Hey, we're back already.
I can tell you that I have made decent progress on the fic - both writing and story-wise. For a while, I didn't have a clear vision on not so much where the story would go next but when and how it would proceed. But I think I'm finally getting it cleaned up. While, again, I'm not gonna promise regular updates, I'm hoping to get more of the story out next year.
But that's neither here nor there. Once again, thank you for being patient and please enjoy the chapter.
With every passing second, Tien was begging for death.
He was still working with Launch, trying to get her to learn how to fight. They had been at this for over a month. He tried to keep a level head, like a good teacher should, but it was growing difficult. Every time he felt like he was getting somewhere with her, it was as if she intentionally did something to throw everything off. She'd suddenly forget where to put her arms and she needed him to help her out with it. He didn't need his third eye to know what she was trying to do. She was messing up on purpose to get closer to him. He didn't know how many hints he needed to throw at her to show that he wasn't interested.
"We'll go over the maneuvers, again. When I do something, you have to either dodge it or block it, like I taught you. Understand?"
Launch put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, I get it. Give me your worst."
Tien threw a punch at her and she ducked. He went for another one, and she blocked it. He slid his foot underneath her, and she jumped over. He swiped his hand towards her neck, and she ducked underneath it. His other hand moved to punch her chin, and she blocked it with one arm. She jumped back, when he tried to kick her in the stomach, and crouched down further away from him. She ran straight for him, he moved out of the way, but she quickly turned on her heel and went back to him.
Launch dodged his oncoming fist and managed to hit him in the gut. Tien let out a breath of air, in surprise. She was grinning triumphantly , as she spun around to hit him, again. Tien grabbed her wrist and tried to push her away. Before he could, she put her arm over her shoulder and pulled him closer. Their chests pressed against each other. She stared at him with half-lidded eyes. A devilish glint in her eyes and a wry smirk on her face made her intentions obvious.
It made him very uncomfortable.
Tien pushed her away, stepping back from her. Launch's expression changed, looking shocked. Then, her face went red with anger. "What will it take," she screamed at him.
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I've been doing everything right! I've followed your training! I've come to all your lessons! I've fought against you a whole bunch of times! And you still won't admit that you like me!"
"That's what this is about?"
"What else?! I thought the whole reason you brought me here is to get closer to me! Why haven't you just come out and said the obvious? What's holding you back?!"
Tien sighed. How was he supposed to tell her the truth? "Launch, if you just calmed down-"
"Don't start with me!" She marched to him and grabbed the collar of his shirt. He let her do so. "What more do you want me to do, Tien?! Why can't you just admit that you have feelings for me like I do for you?!"
"Because I don't."
She stopped. "What?"
"I don't have feelings for you."
Her eyes widened, hearing his words. She let go of his shirt and stepped backwards on shaky legs. "B-but… I thought… how could you...?" She stammered, incoherently, as she stared off into space. She backed up against the wall. "No. You can't. But what we had…"
He sighed, and walked up to her. "Launch, I'm sorry you're disappointed, but I don't have feelings for you. I've tried telling you for years, but you've never listened."
Launch just stared at him. She slowly lifted her hand up to her heart. She didn't say anything to him. She looked like she was trying hard not to break down in tears. Tien felt sorry for how she felt, but he wasn't sorry for telling her the truth. It was better that she figured it out now, than having it revealed at a worse time.
"Is it me," she asked in a hoarse voice. "Was it something I did?"
He put his hand on her shoulder. "No, it's not. I've never had feelings for anyone. Romance, relationships, whatever: it never appealed to me. I don't have the words to explain it - that's just how I feel. You're my friend, Launch, and I'm grateful that we've gotten to spend more time together this past month. But I just can't see you as anything else but my friend."
Launch wiped the tears under her eyes. Her bottom lip twitched, as she was trying desperately not to sob. "So that's it? All that time I've spent chasing you was for nothing?"
"Not necessarily." She looked up at him, again. He pulled a ribbon off of the wall, and used it to wipe her tears. "Now you can start another adventure. One that'll be worth all of the trouble."
She laughed. "Another adventure. I don't even know what I'm gonna do, when this is all over."
"Knowing you, I think you won't have any trouble finding it."
He smiled down at her. Launch slowly stopped crying. She smiled back at him, and nodded. "You know what, you're right. I'm gonna go out there and find something else to chase after." She straightened her back and pushed past him. "And I'll actually find it, this time!"
He shook his head, as he chuckled. "That's what I like to hear."
She whipped her head around to look back at him. "And I'll start by beating you in a fight!"
Immediately, she sprung towards him, knocking him in the stomach. The breath was knocked out of him, and she smirked triumphantly. He quickly regained his composure, and matched her energy. While Launch lost a potential romance, she gained a friendship. Something that was just as meaningful as anything else. As for Tien, he was glad that he could connect with her earnestly, without worrying about accidentally leading her on.
Perhaps that was what this test was supposed to be about - facing the uncomfortable and coming out stronger.
