#twenty-four

Freakazoid shouldn’t have done that - but Jack didn’t try to stop him. 

One startled laugh escaped from the comms. Then came the excited, loud burst. A surprise to Alexander in the middle of everything, hearing first-hand something that should have been deemed fiction.

“So he talks?!” he gushed. “He really talks!”

To Crane, hearing a man cackle like that made him growingly uncomfortable, sprouting out Greek words of excitement. If this was Rais, he would definitely jump to the idea of capturing a sentient infected. 

Jack, however, drowned out the bellowing. Kept her feet going, eyes up front. The furthest they were away from that man, the better.

He was entertained. And a pleased Valchos was the last thing Jack wanted.

“Oooh…” Alexander ended with the same, usual reticent tone. “Keep making this interesting, Jack.”

And like that, the chase crawled to an end - either the convicts had given up or the duo had indeed killed a great number on the go. Anti-climatic, disconcerting and yet, reassuring at the same time.

Jack scouted back to see themselves far from the outpost. It had been on the spur of the moment when she just decided to go one direction and didn’t look back. 

That also meant Ender and Riza headed off in their own directions, away from the danger.

“Ender. Riza. You two all right?” Jack quickly called over the comms. 

It took a few seconds for any response, clutching at her worry. Then she felt it lift off once she heard Ender’s voice. 

“We’re good,” he assured through bated breath. “Got Peri and the kid to a safe place.”

"You didn't see any infected in robes?"

An odd question that Freakazoid picked on but left the other speakers puzzled.

"Robes?" Ender repeated.

"Are we talking about those cultists?" Riza intruded. "Didn't see them."

Jack didn't go into context, uncertain on what she had seen…

She moved on. Some other time on this strange story.

"Whole neighborhood's a mess now." The aftermath of their little trespassing could be seen over the urban landscape; smoke and wails in the distance.

“We can take these two back to the Junction.” No play on words, not witty banter from Riza either. The two Grads had their priorities already set that lighthearted talk could be done another time.

“Don’t stop for anything.” 

The silence comforted Jack that they’d follow through. No matter what, they couldn’t get caught. Not when Alexander was in that kind of mood now…

“So.”

She wheeled back to her partner. 

“Not only do you have GRE looking for you. But you also have the most dangerous man after your head… What did you do before you met me?”

She ushered her usual, nonchalant laugh. “There’s a lot of things I’ve done.”

“Shocking,” he countered out loud.

“Isn't it better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"

“You don’t see this as a problem.”

“Never have. I see this as an opportunity.”

“Opportunity,” Crane finished just as she said it. He almost was in rhythm with Jack - a scary thought to be ending her sentences. “Remember that when you’re six feet under and I’m put in a cage again.”

Again, Jack shrugged it off. There was a fine difference between being overconfident and being too gutless - but he kept that to himself.

“You can’t stay in Scanderoon.”

And who decided that? However, Jack refrained from saying it. She thought it over; she knew full well before she left the Outskirts that she’d have to make both friends and foes. She just didn’t anticipate seeing an old face...

“Technically, my contract with the Junction is finished.” She glanced at Freakazoid with the usual grin. “I got the Day Hunter. Found Crybaby. And we put a stop to those disappearances.”

Jack strode about casually as she pondered to a conclusion...

“Why not?" she said to herself. "We can go sightseeing some other place.”

Crane huffed. “You mean Harran.”

“It’s not like I can go anywhere else, can I?”

Crane didn’t rebuke back at the jesting joust. It did leave him in knots but…

This was it. Things had slowed down but now, nothing held Jack back. After all, her destination had been Harran from the start.

Looking over the circumstances now, a trip there might be for the better. Until things could cool down. 

Maybe.

“So. Think you can hold off on your own for a while?”

That offer… Jack may be the most unreadable and enigmatic person to him. But never had she forcefully tug on his leash to do her bidding, not like Rias. Above all, Crane had shown her many times he didn’t want to go back to Harran.

He couldn’t stop her. Nor could he stall for time. Or reject the one request he’s been given the entire time: be her Lifeline all the way.

“And leave you to do something reckless?” he complained. “Hard pass.”

The brunette chuckled. “So you’re not sick of me?”

No rebuttal. That didn’t mean he wasn’t at times.

“Then it’s settled.”

The sudden ‘final verdict’ nearly took him by surprise - underneath his scarf, he grew more worried.

“First thing first, the Junction. Can’t just up and disappear on them,” she uttered. “Then we’ll head for Harran.”

Crane felt…disheartened.

“Yeah… Harran.”

****

 I’m alive.

 Those were Goku’s first thoughts as he viewed the blue sky above him. No, not a sky he corrected himself. A blue ceiling. He blinked a few times as his groggy mind tried to focus. His body was a mess. He didn’t feel any broken bones but his body ached all over. He felt as if a mountain was dropped on him. Slowly, he sat up and noticed he wasn’t wearing his clothes but a gown.

 Looking around, Goku noticed he wasn’t alone. A small person stood next to the bed staring at him. He? She? Goku wasn’t sure but this person had a large bulbous aqua colored head with spots, sharp ears, wide eyes and whisker like appendages on the side of its head.

 “Hello?” His tired voice greeted the person. “I’m Son Goku. Who are you?”

 The small person sprinted out the room.

 He didn’t expect that. Goku contemplated going after the person when the door opened again. The small person returned with a bigger person. By the body type, Goku assumed the tall, muscular person was a male. He looked similar to the small one. Perhaps he was the parent to this child.

 The bigger person spoke but Goku couldn’t understand the words. “I don’t understand you.”

 The tall one approached Goku with a bracelet in his hand. He raised the sleeve of his arm to show he wore one and pointed to Goku’s empty wrist. Understanding this alien wanted to put it on him, Goku extended his arm. The male placed the bracelet on Goku’s left wrist.

 “My name is Soba,” Soba spoke. He pointed to his bracelet. “This will help us talk to each other.”

 Oh! Goku understood now. It was a translator. “I’m Goku. Son Goku.” Goku noticed the small person clutching tightly to Soba.

 “This is my son, Udon. I told him to not be in this room without me but children are curious.”

 “Hi, Udon,” Goku greeted the child with a smile. The child hid behind Soba. The child’s shyness reminded Goku of Gohan. Addressing Soba he asked, “Where am I?”

 “Planet Yardrat. Why did you come here?”  

 “I’m trying to get home. Namek was blowing up and I had to escape so I jumped in the first working ship I found. It brought me here.”

 Soba appeared shaken by the news. “Planet Namek blew up?” He stepped away from Udon and paced as he remembered something. “Yesterday, this planet shook. It was mild but we never had a quake where the entire planet shook. That would explain why.” Soba looked at Goku again. This time he seemed to be studying Goku’s appearance. “You’re not a Namekian.”

 “I’m not. I’m actually….” Goku broke off his words. Thanks to Freeza, Saiyans weren’t known as friendly people. He wondered if the people of Yardrat knew about them and their reputation. “I’m a Saiyan.”

 “A Saiyan?” Soba appeared on guard. “We knew of three Saiyans that worked for Freeza.”

 The reputation of Saiyans reached here, too. He hoped Soba will believe he’s not like the Saiyans he heard about. “I’m not those Saiyans. I grew up on Earth all my life. Two of those Saiyans are dead. The third….” Oh. Now that he thought about it Vegeta was revived with Porunga’s wish. This meant he was on Earth with Gohan and ChiChi. Vegeta was remorseful but he was dying at the time. Would he have that same attitude now that he’s alive again? Maybe now that he has a chance to live his life how he like; make his own choices perhaps he will be a good person with this second chance.

 Soba waited for Goku to explain himself but he was losing patience with Goku’s sudden silence. He wanted to know why he is here and if he’s a threat to his people. “Udon, contact Ramen and Yaki. Tell them our guest has awakened.” Udon obediently left the room. Now they were alone Soba felt he could properly interrogate Goku, and if need be, deal with him if he’s a threat. “The ship you came in is one from Freeza’s army. Why were you on Namek and why did it blow up?”

 Goku explained why he came to Namek, encountering Freeza and escaping Namek. He paused a few times answering any question Soba asked.

 “So Freeza and the Ginyu Force are dead.” Soba took a moment to let that sink in. “Our people feared his gang would target our planet one day. We prepared the best we can. When we recovered your ship, we discovered it had a preflight destination for Yardrat.”

 Soba turned to the opened door. Udon entered and went to his father’s side. “Ramen and Yaki are on their way.” He looked at Goku worriedly. “Is he our friend, Papa?”

 Soba patted Udon’s head as he regarded Goku. He heard enough to judge if Goku is a friend or foe. “I think he is.”

 Goku was relieved he was not seen as an enemy. As far as he knew, he was stranded here. He had to make friends with these people if he hoped to get home.

 “You must be hungry,” Soba told Goku. “You’ve been asleep for a day. Come. I have food for us.”

 Goku got out of bed and followed Soba and Udon. Goku looked around. Walls were bare except photos. Goku noticed Soba and Udon in all of them. There was a third person in a few photos. This person had a slender, feminine build except her coloring was pink. Soba’s wife, Goku guessed and from the lack of photos, suspected she was dead.

 “How are you feeling?” Soba asked.

 “Sore.” Goku figured it would take a few days before he will fully recover. The crash knocked him out so he had no idea of the condition of his ship. “Where’s the ship I came in?”

 “Ramen and his team have it. That ship you came in was one from the Ginyu Force. The one named Recoome wrote his name in it.”

 “Recoome.” Goku remembered him. “He was the first one I fought on Namek. He hurt my son.” A flash of a beaten Gohan appeared in his mind. Internally, he was angry seeing his son so broken. He kept his cool then but now he was angry. No one should’ve beaten his son that way and live. “I defeated him but I spared him. I should’ve killed him.”

 “I understand. If it was my son, I would’ve killed him but mercy---“ Soba stopped walking. Soba felt a sudden rise of energy from Goku. He turned, eyes widening at Goku’s appearance. His black hair was blonde and he was glowing. “Goku….?”

 Goku looked at his glowing hands. He could feel the transformation but didn’t know how it happened. One moment he thought of Gohan, saw his broken body and felt a burst of anger. He changed into a Super Saiyan against his will. Soba stared while Udon clutched to his father while looking at Goku in fear.

 Goku wanted to say there was nothing to fear but something caught his peripheral. A mirror hung a few steps behind him. Goku returned to the mirror. He stared back at himself stunned at the image reflecting at him. “So, this is how I look as a Super Saiyan.”

 “Super Saiyan?” Soba murmured.

 Goku studied his face. He looked so angry. His eyes were teal and his blonde hair stood up straight. During his fight against Freeza, he never knew what he looked like. He only knew his appearance and demeanor frightened Gohan and now Udon.

 “Goku,” Soba called him again. “Could you change back? You’re scaring my son.”

 Goku looked away from the mirror to Udon. Udon hid behind his father. He didn’t mean to scare the child but he didn’t know how to stop the transformation. He did it once on Namek but it was instinctual. He didn’t feel the desire to fight Freeza anymore and his body powered down. Goku closed his eyes and mentally tried to turn off the transformation but nothing worked. How? How did he do it on Namek?

 “You were angry earlier,” Soba told him. “Think of something calm, something that makes you happy.”

