Tsuchi wasn't sure how many hours the four of them had played tag. It was blissful, bouncing around the bare branches of November trees and pouncing into piles of fallen leaves. They would charge into each other, yelling out "You're IT!" and making sure not to target Marron too much just because she was human. It was just like a year ago, before things started to change. Before Mai, before the Rat War, before Beerus. Things always changed though, even their game of tag.

Tsuchi did not run to keep from being tagged. She ran because the forest burned around her. The girl used her aura to keep the flames from licking at her arms but as the fire grew, her efforts were doing very little. Tsuchi was far weaker than Trunks-kun and Goten-kun - something that she was normally not ashamed of but it was quickly proving to be problematic. A flame licked at her tail and the girl yelped, jumping upwards and swallowing a mouthful of smoke. When Tsuchi landed back on the ground, her eyes watered and she choked, barely holding herself up on her hands and knees. She needed to get up. She needed to find her friends.

Unsteadily, she stood, then pushed aside a large branch that toppled over a bush, using her ki to put out the smaller flames before they joined the larger ones. The boys' ki felt fine. Frantic and worried but they weren't in pain. Marron's ki felt terrified, and it came from this direction.

"Marron!" Tsuchi called.

A burning tree fell down in front of her, which the girl hopped over, making sure that her skirt and tail didn't catch the flames as she did so. She coughed more immediately after jumping, however.

"Marron!"

The smoke was getting more dense, and the sky was actually turning a slightly orange color above her. Tsuchi's heart pounded. The little girl wasn't as durable as the three of them. She got hurt more easily, suffocated more easily, burned more easily.

Tsuchi found herself running faster, despite the stinging in her lungs. She desperately held onto the feeling of the girl's ki, even as it quickly got away from her.

"Marron!"

Her saiyajin ears barely picked it up, the sound hardly audible over the roaring of the wildfire as it grew. Coughing. Little, girlish coughs. Tsuchi took off in that direction and beyond an array of burning trees and shrubs, Marron's tiny form curled on the ground, surrounded by ash and smoke.

Tsuchi blasted down two of the trees, making just enough room to have a path to the little girl. She ran and picked her up, feeling how the girl wheezed against her shoulder.

This is terrible!

"I have you, babygirl," the saiyajin whispered, looking up to find an opening to fly into. All the treetops, however, were scorching, causing what was once branches and leaves to fall aflame, catching the grass and fallen debris around her on fire.

Holding the delicate girl in one hand, Tsuchi focused her energy into the other hand and with a wheezing shout she blew some of the flames away with her ki. Tsuchi had to pause again, grasping Marron to her, reminding her of why she needed to get out. Why she needed to fight. When she felt okay again, the demi ran in a direction, following the fearful calls of the deer, birds, squirrels and other life that fled for safety. She'd pause, occasionally and use more ki to blast away the fire but between keeping some focus on Marron and the smoke filling her own lungs, Tsuchi was losing strength. She had to get the girl out and quickly.

Tsuchi focused more, pulling more energy from her spirit and made a path for them, pausing and blasting. It was painstakingly slow, using this method that was less powerful, but at least she wouldn't hurt anything else while trying to get out. She could feel Marron's ki fade more. Tsuchi's heart pounded, trying to find a quicker way out. Why did they have to go so far into the woods?

She felt out the boys' ki again. They were separated. One, vigorous and impish, ahead of her and one, flowy and playful, a bit closer to her right. They still felt okay, though she didn't like that they weren't together.

Tsuchi looked upward again and found the smallest bit of space where the trees separated. It was maybe a foot of space and on either side flames licked the edges cavity. It would be risky. The two of them could catch fire. She also knew the smoke would be thicker but if she could get beyond it, she could get Marron to safety. Gods, her muscles ached.

Tsuchi held Marron tightly and, using all of her strength, blasted upwards, aiming for that spot. Smoke filled her lungs more and she cradled Marron's face into her chest to prevent the little girl from inhaling more herself. The heat seared her skin and she thought she smelled something burning as they got closer.

The girl found herself wondering if praying to Dende would be helpful. She wished her sister was here, or Gohan, or Papa, or even Ojii-san, or the boys were more nearby. As she whooshed past the flames, she felt one reach out and lick the edges of her dress. It singed her skin as the dress touched her flesh and the girl dared not look down to see if she was actually on fire.

Once they flew beyond the layer of smoke and fire, Tsuchi changed angles to fly beyond the edges of the forest and to safety. Her flying, however, suffered slightly. The girl coughed unrelentlessly, each time, shoving her body closer to the fire again as she would lose latitude then try to recover again.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The demi looked down to the source of the noise and saw two little patches of the forest where the fire was disappearing. That must have been the boys, using their ki to put out the flames. They were further in than the girl would have liked.

