#we saw this in kid vegeta and we saw it here before goku showed up

[ravoress]

[fanfic-lover-girl]

DBZ Thoughts: Z Fighters Don't Care About Earthlings As Much as I Thought

So I have been daydreaming about some DBZ scenes and I had a sudden realization: the Z fighters don't really care about the Earthlings much. It's hard to explain my feelings but I will try.

Ignorance is Bliss

I find it a bit distressing how many secrets the fighters keep from the Earth's people. I understand that they are on no one's payroll so they have no obligation to keep Earthlings posted and they deserve their privacy but it's really not fair. They knew the Saiyans were coming and never thought to inform at least King Fury about it. They knew the androids were coming and did not think to inform the government of the island about the possibility of attack. You can make the argument that the Earthlings would not react well or not believe them. But come on. People at the tournaments saw Goku grow a tail, saw him transform into Ozarou, and saw Piccolo and Goku fight. Before they allowed Mr Satan to spread lies, Earthlings were accepting of these so-called light shows. And King Fury knew of Goku's feats. The Earthlings had a right to know about the dangers they faced.

Collateral Damage

Vegeta vs 18. Majin Vegeta. What else is there to say? Vegeta and 18 killed several people in their fight. Vegeta was an arrogant prick at the time so I don't blame him too much. But no one ever criticizes Vegeta for putting civilians in danger. Vegeta is not forced to atone to Bulma for almost killing her when he launched that blast to the stands. Bulma was literally a few feet away from the point of impact! I like to think she and Vegeta had a deep conversation about that when they went home and Vegeta had to make it up to her. But nope, they were wished back to life so Vegeta's actions don't matter! Also Gohan's fight with Cell. Gohan brought the fight so that fat guy was right in front of him. Of course, Gohan saved the Satan screw so he was fine and it showed off his badass moves...but was endangering that guy necessary?? And how could I forget Piccolo literally watching Imperfect Cell drink that poor man right in front of him without the slightest care on his face. Talk about cold. And they had an opportunity to stop Gero before he could hurt anyone but they put the Earth in danger for cheap thrills and testosterone stupidity. Poor Bulma, it must be hard to be surrounded by idiots.

Edit: Piccolo was actually horrified by Cell draining that fat guy. What I meant here was that Piccolo did nothing to help him.

Goku Letting Villains Go

So Goku let Piccolo, Vegeta and Frieza live. Although he did blast Frieza after he unsurprisingly tried to kill him with the energy Goku gave that bastard. Piccolo and Vegeta turned out to be good guys...but what if they did not?? I don't get the impression Goku was keeping tabs on Piccolo. How would Goku know if Piccolo did not enjoy a random killing spree every now and then? Pretty sure Majunior killed a few people as a kid without Kami giving a crap. And what if Vegeta returned to Earth and killed a ton of people before the Z fighters could intercept him?? What if he brought backup?? Well, no matter! Because we can just wish the Earthlings back! Unless...they were always revived so those suckers are out of luck :). Same argument for Frieza which Frieza actually carried out. What if Frieza arrived a few months earlier? And not just Earth! What about the other innocent people in the universe? What if Frieza decided to ignore Earth and continue his reign of terror in the universe? I guess Goku does not give a rat's ass about non-Earthlings. You best believe that once Goku left Namek, he would not care about Frieza anymore as long as he left Earth alone, leaving Frieza to do all the so-called 'mischief' Goku told him to stop doing. The Z fighters aren't exactly helping out other planets after all which is perfectly valid. But Goku sparing Frieza was such a dumb move and such a disgraceful insult to all of Frieza's past genocide victims.

Ignorance is Bliss Part 2

I find it kind of disgusting how the Z fighters allow Mr. Satan to propagate lies about Ki. Don't they realize how damaging this is? It means that any Earthling with potential like Videl won't live up to the likes of Krillin and co. because they think Ki is fake. They have the good people of Earth believing a buffoon like Mr. Satan actually defeated the likes of Cell who destroyed an army with a wave of his arm. Imagine if Future Trunks defeated the androids and let a clown like Satan take credit for saving the world? Just the thought makes me feel like vomiting right now! It's not a coincidence that DBZ hardly shows impressive fighters like Nam from Dragonball anymore. It's a shame that they are not training a future generation to protect themselves. Because the DBZ next-gen crew absolutely sucks!!! Imagine depending on Goten, Trunks, Marron and Bra to save the day! Might as well just kill yourself on the spot. The Z fighters should be helping Earthlings to give themselves a fighting chance. Also, their wiping of people's memory of Buu is highly questionable. I understand that Buu would cause panic and the events of the Buu saga were traumatizing. It goes into ethics about hiding the truth to protect someone. Still, modifying people's memories so Buu can walk free and avoid the consequences of his actions is appalling. Imagine you are a rando Earthling and the Z fighters have the ability to mess with your memories? And when you factor in that the Buu saga reached such disastrous levels because of the Z fighters' incompetence makes this even worse :(

TLDR: The Z fighters at times show little regard for Earthlings when it comes to the truth and treat their lives as collateral damage.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball GT 41

✨GT Stands for Glum Tournament✨

It’s time for the World Martial Arts Tournament!  GT Style!  That means it’s really bad.  For example, here’s a scene of Goten on a date with Palace, and she’s trying hamburgers for the first time.  Goten isn’t in the tournament, and he has absolutely nothing to do with the tournament.  He just hears about it on the TV in this restaurant. 

Vegeta is also not in the tournament, but he still shows up anyway because he wants to fight Goku.  You’d think he would have challenged him before this, but it’s like he heard the news coverage of the tournament and suddenly remembered he’s never beaten the guy. 

Unfortunately for Vegeta, Goku is unavailable, because he is in the tournament..... the junior division that is!  Uh-oh!  He’s a 53-year-old man, but everyone thinks he’s a little kid!  It’s a recipe for wackiness!

So yeah, Goku’s spent all afternoon beating up defenseless children, because he’s such a great hero.  While he’s shooting the breeze with Vegeta, his opponent in the final round panics and just goes apeshit, knocking Goku out of the ring.  At least, that’s how I remembered this episode going...

... but it turns out that Goku didn’t land outside the ring right away.  Instead he managed to cling to the edge, so his opponent started tickling him until he let go and lost the match.  Goku can fly, right?  Like, I’m pretty sure that’s something he knows how to do.  And you might argue that he wasn’t taking this competition very seriously, but then why did he enter in the first place? 

I mean, Goku and Vegeta can literally fight each other whenever they want, but for some reason, they both seem to have forgotten about it.  So Goku slums it in this tournament for lack of any better ideas, and then Vegeta hears about it and he’s like “Oh, yeah, I knew I was forgetting something!”

At the end of the episode, Vegeta challenges Goku again, and it looks like they’re about to throw down, but then Goku calls it off because he’s hungry!  Everyone shares a big laugh, including Vegeta, which kind of pisses me off. GT has run the “Goku wants to eat first” gag into the ground, and here they use it yet again, and it’s supposed to be this laugh riot.  It sucks. 

Okay, so here’s the A-plot: Mister Satan is still bummed out about Majin Buu’s death in Episode 32.  Well, I’m not sure Buu actually died.  He merged with Uub, so I guess he’s still alive as a part of Uub, but he had a farewell scene with Satan, and Satan’s pretty depressed about it, so I think it’s fair to say that Majin Buu is dead, if only in a dramatic sense. 

I think some fans lump this episode in with the Super 17 saga, but I prefer to consider it a coda to the Baby Saga, since the episode is about Satan moving on after losing Buu, which happened because of Baby.  As we saw in the final episodes of Dragon Ball Z, Mr. Satan told the world that Majin Buu was his star pupil, and he used his stroke to change the rules of the Tournament.  Before, fighters would have to qualify for an eight-person, single-elimination bracket, and the winner would be declared the new champion.  But by the 26th Budokai, the winner of the bracket simply earned a match with the defending champion, Mr. Satan.  Majin Buu would make sure to win, then take a dive for Satan to allow him to retain his title.  Of course, we saw the 28th Budokai play out in the final episode of DBZ, where Goku and Uub abandoned their match and the tournament was canceled. 

Well, this is the 31st Tenkaichi Budokai, and for the first time in 15 years, Mr. Satan can’t do the usual formula of having Buu sweep the bracket and do the job for the champ.  Satan might be able to get someone from Dragon Team to help him out, but that’s not the point.   He misses Majin Buu, and he’s starting to wonder what the point is to keeping up this routine.  And so Satan announces in this episode that he plans to retire after this tournament is over.  Whoever wins the match to face him for the title will be named his successor.

There’s this weird bit where Trunks hears the news while listening to a radio during a Capsule Corp board meeting, and everyone panics because they think Trunks is resigning as President of their company, but then they find out it’s Satan who’s retiring, and they flip out even more.  Trunks uses the chaos to sneak out of work, and he flies to the tournament stadium to see what’s going on, but I don’t really get why he’s so interested in this.  I mean, what does it matter to him if Mr. Satan retires?

For some reason, I could have sworn that Trunks really did resign as President of Capsule Corp. in Episode 42, but maybe I got it wrong.  We’ll find out soon enough.  Anyway, this feels like a weak attempt to shoehorn Trunks into the story, since he’s all over the opening credits. 

Pan, on the other hand, fits right into this story, since she’s Mr. Satan’s granddaughter, and her Saiyan power makes her the heir apparent to the Mr. Satan combat sports empire.  And she even enters the tournament, but just for the fun of fighting.  Once she learns that the tournament winner will become Satan’s successor, she withdraws from the competition.  She wants more out of life than following in her grandfather’s footsteps.

So she spends the rest of the event eating lollipops with her parents.  I don’t want to harp too much on the cheap animation shortcuts in this series, but I found these sequences kind of strange and offputting until I realized that they probably only used them here because it allowed the characters to talk without any lip flaps. 

Naturally, Pan’s resignation upsets Mr. Satan’s plans.  He was the one who arranged for the junior division to have a height requirement instead of an age requirement this year.  That way Goku would be kept out of the adult division, while giving Pan (who is taller) a clear shot at the finals.  Wait, why didn’t Goku just turn Super Saiyan 4?  I mean, if there’s a height requirement, that doesn’t matter, because he can change his height at will.  Well, too late for that now. 

Okay, so if Goku, Vegeta, Goten, Trunks, Gohan, Videl, and Pan are all out of the tournament, and Piccolo and Majin Buu are dead, then who’s left?  Well, it turns out to be Papaya Man, a mysterious new competitor who sweeps the whole bracket. 

Pan is impressed when she sees him in action, and starts to wish she hadn’t quit before facing him.   Also, she stuffs her lollipop in her mouth and turns into nightmare fuel.  Hey, if I had to look at this, then so do you.

But “Papaya Man” turns out to be Uub in disguise.  I forget why he used an alias.  I think it was something about him being nervous in front of crowds?  It doesn’t matter.  The point is, it’s Uub vs. Satan for the world title, and Uub doesn’t bother holding back.  He really wants the championship, and he seems to think he needs to fight with everything he’s got to win it. 

I don’t understand this, since he’s been training with Goku for five years.  You’d think at some point Goku would have let him in on the whole Mr. Satan thing.  But Uub seems to think that Mr. Satan really is a dangerous opponent for some reason.

Then, just as Uub goes to knock Satan out of the ring, he hears Majin Buu’s voice telling him to let Satan win, because if he loses, “everyone will be sad.”  Uub just sort of freezes in place, so it seems like Buu is somehow controlling his body rather than convincing Uub to take a dive.  Wait, if Buu can control Uub like this, and talk to him whenever he wants, then why did he wait until just now to explain this to Uub?

Anyway, Satan manages to knock Uub out of the ring while Uub is frozen, so he wins.  And Mr. Satan is gobsmacked, because he thinks he won all on his own, something he hasn’t done in decades.  He’s so overjoyed, and so moved by the crowd’s adulation that he decides he won’t retire after all. 

Uub is disappointed at first.  The others congratulate him on letting Satan have the big win, but it wasn’t Uub’s choice.  But then, as he sees Satan celebrating with his fans, he starts to understand why it mattered so much to Buu.  I seem to remember the dub version having Buu explain it in greater detail. 

Oh, also, there’s this weird running gag where cars keep crashing into each other throughout the episode.   I think it’s supposed to be that motorists are hearing about the shocking news of Mr. Satan’s retirement, and they end up getting so distracted that they crash into each other, but I’m not sure.  It’s very odd.

✨ “Good” “Ideas”, Poorly Executed.✨

When Totally Not Mark covered this episode in his GT review, he seemed very touched by Majin Buu’s parting gesture. Satan was all bummed out about not getting to win another tournament with his buddy, and then Majin Buu basically gave him one more win for old times’ sake, using Uub as a proxy.  And yeah, I can appreciate that. 

Buuuuut, this whole episode sort of underscores how far the characters have evolved beyond the Tenkaichi Budokai.  When it was introduced, it was a proving ground for Goku and his friends.  In DBZ, it was a place for Dragon Team to have a friendly reunion, as well as a way to reintroduce Mr. Satan for the Buu saga.  But in GT, it doesn’t serve either of those purposes.  All of the characters basically hang out together all the time anyway, and they’ve all become so powerful that the tournament competition is meaningless to them.  Goku doesn’t care if he wins or loses, Pan enters and withdraws on a whim, and Trunks only seems to care because he wants to know what happens with Mr. Satan.  Uub seems to be the only one who takes the competition seriously, but he looks like a fool because of this.  It’s like no one let him in on the joke.

You can argue that the Tenkaichi Budokai still matters for Mr. Satan, but... does it, though?  I mean, sure, it used to matter a lot to him.  I always loved that scene where he imagined everyone turning against him if he lost to Android 18.  In his mind, even his own daughter would want nothing to do with him if he failed to defend his world title.  And afterward, when he became part of Goku’s circle, rigging the tournament every year was kind of this cool thing he did to maintain his prestige.  It’s how he was able to convince the people of Earth to evacuate to the Tuffle Planet. 

But by this point, Satan’s held the world title for about 23 years.  The people love him unconditionally, and he’s a living legend.  He doesn’t need to win this event anymore.  He could step aside at any time and people would still love him anyway.  And more importantly, Mr. Satan has the love of people who know him for who he really is, so defending his title doesn’t factor into that anymore.  

And as the episode starts, he seems to have figured this out for himself.  The last few tournaments really were just something he and Buu did for fun, and now that Buu’s gone, he realizes he stopped needing it a long time ago.  I feel like this was the thought that GT should have followed through on.  What does Mr. Satan do with himself beyond the World Tournaments?  What’s the next chapter of his life?  But instead, Buu gives Satan one more win, and it convinces Satan to stay in the game a while longer, at least until the next tournament, where he’ll probably end up facing the same existential crisis. 

And sure, Buu did something really sweet for his friend.  I don’t want to trample all over that moment, but you know, this episode feels like a metaphor for everything that’s wrong with Dragon Ball GT.  The series was conceived as a way to focus on “the next generation”, which is how we got Pan and Trunks in the main cast.  But Goku had to be in the lead, and he’s old as balls, so they turned him into a kid in a weak attempt to have their cake and eat it too.  Meanwhile, Trunks and Pan barely get to do anything in this show, and other “next generation” characters (Uub, Bulla, Marron, Goten) hardly appear at all. 

Episode 41 is all about Mr. Satan deciding to move on and pass the torch, sort of like how Master Roshi tried to pass the torch to Tien in the 22nd World Tournament.  The problem is that the torch kind of doesn’t matter.  The Tenkaichi Budokai is a joke now, because it’s been a rigged event for decades.  I’m going all the way back to when Chiaotzu would use his telekinesis to rig the brackets.  And even if the torch did matter, no one wants it.  Pan flat out refuses it.  Uub thinks he wants it, then he has a change of heart and decides he doesn’t need it.  So Satan keeps the torch, but it’s pretty clear that he has no use for it. 

Does this sound familiar?  GT opened with Goku declaring that Uub had completed his training to become the defender of the Earth, but it never really mattered, because Goku never went away.  The series implied a shift to the next generation, but it never actually happens, because all the focus is on the old characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Mr. Satan.  When Goten and Trunks offer to use fusion, they’re told to skip it.  When Uub tries to become world champion, Majin Buu stops him.  When Pan does anything too heroic or independent, Kozo Morishita cuts her off. The big climax of this series is Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, not Badass Coolguy Uub and Double-Ultra Saiyan Pan.  And even if the show really did shift to one of the younger characters, what’s the point?   We’re 41 episodes in.  This show gets canceled in about six months, so why bother? 

Okay, so it’s a show about Goku.  Not a problem, that worked in DBZ.  Goku doesn’t need to pass the torch, just like Mr. Satan doesn’t need to give up his World Title reign.  Except...

This isn’t really a show about Goku either.  He’s all over this series, and he has a nifty new transformation, but it’s not the same character.  He does a lot of pointless gags, like losing a juinor tournament to tickle torture, and always being hungry all the time.  They could have him fight Vegeta for five episodes just because that’s a fun thing both characters would like to do. It’s a crowd-pleaser.  They put a little Goku-Vegeta battle in both Dragon Ball Super films and no one complained.  But GT won’t do that either.  So if it won’t focus on the younger characters, and it won’t take the older characters seriously, then what does that leave?

And this is why I find GT Vegeta quite relatable.  He grew his mustache and wore his middle-age dad clothes, just as the showrunners wanted, and then they got cold feet and put him back in the limelight, so now he’s dressed like Early 2000′s Wolverine, looking like a classic tough guy, but they won’t let him play that role either.  All because this series can’t decide what it wants to be.  It can’t do lighthearted adventure, it sucks at comedy, and it refuses to commit to Z-style mayhem.  So we’re constantly left with farce. 

To put it another way, there’s like eight or nine fights in this episode, and none of them matter, because all of them are total mismatches.  Papaya Man suplexes this dude and it doesn’t mean a damn thing, because wins and losses are irrelevant in this episode... about a tournament.  Think about that for a minute.

✨ Positivity Page✨

I do kind of like this enormous dude who gets matched against Pan in the tournament.  She shows up for her match and she’s stunned by how huge he is, which seems weird because you’d think she would have noticed this guy at the prelims, or during the drawing for the brackets, or when they were in line at catering.  He’s taller than the stadium is my point.

Also, he stomps on Pan and somehow draws blood?  It’s pretty cool to have Pan wear the Crimson Mask, even if this is only 0.1 on the Muta Scale, but this seems like a strange place to do it.   Baby hit her several times during the fight on the Tuffle Planet, and she never seemed to get a scratch. 

But again, none of this really has any impact because the competition is pointless.  Pan just raises her ki and knocks this huge dude on his ass. Then she pulls out of the tournament, so I guess this was just a big ol’ bye in the tournament.  Byes suck.  The only time they’re any good is when they let dastardly heels get a free pass to the finals, while the babyface has to win several rounds through blood, sweat, and tears.   Like WrestleMania IV, and even that wasn’t exactly a great tournament.

✨Is this Episode worse than “The Roaming Lake”?✨

 Initially, I was on the fence about this, because the episode has a strong start, and the focus on Satan moving on after losing Buu was compelling.  But things got really dumb really quickly, and it is pretty grating to have a tournament episode full of fights but zero action or suspense in any of them.

Also, when Goku does the “I’m hungry” bit at the end, there’s this line from the narrator that just bugs the shit out of me.  “Always, no matter the time, Goku is Goku.  It is that Goku that everyone loves.”

What the fuck does that mean? Of course everyone loves Goku, he’s awesome.  Just look at this dude.

Ha ha!  He’s playing Fortnite!  Look at him running around with that gun.  Goku, what are you doing with that, my man?  You’re too much. 

GT seemed to really want to show Goku off in every episode, but they never seemed to have anything in particular to say about Goku, which leads to lines like “Goku is Goku” from the narrator.  “Yessir, people sure do like that Goku!  What a Goku this Goku turned out to be!   Remember when Goku was here?  He sure is a special guy.”

Well, Goku was also Goku in “The Roaming Lake”, and they actually showed him being a swell guy, instead of just talking about it.  TRL wins again.

✨ The Blade Braxton Memorial Haiku*✨

What happened to the

Tuffle Planet?  Did they just

Forget about it?

[straightfacedstrangeness]

Broly movie semi-liveblog because of reasons

I only ever watched the original Broly movie once or twice cus of the suuuper long fight scene ending (and I think it came out, or we borrowed it from Blockbuster, around the time I was losing interest in DBZ)…which is great cus watching it now after the reboot movie has me going in almost totally fresh

Krillin’s puppy song (and how he just pauses then keeps singing after the ship lands X’D so you just hear him wailing in the background during Paragus’ big speech)

Paragus: I’m starting a new planet and I want you to be king Vegeta: :/ Paragus: Uhh…there’s also this big strong bad guy and only YOU can stop him! Vegeta: :/ Trunks: Dad, don’t go with him Vegeta: DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! *goes out of spite*

Vegeta gets to the planet, gets his ear talked off by Paragus, sees Paragus’ whole army, doesn’t react to anything, but takes one look at the big buff shirtless dude covered in jewelry and decides “I want to be alone with that guy for a while” (Trunks: “DAD NO” Vegeta: “DON’T KINKSHAME ME��)

Son “cat trying to convince you it didn’t just eat five minutes ago” Goku

“Golly, who could the Legendary Super Saiyan be?” *shows a whole flashback of Broly being the Legendary Super Saiyan and names the movie “Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan”*

Still gets me that the fan-favorite His Power Is Maximum villain’s weakness is that he flips out at the sight of the guy who cried in the crib next to him when they were babies

I’d still fight Master Roshi if I could risk getting within ten feet of him but thanks man for deflating the tension every time it gets serious here. And more importantly, giving my boy Oolong an actual reason to be here (designated driver). Which kinky freak on staff came up with that sequence of the two of them in bed together though?? XD

Realizing I haven’t seen the old DBZ movies since before my dad got his giant TV, and watching this thing in HD on a huge screen with surround sound blasting the doofy 2000s grunge rock songs shoehorned into the soundtrack just feels so wrong X’D

With Paragus’ whole thing being about trapping Vegeta on this planet so a comet can smush him, how much funnier would it have been if Goku had just shown up and immediately IT’d everyone back to Earth

This version of Broly is SO annoying, OMFG. Hulked-out glowing guy cackling about how he was gonna kill a child, “What do you expect from a true freak?! Wahaha~” Like 100% one of those guys who saw The Dark Knight and went “the Joker’s so dark and edgy, I wanna be just like him” Shut up already

Actually Broly’s fixation on hurting Gohan to upset Goku plus the Trunks-Vegeta dynamic could’ve made for an interesting subplot about father-son relationships, but nope I guess. Gohan and Trunks aren’t even in the reboot movie where they really dig into Paragus’ abuse of Broly (just a brief scene of Goten and Trunks calling Bulma for two seconds to tell her plot stuff)

Piccolo dragging Vegeta to the battle by his hair

I also actually love sad scared Vegeta because it makes him so much more interesting. Goku’s an excitable child whose relationship with martial arts is basically like a good work ethic, so he hears about someone stronger than him and gets all excited cus he wants to test his strength by fighting them. Vegeta’s an arrogant jerk generally used to getting his own way, so he hears about someone stronger than him and his first instinct is to go “pff, no way,” then when it’s clear the person IS much stronger he just shuts down. Probably a remnant of being terrorized and probably physically beaten by Frieza or his minions as a kid, cus you KNOW he wasn’t gonna just start taking orders from some guy who isn’t even his king dad

The classic DBZ squeaky foot noise when Broly walks...bless

“I’m the prince of all Saiyans, even you, Broly” “Then please try your best to make me kneel before you” Get a ROOM

“Did he really think I would die just because this planet is about to explode?”

*gives you my power, but in a tsundere way*

I’d been wanting to watch the first bunch of movies for a while since they use clips from em in the Ocean dub opening, but wound up with the 2nd movie set cus I found a good deal and the Broly reboot made me curious to revisit the original…now I’m torn between going on to Return Of Cooler & Super Android 13 my dumb funny beloveds, or going back to the 1st movie set and working my way up to truly Earn them XD

[secretsofdbz]

Future Trunks' SSJ Transformation is even better than you think, and here's why

So I already did this like, yesterday, but I ended up rewriting it for a discord server and believe it's better this way... So here's a repost :')

So, of course, the scene I'm referencing is Trunks' SSJ transformation against Freeza; watch it before reading, or better, watch it -as- you read, and pause with the frames I posted under the "read more" break.

First, gotta keep in mind the only SSJ transformation we saw this far was Goku's first one, on Namek, and it was a flicking back and forth for a little while until it settled (and actually changed his speech from "ora" to "ore", which blew Gohan's mind as he didn't really recognize that guy as his dad). You already know why/how Goku transformed so I'll skip that. What's important is that Trunks does it by choice and in total control, unlike Goku, and the animation pacing takes its sweet time to show it.

So, first we have confident, slow aura building (after announcing that he too was a SSJ). Again, choice, control, and defiance (gosh I wish he retained any of those in the rest of the saga)

The aura building continues with a classic scream and hair flying up, nothing new here, but it's starting to worry Freeza and Cold who.. stare (because we do do that a lot). Right as the bodies fly off and the ground shakes, the gang reacts; it's like on Namek, it's Goku's ki. And this is when the first change happens: Pupils are gone, but eye color did not change.

And then the SSJ aura sounds kick in the moment he takes the exact same face/smile as the first shot I posted. The timing and fading of Battle Point Unlimited is also satisfying (like seriously, sound design??), as it strikes lower chords at the same time as the aura sounds kick in. And yet, only the aura and the no-pupils are there to start the Goku-PTSD flashback on Freeza.

.By the time Freeza comes out of his PTSD, however, Trunks' eye color changed to the SSJ green. And when the aura (and hair) starts to glow gold (and Battle Point hits its hype moment, again, sound design), this is when Freeza starts to move back and gets looked at by Cold (whose point of view we're following, overall)

Since it's Cold's point of view we follow, when he looks back at Trunks he says "so this is a SSJ", and this is when the transformation is complete: hair settles, eyebrows changed color, and proper golden firey aura.

And it's after THIS that Freeza comments "it's the same eyes!". He couldn't speak before, but if you scroll back up, you'll notice that Freeza reacted with fear/shock right as the pupils disappeared, before even they turned green.

And Trunks notices it and actually comments on it. He knows Freeza is seeing Goku in him. And he's enjoying it. Look at this smug bastard.

So what have we learnt today?

- Freeza remembers people's eyes, more than hair, color, or build. As a good martial artist, it's important to look at your opponent in the eye (it helps predict movements, as people tend to look where they're going to strike). Even if the eye-color and form are the same, the emotion between Goku and Trunks is different (at least compared to the Flashbacks shown; Goku's full of pity during the flashback, while Trunks' are colder)

- The animators and sound designers really worked together for peak timing. (yes yes, I know, stolen, copyrights, etc).

- The switch between serious/angry and confident/smiling as different stages of the build up is super interesting and say a lot about Trunks' duality (get shit done, take no shit ; being Vegeta's kid and finally be able to actually win a fight).

- If each episode of Dragon Ball (especially Z) had had that much attention to detail, and that much money (because "new character introduced" episodes always get extra money and talent), the series would have many more scene-by-scene analysis

- Trunks got such a cool introduction, and such a satisfying prologue, but the middle (even with the Grade 3 fiasco) is absolutely sad.

And on a honorifics/pronouns note, Trunks uses Boku about himself (revealing his young age), but he uses the derogatory, you-are-beneath-me Omae to address Freeza (he does talk to Cold but he doesn't -address- him, just refuses his offer and tell him it's not just the sword :') )

(chronologically speaking, Trunks switches to Ore when coming back after the three year skip, but weirdly enough, pre-time-travel 17Yo Trunks in the TV special already uses Ore, so inconsistencies huzzah).

[dragon-ball-meta]

Yes, a Reddit post. I’m sure so many of you are shocked that our colossally bad take came from there, (and probably from Toyotaro’s burner account lol), but nevertheless, here it is. How to even begin to unpack this... Okay, here we go: 1. Goku’s was hardly the only one who didn’t want to stop Gero. Vegeta literally threatened to KILL anyone who DID try to stop them. Tien wanted to fight them to test his limits. Goku’s desire was to fight them, yes, hello, this is Goku, But he also refused to just find and straight-up kill Gero when he TECHNICALLY hadn’t done anything to warrant it yet. And, as we actually came to see, that’s not an entirely unwarranted stance; things changed between these two timelines even without direct intervention. Unlikely as it was, it was possible that Gero may not have gone through with it. There have been entire books and films on this topic.. 2. This stupid claim just refuses to die. At what point in any part of the fight with Goku and Cell was it even IMPLIED that Goku could have won? Goku stated he’d been going all-out in his fight with Cell, when the Cell Jrs arrived and started attacking, Goku was getting bodied even though they were only about as strong as Vegeta or Trunks, who were both far below him when at full power. Goku could not have beaten Cell. ONLY Gohan could. The boy even said that he’d thought Goku and Cell were both not fighting seriously because they looked to be moving slowly to him. Gohan was already stronger than Goku, before he ever turned SSJ2. Period. And for the love of GOD, STOP with this “severe emotional trauma” nonsense! Gohan had been watching people die, his friends no less, since he was FIVE. In fact, seeing that at FIVE is FAR more likely to have given him any severe and lasting emotional trauma. PICCOLO is more likely to have caused this than Goku. Yes, the Piccolo the OP even then tries to claim is the paragon of fatherhood. Gohan was already afraid of his own anger, he always had a dislike of fighting and hurting people. The thing that shook the boy the most was watching his dad die and knowing it was partly his fault. Even then, he grew up into a healthy, well-adjusted man with his dream job and a family. Just STOP pushing your headcanons onto him for two seconds! 3. THINKS he could have killed Buu. Opted to try to teach those still alive a technique that would enable THEM to kill Buu and keep protecting the Earth even after he was gone. Could have killed Vegeta, yes, and sent him to hell and left Bulma and Trunks broken-hearted. Instead opted to try to reason with him first and allow him to think he’d finally caught up to him so he’d stop obsessing over their power gap to the point of SELLING HIS SOUL TO AN EVIL WIZARD TO GET THE EDGE.. And now, for the completely asinine reasons Goku is eeeeevil: 1. You’re acting as if this isn’t just Goku. That is LITERALLY Goku. Always HAS been Goku. He treats EVERYNE as a peer and potential friend and ADORES the idea of trying to fight strong people. Note that he also ASKED for a spar, didn’t just “attack” or something. This also has nothing to do with a thirst for “power”, it has to do with Goku trying to test himself and push himself to be the greatest warrior it’s possible for him to be. This is the same mentality that had Goku excited for the Tenkaichi Budokai, that had him excited to face Vegeta, that had him spare Piccolo and Vegeta for the sake of  rematch against such a great opponent someday. This is not some sort of development that happened post-Namek, and it’s by no means Evil. Also, how tf did VEGETA supposedly warn him when Vegeta was back on Earth and nowhere to be found?  2. Again... this is just Goku. This is how he is. That doesn’t mean he didn’t care about the plight of others though; Goku doesn’t just sit back and ignore suffering he’s been made aware of, and he helps his friends. But yes, the idea of facing HIMSELF was exciting to him; possibly his ONLY chance to compare his progress to another “version” of himself.  And... I’m sorry, but Goku erupting into a fit of rage over his family’s murder is invalidated because he was mad it used HIS body? Really? NO KIDDING I’d be extra pissed if some psychopath took over my body and murdered my wife and little boy! Who WOULDN’T be pissed about that? The last thing his wife saw was her husband’s face grinning as he cut through her and their son. The last thing Goten saw was his daddy GLEEFULLY murdering him. The fact that he flew into the biggest rage he’d ever had since he first fought FREEZA over this shows how much that hurt him. The fact that you think it was entirely about the use of his body and not their deaths shows a piss-poor ability to analyze what you see on screen, ESPECIALLY as he was upset but mostly indifferent hearing how Zamasu stole his body UNTIL he told Goku he murdered his family too. THEN he flew into a rage. This is also going to invalidate an upcoming point, so pin this.

3. Aaaand... we’re right back to the Tournament of Power itself. The Tournament that literally no one foresaw as having those results. The one that as stated to actually buy one universe that was gonna be wiped anyways a fighting chance to survive, and later turned out to be a massive morality test to allow ALL of said universes to survive. Nevermind that though, this OP here asserts that Goku KNEW it would result in that, was TOLD it would even (he literally was not I am so sick of that claim), and didn’t even KNOW they COULD undo it and STILL wanted it! This is easily the most hardcore anti-Goku stance I have ever seen on this topic This isn’t just chiding him for being ignorant or not listening to warnings (again, not applicable), it’s accusing him of KNOWING Genocide would happen and actually WATING that in the name of a few fights.  This being his stance is further illustrated by his assertion that Goku is indisputably a sociopath. Let’s look at the definition of a sociopath, shall we? “A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.” This is not Goku. OBJECTIVELY not Goku. Goku is far from anti-social, and very much has a strong sense of right and wrong, hence his desire to intervene when he comes across people suffering. Hence why he sought justice for the murder of Upa’s father. Hence why he felt IMMEDIATE REGRET after hearing what the consequences would be for the losers of the ToP, and WHY HE FLEW INTO A RAGE OVER THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE AND SON. Goku is capable of sympathy, empathy, and grasps the concepts of right and wrong. A sociopath he is not. And, of course, the stupid assertion that Goku is a bad father and Piccolo and Vegeta are the REAL examples of fatherhood... which is also erasure of Gohan and Krillin, neither of whom assaulted their daughters, tossed them into the wilderness to fend for themselves, forced them to be fighters and face homicidal aliens at age 5,or nearly let them and their mothers fall to their deaths because they were too absorbed with finding and killing an enemy to prove their superiority. To cap it off, Vegeta and Piccolo have somehow inexplicably become the “symbols of hope” in the series, trying to stop an evil, unhinged Goku from annihilating them all, and he asserts that Vegeta became the REAL hero during... the Cell Saga? The arc where Vegeta literally helped Cell become perfect? And was the hero in the arc where he sold his soul to Babidi, helped resurrect Buu, AND murdered hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people JUST to make Goku mad enough to fight him because he refused to? You know, the thing you actually used as a point of criticism for... GOKU, and are clearly abdicating Vegeta of any and all responsibility for?  Folks, I’ve seen some bad takes in my day, but it’s very, VERY rare to find one this unhinged and frankly inept in one place. This is nuclear levels of Bad Takes here. Just... wow. 

[6rookie-writer0110]

Let's watch the thunder together

Sam Arias x Male Reader

Request- Story starts where R was hanging out in Kara's loft and R ask who's coming for game night and kara told him who's coming and when she mentioned sam. R said "Oh fuck no man And I'm taking this" he took the wine bottle and use the interdimensional extrapolator to go to universe 7. Kara said "what just happened".

Then Goku said their goodbyes and R said "I'm am so sorry about him, I didn't think he would be more of a dumbass than he already is. Fast forward he and sam got along sort of.

Sam moved back to National City not long ago. She is close friends with Lena and Kara and she is happy to be home. Kara invited everyone for a game night in her loft, she is excited, everyone is coming. Sam has been working hard at L-CORP, tonight she is ready to have fun with her friends.

You arrived early because you bought the food and drinks. Kara is happy that you got everything. You help her set up the drinks and food. Kara showed you the board games that everyone will play.

”Lena is coming over with her new friend Sam,” Kara said.

”I once knew someone named Sam but it didn't end well” You said.

”What happened?” Kara asked.

”Long story short, I was the punchline of a cruel joke,” You said.

Kara felt bad for you and she rubbed your arm. Kara was going to say something to cheer you up but Alex and Lena arrived with Sam. You and Sam stared at each other but you are not happy.

”Oh fuck no man and I'm taking this," You said.

Everyone is confused and wanted to ask questions, but you took the wine from Alex and used an interdimensional extrapolator to go to universe 7.

”What just happened?” Kara asked.

Sam sighed.

”We used to know each other. In high school, I went with Y/N to prom has a prank, and my friends used to bully him. I fell in love with him, when he found out that I had to go out with him on a bet well... He didn't want to hear what I had to say. Since then I haven't seen him since” Sam said sadly.

”Give him time, he will come around,” Alex said.

Sam nods and she still feels bad.

---

You are on universe seven. You went to see Vegeta like always he is training in the capsule corp. You start to train with Vegeta and he is always hard on you.

”What are you doing here?” You asked.

Alex came to see you.

”Vegeta, hi,” Alex said.

”Alex. You two are ruining my training section leave or join me” Vegeta said.

You and Alex looked at each other.

”So that is Sam,” Alex said.

”Remember when I told you I was bullied in high school and I dated this girl that had a bet with her stupid friends well that Sam,” You said.

”Yeah, she told us what happened and she stills feels sad about it. I think you should talk to her” Alex said.

You and Alex start to train with Vegeta, it's two against one. He won't go easy on Alex because she doesn't have powers, he wants Alex to get strong. Alex tries to dodge Vegeta’s attacks but he is faster.

”I don't want to speak with her,” You said.

You start to kick Vegeta.

”You should talk to her,” Vegeta said.

”See, even Vegeta agrees and he isn't much of a talker,” Alex said.

”I will think about it,” You said.

Vegeta punched you in the stomach and you fall.

”See, thinking about problems you didn't block my punch,” Vegeta said.

You are on the ground gasping for air.

”Y-you-”

You couldn't finish your sentence.

”Oh, and Kara will have game night this weekend so you better come,” Alex said.

Much later~

You, Alex, and Vegeta are taking a break. Bulma gave you and them more water to drink.

”Y/N, where is the four dragon ball star?” Bulma asked.

You start to think and you scratched your head.

”Somewhere on earth-38,” You said.

She started to yell at you because you're being careless with the dragon balls. You and Vegeta get scared when she starts to scream.

”You better go back and get it!! You know how hard it's to find it! If you don't get it, I will make your life a living hell!!” Bulma screamed.

”I’m sorry!!! I will go get it! Alex let's go!!” You said terrified.

You and Alex ran away from Bulma.

---

Before the night ended, you took Alex back to her home. And you almost forgot the 4 dragon ball star, but you had to go back to Kara’s loft. Sam is talking with Lena and Kara.

”So, you two know each other?” Lena asked.

”Unfortunately” You mumbled.

You see the dragon ball on the table you grabbed it. Before you left, you went to the kitchen and started to steal Kara’s food. It's not the first time you steal food from Kara’s Kitchen.

You left and went straight to Bulma’s house and gave her the dragon ball. You went home, you lie in your bed and think about Sam.

✫ ✯ ✧ ✬

You are jogging in the park. You caught the soccer ball and the girl walked towards you.

”I’m sorry I almost hit you with my soccer ball,” She said.

She reminds you of Sam a little bit. You see Sam walking towards you and she smiled at you.

”Hey Y/N,” Sam said.

You give back the soccer ball.

”Hi Sam,” You said.

”This is my daughter, Ruby. Y/N can we talk?” Sam said.

Ruby went to play with her friends.

”Yeah sure,” You said.

You and Sam sit on the bench.

”Y/N, I'm sorry what happened in high school. I should have done something but I didn't, I know you hate me and I don't blame you” Sam said.

”Sam, saying sorry it's not enough. But... There's no point holding a grudge against you. I forgive you and I want us to move on and start over” You said.

You and Sam smile at each other and she hugged you.

”Maybe we can go out tonight?” Sam said.

”Yeah, we can do that,” You said.

----

You and Sam just finished eating at a restaurant. You and Sam are having a good time and talked about everything. She is making you smile more and she can't stop smiling at you.

Trunks and Goten are eating at a restaurant, the table is being filled with empty plates. They have a huge appetite and keep eating a lot.

”Trunks, you have the money?” Goten asked.

”Money? I don't have money” Trunks said.

”We need to pay. I don't have money” Goten said.

They start to think. They sneaked out of the restaurant but the manager saw them. Now the manager is chasing Trunks and Goten. The boys just kept running without looking they crashed into you.

”You kids better pay now!” The manager yelled.

”Trunks and Goten what are you doing here!?” You said.

”We are at a restaurant and we don't have money,” Goten said.

You stand up and you offered to pay and the manager accepted the cash.

”We found the interdimensional extrapolator, we touched the button and it took us here. Is she your girlfriend?” Trunks said.

”No, I'm his friend Sam,” Sam said.

”You are pretty. You should be his girlfriend-”

”Goten shut up,” You said.

”Y/N and Sam sitting on a tree-”

Trunks and Goten kept teasing you and Sam, she just giggled. You are telling them to shut up but they won't.

You took Sam home. Trunks and Goten are jumping on your bed

”Did you ask her to be your girlfriend?” Goten asked.

”No, I didn't ask her,” You said.

They keep jumping on the bed.

”You should ask her,” Trunks said.

”Try not to break anything and don't eat my food,” You said.

You left the bedroom to take a shower. Trunks and Goten grabbed your phone and found Sam’s phone number and called her. Trunks try to mimic your voice and think Sam will fall for it.

”Sam, it's me Y/N I want you to be my girlfriend,” Trunks said.

Sam is smiling hard and tries not to laugh.

”Wow, Y/N I had no idea you want to be my boyfriend,” Sam said.

”You are pretty so you are my girlfriend. Bye! I have to give my stuff to Trunks and he is really cool” Trunks said.

He hangs up the phone. Much later, the boys fell asleep on your bed. Sam sent you a text and told you what Trunks did. You couldn't help to laugh.

---

Next-Day...

You were going to spend time with Sam alone, but Trunks and Goten tagged along. Sam thinks it's cute how you get along with the boys.

”Pizza!!!” The boys yelled with joy.

You arrived at your apartment with pizza. They just grabbed it and started to eat like pigs.

”They sure eat a lot,” Sam said.

”They train a lot so huge appetites. They will leave you broke all the time” You said.

Goku arrived and he gave you a bear hug. Goten is happy to see his father, then you introduced Goku to Sam.

”Oh is this your girlfriend?

”Goku shut up!” You spat.

Sam didn't know what to say.

”Oh she is your girlfriend! Y/N she is really pretty-”

You punched Goku in the stomach. You felt he was embarrassing you.

”Take the boys with you, they are eating my food,” You said.

”Dad!!” Goten yelled with joy and jumped on his dad.

”I should take them home, Bulma and Chi-Chi are worried and angry at them,” Goku said.

Trunks and Goten are scared now and they hold on to Goku tight.

”Bye, Y/N’s girlfriend!!” They all yelled and left.

You sighed and Sam can't stop smiling.

”I'm am so sorry about him, I didn't think he would be more of a dumbass than he already is” You said.

”They are nice and funny. I don't mind seeing them around” Sam said.

✫ ✯ ✧ ✬

You and Sam have been spending a lot of time together. Your feelings for Sam.has gotten stronger and Sam wonders if you want to be her boyfriend.

You invited Sam, Ruby, and super friends to a party on universe 7. Bulma is throwing a party on the Capsule Corp ferry. You introduced everyone to each other, they are getting along. Everyone loves the food and the party is going great.

You are spending alone with the guys, you thought of an idea along with Yamcha, Master Roshi, and Oolong. Two women walked into the room, the music starts to play.

”Guys, what is going on?” Goku asked.

”Oh, you will find out in a little bit” Oolong has a huge grin.

”Y/N, are they here?” Master Roshi asked.

”The show will start now” You smirked.

The two strippers start to take off their clothes.

