Chapter 6; Shaken
"You know what? I think we should pick these flowers, they do represent the lands of your father. It would be a respect towards the lands we will share our lives on and-"
Ré just kept on rambling and didn't even notice when ChiChi sighed, or how she turned to lay on her back. Enjoy the warm rays of sun hitting her skin. Her eyes scanning the blue sky as her ears tried to focus on the songs of birds in the distance.
Just another perfect sunny day lost to arranging a fricking wedding. She frowned and did not even try to hide the frown from her face. Why should she? Ré wasn't even looking at her.
How she just wanted to spend the day in the sun, running the fields and sparring with the air. She would have loved to just venture in the forest and enjoy the sounds of the nature. Away from the bustling of the village, prying elderly eyes or annoying giggles of girls.
Her whole day lost, yet again.
"Because this is going to be one of the best days of our lives, the happiest, the best and," he sighed happily and grinned at her, still oblivious to the fact that his future wife did not listen to a single word he was saying, "Sometimes Ré, just sometimes, I think you talk too much." ChiChi finally said and sat up straight.
"What?" he asked a little dumbfounded.
"You talk too much; you worry too much about the wedding." She sighed and turned to him, "You've changed the set of flowers you wanted to use for the wedding for the third time this week! People are really going crazy now, just make up your mind and stop trying to change everything."
Now this was an image ChiChi could get used to, a gaping speechless Ré starring at her with wide eyes.
"But, don't you-" she placed her index finger on his lips, "Don't finish that sentence… please, our wedding will be the best wedding any one has ever seen. It will be perfect!" she smiled sweetly at him and hoped, with that, she would win him over and he'd at least be quiet for the next five minutes.
He just smiled at her, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, but at the moment she couldn't care less.
Finally silence, her finger still on his mouth which was now carrying a smile. She smiled back at him and adored the man who gave her finger a tiny kiss. Taking her hand in his hands he pressed it against his lips, "You're amazing, you do realize that?" he asked her.
"Oh I do." She smiled wickedly at him and moved to sit on her knees, leaning forward so that both their noses touched.
And so her fiancé finally shut up, lying silently by her side as she enjoyed the silence that came with the summer weather. A blue sky above their heads and a cool breeze blowing through their hair.
It didn't take long before Ré fell asleep and ChiChi found herself starring alone at the blue sky above her. She watched the clouds move over them faster and faster. The songs of the birds changed over and over again. The sun reached a higher peek of the day and Ré still... kept on snoring.
To say that she was bored by now, was an understatement. With one look at her fiancé she stood up and set out to go outside of the village walls. Taking a deep breath she walked up on the streets. The entire village was always up and alive, bustling about. Every single villager was kind and worked hard for their family and village. It was soothing to walk through the village for a while. Peaceful, not a single foul thing was up in the air. She loved it.
Greeting the village's baker, who grinned at her holding up her favourite cakes. Smiling she continued to walk into the direction of the village's gates. Greeting people as she went. The village's head technician welcomed a group of curious children while he was working on a broken down car. Very clearly he told all the boys with big wide eyes exactly what certain parts of the car did.
The grocer walked out of his store carrying large crates of fresh fruit and vegetable. "Good morning princess." At this she cringed but forced a smile on her lips.
Although she wasn't real royalty, the villagers still saw her as the princess. Her father as the great Ox King. She never liked their titles, it gave her unwanted attention. It gave her an image that just didn't fit her. Princesses were proper young ladies, who did what they were told. Wore pretty dresses and get taught in how to give the best fakes smiles to their people.
No, she wasn't the princess, she'd much rather just call her father the mayor of the village. The mayor's daughter didn't sound as dramatic as princess.
The gates of the village came in sight and ChiChi's smile widened as she approached it. She waved at the guards who stood by each side and was about to make haste. Not being able to wait till she got out of the castle grounds and into the 'wild', like her father liked to call the world outside the walls of the village.
But before she set out to run to the gates, she suddenly spotted something orange and blurry race through the houses on the east side of the village. Stopping dead in her tracks and cocking her head slightly to the left.
"Goku...?"
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For crying out loud! What do these women want from him?! First they offer him food, then they ask whether or not he would like their daughter's hand in mayanage or whatever.
He figured that taking one's hand in mayanage had something to do with sticking their daughter's hand in a sauce of some sort and then eat it! Now Goku was no stranger to weird and perhaps slightly repulsive meals, but eating a young girl's hand in some strange sauce, was just not right to him.