She fell more, feeling her body going down, then forced herself back up. Tsuchi's eyes stung and her vision felt hazy. Her lungs in particular agonized. This wasn't good. She just needed to hold on a little while longer. A little bit more and they'd be beyond the flames.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

At least someone was trying to put it out. She felt out Marron's vitals again and the girl was still with her. That was good. Tsuchi's body faltered again and she caught herself as another flame curled upwards and tried to continue the ashening of her dress.

She could see where the treetops and flowing seemed to end. Tsuchi focused on that point and put another burst of energy into her flying. Safety was closer, but the extra energy was costing her. She gasped, even as she flew. Marron's ki was dropping. Why did she hurt so much?

Just a bit more.

Tsuchi felt her body falter and, overall, out of control.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

It was just a little smoke.

Her muscles burned, begging to give out.

Her mind wanted to let go.

Almost there.

She saw the grass, untouched by fire. That was it. Her muscles shut down. Tsuchi had just enough concentration left to turn her body over and crash into the ground, leaving Marron no worse off. She felt the impact against her back and the breaking of earth as she came down, then Tsuchi wasn't aware of anything at all.

"We can't use the dragonballs. There's seven more months until they're even viable."

Oba-san?

My skin stings.

"What about the animals? They don't have homes anymore."

Futago-kun.

Tsuchi blinked but the brightness stung her eyes, making her snap them shut again and groan, rolling away from the light.

"Are there parts of the forest that weren't harmed? Maybe we can relocate them to another forest."

"I don't know, Trunks. That could mess with the habitat if there isn't enough food or territory."

One-chan.

Tsuchi tried her eyes again, opening one just a little. She saw the inside of some kind of hospital room. Why was… fear gripped her heart as she sat straight up.

"Ma'on!" Tsuchi choked over a tube that was in her mouth. Her throat constricted and she wheezed. Two hands, slightly bigger than hers, and one darker than the other, tried to pull her back down.

"Tsu-chan, c'mon. Lay down," Trunks-kun urged.

"Futago-chan! Don't hurt yourself," Goten-kun cried.

"Wha-wha.." the girl cried. She was confused.

What is going on!?

Where is Marron?!

Bulma made her way over, white lab coat swinging at her heels. "Sweetie, lay back down or you'll pull out the suction."

Tsuchi did as she was told, repeating the little girl's name. Bulma checked and adjusted the breathing tube. "Marron's okay. You, however, inhaled an excessive amount of smoke." the woman assured.

"You're the reason she's still alive, Imouto-chan," Chai said. Tsuchi couldn't quite see the woman from her vantage point but she could hear her.

The girl sat up again, more slowly but she got scolded again.

"Do you really need to sit up?" the lavender-haired boy snapped.

Tsuchi just crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him pleadingly. Trunks-kun sighed, shaking his head, and grabbed a pillow from another bed a few feet away. Goten-kun helped her sit forward just enough so that it could be propped behind her enough to see but not too much to pull on the tube inside her.

She looked around. Goten-kun and Trunks-kun were both bandaged in a few places but neither looked as bad as she felt. They sat next to her, behind them a large humming machine attached to clear tubes that ran down and into her mouth where Bulma was readjusting her.

Across from her, Chai-san and Trunks-san sat at a table and watched the scientist work. Her sister's tail was loosely looped around her leg, and Tsuchi immediately felt ashamed. She didn't mean to worry anyone.

"I hope you don't plan to take up smoking," Chai commented.

Trunks-san rolled his eyes at her and turned to the trio of demi's. "You guys did good work taking out the fire."

Tsuchi pointed at her mouth with the tube and made a sort of whining sound. The blanket lifted slightly as her tail flicked under it.

"Too much smoke caused water to begin to fill in your lungs. In most people it's fatal but for you, you'll probably be out of here by the end of the night. Chi-Chi is eager to take you home but Goten refused to leave you."

"I'M TELLING YOU GREY! MY CHILDREN DID NOT CAUSE THAT FIRE!" Oka-san screamed from not-too-far-off.

"Speaking of…" Bulma tilted her head to the side.

"I will be the judge of that, dear woman. Now if you'll excuse me, Your Highness," an accented voice responded. He did not yell but he was just as loud as Mama.

"Earl Grey! You go through that door and you'll regret it!" Chi-Chi yelled as the door opened.

