Dragonball
Alternate Dimension
by Aoi Kami Sarah
Chapter Four
The ship hummed lightly as it cruised across the galaxy. In just five days it would reach Earth. Most of its passengers were at ease. The sorceress entertained her young niece with small illusory tricks. The girl's father smiled at them and went to the reinforced window at which his wife was standing, transfixed by the stars outside.
"It's not going to get any more interesting for a few days yet," Gohan commented and laced his arms around her waist.
"Oh, I know," Atsuko sighed. "I'm just so amazed that I'm off that horrible planet."
Gohan nodded.
She looked in the window's reflection at her sister. "Mira, why did you put up with Cymm for the last five years? If I had the choice I would have taken off with Gohan."
"To be honest, I didn't know why I stayed, at first," Mira turned and answered. "I was quite lonely for a while, but then I sensed Yatsu Warui's presence and threw myself into studying magic."
"Show me more!" Akiko chimed.
Mira smiled and created the image of a strange blue flower in the air. Akiko clapped and tried to touch it, but it dispersed like smoke. She giggled and looked to her aunt with wide eyes. "Show me how to do that, please Aunt Mira?"
"Certainly," she sat up in front of her on her folded knees and began to teach Akiko how to make magic.
Atsuko smiled and hugged Gohan tightly. "Whatever you do," she advised. "Don't pinch me because I must be dreaming!"
"You're not," he whispered. "We're together at long last and in just a few days, we'll be home."
"Home..." she whispered back and looked out the window again. "Tell me about it again, Gohan. Tell me about Earth..."
*
Akiko floated up into her father's arms and stared out the window. "Ah! Is that it, Dada?"
"Yup Kiko, that's Earth!"
The sun shone on a sliver of the planet, making it look like a blue and green grin. It sparkled in their eyes.
"Too bad it's night at home right now," Gohan commented.
"It still looks amazing!" Atsuko could hardly contain herself.
"Come on, we have to buckle in for landing."
The ship touched down gently on the lawn in back of the little house. When the door opened, Akiko bounded out and spun around to watch the other women's reactions. Mira stepped out and took a deep breath. She smiled and joined Akiko.
Atsuko trembled as she set foot on Earth for the first time. Although the sky was dark, it was dark blue, not the dour brown of a Cymm sky at night. She too breathed the air in deeply and gasped.
"It's so cold!" She reached her hands up to her exposed arms and rubbed them vigorously.
"What?" Gohan asked as he stepped out. "It's about 60 degrees! Chilly, but not really that cold."
"Atsuko grew up in Acathi," Mira added. "It's on the equator."
"Oh yeah..." Gohan grinned. "Well, we don't get snow or anything, but this time of year the nights are often this cold."
"I guess I'll just have to get used to it..." She spun around and sniffed. "The air is so... sweet! And the gravity..."
"It's a little heavier cause Earth is bigger than Cymm," Gohan watched her spin.
She bent and felt the grass. "So soft... Not like on Cymm at all... And it's green, right?"
"Yup," Gohan nodded. "Just about all the plants here are."
"Wow..."
"Interesting..." Mira examined the grass as well.
"If ya think that's neat," Akiko grabbed her aunt's hand. "You're
gonna LOVE trees!"
"Trees?"
Akiko dragged her to her favorite tree. Mira investigated its bark and marveled at its girth. "Does it walk at all?"
"Walk!?" Akiko laughed. "No silly! Trees can't walk!"
"Kiko, on Cymm plants are animate. They don't have proper trees and shrubs there. And they don't have as many animals as we do. They have sentient plants." her father informed her.
"Trees walk on Cymm!?" she asked, astounded. "How come you never showed me!?"
Atsuko giggled. "You met Hei-hei, didn't you?"
"Hei-hei is a tree!?"
Gohan laughed. "Sort of. It's not an animal, it's a sentient plant: a plant with a brain."
"Wow...."
"Well, there'll be much more to see tomorrow when the sun is out." Gohan pressed a large green button on the ship and it encapsulated itself. "Come on into the house, gang."
