::Singing to the tune of "Day-O":: "Drag-on! Dra-aa-aa-gon! Dragon Ball
Z, don't belong to me! Drag-me-say-Drag-me-say-Drag-me-say-Dra-aa-aa-gon!
Dragon Ball Z, don't belong to me! See Toriyama-san, Dragon Ball is his,
[Dragon Ball Z, don't belong to me!] Hey, Toriyama, mind if I borrow it?
[Dragon Ball Z, don't belong to me!]"
Okay, that's enough of that. Sorry, but that was kinda fun.
**this** means it's telepathic.
And by the way, I hope you like lemonade. There's some mild sex in this chapter; nothing really detailed or graphic, so relax. **************************************************************************** ** Battle of the Heart by NansJns
Ch.5
Chi-Chi stayed in the lower room for hours, only sneaking out periodically to get food and drink, and to find a bathroom. She wasn't sure why Davin didn't seem to be looking for her. Or for that matter, why the elves weren't sent to take her back to her room; but she looked upon these developments as a stroke of luck. For two days, she hid in various rooms on various floors, thinking she was keeping ahead of him. But the more time passed, the more confused about her situation she became. She wasn't sure what was going on; that is, she knew she needed to hide from Davin, but she couldn't remember _why_ anymore. She knew there was somewhere she needed to be and someone she needed to find, but _where_ and _who_ kept eluding her. One moment, the answer was right in front of her, and the next it would be gone. Sleep only brought the increasingly troubling world of her dreams. It was as if some part of her was frantically trying to tell her something through her dreams, something she desperately needed to know, but the message was always lost upon her waking. After she'd been in Davin's palace for three days, she stopped hiding. She just couldn't remember why she needed to anymore. Aume found Chi-Chi standing by a large window in a hallway, four floors down from her room, looking slightly disoriented. The light of the sunset seeped through the window, casting shadows about the hall. The golden-haired elf was quite shocked to see Chi-Chi out in the open; until her eyes focused on the spell-aura that only she and her fellow elves were able to detect encircling Chi-Chi's head. It had changed color, indicating to Aume that the spell was nearing completion.
"'Mistress'?" Aume ventured, gently placing her hand on Chi-Chi's shoulder. Chi-Chi looked at her as if she were a stranger, startled, and then calmed down when she realized whom it was.
"Hello, Aume," Chi-Chi said, sounding uncertain.
"Are. . .are you all right?" Aume asked slowly, fearful of the answer. She, Maruberu, and Lilith all had harbored suspicions about what type of spell Davin had placed upon Chi-Chi, very few of which were pleasant or harmless. Even though they barely knew the human woman, the three of them were very concerned about her.
"I don't know," Chi-Chi admitted. "I'm having trouble remembering things." She turned to Aume, her dark brown eyes suddenly wide with hope; hope that the she-elf knew the answer. "Aume, why was I hiding?"
"What?" Aume startled at the bizarre question. She now knew what Davin's ultimate plan was with Chi-Chi, the sick bastard!
"I'm sure that I was hiding for a good reason, but I don't remember what it was! A-and, there's someone important that I'm forgetting, too. . .I don't know who, but I feel like it's someone I need to hold on to, to get back to. . .Aume, do you know?" Chi-Chi asked urgently, fear edging her words. Aume let out a breath of pity and fear, and pulled the picture of Chi-Chi's family from her pocket. During the last few days, she had kept the photo on her person for safekeeping.
"You were hiding from Davin," Aume said softly. "Because he kidnapped you. He's using his ill-gotten magic to make you forget your family!" She held up the picture for Chi-Chi to see, and Chi-Chi stared at it for a long moment. Slowly, and with great effort, names emerged to match the familiar faces, but they slipped away from her mind almost as fast as they came.
"Goku. . .Gohan. . .Goten. . ." Chi-Chi managed to whisper before she lost their names once more, as tears started to prick the corners of her eyes. She reached for the picture, to assure the part of her that wasn't sure it was real. But before her hands could touch the photograph, the dizziness came roaring back and she had to grab the wall for support. Over the resurging dizziness brought on by Davin's increasingly strong spells, she felt the bond, aching and empty, calling for her to remember and hold onto all of her memories. Goku, her beloved. Goku, her husband and mate. Gohan and Goten, their wonderful sons, so strong and proud. _Her_ own family! For a moment, she felt like she could reach out and touch all of them again, but finally the mental effort proved to be too much and she fainted to the floor. Aume quickly thrust the picture back into her pocket as she called Maruberu and Lilith telepathically for help, fervently praying Davin hadn't just learned of the picture's existence through one of his spy-spells and planned to take it away. The three carefully carried Chi- Chi back to her room and gently placed her in bed.
"I now know what Davin's been up to with her," Aume said under her breath, as they settled Chi-Chi under the covers. "It's a memory-changing spell."
"Memory-changing. . .? How could he? I thought he loved this woman!" Lilith gasped, horrified.
"I suppose _he_ would define it as 'love', but as we already know, she loves someone else; her husband! And this spell is Davin's way of eliminating the competition!" Aume shook her head in disgust.
"We have to do something," Maruberu said. "We can't just sit back and let this happen."
"What do you suggest we do? We've tried stealing Davin's accursed book dozens of times with no luck!" Aume countered.
"We have to find Chi-Chi's husband," Maruberu firmly answered. Aume and Lilith stared at her with identical skeptical expressions on their faces.
"Yeah, right! How do you suggest we do that while we're being held here?" Aume said, dropping her voice to a whisper, in case Davin might be listening in.
**I think I may have a plan,** Maruberu said telepathically. **Think about it. Ever since Chi-Chi arrived here at the palace, Davin's attentions aren't on us anymore, or haven't either of you noticed? We've been getting away with all kinds of things that we wouldn't have been able to before she came. He's so wrapped up in his obsession, that he doesn't care about what we three are doing anymore; so one of us might be able to escape from here!** Aume and Lilith couldn't disagree with Maruberu's line of thought, for she'd been dead-on with her observation. Davin was practically ignoring them now. Maybe there was a chance; one which they'd have to risk. Lilith cast a quick glance down at the recumbent Chi-Chi, as the three of them threw ideas back and forth in their minds, and a plan began to take shape.
She giggled at the light, ticklish feeling of his lips on her neck, then her shoulder. She rolled over so she was on her back looking up at him, and saw his eyes glinting in the dark with more than just lust; there were so many emotions playing through his face and mind that it was almost hard to keep up.
"You know what?" Goku asked quietly. Chi-Chi smiled, reached up, and laid one hand on his shoulder and the other on his cheek.
"What?" she said. Goku stroked her cheek gently with his fingertips.
"When we first met, back when we were kids. . .I think, on some level, I already knew. . .you were the one I was meant to be with all my life," he said, and Chi-Chi blushed and giggled again.
"Oh, really? I seem to recall your saying that all girls looking for boyfriends were silly!" she answered him, one hand stroking his cheek in return. He caught it and kissed her fingers.
