Goku's sleeping face greeted her when she woke, his mouth opened wide as the loudest snores she had ever heard filled the room. He was so cute!

Chi-Chi muffled a delighted squeal as she snuggled up to his chest. A whole day had passed and yet she still couldn't believe this was happening. That she was allowed to snuggle up against him and share sweet kisses whenever she wanted. It was a dream come true! Her smile was close to being permanently etched on her face.

Goku rolled over and swung an arm around her, squeezing her close.

"Mornin'," he murmured in a low voice thick with sleep. He nuzzled against her, breathing in her scent. Somehow it seemed even better than usual.

Chi-Chi giggled and hugged him back. "Morning."

Could it get any better than this?!

She sighed and snuggled him closer, thinking over the past twenty four hours. How after the storm had passed and they'd both gotten a chance to eat, they'd walked the rest of the day arm in arm, pointing out sights and exchanging old stories. Sure Goku had complained at first, saying it was difficult to walk that way, but when she asked if he wanted her to stop he'd placed his hand on her arm, keeping it in place!

Chi-Chi hadn't been able to refrain from tugging him closer and kissing him full on the lips, and then a second time, after seeing his adorably flustered face as she pulled away.

He was just so cute!

And then, after they'd made camp, they had stayed up half the night giggling and whispering to one another. She couldn't have imagined a more perfect day if she'd tried!

"Chi-Chi," Goku murmured, pressing his head to hers. His gaze dropped to her lips. "Can I…?"

Chi-Chi giggled and blushed, "Mhmmmm."

He captured her lips in a sweet kiss and then another before she could pull away. Chi-Chi smiled, more than willing to continue, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She could do this with him all day but then his hand traveled a little lower, making contact with her exposed waist, his rough fingers slipping under her sleep shirt to brush against her upper back.

Chi-Chi gasped at the sensation just as Goku sought to deepen the kiss, his tongue tasting her lips once, twice…and then sweeping through her mouth with shocking ease, making her moan. She tried to keep up, pushing her own tongue forward, but Goku's skilled tongue—and her dwindling supply of oxygen—left him dominating the kiss.

She turned abruptly, gasping for air, as Goku's lips traveled over her ear and neck and shoulder and…

Chi-Chi stiffened and slapped her hands against Goku's chest prompting him to stop and pull away.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No! Not at all!" She rushed to assure him. The last thing she wanted was another repeat of him avoiding her! "No I just…uh…" Chi-Chi bit her lip as she tried to calm her racing heart. "Maybe we should slow things down just a little? We can't…we…we're not married." And they wouldn't be until they completed this journey.

How much farther until they reached the Southern Islands?

"Yeah," Goku agreed, still eyeing her lips.

He leaned in to kiss her again but Chi-Chi stopped him with a hand on his chest and a warm smile making Goku back off with a sheepish laugh. "Sorry! Maybe we should see about getting in some meditation before breakfast."

He could certainly use a minute to calm himself. Chi-Chi, however, didn't look nearly as agreeable to the idea if her pout was anything to go by.

Goku laughed and stole a quick kiss.

"It's not that bad. Besides, after our fight yesterday I wanna see if you can make that blast again. Ya need to be able to do that with consistency before you can use it in a fight."

"That's true," Chi-Chi muttered but she didn't think she'd be as successful. The river had boosted her strength, without it, she'd probably be back to struggling. Then again…she'd managed to do it that time on the motorcycle right before the crash, but why was that? Was it just because her emotions were heightened?

There was only one way to find out.

Chi-Chi sighed as she dutifully rose to her feet to get ready. Meditating wasn't nearly as fun as what they'd been doing but maybe that was for the best. Sparring would be better, but that always ended up with him pinning her underneath him in some way and Chi-Chi didn't think her heart could take it after their earlier make out session.

She ditched her typical training clothes for a fresh pair of form fitting shorts and a tank top, and stepped outside, cringing as her body adjusted to the temperature. The air was already sticky with heat, despite yesterday's storm.

