Chi-Chi's Journey

Part Four: A Husband Returns

Gohan rushed to pick up the ringing phone. Videl and Pan had just went to bed and he was busy grading term papers. He didn't want to disturb their sleep so he quickly picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Gohan."

"Mom, hey, how's your vacation?" He asked setting his paper aside.

"I'm doing great. I just called to check on my sons."

"Mom it's been over a week. There's nothing to check on. What have you been doing?"

"Slept in a few times, got a massage went hand gliding and the other day I went sky diving."

Gohan laughed surprised at his mother. "Sky diving? You? You're always worried about us doing something dangerous and you go skydiving. I'm surprised."

"I decided to go for it. The signs were just begging me to try it so I did. Besides, if anything should happen, I could always call on Nimbus," Chi-Chi told him. "How are Videl and Pan?"

"Great. Pan learned a new song at school today and she's been singing it nonstop ever since she got home."

The two exchanged conversations for thirty minutes before Chi-Chi became hesitant to ask the next question but she knew she had to. "Has Goku come back yet?" Chi-Chi asked quietly.

Gohan frowned. "No, Mom. I'm sorry. If he does do you want me to tell him where you are?"

Chi-Chi shook her head and then realized she was on the phone. "No, that's all right, Gohan. I think I'll call Goten and see how he's doing at Capsule Corp. Say hi to Videl and Pan for me."

"Sure, Mom. Goodbye."

"Bye, sweetie," Chi-Chi said and hung up. She then redialed Bulma's number. The phone rang twice before Trunks picked it up. "Hey, Trunks. Is Goten there?"

"Hi, Chi-Chi. Yeah, Goten's here. Hey, Goten! Your Mom's on the phone!" Trunks yelled.

There was a quick running of the feet in the background and the tangles of the phone being exchanged. "Hi, Mom."

"Hi, Goten. How are you?"

"I'm great, Mom. How's your vacation?"

"Great," Chi-Chi said and went on to explain what she had been doing there.

"How was skydiving, Mom?" Goten asked.

Chi-Chi laughed. "It was fun. At first I was scared when I jumped out of the plane, but it was fun floating through the sky. I kind of had a of feeling what it must feel like for you and Gohan when you fly. I was very glad when I landed though."

"You sound happy, Mom," Goten noted.

"Yeah, this island is relaxing. It's a great spot to go on a vacation. I have to thank Bulma when I get back."

"Are you going to bring me something?" Goten asked.

"Of course I will. I can't forget my sons."

Bulma entered the room. "Hey, Goten is that your Mom?" Goten nodded. "Let me speak to her for a moment." Goten reluctantly gave Bulma the phone. Both ignored Vegeta as he walked by to the kitchen. "Hey, Chi-Chi, how's the island?"

"Wonderful. You and Vegeta should come her on a vacation."

Bulma scoffed. "I can barely get that Saiyan out of the gravity room. You think he's going to go thousands of miles to the islands. You shouldn't be calling anyway. You should be relaxing."

"I am. I just want to check in on my children."

Bulma scoffed as she thought Gohan and Goten's father. "At least someone is responsible. So, have you pampered yourself?"

Chi-Chi went on to explain to Bulma about her massage, relaxing at the beach, scuba diving, hand gliding and skydiving. She even told her about her limbo at the party in the hotel. The two continued talking before Bulma gave the phone back to Goten. Afterwards Bulma went into the kitchen as well and found Vegeta eating a huge hoagie sandwich.

"Where exactly is Kakarot's mate?" Vegeta asked.

"Since when do you care?" Bulma asked.

"I don't. I'm curious."

Bulma folded her arms. "Yeah, right. You Saiyans stick together and I know you would tell Goku where Chi-Chi was. I think if he returns, he deserves to suffer in silence and not know where she is."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and left the room. "Whatever."