"I know, and I didn't really know what the difference between girls and boys was at the time, either. But just the same, I felt. . .well, something. And the second time, when I bumped across you picking flowers. . .I was so happy to see you again! And it definitely was not the same kind of happiness I felt when I saw Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Pu'ar, Krillin, and Master Roshi again. There was a different feel to it; I felt. . .I don't know, like. . ." Goku fumbled with the words. "I don't know how to describe it." Chi-Chi tilted her head to one side on the pillow.
"I also recall that you had no trouble leaving again right away," she observed.
"I was still a kid. Even if I did sense that I was supposed to be with you, I didn't understand how or why. Besides, there were a lot of things for me to do," Goku said in his own defense, as he bent down to kiss her soft mouth. She held him there for a few moments, kissing him several times.
"I knew it, too," she said when they finally parted. "From the first time we met, I was hooked on you. I must confess that while I was in my teens, I dated other boys because my father insisted upon it, but. . ." Goku flinched suddenly at the admission, and Chi-Chi hurried on. "But it never felt quite right. They were all nice enough, and I liked them, but only as friends. The day I found you again, at the World's Tournament, everything felt right, felt perfect, and I knew in my heart that I'd been right all along - you were and are the only one for me!" Goku relaxed then, and she cupped his face in her hands. "I love you!"
"I love you, too!" he answered, and kissed her again.
Then it all faded away.
Chi-Chi woke up and rubbed her eyes. Early morning sunlight landed on her face, and she blinked in confusion. Odd. The last thing she clearly remembered was watching the sun setting. What had happened? She put the puzzling thought aside and tried to recall the dream she'd just had. It was an important dream, she was sure of it, but the only things she could remember about it were the words "you are the only one for me!" and a soft, passionate "I love you!" She lay unmoving for a moment, trying to hold on to the intense feelings of the fleeting dream. She'd felt so warm and happy; surrounded by such a strong feeling of love. . .but who was the man in the dream? She couldn't remember his face or name. She sighed and rolled onto her back. ((Who was he?)) she wondered, frowning in concentration. For a brief moment, she thought she was being silly; it was obvious who it must have been. . .but as soon as Davin's name came to mind, she felt a little uneasy. It passed quickly enough, but it left her all the more troubled. She got up and took a bath, then changed into some fresh clothes. She stepped out of her room to see if anyone was about, but didn't see anyone. The hallway was completely quiet. Her empty stomach growled demandingly, so she headed downstairs to look for the kitchen. She remembered being upset about something the day before, but she didn't remember what it was anymore. ((Ah, well. It must not have been all that important after all. I feel much better now!)) Chi-Chi smiled to herself lightly. There still remained a strange ache lingering in her heart and soul, (from the bond that she no longer remembered), a feeling of emptiness and longing, but she didn't know its source and did her best to ignore it.
"Chi-Chi! Good morning!" Davin said from behind her, and she turned to see him descending down the stairs from the flight above her.
"Good morning, Davin!" Chi-Chi said, flashing him a smile. The faint twinge of unease stabbed her heart, but she mentally brushed it aside. "I was just on my way down to look for some breakfast."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Davin nodded as he joined her. "Let's see what the girls have whipped up for us," he said as he offered her his arm. She hesitated for a moment, then took it, and the two of them headed down towards the kitchen. However, her brief reluctance didn't go totally unnoticed by him.
Lilith and Maruberu were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the breakfast offerings. When Davin and Chi-Chi entered into the room, arm-in-arm, the elf girls grimaced slightly at the sight before forcibly putting on pleasant faces. The spell-aura's color had shifted again, its hue indicating that there remained but one last step to completion.
"Good morning, Master. . .Mistress," Lilith said delicately, and couldn't help but feel disappointment when Chi-Chi did not respond adversely to the title.
"Good morning, Lilith. What's for breakfast?" Davin asked first.
"Oh, the usual things. . .eggs, toast, fruit, hash browns," Lilith answered off-handedly as she placed plates in front of them.
"Sounds good!" Davin smiled, his eyes darting to Chi-Chi and looking like he was about to burst from joy. Chi-Chi, on the other hand, suddenly got a bewildered look on her face, just as Lilith and Maruberu began to serve the breakfast meal.
"Is something the matter?" Maruberu asked carefully.
"No, no. . .I just had the oddest feeling that I should be helping you cook," Chi-Chi said, her expression sheepish. She didn't say how she also felt, for a passing moment, like there wasn't nearly enough food. There was certainly more than enough set out for the two of them, she didn't understand why she thought for a moment there should've been more.
"Helping them? Why? They're perfectly capable of doing it themselves," Davin said jovially, though his voice took on a faint note of displeasure. Chi-Chi shrugged.
"I can't really say, except that this feeling suddenly came over me," Chi-Chi answered.
"Well, you have been ill for a while now, it might be a leftover from the fevered dreams and hallucinations you were having," Davin said kindly, patting her hand.
"Was I sick? I don't remember that," Chi-Chi shook her head, while the strange feeling of disquiet in her soul grew stronger.
"Yes, you were. Memory loss is one of the symptoms," Davin said in his most assuring voice.
"Oh," Chi-Chi said, as her heart began to beat a little faster for no apparent reason.
**We've no more time to waste; we have to do it today!** Maruberu said in an urgent telepathic appeal to Lilith as she fussed about the kitchen pretending to work.
**Agreed! It's practically too late now!** Lilith answered in kind.
"After breakfast, I think I'll walk in the garden for a bit. The flowers look so beautiful!" Chi-Chi said between bites.
"If that's what you want, go ahead," Davin nodded, and Chi-Chi smiled as she ate another bite of egg. Davin watched her all though breakfast, overjoyed with the success of his spells. ((Oh, Chi-Chi! You're finally mine! I've waited so long for you to smile at me that way. May Goku never darken our lives again!)) he thought to himself.
Chi-Chi strolled around the garden in silence, inhaling deeply of the sweet smell of the flowers. It was so beautiful and peaceful out here. There were dozens of large, brightly-colored flower beds spreading out far into the distance, including one of dark purple violets, as well as a large variety of trees and any number of bushes. Stone paths wound through the fragrant garden and around a sparkling blue pond in the middle of the lovely green area. She walked up to the edge of the pond and looked in, and paused at the sight of her reflection on the placid surface. It was strangely half-blended with another shadow, looking somewhat like a man with spiky hair. Something in her cried out that he was someone she knew, someone important to her, but when she pivoted around, all she saw was a line of trees with spiky leaves. She returned her befuddled attention back to the water, wondering what she'd been thinking. ((I feel strange again.)) she thought to herself. A warm, masculine hand landed on her shoulder, and for a moment she felt a faint wave of deja vu as she turned to see who had touched her. Davin smiled at her sweetly.
"Is something wrong, Dear?" he said, savoring the sound of the word.
"No, nothing. I was just looking at the pond," Chi-Chi smiled in response, and Davin pulled her back to lean against him. Even though she outwardly relaxed against him, deep inside, she felt a trifle edgy being held by him in such an intimate way.
"It is nice, isn't it? Very relaxing," he observed, though he wasn't looking at the garden.
"Oh, yes, very! It must have taken a long time for all of this to grow, but it was worth it!" Chi-Chi agreed.
