"And then I said, 'if you can't even handle a half blood, how did you expect to catch Lord Yan's eye?' As if someone who couldn't even hold her own deserves a man of such pedigree? But good for her for finally ditching that utter leech of a man she was with previously!"

Hushen groaned, wishing she'd had the presence of mind to avoid these two, but she'd been so distracted by her master's unsettling reaction to her report that she was in the middle before she'd realized what had happened.

This was the last time she took the shadow paths through hell.

"Hanashi, surely you didn't drag poor Hushen here to trash talk about your old playmate?"

"Sach! Why would you think so low of your fellow demon?"

"Well we are demons," the other woman smiled, amused.

Hanashi scoffed, tossing long purple hair over one shoulder. "Said the most pure hearted demoness I know. I'm no saint but you know I'm not that bad. Of course, I'm sure I couldn't hold a candle to you, Hushen dear."

Hushen smiled stiffly. "You still haven't said what you needed me for."

She replayed Yue Lao's reaction for the hundredth time in her head. He had been so dismissive. Or had he just been trying to hide his unease?

"Oh! Well, isn't it obvious?" Hanashi smiled, pulling her friend close. "Sachi here misses the mortal realm dearly."

Hou Yi and Niulang—the latter in particular—had caused quite a bit of destruction to the lovers of the world at their peak. There was no telling what they would do to the two now that their interest had been caught.

"I'm sure she would love to learn what's been going on since she was last there wouldn't you, dear?"

Both Hanashi and Sachi looked at Hushen expectantly, making the ninetails cringe. How much time had passed in the mortal realm already? And how much more would before they would finally let her leave?

"When were you last there?"

o0o

The blue skinned female that had greeted them when they first arrived stared suspiciously as Hou Yi walked out of the VIP room with Chang'e in his arms.

"What happened to her?"

"A gift from your mistress. Pray I need not return to finish what I started last time."

The woman scoffed. "You couldn't do anything then, I doubt you'd amount to much now."

Hou Yi growled and shoved the pouch with the two pearls at her. "Just do your job, wench."

"Is it any wonder you can only get a girl when she's knocked out," she muttered, taking out the pearls and enlarging them over both Hou Yi and Chang'e. The second they were encased, an opening in the ceiling expanded, allowing their bubbled forms to rise up and out of the trench back into the ocean before shooting up to the surface.

The bubble popped as soon as it hit the air, dropping them back into the waters and forcing Hou Yi to throw Chang'e over one shoulder in order to swim to the boulder. He clung to it with one hand and brought the other to his lips to whistle. Even over the crashing of the waves the note rang loud and clear and his faithful steed came swooping down in an instant. Hou Yi hauled them up onto Sora, securing Chang'e against him, and then directed his steed to the sky.

His pegasus was swift, making the journey in a third of the time it would have taken him on land, and soon they were pulling up to his castle in the sky.

The castle had been another false reward from the gods. Promised a home in the heavens to be with his Chang'e, he'd flown to the stars with Sora and shot down a second sun that threatened to scorch the earth. Yet his home in the heavens turned out to merely be a castle in the sky and Chang'e remained beyond reach.

Gods, he learned, were not to be trusted.

Hou Yi clenched Chang'e close to his chest, willing the bitter memories away. Chang'e was with him once more, there was no need to live in those dark times now.

He leapt off Sora with his love in his arms and kicked the entrance door open, making his way inside.

"So you've finally returned."

His gaze darted across the hall, where Bai leaned against the doorway.

"Ah you are here. Assist me," he ordered, making his way up a grand staircase.

Bai frowned. She was not a servant he could boss around. However her curiosity got the better of her considering the woman in his arms resembled the one she had seen in her crystal. She followed after him, keeping her eyes on the girl.

"And what, pray tell, has become of the man who once accompanied her? He did not seem the sort content to be left behind."

Hou Yi entered his bed chambers with a grunt. "He had little choice, much as I once did. Now hush and do as I tell you."

So he had not sought revenge? It was hard to believe, but she could not imagine another reason why Hou Yi would bring his enemy's lover here otherwise. They must have made peace in the end.

"Only brutes refuse to use the word please."

