15

Goku had never been very inclined to tell Chi-Chi many details about his childhood adventures unless she asked him directly about some specific fact. Some might think it could be due to a lack of interest in the subject or even a certain distrust of his own wife. However, the truth was that most could not understand how the mind of the most powerful warrior in the world worked; Chi-Chi herself kept finding out. Goku wasn't a person who lived in the past or even in the future. He was someone whose mind was kept mainly in the present, on the person, enemy, training, or dish of food right before him. It was something that could be maddening at times but also beneficial in a way.

People who are often haunted by past mistakes or defeats rarely manage to find true happiness. The same happens with those worried about the future, a group in which, for better or worse, Chi-Chi knew well that she was fully included, especially from the moment she became a mother.

Goku hadn't really told her much of his training with Korin Tower or Kamisama's Lookout, just little details that together didn't create a clear enough picture for Chi-Chi to get an idea of what to expect. But that didn't matter to her. Whatever test or challenge Kamisama threw at her, she would overcome it, convinced that her determination to save her son would overcome whatever shortcomings her last few years without training might bring her.

And with that fixed thought in her mind, she headed towards that place.

The first thing she noticed in the distance as she approached the Sacred Land of Korin aboard the Flying Nimbus was the majestic tower that bore that name, rising on the horizon like a great mast and getting lost among the clouds. And the closer she got, the more it became apparent to her that its actual height far exceeded what she could have imagined after hearing Goku's stories.

Did he really climb all that when he was just a kid? She thought, truly surprised. However, when it came to Goku, no story about his exploits was impossible enough to believe.

Being close enough to the tower and hovering over the land below it, the sensation of a nearby ki (which, as Goku had told her, little by little, her body seemed to be getting used to it) indicated to her the presence of several individuals. By lowering her gaze, Chi-Chi managed to see below a group of people at the foot of the tower who seemed to be looking in her direction. And sharpening her eyes a little, she seemed to recognize some of them.

"It's Krillin and the others," she murmured slowly to herself. "Great, I caught up with them."

He instantly commanded the Flying Nimbus to descend to the ground. The group quickly moved to the side to make way for their landing.

"But it's you, Chi-Chi," Krillin murmured in front of the others, looking at her, clearly surprised.

"Hello, everyone," the young woman said with curt enthusiasm, leaping off the cloud and landing on her feet in front of them.

Her gaze swept quickly around the group. She immediately managed to recognize Krillin and Yamcha, and soon after, she did the same with Tenshinhan and Chaoz, whom she remembered meeting during the tournament five years ago. They all seemed equally confused to see her there, although not as much as Krillin himself, who also looked somewhat uncomfortable.

"Good to see you all," Chi-Chi pronounced respectfully, bowing slightly to greet them. Looking up, she noticed someone else behind them: a short boy with a stocky body, long black hair, and carrying a sword tied to his belt. Unlike the others, he didn't look familiar. "Sorry, I don't think I know you."

The boy's face blurred into an expression of annoyance. He then crossed his arms and turned away as if that comment had offended him somehow.

"My name is Yajirobe, so don't forget it," he answered in a harsh tone, which Chi-Chi didn't think was appropriate.

"He's also Goku's friend," Krillin hurried to clarify. "He was a great help to him when he defeated Piccolo Daimao... or so I understand."

"Well, I don't remember him mentioning him to me on any occasion," Chi-Chi whispered with disdain, which did not please the young man with the sword.

"Chi-Chi, how nice to see you after so many years," Yamcha chimed in with a more optimistic tone, advancing towards the young woman, though his attention was more on the golden cloud floating behind her. "Although I must admit that when I saw the Flying Nimbus cross the sky above us, for a moment, I thought that Goku had returned."

Although the comment was pronounced with some joy, a dense air of melancholy enveloped Chi-Chi right after she heard it. The others noticed this immediately as the woman shifted her gaze to the side, and her fists clenched tightly.

"I guess everyone knows what happened by now," Chi-Chi whispered softly in a rough voice.

"Yeah," Yamcha agreed, embarrassed. "Krillin and Bulma told us what happened to Goku. But they also warned us that he will be training in the other world with someone powerful, and he will come back much more..."

"I know about that," Chi-Chi snapped, cutting off his words and turning to them. Her eyes reflected a marked hardness. "What Goku has decided to do instead of returning to life with his family doesn't interest me."

That answer clearly stunned everyone. For her part, Chi-Chi obviously had no desire to clarify further what she meant. Instead, she advanced towards the tower, stopping just below it. She raised her gaze as much as she could, contemplating how that majestic stone monument with beautiful reliefs rose above her until it disappeared without being able to appreciate any end.

How tall would that actually be?

"Chi-Chi," she heard Krillin say behind her, but she stared at the tower without reacting. "Hey, what exactly did you come here for? Something happened?"