"Yes, it was all. . .worth it," Davin replied, and kissed her cheek. She blinked in surprise at the sensation. For some unknown reason, the touch felt unwelcome. She turned her head to say something to him, and his mouth captured hers. Even though it didn't exactly feel unpleasant, it was somehow unnerving, and she pushed away from him. She felt her body start to tremble, not from desire or happiness, but from an undisclosed sense of fear. The strange, aching feeling in her heart had evolved into a sharp, stinging pain.
"Davin, please. . ." she begged, unsure as to why she felt so uneasy and shaky from something so simple as a kiss.
"I'm so sorry, but I've waited so long! Just a little more. . .?" he said, smiling slyly at her, and went to kiss her again, but she side- stepped away from him.
"I-I'm sorry, Davin, but. . .I-I don't feel like it right now, I think I. . .must still be ill," Chi-Chi stammered as she turned her face away. She certainly didn't feel right; but she couldn't get a handle on what the problem was. It wasn't like this was the first time they'd kissed. . .right. . .? She didn't see Davin's gray eyes darken as they narrowed unhappily at her reaction.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I should have thought of that. Well, I have things to tend to; I'll see you in a bit, all right?" he said, and she nodded without looking at him. He scowled as he turned on his heel and marched back inside. He said nothing to his servants as he stormed up to his room, a scowl on his face and his eyes darker than thunderheads.
"DAMN IT!!" Davin bellowed as he threw a glass vial across the room. It hit the far wall and exploded into tiny shards from the impact. "Why?! I've purged all but the faintest shadows of him from her mind! And even those shadows will soon be purged! Why is she still holding herself back from me?! Why is she still holding onto him?! Damn it!" he ranted, then wiped the angry sweat from his face. "Let him go, Chi-Chi! He's nothing now; your place is here, with me! Just. . .let him go, and come to me. I made this paradise for you. . .!" He breathed deeply for several moments to calm himself down. "Maybe I'm over-reacting," he mumbled and opened a window. He could make out Chi-Chi's figure in the distance, as she kept walking through the garden, though her steps seemed slower now.
In an effort to calm herself, Chi-Chi started humming softly as she moved through the garden. It was a sweet tune, and she remembered some of the words, which she began to sing under her breath after a few moments: "Words are always getting in my way. . .Anyway, I love you. . .that's all I've got to tell you. . .that's all I've got to say. . ." ((I wonder where I heard this song. . .I can't remember.)) she thought. Her continued inability to recall even the simplest things was really starting to unnerve her, so she started humming again to get her mind off it. The melody reached out to that empty, lonely feeling in her heart, and she momentarily felt tears well up in her eyes, even though she couldn't think of any reason why she should feel so sad.
It was a scorcher of a day. The summer heat wave was at its peak. Goku and Chi-Chi were walking companionably through the piney woods, enjoying some peace and quiet, while Ox-King looked after one-year-old Gohan. As they walked along beneath the verdant shade of the trees, Goku repeatedly brushed sweat from his forehead and Chi-Chi fanned herself with the hand fan she'd brought with her. Their stroll eventually took them to the lakeside. As Goku gazed at the cool, clear water, he was struck by an inspiration.
"Let's go for a swim, Chi-Chi!" he impulsively announced, quickly untying his sash-belt.
"But Goku, we don't have our suits!" Chi-Chi objected as Goku pulled his boots off next.
"Ah, we don't need suits! There's no one around for miles except Ox- King and Gohan!" Goku waved her protest off as he started to pull off his shirt and weighted clothing.
"But-!" Chi-Chi started again, and then Goku removed his pants and boxers. She blushed a little in reaction.
"I don't like suits, anyway," he cheerfully stated as he dove into the water. A moment later, he broke the surface and waved an invitation to her. "Come on in, Chi-Chi! It feels great!" Chi-Chi hesitated, and then did the last thing Goku ever expected her to do. She quickly undid the frog fasteners and shrugged off her dress. She stopped for a brief moment, right before removing the slacks she wore beneath, and her undergarments. Then she dove into the cool water after him. She popped up beside him blushing deeply and obviously nervous about their impromptu skinny-dip in such an open area. Goku was both surprised and pleased. He hadn't thought she'd ever actually do it.
"It does feel good!" she said. "You're absolutely positive there's no one around?" He nodded.
"Not a soul, except for Gohan and your dad, and he said he was going to leave us be for a few hours," Goku answered. "So, come on." He took her hand and they swam together through the lake, enjoying the flow of cold water over their bodies. They swam so close, they kept brushing against each other. In spite of the coolness of the water, Goku could feel himself start to burn as Chi-Chi's hip brushed his side yet again. He caught her hand and drew her into his embrace, ignoring her puzzled look. His lips brushed hers, then pressed down deep, and Chi-Chi responded by pushing herself further into his arms. His hands began to wander, feeling, teasing. She gasped and tried to pull back.
"Goku! R-really! Here?" she said between heated pants.
"Why not? It's been a while, what with Gohan keeping us up all night, and it's quiet and peaceful here," Goku answered, pulling her close again. "Chi-Chi. . ." he murmured against her mouth as he leaned in for another kiss. She started to push away again, but then melted into him. He held her tightly, kissing her sweetly, and lifted them both out of the water and onto the soft, grassy bank. His ki flared briefly to dry them, and his hands and mouth began to explore her soft, sweet body. She was still nervous at first, but slowly she began to not care, and touched him in return. Her hands caressed his chest and back, as his hands squeezed and massaged her firm breasts. He licked and nipped at her breasts teasingly, and his hands slipped down her body to tease her flower until he felt the last of her nervousness and reservations fade away. When he finally felt her fully relax and give in to him, he kissed her mouth deeply and joined their bodies together. She felt so wonderful; it had been too long since Gohan was born that the two of them could be together like this. Caring for the baby had taken up so much of their time and energy that they used any respites to catch up on their sleeping whenever they could. He listened to her gasps and moans and thrilled to it. He couldn't imagine where he'd be without his Chi-Chi. . .
Goku woke with an agonized groan; partly because of the ache in his body, partly because he wanted to remain in the wonderful dream state a while longer. His pain-filled reality was too harsh to face at the moment. He sighed and licked his dry lips. The dream-memory of her taste lingered for a moment, but then he forced himself to face the truth, and all affects of the dream sharply dissipated. He still didn't know where his Chi-Chi was. For three days, he'd searched endlessly, and come up with nothing. For three days, the bond had been quiet and empty. He was surprised he was still sane. ((Wait a minute. . .why was I asleep?)) Goku wondered, now suspicious. The last thing he remembered was that he'd been looking for Chi-Chi, which meant that he hadn't gone to bed of his free will! So how had he gotten there? He sat up and winced at a sudden stabbing pain in the back of his skull. He reached with a tentative hand up the back of his neck, and encountered a large goose egg on his head. ((Wha-? Vegeta!)) Goku threw his covers back and jumped out of his bed. ((That son of a-! He cold-cocked me from behind again!)) He threw on some clean clothes and then charged into the kitchen, where his sons, Piccolo, Krillin, 18, Trunks, and Vegeta all awaited him. A day earlier, Videl, Tien, and Yamcha had all been informed of the situation and were busily scouting around for clues. Bulma was back at Capsule Corp., working. Goku glared pointedly at Vegeta.
