Niulang frowned as he made his way across the sticky landscape, disgust emanating from every fiber of his being as he noted all the piles of bones covered in the gunk this species was known for. If he could hire someone else, he would have. As it was, finding sentient beings strong enough to take on a warrior that had surpassed the likes of Hou Yi was impossible.

Oh he could control monsters and beasts, the mindless creatures were powerful enough, but accidents still happened and he needed both victims alive in order to proceed with his plan. Which is why he was now here, in this sty, searching for the creatures known as Giras. No better than neanderthals, the brutes had been making a name for themselves performing "jobs" for anyone willing to pay the price. They had been a joke to Hou Yi, so Niulang doubted they could cause trouble for the boy or even the girl.

Luckily he had the means to bridge the gap.

"You there!" He cried, drawing the dangerous attention from ten sets of eyes. The winged creatures had only evolved from their mindless dinosauric ancestors enough to be capable of speech, so he would need to tread cautiously. "Which of you is the leader? I wish to hire your clan for a job."

"A job, huh?" Huffed the most average looking of the bunch.

He wasn't the largest or the strongest, hell he wasn't even the fastest, but he had risen to his position through sheer cunning and tenacity.

After Giran's defeat six years ago, Ora knew the time was ripe to prove strength didn't always qualify one as a good leader. He did a few quick and dirty jobs that paid well and then showed the rest what they were missing out on.

They hadn't taken much convincing and had quickly kicked Giran to the curb and promoted Ora as their new leader. Under him, his clan had gained previously unknown measures of wealth, taking on the jobs no one else wanted or couldn't handle and blackmailing the rest until they had all the meat and milk that they could ever want.

Ora looked the man who had the gall to approach them up and down and laughed. "I don't think you could afford us little man."

Niulang simply tossed Ora a pouch.

The leader of the Giras opened it, revealing countless precious gems and gold coins. Ora's eyebrows shot up. "I stand corrected. What's the job ya want done boss?"

"I need you to capture a woman for me. She is guarded by a man of some strength."

"Some, huh?" Ora looked to his men, sharing a laugh. "You got a name? Or better yet, a picture?"

Niulang pulled out his crystal orb and waved a hand over it, revealing first the girl and then her protector. "Break his limbs if you must but do not kill him. I need him alive for later."

"Him? He don't look so tough…" But there was something about the young man that seemed familiar. "Hey Minnru! C'mere and get a look at this guy. Don't he look familiar to you?"

Minnru stomped closer and studied the man in the crystal orb before a flash of recognition dawned on him and he scrambled back in fear, as if just observing the man in the orb could be detrimental to his health. "T-That's the kid who defeated Giran!"

"Giran?! And he's still kickin' even after that Demon King's henchman went around killin' everyone?" Pipu demanded, peaking over Minnru's shoulder.

Ora nodded, his brain finally making the connection. "That's right, and he was this year's winner at the Tournament, nabbing the title 'Strongest Under the Heaven'. In fact, he fought off some other green lookin' fellow as well. I'd put money on it that he was the guy who finished off King Piccolo."

"Did he?" Niulang questioned, not caring in the slightest. Mortal competitions had no bearing upon him.

The leader of the Giras raised a nonexistent brow. "You don't know? Not too bright going after a guy knowin' nothing about 'im."

"I know enough," Niulang hissed. "Now will you take the job or not."

"Look, I'll happily take this treasure, bud, but there ain't no way any of my men can take 'im." Ora shook his head and sat back on his tail. "Your fella defeated our strongest warrior, Giran, when he was just a pipsqueak. Ain't no way any of us are a match fer 'im now."

"And if I told you you could be?"

"I'd ask what you were smokin'," he laughed.

"Mudaeafat alqua 'alf mara!"

"Hey what the—!"

All at once a dark energy shot out of Niulang's outstretched hand, straight into the Giras' body, tunneling into him with abandon as he cried out for help. His men rushed to his aid but the energy moved like an electrical current, jumping to the next several conduits, taking them over and masking their screams under its angry crackle as it burrowed its way into their flesh.

When their screams finally subsided the Giras clan climbed warily to their feet, eyes widening as they looked from their hands and bodies before turning to each other in awe.

"T-This is amazing!" Pipu shouted, punching Minnru in the arm and laughing as the other Giras punched right back. "I feel like I could lift a mountain!"

