"Oh!"
The young woman set aside her work and sucked the wound on her finger with a sigh. It had already been several weeks since her husband's last visit and yet she was still having difficulty focusing. It was a common enough occurrence. She was usually distracted in the weeks leading up to their meeting and then depressed and forlorn in the weeks following after. There was never enough time to talk or indulge in one another the way she wished they could, to properly connect, but she knew that was not what truly bothered her now.
Something about the way they had parted had left her feeling particularly adrift.
She was not a fool. She knew her husband's heart was not that of the pure boy she had fallen in love with long ago. Nor was she the same naive young girl who would yield to others with just a little pressure, and why should they be? How could they be? When the only bit of happiness either had ever known had been ripped away, such an act would change anyone irrevocably.
Still…it worried her.
Her husband seemed to grow more bitter and careless every time they met. There was a desperate air about him that concerned her. Away from her side, there was no telling what such desperation might drive him to do.
Zhinu's gaze drifted to her desk where a stack of orders awaited her, threatening to topple over with even the slightest breeze. She pursed her lips, annoyed at this reminder, and decided it was time for a break. Better yet, perhaps she should take the rest of the day off. What care she if those greedy fiends were inconvenienced by a day's delay? Was she not inconvenienced when they banished her husband from her side? They were lucky she chose to continue the loom at all!
She put what she could away and set the rest to one side where it would keep til the morrow, and then stepped outside for some fresh air, taking a seat on her favorite cushion as she stared out at the open fields.
"Oh my love…" Zhinu sighed, thinking once more of her husband, "please do not do anything you might regret."
And if he were to do something that could not be undone, she prayed that she would not be separated from his presence permanently. That if the gods sentenced him to the darkest corners of hell, she would be given leeway to join him, because even that would be better than a life without him at all.
"Oh, Niulang…"
o0o
With one arm cushioning his head, Goku stroked Chi-Chi's back with slow, lazy movements as he stared up at the bright blue sky. He couldn't recall a time he'd ever felt more relaxed or rested, even though he'd only managed to catch a few hours of sleep, but something about waking up with Chi-Chi's nude body nestled up against his chest, her robe blanketing them, really just made him feel full in a way that food in his belly had never managed.
This was it. This was everything he'd been missing, even if he hadn't realized it until that moment. Joining together with Chi-Chi…it just felt right. Like that feeling he got when he suddenly understood what everyone else was talking about. It just clicked, and him and Chi-Chi, tangled together, their bodies connected like they'd been, well, there was nothing else that made more sense.
And man was last night amazing!
His dick was already hard, eager to go again, but he knew it would still be awhile before Chi-Chi woke. Even with his ki, they'd been up until a little past dawn and Chi-Chi usually liked her sleep. His fingers itched to grip her tight again but he knew he should let her rest.
But that didn't mean he couldn't let his mind wander back to the things they did the night before...the taste and feel of Chi-Chi's body, the way her cheeks seemed permanently flushed or how she moaned into his mouth as she came while riding on top of him…
Goku had been slowly learning why his friends were so obsessed with sex during his time with Chi-Chi, but last night…last night was something else. He could of died then and there, buried between Chi-Chi's legs, and gone happily. He hadn't been joking when he'd told Chi-Chi she could drain him. He'd give her all his energy and then some.
Goku smirked, remembering doing just that, though he supposed in the end he'd managed to take it all back in some form or other.
He sighed, knowing he should probably take her inside so she could rest properly in their bedding…but the selfish part of him wanted to stay just like this awhile longer. Just like joining with Chi-Chi just felt right, being out here with her in nature felt right too…plus he was comfy and if he moved he risked waking Chi-Chi who might feel obligated to start cooking or something instead of cuddling with him.
Unless…maybe he could persuade her to have some fun instead…
As if sensing what he was thinking Chi-Chi's brow furrowed, making Goku giggle.
Okay okay. He wouldn't disturb her but man were they gonna have so much sex from now on! To think they'd wasted so much time already. If she had just agreed to marry him after the first time he'd ask or better yet, if he had remembered his promised and hunted her down sooner, they could have been doing it for years!
Goku clucked his tongue, annoyed, but knew that even if he got the chance, he wouldn't change a thing. He had needed to train and grow to defeat Piccolo and despite some of the bad things that had happened since they'd started traveling together, they'd had a lot of fun adventures too, so he couldn't regret it.
Not when it led him to earning Chi-Chi's heart.
His gaze drifted back down to where she laid nestled against him, his heart melting a little at the sight. His Chi-Chi. His wife. Goku pressed a kiss to her forehead and then went back to staring at the sky.
…
Chi-Chi grew conscious a few hours later, unable to ignore the fingers trailing up and down her skin any longer.
"That tickles," she murmured, swatting blindly to knock the hand away.
Goku chuckled but didn't stop. "Sorry."
"Liar. If you were sorry, you'd quit it," she growled burying her face into his chest, making Goku's smile grow. He liked that even with her eyes shut tight she could see right through him.
"Can't help it. I like touchin' ya." He nuzzled her head and then rolled them over so that she was back underneath him. "An' I'm pretty sure ya like it too."
Goku started trailing kisses down her neck and shoulder and Chi-Chi released a low moan in appreciation despite her best efforts not to. What kind of monster had she created?
"I can't," she begged, pleading for mercy but Goku didn't see the problem.
"Your ki's a little low but we did it with less last night."
At that Chi-Chi finally cracked her eyes open to glare at him. "It ain't about ki. I'm sore! Someone worked me out hard last night."
She raised a brow pointedly at him and watched in amusement as Goku's face slowly grew a dark, deep red. He put a hand behind his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry, guess I did do that."
He hadn't meant to run her ragged. It had just felt so good! But it seemed like he'd done more damage than he realized. In fact…now that he was getting a good look at her body, it looked like he might have hurt her in more ways than one because scattered across her pale flesh were a dozen handprint like bruises and even more bite marks.
"Sorry," he muttered again, touching one of the bruises carefully. "Does it hurt?"
"Huh?"
Chi-Chi looked down and gasped.
"Oh my! I hadn't even realized…" She glanced back up and noted Goku's puppy dog pout. "Oh sweetheart I'm alright. I've had worse growin' up after a spar with Papa. I don't even feel these."
"But ya said ya was sore."
Chi-Chi sighed, feeling the ache in her muscles. She really really was. "I am but I'll survive. It was just my first time and we did it for hours. My body just needs to get used to it, is all."
"Right!" Goku huffed, pumping his fists. What she said made sense, but if Chi-Chi was achy he knew the solution.