 Calm. What made him calm? What made him happy? Fighting made him happy. No, he can’t think of fighting. That made him angry now. Food! Food made him happy. A memory of him, Gohan and ChiChi on a beach together eating appeared in his mind. The happy memory soothed Goku. He felt his Ki falling, his temper cooling. His hair turn black and fell into place again. Goku closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the wall.

 “No wonder you could kill Freeza. Your Ki was enormous. You must be the most powerful person in the universe.” It should be a compliment but Soba wasn’t smiling. “You don’t have control over this power, do you?”

 “No,” Goku said shakily. “It’s new.” He pushed away from the wall. “I’m all right,” he smiled trying to assure Soba. “I’m just hungry.”

 Soba nodded but from the look in his eyes Goku knew Soba didn’t believe him. He followed after Soba and Udon. Physically, Soba appeared strong but his Ki was small. It didn’t match his build. Goku wondered if he was suppressing his strength. Since Soba asked him many questions, Goku thought it was fair he do the same. “You felt the rise of my energy. Can you read Ki?”

 “Yes. It’s a natural gift of our people. I wasn’t aware a Saiyan could read Ki.”

 “Why?”

 “Saiyans, anyone serving Freeza, wore scouters. They couldn’t do it naturally. Since you didn’t grow up as a Saiyan, you learned how to read Ki naturally. I’m sure you’ve suspected I’m suppressing my Ki.”

 He did but how much was Soba suppressing?

 ****

 Goku sat on the edge of his bed as he was examined by another Yardratian. Yaki was the doctor who treated Goku after he crashed. Unlike Soba and Udon, Yaki’s skin was pink like Ramen, the other Yardratian that came while Goku had breakfast with Soba and Udon. Ramen was a scientist and technical expert.

 Finished with her exam, Yaki placed her tools in her medical bag. “Physically, you’re fine, Goku. All your wounds should be gone in two or three days but I recommend resting until you are completely healed.”

 Soba leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “What about that outburst Goku had earlier?”

 “That’s mental.” She shrugged at a lost herself. “I don’t know anything about Saiyans but you say this transformation isn’t normal, Goku?”

 Goku scratched his head trying to remember what Vegeta and Captain Ginyu said. “All I know is it was something Freeza feared. I became a Super Saiyan because I was triggered by rage. He killed my friend in front of me.” The horrible image of Krillin soaring in the air; his terrifying scream for Goku before his body blew up angered Goku. He clenched his fist wishing Freeza was here so he could pummel him again. “He threatened to kill my son.”

 Soba and Yaki were stun as Goku suddenly changed into a Super Saiyan. Soba jumped in front of Yaki. Goku appeared as stunned as them at this change. Goku returned to his base state thinking of his family again. Yaki tried to move to examine Goku again but Soba kept himself protectively in front of her.

 “It’s seems you’re transforming base on memories of rage, too,” Yaki observed. “That’s not good.”

 Goku agreed. He was a walking time bomb in this state. He needed to master this transformation and control of his rage before he went home. He couldn’t be this way around Gohan and ChiChi. Besides mastering this Super Saiyan transformation, Goku had an important question. “How long will it be before my ship is fixed and I can go home?”

 Ramen entered the room upon hearing the question. “At best, two months.” Once he learned Goku’s story, he made a call to his team to begin repairs and plot the ship’s course to Earth. “The ship was badly damage when it crashed. We will have to create parts to modify it for the ship. It should be a month before all repairs are made. We’ve already created a flight plan from Yardrat to Earth. You should be home in a month after you leave.”

 A month. Goku thought that was all he needed. He hopped off his bed. “I better get started mastering this Super Saiyan transformation.”

 Soba was alarmed by Goku’s words. “You think you can master this in a month?”

 “Sure. I mastered a hundred times gravity in six days.” Goku was positive he can master being a Super Saiyan the same way.  

 Soba wasn’t as confident. “Yaki, Ramen. Give us a moment.”

 Goku noticed Yaki and Ramen left without question. There was something unique about Soba. He noticed it when Yaki and Ramen arrived earlier. They both took directions from him as if he was their leader. The way Soba jumped in front of Yaki said something, too.

 “Are you the leader of this planet?” Soba raised an eyebrow. “A protector?” Goku guessed “I noticed how you got in front of Yaki when I changed.”

 “Protector,” Soba admitted. “Yardrat doesn’t have an army but there’s a group of us that protect this planet. This area is my quadrant.”

 Soba was a fighter. This intrigued Goku. “How strong are you?”

 A smile curved Soba’s face. He expected that. “Let’s just say if the Ginyu Force came here, they wouldn’t have won.” Goku’s face lit up excited. If he knew Saiyans from the little information he read about, Goku will want to fight him. “But you have a problem, Goku. This transformation is more than physical. It’s mental, too. Maybe psychological. You have to get control of it before it gets out of hand.”

 “I will,” Goku promised. With his two sudden outbursts, Goku understood Soba’s concerns, but Goku knew he will master being a Super Saiyan as he mastered every new challenge he faced. His main concern was time and how long he will be here before he achieve his goal.

 ****

 He hadn’t meant to attack her the moment she came in the room but he had this strange need in him that only ChiChi could squelch. He had ChiChi pinned to the door; his face buried in her neck. “You smell so good.” His tongue licked her neck. “Taste so good here.” Goku slipped a hand under her gown to between her legs. He brought his fingers to his lips and licked. “Taste even better there.”

 “Goku….” ChiChi pressed her hands against his chest. “Gohan’s awake in the other room. Ah!” She was turned around so her front pressed against the door. “It’s almost his bedtime. We can mmmm…..” her words were cut off at the feel of Goku entering her.

 “Gohan’s watching that movie.” He thrust into her. “He’ll be fine.” He slapped his body against her faster. “Besides, it makes it more exciting to finish before we’re caught.”

 “Huh?” ChiChi turned her head to him. “Are you crazy? It’s no—ah!”

 Goku nibbled her neck. “It is.” He gripped her breasts and massaged her tender flesh as his hips slap against hers.

 A light tapping knocked on the door. “Mommy. Daddy. The movie is over.”

 The sound of Gohan on the other side should’ve ceased their activity but Goku kept moving. ChiChi tried to break away from Goku. “Goku,” she hissed. “It’s Gohan. Sto—mmm!” She gasped as Goku slammed in her. ChiChi covered a hand over her mouth while the other pressed against the door.

 “Can’t stop now.” Goku grunted as he rocked her body against his faster. “Almost… there. Uh…. little more…..” One of his hands slid between ChiChi’s legs. His rapid strokes and pounding left ChiChi screaming in her hand.

 “Mommy?” Gohan called again. His hand slapped the door. Thumps were Gohan’s answer as Goku brought him and ChiChi to their peak. “Daddy?” Goku buried his mouth in ChiChi’s shoulder to subdue his roar as he came in her. ChiChi bit her hand to muffle her scream. Gohan kept knocking. “Are you asleep?”

 Goku released his hold on ChiChi’s hips as he pulled out. ChiChi slid to the floor. “No….” Goku panted. Smirking at ChiChi’s exhausted state, Goku hurriedly pulled up his pants.

 “What’s going on?” Gohan asked through the door.

 Goku opened the door, slightly sweating with a flushed face and bare chest to his three-year-old son. “We’re fine, Gohan. Mommy and I were exercising and we’re a little tired.”

 “Oh,” the child believed him. “My movie’s over.”

 “Then it’s time for bed. Go to your room. Mommy and I will be there to say good night.”

 “Okay.” Gohan walked off unaware of what really happened.  

 Goku closed the door. He turned to ChiChi and was met with a slap against his face. “I hope you enjoyed that because we won’t be doing that for a while.”

 “ChiChi----“

 “That was embarrassing! We could’ve been caught!”

 Smirking, Goku pushed ChiChi against the door again and pressed his lower body against hers. “That made it even more exciting.” ChiChi’s face flushed as Goku rubbed against her.

 “Didn’t you hear what I said? No more---“ she was cut off with Goku’s lips against hers. She balled her fists and hit his shoulders but the fighting was temporary as Goku’s lips and tongue heated her up again.  

 The moment ChiChi kissed back Goku deliberately broke off the kiss. Her flushed cheeks; the anger in her eyes; the way her breasts rose and fell; her wonderful scent! The woman didn’t know what she did to him! “I heard you and I don’t care.” He opened the door. “Let’s put Gohan to bed and I’ll put you to bed when we come back.”

 Goku’s eyes jolted awake. He laid in bed panting. What kind of dream was that? No. It wasn’t a dream. That actually happened. He remembered ChiChi being angry with him one morning. She told him they were intimate with Gohan standing outside their room. ChiChi accused him of seducing her for hours but he didn’t remember their intimacy. He knew ChiChi wasn’t lying. The marks on their bodies and bedsheets were proof they were intimate.  

 “Why am I remembering this now?”

 Goku rolled on his side confused. He stared at the empty space beside him. This side of the bed was ChiChi’s. Sometimes she slept on her back. Most times she slept on her side facing him. In the winter, she cuddled with him, saying his body heat kept her warm. In the summer, especially during heatwaves, ChiChi didn’t sleep next to him but she certainly tempt him when she slept in nothing or her underwear. There was that one time ChiChi tempt him in the shower.

 “Wait a second.” New images poured into Goku’s mind. “I remember now. This happened on the night of a full moon.”

 Goku dipped his hand in the water. The water in the cauldron was ready for him and ChiChi. Goku entered his home in search for his wife. She wasn’t in the kitchen so he went to their bedroom. ChiChi held him back all night. No more he thought. He was gonna have his way with her. She wasn’t in the bedroom but he felt her Ki in the bathroom. Opening the door, he found ChiChi in the shower. Her back was to him and it was evident she hadn’t noticed him.

 Perfect Goku thought as he removed his clothes and stepped in the shower. ChiChi turned to strike him as if he was an intruder. She turned her back on him to finish her shower but Goku had other plans. He took away ChiChi’s soapy sponge and used his hands to clean ChiChi.

 “Goku…” her breath hitch as one soapy hand squeezed a breast and the other slipped between her legs. “Goku….this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

 “It’s what I had.” He moved his lips along her neck. “Relax,” Goku whispered against her. He continued to knead her breasts and stroke between her legs. He touched her before but never like this. It was so bold and arousing. Water sluiced down their bodies as ChiChi gave in to the emotions Goku stirred in her. With his mouth sucking her neck, one hand taking turns kneading and pinching her breasts and the other stroking the sensitive area between her legs, it didn’t take long for her orgasm to hit.

 Goku didn’t stop there. He was greedy. He needed more before they soak in the cauldron. He kneeled before ChiChi who pleaded they shouldn’t be doing this in a shower. Goku didn’t listen and ChiChi squirmed under his probing tongue. With a gentle tug, ChiChi pushed Goku in deeper. With slow then quick licks and circling against her hardened nub, ChiChi was reduced to begging. Her whimpers thrilled him. A few licks and she was close but then Goku pulled away, moving that wicked tongue of his in her inner cavern. His eyes met hers. She taunted him so much tonight, it felt so good to give back what she delivered to him. She was hungry, begging for more but he moved at his pace. He took joy in tormenting her.

 Both hands gripped his hair and pushed him against her hip. A few moans and yeses rolled from her lips as she grind against his wicked face. His tongue probe deeper forcing a blessed release from her. Goku held her thighs to steady her as the aftershocks of her orgasm rolled from her body.

