He couldn't believe it's been three years since he last saw his friends. Training with Kami-sama was amazing, and he learned more than he could ever want, but sometimes it did get kind of lonely. Don't get him wrong, the time he spent with Kami-sama and Mr. Popo was great, but they confused. He couldn't understand what they were talking about some of the times, especially when it came to looking over Earth. Often times, he found himself yearning for the company of his friends.
He missed talking to Krillin, telling him stuff he didn't know he could even think of. He missed traveling with Bulma, hunting dragon balls and all the fun adventures they had as they trekked around the world. He missed Master Roshi, even if he was more than a little perverted. After Grandpa Gohan's death, he was the one he felt he could call a grandfather to him. He missed Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, Tien, everyone.
It was refreshing being able to talk to everyone again. In those years that he was up in the lookout, everyone changed, but at the same time they didn't. Sure their looks have changed, but they still act like they used to. It almost seemed like they weren't separated at all.
It was funny to watch Master Roshi get reprimanded by Bulma for feeling her up again. It was sweet to see how great of a bond Chiaotzu and Tien shared. It was nice seeing how much Puar valued his friendship with Yamcha. It was fun to talk to Krillin once again.
It was amazing to be back, and he couldn't be anymore happier. This was where he belong, and he wasn't to leave.
All of them were calmly walking towards the hotel Master Roshi reserved for them, ready to turn in for the day so they can prepare for the tournament tomorrow. He was sniggering lightly to something Krillin, his friend gesticulating his arms exaggeratedly. If he didn't have such a strong sense of smell, he didn't think he would have even noticed it.
He caught whiff of a familiar smell, something he smelled before when he was right by a lake, eating apples and of a girl that continued to haunt his dreams for the past years. It was the distinct smell of wild flowers being given to him, and of smoke and fire, and suddenly he was awake, and alive, and he recognized that smell.
He turned around quickly, trying to find where it came from. It was becoming faint, but he finally managed to trace where that unique smell only to be met by a back of a girl with a blue dress and hair as black as night.
Chichi…
Suddenly, he was aware of the steady beat of his heart against him chest.
"Something wrong, Goku?" he heard his best friend asked.
"Huh?" He blinked his eyes and forced his attention away from the retreating figure of the girl towards Krillin, who was looking at him in concern.
"Are you okay?" Krillin asked again. "We arrived at the hotel but we suddenly couldn't find you anywhere. I volunteered to search for you and next thing I know, I just found you standing here staring at nothing."
How long did he stand…
"Oh that, I'm just hungry!" he laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I saw something good and I suddenly noticed how hungry I was."
Krilling stared at him in disbelief before his lips curled in a smile. "Of course," he said. "Why did I even think otherwise? Food will be the only one who could make you like this after all."
Goku didn't bother correcting him, opting to snicker with him Krillin. He didn't think- ready more like- to tell him about his whole thing with Chichi. Not because he couldn't trust him, but he just didn't think that it was something he needed to share.
"Come on," Krillin turned away from him with a wave of his hand. "Let's get back to the other so we can go eat. Knowing you, you probably need a whole buffet to feed you."
Goku watched Krillin walk away from him before he turned back to the direction of where he last saw the girl, only to realize he wasn't there anymore.
He didn't know missing Chichi was this painful.
Goku stared at the ceiling of the room he shared with Krillin. The light of the city softly illuminated the room, but it didn't distract him from his thoughts. He was honestly having a good day, talking and laughing with his friends again after so many years. He missed them, and finally being able to speak with them was something he's been looking forward to.
Except, he didn't expect to be reminded of the person he was longing for the most.
He learned more than just fighting when he was with Kami-sama. From Kami-sama he learned that life was precious and one had to make the most of it. He was taught of bonds that was shared between friends and family. He learned of love, and what it meant to give half of your heart to someone and accept theirs. Kami-sama taught all of this to him as they watched all the people down on Earth.
He used to do it a lot. Usually, he was content just to watch his friends from above, but when he learned that maybe he was little bit in love with Chichi, he began observing her more. Watching her curiously as she went about her daily life, falling in love with her more and more with every kind action she made towards the people in their kingdom, yearning for her with every day that passes that he couldn't be with her.
It hurt knowing that he wasn't able to touch her as long as he was training with Kami-sama. He wanted to talk with her, to get to know her intimately and personally, to make her smile that one smile that would make him feel as if he could conquer the world.
He just wanted to be by her side…
He couldn't take it, not being able to do things he wanted. He couldn't take having her taking his mind off of things that should matter to him, even though his heart was screaming that Chichi did matter, and was the most important one. So he occupied himself with training.
Training was good. Training made him forget about his loneliness. Training distracted him from Chichi. For the rest of the time he stayed in Kami-sama's lookout, he forced himself not to think of promised that made his heart skip beats.
But now… now that she was back on his mind, he found that he couldn't get his mind once more. How was she doing? Where was she? Was she still training martial arts with her father? When were they going to be able to meet again?
Did she still love him?
These thoughts have been running in his head the moment he smelled that familiar smell and saw that girl. His mind was trying to convince him that it was Chichi, that she near him and shouldn't let this chance pass by. But he tried to convince himself out of that mind set. After all, why would she be here? She didn't need the money, and he didn't think she would be interested in competing.
It would be nice seeing her again though...
But he can't get distracted now. Many things were going to happen, and he needed to defeat King Piccolo's last minion. It wasn't the time to think of such things.
He's going to see Chichi again, maybe not right now, but soon. He promised. Maybe after the Tournament, he'll drop by Fry Pan Mountain. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.
And maybe, just maybe, he'll be finally able to make his promise to Chichi come true.
