Chapter 9, I'll Be Your Strength.


This is perfection, Chi-Chi thinks as a soft and sated sigh leaves through her lips. Waking up in the morning lately has been absolute perfection for her. She deems it perfections, because the security in knowing that there's someone on her side, making her battle his, and solely being there for her, for the purpose of being there for nothing in return, can't be compared to another type of security.

Opening her eyes in the morning these last few days, has always been accompanied by the wonderfully soothing realisation that yes, her husband's warm arms are surrounding her like a protective barrier, and yes, that absolutely feels like perfection to her. Considering how much of a rough time she's been having internally lately, the protective barrier of her husband's arms has been acting as the exact thing that she needs for strength, to know that she can make it through the day; come rain or hurricane.

Yes, this is perfection, she thinks again while she carefully moulds her body further back into her husband's body. She wants, no, she needs to linger in his hold for just a while longer, before she has to begin going about her day, because who knows, this might the absolute last time that she gets to wake up in this perfection.

When she leans into him, however, it apparently rouses Goku from sleep, because he first of all makes a sound that is a cross between fulfilled and still wanting more, to then follow it with a question in a sleep-filled tone.

'You're awake, aren't you?

Although mildly startled by the fact that he's awake, she doesn't allow her body to show it. She manages to just barely conceal the light gasp of surprise, by covering it up with a soft thrumming mewl, which is unusually uncharacteristic of her.

Realising how momentarily inappropriate it is for her to be making such a sound for no apparent reason, Chi-Chi clears her throat to timely reply to his question, before she gives him any ideas.

'Morning, Goku.'

The truth is, she's curious that he's awake already, because he never wakes up in time with her. During the last days (last night excluded), she would always go to bed late, long after Goku had fallen asleep, but somehow, when morning came, she would always find herself in the safe hold of her husband. She's always been able to escape from his hold once she awoke, until today.

'You're awake?' she asks, giving in to her curiosity.

For his part, Goku gives her two consecutive replies. The first one is physically expressive, because he draws her further back into him as he places his leg over hers, while the second reply is a verbal one.

'Morning, Chi-Chi,' he sleepily greets, following his greeting with a soft kiss just behind her ear.

It could be that she hadn't been expecting the kiss, or it could be the kiss' feather lightness, but whatever it is, something about the kiss delivered on the bone just behind her ear, sends a long warm bout of a current throughout her body; the kind that she should be savoured for as long as it's possible.

'Mhm,' she expresses the effect of the kiss vocally, desperately closing her eyes not to lose the effect feeling just yet.

'Did you sleep well?' he wants to know, huskily whispering that into her ear.

Particularly avoiding to give attention to the shiver that erupts in her centre to spread all through her nerves, she concentrates to think about his question. It had been her thought that since last night didn't end on a particularly even note for them, but rather, on a pretty strangely unresolved one, she wouldn't be able to find sleep so easily. She really believed that she would toss and turn in bed, and be consumed with thoughts on what to do when morning came, but as soon as Goku carried her over to the bed and held her in silence as though to pacify himself with her in his arms, she remembers feeling calmed herself and then nothing after that. In that way, she supposes that she did sleep well.

She nods her answer, knowing that he will feel her do it, even if she doesn't say it.

'I'm glad,' he breathes, sounding as glad as he said.

After that, a serene silence settles itself between them, and while she doesn't want to break it, it's within the silence that she remembers about the one thing that she needs to have cleared for her. She couldn't ask about it last night, because it didn't seem fitting. Not when she saw how upset and overwrought she got him to be. It didn't seem fair to keep pushing further into a corner, when he was already on a rollercoaster.

This morning, however, it's different. Thanks to his unexpected display of emotional affection, she feels like they can talk openly and air out their differences. While it's quite clear that he figured out that she wants to leave, they have to properly talk about it to come to a conclusion that doesn't leave either of them worse off than the other.

