He had learned to find things by sensing their ki a long time ago. There was no need for the Dragon Radar. Goten could find the Dragon Balls on his own. And so he was searching for them now. He had flown north from where he fought Gohan, and now he found himself on a snowy island. The temperature was around thirty degrees, which was odd for Goten since it was summer time where he lived. But he didn't care. Even with his clothes torn, he still searched through this arctic island. He had a mission. He owed it to Tina.

There were several snowy hills around Goten. His ki alone melted the snow, and soon he could see a Dragon Ball under a hill. He picked it up and looked at it. Then he looked into the sky.

"I'm trying, Tina. Please forgive me. You'll be home soon enough," said Goten.

And so Goten looked to the west and flew there to find the second Dragon Ball.

********

"Ow! Mom, that iodine stings!" Gohan complained.

"Just sit still, Gohan. I'll fix you up in no time," said Chi Chi.

"How can you be so calm? Goten's out there somewhere, and we're sitting here at home."

"Goten needs time to himself right now. Even I wouldn't know what to say to him right now."

Gohan and Chi Chi were in their kitchen, while Goku, Bulma, Trunks, and Bra were all sitting in the living room. Vegeta was leaning against the wall, staring out of the window.

"I just can't believe this has happened," said Bulma.

"Goku, are you sure you want to let Goten go out alone?" asked Bra.

"I feel like that's the best decision to make right now. I don't think Goten needs any more pressure right now," said Goku.

"It's still hard to believe that Tina's gone. I just saw her a few days ago, and now..." Trunks wiped a tear from his eye and leaned his head back.

"It's sickening," said Vegeta.

Everyone was shocked to hear Vegeta speak. They all looked up at him, but he continued to look out of the window.

"What is, Vegeta?" asked Bulma.

"The fact that any man could abuse his child and then claim he loves that child. Even I know the difference between tough love and abuse. Kakarot's son has every right to hate that man. If he wants to find the Dragon Balls, it would be wise to let him do so alone."

"Wow. I'm surprised to hear you say that, Vegeta," said Goku.

"Don't quote me on it. You'll probably never hear it again," said Vegeta.

"Goku, isn't there anything we can do?" asked Trunks.

"I'm not sure, Trunks. Not unless...unless..." Goku stopped to think.

"Unless what?"

"I have to see someone. I'll be back soon." And with that, Goku was gone.

*******

Goten had found three Dragon Balls so far, and he was now on his way to find another one. He was flying in a field, looking down at everything below him. The Dragon Ball was sitting inside of a bush. Goten swooped down, grabbed it, and flew back up. Then he turned to his right and flew in that direction for the fifth Dragon Ball.

*******

Goku looked around at the familiar scene of red skies and yellow roads. Down the road, there was a huge temple. Goku walked down the road and into the temple, and then he found himself in front of an incredibly large desk. A few seconds later, a huge man with horns and a purple suit sat behind the desk. The man wiped his glasses and peered at Goku.

"Goku, is that you?" asked King Yamma.

"Yup, it's me. What's new, King Yamma?" said Goku.

"Why, I haven't seen you since you participated in the Kai Tournament. What brings you here? I don't see a halo on your head."

"Oh, I'm not dead. I'm actually here to ask a favor of you."

"Oh? A favor, eh?"

"Yeah. You see, there's been some trouble on Earth."

"Is it another one of those lunatics trying to blow it up again? I swear, if it is..."

"No, it's not that. This is personal. I was actually wondering if I could speak with someone who may have come by here lately."

"Well, I guess it's okay. I don't see a problem with that."

"Great! Oh, and I was wondering if I could bring somebody here."

"Bring someone here? Well..."

