Falling
by Jae-chan
Story
Stats
Rated: PG
Started: 9/9/2001
Genre: Angst/Romance
Pairing: Chichi/Goku with some suggestions about Bulma/Vegeta
Setting: Well after Goku dies the last time. Chichi is in her late sixties.
Random Note #1: I'm having Goku constantly in his Super Saiyajin form.
Random Note #2: I know that in the series they said that only great warriors
kept their bodies...but I'm just going to pretend that never happened. We'll
just say only great warriors get to train at the Grand Kai's place. I'll base
the general heaven more on what they had in the movie What Dreams May Come
and hell will be the equivalent to what it was in the series. You won't see
much of this until later on in the story, but I just thought you should know
that I'm not sticking to the exact facts.
Author
Ramble: Gomen nasai if you aren't seeing things develop very quickly, but I
like to dwell on things. Some call it a bad habit, maybe it is. ^^; Please
forgive me if I don't move at the pace you might like. Also, keep in mind that
this is centered mainly on Chichi and Goku. I may allude to other pairings
(such as B/V and T/P), but I may not completely develop their relationship. I'm
sorry to all the fans of those pairings. Maybe I'll do different stories about
them in the future. Thank you for all the reviews by the way. I really
appreciate your input. I found the reviews for the last chapter very
encouraging and I just wanted you all to know that positive feedback is very
uplifting. It inspires me to move my lazy butt and keep writing. Behold the how
the power of praise can move an all mighty procrastinator! ^_^
Disclaimer:
I do not own DBZ. I just write about it. ^.~
---
Chapter
Two: Ignorance in Truth
Chichi
coughed harder upon seeing her house in the distance, but how miserable she
felt didn't really affect her speed. Memories kept flashing in her mind of what
her life had been like, what Goku looked like in different stages, and how many
friends she had. She hadn't always been depressed, even after Goku had died
that final time Chichi had managed to find happiness in Gohan and Goten.
Gohan's little girl Pan was a spitfire and reminded Chichi of herself in some
ways. Seeing her boy married was a joy in itself and to see his brother prosper
had given her happiness as well. The gap that Goku left in her life after dying
had always gotten to her, since she had lived for him, but there had been good
things. Chichi couldn't regret living to the age she had, but the battle was
getting tiring. Her years were catching up and so was Death it seemed.
*My life has always been confusing and
Goku's situation didn't help. Sometimes he could be such a baka about things,
but I think he did it on purpose. He was never an idiot. That's probably why I
got so mad when he did something stupid because I knew he could do better...
Chichi there you go. Talking like that. Talking about him. I'll never get back
if I keep this up.*
Upon reaching her door, Chichi shakily
took out her keys and her cold hands seemed to have trouble gripping them. "Not
now!" she whispered, forcing her fingers to clench the keys so that she could
unlock the door. Just as she had gotten it open she heard a gasp behind her.
Chichi turned to see Gohan standing there. *He must have just arrived...I
didn't even feel him coming.*
"Mom! What are you doing?!" Gohan
exclaimed upon seeing the wet state his mother was in. He knew as well as she
did that she could easily catch cold by being out in the rain at her age, and
seeing her dripping wet scared him. He quickly picked her up, took her inside,
and nearly flew her up to her room.
"Gohan! Really, I'm okay. I just got stuck
in the storm while I was walking." Chichi said, surprised that at her son's
sudden protectiveness. Most times it was her protecting him from the bad world
that rested outside of their home. The turn around was surprising, especially
after not seeing him for months.
"It's been storming all day, Mom." Gohan
said, looking at her skeptically as he set her down. *Her clothes are completely
soaked...I don't understand how she could have been so careless. Mom is almost
never careless. But I guess she's entitled to forget too.*
"Weather is different in the mountains."
She responded simply as she picked up another outfit and headed to the bathroom
to change.
"Yeah..." Gohan paused and silently
wondered what was wrong before continuing, "Well Goten is going to come over
tomorrow with my wife and Pan. We thought it would be fun to surprise you. I
know how much you miss cooking for Goten." Gohan chuckled as he watched her
shut the bathroom door.
"Seeing him scarf plates of food reminds
me of when I used to cook for you and your father. I'm lucky I went to the
store this week and bought several tons of groceries." Chichi giggled as she
changed into her heavy house clothes to warm up. The shake in her hand had left
her, although the growing pain in her stomach wasn't leaving. Chichi brushed
off the pain and opened the door again, looking much more like herself except
for how pale she was.
"Why did you buy so much?" Gohan asked
curiously as his mother took his arm and led him downstairs.
"I always have the hope that one of you
will come by and visit." Chichi replied a bit sadly, "I never want to be caught
unprepared for a guest. I like to keep them here for a while."
Gohan smiled as he wrapped his arm around
Chichi's shoulders, causing her to smile back, "We'll be here for a while. A
week. That way you can spend sometime with me, Videl and Pan. You'll like that,
ne?"