The windows of the Son house were dark.
"That's funny." He scratched his head and opened the door. "Hello?" he called and flicked on the lights. "It's only eight. They don't go to bed till at least 11."
"Uncle Goten! Grandada, Grama!?" Akiko called out, but there was no one home. She started to get worried.
Gohan walked past the phone and clicked his tong. "That's where they are!" He pointed to a calendar on the wall. "Kiko, what does that say?"
She levitated up and blinked at the calendar. "Muh March... two one... Twenty-one. Ten.. Ten..." she gasped. "Tenka Ichi Budoukai! We missed it!"
"What's that?" Atsuko asked. "Is that where your family is?"
"Yup. The Greatest Under The Heaven's Martial Arts Tournament. Akiko and I were supposed to compete too, but we went to help you guys instead."
"Greatest Under The Heavens? Akiko?" her mother asked, astounded.
"Well, Earthlings are a lot weaker than Saiyans, so yeah. She would have placed pretty high too. I guess we have to wait till you're ten for the next one, eh Kiko?"
She pouted and floated back down to the floor. "I guess..."
"Hey," he picked her up. "Tomorrow we'll all go to The Papaya Islands and watch them, ok?"
"Ok..." she whined.
"I think someone's tired..." Gohan hugged her. Akiko put her arms around his neck and nodded. "Ok, let's go." He titled his head, motioning for the women to follow him.
Upstairs was a cute, small room with a little bed and a solitary window. Gohan put his daughter down and peeled back the covers . "Do you need me to get ya dressed?" he asked.
She sleepily shook her head and took a nightgown out of her dresser. Gohan turned to the women to give her a little privacy while she changed. "Akiko usually goes to bed a little later, but I think she tuckered herself out with all the excitement."
Atsuko watched her self-reliant, little girl dress herself and climb into bed.
"You need a story tonight, Kiko-baby?" Gohan asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed. Akiko shook her head. Her eyes were half open. He bent and kissed the pale, purple star in the middle of her forehead. "G'night kiddo."
Gohan stood and smiled at Atsuko. She approached the bed nervously. "Good night, Akiko." She stroked her hair and placed a kiss in the same place Gohan had. Before standing back up, Atsuko also touched her own star to her daughter's. When she pulled away, the soft, sleepy, happy smile on Akiko face almost brought tears to her eyes. "Sleep tight."
"G'night... Moma." Akiko drifted off to sleep as they partially closed the door.
Atsuko yawned. "I guess I tuckered myself out too," she grinned.
"Yes, I too have over-excited myself," Mira agreed.
"Well, you can sleep in my brother's room for the time being." Gohan showed her to Goten's room which was just across from Akiko's
"Excellent. Thank you."
"I assume you'll be up before we are," Gohan said, remembering the sorceress's early morning routine from years ago.
"I will. I'll try to remain in my room until you are ready to show us your home-world yourself, but I must admit that my curiosity may get the better of me!"
"That's all right. There's a lot more to Earth than what's around here. I'll have plenty to show you."
"All right," Mira smiled. "Good night Gohan, Good night my Sister."
"Night Mira."
Mira closed the door behind her and put her traveling case down on the floor. She took out a brush and a set of gi bottoms and a long sleeved shirt. Mira changed into her pajamas and unbraided her waist-length hair.
There was a full mirror on the back of the door which she used to guide her hands. Mira re-braided her hair, wrapped the braid around her head three times then pinned it in place. She noticed that she hadn't stopped smiling yet and smiled wider.
'Amazing,' she thought. 'I'm happy. We're all happy.'
Gohan led his wife into his bedroom and closed the door behind them.
"Still cold?" he asked.
She shook her head and smiled. Atsuko turned to him. There were tears in her eyes.
"You know," she sniffled. "We haven't been alone since Chonekken took me away almost six years ago!"
He nodded and ran a hand through her thick, blue hair. "Atsuko," he whispered and held her chin. "No one and nothing will ever separate us again."