”Why are they taking off their clothes?” Goku asked in confusion.

You and the others are watching the two strippers dance. Goku closed his eyes then Chi Chi walked and she started to yell. Everyone blamed the idea on you, she glared and she yelled at you again.

”Chi-Chi it's harmless. Goku barely looked at them” You said.

You give her thumbs up and she gave you the finger. She smacked your head

”Hey that hurts” You whine.

You start to rub your head.

”That's what you get, Y/N,” Chi-Chi said.

She dragged Goku out of the room, while you and the other guys watch the strippers dance.

---

Still, on the ferry, you went to spend time with Sam alone. You and Sam stand by the balcony and watch the beautiful sunset, you take a selfie with Sam. Your hand is on top of her hand and she kissed your cheek, you blushed.

”Having fun?” You asked.

”Yes, I'm having fun. Goku is like a huge kid in a men’s body but he sure can eat a lot. Where does the food go?” Sam said.

You and Sam laughed.

”Are you dating anyone?” You asked.

”No. I have been single for a while now, what about you?” Sam said.

”I have been on dates but I haven't been in a relationship,” You said.

You and Sam stare at each other, she bites her bottom lip.

---

You and Sam went to check on Ruby and the others.

”How did you and my mom meet?” Ruby said.

”We met in high school, she was the popular girl and I wasn't popular. A teacher made us work together on a project, we had to take care of a game baby” You said.

”We couldn't agree on the name so we named the baby, baby,” Sam said.

Ruby laughed.

---

You and Sam joined the others to eat. Goku again is eating a lot and he put his arm around your shoulder.

”Can you turn Super Saiyan 4?” Goku asked.

”Why do you ask?” You said.

”Whis said you can do it. I want to see” Goku said.

”What is Super Saiyan 4?” Kara asked.

”Super Saiyan 4 is, the form gives the fighter the super strength and speed of a Great Ape, but with a calm, clever mind. But for others, it can make them very cold and aggressive. Y/N would have different hair color, also would have a tail and his body is covered in red fur. His eyes possess a shadow to trim around their eyes and over the eyelids that vary in color, such as crimson. The hair is lengthened while becoming wilder, reaching down to the middle of their back, while two long pointed bangs of hair appear on both sides of the neck. It also makes the individual considerably larger in height and muscularity ” Whis said.

”Sam and Ruby are here,” You said.

”I want to see you transform,” Sam said.

”Me too! Y/N you should do it” Kara said.

”Okay, I will do it,” You said.

You moved away from everyone, you get in your stance. Everyone watches you change into Super Saiyan 4, everyone is impressed and they like your new form.

✫ ✯ ✧ ✬

You are at work sitting at your desk, you get mail. You opened the package, you take out an old picture of you and Sam back in high school.

”I can't believe I thought that was cool,” You said to yourself.

You are talking about your fashion style. Sam sent you a text...

Sam- I found this and the old mixtape you made for me. Also, I made you a mix cd. I know its old school 😜

You take out the cd and you read the playlist. You can't stop smiling.

---

You come out of work and Sam is waiting for you.

”Hey, you,” You said.

”Y/N, I thought we can go on a date right now,” Sam said.

”Wow, you beat me to the punch. I was going to ask you over the phone” You said.

You and Sam smile at each other.

”I’m sorry... If I ruined the moment” Sam said.

You shake your head.

”No, you didn't ruin anything. Yes, I will go out on a date with you” You said

You and Sam can't stop smiling at each other.

”Do remember that go-kart place we used to go. We had a race and I almost won but you cheated” Sam said.

”I remember winning and it wasn't my fault that you lost,” You said.

”Well, I want a rematch,” Sam said.

”Oh, I will give you the rematch and you will lose again,” You said.

--

You and Sam started to race and did three laps, she won. You wanted a rematch but she didn't want the rematch. You and Sam have dinner at the snack bar.

”Best first date I had in a while,” You said.

”Me too. And no you won't get the rematch” Sam said.

You and Sam laughed. You kissed Sam and she kissed you back.

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XXXV

Part Thirty-Five:  Waiting For You: Part Two

 Ten minutes earlier.

 Krillin and 18’s wedding brought a mini-reunion for everyone. Not since the Cell Game has Piccolo or Dende seen Vegeta. The lone full-blooded Saiyan looked sharp but annoyed in his dark suit and tie. He sat on the sofa with Bulma’s parents as they entertained Trunks. Master Roshi paced, waiting and rehearsing his lines for the ceremony.

 “18 is almost ready,” Bulma announced when she reached the bottom of the stairs. She noticed two important people still not in the room. “But the wedding’s gonna start late if the best man and the man to walk 18 down the aisle don’t hurry up.”

 As if on cue, the door opened and 17 stepped in. Eyes turned to him as 17 scanned everyone with sly eyes. “Who would’ve thought my sister’s wedding will bring us all together again?” 17 spotted Vegeta. “Vegeta…. didn’t expect you here.”

 Vegeta looked away. 17 wanted to say something he knew will rile Vegeta but since this is his sister’s day, he bit his tongue. “So, where’s my sister?”

 “Upstairs. First room on the left.” 17 followed Bulma’s instructions. “One down. Now if only Yamcha will show up so the wedding can start on time.”

 As if on cue again, the door opened. Gohan and Goten walked in first followed by Krillin, Yamcha and a man no one other than Bulma has seen. Piccolo and Vegeta looked at the new guy with immediate suspicion. Vegeta also noticed Gohan looked agitated. That with Bulma’s smile at the guy was concerning.

 “Hey, everyone.” Yamcha knew this was not a good idea. He tried to talk Kenji out of it but his friend insisted. “I meant to be earlier but my friend, Kenji, wanted to come. He’s my teammate.”

 Kenji, Vegeta wondered, who the hell is that?

 Kenji flashed a charming smile as he went around the room introducing himself. When he came to Vegeta, he paused. “Oh….. you must be Vegeta.” He abruptly turned away.

 One sharp eyebrow rose on Vegeta’s face at the sudden coldness. What was that about?

 “Are you two ill?” Kenji asked Piccolo and Dende. “Your faces are green.”

 Piccolo’s glare at Yamcha had the human stepping back. “Why is he here? This is a private wedding.”

 “He’s here to see ChiChi,” Bulma smirked. “I knew she didn’t get rid of you. I bet you came to be ChiChi’s date. Gohan,” she gently pushed the boy towards the stairs. “Tell ChiChi Kenji is here.”

 Gohan hesitated but did as asked. Goten followed after him.

 “Date?” Living with Goku’s family for three years, Piccolo picked up human terms. He knew what date meant and he didn’t like it ChiChi was doing it without Goku. “I thought ChiChi could only date Goku.”

 “Goku’s dead so ChiChi is free to date whomever she wants,” Bulma explained. “Don’t be a prude, Piccolo.”

 “Prude?” Another term he learned and it was insulting. “I’ll never understand you humans.”

 “Oooh,” Mrs. Briefs’ eyes swept over Kenji. “First Goku and now Kenji. ChiChi knows how to pick handsome men.”

“Mom,” Bulma politely warned her mother. “This is ChiChi’s guy. You can’t have drinks with him.”

 Everyone grew silent when ChiChi came down the stairs. Vegeta kept his suspicious eyes on ChiChi. He watched her talk to Kenji, let him touch her back and escort her outside. As soon as the two left, questions flew from everyone.

 “ChiChi’s dating?! 18 never told me this!” Krillin slapped Yamcha’s arm. “Yamcha, why didn’t you say anything?”

 “I didn’t know! I only knew Kenji was interested.” Yamcha didn’t like being out of the loop, too. “I thought it was all one-sided.”

 “That’s not true,” Bulma gleamed happily. “ChiChi’s smitten with him but she knows the game. Men are hunters. Let them hunt.”

 “Is it serious?” Krillin wanted to know.

 “It has to be. He’s here, isn’t he?”

 “I guess.” The idea of ChiChi dating didn’t sit right with Krillin. “I never imagined ChiChi dating anyone. She’s been loyal to Goku for so long. She stuck it out when he was dead and away after his fight with Freeza. She waited years to marry him. It feels like a betrayal.”

 “A betrayal?” Bulma scoffed at the idea. “Goku’s not coming back this time. Do you expect ChiChi to sleep alone for the rest of her life? ChiChi has an attractive, rich guy interested in her. You should be cheering for her and not think she should stay loyal to a dead guy who refused to come back!”

 “Well,” Yamcha snorted, “we all know why---”

 Bulma raised a finger silencing Yamcha, “Don’t you finish that sentence.”

 “Ugh!” Vegeta jumped to his feet. “You all make me sick with your petty gossiping! I did not come here to hear about Kakarrot’s wife’s love life!” Vegeta stormed out and slammed the door.

 Outside, Vegeta waited. He wondered if he acted too over the top but no one coming outside confirmed he didn’t. He followed ChiChi’s Ki. He found her pressed against the wall of the house with Kenji leering over her.

“You’re hot when you’re angry.”

Who the hell is this ass?

 “Don’t kiss me.”

 “Carnal thoughts about me again?” Kenji joked. “I’m flattered. Now I know the feelings between us are mutual.”

 This damn woman. You’re practically begging this fool to kiss you. Kakarrot, you damn fool. Didn’t you do it right?!

 Vegeta watched as Kenji caressed ChiChi’s face. He looked as if he will kiss ChiChi and she will allow it.

 Ah, hell.

 Vegeta cleared his throat. Kenji and ChiChi turned in his direction.

 “Leave,” Vegeta demanded. “Now.”

 Leave? Kenji didn’t like Vegeta’s tone. It was a demand. Kenji didn’t like Vegeta for what he did to Yamcha. If Vegeta thought he will push him around, he’s in for a world of shock. Kenji pointed to himself. “Do you mean me?”

 “Yes.”

 “What for?” Kenji stepped forward. “I’m talking to ChiChi.”

 “I say you’re done talking. Leave,” Vegeta repeated. “Now.”

 “No,” Kenji refused. “Whatever you want to say to ChiChi, you can say to me. I know I’m the topic. Though I don’t know why it’s your business.”

 Vegeta kept his eyes on ChiChi. “I make it my business.”

 “Well, don’t,” Kenji pushed back. “It’s not your business. Your business is with the woman you stole from Yamcha and that illegitimate kid of yours.”

 “Illegitimate?” the word was unfamiliar to Vegeta. “There’s nothing illegal about it. Trunks is my son.”

 Kenji couldn’t decipher if Vegeta was joking or being intentionally stupid. “He’s your son all right and I know how fatherly you’re not to him. There’s more to being a father than donating your sperm. Have you hugged yet? Played or spent time with him?”

 Vegeta’s eyebrow shot up. Bulma’s lips were loose again but he didn’t think it was ChiChi who told Kenji how he behaves around Trunks.

 “It’s okay, Kenji,” ChiChi tried to assure him. “Give me and Vegeta some time to talk.”

 Kenji stepped closer to ChiChi. He didn’t like the look on Vegeta’s face. “I don’t think you should be alone with him, ChiChi. I don’t trust him.”

 Vegeta smirked, intrigued. “You don’t? My appearance threatens you that much?”

 “No, but I know your type. I know what you did to Yamcha.”

 Vegeta chuckled. This was getting interesting. “And is that why you fear ChiChi being alone with me?” The man was spineless like Yamcha. Vegeta shook his head at ChiChi. All that fire in her and this is what she settles with without any Saiyans around. “I can’t believe you degrade yourself with this. Where’s your pride?”

 “ChiChi isn’t degrading herself with me, Shorty.”

 “Shorty?!”

 “Kenji,” ChiChi intervened. This was getting out of hand. “You don’t have to have to worry about me being alone with Vegeta or any man.” She knew Kenji meant well but the implication she couldn’t be alone with a man without being seduce was insulting. “I’m not like that.”

“Listen to the woman,” Vegeta advised Kenji. “You’re too beneath me to fight but if you don’t shut your damn mouth and leave, you will force me to act.”

 “I’m beneath you?” Kenji tossed his head back in a cocky laugh. From what Yamcha told him of Vegeta, Kenji saw it the other way around. He sized up Vegeta. Height didn’t always mean anything but Kenji had plenty over Vegeta and whatever fighting skills Vegeta had, Kenji was confident in his. Vegeta was an arrogant short man with a lot of mouth. “At least I have a job you freeloading shrimp and I have more dignity in myself than to live off my rich baby Momma.”

 ChiChi’s mouth fell open. Kenji will be killed if this wasn’t stopped. “Kenji!” ChiChi warned. “Please, go inside. I’ll be fine talking to Vegeta.”

 “Why?” Kenji protested. “I’m not getting punked by him.”

 “This is a wedding of my friend,” ChiChi reminded him, “and I don’t want any fighting.”

 Kenji’s temper cooled slightly. A fight at a wedding was not a good look and not a way to impress ChiChi. He wanted to be civil but Vegeta pushed his buttons. “I don’t how Yamcha lost his girl to you and why he never kicked your ass for what you did.”

 “Because that fool is smart. Unlike you.”

 “You’re lucky we’re at a wedding. If we weren’t, I’d fight you right now and deflate that oversized ego of yours.”

 “You? Fight me?” Vegeta mimicked Kenji, tossing his head back in a cocky laugh. “I’ll kill you before you take one step to me.”

 “Kill? Oooo,” Kenji feigned fear at Vegeta’s words. “I don’t cower to empty threats but I have too much class to fight you now but you name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

 “Kenji!” ChiChi screamed. Did this man want to die?

 “So anxious to die?” Vegeta laughed again. It amused him he was getting under this human’s skin. How pathetic. Vegeta tutted at ChiChi disappointed. “You spurn loyalty to Kakarrot for this? He was never thin-skinned and weak.”

 “Who’s Kakarrot?” Kenji asked. “ChiChi was married to Son Goku.”

 Vegeta’s eyes lit up as ChiChi squirmed. “He doesn’t know?”

 “Know what?” Kenji demanded. As he waited for ChiChi to answer, he grew more agitated at her silence. “Who is Kakarrot? Is he someone you dated after Goku?”

 From 18’s window, 17 saw the conversation between ChiChi, Kenji and Vegeta. “It’s getting interesting down there. Funny, how everyone thought Vegeta and me would get into a fight at your wedding when it’s Vegeta and ChiChi’s boyfriend.”

 Kenji looked ready to throw fists and Vegeta appeared on the verge of losing his patience. “Maybe you should intervene.”

 17 chuckled at his sister’s suggestion. “How much did you put in the pool for me to fight Vegeta?”

 “Not enough for this to happen.”

 17 winced hearing a zinger Kenji gave Vegeta about his height. “So, what do you think of this guy?”

 “I think it wouldn’t hurt if ChiChi gave him a chance. Her husband isn’t coming back but it is her choice.”

 “This is something you have to think about, too,” 17 told her. “Our power runs forever. You will outlive Krillin. Will you be able to move on?”

 “Just me?” 18 questioned. “What about you? You won’t be a bachelor forever. You haven’t found anyone to be more than a weekly bed partner?”

 “Not yet but I have plenty of time.”

 Gohan and Goten stayed in the hallway when ChiChi went downstairs. They heard the shouting from everyone over ChiChi and Kenji. Gohan remained upstairs to protect him and Goten from an interrogation.

 “Big brother?” Goten curiously asked. “Why is everyone yelling? Is Mr. Kenji a bad man?”

 He wasn’t a bad man but Gohan didn’t think Kenji was entirely good either. Gohan thought it was odd Kenji offered his mother a job but his suspicions wore off when it seemed legit. His mother was happy about the money but suspicions about Kenji rose again when he took them to South City. Gohan noticed how Kenji looked at his mother. It was the same looks his Dad gave Mom. Gohan didn’t like it. Once, ChiChi bent over to pick up a toy Goten dropped. It was brief but Gohan saw Kenji staring at ChiChi’s backside. There was also the way Kenji behaved around Goten. He playfully teased him, placed Goten on his shoulder when he couldn’t reach a prize and Kenji always got Goten anything he wanted. It reminded Gohan of the times his Dad did that for him.

 “He’s not but no one knows him so they are curious.”

 “They mention Daddy.” Goten twiddled his thumbs nervously. “Is Momma doing something bad being friends with Mr. Kenji?”

 “No, Goten. Mom’s not doing anything bad. Everyone is confused now.”

 “Okay,” Goten accepted that answer. “I like Mr. Kenji.”

 Too bad, Gohan thought. He didn’t feel the same way.

 Kenji never liked when everyone knew something he didn’t. Judging from the looks ChiChi and Vegeta exchanged, this Kakarrot person was someone important and he wanted to know who he is. “Who is Kakarrot?”

 “Kakarrot is Goku’s birth name,” ChiChi answered “He didn’t know about it until he became an adult. Goku had an adoptive grandfather who named him Goku. Only Vegeta calls him by his birth name.”

 “Oh.” Was that really all? “Didn’t know Goku’s adopted.”

 “There’s a lot you don’t know,” Vegeta grew impatient, “and you’re wasting my time. Leave.”

 “No!”

 “Kenji,” ChiChi touched his shoulder. “It’s fine. With everyone here, you can be sure nothing will happen. Vegeta wouldn’t dare do anything with my son, Gohan, around. He’s very strong.”

 Vegeta rolled his eyes at the zing.

 “All right,” Kenji reluctantly accepted. “Just holler if he does anything and I’ll be here.”

 With a final glare at Vegeta, Kenji walked off. Vegeta kept his eyes on Kenji until he disappeared around a corner. Gone, Vegeta turned back to ChiChi and received a slap to his face. “Before you speak,” ChiChi began, “I haven’t degraded myself and I haven’t spurned loyalty to Goku!”

 Vegeta clenched a fist. The audacity. This was the second time she did this. If she wasn’t the mate of a Saiyan and the mother of one who saved his life…... He spat, “You spurned your loyalty being with that.”

 “His name is Kenji and I’m not with him.”

 Vegeta scoffed. “Could’ve fooled me. You two seem very familiar with each other. You’re touching him. He’s touching you. If I hadn’t interrupted, you would’ve kissed him.”

 “It’s not your business if I did.”

 “The hell it’s……!” he refrained from raising his voice. “Kakarrot gave his life for you and the pitiful people of this planet. You as his mate are required to stay loyal to him. After everything he’s done, he deserves that! If Kakarrot fucked you good enough, you wouldn’t even be thinking of another man. I thought the sentimental fool could do that right.”

 The second slap was harder than the second!

 “And what do I deserve? I was left pregnant! I am raising two boys on my own! I have to make sure there’s enough money to pay for food, clothes and everything my sons will need while making sure my house doesn’t fall apart! If it’s not one thing like needing a new refrigerator or brakes for my truck, it’s something else like a new stove!”

 “So, you’re whoring yourself in hopes of being taken care of?” This time Vegeta caught ChiChi’s slap.

 ChiChi pulled but Vegeta wouldn’t release her wrist. “Isn’t that what you’re doing with Bulma?” ChiChi fired back. “After all these years, you still haven’t changed. She tries and tries with you; takes the little bit of attention you toss at her and in return she does everything; cares for your child, provides you with a home and everything you need without you lifting a finger or earning a zeni. At least Goku spent time with Gohan and worked occasionally. You don’t do anything. I know you went through a lot under Freeza but you were pampered then like you are now.”

 ChiChi’s words felt like a third slap to his face. Vegeta snarled at her. His grip tightened slightly as he raged. “You don’t know anything about what my life was like under Freeza!”

 ChiChi wasn’t intimidated by Vegeta’s fury. “I know enough from what Goku and Bulma told me. Freeza was a tyrant and you did his bidding but the way you speak and conduct yourself tells your life, too. You were pampered, educated and told you are the strongest Saiyan because you were born a Saiyan Prince with high power. I’m guessing, but I doubt Goku’s brother was treated the same as you. You thought no one was stronger than you and it galled you, my husband, my low-class warrior Goku shattered that image so many filled your arrogant head with! Because of my husband you were rewarded with a rich life where you continue to do what you want and nothing for those who do care for you in exchange for being taken care of. So…..” she tossed the question back, “who’s being the whore?”

 Same fighting spirit. If she weren’t tied to him, he would kill her but seeing how defiant ChiChi stood, showing no fear for retaliation, he admired her guts.

 “Still fiery,” Vegeta complimented as he released ChiChi’s hand. “But mentioning Freeza was low.”

 ChiChi rubbed her wrist. “And what you said wasn’t?”

Perhaps it was but Vegeta saw no other way to get his point across to ChiChi her actions were blasphemous. “Saiyans can go through multiple partners. Nappa told me a Saiyan could have two mates together or go through many over time. However, if the Saiyan is elite and dies an honorable death the living partner is considered untouchable. Kakarrot wasn’t born elite but he earned that status.”

 “So, you think I’m breaking Saiyan laws?” That explained Vegeta’s behavior to her and Kenji. “I love Goku. I never considered dating anyone when he died. I didn’t look for Kenji. He found me. When he told me his feelings I thought my silence meant no. Kenji showed up today because my answer wasn’t clear.” ChiChi thought it was but knew she was fooling herself. “I guess I wasn’t clear because maybe I am having doubts on what I should do. I’m not a Saiyan, Vegeta. I’m a human and laws are different.  We are allowed to move on after our spouse dies. Some do. Some don’t. I thought I was in the category of those who don’t. Maybe I shouldn’t be.”

 Silence followed. The only sounds between them were ocean waters rolling on the beach and seagulls flying over them. Hearing ChiChi’s explanation, Vegeta understood why they saw things differently.

 “I stand by what I said before. Don’t give a damn what Kakarrot’s friends say. That includes Bulma.” Vegeta exhaled as he released a tired sigh. Living on this damn planet was having an effect on him he didn’t like. He was getting soft. “Do as you wish but know Kakarrot is alone, too. You have your sons, your father and Kakarrot’s friends. Kakarrot doesn’t have anyone.”

 ****

 “Sorry, ChiChi,” Yamcha apologized. “I shouldn’t have told Kenji about the wedding. If I’d known all this would happen, I never would’ve told him. I didn’t want drama on Krillin and 18’s day. That’s why Nasima isn’t here.”

 ChiChi thought it was odd Yamcha’s girlfriend was absent. She was with everyone at Bulma’s party where they met 18. “Why?”

 Yamcha rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “My girlfriend knows more about everyone than Kenji but that party at Bulma’s house, turned her off.”

 ChiChi suspected the reason. “That incident between 18 and Vegeta was dangerous.”

 “It was Bulma that turned her off. Nasima knows what happened between us. She even said I share blame for our breakup but Bulma…..” Yamcha shook his head. “Love her still but you know how cocky Bulma can be. It rubbed Nasima wrong.”

 ChiChi recalled Bulma’s comments about Nasima when she came to the party. If Nasima got those vibes, she understood her reasons for staying away.

 Yamcha sighed as he signaled Gohan to start the music. “I’m gonna need a drink once the ceremony is over.”

 Gohan pressed a button on the sound system Yamcha brought for the wedding. As the music began, Yamcha and ChiChi walked down the beach aisle as Maid of Honor and Best Man. There were only ten guests with five chairs on each side. Kenji sat on the end of the bridal row.  ChiChi looked ahead pretending Kenji wasn’t there but knew his eyes were on her.

 Once ChiChi and Yamcha were in their places, Gohan switched tracks to the bridal march where everyone stood. Vegeta remained seated until Bulma smack him to stand. Krillin stood at the altar a happy groom. A tear rolled down his cheek as 18 walked to him escorted by her brother. When 17 and 18 reached the altar, Krillin stepped forward to take 18’s arm. 17 stared down Krillin. There were worries of a fight to break out between the two but 17 smiled, lightly jab Krillin’s cheek, linked Krillin’s hand with 18’s and took his seat.

 Master Roshi acted as a proud father as he orated the ceremony. He kept his opening speech brief as he wished Krillin and 18 well. There was light humor when Master Roshi asked if anyone felt Krillin and 18 shouldn’t marry. All eyes turned to Vegeta briefly before Master Roshi carried on with the vows.

 Watching Krillin and 18 say their vows reminded ChiChi of her and Goku at the wedding. If he were alive, he would’ve escorted her down the aisle as Krillin’s best man. If he were here, there wouldn’t be a Kenji and the unease he won’t leave her life so easily.

 After the vows and rings were exchanged, Master Roshi announced, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” Master Roshi grinned perversely. “Oh, you two didn’t kiss when I was around but you can’t hide from me now!”

 Blushing, Krillin rubbed his neck chuckling. “Nope. You got us there.”

 “All right, Old Man. Enjoy your only look.” 18 grabbed Krillin, dipped him and planted a kiss firmly on his lips to loud chuckles, whistles and applause. When Krillin stood upright, he was speechless with his tomato-colored face.

 After a group picture of the bride and groom with all the wedding guests, Bulma took pictures of the newly married couple on the beach while Gohan and Dende removed the seats and placed them against the house. Yamcha took over the music as DJ. A mixture of Pop, Rock and R&B boomed over the tiny island. ChiChi and Mrs. Briefs were in the kitchen arranging all the catered food. Kenji assisted them while Master Roshi prepared drinks as the bartender. Dr. Briefs and 17 kept an eye on Trunks and Goten chasing each other around the table of wedding gifts while Piccolo and Vegeta stood opposite sides of the room eyeing Kenji.  

 When the wedding reception was ready to start, everyone gathered in Master Roshi’s house to see Krillin and 18 cut the four-tier wedding cake and give a brief speech. Krillin and 18 stood together as all the adults except 18 and Piccolo held a glass of wine.

 “It’s crowded in here so 18 and I will make this speech quick. We want to thank everyone for coming, your gifts and helping out. ChiChi, thank you for making this beautiful dress for 18 and being such a good friend to her and so forgiving of me. Bulma, thank you for the food. We butted heads a few times but you’re a great friend. Master Roshi, Yamcha, thanks for the music and decorations and being a friend and the best father figure a guy could have. 17, I’ll do my best to take care of 18. Piccolo, we’ve been through a lot together and I’m glad to call you friend.” Krillin looked around the room with glistening tears. “There’s one more person I wish was here to make this day perfect but I know he’s smiling down on us.” Krillin raised a glass. “Goku, you’re the best. Without you, none of us would be in this room together. We all went from rivals and enemies to lifelong friends.” Krillin sniffed overwhelmed with emotion. He grasped 18’s hand as he needed her to help him get control of himself. “Shall we tell them? I can’t hold it back anymore.” 18 nodded. “You do it. I talked enough.”

 “You would put me on the spot,” 18 dryly scolded him. “Krillin and I have something to say. A few know but we wanted to wait until now.” 18 exhaled. Now she needed a moment to get control of herself. “I’m pregnant. Krillin and I are going to have a baby.”

 The announcement was met with cheers and applause.

 “Way to go, Krillin!” Yamcha cheered.

 “That’s my boy!” Master Roshi raised his glass.

 “Well, well,” 17 applauded slowly at the news. “So, this is a shotgun wedding.”

 “Shut up,” 18 jabbed her brother’s ribs.  

 “We really are family now. I’m gonna be an uncle. Cool.” He stepped closer and whispered. “You’ve been to a doctor? Is everything okay?”

 “So far, so good,” 18 sipped her cider. She placed her hand on her stomach, happy to no longer keep this a secret. “I’m four months. Also,” she whispered, “it’s a girl.”

 17 put an arm around 18 and gave her a quick hug. “Good. If it were a boy, I wouldn’t still be the most handsome one. A niece will always adore me.”

 “And the stolen things you will bring her?” 18 quipped.

 “Yep.” 17 sipped his wine. “I will be the best uncle.”

 After congratulations to Krillin and 18, the reception broke into two groups inside and outside. Vegeta stayed inside. He had food on several plates occupying the square table in front of the TV while everyone else preferred to party and eat outside. After Gohan fixed his plates, he went outside with Goten. This left ChiChi alone to fix her and Goten’s plates. Piccolo approached.  

 “What is this situation between you and Kenji?”

 ChiChi turned her head giving Piccolo a ‘not you, too’ look. “Let me guess. You heard me, Vegeta and Kenji talking.”

 “Ears like these don’t miss much and Kenji nearly got himself killed arguing with Vegeta. He’s causing a lot of trouble. Is he worth it?”

 ChiChi resumed fixing the plates. “I don’t even know him like that to make that assumption.”

 “But you’re curious?” Piccolo figured. “Even living with you and Goku, I don’t understand human emotions and needs but I’m guessing those are the needs you’re missing with Goku gone that you want to be fulfilled by Kenji.”

 ChiChi raised her head to meet Piccolo’s scrutinizing glare. “A guy notices me and everyone’s suddenly interested in me, my life and what I do with it.”

 “That’s the attention you get being Son’s wife. They’re all here because of him. You’re a fool if you think they wouldn’t say something.”

 “They?” ChiChi questioned. “You’re not including yourself?”

 “No. I only make observations.”

 “And?” ChiChi pried. “What do you observe?”

 “Kenji is showy and attention-seeking. He could’ve waited until after the wedding to talk to you but he chose this moment to bring attention to what you obviously tried to deal with privately. That’s a sign of things to come if you choose a relationship with him.”

 ChiChi lived with Piccolo merged with a Namek named Nail for three years and he wasn’t this philosophical. “Who’s speaking right now? Piccolo or Kami?”

 He didn’t answer. “You didn’t answer my question about what needs you’re missing and seeking from Kenji.”

 “I’m not missing those needs.”

 Piccolo sipped his water. “I find that surprising.”

 ChiChi’s eyes thinned as her ire rose at Piccolo’s implications. “And why is that?”

 “Well….” Piccolo’s green cheeks turned purple, “it wasn’t a rare thing between you and Son. I lived with you for three years. Do you know how many times I ripped my ears off when you and Son were mating? How many times I put on those headphones you gave me to drown your sounds out? If you do something that frequently and it suddenly stops……” Piccolo shuddered as the visual popped in his mind, “it’s a little hard to believe you don’t have needs to do that again if the opportunity presents itself.”

 One thing ChiChi knew she could count on from Piccolo is his blunt honesty. Even if the topic is uncomfortable, he speaks his mind. “With you and Vegeta, I know what it’s like to have overprotective brothers.”

 The dead face Piccolo gave her left ChiChi in giggles. “You didn’t have to insult me comparing me to Vegeta.”

 Amused, ChiChi left the house balancing her and Goten’s plates and her glass. “Here. Let me help you,” Kenji suddenly appeared. He took a couple of plates from ChiChi and pointed to her right. “The boys are over there.”

 Gohan and Goten sat together chair dancing to the music. ChiChi sat next to Goten. The seat next to her was empty. Gohan rose intending to take the empty seat but Kenji quickly sat down.

 “Do you need something, Gohan?” ChiChi noticed Gohan’s sudden rise.

 Gohan sat down. “No. I had to stretch my legs for a moment.”

 ChiChi handed Goten one of his plates. As she started to feed him, Goten grabbed a boneless chicken and popped it in his mouth, “I can do that, Momma.”

 With Goten feeding himself, ChiChi settled her plate on her lap and ate. Kenji sipped his margarita watching the fun on the beach. Yamcha played a fast pop song for Krillin and 18 and 17 and Bulma to dance to on the beach.

 “Do you dance?” Kenji asked. “If not, I can show you some moves.” He moved his body to the loud beats. “I can do fast and slow dances.”

 “I don’t think I will,” ChiChi declined. “I have to keep an eye on my sons.”

 “Bulma’s dancing,” Kenji pointed to Bulma and 17 dancing. “And she has a son. And she’s dancing without her man.” He leaned forward to whisper. “Do you really see me as  a scary big, bad wolf or is it you know if we share a dance, even you have to admit there’s chemistry between us?”

 “After all the commotion you caused when you arrive, I’d be crazy to dance with you.”

 Kenji took the rejection with a wry smile as he sipped more of his drink. “Maybe I was a bit strong coming here like this but I really wanted to talk to you. Could we at least do that?”

 “All right,” ChiChi thought if they did talk Kenji wouldn’t do anything drastic to get her attention again.

 Kenji was a patient man. ChiChi didn’t dance with him but danced with Goten, 17 and even Krillin in an upbeat dance. Gohan remained in his seat watching his mother and brother. Gohan didn’t do anything when ChiChi danced with 17 and Krillin but when Kenji stood, Gohan noticed. When Kenji went inside for another drink, Gohan relaxed. When Kenji walked on the beach, Gohan got up. He kept his distance but followed Kenji who talked to Yamcha, played with the music and danced with Bulma, 18 and Panchy. If Kenji moved near ChiChi, Gohan was suddenly at her side. Kenji respected the young man’s game so he kept his distance. ChiChi gave her word she will talk to him and he believed that. Not even Gohan could stop that.

 Three hours into the celebrations, the party was winding down. ChiChi and Mrs. Briefs began cleaning up and when Piccolo and Dende announced their intentions to leave, Bulma wanted to play one more wedding tradition.

 “Gather ‘round everyone!” Bulma announced. “It’s time for the bouquet toss. All single ladies step up!” ChiChi stepped out of the house holding a garbage bag. She was picking up the empty paper plates when Bulma snatched the bag out of her hands and pulled her on the beach. “That’s us.”

 “Bulma, this is ridiculous. Technically, I could play but I’m not and you have Vegeta!”

 “The bouquet toss is for unmarried women. That’s us. Come on, 18,” Bulma encouraged 18 who stood on the beach with her bouquet. “Loosen up, ChiChi.”

 “You know this is ridiculous.” Even 18 thought this was silly and if she knew Bulma, this was her way to get ChiChi to give Kenji some serious thought. 18 turned her back on everyone. She swung once and tossed her bouquet over her head.

 ChiChi and Bulma saw the bouquet come towards them. ChiChi didn’t reach for it but Bulma did. However, another hand reached forward and grabbed it. ChiChi and Bulma both were stunned when Vegeta caught the flowers.

 “Vegeta!” Bulma yelled. “Why did you do that?”

 The angry Saiyan Prince glared at Bulma. “What is this?”

 “Flowers.”

 “No!” he rudely thrust the flowers in her face. “What’s the meaning of you catching this? Didn’t you say unmarried women accept these?”

 “I did. I am unmarried.”

 “But you’re with me.” He tossed the flowers on the beach. “You don’t need this.”

 Bulma bent to take the flowers. “I don’t?”

 Vegeta snatched the flowers from her and flung them. This time Gohan caught it. “You had your fun and I held my bargain. We’re going home. Get the child, your parents and let’s go.”

 Bulma pulled back. “I’ll leave when I want and I don’t want to.”

 Vegeta stepped to her. His dark eyes bore into hers. “You’ll have to come home and when you do, I’ll be waiting.”

Vegeta flew off, surprising no one except Kenji. “Whoa! He can fly like you, Yamcha?”

 Bulma kept watching Vegeta fly off until she could no longer see him. That was enough. Bulma took out her capsule ship and tossed it on the beach. “Well, this was a lot of fun but it’s time to go home.”

 Piccolo and Dende were the first guests to leave. This was followed by Bulma and her family. Yamcha helped ChiChi with the food clean up while Kenji and 17 took down the decorations. Master Roshi watched TV and 18 relaxed on the sofa while Krillin rubbed her feet. After the house was cleaned and food put away, Yamcha waited in the air ship to take him and Kenji to West City. Kenji stood outside the ship waiting for ChiChi.

 She was, he knew, a woman true to her word.

 ChiChi settled her sons in her Dad’s airship before walking to Kenji. She knew they were watching. Goten didn’t care if she talked to Kenji but she noticed Gohan seemed trouble. He kept following him during the reception. Kenji leaned against the airship. His tie was loosened, a few buttons of his shirt were open and he looked at her as if she were the only girl in the world.

 Why did he have to look at her like that?

 “I gave you my word. I said I will talk.” ChiChi rehearsed this during the reception but it still wasn’t easy to say. “When I was younger waiting to marry Goku, I rejected every suitor because I was promised to Goku. I never considered anyone else. I was still thinking like that when you told me your feelings and that wasn’t fair to you because it’s not the same. I’m not promised to Goku anymore. Goku is dead and he’s not coming back,” her voice shook. “It’s been four years and I’m starting to think he’s not coming back. No signal. No message. No announcement. Nothing. When he died, that was it. It wasn’t like before. There’s no one to wait for.”

 Kenji resisted the urge to take ChiChi in his arms and hold her until she stopped crying. He wanted to do it but he did enough move making. He wanted ChiChi to make the move. If they were to have a relationship, he couldn’t do everything.

 ChiChi hadn’t meant to breakdown. She wanted to explain herself but when she thought of Goku and the reality he wasn’t coming back this time, she broke. “Sorry,” she apologized as she wiped her tears. “I’m kind of raw now. There are things I’m now realizing that I have to accept. There’s plenty I have to think about now that I didn’t before today.”

 “Did Vegeta say something?” Kenji didn’t listen in on their conversation but he felt it in his bones Vegeta has some cause for ChiChi breaking down. “You let me know and I’ll set him straight.”

 “No!” ChiChi protested. Why was this man trying to get himself killed? “Vegeta made some very good points and has given me a lot to think about. So, I need you to give me a real chance to think this time. I won’t keep you waiting long.”

 “Okay,” Kenji accepted. “I guess it’s really hard for a widow to think if she wants to date again. Even after four years. Honestly, it’s admirable you have this loyalty. I wouldn’t be a decent guy if I didn’t respect that. So, yeah, give it some real thought.” He enclosed one of her hands with his. “I can’t replace Goku. I can’t compete against the guy who gave his life for the world but I don’t think you should be alone. Goku’s life ended. Not yours and I’m a guy who likes to go after what I want. I don’t want to live with regrets in life. You shouldn’t either.”

 A smiled curved ChiChi’s face. “Funny. That’s how Goku saw life, too.”

 Kenji grinned as he stroke her hand. “I wouldn’t mind if I have more things in common with Goku.”

 ChiChi pulled her hand from Kenji’s. His innuendo was obvious. “I need to go home but I’ll call you.”

 “I’ll be waiting for it.” ChiChi walked away and feeling good about his situation, Kenji climbed in the air ship.

 As they flew off, Kenji looked out the window at ChiChi. ChiChi put him through more challenges than any woman he dated but he knew if he could win her heart, the hard work would be worth it.

 ****

 Bulma felt tension in the air when she entered her bedroom. Vegeta was annoyed with her which wasn’t new but this time Bulma didn’t understand what she did to piss him off. He leaned against the door arms crossed as if he was waiting for her.

 “You didn’t have to fly off like that.” Bulma scolded him as she removed her shoes. She picked them up and banged them against the wastebasket. She dumped her shoes before she left Master Roshi’s island but she still brought sand back. She glanced at Vegeta. He refused to talk. “Oooo, the silent treatment. That doesn’t work on me. Either say what your problem is or keep sulking.”

 “You need to mind your business.”

 “On?”

 “Didn’t Kakarrot stay dead because you told him he’s the cause of all the bad things happening on this planet? Now you’re in his wife’s ear telling her to date because she’s alone because of what you said to Kakarrot. Why are you constantly giving bad advice?”

 “Is that what you’re mad about?” Bulma thought it was her dancing with Kenji and 17. “Goku didn’t have to listen to me. He always does what he wants and ChiChi shouldn’t suffer because of it. Why should she stay single when someone wants her? She’s suffered enough. Let her have a happy life.”

 Bulma placed her shoes down and went to her vanity desk. She removed her necklace and bracelets.

 “You run your mouth too much.”

 There was more? Bulma unzipped her dress. “You have to be more specific.”

 “I don’t care if you tell Kakarrot’s wife about us but only her. No one else.”

 Bulma was still lost. “She’s the only person I talk to about us.”

 “She doesn’t seem like the type to gossip but that downgrade knew a lot about us.”

 “Kenji?” Bulma pushed down her dress. “He probably heard stuff I told Yamcha. We did talk regularly before I became friends with ChiChi.” There was that infamous scowl again. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault you still haven’t changed or whatever Kenji said got under your skin.”

 “Nothing got under my skin but since you’re with me, you will be wise to not parade yourself around other men or take part in activities for women unattached.”

 Other men? Activities? “Is this about me dancing with Kenji and 17?” Bulma laughed. “Kenji danced with 18, too, and Krillin didn’t mind. I didn’t think you were the jealous type and if you’re referring to the bouquet toss, we’re not married.”

 “It doesn’t matter. You’re still with me and I’m not jealous but I know your reputation around men.”

 All humor faded from Bulma’s face. Anger rose at the insinuation. “Excuse me?”

 Vegeta stepped to her. “You won’t make a fool of me as you did Yamcha.”

 Bulma turned away from him. “I’m free to dance with whomever I like.”

 Vegeta grabbed Bulma and turned her back to him. “Not as long as you’re with me.”

 “My, aren’t we possessive.” Vegeta stood eye to her and though sinfully close, Bulma appeared unaffected. “That’s rich coming from you. Sometimes it’s hard to decipher we’re in a relationship or you’re a parent. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we fuck but that’s it. We don’t do couple things and I’m the one raising Trunks. You just sit at the table and eat with him. That’s all the time you spend with Trunks. He just turned five and only thinks you’re his Dad because I told him! You could be spending time with him in that gravity room. You could be training him. I won’t stop you. When Goku introduced us to Gohan, he was four years old. Goku wanted to train Gohan but ChiChi wouldn’t let him. I’m not stopping you but you don’t do it!”

 All of what Bulma said is true. He hadn’t trained Trunks yet but he didn’t realize how much time had passed either. It felt as if it was yesterday Trunks was a baby and now he’s five. He felt Trunks Ki when he was a baby but his power level was low. It wasn’t high like his at his birth. Vegeta considered it a waste and not worth his time training Trunks. That changed when he met Trunks from the alternate future. Spending that year with Trunks gave Vegeta the possibility his son will reach that power but it wasn’t time to train him yet.

 “I’ll train Trunks when I think he’s ready but you have a misunderstanding of how this relationship works and how together we are.” Bulma jumped back as Vegeta turned into a Super Saiyan. “It’s time to change that.”

 ****

 Bulma had a dreamy smile on her face during lunch with ChiChi. All she could think about was her night with Vegeta. ChiChi noticed that faraway look on Bulma’s face and knew she wore the same face after certain nights with Goku. ChiChi glanced out the window to check on Gohan playing with Trunks and Goten. They had their lunch and will be busy for a while. This left plenty of time for Bulma and ChiChi to talk alone.

 “So,” ChiChi placed a plate of sandwiches on the table, “had a good night with Vegeta?”

 “That obvious?” Bulma grinned.

 ChiChi filled their glasses with iced lemon tea. “Weddings have an effect on people. Couples tend to recall their weddings and things happen.” ChiChi sat and reached for a sandwich. “I think that’s how Aki and his wife got pregnant with their third kid.”

 Bulma moaned into her sandwich as if she were having sex with it. “Sex with Vegeta is always good but last night,” Bulma fanned herself, “you won’t believe what we did.”

 ChiChi had an idea. “Sex was extra special.”

 Bulma thought that was a major understatement. She thought about keeping it a secret since she thought ChiChi never experienced it but in that same moment, decided she shouldn’t keep it all to herself. “We did it with Vegeta as a Super Saiyan.”

 It was as ChiChi thought. Every time and definitely the week leading to the Cell Game, ChiChi knew she had that same glow on her face.

 “I don’t mean to brag but it was amazing. If only you experienced that with Goku.”

 ChiChi drunk her tea. “I never said we didn’t have that experience, Bulma.”

