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elisajdb · 1 year ago

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In the Marketplace

AN: Congratulations to @blauvixen winner for Favourte AU in the @the-gochi-awards

Her heart raced. Her palms sweated. She was scared yet excited, and despite it all, knew this is what she had to do.

Princess ChiChi pulled the hood of her cloak tighter as she traveled through an unguarded, hidden tunnel on the grounds of her castle. She studied the routine of the guards for weeks before finding a weak spot in security where she could escape. Her father, King Gyumao, loved her but as doting as he was to her, was a strict King with a violent temper. He wasn’t always this way but the death of her mother sent her father into a spiral of depression where his heart hardened and he became fiercely protective of ChiChi. That protectiveness led ChiChi to have a sheltered life. He won’t be happy about her running away but she hoped her decision will open his eyes to her feelings.

For eighteen years, ChiChi felt like a prisoner in her castle. She lived as a sheltered future Queen not allowed outside the protective walls of her palace. She was not allowed to engage with people she will one day rule. Decisions of her life were made without her voice. She was dictated on what to eat, how to dress, and how to be a Princess and Future Queen.

When her father decided to choose her husband after ChiChi’s many rejections of suitors, ChiChi reached her limit. All her suitors were pompous and rude. They were not interested in her. She was a prize because she was the heir to the throne. ChiChi wanted to marry for love but her father didn’t listen to her concerns.

“These princes with their wealth and army will protect you, ChiChi. I failed to protect your mother. I won’t lose you.”

ChiChi knew of the invasion that cost her mother’s life. Her father and his teacher battled King Piccolo and his minions. The castle was left with limited guards since most of the army was wiped out and the remaining soldiers were on the battlefield. While her father and his teacher seal away the wicked King Piccolo in a magical lamp, his minion, Tambourine, breached the castle walls and killed her mother.

ChiChi used the tragedy to become a strong and exceptional fighter. Her father taught ChiChi how to fight but still had an archaic mind she should marry heirs of richer kingdoms who can provide the protection he thought ChiChi needed.

If she were to be Queen, ChiChi wanted a life outside the palace. She wanted to know her people and choose her husband. She didn’t know of any way to do this other than running away. ChiChi always overheard the maids and cooks talk about the marketplace; how it was lively with food, people, and shops.

It excited her so much that when she escaped her home, the marketplace was the place she went to. It was like stepping into a new world. Voices from all directions yelled for food from their booths. There were so many varieties of foods with appeasing sights and smells. People performed fire and magic tricks in the middle of the streets. People happily converse with each other as they shopped. ChiChi saw mothers with their children, kids playing and people happily going about their lives.

Walking through the marketplace, ChiChi realized how much she missed out. Her father didn’t allow her the freedom her people celebrated every day. For her protection he said but ChiChi saw a price of that protection.

True friendships. Natural growth. True love.

Her stomach growled.

And the value of money.

ChiChi heard of money but never used it. Her status didn’t require her to use money but in the marketplace, she wasn’t Princess ChiChi of Mt. Fry Pan. She was an ordinary woman walking through the market.

Her stomach growled again.

A hungry ordinary woman.

She wanted to taste the foods offered; wanted to purchase the jewelry trinkets and clothes being sold but couldn’t because she didn’t have money.

Money was needed to live and she had none. ChiChi looked in the direction of the palace. She couldn’t sneak back for any. She made her decision to leave. She’ll have to try to make it on her own.

ChiChi wasn’t sure how. She turned to leave and venture to another area of the marketplace to think of her next steps when a stick of meat covered in sauce jumped in her face. ChiChi stepped back startled. Where did that come from?

“Don’t you want it? You were looking at it.”

ChiChi turned to the voice and saw a young man looking down at her. He had unusual black spikes of hair that defied the laws of gravity, coal-black eyes that peered at her warmly, and a cute smile.

“For me?”

“It’s on sale two for one. I was gonna eat it but I saw you staring and heard your stomach. I figured you were hungry and didn’t have any money.” He chuckled. “I’ve been there.”

ChiChi put a hand on her stomach embarrassed she was heard. “Was it loud?”

“I’ve got good ears.” He waved the stick of food at her. “Want it?”

“Thank you.” It was a simple act of kindness but it touched ChiChi he did this for her.

“I’m Son Goku,” he snacked on the greasy meat. “Who are you?”

