"Kakarot! Oh, Kakarot!" Gine stood with one hand on her hip and one hand against her forehead to block the summer sun from blinding her. "Where could that boy have run off to now!?"

"BOO!"

"AH!"

The child held his stomach that hurt from all the laughter while his mom clutched her beating heart. She dropped the freshly baked cake onto the dirt beneath her after being frightened. The hands that were gripping her chest went into her hair as she groaned.

"Sweetheart! Look what you did! Raditz is gonna be home any minute!"

Kakarot stopped laughing when he finally noticed the ruined birthday dessert by their boots. He gave her a pout and wide-eyed blinks, his signature way of getting out of any trouble. He even stepped it up by wrapping his tiny arms around her legs. "Sowwy, Mama. We can make a other one! I wuv you!"

Gine felt her frustrations instantly vanished. She lifted up her youngest and kissed him all over his chubby cheeks. "Oh, my little baby. What am I going to do with you?"

The child clung to her neck as she carried him back inside their home. The four year old inhaled the scent of her hair and nuzzled his nose against the dark strands. It always smelled like whatever she was cooking up. She placed him on a chair while reheating the fireplace again for preparation. They were lucky that there was already some cornmeal ready from the first cake or this process of baking a new one would be even longer.

"I wish someone could invent something to speed this up."

As Kakarot watched her throw more coals into the fireplace, he scratched the back of his messy head. There was something that had been bothering him for weeks now. "Mama?"

"What, baby?"

"Is your name 'Darling'?"

Gine smiled as she turned around. There was only one person that called her that on a daily basis. "No, honey. It's Gine."

Kakarot frowned. "Raditz said that. But Papa says Darling, Darling, Darling. Do you have two names?"

The mother clenched her fists together at the unbelievable cuteness of her son and then ran over to kiss him on the forehead. "Papa just calls me that, like I call you 'honey' or 'baby' sometimes."

"Why?"

Gine held his face in her hands and kept her grin while staring down at him. "Because he loves me. Because I love you. It's something you call someone when you can't imagine life without them. I'm his darling, you're my baby. Understand?"

Kakarot kicked his feet back and forth and tilted his head in his mother's loving grasp. "Uh huh."

"Great. Now let's bake this cake."

"Kakarot! I said, wouldn't it be nice to be able to bake?"

"Huh?" Kakarot shook his head to get back into the present. When Chi-Chi had gone off into a conversation about making johnnycakes, his memories brought him back to a day at the old ranch. She was looking at him and waiting for a response with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, of course darling. I miss being near a kitchen, too."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about old stuff," he smiled assuredly and brought his attention to the trail in front of them. They were approaching the town of Prospector's Tusk, a rather quant place but it would provide them with the supplies they needed. "I wish you could've had Ma's apple pies. They were the bettermost pies in all the west."

Chi-Chi grinned while watching the corner of his mouth on her side never go down. He loved talking about his mother. With their time together coming to a close in a matter of months, she wanted to know all she could. "You're the fastest gun in the west, your mom had the best pie in the west. You know how rare it is to find someone who is actually from there?"

"Born and raised," Kakarot glanced at her again. She always had a way of distracting him. "Never thought I'd be going back. 'Least not like this."

"What were you doing in the north besides robbing stagecoaches?" Chi-Chi asked as sweetly as she could, but it still made Kakarot lose his grin. "Most folks never leave the west. It's the land of opportunity, right?"

As they went slowed down through snow-covered rocks and bounced along the way, Kakarot had to focus on the trail again. He was silently grateful for the chance to avoid the conversation even if it wouldn't last long. Sure enough, she was questioning him again once they were back on flat land.

"Was it before or after your father was taken to Devil's Pass?"

"Ma'am," he stopped the stagecoach to look at her with a straight face. "If you're gonna keep hassling me like this, you better ante up with something good."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes and put two fingers on her lips. She pressed those same fingers against Kakarot's mouth, then laughed when he furrowed his brows in response. "There. Now tell me."

It hard to stay serious with her. He shook his head and chuckled after her 'kiss'. "You're somethin' else darling, you know that? You really wanna know that much about me, huh?"

"Sure as sugar. Or should I say salt?"

