Dark gray clouds rolled across the ocean. They collided often, lighting the sky and destroying the silence. The winds picked to gale-strength, causing the ocean to unleash its full fury. Waves rose high, nearly touching the sky, and came crashing down, louder than the thunder. The rain came down in sheets as thick as walls. This was the weather Goku forced Ubuu to fly in.
"I will make you regret this!" Ubuu yelled, shielding his eyes from the rain with his hand. He knew full well he would never carry out his threat. Goku laughed at the boy.
"What about if you have to fight in this type of weather?" asked Goku.
"Then I shall fight." Ubuu replied, "But I do not have to fight at this moment. We could have stayed at Karine's tower for a little longer." The tepees had been very warm and comfortable, compared to what he was used to, and it was bright and sunny there too.
"You wanted to stay warm?" Goku asked.
"Yes."
"You wanted more of their good food?"
"Yes."
"You wanted to get to know Atika better?" Ubuu wanted to say yes but then he understood Goku's question. He growled instead. The saiyan laughed again. Atika was Tiwa's daughter. She was a lovely woman, with long brown hair and beautiful eyes. Ubuu was attracted to her instantly. Both Goku and Tiwa noticed this at the feast. Only Goku knew that the feeling was mutual.
"I understand you perfectly." Goku said, "That's why I promise I'll bring you back after the tournament." Goku flew upright and backwards just to see if the boy agreed. Ubuu did, by nodding. The saiyan winked at him, then flew straight up. Ubuu was not expecting this.
"Where are you going?" Ubuu asked, following his master.
"Making a compromise." came the reply. Goku picked up speed. Ubuu matched the saiyan's speed, keeping only a few feet between. They drew closer to the lightning-ridden clouds. Without even a twitch, Goku burst through the clouds. Ubuu gulped, just before the clouds engulfed him.
He could not anything in the clouds, but he was able to sense Goku's presence. The saiyan was still going up. It was a few seconds, but they emerged from the clouds. The sky was still dark. It took a while for the boy to notice, but he soon saw that they were between two layers of clouds that stretched as far as his eye could see. Both layers would often light up and then grow somber again.
They passed through the second layer without incidence. On the other side was a black sky. Ubuu looked east and saw the sun rising slowly, illuminating the clouds and changing the color of the sky from black to orange and finally, blue. Ubuu had seen many sunrises before but never from this high up. It was beautiful.
"The compromise," Goku said, startling his apprentice, "Is that we make it to Capsule Corporation by noon but we fly up here instead."
"It's cold here." Ubuu said, shivering a little.
"You get used to it." replied Goku, "Besides, there's no rain up here and there's no chance of being struck by lightning."
"I guess so." The boy paused, "I thought you said you wanted to go to your house."
"Two reasons for the change," the saiyan explained, "One, my wife and son are there all day, as well as the rest of my gang. And two, that's where lunch and dinner will be."
"Good enough."
"Now what?" Videl asked.
"Let it boil for a while." Chichi replied, stirring another pot, "Then turn the heat off." Videl put down her stirring spoon and went over to Gohan, whose hand was a blur. He was cutting more vegetables. The pile of whole carrots next to him was quickly diminishing. It was if they disappeared, but Videl's eyes were able see, barely, that Gohan would grab said carrot and place it in front of him before slicing it to pieces.
Videl slid an arm around his shoulder while inspecting her husband's work. She was glad that Gohan could cook as well. Including him, there were five people who ate the same amount as ten people. Pan was also starting to show signs of a large appetite, worrying her mother.
"Restaurants would kill to have chefs as fast as you." Videl said.
"Well," Gohan stopped cutting, "no point in asking me. I hate those hats they wear."
"Oh really?" Videl asked, teasing him, "I think you would look really cute in one of them."
"Yeah, but then my hair would get messed up." He pointed at the long, black hair that shot straight up from his head, "Can't mess up the hair." Videl chuckled and then kissed him softly. Then she ruffled his hair.
"I can mess up the hair." She left the kitchen. Gohan followed her with his eyes while trying to place his hair.
"Yeah, she can mess up the hair alright." He mumbled. He soon forgot about it and resumed his task.
Videl Pan and Bra in the garden, located on the east side of Capsule Corporation. They were pushing aside some of the plants, looking through the tall grass. Videl was about to ask if they were allowed when she saw a flash of white hair. She shut her mouth, guessing at what was going on.