Where was Goku? Did he go to fetch meat for breakfast? Perhaps it would be better to start prepping the side dishes then. She'd failed to do so the night before, pleasantly distracted, but…

Her gaze dropped to a patch of soil that looked moist and rich with nutrients.

"Hmm…"

Before she could contemplate what she was doing, she slipped off her shoes and socks and stepped forward, digging her toes into the soil.

It was odd…

Something about the action was comforting. It reminded her of the ocean or the river. Not quite as strong…tentative at best…Chi-Chi frowned, confused. Was this normal? The little boost of ki she could feel? Why hadn't Goku mentioned this before? If she could sense this, then surely he could.

Maybe he didn't think it was important? He probably wanted her to figure herself out first before she worried about external sources of ki.

Deciding that was probably the case, she returned her thoughts to what she was supposed to be doing. Making an energy beam. The only problem was she hadn't been paying attention to how she'd done it either time. When she was little she'd been able to shoot beams with her helmet but she'd always just thought it came from her helmet, not her. Then again, shooting a beam had always left her feeling drained. So did that mean the ki for the beam had come from her? Why hadn't she ever made the connection? Was the helmet some sort of focusing tool? She could probably ask her Papa to get her another but…but Goku didn't need one. She didn't wanna rely on one either. And she'd already proven that she could do it without one anyways, she just needed to figure out how.

Maybe if she tried to visualize it in her mind…kinda like a Kamehameha wave except smaller…much, much smaller…like a faucet instead of a waterfall. She just needed to focus her ki…draw it up and into her hands…

Chi-Chi wiggled her toes, the tingly sensation making her ticklish. She could picture the ball now…she just needed to shape it and…

"Chi-Chi!"

"AH!"

Chi-Chi threw her hands up, unleashing a small blast that exploded in their faces.

"GOKU!" She snapped. "That was dangerous! What if I hurt you?"

"Ha! You're funny Chi," Goku laughed, dropping a large crocodile at her feet. Thankfully it was dead, but that didn't make Chi-Chi any less horrified.

"You can't be seri—"

"Here!"

Chi-Chi blinked, at the fistful of semi-crushed flowers being thrust in her face.

He brought her flowers?

Oh! Chi-Chi blushed, feeling her insides go all fluttery. He brought her flowers!

"Oh Goku, they're beautiful! Thank you!"

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, unable to take her eyes off his gift for a second.

He brought her flowers!

"Chi-Chi, you're doing it wrong."

"Hm?" Chi-Chi turned, distracted. "I am?"

"Yeah, let me show you." He moved to kiss her cheek and then at the last second landed on her lips. When he pulled away, Chi-Chi was even redder but she was smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh you!" she giggled, ki spiking as she knocked him away. Her eyes widened when she realized what she'd done.

"Oh no! Goku!"

She rushed over to help him up. "Goku, I'm so sorry! And after you were so sweet too! Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"Kiss me better?"

Chi-Chi blushed for a third time, amazed he was still focused on getting a kiss after what she had done to him. He was becoming a kissing fiend!

"You big flirt. You don't need an excuse for me to do that."

"Mmm, sure I do." Goku grinned, pulling her closer. "So ya gonna give me my medicine?"

Chi-Chi sighed into the kiss and snaked her arms around his neck. She could really get used to this. It was just like all her wildest fantasies but better. In her dreams she had no idea how good it would feel with his weight pressing down on her, her back on the ground, her fingers in his hai…wait…when had they switched positions? Oh well, she didn't mind except…maybe there was a little too much weight now that he was wearing his training gear.

She pressed at his chest and broke their kiss by turning her head but Goku was on a mission and easily just transferred his lips to her neck. It tickled! Chi-Chi wished she could enjoy it but she couldn't breathe!

"Goku stop! You're too heavy."

"Hm?" Goku pulled away, his lids heavy.

"I can't breathe," she explained.

"Oh sorry." He rolled them over, putting Chi-Chi back on top. "Better?"