"Why the hell would I want to do that?" he asked. "I've got enough really, no need to be taking your daughter's hand." he wasn't sure but he vaguely remembered sticking out his tongue out as if he was disgusted.
It made absolute sense to him, so when everyone in the room started to pause, their eyes widened he for a few seconds thought he had missed something. Someone old fell and broke their hip, or maybe something was on fire. For a split second he even thought that there might be a monster of some sort standing behind him.
Apparently, there wasn't a monster. No one broke a bone and as far as he could smell, nothing was burning. Just when he turned to look at the woman who offered her daughter's hand in mayanage, she was holding up a frying pan. Her face was red with fury and she spat, calling him a bastard. Arrogant bastard in fact.
Goku figured that that may have been the right moment to get up and leave.
He's been running since then.
Sighing he rubbed his full stomach. At least he got to eat everything she had given him –before- she decided to kill him.
Wandering through the narrow alleys running through the houses he headed towards the high wall surrounding the entire village. But just as he was about to run towards the wall he stopped dead in his tracks. Sensing someone was approaching him.
"What are you up to?" a female voice called and he jumped up. "I AM S-" but he stopped half way, seeing the woman who spoke. He grinned looking at the young woman named ChiChi standing just a few feet away from him.
She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Well?"
He laughed nervously, "I think I made someone in your village really angry."
"You?" She laughed at that, "Wow, how do you do that? Be the hero and well respected champion of the people, to someone who just pisses people off?"
Goku shrugged his shoulders, "No idea!" he grinned sheepishly, "Apparently the woman didn't like the fact that I didn't want to eat her daughter's hand." He quirked up an eyebrow, "Is that normal around here? To offer their daughter's hand in mayanage."
"Mayanage?!" ChiChi asked puzzled, "They offered their daughter's hand in mayanage?"
Goku nodded.
ChiChi remained silent for a few seconds, narrowed her eyes at him "Don't you mean marriage?"
"Is that a sauce too?"
She laughed, "Goku!" walking up towards him she grabbed his shoulder, "I think that woman asked if you wanted to take her daughter's hand in marriage. Which means that she didn't want you to eat her daughter's hand, but only to marry her."
Goku narrowed his eyes at her, "Are you sure?"
Again she laughed and shook her head, "I can't believe you Goku. Of course I am sure!"
Laughing a bit more Goku just smiled and watched her rubbing her eyes. "You astound me." With a wink she let go of his arm. "I just hope that that's a good thing." He chuckled.
"A very good thing." She told him, "So, what were you up to?"
Shrugging his shoulders he stretched his back and legs, "Wanted to get out," ChiChi narrowed her eyes at him as he did a few warming up exercises. "Over the wall?" she asked to which he nodded. As if the wall was right at his own height, and not about 25 feet high.
"Goku... we could just leave through the gates. You don't have to overdo yourself by trying to climb or jump over that wall." Crossing her arms, again he shrugged his shoulders. "It's a great warming up exercise".
"Show off." She mumbled with a smirk.
"Wait, did I just hear, 'We'?".
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure?"
She raised her eyebrow, "Of course I am sure!" the princess spat at the Champion. "Why wouldn't I be?!"
Goku laughed nonchalantly, "I don't think you'd be able to keep up with me." He said, to which ChiChi gasped.
"I resent that! I know you've got some kind of super powers Son Goku, but that doesn't mean that I can't do everything that you can!" Goku laughed at this and jogged a little, "Then I see you on the other side of the wall?" he asked playfully, "Of course... over the wall."
ChiChi stammered, "You've got some nerve mister!"
"Well, if you're not up to it." He jogged a few blocks back. From a distance he could hear ChiChi yell something obscene. Her pretty face turning red with each second. He laughed again and set off, running faster and faster until he reached ChiChi. With one push onto the ground he jumped through the air and landed silently on the edge of the wall.
Her gaping mouth made him laugh even louder.
"It's alright ChiChi! With a bit of practice you'll be able to do this too, in a couple of weeks or so!" Waving, "See you around princess!" he didn't wait for her curses. He quickly jumped off the wall and again landed perfectly on his feet.
Taking a deep breath and letting the air of the forest caress his lungs, he took his first steps through the lush wild life. Feeling a certain surge of energy flaring up behind him. Another grin came, he could hear her swearing some more. A screeching sound of nails dragging down against stone.
On the other side of the wall stood a very angry ChiChi. Glaring at the wall that stood up high and tall in front of her. Gritting her teeth she took a deep breath.
