Goku swallowed the banana whole and peeled himself another, enjoying his late night snack as he gazed up at the stars. It was a little hard to tell, since the moon never seemed to come out anymore, but he was pretty sure it'd been about a year since the Tournament…which meant it had been about eight months since he'd last seen Chi-Chi.

He thought about her most nights, the camping gear she had given him a constant reminder, but here, under the stars, he couldn't help but let his mind wander a little longer. What was she up to? How did she normally keep busy? Was she making lots of delicious food?

Did she ever think about him?

Someday they'd get to go on all sorts of adventures. He could show her all the places he'd been and the people he'd met. Maybe they could even explore new places together!

Goku sighed as he continued looking up at the night sky…it was so sparkly…like Chi-Chi.

Chi-Chi had sparkled in the setting sun…he bet she would sparkle under the moonlight too—wherever it had gone—but right now, she was probably asleep in her bed…if she hadn't been kidnapped again.

A moment passed, then another, as Goku stared up at the stars blankly, his half eaten banana resting on his stomach.

Wait a sec!

He sat up abruptly.

Could she have been kidnapped again?!

Who were those guys? The blue bullies? Were there as many of them like the Red Ribbon Army? Could more have gone after Chi-Chi besides the ones they'd encountered?

He scratched his head and frowned, an uneasy feeling settling over him. The last time he'd felt this way he'd woken up in time to find his Grandpa's body vanish into the four star dragon ball…or at least he thought it had at the time. Most living creatures didn't disappear when they died, right? So what was that about? He should have asked Grandpa when he had the chance but right now he had more important things to worry about.

Could this uneasy feeling mean Chi-Chi was in danger? Goku's heart tightened uncomfortably. Chi-Chi was strong but she still got kidnapped before. Grandpa had been even stronger but even he had things he couldn't overcome, like the full moon monster.

He hopped to his feet, shoving the remains of his banana in his mouth and started tearing down camp. If Chi-Chi was in danger then he had to do something. He wouldn't fail her the way he had Grandpa.

Goku shouldered his pack and power pole onto his back and took off running, the tiredness he'd felt from training all day melting away as he went. He could rest once he laid eyes on Chi-Chi. Until then, he wouldn't stop.

It took him the rest of the night and halfway through midmorning before he arrived at Mt. Frypan. He was secretly pleased at his obvious improvement but he didn't have time to think about that now!

Goku leapt over the wall to the village and onto a roof, searching for signs that the bad men had come. Overturned furniture, broken in doors, maybe some flames? But the only thing he noticed were several bruised and injured looking men—young and old—coming down from the castle.

"She's certainly his daughter, alright. Don't know what she wants to learn to fight for anyways, she'll ruin her prospects if she keeps this up."

"It'd be worth it to live in a castle," one boy shrugged, while another clapped his shoulder.

"Plus I hear she's a fantastic cook!"

"Does she have to hit so hard though?"

The group groaned together, feeling their injuries, as Goku wondered who they were talking about. Were they talking about Chi-Chi? There was only one way to find out!

He dug his power pole into the earth into the thatched roof and vaulted over the rest of the distance until he landed in an empty courtyard. Goku sniffed the air, catching Chi-Chi scent easily. She'd been here! And not too long ago…but where was she now?

Did she go back inside?

Goku hopped up on a random balcony and peeked through the doors, spotting a long table with several chairs. Oh! He recognized this room, this was where he ate that fantastic meal with Chi-Chi last time!

Too bad it was empty.

Hm…where could Chi-Chi be?

"Oh I know!" Goku grinned, smacking his fist into his hand. She was probably in her room!

He slipped in through the balcony doors, past the long table and out into the hall. Now which way was it again? Goku wandered down the corridor and made a right, coming to a dead end.

Well that wasn't it.

He hurried back to the main path and continued until he came across another turn leading off to the left. Hmmm, this didn't look familiar but then none of these really did. Why did anyone even need a house this big anyways?

"She's a princess! What on earth does she think she's doing cooking and cleaning the way she does?"