He sat up and scooped her up into his arms.
"Hey! What are ya doin'?!"
"Makin' ya feel better!"
Holding her close, Goku brought her back into the little pond and heated the water like he did last night, only to a greater degree knowing it would soothe her achy muscles. The affect was almost instantaneous as she relaxed in his arms, sighing in contentment.
"Better?"
"Mmm, much. Thank you."
The heat was heavenly. What she wouldn't give to spend the whole day, or even the next several, just like this but Chi-Chi knew in her heart that they couldn't. Now that their journey was over they had to return to their lives. They needed to get married and create a home and start new adventures that didn't involve them isolating themselves on the opposite side of the world. Before they could do any of that though, they had to put a stop to Niulang.
"You know we still have one last thing to do before we can go home right?" she asked him and Goku's grip on her tightened as he nodded.
"Yeah."
He didn't need Chi-Chi to say what that was for him to understand. There was only one thing left to deal with before they could get married. They couldn't go after him before but now that Chi-Chi had that necklace thingy, it would be easy to hunt him down.
Still…he wasn't eager to leave this small paradise they'd created and Chi-Chi obviously felt the same way because they stayed there for another half hour, with Goku holding her and occasionally reheating the water, before she finally sighed and slipped out of his grasp.
"C'mon," she smiled, taking his hand. "I'll whip us up something to eat and then we can head out." Chi-Chi paused and then spun back around, holding one finger up as if to scold him. "Also, achy muscles aside, I think we should hold off on any more fun time until we finish this. Got it mister?" She turned to walk to the shore muttering, "the last thing I need is for some creature to show up, forcin' me to fight buck naked! Can ya imagine?"
Goku could in fact imagine, and just the mental image of Chi-Chi doing so had him reaching for her in desperation. "Wait! Can't we just get in one quick one for the road?"
Chi-Chi giggled and slapped his hand away.
"No! Maybe you should make the water freezing instead. So you can cool off!"
"Aw, but Chi-Chi!"
She winked and blew him a kiss and then headed into their capsule house to properly freshen up and get dressed for the day, leaving behind a smiling Goku. He wasn't bothered. As much as he would like to have a little more fun before they got going, he did want to put a stop to that guy.
Today.
Which meant he needed to get his head in the game and stay focused until this was all over with.
With that goal in mind, he left Chi-Chi alone when she came back out to begin preparing their food, and hopped in the shower. She didn't make anything too fancy, mostly just some breakfast foods supplemented with rice and the fish he'd caught the night before. They ate quickly, both feeling a sense of urgency, and after checking Goku's magic pouch for any available senzu—and coming out empty handed—they packed up their things and called for Nimbus.
It wasn't until he hopped up on his fluffy friend and Chi-Chi jumped up beside him that he realized keeping his mind focused might be a little more difficult than he'd thought.
The second Chi-Chi's soft body pressed up against his Goku felt his body begin to stiffen, desire for her surging through him. It was only made worse when he caught Chi-Chi's scent, still heavily mixed with his own, and he couldn't help but be reminded on how it had got that way…the things they had done…the face she had made as she shuddered and moaned…
Goku felt his feet sink an inch, jolting him from his thoughts and startling Chi-Chi as Goku forced his ki out to keep himself a float. He waved his arms like a mad man to distract her from what was happening.
"Goku? Are you okay?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" He laughed a bit wildly, all the while he was mentally praying. C'mon Nimbus, don't drop me now. I'll behave, I promise!
Chi-Chi stared for a minute longer before she smiled, her eyes sparkling as she took a half step away from him.
Goku rubbed the back of his neck. "Was I that obvious?"
"Only a little," she laughed.
"I'll behave," he promised, tugging her back to him again and wrapping his tail around her to keep her in place.
"I know," Chi-Chi grinned. "Otherwise Nimbus'll drop you."
They shared a smile, the memories of last night still fresh in their minds and hearts but then Chi-Chi's features grew serious as she pulled out her pendant.
It was time to end this.
She focused on finding Niulang's location and then pointed in a slow circle.
When Goku saw it light up, he nodded. "Right. Let's go!"
o0o
Niulang dragged his hands over his face and buried them in his hair for the thousandth time as he stared at the summoning spell splayed out on the table before him.
There was no other choice. He would never get an opportunity like this again.
How could he ever dare to meet his beloved's trusting gaze again if he did not exhaust every option? Take every chance he could? For her, he would have to risk it. For her, he would give his life if necessary.
But he was not a fool.
No. He would not trust this demon blindly. He would prepare a back up, a return portal for the one he summoned, just in case the demon chose to renege on their deal or its greed grew to such heights that it attempted to take more than it should.
It did not take long to create. Potions were his specialty after all and banishments of any kind were always much simpler than summonings.
He would know.
Niulang stoppered the potion in a long thin vial and stared for a moment, a dark sense of foreboding settling in his stomach.
He would have to use it. There was no doubt in his mind.
Years of dabbling with the dark arts had given him an uncanny sense for such things and every fiber of his being was warning him to keep the vial close at hand, so that he may be ready to banish the demon at a second's notice.
He just hoped he accomplished what he needed to before it was necessary.
With a sigh, he began gathering the ingredients for the summoning, a tusk from a baku, an eye from a kappa, three drops of a mermaid's tears. Not common items but then he was summoning something darker than just hell hounds. He placed these things in a cauldron simmering over the hearth and waited for it to all melt down and cool before using the concoction to paint the required diagram across his floorboards. When he was finished, he stood and stared at his work.
This was it. There was no turning back after this. He clenched a hand around the vial in his pocket and stared down the circle.
So be it.
With a confidence fueled by desperation, Niulang unsheathed the dagger he kept strapped to his side and used it to slice across the fleshiest part of his forearm allowing the final ingredient, the blood of the summoner, to flow freely from him as it splattered across the sigil.
"LINAEQID SAFQATAN!"
Niulang had lived in Hou Yi's sky castle for many, many years. So many he had lost track long ago. Within that time they had encountered many storms, some that lasted for days and left much destruction on the grounds below.
The castle had withstood it all, a solid unmovable structure. Not even a single window pane had creaked.
That was not the case now.
For the first time since Niulang had stepped foot into those cursed halls, the castle shook, almost violently so. The winds howled and rattled windows and fixtures as if furious with his actions.
Niulang did not care.
Let every brick of it crash from the sky. All that mattered was that the summoning spell worked.