Chi-Chi didn't get a chance to answer before he was pulling her back down, letting one hand wander up her bare leg to grip her backside while the other was buried in her hair, keeping her close.

'Oh no,' Chi-Chi thought as she lost herself in his kiss. This was entirely too dangerous. For someone who just had their first kiss yesterday, he was picking things up at an alarming speed. Would it…would it be terrible to indulge just a little?

Goku moved from her mouth to her neck, nibbling and kissing all along the exposed skin, his fingers dragging her strap down her shoulder. Chi-Chi moaned and stretched her neck allowing him better access.

He…he obviously didn't understand the need to restrain themselves while she did…but…but she was finding it difficult to resist now that they were finally on the same page.

Goku turned his attention to the other side of her neck, his nibbles getting a little rougher, his hand on her gripping a little tighter…

All she wanted…all she wanted was to spend the day wrapped up in his arms but…if she gave in now…they'd need to get married and…

He returned his attention back to her lips.

And she wouldn't shame her father by having a babe out of wedlock…but they couldn't afford to stop now…not for how long it would take to plan a wedding…she had to…she…she needed to…

She moaned as he deepened the kiss once again, feeling like she had died and gone to heaven. He was such a good kisser! And his muscles…he felt so strong…so firm under her fingers…she only wished she could feel him without all these clo—

Chi-Chi pulled away with a disgruntled sigh as Goku chased her lips with his own, making her giggle. She pressed a finger to them instead, knowing one of them had to be responsible.

"I'm hungry, aren't you?"

"Mmm," Goku nuzzled her hand and slipped past its defense to press a kiss to her lips, her cheek, her ear...

"I have all I need right here," he mumbled, moving to her neck just as his stomach growled sounding like a grizzly bear.

He froze as Chi-Chi raised a smug eyebrow making Goku blush. Betrayed by his own stomach!

"C'mon," she giggled, kissing his nose. "Let's get breakfast started."

…

A little while later Chi-Chi stared warily at the sliver of meat she was holding before shoving the piece in her mouth.

"Huh." She smacked her lips. It tasted like a cross between chicken and fish.

"Chi-Chi," Goku whined, coming up behind her and slipping his arms around her waist. "Is it ready yet? I'm hungry."

She tore off a piece with the chopsticks and lifted it to his lips, watching it disappear faster than she could blink. Good thing she hadn't used her fingers.

"What do you think?"

"Man, that's good!" He plucked the chopsticks from her hand and reached for more before she stopped him.

"But Chi-Chi!"

"It'll just be another minute I promise. Now go sit."

Quick as a flash he stole another piece anyways.

"Goku!"

Goku laughed, this time stealing a kiss, before he ran away.

"Oooh that man!" Chi-Chi chided, pressing a hand to her blushing face. Was it possible to fall in love with someone even more? She fanned herself off and then began plating everything up, knowing he'd be back if she didn't hurry.

As it was, Goku was waiting eagerly for her at the table, fork and knife already in hand. Chi-Chi smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek before laying the spread out before. Goku dived in, inhaling the food with pleasure.

Oh how she loved watching him eat her cooking so happily!

She fetched her own plate and joined him at the table, content to eat at a much slower pace while Goku chowed down. This would be her mornings from now until forever. Could she really be so lucky? And after this journey, they'd get married and build a house and go on more adventures and have lots of kids!

Chi-Chi blushed and tried not to imagine just how they would get those kids, instead focusing on how she would raise them.

Goku would probably want to train any children they had, to which she wasn't opposed to. It would be a good way to instill discipline and burn energy, though any physical training would probably have to wait until they were a little older but meditating to start with would be good. Although if they were anything like her…

Wait, that's right. She'd been meaning to ask Goku something about that.

"Goku?"

Goku looked up from his food, rice sticking all over his face, and swallowed audibly.

"Yeah Chi?"

Her heart melted under his smile, but the rice bothered her, so she grabbed a napkin and scooted closer to wipe his face clean as she talked.

"But I'm not done yet!"