****.

Chi-Chi quickly put on her robe as she got out of the Jacuzzi and rushed to the knocking door. She opened the door and found a doorman there. He was holding a dozen purple roses. The roses were rare and grew only on that island. She read a pamphlet about the flowers on her way to the island and knew they symbolized deep affection. Goku wasn't here. He didn't know she was here and there was no way he would give her flowers, at least not these kind.

"I think you have the wrong room," Chi-Chi told the bellboy.

"This is Room 2125. Room of Mrs. Chi-Chi Son."

"That's right."

"Then it's for you," the bellboy said.

Chi-Chi had no choice but to take the flowers. "Uh, thanks. Hold on." She put the flowers on the coffee table and went back to her room. She returned and gave the bellboy a tip. When she closed the door, she went back to the flowers and saw a card. She picked it up and read it.

'Had a great time the other night. Wish to do it more often. Sotoru.'

Chi-Chi frowned. "I guess when he learned my name, he was able to find what room I'm in. He does own the place" She hadn't meant for Sotoru to take the dancing for anything. He was the one who pulled her onto the floor and she thought he was being nice when he showed her how to do some of the dances on the island.

"Oh, no," Chi-Chi groaned. "I didn't correct him when he thought I was a widow. I'll make sure he gets it straight if I see him again." She tore the card and tossed it in the trash.

Later that morning, Chi-Chi walked out onto the pool in the hotel. She dived in and swam a few laps. It was hot today and the cool pool water was just what she needed to cool down. When she swam up, she saw Sotoru standing before her with a towel.

Chi-Chi took the towel and stepped out of the water. "Thank you. Are you spying on me?"

Sotoru laughed. "No. I just happen to spot you swimming and came to say hello."

Chi-Chi dried her face with the towel. "Thank you for the flowers, but I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression the other night. I'm not interested in you."

"Not now, but who knows in the future," Sotoru said hopefully.

"There will be no future because I'm married."

That confession took Sotoru by surprised. "Married?"

"Thirty years," Chi-Chi confirmed.

Sotoru was still surprised. "But how come you don't have a ring. Oh, I see. You're separated."

Chi-Chi and Goku were separated all right but not for the reasons Sotoru thought. "It's rather complicated and I rather not get into it now."

"Oh, okay," Sotoru said. "What's your husband like?"

Chi-Chi smiled blissfully and her eyes lit up. "A child at heart. He's so playful, gentle, sweet, and has the purest heart I know. He's a bit naïve at times, but I wouldn't have him any other way." Chi-Chi noticed Sotoru looking at her oddly. "What is it?"

"You speak as if you truly love him. You should see how you look—so happy like a schoolgirl in love and blushing. You must really be crazy about him to be looking like that. I didn't stand a chance, did I?"

Chi-Chi shook her head. "Not a chance."

Sotoru shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, well. I tried, but if you truly love him, then why are you here alone?"

Chi-Chi frowned. "Well, something happened and I had to leave to get away from it. A friend of mine said I should take this vacation and my sons encouraged me."

"Sons? How old are they?"

"Twenty-nine and eighteen."

"You have a twenty-nine-year-old son?" Sotoru said surprised. "You look a little young for that."

"My husband and I married early," Chi-Chi explained.

"Oh," Sotoru said. "So, what happened? You and your husband fell out of love with each other?"

Chi-Chi looked aghast. "No! Never! Our situation is rather complicated but I love him and he loves me." 'I hope. Oh, what am I saying? Of course Goku's loves me.'

"If you both love each other then what's the problem? I'm not trying to offend you. I'm just trying to help. I know there's no chance for anything between us, but I can see that whatever this problem you and your husband are going through is bothering you and I thought maybe you needed someone who has nothing to do with the situation to talk to. Maybe I can give some helpful advice," Sotoru explained. Chi-Chi still looked uncertain so Sotoru continued.

"I know I might not seem like the person to talk to. After all, I did hit on you. When I was in the hospital, recovering from my heart attack, the hospital had volunteers who would talk to the patients and cheer them up. My volunteer was a really nice old lady. I was hesitant at first, but I eventually talked to her and she really helped me with my recovery and gave me a different outlook on life. All I want to do now is return the favor by helping you out."