He waited and watched with steady apprehension as the diagram glowed and flared to life before a figure began to emerge from the design and rise, rise, rise, their eyes flashing wickedly all the while.
o0o
Chi-Chi sighed and shifted her weight, wishing she could stretch a little but unable to with the speeds that they were moving. They had been traveling for the better part of the day and were currently flying above the main continent, though she knew that was only temporarily. An hour ago, when they had taken a short break to eat and refresh themselves, she'd taken the chance to calculate their coordinates on her map. At the speed and direction they were going, they would be flying over the ocean soon enough.
Thankfully it had been clear skies the whole way an—
Before she could even finish her thought, dark clouds appeared out of nowhere, with winds so strong it threatened to send them flying off Nimbus, there wasn't even time to brace themselves.
"Goku!" Chi-Chi screamed, feeling her feet start to lift.
Goku tackled her, his arms bulging as he clung to the fluffy cloud, and managed to bark out, "NIMBUS!" but Nimbus was already on the move, shooting up to even greater heights at a nearly vertical degree. It raced as fast as it dared to help its passengers escape the worst of the storm, before bursting out into the upper most atmosphere, which was thankfully much calmer.
Chi-Chi had one moment to relax before the cold hit her, instantly making her whole body shake as her teeth chattered so hard she thought they would break. She whimpered and buried herself into Goku's arms.
They may have escaped the tornado like winds but it was freezing this high up! And it didn't help that the air was so thin it was making her dizzy.
"Don't worry, I got ya," Goku murmured, holding her close.
He rubbed his hands up and down over her body to warm her, wishing they had some of those fluffy coats he'd worn when fighting the Red Ribbon Army. If the cold was even starting to get to him, he could only imagine how much Chi-Chi was suffering. One thing was clear though, it would be too dangerous to stay up here for long.
Goku peeked back down over the edge of Nimbus and frowned.
This storm was unnatural.
Not only the speed with which it had arrived but there were traces of dark energy weaved throughout it that had his instincts standing on edge.
Somewhere, something had changed.
He just hoped it wasn't anything they couldn't handle…but they would never find out if they couldn't get through this storm!
o0o
Niulang scrutinized the demon with a cautious eye, trying to assess the creature's strength and whether it posed an immediate danger to him. It was unassuming in every sense of the word, appearing as an average male human with brown messy hair and tanned skin while standing at a average height.
The power radiating off the creature was minimal.
With the exception of the horns attached to his head, Niulang would have easily walked by the demon on the streets without so much as a second glance, but that was not so surprising, the strongest of their kinds could easily pass as such.
Throughout his perusal the demon never took their eyes off him, no doubt content to wait for him to speak first, but Niulang knew that demons held very little patience. He would need to say something soon if he did not wish for it to force his hand in other ways.
Looking the demon straight in the eyes—for one should always refrain from showing fear as demons were quick to press their advantage if they knew the person they dealt with was weak—he cleared his throat and said, "I wish to bargain for your services."
"Oh?" The demon raised a brow and smiled. "You don't say? And what kind of deal are you looking to make?"
"I need you to bring me a girl—a specific girl—and she has to be alive," he qualified, less the demon try to enact some sort of loophole.
The demon's smile grew. "Can't get a date?"
"I need her for a spell I have readied," Niulang glared. As if he would waste his efforts on anyone other than his precious Zhinu!
The demon nodded, his eyes dimming a little, "Of course."
Every male looking to make a deal for an unwilling woman had some sort of spell in his back pocket. Couldn't they at least try to switch things up a bit? He lifted a hand to examine the dirt under his nails in a bored fashion. Traveling by portals could be such a messy business. Still a deal was a deal.
"And what spell might that be I wonder?"
"It is no concern of yours demon."
"Oh?"
The demon's face lit up. So the weasel wanted to play hard to get, hmm? He did so love the pathetic attempts to swindle him.
In a flash the demon surged forward, stopping just short of the edge of the diagram, and nearly forced Niulang to jump back in surprise though he managed to keep his feet planted at the last second, much to the demon's amusement.
"Please, call me Torihiki," the creature smiled. "We are doing business with one another after all." Torihiki patted Niulang's back and then slipped his arm around the other man's shoulders. "I like familiarity, don't you? Helps me know if I'm making a good deal. Which is why I'll ask you again, what is the spell?!"
Niulang shivered as the demon's aura suddenly spiked, pushing down on him like some invisible weight, threatening to crush him at any second. He wanted to cower and run away, but for Zhinu he found the strength to not back down and answered, "A simple exchange spell."
"For who?"
Niulang did not speak.
Torihiki's smile turned furious and his aura nearly doubled as he shouted, "WHO?"
"M-My wife, Z-Zhinu!" Niulang whimpered, dropping to his knees under the pressure.
The demon straighted, suddenly smiling again, almost giddily so. "Now that is a name I have not heard in quite some time. Then that must make you her lover boy, Niulang."
"Husband."
"Right, right, of course." Torihiki waved him off, clearly not interested in the details. "Well now that we've exchanged pleasantries and you've told me what you want, I suppose we should get down to the dirty business of payment, shall we?"
"I can offer you a—"
"Ah!" Torihiki held up a finger. "I'm afraid you don't get to decide. Besides I already know what I want."
Niulang stared, trepidation rushing through him, but somehow he mustered the courage to ask, "And that is?"
"Oh, it's quite simple," the demon grinned. "I only ever accept an equal exchange. You want the girl to free your precious Zhinu. For the chance to live the life you were denied together." Torihiki pressed a hand to his cheek and sighed wistfully. "Ah, romance!" His dreamy expression lasted another beat longer before his gaze cut to Niulang, turning sly.
"There's only one payment that I'll accept."
"Enough! Just tell me what it is that you want!"
Torihiki grinned.
"Your soul."
"What?!" Niulang gasped, incensed. "My soul? But then there is no point in doing an exchange if Zhinu and I still cannot be together!"
The demon rolled his eyes. "I never said I would take it right away. I can wait until you die."
"Have you forgotten that I am immortal?!"
"That doesn't mean you can't die," Torihiki shrugged. "But I suppose you're right. We better put a term limit in place. Five days?"
"Tch. Have you also forgotten I have yet to accept the deal?" Niulang hissed. Five days! Who would make such a foolish deal?
"Fine! A hundred years, take it or leave it."
A hundred years. It was still too short but at least every day would be spent with his Zhinu. It would take more than ten times as many years to reach the equivalent amount of days together under their current restraints.
"Deal."
"Excellent!" Torihiki beamed, rubbing his hands together.