"I know," she giggled, "but I can't talk to you when you look so silly. There!"

Chi-Chi released his face and placed the napkin aside as she thought over what she wanted to say while Goku snacked on rolled omelets as he waited for her to speak.

"Have you…have you ever noticed the ki around us?"

"Huh?"

Goku blinked and put down the rice ball he'd been eyeing, needing both hands to think. The ki around them?

"Whatcha mean Chi?"

"Well, uh…like when we were swimming in the ocean? It felt like there was so much ki all around us, and then the river yesterday…even when I touched the soil earlier I could feel a faint trace of ki."

He cocked his head curiously and turned his attention to the ground as Chi-Chi continued to talk.

"I feel…stronger when I can feel it. Like it boosts my strength."

Really?

Goku pressed his palm to the earth and closed his eyes to concentrate. If there was ki…then there would have to be a flow. He just needed a sense of it, some small hint to indicate its direction and…there! He could feel it!

As if he was visualizing a world of shadows, suddenly everything touching the earth lit up with little streams flowing in and out of everything.

Woah.

Kami had mentioned something once about ki being everywhere and in everything but he hadn't thought it would be like this! And Chi-Chi had been able to sense this? Even though she still struggled with meditating?

Goku's body tensed, suddenly on edge. He felt like he was on the brink of figuring out something important…something to do with Chi-Chi.

He shoved away from the table and stood, stretching his hand out to her. "C'mere, Chi."

"What? But what about breakfast?"

"It can wait."

What? Chi-Chi gasped, staring at him in shock as he pulled her away from their camp. It can wait? Had her question really thrown him that much?

Goku didn't explain though, leaving Chi-Chi to just follow after him if she wanted answers.

When he deemed they had gone far enough, he turned and pressed his hands on her shoulders, signaling she should stay there, before taking two steps back.

"Okay, Chi-Chi. Try and absorb the ki."

"Absorb the ki?" Chi-Chi spluttered, "Are you talking about from the ground?! But it's not that easy! I can only tell it's there when I…when I…"

When she what? She'd been submerged in the ocean but the river had only reached the top of her calves at its deepest and the soil, she barely managed to dig her toes in an inch!

Goku, however, had an idea.

He only prayed he survived it.

Chi-Chi frowned as she noticed him backing away. "Goku? Where are you going?"

Goku flinched.

"Ahahaha, no where!" He called, scrambling further away until he was sure he was a safe distance. "Anyways Chi-Chi, ya know how I was avoiding ya because I didn't wanna hurt you?"

"Yes…?" But why was he bringing that up now?

"Well, uh…I kept having dreams about ya doing those naughty things and when I woke up I'd be grabbin' your boobies."

"WHAT?!"

Chi-Chi's ki flared higher than he'd ever felt it go, as she clutched her face in a mixture of rage and embarrassment.

Goku squinted as he tried to feel the ki in the earth but for some reason it was too difficult. He just couldn't get a read. Maybe it was cause the ground was much bigger than just a regular person. But maybe if he…

He found just what he needed after a quick glance around and ripped the tree from the ground before dropping it beside Chi-Chi. Not that Chi-Chi noticed, still mortified by what Goku had told her.

This wouldn't do. He needed her calm to start with if he was gonna figure this out.

"Chi-Chi," Goku murmured, stepping closer. He put a cautious hand on her shoulder and—when she didn't hit him—guided her to sit on the fallen tree. "I'm sorry. It was wrong to think of and touch you that way."

That got her attention.

"What?"

Chi-Chi paled. The last thing she wanted was for Goku to think that was wrong! What if he went back to avoiding her?!

"N-No, it's fine! I was just a little shocked, that's all."

Goku leaned in close enough to kiss her. "Really?"

"R-Really," Chi-Chi blushed.

Goku beamed.

"Good!"

Then he put his hand on her chest.

"GOKU!"

For the first time ever, Goku was able to avoid her strike—barely—allowing him to feel what was happening. Chi-Chi…Chi-Chi was absorbing the ki from the tree! That was the second ki! He dodged a second strike and pinned her arms to her side as she struggled to free herself.

