Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, I just like to play with the characters.
Reveling Senses:
There was a shimmer in the air and a man appeared. His skin was fair, his eyes and hair black as the night he walked in. His clothes were torn but his movements were lithe and silent as a jungle cat as he entered the house in the midst of a forest. Goku had returned home.
Surely he stepped through the large kitchen, the scent of the previous morning's meal still lingering to his sensitive nose, past the common room where worn furniture cast remembered and new shadows. A sonorous snore from beyond it telling of the presence of the Ox King in his usual guest room. At the top of the stairs, scents from the bathroom told of other changes: mixed with soap and floral/herbal shampoo was an oddly-familiar smell of shaving cream. *Kurrilan must have taught Gohan to shave,* a pang hit him at this evidence of another milestone he'd missed, *Oh well, he probably would've had to teach him anyway, since I never learned how either.* He rubbed his own ever-smooth chin thoughtfully.
A flicker of candlelight lured him down the hall. Opening the door, he was struck by the unexpected sight of Goten lying in state amidst the neat clutter of a young boy's room: toys, books and odd things were arranged on the desk and dresser, hand-drawn pictures were taped to the walls. Feeling oddly like a stranger in his own home, he entered then knelt by the bed and gazed at the child's waxen face. "I'll see you soon Goten," he whispered, then kissed his forehead and withdrew.
Eagerly now, he crossed the hall and quietly entered the room which he and ChiChi had shared. Lit only by starlight from the window, still his sensitive eyes could pick out same old furniture: dresser, desk, chair and bed. It was occupied, of course; his senses were filled with her essence: the sound of her breath, the sight of her lightly- covered form as she slept, and her scent- oh, her scent! Floral and female, wood smoke and cooking that was distinctly hers. Swiftly he took off his tattered gi and laid down beside her, his hands touching the silken curtain of the hair she released only at night or for him. Suddenly he was filled with a hunger that nothing in the Otherworld would satisfy but the sweet form next to him could. He leaned over to kiss her.
ChiChi moaned, welcoming the dream that came to rescue her from the day's nightmare. How often she had dreamed of his touch in these past years, only to wake before rapture. This time, however, she opened her eyes as her breath was taken from her lips. Heart beating loudly, her hands reached up to push the intruder away and stopped at the touch of firm skin warmer than a normal human's. The lips that had been on hers pulled away and was still while he gazed down at her. Too dark to really see anything, her other senses took over. She licked her lips and tasted the slight metallic- sweetness that seemed familiar and reassuring. One hand went down past the taut muscles to the slim waist, the other went up over the broad shoulders to feel the thick brush of long, soft hair and forward to cup a smooth cheek rounded in a smile. Lastly, she breathed deep the spicy musk that was Saiyan. "Goku?" She whispered unbelievingly.
"Hi, Chi," he answered low, kissing her palm.
"Goku! Goku!" She hugged him tightly. Then, through laughter and tears, they renewed themselves in each other.*
Later, she held him as he slept and thought. *It had been a night such as this that Goten had been conceived eight years previously. It seemed the Saiyan race was trying to survive, or perhaps that the Earth was trying to protect itself. Each major battle had been presaged by a conception or birth: Gohan before the Saiyans came, Trunks before the androids, Goten at the time of Cell and now Bulma was pregnant and the Earth was in danger again. Was it too late for her or even possible?* She sighed, then fell asleep.
They woke up in the dawn's early light, bathed and dressed. ChiChi had kept his gis, so Goku didn't have to wear the battle-torn one from before. Soon after, carrying the wrapped body of Goten, he led the small solemn procession out to a nearby plot of land marked by three boulders. On the smallest one, in barely discernable characters was scratched the name 'Son Gohan'. It marked the grave of the man known as Goku's grandfather. The largest one was engraved 'Son Goku – Hero – Father' and had an empty round depression near the top. The last was freshly carved 'Son Goten – Child of Joy'.
"You know he'll be back soon, Chi. They both will, and me too," Goku promised after the burial.
"I know, but he will never be the same innocent baby I knew," she sniffed and wiped her eyes, "and Gohan was just becoming happy again, attending school and making friends." Goku held her close, regretting the sorrow he'd put his family through, determining again to make things right. He marveled anew at the strength he felt in her slight form, the firm muscles from countless tasks she performed everyday.
The Ox King had been pleased to see his warrior son-in-law that morning, now he wisely excused himself and went back to the house, leaving them alone together. After a few long minutes, ChiChi squeezed her husband and gave him a brave smile to let him know she was all right.
"You know, it's kinda weird to stand in front of your own grave," Goku remarked as he scratched his head, then he put his hand in the depression, "What's this for?"
"It's for your dragonball," she told him.
"My dragonball? Don't you mean grandpa's?"
ChiChi shook her head, "When the year was up, Gohan went the find the #4 ball. The first one he found was the #1 ball and he took it as a sign that you were still somehow watching over us."