'Goku,' she starts after taking a steadying breath, 'why do you want to fight me? You know I won't win, you just know that I won't.'

There's no question about and around it, even if Goku gives her all of his energy, she still won't win their fight, because the fact of the matter is that she doesn't want to leave. She feels compelled to leave by her fragile heart, but in all honesty, she doesn't want to leave her whole life behind, and that's what will cause her defeat.

Inhaling lightly, he admits, 'I know. I know you won't win.'

'Then why?' she begs for a reason.

The silence from his end that meets her question, makes her believe that he's thinking, although, she understands that he's not necessarily thinking of an answer to give her. Being his wife, she best knows how Goku works, especially when it comes to fighting. Goku always has an answer ready when it comes to the subject of martial arts, but the trick is that he doesn't simply give it away. She's always believed in her heart that that's the one thing that he holds dear as his safety per se.

'Goku,' she slightly pouts for him to answer her, pulling her arm free from his embrace, to tug on the fabric of his shirt.

'Because,' he finally gives in, 'I love that you came to me through fighting, remember?'

Interesting though his posed answer is –what with its direct way of pronouncing that he loves her warrior-like nature and its indirect way of asking her to delve into his mind-, she's more touched by it. Her heart melts at the revelation, that being encased in his arms isn't enough to keep herself together from becoming a gooey mess.

He never told her that before. Although it's true, she did work her way to him through dedicating her heart and soul to the art of fighting, she didn't know that he noticed that particular detail exactly. As a young child, after Goku declined staying for the wedding to go off for an adventure, she immediately realised that to capture his attention, she had to do and be involved with what he found interesting. That's what made her devote herself to her father's strict training, and only now to find out that he did notice it…

First freeing his hand to bring it over hers now resting on his arm, he breathes out to tell her, 'I also remember that you said you wanted me to have asked you to spar with me, but I never did. So I don't know, Chi-Chi, I just want one fight with you. I can't really explain it.'

Liar, she thinks with a faint smile, her subconscious pushing her to turn her hand around and intertwine it with his. She isn't consciously aware of it, but her subconscious is reaching it out to that part of him, that she loves as well about him.

He's subconsciously lying to her, she mentally reasons, because he can explain it. She's more than certain that there's a purpose to his proposed fight, especially since he just admitted that he knows that she won't beat him. When it comes to fighting and strategies, Goku's highly articulate and quick to think to have it all figured out. The only problem is, he doesn't give more than a fraction away when he gets into fighting mode, but he always knows and has a reason for everything. It's how she sure that there's more to this fight that just wanting to fight with her as a gamble of whether or not she ultimately stays by his side after all.

'Well, then I want Piccolo to train me,' she tells him.

Goku has her gently trapped under him so fast, that when she opens her eyes upon realising that he just moved her out of his embrace to push her back into the mattress, his hair and eyes that are flickering catch her attention immediately.

'Piccolo?' he asks with furrowed eyebrows, his eyes darkening.

There he is flickering again, she wonders curiously. He's flickering just like he was doing for the majority of last night when they couldn't see eye to eye. Just like she couldn't bring it up last night, she won't bring it up now either. She doesn't know, but it feels like at this point there's nothing that she can do to get him to stop making his hair and eyes flicker to a completely different colour.

'Yeah,' she answers, 'I trust him, and I want him to train me.'

The truth is, she would rather not have this proposed fight with Goku, and much less train with him. But if he insists on fighting with her, then she has to have some form of advantage over him as well, and that advantage is Piccolo. Piccolo is the next best thing to her husband, and much more, she knows that she can trust him to do a good job with her.

'Why can't I train you?' he asks in a sulking manner, clearly showing her that he doesn't appreciate being overlooked.

Because spending more time with him will not be advantageous for her, she replies in her head, but to him she says, 'You? Are you sure? I might just get stronger than you currently are.'