"Let go!"

"Sorry!" Goku pulled her in for a hug, hoping she didn't kill him in his sleep later for this. "I won't do it again. I had to to test somethin'."

"Test what?!"

"That's what I'm tryin' to figure out. Just give me a sec, k?"

When Chi-Chi didn't respond he made his most pitiful expression and lifted her so that he could stare into her eyes.

"Please? Just one sec?"

"Fine!" Chi-Chi huffed. "But you better explain yourself afterwards."

"I promise!"

Satisfied that she wouldn't attack him, he kissed her cheek—only because Chi-Chi denied his kiss on her lips—and released her, before turning to study the log.

It looked…different somehow. He patted it curiously, noticing that it felt much weaker than before. Not as solid. So…not only had Chi-Chi taken ki from the log and become stronger, she had weakened it in the process?

That meant…woah.

There was ki everywhere! If Chi-Chi ever learned to use her ki more efficiently, then she'd be a real force to reckon with. But she couldn't even maintain flight without using up a deadly amount of ki. Why was that? Was there no ki in the air?

Goku searched what he could of the space around them and concluded, if there was any, it was too thin for them to sense. Someone more experienced might be able to feel it but Chi-Chi couldn't. Which meant flying was off the table until she gained better ki control…

But…but if Chi-Chi could pull ki from the environment, could he do it too?

He placed a hand back to the earth, figuring direct contact made it easier, and tried to absorb the energy, but it was almost resistant. Definitely not instinctual like Chi-Chi. It would take time to build up enough for an effective attack.

He'd work on it.

Now to explain it all to Chi-Chi.

"Let's eat Chi, I'm done for now."

"Wash first," she instructed.

Goku paused. "Huh? But I alread—"

Chi-Chi glared. He'd just been playing in the dirt. He knew the rules.

"Wash!"

"Alright, alright," he promised, not willing to anger her further.

Goku quickly washed up and got back to eating, explaining his findings to Chi-Chi between bites.

"I've been doing that?" Chi-Chi gasped, thinking over all the times she had ever sent Goku flying.

She was amazed…and also a little disturbed. How could she do something like that with no knowledge? And could she drain ki from anything? Even non-inanimate objects?

Camilla and Vlad suddenly came to mind, making her shiver. What if all that cousin talk was…

She stood up abruptly, not wanting to continue that thought. There were more productive things she could do with her time like…like calculate how much longer it would take to reach the Southern Islands!

Chi-Chi went and fetched her map and coordinate tracker, two things her Papa had insisted she always keep on her when she started venturing off on her own, before returning to spread out the map under Goku's curious gaze. She turned on the device and waited for it to calibrate their location before comparing the coordinates to her map. If what she was reading was correct, they were close to the lowest latitude point of the continent. Could probably make it there in half a day. It was just where they needed to be if they wanted to cross the Aka Strait to reach the closest and largest of the Southern Islands and…oh! It was right next to Mechanic City.

This was fantastic!

She'd been so worried about what to do for her poor bike after she crushed it under that rock slide but if anyone could repair it, then the original manufacturer could! And they were based right in this city!

"Goku! Goku! Hurry up and finish your food. We have to get to the city!"

"We do?"

He shoveled the last of his food into his mouth as he studied her map. "Wuz in da seedee?"

"Don't talk with your mouth full," she chided, speeding past him and yanking his plates away to wash them quickly. "And only the greatest auto engineer in the world!"

Goku blinked.

Engineer?

o0o

Goku stared at the dingy little shop labeled Futanya, tucked between the large buildings curiously. When Chi-Chi had explained her airbike had come from here, he'd imagined it more like Bulma's place, just as big and full of robots and machinery and all kinds of stuff. He could smell the oil and grease even from out here, so he supposed it probably had all those things too. But it sure looked a lot smaller.

He shrugged as he followed behind Chi-Chi, content to follow her lead.