Chi-Chi thought about what Sotoru was telling her. In a lot of ways, he had a good point. Talking to someone about her problems who had no ties to the situation sounded right. It was like someone seeing a shrink. The shrink has no ties to the patient so he could give advice freely and objectively.

"You have a point, Sotoru, but I'm not ready to talk about it now."

"I understand, Chi-Chi. I'll see you around and I hope you figure out your problems with your husband," Sotoru told Chi-Chi and left.

****

Chi-Chi entered her hotel room. Sotoru's words were on her mind. He seemed like a nice enough man to talk to, but Chi-Chi has never been open to talking to anyone about her feelings except for Goku. With him, she can let everything out. If she cried, he'd hold her in his secure arms her until she stopped crying.  If she wanted to talk about anything, he would listen to her.

There were her sons, but they were too close to the problem. Suddenly feeling more lonely than usual, Chi-Chi picked up the phone and called Gohan's house. With the time zones, she figured it was Pan's bedtime now.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sweetie."

"Mom?" Gohan said surprised as he sat down on the sofa. "I didn't expect to hear from you until you board your plane. You have a week left right?"

"Yeah, but I felt lonely so I decided to call you. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, Mom. I don't. I—" he gasped as he saw his father materialized before him. Goku had a concern look on his face.

Chi-Chi heard the surprised in her son's voice. "Gohan? What is it? Is everything all right?"

Gohan just stared at his father surprised and shock to see him there. "No…everything's fine. Something's come up. I have to go. I'll call you later. Bye." Gohan turned off the cordless phone.

"Gohan?" Chi-Chi said looking at the phone. "Hmm. I wonder what that was all about."

Gohan rose out of his seat. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

Goku looked surprised at Gohan's words. "I came to visit. I tried to go home but I couldn't sense your mother's ki. She's not here. Where is she?"

"She's on vacation, Dad," Gohan said rather curtly.

Goku heard the crispness in his son's voice, but ignored it. "Vacation? From what?"

"From you," Gohan said angrily. "She's gone away to find herself and get away from you."

Goku didn't like what Gohan was saying. "What do you mean?"

"You really hurt Mom when you left the way you did, Dad. You broke her heart when you left. I don't think she will ever recover. That's why she left—to get away from her life and you know what? She's happy. She's happy, DAD! When I talked to her, she sounded very relax and happy."

No, this isn't what Goku wanted. He thought Chi-Chi would understand his leaving like she did so many times before. Why now can't she understand? He was getting an awful feeling in his stomach and it wasn't diarrhea. Those pains ended days ago. "I need to talk to her. Where's your mother, Gohan? I can't sense her. Why can't I sense my wife?" he asked frustrated.

"Leave Mom alone, Dad. Let her relax and recover from what you did to her."

Goku was getting nowhere with his son and it was making him angry. "I can't sense my wife. She could be in danger. Don't you care about your mother?"

"Of course I care about my mother!" Gohan snapped at his father. "My mom has no doubt that I love her!" Goku was taken back what his son had just said. Was he insinuating that Chi-Chi doubts his feelings for her? "And as for sensing her, she's fine!"

"Gohan, who are you yelling at?" Videl asked as she and Pan came down the stairs. Videl gasped when she saw Goku.

"Grandpa!" Pan yelled as she ran down the stairs and to her grandfather. "You're back!"

"For a little while, Pan," Goku said picking up his granddaughter. He had a smile on his face to fool Pan from what was going on between him and Gohan. "Where's your grandmother?"

"She went on a big plane to a—"

"Pan!" Gohan said taking his daughter from her grandfather. "That's enough. I'll talk to grandpa about grandma. Why don't you go to bed? I'll tuck you in a moment," he said handing Pan to Videl.