It's a joke that she meant to get him to smile at, then forget all about the Piccolo thing for a moment, except, he doesn't smile, not even a bit. What he does do, is gather his facial muscles together to show her a serious expression.

'You, Goten and Gohan being stronger than me,' he evenly tells her, moving his body further into hers, so that their bodies are touching and she can feel his heart beat on her body, 'is something I can perfectly accept.'

Wow, her heart moves out of place without a warning, there's such a raw, stainless love in his words, in his promise, that even if her heart wanted to, it wouldn't be able to remain in place. Like a warm fire kindled at just the right temperature to heat up the perfect mug of tea, her heart reacts in the exact same way to his words. She can't fully describe it, but all she knows is that from where her heart moved, it doesn't at all feel like it's out of place.

'But only you three, no one else,' he concludes.

This side of himself that he rarely displays, she thinks, feeling a comfortable lump beginning to form in the throat, is one of the reasons that she couldn't ever think of another man in place of Goku, despite Goku's absences. Although he rarely showed this raw side of himself, the few times that he did, covered enough depth and volume in her soul to cater for a few years to come. Now that she thinks about it, this probably why she grew attached to him as a young child.

Even feeling emotional tears burn behind her eyes, she lifts her hand to dig her fingers into his hair as she deeply stares into his eyes lovingly.

'You're impossible,' she flawlessly recites an old affectionate saying between them. It's always been their secret way of communicating that the other just said or did something worth more than all the money.

In response, he crunches up his nose for a smile that infects her to smile too in the time that he brings his forehead to hers. Like this, feeling touched to her core, she just wants to fall back into his arms and stay there forever, but then an abrupt bang on the door ruins her plans. The only consolation is that Goku isn't at all fazed to move his body from hers.

'Mom!' Goten shouts from outside the door. 'Piccolo was over at Gohan's and he said he wants to talk to you.'

'Don't knock like that, Goten!' she yells so hard, that even Goku jumps back a little.

Really, Goten shouldn't be knocking like that at such an hour, and least of all when his knocking threatens to cut through such a tender moment!

'Sorry, Mom!' her son apologises, but she can imagine that he has a smile on his face. It's just like him to take something serious lightly. 'But can you come out now? Piccolo's kind of getting impatient.'

Goku lifts his forehead off hers, so that he has a better view of her eyes. 'Say no,' he quickly tells her to stop her from giving Goten an answer.

'What, no!' she just as quickly protests. 'I can't say no.'

Piccolo wouldn't specifically just ask to see her if what he wants to tell her is not important. Very rarely in her life, she's had a private audience with Piccolo, but when she did, it was for something that matter. There is no way that she can refuse to see Piccolo now, even if it means giving up this little piece of heaven.

'Yeah, you can,' he argues too much like Goten would do, pressing her chest down when she tries to lift her head. 'Just say no so we can stay like this for a while.'

Huh, her mind stops mid-track, where did that come from? Goku's not the sort of person to pass up an opportunity that presents itself, let alone to deprive someone else of an opportunity for deliberate selfish reasons.

'That's awfully selfish of you, Goku,' she remarks, raising her head. 'What's gotten into you?'

About such things, he is usually very understanding and easy-going, but here he is, telling her to let Piccolo go in order for them to have this time to themselves?

As though an unwelcome blast of energy just went through him, Goku swiftly climbs off her, to plant himself on his behind and show her a deep frown that has no sign of amusement in it.

'What's gotten into you, that you want Piccolo to train you? I can train you just fine, Chi-Chi.'

She swears, the horrified face that he makes after his words, is the funniest yet that she's seen on him. It's like he doesn't want to believe that she wants Piccolo to train him, and yet, there's no way he can avoid believing it, because it came right from her mouth, and the conclusion of his inner conflict is manifested in his expression.

After several disbelieving blinks, she lets out a shocked, 'Are you jealous?'

'Mom!' Goten screeches. 'You didn't answer me!'