 As soon as Goku rose to his feet, ChiChi yanked him to her in a savage kiss. Goku surprised ChiChi by lifting and pressing her firmly against the wall. Spreading her legs, he easily slid into her wet channel. ChiChi wrapped her legs around Goku’s waist as he pushed deep inside her.

 “How does it feel?” Goku grinned at her as he pummeled deeper, causing ChiChi’s voice to get higher with each thrust. “Have you been missing this as much as me?”

 “Yes,” ChiChi whimpered. “More….” She begged. “I need more.”

 Damn right she did he thought he slammed into her hard. Perhaps he should be a little more careful. She wasn’t as strong as him but she was his wife. She can take everything he gave her.

 Goku rolled on his back. He ran a hand down his sweating face. Before now, he only remembered pieces of that night. He couldn’t recall them being in the shower or their time in the cauldron. He didn’t remember his vicious killing of the tiger and wild boar. What had come over him then? Why were the memories finally surfacing?

 Goku shifted in bed uncomfortable. He could see something poking through the sheets. It has been a while. Goku pulled off the covers and swung his legs off the bed. His mind was bombarded with images of him and ChiChi in intimate moments. Moments he never remembered but was told by ChiChi. He could see it all now. He saw images of the night he and a pregnant ChiChi were intimate; the broken bed; the hallway; the bathroom; the kitchen; outside…. everything was coming back to him.

 His body suddenly felt hot. His skin was burning. He tried to cool down by pushing the images aside but they become more intense as he tried to resist. He could hear ChiChi’s moans, feel her nibbling his skin, feel her legs wrap around his hips, her nails clawing down his back; feel himself moving in her.

 He exploded, muscles expanded, hair changing again.

 Goku stared at his glowing body. He did it again. Impulsively changed. It’s been a month and he wasn’t progressing as well as he liked. This was a serious problem.

 ****

Soba stood at the door of his home, waving goodbye to Udon as he left for school. He noticed Goku walk up the path Udon left on. Goku smiled at the child, spoke and continue to Soba’s house. The smile on his face turned into an intense frown.

 “Where did you go?” Soba asked as Goku stepped in. Goku looked haggard. “Your Ki woke me up last night. I checked on you but you were gone. You spontaneously changed again, didn’t you?”

 “Yeah.” Goku settled in a chair. “I was up all night training until I couldn’t maintain being a Super Saiyan anymore.”

 Soba prepared Goku’s breakfast plates. “Didn’t thinking of your wife or son calm you down?”

 “Thinking of ChiChi would’ve made things worse.”

 Soba wondered what that meant. “You have been making progress. You haven’t spontaneously change in a week. What happened?” Goku didn’t answer. Soba found that strange as Goku didn’t mind sharing thoughts of his training. Soba returned to the table with Goku’s plates. “Goku?” Soba pried again.

 Goku took his food, ate quietly and confessed, “When I see a full moon, I black out until the next morning. I never remember anything. I saw a full moon here two days ago. I didn’t black out and now I can remember things that happen when I saw a full moon.”

 “If I recall, Saiyans turn into what we call Oozarus when they see a full moon.”

 “I didn’t have my tail then. I didn’t turn into a giant ape but I act differently.” He didn’t feel like eating but Goku forced himself because he knew he will be starving later. He also didn’t want to appear rude. Soba opened his home to Goku. He’s been kind and helpful to him as he navigate this change in him since he arrived a month ago. “I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

 Soba leaned against the counter thinking. Goku was an open book to him when sharing what he knew about Saiyans, his martial arts life and some of his family life on Earth. It gave Soba insight into the man Goku is. “You told me you don’t remember your programming because you hit your head. All your life a part of yourself was hidden from you. This transformation opened that and now you’re remembering things that happened: good and maybe bad you didn’t know about.”

 The dreams about ChiChi Goku thought were very good but unfortunately frustrating with ChiChi not here. Goku was troubled about the possibility of bad memories being uncovered. He exploded into a Super Saiyan remembering him and ChiChi being intimate. How will he react if he recovers the suppress memories of killing his grandpa?

 ****

 “Get out!” Yamcha screamed. “We’re done for if we don’t get out of here!”

 Goku heard Yamcha’s voice but where was he? Goku spotted the shine of the night sky. The full moon. It called to him. Destroy the moon told him. Destroy everything around him. Goku obeyed prying a large pillar from Emperor Pilaf’s castle.

 He spotted Emperor Pilaf, Mai and Shu escaping in a plane. They tried to kill him and his friends earlier. He couldn’t let them get away. Goku threw the pillar at the plane. It was a direct hit. Goku raised his large ape arms in the air happy at his destruction. He needed to do more. He needed to kill everything around him.  

 “Run!” Yamcha screamed. “Before he crushes us!!”

 “Goku!!” Bulma yelled. She laid on the ground trapped under rubble from Pilaf’s castle. “Will you quit it?! It’s not funny anymore!”

 There! Goku finally spotted Yamcha and Bulma on the ground. They were so tiny. Kill. Destroy. He heard the command in his mind again. Goku raised his furry foot and slammed it down, barely missing Yamcha, Oolong and Puar.

 Yamcha disappeared from Goku’s view. He wondered where he went until he felt something grab his tail. He tried to move but something held him back. He heard Yamcha yell. “Puar! Turn into a pair of scissors!”

 Scissors? That’s what happened to his tail!

 “Goku? Goku? Goku!”

 Goku snapped out of his reverie. Soba was staring at him. That frown. He was annoyed. “Hmm. What?”

 Soba sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re spacing out again. You had another memory, didn’t you?”

 “Yeah.” Goku rubbed the back of his neck feeling awkward. He leaned on his repaired spaceship. It was fixed a while ago but it wasn’t until now, Goku felt ready to use it. This vision of him at Pilaf’s castle was the first one he had in a month. Now Soba knew he was still having these visions, Goku prepared himself for what Soba will say.

 “Goku, I think this is a sign you’re not ready to go home.”

 Here we go. Yesterday, Goku announced he will be going home. Since then, Soba have tried to talk Goku into staying longer. Goku appreciated Soba’s advice and friendship. With both being warriors, a mutual respect and brotherhood formed among them. He knew what he shared with Soba, he didn’t share with any other Yardratian. Maybe if he wasn’t feeling so homesick Goku would take Soba’s advice and stay a few more months but he wanted to go home.

 “I’ve been here long enough. It’s been four months. I’ve finally gotten control of being a Super Saiyan. I can change at will now.”

 “You can change at will but you haven’t gotten control of that rage in you. Last week you had a nightmare about Freeza.”

 “That was a fluke and it wasn’t a real memory.”

 “It doesn’t matter. You turned into a Super Saiyan in your sleep and destroyed your bed. What if you go home and that happens when you’re in bed with your wife?” Soba tried to get Goku to understand but his friend was stubborn. “Goku, you have a kind, innocent nature but that Super Saiyan transformation did something to you psychologically. It’s brought out things you’ve suppressed for years. You won’t overcome that in a few months. You need more time. As a warrior, I understand this. I’ve been through this. Listen to me when I tell you you’re rushing this.”

 “I know my training isn’t complete but it’s complete enough that I can go home. I’ll finish it there.”

 “Even at the risk of hurting your family?” Soba asked. It was a low blow but Soba hoped it was enough for Goku to understand the danger he is right now.

 Soba’s words struck him hard. Hurting his family was the last thing he wanted. “I’m hurting them now by being away.” How dare Soba say that? “They probably think I’m dead, Soba! It’s been four months and I haven’t been able to contact them to let them know I survive Namek’s explosion!” He stepped from his ship and nearly slammed the door. “I’ve been training myself every day for the last four months just to get control so I can go home to them and you accuse me of hurting them?!!” His eyes changed to teal, his hair stood up but remained black. Goku could feel himself on the verge on changing into a Super Saiyan against his will. Damn! This wasn’t what he wanted. He had control for a month now!

 Soba remained where he stood. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink. “This is why I say you’re not ready to go home.”

 Goku’s eyes returned to normal and his hair fell into place. After four months, he didn’t need to think of his family to calm down.

 “Goku…..”

 Multiple sonic booms clapped in the sky forcing Soba and Goku’s eyes upward. They saw multiple round pods streaking in the sky towards the city.

 Goku recognized the pods. “Those are…..”

 “Freeza’s pods,” Soba finished. Though they were on the outskirts of the city, the sudden loud boom in the city was heard by them. This is what Soba feared most. “I thought with Freeza being dead, we didn’t have to worry about an attack.”

 “I’ll help you,” Goku jumped in the air.

 “Wait.” Soba jumped in the air. “Flying will take too long.” He grabbed Goku’s wrist. Goku felt him and Soba disappear from where they were. They suddenly arrived in a classroom full of frightened children.

 “Papa!” Udon ran to his father.

 Goku looked around baffled. How did they suddenly arrive here? How did they travel over twenty miles in seconds? What did Soba do?          

 Soba held Udon in his arms as he stepped away from Goku and to Udon’s teacher. “Goku and I will stop the invaders. Get the children to the safe zones. Contact Ramen, Yaki and all the adults. Spread the word. Everyone must get to a safe zone.”

 The teacher nodded. “Chain link, children.” All the children crowded together and held hands. Soba hugged Udon before placing him back on the floor. Udon joined his teacher and held her hand. Goku saw everyone disappear in seconds.

 “What the….?” Goku was speechless. What was going on? “What just happened? How did everyone disappear?”

 “It’s a secret of our people, Goku.” Soba grabbed Goku’s wrist again. They disappeared and appeared in the center of the city. The invaders weren’t on Yardrat for long but they turned the heart of the city into a warzone. Vehicles were destroyed or overturned; buildings were on fire or crumbling, bodies lied in the streets. At the center of it all, ten aliens of different shapes, sizes and colors dressed in armor similar to the Ginyu Force. They fired energy blasts around them at buildings, at vehicles and people.

 Soba attacked first. He disappeared from Goku’s side and appeared in front of an invader. One fist to his stomach had an invader crumpling to the ground unmoving. His posture reminded Goku of how Recoome fell to his attack. Soba didn’t waste time admiring his work. He fought off another invader and in two moves, he was on the ground unconscious.

 Goku knew Soba was a warrior. They had friendly spars to test Goku’s control and strength. Goku held back but he didn’t suspect Soba did, too. He moved so fast now. His Ki rose when he attacked but dropped when he wasn’t fighting. It was similar to him when he fought Burter and Jeice but Soba’s disappearing technique made him sharper than Goku.

 He was so focused watching Soba Goku wasn’t aware of invaders creeping on him until it was almost too late. Goku jumped to dodge a punch to his head but he was left vulnerable to another invader who shot a ball of Ki at Goku’s back. Momentarily stunned, Goku plummeted. He caught himself before he hit the ground. As soon as his toes touched the ground he bounced himself back off his feet to strike the one who hit him. One punch had him falling faster than when he struck Recoome.  

 Seeing as how he quickly dispose of one, three attacked Goku at once. Goku grinned as his swift, smooth moves deftly avoided the arms, fists and legs of his opponents. If he hadn’t achieve his Super Saiyan ability, they would be a challenge.

 “Why are you still following Freeza’s orders?” Goku asked the three. “He’s dead. Leave these people alone and leave this planet.”

 The three fighters suddenly broke away from Goku. Goku stared at them bewildered. Were they giving up? One pointed at him. “You. You’re the one who fought Freeza.”