"But I want to stay with grandpa," Pan protested. "I have a lot to tell him and I want to show him what I learned so far in my fighting."

"Another time, Pan," Gohan told her.

Pan frowned. "Okay. Good night, Grandpa!" Pan waved at Goku as Videl brought her upstairs.

"Good night, Pan!" he said cheerfully. He knew he wasn't going to get anything out of Gohan. It was very obvious Gohan was upset with him. "Where's Goten?"

"Can't you use your Instant Transmission for that?!" Gohan asked bitterly. "You're good at finding people when you want with that technique!"

Goku frowned. "Fine." He said and used his instant transmission to find Goten.

Goten was in the kitchen making himself a huge sandwich. He piled on plenty of meat, cheese, lettuce, onions and tomato until it was bigger than his mouth. He licked at his masterpiece and decided to put it in his mouth when his father appeared behind him. Goten looked back and almost dropped his sandwich.

"Dad?"

"Hey, Goten. I need to find your mother. Where is she?"

"Don't answer him, Goten," Bulma said entering the room. She heard Goten's voice in the other room and rush to see if Goku had really come back. "She's taking a break from your shameless neglect!" She smirked wickedly at Goku. "How did that Spirit Bomb taste?"

Goku looked at Bulma shocked. "It was you?"

"I wish, but Chi-Chi made the wish from Shenron. It also included the itching and diarrhea you suffered the past two weeks. I wish I could've seen that. Chi-Chi also wished that you couldn't find her using Instant Transmission."

"You have to tell me where she is, Bulma. She misunderstood my actions. I have to talk to her and make her understand," Goku explained to Bulma.

"Make her understand what a jerk you've been?! Don't worry, she knows that! You've been gone for nearly sixteen months now, Goku, and now you decide to see your family! What, you thought she would welcome you with open arms after the way you left, you better think again! I honestly don't know how she put up with it after all these years! Any other woman would've left you but not Chi-Chi! You got a good woman who would wait for you till the end of time and this is how you repay her! You don't deserve her, so why don't you go back to training that kid!" Still fuming with her friend, Bulma turned and left the room.

The room was quiet for a few moments till Goku looked at his son sadly. He never seen Bulma that upset with him and Gohan never yelled like that at him before. "Have I really hurt your mother that bad?"

Goten nodded. "Yeah, Dad. She was really broken up when you left. I've never seen her like that before. You have to admit, you did leave rather abrupt. Not the best goodbye in the world either."

Goku ran a hand through his spiky hair. "Yeah. I'm not good at goodbyes, but I thought your mother would understand. You have to tell me where she is, Goten."

Goten shook his head. He was the only one sympathetic to his father in this situation though he didn't understand his abrupt departure either. It didn't affect him that bad since Goku was gone for the first seven years of his life. His missed his father when he was gone for the past year, but it didn't affect him like it did his mother and older brother.

"I'm sorry, Dad, but Mom promised me and Gohan not to tell you anything. She wasn't sure you would come back."

Goku knew in his family, a promise made is a promise kept. He left the room quietly and walked outside. He looked towards the sky at the full moon. 'I really messed up this time.'

"Kakarot."

Goku didn't need to turn to know who that was. He kept his eyes towards the sky. "Hi, Vegeta," he said gloomily.

"Your mate is on an island."

Goku turned to Vegeta. "An island? Which one?"

"How should I know?!" Vegeta shouted irritated. "The woman wouldn't tell me, thinking I would tell you. She knows me too well. I overheard Bulma asking your mate about the island over the phone when she called. She'll be back next week. I overheard Goten telling Trunks that. Where are you going?" Vegeta asked as she saw Goku float in the sky as if he was about to fly somewhere.

"I'm going to find Chi-Chi."

Vegeta flew up to Goku. "Didn't you hear what I said? Your mate will be back in a week."

"I can't wait that long. I have to get to her now."

"But you can't find her ki. Shenron prevented that. What are you going to do? Search every island on the planet for her?"