In seconds, several things happened. The door opened. Both demi boys got to their feet and powered up as much as they could without going Super Saiyajin. All Tsuchi could assume was that they wanted to give a display of power, of intimidation, without revealing too much. Earl Grey, a man in his late forties with narrow features, a square jaw and receding black hair, stepped inside. His eyes darted about the room and read the situation quickly, all pretense dropping from his aura. The two older demi's did not move or speak, staying in the background. The girl was not even sure if he knew they were there. Oba-san, however, got deep into his face, even as she stood on tiptoe to do so.

"Excuse you! Who the hell do you think you are?! Waltzing into my home and shouting all over the place! I have an exhausted little girl sleeping two rooms over and if you wake her, you're going to be sorry!"

"I.. pardon me? Ma'am, I am a servant of His Majesty, King Cappu and I am here on official business." Grey said, face full of shock.

"I don't care if you're the king, himself! I don't care if you're the King of Earth! Of the damned multi-universe! You don't just come in here like you own the place!"

"I love your mother," Tsuchi heard Chai whisper to Trunks-san with a satisfied smile.

Indeed. Bulma is the Saiyajin queen we deserved.

She saw him glance between his mother and Chai with a prideful smirk. Trunks-kun, next to her, held the same expression.

Grey simply nodded, not taking his eyes from the bluenette. "Apologies, madam." he then turned to Tsuchi and she could see the discomfort in his face. "Excuse the intrusion, Your Highness," he bowed.

The girl sat straighter, not blinking. She gestured to a chair on the other side of her bed then turned to the boys and gestured to their chairs as well. All three sat, though the Earl kept a respectful distance from the princess.

Chi-Chi then came into the room, huffing and rolling up her sleeves. She glared at the Earl, a snarl on her lips but did not speak. Similarly, Bulma sided up to her, arms crossed over her chest.

"I was sent on the behalf of His Majesty, King Cappu, however, I was not aware of your condition."

The girl frowned around the tube in her mouth as her tail slithered around her waist. Did he think they hadn't heard him?

"I MADE you aware of her CONDITION. YOU did not LISTEN," Chi-Chi scolded.

Earl Grey bowed his head to Oka-san then turned back to the princess. "Forgive me, Your Highness but His Majesty is concerned about how that fire started. Much of the damage occurred within his borders, and He recently refused Her Majesty, Queen Chai, help."

Tsuchi simply blinked at him. How on earth he thought they were going to have any kind of discussion was beyond her understanding. She waved her hand at him to continue when a voice scolded from several feet away.

"And so His Majesty has you barge into Her Highness's medical quarters, making accusations that His Majesty does not have enough sack, himself, to make? Is that what you are getting at, Earl Grey?" Chai said from her spot.

The Earl lost quite a bit of his color and hesitated before getting up. He walked slowly, as though he'd suddenly aged forty more years, stopping just before the queen and bowing. "Your Grace, forgive me."

Tsuchi realized that she would never have that effect on others. She didn't have an intimidating bone in her body. Something to work on, she supposed.

Chai sat straight, her hand on the arm of the chair as she gazed down at him. It did not matter that it was a stock metal chair and not a throne, nor that she wore civilian clothes rather than a lavish gown. She exuded the presence of a queen, deciding on the fate of someone who offended her. Chai tapped her fingers then nodded to him.

"On your feet. I know that you cannot help your orders, or the idiocy of your king."

He rose and Chai kept his eye contact as he spoke.

"You're too kind, Your Majesty."

Just then, the door opened again and a tiny voice called out, "Bulma-san? Chai-san?"

The queen's voice took on another register, soft and soothing. "Baby, Tsu-chan is awake. I think she'd enjoy your company."

Marron stepped in. She was easily the best looking, with just a bit of char on her clothes. In fact, no part of her looked damaged at all. And she seemed as alert as ever. The girl looked to the medical bed with a huge smile, then ran up and jumped into Tsuchi's chest. The princess gagged a little on the tubes, the boys snickering behind her, but then wrapped an arm around Marron as the girl cuddled up to her. You're so cute, Tsuchi thought to herself as she booped their noses together. The little girl giggled, cornflower hair swaying as she did so.

Chai turned back to the courtier. "Right, Queen Bitchpants. Earl Grey, you're an intelligent man. Tell me, why would these four start a fire, then put themselves in danger by trying to put it out and rescue the animals? You can clearly see the condition the princess is in."

"It.. does not make sense, Your Majesty."

"Good, now perhaps you can get out of my sight and report your findings to His Majesty. Find that scarecrow a brain while you're at it."

The Earl bowed quickly then backed out of the room like a bat out of hell, closing the door behind him.

"Why is everyone afraid of you, One-san?" Goten asked.

"Because I'm the meanest monarch at the table." Chai answered, casually.

"It was amazing! You had him shaking at the sight of you!" Trunks-kun cried.

