#gohan would fight anyone who called goku a bad dad

[dailycupofcreativitea]

Goku and Gohan hugging redraw 🥹

[duhragonball]

Gohan for the character ask!

Give me a character and I will answer:

Why I like them: I think the main appeal of Gohan is that he’s constantly being pulled in two directions.   You can interpret those two opposing forces however you please: Saiyan vs. Earthling, Chi-Chi vs. Goku, fighter vs. scholar, etc.   But I think it’s a pretty relatable dilemma.  

What’s also relatable is that Gohan tries to blaze his own trail, even as he works hard to satisfy everyone’s expectations of him.   The moral of his story is that it’s not always easy to find your own path.  It sounds liberating, but it also means you’re on your own.  

Why I don’t: Very early on, I was frustrated with Gohan being such a major player in DBZ when it didn’t seem like he was qualified for the role.    It took me a while to recognize how important his “hidden” power was to the story.   That, and the fact that the good guys usually only ever involved him in a battle because they had no other options.   I think it’s interesting that Gohan maintains such a low profile during the Androids/Cell arc, so when he finally gets tapped to fight Cell at the end, it’s treated like a huge plot twist.   It’s ironic, because Gohan was so instrumental in defeating Vegeta, and if he had beaten Frieza on Namek, I don’t think anyone would have been shocked.   As it is, he was built up to be the guy who would beat Majin Buu, and everyone’s still mad that he lost. 

For a time, I was frustrated that Gohan was technically the strongest character at the end of the Buu Saga, even though Goku was the main guy.    It just felt wrong somehow, and I’ve seen enough “Mystic Gohan vs. SSJ3 Goku” threads on the internet to know that a lot of people used denial to cope with it.  

None of this really made me dislike the character, though.   I think most of the hand-wringing about Gohan is just a side-effect of that tug-of-war he’s been in his whole life.  Some fans want to see him kick ass, some want to see him settle down and be a student/family man/scholar.    Super tried to play it both ways by having Gohan be out of shape and then suddenly get good after a crash course with Piccolo.   It seemed like half the fans were happy to see that and half were upset.    Personally, I liked that approach better than how they handled him in GT, where he dressed like a nerd in church but could still throw down with Vegeta.   He used SSJ1 the whole time, so what happened to the Elder Kai power up?    GT just shrugged and hoped no one would care.   

For my part, I think it makes sense for Gohan to try to balance fighting and academia and family life.   Team Four Star made a lot of hay out of the idea that Gohan hates fighting, full stop, but I don’t totally buy that.  Gohan may not enjoy fighting for his life, or killing people, but I think he’s cool sparring with his family, for example.  But he can’t just throw himself into it like the others, so he’s got to train hard to keep up, and then he has to work hard at his ill-defined job, and then he has to be a good parent.   That’s the character.   Goku can be carefree, but Gohan has a lot of responsibilities. 

I do sort of wish they would focus on that balancing act, since that’s what Gohan’s all about.  Super only did it long enough to spackle over a plot hole.   “Frieza beat him in one hit, so how’s he going to do any good in the Tournament of Power?   Oh, Piccolo worked him over for a while, so he’s back in shape now.”    It’s not enough, and I think this is why some fans argue over the dilemma instead of appreciating the dilemma.   It’s a feature, not a bug.

Favorite episode (scene if movie):

Gohan just dismantling Cell is the standard by which I judge all wrestling grudges.    The reason WWE sucks is that they’ll have the bad guy Perfect Cell all over the place for months, and then they fuck up the part where the good guy is supposed to turn SSJ2 and dole out sweet, sweet consequences.    If all you know how to do is the first half of the formula, then... well, I’m cancelling my WWE Network subscription, I guess.  I forgot where this analogy was heading.  

Point is, Gohan’s an awesome moment factory.   Take a look.

You can’t go wrong.

Favorite season/movie: Cell Games, let’s be honest.  

Favorite line: When he calls Super Buu a r-- hahaha, no.   I’m actually thinking of the part in the Funimation dub when Cell starts to panic.    In Japan, the narrator explains Cell’s fear, and in Latin America it was meme fuel, but in the U.S., Gohan reminds Cell that he warned him about this. 

“What are you so afraid of Cell? Isn't this what you wanted? I warned you! I told you what would happen if you pushed me too far! But you didn't listen! You forced me to awaken my hidden power! And now that you've seen it, you're afraid...because you know that I'm going to destroy you!” 

It’s a brilliant bit of work, because you can’t see Gohan’s face in the shot, so he can be the one to point out what the narrator says in all the other versions.   They all compliment each other so well.    I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for Brickshitting Cell.  

Favorite outfit:

It’s a tough call, but Casual Friday Great Saiyaman is a killer look, and one of the few Gohan outfits that isn’t based on some other thing.   Let’s be real because I am keeping it real: Videl only wanted to unmask Great Saiyaman because she saw his outfit and could not stop thinking about how hot he’d look if he ditched the helmet and cape and wore sunglasses instead.   

OTP: Videl.   Well, Gohan and Videl.    Godel?   Vihan?   None of these sound right.   He should stick with the lady he made a baby with, is what I’m saying.

Brotp: Krillin literally calls him bro throughout the Namek arc, so I think this one wins by default.   On the other hand, Goten is literally Gohan’s brother, so I guess that can’t be ignored.  

Personally, I think of Piccolo more as a brother figure to Gohan than a father figure, since he’s only a few years older than him, so maybe that’s my answer, but whatever. 

Head Canon: I think Gohan is disillusioned with outer space after having traveled to another planet and finding only death and horror.   It’s kind of tragic that this is a kid who should be totally into space and spaceships and he should be telling space facts to everyone who will listen, but that probably stopped being fun after Namek.  

Unpopular opinion: He was never going to be the main character of DBZ.   I think even Toei was hoping for some sort of torch-passing thing, but it never materialized, and Gohan only took the reins because Goku was too dead or Vegeta was too evil to do it instead.   And Gohan never really wanted to be the main character anyway.    I look at him and see a guy who’s totally happy to be the overlooked son of this pop culture phenomenon.    He sees his dad’s parade float and he’s just super-thrilled to see his dad in baloon form.    There’s no sense of “If only I was better at this, and then I could have my own parade baloon!”  That’s Vegeta.   

A wish: Pay Bruce Faulconer whatever he wants and use “Gohan Fights Frieza” in the next anime where Gohan kicks somebody’s ass.    Also, make a new anime where Gohan kicks somebody’s ass.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: You know, one of these years, some official DBZ story is going to be made where they decide to “get serious” and have Gohan say a bunch of “cathartic” stuff to Goku, calling him a terrible father or some other horseshit.    Like how DC brought back Jason Todd just to have him bitch at what a crappy parent Batman is.    Again, I hope I’m safely cremated before that happens, but so many pompous dopes are gonna gush about a hacky moment like that, and go on their YouTube vlogs to say “it’s about time!”    

5 words to best describe them: Gohan Fights Frieza Dot mp3.

My nickname for them: I... don’t really have one?   Do people nickname fictional characters?   I didn’t know that was a thing.

[elisajdb]

Life With You XXXII:

Part Thirty-Two: A New Life: Part One

  Goku’s second memorial happened at her father’s kingdom. ChiChi wanted it to be lowkey but with her father nothing is lowkey. The memorial was held in the same room of the castle where she and Goku married. Everyone from the village attended. It was packed to where it was standing room only with the rest of the citizens outside her father’s castle.

 Unlike the memorial with Goku’s friends, ChiChi felt welcomed. There were so many bows and kind words from her father’s people. It was almost overwhelming. They all had such high praise for Goku and offered so much support. After the memorial, Gyu-Mao invited ChiChi and Gohan to stay at his castle for a few days to unwind and be pampered but ChiChi thought it was best she and Gohan go home. She wouldn’t mind staying but Gohan was bothered. Gohan was grateful to the condolences from the villagers. He spent a lot of time with children who attended but something in the last hour bothered him. He was oddly close to her. He didn’t want to leave her alone and ChiChi thought it was his way of saying he’s tired and want to go home.

 It was nightfall when they returned home. The house was eerily quiet. ChiChi and Gohan carried in food and meals prepared by the villagers. “With everything we brought back, we won’t be hungry for meals for a while.”

 “Especially for rice,” Gohan chimed as he carried a bag of rice that was almost his size.

 “And produce.” ChiChi opened the large box of vegetables one of the farmers gave her. “It’ll save some money I would’ve spent at the store.”

 While ChiChi began putting items away, Gohan brought in the rest of the food. “This is the last box.” Meat was stored in this one. “I’ll put this in the freezer chest.”

 “Thank you, Gohan.” Gohan’s mood was brighter. It changed when they left her father’s castle. Now they were home, ChiChi wanted to know why. “Was the memorial too hard on you, Gohan?” Gohan turned to her puzzled. “You didn’t want to stay when Grandpa offered his castle for a few days.” There was that frown again. Something did bother Gohan. “Is it Grandpa?”

 “No.” Gohan turned away and resume placing meat in the freezer chest.

 “Then what is it?” She waited but Gohan didn’t answer. “Gohan, please don’t keep things from me. It’s you and me now. We shouldn’t keep things from each other.”

 “Gohan, what are you doing?! Finish it! FINISH OFF CELL!!!”

 “Gohan!! You’re the only one who can finish it! Do it now!! Don’t let it get desperate! We don’t know what it will do!!”

 Gohan shut his eyes at the painful memory. His mother could never know. He saw what she did to Krillin. What if she kicks him out of the house? What if she doesn’t forgive him?

 “Gohan?” ChiChi called again. “What is it? Please tell me.”

 He couldn’t tell her about Cell but he could tell her what bothered him at the memorial. “Does Mr. Kaifun love you? Did he and Mrs. Niver hate Dad because you married him?”

 The peppers in ChiChi’s hands slipped back into the box. How did he know about that? “Where did you hear this?”

 Last time Gohan saw Kaifun and Mrs. Niver, he was with his parents on his way to Grandpa’s castle. Mrs. Niver said mean things about his father and slapped him. Dad had to hold Mom back from fighting the old woman. Gohan overheard talks from other adults that implied Kaifun and Mrs. Niver didn’t like his parents. He didn’t spend time with Mrs. Niver but Kaifun was always kind to him. Gohan figured the stress of the Cell Game caused them to react out of frustration and fear. Kaifun was so kind to him but since that incident, Gohan had suspicions about him.  

 Despite that, Gohan wanted to thank Kaifun for attending both memorials. He didn’t have a chance after the first one since he left with the others to say goodbye to Trunks. After this memorial service ended, ChiChi was surrounded by villagers expressing condolences. Gohan spotted Kaifun and his grandmother leaving. Gohan didn’t know if they were leaving to go home or if they were going to the ballroom where food will be served but he wanted to thank Kaifun for coming. He followed them.

 “This place is dusty. When I worked here, there wasn’t a speck of dust.”

 “Looks clean to me.”

 “Hmph. It wouldn’t pass my wipe test.”

 “Just be glad ChiChi and King Gyu-Mao are too broken up by Goku’s death they allowed me to invite you to the memorial, Grandma. They could’ve refused since you are still banned from the castle.”

 Mrs. Niver harrumph. “Well, if you married ChiChi like you should’ve I wouldn’t have been banned. We wouldn’t be having this ridiculous ceremony.”

 Kaifun sighed. “She didn’t want me, Grandma. She wanted Goku. I loved her but she wanted Goku.”

 Mrs. Niver carried on not listening. “If you waited until Son Goku died, you could’ve made your move on ChiChi. She’s finally free from that waste of sperm. A year or two from now, you could’ve been her husband and be the father Gohan deserves. You could’ve put another baby in her but you had to be impatient and settle down with that plain wife of yours.”

 “Grandma!” Kaifun scolded. “Stop talking bad about my wife. I love her.”

 “Not as much as ChiChi. I know you still love her. You deny it but I know the truth.”

 ChiChi had a hand over her chest. Gohan heard all that? What was those two thinking talking like that at Goku’s memorial where anyone could’ve heard them?

 “It’s true.” His mother’s reaction confirmed it for Gohan. “Isn’t it?”

 ChiChi slid in a chair. If Gohan hadn’t heard that, she wouldn’t tell Gohan anything but now….. “Kaifun did confess being in love with me but he doesn’t have those feelings anymore. Mrs. Niver,” ChiChi sighed, “she never accepted Goku and wanted Kaifun to marry me.”

 “Why?” Gohan sat down, too. “Is there history between our families? If Mr. Kaifun loved you, then did you love him? Before Dad?”

 “No,” ChiChi shook her head. “I didn’t love Kaifun but there is history between our families.” ChiChi pondered how much to tell Gohan. He’s seen so much in his young life. Gohan looked so insistent. He wanted to know and ChiChi knew it will be another shatter to his innocence. “You know Grandpa wasn’t always a good person.”

 Gohan knew. “Yes. You told me how Grandpa’s castle was cursed with fire because of the bad things he did. He wasn’t a good king then.”

 “Yes. One of his people addressed Grandpa of his wicked ways. He cursed Grandma, too. Because of that, Grandpa cut off his head.” Gohan’s eyebrows rose. He wasn’t expecting that. “That man was Mrs. Niver’s husband.”

 “Oh,” Gohan said after a long silence. “But that doesn’t explain why she would be mad you married Dad. Wouldn’t she hate you and Grandpa for what he did?”

 It would make the most sense but no one suspected the old woman’s motives for years. “When Grandpa changed his ways, Mrs. Niver was the first one to forgive him. She encouraged everyone to give Grandpa a second chance. Grandpa was so grateful, he hired Mrs. Niver to live and work in his castle.”

 Gohan thought carefully of this information and what he knew now of Mrs. Niver. He needed more information so he let his mother continue.

 “I thought Mrs. Niver was so kind. So did Grandpa. She was how I imagined my grandmother would’ve been.” Even now, it saddened ChiChi how all of that was a lie. “Kaifun visited a lot. We became friends. Mrs. Niver always hinted how Kaifun will be a good husband for me. When I was sixteen, Kaifun confessed his love for me. I refused him. I was promised to your Dad. Kaifun kept trying even though I always rejected him. Kaifun and Mrs. Niver were very insistent your Dad forgot about me and will not marry me.”

 Gohan heard enough. He wanted to share his theory. “Mrs. Niver pretended to be nice to you so you will marry Mr. Kaifun.” When his mother didn’t deny it, he asked, “Why?”

 “Mrs. Niver thought for Grandpa to truly repent I must marry her grandson. With us married, we can share the kingdom. What sad is I don’t think Kaifun knew of his grandmother’s scheme. She used him and he genuinely developed feelings for me. It was a waste but I was too smitten with your Dad to look at another guy.”

 “When did you learn all this?”

 “I was pregnant with you when I suspected Mrs. Niver true intentions. Mrs. Niver never accepted your Dad and never wasted a moment saying unflattering things about him. Kaifun, too. He hated your father.”

 “What did Dad think of this?”

 “You know your Dad. He didn’t care what anyone thought of him, but…..” ChiChi recalled one incident she later realized was caused by the effects of the full moon. “One night, your Dad wasn’t happy. It was a dinner Grandpa invited Mrs. Niver and Kaifun. He wanted to end this tension for me since I was pregnant. Your Dad was different. He was aggressive, protective and argumentative.”

 “Dad?” Gohan couldn’t imagine his father being that way. Aggressive yes, but protective and argumentative?

 “It was a surprise to me, too. Your father talked to Kaifun. I don’t know what happened between them but Kaifun never openly spoke ill of your Dad again. Even though Kaifun is married with a child, your Dad still didn’t trust him around me.”

 “Because Mrs. Niver is right about Mr. Kaifun?” Gohan guessed. “He’s still in love with you?”

 Oh, boy. It was bad Goku thought that. ChiChi wouldn’t let her son think that, too. “That’s words of an old woman who’s angry her wicked scheme didn’t work. Kaifun’s not in love with me anymore, Gohan, so don’t worry about him.”

 Mom believed Kaifun moved on but his father didn’t, and if he didn’t, Gohan knew he couldn’t trust Kaifun around his mother either.

 ****

 ChiChi awakened a third time that night. She couldn’t sleep. Goku died two weeks ago and since his death, she found it difficult to sleep, cook and clean. She only cooked because Gohan needed to eat but she hardly ate herself.

 This was so hard. When Goku died the first time, she took comfort in the fact she would see him in a year. Now, she won’t see him until she died. That wouldn’t be for a long time. If it were only her, she would kill herself to be with Goku but Gohan needed her. She didn’t want her son to be an orphan. Goku can’t be here anymore but she will be his eyes. She will see their son grow into a respectable young man, marry and give her grandbabies to spoil and tell all about their Grandfather Goku.

 Restless, ChiChi got out of bed. Maybe drinking some chamomile tea will help her sleep. When ChiChi passed Gohan’s room, she expected silence but she heard a voice. She opened the door and flipped on the lights. Gohan tossed and turned in his sleep.

 “No, Dad. Come back. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

 The nightmares. Gohan had them after his return from Namek. So lost in her own mourning she failed to consider how Gohan was coping. ChiChi rushed to Gohan’s bed and gently shook her son awake. “Gohan. Wake up, Gohan.”

 “I will kill you, Cell! Kill you!”

 The coldness of Gohan’s voice chilled her bones. He sounded so venomous; like the person she saw on TV during the Cell Game.

 “Gohan!” ChiChi shook Gohan even harder. “Wake up!”

 Gohan’s eyes snapped opened. His eyes darted in several directions before focusing. “Mom?” ChiChi saw fear in his eyes as Gohan pulled away. “Why are you here?”

 “I heard you.” ChiChi brushed back the damp hair matted to his sweaty face. “You were tossing in your sleep. I’m so lost in my own mourning I haven’t thought of you. You’re having nightmares like you did when you came back from Namek.”

 “It’s different,” Gohan wiped his eyes. “Dad sent me away to protect me.”

 “It’s not so different,” ChiChi told him gently. “He died to protect you.”

 No, he didn’t. He died because I got too arrogant. I killed him.

 “Why were you apologizing?” ChiChi asked him. “In your sleep, you were calling for your Dad and apologizing.”

 His mother looked so understanding and sympathetic but Gohan knew he couldn’t tell her the truth. “I just thought I could do more.”

 ChiChi put an arm around Gohan and pulled him so his head rest on your shoulder. “You’re a child. You already did enough. There was nothing else you could do to stop Cell or you would’ve done it.”

 That’s not true, Mom. I didn’t do enough. I could’ve but I didn’t listen to Dad.

 “Dad’s gone,” ChiChi went on, “It will be rough for a while, but we’re gonna be okay.” She squeezed Gohan against her. “We’re gonna be okay.”

 Gohan nodded quietly. Maybe okay but never the same and Gohan blamed himself.

 “I’m gonna go in the kitchen and drink some tea. Do you want a snack?”

 “No,” Gohan moved away from ChiChi to pick up a book on his nightstand. “I think I will read a little bit.”

 ChiChi knew reading wasn’t what Gohan needed now. He needed sleep but he also needed to talk on what’s bothering him. “You don’t have to say that to make me happy.”

 “I’m not. I want to read. It calms me.” It also kept his mind off his father.

 “Okay,” ChiChi gave in not believing him. She kissed his forehead, “But not for too long. You still have to get your rest.”

 “I will. Good night, Mom.”

 ChiChi hugged Gohan. “Good night, Gohan.”

 ChiChi left Gohan’s room and went to the kitchen. She sat at the table thinking as hot water boiled in her tea kettle. She thought of Gohan’s nightmares after Namek. That year was an emotional wreck on her family. They went from being reassured Goku will be wished back to reassuring themselves Goku will return one day. After that, ChiChi thought their lives will resume to normal.

 For ChiChi, normal was her, Goku and Gohan and the life they had before Goku’s past returned. After the mess with the Artificial Humans, Goku was going to work. It wasn’t only so Goku do something besides fighting. It was a way for the family to resume normalcy again. It was also time for Goku to financially provide for the family as head of the household.

 ChiChi relied on her father financially since Goku died the first time. She didn’t borrow much when it was only her. With her and Gohan, her borrowing tripled. When Goku returned, ChiChi borrowed ten times as much.

 With Goku gone, she won’t have to borrow as much but that won’t last. Gohan is still a growing boy. His appetite grew over the years and until he becomes an adult ready to move out, he’ll eat almost as much as his father. One day, ChiChi decided, she will learn how much money her father has. With what she already spent, ChiChi knew the money wouldn’t last a lifetime. Right now, she hoped it will be enough until Gohan is out of the house. Then, she could get a job and make enough money to support herself. Maybe she could live with Gohan and help him raise his babies with his wife.  

 No. Gohan needs to be alone with his wife like I needed to be alone with Goku when we started out.

 The tea kettle whistling distracted ChiChi from her thoughts on money. She rose and took the kettle off the stove. A minute later, she was back in her chair waiting for the tea to finish brewing. She recalled this wasn’t the first time she did this.  

 ChiChi couldn’t sleep. It should be out of excitement and not out of fear. Besides her wedding, this so far had to be the happiest day of her life and also the scariest.

 She was pregnant.

 Goku was happy. She was happy. Her father, too. However, after the celebrations died and Goku and ChiChi settled in for the night, reality set in.

 ChiChi was pregnant at nearly 19. She was married but only for a few months. She didn’t expect to be pregnant so soon. They made loved often enough. There wasn’t a week that didn’t go by where she and Goku weren’t intimate.

 As often they made love, ChiChi wasn’t sure Goku loves her. He never said it. He did say he love having sex. ChiChi knew it wouldn’t be easy with Goku. He didn’t know much outside fighting. He wasn’t taught things. She knew it would take some time but she hoped he’d love her before she became pregnant.

 Money was another issue.

 Goku made enough for them but would it be enough with a child?

 ChiChi worried about herself, too. Her mother died when she was a baby. She had no memories of her mother. She didn’t want that for her child. She couldn’t leave Goku with a child to care for.

 “ChiChi, why are you up? Ain’t you sleepy?”

 ChiChi turned her head to see Goku standing in the kitchen entrance. “I couldn’t sleep. Why are you up?”

 Goku walked in and sat beside her. “Had to take a leak.”

 ChiChi frowned. “Goku, don’t say that.”

 “But that’s what I had to do,” he whined.

 She could argue with Goku on the proper wording but knew that will be a lost cause. There were some habits of Goku she could change but she couldn’t change his crude language.

 “So,” Goku repeated, “why can’t you sleep?”

 ChiChi placed her hands on her stomach. “Just thinking about the baby and what it means for us.”

 “I thought you were happy about it.”

 “I am but I’m worried. Will we be good parents? Will we have enough money to provide for our child? Will I be alive?”

 Goku reached into a fruit bowl and grabbed an apple. “Why wouldn’t you be alive?”

 “My mother died when I was a baby. I don’t want that for our baby.”

 Goku smiled, “Ah, you won’t die. I’ll protect you and if you die, I’ll bring you back with the Dragon Balls.”

 ChiChi caressed her flat stomach. “But Goku---“

 “ChiChi, don’t worry about things that won’t happen. Everything will work out. I know it.”

 ChiChi leaned back in her seat as she sipped her tea. Goku was always the one to tell her to be positive when she worried. There was nothing to be positive about now. Goku was dead. It was only her and Gohan and somehow she will have to make it work.

 Finished with her tea, ChiChi left. She stopped by Gohan’s room. He sat in bed reading. She closed the door and continued to her room. How can she be positive when her son buried his emotions and she was so depressed she was sometimes suicidal? How can she piece their broken family back together?

 ****

 The first step to moving on started with her room. ChiChi removed Goku’s clothes from the closet, chest drawers and placed them in boxes. She held back sobs remembering each piece of clothing Goku wore. The hardest was storing Goku’s gi. When she was done, ChiChi sat on the floor with a half empty closet and empty drawers. She clutched Goku’s gi and cried into it.

 This was how Gohan found her. He finished his schoolwork and wanted ChiChi to check it. He didn’t expect to find his mother like this. He stepped in the room, looking at the boxes filled with his Dad’s clothes. “Mom, what’s going on?”

 “Oh, Gohan.” ChiChi wiped her tears. “I’m removing Dad’s clothes. I have to start moving on.”

 Gohan didn’t like the idea of his mother moving on. Moving on meant forgetting Dad. It might mean Kaifun moving in. “What will you do with Dad’s clothes?”

 “Give them away to charity. They’re in good condition.”

 “Even Dad’s gi? No one can wear it but Dad.”

 “Some martial arts school will take them, Gohan.”

 “No!” Gohan yelled. “No one can wear them but Dad!” Gohan only raised his voice at his Mom once. It was in the hospital when he wanted to go to Namek. After his talk with his Dad, he promised not to do it again but Gohan felt he didn’t have a choice. “I’m sorry,” Gohan apologized, “but no one else can wear them.”

 “All right,” ChiChi relented. It was surprising Gohan raised his voice but ChiChi suspected what caused this outburst. Gohan was still bothered about this morning. “I won’t give them away but we can’t keep them here.”

 “What about Great-Grandpa’s home?”

 “I hadn’t thought about that.”

 “I’ll put it there.” Gohan picked up the box of Goku’s gi. “Maybe we can put all of Dad’s clothes there.”

 ChiChi shook her head. “No. Just those. The rest will go to charity. Gohan,” ChiChi called him before he could leave. “Are you ready to talk about this morning when Dr. Sims visited? You were very upset.”

 Of course he was. He blamed himself even more for not killing Cell when he had the chance.

 “His heart was damaged?”

 ChiChi and Gohan sat at the kitchen table staring at the images on Dr. Sims’ tablet. The doctor’s visit was unexpected. After seeing Dr. Sims at the memorial, neither thought they will see him again. ChiChi heard Dr. Sims explain the images of Goku’s heart twice. She wanted to deny it but the evidence was in front of her.

 “I didn’t want to mention this at the memorial but I knew I had to tell you about it.”

 ChiChi stared at the images of Goku’s heart three months before the Artificial Humans arrived and the day Goku came out of the Room of Spirit and Time. “I told him. I begged him to see you. He just wouldn’t do it.”

 Dr. Sims was sympathetic. “I understand why. He had a hard choice to make. I wish I knew what happened in that room to make Goku come see me.”

 Gohan gently pried the tablet from ChiChi’s hands. “I know,” Gohan enhanced the picture of the damage heart with his fingers. “After our first day, Dad slept a long time. I had trouble waking him up. Dad said he was doing too much too soon but he said it in a joking way.”

 “Did anything happen after that?” Dr. Sims asked.

 Gohan shook his head. “No. I didn’t see anything. Something could’ve happened when I went to bed. Dad trained by himself after I slept.”

 “I knew it,” ChiChi murmured over and over. “He pushed himself too hard.”

 “At least too soon,” Dr. Sims said. “If he waited a few weeks in that room, who knows. I would’ve like to have done an autopsy but….” the doctor shrugged.

 As ChiChi and Dr. Sims theorized what Goku was thinking, Gohan thought about the time he spent in that room. ‘Dad knew about his heart. That’s why he knew he couldn’t beat Cell. That’s why he needed me to do it.’

 “Why didn’t I listen?!” Gohan cried. He slammed the tablet on the table. It broke in half. “Why couldn’t I kill Cell sooner?!”

 “Gohan!” ChiChi gasped at rage on his face, blonde hair and glowing body.

 His mother and Dr. Sims shock startled Gohan. He saw the broken tablet and returned to his base form. “I’m sorry,” Gohan apologized. “I didn’t mean…..”

 ChiChi was on her feet and pulled Gohan into her arms. “It’s okay. He knows you didn’t mean it.”

 Gohan couldn’t take his eyes off the broken device. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he murmured.” Gohan wasn’t sure if he was apologizing to Dr. Sims or his father.

 “I’m fine. The news about Dad’s heart took me by surprise.”

 “You were very angry suddenly and then you calmed down. Is it about Dad and that room?”

 “No. No,” Gohan denied the truth. “There are five phases when dealing with death. I’m still in the anger phase.”

 ChiChi didn’t believe it and Gohan knew it. “I’m done with my schoolwork,” Gohan changed the subject. “Can I visit Grandpa?”

 ChiChi exhaled. If Gohan wouldn’t talk to her, ChiChi hoped he would talk to her father. “Sure. Be back by dinner.”

 Gohan turned to leave when he passed the chest drawer. Mom kept the frame photos on top. The usual photos were on it but Gohan noticed for a few days one was missing. “Mom, what happened to that photo you kept here? It was before the Artificial Humans. Piccolo took the photo of the three of us.”

 “I don’t know. I thought those monsters took it when they trashed our house but I could’ve sworn I saw it after we came back. I’ve looked for it, too. I can’t find it.” ChiChi pulled herself to her feet. “Maybe I will when I clean up. They say you find things you’re not looking for when you clean up. Go on,” ChiChi encouraged Gohan to leave. “Go see Grandpa.”

 ****

 “I knew Mom would be sad but I didn’t think she’d take Dad’s death this hard.”

 Gohan and Gyu-Mao strolled through Gyu-Mao’s courtyard. Without his father, Grandpa was a comforting presence for Gohan. With Gyu-Mao, Gohan thought of the happy times with his family. Fighting never entered his mind.

 “You probably didn’t notice, Gohan, but your parents love each other deeply.”

 Outsiders, particularly his Dad’s friends, questioned that love when his mother yelled at Dad. Gohan overheard words between Bulma and Krillin when they flew to Namek but Gohan knew better. He knew his parents love each other. How deeply his mother loves his Dad was something he questioned from time to time. It started after his father’s first death. The way his mother ignored Dad while he recovered in the hospital had Gohan questioning her feelings. Even after Dad came back from Yardrat, she ignored him. His hitting her did have a lot to do with it but after Mom recovered, things got better between them. When his father was sick, Mom cared for him and never left his side. His parents’ interactions at the picnic left Gohan reconsidering his feelings. Perhaps there were things he missed.  

 If Gohan thought about it, his parents had a good relationship. Things only changed when his Dad died the first time. Gohan knew what that year was like for him but he never thought what that year was like for his parents. Dad was in the afterlife training but what did Mom do? He felt guilty for now asking his Grandpa something he should’ve asked years ago.

 “Grandpa, how did Mom take it when Dad died the first time and I was taken?” Grandpa didn’t answer for several moments. Was it that bad? “Grandpa, I want to know. I need to know.”

 Gyu-Mao dreaded this conversation. “Gohan, you have to understand, you and your father were ChiChi’s life. She dreamt of the day she will marry and have children. She was so happy cooking a new recipe and imagining Goku eating it. She spent nights reading baby books and making clothes for you. For years, she lived her dream. In one day, it was over. She couldn’t eat and cried so many times. I don’t know all she did in that year. She wouldn’t tell me because she wasn’t speaking to me.”

 This was news to Gohan. He thought Mom and Grandpa were in contact that entire year. “Why?”

 “Master Roshi wasn’t the only one who received a letter about your Dad when he was a baby.”

 “You mean you knew about Dad?”

 “I didn’t believe it,” Gyu-Mao defended himself. “A child with a tail isn’t shocking when you think what else lives on this planet. Gohan also said your father was a bad baby. I thought Goku was lonely and needed a companion. Your mother was a few months old…..”

 Gohan’s eyes grew wide. “You mean Mom and Dad first met when they were babies?”

 “Yes.”

 “So, when did you believe Dad was an alien?”

 “When ChiChi was pregnant, there were complications. A lot of tests were done. They discovered Goku’s blood type didn’t match any blood type. When ChiChi was in labor, she almost died. Your Dad gave her some of his Ki so she had the strength to deliver you.” To this day, Gyu-Mao regretted his silence. “If I told them, they could’ve been prepared. My silence almost killed you and ChiChi.”

 Gohan loved his Grandpa but these confessions were disturbing. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

 “I thought if I told ChiChi, she would want out of the marriage and being pregnant, I didn’t think that would be a smart choice. If it was before—”

 Gohan cut him off. “What do you mean ‘before’? Before Mom was pregnant?”

 Gyu-Mao didn’t look at Gohan but he heard the anger in his voice. “Yes. You see, Gohan, I wasn’t entirely for your parents’ marriage. I was happy when ChiChi told me she and Goku will marry but as years passed, I changed. I wasn’t good to ChiChi then. I was in love with my treasures more than what was best for my daughter. I sent ChiChi to find Master Roshi instead of doing it myself. She was eleven years old, didn’t know how to fight, didn’t know much about the world. That’s how much I couldn’t be away from my treasures. Anything could’ve happened to ChiChi.”

 “I hadn’t thought about it like that.” Gohan knew the story of how his parents met but his mother always spoke of happiness of meeting his father. She never talked of how it felt for her to be sent to find Master Roshi.

 “I shouldn’t have done that to her and I shouldn’t have offered Goku to ChiChi like she’s a piece of property. When Goku didn’t return, I thought it was best ChiChi forget about Goku and settle with suitors from my village. There were fine men to make a suitable husband but ChiChi was determined to marry Goku. I had my doubts because Goku wasn’t the ideal husband and it didn’t seem the marriage was his idea and he was going along with it because it’s what ChiChi wanted. I talked to Goku the morning of his wedding and told him if he didn’t want to go through with it, he didn’t have to.”

 “What did Dad say?”

 Gyu-Mao smiled. “He wanted to marry your mother and he seemed annoyed I wanted to stop the wedding. It gave me hope my worries were for nothing but early in their marriage I feared I was right. Your Mom and Dad got into a huge fight. Goku said things he didn’t mean and was kicked out. He didn’t return for a few days. Your mother called me crying. I found Goku and told him to work it out or divorce ChiChi. They worked it out and a couple months later, your mother was pregnant with you. Despite resistance from others, your parents really did fall in love with each other and they were very happy.”

 “That’s why Mom didn’t want to speak to you.” Two things Gohan knew deeply about his mother: she was passionate about his education and her family. “She was mad you kept the secret and thought she would feel differently about Dad if she knew he’s an alien. She was upset you didn’t have faith in her after all she and Dad have been through.”

 “You really are a smart child,” Gyu-Mao complemented Gohan.

 Smart and disturbed about these secrets within his family and the hardships his parents faced.

 “Mommy has no idea what happened to you since you saw her a year ago.”

 “Gohan, your mother has been through a lot this year. There are things she went through I’m just now finding out about. And I’m not happy about it.”

 Now Gohan understood why his Dad said those things. It made Gohan guilty for his outburst when he wanted to go to Namek. Over the weeks since his father’s death, Gohan learned more about the secrets in his family than in his nine years of living. Knowing what his mother faced with people like Kaifun and Mrs. Niver and his Dad’s friends at the same time, left Gohan feeling very protective of his mother.

 Mom’s been through so much and carried it alone. Well, Dad knew so Mom leaned on him. Memories popped in Gohan’s mind. Things he didn’t think much on now had more meaning. The way Dad looked sometimes when he thought of Mom when they were in the Room of Spirit and Time. Things they said casually around Gohan had deeper meaning for them. Mom, Dad’s not here for you to lean on but you can lean on me.

 When Gohan returned home, ChiChi stepped out of the pantry carrying a large bag of rice half his body size. “Hi, Gohan. How was your visit with Grandpa?”

 Gohan took the bag of rice from ChiChi. “I’ll carry that.”

 “Gohan, I’m perfectly capable of carrying that bag. I carried it when I had you sleeping on my back as a baby. Oh,” she gasped as Gohan suddenly hugged her. “What is this for?”

 “I’m just happy you’re my Mom.”

 ChiChi returned the hug. “I’m happy you’re my son.”

 ****

  Goku peered out the airplane as it descended. This was a lot smoother and roomier than the car he rode in when he had to run Snake Way. “Wow.” Goku awed at the planet that came into view. “It’s huge!”

 King Kai informed Goku, “Good people from all over the universe come here after they die.”

 Once the plane landed, King Kai and Goku stepped off. Goku followed King Kai as he led the way. He was nervous about this. When he told King Kai what he wanted to do, the Lord of the North took the appropriate steps to make this happen.

 Instead of taking a vehicle, Goku and King Kai flew. “This planet is almost magical compared to Earth and other planets you’ve been to. It creates a familiar environment for those who live here. It makes the transition from living to the afterlife easier.”

 Flying over, Goku understood what King Kai meant. He saw a piece of land familiar to what he saw on Namek and many Namekians farming. He flew over land similar to Yardrat. If he had a beating heart, it would thump against his ribcage when he saw mountains similar to Mount Paouz coming into view.

 “This……. this is home.”

 King Kai and Goku descended. Goku looked around the familiar terrain of the waterfalls, the mountains, the forests. He inhaled the air. It all looked so similar. This time Goku took the lead walking through forests he knew like the back of his hand. When he stepped from the trees, he couldn’t contain his smile.

 “Grandpa’s house.”

 It was as it was when he was a child. His home with ChiChi and Gohan were nowhere around. It hurt to not see his home with ChiChi but it was comforting to see Grandpa’s house, the well and even a stack of wood he always chopped.

 “Go call him, Goku,” King Kai told him. “He knows you’re here.”

 “Grandpa?” Goku called. He couldn’t believe how nervous he sounded. “Grandpa?” he worried when his Grandpa didn’t step out of the house. His mind went back to that horrible day. What if King Kai’s wrong? What if Grandpa isn’t here? What if….

 Gohan Sr. stepped out of his home. Goku’s feet were cemented to the ground as he saw his beloved grandpa step to him. From his wrinkled face and snow-white mustache, he hadn’t changed at all. Goku’s eyes were blinded by tears as Gohan Sr. came closer. So many years have passed. So many times he thought of his grandpa.

 Gohan Sr. looked Goku over. Pride shone in his eyes. “My, my, Goku, you really shot up! You’re as tall as a tree.”

 “Grandpa!!!” Goku scooped the old man in a bear hug. “Grandpa, I missed you so much!!”

 “Can you miss me on the ground?” Gohan Sr. joked. “I like my feet there than in the air.”

 “Sorry, sorry,” Goku gently placed Gohan Sr. on the ground. He wiped his tears but they kept flowing. “I’m so happy to see you, Grandpa.” Goku turned to King Kai. “King Kai, this is…..” King Kai was gone. “Where did King Kai go?”

 “I think he’s giving us our privacy. Come, boy. Tell me what you have been doing since I died and why are you here. You look too young to be dead.”

 “Well, I am.” He shrugged. “It’s just the way things are.” Goku knelt before Gohan Sr. and hugged him again. “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’m sorry I killed you. I know the truth and I’m sooooo sorry.”

 Gohan Sr. patted Goku’s back. “Don’t apologize for something that isn’t your fault. I wasn’t mad at you when I died. I forgave you. I wanted to tell you but you were still so young.” His wrinkled hand wiped away Goku’s tears. “Now stop crying and tell me what’s happened with you. Last time we talked, you were still a short shrimp. A number of years must’ve passed since then.”

 “Over fifteen,” Goku confirmed. There was so much to tell Grandpa, Goku didn’t know where to start. So, he decided to show Grandpa the biggest change. He dug in his shirt and pulled out a photo. He carried it on him when he died and was happy it crossed over with him. “I guess this is the biggest thing that’s happened.”

 Gohan Sr. held a photo of Goku with one arm around a woman and his other holding up a boy. Laughing, he slapped Goku’s back. “Hot damn, my boy! You got a wife and son! Cute wife, too. I didn’t think you would get married. Who is she?”

 “Gyu-Mao’s daughter, ChiChi.”

 “Gyu-Mao’s?” Gohan Sr. laughed again. “That old dog got what he wanted, eh? He brought his daughter over when you two were babies. He talked of marrying you two off.” He laughed nervously. “I was too nervous about that because you weren’t a sweet baby then.”

 “Oh, I know,” Goku told him. “I’m a Saiyan and I was sent to Earth as a baby to kill everyone.”

 From there, Goku shared some of his adventures: meeting Bulma, meeting ChiChi, being trained by Master Roshi, marrying ChiChi, finding out about his past and both his deaths. There was so much to tell so Goku kept it simple since he knew he will back here several times to tell his Grandpa about his life in detail.

 When he told Gohan Sr. why he stayed dead, Goku felt a sharp whap on the back of his head. “Ow, Grandpa! That hurt!”

 “Not as much as it hurt your wife staying dead!” Gohan Sr. hit Goku again and again.

 “Ow! Ow! Grandpa, stop it!” Goku rubbed the back of his head. “I know ChiChi is hurt but King Kai wouldn’t let me talk to her.”

 “It wouldn’t do any good talking to her if you’re gonna stay dead.” Gohan Sr. smacked Goku’s face.

 “You agree with him?”

 “He made the right choice but you did, too,” Goku thought he was going to get hit again but Gohan Sr. only handed the precious photo back to Goku. “I know it wasn’t an easy choice, but there is some good. Your family will be safe and I get to see my grandson again. Time is no limit here so tell me everything.”

 Goku rubbed his cheek. “You won’t hit me anymore?”

 “Not unless I have to.”

 Goku mentally prepared himself for numerous hits by his beloved grandpa.

 ****

 Weeks past. Goku’s death still weighed on their minds. ChiChi thought she and Gohan weren’t in the stage of acceptance but they were getting there. Now it felt as if Goku was still on Yardrat. It’ll be a tough day when she and Gohan fully accept Goku is dead but ChiChi knew she will get past it. Weeks ago she couldn’t but now she felt stronger.  

 Their moods were changing. They were no longer pretending to smile or laugh. The other day, ChiChi and Gohan laughed over a television program. It was a new routine ChiChi instilled in them. After dinner, they watched TV or play board games. ChiChi no longer required Gohan to read after dinner. She decided all his studies will be done before dinner and afterwards they engaged in family activities.

 Since Goku’s death, Gohan buried himself in his studies. As much as she loved Gohan resuming his studies, ChiChi realized studying isn’t what Gohan should always focus on. He experienced so much in his young life and seeing how Gohan responded to the kids at her father’s village, reminded ChiChi Gohan lacked a lot of social activity with kids his age. He didn’t have friends his age. His friends were his father’s friends and former enemies: grown adults. So, ChiChi brought Gohan to her father’s village once a week and allowed him to spend time with kids his age. Many were into an anime encouraged Gohan to watch the anime they all love.

 “It’s almost time, Mom.”

 “I’m almost done.” ChiChi added the final touches of her homemade ice cream for her and Gohan. Unlike his father, Gohan had a sweet tooth. He liked sprinkles, cookie crumbles and chocolate syrup on his ice cream. ChiChi carried the tray of ice cream bowls in the living room just as Gohan’s favorite show started. It was amusing to see how enraptured Gohan was at the show’s opening.

 “Didn’t he lose his powers in the last show?” ChiChi asked as she placed the tray on the coffee table next to the tray of snacks and glasses of milk.

 “His key broke so he can’t transform anymore,” Gohan explained as he grabbed a bowl. “He’s gonna get a new powerful transformation in this episode.”

 ChiChi grabbed a bowl and sat with Gohan. As she ate, the program recapped the last episode that ended on a cliffhanger. ChiChi grinned at the hero posing with declarations of fighting crime. “Does the new transformation include a new pose or speech?”

 “I don’t know but I hope not.” He put a heaping spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. “I like his poses and speeches.”

 ChiChi stifled a laugh as she scooped a spoonful of ice cream. “You do?” ChiChi thought the poses were silly and speeches over the top. It’s great he’s heroic and was a good person but ChiChi thought the speeches were, as the kids say, ‘lame’. Since Gohan liked it, ChiChi wouldn’t criticize it. He needed something to believe in and be happy about.

 When Gohan’s show ended, ChiChi switched the channel to a program she liked. It was a mystery/comedy of a popular detective series. Gohan curled on the sofa as the program began. “I like this, Mom. I like watching TV together and talking about it.”

ChiChi ruffled his head. “I like it, too.” It was nice to have normalcy back for her family. Only thing missing was Goku sitting on the other end of the sofa.

 “I like you’re happy and eating again,” Gohan added. “It makes me happy you’re not so sad anymore.”

 ChiChi let the spoonful of ice cream slide down her throat. “I won’t lie. It was hard to do simple things since your father died. I think last week was the first time I felt like cooking.” When Gohan came out of his room for dinner, food was everywhere. ChiChi spent the entire afternoon humming and dancing as she put the meals together. She cooked so much, they had leftovers.

 “You’re getting your appetite back,” Gohan commented. “I’m glad.”

 “Me, too. This ice cream is really good.” ChiChi scooped the last of the sweet cream on her spoon. “I had two bowls tonight instead of my usual one.”

 Gohan chuckled. “Mom, you had four bowls.”

 “Hmm?” ChiChi questioned with the spoon in her mouth.

 “You had four.”

 ChiChi pulled the spoon out of her mouth. “That’s impossible. I made six bowls because you have your Dad’s stomach. I know I got a second bowl but not four. Those were for you.”

 Gohan laughed again. ChiChi didn’t understand what was so funny. “I had two bowls when you finished your third bowl. I wanted the last one but you grabbed it. I didn’t say anything because it’s good you’re eating. You haven’t been eating since Dad died.”

 That was true and maybe she was catching up on her eating but four bowls of ice cream? Six empty bowls stared at her but ChiChi only recalled eating two. She noticed the empty tray of snacks next to the bowls. Gohan must’ve eaten all that since she ate the ice cream. “Sorry I ate the ice cream but you got back at me eating the snacks. I only ate a handful of those.”

 Gohan shook his head grinning. “Mom, you ate the entire tray. I didn’t get any.”

 “What?!” ChiChi’s mouth fell open. “That’s impossible! I wouldn’t eat all the food before you ate.”

 “You did this time.” Gohan giggled while ChiChi’s face flushed with embarrassment. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m happy you’re eating again and I’m not hungry so don’t worry.”

 Gohan was amused but ChiChi wasn’t. She couldn’t believe she was so selfish to eat all the food from Gohan. ChiChi stacked the empty trays and bowls on top of each other. ChiChi was embarrassed and confused. How did she eat four bowls of ice cream and a pan full of snacks and not remember that? How could she eat so much and leave her son so little? That wasn’t like her.

 I know I haven’t eaten much since Goku died. I guess my appetite’s returned but I don’t remember eating everything. I can’t believe I ate all that food and I’m still hungry. How can I still be hungry?!

 As soon as ChiChi stood with the dishes, she dropped them as if a thunderbolt struck her.

 Oh my God.

 “Mom!” Gohan jumped from his seat. “Are you okay?” He bent to gather the dishes. Luckily, none were broken. Gohan looked up at his mother again. She appeared in a daze. “Mom!” Gohan called worriedly.

 The second ‘Mom’ snapped ChiChi from her thoughts. “Oh, no,” she cried seeing her mess.

 “I can take of this,” Gohan offered to clean up. “Are you all right?”

 “I’m…. I’m fine,” she stammered. “I’m just a little clumsy.”

 “Maybe it’s because you ate so much food. It overwhelmed you.” He stood with the dishes. “I’ll put these in the kitchen and bring you some tea.”

 “Gohan, you don’t…..” On the other hand, the tea might calm her nerves. “Thank you.”

 Not trusting her legs, ChiChi sat down. Her heart raced and her skin felt warm. Numerous thoughts raced in her mind as she rubbed her stomach in disbelief. Could I be pregnant?

 ****

 ChiChi laid on the exam table with her hand on her stomach nervous. She stared at the ceiling counting the dots on the tile.

 “Relax, ChiChi,” Dr. Barkley told her. “You’re not the first woman to be pregnant after her husband died.”

 “No,” ChiChi sighed, “but were they almost three months pregnant?” ChiChi couldn’t believe how she missed this. “I know I missed my period but I thought it was stress with Goku dying. I haven’t been eating much until recently. What if I am pregnant and I malnourished my baby?”

 Dr. Barkley gently pushed aside ChiChi’s hand to place cool clear gel on her stomach. “The fact you have been eating a lot lately signifies the child isn’t malnourished.”

 “Maybe, but when I was six weeks with Gohan, I ate so much Goku noticed.” ChiChi gripped her doctor’s wrist gently as she gazed at her in wonder. “So, you know for certain?”

 “We still have to wait on the urine and blood samples and that’ll take another half hour but I think you are.” She squeezed ChiChi’s hand. “Your stomach is slightly distended and the child’s heart would’ve developed now. How about we take a look in you and have a good listen?”

 “Okay,” ChiChi whispered.

 “Do you want to call Gohan in here?”

 “Maybe next time.” ChiChi shifted. “Besides, he’s at the park across from here. I told him I will meet him after my appointment.”

 Dr. Barkley rubbed the probe over ChiChi’s gel stomach. Both watched the monitor carefully. ChiChi gazed at the screen hoping and praying there is a child in her and it’s all right. Tears sprang from her eyes when she heard a loud swoosh.

 “There it is,” Dr. Barkley confirmed. “There’s a baby and it’s heart is strong. Isn’t that heartbeat wonderful?”

 ChiChi wept at the image of a fetus in her body. “Is it really all right?”

 “Better than all right.” Dr. Barkley moved the probe over ChiChi’s stomach to follow the child’s movements. “I don’t see a tail but I can definitely tell the sex of the baby.” ChiChi couldn’t see but Dr. Barkley’s expertise saw the fetus facing them and the visual was near perfect. “Do you want to know?”

  “You can tell so soon?”

 “Well, if you look close enough, he is letting you know who he is.”

 “A boy,” ChiChi whispered at the fetus on the monitor. “Another boy.” Tears blinded her eyes.

 “Looks healthy. Heart sounds healthy. I want you back in another month to study his development but judging here and based on your last period I’d say you’re between nine and eleven weeks.” The fetus turned away from the screen. “You and Goku were intimate on May 11th.”

 “Yes,” ChiChi confirmed. “The day before the Artificial Humans arrival and after he came out of that room with Gohan. That was May 16th.” ChiChi could feel her cheeks warming up. She wasn’t one to spill the days of intimacy with Goku but Dr. Barkley needed this information. “We were intimate a lot until the day of the Cell Game.”

 Dr. Barkley nodded as she continued observing the child. “Well, you’re looking at the end of January or a first week of February birth.” Dr. Barkley wryly added, “You’re not the only one. We’ve had a flood of women coming in confirming pregnancies. All due the same time as you.”

 “How come?”

 “Cell. He announced he will kill everyone on this planet in ten days. If you only have ten days left to live, what are you gonna do?” Dr. Barkley turned off the monitor. She grabbed a cloth and wiped ChiChi’s gel stomach clean. “I can’t begin to tell you of the number of teens, first time, one-night stand and affair pregnancies that have come in.”

 “Affairs?”