"Number one, huh?" he teased softly.
"Yes, you were always that to all of us," she answered sincerely.
He was quiet awhile as they started walking back to the house. "So what happened to it?" he finally asked, "Did he find any of the others? We need them."
"I know. He did find some more. The #4 is up on the mantle and I know Gohan gave one to Kurrilan and Eighteen as a wedding present. As for yours," she giggled as she opened the door, "Goten kept taking it to play with and talk to. Why don't you look for it in his room while I finish breakfast," she suggested, turning into the kitchen where she had started a pot over a low fire earlier.
Telling his stomach to be patient, Goku walked through the house, noticing differences in the daylight: a TV with confusing attachments (movie player and video games) in the living room where he retrieved and pocketed the #4 ball; pictures of the boys along the stairs; and lastly, Goten's room. As he searched for the golden ball, he figured his wife been easier on the younger boy than on their first, for there were fewer books and more (and noisier) toys around vying for their place along with rocks and snake skins and a jar of bugs hiding under the bed. But no dragonball. He gave up the search and his stomach gave a loud rumble just as ChiChi called him for breakfast.
"I couldn't find it," he announced, sitting down at the table as his wife placed a large steaming bowl in front of him.
"He must have left it out there someplace," she waved her arm towards the window. "It wouldn't be the first time," she continued, turning back to the stove.
"Mmmmm, thish ish very good!"
She whirred, "Goten! Don't talk..." A wooden spoon fell with a clatter as she caught herself in the habitual tirade. Turning away from the men's concerned gaze, she leaned against the sink on trembling arms. "Finish your breakfast," her voice quivered, the strengthened, "We're to meet the others at Capsule Corp. this morning."
"ChiChi, I'm going back to Fry Pan Mountain," Ox King said, finishing his breakfast, "I have to be there for my people."
"I understand, Dad. Take care."
"I will. You too." They waved good-bye. As soon as Goku was done eating, ChiChi rinsed and stacked the dishes, not even taking the time to wash them before holding onto her husband's hand so he could teleport them to CC.
They were struck by the dismal atmosphere as soon as they got there. Holding their noses and gasping for breath, they exclaimed in unison, "EWWW!! WHAT STINKS?!!"
*All right, any hentais out there, imagine all you want but I'm keeping this rated PG13.
AN: Ok, there it is, a G/CC Tang. I had fun writing this and I could have gone further, but I prefer discretion. (I'm tired of apologizing, I have a life, ya know!) Nani????? I bet you can't guess what the smell is. Review.
Reveling Senses:
There was a shimmer in the air and a man appeared. His skin was fair, his eyes and hair black as the night he walked in. His clothes were torn but his movements were lithe and silent as a jungle cat as he entered the house in the midst of a forest. Goku had returned home.
Surely he stepped through the large kitchen, the scent of the previous morning's meal still lingering to his sensitive nose, past the common room where worn furniture cast remembered and new shadows. A sonorous snore from beyond it telling of the presence of the Ox King in his usual guest room. At the top of the stairs, scents from the bathroom told of other changes: mixed with soap and floral/herbal shampoo was an oddly-familiar smell of shaving cream. *Kurrilan must have taught Gohan to shave,* a pang hit him at this evidence of another milestone he'd missed, *Oh well, he probably would've had to teach him anyway, since I never learned how either.* He rubbed his own ever-smooth chin thoughtfully.
A flicker of candlelight lured him down the hall. Opening the door, he was struck by the unexpected sight of Goten lying in state amidst the neat clutter of a young boy's room: toys, books and odd things were arranged on the desk and dresser, hand-drawn pictures were taped to the walls. Feeling oddly like a stranger in his own home, he entered then knelt by the bed and gazed at the child's waxen face. "I'll see you soon Goten," he whispered, then kissed his forehead and withdrew.
Eagerly now, he crossed the hall and quietly entered the room which he and ChiChi had shared. Lit only by starlight from the window, still his sensitive eyes could pick out same old furniture: dresser, desk, chair and bed. It was occupied, of course; his senses were filled with her essence: the sound of her breath, the sight of her lightly- covered form as she slept, and her scent- oh, her scent! Floral and female, wood smoke and cooking that was distinctly hers. Swiftly he took off his tattered gi and laid down beside her, his hands touching the silken curtain of the hair she released only at night or for him. Suddenly he was filled with a hunger that nothing in the Otherworld would satisfy but the sweet form next to him could. He leaned over to kiss her.
ChiChi moaned, welcoming the dream that came to rescue her from the day's nightmare. How often she had dreamed of his touch in these past years, only to wake before rapture. This time, however, she opened her eyes as her breath was taken from her lips. Heart beating loudly, her hands reached up to push the intruder away and stopped at the touch of firm skin warmer than a normal human's. The lips that had been on hers pulled away and was still while he gazed down at her. Too dark to really see anything, her other senses took over. She licked her lips and tasted the slight metallic- sweetness that seemed familiar and reassuring. One hand went down past the taut muscles to the slim waist, the other went up over the broad shoulders to feel the thick brush of long, soft hair and forward to cup a smooth cheek rounded in a smile. Lastly, she breathed deep the spicy musk that was Saiyan. "Goku?" She whispered unbelievingly.