"You knocked me out, didn't you?" Goku asked him, in a cold fury.
"You needed rest, Kakkarot. You hadn't slept since your mate was taken," Vegeta calmly answered. He didn't regret doing it, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, if necessary. Frankly, given the way Kakkarot had been carrying on over the past few days, both Piccolo and Gohan had been on the verge of doing the same themselves.
"I don't have time to waste sleeping!" Goku snarled.
"But you need to rest sometimes, Daddy!" Goten objected.
"Dad, you were so exhausted that you were getting sloppy! It was for the best, really!" Gohan said, although he wasn't exactly overjoyed with the fact that his father had to be rendered unconscious to get some sleep.
"Don't START with me, Gohan!" Goku snapped at his oldest son viciously, and Gohan backpedaled slightly, surprised and hurt by his father's unaccustomed vehemence. Looking around him at the shocked expressions on the faces of his friends and family, Goku pulled back once he'd realized what he'd done. "Kami, I. . .I'm sorry, Gohan! I didn't mean it-!"
"Goku, this whole thing is being extremely hard on you, that's why you need to rest now and then, as well as eat. By the way, when _was_ the last time you had a meal?" Piccolo stepped in then.
"Yeah, Goku. You've got to keep your strength up if you want to help Chi-Chi," Krillin agreed, nodding his head.
"Running yourself into the ground won't help her," 18 added, in a no- nonsense tone. "Now, do sit down and eat something." She motioned to some food that had been set out on the table. It was obvious by the piles of empty dishes that his boys had gotten to it first, but there was sufficient food left on the table to satisfy him. . .if he felt like eating. He'd barely had anything to eat for days now, but his renowned Saiyan appetite had yet to return.
"The last time I ate. . .sometime yesterday, wasn't it?" Goku answered, wincing at the bump again. Then he realized the pain wasn't just coming from the lump, it was coming from the inside of him as well. The quiet in the bond had sharpened into an actual, physical pain.
"Early yesterday afternoon," Gohan said gently as he pulled his father into a nearby seat. Goku grabbed a fork, poked unhappily at the offered food, and began to eat slowly. His stomach was still upset, even after three . .now, four days' time.
"It's a wonder you haven't just collapsed outright, Kakkarot, considering the rate that you've been expending ki and not nourishing yourself," Vegeta observed. "Your ki is extremely low as is."
"You still had no right to do what you did," Goku grumbled, sending Vegeta a dark look. Vegeta frowned at him in response.
"Listen, Baka. . ." Vegeta said, beginning to get annoyed with the younger man's ingratitude.
"NO! YOU listen!" Goku snapped, standing so abruptly that he knocked his chair over with a clatter. "My wife, _my mate_, is in the hands of an insane man with enough magic at his command to stop time! I have no idea where she is, or if she's all right, and I still can't feel her through the bond! And I DON'T feel like taking any of your crap right now, Vegeta! So just shove it!" Goku breathed deeply a few times to get his control back as he set his roughly chair back on its feet.
"I understand all of that, you baka! But how do you plan on helping your mate if you're completely worn out from not sleeping or eating?" Vegeta growled in return. "You're being foolish, Kakkarot!" Goku sat down hard and forced himself to eat more. He didn't want to look at Vegeta. He knew the Prince was right; he needed to eat and sleep properly, in order to keep his strength up, but he was so scared and worried he didn't feel like he could do either for more than a few minutes.
"Man, Goten, your dad is a mess!" Trunks whispered to his best friend. Goku's skin was pale and sweaty, his cheeks were a little sunken, and dark bags hung under his eyes. Gohan and Goten also had bags under their eyes; though they had been sleeping a little better than their father, they still hadn't slept half as much as was normal for them. "Actually, you all look pretty bad!"
"You wouldn't look so good either if your momma disappeared without a trace, Trunks!" Goten answered shortly, which made his friend jerk and turn red at the unexpectedly harsh words, dropping his eyes in apology. "And shouldn't _you_ be in school?" Goten added.
"Yes, he should," Vegeta stepped in to defuse the situation. "Come on, Trunks. Your mother will be mad if you're late," he said, taking his son's hand and pulling him out the front door.
"Aw, Dad!" Trunks half-whined as he left.
"Don't you have classes, too?" 18 asked Gohan, point-blank.
"I can't go now! I have to help look for Mom! I wouldn't be able to concentrate, anyway!" Gohan said adamantly, folding his arms across his chest.
"Go, Gohan. Your mom wouldn't want you to miss any more school," Goku said quietly. Gohan stared at him, then sighed in resignation and rose to retrieve his school things. He'd skipped classes the previous day, with Goku calling in to say he wasn't well. Gohan reluctantly went to school, weighed down with a heavy heart, feeling like he was betraying his mother by not helping to look for her. ((Damn you, Davin! Damn you to hell for doing this to us!)) he cursed angrily in his mind, unaware his father was thinking the exact same thing.
Aume, Maruberu, and Lilith were doing their garden chores, pulling up weeds, watering the plants, spreading fertilizer, and spraying for bugs. Lilith was positioned nearest the house, Maruberu was working towards the outer edge of the garden, and Aume was somewhere in the middle. They hadn't seen or heard from Davin since he'd stormed up to his room, and they could only hope he wasn't using one of his spy spells to watch them. Chi- Chi had also gone inside a little while ago, and they didn't know what she was doing. With watering can in hand, Lilith slowly and purposefully worked her way toward one of the windows and carefully looked in. She could see Davin and Chi-Chi standing in the middle of the room, talking.
**Aha! He's busy talking to Chi-Chi right now! Go for it!** she called over to her friends. Maruberu casually maneuvered herself to the very edge of the garden, and then leaped over the fence. Earlier, the three elf-women had played 'rock-paper-scissors' to decide who'd attempt the escape, and she'd won. She sped through the forest surrounding the palace until she reached the point where the reality bubble surrounding their magical dimension bent back upon itself; warping space and time in such a way that an errant step would send her right back to the palace. At this point, she concentrated all her powers, with some borrowed from her friends, and pushed against the bubble's wall. It held firm for a second or two, and then began to bulge slowly outward. Davin had been expending so much of his magical power on Chi-Chi, that the barrier was weakening. Maruberu sucked in a deeper breath and pushed with all her might, as her hands glowed and sparkled with power. The wall bent a little bit further, and then finally gave way. She found herself dropped onto a real forest floor, and gasped in elation and relief. The sounds and smells of a true forest with real animals and plants in it was a soothing balm to her elfin soul, but she didn't let herself enjoy it for long. She had work to do. She pulled the only clue she had to go on out of her pocket, and held the picture of Chi-Chi's family up to the sky.
"Spirits of Wind and Fire, I beseech thee. . .lead me to the men in this image. . .guide me to Chi-Chi's true love, and the sons they have had together," she chanted softly, as the wind plucked the picture from her hands, making it spin and glow softly in the air. After a few seconds, the picture stopped spinning and a thin beam of light flowed from its side and pointed westward. She sighed softly and began to run in the indicated direction. "Thank you, Spirits!" she whispered in gratitude as she ran. ((This could take a while. . .)) she thought to herself as she followed the thin, guiding beam of light. ((I just hope we won't be too late!)) **************************************************************************** ** Again, if this chapter drags a bit, I'm sorry; it's plot build-up! Next time, things start looking grim for Davin's happy little fantasy. Be there!