 Another spoke. “You’re the one who escaped Namek.”

 The third one explained. “We tracked all the ships that went to Namek. We only found one that escaped. We thought Recoome was stranded or imprisoned here. We thought he will tell us who put our master in his critical state but you escaped in his ship.”

 “That’s right.” Goku wouldn’t deny it. “So fight me and leave these people out of this.” Wait. What did he say about Freeza? “Critical state? Are you saying Freeza isn’t dead?”

 “We found him drifting in space weeks ago. He was barely alive.”

 “Even after all his surgeries, he’s still barely alive,” another invader added. “The machines are keeping him alive. If he recovers, he will never be the same.”

 “So, he’s not a threat anymore.” That was the only good news to learning Freeza was still alive. It angered Goku Freeza’s followers insisted on carrying out Freeza’s evil. It angered him they came to this innocent planet because of him. His control was slipping again. His hair flickered between black and blonde. But he was smiling. To unleash his slipping rage on them……

 It’s what they deserve.

 “Goku, stop it! This isn’t you!”

 That voice. It was Soba but Goku heard someone else say the same thing. His Grandpa! Suddenly, Soba and all the members of Freeza’s gang vanished around him. He wasn’t on Yardrat now. He was home at Mount Paouz. It was nighttime and the full moon was bright.

 “Goku, stop it! This isn’t you!”

 It was his grandpa. He look so tiny from his view but Goku recognized him. His heavy feet made the ground shake with each step. The quakes were so powerful his home collapsed under the pressure.

 Goku saw his grandpa running away but Goku wouldn’t let him escape. Trees fell at Goku’s footsteps; animals scampering to safety were crushed under Goku’s feet.

 “Stop, Goku!” Grandpa Gohan screamed. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”

 Grandpa was wrong. He knew what he was doing. It felt good to crush everything in his path. It felt good to release his rage.

 “I don’t want to hurt you but you leave me no choice, Goku. I barely survived the last time you changed.”

 Hurt him? Why would Grandpa hurt him? Grandpa Gohan jumped from the ground to a tree. His hands were pulled back. “Ka….me…..” Goku picked up the tree forcing his grandpa to jump. He flung the tree somewhere in the forest. His tail smacked Grandpa Gohan and sent his body hurling to another tree. He crumpled on the ground. With Goku’s heavy footsteps, the tree toppled and pinned Grandpa Gohan by his legs. Grandpa Gohan’s painful scream echoed in the night but it was muffled by Goku’s roar. Being on Mount Paouz, no one could hear him anyway.

 Grandpa Gohan pulled himself from under the tree. His legs were broken but his arms could move so he crawled. Goku stared at his grandpa. Still trying to get away. Grandpa Gohan’s belly crawl away was amusing. He couldn’t escape him. No one can.

  “My legs…” Grandpa Gohan groaned. “I won’t be able to escape you much longer, Goku.” He rolled on his back watching Goku approach. “I knew one day you will be the one to end my life, Goku. I know you don’t understand what you are doing but I forgive you and I will always be proud of you.” Those were Grandpa Gohan’s final words before Goku’s ape foot crushed his body.

 Goku didn’t hear the crunching bones of his grandpa’s body underneath him or the muffled screams. He only heard his roar in the sky under the bright full moon.

 Goku crumpled to his knees. His grandpa. He knew he killed him but until now he was spared the final moments of Gohan’s life. Even in death, Grandpa was calm and accepting of his fate. He didn’t look at Goku with hate. He spoke with pride and love for him.  

 Tears streamed down Goku’s face. Grandpa. How could I kill you? I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’m so sorry!

 Around him, the resistors of Freeza’s force crowded Goku confused. “What’s going on with him?” One moment Goku was ready to fight them and in the next he stood in a trance before crumpling to the ground.

 “Who cares?” One of the wicked invaders hand morphed into a sharp blade. “Let’s kill him.”

 Soba noticed Goku on his knees. He didn’t appear to notice Freeza’s force circling him for a final attack. He knew another memory struck Goku and judging from Goku’s body language, it was a painful one. “Goku!” Soba tossed aside his opponent. In a flash, he was at Goku’s side fighting off the opponents meant to kill him. “Goku, snap out of it! I need some help here!”

 One of the fighters caught Soba’s blind spot with a punch. Another sliced their blade across his chest. Blood spilled but it was only a flesh wound. Soba had enough wits to lead the three fighters to focus on him but it left Goku vulnerable to the remaining fighters.

 As Soba fought off his opponents, he noticed someone appear in front of Goku. It was his son. “Udon!” What was his son doing here? He saw him escape to the safe zone with everyone else. Distracted, Soba received a kick to his stomach and back and found himself temporary knocked on the ground. “Udon!”

 Udon shook Goku. “Mr. Goku. Mr. Goku. Please snap out of it, Mr. Goku. You have to help, Papa.”

 Goku raised his tear stained face. Udon. In his time here, Goku had come to know Udon as a quiet child. His shyness and easily frightened manner reminded him of Gohan before the ordeal with Raditz. He was so quiet around Goku in the early days of his arrival but over the weeks Udon opened up to him. He was a funny child. A kind one like his Gohan. He even showed hidden bravery like Gohan by coming here to help.

 Behind Udon, Goku could see the remaining five members of Freeza’s invaders land. One created a large ball of Ki and fired on them. Goku quickly grabbed the child and turned around to take the blast of his attack. Udon clutched Goku tightly as Goku’s scream rang in his ears. Udon teleported with his classmates to the safe zone but Udon grew worried over his father. With his teacher focused on keeping the other children calm, Udon teleported back to the battlefield where his father and Goku were. Seeing Goku suddenly fall and his father busy fighting off the other invaders, Udon knew he had to help. He snapped Goku out of whatever daydream he was in and in return, Goku saved his life. As he huddled close to Goku, Udon felt something strange coming from Goku. His Ki was different. Looking up, Udon saw Goku had changed into a Super Saiyan.  

 Goku released Udon. The child looked at him with wide eyes like Gohan did. He will protect this child as he protected his son. Eyes on Udon, Goku stretched a hand pointing away from him. A powerful blast of Ki expelled from his hand. Udon saw it swallow up two of the invaders surrounding his father. His father easily subdued the third fighter. Standing, Goku roared. More Ki expelled from him striking two of the fighters behind him while the other three barely avoided consumption.

 “Go!” Goku told the child. “Go to your father!” Udon left Goku and ran to his father. “Go, Soba! I’m barely controlling myself!”

 Soba picked up Udon, grabbed one of the fallen invaders and vanished.  

 The painful memories of his beloved grandpa’s death meshing with the rage against these invaders made a very toxic and dangerous combination. In his mind, Goku could hear a voice tell him to hold back but he couldn’t. These monsters didn’t deserve mercy. They fought for Freeza even when he couldn’t do it anymore. They will never stop. Mercy could not be shown for them. Only death. Goku fought against killing his opponent for years. It was his teachings under Mr. Popo Goku truly learned mercy. Perhaps, he learned too well for he couldn’t decipher between mercy and putting someone down for good. ChiChi and even Vegeta mentioned this. In the end, as much anger he had for Freeza, he showed mercy. When Goku delivered a final blow to Freeza after that mercy backfired, it still wasn’t enough. Now his loyalists continued his evil and Goku vowed no mercy for them.  

 Rising in the air, Goku sprayed the battlefield with bombs of his Ki. He purposely avoided the remaining fighters and destroyed all the space pods. None of them were escaping this planet alive. Goku dropped from the sky. His landing created shockwaves that knocked the invaders off their feet. Even seeing Goku’s rage and understanding how he was powerful enough to defeat Freeza, they charged on him, vowing to fight to their final breath.

 As a Saiyan, that got Goku’s blood pumping. Everything happened in a matter of seconds. The remaining fighters couldn’t see Goku’s movements but felt his strikes that crushed their bones, burn their insides and left them falling in a pile of defeat. It should be enough for Goku to walk away but he couldn’t. The rage grew in him. He couldn’t stop his Ki from rising. It caused the entire city to shake as if struck by a deadly earthquake. Buildings began to topple and the ground opened up. Goku could feel not all the Yardratians had escaped. He tried to find control again if only to spare them but he couldn’t stop the rage.

 Lost in his rage, Goku was unaware Soba returned and had been watching him for a while. The quakes Goku created stretched for miles. It even reached the safe zone where he teleported Udon and the only invader left. Goku had lost complete control. This is what he feared. This is why he tried to get Goku to understand he wasn’t ready to go home. With memories of his past surfacing, Soba knew there was a hidden memory that would unlock everything.

 Soba thought death was justified for the invaders but he felt some of his people still lingered in the area. They will be in the crossfires of Goku’s exploding rage. It was scary even to him how high Goku’s Ki rose. Any moment, he will explode and take everyone with him.

 As protector of this area, Soba couldn’t let that happen. He had an idea to stop Goku from destroying the city but knew it was possible it will cost him his life. He wasn’t coming out of this unharmed no matter how many scenarios he played out in his mind. Decision made, Soba disappeared from his spot. He appeared behind Goku and wrapped his arms around him. The energy pulsing around Goku burned Soba’s clothes and skin. Despite the pain, Soba concentrated, disappeared and took Goku with him.

 ****

 “You gave us a scare. We thought you wouldn’t wake up.”

 Blinking away the fog of sleep, Goku found himself in his room. Soba sat in his chair grinning as he drunk from his mug. Soba was covered with bandages on both his arms, hands and even across his chest. He wore pants but Goku suspected bandages covered his legs, too.

 The sheets rolled off Goku as he sat up. His chest was free of any injuries. He remembered Soba grabbing him and taking him away to a mountainous region where only they remained. His body was on fire and on the verge of exploding. Being near him, Soba was burned as well.

 “How long was I out?”

 “Almost a week. You had a breakthrough, Goku. Ever since that first dream, I knew more were coming. Whatever you saw, whatever caused that explosion of rage, needed to happen. Now you can properly heal and control this new power of yours.”

 His rage. It was scary but somehow he controlled it without blowing himself up when Soba took him away. It completely burnt him out and knocked him out for a week but the fact he did it, showed extreme progress and he was nowhere near ready to go home.

 “What happened to Freeza’s fighters?”

 “They’re dead including the one I took with me. We interrogated him before he killed himself in our prison. When Freeza was brought back to his planet, his condition caused extreme chaos and descent. Many who were forced to fight under him quit. Some escaped but some were killed by Freeza’s loyalists. With the war going on his planet, I doubt anyone will investigate the disappearance of those invaders.”

 That was good to hear and learning those invaders were all dead, some by his hand, didn’t bother Goku as much as he thought. It took many years but Goku finally understood some people had to be put down.

 “I’m sorry,” Goku suddenly apologized. “You’re injured because of me and I almost destroyed your city. Did my rage kill any Yardratians?”

 “No. Some got hurt in the quakes but the ones dead were killed by the invaders.” Soba regarded Goku with a kind smile. “You saved many including my son. Even in the rage of your transformation, you didn’t hurt Udon. I will be forever grateful for that. He’s all I have after I lost his mother.”

 Goku was glad that day did have some bright spots. For him, it made one unfortunate thing very clear.  “I can’t go home. Rushing home when I knew I needed more training would’ve been the worst thing.”