Goku looked at Vegeta as if the task was no big deal. "Yeah, of course. Thanks, Vegeta. I owe you one!" He yelled as he flew off.

Vegeta just gawked at Goku as he flew off. His left eye was twitching. "Crazy…that's what he is."

****

Chi-Chi sat on a beach blanket as she continued with her painting. She had a fondness of it as a little girl. She even painted a little after she met Goku. She painted a few pictures of him on his cloud. Chi-Chi started painting the day before yesterday when Gohan cut her off. She still wasn't sure what it was but figured it wasn't a bad thing since Gohan called her back and said everything was fine and that he forgot something from work. She worked vigorously on her painting and didn't stop until she had to eat.

"He hurt you a lot, didn't he?"

Chi-Chi jumped and looked back. Sotoru was standing behind her. "What?"

"The paintings," he said pointing at the paintings.

The first one resembled a younger looking Chi-Chi looking off at a man with spiky hair. He was flying away and the woman tried to catch him. The second painting was a young Chi-Chi holding a baby that resembled the man in the previous picture. She was looking upward. At the top of the picture was a spiky hair man with a gold halo over his head. In the third picture was Chi-Chi again in a meadow with flowers and rainbows, happy people frolicking around but she remain sad and had a gold halo was over her head. That same man in the previous pictures was far off on the other side of the picture. The last picture was a present looking Chi-Chi in the bed alone at night and in the distance, a man with spiky black hair was flying away.

"Yes, but he didn't mean to," Chi-Chi said in a quiet voice.

"But he still hurt you. Couldn't he see it?"

"No, he's too naïve," Chi-Chi said.

"How naïve can he be?"

Chi-Chi looked at the painting. "In Goku's case, very. So naïve you wouldn't believe it."

Sotoru sat on the sandy beach. "Try me."

He looked as if he wanted to know and be helpful to her. Chi-Chi sat her paintbrush down and began telling Sotoru about her and Goku. Chi-Chi began to when Goku first died and up till when Goku left with Uub. Saying Sotoru was shock would be an understatement to his feelings of what Chi-Chi had told him. It all sounded unreal and hard to swallow, but it was true.

"Wow," Sotoru said once Chi-Chi finished. "It's a lot to take in, Chi-Chi."

"I know. You're the first person I told this. It's not something that a lot of people should know."

"It won't leave this beach. Wow, your son and husband actually beat Cell and your husband beat this Majin Buu person. Can't say I remembered him."

"You wouldn't. We wished for everyone's memory of Majin Buu to be erased."

"Ah, that explains it," Sotoru said. "Hercule did look to be a goof and it was hard to believe he beat Cell and think everything else we saw were special effects at the Cell Games. I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe it." Sotoru shrugged his shoulders as if forgetting the whole matter.

"From what you told me about your husband, it does sound as if Goku had the best intentions when he left. He sounds like a pretty cool guy. I kind of feel guilty for hitting on you now. I mean, the guy saved my life so many times that I didn't know about and I hit on his wife."

Chi-Chi laughed. "It's okay."

"I can't read your husband's mind. I think even a professional shrink would have a hard time reading him at times," he tried to joke. "But I do think he cares for you deeply. His thinking is on a different plane from us humans. It might have to do with the fact that Goku is a Saiyan plus he's pure of heart. I admit I wouldn't leave my wife the way Goku did to you, but hey I'm not so pure hearted and I can fly a cloud. Whatever his intentions are, I'm sure his heart was in the right place. How else can he be so noble? Think about it, you'll see," he told her as he stood up and dust the sands of the beach off him.

Chi-Chi smiled at him. "Thank you for listening, Sotoru and thanks for your advice. I'll take it into consideration."

Sotoru grinned back. "No problem. Did you really wished that your husband be itchy and have diarrhea for a week each?"

Chi-Chi groaned and buried her hands in her head. "Oh, don't remind. I feel so guilty."

Sotoru laughed. "It's still funny. Remind me to never make you mad."