"Or an entire island," Minnru growled, pumping his fists.

Ora just smirked and snatched the crystal ball from Niulang. With this much strength, they could rule the world!

"So you said you want 'im alive?"

"And the girl brought to me," Niulang added, lest the creature forgot. He handed over a chain with a crude stone attached to one end. "Use this, it will guide you to them."

"Got it. Boys! Let's fly!" The Giras waved a hand, gesturing for his men to follow him and then there was a chorus of flapping wings as they all rose into the sky.

Niulang watched them leave with weary eyes. If they did not succeed he would have to resort to usings mindless creatures to capture the girl. He suppose he could always summon a demon…but that was an option that not even he wanted to consider.

The price was always too high.

Still…it was better to have a back up plan.

He spun away, hurrying back to the castle to research every creature or monster he could summon should the Giras clan fail. He would not wait for the pair to recover but attack them when they were down.

One of them would eventually stumble. All he needed was a moment.

o0o

Chi-Chi sighed in contentment. The cool sheets were a refreshing change compared to the suffocating nights prior. She knew she'd need to open her eyes soon, so they could continue their journey after their respite…but she was just so comfy with Goku's firm chest under her cheek, and his strong, muscled limbs tangled with hers.

Last night had been incredible and she wanted to linger in the memory for as long as possible. The feel of his calloused hands caressing her skin before reaching down to touch her secret place with thick, nimble fingers…strumming something inside of her…

Chi-Chi sighed happily and snuggled into Goku's chest, blushing as she recalled his head ducking low to join his fingers, his rough tongue lapping her up like a kitten tasting milk for the first time. It had felt so scandalous! So naughty letting him kiss her there and yet…she couldn't find it in her to regret it. Not after the way he had made her feel.

She should have known he would be good with his mouth. Hadn't he already proven that with his regular kisses? Though to kiss her like that so much lower…goodness!

It made her want to try too.

She hadn't thought to do so that night on the boat. It had been her first time even seeing a penis, let alone touching one, that it hadn't even occurred to her. Now though…now she wondered what it would be like…

And if they had time for her to experiment before they left.

He was so big…it would take practice before she could take all of him into her mouth…lots and lots of practice…

Chi-Chi squirmed, rubbing her legs together as naughty thoughts dominated her mind. She was more than a little tempted to wake Goku up and run her tongue up his length…

…but something was tickling her thighs.

Frowning, she lifted the sheets and spotted a thick furry cord wrapped around her upper leg, the end of it brushing dangerously close to her…

Wait.

That wasn't a rope…

Chi-Chi screamed and scrambled back as far as she could manage as a startled Goku jerked awake.

"HUH?! What?! What's happening?" He cried, looking around. His gaze dropped to where Chi-Chi was pointing and suddenly he felt wide awake. "Oh hey! It's my tail! My tail's back Chi-Chi! Would ya look at that! I guess those healing springs really can heal anythiiiiiieeeek!"

"What's wrong?" Chi-Chi demanded, still on edge from her earlier scare. She searched his face for answers but Goku couldn't tear his eyes away from the cute little horns sitting innocently atop her head.

They were bigger than that time they'd appeared when they'd turn into kids, which meant Chi-Chi would not be happy. He'd have to break it to her gently and—

"What are you staring a—"

Chi-Chi brushed a hand through her hair, grazing one of her horns…and promptly screamed for the second time that morning.

Goku cringed and slapped his hands over his ears, but nothing seemed to stop the excruciating noise coming from Chi-Chi's mouth. It was only when she ran to search for a mirror that he had a chance to check them for bleeding. His fingers came back clean but he didn't know how long they'd stay that way, because as soon as she found a mirror she started crying again.

"They're back! They're back!" She wailed. "Oh why couldn' they just stay gone! Now everyone will kno' I'm not nooooormal! Wahhhhh!"

"Chi-Chi! Chi-Chi! Calm down, it'll be okay!" Goku told her, daring to get closer, but that turned out to be a mistake.

"Okay?! Okay?!" Chi-Chi demanded. She grabbed him, pinning his arms to his side, and shook him. "Do I LOOK okay to you?!"

"Well…yeah?"