He did so love when things worked in his favor. He lifted a hand out so they could shake on it but then some instinct had him pull back. Was this in his favor? Everyone knew the tale of the King of the Heavens' daughter and her farmer boy. At the time there had been hundreds of bets placed as to when the boy would cave and make a deal, but that was over a millenia ago.
He had held off all this time, until today. Why? What changed?
"Let's see the girl."
"Zhinu?" Niulang questioned. What need did this demon have w—
"The other one!" Torihiki snapped, his aura spiking once again so that Niulang scrambled to do his bidding.
The farmer boy snatched up a crystal orb and waved a hand over it, revealing the girl in question as she and her lover streaked across the darkened sky on a single golden cloud.
Torihiki stared, his eye imperceptibly twitching, but that was all that he would allow himself to react at the sight of the young woman.
It could not be, in fact he knew it was impossible. He had spotted her from afar in the underworld just shortly before being summoned. So if this was not her, then there could only be one explanation.
And that was this girl was the spitting image of her mother.
Sachi.
How could he ever forget the profile of the pathetic little demon who had refused him time and again? And now her daughter had fallen into his lap! The opportunity was too perfect to pass up.
Torihiki turned back to the annoying wretch known as Niulang and clapped his hands together.
"Today's your lucky day. I'll do it for free. No soul necessary."
"What? Why?" Nulang demanded. No demon ever did anything for free, especially not one who made deals.
"Are you saying you want to give up your soul?"
"Of course not!" But he also knew better than to accept anything freely given.
Torihiki could see Niulang wasn't going to bite so easily, so he shrugged and pointed to the crystal. "I want the man. I'll consider that payment enough."
The man? Niulang turned to the crystal with a frown before realization dawned on him. He made a face in disgust.
Of course. Leave it to a demon to enjoy such perversions. "Very well."
"Excellent!" Torihiki grinned. "So do you have something in that neat little spell book of yours that can tell us where they are or better yet, where they're going?"
"You do not know?"
"I'm a demon not some pompous all knowing god!" Torihiki muttered, rolling his eyes. His abilities pertained to darkness not hunting. If that's what the fool wanted he should have summoned a hellhound not him.
Niulang pinched the bridge of his nose, growing frustrated, but not willing to risk angering the demon further when things were going in his favor. Instead he spread out a map of the globe, placed a marker and muttered a few words under his breath and waited for movement. The marker traveled slowly across the paper but both he and the demon became confused when it stopped in the middle of an ocean.
"Why would they go there?" Torihiki frowned. "Is there some sort of hidden island?"
Hidden island? Niulang did not think so. He was sure if there was such a thing he or Hou Yi would have discovered it by now. So then why would they be traveling to such a locatio…
His eyes widened in disbelief. Surly they could not be…
Niulang hurriedly grabbed a second marker and repeated his words from earlier. When they stopped in the exact same place as the other he stared, trying to determine if this was good or bad news.
"Well what is it?" Torihiki demanded. "What's happening?"
Surely the fool had learned something.
Niulang nodded, as if he had read the demon's mind, and turned to him with a determined smile.
"They are coming here."
o0o
The storm which had appeared in an instant, did not disappear just as rapidly, and in fact only seemed to grow stronger with time. Chi-Chi had no way to known for certain, but she knew in her heart that this storm was some sort of deterrent and that when they reached the eye of the storm, they would find Niulang. Luckily despite the winds whipping about with such force, the boots given to them by Zhuque that could change their weight with just a thought, were able to hold Goku and Chi-Chi in place and keep them from flying off as they raced on ahead.
Still, there troubles weren't over with just that. Dark clouds meant rain and these didn't hold back, pouring buckets and buckets upon them as they swerved and dodged bolts of lightning and random debris that had been swept up in the storm. At one point even a cow could be seen flying past them but there wasn't time to stop and help. Besides putting a stop to Niulang would more than likely put a stop to the storm, at least, that's how Chi-Chi tried to justify it to herself.
As it was, it was a relief when the couple finally reached what must be the eye of the storm because the wind and rain all ceased at once, as if they had stepped under a giant umbrella, clearing their vision and allowing them to see the castle standing grand and imposing before them.
Chi-Chi shivered at the sight, the cloudy memories of her time spent there resurfacing, leaving an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had never wanted to return here, felt sick at just being in the same space, but then Goku rubbed his hands up and down her arms rapidly, clearly hoping to warm her, and Chi-Chi felt all her anxiety melt away. He was always looking out for her even if he didn't understand what was wrong. Though she suppose she couldn't blame him for his misunderstanding, they were both soaked through to the bone but this wasn't exactly the time or place to change clothes.
Goku was thinking along similar lines but he wouldn't let that stop him from warming up Chi-Chi. Now that they were out of the storm he knew just what to do. He flared his ki, blasting them both with warm energy, and Chi-Chi sighed in relief, feeling her clothes dry up a good deal.
She pressed a kiss to his cheek in appreciation. "Thank you, sweetheart."
Goku smiled, always pleased to earn Chi-Chi's kiss, but then his expression turned serious as he gazed down at the castle.
Last time he'd been here he'd burst through a window and raced through the halls to find Chi-Chi. There hadn't been a thing or person that tried to stop him until he arrived at the room she'd been stashed in, but he didn't think that would be the case now. He could feel it. Something dark had taken over the castle.
"Chi-Chi. When we get inside, do as I say okay?"
He felt more than saw her nod in agreement, and Goku smiled, grateful Chi-Chi wasn't gonna argue. It was bad enough he couldn't just drop her off at her pops, he knew she'd never go for that, but he really hated that she was coming anywhere near this place again, and it didn't help that this bastard had been attacking them relentlessly.
That ends today.
He'd put a stop to this jerk if it was the last thing he did, even if it meant setting aside Kami's lessons. For Chi-Chi, he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
"It's so dark in there," Chi-Chi murmured, pulling Goku from his thoughts.
He nodded and frowned. "Wasn't like that last time."
"Maybe nobody's home?"
"Or they know we're comin'," Goku growled.
Which is why Chi-Chi should just stay out here with Nimbus but he knew if he tried to reason with her it would just start a fight, drawing unwanted attention. They couldn't afford that right now. Even if they'd already lost the advantage of surprise, there was still a chance they could slip in unnoticed, but only if he didn't argue with Chi-Chi!
Goku clenched his fists feeling frustrated. Loving Chi-Chi was the best thing that ever happened to him but man was it hard in situations like this. He'd never worried so much about his friends before.
Guess that's what makes Chi-Chi special.
Goku smiled and shook his head lightly before doubling down to focus. They needed to get inside the castle but he didn't wanna risk smashing another window…
He spotted a large balcony with wide double glass doors and directed Nimbus down to drop them off there.