"But why?" Goten-kun furthered.

"No one took me seriously, otherwise. It's acceptable for a king to rule by himself but not a queen."

Tsuchi squirmed. She could not see herself being mean enough to rule as her sister did. Chai was a warrior, first and foremost, a trait which allowed the woman to stave off other kingdoms from coming into her territory and be able to avoid war by reminding others that she would cost them thousands of soldiers and zeni just to lose. Tsuchi simply wasn't that way. She hated fighting and there was an undisclosed complication to her being married off. She would though, if she had to.

"Why have you never married any of them? There must have been one you found acceptable," Trunks-san asked.

Chai turned and looked at him seriously before smiling. "You, of all people, should know."

Bulma moved back over to the bed and began to listen to the princess' lungs with a stethoscope. In the time that she'd been awake, her lungs already felt lighter. She gazed over at Marron while oba-san examined her. She was glad that the girl was unmarred but didn't understand how. If this was the condition Tsuchi was in, then Marron should have barely been alive.

"I think we can remove this," Bulma said, putting the stethoscope around her neck. She turned off the machine, "Chi-Chi, its late if you guys want to stay for dinner then just head home. You could even stay here if you wanted for the night."

"I appreciate that, Bulma-san. We'll stay for dinner."

The bluenette nodded then turned back to Tsuchi. "Sweetie, open as wide as you can for me."

Removing the tube was one of the most uncomfortable experiences Tsuchi had but she was glad for it to be gone. Her throat was a bit sore but at least she could speak and move around. They'd gone to the terrace where Mai and her friends were helping set food. Tsuchi frowned, feeling a little guilty for how much she disliked the group but she couldn't help not trusting them. Seeing them set out food though, and being helpful rather than sneaking around was refreshing.

At the balcony was also 18-san and Krillin-san. Marron saw them and immediately ran for her parents. 18-san crouched to scoop up her daughter, the joy clear on the android's face. Tsuchi was almost swept into their happiness when a loud metal clang sounded behind her, drawing everyone's attention back to the patio door.

"Chai, move!" Future Trunks commanded.

His sword was halfway drawn from it's sheathe, his eyes darting between the woman before him and the little family ahead of him. Pressed against his blade was Chai's sai, her own weapon inches from the top of his head. Her tail was tightly wound, like when she fought. Concentration poured off of her like water overfilling a jug.

What?! Are they going to fight?!

"Trunks, you are not in that timeline right now. That is not the same 18."

He gritted his teeth and stared above her head at the android. That warm ki blazed and the calm was now utter stillness. "How can you say that?! Her and 17 killed everyone! All of Earth's defenders! My father! Gohan! You -"

"Trunks, I'm in front of you." Chai then slowly reached up and touched the side of his face. "I'm flesh and blood. I'm not dead. You're in this timeline."

Tsuchi understood the more pensive version a little more. She had already suspected that he didn't have a Goten or a Tsuchi, simply because he didn't look at them in the same haunted matter that he looked at Gohan and Chai. She didn't quite realize that her older siblings were dead in his timeline, however, or that he was necessarily close to those versions.

Now that she thought about it, he looked at Vegeta-san with just as much uncertainty as he did when he looked at the twins. In fact, his relationship to the man was nothing like his miniature's relationship to him. It was almost as if...

She looked over at her Trunks who stared at the scene before them. She couldn't read his expression, which was rare, but she was glad that he didn't go through what his counterpart seemed to have gone through. That he didn't have to grow up without a father, or could sympathize with the time traveller in a way that Tsuchi and Goten could.

Closer to the balcony, 18-san spoke. "Sounds like that version of me was a total bitch." She then glanced down at her husband. "Krillin-san, you didn't tell him about Marron and me. I'm a bit hurt," she teased.

Trunks-san wouldn't move or look down at Chai. It also seemed as though he wasn't quite seeing 18 and Krillin interact. The warrior shook, rage burning in his eyes. Chai grasped his chin a little more firmly and turned his face downwards to look at her, at first in mild shock then he began to calm. She had whispered something but the princess didn't understand. Ve'ho myo. The saiyajin's body heaved a little less and his ki eased up.

"You killed those androids. You got your revenge," Chai said, gently.

Trunks-san nodded, staring down at her. The rage was also burning off. The queen continued to hold his gaze.

"Are you with me?"

He nodded once more.

She then ran her hand through his hair, making him close his eyes. Tsuchi found this oddly intimate of her sister. 'In the past' she said. Rubbish. Soon, his ki returned to the calm, warm vibration that she'd begun to associate the time traveller with.

"Then put away your sword because you are not killing Krillin's wife," Chai said, pulling her weapon away from his.