Chichi patted her son's arm and nodded,
very happy that he planned on taking a vacation to see her. It was a relief to
have him back in her house and she would be happy to have all of her family
about her again. Especially now that she knew her fate.
**********
King
Kai sighed as he watched Goku carefully, not knowing how his old student would
react. He didn't want his little house blown up. On the other hand, Chichi was
the man's wife (or widow) and he had a right to know. *The things that I get
into...hmph*
"Well...you
see..."
"King Kai, please." Goku cut in, feeling
impatient for the first time in a long time. Whatever it was, the look on King
Kai's face was not good at all.
"Alright alright. She's been blocking off
her thoughts and keeps them well guarded. Probably so that none of the mind
readers on Earth, like Chiaeotzu, can pick them up. She's very good at it
considering that she's only human." King Kai explained, sitting back on his
lawn chair.
"Why does that affect what I hear?" Goku
questioned, a bit confused as to where this was going.
"She keeps her thoughts hidden in the
center of her mind. It's like keeping your valuables in a lockbox, Goku. No one
can reach them without knowing the combination. Not even the dead. Being who I
am, it isn't so hard for me."
"What would she have to hide? Chichi's
usually pretty open about what she thinks." Goku said, remembering all the
times Chichi gave him a big chunk of her mind. She still spouted off at him and
he was dead. That was why he loved her.
"Well that's because you hear her thoughts
all the time now. In life you probably didn't know half the things you know now
that you're dead." King Kai replied solemnly, "Even now she can still keep
things beneath a strong exterior."
"So what's in this box? And why aren't you
telling me? Is it really bad, King Kai?" Goku asked.
For a moment King Kai felt like he was
trying to tell a child that his parents were about to die, but then realized
that this was ten times worse. Goku always seemed so oblivious to the obvious
that it was almost painful for him to explain things in detail. Especially how
his wife was dying. *I feel like a psychologist. I shouldn't feel like a
psychologist.*
"She's dying and she knows it. She has
cancer, Goku. It's some kind of disease on Earth, but I don't know much about
it." King Kai said.
Goku went completely silent for a few
moments, one of his fists curling up at his side as his eyes closed. He knew
she was getting older, but he had expected her to die of old age. Not some
painful disease. He wondered why that was hidden in her mind. Surely Bulma
would know by now and would be trying to help her find a cure. Wasn't there a
treatment for that kind of sickness? Goku just couldn't stand the thought of
her suffering or even dying. He wanted her to live a happy life. So far it had
been alright, but Goku knew how she had been feeling about him leaving. It had
hurt to know it hurt her. It hurt him to know of her insecurities after he had
left, and to know that there were times when she doubted that he loved her at
all. Goku wanted to help, but he realized that there was nothing he could
interfere with anymore. There had to be something that someone could do.
"Is she in a hospital? Is Bulma with her?"
Goku asked quietly.
"Goku..." King Kai said carefully, "She's
at home. I don't believe anyone knows what's wrong. From what I gather, this
sickness of hers has spread to most of her body. I don't think she is trying to
fight it any longer."
Goku's eyes snapped open, suddenly filled
with something that resembled a hybrid of sadness and pure anger, and energy
began to build around him upon hearing King Kai's last statement. "What do you
mean she's not fighting it?!" he ground out.
"She wants to die, Goku. She's been dying
for quite sometime now, but has been such a good actress that no one has picked
up on it." King Kai shook his head.
"I don't understand-" Goku's power level
went up another notch, influenced by the thoughts and feelings coursing through
him at the moment.
"Maybe I can clear a path for you. You
might be able to talk to her at some point, but I'm not sure if she'll believe
that it is you. I think the only way you can get what's going in is by
connecting with her." King Kai suggested, watching Goku sadly. The Saiya-jin
should have known Chichi would die sooner or later, but accepting the death of
a loved one wasn't easy.
Goku managed to calm down and he nodded
silently. He could try to talk to her once he found out what was happening.
Maybe she could still be saved. He couldn't believe that Chichi, the woman who
managed to intimidate just about everyone despite the fact that they seemed
stronger, was giving up so easily to this cancer. It was a similar feeling to
the one he had when she had first given up training after they married. She was
so talented and she just stopped. Goku had had no doubts that she could have
grown into a great fighter, but Chichi didn't seem to want any of it. He always
thought it strange since he could see how much she wanted to fight later on.
Goku could accept and respect her decision that time, but now? How could she
give up now?
*Chichi...Chichi what are you doing?*
"Goku." King Kai said, interrupting the
blond's thoughts.
"Hai?" Goku asked, blinking at the short
blue fellow in front of him.
"Come have something to drink with me and
I'll see what I can do." King Kai patted his back and led his old student into
his house. This was going to be a long day.