Atsuko flung her arms around him and sobbed joyfully.
"...I swear it on my life."
*
Akiko stretched and yawned loudly. Her tail poked out from under the covers and wriggled as she did so. With her eyes half open, she slid out of bed and went downstairs.
She sniffed the air. No sweet scent of breakfast reached her nostrils. She pouted and wondered where her Grama was and why there was nothing to eat waiting for her. The back door was ajar. Akiko scratched her messed hair and wandered outside.
"Good morning, my Niece," Mira greeted her. She was sitting in a lotus position on the grass in the back yard. Her eyes were closed.
"Morning Aunt Mira..." Akiko mumbled. "Have you seen..." She went silent.
Mira opened her eyes. "Akiko?" she asked. "Are you feeling all right?"
Akiko blinked at the sorceress. "Oh WOW!" she shouted and tackled her.
Mira tumbled over backwards, her legs still linked together.
"You're really here! It really happened! It wasn't just a dream!!!"
"Oh, Gohan, it's so beautiful!" Atsuko exclaimed from the back door as her husband lifted his hands off of her eyes.
"Moma!" Akiko jumped off of Mira and charged her mother. Atsuko caught her with little difficulty.
"Morning Akiko!" she chimed and hugged the girl back. "I never imagined a blue sky would be so beautiful!" she marveled. "And look at those smooth, green mountains!"
"Come on!" She floated out of her arms and grabbed her hand. "I wanna show you Earth!" Akiko dragged her towards the woods.
Atsuko laughed and went along. Gohan and Mira followed.
"Guess you got bored, huh?"
Mira blushed a deeper shade of blue. "I apologize, Gohan."
He laughed. "For what? Come on, we'll show you some of Earth's wonders."
After an hour of exploration into grass and bark and squirrels, the family got hungry and made breakfast. Gohan informed them that if they wanted to catch the tournament, they had better leave soon.
Akiko ran upstairs to change out of her PJs. Mira sipped a cup of tea and examined the delicate potted plants Chi-chi had growing all over the house.
"Gohan?" Atsuko asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "I have a small problem..."
"Oh?"
She pulled at the seemingly indestructible, but dirty yellow tank top and red pants. "This is all I have to wear."
"Hm," he bit his lip. "Maybe you can wear one of my mom's dresses?"
"Do you think?" she asked as he lead her to his parent's first floor bedroom.
"I don't think she'd mind..."
Atsuko and Gohan rejoined Mira and Akiko.
"What do you think, guys?"
She was wearing a green, Chinese-style dress and a pair of Chinese slippers that were only a little too big for her.
"Wow, Moma, you look pretty!"
She smiled. "Thanks!"
Gohan took a capsule out of a drawer in the living room. "Good thing they left us a car. I don't think making a flying entrance into the most heavily attended event in the world would be a great idea!"
He walked outside, popped and tossed the capsule away from him. They all got into the cute little roadster and took off for the Papaya Islands.
Atsuko had never seen so many people smiling in her entire life. Tears filled her eyes as she took in the sights, sounds and smells of the Budoukai.
"Hun?" Gohan noticed her glistening eyes and stopped her. "You ok?"
She nodded and wiped her face. "It's just so amazing! These humans are so happy! Cymmlings never behave like this in public!"
Mira nodded. "It is so. They are a subtle people."
"Subtle!" Atsuko laughed. "Nasty is more like it!"
"Except Master Fukai!" Akiko chimed.
"Yes, he certainly is an exception." Mira nodded remembering the old man fondly.
"Ok guys," Gohan said as he ushered them towards the back entrance. "Here we go!"
The massive man at the door folded his arms and frowned down on the family as they approached.
"Excuse me," Gohan smiled up at him. "Our family is participating in the tournament. Could we get in here to see them?"
He squinted down on the scholar, the two strange women and the little be-tailed girl and snorted. "Sure they are, pal."