Kakarot gently shoved her shoulder and rolled her eyes as she continued to laugh at him. It was nice to see her so happy. "Alright, fine. That big fella with the pink hair Vegeta killed? He showed up to our ranch and told us what Pops did. Or didn't do. Either way we find out he's being sent to Devil's Pass for a public hanging. Raditz and me were trying to figure out what we were gonna do, then Pops has a letter come in the mail saying not to save him but our minds were already made up. We were going to get Vegeta and Nappa to help us."

Chi-Chi folded her arms across her chest with she felt the wind chill pick up. "How long has Bardock been in jail? You two couldn't have traveled up north that fast."

"His execution day will make a year and a half," Kakarot nodded at her wide eyes. "Yeah, I know. They kept him alive for a long time because there's a lot of folks coming to see it. They're making a big fandango out of it, those sick bastards."

"Who was the sheriff they claim he killed!? Sake's alive!" Chi-Chi gathered his hands into her own to offer her sincerity. "That's a hell of a thing. Most hangings take place the same week the heinous act occurred."

Kakarot shrugged and squeezed her hands back. "I haven't the slightest idea of who the person was. I just know it made people madder than hornets during a storm."

"I'd say so," Chi-Chi looked down at her lap where their hands were resting. Kakarot knew how many people were going to be there to watch his father die, but he wanted to save him anyway. That was true love. "You ought to stay away like he asked. It's a suicide mission." Her voice was quiet and caring, knowing that he wasn't going to change his mind but still offering her opinion from a good place.

"Like I mentioned before, princess. He's worth it," Kakarot crinkled his nose when she glanced up. "Aw, don't look so sad. Keep being a curious cat so we ain't thinking about that day."

Chi-Chi inhaled and exhaled slowly. No matter how either one of them felt, in the end they would need to separate. Devil's Pass was just too dangerous for her, and there was no way he wasn't going to attempt the rescue. "When you joined the Saiyans, how old were you?"

"An honorary member at ten when my ma passed, I reckon. But I didn't start lootin' and shootin' until a few years after that. So," Kakarot let go of her hands to put his upward. "Thirteen?"

"Thirteen!?" Chi-Chi's mouth was agape. "That's so young! You were just a child!"

"Didn't have time to really think about my age. Pops would take us along and we just got involved when we were asked. The three of us traveled between the west and the north more times than I could count," Kakarot leaned his back against the stagecoach. The sun shining down on his face as he looked up felt good on his otherwise cold skin. "I know this route like the back of my hand. Ain't never been to Devil's Pass, though. That'll be interesting."

Chi-Chi wasn't sure if she wanted to hold him or slap him. She decided to keep educating herself on him instead. "What sorts of crimes did the Saiyans have you do?"

"It wasn't all crimes, darling. Remember Aces? Pops and I built that."

"What!?" The Aces? The same one she was floored by? "Why didn't you mention that before!?"

"Didn't think it mattered," Kakarot chuckled while taking a glance at her balled up fists. She was either excited or wanted to sock him a good one. "I told ya I did buildings with him."

Her hands gathered up his black leather jacket and pulled him close. She shook him with each word that came out. "I thought you meant tiny shacks! Not a full on saloon!"

With the tips of their noses touching, the outlaw couldn't help but have a thought run through the back of his head. "I'm a man of many trades," he smirked along with his whisper. "I could take good care of you if you'd have me."

Her eyelashes were giving his eyelids butterfly kisses as she continued to blink. She brought herself back and examined his face, completely ignoring the offer he gave. "Your beard's coming back."

"You like it?"

"No," she lied. "It makes you look like a grizzly."

"RAWR!"

"AH!"

After raising his 'paws' at her, he was now reaching out to her but was too late. She fell off the side of the stagecoach and landed in the snow on her back. He was looking down at Chi-Chi who was groaning. He couldn't hold back his laughter and had to go back just to get it out of his system. When he thought he was done, he went back to the edge. "How'd you get scared? You were looking right at me!"

"Can ya help a gal up or not!?"

Kakarot jumped down and helped bring her to her feet. He was nice enough to brush off any extra snow she had on her. He earned a growl when he patted it off her bottom. "Sorry!" he narrowly avoided the slap coming for his face. "You can't see back there!"

Looking at his pout as he was backed into the stagecoach didn't work on her like it did to his mom. She jabbed his chest with her finger and spoke through clenched teeth. "What did I tell you about getting slick with me, mister!?"

As she continued to scold him, Kakarot didn't hear a word she said. He was too busy smiling at the way her eyes lit up. They always did whenever her temper got the best of her.

"Where the fuck are those two now!? I swear I need to keep them on a lasso!"