 “But I know you didn’t or you would’ve told me about it.” Bulma was very confident about this. “You wouldn’t be holding out on me but let me tell you, ChiChi, Super Saiyan sex is great! The power, the intensity….” Bulma moaned loudly again. “You would have had the best orgasm.”

 That wasn’t a lie but ChiChi knew the downside of it, too. “And you will be in a lot of pain if your body isn’t prepared for it.” ChiChi suspected it the moment Bulma entered her home. “That is why you were an hour late to our lunch? Why you’re sitting so rigidly and hiding an obvious limp that has nothing to do with your lie you slipped on Trunks’ toys and fell halfway down your stairs this morning?”

 Bulma wasn’t smiling anymore. In fact, she was stunned for two reasons: ChiChi knew she was lying the moment she gave an excuse for her tardiness and stiff body and she and Goku had Super Saiyan sex. “You and Goku? Really? When?”

 “The first time was by accident,” ChiChi was honest. “It was the first night Goku and I were together after he returned from space.” ChiChi would never share Piccolo spying on them caused Goku to spontaneously change. She will take that to her grave. “My lower half was very sore but we haven’t been together in that way in a while. Goku can be very physical.”

Bulma nodded in mutual understanding. “I’m not surprised Goku’s the rough type. He has no restraint. When he saved me from bad guys on our adventures, he was heavy-handed. Believe it or not, Vegeta’s gentle.” If ChiChi was surprised, she didn’t show it. “The first time we were together, I thought I would have a broken bone but he was really gentle. I think he knew he had to show restraint since I’m not strong like everyone else. You keep in shape with martial arts and weights. Since I had Trunks, I run on the treadmill and watch what I eat.”

 “I had to do extra training to get back in shape for our intimacies,” ChiChi admitted. Like Bulma, ChiChi knew the struggles in keeping up with a Saiyan. “Goku was a lot stronger. It wasn’t like when we married but Goku had struggles, too.”

Bulma understood why ChiChi would have struggles but not Goku. “I don’t understand.”

 ChiChi knew this was a lot of sharing; more than she ever did with Bulma but she accepted Goku wasn’t coming back and it wouldn’t be wrong sharing knowledge of intimacies with a Saiyan with one who is going through what she went through and needed advice. “No one knows this but Goku wasn’t solely away because he was learning that teleportation trick. He also stayed away to get control of himself as a Super Saiyan. Goku spontaneously changed all the time. Thinking of his fight with Freeza; a random incident where he got angry or intimacy triggered it. On Yardrat, he was able to get control of incidents triggered by fighting.”

 “Ah,” Bulma got it, “but sex he didn’t because you weren’t there.”

 “Exactly.”

 Bulma thought of the day Goku returned. Vegeta pressed Goku why he was away for so long but Bulma really thought it was learning that teleportation technique. “Goku really has a knack for hiding things behind his smile. I never knew.” The more Bulma learned from ChiChi about Goku the more she realized she didn’t know him as well as she thought. For ChiChi to know this, it emphasized how special she was to Goku. “But you two did get control of it.”

 “Oh, yes. We couldn’t practice as much that first year because of Gohan. He always knew when Goku changed and would knock on our door asking if something is wrong.” Bulma nearly choked on her sandwich.  

 “It’s funny now but it wasn’t then.” ChiChi laughed with Bulma. “A few times we got away with it.”

 Bulma gasped as she suddenly recalled something. “Trunks told me Goku and Gohan controlled being a Super Saiyan all the time before the Cell Game. I can’t believe I never thought of it but did you and he…..?”

 “Yes,” ChiChi confirmed with a sly smile.

 Bulma squealed, “Everyday?!!”

 “There was one day we didn’t leave the bedroom.”

 “Wow.” These tidbits ChiChi shared about her and Goku were gold! “Who would’ve thought Goku….” Well, Bulma had some idea when she fantasized about Goku but thinking of Goku and ChiChi like that was mind-blowing for her. “And you weren’t sore? Not even after all those days?”

 “I was used to it then.”

 If ChiChi can get used to it, Bulma knew she could, too. “Soooo,” Bulma ran her finger over the rim of her glass, “got any advice for someone who’s now venturing into that territory?”

 It would help if Bulma took up martial arts or some strengthening exercises but there were ways to work around that. “You said Vegeta is gentle with you. He must be the same as a Super Saiyan. He’s doing his part. You have to do yours.”

 This was one of the many things Bulma treasured with her growing friendship with ChiChi. They could talk with each other about things no other woman could understand. Not even ChiChi’s friend from her village could grasp what ChiChi went through being with a Saiyan. Bulma felt that gave her an advantage.

 “I’ll show you some techniques to strengthen your legs and hips,” ChiChi advised, “and we’ll work up to your upper body strength depending on what moves you and Vegeta do.”

 Bulma agreed with the plan and with her issues settled, Bulma wanted to talk about ChiChi’s. “Now that we have a solution to my problem. Let’s work on yours. Kenji. I had to leave because Vegeta was being an ass but what happened between you and Kenji?”

 ChiChi realized Bulma was unaware Vegeta talked to her. There was a chance Kenji mentions it to Yamcha who will tell Bulma but for now, ChiChi decided to keep her talk with Vegeta between them. “I told Kenji I need time.”

 “Still?! Come on, ChiChi. How long will you keep him waiting?!”

 There were a lot of reasons but Bulma wouldn’t understand. “I still held hope Goku will return. I didn’t think he would be away this long. I think I’m ready to accept I am on my own and I have to decide what’s best for myself and our children.”

 “I know I don’t show it but I understand your loyalty to Goku. Hell, I was ready to fight the Red Ribbon Army for him but Goku made his decision to stay dead without consulting you and that was selfish. He could’ve talked to you like he talked to Gohan but he didn’t. He didn’t give you the chance to say goodbye or talk him out of his crazy decision.”

 It was hurtful Goku didn’t talk to her but ChiChi held on to some idealistic hope Goku had his reason to not do it. If he could’ve, he would. That was her belief.

 But Bulma saw things differently. “It would be a waste to not give Kenji or any guy a chance. You shouldn’t bind yourself to one guy if he refused to come back to life when he had the chance. Stop thinking of yourself as Goku’s wife and the mother of his kids and think of yourself as Son ChiChi, widow free to make choices in her life.”

 ****

 “I know it’s strange I asked you here but I think you will tell me the truth.”

 Kaifun sat with ChiChi at her kitchen table perusing her wedding album. “I don’t think it’s strange. We were friends before you married Goku. It’s been rough for us since then. I have my family and you have yours but you know I’ll always come when you need me.”

 ChiChi was grateful for that. Things were strained between them since she married Goku but after Kaifun married and had a family, things changed. The only times they saw each other were during ChiChi’s visits to her father’s village. Gohan gave Kaifun suspicious looks when he said hello but Kaifun was always friendly and respectful.

 Gohan, Goten and Leska were exploring Mount Paozu. When Leska visit, they always went exploring and were gone for hours. ChiChi was grateful the house was empty or Gohan would not be happy seeing Kaifun at the kitchen table. She called Kaifun for more insight into how she acted years ago. After she spoke to her father, she needed to talk to Kaifun.  

 A week after the wedding, ChiChi received a bouquet of pink roses, lavender carnations, daisy and button poms with a card reading, ‘Thinking of you.’ The following day she received a bouquet of more pink roses, lilies, larkspurs and a snapdragons with the card reading, ‘You’re on my mind.’ Two days later, ChiChi received two dozen multicolored roses in colors of red, yellow, pink, purple, and orange. The card read. ‘You were my first thought this morning.’

 When her father visited, ChiChi dread receiving two dozen kaleidoscope roses and two dozen bouquet of red roses and calla lilies. The delivery man placed both vases on the kitchen table under her father’s curious eyes. She grabbed the card poking from the kaleidoscope roses before Gyu-Mao had a chance to see it. ‘Going on the road for the next five games but I’ll still think of you. P.S. I’m waiting but I hope we can talk when I get back.’

 “When I saw the other flowers, I thought Gohan and Goten picked them for you.” Gyu-Mao inhaled the kaleidoscope flowers. “But it’s not them. Whose sending you flowers?”

 Her father was unaware of Kenji’s pursuit of her. Now he knew there was someone she kept from him, he’ll ask questions until he got the truth. “A man.”

 “A man?” Gyu-Mao’s voice rose. “You’re dating? Why haven’t you told me about him? Who is he?”

 These questions were exactly why she didn’t want to tell her father about Kenji. She was over thirty. Not a teenager. “I’m not dating but I met Kenji a few weeks ago attending a baseball game Yamcha played in. He’s Yamcha’s teammate and I did some work for him.”

 “Work?” Gyu-Mao’s eyebrows rose. “What skills do you have?”

 ChiChi brushed off the slight insult. She had skills and could’ve had more if not for her father limiting her. “I helped him cook and shop for food. He paid me very well. One day he surprised us with a trip to an amusement park in South City. That’s when he told me his feelings.”

 “So, that’s how you got that new refrigerator and the brakes for the truck without my money.” ChiChi nodded. “You’re not working for him anymore?” ChiChi shook her head. “So, he’s sending flowers because he wants you?”

 “Yes. He’s on the road now and when he returns, I think he wants an answer.”

 “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, ChiChi, but I think you should date him. If possible, marry him.”

 Marry? ChiChi suspected an approval to dating after he checked out Kenji but never marriage. “You never met him and you’re thinking about marriage for us?”

 “Your sons need a man in the house. I’m just grandpa and I’m doing all I can but it’s not the same as having a father, especially for Goten. Kenji is a baseball player. That means he has enough money to provide for you. Goku’s a great person but he wasn’t good at bringing money in the house. Even when he worked, you were struggling to make ends meet. Kenji has a career where you don’t have to worry about that or him dying.”

 “So, you want me to marry Kenji because he’s rich and can be a father to my sons?” It was offensive. ChiChi felt her father wanted her to be a gold digger. “Do you think I would marry someone for those reasons? What about love?”

 “Love is nice but you don’t need that to be cared for.” Gyu-Mao was blunt. “And I hate to say this but look at what love has done for you. It made you a widow and mother of two before you turned 30. Do you think this is the life I wanted for you? I never wanted you to be a widow like me. My sins robbed you of your childhood and because of me, I caused you to meet Goku.”

 Her father had concerns but was always supportive of her marriage to Goku. The first five years he treated Goku like a son. Things were strained after Goku’s return from Yardrat. He wanted her to move back in with him but after Goku’s death, Gyu-Mao expressed guilt for how he acted towards Goku. Since then, Gyu-Mao spoke of Goku with the highest respect. Now he spoke with regret. “Are you saying I shouldn’t have married Goku?”

 “I will never say that because I have two wonderful grandsons but I do share blame for your pain, ChiChi.  Because of me, you met Goku. You endured so much in your youth because of him. The past can’t be changed but you can’t be foolish about this opportunity. You have two sons who need you to provide for them. If you can’t love Kenji, make it can be a marriage of convenience. I know you’ll be a good wife and you’re still young enough to give him a baby. In time, maybe you can love him and have the life you should’ve had.”

 First, it was a Bulma and 18 and now her father was on board, too. Maybe they were right and she was wrong staying faithful to Goku. They were so young and innocent when they married. She was so young and innocent. She waited for years to marry Goku and though she was happy with him it didn’t turn out how she thought. She did her job as homemaker but Goku didn’t pull his full weight as head of the household. Everything was always on her. She dictated what jobs Goku can do to bring in money. He never initiated work on his own. ChiChi knew that was her fault. Their first fight was over Goku not doing his duties as a husband. It caused words to be said that had Goku living outside their home for days. ChiChi was so scared Goku wanted to end the marriage, she caved and put more on herself.

 “You trust me that much, Goku?”

 “Hmm?”

 “You don’t mind having a limited education. You know you will be looked at differently. You know you will be called names and you want me to be okay with this. One of us will have to be the adult. So are you saying you trust me to make family decisions for us? Do you trust me to control the finances and all the adult stuff?”

 Goku’s face broke into a brilliant smile. He knew ChiChi would get it! “I trust you with my body, ChiChi. Every time we’re intimate, I’m vulnerable and you never hurt me. If I can trust you with my body, I can trust you with anything.”

 Then she was a young and eager wife desperate to impress her husband. She was afraid the concerns others had of her marriage to Goku had merit. If she was wiser and stronger, she would’ve said no to Goku and risk the consequences. If she had, she wouldn’t be filled with doubts on what she and Goku had. Maybe they would’ve had Gohan and Goten. Maybe they would’ve went their separate ways before Gohan and she married someone like Kaifun or dated and met someone like Kenji. Maybe she would have more than two kids and a husband with a job that didn’t put his life at risk and financial security. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

 “Maybe I was wrong then. I was so young and idealistic. Maybe you, Dad and even Mrs. Niver were telling the truth but I was too stubborn to listen.”

 That was an admission Kaifun never thought ChiChi would say. “If you think Grandma was right, you really are jaded.”

 Jaded or seeing the truth. ChiChi didn’t know anymore. “Things are different now. I’m not that innocent teenager who had the world ahead of her. My eyes have been opened to a lot of things.”

 Kaifun’s eyes were opened, too. Years of jealousy and anger were wasted because of his feelings towards ChiChi. “Yeah, but we were all wrong. You were naïve but Grandma and I didn’t want you to marry Goku for our own selfish reasons. I can’t say you shouldn’t have married Goku but maybe Goku’s death was a blessing. Maybe his death set you free to find the right person for you. It wasn’t us. Maybe it’s Kenji or some other guy. Coming from someone who wanted to marry you, I don’t think you should be spending your nights alone if you can change that.”

 ****

 After the evening dishes were washed and kitchen cleaned, ChiChi joined her children in the living room. Gohan sat on the sofa reading while Goten played with his flashcards. She will give Kenji an answer but she couldn’t decide without discussing this with the two people she loved more than anything.

 “Boys, I want to talk to you.” ChiChi picked up Goten and settled him on her lap. Gohan closed his book and gave ChiChi his attention. “How do you feel about Mr. Kenji?”

 “He’s nice,” Goten confessed. “I like the toys he bought me.”

 “He’s okay,” Gohan didn’t sound as enthused as Goten. “I don’t know why he came to Krillin and 18’s wedding. He’s Yamcha friend. Not theirs.”

 ChiChi felt that was cold for Gohan to say. “He came to see me, Gohan. When we last saw each other, Mr. Kenji told me he wants to date me. He waited for my answer but since I didn’t give him one, he came to the wedding.”

 “What’s date?” Goten asked.

 “Date is when two people spend time alone together to get to know each other. They do fun things like see a movie, eat---”

 “Amusement park?” Goten asked with shiny eyes.

 “Yes, that, too, Goten.” Kenji really made an impression on Goten taking him to the park. “Mr. Kenji wants to date me and I want to know how you feel about that?”

 Again, Goten answered first. “If you want to, Momma. I like Mr. Kenji. Do you like him, Momma?”

 Only her son would ask a bold question so innocently. “I think Mr. Kenji is kind. Gohan, what do you think?”

 “There’s a lot about him we don’t know.”

 “If I date him, Gohan, I will have a chance to find out.”

 “So, does that mean you like him?”

 When Goten asked that question, it was innocent. Coming from Gohan, ChiChi felt she was being interrogated. “I think Mr. Kenji is a nice man I should try to get to know.”

 “You’re not answering my and Goten’s question, Mom.” Gohan pressed, “Do you like him?”

 ChiChi skirted from answering the question. “I am flattered Kenji has feelings for me and I would like to spend time with him to see if I can develop those same feelings but only if you two are okay with it. Ever since Krillin and 18’s wedding, you seem bothered with Kenji. Do you have a problem with him?”

 “I’m okay,” Goten gave his blessing.

 That meant he was standing in the way of his mother dating. Gohan wanted to say no but felt he’d get in trouble if he said that. Besides, his mother did say she needed to spend time with Kenji to see if she can develop feelings. Maybe she needed to go on a date to understand she felt nothing. “I don’t like he crashed the wedding but I guess you have to date him to see if you like him.”

 ChiChi accepted that was as close she will get of approval from Gohan. That night, while her sons slept, ChiChi called Kenji. His baseball game was over two hours ago. ChiChi thought Kenji will be home but she got his voice mail. “Hi, Kenji. It’s ChiChi. Give me a call when you can. Bye.” As soon as ChiChi hung up the phone, it rang. “Hello?”

 “Hi. Sorry I missed you. I’m having dinner with some of the guys. I had to rush out to take this call.”

 “I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner.”

 “No, no. It’s cool. I was getting ready to leave anyway. How have you been?”

 “I’m well. I got the flowers. They’re beautiful though you said you will let me make my choice.”

 Kenji laughed. “I thought a little incentive couldn’t hurt. Did it?”

 “It was nice. Thank you.” ChiChi didn’t want to drag the conversation with small talk. She wanted to focus of the topic of this call. “I will go on a date but I’m not having sex on the first date. I won’t kiss on the first date. I don’t dress half-naked on dates. I’m not aware of the latest songs and dances so no clubs and I expect to be home by 10.”

 There was a long pause from Kenji. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting you to do any of that. Ten is early but I can accommodate. I know this is big for you so we have to take it slow. I have two more games and then I’m off Wednesday. Remember that farm you told me about? We can pick fruit and talk. The place closes at 6pm so I can definitely have you home by 10.”

 Fruit pricking. That was not what ChiChi expected for a first date. It sounded relaxing and very stress free. She didn’t have to worry about hair and makeup or what to wear. “Fruit picking. Sounds like fun.”

 ****

 Gohan looked out the window for the eighth time. ChiChi left with Kenji at 11am. Gohan knew the place closed at 6pm. It was 7pm. Where was she? Why wasn’t she home? Did they spend seven hours picking fruit?

 “Gohan, help me and Goten finish this puzzle,” Gyu-Mao called Gohan away from the window. “We’re almost done.”

 Gohan loved Grandpa but he didn’t like Mom called Grandpa to babysit him and Goten. He was thirteen! He saved the world at nine years old. He was left on his own for six months at four years old. That should excuse him from needing a babysitter.

 With one last glance, Gohan stepped away from the window. “Are you worried about ChiChi, Gohan?”

“It’s been eight hours. Do dates last that long?”

 Gyu-Mao pressed two puzzles together. “Some dates do if you’re having a good time but that farm is over an hour from here.”

 Gohan sat and grabbed a handful of puzzle pieces. “They can’t be picking fruit for six hours.”

 “No,” Gyu-Mao agreed. “Perhaps they did something else.”

 Something else? What else could they be doing? “Like what, Grandpa?”

 “We’ll have to wait and see.” Gyu-Mao unmatched two pieces Goten tried to force together. “ChiChi’s having a good time. Let her enjoy herself, Gohan. If she plays her cards right, it will be great for you and Goten.”

 “Me?” Goten jumped in the conversation. “How is Momma dating Kenji good for me?”

 “Kenji could be your new Daddy.”

 Goten’s eyebrows wrinkled, “But I have a Daddy. He’s dead.”

 “I know and we will never forget Goku but with Kenji, you’ll have a living Daddy and he will play and do all kinds of fun things with you; the same things Goku did with Gohan.”

 “No, he won’t!” Gohan jumped from his seat. “Kenji can never replace Dad and he can’t do the same things Dad did!”

 Gyu-Mao respected Gohan’s defensiveness of Goku but thought he was blinded by that love for his father. “Kenji can be a fine man for you and Goten to admire. He’ll take real good care of all of you.”

 Gohan ignored Gyu-Mao when he heard the sounds of a vehicle. He looked out the window and saw Kenji’s air ship descending. Finally, they were back. Kenji stepped out first and ran to the other side to open the door for ChiChi. When she stepped out, she was laughing.

That’s not what Gohan wanted to see.

 Kenji opened the ramp for the back of the ship. He pulled out a bushel of strawberries. ChiChi didn’t hold anything as she walked to the house but Gohan saw Kenji staring at her backside as he followed behind her.

 “Momma!” Goten jumped from Gyu-Mao’s lap and ran to ChiChi.

 “Ah, Goten!” ChiChi picked up her son and kissed his cheek. “Did you have fun with Grandpa?”

 “We’re working on a puzzle.”

 “A puzzle?” ChiChi noticed a half-finished puzzle on her coffee table. “Hi, Dad.”

 “Hi!” Kenji grinned as he stepped in. He placed the strawberry bushel on the kitchen table. “We picked a lot of fruit.”

 ChiChi put an arm around Gohan for a quick hug. “Gohan, there are bushels of peaches, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers and another bushel of strawberries in Kenji’s ship. Could you help him bring them in?”

 Wordlessly, Gohan followed Kenji to his ship. “Your Mom picked a lot.” Kenji handed Gohan a bushel of tomatoes. He picked up the peaches. “She said you and Goten eat a lot but honestly it looks like your Mom got enough food to feed an army of fifty men. You two must take after your Grandpa.”

 “We take after Dad. He ate a lot,” Gohan noticed Kenji only holding a bushel of peaches. His Dad could carry more. “I can take those, too,” Gohan offered.

 Kenji looked at the bushel of peaches he held and at the bushel in Gohan’s hand. “It’s heavy to take on both---”

 “I can carry them.”

 “Uh….oh…. kay,” Kenji handed Gohan the other crate. To his surprise, Gohan held them both with ease. Kenji grabbed the blackberries and followed after Gohan.

 They took turns bringing the rest of food in. Gohan was insistent in carrying all the heavy bushels. Kenji thought it was strange. Gohan’s 13 but a slender boy who looked stronger than he appeared. After all the food was brought in, ChiChi went outside with Kenji. Gohan watched from the window. ChiChi and Kenji talked, shared a laugh and then the worst thing happened. Kenji took ChiChi’s hand and kissed it. She didn’t pull away and slap him. She waved goodbye and after Kenji flew off stared at her hand.  

 “So, how was it?” Gyu-Mao asked when ChiChi returned. “What were you doing all this time?”

ChiChi was back in Mom mode picking up the empty plates left in the living room from her sons and Dad and carried them in the kitchen. “We spent a few hours picking all this food. We were on our way back when we ran into a massive traffic accident. All the lanes were blocked so after an hour, Kenji got off at the exit and drove to a restaurant where we ate and talked until the roads cleared.”

 Goten stood in a chair examining the bushels of fruits and vegetables. “Is Mr. Kenji gonna be my new Daddy?”

 “What?!” ChiChi gasped. “Who told you that?”

 “Grandpa.”

 “Dad!” ChiChi screamed. “Don’t say that to Goten! It was one date!”

 “That looks like it could be more. I’m being positive.”

 “You’re being ridiculous and too eager to marry me off… again! Stop it!”

 Gohan smiled. This was positive. Maybe he was wrong about his mother liking Kenji to go on a second date.

 “Okay,” Gyu-Mao backed down. “I won’t talk about marriage but will there be a second date?”

 ChiChi turned on the water from the kitchen sink. “I guess.”

 “You guess?”

 “It was a nice outing, Dad, but Kenji doesn’t just wanna do things with me. He wants to include Gohan and Goten, too. I agreed the next time we go out, we’ll include them.”

 “Can we go to South City?” Goten jubilantly asked.

 Gohan rolled his eyes. There will be a second date. Gohan didn’t like this at all.

 ****

  “You’re sure it’s safe?”

 “I’ve brought Goten here many times and he loves it.” Gohan laughed, “I can’t believe you’re scared.”

 “Because I’ve never played with a baby dinosaur before. I told you I’m a city girl.”

 For Gohan, city girl meant Leska didn’t live here and wasn’t staying. As summer break wind down, Leska prepared to return home and resume her school life. Leska visited Mount Paozu once a week where Gohan showed her the forests and animals. Gohan talked to her on the phone two times a week for an hour after his lessons were completed. When Leska visit, Goten always accompanied them but this time, Leska’s last visit, ChiChi allowed the two kids to spend time alone.

 In this part of Mount Paozu, the dinosaurs were friendly. Leska sat near a nest petting the baby dinosaur with the parent dinosaurs looking on. Gohan handed Leska a bowl of apples. “He’s still young so give him two apples at a time.”

 Leska held two apples to the baby dinosaur. She yelped when the dinosaur stuck out his tongue and pulled the apples in his mouth. “Eww,” she laughed at the dinosaur drool on her hand.

 “See? It’s not so bad.”

 Leska grabbed two more apples. “I guess not.” She held out the apples to the dinosaur. “When I go back, I’ll have a lot to tell my friends.”

 Gohan wished she hadn’t said that. He didn’t want to acknowledge this is Leska’s last visit. The teen made a normal summer exciting. Last summer, he spent it studying and playing with his brother with visits to Piccolo. This summer, he visited Piccolo once and spent his free time with Leska. She was the only person he shared his true feelings on his mother dating Kenji. He tried with Piccolo but the Namekian didn’t understand human emotions like that.

 “So, how serious are your Mom and Kenji?” Leska asked. “They’ve gone on a few dates, right?”

 Gohan wasn’t sure if what his Mom and Kenji have been doing lately could be considered dates. “After the first date, Goten and I went on the next three dates. We went to South City again. Goten loved that.” Gohan rolled his eyes. “We went on a hike and a picnic. We went to East City together and spent time at a zoo and a new science museum I wanted to see. After that, Mom and Kenji had another date alone. He took her to a film festival.”

 “Ah,” Leska understood. “I wonder if he’s including you and Goten to impress you. If he wins you two, he wins your Mom over.”

 Gohan snorted. Kenji will never win him over. “I like going to the museum and the hike but it doesn’t change my feelings about him.”

 Leska handed the dinosaur the last apples. After he licked the apples from her hand, Leska wiped the dinosaur drool on her shirt. “I bet it scored points with your Mom.”

 ChiChi was happy and Gohan hated to see that. He wanted his Mom happy but not when it included Kenji. After the feeding, Gohan and Leska decided to leave the dinosaur family alone. The two teens said goodbye and left the cave. Outside the cave, Gohan grabbed the fish he caught for his family earlier and walked home with Leska.  

 “I do have some good news. Kenji hasn’t seen Mom in a month. He said the Taitans are focused on the upcoming playoffs and want to be the number seed.” Gohan didn’t understand that at all. “Whatever that means.”

 Leska knew what that meant. “Taitans are really good this year. They have a chance at beating Central City in the championship so they had to win the last month of regular season games to hold the number one seed and control hosting most of the games in the playoffs which starts next week.” All of what she said went over Gohan’s head. “You really need to follow baseball, Gohan, but that’s why Kenji can’t come for dates. West City is hours from here in the fastest airship. Coming here to pick up your Mom, go on a date and bring her home is a lot of hours. It’s not enough time to rest or practice.”

 Gohan didn’t care. All he understood, Kenji hasn’t seen his Mom in a month. “I read baseball playoffs and the championship can go on for a month so that means Kenji may not see Mom for two months.”

 Leska sympathized but thought Gohan’s missing the bigger picture. “Have they kept in contact since their last date?”

“Well…. Kenji and Mom talk on the phone.” His shoulders slumped. “Three times a week. Last night they were watching a movie together over the phone.”

 “So, your Mom and Kenji are still getting along?”

 Gohan didn’t want to admit that but it was true. “Yeah. Grandpa really likes it. He told Goten Kenji could be our new Dad.”

 “Ouch,” Leska winced.

 “Mom was mad at Grandpa about that.”

 Leska saw that as beneficial for Gohan. “If your Mom didn’t like that, then tell her how you really feel about Kenji. Stop this before it gets serious.”

 “Everyone will be mad at me if I say anything. They’ll think I don’t want Mom happy. They’ll keep bringing up how Dad’s not coming back and….” Gohan sighed frustrated. “I hate it.”

 “What will if you do if she marries him?”

 Gohan shrugged. “I hope it doesn’t happen.”

 “If she marries him, there will be a lot of changes. You’ll move to West City.”

 Gohan stopped walking. “Why would we leave Mount Paozu?”

 “Gohan, Kenji’s a baseball player in West City. Your Mom will have to move to where her husband works.”

 Gohan hadn’t thought about that. He didn’t want to move to West City. He wanted to stay here!

 “Forget home school,” Leska kept talking. “You may go to a public or private school and your last name will change.”

 “Why would my last name change?” Gohan got defensive. “My last name is Son! It’s my Dad’s name!”

 “If your Mom marries Kenji, she will take his last name, like she took your Dad’s when she married him, and if Kenji adopts you and Goten, you will take his last name, too.”

 “No, I won’t!!” Gohan suddenly flared into a Super Saiyan. “I won’t take his name! I won’t move to West City!”

 “Whoa!” Leska stepped back. “I’m just warning you what to be prepared for if your Mom and Kenji marry.” Gohan showed Leska what he looked like as a Super Saiyan. She was in awe in a cool way. Now she was in awe slightly fearful. Despite that, she stepped forward and pulled his hair. “This is why you should talk to your Mom. It’s really bothering you and you’re creeping me out.”

 Gohan depowered. He hadn’t meant to lose it like that. “Sorry. I just don’t like what you said. I don’t want to talk about Mom and Kenji anymore.”

 After Gohan’s outburst, Leska didn’t want to either. “Not the way I thought our last day together would go.” She looked around at the peaceful forest. “I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss you. It was fun.”

 “Will you be back next summer?” Gohan asked hopefully.

 Leska shook her head. “My cousins will be spending next summer with me.”

 That meant no. “Well, what about the year after that?”

 Leska shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll be a junior then and I’ll be preparing for college. I might have a summer job or an internship.”

 Another no. Gohan thought of flying to her city but he didn’t want to get in the way of her life there. As lenient Mom has been letting him be friends with Leska, he knew she wouldn’t approve of him visiting her. They couldn’t talk on the phone. Long distance charges will be expensive. “Can I write you?”

 Gohan thought Leska would say yes to that but she looked pensive. What was wrong Gohan wondered. “We shouldn’t get our hopes up on seeing each other again. You’re a sweet kid, Gohan. I thought it would be boring here but you made my time here fun.”

 “You made this summer fun for me, too. I…..” Gohan felt his face warming up, “I really like you and I want to keep in touch.”

 Leska didn’t smile like Gohan hoped. She didn’t look sad but she looked troubled. “I’m glad, but,” she sighed again. “I know what you mean about liking me, but Gohan, you’re thirteen and I’m fifteen. It’s only two years but it’s a big two years and I…. I don’t feel that way for you. You’re a friend to me and when I go back home, I’m gonna resume school. I’ll like a boy the way you like me. I’m sorry…. but if I let you write me I think I will be leading you on and getting your hopes up.” Gohan lowered his head to hide his disappointment and Leska hated herself for hurting Gohan. He was a really sweet kid. “You’ll find another girl to like,” she tried to be positive, “and talk to. She may be in your Grandpa’s village or she might be there when you go to high school.”

 Gohan nodded. “I…. I understand.” He forced a smile, hiding his disappointment.

 “It’s been a crazy summer,” Leska mused. “I am sorry about my cousin. Because of her, we couldn’t hang out at Aunt Reia’s place and she stole your first kiss.”

 Gohan actually laughed. He felt bad he wouldn’t see Leska anymore but thinking of Kala and what she did make him laugh. “I can’t believe she did that.”

 Leska giggled feeling the tension between them ease. “I’m glad you can laugh at it. It was funny.”

 What could he do? Laugh or get mad at an eight-year-old?

 Leska stared at Gohan, thinking. She probably shouldn’t but something inside her told her she needed to do this. She pried the fish from Gohan’s hand. It fell on the grass. Gohan looked at her confused as Leska took a brave step forward. “Promise me something. When you talk about your first kiss, don’t bring up my cousin. Tell everyone it was this.”

 Gohan’s eyes were wide as dinner plates as Leska placed her hand on his shoulders. His heart thumped wildly in his ribcage as she moved closer. His eyes were still open when she pressed her mouth against his. Gohan thought about this with Leska but never imagined it would happen. He stood rigid as his eyes droop close and soaked in the moment. His body felt warm and tingled with an odd but pleasing sensation. His nose was filled with Leska’s pleasant flowery scent. His heart skipped a beat feeling Leska’s chest brushed against his as she got closer. His eyes flew open as he felt something soft brushing against his closed lips. Gohan wasn’t sure what that was but it definitely sent a strong sensation down his stomach. All too quickly, Leska pulled away.

 Gohan’s entire face was pink like beets and his breathing came in ragged breaths. Smirking and not breathless, Leska pointed to the fish. “Let’s go.”

 Gohan picked up the fish and followed Leska. He didn’t speak but stole glances at the teen, smiling and touching his stinging lips. His first kiss. His first real kiss.

 ****

 In the kitchen, Aki and ChiChi waited for Gohan and Leska to return. “Reia told me the King and one of Goku’s friends have encouraged you to date this guy. I also talked to Kaifun. I honestly don’t know why you talked to him and not me but is this what you want?”

 ChiChi poured her chopped vegetables into a steamer. “Are you saying this isn’t my own decision?”

 “No,” Aki picked up the annoyance in ChiChi’s tone. “I know how much you love Goku and how crushed you were when he died. I also know other people have been encouraging you to date because you are alone and have two kids. I just wanna know if you want this or if too many people aren’t minding their business and getting in your head.”

 It was a little of both. “I wouldn’t be a good mother if I didn’t make sure my children are cared for and have everything they need.”

Aki sighed sensing this was ChiChi’s reason for dating Kenji. “You know me and Reia will help you with anything.”

 ChiChi appreciated Aki’s help but he couldn’t give her everything she needed. “I know you were close to Goku and you want to help but there are some things you can’t help me with. I have to do this.”

 “How do you feel about this guy?” Aki wanted the truth. “Any spark on your dates? Any feelings for him?”

 “He’s a kind man. He’s very good to Gohan and Goten and sparks aren’t always immediate. Sometimes feelings take time to develop.”

 In other words, ChiChi felt nothing romantic for this guy. “With me and Reia, it was instant. You and Goku were instant. You couldn’t stop talking about him.”

 “It wasn’t instant for me and Goku. I felt the attraction but not Goku.”

 “Oh, really?” Aki saw through that lie. “First time I met Goku, he came down for breakfast. You kissed him and he groped your breast. If that’s not sparks and attraction, then tell me what is.”

 ChiChi didn’t want to acknowledge that moment. “I meant when I was a kid. I didn’t know anything then.”

 “The kid I knew was a very determined person who knew what she wanted. She didn’t let anyone deter her from marrying Goku. She heard the whispers, the concerns Goku wouldn’t marry her; forgot her; but she knew better than everyone else. Where is she now?”

 She was still here but wiser and filled with doubts. “That girl married Goku and had him die on her twice. That girl has to raise her sons alone. That girl grew up. That girl is trying to do what’s best for her sons.”

 “That girl has too many people in her head.” Aki didn’t hold back his opinion. “But she has a friend in me. Goku was my friend, too. He was like a little brother to me but you’re my princess. Whatever you want, I support as long it’s what you want and I don’t think you want this.”

 “It is,” she told him but both knew she was lying.

 ChiChi heard her door opening and stepped away. As she composed herself, Aki talked to the kids. “There you two are. Did you have fun saying goodbye?”

 “How do you have fun saying goodbye, Uncle?” Leska retorted.

“What did you do?”

 “We just talked while Gohan got a fish and we fed dinosaurs.”

 As Leska spoke, ChiChi noticed Gohan. His face was flushed. Leska chattered about Gohan catching a fish and the dinosaur they fed as if nothing else happened but ChiChi suspected something did. ChiChi scanned both children. Clothes weren’t rumpled so they didn’t do that. ChiChi knew of Gohan’s crush but always felt Leska didn’t share those feelings. A fifteen-year-old girl wouldn’t be interested in a thirteen-year-old like that. That’s what ChiChi told herself but she wasn’t sure now.

 Leska politely bowed before ChiChi thanking her for her hospitality. When Leska said bye to Gohan, his blush deepened. That confirmed it for ChiChi. Something happened and she had an idea what did.

 Voice changing. Height. Now kissing girls. Gohan’s growing up so fast. ChiChi didn’t think it was time to have that talk but she knew she had to keep a closer eye on Gohan when it came to girls from now on. Puberty and discovery was growing in Gohan and that was something that couldn’t suppress no matter how much she wanted to. As much as she wanted Gohan to stay her little boy, he was growing into a man and there was nothing to stop it.  

 That didn’t mean she couldn’t put fear in her son on what she will and won’t tolerate.

 “Gohan,” ChiChi pulled a bowl from the cabinet. Gohan stared at Leska and Aki driving off. “Gohan!” ChiChi raised her voice. This time Gohan jumped and turned to her.

 “Yes, Mom.”

 “Wash your hands and let me show you how to prepare the seasoning for the fish. I still have to finish the rest of dinner and I can’t do it.”

 Gohan pointed to himself. “You want me to help?”

 ChiChi opened a large spiral notebook. It held all her handwritten recipes. Since marrying Goku, ChiChi created her own recipes with the proper size portions to create enough food to feed her Saiyan family. “You’re thirteen. I think it’s time you help out more.”

 Gohan washed his hands. In the past, ChiChi forbid his help in the kitchen even though he did it sometimes. Her book was numbered and labeled which made it easier for Gohan to find the section on preparing fish. Reading the instructions, Gohan pulled the proper spices from ChiChi’s spice rack.

 As he properly measured each season, ChiChi talked to him. “Are you sad Leska is going home?”

 Again Gohan blushed but he focused on pouring the different spices properly in the bowl. “Yes. I want to keep in touch but I think the distance and our studies won’t allow it.”

 He was handling it maturely but was hurt he wouldn’t see Leska again. His life since four prepared him several times to deal with loss. ChiChi wanted to lecture him but thought Gohan didn’t need that now. He needed comfort.

 “You may not see her again but you’ll have fond memories of her.” There was that blush again. He’ll have to work on that or he’ll be an open book around girls. ChiChi hoped this was a sign Gohan wasn’t going to explore too soon. “After all, first kisses are memorable.”

 Gohan turned to her astonished. “You know?”

 ChiChi refrained from laughing. He was growing up but she still saw flashes of her baby boy. “I’m your mother. I know everything and because I know, don’t be in such a rush to grow up and kiss girls. Take your time and get to know her first. Treat her well but don’t forget about yourself and what you want. As your father said, ‘I don’t do what I don’t wanna do.’”

 “That sounds like Dad.” If Dad were alive, Gohan would share this experience with him. He wondered how Dad dealt with his first kiss. “Mom. You were the first person to kiss Dad, right?”

 “He was my first kiss, too.” She laughed, “We were late bloomers.”

 “How did he react?”

 ChiChi thought of her first kiss. Editing the groping, she thought it was a story she could share with her son. He was growing up, needed guidance and based on her experienced learned it was better her son come to her with questions instead of venturing out and finding them out on his own.

 Ah, Goku, our baby’s growing up. I wish you can see him now.

 ****

 Getting to know Goku wasn’t easy. When Kimani was introduced to Goku, he said hello and walked off with Kai of the North. It was very surprising to Kimani. Other males lingered; they wanted to know everything about her, wanted to pursue her but Goku said ‘Hi. Nice to meet ya’ and left. It was something she wasn’t used to and Kimani found that intriguing along with Goku’s skills as a fighter. For a time, Goku was a busy person. Kimani learned Goku was very popular among the fighters. Pikkon was the closest but no one could defeat him. Instead fighters sparred to see how they stood against him. Goku was always engaging; studying fighters and learning tricks.

 Goku was very unique. Goku slept and ate as if he were still alive. Here in the afterlife, these normal functions weren’t needed. He always seemed happy, too. Kimani noticed other fighters expressing sadness at being dead or missing friends and family but Goku was always upbeat. Kimani figured Goku didn’t have a family which she found very strange. How is it no one caught his attention when he was alive?

 After a time, Kimani noticed Goku had fewer opponents to fight and spent more time by himself or the Kai of the North. That’s when Kimani decided to make her move.

 Today, Goku spent time with the Metamorans again. Days ago, Kimani watched Goku battle two Metamoran fighters simultaneously. Even with it two against one, Goku easily outmatched them. The fight changed when the two Metamorans performed a strange dance and their bodies combined into one being. Their appearance reflected physical traits from both fighters and the Ki from them was phenomenal. They challenged Goku. He had to become what Kimani learned was an Ascended Super Saiyan to defeat them. Since then, Goku wanted to study them and learn Fusion.

 “No, Goku, your arms are too high and you slid too soon.” A Metamoran elevated Goku’s arms to show where he should be.

 “My arms?” Goku looked at his Fusion partner. “What about Olibu’s?”

 “He’s in sync but you can’t tell because he’s two feet taller than you.”

 “My apologies, Goku, but I don’t think I am a suitable partner for you in this Fusion. Our height differences makes it difficult for us to be in sync.”

 “But you have to,” Goku nearly whined. “Pikkon won’t do it and you’re the next closest to me in Ki.”

 “Perhaps I can help,” Kimani stepped forward. “We are the same height and my Ki is very powerful. If it’s not enough for a Fusion, I can at least help get you in sync.”

 “Kimani,” Olibu breathed at her vision. Like many fighters, he was enraptured by her beauty and tried to get her attention. Onlooking fighters parted like the Red Sea as Kimani walked to the two men.

“I didn’t know you were watching us.”

 “Seeing you two try to do a Fusion is eye-catching and hilariously bad. You two can’t get in sync.” She shrugged innocently. “I’m not busy but I think I can help.”

 “Have at it,” Olibu offered as he stepped away.

 Kimani took Olibu’s place and smiled at Goku. “Do you mind if I help you?”

 Other fighters drooled at her appearance but Goku kept his eyes on her face. “Sure, but who are you?”

 “I’m Kimani. We met the first day I came here.”

 Goku thought back trying to remember when that was. “I don’t remember but nice to meet ya.”

 Kimani vowed Goku won’t forget her this time. They worked at it and after a few tries, Kimani understood Fusion technique but she and Goku still had trouble getting in sync. Goku had trouble getting the footsteps down.

 “It’s like dancing,” Kimani told him. “You have to slide and move your arms in the right way.”

 “I ain’t dance in a while.” Goku looked at his feet. “Maybe that’s why I am out of sync.”

 “I think I know a way that will help us get in sync. If we spend time together and become more familiar with each other, we can develop a connection. Maybe we can read ourselves enough to be in sync for the Fusion.”

 “Spend time?” Goku questioned. “Doing what?”

 “Spar of course. I’ve wanted to fight you for a while to see how I stand up against you. I hear you are the best but I also want to train and learn from you. It’s what all of us are doing as we wait for personal training with the Grand Kai.”

 “It sounds like a good idea,” Olibu agreed. “And I can’t imagine a lovelier company learning Fusion.”

 Goku didn’t understand what Olibu meant about lovelier company. Did he mean Kimani? Goku looked her over not seeing anything special but if Kimani could help him get in sync with Fusion, he was willing to partner up with her.

 ****

 Going into the last month of baseball season, the Taitans were in competition for the number one seed. To achieve that, they had to win most of the games in the final month of the season. At the beginning of the month, they were the fourth seed. Kenji was passionate for his team to enter the playoffs at number one. Knowing Kenji needed to focus, ChiChi suggested they shouldn’t meet for dates until the Taitans season and playoff run is over. Kenji resisted but bargained with ChiChi if he can’t see her they talk on the phone.

