Disclaimer: See Chapter I.

The Portal to Beyond: Chapter IV

When Gohan arrived home, he couldn't resist asking his father that question so he cornered him in the kitchen and sat down opposite of him.

"'Tousan, when I went to that alternate dimension today, I saw you and 'Kaasan..."

"Oh did you now?" Goku asked between bites.

"Yes and I saw something very strange."

"Nani?" he kept on eating at his incredible pace.

"You were wearing saiyan armor." This stopped Goku and he dropped his spoon with a clatter.

"Nani?!"

"Yeah. I wonder why, but I'm going back as soon as Bulma-san fixes the problems. After the test run, she wants you to be one of the ones who go on the real mission."

"Really? This will be fun! I can't wait!"

"The feeling is mutual. She also said that Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten could come too. It'll be a regular Saiyans Night Out."

Goku suddenly frowned. "We better not tell your mother now, you know how she is. She can get downright scary sometimes!"

"You're not kidding! I guess I can have Bulma-san tell her after we leave. Then she won't try to stop us."

"That's a good idea."

"I just wish the machine had worked properly I still have to go back and explain things to them."

"What did you say?"

"I just told them that," Gohan grew sheepish. "I was their future son, about what I know about saiyans, and that I would be back."

Goku frowned again. "You know, what you told them about you being their future son you should have kept to yourself, at least until after you were born there. This could jepordize your birth. That's why I had to keep Mirai Trunks' real identity a secret. I'm surprised at you, Gohan."

Gohan looked at the table. "I'm sorry 'Tousan."

"It's okay." Goku grinned again. "We're just going to have to make sure that they do get together and have a kid or two."

"That would be interesting..."

ChiChi and Kakarott were still outside when Ox King called them for breakfast, but they had long since quit sparring. Instead, they were sitting in the soft grass just talking.

"It's amazing, you know." Kakarott began. "I've never felt as comfortable with anyone as I do with you."

"That's good to hear."

"Although, you have to admit, I feel kind of strange. Do you feel it too?"

"What? All I feel is that I want to be around you, talk to you, be your friend."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. I think I know what it is, but I can't be sure until much later on."

"Tell me."

"On Vejiita-sei there is something that we call the "bond". It has no real name, yet it plays a big role in society. The royal ones usually don't have it, it's the lowers classes that more commonly do."

"Go on."

"When you find that one person, you bond instantly with them although a bond has been known to be created over time, but it's not the same. Anyway, you feel like you can't be apart from that person, you love just being next to them, also psychic abilities have also been known to exist. The two saiyans can hear each others thoughts and can feel when each other are in danger. There is a downside to this though."

"What is it?"

"Ignoring the bond is not an option. It has dire consequences it you do. It usually strengthens if you pull away, but sometimes, it's drives the person crazy until it kills them."

ChiChi gasped and looked at him. "That's terrible!"

Kakarott shrugged. "It's the way."

"You don't seem to worried about all of this."

"Why should I be? When I am bonded, I intend to stay that way. There is no honor at all in dying from lunacy."

"Is that your only reason to, honor? What about the fact that you love the person you're with!"

"We saiyans don't really practice the word 'love' a lot. I know I love you, but it's different than loving you like a mate."

ChiChi grew quiet, "I get it." She got up then and went into the house to eat with Kakarott following in confusion at her sudden quietness.

After they made it to the kitchen and sat down, ChiChi decided to speak again.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way."

"What?" Kakarott asked, mouth full of food. But ChiChi would say no more. Soon the food on the table was gone, but as usual, Kakarott was still hungry.

"We saiyans tend to eat a lot. We have huge appetites."

"How much is 'a lot'?" Ox King asked him.

"Only about 7-10 normal human courses. I researched it from the data on my ship."

"WHAT?!" Ok King and ChiChi shouted in unison.

"That's why we hunt all of the time. I can do that now."

"You're gonna have to. You ate all of the food here!" ChiChi exclaimed.

"Alright then. 'I'll be back in a hour." Kakarott flew away.

"Why don't he move in?" Ox King asked.

"'Tousan!"

"It's no secret that you two really like each other. He would want to be closer to you."

"We like it other all right," ChiChi began sadly, "but only as friends. We haven't 'bonded'." Ox King gave her a look. ChiChi sighed. "I'll tell you all about it."

After she was done, Kakarott still wasn't back.

"I wonder where he is?"

"Right behind you."

ChiChi jumped, as did the Ox King. They both hadn't heard him come in.

"Sorry."

ChiChi turned to look at him and gasped at what she saw. "Is that blood?!"

"Yeah. When saiyans eat, it's usually raw."

ChiChi got up from her seat and walked over to him, wrinkling her nose at the smell. "C'mon Kakarott, we're going upstairs so you can take a shower and clean up!"

***

"...and this is how you work it." ChiChi explained.

ChiChi looked away as Kakarott discarded the towel and climbed in. Soon the sound of running water could be heard.

"This is great! We never had anything like this on Vejiita-sei! We just bathed in lakes, ponds, rivers, wherever we could."

"I'm glad you enjoy it. I'll go get some clothes for you to wear." She left and got some of her father's old clothes. She sighed. "I'm going to have to make a trip down to the laundry room and shrink them, tremendously." She made her way downstairs to do so.

***

Meanwhile, Kakarott was doing some major thinking.

I know I love her and everything, but I haven't known her that long and already we have a connection. Sigh. I'm just going have have to wait until that boy comes back. I just hope it's soon. I really need to figure this out. He turned the water off the way ChiChi had shown him and got out. Surprised, he saw neatly folded clothes waiting on him. I didn't hear her come in. He dried off and got dressed. On his way down to the first level, he bumped into ChiChi on her way up.

"Oh, hi! Have a good shower?"

"I sure did. It gave me a lot of time to think."

"Did it now? Oh, my 'Tousan wants you to move in. He says that you might like to be closer to me. Would you?"

I can see she wastes no time in getting to the point. "Sure. You are my friend after all!"

That appariently, was the wrong thing to say because her smile quickly turned into a frown as she pushed passes him on the way to her room.

"What did I do this time?" Kakarott asked,shaking his head. Ox King came out of his room and approached him.

"You will never understand her so don't try."

"Do you know what's wrong?"

Ox King sighed. "It's not my place to tell you. She will, when she'd ready." he became thoughtful. "You know? You might realize it first!" He went back into his room.

Just what did he mean by that? Oh, well. Kakarott decided to see to ChiChi so he went to her door and knocked on it.

"Go away." Came a low reply.

"It's me, Kakarott."

"I know. That doesn't make a difference."

"Can I please come in?"

A few minutes later the door opened. Kakarott looked at her in disbelief. Had she been crying?

"Are you okay?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm your friend."

"There you go with that word again!" She turned and went over to her bed and sat down.

"What word? Friend? What is wrong with me saying that?"

She sighed. "Well, what if I told you that I wanted to be more than friends? What would you say?"

"I would say that it was wonderful. Why? What's the big deal?" he asked, coming over to sit beside her.

"You don't get it."

"Um, ChiChi? Can you please not say that? I'm tired of people always saying that!"

"Gomen. I have to tell you something. It will change the way that you look at me, the way you act around me, and the way you feel about me forever. Are you ready to hear it?"

Kakarott hesitated. "I guess so what is it?"

"I love you more than just friends. In fact, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Kakarott froze. She was right, things would indeed be different.