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Goku’s first match in the semi-finals of the Tenkaichi Budokai went as he thought. He won! He always did. He expected to make the final match. He made it the first two times with dumb luck preventing his win. For his third, Goku knew he would win. However, he never expected to leave the Tenkaichi Budokai with a bride.
No one did! Not even his friends. Goku knew his friends didn’t have the highest expectations of him other than fighting. Some of that he brought on himself. He was out of touch with cultural norms. When Yamcha bought him new clothes, he scolded Goku for getting naked in the middle of the store. Krillin yelled at him for scratching his privates. Goku lost count over the number of times Bulma scolded and even shot at him for doing things he didn’t know were bad.
When he honored his promise to marry Chi-Chi, Goku thought he was doing a good thing. Chi-Chi was mad at him but only because she thought he had forgotten her. He didn’t forget Chi-Chi. He thought of her a few times. After the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku planned to take a break. He was going to Mount Paozu again and with Chi-Chi nearby, he thought to collect on that meal she offered him. King Piccolo changed that.
When he met Chi-Chi at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku learned bride wasn’t a meal. He realized he made a promise to live together with Chi-Chi. Goku didn’t know what he did to make Chi-Chi want that but since she wanted to live with him, he didn’t mind. He told her they should marry. Chi-Chi was happy. The crowd at the Tenkaichi Budokai was happy.
The only ones who weren’t happy were his friends.
Shock and ‘Are you out of your mind?’ seemed to be the mood of his friends.
There was a ten-minute break before Krillin fought Piccolo. Master Roshi used his fame to allow him, Bulma, Lunch, Oolong and Puar access to the fighter’s section forbidden from the public. Since Goku wouldn’t be fighting for two more matches, Chi-Chi left, excited about their impending marriage but promising to return to watch his match.
This left Goku’s friends to voice their true feelings.
“Are you sure about this, Goku?” Krillin was the first. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Krillin might be overreacting,” Yamcha didn’t think Goku’s decision to marry Chi-Chi was bad but, “but you don’t know her, and marriage is a serious commitment, Goku. It takes years of knowing a person to be ready to do that.”
“Then you and Bulma should be walking down the aisle at any moment.” Master Roshi wasn’t so quick to think this was a bad thing for Goku. He didn’t have a strong fondness for Chi-Chi. She attacked him years ago, but she was the daughter of his former student and grew to be an attractive woman. “Goku doesn’t go the conventional path and it always worked for him. Don’t hold him to your standards.”
“You’re right,” Bulma agreed, “but everyone’s luck always runs out. Hold off on marrying Chi-Chi until you get to know her. If you want, I can investigate and find out if she’s right for you. I’m an expert on women.”
Goku thought Bulma was the smartest person he knew but that didn’t mean he trusted her to decide if Chi-Chi’s right for him. She and Yamcha were always breaking up and getting back together. How could she decide if Chi-Chi is right for him? Chi-Chi’s waited for me all these years. In Goku’s mind, for Chi-Chi to wait for him when she didn’t know him, meant something. He couldn’t decipher or think of the right word for what that is, but he knew it was good and he should marry her.
“He’ll know if Chi-Chi is right for him after they live together.” Yamcha ruefully looked at Bulma. “Sometimes you don’t know a person until you live with them.”
“How well can you know a person if you live in a castle?” Bulma didn’t think living together was enough. “A real test is living in those mountains where I found Goku, but it would be crazy to live that far from civilization. That village Chi-Chi is from has some normality but it’s not West City.”
Despite his friends’ concerns, Goku married Chi-Chi. It has been two months and Goku liked marriage. Every day, Chi-Chi wowed him with delicious food. He usually ate meat, grains like rice and bread and fruit he found in trees and on vines. Chi-Chi incorporated many vegetables and grains into his daily meals. Foods he didn’t like were now yummy. It wasn’t always enough and it bothered Chi-Chi that she didn’t make enough to fill him. Goku didn’t mind. He was impressed Chi-Chi cared so much to want to make enough to fill him.
Grandpa was like that sometimes. When Goku was old enough to get his food, his Grandpa said, “If you’re old enough to say you’re hungry, you’re old enough to hunt your food.”
