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"The world's nothing but a lie and everyone is going to die. But what can I say? Just help me make it through today. You don't need a destination just to go somewhere in life."

Chapter 4

   Goku stared blankly into the forest surrounding his house. Was he alive? Everything was completely destroyed. His room and the rest of the house were reduced to black ashes. He slowly looked around him. Everything else seemed untouched by the explosion. Slowly, he lifted his hands up before him. They were as black as coal from the remaining ashes. Well, at least they weren't blown off. Now what was Bardock going to say about the explosion?

   ChiChi was almost in hysterics. Tears welled up in her eyes as she frantically made sure her body was still intact. Maybe Goku was right. Maybe she should have listened to him. Mixing unknown chemicals was a bad idea. No wonder why they forbade it at school.

   She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small mirror. Snapping it open, she looked in the mirror to check her face…

   And she shrieked.

   Goku looked over to ChiChi. Standing up, he stumbled over to her to see what was wrong. He fell heavily on the ground, and sighed.

   "What's wrong now?" He asked.

   "My…my hair!" She screamed, running a hand through it, "It's all burnt! My beautiful hair!" She shed a few tears.

   Goku rolled his eyes, "You should be more concerned about your hand there. The chemicals are starting to eat through your skin."

   ChiChi dropped the mirror. The skin on her hand boiled like water. It seemed to turn into liquid, running off her hand like small rivers.

   Except they weren't rivers. It was skin…her skin. She looked at her hand with a horrified look etched on her face. ChiChi was convinced that she was going to die. After the chemicals ate off her hand, they would devour her arm. After her arm it would move onto the rest of her body, and that would be it. Goodbye ChiChi…

   I'm going to die a virgin, she thought. I'm going to die sad and alone. No one loves me enough to save me…

   ChiChi was jerked out from her thoughts as Goku grabbed her good wrist. "Come on," He said, lifting her into the air, "We have to get the chemicals out before your hand is destroyed. I know a nearby lake."

   ChiChi nodded as he scooped her up into his arms. She shuddered, the shivers continuously going up and down her spine. Her hand was starting to hurt more by the second.  She bit her bottom lip to try to suppress any screams from escaping her throat. A few tears dripped slowly down her cheeks as her lip started to bleed. Between her hand and her lip, she felt as if she were going to drop dead at any moment.

   Goku looked down at ChiChi, "Does it hurt?" He asked softly.

   ChiChi nodded weakly in reply. She was really scared now.

   "We're almost there, don't worry. You'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to you." Goku whispered, flying faster. Soon they came to a gorgeous lake. The water sparkled, the light bouncing off into different directions. Trees outlined the place to hold off any unwanted visitors. It seemed the only way in and out was by the sky.

   Goku landed quickly next to the lake. Setting ChiChi down next to him, he grabbed her wrist and thrust it into the water. ChiChi cringed as the water seeped into her wound. It stung like a thousand bees had attacked her at the same exact time. She resorted to biting on her lip again to try to ease the pain.

   After a few minutes, Goku took ChiChi's hand out of the water. He reached across his chest with his free hand and ripped his sleeve. Laying it neatly on the ground, he laid ChiChi's hand at one end, and started to wrap it.

   ChiChi stared at Goku in amazement. It was beyond her how Goku could know anything. She quickly looked away as Goku looked up at her.

   Goku tugged at the cloth. Securing the end under another piece wrapped around ChiChi's hand, he looked at her and smiled, "You're fine now. The hand should be okay, just go easy on it for a few days to let it heal properly."

   ChiChi blushed, "Thanks, but…" She stared down at her hand.

   Goku blushed and laughed nervously, realizing that he was still holding it.

   He stood up, "I guess we should go now."

   "I guess."

   Goku picked ChiChi up, and flew from the lake. After only a few moments of flying, they came back to Goku's burnt down house with a very angry Bardock waiting for them.

   Goku and ChiChi landed next to Bardock. Goku softly placed ChiChi on the ground next to him. Here comes the screaming, Goku thought. Better brace yourself.

   Bardock sighed in deeply, trying to contain his anger. His house…his one and only house was burnt to ashes.

   "Kakarott, there better be a good explanation for this. I had to send Bulma and Vegeta away so I could deal with you."

   "I screwed up mixing some chemicals. I didn't mean to make the house explode." Goku said calmly. He winked at ChiChi to let her know that he was going to take the blame. There was no need to drag her into the problem, even if it was her fault.