 ChiChi allowed this but only at night after her sons went to bed. Kenji focused and gave his best performance in the final month of the baseball season and the playoffs. He stole several bases, hit home runs and made several catches in the field. ChiChi and Goten saw the games on TV. Gohan stayed in his room reading, studying or going to bed early. Gohan took Leska’s advice to learn baseball. He read books understanding the mechanics of the game, but Kenji killed any interest Gohan would have in watching the sport or playing it.  

 Since Kenji couldn’t visit until the Taitans were out of the playoffs, Gohan was stunned during breakfast at Kenji’s arrival and bearing gifts of flowers and bags. ChiChi opened the door and before she could get a word in, Kenji pulled ChiChi in his arms and spun her around the room.

 “Hey, hey, what’s going on?” ChiChi kept her voice light but the sudden affection in front of her sons caught her off guard. “My sons are watching.”

 “You’re a wonderful sight for these sore eyes. Two months is too long to be away from this pretty face.” Kenji moved in to kiss ChiChi but a sudden turn of her face caused Kenji’s lips to touch her cheek.  

 Kenji placed ChiChi on her feet again and held the flowers out to her. “I….um…. thank you…..I should get these in water.” ChiChi turned away to find a vase. Gohan’s eyes followed ChiChi. He saw her touch her cheek briefly before she picked up an empty vase on an end table. “Congratulations, but what are you doing here? I thought you’d be sleeping.”

 “Congratulations?” Gohan repeated. “What for?”

 “The Taitans won the championship last night.” Goten went to the bags in Kenji’s hands. “Wow!” Goten pulled out a shirt that read World Champions. “Is this for me?”

 “It’s for everyone.” Kenji helped Goten pulled out the bag’s contents. Jerseys, baseball caps, a baseball, bats and gloves. “You didn’t see the game, Gohan?”

 Goten tried to fit a baseball cap over his spiky head. “Big Brother didn’t see any game.”

 “Really?” Kenji was surprised. “Is the game hard to follow? We can go outside and I can teach you.”

 “Gohan’s studies are more important to him than baseball,” ChiChi explained as she arranged flowers in the vase. “He can focus on his work without any interruptions from Goten since he watches with me.”

 “Oh.” Kenji stared at Gohan wondering if that were true. He shrugged and joined ChiChi in the kitchen. “Baseball season is over. There will be a parade celebrating our championship tomorrow. I want you and the boys there and tomorrow night,” he put an arm around ChiChi, “I wanna take you on a date again. We have a lot of making up to do.”

 “Oh…” ChiChi broke away from Kenji and went to the sink. As water filled her vase, she said, “West City is so far to travel for the parade and a date. We’ll need a place to stay for a few hours.”

 “We can stay at Trunks’ house!” Goten volunteered.

 Gohan never so badly wanted to cover Goten’s mouth.

 “That’s not a good idea,” Kenji brushed off Goten’s suggestion. “Vegeta’s there and you don’t need to deal with him. I can put everyone in a hotel. Unless you don’t mind staying at my place.” He grinned. “I have the room.”

 Such choices. “A hotel will be fine but I have to pay….”

 “You don’t. Don’t worry about money with me, ChiChi. I have more than I can spend and I want to spend it on the people I like most.”

 ChiChi hesitated. It didn’t feel right. This wasn’t a date where the guy is expected to pay after a few hours of fun. Goten wrapped his arms around ChiChi’s legs pleading her to do it. The almost four-year-old did not understand money and how the optics looked in this situation.  

 “Come on,” Kenji cajoled. “We haven’t seen each other in two months. Just this once,” Kenji pleaded. “Please. I really want to spend time with you and the kids. I missed you a lot.”

 Maybe she was overthinking this. Kenji being rich didn’t see money as she did. He probably compared paying a hotel room the same as movie tickets. “Okay, but just this once.”

 “Great. It’s all set up. Once you and the boys pack, I can take you.”

 “What?” ChiChi no longer thought she overreacted. Now she was suspicious. “You have the arrangements made already?”

 “I booked it,” Kenji didn’t see the problem. “I had to. After our win, I knew you would come so I booked a suite for you and the boys.”

 “And what if I said no?”

 Kenji chuckled as if that was ridiculous. “Then I would’ve begged until you say yes. Come on, ChiChi. I haven’t seen you in two months. Can you blame me for being planning ahead?”

 This wasn’t planning ahead. It was Kenji being arrogant and pushy. Kenji showed this trait in smaller doses but this was a big dose and she didn’t like it. Piccolo warned her Kenji will do this.

 “This is really important to me,” Kenji pleaded, “and I want to share it with someone I really care for. Sorry if I seem too forward but you know me.”

 He said the right words but could she trust him? Maybe I am overreacting. We’ve talked but not seen each other in two months. Maybe he missed being around more than me. “All right but we’re in the middle of breakfast and I have to clean up and get the boys packed. We won’t be leaving for a couple of hours at least.”

 Kenji grinned, flashing his perfect smile. “That’s good with me. I haven’t had breakfast and I need a nap. I got two hours of sleep before I flew here.”

 “We can spare an extra plate,” ChiChi offered breakfast, “but hurry before it’s almost gone.”

 “Oh, yeah,” Kenji sat at the table watching Gohan and Goten still eating. Spending time with them on his group dates with ChiChi, Kenji saw how much Gohan and Goten ate. “They sure do eat a lot. I know you keep saying they have Goku’s stomach but your boys inherited their Grandpa’s stomach.”

 Goten shook his head. His mouth was full of food. “We haf Daddy’s stommaf.”

 ChiChi had her back to everyone while she fixed a plate for Kenji. “Goten, don’t talk with your mouth full.” She turned and froze. Kenji sat in Goku’s seat. There were four chairs at the table. Gyu-Mao sat in Goku’s seat but that was acceptable. Seeing Kenji sit there was unnerving. Gohan had his head down eating very fast while Goten happily ate unbothered. She shook off her feelings and gave Kenji his plate.  

 Kenji finished his plate first and was astonished Gohan and Goten were still eating. He took a nap and ChiChi was unnerved again. Kenji slept on the sofa Goku took his naps. When Gohan and Goten finished breakfast, ChiChi saw she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Gohan stared, too.

 “Gohan,” ChiChi distracted him, “help Goten pack while I finish breakfast.”

 Gohan looked as if he wanted to say something but obeyed his mother.  

 As ChiChi cleaned, she stole glances at Kenji sleeping. Goku slept on that sofa. He slept with Gohan as a baby and during his toddler years. In the last three years of his life, she remembered the naps Goku took. Having Kenji lying there didn’t feel right. She had a vision of what her future will be like with Kenji if she married him. Kenji will nap on the sofa like Goku. Kenji will sit at the head of the table like Goku.

 It didn’t feel right.  

 Packing in her bedroom, ChiChi felt eyes on her. Goku’s eyes. They were everywhere. On her nightstand, a photo of Goku smiled at her. On her chest, the picture from his shrine smiled at her. On a wall, the last family photo Goku smiled directly at her. His smile made her stomach twist.

 Was this right?

 During her first date with Kenji, ChiChi didn’t think of it as a date. She didn’t dress up or wore makeup. She kept her clothes casual. The other dates included her children. Kenji gave a lot of attention to Gohan and Goten. On the hike and picnic, Kenji carried Goten on his shoulders and played with him with toys he brought. ChiChi treated it as a casual outing. Not a date. Their last date was slightly different. Kenji took her to a film festival. That was the first time she allowed physical interaction. Kenji held her hand and she didn’t let go.

 After that date, they talked on the phone since Kenji had to focus on baseball. They talked while watching movies, TV shows and things going on in their lives. The conversations reminded ChiChi of talks she shared with Goku. With Goku, the talks felt intimate. With Kenji, it felt friendly. She knew the expected endgame. Marriage but when Kenji picked her up and spun her around, it felt wrong. When he tried to kiss her in front of her sons, it felt wrong.  

 It shouldn’t just be friendly ChiChi told herself. This was the natural progression of two people dating but for ChiChi, it didn’t feel right.

 On the flight to West City, Kenji was very engaging to Gohan and Goten. He talked like a father catching up with his children after a day at work. He made promises to take them to an arcade restaurant after they go to the hotel and list things they can do together now baseball season is over. Gohan was polite but aloof. He kept his head in the book. Goten chattered excited about the things Kenji wanted to do but ChiChi was growing concerned about all this showering of gifts. Her concerns grew even more when they arrived at the hotel. Kenji set them up in a suite with large TVs in the bedroom and living room, a wet bar and stocked refrigerator, a master and guest half bath and a private furnished balcony.

 “This is a lot,” ChiChi told Kenji as she looked around stunned. “Too much. We don’t need all this.”

 “You do,” Kenji told her. “You’re not used to this. You told me you were a princess. It’s time you live like that again.”

 ChiChi saw Goten getting food out of the stocked refrigerator. “Goten, that’s expensive. Don’t eat that!”

 Kenji overrode her authority. “You can eat that, Goten. I have the money to provide for you, ChiChi.”

 “I don’t care about that. I am Goten’s mother. I decide what he can eat.” This was a mistake. She wished she listened to her feelings before they left. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have allowed this. Take me to a cheaper hotel. I’ll pay. No,” ChiChi shook her head. This was West City. Not a hotel in a town near Mount Paozu. She couldn’t afford a hotel here. “I’ll go to Bulma’s house.”

 “No!” Kenji refused her request. “I shouldn’t have said that to Goten. He is your son.” He exhaled frustrated. How to get ChiChi to understand. “I know you had to because of Goku but don’t worry about money with me. I have more than enough and I’m not trying to spoil you or your sons. It’s not spoil if you’re getting what you deserve. You’re not used to that because you haven’t had that since you married Goku.”

 Every time money came up, Kenji brought up Goku. ChiChi brushed it off but now it was annoying as if Kenji was insulting Goku. “I had everything I need with Goku.”

 Kenji didn’t speak but his face said he didn’t agree with her.

 Still, ChiChi felt the need to defend her dead husband. “Moneywise we didn’t have everything but we had enough. We never needed fancy stuff. If I wanted that life, I would’ve stayed in my father’s castle.”

 Kenji didn’t want to argue with ChiChi but they were on their way to a fight. She just didn’t get it. “I wasn’t meaning that…..” He sighed. Best to let her win and move on he decided. “Got it. Can I still take you and the boys to the arcade restaurant? It’s not expensive.”

 ChiChi wanted to say no but Goten was very excited and behaved so well on the flight. He finished his lessons and even did extra work. It wouldn’t be right to punish him when she’s uncomfortable. “You can take the boys. I’m staying here.”

 “Why?”

 “I’m not into video games.” True but not the real reason. Space from Kenji is what she needed now. She hadn’t seen him in two months and being around him for a few hours made her feel smothered. “It’ll be better if I am not there. Gohan will help you with Goten.”

 “I can handle both boys.” Over the shock of ChiChi not going, Kenji saw the potential in this. “I’ll prove to you I can take care of them.”

 Please don’t let me regret this. “Be back in three hours.”

 “Three hours,” Kenji saluted.

 Kenji returned in three hours and ChiChi didn’t regret it. Goten had a fun time. Kenji didn’t spoil him with a lot of toys. He bought one. Gohan wasn’t as enthused as Goten but he did enjoy himself. Kenji respecting her wishes, made ChiChi feel a little better about this situation and gave her hope tomorrow will go well.

 The championship parade started at noon. ChiChi and Goten watched the parade on TV and when it passed their hotel, watched from the balcony. Gohan avoided the parade and spent his time reading and working on his lessons. After the parade, Kenji called with dinner plans. ChiChi heard of the restaurant from Bulma. It was expensive.

 For date nights with Goku, ChiChi showered with regular soap and didn’t wear perfume. Goku’s sensitive nose didn’t like it. Bulma gifted her a beauty set of perfume and scented lotions for her birthday which ChiChi decided to finally use. Her face was decorated in colors of red for her lips, pink for her cheeks and a dark tint of eyeshadow over her eyes. Her sleeveless black dress came to her knees and accentuated her curves. ChiChi admitted she looked good but deep down wished Goku will see her like this and not Kenji.

 Gohan sat on the sofa helping Goten read when ChiChi stepped out of her room. “Gohan, remember Goten has bed in an hour. I should be back by….” She trailed off when Gohan stared at her. “What is it?”

 “Where did you get that dress?”

 ChiChi looked herself over. Was it too much? “My closet. It’s something I bought before Dad died. We were gonna have date nights again after the Cell Game and…” ChiChi didn’t finish the rest.

 “That’s a dress you wanted to wear for Dad and you’re wearing it for Mr. Kenji?”

 “I wouldn’t put it like that. I’m wearing this dress for myself. It’s a nice dress to wear at the fancy restaurant Kenji will take me.” Three knocks tapped her door. ChiChi answered and allowed Kenji in.

 “Wow!” Kenji’s eyes roamed over ChiChi. He even circled her to look at her from behind. “Very nice. Very nice. Perfect dressing for Polaris.”

 “Thank you. I hope I don’t get dizzy,” ChiChi joked.

 “You won’t. The restaurant doesn’t move that fast.” He circled her again and took a third look at ChiChi’s backside. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Gohan watching him. He grinned, “Hi, boys.”

  “Why would Mom get dizzy?” Gohan wanted to know.

 “Polaris is a rotating restaurant. The room moves in a circle but it’s slow and you hardly notice. It takes an hour for it to complete its rotation.”

 “Is it like Nimbus?” Goten asked.

 “What’s Nimbus?”

 “It’s a ride,” ChiChi rushed out. “We should go.” ChiChi bent to kiss Goten’s cheek. “Good night, Goten.” She kissed Gohan’s cheek. “Polaris’ number is by the phone. Call me if there’s an emergency and don’t wait up. I want you in bed an hour after Goten.”

 “Sure, Mom,” Gohan nodded. He even smiled as ChiChi and Kenji left but as soon as he closed the door, he scowled. He didn’t like this. He felt it in his gut this was a bad idea. Mom never dressed this fancy for a date except with Dad. He didn’t like that she wore makeup and smelled like those fancy scents Bulma wore.

 She’s falling for him.

 Gohan tried distracting himself by putting Goten into his pajamas and reading to him until bedtime but the words in the book were a jumbled mess. He could only think of his mother and Kenji. Will she kiss him? Is she starting to fall in love with him? Will they marry?

 The idea made Gohan sick to his stomach but what if Kenji sitting at the kitchen table yesterday was a forecast of the future? What if Kenji spends the night? Will he be in Mom’s room? In the same bed she shared with Dad? If they marry, what about their home on Mount Paozu? What if Leska is right and they move to West City?

 “Big Brother?” Goten poked Gohan. “Won’t you read to me?”

 Goten was so young and innocent. He didn’t see anything wrong with Mom dating Kenji. He never experienced seeing Dad with Mom the way Kenji tries to be. To Goten, it was fine but Gohan knew it wasn’t right and he had to do something about it.

 “Goten, do you want to see the rotating restaurant where Mom and Mr. Kenji went to?”

 Goten’s eyes grew wide in awe. “We can?”

 “Sure. A rotating restaurant sounds. Maybe it moves like Nimbus.”

 “Ooo! Ooo! I wanna see it!”

 Gohan picked up Goten and carried him to the balcony. “Then let’s go. Nimbus!” Nimbus zoomed from the sky and parked on the balcony. After getting on and settling Goten in his lap, Gohan said, “To the Polaris restaurant.”

 “Polaris restaurant!” Goten cheered.

 ****

 “It’s a beautiful view,” ChiChi gazed out the window as the room slowly rotated. The sun went down twenty minutes ago and the city lights brightly lit the city like tiny stars. “Feels kind of weird moving but nice.” They were on the 70th floor of the skyscraper with the rotating restaurant. Soft piano music traveling through the room and candles at their table created a romantic atmosphere. As ChiChi read the menu, she thought of Goku and how he will drool over the food listed. “Goku would…..” ChiChi caught herself. “Sorry.”

 Kenji kept his eyes on the menu. “Did Goku take you to restaurants?”

 “We went to a few. Nothing fancy. We couldn’t afford that. Most nights we ate at home.”

 “Even with Gohan?” Kenji inquired. “No family dinners at restaurants?”

 ChiChi studied the menu, wondering if she should bring food to Gohan and Goten. “We did go to a few restaurants when Gohan was very young. We wanted to go out in the later years of Goku’s life but things got in the way.”

 “Goku’s martial arts training?” Kenji guessed. “There’s something I don’t understand. Goku won the tournament before Mr. Satan. I know Mr. Satan didn’t beat Cell but he capitalized on his fame with endorsements. He’s making millions of zeni. How come Goku never did that when he won the tournament? You would’ve been set for life.”

 They would have money but ChiChi doubted they would’ve been set for life. The food bill would put a dent in anyone’s retirement plans. “Goku never cared about the fame of fighting. We could’ve gotten endorsements but it would’ve brought us a lot of unwanted attention. We didn’t want that and I know Goku wanted a break from everything.”

 “A break?”

 “Goku traveled the world for years training. He told me after the 22nd tournament, he was going home to relax but he was sidetracked in another battle and trained for three more years. After we married, we closed ourselves off from the world.”

 “And said no to money that would’ve set you up for years.”

 ChiChi half-rolled her eyes. Kenji’s lowkey obsession with money was becoming irritating. “Not everything is about money, Kenji.”  

 “I know but being an athlete, my time is limited. I’m not gonna have a thirty- or forty-year career playing baseball. I need to make as much money as I can while I can play. That’s what Goku should’ve done. If he capitalized on his fame, you wouldn’t be struggling for money now.”

 Even though the remark was truthful, it hurt. Capitalizing on Goku’s fame wasn’t something ChiChi thought about and if she had, it wouldn’t have been something Goku wanted to do. It would force ChiChi to find another way to make money.  

 The waitress returned and took their orders. As they waited for their food, Kenji apologized, “Sorry if I am talking about money a lot. I got some decisions to make. My agent’s negotiating with the team on my future contract. They wanted to wait until after our season is over to talk but during the playoffs, other teams reached out to my agent. They wanna pay me a lot. My agent will talk to the team tomorrow and bargain a deal. There will be a decision soon.”

 “Good luck.” ChiChi knew Kenji worked hard at his career and deserved whatever he wanted. “You’ve earned it.”

 “Thanks. Now that baseball season is over, we will have more time together. I have a lot of dates planned for us and Goten turns four next month. I wanna do something special for his birthday.”

 “Birthday?” ChiChi didn’t know what Kenji had in mind but she envisioned a lot of money will be spent. “Goten’s having a simple birthday party at home.”

 “Okay but I’ll bring bounce houses,” Kenji offered. “I can stop at a capsule store and buy a Ferris Wheel capsule. Maybe I can rent some of the games Goten liked playing at the arcade.”

 “You can bring yourself and one small gift,” ChiChi put her foot down. “I don’t want Goten spoiled and thinking every time you visit, he will get something grand.”

 Kenji picked up his wine glass relenting. “Okay. You may be right. Kids shouldn’t be spoiled. This is good practice when I’m officially a Dad.” He sipped his wine. “That reminds me. I told my parents about you. I showed them a picture of you and the boys. Mom is curious but I told her it’s not time for us to meet. Dad thinks you’re cute and way too young for two kids. He’s kind of touchy so when you meet, watch out for his hands.”

 Parents?! ChiChi knew Kenji had them but she didn’t think about meeting them. Her breath quicken and her heart thumped faster. “Wh-wh-why did you do that?”

 “We are dating and as soon as pictures of us hit the Entertainment pages, Mom will ask. I’m getting ahead so she’s not shocked by it.”

 “Entertainment pages?”

 “I am a celebrity, we just won the championship and we’re in one of the most famous cities in the world.” He leaned forward and whispered. “Haven’t you noticed people looking at us?”

 ChiChi brought her glass to her lips, pretending to drink while she scanned the room from the corner of her eye. Most people were eating but there were eyes on them. Oh, boy. She had more privacy outside of West City. She never worried about people staring. One of the reasons she didn’t come forward about Gohan defeating Cell, she didn’t want media attention on her family. She risked doing that now dating Kenji.

 This is too fast. This is too much.

 Tap. Tap. Tap.

 A tapping sound came from the window. ChiChi turned and spat her drink.  Goten waved at her. She couldn’t hear him but reading his lips, Goten said, ‘Hi, Momma’. He sat on Gohan’s lap on Nimbus waving at her 70 stories high.

 Everything happened in slow motion for Kenji. He was enjoying a dinner date with ChiChi, happily talking about their future when a pounding on the window got their attention. They turned simultaneously and saw Gohan and Goten floating on a cloud. Shocked and so many questions raced in Kenji. Why were they here? What were they on? How were they floating 70 stories?

 Before his lips could form words, ChiChi was on her feet and screaming, “GOHAN! GOTEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE?!”

 “ChiChi,” Kenji put a finger to his lips trying to get ChiChi to quiet down. He was shocked to see Gohan and Goten, too but ChiChi’s screaming brought more attention. People were looking as if ChiChi lost her mind. “ChiChi. Shh. Shh.”

 ChiChi ignored Kenji. Furious, she pointed down indicating she wanted Gohan to land Nimbus. “Get down and meet me in the lobby!!” Gohan shook his head not wanting to land knowing the wrath he will face if he did. “Don’t make me come through this window! GET…DOWN…. NOW!!”

 “ChiChi.” Kenji was on his feet and by her side. He looked nervously at the guests. “Calm down. It’s not that serious.”

 “Not serious?!” She pointed to her sons. “Do you see this?!” Gohan still hadn’t obeyed. “Nimbus! Land!!”

 Nimbus dropped from their view. Kenji saw ChiChi’s anger at Krillin and 18’s wedding but that was on an island and they were alone. This was not in a restaurant full of people who knew him. He thought in a public place, ChiChi knew how to conduct herself even if she were rightly angry. “You’re making a scene,” he gently scolded her. “Relax. I’ll get the boys. You just stay here and calm down. Maybe have a drink.”

 Gohan stood in the lobby holding Goten. The little boy wore pajamas and no socks. If Goten’s feet got dirty, Gohan knew he’ll be in even more trouble. The plan was perfect. Fly here and spy on his mother with Kenji. Too bad his little brother had other plans.

 “Which building is Momma in?” Goten eagerly looked around.

 “I think it’s that one,” Gohan pointed at a glass tower. On top of it was a spherical shape globe with rings with the words ‘Polaris’. Though the city was bright at night, it was still dark. From their distance, they couldn’t see ChiChi.

 “I wanna see Momma,” Goten complained.

 “We only came to see the rotating restaurant.”

 “I wanna see Momma!” Goten screamed.

 “We’ll get a little closer,” Gohan promised. “Fly a little closer, Nimbus.”

 Nimbus flew below the lower rings and windows concealing Gohan and Goten. From his view, Gohan looked up watching the people and searching for ChiChi.

 “Where’s Momma?” Goten asked again. “I can’t see.”

 “I’m looking. I’m looking,” Gohan told his brother. “If Mom’s not by the window, she’s in the middle of the restaurant away from—oh!” Gohan spotted ChiChi. “There she is.”

 Goten stood. “I wanna see!” He stood on his toes and Gohan grabbed Goten so his brother didn’t fall off Nimbus.  “Higher Nimbus!”

 “Goten, no!” Gohan pulled Goten down as Nimbus flew higher, against the window and directly at ChiChi. She didn’t see them so Goten knocked against the window and waved until ChiChi did.

 Oh, no!

 The fury on ChiChi’s face told Gohan he was a dead man.

 Every time the elevator opened, Gohan expected his mother to storm out and scream at him. If he weren’t too old to be spanked, he was sure ChiChi would bend him over and smack his bottom in front of everyone. When Kenji stepped off the elevator alone, Gohan’s fear turned to confusion. Where was Mom? Kenji stood at the elevator and gestured for Gohan to come with him. Gohan obeyed.  

 Riding up in the quiet elevator, Kenji loosened his tie. It was the first time Gohan saw Kenji frustrated. “I’m not your Dad but I think I can speak for him when I say he will be disappointed in what you did tonight. He wouldn’t like how upset you made your mother.”

 “We did something wrong?” Goten looked worriedly at Gohan. “Big Brother, did we do a bad thing?”

 “Not you, Goten.” Kenji knew what happened tonight wasn’t his fault. “Gohan did and he knows it.”

 Goten looked at Gohan astonished. “Big Brother, is that true?”

 Gohan didn’t answer Goten. What he did was wrong but Kenji didn’t have to bring it up in front of Goten. “You can never speak for our Dad. You don’t know him and he wouldn’t be disappointed at what I did tonight.”

 Kenji scoffed. “You can’t think he would be proud of you.”

 Gohan was saved from responding when the elevator opened. Two couples stepped in. The men of the pairings instantly recognized Kenji and chatted with him. Kenji’s façade changed. He was the cool and happy guy again. Lucky for him, Gohan thought. He wasn’t sure if Kenji would’ve made it back to the restaurant if the couples didn’t step on.

 ChiChi sat at the table furious as Gohan, Goten, Kenji and a waiter carrying two chairs returned to the table. The waiter pushed one chair by ChiChi and the other by Kenji. “Momma,” Goten reached out to ChiChi.

 “Goten,” ChiChi was curt as she took Goten from Gohan. She noticed Goten wore his pajamas and no socks. She gave Gohan a suspicious glare. Gohan picked up the chair by Kenji and moved it to the other side of ChiChi. ChiChi ignored Gohan as she settled Goten in his chair. “Why are you here?”

 “We wanted to see the floating restaurant.”

 “Rotating restaurant,” ChiChi corrected Goten.

 “Ah,” Kenji noticed their orders arrived while he left to get Gohan and Goten. The waiter handed two menus to Kenji for Gohan and Goten. “Since they’re here, they might as well eat.” Kenji was back to being a charming host but ChiChi was embarrassed, angry and suspicious. Gohan orchestrated this. She had growing suspicions but tonight made it obvious. Gohan had a problem with her dating Kenji.

 If Kenji knew it, he didn’t show it as he played the engaging host again. “So, how did you two float on a cloud? Was that an invention from Dr. Briefs?”

 “It’s Daddy’s cloud,” Goten told him.

 “Daddy’s cloud?” Kenji laughed. “Goku was a scientist?”

 “No.” Goten shook his head giggling. “It was a gift to Daddy because he’s a good person. Only me, Momma and Big Brother can ride Daddy’s cloud.”

 Kenji suspected it was an invention from Dr. Briefs but Goten was told it was a cloud from his Daddy. “Uh-huh.” He half-rolled his eyes but went along with Goten’s explanation. He kept the conversation light as he made jokes with Goten and Gohan. Goten was spoiled with dinner and dessert. Gohan only had an appetizer which he hardly touched due to the deadly gazes ChiChi sent him. The guests at the restaurant forgot the earlier outbursts and enjoyed their dinner with Kenji paying for their bill on the promise they didn’t speak of what they saw. With a hefty bill paid, two full children and an embarrassed widow, the four left the restaurant.

 The ride back to the hotel was tense for everyone except Goten who fell asleep. ChiChi thanked Kenji for dinner but declined his invitation to see her to her room. ChiChi didn’t speak to Gohan when they entered the hotel or in the elevator but as soon as they entered their room she hissed, “You stay here until I get back and don’t you dare think of flying off. If you are not here, I will find you.”

 Gohan sat on the sofa and waited for ChiChi to put Goten to bed. He knew he will be in trouble for tonight. He knew he will be yelled at and punished. Gohan accepted it but also felt this was ChiChi’s fault. If she weren’t dating Kenji, they wouldn’t be here. They shouldn’t be in this hotel. They should be in their home on Mount Paozu.

 Gohan heard the bedroom door close and ChiChi’s Ki approaching. She stood in front of him pissed. Her arms were crossed. Her eyebrows furrowed, eyes tense and mouth molded in a snarl. She hadn’t looked this angry since Goku wanted to train him after his return from Yardrat.

“Gohan, when we talked after your father’s death, I thought the secrets ended. When I talked to you and Goten about dating Kenji, you told me you were okay with it. You lied! You pulled your baby brother in your scheme and spied on me?!” ChiChi exploded. “Have you done this every time I went out with Kenji?!”

 “No. This was the first time.”

 “Then why now?! How could you embarrass me in front of Kenji like that?!”

 Embarrass? That’s how she felt? Involving Goten was wrong but he wouldn’t have done this if not for her. “You were the one screaming and getting everyone to look at you. Not me.”

 Gohan’s snark shocked and enraged ChiChi. “I was screaming because of you! You were floating on Nimbus 70 stories high when you should’ve been in bed!”

 No. No. Gohan wasn’t going to take all the blame. “I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t betrayed Dad!”

 “Betray Dad?” ChiChi gasped as if slapped. “How did I betray him?”

 “Dating Kenji! I know Grandpa and Bulma want you to date him because Dad isn’t here. I didn’t speak up because I knew they would’ve been mad if I said something.”

 “So, that’s your excuse for being quiet? For them?” ChiChi would not accept this. “You spoke your mind when I didn’t want you to go to Namek. So, try again!”

 “I thought you would go on one date and tell Grandpa and Bulma you didn’t want to date Kenji anymore but you didn’t. You kept dating him and you included Goten and me!” Three months of anger and frustration bubbled out of Gohan. “You let Kenji hold you like Dad held you. You let him almost kiss you. You let him sit in Dad’s chair and sleep on the sofa! If you love Dad, you wouldn’t be doing this!”

 Gohan left ChiChi speechless. Is that what he thinks? “I love Dad, Gohan. I’ll never stop loving him.”

 “Then why date Kenji? Dad isn’t here but I can help. I bring food for you to cook. I bring wood to keep the house warm. I can get a job if you need money.”

 “You’re not working, Gohan. You have a bright future ahead of you. We’re not rich but we have money. Grandpa is helping us.”

 “But you don’t like taking money from him. I can study and work,” Gohan was willing to do anything to not have Kenji in their life anymore. “If it’s touching like kissing and hugs you miss from Dad…. well, I miss Dad’s hugs, too, but I cope. Why can’t you?”

 The last remark hurt. Gohan was mature for his age but he didn’t know everything. “I cope, Gohan. I’ve coped for years but missing a hug from your Dad pales to what I’m missing from him. You can’t compare what we’re missing and it’s not even the point.”

 “Then what is it? It’s like you don’t love Dad and you’re trying to replace him. If you marry Kenji, you’ll have babies with him and Goten won’t know Dad at all except he’s dead. You’re being selfish.”

 If he weren’t her son and hurting, ChiChi would smack him. Gohan loved Goku and seeing her with another man would bother him. ChiChi accepted that but what she couldn’t accept is Gohan looking at her as an accessory to Goku and not a person with feelings, too. That’s how she felt Goku’s friends saw her. She truly thought Gohan saw her differently.

 “You accuse me of forgetting about Dad. You accuse me of not loving him. You accuse me of betraying him. Have you ever thought of my feelings?” ChiChi wanted to carry her burdens privately but Gohan’s words hurt her. “Your father reached out from death to talk to you twice. He helped you beat Cell and he said goodbye to you on Kami’s Temple. He never said goodbye to me. I was married to him for ten years. I cared for him every day. I waited for him when I was left alone for over two years. I cared for him when he was sick. I gave everything to him and I couldn’t get a goodbye. Did you ever think about that?”

 He didn’t. He was too consumed with his grief and error and never noticed Dad never said goodbye to Mom. Dad mentioned her and how they will suffer the most with him staying dead but Gohan never realized he got a chance to say goodbye while Mom didn’t. When Mom cried on the floor, that would’ve been the time for Dad to reach out but he didn’t.

 Why didn’t he?

 “I am a person with feelings, too,” ChiChi went on. “Maybe I would like to have an adult conversation after I spend my day caring for my sons. Maybe I would like to discuss watching a movie I’ve seen or a book I’ve read. Maybe I deserve to have a friend, too.”

 Friend. Mom said friend. Not boyfriend. Not husband. That gave Gohan hope. “So, you don’t love Kenji.”

 ChiChi sighed. After all that, that’s what Gohan took from what she said. All her anger was zapped from her. She was filled with disappointment. “I can’t deal with this right now, Gohan. I’m tired. I…. I just can’t.”

 ChiChi walked away from him. She returned to her bedroom and closed the door. Gohan watched the anger faded from ChiChi’s face. Her eyes were filled with hurt and sadness. Gohan tried to call out to her, tried to move to stop her from leaving but his body wouldn’t move.

 “Ma….Mom….” he spoke after a long silence. “Mom,” he tried again. Silence. His brain began to function again; his limbs began moving. He took one step forward and another, moving his feet until he was at the bedroom door.

 Gohan touched the doorknob. He started to turn it but stopped when he heard sobbing. His mother’s tears. Gohan pressed his forehead against the door. He closed his eyes as guilt filled him.

 Mom, I’m sorry.

 ****

 “Wow. She’s active today.” ChiChi rubbed 18’s stomach and felt the baby growing in her friend move from one side to the other.

 “I swear she’s doing gymnastics in there.” 18 had her feet propped up on a foot pillow in ChiChi’s living room eating another plate of lunch. Since entering her third trimester, Krillin went everywhere with 18 when she wanted to leave the island. Right now, Krillin was outside with Gohan and Goten and giving ChiChi and 18 time to talk alone.

 “Have you and Krillin settled on a name yet?”

 “We agreed with Marron.” 18 put down her empty plate. She reached for the other one but her bowling ball stomach got in her way. “We decided last night when Krillin packed my bag for the hospital.”

 “Already?” ChiChi handed 18 a bowl of noodles.

 “He’s excited.” 18 sighed. “I wish he was excited about moving us to our own place.”

 “Maybe you shouldn’t move now,” ChiChi suggested. “You’re a special case and Dr. Barkley wants you to take it easy. Finding a place, moving and unpacking might be too much now.”

 “Our bank account isn’t much right now,” 18 lamented. “Krillin’s working but it’s only enough to get by. Once Marron is here, we’ll need more space. Our room is barely enough for us and in two months we’ll be adding a baby, diapers, clothes and toys.”

 “Don’t worry about that. Bulma and I will make sure you and Marron won’t be without anything.”

 18 appreciated the support. ChiChi already made five outfits for her child and Bulma bragged about throwing her a big baby shower. “If you mean that, convince your rich boyfriend to buy me and Krillin a house.” She thought ChiChi would laugh but her sudden distressful face alarmed 18. “What? Did something happen?”

 It was four days since the incident in West City. Kenji flew ChiChi, Gohan and Goten home. Kenji picked up the tension. No one. Not even Goten spoke on the flight back. When pressed for an answer, ChiChi told him she needed to deal with Gohan alone and needed a few days. She spoke with Gohan when she needed to but spent most of her free thoughts thinking of Kenji, her sons and the situation she got herself in. “Don’t get used to calling him my boyfriend.”

 “Why?” 18 slurped a mouthful of noodles. “Did you break up?”

 “No, but I’m having second thoughts about this.” ChiChi preceded to tell 18 what happened in West City.

 “Damn.” The update was like a drama in those soap operas Master Roshi occasionally watched. Gohan’s behavior was natural. It was ChiChi’s 18 couldn’t figure out. “I was on board with Bulma you should date Kenji but I’m pregnant and filled with all kinds of emotions and hormones. You’re a fool if you listened to me. You’re a damn fool if you listened to Bulma.”

 18 was blunt as always but ChiChi took it with humored disbelief. “Not taking responsibility for me and Kenji?”

 “Don’t tell me you did date him because of us.”

 “My Dad had more influence than you and Bulma but yeah,” ChiChi confirmed. She leaned back and gazed at the ceiling wondering how all this drama entered her life. “Dad and Bulma said some hard truths about my marriage. I was happy but it wasn’t perfect. I thought I should give Kenji a chance at least for Gohan and Goten’s future, but since West City, I’ve been having doubts about all this.”

 “Because of Gohan?”

“Not just him. Kenji, too. Our outings didn’t feel like dates. For me, it felt like friends spending time together. So did our talks but after the championship, Kenji wants to speed things up. He told his parents about us and he’s making all these plans for Goten’s birthday.”

 “It’s his way of showing his feelings, ChiChi. You haven’t seen each other in two months. He’s making up for that time.” There was a problem here and it was ChiChi. “Be honest with me. Do you have any feelings for him?”

 There was a long pause. “Yes.”

 If she didn’t need her foot pillow, 18 would use it to smack ChiChi. “I mean romantic feelings. You’ve been dating for three months. One month in person with you and your boys and two months talking over the phone. Feelings grow over time but you haven’t felt a damn thing have you?”

 Sharp, blunt and straight to the point. It was fun when 18 is like this with others but not her. “Kenji’s attractive and a decent man. He’s also pushy and showy but no one is perfect. Goku had flaws, too.”

 “But…..” 18 pressed.

 “It’s platonic,” ChiChi finally told the truth. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. When Kenji approached me, I was flattered. It was the first time since Goku’s death I was seen as a woman and not just a Mom. I tried to do the right thing and not respond to Kenji but he showed up at your wedding. More flowers came. Dad and Bulma got in my head about Goku and I thought, ‘Why not?��� I felt desired, wanted and I liked the attention.

 “I love my sons. I love being a Mom. I spend my day taking care of them but when I go to bed, it’s just me. I have to see that empty space every night. I have to see Goku’s pillow every night. Every night I’m confronted with how alone I am.” Tears rolled down ChiChi’s cheeks. ChiChi felt 18 reached for her hand. The tears came harder. For years, she had to hold all this in. It was a relief she could confess her feelings. With 18, she knew she wouldn’t be judged. “I could never share this with anyone.”

 “You can with me,” 18 told her. “You know my history is different from the others.”

 ChiChi knew that and was so happy it was. “I can’t let my kids see my loneliness. I can’t show how sad and angry I am Goku could say goodbye to everyone but me. I’ll always love him and I know he didn’t mean to but he hurt me a lot.” ChiChi wiped her tears. “I knew by the first month I wouldn’t marry Kenji. Dating Kenji filled the loneliness I’ve felt. It was wrong and selfish but I wanted to think of myself for once.”

 “Selfish?”

 “Kenji will make a wonderful husband and father but not with me. I knew that but I didn’t want to end it because I enjoyed his attention. I controlled the relationship; told him my Dad couldn’t watch the boys all the time when we go out; advised him to focus on baseball until the season was over. I found ways to keep Kenji at a distance but still keep the attention.”

 “You mean including the boys on dates and talks over the phone.”

 ChiChi nodded. “Yeah, but it’s getting out of hand. I thought I could keep it like it was before but Kenji wants more and he’s going about it in ways I don’t like and after Gohan’s confession, I saw how wrong I’ve been. I hurt Gohan thinking of myself and I’m leading Kenji on. He doesn’t deserve that.”

 18 asked to be sure. “So you really don’t think anything can happen between you two?”

 “It’s been three months since I agreed to date him. With Goku, the attraction was instant.”

 “He touched you,” 18 reminded her.

 “I don’t mean that. I mean when I saw him again when I grew up. My first thoughts were, ‘He’s so handsome.’ I was angry he forgot me but I couldn’t deny how attractive he looked. My feelings grew. With Kenji, he looks attractive but I don’t feel it.” ChiChi knew physical attractiveness didn’t have to be instant. She experienced that with Goku. “Even when we talked, I felt I was talking to a friend. When Kenji tried to flirt, I changed the topic. When Goku and I flirt, it always led to something. I don’t mind being single. I have enough on my plate raising my boys but sometimes I want to forget the loneliness but I can’t do this anymore.”

 18 leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling with ChiChi. This was a sticky situation. “You know what you have to do.”

 ChiChi nodded. “Yes.”

 “When do you see him again?”

 “Kenji called this morning. He wants to take me to Central City in two days. He sounded really happy on the phone. I guess negotiations went well with his new contract but I’ll end it then.”  

 ****

 Going to Central City, ChiChi expected to dine with Kenji in a fancy restaurant. He told her to dress to celebrate so she expected he got a new contract with the Taitans. She didn’t expect a tour of a mansion. It had three levels, a ten-foot ceiling, a huge kitchen, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a private room for a gym, a large basement, lots of yard space for a garden, a pool and a guest house.

 “Is this how you celebrate winning the championship?” ChiChi read of athletes going on wild trips or a huge shopping spree. “You play in West City. Why did you buy a house in Central City?”

 “Since we won the championship and I’m a great player, I’m entitled to a big contract. My first contract was for rookies and it was extended two years ago. This year I refused another extension until I got paid more.”

 ChiChi knew all that and it didn’t answer her question. “You proved your worth and the Taitans gave you a raise. Why didn’t you buy a home in West City?”

 Kenji grinned. “You haven’t figured it out. The Taitans organization didn’t think I deserve a big contract. I became a free agent and the Rockets in Central City will pay me. It’s not public yet but I accepted their offer. It’s 20 million zeni a year for the next five years.”

 “Wow,” ChiChi whistled. Now it made sense. “That’s a lot of money but you won’t be Yamcha’s teammate anymore.”

 “Yeah, but we can hang out in the offseason. The good news is I’m closer to Mount Paozu.”

 That was true. He can get to Mount Paozu in half the time from Central City. “I’m happy for you. It sounds like a good opportunity.” But guilt stabbed her heart. How can she tell Kenji she wants to end their relationship when he’s so happy? I did a terrible thing. He’s been so nice to me and my sons and I will have to hurt him.

 “That’s why I wanted to show you this house. Do you think it’s a good one?”

 “It’s wonderful. You have a lot of land to grow your food and a lot of privacy. However, it is big for one person, but,” ChiChi shrugged, “I can’t criticize. I grew up in a castle with my Dad and his staff.”

 “It is big,” Kenji admitted, “but it wouldn’t be so big if you and your sons live here with me.”

 Oh no. “What?”

 “Moving to a new city will be a fresh start for all of us. I think one of the difficulties you have moving on from Goku is you are still in the house you shared with him. Memories will be very strong there. You told me you wanted to leave and get a fresh start when you were pregnant with Goten.”

 “I did, but Gohan couldn’t leave.”

 “Right. It would’ve been tough for him to leave when Goku just died but it’s been four years. Gohan should be ready to move and Central City is the capital of the world. It has great schools and opportunities for him. It’s a fresh start for your entire family. Here, you won’t be Goku’s wife.”

 ChiChi eyed Kenji skeptically. He said it as if it’s a bad thing she’s Goku’s wife. “No. I’ll be a woman with two children living with a man I’m not married to.”

 “That’s why I picked a home with a guest house. It’s as big as your home on Mount Paozu. It has everything you need but I hope that living arrangement isn’t forever.” He grasped her hands. “I know we’ve taken it slow but it’s been three months. Surely, you see the potential of us being together. I see us married and having a child of our own. I’ll hire a maid to help you with the kids. You will never stress over money, never feel isolated and you’ll always feel love. I can take care of you for the rest of my life.”

 The guilt hit ChiChi hard. Here she was thinking of ending things with Kenji and he wanted her to move in with him. She couldn’t stall anymore. She had to end it now. “Kenji…..”

 Kenji picked up her tone. “Wait. Don’t you see that, too?”

 ChiChi pulled away. Even if she had deep feelings, three months was too soon to move in together. “It’s too soon to even think this.”

 “Too soon? ChiChi, we’ve known each other for three months.”

 “That’s my point.” It stunned her he didn’t get it. “You’re rushing a lot. You want me to uproot my family and move in with you. I’ll be hours away from my father and friends.”

 “Friends?” Kenji laughed. “Those aren’t your friends. They are Goku’s friends. They are only friends with you because of him and if you didn’t have his kids, they would want nothing to do with you. Here in Central City you will find real friends.”