And so, he did. With Chi-Chi, he expected the same but one afternoon, she asked where he was always going after breakfast and lunch. He told her to catch a fish since he was still hungry. Chi-Chi broke down in tears. She apologized to him and called herself a bad wife.
Goku told Chi-Chi she was silly. He assured her he thought Chi-Chi was a good wife, but it proved how different she was from anyone Goku knew. No one had such care for him and his wants.
“It takes years of knowing a person to be ready to do that.”
“Sometimes you don’t know a person until you live with them.”
“A real test is living in those mountains where I found Goku.”
Chi-Chi took to living on Mount Paozu well. Aside from not wanting to live in his Grandpa’s home, Chi-Chi didn’t complain. Chi-Chi came from a village. It wasn’t a big city but there were enough people Goku thought Chi-Chi might not like the isolation of Mount Paozu. Chi-Chi told him the solitude allowed them to be as open with each other as they wanted. Chi-Chi enjoyed their walks after dinner. A few times she clung to him when she saw a dinosaur flying over but she didn’t shriek or run away. Goku liked her clinging. He liked whenever Chi-Chi was close to him.
Chi-Chi brought modern conveniences into his life including a TV. He didn’t have an interest in TV programs, but Chi-Chi watched some in the evening. It was part of her routine that, thinking of his friends’ words, Goku wondered what would happen if he took Chi-Chi from it.
“Camping?” Chi-Chi brushed her hair in the mirror. It was a nightly ritual for Chi-Chi before she got in bed. Goku was in bed waiting for her when he suggested they go camping.
“Is it a problem? Do you want to stay home and watch TV?”
“No,” Chi-Chi put down her brush and pinned her hair into a soft band. “I wondered when you would take me. It’s so pretty here and the weather is right for it now. It wouldn’t be good to do it in when winter sets in.”
Goku’s eyes followed Chi-Chi going into the closet. “I bought our camping gear a couple of weeks ago.” She came out holding a storage bin. She placed it on the floor and pulled off the lid. “I got us a tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, these cute canteens…..”
Goku laughed at the camping gear. “That’s not camping, Chi-Chi.”
Chi-Chi was confused. “What do you mean? Of course it’s camping.”
“I never needed all this to camp with Grandpa.”
“You didn’t sleep in a tent or sleeping bags?”
“No.” That sounded fancy and unnecessary to Goku. “We slept on the grass and looked at the stars.” He didn’t notice the sadness in Chi-Chi’s eyes as he leaned over the bed and pulled out a squared-shaped item with a cage from the storage bin. “What’s this?”
“A portable heater. You fill it with propane….” Goku shook his head and placed it back in the bin. “Guess you never used that.”
“Nope.”
“You’re right. I won’t need the heater. If it gets cold, your body can keep me warm.”
Goku looked up from the box. “Hmm?”
“Can’t it?” Chi-Chi got in bed and settled next to Goku. “If we’re in that tent, snuggled close together, your body can keep me warm.” She gently rubbed against him. “Right?”
Goku swallowed as he felt the soft material of Chi-Chi’s thin gown against his skin. It was short, too, settling at her mid-thighs. The material was so light he could see her pillows. He always felt warmer when she pressed herself against him. “It is?”
Chi-Chi nodded. “Mm-hmm, but I like sleeping close to you and feeling your skin against me. You’re like a human blanket.” Her hand gently massaged his chest with her fingers giving his pectorals a light squeeze before sliding down the muscles of his abdomen. “I’ll leave the heater at home if I can sleep close to you.”
What did Chi-Chi say? He forgets his thoughts when her fingers touch his skin. Something about blankets. “I’ll keep you warm.”
“And I can keep our camping gear.” That sounded right to Goku. Wait, what? “Good.” Chi-Chi pulled her fingers away. She leaned over his body to turn off the lamp. “Then it’s settled. We can use our camping gear when we go camping the day after tomorrow.”
Goku was befuddled as Chi-Chi kissed him, said good night and laid on her pillow. Goku wasn’t sure but he was certain Chi-Chi tricked him into using the camping gear.