"Relax Vegeta," Raditz examined a case of bullets that were underneath a glass container. "Prospector's Tusk is safe. They've got time to fool around."

The leader of the Saiyans grumbled something under his breath and left Raditz to look at what was left for food. Once again, it appeared all they were going to be eating the remainder of the treats were beans and dried fruit. He threw them all into the basket begrudgingly, praying the day he was able to sit down to a decent meal would be sooner rather than later.

He subconsciously patted his pockets to make sure the ring was still there before walking back to Raditz. "Are you still considering taking a stop at Gine's grave before we see Bardock?"

Raditz looked up from the bullets and gave Vegeta a half-smile. "If Kakarot's up to it. Personally I've had enough of death and all this depressing shit. Why?"

Vegeta glanced at the tin cans inside the woven basket. Nappa's absence was making him go crazy. There was never a moment where he'd let his men see a softer side to him, but the last week has taken him through the mill. He barely spoke to any of them and when he did, it was either insulting or brief. After awhile, he took a ragged breath. "It'll be the last time you can see her. I'd consider if it I were you."

Raditz realized he was right about that. After they got Bardock, there was no way they'd ever be able to return. They would be outlaws with a runaway fugitive. "Alright. I'll get a little something to leave with her. How's your gun? Need a fill?"

Vegeta checked the magazine. "Empty. Get some ammo. I'm not loading until we're near the prison."

"You sure, boss?"

"Yeah. I doubt we'll be running into any problems for awhile after all that shit."

"Well if we do, you know I got your back."

Vegeta held back his crude comment. Raditz was the worst shot in the gang. He'd end up dead instead of being saved. They both looked at the door when it swung open. Kakarot and Chi-Chi had finally decided to join them. "Enjoy a quick fuck in the snow?"

While Chi-Chi scowled, Kakarot draped an arm over the shoulder of his long time friend. "Glad to see you're back to your old self there, Vegeta! Wanna go take a gander at some new threads? That poncho looks like it's past the expiration date." When the leader shoved the basket into Kakarot's stomach and stormed off, the messy haired Saiyan called out after him. "I was just foolin'! It looks great!"

The two brothers watched as Vegeta walked into the clothing store across the way and started cracking up. While they enjoyed themselves, Chi-Chi had disappeared to the stationary section to see what was in stock. Kakarot hadn't even noticed she disappeared and only noticed when he could hear her sharing a laugh with somebody. He turned around the same time Raditz did to see her talking to the young man who swept the floors.

Not only was she laughing, but she put her hand on his chest.

Watching the two interacting, Kakarot felt a strange aching feeling forming inside. He wanted to tell her to stop talking the man, but Chi-Chi wasn't his girl. He didn't want to control her, either. Unsure of what he disliked more - what he was seeing or what he was feeling - he turned to his brother for help. "Whaddya think about that, Raditz?"

Raditz arched an eyebrow after following his brother's line of vision. "He's pretty shitty at his job. This place is dusty as all get out."

"Not that," Kakarot narrowed his eyes. "Chi-Chi and that fella over there. You think she likes him?"

When the older brother looked, all he could see were two people being cordial to one another. He switched his gaze between them and Kakarot until a smirk grew. "Ah, don't tell me you're jealous?"

"Jealous?" Kakarot said it as if he were offended. "I don't get jealous. I was just wondering if you think she likes him."

"Uh...huh," Raditz tapped on the glass for the owner to get the bullets out of the case and then brought his attention back to his brother. "He's the type of guy she should be with, but I reckon she's just being friendly. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you."

"Should be with? What do you mean?"

"Well...look at him," Raditz took money out of his back pocket and handed it to the seller. "Decent, low paying job. Clean. Fresh faced. Pretty sure no blood on his hands. What's not there for Teach to love?"

Unsure if he were kidding or not, Kakarot walked over to where Chi-Chi was. He could hear them discussing a book about a whale before he stepped in. "Howdy, folks. Mind telling me where... Oh, what's this?" Kakarot took off his hat and looked down at Chi-Chi like it was his first time ever seeing her. "You look familiar, young lady. Got any Saiyan in you?"

Chi-Chi flushed at his closeness but didn't inch away. She didn't know if she wanted to play his little game or not but found herself saying, "...No?"

"Want some?"