*******

Goten finally found the seventh and final Dragon Ball. It was in a huge city, filled with people. Goten found it under a car in a busy parking garage. But now that he had them all, he was ready to summon Shenlong. He flew away from the city and stopped at a valley. Then he dropped all of the Dragon Balls to the ground. Just as they hit the ground, the wind started to kick up. Before Goten could summon the dragon, a bright light appeared in front of him. He sensed someone's ki in the light and stepped back. The light blinded him, so all he could do was charge ki in his fist and wait. The light started to dim, and then he brought his fist forward. But when the light disappeared, he stopped. His fist trembled, his jaw hung open, and his eyes were as wide as they could get. He saw a girl, with chocolate brown skin, long black hair, and a long white dress floating in front of him.

"Goten, we need to talk," the girl said to him.

"Tina? No, this is some kind of trick...It's not Tina...Get away from me!" yelled Goten.

"It's me, Goten. You know it is," said Tina.

"How? Tina, how could you..."

"This is real. You know it is. I can understand if it's hard to accept."

"Tina, I...I don't..."

Goten just couldn't find the words. Suddenly, all the ki in his body dropped, and his hair turned black again. Goten threw his arms around Tina and held her close. She smiled and stroked his hair. Goten could feel tears running down his cheek, but he didn't care.

"I'm so sorry. I should have been there..." said Goten.

"You don't have anything to be sorry about."

"But I let you die. It's my fault. You could still be alive if it weren't for me. You could be happy..."

"You mean you're blaming yourself? You think this is your fault? What would give you that idea?"

"I swore to be there for you. But I wasn't. It is my fault."

"Goten, I want to show you something."

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

Another light appeared. This one lasted less time than the first one did. When it disappeared, Goten and Tina found themselves in a place with red skies and yellow roads. They were in a huge garden, filled with plants that Goten couldn't recognize. There was a spring not too far away, and tall, full trees that people were resting under.

"Goten, this is Heaven. This is what you brought me," said Tina.

"What do you mean?" asked Goten.

"This is what you gave me, even back on Earth. You gave me Heaven. Nobody ever cared for me like you did, and I never cared for anyone like I cared for you. And I still care for you. You're not just the man I love, Goten. You're my best friend. I could never thank you enough for what you've given me."

"But, I failed. I didn't do a thing right."

"Goten, you did everything right. And now it's time to move on."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to let me go, Goten. I want you to live your life. I want you to be happy."

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm happy here. You can see that Heaven is a beautiful place. I know you were trying to bring me back, but you don't have to. I appreciate it, but to bring me back would be to put on burden on your own life. You don't deserve that, Goten. It's not fair to you."

"Tina, I don't want to lose you."

"You haven't lost me, Goten. And you never will. Someday you and I will be together again."

"I don't know if I can wait..."

"You can. It may not seem like it now, but you can. Our love will always exist, and with it will come patience. Until that time comes, you have to enjoy life."

"I...I think I understand. I mean, the most fun times in my life, I spent with you. So, if I wait, then I can still enjoy life, and then we'll enjoy life together when the time comes."

"That's right, Goten. You don't have to worry. Soon enough, we'll be together again."

"Before I wait, I'll need one last moment, to cherish..."

"To remember..."

"To share..."

"To love..."

And so they shared one last kiss. One last passionate, emotional, joyful kiss. Goten's heart hurt with each passing second, but the kiss held strong. Memories flashed in the minds of both Goten and Tina, and each memory brought more pain and yet more passion. And when the kiss finally broke, one last hug. Tears flowed from the eyes of Goten and Tina, and when the embrace finally broke, they wiped the tears from each other's eyes and stepped back. Goten felt Goku's hand on his shoulder. He looked back at his father, then back at Tina. Goku and Goten began to fade away, the two of them waving to Tina. She waved at the two fading Saiyans who were on their way back to Earth. And when they were finally gone, she smiled, knowing that she would see Goten again.

Goten found himself standing amidst the Dragon Balls again, right back on Earth. Goku was standing behind him. Neither of them said anything. Neither of them knew just what to say. Goku stared at the sky that was slowly darkening. Night was just falling upon them. Goten stared at the Dragon Balls at his feet. Then he rose his head and turned to his father.

"Dad..."

"Yes, Goten?"

"I think I've decided on my wish."

TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT CHAPTER