Chai woke with a gasp and a small moan of disappointment. She shouldn't have been disappointed. In fact, she shouldn't have even been dreaming of him. The dream was so real… and so good.
The woman could feel the moisture pool between her legs and she flushed slightly in embarrassment. In her sister-in-law's house, in the guest bedroom. She hoped her brother wouldn't be able to smell it, and as long as she kept her door closed, maybe he wouldn't.
Even if he did, Gohan probably wouldn't say anything. It'd be too awkward.
And perhaps then finishing would be prudent, the devious part of her mind suggested. Chai slowly ran her fingertips over down the skin of her stomach. It is a good way to relax.
She reached down, brushing over the little patch of hair and slowly ran her two fingers along either side of her bud, catching breath in her throat as she did. Chai realized it had been a long time since she last did this, and for good reason. He was always the subject.
Chai reached even further down, rubbing against her own wet slit as she let herself go back into the dream.
She had been in the forest. It was slightly humid and the sun was going down. Her and Trunks-sa were sparring but for some reason, she didn't have her sai while his sword was still strapped to his back. Sheathed yes, but he could pull it out at any moment.
She had lost her footing and tripped, making it all too easy for him to pin her to the ground - hands on her arms and his legs on either side of her hips, his weight pressed to hers. She had thought she felt something else pressed to her core.
In Chai's own memories though, she vividly knew how that felt. She palmed at her clit while inserting the tips of her fingers inside, creating two rubbing motions that made her moan slightly. Chai breathed heavily as her other hand snaked its way under her shirt. Her tail also snaked under, gently brushing against the other pert nipple.
'You win,' she cheekily told him.
Trunks chuckled slightly. 'And what a prize I won.'
The female saiya-jin startled at this, then felt her eyes widen as he reached down and kissed her hard, tongue sliding against her own. She couldn't help it - she moaned in his mouth, lips moving in tune with his as her hips -
Chai raised her hips to give herself better access. She dipped her fingers even deeper and let out a throaty moan. She couldn't believe how wet she was getting. How wet he still made her. He couldn't know this. Couldn't know she still wanted him so much. Chai squeezed her breast gently, kneading at the flesh as she worked her core. She could feel the tightness starting in her stomach.
Her hips grinded against him, her tail slowly unraveling, and she could feel his body react. Chai needed more though. More touch, more friction. She pushed him harder to her with her furry appendage. He groaned, nipping her bottom lip, then pulled back. The queen gasped at the sudden separation, then threw her back and moaned as Trunks grinded against her.
"Still so eager," he smirked.
Chai palmed her clit harder, then began a smooth circular motion with her fingers. She felt her body rut against her own hand and moaned louder as she got closer, the wetness coating her fingers as she went a little deeper and felt at her own sensitive flesh.
Trunks looked down at her with a dark glint then suddenly pulled his sword from his back. With precision, he cut open the shirt Chai was wearing. He did it slowly, the tearing of the fabric audible to their saiya-jin ears as the cool metal barely grazed her flesh. He didn't cut her - Chai knew he wouldn't - but the possibility that he might excited her.
He used the pointed tip to shove away the ruined fabric. For a moment, it dug into her skin as she breathed and Chai had to bit back a moan. The prince then carefully lifted the middle of her bra with the sharp edge until it split, baring her chest to the night air. Trunks kept his weapon in hand, running its edge along the younger demis skin from her throat to the top of her jeans. The cool sensation was followed by a warm, calloused hand over that same trail, fingers reaching out to caress her scars.
"Touch me," Chai moaned to the empty room, gripping her breast a little harder and running a finger over the nipple. "Kiss me."
He adeptly pushed his sword under her, the flat side to her bare back. Her beast growled it's approval. It was so dangerous yet she trusted him completely. He pulled her to him using only his sword. Chai didn't wait this time. She grabbed him, one hand buried in his soft hair and pulled his lips to hers. He kissed her back with more feeling than last time, pushing the rest of the shirt off of her shoulders. Trunks ran his sword and hand down Chai's back, just as he did her front. She shuddered against his mouth as her own hands pulled at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin as well. It had been so long.
She was getting so close. Chai dipped her fingers in completely, arching at her own intrusion. Her other hand abandoned her breast in order to rub against her sensitive bud with more attention. She licked her lips as moans escaped from in between. So close. Gods. Kami, she needed to get fucked soon…
His flesh was so warm and still rippled with firm muscle, even if he had lost weight over the years. She could feel new scars over his chest and stomach, which both turned her on and pained her. Chai pulled the warrior's shirt off completely and pressed her chest to his.
There was a clatter as Trunks dropped his sword next to him, and lifted Chai to his lap, not pulling away once. Kisses trailed from her mouth to her ear where Trunks nibbled on the tender flesh. He grabbed a handful of black hair, holding Chai's head where he wanted it as he sucked on the base of her neck, a clear intent to mark her. Gods, no one was like this with her. No one could make her give up control.
'Trunks,' she moaned, running her fingers down his back.
There was the sound of tearing fabric again as his sword now opened up her pants from the waistband down, showing off creamy skin and muscular thigh. A moment later he did the same to the other side, then easily sliced her panties open.
"Fuck," Chai moaned. He'd actually never done that before. But Kami it was hot. She pressed harder to herself and let out a throaty groan. Almost there.
'Do you want this?' he whispered in her ear, hand pulling aside the rest of her clothes. She was now fully naked for the young prince, his hands running along the curve of her butt painstakingly slow. 'Do you want me inside you?'
Almost. Gods. She was about to come undone.
"Please," she whimpered.
Trunks suddenly plunged two of his fingers into her, thumb running along her swollen nub, making the queen moan and rut against him. She dug her nails into his flesh, marking him in her own way. Yes, she still wanted this.
She pressed even harder. She was there. Just about.
'Say you're mine, Chai.'
"Yes! I… I-!"
"Your Majesty, do you have a moment?"
You're fucking kidding me.