“I’m……” He doesn’t know I’m the princess. “I’m Chi.”

“Are you new here?” Goku’s lips smacked as he nosily ate his food. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

With her cloak, ChiChi thought she blended with the other women dressed in a similar fashion. “How do you know I’m new here?”

“If I’d seen you before, I would know it.”

“Why is that?”

The warm gaze Goku gave her as he said, “You stand out,” touched ChiChi more than any poetic compliment her suitors gave her. Oh, they spoke honeyed words to her but none of them looked at her the way Son Goku did.

Like she is the only woman in the world.

Goku’s words felt genuine. ChiChi felt she could be a little honest with him. “I’ve been stuck at home my entire life. My Dad doesn’t want me to go out. Today, I left.”

“You ran away,” Goku spoke the truth. “I come and go as I please.”

The freedom to leave when one wants sounded like a dream to ChiChi. “What about your parents? Don’t they stop you?”

“Don’t have any. I was orphaned as a baby and found by an old man. I called him Gramps. He raised me until he died when I was seven.”

Orphan? ChiChi’s heart ached for him. “And you’ve been on your own ever since?”

“Yeah,” Goku said it with a smile but ChiChi knew he was hiding his sadness. He had to be her heart told her.

“It’s fine,” Goku was aware of how his story sounded. He was used to pitying looks. He didn’t care for those looks but the way ChiChi looked at him wasn’t pity. He would say she looked at him with admiration and something welcoming; kind of how Gramps looked at him but something much deeper. She was a different kind of girl. Goku knew that because he gave her his food. Goku never did that before. On his own for years and having to fight for everything, Goku looked out for himself, but when he saw ChiChi exploring the marketplace alone, staring at the food and heard her stomach growl, he was drawn to help her.

“Gramps taught me enough,” Goku went on. “He taught me how to fight. It helped me survive. I fight for food or money to buy me food.” He tugged the bulky tote bag on his right shoulder. “I came from a fight and I bought food to last me until my next match.”

“You’re a fighter?” That would explain his build. All her suitors wore the finest clothes but even with fashionable clothes, ChiChi noticed they were padded and the men were skinny. Nothing was padded on Son Goku and she liked that. She also liked Goku could fight. “I can fight. My Dad taught me.”

“Really?” Goku’s eyes lit up. “I never met a girl who can fight. Let’s fight each other.”

Oh, she couldn’t fight him. She’ll embarrass him. She was trained by her father who fought King Piccolo. Goku was a boy from the streets. Her skills excelled his. “I couldn’t do that.”

“If you want, I’ll go easy on you since you’re a girl.”

ChiChi glowered at him. Oh, she didn’t like that. She didn’t want to fight him to save his pride and he insult hers!

“If that’s what you want,” ChiChi accepted the challenge, “but I won’t go light on you for being a boy and you will regret treating me lightly because I’m a girl!”

****

Impossible! How can he be so skilled?

That was one of many thoughts running through ChiChi’s mind as she found herself knocked on her back again. She couldn’t lay a hand on him but Goku was able to flip her, block and dodge every kick and punch she threw at him.

It was insulting that she, the daughter of King Gyumao, couldn’t beat a fighter who learned his skills from an old man on the streets. What made it even more insulting, Goku hadn’t broken a sweat, whereas she was sweating in her cloak.

As if reading her thoughts, Goku told her. “Maybe if you remove that cloak, it would give you some speed. It’s slowing you down.”

He was trying to be helpful with his advice but ChiChi thought it was insulting. She didn’t want to remove her cloak. She wore it to conceal herself. If she removes it, she worried Son Goku will know who she is.

“But maybe not,” Goku thought out loud. “Even if you remove that cloak, I’ll still beat you.”

Who cares if he learns her identity!

“Oh yeah?” ChiChi rose and removed her cloak. “We’ll see about that!”

Goku’s eyes widened and his mouth open slightly. He recognized her but ChiChi didn’t care. She wanted her pride back and she wanted to defeat Goku. Removing the cloak did make ChiChi faster but it still wasn’t enough. With another block and leg sweep, ChiChi was on her back kissing the rooftop.

Again.

“You’re good.” Goku’s praise didn’t heal ChiChi’s pride. “Sorry if I was rough on ya. Gramps told me to be gentle with girls.” He took her hands and pulled ChiChi to her feet. “I really should especially because of your situation. Sorry,” Goku apologized. “I didn’t know.”