 “Yup,” Dr. Barkley shook her head. “A few women decided to have affairs with their bosses, neighbors, exes, friends….” She snorted. “I shouldn’t laugh but doctors are calling it the ‘Cell Boom.’”

 ****

 Gohan sat on a park swing staring at the doors of the building that held Dr. Barkley’s office. The morning started off well until his mother told him she needed to go to the doctor. He was assured it was a normal checkup but Gohan worried. Gohan knew his mother wasn’t taking care of herself. He lost his Dad. He didn’t want to lose his mother, too.

 “Hey! Watch it!”

 Gohan heard the yell but didn’t think he was being warned until a baseball smacked against the left side of his face. “Ow!”  

 “Are you okay?” A girl asked as she approached. “Why didn’t you move?”

 Gohan rubbed his face at the dark-haired pig-tailed girl. “I didn’t know you meant me.”

 The girl rolled her eyes. “You’re the only one not looking around.” She picked up the ball. “Are you all right?”

 “I’m fine.” His face stung but nothing harmful. Cell’s punch was worse than this.

 She looked him over. “You look skinny but you have a tough head.”

 “Skinny?” Gohan looked himself over. His arms were hidden under his long sleeve shirt but Gohan didn’t think he was skinny. “I’m kinda of strong.”

 “Maybe you are strong,” the girl confirmed with a nod. “Your head definitely is but you’re not as strong as my Dad. He’s the strongest person around.”

 His Dad was the strongest but Gohan suspected all kids thought their Dads were the strongest. I surpassed you to beat Cell, but Dad you will always be stronger than me.

 “Hey,” the girl noticed the weird boy looking sad. “Why are you sad?”

 Gohan forced a smile. “Sorry. I was thinking about my Dad. He died recently.”

 “Sorry about that. Wanna play baseball?” the girl offered. “We can use another person.”

 Gohan didn’t know how to play the game. He never had time for games. He was either training for a fight or studying. Besides, he needed to check on his mother. She was in Dr. Barkley’s clinic for nearly two hours. That’s too long for him. “Sorry. I don’t know how to play and I have to check on my Mom.”

 “Don’t know how to play baseball?” the girl remarked as Gohan jogged across the street to the clinic. “What a strange kid.”

 “Videl!”

 Videl turned. On the corner rest a long black limousine. “Gotta go!” Videl tossed the ball back to the group of kids now staring at the fancy, black vehicle.

 “Hey, it’s Mr. Satan!” a kid shouted when they saw the World Champion’s head from the open window. Videl ran faster at that announcement. Soon, they will be surrounded by kids wanting a picture or autograph of her father. It was the new life she had to get used to. So far she liked it. Her Dad saved the world. He defeated Cell and because of that, they were living a new life. They recently moved into a big mansion with an indoor pool and gym. So many people wanted to talk to her Dad. They were also really nice to her. Anything she wanted, she got but more importantly, she was proud of her Dad.

 The car door opened and Videl leapt inside. As soon as the door closed, the limo drove off.

 “Had fun with the kids?”

 “Yeah, but I could’ve stayed a bit longer, Dad.”

 “Sorry, Baby girl, but we have to catch a plane. We’re meeting with the writer and director that’s making a movie about me.” Mr. Satan laughed boisterously. “Your Daddy is a big man now. I save the world from Cell.”

 “I know.” Videl was very happy and proud of that. “Do you think I can be as strong as you, Dad? I want to be so strong and save the world one day like you!”

 Mr. Satan chuckled. “You can but don’t worry about that, Videl. Your Dad will always be around to defeat weak punks like Cell and anyone else who try to take over the world.” When Videl talked about being strong, it usually led to her asking more questions about the Cell Game and he wanted to avoid that. He almost got caught in a lie the last time he retold the story. “So, who was that boy you were talking to?”

 Videl shrugged. “A strange one. He never played baseball.”

 “Boys like him are wimpy and won’t make good husbands. You stay away from boys like that.”

 “Don’t worry, Dad.” That strange boy was the farthest from Videl’s mind. “Boys like him aren’t my type.”

 ****

 Gohan couldn’t wait anymore. He had to know what’s going on with his mother. The elevator took longer than he wanted but he felt his mother’s Ki come closer as the elevator count down to the first floor. The door opened and a group of people stepped out before ChiChi walked out last.

 “Gohan. What are you doing here? I told you to wait in the park.”

 “Are you all right?” Gohan rushed out. “What did Dr. Barkley say?” He saw ChiChi’s eyes were slightly red and her cheeks puffy. “Were you crying? Is it bad news?”

 ChiChi shook her head smiling. She was touched how her son worried for her. She wanted to wait until they were home but now was the time. “No. It’s wonderful news. Gohan, your Dad left me a wonderful gift. I’m pregnant. You’re gonna be a big brother.”

 “Preg….” Gohan’s eyes dropped to his mother’s stomach. It didn’t look big as shown in the books he read. He reached out to touch her stomach but hesitated.

 “Go ahead,” ChiChi encouraged. “Feel your baby brother.”

 “Brother?” Gohan was wonderous as he placed his hand on his mother’s clothed stomach. He smiled feeling something. It was small but there was a strange Ki coming from here. “I feel it.”

 Tears dropped from ChiChi’s eyes as she presented Gohan an ultrasound picture of the baby. “This is him. He looks healthy and his heart is strong. I’m so happy.”

 “Wow.” Gohan stared at the photo of his baby brother. “That’s my brother?”

 ChiChi nodded. “Your brother. My son. Dad’s son. Isn’t it wonderful?”

 Gohan embraced his mother. “It’s great! It’ll be three of us again, Mom! Can we go tell Grandpa now?”

 That was on her mind, too.

 “Sure.”

 Arm around her son, ChiChi and Gohan left the clinic happy and talking of their bright future with the new addition to the family.

 *****

 “When you said we had to take a detour after practice, you didn’t say we had to come to the sticks. What is this area? It looks like a world time forgotten.”

 It sometimes felt like that for Yamcha, too. Yamcha has only been here twice. Once to bring Goku home after the heart virus struck him and again at his memorial. Even with the modern capsule home Goku and his family lived in, it really did feel like he stepped back into time.

 “We’re almost there, Kenji. Have to see a friend’s family. I haven’t been by since his memorial.”

 “He’s dead?” Kenji groaned. “Sorry about that. So, he has a family?”

 “Wife and son.” Yamcha eased his air car in for a landing. “I’m gonna check in and offer Gohan tickets to a baseball game. I bet he’s been studying nonstop since his Dad died. He could use a break.” Yamcha and Kenji stepped out of the car. “Where are you going?”

 “Nowhere,” Kenji leaned against the door. “But I’ve been in your car for an hour. I need to stretch my legs.”

 “Won’t take long,” Yamcha promised.

 “Mom?”

 ChiChi stood on the stool in the bathroom as she attached the shower filter to the shower head. “In the bathroom, Gohan.”

 Gohan walked in and was immediately horrified at his mother. “Mom, what are you doing?”

 ChiChi stepped down from her stool. “I was attaching the shower filter to the shower.”

 If his mother needed this done, she should’ve told him. “You should’ve called me to do that.”

 ChiChi bent to pick up the stool but Gohan grabbed it for her. “It wasn’t hard, Gohan.”

 “It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t have been standing like that. You could’ve slipped and hurt yourself.”

 “I’m pregnant but I’m not that advanced, Gohan. I’m hardly showing.”

 “Doesn’t matter. It’s Dad’s baby. I don’t want anything to happen to it.”

 ChiChi smiled wryly at Gohan. “Just Dad’s?”

 Gohan blushed. That was stupid to say. “Well, yours, too.”

 ChiChi placed her hand on her stomach. “This baby is precious to me, Gohan. I will not let anything happen to it.”

 “I know. I want you to have a good pregnancy.” And feeling he was to blame for his father not being here, Gohan vowed to not let anything happen to his father’s precious gift to his mother.

 ChiChi shook her head amused. “You’re like your Dad sometimes. He was protective when I was pregnant with you.”

 Gohan lit up. “He was?”

 “Yup. Sometimes he’d come home from training to check on me. He said my Ki fluctuated a lot. He couldn’t concentrate when it did that.”

 Gohan’s eyes widened at this information. “It does! Sometimes I can’t concentrate on my books when it does that.” Gohan put his hand on ChiChi’s stomach to feel his brother growing. He was going to comment on the fetus when he detected a familiar Ki nearby. “Someone’s here.”

 The doorbell rang just as Gohan spoke. Curious Gohan and ChiChi went to the door. ChiChi opened surprised to see Yamcha on the other end. “Hello, Yamcha.”

 “Hi, ChiChi. Hi, Gohan. I can’t stay long but I wanted to come by and see how you two are……doing.” his words broke off when he saw the small roundness around ChiChi’s belly. He saw this with Bulma. Either ChiChi gained weight since Goku’s death or….. “Are you…..”

 ChiChi confirmed with a smile and hand on her stomach. “Yes, I’m pregnant.”

 Silence followed as Yamcha struggle to find words to speak. “That’s….. that’s great but damn…..” he cursed as the situation hit him. “Did Goku even…”

 ChiChi shook her head. “No, he didn’t know.”

 Yamcha rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know what to say.”

 “People usually say congratulations.”

“Oh, yeah!” Yamcha laughed. “That! People do say that. Congratulations!”

 “Who is that guy?” Gohan asked of the man standing by Yamcha’s car. He was tall like Yamcha but dressed like a model in his grey pants and open black shirt. He lowered his sunglasses as he looked in their direction. He waved.

 “That’s Kenji. After me, he’s the best player on the team. We got double dates but I wanted to check on you two and invite Gohan to a baseball game.” He handed ChiChi a ticket. “I know you got Gohan studying but he’s still a kid and should spend time away from the books.” His eyes dropped to her stomach again. “But since you’re pregnant, you probably shouldn’t be alone. I can get a ticket for you.”

 “I don’t know a lot about baseball,” ChiChi said, “but Gohan, if you want to go…..”

 Both Yamcha and Gohan raised their eyebrows at ChiChi. “You really want me to go?”

 “Yamcha is right. You are a kid. Your Dad would take you out of the house to play. You’ve been home all month. If you want, I won’t stop you.”

 Gohan never had to make a decision like this before. He would go but he didn’t know anything about baseball. Besides, that wasn’t important. His responsibility was taking care of his mother and making sure she had a good pregnancy.

 “Maybe another time,” Gohan said. “I rather stay home.”

 “Oh….kay.” Yamcha wasn’t expecting the rejection to come from him. “Next time then.”

 When Yamcha walked away, Kenji got back in the car. As Yamcha turned on the car, Kenji looked at the woman and boy watching them fly off. “You should’ve gotten a ticket for the Mom, too. She’s pretty hot.”

 “Back off, Kenji. She’s a widow and she’s pregnant.”

 “Pregant?!” Kenji looked back again as the car zoomed off. He was too far away now to get a second look. “You didn’t say that.”

 “I just found out.”

 Kenji pondered that. “Still cute.”

 “You have a girlfriend, Kenji.”

 “I’m taken but I’m not dead.”

 ****

 He left.

 Bulma laid in bed with her arms crossed. Maybe it was foolish to think Vegeta would wake up in bed with her. He never did that. Oh, he fell asleep in bed with her after sex but when she woke the next morning, Vegeta was gone. He locked himself in that damn gravity room.

 Bulma thought this time would be different. She had a plan. It wasn’t the most thought out plan but she had to think of something to get Vegeta to go out with her. Nothing she tried over the weeks worked.

 Bulma sat on the edge of Vegeta’s bed with her arms and legs crossed. She knew it was a bold move but it had to be done. She had enough with Vegeta ignoring her and their son. The fights were over so he had no excuse to use anymore.  

 The door opened. From the corner of an eye, Vegeta stood in the doorway watching her. He was naked with a towel rubbing his hair dry. He was annoyed at her sudden appearance. Too bad.

 “What the hell are you doing in here?”

 “You need new clothes so I’m taking you shopping.” Bulma patted the black jeans and the pink Bad Man shirt beside her. “Get dress and let’s go.”

 Vegeta dropped the towel and walked past Bulma to the closet. “I already did this ‘shopping’ task with  you. I have clothes.” He opened the closet. Empty. From top to bottom it was empty except for shoes. “What? Where are my clothes?” Turning, he demanded. “Where the hell are my clothes?!”

 “I burnt them.”

 “What?!”His clothes were in the closet this morning. “What the fuck you burn my clothes for?!”

 “Because you wear the same thing over and over. I’m tired of seeing it!” Bulma rolled her eyes. “It’s such a shame Trunks has a fashion challenged father.”

 “You didn’t burn my clothes.” Vegeta refused to believe Bulma. “You hid them somewhere. Where are they?”

 Bulma pointed to the window. “Look out the window if you don’t believe me.”

 Vegeta stomped to the window. Outside were a couple robots surrounding a small fire in the yard. Vegeta saw one robot toss his clothes in the pile.

 “You damn harpy! You took my clothes out while I showered?!”

 Bulma gaped at him for several moments shocked before she jumped to her feet. “What the hell did you call me?!”

 “You heard me! Harpy!” Vegeta exaggerated the offensive name. “How dare you burn my clothes?!”

 Bulma slapped Vegeta. “Don’t call me that! And I did it because it’s time for a new wardrobe!” She took a moment to calm down. “Mom will watch Trunks while we shop. It’ll be easier for us that way.” She snapped her fingers when he didn’t move. “Hurry up and let’s go.”

 “Easier for what?” He crossed his arms. “What’s your game?”

 “No game. Seasons change and you need clothes.” Bulma picked up his only piece of clothing and held them out for Vegeta. “Put them on and let’s go.” Vegeta only stared at her. Arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, Bulma knew Vegeta was trying to figure her out.

 Vegeta smirked. Bulma didn’t like that. It meant he was up to something or he knew what she was doing. He approached and grabbed the wrist that held his clothes. He squeezed until she dropped them. “You want to spend time with me.”

 Dammit. He figured it out. “What?”

 “That’s what this is about. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you these past months. You and your father have been dropping hints on what I should do next.”

 Since he put it out there…..

 “You started going back in that training room after avoiding it for two months,” Bulma pointed out. “You either stayed in your room or you flew off somewhere. You needed to do something instead of moping around.”

 “Yeah,” his smirk deepened. “And there was something you obviously want done.” He pushed Bulma on the bed. There was no chance to move before Vegeta was over her. His hand slid under her skirt and ripped off her underwear. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”

 “Wait,” Bulma protested though Vegeta’s fingers were already working on moistening her for his entry. “We can do this later.”

 “We’ll do it now.” His other hand opened the buttons of her shirt. “And then we’ll go shopping.”

 They did go shopping. Vegeta even modeled clothes for her. The first time they went shopping he grabbed clothes and made demands to her and the staff. It was so frustrating and embarrassing. This time Vegeta was cooperative. He didn’t argue when shopping took all day and she treated him to dinner. Bulma did most of the talking as usual but Vegeta gave opinions from time to time. It gave Bulma some idea there was a chance for them but Vegeta was still so distant and out of reach. Even after they returned and he took her to bed again, it felt one sided. He had the upper hand and control. It frustrated her she couldn’t figure him or at least get the upper hand at least once.

 Rolling on her side, Bulma picked up the phone and dialed a number.

 “Aw, geez, Bulma, it’s seven in the morning. Can I sleep in at all?”

 She would be annoyed with his attitude but she needed a friend now. “Can we meet up and get some coffee?”

 She heard a heavy sigh, silence and finally…. “Is nine good?”

 Bulma smiled though the other person on the other line could not see it. “Sure.”

 ****

 “So, he’s still being an ass to you?”

 Bulma sipped her coffee. “Pretty much. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother.”

 “Because you’re hung up on him,” Yamcha stated the obvious. “I’m almost envious.”

 Bulma nearly spat her coffee. “Envious?”

 “Bulma, we were together for nearly half our lives. I’ve lost count of the number of guys you looked at while with me. I don’t know how many you looked at behind my back. You never did that with Vegeta.”

 Bulma gripped her cup tightly. He didn’t need to bring up she wasn’t the perfect girlfriend to him. “Your point?”

 “He got you to stop looking at other men. I couldn’t do that. You had a kid with him and not me. That’s proof we were not a good match but maybe you and Vegeta are. He doesn’t tolerate your BS like I did. He does shit and you tolerate it. He stands up to you and you can’t walk away. You would’ve dumped me if I went after Dr. Gero and not save you and Trunks. Face it,” he grinned, “You met your match.”

 Bulma loosened her hold on her cup. She conceded Yamcha had a point. “All right. So, what should I do?”

 “Get a girlfriend.”

 “What?”

 “You keep coming to me about your problems with Vegeta. It’s great we’re friends and we’ve moved on but I don’t need this. I got my own girlfriend and I can’t keep running to my ex when you have a problem. You need to talk to a woman. Talk to ChiChi.”

 “ChiChi?” After the memorial, Bulma thought she was the last person ChiChi wanted to see. Well, after Krillin of course. She didn’t forget ChiChi throwing Krillin out of her home. She suspected ChiChi knew Goku didn’t come back because of her words of bad guys always following him.

 “Yes, Goku’s wife,” Yamcha repeated. “She was married to a Saiyan for ten years. She had a child with a Saiyan first, too. She’s the go to person in understanding how they are. Give the woman credit, Bulma. Goku was always running around to the next adventure. With ChiChi, he stayed home. We didn’t see him for five years. If you’re trying to understand how to make a relationship with a Saiyan work, you need to see ChiChi.”

 Bulma conceded Yamcha was correct again as she drunk more coffee. “You have a point.”

 “Plus, she’s pregnant. She could use a female friend, too.”

 “What?!” Bulma slammed down her cup so hard, her coffee spilled out. “How did that happen?” Yamcha’s dry face had Bulma retracting her words. “I know how. I… it’s just a surprise.” She grabbed a few napkins and wiped her mess. “Wait. How did you know?”

 “I stopped by her home last month. I wanted to check on ChiChi and Gohan. I’m the only, too.” Yamcha sighed. “As Goku’s friends, we gotta do better.”

 “After that memorial, we all thought it’d be safer to keep away from ChiChi.”

 “We?” Yamcha lightly chuckled. “Don’t you mean you, Krillin and Master Roshi? I’m not the one who screwed things up five years ago. I’m not the one who’s lover let Cell reach perfect form.”

 Bulma rolled her eyes. “That’s not on me.”

 “I’m not the one who destroyed the remote.”

 “You made your point.”

 “I’m not the who told Goku bad guys follow him.”

 Bulma leapt from her seat and yelled, “I said you made your point!!” All eyes turned to Bulma and Yamcha. She sat down. “Okay. We fucked up. Are you happy?”

Yamcha grinned as he finished his coffee. “Just happy seeing you finally acknowledge it.”

 He was enjoying this. Very rare Yamcha could gloat over her. “I have, Yamcha. It took years but I see where I… all of us were wrong. You know me, Yamcha. I’m not good at apologizing or admitting I’m wrong. It’s hard. I want things to be better between me and ChiChi but I don’t know how to reach her to show I’m truly sorry.” Bulma thought of that moment at Master Roshi’s home where she and ChiChi had an honest talk. “I acknowledge some things with her when Goku was sick…..”

 “But avoiding her since Goku’s death won’t bridge the gap. Go over there and talk to her. Maybe if you actually get to know ChiChi, you’ll see why Goku dropped us for her and you’ll like her, too.”

 ****

 “Maybe I should’ve called,” Bulma told herself once she landed her car in front of the Son Family home. People stop by her home all the time but it was a place of work and home for her and her Dad. “Too late to go back now.”

 Bulma stepped out of the car with Trunks in a carrier. She knocked on the door and waited until ChiChi answered. It wasn’t obvious but the small bump around her stomach signaled she was expecting.

 “Hi,” Bulma smiled. “It’s been a while but I thought I’d see how you and Gohan are doing.”

 “Yamcha told you I’m pregnant.”

 So much for charming her. “You know.”

 ChiChi stepped aside to let Bulma in her home. “Yamcha stopped by. Since he found out, I knew it was a matter of time before the others did, too.”

 Others. That’s how she described them?

 “None of you have visited since Goku died so my pregnancy must be why you’ve come by.”

 Double ouch.

 Bulma followed ChiChi into the kitchen. “Where’s Gohan?”

 “Fishing with his grandpa.” ChiChi poured tea into her cup. “Do you want any?”

 “Sure.” Trunks started crying as Bulma sat down. “He’s been in his carrier for a while. Mind if I let him walk around?”

 “Sure.”

 Bulma unhooked the carrier. Once freed, Trunks walked around the new room curious. ChiChi placed a plate of cookies, a teacup for her and Bulma on the table. ChiChi drunk her tea while Bulma nibbled on a cookie. The clock ticked as the women drank and ate quietly. The only sounds were Trunks endless babbling as he wandered.

 ChiChi eyed the woman cautiously. She came to visit but has yet to say anything. ChiChi knew Bulma wanted something and was getting tired of waiting so she bluntly asked, “Why are you visiting me?”

 Bulma nearly choked on her cookie at ChiChi’s directness. Bulma was confident around everyone but this woman really made her nervous. “You’re Goku’s wife. He was my friend. I didn’t come by the first time Goku died except to get the dragon balls.” She looked at Trunks walking around. “I haven’t been the best person to you and I want to change that. If we can’t be friends, I hope we can be civil. Trunks can be a good playmate for your child and we can be each other’s confidant in dealing with Saiyan children and having Saiyan partners.”

 “You still have your Saiyan partner,” ChiChi reminded Bulma. At least I know why she’s visiting. ChiChi placed a hand on her growing stomach. She’s definitely an opportunist.

 Bulma winced at her choice of words. “If you want to talk about Goku, I’m here to listen. I know there’s stuff about Goku you want to talk about but can’t with other women. They can’t understand. They never bedded a Saiyan. We can form our own club. The Saiyan Wives Club.”

 “Wives?” ChiChi repeated.

 “Women,” Bulma corrected. She wasn’t married to Vegeta. “SWC,” she improvised. Too bad only she laughed. “ChiChi, you have so much experience with a Saiyan lover. I’m still trying to figure it out. Maybe you have advice for someone like me and being pregnant, you can definitely vent to me about carrying a Saiyan baby.”

 Definitely a charmer to get her way. Goku was right. ChiChi knew Bulma would keep coming over until she got her way. ChiChi accepted she had experience in dealing with a Saiyan but Goku and Vegeta were different people. ChiChi wasn’t sure she could help Bulma but she’ll try. “What do you want to know?”

 “Was Goku ever aggressive sexually?” Bulma blurted.

 ChiChi nearly slammed her teacup against the table. “What Goku and I did intimately is no one’s business but our own!!”

 Bulma put her hands up lest ChiChi attack her. “I’m not trying to pry,” Bulma said but ChiChi looked as if she didn’t want Bulma to speak anymore. “But you’re the only one I can talk to about this. You’ve been intimate with a Saiyan longer so you’re knowledgeable on things.” ChiChi still didn’t speak. Desperate, Bulma admitted, “I don’t know how to get the upper hand on Vegeta.”

 Still no response from ChiChi. She wasn’t sure if she experienced it or if ChiChi will share but ChiChi’s silence forced Bulma to continue, “Not that the sex is bad. It’s great but Vegeta has all the control and I want some of that myself. I will need that if I want a relationship with Vegeta. I can’t let him have all the power.”

 ChiChi munched on a cookie as she tried to understand Bulma. “So, you’re not in a relationship?” ChiChi assumed with the child they were. “I thought with Trunks…..”

 Bulma grabbed a lemon cookie. At least ChiChi was talking. “It’s complicated. Vegeta moved out when I was pregnant and only recently moved back in. He pissed me off when he did that but I guess he needed to concentrate for the Artificial Humans. That’s over. I want more and I think he does, too, but he’s a Saiyan and it’s a headache dealing with them. I thought since you had a relationship with Goku---”

 “My Goku isn’t like Vegeta.” ChiChi made that very clear.

 “I know that, ChiChi, but he is a Saiyan and they both share things that only Saiyans experience. They look human but they’re not human. Human men I can handle. I know how to deal with them. Saiyan men…” Bulma exhaled, “..they’re something else.”

 ChiChi agreed with that. She didn’t date other men but they were easier to figure out than Goku. Her only experience with men the way Bulma referred to was with a Saiyan but she certainly understood where Bulma was coming from in analyzing how different human and Saiyan men are.

 From her talk with Yamcha, she had an idea how Vegeta and Bulma’s relationship got started. Now, Bulma and Vegeta were trying to be a couple and Bulma looked for pointers from ChiChi on courtships with a Saiyan. ChiChi guessed she was the expert on the matter. She’s the first human to marry a Saiyan and be intimate with one. She’s the first one to have a Saiyan’s child. Goku was raised on Earth and though he adopted habits from Earth, there were still traits of his personality that were alien.

 Vegeta had a strong, arrogant personality. If he was anything like Goku in that way, he let Bulma know he’s the only man she will think about. Yamcha never had that swagger about him. Perhaps it was the ways of a Saiyan being a lover. ChiChi knew Goku never had to worry about her loyalty but even if Goku had a shred of doubt, he knew how to let her know thinking about another man was never an option. ChiChi could still feel the effects of their lovemaking physically and emotionally for days. Oh, there might be a slight bruise here and there which ChiChi nicknamed Goku’s love marks and some soreness but oh were they worth it.

 ChiChi loved how Goku made her feel and she always reciprocated what he gave her. She loved to please him, whether it was submitting to a position he wanted or loving him orally. She never found the act degrading but saw it as showing her love for her husband and secretly she loved the power she had over him.

If Vegeta made love to Bulma in a similar way, no way would she think of anyone else again and receiving that type of Saiyan love Bulma would want to give it back. It took multiple times before ChiChi figured out how to get the upper hand. It was easier for ChiChi since she’s very physical. Bulma was slim but not athletic. There were things she can and can’t do.  

 “Bulma, if you want to get the upper hand on a sexually aggressive Saiyan, his tail stub is his weakness.”

“Tail stub?” Bulma knew Vegeta had one but never thought of it as a weapon. “But I thought with the tail remove it didn’t weaken Saiyans.”

 “The tail stub, Bulma,” ChiChi repeated as she sipped her tea. “You can figure it out.”

 Bulma accepted ChiChi’s advice. If ChiChi figured it out, so can she.

 ****

 “Maybe I should’ve done the baseball thing like Yamcha,” Krillin groaned as he peeled open the top of ramen. “It’s more money but it doesn’t afford privacy.” He propped his foot on the security panel and slurped his noodles.

 When Goku left to marry ChiChi, everyone went their separate ways. Krillin moved back in with Master Roshi. He thought it would be the same as before he died but Lunch left them to pursue Tien and Master Roshi had rules for Krillin. If he was going to live with him, he had to contribute. Until then, Master Roshi paid for everything. Now Krillin was near twenty years old and free loading was over.

 “If Goku can get himself a wife, you can get yourself a job and pay rent,” Master Roshi told him.

 Krillin didn’t know what he could do for a job. He didn’t have a high school diploma so jobs were limited. Krillin took whatever was offered. He worked in restaurants as a dishwasher, a janitor and did construction through Master Roshi’s connections but in his spare time did go back to school and completed his G.E.D. With a diploma, Krillin got better jobs. One of them was freelance security.

 Until five years ago, Krillin was a regular fill in. Goku died and Krillin quit to train for the Saiyans. He went back to work after the Namek ordeal but quit again to prepare for the Artificial Humans. Now three years later, Krillin hoped to get his job back. A new staff was in charge at the security agency and no one knew him but his record gave him a second chance.

 His only chance. The new staff appeared strict and not lenient. If he did bad at this job, he’ll have to start over for lucrative work with his limited skills.

 Krillin scanned the monitors looking for any suspicious character that might steal at this department store. One hour left in his eight-hour shift and Krillin thought of home. It was his turn to provide dinner so he thought of food at his favorite take out place. Near thirty and this was his life. Freelance security and going home to an old man. No girlfriend to spend time with. His Saturday night will consist of him watching movies with his teacher, cleaning up after him and going to sleep with the help of magazines to ease his frustrations.

 In his twenties, Krillin didn’t mind this single life. As an adult and with Lunch out of the house, Master Roshi treated him differently. He was allowed to drink, stay up all night and have access to Master Roshi’s collection of movies and books. It was fun until the reunion. When Goku arrived with Gohan that momentous day, it hit him how much of life he was missing. If Goku can marry and have a kid, what was he doing? Surely, there was a woman out there for him.

 Five years that include out of planet travel, a death and training for another fight, Krillin was still searching. He was so lonely for a companion he became infatuated with 18 after a kiss. She wasn’t a full human but an Artificial Human created to kill. She and her brother were going to kill Goku. They kicked everyone’s ass but all he thought about was her kiss. Yamcha was right. He was a virgin and had limited experience in a lot of ways. His first kiss was in a bar but he was so drunk thanks to Master Roshi, he didn’t know who kissed him. He went back to that bar every weekend hoping to see the mystery woman or hope she approach him but it never happened. When Krillin was down on his luck in love, he thought of Goku. Sure, he was married but Krillin never imagined Goku doing anything with his wife. He couldn’t see that. Goku didn’t seem the type to kiss or have sex with anyone.

 Goku proved him wrong showing up with Gohan in his arms. It blew Krillin’s mind the child was actually Goku’s and four years old. Four! That meant Goku had sex immediately after he married. Krillin couldn’t believe the luck of Goku. He gets a wife and child easily while he has to struggle to get a woman to look at him. The only one that seem interested in him was----

 18?!

 Krillin nearly dropped his cup of ramen as he took his feet off the panel. His eyes darted over the monitors at the blonde walking through the store. It’s been months since he last saw her. Krillin never thought to see her again. Was this fate?

 Krillin looked at the clock. He had another hour. He looked back at the viewing screens. 18 sift through a clothing rack. She was here now but how long will she stay? Maybe she’ll talk to him. Krillin looked at the clock again. He can’t leave this room unless someone is trying to steal or his partner comes back from his lunch break. Krillin sweated as 18 grabbed a few clothes and entered the fitting room. He might not get this chance to see her again. It could mean his job if he leaves. It’s been slow all day and he only had an hour left.

 Decision made, Krillin left.

 18 stepped out of her changing room with an armful of clothes. There was only one outfit she wanted but couldn’t afford. She’ll just have to steal it. She handed all the clothes to the girl working the fitting room except the one she will steal. Security was relaxed in this store. She’ll just walk out with the dress. If anyone chases her, she’ll fly away. Let them try to get her then.  18 stepped out of the fitting room with the intention of going to shoe section to find shoes to match her dress when she froze.

 Ahead of her was the short man again. He destroyed the remote that would’ve deactivated her. He protected her when Cell spat her out. He got the bomb removed from her. Why is he here?

 18 noticed the clothes he wore. He’s security? Perfect.

 “So,” 18 said coolly as he approached. Guess she’ll have trouble stealing this dress after all. “Come to arrest me?”

 Krillin stared at her blankly before chuckling, “Oh, this? I’m working security part time. I saw you through the cameras and thought I should say hello.” He noticed the dress in her hand. His smile faded. “Wait. You’re not stealing, are you? You’re paying for that, right?”

 Krillin reached for the dress but 18 pulled it away. “And what if I’m not? Are you gonna stop me? You’re not stronger than me.”

 True but Krillin thought he could plead with her. “But after everything with Cell, don’t you want to live life differently? Don’t you want to walk in public without worrying if someone’s trying to arrest you? Is petty crimes all you want to do with yourself?”

 His pleading only angered her. “What makes you think you know what I want?! Maybe I like stealing!”

 Eyes from coworkers and patrons turned 18 and Krillin’s way.

 While 18 eyed the people staring, Krillin plucked the dress from her hand. “She’s just kidding, folks. Just kidding.” Krillin hung the dress on a rack before facing an irate 18. “There are too many eyes here. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”

 “I don’t want to talk to you.” 18 was infuriated Krillin prevented her from stealing her dress. “I don’t want anything to do with you! Get out of my way or I’ll make you.”

 She looked ready to smack him and break every bone in his body but Krillin wouldn’t move. “No.”

 18 regarded Krillin with surprise. She expected him to move out of the way. Not stand defiantly. People moved when she wanted. Those that didn’t were hurt. It was that simple. Only this time she didn’t want to do that.

 “There’s a café near here,” Krillin offered a compromise. “Give me five minutes to convince you turning to crime isn’t the way. Five minutes and I won’t bother you again. Even if I see you, I won’t come near you.”

 Again 18 was speechless. She wasn’t sure what to say.

 “Krillin!” 18 looked behind her at a heavyset mustached man in a suit approaching. 18 noticed Krillin demeanor changed from confidence to panicked fear. Even Krillin could handle this weakling. 18 wondered why he feared him.

 “Oh, uh, hi, Mr. Wilding.”

 “I came by the security office and it was empty. Why did you leave?” He looked over Krillin at 18. “Is this woman stealing?”

 “Her?” Krillin shook his head. “Oh, no. She’s just a friend. I haven’t seen in a while. I wanted to say hi.”

 “Hi?” Mr. Wilding bristled. “You’re not being paid to say hi to friends. You’re being paid to do a job and you failed. While you’re talking to your friend, a sales associate contacted me after you didn’t answer calls from the Juniors section. Two teens ran off with a bunch of clothes.”

 Oh, damn. “I know that looks bad for me, Mr. Wilding----”

 “I took a chance giving your job back after a three-year absence…..”

 “I know and I’m grateful….”

 “When we called in you the past, you never answered and you suddenly show up wanting to work…..”

 “I know I didn’t deserve it but I’m glad you gave me a chance—"

 “…..that was a mistake.”

 Oh, boy. This was going from bad to worst. “Oh, no. You can’t mean---”

 “Leave your uniform at the office. You can pick up your final check next week.”

 Mr. Wilding stomped off while Krillin gaped speechless. He dropped his arms and lowered his head. “Great. Just great.”

 Fired in front of 18. How embarrassing! 18 walked off without a word. That wasn’t the lasting impression he wanted to leave with her.  He changed out of his security clothes into jeans, a shirt and bomber jacket. He was so depressed he didn’t feel like going to his favorite restaurant for dinner. He wanted to go home, drink beer and forget today ever happened.

 He stepped out of the sliding doors, mentally prepared to walk into an alley and fly home. Outside with her arms crossed and waiting for him was 18.

 “18,” he walked to her in disbelief. “I….. what are you…..”

 18 flipped her blonde hair. “You said you wanted to take me to a café.” She walked off. “You have five minutes.”

 ****

 Krillin and 18 sat across each other in a booth of a half empty café. Krillin had a sandwich and a glass of soda while 18 sipped tea. She narrowed her eyes at him as he stared.

 “You’re staring.”

 “I didn’t know you eat.”

 “I don’t have to eat or drink anything but I can if I want. Five minutes.”

 She was timing him now?! Walking here and ordering their meals took longer than that. He didn’t know if he could convince her but he’ll try.

 “Is this what you and your brother have been doing since the Cell Game? Being a criminal isn’t the way to live.”

 “Some people can make it lucrative. Isn’t Mr. Satan making money after what Goku and Gohan did?”

 “Being a fraudulent jackass isn’t a crime. It probably should be but…. are you and your brother having trouble adjusting to life now?” 18 raised an eyebrow. “I know your history with Dr. Gero wasn’t a good one. He probably didn’t give you real names.” He noticed 18’s grip on her cup tighten. “If he wasn’t cruel to you and your brother, I don’t think you would commit crime. He’s gone now. You can have a good life.”

 18 stared at the liquid in her cup. A good life. How can that be possible? Why was he saying this to her? Why was he so nice to her? “Why are you doing these things?”

 “Hmm?”

 “You destroyed the remote. You protected me when Cell spat me out. You wished for the bomb to be removed. You lost your job because of me. You don’t know me. You don’t love me so why are you doing this?!”

 Again her raised voice caused a few patrons to look at them. Krillin felt on the spot. Why was he doing all this? He stared at his food as he was too afraid to look in her eyes. “Maybe I’m being lonely and reaching for the first affection I’ve felt in a very long time. I don’t have a lot to offer. I’m short. Women don’t look at guy unless they are a certain height. I’m not rich. I don’t have a full-time job.” He laughed ruefully. “I couldn’t hold down the first job I’ve had in three years and I live with an old guy who rubs off to magazines and watch dirty movies. He has his faults but he’s been a Dad to me.”

 There. He put it all out there. He couldn’t believe he was so blunt about himself to such a beautiful woman. Any moment now, he expected 18 to laugh at him and agree to everything he said. He never stood a chance with her.

 “You have a bad way of selling yourself.”

 Krillin raised his face. 18 smiled at him. Him! Maybe it wasn’t all in his mind. Feeling confident, he asked, “Why did you kiss me? Am I being foolish to hope you feel something for me, too?”

 Now it was 18’s turn to stare at her cup. Why did she kiss him? 18 couldn’t answer that question herself and it was something she thought about over the weeks. “You were standing there so afraid 17 and I were going to beat you up next. I don’t know why I did it. Just felt like it.” Krillin grinned. He looked so happy. “Don’t read more into it.” She lowered her eyes again to her cup. “I was going to steal that dress because I wanted something nice. Trunks destroyed the home we’ve known for years. It’s a shop full of horrors but it was our home. My brother never saw what you and everyone’s else did since Cell absorbed us. I have. I get it. He doesn’t.” Krillin could see 18 was troubled but didn’t press her. He listened. “We can’t stay in places too long without bringing attention. We try but 17…..” 18 stopped again. “All I wanted is a nice dress to forget for a moment.” Her blue eyes were stormy, full of pain and frustration. All Krillin wanted to do is help her. When 18 raised her eyes to his again, he smiled. She scowled and got out of the booth. “Your five minutes is up.”

 “Stay with me,” Krillin blurted. She didn’t turn to him but she didn’t walk away either. “Please?”

 “I don’t want your charity,” she replied stiffly.

 “It’s not charity. I’m offering someone who wants a second chance a place to stay.”

 18 turned. Her eyes weren’t trusting. “And what do you want in return? Do you expect me to be your girlfriend? Am I to do some sexual favor for you?”

 “No. No. I don’t want that. You’re a person and you’ve gotten a rotten deal in life that people think you’re bad or beyond saving.” Krillin smiled. “People at the temple I grew up in didn’t give me a chance either but I proved them wrong. You can prove everyone wrong, too.”

 His smile was oddly comforting. “You see me as a person? “Not a machine? Not an android? Or a monster?”

 “No,” Krillin shook his head. “I don’t see that all. I see a person.”

 “That you love,” 18 remarked bitter. “Or claim to love according to Gohan.”

 Oh, boy. She remembered that. Gohan was just like his father at times with his mouth. “I do like you but if you just want to be friends I’m okay with that. I just want to give you a second chance.”

 He looked sincere; sounded sincere but 18 wasn’t sure she could trust him.

 ****

 Master Roshi settled in front of the TV hungry. Krillin was late coming home. He should’ve been home hours ago with dinner. He popped opened a can of beer when he heard the door open. “Krillin! What kept you? I’m hungry!” His beer slipped from his hand when he saw Krillin walking in with 18. “What the……?”

Krillin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Master Roshi, you remember 18, don’t you? She’s gonna be living with us.”

 “WHAT?!!”

 “I invited her to stay.”

 “To kill us?”

 “No. No.” Krillin frantically shook his hands. “But, uh…. do you mind having another roommate? She doesn’t have a place to go.”

 Master Roshi wasn’t one to turn a cute girl away. Even if she can kill him without breaking a sweat. “Can she cook?”

 “No,” 18 answered.

 “Clean?”

 “No.”

 Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses. He stared at 18’s voluptuous body. He wouldn’t mind burying his face in those perfect boobs. Master Roshi made gestures with his hands. “Does she mind if I……?”

 “Touch me and you’re dead.”

 Master Roshi shrank in his seat. Krillin held up a bag of food. “I brought dinner. Eat while I get 18 settled in her room.”

 “Her room?” Master Roshi questioned as he took the food.

 “I’m giving her mine,” Krillin explained. “I’m gonna sleep on the sofa.” He gestured 18 to follow him. “Come on, 18.”

 18 stared at Master Roshi suspiciously before following Krillin upstairs. “You’ve come to stay with us at the right time. If it was ten years ago, it might’ve been a problem.”

 “Why?”

 “This place used to have one bedroom but Bulma gave Master Roshi a huge diamond we found in an underwater cave. Master Roshi used part of that money to get another capsule home like this but with two bedrooms.” Krillin stepped in his room. “Excuse the mess.” Krillin picked up clothes scattered on the floor. He stuffed them in his closet. He grabbed new bedsheets from the top shelf.

 18 looked around as Krillin change the bedsheets. “It’s an old mattress. I’ve been meaning to replace it but it’s comfortable to sleep on.” He leapt over the bed when he saw 18 open the drawer from the nightstand. He slammed it shut. “Just old magazines. I have to get rid of them.”

 “I see,” was all 18 said while Krillin’s face turned red as a tomato.

 “Bed is ready for you.” 18 sat down and felt the mattress. It was comfortable. Krillin held a key to her. “My key. It’s the only one I have. Master Roshi can ‘sleepwalk’ sometimes so just lock it if you want.” 18 took the key. “So, uh, I’ll see you in the morning.”

 18 stared at the key in her hand and back at the door. It was a little unnerving for someone to be so kind to her. She never experienced that.

 “I get it! Krillin! You’re in love with her!”

 18 gripped the key. Does he really or is he lying? Can I really trust him?

 ****

 Krillin returned with breakfast late the next morning. He meant to wake earlier and cook but he stayed up late convincing Master Roshi it was safe for them to allow 18 to live with them. He spent part of the morning cleaning up the empty cans of beer and food boxes. When he prepared to make breakfast, he noticed the refrigerator empty. Master Roshi did say they were running low on food.

 Krillin left to shop for food and other things and stayed away until almost 11. “Master Roshi,” Krillin placed bags of food on the counter. “Where’s 18? Has she come down?”

 “Nope.” Master Roshi turned a page of his newspaper.

 “Really?” Krillin went upstairs. Krillin knew 18 had a lot to think about but he thought she’d be downstairs now. Krillin knocked. “18? Are you awake?” Nothing. Krillin turned the knob. The door was unlocked. “18? I’m coming in.” Krillin slowly opened the door. The room was empty and it didn’t look as if 18 slept in bed. Krillin saw his key on the nightstand.

 Disappointed, Krillin’s head hung low as he closed the door and returned downstairs. “She left.”

 Master Roshi lowered the newspaper. “I’m sorry, Krillin, but maybe it’s better this way.”

 Krillin sat on the bottom of the steps. “I guess she really didn’t want to change.”

 18 suddenly walked in with a small box. Krillin gaped at her and Master Roshi raised his sunglasses off his face. “What?”

 “You’re back!” Krillin jumped to his and went to her. “I went upstairs but you weren’t there. Where did you go?”

 18 shifted the box on her hip. “I needed to talk to my brother. I wanted him to know where I am so he didn’t worry.”

 “Do we have to worry about him coming to kill us?”

 18 refrained from answering Master Roshi. She thought it was better to let the old man sweat with fear. Krillin handed a bag to her. “I’m glad you came back. I can give this to you now.”

 18 took the shopping bag from Krillin as he took the box from her. The shopping bag had the department store’s logo on it. She pulled out the dress she wanted to steal. She looked at Krillin for an explanation.

 Krillin’s face turned a light shade of pink. “Everyone deserves something nice after a bad day.”

 18 couldn’t resist smiling. Her brother told her she’s crazy to do this but 18 thought it was the right decision.

 ****

 Vegeta was agitated when he left the gravity room. He tried concentrating on his exercises but his mind was on Bulma and that move she pulled on him last night. When they had sex, he always had the upper hand. He always had Bulma squirming and crying out under him. Last night, she got the jump on him and he was at her mercy.

 How the hell did she do that? She’s not even strong but she got me. I didn’t know I was sensitive there.

 It bothered Vegeta so much he couldn’t finish his exercise for the day. Grumpy, Vegeta stormed the hall. He passed the kitchen but stepped back when he saw Bulma sitting at the kitchen island talking on the phone.

 “It completely worked!” Bulma giggled. “He was so helpless! I wished I talked to you sooner. You would’ve saved me a lot of headaches.” Bulma reached for a grape and popped a few in her mouth. “And he was with me this morning.”

 Vegeta stepped away from the doorway so Bulma didn’t see him. Who was she talking to? “No, we didn’t talk but the fact he was still there is progress. Big progress.”

 Vegeta gritted his teeth. Bulma was talking about him and last night. Who the fuck is she talking to about me?

 “I’m gonna pick you up tomorrow. I’m taking you to lunch at this great restaurant in West City. I went there a lot when I had cravings with Trunks. You can share me more Saiyan secrets.”

 Saiyan? She’s talking to Kakarrot’s wife??!!

 Vegeta was aware of Bulma visiting ChiChi once but from the sounds of it they have been in frequent contact and…. Saiyan secrets. Is Kakarrot’s wife sharing with Bulma what she did to Kakarrot and Bulma is….. oh HELL no!!

 Vegeta entered. He was going to nip this. Bulma ended the phone call. Good. She knows she’s wrong for what she did. “Why are you suddenly spending time with Kakarrot’s wife as if you are best friends?”

 Bulma popped another grape in her mouth. “I’m allowed to broaden my friendship circle.”

 Vegeta wasn’t buying it. “You’ve known Kakarrot’s wife for years and never spoke to her unless you had to; not even when you were pregnant so spare me the bullshit of expanding your friendship circle and tell me what the hell is going on!”

 It was no secret there was tension between Bulma and ChiChi and this growing communication between them raised eyebrows. “Trunks could use a playmate and what better one to have than the child ChiChi’s carrying.” It was reasonable but Vegeta only crossed his arms. He didn’t believe that’s all there was. “I owe it to Goku to be friends with her. Krillin, Master Roshi and I kept ChiChi out of the loop on things deliberately. When Goku died the first time, we let a day go by before telling ChiChi Goku’s dead and Piccolo kidnapped Gohan.”

 “Kidnapped?” Vegeta repeated. “When did that happen?”

 “After Raditz was killed. Piccolo and Goku were still enemies. After Goku died, Piccolo took Gohan because he saw his potential in fighting you and Nappa. He took Gohan and left us to tell ChiChi.”

 Even though he’s been on Earth for four years, Vegeta didn’t investigate Goku’s time here or the relationship he has with everyone. From what Bulma voluntary spoke of, Vegeta surmised they were all friends. This new information was enlightening and surprising. “Pathetic. A warrior dies and none of you had the guts to tell his wife. You let his son be kidnapped. Why?”

 “None of us had the strength to stop Piccolo. As for not telling ChiChi,” Bulma shrugged. “Scared? I didn’t know her but she had to be tough to prevent Goku from training Gohan. Anyone who has control over the strongest person in the world is pretty intimidating.”

 “What do you mean you didn’t know her? You were friends with Kakarrot. You said you went on adventures together.”

 “I met ChiChi the same time Goku did but I didn’t talk to her. Goku did. After that one time, we didn’t see ChiChi until years later when she reminded Goku of his promise to marry her.” Bulma wondered how that happened. Goku couldn’t tell the difference between a girl and a boy without patting them. Why would he propose to one? “After Goku defeated Piccolo, he left to begin his life with ChiChi. We didn’t see Goku for five years.”

 “And?” Vegeta pried.

 “And what?” Bulma questioned.

 “What else happened? What did Kakarrot’s wife do to make you not tell her what happened to Kakarrot and Gohan? Did she do something to you when she met Kakarrot again?”

 “No. I didn’t talk to her then either. I wanted to talk to Goku about marrying ChiChi but he left with ChiChi so fast, we couldn’t talk.”

 “And why did you need to do that?” Bulma’s silence gave Vegeta the opportunity to figure it out himself. “Were you planning to talk him out of marriage?”

 It was as if Vegeta could read her mind. “He was my friend and I wanted to make sure Goku knew what he was doing.” Bulma saw ‘bullshit’ on Vegeta’s face. “It was a long time ago. It would’ve been wrong for me to talk to Goku then. What I felt then, I don’t feel now.”

 Vegeta rolled his eyes. Maybe it was true but it still pissed him off. Instead of thinking of the past, Vegeta focused on what he knew now. No one knew ChiChi but for unexplained reasons thought it was wise to not tell the woman her husband died and her son was kidnapped. “You didn’t tell Kakarrot’s wife because you didn’t like her. Fucking cowards. All three of you.”

 He didn’t have to be so blunt. “Trust me I feel guilty about that. If that happened to you and Trunks, I would’ve reacted the same way she did. Everyone was busy training for your and Nappa’s arrival. I didn’t have that excuse. It didn’t help we let ChiChi think Goku knew Gohan was taken by Piccolo before he died.” Vegeta didn’t understand. “After his fight with you, Goku’s body was completely broken but ChiChi was very angry with Goku. She ignored him and blamed him for Gohan fighting when that wasn’t true.”

 “How the hell did that happen?”

 “When ChiChi asked if Goku knew Piccolo was going to take Gohan, we didn’t tell her Goku was already dead and he died thinking Gohan would be returned to her.” Vegeta turned throwing his hands up. “We didn’t want her yelling at us! We figured if ChiChi thought Goku was okay with it, we’d be in the clear.”

 “You put everything on Kakarrot to save yourselves from a verbal lashing.” Vegeta laughed. “Is that human that intimidating or are you all so pathetic?”

 This put down was getting irritating. “Like I said, we didn’t treat her right. I want to make up for it now.”

 “No wonder she yelled at you when your father picked us up.” Vegeta laughed. “You deserved it.”

 Bulma tried to be patient but she was getting tired of Vegeta’s remarks to her. “Oh, shut up and stop looking so damn smug!”

 “I will when you stop being a harpy.”

 Vegeta walked off as Bulma called out outrage. “What did you call me?!”

 ****

 Vegeta flew in the direction of Goku’s house. He couldn’t outright ask without answering questions so he was discrete acquiring this information  He accessed the ship Bulma traveled in when she attended Goku’s memorial. He knew enough science to get old recorded flight plans and found Goku’s address. It would’ve been easier to accept Bulma’s invitation to attend Goku’s memorial but that wasn’t how Saiyans mourn.

 He flew to Goku’s house four times over the past two weeks but Gohan was home. This was the first time he couldn’t detect Gohan’s Ki.  

 Vegeta landed in the front yard of Goku’s home. It wasn’t like his home with Bulma. This place was very small in comparison. It was in the middle of nowhere, away from the lights, noise and smell of the city. This place seemed suitable for him. He wasn’t sure how much time he had before Gohan returned so he went about his business. He knocked on the door.