Her guess was soon proven right when Bra saw the same white hair and ran at it, crashing through the bushes. Before she reached it, Trunks jumped up from his hiding place and took off. Pan joined in the chase, coming from Trunks right. She dove, meaning to tackle him. But Trunks caught in mid-air. That's when Bra ran into him, knocking all of them down.
"Caught you!" Bra said.
"You got to go the jail now." Pan added. Trunks complained, but the girls pointed to the bench near the entrance. Trunks walked over to it, sighing, looking sad. Once he sat down, he looked at Videl with puppy-eyes.
"I'm in jail." He said in a wimpy voice. Then he smiled. Videl shook her head. Suddenly, there was a shriek. Videl's head snapped back up. She breathed again when she saw that it was Maron. Pan had snuck up on her. Maron was sent to jail. There was one left. Or so she thought.
Another scream, this time from Bra. Trunks stood up and tried to see what Goten was doing to frighten the little girl.
"See Goten," he yelled, "I told you your face was scary."
"How can you tell?" Goten asked. "I'm up here." Trunks looked to his right. He was able to discern his friend's outline in a tree twenty feet. Without asking, Trunks took to the air.
"Bra what is it?" he asked, worried. She did not answer immediately.
"There was a boy there." She said finally, "But now he's not there." Trunks was puzzled by this. But a rustling bush soon distracted him. He looked down, but saw nothing.
"There's someone there." Goten announced, still in his tree, "I can feel their presence." Trunks rolled his eyes.
"Idiot," he said to himself, "Ki detection." He focused now, trying to sense the unseen foe's spirit. He felt too. It was in the air. Trunks flew after it. Goten jumped from his perch, chasing after the invisible opponent. They quickly closed on it. But just before they reached it, the spirit moved out of the way.
Whoever it was, intended for the two boys to collide into each other. But Goten and Trunks had worked with each other before and knew how to react in this situation. Goten remained on his course, while Trunks stopped dead in the air. Goten passed inches over his friend then dove down towards his target. It flew towards the bench. The two demi-saiyans hit the ground and stopped. The spirit did not move.
Everyone stared at an empty bench, waiting for something. They did not expect a boy to suddenly appear on said bench. He was dark-skinned, with black hair and a black shirt that reached his knees, where it was ripped. The top-left side of the boy's shirt was ripped, exposing his pec.
"Who are you?" Videl asked, recovering the fastest from the shock.
"My student." A voice answered. Videl turned around. Trunks and Goten were side by side. On Goten's right shoulder was a man's left foot. On Trunks' left shoulder was a man's right foot. Even on the ground, Videl knew he would tower over the boys. Ten she realized that one of the boys was this man's son.
"Goku?" she asked incredulously.
"Grandpa!" Pan cried. She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Hey there!" Goku said, hugging her back, "How's my little girl doing?"
"Good grandpa!"
"Hey dad?"
"What's up Goten?" The saiyan looked down at his son. "Besides me and the sky of course."
"Airplanes." Goten added, "But what I really wanted to say was that, it's great to have you back." He smiled.
"Thanks." Goku said. Goten nodded.
"Now get off me."
It was an outburst of joy that greeted Goku when he went into the kitchen. Chichi was the first one to notice him, having placed a dish in the oven. When she stood up, he was standing in the doorway. She gasped and that caught Gohan's attention. He followed his mother's gaze and saw his father. Gohan dropped the knife he held and hugged his father. Chichi ran over. Goku opened up one arm and hugged his wife and his son. They held each other until a flash of light prompted them to let go.
"Now that was a cute picture." Bulma said, holding her camera. Goku smiled at her and opened his arms for her. She accepted the embrace.
"Good to see you again." He whispered in her ear. She smiled at him.
Then she thought she heard a herd of some sort come running down the hallway. It turned out to be the children and Videl, who was trailing. Trunks had his sister on his shoulders while Goten carried his niece on his back. Ubuu and Maron stood side by side. They all looked expectantly at Bulma. She sighed.
"The pizzas will be here in a few minutes." She said.
"Yeah!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Pizza?" Goku asked, with a look of delight on his face.
"Pizza?" Ubuu asked, his tone indicating his ignorance of the world's most popular pizza.
"We have much to teach you." Goten said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Goku sighed.
"There goes a year's work of purification." He said.
"I'm not that bad." Goten said defensively. Goku gave him the 'yeah right' look. Goten flashed a nervous smile. The doorbell saved him.
"Pizza!" he cried. And then he disappeared.