"Hi, Chi," he answered low, kissing her palm.
"Goku! Goku!" She hugged him tightly. Then, through laughter and tears, they renewed themselves in each other.*
Later, she held him as he slept and thought. *It had been a night such as this that Goten had been conceived eight years previously. It seemed the Saiyan race was trying to survive, or perhaps that the Earth was trying to protect itself. Each major battle had been presaged by a conception or birth: Gohan before the Saiyans came, Trunks before the androids, Goten at the time of Cell and now Bulma was pregnant and the Earth was in danger again. Was it too late for her or even possible?* She sighed, then fell asleep.
They woke up in the dawn's early light, bathed and dressed. ChiChi had kept his gis, so Goku didn't have to wear the battle-torn one from before. Soon after, carrying the wrapped body of Goten, he led the small solemn procession out to a nearby plot of land marked by three boulders. On the smallest one, in barely discernable characters was scratched the name 'Son Gohan'. It marked the grave of the man known as Goku's grandfather. The largest one was engraved 'Son Goku – Hero – Father' and had an empty round depression near the top. The last was freshly carved 'Son Goten – Child of Joy'.
"You know he'll be back soon, Chi. They both will, and me too," Goku promised after the burial.
"I know, but he will never be the same innocent baby I knew," she sniffed and wiped her eyes, "and Gohan was just becoming happy again, attending school and making friends." Goku held her close, regretting the sorrow he'd put his family through, determining again to make things right. He marveled anew at the strength he felt in her slight form, the firm muscles from countless tasks she performed everyday.
The Ox King had been pleased to see his warrior son-in-law that morning, now he wisely excused himself and went back to the house, leaving them alone together. After a few long minutes, ChiChi squeezed her husband and gave him a brave smile to let him know she was all right.
"You know, it's kinda weird to stand in front of your own grave," Goku remarked as he scratched his head, then he put his hand in the depression, "What's this for?"
"It's for your dragonball," she told him.
"My dragonball? Don't you mean grandpa's?"
ChiChi shook her head, "When the year was up, Gohan went the find the #4 ball. The first one he found was the #1 ball and he took it as a sign that you were still somehow watching over us."
"Number one, huh?" he teased softly.
"Yes, you were always that to all of us," she answered sincerely.
He was quiet awhile as they started walking back to the house. "So what happened to it?" he finally asked, "Did he find any of the others? We need them."
"I know. He did find some more. The #4 is up on the mantle and I know Gohan gave one to Kurrilan and Eighteen as a wedding present. As for yours," she giggled as she opened the door, "Goten kept taking it to play with and talk to. Why don't you look for it in his room while I finish breakfast," she suggested, turning into the kitchen where she had started a pot over a low fire earlier.
Telling his stomach to be patient, Goku walked through the house, noticing differences in the daylight: a TV with confusing attachments (movie player and video games) in the living room where he retrieved and pocketed the #4 ball; pictures of the boys along the stairs; and lastly, Goten's room. As he searched for the golden ball, he figured his wife been easier on the younger boy than on their first, for there were fewer books and more (and noisier) toys around vying for their place along with rocks and snake skins and a jar of bugs hiding under the bed. But no dragonball. He gave up the search and his stomach gave a loud rumble just as ChiChi called him for breakfast.
"I couldn't find it," he announced, sitting down at the table as his wife placed a large steaming bowl in front of him.
"He must have left it out there someplace," she waved her arm towards the window. "It wouldn't be the first time," she continued, turning back to the stove.
"Mmmmm, thish ish very good!"
She whirred, "Goten! Don't talk..." A wooden spoon fell with a clatter as she caught herself in the habitual tirade. Turning away from the men's concerned gaze, she leaned against the sink on trembling arms. "Finish your breakfast," her voice quivered, the strengthened, "We're to meet the others at Capsule Corp. this morning."
"ChiChi, I'm going back to Fry Pan Mountain," Ox King said, finishing his breakfast, "I have to be there for my people."
"I understand, Dad. Take care."
"I will. You too." They waved good-bye. As soon as Goku was done eating, ChiChi rinsed and stacked the dishes, not even taking the time to wash them before holding onto her husband's hand so he could teleport them to CC.
They were struck by the dismal atmosphere as soon as they got there. Holding their noses and gasping for breath, they exclaimed in unison, "EWWW!! WHAT STINKS?!!"
*All right, any hentais out there, imagine all you want but I'm keeping this rated PG13.
AN: Ok, there it is, a G/CC Tang. I had fun writing this and I could have gone further, but I prefer discretion. (I'm tired of apologizing, I have a life, ya know!) Nani????? I bet you can't guess what the smell is. Review.