 ChiChi was so hungry. This was one thing she didn’t miss being pregnant the first time. Endless hunger. Good thing she could whip up something. Goku help her hunger pains by hunting a lot. It was during her pregnancy with Gohan, ChiChi ate bear and tiger for the first time. Normally, she refused but she was so hungry and craved so many things she didn’t care.  

 She frowned in annoyance at the knock. She didn’t mind visitors but did they have to come when it’s time to eat? It was probably Goku’s friends. After her pregnancy was revealed, Bulma would call or visit a lot. Krillin and Yamcha came by. It was very different from when Goku died the first time. No one visited her except her father.

 The knock came again. ChiChi had a good mind to let the person on the other end think she wasn’t home but she knew better. Goku’s friends knew Ki. They knew she was inside. She opened the door but did not expect to see Vegeta.

 ChiChi only saw Vegeta less than a handful times and that was three years ago. After their confrontation when Goku refused Porunga’s wish, the two didn’t speak to each other. Vegeta wasn’t around when the Namek dragon was summoned a second time. Vegeta didn’t come to Goku’s memorial so ChiChi wondered why he is here.  

 “Gohan isn’t here.”

 “I didn’t come to see him.” ChiChi’s hands instantly went to her stomach. “Oh, come, Woman. You think I will harm your child? It’s a Saiyan. The last thing I will do is kill what little of my race is left.”

 ChiChi lowered her hands puzzled. “I don’t understand why you came to see me.”

 “Kakarrot. Is that enough?”

 Vegeta sat at the kitchen table and watch ChiChi fix herself several plates. When Bulma was pregnant, he didn’t spend enough time around her to notice her appetite. He stayed in the training room, spent days away from her home and later at the Brief’s vacation home while he trained for the Artificial Humans.

 The aromas from the plates of appealing food were tempting. He wasn’t hungry but he was a Saiyan and though he had more control that Goku, looking at the food made him want to eat.

 “I don’t understand how you Saiyans like having stomach that are endless pits.” ChiChi placed three plates next to the six at her seat and went back to fix three more. “I have myself on an eating schedule.”

 When ChiChi returned to the table, Vegeta was stunned ChiChi placed three plates before him. She returned with an extra pitcher of ice water, a tall glass, and chopsticks for Vegeta.

 Vegeta looked at ChiChi warily. “I didn’t ask for your food.”

 “You’re a Saiyan. Just looking at food makes you hungry. Besides, I wouldn’t feel right eating and offering you none.” ChiChi poured Vegeta a glass of water. “Every day for three years, Piccolo sat at the table. If I can have him at my table without vomiting, I can with you.”

 Vegeta picked up his chopsticks. Before he took a bite, ChiChi punched the back of his head. Vegeta lurched forward barely missing his face smashing into the plate of food. “What the hell was that for?!”

 “I know you let Cell reach his perfect form.” She glared daring Vegeta to say anything. He smartly didn’t. ChiChi sat down. “Now you may eat.”

 His hostess was rude to him but the food was very, very good. Vegeta noticed how quickly ChiChi ate. It was like a Saiyan. He wondered if Bulma ate like that when pregnant with Trunks.

 ChiChi pushed aside an empty plate and grabbed another. “So, why do you want to talk about Goku? You didn’t come to the memorial.”

 She was blunt and to the point. He liked that. “I had no interest coming to an event where you share a rose-colored version of Kakarrot. I wouldn’t get the facts or things I need that only you can answer.”

 ChiChi was suspicious. What did Vegeta want to know about her husband and why did he expect her to tell him? “What do you mean?”

 “I’ve never met a Saiyan like Kakarrot. He’s not bloodthirsty or violent. He’s soft. The only trait he has from Saiyans are the fighting prowess.”

 “Whatever programming Goku had was wiped when he hit his head. He started life with a clean slate.”

 Vegeta snorted. Did everyone really believe that fool Raditz? “That damn Raditz misunderstood and confused you all. The hit on Kakarrot’s head scrambled the programming but it didn’t squelch his desire for fighting? If the environment was different there’s a good chance Kakarrot would’ve recalled his mission and killed everyone.”

 “Are you saying if Goku was under the care of someone violent, he would’ve remembered his mission?”

 “Violent person or place would’ve triggered it,” Vegeta guessed as he ate a roll. “But since he lived in peace for so long, it didn’t happen. All I know is the planet made him soft. Maybe if he left sooner he wouldn’t have been so soft and gullible in trusting people.”

 “Goku told me what his brother, King Kai and you said. Freeza and his father were the reason babies like my Goku were sent to Earth.” ChiChi reached for another plate. “If they never ruled the Saiyans, do you know what kind of life he would’ve had?”

 “It’s not your business.”

 “It is if you want to tell you about Goku.”

 Earth women. They were all annoying with their bargaining. “He wouldn’t have been soft,” Vegeta wanted to make that clear. “I don’t know much about the Saiyan way of life before Freeza’s family took over. Nappa didn’t share what he knew.”

 “Sounds harsh.”

 “Harsh but needed. It’s foolish to think of things that will not happen. Thinking so weakly makes one---”

 “Soft,” ChiChi finished for him. “There’s nothing wrong with hope of a better life. It’s what got me through tough times as a little girl. It’s what led me to meeting Goku. It changed my life for the better.” Vegeta wondered what that meant but she wasn’t going to tell him. It was amusing to ChiChi. She never thought she and Vegeta would have something in common.

 To answer ChiChi’s question, Vegeta said, “Who knows what Kakarrot would’ve done. His power level would’ve been measured at birth and he would be considered weak. It’s fitting since Kakarrot---“

 “Comes from a line of third-class warriors,” ChiChi finished. “I’ve heard that before.”

 Vegeta half rolled his eyes. Of course she would know. “Gohan might have been different. He may have been in a higher class and not a scholar as you want.”

 ChiChi’s eyes thinned. “If you have a problem with Gohan’s career, say it.”

 Vegeta snorted. “Gohan has the skills to be a warrior. He can have his head in the books sometimes. I was educated but I balanced that with a warrior’s training. Having his head in the books all the time is a waste of talent and an insult to his Saiyan lineage. If he doesn’t keep up with his training, he will grow soft and weak when a formidable opponent challenges him.”

 “The world’s at peace now Cell is gone.”

 “Times of peace is the best time for a warrior to strengthen their skills! What happened in that alternate timeline with Trunks is proof peace isn’t guaranteed. Kakarrot died before those Artificial Humans arrived. Did his death prevent Trunks’ world from becoming a living hell? Did it prevent me, your son and everyone else in that timeline from dying?”

 He had a point. Sometimes ChiChi did wonder how she in that alternate timeline handled Gohan’s choice to fight. If there was an argument, she would’ve lost it as she lost the fight to not allow Gohan to train for three years.

 “I haven’t forced Gohan to study since his father died,” ChiChi confessed. “He’s done that on his own.”

 “And you won’t stop him,” Vegeta pointed out.

 “Shouldn’t that please you?” ChiChi asked with a sly smirk. “Perhaps Gohan ‘slacking off’ will allow you to catch up with him. He’s far above you like my husband.”

 Vegeta gripped his chopsticks tightly. “I see your tongue is as sharp as ever.” Perhaps It’s better this way. With Gohan not training anymore, it will allow Trunks to easily catch up to him. Trunks will be stronger than Gohan and the child she’s carrying. I will make sure of it.

 ChiChi reached for another plate. She wanted to change the subject. The conversation between them have been civil and it was providing a chance to learn about her husband’s Saiyan lineage and answer questions she and Goku wondered. “You told me Goku’s Saiyan instincts were alive when he chose me as his mate. What did you mean by Saiyan instincts and how do you know about this if only you, Nappa and Goku’s brother were the only Saiyans around after Freeza killed everyone?”

 The price of excavating information for his purposes Vegeta thought grimly. ChiChi was a sharp one. “Nappa told me. Some Saiyans mate for temporary partnerships. Others mate for life. If we are attracted to a female, we mate with them. Usually it’s the male that initiate things but when a female does, it’s even more enthralling. When the male responds, he lets her know how he appreciates her initiation.”

 ChiChi’s cheeks burned. She knew exactly what he meant about that. She knew what happened the days before they married. Goku responded to her scent. He didn’t know it but it meant he physically accepted her courtship.

 “It’s a wasted question. Kakarrot wouldn’t be with you all this time if he didn’t respond to your courtship.”

 “I just wanted assurance.”

 “You’re carrying his second child!” He scolded her. “Wasn’t it enough he kick your own son out to spend the remaining days leading up to the Cell Game with you?!”

 “How did you know?”  

 “I was on Kami’s Temple. I was there when Kakarrot returned with the dragon balls and told Gohan he can stay there until the Cell Game. It doesn’t take a genius to know what Kakarrot was doing with you.”

 The meatball in her chopstick plopped back on her plate. If Vegeta figured it out, then the others….

 “I told you not to give a damn what Kakarrot friends thought!”

 It wasn’t often she was yelled at. She never liked it. She only accepted it if it came from Goku. “You should take your own advice, Vegeta. You’re giving a damn about the ghosts of your past. You fear living a different life from what you’re used to will make you soft and gullible like you think it has with Goku. You wonder if you settle with a family if you fall in the same trap.”

 His chopsticks snapped with a loud crack. “How did you….?”

 “You kept calling Goku soft; this planet makes him soft.” ChiChi reached for another plate. “You two have more in common than you think. Besides, I’ve seen this before in Goku.”

 His snarl and grumbling amused ChiChi. “Goku didn’t worry about being soft and gullible but he did have an identity crisis after we married.” She pushed spare chopsticks to Vegeta. “For the first time in years, Goku didn’t have a fight to prepare for. He won the tournament and became the strongest in the world. He was happy he won but wasn’t ready for life after that. He resisted change. It created some issues but Goku and I worked it out and we made a happy family together.

 “I won’t imagine everything you’ve been through but you do have things in common with my Goku. He was alone, too. All he knew was fighting. He was never exposed to another way of life until we married. It was an adjustment for him. It didn’t make him soft and gullible and it won’t happen to you either. It will make you stronger.”

 “Stronger?”

“Goku enjoyed fighting a strong opponent but having someone to protect gave him that extra motivation to not give up. Imagine what it will do for you.”

 Vegeta tapped his chopsticks against his plate pondering ChiChi’s words. Kakarrot’s ingenuity. His way of being one step ahead. Did he really get that way because of his wife and son? Is it worth giving that life a chance?

 “If you tell anyone, especially Bulma about our talk, I’ll kill you.”

 “What talk?” ChiChi smiled as she reached for another plate of food.

 A rare smile curved Vegeta’s face as grabbed another plate.

 ****

 Bulma perused the clothes in her walk-in closet. She told Vegeta he needs a new wardrobe. She needed one, too. The clothes were nice but she were getting bored with it. Perhaps, she’ll leave Trunks with her mother and go on a shopping trip.

 Strange rattling from her bedroom caused Bulma to step out of her closet. Vegeta pushed her dresser from the wall. “Vegeta……..” her eyes followed Vegeta as he pushed her furniture to the bed, “what are you doing?” He leapt removing some framed photos from the wall and tossed them on her bed. “I said what are you doing?”

 Vegeta ignored her as he walked in her closet. Bulma followed Vegeta. The room was quite large. It was a walk-in closet but it was big enough for one’s personal office. “This will do.” Vegeta grabbed clothes off one side and tossed it to the floor.

 “Hey!” Now Bulma was angry. “What the hell are you doing?!” All her clothes from one side were tossed on the floor. She angrily followed Vegeta out her closet. “What the hell was that about? Are you gonna burn my clothes?”

 Vegeta returned to the empty wall in her bedroom. Dr. Briefs walked in. “Dad, what’s going on?”

 “Vegeta,” Dr. Briefs spoke aware of what Vegeta wanted. “I can get the robots to measure and accurately----” he never finished when Vegeta punch the empty wall. It crumbled. Dr. Briefs looked at his daughter who was ready to blow up. “I’ll let you talk.” He quickly made his escape.

 “Vegeta!!” Bulma screamed. “What the hell did you do?! Why did you knock down my wall?!”

 “It was in the way.” Vegeta stepped over the rubble into the empty room. “This is better.”

 “What is better?!” Bulma demanded as she marched to him. “Why did you throw my clothes on the floor and why did you demolish my wall?!”

 “The closet is fine but this rooms needs to be a little bigger if I’m gonna be in it.”

 “You…..” Her anger dissipated as a wonderous smile grew on her face. “You want to share my room?”

 “It’s not your room anymore,” he corrected her.

 “Our,” she corrected herself. She wrapped an arm around him and laid her head on his shoulder. Saiyans. They just weren’t like human men. They made it so much harder but also so much fun. “You could’ve just told me.”

 Vegeta felt a tiny urge to shove Bulma off him but since they were alone, he allowed it. He would never verbally say it but it was nice.

  “I see the possibilities,” Bulma murmured.

 “What?”

“I look at this extra space we have to expand on our room and I see us….. the possibilities of our future. We have a second chance compared to ourselves in our son’s alternate future. You’re dead and I’m beautiful but lonely with a lot of regrets. Our future is unwritten. We can make it what we want. Let’s do that and live for those who can’t.”

 Bulma saw their future but Vegeta saw an empty room. He wasn’t trying to be heartless and emotionless. He wasn’t bred to think that way. Since childhood, all he did was fight to kill, fight to show his strength and dominance to those beneath him. He was a slave to Freeza’s regime but he was treated differently than others. He was educated, granted privileges others weren’t because he was a prince. He killed families; killed relationships. Raising and taking part in one wasn’t what he was taught.

 My past is what made me. I can’t forget my past. He looked down at the woman leaning on him. But maybe I shouldn’t let it hold me back from my future.

 Feeling eyes on her, Bulma turned her head up to Vegeta’s. Vegeta touched her chin and tilt it up as he brought his lips down upon hers.

 *****

 “I want you and Gohan to move in with me.”

 Gyu-Mao said this when Goku hadn’t returned from space. Then, her father came from a place of anger. He was angry with Goku and thought he abandoned his family. ChiChi resisted as she didn’t agree with him. This time was different. ChiChi knew her father was coming from a place of love and protection.

 “This is my home, Dad. Goku and I built our life here.”

 “I know, but Goku’s gone. You and Gohan shouldn’t live out here alone.”

 “Gohan and I can take care of ourselves.”

 “It’s so isolating out here. You know I wanted you to stay with me when you and Goku married. My castle has enough rooms. It’s so big I can go days without seeing you. You would’ve had enough privacy, but I allowed you to move out and live on your own. You wanted to prove something. You did. You don’t have to do that anymore. Move back in. Gohan won’t have to share it with the baby.”

 “Gohan wants to share his room with his brother.”

 “For now but when Gohan gets to be a teenager, he’s going to need his own room. He’ll want his own space. ChiChi, this is the perfect time for you, Gohan and the baby to have a fresh start. It’s what Gohan needs, too.”

 “What do you mean?”

 “I’ve talked with him. He’s very upbeat but there are times Gohan gets very quiet. Something is bothering him. I’ve waited for Gohan to come around. I’ve tried to approach the subject of Goku dying but Gohan clams up or he’ll change the subject. This place holds too many memories. It’s stifling Gohan from mourning properly. Move in with me so Gohan can deal with whatever turmoil is going on. Let the baby growing in you have a life not tied to the past.”

 ChiChi sat at the table long Gyu-Mao left. This place held a lot of memories for her. She remembered Goku walking in with baby Gohan in his arms; remember Gohan crawling on the kitchen floor while she cooked; Goku doing pushups while Gohan napped on his back; the family sitting together playing games.

 The memories were welcoming but there were days the memories were too hard to deal with.  

 “Maybe a fresh start is what we need.”

  “Gohan, what are you doing?! Finish it! FINISH OFF CELL!!!”

 “Already?” Gohan scoffed. Stop now? He was getting started. “Heh. Sorry, Dad. It deserves to suffer more.”

 “Gohan!! You’re the only one who can finish it! Do it now!! Don’t let it get desperate! We don’t know what it will do!!”

 “Gohan. Gohan. Gohan.”

 “No!” Gohan jolted awake. He took a few heavy breaths before realizing he’s in his room and his mother shook him awake.

 “Are you all right?”

 “I’m fine.”

 He was lying. ChiChi witnessed Gohan breakdown after Namek. He was in bed for a week. He only ate and slept. With her and her father, Gohan got better. He eventually came out of his room and had meals with her. In three months, Gohan was functioning like a normal child. After Goku’s death, Gohan went back to studying immediately. He walked with his Grandpa every day. He also took care of her.

 After Goku died, she lost it. She needed coaxing out of bed. She needed encouragement to cook. She was depressed for a very long time. It was her pregnancy that got ChiChi out of it. In her depression, she noticed some things different with Gohan like his outbursts but never considered it was a release of an undermining issues that’s festered for months.

 Oh, no. I didn’t see it. I was so lost in my grief I didn’t consider Gohan. He was so strong and mature but he was pretending. Oh, Gohan. Maybe my father was right.

 “Is everything all right, Mom?” Gohan was worried for her. “Do I need to get you anything?”

 “No.” ChiChi shook her head.

 “Here, Mom.” Gohan was on his feet helping ChiChi sit down. “Sit down. Rest your feet.”

 ChiChi eased herself on Gohan’s bed. “I want to talk to you.”

 “It was only bad dream,” Gohan told her. “Nothing to worry about.”

 It was something for ChiChi to worry about. It was a cry for help. “Grandpa suggested something to me I think we should consider. He wants us to live with him.”

 “Why? We have a home here.”

 “Grandpa’s home is so much bigger. You’ll have so much space and room for your books, your telescope, and chemistry set. You won’t have to share your room with your brother.”

 “But I want to share my room with him.” Gohan went over to one side of the room where his bookcase stood. “I cleared this bottom shelf for his books and toys.” He went to the closet and opened it. “I already made space for his clothes and I’m gonna give him one of the drawers to my chest.”

 “That’s kind of you but you don’t need to do that at Grandpa’s. He’ll have his own space like you. When you get older, you’re going to need it. Teenagers have their own rooms.”

 “I won’t need it,” Gohan insisted. “I can share my room with my brother. This is Dad’s home. How can you think of leaving and not letting my brother know about it?”

 ChiChi winced as a sharp kicked hit her ribcage. She put a hand on her stomach to soothe her baby. Maybe baby brother agreed with Gohan. “It’s not like that. This home holds a lot of memories. Wonderful memories but also difficult memories. Grandpa’s home will give us a fresh start. We can make more memories. Happier ones.”

 “You want to forget Dad,” Gohan accused her. “How can you want to forget Dad after all he’s done for us?”

 “No. I don’t want to forget Dad. We’ll never forget him, but it has been hard on both of us living here since Dad died. I’m better now, but you’re still having nightmares.”

 “It has nothing to do with this house!”

 While Gohan’s anger rose, ChiChi kept her cool. “Not intentionally but the memories of Dad are strong here.”

 “I’m sad Dad’s gone but I’m mourning. I want to stay here. This is Dad’s home. We can’t leave this place. It’ll be like forgetting Dad and the baby needs to be here. He needs to know about Dad.”

 “He will, Gohan. We’ll tell the baby about Dad all the time but we don’t need to be here.”

 “NO!” Gohan flared as he turned into a Super Saiyan. “We do! We can’t leave this place! This is Dad’s home! I won’t abandoned it!” In his anger, tears glistened around his eyes. “We can’t. You didn’t want to leave when Grandpa wanted you three years ago!”

 “That was different.”

 “It’s the same! Leaving means moving on and forgetting about Dad and I can’t do that. Please, Mom!” Gohan begged. “We can’t abandon the home Dad built for us.”

 Gohan’s tears were hard on ChiChi. It broke any resistance she had. “Okay,” she gave in. ChiChi pushed herself to her feet and waddled to her son. “We won’t go. We’ll stay here.” Gohan’s arms enclosed around her.

 ChiChi’s eyes glistened with tears. Your father’s death hit you harder than you want people to see, Gohan. You’re holding something from me. I know it. I pray you’ll tell me.

 ****

  Piccolo and Vegeta sat at the decorated table arms crossed and upset with everyone. Well, Piccolo’s arms were crossed. Vegeta stuffed his mouth with food. It was the only thing getting him through this miserable event.  

 “How did we get pulled into this?” Vegeta growled.

 “I was tricked,” Piccolo eyed his deceiver. “Gohan told me ChiChi wanted me to come to dinner.”

 “You’re Namekian. You don’t eat.”

 “I know that,” Piccolo gritted his teeth. “But I’ve eaten some food because of her. ChiChi’s a good cook.”

 “Agree,” Vegeta put down his empty plate and reached for another. While munching a drumstick, he confessed, “Bulma shut down the gravity room.” He glared at Bulma laughing with ChiChi. He squeezed the drumstick so hard it snapped in his fingers. “If she doesn’t turn it on when we get back…..”

 Piccolo felt something tug his pants legs. He looked down to see a little girl in pig tails staring at Piccolo. “You’re green,” the child giggled.

 Piccolo rolled his eyes. Aki’s eldest daughter, Kala, was almost five now. “I know. Go back to your mother.” Piccolo turned the child away from him and gave her a shove.

 Kala didn’t move. She giggled. “Mama!” Kala pointed at Piccolo. “He’s green.” Then she pointed at Vegeta. “He has a big head!”

 Gohan grabbed the child’s hand and pulled her away. “Sorry,” he apologized. “Go back to the toys, Kala, and I’ll bring you a slice of cake.” The child giggled and went back to the toys arranged for the children to play with while the adults took part in the baby shower. Gohan was a victim in one of the baby shower games. The diaper game. Bulma and Reia, Aki’s wife, dressed Gohan and Kala in a diaper in the most creative way using toilet paper. Bulma was the victor dressing Gohan in a diaper, mittens and hat made out of toilet paper in the fastest time. Gohan thought it was fun but Vegeta shook his head in disgust and Piccolo drummed his fingers against the table wondering how much longer he had to endure this madness.

 “A baby shower, Gohan?” Piccolo growled. “Why did you think I’d want to come to a baby shower?”

 “You said you will stop by one day but you haven’t since Dad’s memorial.” Gohan honestly thought the baby shower would be fun to Piccolo. “You’ve played games when you lived with us. Remember Monopoly? Uno?”

 Piccolo’s sharp nails scraped against the tablecloth. “This isn’t those games, Gohan.”

 Maybe not but it was fun. He noticed Vegeta wearing the same grumpy frown. “You had fun, too, Vegeta. You enjoyed ‘Guess the Baby Food’ game.” He gestured to the empty baby jars on the table. “You ate everything in those jars.”

 “I only ate because I was hungry. I wasn’t playing a game!”

That was a lie. The game was set up for Gohan and Vegeta to guess the food in the baby jars. As soon as Gohan guessed two jars correctly over Vegeta, he became aggressive, angry, and extremely competitive. Gohan imagined his father watching them and laughing at Vegeta’s determination to win.

 “It’s been almost two hours. Can I go now?”

 “Sure, Piccolo, but say goodbye to Mom.”

 Piccolo smirked at Vegeta who will be stuck here while he escapes to freedom. He stepped over the paper wrappings and gift boxes that cluttered the floor. He nearly tripped when a walking Trunks and Aki’s crawling second daughter passed him.

 ChiChi sat on the sofa opening a gift when Piccolo approached. Bulma and Reia sat on both sides of her. All three women looked at him expectantly. “I came. I ate cake. I’m going.”

 ChiChi sensed Piccolo’s frustration since his arrival. She was amazed he stayed this long. “Thanks for coming, Piccolo. Oooo,” ChiChi placed a hand on her stomach. “My son is saying thanks for coming, too.” Piccolo rolled his eyes. “Feel.”

 “What?”

 “Put your hand on my stomach and feel Goku’s son.”

 Gohan handed Kala a slice of cake as promised. “He feels funny when he moves in Mom.”

 “No thanks. I don’t need to feel that child. I can sense his Ki from here.”

 “Don’t be grumpy.” ChiChi waved him closer. “Put your hand on my stomach and feel my baby.”

 “Oh, feel the baby. It’s cute.” Bulma grabbed Piccolo’s hand but he snatched it away.

 “No!”

 “It really is a nice feeling,” Reia tried to coax Piccolo.

 “I said no!” Piccolo refused.

 “Put your hand on my stomach,” ChiChi kindly repeated.  

 “NO!” Piccolo yelled. “How many times do I have to say no before you accept that?!”

 “DO IT!!” ChiChi, Bulma and Reia screamed.

 “FINE!!” Piccolo roared. These women!! He put his hand on ChiChi’s swollen stomach. He felt a flutter of movement. “I feel the child,” his voice was dry, cheeks turned a dark shade of purple as his sharp ears picked up Vegeta snickering at him. “Goku’s son is strong. Can I take my hand off now?”

 ChiChi smiled sweetly at Piccolo. “Yes. Thank you.”

 “That’s all you had to do, Piccolo.” Bulma shook her head frustrated. “Alien or not all men are the same. Always whiny and difficult.”

 “I’ll have to take your word for it,” Reia giggled. “My man’s the only one that’s human.”

 Piccolo turned away from the women giggling at him. As he walked off, he saw Vegeta smirking.

 “Pussy,” he heard Vegeta whispered under his breath.

 Piccolo folded his hands into tight fists. If only they weren’t in Goku’s house…. If only he could fight Vegeta without damaging this house and not anger ChiChi or Bulma in the process. Instead, Piccolo left but vowing payback later.

 ChiChi opened Reia’s gift. She awed at the set of onesies. “Oh, these are so adorable.”

 “I’ll make a hole for the baby’s tail,” Reia offered.

 “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I had another ultrasound and the baby doesn’t have a tail.”

 “No tail? But Gohan had one.”

 “Trunks didn’t have one either,” Bulma refilled her wine glass. “I think it’s luck. I didn’t have to explain my son having a tail. ChiChi got lucky this time, too.”

 “I don’t think it’s luck, Bulma.” Though he was occupied keeping the babies entertained, Gohan heard the women’s conversation. “I read a chapter about genetics. I read if someone with brown eyes has a child with someone will blue eyes, then it’s likely the child will have brown eyes because that’s the dominant trait.”

 “Dominant traits.” Bulma whistled. “You’re taking me back to my biology classes in high school and college, Gohan.”

 “Gohan came up with a fascinating theory about Saiyan tails and their genes.” ChiChi encouraged Gohan to share, “Tell her.”

 Gohan blushed. He always got flustered when the attention was on him to share his book knowledge. “Saiyans and humans have dominant and recessive traits but when a human and Saiyan make a child, Saiyans traits are shown to be more recessive.”

 Reia laughed nervously. This was going over her head. “You lost me, Gohan.”

 “Trunks and my brother won’t have tails. I’m the only half Saiyan to have one. I think that means tails are recessive traits. A full blooded Saiyan hairstyle doesn’t change from birth. Human hair grows and can be different styles. Dad’s hair never grew. Mine does. Mom and Dad have black hair so I have black hair. Vegeta’s hair is black and he said Saiyans only have black hair.” The women looked at Vegeta, scrutinized him and looked down at Trunks on Gohan’s lap. “Trunks’ hair isn’t black.”

 “Ohh!” Bulma’s eyes lit up as she understood. “So, my human genes are dominant over Saiyan genes which are recess—”

 “Like hell they are!” Vegeta leapt to his feet. Vegeta didn’t fully understand everything Gohan said but it sounded like an insult to Saiyans. His hair turned blonde and veins popped on his forehead. “Saiyans aren’t recessive to anyone! We are dominant over everything!”

 “You weren’t dominant last night,” Bulma retorted with a sly smile.

 Reia raised her glass to hide her smile while ChiChi put a hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.

 “And turn off the Super Saiyan,” Bulma went on drinking more wine. “You’re not scaring anyone.”

 From the women laughing at him to the children staring at him curiously, Vegeta had enough. Four years ago, he would’ve killed everyone in this room. The feeling was tempting now but four of these people had ties to a Saiyan. One of them could kick his ass. Instead of releasing another tantrum he only said, “Get the child and let’s go.”

 Bulma crossed her legs and sipped her glass. “I’m not done.”

 “Oh, yes, you are.” Vegeta yanked Bulma to her feet. The glass spilled from her hand and fell on the floor. “You’ve had too much to drink. Your lips are loose.”

 “I’ll leave when I’m ready and I’m not ready.”

 Vegeta yanked her forward. His dark angry eyes bore into hers. “You’re ready.”

 Bulma stared into Vegeta’s eyes. His eyes were stormy. His nose flared as his chest rose and fell angrily. Yamcha never reacted this way when she was defiant. He never displayed this raw magnetic will. He didn’t fear she could keep the gravity room shut down for the next month for his outburst. He wasn’t intimidated by her at all.

 “All right.” Bulma pulled herself from Vegeta’s grasp. “It’s been fun, ChiChi, but it is a while back to West City.”

 “Thank you for coming,” ChiChi saw what passed between Bulma and Vegeta. She experienced that with Goku. If Goku had enough of her moods and defiant behavior, he let her know it. He knew what tone and volume to raise his voice to get her to listen. Perhaps it was a dominant Saiyan trait.

 Gohan cleaned up the spill while Bulma picked up Trunks and left with Vegeta. Once the three left, Reia stretched her arms over her head. “I think we both know who will be dominant tonight.”

 ****

 Weeks past and seasons changed. This long tumultuous year was days from coming to an end. It started off bright. In January, Goku had a doctor’s appointment. His heart was very strong and there were no signs of issues. Dr. Sims proudly reminded them the time for Goku to catch the virus passed. Goku was supposed to be dead six months before the Artificial Humans arrival but in January he was alive a month pass that death date.

 It gave ChiChi hope Goku wouldn’t get the virus. Unfortunately, Goku did at the worse time. He recovered but still died. ChiChi felt fate conspired against her. Goku’s death cast a dark pall on her family in the second half of the year. Things didn’t brighten until the discovery of her pregnancy. It brought ChiChi out of her depression and made ChiChi more aware of Gohan’s troubles.

 Gohan kept his spirits up around her but it took too long for ChiChi to realize he was doing that to hide his feelings. He buried himself in his books. He helped around the house. He behaved like a model son but something was wrong. She felt it in her bones.

 ChiChi groaned as she shut the kitchen light off. This second child was an energetic one. He kicked more than Gohan. His moving around ached her lower back. She could use Goku’s massage right now. He knew where to touch her to make the aches go away. ChiChi was happy for the pregnancy but it was a lonely one. Gohan always helped. She appreciated it but sometimes felt he was overcompensating.

 ChiChi spotted the hall bathroom open with the light on. She peeked in and saw Gohan examining his hair. She noticed the scissors and comb on the sink. Gohan used to let his hair grow. He had a fondness for long hair. He was so happy his hair grew out after his adventures on Namek but since Goku’s death, Gohan was determined to keep it short. As soon as it grew down his neck, he insisted to get it cut.

 “Want me to help you?” ChiChi asked stepping in.

 “I’ve been trying to cut it on my own.”

 “You don’t need to do that.” ChiChi grabbed a comb and carefully comb through his tresses and tangles. “You used to let your hair grow out. It would be halfway down your back before you allowed me to cut it.”

 “I like it shorter now.”

 ChiChi clipped his hair carefully. “Because of Dad?” She caught Gohan’s expression in the mirror. “He cut your hair in that room.”

 “Yeah. It’s one of the last happy memories I have of Dad. Maybe I’ll let my hair grow but for now, I want to keep it short.”

 “All right.” It wasn’t a big deal but it was concerning that was Gohan’s reason to keep his hair short. Snip. Snip. Snip. More hair fell onto the sink and floor. “I think the short hair looks good but it makes you look more mature though should be. You’re still a kid.” ChiChi pressed a kiss on the back of his head. “Don’t grow up too fast.”

 Gohan laughed ruefully. “Too late for that,” he murmured.

 Snip. Snip. Snip. More hair fell. “You did grow up faster than you should’ve.” Since Gohan’s refusal to move in with Gyu-Mao, ChiChi observed Gohan closely over the months. Gohan spent most of his time in his room studying. He came out when it’s time to eat, when his grandpa visited, when he hunted for meat or chop wood for them. Every few weeks, he visited= Piccolo but after learning of her pregnancy, Gohan spent a lot of time at home.

 But he never trained. Oh, he exercised to maintain his shape but didn’t extend that like Goku.

 Vegeta’s words about Gohan’s lack of training and peace had ChiChi thinking about her unborn son. Gohan was the strongest in the universe now. If there was a threat, it would be up to Gohan to save everyone. The world’s at peace. The recent threats were tied to Goku. He stayed dead so we can live in peace.

 ChiChi felt her child move in her. What if there was a chance Goku was wrong? What if another threat came? She paused in her cutting to caress her stomach. This child had to be protected.

 “Mom? Are you okay?” From the mirror, Gohan saw his mother looking worriedly at her stomach. “Is the baby okay?”

 “We’re fine.” ChiChi clipped more strands. “I’m happy you’re studying and you’re focused on catching up on the three years you missed.”

 “I still studied over the years.”

 “Not as much.” ChiChi parted his hair carefully. “You haven’t trained since the Cell Game.”

 “I trained to protect Earth. Everything’s peaceful again. I have more time to do things I want.”

 Three years ago, ChiChi would be proud to hear that from Gohan. Now, she wasn’t sure if that is the best mindset to have. “Your father would want you to.”

 Gohan flinched. It almost caused ChiChi to cut too much. Why would Mom say that? She hates training. “I’m studying like you want, Mom. Training gets in the way and I have three years to catch up on.”

 That was scary. Gohan was sounding like her. ChiChi argued about training. She worried Gohan would get far behind after three years but she knew that wouldn’t happen. Gohan was always ahead of kids his age. He was enlightened so young, ChiChi didn’t want to see that talent wasted but Goku told her, Gohan needed fun and time away from the books, too.

 It took his death for ChiChi to see he was right.

 ChiChi put down the scissors, the comb and brushed the strands of hair off Gohan’s shirt.  “You’re so smart and balanced. Your father’s been gone for seven months and you’ve done nothing but study. You haven’t studied in three years but you’re two grades ahead of kids your age.” Gohan examined his new hair cut in the mirror as ChiChi wrapped her arms around him. “I’m proud of you. I know you’ve been studying so much to please me but I won’t stop you if you want to include training from time to time.”

 Gohan stared at his reflection. Mom styled his hair the same way Dad did. Gohan saw his father reflecting back at him. He was a Super Saiyan wearing the Saiyan armor just like he did when he cut his hair. The happy reflection changed to his father at the Cell Game yelling at him to finish Cell.

 “Gohan, what are you doing?! Finish it! FINISH OFF CELL!!!”

 “Already?” Gohan scoffed. Stop now? He was getting started. “Heh. Sorry, Dad. It deserves to suffer more.”

 “Gohan!! You’re the only one who can finish it! Do it now!! Don’t let it get desperate! We don’t know what it will do!!”

 “I’m going to self-destruct in sixty seconds.”

 “I’ll explode the instant I’m hit. You’ll be just as dead—only sooner!!”

 “You did well, Gohan. I’m proud of you.”

 “No, I didn’t, Dad,” Gohan whispered. Tears formed around his eyes. “I failed you. I killed you.”

 “Gohan, you didn’t kill your father. That was Cell.”

 “No,” he stubbornly shook his head. “No, Mom. It’s my fault! Dad’s not here because of me.”

 The air was too thick for Gohan. He tried to leave but ChiChi pulled him back in. She clasped her hands on his face and made him look at her. “No! Don’t think that. You were too young to fight, Gohan. I know you wish you could’ve saved your Dad but there was nothing you could do. It’s all Cell’s fault.”

 “No!” Gohan exploded in rage. His hair turned blonde and the aura around him was strong but not enough to push ChiChi back. She still held onto him. “It’s my fault! I could’ve killed Cell and I didn’t! Dad told me to kill Cell and I didn’t do it!”

 Shock reverberated through ChiChi as she released Gohan. “What?”

 “I’m sorry! I’m sorry,” Gohan repeated over and over.

 ChiChi took a step back from Gohan. She must’ve misheard. “You said Cell was going to blow itself up and Goku took it away.”

 “He did but before that, I had Cell beaten. Cell was so weak it lost its perfect form. I could’ve killed it but I got arrogant. I taunted Cell. Dad told me to kill Cell but I wouldn’t do it.”

 “Why not?”

 “I wanted Cell to suffer. It killed a lot people and I felt he didn’t pay enough. Dad kept telling me to kill it  but I wouldn’t listen. Just when I thought Cell suffered enough it ballooned in size and said it will self-destruct in one minute.”

 “And that’s when Goku left?” ChiChi legs gave away as she crumpled to the floor. Goku could be alive right now if Gohan listened. He could be here feeling our baby. Vegeta let Cell reach its perfect form. Krillin destroyed the remote that could’ve deactivated 18. Gohan….. you didn’t listen to your father. How could you? Oh, Gohan….. how could you?

 Tears spilled from her eyes like lava from a volcano. ChiChi felt her heart breaking all over again as she  was brought back to that horrific day she lost Goku.  

 Why, Gohan? Why?

 “Mom!” Gohan dropped to his knees before ChiChi. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. Please don’t hate me. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll be a scholar like you want. I’ll do anything. Please.”

 ChiChi didn’t hear her son’s pleas. Her mind only contemplated there was another reason Goku wasn’t with her. Not only were Goku’s friends and allies to blame but his own son! She was too shellshocked to respond until Gohan touched her.

 “No….” ChiChi pulled away. She didn’t want him touching her. She didn’t want to look or speak to him. ChiChi pulled herself to stand. “I need…… I need to be alone.”

 “Mom……”

 ChiChi put a shaking hand up warning Gohan to stay back. “I can’t….. I can’t deal with this right now.”

 “Mom….” Gohan called after ChiChi again but she was near running from him as quickly her pregnant body would allow her.

 ****

 Near eleven that night and ChiChi still couldn’t sleep. Her eyes were red and cheeks puffy from all the crying. She cried losing Goku all over again. She pounded her pillow frustrated at all the people who made mistakes that cost Goku his life. Vegeta and Krillin she could be angry with but Gohan broke her heart again.

 Her sweet baby boy. Why didn’t he listen to Goku? What happened? As she ached for the loss of her husband, she ached for her son. She ached for the guilt he has felt all this time; how he kept it in instead of telling her.

 Oh, the fear Gohan must’ve felt in telling me. The guilt. It’s not your fault Gohan. I know you didn’t mean to get arrogant…. but why didn’t you listen to your father?

 She remembered the fear and panic in Gohan’s eyes when she pulled away from him. What was he thinking now? Her poor baby probably felt even worse now. She needed to talk to him; at least reassure she didn’t hate him. She never could do that. No matter what mistakes he made, ChiChi will always love her son.

 A sharp pain struck ChiChi once she got out of bed. It overwhelmed her so deeply, she grabbed the railing at the foot of the bed to stay upright. She rubbed her stomach. Where did that pain come from? She released two heavy breaths.

 The pain was gone. She walked….. slowly. As soon as she touched the doorknob, pain stung from her stomach again. This time ChiChi couldn’t stay upright. She slid to the floor. Her eyes squeezed shut at the pain shooting in her.

 “No, no, no,” she repeated. “It can’t be. It’s too soon.” The pain was too familiar. She only felt like this once in her life. “Gohan!” ChiChi called for her son. I need to get to the hospital. I need to save my baby. “Go…. Han!” she screamed as the pain stabbed her again.

 In and out she breathed. In and out. She wasn’t sure if Gohan heard her.

 Mustering her strength, ChiChi pulled the door open. Her legs were too weak to stand; her knees not strong to hold her, so ChiChi slid across the floor. “Gohan.” Only a few feet, ChiChi told herself. Only a few feet. “Gohan!” She kept pulling herself. Almost there. Almost there.

 A foot from his room, Gohan’s door opened. “Mom!!”

 ChiChi felt Gohan’s arms around her. “Mom, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”

 “It’s the baby. I think I’m in labor but it’s too soon.” She wailed as more pain shuddered through her body. She felt Gohan pick her up. “I can’t lose him, Gohan. I can’t lose my baby. It’s Goku’s gift to us.”

 “Don’t worry, Mom.” Gohan flared as he turned into a Super Saiyan. “You won’t lose him. I couldn’t save Dad but I won’t let my you or my baby brother die!”

 With no more words, Gohan flew out of his house, creating sonic booms as he flew to the nearest hospital.

 Part Thirty-Three: A New Life Part Two

 AN: I never understood in stories why people wrote ChiChi as incompetent in the bedroom or needing the advice of Bulma other than writers projecting their dislike on ChiChi but to me ChiChi would have a lot of experience in understanding a Saiyan in ways of intimacy. She slept with one first, she had a baby by one first, she’s been in a relationship longer so I think she will be the one to give Bulma advice. Bulma has experience with Yamcha sleeping with a human and Saiyan probably aren’t the same.

 I always wanted to write an exploration on what the other characters did in those seven years. I won’t spend chapters focusing on Vegeta and Bulma and Krillin and 18 but I want to touch on their developments from time to time throughout those years like how did Krillin and 18 meet again; when did Vegeta started giving a relationship with Bulma and Trunks a chance. I still have to keep in mind the sad truth Majin Vegeta revealed and go about this change slow because it wasn’t a quick process for them.

 I also think besides people projecting their dislike of ChiChi that ChiChi and Vegeta have a better relationship than many actually think and have things in common. With the exception of 18, Vegeta never had issues with women. In his own way, he was aloof and sort of respectful. He only acted short tempered when pushed i.e. Bulma but even then it wasn’t coming from a place of true hate and yeah, he would use that word with her because she is the most quick-tempered woman he’s mostly around. He’s hardly around ChiChi and sadly that word came in fics because of the people not liking her character.

 I also had to rewrite a little of Chapter 25 and 26 a bit. I made some changes about Goku and ChiChi’s house. Initially I wrote them getting a new capsule house because of Goku’s fight with Gyumao but I changed it that the house was damage and repairs needed to be made but it wasn’t completely destroyed because there are things I will reflect on in later chapters.

 There are so many changes between the afterlife in the manga and anime. People have bodies. People don’t. I added my own twist to it.

 Thank you for the reviews and I’m open to listening to suggestions as a few have given me but keep in mind this is a pro Goku and ChiChi and Son Family story. If you don’t like them, don’t expect me to write bashing GoChi stories or breaking them up because you can’t see them as a couple.

[sweetescapeartist]

Since there is barely anybody that looks at this blog now, imma say some things now that I'll reveal later on Twitter (maybe). Also this is gonna be a long read so you can read if you wanna or not. Its kinda a rant.

I started this blog because I liked Dragon Ball and wanted to share my ideas and things I liked with other fans. I enjoyed that. Krillin is my favorite character so I wanted to show him some love & maybe get more ppl to like him. Then eventually I started drawing nsfw art.

I began doing so because there's a great lack of Krillin positive nsfw art. Eventually on my Twitter, I gathered a following that like to see Krillin getting some love. I also went from sfw with my OC Tobi to drawing nsfw. The problem I have with both is that I don't have time as much to draw what is like to. Nor do I care as much for nsfw art.

So this is what I'm trying to say. I have other things I want to do. I draw for free and accept some requests. I'm not getting paid and I feel like I'm wasting my time somewhat. The positive is that more ppl have come to like Krillin and hopefully more will later. There aren't a lot of nsfw artist that promote Krillin. Its all about Saiyans and I understand why. I like Saiyans too. But its always at the expense of human characters that I like especially Krillin.

"Vegeta got beat up by 18 so he deserves to dick her down"

"18 should be with anyone else but Krillin. She should be with a Saiyan."

I'm seriously tired of it, ya know? Its just such negativity. I've tried to combat it with positivity and that does work but that's not what most ppl seem to care about or see. Krillin means a lot to many of us. Yes, we know he's a fictional character but he's someone we can latch on to and see ourselves in. How he constantly tries hard and doesnt give up despite having low self-esteem. He is very relatable and an encouraging character. So understand that it frustrates me and others when ppl keep making fun of a character we love just because of memes that are very innacurate, he's short, he's married to what most of the fandom consider the most attractive female in the series (so they're jealous of him to an extent), or when ppl downright degrade his character.

Why? Why treat a positive character so negatively? Ppl make fun of Krillin because he has PTSD but won't make fun of Future Trunks. They trash his marriage and make it seem as if 18 doesn't care for him because he has the most stable marriage in the series. They call his daughter an ugly troll but want to see her in hentai with some Saiyan. Such hypocrisy. That's why I've drawn some of the things I have.

There are drawings I've done that I haven't posted because they are so disrespectful to characters like Vegeta or Gohan. And I love Gohan so that's a reason why I never posted them. I'm a positive person but it seems many ppl only respond to negative. So here's what I've done/plan to do.

I have some comics planned to draw along with some pictures. The pictures vary on what they will be, but the comics... Here's what they are.

I will be making NTR comics starring Krillin but he is the main character. There are too many of him being portrayed as a wimp or punk that lets everybody get with 18 besides himself. Or its done behind his back. So I'm going to have Krillin taking other character's ladies from them. Yeah its negative in a way but also positive for Krillin. Maybe this can get the point across to ppl? Idk.

But I will make a comic where Krillin gets Videl, Bulma, & Chichi. I will make others where he gets into "situations" with characters like Kale & Caulifla, Cheelai, & others. I also plan to make a comic about Roshi basically being cucked by Krillin (you'll have to wait and see to understand that one). So that's what I have planned. Hentai comics with Krillin as the lead. Its unpopular and that is why I do it.

I'll make other more positive comics too. Like a comic about Krillin getting advice then marrying 18. Ill draw stories with my OC Tobi as he lives with Krillin and his family & dates Marron. It will focus on the Chestnut family and have father/son moments with Krillin & Tobi. And ill introduce other characters too.

But here's the big thing that contradicts everything I said prior. I don't want to draw DB anymore. The fan base has kinda wore me out but so has the direction the series has gone. In bored of the writing for DBS and it being solely about Goku & Vegeta when there are other characters like Gohan & Piccolo. Its a fighting anime so why would we only want to see 2 characters? God ki was introduced so that's an easy way for everyone to get stronger and involved. But its too corporate now and lazy. And the DBS manga... so terrible. Toyotaro is a much better artist than I am and not to talk bad about him but I think DragonGarowLee is much better for the position that Toyo. DGL knows how to choreograph fights better and understands Toriyama's comedy better. Toyo doesn't know how to write the characters. He makes Goku an uncaring idiot, makes Vegeta a poorly written Goku clone, makes fun of Krillin for no reason except he doesn't like him (seriously! He has called him ugly, weak, scared, useless, & had ppl like Goku and Roshi insult Krillin. Wtf?!), he doesnt know how to create a unique character without ripping off a character Tori has done much better. And the fanboys (& girls)

Gosh! The Vegeta fans are great but they can be crazy sometimes. They ignore all the evil Vegeta has done and ignore his flaws as if he's a perfect angel. Vegeta's flaws is what makes him such an interesting character! And him being different than Goku is a good thing. But there's a weird and false understanding of his character. "Vegeta is a better dad than Goku" sure. Vegeta just knocked up Bulma then left her as. Single mother and didn't care if she or his infant son died, never hugged his son until he was 10+ yrs old & didn't love Bulma until sometime during the 7 yr time skip. He was a terrible person in a terrible relationship! THEN he became a better person and actually loving to his family. That change is what make Vegeta great. Not his power level or how many kills he has or "cool moments."

That same twisted misunderstanding of Vegeta is similar to the misunderstanding of Krillin. Ppl think he's weak and a coward. But he fights aliens & beings stronger than him and even injures stronger opponents. He smiles in the face of danger and even gets excited during fights but is smart enough not to risk others lives. Krillin nearly killed Nappa, he would've finished Vegeta with the Spirit Bomb if Yajirobe didn't alert Vegeta that Krillin was attacking him, smart enough not to fight on Namek when they're outnumbered, took on aliens stronger than him, outsmarted them & escaped, protected both Gohan & Bulma, more skilled than Ginyu when he was in Goku's body, sacrificed his safety for others like Dende & Gohan, (for real tho, Vegeta didn't see 2nd form Freeza move but Krillin was fast enough to throw Dende out of the way and sacrifice his life. Krillin saw Freeza attacking and Vegeta who is supposed to be stronger did not see Freeza move!), he was the first person to actually damage Freeza and then taunted the Emperor of the Universe, he's always there for his friends, knew better than everybody else that if the androids defeated Vegeta & Trunks then he shouldn't get involved. He saved 18 who was innocent in this timeline, helped 16, wished for the bombs out of 17 & 18 so they could live normally. Then fast forward to DBS he fought to protect his family & planet & 18 calls him "cool", he conquers his PTSD and gained new power he always had but laid dormant, he defeated someone who actually hurt 18. & there are things he's done I didn't even mention.

And ppl constantly saying Goku is a bad dad. He's waaaaaaaay better of a father compared to Vegeta if were being honest.

I guess I've seen a lot of the negative side of the fandom and its disappointing. So I'm at a point where I kinda don't care. I'll make my comics but after I'm done with what I have planned, I'm just done with DB. I won't stop drawing entirely but I won't draw any requests unless I feel like it, I won't keep up with much DB news and content. I just want to come back to Tumblr, draw Krillin fanart, draw Tobi, write some rewrites, draw Tobi's story & that's it. Ill be a part of Chestnut Fest every year tho. That is one of the greatest things to come out of my time on Tumblr & Twitter. So big thanks to @chestnutisland!

But basically I'm tired of the fandom and I still enjoy parts of it but I want to do my own thing. So I'll partially be a part of the DB fandom but not in it too deep. Look forward to what I have in store. If some of my future content isn't to your liking, hopefully you ccan find something else I've done that you'll enjoy. But its still been fun & I've enjoyed the ppl I've talked too & friends I've made.

[queakenstein]

Queaken ! Could I request some Goku & Chichi on a double date with Zegeta & Bulma ? I need the fluff.

Hey! :) Sure! I can whip up some fluff!! (Small hints of nsfw but like only hints)

After so many years of marriage between them, Goku knew that Chi-Chi’s expectations for their every-so-odd Date Night was ‘don’t hit anyone’ ‘don’t blow anything up’ and ‘for Kami’s sake us a damn napkin’. So, when she mentioned that Bulma had invited them to a little get together, he thought it was going to be more or less the same thing.