 “I do have friends besides Goku’s friends. I’m friends with people in my village.”

 “Because your father is the king of that village.”

 Now he was pushing it. Goku’s friends were fair criticism given their history but not the people in her village. “Are you saying they’re not my real friends?”

 “Your father created incentive so they are friendly to you. In Central City, you will never wonder if you have friends because of your Dad.”

 She never wondered before! “You don’t think I will wonder if these new people I meet aren’t friends with me because of you? If we are seen together, my picture will be plastered all over the entertainment magazines! No.” ChiChi stepped back not liking this. “I won’t uproot my family.”

 Kenji could see ChiChi wasn’t sold on this so he bargained with her. “Baseball season doesn’t start until another four months. Until spring training, I’ll still do the long commute for our dates, but by the time the season starts, you should be living here. I’ll hire a tutor for Gohan so he’s ready for high school and Goten will be four. We can put him in preschool. With your sons having lives of their own, you can focus on us.”

 Whoa. Whoa. Whoa! He was doing the same thing he did to convince her to come to West City. Present her with a plan she’ll say no to and offer an option she agree to. “Have you arranged all this again and you’re expecting me to say yes?”

 “I don’t have Goten enrolled in preschool but I got recommendations from the seller.” ChiChi couldn’t believe this. He really did plan ahead and expect her to give in. “And I have a tutor set up for Gohan. All his students have gone to the most prestigious schools.”

 “You…. you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

 “What?” Kenji didn’t see the problem.

 “You. You’re planning my life and my sons’ life without consulting me. What’s next? You want me pregnant by the time baseball season starts?”

 Kenji laughed. “That’s crazy, ChiChi. We can be living together but you can be pregnant by the time the next season start.”

 Now he’s dictating when she will be pregnant? “No. No.” Kenji was always pushy but this was too much and ChiChi felt it was her fault letting it get this far. “This was a mistake. It’s my fault.”

 “What is?”

 “This! All of this. Kenji, you are a kind man but I can’t do this. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and my sons but I’m not the woman for you. I can’t give you what I want. I can’t see you anymore.”

 Kenji didn’t appear as if he heard correctly. “I don’t understand. I’m showing you I can be the man for you. I can provide for you and your sons. I can be there for you when your husband wasn’t. I can give a woman like you everything and you don’t want me?” He shook trying to keep his cool. This couldn’t be happening. “Are you so in love with Goku, you won’t give a decent guy like me a chance?”

 “It’s not like that.”

 “Then what is it?!” Kenji snapped. “I get Goku is a strong person. He saved the world and no one can compete with that and if you’re holding me to that bar no one will have a chance with you and that’s not fair.”

 ChiChi let him lash out. She felt she deserved it. “I will never hold you or anyone to that bar. That’s insane.”

 “What else is there? His bedroom prowess? You won’t even give me a chance to let you compare that. I can’t even kiss you! I’ve proven I have the wealth to give you and your sons everything. I brushed off Gohan’s annoyance with me and I’ve been attentive to Goten and you. Was Goku always around enough to do that?”

 Kenji can lash out at her but ChiChi wouldn’t let Kenji drag Goku into this. “Stop making comparisons between yourself and Goku.”

 “You leave me no choice!” Kenji kicked the ground and release a foul expletive  “I thought to find the woman for me I need to go the opposite of what I’ve dated. For me, being with you felt right. You are what I need but you seem to be the type of woman who keeps making bad choices in men because you are controlled by their dick.”

 ChiChi’s slap was so fierce it knocked Kenji off his feet. He soared several feet before crashing on the ground with a hard thud. Kenji touched his face looking at ChiChi astonished. “ChiChi…..”

 ChiChi turned her back on Kenji. “Nimbus!”

 “ChiChi….” Kenji pulled himself to stand. “Wait. Let’s talk.”

 ChiChi didn’t listen as she climbed on Nimbus. “I will forget what you said and think fondly of you but we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

 “ChiChi….” Kenji called again as she flew away. “ChiChi, wait!”

 ****

 Gyu-Mao tossed a frisbee to Gohan and Goten as they played in the yard. He was happy ChiChi was back to having physical dates with Kenji again and was hopeful this relationship will turn into marriage. That hope faltered when he saw Nimbus in the sky with ChiChi on it. ChiChi left with Kenji hours ago.

 “Mom,” Gohan walked up as ChiChi stepped off Nimbus, “why are you on Nimbus?”

 “ChiChi,” Gyu-Mao stepped to his daughter. “Where’s Kenji?”

 Three pairs of eyes stared at her. ChiChi’s priority was Goten. He liked Kenji more than anyone. She knelt before her son. “Goten, Momma won’t be seeing Mr. Kenji anymore. So no more baseball games. No more trips to the amusement park.”

 “What about my birthday?”

 “Sorry,” she apologized, “he won’t be coming.”

 “Why?”

 “He is moving to another city. It’ll be too difficult to keep seeing each other. Will you be okay?”

 Goten frowned, thinking what this meant. ChiChi thought she broke Goten’s heart but he shrugged and cheerfully said, “Guess it didn’t work out but that means we’ll spend more time together, right, Momma?”

 ChiChi hugged Goten so happy he is taking this well. “Of course and I will cook dinner tonight instead of Grandpa.”

 “Yay!” Goten cheered.

 “Gohan, take Goten inside.” Gyu-Mao’s tone had the hair on the back of ChiChi’s neck standing. “I wanna talk to ChiChi.”

 “Come on, Goten.” Gohan knew that tone. He heard it once and that was toward his Dad. He knew Grandpa was angry. “We should clean up the house before Mom goes inside. It’s messy.”

 Goten covered his hands over his mouth as if he did something bad. “Oh, no.” All his toys were scattered everywhere! He ran ahead of Gohan into the house.

 Gyu-Mao waited until Gohan and Goten were in the house before he asked, “What happened?”

ChiChi braced herself for her father’s anger. He will not be happy no matter what she says. “Dad, it was going too fast. Kenji wanted more than I was ready for. He bought a house. He wanted me to move in with him. He made plans for Gohan and Goten without me. He was already thinking of babies and our lives in Central City.”

 “That’s a good thing. ChiChi, he wanted to marry you!”

 “I don’t wanna marry him. I didn’t wanna lead him on.”

 “I told you. Make it a marriage of convenience. You won’t love him now but in a few years…..”

“I didn’t want that!” How many times did she need to say it? “It wasn’t about my happiness but my kids, too. Gohan didn’t like him.”

 Gyu-Mao couldn’t believe ChiChi was using that excuse. “Gohan’s a child. He’ll throw a tantrum but he would’ve grown to like Kenji and if he became a problem, I would’ve set him straight. You blew this opportunity! A rich man willing to take you and the boys don’t come by every day! This will never happen again! You blew their future!”

 “I considered their future!”

 “No, you didn’t! If you did, you would’ve said yes. Gohan and Goten would have a new Dad. Gohan would have many opportunities to pursue his education. Goten would grow up in a complete home.”

 “My sons have a father!”

 “Their father is dead and you’re staying loyal to a corpse!” Gyu-Mao knew it was cruel but it was the harsh truth and ChiChi needed to hear it. “I don’t mean to speak ill of Goku. He did the best he could but he’s not here and I am not gonna be here forever. You blew your chance, ChiChi!”

 Gyu-Mao’s temper was notorious. ChiChi was always intimidated by it but this time she wasn’t. “I accept you’re upset, Dad, but you will not insult Goku in front of me. It was you that caused me to meet Goku because you were too selfish to leave your precious treasure! You sent me, your eleven-year-old child to find a man I never met to help put out the fire around our home because of your wicked ways! I could’ve died! But I met the love of my life which you never fully accepted and tried to marry me off to others while I waited for him. You offered Goku to me as a bride and then you changed your mind. It became guys in the village like Kaifun and now Kenji. When will you stop?!”

 Unbeknownst to them, Gohan watched the argument from the kitchen window. He occasionally checked on Goten who scampered around the living room picking up his toys. As much as he wanted to be with his mother, he couldn’t leave Goten alone. He had to protect him from seeing this.

 “I was worried you were setting yourself up for disappointment. That’s why I wanted you to forget that promise. Goku honored his word and did his best but you still relied on me. You relied on me more financially than on Goku for most of your marriage! You needed me to help mend your marriage when Goku wanted to quit after your first fight!”

 ChiChi was livid her father brought that up. “That was a misunderstanding!”

 Gyu-Mao knew that but it added more evidence to his argument. “You needed my money when Goku stayed away after his fight with Freeza. You still needed it when Goku came back and trained for three years. Goku’s a lovable person. He can save the world but as a husband he’s not someone you can rely on. You have been given a chance at love, a better life and you’re blowing it staying faithful to a dead man who couldn’t bother to say goodbye to you!”

 For as long as he lived, Gohan will never forget the look on his mother’s face. It was as if Grandpa slapped her. Gohan wanted to run to his mother and yell at Grandpa but he couldn’t leave Goten. Mom held her own. She yelled at Grandpa and pointed away from the house. Grandpa opened his car capsule. He tried talking to Mom but she kept screaming at him until he drove off. Mom walked to the house. Gohan jumped from the window and joined Goten in the cleanup

 “My, my,” ChiChi sounded cheerful when she stepped in. “I thought I was coming home to a dirty house.”

 Goten pointed to his full toy chest. “I cleaned up, Momma.”

 ChiChi bent to hug Goten. “You’re a good boy. Momma loves you so much. Grandpa went home but as soon as I change clothes, I’m cooking you and Gohan your favorites!”

 “I’ll fix dinner, Mom,” Gohan decided. “You weren’t expected back until later and I was gonna make dinner.”

 “You were?” That was news to Goten. “Grandpa was gonna-----”

 “I’m cooking,” Gohan cut off his brother, “and you’re gonna help me.” To ChiChi, Gohan said, “I’ll take care of everything. I’ve been reading your cookbooks and I should get more practice. Let me do this. Please.”

 ChiChi knew Gohan saw her argument with Gyu-Mao. She would insist she will cook but didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. “Thank you, Gohan.”

 ChiChi went to her room. She changed clothes and took a nap. Gohan woke her to let her know dinner is ready. The kitchen was messy with dishes scattered on the counter and food stains on the floor but dinner was delicious. Gohan cooked a lovely meal of seasoned wild boar, noodles, steam vegetables from her garden and for dessert, pudding. ChiChi wanted to clean up but Gohan insisted he will do it. While Gohan cleaned, ChiChi spent her evening with Goten. She checked the work he did in his lessons, played with his toys and watched a program on TV before he went to bed.

 After ChiChi put Goten to bed, she checked on Gohan. Sometimes Gohan went to bed at the same time as Goten but other times he stayed up for another hour to read or watch a TV program. She found Gohan in her spotless kitchen pouring tea. “Are you drinking tea?” She placed a hand on Gohan’s forehead. “Are you sick?”

 “It’s for you. You always drink tea before you go to bed.”

 Moved to tears at his caring, ChiChi embraced Gohan. “You’re a good son.”

 Gohan hugged ChiChi back. “You’re a good Mom.”

 The two sat at the table drinking the hot tea. “I know you saw me and Grandpa talking. I know that’s why you cooked dinner. Thank you but tomorrow we go back to normal.”

 “I’m sorry about Kenji.” Gohan’s apology surprised ChiChi. “I know you broke up because of me. Grandpa yelled at you because of me.” From their fight in West City and this, Gohan’s eyes were fully opened. He finally understood what ChiChi privately dealt with; how she tried and continues to protect him and Goten.

 “I broke up because it wasn’t right for us. There have been too many people in my head lately and I was selfish, too.”

 Gohan didn’t think so. “I didn’t know how tough it was being with Dad.”

 It was touching Gohan finally understood but he didn’t have to say this. “Having a good marriage is tough, Gohan. There were hard times but there were more good times. In our years together, the only thing me and Goku really argued on was training you and allowing you to fight monsters that can destroy the planet.”

 In his early memories, Gohan mostly remembered happy times. Mom got angry but when it involved him fighting, Mom became a different person. She seemed so cold and not understanding. Gohan finally saw it was he who didn’t understand. “Everyone needed me but I was too young for that,” Gohan confessed the harsh truth. “I didn’t see it that way then but when I see Goten, sometimes I think of what I went through and how it changed me. I don’t want that for him.”

 ChiChi didn’t want that either. “It would be nice to break the cycle. Me, your Dad and you all had traumatic events when we were young.”

 “Goten will break the cycle,” Gohan promised.

 ChiChi appreciated Gohan’s determination to keep Goten innocent as long as possible. It was a good feeling knowing her son had her back. ChiChi wished they didn’t have to deal with the tough circumstances to get to this point. “I thought this wouldn’t happen until you marry and have kids. Not now.”

 “I want it this way.” Gohan didn’t want to be coddled anymore. He was ready to see things how they really are. “I wished it happened earlier. I wouldn’t have been mad at you when you were right. I would’ve noticed I surpassed Dad. I would’ve been ready to fight Cell and Dad would be here with us and Goten.”

 “That’s a lot of wouldas.” It bothered ChiChi Gohan still burdened himself with guilt over the Cell Game but she knew only Gohan can come to terms with it. “It never would’ve happened that way.”

 “I know.” Gohan stared at his cup. “I love Dad but he sometimes frustrated me. I was in denial about that because Dad always saved me; Dad was always happy and he was a good person and I love being around him. I thought I was wrong to feel different.”

 “It’s hard to not see Dad perfect when he brings out the best in everyone. He turns enemies into friends.” ChiChi sipped her tea. “You don’t truly love and understand someone unless you see all their flaws. So, don’t think of noticing Dad’s flaws as a bad thing but think of it as knowing Dad and loving him for who he is. Everyone can’t say that. Not even Dad’s friends.”

 It wasn’t until after Goten’s birth Gohan noticed his Dad’s friendship with everyone. They were friends but met when it involved fighting or collecting dragon balls. They didn’t meet for holidays or mini reunions like now. Meetings were out of necessity. Gohan didn’t meet them until he was four and five. Goten was three but met everyone several times.  

 Gohan thought his Mom was the reason he didn’t meet them sooner but now he saw it was probably Dad. So many misunderstandings were created that labeled his Mom wrong when she wasn’t. She suffered in silence, forgo her own happiness for her family. Gohan thought his Mom deserves happiness and he will be silent for once. “If being with Kenji makes you happy, Mom, I can be happy, too. I know you love Dad and I know dating Kenji doesn’t mean you stopped loving him. I won’t get in the way.”

 This was a big change from what happened nearly a week ago. Her son was a caring soul but this isn’t what ChiChi wanted. “Listen to me. I don’t want to get back with Kenji. I was feeling lonely. Grandpa and Bulma influenced me to date Kenji to fill that loneliness and to secure your and Goten’s future. I tried but I couldn’t do it. Kenji is a kind man but our feelings for each other are different. He wants things I can’t give and he deserves someone who will give him what he wants. As for Dad, I will never understand all of Goku’s decisions but I know he wouldn’t have stayed dead if he didn’t think he had another choice. It hurts but I know Goku will never intentionally hurt me, you, or Goten. And, I know he’s lonely, too, and waiting for us. He’s probably wishing he could hold us like we want to hold him now.”

 ****

 The ground shook as two strong forces collided. Their punches created soundwaves that could be heard for miles. Their Ki exploded mountainous terrains and caused quakes. Luckily, they were far from the Grand Kai’s palace or it would suffer damage, too.

 Kimani played it smart. She knew Goku would want to train together and perfect Fusion as soon as possible and when he is in sync with her, he’ll move on. Kimani wanted his attention before that happens. She arranged it where they spent an hour a day together. During this hour they will spar or talk. Kimani did most of the talking while Goku only answered questions when asked. Kimani knew he died protecting Earth from a threat but Goku didn’t talk about it or his life there.

 Kimani loved when they sparred. That’s when she felt she got the real Goku. He was playful in the beginning, not taking her seriously but when she outwitted him with her speed and got hits on him, his demeanor changed. He was impressed and put more effort into their fight.

 But Goku was not a patient man. When he wanted something, he wanted it now. At the end of every hour, Goku brought Kimani to the Metamorans to see if they were in sync. Goku got better each time. She didn’t have long before Goku mastered it and moved on. She needed to leave an impression on him before then.

 As their spar came to an end, Kimani had one more attack. Her arms vibrated at Goku in the form of twisters. A large burst of Ki grew from these spirals. They expelled from her arms and surrounded Goku; spinning his body as if he were caught in a tornado. The spirals spun faster until Goku was a blur. With all this spinning, Goku will be dizzy and vulnerable for her final attack. She flew into the spirals and before she could strike Goku a sharp punch struck her stomach. She saw Goku’s smirk and flowing Super Saiyan hair before she was flung from the twisters. Her impact on the ground created a three-foot crater.

 Her body ached all over and she blacked out but when she opened her eyes, Goku stood over her smiling with his hand out to her. Kimani accepted it and allowed Goku to pull her up. “That was intense but I almost had you.” Wanting to be closer to Goku, Kimani took a few steps and wobbled. As expected, Goku caught her.

 “Whoa. Are you okay?” Kimani pressed herself closer. She loved the solid wall of muscles pressed against her body. “Sorry. I think I hit you too hard.”

 “It’s all right.” Kimani put her arm around his waist. “I want it this way.”

 “Yeah, but I’m really stronger than you. I should go easy on you.”

 “I’ll slit your throat if you did.” Kimani leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’ll get you next time but hold me until I get my energy back. You knocked the wind out of me.”

 “Um, okay.” They stood in the empty field holding each other. Kimani never had a chance to be this close to Goku and wanted it to last as long as possible. His arm felt so good around her. His body felt even better. She wanted more. Kimani put her arms around Goku’s neck and pressed closer. Her covered breasts massaged against the blue tatters of his shirt. Her hips rubbed against his but for a second before Goku pushed her to stand arm’s length. “What are you doing?”

 “Holding you until I get my energy back.”

 Goku frowned. “You didn’t need to hold me like that.”

 “Why?” she asked coyly. “Didn’t you like it?”

 “No. You’re being weird,” he told her as he put two fingers to his forehead. He searched for a Ki and transported him and Kimani back to the training grounds at the Grand Kai’s palace. Kimani grimaced being in familiar terrain again. She wanted more alone time with Goku.

 “Hi!” Goku waved at the Metamorans. “I think we got it this time.”

 The Metamorans broke from their afternoon spar. Goku always appeared like clockwork. Kimani hated this. Goku was a lot better now. Even she knew the next visit or two will be the last one for them. Goku was always the one out of sync. If she acted out of sync after being perfect this entire time, Kimani knew even naïve Goku will be suspicious.

 Goku stepped away from her. He smiled, determined this was it. “Ready?”

 Kimani held her in position. “Ready.”

 The Metamorans observe Goku and Kimani move in sync. They slid at the same time, swung their arms at the same time and the tips of their fingers touched at the same. Kimani mentally cursed. Goku got it. They were asked to repeat it again. Perfect. After a third, it was unequivocal. Goku mastered the Fusion dance.

 “Whoo-hoo!” Goku thrusts his arms up. “I got it! I got it!”

 “Congratulations,” Kimani hid her disappointment. “Now you need to find someone who can match you in Ki. If you lower yours to match mine, we can fuse.”

 “Nah,” Goku refused. “I’ll wait for a fighter to show up that’s close to me in strength. I’m glad I got the Fusion dance down. Thanks for the help. I need to tell King Kai. Bye!”

 Goku did as she thought. Leave as soon as he learned Fusion but Kimani didn’t see this as a goodbye. Through the time they spent together, Kimani knew she left an impression on him. She needed to wait until the right moment.

 Time couldn’t be accurately recorded so Kimani followed her planet’s recordings of time and guessed two weeks passed since she exclusively spent time alone with Goku. She found ways to randomly encounter Goku. As always, Goku was on the move but when she overheard Goku telling the Kai of the North he was traveling again, Kimani knew it was time to make her move.

 Most fighters stayed on the land surrounding the Grand Kai’s enormous palace but Goku was an adventure and traveler. Once a month, Goku ventured on these travels alone. He even had a favorite spot where Goku trained and relaxed. Goku mentioned it to her in passing. When Goku left, Kimani waited an hour before following. She kept her Ki low from detection. When she caught up to Goku, he stood in front of a lake undressing. Activities for the living like baths and showers weren’t needed in the afterlife but some of the dead fell back into old habits. Even Goku. He ate when he didn’t need to. Slept when he didn’t have to and swam for cleansing more than sport. Alone and naked Kimani knew this was perfect.  

 “Goku!” Kimani walked to the end of the lake waving at Goku.  

 Goku waved, finished his lap and swam back to the edge of the lake. “Hi.”

 “Are you swimming alone?”

 Goku looked around. “There ain’t anyone else here.”

 “How is the water?”

 “Great.” Goku pushed back in the water to resume his laps.

 “Good.” Kimani removed her shoes and loosened her clothes. “This lake reminds me of home. I swam in it every day.” She raised her dress over her head and dropped her clothes beside Goku’s. Nude, she walked into the lake and swam to Goku. “Do you mind if I join you?”

 Kimani thought Goku would be happy to have company but he looked annoyed. “Lake is all yours.” Goku swam away. “I’m done.”

 “Done?” He only swam twenty laps. In the pool at Grand Kai’s palace, Goku swam 100. Kimani swam after Goku back to the lake’s edge. Goku climbed out and gave Kimani a wonderful eyeful of his backside. She stared as his wet body illuminated in a light Ki to dry himself. “How many did you swim?”

 “Enough.” He bent to retrieve his pants. As he put his legs in, Kimani got a glimpse of what dangled between. Very nice. Goku pulled up his pants, shielding his tight body from her eyes.

 “The lake is big enough for both of us to share.”

 “I know,” Goku agreed, “but ChiChi told me I only swim with her.” He reached for his shirts.

 “ChiChi?” Kimani rose from the water. She stood before Goku as he pulled his shirts over his head. Once his head appeared out of the shirt whole, Kimani expected Goku to stare at her body. He didn’t. He bent to pick up his obi.

 “ChiChi’s my wife.”

 Wife? He had a wife? “You were married on Earth? I didn’t know.”

 Goku turned away as he tightened the obi around his waist. “I didn’t tell you.”

 Kimani stood in front of him still naked. It was insulting he didn’t want to take a little peek. “I know, but…… you never talked about her. Do you miss her?”

 Goku pulled on his wristbands. “Sure. I miss her and my son.”

 “You had a family?” Kimani did wonder how no one snagged Goku but now she knew someone did and Goku kept it a secret. There was a reason for this. “We all deal with death in our own ways. Some people share their grief. You hide it.”

 Goku sat on the grass and pulled a boot over his right foot. Kimani sat next to him, not hiding or caring she was still nude. “What do you miss most about your wife?”

 Goku tied his boot. “Her cooking. Food here is okay but it’s nothing like ChiChi’s.”

 Cooking? If cooking was what he missed most about his wife, ChiChi was lacking in an area Kimani excelled at. “Cooking? Not… sex?”

Goku put on his other boot. “Well, yeah, I miss that but ChiChi ain’t here so I can’t do that.”

 “Your wife’s cooking isn’t here but you eat.” She slid close enough so her wet breasts touched his arm. “You can do the same with sex.”

 Goku pulled away. He looked disgusted. “I can’t have sex without ChiChi?”

 “You eat food ChiChi didn’t cook.”

 “I always did that. There ain’t rules on eating. I married ChiChi and that means I only have sex with her.”

 Kimani wanted to laugh. His innocence was adorable! “When you’re married, you shouldn’t have sex with anyone but your wife, but you’re not married anymore. You’re free from that rule.”

 “I am?”

 Innocent but definitely teachable. “Now that you’re dead, you can have sex with anyone you like. Is there anyone here you felt sexual excitement for but didn’t act because you thought you couldn’t because of your marriage to ChiChi?”

 “No.”

 He answered that too quickly. “Not even with me?”

 Goku made a face as if he ate something nasty. “Why would I wanna have sex with you?”

 Why? Didn’t her beauty, body and skills answer that question? Goku was cute but incredibly dense. “Can’t you imagine how intense and hot sex will be with us? We could make the world shake.”

 “I don’t want it to shake.”

 “I want it to shake. With you.” Kimani approached him but Goku stepped back. “We can be very good together. I understand loyalty to your wife but the bonds you made with her are gone. It ended when you died.”

 Goku shook his head. “But ChiChi said……”

 “What ChiChi said doesn’t matter anymore. We have been gifted to keep our bodies in the afterlife. We’re a special breed. We are free to be with whoever we want. It’s crazy to limit ourselves and experiences. The other fighters aren’t. Why are you?”

 Goku stopped stepping back. “What fighters?”

 Kimani kept moving but stop just inches from touching Goku. She didn’t want to spook him away now she had him where she wanted him. “Several fighters have gotten together. Olibo has taken a few lovers. Sarta was very impressed with your fighting in the tournament the Grand Kai hosted.”

 “Sarta?” Goku thought the name sounded familiar. “Oh! I know him. He’s been here for a while.”

 “He’s 3600 years old,” Kimani informed him.

 “We sparred once. He was a little grabby but I beat him.”

 Kimani grinned slyly aware of why Sarta was grabby. “I hear he wanted you as a lover but you didn’t show interest.”

 “Huh?” Goku wasn’t dumb to what Kimani meant. He’s seen men like that on Earth. “But he got a wife and kids.”

 “They weren’t allowed to keep their bodies when they crossed over. Sarta moved on and found love several times in men, women and others. He and Torbie are lovers now.”  

 Goku knew Torbie. He looked like Cell, strong but was easily defeated by Pikkon. He’s seen Torbie and Sarta sparring together but thought they were friends. Not lovers.

 “Oh.”

 “So, you see, we can be lovers, too.” Kimani moved to wrap her arms around Goku’s neck but he jumped in the sky to get away. Kimani flew in front of him. She floated before him, freely advertising her marvelous nude body to him. “Don’t you want to be happy?”

 “But I am happy.”

 Goku turned to fly away but Kimani jumped in front of him again. “You’re lonely. I heard when you came here, you fought several fighters. Now you spend most of your time by yourself, with the Kai of the North and sometimes away from this place. With me, you won’t be lonely. We can be very good together if you give us a try.”  

 “I don’t wanna try.” He was getting annoyed with Kimani. “I’m married to ChiChi. She’s waiting for me now and I’m waiting for her.”

 Kimani laughed. “You can’t really think that.”

 “It’s the truth!”

 Goku needed a reality check. How terrible his Kai of the North kept the truth from Goku. “Even if you do wait for her, there’s no guarantee she’ll keep her body when she crosses over. It will be like Sarta and his family. What will you do when ChiChi can’t keep her body? Fuck a puff of smoke?”

 That would be weird but Goku knew that wouldn’t happen. “ChiChi will keep her body. She’s a good person.”

 “You need special privileges to keep your body and just being good isn’t one of them.” Kimani smiled seeing a change on Goku’s face. It was finally sinking in. “I didn’t mean to anger you, Goku, but you need to be told the truth and your Kai failed you. Your wife will be a floating spirit when she dies. Take your time to mourn but I’ll be here. I have my body. I won’t go anywhere but I’ll wait for you.”

 Kimani descended and left Goku with troubling thoughts. Goku put two fingers to his forehead and searched for King Kai’s Ki. What Kimani said wasn’t true. Sarta’s family couldn’t keep their body but Goku knew ChiChi and Gohan will keep theirs. Gohan saved the world. It’s a guarantee he’ll keep his body when he crosses over. ChiChi didn’t save the world but she was a good person. ChiChi will keep her body and reunite with him. He knew it.

 ****

 “Goku, are you blind, stupid or crazy?”

 “I’m neither.”

 “You’re one of them,” Olibo was certain. “I don’t know which.”

 Goku teleported to King Kai. With him were Olibu and Pikkon resting after a rematch. He told King Kai of his encounter with Kimani. Pikkon had no opinion but Olibo had plenty to say to his Earth friend.  

 “Kimani is the most beautiful and strongest woman here. Many of us have tried to get her attention. Her wanting you means she finds you worthy. Am I not right, King Kai?”

 King Kai stepped back, waving his hands in a ‘no’ gesture. “This is not my territory. I advise on fighting. I don’t give advice on romantic issues. Well, I can,” King Kai eyed Goku, “but no one listens and if someone did, he would be on Earth with his family.”

 “But you’ve been around for ages,” Olibu said. “You’ve seen many things. You must have some opinion.”

 “My opinion is to respect Goku’s choice. You should, too.”

 “I would but he’s not being rational.” If King Kai wasn’t going to give Goku the facts, Olibo elected himself. “Kimani is right. You haven’t been here thousands of years so your family is still fresh on your mind but those feelings won’t last. At some point, they will die. All of us had families and friends when we were alive but we’re not with them. They became spirits or were reincarnated. You will forget yours like I forgot my loved ones. That’s the natural course here, Goku. The sooner you accept this the better it will be for you.”

 “Then let it happen for Goku,” Pikkon suggested. “Let the natural course run.”

 “There ain’t no natural course!” Goku snapped. Olibo was wrong! “ChiChi will keep her body and she’ll be here. So will Gohan.”

 “Goku…..” King Kai forward cautious of Goku’s fluctuating Ki. “Olibo is trying to be helpful. He has been here thousands of years and has seen many things. He’s trying to prepare you….”

 “I don’t wanna hear it!” Enraged, Goku flared into a Super Saiyan and flew off. It wasn’t true Goku told himself. Olibo was wrong. He had to be except King Kai didn’t correct him. If Olibo was right then that meant when he saw ChiChi and Gohan on the kitchen floor, that was the last time he’ll see them. It meant he’ll never embrace or talk to them again. No. He’ll see Gohan. He saved the world. He’s Earth’s hero now. He’ll do many feats to secure keeping his body but what about ChiChi? She’s a good person but she didn’t do anything special. If that was the last time, he saw her then…..

 That means I’ll never see her again.

 ****

 18’s baby shower was hosted at Master Roshi’s house. Only Bulma, ChiChi and their kids came. The house was decorated in pink and white balloons and streamers and tables were covered with gifts and food. While ChiChi and Bulma fawned over the gifts, Gohan played caretaker to Goten and Trunks. Master Roshi and Krillin were in competition with each other putting together the big presents. Master Roshi worked on the crib while Krillin worked on the stroller. Both men argued they will finish first.

 18 unwrapped a gift from Yamcha. “Onesies from Yamcha’s baseball team.”

 “Oh, lord,” Bulma rolled her eyes. “Ever since the Taitans won the championship, Yamcha’s ego has been impossible to deal with. He’s giving everyone Taitans gear. He gave a jersey to Trunks and Vegeta burned it.”

 “That was a waste,” ChiChi chided the act.

 “And what about the jerseys Kenji gave you, Gohan and Goten?” Bulma was still not happy with ChiChi’s decision to end things with Kenji. “Have you worn them?”

 “Goten’s still plays with the toys but the clothes are in storage.” Bulma rolled her eyes at the answer. “It’s better this way.”

 Before Bulma could give what would’ve been a snarky retort, Krillin cheered, “I did it! I’m finished!”

 Master Roshi grumbled as he tightened the last screws on the crib. “Only because I have more things to screw.”

 Krillin stuck his tongue out. “You lost, Old Man. Deal with it. Come look, 18. I finished the stroller.”

 ChiChi helped 18 off the sofa. The sofa was comfortable to sit on but being nine months pregnant, it wasn’t easy to rise from. Bulma examined the stroller. “Hmm.” She rolled it back and forth. “The rear left wheel is wobbly. I think you’re missing a screw.” Bulma kept rolling the stroller. The wheel broke from the stroller and rolled into a wall.

 Master Roshi laughed. “First stroll on the beach and Marron will fall out. Tsk. Tsk.”

 “I’ll fix it,” Krillin promised. “I missed something because I was trying to beat Master Roshi.”

 18 waddled to Marron’s crib. Bulma examined this one, too. It felt sturdy but 18 waited on Bulma’s judgement. “It looks secure.” Bulma gripped the bars of the crib and shook it. “Feels secure. All the screws are in, too.”

 “Slow and steady wins the race,” Master Roshi wagged his old, wrinkly finger at Krillin.

 “But can you get it in their room?” ChiChi asked. “Their bedroom door is narrow.”

 “That door is 30 inches wide. I remember because I had to put in a door after Lunch shot holes in it.”

 Gohan read the crib’s measurements. “This crib is 34 inches wide.”

 This time Krillin laughed at Master Roshi. “You’re as bad as I am. I’ll help you take it apart and we’ll put both back together.”

 18 shook her head. Those two were in competition with each other the last two months of her pregnancy. If Krillin brought home a “Best Dad” shirt. Master Roshi bought a “Best Grandpa” shirt. If something needed fixing, they fought on who will do it and sometimes made it worse. One tile needed to be replaced in the shower but because of them, ten new tiles were replaced.

 “Just get it done without killing yourselves.” 18 winced at the sudden pain in her stomach. She had pains in her lower back and stomach off and on since yesterday but she ignored it since it was minor and didn’t last long. This one made her legs wobbly.

 18 gripped Krillin’s shoulder. She felt growing moisture between her legs. “Krillin…. I think…. Ugh… I think the baby’s coming.”

 18’s legs buckled under the pain. Krillin caught her and gently ease her on the sofa. As a pained moan escaped her lips, Krillin hollered in joy. It was time! “Oh, boy!! Master Roshi, I’m gonna be a Dad! 18 is having the baby! Bulma, I’m gonna be a Dad! 18 is having the baby! ChiChi, I’m gonna be----”

 “Why are you so excited?!” 18 screamed. “I’m in pain!!”

 Trunks pointed at 18. “She peed herself!”

 Everyone looked down to see amniotic fluid slide down her legs. “Oh, geez,” Master Roshi groaned knowing a pudding was forming in 18’s seat. “Do I have to clean all of that?!”

 “Hospital,” ChiChi took charge. “Gohan, get 18’s bag.”

 “Blue bag by the door!” 18 hollered as Gohan ran upstairs.

 ChiChi held 18’s hand. “How long have you been feeling pains?”

 “I…..” 18 gritted at the pain coursing through her. “It’s been off and on. It wasn’t this bad before. I thought it was false contractions.” She panted. “She’s a week early.”

 “That’s okay,” ChiChi calmed her friend. “Dr. Barkley warned this could happen.”

 “A week early?” Krillin picked up 18. “That means you can give birth now!”

 “Krillin!” Bulma yelled after him but Krillin zoomed out the house. The wind created from his speed knocked Bulma into Master Roshi, ChiChi flipping over the sofa, presents off the table and Goten and Trunks rolling on the floor like balls.

 “I got the bag!” Gohan ran down the stairs to see everyone on the floor in a crumpled mess. “What the….”

 “Let me go, you perv!” Bulma’s back laid on Master Roshi. In the calamity, the old man grabbed Bulma’s breasts.

 “I was saving you from being blown away. Ow!” he was kicked in the head by ChiChi.

 “Where are Krillin and 18?” Gohan asked.

 “Halfway to the hospital,” Bulma groused as she stood. “Come on. I’ll fly us.”

  ****

 18’s labor progressed quickly. When Dr. Barkley examined her, she determined 18 has been in labor since last night but due to her strong body’s resistance to pain, 18 didn’t notice. Calls were made to Yamcha and 17 as everyone waited for Marron’s birth.

 Yamcha burst into the waiting room. Master Roshi paced and smoked his pipe like an expecting father. ChiChi knitted. Bulma was on her cell phone and Gohan watched Goten and Trunks. “Where’s 17?”

 “Hell if I know,” Bulma bristled. “I’m calling with the number 18 gave but he’s not answering. I left five messages.”

 “How’s 18?”

 “In the delivery room with Krillin,” ChiChi looped her yarn with her needle. “She’s pushing now.”

 “That was over an hour ago.” Master Roshi circled the room again. “How long does it take to push out a baby? She’s not traveling far.”

 “Oh, calm down,” Bulma turned off her phone. “An hour is perfectly normal.”

 “How long did it take you to push out Trunks?”

 Bulma shrugged. “I was too high on drugs.”

 Master Roshi and Yamcha looked at ChiChi for an answer. “I can’t remember with Gohan but Goten came out quickly. I think it was about thirty minutes.”

 Yamcha joined Master Roshi in the pacing. They did three loops around the room before Krillin burst in like he won the lottery. “She’s here! I’M A DAD!!!” Krillin threw his arms up in victory. “18’s okay and Marron’s here. Everyone—ack!”

 Master Roshi knocked Krillin over as he blurred out of the room. Bulma laughed, “You’d think it was his grandchild being born.” She grabbed Trunks’ hand and followed after the old martial artist.

 Everyone else filed out eager to see the baby. ChiChi stuffed her yarn and knitting needles in her purse, making her the last to leave with Yamcha. Yamcha followed close besides ChiChi as she followed everyone down the hall. Just as she was going to enter 18’s room, Yamcha grabbed her arm and pulled her from the door.

 “ChiChi, wait a second. I need to talk to you about Kenji.”

 “Kenji?” They were over two months ago. She saw Yamcha at Goten’s birthday party. He never talked to her about his teammate. ChiChi wondered why he wanted to now. “Why?”

 “I know why you and Kenji didn’t work out. He told me what he said. I was pissed. I punched him for Goku.”

 “It’s okay, Yamcha,” ChiChi brushed off the matter. “I share some blame so I’m not mad anymore.”

 “He’s settled into Central City. He’s not dating anyone.” Yamcha dug in his pockets and pulled out an envelope with ChiChi’s name on it. “Kenji wanted me to give this to you.”

 ChiChi didn’t want it. “There’s nothing else to say.”

 “He really wanted me to give this to you.” He urged her to take it.

 ChiChi reluctantly took the envelope. It wasn’t sealed. “Have you read it?”

 “No, but we talked and I have an idea what he said.” Yamcha left ChiChi with that as he stepped into 18’s room.

 ChiChi looked at the door, wondering if she should go in, and then the envelope, wondering if she should read it. She didn’t want to read the letter. ChiChi considered the chapter of Kenji closed but something in Yamcha’s voice told her she should read it. Decision made, ChiChi pulled out the letter

 Dear ChiChi,

 I know you are not expecting this letter but please read this. I wanted to see you several times but I didn’t want to surprise or upset you. I am a blunt and direct person. I say what’s on my mind. I’m sorry I upset you the last time we talked but I spoke out of anger and frustration. I didn’t mean it. You must believe me. I reacted the way I did because I love you.

 Yes, I love you. I know you will find that hard to believe. You’ll say it’s too soon but I do. You’re an easy woman to fall in love with. I’m not Goku and I can’t replace him in your heart but I care for you deeply. I care for Gohan and Goten and I want to be a husband for you and a father to them.

 I love baseball. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I didn’t play but spending time with you and your boys really showed me another part of life I’m missing. It’s something I really want. I love Goten so much. That sweet boy deserves a Daddy. I’m not Goku but I can be a Daddy to Goten. It’s too late to spare Gohan the pain of losing a parent but I’ll make sure Goten doesn’t grow up with the pain and loss you and Gohan have in your heart. I can be a husband for you and if we’re lucky, we can have children together.

 “Mom?” ChiChi looked up. Gohan stood by the door. “Aren’t you coming to see the baby?”

 ChiChi folded the letter and placed it in her purse. “Yeah. Sorry. I…..I am… I just.. never mind.”

 “What were you reading?” Gohan asked.

 “Bills,” she lied. “Let’s see the baby.” ChiChi followed Gohan inside. Goten and Trunks shared a chair looking curious but not all interested in the new baby. Everyone else surrounded 18’s bed in awe. 18 sat up holding Marron wrapped in a pink blanket. Krillin, the proud papa, sat by 18 with tears glistening his eyes. Master Roshi openly cried like a proud grandpa. Yamcha stood farthest but smile approvingly and Bulma fawned over baby Marron.

 “She’s so cute. We finally got a girl in our group.” She cocked her head at Goten and Trunks. “They’ll be fighting over her in sixteen years.”

 “Oh, no!” Krillin protested. “I don’t mind Goten dating Marron but she is not dating Trunks.”

 Bulma’s whipped herself to Krillin offended, “And what’s wrong with my son?! We know what he will look like when he gets older. He will be a magnet to all girls.”

 “It was a joke. You know I’m joking.” Krillin tried to laugh it off but Master Roshi and Yamcha pity shake told him he was on his own. “I’m a Dad. I don’t want my daughter dating anyone.”

 “But you said Trunks. You didn’t say Trunks and Goten!”

 While Krillin tried to calm Bulma, ChiChi took the moment to hold Marron. As ChiChi awed at the cute newborn, 18 whispered, “She needs to get to know her Auntie ChiChi and her godmother. Maybe her future mother-in-law, if Goten’s lucky.”

 ChiChi thought it was too soon to talk about matchmaking their children. It would be nice if their children got together but after her experience dealing with her father trying to pair her up, ChiChi wanted her kids to pick their partners on their own. “She has Krillin’s eyes.”

 “And no nose like Dad,” 18 added. “I can’t believe Bulma was right.”

 “About Trunks?”

 “No. That game of hers on New Year’s Eve. It predicted marriage and a baby for me. It came true. It predicted romance for you. You were meant to meet Kenji.”

 “Maybe.” ChiChi thought of the letter in her purse. “But it’s over.”

 Part 36: Changes

[doctor-roman]

Top 5 Dragon Ball fights (can be from any series)

5. Piccolo vs 17

This was the last time we ever saw Piccolo as the bad ass he truly is. I wish they brought him back to form...

4. Goku vs Vegeta

Literally iconic. The scene where Goku fires off a Kamehameha at Vegeta’s Galick Gun always gives me chills no matter how many times I see it.

3. Gogeta vs Broly

If you had told me a year before this movie came out that I would like any DBS content at all, I would have called you a liar. That whole movie was just great tbh, but the final fight between Gogeta and Broly really made it.

2. Gohan vs Super Buu

I will always stand by my opinion that Gohan should have been the next defender of earth after Goku, and this was the closest we ever got to him taking up that mantle before “oops, he got cocky, now everyone’s been absorbed and Buu is too strong for him”. That was such a let down for mex but the fight itself up until that moment really went above and beyond to show how capable Gohan is.

1. Goku vs Frieza

THE classic. I think the end of the Namek saga really put a nice bow on things. Unpopular opinion, but I think Goku should have stayed dead after this and let Gohan rise to the occasion in the Cell saga. Trunks coming back to the past to find Gohan makes more sense from a narrative stand point as well, as Gohan was the Z fighter that he had the most interaction with, and would be the one he’d trust the most.

Plus seeing his mentor as a kid opens the door for a lot of fun interactions. Not only that, but Gohan losing his arm in the future, training Trunks, Trunks picking up on one handed fighting, and that being passed on to Gohan in the past for him to use after his arm gets broken from protecting Vegeta from Cell and then using the Kamehameha one handed? I can’t come up with the words of how great that would have been.

But now I’m rambling, so I’m going to cut it here.

[fizzingwizard]

Another Sunday, another episode of Digimon Adventure: (how tf do I do punctuate??). It is a good time to be a fan of Yagami Taichi.

