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Master Roshi told me to rely on my own strength, so I've been making my way around without the Nimbus to get ready for the next tournament. Running on foot across land and swimming across the sea."
Gohan was taken aback by how Kakarot had been able to pull off such feats just to prepare for a competition, but also not surprised as well, given his abilities.
"That's amazing my boy! You'll get stronger much faster that way, and pushing yourself with such handicaps is a good way to challenge your strength as a martial artist. Quite the Turtle Hermit way indeed."
He did have to inwardly chuckle at how literal Kakarot had taken his former master's philosophy on training as actual instructions. But he guessed for a Saiyan, it's probably the only way he'd get stronger anyway.
"Thanks Grandpa! I'm so glad I got to learn such ways to live by from Roshi, if there is no real challenge then it is not worthwhile!" Kakarot beamed happily.
Gine sat across the table and took another sip of her tea, she smiled genuinely.
"Me too son, I'm really glad you've taken these things to heart." She said, but she was somewhat distracted.
Kakarot had come back after another year of travelling. He had grown a couple inches taller and was more muscularly defined, on the brink of his growth spirt.
He told them all about his adventures of how he fought pirates at the bottom of the ocean, defeated the last remnants of the Red Ribbon Army, trained with a talking cat named Korin, meeting his master's sister who was a witch or fortuneteller of the like, saving villages from demons, and foiling con artists.
During all this, Kakarot took his mother's advice and brought Chi-Chi along on his escapades. She was still sour about them not getting married, but from the way he described their time together on this trip they had grown closer. Trotting the globe doing something they actually enjoyed doing: fighting. Kakarot even said they made a date out of it once, since it was the most romantic thing he could think of when pried by Chi-Chi. Through it all, he had grown to like her since she was a capable fighter unlike Bulma or another girl in their group named Launch, not to mention they were all older than him too.
Gine couldn't fathom why Kakarot could stand to be around someone as volatile as Chi-Chi, for even she had a temper than rivalled some of the more ill-mannered female Saiyan warriors she once knew. But from how fond Kakarot described the way Chi-Chi fought and how she saved his tail from being lost again to the Pilaf gang, there was a real bond growing between them.
But Gine focused on one story that Kakarot shared.
That they had used the Dragon Balls to wish his friend Upa's father back to life after he was murdered by the cruel Mercenary Tao. Gine was so proud of him for using the wish for something so noble. But her heart stopped when she realized that he said he used the Dragon Balls to resurrect someone.
So, it IS possible. Something that had plagued her mind and heart ever since they learned the truth of the Dragon Balls. A hope she never dared to entertain unless she knew for sure... Could she really-
"You ready to go to the tournament, Mom?" Kakarot interrupted.
Gine was shaken out of her fateful train of thought before she could finish it. Kakarot was staring at her expectantly.
"What? Tournament?" She asked, feeling a little guilty that she wasn't paying attention.
"Yeah, the Twenty-Second World Martial Arts Tournament. You said you'll come along next time, and it'll be in a few days, so I hope you're ready to since I'm supposed to swim all the way there as part of my training. You could fly or take the Nimbus though."
Gine thought for only a second or two.
"I'm not going."
"What?" Kakarot couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I said I'm not going." Gine stated flatly.
"But...you promised!" Kakarot objected almost bewildered.
"I did?" She said just as bewildered.
"Yeah, you did! You said you didn't want to fight but you'd come to watch instead."
"No, I did-" She paused, then let out a sheepish "Oh."
She did remember, but only vaguely. It was almost three years ago, and she mostly said it to please him. But now a promise she didn't mean to make had come back to bite her.
"Yeah, you definitely did!" Kakarot reminded her. "You said you'll come to the tournament only to watch, but I would really like you to come along Mom!"
Gine considered it for a moment but still felt resolute. She hadn't meant to mislead her son for something she wasn't serious about. But something in her made her ashamed and not wanting to look her son in the eye if she followed through on this.
"You promised." Kakarot reminded her one last time, his eyes wide and pleading.
Her resolution faltered at that. Who was she to break a promise to her own child? Sure, the prospect of stepping out of the safe confines of the mountains into the crowded world terrified her, but she would do anything for her little boy, especially to cheer him on.
She let out a long sigh. "Okay, I'll go."
Kakarot jumped and cheered. "YAY!" While Kakarot celebrated and hugged her in many thanks, she tried to suppress the anxiety that was beginning to bubble up.
"I'll go with you too!" Gohan said, wrapping his arms around both of them. "It would be nice to see the big city again, as well as catch up with Roshi!"
"Yeah, it really will!" Kakarot chirped, getting even more excited and laughing with Grandpa Gohan. Gine let them bask in the anticipation while she left herself to resignation.
"Go get your things packed boy, we'll leave in the morning." Gohan instructed.
"You betchya, Grandpa!" Kakarot said, then ran enthusiastically up the ladder to their room. Gohan and Gine were left alone at the table.
"I hope it doesn't make you feel too uncomfortable." Gohan said, reading Gine's mind and trying to ease her worry.
"It does." She said simply. She really didn't want to go.
"That's the thing about your boy: there's no procrastination or going back with him." Gohan said.
"Very true, and I can't bring myself to break a promise." Gine admitted.
Gohan nodded. "An honorable thing to do my dear. I'll be there if it's any consolation, and it isn't as terrifying as you may think it to be."
"I know, it's just..." Gine tried to say, but couldn't find any words to fit her feelings.
"You haven't stepped out that often since helping Kakarot out with that girl." Gohan finished for her.
Gine hated to admit it, but she nodded. She was afraid of being around other people. Why else had she spent nearly fifteen years never venturing farther than the nearest village unless it was absolutely necessary? Not without reason of course, for she never wanted to be seen or found. Not with Frieza still out there if he was still hunting down the last of her kind. But she had to remind herself that he wasn't here, for she would know if he was. And he more than likely never will. It was wh
y she chose this planet in the first place. Still, paranoia was the best way to survive.
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🚨 Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
By joining, you'll get:
📖 Early access to future chapters
🗳️ Polls to shape the story
🎁 Exclusive content for Patrons
🔥 Bonus adult-themed pictures & scenes you won't find anywhere else(adult only 😉)
Don't fall behind—others are already ahead! 👀
👉 Patreon.com/c/FanfictionTakashi
( please search this link on Google Chrome)