"Krillin's what!?" he said, pushing the blade back in with a cling.

"Yeah," the small monk said, nervously. "18-san and I have been married about ten years now."

"I..I see." he then bowed slightly. "Forgive me."

"It's fine, Trunks. It's been a long time, and in your world, I was your enemy," 18-san smiled, coyly.

The android then scooped up Marron firmly and walked towards the older saiyajin. Marron hung around her mother's neck, completely unaware of what just occurred. He visibly tensed as she approached him, a smug smile appearing on the woman's face. Tsuchi shook her head. 18-Obasan could be so cruel.

"I heard that you healed Marron when you found her."

Come again?!

He stiffly nodded. "She was near death."

"Thank you," she smiled before walking past him and into the house. She stopped then just inside the door. "I would have enjoyed a little spar with that sword of yours."

"Perhaps… next time..." he said, not turning to her.

"I guess it must be weird to you, huh?" Krillin said, walking up to the young man.

"A bit but I'm glad you're married now, Krillin-san. Are you happy?"

"Yeah, I am. She can be a bit tough on me but I love her. And I got a cute kid out of the deal." Oji-san laughed. "Well, we better get going. It's good to see you, man."

"I'm sure I'll see you again before I leave."

Tsuchi could have sworn that she felt her sister deflate at those words.

"Sissy, are you okay?" Goten-kun asked as the smaller demi's began to sit.

"Yeah. I'm just hungry." the woman turned to the three humanoids still setting the table. "You guys ought to sit. You've been doing this for a while, it looks like."

"Oh, thank goodness," Shu exclaimed.

"I'm hungry too, One-chan. I haven't eaten in three hours!" Goten-kun whined.

"Oh you poor baby!" Tsuchi chided to her twin, patting his head with her tail.

He waved it off with his own. "Tha's a long time to a saiyajin, Futago!"

"No, that's a long time to you and Papa. You each put away more than Gohan-san, Chai-san, and myself combined."

Everyone laughed at the bickering twins, Chai ushering Mai, Pilaf, and Shu to sit so she could take over what they were doing. Tsuchi was shocked at how contented her sister, the godsdamned Ox Queen, looked as she set food at the table like a bustling housewife. Like, their mother. She looked over at Chi-Chi who looked equally surprised but also somewhat pleased.

"Now, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were ready to have a family," Chi-Chi commented.

Tsuchi couldn't help but laugh at her mother. She was never going to give this up. The girl then paused in horror when she realized that eventually she would be the one her mother nagged for children, and oh the conversation that would be.

"Mom, I swear to Dende, if you keep this up, I'm going to lock myself into the atrium with the cats and dinosaurs."

"Now, Chai-chan. Why do you resist the idea of marriage? Gohan-chan is married!"

"I don't resist the idea of marriage, Oka-san. I resist the idea of loveless marriage. Marriage simply for the sake of having an heir and pleasing you."

"You don't know that it would be loveless! If you would just give anyone else a chance-"

"Chi-Chi…" Bulma-obasan side-eyed.

"I'm sorry, Bulma-san. I want the same thing but it's unrealistic and unreasonable. It's simply best for Chai-"

"Goodnight!"

And with that, Chai sat down the last plate and left. Tsuchi could only assume she went to her room.

"Mama, must you push her?" Tsuchi asked.

"I just want her to be happy," Chi-Chi sighed.

"I apologize, Chi-Chi-san." Mirai Trunks said suddenly. "If I would have known… I wouldn't have... I never meant to mess things up for Chai-san.. I just…"

"There is nothing wrong with loving my sister," Tsuchi heard herself say before she could think about it. She was in mild embarrassment at her forwardness but someone had to say it.

"Tsuchi-chan, how-"

The older saiyajin cut himself off and looked up towards the sky, a scowl quickly spreading across his face. He scooted his chair out and stood. The patio door opened as Chai reappeared, also staring towards the sky.

Moments later, the smaller demis also looked up. Tsuchi could feel it. The presence wasn't too powerful - or maybe it was since she could feel it this far out - but it was a selfish, evil presence. There was a streak of something else too in the ki. Something she couldn't name but it made her skin crawl. Worse, it felt familial.

17 Years Earlier

"This turtle shell weighs a ton!" Chai-chan moaned, strapping the hunking weight over her shoulders.

"Actually, it weighs 100 lbs," Roshi laughed. "Your dad did it so you can do it."

The girl glanced over at the hermit with an expression that reminded him of Chi-Chi more than Goku. Goku took everything with stride. In fact, the old master couldn't remember the boy complaining once. That was mostly Krillin's arena. No, the look was one of "challenge accepted", and it was one that Chi-Chi wore when her father trained her - a sight that Roshi caught quite a bit in her teenage years when he'd visit Gyumao.