ChiChi rolled her eyes. Being a princess wasn’t a situation. “All right. You know my secret. You don’t have to treat me differently. It’s why I left home.”

“You’re right,” Goku agreed. “I’m poor like you, too, and I don’t want people treating me differently.”

“Poor?” ChiChi picked up her cloak. “Why do you think I’m poor?”

Goku pointed at her. “Because of your clothes. You’re wearing a bra.” He pointed to himself. “I can only afford a vest and pants. I can’t afford shoes.” He wiggled his bare toes to make his point. “I could substitute the money I make from fighting to buy shoes but I like eating too much.”

ChiChi gaped at Goku. He thought she was poor because of her clothes? What about the gold bands on her wrists and ankles on her pants? What about her jeweled headband and earrings? Did he think she wore fake jewelry?

“So, um…..” Goku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, “you’re not mad at me?”

And just like that, what anger ChiChi had towards Goku evaporated. How could she stay mad at him when he thought so innocently? “No. I’m not mad at you. I don’t understand how I couldn’t beat you. My father trained me and he was trained by Master Roshi. He’s a legend.”

Goku’s face lit up. “Gramps was trained by him! No wonder you’re so good!”

Good? She couldn’t hit him! But that wasn’t important now. “Your grandfather was trained by Master Roshi? My Dad told me there was another person who trained with him. My Dad couldn’t beat him.” If that person was Goku’s grandfather, that explained why he’s so skilled. And why I couldn’t beat Goku.

“So, you’re not mad I beat you?”

Her pride will sting for a few days but she wasn’t mad. She was impressed. She didn’t think a guy could beat her in a fight. “No, I’m not, but next time,” she lightly punched his face, “I’ll beat you.”

“I look forward to our rematch but not now. I’m starving!”

Goku went to retrieve his tote bag. ChiChi was going to put her cloak back on but since Goku didn’t recognize her as the princess, changed her mind and tossed it over an arm. She saw lights from homes and smoke coming from the chimneys. “The view is great.”

Goku saw ChiChi looking at the rooftops. If she liked this, he had a real view of her. “When we get to my place, I’ll show you a real view.” He pointed to two rooftops ahead of them. “Mine is right there.”

“Where? Oh!” ChiChi gasped as Goku raised ChiChi off her feet. What was he doing she wondered as he held her with one hand under her hip. “Wha-oh!” Her right breast poke his eye. Did that actually happen?

“Ow!” Goku chuckled as the soft flesh slapped him. “It’s okay, it’s okay, but see my place? It has the red sheet hanging outside.”

ChiChi raised her hand to her forehead to block the evening sun. She saw a high rooftop with a red sheet hanging in front of the entrance. “I see it. Now put me down.”

Goku set ChiChi back on her feet. He went to a ledge and made a small jump between rooftops. ChiChi followed. When they went to the next ledge, ChiChi noticed there was a wider jump between this rooftop and Goku’s rooftop. Goku jumped, making the leap. It was an easy leap for him since he did it every day but ChiChi will need help. He grabbed a broken beam and laid it down connecting his rooftop to the one ChiChi stood on. “It’s too far for you to jump this one but you can cross---”

Goku’s words fell off when he saw ChiChi make a smooth landing in front of him. He looked at the ledge ChiChi jumped from and back at her speechless before he broke into a smile. “Chi, you’re incredible.”

ChiChi felt some of her pride return as she caught Goku’s gaze. He was impressed. “You didn’t think I could make that jump.”

“No, but I’m glad you did. Come on,” he grabbed her hand. “My home is this way.”

ChiChi imagined her handmaidens screaming at her and her father furious over how she behaved today with Goku. To them, this would be scandalous but ChiChi trusted her heart. This day brought her wonders and excitement she never felt before. For the first time, she could explore and do what she wanted as a young woman. She could spend time with a handsome young man she liked.

A man who humiliated and humbled her. He was kind to her and treated her so because she is a person and not because she is a princess. He was strong with an adorable innocence she was falling for hard.

ChiChi was aware of her lack of experience but was confident she can be in control of her feelings. With Son Goku, ChiChi felt out of control and falling deeper and deeper into Goku. The more she knew of him, the more she liked and her curiosity thirsted for more.

