Goku was growing frustrated. He'd be searching all over for Chi-Chi but she must have gotten further than he'd thought because he had yet to find her. If only he had a Chi-Chi tracker like he did for the dragon balls. Then he could be by her side in an ins—

Two kis spiked high before sinking back down again, catching his attention. He knew one of those kis! It was Chi-Chi! He'd found her! But who did that other one belong to? And why were they spiking? Was Chi-Chi in danger? He had to hurry!

Goku urged Nimbus to go faster, zooming through the skies until he was practically on top of them and dropped to the ground silently only to stare, confused, and not liking what he was seeing.

"Put me down this instance!"

Who was this guy and why did he have his hands all over Chi-Chi? His eyes zeroed in on the places the stranger touched. Chi-Chi didn't seem like she was in danger but he could smell her blood, meaning she'd been hurt.

"Chi-Chi?" he called, hoping she could explain what the heck was going on.

At the sound of his voice, Chi-Chi's head snapped in his direction, shock plainly on her face. "Goku?" She blinked a few times, as if doubting he was really standing there, but then she was launching herself out of the stranger's arms—knocking him down in the process—and throwing herself straight at Goku.

"Oh Goku! You came back!" she cried, lifting him into the air and making Goku panic.

"Chi-Chi what are ya doing?"

Sure he had hoped she'd be happy to see him but he hadn't expected this kind of reaction! Chi-Chi was squeezing him so tight he could feel her bumps pressed up against his stomach. No one had ever greeted him so excitedly.

"I thought I'd never see ya again!"

Oh. So Pika had been right about that. Goku relaxed and brought his arms around her. "Why would ya think that? Ain't we supposed to live together forever?"

"But…but the last time ya said you'd come back, you completely forgot about me," Chi-Chi pouted, her eyes watering in a way that would normally put him on edge, but for some reason her tears didn't bother him right now.

"Aw Chi-Chi, I could never forget you. You're the only girl to ever knock me into a tree!"

"Maybe so…" She blushed, torn between feeling pride and embarrassment of her younger self's actions. "But that doesn't mean you'd come back."

"Course I would! I'm here now aren't I? Now ya mind explainin' what's going on?" He turned over her injured hand to examine the wound and frowned. "You're hurt." His eyes narrowed as his gaze returned to the stranger. "Was it him?"

"Hm?" Chi-Chi followed Goku's gaze and was shocked to see Hou Yi glaring right back. "Oh!" She pulled her hand away and raised them towards both men in a placating gesture. "It's alright!" she told them, prompting both men to look at her. "Goku, this is Hou Yi, he saw my campfire this morning and came to investigate. We were just finishing a friendly spar when you arrived."

Goku hummed, eyeing the man carefully. Maybe that explained the wound but it didn't explain what he'd been doing holding Chi-Chi.

"Hou Yi, this is Goku. We've been traveling together for some time."

"We're gettin' married once we're done," Goku added, noting the way man's eyes narrowed.

"Goku!"

"What?" He turned to Chi-Chi with wide eyes, not understanding what was wrong with stating the truth. "We are."

But Chi-Chi knew better than to believe his innocent expression. She didn't know what he was up to but she wanted no part of it.

"Maybe but we still have a long way to go," Chi-Chi told him.

Hou Yi stepped forward, his body rigid and his expression tense despite Chi-Chi's efforts to diffuse the situation, compelling Goku to respond in kind. Chi-Chi was starting to get annoyed. She didn't understand why the two looked ready to fight and she didn't care. All she wanted was to enjoy her reunion with Goku in peace. Was that too much to ask?

"There's no need to settle with the first man you meet," Hou Yi told her, making Chi-Chi frown.

"Who says I have?" She turned back to Goku. "Are you hungry? We just had breakfast but I'm sure I can whip something up for ya in no time."

Normally Goku would be all for this as he'd been dreaming about Chi-Chi's cooking for the past several days. Nothing he'd had while away could compare. He even spent the return trip imagining what he'd ask for first but eating anywhere around this Hou Yi guy would only spoil his appetite. The fact that this stranger had apparently eaten Chi-Chi's cooking only made it worse.