I remember being 11 years old, the last episode of Digimon Adventure made be bawl my eyes out, and although I was excited for 02, really I just wanted more of Adventure. I guess I’m just slow to like new things (well, I am), but I would have super happy if the producers had been like, “02 will be a reboot for Adventure with the same characters and similar storyline.” And then do the same thing for every new Digimon season xD I’m sure I’m pretty damn alone in that opinion and don’t get me wrong, I love 02, and I think Tamers was good. And yet xD

^The screenshot that sums up the episode: Greymon gets his butt kicked while Taichi hangs on for dear life

I know the bond between children and Digimon is what powers them, and I’m kind of wondering if having a physical connection improves that in this show, because these kids are always riding around on their partners. (Not able exception - Togemon, because ouch. But I expect to see Mimi on her boxing glove at least lol) I have to rationalize it that way because otherwise it’s like why would having an elementary school kid on your head while you rush into the line of fire count as a battle strategy

This ep picks up pretty much where we left off, which means it’s probably only been hours since Yamato joined the group at the fortress. Already the atmosphere is completely changed.

I can see them, but they can’t see me... Ishida Yamato’s modus operandi

more below

Here is a very Digimon-esque tableau: everyone gathered around Koushirou and his computer. Yamato still being standoffish. I imagine he jumped at the chance to stand guard at the entrance so he doesn’t have to get too close to anyone.

Agumon’s fight with MetalTyrannomon went... not so great. Yamato coolly tries to explain to Taichi that evacuating was the only way, otherwise they’d risk all being destroyed, and that would be the end of everything.

Taichi’s fist tightens and begins to shake...

... he doesn’t look like he totally agrees with Yamato’s reasoning, but he doesn’t have a better idea. But, being Taichi, he can’t just let it rest.

Yamato talking to Taichi’s back while Taichi frantically starts to sort out his Feelings is just how they communicate. This is a common shonen anime trope for the hero and his foil. Yamato’s pushing, Taichi’s not exactly hiding, but he doesn’t want to face him until he can face him with resolve.

Yamato: Look at me. Look at me!

Taichi: *sweating* It feels like a hole’s burning in the back of my neck, so... I’ll pass

Taichi finally explains out what’s got him so knotted up: he regrets Ogremon’s death. Like we saw last episode, the battle that began as revenge turned into a battle of samurai pride. And Taichi is evidently a samurai. He wanted to see that battle to the finish, out of mutual respect for the opponent (who he’d never met before and who had been trying to kill him previously... but y’know when you’re kindred spirits that’s all water under the bridge)

Yamato doesn’t really get it. This is where these two are fundamentally different. Taichi attac, Yamato protec, then everybody gets a FIGHT!

I mean, not 100% of the time, but the bottom line is Yamato’s not so big on this pride thing, although he does have pride of his own. But he’s definitely not into taking unnecessary risks, especially if it puts his friends in danger. The trouble is, Taichi doesn’t think he takes unneccessary risks either... just necessary ones ;)

The other kids can already feel the tension increasing and Taichi and Yamato haven’t even raised their voices at each other yet. Lol buckle up kiddos

Jou wonders if he should make them stop, and Mimi instantly turns around and begs him to try. My Joumi heart LEAPT.

TBH I was surprised she did anything at all, I was expecting Jou’s “Should I break them up?” to just end there with nothing happening. Instead we got an adorable Joumi moment where Mimi shows that as much as she teases him, she already somewhat relies on Jou (to be fair, I do think Mimi’s the type to rely on anyone who offers when she’s not sure what to do herself). Jou, being Jou, is unprepared aaaaand wigs out.

Jou: Oh no oh no oh no she actually expects me to get between them?!?! But but I flunked Tough Guy school! That’s literally why I’m a nerd! This girl’s trying to throw me to the wolves!

Fortunately for Jou, he has a redheaded savior.

Sora: Stop it. He’ll wet his pants again and I don’t have any more extras.

Sora shows her insight into people’s hearts and understands that Taichi and Yamato need to hash things out. It’s not dangerous... yet. But the way she’s more or less frozen in place along with the others says she’s... maybe a bit on her guard, at least, lol.

Koushirou, being Kousihrou, is completely oblivious to all of this and focused on his computer.

Oh yeah... the real reason Taichi turned his back to Yamato earlier - whenever they look directly at each other, they suck each others souls out. I CALL BODY SWITCH

I mean jogress

I mean marriage

They spend like the entire first half of the episode arguing omg get a room.

Then... Agumon wakes up!

And even though it’s a cartoon, it’s clear to see the way Taichi’s body fills with relief. I wonder if Yamato didn’t realize or didn’t think Taichi was that worried about Agumon. 99 Yamato tended to feel that Taichi was insensitive to others. But while he can be, Taichi also doesn’t express his emotions in the same way as Yamato. They’re both wont to hide how they feel, but while Yamato goes quiet and aloof, Taichi just acts like everything’s normal. So maybe here, Yamato really thought Ogremon and MetalTyrannomon were the only things on Taichi’s mind. Just a guess.

Awwww montage of cute...

a boy and his dinosaur!!

Maybe to Yamato’s surprise, Agumon totally echoes Taichi’s feelings about Ogremon. “I wanted to settle the score with him.” Weird as it sounds, they made a manly bond with Ogremon and running away just doesn’t sit right. Agumon’s raring to go...

... but his stomach isn’t quite ready yet hahaha.

Yamato’s probably used to Gabumon’s appetie but I suspect Agumon’s tummy growl has errr exceptional resonance

Glad to see the return of the Digimon’s bottomless pit aka stomach. I think it was just last week I complained about that not really being a thing so far. This time it was the other Digimon who went gathering, but I hope to see the human kids rushing around in a frenzy to care for their partners’ appetites soon lol

While the others eat, Taichi and Yamato decide they haven’t finished vampiring each other’s souls and sneak out to the mouth of the cave. Sora follows them to see if she can watch any hot yaoi action.

Lol but I do really like the framing heart. All we can see of the boys is their shadows. Sora keeps her distance but she’s watching them intently from a distance. I assumed she was just gathering more data on how short a leash she needs to keep them on.

Turned out that was not quite correct... reluctant to interrupt though she’d been before, once they start talking about what to do next she adds her input. We’ve got Yamato on Taichi’s one side and Sora on his other side. It’s the beginnings of TAIORATOOOOO *more airhorns*

^I can’t see anything but Goku and Vegeta bahahaha. Also why is eleven-year-old Yamato SO broad-shouldered, between that, his deeper voice, and his perfeclty coifed hair Taichi must seem like a toddling infant to him bahahaha. Like come on Yamato is not a child you must be kidding

Already Yamato is getting into the habit of Looking At Taichi while Taichi Looks At Literally Anything Else.

These two don’t need words. They talk with their vampiric eyes.

Koushirou’s hyper focus on his computer finally pays off and they all gather back around. Everyone starts cheering when the hologram appears even though they don’t know what the heck it is. This is Koushirou, so it must be awesome!

It turns out to be a map of much usefulness.

And it turns out Ogremon was telling the truth about the path to the holy Digimon being straight ahead, while fires Taichi up even more.

^Obligatory ‘Gomamon is cutest Digimon’ cap

Koushirou also gives Taichi special data on MetalTyrannomon, including his weak point. Taichi is THRILLED. He’s happier about this than he is about finding the route to the holy Digimon. This is the difference between Taishiro and Taito guys. When Taichi gets a reckless idea, Yamato tries to talk him down, or at least be sensible about it. Koushirou? Koushirou is a FREAKING ENABLER.

They wait with baited breath for Yamato’s reaction. Though he seems underwhelmed, Yamato admits Koushirou’s information “does seem reliable.” That’s all the permission Taichi needs to go back to freaking out over how awesome Koushirou is.

They come up with a plan to lure MetalTyrannomon away so Taichi can fight him while the others take the chance to escape and head towards the path to the holy Digimon.

^Obligatory ‘Sora is best girl’ cap

Yamato waits for the others to get away before following after... he stalls for a minute as if unsure whether it’s really alright to leave Taichi on his own. In the end he joins the group... All things considered, I think he’s pretty thrown off by Taichi, tbh.

Yamato’s group doesn’t make it far before they encounter a very suspicious looking lake.

^More evidence that Yamato is not really an elementar school kids. He’s clearly at least 15. He’s been routinely failing every year in order to get held back until he can be in the same class as Takeru. That’s the extent of his overprotectiveness

It sure is fortunate that Koushirou’s genius extends to fluency in English or they’d have no idea this lake of dark mist is bad friggin news.

Or... maybe they would have:

Mimi sneaks behind Jou and pulls his middle school exam workbook out of his bag.

And immediately chucks it into the lake.

Where it disintegrates.

This is how Mimi’s mind works. She’s smart! They need to know what would happen if they went into the lake without actually going in it. So they need to put something else in first. So far so good. What should she throw? A stick? A rock? One of Sora’s endless towels?

No, Jou’s workbook. Duhhh.

She probably felt she was killing two birds with one stone here x’D Experiment complete, and Jou prevented from anymore whining about not having time to study. Mimi is chaotic good.

gosh I love Joumi

Jou is lawful neurotic

Greymon shielding Taichi is just soooo cute even if it still feels weird that he has to be up there in the first place

The battle rages between MetalTyrannomon and Greymon, who just won’t quit even though he’s losing... pretty bad... I mean...

He just grabbed a missile with his bare hand...

Taichi: Now I know what it’s like to be a firework

Loop-de-loop! Taichi’s suction cup shoes strike again.

Courage going UP!! Reaching a fever pitch! The evolution that’s been looming for two episodes finally happens!

MetalTyrannomon: Eat my dust!

Woooooooo, MetalGreymon is just as freaky as ever. Always my least favorite evolution in Agumon’s line, but the glowy purple wings are cool.

Also, nipple missiles.

MetalTyrannomon: I can’t believe I was beaten by some meddling kids!

So yeah, we are back to killing Digimon willy-nilly. None of this “but what about their hearts?” shitck. Always found it amazing in 02, a children’s cartoon, that said “Yeah the characters you loved last season were totes murderers but it was justified and sometimes you just have to kill.” And fourteen-year-old Taichi is just like, “Yeah, I’m a murderer, and you should be too.” XD And Miyako hits LadyDevimon with a skateboard. Priceless

This scene is adorable but Taichi’s butt looks so saggy.

I’m kind of wondering how evolution works in this show. They jumped right to jogress in like episode two or something, but we haven’t seen it since (I would sort of expected Taichi to think of it when it was clear MetalTyrannomon was too strong, though I would also expect Yamato to nix that idea both because he doesn’t want to and because to him it’s a pointless fight and not the priority). Since then, the Champion level evolutions went similar to 99 Adventure, with everyone getting their special episode, and I’m sure that’s how it’ll go down with the next level too, but there was no gap at all between going from one level to the next. I’m trying to say, they seem able to reach the next level awfully fast. They didn’t need to meet Gennai and collect the tags and Crests, the Crests appear already uploaded in their Digivices. I’m not complaining, as always I’m glad this show is not just a carbon copy of the old one, but I am curious if evolutions are easier to attain in this series, or if there are going to be more of them and that’s why they come so quick, or if the series just won’t run long enough for there to be significant gaps of time between evolutions.

Episode ends with the group deciding, like I predicted last week, to split up and try the Left and Right routes, since the Straight one is blocked. Gays go right and lesbians go left, of course. :P

This episode was pretty fantabulous, I loved it, Digimon is awesome.

Next week it’s no surprise what we’re gonna get.

WeeeeereGarurumon! Also my least favorite evolution of Gabumon’s line but still cooler than MetalGreymon hahahaha.

I’m also totally stoked for the grouping of Yamato, Jou, and Sora. There’s tons of potential for Yamato and Sora to bond, although my prediction is that while he’ll pretty much like her (even if he won’t admit it to himself), she’s going to find him a little difficult. But she’ll have an easier time talking to him than the others do. I also fully expect Jou to drive Yamato out of his mind lol.

This also means the other group is Taichi, Koushirou, and Mimi. I assume we won’t see too much of them next week, but I hope that means they’ll get their episode the week after, because I am dying for some Taishiro moments. Practically salivating. Also, Koumi fans can probably look forward to Mimi and Koushirou Not Getting each other too, lol

[dbzebra]

Hey new follower and big Vegeta fan here, you say that Goku has progressed a lot as a character, want to emphasize on that? i don't doubt you at all, hell i like him a lot too, but i never got really invested so i'm actually curious, i want to hear your thoughts and open my eyes! lol

Hey! I’d be glad to.

Let me preface by just saying that I think Vegeta is probably one of the most developed in the series, and after years of dealing with snide comments/anons from certain fans about how Goku sucks and Vegeta is better and all I’m a little snippy in that regard so I hope you didn’t take that personally! Sorry lol

Goku’s growth is subtle, but comparing Pilaf arc Goku to even 23rd WT Goku there’s a league of difference despite him still being the same person.

I’ll prolly butcher this explanation cause for some reason I always blank with asks like this (not your fault lol) but oh well here we go

Goku starts off as a little kid who knows nothing about the world before meeting Bulma. He taps peoples crotches to tell if their male or female, has absolutely no self awareness and no tact whatsoever lol. But throughout even the Pilaf arc you see Goku to start to adjust to normal society and being around people. Bulma just her sicking him in people like a lapdog. But after this he’s much more pragmatic between deciding to go find Roshi and going after his dragon ball. At first for selfish reasons and later more selfless, which I personally believe is partly thanks to Eighter.

Speaking of which, Roshi/Jackie Chun’s speech to him stuck with Goku for life and I don’t think people realize that. “There’s always someone better or stronger, so never stop improving yourself.” And that’s Goku. He doesn’t do it for anything other than to improve himself, which Vegeta finally acknowledges in his monologue during the final Kid Buu fight.

Anyway Goku first hand experiences loss when Krillin dies and dudes out for blood. He ignores everyone and rushes after Tambourine not once byt twice. Never before did Goku kill an enemy who was legit running away either. After this he never does this again until GT.

For example, take 23rd WT. Teen Goku was chill and cool about seeing Jr. but Kid Goku would’ve rushed him instantly like he did when he first saw Kami. Kid Goku was super stubborn but when he got older he became a lot more levelheaded with things.

It’s in Z where we really see how he changed. Goku slacked off on his training, only improving a little bit during the 5 years after Piccolo to spend with his wife and child. (Also it’s canon Goku spoiled Gohan. The way Gohan clings to him is obvious of that to me. And the way he says “Daddy’s here!” When he goes to save him after Raditz took him.

Gokus whole character arc in the first half of Z is accepting his Saiyan heritage. He was sent away because he was trash and a low class and Goku says to Vegeta that he was glad to be sent away / deemed weak because that was what led him to being sent to Earth and led him to meet his friends and family. (It’s why I hate Minus so much, it contradicts ALL of that)

for a while he kept saying “I’m not a Saiyan, my name is Goku and I’m from Earth” but by the time he fought Freeza its “I’m a Saiyan from Earth” and then of course Goku’s I am a Super Saiyan speech

Then later on in Cell/Buu he becomes more passive and wants the next generation to take over because he’s not gonna be around forever and his sons are stronger / have the potential to be far stronger than he ever was. So he starts pushing Gohan and later Goten and Trunks, going as far as not killing Buu because “im dead, I shouldn’t be here, it’s not my place”

He spares Piccolo purely to save Kami/the DBs, he spares Vegeta cause he wants to fight him again, and spares Freeza not to fight him, but because he wanted Freeza to be humiliated and afraid. Didn’t work. Gave him energy out of pity. Didn’t work. And that final attack killed him as far as Goku was concerned.

After that he stopped trying to spare his opponents. While he didn’t spare Buu he Lowkey wanted to and admitted he would’ve liked to fight Buu as a good person which is the conclusion to that + the next gen passing the torch throughout the latter half of Z

And then in GT he’s just really mature but bored as hell. I like to think that scene with those two guys from Home Alone “kidnap” him he’s just playing along. Just watching Goku in Baby Saga especially feels like how he’d be as a seasoned fighter now master just wanting a challenge but Lowkey sick and tired of guys threatening his home and his family. Him making the deal with Shenron (which is another whole thing in itself I can go into seperately) really shows how far he came. Basically sacrifices himself to make one last wish for the good of earth. Overall Still a goofball deep down but he’s super serious and doesn’t take any bullshit. I

I’m not gonna go into DBS Goku cause well I haven’t seen DBS in years, have no interest in going back to it and well DBS Goku was OOC a lot anyway

Hope this clears stuff up :)

[lilhemmo]

best on earth

request: jealous!vegeta leading to a smutty happily ever after pairing: vegeta x fem!reader warnings: language, blood, snarky comments, smut (OBVIOUSLY), and other things that young children should not experience word count: 15K (do NOT judge me) a/n: i HOPE i did this justice. this is my FIRST EVER SMUT. i am trash at writing it. @thegodbucky​ deserves a medal for enduring me during this time of exteme self consciousness and self depreciation. if you like it, feel free to request more!

ASK BOX | WRITING TAG | AO3

It’s not uncommon for you to spend a couple hours after a training day patching everyone up. Sure, the Saiyans have faster healing than regular humans, but even they need stitches most days. 

Right now, it’s Yamcha. He’s not always still, and he tries to talk the whole time, but you know it’s just a coping mechanism for the pain.

“Tch,” Vegeta scoffs from where he’s lounging in the chair behind you. “Man up, Yamcha. It’s just a few stitches.”

Yamcha turns his head, “Hey, Vegeta! Not all of us are soulless like you. Some of us still feel pain. 

“Why you slimy little bast-”

“Stop it!” 

You turn your head to look back at the Saiyan with a scowl on your lips. Your eyes are narrowed and the sight alone makes him turn his head, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Sorry, Yamcha, I know it hurts,” you murmur to him, running a thumb down his bicep. “Give me just a few more minutes and it’ll all be over, okay sweetie?”

The fighter blushes at the nickname, distracted long enough for you to clean out his last wound and pull it back together with a butterfly bandage. Yamcha kisses you on the cheek and hops down from the hospital bed, flashing Vegeta a glare before finally walking out the back door. 

“Alright, Krillin! Your turn!”

Vegeta’s head spins, “E-Excuse me?! I was here first!”

You sigh, “What are you, ten? Humans first, Saiyan. You heal faster, most of your wounds will already be fine before I can touch them with a suture.”

Vegeta clicks his tongue and his nostrils flare, “Tch, you rude little earthling. I should be the first one you tend to. I am Prince-”

“The Mighty Prince Vegeta!” You roll your eyes, mimicking his voice as best you can. You sigh, encouraging Krillin to hop up onto the bed, “Vegeta, it would be a waste of supplies. Look, your eyebrow has already healed since I started. I would’ve wasted two or three stitches on that if I tended to you first.”

As you speak, you start to clean Krillin’s various wounds. He has a few on his face, but it’s mostly his knuckles. He chuckles as you rub the antiseptic on his bloody hands, “Goku’s a lot stronger than he used to be. Even when I can land a punch, I take damage almost as much as he does!”

“Aw, Krillin! You’re still one of the best warriors I know!” Goku chimes from across the room where he’s sucking down a protein shake. You smile at the two, wrapping bandages around both of Krillin’s knuckles to seal the wounds from outside air.

“You’re the best, doc!” Krillin flexes his hands just enough to get comfortable underneath the cloth bandages. He grins up at you and squeezes your bicep before leaping down from the table and rushing out of the room to go grab something to eat. 

You turn to tell Goku that it’s his turn, but Vegeta is already on the bed, eyes dark and insistent, lips in a fine line.

“Excuse me?” you raise a brow, “Did I call your number?”

“You didn’t give me a number, woman,” Vegeta crosses his arms, looking down on you in such a way that he’s trying to make you feel small. “It’s my turn.”

Shaking your head, you point to Goku, “I think I said Goku was after Krillin.”

“I will not let you treat that low-class Saiyan before me.” Vegeta swallows and turns so he can remove his shirt. You have to hold in a gasp at the sight of his physique so close in front of you. You’ve seen it a dozen times before - Vegeta has been here for years now. And yet, every time he moves, it captures your attention. You’d never tell him, though. He’d either scoff at you or reprimand you for gawking at his royal body. 

Goku says something along the lines of sure, treat Vegeta first because he’s kind and caring, and so you shut your mouth and break out the antiseptic wipes and start working on his cuts. 

Vegeta sits still, his eyes trained on you as you work. Your hands are quick, washing his wounds before stitching and bandaging them back together. You worked alongside Bulma to engineer a medical spray that accelerates healing, but you don’t use it on the Saiyans unless there is a really horrible injury and no senzu beans at the ready. Still, his eyes are boring into you, forcing a blush to creep up your neck and onto your cheeks. It makes your hands sweat and you almost lose a suture. 

“Can you quit that?” you snap finally, yanking a stitch through on his bicep. 

His brow raises and he leans away from you, snarling at the feel of the stitch tearing through his skin. 

“Why you little bi-”

“I dare you to finish that sentence.”

Your hands are on your hips and your eyes are narrowed, daring him with your facial expressions just as much as your words. He does not budge, the both of you locked in some sort of staring battle. You blink but do not waver, even when you feel his knees knock against your thighs. 

Finally he breaks, turning to look downward at his cracked boot. You’re sure he has some sort of bruised bone that is bothering him, but that’s not what you’re focused on right now. 

“If you’d stop looking at me like I was the enemy, this would go much quicker.” You pull on his arm, tying off another suture. “You’re making me very self-conscious of what I’m doing.”

Vegeta sighs, reconnecting your gaze after another moment. You swear he might just apologize, but the thought dies when no words escape from his lips after a second too long of waiting. You scoff and wrap up the wound on his arm, moving to research the wounds on his face. 

“Mostly bruising,” you murmur, running your thumb over a yellowed spot on his jawline. You shake your head, “You’ve got a split in your lip and in your brow, but with your metabolism, they should heal before the day is over. No stitches needed.”

Vegeta nods, a silent thank you. You know that you’ll never receive a verbal one, so you take what you can get around the proud Saiyan warrior. A sigh escapes your lips and you find your thumb brushing over the shallow split in his lower lip, imagining for a mere moment what his mouth would taste like on yours. 

The Saiyan Prince steps down from the bed and your chests brush. His usual scowl turns to a gentle smirk and you know that is as close to a smile as you’ll get any time soon. 

“Don’t get your ass kicked next time,” you mumble, tracing the bandage on his bicep. “And go raise that foot. I know it’s bothering you, but the bruise will wear off in time, especially if you keep it elevated or on ice.”

“Yes ma’am.”

He’s supposed to be patronizing you, but the way it comes out from his mouth makes the both of you blush. 

Goku pushes his way through the two of you to sit on the table, “Okay, my turn!”

You laugh, turning towards the child-like fighter with a fresh canister of bandaging spray in one hand and sutures in the other. “All right, Goku. Let me take a look at you.”

As Vegeta is walking away, his pride is wounded when he hears you and his rival laughing like life-long friends. He carries this burden on his shoulders, always striving for your attention, but always falling short.

In a fleeting moment, the prince wonders when he’ll ever be enough.

–

Bulma is famous for her massive cook outs. She orders the food and schedules the entertainment, all everyone else has to do is show up. You walk in with Tien’s arm threaded through your own, your head laid against his shoulder as you two share conversation on the way into the gathering. 

“Thanks for the ride, Tien,” you say, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. “Just let me know when you’re ready to head out, okay?”

He nods and heads over to Yamcha and Krillin, making conversation. You turn to the pool and find your way to Bulma and Chi-Chi, grabbing a fruity drink off of one of the waiters on your way.

“You always outdo yourself, Bulma.” You get yourself comfortable in the afternoon sun, the warmth from the gentle golden glow falling on the exposed skin of your legs. You smile, turning to tap your drink against hers before taking a long sip. “What are we celebrating this time?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to throw a party!” Bulma giggles, her hand against her chest. She tips her sunglasses down to look you in the eyes, “I saw you came in with Tien? What’s that all about?”

Turning so you can look at her, you rest your chin on your palm, “He offered me a ride. Literally! We flew here!”

Chi-Chi raises a brow while fighting a smirk. She chuffs, “Better not let him get alone with Vegeta, then. He might kick him across the courtyard if he finds out he brought you.”

You can’t stop the scoff that parts your lips, “Are you kidding? Vegeta?” You wave your hand and take another long sip of your drink. From behind your glasses you’re searching for the Saiyan, “Vegeta just likes to be angry.”

“Ah ah ah,” Bulma shakes her head, leaning closer to you. She smiles devilishly and the way her eyes sparkle makes you feel the insecurities creeping in again like spiders crawling down your spine. “He’s always so jealous whenever you’re with any of the other fighters.”

Chi-Chi joins in, a wide smile on her face, “Goku is always talking about how Vegeta is in a bad mood when they leave the med bay after getting stitched up.”

“Yeah, of course,” you laugh, crossing your arms and leaning back. You try to fight the blush that’s working it’s way up your neck - you hope that they will blame the pink tint on your skin to the heat of the sun. “He’s always pissed after he leaves because I’ve been prodding him with a needle!”

“Nah,” Bulma closes her eyes and drinks in the sun, tilting her head upward. “I think it’s because you’re so nice to everyone else and it makes him jealous.”

You take a deep breath and try to absorb what she’s just said. There is no way Vegeta, that stuck-up Saiyan royal, cares how you treat any of the other fighters versus how you treat him. He’s always been indifferent towards you, always scoffed every time you walk into the room. You’re sure his eyes are stuck perpetually rolling when you’re around.

“I treat every one of the fighters just the same,” you argue, tilting your head so your face is under the shade of the umbrella. “Vegeta just doesn’t need as much babying as the others do.”

Chi-Chi giggles under her breath, “Oh, you sweet thing. I’m sure Vegeta would love to be babied by you.”

You wave your hand in dismissal at her suggestion, trying to find the Saiyan prince in the crowd. You lick your lips, “The last thing Vegeta wants is for me to call him sweetheart.”

Before the conversation can continue, you stand to your feet and finish off your drink. You look down at Bulma as you peel your top off, revealing the bathing suit underneath. She smirks at you before unwrapping her own cover up, “C’mon, I’ll have them turn on the hot tub.”

The three of you are grabbing towels and walking across the backyard to get to the hot tub when you hear a familiar voice shouting across the courtyard. 

Bulma and Chi-Chi groan simultaneously, “Roshi.”

You laugh at the arrival of the old geezer. Sure, he’s a pervert, but for the most part, he’s harmless. You wave at him, which he thinks is permission to scamper over to the hot tub and ogle at every inch of your available skin. You smack his cheek gently so he’ll move his eyesight away from your personal bits, but you don’t take it too personally. 

Roshi says something about your body, but it’s said so quickly and in such a high pitch that you can’t really make out exactly what it is. 

As you’re about to admonish Roshi for his wandering gaze and perverted words, you hear Goku’s shout from just a few feet away, “Vegeta! What the hell?! Do you sense a new power level?! I don’t sense anything!”

Goku touches his forehead to search for familiar power levels, but his brow is furrowed. You can’t help the way your jaw drops when you look just to the left of him to see Vegeta in full-blown Super Saiyan, blonde hair wafting in the afternoon wind and eyes a blue blaze as he glowers in your general direction. 

“Shut up, you idiot,” Vegeta grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. He scowls and tears his eyes away from you, shifting his feet so he can turn to glower in the opposite direction. A moment later, his super form falls and his hair loses its glimmer, his muscles deflating just slightly. 

Bulma nudges you with her elbow, “See?”

You roll your eyes and step into the hot tub. Roshi acts like he’s going to follow you in, but when Vegeta’s hair burns bright again, he slinks away from the hot tub and makes his way over to the dessert table to start stuffing his face. 

“Hey Goku!” Chi-Chi calls her husband over. Goku smiles wide and drags Vegeta with him as he comes over to the hot tub. He leans his elbow against the edge, chin against his palm as he waits for Chi-Chi’s next words. 

She pats the edge of the hot tub, “You guys should come in with us!”

Goku doesn’t need much more direction than that before he’s stripping down to the compression shorts he wears beneath his signature orange fighting gi. He leans across to sling an arm around Chi-Chi, tucking her smaller body against his side. 

“C’mon, Vegeta!” Goku splashes a little bit of water in midair, a giggle not far behind. His eyes squint closed when he smiles at his rival-turned-ally. “It feels great!”

Vegeta is practically growling at the child-like Saiyan, the rumbling building in his chest, “I will not subject myself to-”

“Get in.”

You raise a brow, looking down at him from the hot tub. You smirk, rising just a bit out of the water to lean over the edge of the tub and rest your chin on your crossed arms, “We don’t bite.”

“And how can I be sure of that?” he asks, but you notice that he’s toeing off his boots and grasping at the clasps of his armor to remove his chestplate. Vegeta grunts, “You do have some pointy teeth.”

You can’t help the grin that lights up your eyes, “You’re one to talk, Saiyan,” he’s climbing up the stairs now, his feet making the water ripple, “you literally have fangs.”

Vegeta bares his teeth at you as he settles into the corner of the tub between you and Bulma. You laugh, leaning into his shoulder. It’s a test, to see if he recoils from you. He does hesitate when he first feels the bare skin of your arm, but he doesn’t act as if he’s been burnt, so you take it as a good sign.

Your thigh is pressed against his underwater, and you try to tell yourself that it’s the heat of the bath that’s making your cheeks burn red. A server brings more drinks and you find yourself snatching up two to try and help yourself get comfortable with the Saiyan who is practically parallel with your body, from shoulder to ankle. 

A while later, Tien approaches the hot tub and leans against the edge, tapping you on the shoulder, “You ready to go here in a little bit?”

You spare a glance over your shoulder to see the edge of Vegeta’s hairline flickering somewhere between blonde and brunette. A part of you wonders how much longer you can drag out your time with the Saiyan. 

“I’m taking her home.”

Apparently, Vegeta has made the decision for you. 

You don’t miss the way his arm slides around your shoulders as he leans back to look Tien in the eyes, a sarcastic smile tugging his lips upward. You’re not sure if you’ve ever seen Vegeta smile genuinely, so you know that Tien can sense the hostility.

Tien raises a brow, turning to look at you. All you can do in return is shrug, and he takes that for his answer. He sighs, “All right, sounds good. I’ll see you next time, okay?”

“Okay, Tien,” you lean forward to plant a kiss on Tien’s cheek, smiling at him as he pulls away. As you turn back to resituate yourself, Vegeta’s fingers curl around your shoulder, tucking you close much like Goku has done with his wife. It must be the liquor coursing through your system, because you don’t push him away, but rather lean into him as Bulma brings up her latest project she’s been working on. 

As the engineer talks in words that none of you can really understand, you can only pay attention to the way Vegeta’s thumb is brushing gently over your shoulder, almost tenderly. Underneath the barrier of the water, you slide your hand to his thigh, brushing your thumbnail against the hem of his shorts. His breath hitches, his throat bobbing. You feel his thigh muscles tense underneath your touch and you allow yourself a small grin out of satisfaction alone. 

It’s late enough in the afternoon now that the sun has set and it’s growing dark, so the placement of your hand isn’t obvious. Maybe that’s the only reason why Vegeta does not slap your hand away or make a scene.

Finally, you’re yawning and most of the guests have cleared out, the vendors packing away their things as well. You feel a squeeze to your shoulder and it jars you awake, your head lolling against a shoulder, “Hmm?”

A chuckle resonates beside you, “Come on, silly woman. Let’s get you home.”

Your mind races with what that could mean. Does he want to take you home? Does he want to stay at your home? The after-buzz of Bulma’s strong party drinks makes your heart race with ideas. 

“You gonna fly me there?” you ask him as the others start clambering out of the hot tub and start drying off. Vegeta scoffs, “How else do you plan for us to get there?”

You raise a hand in indignation, “All right, all right. No need to get snippy.”

As you stand to climb out of the hot tub, you almost slip on the first stair, but Vegeta’s hands grip you by the hips to keep you standing upright. You whisper a thank you over your shoulder and he merely nods in return. You’re sure that he’s bruised you from where he grabbed you, but the stinging sensation on your skin only does more to drive you wild.

You say your final thank you’s to Bulma and then, in your delirious, semi-intoxicated state, you turn to Vegeta and hold your arms out, “Well?”

“Tch,” he rolls his eyes, “you foul earthling. You never cease to confuse me.”

Vegeta turns around and squats just enough that you get the gist of what he’s beckoning you to do. You reach forward, gripping his shoulders tightly as you get ready to hop onto his back. As soon as your thighs make contact with his hips, he pounces into the air and you let out a squeal.

Your legs wrap around his waist, arms tightening against his throat. Ducking your head into his shoulder, you giggle, “You scared me!”

“Be braver,” he speaks simply.

The wind rushes through your hair and his arms around your legs make you feel like you’re still sipping on one of Bulma’s fruity drinks. You rest your chin on his shoulder, your temple against the shell of his ear as you watch the sights go by.

It isn’t long before you’re back at your apartment in the city. Vegeta lands on the balcony, lowering himself so you can slide down without much hassle. Your arms don’t leave his body, even when you’ve removed yourself from his back.

“Why did you go Super Saiyan at the party?” you ask, running your thumb over the ridges in his chestplate. He hasn’t turned around yet and you take advantage of the moment. Your eyes wander over the cuts and cracks in his armor, no matter how small. It’s a stark reminder of what his normal life is like - there is always another battle. Would there ever be time for anything else other than the next fight?

“I got angry,” Vegeta answers after a few minutes.

Your voice turns shaky, “At wh-what?”

His eyes are dark as he looks at you over his shoulder, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Maybe it’s the way his irises are glimmering under the moonlight. Maybe it’s the fruity liquor running through your veins. Maybe it’s the way your heart is beating faster the closer you get to him.

Whatever it is, it leads you to him.

Your fingers curl around the edges of his chestplate and your eyes track the pulse thumping against his neck and the way his jaw quivers under the stress of the bite of his teeth. Vegeta tilts his head, considering you closely.

“I want to hear you say it,” you tell him. Your voice is breathy and you’ve pushed yourself up on your toes to try and get closer to him.

Vegeta’s palms steady you at the base of your hips, reminding you of how he caught you earlier when you were about to face plant at the hot tub. You smile at the memory, your fingertips traveling up over his chest and up to rest against his neck. You feel the hair at the nape of his neck sift between your fingers.

“I don’t like it when other people look at you,” he admits through his teeth. Vegeta is almost snarling at you as he speaks, pulling you closer so your chests are brushing. You gasp at the contact, your eyes threatening to shutter closed. You glance up at him with half-hooded lids, “Look at me like what?”

He leans down, the tip of his nose ghosting down the bridge of yours, “Like the way I look at you.”

His lips brush over cupid’s bow and your eyes flutter shut. You card your hand into his hair, your free hand gripping his shoulder like a vice. Vegeta’s mouth captures yours, palming at you with his hands against your lower back to keep you close. You feel a moan surface from the back of your throat, but the sound only spurs the Saiyan on. He pushes you against the brick wall, hoisting you up with one arm around your waist. 

Vegeta slots his knee between your thighs to help hold you up, and it’s like you’re practically sitting in his lap in midair. You comb your fingers through his hair and feel the pulsating energy of his super form threatening to push through. A smirk works its way on your lips when his hand glides up your abdomen, thumb trailing between the valley of your chest and over your collarbones. His palm gets threateningly close to your throat and you wonder if or when he’ll squeeze the sensitive flesh of your neck.

You gasp when the pad of his thumb finds its way to the throbbing vein in your neck. He uses the soft flesh to tilt your head upward, leaving your skin bare and exposed in the balmy night air.

“You’re whimpering, angel,” Vegeta’s voice is gentle, the furthest thing from patronizing while still managing to be sarcastic. His nose brushes down over your cheek to your jaw, the puff of his breath against your neck bringing forth chill bumps on every inch of your skin. 

The way your body is leaning into his is nothing short of wanton. Your fingernails rake against his scalp as you guide him to the various sensitive parts of your upper body - your neck, your jaw, your collarbone. His mouth leaves a blazing trail everywhere it touches and only leaves you wanting more.

A shout from below startles the both of you and Vegeta shields your body with his own, pressing you even more flush with the brick wall of your apartment balcony. The noise was from a group of teenagers passing down the street, but it breaks you from your stupor. 

You laugh, dropping your head to his chest. Vegeta is rolling his eyes, you’re sure of it. His palms run down your sides until he wraps you up in his arms, hoisting you into midair. You squeal at the motion and throw yourself into him with your arms around his neck to keep yourself steady. 

Vegeta slides the balcony door open with the toe of his boot, carrying you through until he can deposit you on the bed, gently placing you there. He’s now hovering over you with his irises turning dark, thumbs circling the soft skin of your knee, slowly trailing up your thigh. You try to lean up to meet him halfway because your lips are aching to feel the touch of his kiss again, but he shakes his head, “Uh uh. Stay there. I’ll come to you.”

The short intake of breath that parts your lips makes Vegeta smirk. He gnaws on his lower lip as he loiters over you, thumbs circling your thighs in a tantalizing way. The way the pads of his fingers burn into your skin is like torture. All you want is to yank him by his armor to kiss the life out of you, but the way his eyes are boring into you tells you that you really should listen to what he said just a moment ago.

He leans forward, spreading your knees further apart so his thick frame can fit between your thighs. Vegeta’s body is heavy when he finally presses himself into you, his head tilted as he deposits warm kisses against your clothed body, starting at your navel and working upward. The obscene sound his wet lips make against the bare skin of your chest gives you gooseflesh. He nudges his nose over the swell of your breast as he uses his thumbs to hike up your cover up dress, the tip of his nail scraping gently against the back of your thighs, dangerously close to the hem of your bathing suit. 

A horn honks outside and it reminds him that the door was left open. Vegeta grunts before extracting himself from you, “I’m going to make sure all the doors are closed and locked, okay?”

You nod, tugging him by the neck for another kiss square on the mouth. He pulls away after a long few seconds, squeezing your thighs beneath the cover up. Before he completely removes himself from you, he slaps the sensitive skin of your thighs quickly, but all it does is allow another whimper to fall from your lips.

“I’ll be right back.”

Vegeta does a quick walkthrough of your apartment, making sure that your exit doors are closed and everything is in order before walking back to your bedroom. 

The position you’re in when he returns was not one that he would expect.

You’re wrapped under the sheets, your bathing suit and cover up discarded on the floor. The entirety of your legs are exposed, but your chest and waist are covered by the thin sheet. If he were to look hard enough, he’s sure he could see whatever he wanted, but the Saiyan prince knows more about respect and pride than to do that. 

Gentle snores pour out of your body, your chest heaving up and down consistently as breath blows out through your lips. You’re curled against a pillow, eyes shut but still active behind your eyelids. He allows himself to wonder what exactly you’re dreaming about. 

Vegeta reaches forward and brushes your hair out of your eyes, a sad smile on his lips, “I knew you were too good to be true.”

A kiss is planted on your forehead before he slips out of the balcony doorway and flies away into the night.

–

You’re not surprised to feel the thud of a slight hangover the next morning. Your eyes are practically glued shut, but luckily all of your window blinds are shut and none of your lights were left on in your drunken stupor the night before. You run your fingertips against your lips, the faint buzz of your dream still playing like a movie as you close your eyelids.

Vegeta kissed me.

Of course it was a dream. You know Vegeta isn’t one to care for physical affection unless you count an uppercut as a caress. And even though you were drunk by the end of Bulma’s party, you would have a distinct reminder if the Saiyan landed a blow somewhere on you. 

For now, you’ll have to settle with the ghost of a kiss on your lips and the thought of what his mouth might taste like.

–

You trudge back to Capsule Corporation, a full thermos of coffee in your hands and a pair of sunglasses covering your eyes. You nod to the front desk receptionist before heading to the med bay to start your day. 

It’s quiet for the first few hours - you’re mostly organizing the office and ordering medical supplies. You’re put in touch with Yajirobe to discuss the senzu bean supply and also to ship him some of Bulma’s leftovers in thanks for the beans. 

Once the sun starts to set and you open the windows to let a clean breeze roll in, you hear the two Saiyans out on the front lawn arguing about something. You laugh - no matter how much Vegeta wants to argue it, he and Goku have become something akin to brothers. Definitely more so in the no one can kill you but me way, but it’s still some form of family.

You’re washing beakers when the two stop by for their daily dose of vitamins. Goku gulps his down with a full bottle of water before turning to you, “Thanks! I still can’t believe Bulma hired someone as cool as you to be our doc!”

A bashful laugh escapes your lips - it doesn’t matter that Goku is married or that he is not necessarily what you would want in a partner, the bulky Saiyan’s compliment still sends a blush to bloom on the apples of your cheeks. You look down at your feet, your bland non-slip shoes tucked against one another at the arch, “Thanks, Goku. You’re not half bad yourself.”

Vegeta scoffs and tosses his little disposable cup in the garbage, sipping on a bottle of water, “Kakarrot, could you be anymore embarrassing?”

“Hey, Vegeta, that’s not nice!”

Goku leans on your shoulder, “Chi Chi offered to cook a really big dinner for everyone this afternoon. Do you wanna come?”

You pluck an already clean glass from the countertop and start wiping at it with a washcloth, “I-uh, I wouldn’t want to impose, Goku. I know I’m not a fighter or anything…”

“Nonsense,” Vegeta clicks his tongue, “Goku’s wife always makes too much food. There will be more than enough.”

And that’s how you find yourself sitting down at the outdoor dinner table at Goku’s farm.

Vegeta is on your right, and he passes you food as they all eat mercilessly. His hand brushes your thigh under the tablecloth and you feel your whole body tense at the motion. You swallow thickly and force yourself to eat another piece of grilled meat. You’re confused when he leaves his hand there, mostly because it is impeding the speed with which he can shovel food down his throat. 

“So,” Bulma speaks up after a mouthful of rice, “Is everyone still treating you right at Capsule? You haven’t had any issues with any of the other staff, have you?”

You shake your head, taking a sip of your drink before answering, “Oh, no, everyone is so kind!”

“What about the boys?” Chi Chi adds, raising a brow as she looks between Goku and Krillin, “Are they all being civil?”

A laugh bubbles up from your chest, “Oh, sometimes they squirm when I’m stitching them up, but for the most part they’re all compliant.”

Vegeta barks out a laugh, “Yamcha almost needed more stitches because he couldn’t sit still for the first ones.”

You narrow your eyes and turn to him, instinctively reaching under the table to squeeze his hand. Yamcha is sitting across the table, next to Bulma, and his face turns bright red at the comment. He goes to say something in retaliation to Vegeta, but everyone is shocked to see you and the Saiyan Prince having a silent conversation with your eyes. 

Vegeta snarls as he looks down at you. The pressure of your hand squeezing his palm actually causes him to wince, mostly out of surprise rather than pain. He tilts his head and you raise your right brow just enough that he gets the gist of what you mean. The harshness of the look on your face softens when you feel his palm turn over against your thigh, fingers slotting between the spaces of your hand.

“In Yamcha’s defense, it was a really nasty wound,” Vegeta grits out between his teeth before returning to the food on his plate.

Everyone is quiet for another moment and then they continue on as if nothing has happened. Your fingers stay intertwined with Vegeta’s, the feel of his gloved hand warm in your own. He keeps his head ducked, unable to look you in the eyes after his outburst.

“I’ll help you with the dishes,” you mention as you stand to your feet alongside Chi -Chi. She grabs a few plates off of the table, “Oh, that’s fine. No need!” 

You shake your head, “Oh, I’m sure you don’t get much help from these dunderheads! Let me do the first round.”