She dropped him to the floor in disbelief and spun away, burying her face in her hands. "Ya can't possibly mean that! Oh what am I supposed to do? I can't get married like this!"

Goku sat up in alarm.

He finally just got her to say yes! There was no way he was gonna let her back out of it now!

Stepping closer, he gently tugged her hands away from her horns and said in the sternest voice he could manage, "Chi-Chi, stop that. There's nothin' wrong with you. If it bothers you so much we can just wish them away with the dragon balls."

"T-That's true…" Chi-Chi sniffled, her voice wobbly. "But…but what if we need them for something more important? That's why you gathered them in the first place."

Goku didn't think there was anything more important than making sure Chi-Chi and him got hitched, but he guess it couldn't hurt to wait until after they'd finished the last challenge.

"Then we can use them as soon as we're done with our trip and if we need to use 'em before then, ya can always get 'em removed like ya did before."

"Alright," Chi-Chi mumbled, still clearly upset. "What will I do until then though? Everyone will see…"

"So?"

Goku ran his fingers through her hair, playing with her horns. They really were cute. He started gathering her hair into two parts as Chi-Chi continued her mutterings.

"Everyone will think I'm some kinda freak."

"If you're a freak, Imma freak too," Goku grinned, tapping her thigh with his tail, earning a wet giggle. He wrapped a section of hair around each horn, creating two little messy buns. "But if ya really don't want folks to see, ya can always tie your hair up like this."

"Hm?" Chi-Chi lifted the mirror to examine his work and gasped in delight. "Oh Goku it's wonderful! Since when were you so talented with hairstyles?"

"Err, ya really think so?" Goku laughed, a little embarrassed and unwilling to admit he sometimes played with her hair while she slept.

He'd always seen Bulma do all sorts of weird things with hers and it made him wanna play around too. Unfortunately, though he liked the way his hair stuck out every which way, it didn't allow him to have fun with it the way Chi-Chi's or Bulma's did.

Chi-Chi didn't seem to notice his hesitancy though, content to fix the buns in place, only adjusting them slightly to make them more even. When she was finished she smiled at her reflection and then looked out the window, noting the sun had risen.

"I guess we better get going, huh?"

Goku agreed and after getting dressed and gathering their things—with Chi-Chi taking another half hour to fawn over and model his gift that had been forgotten in the heat of the moment last night—they made their way to the entrance of the village where Mazu, Nüwa, Zhong Kui, Nezha and Lu Ban were all waiting for them.

Lu Ban spoke up first, spotting the earrings Chi-Chi wore, and smiled. "I see they suit you. I am glad."

"Yes," Chi-Chi smiled, looking down shyly. "They're beautiful, thank you."

"It was my pleasure."

"Yes, yes," Nezha huffed, stepping forward to examine the earrings that her companion had been so willing to sacrifice an escape out of the desert to have made. "Lu Ban's work is fantastic as always." He held out a hand. "Necklace please."

"Wha? Oh, yes," Chi-Chi agreed hastily, recalling what Goku had told her about it earlier. She handed it over and she and Goku watched as Nezha muttered a few words under his breath before the ruby seemed to glow momentarily before settling back down again.

Nezha handed the necklace back to her, looking a little more tired but otherwise fine, and said, "All done. Just focus on what you're looking for and this will get you there. It'll glow brighter when pointed in the right direction and dim when going the wrong way."

"And this'll help us get outta this desert?" Goku asked, just wanting to be clear.

The young boy scoffed. "This'll get you wherever you want to go. Even if you're just focusing on a person."

"Really?" Chi-Chi gasped, seeing the potential in this immediately.

She focused her thoughts on Goku, specifically how she wanted to be where he was and then pointed the necklace several directions before finally turning it towards him making the ruby light up like a siren.

"Oh this is wonderful thank you!" Chi-Chi beamed, pressing a hand to her cheek in wonder. With this they could go straight to Baihu without fail!

Nezha flicked the tip of his nose with his thumb and smirked.

"Nothin' to it."

Lu Ban rolled his eyes at such bravado while the others began making their goodbyes, and then finally it was time to be off.

Goku and Chi-Chi passed through the gate, with Chi-Chi focusing her thoughts on exiting the endless desert and making their way to Baihu's domain somewhere far West as she held the ruby pendant in her hand.