The queen sighed and clicked her tongue. The moment now entirely ruined. She already felt her tongue languish for a drink. Thank Kami he didn't hear anything. The way those balls work, you had to project your presence into it to be seen and heard.
She covered herself and picked up the orb, attempting to hide her irritation.
"Basil, I hope this is good news."
He looked a little better than the day before yesterday. At least his hair was no longer charred, though his ponytail seemed shorter than she remembered.
"Depends on your definition, ma'am. I have compiled a list of the dead. Those within the kingdom have been notified, however, there are those with loved ones outside of the kingdom. I assumed you wanted to deal with that personally."
"You assumed correctly," Chai sighed. "How long is the second list?"
"About 27 with family outside of the kingdom."
"That's shorter than I expected."
"There were -ahem- several dead that we could not identify…"
"Several? I need a more specific number than that,"
"200," Basil-san said, quickly.
"That's…"
"Unacceptable, I know."
Chai kept a hand to the sheet that covered her and reached into the bedside drawer for a pen and… she supposed the back of a few envelopes would have to do. She couldn't help the agitated flick of her tail.
"Go ahead and give me info for the families… skip Clove-san… I know where to find his family," the queen muttered.
Visiting the various families was worse than the war itself. It always was. Some didn't speak as she gave her condolences, some shared things like young Patti-chan wanted to be a doctor after her time as a field medic.
'It's too bad that Horse soldier took her head so she couldn't help your soldiers'
'Too bad doesn't cover it, Mrs. Fendu.'
When Chai visited the sister of an old veteran who wanted one last hurrah, she told her that it was pointless to visit his children because they hadn't spoken to him in 18 years.
'My, dear, you were what? 10? Still just a princess… 10… Vero would sometimes see his oldest here when she was about 10. Back then, their mother wasn't so horrible - trying to keep the kids from him.. The three of us would go fishing and just for his little girl, he'd throw the fish back every time.'
'That's lovely. Vero-san was such a fierce man - it's good to know he had some softness. I'm so sorry Anoua-san'
Some blamed her. Some just slammed the door in her face. Some invited her in for tea, coffee, liquor, milk, -whatever- and told her that it wasn't her fault. Those were the worst.
Chai touched down in front of the dojo dressed all in black. This was her last stop. It was chilly high up in the mountains where the Tien-Shin Style Dojo was located. Several young men with shaved heads stopped and bowed at her, no doubt a bit of their master's teaching. Ten was always a bit formal.
The three-eyed master stood tall before his students, watching carefully as they practiced their ka-ta's. Chai walked quietly along the side, doing her best not to disturb. She noted his third eye glance in her direction then returned to face forward with the other two. Ten, however, did not move.
"Son Chai," he said quietly as she approached him. "What brings you so far west?"
"Bad news I'm afraid. Where might I find your tempestuous wife?"
"Is it Clove?" Ten frowned.
"Yes," Chai nearly whispered.
"She is tending the garden. If you follow the halls all the way east you'll find her."
The dojo wasn't terribly big, Chai found. She only passed a few rooms before she found herself back outside where Launch knelt among carnations, goldenrod, belladonna, and dandelions.
"Can ya believe the ignorance of some people?" the Blonde form said, gesturing at a yellow bud. "They think dandelions are just weeds. Just invasive, but they're really useful for medicine and stuff. My nicer side cooks with them sometimes."
"I'm surprised to find you out here. I thought this would be more Blue's thing."
"Heh. It is. But.. I don't know.. Keeps me outta trouble when I can't run my truck. And staying outta trouble keeps Ten close to me."
Chai walked slowly towards the woman and crouched down there with her. She wouldn't look at Launch, but kept staring at a blue flower. Several times, the queen turned over the small box within her pocket.
This is the right thing to do.
She pulled the tiny box with the ring, intended for herself, and offered it to the blonde. Chai still couldn't look at her, instead staring at the velvet container as she spoke.
"I hope you can continue to stay out of trouble," she said quietly. Gods, she would need a drink after this.
Launch took the box but didn't say anything. Instead, she trembled violently, biting her lip and shaking her head. Chai felt Ten's energy appear nearby. For such a large man, he took surprisingly gentle steps as he went to his wife and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"There was a very large battle. If I knew how bad… I.. I didn't think he'd fall…"
"Chai, I'm not an idiot! I married a fighter and my - Clove - came up in your army… This kind of stuff… it's… it happens, okay!?"
"Will there be any services?" Ten asked calmly.
Chai closed her eyes. She hadn't even thought that far…
"I'll let you know the details," she said as she stood.
Ten nodded. "Thank you, Chai."
"Ye-yeah.. Thanks," Launch agreed.
Chai bowed to the two, her eyes filling with tears but she wouldn't cry. Not here.
"I'm so sorry," she then turned. Once the demi got a few yards away, Launch called out to her again.
"What would you have said!? Don't lie!"
Chai stopped, staring at the sun as it moved ever so slowly in the sky. Not a cloud marred it.
"I don't know… but I would have considered it… I.. I think I could have…"
Chai took off into the sky. She hoped they would understand. She'd been flying at top speed for ten minutes before wondering why her cheeks were horribly cold and her eyes stung. Of course. She shook her head and kept going until she reached Gohan's. She hoped no one was home.
For once, she got her wish. There was a note on the fridge that Videl and Pan went grocery shopping. Gohan, of course, was still at the school teaching for another few hours.
Chai went silently to the bathroom and striped off her clothing without a thought then turned the shower on very hot. No matter that it would likely make her tail fluff. Tears were still coming down her cheeks every now and then. She'd cry for a few minutes then settle down. A memory from earlier in the day would then enter her mind again and she'd begin sniffling and bawling once more. Once the shower began to steam the room, she got in and sat at the bottom of the top, letting the spray wash over her. If she could ignore the shuddering in her body, then she wouldn't have to know when she began crying again.
Part of her kind of wished someone was home. Or that she had gone to Mt. Paozu instead. So she could at least be near someone willing to call her on her shit and make her admit that she wasn't okay.
She sat there and tried to remember what it felt like the last time someone held her.. Oh yeah… Not so long ago…
She pressed her head against the shower wall behind her.