   Bardock clenched his fists, "You idiot. You ruined my house."

   "Our house Dad."

   "I BUILT IT, THEREFORE IT IS MY HOUSE!"

   "Whoa, chill. It was only an accident. I'm sorry I screwed up."

   "WHERE THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO STAY? I'M NOT GOING TO END UP LIVING IN THE WOODS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE LIKE YOU ALMOST DID!"

   "You can stay at my place Bardock" ChiChi said, "Goku lied, it's really my fault. He warned me against it, and I didn't listen."

  "ChiChi, I'll take care of this," Goku said, turning to ChiChi.

  ChiChi shook her head, "No, I insist you both stay at my place to make up for this. I'll even help you find a new house to live in. It's the least I can do." She paused for a moment, "Besides, if it weren't for you, my hand would be gone right now."

   Goku looked at Bardock. Bardock's fists relaxed as he thought about the offer. "Fine," he said, "We'll take the offer."

   ChiChi smiled, "Good. We can go now."

   "That's the girl I used to know. Always trying to help people." Goku whispered to himself.

   ChiChi looked at Goku, "Did you say something?"

   "No."

   "Okay," She paused, "I have a few requests though."

   "Name it."

   "We can't show up at school together. I don't want people thinking things. No one is to know about this either. Got it?"

   Goku sighed. So much for the girl he used to know. "Fine, whatever." He said, "Now I think you'll need a ride to your house, since everything was destroyed in the explosion." Goku cupped his hands around his mouth, "Nimbus!" He called out, "Come to me, Nimbus!"

   A few second later, the infamous flying cloud came zooming through the air. It came to a quick stop in front of Goku.

   "Okay, ChiChi. Let's see if your heart is still pure. Hop on."

   ChiChi breathed in slowly. Holding her breath, she jumped on, and hoped that she didn't fall through. She landed safely on the cloud. Breathing a sigh of relief, she flashed a smile at Goku.

   "Interesting. Despite the fact that you've given me the silent treatment for the last couple of years, Nimbus seems to still consider you pure hearted." Goku said, stroking his chin in a detective like manner.

   "Shut up." ChiChi simply said, "Nimbus, to my house." Nimbus then zoomed off, leaving a trail of dust behind it. Goku and Bardock both lifted into the air, and followed after into the sunset.

~*~

   "Goku, what's this I hear about you staying at ChiChi's house?"

   Goku slammed his locker door and looked down at Krillin. How could the school find out about him staying at ChiChi's house within a day? He thought this was supposed to stay a secret.

   "Where did you hear that?"

   "It's all over the school."

   Goku sighed, "It's true. You have to deny it to anyone who asks though, okay?"

   Krillin eyes Goku suspiciously, "Okay, whatever you say…"

   "Thank you," Goku said, letting out a sigh.

   "So, have you done anything with her?"

   "What!?"

   "Well you're not staying at her house for no reason! You guys must have done something together!"

   "Krillin shut up! I don't want people getting ideas!"

   "Well?"

   "She blew up my house."

   Krillin blinked, "Wow, that sucks…"

   "Yeah…"

   "So, you didn't make out with her or anything?"

   "No, I didn't."

   "Not even one little kiss?"

   "Krillin, shut up"

   "Nothing? Come on, bro. You can tell me."

   "SHUT UP!"

   "Shutting up…"

   Goku left Krillin and pushed through the student body of Orange Star High School. Goku caught several rumors being thrown around, mostly about him and ChiChi.

   He would die a happy man if all those rumors he heard were true.

   Then came the "He's not good enough for her," and the "She's popular, and he's a loser. It would never work." Goku silently wove his way in and out of the crowd while listening to the conversations. Every single comment was negative towards him and positive towards ChiChi. Is this really what everyone thought of him? They were all so shallow.

   People are always ready to eat up gossip like its life support. You can't live with it, yet you can't live without it. Gossip is essential to a higher self-esteem level. You put others down to make yourself feel better. It's a fact in life. No one will ever be sensitive to other people's feelings.

   Goku came up with a solution: all humans are ruthless when it comes to gossip. Thank God he wasn't one.

   He quickly exited the school without waiting for Krillin. Quickly taking off, he headed to his temporary home.

   Goku could tell one thing: it was going to be a long week.

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    Hope you liked this chapter! Reviews are greatly appreciated. Cyber alcoholic drinks for everyone who reviews! ^_^