To Participate, You have To Negotiate

"Mom," Goten asked, "Can I fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament?" Chi-chi smiled at her 11-year-old son. "Of course, dear." Hotaru took in a breath and asked, "Can I too, mom?" The shatter of a dish could be heard. "WHAT?! Hotaru, your barely recovered from your coma 7 days ago, and you want to TRAIN?!" Hotaru hung her head and whispered, "Yes." Chi-chi's eyes watered. "HOTARU!! Please! Be more reasonable! Your…your so frail!" Hotaru lifted her head. "NOT I'M NOT MOTHER! I'm not a little girl anymore…" Chi-chi brought a tissue to her eyes. "You're my little girl! I won't let you participate." Hotaru gripped her hands. "But it's just a bunch of kids mother! They couldn't lay a hand on me even if they tried!! Trunks or Goten only can…if they manage," Goten's face went red. "AND WHAT is THAT supposed to mean?!"

"I was kidding Goten." Hotaru abruptly answered, then turned to Chi-chi again. "Besides mother-" "YOUR NOT PARTICIPATING!! " Chi-chi yelled. Goku entered the room. "Why are you yelling now, Chi-chi?" She swirled around, saying "Tell Hotaru she can't fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament! She hasn't fully recovered and she wants to train!!" Goku scratched his head. "Well what's wrong with that?" Chi-chi took out a rolling pin. "WAIT! HOLD UP!" Goku said while swinging his arms in circles, "Uh…Hotaru…um."

Hotaru stared at her father when he tried to make the words come out. "You…well….ca-can't part-participate'' Chi-chi patted his back. "Was that so hard?" "YES!" he blurted, and looked ashamed to find Hotaru with a look of defeat on her face. She walked out of the room, and went onto the living room. Goku noticed Hotaru had taken a photo album with her when she had gone off to her room.

That night, Gohan has come home from the weekend. (F.Y.I. Gohan's in college v) Besides Hotaru's sulking, the visit was sound. "So I heard that mom and dad won't let you fight, huh?" Gohan asked. Hotaru just stared down at her dinner plate, not talking. "Answer your brother, dear." Chi-chi said calmly. "Don't want to." Hotaru talked back. Which was very unusual. "Look honey…you have to understand that…" Hotaru got up from the table. "I'm really not in the mood right now for a lecture about understanding, Father." All of them watched Hotaru leave the room. "What's her problem?" Gohan asked.

"Father," Hotaru said to Goku, "Can't we negotiate?" Goku took her in the kitchen. "Hotaru, I would love to see you fight, but your mother…" Hotaru snickered a little bit. "How about this. You let me fight, and I won't tell who broke mom's favorite vase." Goku looked in pure shock. "You wouldn't Hotaru…Would you? Please don't tell!'' Hotaru smirked. "Oh don't worry about that father. I said that I did it. She didn't yell at me because I told her I just woken up and I didn't know where I was going. Then I bumped in the vase and it broke." Goku sighed in relief. He didn't want to have a lump on his head. (Like the last one he got 2 months ago. OUCH!)

"BUT!" Hotaru held up her finger, "I can always tell her that a certain father of mine did it while horsing around with a certain brother of mine, while tickling him." Goku looked baffled. "Aw man… I have no choice. I'll…se what I can do." Hotaru smiled, and hugged him. "Thank you father!" and ran off to her room. Goku took a large breath. "Sometimes I think that Hotaru is too smart for her own good.