She tsked at him from where he lounged on their bed. “Where did your dress shirts go?” Chi-Chi’s hands continued to shuffle through the assorted clothing hanging in her closet before she seemed to give up. Goku watched her bottom plop onto the bed. “Oh…, that’s right… we donated them.”

He laughs in his goofy gentle way and moves to hold her. “Can’t I just wear my gi?”

“No.” She scowls, pulling the towel off of her wet hair and tossing it into their hamper. “I’ve told you, Goku. This isn’t a barbecue. It’s a formal dinner.” She taps his arms which had come to encircle her and he releases her. “You are definitely not allowed that old thing.”

He pouts and falls back against the bed with his arms folded. He heard ‘normal’ dinner. Not formal. “But those clothes are so…” He scrunches his nose in thought. “Uncomfortable.”

“Don’t be a child.” She’s already moved to their bathroom. He hears a towel drop to the floor. “Why don’t you pop over to Yamcha’s to see if he has clothes you could borrow?” The sound of her hairdryer irritates him and he makes out something about her getting ready. He’s gone before his wife peaks her head out of the door to make sure he’s gone. 

He appears in front of the three story home and startles his old friend. “Yo, Goku. You could’ve called first, ya know!” He doesn’t take long to recover. One gets used to surprises when dealing with Earth’s Strongest. “I was just about to leave. Everything okay?”

“Huh? Yeah, everything’s fine.” Goku laughs. “Does it always have to mean bad things when I visit?”

A pause while Yamcha mulls that train of thought over. “Eh, not always. Juuust mostly.” He smiles and motions for his friend to follow him. “I’ve got a few minutes if you want a quick tour? Did some renovations.”

“Oh, yeah?” Deciding it would be rude to just stop by and demand things, Goku enters. The home is well decorated. Not lavish but definitely upscale. The Saiyan even notices some hints of Bulma’s particular decorating style. He comments on this only when he notices some of Capsule Corps’ furniture. “Bulma send that to you?”

“Yeah.” Yamcha rolls his eyes. “They wanted me to advertise for ‘em. Not really my style but, hey, free stuff.”

“You can’t afford a couch?”

The other man stammers but laughs. “N-Now, that’s not what I said.” He grins. “I just like knowing it bothers Steamers so bad.”

Goku makes a face. “Steamers? Who’s that?”

“Uh… Puar and me… We call him ‘steamers’… cause–” Yamcha snorts, realizing how silly the explanation sounds aloud. “Uh, cause his name is close to Vegetable and w-when they get hot… they steam. Like.” He rolls his eyes. “Those steamer things.”

“HAH!” Goku grins and grins wide. “Better not let Vegeta hear you say that!” They speak some more and catch up on what the other has been doing for the past few months since they last saw each other. After about ten minutes, Goku remembers why he came in the first place. “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot!” He ignores the voice in his head warning what may have happened to him had he returned home without dress clothes. “Chi-Chi has some sort of dinner thing with Bulma. I need fancy clothes. Got any you could spare?”

“Uh, yeah.” Yamcha smirks. “We’re about the same size… even if you could pound me into the dirt.”

“You’ve gotten stronger though.”Goku taps his head and smirks. “I can sense it.” He grins. “Maybe me, you, and Krillin can get together for an old spar session.”

“Nah,” The other man shakes his head and tosses a few articles of clothing at his friend, “I like my bones not broken. But, if you promise not to go Super Saiyan or anything… it could be fun.”

“Cool.” Goku glances at the shirt in his hand and frowns. “So. This won’t disappoint Chi, will it?”

He shrugs. “Dunno, she’s a funny one. You should look fine though.” He glances at his watch. One of those nice and shiny ones that Bulma gifted Gohan when he graduated high school. “Anyway, you can keep those. Apparently, you need ‘em.” They slap each other on the back and exchange good-byes with promises to make plans to reach out later.

“Hon, I’m back!”

She’s holding onto the doorway and pulling on a heel as she orders him to hurry. “Gohan is already on his way over to get Goten. We need to leave soon!”

“Fine, fine! Yeesh.” Goku does as asked and quickly gets dressed in the clothes his friend gave him. Dark colors aren’t normally his thing but he supposes it works. Black blazer jacket, grey shirt, and black slacks. All uncomfortable but Chi-Chi’s eyes glitter and that makes it worth it. 

“Shoes!” She exclaims and her husband ignores the curse she whispers as she drops down to look in the bottom of their closet. Their doorbell rings and he can’t ignore the clear. “Shit.”

“It’s probably Gohan, I’ll go let him in.” He does so and let’s his eldest know that Goten is already in bed. “He’s sleeps pretty heavy but…” There’s a small sound of sadness. “I guess you know that.”

Gohan shrugs and straightens his father’s jacket then produces a pair of shoes. “Mom might’ve forgot that she sent these with me when I moved out.” He smiles. “Try and have fun tonight, okay, Dad?”

“Yeah. I’ll try, son.” He puts on the shoes and sighs. “Least your mom is happy.” He ruffles Gohan’s hair and steps into the master bedroom. “Gohan brought shoes.”

Chi-Chi sighes with relief. “That wonderful boy.” She’s up on her feet in a second and Goku remarks how impressive that is in the heeled shoes she wears. She’s wearing the dress that 18 helped her pick out last time she let herself have a ‘girls day’. A dark, almost black, cocktail dress with long sleeves that are sheer. Goku can easily admit she looks lovely. Then again, there’s few times if any that he thought she looked awful. Awfully scary, sure. But not ugly. “Okay, let’s go!”

They had agreed to drive despite Goku’s initial suggestion of Nimbus. Instant Transmission was also a no-go. She hated it. So, he piles into the driver seat and begins the two hour drive to the restaurant. Bulma had rented the space for two hours along with the entire kitchen staff so that the Saiyans would be able to eat their fill and not overwhelm anyone. The thought of food finally elicits excitement. 

“Think they’ll have steak, Chi?”

She hums. “Most likely. I didn’t even think to look at their menu…” She shrugs and rests her chin in her palm with the elbow propped on the window. “We should’ve got a picture before we left.”

“Why?”

“We haven’t been this dressed up since that interview for Gohan’s school… and even then it was to look more professional.”

He smirks. “No, I meant more like… why when I won’t ever forget it.” He grins when she startles and looks at him with a blush.

“Goku!” She tries to hide her smile behind her hand and flicks his arm. “I forget how sweet you can be sometimes.” Instead of leaning away, she drops her head against his arm and a look of contentment cross her face. He tries to remember to tell her nice things. To try to be romantic. She’s deserving of such things… but sometimes his Saiyan brain makes it hard.

“Ya know, Chi. I may hate these clothes but I think this is going to be fun.” The urge to speed consumes him but the weight of her head keeps him calm.

“I’m really glad you’re looking forward to this.” She looks up into his face and he chances a glance into her beautiful dark eyes. “I truly missed you while you were gone… cried for nights.”

“I know.” His voice is soft. Sad. He regrets not thinking what his absence would do… but he’s here now. Buu is defeated and Frieza too. Peace is a foreign concept to him. He’s always looked for the next fight but he finds himself content with dwelling in the now. With her. With his family. “I missed you too.”

“Can you promise me something, Goku?”

“Depends, Chi.”

She sighs, sadly. “I just wants us to grow old together… that’s all… I know–” She straightens up and holds her hands together. “I know, that you’re Earth’s strongest defender… but… I would really like to grow old with you. So, next time–” She turns to look at him. “Next time you fight someone… make sure you fight for that promise. Okay?”

“I’ll try.” He excludes the part where his eagerness for a challenge might override that. But, one day, he thinks it might be nice to hand the reigns over to his sons. Let them be Earth’s Greatest Hero. So, he leans over and kisses her forehead. “I will try.”

Chi-Chi nods. “I’ll take it.” There’s a small pause as lights from the city begins to twinkle far in the distance. “Also, please, remember that this isn’t a eating contest between you and Vegeta.”

He laughs. “Fine. Me and you then.”

The look for horror that spreads over his face makes him almost double over. “I would die and you would starve!”

“Admitting defeat, eh, Chi-Chi?”

And there. The spark that made him fall in love with her. She smirks and levels him with a challenging gaze. “Fine.” She holds up a finger. “I bet I can clear my plate before you can yours.”

“What do I get when you lose?”

She blushes. “Whatever you would like.”

“And if I lose?”

She blushes harder. “I-I’m sure you can imagine…”

He grins so hard his cheeks hurt. “My imagination is terrible, Chi. What is it? Can’t you tell your husband?”

“Roshi is a terrible influence on you!” She scolds but adds, very quietly. “That thing… you do… with your mouth.”

He laughs. “Fair. I like those terms. You gotta deal, Chi-Chi!”

To his surprise, he loses. No sooner does he start to dig into his plate, she dumps the entirety of hers onto his with a satisfied expression that quickly dissolves into a childish one when she sticks her tongue out at him. Bulma looks a little shocked at the events but is filled in on the little contest. Vegeta actually chuckles and makes a snide comment on how Kakarot let a Earthling overcome him. The glares he receives from both women doesn’t make him retract the statement but he refrains from anymore for the rest of the night.

Goku finds himself grinning and makes sure that Bulma helps get a picture of him with his lovely wife. After all, who can forget the night that one defeats Earth’s strongest warrior?

[dragon-ball-meta]

Ohhh boy... -cracks knuckles- Let’s do this, shall we?

30. HIS DESTRUCTO DISC WAS THE STRONGEST KI ATTACK IN THE SERIES How does that not make sense? You’re starting your list off by not even framing your complaints correctly, as your beef isn’t the attack’s power, but that it’s underused. But even that’s explained. In short, the Kienzan takes up a LOT of energy. To form, to get it spinning fast enough, to throw, takes a bit out of the user. It’s also got several drawbacks, including, but not limited to, being quite loud. People can hear it coming and adjust accordingly. One can make a slightly weaker version they can steer, but that reduces its effectiveness.  Really, the Kienzan is only feasible in certain scenarios, at least until Krillin managed to gain the ability to control it without sacrificing power. 29. HE THOUGHT ANDROID 18 WAS DATING HER TWIN BROTHER Uh... ok? I mean I’m not sure how that ‘makes no sense’ but yeah, he made a mistake. Whoops? 28. HIS BODY MEASUREMENTS Bear in mind a few things here. Namely, that while Toriyama does depict these characters as “muscular”, it’s also lean. So the idea he should be ridiculously jacked is also a bit off. I believe the weight estimate also originally came back when the “Z” arcs started, so there’s that. Otherwise, this is probably one of the only legitimate points on this list. 27. THE REASON WHY HE SHAVES HIS HEAD ...again, how does this make no sense? He shaves his head as a sign of dedication to his practice of the martial arts and because he was taught it aided in the flow of ki in one’s body. That’s explained full well. Just because he ASSUMED Roshi shaved his head doesn’t make this not make sense. 26. HIS ABILITY TO BREAK THE FOURTH WALL It’s a comedy manga at heart. There’s jokes like this throughout. In Goku’s rematch with Yamcha, Goku hits him so hard that he actually breaks one of the borders between the panels and bounces off of it. It’s a thing in the series. Also, Idk why you’re referencing movies when they’re clearly not part of Toriyama’s continuity, but I’m reasonably certain that “lasted a season” was meant in terms of time passed, not “seasons” of a show. Especially as DB never had “seasons”. 25. HE NEVER TRAINED WITH WITH KING KAI Now this is what annoys me about this article. Y’all will take the anime and even movies into account when making this list... and yet with this complaint, you even have a screenshot of where he trained with King Kai in the anime. Yet you say he didn’t do it. Also, “with all the time he spends in the afterlife”? lol really?  24. HIS HEAD DOTS You... you literally explain this in full. How is this something that makes no sense? Literally how? 23. HIS REDUCED FIGHTING PRESENCE IN THE CELL AND BUU SAGAS Again, you explain this in the first paragraph of this entry. Yet you also talk about his activities in both arcs. So... how does this not make sense other than the fact that complaining about it makes no sense? I mean he still has a role, it’s just primarily non-combat. He carried the meat of the story in the Cell arc. 22. HIS BIZARRE CHILDHOOD "A lot of the pasts and families of Dragon Ball’s characters have been shown before (including Frieza's), but Krillin’s remains a mystery.“ Actually, no. They’re not. By and large, we learn very little about the pasts of any of these characters. We have only the vaguest details about anyone not Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, or Bulma, discounting the people we actually see born during the series. Kami’s past, even his name, is a complete mystery. Tien? No one knows his background outside being taken in by the Crane Hermit and training alongside Chiaotzu. This is not uncommon. But we actually do know a bit more about Krillin’s past in that he was raised at Orin, and he was abused. Daily. Frequently. It left him with a complex that lasted well into his adult life. He ran away one day in tears, determined he was gonna prove he wasn’t weak or worthless someday. That’s a good sight more than we’d gotten about most characters til recently. 21. HE NEARLY BECAME AN ANDROID You guys are reaching into arcade path endings from video games. Why am I not surprised? 20. HOW HE DEFEATED GOHAN DURING TOURNAMENT OF POWER PREP This is easily one of the worst offenders on this entire list if only because this is very, very easily explained. Hell, it was the point of them doing it. Gohan was operating with the wrong perspective, that Krillin going one on one vs a powerful opponent would, by necessity, be outclassed and overpowered and thus couldn’t be an asset. He was also under the assumption Krillin had gotten much weaker, unaware he was stronger than ever. Couple these things with both the fact that Gohan himself wasn’t near as strong as he used to be, and Krillin simply out-planning Gohan and beating him by using the rules of the arena against him vs trying to actually overpower him, and Gohan losing there makes perfect sense. Krillin simply overwhelmed all his senses, dropped out of sight and detection, and then simply knocked Gohan off-balance and shoved him out of bounds. Simple. Literally nothing hard to understand about that. 19. HE’S THE FIRST PERSON FROM UNIVERSE 7 TO LOSE IN THE TOURNAMENT OF POWER He’s the first one out because he actually ditched the safety of the group strategy and rushes out to rescue his wife, who was nearly eliminated first herself. He then teamed up with her for a bit and even took out a particularly skilled enemy himself by using his head. Then he was tripped out of bounds because he was distracted by (sadly) rare praise. It happens and it’s not indicative of “strength” or “power” at all. 18. HIS BATTLE STRATEGY AGAINST FRIEZA'S SECOND FORM Lord, here we go. Imma say this again: The Kienzan takes a LOT of energy to form and use. Krillin had just thrown like, twenty of them in a row and then had to run at top speed. The odds of him being able to produce a Kienzan in time are slim to none This is why, upon blinding Freeza, he was yelling for Vegeta (who was still FRESH, mind you) to attack Freeza now. But Vegeta was too paralyzed with shock and fear to act. I’d also like to point out that blinding Freeza wouldn’t have been super effective with an attack that Freeza could easily HEAR coming. He heard it at the last minute even over Gohan’s screams of agony, pretty sure he’d have heard it off to the side where it was just them too. 17. HE LEAVES HIS DAUGHTER IN THE CARE OF KIDS Yes. Apprehensively. At the insistence of his wife, who assured him she’d be ok and could take care of herself. Y’all really tried to use this to imply he’s a bad dad, wow. 16. HIS REGRESSIVE PTSD IN THE FOREST OF TERROR I’m not sure if I’m happy someone finally admitted it’s PTSD (#DragonBallAintDeepBro) or pissed off someone called this “regressive”. Wait no, I know exactly what I am, and frankly... WTF is wrong with you? How on God’s green earth is that Regressive? Are you, by the body of this entry, implying PTSD is a thing that exclusively happens to people who aren’t strong or “strong enough”? Either way, you missed the entire point of the episode, which you simultaneously admit was good character development. A development arc hinted at since the Buu arc really, but really kickstarted back in the BoG arc. The Forest of Terror was never about just strength or ability. Truly, the enemies seen there were only as strong or weak as Krillin empowered them to be by his fear and the ki he poured into them as a result. The point is they were a personification of Krillin’s own fears. His self-doubt and self-loathing. The condition was slowly killing him, his confidence was next to nothing, and it was affecting his life. His job. His family. It’s why 18 gave him the kick in the butt to start training again, to try to regain some of his confidence. It’s why Roshi sent them there; he saw the lack of confidence in the man. He saw his student in anguish, hating himself for not being more than what he was, but also fully believing he never could be. That he just wasn’t good enough. It’s why, even when facing enemies that his rational mind KNEW were weaker than himself, to say nothing of dead, he still panicked. His PTSD was triggered, vivid memories of what they’d done to him, the pain he suffered, came rushing back. And removing it was what finally allowed him to reach into his truest potential, and become even stronger than he’d ever been before. I also love the realistic way the series handled the condition, in that even as he tries to improve himself, he still has moments where it starts to kick in and he has to fight it off, will himself not to lose it. His wife knows it too and takes extra care (for the most part) to not let him slip back into it. But he refuses to allow it to control him anymore. How the hell that’s somehow a negative, let alone something that “doesn’t make sense”, is a mystery to me. 15. HIS "FULL POTENTIAL" THAT THE GRAND ELDER NAMEKIAN GURU UNLOCKED How is this really confusing? It simply allows him to tap into potential, power, that was blocked off. There are many factors that can contribute to it, be it limitations on time, plateaus, mental blocks, etc. The Grand Elder removed those and awaken that potential. It’s why Gohan and Krillin started to make the gains that they did at the rate they did, going from only about as strong as Goku had been on Earth to strong enough to help Vegeta overpower and potentially kill Freeza in his first form. 14. HIS YOUNGER CHARACTER TRAITS Y-you do realize you’re literally complaining about character development... right? Krillin grew up in an abusive environment where he felt he could trust no one, everyone was out for themselves, and that he had to do whatever it took to get ahead and be accepted as one of Roshi’s pupils so he had a chance to be... anybody, really. And yes, over time, between the influences of his friends and general maturing and growing up, he became a very kind, compassionate, and caring individual and a true friend. THAT’S. CHARACTER. DEVELOPMENT. And to present these traits as a “mistake” is to somehow suggest they came later. They were his original traits. 13. HIS BULLET INJURIES DURING HIS POLICE JOB Literally explained in Resurrection F, both the arc and the movie. Emptying one’s body of ki leaves it vulnerable. It should be his instinct to do so right away, but he doesn’t. He’s becoming careless and distracted. It’s part of his PTSD. Hell, Goku’s clearly not getting “that weak” and yet he also  got lightly bruised by a bullet because he didn’t keep his energy up, a sign he was falling out of practice due to his inability to find a training partner, or to leave to a place that would really push him in his training due to work. Also, if one being vulnerable to gunfire means they shouldn’t be a police officer, or any like job where there might be danger... well...  That’s dumb, my friend. 12. HE CAN PERFORM THE SPIRIT BOMB AND KAIO-KEN ATTACK Stop using video games to pad your list! SERIOUSLY! And how does “performing the Spirit Bomb” make no sense? Goku and King Kai both instructed him how to do it, and Krillin’s always been especially gifted at both energy manipulation and learning on the fly. Besides, it’s not as if he knows how to summon said energy himself, just wield and form it. 11. HIS ROMANTIC NATURE NEARLY DESTROYED THE EARTH Hot Take Time: Krillin’s decision not to kill 18 stemmed from general compassion, not just the fact that she kissed him, and his decision would have had NO impact on Cell had Vegeta followed through, done what he was supposed to, and killed Cell. Even if Vegeta, by some bizarre chance, failed? Trunks was there, and just as powerful. There were two people there capable of killing Cell. No, what nearly destroyed the Earth was Vegeta’s VERY conscious decision to actually HELP Cell reach his Perfect Form, something Krillin never imagined Vegeta would be stupid and selfish enough to do. And even then, Krillin told her to get lost and hide, and even offered to help her move 16 so she could. 10. HIS EARLY DISMISSAL IN FORTUNETELLER BABA'S TOURNAMENT ...IT’S A COMEDY AND HE GOT HIS WHOLE HEAD BIT INTO BY A VAMPIRE, WHAT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND? FFS He’s still weaker than even Yamcha at that point. His quick thinking is also all that saved Yamcha’s ass from getting whupped into submission. 9. HE PASSES AWAY THE MOST... EVEN THOUGH HE’S EARTH’S STRONGEST HUMAN Oh lord here we go... a. He wasn’t at the time of his first death. b. That kinda doesn’t mean much when you have to fight an alien lizard or ancient demon who could dust you with their pinky. This only makes no sense if you utterly ignore any and all context. Vegeta, for example, has actually died just as many times as Krillin now (Freeza, Buu, Freeza again)... and he’s the second strongest in the roster. Goku has also technically “died” just as many times now too (Piccolo, Cell, Hit), as well as Piccolo (Nappa, Buu, Freeza).  Mr. Satan and Bulma have died the least of anyone. Hardly an indicator of power. 8. HE LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY AND MASTER ROSHI IN THE KAME HOUSE It’s housed Roshi, Oolong, Krillin, Goku, Yamcha, Umigame AND Launch in the past. Housing Krillin, 18, a baby/toddler, and Roshi is hardly filled to capacity. That said... they move. They move as soon as they can afford their own home, which is shortly after 18 gets her fall money from Mr. Satan. 7. HIS FUSION WITH PICCOLO I’d just like to state for the record that this is literally complaining about a fun drawing Toriyama did of what Krillin and Piccolo would look like Fused. That is all. 6. HE CAN ABSORB SPIRIT BOMBS AND USE THEIR ENERGY Aaand we’re back to video games. 5. HE’S THE STRONGEST HUMAN ON EARTH Ok now this one? This one is utter BS. Krillin outpacing Tien makes perfect sense since it’s been happening since Tien first appeared. When everyone came back for the 23rd Budokai? The gap between those two shrunk. A lot. Krillin had not only taught HIMSELF how to fly, how to steer energy after firing it, and more, but he’d improved to the point of Piccolo not only using his true power to beat him, but he managed to survive a blow Piccolo assumed HAD to have killed him... and made Piccolo question whether or not he was even strong enough to conquer this world even if he DID beat Goku. When the Saiyans came? Even smaller gap with the exact same time to train. And Tien even had the benefit of having Chiaotzu as a partner, Krillin was off finishing his training solo. And the Grand Elder awakening his dormant potential, as well as the combat experience on Namek, finally sealed the deal. After all, Yamcha was still intently training at that time too, and Krillin surpassed him. Why then is it so hard to believe he could surpass Tien? It also doesn’t help that Tien doesn’t actually train nonstop, despite what anime filler would have you believe. He runs a dojo and a farm to boot. Tien is also demonstrably still weaker than Krillin in Super and lasts longer in the Tournament because he and Roshi are taking cover and surprising targets to knock them out while they’re off-guard. So there’s that. 4. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EXCITING FOIL TO BORING GOKU He was created as a rival character to play off Goku and give Goku something to measure himself against. That doesn’t exactly mean he’s meant to be “more exciting”, but to bring an element of entertainment to the series that had been missing, as well as give Goku someone his own age to grow with. Nice dig at the character at the end though. Top notch. 3. HE NAMES HIS DAUGHTER AFTER HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND For the last time: Maron. Is. A. Filler. Character. Toriyama did not create her. Toriyama did not name her. Toriyama named Krillin’s daughter “Marron” because it’s French for “Chestnut”, which is a play on the fact that the first syllable in Krillin’s Japanese name, “Kuri”, also means chestnut. It’s not at ALL indicative of “lingering feelings” for a character that Toriyama didn’t even make, let alone doesn’t appear in his manga or continuity at all. 2. HE NEARLY ALLOWS VEGETA TO GAIN IMMORTALITY Well, it was more or less that or let the kid he’d sworn he’d keep safe die. I don’t really blame him for at least entertaining the idea at that point. An ultimately bad idea? Yeah. But one born of desperation. Hardly the first for characters in this series. And finally... 1. HIS MISSING NOSE ...wow. It’s... it’s a physical deformity. I’m not sure what about that doesn’t make sense? This list was even more of a dumpster fire than usual.

[anime2114]

Long post about the stupid hate toward the SSJ girls

It wouldn't be so bad if people had legitimate criticisms. Instead they just whine about stuff that doesn't even make sense. Caulifla and Kale got SSJ forms too easy? How in the world so? Kale got it from self loathing of being weak, exactly like Vegeta. Caulifla got it from seeing it done and learning how it felt to transform. Future Trunks already had it as a teenager in the youngest panel he was in, Gohan got it at 10 from pretending his dad or Piccolo were dead, Goten and Trunks had it as elementary school kids that couldn't even remember since when. Caulifla got SSJ2 from copying Goku, just like Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks all did off screen after seeing Gohan do it (as an 11 year old). So literal children can do it easily but they aren't allowed? Why? And the worst is complaining that they haven't had training and are powering up out of nowhere. Uh, says who? Their Base forms are comparable to Goku and Vegeta's, they were already massively powerful before the Tournament, logically from training. Kale's even called Caulifla's protégée, implying that Caulifla trains her. And even if they were getting randomly stronger (which they aren't) why is that fine for Hit, Black, and Future Trunks but not them? Why was it fine for Cabba to be that strong without seeing any training history from him, and for him to get SSJ in the very first fight we see him in, but Caulifla does the same? Oh, the horror. I mean, you're telling me that: -Vegeta getting SSJ off panel from hating himself -Gohan, Goten, and Trunks all getting it as children, with Goten and Trunks actually not having much real training and not even remembering since when they could do it -Future Trunks already having by unknown means as a 13/14 year old -Gohan getting SSJ2 at 11 years old -Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks getting SSJ2 off screen by copying Gohan (an 11 year old they saw do it once) -Goku getting SSJ3 offscreen, SSG from a magic ritual, and SSB off screen (along with Vegeta) -Gotenks skipping SSJ2 and going straight to 3, not even knowing how he did it, from a half hour in the Time Chamber All totally fine. They're badasses, DBZ rules. But: -Caulifla, who's not a child, has actually trained, is considered a fighting genius/prodigy like Goku, and was already at Goku and Vegeta's Base form level, gets SSJ from Cabba showing it to her and telling her how it feels to transform, and gets SSJ2 from seeing Goku use it and copying him -Kale gets it from hating herself for being weak (exactly like Vegeta) Horrible, terrible writing. They suck, Frieza should kill them. And whining that the Potara are against the rules, since when? Vegeta saying fusion was against the rules was for Champa's tournament, not this one. And the Potara are no more "cheating weapons" then Roshi's sunglasses and (especially) Mafuba jar, not to mention he, Krillin, and Tien (and therefore Goku) actually did cheat when they gave outside help to the Spirit Bomb. Should Goku and them be erased? No? Then why the hell should Caulifla and Kale? Cabba showed up as randomly being Goku and Vegeta level and getting SSJ in his first on screen fight, and just got SSJ2 out nowhere a couple episodes ago (pretty much the second serious fight we've seen him in). No one complains one bit. Caulifla, who was from her introduction said to a fighting genius and superior to Cabba, does the same damn thing, and she's the worst thing ever. And Kefla's too strong? Somehow I seriously doubt anyone would have a problem with Vegito or Gogeta being this strong, which probably has something to do with Vegito trolling Buuhan who was far above Goku and Vegeta and no one complaining, and even viewing him as the ultimate badass of the series. But Kelfa does it? Ugh, why can't Vegeta just knock her off already. It's completely ridiculous. Jiren has no backstory whatsoever with nothing of his training being known, but he can just stroll on in as stronger than a God of Destruction and everything's fine. But Caulifla and Kale being nowhere near that strong, and probably still weaker even fused together? Nope. Way too much. They don't deserve it. Don't know why, they just don't.

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XXVIII

Part Twenty-Eight:

 Fallen Warrior

  Goku paced himself as they flew to South City. They will arrive after nine flying this slow but with the heart virus making itself known, Goku knew he had to take it easy. All those visits to Dr. Sims told him overexerting himself will make the virus spread faster. Piccolo flew alongside him, conserving his own energy, too, but Gohan flew ahead of them eager to reach South City. He put a lot of distance between him and Piccolo.

 “Gohan!” Goku called to his son. “Slow down. We’ll get there in time. You’re gonna burn yourself out before we even fight.”

 Gohan slowed his pace. With Piccolo confident he can defeat the Artificial Humans but still having a sense of dread about today, his own health issues, and calming Krillin whom they met along the way, Goku put on his best acting job he was as cool as a cucumber.

 When they arrived at South City, Yamcha and Tien were waiting for them on a mountain but so was Bulma with baby Trunks in her arms.

 What the hell? Goku thought as he landed. He knew Bulma would have a child but he didn’t think he would be meeting them today. “What are you doing here?” Goku scolded Bulma. “The Artificial Humans will be here soon. This whole area could be destroyed. You’re putting yourself and your baby in danger.”

 “Oh, hush,” Bulma ignored Goku’s worries. “I just want to see what they look like and I’ll be off.”

 Goku slapped his forehead amazed at Bulma’s foolishness. He made some mistakes with Gohan when he was a baby but he never would’ve done this. Goku tried again to convince Bulma she needed to leave. He did not want his friend to die because of her own curiosity. As kids, Bulma got herself in over her head and it was up to him to save her. Knowing he was infected with the heart virus, Goku knew his fighting could be hindered.

 “Bulma, you really should go back now while you still can,” Goku warned. “If you don’t care about yourself, think about your baby.”

 Bulma remained happily stubborn. “Like I said, once I see the Artificial Humans, I’ll go home. Besides, with you here, I don’t have to worry. You’ll take care of the bad guys like always.”

 Goku threw his hands up. Stubborn as always.  

 “So, how did you really know?” Bulma asked Goku suspiciously. At Goku’s questioning gaze, she said, “You really knew Vegeta is Trunks’ Dad by looking at him and guessing his name was merely a coincidence?”

 “Oh,” Goku laughed nervously. “Maybe I discovered psychic powers in these three years.”

 Bulma wasn’t entirely convinced. “So, you really haven’t seen Vegeta and he didn’t tell you about me and his baby?”

 “Bulma, the last time I saw you two was three years ago. Honest.”

 Bulma took a step closer to Goku. Goku wasn’t a mind reader but even he noticed Bulma looked a mixture of hurt and disappointment. “I haven’t seen Vegeta in months. Like I said earlier, we’re not living together.” She pressed a kiss on Trunks’ temple as he babbled. “Not all Saiyans can be domesticated I guess.”

 Bulma sat on the grass preferring to sit as they waited. Gohan entertained baby Trunks while Krillin looked on repulsed Bulma had Vegeta’s kid. Goku loved Gohan’s friendly approach to Trunks. Gohan was good with little kids. Aki’s daughter always followed him around when he visited. Goku could see the same thing happening with Gohan and baby Trunks or his own baby brother or sister.   

Perhaps after all this is over, me and ChiChi can try having another kid. Gohan will be a great big brother.

The remaining hour passed in peace but when the clock turned 10am and minutes passed undisturbed, the group became anxious. Goku considered they enter the city looking for any suspicious activity when Yajirobe’s car exploded in the air. All watched as the remains of Yajirobe’s car crashed in the ocean. Piccolo was the first to spot the Artificial Humans but it was Gohan who brilliantly guessed that because they were Artificial Humans they didn’t have Ki. After giving orders to everyone to search and not engage the enemy and for Gohan to check on Yajirobe, Goku ventured into South City.

 Yamcha was the first to find the Artificial Humans and it nearly cost him his life. While Krillin carried Yamcha back to Bulma who held the senzu beans, Goku, Piccolo and Tien encountered the two Artificial Humans and led them away from the city to fight in a remote area.

 Goku didn’t know if it was the sudden stress of the situation; seeing Yamcha near death; seeing half of South City be destroyed by one of the Artificial Humans, something Aki warned him about, but Goku felt a change in his heart. The heart virus was spreading fast. He could feel it. The tightness in his chest grew and he felt winded as he led these two monsters away from the city.

 I’m only flying and I’m getting tired. I gotta finish this fight fast. Body, please hold on.

 Goku was out of breath when he finally landed. I need time to gather my strength. I can’t fight like this. “Tell me something before we fight. How do you know about us?”

 While the one who called himself No. 20 spoke, Goku recovered enough to fight but he was stunned the death of his friends and son in another timeline was caused by a grudge against him. The Red Ribbon Army. Goku hadn’t thought about them in years. He never heard of Dr. Gero. It was disturbing learning all these years a madman spied on him, studied him to build these Artificial Humans to kill him, his son and friends.

 Goku felt he had an advantage. Super Saiyan. Once he transforms, he’ll take care of these monsters. This was his fight. Not his friends. There was that little wiggle of worry about his heart virus but Goku believed being a Super Saiyan will give him enough strength to destroy these monsters before he’s weakened anymore.

 Super Saiyan will give me enough speed and strength to defeat them before this virus weakens me anymore. Body…. please hold on.

 With a cocky smirk that would make Vegeta proud, Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan. He can easily transform at will into a Super Saiyan but because of his heart, Goku gradually built up his transformation. Anyone observing would think he is showing off with the explosive expanse of his muscles and exaggerated yelling but Goku was conserving his strength drawing this out. He felt the surge of strength and speed at his transformation but Goku also felt weak.  

 Damn. My strength is fading. I gotta finish this fight fast.

 “Stay out of this, you two!” Goku told Piccolo and Tien. “I’m the one they want.”

 Goku expected the ones called No. 20 and No. 19 to be fearful of his transformation but they were oddly calm and confident. No. 20 decided to stay back and let No. 19 fight him. It didn’t matter who fought him first, Goku knew he had to end this quickly.

 Goku attacked first. Every punch and kick Goku gave No. 19 had all his power behind it and didn’t stop him at all. It was deflected and blocked. The hits Goku did land on No. 19 didn’t have the affect Goku wanted. A normal punch would’ve put a hole in No. 19. The show of speed and skills might be impressive to No. 19, No. 20 and Tien but Goku knew Piccolo suspected something is wrong. He gotten stronger over the three years they trained together. His power as a Super Saiyan should be far more staggering.

 I haven’t put a dent in this guy and I’m getting tired. How am I gonna defeat him and No. 20 like this?

 After an aerial assault that sent No. 19 to an explosive impact on the ground, Goku became aware of Gohan, Yamcha and Krillin’s arrival. The battle took a turn against Goku when he fired a Kamehameha Wave. No. 19 absorbed all the Goku’s energy from the wave. His increased power outmatched Goku’s diminishing strength.

 Goku knew he was in trouble when he saw No. 19’s wicked grin. He moved too fast for Goku to block No. 19’s knee hitting his stomach and the slap across his face which sent Goku spiraling to the ground. It was a desperate move but Goku decided to use a second Kamehameha Wave. He already heard from Piccolo No. 20 and No. 19 can absorb energy but Goku was out of ideas. His body was breaking down at a rapid rate. Sharp stabs of pain jabbed his heart; his chest was on fire and his back, arms and legs were throbbing from the blows he received from No. 19.

 I ain’t going out like this. Gohan. ChiChi.

 That last blast of the second wave took what remaining reserves Goku had left. Against his own will, his body descended to the ground. Dropping to one knee with one hand on the ground, Goku clutched his chest.

 Damn. Damn. I can’t stop this! My chest is on fire. Ugh! It’s like someone is squeezing my heart.

Gohan. ChiChi. I can’t stop. I can’t stop fighting.

 Goku accepted a senzu bean from Krillin. It gave Goku a temporary burst of power but it wasn’t enough to stop Goku from being No. 19’s punching bag. No matter how high Goku jumped or how fast Goku tried to avoid him, No. 19 was always nearby to kick, punch and bruise Goku’s weakening body.

 One painful kick to Goku’s back soared Goku several feet in the sky. Before he could stop himself, No. 19 appeared behind and punched his chest. Goku spiraled. Before Goku’s body slammed against the rocky ground, No. 19’s menacing face appeared again to thump Goku’s face. Flying up with no way to stop, No. 19 popped up again to kick Goku’s back. This time Goku landed on the ground, sliding several feet before stopping.

 Pain coursed through Goku’s entire body from his head to his toes. He was so out of it, his vision blurred and he lost the ability to control his body to maintain his Super Saiyan form as he returned to his normal state.

 I can’t even transform anymore. I ain’t winning this.

 “Argh!” Goku screamed as No. 19 dropped his heavy body on Goku and locked a hand around his neck. Goku struggled but No. 19 had an iron gripped on his throat as he drained what was left of Goku’s life energy. Goku could hear his friends and son to try help him but No. 20 blocked them.

 This can’t be it. I can’t go out like this. I gotta kill these monsters. I ain’t letting them to kill Gohan and ChiChi!

 His spirit was willing but Goku’s body grew weaker with each passing second; the pain in his heart worsened; his vision worsened and his grip on No. 19 started to slip when a sharp white boot kicked No. 19’s face. No 19 released his hold on Goku as he was knocked several feet away.

 Dazed, Goku’s eyes darted up to see who came to his rescue. White boots. Blue spandex. White chest plate. That wild spiked hair and that cocky smirk.

 Vegeta.

 “I’m the one who’s going to defeat Kakarrot. No one will steal that victory from me.”

 Vegeta. Took you long enough.

 Vegeta shook his head at Goku disgusted. “I saw everything, you jackass. You noticed the anomaly in your body but you turned into a Super Saiyan anyway! You fool! You knew it would put more strain on your heart!” Huffing and puffing heavily, one weak eye of Goku’s opened to see Vegeta scornful gaze. “My target has always been you…. Kakarrot. Don’t you fucking die on me.” Vegeta kicked Goku’s back, thrusting him off the ground and into Piccolo’s hand. “Someone take that fool home so he can take his medicine.”

 Piccolo lowered Goku on his knees. Goku’s heart was on fire.

 “Dad!”

 Goku felt his son hold him up by his chest. The worry on Gohan’s face reminded Goku of the looks ChiChi gave him. He never wanted Gohan to look at him this way.  I let them down. I… I can’t fight anymore. Gohan…. forgive me.

 Goku’s eyes closed; he collapsed in his son’s arms. “Dad.” Gohan hugged his father. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take you home. Mom will take care of you.”

 “No,” Yamcha stepped forward and gently took Goku out of Gohan’s arms. “I’ll take him. I’m the least useful here.” He placed Goku over his shoulder and with a few parting words to everyone, Yamcha left the group. Yamcha considered himself the weakest out of everyone but wanted to contribute somehow. He’ll help by taking Goku home. His friend saved his life so many times. Yamcha was proud for once he can return the favor.

 ****

 “I see it, Aki. I’m watching the news now.”

 ChiChi stood in front of the TV watching the breaking news of the mysterious attack on South City. ChiChi knew the fighting had started and her husband and son were in the middle of it. The only causalities mentioned were of the people from the city.

 “There are reports half the city’s destroyed. I warned Goku innocent people will be caught in the crossfires.”

.

ChiChi understood Aki’s frustration but she knew to trust her husband. “You know Goku would never intentionally let innocent people get hurt, Aki. Goku will use the dragon balls to wish those killed back.”

“I hope so. I’m getting my family in the shelter now. My cell phone works there. Kala!” Aki suddenly raised his voice. “Put that down and follow your mother. We’re going to the shelter.” ChiChi heard Kala responding. “You have plenty of toys in the shelter. We’re not taking anymore!”

 As ChiChi listened to Aki argue with his daughter, ChiChi saw Yamcha landing in her front yard with Goku tossed over his shoulder. The phone dropped to the floor as ChiChi ran screaming, “Oh my God. Goku!!”

 ChiChi nearly knocked the door off its hinges as she ran to her husband. “Goku!! What’s wrong?! Is Goku dead?! What happened to him?!” His face was contorted in pain as ChiChi cupped his sweaty face. “His face is burning. Goku, I’m here.”

 “It’s the heart virus,” Yamcha informed ChiChi. “It struck Goku during the fight.”

 ChiChi remembered Dr. Sims warning. “He could’ve made things worse for his heart. Bring him inside.”

 Yamcha followed ChiChi inside to her and Goku’s bedroom. Yamcha laid Goku on his bed and removed his boots while ChiChi went to where she kept Goku’s medicine. ChiChi opened the case shocked it was empty.

 “Where is it?” ChiChi pushed aside the clothes in the drawer. “Where did it go?”

 Yamcha finished removing Goku’s boots. “What is it?”

 “The medicine. It’s not here.”

 “What?!” Goku suddenly cried out in pain, clutching his chest and thrashed violently on the bed. Yamcha held Goku down. “You have to find it! Goku needs his medicine!”

 “Don’t you think I know that?!” ChiChi yelled back as she looked through all the drawers. “Goku looked at it this morning. He’s the one who put it away.” ChiChi rummaged the room looking for the medicine. “Where did he put it? Why didn’t Goku put it back?” Hearing Goku screaming in pain agitated ChiChi further and made her panic. ChiChi feverishly searched the room, checked the closet, opening drawers of her nightstand and tossing everything out as she searched for the medicine. ChiChi sat on the bed with her hands on her head frantically thinking where Goku put the medicine. That’s when she noticed her knitting basket.

 It was out in the open and near them when she and Goku talked. It doesn’t make sense for it to be here since Goku was told to put it back in its proper place which made it the perfect hiding spot. ChiChi picked through the balls of yarn and spotted the medicine hidden at the bottom of the basket. “Thank heavens. I found it.”

 ChiChi transferred the correct dosage to a needle and injected the medicine into Goku. Both breathed a sigh of relief when Goku’s arms stopped flailing.

 “Whoo,” Yamcha wiped his forehead relieved. “That was a close one.”

 ChiChi wasn’t relaxing like Yamcha. Goku received his medicine and it was taking some affects but he was still in pain. His body and forehead were scorching and he was sweating profusely. ChiChi rushed in the bathroom and came out with a cloth, bowl of water and thermometer. She placed a cool wet cloth on Goku’s forehead and the thermometer in his mouth. “Goku’s body temperature has always been hot but he’s burning up. He needs a doctor.”

 “Are you sure?” Yamcha asked. “We should let the medicine work and how can we explain to a doctor what’s going on with Goku? This virus isn’t on the news.”

 “Goku’s been going to a cardiologist for three years. I was trying to prevent Goku from getting this virus, but I guess you can’t change your fate.” While blotting Goku’s face and neck with the cool cloth, ChiChi asked, “What happened? Goku was fine when he left this morning. At least,” she dipped the cloth in a cool bowl, “I thought he was fine.” ChiChi remembered their conversation before breakfast. “I bet he knew and he fought anyway.”

 “Are you sure?” Yamcha knew Goku to do foolish things but this was extreme. “Why wouldn’t Goku take the medicine if he was feeling sick?”

 “Because he wouldn’t be able to fight if he did. This is heart medicine, Yamcha, and Goku’s doctor studied the medicine’s ingredients. He said Goku would be bedridden until he recovers.” Goku twisted in bed and raised his hands near his neck as if fighting off someone attacking him. ChiChi grasped his hands and whispered soothingly to him until he calmed down. “Dr. Sims warned Goku of the possible side effects if he fought while infected with the virus. He went against his doctor’s warnings.” The medicine should heal him but ChiChi wondered what the lasting effects could be. “Oh, Goku, what did you do to yourself?”

 “He was saving us,” Yamcha spoke up. “You should’ve seen him, ChiChi. Goku gave his all fighting No. 19. You would’ve been so proud how amazing Goku fought. I would’ve been dead if he hadn’t saved me.”

 Though Yamcha gave ChiChi a glowing review of Goku’s fight, ChiChi wasn’t impressed or happy. She was angry. “That’s all you and Goku’s friends ever think about, isn’t it? How Goku always save you. He’s your savior, your bodyguard.” She pushed down the tears threatening to surface. “You don’t care how much damage Goku did to his body fighting for you today! He was fighting that monster when that virus was killing him inside! Who knows what the lasting effects will be! But as long as Goku saves you, you don’t care about that! You don’t care he’s a husband and father and we’re the ones that will have to pick up the pieces when this is over!!”

 “ChiChi…” Yamcha was at a loss for words. What could he say? “It’s not that we don’t care. I….” he stopped again unsure of what to say. “I looked out for Goku but he never needed me. He always took care of himself. Goku always bounce back. Saving everyone is what Goku does.”

 “Until he couldn’t,” ChiChi tossed back. “He was dead for a year and my family has never been the same. All you people, Goku’s friends, only thought about Goku coming back to save you. You never gave him and the sacrifices he made to keep you alive a thought.”

 Bulma told him ChiChi was like this but unlike his former love Yamcha understood ChiChi’s anger. He saw Goku as a friend, a little brother but ChiChi saw Goku as a loving concerned wife saw her husband. Goku wasn’t a savior or bodyguard to ChiChi. Goku was her husband and father of their child.

 “Where is Gohan?” ChiChi asked. “He should be with his father. Why didn’t he come back with you?”

 Oh, boy. Yamcha rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea telling Gohan to stay behind. “Gohan was gonna bring Goku back but I told him I’ll do it.” Ooooo. ChiChi didn’t like that. If looks could kill. “Gohan would be more useful than me fighting those Artificial Humans.”

 “Hmph,” ChiChi turned away disgusted. “Like father, like son. You only see him as a bodyguard, too.”

 ****

 Over two hours passed since Yamcha’s arrival. Goku slept peacefully but ChiChi paced worriedly thinking about Gohan. While Yamcha stayed with Goku, ChiChi called Aki. She forgot about him when Goku returned home sick.  

 “How’s Goku?”

 “He’s sleeping but he still has a fever. Sometimes he’s screaming like he’s having nightmares. I want Dr. Sims to look at Goku, but his voicemail said he’ll be in surgery until two. I left messages for him to call back. I’m thinking about sending Yamcha to East City to pick up Dr. Sims and bring him here.”

 “Where’s Gohan?”

 “Still fighting. I’ve been coming to the window every twenty minutes looking out for him.”

 “South City is under rescue and recovery mode. No other cities are reporting any attacks. This may be a good thing. Maybe Goku’s friends have stopped those Artificial Humans and Gohan’s on his way home.” ChiChi hoped that was the true. She couldn’t take anything happening to Gohan, too. “I don’t think you should send Yamcha to get Dr. Sims. You may need him there to help you with Goku. I’ll get Dr. Sims and bring him over. Maybe Gohan will be home when I get there.”

 “Aki, you shouldn’t.” ChiChi appreciated his gesture but he had priorities. “You should be with your family.”

 “My family’s safe in our shelter and it doesn’t seem like any other areas are being attacked. Goku’s my friend and he put his life on the line today. The least I can do is help him when he needs it.”

 “Okay,” ChiChi accepted his help. “Thank you.”

 ChiChi hung up her phone just as a knock tapped the door. Gohan wouldn’t knock but it was possible he was carrying someone like Piccolo home and needed help at the door. ChiChi rushed to the door and slammed it open. “Gohan!” Her happiness quickly dampened seeing Krillin at her door. “Oh, it’s you Krillin.” She noticed a startled young man beside him. He bowed and greeted her after Krillin whispered she is Goku’s wife. “Who are you?”

Before the young man could speak, Yamcha appeared greeting Krillin and noticing the stranger, too, “Oh, hey the kid from the future. Did you beat the Artificial Humans?”

 Startled, ChiChi looked back at the young man. Goku told her about him. This was Trunks, Vegeta and Bulma’s child.

 “I’ll explain later,” Krillin rushed out, “but we gotta move everyone to Master Roshi’s now!”

 “Why? What’s going on?” ChiChi wanted to know. “And where’s Gohan?”

 “Gohan isn’t back yet?” Trunks appeared surprised. “We left him over an hour ago.”

 “Left him where?” ChiChi stepped to Trunks. She didn’t care if he was Vegeta and Bulma’s child and he’s a Super Saiyan. If he knew the whereabouts of her son, she wanted to know now!

 “Um, ChiChi, you don’t know this,” Krillin started, “But this is---“

 “Vegeta and Bulma’s son, Trunks. Goku told me three years ago.” Keeping her attention on Trunks, she asked again, “Where is my son?”

 “What?” Yamcha gasped. “You’re their kid?”

 “Uh, yes,” Trunks addressed Yamcha understanding how awkward this had to be for him. “I am.” He turned back to ChiChi because he saw the woman growing agitated her question wasn’t being answered. “We left Gohan with my mother, my younger self and Yajirobe. He was going to bring them here but I guess he decided to take my Mom home first.”

 “Why?” Yamcha asked. “Bulma has a car.”

 Krillin noticed the annoyance on Trunks’ face. He understood the kid’s frustration at what he saw. It wasn’t a shock to Krillin. He knew Vegeta but he imagined it was stunning for Trunks to see his father not rescue his baby and the mother of his child.

 “No. 20 is actually Dr. Gero, Yamcha. We had Dr. Gero cornered but Bulma showed up and provided the perfect distraction where he blew up her car. Bulma and her baby are okay but Dr. Gero escaped and freed the Artificial Humans Trunks fight in the future.”

 “Wait,” Yamcha interrupted. “The one that punch a hole in my chest and the one Goku fought aren’t the real ones?”

 “No. No. 17 and 18 are the real ones and there’s another one: 16. They are even stronger and uh, are a lot different than them physically, too.” Krillin thought of the kiss 18 gave him. “Especially one of them.”

 “Even stronger?” ChiChi gasped. “That’s crazy.”

 “I don’t mean to be rude,” Trunks interrupted, “but we have to get out of here. 16, 17 and 18 are on their way here to kill Goku. We have to move him to safer spot.”

 “Right,” ChiChi agreed. Getting Goku to safety was top priority. She couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Assassins were on their way here to kill her husband and she was forced to abandon their home: the one place she thought they would be safe.  

 Trunks helped ChiChi with the packing. Once Trunks loaded Gohan’s bag in the airship, he went back to assist Krillin and Yamcha with Goku. While Yamcha and Krillin carried Goku out of the house, Trunks removed the futon and bedding.

 ChiChi stepped out and took one last look at her home. This was her sanctuary but it will soon be invaded by wicked beings wanting to kill her husband. She wondered if she will have a home to return to. These destructive monsters may destroy her home just for the hell of it.

 Gohan returned as they finished loading Goku into the airship. In the airship, ChiChi made a call to Aki, warning him to not come to her home but meet her on Master Roshi’s island.

 ChiChi and Yamcha got the entire story on what happened after Goku succumbed to the heart virus. She listened as Trunks expressed his frustration on not understanding how time changed but her comforting advice seem to help him. Trunks was so well mannered like her Gohan. Since Gohan trained Trunks, ChiChi wondered if his good manners rubbed off on him. Still, as well-mannered he was, she noticed Trunks looking at her a few times. When he was caught staring, Trunks looked away. ChiChi wasn’t the only one getting looks. At her home and on the ship, she noticed Yamcha looking at Trunks a few times.