We're not going there.
It had already begun though. Coupled with the dream she'd had the night before, Chai could vividly see blue eyes and feel warm skin being held against her.
'Come here.'
Mate. My mate, her beast purred and Chai let it have it's way for now.
The queen shook her head and knelt under the water with her head bowed. She closed her eyes and could feel the rustle of sheets and his firm body moving against hers as they kissed and nipped along each other's bodies so many years ago. They knew things would end but pretended they wouldn't. They knew the whole world might end in a few days but fuck it. Or maybe not 'fuck it' but it increased their desperation to be near each other.
Chai licked her lips and focused on these memories. Tried hard to remember what his lips felt like against her throat, or how his fingertips would press against her most sensitive parts, demanding her release.
'Cum for me, Princess.'
The queen let out a soft moan. Part of her brain felt so wrong. Why should she seek pleasure now? But Chai just wanted a break.. Just a moment to feel something else… even if it would hurt later.
She could remember how he held her to him, his touch on her breasts, stomach and core gentle but his grasp across her shoulders possessive as tongue and teeth kneaded her neck, and long lavender hair tickled her back. How it made her beast scream to be claimed.
'Tell me if I'm too rough.'
Chai pressed against her clit again, starting what she never finished. She tried to remember and imitate the way he used to touch her back when she'd never been touched before. The demi gasped at her own attempts. It wasn't the same but it was still good as wetness coated her fingers.
'I'll never hurt you.'
She could feel his breathe against her skin as he whispered to her. Even when he simply breathed, it gave her goosebumps to feel his own ragged breathing match her own as he fingered her, slowly going from one to two and increasing his pace in accordance to her moans.
'I'll never let anything hurt you.'
Chai didn't know which was better: his touch or his promises. She now added three fingers inside herself and that almost felt as good as she remembered. She grabbed her breast and squeezed, gently bouncing against her own hand. She was missing something though.
Chai moved the hand on her breast to her butt and rubbed her rear against it. If she tried hard enough, she could feel her shock at his hardness being pressed against her. How he grinded against her ass in time with the ministrations of his hand.
'Feel that, Princess? Feel how much I want you?'
"Yes," Chai moaned, moving faster inside herself. She replaced the hand on her ass with her tail, and began to rub on her clit inside, stimulating herself completely. That warmth and tightness came back to her quickly. She focused on the memories, the boldness she felt when she grabbed his thighs behind her to get even closer and grinded against him in return. The throaty groan he released in surprise and how that made her wetter in response. The feel of his lips soft against her neck as he murmured her name.
'Cum for me, my dear Prince.' she had told him. 'I want to feel you cum against me,'
'Heh, you first, Princess.'
It took all four fingers to mimic what his three fingers suddenly inside her felt like. She began rubbing her clit in circles and let out a loud moan. Thank the gods no one was home. And just like in her memory, Chai was seconds from it now. Warmth trickled down her thighs as she moaned and rutted herself. Seconds from sweet -
The air stilled suddenly as a thick, oozing power surged up a few blocks over. Her stomach felt hollow as she felt it out and remembered…
Chai turned off the shower and stepped out, using ki to dry herself completely before stepping back into her clothes and taking to the sky once more. It didn't surprise her to see all of the other fighters there, sans Tenshinhan, standing outside of the gates of Mr. Satan's mansion as though they were a personal guard. The queen landed between Piccolo-san and Tsuchi-chan. She realized that she didn't have her sai on her, but against this enemy, they did absolutely no good before. Inside, Majin Buu's power steadily increased.
Beside her, Tsuchi trembled. It was just enough for her sister to notice.
"Tsu-chan," Chai whispered.
"I-I don't wanna die again…"
"You're not going to. None of us are gonna die again,"
"How many of you died last time?" Future Trunks asked.
No one spoke for a moment, then suddenly Piccolo spoke up.
"Everyone died. Everyone on Earth. Eventually Goku and Vegeta were brought back to life, and so everyone except for them, Dende, and Hercule. "
"Tch... Only because Kakkarot grabbed them…" Vegeta-san spoke up
"Wasn't that a good thing though?" Krillin-san asked, "I mean, Dende made it possible to bring back the people of Earth and Hercule made it possible to get the energy for the Spirit Bomb."
Vegeta-san shook. "What if the Spirit Bomb didn't work? We would have been stuck on the Kai's planet with that Namekian child and that bumbling idiot who is now failing to keep his fat monster in check!"
"Vegeta…" Otou-san replied. They were staring hard at each other, and Chai wasn't sure why. She didn't see what had happened after she had died and gone to Otherworld. She had been too busy looking for her younger siblings.
"So what if that blob goes berserk again!? And destroys the whole Earth again!? Are you going to choose those imbeciles over our sons again!?"
What?!
"Papa?" Chai looked over at her father who stared ahead at the Satan mansion.
"Daddy, is that true?" Goten-kun asked. "You chose Mr. Satan and Dende over, Oni-san, Trunks-kun, and me?"
"Goten, it wasn't like that," Otou-san said, gently. "I meant to grab Dende, sure, because of the Dragonballs and I grabbed Hercule because he was right there. We did bring you all back to life."
Goten just nodded his head and looked towards Satan mansion. The look on his face, however, gave everything away. How betrayed he felt. Chai was hoping her dad was at least there for the twins more than herself and Gohan-kun but that didn't seem to be the case. Damn you, Papa… That power was growing even higher, and now Buu's shrill voice could be heard though no one could make out what he was saying.
"Well, what about you, Vegeta?" Yamcha said, darkly. "Didn't you let Babidi possess you so that you would have the power to challenge Goku? I mean that was the whole reason he even came to be."
The look Vegeta gave Yamcha would have killed the Earthling ten times over if the saiya-jin possessed such an ability. This was something most of their friends and family knew about, except for Vegeta's son… sons...
"You let Babidi possess you!?" Future Trunks asked. He had turned and looked hard at his father in disgust. "Just to challenge Goku-san. For your goddamn pride. It's always your pride that's so important, isn't it?"
