so happy." ChiChi looked at Goku. He stood at the edge of the dance floor watching them. When her eyes turned on him, Goku put a hand on the back of his head and rubbed it nervously. "I'm so lucky to have Goku as my husband."
Eighteen years passed. His daughter was married and ready to start life with her husband. It saddened Gyu-Mao he wouldn't see his daughter everyday and he would no longer be her protector but he took solace into why. When the song ended, Gyu-Mao knew it was time. He walked ChiChi to where Goku stood. He took Goku's hand and placed it in ChiChi's. It was hard letting his daughter go but he knew she was in safe hands.
