AN: Hello you guys. I've decided to make my signature mark on a DBZ Story. This, is my very first DBZ tragedy. I'm hating myself for writing it, but I think I do way better with tragedies than anything else. I'm sure you guys will enjoy it. This is going to be a real tear-jerker as the story turns into an even wider plot which will have you crying your eye out for the poor family. Goku will be forced to confront many things, including his past as he tries to find his way without his wife. The saddest of which he must confront, his young daughter, for reasons that will eventually be played out. I hope you all enjoy it, and I hope this does Justice to my writings and readers. Thank you all, Please Enjoy.
White Rose
Goku walked into the living room slowly, from the kitchen, his eyes plastered on the floor as he made his way deep into the room. Everyone's eyes had been on his and he had never felt so damned stupid before in his life. They were here but he wasn't, gone the whole time. Tears of anger frustration and pain surfaced in his eyes but he quickly bit them down. This was not the place for his emotions to run rampant. Now was not the time. He glanced across the room his eyes falling softly on each individual as they held their heads down and gave him absolute silence. Bulma had been seated on the far left, her children, Trunks and Bra sleeping softly around her as she gave him a weak smile. Tien and Yamcha had been on the loveseat in the corner, knowing damn well Chichi would beat the living daylights out of them for the mud that they had covered her poor fabric with. Well, that is if she could. They gave him soft smiles as well, knowing it was the least they could do to brighten the mood. His two sons had been sleeping on the couch with Bulma and her children. Gohan snoring softly, as Goten snuggled into him, smacking his lips as if he had been eating some of Chichi's foods. His eyes glanced over the crew once again, Vegeta in the doorway, beside the "Namek" as he so called him. Everyone gathered in his small living room awaiting an update. He knew he should tell them to go home, get some rest, but he knew more than anything he needed them near him. His sons needed them more and he couldn't deprive them of his friends at this time.
Goku smiled weakly to those who acknowledged his presence, and turned to walk up the steps before he felt a tug gently on his pants. He looked down and smiled softly, staring at what he felt to be a vision of beauty and charm. She was not more than 3 feet, hell probably more like 3 1/2 feet but she was still the light of his world. She had Chichi's face, her hair in sloppy pigtails and her little dress littered with chocolate ice cream and sprinkles. Her face was dirty and her eyes big and bright as she looked up to him, looking for his knowledge.
"Daddy, wherwe awe you going?"
Goku bent down and ran his hands over her head smiling brightly.
"I'm going upstairs to see mommy, Heavan."
"Oh I see! Can I come too Daddy?"
Goku looked down at his youngest child and his heart pulled in his chest. The tears he had so long ago tried to fight back began to surface again and he knew if he didn't handle this situation then all would be lost, at least for the family. If he couldn't keep himself together he wouldn't be able to keep them together either. He couldn't bring her to see Chichi. It would pretty much destroy the little girl. To see her strong Mommy lying in bed slowly slipping away like that. No, she had to stay downstairs.
"No sweetheart. Daddy needs you to stay downstairs and look after your brothers for me alright?"
"But Daddy! I want to see mommy, I have not seen hewr in a biigggg time daddy."
A smile slipped across Goku face removing all tears and pains he had been over come with before. Pulling her deep into his arms he whispered to her softly.
"I know sweetheart, but you gotta stay downstairs and watch your brothers for me. Make sure they stay asleep okay? I'll take you upstairs first thing in the morning all right?"
"Do you pwomise?"
"Yes I promise, now get your little rugbutt over there and make sure your brothers stay sleep for the night."
"Owkay Daddy!"
Squealing happily the little girl ran off to seat herself beside her brothers looking intently into their faces and poking them. Goten slapped at her, and Gohan grumbled in his sleep. The only thing Heavan did was giggle and watch them even more closely. Smiling, Goku made his way up the steps and began the long journey to the room that he and Chichi shared.
When he stepped into the room, the lights were off and the room had the strong scent of sick, something that he had encountered many times before on his various trips to the hospital, but never thought it would be in his own home. The thought ached him and made him feel more helpless than he had ever felt in his entire life. He switched on the light slowly, his movements mechanical almost frightened that it would make whatever little life his wife had, disappear. He thought she would wake up slowly the light annoying her as it always did, but sadly she stayed sleeping, her chest rising and falling in labored movements. Quietly he took his seat beside his wife, on a chair that had been placed by the bed, and began to watch over her.
She looked so pale, her light pink lips gaping open for breathe. Her skin he could tell was hot to the touch from being laid underneath so many blanket and things. Her normally shiny raven hair had lost its luster and her eyes fluttered slightly even in her sleep. He could tell she was in pain… and a lot of it, and the whole thought had angered him. He had did everything he could to prevent this. Taken her to many a doctors, gave her all the sensu beans he had in his bag but nothing seemed to work for her. It was almost as if Kami had decided that's it for her, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Nothing.