Vegeta looked Mirai in the eyes when he answered. "It was foolish and selfish… I sacrificed myself afterwards…"
The time traveler's eyes softened just slightly but his doppelganger was shaking and sparking energy all over.
"So… so you died… to make up for a dumb mistake… I thought… I thought you sacrificed yourself because…. Because you…" he then turned to his father. "And it didn't even work… you died and… He ate everyone! He ate Chai! He ate Goten! He ate Tsuchi! He ate me! … HE ATE MOM!"
"BUU! WANT! CAKE!"
Hercule rushed out of his mansion, and hid behind Papa as Buu's power surged tremendously high, causing the fighters to have to brace themselves as the power blasted in every direction.
"Get ready!" Piccolo-san roared over the sheer energy.
There was a bright pink light emanating from inside that blinded Chai for just a moment. When her sight recovered and the power faded off, she couldn't believe what she was looking at. Her mouth fell open and she staggered forward. There was no longer a mansion inside that gate but a chocolate cake that fit the exact dimensions of Hercule's residence. On top of it was Majin Buu, happily chomping away at Hercule's hershey house.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," the queen said. She couldn't unsee the horrors of five years ago. Everyone being turned into candies, cakes, chocolates, and other confections.
"Aw Buu?! Where are we supposed to live?!" Hercule shouted up.
The pink blob paused and stared down at the "Champ" with chocolate on his cheeks. "BUU. HAVE. CAKE." Then immediately went back to work.
"Aww… Oh!" Hercule then rushed to Gohan-kun. "Gohan! Could I stay with you and Videl and Panny!?"
"Ye-yeah," Gohan said. "But, what about Buu?"
"Oh, he just got grumpy about some cake. He wont be a problem."
Vegeta then seized the man by his shirt. "YOU MEAN WE CAME HERE BECAUSE YOUR PET GOT THE MUNCHIES!?"
Chai felt her stomach turn even more. Fuck all of this. She took off and flew until she found herself in the middle of the Wastelands.
"I can't live with that idiot…" she said to the air that blew around her. She was still midair. "Papa… why?" She knew the decision was the right one, but she couldn't help but wonder if her dad at least had the gut reaction to grab his sons. Vegeta, at least, had that. Vegeta, at least, seemed bothered by his mistakes and her dad… Chai wasn't sure. Everything rolled off of his back disturbingly easy.
"He does his best, Chai-chan," Gohan called to her. He wasn't alone.
"Ototou-san, I love your loyalty to family but let me be angry."
"One-san, you're kind of scary when you're angry. Your eyes bug out, your tail puffs like a squirrel, and you scare the dinos away," Goten-kun replied.
"Right? Chai-san doesn't need the full moon to turn into a giant ape," Trunks-kun joined in.
"You boys better fuse before I get over there," Chai shouted over her shoulder.
Everyone laughed as Chai rolled her eyes, and turned to find that all of the demi's were flying in the air with her. "Seriously?!"
"Yeah, it's the "Our Dads Suck" Convention," Trunks-kun called over.
"Except your old man is probably gonna sulk in the Gravity Room until dinner," Tsuchi-chan replied. "I'm surprised ours realizes what he did."
"Hey, guys, you're not being fair," Gohan chided as Chai slowly made her way closer.
"We know he chose to stay dead, Oni-san!" Goten-kun cried. "Rather than be there to raise Tsuchi and me."
"You guys can stay with me tonight if you'd like," Gohan offered.
"Nah/No thank you," the twins answered, simultaneously while both Trunks' side glanced at each other before the older answered, "Thanks Gohan-san but we'll pass."
"I better get my shit from your place and head home. Hopefully Otou-san isn't there right now," Chai mentioned, before turning to the twins. "Where are you two going?"
"I'm going to see if I can sleepover at Marron's. We haven't played in a while," Tsu-chan answered.
"Trunks-kun, you think I can stay at your place? I know you wanna get away from your dad too but your house is bigger than mine," Goten-kun asked.
"Yeah… he'll probably avoid me for a few days now anyways," Chibi Trunks answered.
Chai nodded her understanding and began flying back to Gohan's house with her brother.
"Chai-chan," Mirai Trunks called to her. "You could stay too, if you wanted."
The demi smiled before turning to him. Her chest ached at the offer and she wished that it didn't. "Thank you, Trunks-sa."
Chai had quickly gathered her things and gone to her parents house with botha rushed apology to Videl and no word to her mother, who simply huffed at her daughter's return but didn't turn her away.
She had the room to herself.
She could still smell his scent, and her inner beast purred at the smell.
No. We're not going to think about him again, she told herself, putting her few clothes back into the top drawer. She pushed down on the stacks and felt something… oh yeah…
Chai pulled out the old jacket before she could stop herself, the faded Capsule Corps logo still on the shoulder. It was ripped and torn from the first time he went into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. She brought the article to her face and breathed deep. Her beast purred even louder at how his mixed scent of desert rain and musk still lingered.
The Ox Queen gave herself permission to go to the bed with that piece of clothing. She was glad that their were two beds in the room. This one would be hers. She'd also have to wash the sheets the next morning. It'll be worth it, her mind deviously decided.
Besides, I never finished.
She stripped to just her tank top and underwear, the jacket on her pillow next to her. Chai hiked her knees up and held the fabric to her nose, letting the smell bring other memories to the surface. She rubbed on herself, not surprised that she was already wet. Her body wanted to finish so bad. Her body wanted him but that was … well… not to be.
Chai focused her pressure gently on her clit as she chose a memory.
"Fuck… that's so good," she whispered. Her hips jerked as she bit her lip.
"Just like that... " she pressed a little harder, making soft circles. "Oh… yes…"
Wetness spread over her fingers, between them as she slowly dipped into herself and rubbed more of that wetness over her clit. Her eyes were tightly closed as her body moved in time with her hand.
"Gods… your tongue is so good…" she moaned. She used the soft side of her fingers to rub inside of herself with a mixture of flicks and fuller caresses, whimpering and moaning as quietly as she could. That tightness returned even quicker.