I listen to my e-mail! NansJns@sa-tech.com
Okay, that's enough of that. Sorry, but that was kinda fun.
**this** means it's telepathic.
And by the way, I hope you like lemonade. There's some mild sex in this chapter; nothing really detailed or graphic, so relax. **************************************************************************** ** Battle of the Heart by NansJns
Ch.5
Chi-Chi stayed in the lower room for hours, only sneaking out periodically to get food and drink, and to find a bathroom. She wasn't sure why Davin didn't seem to be looking for her. Or for that matter, why the elves weren't sent to take her back to her room; but she looked upon these developments as a stroke of luck. For two days, she hid in various rooms on various floors, thinking she was keeping ahead of him. But the more time passed, the more confused about her situation she became. She wasn't sure what was going on; that is, she knew she needed to hide from Davin, but she couldn't remember _why_ anymore. She knew there was somewhere she needed to be and someone she needed to find, but _where_ and _who_ kept eluding her. One moment, the answer was right in front of her, and the next it would be gone. Sleep only brought the increasingly troubling world of her dreams. It was as if some part of her was frantically trying to tell her something through her dreams, something she desperately needed to know, but the message was always lost upon her waking. After she'd been in Davin's palace for three days, she stopped hiding. She just couldn't remember why she needed to anymore. Aume found Chi-Chi standing by a large window in a hallway, four floors down from her room, looking slightly disoriented. The light of the sunset seeped through the window, casting shadows about the hall. The golden-haired elf was quite shocked to see Chi-Chi out in the open; until her eyes focused on the spell-aura that only she and her fellow elves were able to detect encircling Chi-Chi's head. It had changed color, indicating to Aume that the spell was nearing completion.
"'Mistress'?" Aume ventured, gently placing her hand on Chi-Chi's shoulder. Chi-Chi looked at her as if she were a stranger, startled, and then calmed down when she realized whom it was.
"Hello, Aume," Chi-Chi said, sounding uncertain.
"Are. . .are you all right?" Aume asked slowly, fearful of the answer. She, Maruberu, and Lilith all had harbored suspicions about what type of spell Davin had placed upon Chi-Chi, very few of which were pleasant or harmless. Even though they barely knew the human woman, the three of them were very concerned about her.
"I don't know," Chi-Chi admitted. "I'm having trouble remembering things." She turned to Aume, her dark brown eyes suddenly wide with hope; hope that the she-elf knew the answer. "Aume, why was I hiding?"
"What?" Aume startled at the bizarre question. She now knew what Davin's ultimate plan was with Chi-Chi, the sick bastard!
"I'm sure that I was hiding for a good reason, but I don't remember what it was! A-and, there's someone important that I'm forgetting, too. . .I don't know who, but I feel like it's someone I need to hold on to, to get back to. . .Aume, do you know?" Chi-Chi asked urgently, fear edging her words. Aume let out a breath of pity and fear, and pulled the picture of Chi-Chi's family from her pocket. During the last few days, she had kept the photo on her person for safekeeping.
"You were hiding from Davin," Aume said softly. "Because he kidnapped you. He's using his ill-gotten magic to make you forget your family!" She held up the picture for Chi-Chi to see, and Chi-Chi stared at it for a long moment. Slowly, and with great effort, names emerged to match the familiar faces, but they slipped away from her mind almost as fast as they came.
"Goku. . .Gohan. . .Goten. . ." Chi-Chi managed to whisper before she lost their names once more, as tears started to prick the corners of her eyes. She reached for the picture, to assure the part of her that wasn't sure it was real. But before her hands could touch the photograph, the dizziness came roaring back and she had to grab the wall for support. Over the resurging dizziness brought on by Davin's increasingly strong spells, she felt the bond, aching and empty, calling for her to remember and hold onto all of her memories. Goku, her beloved. Goku, her husband and mate. Gohan and Goten, their wonderful sons, so strong and proud. _Her_ own family! For a moment, she felt like she could reach out and touch all of them again, but finally the mental effort proved to be too much and she fainted to the floor. Aume quickly thrust the picture back into her pocket as she called Maruberu and Lilith telepathically for help, fervently praying Davin hadn't just learned of the picture's existence through one of his spy-spells and planned to take it away. The three carefully carried Chi- Chi back to her room and gently placed her in bed.
"I now know what Davin's been up to with her," Aume said under her breath, as they settled Chi-Chi under the covers. "It's a memory-changing spell."
"Memory-changing. . .? How could he? I thought he loved this woman!" Lilith gasped, horrified.
"I suppose _he_ would define it as 'love', but as we already know, she loves someone else; her husband! And this spell is Davin's way of eliminating the competition!" Aume shook her head in disgust.
"We have to do something," Maruberu said. "We can't just sit back and let this happen."
"What do you suggest we do? We've tried stealing Davin's accursed book dozens of times with no luck!" Aume countered.
"We have to find Chi-Chi's husband," Maruberu firmly answered. Aume and Lilith stared at her with identical skeptical expressions on their faces.
"Yeah, right! How do you suggest we do that while we're being held here?" Aume said, dropping her voice to a whisper, in case Davin might be listening in.
**I think I may have a plan,** Maruberu said telepathically. **Think about it. Ever since Chi-Chi arrived here at the palace, Davin's attentions aren't on us anymore, or haven't either of you noticed? We've been getting away with all kinds of things that we wouldn't have been able to before she came. He's so wrapped up in his obsession, that he doesn't care about what we three are doing anymore; so one of us might be able to escape from here!** Aume and Lilith couldn't disagree with Maruberu's line of thought, for she'd been dead-on with her observation. Davin was practically ignoring them now. Maybe there was a chance; one which they'd have to risk. Lilith cast a quick glance down at the recumbent Chi-Chi, as the three of them threw ideas back and forth in their minds, and a plan began to take shape.
She giggled at the light, ticklish feeling of his lips on her neck, then her shoulder. She rolled over so she was on her back looking up at him, and saw his eyes glinting in the dark with more than just lust; there were so many emotions playing through his face and mind that it was almost hard to keep up.
"You know what?" Goku asked quietly. Chi-Chi smiled, reached up, and laid one hand on his shoulder and the other on his cheek.
"What?" she said. Goku stroked her cheek gently with his fingertips.
"When we first met, back when we were kids. . .I think, on some level, I already knew. . .you were the one I was meant to be with all my life," he said, and Chi-Chi blushed and giggled again.
"Oh, really? I seem to recall your saying that all girls looking for boyfriends were silly!" she answered him, one hand stroking his cheek in return. He caught it and kissed her fingers.
"I know, and I didn't really know what the difference between girls and boys was at the time, either. But just the same, I felt. . .well, something. And the second time, when I bumped across you picking flowers. . .I was so happy to see you again! And it definitely was not the same kind of happiness I felt when I saw Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Pu'ar, Krillin, and Master Roshi again. There was a different feel to it; I felt. . .I don't know, like. . ." Goku fumbled with the words. "I don't know how to describe it." Chi-Chi tilted her head to one side on the pillow.