"Bai!"

The woman rolled her eyes but acquiesced, stepping closer as he laid the unknown woman across his mattress.

"Is she ill or injured?"

"Neither. Though I imagine she was under some mental duress from her challenge."

"Challenge? Not the gods'?" Bai questioned only to be shocked when Hou Yi nodded. "But there were near legend in my youth! I did not expect any to still chase such foolish dreams."

"My Chang'e was always a dreamer," he smiled, brushing a tendril of hair from her face. "No doubt she will wish to continue but I am sure I could persuade her from such an endeavor. As you well know, none have gone beyond the third challenge."

Bai frowned, displeased to be reminded of her own ill fated love and eyed the woman passed out on the bed. Would the girl really wish to continue an adventure that had lost her her lover?

"If she is not ill or injured, what is it that you need?"

"Just that you change her out of this odd garb and into something appropriate so that she may rest."

"Very well," Bai nodded. She could certainly do that.

Bai exited the room and headed down the hall, intent on fetching a gown from her room, when she heard a door creak behind her and turned automatically. It was Hou Yi, heading to the opposite wing. But why? Those were Niulang's rooms and he had yet to return from his annual visit to his lover. What business could he have there? How odd.

She turned to follow before thinking better of it. This was his home, one that he graciously offered use of to them. He could go where he pleased.

Bai returned to her mission, fetching a nightgown from her room while making a mental tally in her mind. If the girl had lost her lover to one of Yue Lao's trials, then chances were high that she might wish to stay here with people who could relate. The three of them had found solace in each other for some time now, though she knew it was not always enough for the men, who often sought out ways to express their anger. Perhaps with another woman there could be balance. Another voice of reason. That aside, it would just be nice to have another woman around, though Bai wished it were for happier reasons.

It wasn't until she was on her way back that she remembered something else, something that made Hou Yi's curious actions more unsettling. Was not Chang'e the name of his lost love?

o0o

"Is he dead?"

"Do you not see the way his chest rises? He lives."

"That's too bad. Moby could use the snack."

"Hush Hama. He stirs."

Goku groaned and placed a hand on the back of his head. Why did people always have to hit him there? It really hurt! He looked around, seeing only Qinglong and the blue skinned attendant, Hama, from earlier but no signs of Chi-Chi.

Chi-Chi!

How could he forget? Something was wrong with her! But where was she? She was in no condition to move on her own and even if she was, he knew she wouldn't have just left him there.

"Where's Chi-Chi?" Goku demanded, getting to his feet.

The god looked at him curiously. "The one you came with took her, after delivering that blow to your head."

"What?!" Goku cried. "Why didn't you stop him?!"

"Gods do not interfere with the affairs of mortals."

"So you just let him take her?!"

Goku ran his hands through his hair, unable to believe what he was hearing. Who knows what that bastard would do with Chi-Chi unconscious. He had to find her!

He spun towards the exit.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Hama warned, "Not unless you wanna find a hundred years have passed. You need a pearl to make it out of here."

Pearl? Goku looked to the spot on his waist where his pearl was supposed to be, only to find nothing there. His gaze quickly darted over the landscape, spotting his empty pouch several feet from where he stood.

That bastard.

He must have planned this from the beginning! Goku seethed, rage boiling up inside of him. He didn't know what Hou Yi was planning but he knew it couldn't be good.

"I'll kill him," he growled, clenching his teeth as he worked to control his fury. He'd rip his hands off so he could never touch Chi-Chi again! "If he thinks this'll stop me, he thought wrong."

"What will you do?" Hama asked, genuinely curious.

Goku stood tall and turned toward the exit, his plan forming in his mind.

"The dragon balls. I'll find them and wish myself back to before that creep can even lay a hand on Chi-Chi."

That said, he gathered his ki and shot forward—

Straight into an invisible wall.

"Ow!" Goku cried, cupping his nose. "What was that for?"

Qinglong stepped forward. "I cannot allow you to mess with the timeline. It does not work in the way you might think."

"Try and stop me!" He spat, pulling out his staff but Qinglong merely held up her hand, uninterested in fighting.

"I cannot allow you to mess with the timeline but I can assist you with your dilemma."