When Chi-Chi's jaw dropped, the sweeper looked between the two. While the woman looked mortified, the man was winking. He cleared his throat and struck up his chest towards the much taller cowboy. "I don't know what a Saiyan is, but why don't you g'on ahead and leave this woman alone?"

Ignoring the sweeper, Kakarot ran his fingers lightly over her wrist as he moved by. He bent his head down to whisper into her ear before leaving. "Come find me when you're done."

Chi-Chi couldn't even hear the sweeper trying to check in on her. She was eyeing Kakarot as he joined his brother at the door. Her ogling didn't go unnoticed. The younger Saiyan was smirking, proud of himself to leave her frozen in a state of shock, embarrassment, and just a sliver of attraction. She couldn't remember what she had come to the section to look for. She left the worker to follow Kakarot to the cool outdoors.

"H-Hey!" she found her voice at last although it was raspy. "Wait!"

With his hands behind his back, Kakarot swiveled around and bowed to her. "Yes, Chi-Chi? How may I assist you?"

"What was that all about!?" she was still pink-cheeked as she tapped her boot impatiently on the dirty snow beneath her. "How could you say something so vulgar!?"

"Me?" Kakarot pointed to himself and feigned a gasp. "I have no idea what you're referring to, ma'am. You didn't seem too happy with that greenhorn breathing down your neck so I offered my helping hand."

Chi-Chi opened her mouth to yell at him, but then closed it. Was that his way of being envious? "Kakarot," her voice was teasing as she got closer to him. "Was someone a little jealous?"

"No!" he said quickly and turned around. By the tensing of his shoulders, Chi-Chi knew she was right. She giggled into her hands and ran around to his front side. He kept turning so she couldn't see his face but she wouldn't stop running to see it.

"Eek!"

She slipped on the ice and landed on her backside again after running too fast. Kakarot slapped his forehead while looking at her wiggling like a flipped over cockroach. "Are you serious!? Twice in a day?"

Chi-Chi struck her hand up and fumed. "It's always your fault, you mule!"

Once Kakarot got her up again, she punched his chest. He rubbed the sore spot with a grin. "I didn't make you run in circles now, did I?"

Before she could get another hit in, someone caught their eye. Vegeta was holding a pile of his old clothes and wearing his brand new ones. In addition to looking fresh in all black shirt layers and pants, he also wore a crisp black duster. His new cowboy hat was a dark gray and his metal pistol stood out in his holster. He scratched at the stubble on his chin while the gang gawked at him.

Raditz whistled lowly while observing his boss. "Hot damn, Vegeta! That hat covers up your big ol' forehead nicely!"

"Fuck you," he spat out on the ground and motioned for them to follow him. "Load up the stagecoach. We'll be hitting the west in a few weeks. Hope you're ready."

Kakarot grinned and followed Vegeta with his eyes as the shorter Saiyan walked by. "You really do look sharp, Vegeta! You should keep that clean for your wedding day!"

Chi-Chi winced, thinking that the leader was going to snap after realizing she told Kakarot all about what he said in his letter to Bulma. She chanced a look at him to see Vegeta chuckling instead.

"Come on, idiot. Your father's waiting."

The weeks that followed were calm, a little too calm, but Chi-Chi enjoyed them nonetheless. She was able to introduce Kakarot to the world of sight words, and he even memorized a few. As miles passed, they were noticing less snow on the trail until there was none at all. It was still cold, but nothing a simple coat couldn't fare against.

Raditz and Vegeta paused on their horses, causing Kakarot and Chi-Chi to do the same in the stagecoach. Standing on a cliff, they were overlooking a vista of red rocks and green cacti. Chi-Chi stood up on the stagecoach seat to get a better view and gasped loudly. The sight of the western part of the country made tears form in the corners of her eyes. She wiped them and sniffed.

"It's so beautiful."

Kakarot grinned. He had to admit as many times he had seen this view, it got him each time. "Sure is. We'll be in Sunnybellow in less than two months. You ready?"

"Never been so ready in my life."

"Well, sit down then! I can't have you flying off!"

The four traveled through the desert until the sun began to set. Chi-Chi thought the sunsets in the north were gorgeous, but it was nothing compared to the western skies. She breathed in the cool air and threw her arms back after getting off the stagecoach. How she wished her daddy could be part of this right now. It was indescribable.

Her companions seemed less enthralled. While she took in the beauty, Vegeta was starting a fire for the night and Raditz was whispering something to Kakarot. The youngest Saiyan jogged over to Chi-Chi and interrupted her moment of peace.