She turned in a small circle slowly, and smiled when the ruby lit up. Catching Goku's eye, the pair traded matching grins and took off running, determined not to stop until absolutely necessary.

They ran for several hours, keeping stops to a minimum, and started coming across larger and larger sand dunes, their peaks growing higher, the valleys, lower. It was to such a degree that it would have normally had Chi-Chi second guessing, but she shoved those worries aside and kept on running, determined to get out of the desert today if possible.

Goku, didn't notice any of this, distracted as he was by Chi-Chi's buns.

He knew he'd been the one to suggest them, but every time his gaze drifted in her direction, he'd find himself staring at the top of Chi-Chi's head. Her hair reminded him of pork buns, making him hungry, but then again he was always hungry, so maybe it was because those buns were on Chi-Chi that they seemed to make him hungrier than usual. Especially cause he knew those buns were hiding her horns underneath.

It was a shame she didn't like them as much as he did, for some reason they made him excited, but Chi-Chi didn't seem to like him saying so.

He wondered if they were as sensitive as his tail.

Thoughts of how sensitive his tail was transformed into thoughts of a different sensitive area and how he could get Chi-Chi to stroke both at the same time…

Goku stumbled to a halt, needing a second to calm himself down, only to realize they had company.

"Chi-Chi look out!"

Unfortunately his sudden warning only caused Chi-Chi to freeze in her tracks.

Confused by his outburst, she skidded to a halt and looked over her shoulder, leaving herself wide open for the closest Giras to swoop down and shoot his merry go round gum around her, squeezing her tight.

"Ah!"

"Chi-Chi!"

"Get it off!" Chi-Chi cried, flexing her arms to get free only to feel it crushing her further.

Goku raced to her side and dug his fingers into the gum, intending to rip it off, but it didn't tear even a little. He didn't understand. He'd delt with one of theses guys when he was a kid, so why was it impossible to break now?

One of the Giras landed and made a swirling motion with his finger, prompting his men to surround them in a circle as he stomped forward.

"Sorry. You might have been able to break Giran's gum but you ain't breakin' mine," the Giras grinned, his eyes flashing maliciously. "I've gotten a lot stronger than he ever was."

"Not through your own strength," Goku growled. The power radiating off these guys felt wrong. Just like the worm. But these guys clearly didn't see the problem with that.

"So? Power's power. And now my clan finally has enough to take our revenge out on you for the humiliation Giran suffered at your hands."

"Fine! Fight me if you want but leave Chi-Chi out of this," Goku demanded, mentally tallying how many enemies there were. If they were all this strong, he didn't think he'd be able to take them on and keep Chi-Chi, trapped as she was, safe at the same time.

The leader nodded and stuck out a hand. "Okay let's shake on it."

"Really?" Goku brightened, sticking out his own in turn. "Great, thanks!"

But Chi-Chi couldn't trust it.

"Wait, Gok—"

"Sucka!"

The Giras latched onto Goku's arm and spit out another beam of merry go round gum, capturing him instead.

"Hey!" Goku cried, struggling to break free. "We had a deal!"

The Giras just laughed. "No we didn't. Only an idiot would have fallen for that!"

He marched past Goku, grabbed Chi-Chi like a piece of luggage and took off into the air, leaving his men to have their fun with the pipsqueak.

"Chi-Chi! CHI-CHI!"

Goku cursed and flexed his muscles, determined, but before he could get the gum to budge a Giras smacked him with his tail followed by another and another and another. They knocked him around in a circle as he struggled to free himself but if Goku had thought it was tough to break out as a kid, it was impossible while getting whacked around by a dozen enemies all at once. They kept swatting him back and forth with their tails as if he were some sort of ball, making him dizzy, all the while Chi-Chi and the guy who had her were getting farther and farther away!

Hold on Chi-Chi!

Chi-Chi would have held on if she could, as it was she couldn't hold onto anything with her arms bound so tight she could barely breathe.

Which meant her unfortunate ears were subjected to the self congratulatory monologue of the creep who had captured her.

"Giran cried like a whiny baby when I took over, said I didn't have what it takes to be a true leader. That I'd screw it all up some day but look at me now! Stronger than any Giras who's come before me, swimmin' in meat, milk and riches. I'm the best Giras to ever live!"

"Who cares!"

