A Moment's Peace
Part Four
Goku awakened to find Chi-Chi not in bed with him. Chi-Chi was a early riser like he, but since he didn't have to train or meditate this morning, he slept in. He put his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling deep in thought. The games were in two days and the plan to victory was fairly simple in Goku's mind. He would fight Cell first so Gohan could see how Cell fight. Goku would pull out all the stops to reveal all of Cell's techniques and fighting skills to Gohan. Goku will do something he never did--give up, but he will still come out ahead.
Goku laughed to himself. 'I can't wait to see the look on Cell's face when he realizes I'm not the opponent to defeat him but Gohan is.' He chuckled. 'Not only will Cell be surprise but everyone else will be.' He stopped smiling as he thought about Chi-Chi's reaction. 'She's not going to be surprised. She's going to be furious. I can deal with her yelling at me when I get home. She'll understand.'
Instead of waiting for Chi-Chi to call him to breakfast, he decided to go to the kitchen without being called. He left the warm bed to go to the closet, put on his blue robe and slippers and left the room. He yawned, stretching his arms over his head as he came downstairs. The kitchen table was laden with food and the lovely smell of it filled his nostrils. He saw fresh hot biscuits in a basket in the center of the table and licked his lips hungrily. He loved Chi-Chi's homemade biscuits. With quick speed that only a Saiyan inherited, he snatched up a biscuit in a nanosecond and was back against the doorway before Chi-Chi could see him. He munched on it quietly as he watched Chi-Chi at the stove stirring some food in a pot.
Goku saw Chi-Chi wasn't dressed in normal housecoat. Chi-Chi was wearing one of her short robes that gave a nice view of her legs. Goku remembered Chi-Chi stopped wearing those short robes sometime after Gohan was born. He never figured out why she did that. He missed seeing those legs.
With his stomach satisfied for a moment, Goku decided to sneak up on Chi-Chi. If he crept behind her just right, he'll make her jump ten feet in the air in shock. He smirked. This was going to be good. As he approached his wife, the buzzer on the stove rang and Chi-Chi turned it off. Goku thought now was perfect with Chi-Chi's attention on her cooking. He pressed his body against hers and tickled Chi-Chi's waist. "Tickle. Tickle. Tickle! Gotcha!"
Startled by the sudden touch, Chi-Chi jumped and the pot she had in her hand was thrown in the air and promptly landed on Goku's head. Unfortunately, Goku didn't know that the pot in Chi-Chi's hands was a large pot of cooked rice ready to be drained from the boiling water until it was too late. Chi-Chi turned in shock to see a large pot on her husband's head along with hot boiling water and hot rice dripping down his face to his chest.
The next sound Chi-Chi heard was Goku loud, shrieking scream that was heard all through the house. Goku began running around the house madly, blindly with the pot over his head. He bumped into the walls a few times before he found his way out of the house. He tossed the pot off his head, still screaming and dunked his head in the river just outside his home.
Chi-Chi ran out after him and found Goku buried head first in the water. She tried not to laugh but it was impossible not to. She started laughing in soft chuckles but it soon turned into loud laughter. She fell on her back rolling on the soft grass laughing at her husband.
"Serves… you… right!" Chi-Chi managed in between laughs.
Goku pulled his head out of the water to look at his wife. His hair was a sloppy mess. The spiky ends were hanging downward and in more directions than when it was dry and upright.
"Serves me right?"
"You shouldn't have startled me like that, Goku and you've ruined our rice." Chi-Chi stopped laughing enough to moved closer to touch his face and upper chest, examining for wounds. "Your skin doesn't feel bruised or burned. Lucky Saiyan."
"It still stings," Goku said rubbing the side of his face.
Chi-Chi stood, picked up her pot and held her hand out to pull Goku up. Once he stood, they began walking to the house. "I'll put some cream on it, but the stinging will be over before we leave for my father's kingdom."
When they stepped in the house, Goku sat on the sofa while Chi-Chi left to get the cold cream. The television was on to the morning news which was about Cell. It was nothing he hadn't heard before with people fleeing the city, closing stores, building bunkers to live in.
'It's terrible Cell has terrified the people this way. They won't have to be scared for much longer.'
Chi-Chi came downstairs holding the cream and saw the news was on Cell. She wished they were talking about something else, but nothing was important than Cell. She noticed Goku watching the TV, looking unfazed. 'How can he not be bothered by Cell? I envy you, Goku.'
"Does it still burn?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Yeah," Goku sulked and opened his robe.