Chai grabbed a handful of her own hair and rutted against her hand even harder as she coated her clit in more of her own nectar, rubbing it sweetly as she lubricated her body.
"Please… please… so.. Close."
She rubbed inside of herself, letting her palm rest just barely on her soft bud and stimulated both parts simultaneously. Her tail grabbed the jacket and rubbed his scent over her. She and her inner beast wanted to be completely scent marked by him, pleased by him, made to -
"AHHH!" Chai cried out before clamping one hand to her mouth. She continued her muffled moan as she worked her clit to drain her body dry. Cum covered her hand, splattered on her thighs, and dripped from her pussy as Chai finally dropped her body to the mattress, her chest heaving.
She barely remembered to cover herself back up when her father appeared in her room, two fingers to his forehead.
"Chai what…"
She threw everything she could reach at him, screaming her lungs out. If not, she would have blasted the man.
"PAPA GET OUT!"
17 Years Earlier
"Oka-san can't find out, sissy," Gohan-kun reiterated for the fifth time.
"I know, Gohan. I know."
The forest was foggy late at night. It helped their cover as they escaped from the house, as did the tall trees. The fallen autumnal leaves were beautiful and Chai loved their crunch under her heels as she walked.
Once they got a good mile from the house, brother and sister got into stance. It was the third time this week that they went into the forest and the night before Gohan-kun, Krillin-oji-san, and Bulma-oban went into space. Every other night, the siblings went into the forest for Gohan to train his sister, and on the opposite nights he went by himself in order to continue with his own training. Chai understood the nights he left her behind and simply appreciated him taking the time to train her the few nights he had. She hadn't been back to Roshi's yet (or the kingdom, for that matter) and her training with Gohan-kun was fruitful.
"Good," he said. "You remembered to square your shoulders and keep your knees bent. Do you remember how to defend okay?"
"Yes," Chai affirmed, standing with her knees shoulder length apart and one arm lowered to her side and the other raised slightly in front of her in a fist. Gohan, on the other hand, didn't have his arms up like Chai did, but instead loose at his side.
"Here I come!" Otouto-san shouted.
Chai barely had time to register what he said as Gohan struck first at her chest then at her stomach, Chai catching both in her open palms. It was painful and she knew her brother was holding back. Still, she gritted her teeth but did not complain. An enemy wouldn't hold back. She learned that firsthand. He went to strike towards her ribs and she blocked with her forearm.
They went on like this for some time; Gohan delivering a strike of sorts, or a kick even, and Chai barely catching or blocking in time. She had dodged a few blows but not much else.
Her brother lept in the air and went to come down from overhead. Chai couldn't see him at first, the fog and trees aiding in his stealth, until he was a foot from her and coming down quickly. Chai threw her forearm up and evaded the kick but he knocked her to the ground regardless. She rolled and got to her feet in time to cross her arms in front of her face as Gohan came at her again. He was relentless and a part of her loved it. Loved the rush as she defended strike after strike. Is this what Papa felt?
"Is that all you have, sissy?"
Her tail tensed at his comment as she knocked away three more aimed in a row: face, chest, gut.
"Wha-what do you mean!?"
"You wont get anywhere if you don't hit me back!"
Chai dodged one punch and attempted to throw one of her own which Gohan caught near his cheek. URGH! The girl's tail whipped at her side then she quickly retracted it. Need to keep an eye on that, she thought, remembering how helpless she felt when Nappa grabbed her appendage. While distracted Gohan took advantage and kicked Chai just above the groin, making the girl double over for a moment before weakly blocking another kick to her side.
She leaned forward to grab his leg but Gohan swung his other leg upward and smashed his foot into her chest. Or so he meant to.
"Yow!" Chai cried out, holding the side of her face as Gohan-kun immediately backed off. "Gohan! If you leave a mark, mom will know!"
"Sorry," he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "I guess I got carried away. I want you to be strong."
"Ugh." Chai shook her head and felt her cheek again. The area burned but nothing seemed broken, at least.
"I think it's already been an hour or so," Gohan observed, looking up at the sky.
They had decided that anymore than an hour of training and they wouldn't be able to sleep and Oka-san would know something was up. Or she'd use that as an excuse to keep Otouto-san from going to Namek.
"Do 100 push ups and we'll head back."
As Chai dropped to push up position, Gohan flipped onto his hands, making sure to keep his pace with hers. The girl sighed. It would be a long time before they were on the same level. Maybe never.
The next morning, the siblings were woken by their mother screaming.
"Chai! What happened to you!? I can't take you to your father like this! He'll think I've been beating you!"
"Wha?" the girl slowly opened her eyes, rubbing her face. Ow, oh that was her cheek. Oh yeah… her cheek.
Chi-Chi was directly in front of her, ripping the blanket down and examining her daughter for more phantom bruises.
"Oh… uhh… you didn't hear me fall in the shower last night?" Chai asked as her mother lifted one leg, turning it this way and that in inspection.
"What did you fall into? Did you crack your cheek on the corner of the sink?! Oh my baby!"
"How did ya know?"
Chi-Chi then grabbed the girl's cheek and stared at the bruise. Chai wondered how bad it looked. "Oh, I don't think it'll be permanent." She then grabbed Chai's face in both hands and squeezed it. "We can't have anything marring your pretty face!"
"Oh! That hurts! Okay Mama! Let go, please!"
She squeezed harder and Chai swore her cheek must have bruised more.
"Promise me you'll be more careful! These princes are finicky!"
"Ow! Mama!" Chi-Chi finally let go at her daughter's relief, who began to get out of bed. "What if I don't want to marry? Do I have to?"
"Yes, and we have another year before you start meeting with the princes." Her mother then began for the door to leave. "Get into something nice. You'll spend part of the day at the kingdom."
The princess quickly picked out a simple dress that was comfortable but should have been enough to please her mother, with black floral brocades cascading down the pale pink skirt. The visit with her father was quick and mostly routine. They did see that he got to come out of the coffin-like bed, as his spine healed quicker than they had expected before Chi-Chi rushed them over to Turtle Island to meet Bulma.
