Please, read the Author Note at the end of the chapter. And yes, I'm alive!
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Today was a joyful day, but it wasn't a holiday celebrated worldwide. Rather, a few people had decided to make this day special.
While almost everyone on Earth was unaware of how special this day was, there was a clearly festive atmosphere at the Lockout, where Kami-Sama lived. Today, two people were getting married.
"To think those two are finally getting married," murmured Krillin, wearing a black suit and standing next to a flower-decorated altar. Next to him stood Yamcha, also in a suit. After all, it was an important occasion.
"It was to be expected, wasn't it? It was as clear as water," Yamcha replied with a smile as he looked up and saw the small crowd that had gathered.
Today was the wedding of two of their friends, and they were to be Goku's best men. They never expected that restless boy to suddenly grow up and come to them with such explosive news!
They were both jealous, but happiness overwhelmed everything else. After all, it was an important moment in one of their closest friends' lives, and they were there to give him their full support.
"Hey, do you think Ten Shin Han will come? He's usually boring. He doesn't even notice that Yulin is crazy about him, just like Chi-Chi is about Goku," Krillin commented quietly before looking at Yulin in the distance.
She was a black-haired girl with an extravagant hairstyle. Now, she was wearing a black cheongsam instead of her usual martial arts attire. Several years ago, Yulin, along with Ten Shin Han and Chaoz, had joined Muten Roshi's tutelage after defecting from the Crane School due to differences in their personal philosophies.
However, except when interacting with Chi-Chi (who was also a witch), Lazuli, and Bulma, it was clear that Yulin only had eyes for Ten Shin Han. Therefore, it could be said that she was not very familiar with the other boys.
"If we're talking about Ten, he's fine. He's a tough guy who would never back down, no matter what. I can feel it. He has that kind of presence you only see in old martial arts novels. He has the spirit of chivalry," Yamcha replied to Krillin, who nodded in agreement.
This is what made Ten Shin Han integrate into their group quite quickly. He was not only talented, but he didn't seem to take pride in it. Although he usually had a serious expression, he was someone you could rely on.
He really was husband material! That's what Krillin thought before looking away from Yulin. He didn't notice that when he looked away, Yulin turned to look at him and made a childish face before looking at the woman next to her.
Vomi. Yulin didn't understand how a fragile scientist had gotten mixed up with a group of martial artists. No, she didn't count Bulma as a "fragile scientist." In fact, no one who knew her well would consider that an accurate description.
However, Vomi was everything Bulma would have been if she hadn't become interested in martial arts. Not only that, but she was also a mother who had to take care of a restless child. For four years, the child had constantly tried to break free from his mother's grip, which made Yulin feel annoyed.
"Sorry, he hasn't taken his nap," Vomi said apologetically when she noticed Yulin's gaze. Yulin shook her head and pointed her finger in the air, tracing movements that created a yellow talisman with red symbols on it.
"This is a sleep talisman. Put it on his head, and he'll sleep peacefully for several hours." Yulin handed the talisman to Vomi, who didn't hesitate before sticking it on her son's forehead. He fell into a deep sleep immediately.
"Thank you, you saved me," said the scientist gratefully, adjusting her glasses while her son rested on her shoulder.
"No problem. If you're here, it's because you're part of the group, right? We all help each other." Yulin waved her hand carelessly, not giving the matter anymore thought. Vomi nodded silently as if not wanting to wake her son.
Yulin, for her part, constantly looked around, observing the people present. Son Gohan was sitting with a woman who looked enormous and gave off a special aura, as if she were more than human.
'To think that old man would be with someone like that,' Yulin thought. She remembered that Goku and Chi-Chi had visited this woman, An'nin, to resolve some issues and had met Son Gohan by chance.
As a witch, Yulin understood that the universe was divided into layers, so to speak. An'nin was a relatively important figure because she was at the crossroads between the normal world and the Other World.
Yulin saw the parents of the bride who were getting married today. Ox King was an enormous figure, and his wife seemed fragile next to him. From the way he behaved, it was clear he was the boss in their relationship.
Muten Roshi was sitting next to Bulma's parents. Lapis, Lazuli's twin brother, was trying to touch Umigame's shell. Umigame was the talking sea turtle that always accompanied Roshi.
Bulma and Lazuli? They were at the top of their game as bridesmaids. Yulin felt envious. She also wanted to be a bridesmaid but knew the position was reserved for people very important to the bride.
Yes, she trained with the group, but she joined late. Luckily, Bulma promised to give her the role and support her so she could marry Ten Shin Han.
'That three-eyed fool plans to be late!' Thinking of that man, Yulin complained internally. After all, she was just playing tough to get Ten Shin Han's attention, but he didn't notice!
If there was anyone she was jealous of, it was Chaoz. He seemed to be Ten Shin Han's younger brother, an irreplaceable figure who had been with him for many years.