Chi-Chi wasn't surprised at Goku's nudity. It wasn't odd for Goku to walk around nearly naked or be barely covered in clothes to her. This was the same man who didn't wear underwear on a regular basis until he married her. Still, if he wore more clothes, his skin wouldn't have burned so much. "You're lucky it didn't go any further." Chi-Chi applied some cool cream on Goku's face and upper chest.
"Oooo, that's cold, Chi-Chi," Goku shivered under the touch.
"That's why it's called cold cream, Goku," Chi-Chi said. "Don't worry. Doctor Chi-Chi will take care of your burns."
Goku smiled. "Really?"
Chi-Chi caught the look in his eyes. "Don't look at me like that."
"Why not?"
"Because if you don't, we're not going to make it to my father's kingdom."
As Chi-Chi continued to rub the cream into Goku's skin, the reporter announced that one of their own was going to interview Cell. This got Goku and Chi-Chi's attention.
Cell was on the TV but from a distance. His image became larger and larger as the news crew got closer and closer. "What are they doing?" Goku asked outrage.
"I don't know," Chi-Chi said.
Goku and Chi-Chi watched as the reporter tried to get an interview out of Cell but was flicked away into a mountainside. It angered Goku how Cell harmed the innocent so callously. "Are they purposely trying to get themselves killed?!" Goku yelled jumping out of his seat. "They shouldn't approach Cell."
Chi-Chi saw the anger rise in Goku and tried her best to calm him down by stroking his arm gently. She knew how anger her husband got when an innocent person was hurt for no reason at all. "Calm down, Goku." She leaned on him and talked softly as she continued to rub his arm. "Calm down." She felt the muscles in his arm relaxed and the fist in his hand loosen. "You have the dragon balls," Chi-Chi reminded him. "If anyone should die, they can be revived."
"You're right," Goku agreed, "but I don't want to see anyone die."
"I know, Goku. I know." Chi-Chi flicked the television off with the remote. "That's enough television. Let's go eat breakfast."
Goku beamed at the thought and his anger at Cell was forgotten for now.
Chi-Chi looked out the car window excited as Goku drove the car into the entrance to her father's kingdom. The villagers smiled and waved to the couple as they made their way inside the kingdom. They parked near the entrance where Ox King was outside to greet them.
"Chi-Chi, Goku, welcome!" Ox King said greeting his daughter and son-in-law.
"Hi, Dad!" Chi-Chi said giving her father a hug.
"Ready for the games in, son-in-law?" Ox King asked giving Goku a swift pat on the back with one of his large arms.
Goku grunted surprised at Ox King's strength. He gave his father-in-law a cheerful grin. "As I'll ever be."
"Chi-Chi, I had one of my villagers prepare Angel and Stallion ready for you."
"That's great, Dad. Are they in the stable now?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Yes and ready for their favorite riders."
Chi-Chi turned to Goku. "I'll go to the stables and bring them out back and you can meet me there, Goku."
Goku nodded in agreement and saw his wife happily jog away. She stopped and said hello to a little girl who gave her a flower and bounded off again. Even though Chi-Chi was married and no longer lived with her father, the villagers still regarded her as their princess and love praising her with flowers and kind words. Goku turned his attention to Ox King looking serious, which surprise the cheerful ruler. "Ox King, I need a favor to ask you."
"Sure, Goku. What is it?"
"I need you to stay with Chi-Chi while Gohan and I fight in the games. She's going to need someone to be with her and I don't want her to be alone."
"Sure, Goku. I'll come an hour before the games start."
"Thanks," Goku smiled. "I appreciate it."
"It's nothing, Goku. I'm happy to do it," Ox King said cheerfully. His face became somber as he thought about the games and how it was affecting his people. "You know, Goku. The villagers are very worried about Cell. They are scared he will destroy the Earth."
"I understand their fear," Goku admitted. "Cell is a formidable opponent but he can be defeated.
The giant man smiled as he put an arm on his son-in-law shoulders. "I know, but I told them that my son-in-law and grandson will defeat him and that raised their spirits. They know the rest of the world believes in Hercule but my villagers know it's going to be you and Gohan saving the world."
"We appreciate the support."
Ox King smiled and slapped a hard hand on Goku's back. "Now go be with my daughter and have a good time."
"Thanks. I'll see you later," Goku said and ran off to meet Chi-Chi behind the kingdom.
It had been a while since he had been to Ox King's home. Chi-Chi has been there recently several times and often told him about the changes to her father's home and encouraged Goku to come with her more often to see her Dad, but Goku didn't have the time since he was training for the Androids. The last time Goku visited Ox King's home was a few weeks before his first death. Compared to then and now, it was different. The foyer was painted a different color. The hallways had a makeover from top to bottom from the curtains, paintings, to the new tiles. He said hello to some people but they could hardly recognize Goku with his blonde hair and teal eyes. Other than Ox King, none of the villagers knew about Goku's transformation into a Super Saiyan. None of them knew about Goku being a Saiyan.