Ora stopped short in midair and swung Chi-Chi up to face him. "You gotta a lot of nerve talkin' to me like that, considering I'm the only thing standin' between you and a thousand foot drop."

"I'd rather take the drop," Chi-Chi scoffed, eyeing him with disgust. "Anything to put me outta my misery."

"No can do toots. I gotta a guy who paid big money for you."

"S'that right?" She muttered, wriggling under her restraint. "Does this creep have a name?"

And why the hell couldn't she break free? She knew she could break diamonds and that was the hardest thing known to man, that left only god items or things filled with ki and…

Oh.

Well these jerks were certainly no gods.

"Didn't come up, sorry."

Chi-Chi refrained from rolling her eyes—though just barely—knowing full well she needed to keep him talking so she could focus on reading the gum's ki without him noticing.

"I'm a princess ya know. My father could easily pay double of whatever you were offered."

Where was it…where was it…

"A princess?" The Giras laughed, much to her indignation. "You? You don't look like any princesses I've ever seen."

"We're not all damsels in distress!" Chi-Chi snapped.

There! It was sluggish and drawn out but that was definitely it! Now to just drain it slowly…

"Looks to me like you're in distress right now." The Giras laughed, shaking her a little, before noticing something. He picked apart one of her buns, revealing her horn underneath.

Chi-Chi stiffened.

"What the…what are you really?" he asked, dismantling her other bun.

"Shut. Up."

"You look more like some sort of demon than a princess."

"I said shut up."

"Unless you're a princess of hel—"

"I TOLDJA TO SHUT IT ALREADY!"

In an instant Chi-Chi drained all the ki from her restraint, shriveling it to nothing, and burst from the remains with a roar before landing a roundhouse kick to the Giras' face and torpedoing him to the earth as his men and Goku all watched in awe.

Even bound as he was Goku couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. It made him wanna get his hands all over Chi-Chi.

But first he had to take care of one little thing…

Not willing to be outdone, Goku took advantage of the Giras' distraction and forced all of his strength into his chest and arms and flexed, breaking free with a scream. "NGEEEEEEEAAAAHH!"

The Giras all stumbled back stunned.

"Impossible!"

"No way!"

"Who are these people?!"

Goku smirked and caught the eyes of several Giras as he wiped the remaining gum from his body. "Me? I'm your worst nightmare."

In a flash he disappeared and lashed out, punching, kicking, smashing, heaving. He'd been wrong. They weren't so tough. By the time he was finished, there wasn't a single Giras left standing.

o0o

"Worthless fools!" Niulang cursed, hurrying to his spell book.

With the Giras so easily defeated, his choices were limited. He would have to summon something even stronger than predicted.

He flipped to a page he had bookmarked and began gathering the ingredients for his next spell.

o0o

Goku threw all the Giras into a pile and waited for Chi-Chi to add their boss to the top with a "Hmph!" before turning to her and asking to borrow her sash.

"My sash?"

She handed him her weapon, confused but curious, and watched as he lassoed it around the pile of Giras only to lean back and spin rapidly in a circle before slingshotting them out of sight.

"Oh my!" Chi-Chi gasped, feeling her breath come a little faster.

And it wasn't because of the fight they'd just won.

She locked eyes with Goku and only had a second to gulp before he was on her, his hands everywhere all at once, and his lips and tongue trying to devour her like she was his last meal.

Goodness she wanted to be devoured.

But they couldn't. Not here.

"We can't," Chi-Chi cried, ripping her mouth away only to leave her neck vulnerable to Goku's determined lips. "Not out in the open! What if someone sees?"

Goku pulled back to shoot her a look of disbelief and then looked left, then right, for these supposed witnesses. When he had confirmed they were alone, he raised a brow in her direction that left her blushing for an entirely different reason.

"It could happen!" Chi-Chi pouted. "You literally just chucked a dozen hooligans over the horizon!"

"Hooligans?" Goku laughed, reminded why he'd been so aroused in the first place.

His wife was so strong.

He grabbed her ass, pressing her close, and squeezed a boob with his free hand, before slipping his tongue back into her warm mouth, savoring her taste as she moaned into his kiss.

Chi-Chi's scent deepened, alerting him to her desire, and that was all the signal he needed to slip his hand into her form fitting shorts and stroke a finger down her wet folds that made her legs give out even as he held her up.