"I'm not hungry," Goku grumbled, still keeping an eye on Hou Yi.

Chi-Chi stared at him in shock.

"Not hungry? Are ya feelin' alright?" she asked, pressing a hand to his cheek and forehead.

Goku pulled her hands away, but held onto them, suddenly having an idea. He glanced one last time at Hou Yi before returning his gaze to Chi-Chi.

"Chi-Chi, let's get going. There's somethin' I wanna show you."

"Oh?" Chi-Chi blinked. "Well alright then." She pulled back from Goku and turned to Hou Yi with a smile. "I guess we'll be going. Thank you for the spar. It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," Hou Yi told her, giving Chi-Chi a long hard look that confused her before taking her hand in his. He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss against her fingers. "May we meet again," he murmured.

Chi-Chi blushed at such a courtly gesture and yanked her hand away so fast that she smacked Goku in the chest. She didn't know what this man was playing at by being so forward but she wasn't about to encourage him. Had he already forgotten that Goku had said they were getting married?

Goku sure hadn't and by the look the stranger was giving him, he knew the man hadn't forgotten either. His fists clenched at his side as he watched Hou Yi turn towards him with a scowl.

"I suppose I will be seeing you as well," Hou Yi grunted after a moment.

Goku glared back. "You can count on it."

And he sure as hell wouldn't be touching Chi-Chi the next time they met either.

Chi-Chi tugged on his arm.

"Goku?"

Right. He was supposed to be showing Chi-Chi something. Something he was sure would make her smile and maybe even earn a kiss? Goku smirked and slipped an arm around Chi-Chi as he called for Nimbus. This guy might have kissed Chi-Chi but Chi-Chi only ever kissed him.

Something in his expression must have given what he was thinking away because Hou Yi's dark look turned black just as Goku hopped him and Chi-Chi up onto the cloud. Goku didn't care. The man could glare all he wanted, he didn't have Chi-Chi.

With one last glance at the stranger, Goku urged Nimbus forward and then they were zooming off into the distance.

o0o

How dare he? How dare he?! Hou Yi was furious as he watched the pair fly off. Chang'e was his! And that cretin thought he was going to marry her?! He was the reason she'd been killed the first time!

What he would have given to wrap his fingers around that scrawny welp's throat and strangle the life out of him! But his Chang'e was a gentle soul and lacked the knowledge that he had. If he had attacked the bastard without a clear reason, she would have turned away from him forever.

He needed a plan…he needed answers. Why had Bai not warned him? Suddenly her reticence made sense. And what of Niulang? Bai could be excused a little, she had never met Chang'e, but Niulang knew. Niulang knew and had still thought to send him forth without warning. He should not have trusted him so easily. They were all jaded towards love but before Hou Yi had joined him, Niulang had been alone a long time, long enough to grow bitter and vindictive towards any lovers he came across. It was no surprise then that he would act with such callousness.

The real question was what did he do now?

The boy would have to die. Even if Chang'e being reincarnated could absolve him for the destruction of the moon and her subsequent death, he could not, would not, allow a rival for his lover's affections to walk the earth less she have some misguided desire to remain true to whatever pittance she may have promised him.

He would need to watch them and plan but how to find her once more? Bai would be difficult to convince and Niulang would not return for some time. If only he had some skill in clairvoyance. Alas, he was but a warrior. Skilled though he may be in the art of tracking, one could not track a prey capable of flight.

He would know.

Hou Yi put two fingers to his lips and whistled loud and clear. A neigh rang out in response, along with the flapping of wings, and soon he could see his faithful steed emerge from the clouds, descending rapidly, before landing on all fours by his side.

"Swift as always my friend," he grinned, rubbing the pegasus' head affectionately. He gave it a hearty pat on its shoulder and then swung into the saddle, taking the reins. "Let's fly, Sora."

Sora neighed again and then flapped her wings, riding into the sky as Hou Yi directed them south. His Chang'e had told him that much of her destination, and there was one place in particular along this path that he suspected may be her true goal. If that were the case, she would need his aid, and if the boy should be lost in the process…well.

