Request by Riptide

Prompt: "I shouldn't be in love with you."

Characters: Chi-Chi, Goku

Rating: T

Tags: 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. POV. Slight divergence of events. Slight Hurt/Comfort. Trying to understand emotions.

Goku x Chi-Chi

She had ventured to this contest of skill to complete her training and finally test herself against the best of the world's martial artists. Wanting to face them on an equal footing, she certainly didn't want them to know that she was the Ox King's daughter or that she was a princess. Those two titles alone were normally enough to put people off engaging with her, usually for the fearsome reputation of her father.

And here she finally was. An official entrant in the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. It all seemed to be going well - that is, until she saw him.

That face, that hair, that smile. No one else she had ever met throughout the years had similar features or wayward hair like that. She was certain of it; it had to be him.

She had to admit to herself that, while it was such a surprise to see him after so much time had passed, he looked even more handsome than the last time she had laid eyes on him years ago.

With a smile to herself, she vowed to catch up with him at some point during this tournament; maybe they might even face off against each other at some point. But first, she had some of her own matches to complete and some courage to gain.

After her first couple of preliminary matches were over, she decided to formally greet the man. She had already noticed his glances at her during a match, his obsidian eyes fixed on her every move. But when she looked over again to offer a smile in acknowledgement of his attention, he was gone.

Searching through the crowds in the intermission, she knew he was still here, as she had seen his name on the board. Finally, as the mixture of fighters and supporters parted, she found him once more.

Summoning the courage, she proceeded to tap him on the shoulder and greet him with a wide, beaming smile. She had recognised him after all this time, and of course he would recognise her too; that was without a doubt the reason he had been watching her earlier match. With this happy coincidence, she couldn't wait to be reunited with the boy who had saved her life and her father's kingdom. That friendship borne in childhood would instantly be resumed, and not only would she have an ally at this place, but a chance to grow her friendship with the now fully grown man standing in front of her.

Looking up at him, he had finally surpassed her in height, and now he stood towering over her petite but toned frame. She gulped harshly. He wasn't scary or domineering; he exudes happiness, but there was still a quality about him that felt rough, like he was brimming with something that she couldn't see, although she could most certainly feel it. It was intriguing, and she looked forward to finding out where he had been all these years.

But his face and expression, then followed by his words, stung in a way that she had never experienced before. The bustling noise of the resumed preliminaries around them faded into nothingness as she realised that he didn't know who she was; he didn't recognise her at all.

She wanted to explain it all right there and then, but before she could comprehend what she was saying, her shock quickly turned to rage, and an outburst left her lips. In an instant, she found herself walking away from the man she had loved for years, trying to hold back the tears before they fell amongst this room of fighters. Her embarrassment, her offence, her heart - all of it was on display to those around her, and she had to get out of there.

She knew she shouldn't be in love with him; it had been far too many years, and her silly childhood crush had long faded away, but seeing him there in front of her brought all those feelings back, and she couldn't help but feel hurt and rejected all over again, like when he didn't return before.

Once composed, she took herself off to sit in a position where she couldn't be seen by others, but she could continue to carefully observe the fixtures until she was called for her matchups. With anger still clouding her ruminating mind, her petulance reared its head as she vowed to study the forms that he used so that when they were matched up, she would use them to beat him and win this tournament alone. That would be enough. He would then suffer a similar humiliation to what she had just experienced.

But in her quiet, obscure spot, she continually eyed him and his forms, looking on in astoundment. He was far stronger than she had ever anticipated he could be, and at this rate, it would almost certainly be the two of them in the final.

Although she was seemingly skilled at concealing herself, the man had noticed and was very aware of the presence of this mystery woman.

In his recent years of travelling, he thought he was finally getting to grips with people's emotions and intentions, but this woman, she seemed so upset and angry. As far as he was aware, he hadn't done anything to her. But he couldn't recall meeting her before anything bad could have happened between them. And yet, she sat where she thought others couldn't see just so that she could observe him.

It was an odd feeling to think that someone was watching him, but something about it all felt somewhat familiar, but he just couldn't identify what it was though.

Although he had had more than a few humbling moments at these tournaments, he felt that his time spent training and exploring over these recent years may have given him the boost to finally be able to win this competition. After all, it had been his goal for so long, but a recurring thought kept pulling at his mind. For him to win, he would have to knock out this raven-haired woman who had pursued him. And while the action itself didn't phase him, the idea that he would no longer see her fight saddened him a little.

Walking onto the ring, neither the man nor woman said anything. They exchanged glances; the man was still looking for any hint of who she was, while the woman continued to size him up. He was likely to take all of her ability to be able to best him. Whatever the result, they were sure to get answers here.

Taking a step forward and readying herself in her fighting position, now opposite her most formidable opponent for the whole arena to see, the woman heard her chosen name, Anonymous, announced, followed by her match, Son Goku.

Before the end of this tournament, they would both get the answers they were looking for.