Oh no, people! Goku looked about wildly for a place to hide before ducking behind a suit of armor just as two servants walked by.

"Haven't you heard her talk? She's training to become a fine wife for her future husband."

"The princess needs someone who can take care of her! Not some little boy."

"That little boy is a warrior! I heard he took out the Red Ribbon Army and then saved the princess from those kidnappers last year!"

"What a bunch of hogwash…"

Goku poked his head out curiously. Were they talking about him? Heh. He kinda liked being called a warrior. It made him sound strong!

"I am strong!" Goku smirked, flexing his arms before he remembered he was supposed to be looking for Chi-Chi. Shoot. Where was her room again?

He sniffed the air, hoping to catch a whiff of her scent to lead him there when something delicious reached his nose instead. Oh boy! Whatever that was smelled great! His stomach growled as his mouth began to salivate.

"Hm…maybe I should get something to eat first." If there were bad guys around, he'd need a full stomach to be of any use…

Goku followed the scent down several flights of stairs, hopping on chandeliers or statues as he snuck past servants and guards until he made his way into a large kitchen. There were several pots and pans cooking away on the stove, several somethings baking in the ovens and chopping away with her back to him was Chi-Chi! He'd found her!

"Huh?"

Chi-Chi shivered, feeling a sensation run up her spine. Was someone here? She turned, expecting someone, but found only an empty room.

"I guess I was wrong."

Chi-Chi shrugged and went back to chopping as Goku sighed in relief. He had dived under the counter just as she turned, not wanting Chi-Chi to know he was here. He didn't wanna have to explain that he'd gotten worked up for nothing!

Besides, it was fun sneaking around the castle. He wondered what else he could get away with without getting caught.

A timer went off and Chi-Chi stopped what she was doing to take something out of the oven. She set the tray on the counter just above his head and hurried over to check on the food cooking on the stove. Goku reached an arm above the counter and swiped the bread loaf before stuffing it in his mouth.

"Ah that's hot!" he shouted just as several more timers went off.

Chi-Chi spun around, confused, but still there was no one. Was she just imagining things?

"Oh dear…perhaps I'd better take it easy…but first…" she hurried back to the stove and removed a large pot off the burner before bustling over to the oven again to pull out a roast. A quick check of the thermometer indicated it was done, so she let it settle and hurried over to lower the temperature on two more burners before turning around to begin plating, only to pause.

"Huh? Where'd the bread go?"

Chi-Chi scanned around the kitchen but it wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Well it's a good thing I made a second."

She hurried over to a third oven, just as another timer was going off and pulled out a fresh loaf before returning to cut up the roast. When she was done, she set the remaining half aside, planning to use it for tomorrow's lunch and then grabbed the pots and pans, plating half.

Chi-Chi checked one last time around the room to make sure everything was turned off before grabbing the dozen plates up and slipping out the door to feed her taste testers.

Goku popped up from under the counter with glee.

"Oh boy!" This all looked so yummy! He reached for the roast first, shoving it in his mouth before removing the bones. Oh man, it was so good! He darted over to where the pots and pans sat and started pouring them into his mouth one by one.

Chi-Chi was a great cook!

The door started to open and Goku froze as Chi-Chi stood halfway between the kitchen and the other room.

"What was that?" she called. "Oh yes of course, just a second."

Chi-Chi rushed into the kitchen but paused as the double doors swung closed behind her. She thought she saw…

"Silly me," Chi-Chi smiled, shaking her head. She really had been thinking about him too much if she was imagining him here in the kitchen!

She rushed over to the veggies she'd been chopping and mixed the ingredients into a large bowl, creating a colorful salad, and then snatched up the bread loaf before hurrying back to the dining hall.

Goku rolled out from the walk-in freezer, rubbing his arms up and down to get warm.

"S-So cold!"

It was lucky Chi-Chi hadn't stayed any longer, he would have turned into an ice cube! Speaking of…there was no time to waste! He darted back to the last of the food, gobbling it all down before diving back under the counter just as Chi-Chi returned.