"Stay behind me," he warned Chi-Chi as they hopped off and made their way closer.
Goku crouched in front of the glass and peeked in, but frowned when he couldn't make out any details inside the room. This wasn't just dark like someone had turned off the lights, but unnaturally so. It was more like the inside of a cave than a home.
He tried the door next but found it locked.
Heh. Like that would stop him.
With just a little bit of…pressure…
He heard the snap and grinned when the handle went slack. This guy should really get some better security. It was just too easy to break in.
Opening the door, Goku led the way, stepping inside and keeping his senses peeled for any disturbances as he took in the room. The details were a little easier to make out now but there also wasn't much there in the first place. The space was huge but empty of any furniture and he couldn't imagine why anyone would have such a large empty room but Chi-Chi knew.
It looked like a ballroom but she too didn't know why they would have one, considering a floating castle was unlikely to get many guests. After all, it wasn't just anyone who could fly in on a cloud. Then again that creep certainly wouldn't have been able to considering his black heart, which meant he had to have had some other means to get her here the last time.
Chi-Chi shivered and shoved those thoughts aside to focus on the now as they crossed the ballroom. Somewhere in this castle was Niulang and according to Bai he had all sorts of spells and magics at his arsenal. If they could get to him first, before he had the chance to do anything, they may not have to fight at all an—
—was that shadow moving?
Goku knocked Chi-Chi to the ground and yanked her back up again before she could even process what was happening and then he was dragging her across the room as dark shadows jumped out at them from all directions. They skidded into a hallway and then booked it down the long stretch as more shadows appeared, leaping from behind picture frames and light sconces, from every nook and cranny, barreling at the young couple only to crash through walls like wrecking balls gone wild.
And then one managed to stick out its leg, tripping Chi-Chi midstride, but as if they'd choreographed it Goku was there, sweeping her off of her feet and into his arms before jumping and sliding down a staircase railing. They traveled all the way from the third floor to the bottom in what looked to be an entrance hall but there wasn't time to focus on that now.
Chi-Chi leapt from Goku's arms and he followed suit, the pair landing ready to fight as the shadow creatures surrounded them. They had to be outnumbered something like twenty to one but Chi-Chi wasn't scared. It had been awhile since she'd had such a fight. Her adrenaline was pumping and she was eager to prove why she shouldn't be underestimated.
She untied her sash, wrapping one end around her arm and then as one, her and Goku leapt into action.
Chi-Chi quickly lost track of him as she punch and kicked, sliced and dodged. She'd flung her weapon out to different ends of the room while she spun in circles blocking attacks from every direction, but she quickly learned it was useless as her weapon went through the shadows as if they were nothing at all. Unfortunately her fists and feet fared no better. Every strike she made felt like hitting air, but every punch and kick they landed was solid enough to bruise.
She jumped back, hoping for a moment to catch her breath and assess the situation, but the shadow creatures were quick to follow keeping her on her toes as she moved quickly around the room.
What was going on? Why wouldn't any of her hits land? Chi-Chi flung her sash upward, securing it around a chandelier and used it to swing herself around, striking out at multiple shadows at once.
It didn't make a difference.
No matter how fast she moved, the shadows seemed to move faster.
Goku was faring no better and he was growing frustrated the longer his hits failed to connect. He could block easily but they were forcing him to stay on the defensive and he didn't like that. Every second this continued was another second that something could go wrong and Chi-Chi wasn't like him. She was strong but she didn't have a large source of ki to bolster her strength like he did, and there was nothing she could borrow from around here. She would tire quickly if this continued much longer.
Which meant he needed to figure out a a way to end this.
Now.
Goku whipped out his power pole, spinning it rapidly as the shadows tried to gang up on him. One by one their fists connected with him only for the shadow creatures to get sucked up into the whirlwind that was his power pole before being flung off to the far corners of the room due to the force, but Goku didn't have time to figure out why that worked, he was too busy dodging the incoming attacks.
He deflected with his arm, noting how solid the shadow limb felt on contact, and suddenly he had an idea. Out of the corner of his eye Goku saw another fist coming, he waited and then spun and struck out with a fist of his own connecting with the shadow creature's and sending it flying back and slamming into a wall before slumping to the floor.
"Alright!" Goku cheered, pumping a fist before dropping onto his back and thrusting a foot up to catch another incoming strike. The kick connected and the shadow creature went flying just like the first, only this one went soaring straight through a window sending glass showering everywhere but Goku was already on the move, meeting another fist head on and then kicking aside a leg coming up behind him.
When his immediate surroundings were clear, Goku swung around to where he knew Chi-Chi was and sprinted, fast as lightning, taking down several creatures just as they lashed out to strike her.
"How did you…" Chi-Chi blinked, staring at the fallen creatures in shock. Unfortunately her words were cut off as more shadow creatures attacked them.
Goku knew what she wanted to know though.
"They have to be solid to hit you!" he shouted as he slammed his fists into two more. "That's the time to strike!"
"That's it?!"
Chi-Chi wanted to scream. She would have thought they'd have to step into the light or have temperatures drop below freezing or some nonsense like that, but a timing issue? Oh it was almost too easy once Goku told her that.
She slammed her fist into one and followed it up with a roundhouse kick to another, waiting for the shadow creatures to make the first move before striking back in response. With those opponents cleared, Chi-Chi spun and dropped back, just in time to watch another two take each other out, before following up with an uppercut to a third. She spun a second time, dodging a strike aimed at her ribs, and elbowed a fourth right in what she assumed was its nonexistent face, when she heard a shout.
"Cheech! Duck!"
"What?"
Chi-Chi just barely had enough time to drop to the ground before a shadow monster went flying over her head, courtesy of Goku's fist.
She shot him a glare from across the room. "Watch it, will ya?!"
"Sorry!"
Chi-Chi waved him off and returned her attention to the fight, weaving and dodging and striking just when the time was right. For a second she had feared that the shadow monsters might try to switch up their strategy but they just continued on in the same pattern, which made her wonder how truly sentient these creatures actually were.
She took out three more before she could finally catch her breath and when she looked around to see how Goku fared, saw that he had taken out all the rest.
They caught each other's eye and smiled, pleased to see the other unharmed, but before they could take more than a single step toward one another, a disembodied voice echoed throughout the room.
"It's been a long time since anyone was clever enough to defeat my minions. Thank you for the entertainment."
"Niulang?" Chi-Chi guessed only to be met with a wicked laughter.
"Guess again."