"B-But what about the sand?" Chi-Chi worried as his fingers moved a little faster. Goku dragged his tongue up the length of her neck and nibbled her ear until he heard a breathy, "Oh fine just do it already!"

"Yes ma'am!"

He yanked down her shorts, plopped her legs up around his shoulders, and went to town licking and sucking and slurping and thrusting his tongue into every inch of Chi-Chi he could reach. He just couldn't get enough of her, enough of her taste, enough of feeling her muscular thighs suffocating his face, of her plump ass in his hands and her whimpers and moans as she wriggled in ecstasy above him.

Goku barely knew what he was doing, his only experience the night before, but every tug of Chi-Chi's hands on his hair or sound from her lips helped his confidence grow until he felt her stiffening and cry out as her release hit her all at once.

When it was over, Chi-Chi—still perched precariously on top of Goku's shoulders—slumped forward, just wanting to linger in the euphoria until she heard his muffled, "Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi is it my turn now?"

His turn?

Chi-Chi's desire, that had just been so thoroughly satiated, spiked at the thought of servicing Goku. Just that morning she had thought of giving him the same pleasure that he had just given her. Worked up as she was, she didn't need to think about it twice.

She flipped backwards onto her knees, landing directly in front of Goku so that all she needed to do was reach up and stroke him, his length already standing at attention, just waiting for her. Chi-Chi tugged his belt loose and let his pants fall around his ankles as she reached up to wrap her hands around him before leaning in to kiss his tip.

"What are you-nngh!"

Her tongue darted out, tasting the small bead of liquid, and then she dragged her tongue along the underside of his length a few times before taking as much of him into her mouth as she could manage.

"Chi-Chi!"

But Chi-Chi's mouth was too full for her to answer. Not really sure what to do from here, she decided to mimic how she'd moved her hand and bobbed up and down a little, taking in a bit more each time—praying that it was even half as good as he'd been for her—and just when she thought she couldn't continue any longer, she felt him stiffen in her mouth and then his sweet salty liquid was filling her cheeks, forcing her to swallow.

She pulled back with a pop, releasing him from her mouth, and giggled as he collapsed to his knees in front of her.

"Chi-Chi…Chi-Chi that was…"

That was the most incredible thing he'd ever felt in his life! He had thought she'd just use her hand like before but that…

If he didn't already know what it felt like to cum, he'd of sworn she just sucked the life right out of him.

But what a way to go.

His hands were on her again but this time when he lifted her up into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist allowing his cock to rub against her warm, wet folds.

He dropped his head to her shoulder and groaned.

Damn, it felt so good! Would her warm hole feel as good as her mouth did? Goku wanted to find out but Chi-Chi pushed him away instead.

"That's enough!" She scolded, though Goku could tell there wasn't any heat in her voice. "This isn't the place! I won't have our first time be out in the open, especially with all this sand!"

She didn't even wanna imagine the places it could get.

Goku pulled her back against him, his tail wrapping around her waist as he rubbed their bodies together and nuzzled her cheek. He took a deep breath and sighed. "I can't help it, ya just smell so damn good! It makes me hungry."

Hungry for her.

"Horny's more like it," Chi-Chi snorted.

"What's that mean?"

"It means ya wanna fool around like we're doing now," she explained, pointing to where his stiff member was currently poking her in the belly. Chi-Chi lowered her feet to the ground just as Goku snapped his fingers.

"Oh I get it! Cause it looks like a 'horn', right? Then what about you?" he asked, right as Chi-Chi squatted to pick up her shorts. He stepped up behind her and reached between her legs where her body was still slick. "When you wanna fool around, is it cause you're all wet?"

"Goku!" Chi-Chi gasped, swatting his hand away.

Goku chuckled but took a step back to give her some space as he licked his fingers. "Mmm, you didn't deny it."

How could she? It was the truth. Even so she couldn't let him continue his naughty talk. She'd already indulged him more than she should. She slid her shorts up, and gestured for him to do the same.

"I promise to fool around with you as much as ya want later—"

"REALLY?!"

"Within reason," Chi-Chi warned him, though she couldn't deny she was looking forward to it as well. "But first I wanna get somewhere safe. It was really risky doing that here after we'd just been attacked."

"That's true…" Goku admitted sheepishly.