Hou Yi smirked and then spurred Sora faster. It was only a matter of time until Chang'e was finally by his side.

o0o

Two golden eyes blinked among the foliage as a set of white fox ears popped above the bush. They twisted this way and that until Hushen was sure the man once known to many as the best hunter in the land was gone.

One could never be too careful. Especially when dealing with the likes of him.

She didn't understand his presence there but she doubted anything good could come of it. Yue Lao would want to be informed but she didn't like the thought of abandoning her charges for the duration it would take to alert him of this potential danger.

Still, she needed to tell him and perhaps nothing bad would occur in the interim. The man and woman were together once more and the most that had happened since she had started following them was that cursed frog trying to seduce the girl.

Hushen smirked as she recalled the young woman's fierce response. She had been shocked that the girl had managed to break the spell on her own but perhaps she shouldn't have been. Yue Lao had said they were the most promising couple yet.

They'll be fine.

She would walk the shadow paths and be back before the pair could make it to Shuilong where Qinglong awaited them at the bottom of her sea.

Hushen turned and walked directly into the darkness. The sooner she arrived, the sooner she could return.

o0o

Chi-Chi pressed a hand to her cheek, still in disbelief that Goku had really returned and was now taking her away on his Nimbus. He had returned! To her. It felt like a dream! Did he really come back just because of a promise? There had been moments along their journey where she had felt that maybe he was looking at her as something more…but she had always told herself she was just imagining it. Goku didn't know about love or marriage or even physical intimacy…there was no way that he could truly be interested in her.

And yet he'd returned.

Hope blossomed in her chest like she'd never felt before. She still didn't know if he could love her. Didn't know if he would truly be happy marrying her. But for the first time since she'd begun traveling with him, she truly felt there was a chance.

"Chi-Chi," Goku murmured, breaking through her thoughts. "We're here."

"Hm?" She looked around, realizing she was in a tunnel of lilac colored flowers. "Oh!" Chi-Chi gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. It was beautiful! There was nothing like this back on Mt. Frypan! She reached out a hand to touch one of the trailing vines and breathed in their scent. It was so lovely.

"Oh, Goku! How did you ever find this place?"

"I spotted it while I was flyin' by," he told her.

Chi-Chi sighed and pressed a small kiss against his cheek making him flush. "You really are the sweetest, thank you."

"And?" Goku grinned, feeling giddy at her kiss.

Chi-Chi blinked. "And? What do you mean 'and'?"

"Aw, c'mon Chi, did ya forget already?" He held out his fist and started counting fingers. "I'm the sweetest," that was one. "The strongest," that was two. "The han—"

Chi-Chi shoved her hands over his mouth, refusing to hear him say another word. "How on earth did you remember that when ya normally can't remember what I've told you five minutes ago?!"

Goku didn't know how she expected him to answer with her hands over his mouth but he could fix that.

"GOKU!" Chi-Chi screamed, grabbing the nearby vines of flowers. "You licked me!"

It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but the split second of warning as Chi-Chi's ki spiked, told Goku that maybe he had gone too far. The next thing he knew she was whacking him with the flowers sending him soaring into a nearby tree. How the heck had she managed to make a vine feel like a metal rod?

"Oh no, Goku!"

He could sense Chi-Chi moving closer but his vision was still too dazed to look her way.

"Oh Goku, I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"M'fine," he grinned, rolling his head towards her. "How'd you do that anyways?"

"Do what?" Chi-Chi asked.

Didn't she know? Chi-Chi sure was interesting. Goku had never known anyone who could and could not use ki the way she did, but he was determined to figure out why that was.

"It's not important," he told her. At least not at this second. Not when he was having so much fun just being here with Chi-Chi. Seeing her surrounded by the delicate flowers…she looked pretty. Real pretty. It was just like that time at the lake when they were kids. Him lying back while she played with flowers and talked on and on…

Goku sniffed the air discreetly, hoping to catch her warm scent, but frowned when he realized it was dirtied by something that smelled like oil and birds. It could only be that man. Hou Yi.