The words sent shivers shooting up Chi-Chi's spine. Who else could it be but him? Had Niulang summoned something else? Something sentient?
Or was this a new enemy that they hadn't expected?
She locked eyes with Goku—still across the room—as the shadow creatures dissolved into the walls and floor, merging together into one giant inky mass before swooping under her and then surging upward to swallow her whole.
"CHI-CHI!"
Goku leapt forward, ready to rip the darkness from her, but then it shifted again, revealing Chi-Chi and a man with daggers for fingers pressed to her neck, forcing him to stop in his tracks.
"Ah, ah, ah," the man tsked, wagging a non-daggered finger before caressing it carefully along Chi-Chi's throat. "You wouldn't want me to have to mar your lovely companion now, would you?"
Goku glared and lowered his fists, making the man grin.
"Ah, I do so love when they scowl but my business is not with you, so you might as well stay put!" The stranger sliced his hand through the air, shooting out several beams of dark energy that crackled as they slammed into Goku, pinning him to the wall by his arms and legs, stomach and even his neck.
"Goku!"
Chi-Chi dug her nails into the man's hand to yank it away but the second set of daggers pressed against her stomach stilled her.
"You should really save your worries for yourself my dear, you're the on—"
"You think this can stop me?!"
Scowling, the man turned his attention away from Chi-Chi a second time to watch as Goku threw his head back, crushing the wall and causing all his restraints to fall and disperse to the ground, freeing himself.
He wasted no time brushing the debris off and disappearing at lightning speed, forcing the stranger to fling more and more ki blasts out to stop him but Goku dodged every one.
He wouldn't let this man hurt Chi-Chi.
Goku ran and leapt, somersaulting rapidly and deflecting the ki blasts, but then the shadow creatures returned, knocking him back and forcing him down to the ground.
Ha! As if they stood a chance now that he knew how to defeat them.
He flipped his hands to the ground and did several twisted spin kicks knocking the monsters aside with well timed ease but as soon as he'd gotten rid of the last one and was on his feet again a ball of energy enclosed around him and began to shrink, crushing and electrocuting him all at once.
"GAAAAHHHH!"
"GOKU!"
Chi-Chi struggled but the stranger's grasp on her was firm. He twisted her around, running human fingers through the strands of hair plastered to her face and smiled.
"As I was saying," the stranger began again. "You should worry more for yourself."
Chi-Chi just glared. "Let him go you creep! If you're not Niulang who are ya? Why are you doing this?!"
"Do the details really matter?" he questioned.
"Ain't explainin' yourself the least you can do?"
The man hummed to himself and Chi-Chi could see he was weighing his options. Not that she cared in the slightest, she just needed something to distract him while she figured out a way to free Goku. Pressed close together like they were, she could feel the man's ki flowing freely. If she drained him enough, maybe his trap holding Goku would weaken!
Plan in mind, she set about making it a reality, but before she could even take more than a drop she felt her efforts instantly repulsed.
The stranger grinned and held up his hand, revealing a thin dark barrier encasing his skin.
"You think I don't know how to deal with such tricks? You're much stronger than many I've consumed, unfortunately for you, strength does not equal skill and you clearly still have a long way to go." He leaned in close, enough to brush his lips against hers and whispered, "You're as beautiful as your mother. It'll be a pleasure devouring you."
Her mother?!
"Ho—"
Chi-Chi didn't get the chance to question how he knew her mother before the man pulled back faster than she could blink. He ripped her collar, his fangs gleaming freely, and then struck, sinking his teeth deep into her throat.
She screamed.
It hurt! It hurt so much! It was like a hot iron pressed against her neck, slowly filling her veins with molten lava! What was he doing?! Why was he doing this to her? What would it take to make it stop?! She struggled, needing to get away, needing to ease the burn, but despite the pain and fear nearly taking over her mind she could feel her ki, her lifeforce ebbing away. She didn't care. He could take whatever he wanted if it would just make it stop!
"STOP! What are you doing?! We had a deal! You are not supposed to kill her!"
Someone Chi-Chi couldn't see yanked the demon back, ripping its fangs across her throat. She coughed and spluttered, spitting up blood, but the rush of coolness that followed brought her a moment of clarity, a chance to act, even as her vision began to swim.
If she couldn't steal his ki, then she would have to…have to disrupt it…just a little…
Chi-Chi surged the last bit of ki she could spare up and out of her, blasting through the demon's barrier and jolting him in the process.
She smiled as her world faded to black.
…
Torihiki jerked, feeling a strange surge run through him, but quickly returned his focus to the nuisance he had flung to the floor and laughed as he smiled smugly down at him.
"I don't recall shaking on it, do you?"
"Bastard!" Niulang cursed.
He had known something was off when the demon decided to do it for free. So this had been the foul creature's game. A trick so he could steal the girl for himself instead.
As if there were not thousands he could have chosen in her place! Why her? Why the only one that would work for his spell? He did not know but as Niulang scrambled to his feet to glare the wretched demon down, he knew one thing.
If he could not have her, then no one would!
He smashed the stoppered vial he had prepared between them and cried out loud, "Kun qad rahalat!"
As soon as the words left his lips, a maelstrom of dark energy ripped through the floor, flinging them to opposite sides of the room and opening a portal to hell. Niulang latched on to the stair's railing and hung on for dear life as the portal vacuumed everything into its gaping chasm.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Torihiki clutched Sachi's daughter to his chest as he scrambled to escape the portal's pull. It was a boon to have come across the girl but she wasn't the only one he wanted and there was no telling when he would be summoned again. He wasn't ready to go back just yet.
He dug his claws into the tiled floors, holding on tight as he cursed the fool who dared to defy him.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN GET RID OF ME SO EASILY?! YOU'LL BE SUCKED IN TOO!"
"SO BE IT!" Niulang laughed. Did the cretin not realize? Every day without his wife was a day in hell.
But it was truly all over now.
Even if he was not sucked down into the cesspools of the underworld, any hope he ever had to be permanently reunited with Zhinu was gone. It had been foolish to dream in the first place. Someone like him, average in every way that mattered, would never be capable of changing his fate.
True love would never be enough.
"CHI-CHI!"
The portals wind were roaring in his ears but Niulang could still hear the desperate cries over their fury. He dared to look back over his shoulder and was stunned to see the girl's lover somehow throw off Torihiki's imprisonment forcefield before rushing to her side.
However the boy did not stop there.
He tore Torihiki away from the girl as if he was nothing and then sent a blast of energy the demon's way, knocking him straight into the portal. It was only seconds later, having successfully consumed its target, that the portal shrunk and twisted until it vanished from sight completely.