'In that sense, I was also late, but not anymore!' Determination flashed in her eyes, and a figure close to her detected the change in her emotions. She was sitting in a chair with a sour look on her face.
'I still don't fully understand earthlings. Why does that girl's ki express so many emotions? Why am I at this so-called Earthling celebration? Namekians don't get married!' Piccolo grumbled to himself before looking at the clothes he was wearing.
Bulma had insisted that he wear a suit, so he wore a black tuxedo. However, he felt uncomfortable because it wasn't the kind of clothing he was used to wearing.
"At least it looks like everyone has arrived," Piccolo muttered, noticing two figures approaching: Ten Shin Han and Chaoz.
The duo quickly joined the wedding party. As if waiting for everyone to be present, the atmosphere at the Lockout suddenly changed. Whis, who had been invited by Bulma, looked with interest into the distance where a couple was slowly approaching as the music played.
Goku and Chi-Chi had not been brought by their families. In fact, this wedding did not have many traditional elements. It was simply a formal gathering to celebrate their marriage. However, everyone was happy about it.
In recent years, Goku's perpetually diminutive figure had grown, and he now looked like a grown man. Dressed in white, his tail was wrapped around his waist. Today, he could not let it wander freely.
He held Chi-Chi's arm. She had grown and matured physically. She was dressed in white and held a bouquet of pink flowers. She was happy, and her happiness was evident in the energy her body emitted, which those sensitive to Ki could sense.
This was the best moment of her life! Nothing could ruin it, and nothing could stand in her way. Chi-Chi swore to the heavens that if anyone dared to ruin this day, not even the gods or buddhas could save them from her wrath.
The couple walked slowly toward the altar. To their left were the bridesmaids, Bulma and Lazuli, wearing glamorous outfits, though not as glamorous as Chi-Chi's. After all, it was her day. On the right were the groomsmen, Yamcha and Krillin. They nodded to Goku, making him smile innocently.
When they stopped, everyone's attention focused on the figure standing in the middle of the altar: Kami-Sama! Who better to be the master of ceremonies for a wedding than the God of Earth? The God of Earth, of course!
As the ceremony began, Bulma had to make a great effort to hold back her tears. Her younger brother was getting married. He was now a grown man who had to take on his own responsibilities.
She couldn't help but remember the day she met him. That boy, clearly disturbed by his journey through space, had calmed down just by seeing her. She remembered how he had grown up before her eyes, maintaining his innocence despite being capricious and cunning.
She remembered the times he bit her while they trained, the times she patted his head and messed up his eternally spiky hair, and how he always seemed hungry, even though he ate enough for ten people by himself.
She remembered training him, raising him, waking him up early in the morning to take him to school, and seeing him launch his first burst of Ki, take his first flight, and fight his brother for the first time.
At first, Bulma only wanted Ki training. She went to find Son Gohan, never imagining that she would come to consider the young Saiyan raised on Earth, Son Goku, also known as Kakarot, as her younger brother.
She tried hard to hold back her tears as she listened to Goku stammer out his vows. Chi-Chi was worse; she was actually crying as she listened to the sweet words her soon-to-be husband was saying to her.
"Chi-Chi, I... I enjoy being with you, training with you, eating with you, and flying with you. I don't know why we're getting married. Weren't we already together for eternity? But now, being here, I feel like it was worth it because I'll never forget you in that dress.
Before, I wanted to become stronger to improve myself, to fight stronger people, and to push my limits. I should add one more reason: so that your smile will never disappear. Chi-Chi, you know that, right? I love you." Goku scratched the back of his neck in the end, but he was unusually serious, and his words came from the bottom of his heart.
His vows were not mere words, but an unbreakable promise. If anyone or anything ever dared to wipe the smile off Chi-Chi's face today, they would learn just how terrifying a gentle person like him could be when angry.
The wedding ended with two lives becoming one and a family combining into one. It was an unforgettable night for all present, and a new experience for the couple whose inner fire burned voraciously.
It was the end of an era, but also the beginning of another, one full of latent threats, imminent dangers, adventures to be had, limits to be broken, and places to explore.
Is the seventh universe ready for Earthlings?
...
Deep in the universe, a metal sphere, a spaceship, traveled through the eternal darkness that characterized the void, following a defined trajectory. The person inside the ship watched the blue planet grow larger and larger in the fisheye lens.
'After so long, I've finally come to see you, Kakarot,' thought Raditz. He had emerged from deep meditation and, with several commands, prepared his ship to land in an apparently deserted area of the planet.
His arrival on Earth was like throwing a stone into a still pond, creating ripples.
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AN: I'm on vacation now! There are several reasons why I didn't post a chapter: classes, final exams, final projects, and laziness. I'd like to think it's laziness. I'm free now though. I've already chosen my classes for the next semester at university, but that's more than a month away.
I'm free now! Also, you could say that the "Dragon Ball" part is over, and now we're moving on to Dragon Ball Z. If you haven't given up on the story, I hope you continue to enjoy it.