 Gohan and Trunks left when Bulma called to investigate a duplicate of Trunks’ ship being found. This left Yamcha and Krillin to explain everything to Master Roshi while ChiChi stayed upstairs to care for Goku. 

 ****

 Trunks didn’t understand how the infamous day that changed the course of everyone’s life didn’t go as predicted. He planned to return the day of the Artificial Humans arrival to aide Goku and learn from him a way to kill the Artificial Humans in his time. With three years notice of what will happen, Goku, his father and their allies should be strong enough to defeat the Artificial Humans but that didn’t happen.

 Goku’s heart virus attacked later than predicted, he encountered two different Artificial Humans than the ones Trunks fight in his time. The ones Trunks currently battles were released but they were stronger than the ones in his time and there was a third one named No. 16. He’s not violent as 17 and 18 but he’s still deadly as his only goal is to kill Goku.

 17 and 18 defeated him, Vegeta, Piccolo and Tien without breaking a sweat. It made all the hard training Vegeta, Piccolo and Tien put in worthless. Vegeta suffered the most having his pride wounded by 18. She defeated Vegeta with ease as if Vegeta’s strength was that of a child compared to hers.

 On top of this, a new enemy surfaced: Cell, the final piece to Dr. Gero’s maniacal madness. This growing menace from another timeline had his father, Goku, Piccolo, Freeza and King Cold’s DNA but needed to absorbed 17 and 18 to reach perfect form. Civilians in two towns were dead because of Cell. More will die as he eluded Piccolo and continue his rampage to accumulate his power.

 It looked bleak but there was some hope. Trunks and Krillin returned to Dr. Gero’s lab, destroyed Cell in this current timeline and found Dr. Gero’s blueprints of 17. Trunks gave the blueprints to Krillin to give to his mother and grandfather to study for a weakness. While Krillin went to West City, Trunks planned to find his father in hopes of training with him and ascending pass Super Saiyan. Before he met with Vegeta again, Trunks had a detour to make. He returned to Master Roshi’s island.

 “You’re back!” Gohan greeted Trunks as he landed on the island. “Where’s Krillin?”

 “He’s on the way to my Mom’s home but he’ll be back.” Trunks entered the house. “How’s Goku?”

 “Still resting,” Gohan and Trunks went upstairs. “Mom’s with him but what’s going on? Why did we feel my Dad, Freeza’s and King Cold’s Ki? It was near Gingertown where we found your ship.”

 “It’s a long story that Krillin will explain when he gets here. I can’t stay long.” Trunks stopped at the door where Goku rested on the other side. “But I wanted to check on your Dad and I need to talk to your Mom privately.”

 “My Mom?” Gohan didn’t understand. “Why?”

 “It’s something I have to do.”

 “Oh,” Gohan didn’t understand but he trusted Trunks. “Okay. I’ll wait downstairs then.”

 Trunks entered Goku’s room. Goku laid sleeping on his futon but his head was on ChiChi’s lap who softly sang to Goku. ChiChi abruptly stopped singing when she noticed Trunks.

 “I’m sorry to intrude but I came to check on Goku.” He knelt at Goku’s side. “He looks better than he did on the ship.”

 “Yes,” ChiChi caressed Goku’s hair. “The medicine is working. I’m forever in your debt for saving Goku’s life.”

 Trunks blushed at the compliment. He wasn’t used to it or the woman holding Goku tenderly. “Gohan and my Mom told me a lot about Goku. I’m glad I can help save his life.”

 “What happened that day? May 12th?” ChiChi suddenly asked.

 Trunks eyed ChiChi with mild surprise. “Goku didn’t tell you?”

 ChiChi’s fingers delicately caressed the bangs of Goku’s hair. “He said everyone died except Gohan but Gohan was killed several years later. If these Artificial Humans are so destructive how did Gohan survive that day? Did Piccolo or Krillin tell him to leave?”

 Trunks wasn’t sure himself. He only knew of what his mother and Gohan told him. “Gohan never liked talking about that day. He came after the fighting started. Piccolo was already dead when he got there. He never went into details how everyone died but I think he saw their deaths. Gohan barely escaped with his own life. The way Gohan described it sounds like he was left for dead.”

 “So, Gohan was late,” ChiChi guessed.

 “Yeah. Mom said it was an ordinary morning. She was changing my diaper when the TV said something about an explosion in South City. She didn’t pay any attention to it but half an hour later, Dad came to Mom wanting her to call everyone. He felt Piccolo Ki’s dropping and wanted to know if the others felt it. Mom called Yamcha. He felt it. So did Master Roshi and Krillin. Dad left to find out what was going on.” Trunks eyed Goku mournfully. “He never came back. They all died that day except Gohan.”

 ChiChi felt Goku’s forehead warming up again. ChiChi reached for the cool bowl beside her and pulled out a damp towel. After wringing it, she placed the cool towel on Goku’s forehead. “I’m pretty sure myself in your time held Gohan back as long as she could but when Piccolo died, there was no way she could stop him.”

 “After South City’s fall, the world’s military stepped in but they could do nothing,” Trunks continued. “Mom said King Furry was killed on live TV. 17 and 18 created a paranoid fear where days will go by with no attacks and just when it’s too quiet, they appear out of nowhere and destroyed everything. West City was attacked months after everyone died. Most of the city was destroyed and Mom and I were forced to live underground.”

 “What about your grandparents?” ChiChi asked.

 “They were killed in the first attack.”

 “First attack?”

 “West City was hit multiple times but during the breaks we got, people tried rebuilding. Sometimes 17 and 18 came back and destroyed some more just for the hell of it.” Silenced followed for several moments. Trunks could hear Gohan downstairs laughing at something Yamcha said. It was strange to hear his mentor so happy and young. It wasn’t the Gohan he knew. “Gohan visited a lot. Sometimes he took me away from the city for weeks to train. He was a good teacher and my best friend. I learned a lot from him.”

 ChiChi dipped the towel in the bowl again and placed it back on Goku’s forehead. “Where did you and Gohan go?”

 “The country. It was always far from the city since 17 and 18 and didn’t venture to the countryside too much. It was peaceful there. Sometimes you didn’t think the world was in a living hell.”

 “And you and Gohan were alone in your training?”

 “Yes,” Trunks answered not understanding why ChiChi would ask that. Of course he and Gohan trained alone. They were the only fighters left.

 “So you never visited Mount Paouz.” Trunks shook his head. He’s been to several mountainous areas; all of which he knew the names of but he never heard of Mount Paouz. “No. Where is that?”

 “Mount Paouz is where Goku and our family live.” She emphasized. “It’s where Gohan lives.”

 “Oh….I didn’t know.” Slowly, the wheels turned in Trunks’ head as he understood what ChiChi was getting at. Gohan took him to train in the mountains but never his home. Now he knew about ChiChi, Trunks wondered why. ChiChi must be asking that same question, too.  

 “I noticed on the plane ride here you looked at me a few times. I didn’t understand why but now I do. You never met me in your time which means I’m dead, too, right? Did Gohan or your mother say how I died? Was I killed by those Artificial Humans, too?”

 Trunks didn’t even know where to begin. Either way, Goku’s wife would be hurt by what he tells her. “When Krillin and I came to your home, it was the first time I’ve seen that area. It’s true I never met you in my time and when I saw you I had no idea who you were. I didn’t know you existed.” Trunks wished he could take back those words if only to erase the shock on ChiChi’s face. “Gohan and my mother never mentioned you. I didn’t know Goku had a wife. I know Gohan had a mother but I always thought she was dead since Gohan and my mother never mentioned you. Even after Gohan died, nothing was said about taking his body to you and after what happened to it…” he sighed. “It didn’t matter anymore.”

 “What happened to Gohan’s body?” Trunks diverted his eyes from ChiChi. “Trunks,” the sharp tone in ChiChi’s voice forced Trunks to look at her. “What happened to my son’s body?”

 Trunks entered the room, limping. His mother wanted him to sleep but he couldn’t. These days have been horrible. His body was still recovering from the last fight and his mentor, best friend, Gohan was dead. Gohan lifeless body laid in the preservation capsule his mother had built several years ago. Trunks didn’t understand why his mother kept Gohan’s body in here than giving it a proper burial. It’s been days. When he entered he noticed his mother standing before Gohan’s capsule but staring at a phone on the wall. Quietly, Trunks approached her.

 “You should be asleep,” Bulma told him.

 “I slept enough.” Trunks figured he had to take care of Gohan’s remains since his mother wouldn’t. “I should take Gohan home. I think he would want to be buried there but he never told me where home is. I asked but he said it was safer I didn’t know.”  

 “Last time Gohan went home, 17 and 18 almost got him,” Bulma explained. “That’s why he spent his last weeks here or other places. I think it was a couple weeks ago he went to what’s left of Korin’s Tower and Kami’s Temple. He tried to find something that could help you.” Bulma stepped away from Trunks and sat down. “There was nothing he could use. Maybe Goku could’ve found something.” Bulma sighed as she pulled out a lighter and cigarette. “He knew everything about winning a fight.”

 That name again. Gohan and his mother brought it up many times. Was Goku really as great as they said? Could he really stop 17 and 18?

 “Guess it would be a waste if I went there but Gohan’s home,” Trunks brought up again. “Where is it? I couldn’t save Gohan. The least I can do is bury him at his home. He would want that.”

 Bulma blew off smoke from her cigarette. “It wouldn’t be safe to travel with those killing machines out there.”

 “I can evade them.”

 “You can barely walk!” Bulma yelled at Trunks. “We lost Gohan! I’m not losing you!”

 Trunks gave up. When his mother yelled at him to not do something, her word was final. “Then what should we do? Gohan’s body can’t stay here.”

Bulma exhaled smoke from her lips. She stared at Gohan’s capsule. “I’ll take care of it, Trunks. I promise.”

 “A few nights later, West City was attacked again. My home was hit again. Part of it caught on fire.” Trunks could see ChiChi putting the pieces together in her mind. “Gohan’s body was in one of the rooms. It was incinerated. There was nothing left.” Tears rolled down ChiChi’s face. “I’m sorry.”

 ChiChi accepted his apology as she wiped the tears away. It wasn’t his fault. It was someone else’s. “I don’t understand.”

 “The attack was sudden,” Trunks told her. “It was in the middle of the night. I was still hurt. I had to get Mom underground before I could go back for Gohan.”

 “No,” ChiChi stopped him. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Gohan was dead for days. Why wasn’t I contacted? Even after his body was…..” ChiChi cried overwhelmed at the awful visual of her son’s body burning up. Trunks patiently waited for ChiChi to stop crying. “Even after that, it doesn’t seem like any contact was made to me. You didn’t know anything about me. Why did your mother keep quiet about that?”

 Again Trunks didn’t have an answer. All of this was new to him. “I don’t know.”

 “If I was dead, Bulma would just say it. So would Gohan. I was alive when my son died and I wasn’t told. Eventually, I probably found out but I didn’t know for days! ”

 Trunks agreed. If ChiChi was dead, there would be no reason for Gohan or his mother to keep that from him. “Does this mean you are still alive in my time?”

 ChiChi hoped that wasn’t the case. That would be such a horrible future. “No. Gohan’s death would’ve killed me. To live in a world without Gohan and Goku, I couldn’t bear it but before Gohan’s death, I’m sure I was alive.”

 Now Trunks understood why Gohan was so cryptic when talking about his home and why he spent weeks with him and his mother instead of immediately going home after escaping 17 and 18. Gohan was protecting his mother. But why did his mother keep the truth about Gohan’s mother from him after Gohan died? Trunks learned the more time he’s in the past the more he realizes his own mother embellished things. His knew his father wasn’t a martyr but it was still shocking to see his father not save his mother and him as a baby. He wondered if his mother had regret for her actions. It would explain his conversation with his mother before he returned to the past again.

 Bulma handed Trunks two letters. “Take these with you and deliver them to these people.”

 Trunks took the letters from his mother and read the names. One was addressed to his mother and the other had a name he didn’t recognize. “Who is ChiChi?”

 “Give it to Goku,” Bulma instructed. “He knows who that is. He will take care of it.”

 “Okay.” Trunks put the letters in the pocket of his jacket. “But why do you want me to send letters to ChiChi and your younger self? I thought you said the future can’t be changed.”

 “Our future can’t, but that future can.” Bulma sighed. “I made some terrible mistakes, Trunks. I didn’t mean to but I’ve hurt people. It’s too late for me to do anything about it in this time but maybe in the past I can correct some things .”

 Trunks dug in his pocket for ChiChi’s letter. “My mother wanted you to have this.” He gave the letter to ChiChi. “She told me to give it to Goku and he’ll pass it to you since I didn’t know about you.”

 Wary, ChiChi took the letter, opened and read it to herself.

 ChiChi,

 I know this letter comes as a surprise. We were never friends but that’s why I’m writing this letter. I’m sorry we never were friends. We could’ve been but I did a lot of things that sabotage that opportunity. Goku was my oldest friend. You were his wife and I treated you so badly. I didn’t go to you the day Goku died saving Gohan from Raditz. I made sure you didn’t know what was happening to them on Namek. I attended Goku’s funeral and continued my life without calling to see how you were. I was vain, selfish, spoiled and in denial of things I didn’t want to acknowledge.

 I thought not keeping contact with you after Goku died again would be my biggest mistake but I kept making them with Gohan when the Artificial Humans attacked. As a mother who had a child fighting, too, we should’ve been bonding and supportive of each other and it’s my fault we weren’t. I should’ve reached out to you. I should’ve convinced you to live in West City with me so you didn’t spend so many lonely days worrying about Gohan. Instead I treated you like I always did and I hate myself for it.

 I hate how things turned out with Gohan. I hate not telling you immediately when Gohan lost his arm. I hate not telling you immediately when he……Please believe I am truly sorry for that. I hope if the Artificial Humans are defeated in your time, you and myself can do what we should’ve been done: be friends. I know it won’t be easy. We’re women of strong personalities and different viewpoints but if you and myself can make that happen, it won’t be the best friendship but it’ll be a good one.

 ChiChi read the letter again, thought over what she read and folded the letter. “I really am dead in your time.”

 “Hmm?” Trunks questioned. “How do you know?”

 “This letter your mother wrote should’ve been given to me in your time. Either I’m alive and want nothing to do with Bulma because her handling of Gohan’s death was the final straw or I’m dead. She feels guilt for how things were between us. She mentions things that hasn’t happened to my Goku and Gohan.” ChiChi placed the letter back in the envelope. “She wrote this letter to ease her guilty conscience. Whatever happened when I learned Gohan was dead, it wasn’t good because you still didn’t know about me. Your mother wants forgiveness. I guess since she failed with me in your time she tried with me in the past.”

 “Oh,” Trunks understood from ChiChi’s tone, she didn’t sound pleased with the letter. Hearing ChiChi’s side of things, Trunks had mixed feelings about the letter, too.  

 ChiChi didn’t mean to sound harsh to Trunks. It wasn’t fair Trunks was in the middle of this. She couldn’t tell Trunks Goku friends, including his mother, had a history of leaving ChiChi in the dark on matters she should’ve been told about and her relationship with Goku’s friends was never good because of what they did to her. They never apologized to her for not telling her about Goku and Gohan immediately after the reunion; never apologized for deceiving ChiChi on what Goku knew when he died the first time or apologized for keeping the truth about Namek from her. They were always good at having unkind feelings towards her while ignoring their actions that contributed to ChiChi’s anger towards them.

 A heavy silence fell between them. Trunks decided to leave. What he learned was troubling. He vowed to get answers when he returned home. With this conversation with ChiChi and his father’s actions, it was clear his mother kept things from him. “Please excuse me. I need to get going. I’m going to try training with my Dad. He thinks he can surpass being a Super Saiyan. If he can, I should, too.”

 “Good luck,” ChiChi knew Trunks will need it, “And thank you again for Goku’s medicine.”

 As Trunks went towards the door, he heard a knock with Gohan speaking from the other side. “Mom. Mr. Aki is here and he brought Dr. Sims!”

 “Doctor?” Trunks opened the door and faced two men he’s never seen. One was a blonde man and the other was an older man with a large medical bag.

 “You came!” ChiChi’s spirits were lifted at Aki and Dr. Sims arrival. While Aki and Dr. Sims entered the room, Trunks quietly left. He wanted to stay and but he needed to find his father.

 “Sorry I took so long,” Aki apologized, “but it’s a long ways from the village to East City and here.”

 Dr. Sims knelt to Goku and opened his medical bag. “How’s my patient?”

 “He got the heart virus this morning,” ChiChi explained as Dr. Sims took out some capsules from his medical bag. Two opened to reveal a portable x-ray machine and another medical machine.  “I gave Goku his medicine. He was in a lot pain earlier and screaming. The screams stop but he still has a fever.”

 Dr. Sims pulled out his stethoscope. “Get this heavy shirt off him. I need to give Goku a proper exam.”

 As ChiChi slipped Goku’s weighted blue shirt off him, Aki put his hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “Come on, Gohan. Let’s leave the doc and your Mom alone with your Dad.” The two stepped out and walked down the stairs.  “Are you worried about your Dad?”

 “Yeah. I never seen him sick before. It’s weird but he’ll pull through.”

 “Of course he will. Goku’s not going out like this but are you all right?” Aki glanced over Gohan. “No injuries?”

 “No. I didn’t fight. I saw part of Dad’s fight but I was mostly helping our friends.”

 When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Yamcha and Master Roshi were waiting for them as Tien and Piccolo stepped in Master Roshi’s home. When they arrived, Gohan rushed Aki and Dr. Sims upstairs without a proper introduction.

 “Hey, Piccolo.”

 “Aki,” Piccolo appeared surprised at Aki’s arrival. “What are you doing here?”

 “Brought Goku’s doctor here. He’s upstairs checking on him.”

 “You know this guy, Piccolo?” Tien eyed Aki cautiously. With all that’s going on, Tien was wary of any new person he met.  

 “I met him a few times when I lived with Goku’s family.”

The answer was acceptable to Tien and Yamcha but Master Roshi had questions. “How do you know Goku?”

 “I met him when ChiChi brought him to King Gyu-Mao’s village. We’ve been friends since. I stood with Goku at his wedding,” Aki added proudly. “Goku told me all about you. You’re Master Roshi.” He pointed at Yamcha. “Yamcha right?” Then Tien. “Tien.” He bowed before them. “Nice to finally meet you.”

 “Can the doctor really help Goku?” Tien asked.

 “He should. He’s been Goku’s doctor for three years.”

 “Goku hates doctors.” Master Roshi saw proof of this during Goku’s time in the hospital. There was no way Goku had a primary doctor for three years.

 “After his first experience, I can’t blame him,” Aki joked aware of all the testing Goku went through when ChiChi was pregnant with Gohan. “Goku complained about Dr. Sims checkup sometimes but ChiChi’s only looking out for him and he knew that.”

 “ChiChi,” Master Roshi grumbled. “That explains a lot but Goku still got sick. Why didn’t this doctor catch the virus?”

 “Dr. Sims did say with Goku being an alien, some things will go undetected with his machines since they’re built for humans. Dr. Sims tried everything to prevent or slow down the virus even changing Goku’s food regimen. Goku hated that but he couldn’t win when ChiChi agreed with Dr. Sims.”

 Again Master Roshi snorted. “With her constant yelling, I see why Goku gave in. Wait a minute,” Master Roshi wanted to go back to what Aki said. “You two know Goku’s an alien?”

 “I didn’t find out until I visited Goku at the hospital. Kinda of wild but made a lot of sense. Goku always acted different from others but I should’ve suspected something at Gohan’s birth when I saw his tail.”

 “You knew about Gohan’s birth?” How did this man know so much about him and Goku when he knew nothing about him?

 “Yeah,” Aki said not seeing why that was a big deal. “I took pictures. Kinda had to help Goku a few times, too. He didn’t know anything about babies but he caught on quick.” He patted Gohan’s back. “Your Mom is protective of you but your Dad was too when you were a baby. You wandered off once when your Dad and I were fishing.” Aki laughed at the memory. “Your Dad panicked until he found you.”

 From the smile on Gohan’s face, Master Roshi suspected Gohan and Aki had a familiar relationship. During Aki’s stay he noticed Gohan chatting with him more than Piccolo. He even helped Aki bring packages of food in the house from Aki’s car.

 Eventually, ChiChi and Dr. Sims came downstairs. “How’s Goku?” Tien asked.

 “It’s not as worst as I feared,” Dr. Sims answered. “I did an X-ray. There’s some damage to Goku’s heart but the medicine is working. I don’t think Goku will be asleep for ten days. Saiyans heal faster than humans and Goku’s body is working with the medicine to speed up Goku’s recovery. At best guess, he might be awake in four days but it could be sooner. He still has that fever but I think it will break soon.”  Dr. Sims told ChiChi, “Administer Goku’s medicine every four hours and those shots that will keep Goku’s body hydrated every three. Call me when he awakens. I want another look at his heart.”

 “I will,” ChiChi promised.

 “There’s nothing else I can do.” Dr. Sims was blunt but hopeful. “Everything is in Goku’s hands but I think he’ll make a full recovery.”

 “Thank you, Doctor.” ChiChi bowed to him. “I am forever in your debt.”

 “Just doing my job.” Dr. Sims turned to Aki. “If you’re ready, Aki, I’m ready to go home. It’s been a long day.”

 “Tell me about it. It’ll be dark when I get home.” Aki stepped to ChiChi. “I brought some food. When I told Reia what’s going on, she insisted I give you some of the food we have in our shelter.”

 “Thank you.” ChiChi was moved to tears with all the help she was getting today. “Tell Reia I thank her so much.”

 “No problem. You take care of Goku.”  Aki bowed before ChiChi. “Goodbye, Princess.” Aki gave Gohan a quick hug. “Protect your Mom and Dad, Gohan.”

 “I will.”

 “Nice to meet everyone. I hope you can stop 17, 18 and this Cell monster.” Gohan and Yamcha followed Aki and Dr. Sims outside. Piccolo followed ChiChi upstairs to check on Goku. This left Tien and Master Roshi alone. Though it was a friendly meeting with Aki, Tien felt tension in the air from Master Roshi. Something was bothering the legendary master and Tien intended to find out.

 Master Roshi went to the kitchen and examine the storage containers of food Aki’s wife left. He opened one and inspected a casserole dish with his fingers. Rolling his eyes, Tien handed Master Roshi a fork. “Master Roshi, excuse me for being blunt but what is your problem with Goku’s wife?”

 Master Roshi tasted the food carefully. “Needs a little more salt.”

 Tien watched Master Roshi grab a plate and load it with food. “Master?” he asked again.

 “Why do you think you I have a problem with ChiChi and it’s not ChiChi who has the problem with us?”

 “Things Yamcha told me implies the problem is you.”

 Master Roshi dusted his food with a salt shaker. “What did Yamcha tell you?”

 “Only that this tension between you and ChiChi started because of what you, Krillin and Bulma didn’t do when Goku died and Gohan was kidnapped. Yamcha’s got an idea of how you three felt towards her. Well, Krillin thinks differently now but you and Bulma don’t like her. Why?”

 Master Roshi gripped his fork tightly. What would Yamcha know about how he, Krillin and Bulma were treated by ChiChi? He wasn’t there. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

 “I think you did, Master. How could you let Goku’s wife not know what happened that day? Didn’t you think she’d worry when her husband and child didn’t come home? Even Master Crane wouldn’t be so cold.”

 Comparing him to Crane, was a terrible low blow. How dare Tien. “You consider me colder than Master Crane after what he did to you and Chaozu?”

 “Despite our falling out, Master Crane was loyal to those he considered family. He maintained a loyal bond to his brother even when they were estranged. You and Goku weren’t estranged and yet you were disrespectful to his wife. The Master Roshi I knew and respected during the chaos of King Piccolo wouldn’t have been disrespectful to his best student’s wife. That man shouldered responsibility and looked out for his students. What happened?”

 No one but Tien spoke so bluntly to him. Of all his students, Tien was the most mature. As much as he hated, he had to credit Crane for that. Crane, before he lost his way, was always the most mature and level headed among them while Roshi, though a serious student was more fun loving.

 Master Roshi put down his fork and pushed aside his plate. “Did you know we haven’t seen Goku for five years before that day?”

 Tien didn’t but he didn’t see the issue with that either. “Goku got married.”

 “Anyone who’s trained with me are like my children. Even when my students, Gohan and Gyu-Mao, left, they kept in touch over the years. I knew about Goku and ChiChi when they were babies. When Goku showed up with Gohan as his son, it was shocking. I was proud Goku finally learned sex but it was hurtful Goku was a father and he didn’t tell us. I did a lot for Goku. I took him in and taught him all I knew. You can’t imagine how upsetting it is to see someone you care for cut you from their life.”

 “I can’t, Master, but Goku didn’t cut you out of his life. He was living his life with his family.”

Master Roshi shook his head stubbornly. He refused to accept that. “If I didn’t have that reunion, I never would’ve known.”

 On some level, Tien understood Master Roshi’s frustration but on another level, he thought Master Roshi was petty. “Anyway, this doesn’t explain why you don’t like ChiChi.”

 “Who do you think is the reason behind Goku not telling us about Gohan?”

 Tien thought the answer was obvious. “Goku.”

 As he suspected, Tien didn’t understand. “It was his wife. You haven’t been around her enough to know what she’s like: always angry, always against fighting. You didn’t see her when we were on our way to pick up Goku and Gohan after his fight with Vegeta. You didn’t see her at the hospital when she tried to stop Gohan from going to Namek. I bet she was against Gohan fighting the Artificial Humans even though Gohan has proven himself to be a capable fighter like his father.”

 What Master Roshi said was true. He hasn’t been around ChiChi as Master Roshi, Bulma and Krillin have been. He saw it as a good thing because he wasn’t bias like them. “Gohan is Goku’s son but he is a child. A mother wouldn’t want their child fighting in the fights Gohan has been in. I don’t want Chaozu in this fight with the Artificial Humans and if Chaozu wanted it, I would stop him.” Tien came to an understanding why Master Roshi disliked Goku’s wife and he found the reason ridiculous. “All due respect, Master Roshi, but do you know your student?” Master Roshi didn’t answer but behind those dark shades, Tien knew Master Roshi felt insulted. “The little I know of Goku, he didn’t stay in the same spot for long. For Goku to be with his wife and son for five years, meant Goku was happy. How as his teacher you didn’t see this and only thought of yourself?”

 Master Roshi admired Tien’s directness but he was going too far with this. “There is nothing wrong in a teacher wanting to see his student!”

 “No, but you were upset Goku kept you out of his life. You blamed his wife when it’s Goku you should be mad at….if you want to be that petty. Goku’s wife is very faithful staying by his side during his absences. She’s tried to find a prevention of the virus that has stricken him. She’s been by Goku’s side since he’s fallen. What have you been doing these past three years to help Goku?” He was harsh but Tien thought it was the only way Master Roshi will reflect on himself and his actions towards ChiChi. “Goku is your best student but you and everyone else fail to see Goku more than a fighter. He’s a husband and father now. It’s time you see how important Goku is to the people he is closest to.”

****

 It was nighttime when Master Roshi headed upstairs. After his talk with Tien, Master Roshi was reflective. He wanted to tell ChiChi what happened to Goku and Gohan but he backed down when Bulma and Krillin didn’t want to go. As eldest, he knew they should’ve told her but ultimately, he didn’t want to and he let his bias towards her not do what should’ve been done.

 Master Roshi admitted to having some distasteful feelings towards the woman. Letting ChiChi wait a day before telling her what happened to her family was a mistake he never owned up to. Instead of taking responsibility, he lied to her when ChiChi confronted them on what happened to her family. ChiChi wouldn’t have leapt over Goku that day if he didn’t mislead her to think Goku knew what happened to Gohan. It was ironic he had disdain for ChiChi when he was the cause of her anger and misunderstanding towards her husband. Until Tien talked to him, he didn’t realize it was his own pettiness that caused a lot of tension between him and ChiChi.

 Perhaps, he was jealous how Goku moved on with a family and didn’t think of him at all. That hurt Master Roshi. When Goku lived with him, he tried to learn more about his student’s grandchild but he never did. Goku always appeared distracted by something else and didn’t seem capable of thinking of anything but fighting. ChiChi saw through that and got him to open up in ways Master Roshi never thought Goku capable of.

 It was the start of visiting hours when Master Roshi casually walked to Goku’s room. Normally, he would arrive two hours after visitor’s hours started but with Gohan in space, Master Roshi thought Goku was bored and wouldn’t mind him visiting early. He smiled at nurses along his peaceful walk. Nurses ran or stood behind the nurse’s desk seeing him approaching. A few weeks of groping nurses and he gets a bad reputation with them. Oh, well.

 Master Roshi pushed Goku’s door open, quickly closed the door and opened it slightly to peek inside. Goku and ChiChi were in bed together kissing. Oh, yeah! His best student definitely picked up a thing or two while married. So, ChiChi’s mouth was good for something.

 Goku pulled back hardly breathing while ChiChi panted breathless. “I thought about you and Gohan a lot. You might not believe me but I kinda wished he didn’t have to go to Namek with Bulma and Krillin but he’s the only one strong enough to protect them.”

 “You’re right,” ChiChi caressed his face. “I don’t believe you.”

 Goku opened his mouth in protest but smiled instead noticing ChiChi’s face. He hugged ChiChi close to him. “Ah, ChiChi, I love how you get me. No one else does. Not even my friends.”

 “They don’t understand. They only see you one way; how they want instead of how you are.” ChiChi cupped his face. “But I see you. I’ll always see the real you.”

 Goku and ChiChi resumed kissing again. Master Roshi shut the door. What did she mean by that? He knew Goku as well as ChiChi. In fact, he knew Goku better than her. He was sure of it.

 Master Roshi thought that then but now he wasn’t sure. He opened the door partially staring between the small crack. Gohan was in the room with ChiChi playing cards. Gohan had two sets of cards in front of him while ChiChi held one in her hand while her other hand caressed Goku’s hair while his head rested in her lap.

 Gohan put a card down. “Draw Four, Mom.”

 “Oh, no,” ChiChi laughed. She picked up four cards and put down one. “I’m never gonna win.”

 Gohan laughed. “Dad’s gonna win again.”

 ChiChi playfully poke Gohan’s nose. “I think you’re cheating for your Dad.”

 Gohan giggled. “I am not.”

 “Yes, you are,” ChiChi teased. “You’re always helping him. When we played Monopoly last month, you were helping him.”

 Master Roshi observed the warm banter between mother and son. Master Roshi thought ChiChi was a strict, no fun enforcer who put fear in her family but ChiChi had a warm and playful side that Goku and Gohan knew very well and he didn’t.

 Maybe I have been wrong about her.

 Master Roshi pushed the door opened and stepped in the room. “How is Goku?”

 “Getting better.” ChiChi put her cards aside. “His fever finally broke.”

 Master Roshi observed ChiChi caressing Goku’s face tenderly. “You’ve been caring for Goku all day. It’s almost nine. Have you eaten anything?”

 ChiChi shook her head. “I’ve been too focused on Goku to eat. I wanted to monitor his fever.”

 “You said it yourself. His fever broke. Go downstairs and get something to eat. Take a break for an hour,” Master Roshi suggested. “Gohan and I can watch Goku.”

 “I….” ChiChi hesitated. “I really shouldn’t.”

 “If you pass out from not eating, who will take care of Goku?” Master Roshi sat on the floor besides Goku. “Go eat. Rest a little. Gohan and I can take care of things.”

 “We can,” Gohan agreed. “If something happens with Dad, we’ll call you.”

 ChiChi put a hand on her stomach. She really could use something to eat. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “All right. One hour and I’ll be back.” She was genuinely surprised at Master Roshi’s kindness. “Thank you.”

 When ChiChi arrived on the first floor, Piccolo was in a corner meditating, Yamcha and Krillin were on the sofa talking and Tien was in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes. ChiChi entered the kitchen seeing some of the opened dishes laid out.

 “Is everything all right with Goku?”

 “He’s fine, Tien. His fever broke. Master Roshi kinda kicked me out of the room.” She chuckled. “He thought I should eat and relax for a while.”

 Tien smiled. He was glad he got through to Master Roshi. “Good. Have a seat,” he suggested. “I’ll fix you a bowl of stew Chaozu made earlier and a plate of food Aki’s wife left.”

 “I can fix my own plate.”

 “You’ve been taking care of Goku all day,” Tien patted a chair for ChiChi to sit. “Relax. Let us take care of you.”

 ChiChi was speechless. She never expected that from Goku’s friends. “I…. thank you.” ChiChi sat. Tien poured a bowl of hot stew for ChiChi and arranged a separate plate of food. He placed both before her and poured ChiChi a glass of water.

 The food smelled and tasted delicious. ChiChi happily ate dinner while Tien resumed cleaning up. “How is the stew?”

 ChiChi swallowed a spoonful of stew. “It’s delicious. Chaozu’s a very good cook.”

 “Chaozu will be pleased to hear that from someone like you. You’re Goku’s wife. You must cook a lot.”

 ChiChi chuckled as she ate more of the delicious stew. “I do and it’s very nice to not have to cook.”

 “Goku never cooked for you?”

 “Oh, he does,” ChiChi ate a forkful of Reia’s casserole, “but it’s mostly over a fire. He can use the stove but not as well as me.”

 “I can’t believe Oolong kept this a secret for so long!!” All eyes turned to Krillin. Yamcha was on his feet trying to get away from Krillin who followed him around the room. “He always talked about you two arguing and breaking up and getting back together again and again!”

 “Oolong lives with me and Puar since Bulma and I broke up. He knew to keep quiet about it.”

 “What happened between you and Bulma that she went to Vegeta?” Krillin wanted to know. “Why didn’t you tell us Bulma got pregnant by him?”

 Yamcha knew this will happen when everyone reunited but he didn’t want to have this conversation. “What does it matter, Krillin? What’s done is done.”

 “Yeah, but I don’t understand how. You shouldn’t have allowed Vegeta to stay. He took your woman!”

As if he had a choice in the matter. “I didn’t want Vegeta to stay but it’s not my house. Bulma invited him and her parents allowed it. You know how they let her do anything.”

 “That’s true,” Tien agreed while ChiChi resumed eating. Since she already knew about the breakup, she focused on her food and tried not to listen to the conversation.  

 “I can’t believe you let a murderer like Vegeta take your girl! Sure he helped me and Gohan on Namek but he was responsible for your, Piccolo, Tien and Chaozu’s deaths!” Krillin wouldn’t hold back his shock and disgust at the situation. “I wouldn’t have allowed that!”

 Yamcha stopped walking. He turned around. Krillin was a friend but he was pushing it. “Like you can talk. You’ve never had a woman. Hell, even Goku got a wife and kid. Have you even kissed a girl or even gone on a date with one?!”

 ChiChi mentally cheered. Good one, Yamcha.

 Krillin stammered; his face flushed embarrassed. 18 kissed him on the cheek. That should count, right? “Y-y-you can’t compare me to Goku. If he hadn’t made that promise, he still would’ve been in the same boat as me.”

 ChiChi half rolled her eyes. She highly doubted that. Someone would’ve snagged Goku. He had that magnetic appeal to attract people. With his body and looks many women would’ve flocked to him. Still, ChiChi wished Krillin hadn’t used her and Goku as an example. Goku was naïve but given their quick courtship and the wedding night Goku would’ve responded to a female advances eventually.

 “Yamcha. Krillin,” Tien addressed his friends. “That’s enough. Don’t embarrass Goku’s wife with your talk.”

 Whoops. Krillin and Yamcha both turned and noticed ChiChi eating. She didn’t speak to them but, Krillin, worried ChiChi will scream at them, ran upstairs offering to check on Goku. Yamcha sat on the sofa and watched TV. Piccolo, who saw the argument, shook his head.

 After her meal, ChiChi stepped outside for some fresh air. She sat on the porch and gazed at the clear sky filled with stars. If it wasn’t Master Roshi’s island, ChiChi thought this could be a very romantic place. ChiChi closed her eyes. Maybe she can take a quick nap before going back to Goku.  

 ChiChi heard the door open behind her. She didn’t move from her spot. If it were Gohan, the door would’ve slammed open with him telling her Goku was having another attack, but no, the door opened quietly.

 “Hi, ChiChi. I didn’t know anyone was out here.”

 Yamcha. ChiChi kept her eyes closed. “I’m just getting a moment to myself.”

 “Yeah,” Yamcha shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned on a wooden post. “You’re probably sleepy. You’ve been up all day caring for Goku.”

 “A little.”

 Yamcha apologized. “I’m sorry you heard me and Krillin talking.”

 ChiChi opened her eyes. She wasn’t getting her nap. From the look on his face, ChiChi could tell Yamcha was still bothered by what Krillin said. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Huh?” Yamcha shook his head awkwardly. “No…I can’t. There’s nothing to talk about. Besides, you have a lot on your mind with Goku.”

 That was true but Yamcha wasn’t going to stop talking. “It’ll be a nice distraction.”

 Yamcha looked so relieve to talk about this. The only other people who knew about his situation were Puar and Oolong. Talking to them didn’t help. “Krillin doesn’t understand. It’s not like Vegeta took Bulma from me. Things haven’t been the same since I came back to life. Before I died, I thought of myself as invincible. I was confident in myself and more reliant on Goku than I wanted to admit. I knew if I were in trouble, Goku would come through and save me. When he died, I realized how weak I am without him. I died and I left nothing. I didn’t marry or have any kids. I vowed when I return things will be different. I envisioned marrying Bulma, having kids, but she…. she didn’t want that.” His eyes cast downward. “At least not with me.”

 ChiChi knew Bulma and Yamcha will break up but she didn’t dwell on it. It wasn’t her life, her business and she didn’t know them. It had to happen so Trunks will be born. Bulma and Vegeta had to come together. She and Goku knew it will happen but neither considered how much heartbreak it would be for Yamcha to lose someone he loved.

 “I was pissed to come back to life to find Vegeta living with Bulma. He’s the reason I’m dead and now he’s living with my girlfriend and her parents. I let Bulma know I didn’t like it but it didn’t change anything.”

 ChiChi understood how Yamcha must’ve felt. There was no way to explain this was the best course of action but ChiChi tried. “Vegeta did need a place to stay. He was marooned here. If Bulma didn’t invite him, he could’ve attacked the world looking for shelter and food. This was the best way.”

 Yamcha grumbled incoherently. Maybe ChiChi was right but he didn’t want to hear it. “Well, it wasn’t that bad the first year. Vegeta spent most of his time away, exploring the world and training. We hardly saw him. Things were good between Bulma and me. I even proposed but Bulma said no.” ChiChi thought Yamcha would be disappointed but he was smiling. “It wasn’t the first time I did it. A year after Goku left us to marry you, I proposed.” He laughed. “It’s actually a funny story. With the tournament permanently over, I had to do something with my life. I didn’t want to mooch off Bulma forever. I turned my baseball hobby into a career. It paid very well. We went to an expensive resort where Bulma was completely pampered. Bulma could pay herself but it felt good I could do this for her. One night, we were on the beach by a fire; I had Bulma in my arms. We were talking, kissing and being happy with each other when Bulma suddenly said, ‘It’s been a year since we’ve seen Goku. Do you think he’s still married?’”

 The smile ChiChi had on her face as Yamcha relive happier times with Bulma fell to a frown. “What?”

 Yamcha kept smiling unaware of ChiChi’s annoyance. “Wild, right? I’m holding my woman in my arms. We had a perfect day. It’s the perfect mood for sex and Bulma brings up Goku and what’s he doing.” He laughed. “We were like that a lot. Bulma would be in a romantic mood and my mind is somewhere else or I’m ready for sex and Bulma’s mind is elsewhere. Bulma cares about Goku. I do, too, but I wasn’t thinking about him in that moment.”

 Yamcha was laughing but ChiChi didn’t find this funny at all. “So, a year into my marriage with Goku, Bulma questioned if we were still together?”

 “Well, to be honest, when Goku left with you, we all wondered what the hell Goku was doing. Master Roshi thought it was a good thing for Goku since he’ll finally have sex, and after King Piccolo and Piccolo thought Goku could use a break from fighting. Bulma thought it was insane since Goku didn’t know you and wondered why you would hold Goku to a promise he made as a kid.”

 “We were both children,” ChiChi defended herself. “I thought Goku wanted to marry me.”

 “Bulma’s like a big sister to Goku so she was understandably concerned. Krillin thought Goku was too young to get married but I think he was frustrated his friend was leaving him again after seeing him for a short time. Tien and Chaozu thought Goku was honorable and wished you a good life. I also think Tien was hoping marriage would slow Goku down so he can be stronger than Goku again.”

 “And you?” ChiChi questioned. “What did you think?”

 “It was cool but I didn’t think Goku really understood what marriage meant. He’s always running around from one adventure to the next. I didn’t think he would settle down but we hadn’t heard from Goku in a year. I started thinking Goku did understand and I was the dumb one. Goku meets his fiancée for the first time in years and marries her. Me and my girl for over seven years are still dating. There’s no more tournament, I’m starting a great baseball career and I can finally afford to treat my girl. I wondered what I was waiting on. So, on the beach, I proposed to Bulma and she said no."

 This time ChiChi heard some of the cheerfulness leave Yamcha’s voice. “Why did she say no?”

 “Bulma didn’t want to get married or have kids. It wasn’t her. I wanted it but I wanted Bulma, too, so I thought I could be happy just being with Bulma but then Trunks came and told us of our future.” A somber look too over Yamcha as he recalled Trunks’ visit. “I started to panic. I came back to life a year ago and three years from now some Artificial Humans will kill us all, Goku will be dead again and can’t save us. Life wasn’t turning out the way I wanted it to go.”

 Yamcha stepped away from the post and paced. “I told Bulma my fears about the future. I told her I wanted marriage and kids. That way if I died, I’d have some legacy. I thought this time Bulma will say yes to marriage, yes to kids but she said no. I asked why she is being selfish.” Yamcha stopped pacing and released a heavy sigh. “Sometimes I wonder if things would’ve been different if I didn’t say that.”

 ChiChi didn’t have the heart to tell Yamcha it wouldn’t. In Trunks’ timeline, Bulma and Yamcha broke up without knowing Yamcha’s fate to 17 and 18. Even with this Yamcha knowing the future, it wouldn’t stop the breakup. It had to happen.

 “Bulma hates it when she’s called selfish. Sometimes I think Bulma thinks she’s a saint. I love her but her ego sometimes….” He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, we had another fight which was typical of us but I didn’t let her do all the yelling this time. I yelled back. I went into everything wrong in our relationship, how she always got mad at me for thinking I was looking at other women while she always looks at other men and I brought up Vegeta.”

 “Vegeta?” Oh, boy. Goku told her he noticed something between Vegeta and Bulma. If he noticed, Yamcha must’ve seen A LOT.

 “Bulma always accused me of being unfaithful but she was the one with the wandering eyes. I didn’t let it bother me because Bulma never did anything and she didn’t spend a lot of time with the guys she flirted with. They were never interested in her or were,” his eyes met ChiChi’s for a moment, “married and living far away. Vegeta was the only threat. He was single, stronger than me and living with us. You would think Vegeta being a mass murderer would be a turn off but Krillin told me Bulma flirted with some guy called Zarbon on Namek and he was one of Freeza’s henchman.” Yamcha shook his head frustrated. “Bulma’s a genius with science but with men, excluding me, she was not that bright.

 “We were both yelling at each other and Bulma said, ‘I don’t wanna look at you anymore.’ I told her I didn’t wanna look at her either. So, we broke up. We’ve done this before. Argue and,” he raised his fingers quoting, “‘breakup’. When this happens, I’d move into a hotel for a few weeks before Bulma calls. We’ll talk and I’ll move back in again.”

 One didn’t have to be a genius to guess what happened next. Yamcha sat beside ChiChi. He was quiet for several moments. ChiChi saw the emotional turmoil on his face. “I thought it would be for a few weeks but after months of silence, it sunk in our last breakup was final and Bulma meant it this time. I couldn’t believe it was really over. I couldn’t get out of bed for a week. It was hard to accept but I realized it was what we needed to do. Bulma and I were together since we were teenagers and we’re in our thirties now. We were each other’s first for everything. That and a lot of things are probably why I put up with some our issues for so long.”

 “That must’ve been hard to deal with.” ChiChi admired Yamcha’s patience for dealing with a lot red flag issues in his relationship with Bulma but she also questioned Yamcha’s lack of action. If he didn’t let Bulma get away with all the things she did, their relationship wouldn’t come to this. Maybe they would’ve broken up sooner and Yamcha would’ve found someone else. With what little she knows of Vegeta, ChiChi knew he wouldn’t allow Bulma to flirt with other men while with him.

 “I moved out of the hotel, got a place of my own and continued my training. One day, Bulma called me. She was crying and begging me to come over. She needed to talk to someone and I was the only one she could talk to.” Yamcha smiled again. “It felt like old times when Bulma and I made up. I thought she wanted to get back together. I started dating other women but I wanted to try again, too. I cleaned up really fast with a fresh shower and sharp clothes. When I saw her, I had all these thoughts of what we will do now that we are back together.” ChiChi braced herself. She had a bad feeling about this. “Bulma was waiting for me on the balcony. She hugged me, told me she was happy to see me, so happy I came but then she started crying. ‘My life is a mess. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe him.’ I knew it was about Vegeta and I begged Bulma to tell me what’s wrong. I wasn’t stronger than Vegeta but I wanted to do something. That’s when she told me she’s pregnant and Vegeta’s the father.”

 ChiChi winced. She knew what Bulma will tell Yamcha but she didn’t think Bulma would drop the news so fast. “That had to be hard to hear especially when you wanted Bulma to have your babies.”

 “It was crushing. I couldn’t believe it. Vegeta? He was responsible for me and our friends dying and Bulma gets pregnant by him. I thought Vegeta forced himself on Bulma. She told me it was consensual.”

 “Did she tell you what happened?”

 Oh, she did and it didn’t ease Yamcha’s hurt. “She thought Vegeta was lonely. He rebuffed her flirting several times but one night it happened. Bulma thought it was a mistake and a one-time thing but….” Yamcha let ChiChi figure out the rest. “When she became pregnant, she told Vegeta. Bulma never expected that reaction from him.”

 “Vegeta wasn’t happy?” ChiChi presumed.

 Yamcha shook his head. “No. Bulma never told me what Vegeta said but it was enough for her to call me. Bulma and I haven’t spoken since we broke up but her pregnancy made us realize even though a romantic relationship isn’t for us, it didn’t mean we couldn’t be friends.”

 “That’s admirable, Yamcha.” Kind of foolish ChiChi thought but admirable. “You pushed aside your heartbreak and you were there for Bulma when she needed someone. You’re a good friend and a good person.”

 “Admirable.” Yamcha shook his head amused. “Good friend. Good person. You’re the first person to say that. Oolong called me a fool and sucker. Puar thought I was making the biggest mistake of my life letting Bulma into my life again. Puar even worried I would try to get back with Bulma when she and Vegeta broke up.”

 “Broke up?” The news surprised ChiChi. “But they have a child.”

 “Yeah, but Vegeta moved out when Bulma was pregnant. Her Dad set up Vegeta at one of their vacation homes. Vegeta still comes by a few times but,” Yamcha shrugged. “I don’t know. Some days Bulma seems to miss Vegeta and others she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Lately, I thought maybe Bulma and I should try again but now that I know her baby is that kid from the future, I think I’m done.”

 “That should make Puar happy.”

Yamcha laughed. He never thought his sweet cat could have such venom towards a person. “Puar’s never gotten over Bulma having Vegeta’s kid. I was with Bulma for 15 years, wanted to marry and have kids and got nothing. Vegeta has a child with Bulma without trying. What Krillin said about Goku fits Vegeta, too. ‘Things came easy for him.’”

 Any sympathy ChiChi had for Yamcha was replaced with hot anger. “What?” Her raised voice sent Yamcha sliding a few inches from her. “What did Krillin say about Goku?”

 Her anger was surprising but somewhat amusing to Yamcha. “Things came easy for Goku. He got everything without really trying.”

 “Without really trying?” ChiChi gasped. How insulting! “Do you know how many hours Goku trained to get as strong as he is?!”

 “Not that. Fighting yeah, Goku worked hard but not as hard…” Yamcha stopped talking. ChiChi looked ready to scream at him. “Krillin and Goku were friendly rivals growing up. Goku was always stronger than Krillin. He caught onto fighting techniques faster. He was always taller. Krillin thought there was one thing he had an advantage over Goku. Women. I remember him saying, ‘Goku might always be stronger and taller than me but I will get a wife before he does.’ Then you show up to remind Goku of his promise and he gets a wife without even trying. He never had to ask a girl on date. He never worried about proposing or her saying no.”

 Oh. Yamcha had a point. “Oh. Well, maybe that part was easier but Goku worked hard in our relationship. We had good times and bad times. It was not easy.”

 “No,” Yamcha respectfully agreed. “I guess it wasn’t but those five years must’ve been something special. We didn’t see Goku for five years, and if wasn’t for that reunion, who knows when it would’ve been. Goku must be very happy with you and Gohan.”

 “I’m happy with my husband and son, too.” Speaking of her husband, it was time to get back to him. ChiChi stood up and stretched. “I need to check on Goku.”

 “I understand. Thanks for listening, ChiChi…. and I’m sorry.”

 “For what?”

 “I know what caused your tension with us. I had no idea of what they did until after I came back to life.” Yamcha shook his head. “It was wrong. As Goku’s friends, we should’ve treated you better.”

 Another one of Goku’s friends treating her kindly. ChiChi wondered if something was in the water. “Thank you. It’s not your fault but thank you, Yamcha.” ChiChi left Yamcha and entered the house. As ChiChi walked up the stairs to Goku, she thought of the kindness of Goku’s friends today and wondered if relations between her and them have finally softened.

 ****

 ChiChi woke up with a stiff back. She slept with her back against the wall and Goku’s head in her lap. Gohan slept soundly by his father. ChiChi felt Goku’s face. It was warm but normal for him.

 ChiChi gently slid Goku’s head from her lap to his pillow. She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “Good morning, Goku.” Being so close to Goku, an unpleasant scent touched ChiChi’s nose. Goku was a little rank and ChiChi knew where the source was. Dr. Sims warned her this will happen. With Goku in his deep sleep, his bodily functions would move slowly. It happened over the night.

 ChiChi gently shook Gohan awake. Gohan’s eyes slowly opened. “Mom.” Immediately, Gohan looked over at his father. “Is Dad okay?”