He took comfort in the fact that she hadn't wanted to be held by that guy and had practically leapt into his arms the moment she saw him. Goku didn't understand why it bothered him. He'd carried plenty of people in the past but the sight of Chi-Chi being held by that guy…he didn't like it. Chi-Chi was his to protect and take care of, not some stranger's. If Chi-Chi had decided to travel with that Hou Yi guy instead…

Goku felt his fists clench at his side while his ki slowly began to rise.

It didn't matter, Chi-Chi had chosen Goku, not that guy. The way she looked at him with those sparkly eyes…Chi-Chi never looked at anyone else that way. She would stay by his side.

Goku opened his eyes to look at her—not even realizing he had closed them—but Chi-Chi had already turned away to admire the view.

"You must have seen so many beautiful sights on your travels," she murmured, sighing in contentment. "I can only imagine the places you've been."

"I can take you to them if ya like," Goku offered. In fact, that sounded like a lot of fun. He liked the thought of going on more adventures with Chi-Chi after this one was over.

His gaze drifted to the hand she cradled in her lap and frowned. Worse than his scent, Goku didn't like the thought of that guy leaving a scar on Chi-Chi. He sat up and plucked out the capsule box from Chi-Chi's travel bag, selecting the one for the med kit.

"I've traveled a lotta neat places. Especially right after my first tournament." He told her, pulling out the bandages and antiseptic before placing her hand face up on his thigh. "Jungles and forests, deserts and mountains, you name it! You can always find somethin' neat."

Chi-Chi blushed as Goku tended her wound, making sure to clean it first before applying ointment and then a bandage. He was being so gentle, it was embarrassing!

"Is this when you went off on your own?" she asked, as a means of distraction.

"Yup! I'd meet folks now and then but I was mostly on my own. I didn't even take Nimbus!"

"Where did you sleep and bathe?

"Aw Chi-Chi, you know I don't need any of that." Goku laughed, tying the bandage knot tight. "I slept mostly in trees or on the ground under the stars and bathed in a lake or river when I came across one."

Chi-Chi cringed. "Really? I know how much you sweat in a day. You were probably pretty ripe." Goku rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish, and admitted that was probably true. "But you don't actually prefer that do you? Over a soft bed and a warm bath?"

"Those things are pretty nice," Goku admitted, scratching his cheek. Especially when he got to share with Chi-Chi. "But I don't necessarily need it. Hey!" He said suddenly, getting an idea. "Why don't we sleep out under the stars tonight? You'll see why it's so great!"

Chi-Chi blinked. Sleep under the stars? With Goku? That sounded so romantic! And she had ended up buying that hammock…perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Alright," she agreed, excitement getting the better of her but that was always how it was with Goku. There would probably never be a boring day if they did end up married. But could she really commit herself to traveling all the time? She wanted to see the world but it was also nice to have a place to call home. Perhaps it was too traditional but Chi-Chi didn't think she could give up having a house entirely.

"Goku," she murmured, fiddling with her sash. "Do you not miss your home on Mt. Paozu? Don't ya ever wanna go back? From what you've told me, you haven't been back since you've left and you don't tend to stay in one place very long. Don't ya ever get tired?"

"I meant to," he frowned, not having really thought about it until now. "Somethin' always seems to come up."

Although if he was being honest, that wasn't entirely the truth. He probably could have returned during that period he was training on his own…but the thought of going back to an empty home all by himself hadn't been appealing. But maybe now it wouldn't be so bad. He was sure as long as Chi-Chi was there it would be alright.

"Would you come with me?" he asked quietly, feeling uneasy for her answer but Chi-Chi's bright smile quickly pushed those feelings aside.

"Of course!" Chi-Chi promised. "If that's what you want. Traveling is nice but having a home to go back to is always the best."

Goku didn't know about that, having only returned once and that was just a quick trip to grab his bedding, but maybe it was a little like being back with Chi-Chi after being apart for several days. He breathed in her warm scent of smoke and wildflowers and sighed, finally starting to relax now that he couldn't scent that stranger anywhere on her. He'd missed it while he was gone. Missed her.

"You wouldn't have to give up traveling completely," she continued, catching his attention once more. "Some months we could stay on Mt. Paozu, others we could travel like we're doing now. What do ya think? Would that be alright?"

Goku blinked, feeling like he'd missed something. "You wanna live on Mt. Paozu?"