Goku found Chi-Chi on the hill in the backyard rubbing the mane on Angel and talking to her. Angel was a beautiful tan horse with silky, blonde hair. That was Chi-Chi's favorite horse. Chi-Chi showed him Angel when they visited Ox King's home a few months after they were married. Back then, Angel was an awkward looking pony on the verge of adulthood but Chi-Chi was sure Angel would grow into a beautiful horse and she was right.
Besides Angel was Stallion. Stallion was also a beautiful black horse with black hair, whom Chi-Chi knew since the horse's birth. That was the horse Chi-Chi picked out for Goku. She said Stallion remind her of Goku. Stallion was a wild horse, adventurous and had beautiful black hair like Goku, but he didn't just let anyone ride him. He had to be tame. Chi-Chi was the only person who could ride Stallion. Chi-Chi taught Goku how to properly ride a horse and warned him about Stallion's need to be tamed. Goku thought it would be no problem, but when he first got on Stallion, he threw Goku off and into a tree, much to Chi-Chi's horror. Still, Goku didn't let that discouraged him as he got back on Stallion and showed him who was boss.
"Goku!" Chi-Chi waved her husband over. "The horses are ready!"
Goku mounted Stallion and he was thrown head first into a tree. His head stuck out on end and his body was on the other. Chi-Chi gasped as she mounted Angel.
Goku pulled his body from the tree, looking at the horse confused. "Why'd you do that Stallion?"
"Goku, when was the last time you rode Stallion?" Chi-Chi asked with a teasing tone in her voice.
"Five years ago," Goku answered shaking wood and leaves off him.
"And how did you look then?"
"I had--Oh!" Goku caught on and walked to the proud black horse. Goku powered down to normal status and watched Stallion's eyes for a reaction. Stallion approached Goku and rubbed his head against Goku's. "See, boy. It's still me," Goku said and powered up to a Super Saiyan again.
Goku mounted Stallion and walked with Chi-Chi on Angel along the hills of Ox King's kingdom. They passed some villagers who said hello to the couple as they participated in fun activities together before walking farther away from the kingdom where they could spend some time alone.
"It's been so long since I've been riding," Chi-Chi said. "I miss it. I used to do this a lot when I lived here."
"When you weren't fighting everyone with your martial art skills?" Goku joked.
"I could have Stallion throw you off again," Chi-Chi warned her husband. "I really missed riding. Remember when we gave Gohan his first horse ride?"
"He was four and he rode Angel with you. You wouldn't let him ride Stallion," Goku said. "I thought it would be okay because I trust Stallion with Gohan. He let Gohan pet him."
"He was too young to be riding that kind of horse by himself," Chi-Chi said.
"Gohan was a lot stronger than you gave him credit for when he was younger."
Chi-Chi stopped Angel suddenly as she reminisced on something she didn't want to think about but couldn't help. Goku pulled on Stallion's reigns gently causing the horse to stop and noticed the odd expression on Chi-Chi's face. After a long minute of silence, Chi-Chi spoke. "I know, Goku," she said with a heavy sigh. "I know."
Goku knew Chi-Chi didn't like this kind of talk but he wanted her to understand the depth of Gohan's power so she wouldn't get so upset when Gohan fight in two days. He realized now was the time to tell her about something she didn't know about. "Chi-Chi, do you remember when Gohan was a baby, you and I took him for a walk in the woods."
"We did that a lot Goku," Chi-Chi said quietly and ran her fingers through Angel's blonde mane.
"I know, but this was when I accidentally let go of his carriage and Gohan went rolling down the hill and almost hit a tree."
Chi-Chi took her attention off Angel and gazed at her husband. "I remember, Goku."
"You always thought that it was me who saved Gohan. I tried to tell you then but you wouldn't listen. It--"
"You going to tell me it was Gohan who went through the tree," Chi-Chi cut Goku off. Her eyes were sad and she was distraught as she admitted this secret to her husband. "I know, Goku. I've always known."
Goku was surprised. She knew? All this time? Then why she accused Goku of saving their son he wondered. "How did you know?"
"I was there, Goku. I saw the carriage crash into the tree. How could I possibly miss seeing Gohan go through that tree when he was practically in front of me? When I saw Gohan go through that tree, I thought he was hurt, but he wasn't. He was just fine and that scared me. I was always afraid Gohan would inherit your strength but I never thought we'd witness it when he was so young or that it would grow over time."