Goku blinked and straightened from his fighting stance. "What? But didn't you say gods don't interfere with humans?"

"Humans?" Hama mumbled, snickering to herself.

Qinglong shot her a warning look, silencing the attendant at once. When she was sure she had been heeded, she returned her attention back to Goku.

"We do not," She answered, raising her hand. She snapped her fingers and vanished Goku's empty pouch from where it laid several feet away and then reappeared it into Goku's startled hands. "However you have not yet received a reward for completing my challenge."

Goku stared at the empty pouch confused and more than a little doubtful.

"This?" he asked, holding it up in case the god couldn't see it. "But this was already mine and there ain't nothin' in it."

"And there won't be!" Hama chirped excitedly. "Not until you ask for something!"

Qinglong snapped her fingers again, this time forcing her attendant's mouth shut, and sighed.

"She is correct. As long as it exists somewhere in the world, you merely need think of what you want as you reach in and it shall appear."

"Really?!" Goku's eyes widened in awe. That was amazing! He reached in immediately thinking of the Great Clam pearls and smiled when he felt one drop into his hands. "It really worked! Thank you! Now I can save Chi-Chi!"

Qinglong nodded her head, accepting his thanks as Hama stepped forward, hand raised to accept the pearl. Goku handed it over and Hama happily activated it, more than a little excited that that jerk was about to have all his plans ruined as the bubble formed all around the formidable warrior. When the sphere was complete, she opened a hole in the ceiling and then Goku shot up, out of the biodome, through the ocean, and into the sky.

The second the bubble burst Goku called for Nimbus and then zoomed around the beach. He tried to feel for Chi-Chi's ki or even catch her scent, but came up empty. Even that bastard had vanished without a trace. All he could smell was the ocean. Did the pearl not work?

Goku directed Nimbus to the little seaside village and noted the same decorations that had been up the previous night for the festival. He even recognized two kids who he'd seen playing with wooden sticks! So if the pearl worked, why couldn't he sense Chi-Chi?

He really needed some kind of Chi-Chi radar.

That's it! Chi-Chi had all their stuff in that capsule around her neck, including the dragon balls! He just needed the radar and he'd be able to track her down in no time!

He pictured the dragon radar in his mind and reached into his new pouch, smiling when he felt the weight of the radar magically appear, and pulled it out. This thing sure was handy!

A click of the button showed Chi-Chi moving west but somehow they were already a good distance away, confusing Goku.

Maybe he was out longer than he'd originally thought?

Whatever. There was no time to waste!

"Let's go Nimbus! As fast as you can!"

Nimbus seemed to take the order to heart, pushing the limits the little cloud could go and going nearly into space, while Goku watched the radar with tense eyes. He had no idea what that bastard wanted with Chi-Chi but he knew it couldn't be good. If he hurt her…

Goku was both relieved and alarmed when Chi-Chi's spot stopped moving. Even at the speed he was going it would take a while to get to her.

"Hang on Chi-Chi…"

o0o

Chi-Chi groaned, feeling like she'd been hit with a sledgehammer. Who knew mental training could cause such a beating? This was worse than that time she'd woken up hungover. Her head was so foggy and weak. She didn't even have the strength to open her eyes.

"Goku?" she called weakly, hoping he was nearby.

"I am here."

That was Goku? Why did he sound so weird? The voice was too…

A wave of dizziness washed over her. Goodness, Qinglong must have really done a number on her senses!

She threw an arm over her eyes and rolled her head toward where she'd heard his voice. "Can you get me some water?"

"Of course my dear."

My dear? Chi-Chi frowned, struggling to think. If only her head wasn't pounding! Why did everything have to hurt so much?

An arm slipped around her shoulders, helping her to sit up as a cup was pressed to her lips. Chi-Chi drank slow but eagerly, feeling her headache abate slightly with each sip. She drank every last drop before Goku laid her back down and Chi-Chi didn't protest. Now that her headache was easing, she felt…sleepy…drowsy even. The last time she'd felt like this—the only time actually—was after her surgery…when her horns were removed. The drugs…they left her so disoriented…so…so out of touch…with everything…

Chi-Chi swallowed, pulling at her low neckline. She was so…warm. So warm. Goku placed a rough hand against her neck making her sigh. He felt so cool against her feverish skin. She wanted him to touch her more…

…

Hou Yi smiled as his beloved Chang'e clung to him, pressing his hand against her neck before slowly dragging it down between her bosom. The concoction was working faster than he had expected.