Gohan shrugged and stuck out his hand. The bouncer raised a brow, but took it and went to shake it. Gohan flexed and lifted the giant about an inch off the ground, just enough to put the fear of Kami in him.
The bouncer stuttered and stepped aside, allowing them to enter.
"Thanks!" Gohan smiled and waved as they passed.
Inside the stadium, promoters and media people were running this way and that. The first fight was starting soon. As they looked around for the combatants, a voice called out to them.
"Gohan! You made it!"
A young, black haired woman jogged over to them and smiled wide.
"Videl!" Gohan shouted and grit his teeth. "Hey! Yeah, just in time to see the fights," he laughed nervously and stepped in back of Atsuko. He took her by the shoulders.
The smile fell from Videl's face.
"Videl, I'd like you to meet Mira Uenijimenshitanisora and her sister Atsuko Aoi: my wife."
Videl looked ashen, but flashed her smile back on as best she could. "Oh! Hello! I thought you were..."
"Dead?" Atsuko made a face. "Yeah, so did I."
There was an awkward pause.
"Oh! Gohan this is great timing! A fighter has dropped out at the last minute. He ran screaming when he took a good look at your father!" she giggled. "So you can take his place!"
"Really!?" Gohan clapped his hands together. "I'll do it!"
Videl ran off to make the arrangements. Atsuko watched her as she left.
"Ok gang. I'm going to have to go get ready. Tell that gentleman over there," he indicated to another large bouncer, "that you're with the Sons and that he should seat you in a good place. I think it would be better if introductions happen after the fights, so lie low if you can."
"Ok." Atsuko was a bit puzzled, but went along with it. "Good luck," she said and gave him a kiss.
"Good luck Dada!"
Mira bowed to him and followed the blue haired girls to their seats.
The first fight was just being announced as the women took their nose-bleed section seats. A large, pale man with bright orange hair was announced.
Akiko giggled. "He's a Hapless Shmuck."
"Akiko, really! You shouldn't use such language!"
"That's what Uncle Goten calls them. They're the guys we fight who don't stand a chance." She pouted. "He might have been my Hapless Shmuck."
Mira giggled too, but stopped when she got a severe look from her sister.
The announcer's voice echoed off the thousands of people. "..Verses... the Belle of Fry Pan Mountain, Chi-chi Son!!!"
Akiko stood up and cheered loudly. "Go Grama!!!"
"You're grandmother is fighting?!" Atsuko asked skeptically. "Isn't she an aging human?"
"This is her last fight. I hope she wins, though."
They marveled as the fifty year old woman brought the three hundred-pound golaith to his knees.
"The winner of match one, Chi-chi Son!!!"
The crowd roared, amazed that she still had it in her.
Chi-chi waited till she was out of sight before wincing in pain.
"You ok, Chi-chi?" Goku asked and gave her a hand as she walked back to the bench.
"Just my sciatica..." she grumbled.
"You kicked his butt good, Mom!" Goten cheered.
Chi-chi sighed. "I only wish Gohan was here to have seen that..."
In the shadows, a man in a long, red cape smiled.
Akiko stood and cheered boisterously as her uncle stepped onto the ring. Chi-chi turned and looked in her direction. "Is that...?" she wondered and got to her feet.
"Akiko, honey, your father said we should lie low!" Atsuko reminded her and tried to calm her down.
"But Moma, it's Goten!"
Mira's Mona Lisa-like smile fell. "Atsuko, your mother-in-law is charging her way up here."
"What!?" Atsuko looked where she was looking. Chi-chi's head flicked back and forth as she pushed her way through the crowded rows of spectators.
Mira's head bowed down. "Hensou suru," she whispered. "Disguise our appearances."
Atsuko blinked at her daughter. "What the...?"
Akiko had black hair, no star and her tail had disappeared.
"Moma?" she asked, confused. Atsuko looked the same.
Mira, who's skin had simply turned a human shade of peach, smiled. "I have it taken care of."
Mother and daughter nodded.