Although Goku didn’t think the camping gear was necessary, he accepted it’s what Chi-Chi wanted. They each had a backpack filled with gear. Goku was impressed with Chi-Chi’s enthusiasm and her curiosity about Mount Paozu and the memories he had with his Grandpa. They left after breakfast. Goku expected Chi-Chi to voice a complaint about walking for hours or needing a break, but she never did. Chi-Chi asked questions about landmarks and took pictures while adding to the map Chi-Chi brought on their trip.
After a break for lunch, they resumed their walk to their destination of a place Goku called The Meadows. Goku told her it was a grassland area in Mount Paozu surrounded by thick forests. There was a lake that he deemed, the best fish.
They reached a crossroads at a cliff separating them from The Meadows. Chi-Chi looked down the ledge. There was a narrow walkway, but with one wrong step, she knew she was dead. “How do we cross?”
“Gramps and I used the power pole.”
“Your power pole?” The stick that was barely thicker than her broom? She pointed to the cliff. “You crossed to the other side on that pole?” Chi-Chi was confident she could keep her balance on the pole. She was skilled and strong but with their backpacks, she couldn’t cross with the extra weight.
Goku winked. “Another reason to not use camping gear.”
Chi-Chi crossed her arms over her chest. Her annoyance widened Goku’s smile. “Is there another option?”
“I can fly us across.”
“No.” It was the easiest way but she wanted to recreate the path Goku created with his grandpa.
Goku pointed to his right. Several feet away, was a fallen tree used as a bridge. “We can cross that or,” he pointed down. “We can hike down, cross the stream below and hike up but that’ll set us back half a day at the rate we’re going.”
“I see.” Chi-Chi didn’t want to delay reaching The Meadows. She looked at the tree bridge again. “I guess we can cross that.” Chi-Chi followed Goku not expecting the path to the tree bridge to be slightly treacherous. The ground was gravel and she almost slipped twice. When they reached the tree bridge, Chi-Chi had second doubts. It was thick and wide but the tree looked dry and old. “Is it safe to cross?”
Goku stepped on the tree. He bounced on it. The tree was old. He could see holes they’d have to avoid when crossing. Is this the same tree I crossed with Gramps once? It was a long time ago and he was so young.
“Well, Goku?” Chi-Chi thought Goku was taking too long with the inspection. “If it’s not safe, we can hike down.”
Goku didn’t want to lose half a day doing that. “Feels sturdy. Would’ve been better if we’re not carrying this camping gear but we can cross it.”
Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. How many times will he take a dig at her for wanting to use camping gear?
“But if you feel you can’t cross…..”
Chi-Chi growled at him. He was challenging her! “If you can cross it, so can I!” She stepped on the tree bridge. “Let’s go!”
Goku grinned. He knew that would get Chi-Chi moving. She had her pride. It was cute and funny how easy it was to rile her. But she wanted to bring camping gear we don’t need. Goku also saw it as a test for Chi-Chi to prove herself.
“It takes years of knowing a person to be ready to do that.”
“Sometimes you don’t know a person until you live with them.”
“A real test is living in those mountains where I found Goku.”
His friends' thoughts filled his mind again but as he reached the halfway point of the bridge, Goku started to wonder if they were wrong again with their advice. Chi-Chi was enthusiastic and willing to go this far to camp. She also lived with him in the mountains without complaining. That proved Bulma wrong. Goku liked living with Chi-Chi. He wasn’t restless or bored with her as he usually got when he was in a place too long. He was fascinated with how she could be fiery one moment but happy and sweet the next. She made him feel things he hadn’t felt before and he liked it. He liked how she didn’t call him stupid. He liked that she was willing to show him things. He even liked the cute frowns on her face when he talked about life on Mount Paozu after his Grandpa’s passing or during his travels.
Chi-Chi’s the only one besides Gramps to see me and not what I can do.
She does like telling me I’m cute. Goku lost count of the many times Chi-Chi told him he’s handsome and how lucky she is to be married to a cute guy. Goku never noticed his looks. He never knew he had something called ‘attractiveness’ or ‘sex appeal’ until Chi-Chi. She would be in awe of his strength when he came back with wood or a dead animal for her to cook.