"Only if you want to," Chi-Chi blushed. "I've been enjoying our travels but I don't think I'd want to do it every day for the rest of our lives. It's good to rest in between adventures."

That made sense. Goku supposed it was kind of like exercising in that way…which meant he was probably overdue for a break. But Chi-Chi really wanted to live on Mt. Paozu?

"It doesn't have a bathroom like the one we use now," he warned, recalling how Bulma had made fun of it when they first met.

"Well that's okay," Chi-Chi smiled. "We'd probably need to build a bigger home anyways for any children we have."

Children? Oh yeah, they would make those once they got married. "They wouldn't just sleep with us?"

"Well maybe at first…but we'd need our own space. Especially if we wanted to have more than one," Chi-Chi blushed, shocked by how forward she was being. She had been so certain just an hour ago that she would never even see him again and now anything seemed possible!

"It wouldn't be appropriate being intimate in front of the kids," she added upon seeing his confused face.

Goku frowned, still not understanding. Being intimate? He went over the last few things she said and then snapped his fingers when he thought he got it. "Oh! You're talking about sex!"

"Yes, Goku!" Chi-Chi growled, wishing he could be just a little less blunt about it. "So we'd need our own room."

Because sex was supposed to be something just between him and Chi-Chi. Like kissing. Only he and Chi-Chi were supposed to kiss—he stubbornly ignored what she'd told him about friends—except everybody seemed to be kissing Chi-Chi except him. Maybe it was because he hadn't kissed her back yet. Daigo had said kissing was romantic and that romance was the way to get a woman to marry you. Maybe Chi-Chi allowed strangers to kiss her because she still wasn't sure about them marrying…which is why she didn't think he'd be coming back. But that didn't make sense. It would make more sense if she didn't think he'd be coming back because he didn't want to marry her. But he had told her he did. A lotta times. But maybe she didn't believe him because he hadn't kissed her yet?

But he's never kissed anyone before! What if he did it wrong? He didn't want that. He wanted to make Chi-Chi feel what he felt when she kissed him. What if he kissed her and she didn't like it? Or what if…a dark thought crossed his mind then. What if that guy had made Chi-Chi feel that way? He wouldn't like that at all. If he made Chi-Chi feel good and then Goku tried and failed, would Chi-Chi leave him for that guy?!

For a moment Goku considered asking her but if he did and the answer was yes, then he didn't want to know.

"I could take you to the local fairs and carnivals. We could see concerts or go out dancing! There are tons of things to do when we're not traveling and…"

Goku tuned back in and was startled to realize Chi-Chi had been talking. Shoot what was she saying?

"Goku?" Chi-Chi asked, realizing he hadn't been listening. "You alright?"

"Yeah! Just peachy!"

Chi-Chi didn't believe him for a second. She was starting to see that though Goku was a very happy go lucky type of guy, there were some things that he kept close to his chest until he was ready to share. She really wanted to know what he was hiding now but if he wasn't ready, he wasn't ready. She could be patient. It was more than enough that he had come back to her.

She stretched and laid back in the grass, enjoying the beauty all around her as Goku pointed out small little sights here and there, until eventually he got hungry and she figured he'd more than earned a good meal. Goku made quick work of hunting them a couple of mountain lions while Chi-Chi gathered them a barrel's worth of peaches from a nearby tree, and after fixing up a savory sweet meal with a baked pie for dessert, they ate and relaxed for the rest of the day, just enjoying each other's company. After being apart for so long, both were reluctant to leave the peaceful little setting. Tomorrow they could start again but for now they wanted to bask in the quiet time together just a little bit longer.

It wasn't until early evening that Chi-Chi decided that they should finally set up camp and found them a good clearing with two sturdy trees just the right distance apart to hang a hammock. She and Goku made quick work of tying it up and after taking a couple of quick showers, hopped on with their bedding to watch the sun set.

Chi-Chi blushed, realizing a bit too late that the hammock's design forced them together but Goku didn't seem bothered by it. Or maybe he didn't notice? He had seemed distracted for most of the day and she wondered again what he was thinking about before remembering the reason he had left in the first place.