"Hello?" Chi-Chi called, as they entered the shop. "Is anyone here?"

"Whatever your sellin' I don't want any!" snapped a short, hobbled woman as she limped into the room with her cane. "Unless…you ain't sellin' Trooper Cookies are ya?"

Chi-Chi and Goku traded blank looks and shook their heads no.

"Then we don't want any! Now scram!"

The old lady turned to leave as Chi-Chi rushed to explain.

"Please ma'am, we're not sellin' anything."

"Ya aren't?" The old lady turned back around to glare at them. "Then whaddya want?"

"I-I was hoping you could fix my bike, it got crushed in a rock slide."

This got the old lady's attention. Her brows shot up in surprise. "Me? Why not go to any of them bigger shops in town? Ya can't miss 'em."

"Because," Chi-Chi smiled, relieved that the old lady finally seemed willing to listen. "I figured the best person to fix it would be the manufacturer."

"It's one of mine? Well let's see it then!" The old lady squinted, scrutinizing Chi-Chi closely as she threw open the capsule. "I don't remember you. How'd you get a hold of one of my bikes?"

She turned to examine the bike in question and gasped. "Holy smokes! What the heck did ya do to it?!"

The old lady tossed the cane to the side and practically sprinted to the side of the demolished bike, flittering around it as she inspected the damage before turning on Chi-Chi with anger. "It's you! That spoiled princess with a beast for a father! Houndin' me all day and night!"

"Excuse me?" Chi-Chi blinked, startled.

"You heard me. I bet ya couldn't even ride this beauty. Whatcha really do? Drive it into a wall before ya even got on?"

First this old woman called her spoiled and now she accused her of lying? Chi-Chi's anger began to rise. "I told you it was a rock slide!"

"Rock slide my ass. Go for a joy ride with your fella there? Grab the wrong handlebar?" the old lady leered.

Chi-Chi snapped.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

She flared her ki, cracking the ground beneath her feet creating a small crater. She didn't care. Right now she felt like filling this entire building with craters.

The nerve of this woman!

Goku squeezed her shoulder in support, helping to calm her. Right…she couldn't destroy this place now. It wouldn't be right and it would reflect badly on her father…and admittedly she would probably regret destroying this place later even if their staff was so rude.

Chi-Chi swallowed her anger to speak with a civil tone. "Look, I'm sorry my father harassed you, he can be persistent when he wants something and he knew I admired your bikes. Which is why I'm here, asking for your help. So can you fix it or not?"

"Of course I can," growled the old woman. "But why should I? Someone who don't know how to ride shouldn't be abusin' one of my creations."

"I can ride," Chi-Chi gritted out.

"Prove it."

"Fix it and I will!"

"I'm not gonna waste my time fixin' it if it'll just end up in a heap again. Prove it first."

"On what?!"

The old woman gestured for them to follow and led them to a backroom with a machine with two proto type bikes attached to a large screen. She grabbed a helmet from the side and chucked it at Chi-Chi who caught it with one hand without flinching.

The old woman smirked.

"Beat me in a race and I'll fix your bike."

"A simulator?" Chi-Chi eyed the helmet in her hands skeptically. "That's not the same as ridin'."

"Not on most," the old lady agreed. "But you'll see this one's more realistic than anything you'll find in an arcade."

Chi-Chi pursed her lips and then shoved the helmet over her head.

"Fine. You're on."

The old woman snickered, grabbed her own helmet and hopped on the second bike while Goku watched curiously from the sidelines. He hoped he could try next. It looked fun. He watched as the screen came to life and little images of Chi-Chi and the granny appeared on the screen looking as realistic as the originals sitting in front of him.

Goku jumped in alarm. "Chi-Chi! You're on the screen!"

But she was also still sitting in front of him. So that had to be some kind of copy…but how'd they make it look so real? He searched the room for a camera but came up empty handed. What was weirder was Chi-Chi and the old lady weren't moving but their copies were.

What was going on? What kind of device was this thing?

Chi-Chi was wondering the same thing.