Chi-Chi laughed. "I'll try. You've been a good friend, Sotoru. Thank you."

Sotoru nodded. "He may have hurt you, but I don't he intended to. Think about what I said." He turned around and head back to the hotel. "Don't stay out too long. I hear there's going to be a storm tonight," Sotoru called over his shoulder.

Chi-Chi looked back at the setting sun and thought about what Sotoru said to her about Goku.

****

Chi-Chi wasn't sure what it was, but something inside her told her to wake up. She rose out of bed and walked out to her balcony. The low rumbles of thunder were heard in the distance, but it was too far for it to be a serious. She could still see the full moon so the clouds of the storm haven't covered that up yet.

She placed her hands on the bar of the balcony and jumped to the next floor. Chi-Chi was always an excellent jumper in her Martial Arts even though she couldn't fly. She jumped on each level until her bare feet touched the soft sands of the beach. She walked along the waters of the beach and sighed as she thought.

Goku.

She loved him she knew that. She'll always love him. Chi-Chi laughed at herself. She's been in love with him ever since she was twelve. It took people months maybe even years to fall in love with someone, but for Chi-Chi, it took one day. One day to fall in love with a spiky hair, naïve boy. Actually, it was less than that. By the time they were at Master Roshi's island, she was head over heels in love with Goku. She was determine to marry him and she did.

Chi-Chi started to think back to when things went wrong. Goku never left her when they married. He may be gone in the day sometimes to train, but he was always home by dinner. In the early years of their marriage, they spent a lot of time together. When she was in her sixth month of pregnancy, he stayed home with her, helping her out, going on walks with her, taking her to the doctor. He helped her raised Gohan and rarely strayed far from the house when he was younger. Their little family of three was perfect and when they thought of having more kids, the most dreaded thing happened.

Goku died.

He came back a year later with a broken body after fighting Vegeta and before she knew it, he was gone again. This time to Namek and battled Frieza. He stayed away for another year and a half after that. When Goku did come back, Chi-Chi noticed something about Goku that no one else saw.

He wasn't the same.

Sure he was happy and cheerful, but there was something different about him. There was a seriousness about him she never saw before and a little bit of maturity. During the three peaceful years before the Androids, Goku would take breaks in his training and spend time with her while Gohan trained with Piccolo. She thought Goku felt guilty for spending so much time from her while he was on King Kai's planet, Namek and Yardrat that she was angry with him for his prolong absences. Chi-Chi often told Goku she understood his leaving and tried to get him to train with Piccolo and Gohan, but Goku didn't want that. He wanted to spend time with her because he had missed her and wanted to makeup for lost time. He didn't care about fighting for the moment.

Goku died once again with Cell, but he came back again after Buu. They were a family again for ten years. She thought life would continued that way. She and Goku watch their sons grow up and move out of the house and they would have each other again but then Goku left again to train a kid before any of that could happen.

"Could've said 'I love you or I'll miss'," Chi-Chi thought aloud thinking back to when Goku left.

"But then that wouldn't be Goku, now would it, Chi-Chi?" She asked herself. "Goku rarely expressed his feelings in public. Sometimes I wish he wasn't so naïve. Then he could see how hurt I am that he leave so much."

The thunder rumbled louder than before. Chi-Chi picked up a rock and threw it in the water. She watched it bounced and sighed.

"No, I couldn't have that. I wouldn't want Goku sad. I can't bare to see a frown on his face."

The wind blew gently and Chi-Chi hugged herself to keep warm. Sotoru's words entered her mind.

**His thinking is on a different plane from us humans. It might have to do with the fact that Goku is a Saiyan plus he's pure of heart. He may have hurt you, but I don't he intended to.**

"Goku wouldn't leave if it wasn't for a good reason. Whatever he does, he does it out of the good for us all. Even though his decisions seem crazy and ridiculous to us, it was always for the best in the end. Just like when he saved Dende and Hercule when the Earth blew up instead of his own sons. If he didn't save them, then Dende wouldn't be able to tell Porunga to revive the Earth and all of us back. It was his idea to use the Namek dragonballs in the first place. Hercule was able to talk to the people of Earth and get them to deliver their energy to Goku for the Spirit Bomb to kill the evil Buu."