"Mind keeping Vegeta company? Raditz wanted to take a ride with me right quick."

Chi-Chi sighed a little too loudly, causing Vegeta to glare up at her as he made the fire stronger. "Promise it'll be quick?"

"I swear."

As the brothers rode off, Chi-Chi sat down as far as she could from Vegeta but close enough to the fire to stay warm. She held her hands in front of it and avoided eye contact with the Saiyan. A long time had passed where she felt no animosity towards him, but the dreams of the west alive now more than ever reminded her that she shouldn't be here alone.

"What's your problem, girl?"

"Nothing," Chi-Chi kept a straight mouth and focused on the flickering of the flames. "Just thinking about how my father should be here with me instead of you."

Vegeta's stare was hard as he looked through the fire at the former debutante. Anyone was a fool to believe she was the forgiving type. After all these months and favors, there was no doubt in his mind she still wanted him dead. He had been too focused on the retaliation of killing Frieza and the loss of Nappa that he forgot about the real issue at hand. She did say that she was going to kill him at the end of her journey.

"Nappa was always fond of the west."

Chi-Chi grinded her teeth slightly, her eyes now shifting upward to see Vegeta's face. He was looking right at her. "Don't try to make me feel bad for you because I don't."

"I wasn't trying to," Vegeta's voice remained emotionless and his expression was hard for her to read. "You can be real pretentious, woman. You're not the only one going through something."

"Excuse me?" It was the same old issue between them. He'd never believe he was wrong for what he did. She didn't need it, but she thought he'd at least apologize after all the times she saved him. "Have you forgotten you're the one who took everything from me? I have a right to talk to you however I want. I hate you."

Vegeta wasn't going to be the first one to look away despite her eyes boring into him. "If you hate me so much, why didn't you shoot me when I was confined in the bed at Rose's? Shit, even when I passed out before that? You gave me the heads up about Dodoria. You think that's hate?"

"I felt pity for you!" Chi-Chi snapped and was standing up now. She was huffing as Vegeta did the same. Now they were only inches apart. "When I kill you, I want it to be even! I want to be the one to make you suffer for everything you've ever done when you're feeling confident! Get you where it really hurts!"

"You know what I think?" Vegeta searched her eyes. They were even in height with her boots on. The corner of his lips twitched while her teeth were bared on full display. His voice was a lot gentler than hers. "I think the only reason you shot that poor whore was because of your sweetheart on the other end. Otherwise, you don't have the balls to stand up for yourself. You don't want to taint your precious soul."

Chi-Chi felt her face burning up against from a mixture of the flames nearby and his truthful words. She didn't want this life of sin, but the Saiyans kept pulling her in. Would it be acceptable to commit one more before leaving this all behind for good?

She'd just have to find out.

"We'll settle this once and for all. A duel. Right here, right now."

Vegeta eyebrows raised in surprise as she began backing up to give them space for firing. Watching her undo her coat to reveal the holster squeezing her trim figure, the Saiyan looked down at his own weapon. "You sure you want to do this? After everything we've been through together?"

"And not once did you ever say 'thank you'!"

"Is that what this is all about? You want my gratitude?"

"No you bastard!" Chi-Chi nearly shrieked and spread her legs so they were at an even width to her shoulders. Her one shot had to be perfect. "I don't want you to do anything for me! I'm just so sick and tired of feeling bad for you when you clearly don't care! I should feel bad for Bulma and your child but now I see I'll be doing them a favor! I can't move on knowing you still have everything when I have nothing!"

Vegeta stood still as the tears started rolling down her face. She still hadn't drawn her gun, but it felt like he had been shot in the chest. He was always suspicious she'd switch up on him, but she was the only reason he was alive. Kakarot, too.

"I'm sorry."

Chi-Chi rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her coat before double-checking she heard him correctly. He had said it so quietly. "What did you say?"

"I'm sorry I killed your father."

Stuck in the soil of where she stood, Chi-Chi blinked in silence for a good while to see he meant what he said. His eyes never broke their contact with her own. A rage from deep within sent her head back as she screamed out in frustration. "That doesn't change anything!" she spoke as she cried, and the words came out in stutters. "I'm not letting you go this time!"

"I know," Vegeta sat up as straight as he could and placed his hand on his holster. His voice had remained eerily calm despite her break down. "I accept your draw. Last one standing wins."

"I wanted to show you what I got for Ma's grave."