Krillin and Yamcha may think it takes years of knowing a person and living with them but Goku didn’t think he needed years to know Chi-Chi. Living with Chi-Chi so far and this camping trip proved he knew enough and everything else he learns in the future will build on that.
Goku’s heart jumped when he heard Chi-Chi scream behind him. He quickly turned to see Chi-Chi fall off the tree bridge. She reached for him and called his name.
“Goku!!”
He jumped off the tree bridge. The fear in Chi-Chi’s eyes was frightening. He grabbed her hand and pulled her body up so he was carrying her.
“Oh, Goku!” Chi-Chi wrapped her arms around his neck. She was shaking. “Thank you.”
Goku buried his face against her neck. He could feel her rapid, beating pulse. He didn’t want Chi-Chi’s thanks. He wanted to apologize. It was his fault she almost died. He pushed her when he listened to the words of his friends over his instincts.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he whispered to her as he flew them to the other side.
Chi-Chi was quiet the rest of the way to the Meadows which gave Goku a little anxiety. Was she mad at him? Chi-Chi would scream whenever he did anger her and her not doing it now when she had a right to, worried him.
When they reached the Meadows, Chi-Chi finally spoke. “Oh, wow! Goku, it’s beautiful!”
Chi-Chi marveled at the valley’s vast grassland surrounding the thick alpine forest. With the slopes of Mount Paozu hanging like a backdrop in a painting, it looked like an untouched corner of the world. A pair of foxes chased each other into the forest. A family of deer drank water from a stream leading to a lake at the center of the grassland.
Chi-Chi pulled out her camera to take pictures to capture the moment while Goku looked at her, marveling at her face; her smile and joy and recording it to his memory.
They set up camp and though Goku didn’t think it was needed, he liked the tent Chi-Chi brought. There were disagreements and confusion about setting it up but once finished, it was roomy and comfortable and Goku liked he didn’t have to deal with bugs. The tent floor was dry and softer than the ground. Goku also liked the snacks and prepared food Chi-Chi brought. It saved him from hunting bugs as appetizers. Chi-Chi never ate bugs and discouraged him from doing so.
Goku hunted a fish from the pristine lake while Chi-Chi gathered wood for the campfire. Through it all, Chi-Chi smiled, hummed, and took pictures. There was a moment of worry for Chi-Chi when a baby bear wandered into their camp. She looked around worried for the angry Momma bear. Goku picked up the lost bear and carried him into the forest to reunite the baby with Momma.
As the sunset, Goku and Chi-Chi relaxed around their campfire with fish, corn on the cob and potatoes cooking over the fire. Goku simply watched Chi-Chi, walking around admiring the Meadows, taking pictures of him, getting him to take pictures of her, checking the food and talking about how they must bring their children here for camping.
“We’ll have to find a better way to cross to get here but I can’t wait for our babies to see this place, Goku. It’s wonderful.”
Goku agreed there was something wonderful here but it wasn’t the Meadows.
Chi-Chi reached into her camping bag and pulled out a cool container of mixed fruit. There were grapes, sliced strawberries, sliced oranges, and blueberries inside. She offered Goku some before grabbing a handful of grapes.
“What do you think of my camping additions?”
Goku laughed at Chi-Chi’s victorious smirk. He knew that was coming. “I like it. It makes camping more comfortable. Sleeping in the tent will be better than sleeping on the grass. I won’t have to worry about bugs.”
Chi-Chi kissed his cheek. “I knew you’d like it. So… do I pass the test?”
“Hmm?” Goku popped a sliced orange in his mouth.
“Do I,” she repeated, “pass your test? You were testing me.” She wagged her finger at him. “I know that.”
They won’t find my body if she buries it here. “You knew all this time?”
The volcanic eruption he expected from Chi-Chi didn’t come. “No.” She spoke calmly. “When you invited me camping, I was happy. It was the first time you wanted to do something with me. I’m always initiating things but when you suggested we go camping, I thought. ‘He likes me. He wants to spend time with me. He wants to show me his world.’” The joy in Chi-Chi left when she said, “But at the tree bridge, you taunted me. I was angry with you and wanted to prove myself. I lost my footing and slipped. When you caught me, I saw your eyes. I heard your apology. That’s when I wondered.”