Fine, she may not be as fast and good at jumping over tall walls as Goku was. But who said you had to be able to jump high over this wall to make it to the other end?
Taking a calming breath she turned to look around her. The houses surrounding her were from various sizes. The one nearest the wall, was the highest of them all. It barely stood out the wall. With a smirk she ran towards a shed, jumping up against it. Within seconds she jumped from one house to the next. Quickly climbed and ran over some rooftops. As fast as she could and as silently as she could.
She didn't want her father to know that she was dancing around on the rooftops of the village.
Reaching the highest point near the wall, she took one deep breath. Not bothering to look at how high she was right at that moment. With a tiny yell she set off, running towards the edge and at the last moment she jumped. Flying over the gap between the building she landed properly on her right on top the edge of the wall.
"HA!" She yelled as she tried to balance herself. "Take that!" laughing in triumph. Taking a branch from the nearest tree, ChiChi managed to climb in to the tree and straight down. Once her feet were secure on the soft grounds of the forest ChiChi looked around her.
"Don't tell me you didn't see that!" she yelled at him, her eyes scanning through the lush forest. "Goku?!"
When no one spoke she shook her head, "You've got to be kidding me, first you challenge me but you don't wait to see if I would actually be able to live up to the challenge?!"
Still silence.
"Goku?!"
She frowned, grumbled a bit before she walked through the forest. Muttering something about arrogant fighters and absurd high walls.
Minutes later she found herself in the middle of the forest, "You've made it!" Goku's happy voice popped up causing her to turn around abruptly.
"No thanks to you! Why did you run off?!"
Goku grinned, "Didn't think you'd be able to make it this fast."
She glared at him and placed her hands on her hips, "I'll have you know that you're not the only one around here that can jump."
He smiled, "Really?! You made the jump?!"
Pausing, "Well, no... not like you. But I did manage to make it on top of the wall!" shaking her head, "Ah." Was Goku's reply, he fought hard to keep a smirk from his face. He enjoyed rattling the girl in front of him. Who turned furious with each comment he made.
"You really shouldn't underestimate me Goku." She spoke in a dangerous and low voice and although a warm strange sensation went through him which he had to shake off, he still wasn't scared.
He was excited.
Trying to keep his tone light, "I shouldn't?"
"No, don't think you're the only one who can do a couple of martial arts tricks."
"Tricks?" he laughed, "What kind of tricks?"
She yelled in frustration, "Want to wait and find out?!" she growled.
"Is that a challenge?"
"A duel!" she yelled, "You and me, fight, right now."
He jumped and smirked, "Ah, I could use a little exercise."
"Little huh?!" jogging a bit on the spot, stretching her back and legs. "Just wait and see hero."
Before Goku could say anything to rattle her off some more, the young princess yelled and threw her first punch. Seconds later they were sparring in between the tree's, Goku dodging every blow she handed out at him.
Still wearing the same smirk, laughing each time she missed.
From the distance you could hear the laughter of a young man and the cries of anger of a young woman. He blocked her knee from hitting him below the belt, "Now that's just mean." He laughed again as he pushed her and her leg back.
"Come on Chi! Where are your tricks?!"
"You!" she couldn't hide the tiny laugh in her voice, "Just fight back!" she yelled, "Nah, I would hurt you!"
They fought, ChiChi chased, threw many missed and blocked punches. She was starting to lose her breath, but couldn't help but be excited. Her anger was long gone by now and strangely enough she laughed along with him.
It was no huge secret to her that the hero playing with her was stronger and more experienced in fighting then she was. Just by seeing him move around away from her, blocking her punches and kicks with so much ease sent a huge wave of excitement through her body.
A challenge was standing straight in front of her, eager to take the challenge she felt the excitement take complete control over her entire body. Although she found herself constantly gasping for air, she still felt another surge of energy flow through her body. Making her punches and kicks stronger.
They swiftly moved through the trees of the forest and soon reached the edge of the forest.
When all of the sudden they paused for just a few seconds. ChiChi's face so close to his, it nearly startled the both of them. She didn't know how she had managed to get this close to him, even Goku looked at her with wide eyes. A few seconds passed and she had to act, fast. A punch wouldn't hurt him, a kick wouldn't be strong enough to send him back. With a smirk she reached under his arm and pinched him, taking a piece of his skin between her hands and twisting it.
Goku yelped and jumped back, to which ChiChi laughed.