"Bulma told me you're coming here because Kamisama will train you," the woman explained normally. She then turned to look at them again. "And I have also come to accompany you to the Lookout to train."

"What?!" Krillin and Yamcha exclaimed at the same time, although their reaction was clearly shared by everyone else.

"Did I hear right?" Chaoz asked, stunned. "Do you also want to train with Kamisama? Do you have plans to fight with the Saiyans that will come to Earth?"

"I'm asking you not to joke, please," Tenshinhan stated seriously, sounding almost like a scold. "According to what they told us, we are talking about two ruthless warriors who far exceed Goku's strength. The situation is serious enough to be taken lightly."

"I'm not taking anything lightly!" Chi-Chi replied sternly, raising her voice enough to make everyone shudder a little. She took a deep breath and then tried to respond more calmly. "But not; I have no intention of fighting those Saiyans. My only goal is to defeat Piccolo Daimao and rescue my son."

"Your son?" Tenshinhan asked, confused.

"Wait, Chi-Chi," Yamcha hurried, taking a step forward. "Krillin told me that Piccolo had taken Goku's son to train him."

"What he did was kidnap him!" She answered, raising her voice again. "He practically ripped him out of my arms, just like that miserable Saiyan did. And when I tried to get it back, that monster almost killed me. Didn't Krillin tell you those parts?"

Chi-Chi's almost murderous eyes fixed on the bald-headed boy, who jumped in fright at feeling himself being looked at like that.

"Well, something like that," Krillin murmured, laughing a little. "But wait, are you saying you're still considering facing him again? You heard what he said last time; if you bother him again, he sure as hell will kill you this time!"

"I won't make the same mistake twice," Chi-Chi pronounced decisively, looking up at the tower again. "If nobody wants to help me, I myself will become stronger, strong enough to save my son."

"Chi-Chi, listen," Yamcha commented, his voice soothing. "I understand your son's difficult situation. But, right now, Piccolo is willing to fight on our side. That could be the determining factor in saving Earth. In times as difficult as this, we must all make sacrifices."

"Sacrifices?" the woman pronounced out loud as if that had been a direct insult to her. "Did you just call my son a sacrifice?"

"No, I..." Yamcha whispered nervously. "I didn't mean to say it like that..."

"Because my son is not a sacrifice!" Chi-Chi snapped out loud. "He doesn't have to suffer for any of this. And I will do everything in my power, everything, to keep him safe. No matter who opposes it."

A deep and uncomfortable silence fell over them. That had been thrown into the air as a clear warning, not only indirectly towards Piccolo but also towards the five that were present before her. She would walk over anyone, including them. And, of course, they had no problem understanding it that way.

The silence was suddenly cut by a small moan of annoyance from Yajirobe.

"But what a scandalous woman," the boy with the sword exclaimed dismissively, surprising Chi-Chi and, of course, also increasing her anger. "Let her do what she wants," he stated nonchalantly, giving them sidelong glances. "However, if you really want to go to Kamisama's Lookout, you'll first have to climb to the top of the tower to get Master Korin's approval. No one can see Kamisama without doing that; that old cat was very clear about it."

That explanation completely caught Chi-Chi's attention and made her put aside her annoyance for a moment.

"Climb to the top of the tower?" She pronounced slowly with a neutral voice as if trying to find the meaning of those words.

"That's right," Yajirobe emphasized, pointing to the sky and where, in theory, the mentioned top would be: far, far above them. "And it's not worth using the Flying Nimbus or flying on your own. If you want Master Korin's approval, you'll have to do it yourself like everyone else. And just in case you don't know, it's not easy to do, especially the first time. I highly doubt someone like you will make it, so you better not try."

That was, of course, a clear provocation to make her angry, and partly clear that it had an effect. However, Chi-Chi was again more interested in the explanation. If what that boy said was true, what she should do was climb Korin Tower, just like Goku had told he did when he was a kid. And upon reaching the top, that person, Master Korin, would give her his approval to see Kamisama.

She did not doubt that it would be a difficult, perhaps almost impossible, task. But if it was what she had to do to fulfill her mission...

"I will," Chi-Chi stated firmly. "I will do whatever it takes to be strong enough."

"Wait, Chi-Chi," Krillin tried to intervene. "It's really not as easy as you think if you don't have..."

"Very good," Tenshinhan mentioned suddenly, interrupting Krillin. The three-eyed fighter was staring at Chi-Chi with a stern expression. "If you want to try, there is nobody to stop you. But if you fail to climb to the top like all of us, what you should do is go back home and wait for Goku. This training is extremely important to all of us, and I won't have you getting in our way, am I clear?"

Those severe words took everyone by surprise, especially Chi-Chi. But nothing in Tenshinhan's tone or expression left one in doubt that he was earnest.

"I won't fail," Chi-Chi replied with absolute conviction. And in truth, she was sure that she could keep her word.