"I also recall that you had no trouble leaving again right away," she observed.
"I was still a kid. Even if I did sense that I was supposed to be with you, I didn't understand how or why. Besides, there were a lot of things for me to do," Goku said in his own defense, as he bent down to kiss her soft mouth. She held him there for a few moments, kissing him several times.
"I knew it, too," she said when they finally parted. "From the first time we met, I was hooked on you. I must confess that while I was in my teens, I dated other boys because my father insisted upon it, but. . ." Goku flinched suddenly at the admission, and Chi-Chi hurried on. "But it never felt quite right. They were all nice enough, and I liked them, but only as friends. The day I found you again, at the World's Tournament, everything felt right, felt perfect, and I knew in my heart that I'd been right all along - you were and are the only one for me!" Goku relaxed then, and she cupped his face in her hands. "I love you!"
"I love you, too!" he answered, and kissed her again.
Then it all faded away.
Chi-Chi woke up and rubbed her eyes. Early morning sunlight landed on her face, and she blinked in confusion. Odd. The last thing she clearly remembered was watching the sun setting. What had happened? She put the puzzling thought aside and tried to recall the dream she'd just had. It was an important dream, she was sure of it, but the only things she could remember about it were the words "you are the only one for me!" and a soft, passionate "I love you!" She lay unmoving for a moment, trying to hold on to the intense feelings of the fleeting dream. She'd felt so warm and happy; surrounded by such a strong feeling of love. . .but who was the man in the dream? She couldn't remember his face or name. She sighed and rolled onto her back. ((Who was he?)) she wondered, frowning in concentration. For a brief moment, she thought she was being silly; it was obvious who it must have been. . .but as soon as Davin's name came to mind, she felt a little uneasy. It passed quickly enough, but it left her all the more troubled. She got up and took a bath, then changed into some fresh clothes. She stepped out of her room to see if anyone was about, but didn't see anyone. The hallway was completely quiet. Her empty stomach growled demandingly, so she headed downstairs to look for the kitchen. She remembered being upset about something the day before, but she didn't remember what it was anymore. ((Ah, well. It must not have been all that important after all. I feel much better now!)) Chi-Chi smiled to herself lightly. There still remained a strange ache lingering in her heart and soul, (from the bond that she no longer remembered), a feeling of emptiness and longing, but she didn't know its source and did her best to ignore it.
"Chi-Chi! Good morning!" Davin said from behind her, and she turned to see him descending down the stairs from the flight above her.
"Good morning, Davin!" Chi-Chi said, flashing him a smile. The faint twinge of unease stabbed her heart, but she mentally brushed it aside. "I was just on my way down to look for some breakfast."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Davin nodded as he joined her. "Let's see what the girls have whipped up for us," he said as he offered her his arm. She hesitated for a moment, then took it, and the two of them headed down towards the kitchen. However, her brief reluctance didn't go totally unnoticed by him.
Lilith and Maruberu were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the breakfast offerings. When Davin and Chi-Chi entered into the room, arm-in-arm, the elf girls grimaced slightly at the sight before forcibly putting on pleasant faces. The spell-aura's color had shifted again, its hue indicating that there remained but one last step to completion.
"Good morning, Master. . .Mistress," Lilith said delicately, and couldn't help but feel disappointment when Chi-Chi did not respond adversely to the title.
"Good morning, Lilith. What's for breakfast?" Davin asked first.
"Oh, the usual things. . .eggs, toast, fruit, hash browns," Lilith answered off-handedly as she placed plates in front of them.
"Sounds good!" Davin smiled, his eyes darting to Chi-Chi and looking like he was about to burst from joy. Chi-Chi, on the other hand, suddenly got a bewildered look on her face, just as Lilith and Maruberu began to serve the breakfast meal.
"Is something the matter?" Maruberu asked carefully.
"No, no. . .I just had the oddest feeling that I should be helping you cook," Chi-Chi said, her expression sheepish. She didn't say how she also felt, for a passing moment, like there wasn't nearly enough food. There was certainly more than enough set out for the two of them, she didn't understand why she thought for a moment there should've been more.
"Helping them? Why? They're perfectly capable of doing it themselves," Davin said jovially, though his voice took on a faint note of displeasure. Chi-Chi shrugged.
"I can't really say, except that this feeling suddenly came over me," Chi-Chi answered.
"Well, you have been ill for a while now, it might be a leftover from the fevered dreams and hallucinations you were having," Davin said kindly, patting her hand.
"Was I sick? I don't remember that," Chi-Chi shook her head, while the strange feeling of disquiet in her soul grew stronger.
"Yes, you were. Memory loss is one of the symptoms," Davin said in his most assuring voice.
"Oh," Chi-Chi said, as her heart began to beat a little faster for no apparent reason.
**We've no more time to waste; we have to do it today!** Maruberu said in an urgent telepathic appeal to Lilith as she fussed about the kitchen pretending to work.
**Agreed! It's practically too late now!** Lilith answered in kind.
"After breakfast, I think I'll walk in the garden for a bit. The flowers look so beautiful!" Chi-Chi said between bites.
"If that's what you want, go ahead," Davin nodded, and Chi-Chi smiled as she ate another bite of egg. Davin watched her all though breakfast, overjoyed with the success of his spells. ((Oh, Chi-Chi! You're finally mine! I've waited so long for you to smile at me that way. May Goku never darken our lives again!)) he thought to himself.
Chi-Chi strolled around the garden in silence, inhaling deeply of the sweet smell of the flowers. It was so beautiful and peaceful out here. There were dozens of large, brightly-colored flower beds spreading out far into the distance, including one of dark purple violets, as well as a large variety of trees and any number of bushes. Stone paths wound through the fragrant garden and around a sparkling blue pond in the middle of the lovely green area. She walked up to the edge of the pond and looked in, and paused at the sight of her reflection on the placid surface. It was strangely half-blended with another shadow, looking somewhat like a man with spiky hair. Something in her cried out that he was someone she knew, someone important to her, but when she pivoted around, all she saw was a line of trees with spiky leaves. She returned her befuddled attention back to the water, wondering what she'd been thinking. ((I feel strange again.)) she thought to herself. A warm, masculine hand landed on her shoulder, and for a moment she felt a faint wave of deja vu as she turned to see who had touched her. Davin smiled at her sweetly.
"Is something wrong, Dear?" he said, savoring the sound of the word.
"No, nothing. I was just looking at the pond," Chi-Chi smiled in response, and Davin pulled her back to lean against him. Even though she outwardly relaxed against him, deep inside, she felt a trifle edgy being held by him in such an intimate way.
"It is nice, isn't it? Very relaxing," he observed, though he wasn't looking at the garden.
"Oh, yes, very! It must have taken a long time for all of this to grow, but it was worth it!" Chi-Chi agreed.
"Yes, it was all. . .worth it," Davin replied, and kissed her cheek. She blinked in surprise at the sensation. For some unknown reason, the touch felt unwelcome. She turned her head to say something to him, and his mouth captured hers. Even though it didn't exactly feel unpleasant, it was somehow unnerving, and she pushed away from him. She felt her body start to tremble, not from desire or happiness, but from an undisclosed sense of fear. The strange, aching feeling in her heart had evolved into a sharp, stinging pain.