Chi-chi stopped a few rows ahead of them and slumped her shoulders. "I could have sworn I saw Akiko!" she grumbled to herself. The fight was beginning, so she began the awkward descent back to her ground level seat. Akiko giggled.
Goten faced his opponent and mock-yawned. "Ok, let's get this over with."
The man wore a Chinese style gi and a long, reddish-brown braid. He bowed, and looked confident enough, but the sweat that framed his face showed otherwise.
"A new Budoukai record, Ladies and Gentlemen!" the announcer proclaimed as medics hauled the Chinese man away. "Three seconds! Let's here it for Goten Son!!"
Goku slapped his son on the back and grinned. "Jeez Goten, ya coulda given the poor guy a good sixty seconds at least!"
"Whatever. I wanna see who the mystery fighter is!" The teen grinned back and pounded a fist into his palm. "Then I wanna take him down!"
"You'll get your chance," Goku sat back down and watched.
The announcer introduced the next Happless Schmuck. He strutted on to the ring, confident and secure in the knowledge that he didn't have to go up against a Son yet. Then the audience held it's breath.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. We know how disappointed you are that Gohan Son and his five year old daughter Akiko were not able to make it today..."
Akiko blushed and smiled wide.
"But hopefully this next appearance will make up for that. Now entering the ring, the last minute replacement, but certainly not last in any other respect, the Hero of Satan City..."
The crowd took a deep breath...
"The GRRRRREEEAAAT SAIYAMAN!!!!!"
Thousands of people shouted their approval and cheered to deafen a person. Akiko stood up clapped and shouted as loud as she wanted to.
"Who's the Great Saiyaman?!" Atsuko asked over the roar. No one heard her.
"NO WAY!!!" Goten and Goku jumped out of their seats and stared, slack-jawed as the super-hero took his place on the ring. Gohan waved to them and bowed to his opponent who's knees shook so badly they made a distinctive knocking sound.
"My Gohan!" Chi-chi cheered. "He DID see me!!"
His cape billowed in the breeze. Sunlight glinted off of his sunglasses. He looked into the crowd, but could find his wife, sister-in-law and daughter nowhere.
The fight was brief. The Great Saiyaman's opponent didn't have the strength or the heart to fight a hero.
His family hugged him and asked questions on top of each other. He told them yes, there had been a problem on Cymm. Yes, they had solved it. Yes, Akiko was with some of her friends and watching them from the stands. No, he couldn't say more. After the fight, yes.
The questioning let up some as Goku took the ring. The Saiyan's opponent stood as firm as a rock.
"Oh good! Finally someone who's not afraid of me!" he cheered. "Do your best, ok?"
The fight began, but Goku's opponent stood where he was.
"Hey, buddy, you ok?" Goku approached him. The man stared blankly out at him. Goku scratched his head. He extended a finger and poked the man ever-so-lightly on the forehead. He fell over backwards like a statue.
"Scared stiff, Ladies and Gentlemen!" the announcer laughed as the man was hauled away on a stretcher. "He forfeits his fight! Now, on to the REAL fights! The first in our quarter -finals, Chi-chi Son verses her own son, Goten Son!!!"
Goku pushed Goten out of the dugout-like waiting area. "Come on, ya chicken! Get in there!"
"But Daaaaaaad!" he whined. "I'm gonna beat her!"
"I know that," he became serious. "But this means a lot to your mom. This is her last tournament. Let her shine for a little while, but don't tire her out."
Goten grumbled and trudged to the ring.
"Do your best Goten! Do your best, Mom!" Gohan called after them.
"Your uncle is going up against your grandmother?" Mira asked.
Akiko nodded and stood up on her seat. She had no comment. Her eyes were trained on the ring.
Goten blocked for the first couple of minutes. He tried desperately to think of a way in which he could take his mother down without embarrassing or insulting her. He certainly wasn't going to the throw the fight, but watching her go at him, he wished that he could do just that.
