Healing Old Wounds
Part Two
Goku grabbed Mirai Chi-Chi's wrists and pulled her arms and lips from him. Mirai Chi-Chi looked dumbfounded. "Goku?"
"I have to tell you something. I'm Goku but not the Goku you know. I'm Goku from the past. The Trunks in this time came to my time to warn me about the Androids. He gave me medicine to beat the heart virus I got. After we defeated the Androids and Cell in my time, Trunks brought me here to help defeat the Androids here. I only came along just in case Trunks lost."
Mirai Chi-Chi pulled her wrist out of Goku's hands and hugged herself like a frightened animal. "You're not my Goku?"
Goku shook his head. "No, I'm not."
Mirai Chi-Chi stepped back from him, feeling like a fool. For a minute, she thought this nightmare was over and her Goku was alive. "I'm sorry…for the kiss. I thought you were my Goku." Mirai Chi-Chi sat on the sofa and buried her face in her hands. She was about to cry but suddenly stopped as part of what Goku said registered in her brain. She looked at Goku surprised. "Trunks has a time machine?"
"Yeah. Didn't you know? Oh, right," Goku smacked himself on the forehead as he remembered. "Trunks said you lost contact with them after Gohan died. Bulma made the time machine and sent Trunks to my past to warn us."
"I see," Mirai Chi-Chi said, now understanding how Goku got here.
"Trunks just killed Android 17 and Android 18 and he's going to finish off Cell. He's the menace that has been killing other people."
"I heard something on the news by a whole city being wiped out and all that was left were the people's clothes. Is that Cell?" Mirai Chi-Chi asked.
Goku nodded. "Yes, but Trunks will defeat him and your world will have peace again."
"Peace," Mirai Chi-Chi scoffed. "The world may have its peace free from the Androids and Cell but I will never have peace. My family is gone and they are never coming back. I lost you--my Goku by that virus and I lost Gohan by the Androids. My father's gone," she broke down crying again. "I don't have anything. All I ever wanted in life is gone."
Goku didn't know what to do. It wasn't his Chi-Chi but it felt like it. He never liked seeing Chi-Chi cry if it was a bad thing and all he wanted to do when she cried was comfort her in anyway possible so she would stop crying, but this Chi-Chi lost so much that he could never comfort her. She lost her family, something his Chi-Chi only lost once and it wasn't permanent like this Chi-Chi. Still, Goku had to so something. He couldn't continue to see Mirai Chi-Chi cry like this so, he pulled her into his arms for a hug. Mirai Chi-Chi held onto him tightly crying on him. It was just his Chi-Chi held him looking for comfort in his arms.
"I'm sorry," Goku said gently as he rubbed her back like he did to his Chi-Chi to cease her crying. "I know it was difficult and horrible to lose your husband and son like you did. I've had a dream about the Androids coming to my house when I was sick with the virus and killing Chi-Chi and Gohan. I know how it would feel to lose my family."
Mirai Chi-Chi's pulled out of his arms sniffing and wiping the tears from her eyes. "I guess I'm being selfish. I'm thinking I'm the only one who has suffered when there are millions of other people who lost their families just like me."
Goku smiled gently as he pushed a strand of Mirai Chi-Chi's dark hair away from her face. "You're not selfish. Although there are other families who lost everyone, none of them has suffered as much as you. Not everyone had their husbands die twice, their four-year-old kidnapped for a year and then have them both fight aliens from another planet and travel to another planet to fight an even stronger enemy."
"You are not my husband," Mirai Chi-Chi said softly. "Goku never would've said that or even thought it. He would put on his sweet smile and think of everything as no big deal."
"He thought it," Goku said seriously causing Mirai Chi-Chi to look at him with full attention. "When I was on Yardrat, I thought about all that when I was recovering from my fight with Frieza. I just never thought to mention it to my wife."
"I would've been surprised to hear Goku sound so serious. He never was serious. It was always up to me to be the serious one in the relationship and look at things through a more realistic light than Goku who always looked on the positive side all the time. I guess that's one of the reasons why I love him so much," Mirai Chi-Chi thought wistfully of her husband." No matter how much bad has happened, Goku find the positive side of things when no one else can."
"If I didn't, then everyone else would worry," Goku said absently.
This caused Mirai Chi-Chi to snap out of her daydream and looked to Goku. He still had a serious look on his face. "What do you mean about that?" She saw the struggle on Goku's face. He wanted to say but thought he shouldn't. Mirai Chi-Chi placed a hand on his to ease him. "It's me, Goku. I might not be your Chi-Chi, but I'm still Chi-Chi and you can talk to me."
Goku squeezed Mirai Chi-Chi's hand gently. "I worry, too. When I was in the hospital recovering from my battle with Vegeta, I was worried about Gohan going to Namek. I just never let you see it. Well, I never let my Chi-Chi see it, but since our timelines were the same then, I guess it is the same thing. If you saw me worrying, you would panic and worry and I didn't want that. It just occurred to me recently that everyone's confidence is boosted when I'm positive of victory. If it's not everyone is worried and preparing for the end. There are times when I'm worried if we would win but I can't let anyone see that."
Mirai Chi-Chi understood what he meant but it didn't make it okay. "You shouldn't keep this to yourself. You should tell your Chi-Chi about that. That's what marriage is about, Goku--sharing each other's hopes and fears, comforting and supporting each other. I wish my Goku told me his doubts and worries. He only did that twice," Mirai Chi-Chi said regretfully as she got that faraway look again.