"Please…" she begged, opening her lids just enough to stare up with glazed eyes. She was so hot…

His smile turned into a smirk. He knew his Chang'e would not deny him.

"As you wish, beloved."

o0o

"Almost there!" Goku growled, checking the radar for the hundredth time. He started to direct Nimbus to descend, so he could begin his search, when something caught his eyes peeking out from the clouds.

Was that a building?

It was!

His brows narrowed in anger. He didn't know what a building was doing up in the sky but he knew Chi-Chi had to be there. It was too weird of a coincidence for her not to be. He steered Nimbus towards the bit he could see and checked the radar but the reading stated Chi-Chi was still a bit further down.

Goku squinted, vaguely making out the outline of a small castle.

Searching room by room with the radar would take too long. He didn't have time for that. So instead he zoomed around until he found a large window and smashed it without a second thought, slamming his pole through the window pane as he leapt through, and raced to the stairwell.

The stench of Hou Yi was everywhere, reassuring Goku that he was in the right place. Now he just needed to find Chi-Chi. She wasn't on the top floor, nor on the one after that. It wasn't until Goku landed on the third floor that he caught the first hint of Chi-Chi, just wisps of smoke and wildflowers, but it was enough. He dashed down the corridor, spotting a door at the end of the hall and felt Chi-Chi's ki flare high.

There!

Goku burst through the door, sending chunks of wood scattering.

On the opposite side of the room Hou Yi reared back from where he knelt over the bed in shock.

"You!" He seethed, striding forward but all Goku could see was Chi-Chi in bed, her shoulders bare, her skin flushed and sweaty, her gaze vacant and dazed. Her gown still covered most of her but Hou Yi was shirtless. Goku knew what he had interrupted.

That bastard was trying to force sex on Chi-Chi!

How dare he? How dare he?!

He tried to hurt CHI-CHI!

Hou Yi swung, and Goku could sense the strength behind it, but it was nothing to him. He caught the slimy bastard's fist and squeezed, taking pleasure in every crack of his bones.

"You cannot have her!" Hou Yi screamed, crumpling to his knees, but Goku wasn't interested in talking.

He slammed his fist into the bastard's stomach and then again across his slimy face, sending him to the floor. Hou Yi tried to scramble away but Goku wasn't done with him yet. He snatched him up and drove his knee into his spine, hearing the snap before tossing him to the side.

Hou Yi cursed, never having felt such pain, but he was a warrior! He would not be so easily bested! He crawled across the floor, his goal the short bow hidden under his bed, but the sight only angered Goku even more.

As if he would let that bastard anywhere near Chi-Chi!

With one kick, Goku swiped him into the air and then sent him sailing with another, straight through the glass doors to the open balcony.

Goku cracked his knuckles and stalked forward, determined to finish this. He'd make sure the bastard could never hurt Chi-Chi again.

However a low, agonized moan stopped him in his tracks.

Chi-Chi!

His gaze snapped in her direction, torn, but one glance at the broken heap of a man with his weakening ki decided him. He turned and hurried to Chi-Chi's side.

…

Hou Yi scoffed as he watched the boy go. The whelp should have finished him off when he had the chance. Only a fool turned his back on an enemy.

"Is that so?"

"Huh? Who's there?" he coughed, spitting up blood. It was a struggle but eventually he managed to turn his head though he could barely see out of one eye. Still, it was enough to spot the pale white fox hidden by the balstrudes.

"HA!" Hou Yi laughed, though not without a great deal of pain. Still, how else could he respond at the sight of Yue Lao's lackey. "What brings…you this way, hm?...Did I…did I foil another of his…pathetic…love ma…matches?" He coughed up more blood, sure something had been punctured, but he would survive. He always did.