Chi-Chi looked up at the sky. A dark cloud passed the moon and it cleared through just as quickly. The sky was bright again but the thunder was getting louder and closer. The wind blew cooler and faster than before.

Despite all that, Chi-Chi smiled. "I wish to have Goku to myself, but I can't. Goku belongs to everyone. He'll leave, but he'll come back. He always do. I never thought he'd come back after he died with Cell, but he did."

Chi-Chi felt light and happy suddenly. "I may not understand your reasons for leaving, Goku, but I know you wouldn't do it if you didn't have any other choice. I love you and I have no doubt in my mind that you love me…not anymore. I'll wait for you."

Thunder rumbled again and light drops of rain fell from the sky. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms out laughing as the light raindrops fell on her face, hair and the rest of her body. The thunder rumbled loudly this time and Chi-Chi felt a sharp brush of wind behind her.

Her body stiffened. She felt something. Her heart began to pound loudly. The presence was so near that Chi-Chi was scared to turn around and find out what she was thinking was her imagination. She did it anyway. Chi-Chi slowly turned around and saw Goku out of breath looking at her.

To Be Continued

AN: You all hate me for ending right here, don't you?

Part Five: Misunderstandings and Atonements (Hopefully, Chi-Chi won't be the only one to forgive Goku. ::glares at readers who hate Goku for leaving:: Hee. Hee.)

Polka Dot: LOL! You're right there.  Of course he was thinking about her because she could always make him better and he wished she was there to make him well again.

Tonz82: Thanks. You're not mad at Goku anymore? Yay! I have to agree with you. Goku could've given a proper goodbye, but I don't think he's good at goodbyes.

Vc-4eva: Thanks. I'd want Goku to give me massage like that, too! Goku had that diarrhea coming. Hee. Hee.

Catnip: Thanks. I'd like to call it sinister genius. Heh. Heh.

Lil Chi: Thanks. You act like ChiChi? Do you have her temper or something and you're hopelessly in love with your husband? Hee. Hee.

Sorceress Fujin: Thanks.

VegetaGokuLover: Sotoru's a good guy. I didn't want him to be like Kobi in 'Obsession' or Mazaki in 'A Broken Promise.' Yep, I watched DBZ from the very first episode on Cartoon Network, and somehow I got hooked on the show right then. I guess it was because I didn't understand what was going on because I didn't see it from Dragonball. Heck, I didn't know about Dragonball when it first aired and the whole saga at the beginning intrigue me because I wanted to know things like why Piccolo hated Goku? How come Goku didn't know about having a brother? Goku's from another planet? How come his friends didn't know? See, that's what happens when you air a series out of order. LOL

Crash: Well, since I wrote the story, I guess I have the sick sense of humor. Believe me, what I did to Goku is child's play with what others wanted done to him.

LadyRogue007: No, Chi-Chi won't get romantically involve with Sotoru. I wanted Sotoru be the good guy in this one unlike Kobi and Mazaki in my other stories. Beside, Chi-Chi's too crazy about Goku.

Psycho Ann: I don't think ChiChi could ever relax unless Goku is with her.

Lady Athena: Thanks a lot for liking the story. ChiChi needed a break from it all. Yeah, Goku's not having a good time. Heh. Heh. Nah, ChiChi doesn't need to a keep a close eye on Sotoru. He's a good guy. Though I would question how he suddenly appears behind ChiChi all the time. LOL

GD: Give yourself a pat on the back! Congratulations! You got it! I will go into more details about it in the next chapter, but you're right!

Maria Cline: She deserves it! Well, Goku got his ear tore off in this one from Bulma and Gohan when he returned. I hope I didn't go overboard about it.