"Davin, please. . ." she begged, unsure as to why she felt so uneasy and shaky from something so simple as a kiss.
"I'm so sorry, but I've waited so long! Just a little more. . .?" he said, smiling slyly at her, and went to kiss her again, but she side- stepped away from him.
"I-I'm sorry, Davin, but. . .I-I don't feel like it right now, I think I. . .must still be ill," Chi-Chi stammered as she turned her face away. She certainly didn't feel right; but she couldn't get a handle on what the problem was. It wasn't like this was the first time they'd kissed. . .right. . .? She didn't see Davin's gray eyes darken as they narrowed unhappily at her reaction.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I should have thought of that. Well, I have things to tend to; I'll see you in a bit, all right?" he said, and she nodded without looking at him. He scowled as he turned on his heel and marched back inside. He said nothing to his servants as he stormed up to his room, a scowl on his face and his eyes darker than thunderheads.
"DAMN IT!!" Davin bellowed as he threw a glass vial across the room. It hit the far wall and exploded into tiny shards from the impact. "Why?! I've purged all but the faintest shadows of him from her mind! And even those shadows will soon be purged! Why is she still holding herself back from me?! Why is she still holding onto him?! Damn it!" he ranted, then wiped the angry sweat from his face. "Let him go, Chi-Chi! He's nothing now; your place is here, with me! Just. . .let him go, and come to me. I made this paradise for you. . .!" He breathed deeply for several moments to calm himself down. "Maybe I'm over-reacting," he mumbled and opened a window. He could make out Chi-Chi's figure in the distance, as she kept walking through the garden, though her steps seemed slower now.
In an effort to calm herself, Chi-Chi started humming softly as she moved through the garden. It was a sweet tune, and she remembered some of the words, which she began to sing under her breath after a few moments: "Words are always getting in my way. . .Anyway, I love you. . .that's all I've got to tell you. . .that's all I've got to say. . ." ((I wonder where I heard this song. . .I can't remember.)) she thought. Her continued inability to recall even the simplest things was really starting to unnerve her, so she started humming again to get her mind off it. The melody reached out to that empty, lonely feeling in her heart, and she momentarily felt tears well up in her eyes, even though she couldn't think of any reason why she should feel so sad.
It was a scorcher of a day. The summer heat wave was at its peak. Goku and Chi-Chi were walking companionably through the piney woods, enjoying some peace and quiet, while Ox-King looked after one-year-old Gohan. As they walked along beneath the verdant shade of the trees, Goku repeatedly brushed sweat from his forehead and Chi-Chi fanned herself with the hand fan she'd brought with her. Their stroll eventually took them to the lakeside. As Goku gazed at the cool, clear water, he was struck by an inspiration.
"Let's go for a swim, Chi-Chi!" he impulsively announced, quickly untying his sash-belt.
"But Goku, we don't have our suits!" Chi-Chi objected as Goku pulled his boots off next.
"Ah, we don't need suits! There's no one around for miles except Ox- King and Gohan!" Goku waved her protest off as he started to pull off his shirt and weighted clothing.
"But-!" Chi-Chi started again, and then Goku removed his pants and boxers. She blushed a little in reaction.
"I don't like suits, anyway," he cheerfully stated as he dove into the water. A moment later, he broke the surface and waved an invitation to her. "Come on in, Chi-Chi! It feels great!" Chi-Chi hesitated, and then did the last thing Goku ever expected her to do. She quickly undid the frog fasteners and shrugged off her dress. She stopped for a brief moment, right before removing the slacks she wore beneath, and her undergarments. Then she dove into the cool water after him. She popped up beside him blushing deeply and obviously nervous about their impromptu skinny-dip in such an open area. Goku was both surprised and pleased. He hadn't thought she'd ever actually do it.
"It does feel good!" she said. "You're absolutely positive there's no one around?" He nodded.
"Not a soul, except for Gohan and your dad, and he said he was going to leave us be for a few hours," Goku answered. "So, come on." He took her hand and they swam together through the lake, enjoying the flow of cold water over their bodies. They swam so close, they kept brushing against each other. In spite of the coolness of the water, Goku could feel himself start to burn as Chi-Chi's hip brushed his side yet again. He caught her hand and drew her into his embrace, ignoring her puzzled look. His lips brushed hers, then pressed down deep, and Chi-Chi responded by pushing herself further into his arms. His hands began to wander, feeling, teasing. She gasped and tried to pull back.
"Goku! R-really! Here?" she said between heated pants.
"Why not? It's been a while, what with Gohan keeping us up all night, and it's quiet and peaceful here," Goku answered, pulling her close again. "Chi-Chi. . ." he murmured against her mouth as he leaned in for another kiss. She started to push away again, but then melted into him. He held her tightly, kissing her sweetly, and lifted them both out of the water and onto the soft, grassy bank. His ki flared briefly to dry them, and his hands and mouth began to explore her soft, sweet body. She was still nervous at first, but slowly she began to not care, and touched him in return. Her hands caressed his chest and back, as his hands squeezed and massaged her firm breasts. He licked and nipped at her breasts teasingly, and his hands slipped down her body to tease her flower until he felt the last of her nervousness and reservations fade away. When he finally felt her fully relax and give in to him, he kissed her mouth deeply and joined their bodies together. She felt so wonderful; it had been too long since Gohan was born that the two of them could be together like this. Caring for the baby had taken up so much of their time and energy that they used any respites to catch up on their sleeping whenever they could. He listened to her gasps and moans and thrilled to it. He couldn't imagine where he'd be without his Chi-Chi. . .
Goku woke with an agonized groan; partly because of the ache in his body, partly because he wanted to remain in the wonderful dream state a while longer. His pain-filled reality was too harsh to face at the moment. He sighed and licked his dry lips. The dream-memory of her taste lingered for a moment, but then he forced himself to face the truth, and all affects of the dream sharply dissipated. He still didn't know where his Chi-Chi was. For three days, he'd searched endlessly, and come up with nothing. For three days, the bond had been quiet and empty. He was surprised he was still sane. ((Wait a minute. . .why was I asleep?)) Goku wondered, now suspicious. The last thing he remembered was that he'd been looking for Chi-Chi, which meant that he hadn't gone to bed of his free will! So how had he gotten there? He sat up and winced at a sudden stabbing pain in the back of his skull. He reached with a tentative hand up the back of his neck, and encountered a large goose egg on his head. ((Wha-? Vegeta!)) Goku threw his covers back and jumped out of his bed. ((That son of a-! He cold-cocked me from behind again!)) He threw on some clean clothes and then charged into the kitchen, where his sons, Piccolo, Krillin, 18, Trunks, and Vegeta all awaited him. A day earlier, Videl, Tien, and Yamcha had all been informed of the situation and were busily scouting around for clues. Bulma was back at Capsule Corp., working. Goku glared pointedly at Vegeta.
"You knocked me out, didn't you?" Goku asked him, in a cold fury.
"You needed rest, Kakkarot. You hadn't slept since your mate was taken," Vegeta calmly answered. He didn't regret doing it, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, if necessary. Frankly, given the way Kakkarot had been carrying on over the past few days, both Piccolo and Gohan had been on the verge of doing the same themselves.