"WHAT?!" he rubbed the sore spot under his arm.
"What?! You've been playing mean all the time, don't think I'll let you get away with that!"
He frowned but couldn't hide the smile that came to him, "You'd better run now..."
Quirking up an eyebrow ChiChi's eyes widened as he began to run toward her. Yelping she ran as fast as she could away from him, Goku hot on her trail.
"Come back here!" he yelled playfully, a grin on his face so wide it nearly broke his skin. If he tried a little harder he would have been by her side in no time, but knowing exactly where she was heading off to he wanted her to give the idea of being a head of him.
ChiChi's feet ran as fast as they could carry her, his footsteps far behind her. She crossed the long plains of sands stretching out from the forest straight in to small perch of forest a head of her.
"Faster, faster!" she screamed hearing his footsteps getting closer and closer. Jumping she pushed herself straight through the first trees belonging to the tiny perch of forest. Running for a little while longer she suddenly stopped.
His footsteps were nowhere to be heard.
Gulping she carefully turned to see where he could be. Her heart still racing, her lungs still begging for the fresh air. And just when she decided that she should keep on running, she turned around and slammed straight into something hard.
"Gotcha." Goku's voice came as he quickly grabbed her and swung her up in his arms.
"What are you doing?!" ChiChi screeched as she tried to break herself free from his strong hold. "Playing mean." He said and ran through the forest, straight on to an old familiar path leading to a magical looking pool.
Her eyes widened, "Goku, no... don't do that." She laughed nervously. "That's just too mean, to low for you, right? Goku?!"
He grinned and held her up, reaching the edge of the lake.
"Up for a swim?!"
"Goku!" ChiChi gasped and just as he was about to drop her into the water the ground suddenly began to shake bit.
"Wow..." Goku tried to find balance and took ChiChi back, again another powerful shake of the ground nearly sent them both into the water.
"What's happening?!" Goku yelled and placed ChiChi on the ground, once the shaking stopped.
"An earthquake!" and another shake shook the entire world around them. Branches from the nearest tree's fell down and Goku grabbed ChiChi, pulling her down and shielding her from the branches. The same shake caused the water of the lake to splash about as the trees around them, the ground underneath them started to tear apart.
"Goku!" ChiChi screamed fearing for her friends life as he pushed her down the ground. Hearing the large branches landing on his hard back.
When the shake finally stopped Goku quickly jumped up, "You okay?" he asked ChiChi as he took her face in his hands. She nodded at which he grabbed her hand and fled through the forest. Another shake caused them to lose their footing.
"Get up!!" Goku ordered and as the shake shook the trees out of the ground Goku managed to swing ChiChi in his arms and leap straight out of the ground that was starting to crumble away from underneath them.
Hiding her face in his neck she screamed and tightened her hold around his neck.
Avoiding another tree from falling on top of them Goku saw the sand fields in front of him. Running as fast as he could he finally managed to reach the edge and jump straight on to the sands.
The shaking had stopped and ChiChi quickly looked around her, stilling holding onto Goku's neck.
"Did it stop...?" she asked as she moved her legs from his arms and stood on the sand on her own.
"I thi-" another shake stopped him, feeling the sand slipping away from underneath them. Goku yelled, "FLYING NIMBUS!!", picked ChiChi up again as her feet were starting to sink through the sand. His own feet drowning deeper and deeper into the sand.
His long time friend reached them, Goku tossed ChiChi on the cloud, she quickly turned and grabbed his hands. "Hold on tight!" she yelled as she and Nimbus tried with all their might to pull him out off the sand.
With a few strong pulls Goku was finally free and pulled onto the safety of the cloud.
"You okay?!" he asked ChiChi again, her eyes wide she nodded. Goku tried to smile reassuringly at her, but his eyes widened the moment he saw what stood in front of them.
Terrifying screams of villagers reaching their ears. The Ox Kingdom... surrounded by waves of flames reaching high up into the sky.
"Oh no..."
To Be Continued...
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A/N: To those who may have wondered, 'mayanage' means absolutely nothing. Goku misunderstood the woman who offered her daughter's hand in marriage and thought she meant 'mayanage' or whatever...
Any way, sorry for letting you wait this long. I got held up by getting a new house, getting pregnant and having a baby and finding and having a new job. So... yeah, again, sorry.
If you have just tuned in and hadn't noticed this story before... then uhm, WELCOME! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think. Any feedback is more than welcome.
Fair warning to flamers though, if you have nothing useful to say, then don't say it at all.