"Now then, I want you to run around the island 100 times. Don't fall into the water. You fall and you start over."

Chai's eyes got huge and she opened her mouth as though to speak. Roshi raised his eyebrows at her. The girl closed her mouth and nodded before going closer to the edge and started her running. It was slow and pitiful but as long as she did it, she'd be strong in no time.

Son Chai made 57 laps so far, and hadn't fallen in once. She did wobble a few times and Roshi got a little hopeful she'd fall just to see if she had more of her mother's angry expressions. Even angry, Ox girls are awfully cute. She used that tail well though. She'd whip it out immediately and linger it on the sandy side to rebalance herself then rewind it around her waist. Roshi looked up as Gyumao came outside, looking exasperated.

"Muten Roshi-sama, I'm sorry to cut our visit short but it seems Goku-san is missing."

"Hmmm, alrighty then."

Roshi blew his whistle and Chai froze. She bent to her knees and heaved, sweat beading along her face. He thought he even saw a little drip from the end of her tail.

"Hit the showers, girly. You and your grandpa need to search for your dad," the hermit said, getting up.

Chai-chan nodded and slowly made her way into the house, dropping off the shell at the door as she went in.

"Have you… considered my favor, Master?" Gyumao asked, quietly.

Roshi gazed out into the ocean. The sun glinted on the waves as they rippled across the width of the sea. It went on forever. His own personal moat to his own hide away. This was a luxary most couldn't afford, and my, hadn't he enjoyed this luxary for quite some time?

"Indeed, Gyumao. Of course, I'll help."

The two left soon afterwards. It amazed Roshi the lengths the girl was going to to get just a bit of training each week but he supposed that was where she was like her father. Goku was so hardworking and serious when it came to the martial arts.

When Roshi had gotten up the next morning, he woke with the sun as he did in th days of his youth and began with a bit of tai-chi to stretch his muscles. Something he hadn't done in some time. The trouble in the Ox Kingdom weighed on his mind. Actually, the trouble had barely brushed the borders of Fire Mountain, but it seemed that Gyumao wanted to squash it before it became a bigger problem. Even so, the schemes he mentioned were horrible. Even to an old pervert like Kame Sennin.

It had been quite some time since the Turtle Hermit had been called on to fight. In fact, the last time he could remember fighting for something other than money, glory, or women, was a little over 12 years ago, and even then, he served as not much more than a type of shaman rather than a martial artist.

The old man kept up his training, always trying to improve himself and make the kamehameha more powerful but that was a far cry from engaging in battle. Still, those thugs from the Rooster and Dragon Kingdoms shouldn't be too much of a problem for the old master. If only Goku were better, he'd wipe the floor with them, but Roshi was not even sure if Gyumao had told his son-in-law about what was happening. They seemed to prefer to keep the boy in their back pocket for larger issues, like saiyajins. And that was fine. Roshi was not entirely out of commission.

He'd been standing at the edge of the beach, with Clove in an aircraft about 50 miles towards the water. Every few minutes, Roshi would unleash a kamehameha, spreading the water like Moses and Clove would report how far each one would go. It wasn't a perfect measurement of power, and admittingly, he'd rather be spreading legs, but he could still remember how hard the blast was on his body at max power. 300 years old was no spring chicken, and he might need to wield it at that level. Preferably without keeling over.

The door slammed behind him and the ki he registered was quite small but not too friendly.

"Old man! You been at this for hours! Now, normally, I don't give a shit but since you've been at it for hours, my boy's also been at it for hours and it's damned time you two ate something!" Launch-san shouted at him.

Launch-san's cooking had improved, Roshi was happy to find. After a delicious lunch of beef udon, the hermit took to the city. He hadn't visited Goku in a few days and was wondering how the boy was faring since trying to escape the day beforehand.

He was tickled to find that Goku was mostly well, and yet Chi-Chi was still giving him an earful about trying to leave.

"I swear, Goku-sa! How do you expect to get better!? You had me worried sick!"

""Aw, Chi-Chi. I feel fine."

"You still have two dislocated vertebrae!"

"It's justa few bones."

"It's part of your spine, which keeps you standing straight!"

"Mama, it's nearly lunchtime," Chai-chan interrupted. "Let's get something and bring Papa back some food."

Goku's eyes got huge and Roshi couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, yes! Chi, wouldya please!" Goku turned to his wife, his hands pressed together.

"Hmph! Fine, but you better be here when I get back!"

Once the women left, the large warrior turned to Roshi.

"How's Chai's training, Old Man?"

"Not bad, considering she only makes it over a few times a week," Roshi answered. "I kind of wonder if she's managing to train on her own."