She relents, leaving you in the kitchen by yourself while the rest of the fighters and friends culminate around the bonfire that Goku has lit. You watch through the picture window in the kitchen as they all share drinks and laughs.

It’s another twenty minutes before the kitchen door opens, giving way to heavy muscle and dark eyes. Your breath hitches in your throat as he leans against the countertop beside you, arms crossed over his chest. You lick your lips and turn just enough to look at him, “Is everything okay?”

Vegeta grunts, “Tch. I can’t stand to be around them for more than a few minutes.”

“Your little comment about Yamcha earlier was really uncalled for.” You keep your hands busy by dunking them in the dishwater and continuing to scrub away at the plates and bowls. You take a short breath, “But I was more surprised by your attempt at an apology than the remark.”

“You can be intimidating when you try,” he mumbles, leaning his head back against the cabinets. Vegeta sighs, “Besides, the last thing I need is Bulma trying to defend that clown. She’s already irritable when we’re all just breathing.”

You can’t help a laugh, tilting your chin against your shoulder to conceal your giggle. You shake your head, “Be careful, she might be able to hear you.”

The smallest of smiles tilts the corner of Vegeta’s mouth and you wonder why every moment can’t be like this. Why can’t he be a proud man who smiles when things are funny? Why can’t he train to become stronger but also be gentle when it’s necessary?

You wipe your hands on a kitchen cloth, turning so your hip is pressed to the counter. Eying him, you smirk, “If I didn’t know any better, you’re jealous.”

“J-Jeal-” Vegeta chokes on his words, stumbling forward a half-step. The cap of his knee juts into your thigh and you laugh again at his actions. The prince catches himself midair, “I-How dare you? That would imply I care about-”

At just that moment, Chi Chi opens the door with the offer of finishing the dishes tumbling from her lips. She smiles and you wipe the remainder of the soap off your hands, “Sure, Chi Chi! Hopefully I did enough to be considered respectable. I really appreciate you cooking dinner for us.”

She squeezes your arms and then takes the position in front of the sink, hands wrist-deep in dishwater. You brush past Vegeta on the way out the door, careful to throw a glance over your shoulder to see him watching you as you leave. 

You don’t speak to him for the rest of the night, his sentence he wasn’t able to finish rattling around in your brain.

That would imply I care-

-about you.

Sure, he didn’t say it, but he might as well have.

You always thought Vegeta could never care for you in that way, but to hear it projected from his lips makes your heart burn. You wring your hands in your lap, unable to finish the drink Bulma made you. The fire is crackling in front of you, and Vegeta finds his way to the seat next to yours. Usually you would find a reason to lean closer so you could brush even just your elbows against his armor, but now you find yourself curling in on your own body, cradling your drink against your chest. 

The next few weeks are strange. You’re calling in sick and requesting an assistant to help you patch up the fighters when they come back in from intense training sessions. It’s not rare for Vegeta and Goku to need minor patching up, but it seems like since the night of the cookout, Vegeta always needs something stitched. You wonder if he’s self-inflicting wounds just to watch you squirm.

“You’re subpar,” he spats at your assistant one afternoon, a snarl on his lips. Vegeta scoffs, “I won’t let you touch me any longer.” He calls out your name and you barely lift your head from where you’re writing down formulas and equations. The faraway look in your eyes makes a chill settle in his spine, but he pushes the cold feeling away, “I’ll take this poor treatment no longer. I deserve the best care!”

You sigh and roll your eyes, “She’s doing a great job.”

“Tch! Seriously?!” Vegeta stands to his feet, a loop of suture work dangling from the skin of his arm, “I will not stand to be treated this way.”

“Then leave.”

Vegeta’s voice catches in his throat, a strangled noise echoing behind his tongue. His jaw muscles pulsate under the strain of his gritted teeth. Fists are tight at his sides, “A-Are you-”

“If you’re not happy with the way you’re being treated,” you tilt your head to look him in the eye for a short moment, “then go somewhere else.”

The Saiyan prince is taken aback by your stern words and harsh eyes. His jaw is left open as you turn your gaze back to your notes, pen scratching letters and numbers into the pages. You’re not surprised to hear the thudding of boots followed by the loud echo of the door slamming as Vegeta makes his exit. 

You sigh, sparing a glance toward the closed door, the stubborn Saiyan no doubt miles away by now. 

–

The looks he passes you when walking down the halls and across the courtyard is enough to make your heart go mad. You feel your chest tighten when he doesn’t give you the standard greeting, but you know that deep down, you’re to blame. You’re the one who embarrassed him. 

It takes another month or so for Goku to finally need a deeper set of stitches. 

“Vegeta has been really angry lately,” he comments, wincing through another set of sutures. He sighs, brushing his palm against the back of his neck, “Are you guys fighting or something?”

You choke on your own saliva, the threat of tears stinging in the back of your eyes. You take a short breath, “I don’t know, Goku.”

“Hey,” Goku grasps you gently by the bicep, “Are you okay?”

You swallow the emotion sticking in your throat like paste and drop your head to his shoulder, thankful you finished the final stitch moments before he asked his horrible question. Your palms rest against his chest as you try to regulate your breathing. Goku is nothing if not a brick wall, and it’s times like these where you’re glad to be his friend.

“I-I hate this back and forth!” You sniffle, turning so your cheek is against his shoulder, your eyes focusing on the scenery just outside the window. It’s a beautiful spring day, you should be outside wandering through the tall grass and plucking wild flowers. 

Goku’s arms encase your body, hugging you tight. You’re thankful that he can at least pick up on this social cue instead of how he normally reacts to human affection. 

“It’s so annoying the way Vegeta keeps going back and forth,” you try to remember to take short breaths as your head begins to spin. A hiccup parts your lips, “One moment, he’s holding my hand and leaning into me and complimenting me and the next he’s saying he doesn’t care and pulling away…it’s so…frustrating!”

“Have you talked to him?” He asks the question like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

You rub your nose against his gi, not caring if you get it dirty because it’s already soaked in sweat. You thumb at the collar, “Vegeta is not the most approachable.”

Goku laughs, pressing his cheek atop your head while he squeezes you tight, “Well, I think you should just talk with him. I bet you’d be surprised to see what he’d say!”

The idea alone makes you anxious, worry balling up in your belly like spiders threatening to crawl up into your chest and make a home there. Your body quivers, two tears falling from each of your eyes, wetting your cheeks. 

“Kakarot!” 

You’re shocked at the sound of Vegeta’s voice echoing in the medical bay treating room.

“What are you doing to her?! Why is she crying?” Vegeta’s boots are loud as he thunders into the room, eyes wide and brows raised. “What have you done, you imbecile? Do I need to strike you down where you stand?”

You shy away from the Saiyan prince as he bolsters towards you. Your body hides behind Goku’s, fingertips trembling against the bright orange fabric of his gi. 

“Vegeta, what the hell?” Goku shakes his head, “I didn’t do anything! She’s crying about you!”

The Prince’s pupils dilate as he stutters in place. His feet shuffle against the tile floor, “Wh-What?”

Goku rolls his eyes and takes a step forward, motioning with his hands, “You made her cry, Vegeta! So you can stop yelling at me. I didn’t do nothin’.”

Vegeta leans around to look at you, “Wh-What is he talking about?”

You curl your hands together, cradling them against your chest. Vegeta looks lost as he speaks his next words, “I-I kissed you! Isn’t that how earthlings show affection? What else did you need from me to show you that I wanted to pursue you as a mate?!”

The entire room goes still. 

“Y-You what?”

“Ew, gross!”

Vegeta’s scalp glows blonde and Goku throws his hands up, “S-Sorry!”

Your cheeks are bright red, palms sweating. You lean around Goku’s side to look at Vegeta, eyes wandering over every part of him. He’s tense, that much is easy to deduce. His body is tightly wound, like a coil ready to spring. 

“Kakarot, get the hell out!”

Goku excuses himself with pink cheeks and wide eyes, squirming through the front door and skittering down the hallway. 

Vegeta takes a short step towards you, treating you more like a frightened animal than anything else. His hands are open, palms facing upward as he trudges closer. You grind your teeth together, widening your stance to be a little more sturdy.

“The night I took you home from Bulma’s party, silly woman,” Vegeta cracks the smallest of smiles. You feel warmth seeping into your skin, starting where he circles your wrists with his own fingers. “We kissed then.”

The dream pounds like a bright light against your eyelids, the fuzzy feeling when you awoke clear as day. Your fingertips tremble against your lips, the closeness of the Saiyan dizzying. He is warm, radiating heat, and the mix of his musk and some sort of cologne makes your brain twirl. Vegeta runs his thumb against your pulse on your wrist, feeling your heartbeat.

“I-I don’t remember,” you admit, your voice faint. You look up at him and you’re surprised to see him still grinning. Vegeta shakes his head, “I gathered as much.”

He swallows, “I guess you had too many of those drinks she was passing out. I was planning on doing it again, unless you’re unwilling.”

Your pulse quickens and your eyes meet his, breath puffing from between your parted lips. There’s a stillness in the room that is normally never present where there is a Saiyan. They have an air about them which leaves the atmosphere buzzing, the threat of power on the cusp of their arrival. You’ve grown used to the sensation, but now that it’s absent, your chest feels tight.

“I’ve been told that earthlings say silence means no, but that gaping look on your face makes me think otherwise.” Vegeta’s knuckles curl against your jawline and his smirk deepens. The pad of his thumb drags across your lower lip and his voice drops an octave, “I could drop you here and you’d say thank you, wouldn’t you, little earthling?”

Your breath trembles, the threat of his fingertip against your front teeth, “V-Vegeta-”

His thumb flexes and your jaw is snapped open wide, his index finger pressed into the hollow of your cheek. Vegeta’s head tilts as he considers you, practically already clay to mold with his intentions, “You vulgar woman. You’re thinking about a lot more than kissing me, aren’t you?”

Your thoughts return to you and you force your jaw down to bite on his thumb, the slightest smirk of your own upturning your lips. You grip his chest plate and pull him forward, taking him by surprise, dropping your mouth down on his whole finger, releasing it with a pop. He barely has time to register the way the action makes him feel before your mouth is on his. 

Vegeta never realized how much his body ached to be washed in your presence. His very being sings at your closeness, the way your breath falls against his lips sending his mind into another dimension. He pulls you close, anchoring your bodies at the waist. His fingers slip under the hem of your shirt, thumb brushing over the taut skin of your stomach before drifting to hook into your belt loops.

The feel of your gentle tongue against his teeth sends him into a frenzy. His mouth is harsh against yours, teeth knocking together as he walks you back against one of the medical beds. The backs of your thighs bump into the metal frame and you stumble. 

“Your armor is in my way,” you pant, thumbing at the base of his chest plate, proving yourself right as you’re barred from his bare skin.

Vegeta breaks from your kiss, his temple pressed against your cheek as he breathes heavily, the heat blooming on your neck. Your thighs twitch with the feeling, warmth pooling in your belly as his lips ghost over your jaw.

“You want it gone so badly, take it off yourself,” Vegeta grunts before lavishing his tongue over your pulse throbbing in the thick vein on your neck. Your heartbeat hastens once the cold air hits the wet spots now on your skin.

Desperately, you search for the clasps. Your fingers fumble purposefully around the seams but you can’t focus with the way his mouth is working away at your collarbones. His teeth are bared against the swell of your chest and the tips of his fangs scrape against your tender skin. You gasp at the sharpness of his teeth, your back arching. 

You whine, your eyes screwed shut so tightly that you start to see stars, “G-Geeta, c’mon!”

“What?” He tilts his head so his hair brushes over your jaw. Vegeta nudges his nose over the dense muscle of your neck, trailing upwards to your ear, “Can’t wait to get your hands on me? Is it making you impatient?”

His teeth take your earlobe and you keen at the feeling. Your hands tighten around what little fabric you can grasp of his close-fitting uniform and you pull him forward so your torsos are aligned. You feel the brush of his pelvis against yours and your whole body lights on fire. His Saiyan blood makes him warm and you leech off the heat, your body igniting as if he were a match.

“Please,” you pant into his ear, desperate to do something. 

Your hands palm at him and your mouth searches for either his lips or his skin. His fighting gear leaves little available for you to explore.

Vegeta uses his large palm against your lower back to arch you upward, your body still sitting on the bed as he loiters above you. Your hands are trembling now and it’s almost like a game to him as he tortures your body with his mouth while you frantically pull and tug at his armor.

“Please what?” Vegeta echoes, breathing slowly against your cheek as he leans back to look you in the eye.

You let a string of curse words fumble from your lips in a quiet murmur. Your eyes are closed because you can’t bear looking at him when you can’t even unbuckle his chest plate. Vegeta nips the corner of your lip, tugging on the thin skin of your mouth.

He repeats himself in a rasp, dark eyes boring down at you as if he were drilling straight into your soul. You move one of your hands to cup his face, tilting him towards you as your eyelids struggle to stay open. Surprisingly, Vegeta allows you to maneuver him closer, tugging on him with your palm against his cheek.

“Help me, I-I can’t-” You’re cut short by his lips overtaking you again. His mouth is disastrous as it collides with your own, his hands finding yours as he ghosts over his armor, unlocking the latches with precision and ease. There is a loud thud as the weighted chest plate falls to the ground. 

“You weakling,” Vegeta murmurs into the openness of your mouth. He runs his tongue along the seam of your lips before clambering on top of you, knees between your thighs. Picking you up by the backs of your knees, Vegeta drags your body so your hips are flush and only your shoulder blades are touching the mattress.

He nips his teeth against the cloth of your pants on the inside of your knee, “Can’t even take my clothes off by yourself. Need my help with everything.”

You press your cheek into the mattress, your eyes shut with anticipation. He runs his nose along the inner part of your leg, the bow of his lips dragging over the sensitive flesh of your thighs. He chuckles and the breath heats your core.

“In your defense,” Vegeta murmurs as he kisses the top of your thigh, “only one with Saiyan strength can remove it.”

“Wh-!” You reel backward, widening your eyes as you look down on him, “You sneaky bastard.”

Vegeta pulls your shirt up by the hem, running the tip of his nose along the curves and contours of your belly. He presses a kiss against your hip, biting gently at the supple skin before sparing a glance upward at you, “I had to make it at least a little entertaining.”

You narrow your eyes, but the gesture is short-lived when the rough pad of his thumb runs just beneath the curvature of your breast. Every inch of your skin is pin-pricked with the threatening anticipation that the Saiyan’s mouth and hands provides.

“Take it off.”

You look frantically around the room - you didn’t even realize the door was still open from where Goku left however long ago. Not to mention all of the window blinds are partially angled to where anyone could see directly in and you’re sprawled out underneath this specimen of a man, powerless for however he wishes to use you. 

You shake your head, a blush burning into your cheeks, and cross your arms over your chest. He extracts himself just slightly, leaning back on his thick thighs to look down at you in questioning. His gaze follows yours and it appears that he can put together why you’re suddenly so against the continuation of what was about to unfold.

“Shh, s’okay,” Vegeta’s thumb is against your lower lip and you’re surprised at the sudden gentleness of his nature. He tilts his head, “D’you want to-”

“Yes.”

His eyes widen at your quick response, but a chuckle fills the silence soon after. He plucks you up from the mattress, looping his arms around your thighs to hoist you into the air. You wrap your arms around his neck, tucking your nose into the crux of his shoulder.

Vegeta holds you close with one arm snaked around your midsection, the other settled on the underside of your thigh to keep you anchored to him. You cross your ankles around his back to hold yourself as steady as possible. Your mouth is against his collarbone, eyes just barely able to peek over the top of his shoulder. He’s walking you through the halls of Capsule Corp, glaring at anyone who dares to even glance your way as he does so.

A devious thought crosses your mind just then. You bare your teeth and press them against his skin, waiting for a reaction. He does nothing, and so you press your luck even further with a gentle biting of his shoulder. You don’t dare go any further, not yet. You’re afraid he may react too severely and drop you.

“Hmph,” he grunts, turning his head so his chin is against the crown of your hair. “You’d better stop, if you know what’s good for you.”

Another shadow passes on the opposite side of the hallway and you smirk into his neck, “Stop what?”

You feign innocence as you flatly press your tongue to his collarbone. You nip your teeth against the taut flesh before suckling on the skin, the sound of his hissing not going unnoticed by you. You only manage to mark him for a few seconds, but it’s enough to leave a bright red splotch of pulsing skin behind.

You turn your head and latch onto the patch of skin just beneath his ear, your face hidden by his stray tufts of hair. You lavish the spot with your tongue and teeth, this time able to pester him longer, your fingers dipping into the muscles of his shoulders as you cling onto him like an animal.

“Why you filthy little-” Vegeta clicks his tongue as he stretches his neck to look down at you. You smile up at him impishly and a small giggle escapes from the back of your throat.

A low growl rumbles in his chest, vibrating your torso. Your entire body flushes with heat at the sound. You latch onto another patch of skin near the base of his throat, and this time you pull the flesh into your mouth even tighter than before, sucking hard against the skin. Vegeta gasps but you don’t let him go, instead biting down harder, determined to leave a lasting bruise there on the most visible part of his body.

You hear a few beeping sounds and then the click of a door opening. Your back is against a wall before you can realize that you’ve made it to Vegeta’s room. His knee brushes between your hips as he leans forward to kick the door closed and you feel heat rush to the center of your body, pooling in your stomach. 

“I told you,” he growls into your ear, hips pinning your body to the wall, “to cut that shit out.”

Vegeta’s palm runs from your hips up over your breasts, squeezing quickly with his right hand before allowing himself to focus on the base of your throat. His thumb brushes against your pulse point that’s currently throbbing along with your speedy heartbeat.

“I can see it in you, though, can’t I?” His smirk is bright in the dimly lit apartment. He runs the pad of his thumb over your esophagus, applying gentle pressure to test your very basic limitations. “You’re practically begging me and you haven’t spoken a word since the med bay.”

You swallow thickly, your throat bobbing against his barely-there hold on your neck. Your breathing is shallow and you try to keep from panting like you’re desperate.

“Go on,” he nudges his nose over your cheek, voice commanding you even though it’s so low. “Ask me for it, I know you want to.”

You’re embarrassed that he can see right through you as if you were a glass window, or a book begging to be read. Your ears and cheeks burn bright red, your nerves reflected on your skin tone. You turn your head so your cheek is pressed to the cool wall and it effectively gives you some relief from the warmth bubbling inside of you.

This only encourages him, his palm creeping up your neck to press flat against your cheek, holding you there. He scoffs, “Can’t even look at me when you’re telling me what you want me to do you, can you? Even you know how vulgar and pitiful you’re being, don’t you?”

How he manages to be both patronizing and enticing, you’ll never know. It must be the tone of his voice. With your cheek smushed between his hand and the wall, your body is trembling under the idea of submitting to him. Your legs are shaking under the strain of holding yourself up, but he does not relent.

“Ten seconds, babygirl,” Vegeta mumbles against your neck, brushing his knee further into your hips. Your thighs cinch around him even tighter, searching for some sort of friction against your throbbing core. He barks out a laugh at your needy behavior, “Tell me what you want, or I’ll decide for you.”

You try to count down in your head, but your mind is fuzzy and you can only find a few numbers before you blurt unceremoniously, your voice nothing but a whine, “I-I want you to be rough with me!”

The laugh that echoes in the empty room is something of a mix between sadistic and proud. Vegeta tightens his grip around your throat, thumb and index finger digging into the muscles that keep your spine and esophagus safe. Your pulse thunders in your ears, pounding against his fingertips as he applies increasing pressure.

“How do you want me to rough you up, sweetheart? Where do you want me to make it hurt?” Vegeta trails his free hand over the length of your body, fingertips lighting your skin on fire as he applies varying amounts of pressure here and there. He raises a brow, looking up at you through dark lashes. His hand settles on the curve of your back, fingertips digging harshly into the soft skin of your ass. 

Your eyes roll back in your head as you reach up to circle a hand around his forearm, your breathing practically halted with the harsh hold he has on your throat. You squirm under his heavy body and he clicks his tongue, “Ah, ah. Be still.”

Your thighs quiver as you try to still your body. You brush your palm against his arm, the pulsating muscles of his forearm sending your thoughts buckwild. You close your eyes and delicately run your fingertips over the thick veins and sinews leading to his shoulders and torso. His bicep twitches under your touch. 

Vegeta notices the way your cheeks burn with color and he releases your throat from his grasp. His thumb trails down the length of your neck as you gasp and cough from the relief of pressure. You swear you see the slightest of grimaces default on his face, but the expression is gone before you can register it. You wrap your fingers around his bicep in an attempt to reassure him even if your voice isn’t functioning.

The skin of your throat grows tight as you gulp in air. You’re sure there will be bruises where his fingertips were, but instead of making you self-conscious, it only spurs you on to beg him for what you really want. 

“I want y-you to mark me up,” you manage to spit the words out even as your body drifts somewhere in between elated and exhausted. Just the idea of what he could do to you makes you want to curl up and rest, tired from the dream of him.

Vegeta tilts his head and you take it as a silent order to continue, and so you do: “I-I want,” you pull his hand from your cheek and guide it to your hip, “you to bruise me.” You risk exposing yourself to more pain when you reach up to cup his cheek, fingers sifting into his hair. You grip his head by the back of his neck and pull him close, “I want you to bite me a-and-oh!”

The feel of his sharp teeth against the thin skin of your neck cuts you short and instinctively a sound that is a hybrid between a gasp and a moan erupts from the back of your throat. Vegeta smirks, a low chuckle vibrating against your neck, “Vulgar woman.”

Vegeta plucks you from the wall, tossing you over his shoulder as he walks towards his bedroom. Your body must be like a paper weight to him, what with the way he carelessly drapes you against him. You can’t focus on much other than the thickness of his lower half - he’s all muscle, but it’s concentrated on his ass and thighs. His calves flex as he walks through the bedroom door and you wriggle one hand free to slap at his ass.

He gasps, “Why you little-you’ll pay for that!”

Your body is flung from his shoulder to the bed, the propelling of your body making the bed squeak as you settle. He pulls his tank over his head, tossing the fabric somewhere out of the way. The weight of his boots thudding against the floor makes your shoulders shake. 

Vegeta is in only his skin-tight training pants, the contours of his muscles bulging in strain against the fabric. You’re practically drooling at the sight of his bare torso. He clambers on top of you, loitering over you as he brushes his knuckles down your cheek. His voice is low and deep when he speaks next, “Can’t keep your hands to yourself?”

“C-Can’t help it,” you manage, your legs squirming under the weight of his body. He pulls you forward with his palms kneading the flesh of your thighs, snapping you up toward him.

“So desperate, and whiny,” Vegeta tuts, shaking his head as his tongue makes quick work of your sensitive neck. You slot your fingers further into his hair, holding him to you as much as you can, what with his Saiyan strength tossing you around like a ragdoll.

You hiccup and shake your head, “S-Sorry.”

Vegeta is quick to press a kiss square on your lips, effectively hushing you as he begins rolling his hips into yours. Your jaw drops and it allows him to lick the inside of your mouth, nipping at your lower lip as he pulls away. He nudges his nose against your cheek, “Don’t apologize, just spread your legs.”

You do as you’re told and your knees spread to hit the mattress. Your breath is like a ball of sandpaper in your throat and you can’t force enough air into your lungs, no matter how much your body protests.

“Besides,” Vegeta says, licking his lips slowly like he knows just what it does to you, “I like it when you’re needy.”

There’s a loud ripping sound that echoes through the room and you want to be pissed but the way the cool air hits your hot body, you can’t complain. Vegeta tosses the offensive clothing off to the side of the room to be forgotten, his eyes trained in on the valley between your hips. You feel squeamish all of a sudden, trying to bend your hips to best cover yourself, although you’re bare as a newborn in front of him. 

“Mm, babygirl,” he mutters, shaking his head as he dips his strong fingers into the flesh of your thighs. “Is that what I do to you?”

You know he’s referring to the horrific slick obscuring his sight from the inside of your sensitive folds, but you can’t seem to force out a response. Your head is dizzy now, between the pressure he has on your legs and the high you’re riding from the sight of him alone.

His thumb presses to the most sensitive part of your body and he circles the pad of his finger round on top of it, leaning his forehead against yours as he does so. The sensational jolts that brush over your spine like hot lava do little to calm your quick heartbeat. Vegeta is shockingly gentle in his ministrations, building up something within you that will eventually burst like water over a dam.

“I always wondered how I affected you.” His voice is low, a rumble in his chest that vibrates your torso. Your nipples harden at the sound and you fight the low whine that wants to burst open your lips. Vegeta chuckles, running his nose down your cheek as if he were stalking you like prey - you hope he devours you whole.

Without much warning, his index finger slides into you, filling you up more than you though, the thick digit curling upward inside of you, sending you keening loudly. The sound echoes off the apartment walls and only urges the Saiyan Prince onward. Your hands instinctively wrap up into the scruff at the nape of his neck, holding him to you as you try your hardest not to ride his finger desperately.

He smirks, “Now I know.”

Obscene puffs of breath part your lips and he uses his spare thumb to brush over the lower one. Your eyes are screwed shut as his finger relentlessly pulls and pushes against your walls, continuing to build the crescendo, threatening to spill you into the end too quickly, and with only one finger no less.

“Seeing you curl up around Tien, calling Yamcha every name in the book,” he huffs, his finger working faster within you as his temper rises. Vegeta grunts and it sounds like a growl, “I could’ve hurled any of them to the moon, but I never understood why.”

Vegeta tits his head back, looking down at you with something akin to awe in his eyes, “Now, holding you like this, watching you, I know.”

Your head rolls back and your eyes screw shut, but he pulls out his finger, coated in your wetness and throbbing from use, and you choke out a sob at the lack of contact. He brings his thumb back to your clit, pushing gently but enough that it brings you back down from your cry.

“You wanted marks?” His question is rhetorical. He can remember the way you cried out earlier that you wanted him to mark you up, to claim you as his own. The Saiyan in him bites away at his human resolve, begging to unleash the beast settled and tamed just under the surface. Every primal instinct within him tells his body to scar you with his affections, to bite and bruise until your body can take it no longer, until anyone with eyes can see that you belong to Prince Vegeta.

You nod your head but it’s feeble, the feel of his palm so close to your core pushing a blush from your belly to your ears, your body weak under his potential touch. Vegeta makes a guttural sound, low and deep, and somewhere in the back of his throat, and then his mouth is all over you.

Your body freezes at the feeling, but as soon as you register where his bites are, you melt. Your arms are jelly, barely hanging onto him now as you lazily loop your hands behind his neck. You sway with his mannerisms, your body little more than a vessel for his undoing.

“I’ve wanted to put a mark right here,” he nips at your jugular, “since that day you slapped Kakarrot.”

His mouth envelopes the soft skin of your neck, rolling it between his teeth as he sucks. You can feel the blood vessels bursting, no doubt leaving behind an angry red hickey which will soon bloom into beautiful blues and purples.

Vegeta releases you with a pop and then his fingers are agonizing you again, this time two are pressed between your folds, making your walls throb at the intrusion. You flex involuntarily against him, and his eyes light up. He looks down at you, “Do that again.”

“B-But,” you swallow, wishing the heat of tears away. For some reason he’s spinning you out already, and he hasn’t manipulated your body enough for you to feel exhausted like this. And yet, your body begs for release so you can fall into a dreamlike state, curled around him like a needy animal.

He tilts his head, beckoning you to answer. You lick your dry lips, cracked from your panting breaths, “I don’t know h-how much longer I can last. N-Not with that.”

“Oh, little earthling,” Vegeta kisses his way up your jaw between words, his fangs brushing against the thin skin of your neck. “I plan to wear you out, so this is just the beginning.”

As the words tumble from his mouth, his fingers work against you, curling devastatingly within you. You listen to his command, flexing your body against his touch, and your eyes widen as your bodies work together to bring you to another plane of existence as stars settle in your vision. Vegeta encourages you with a string of words whispered against the shell of your ear, but you swear he’s speaking some ancient Saiyan language because you can’t understand a syllable he’s saying between your loud panting and the high he’s pushing you towards.

He pulls back from you, loitering over you like a shadow, and his palm brushes your neck, making you wince as he touches the sensitive space he’s marked as his own. His fingers enclose around your neck again, thumb pushing harshly into your hickey.

You seethe between your teeth, your body arching upward at the wave of pain that washes over you. Vegeta surges forward to bruise your lips with his kiss. His mouth works you just as painstakingly as his fingers, the tandem effort between his hands and his lips making your eyes roll back in your head.

“P-Please, ‘Geta,” you whine in a hoarse voice, your toes curling. You grip your hands in the sheets in an attempt to diffuse some of the tension building up in your hips, but it does little to quell the strain. You start to see darkness around your peripherals as his palm flexes against your neck. 

Vegeta sucks a small hickey into the curve of your jaw before releasing his fingers from your throat, his hand drifting down to tug at your clothed chest. His thumb and index finger twist at your hardened nipple, which makes your whole body tense.

“Please what?” he mocks, his voice patronizing.

You groan, turning your head to dig into the pillow beneath you, “I-I’m gonna-ah!”

His pace quickens, thumb pushed against your clit as his fingers swipe quickly, the base of his fist pumping in and out of you. If this is how he feels with his thick fingers, you can only imagine how full you’ll be once he’s inside of you.

“Gonna what?” Vegeta kisses over the hickeys he’s left on your neck and shoulders. You bite your lip to keep from crying out at the pinpricks of pain that jar your senses. He chuckles, his forehead bumping against your chin to get you to look at him, his fingers still working at you, tugging you closer to the precipice with every flick, “You gonna come on my fingers? Silly woman, so quick to come apart when I’ve got you laid out like this. ‘m not even done with you yet, sweetheart.”

His voice sends you over the edge. You squeeze your thighs around his arm, your hips arching upward as you burn through the end of your resolve. The build up of wetness in your eyes spills over the corners, tracking down your cheeks as you mewl when your release finally hits. Vegeta continues, slowing his pace but pushing you through the aftershocks as your eyes go wide with stars, pumping in and out of you with his two fingers.

“S’pretty when you fall apart,” Vegeta murmurs as he nudges his nose down the column of your neck. His thumb brushes gently over your cheek and he trails his nail over your pulsing jugular, your shuddering breaths shaking both your bodies with the closeness, “Come down, come back to me.”

Finally, his hand relents and he pulls his fingers away, leaving your center empty and wanting for more. You can feel your arms again after you release the bed sheets from your fists, and you take advantage of it to touch over the dense planes of muscle on his back and shoulders. Your hands roam up his biceps and drift to his hips, mapping the sinew with the pads of your fingers.

You eventually make eye contact with him again, your irises glassy and wide, the innocence in your gaze alone causing his cock to twitch against his thigh. You see the deepness in his eyes and your stomach churns, hands massaging into the skin of his back. His muscles flex against your touch and it does things to your mind. You want his full weight on top of you as he drives your hips into the mattress.

“There you are,” he mutters, thumb brushing the remainder of the tear away from your cheek. He chuckles, “Sweet little earthling. You think-”

“Fuck. Me.”

Vegeta reels back, holding himself over the top of you so he can study you fully. He tilts his head, but he barely has time to speak before you yank him down by his neck to kiss him, your free hand cupping him through his fighting gear. He gasps against your mouth and you have the desire to flip him over, so you trail your hand from his neck to his hip, dipping your fingertips in so he knows what you’re trying to do.

You shift yourself at the waist and Vegeta allows you to roll over so you’re straddling him now, the wetness remaining on your thighs dampening the cloth of his pants. He gazes up at you with wide eyes, but it doesn’t take long for his demeanor to reset and he’s got that hardened look in his irises once more. 

You tug on his waistband, and he barks out a laugh, “Should’ve thought about that before you got on top of me, silly thing.”

To help, you raise yourself up so he can shimmy out of his pants, and you’re surprised that he’s not got any underwear on beneath his fighting gear, his cock bare as soon as he pulls the blue spandex from his body.

“Shit,” you whisper impulsively, rocking yourself against his thighs.

Vegeta raises a brow, “Still eager, angel?”

You nod dumbly, your words escaping you as you try to figure how you’ll take him. The idea of him stretching you out brings another wave of slick between your legs and you want him so desperately that a feeble whine slip from between your teeth and tongue.

“That’s what I thought.”

Vegeta picks you up by the hips and you squeal at the sudden movement. You giggle once you realize that he’s not about to throw you across the room, but it’s cut short when you feel the tip of his cock press flush with your clit before slipping between your slick to glide partially into you.

Your mouth parts as he guides you downward, your knees hitting the mattress before you can take him all in.

He must see you wince because he draws you back just enough for you to gather your breath and to get the pained look off your face. The fact that he’s able to hold you in thin air does little to staunch the wetness collecting in your core. You whimper, your hands wrapping around his forearms as you try to steady yourself and keep your eyes from watering because you don’t want him to think you’re weak.

Your fingernails must be drawing blood by how tightly you’re grasping onto him, but he does not complain. Instead, his eyes are trained in on you, tracking your movements with concern settled in his deep irises. His lip is quirked upward and you force yourself to release your hold on his arm so he won’t be so worried for you.

“I-I can do it,” you nod, biting down on your lip as you look him in the eyes. You take a deep breath and press your palms to his chest, rolling your hips as best you can with his firm hold on you.

Vegeta groans and his eyes roll back just enough for you to gain some confidence. You roll your hips again and you’re able to take a little more of him, stretching out your pussy and sending a jolt of pleasure up your spine, causing you to throw your head back.

He takes it as a sign and pulls you by the hips until you’re flush with his waist, a mutual gasp parting both of your lips. You fall forward, your body ghosting over his own as you hover atop him. Your hands are on either side of his head and his fingertips are digging into the soft part of your hips.

The glossy look in your eyes sparks something in the Saiyan and he reaches up to snatch you by the back of your head, balling your hair up into a fist, “You gonna be good, and take my cock like a sweet little bitch?”

You nod, unable to speak. He smirks at your inability to form words and threads his hand into your hair, holding your head tightly as he begins to buck his hips upward in a steady rhythm. Your mouth opens as you pant, eyelids fluttering somewhere between open and closed. Vegeta takes pride in the way your jaw hangs open and your eyes roll behind your lashes.

“Bein’ good,” he mumbles, his mouth knocking into yours as he belligerently slams his hips upward into yours. You feel yourself clenching around him, your tongue rolling in your mouth as you try to hold off from coming too soon. Vegeta licks at your bottom lip, “Such a good little babygirl, hm? Got all these marks on you…”

His thumb pushes into the biggest hickey on your neck and you throw your head back, whining at the sensation. Vegeta takes advantage of your shock to take hold of you by the ass, rocking your hips back and forth on top of his dick. Your toes curl as you feel his cock pulse within your walls and you can’t stop it when you flex yourself around him. The front of his hips manage to brush your clit and you see stars.

A pert slap on your ass brings your attention back to his face. Vegeta’s eyes are hardened as he looks up at you, one hand still tight around your cheek and the other free to continue the harsh spankings.

“Well don’t stop,” he beckons, rolling his hips to get you to go back to your rhythm. “Or else I’ll make it worse.”

If you weren’t already so spent, you’d beg him to make it worse. However, another loud slap resounds in the room when you don’t immediately begin bucking your hips against him. You fall face forward until your forearms are holding you steady over the top of him, your body gyrating to draw out some sort of reaction from him. You rest your forehead on his shoulder, your lips making quick work of his collarbones as his firm hands continue to alternatively spank either part of your backside.

You tense every time he hits you, your walls contracting around his cock, making him moan against your temple. You lick a stripe up his neck and find yourself murmuring into his ear, “P-Please, ‘Geta. W-Want to feel you come.”

“Then make me,” he grits between his teeth, landing a hard smack with both of his hands. He grips your ass just after, the burning mixed with the sting of his harsh touch making you whimper, ducking your head even further into the crux of his shoulder. You sniffle into his skin, thankful he can’t see your pitiful expression.

“I want to,” you nod, kissing his collarbone for good measure. You continue to tighten yourself around him in an attempt to bring his orgasm sooner, panting and whining against his ear so he’ll grab you harder.

Vegeta bristles and you feel his cock harden as he grows closer to the tipping point. His brows furrow and his palms are hot against your skin, hardened from battle and calloused from war, tearing into your flesh relentlessly. Your ass has practically gone numb, tears threatening to spill over your cheeks as you ride him to coax him to the edge with you.

He growls, “Fuck, good job, angel.”

His searing palm presses against your shoulders and your chest is flat against his as he takes the burden of leading off of your shoulders and starts canting his hips upward into you. He fills you up, the tip of his cock brushing all the way to the back of your stomach and you swear you feel him in your spine.

“Like it when I’m all the way in you, huh? Ya’ like it when you can feel me fuckin’ your tight, wet little-mm,” Vegeta nips at your jaw to try and get your attention. You lean back to look down at him, your chest bobbing with every movement he makes. “Everyone’s gonna-fuck-know who you belong to, looking at that shit on your neck. F-Fuck, gonna make me come, baby.”

You hear yourself begging for his release before you register what you’re doing, your wanton cries echoing in the small space and making you self-consious. Your whole body blushes at the sounds you’re making, but it only spurs Vegeta on, his pace quickening and becoming just sloppy enough for you to know that he’ll be falling over the edge soon enough.

“Please, ‘Geta,” you moan his name lowly against his mouth as you kiss him lazily. His hand slaps over your ass again, causing you to clench around his cock and you let loose one more begging plea before his whole body tenses and then he’s spilling into you. His hips are jerky as he rides out his high, but he doesn’t stop and you can feel the pressure building back up within your stomach.

His thumb finds your most sensitive spot and you squint, “‘G-Geta?”

“Hush, now,” he mumbles. Vegeta’s free palm finds your breast, nipple tweaked between the pads of his fingers. He presses his tongue against yours, coaxing you to play back, pushing your tongue between his teeth. Taking the moment for himself, he sucks your tongue harshly, pulling a whimper from the back of your throat.

Vegeta’s thumb against your clit and his mouth tugging on your tongue combined with the way his hips snap to meet yours brings you closer to your second coming. He releases your tongue in favor of kissing down your jaw, using the momentum to topple you over and switch your positions. His heavy weight pressing into you sends your mind down a thousand different tunnels. 

“C’mon, little woman,” Vegeta encourages, ducking his head to take your nipple in his mouth, rolling it around with his tongue. You gasp and dig your head back into the pillow, eyes screwing shut as your body builds with pressure, white noise filtering through your vision. He noses over your cheek, “Come for me, baby.”

It’s like his words are the key to your soul because with his next breath comes your orgasm, your body quivering with energy as you come around his cock, both of your slick dripping down your thighs. He doesn’t pull out of you as soon as you finish, the heat of him making your head dizzy.

Vegeta kisses up your sternum to your mouth, lips locking with yours despite the faraway look in your eyes. He chuckles as you fiddle with his hair at the base of his neck, a lethargic smile of your own tugging your lips upward. You tilt your head to look up at him, the threat of sleepiness washing over your body like a glaze.

“S’glad you finally got the hint,” you twirl a lock of his hair around your finger, tugging just enough to get a reaction from him. He growls and bites at your jaw, making you release him out of sheer instinct.

He presses his lips to the area he’s just bitten, smoothing over the gentle wound. Vegeta slowly shrugs himself away, separating your bodies with a soft sound. You whine at the separation and the Saiyan smirks down at you, “If you don’t hush up, I’m going to make you go another round.”

The idea of having to stay awake to satiate his Saiyan stamina makes your spine tremble. You hide your face behind your palms, embarrasment showing in the form of a pink blush on the tops of your cheeks and ears. Vegeta slowly pulls your hands away, a smile on his face as you glance up at him.

“You’re cute when you get flustered,” Vegeta brushes his knuckles over your cheek, “I’ll have to fluster you again later.”

Your blush darkens and you try to turn your face to hide, but his hand on your face keeps you from it. Vegeta rolls so he’s on his side, arms pulling you forward, “Now, sleep.”

You thread your thigh between his, pulling yourself closer, and tuck your head underneath his chin. Your arms are tucked into the space between your chests but Vegeta’s are palming at your shoulders to keep you anchored to him. He kisses the crown of your head, “I’m serious, earthling. Sleep, or I’ll have to wear you out all over again.”

“Sounds good,” you slur, your eyes closing despite you wanting to feel him fill you up and stretch you out time and time again. You brush your thumb over his pectoral, “R-Rain check?”

Vegeta laughs in your ear, tucking you both underneath the covers as the air conditioner kicks on. The sound of your slurred half-sentences keeps him entertained as you babble your way to unconsciousness. He merely listens to you as he pets his hand over your hair and over your back, trying to tempt you into the realm of slumber.

 “Hey, ‘Geta?” 

When you tilt your head to look him in the eyes, he’s carefully considering you with thoughtful eyes. He nods, “Yes, little woman?”

“Next time, I think I want to try to take it even harder.” 

There is a strangled noise that rumbles in the back of his throat but you’re yawning and tucking your head back into him before you can think too hard about it. Vegeta shakes his head and fights a smile, “I think that can be arranged.” 

The only sounds in the room are gentle snores and heavy breathing mixed with the pounding heart of one Saiyan prince.

—

IF YOU LIKED IT, TELL IT TO MY ASK

[duhragonball]

I was curious to hear about what you think of the anime splitting DB & DBZ into separate shows. Personally, I get Toei’s logic and find it ridiculous how some extremists & purists act so hostile/resentful about DBZ being treated as a sequel to DB, especially since Akira Toriyama didn’t have any problems with it.

I agree, anon, there's really not much to the name change. The way I understood it, the manga kept the same title, "Dragon Ball", from start to finish, while the anime changed to "Dragon Ball Z", mostly to put a fresh coat of paint on the series, I suppose. I always understood the "Z" was a reference to Toriyama's intention to bring the story to a close, which turned out to be ironic, since the Z portion lasted so much longer.

But yeah, that's basically all it is. There was a clear division between one and the other. Z has Gohan and Vegeta, and OG Dragon Ball does not, for example. But you can make a similar case for other parts of the story. The division between kid Goku and adult Goku, in the Piccolo Junior Saga. I've long maintained that there's a very clear border around the halfway point, when Goku fights Recoome. Before that moment, everyone was worried about Dragon Balls, and after that moment, it became all about Super Saiyans. And you could make a case for the post-Frieza stuff being a very different story from what came before. I watched the opening theme to the French dub of DBZ once, and the visuals kept emphasizing Goku for the "Dragon Ball" part of the song, and Buu-Era Gohan for the "Dragon Ball Z" part, like the Buu stuff was Z alone. So there's plenty of other candidates for places to draw the line if you wanted to cut the story in two.

Ultimately, "purist" fans are going to do what they always do, and a lot of them use these artificial divisions to arbitrarily declare the point where the show stopped being "good". It's the same bullshit as the myth about Toriyama wanting to end it with Frieza. There's no truth to that, beyond Toriyama considering it and eventually deciding to continue. A lot of people think he planned to keep Goku dead after the Cell Games, and was forced to bring him back to appease the fans, but that makes no sense either. Goku returned *very* soon after the chapter where he died. Fans act like he was absent from the comic for seven years, just because he was dead that long, but it was more like a few months. But a lot of fans like to perpetuate that myth, because they think it justifies their dislike of the Buu Saga. "Oh, it could have been good if Toriyama hadn't been hijacked by Goku stans, so now it's terrible."