Hushen eyed him with barely restrained contempt. She had been remiss. She, who knew the things this man had done…she should not have let the demons delay her so. That he would stoop to such means…had the vermin not a shred of honor left?

"What…whatever shall my…punish…ment be?...What worse…could he do…hm?"

"You mock my master because you think I act on his behalf. Let me assure you, that is not the case," she growled, as her body grew larger, her teeth growing sharper. She would not allow something so vile to walk upon the earth.

Hou Yi's eyes widened, finally realizing the danger he was in.

"This will…this will taint you! Is…is heaven not for the…for the merciful?"

Hushen's fur bristled as she continued to grow, angered at his audacity. "Scum have no need for mercy and heaven believes in justice!"

She knew this would only bolster her chances.

"W-Wait a second…"

"NO."

"NO! Please wai—aaagh!"

o0o

"Chi-Chi!" Goku called, racing to her bedside. He grabbed her shoulders as he examined her for injuries but there was nothing to indicate that that bastard had hurt her yet, at least that he knew of, but her eyes were glazed and her breath smelled surgary sweet for some reason. He sniffed a bit closer, taking in her scent. Chi-Chi smelled…really good. Really, really good.

Goku licked his lips and pulled her closer, admiring the way the strands of her hair fell against her bare shoulders, before he suddenly noticed the bottle on the bedside table.

He held Chi-Chi against his chest with one arm as he reached for the bottle to examine it. It smelled like Chi-Chi's lips. Whatever she had ingested had come from there. That bastard must have drugged her. Was there an antidote? Or wou—

Goku froze as soft lips brushed against his jaw.

"Ch-Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi what are you doing?"

But Chi-Chi didn't answer. Instead she trailed more kisses down his neck running her hands up and over his bare chest as she went. It wasn't until she started nibbling on his collarbone that Goku could move again, feeling a sense of urgency.

"Chi-Chi!" He gasped, pushing her back slightly to look at her. This wasn't like Chi-Chi at all! "Stop that!"

This had to be the drug's doing! Well he wouldn't let Chi-Chi do whatever the drug was gonna have her do. He was gonna put a stop to this right now! Or at least he had meant to, but before he could even blink Chi-Chi had grabbed him and thrown him across the bed before climbing on top of him wearing a confident little smirk that sent a thrill shooting straight through him.

He…he really liked it when she made that face…and she smelled so good.

Goku groaned as Chi-Chi leaned forward and took one of his nipples into her mouth, giving it a little lick. It sent a jolt like lightning straight to his groin and Goku could tell his weiner was swollen again. In fact, it had to be the stiffest he had ever felt! And the way Chi-Chi kept pressing and rubbing against it?

He ran his fingers through her hair as she switched to his other nipple, not wanting this to end. She was making him feel things he didn't know he could feel. Why hadn't they ever done this before?

Chi-Chi started dragging her lips and tongue down his stomach, tickling him enough to snap out of the daze he was in, even as he enjoyed the feel of her bumps brushing against his sensitive weiner. Something about this was familiar. Like he'd seen it before…

Goku's eyes went wide.

Master Roshi! Master Roshi was where he had seen this before. On one of those perverted videos! But that meant this was a sex thing! Chi-Chi wouldn't do that. Not until they were married!

As fast as he could, Goku switched their positions, throwing Chi-Chi on the bed and pinning her underneath him.

There! Now Chi-Chi couldn't do anything under the drug's influence! Or so he thought but before he could even think about how to free her from the drug, she was lifting her hips and pressing her groin against his in a way that made his limbs weak.

"Don't do that!" he growled, laying on top of her completely to keep her from moving but this turned out to be a mistake because now Chi-Chi was wriggling underneath him and he couldn't…he couldn't…

"Chi-Chi," Goku groaned, burying his face into her shoulder. Damn! She just smelled so good! So tasty. He wanted to lick and nibble and rub himself all over her! His fingers dug into her soft flesh…Chi-Chi…Chi-Chi had licked him…so maybe he could do it too? Just a little?

He turned his head into the crook of her neck intending to do just that and breathed in. She was so sweet and tasty like…birds? Goku pulled back suddenly as if he'd been slapped.