"I don't have time to waste sleeping!" Goku snarled.
"But you need to rest sometimes, Daddy!" Goten objected.
"Dad, you were so exhausted that you were getting sloppy! It was for the best, really!" Gohan said, although he wasn't exactly overjoyed with the fact that his father had to be rendered unconscious to get some sleep.
"Don't START with me, Gohan!" Goku snapped at his oldest son viciously, and Gohan backpedaled slightly, surprised and hurt by his father's unaccustomed vehemence. Looking around him at the shocked expressions on the faces of his friends and family, Goku pulled back once he'd realized what he'd done. "Kami, I. . .I'm sorry, Gohan! I didn't mean it-!"
"Goku, this whole thing is being extremely hard on you, that's why you need to rest now and then, as well as eat. By the way, when _was_ the last time you had a meal?" Piccolo stepped in then.
"Yeah, Goku. You've got to keep your strength up if you want to help Chi-Chi," Krillin agreed, nodding his head.
"Running yourself into the ground won't help her," 18 added, in a no- nonsense tone. "Now, do sit down and eat something." She motioned to some food that had been set out on the table. It was obvious by the piles of empty dishes that his boys had gotten to it first, but there was sufficient food left on the table to satisfy him. . .if he felt like eating. He'd barely had anything to eat for days now, but his renowned Saiyan appetite had yet to return.
"The last time I ate. . .sometime yesterday, wasn't it?" Goku answered, wincing at the bump again. Then he realized the pain wasn't just coming from the lump, it was coming from the inside of him as well. The quiet in the bond had sharpened into an actual, physical pain.
"Early yesterday afternoon," Gohan said gently as he pulled his father into a nearby seat. Goku grabbed a fork, poked unhappily at the offered food, and began to eat slowly. His stomach was still upset, even after three . .now, four days' time.
"It's a wonder you haven't just collapsed outright, Kakkarot, considering the rate that you've been expending ki and not nourishing yourself," Vegeta observed. "Your ki is extremely low as is."
"You still had no right to do what you did," Goku grumbled, sending Vegeta a dark look. Vegeta frowned at him in response.
"Listen, Baka. . ." Vegeta said, beginning to get annoyed with the younger man's ingratitude.
"NO! YOU listen!" Goku snapped, standing so abruptly that he knocked his chair over with a clatter. "My wife, _my mate_, is in the hands of an insane man with enough magic at his command to stop time! I have no idea where she is, or if she's all right, and I still can't feel her through the bond! And I DON'T feel like taking any of your crap right now, Vegeta! So just shove it!" Goku breathed deeply a few times to get his control back as he set his roughly chair back on its feet.
"I understand all of that, you baka! But how do you plan on helping your mate if you're completely worn out from not sleeping or eating?" Vegeta growled in return. "You're being foolish, Kakkarot!" Goku sat down hard and forced himself to eat more. He didn't want to look at Vegeta. He knew the Prince was right; he needed to eat and sleep properly, in order to keep his strength up, but he was so scared and worried he didn't feel like he could do either for more than a few minutes.
"Man, Goten, your dad is a mess!" Trunks whispered to his best friend. Goku's skin was pale and sweaty, his cheeks were a little sunken, and dark bags hung under his eyes. Gohan and Goten also had bags under their eyes; though they had been sleeping a little better than their father, they still hadn't slept half as much as was normal for them. "Actually, you all look pretty bad!"
"You wouldn't look so good either if your momma disappeared without a trace, Trunks!" Goten answered shortly, which made his friend jerk and turn red at the unexpectedly harsh words, dropping his eyes in apology. "And shouldn't _you_ be in school?" Goten added.
"Yes, he should," Vegeta stepped in to defuse the situation. "Come on, Trunks. Your mother will be mad if you're late," he said, taking his son's hand and pulling him out the front door.
"Aw, Dad!" Trunks half-whined as he left.
"Don't you have classes, too?" 18 asked Gohan, point-blank.
"I can't go now! I have to help look for Mom! I wouldn't be able to concentrate, anyway!" Gohan said adamantly, folding his arms across his chest.
"Go, Gohan. Your mom wouldn't want you to miss any more school," Goku said quietly. Gohan stared at him, then sighed in resignation and rose to retrieve his school things. He'd skipped classes the previous day, with Goku calling in to say he wasn't well. Gohan reluctantly went to school, weighed down with a heavy heart, feeling like he was betraying his mother by not helping to look for her. ((Damn you, Davin! Damn you to hell for doing this to us!)) he cursed angrily in his mind, unaware his father was thinking the exact same thing.
Aume, Maruberu, and Lilith were doing their garden chores, pulling up weeds, watering the plants, spreading fertilizer, and spraying for bugs. Lilith was positioned nearest the house, Maruberu was working towards the outer edge of the garden, and Aume was somewhere in the middle. They hadn't seen or heard from Davin since he'd stormed up to his room, and they could only hope he wasn't using one of his spy spells to watch them. Chi- Chi had also gone inside a little while ago, and they didn't know what she was doing. With watering can in hand, Lilith slowly and purposefully worked her way toward one of the windows and carefully looked in. She could see Davin and Chi-Chi standing in the middle of the room, talking.
**Aha! He's busy talking to Chi-Chi right now! Go for it!** she called over to her friends. Maruberu casually maneuvered herself to the very edge of the garden, and then leaped over the fence. Earlier, the three elf-women had played 'rock-paper-scissors' to decide who'd attempt the escape, and she'd won. She sped through the forest surrounding the palace until she reached the point where the reality bubble surrounding their magical dimension bent back upon itself; warping space and time in such a way that an errant step would send her right back to the palace. At this point, she concentrated all her powers, with some borrowed from her friends, and pushed against the bubble's wall. It held firm for a second or two, and then began to bulge slowly outward. Davin had been expending so much of his magical power on Chi-Chi, that the barrier was weakening. Maruberu sucked in a deeper breath and pushed with all her might, as her hands glowed and sparkled with power. The wall bent a little bit further, and then finally gave way. She found herself dropped onto a real forest floor, and gasped in elation and relief. The sounds and smells of a true forest with real animals and plants in it was a soothing balm to her elfin soul, but she didn't let herself enjoy it for long. She had work to do. She pulled the only clue she had to go on out of her pocket, and held the picture of Chi-Chi's family up to the sky.
"Spirits of Wind and Fire, I beseech thee. . .lead me to the men in this image. . .guide me to Chi-Chi's true love, and the sons they have had together," she chanted softly, as the wind plucked the picture from her hands, making it spin and glow softly in the air. After a few seconds, the picture stopped spinning and a thin beam of light flowed from its side and pointed westward. She sighed softly and began to run in the indicated direction. "Thank you, Spirits!" she whispered in gratitude as she ran. ((This could take a while. . .)) she thought to herself as she followed the thin, guiding beam of light. ((I just hope we won't be too late!)) **************************************************************************** ** Again, if this chapter drags a bit, I'm sorry; it's plot build-up! Next time, things start looking grim for Davin's happy little fantasy. Be there!
I listen to my e-mail! NansJns@sa-tech.com