"Chi-Chi?" Goku was puzzled. The way she was talking gave Goku the feeling that Chi-Chi was hiding something else.
Goku was right as Chi-Chi continued talking hesitantly. "There was another instance where I witnessed Gohan's strength but you were gone training."
It was a sunny, warm day as Chi-Chi walked with two-year old Gohan in the woods. She had a basket at her waist while her free hand held Gohan's who happily walked with his mother.
"We're going to surprise Daddy with an apple pie when he gets home from training. Are you gonna be a good little boy and help Mommy?" Chi-Chi asked her son.
Gohan smiled widely at his mother. "Uh-huh."
They stopped by the large apple tree outside the woods. Chi-Chi grimaced as she looked at that tree. Memories of Gohan as baby plowing through the tree as if it was paper filled her mind as well as a startling revelation that Chi-Chi refused to acknowledge. Chi-Chi shook her head clearing the memory out of her mind. There was no need to think about that now.
Chi-Chi handed Gohan the basket she was carrying. "Hold this, Gohan."
Chi-Chi stared upward at the apple tree. Not only was it large and tall but the branches were so high above her that she couldn't reach within arm's length. So, she easily jumped high until her hands caught onto the nearest branch which was ten feet high. Gohan, surprised his mother did that, dropped the basket and his mouth fell open in surprise. The young child had seen his Dad do amazing things but he never saw it from his mother.
Chi-Chi hooked her legs around the branch and pulled her body on it. Once she was upright on the branch, she began picking apples. When she had two handfuls, Chi-Chi gracefully jumped down. She noticed the surprise look on Gohan's face and almost smirked.
"Didn't think Mommy could do that, did you?" Chi-Chi said as she put the apples in the basket. Gohan shook his head slowly. "Your Daddy's not the only one who can do impressive stunts around the house."
"Can I do that?" Gohan asked.
"You're too young to do anything like that. Besides, you're going to be a scholar."
"But I wanna jump high, too."
Chi-Chi thought carefully. "Maybe when you're much older you'll be taught something. Now hold onto that basket." Chi-Chi jumped onto the tree once more. As she gathered more apples, she saw a large pterodactyl coming her way. Chi-Chi ignored it and finished grabbed her apples. Dinosaurs were common in the area and most of them were friendly. Goku even brought home a few for dinner. However, Chi-Chi couldn't ignore the winged dinosaur anymore as he perched himself on the branch. Chi-Chi looked cautiously at the dinosaur. She saw the hungry look in his eyes and she got a sinking feeling in her stomach. Where was her husband when she needed him?
"Do you taste as good as you look?" the pterodactyl asked as he licked his lips hungrily at Chi-Chi.
At first Chi-Chi wasn't sure if the dinosaur was making a pass at her or preparing to eat her with that ridiculous line. "No."
"I'd like to find that out for myself," the pterodactyl said and launched to attack Chi-Chi.
Chi-Chi dropped her apples which fell unceremoniously to the ground. Gohan moved out of the way to prevent getting hit with the apples, but one did bop him on the head through his favorite red hat with the four-star dragon ball on top. Gohan looked up at his mother puzzled and frightened when he saw his mother trying to fight off the pterodactyl and then falling off the branch.
"Momma!" Gohan called out.
The pterodactyl had one of Chi-Chi's legs in his mouth spreading his drool over the flesh. "Mmm, tasty," he said.
Chi-Chi screamed as the dinosaur took to the sky. She had to act fast so she maneuvered her body and used her strength to punch the pterodactyl in the stomach. With the wind knocked out of him, the pterodactyl released Chi-Chi and she fell to the ground.
"Momma!" Gohan screamed.
Chi-Chi fell in the sky but she flipped and landed on her feet. She looked to the sky and saw the pterodactyl was relentless and coming her way. She gathered Gohan in her arms and started to run towards the forest. Her first priority was to get Gohan to safety and then maybe she could fight off the dinosaur herself but before she could reach the forest, the pterodactyl swooped down and grabbed Chi-Chi by the gold sash around her waist and lifted her in the air. Chi-Chi released Gohan and the boy fell to the ground. He saw his mother in the air again and he cried seeing her being pulled farther and farther away from him.
"Momma!!"
Chi-Chi frantically searched her mind trying to find a way out of this. This dinosaur was determined to have her as a meal and Chi-Chi was just as determined to not have him eat her. She swung her body back and forth like a pendulum until she gathered enough speed and momentum to punch the dinosaur in the eye. Chi-Chi was released and fell again. This time she was falling towards some trees. She grabbed a branch but was as quick to drop it as her fingers slipped and she fell to the ground on her bottom with a loud thud.