She rolled slightly to speak with him, only to find him already observing her with such an intense expression Chi-Chi couldn't help but feel flustered. She looked away, right down at his chest, which only made things worse. It was a hot night and Goku had opted for his thinnest, lowest cut tank top giving her an eye full.

"Um," Chi-Chi muttered, desperately clinging on to the train of thought she'd had before she'd turned around. "Ya never told me what happened with the tournament."

"The tournament?" Goku blinked, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. He'd been wondering all day the best way to go about kissing Chi-Chi, that it took him a minute to figure out what she was talking about. Unfortunately it was the last thing he wanted to discuss. Not only would it upset him but he doubted Chi-Chi would want to kiss him after he'd told her he'd failed.

"Goku?"

He sighed and rolled onto his back to look up at the sky.

"It was no good," he muttered. Sure Bulma had said she'd look into it but that didn't necessarily mean it would work out. He hated that there was nothing he could do himself to get immediate results.

Goku could probably stew on that for days—already had if he was being honest—but Chi-Chi's soft hand on his shoulder made his heart rate shoot up and disrupted any further thoughts he'd had on the matter. He gulped, not having anticipated her delicate touch or how pretty she would look surrounded by the pinks and oranges of the sunset.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I know how much the tournament means to you."

Her thumb was stroking the upper part of his chest making him nervous while her eyes were warm and gentle. His fingers itched to bring her closer. Was this the moment? Should he kiss her now? Goku lifted his hand to pull her to him but Chi-Chi leaned away just then to look up at the setting sun foiling his attempt.

"But that doesn't mean they'll never be another tournament," she told him, forcing Goku to refocus on her words. "Once the world sees King Piccolo isn't coming back, I'm sure interest will return. There's too much honor and tradition, too much history to forget it completely." Chi-Chi rolled her head in his direction and smiled her pretty, sparkly smile. "Besides, look at us! We just faced Xuan Wu, next will be Qinglong. There are still plenty of strong people and challenges out there."

"You're not disappointed?" He asked, sitting up to look at her. It was too hard to focus while lying next to Chi-Chi.

Chi-Chi just shook her head and sat up as well. "I am a little," she admitted, pulling her knees to her chest. "But mainly just because I didn't get to see your matches in person." He had looked so manly on her tiny television screen, she couldn't imagine how handsome he had looked up close! "I've never really liked fighting just for the sake of fighting, though I can appreciate a good match."

"You don't like fighting?" Goku gasped, all other thoughts now gone. This was news to him! Then why had she sparred with him when they were children? And why were they training together now?

"Why…?"

"Do I train?"

Goku nodded, just staring at her like she was a foreign specimen. Chi-Chi supposed to him it was pretty strange not to like fighting.

"I train because…"

Chi-Chi blushed, recalling at the last second that the reason she'd started this journey in the first place was to better support him. But she couldn't tell him that! Not now when things were still unsettled between them.

She swallowed and tried again, amending her words slightly.

"Well, I started originally because I wanted to protect the people I care about." Which was the truth. "I still do. Although after what happened at Xuan Wu's…" Chi-Chi smiled, recalling how empowered she had felt to survive something that seemed impossible. "I have to admit, I'm starting to feel like I just wanna see how far I can go. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd face a giant and win!"

Goku grinned and nudged her with his elbow. "See? Ya do like fighting."

"Not as much as you," she countered, making Goku laugh.

"I suppose I kinda have a one track mind when it comes to fighting."

"Or food."

"Or food," he agreed. Food and fighting, his favorite things. Although, as Chi-Chi laughed at him, he was starting to think that maybe there was a third thing he liked that was just as good…or maybe even better. Was this the moment? Should he kiss her now?

"I guess tonight wasn't a good night for this," Chi-Chi pouted as she looked up at the darkened sky. The sun had just finished setting a few minutes ago but she could hardly see any stars at all.

Goku followed her gaze and noted all the clouds blocking their view of the stars. He knew they could always try again another night but Chi-Chi looked so disappointed that he couldn't just give up now! Maybe he had failed to save the tournament but this was something he could fix.

"Nimbus!"