This…this is what that bastard had been doing…and he was acting no better! Goku scrambled away as fast as he could, trying to put as much distance between him and Chi-Chi as he could.

"Don't go," Chi-Chi moaned, making his heart race faster. He didn't know why but it made him want to reach for her again…to touch her soft skin and breathe in her sweet scent…but he couldn't! That would make him bad like Hou Yi!

Goku punched himself hard across the face, feeling relieved when that seemed to help clear his head some and then did it again a few more times for good measure.

When he felt in control of himself again, he decided enough was enough and wrapped Chi-Chi up tight in the blanket so that she couldn't move.

"No! Please! Let me go, let me go! It's so hot! Goku, please!" Chi-Chi whined, making Goku gulp. He hoped Chi-Chi wouldn't be mad at him later for this. But how could he cure her? He didn't even know what that bastard had drugged her with let alone if an antidote existed…

But if one did, he could pull it out of his new pouch! Goku snatched it from his waist and shoved his hand in up to his elbow. When a cool, smooth bottle fell into his palm he grinned, once again thankful for his amazing gift. He popped the top and sniffed, smelling something similar to the drug but not quite the same.

Well, there was only one way to find out if it would work.

"Hey Chi-Chi!" Goku said, scooting a little closer to her, enough so that he could press the bottle against her lips. "Drink up and I'll let ya outta that kay?"

Thankfully Chi-Chi was desperate to be released and so drank the concoction down eagerly, though her efforts grew slower and slower until eventually she nodded off.

Goku laid her back down and wiped his brow, relieved. With Chi-Chi unconscious, her scent had dulled as well, returning to its normal smoke and wildflowers. He liked the mouthwatering scent but it made it hard to think.

Speaking of scents, Goku didn't want anything from this place coming back with them, so he reached into his pouch again, pulling out one of Chi-Chi's nightgowns, and slipped it over her head before tearing the one she'd been wearing and tossing it aside. After pulling out a shirt for himself as well, he scooped Chi-Chi up into his arms and leapt out the window where Nimbus was already waiting. The fluffy little cloud swooped in to catch them and soared off, taking the couple away from the floating castle as fast as it could.

o0o

Bai watched with horrified eyes as the retreating figures disappeared into the clouds, shocked beyond measure. The girl's lover had been alive? So Hou Yi had sought revenge after all? She said a prayer of thanks that the girl was not left heartbroken like the rest of them and moved further into the room wondering what her comrade had been thinking, though a quick assessment of the space suggested it had been something devious.

She wandered over to the bedside and spotted the two empty jars and sniffed them each. Whatever had been in them didn't seem poisonous but she recognized the bottles as coming from Niulang's rooms. Whatever had come from there could only be bad.

While the three shared a bond due to their grief, Bai knew that Niulang had not always…handled…his loss well. She had suspected for some time now that he enjoyed ruining other lovers' happiness, but she had always thought better of Hou Yi.

"Oh Hou Yi, what have you done?" Bai whispered wondering where the man in question was. That is, until she spotted the broken balcony door.

Had the girl's lover thrown him beyond the barrier? She hurried over, not sure if she should aid or berate the man who had housed her and Niulang all those years. In the end it didn't matter. When she carefully pushed aside the broken glass and looked past the door, the sight that greeted her was of Hou Yi's mangled remains.

Bai gasped and fell against the railing.

Had that man done this? Truly? Why, it looked like a beast had torn him apart!

She stood shakily to go back inside—to gather sheets to cover his body—when she spotted the glowing eyes in the corner and froze.

They stared at one another for a full minute before she gathered the courage to speak.

"Am I next then?"

"Do you wish to harm innocents?" came the ominous voice.

Bai shook her head slowly, afraid anything faster might risk the fox god's wrath.

"Then no."

And with those two words the ninetails left, leaving Bai to contemplate what Hou Yi had done.

Hello to the small few who like to read this story! I just wanted to say we're officially half way done with this story and we're going to be moving on to more...mature themes. It's not like this story is suddenly going to turn into a porno. This story is still very much an romance adventure but...if sexy times ain't your thing, you've been warned. But also, thank you for sticking with the story this far, even if I don't hear from you. I hope you've liked it and I hope you continue reading.