The man laughed and put his hands behind his head. "I guess she's a chip off the old block in that way."

"Yup, I already got her up to the 100 pound shell. She came to me nearly as strong as you were when you first started."

"Started what?!"

Both men looked up. Chi-Chi stood in front of the door, shaking.

"Well?!" she demanded.

"Now, Chi-Chi, don't get mad-"

Roshi covered his ears, staff still in hand as Chi-Chi bellowed out for her daughter.

"SON CHAI! YOU GET IN HERE THIS INSTANT!"

My, the woman had some lungs on her. The old master was just happy that she didn't have a pan or rolling pin on hand once she got 'round to the smackin'. It filled him with a little bit of pride that his lessons passed down to the Ox King's daughter but he did kinda wish he was the one to teach her. Perhaps coulda' gotten a few caresses in before she was old enough to really hurt the old geezer. Speakin' of hurt, he hoped she didn't figure that he'd been training her also.

He picked up his hat and the sweets he brought, eyeing the door. Quickly, he made his decision and got up.

"Well, Goku, Chi-Chi, this seems like a family matter, and I really shouldn't-"

"YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!"

"Yes ma'am," Roshi bowed his head.

The young girl peeked into the room before coming in. She looked very ladylike in her red cheongsam with blue fasteners, and though Roshi was not one to look at prepubescent girls, he could appreciate that Chai would be ripe and lovely in just a few years.

"Mama?" she asked with a smile.

Chi-Chi then crossed the room with a downward strike to the girl's neck, which Chai immediately blocked with her forearm. Not bad. Too bad the girl gave herself away, as she seemed to be realizin' as her face paled.

Chi-Chi then came 'round the other side with a palm strike that Chai ducked under. Roshi's keen eyes caught how the girl eyed her mother's ankles for just a moment - good, she's developing instincts - before remembering that was her mother and her mother would deliver quite the ass whoopin' if she thought Chai turned delinquent.

Mother and daughter stared at each other, and though the look Chai wore said she knew she was in trouble, she wasn't backing down. And what else would one expect from a child of Goku and Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi was nothin' but fire and Goku wasn't one to give up.

The matriarch then put her hands on her hips and burrowed her gaze into the girl. "I thought I told you that you weren't to be training."

"You did," the girl acknowledged, dropping her stance.

"So you go to Roshi's and train?! When you should have been going to the Ox Kingdom!?"

"I did both. I cut an hour out of my time at the kingdom to go train under Muten-Roshi-sama,"

The woman then whipped around to face Gyumao who put his hands up in defense. "And how exactly did she get you to agree, Dad!? I swear, you spoil Chai so much!"

"Well.. Chi-Chi, dear, it was my idea."

"WHAT!?"

"Look at the good it did you! You can defend your family when Goku isn't around! And look how young and healthy it keeps you, after two children, even!" Gyumao cried, scrambling for reasons and backing away from his daughter.

Yup, this right here. This was why Roshi never married. Having women around was fine and dandy - more than fine and dandy, hehe - but boy did they get feisty about everything.

"Chi-Chi is it really so bad?" Goku asked from the bed.

Bad idea, boy.

Roshi sighed and took the chair farthest from the warrior's side. Chi-Chi was bound to get to him eventually but he'd like to receive his own punishments and not get a bit from her whalin' on her husband.

"Is it so bad, Goku-sa? Is it so bad that our daughter is lying to me? Is it so bad that she is disobeying me? Is it so bad that she is trying to go off and get into fights and get killed like you do!? TELL ME, GOKU, IS THAT SO BAD!?"

"Well, no. But you weren't gonna just let her train. And it's good for her. You saw how much stronger she's gettin'," he shrugged.

"SON GOKU IF YOU WEREN'T ALREADY IN THE HOSPITAL, I'D PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL!"

"Mama, leave Papa alone! He hardly even knew! It was all me, Ojii-san, and Roshi-sama!" Chai shouted from the side.

Roshi nearly fell out of his chair as Chai shouted this. He was really hoping to get away unscatched and she just had to go remindin' her mama.

"AND YOU!"

Kami, I swear, I will burn all of my dirty books. Just let me live a while longer.

"I swear, Roshi! I swear if you so much as looked at Chai the wrong way, I will cook you up and serve you to King Yemma!"

"Now, Chi-Chi," Roshi gripped his hat and bowed his head to her. "I swear, I did no such thing. I know she's just a girl, and she's your girl. I swear, Gyumao kept an eye on me the whole time."

"Hmmph!" she huffed with her hands on her hips.

Roshi risked a glance up and the woman smacked him a good one upside his bald head. "Ow! Oh! What was that for?!"