"I hate my hair," Gohan-kun whispered in the backseat of the car. That morning, Mama had cut and smoothed Gohan's hair so that it hung by his ears. Amazingly it made him resemble her quite a bit.
"If Bulma-oba-san has a perm, you guys can be the Three Stooges," Chai joked.
Turtle Island came into view, as well as a gigantic white spaceship that stood on four legs and sort of reminded Chai of a jelly bean. Although she had an adventure of her own to look forward to, she was a bit jealous that her brother was going into space. And with Oba-san!
Mama stopped the car a few feet from the spaceship and Oji-san got out, lugging all of the luggage Oka-san packed for Gohan to take with. She had evidently done this quite early in the morning while she and her brother were sleeping off their middle of the night training session.
Chai and her mother got out of the car next, but Gohan-kun stayed put, staring down at the school boy shorts their mom made him wear. The girl was so glad that she was old enough to dress herself now (by her mother's standards). Just five more years, Gohan, and she'll stop dressing you.
"Come on, Gohan! Everyone's waiting for you," Chi-Chi scolded.
He got out miserably, blushing and looking away.
"Oh man, and I was worried about a space suit," Krillin-oji-san laughed. "At least I don't have to wear a little uniform."
"Yeah… Dad thought it was pretty funny too," Gohan replied sheepishly.
"Mama.. what is all of this stuff?" Chai asked, tapping the luggage with her foot. There were five bags, plus one raggedy box. It had already been in the car when they got in so she didn't see just how much their mother packed.
"Hmmm… his underwear, toothbrush, sleeping mask, coloring books, snacks, medicine, full dinner set -"
"Chi-Chi I'm sorry, but I'd love to get going! This spacesuit is very heavy," Bulma-oba-san smiled, apologetically. She didn't wait for an answer but went to the ship and uttered 'Piccolo' for it to open up a landing pad from the side.
"Oh fine then," Mama shrugged then bent and kissed Gohan-kun on the cheek. "Now you be a good boy."
"Of course, Mama," Gohan hugged her then turned and hugged Ojii-san and Chai as well as his stuff was packed onto the pad.
"Be careful," Chai told her brother, holding him tight.
"You too," he whispered to her. "Don't think I don't know you're up to something."
"I'm never up to anything," she whispered back.
He smiled coyly at her then got on the pad. The three rose up and into the ship, making Chai's heart still. She was incredibly happy for her brother and his adventure but she couldn't help but feel like something was wrong.
Come back, brother.
"Well, Chai-chan, I'm going to drop you and your grandfather off at the kingdom, then go visit with your father for the day," Oka-san said. "If I stay any longer, I'm just going to start crying."
"Umm.. Chi-Chi, how about I drop you off with Goku? That way Chai and I can leave when she gets tired," Ojii-san suggested.
"Now, Dad, she needs to learn that a queen's duties are never over!"
"She will, honey, when she's queen. Right now, she's the princess."
Chai was thankful for her grandpa's quick thinking. This meant that she could also train with Roshi today and show him everything Gohan-kun had taught her over the last week.
The ride felt like it took hours, even though it was only 45 minutes. Chai was anxious to arrive at the Ox Kingdom but didn't want to give herself away to her elders.
"What are we doing at the Kingdom, today, Ojii-san?"
"Well, I need to discuss some things with Camphor. Sensitive things, but I thought it would be a great opportunity for you to get to know Basil better. He'll be your steward when you're queen."
Perfect.
Chai smoothed out her dress with a pleased smile on her face. "Great idea, grandpa."
The Ox King and his court took up the dining room, overlooked by painted images of previous monarchs. It was suggested that Chai, Basil, and the archivist's son, Cinna, walk through the garden and get to know each other better. The "garden" was in fact a vegetable garden. The same one they'd been discussing about a week ago. They seemed to have taken the princess's suggestion of fennel and holly shrubs. The smell was lovely from all of the crops. It was fresh and earthy and floral. There were also more bees and hummingbirds than normal for November.
"Your suggestion seemed to work well, Your Highness," Basil pointed out.
"Thank you, Basil," Chai smiled. She watched as a green and blue hummingbird buzzed around a flower, suckling on the nectar.
How do I approach this?
"The suggestion more than worked. It was a turn around!" Cinna said next to them.
Cinna was physically quite opposite of Basil. Basil was short and a little bit athletic, while Cinna was tall and lanky. The latter also had orangish-red hair, opposite of Basil's green hair, which framed yellow eyes against pale skin. Cinna was dark skinned and had carrot-colored eyes.
"Well, we need to eat," Chai pointed out, "And it'll be my job to solve problems one day."
Speaking of problems...
"I'm glad you understand your position, Your Highness. Most princesses think it's all royal balls and tax hikes" the steward replied.
"I'm going to insist you both call me 'Chai'. At least, when others aren't around, please."
"I have no issues with that, but Mr. Prim-And-Proper probably won't," Cinna teased.
"Is this not typically your bedtime, Cinna?" Basil replied.
The skinny boy smiled through a yawn and shrugged. "I don't mind messing up my nocturnal schedule for the princess."
"So, since I'm never here, do either of you know anything about what they are talking about with my grandfather?"
"I'm afraid not, Your Highness." Basil replied.
"Seems weird, Basil. I'd think you know, your father being steward and all. If I remember, Camphor is quite talkative, given a bit of scotch," Cinna then threw his head back in a mock drinking gesture.
"Now, that isn't necessary!" Basil cried.
"But is it true?" Chai asked.
"What does it matter?" the green-haired boy said, tersely.
"Because I want to know what the Dragon Kingdom is doing to the Sheep and Rooster Kingdoms," Chai stated.
Must fight, something inside her whispered. It startled the demi but she didn't show it, her eyes locked on Basil and Cinna.
The air changed immediately. Basil stared firmly at the princess as Cinna studied both.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but it's best for you not to know," he finally answered before continuing down the garden path.