Chi-Chi groaned and rubbed her lower back. That really hurt. She started to get up and make her way to Gohan who was running to her but the stubborn dinosaur was coming her way again. He was so close that Chi-Chi knew she couldn't move out of the way in time.
Suddenly, Chi-Chi heard an angry cry. She looked over and saw Gohan running towards her with a look in his eyes she had never seen before. He was so angry. The only time Chi-Chi saw that look was on Goku's face when he fought Piccolo.
"LEAVE MY MOMMY ALONE!" Gohan screamed, jumped in the air and head butted the dinosaur in the chest.
"Gohan!" Chi-Chi cried out. She saw Gohan collapsed with the dinosaur on the ground, both of them unmoving. Chi-Chi ran to her son and gathered him in her arms. She checked him for any bruises or blood but didn't find any. "Gohan, please wake up."
Gohan's eyes opened slowly and he brightly smiled at her. "Mommy!"
"I don't think he remembered it because when he came to, he asked when he could have lunch. I thought for certain he would say something to you when you got home but he didn't. I was scared at how strong he was at such a young age. I didn't want him to follow the same path as you."
Goku was surprised about this piece of news. He knew Gohan had some hidden power, but he never knew how strong it was. What bothered him more about this was Chi-Chi keeping this secret from him. He wanted to know why.
As if hearing his thoughts, Chi-Chi answered his questions. "I knew you, Goku. I knew if you saw his power you would want to train him and I just couldn't have that. I was still pregnant with Gohan and you talked about training our son and you was still going on about it when he was newborn and I had to tell you no. With the world at peace, why should Gohan fight?"
"I remember that," Goku said recalling that memory a long time ago. "I didn't understand it because you trained under your father and times were peaceful then."
Chi-Chi laughed at how right Goku was. "I know. I'm glad you never called me on that. Before I met you again, I thought martial arts were fun. I thought it built strength, discipline but then I saw how dangerous it could be at the 23rd tournament with you and Piccolo. He shot a hole through your chest, broke both your legs and left arm. Your blood was everywhere. You nearly died." She sniffed as tears rolled down her soft cheeks as memories of Goku writhing in pain filled her mind.
"I didn't want my child to go through that. I didn't want him to ever be in pain or suffer like you did. That's why I directed his attention on education and not fighting because I didn't want what happened to you, happened to him and I'm scared it might at the Cell Games." She was crying heavily now as a heavy storm of tears spilled from her eyes.
Goku put an arm around Chi-Chi rubbed her soothingly. He wanted to pull Chi-Chi in his arms and on his lap but that was difficult since they were riding horses. "Chi-Chi, that's not going to happen at the games."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm going to be there with him. I won't let anything happen to him."
"Promise?" Chi-Chi sniffed, looking in her husband's eyes.
"I promise," Goku said and assured Chi-Chi with a kiss. That kiss soon grew deeper and ardent as Chi-Chi tightened her hold on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing his lips firmly on hers. She moaned as she opened her mouth to her husband's as he stroked the center of her back that sent a shiver up her spine. She arched closer not wanting to stop but they had to.
When they finally parted, Chi-Chi's lips were slightly bruised and her chest was rising heavily. She was smiling now. The kiss from Goku removed the doubts and worries she was having for her husband and son as the Cell Games were quickly approaching. She was starting to feel better as they walked the horses again.
"I wish I was as strong as you, Goku." She laughed at the thought. "Then you would have no choice but to take me on the battlefield."
Goku frowned at the thought of his wife with him. He wasn't sure if he could even imagine Chi-Chi on the battlefields he was in recently. He wouldn't be able to concentrate. He'd be too worried about her.
"But I never will be that strong. I'm just a human. I can never catch up to you."
"Ah, Chi-Chi, you still did good. Ox King trained you and you mastered Master Roshi's fighting style. Not everyone could do that. The only thing you couldn't master was the Kamehameha Wave but Roshi said that takes fifty years."
"It didn't take you, Krillin or Yamcha that long."
"I'm a Saiyan-a natural born fighter. It took Krillin and Yamcha three years before they could do it. Besides, they spent all their time training on Roshi's island and three more years in solitude perfecting their skills. You didn't. If you received the same training as we did, then you could perform the Kamehameha Wave."
Chi-Chi smiled wistfully at the thought of creating the Kamehameha Wave. "It looks so impressive but I'm too rusty on my training and I couldn't accomplish that. I'm not strong enough for that."
"If it helps, Gohan didn't get all his strength from me."
Chi-Chi snorted. "He only got ten percent of his strength from me. The rest came from you."