Meanwhile, Goku and Chi-Chi had already begun their morning spar. Though it seemed normal, Chi-Chi had grown frustrated with the casual fights, wanting more from them. She always knew that Goku was holding back, and she found it patronizing. She could handle a little bit of roughness from her husband. He didn't need to treat her as if she was a delicate flower.
As she threw another punch, he caught her arm. "You seem kinda mad. What's up? Are you okay?" Goku always seemed to know when Chi-Chi was getting upset – they had been together for so long, he gained a sixth sense about it.
"Yeah, I am! Why are you holding back on me?!" She kicked him in the stomach, making him cry out in surprise. She started going at him offensively, as he blocked and dodged her kicks and punches. It made her more frustrated. He could attack back, when he wanted, but he chose to block her. "Like what you're doing right now!"
"Chi-Chi: cut it out! You'd just get really hurt!"
"You know I can take it, so just do it!" She kept throwing every move she knew at him, but it didn't make a difference. "You wouldn't want Piccolo to hold back against you, so why are you doing it with me?!"
"Because that's different!"
"How?! I'm not as delicate as you think I am! Your full power – hit me with it!" She jumped up and kicked him in his chin, stunning him. She kicked him in both of his cheeks, then hit him in the face, sending him flying away.
Goku caught himself, landing in a crouched position. He was grinning. He knew she had that kind of power in her. She only needed to be goaded into fighting with all of it. He never realized how much he missed fighting with his wife. After Gohan had been born, it came to an unfortunate stop. How she handed herself during their match at the World Martial Arts Tournament was why he had kept his promise to marry her. Now, that warrior he had fallen for was back, and he wouldn't hold back for her.
He pushed himself forward, going back to where she was standing. She blocked his punch, and ducked under his next one. She leaned backwards and swiped at him, chopping him in the shin. She kicked his knee at her and she crossed her arms to block it, the force pushing her heels into the dirt. She clenched her teeth, and threw her arms out to the side, pushing him back with the force of her bright white aura.
Goku's eyes lit up. "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" He yelled, as he powered up his aura, too.
He jumped back over to her, and she greeted him by jabbing him with her elbow. He slapped it away, the attack barely tickling him. She tried to uppercut him, but he dodged before it could connect. Not to be outdone, she flicked the wrist of her free hand, and slapped him hard in the face, then repeated it with the backhand. As she was about to repeat, he headbutted her, stunning her as she stumbled backwards, her aura disappearing.
Not given any time to react, he kicked her, sending her flying high into the air. His eyes widened and he flinched – he hadn't meant to kick her that hard. He jumped up after her, and wrapped an arm around her.
"Nimbus!" Flying Nimbus soared down, catching them before they could fall back down.
Chi-Chi hadn't even realized she had been kicked. After receiving the headbutt, the next thing she knew, she was sitting on Nimbus, being held by Goku.
"Wow, Chi-Chi," Goku said. He had the biggest grin she had ever seen on him. "I didn't realize how strong you had gotten!" He kissed her, holding her tightly. This shocked her even more. She couldn't recall the last time he had spontaneously kissed her, like this – only when he got excited. It was a bit of a wonder how they were still on Nimbus, at this point.
Chi-Chi pushed on his chest, breaking the kiss. "Goku, what just happened?"
"We were fighting like you said we should. And then you started using your ki, and it was awesome! You almost had me a few times!"
She glanced down at Nimbus. "And how did we get up here?"
He laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "I kind of kicked you up here. Sorry."
She looked down, gawking at how high up they were. Maybe she underestimated his strength, or overestimated her own. She didn't realize he had been holding back that much. She thought she had enough in her to match him, but she didn't.
He put his arms back around her, pulling her up to his chest. "Hey, don't get upset. You did awesome, today. I didn't think you still had it in you. I really missed sparring with you. It was just like old times, right?"
"You did? Why? I'm not strong like Piccolo, or even your friends."
"I didn't marry them, though."
He was looking at her, wearing that famous Goku smile – the one that told her he meant every word he said. Even when he wasn't trying, he was still so romantic. How could a man be so inept in love know exactly what to say? She sighed. "Oh, Goku…"
Nimbus flew back to the ground, and Goku jumped off, still carrying her. She laughed, awkwardly, seeing his grin. "What are you smiling about?"
"You're beautiful, when you're fighting."
She would have fallen down, had she not been held. Goku never complimented her looks – she always assumed he didn't care enough about them to notice. It was nice to know he didn't like her because she was pretty, but she was still a woman: she liked to be complimented. The shock made her heart skip a beat. Moments like this took her back to the day he proposed.
"Sometimes, my brain doesn't know what my mouth is doing. Good thing my heart does."
She smiled, as tears formed in her eyes. "Goku… that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard you say!" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Do you really mean it?"
"Of course! And I know you'll keep getting stronger and stronger, if you keep practicing. So, what do you say?"
She sighed, wistfully, and nodded. "Okay. Let's do it."
"Yay!" He set her back down. "Let's go, now! I'm really excited!" He jumped back, and crouched down into his fighting stance. Chi-Chi followed suit.