“Is this where you live?” ChiChi stared at the outside entrance of Son Goku’s home. It was in slight disrepair with cracked walls and a torn red sheet that was used as a door. It was smaller than her bedroom but Goku offered his place to her because she ran away.

“Yup. It’s small but it has all I need.” Goku pushed aside the worn sheet and walked inside. “I hope it has all you need, too.”

Inside looked smaller than outside. There was a futon in the corner, a table with two mismatch chairs, ragged pillows. No signs of indoor lighting or plumbing. Or windows ChiChi realized as she felt a light breeze blow behind her. It came from sheets being used as a window.

“Pull it back,” Goku told her. “You’ll get a real good view.”

Curious, ChiChi pulled the sheet to see a grand view of her home. Of all the things to see…..

“Great view, ain’t it?”

He would think so. Her palace represented beauty, grandness, hope and a happy life. ChiChi saw it as an oppressive domicile where she’s trapped. ChiChi pulled the sheet forward shielding her home from her view. “It’s wonderful.”

“Are you hungry, Chi?”

“A little. Oh!” ChiChi turned to see Goku slide an apple down his arm. He flipped his hand and jerked the apple in the air where ChiChi caught it. Goku winked at her and went to his table to finish unloading his bag. ChiChi looked at the apple touched again by Goku’s kindness but felt a wave of guilt washing over her. He had so little and was willing to give it all to ChiChi when she was a woman with everything.

Goku went to the table and opened his bag. He pulled out a loaf of bread and a few slabs of uncooked meat. “We’ll have to cook the meat on the roof. I don’t have that seasoning stuff for---"

ChiChi put the apple down. “I can’t eat this.”

Goku reached into his bag for an orange. “I have an orange if---”

“No,” ChiChi stopped him. “I can’t eat this. You need it more than me.”

“I’m a little hungry, but….”

ChiChi shook her head. “No. You’re poor.”

Goku frowned deeply at ChiChi. “I ain’t so poor I couldn’t give you part of my lunch and I wanna share dinner.” He pouted. “I was even gonna give you my futon.”

“I didn’t mean to offend.” ChiChi tried to explain. “I’ve never met a poor person before and I know I shouldn’t take from them.” Oh, that made it more confusing because Goku thinks she’s poor! “I’m…. I’m not poor, Goku.”

Goku didn’t react. He stared unsure he heard right. “You’re not poor? But your clothes…..”

ChiChi heisted because she knew things will change after this and she didn’t want that. “I like you.”

Goku smiled. “I like you, too.”

ChiChi wasn’t sure if he will still feel that way when she tells him the truth. I can’t keep lying to him. “I’m Princess ChiChi of Mt. Fry Pan. I’ve done everything everyone’s wanted my whole life but when my father decide to pick who I marry, I couldn’t stay. I want a life of my own. I want to choose my husband.” She doubted she made sense to Goku. She thought she sounded like a rambling blubbering mess in front of a boy she’s come to care for. “I should go,” she collected herself. “Forget we met. Forget we---”

ChiChi’s eyes widened as Goku suddenly pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were meant for her future husband, a prince by her father’s preference. Not a poor young man but as she felt his soft lips on hers, inhaled his woodsy scent and felt his arm come around her, ChiChi wanted her lips to only belong to him.

“I don’t care if you’re a princess,” Goku said when he pulled away. “I like you.”

This time ChiChi initiated the kiss. And I think I love you. She hugged him feeling a heavy sense of relief Goku wasn’t going to reject her.

“But you gotta talk to your Dad. Tell him how you feel.”

“I did, Goku. He won’t listen.”

“I’ll go with you,” Goku offered. “We’ll talk to him together. Maybe he’ll listen to his training partner’s grandson you should do what you want.”

He spoke so hopeful and confident it will work. “He might listen to some things.” ChiChi knew Goku’s strength will impress her father enough to listen to him. He might give in on some things but there was one thing ChiChi wasn’t certain her Dad will give in on. “But he might not approve of us dating.”

“I’ll fight him for that chance.” He winked at ChiChi. “And you know I’ll win.”

It didn’t matter to ChiChi if her Dad approve. She knew in her heart today in the marketplace, she met the man she will marry.

#Goku #ChiChi #GoChi #gochi awards 2023 #dragonball #AU

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