Goku tilted Chi-Chi's head upward to meet his eyes. "No, that's not true. His drive to fight comes from you. His emotions to protect his family are strong just like yours are. He doesn't fight like me. There's a lot of him in you. You should be proud."
If Goku didn't know any better, he could swear there was a half smirk on his wife's face. "Of course I'm proud, Goku. I'm so proud at how strong Gohan has become but I'm also worried. The more fights he gets in, the stronger he becomes and the more enemies he'd make like you. It doesn't matter all the good you've done, somebody is upset with you and wants to kill you. Haven't you noticed that?"
Goku shook his head. "No, not really."
"What about Dr. Gero? He created those weapons and robots for the Red Ribbon Army and he was upset with you destroying his evil that he sought revenge after you. It's been over a decade and he could never let it go. Revenge is a poison that has no cure. It's like a parasite that jumps from one different host to another and that Dr. Gero was sick. Piccolo told everyone something I find extremely perverse."
Goku cocked his head to the side confused. "Like what?"
"Piccolo said Dr. Gero has been spying on you ever since the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. That means he spied on your fight with King Piccolo, your training on Kami's Lookout, the 23rd tournament, our wedding," Chi-Chi said uneasily. "Goku, you think he spied on us in those five years?"
Goku thought for a moment and shrugged. "Probably. Why?"
"Goku, that could mean he spied on us when we were, you know, making love."
"No," Goku said as if she was joking. He then looked at Chi-Chi as he realized she was serious. "Really?"
"Really!" Chi-Chi yelled. "He had that bug following you; that's how he found out our address. He watched us as we… ugh! I feel so violated!" It came rushing to Chi-Chi like a ton of bricks all the things she and Goku did. "He saw everything, Goku." Her fists clenched in anger. "I'm so glad he's dead and his lab is destroyed. Good thing those Androids got to him before I did. I'd teach him on spying on us."
"Chi-Chi, he only watched to see my strength grow. He hated me. He wasn't a pervert." The thought of Dr. Gero watching him and his wife in their most intimate moments made him shudder. "I hope not." He saw the look on his wife's face and tried to ease her. "It's doesn't matter now. He's dead and he's paid the price for all his sins."
That seemed to have calm Chi-Chi. "I suppose. Hopefully, he's being tortured in Hell."
"Why are we thinking about that? I thought we were going to have a good time," Goku thought optimistically. "Don't you remember where we are?"
"My father's kingdom."
"Not that. Look around and remember."
Chi-Chi noticed the lake and the sun's bright rays in the water. She used to go there a lot as a little girl and think about Goku and their future lives together. Her eyes surveyed the area and when she saw that apple tree, she remembered. She smiled at Goku surprised. "I can't believe you remembered."
Chi-Chi got off Angel and ran to the tree. "This is the same place we met as kids. I remember you out of this."
Goku rubbed the back of his head as he approached Chi-Chi. "I remember you slapping me into the tree."
"When I was a teenager, I heard some of the servant woman talking and they would come here with their boyfriends. See?" She pointed to the trunk of the tree. "They would mark their initials here. I often pictured you and me doing that."
"Really? Let's do that now." Goku put an arm around Chi-Chi and they floated near the top of the tree. He and Chi-Chi sat on a branch. Goku pulled out his car keys. "So, I just put our initials here?""You really want to do this?" Chi-Chi asked surprised Goku would go for the idea without her asking.
"Sure, why not," Goku said carving in 'G/CC'.
"Forever in love," Chi-Chi added. Goku did as he was told and Chi-Chi leaned on him happy he did. "Perfect."
Goku was about to give Chi-Chi a thumb's up but was met with his wife's lips instead as a sign of appreciation.
After their walk on the horses, Goku and Chi-Chi rejoined the other villagers and participated in some of the games. There was a three-legged race for couples. As soon as the race started, Goku and Chi-Chi fell flat on their face. With Goku's strength, he was quick to picked Chi-Chi up and run with her. They stumbled a few more times like the other couples before they crossed the finished line, not surprisingly in first place.
Goku goofily proved he wasn't good at any of the sports the men encourage Goku to play. He tried bowling with the villagers and was a disaster with Goku destroying all the pins with his Super Saiyan strength when the bowling ball collided with them. Goku tried baseball. He could hit the ball easy enough; it just went further than the eye could see whenever Goku hit the ball. Chi-Chi forbid Goku from playing football. The last thing she wanted her husband to be was a linebacker, knocking the villagers thirty feet in the air without even trying.
