This had been on my mind for a while, and I rarely see anything related to Chichi. She's not my favorite character, but this thought process seemed interesting to touch on. Also, this I think would be a more believable thing to have happen.
The inspiration to this ficlet was a song called 'Again Never' From the Mo' Better Blues soundtrack. Listen to it, it fits pretty well this this
Enjoy! Or not.
Again Never
The passing years had been difficult for her. All these things happening to her husband and her son, she didn't know what to do. There was many a night where she laid in bed, wondering what to really do with herself. It felt so empty the first time her husband had disappeared. Her son was back, but her husband wasn't. It tore her to pieces inside, though she didn't dare show it. She was always the other strong one aside from Bulma. She had to. Not even Gohan knew of the many nights where she cried herself to sleep. Those same nights where she prayed to the heavens to have Goku come back.
He didn't, for a time. It wasn't until much later when he DID come back that things were well for a while. She thought things would be peaceful, especially since she found out she was pregnant.
And then Goku had died again. Sacrificing himself to save everyone. Chichi had almost lost Goten from the grief and stress. She had almost wished it at one point, so that she would not deal with the agony of raising another child on her own. It wasn't what she wanted, she never planned for any of this. None of it.
Her heart ached at the thought of her husband coming back, but it wasn't an ache of wishing for him to come back. No. It was an ache of she wished he would never return. She could accept it if her husband was dead and gone for good. But the Dragon Balls were the source of her inner turmoil. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad anymore. She never knew.
But she knew now, she knew as she packed up the last of her belongings in a large suitcase. Her bitterness lied in those bags as well. All her sorrow, hatred and bitterness packed away. She was ready to start anew.
"Mom, what are you doing?" she heard his voice in the doorway as Chichi turned to face her eldest son, Gohan, who was holding his baby brother in his arms. "I…I need to leave. I'm going on vacation." she replied, her voice flat.
"That's an awful lot of bags you're carrying for a vacation."
"You're coming too. You and Goten. Hurry up and pack your books and everything." She said, a tone of menace in her voice. Gohan gulped at this. "B-but dad will be home s-"
"DON'T. Even. Say it." Chichi bit out, closing the suitcase with more force than required, almost breaking the zipper. "Get yours and your brother's things. NOW." Gohan jumped at her words, making Goten fuss a little in his arms. "Shhh, Goten, it's okay.." Gohan whispered, leaving his mother's room so she can pack in peace.
It felt like hours before everything was packed. In truth, she had very little to pack up, but her mind was in a far off place in a world of anger and misery that minutes seemed like nothing. They meant nothing. Time meant nothing.
Like her marriage, it meant nothing.