Hey! I hope you've been having a fantastic week. Don't really have much to say about this week's update, so here you go. Enjoy!


Gohan hit the yellow marker against the paper three more times, before setting it down on the floor. The page was covered in yellow scribbles, and the marker nib was sunken into its barrel.

Chi-Chi picked up the paper, and gasped. "What a good job, Gohan! You're a little artist!" She grabbed another piece of blank paper next to her, and put it in front of him. She uncapped a blue marker, and handed it to him. "You should do another one, in blue!"

Gohan went back to stabbing the paper, with the marker, babbling and singing while doing so.

"Goku," Chi-Chi said. "We should all go out for a walk tonight. Right after dinner. What do you think?"

She didn't get a response, at first. She looked up. Goku was sitting with his arms crossed, staring off into space. That was really unlike him.

"Goku?"

He blinked, and shook his head slightly. "Huh? Oh. Hey, Chi-Chi. What did you want?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, of course I am. How come you asked?"

"You were spacing out, just now. Do you have something on your mind?"

"Oh. Yeah, no. I'm fine." He got down out of the chair, and crawled over to Gohan. "Hey, buddy. What cha' drawing?"

Gohan dropped the marker onto the carpet, and tried to hand the piece of paper to his father.

He held it up. "Wow, Gohan! That's really good!" He ruffled his hair, making him giggle. "I'm so proud of you!"

Chi-Chi put the cap back on the blue marker, and laid down another sheet of paper. She set down the markers in front of him. "Show your daddy how you've been drawing!"

Gohan looked over the markers, as if he was trying to find the best one, for the job. His eyes lit up, when he saw one sitting in the middle. He picked it up, and showed it to his mother.

"You want to make something green!" She quickly uncapped the marker, and handed it back to her son. "Have at it, sweetie."

Gohan stuck out his lower lip. His eyebrows furrowed, in determination. He plopped the marker nib on the paper, and started scribbling all over the paper. Goku and Chi-Chi watched him, while he did so. They were picking up on patterns, in his lines. He was drawing a lot of triangles, on the paper. He dropped the marker on the paper, when he was done.

"You done, little guy," Goku asked. He picked up the paper, and showed it to Chi-Chi.

"Oh, it's so good! You're such a talented little man!"

Gohan started making noises, trying to get his parents attention. They put down the paper, for a moment.

"Yes, Gohan? What is it?"

He pointed at the picture, while looking around the room. Goku and Chi-Chi stared at him, trying to figure out what he was trying to say. He raised his hand in the air, while pointing at his drawing. Goku leaned into the picture, lifting a finger to his chin.

Then, he suddenly got it.

"Is he looking for Piccolo?"

"Goku, don't be ridiculous," Chi-Chi said, waving her hand in dismissal. "Why would Gohan want to see that delinquent? Especially after he scared him, like that."

He wasn't convinced. He looked back at his son. "Are you looking for Piccolo, buddy?"

His eyes lit up, with recognition. He pointed at the drawing, fidgeting around more.

Chi-Chi blinked. "W-What?" She picked up her son, holding him on her lap. "No, no, sweetie. You won't have to worry about that brute, again. Who knows what kind of a bad influence he would be, on you."

Goku looked back out the window. "I hope he's at least doing okay."

"Goku, not you, too! He's a grown man, isn't he? He can take care of himself."

"Still. No one should have to live on their own, like that."

"Well, if you're so worried about him, then go check up on him."

Goku stood up. "Great idea! I'll be back in a bit!" He ran outside of the house, called for Nimbus, and flew off.

Chi-Chi shook her head, and looked at Gohan. She sighed. "I don't get your father sometimes …" Gohan only blinked at her.


Piccolo shot out towards his opponent, slashing him with his claws. He turned around and kicked his other adversary, sending him flying into a pile of rubble. He reacted just in time to catch the former's fist. He dodged and blocked his every attack. He extended his arm behind him to do the same with the latter.

He suddenly pulled his hands back, and pushed his palms outwards, sending his opponents both flying away from him. Before they could break their falls, he stretched his arms out and grabbed them, throwing them both into the mud at once. The ground shook violently from the impact.

Piccolo lowered himself onto the ground. He sat with his legs and arms crossed, focusing his energy into his body. His shadow clones disappeared from the craters they created, and fused with him, once again.