Goku and Chi-Chi had the most fun that day spending time with the children of the village. Playing with the kids and holding the babies made Goku think about his own wife and the child they were expecting. He couldn't wait to tell her the good news when the Cell Games were over with. Goku didn't noticed it before but he missed being a new father. He missed holding a newborn, changing his diapers, sitting up with him to help the child sleep. He remembered the way Gohan would wrapped his small hand around his Daddy's finger, his first smile at him and the way he called him Daddy. He smiled thinking how Gohan looked up at him as if he was the most amazing thing in the world. He like that feeling and he also like impressing the young boy. Gohan was older now but it still touched Goku that his son looked at him that way. Goku couldn't wait to see his second child looking at him like that. It was an amazing feeling.
There were so many things he wanted to do with his second child and with Cell gone, there would be no more enemies. He'll have plenty of time for it. His second child could live in peace and have a healthy, happy childhood and not be exposed to the dangers of fighting his wife wanted to keep Gohan from.
Several of Ox King's cooks and villagers created a feast that rivaled the food at Goku and Chi-Chi's wedding. They had to prepare themselves once the Ox King mentioned Chi-Chi's husband was coming.
After the feast, there was a gathering where the oldest villagers told mythic stories and heroes of the past centuries ago. When the sun set, the day concluded with a fireworks show. All the villagers gathered on the hill and watched various bright colors and noises filled the sky. Chi-Chi was sitting in Goku's lap with her husband's arms around her as they were both marveled amazed at how the sky lit up tonight.
As peaceful and happy things were right now, one thing refused to leave Goku's mind--the Cell Games were in less than forty-eight hours.
To Be Continued
Wiggles: From reading your bio, it seems you are young and your disability prevents you from understanding what I'm saying in my stories. If I have missing words in sentences, it's an honest mistake. I don't find anything wrong with my sentence structure since I'm being creative with it and not dull as some authors are and I'm confident that my readers understood what I meant to say if I did make a mistake. I'm also confident that I edited this story well. I do think the reason you didn't like the wording in my story is because your disability hinders you from understanding it. The way I write is more mature than some of the authors here and it requires a little more thinking to some and none at all to others. Another reason I think it's your disability is because I and a lot of my reviewers understand what I'm saying. I'm very happy with the way I've written this story and that's what matters to me. If you don't like the way it's written, that's your problem and you will have to deal with it on your own. Your example wasn't helpful since you had more mistakes than you mentioned. It may be best if you read the story more than once and to just think about what I'm saying until you get it just as you would with assignments in your schoolbooks. No, Gohan isn't feeling abandoned. Why would he? He's having a good time with Dende and Piccolo on the Lookout. He's having fun like his father told him and Goku said he would see him at the games. A week is nothing compared to several times before this incident Gohan hadn't seen his father--Goku's first death, Gohan going to Namek by himself and Gohan not seeing his father for a year since Frieza's defeat. For someone who has read my stories several times and just now decided to post a review, you should know how I update. No offense but before you talk about someone's editing of their story, you should do the same with your stories and your reviews. Have patience and wait and see for yourself when the story will end.
You're also wrong on when the DB series was supposed to end. Akira Toriyama wanted it to end with the Frieza Saga, but since fans loved it so much and the franchise was so popular no one wanted it to end so Akira Toriyama continued it for his fans. The DB series was supposed to have a darker ending because Goku was supposed to die on Namek when it exploded after he killed Frieza. Goku was supposed to go out in a blaze of glory. Other than Goku's death, no one other than Akira Toriyama knows for sure how it was going to originally end. We all have theories on how it could've ended. I think Piccolo was suppose to have died along with Krillin before Goku becomes a Super Saiyan because with Piccolo alive the Nameks, Porunga and Vegeta came back and were transported to Earth. I don't think Akira Toriyama would want Vegeta to return to Earth because if he did, he would've killed everyone else off since he was still evil or take control of the planet since he was the strongest with Goku dead. He also wouldn't have stayed on Earth, knowing Goku was dead. He would've gone to some other planet. The only survivors from Namek would've been Bulma and Gohan.
Lady Athena: I hadn't thought about "A Special Gift" but you're right! I was thinking about this little sequel I had to this story. I kind of feel bad for ending this story with such a sad ending and started a sequel (not finished) of when Goku returns seven years later where he and Chi-Chi talk. I'm debating if I should post it or not and have that as the final story. Goku and ChiChi were 35 when the Buu Saga happened. At the end of DB, G/CC were 18. At the start of DBZ, they were 23. When the Saiyans arrived they were 24. Goku was in the hospital for a few months but it took him about a week to get to Namek. The fight between Goku and Frieza happened in one day and Goku didn't return for a whole year, not a year and a half as stated in the dubbed. So, he was 25 when he came back. When the Androids arrived, they were 28 and Goku died and didn't return for seven years, therefore he and ChiChi are 35. You were only one year off.