But how could he help himself when seeing Chi-Chi in action excited him like that? Throw in her mouthwatering scent and it was a miracle he'd stopped after just one.

Goku sighed and pulled up his pants but frowned when he noticed his dick still sticking out despite the fabric. He scratched his cheek and frowned. "Uh, Chi-Chi?"

"Hm?"

"Carry me?"

"What? No." Chi-Chi rejected, turning to him with a frown. "Why do you need me to carry you?"

Goku pointed to his crotch and pouted. "Aw c'mon, please? It'll hurt if I run like this!"

"Can't you just will it down?" she asked, tilting her head to the side curiously. She wasn't a man so she had no idea how those things worked but she didn't think it could be that difficult. The way Goku was shaking his head no though suggested otherwise.

"Please? Ya can think of it like trainin'!"

"But you've got all those weights on you an—"

"You can do it!" He knew she could. "Like when you came back for me in the fire! You were so strong and cool!"

Just the memory made his heart race—which only fueled the hard on he was currently sporting.

"Pleeeease?" he begged, crouching so he could look up at her with big, round eyes.

Chi-Chi blushed and looked away, unable to handle such cuteness. Somehow she just knew that their marriage would be filled with him using those eyes to get his way.

Unfortunately she wasn't immune yet.

"You really thought I was cool?"

"Super cool!"

"Oh fine!" Chi-Chi huffed, though her red cheeks gave her away. She checked the pendant for the direction they needed to head and then scooped him up in her arms and took off running, much to Goku's gigglish delight.

o0o

"There!" Niulang cried, brushing the final stroke of the needed design. After confirming that it matched the one on his page, he placed his crystal orb in the center of the circle and waved a hand to show the girl and boy.

The girl was running with the boy in his arms. Was he injured? Niulang prayed it was so. It would guarantee his victory.

There was no time to waste!

He thrust his hands into a bowl of sand, feeding it his energy, his will, and chanted the words for the spell.

"Altahakum fi tahawul alrimal!"

o0o

Chi-Chi ran across the sandy terrain and frowned when she noted that Goku's little—or should she say giant—problem still hadn't lessened after several minutes. Unfortunately, there was no way she could have known that every second that went by without her breaking a sweat was only making him want her more.

How else was Goku supposed to feel when his wife was so strong? But he wasn't about to let her in on the secret.

His gaze darted between the ruby necklace and the ever looming horizon and back again.

The second they were somewhere that could be considered minimal shelter he was gonna kiss her so har—

A great roar erupted from out of nowhere and Goku automatically jumped into a fighting stance, only to be confused as the ground seemed to be caving in on itself.

"What the…"

This time it was Goku's turn to carry Chi-Chi as he swooped her up into his arms and jumped up high into the sky to see what was coming for them now.

"Oh please, please, don't let it be another giant worm!" Chi-Chi muttered.

It wasn't but she wasn't sure if what they got was much better.

The sand that disappeared into the earth's crust suddenly exploded upward and outward, forcing Goku and Chi-Chi to cover their faces.

However their faces weren't the only ones they had to worry about.

As soon as the last of the sand had been expelled from the ravine, a maelstrom of wind laced with a dark ki tore through the area, knocking them side to side. The currents howled and raged and from its fury, a wicked face formed, its mouth hanging wide open as it surged forward and tried to swallow them whole.

Goku stared, confused on how to fight something as insubstantial as sand, but he knew that getting caught wasn't an option. He held onto Chi-Chi tight and zigzagged them through the air, managing to keep just out of reach but never able to widen the distance. That is, not until the sand cloud disintegrated in a flash.

Only to reform directly in front of them.

Goku braked abruptly, throwing himself in reverse, but then the wicked face opened its mouth and out poured twenty howling dogs, with fire blazing down their backs and at their feet. The energy pouring off each was immense, the strength and speed of their movements enough to make even Goku wary and he had a feeling their teeth could cause him some serious damage.

He spun and took off in the opposite direction but the hounds were faster and one took a running leap and managed to catch his outstretched leg, sinking its teeth in and knocking Chi-Chi from Goku's grasp.

"Gyaah!"

Chi-Chi tumbled and hit the ground hard but she didn't have time to feel it. She shot to her feet and reached for her sash as she raced back to Goku's side.

"GOKU!"