That’s why she was so quiet.
“I wish I was wrong.” Tears pooled around Chi-Chi’s eyes. “I thought you wanted to spend time with me.”
Not the tears. He couldn’t take that from her. “I do. I was stupid. I….” He wouldn’t blame his friends. He listened to them. He chose to test Chi-Chi. It was his fault.
“I understand,” she sniffed while wiping her wet eyes. “We are still learning about each other. I have to prove myself good enough to be your wife.”
“No!” Goku didn’t want Chi-Chi to think she was to blame for this. “You’re a great wife, Chi-Chi. It’s me. My friends told me you don’t know someone until you live with them. I lived with a lot of people and I know I’m not the best person to live with.”
Chi-Chi’s tears dried as she focused on understanding Goku. “Why do you think you’re not the best person to live with?”
Goku shrugged. “I’m not. I eat everything. I don’t know how things work. I don’t know what’s normal to have in a house.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not the best person to live with, Goku. I don’t think you’re difficult to live with. If you were, I would let you know it.”
Goku smiled. That was one of the many things he liked about Chi-Chi. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. It encouraged him to be honest with himself. “I’m used to living with others for a while and leaving, Chi-Chi. Every time, I’m asked to stay. I don’t.”
“Why not?”
Again, Goku shrugged. “It doesn’t feel home to me. I stay for what I need to stay for and I leave. People want me to stay but I don’t want to.” He paused to collect himself. It was awkward being emotional. It was awkward to speak from the heart. “I like living with you, Chi-Chi. It feels like home, but if you get tired of me and want to leave….I will if it makes ya happy. I’d miss ya, but I’ll leave.”
Chi-Chi wanted to cry again but not for herself. For Goku. She understood why he tested her. He was testing me to protect himself. “I’ll never want you to leave, Goku.”
“Really?”
He looked like a lost boy at this moment. He needed comfort and assurance. For someone who had to shield his feelings, being vulnerable was hard. It made Chi-Chi love Goku even more and honored he chose her to be vulnerable with. “Wild animals, living from civilization, nothing can keep me from wanting to live with you, Goku.”
It was so relieving for Goku to hear that. He didn’t know how badly he needed Chi-Chi to say that. “Thanks, Chi-Chi.
“If you lose your handsome face and body,” she warned, “then I’ll leave.”
Goku thought Chi-Chi was joking but she wasn’t smiling. She wore that same stern look whenever she was angry with Goku. “Really?” Goku’s panicked voice snapped Chi-Chi’s stern façade. She covered her mouth to mute her laughter but she couldn’t stop laughing. Her hands fell to her sides as she lost herself in uncontrollable giggles. “That’s not funny, Chi-Chi!”
“It’s not funny what you did to me, but I can laugh at it now I know how you feel.” Goku’s cute pout was adorable to Chi-Chi. He’s cute when he’s annoyed. “Aw, come here.” Goku crossed his arms and turned his back on Chi-Chi. “Don’t be like that.” Chi-Chi came around to Goku. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “If you need more proof.” She kissed him. “I’m crazy about you, Goku.”
Chi-Chi’s kiss melted his annoyance. He couldn’t stay mad at her if he tried. “Me, too, Chi-Chi.” He wrapped his arms around Chi-Chi and held her like a security blanket. “I like you a lot.” His lips tenderly touched hers in a soft kiss. Chi-Chi’s slight opening of her mouth allowed Goku to push his tongue in as he leaned on Chi-Chi until her back touched the tent floor with Goku on top of her. Smothering her with his body, Goku’s kisses became as greedy as his hand as he slipped it into Chi-Chi’s shorts.
Chi-Chi put a hand on Goku’s chest and pushed him off her lips. “Goku….” she panted. “Our food. Our dinner.”
Goku looked back at the fire. The corn and potatoes will get crispy but the fish had a long way before being done. Besides, he wasn’t hungry for that now. His appetite required something more fulfilling. His wife whose need for him flared his nose and watered his mouth; whose eyes looked at him with a promise she will never tire of him and will always want him at her side. “I’m having that now.”