Chi-Chi's head snapped in his direction, startled by his sudden call, but Goku was already scooping her up into his arms and leaping onto the fluffy cloud and into the sky.

"Goku! What are you doing?!"

"Letting ya sleep under the stars!"

"Wha—" She started to speak but Nimbus zoomed off and then up, straight through the clouds. Chi-Chi shivered as they burst through the upper most portion but the chill was quickly forgotten once she opened her eyes. If she had thought that night at the waterfall was lovely, it was nothing to her view now.

"Oh it's beautiful!" Chi-Chi gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. Had she ever seen anything so wondrous? Her tutors had assigned her hundreds of poems over the years, some of which came to mind, but she didn't think any of them could really compare. She could live a thousand lifetimes under these stars and never get tired of such a view!

"Oh Goku, thank you!"

Goku just smiled, keeping a careful eye on Chi-Chi. He liked the way her eyes lit up. They were just as sparkly as the night sky.

This was it. He could feel it. He was gonna kiss Chi-Chi!

Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Chi-Chi."

"Hm?"

He could do this! Chi-Chi did it all the time! He just needed to press his lips against her cheek!

"Go—"

A loud crack rang out, sweeping through the clouds as Goku clutched his forehead, writhing in agony. It hurt! It wasn't supposed to hurt! What had he done? Gah if it hurt him this badly, Chi-Chi must be really…Chi-Chi!

Goku's eyes snapped open, ready to apologize, but Chi-Chi was no longer there.

"CHI-CHI!" He gasped, throwing himself to look over Nimbus' edge but all he saw were clouds. He clutched his face in horror.

"WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"

There wasn't another second to lose! He dived down after her, using his ki to increase his speed, and only let up once she was safely back in his arms as Nimbus swooped under them to slow their descent.

"Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi?" Goku shook her as gently as he could but Chi-Chi was out cold. "Chi-Chi I'm so sorry!" he cried, pressing his face into her shoulder. He hadn't meant to hurt her! She was supposed to feel good, not injured! What had he done?!

He pulled back just far enough to examine the angry lump on her forehead and cringed. Chi-Chi was gonna kill him when she woke up. She'd probably never let him kiss her again! Not that he'd even kissed her once. Their foreheads had connected before his lips could touch her.

It wasn't fair.

How did Chi-Chi manage all those times and he couldn't even do it once? Goku pouted as he watched over Chi-Chi, upset that he wasn't ever gonna get to kiss her because he'd gone in too hard. How was he supposed to know when he'd never even kissed anyone before?

He eyed her forehead, coming to a decision.

Goku looked once to his left and then once to his right. He checked over his shoulder and then, confirming there was no one around, moved in slowly—so slowly a snail could beat him—and pressed his lips to her swollen forehead. She was a little too warm, no doubt because of the swelling, but her scent was clear and comforting and Goku felt like his lips tingled against her skin. It was nice. He thought it would probably be better when Chi-Chi was awake and his heart was racing because of her smile, not because he'd just injured her.

"Mnnn…"

Goku thrust Chi-Chi as far away as he could without dropping her as she slowly stirred awake.

"Go…ku?" she groaned, pressing a hand up to her head. "What happened?"

"Y-You don't remember?" he asked shakily, his heart thumping against his chest from almost getting caught. Chi-Chi carefully shook her head no.

She didn't remember.

She didn't remember!

Goku felt like he could do cartwheels except that would mean letting go of the precious bundle in his arms.

She didn't remember!

"You slipped off Nimbus and I accidentally headbutted you to keep ya from falling," he told her, keeping it close to the truth since he couldn't come up with a better lie. It didn't matter, she didn't remember! "Sorry 'bout that. Ya might wanna put some ice on it."

"Oh?" Chi-Chi cautiously touched her forehead, confirming her injury for herself, and then pressed a hand to her cheek. "How clumsy of me." She leaned against Goku and closed her eyes, still feeling a bit dizzy. "Thanks for catchin' me."

"S-Sure Chi! Anytime!"

Not that he thought it would happen again anytime soon. In fact, unless Chi-Chi commanded it, he'd be keeping his lips firmly to himself.

Even if he could still feel them tingling from when he kissed her.