Chi-chi panted as she swung at him again and again, but her son had neither laid a hand on her nor broken a sweat yet. She furrowed her brows and thrust her fist at his face. He caught it easily. "Mom," he whispered. "I'm sorry."
Goten let go of her fist and pushing the air between them with his ki, he forced her backwards over the edge of the ring. She rolled a little, but expected a gentle move like that from him. She tumbled over the foot-high lip and sprang to her feet gracefully. The crowd cheered them as they bowed to each other.
"Thank you," she whispered back, bowed to the audience and wiped a tear from her eye.
Goten remained in the ring and smirked as the super hero was introduced again. He could hear his brother under the deafening roar from the crowd.
"Ready, Bro?"
"To kick your butt? You bet!"
"We'll see," Gohan smirked back and bowed. "I really want to fight Dad."
"So do I!"
"Then this'll be a good fight!" Gohan straightened and removed his cape. Both brothers took a stance and at the announcers cue, flew at each other.
The audience erupted, glad to finally be seeing the legendary fights they had come to expect from the Tenka Ichi Budoukai. Akiko jumped up and down and cheered loudly as the men bounded around the large ring; their blows landing too fast for much of the audience to see. They didn't care. It was a sight to behold, regardless.
Goten's enthusiasm showed as he flew at his brother and reigned blows down on him. Gohan blocked each one, but restrained himself. He knew his brother's moves intimately and knew it was only a matter of time.
"You know," he commented as they fought. "You still haven't learned."
"What are you talking about?" Goten hissed as he worked harder and harder to land a hit, going faster with each passing moment.
'Now!' Gohan thought as he saw his window of opportunity open. Goten had pushed himself past the point of control. His speed and agility were impressive, but without control over them, these skills were useless. Gohan struck him in the stomach.
Shocked, Goten doubled over. His brother spun and swept his legs out from under him with a low, spinning kick. Then, while he was still falling, Gohan leapt up and kicked him out of the ring.
Goten fell on his back and lay on the ground. He frowned deeply. Gohan stepped out and offered his hand to help him up. "You gotta keep your defense up when you get to that speed." Gohan grinned.
Goten sighed and took his hand. He got to his feet and they both bowed to each other and the audience.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we will take a short recess before our final fight: the Great Saiyaman verses Goku Son!"
Akiko waved to her dada. He was far away, but both of their eyesight was good enough to see that far. He was obviously looking for her. She frowned and looked to her mother.
"Oh!" she made a face. "We don't look like us..."
"Do you want to see your Dada?" Atsuko asked.
Akiko nodded vigorously.
"I think we can do that since we're incognito. Mira?"
"I don't see why not."
The women made their way to the lower level.
Gohan pushed his sunglasses up onto his head and wiped his brow. A motion caught his eye.
"Hey," she greeted him awkwardly.
"Videl..."
Akiko dragged Mira through the crowd and stood against the wall, watching her family and giggling at the strangeness of them not recognizing her. Atsuko saw the flicker of a red cape down the long hallway that lead out of the arena. She smiled and sneaked away.
"So... What happens now?"
"She's my wife." He folded his arms. Words were never so hard to come by.
"I know." Videl leaned up against a wall and closed her eyes. "Damn it. I knew this was too good to be true. You know, I was just thinking the other day that you were the first person in a long time I've even thought I could fall in love with..."
Gohan pouted. "I was sort of thinking the same thing. When I lost her... If it wasn't for Akiko... I don't know..." he struggled. "I didn't want to ever get hurt like that again. Then you came along, and I started to remember what it felt like..."
"Gohan," she walked over to him. "You don't need to tell me. I know. I understand. You were so sad when I met you last year. All I wanted to do was make you happy. Today, it's like you're a different person. She makes you glow." Videl looked down at her feet. "I might have been able to do that too, but that's not my job. It's hers."
"You're a wonderful girl," he said and lifted her chin up. "You're way too good for 90 percent of the guys out there..."
She blushed.
"...But you'll make one of the 10 percenters incredibly happy."