Moon Girl: I blame the parents on wanting Funi to have edited versions. If they don't want their kids to buy that, then don't give them the money. The androids didn't know about the antidote or that Goku was sick until Krillin told them. I assume since it's been weeks in Japan that anyone seen Goku, that Akira had to put something dramatic in. You know how plot driven he was in the manga. There's nothing to apologize for about the radio mix up. I heard about a Z100. I think that's a station in New York but there are so many radio stations across the country, a lot of them can have 100 on it. Yes, you're right about the pic. Gold Star for you! It was so funny I had to put it in. I wish I knew who the author was of that manga so I can give proper credit.
I won't tell: Poor you only getting the dubbed version. The fans in Japan know how ChiChi really acts just from the manga. They know even the anime exaggerates her character a lot and she is stereotypically portrayed and get it as a joke. The dubbed really messes up her character to the point of bashing when compared to the subbed, which made a lot of people hate her because they've only seen the dubbed and their lack of understanding a character. I knew from just watching the dubbed, she's not as bad as people took her and when I started watching the subbed and reading the manga, it supported my thoughts on her even more. I do think fear plays a role in it but her love for her family and wanting them safe is a bigger part.
Bulma: People who bash them don't understand the characters and most of the time it's the B/V fans who do that or they are a fan of Goku but not ChiChi and vice versa. I chose not to read the bashing stories because it's not true about them at all and anyone with any IQ would see G/CC would never cheat on each other. I don't understand writing a story about people you don't like just to bash them. It makes no sense and it's offensive to people who like the characters. Of all the characters on DBZ, Goku and ChiChi are the most matched and normal compared to the others. It's probably because Akira Toriyama had plans for them to be together since the beginning.
Sadako: I blame the dubbed for messing up people's mind about when Goten was conceived because they said Goku left Goten to ChiChi just before his fight with Cell and that lead many people (me included) that it was the night before the games Goten was conceived. When I watched a tape with "Dende's Dragon" and "Puzzle of Mercenary Tao" it came to me that Goku spent five days alone with ChiChi while Gohan was on the Lookout and when I read summaries of the manga and JV, it was said that Goten was conceived in the days before the Cell Games, that's when I knew it didn't happen the night before. Actually, most of the callers thought Goku would win and had doubts about Hercule. About Goku and Gohan in the time chamber, it's explained in the episode "Faith in a Boy". Goku tells Gohan how he was exhausted after training but Gohan still had a lot of energy and wanted to continue training. When Goku told Gohan he wanted his son to surpass him, it almost seems that Goku had planned for Gohan to be the hero for once. I do think that when you're near death, you start thinking about a lot of things and Goku could hear everything going on around him so he knew everyone was depending on him and that could've shaped his reasons to make Gohan stronger than him.
SS4 ChiChi: Those who bash on G/CC need to read the manga and watch the subbed because most of the haters are viewers of the dubbed who don't understand characters and are young and immature. If you talk to older, mature viewers who have seen the subbed, manga or just only the dubbed, they won't find anything wrong with G/CC. A lot of them understand the characters. You can also read my reply to I won't tell and Bulma.
Shloki: Thank you. I try my best.
Chuquita: That whole Gohan hitting Goku was inspire by a pic I saw. It was so funny. I almost cried laughing. At the end of the chapter, I was in a goofy mood. I was playing the subbed version of Our Hero Awakens where Goku wakes up and spin ChiChi around, I thought I should put it in my story. There are a lot of moments between them I like and their reunion after he awakened is one of them. It's cute and funny, just like them.
Carrie: I think ChiChi stopped being afraid of Piccolo between that year Goku was gone after he defeated Frieza. She was totally fine with Goku training with Piccolo. I think Gohan explained to his mother all that Piccolo did for them on Namek and she realized he wasn't so bad anymore. Gold star for you on learning where I was inspired for that door slamming scene. I find it interesting that ChiChi decided to spring getting a job on Goku after he got well from his virus and not after they married. My only guess is that she thinks a job will distract him from fighting so he won't be getting into anymore trouble or hurt. I could be wrong. Still, in the manga, Goku seemed perfectly fine to get a job and didn't mind giving up fighting to do that. It really shows how much he loves his wife and he probably understood his wife's reason. No, it wasn't in the episode that ChiChi didn't know where Goku put it. It was only in the manga and it was the only scene shown where Goku took his medicine. I already explained my ideas on why that happened in the last chapter. Special connection. I was referring to Goku and ChiChi.