He felt so helpless. He needed her, to wake up each day and be there for him, needed her to help him take care of the children, watch over the daily necessities that he had taken advantage of in his rush for adventure. He had left her many times, to train with his sons, his little daughter left with mommy to play tea party and help mommy hang sheets. He'd never knew he would come back hours later to find Mommy laying face down on the grass, or Heavan crying her poor little eyes out for someone to help her. It was a sight he had hated himself for, brought on his poor daughter with his negligence, and he wished that he could wipe it all away. The only thing he could tell her was that mommy was very tired, so she took a nap. But then again, it seemed mommy was always tired lately. Sleeping when Heavan wanted to play, sleeping when Heavan was hungry. He knew his little girl had grown tired of the excuses, her temper and stubbornness equal to that of Chichi's but he couldn't bring himself to tell her, or say aloud that Mommy was ill, and she just may not make it.
Bulma rushed over right away and so did his friends, all of them cooking dinner and cleaning as best they could. Although they tried nothing reached the perfection of his wife, and it frustrated him. If all his friends couldn't make it, why did he think he could? Why did everything she do have to be so well, so good? Why had she given them such a high standard of living to suddenly get sick and leave them to wonder how to take care of themselves. Why? Why was she sick? Didn't Kami take enough from him? Hadn't he saved the world enough to ensure that his family would never have to face hardships again? Well, he guesses not. He placed his face in his hands and proceeded to remember all he put his wife through quietly before he felt a small tug at his pants. Looking down he stared into the angelic face of his daughter, her eyes just as bright and cheerful as he had seen just downstairs a few moments earlier. Damnit! Why did she look like that, didn't she know what was going to happen, why was she so happy? Damnit! Why did she have to look so much like Chichi?
"Hey sweetheart, what are you doing up here? I thought I asked you to watch your brothers."
"I did daddy! For and LONGGG time. Now I wanna see mommy."
Goku felt a smile tug at his lips before he spoke softly again, pulling his daughter into a tight embrace.
"Well, Mommy is sleeping Heavan. You see? She is very tired, she needs her rest"
"But she has been sweeping all day Daddy!"
"I know, but you know who hasn't? You. Why are you still up?"
"I took a nap Daddy! For a looonnnggg time too! Just like mommy!"
"No, not like mommy. Heavan. I don't want you to say that again alright?"
"But why daddy?"
"Because, Mommy is sleeping because she is… sick. You are not sick right?"
"Wight!"
"Okay then, you cannot sleep like mommy then, so don't say it again."
"Okay daddy. Mommy is sick… poor mommy. Don't wowwy, I will take cawe of hew like she does when I am sick!"
Pulling from Goku's grip, Heavan climbed up the bed quickly, and sat on Chichi's chest before Goku could stop her. She was more determined than anything she had seen in Gohan or Goten, and the only way he could explain it was the female gene from Chichi. He loved her spunk and at the same time, wondered what sort of trouble it would bring for her. Pulling her gently, he took her off Chichi's chest and into his arms.
"Daddy!"
"No, Heavan, I told you mommy is sick, you don't want to make her feel worse do you?"
"Aww, Goku…let… her be."
"Mommy!"
Goku looked up from his daughter's eyes only to stare into the same bright orbs of his wife, a weak smile planted on her face. Her face was bright and cheery, but that only seemed to add more distress to her pale skin and struggling form. Her hair was scattered about her face falling every which way like a sea of black surrounding her. For a moment it was similar to death, struggling to find a way to reach her, but he quickly pushed it out his mind, his optimism taking over as he watched his daughter jump from his arms to the mother had had not seen in nearly days.
"Mommy! I miss you!"
"I missed you too dear. And what has my little girl been doing this whole time?"
"I was watching Gohan and Goten just like Daddy asked me to. They awe still sweeping downstaiws."
"Did they behave?"
"No, Goten hit me, and Gohan was gwumpy to me. They awe mean to me."
"Aww, They are not, they were just sleepy that's all. Do not worry about them, when they wake up they will be just like old times."
Heavan nodded her head enthusiastically to her mom, a bright smile on her face. It was obvious she had missed her, any birdbrain could tell it, but Goku had never realized just how much his daughter had clung to her. She climbed quickly into bed with Chichi laying on the other side of the bed, her eyes bright and laughing as she climbed under the comforter, her pigtails sweeping the air quickly. Chichi had a grunted from the weight of her daughter and Goku moved to pull her off, but she waved his hand away and adjusted under the weight of her, smiling at her smallest "baby". Goku couldn't help but smile as well, as he watched his daughter lean over his wife, checking her mouth and eyes like her doctor had so many times before. She had the concentration of a football player, her eyes searching out things she didn't quite comprehend just yet but knowing it should be searched out. Sitting back besides Chichi she gave her diagnosis.