The second she put on her helmet her senses that had been previously telling her she was in a backroom of a mechanic's shop with no one but an grumpy old lady and her sweet Goku around, were suddenly overwhelmed by the noise of the crowds and revving engines. She could feel the wind on her neck, the sun on her skin. She could even smell a whiff of the concession foods drifting from the bleachers.

"Told ya it's better than any simulator," cackled the old lady walking effortlessly towards her, free of the impairments she dealt with in the real world.

Two bikes rolled up smoothly in front of them. The old lady hopped on the one closest to her and took off to the starting line. Chi-Chi's gaze followed her path before turning to examine her own bike. It wasn't her favorite but, considering her favorite was currently crumpled up in a heap back in reality, that was probably a good thing.

She threw a leg over the bike and noted idly how it was the perfect height for her before speeding off to join the old lady at the starting line.

"Look who finally showed up. It's a straight shot, no laps. Ya think ya can handle that princess?"

Chi-Chi huffed, raising a brow that went unseen under her helmet.

"Try and keep up Auntie."

"Auntie! I ain't ur "auntie"! Don't they teach ya any manners in that kingd—"

A buzzer went off, interrupting her tirade. Chi-Chi ignored the fuming old woman, her eye on the countdown clock. Ten…nine…eight…She'd show this mean old lady that she wasn't just some spoiled princess wasting daddy's money! Five…Four…

Getting her bike fixed would just be a bonus.

Two…One…

Chi-Chi hit the gas and took off, taking an early lead as she sped around a bendy stretch of narrow road. It would be hard for another to pass here but not impossible, but a quick glance in her mirror showed her opponent was content to stay just a steady pace behind her. The old lady had to be either too timid to try and pass or was waiting for a wider, straighter passage.

But when just such a section came and went with no attempt from the old lady to pass her, Chi-Chi grew suspicious. Could such an ornery old broad really be too timid to pass? Or was she waiting for something else?

Chi-Chi turned a bend and went blind.

Shoot!

Did the fake sun have to be so bright?!

She squinted, doing her best to shield her eyes, when she noticed the abrupt turn up ahead. Oh no! She pulled her clutch and twisted the front wheel, throwing her weight forward as she hit the gas, allowing the rear to swing into place before she took off again.

That had been close. Chi-Chi wondered if the old woman was okay but right as she peeked back in her mirror, the old lady passed her! How the heck had she managed that?!

Well she might have been content to ride behind for a while but Chi-Chi wasn't. She spotted a small ramp up ahead and revved her engine, pushing the bike as fast as it would go. One sixty, one seventy, one eighty…

Chi-Chi flew up the ramp, rising back on her rear wheel, before cutting the old lady off with her landing as she slipped into first once more.

But this time the old lady fought back, pulling up alongside her as they raced towards the finish. She could see it was just below the next hill. They just needed to make the turn and…

The old lady veered off, taking the turn wide. But why would she do that? It would only slow her d—

Chi-Chi gasped. Time seemed to slow as strong air currents formed and flowed around the old woman, lifting her bike as she drifted the corner…

The world jolted back to its previous pace and the old lady zoomed off as Chi-Chi slid to halt, just narrowly avoiding a tree.

She yanked off her helmet just as the words 'You Lose' appeared in the sky and exclaimed, "You're Tina Torque!"

"Oh?" cackled the old lady as she pulled off her helmet. "Recognize me do you?"

"I'd recognize that technique anywhere!"

She used to watch Tina's races on repeat when she was a child, dreaming of that being her someday.

"I've tried to replicate it a thousand times but I never seem to catch it just right."

Tina eyed her strangely. "Ya do realize you lost dontcha?"

"Oh." Chi-Chi's shoulders dropped as Goku joined her. "Does this mean you won't fix my bike then?"

"No, I'll fix it."

"Really?" Chi-Chi smiled, relieved.

"I'll even do it for free, on one condition."

"Of course!" Anything to fix her beloved bike.

"There's a race this weekend and I want you to enter it for me."

"WHAT?!"