"Just in case," she snapped before turning back to her daughter. "You do not leave the house without me! I do not care if grandpa or your dad are with you! Everytime you leave, I am going with you! No more of this sneaking around and training! You will end it right now!"

"Well, Mama, in that case, you're going to have to accompany me to Roshi's occasionally," Chai said calmly.

"And why, exactly, is that?!"

Yes, why is that?

"You remember saying that you wanted Gohan-kun and I to have more friends?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm becoming friends with Launch-san and Clove-san. They live there right now, and isn't Launch-san a friend of yours, Mama?"

That was about how Roshi got not just one, but two lovely ladies in his kitchen, makin' wonderful meals and fresh tea. The smells from the kitchen were just delicious and the scene on the tube equally so, as he sat at the couch with Oolong and Gyumao, while Chai and Clove sat at the other couch, a 'respectful distance from each other' as Chi-Chi put it.

"Whatcha ladies cookin?" Roshi asked, his nose to the air to sniff.

"Pork dumplings. And ramen with pork belly, egg and leeks," Launch asked, her voice sweet as ever.

She had been findin' a little solace here on the island with the old man and the pig, especially with the young man around, who Roshi found open-minded and clever. Not only did he not mind the hermit's tastes, but he occasionally challenged him at chess and mahjong.

"Anything without pork?" Oolong asked, with annoyance.

"Sesame bread and curry!" Chi-Chi added, brightly.

"He-he, that Jackie Chun sure is something, isn't he?" Roshi exclaimed.

They watched as he delivered a final blow to a relatively young Yamucha, winning the match. That was the 21st Tenkaichi Tournament.. Or was it the 22nd? Roshi wasn't sure now but he well remembered the fight. Too bad he was getting a bit too old to challenge these young men in incognito. His own students had already surpassed him, and truly that was the bigger accomplishment. Still, the good ole days.

"Something indeed, Roshi-sama," Clove agreed.

It had seemed as though the two pre-teens were watching along but the hermit's ears had been picking up their whispered conversation for a few minutes now.

"I don't want to get my grandpa into any more trouble," Chai whispered.

"Then how do you plan to uncover what's going on? It could be better for you not to know," Clove replied.

"You sound like them. If I'm going to be queen, then I need to know what's going on. How can they trust me to lead a village if they don't want to tell me things?"

"True enough. It sounds dangerous, whatever it is."

"You want in?"

A small smile appeared on the boy's face. It could have been mistaken for him simply enjoying the fight.

"I've been cooped up a bit. Perhaps we visit the Ox Kingdom together? Visit your friends, Basil and Cinna?"

"I don't know that we can get anything out of them."

"I don't know that you've been trying hard enough."

Roshi chuckled to himself, but no one thought anything of it. The girl really was turning out like her father. Now that he thought about it, Chai was even younger than Goku was when he single-handedly took down the Red Ribbon Army. Those bastards had been runnin' into him for a few years, chasing after the dragonballs as much as he was and though the Red Ribbon boys were pure evil, Goku had no thoughts on exterminating them, not until they went too far. Killing Bora, who guarded Korin Tower, was the last straw for the boy. It was also what ultimately drove him to seek how powerful he could become and then take down the biggest army on the face of the earth.

Chai was proving to be quite similar. No doubt, she knew that the Ox Kingdom had many troubles with the Dragon Kingdom, but now that they were taking girls from Fire Mountain, the girl was getting involved. The old hermit shuddered to think what she would do once she figured the entire scheme out.

His eyes glinted behind his shades as he imagined that fiery girl reaching Korin and eventually Popo to become stronger. She'd be a little hellion, hehe.

Of course, with Chi-Chi's eagle eye on her girl, there was no way for Chai to make such a pilgrimagge and perhaps that would be for the best. Let the girl carve out her own path, and not follow her father's footsteps.

She can possibly take down the traffickers though. Maybe even just as she is. That saiyajin blood is quite the equalizer.

11 years old, and here she was, scheming to get around her mother and grandpa to find out what they wont tell her. Gatherin' her own little group of allies. He'd even overheard her last week when she told Clove that she was trainin' in order to defend her kingdom, as though she already knew what was to come. Maybe the girl overheard more than Gyumao thought she did.

You'll grow to be a force to reckon with, Chai. Just like your father. Just like your-

"Mama!" Chai suddenly called.

"Yes, Chai-chan?" Chi-Chi called back.

"Could Clove-san and I go to the Ox Kingdom tomorrow? I think he might find it interesting. I also think he'll get along with Cinna especially."

"Sure, honey. It's been a while since I've visited anyways. I wonder how the kingdom is doing."