He hated being this powerful. He didn't have an equal anywhere on Earth. The only way he could get a decent fight out of anyone is if he fought himself. It only made him feel more detached. It was another reason he believed he was destined to be alone.

"Wow! That's so cool!"

He turned around and looked up. He groaned, as his eyes narrowed. Now, he wished that were the case.

Goku jumped off of Nimbus, and ran towards him. "How did you do that?! The only person I've seen do that is Tien. Wow, you must be strong! I'm getting excited!" He crouched down, and started stretching his legs, doing two counts per leg before switching.

"What are you doing," he said, exasperatedly.

Goku jumped up, and took a fighting stance. "Let's spar! I wanna see your full power!"

Piccolo laughed. "You wouldn't stand a chance, so don't even bother."

He hunched over, clenching his fists and jumping in place. "Aww! But I wanna see how strong you are! Come on! Please?"

This might not be that bad of an idea. He could get some cheap fun, and beat that insufferable grin off of his face. Maybe he'd take a hint and leave him alone.

"Alright. Just know I won't be going easy on you."

"I wouldn't want anything less!"

They both took a fighting stance. Piccolo stared at Goku, sizing him up. In seconds, his entire demeanor had changed. He was glowering at him, with a small pout. His form was unique, as well. He was actually getting intrigued, as loathed as he was to admit it.

Piccolo charged him first, thinking it would be a clean hit or dodge. Instead, to his surprise, Goku charged him right back. They clashed right in the middle, elbow to elbow. Piccolo clenched his teeth, pushing against him. He was met with an equal force, as his feet sunk into the ground.

He threw rapid punches in his direction. Goku responded with his own rapid set of punches, quickly ducking and dodging his blows. Piccolo landed one shot in his abdomen, but it was quickly shaken off, as he landed a hit on his cheek. Piccolo snarled. He had expected this to be a quick fight, but it was growing tenser with every second.

With quick reflexes, Piccolo managed to grab both of his wrists, stopping his punches. Then, Goku jumped into the air and kicked him in the face, promptly freeing himself. Piccolo stretched out his arm, and grabbed Goku by his hair, tossing him up and down like a ragdoll, and throwing him into a pile of fallen rubble.

Piccolo pulled his arm back, rubbing his wrist. That admittedly felt good. He got a decent fight, and a cathartic beat down in one fight. It was honestly worth it.

"Behind you!"

Suddenly, he was kicked in his neck, knocking him off of his feet. His ankle was grabbed. Before he could see what was happening, he was spun around in a circle and tossed away.

Piccolo stopped himself in mid-air. How was that little bugger still standing? He should have been minced meat.

"Phew," Goku said, while wiping his forehead. "That was tense. Haven't had a fight like that, in a while. But it was fun, too! You're really strong! We should do it again, sometime!"

This idiot definitely had a few screws loose. Was he a masochist, or something? Did he get off on getting his ass kicked?

However, though he'd never say it out loud, he actually found that exciting. It was the first time since his return to Earth that he had felt invigorated. Motivated, even. For once, he didn't feel numbness or emptiness. He felt as if he had gained something.

Piccolo crossed his arms and lowered himself to the ground. Goku put his hands on his hips. "Hey, if you want, we can make this a thing. I can stop by every week and we can do some training, together. Or we can just find each other, when we get that urge to fight. Whatever works for you will work for me!"

"What's in it for you?" This sounded too accommodating. There had to be a catch.

"You know, I haven't had a lot of time to go out and train, for a while – it's kind of hard work to go out and find my friends, when I have Gohan and Chi-Chi to worry about. And they're always busy, when I try. I don't have to worry about that, with you! I get a training partner and I get to get stronger!"

Talk about a backhanded compliment. Still, it sounded appealing. He wouldn't be so bored, all the time, and he would have something to get himself up every day. He really didn't have anything to lose. If it started going south, he'd put an end to it.

He sighed. "Sure."

"Awesome! I won't let you down! So, uh, when do you wanna meet, again?"

"Just come by, when you get the chance."

"Okay! See you tomorrow!" Goku yelled for Nimbus and flew away. He waved at him, as he went out of sight.

Piccolo stood there for a few moments, watching the train that the cloud was leaving behind. When he realized what he had just agreed to, he closed his eyes and groaned.

Why was he letting himself get roped into this crap?