"Mommy, you awe vewy warm. I think you have a fevew. Your eyes look okay and youw thwoat is a wittle wed. I think that you should west now mommy. Oh, and dwink lots of fluids too."
Instantly Goku burst out laughing, pulling a laugh from his smiling wife, both were loving the enthusiasm and the wits of their daughter. The things from the mouths of babes I tell you!
"Is that all!"
"Yes Mommy! That's all. Maybe some ice cweam too! I had some today, Bulma made it for me, but she put too many spwinkles, and no cholate sywup. You make it better mommy"
Chichi's eyes lit up and she laughed wholeheartedly. She had not heard such funny things in a while and it made her heart rejoice. Maybe a laugh really was the best medicine. She laughed and laughed and laughed until she began coughing, her hacks echoing through her throat and chest. Goku tensed and stood up, reaching for his wife, and Heavan whimpered for her mom. It wasn't long before Chichi waved Goku's hand away from her and she calmed down from her coughing spell.
"Mommy I-"
"Come on Heavan time for bed okay? Let mommy get a little more rest"
"NO! Daddy! NO, NO, NO! I don't want to! No Daddy please! No!"
Heavan clung tight to Chichi who pulled the little girl into her arms and patted her hair softly.
"Goku, Let her stay… just for tonight. I…will be okay."
"But Chi, you-"
"Shhh, Goku. She stays with me."
Nodding his head, he watched as she tended to her now crying daughter, stroking her hair softly and trying to stop the tear flow that developed in a matter of seconds. He felt like a heel for trying to take Heavan away, and he knew that it was his own childish needs that were doing it. He wanted to stay the night with Chichi alone. Sleep next to her as he did the night before, her body holding tight to him as he whimpered softly into her neck. He had never felt like such a child before in his life, and yet he wasn't ashamed at all. He wasn't ashamed that he muttered to her, crying nearly half the night while she struggled to stroke his hair and comfort him. He knew she wasn't okay and it was only a matter of time before her body and heart gave out, and she would die. But He needed her, and couldn't surpress his own needs long enough to take care of her and his children. He felt foolish, stupid, childish, all of the above, and yet, he didn't care. As long as he felt her near him. Sighing heavily, he stood and left the room, leaving a puzzled look on Chichi's face as she continued to tend to little crying Heavan and her own body struggling for breath.
He threw himself down the steps, too saddened to care if he hurt himself. The only thing he wanted to do, was let his friends go home, and tuck his little ones into bed. It was going to be a long night. When he reached the living room, Yamcha and Tien were chatting quietly, Bulma napping while her Trunks slept on her lap, Bra on the other side of her. Smiling softly, he walked over to Vegeta, who had taken a nap himself while he stood against the wall. Tapping his shoulder lightly, he leaned over and whispered to the shocked Vegeta that it was time to get Bulma home.
"So you are now kicking us out Kakarott? Why not earlier at a decent hour?"
"Sorry Vegeta, I didn't think this bout would have lasted this long"
"Well, We aren't going anywhere Kakarott, its far too late to go anywhere, and I refuse to carry all of them home. We stay here for the night."
Goku nodded while Vegeta took a seat on the floor feeling triumphant even though he had won no battle. Goku crossed the room, and proceeded to wake Gohan while he picked up Goten, and pulled him tight into his arms. For a 12 year old he was gaining a lot of weight, and sure seemed a lot heavier than normally. Gohan, he refused to even try to be picked up. He was grown, far too old for the traditional piggybacks and horsey rides, and for that Goku was grateful. Gohan wasted no time in standing nearly falling to the floor in his haste. Laughing to himself, Goku proceeded up the steps, Gohan in tow.
"Dad?"
"Yeah son?"
"Where's Heavan?"
"She's upstairs with your mom"
"Do you think I could go see her too?"
"Not tonight, I think she's getting enough trouble with Heavan herself to receive anymore for anywhere else."
"Do you think… I mean… I don't want her to…leave, without my saying goodbye to her."
"I understand Gohan…but tonight, I don't think its gonna happen. She's having another coughing bout and I don't think she's up for it. But I don't think tonight she'll…."
"I get you dad. Alright, I'll go to sleep then, and talk with her in the morning'
"Sounds like a plan"
Goku proceeded to enter his son's room, tucking Goten into bed, while Gohan took his own. After a small chat with his son, he wished both of them a goodnight and left for his own. Now, for the long night ahead of him.
AN: With that short chapter (the rest will be much longer) We are introduced to the story itself, and scratched the surface to the pain Goku will soon be forced to face. He's already beginning to stumble, and it looks as if he just may not make it through the whole ordeal. Poor thing. Just for a bit of hope, I promise you Chichi will not die in the next chapter. The next chapter: The Long Night.