"But you know," Chai said.
"Yes ma'am."
"I order you to tell me."
"I am under orders by the King to not, Your Highness. Now, shall we? There are still five more miles of your success to look over, Princess."
Well played.
Chai nodded and continued, Cinna right beside her.
"Scotch, yes?" she quietly asked the amateur archivist.
"Yes," he laughed. "But you'll have an easier time with Basil, I think."
"Why do you encourage me?"
"I like you, Chai. I think you'll make the future quite interesting and I'm excited to see how." He then offered her his arm, "Shall we?"
She giggled as she accepted and they ran forward to catch up with Basil.
She and her grandpa did go over to Muten Roshi-sama's as Chai had expected. She was a bit disappointed that she didn't learn more about the situation with the Dragon Kingdom but she did confirm that there was a situation and where to try to dig for information. The question was how to get Basil to talk. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about that right now, however.
Roshi smacked her over the head with his staff for the 20th time that day. It seemed to be the only training she'd get that week.
"Owwww! Watch it Rafiki! I can't be going back to Oka-san with another head growing out of my head!" the princess wailed.
"Won't be any worse than that shiner on your cheek. You say Gohan gave you that?" her Master inquired.
"Yeah, he was training me a little before he left."
Chai repositioned her back and neck to align and placed her open palms back on her knees.
"Well, he missed an important basic. You can know every martial art forwards and backwards but if you can't clear your mind and focus, then you still lose the fight."
Chai closed her eyes and began again with a beginner's trick Roshi-sama taught her. She envisioned the word "quiet" and repeated it within her mind until everything fell away. It was a strange sensation, meditating. She was aware of her body and senses but unmoved by it all. The breeze blew a stray hair before her nose but she didn't sneeze. A crab crawled by and tested the reflexes of her foot but Chai didn't budge. A sweet, chocolatey smell wafted out from the house, followed by an equally sweet, high voice.
"Chai-chan! Master Roshi! I made cookies!" Blue Launch called.
Chai felt her stomach gurgle but she kept her brain on that word.
Quiet.
Quiet.
The smell got stronger.
Quiet.
Quiet.
"My-my, Launch. Heh. Don't mind if I do," Muten-Roshi-sama said beside her.
Quiet.
Quiet.
"Ah-Achoo!"
Chai's eyes snapped open. She glanced over at her master and the now blonde woman. She wasn't yet accustomed to this side, who was currently glaring down at the hand brushing against her chest as he picked up a chocolate chip cookie.
"You. Old. Geezer." she said evenly.
"I-It was an accident, Launch! I swear I was just getting a cookie for Chai!"
"Really, I thought I was supposed to be meditating," the girl replied.
"Hhmph!" Launch-san then jerked the tray from him and kicked the old man onto his turtle shell. "You get none!" She then turned to Chai and gave her the entire tray. "Here, kid. I betcha hungry."
Chai felt saliva wanting to dribble out of her mouth.
"Can I share with Clove-san?" she nodded to the house.
"I don't care. Just don't give any to the perv."
Chai ran into the house as fast as she could without tripping and spilling the tray. Inside, Clove was seated on the couch next to Oolong and Turtle. They were watching an old Bruce Lee movie and cheering. They had their own tray of cookies in front of them on the table and Chai sat down the one she was carrying, joining them on the couch.
"Bruce Lee was something!" Clove exclaimed.
"Yeah he was, but Goku is even better," Oolong replied.
"I've heard quite a few stories," the boy agreed.
"He is!" Chai cried proudly. "My Papa is the strongest man in the world!"
The boy reached forward for a cookie while Chai gathered a stack in her hand. "Then why do you train? He can protect you," he pointed out.
"I don't want to be protected," Chai shook her head. "I want to protect others. Both of my parents are fighters, though Mama hasn't fought in a long time."
"But isn't that what you have a Royal Army for? To protect others?"
"What if my Royal Army needs protecting? What if…" she thought of the reasons she now trained. "What if an army isn't the answer? Some battles have to be fought privately."
"You're not like the princesses in movies," Clove chuckled.
"Nope. I don't even want to marry a prince."
Chai then turned her attention to the movie and the fifteen cookies in her hand. It was mostly over, so ojii-san let her finish it before taking a shower to hide any trace of sweat from training. As Chai toweled off, she overheard a peculiar conversation between Muten Roshi and Ojii-san.
"I... help, Ros... It's...," Ojii-san said.
"... be... troub...?"
"... Drago... the... King... now... working... to... and... from... Sheep..."
"...horr..! Why… Earth!?"
"...Dragon... a ...-child... for... they... have... wo'en... their... ates... they... ealing... from…. Kingdom... normally... on... Kinom... help... just... When... sent... di..mat... R..sters... come... some… pea..ful... and... get... back... diplomat... sent... death... next...his... old… went... Her… Violet... We've... man... out... are... the... but….. We're... to... war."
"... Gyumao? ...won... wars! … ... stomp... their...!"
"We'd … …. one... Rooster... isn't…... paired... the... dom," she heard her grandpa shudder. "... one... pair... to... They... women."
"...uncil... sending a... to... incognito... free the…. sugge..d Chi... but… ..I can't, ...shi... I.. send my ...daughter. I ...risk... my ...children…."
"I d..ot .. you, Gyumao….Goku laid up...the hospi…"
"...help.. us?"
"O… course."
It was another week before Chai visited either the kingdom or Roshi. The two seemed to go hand-in-hand. She couldn't come up with a reason to visit the Turtle Hermit (without her mother) unless her grandpa took her to the Ox Kingdom. Every day, they'd visit with her father, Chai would study more on different aspects of ruling, she'd cook with her mother, meditate - which Chi-Chi found to be good practice - and her Mama would call over to Capsule Corps to see if they'd heard anything from Bulma, which they hadn't.
Chai figured out that her mother got up around six am every day to start the chores and breakfast, and so Chai began getting up at five each day to practice outside for fifty minutes before rushing back into her room to crawl under the covers and pretend to sleep. Once Mama checked on her each morning, she'd "wake up" and begin her day.