"Thanks." Videl smiled. "Good thing we only had like one real date. This would have been way harder had we, you know... been closer."
He nodded. They hugged briefly. Videl walked back into to arena. Gohan stood where he was for a moment, sighed, then smiled. "Atsuko..." he whispered then rejoined his family.
Chichi, Goten and Goku watched as another large bouncer menaced the little girl and her aunt. "You guys is not supposed to be here," he grumbled in a thick accent. Mira bit her lip.
"Yes we are!" Akiko frowned and glared up at him. Atsuko rounded the corner just at the bouncer was about to physically eject them from the arena.
"Mira! Turn it off!"
Her sister nodded and their appearances returned to normal.
"Akiko!" Chichi shouted. "You brute! Get your hands off my granddaughter!!"
He attempted to apologize, but Chichi was too quick for him. She physically ejected him over the wall and ten rows of seats behind it.
"Guys!" Gohan cried in alarm.
"Sorry Dada, we couldn't wait!" Akiko ran into his arms.
"It's ok, Sweetie." He smiled awkwardly and motioned to the strange women. "Mom, Dad, Goten. This is Mira and her sister, Atsuko."
"Atsuko?!" Chichi asked. "As in... THEE Atsuko?"
The Rashawoman blushed and nodded. "That's me. Alive and well. Thanks to Kiko."
The announcer's voice echoed off the walls, calling The Great Saiyaman and Goku Son to the ring.
"I guess that's us!" Gohan put Akiko down and walked up to his wife. "Wish me luck," he smiled and looked into her blue eyes.
"Good luck," she whispered and stood where she was.
Her eyes were troubled. Gohan furrowed his brows. "Are you ok?"
She nodded but said nothing.
Goku broke the tension with his obliviousness. "Never thought I'd be excited for a fight to be over, but I can't wait to talk to you, Atsuko and Mira; alien to alien!" He waved and motioned for his son to go ahead of him.
"Good luck, Mr. Son!" Mira waved back.
Her sister's unease had not escaped her notice. Chi-chi prevented her from asking what the matter was. The human woman asked question after question and Atsuko blushed and tried her best to answer each one as quickly as she could. Goten picked up his niece and listened as she told them the entire story in about sixty seconds.
"That's incredible! It explains why we couldn't wish you back, though. How terrible!" Chi-chi pouted.
Atsuko nodded. She was at a loss for words and looked tired. She stood up very straight with her hands clasped behind her back. Chi-chi sat down on the bench and beckoned the women do the same.
"My goodness, Akiko looks just like you!" she remarked as she stared at Atsuko. The Rashawoman blushed again. She didn't know how to react around an elder woman who wasn't berating her like all the matrons at the orphanage on Cymm had always done.
"Gramma! The fight's starting!" Akiko chimed and flew down into her lap.
Chi-chi blinked a few times. "Since when can you fly!?" she asked, astounded.
Akiko giggled and tapped the star in the middle of her forehead.
Goku bowed to his eldest son and grinned secretly.
Gohan straightened and raised a brow. "What's that look for?"
"Oh, I just know who's going to win this year's Budoukai, that's all."
"Is that all?" he smirked back. "Well, I didn't wear this silly outfit for nothing." Gohan turned and raised his fists into the air. The crowd went wild. He turned back and took a stance.
For the crowd's sake, they started off slowly, but soon the fight progressed into a high-speed sort of ballet that few people's eyes could follow. They oohed and ahed as bits of concrete exploded and sonic booms resounded. Both men went super Saiyan. Their glowing auras were much easier to see.
Atsuko and Mira's mouths hung open loosely.
"Damn," Atsuko whispered. "I never knew how powerful he was!"
"Really?" Mira asked.
"He admitted to me when I was expecting Akiko that he had been holding back so that I wouldn't feel outclassed, but I had no idea he could do THIS!" A proud, astounded smile could not be removed from her face.
"Oh, they're still holding back," Chi-chi commented. "If they went all out they'd blow this place away."
Both star-headed women leaned over and blinked at her.