 Soba hated it took last week’s invasion for Goku to see that, but it needed to happen. “I promise to help you so you don’t have to stay here any longer than you have to. If there’s time, I’ll teach you a technique from my people.”

 “The disappearing one?” Goku hoped. Seeing Soba use it, Goku knew that was trick he definitely wanted to learn.

 “We call it teleportation.”

 “Teleportation?”

 Soba knew it was bending the rules. Yardratians were taught to not share their secrets with outsiders but since Goku saved the city and his son, Soba thought he could make an exception in that rule. “We only need to feel someone’s Ki wherever they are and teleport ourselves to them. It’s something we’re taught as children. That’s how Udon found us. As he gets older, his mental abilities will get stronger. He’ll learn to teleport himself to places without Ki like I did transporting us to the mountains. Teleportation is not an easy technique but I think you can do it. It might actually come in handy.”

 Yaki entered the room. She came by everyday to check on Goku. “Ah. My patient is awake.” She opened her medical bag ready to give Goku another exam. “How are you feeling?”

 Before Goku could answer, he suddenly perk up as an invisible force struck him. Soba and Yaki felt a strong Ki in the air. It was brief and faded like the sudden aura that surrounded Goku.  

 Yaki looked around nervous. “What was that?”

 “I think I felt the Ki of the Namek dragon,” Goku tried to understand what just happened, too. “It surrounded me for a moment. Last time I felt this Ki, I was on Namek when a wish---“ It suddenly hit him. “The Namek dragon balls are ready to make a wish. My friends must be trying to summon me.”

As much as he wanted, Goku knew he couldn’t go home now. He didn’t have as much control as he thought. If he went home, his uncontrolled anger could be triggered to hurt ChiChi or Gohan. “I can’t go home now.”

 Soba got an idea. He held his hands out to Goku and Yaki. “We’ll form a barrier. With our minds we’ll form a barrier to stop Porunga from teleporting Goku to Earth. Goku, we’ll open a link. We won’t be able to maintain it for long since most of our power will be on the barrier but once that link open, you have to tell Porunga to not wish you back.”

 Goku didn’t know how he’ll do that but he’ll try. He held Soba and Yaki’s hand while Yaki held his and Soba’s hands. The two Yardratian bow their heads and closed their eyes. Goku felt their Ki rising and intertwine with him as if they were bonding. Following their manner, Goku closed his eyes and concentrated. He was floating in space. He soared past planets, moons and stars. All look foreign until he saw a familiar planet with rings around it. He passed another large planet with a giant red spot. He saw them in one of Gohan’s books. He remembered ChiChi teaching Gohan about planets. A red planet. Goku knew that one. It was closest to….

 Earth! Goku couldn’t believe his eyes. He descended through the skies and clouds until he came upon a night sky and Porunga towering over Bulma’s home in West City. In front of the dragon among the Namekians and his friends, were Gohan and ChiChi. His family. They were there together, happy and looking up at Porunga.

 ChiChi. Gohan. What he will give to hold them now.

 Krillin suddenly materialized before everyone. Krillin! Goku mentally cheered. Porunga brought him back to life! He didn’t know the Namek dragon could bring someone back to life after they were wished back.  

 “For the last wish, bring Son Goku here!!” Bulma cheered.

 Goku saw Dende translate the wish to Porunga. Goku suddenly felt a pull. His body was being pulled in two different directions. He felt Porunga’s pull to honor the wish but he also felt Soba and Yaki’s mental pull to keep him on Yardrat.

 “Now, Goku,” Soba spoke in a strained voice. “Talk to Porunga!”

 Goku mentally reached out to the Porunga as he did with King Kai when he battled Freeza. “Porunga, I refuse your wish. I do not want to be wished back to Earth. Tell everyone, I will return on my own.” Goku still felt the pull from Porunga. He tried again. “I refuse your wish! I will return on my own!”

 Porunga dropped his pull. Free from Porunga, Soba and Yaki began pulling Goku from Earth. Goku stole one more look at his family before he was mentally pulled from them. The last words he heard came from Porunga: “He refuses. Son Goku said he will return on his own.”

 Goku felt himself freefalling pass the planets in his solar system, past other planets and galaxies until he was back in this solar system and mentally falling back to this planet. Soba and Yaki dropped their hold on him. Yaki sat on the edge of Goku’s bed exhausted. Soba leaned on his desk drained.

 “Wow,” Yaki rubbed her temples. She had a killing headache. “I never had to use my telepathy that far.”

 “None of us have.” Soba’s head was pounding. That barrier and mental link strained him to exhaustion. Soba looked over at Goku. His head was bowed and he was very quiet. He couldn’t imagine what Goku was thinking. He knew how determined Goku was to go home. To be so close to being with his family only to refuse to come back for their safety had to crush Goku.

 “Tomorrow, Goku,” Soba promised. “Tomorrow we’ll get started.” Goku didn’t say anything. He kept his face down, shielding himself from their view. Soba touched Yaki’s arm. “Come on, Yaki. We should go.”

 Yaki wanted to stay a little longer to catch her breath. She almost spoke her need when she saw Soba pointing at Goku. His face was hidden but she noticed a tear drop on his hand. Quietly, Yaki grabbed her medical bag and left the room with Soba.

 ****

 “So, what do we do now?”

 ChiChi wasn’t aware who asked and she didn’t care. She only knew Goku wasn’t coming home today. She told her father Goku was coming home today. She told Mrs. Niver Goku was coming back. The Spring Festival wasn’t until three months from now but her people were expecting to see Goku before that. Maybe she could stall Goku’s absence a little longer but if Goku doesn’t return by the Spring Festival, there will be no stopping Mrs. Niver or the rumors that will surface.

 “Mom? Mom?”

 ChiChi noticed her son tugging her hand. “Sorry, Gohan. Did you say something?”

 “Could we say hi to Yamcha?”

 “Yamcha?” Wasn’t he still dead?

 “We used the third wish to bring him back since Daddy didn’t want to come home.”

 ChiChi looked around and noticed the Namekian dragon was gone, the Namekians and everyone else were going back inside. Lost in her daze, she hadn’t noticed they used the third wish. “For a few minutes,” ChiChi told her son.

 ChiChi followed everyone to the zoology floor where Dr. Briefs kept all his pets. ChiChi heard Bulma scream and run into Yamcha’s arms. Seeing how Yamcha spun Bulma around left ChiChi feeling envious. It’s how she imagined her reunion with Goku. ChiChi didn’t like Bulma because of the secrets she kept from her but she was happy for Bulma and Yamcha.

 “How are you feeling?” Krillin asked.

 “It’s great to be back!” Yamcha happily told his friend. He held Bulma tightly against him. “I’m still confused. I thought Goku was coming back. What happened?”

 “He didn’t want to come back,” Bulma explained. “He said he will come back on his own.”

 “On his own?” Yamcha repeated confused.

 “If you ask me, Goku didn’t want to come home because he will have to deal with ChiChi. She was probably waiting to yell at Goku for being away for so long even though we all thought Goku died on Namek.”

 “Um, Bulma,” Krillin interrupted.

 “I agree,” Master Roshi jumped over Krillin. “She almost attacked me for making a joke earlier. She’s cute but she’s as cantankerous as Lunch.”

 “Really?” This was surprising to Yamcha. “Last time I saw her, she and Goku were leaving after the tournament. They seem happy. Why would she yell at him when she knew Goku died?”

 “She does that a lot,” Bulma said with a shake of her head. “Be glad you didn’t have to deal with her like we did after Goku died and in the hospital after Goku’s fight with Vegeta. She was out of control. Always ranting and screaming. I don’t know how Goku deals with it but he must be okay with it to stick with her after all this time.”

 “Bulma!” Krillin tried again.

 “She was ornery when we were waiting for the fight between Goku and Vegeta to be over.” Oolong rubbed his face remembering how ChiChi hit him when he, Master Roshi and her father tried to stop her from going to the fight. “If Goku had to deal with that for five years, I bet he was glad he died just to get away. Maybe he’s taking his time returning because he doesn’t want to live with his wife again.”

 “Wow.” This was all news to Yamcha. “I thought about checking on her after my training with Kami.” Yamcha shrugged. “Guess it’s a good thing I forgot or she would’ve yell at me, too.”

 “Check on her?” Bulma eyed Yamcha suspiciously. “Why?”

 “She’s Goku’s wife. She lost Goku and her kid for a year. I wanted to see if she’s doing all right.” Whoa. Yamcha stepped back. Bulma was pissed. “Why are you mad?”

 Bulma tapped her foot and crossed her arms. She was super pissed. “You didn’t check on me after your training with Kami.”

 “I was gonna!” Yamcha defended himself. “I planned to see you before the fight but the Saiyans came a month early. I didn’t think I would die and be gone for six months.”

 That answer did not satisfy Bulma. “You would check on ChiChi. I seem to recall you keeping yourself real close to her when Goku fought Piccolo.”

 “Oh, come on, Bulma!” Yamcha couldn’t believe this. He hadn’t return to life for an hour and Bulma was already accusing him of being unfaithful. “She was Goku’s fiancée. I was looking out for her for Goku’s sake. Can you imagine how Goku would’ve felt if ChiChi got hurt in the crossfires of his fight with Piccolo?”

 Before Goku’s decision, Bulma would agree with Yamcha, but now…. “As if Goku would’ve cared. He completely forgot about ChiChi. He probably cared as much about her now as he did then.”

 Krillin slapped his forehead.

 Yamcha sputtered nearly flabbergasted. “How can you say that, Bulma?”

 “He didn’t come back when he could’ve!” Bulma yelled. “That tells you everything!”

 “I agree with Bulma,” Master Roshi stepped in. “I never knew you could reject a wish. To do so, you have to be lucid. So wherever he is, Goku is fine physically and mentally. He made his decision with a sound mind. He’ll come back,” Master Roshi was certain. “For his son more than anyone else.”

 “GUYS!” Krillin yelled. When he finally got their attention, Yamcha, Bulma, Oolong and Master Roshi spotted ChiChi and Gohan a few feet from them. It was evident they heard everything.

 Yamcha slapped his forehead, “Oh, geez.”

 “We’re joking,” Master Roshi waved his hands frantically fearing this time ChiChi will hit him. “It was a…..” he didn’t finish as ChiChi turned and walked away with Gohan.

 ChiChi left the zoology room and didn’t stop until she was at the end of the hall. The nerve of them! First Goku refuses to come back and now his friends with their cruel words. How could her sweet husband be friends with such heartless people? She needed a moment. If she didn’t get this moment, she will lose it and she couldn’t in front of Gohan. “Gohan,” ChiChi knelt before her child. “Mom needs to use the bathroom before we leave. You can….” She stopped, catching herself as her voice shook. She needed to calm down. She couldn’t let Gohan see her break down. “You can play with your friend, Dende, but not your father’s friends. You stay away from them until I get back. That’s an order.”

 Gohan nodded his head slowly. “Daddy is coming back, right, Mom?”

 “Of course he is.” ChiChi forced herself to smile. “Daddy just needs more time before coming home. Daddy’s probably still recovering and wants to return home in perfect health. Now go,” ChiChi encouraged Gohan to leave, “Go play with Dende.”

 Gohan gave ChiChi an impulsive hug and returned to the zoology room. Alone, ChiChi wandered the large dome home, opening several doors until she found a bathroom.

 Inside, ChiChi slid down the door sobbing. How could he? How could he not come back?