Niulang did not even realize it was gone. Instead he just stared at the infuriating sight before him. This boy who did not quake when faced with insurmountable odds. Who did not panic at the sight of his lover's body, pale and bloodied before him. Who even now, somehow exuded a confidence that all would be right in the world, that he could make it so.
"How?" Niulang muttered, needing to know.
How did he keep doing that? How did they both keep doing the impossible? How?!
Goku wouldn't have been able to answer even if he wasn't preoccupied with tending to an injured Chi-Chi. One minute he was being electrocuted in that prison of dark ki and then the next he'd felt something jerk through it, disrupting the flow just enough for him to break free with a surge of his own.
And then all hell had broken loose.
Goku didn't waste time trying to figure out what was happening. He could smell Chi-Chi's blood, knew she was injured and in danger. That was enough for him.
He ripped the one who had hurt her away, blasting him for good measure, and then tried to stop the bleeding, but there was so much blood!
He needed a senzu, but he'd checked just that morning and knew there were none.
So then what could he do? How could he fix this? Could he make a wish on the dragonballs? Was there even time? Would…
…would she have to die first before he could save her?
Goku clenched his fists, feeling just as helpless as he had that time Chi-Chi'd been blinded but—wait!
That was it!
How could he forget the water from the volcano?! Chi-Chi had made sure to bottle some up, just in case. Well just in case was now! He didn't know where she had put it but that wasn't a problem for him.
Goku pictured the container in his mind and shoved his arm into the magic pouch, feeling the cool metal drop instantly into his hand. Yes! He yanked it out, twisted the lid off and poured it along Chi-Chi's wound, rinsing away the blood to reveal pale unmarred skin.
It was only then, when he knew she would be alright, that he let himself take a moment to breathe.
Whew! He knew he had the dragonballs to rely on but he was glad it hadn't come to that.
Goku smiled and pressed a hand to her chest, directly above her heart. She was weak but he already knew how to fix that. He brought some of his ki to his palm and transferred it into her, creating a slow, steady flow until she was strong enough to open her eyes.
"Hey," he whispered, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers in relief.
Chi-Chi smiled tiredly up at him. "Hey, backatcha. Did I miss much?"
"Uh…"
Oops.
Goku blinked, belatedly realizing that he'd lost track of everything around him while he'd focused on Chi-Chi, but they hadn't forgotten about him.
"You…" hissed a dark voice catching Goku and Chi-Chi's attention. They turned to see a weak looking man, shaking with rage, as he came up behind them.
Goku leapt to his feet and blocked Chi-Chi from view as this new opponent continued, "How dare you?! How do you both keep defying fate! Time. And. Time. Again!"
"Niulang?" Chi-Chi guessed, peeking out from behind Goku. She vaguely recognized the voice as the one who had pulled that demon off of her. It could only be him.
"It is not fair!" He cried, gripping his hair in anger. "Not fair! Why are are you two so blessed with strength and abilities? What makes you so deserving?"
Goku made a face.
From what he'd gathered Bai and bastard number one were both old, like older than Master Roshi old, and this guy felt older still. His aura wasn't quite that of the gods they'd encountered, but there was something otherworldly about him. So if that was the case, he probably had at least a few hundred years on him and Chi-Chi, and yet he seemed so weak!
"Did you even try? What have ya been doin' all this time?"
"You've got some nerve," Chi-Chi hmphed in agreement as she stepped up beside him. "My Goku works harder than anyone! If ya wanna change your fate then do like him and work for it!"
Goku smiled, "Aw, you work hard too Chi."
However, Niulang was not so easily convinced. Such high and mighty words were easy when one was not drowning in the depths of despair.
"You say that now," he scoffed, "but if you were forced to suffer my fate, could you honestly stay true to such pretty sentiments? Would you not also resort to any means possible if it meant reuniting with the one you love?"
Goku glared, not falling for his garbage for even a second. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt others. Besides, Chi-Chi'd never forgive me if I pulled the stunts you've done."
"That's right," she nodded, hands on her hips as she glared down at Niulang, "my Goku's better than that."
She would never want innocent folk getting hurt on her behalf, but even just the thought of him tainting his pure heart would hurt her more than any amount of separation.
"All you've done is become the villain in someone else's story. I hope for your sake your wife can forgive you for all you've done."
Niulang's fists clenched at his side but he remained silent, for the first time feeling a hint of doubt about his actions. Would Zhinu still accept him if she knew? Or would she shun him, barr him from her door forever?
He was not sure and that sealed his lips more than anything else.
Goku eyed him carefully and then pressed a hand to Chi-Chi's shoulder, silently bidding her to take a step back, before returning his attention back to Niulang and cracking his knuckles on one hand.
"Are ya gonna leave us alone already? Or do I gotta finish you now?"
Niulang sunk to the floor in defeat. Everything was over. Who was he to keep trying to defy fate? Despite all their talks about working hard to overcome the odds he knew what he was capable of.
"I wish I had your conviction…that it could be so simple. I wish I could find the strength within myself to defy the King of the Heavens. I wish…so many things…but yes, I concede defeat. You will find no more trouble from me."
Goku frowned, feeling an odd sense of pity for the man even though he had caused so much trouble for him and Chi-Chi, and he could tell she felt the same. Even if he'd never stoop to his level, he knew what it was like to lose someone. Maybe Fortune Teller Baba knew of somethin…
"Oh hey!" Goku grinned, an idea suddenly coming to mind. "Why don't ya make a wish on the dragon balls? I'm sure Shenron can help."
"Oh Goku that's a great idea!" Chi-Chi beamed.
"Dragon balls?"
Niulang stared, clueless as to what the two were talking about. The only dragons he knew of were the elementals and they did not have the power to grant wishes that he knew of.
"C'mon we'll show ya!"
Goku led the way outside and quickly pulled the dragon balls out from storage, placing them on the ground far away enough from the castle to give Shenron room to shoot up but not so far that the balls risked rolled off the ledge.
When he was satisfied, he stepped back and shouted, "Hey Shenron! Can ya come out now please? We wanna make a wish!"
"I-Is that really the phrase…?" Niulang began to ask, only for the sky to darken with his very next breath. It was similar to when he summoned the demon but not, for the castle did not shake but the winds buffeting the air threatened to bowl him over. Where they came from he did not know but he was distracted from such thoughts as the balls lit up, shooting an energy beam straight into the sky, before turning serpent like and solidifying into a fearsome dragon with red glowing eyes and many, many teeth.