"Ma's..." Kakarot's eyes widened as he took the small doll from his brother's hand. It had similar hair to that of his mother's. He turned it over a few times before slowly handing it back. "We're going to stop by to see her?"

Raditz shrugged and placed the doll back inside his saddlebag. They were still on the horses but less than a mile away from where they had left Chi-Chi and Vegeta. He didn't want to be near them just in case his voice cracked. "If you want to. It's our last goodbye."

"Aw," Kakarot dropped his head and closed his eyes tightly. "Why'd you have to say it like that?"

"It's the truth. We can't come back."

The younger brother brought his head back to look up at the stars. The ones out here in the west luminated the sky a much more prettier shade than the stars of the north. It was his most favorite part of home. There was one that always shined brighter than the others, and he knew it was Ma telling him it was going to be okay. "Can you just promise me the new place will have stars just like this?"

"Of course," Raditz looked up at what Kakarot saw and found himself smiling just the same; childlike. "How are you feeling about Devil's Pass?"

"Not gonna lie," Kakarot sighed as he brought his head back down. "I'm a bit scared. I'm scared we'll be late and see his body danglin' there, or we'll get shot down trying to get him out. I hope the other guys have our back like they said they would."

Raditz sweat dropped. He hadn't visualized his father being hanged but Kakarot put the image in his head. He swallowed his nerves down and sounded calm. "Uncle Tora never let us down before. He'll show. They all will."

The younger brother gave his brother a fist bump, knowing he was always right about everything. They turned their horses around and started heading back to camp.

"I sure wish Nappa was here with us."

"Me too brother," Raditz sighed and moved at a pace even with Kakarot. "Me too."

They were going to say more to one another, but a peculiar scene caused them to freeze. Chi-Chi and Vegeta were standing a few feet apart from one another, both their hands on their holsters. It was as if time slowed in Kakarot's eyes as Chi-Chi removed her gun and immediately got into the position he taught her.

"CHI-CHI! STOP!"

Kakarot jumped off his horse mid-ride and rolled on the ground. He scrambled to his feet and charged towards Chi-Chi, screaming her name to stop. She wasn't listening to him. He tackled her the moment she pulled the trigger. Holding her down on the ground, the two looked up to see Vegeta staggering backwards. He was holding onto his shoulder with blood pouring down to stain the desert dirt red.

"VEGETA!"

Kakarot pushed himself off Chi-Chi and caught the outlaw before he could fall down. Vegeta put one arm around his neck as he was lowering them down. "K-Kakarot," he was struggling to keep his eyes open through the agonizing wound she had inflicted. "It fucking hurts. I'm not going to make it."

The younger one laid his best friend down on the ground and tried to see if the bullet had gone straight through or not. In the darkness, it was difficult to tell. He hurriedly wiped his runny nose on the back of his hand, mixing Vegeta's blood on his face along with it. "That's it. I'm taking you to Doc."

"NO!" Vegeta's eyes popped wide open and he used the strength he had to pull on Kakarot's jacket with his strong hand. "Just the finish the job now! I'd rather bleed out than deal with their shit!"

Against his will, Kakarot lifted Vegeta up and carried him to the stagecoach. He was fading in and out of consciousness the entire way until he knocked out completely. He placed him inside and climbed to the front. He whipped the horses to take off but shouted out to Raditz before getting too far away.

"We're heading to the Doc!"

"Meet you there!" Raditz called back and then looked at Chi-Chi who joined his side. She was still holding the big iron. "I hope you're happy with yourself, Teach. I'd respect you if it was fair. What you did was just cowardly."

She finally put the gun in her holster and raised her hands up defensively. Raditz was getting onto his horse and snapping his fingers for her to hurry up and get on the other one.

"What the hell do you mean!? It was a draw of the quickest and I won!"

"His gun had no bullets."

Chi-Chi stared at the back of Raditz as he went on ahead of her. Up on the saddle, she didn't know if what she was feeling was guilt, satisfaction, or confusion. If Vegeta's gun didn't have any bullets, why in heavens did he agree to a draw?

The door opened up slightly, and then fully once the owner of the large house recognized the men on his porch. He shined his lantern on both their faces, first on the injured one then on the one assisting him.

"What in the world are you boys doing here!? I thought you were settled up north!"

"Sorry, Dr. Brief. Your future son-in-law here wanted to pay you a little visit."

"Fuck...you..."