The hell hounds were already on him! He'd curled up into a fetal position, protecting his vitals, but his limbs were still vulnerable to the creatures' sharp teeth.

Chi-Chi snapped out her weapon and whipped it around the throat of one beast and yanked it back before it could take another bite out of her beloved, and then did the same to another and another, giving Goku the advantage to throw the rest off. He whipped out his power pole and slammed several dogs back, then spun and struck out at the rest.

It wasn't enough.

As soon as he'd knocked down one set, the first were back on him, growling and snarling and biting. He threw them off again and again, only to get jumped by the hounds he'd turned his back on. He cursed and pummeled what he could, spinning and striking and spinning and striking, whatever was in reach of his staff. He just needed a moment to breathe! A moment to think! But whenever one dog fell another took its place, never taking damage and always coming back for more.

He needed to get rid of them permanently.

Goku backflipped out of the circle of hell hounds and shouted at Chi-Chi, "Catch!"

"Huh? Wait a sec—"

But Goku was already flinging his power pole to her occupied hands.

Luckily Chi-Chi had always had good reflexes.

She dropped her weapon and snatched the power pole out of the air, proceeding to copy Goku's earlier actions, all while keeping an eye on the man in question, to see what he was up to.

She didn't have to wait long.

Thinking about what he wanted, Goku snatched up his magic bag and shoved his arm in as deep as it would go until he felt something slimy and heavy fall into his hand. He yanked it out, revealing the largest, juiciest steak he had ever seen and then whistled at the dogs to get their attention.

"Here boys! I got somethin' for ya!"

The hounds all stiffened and turned as one, salivating upon spotting the juicy hunk of meat.

Goku smirked and gave it a little wave, carefully noting how each hellhound followed its movements, before chucking it as far as he could manage. The beasts didn't hesitate and took off, leaving the couple behind in their dust.

Chi-Chi turned her gaze back to Goku the second they disappeared, only to panic at the sight of him all bloody and torn up.

"Goku!"

She ran to his side as he dropped to a knee, and started fumbling for the capsule that contained their medical supplies until she remembered the senzu beans.

"Goku quick! The senzu, where are they?" she demanded, expecting him to hand them over but Goku shook his head no.

"There's only three left. We gotta save 'em for the last guy."

"But you're bleeding!"

"I've had worse," Goku smiled, trying to shrug it off, but now that the adrenaline was leaving him, he was starting to feel every place they'd torn a chunk out of him.

His smile must have given away how he felt though, because Chi-Chi just tsked and shot him her sternest glare.

"What good is savin' them if you're too injured to even make it there?" she demanded.

She wasn't wrong but Goku was still reluctant to use one.

"Half a senzu then," he bargained, to which Chi-Chi agreed. Anything was better than nothing at this point!

Goku pulled the little bean free from his pouch and snapped it in two, popping one half into his mouth. His wounds knitted closed, looking like bruises weeks old instead of the vicious bites he'd received, and his energy levels rose marginally. He sighed and climbed to his feet before looking off into the distance where the hounds had disappeared.

When he didn't sense their ki he turned back to Chi-Chi.

"Guess we better get going before somethin' else attacks us, huh?"

Chi-Chi watched him worriedly a minute longer before nodding her agreement. She checked the pendant for the direction they needed to go and then crouched down in front of him.

"Huh? What are ya doin' Chi-Chi?"

"It'll be easier for me to carry ya this way, so hurry up!"

Goku smiled and draped himself across her back as instructed, nuzzling his face into her hair as she hooked her arms around his legs, straightened, and took off running.

Chi-Chi really was the best.

o0o

"NO!" Niulang cried, dragging his hands through his hair. "Those stupid mutts! Utterly useless!"

He slammed his fist into a wall, knocking loose a long scroll that unfurled to reveal a set of elemental dragons.

Oh.

A slow smile found its way to his lips.

Well if lesser creatures were not up for the job, he was sure one of these were. After all not even Hou Yi had been able to best the legendary beasts.

Niulang picked up the scroll and skimmed over the necessary summoning ingredients, noting the rarity of a few pieces. It looked like he would only be able to call for one but it was no matter, for none were strong enough to stop such a fearsome creature.

"Soon," he muttered. "Soon I will finally be able to complete the switch to return Zhinu to my side."