"Wandering Fire"
Chapter One
By: TranquilSeraph

Author Note: I know this is a long overdue story, but since I don't have a computer at home, there's not much I can do about that. My mom decided to throw mine outside, so I've got to type all of this and upload it at school. Anyway, this is a completely new idea, and I've done a lot of work on it, so don't be afraid to give me constructive criticism.

Ages:
Goku: 24
Chi-Chi: 23
Gohan: 4
Usagi: 3
Ikuko: 23
Kenji: 25


Story:

She had no concern for what was happening, as she snuck a piece of chocolate candy from her pocket. It didn't matter to her at the moment that she would, now, spend her days with people other than her parents. Her mind was concentrated purely on opening the shiny blue wrapper.

Her parents stood in front of her; one was tall, brown headed, wearing a suit.The other was shorter, in khaki's with a blue shirt, her purple hair falling in waves to her waist. One, soft hand held the girl's left in a tight, but gentle hold.

That hand, soft and gentle, described basically everything about the child's life. The firstthree years of her life had been led by her parents. She had been protected from everything they deemed bad, and exposed to everything they thought good. Since she was raised this way, she was almost always cheerful, and saw only goodness in everything. Her parents hoped she would always stay that naïve.

They never raised a hand to her, hardly ever scolded her. She had grown to be a curious, bright, and an always adventurous toddler, who had a knack for getting into trouble.

The door to the small, white, house opened, revealing a small woman. She smiled, the twinkle reaching all the way to her dark eyes. "Ikuko, Kenji! Come in." They smiled, but Kenji shook his head.

"No, we just came to drop Usagi off. We need to get going. Usagi, behave for Mrs. Chi-Chi." Ikuko nudged Usagi in front of them, where she studied Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi watched as they hugged Usagi, holding her tight, before walking away. Fully expecting tears, Chi-Chi turned to the girl, only to find her waving enthusiastically at her parents.

'Maybe this won't be so bad,' Chi-Chi thought as she led Usagi into the living room, where a child and man sat on the couch. "Usagi, this is my husband, Goku, and Gohan, our son," Chi-Chi stated, placing a hand on the child's small shoulder. Goku grinned, and knelt beside Usagi. She smiled, looking at his eyes.

"Hi," Goku greeted.

"Hello." Her voice, light and soft, reminded him of music, and he suddenly wanted to hear her sing. The slight lisp that made her L's sound like W's just endeared her more to him.

He'd never seen anyone who looked so delicate; she already showed a slim build. Her blonde curls were held back in large buns on both sides of her head, with streamers that fell to her ears. Her large, cerulean, eyes sparkled with an inner light. Her nose was small and slightly upturned at the end. Although she had pale, milky, skin her cheeks had a natural blush.

Slowly, she raised a small hand, and placed it on his tan cheek. They studied each other for a few moments,he felt like she could see into his soul. "Wanna play a game?" Gohan asked a couple of minutes later, as he jumped from the couch.

"Yea!" Her attention broken, she dropped her hand, and followed Gohan to his room.

"She's really sweet," Chi-Chi stated, smiling.

"Yea." She let the minor mistake in language pass, and instead started cleaning. Goku went out to fish, since that's what they were having for supper.

As Chi-Chi washed a dirty bowl, she thought back. Originally, she had been against watching someone else's child, since most were so wild and undisciplined now. What had swayed her determination not to watch a child was the extra fifty dollars a week. Then, there was the fact that Chi-Chi and Ikuko had been friends since they were children, even before she hadmet Goku.Ikuko had been adamant that she wouldn't hire a stranger.

When Gohan and Usagi went outside to play hide-and-go-seek, Chi-Chi was relieved since she could watch them from the kitchen window. She soon found out that watching Usagi would take up most of her time that day, since she had fallen multiple times when she got distracted while running from Gohan. Though Usagi didn't seem hurt, it still made her gut clench with every tumble.

As Chi-Chi started lunch, she hummed a lullaby she used to sing to Gohan as a baby, when he wouldn't sleep. 'I hope I have a daughter someday,' she thought as she smiled, softly. Chi-Chi knew she'd have to give up Gohan, since she knew he wanted to be a fighter like his father; He wouldn't be her baby anymore. He wouldn't want to be coddled, or spoiled.

If she had a girl, a child more than likely not interested in fighting, she would always have her baby girl; she would always be needed.

"Goku, Gohan, Usagi! Lunch!" Chi-Chi yelled, as she set the bowls on the table. The sound of running feet reached her ears 2 seconds before they appeared at the dinner table. Goku and Gohan instantly started eating, while Usagi sat back, looking at Chi-Chi with expectant eyes. "What's wrong, Usagi?"

"Mama doesn't let me eat, until its ok." Chi-Chi smiled, grasping her meaning.

"Ok, eat." Usagi smiled, digging into her food with the same speed and hunger as Gohan and Goku. Through out the meal Usagi's constant chatter filled the air. She talked about anything and everything. It almost seemed like between talking and eating, she never took a breath.

The sudden moisture that covered the table rapidly started spreading. "Sorry." Usagi fumbled with the half empty glass setting it right side up. Chi-Chi glanced at her as she grabbed a rag, and seeing the tears in her eyes, smiled.

"Its fine, Usagi. It's just a spill, no harm done," Goku said, ruffling her hair.

"Really?" Her eyes searched for Chi-Chi's, looking for anger.

"It's ok," Chi-Chi answered, mopping up the last of the spill. Usagi smiled, placated.

The rest of the day went by smoothly, until four o'clock, when Usagi's parents came to pick her up. "So, how was she?" Ikuko asked as they waited in the living room for Goku to bring Usagi downstairs.

"She was wonderful. How'd you do it?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Believe me, we don't know," Ikuko answered, provoking laughter. They were interrupted by the pounding of little feet on the stairs.

"Mama!" Ikuko smiled, as she swung the child up, settling her on her hip.

"See you tomorrow, Chi-Chi," Kenji stated as they walked out the door. Chi-Chi grinned at the small hand, which waved even as they drove away.


Author Note: So…good, bad, mediocre? Tell me what you think and suggest corrections or edits.