She kept trying to analyze what she heard between Roshi and Ojii-san but it just left her with more questions. What did the Dragon, Rooster and Sheep Kingdoms have to do with each other? And what about war? They couldn't go to war? Why them? Why her mother? Did Mama even know about a suggestion to send her to get information. Chai imagined she didn't. Even though Son Chi-Chi tried to keep her children out of things, she was incredibly gun-hoe, herself.
'You're children! You should do child-like things!'
"Chai-chan, you think you can keep an eye on your father while I get some air?" Mama asked her.
Chai looked up from her book, Muten-Roshi seated nearby with a box of sponge cake. Her mother had gone on with normal life but she once again lost some of the fire in her eyes. She'd been spending a lot of time lately either outside or on the roof, looking up at the night sky. Sometimes Chai would join her, just so her mother wouldn't be alone and to remind her that she still had a second child.
"Sure, Mama." the girl said brightly.
Chi-Chi nodded and slowly excused herself from the room. Once the door to the elevator could be heard closing, Papa crawled from his bed to the floor.
"Chai-chan, can you do as many sit ups as me?" he asked.
"Ummm… Papa?"
"It's okay. Roshi told me that you've been training with him. Come on, let's see whatcha got!"
Chai jumped down next to her father and got into position with her arms crossed over her chest. "Ready!"
They both went, pacing themselves according to their own limitations. Chai was surprised how much time they spent, expecting Oka-san to burst in at any moment and figure her daughter out.
"T-two-oh-nine," Chai gasped. She laid back, her abs agonizing over her efforts.
She was already able to see the changes in her body when she dressed. That was another thing she was thankful for. Her mother began to give the girl's maturing body privacy. If she saw how her daughter was gaining muscle, she'd know.
The girl huffed, and forced her body back up once more.
"Two…. ten!" she roared before falling back on the tile with a groan.
"Two-ten huh?" Papa asked. He was still effortlessly doing sit ups. "Not bad, hun. How long ya been training?"
"On...and...off… two weeks… a few hours …. Per week… Mama…. Cant… know.."
The door burst open as a harried looking Chi-Chi came through the door clutching a cell phone in her hands. She had just bought it the day after Gohan left, not wanting to miss an update if something did happen.
"Chai, I just got off of the phone with Dr. Briefs and you wouldn't believe the trouble they ran into! They were attacked by this army of delinquent children who thought they worked for some alien named Frieza! Apparently this jerk killed all of their parents and they're just going through space like a band of hooligans!"
"That sounds horrible Mama! Is everyone okay?!"
"Yes! There was a big fire and your brother and Krillin helped them out and Bulma flew their ship so that they wouldn't crash and OHMYGODCHAI WHATIF SOMETHING DIDHAPPEN TOMYBABY!"
Chai went to her mother that was now crying on her knees. "But Mama.. if something happened to Gohan, don't you think Bulma-oba-san would have said so?"
"Y-yeah… she… uhh… she did tell her father… they found a shortcut…" she brightened up. "Your brother won't be gone as long now."
She then slowly turned her attention to her husband, who was still on the floor in sit up position.
"Goku-sa… what are you… doing?" she gritted.
"Uhhh.. just trying to get healthy, Chi. Sit ups, y'know," he slowly tried to get up but winced. At this point, Mama was already bending over him with her hands on her hips.
"Goku, how on earth do you plan to get better by pushing yourself!? You're supposed to be resting!"
"I'm fine, Chi-Chi! Really!" he winced again as he got to his feet.
"I-I… I better be going. See ya later, Goku!" Roshi-sama said, as he backed out of the room.
"And Chai!" Chi-Chi then turned on her heel. "You were supposed to be keeping an eye on your father!"
"I-uh- I was. I only let him do 250 sit ups…." the girl offered.
"250 SIT UPS!"
"He wanted to do 500…"
"King Gyumao…" a timid voice echoed into the room. All three heads turned to see the orb Ojii-san normally carried with him glowing on the seat where he left it. He'd gone a while ago to get food for everyone, a task which took quite a while due to Chai and Otou-san's appetites.
The girl went to the orb and was surprised to see Basil's face looking back. His eyes widened at her appearance before going back to their neutral gaze she was growing used to.
"Ojii-san isn't here right now, but I could take a message," Chai said.
"Actually, Your Highness, could you find the King? It's urgent."
Chai turned to look at her mother who nodded her approval. She was helping her dad back to his bed, seeming to have calmed.
"Of course," Chai said and left the room. She'd gone only a few doors beyond her father's when Basil spoke through the orb once more.
"Are you alone, Your Highness?"
"Y-yes," she paused her walking.
"I will merely give you a clue. The rest you need to figure out."
"Why the change in heart?"
"Cinna said you seemed passionate about this, and… I admire that in a ruler."
"Go on, what's your clue?"
"Dragon Kingdom's 2-child law. Now then, I do need to speak to the king."
2-child law? Chai knew where she could read about that.
She nodded excitedly at the steward and put the orb in her pocket to run down to the cafeteria where she found her grandpa coming back, balancing a bunch of bento boxes. She stood on tiptoe and pushed the glass ball into the crook of his elbow, entirely pleased with today. Not only did she get an update on Gohan, whose own mission was moving forward, so was hers. Chai rushed ahead of her grandpa, moved by her excitement. She turned hard at the corner and went down the hallway, counting the rooms until she got to 1010. She grabbed the knob and busted through the door before screaming at the sight she found.
"OH KAMI! MOM! DAD! I - GODS DOES THAT EVEN GO THERE?!"
"Oh," Chi-Chi's muffled voice replied. There was an audible pop. "Chai-chan, you weren't supposed to see that."
"COULDN'T YOU WAIT!?"
"Chai, honey, it's not like you actually saw anything," her dad replied, his hand rubbing his neck, self consciously.
"I SAW MOMS HEAD UNDER YOUR SHEETS! I'M ELEVEN, NOT STUPID!"