 I bet he was glad he died just to get away.

 He didn’t come back when he could’ve.

 Goku is fine physically and mentally. He made his decision with a sound mind.

 He’ll come back. For his son.

 ChiChi pulled her legs to her chest and buried her face in her knees. What about me? I’m his wife. Wouldn’t he come back for me, too?

 ChiChi didn’t know how long she cried. She only knew when she had no more tears, her head was pounding. After the tears stopped, she thought of Gohan and how he was waiting on her. That was the only motivation that forced ChiChi to her feet and go to the sink. She turned on the water and examined herself in the mirror. Oh, her eyes were so red and her face was puffy. She couldn’t let Gohan see her like this.

 ChiChi grabbed a towel, wet it and pressed it against her eyes before moving to the rest of her face. After several wipes, the redness in her eyes faded and the puffiness had gone down. ChiChi wetted the towel again. Maybe another wipe or two and she’ll be presentable for Gohan.

 “What the hell, Bulma? Vegeta’s been living here for four months!”

 ChiChi turned off the water. That sounded like Yamcha. He was mad at Bulma, too? If he were, ChiChi couldn’t blame him. She heard Bulma offer Vegeta a room but ChiChi had no idea Vegeta accepted Bulma’s offer.

 “So?” Bulma responded coolly. “The Nameks have been here for four months, too. Besides, Vegeta didn’t have any money or a place to go.”

 “Who the hell cares if he didn’t?” Yamcha yelled back. “He’s responsible for me, Tien, Chaozu and Piccolo dying!”

 “From what I heard, it was the Saibamen that killed you. Not Vegeta. Those things are dead so no harm no foul.”

 “No harm no….” Yamcha broke off the words. “I was dead!! Didn’t that mean anything to you?!”

 “Of course it did!” Bulma snapped back. “I went to Namek to get those dragon balls to bring you back! Do you know what kind of hell I went through for you?! Namek was not a day at the spa!”

 ChiChi agreed Bulma had a point. From what Gohan told her, Namek wasn’t a pleasant time but Bulma was safe where she was. Other than the encounter with Vegeta when he came to get the dragon ball Krillin possessed, Bulma remained alone but safe.

 “I appreciate that, Bulma. I really do.” Yamcha sounded remorseful for yelling at her. “But Bulma, Vegeta. How could you let him live here? He’s a mass murderer. He could’ve killed you, your parents and these Nameks.”

 “If he wanted to kill us, he would’ve done so the moment we arrived on Earth. No one’s strong enough to stop him except Goku. Vegeta’s hardly around anyway. He doesn’t hang out with me or the Nameks. He just stays in his room and comes out to eat. Sometimes he leaves and be gone all day or days.”

 “Sounds like you’re keeping tabs on him.” Yamcha was getting angry again.

 “He’s a stranger on this planet. We all should be keeping tabs on him so there isn’t an incident where an entire city is blown up because he doesn’t understand our culture.”

 “You just said if Vegeta wanted to kill he would’ve done it already so there’s no need to keep tabs on him.” Yamcha sounded suspicious. Annoyed if Chichi understood correctly. “Have you wanted to spend time with him?”

 “What the hell does that mean?” Bulma screamed. “Are you accusing me of not being faithful?”

 “Well, I was dead and I know how you are.”

 “Excuse me?!”

 “You always accused me of cheating, Bulma. I never cheated. I had a female fan club after that first tournament but I had nothing to do with that. I couldn’t do anything with them but you always got mad and accused me of cheating!”

 “You could’ve told those girls to stop it!”

 “I was still shy then!” Yamcha argued back. “I never approached them but you approached guys.”

 “Wha…. Where is this coming from?!” Bulma shouted. “You’re back after being dead for half a year and you accuse me of cheating?! When have I shown to cheat?”

 “I always looked the other way about that.”

 “Whoa! Back up. What do you mean always look the other way?”

 “Krillin told me about Commander Blue and Oolong told me you were drooling over Goku when he showed up at the last tournament.”

 Goku? ChiChi nearly dropped her towel. Bulma was attracted to Goku? Her Goku since the last tournament? Did Goku know this?

 “Oolong?!” Chichi jumped from the door at Bulma’s scream. “That damn pig and his loose lips! It’s time for him to get out my house if he’s gonna speak so badly about his hostess!”

 “You’re not denying it.”

 “There’s nothing to deny!!” Bulma was almost screeching. “I only said Goku is attractive. Last time I saw him Goku was a short little kid with a tail. He grew up to be a tall, handsome guy with no tail. There’s nothing wrong in admitting someone is attractive!”

 “Maybe,” From the sound of his voice, ChiChi suspected Yamcha didn’t completely believe her. ChiChi wasn’t sure if she did either.

 “And even if I wanted him,” Bulma went on, “I can’t have him. Goku’s married.”

 “Yeah. How foolish of Goku to marry a woman who is still loyal to him after he was dead for a year. I can’t trust my own girlfriend of a decade to be loyal after I’m dead for six months.”

 ChiChi winced at the loud sound of that slap. Bulma wasn’t a martial artist but ChiChi knew there will be a bruise on Yamcha’s face in the morning. The sound of retreating footsteps in different directions signaled the conversation was over.

 How ironic ChiChi thought as she dumped the wet towel in the hamper. “Bulma has some nerve to question my relationship with Goku when she has her own problems with Yamcha.”

 ChiChi had enough of this place and all the people here. All she want right now is take Gohan, go home and not see any of these people for a very long time. She opened the door expecting no one on the other side but was shocked to find herself staring at the Saiyan Prince, Vegeta.

 “Pathetic,” he told her.

 ChiChi stood there wondering what he was talking about.

 “I’ve spent four months traveling this planet and observing the people. I see how Kakarrot has gotten so soft. You people on this planet are pathetic. I thought with you being the wife of a Saiyan YOU would be exception but I see you’re pathetic like the rest of them.”

 “Pathetic?”

 “Where’s that fire from months ago?” Vegeta asked. “Instead of taking action, you cry like a baby. No wonder your child was so weak on Namek; helping instead of using the opportunity to attack the enemy. Kakarrot was weak, too, but he became a true Saiyan when he overcame his Earth weakness and killed Freeza.” His eyes swept over her disgusted. “Maybe they are right. Maybe you are the problem. You weakened him and Kakarrot is better off without you.”

 They call her a bad wife. They blame her Gohan wasn’t strong when they met him. They blame her for weakening and changing Goku. Yajirobe blamed her for Goku’s death; they even blamed her for them not telling her what happened to Goku and Gohan that day. ChiChi always restrained herself against Goku’s friends. They were weak and she knew her strength but this person, this Saiyan, ChiChi could extract her anger at him.

 “SHUT UP!!” ChiChi balled her fist and connected with Vegeta’s cheek.

 Vegeta stumbled back a step; shocked ChiChi actually struck him; shocked it actually stung. He expected Kakarrot’s wife to cry, maybe stand there and take his verbal abuse as she had with Kakarrot’s friends. Never did he think she would strike him. ChiChi swung at him again but this time he was ready for her. He easily dodged. She missed and punched a wall creating a hole were Vegeta’s head would’ve been. Even Vegeta’s eyes widen slightly at the impact ChiChi’s fist had on the wall.

 ChiChi didn’t try striking again knowing he would escape her fist. Instead, she yelled knowing he couldn’t escape her voice. “I’m not as strong as you, my husband or even my son but I am not weak! You have no idea the hell I’ve been through having my husband die on me and my son taken from me for a year! You have no idea what I’ve had to put up with in Goku’s cowardly friends! The lies and secrets from them!” ChiChi screamed in frustration. “Goku’s friends can criticize me all they want but they’re wrong.” At this point, ChiChi didn’t know if she was talking to assure herself or venting her rage and Vegeta of all people but she had to get this off her chest. “They don’t know what Goku and I share! The things he shared with me he never shared with them and they knew Goku longer than me! None of you know anything so shut up with your lies and hate!!”

 Vegeta chuckled arrogantly as he took in ChiChi’s angry tirade. “You’re fiery. You even resemble a female Saiyan. Kakarrot’s Saiyan instincts were alive when he chose you.”

 “I don’t know anything about Goku’s Saiyan instincts but I chose him!”

 “Hmph.” He let that sink in for a moment. “I don’t know anything about Earth customs and courtships but if Kakarrot’s a real Saiyan, you know in his own way he showed how he chose you.” He stared at ChiChi, waiting for a reaction. The woman looked as if she was thinking, wondering what he meant. Suddenly, she gasped; her eyes grew wide and her hand covered her mouth. Vegeta couldn’t help throwing his head back laughing. Kakarrot. He was a sentimental fool but there’s hope he’s a real Saiyan after all. “Earth’s culture raised Kakarrot but he never forgot his Saiyan instincts. Kakarrot’s friends will never understand his attraction to you but I see it.”

 ChiChi wasn’t sure if he complimented or insulted her. A ball of Ki formed in Vegeta’s right hand. He brought it to ChiChi’s face. The heat of it was intense. It immediately caused her to break out in a sweat. If her skin touched it, she knew the damage to her skin would be severe. Instead of showing fear, she glared at Vegeta. What was he trying to do?

 “I don’t care if you are Kakarrot’s wife. If you hit me again, I will kill you.”

 ChiChi matched Vegeta’s threat with one of her own. “You kill me. You touch me and my husband will deal with you as he dealt with Freeza.”

 The Saiyan Prince and the Princess of Fire Mountain boldly glared at each other; each refused to back down. Finally, the ball of Ki in Vegeta’s hand withered to nothing. The threatening façade on Vegeta’s face faded into a smirk. He turned away and walked off.

 ****

Nothing was spoken between Gohan and ChiChi on the ride home. Gohan played with Dende and kept away from Dad’s friends like his mother wanted. After what Bulma, Oolong and Master Roshi said, he understood why and it bothered him, too. Gohan didn’t like the things that were said about his mother. His mother yelled at his Dad but Gohan also remembered the three of them being very happy together. Dad wouldn’t stay away to keep away from Mom. He wanted to say that and tell them they were being mean to his mother but they were his Dad’s friends and he was taught to be respectful to adults. However, when his mother parked the truck and Gohan saw his mother wiping her eyes, Gohan knew he should’ve said something.

 It was depressing entering the house without Goku. ChiChi thought for sure Goku would return today. She had an entire celebration planned out. Food was on the kitchen counters and table. She spent most of last night preparing meals for Goku. She and Gohan created the “Welcome Home, Goku!” banner that hung in the kitchen. With a growl, ChiChi grabbed the broom and pulled it down. Part of the banner got tangled in the light fixture. Angry, ChiChi yanked it down. There was a pop and a flash of light sparkling before the banner and light fixture collapsed on the kitchen table destroying half the food.

 Gohan’s mouth dropped at the hole in the ceiling. ChiChi examined the broken light fixture and food that was now ruined. Some of the dishes were broken, too. ChiChi picked up a casserole dish. She remembered buying this with Goku in the days before their wedding. If it was only chipped, it would be salvageable but it was broken in half with the food contained spilling out. A set of dishes were crushed, too. ChiChi’s eyes watered at the broken plates. Mrs. Olitz gave her these dishes. Before she broke down to cry again, Gohan pushed the trash can to the table. Gohan climbed in a chair and began tossing the broken dishes and ruined food in the trash.