As if they were dancing, father and son stepped through the air. They knew each other's moves intimately, but one had to prevail. One of them would bring home the prize to the Son House. It didn't matter which one was the victor, but it mattered to the audience. Soon their voices merged and rose in unison. Their will was clear.
"SAI-YA-MAN! SAI-YA-MAN! SAI-YA-MAN!"
"Come on, Great Saiyaman!" Goku called. "Give 'em what they want!" He lunged as his fists met blocks.
Gohan shrugged. "Ok!" Gohan powered up to just surpass his father and out-maneuvered him. He raised his clenched fists and brought them down on his head. Goku was plunged into the ground just outside the edge of the ring.
The audience was already on its feet. They threw confetti and just about anything they could get their hands on and screamed with delight. Goku flipped back up onto the destroyed ring and walked up to Gohan as he descended. The men bowed to each other and waved to the audience.
"For the 30th Budoukai, I'm not letting you play dress-up," Goku said out of the side of his mouth.
"I'll be almost THIRTY!" he laughed. "I hope I wont still be running around in tights by then!"
Goku laughed with him, but waved and left him in the winner's circle.
The patriarch jumped down off of the ring and joined the rest of his family who were also cheering wildly.
"Son Goku!" Chi-chi scolded. "You threw that fight!"
"Shhhh... Jeez, Chi-chi. That's how rumors get started." He winked.
Gohan accepted the million-dollar purse and made a short, heroic sounding speech to the audience which screamed their appreciation as he left the ring.
Once he was out of sight, Gohan took of his sunglasses and jogged after his family. By the time they reached the fighter's entrance, He had stripped off the Saiyaman outfit and was casually dressed in khakis and a tee-shirt. Chi-chi put his winnings in a bag and the family easily escaped the crowd gathered to see the Saiyaman emerge.
Gohan picked up Akiko and carried her on his shoulders and laced an arm around his wife's waist. She did the same.
"You feeling better?"
She nodded and looked ahead. Gohan squeezed her and kissed her on the top of her head. "This is the best day I've had in a long time!" Gohan cheered.
"Oh, Gohan!" Chi-chi walked along holding on to her own husband's hand. "It's so good to see you so happy!"
He smiled at her and laughed a little, unable to contain his joy.
Akiko, too excited to sit still, floated off of her father's shoulders and hovered along beside Goten and Mira. "I can't wait till the next Budoukai! I wanna fight too!"
"It's tons of fun, kiddo. You're gonna love it!" Goten looked at her funny. "Wait a sec. When did you learn to fly?"
"She didn't," Mira commented. "I activated her." Goten turned his funny look to Mira. "It's a Rasha thing."
He nodded as if he didn't understand a thing. Mira smiled and offered to explain the intricacies of Rasha abilities to him.
Gohan and Atsuko hung back as the others found a clear place from which to fly home. "You guys go ahead!" he called to them. "We'll catch up."
Mira met her sister's eyes and got a nod. She turned and followed the others.
He took his formerly estranged wife by the shoulders and looked down into her eyes lovingly. "Suko, what's the matter? You can tell me."
She looked at the ground and bit her lip. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't move... so I heard..."
Gohan's heart sank. He swallowed back a wave of terrified nausea and tried to say something. "We... I mean, I...."
"It's ok," she looked up. "I heard everything." Atsuko took Gohan's hands. "It just took me a while to process. I'm fine now. The last thing you said before you came back in was my name. I know you love me. I know you're mine, just like I'm yours. Forever."
He nodded, again at a loss for words. They kissed gently in the light of the sun setting between the tall, city buildings. "I am SO yours," he whispered.
They embraced for a minute more before Gohan stroked her hair and took her hand. "Come on," he said as he stepped up into the air. "There's so much more to show you!"
She gracefully took to the air at his side. "Show me your world!"
"No. It's yours, Atsuko. It's all yours."
They took off for the north-west and home where Chi-chi was surely already making a huge celebration dinner.
End Chapter Four
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