She blinked as she came to a halt, suddenly realizing the kitchen was a mess.

What on earth? Had she done this? Oh! But where did the rest of the roast go? Or the side dishes? She knew there had been extras when she left. Was there some kind of rodent infestation in the castle?

"Oh no! I have to warn Papa!"

Chi-Chi hurried out of the kitchen at once.

Goku groaned as he rolled out from his hiding space. He was so full! And now that he knew Chi-Chi was safe his exhaustion was starting to get to him but if he fell asleep here, there was a chance she'd spot him if she came back.

Thinking quickly, he opened a door only to find himself in a large pantry with lots of shelves.

"Great!" Goku grinned, climbing up to the top shelf. "No one will find me here."

He covered himself with a bag of rice and promptly fell asleep.

…

Goku yawned and stretched himself wide only to crash to the floor a second later.

"OW!"

He rubbed his aching head with a frown. "Oh man! That hurt! Huh?"

Why was he in a dark unfamiliar room?

Oh yeah! He came here to find Chi-Chi! Goku grabbed a couple apples and chomped down before poking his head out the pantry. Everything had been cleaned and put away, the counters wiped down and the lights turned off.

Huh. "I guess that means I should get going…"

Goku scratched his cheek, feeling a little disappointed. It had been fun sneaking around the castle…but he wished he could have spent a little more time with Chi-Chi after coming all this way…especially now that he knew she was safe and not in danger like he had feared.

He sniffed the air, catching a hint of Chi-Chi's scent.

Well…it couldn't hurt to just see her one last time before he went.

He snuck his head through the opposite door, and seeing no one, followed Chi-Chi's scent around the castle all the way back up flights of stairs until he reached a door where it lingered heaviest. Recognizing it as the one Chi-Chi disappeared into last time, he cracked open the door and peeked in.

The room was pink. Really pink. With occasional blues like the comforter he could see Chi-Chi was snuggled under. Goku thought it looked really girly but he supposed that made sense, Chi-Chi was a girl.

He knew. He had checked.

Goku slipped into the room and carefully closed the door behind him before tiptoeing his way to her bedside. She was fast asleep, a cute little smile on her face as she nuzzled into her pillow. Part of him was tempted to join her, it had been really nice cuddling those two nights they'd spent together, but he knew he couldn't.

Would it be okay to sneak a kiss though? Chi-Chi had said he didn't need to ask but he wasn't sure if it counted when she was asleep.

But it would be worse to wake her when she was sleeping so soundly…and he still really wanted that kiss.

Climbing onto the bed, Goku leaned in, only to freeze as Chi-Chi blinked awake.

"Mmm, Goku?"

"Eeeee!" Goku squealed, nearly jumping from being caught, but Chi-Chi grabbed his head before he could move and pressed a sweet kiss against his lips, silencing him completely.

She pulled away with a lazy smile and laid back down to snuggle into her pillow.

"Oh Goku…I love you."

Love? Goku blinked. What was that?

Once again he was tempted to wake Chi-Chi, but it was bad enough that she had already woken once. If she did so again, he might not be able to sneak away!

Goku scratched his cheek, feeling confused and flustered, and yet inextricably happy, and decided to try again. This time when he leaned in, Chi-Chi didn't wake, and Goku breathed in deep, memorizing the feel and taste of her lips, before pulling away with a small grin.

"I'm glad you're safe Chi-Chi."

He brushed her bangs back and tucked the blanket over her shoulders before making his way to her balcony. Did every room in this place have one? He didn't know but as he called for Nimbus he made a point to memorize which was hers. Next time he visited, he would go there first.

o0o

Chi-Chi grumbled as the sun hit her eyes, wishing she could sleep a little longer. She'd been having the most wonderful dream about her sweet Goku…but she knew she couldn't. There were things to do and she'd never become a good wife by being lazy. So with a pout, she opened her eyes and sat up, frowning at how bright her room was. Where was all this sun coming from?

Automatically her gaze sought out the far wall full of windows, and noted the door to her balcony was left wide open when it hadn't been the night before.

"Huh?"