 It was touching Gohan wanted to help but this wasn’t his responsibility. “Go to your room, Gohan. I’ll take care of this.”

 “I want to help.”

 He was so sweet, like his father. ChiChi placed her hands on her son’s shoulders. “I know you do but this is Mom’s job. I caused this mess. I should take care of it. Go.”

 Gohan obeyed and went to his room. Knowing it will make his mother happy, Gohan studied. ChiChi called her father to let him know Goku didn’t return, she broke the light fixture in her kitchen and needed him to fix it and the hole in the ceiling. Gyu-Mao was saddened Goku didn’t return. He also couldn’t come over but he offered to call Aki. ChiChi preferred her father came. Aki’s wife was due any day now. After her labor experience with Gohan, she didn’t want Aki to be away from his wife but a quick call from Aki after she talked to her father, assured her it was fine. While she waited, ChiChi cleaned up the kitchen, tossing out the broken dishes and ruined food, sometimes crying, and sometimes growling out her frustration at Goku’s decision.

 ChiChi had calmed down when the doorbell rang. Aki like Goku. Maybe he will see optimism in Goku’s decision to stay away. She could definitely use that right now. Instead of seeing Aki on the other side of the door, ChiChi saw Kaifun.

 “Kaifun? Why are you here?”

 “Aki called me. He was on his way here but his wife started having contractions.” He noticed ChiChi hadn’t stepped aside to let him in her home. “It’s not a problem I’m here, is it?”

 ChiChi stepped aside to let Kaifun in. “Not a problem but Aki didn’t call to let me know this.”

 “I told him I’ll tell you.” He smiled at her. “And I just did.” He was all business as he went to the kitchen. Kaifun whistled at the hole. “Shouldn’t take long to fix that hole. I got some paint in my truck that matches the ceiling.” He looked at the broken light fixture on the table. He examined it and the hole again. “I can fix the wiring and put it back up but I went ahead and bought you a new fixture. It’s been six years. Might as well replace it.”

 Six years wasn’t old. It had a few more years left but ChiChi wasn’t in the mood to argue. “How much?”

 Kaifun grinned at ChiChi. “I would never charge my princess for anything.” He went outside to his truck. He returned with supplies to fix the ceiling. “Besides, this isn’t your fault. It’s Goku’s.” When ChiChi didn’t say anything, he pressed, “He didn’t come back. That’s why you have that hole in the ceiling.” He pointed to her trash can. “That’s why that “Welcome Home” banner is in the trash.”

 Why say anything when his detective work discovered the truth. “I won’t say anything but you know if Goku doesn’t show up at the Spring Festival, nothing will stop my grandmother. I won’t be able to.”

 ChiChi seethed knowing Kaifun was waiting to say ‘I told you so.’ “And you would like it more than anything to see your grandmother speak so badly about Goku.”

 “I wouldn’t mind as long as it didn’t hurt you and Gohan. You two deserved so much more than what Goku is willing to give you.”

 If she didn’t need his assistance, she would throw him out! “Goku will return. He’s just delayed.”

 “For your and Gohan’s sake, I hope so.” Kaifun silenced himself when he saw Gohan entering the room. He smiled at the child. “Hello, Gohan.”

 “Hi, Mr. Kaifun.” Gohan saw him a few times in his grandfather’s village. He was a nice man to him but he wasn’t as nice as Aki. “Where’s Mr. Aki?”

 “Mr. Aki had to help his wife. She’s pregnant and their baby may be born soon. So, I came to help out because Aki has responsibilities.” He placed a hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “You know a man is a real man when he puts the well-being of others over his selfish needs.”

 “Kaifun!” ChiChi was ready to smack him. “I’d like to have my kitchen back before dark.”

 Kaifun understood the message. “Do you want to help me, Gohan? It’ll help your Mom get her kitchen back sooner.”

 Gohan was eager to do anything to make his Mom happy. She deserved it after today. “What can I do?”

 “Gohan, you don’t need to.” The last thing ChiChi will allow is Kaifun taking subtle digs at Goku in front of his son. “Go back to your room and study!”

 “I can do this,” Gohan insisted. “I want to help.”

 “He should learn how,” Kaifun affectionately patted Gohan’s head in the same manner Goku always did. If this angered her, ChiChi knew Goku would blow Kaifun away with a Kamehameha wave if he saw it. “Gohan is man of the house until Goku returns. If something else breaks, Gohan can take care of it. You won’t have to wait hours for someone else to do it when you have a man at home who can do it.”

 “He’s five years old!” ChiChi argued. “This is not something a five year old should do.”

 “I’ve done a lot of things a five-year-old shouldn’t do.” Gohan spoke up. “I can do this, Mom. It’ll help you and I want to help you. It’s what Daddy would do.”

 Kaifun laughed but quickly covered it with a cough. “Let him help, ChiChi. Let Gohan see what a man should do.”

 If she didn’t need his help, he would be dead now. “You can show Gohan as long as you stop it with this man responsibility nonsense.”

 “Fair enough,” Kaifun agreed. He got his point across and he was pleased with that.

 ChiChi kept a watchful eye over Kaifun and Gohan. As much as she hated to admit, he was good around Gohan. Gohan listened attentively and followed Kaifun’s instructions as he showed him how to fix the hole in the ceiling, paint and helped with putting in the new light fixture. Gohan only met Kaifun a few times and each time Kaifun has always been kind to her son but this was the first time they spent a long amount of time together. ChiChi could only imagine how Goku will feel about this when he return.

 ****

 A few pictures were scattered on the bed as ChiChi added photos to the family album. Not many were taken over the months but the box was growing and ChiChi decided to take care of some of the photos before the volume got out of hand.

 The first photos she sifted through were taken at the Spring Festival. ChiChi liked the picture taken of her with Gohan and Aki with his wife and baby daughter. In hindsight, she really wished she had taken Aki’s advice and not come to the festival.  

 Being the daughter of Gyu-Mao, ChiChi expected a certain level of respect when she walked among the people in her village. The people were always kind and respectful to her, Gohan and Goku. However, this was the first time ChiChi saw pity in their eyes. No one ever said anything outright but ChiChi knew they were expecting Goku to come to the Spring Festival and when they saw only her and Gohan, assumed the worst.

 They were overly kind to her and Gohan, offering free samples of food, allowing her and Gohan to move to the front of the line when attending rides or visiting booths. Gohan received a lot of friendly attention since this was the first festival Gohan attended since the Raditz ordeal.

 “Gohan, I should carry some of that.”

 Gohan carried a bag of prizes he won at booths he visited. “I can do it. It’s really light.”

 It was still an adjustment dealing with a son so independent. Independent but still a child in many ways. Aki took Gohan off ChiChi’s hands for a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It was pleasing to see Gohan excited about riding a Ferris Wheel even though he could fly.

 In the meantime, ChiChi sat with Aki’s wife, Reia and cooed over his baby girl. When she held the child, ChiChi felt stirrings in her loins. She accepted she wouldn’t have a big family but she longed for another child. If everything since Goku’s death hadn’t happened, she knew she would be holding her second child in her arms now.

 “Oh, lord,” Reia groaned seeing someone she detest approaching. “Here comes, Mrs. Grumpy. Why couldn’t she stay home for once? Go,” Reia told ChiChi. “I’ll distract her. I’ll tell her the sun was too hot and you needed to lie down.”

 ChiChi squeezed the bridge of her nose. She prayed for strength to deal with this woman. She prayed another scene wouldn’t occur like it did on New Year’s Eve. “No. I’ll stay.”

 “Hello, Mrs. Niver,” Reia pasted a phony smile on her face as the old woman approached their table. “Nice day, isn’t it?”

 The old woman smiled as if she won the lottery and her eyes were only on ChiChi. “It’s a beautiful day! It’s a beautiful day for families, husbands and wives, mothers, fathers and their children.”

 “I think so,” Reia rocked her daughter in her arms. “My baby girl is too young now but in a few years, she’ll really enjoy these festivals.”

 “Your daughter will enjoy it with her Daddy like all the children here.” She chuckled. “Except for one.”

 ChiChi clenched her fists. If Mrs. Niver wasn’t an old woman…..

 Reia tried to change the subject. “I hear congratulations are in order. Kaifun and Ovia are engaged.”

 The news of her grandson’s engagement didn’t make the old woman very happy. “She’s a bit old and have extra padding but she’ll be a good wife for Kaifun.”

 Old? ChiChi couldn’t keep herself from responding. “Ovia is thirty-one, Mrs. Niver, and she’s not fat.”

 Mrs. Niver snorted. That’s not how she saw it. “She could stand to lose twenty pounds.” Her eyes swept over ChiChi’s figure. “You had a child and kept your body in good shape. Ovia is childless. Imagine how she will let her body go once she has one.” Reia rolled her eyes and ChiChi gasped at the rudeness of the woman. As usual, Mrs. Niver didn’t see her words as cruel. “She’s the oldest unmarried woman in the village.”

 Reia sent Mrs. Niver a wicked side eye. She was looking at the oldest unmarried woman. “Not to me,” she mumbled.

 ChiChi didn’t know if Kaifun defended Ovia to Mrs. Niver but she will. This woman didn’t know when to quit. “You’re not married and you’re much older than Ovia. How can you speak this way about your grandson’s fiancée.”

 Mrs. Niver glowered at ChiChi. “I mean she’s never been married and we both know why I’m not married anymore.” She harrumph. “At least my husband didn’t choose to ditch me.” When ChiChi didn’t respond back with a fiery retort of her own, Mrs. Niver smiled wickedly. “You know I’m right.” Mrs. Niver pointed to where Kaifun and Ovia were. They were eating at a booth. Ovia wiped food from Kaifun’s face with a napkin. In turn, Kaifun grasp Ovia’s hand and kissed it. “Take a good hard look at what you missed listening to your hormones instead of your brain. Men like Goku are the type you sleep with for a good time. You don’t marry or have families with them. Because of your selfish choice, you and an innocent child are suffering.”

 “Oh, that’s it!!!” Reia snapped. “Listen, Old Woman!” Before Reia could fire off in an angry tirade, her daughter wailed in her arms. “Dammit!” Reia gently rocked her child in her arms to soothe her cries.

 “Cursing in front of a child.” Mrs. Niver shook her head disappointed. “How appropriate for you.”

 “Don’t you start with me!” Reia threatened. “I’m not as nice as ChiChi.”

 ChiChi rose from her seat. This has gone far enough. ChiChi grabbed Mrs. Niver by her arm and dragged her to Kaifun and Ovia with several citizens watching. “Take her home!”

 Kaifun looked from ChiChi to his grandmother. He knew it was a bad idea to let her come but his grandmother promised to be on her best behavior. “Oh, Grandma, what did you say now?”

 “I only spoke the truth.”

 The truth. Her blasé response enraged ChiChi. She squeezed the old woman’s arm so hard Mrs. Niver actually cried out in pain. She was done with this woman. “You are no longer welcomed at my father’s castle for ANY festivities. If you see me or my family anywhere else in the village, you do not speak to us. If you do, I’ll personally see you are banned from my father’s kingdom.”

****

 ChiChi fanned herself with a photo. It was months ago and that moment still made her hot. The gall of that woman. She put ChiChi in a sour mood for the rest of the festival. Luckily, Gohan didn’t pick up the tension when he and Aki returned. Aki noticed it immediately and stormed off to talk to Mrs. Niver but Kaifun taken her home. ChiChi didn’t see Mrs. Niver in the village after that when she and Gohan stopped by and she didn’t come to the Fall Festival which made ChiChi happy and gave her hope Mrs. Niver was out of their lives for good.