As far as I'm concerned, the post-Frieza stuff is the best part, and I think the Saiyans and Frieza are good but overrated. I also really dig the run from Mercenary Tao to Piccolo Junior a lot. This is probably why I never tried to play the whole "It was great until X," because there's ups and downs for me. And the ups are very long, and the downs are still pretty good, so I don't try to convince people that my opinions are facts. "Oh, well Toriyama got a new assistant after General Blue, and then he left around Raditz and came back when Trunks showed up, and that guy was the one who made it kick ass." That's dumb.

Like, with JoJo, I can understand preferring art styles and characters, which change over the course of the series. Part 8 just looks different from Part 4, and some folks like one more than the other. I mostly dig Part 7 for the horses and the scenic views of the continental U.S. Not everyone would agree. But I don't see a lot of folks saying things like "Oh Part 6 is terrible because Araki overdosed on Bad Comics Pills in the early 2000's." No, just say you don't like it, and move on.

But Dragon Ball is pretty damn consistent, other than the art style getting more angular over time. People will talk about the shift from fantasy to scifi, but Z ended with the boys fighting a genie in Superheaven, so how scifi is that? You don't have to like the later stuff, but it's not so easy to put it in a box like that.

But the fandom snobs love to act like their opinions are objective truths. "Oh, the Saiyans arc was better because Goku and Vegeta's hair actually moves." Really? Is that what this show is about? Hair animation? I like the Cell episodes because he's a fucking monster from the future, and that's rad as hell. I guess I was too busy having fun to notice that the *hair* isn't as well animated.

Actually, let me flip that around. The Androids/Cell/Buu episodes are superior because everyone is jacked in those. Early Vegeta's costume was all baggy, but after Namek he had the big horseneck and Bulma made him a uniform so tight that you can see his entire asscrack. That's *better*, as far as I'm concerned. Tien always looks swole as hell, but he's extra jacked in the Cell Saga, and that's the way I like it. Everyone who disagrees is a plebian.

It sounds pretty dumb, doesn't it? But that's what these elitists do. They pick on some minor infraction and tell you it's unlovable beyond this point, and if you do love it, there must be something wrong with you. Well, I'm here to say there ain't, folks. Toriyama's still making this stuff, so don't try to tell me he regrets the later material. If the Buu Saga is so terrible, why does everyone keep making sequels to it? Toriyama could just ignore the parts he doesn't want to use, the way he apparently ignores GT.

It's like the Terminator movies. I bought a box set recently because I never saw 4 or 6, and I thought it'd be fun to watch them all in order. But I already know the later movies have nothing to do with each other. T3 killed off Sarah Conner off-screen, but she's alive in T6. Basically, every movie after T2 is trying to be a direct sequel to 2, without bothering to acknowledge the others, because different people made 4, 5, and 6, and I guess they all hated 3. So they just did their own thing. Toriyama could do the same thing whenever he wants, but he always seems to make an effort to acknowledge his older stories. He doesn't de-age Gohan or change Bulla's name. Because he remembers working on the Cell and Buu stuff and he still respects it enough to keep it. I know people don't like how Videl turned out in DBS, but that process started way back in 1995.

I'm not saying people shouldn't have opinions, but acting like the letter Z ruined 60% of the story is kind of reductive, to say the least. Sometimes, things change, and they may not change the way we want them to, but that doesn't mean they're "ruined" or that other people can't enjoy them.

[sweetescapeartist]

DBS MANGA CHAPTER 66 REVIEW

[SPOILERS]

Alright! So here's how imma do this. There will be a 3 sections:

"Good"

"Bad"

"How I would've written it"

So here we go...!

"THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE REWRITE"

---

GOOD

When Vegeta tells everyone to get off the ground so Moro doesn't absorb their energy, 17 & 18 don't move. Smart attention to detail.

The way UI Goku effortlessly fights Moro is cool.

Earth-Moro was a fun idea & all his arms to fight Goku was interesting.

Interesting that Beerus was gonna join in. But smart how they were summoned by the Grand Priest so now mortals have to fend for themselves.

Whis effortlessly blocking Moro's attack with his finger was great. Good way to show off his power. Whis' confidence in Goku was nice.

So there is Otherworld/Heaven after a character dies & now we know that where the Grand Priest & 2 Zeno are is part of the Angel Realm. Good to know.

Vegeta using Forced Spirit Fusion was expected but still good.

Goku rushing at Moro & dodging & going through Moro's fists was a good visual.

Piccolo had a smart idea then the Z Warriors started giving Goku energy.

Loved seeing the Z Warriors working together. Roshi has been absent tho. Could it be he isn't strong enough to contribute? And some ppl were actually saying Roshi was the strongest Earthling. Smh.

Smart that Bulma & others were on Kami's Lookout. Moro can't drain their ki.

Goten & Trunks help out a little. At least they're involved a bit.

Vegeta sends the ki to Goku & it gave him enough energy to go SSB & push forwards. Looked cool. (It was just ki, not genki)

Goku's SSB is powered up & he inches closer. Makes sense because its just Goku getting an energy boost like he did in the BoG movie when SS Goku had power transfered to him before Piccolo pointed out it wasn't god ki.

Goku admits his mistake. So that's a good start.

The Z Warriors discussing what to do was great interaction. I'd like more of that.

Moro has lost his mind. Lucky he did or he could've absorbed the energy that was meant for Goku.

Krillin, out of all the characters, decided to go help Goku. He can't let his best friend die in such a way. & Gohan says he will help. Then Tien & Yamcha want to help too. Really good stuff.

Yamcha is sad he's never gotten married. He's a good dude that just wants a family. Some will see it as making fun of him but I liked it.

Uub having divine power can be smart (I hope). It could help make sense of the final 3 episodes of DBZ when DBS is taken into consideration. But that also means other characters like Piccolo, Krillin, & Yamcha could attain god ki too. No excuse not to level them up now.

Goku recieves the energy & creates a giant Goku body made of energy. Awesome idea and looked pretty darn cool.

Goku pops out and destroys Moro's crystal. Moro is destroyed.

Goku's son & Goku's best friend are ecstatic for him. Goku turns around & give a thumbs up. Chapter ends.

---

BAD

Vegeta say "Dammit, Kakarrot. You've managed to screw up again!" But Vegeta also failed to kill Moro because Vegeta wanted to gloat. Both have made dumb decisions & big mistakes this arc.

I'm confused if Beerus is being written as stronger than Goku or if Beerus has special techniques that gives him the advantage. Moro later stops UI Goku, so if UI Goku is stronger than Beerus, then Beerus would add nothing. Beerus having Hakai isn't special because manga Goku can use Hakai too.

Moro is absorbing energy from everyone in contact with the ground, so why are Krillin & Jaco on the ground? Why is Goku fighting on the ground? They can fly.

Why does Vegeta rush in & tell Goku to move just to punch the ground? Couldn't he punch the Earth from anywhere & have the same effect? Maybe the effect is stronger the closer he is? Idk

How does Vegeta know Moro's weakness if Whis didn't tell him? Just a question.

Goku's fist is about 7 feet away from Moro's crystal when he is captured by Moro. Why not shoot some sort of energy blast? Why not a Destructo Disk? Or a Spirit Sword like Vegito has & that Vegeta used in the manga ToP? It's like Goku forgot about using ki.

Goku says "Darn... Merus did it so why can't I? I guess I still don't have enough god power!" Is this implying Merus' power is still above Goku' UI power? Or is it's just saying Merus did it & now Goku is stronger than Merus, so why can't Goku defeat Moro.

UI powers down just like any other transformation. I get Moro is sucking his energy so it makes sense here. But what happens later adds to UI changing from state of mind to transformation.

Vegeta was written to learn Forced Spirit Fission just so that he could do what Goku has done. Sad that he's written to play catch up to Goku.

This is a criticism to Vegeta fans. Piccolo is the hero in helping Goku win against Moro. It was Piccolo's idea to give Goku energy. Vegeta was the middle man. If DB fans say Vegeta played a crucial role in defeating Moro, Piccolo contributed just as much. They won because of Piccolo's thinking, Vegeta's technique, everyone's energy, & Goku being the vessel.

If they're sending energy to Vegeta so he can give it to Goku, why are they still on the ground? Moro can steal their energy that way. Would it not be smarter to just gather energy in the sky?

Wait... Dende can gather energy from ppl too? So Dende has something similar to Forced Spirit Fission? It's cool I guess BUT that also means there is no excuse for Piccolo to not learn such abilities since he is a Namekian & has godly knowledge. Actually why doesn't Piccolo know those abilities? Kami would.

Sucks that this is the only appearance of Goten & Trunks contributing since BoG.

Doesn't make any sense how Goten & Trunks could not sense the energy of everyone fighting. They would know there was a battle going on. And if Moro is stealing energy from all the the ppl on the planet, wouldn't Goten & Trunks feel their energy being drained? The dialogue makes zero sense when we take into account what we know & have been told in DB.

Forced Spirit Fission was just a way to give Vegeta a "Goku moment." On Namek when Piccolo was about to die, Gohan transfered Piccolo energy to keep him alive. Goku gave Freeza energy that kept him alive and regain strength. In the first Broly movie, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, & Vegeta gave Goku energy to defeat Broly. In the BoG movie when they did the SSG ritual wrong the first time with only 5 Saiyans, they transfered their power to Goku. "Reverse" Forced Spirit Fission isn't truly necessary to give Goku energy.

Vegeta remembers the first time he saw a Spirit Bomb & copies Saiyan saga Krillin when Krillin threw the small Spirit Bomb at Vegeta.

Somehow Moro doesn't absorb the energy as you'd think he would. I guess he stopped absorbing energy now?

Goku is powered up again but still doesn't shoot an energy blast or beam at Moro's crystal.

Piccolo: "Why won't he use Ultra Instinct?" Vegeta: "Not 'wont'... he can't. Not even with ki from all of us!" Giving more power is not how Merus explained how UI works. Goku isn't in the the right state of mind to activate UI.

Dende is the new Kami of Earth so he is granted divine knowledge & abilities. But Piccolo having fused with Kami would mean he would have divine knowledge too. And yet no development for Piccolo. Missed opportunity for anime & manga.

Goku: "Sorry... guys... this is all... my fault..." Mostly your fault. Vegeta's at fault too.

Another non-criticism. Why not use the Earth Dragon Balls to freeze time on the planet but don't freeze time for the Z Warriors? I wonder if that could work.

Uub sent energy even though Vegeta wasn't using Forced Spirit Fission. That just shows that the ability wasn't necessary to send energy. But it would suck if Moro suddenly absorbed it before Goku. Got lucky there.

I don't understand how all the Grand Supreme Kai's power went to evil Buu & not good Buu when they split apart. Does that mean Kid Buu had god ki & Goku defeated a character with massive divine energy before Goku learned god ki? But the Grand Supreme Kai in good Buu's body was using divine energy to fight Moro earlier. Would it not make more sense that half the power went to Uub & the Grand Supreme Kai/good Buu had the other half? Then when together (like Kami & Piccolo) they were able to send the full amount of the great divine energy. That would make more sense.

Then Vegeta remembers watching Goku throw a Spirit Bomb & copies that. I mean... Anyone can grab hold of energy and throw it. This makes sense tho because only Vegeta & Goku know how to control divine energy, he only he is capable of throwing it. But Vegeta gathering energy like a knockoff Spirit Bomb is simply fanservice.

Moro could have absorbed the divine energy from Buu but didn't for plot reasons. It litterally hit his giant hands.

Okay... So either 1 of 2 things.

Goku regained UI from being hit with divine energy. And if divine energy was needed, wouldn't SSB Vegeta contribute enough? Isnt SSB Goku in a divine form? But the bigger question is this... Is it Ultra Instinct at this moment or is it a completely different form? We never saw UI like this so maybe it's something different.

UI is not written as state of mind anymore. It seems anyone can get it if they train their body & get injected with enough divine energy. You just need tons of god ki to attain UI. Which contradicts DBS CHAPTER 52 when Merus explained to Goku that Ultra Instinct activates when the user achieves self-control in the face of a jarring shock to their emotions. Now I guess Merus was wrong & its just "Get a buncha god ki & boom! You got UI."

Giant Goku looks cool but comes out of nowhere without explanation. It might be explained in a later chapter. But if not, it just came out of nowhere just to look cool without any explanation. Not a bad thing right now but could be bad or good depending on wether & how it gets explained.

Goku really wanted to punch that crystal, didn't he? I guess he did forget about ki blasts.

When Merus cracked Moro's crystals, Moro lost the power but didn't die. But when Goku punches the crystal, it kills Moro. Why did Moro not just lose the power & pop out from the Earth? Where did all of that angelic power inside the planet go to? If we get an explanation next chapter then great. If not then this criticism remains.

Not a criticism but too bad 17 & 18 didn't contribute. They were written out of this chapter.

---

HOW I WOULD'VE WRITTEN THE CHAPTER

Their energy is being drained by Moro so Vegeta tells everyone to fly off the ground. (17 & 18 stay since their energy cant be drained. Or at least thats how chapters before were written)

Moro keeps draining energy as Goku battles him. Goku flies off the ground so Moro can't absorb his energy.

Beerus decides to join the fight. He says he will finish it quickly. Krillin asks what is Beerus going to do. Beerus smirks & has a sweat drop. (Let's the reader wonder if Beerus is unsure of himself & just wants to help. Or maybe Beerus has power or a technique we don't know bout yet. Keep it mysterious)

Whis tells Beerus they are being summoned by the Grand Priest about Merus' erasure. Beerus panicks a bit.

Goku keeps getting pushed back & Whis chimes in to tell Goku how to defeat Moro as Whis blocks Moro's punch with 1 finger.

Before Beerus leaves he tells Krillin & Jaco that the Earth is their problem now. Beerus yells at Goku "I'm expecting a feast after my business is done. Y'hear me?!", showing he has confidence in Goku. Then Beerus & Whis leave.

Krillin tells Jaco that he might want to get somewhere safe to which Jaco agrees & flies to the Lookout.

Goku goes for the crystal but Moro grabs Goku & drains his power causing Goku to go back to his base form. Moro's crystal has disappeared & Goku thinks its too late. SSB Vegeta rushes in & destroys Moro's hands to release Goku. They fly up to the sky as Moro laughs & smiles at them in amuzement, confident of victory.

Vegeta asks "So... How do we defeat him, Kakarrot?" Goku informs him that they need to destroy the crystal to finish off Moro but... The crystal is deep inside the planet now.

Vegeta sweats & tell Goku that he will pull the crystal out. Then when its out, Goku destroys it. Vegeta dashes at Moro & dodges his giant hands.

Vegeta closes his eyes, uses the gigantification technique he learned & creates a giant semi-transparent version of himself with a monkey tail (Heck! Just make it an Oozaru projection because, why not?). He shoves his hands into the Earth & begins pulling Moro up by the neck.

Piccolo, Gohan, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha & Krillin meet up with Goku to help. Goku says he knows 1 sure fire way to defeat Moro & it's the Genki Dama. Piccolo says it might kill the ppl Moro already took energy from. Goku is silent for a moment. He doesn't know what to do next & they're running out of time.

Krillin tells Goku to recharge with their energy. Everyone agrees. Gohan says they need to give all they have just as Vegeta is doing right now. They form a circle around Goku & transfers energy to him. Piccolo telepathically tells Dende to have the Dragon Balls ready to save themselves if this plan fails. (17 & 18 are up there now). Jaco arrives & asks where is Buu so that he can go help Goku & the others. Bulma tells him Buu is sleeping in the ship (but the ship appears to be empty). Then Piccolo contacts Goten & Trunks (who are flying off the ground) and tells the boys to send energy for Goku.

Vegeta has pulled a giant Moro up from the earth. Moro's hands grab Vegeta and begin draining him of his energy. Vegeta sweats but remains calm and focused as he continues to use Forced Spirit Fission against Moro, weakening him & causing the crystal to slowly resurface on his forehead.

Vegeta suddenly gets hit with energy & gets a burst of strength. He looks in the direction of the energy & smiles "...Trunks." Trunks is giving all his energy to Vegeta in hopes of him staying strong.

Vegeta begins breaking Moro's arms off of him & uses everything he's got. The crystal is almost all the way out as Moro panics.

Goku is recharged. He closes his eyes, breathes & activates UI again. The Z Warriors express their confidence in Goku. Goku says "Guys... letting things get this far... It's my fault..." Then Goku looks at Krillin. "I acted selfishly when I took the senzu... Krillin, I'm..." Krillin responds "Worry about it later, Goku. Go finish that creep off!"

Goku & Krillin give each other dap. Then a giant amount of energy appears above the Z Warriors. They're astonished & surprised by how much energy is there.

Grand Supreme Kai is beside a confused Uub. Being the reincarnation of Buu, Uub has great potential but hasn't been taught how to use it yet. But together, Grand Supreme Kai is able to draw out the power from Buu's other half. With his divine energy & Uub's potential being pulled out & sent by Grand Supreme Kai, they send a great amount of energy to Goku.

Dende is excited and says "Grand Supreme Kai must be pulling out Uub's latent power, merging it with Majin Buu's magical energy & Grand Supreme Kai's own divine energy! And now that they're together, their great power is being used to help Goku!" (Kinda like how Kami & Piccolo achieved their true power once they fused again.)

Vegeta yells for Goku to finish him now. The crystal is fully out & Vegeta is running out of energy to keep two techniques going at once.

Goku absorbs the divine energy and is astonished by the great power. Then he grips his hand and makes a fist. He looks at everyone over his shoulder. He smiles, puts 2 fingers to his forehead & disappears.

Vegeta loses the gigantification form. Instantly Goku reappears between Vegeta & Moro's face. He punches with everything he's got to destroy the crystal, but an invisible shield is stopping Goku. Then Vegeta joins in beside Goku & uses Forced Spirit Fission to destroy the barrier as Goku pushes forwards to crush the crystal.

The crystal cracks. Whis smiles, knowing they pulled it off.

Vegeta & Goku go back down to their base forms after they punch through Moro's head & Moro breaks apart. The old goat man appears and looks badly damaged. Goku & Vegeta are exhausted & turn around ready to fight. Moro yells "I... I still have enough power to kill you where you stan-!" Then all the energy Moro stored in the Earth erupts & lava from the crater below him. He was killed by the power he stole. The falling debris covers the Z Warriors. They push the rubble away and rush to the giant crater where Goku & Vegeta are.

The Z Warriors surround them & shout "Yes!" "You did it!" "We won!"

Vegeta & Goku are back in their base forms. They are exhausted & sitting down. Both look back at their friends, Vegeta smirks while Goku smiles & gives a thumbs up.

CHAPTER END

Alternate version

Before Beerus leaves, he puts unknown ki in Krillin's hand and orders him to give it to Goku. When they power up Goku, Krillin delivers the energy from Beerus. (Reverse moment when Goku gave Krillin energy for the Spirit Bomb) Goku recieve the power in his hand. The fate of everyone is in Goku's fist. Goku flies at Moro, Moro grabs & stops Goku from moving, then Goku uses the unknown power gifted from Beerus. Goku turns into a dragon and bursts through Moro's crystal and wraps him up then completely destroys Moro. (So Beerus' godly technique that he gifted Goku was the Super Dragon Fist)

[darklymelanatedstories]

Dragonball High (ft Goku)

Its the first day at a new high school. I wasn't really nervous, I loved meeting new people plus my friends Bulma and Krillin were there. We've been friends my whole life. I put on my uniform, the classic white shirt, black pants and red tie. I gotta say I don't like formal wear so I put my jacket over it since I didn't have a blazer.

"Goku, hurry up its time to go!"

Master Roshi is calling. I better hurry, can't wait to see the strongest kids there and take them on.

I grabbed my stuff and ran out my room. I grabbed my giant lunch from the kitchen before saying bye to Roshi and flying off Capsule High. The first high school that let aliens and anyone else that wasn't human learn on Earth.

I landed outside the school gate. Half monsters, animal people, aliens and humans all together. It was a beautiful site. If only the rest of world was this accepting.

Next to me pulled up a nice, blue Capsule Corp brand car. Immediately I knew. She stepped out of the car dressed in her white shirt, blue skirt, wearing a signature brown glove, red Capsule Corp jersey and pink sneakers.

Looks like i wasn't the only one changing up the uniform.

"Hey Goku."she said. "Its been so long. How you been?"

"I'm good Bulma. So you finally got that drivers licence huh?"I asked, practically stating the obvious.

"Yep and my dad and I made this beauty. Now its perfect by my standards and full of surprises."she said confidently. "So you ready for your first day?"

"Yeah and I can't wait to join the martial arts team I've been hearing about and fight the strongest fighters here."I said, hitting my fist in my palm in excitement.

"Typical Goku."she sighed. Though Bulma does know how I get. "Though there is this guy who just transferred here a few weeks ago and he's a Saiyan too."

"Really? Another Saiyan!?"I exclaimed. Great. He must be strong.

"Yeah but he's a real meanie though."she sighed. "Anyway let me show you around." She led me inside and showed me around the school. Man was it huge. But anything sponsored by Capsule Corp should be.

The tour ended at my locker which was across from hers. She said I'd probably lose the key or forget the combination so she made me a fingerprint scanner on my locker. She knew me so well.

"Hey Goku!!"I turned away from Bulma to see my old buddy, Krillin, running towards us. He hasn't changed at all besides the fact that he grew hair.

"Yo, Krillin."I said waving to my shorter friend. "So whats new? Are you in the Super MMA team I've heard so much about?"

He expression changed after I said that, like he was angry and disappointed. He looked down in disappointment, his fists clenched.

"What happened buddy?"I asked.

"Well...its just..."

"He didn't make it."Bulma said, cutting him off.

"It wasn't my fault!"he exclaimed. "If it wasn't for Vegeta..." He was so mad, I've never seen Krillin this way. What did this guy do?

"Woah wait, who's this Vegeta?"I asked. They both just stood there in silence for a moment.

"Vegeta is the other Saiyan I was telling you about."Bulma said. "And he's not exactly Mr. Popular more like Mr Thinks-he's-high-and-mighty."she said sarcastically. "He's tormented a lot of people since he got here."

"That bad huh?"

"Yep and he's one of the strongest on the team, he's beaten everyone."she stated.

"Well in that case, how bout I teach him a lesson for bullying?"I asked. "Just lead me to him Bulma."

"Hold up. I can't, Goku, class is about to start and you can't just punch a guy you barely know in the face."Bulma said stopping me in my tracks.

"Wait, are you defending him Bulma?",Krillin asked accusingly. He folded his arms and glared at her. She immediately just laughed it off as a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. "What....no, how could you even think that. Hehehe."

As if on cue, the bell rang. Karma taking Bulma's side once again. "Oh look the bell, lets head to homeroom Goku.",Bulma said, she grabbed my wrist and practically pulled me to class. I was actually unable to keep up and almost stumbled twice. Boy, was she in a hurry.

We entered our homeroom and immediately people started acting buddy-buddy with Bulma. She's probably the most popular in this school.

The teacher introduced me to the class before I went to sit by Bulma, Krillin and their friends.

I sat on an empty seat next to Krillin by the window. Bulma introduced me to their friends.

Tien, a triclops, I had to try so hard to stop myself from touching his 3rd eye.

Yamcha, Bulma's ex boyfriend, I'm pretty sure she's the one that gave him those scars as a warning to other guys below her standards.

18, she's apperently an android. And I caught Krillin looking at her funny. Whats all that about?

Apparently they're all part of Super MMA team too. But not Krillin, what the heck? He totally deserves to be on the team.

We were all talking for a while till the teacher started calling names. I was too distracted, thinking about the Super MMA team to notice the teacher calling my name three times.

"Goku!"everyone shouted causing me to fall off my chair in surprise.

"Ow.",I whispered. "Oh sorry Mrs...uh whatever your name is. Here." I nervously said.

"Goku, her name is literally engraved on the front of her desk.",Bulma stated. I scratched the back of my head and chuckled. "Sorry I cannot English today."

"Boy you're hopeless."

I sat back down as the teacher called Vegeta's name. I searched the room for him but he wasn't there.

"Vegeta?",the teacher called again.

"Calm down I'm here.",a voice said. I glanced at the door to see a spiky haired dude leaning against it. He was wearing a grey denim jacket over his shirt, no tie and black fingerless gloves. So that's Vegeta.

Everyone just stared in silence, some kid even stopped breathing once he saw Vegeta. Even the teacher looked nervous.

He walked past us and gave Krillin a glare. Poor guy almost fell off his seat. I'm pretty sure that amused Vegeta because he just chuckled then glanced at Bulma. A grin appeared on his face to which Bulma responded with sticking out her tongue. After seeing this he slowly licked his lips, which made Bulma blush and look away. He saw me staring at him and gave me a dirty look then sat in his seat at the back. This guy practically took the whole back row.

I was about to get up and talk to Vegeta when a black haired girl stumbled in. She was wearing the same uniform except with red fingerless fighting gloves and red sneakers.

"Chi Chi you're-"

"Yeah sorry I'm late Mrs...uhm...ms...sorry ma'am.",she stammered. Looks like I'm not the only one who forgot the teachers name. She looked familiar and I feel like I've heard that name before.

She glanced at me. I immediately sat back down, feeling a little weird. She came up to us.

"Hey guys.",she greeted.

"Hey Chi Chi."

She looked back at me. Her eyes hungrily stared at me like I was a piece of steak.

"Hello Goku.",she said softly. "Never thought I'd see you again."

What? How'd she know who I was and where have we met before? Well she looks like a fighter, maybe we met at a tournament. But I just stared in confusion.

"Uh. Do I know you?",I asked nervously. Everyone just fell to the ground. Chi Chi's eyes which were filled with what seemed like adoration changed to pure rage. I could literally see flames.

"Why you!",she started. "Bastard!" Woah, language.

"I can't believe you don't remember me!"she said as she punched me in the chest. It really hurt, I couldn't help but smile. Boy, she was strong, beautiful and fiesty. I just wish I could remember where we met.

"Hey sorry, its not my fault.",I said defensively.

"Yeah Goku fell on the head as a child and ever since then he'd sometimes have the memory of a goldfish.",Krillin said, stepping in between us.

She just huffed and sat on the chair next to Bulma, her arms folded.

The bell rang and we proceeded to head to our classes. Krillin and I had most of the same classes. Though I did see Vegeta a lot but he kept to himself unless he was terrorizing students.

It was lunch time and me and the gang headed to the cafeteria where I met some of their other friends. Puar, Oolong, Chiaotzu.

I left my table to get my food, the cafeteria food smelled delicious. Another perk of having rich people sponsor the school. I filled my plate but the lunch lady stopped me before i could finish everything. She even took five burgers off my tray. Aw man, now I was left with four burgers, two small bowls of noodles, 3 cupcakes, 7 apples and 1 pudding cup. I'm not gonna survive on this.

I sat back down in disappointment and everyone was staring at me.

"I forgot that Goku loved to eat." Krillin laughed. "Well I didn't, thats why I sent Roshi those lunch boxes as a welcoming gift for Goku.",Bulma said.

I immediately remembered the lunch boxes Roshi gave me today.

"Oh my lunch boxes. Almost forgot."I cheerfully said. Now I can snack after MMA tryouts. "Thanks Bulma!"

Suddenly I saw a hand snatch three of my burgers as fast as lightning.

"Thanks for the lunch, you fool."

I looked up to see Vegeta staring at me for a moment. Like he was observing me. Like he knew something about me that I didn't.

"Hey you!",Bulma shouted. "If it won't trouble your inconsiderate, annoying, high-and-mighty ass, we'd like to get back to our lunch."

He glared at her, he was really pissed, guess he wasn't use to someone speaking to him like that. Everyone in the cafeteria was soon staring at our table. Vegeta turned around, his eyes travelled around the room. The whole cafeteria bowed down to avoid his glare.

"Oh and keep the lunch. I know you don't get fed decent food and you're probably tired of eating out of the dumpster you call a home." Oh snap! Everyone lost it. The rich, preppy prodigy dissed the Great Vegeta.

"Why you little-",he started. I stood up in front of him so he wouldn't get any closer to Bulma. I knew she could handle herself but I really just wanted to see this guy fight.

"So I hear you're the king bee of this school, huh?"

"You could say that."

"Well I got a question for ya'.",I said. He grunted in response. "How 'bout we take this outside."

He smiled and followed me outside. Soon half the school was surrounding us.

I got in my fighting stance. "So Bulma tells me you're a Saiyan and that you're really strong.",I said.

"Oh she did, did she?" He glanced over at Bulma for a moment.

"Hey don't get any ideas!!"she shouted at Vegeta. He frowned and turned back to me.

"Lets see what you've got.",he said, getting into position. We both just stood their for a moment till Vegeta came at me with a punch. I blocked it then hit him in the jaw, sending him back.

"Not bad, for a peasant."he said. Wow he really does think he's high and mighty.

We went at each other with everything, well I was. I don't know if he was doing the same.

"Get him Goku!",Yamcha shouted.

"Yeah, punch that smirk off his face!",Bulma added.

Vegeta's foot aimed at my ribs but he got distracted by Bulma's words. That was my chance. I grabbed his leg and swung him around a few times before releasing him into a wall.

"Grrr...Kakarot.",he mumbled.

"What about a carrot?"

With no response he tackled me to the ground and punched me repeatedly, barely giving me a chance to block.

"Goku!" That voice. Chi Chi?

"Goku get up and crush this dweeb. Make him suffer!" Why do I feel like I've heard all that before?

"You dweeb, I'm gonna crush you."she said aftee trying to kick me in the face. I dodged it and tackled her.

"Do you give?",I asked, satisfied with her defeat. I held her arm tight and gropped her waist with her other arm in mine. Preventing any escape.

"Never!",she said. She stomped on my foot, making me release her arm as I winced in pain. "I'm going to make you suffer." She jabbed her elbow in my stomach. I coughed, clutching my stomach and chuckled.

"My you're strong. I've never met someone like you before."I, stated, still in a little pain. She positioned herself in her stance and smiled.

"Thats because there's only one of me."

Chi Chi, I remember now. I snapped out of it after hearing Tien.

"Shouldn't we help him?"

"Yeah, I say lets do it."Yamcha agreed.

"Guys wait Goku will be-"Bulma said. "Yeah, we should help him, Goku's my friend."Krillin said cutting her off.

Vegeta sent a ball of energy towards them before they could reach me. Guess, he didn't want any interruptions. I could hear their screams but knew they'd be fine.

Now's my chance. I punched him in the face and kicked him off me. I started forming my Kamehameha in the palms of my hand. Vegeta immediately followed with his own. We just stood there, balls of energy growing in our hands.

"KAAAAMEEEEEHHHHAAAAAMEEEHHH-"

"Stop!",a stern female voice made everyone freeze on the spot. Even Vegeta.

"Oh shxt its the Principal.",said someone in the crowd. I glanced over to the light purple woman, she had pointy ears and small white horns on her head, she wore a white suit, a black shirt underneath, black heels and her black hair was tied into a cute messy top bun.

She actually didn't look bad. Looked like she trains...wait the principal is an alien too!?

There were a bunch of guys in black suits behind her. Some alien, some human. Next to one of the guards stood a green dude in our uniform but with his sleeves torn, showing of his ripped muscles. He had pointy ears too and antennas on his forehead. He didn't look quite happy to be here.

The Principal glanced over at Vegeta. He tried to look tough but I could sense he was getting nervous.

"Vegeta.",she said.

"Yes I know ma'am, wont happen again."he said, his voice lowered a bit out of embarrassment.

"Hmp." She turned to me. "I assume you're the new student, Goku." It wasn't a question. She already knew.

"Uhm, yes and you're the principal right?"I asked. I lent out my hand hoping for a handshake but as soon as I did everyone gasped. She glanced at my hand and back at me.

"I'm Principal Toriyama. Goku, Bulma says you're close friends and she's convinced me to enroll you in our school.",she said leaving me hanging. "I hope I didn't make a mistake."

I frantically waved my hands in the air. "Uh no, no, ma'am, I promise it won't ha-happen again."I said.

"Good because I've requested Sensei to add you to the Super MMA team."

"What!!",Vegeta and I screeched in unison. But for completely different reasons.

"Yes, we'll be battling students from across the galaxy and we could use someone like you.",she said. "So, I assume thats a yes." I glanced over at my best friend for a minute.

"Only if my friend Krillin can join too."

"Really Goku!?",Krillin asked with hope I'm his eyes.

"Yeah you're my best friend, I'd be crazy to leave you behind."

"Well I was planning on filling that spot with Piccolo over here.",she said pointing at the green dude, who's arms were folded, still didn't look happy to be here. "But I suppose we have room for one more."

"Yes!",I shouted.

"No!",Vegeta retaliated.

"What was that Vegeta?"the principal asked. "I could easily give away your spot."

"Uh...nothing."

"Then its settled. Now-",she said. She snapped her fingers and a bunch of guys in suits came with a toolbox, a bunch of flowers, paint supplies, shovels, bricks and cement, a wheelbarrow. "-you three are going to clean up this mess and fix what you broke."

"Three?",I asked.

"Yes, you, Vegeta and Piccolo. Piccolo destroyed a few things too, earlier today."she clarified. After all this, her expression never changed. It was still cold and emotionless.

The bell rang and the principal cleared her throat. "Get to work you three. As for everyone else, head to class. Now."she ordered. "Oh, and stop calling me ma'am, makes me feel old."

"Umm, Principal Toriyama.",I heard Krillin say. "Can I help them?"

"Me too."Bulma raised her hand. "And us." The whole gang offered to help. Good 'cause I dont think it'd be a good idea to leave me alone with Vegeta and some grumpy looking green guy I've never met before.

"Sure, I don't care as long as everything is clean."she said blandly. She then left us there, with the men in suits following her.

"Aw, thanks guys."I said. Vegeta just scoffed, grabbed a shovel and began filling the crater we made, alone. I grabbed one too and went over to help him.

"I don't need you're help."he growled.

"Would you just get off your high horse and let us help."Bulma said. Vegeta just grunted and continued.

Boy does she have a way with him. If I said that I'd probably get punched in the face.

Everyone started working. Vegeta and I were filling the crater. Tien and Yamcha were fixing the wall. Krillin was fixing and repainting some benches and poles we broke. Chi Chi, Puar and Oolong tended to the flowers and plants. 18 was helping Bulma fix the wires Vegeta blasted when he tried to hit Krillin, Yamcha, 18 and Tien. Piccolo was fixing the fountain by himself, he enjoys his own company.

"Hey Piccolo."I called out.

"What?" He sounded almost annoyed.

"I'm excited to have you on our team. You must be really strong if they added you.",I said cheerfully.

He smirked and went back to working on the fountain. New school, new friends, new partners and a chance to fight the best fighters across the universe.

Yep, I'm gonna love it here at Capsule High.

[catbowserauthor]

@bearandbirdfan Thanks for your patience! Here’s the Gohan-Videl piece you requested!

“You want me to do what?”

Gohan winced, visibly and while he did a good job not actively giving away what he was up to, Bulma was a mother. She could see that nervousness from a mile away and when Gohan tried the puppy dog eyes on her, she was certain there was only one explanation.

“Gohan...do you have a girl with you?”

It should not have been biologically possible for a face to turn so red and maybe Bulma should have felt bad but her giddiness easily overrode that emotion. Gohan was like her nephew and he had a GIRL?! Why hadn’t ChiChi told her?

“Oh, Kami, you DO! You’re trying to impress a girl!!”

“Shh!!” His command was sharp but lacked any potency. “Bulma, I promise, it’s not what you think!”

Oh but she was all giggles now. “Gohan’s branching out! He’s getting a girlfriend!” She stopped amid her celebrating and eyed him critically. “Tell me—what exactly are you planning to DO if I get Vegeta out of that gravity room, eh?”

Gohan’s look mirrored a sighted deer. “Uh...train? What else do you do in there?”

Now it was her turn to bleach to a blood red shade. “Ne-never mind! Right...you’re Goku’s kid.” She shook her head but remarked, “I best hear ALL the juicy details later.” But she turned on her heels and vanished down the hall.

Sliding to the ground with a great sigh, as if all the bones had been sucked from his body, Gohan sent his companion a look and she peered around the corner. “Hope you appreciate this, Videl.”

She didn’t seem bothered, if anything she looked amused. Gohan was pretty sure that he’d prefer she be annoyed. “I coulda just asked her myself, you know. I mean, I’m pretty sure Bulma Briefs is one of the few celebrities I haven’t met.”

Gohan snorted. “Naw. We never would have gotten anywhere if you asked. Your dad isn’t very popular around here.”

Oh, wrong thing to say. A fierce fire erupted in her eyes and he’d have been wrong if he said her twin pigtails didn’t suddenly bounce up and down with the wave of her fury. “What? Why? My dad is the reason Cell is gone! They could at least be grateful for that! All those other fighters were using tricks! Did they...” she stopped, blinked at Gohan.

His eyes were hard. Cold. Angry. It wasn’t a look she saw on him very often. But then, she supposed even he could get angry and she was asking him to teach her these supposed ‘tricks.’

“Well, maybe not everything your father told you was true.” Gohan’s voice was heavy. “My father was at the Cell Games. My father DIED at the Cell Games. He didn’t die to be called a fraud.”

Ah. Now, his fire made sense. She was still learning so much about this strange boy. “Gohan, I didn’t mean to say that your father was a fake. I mean...you obviously have been trained. I just meant...well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I meant. But I didn’t mean to insult anyone.”

Gohan didn’t answer her but a moment later, the door to gravity room opened and Bulma was dragging Vegeta out by his arm, babbling about something. She caught his eye for a brief moment and gave a nod. Then in a swift movement of red skirt, the human woman had rushed the Saiyan a Prince down the hall.

Gohan eyed Videl as he stood. “Well, you wanted a training challenge. So let me show you one.”

OOO

“It’s hot in here.”

Gohan nodded and approached the control panel. “Side effect of all the machinery. That helps too though. Heat zaps strength. So if you can endure that, you’re stronger than you think.”

Videl stood firm, legs apart and arms folded. The pinnacle of her impatience that Gohan had learned to recognize. But he was in a different element here than at school or even outside. His father had pounded it into his head in the Time Chamber—it would be hard, it would be difficult and anything less than respect for it would end in disaster.

That’s what he conveyed to Videl. “This can be dangerous, Videl. We have to do it slowly especially since you’ve never gravity trained before.”

“I can handle anything you throw at me, Gohan.” Her tone was certain. “Don’t you use any kid gloves one me.”

“I won’t.” That much he promised as he turned the machine to 5 times normal gravity. “But I’m not going to crush you either.”

After a moment, Videl sank to her knees. She gave a low little gasp of surprise and stared at Gohan, “Is...this the gravity you talked about?”

“No.” He answered honestly. “It’s five times normal gravity. I use up to five hundred if you push me.”

“...wha..?”

“Just focus on standing up.” He interrupted her. “Take it one foot at a time, real slow. Do you know basic katas?”

Videl took a breath then another and yet another as she finally made her way back to her feet. When Gohan had said gravity training, her mind had automatically gone to the strength her father always showed off. Surely, that was equivalent, wasn’t it?

It appeared not. Not by a long shot. Breathing was hard but she gave a nod in answer to Gohan’s inquiry.

“Start with those. Gotta get you used to moving in here before we can really do anything.”

It made sense. That was basic logic. You had to be able to walk before you could kick. And right now, she wasn’t even sure if she could lift her foot off the ground to go forward.

But she would. Even if she had to pull it upward with her hands! She would! She had to! If Gohan could do this, she could too!

—

Gohan tried not to act like he was watching her but it was hard. His ears were fine tuned. He could hear the pressure that went into every single breath she drew. Oh, she put up a hard face but that kind of breathing was when you were strained. Struggling.

And her heart.

He could hear it. Pounding behind her ribs. Fast, harsh and desperate.

And why not? He’d just helped her throw it into a catastrophe. This wasn’t like Dad or Krillin where they’d been eased into it over years or even himself—where the trials of battle had activated his Saiyan genes and training had refined them.

This wasn’t like that at all.

“I know you wanna plow ahead, Videl. But you can’t do that in here.” He tries to stay as even key as he could. It was hard though. Sometimes, he damned his Saiyan hearing. Why was he so focused on her heartbeat?

He was never focused on Goten’s or Piccolo’s or when Father was alive, he never focused that much on theirs. Not ever.

But every thud that her heart made sounded like a cymbal crash to him. As if it was the only thing he could hear. “It’ll hurt you if you do. Your body has to know how to handle this. It’s like acclimation.”

Thud. Thud. Thud. Hard. Fast. Unyielding. When she slammed a foot forward, it jumped, a microsecond of a jump. Faster. Trying to compensate.

“If you try too much or too fast, your body’s shut down. It finds...ways.”

But he was half Saiyan. Piccolo was Namekian. Dad had been full Saiyan. Shut down was different for them...for him...

A twisted ankle, a torn ligament, total exhaustion.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

But Videl. Her body was human. And not hardened, tempered human like Krillin or a Yamcha or Tien. Her body would give and break.

Like twigs or water against soil.

He’d seen what human bodies did under pressure though he loathed to remember it. It was not a sight that left your eyes easily. He didn’t like to picture it. Skulls that crumbled like sand. Bones that snapped and gave way. Veins that collapsed and organs that failed.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A gasp, a wheeze, a shuddering breath.

Sweat drenched Videl’s clothing and all she was doing was standing up, struggling to walk. Her eyes were already watering and one of those vessels had already popped.

No. No more of this. The sound...

Gohan turned the panel off. It made that lovely whirling sound when you brought it down as quickly as was safe. It was harsh on the system but Gohan didn’t want to wait. The way she was breathing and her heartbeat...

Videl hit the ground hard, her muscles nearly screaming in relief as the tons of extra pressure gradually faded away. After a moment, her breathing came easier and she found the gumption to glare at the teenage boy offering her his hand. Slapping it away, she stood though trembled and shook as she did so.

“What the hell, Gohan?!”

“Not ready.” He said simply. “Your body’s not ready.”

“Not read—I’ve been training under my dad since I was a kid!”

“It’s not enough.” Gohan hardened his voice. “Be mad at me all you want but I’m not gonna wait for your heart to explode!”

She stared, backed up, one hand over her chest. “I’m in better shape than that.”

“I could hear it. Your body isn’t ready. We need to build it up first. I should have done that in the first place.”

Videl’s hands clenched. “What is THAT supposed to mean?”

“It means your body will crack like an egg if we keep this up! It means that I can’t stand to hear your heart trying not to implode! It means I CARE what happens to you!”

The room went deathly quiet and the two just stared at one another—Videl pale and slack jawed and Gohan red faced and trembling.

“Let-let’s go.” Gohan strode past her, a beeline for the door. “If you want to build yourself up for this, fine but you’re not ready for this yet.”

Videl, after a moment, rather touched by the emotion in his voice, followed. “So...can you help me get to that point, Gohan?”

He took a heavy breath and looked at her. Hair forced loose, face still patchy with exertion but so full of passion, spunk and fire. He...he didn’t want to see anything happen to her but that flame, that burning desire in her eyes...it did something for him. Something he’d never felt before and he honestly couldn’t even describe what it was.

But the prospect of her growing stronger, wiser and truly realizing the kind of fighter she could become made him all kinds of giddy.

“In small steps, Videl. Small steps.”

She reached over, grasped his hand and said, “So I can expect my first lesson at your place tomorrow, then?”

“...yes, Ma’am.”