Niulang trembled under such a fearsome sight.
"Oh my!" Chi-Chi gasped, equally speechless. This was her first time seeing Shenron and truly what a sight he was to behold.
Goku elbowed her side. "Impressive, huh?"
"I'll say!"
There was a low rumble that wasn't from any clouds, and Goku was amused to see Shenron's cheeks take on a reddish hue before his eyes narrowed with suspicion and the color faded as if it had never been.
"State your wish," he commanded.
Goku patted Niulang hard on the back, knocking him forward and onto his knees.
"What are you doing?!"
"Go on!" Goku whispered, nodding towards Shenron.
Niulang grimaced and would have thought he was being tricked into becoming some sort of sacrifice, if not for the other man's easy grin.
So this was real then.
He had never heard of this Shenron or these magical dragon balls but if this was truly the answer he had been searching for, then he had almost lost this opportunity through his own horrible actions. That these two he had sought to tear apart and inflict with his own suffering could have such compassion on him filled him with shame…
…but not enough to turn such a precious opportunity like this down.
He gulped and turned back to face the terrifying dragon, clamping his hands together in a prayer and to keep them from shaking. Could…could this magical dragon really help him? Would he finally be reunited with his beloved permanently?
"P-Please…all I want is to be with my wife, Zhinu, every day, for us to no longer be forced apart. Whether in the Heavens or on Earth, it does not matter."
Shenron closed his eyes, determining the scale of the request, and then opened them once he had his answer.
"I cannot. It is not within my power."
"Then it is truly hopeless," Niulang cried out in dispair. He had not even realized he could still feel hope but this final blow was more than he could take, but Goku wasn't ready to give up just yet.
"Please Shenron! You've gotta know of at least one way that can help him!"
"That's right!" Chi-Chi added, batting her eyes to lay it on thick. "Surely a dragon as powerful as yourself knows of something!"
If possible, Shenron's cheeks turned an even deeper red this time as sweat beaded down his face. He cleared his throat and nodded.
"There is one way…but not in this lifetime."
"You m-mean," Niulang whispered, though Shenron heard every word, "reincarnation?"
The great dragon nodded again. "If that is your wish."
"I…yes! If Zhinu agrees then a thousand times yes!" He did not need to think on it for even a second. What good was this life if it meant being without her?
Shenron closed his eyes again and Niulang prayed that Zhinu would agree. He knew it was selfish, he knew reincarnation would come with its own risks, that her father would be enraged and no doubt curse their future lives, but if she would accept this offer then he would spend every life of his making sure she never regretted that decision.
…
Zhinu stared out at the open field, once again neglecting her work in favor of reminiscing on happier times with her husband. The feel of being his arms, of days filled with laughter, and the nights…
The breeze suddenly shifted, drawing her from her thoughts, and she was stunned to see the image of a large dragon appear before her.
Was this a dream? But why would she—
"The one known as Niulang has requested to reincarnate alongside you," the great dragon rumbled. His eyes flashed in the next moment as he asked, "Will you join him?"
So this wasn't a dream but something Niulang had come up with for them to be together? But…reincarnation? Reincarnations were tricky things. There was no guarantee they would find each other in the next life or the ones after that, and she would lose all her current memories. Was this truly the only way?
Zhinu gazed directly into the great dragon's eyes, biting her bottom lip. "I…"
…
The wait was excruciating. Each second that passed only redoubled his fears. He should have known better than to ask such a boon. His precious Zhinu must find the price too high. There were too many risks and he was not worthy.
Niulang clenched his fists at his side, waiting for the great dragon to open his eyes and confirm his wish had been denied, but when Shenron finally did, he simply stated, "it is done," shocking Niulang to the core.
"Niulang!"
That voice…it could not be!
Niulang spun around to find his beloved standing behind him, her beautiful eyes shining with happiness. She…she was really here. For him. They would finally be together.
He crushed her to his chest as several centuries of emotions threatened to overwhelm him. "Thank you my love, thank you! Thank you for taking this step with me."
"As long as I am finally with you," she cried, "I care not if it is in this life or the next. I love you!"
"And I you, Zhinu, I you."
They shared a kiss that made Chi-Chi blush but before she could avert her eyes the couple slowly faded from sight, their bodies dissolving into a million little lights which then floated off into the sky.
A gentle breeze seemed to follow immediately right after and Chi-Chi could almost swear she heard a faint thank you on the wind.
"Oh Goku!" she sighed, clamping her hands together as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Wasn't that so romantic?"
When only crickets responded to her, she frowned and looked around for him.
"Goku?"
The man in question dropped back down to the ground at that moment, smiling and holding his grandpa's four star ball—now turned stone—in his hand, but quickly noted Chi-Chi pouting with her hands on her hips. "Huh? What's wrong babe?"
"Don't you try to sweet talk me mister!" Chi-Chi scolded. She wagged a finger at Goku to let him know she meant business, but then quickly dropped the bit and threw herself in his arms. "Oh Goku, I'm just so happy it's finally over! Now we can go home and get married and start a family! I just can't wait, can you?"
"Yeah," Goku smiled, hugging her close.
There was just one little problem.
"Except whatcha said ain't quite right."
"No? What part?"
He knocked his forehead against hers, his gaze drifting down to her lips and back up again. "You're already my family, Chi."
Chi-Chi giggled, her insides practically melting. Goodness it should be illegal for him to say something so smooth! How soon could they have their wedding?
She shook her head, realizing it hardly mattered. Then again…the sooner they had the wedding, the sooner they could have the honeymoon.
Chi-Chi smiled and pressed a kiss to Goku's cheek. "And you're mine too, silly, but when I said that, I meant makin' babies."
"Oh!" Goku laughed.
He'd forgotten about that part. He didn't know anything about babies but man if the idea of building a family with Chi-Chi didn't excite him.
Goku scooped her up in his arms, a wide silly grin on his face. "Why wait? Let's get started on 'em now!"
"What?!"
Here? Now?
"Wait a second Goku!"
But Goku was already taking a running leap off the floating castle grounds.
"NIMBUS!"
The fluffy, golden cloud zipped into view, swooping in and scooping them up, up and away with Goku's laughter trailing in their wake as they flew off to their next big adventure.
Hey everyone! Thank you for everyone's who's commented on this story so far, I appreciate it more than you know. There's an epilogue after this but I want you to know that this is not the end of this story. The next one will be titled The Dream Kingdom: A Wedding Adventure, which will immediately begin right where this one left off. Thank you so much for enjoying this story with me. It's been an adventure. I hope I "see" you on the next.