 “Dad is fine.” Gohan sat up and rubbed his sleepy eyes. “Since we have to worry about these Artificial Humans, you can train with Piccolo this morning.”

 Gohan dropped his hand from his face. He was wide awake now. Did Mom tell him to train? “You want me to train?”

 “Just a little and get some breakfast. Reia left food for us but it’s almost gone now.”

 “Oh, I get it!” Gohan understood. “Okay. I can spar with Mr. Piccolo and bring something back for us. I kind of want to spar with Mr. Piccolo anyway. He’s so much stronger now that he’s merged with Kami.” Gohan put on his shoes, gave his mother a hug and left.

 It was early morning when Bulma descended on Master Roshi’s island for a smooth landing. While her Mom and robots watched Trunks, she and her Dad spent the night studying 17’s blueprints. She fell asleep in the middle of the night and woke up just before dawn when Dr. Briefs was ready for a break. So while her Dad got some sleep, Bulma used the time to visit her adult son and Goku.  

 “Hey, everyone!” Bulma cheerfully announced.

 The TV was on with the morning news recapping yesterday’s events in South City, Gingertown and Nicky Town. “Bulma, what are you doing here?” Krillin poured coffee for himself and Master Roshi while Tien drunk his tea and Yamcha flipped the channels on the TV. “Where’s your kid?”

 “My parents and robots are watching him. I thought I’d see how my adult son and Goku are doing.” Bulma looked around. “Where are they?”

 “Trunks hasn’t been here since yesterday. He’s with Vegeta and Goku’s upstairs sleeping.”

 “Oh,” Bulma was disappointed. “It’s good Trunks is spending time with his Dad but why isn’t Goku awake from the virus yet? We need him.”

 “It’s gonna take a few days before Goku recovers.” Krillin explained. “What about those schematics you got from Dr. Gero’s lab?”

 “Dad and I are still studying them. Dr. Gero was a brilliant scientist. Such a shame he wasted his brain.”

 ChiChi entered from the stairway. “Good Morning,” she sleepily greeted everyone as she went to the sink with two wash basin in her hands. Master Roshi, Tien, Yamcha and Krillin stared at ChiChi. Last night they saw ChiChi covered up in her cheongsam outfit with her hair up in a bun. This morning ChiChi’s hair was down and she wore a pale blue robe. It was loose but more form fitting than the cheongsam with pants ensemble. As she walked, teases of her tone legs peeked through her robe.

 Bulma noticed how all the men were looking at ChiChi. She couldn’t remember the last time all of them stopped and stared at a woman. She couldn’t recall this happening when she sunbathed on the beach. Master Roshi tried to touch her but Yamcha and Krillin didn’t do anything.

 “How’s Goku?” Tien asked.

 “Much better. Goku only had one nightmare.” ChiChi held one basin under the running water. “I’m gonna give Goku a sponge bath so please give us our privacy.”

 “Sure thing.” Tien approached ChiChi and took one of the water basins from her. “But let me help you carry one of these so you don’t make two trips down here.”

 ChiChi was appreciative of Tien’s help. “Thank you.” Once the second basin was filled, Tien and ChiChi returned upstairs with Master Roshi, Yamcha and Krillin still staring at ChiChi.

 Once both were gone, Master Roshi finally spoke. “I wish she’d give me a sponge bath.”

 “She’s strict,” Krillin added, “But she’s still beautiful.”

 “With her hair down like that, she’s as pretty as she was at the tournament,” Yamcha remarked. “She’s a good listener, too. Goku got himself a good one.”

 Bulma was dumbfounded. Where was all this praise for ChiChi coming from? What did Yamcha mean about ChiChi being a good listener? Why were Master Roshi and Krillin staring at ChiChi with admiration when they never did before? When ChiChi visited Capsule Corp to see Porunga, none of them paid attention to ChiChi. Sure she looks different, perhaps younger and prettier with her hair down and wearing nightclothes but it wasn’t that much difference. “You three are disgusting! Goku’s sick and you three are ogling his wife!”

 Tien returned but blocked Bulma when she tried to enter the stairway. “Where are you going?”

“Upstairs. I want to talk to check on Goku.”

 Tien frowned. Didn’t Bulma hear ChiChi? “ChiChi has to give Goku his bath.”

 Bulma tried to go upstairs again but Tien blocked her. “I’ve given Goku a bath before. I’ve seen it all.”

 “As a kid. Not as an adult, Bulma,” Yamcha reminded her. “You can’t have access to all Saiyans.”

 Bulma scowled at Yamcha. What was he implying? They remained friends through their breakup but it didn’t stop Yamcha from getting in digs occasionally. With Tien acting as a wall and all eyes on her, Bulma sat on the sofa and waited for her chance to check on Goku.

 ****

 A closed bag stood in the corner of the room by the two water basins, fresh sheets were on the futon and ChiChi dressed Goku in boxers and a blue shirt that wasn’t like the weighted one he usually wore. She was laying Goku back on the futon when a light knock tapped the door.

 “ChiChi, it’s Bulma. Can I come in? Are you still cleaning Goku?”

 Bulma’s visit was unexpected. Yesterday, Krillin said Bulma and her father were studying 17’s blueprints. With Trunks’ letter still on her mind, Bulma was not the person ChiChi wanted to see anytime soon. ChiChi reminded herself this Bulma didn’t send her that letter but they did need to talk. “Come in.”

 Bulma sauntered in the room as ChiChi pulled the sheets to Goku’s chest. Bulma knelt on one side of Goku. “Goku looks the same,” Bulma remarked. “The way Trunks and Gohan described him, I thought Goku would look like he’s at death door.”

 “He was in bad shape yesterday,” ChiChi admitted, “but the medicine is working.”

 That medicine made Bulma so happy. “I’m so proud my son saved Goku. Pretty amazing my son has gone back in time to save all of us and I built a time machine. It’s usually Goku who does it but history shows Goku isn’t the only Saiyan to save us. And,” she pointed to herself and giggled, “humans can, too.”

 ChiChi wasn’t sure how to take Bulma’s words. Was she bragging and taking credit for something an alternate version of herself and child did?

 ChiChi pulled out the medical case Dr. Sims left her. Bulma observed ChiChi sticking a needle in Goku’s arm. “Is that the medicine?”

 “No. This will keep Goku hydrated and nourished since he can’t eat or drink anything.”

 “Looks like it works.” Bulma patted Goku’s chest. “Last time I saw Goku sleeping, he was a little boy. Thought he was a runt then but looking back, he was a cute kid. He’s….” her fingers lingered on his chest, “definitely not a kid now.”

 ChiChi noticed Bulma’s eyes on Goku; Bulma’s hand on her husband’s chest. ChiChi took Bulma’s hand and placed it back on her lap. “Bulma, we have to talk.”

 “About what?”

 “I know about the talk Goku had with you when he came back from space. As Goku’s wife, I think we need to talk.”

 Bulma remembered that talk she had with Goku. If she could, she would smack Goku now! What was that idiot thinking telling his wife about it?! “It was a small thing, ChiChi. Nothing to get worked up about or still think about three years later.”

 “Ten years ago it was a small thing but carrying these feelings for years when Goku is very married and has a child makes it a big thing.”

 Bulma inched away from ChiChi. That face and voice told her ChiChi was ready to strike her if she said the wrong thing. Bulma knew ChiChi was still in martial arts shape. If those hands hit her….. “I know it sounds bad but there's nothing to worry about. Goku would never be unfaithful.”

 As if ChiChi didn’t know that. “I know that I have Goku’s heart. It's you I wonder about. Are you finally over these feelings? Have you accepted only friendship is all you can have with my Goku?”

 Bulma thought the big important thing that happened to her would be proof of that. “I had Vegeta's kid.”

 “But you're not together now.”

 Unfortunately not. Vegeta moved out when Bulma was pregnant. She was furious her father helped Vegeta relocate to one of their vacation homes. Her father accepted Vegeta’s excuse he needed to concentrate on the Artificial Humans arrival. He did come home a few times but it was always brief and disappointing especially after Trunks’ birth. “Regardless of what Vegeta and I have or had you don't have to worry about me flirting with Goku.”

 Maybe she didn’t but it didn’t make things good between them. With her own suspicion over the years and Trunks’ letter, ChiChi was reaching her breaking point with Bulma. “Tell me Bulma; keeping things from me; speaking badly about me; was that due to me having Goku and you didn't?”

 “Where did you get that idea?”

 “Other than getting the dragon ball from my father’s castle, you haven't been welcoming towards me. When I was at the tournament, there wasn't time for me to get to know you. I wanted to because you were my fiancé’s friend. I should know you. A good wife knows her husband's friends. I became Goku's wife, had his child and I learned about you through him. When I lost my family, no one came to me. I had to track you down the next day.”

 That day again. ChiChi will not let them forget that. “We were wrong about that. Goku told us we were wrong.”

 “It shouldn't have taken Goku to tell you that!” Why were his friends so thick in the head? “While I worried about Goku and Gohan that year, I picked my brain on what I did to deserve such disrespect; to deserve to be kept in the dark all night. We didn't know each other and you did this. You got the dragon balls Goku collected and nothing for a year from any of you. I had to force myself on the island the day Goku came back.”

 No one expected ChiChi to show up there, especially Master Roshi. They all thought ChiChi would stay home and wait for Goku. “Why did you come to the island? You would have been safe at home.”

 “Safe and ignored you mean. That's how you both wanted it, isn't it?” Bulma didn’t have to say yes. ChiChi saw it on her face. “Goku told me I should go there if he was ever in another big fight. He said Master Roshi's place was the safest place to be.”

 Oh. Bulma never guessed Goku was the reason. “Wow. I never thought Goku had that kind of insight.”

 That wasn’t surprising. ChiChi knew what Goku’s friends thought of her husband. “There's a lot about Goku you don't know. There's a lot about you I don't know either. When I learned you had feelings for Goku, your treatment of me made sense. You didn't like me because I had Goku.”

 “Chichi.... it's not that simple. It’s complicated...”

 “Then why?” ChiChi heard enough excuses. She wanted answers. “Why have you said awful things about me when I've done nothing to you? Why did you treat me, your oldest friend’s wife, like I'm trash?”

 It was rare Bulma felt pressed against the hypothetical wall; pushed to be honest instead of hiding behind lies and bravado; losing control of the situation she wanted to manipulate. The only time anyone had her in this position was Vegeta. She wanted to seduce him; she wanted to control the courting as she did with Yamcha. Unlike Yamcha, Vegeta was stubborn and confident and Bulma was out of her league playing those games with him.

 A firm hand slammed against the wall over Bulma’s head. Bulma jumped at the sudden force. Her eyes darted up to see Vegeta staring at her.

 “What’s your game, Woman? Always trying to find ways to be around me. When I come out of that training room, you’re there. When I want to eat alone, you’re there. You want to know about my life under Freeza. You want to show me Earth’s culture.”

 Bulma’s heart raced as her eyes swept up and down Vegeta’s shirtless, muscled body; as he stood inches from her in his black boxers. He wasn’t tall like Yamcha or Goku; didn’t have women immediately swooning like Yamcha when she dragged Vegeta out her home, but there was a magnetic appeal to him.

If she can win him like ChiChi won Goku….

 “I’m trying to be a friend to you. You’re marooned here. No friends. No family. You must be lonely.” A brave hand gripped his muscled arm. Was Yamcha’s arm ever so tight? “I want to show you what Earth has to offer.”

 Vegeta grope a breast through Bulma’s thin, white buttoned shirt. He smirked as he squeezed the soft flesh, watching the deep blush spread on Bulma’s face. “That includes you, doesn’t it? This vulgarity appeals to you.” He dropped the hand chuckling at her. “The courtesans in space have more subtlety than you.”  

 Bulma’s face turned red again but she wasn’t aroused. She was angry. Did Vegeta compare her to a prostitute? Bulma raised a hand to slap him but Vegeta caught it and pressed it over her head.

 That arrogant smirk on his face turned to an angry scowl. “Dressed how you are; throwing yourself at me as you have; you’re in no position to feel offended.”

 Before she could use her other hand, Vegeta grabbed that and pinned it with the other. Vegeta gazed at Bulma watching her body language, looking in her eyes. No fear. “Are the men on this planet so inadequate you seek me to satisfy you?”

 Bulma answered with silence.

 It was enough for Vegeta. He released her. “You intrigued me, Woman.” He walked away from her. “Come if you’re so curious.” He stood by the door to his bedroom with his arms crossed. “If Kakarrot hasn’t killed his wife during mating, then I guess you’re strong enough for me to not kill you. But if you do,” he smirked, “you’ll die with a smile.”

 Bulma fumed at Vegeta. He read her like a book. He knew what she was doing all this time. He insulted her; threw Goku and ChiChi’s intimacy in her face. How dare he compare her to ChiChi! She was much better and can handle anything ChiChi can. She should walk away and pretend this didn’t happen; leave with dignity but she couldn’t. She was challenged, forced to admit her feelings. It was enthralling; exciting. Yamcha never made her feel this way. Bulma smiled, opening one button of her shirt after the other as she walked to Vegeta’s room.

 This time Bulma didn’t feel excitement or challenged. She felt vulnerable and open. The wife of her oldest friend demanded answers of her mistreatment; answers Bulma felt she ChiChi deserved to know. Only problem is, it will leave ChiChi knowing things about her, Bulma wanted to keep bottled.

 “You’re pretty,” Bulma told her. “You probably didn’t notice everyone looking at you when you came downstairs. They never looked at me like that. Yamcha told me I’m pretty but he was my boyfriend. Krillin never called me beautiful but he did about you. Hmph,” she scoffed. “I remember Krillin thinking I was a guy because I hid a huge diamond down my bikini bottom.” Bulma noticed ChiChi’s eyes go up in confusion. “It was an adventure we had with Commander Blue.”

 ChiChi’s anger simmered as confusion rose. Where was Bulma going with this?

 “When you became Goku’s fiancée, I felt threatened. You had Goku’s eyes since the tournament. He married you.”

 Threatened? Goku’s eyes? What was Bulma talking about? “I didn’t have Goku’s eyes then. He married me because of the promise he made. It was after we married, he fell in love with me.”

 “Maybe but you had Goku’s attention. Yamcha told me what happened between you two during the preliminary rounds. Goku watched all your matches. He kept saying he felt he knew you but couldn’t remember where. Yamcha could tell Goku was excited to be paired against you. It was the first time Yamcha noticed Goku responding that way to a girl. It was a bit annoying Goku never reacted that way to me.” She pointed to herself. “Look at me. I’m gorgeous. I yelled at him when we reunited at the tournament but he didn’t react at all. You do it and Goku couldn’t stop looking at you.”

 Was this true? Goku did say it was exciting fighting her but he never talked about what he thought of her during the preliminaries. She saw him a few times but she didn’t know he was there for all her matches.

 “I’m rich and beautiful but I didn’t have friends growing up,” Bulma continued. “I could make them easily. I’m rich after all but I couldn’t keep them. Goku was my first real friend. With him, I found a guy and made more friends. I like the attention I got. I like how I got my way. As terrified as I was, going on those adventures were fun. I didn’t feel threatened losing the inclusion. Not even with Lunch. Lunch couldn’t help them. Lunch wasn’t as pretty as me. Lunch wasn’t even strong. Her guns only made her appear strong and she was left behind a lot.” Bulma moved to touch Goku again but seeing ChiChi’s hawk eyes on her, Bulma decided to keep her hands to herself. “Goku would’ve allowed you to come. Everyone would want you to come on adventures with them.”

 ChiChi listened attentively. She believed Bulma until her last words. Now she felt Bulma was trying to dupe her. “Are you playing me for a fool, Bulma? Me be included in your adventures? You shut me out like you did Lunch. I’m the last person you want around.”

 “You’re beautiful,” Bulma told ChiChi again, “Very strong and you know martial arts. If you stayed as a fighter, being Goku’s wife, you would’ve automatically be included on adventures like Gohan is included because he’s Goku’s son. You had everything to take my place in the group. I didn’t want to lose that.”

 “Oh, my….” ChiChi put a hand over her mouth sickened to her stomach. Bulma did what she did for those reasons? “So, you led the charge to exclude me; keep me uninformed in what’s going on with my family; said awful things about me all so you---.”

 “Your attitude shaped some of that.”  

 “Only because I was kept in the dark!!” ChiChi nearly lunge towards Bulma. Bulma put her hands up. ChiChi exhaled and she stood. She needed to put distance between her and Bulma or she may do something she will later regret. Maybe.

 Bulma moved closer to the door in case she had to make a quick escape. “When Goku told us you didn’t want Gohan learning about martial arts, you called it a waste. Master Roshi laughed it off but Krillin was hurt about that. It was easy to convince them you were always an angry woman only focused on Gohan’s education and will kill anyone who got in the way of that. It was easy to exclude you.”

 In the hospital, Goku told ChiChi about his talk with his friends. ChiChi denied that was the sole reason for their hate. It was too ridiculous but hearing Bulma…..

 “Did you ever stop to think Goku’s fight with Piccolo was my reason to not have Gohan fighting?” ChiChi couldn’t believe she actually had to explain herself. “Maybe it traumatized me but I didn’t want my child going through what my husband went through. Also, Gohan was four years old. Now that you’re a mother, maybe you will understand.” ChiChi went to her bag of belongings. “Now I know what you mean in that letter about being in denial about things you didn’t want to acknowledge.”

 Letter? What letter? Before Bulma could ask ChiChi what she meant, ChiChi dropped the letter in her lap. “Trunks gave that to me. It’s a letter from his mother. You and she aren’t the same person because you haven’t lived her future but you two were the same in the past and she said things that made me think you feel now.”

 Bulma opened the envelope. It was definitely her handwriting. Bulma read the letter. She cringed as her future self in another timeline brought up her mistakes with ChiChi. Her mouth dropped reading how she continued to keep things from ChiChi while Gohan fought 17 and 18.

 Bulma met ChiChi’s stern gaze. “What I’m saying in this letter, ‘I hate not telling you immediately when Gohan lost his arm. I hate not telling you immediately when he….’ did I keep Gohan’s death from you?”

 “In that timeline, yes.”

 Bulma groaned. “Oh, shit.” Even Bulma couldn’t believe she did it again. “When did Trunks give you this?”

 “Yesterday.”

 Dammit. Bulma wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Ugh! She bragged about making a time machine and Trunks saving Goku while ChiChi had this on her mind. No wonder ChiChi so was frosty with her today.  

 “I never wanted to take your place among Goku’s friends. All I wanted is to be Goku’s wife and have his children. A wife and a mother. That’s all I wanted.”

 Bulma knew that. It took her a long time but she finally saw that. ChiChi was innocent in the mental war Bulma waged against her. With her future self writing this letter…… “I should go.” Bulma returned the letter to ChiChi. “I need to get back home. I need to help my Dad finish analyze 17’s blueprints so we can build a weapon against him.”

 “I wish you luck in that.” ChiChi returned to Goku’s side. Her back was to Bulma. She was done speaking to her.  

 Bulma felt the chill but said nothing. She couldn’t. ChiChi had every right to feel the way she did. If she was treated the way ChiChi has been for years, Bulma would be furious and want nothing to do with any of Goku’s friends.

 “I know my place with Goku, ChiChi. He’s your husband and I’m only Goku’s friend. That’s all. You don’t have to worry about me. Believe it or not, I actually grew up in these three years. Motherhood is changing me. I’m still making mistakes but I’m understanding you more, too. Maybe after all this mess with Cell and the Artificial Humans, we can sit down and talk; maybe we can try to be friends.”

 Bulma’s request was met with silence. Bulma accepted that. ChiChi should feel this way right now but Bulma hoped in the future, ChiChi would give her a chance. Maybe two strong personalities like them can be friends.  

 ****

 Another night and day passed in peace for ChiChi as she stayed by Goku’s side and cared for him. The world was in growing turmoil as the populace in more cities suddenly disappeared. Piccolo led the hunt for Cell only to always miss him. Gohan stayed behind to guard Goku in case 17 and 18 arrived. It was Piccolo who told Gohan to stay but ChiChi knew it was the Kami side advising Gohan.

 Tien, Krillin and even Yamcha left with Piccolo. Gohan stayed on the beach sparring alone and keeping his skills sharp. Sometimes Master Roshi sat on the beach with a beer cheering Gohan on while ChiChi watched from the window. ChiChi thought Gohan could be using his time studying but even she knew that would be a waste.

 The world was in trouble and as much as ChiChi hated it, she knew Gohan will fight. With Goku recovering from his illness, ChiChi thought of herself in Trunks’ timeline and her lost. That ChiChi lost her husband and son. What was it like in their home for that ChiChi to watch her son dedicate himself to getting stronger, taking Trunks under his wing, lose fight after fight against 17 and 18 and eventually his life? Some nights she and Goku talked about that time and wondered what went wrong.

 “I don’t get it, ChiChi. Gohan shouldn’t have died. Gohan should’ve been much stronger.”

 Goku laid on his stomach as ChiChi massaged his body. It was an almost nightly ritual for them when Goku finished his training for the day. Sometimes the massage led to intimacy and other times it led to Goku and his wife simply talking.

 “Everyone’s dead in that time.” ChiChi’s strong fingers penetrated the muscles on Goku’s back. “Gohan lost you and everyone who could train him when he was nine years old. He had to teach himself and Trunks. That’s two kids fighting monsters without proper training.”

 “Yeah,” Goku groaned as ChiChi massaged his lower back. “A little to the right. Gohan survived alone for six months. He taught himself a lot. Yow!” Goku yelped as ChiChi slapped his backside. “What?”

 “Those six months didn’t help Gohan be a better fighter. Gohan just learned to survive.”

 “Yeah,” Goku agreed. “You’re right. I used to think because Gohan was so young and never been in a fight that’s why he froze fighting Nappa and Vegeta but it was Piccolo’s way of teaching that caused that.”

 ChiChi moved her fingers to massage a leg. “What do you mean?”

“Today Piccolo was harsh with Gohan. He yelled at him because Gohan missed an obvious attack. He screamed how the Artificial Humans won’t show mercy. Piccolo attacked again and Gohan made the same mistake.”

 “You know Piccolo was that way with Gohan for six months.”

 “Yeah,” Goku didn’t sound happy about that. “I know. I’m working with Gohan now to undo some of Piccolo’s training.”

 “You know,” ChiChi realized, “In that other timeline, you were alive for two and a half years before you got sick and died. Life was peaceful. You probably never trained Gohan in that timeline. He never got the training our Gohan is getting from you. Maybe that’s what went wrong.”

 “I think you’re right. One of these days, maybe after we fight the Artificial Humans, I’ll take Gohan for training; just the two of us.”

 “Goku, no. We talked about this. After this fight, there’s no more fighting for Gohan. You agreed.”

 “It was different then. Your arm was broken and now I know Gohan in the other timeline never received my training, I have to train him.”

 “No!” ChiChi took her hands off Goku. “I won’t let you! You’re trying to find a way to keep teaching Gohan martial arts! You want to keep interfering in his studies!”

 “But, ChiChi…..”

 “No, Goku! I won’t change my mind on this!”

 Goku dropped the idea of teaching Gohan alone. Now ChiChi realized Goku was right. Gohan needed that training with Goku. He needed it now! Gohan in Trunks’ timeline didn’t get that training. He wasn’t strong enough to defeat 17 and 18. He lost an arm. He died. ChiChi vowed to not let this happen to her Gohan.  

 “Gohan!” ChiChi called from the window. Gohan stopped sparring on the beach. Immediately, Gohan flew to the window.

 “Is it Dad?” Gohan climbed in the window much to ChiChi’s chagrin. She didn’t want her son picking up his father’s bad habits.

 “Dad’s fine. I want to talk to you. Next time there’s a Cell sighting, I want you to go.”

 “But,” Gohan protested. “I have to stay here and protect you and Dad in case the Artificial Humans come here.”

 “We’ve been lucky hiding your Dad so far. Let’s hope it continues.” ChiChi rest a hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “Besides, you want to go. You want to find Cell and stop him from killing these people, don’t you?”

 Gohan nodded. “I do. He could be anywhere, Mom. Grandpa’s village could be next. He’ll kill Grandpa, Mr. Aki and his family. I don’t want them to die. I wanna stop him.”

 ChiChi’s heart swelled with pride. Gohan was no longer that shy, timid child. He didn’t fight like his father but he had so much of his father in him. “Then you should go. But you promise me, you’ll be careful. If you encounter Cell, you listen to Piccolo. If he, Krillin, Tien or Yamcha want you to escape and leave them, you do it.”

 “I will,” Gohan promised. “Thanks, Mom.”

 Later than day, ChiChi wished Gohan to be safe as he left with everyone to hunt for Cell.

 ****

  It’s over. I’m alive.

 Those were Goku’s first thoughts when he opened his eyes and saw the ceiling above him. He remembered sleeping in this room when he lived with Master Roshi as a child.  

 I beat the heart virus. I’m cured.

 The pains. The nightmares. It was over. He was alive! Goku was still in disbelief. That heart virus crippled him. He thought he was gonna die. In another timeline, he did.

 I can’t believe I survived.

 Goku was alone. He could’ve sworn he felt ChiChi’s presence. Her presence was the one he felt most over these horrible days. He felt the cool towels ChiChi laid on his forehead during his fever; heard ChiChi’s soothing words; felt her arms around him as he screamed through his nightmares; felt her sweet lips on his forehead and lips every morning and night.

 Where was she now?

 Slowly, Goku sat up. He beat that heart virus but he was still drained physically. He wasn’t starving but he was hungry. He shouldn’t get up right now. He should stay in bed for a few more days but he couldn’t.

 There was a new threat out there. It was stronger than the Artificial Humans. He could hear his friends talking over him, begging he get well so he could defeat this new threat. Goku shook his head. Would it hurt if his friends wished him well or weren’t so eager to put him back on the battlefield? From what he pieced together, Vegeta, Trunks, Piccolo and Tien got their ass kicked by the Artificial Humans. What chance did he have if they were defeated so easily?

 He couldn’t be upset with ChiChi for scolding them.

 Goku gingerly stood. He took a couple steps, wobbled and grabbed the windowsill to balance himself. Immobile in bed for three days without real food left him weak. He was aware ChiChi gave him something so he stayed hydrated and nourished but his body needed real food and water.

 Goku smiled at the afternoon sun, at the water washing up on the beach. It was a beautiful sight to see. He cheated death many times. He would laugh it off and not think much of it but this time he felt different. It really hit him how close he came to it all being over and the unfinished business he was leaving behind.

 Slowly, he climbed out the window, jumped and landed on the sandy beach. His legs wobbled but he maintained his balance. He was rusty but his mind was focused. There was a new threat and he had a plan to do it. Goku knew he will be sacrificing his body but Goku knew he had to do it.

 For Gohan and ChiChi, he will do it.

 Part Twenty-Nine: Family Ties

 AN: Since DBZ began, there has always been tension between ChiChi and Krillin, Master Roshi and Bulma which started at Goku’s first death. Krillin had a change of feelings I think since Namek but Master Roshi and Bulma still had issues towards ChiChi and that didn’t change until the Cell arc.

 When Future Trunks arrived at Goku’s house, Krillin had to tell him who ChiChi is. This implies Trunks never knew about ChiChi which is a mystery. If the Future Trunks movie is accurate, ChiChi was still alive before Gohan was killed so Trunks should’ve known her. Unlike in the Boo Arc where ChiChi and Goku’s friends were friendlier, it doesn’t seem fences were mended between them in Trunks’ timeline as ChiChi was shown on the outside.  

 In Dragonball manga, Yamcha wanted to get married.  

 When everyone waited for Goku to arrive after Trunks killed King Cold and Freeza, Bulma told Krillin what Vegeta has been doing in the past year. She was obviously intrigued and keeping tabs of his whereabouts but three years later when asked Vegeta’s whereabouts, Bulma angrily refutes not knowing and says they’re not living together. It does imply Bulma and Vegeta’s beginnings were a fling that soured and Vegeta was not living at Bulma’s home for a while. He probably left to be alone to concentrate on the fight. Obviously this changes as Vegeta does move back in and he and Bulma do work to build a relationship.

 The heart virus was poorly explained. The anime and manga had various versions of how it was administered. In the anime Yamcha and ChiChi poured the medicine into Goku’s mouth but Yamcha in a different scene dropped the medicine in Goku’s mouth from his hand. There’s another scene showing the medicine is liquid and not a solid form so I took liberties for it to make sense.  

 Trunks said Goku will get well in 10 days and the dubbed badly implies it was 10 days when it was actually three.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 264

I was going to try to let this slide, but the subs seem very insistent that I discuss this.   Now that I think about it, I seem to recall Gohan calling Buu “Boo-boo” or something like that in the dub.   No, wait, he said “Hey, nice day, isn’t it?” at the end of the last episode, probably because they didn’t want to get bogged down in this. 

Suffice to say, there’s parts of this show that just haven’t aged well.   But between Mr. Popo, Master Roshi’s groping underage girls, and that leatherboy who was supposed to fight Trunks in the finale,  Gohan calling Buu the “R” word is pretty easy to overlook.   

The purpose of this is supposed to be that Gohan can piss Buu off as he pleases, and Buu can’t do anything about it.   Gohan is just beating this guy up at will.  

But then Buu composes himself, and explains that he knew there was someone strong out there, because he could sense an enormous power in a “faraway place”, during his fight with Gotenks.    When he sensed this, he decided to bide his time until that person arrived, because he knew he would eventually come here.   And it turns out that this was Gohan.

In other words, Buu was just playing the whole time he was fighting Gotenks.   It was something for him to do while he waited for the real challenge posed by Gohan.  

Buu’s motive is simple: He refuses to accept the existence of anyone stronger than himself.   Everyone else he was fighting was for fun, but he seems to see Gohan as an affront to his very existence.   Not necessarily a threat, though.    He seems quite confident that he can kill Gohan, even though he admits that he’s stronger.

Gohan doesn’t see how that’s possible, but then he senses that Buu is about to blow himself up, so he flies away and grabs Piccolo and the boys on his way to a safe distance.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include this shot of Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten having a sleepover in Piccolo’s cape.

Meanwhile, Mr. Satan has wandered into another deserted town.   Okay, I call no way here.    Let’s consider the timeline a bit.  

Episode 254-255: Fat Buu turns into Super Buu and leaves his house to confront Dragon Team at the Lookout.   Mr. Satan is left behind at Buu’s house.  

Episode 256-257: Buu kills the rest of the world population, then waits half an hour to fight Gotenks.   Piccolo kills a couple of minutes wandering the interior of the Lookout before leading him into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.   Goten and Trunks fuse into Gotenks.

Episodes 258-262: Gotenks fights Super Buu.  

Part of the Gotenks/Buu fight took place inside the HTC, where six hours pass for each minute of time on Earth.   On top of that, Gotenks used Super Saiyan 3, which dissolves the fusion after five minutes, no matter when he uses it.    So the battle probably played out over much less than half an hour, but certainly no longer than that.   

As an aside, the dub worked in a line in Episode 260 where Piccolo and Gotenks are trying to shout their way out of the HTC, and Picccolo observes that they’ve been trapped in the chamber for so long that Gotenks has had time to separate and re-fuse.   No such line appears in the subtitles, but even if that was what happened, the boys were stuck in there for no longer than two hours, which is only twenty seconds of Earth time.   

Actually, now that I think about it, everything that happened outside the chamber during episoes 258-260 makes no sense, because at most, they were only inside for 25 minutes, which is only four seconds in Earth time.   During that four seconds, Bulma made snacks, and Mr. Satan was wandering around, and Goku had time to wonder why he couldn’t sense Buu’s ki.    Maybe the conversion rate got messed up when Piccolo destroyed the entrance.  

The point I’m trying to get to here is that even if the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was completely out of the equation, if Gotenks and Buu had fought the entire battle on Earth, then Episodes 255-264 should only span a little over an hour.    The time it took Super Buu to find the Lookout, plus the 35 minutes or so he waited to fight Gotenks, plus the 30 minutes he fought Gotenks, plus the few minutes he waited for Gohan to arrive.  

But somehow, during that short span of time, Mr. Satan has traveled on foot from Majin Buu’s house, and found not one, but two ghost towns.    He’s even had time to stop and eat.  How thirsty can he be when he left that other town like ten minutes ago?

Anyway, I want to pause here to appreciate these awesome beer signs.   When this episode aired on Cartoon Network, they edited in the word “Root” over the “Beer”, but by this point, I think everyone understood how this worked.   No one’s that excited about root beer.   When I was little, I asked my dad what it tasted like, because I’d never had any, and all the comic strip characters drank it, like Snoopy and Dennis the Menace.    He said it was like Dr. Pepper that had gone bad.   The first time I had root beer, I found it hard to disagree. 

But I guess he was close enough to Majin Buu’s self-destruction that it knocked over this store he was in.   The look on his face when he realizes his beer glass has been destroyed is priceless.    But it works a lot better when you don’t think about how he just ate and drank less than half an hour ago. 

Poor guy.

I think this is the part in the dub where Satan cries out “He’s STILL destroying things?!”    Continuity glitch or not, I really enjoy these Satan scenes, because this is some pretty heavy stuff that’s going on.   Things were bad enough for Mr. Satan, but he probably figured that at least the loud noises were over with.    ‘Fraid not.

Elsewhere, Gohan sets the group down and they discuss the situation.    Gohan doesn’t think Buu was trying to kill himself, and if he wanted Gohan dead, he would have had to make the explosion big enough to take out the Earth itself.   He suspects that Buu is off somewhere planning his next move, but no one knows what that could be.    Gohan’s clearly stronger than Buu, and he doesn’t have to worry about a time limit like Gotenks.  

In the meantime, Gohan tells Piccolo how he got this newfound power, and then they discuss the matter of using the Dragon Balls.  Picolo says he has the Radar, which seems kind of ridiculous.   I mean, it’s just as well that Bulma didn’t hang onto it, since she’s dead now, but what if Piccolo had been trapped forever in the time chamber like he had originaly intendeed?   They should have just given the Dragon Radar to Dende, since if anything happened to him, it wouldn’t matter if the Radar was lost or not. 

Anyway, the dub has Piccolo say that the Radar is in his “other pants pocket”, and I have no idea what this means.   Does Piccolo have more than one pair of pants?   Is he referring to a different pocket than the one he usually keeps things in?  I don’t think his costume has pockets at all.   But it doesn’t make a bit of difference, guys.   Dende’s gone, remember?  The balls are inert.

But Gohan knows better.   Earlier, he managed to sense Dende’s ki, so somehow, he’s still alive.

So they head out to find him, and along the way, they discover Mr. Satan.   Trunks is amazed to see him still alive, and wants to leave him be, thinking he’s tough enough to handle himself, but Piccolo knows that he tried to save the world in his own way, so he wants to take him along.

They’re not exactly subtle about it, though.   Piccolo just swoops down and picks the guy up.

And Goten got the dog, so we’re good.    What Piccolo can’t figure out is how Dende survived, since Buu would have had plenty of time to find him while Gotenks was stuck in the time chamber.  

But as Gohan points out, there couldn’t have been more than a moment between Buu exiting the Chamber and Piccolo and Gotenks escaping, because time moves slower inside the chamber.  

Anyway, the real question is how Dende escaped from Buu at all, and that gets answered when they find him.     Short answer: Mr. Popo tossed him over the side of the Lookout, since he knew that if Dende were killed, the Dragon Balls would be lost.  

This confuses a few people.  Mr. Satan doesn’t know who Dende is, or that he’s the Kami of Earth, while the Supreme Kai has no idea what the Dragon Balls are.   Now, really, you’d think he would have contacted Dende or King Kai before coming to Earth.   He would have saved a lot of trouble if he’d just done that way back beore the day of the tournament.

Also, Mr. Satan is horrified to hear that Buu killed his daughter, but he’s also amazed to learn that she can be wished back to life.    This has been an intense day for him.

Then Majin Buu suddenly comes back, about an hour after he exploded.  No one knows what he’s up to, or why he’d think he stands a chance now.    Mr. Satan tries to talk to him,  but he seems oblivious to him now, and to his dog.  

As far as Gohan can tell, nothing’s changed, but then Buu declares that he wants to fight Gotenks instead.   No one understands this at all.    He already beat Gotenks, so why would he bother with that when Gohan’s right here?

And why is his back growing boobs?

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 237

Last time, Trunks rushed in to save his father from Majin Buu.   Goten wants to help too, but Piccolo tries to stop him.   It won’t do any good, Piccolo warns him, he’ll only be throwing his life away.   Piccolo thinks Gohan has already died against Majin Buu, and he doesn’t want Goten to suffer the same fate.

Goten tells him that if Gohan were here, Piccolo wouldn’t try to stop him, and that distracts Piccolo long enough for Goten to slip free of him.   Piccolo’s really having a lousy day.

The boys zip past Babidi on their way into the fight, one right after the other.   I guess this was what Babidi wants revenge for in later episodes.

Bam!   Take that, you big pink creep! Trunks knocks Buu away from Vegeta, while Goten pulls him out of that coil Buu wrapped him in.

Trunks tells him to shake it off, but it’ll take more than Taylor Swift to turn this debacle around.

Goten thinks he’s dead or dying, but Trunks tells him to clean out his ears and listen.    Then Goten actually does it, which is hilarious.   

Trunks tells Goten that his mother once told him that his father was the Prince of the Saiyans.   Okay, so let’s digest that for a second.    Trunks is eight.   He only knows that Vegeta is the Prince of all Saiyans because he heard about it once, and only once, from his mother.    

Does that mean something?   I think it does, but I’m not sure what.    Vegeta used to never shut up about being the Prince of All Saiyans.    Hell, he’s mentioned it several times in this arc already.   But never to Trunks.   Ever?  

Maybe that’s got something to do with Future Trunks.    Maybe Vegeta realized that his son already respected him, so he never had any need to talk himself up around the boy.  

Anyway, he wakes up to his kid talking about how great his dad is, and that must mean something to him.

Mostly, though, Vegeta is even more stressed out, because now he’s really cornered.    He was already losing to Majin Buu, but now Trunks and Goten’s lives are on the line too.    They came to save him, and there’s nothing he can do to protect them.

Meanwhile, Piccolo confronts Babidi, figuring that if he can’t kill Majin Buu, he can at least take out this walking booger who released him.   

Babidi shoots some sort of liquid metal crap at him....

And I guess it makes Piccolo’s arms swell up really big?    Either that or this is Piccolo’s doing so he can get rid of this stuff.   I don’t really know what this is all about.  

Whatever the deal is, Piccolo shakes it off, because Taylor Swift can get him that far, at least.   

Desperate, Babidi tries to convince Piccolo that if he dies, there’ll be no stopping Buu, because he’s the only one who can control him.    But Piccolo’s not buying it, since Babidi seems to want to have him kill everybody anyway.   

Hot damn, but this is satisfying.   Babidi’s such a great bad guy.  I could watch Piccolo chop him in half all day.

Meanwhile... yeah.

Mmm-hmmm.

Buu doesn’t take long to recover, but he does take his sweet time returning to the fight.   So Vegeta tells Trunks to take care of his mother, and asks them to get as far away as they can.   Trunks and Goten insist on staying to help, but Vegeta belives this would be pointless.

Then he gives Trunks a hug, for the first time ever.   Trunks doesn’t get it, and I think this is what makes this so emotional for me.

Goten gets it.    Well, sort of.

...

...

...

......................................................................................

okay

Vegeta gives Trunks a chop to the neck and knocks him out cold.

Goten gets all upset and asks him why he did that, and Vegeta gives Goten a sucker punch too.  

Piccolo steps in, and Vegeta tells him to take the boys as far away as possible.    Piccolo seems to get what’s going on here, but he still asks if Vegeta intends to die here.   

Instead, Vegeta asks Piccolo what’ll happen to him on the other side.   I dig this scene a lot.    These two BMFs, talking eschatology while an unstoppable monster slowly marches towards them.

It seems that Vegeta’s one hope now is that he might get to fight Goku in the afterlife, but Piccolo informs him that this just cannot happen.    Goku lived a selfless, heroic life, saving the world from terrible villains... including Vegeta and Piccolo, but let’s not split hairs here.    He was allowed to keep his body in the afterlife, but this was a great honor rarely afforded to anyone else.  

Vegeta simply cannot have the same treatment.   He’s done too many terrible things, and hurt too many innocent people.   So when he dies, his body will cease to exist, and his spirit will eventually be cleansed of its memories and he’ll be reincarnated as some other life form.    I have no idea how much of this is based on Japanese religious tradition and how much Toriyama made up. 

Vegeta doesn’t seem terribly surprised to hear that, any more than Piccolo was surprised to see that Vegeta plans to die here.    He tells him to head out while there’s still time.  

Buu tries to follow Piccolo, but Vegeta insists that he go through him first.

As Piccolo leads Krillin away, he explains that Vegeta is now fighting for something besides himself.

Maybe that’s why Vegeta asked Piccolo if he’d ever meet Goku in the afterlife.   He probably suspected that he wouldn’t, but he wanted to know for certain.   Not because he was hoping for some consolation to all of this, but because he needed to know for certain that there was absolutely no personal gain to be had from what he’s about to do.  

Buu doesn’t understand, so Vegeta explains his strategy to him.   In order to prevent Buu from regenerating himself, Vegeta plans to blow Buu into a million pieces.    The only catch is that he’ll have to blow himself up to make that work, but... well, we’ve covered that, haven’t we?

Does that mean something to Buu?   I find this reaction from him particularly inscrutable.  

Then Vegeta says his final farewell to his family, and to Goku, because let’s face it, he’s sweet on Goku.  

Then he does his best Chiaotzu impression, and blows himself up.

Buu ruins the whole moment with tongue.

As Piccolo and Krillin high-tail it to safety with the boys, they see the brilliant explosion, and they already know what it means.

Krillin still calls out to Vegeta anyway.   A long time ago, Krillin wanted to gut this guy with Yajirobe’s sword, but Goku told him to have mercy, and he reluctantly granted Goku’s request.    At times, Krillin regretted that decision.   Right now, he’s getting what he thought he wanted all those years ago, but he wishes it weren’t so.  

According to legend, the Last Super Saiyan could only maintain his status in the transformed state.    His power was extraordinary.   He had no equal in the universe.  But he was too primitive to control it.    His rage burned so intensely that it eventually consumed him, and in the end...

... he was destroyed by his own power.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 261

Last time, Gotenks and Piccolo escaped the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, but not soon enough to prevent Majin Buu from turning everyone on the Lookout into chocolate and eating them.    Gotenks, now a Super Saiyan 3, is determined to avenge his mother(s), so you’d think he’d finally make some headway in this fight.  But not really.  He seems to be able to go toe-to-toe with Buu this way, but he’s not exactly dominating the guy.

At this point in the battle, Buu is using his elastic body to stretch and contort himself out of the path of Gotenks’ blows.   The first time I saw this, I wondered why he hadn’t done anything like this before, but now it’s clear to me that Buu never needed to before.   Until now, Gotenks’ punches and kicks weren’t even hurting the guy, so there was no need to dodge him at all.   The only thing SSJ1 Gotenks did that hurt Super Buu was the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack, and even that wasn’t enough to put the guy down.  

Even now, I doubt Buu really needs to bother with this.  He’s just toying with Gotenks here.

Then Buu swings him down through the Lookout, and chases him through the hole he just made. 

Buu follows Gotenks to a lake on the Earth’s surface, and somehow Gotenks manages to sneak up on him, commando-style, which seems kind of odd considering how much power he must be putting out just to maintain SSJ3.

Then he busts out a new move: Brain Crush Hammer.   

This... cuts Buu in half, which is pretty cool, except it doesn’t exactly live up to the name “Brain Crush Hammer”.

Gotenks blasts both pieces with the “Finish Flash”, which I guess is like the Final Flash only he keeps his hands apart and fires in two different directions.  

From the Supreme Kai Planet, Goku, Kibito, and the Supreme Kai watch the battle in a crystal ball, and they’re all pleased with Gotenks’ performance.  Goku’s so high on the job he’s doing that he’s beginning to think Buu will be defeated before Gohan even gets a chance to fight.

This is especially frustrating to Gohan, because he has to sit here for 20 hours as part of the Elder Kai’s power-up spell, or whatever it’s called.   He’s got to be at like 19:57 by now, but he can’t watch the battle with his dad, and if he gets distracted, it’ll just take that much longer to finish the work.   On top of that, even the Elder Kai isn’t required to focus on this.   He’s been reading comic books this whole time.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but Gotenks did this big flashy move on Majin Buu, and he thought he had this in the bag, only for Buu to reassemble himself and turn the tables on him.  This is pretty much every fight Buu has been in.   The only difference is that stronger characters just manage to last longer, but the results don’t really change.

I think that’s kind of a problem with this guy.    It’s not as bad as Frieza, where people knew he was invincible, attacked him anyway, and then they were all surprised to see that he wasn’t even scratched.  It got old really fast, and that’s why I always get bored watching the Frieza Saga up to the part where Goku turns Super Saiyan.  

I’d suggest that this is part of the reason why I like the Saiyans and Androids better as villains.   We know the Saiyans are beatable, because Goku’s a Saiyan and he could be beaten, provided his opponent is strong enough.  The androids were presented as invincible, but #19 is the first one we see in action, and he gets beaten without a lot of trouble, so it offers a glimmer of hope that the stronger androids that follow have their own weaknesses.   

What makes Cell so awesome is that he’s eminently vulnerable.   He needs to feed on humans to get stronger, and then he’s dependent upon the androids to achieve his final form.  Even in his ultimate form, he still takes all sorts of hits, if only to show off his regeneration powers. He’s a daunting challenge, but there’s still lots of ways to attack him. 

WIth Buu, I think the idea is that no one really knows what they’re getting into when they fight this guy.   Dabura thought he was a joke, and even Babidi was worried when Dabura ran him through with a spear.  Except Buu could just regenerate and turn Dabura into a cookie.   Vegeta seemed to do better against Buu, almost lulling you into thinking he had a chance, but really, that fight was just a repeat of Dabura’s effort.  Vegeta could damage Buu, but Buu would just pull himself back together and keep fighting.  

This move right here that Gotenks is using is called the “Super Balloon Bomber”, but it’s basically just more exploding ghosts.   The SBB is simply Gotenks making thirteen ghosts all at once instead of making ten ghosts one at a time.  Also, he says these ghosts pack a bigger wallop when they blow up, which makes sense, considering Gotenks is at Super Saiyan 3 this time.   

And Buu can’t dodge these guys as easily as the last set, so maybe these ghosts are faster too.    Makes sense.

But the outcome is basically the same.    Buu gets blown up, but he can still pull himself back together.  

It irritates him whenever he has to do that, so I don’t know, maybe this is draining his stamina every time, but it sure doesn’t seem like it.   No one ever observes that Buu ki is getting slightly weaker.

And Gotenks is lulled into this false sense of security, because he did an impressive move on Buu, and even Buu is upset about it.  He thinks he’s winning, but when you get down to it, what did the Super Baloon Bomber accomplish that the Finish Flash didn’t? 

And this is why I have my doubts that Goku ever really stood a chance against Fat Buu back in episode 245.  He only thinks he might have been able to beat him, but all he really proved was that he could last longer against Buu than Vegeta did.   Just like Gotenks is proving that he can last longer than either of them.   But it doesn’t do any good to last longer if you can’t put the guy away.

Now, I’m pretty sure the whole fight down on Earth was filler.   If I recall correctly, Buu and Gotenks stayed on the Lookout the whole time until it was destroyed, but in the anime, Buu knocks him down to the ground, they fight there for a while, and then Buu shoots him back up to the Lookout, and they resume there.  But it’s hard for me to tell the difference, because the filler parts of the battle scenes fit almost seamlessly with the ones adapted from the manga.   It’s a simple formula. Hero does a big move, Buu either no-sells it or recovers a few seconds later.

Meanwhile, Piccolo’s been having a nervous breakdown over the Lookout getting destroyed by all this fighting.   It’s easy to lose sight of this, what with everything else getting trashed.   The world below is nearly deserted, most of the main cast is dead, and there’s really nothing stopping Buu from just blowing up the whole planet if he wants.   But the Lookout has been an institution on this show for years.    It’s pretty wild watching it get smashed to pieces like this.  It’s like Toriyama decided he would use the Buu arc to just tear down the entire world he had built over the past decade, and it’s awesome to watch it all fall apart.  Z stands for the end.

Meanwhile, Mr. Satan and Bee are still trudging through the wasteland.   Satan seems to think there should be people here, which I don’t understand, since this place looks like it would be deserted even before Buu showed up. 

Then they spot a city, and that boosts Mr. Satan’s spirits somewhat.    Surely, there must be survivors there.  

But no, this town might have been spared from Fat Buu, but Super Buu wiped out the population with the Human Extinction Attack.   Mr. Satan doesn’t realize that, because even though he saw the attack like everyone else, he never got hit, and he never saw anyone else get hit, so he doesn’t realize what it was intended to do.  

There’s something very tragic about how he calls out for a hero’s welcome.  We’ve seen before how much Mr. Satan’s self-esteem depends on his fame and celebrity.   He was terrified of being the runner-up in the 25th Budokai, for goodness’ sake.   Jewel was the runner-up in the 24th Budokai, and everyone seemed to love that dude, but it’s not enough for Mr. Satan.  Now, he’s stuck in a world where he can’t call upon his fame because all his fans are dead.  

But at least there’s food and water.   Satan loots a grocery store and gives Bee a dish of milk.  Not sure that’s good for dogs, but this is Dragon Ball Z, so who cares?   All those pterosaurs in this show have big fat bodies and tiny li’l wings and they can still fly.    Dogs drink milk here.

Satan still can’t figure any of this out.  He knows Buu was a decent person at heart, and yet he’s destoryed the entire world.    Why? It just doesn’t make sense.

Then they move on, and Satan sees Fat Buu in the clouds.   I don’t really buy into Satan/Buu slash, but I get why people do.  You could write a gay romance story about Batman wondering why Superman turned evil, and it would look a lot like this. 

Yeah, yeah, the Lookout’s destroyed.   I already covered that.    Why do some of the pieces float in mid-air, while others lie on the surface of the big piece that’s left?    How does anything in this world work?   Let’s move on.

Buu does this thing where he bends over backwards and grabs his ankles to make a ball, and then he starts crashing into the Lookout multiple times.  He’s supposed to be trying to hit Gotenks, but I think he’s more interested in breaking he Lookout down to pebbles. 

But that sets him up for Gotenks’ next move, which is...