 After fanning herself, ChiChi realized the photo she held was taken on Gohan’s birthday. That was another bittersweet moment this year. It started off well but the night was definitely one of the worst of ChiChi’s life.

 Gohan was finally asleep after a long but exciting day. It was Gohan’s sixth birthday. After Gohan finished his studies, ChiChi allowed Gohan to go outside to play. ChiChi knew Gohan was using this free time to see Piccolo since he was never allowed in her home. She didn’t like him, didn’t understand Gohan’s fascination of him and knew of no way to stop her son’s growing affection for him. ChiChi distracted herself on what those two were doing by preparing the home for Gohan’s special day. She missed Gohan’s fifth birthday. She wanted to make up with his sixth.

 ChiChi decorated the living room with a banner, streamers and balloons. She prepared all Gohan’s favorite food. She wanted everything to be perfect for him. She did the best she could but knew it would only be perfect if Goku walked through that door.  

 That afternoon, the birthday guests arrived. Gyu-Mao bought several gifts: toys, clothes and books for Gohan. Aki, his wife and daughter attended as well with a gift of their own. ChiChi took several pictures of Gohan opening presents, eating and even holding Aki’s daughter.

 That evening while Gohan slept, Aki and his family parted for home, ChiChi and Gyu-Mao sat at the table talking about the person missing from the party.

 “It’s been several months now,” Gyu-Mao sipped his drink. “Still nothing from Goku?”

 ChiChi stirred her tea. “I’m sure there’s a reason but I don’t know what could be keeping him.”

 “I talked to Goku in the hospital. I apologized for keeping my secrets and taking Gohan’s letters. He forgave me. I thought things will be good between us but I don’t like this, ChiChi. Why wouldn’t Goku come back when he had a chance?”

 “There’s a reason, Dad,” ChiChi insisted. “I don’t know what, but….”

“A reason that justify my daughter was hurt by his decision.” Gyu-Mao couldn’t accept that. He was angry. He saw ChiChi’s pain, dried her tears; felt her humiliation at the New Year’s party and the Spring Festival where ChiChi was forced to admit Goku hadn’t returned. It angered and frustrated Gyu-Mao he couldn’t do anything about it. “Goku has another six months to get here.”

 His words sounded like a threat. “Or what, Dad?”

 “Or you and Gohan are coming home with me.”

 “Dad,” ChiChi gasped. She suspected her father was a little frustrated with Goku’s choice but she didn’t expect this. “Gohan and I can’t go to your home. We have a home. Here.”

 “You and Gohan should not be living out here if Goku’s not coming back. In my kingdom, you’ll be love and wanted.”

 His words were hurtful. Was he suggesting after all this time he didn’t think Goku love and wanted her and Gohan? “How can you suggest Goku’s not coming back or downplay his feelings for me and Gohan?”

 “If he leaves you alone for a year that’s perfect justification.” ChiChi opened her mouth to argue but Gyu-Mao stopped her. “No, ChiChi. This is an order. If Goku doesn’t return after a year he’s been away, you and Gohan are coming home with me.”

 From his tone, he was serious. As angry as he got, ChiChi knew she could do nothing if her father revealed that fiery temper of his. “And what if Goku isn’t back? What if it takes two years?”

 “Are you willing to wait that long for him?” Gyu-Mao wouldn’t allow his daughter to dishonor herself. “You may think I’m being unreasonable, ChiChi, but I love you and Gohan. If Goku comes back, then he’ll have to prove himself fit to take on his responsibilities.”

 “You can’t do that,” ChiChi argued. “I’m married and I will live in the home my husband and I have shared since we married.”

 “You will always be my daughter but you may not always be a wife.” It was as if he slapped her with his words. “Married or not, you will always be my responsibility and that will mean me doing things you won’t like.”

 “Dad!”

 “I’m doing this for your own good, ChiChi.” Gyu-Mao heard enough. He would not back down on this. “If after a year, Goku hasn’t come back, you and Gohan are coming home to me. If Goku returns, then he’ll have to prove himself before I let you and my grandson in his care again.”

 ChiChi stuffed the album in the drawer of her dresser. She couldn’t believe it but a year has passed.  ChiChi thought, hoped Goku would be back by now. What was he thinking? Where was he?! Even if he had to recover from injuries Goku wouldn’t have been gone this long. She didn’t want to believe his friends, Mrs. Niver, her father but after a year what else could she think? Maybe they were right.

 Furious, ChiChi yanked her chain off neck. It had her and Goku’s wedding rings together. Growling, ChiChi tossed the rings. It bounced off the walls and landed somewhere on the floor. She didn’t care where. She didn’t want to look at them anymore. She saw Goku’s picture on her dresser top. ChiChi grabbed the picture frame and slammed it down. She saw another one on her nightstand and smacked it away. Instead of landing flat on the floor, the frame landed on the bottom with Goku’s smiling face staring at her. Seeing Goku’s face in the cracked frame, ChiChi fell on her bed sobbing. She grabbed Goku’s pillow, smothered it against her face to subdue the sound of her tears so Gohan couldn’t hear her crying. Not smelling Goku’s scent made her cry even harder.

 It was over she realized. Her life with Goku was over. She hated this. She hated what she will be forced to do. Two weeks ago her father visited asking if she wanted her and Gohan’s room to have a makeover. He was already expecting her back. She hated this so much! If she didn’t do it, she knew her father will drag her back to his kingdom kicking and screaming and she didn’t want Gohan to see that. The best way to get through it is do it on her own terms. Before her father called her or suddenly show up in an airship ready to pack her and Gohan’s things, she will call him and make plans for her and Gohan’s return to her father’s kingdom.

 ****

 Soba was remorseful as he, Udon and Goku walked to Goku’s ship. After extra months of training his mind and body to master Super Saiyan, deal with his rage and learn the teleportation trick, it was time for Goku to return home. “I’ll be lying if I didn’t say you will be missed.”

 Goku appreciated Soba, his advice and teaching. It wasn’t like having a teacher but a peer he could learn from. He’ll miss him but Goku was ready to go home. “I’ve been gone long enough, Soba.” Too long. “By the time I get home, I’d been away for a year. Gohan and ChiChi may think I’m never coming back.” He hated to think what they could be feeling now. “I just wanna go home.”

 Soba understood Goku’s desire to go home. “Miss your family?”

 “A lot. I think this whole journey has told me I’m done.” He chuckled. “ChiChi should be happy. She’s wanted me to settle down from fighting since we married.”

 “You’re getting old. Happens to all of us.”

 Old? He was only twenty-five but living the life he led, Goku’s realized he’s done more, seen more than many would see in their lifetime. “I will always love fighting. It’s in my blood. I’ll keep up with my training but I’m done being the hero. It’s time for someone else to do it.”

 Soba agreed with Goku’s desire to step down. “There’s joy being the hero but it is a heavy burden and requires sacrifice.”

 That was an understatement. Goku sacrificed a lot. He didn’t mind when it was only him but now his wife and son were paying a price, too. “I’ve been everyone’s hero since I was twelve. Even after marrying and having a kid, my friends still expect me to take care of things. When I took it easy, it affected the world. I died. My friends died. My son and friends travelled to an innocent planet to revive our friends. Innocent people were killed and lost their planet. I’m tired of everyone being affected by my decisions.”

 “You put too much on yourself. The way I see it, you had to go through those trials to be the person you are now. For the first time in your life, your past is no longer a mystery. You may not have all the answers but you know enough to be at peace. Whatever you want, go after it.”

 Soba’s wisdom will be what Goku miss the most. “I don’t wanna go home and think if I settle down again, the world’s in danger. I wanna fish with my boy and spend time with my wife. I know she wants to try for another baby. I don’t know if it’s possible but I wanna try. I’ll train. If he’s still on Earth, I’ll have a friendly rematch with Vegeta. Maybe we can be sparring partners.”

 “Good luck to you in finding your replacement. That person will have big shoes to fill.”

 “Not so big,” Goku thought with a smile. “Gohan should fill that role nicely. He has a lot of power in him. In a few years, he’ll be stronger than me.”

 “Do you really want to place that burden on Gohan?”

 “No,” Goku admitted truthfully, “But maybe he won’t ever feel that burden. Before I became a hero, the world was at peace for a very long time. ChiChi may disagree but I don’t see anything wrong if Gohan kept up with his training. It’ll be a shame to see it go to waste.”

 “Will you tell your family and friends about what happened here?”

 Goku shook his head. After what happened in the hospital, he knew better. “No. My friends wouldn’t understand. They might fear me. They have this idea of me that if it’s shifted, it’s not something they like.”

 “Hmm.” That didn’t leave Soba with a fond opinion of Goku’s friends. “They don’t sound like good friends.”

 “They’re good friends,” Goku defended them. “We’re just different. I had no idea how much they depended on me to be their savior.”

 “What about your wife and son? They should know.”

“I don’t want Gohan to know about this. ChiChi will figure me out eventually but I want some time before I explain this to her.” ChiChi will be furious he returned so late but once she cool down and he explain, things will be good between them again. She’ll understand as she always did.

 After saying his goodbyes to Soba and Udon, Goku departed Yardrat. He pressed the button for sleep mode. Sleep mode lower vitals and put the travelers for a long destination in a deep sleep. It will awaken Goku two hours before he arrive on Earth.

 Goku had a big smile on his face as he fell asleep. He was looking forward to returning home and being with his family again. He’ll go back to eating ChiChi’s delicious meals, fish and camp with Gohan, hopefully have another kid. With the work he planned to put in with ChiChi, she’ll probably be pregnant within the year. After these last two years, Goku was looking forward to a peaceful life again.  

 Part Twenty-Five: Homecoming

 AN: When reading about Yardrat for this chapter, I came across Soba who is actually a character from Dragonball Z Sagas video game in the 2000s. He is a warrior that Goku battles before he leaves for Earth. I thought he would be a perfect ally for Goku as I wrote what happened to Goku in his year away.

 It wasn’t easy trying to figure out how Goku refused a wish. I didn’t know it could be done but with the Yardratians having the ability to teleport and Goku telling everyone Yardrat people are mysterious and know a lot of weird stuff, I figured Yardrat have a lot of mental power to hold off Porunga’s wish.

 I think turning into a Super Saiyan took a mental and psychological toll on him. Going from someone who is generally happy to having pure rage had to have affected Goku and delayed his return home.

 Yamcha had to have been shock and angry at the thought of Vegeta living at Bulma’s home and while he couldn’t do anything about it, I think he voiced his opinion.

 Before anyone jump to the wrong conclusion, there is nothing romantic going on between Vegeta and ChiChi. I do think it’s interesting in fanfics how it’s written that Vegeta calls ChiChi a bitch or a harpy. Vegeta never reacted that way towards her in the manga or the anime. Towards women with the exception 18, Vegeta was aloof or nonjudgmental unless provoked. Vegeta wouldn’t call ChiChi those names because look who he got with. I think Vegeta has a low key respect for ChiChi because she is with Goku.

 This is the final chapter where Goku's friends are unkind towards ChiChi. As the story progress to the Trunks, Androids and Cell arc there are changes in these characters where they start being more civil to ChiChi.