**********
"Gohan-chan...why did you come here on
your own? Why not bring everyone else with you?" Chichi asked as she toiled
over the stove, despite her eldest son's earlier protests to her cooking for
him right then. Chichi knew that he sensed something wrong with her because of
his over protectiveness, but she would not tell him of the war going on in her body.
It was something she felt she had to battle out or let go of on her own, just
as she had with everything else. When you are left alone for long periods of
time, you tend to become very dependant on yourself. Even if you don't like it.
Gohan watched his mother work as hard as
she usually did over the stove, but took note of the changes in her. His mom
was skinnier and much more pale than usual. She seemed less anger driven, she
was quieter, and she seemed lonely. Chichi never showed that...not on a normal
basis anyway. Gohan was concerned for her not only because of how he had found
her, but because she was continuously alone.
*Maybe she should move in with Bulma and
Vegeta...eh never mind. She wouldn't like that at all. Although I'm sure Vegeta
wouldn't mind having someone that could cook around. Poor Bulma can build
anything, but when it comes to dinner things just don't work.*
"I thought it'd be cool to just have it be
me and you for a night. You know, like when I was young. Besides, I thought I should
warn you a bit about Pan before she came over. She's turning into a rebel."
Gohan chuckled, resting his head in his hands.
"Short shorts and halter tops?" Chichi
asked, not turning around.
"No...more like training non stop and a
loud mouth. She reminds me of you in some ways." He replied with a grin.
Chichi raised an eyebrow and turned
around, "What exactly are you implying by that, young man? And get your elbows
off my table!"
Gohan quickly removed his elbows, the smile
not leaving his face, and he just continued to laugh quietly as Chichi set the
plates of food on the table. There was the woman he grew up protected by.
"She also has a relationship with someone
a bit older than her. Videl didn't like it at first, but there was nothing she
could really do." Gohan continued before beginning to eat the first plate. He
always ate slower than his younger brother and his father, mainly because
Chichi had raised him very strictly on manners. Many of Chichi's rules had lasted
in the way Gohan conducted himself and he had found in later years that
studying had paid off. The emphasis on the mind had only helped him in the
world. Now Gohan could understand why his mother had been so hard on him.
"Someone older? Who is it?" Chichi asked
with great interest, her features lighting up slightly.
"Well..." Gohan paused and looked at her
thoughtfully, "Would you be angry at all?"
"Angry about what? You haven't even told
me who he is yet!" Chichi exclaimed, obviously becoming a little impatient with
her son.
"Heh. I'm sure you'll hear it from her, so
here it goes. She's seeing Trunks." Gohan said, watching the older woman's face
for a reaction.
Chichi blinked, a little bit surprised due
to the age gap, but since it was Bulma's son it didn't anger her as much. She
knew Trunks and he was a good boy, just like her Gohan. As long as she knew him
and he had her approval, then he could get away with it. *Kami help him if he
ever hurts her...I'll go after him.*
"Mom?" Gohan asked.
"Well I guess it isn't so bad. I'm not
angry." Chichi shrugged lightly. Perhaps if she was younger she would have
found some reason to disapprove in order to protect her grand daughter. Right
now, however, Chichi had no desire to argue with the girl. She loved her too
much.
"That's great! You wouldn't mind if we all
took a trip over to the Capsule Corp then, would you?" Gohan commenced
attacking his food again, happy with the news that Chichi approved of his
daughter's relationship with his friend.
"No. I haven't been there in a long
time...it would be nice to visit Bulma for a change." Chichi nodded, smiling
slightly as she watched her son eat. Although cooking for her boys took a lot
of work, she was always pleased to see that they liked what she made for them.
"You mean you don't go down to see Bulma?"
Gohan asked, raising his curious gaze to hers.
"No, Bulma comes to see me. I don't like
leaving the house much because I like to keep it clean." Chichi said, her dark
gaze challenging him slightly to ask her why. They both knew that she would
never answer that question.
After finishing the meal Chichi had made,
Gohan helped his mother clean up and wiped down the kitchen for her. The mother
and son duo then went out to the living room and sat down on the couch, merely
enjoying one another's company. Gohan talked about his training and how he
would take Videl out to train as well, since she hadn't given up on her
training. Chichi delighted in hearing of how her grand daughter was doing and
what life was like for Pan, which made the elderly woman forget her troubles
and pain for a time. The evening had turned out sweet, balancing out the
negativity from earlier on. Although the pain would not leave her being, Chichi
was feeling better. Seeing her family safe had always brought her comfort and
joy. What mother wouldn't feel better having her son home after a long period
of absence? Goten's presence would be a relief as well, but Chichi was sure her
thoughts of Goku and her approaching demise would resurface with her family
about her. She could only hope that she could keep her secrets hidden. Gohan
was already catching on, and Chichi didn't feel ready to tell her family just
yet.
But then again...when
do you ever feel ready to tell your family that you are going to die?