OH COME ON, PICCOLO.   Do you really have to touch your forehead to do Special Beam Cannon?   You know how this works, so shut up and let him do his thing.

So Gotenks does “Continuous Super Donuts”, which is basically the same as the “Cosmic Halo” from a few episodes back, which made a ring around Buu that closed in on him.  Only this time, Gotenks makes multiple rings, which seal Buu up in a ball of ki energy.   But Gotenks knows he could bust out of this, so he plans to follow up with another move....

ULTRA BUU-BUU VOLLEYBALL.   Now, I know what you’re thinking, this is a lot like Tien’s Volleyball fist from the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai.  We’ll you’re wrong, because...

DAMMIT PICCOLO STOP WHIMPERING ABOUT THE LOOKOUT AND HELP.

GOTENKS IS GOING TO PASS IT TO YOU, BECAUSE IT’S A TEAM ATTACK.   THERE’S NO “I” IN TEAM PICCOLO.   YES, THERE’S A “ME”, WE ALL HEARD THE TAYLOR SWIFT SONG, BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

LOOK, GOTENKS CAN ONLY STAY IN THIS FORM FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND IF BUU GETS OUT HE’LL KILL US ALL, PICCOLO.   WOULD YOU STOP THINKING ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS AND SAY YOUR LINE?

YES FINALLY THAT TOOK FOREVER WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?

All right, so Piccolo sets the ball, and Gotenks spikes it down in to the earth, where it explodes and makes a huge hole.   That might have killed Buu, except Piccolo screwed up the timing so it was only 99.2% effective.

Piccolo yells at Gotenks to quit screwing around.  Yeah, you’re one to talk.

So Gotenks knows Buu survived that, and he taunts for him to come out and continue fighting.  He even says that he can’t stay in this form much longer, and it’ll take him an hour to re-fuse and do this again.  Why would you tell him that?

But Buu doesn’t show himself, and Gotenks wonders if that last attack really did finish him off.

I blame Piccolo for this.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 236

Last time, Vegeta decided to make up for (some of) his horrible life decisions by taking on Majin Buu all by himself!   Unfortunately, this will turn out to be another horrible life decision in and of itself.

Before challenging Buu, Vegeta knocked out Goku from behind.   Goku, who was the only person who could have possibly helped Vegeta if he got in over his head.    Even if they couldn’t double-team Buu, his Instant Transmission could at least give them a chance to retreat.

From a safe distance, Piccolo, Krillin, Goten, and Trunks are watching the fight, and Piccolo is impressed to see that Vegeta is even stronger than Gohan was when he fought Cell.   The implication here is that Piccolo’s never seen Vegeta at Super Saiyan 2 before, so maybe he’s never pulled it off before he went Majin.    I doubt it, but there it is.

The problem is that Gohan was a Super Saiyan 2, and Buu plowed through him like he wasn’t even there, so what good can Vegeta possibly do?  

But the boys are thrilled with Vegeta’s performance at least.   Goten calls Vegeta “Uncle”, which finally explains those soundbytes of him referring to “Uncle Vegeta” in Budokai 3.   From what I gather, Japanese speakers sometimes refer to older people as “Uncle” or “Auntie”, or maybe that’s the closest English equivalent.  Goten called Videl “Bis Sis” about twenty episodes back, so I guess there’s an age criteria for it. 

The problem here is that Vegeta looks really awesome in this episode, but he’s not actually doing anything to Majin Buu that Dabura and Gohan didn’t do earlier.   He’s stronger than either of them, but he’s not that much stronger, so how far is this going to go?

Here’s a cool shot of Vegeta preparing the Atomic Blast.   Not sure if that’s the official name of the move, but that’s what it was called in Budokai 3.   A cool Vegeta build in Budokai 3 is to equip him with Babidi’s mind control and a senzu bean.    The mind control doesn’t kick in until he’s down to his last health bar, but then the senzu bean will charge him back up, and Majin Vegeta gets the Atomic Blast super as part of the mind control power up, so you don’t have to equip any supers.   

And this looks really dramatic, but we’ve already seen Buu get run through with a spear.

Sure enough, Buu gets back up and regenerates almost instantly.  

The one thing going for Vegeta is that this is the first time Buu admits to feeling any sort of pain from an attack.   Keep in mind, Buu’s been getting beat on for like the last four episodes straight.    Vegeta kicked the shit out of him to start this episode off, but none of that hurt.    That last ki blast merely stung.   A bit.

And Vegeta finally starts to realize what he’s up against.   I don’t think any of the Z-Fighters had considered that Buu might be really strong and indestructible.  

This part always scared the crap out of me.   Up to now, Buu had just been screwing around with his enemies, but here, we see him charge up a ki aura like serious fighters do on this show.   He even crosses his arms like he knows what he’s doing.

Then he makes this face, and oh shit...

So this was basically an explosive wave type move, kind of like the one Vegeta himself used toward the end of his first battle way back in the Saiyans Saga, or the one Piccolo used to destroy the 23rd Budokai arena.   Babidi almost gets caught in it, but he has a magic barrier he can use to protect himself.    I should point out that this is like the third time Babidi has narrowly avoided “friendly fire” from Buu.    Two episodes ago, Buu was smacking the Supreme Kai around, and nearly knocked the Kai into Babidi, then almost squashed Babidi when he jumped on the Kai.  

Vegeta survives the attack, but his left arm gets badly hurt.    I’m not sure why that one body part specifically, but the point is he’s getting nowhere fast.  

From the cheap seats, Piccolo’s starting to realize how bad this is.   He thinks Gohan is dead, and he seems to think the Supreme Kai is dead too.    He has no idea what happened to Goku, and even if the three of them were available, it’s not like they could do much more than Vegeta is doing now.    There’s just nothing anyone can do, other than watch Majin Buu destroy everything. 

On the battlefield, Vegeta is faced with the same inevitable conclusion.   He went into this thinking he might not survive, but he still expected to be able to win.   Now, it looks like he’s as helpless as the people he wants to save.

Z stands for the end.   And this time, there doesn’t seem to be any reprieve.   And Buu knows it.  

Next, Buu pulls off a piece of his own belly and stretches it out like a big piece of dough. 

Then he fires a bunch of ki blasts at Vegeta, who dodges them easily...

... but that was all just a feint to set Vegeta up for this.   Buu tosses the piece of his body at Geets and it wraps around him like a python.

Yeah, so now Vegeta’s just plained fucked.

Trunks gets riled up by this, but Piccolo tells him to keep his cool.   

If he flies in to save Vegeta, Trunks will only be killed, which would just make things even worse for Vegeta.

But Trunks doesn’t care.   He’s going to save his dad, and that’s all there is to it.

And Goten’s gonna back him up.

They’d better hurry.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball 242

You know, if you had asked me a year ago, I would have said the Majin Buu Saga was better than the Babidi Saga, mostly because the Majin Buu Saga has Buu in it, along with Super Saiyan 3 Goku, Vegeta blowing himself up, Gotenks’ first appearance, etc.  

But now I’m starting to think the Babidi Saga was the better of the two.    It set up a clear goal and the heroes completely failed to prevent Babidi from reaching it.   The Mr. Satan/18/MightyMask stuff kind of got in the way at times, but it was never boring to watch.   It made good use of eleven episodes.  

That’s not to say that the Majin Buu Saga is bad at all.    It’s really good too, just not as good as Babidi, or the Fusion Saga that follows it.   You can break it down into these segments.

232-237: Buu clobbers everyone at Babidi’s spaceship.

238-244: No one really knows what to do about Buu.

245-253: The good guys finally settle into a general path forward.

It feels a lot like driving on an interstate highway in Indiana.   Not I-65, though.    I mean a good highway, like I-64 with no traffic.    And you’ve got some good stuff to listen to on the radio.   Actually, this may not be an analogy at all, because I used to have a mix tape with the opening audio from Episode 245 on it, and I listened to it on a lot of long drives through these same roads. 

The point I’m trying to get at is that this title card could apply to any one of at least six episodes.   Goku doesn’t actually teach the boys fusion until episode 247, which continues into 248, and the boys don’t succeed until 251.    I guess “Gohan revived” is a fairly unique event for this episode, but the Kai’s been hinting at his “other method” across multiple episodes, and that concept doesn’t really pay off until Episode 250.     The Majin Buu Saga is very good, but a lot of it, especially this middle section, is like fifty miles of road surrounded by cornfields.

I will say this, Buu’s much more direct about his reign of terror.   First, he kills all the people in a city by turning them all into candy.   Now we have a completely empty town, which is very reminiscent of Imperfect Cell’s early appearances, except Cell only hit small towns, and it took him a while to kill everyone, and he had to suppress his ki so the Z-Fighters wouldn’t gang up on him and kill him.    Buu did this in a matter of seconds, in full view of the entire world.  

Then he blows up the city with a blast of super breath... that makes things explode.   Still haven’t figured out how that works.     

Babidid announces to the world that Buu will continue doing this until Piccolo, Goten, and Trunks show themselves.   He estimates that at this rate, it’ll take five days to kill everyone on the planet.    Then he’ll just have Buu blow up the Earth, so if his enemies don’t come out of hiding, they still won’t escape his wrath.   So there’s shades of Android 17 and 18 from Future Trunks’ timeline, except they spent twenty years terrorizing the world this way.  But those two needed the world to live on.    Buu doesn’t.   I’m not sure how Babidi plans to travel to the next planet over without his spaceship, but that’s his problem. 

If it were me writing this, I might have worked the angle where Babidi was stranded on Earth, so he would focus on subjugating the planet’s population and forcing them to build him a new ride out of here.   I might have a scene where some engineers are worried about getting the thing built quickly so they can get rid of these two, but then another engineer points out that they mustn’t build his ship, because once Babidi has a way off the planet, he’ll just have Buu destroy it.   So the Earth is kind of screwed either way.   

But that would take too long, and really, this is better.    Babidi isn’t a long-term strategist.    He’s apparently spent centuries on this Majin Buu project, but now that he has him, he doesn’t seem to have any particular plans on what to do with him.   All he’s thinking about now is getting revenge on Piccolo for chopping him in half, which has completely clouded his judgment.   He should be concentrating on Buu, and figuring out how to control him, since Buu is the key to what he wants, and the only thing keeping him alive, and the only thing that can stop him.    

Anyway, the point of this telepathic address to the world was to get someone to rat out Piccolo, Goten, and Trunks.    Babidi invites anyone who knows where they are to simply think at him, and he’ll pick up his psychic phone and listen.    But barely anyone knows those three at all, and even fewer know where to find them.    Hell, does Piccolo even have a permanent home?  

In desperation, one of the officials from the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai recalls seeing those three at the competition, and he looks up their names on the registration forms.    He contacts Babidi and reads them off, although Piccolo used “Majunior” as an alias, so even that turns out to be pointless.

So Babidi angrily makes the guy’s head explode, because he doesn’t care who they are, he wants to know where they are.   This is what I’d like to do to the robocaller who tells me the warranty on my car is about to expire.

Piccolo’s so upset by all of this that he resolves to show himself, just to try to get Buu to cut it out, but Goku convinces him that this would be useless.   Babidi would just be doing something like this anyway, and besides, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d killed Goten and Trunks to.   As it is, Goku needs all of them here, because he wants Piccolo to train them on the fusion technique after he leaves.    The irony is that Piccolo was just saying that they would have to endure mass genocide while they trained the boys, and Goku already has to remind him.

That’s the big thematic difference with the Buu arc.   With Frieza, nearly all of the Namekians were wiped out before the heroes got there, and while they had to keep a low profile, they could at least do something by securing Dragon Balls and hiding them.   With Cell, this is a lot like the period where the Saiyans were using the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and Cell and the androids were basically running loose on the Earth, but Piccolo was still actively searching for them.   Here, there is literally nothing they can do about Buu’s rampage while they prepare their counter attack.  

Meanwhile, the Supreme Kai has brought Gohan to his world, the Sacred World of the Kais, or the Supreme Kai Planet, or whatever else you want to call it.   Kibito finds this unthinkable, since not even lesser Kais or Kami are permitted to come here.   I’m not sure why Kibito is so bent out of shape over this.    It’s like he really wanted to invite the Grand Kai over some time for beer and pretzels, and he knew it was against the rules, so he’s pissed that he respected that for so long just to have a mortal show up.   

As for Gohan, he assumes he must be dead, but the Supreme Kai explains that he’s still alive, and that he brought him here to retrieve the Z-Sword.   This makes Kibito even more apoplectic, because even the Kais can’t use the Z-Sword, so how could any mortal being do anything with it?    The Supreme Kai takes a lot of lip from this dude.   Then again, he seem to recognize that his orders must be very nonsensical to someone who doesn’t know what Gohan can do.     And Gohan’s confused himself, because he doesn’t know what the Z-Sword is.

Meanwhile, Trunks and Goten wake up in Kami’s Lookout.   They don’t know where they are, so they start checking out the place, then discover a table with a huge dinner just laid out for them.    Is that yellow blob an omelet?   That’d really hit the spot.  

Then Mr. Popo shows up and hassles them, and Trunks panics because he thinks he’s in trouble for stealing food.    Okay, so why is all of this here in the first place?   The only explanation that makes sense is that Popo set it up for the boys when they woke up, but he seems genuinely surprised and a little miffed that they made there way here and started eating.  

Then Popo tries to stop them from running, and they fight him as Super Saiyans, and Mr. Popo blocks all their hits.   I’m really looking forward to seeing how Team Four Star handles this scene with their version of Mr. Popo.

Anyway, Goku finally catches up to them, and we’re finally ready to start teaching them how to fuse.

Back on the Supreme Kai Planet, Kibito uses Clothes Beam on Gohan to make him a suit more in keeping with the dress code.   “If I gotta wear a tablecloth around my waist all day, then so do you.”    Personally, I hate this look for Gohan, but his Great Saiyaman suit was pretty much shredded, so I can’t complain too much.   

They fly over to this tall butte surrounded by a lake, and that’s where the Z-sword is kept.

The sword is embedded in the rock, and no one has ever been able to pull it out.   No Kais, I should say, because lesser beings aren’t even allowed on this planet.   The Supreme Kai figures that since Gohan is far stronger than any Supreme Kai, he ought to have a better chance.

Of course, this all resembles the Excalibur legend, and Gohan himself points this out, because he’s a huge nerd.   Of course, with Excalibur, the whole point was that you had to be a specific person to be able to draw the sword out of the stone.   It was a matter of fate more than brute strength, but this is Dragon Ball F’N Z.   The Supreme Kai figures that if the sword won’t come out, that means we just need a stronger guy to pull on it harder.    Either that, or he thinks Gohan can just blow up the whole butte and get it out that way.

Back at the Lookout, Goku tells the boys about Gohan and Vegeta’s deaths.    Well, Gohan’s alive, but they don’t know that.   The boys take it hard, but Goku tells them to stop crying, because it’s up to them to stop Buu, and they don’t have much time.   

bUt gOkU iS tOo SoFt oN hIs kiDs tO tRaIn tHem  

This is how you can tell those “Piccolo is a better dad” nutbars are full of it.    They only watched the early Z stuff, and they ignored the part where Goku trained Gohan for an entire year and made him vastly more powerful than Piccolo ever did.   And now he’s literally repeating story beats from when Piccolo first met Gohan.   Remember?    First he told him that his father died, and then he told him that he’d have to train to save the world.   That’s what Goku is telling Trunks right now.

Piccolo brings up the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, since that seems like a good way to solve their time crunch, but Goku declines.   You can only use it for two days out of your whole life, and he figures that Goten and Trunks may need it for some other battle later in life. 

More to the point, I’m not sure Goku would have more time on Earth this way.    I guess it depends on how Baba reckons his 24 hours.    The key thing here is how long the boys get personal instruction from Goku, since he’s the only one who knows the technique.   

And that’s the course we’re on.    While Goku prepares Goten and Trunks to use Fusion, the Supreme Kai prepares Gohan to use the Z-Sword.    So it looks like there’s two separate paths to beating Buu.    I suppose this sort of thing happens in DBZ a lot, but usually one of the multiple paths is Vegeta, who sort of makes the whole thing into a competition.   It’s weird that one (or both) of these groups might have to step aside for the other, and they’d have absolutely no problem with that.  

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XX

Part Twenty:

 Family Reunion: Part One

  “I won’t have you lie to me again! Where is my husband?!”

 Master Roshi wished he checked the caller ID before answering the phone. If he had checked, he wouldn’t have picked up the phone and he wouldn’t be talking to ChiChi right now. The woman sounded as angry as when he last saw her nearly a year ago. “I don’t know.”

 “Liar!” ChiChi barked through the phone. “Goku was revived yesterday.”

 “How do you know that?” Master Roshi didn’t call her after he talked to Goku. Bulma didn’t either.

 “I saw the sky turn dark. I know what happens when the dragon balls are used. It’s been twenty-four hours. He should be here. Now tell me the truth. Where is Goku?!”

 “Why would you think I would know?” Master Roshi shouted back.

 “Because you kept the secret of what happened to my husband and son from me for a day! You told me Goku wouldn’t be wished back until he completes his training! He was wished back yesterday!”

 Master Roshi rubbed his temple. Gyu-Mao didn’t know about the dragon balls. It had to be Goku who told ChiChi what happens when they’re used. He wished his former student kept his mouth shut on that topic. “We did wish Goku back yesterday. He told us the Saiyans are coming today and he’ll be late.”

 “You…..” the anger disappeared from ChiChi’s voice. “You spoke to Goku? How is he? How did he sound?”

 At least she wasn’t angry anymore. “Sound cheerful as usual. I don’t know why Goku isn’t back yet but he’ll be here. Just stay home and he’ll be there after the fight is over.”

 “I’m coming over there!” ChiChi announced. “And don’t even think of turning your home into a capsule and moving off that island. I know that trick!”

 “No, wait!!” Master Roshi reached out to ChiChi but she already hung up the phone. “Dammit.”

“Was that ChiChi?” Bulma asked. She, Oolong and Puar were surrounded by the TV waiting for any breaking news of the Saiyans arrival.

 “Yeah,” Master Roshi hung up the phone. “She’s on her way.” He sighed. “She sounds as ornery as ever. The past year hasn’t calmed her at all.”

 “Well, she did go a year without her husband and son,” Bulma tried to emphasize with ChiChi. “Maybe she’ll calm down when she sees Goku and Gohan again.”

 “Are you sure we’re gonna know about the Saiyans arrival this way?” Oolong flicked the remote on the TV for any breaking news. “Goku’s brother arrived without any notice.”

 “Raditz was looking for Goku. These Saiyans are coming to get the dragon balls and kill all of us. They are gonna draw attention.”

 “Where is Goku?” Oolong asked. “We wished him back yesterday!”

 Master Roshi rubbed his beard. “Goku did say he will be late. Piccolo and the others will have to hold off until Goku returns.”

 Oolong snorted. “Assuming everyone is alive when Goku gets back.”

 “Oolong!” Puar scolded him. “How can you say that?”

 “I’m being truthful. What fight have we won without Goku? When you guys went after King Piccolo, the Old Man and Choazu died. How do you know it won’t happen again?”

 Bulma and Master Roshi couldn’t answer that question for they wondered the same thing. 

ChiChi was not happy when she hung up the phone. “Master Roshi wished Goku to life yesterday but Goku told him he will be late and the Saiyans will come today.”

 “Today?” Gyu-Mao didn’t like that. The news Goku will be late and the Saiyans will arrive today left a bad feeling in Gyu-Mao’s gut. “That’s a month early and why do you wanna go to Master Roshi’s place? Goku will come here after the fight.”

 ChiChi shook her head. She knew better. “No, he won’t. Goku will go to Master Roshi’s after the fight and he’ll expect me there. It’s what he wanted.”

 Goku and ChiChi returned home after spending a day at Gyu-Mao’s castle. Aki dropped off food from the local farms and was invited to stay for dinner. Gohan loved the attention he received from his grandpa and father’s friend. ChiChi worried Gohan will be spoiled, but one look at Gohan’s sweet smile at the attention, melted her worries.

 “Gohan enjoyed himself.” Goku remarked to their son in ChiChi’s arms.

 ChiChi caressed Gohan’s hair. He had dried food stains on his clothes and face. He was a messy eater tonight. “Gohan needs a bath.” ChiChi stepped into the bathroom. She turned on the water in the sink and undressed Gohan. “He’s wearing more than he ate.”

 Goku stood by the door watching ChiChi prepare Gohan for his bath. Dinner was great. Aki was fun company but his discussion of King Piccolo was still on Goku’s mind. “I didn’t know how far King Piccolo’s terror reached,” Goku admitted. “I was consumed with getting stronger and avenging Krillin and Master Roshi’s deaths. I didn’t know how scared everyone was of him.”

 Gohan played in the soapy water as ChiChi wiped him clean. “King Piccolo scared everyone when he put a target on all martial artists. The whole village was on high alert. Dad didn’t believe King Piccolo and his minions will settle for only killing martial artists. All able bodied men were on night and day shifts to keep watch over anyone coming into the kingdom. The ones that weren’t on shift worked with Dad to designate safe zones for everyone in case we had to evacuate the village.”

 ChiChi pulled a clean Gohan from the sink. Goku helped by offering ChiChi a towel to wrap Gohan in. “I’m glad we never had to implement an evacuation plan from the village.” ChiChi left the bathroom with Goku following her. “It was definitely a scary time. I hope we never experience that again.”

 They were in Gohan’s room now. ChiChi busied herself with getting Gohan in a diaper and a clean onesie. As he stared at his wife and son, Goku wondered what he would do if they experience terror like that again. Piccolo was Earth’s only threat. He could handle Piccolo but if he came here, Goku’s first priority will be getting his wife and son to safety. There’s also the possibility a threat bigger than Piccolo surfacing. His home was the safest place if they had to go into hiding but Goku knew of one place he considered safer than his home.

 “If Earth experiences anything like King Piccolo again, I want you and Gohan to go to Master Roshi’s place. It’s the safest place other than here.”

 ChiChi turned to Goku. She held Gohan protectively against her. “What about you?”

 Goku answered with a kiss to ChiChi’s lips. He placed a gentle hand on Gohan’s head. “I gotta protect you and Gohan. So, while I’m fighting, I want you and Gohan to go to Master Roshi’s. Wait for me there.”

 Gyu-Mao was impressed. “I didn’t know Goku had the foresight to prepare for a time like this. I don’t agree with Goku allowing Piccolo to take Gohan but maybe he had the right intentions in doing so.”

 “The right intentions? He let our four-year-old son be trained by a monster that tried to kill him years ago.” ChiChi shook her head in disagreement. “Goku better have a good explanation when he talks to me over what he did.”

 Gyu-Mao’s teacup suddenly shook on the kitchen table. The shaking spread all over the house. ChiChi grabbed the counter while Gyu-Mao remained seated until the shaking subsided.  

 “Was that an earthquake?” ChiChi asked once it was over. “I didn’t know this area had earthquakes.”

 Gyu-Mao rose from his seat grim. “I don’t think it was an earthquake. We better hurry over to Master Roshi’s.”

 “Wait….” ChiChi stopped her father at the door. “You don’t think that was an earthquake?”

 “Earthquakes aren’t known in these parts. We know these aliens are coming today. It could be them.” Gyu-Mao popped open his capsule revealing his car. “We’ll listen to the radio on the way over.”

 ChiChi sat worriedly as her father drove them to Master Roshi’s. The radio was on but nothing was mentioned of the tremble they felt. ChiChi began thinking it was a small earthquake and nothing more until they were ten minutes away from Master Roshi’s island when news suddenly broke into regular music programming.

 “A catastrophic earthquake has struck East City. Communications have been cut off leaving the safety of all residents in doubt. Military and police surrounding East City are on their way to investigate.”

 “East City?” ChiChi recalled her and Goku visiting that city when buying furniture for their home days before the wedding. They even brought Gohan there on a family outing at an amusement park. “That area is miles from here. Hundreds of miles.”

 “And we felt a slight tremble,” Gyu-Mao pressed down on the gas pedal. They needed to hurry to Master Roshi’s. “I don’t think that city is there anymore.”

 ChiChi clutched a hand over her heart. “The aliens. My baby will be fighting monsters that destroyed an entire city.”

 “Don’t worry, ChiChi. Gohan isn’t alone. Piccolo and Goku’s friends are there.”

 “And what about Goku?” The thought of her son fighting the aliens without his father angered her. “Why isn’t he there? What’s he doing?”

 Gyu-Mao wanted to know the answer to those questions, too. “We’ll find out more when we get to Master Roshi’s. We’re almost there.”

 ChiChi kept her ears tuned to the radio. Nothing new was reported when they reached Master Roshi’s island. While Gyu-Mao turned his car into a capsule, ChiChi was lost in horrible memories rushing to the forefront of her mind during her last visit. When Bulma came by to pick up the dragon balls Goku collected, that was the last she saw of her. Since then, no one came by. No one called. No one even sent a letter to see how she was coping in the year without her husband and son. It was very clear to ChiChi where she stood with Goku’s friends.

 Gyu-Mao entered the home first. He saw Master Roshi, Bulma, Oolong and Puar surrounding the television. “Master Roshi, have the aliens arrive yet?”

 Master Roshi turned to his former pupil. Gyu-Mao wasn’t happy his teacher kept the news of his son-in-law and grandson from his daughter, but over the year, his anger thawed. Master Roshi could feel the anger had waned from his pupil. His pupil’s daughter was another story. “The aliens left East City and are heading off to meet everyone. The fighting should begin soon.” Gyu-Mao’s massive frame filled the entire doorway. He couldn’t see ChiChi. “Did ChiChi really come with you?”

 ChiChi suddenly appeared from behind her father causing Master Roshi to have a mild heart attack. “Master Roshi,” ChiChi gripped the old man’s shoulders. “Where is Gohan? Have you heard from Goku yet?”

 Master Roshi shook his head. “Gohan’s still with Piccolo. Goku’s on his way but the others are with him.”

 “How do you know that?” ChiChi demanded to know.

 “With this.” Bulma held up Raditz’s scouter. “I can read all the strong power levels on Earth. The two aliens are heading to three strong Kis here. Three others are going to that same spot.”

 ChiChi stared at the device in Bulma’s hands. She noticed various numbers all over the screen. “Is one of them Goku’s?”

 “No,” Bulma didn’t hide her disappointment. “I know the Ki of our friends. Two new ones appeared less than an hour ago. It’s the aliens. Goku’s Ki is the biggest but it hasn’t appeared on this scouter yet.”

 “Are you saying Goku’s not on Earth?” ChiChi questioned. “You wished him back yesterday!”

 Bulma understood ChiChi’s frustration. She felt it, too. “I don’t get it either. When Master Roshi and Krillin came back to life, they were revived immediately.”

 “You had our bodies,” Master Roshi reminded Bulma. “Goku’s body was taken by Kami. Maybe there’s a delay because of that.”

 ChiChi turned away from them. She paced the room. “After all this time, Goku’s not on Earth and these aliens are here ready to hurt our son.”

 Gyu-Mao noticed the television. He saw a reporter standing in an empty field. “That’s East City? It’s completely gone.”

 “Those aliens did it,” Oolong chimed it. “They wiped the entire city off the map.”

 “Oolong!” Bulma scolded the pig and bopped him on his head. She looked at ChiChi; read the worried married woman’s face. If those aliens did that to East City, what will they do to her son?

 Bulma jumped back as ChiChi approached her. “Bulma, can you track the destination of the three Ki the Saiyans are going to?”

 “Uh…. yeah.”

 “Then let’s go!” ChiChi grabbed Bulma’s hand. She pulled a reluctant Bulma towards the door. “I’m not letting my baby fight those monsters alone!”

 “No, wait!” Bulma pleaded. “Let me go!”

 “ChiChi!” Gyu-Mao freed Bulma from ChiChi’s grasp. “It’s too dangerous!”

 “It’s too dangerous for a five-year-old but he’s out there without his father.”

 “These aliens are two powerful!” Master Roshi jumped in front of the door, blocking ChiChi. “You’d only get in the way.”

 Gyu-Mao grabbed ChiChi’s arms and pinned them behind her back. “Goku is on his way. You know he will never let anything happen to Gohan. Have faith he’ll get there.”

 “Hang on, everyone. It’s starting.” Bulma sat down with the scouter over her left eye. Everyone gathered around as Bulma read the various power readings popping on the scouter.

 Free from her father’s grasp, ChiChi wrung her hands as Bulma mentioned the rise in power levels while Master Roshi speculated on what could be going on. The higher the power readings Bulma read, the nervous ChiChi got. What was her five-year-old doing out there among beings that could destroy the planet? Gohan didn’t fight. Sure he had the strength but he didn’t have the skills.

 Unable to sit anymore, ChiChi paced. Goku, where are you? It’s been a day. Why aren’t you on Earth? Why aren’t you with Gohan?            

 Gyu-Mao remained positive for his daughter. “It’ll be okay, ChiChi. Gohan is Goku’s son. He’s strong like Goku. He’ll be fine.”

 “No, he won’t!” ChiChi argued. “Gohan’s five years old. He’s never been in a fight. How can you think a five year old is ready to fight monsters ready to kill everyone on this planet? Gohan may be part Saiyan and maybe they do force their young to fight early but Gohan’s also human and he’s not ready for this! ”

 “Oh, no!” Bulma gasped. “Someone just died. A Ki just vanished from the scouter.”

 “Gohan?” ChiChi grabbed Bulma’s shoulders. “Is it Gohan? Is Gohan dead?”

 “No.” Bulma pushed ChiChi away. Gyu-Mao pulled ChiChi back so Bulma could read the scouter correctly. “It’s not Gohan. It’s a bigger Ki.”

 “One of the Saiyans?” Oolong asked hopeful.

 “It’s one of our own.” Master Roshi’s eyes were hidden behind his dark shades but his voice was filled with anger and grief. “I didn’t think he would be the first to go.”

 Bulma noticed Master Roshi didn’t look at her. “Don’t tell me it’s Yamcha.” Master Roshi’s silence confirmed it. “No.” Bulma shook her head. “No, it can’t be Yamcha.”

 “It’ll be all right, Bulma.” Master Roshi spoke gently to her. “This is Yamcha’s first time dying. We can wish him back in a year.”

 “I know, but….” tears pooled down Bulma’s cheeks. “He’s still dead. I know we argue a lot but I care about him.” Master Roshi embraced Bulma as she cried on his shoulder. “I’m gonna miss him so much.”

 ChiChi quietly watched Bulma and Master Roshi mourn Yamcha’s passing. She looked across from her to see Puar had fainted and Oolong waving a fan over her. ChiChi put her hands together in prayer. Gohan, please hold on. Please don’t die. Goku, where are you?

 The numbers on the scouter beeped wildly again indicating the fighting resumed. Hope continued to die as two more power readings were erased. Two more people died. Bulma and Master Roshi assured ChiChi it wasn’t Gohan. ChiChi didn’t find comfort in their words. Given how quickly Goku’s friends were dying, ChiChi worried Gohan’s time was running out.

 My baby boy. My five year old son shouldn’t be out there. Goku, how could you think it was okay for Piccolo to take Gohan? How could you think he’s ready to fight aliens? He’s getting traumatized watching people die around him.

 “This is strange,” Bulma tapped the scouter. Something wasn’t right. “All the numbers have dropped. No one’s dying but it doesn’t seem anyone is fighting.”

 After two hours of no change, the speculation of what is happening continued.

 “They must be taking a break,” Master Roshi figured. “Maybe Piccolo convinced the aliens to stall the fighting until Goku arrives.”

 “Where the hell is Goku?” Bulma slammed her empty glass down. “All our friends are dying! We lost Yamcha, maybe Choazu again and I don’t know who the third one is.”

 “Yajirobe?” Oolong guessed. “Maybe Tien but he’s really strong. He couldn’t have died. He’s the next strongest besides Piccolo. Maybe Krillin died again.”

 Gyu-Mao entered with a tray of sandwiches and a pitcher of iced tea. He placed the tray on the table and refreshed everyone glasses. “The good news is the fighting has stopped. This break may give our friends time to come up with the strategy to defeat these aliens.” He encouraged everyone to eat. Oolong and Bulma reached for a sandwich. Gyu-Mao refilled ChiChi’s glass. “Here you go, ChiChi. Drink. Eat.”

 ChiChi dismissed her father. “I can’t eat or drink anything. I can’t do anything. I….” she sighed. “I need to be with my son.”

 In the nearly three hours since the ceasefire began, everyone found ways to kill time. Oolong and a depressed Puar watched the news coverage of the destruction of East City. Bulma called her parents. ChiChi sat alone, weeping sometimes but staying mostly quiet as she could only think of her family. More than once she thought to grab Bulma and call Nimbus to take her to Gohan. Seeing how her father and Master Roshi kept near the door, she knew they were expecting her to make a run for it.

 “He’s back!” Bulma screamed. “Goku’s back!”

 “Goku?” ChiChi rushed to Bulma’s side. “Are you sure?”

 “A large Ki just appeared. It’s equal to the Saiyans. It has to be Goku!” Everyone erupted in cheers. ChiChi hugged her father. Oolong and Puar danced. Master Roshi grabbed Bulma’s butt and was promptly slapped. Putting distance between herself and Master Roshi, Bulma focused on the numbers popping on the scouter. Bulma’s joy immediately evaporated as she noticed someone’s Ki falling rapidly. “Someone else is dying. It’s a big Ki. It could be Tien this time; maybe even Krillin. It…it’s gone.”

 “Who was it?” Oolong looked to Master Roshi for an answer. He detected Yamcha’s death but could only speculate on the last two.

 “It’s not Krillin.” Master Roshi was certain of that. “I’ve been around Yamcha and Krillin long enough to know their Ki. They were my students. This one is strong but I’m not familiar with it. It could be Yajirobe.”

 “You really think he’s there?” From what Bulma knew of him, he was a coward showing up at the end of a fight. He hid the entire time Goku fought Piccolo.

 “It has to be him. It’s not Piccolo who’s dead. Everyone knows he needs to stay alive so we can use the dragon balls to wish everyone back.” Since he wasn’t familiar with his Ki, it was very possible Piccolo was killed but since he needed to stay alive for the dragon balls, Master Roshi hoped that wasn’t true. “What’s going on now, Bulma?”

 “Goku’s finally there and he’s fighting.” Bulma read the numbers popping on the screen. “All right!” Bulma cheered. “One of the Saiyans died. Goku got one!”

 “Well,” Gyu-Mao relaxed besides a worried ChiChi, “looks like things are finally going our way. Goku’s back, he’ll defeat the other Saiyan just as easily and return with Gohan. Your family will be reunited very soon, ChiChi.”

 ChiChi wished she could be as relaxed as her father but couldn’t be until Goku and Gohan were in her arms again. “I hope so.”

 Bulma tapped the scouter over her eye. “Looks like Goku and the other Saiyan are leaving the other two. Wait.” Bulma studied the readings on the scouter. “They’re leaving, too.”

 Master Roshi rubbed his beard, speculating what this could mean. “If two are leaving the battle site, then they must be coming here. Goku must’ve sent them away to report to us what’s happened.”

 “No.” ChiChi put a hand over racing heart. “That’s not it.”

 Bulma wondered why ChiChi looked so worried. Goku was back. Everything was going to work out. Didn’t ChiChi have faith in her husband? “What else could it be?”

 “Goku always wanted Gohan to see him fight. Until last year when he allowed Piccolo to take our son, Goku always put Gohan’s safety over everything else. If Goku sent Gohan away, he’s doing it for his safety.”

 Master Roshi understood ChiChi’s worry. “This Saiyan is stronger than Goku expected.”

 Oolong cringed. “What if Goku dies again? The dragon balls can’t bring back people who’ve died twice.” Master Roshi smacked Oolong. “Ow! Why’d you do that?”

 Gyu-Mao wrapped an arm around ChiChi. “Goku won’t die again, ChiChi. He’s had a whole year to prepare. He’ll win.”

 Seeing Gyu-Mao comfort ChiChi, left Master Roshi feeling a twinge of guilt. He let ChiChi think Goku allowed Piccolo take Gohan when he was actually dead. Goku was probably very confused when he saw Gohan. Then again, if he’s like the Goku he knew, Goku’s chest was filled with pride seeing his five-year-old son on the battlefield.

 Still, the old martial arts master thought ChiChi should know the truth in case Goku did die again. “Listen, ChiChi…..” Rapidly rising numbers on Raditz’s scouter, diverted him from continuing. “What’s going on, Bulma? Did something happen?”

 Bulma couldn’t make sense of the rapidly increasing numbers. “I---I think it’s Goku but this power level is increasing too fast. 17,000…. 19,000…. 21,000….!!” Smoke rose from the scouter…..a few pops and sizzles and the scouter exploded. Screaming, Bulma closed her eyes protecting herself from any sparks flying debris. “How….” Bulma opened an eye. She noticed the glass shield of the scouter popped onto the floor. “How can this be?”

 Master Roshi picked up the glass shield and instantly dropped it. It was hot. “It overloaded. Goku’s power was too much for it.”

 ChiChi was on her feet beside him inspecting the glass. “We can’t keep up with the fight anymore.”

 “No.” Bulma picked up the scouter shield and removed the other piece over her ear. “I guess we just wait until the others come here.”

 Wait. She’s waited all day. This whole mess started just before noon. Now it was almost sunset. In that time, a whole city was destroyed. Four of their friends were killed. Her son could be among the dead. For a year, she was told to wait for her husband and son to return to her. For a year, she had to worry what was happening to her son.

 Wait, they told her. Wait for Goku and Gohan to return. Wait for the fighting to be over.

 “I’m done!” ChiChi had enough. “I’m taking Nimbus and I’m going to my family!”

 Gyu-Mao wasn’t close enough to grab ChiChi. “Stop her!” Oolong was the closest. He grabbed ChiChi’s left leg. ChiChi yanked Oolong off her leg and tossed him. The shape shifting pig went flying over the sofa. Master Roshi was next. He grabbed ChiChi’s waist with the full intent of grabbing her breasts. ChiChi broke his hold and kicked him sharply in his face. Gyu-Mao grabbed ChiChi from behind putting her in a full nelson hold. Her feet dangled off the floor. ChiChi deliberately swung her body, getting some momentum as she flipped in the air and behind her father to give a firm kick to his back. Gyu-Mao released his hold on ChiChi as he crumpled to the floor.

 No one to stop her, ChiChi dashed for the door.

 “Wait! We’ll go with you!”

 That was the only thing refraining ChiChi from leaving. She turned. “You will?”

 This is crazy. Really, really crazy. Bulma smiled kindly as she approached ChiChi. “If I were you, I’d want to be with my husband and son, too. We might as well go since we can’t use the scouter.”

 “Do you know where to go?” ChiChi asked. “Nimbus can easily take me there.”

 Bulma held up the broke scouter. “Just let me pinpoint the last location before this thing went dead and I’ll punch the coordinates in the ship.”

 “I see.” It was nice to have at least one of Goku’s friends on her side. “Thank you, Bulma.”

 “I’ll call you when I’m ready to go.” Bulma pulled a capsule from her pocket and tossed it on the beach. A large air ship appeared from the smoke.

 “Bulma!” Master Roshi joined Bulma as she stepped in the ship. “Are you crazy? We can’t take her with us. She needs to stay here.”

 “Oh, because you, Oolong and her Dad did so well restraining her.” Bulma rolled her eyes. “You have to be smart dealing with over emotional people like Goku’s wife.”

 “You would know,” Master Roshi murmured. “So, how to do you plan to stop her?”

 Bulma fingered the scouter. “I’ll stall for half an hour with false coordinates. After that….” Bulma shrugged.

 “False? But you said---“

 “This thing is broken. Even if I could find the last coordinates, it’ll take hours.”

 “Let’s stop by Master Korin’s Temple and pick up some senzu beans. That’ll buy us more time. He might be able to direct us to the real battle site.”

 Bulma gave Master Roshi’s a thumb’s up. “Now you got it. By time we get there, the fight should be over.”

 An hour ago

 Is that Gohan?

 It looked like his son but it didn’t feel like him. High above everyone, Goku watched Gohan unleash an enormous amount of Ki against the tall Saiyan. He deflected Gohan’s attack but Goku was shocked and impressed such power came from his little boy.

 How did he get so strong…. and was that a Masenko? That’s Piccolo’s move.

 Gohan dropped to his knees exhausted. He couldn’t move as the large Saiyan approached for a final attack. Goku jumped off Nimbus. “Nimbus! Go!”

 With lightning speed, Nimbus zipped down and scooped Gohan before Nappa could crush the child under his foot. He saved his son but everyone else……

 I’m too late. I didn’t make it back in time.

 Goku dropped from the sky. He felt the gazes of the two Saiyans on him. They weren’t his concern….for now. Goku’s eyes were on Piccolo’s still body as he walked by the stunned Nappa. He knew his casual dismissal was insulting but Goku didn’t care. He only cared about Piccolo. If Piccolo was dead, then no one can come back.

 “Piccolo.” Goku touched Piccolo’s neck. As he feared, no pulse.

 “He died trying to save me.”

 Gohan’s words stunned Goku. Piccolo saved Gohan? That Masenko….. Did Piccolo train Gohan? So many questions and no time for answers. There was a battle he needed to fight. Goku saw Yamcha and Tien’s dead bodies. Nappa bragged about a smaller one blowing up. So they got, Chaozu, too. Even if Piccolo hadn’t died, there was no way to bring him back.

 All of them worked together and died. Piccolo….I never imagined he would sacrifice himself for Gohan. No! It suddenly dawned on him. “Kami…” He was gone, too.

 Goku ignored the big Saiyan trying to swing at him and ordered Gohan to follow him. He’ll get some answers from Krillin and Gohan. Goku couldn’t take his eyes off Gohan. His little boy changed so much. After giving Krillin and Gohan senzu beans, Gohan confirmed his suspicions. Piccolo did train him.  

 How did Piccolo convince ChiChi to let him train Gohan? Did ChiChi change her feelings when she learned Piccolo joined me to stop Raditz? I doubt ChiChi knows everything Piccolo and Gohan did. Maybe I’ll take Gohan fishing after this so he’ll tell me.

 Goku turned to his opponents. The tall one, Nappa, killed everyone. The short one, Vegeta, hadn’t stepped in to fight yet. Goku knew he will have to be on his toes with that one when they battle. Still, Goku was confident he will be the victor. With King Kai’s training, Goku felt almost invincible.

 He had to be invincible. He had to be perfect. He owed it to his friends. They all died buying him more time to get to Earth. Without their sacrifice, the world would be in ruins now. For his friends, he couldn’t show mercy to these Saiyans. For them, he had to kill these Saiyans.

 An hour later

 “I can’t believe I listened to you, Goku! What about you saying you wouldn’t show them mercy? You were so angry at the beginning of the fight! What happened?!” Krillin turned away frustrated with Goku and himself. “I shouldn’t have let Vegeta go!”

 Goku understood Krillin’s anger. His actions now were very different from the beginning of the fight. Then, he was filled with rage. He wanted to kill Nappa and Vegeta. He told Nappa he wouldn’t show mercy but during both fights something changed. He taunted Nappa, loved the frustration from the Saiyan as he dodged each of his blows but when it came time to kill Nappa, he showed mercy. Nappa was going to kill his son and Krillin. Goku had every right to kill Nappa in that moment but instead of killing him, he only wounded him enough so that he couldn’t fight anymore. He even told Vegeta to take Nappa and go.

 Why did I show mercy when they are responsible for everyone’s deaths?

 It didn’t matter in the end since Vegeta killed Nappa. He should’ve died at his hands but Goku couldn’t do it.

 I lost my killer instinct. They killed my friends and I showed mercy.

 It was worse with Vegeta. Vegeta exceeded Goku’s expectations. Not even two times Kaio Ken was enough to stop Vegeta. He pushed his body to the brink and even then needed Gohan, Krillin and Yajirobe’s aide to stop him. Vegeta was a menace who would not stay down. Last time, Goku was outmatched, it was during his first fight with King Piccolo. Then, he got frustrated like Nappa. He lost his cool and when he realized, he couldn’t defeat King Piccolo, he felt fear for the first time in his life. With Vegeta, he didn’t lose his cool, he didn’t feel fear. He was excited. Pushed to think faster, fight stronger and smarter against Vegeta, he felt excitement.

 Picture it, Kakarrot! Picture the carnage! Feel your Saiyan blood stir!!

 Raditz told him that when he tried to tempt Goku to join him in space. He wanted him to kill all life; thought by creating images of death by his hands would stir his Saiyan blood.

 It did the opposite for Goku. It repulsed him but fighting Nappa and Vegeta, stirred something in him he now found troubling.

 Fighting against these Saiyans; fighting against my own sparked something in MY Saiyan blood. It was exciting. It was thrilling. I loved it. This feeling….is this what Raditz meant about stirring the Saiyan blood? Is this what Raditz and all Saiyans feel?

ChiChi was going out of her mind. It’s been nearly an hour since they left Master Roshi’s island. Bulma assured her they were going the right way but suddenly decided they should fly to Master Korin’s Tower and pick up senzu beans. Korin didn’t have any beans left but offered to show them where Goku and the Saiyan Vegeta were fighting.

 Korin acknowledge her with a kind smile when he came on board. He was kind to her now as he was when she visited his home a few months ago.

 Korin’s Tower was so high above ground she couldn’t see the top. It was hard to believe a tower built so high it could reach the clouds.

 “I wonder if I can do this.”

 “Of course you can.” Upa’s confidence in ChiChi was very high. “You’re Goku’s wife. If he can do it, if his friends can do it, you can, too.”

 ChiChi appreciated the young man’s confidence. Goku told her of Upa and his father. When she introduced herself to them, father and son invited her to stay the night and start her journey up Korin’s Tower in the morning. With a pouch of food and water for nourishment, ChiChi leapt on the tower.

 It took ChiChi a full day before she reached the bottom of Korin’s Tower. She dozed off a few times but never fell off. ChiChi leapt to grab one of the round entrances and pulled herself in. Goku told her no one stayed on the lower level so ChiChi climbed up the staircase.

 “Hello? Master Korin?”

 “Up here.”

 ChiChi climbed the stairs faster. When she reached the top, Korin stood alone as if expecting her. ChiChi bowed before him. “Hello, Master Korin. I’m Son ChiChi, Son---“

 “I know who you are,” Korin cut her off. “You’re Goku’s wife.” The white cat looked ChiChi over. “Pretty and one with better manners than Goku. My appearance doesn’t surprise you?”

 “Goku told me about you.”

 Korin smirked. “I get the feeling he tells you a lot. I know Goku is dead but why are you here?”

 “I wanna get stronger. Goku told me climbing this tower was part of his training. I know it’s only tap water but I wanna get your flask. It may take me more than three days but I wanna try.”

 “Ya wastin’ our time!” the crass voice of Yajirobe entered the room before he did.

 “Anyone who climbs my tower is free to challenge me for the flask.” Korin reminded his guest who wouldn’t leave.

 Yajirobe snorted. “She ain’t gettin’ stronger. Tell her to go home an’ stay there. Ya only gettin’ in the way.” Yajirobe looked ChiChi over. “Why ya wanna get stronger anyway? Ya ain’t tryin’ to fight them Saiyans are ya?”

 “It’s not your business.” He was rude like Goku’s other friends. “Why are you here? This isn’t your home.”

 “Ya a long way from yours! Tch.” Yajirobe scratched his butt. “Just go home. Ya ain’t strong enough to fight these Saiyans. Ya only gonna get in the way.”

 “If she wants to get stronger,” Korin said, “there’s nothing wrong with that. Earth can use every fighter available.”

 “Maybe but she ain’t a fighter. She’s Goku’s wife.” Yajirobe shooed ChiChi away with his hand. “Go home and wait like a woman who knows her place should.”

 Yajirobe’s rudeness was frustrating. “I was among the top eight fighters at the last tournament!” How dare he speak to her this way? “Where did you place?”

 “It don’t matter.” Yajirobe ignored the question. “Kami wanted me to come to his temple for more trainin’. He didn’t ask for ya, which means Kami doesn’t think ya strong enough to fight these Saiyans.”

 “Do you wanna challenge me?” ChiChi questioned.

 “Ya got a mouth on ya. Goku ain’t bein’ a good husband not stiflin’ it. I’m his friend. I saved his life. You should treat me with respect.”            

 “Respect?” ChiChi balked at his words. She was Goku’s wife. Where was his respect for her? “You’re not being a good friend speaking so ill of his wife.”

 “Ya don’t deserve it!” Yajirobe yelled back. “The Goku I know wouldn’t have died! What ya do ta him?! How come he was so weak he couldn’t defeat one person?!” The stunning slap from ChiChi reverberated from Yajirobe’s head to his toes and spun his body so fast he lost his balance.

 Yajirobe wiped the blood off his lips as he rose. If ChiChi’s eyes could morph, her pupils would be filled with fire. “You may be Goku’s wife but I don’t tolerate any woman hittin’ me.” Yajirobe threw a fist at ChiChi. ChiChi dodged and threw a punch of her own to which Yajirobe blocked. A flurry of fists and kicks were thrown by Yajirobe and ChiChi. Yajirobe had to bite his words. ChiChi wasn’t strong enough to fight the Saiyans but she was stronger than he ever thought to give her credit for.

 Yajirobe grabbed his sword. He wouldn’t kill her as he did Cymbal but he thought if he cut her, she would pull back. Yajirobe grinned. Right across her breasts would be perfect. It would embarrass her enough so she’d pull back but give him a peak at what’s underneath. It was a win either way for him.

 He unsheathed his sword with perfect precession. Instead of his sharp blade slicing the cloth over ChiChi’s breasts, it slapped the hard rod of Goku’s power pole.

 His sword was blocked?

 Before Yajirobe plotted his next move, a sharp foot stabbed him between his legs. “Damn,” he cursed crumpling to the ground. He barely took in a breath before a hand grabbed him. His eyes saw the fury in ChiChi’s before he was spun and tossed off the tower!

 “Yooouuuu bi……..” Yajirobe’s words were drowned out as he dropped down to the ground below.

 Korin strolled to the balustrade. He couldn’t see Yajirobe but he knew he didn’t die. He’ll have a huge bump and he’ll be in a foul mood though. “He’s not gonna be happy when he gets up here.”

 “How long will that be?”

 Korin chuckled. “Probably not until you leave.” He waved his stick, shaking his flask. “Let’s see how strong you can get.”