Ug! Goten! He cut right through a vital moment again. The first second right after her question, would've been the perfect time to assess Goku's reaction, but now, that second is lost.

'Tell him I'll be with him soon,' she barely manages to keep from shouting, because she chooses that moment to lift off the bed to start leaving to talk to Piccolo.

'Okay,' Goten cheerily replies. 'I'm going to Trunks'. Bye Mom, bye Dad.'

Goku, however, doesn't let her get off the bed, as he quickly moves to get her in the previous position that she had occupied underneath him. His skill is impressive for a man in formal attire that he normally complains about.

'What are you planning, Goku?' she wonders as she's unable to see into his mind.

Before giving her an answer, he looks at her for a moment, and then suddenly, twinkling sparkles rise in his eyes. Barely giving her the time to take his newly a dazzling smile, he rubs his nose over hers.

'I want us to remain in this bed, and be like this for a while more,' he tells her after drawing back.

'I want that too,' she involuntarily confesses in the heat of the sweeping moment.

All right, fine, she does want to indulge in this, she can admit that much. But is it so wrong of her to want intimate time with Goku after all the months that he's been away with Uub? She understands that it's contradictory to the leaving mantra that she's been spewing, but heck, she'll still a woman with a beating, and the heart is never known to make sound decisions. Whether or not she should want to indulge in more time with Goku before ultimately leaving, doesn't take away the fact that she wants this with him right now.

'Okay,' he laughs in a way that gives vibes from the day that they got engaged.

She's taken back to the time when Goku rejected Kami's offer to be Guardian Of The Earth in a silly, playful way, saying something about that not being the kind of adventure that he's looking for. It's the same now; he has that same mischievous look on his face and she can't help it laugh along with him.

'So just trust me, okay, Chi-Chi?' he whispers in a promise, sealing it with a light kiss just next to her earlobe.

Butterflies uninvitedly begin to flutter in her stomach, leading her to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him into her neck as she happily laughs from the base of her soul. When she releases him a few seconds later, he jumps out of bed without giving her a warning before he speedily removes his clothes and underwear too. As confused as she is curious, she sits up with a frown on her face, wondering what in the world he's doing, only for him to rush out the door of their bedroom as naked as he is.

Knowing Goku, she's not alarmed to think of him going around naked in the house to be seen by Goten. Except, when she thinks of Goten seeing his father naked, she remembers what he announced about Piccolo waiting for her, and that's more than enough reason for her to jump out of the bed with super speed, and run out of their room to catch up with Goku.

She catches up with him just in time to find Piccolo letting out a manly yet horrified scream at Goku's nakedness. 'Aaaaaaah! Goku!'

'Hey, Piccolo,' Goku cheerily greets with a seemingly innocent wave, 'Chi-Chi and I were in the middle of something. Can you come back later?'

'Oh!' Piccolo gasps, and before she can tell him that Goku's not being honest, he flies out of the house, leaving Goku cackling in glee.

So that's what it is!

She looks at her husband in complete awe of him. Really, does the fact that she wants Piccolo to train her bother him that much, that he would deliberately present a situation that's open for insinuation? Goku knows how embarrassed and uncomfortable Piccolo gets about such things, which must be what Goku is aiming for. If she wasn't here in person, she wouldn't have believed it possible for Goku to act this way.

But then again, now that she's thinking about it, there's just something different about Goku this morning. She can't put her finger on it, but there's definitely something that he's brewing in that head of his, that's meant to have some type of effect in the long run. She only needs to find out what.

'That wasn't nice,' she smacks his chest to get him to stop cackling.

'But at least he's gone,' he answers, 'and I have you all to myself.'

Well, if she has to, she'll admit that yes, the idea is appealing. Very appealing in fact.

Shaking her head, she softly says, 'You're impossible, Goku,' to which he replies with an angelic grin, which would be disconcerting on someone other than him.


Chapter 10, Jealous.