 “A little more to the left,” Korin directed Bulma. They were closer to Goku and Vegeta’s battle site. From the lowered Ki Korin felt, he suggested the battle was near its end.

 “Are you sure Gohan’s safe?” ChiChi asked him.

 Korin grunted, “Probably.”

 “Probably?” She couldn’t handle probably. She needed to know. ChiChi shook Korin. “Probably?! That’s not good enough! I need to know!”

Master Roshi rolled his eyes. The gall of this woman shaking a highly respected Master as Korin. Did she treat Goku like this he wondered? If Goku dealt with this over the years….. “I told you we should’ve left her behind.”

 Eventually Korin broke free from ChiChi’s grasps. He rubbed his neck. “I think someone left the battlefield. There’s one less Ki.”

 “Did someone die?” Bulma asked.

 “No,” Korin shook his head. “It didn’t feel like that.”

 “I see them!” From her view Bulma could see Goku’s broken body lying on the ground. “It’s Goku!”

 ChiChi leapt from her seat to see Goku. Goku’s body looked crushed. He was badly beaten but alive. Where was Gohan? She couldn’t find him? Were the others wrong? Was he killed?

 There! She spotted him unconscious and naked in Krillin’s arms. Her poor five-year-old son. What happened to her baby?!  

 Why, Goku? Why did you think Gohan should fight? Why did you let our baby be in Piccolo’s care for a year? Look at what your decision did to our son! I won’t forgive you for this.

 Bulma brought the ship down for a landing. As soon as the door open, ChiChi knocked Master Roshi out of the way. Running, she saw Goku. He was hurt, maybe paralyzed but alive. Her son wasn’t moving at all. He needed her. Not his father.

 “Gohan!” ChiChi screamed. After a year of waiting, worrying and crying, her son was in arm’s reach. She leapt over Goku, her focused was only on Gohan in Krillin’s arms. “Gohan!” ChiChi snatched her son out of Krillin’s arms. Her yelling didn’t wake her son. Was he dead? No. He can’t be dead. ChiChi laid Gohan on the ground. She tapped his face. “Wake up. Wake up, baby. Mommy’s here.” No response. He wasn’t opening his eyes. His body was warm. His heart was beating. He was alive but he wasn’t responding to her. “What did they do to you?”

 Krillin shook his head at ChiChi. He pointed to Goku feeling ChiChi should focus her worry over her husband’s condition. “Gohan’s fine. It’s Goku….”

 “I shouldn’t have let you with him,” ChiChi wailed as she cuddled her son to her. “I won’t do it again.”

 Krillin turned away. He heard enough. Some wife. He joined Master Roshi and Bulma who crowd around Goku.

 “The Saiyan….got away….” Goku told Master Roshi and Bulma. “Sorry.”

 Liar. It wasn’t the first time Goku lied to them. He lied about not knowing Piccolo before the martial arts tournament started. This lie was hurtful. The Saiyan didn’t get away. Goku wanted him to get away. They had a chance to kill Vegeta but Goku wanted him to escape all because Goku liked fighting with him. He enjoyed it.

 Dammit, Goku. Is enjoying yourself in a fight more important than avenging our friends. Krillin thought Goku as his best friend. He thought he knew Goku but with his silence during the five years of his marriage, this decision to spare Vegeta, Krillin felt his friend changing into someone he didn’t know.

 More confusion followed at the bittersweet reunion. Bulma had a breakdown when she learned Piccolo died which meant Yamcha wasn’t coming back. Yajirobe was bitter Master Roshi speculated he died instead of Piccolo. It was possible Kami, Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien and Chaozu weren’t coming back but with Vegeta mentioning the planet Namek, Krillin saw a sliver of hope everyone will return.

 Master Roshi and Yajirobe placed Goku on a makeshift stretcher. ChiChi had went ahead of them back to the ship. They all assumed she was seated but both were surprised to see ChiChi standing as if waiting for Goku. She quietly held Gohan but kept her eyes on Goku as he was brought on board. ChiChi never said anything but her eyes met with Goku’s as he was secured to the ship’s floor. Goku smiled at her. “Hmph,” ChiChi murmured. She turned her back on him and sat in the seats in front of him.

 Is ChiChi mad at me? What did I do?  

Master Roshi flew the ship to pick up Tien, Yamcha and Piccolo’s bodies since Bulma was consumed with grief over thinking Yamcha couldn’t be wished back. Yajirobe sat on the floor with Goku. Goku didn’t mind the company but he rather have his wife and son next to him. He hadn’t seen them in a year.

 ChiChi

 ChiChi turned her head slightly. She could’ve sworn she heard Goku speak to her in her mind.

 It’s me, ChiChi. It hurts too much to speak so I’m talking to you through my mind. Don’t respond back since I only want us to know I’m speaking to you.  

 ChiChi answered with silence.  

 I don’t know why you’re mad at me but it’s nice to see you, ChiChi. I thought about you and Gohan a lot. That’s all I wanted to say.

 Having that off his chest, Goku tried to relax. Pain was felt all over his body. Every bump or slight turbulence hurt him. The makeshift pillow was coming loose and he felt the blanket sliding off him.

More bumps and shaking followed before the ship suddenly stopped.

 “What happened?” Goku asked Yajirobe.

 “We’ve landed.” Yajirobe stood. “We gotta collect the others.”

 “Bulma, did you bring those capsules?” asked Master Roshi.

 Goku could hear Bulma sniffing. “Yeah. I got them. I wish we didn’t have to use them.” Goku heard fading voices of Bulma, Krillin, Korin, Master Roshi and Yajirobe leave the ship.

 Only Goku, ChiChi and Gohan remained on the ship. Goku thought to talk to ChiChi. Maybe he’ll learn why she’s mad at him. “Chi—“ He turned his head to see ChiChi had come around from her seat.

 ChiChi dropped to her knees before him. Goku eyed ChiChi adjusting his pillow. She fixed his blanket to cover his feet and tucked it in a few places so it wouldn’t slide off him during the rest of the flight. It would put a strain on his voice but Goku tried to talk to ChiChi. “Chi—“ he was silenced with ChiChi’s lips on his. He didn’t hesitate. He kissed back missing ChiChi’s lips for nearly a year. He let ChiChi take control of the kiss. He opened his mouth to hers as she explored him, taste his dried blood on his cut lips; feel her delicate fingers caress his hair. She smelled so good and tasted so wonderful.

 Goku was slightly out of breath when ChiChi pulled back. Maybe he was wrong about ChiChi being upset with him. He thought he was wrong until he saw ChiChi’s eyes. “I missed you, too, but Goku, I’m so angry with you right now! You selfish fool! I can’t forgive you for what you did!”

“Huh?” Why was she angry? What did he do? ChiChi didn’t know about him letting Vegeta getting away. “For saving the world?”

 He was joking but seeing the ire on her face Goku knew he made a big mistake. ChiChi was furious. “Ow!” he grunted when ChiChi smacked his face.

 “It’s not a joke what you did! Why do you and your friends think this is a joke?! This isn’t funny! This is our son’s life! This is our family!”

 ChiChi’s anger at him involved Gohan. That didn’t help Goku solve this mystery. “Could you---“ ChiChi rose in a huff and returned to her seat. Footsteps shuffled on the ship as Goku heard the others return. Whatever ChiChi’s problem at him was had to wait.

 In the air again, Gohan finally woke up and Krillin mentioned a way to bring their friends back by finding the planet Namek, Kami’s home world. This led Goku to contact King Kai and the group developing a plan to visit Namek and use their dragon balls to bring Kami, Piccolo, Tien, Chaozu and Yamcha to life.

 Now there was a solution to bringing their friends back, Goku focused on his family. There were so many questions he had and the answers lied in his wife and son.

ChiChi sat alone in the waiting room of the hospital. It was after midnight and Goku was still in surgery. Krillin and Gohan were examined by doctors, bandaged and were resting in their rooms. While she waited for Goku to come out of surgery, her father stayed with Gohan so he wouldn’t be alone in his room. Master Roshi, Bulma and Master Korin left an hour ago. Before they left, they spoke with Krillin in his room to get more details on what happened at the conclusion of Goku’s fight with Vegeta. As she saw them leaving, she noticed Master Roshi and Bulma appeared visibly upset mumbling, ‘How could Goku do that? What was he thinking? Our friends deserve better.’

 Only Master Korin approached to let ChiChi know they will return tomorrow but he didn’t share what was discussed in Krillin’s room. She was being shut out again but at the moment, ChiChi didn’t care. Her only focus was on Goku and waiting for him to come out of surgery.

 Master Roshi and Bulma were probably still upset with her for what happened earlier. ChiChi delayed treatment for Goku because she wanted Dr. Barkley to be in the room with him. They hadn’t spoken since Dr. Barkley came to her house months ago. To her relief, Dr. Barkley promised to come. Unfortunately, she lived two hours outside West City. The wait infuriated Bulma who was the most passionate arguing with ChiChi to let the doctors care for Goku. ChiChi understood Bulma’s reasons but she had her own. She knew how Goku felt about doctors and strangers touching him. She remembered how things were during her pregnancy. Goku was comfortable around Dr. Barkley. She also was the only doctor who understood his alien physiology.

 Master Roshi and Bulma saw ChiChi’s actions as her way of lashing out at Goku for Gohan fighting. They thought ChiChi was punishing Goku by delaying treatment. It wasn’t that way and her actions were justified when she, Goku and Dr. Barkley were in Goku’s room after an initial examination of his injuries.

 Goku laid flat on his hospital bed with ChiChi by his side. In the room were Dr. Barkley and Dr. Mansfield, a doctor from Wukong Hospital. Alone in his room, Goku heard his friends arguing with ChiChi over delaying his treatment but ChiChi understood him. She knew he didn’t like physical examinations or different hands on him. He was comfortable with Dr. Barkley and knew with her in the room, she would make this as painless and comfortable as possible.

 Dr. Mansfield stood with Dr. Barkley as he gave Goku and ChiChi a breakdown of Goku’s injuries. “Judging by the x-rays, Goku, nearly every bone in your body is broken. Your spine has been twisted but not broken. Paralysis isn’t permanent but I can’t guarantee you will walk again until I see how your body accepts the metal rods.”

 “Metal rods?” Goku repeated. “What does my body have to accept that?”

 “Goku,” Dr. Barkley spoke in a gentler tone, “Dr. Mansfield wants to insert metal rods in your legs to help you walk. As part of your recovery, you will need screws and pins in your back, hips, legs and arms. It’ll help the bones heal faster and stay in proper alignment.”

 “I don’t know what type of martial arts you were engaging in,” Dr. Mansfield like everyone was unaware of the truth over Goku’s fight, “but given the state of your injuries, you’ll never perform martial arts again. My team is waiting to start surgery immediately.”

 “Surgery?” Goku looked at ChiChi. “What will he do?”

 ChiChi grasp Goku’s hand. “Dr. Mansfield want to cut you open and insert the metal rods, pins and screws in your body.”

 “Will they take them out once I’m healed?”

 ChiChi shook her head. “No. It will stay in your body forever.”

 “NO!” Goku protested. He shook his head. “No surgery! The senzu beans will heal me. We just have to wait until Korin grows more.”

 Dr. Mansfield refrained from rolling his eyes. Senzu beans sounded like alternative medicine which he wasn’t fond of his patients using. “I don’t know what senzu beans are but alternative medicine won’t work here. You need these medical implants.”

 “No, no, no!” Goku shook his head violently. “ChiChi, don’t let him do this to me. I don’t want this.” Goku tried to get up but only screamed in pain.

 ChiChi put a hand on Goku’s chest. “Shh. Calm down.”

 “No surgery, ChiChi,” Goku begged. “The senzu beans will heal me. I know it.”

 Dr. Barkley came to Goku’s other side. “Goku,” she turned his face to her. “Are you sure about this? You can’t move your body. Can a senzu bean really heal you?”

 “It can.” He turned his head to ChiChi. “ChiChi, tell her. I used them at the tournament. Remember how I couldn’t move and I ate a senzu bean.”

 ChiChi remembered. She also ate one after her time with Korin. She knew how effective the beans were.  “He’s right,” she told Dr. Barkley. “We’ll wait for the senzu beans to grow. Can’t you bandage Goku and put him in a cast or something until then?”

 Dr. Barkley agreed to ChiChi’s suggestion but Dr. Mansfield needed more convincing. He was very vocal on Goku needing medical rods, screws and pins.  However, as the doctor, he had to do what the patient wanted even if he thought it wasn’t the wisest decision.

 “ChiChi?”

 ChiChi turned as she rose. Dr. Barkley entered the waiting room looking exhausted but pleased. That gave ChiChi hope her decision was the right one. “How is Goku? Can I see him?”

 “Goku’s being transferred to Gohan’s room. He was in a lot pain when we bandaged and cleaned his wounds. We placed him in a special recuperating bed. Since Goku didn’t have rods or pins placed in him, this is the most naturally device we can put him in to help his bones heal properly until you give him senzu beans. Goku will have to be confine in it all day.”

 ChiChi already knew that will be a problem. Goku hated feeling confine. As soon as he feels the tiniest bit better, he will escape.

 “We had to give him a high dose of morphine to ease the pain.” Dr. Barkley rubbed the back of her neck. She was tired. “I’m surprised it had any effect but given Goku’s weakened state, his body is vulnerable. I hope those senzu beans do heal him. Goku has a long recovery if it doesn’t. His body may never be the same again.”

 “What is his recovery if the senzu beans don’t work?”

 “Um,” Dr. Barkley thought for a moment, “given his physiology, it will take four months before his body heals. With therapy, he could walk in six months. But,” she added, “Goku’s physiology is different from humans. We really just have to wait and see at this point.”

 “Thank you.” ChiChi appreciated Dr. Barkley’s help and advice. “I owe you for coming even after I haven’t spoken to you in months. I thank you for keeping Goku and Gohan’s secret.”

 Dr. Barkley thought it was she who owed ChiChi after keeping secrets from her and Goku. “Just tell me this. Is what happened in East City today tied to the aliens your father told me were coming last year?” Dr. Barkley asked. “News have no idea what happened. They found two round pods. One flew away but the government confiscated the other one. It’s being studied. I didn’t think it was connected to what your father told me until you called.”

 Since Dr. Barkley knew everything else, ChiChi didn’t see any reason to lie now. “Yes.”

 “Well,” Dr. Barkley sighed, hoping ChiChi wouldn’t confirm that, “at least the threat is over but there were people I knew in that city. So horrible they died that way.”

 ChiChi didn’t have the heart to tell her one of the aliens escaped and it was possible, the threat wasn’t over.

 After speaking a few more moments, ChiChi left Dr. Barkley with a promise to talk to the woman again in the future. When she entered Goku and Gohan’s room, she noticed her husband and son were asleep and her father in a chair besides Gohan’s bed. ChiChi went to Goku’s side. She caressed his sleeping face.

 “They just brought him in a few minutes ago. He looks exhausted.”

 “He needs rest.” ChiChi turned away from him to Gohan. He had bandages wrapped around his forehead and arms. He slept soundly, too. ChiChi caressed his black spiky locks. Her eyes watered. Her husband and son were finally home.

 “So, do you,” Gyu-Mao picked up his chair and placed it between Goku and Gohan’s beds. “Come on. Lay down.”

 “Dad…..”

 “I talked to the nurses. You can stay the night.” He pulled a side lever on the chair. It converted to a recliner chair. “One of the nurses got this fancy chair from one of the doctor’s office. We’ll have to return it in the morning but I can bring another chair and few items for you when I come back tomorrow.”

 ChiChi hugged her father. “Thank you, Dad.”

 Gyu-Mao picked up ChiChi and placed her in the chair. He covered her with a blanket. “It’s been a long day for you, ChiChi. I want you to rest.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 Gyu-Mao quietly closed the door as he left. For several minutes, ChiChi sat in the recliner, recounting the events of the day. Physically, she was fine but mentally, ChiChi was exhausted. To her right, Gohan slept soundly. He was physically fine and only needed three days in the hospital. Mentally, she knew her child will never be the same. To her left, Goku slept. He was in horrible shape. He was covered from head to toe in bandages in a weird bed with IVs dripping in him. His was confined to that bed and probably won’t be able to move until the senzu beans are ready.

 It will be long recovery for her family but ChiChi was happy. Goku was alive again and her son was home. Tonight she will sleep with a smile. After nearly a year, her family was back together.

ChiChi was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The morning started off wonderfully for the first time in eleven months. Goku and Gohan were with her. ChiChi thought the family of three would spend the morning catching up before visitors but not long after all three were awake, Krillin entered the room.

 Knowing he was a close friend of Goku’s and missed Goku, too, ChiChi bit her tongue. She thought Krillin would visit for a few minutes before understanding her family needed time alone but he stayed all morning to talk about his training in the past year on Kami’s Temple with Tien, Chaozu, Yamcha and Yajirobe. Later, he grabbed the remote and began watching TV. Two hours after Krillin arrived, Master Roshi, Master Korin and Yajirobe dropped in. More laughs and stories were shared while ChiChi grew increasingly frustrated.

 Her father arrived just after noon with a change of clothes, toiletries and capsules for ChiChi. He was the only one to detect his daughter’s frustration at the guests who wouldn’t leave. Bulma arrived not long after her father but quickly left with Mr. Popo to find the ship Kami travelled to Earth in since Nappa’s spaceship blew up on TV by the remote she had.

 Bulma returned a couple hours later with great news that Kami’s ship will get them to Namek. It would be a two month round trip but Bulma wasn’t going alone. Krillin agreed to go and to everyone’s surprise, Gohan volunteered to go.

 ChiChi was vehemently against it. Children didn’t go into space. It wasn’t safe. On top of that, she was reunited with her five-year-old son after a year apart yesterday. She hadn’t a chance to spend even an hour alone with him without Goku’s friends arriving and interrupting her family time. Gohan’s desire to go was fueled by bringing Piccolo back and that snapped whatever patience ChiChi had left. She was boiling. Bring back Piccolo? What did that demon do to her son to earn such loyalty that he would want to wish him back? This was the same monster that tried to kill his father years ago. ChiChi yelled, louder than she ever had at Gohan before. She wouldn’t allow her son to go to a planet with who knows what threat was out there. She would not be apart from her son anymore. Her son was always obedient. He always listened. If she yelled loud enough, Gohan will obey.

 To the surprise of everyone, Gohan raised his voice at her to be quiet. ChiChi and everyone were in stunned silence. Even Goku.

 Goku remained silent during the exchange between his wife and son. When Gohan mentioned going to Namek, Goku didn’t want Gohan to go. He didn’t want to part from his son for two months after being away for a year. When Gohan mentioned his desire to go was for Piccolo, Goku understood. He didn’t know all that has happened in the past year but he knew Piccolo trained Gohan. ChiChi knew about that since she obviously approved it but ChiChi didn’t know Piccolo gave his life for Gohan.

 ChiChi started yelling. Her outburst over Gohan not going to Namek was surprising to him. ChiChi raised her voice at Gohan a few times but never like this. When she screamed like this, it was always directed at him. She could be loud but Goku learned ChiChi was all bark and no bite. He knew if he raised his voice or didn’t back down, ChiChi would give in. Gohan obviously figured that out, too, when he raised his voice to his mother.

 Goku was proud of how strong Gohan had gotten over the year but ChiChi’s deflation at Gohan yelling at her bothered Goku. Maybe he should’ve intervened. At the very least, he should’ve had everyone leave while he, Gohan and Gyu-Mao talk to ChiChi in accepting Gohan’s decision to go to Namek.

 Bulma promised ChiChi she and Krillin will keep an eye on Gohan but it wasn’t enough. ChiChi looked so hurt. Goku noticed Yajirobe staring at ChiChi grinning smugly. Goku didn’t find this funny at all. Why did Yajirobe?

 ChiChi announced. “I need to get some air.” Goku kept his eyes on ChiChi as she left. ChiChi didn’t look at him but Goku saw a tear roll down her cheek.

 “Good riddance,” Yajirobe rumbled. “Maybe now we can get some peace.” He whispered to Goku so Gyu-Mao didn’t hear. “That woman has too much mouth. Just say the word and I’ll give her a good smack for you.”

 That was the second time Yajirobe offered to hit ChiChi. He ignored it yesterday in the airship. Today, he was irritated. There was a sudden prickling feeling inside that awakened. He felt a sliver of this emotion on King Kai’s planet when King Kai read Goku’s mind while he thought of an intimate moment between him and ChiChi.

 “Yajirobe,” his voice was devoid of it’s usually innocence, “you can go now.”

 “What for?” Yajirobe complained. “I ain’t causin’ trouble. That’s your wife. She’s not a nice person. She was rude to me a few months ago.”

 There it was again. That irritating feeling. It pulsed in his blood. “You can help Korin with the senzu beans. Go. I insist.”

 “They won’t be ready for another month.” Yajirobe crossed his arms indicating he was staying put. “Besides, I wanna try the hospital food. I earned it after fighting Vegeta.”

 Gyu-Mao was the only to notice the tension in Goku’s voice. “My son-in-law has been through a lot. He’s fighting it but I can tell he’s tired and needs some rest.” To the others he said, “Your entertainment since morning has been great for Goku and Gohan but we should let him rest for the remainder of the day.”

 “Sure,” Master Roshi caught on that he and everyone were being excused. “We can visit you tomorrow.”

 “You can hang in my room,” Krillin offered. He grabbed a reluctant Yajirobe and dragged him out. Korin and Master Roshi followed after him.

 “I gotta get back home anyway,” Bulma said. “There’s a lot to do before we leave for Namek.”

 Only Gyu-Mao, Gohan and Goku remained in the room. Gyu-Mao went to Gohan’s bed and picked him up. “Come on, Gohan. Let’s leave your Daddy to rest. We still have catching up to do.” Gyu-Mao carried Gohan to the door. “Goku, I want you to talk to ChiChi when she comes back.”

 With everyone gone, they could have that talk he wanted to have since yesterday. He was still very confused. “Gyu-Mao, I don’t understand why ChiChi is mad at me. What did I do?”

 Gyu-Mao pitied his son-in-law. Maybe Goku had the best intentions letting Piccolo train Gohan. Maybe Goku saw Gohan was needed in the fight against the Saiyans. However, Gyu-Mao couldn’t grasp how Goku didn’t understand how upset his daughter would be with him for his decision a year ago. He was a little annoyed himself. His daughter was left alone because of Goku’s actions. She suffered so much and Goku didn’t grasp that.

 “It’s not my place to say but, Goku, you need to have a talk with ChiChi.”

 Gyu-Mao wanted so much to tell Goku but couldn’t. Other than that dreadful first fight and the time after Gohan’s birth, Gyu-Mao never got involved in Goku and ChiChi’s issues. While they needed guidance in the first year of their marriage, in the months after Gohan’s birth, both matured and whatever squabbles did surface, Gyu-Mao felt Goku and ChiChi could work it out together.

 “Are you….” Goku hesitated, “are you upset with me?”

 Gyu-Mao stood at the door holding Gohan who stared at him curious about the answer, too. “There is something you did I don’t agree with but you had the foresight to see what I couldn’t and for that, I can’t be angry with you.”

 He spoke in riddles. Goku didn’t understand. “What did I do that you don’t agree with?”

 “Talk to ChiChi, Goku. I want to spend time with my grandson.”

 ChiChi hoped it wasn’t obvious she’s been crying. A nurse caught her crying in the hallway alone. She escorted ChiChi to an empty room where she got ChiChi some water and lent a kind ear. ChiChi didn’t confide her business to the kind nurse but voiced frustration at her husband’s friends and how she can’t find anytime alone with her family. After a few kind words of support from the nurse, ChiChi returned to Goku’s room and braced herself for more hours of Goku’s friend talking and occupying time with her family.

 To her surprise, the room was empty except for Goku. They left? All of them? “Where’s Gohan?”

 “With your Dad. He wanted to spend time with Gohan alone.”

 A little smile turned up her face. Now she knew why the room was empty. “I see.”

 Goku knew he needed to use this time alone to talk to his wife. Other than the moment on the airship, ChiChi only spoke to Goku when needed to. When he woke up this morning, ChiChi’s attention were on Gohan. He thought at one point ChiChi would address him but Krillin entered the room and for the next hours he was entertained by his friends. He hadn’t noticed but he wondered if ChiChi was upset about that.

 “I missed you, too, but Goku, I’m so angry with you right now. You selfish fool! I can’t forgive you for what you did!”

 ChiChi was still angry with him and Goku didn’t understand why. There were many questions he wanted to ask but there was one question he wanted an answer to more than anything.

 “Why are you so mad at me?”

 “I don’t wanna have this talk now, Goku. Maybe later when you’re home…..”

 “No!” Goku disagreed. “I wanna have this talk now. What did I do that made you so angry? I’m the one who died and got my body broken again. I’m the one who should be angry. Not you.”

 Not her? She wasn’t allowed to be angry after what he did? Fine! If he didn’t want to wait, she’ll let him know. “I shouldn’t be angry after what you did! You know exactly why I’m angry! You’re so selfish you won’t even apologize!”

 “Apologize for what? Tell me!”

 “Apologize for everything! This is all you fault!” ChiChi screamed. “My baby yelled at me because of you! My baby was fighting monsters that could destroy this planet because of you! My baby was taken from me for a whole year because of you!”

 The more ChiChi yelled the more confused Goku got. “How’s all that my fault?”

 ChiChi saw red. How dare he? How dare he play innocent? It won’t work this time! “Because you allowed Gohan to be trained by Piccolo! My baby should’ve been with me but he was with that monster and now Gohan’s grown attached to him. He wants to bring him back to life!”

 Well, now he knew why ChiChi was angry but it didn’t explain why she blamed him. “Why do you think I allowed Gohan to be trained by Piccolo? I was dead.”

 “You gave Piccolo approval to train Gohan before you died! Don’t even think you can talk your way out of this. I know the truth!”

 Obviously she didn’t because he didn’t approve this at all. “ChiChi, when I died, I thought Gohan was taken home to you. I didn’t know Piccolo trained Gohan until yesterday. I thought you let Piccolo train him. Gohan definitely had the potential but I didn’t think he was ready for a fight like yesterday but if you thought he was….” he would shrug his shoulders if he could, “then I trust your decision. You always did what was best for us even when I didn’t understand.”

 It was instant. ChiChi’s anger dissipated like a popped balloon. She saw it in Goku’s eyes. He was telling the truth. “You really didn’t know.”

 “No. When I died, I made sure Gohan was okay. I even joked you wouldn’t be mad since Gohan was fine even though I was dying.” The look on ChiChi’s face was pure shock. It only left Goku thinking one thing. His friends didn’t tell ChiChi the truth. Goku forced down his own shock and rising anger at this revelation. “What they did tell you, ChiChi?”

 “Oh, my Gods,” ChiChi covered her mouth in shock. Her heart raced in her chest and her mind spun. She felt light headed enough to faint but ChiChi paced the room so that didn’t happen. All this time she was angry with Goku when he didn’t do anything wrong. She felt so ashamed of how she acted towards Goku. Damn her temper. Damn his friends. They did it to her again. They kept the truth from her.

 “ChiChi,” Goku was serious, “what did they tell you?”

 “When you weren’t home for dinner, I was annoyed,” she confessed quietly. “You promised you will be back by dinner. I forgave you for missing dinner. I understood it’s been five years since you saw your friends and you lost track of time. I got angry. Gohan needed to be in bed. He had preschool in the morning. If you wanted to spend more time with your friends, you could’ve dropped Gohan off and gone back. If you didn’t want to do that, you could’ve called and I would’ve accepted Gohan missing school for one day. I did think something happened but I rationalized that wasn’t possible. You’re Goku. You’re my husband. You’re the strongest man alive. Nothing could happen to you and you wouldn’t let anything happen to Gohan.”

 ChiChi exhaled as she fanned her face. The tears were threatening to burst like a damn. “When you didn’t return the next morning, I called my Dad, thinking, hoping you and Gohan spent the night there and you forgot to tell me. I convinced myself not to worry but to be angry with you. How dare you not call? How dare you let me worry all night? I convinced myself you were being selfish and absentminded. I knew I would find you on Master Roshi’s island laughing and playing with Gohan.”

 ChiChi couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears fell like a river and Goku felt as if he was being squeezed to death by Vegeta in his ape form. ChiChi must’ve been really worried if she waited all night…..Wait. It finally hit him. I died in the afternoon. “No one came to you the day I died?”

 “No, Goku. I confronted everyone the next day. Master Roshi told me your brother arrived on the island, overpowered you, took Gohan and held him as ransom. He said you and Piccolo formed a temporary truce and left to rescue Gohan. When they found you, he said you were dying.  You were dying not dead when Piccolo took Gohan. Dying, not dead, Goku,” she repeated. “They let me think you agreed Piccolo should take Gohan and train him for the Saiyans.

 “How could they do that? How could they deceive me like that? I was angry at you and it wasn’t your fault.” She gasped at the sudden realization. “They knew you wanted Gohan to come home to me but they let Piccolo take our son. How could they?”  

 No wonder she was so mad at him. Goku didn’t understand his friends. Why didn’t they tell ChiChi the day it happened? If she had known, she wouldn’t have been so mad when she confronted them on Master Roshi’s island and she wouldn’t have been so mad at him after his fight with Vegeta.

 ChiChi dropped to her knees so they were at eye level with each other. “I’m sorry, Goku.” ChiChi pressed her lips to his forehead. Tears from her eyes dropped on his face. “I thought you knew. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

 “You missed my lips.” ChiChi pulled back to see Goku smiling at her. “I can’t forgive you if you miss my lips.” He pouted his lips at her and just as he hoped, ChiChi laughed. She didn’t miss this time as she pressed a passion filled kiss to his lips.

 “Oh, Goku,” ChiChi pressed her forehead to his. “I love you so much. My temper.”

 “Is a turn on.” He winked at her. That earned him another laugh and kiss from ChiChi. “Don’t get so mad at me, ChiChi. You know I can’t do anything about it now.”

 “Oh, Goku,” ChiChi blushed. She couldn’t believe her husband. Only he could make her mad one minute and turn her into a blushing schoolgirl the next.

 “No more tears, ChiChi,” Goku told her. “No more anger. You dealt with this for a year. It’s my turn. Can you promise me that, ChiChi?”

 ChiChi nodded as she wiped the last of her tears away. When Goku was firm, when he had a take charge attitude, she knew to trust in him to make things right. “I promise.”

ChiChi left with her father when visiting hours were over. Without his friends, things were very relaxed with his family. There was some tension between ChiChi and Gohan but Goku promised to work that out, too. Alone with Gohan, Goku saw this opportunity to catch up on the past year with his son and after what ChiChi told him, there was a plenty he needed to talk to his son about.

 “So, Piccolo trained you?”

 Gohan smiled. He was very happy about that. “Yes, Daddy.”

 It was still something hard to wrap his head around. Piccolo, who tried to kill him six years ago and succeeded last year, trained his son? While part of Goku was pleased his son learned how to fight, he didn’t like it wasn’t him. Oh, ChiChi forbid him but he knew at some point, ChiChi would give in. At the time, he didn’t have a winning argument to give her. Gohan was too young to learn how to fight even if he was a bright child.

 In regards of his son this past year, there were so many things he wanted to know. Who told Gohan he was dead? Goku remembered how he reacted seeing his grandpa’s body. Knowing Gohan was a sensitive child, he worried how Gohan reacted to his death. If ChiChi told him, she would know how to handle it but it wasn’t her that told Gohan. It had to be Piccolo.

 “How did you find out about me being dead?”

 “Mr. Piccolo told me. When I woke up, he was the only one around. He told me you were dead and he was going to train me to fight the Saiyans. I didn’t want Mr. Piccolo training me. I wanted you to but he said you were dead.”

 I wanted that to, Gohan.

 Since Gohan was taken without ChiChi’s consent and his friends told her he approved it, Goku realized Piccolo took his son and his friends didn’t do anything. They wouldn’t have lied to ChiChi if they tried to stop Piccolo. If he was informed, he wouldn’t have agreed to it. He might’ve been wrong with that decision because Piccolo did a good job getting Gohan stronger. If ChiChi had given her consent, he would feel better about this situation.  

 “So, Piccolo told you I died.” He imagined Piccolo was very blunt when he told Gohan. “That had to be a shock.”

 Gohan nodded. “It was, Daddy. I cried and Mr. Piccolo threatened to kill me if I didn’t stop. Mr. Piccolo told me about the Saiyans and how I had to fight because I had hidden power in me that could stop them. I didn’t believe him but he threw me towards a mountain and told me to unleash my power.” Gohan laughed at the memory but Goku wasn’t smiling. “I thought I was going to crash into the mountain but something happened and I plowed through it.”

 “Really?” That definitely wouldn’t be Goku’s way. “Why did he do that?”

 “Mr. Piccolo said it was my emotions that made me strong.”

 Emotions? No wonder he never noticed. As long as his diapers were changed, he was fed, held and entertained when he wanted, Gohan was a calm baby. During his toddler years, Gohan was curious but quiet. He didn’t protest when ChiChi gave him lessons. He was obedient and easy going. Gohan never had the outbursts Goku witnessed until the ordeal with Raditz.

 “What was it like living with Piccolo for a year?”

 “I didn’t live with him for the whole year. I lived on my own for six months.”

 What? On his own? “You were by yourself for six months?”

 Gohan nodded. He was happy to share his ordeal with his Dad because he saw it as something they had in common. “It was part of my training. Mr. Piccolo said if I can live on my own for six months, then I’ll be strong enough for him to train me.”

 If ChiChi knew this, she would flip out. He was upset himself. His four-year-old son was left alone to fend for himself for six months. Even he wasn’t that young when he was on his own after his Grandpa died. Goku was glad Gohan proved himself strong enough to survive but he didn’t like the ordeal Piccolo put his son through.  

 “It was scary the first night, Daddy,” Gohan confessed.

 “It was?”

 “I was alone except for all the wild animals that tried to eat me. I had to go to the bathroom outside. I slept on the ground without a sleeping bag. It was so cold. For dinner, I only had some sour apples.” He stuck his tongue out disgusted as if he could still taste it. “It wasn’t Mommy’s cooking.”

 Gohan’s face and the mention of ChiChi’s cooking was the only thing that brought a smile to Goku’s face.  “Nothing is as good as Mommy’s cooking.”

 Gohan laughed. “Yeah. I missed her a lot.”

 He did, too. “So, what did you do for six months?”

 “I ran from dinosaurs and tigers that wanted to eat me. I hid in a cave eating fruits, mushrooms and berries you showed me when we went camping. I was so hungry I even ate insects.” Goku laughed. He remembered how Gohan refused to eat insects when they went camping. “I finally learned how to catch a fish.” Gohan was very proud of himself. Goku was proud, too. He and Gohan went fishing several times but Gohan was too timid to catch a fish. “I thought of you and Mommy a lot. I wanted Mommy to find me. I kept waiting until I understood I had to stay and fight the Saiyans. I remember what you said about sacrifices when you left Mommy and me to go training.” Goku remembered that. He was glad his advice kept his son alive. “I thought of you when I decided to train myself. I remembered the times I watched you training in our backyard or when we went camping.”

 All those times. He really was paying attention.

 “Mr. Piccolo’s punches hurt a lot more than yours.

 “What?” Goku turned his head. “Piccolo hit you?”

 “When we started training,” Gohan explained. “He punched and kicked me a lot. He shot a lot of his Ki at me when I complained. I went to sleep with a lot of bumps and bruises on my face.” Gohan giggled again. “Some days my face was so swollen, it looked like a bee stung me.”

 “Yeah,” Goku forced a laugh to assure Gohan he wasn’t bothered with what he was told. He was very bothered. “I had some tough teachers, too. So, Piccolo was really rough on you?”

 Gohan shrugged. “Yeah, but it wasn’t always rough. He was nice a few times. You’re right, Daddy. Mr. Piccolo isn’t bad like his Daddy. I saw it.”

 “How?”

 “I figured out Mr. Piccolo gave me the sour apples. He gave me new clothes and a sword. Mr. Piccolo left me alone for six months, but that first night, he watched over me. I never told Mr. Piccolo. I knew he would deny it because he likes to act tough at times.” Gohan giggled at the secret he will share with his Daddy. “He never like it when I gave him hugs.”

 “Hugs?” Goku snickered. “You hugged Piccolo?”

 “A few times. He didn’t know what I was doing. I think he thought I was attacking him.”

 Goku laughed out loud. He would’ve like to have seen that. When Piccolo comes back, he will bring this up to him.

 “Daddy, are we monsters?” Gohan suddenly asked.

 “Monsters?” Goku’s stomach suddenly turned. Did Gohan figure it out? “What do you mean?”

 “On my first night alone, I saw the full moon. I don’t remember anything after that but my tail was gone the next morning.”

 Goku wasn’t there but he knew exactly what happened. Gohan changed into a Giant Ape and Piccolo destroyed the moon like Master Roshi did when I transformed at the tournament. Piccolo must’ve removed Gohan’s tail for extra incentive.

 “I forgot about all of it,” Gohan continued unaware of his father’s thoughts, “until our fight with Vegeta. When Krillin and I returned, we saw a giant ape crushing you. I didn’t know what that was but Krillin did. He told Yajirobe we had to cut off his tail. When Yajirobe did, the monster turned back into Vegeta.” Goku mentally cursed himself. If he was strong enough to stop Vegeta before he transformed, Gohan wouldn’t have figured out the secret of his tail. “You told me to look at the ball in the sky. It looked like a full moon. I looked and I don’t remember anything except your and Krillin’s voices. You told me to go after Vegeta but I don’t remember fighting him. I remember going to sleep and waking up in Mommy’s arms. My tail is gone again, too.”

 Goku hoped Gohan had a forgetful memory like him or it’ll be years before he figured it out.

 “Are we monsters?” Gohan repeated.

 That was a tough question to answer. Goku wasn’t sure how to answer since he hadn’t dealt with the truth himself. He was still adjusting to the knowledge he killed his own grandpa. “If we have our tail, we can transform into a giant ape. It doesn’t make us monsters. Transforming into a giant ape is something we can do because we have Saiyan blood in us.”

 That didn’t comfort Gohan at all. “Does Mommy know?”

 “No.” Goku wasn’t sure how to tell her or if he should tell her.

 “Will you tell her?”

 If ChiChi knows, then she’ll know I killed Grandpa. “Let’s keep this between us….. for now,” Goku suggested. “I just came back to life and you’re going in space in a few days. There’s a lot going on right now. We’ll talk more about this when you get back.”

 It sounded good to Gohan. “Okay, Daddy.”

 Speaking of ChiChi, there was something he had to address with Gohan before they went to sleep. “You shouldn’t have yelled at Mommy today.”

 “But she wouldn’t listen, Daddy.” Gohan knew he was wrong but Mommy wasn’t being reasonable. “Mommy wants me to stay and go back to school. I want that but I need to do this. Mr. Piccolo took care of me. I got strong because of him. He gave his life for me and Mommy didn’t care.”

 “Mommy doesn’t know what happened yesterday.” Goku made that clear to Gohan. “Mommy has no idea what happened to you since you saw her a year ago. Until yesterday, I thought you and Mommy were together this past year.” He hadn’t meant to raise his voice at Gohan but he needed to understand this was serious.

 It worked for Gohan’s shoulders slump at Goku’s stern voice. “I guess you didn’t know because you died but Mommy knew, right?”

 “Mommy knew but, Gohan, your mother has been through a lot this year. There are things she went through I’m just now finding out about.” He sighed. “And I’m not happy about it.”

 “Like what, Daddy?”

 Goku smiled at Gohan. He could hear the concern Gohan had for his mother. “Don’t worry about it, Gohan. This is something Daddy has to deal with. Just remember what I said about you and Mommy. Don’t raise your voice at her again.”

 “Yes, Daddy,” Gohan promised.

 Gohan’s promise was enough. Goku knew Gohan wouldn’t do it again. “Let’s go to sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

 “Okay.” Gohan flicked off the lamp bringing darkness to the room. Gohan settled under the covers. “Good night, Daddy. I’m so glad you’re back.”

 “Good night, Gohan. I’m glad to be back, too.”

 Gohan had fallen asleep but an hour after their talk, Goku still laid awake. He was very unsettled by what ChiChi and Gohan told him. That familiar annoyed prickling from earlier returned the more he thought of what his family went through. Gohan’s ordeal bothered him a lot but Piccolo was dead and as tough as he was, he did look out for his son. ChiChi’s ordeal really bothered him. ChiChi was alone for a year. ChiChi didn’t know about him and Gohan for a day. His friends had a lot to answer for when he talked to them again.  

 Part Twenty-One: Family Reunion: Part Two.

 AN: I thought I could put the whole reunion in one chapter but it was getting too long. So I split it in two. The good news is Part Two will be up very soon. In the anime everyone watched Yamcha, Tien and Chaozu die on TV but given they could’ve been anywhere on Earth, I don’t think news cameras would’ve known exactly where to find them even with that Yajirobe gag.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 036

It’s the Namek Saga!   I have mixed feelings about this arc, and I’ll try to explain them.  

So I got into DBZ when it first aired on Toonami in the fall of 1998.  I don’t recall exactly how it was aired, but I’m pretty sure they showed four or five episodes a week, every week, until they got to the Goku/Recoome fight, and then they would start over.   Somewhere along the way they aired Movies 1, 2, and 3.  

Now I was just a casual viewer in those days, so I wasn’t going out of my way to watch them in order.   I didn’t exactly like the show much; I just watched it because it was on, and I was sort of curious about what would happen.     The Saiyans arc impressed me because it did a good job buildng suspense.   But you could skip a few episodes and not really miss much.   There were plenty of recaps, and not that much happened in any single episode.

The Namek Saga had some trouble following this formula, though.    Once the heroes got to Namek, it was hard to really measure any sort of progress being made.   The overriding strategy was to stay in one piece until Goku arrived to even the odds, except the supporting cast was pretty threadbare by this point.   They couldn’t exactly kill anyone off in the Namek Saga, because they had killed so many guys off in the Saiyans arc, and if you took out any more there wouldn’t be anyone left to tell the story with.   So it felt to me like much of the arc was just the gang marking time until Goku showed up.  

And this wouldn’t have been so bad, except that whenever Goku finally did show up, he’d punch Recoome’s lights out and that would be it.   Toonami would run out of episodes and start over with Episode 1.   I remember at least once when I was kind of following more closely to see if they’d finally put some new eps in the rotation, and then... no such luck.   Goku shows up, whoops the Ginyu Force, Bill Murray wakes up in the hotel room to “I Got You, Babe.”

I feel like this has colored my opinion of the arc.   I was trying to remember exactly what I didn’t like about it, and my criticisms aren’t really all that valid.   “It’s too long,” but it isn’t.   It’s 32 episodes long, and that’s three episodes shorter than the Saiyans Saga.   “There’s no big fights,” but there are.   Vegeta vs. Zarbon is pretty cool, and Recoome smacking Team Three Star around is  fun.   “It’s unsatisfying,” but not really.   Frieza gets extremely pissed as the arc wears on, and Goku shutting down the Ginyus and Vegeta at the same time is awesome.  

For a time, I struggled with the rewatchability of DBZ.  It was hard to get invested in older episodes, because for a while it felt like the battles were pointless back when no one knew how to turn Super Saiyan.   Eventually I got over this and learned to appreciate the show beyond the novelty of a first-time viewer, and I think that’s helped me respect the Namek stuff more.   In particular, when I read the manga version, I found it much brisker than the anime.   Maybe it sounds weird to say this, but for me, knowing which parts are filler helps me appreciate the filler more.  

So I’m looking forward to analyzing this arc in greater depth, and forming a more nuanced opinion of it.    It’ll probably never be one of my favorites, but I bet I’ll come away with a greater appreciation of it. 

First off, we gotta wrap up the loose ends of the Saiyans arc.   Krillin just let Vegeta leave the planet, because Goku asked really nicely.   Yajirobe doesn’t understand that, so he calls Krillin an idiot.   Why didn’t Yajirobe finish Vegeta off?   He took him down with his sword, and then he stood there like a jerk and gloated instead of cutting off his head.

Krillin picks up naked baby Gohan and brings him over to half-naked ER patient Goku, but then an airship arrives, and out pops Chi-Chi.

She leaps over Goku’s body and grabs Gohan out of Krillin’s arms.

Fans give Chi-Chi a lot of crap for her behavior in this episode, and I’ll bet you a dollar that none of them have children of their own.    Gohan’s five years old in this episode, and Chi-Chi hasn’t seen him since he was four.   One day he just left and didn’t come back.    Now she’s finally close enough to touch him and he’s all beat up and unconscious.    What would you do?

You know what?   Goku did have it hard, but he’s a grown-ass man.   He’s not entitled to Chi-Chi’s attention right now, but Gohan is.   I think Goku knows that better than anyone in this episode, which is why you never see him complain about being ignored.

Bulma’s pretty upset about all of their dead friends, particularly Yamcha, because she used to be sweet on him, and particularly Kami and Piccolo, whose deaths mean that they can’t use the Dragon Balls to wish Yamcha back to life.   She bawls out Yajirobe for not doing more during the fight.   She’s got a point, although Yajirobe probably did more good by holding back and picking his spots.   If Yamcha had shown the same level of caution, well...

I sort of get Yajirobe’s attitude here.    Everyone talks to him like he’s a piece of shit, and when he musters up the courage to be somewhat responsible, everyone still talks to him like he’s a piece of shit.   And then they wonder why he doesn’t help out more often.   He can’t win.

The gang loads Goku into the aircraft and then they head back to the first battlefield so they can collect the corpses of their friends.  It’s a pretty somber ride, until Krillin finally explains his theory that they might be able to wish their friends back to life after all.

This is a pretty cool moment right here.   There was a time when Master Roshi was happy to be surpassed by so many young and talented martial artists.   Now, they’ve all been killed.  Goku and Krillin were wished back, but the Dragon Balls no longer work, so that’s it.   The next time Goku and Krillin die, they’ll be gone for good, and Vegeta’s up in space somewhere planning to make that happen very soon.   But Master Roshi lives on, and he’s completely powerless to do anything about these new enemies. 

For some reason, I forgot about all these scenes of Yamcha, Tien, and Piccolo being loaded into capsule coffins.   Of course, the Ocean Dub never would have shown this part, because Saban had the script edited so that they were all blasted “into another dimension”.   Showing their dead bodies would have undermined that already flimsy concept.   Still, for some reason I remembered Krillin informing Roshi that they would find no remains for Chiaotzu, on account of him blowing himself up.  

Bulma starts reminiscing about all the good times she had with Yamcha.    That gets kind of awkward, because she spent most of their relationship being mad at him.  This one flashback of them walking together never actually appeared before.   Judging from Bulma’s Raditz-Era clothes, I’d say this would have been right before she got mad at him before they parted ways between Dragon Ball and DBZ.  

I prefer to remember Yamcha this way, standing proud on his own, rocking the Turtle Hermit dogi, got the long hair flowing down his back, giving the audience a low-key but heartfelt thumbs up.    Vaya con Dios, Yamcha.

Gohan wakes up and Chi-Chi mothers him the way only a mother can.  

He looks in the back and finds his dad, badly hurt but still smiling.    Look how happy the li’l guy is.    It was a tough year, but he made it all the way through, and now he’s got his parents back.   

Yajirobe tries to give Chi-Chi shit for ignoring her husband in favor of her son.   First of all, fuck you, Yajirobe.  Like you’ve got any business telling anyone how to act in public.   You spend most of this episode picking your nose in the background while the others talk.    Second of all, Chi-Chi knows her husband had the time of his life almost getting killed today.   Gohan’s the one who needs her right now, whether anyone will admit that or not.   

Yajirobe asks Goku if he can hit her.   Yeah, go for it, Yajirobe.    Make a move, I fucking dare you.    I take back what I said before, Yajirobe sucks.  

Anyway, Krillin lays out his big idea.    When the Saiyans first saw Piccolo, they recognized him as a Namekian, an alien from the planet Namek, and Vegeta said that the Dragon Balls must have been a product of Namekian magic.   During the battle, Vegeta abandoned the plan of using Earth’s Dragon Balls, in favor of simply going straight to Namek and finding more powerful Dragon Balls there.   Krillin thinks he must have been on to something.    If Piccolo and Kami were originally from Namek, then it stands to reason that there’s Dragon Balls there that still work.   All they have to do is go there and find them, and they can wish their dead back to life.

The problem is that no one even knows where the planet would be, but Goku contacts King Kai and asks him, and he knows all sorts of things about it.    After praising Goku and the others for their efforts, he looks up its coordinates...

... and he gives some background on the planet’s recent history.   He had believed that a natural disaster wiped out the entire population of Namek in the past...

... but he can sense fewer than 100 still living on the planet today, so the severe weather didn’t kill them all.

While they talk this all out, the gang begins to realize that the Namekian who split into Kami and Piccolo must have been a refugee, sent to Earth to escape the natural disaster on Planet Namek.    For whatever reason, no one ever came to get him after the crisis abated.   King Kai assures them that the Namekians are a gentle people, not like Piccolo at all.

On the contrary, Piccolo’s evil was probably born from the corrupting influence of Earthlings, so who’s the real Demon King, I ask you?

While they all discuss this, Bulma crunches some numbers and determines that Namek is simply too distant to reach by spacecraft.   The fastest ship Capsule Corp. has would take 4339.25 years to make the trip, and that’s just one way.  

You know, I remember Bulma being pretty snotty about this in the Ocean Dub, almost like she was glad to burst everyone’s bubble.   I can imagine an alternate universe where “4339 years and three months” would have become the big meme instead of “Over 9000.”    Ah well.

But Krillin’s got a solution in mind.   He saw Vegeta leave in his spaceship, but it was clearly a one-seater.    In the dub, he points out that there’d be no way that Nappa guy could have fit in there with him, so I just want to pass along that mental image.    Anyway, the point is that Nappa must have come to Earth in his own ship, which must still be lying around somewhere.   And Krillin stole Vegeta’s keyfob when he left, so he’s pretty sure they can use it to recover Nappa’s ship.    From there, Bulma and her dad can reverse engineer the thing and it can make the trip in a much shorter time.

And now Bulma’s sold.   I like that about her.    A minute ago, it was impossible, not because Bulma’s a pessimist, but because she can only work with the technology available to her.    Hand her an alien spaceship with a faster-than-light engine, and she completely changes her tune.   She’s so scary good with gadgets that reverse-engineering alien tech is nothing to her. 

Everyone laughs.

THEN THEY POINT.

Then they laugh again.  

Goku tried to point too, but his arm has an owie.