Goku knew exactly what she was talking about. "Gohan being a newborn."
"Yes. It was the first time Goku ever thought about his past. Before I became pregnant, I asked him once about his parents and he told me that Grandpa Gohan found him in the woods in a basket and took him in. He didn't sound sad about it. Anyone else would feel sad being abandoned by their parents like that, but not Goku," Mirai Chi-Chi said with a low chuckle. "He just smiled as if it was no big deal, but after a few weeks Gohan was born, he opened up a different side of feelings he didn't know he had."
Goku remembered that time, too. He was up in the middle of night just watching Gohan sleep. Chi-Chi came in and asked him what he was doing. It took some time but Goku told Chi-Chi about his thoughts on his parents wondering how they could abandon him like they did and how he could never do that to Gohan. Chi-Chi did her best in comforting him and Goku promised to never leave his son like that. If he ever left, it would be in death.
The second time Goku opened up to Chi-Chi was when he was in the hospital recovering from his battle with Vegeta. He was alone with Chi-Chi, which was a surprise considering Master Roshi, Oolong, Puar, Bulma and her parents, and Krillin visiting him, not to mention the nurses and doctor checking on him and the other patients in the hospital room him. He lucked out as that last patient was released leaving him in the room alone. That was when he talked to Chi-Chi about his battle with Vegeta and confessed to her about his accidentally killing his grandfather. Chi-Chi comforted him and told him it wasn't his fault. It made him feel less guilty by it and it made him happy that Chi-Chi still loved him despite his heritage.
Goku snapped out of his daydream as he felt Mirai Chi-Chi gripping his hand tightly. Goku saw Mirai Chi-Chi smiling kindly at Goku. It was her first real smile in a long, long time back to when her Goku was alive. "Thank you. Thank you for being here. Even though you're not my husband, I'm very glad that you're alive and the Chi-Chi in your time still has her husband. I wouldn't want her to go through what I've been though."
It was at that moment that Goku's stomach decided to rumble loudly in hunger. Goku rubbed the back of his head nervously and Mirai Chi-Chi laughed.
"I missed hearing that," Mirai Chi-Chi said. "I never thought I'd hear that sound again." On instinct, Mirai Chi-Chi rose from her seat and went to the cabinets to find something to cook for Goku. There was food in the cabinets but not enough to fill Goku, especially with him being very hungry. "Oh dear. It's been so many years that I don't stock food like I used to. I don't have enough food to feed you."
"If you have a car, I can drive you to the store and we can get some food," Goku offered. "I can get even go down by the river and hunt for a fish."
"You don't know how to drive," Mirai Chi-Chi said casually as she closed the cabinet doors.
Goku nodded. "Yes, I do. Chi-Chi made me get a driver's license after a wild boar chased her home when she was carrying groceries. It took me five tries to get it," he laughed at the whole experience. "And whenever Chi-Chi wanted me to take her somewhere, I do. It's fun."
Mirai Chi-Chi smiled envious of his wife. 'His Chi-Chi is so lucky.' "I can't believe you got your license. I never even thought of making my Goku do that."
"Krillin couldn't believe it either. He joked every motorist on the road wasn't safe when I was on it."
Mirai Chi-Chi laughed. "I can see why he said it. I have my father's car in the back. Let me get my purse and keys. We will have to limit what we get, Goku. Ever since the Androids constant attacks, many people haven't been able to go to the stores and truckers transporting the food to the stores have been few to none since the Androids been killing everyone."
****
It was so strange for Mirai Chi-Chi to have Goku drive her to the store and help her shop for food. She never did this with her Goku. Most of the time she went to the store, she went alone and she walked. Goku would stay home with Gohan or trained by himself. There were a few times he went with her but most of the time, she went by herself. When her father was at her house, Chi-Chi would take his car or he would drive her to the store. It was a real treat to have this Goku drive her to the store, pushed the grocery cart and walked down the aisles with her as she picked out the food. He even put the food in the car for her.
After they returned from the store, Goku helped Mirai Chi-Chi put the food up and went outside to gather some fishes that would last them a while. Mirai Chi-Chi went to cooking up a storm. She felt light and happier than she had in years. It felt wonderful to cook a lot of food for Goku again even if he wasn't her husband. Just being in the kitchen cooking a lot of food again was wonderful. When it was dinner time, Goku attacked the food with much vigor and excitement. Mirai Chi-Chi laughed tenderly at the scene reminding her of the many times her Goku would eat the same way.
Mirai Chi-Chi happily hummed to herself as she washed the many dishes that awaited her. Her back was to Goku who was watching the news on the TV. A reporter reported that both Androids have been destroyed. There were happy cries of people on the television saying peace has finally returned to the Earth and people crying over the love ones they lost because of them. After Mirai Chi-Chi put the last dish in the cabinets, she dried her hands on an apron and sat next to Goku on the sofa.
"You never had the chance to tell me how long you're here. If Trunks defeated the Androids and Cell, shouldn't he be taking you back home?"
"Trunks said the time machine used a lot of energy and it will take four months before it's recharged."
"So, you're stuck here for four months?" Mirai Chi-Chi asked.
"Yeah, but I don't mind. It'll fly by," Goku said easily.
Mirai Chi-Chi placed her hands on her lap, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress. "It'll be nice to have some company here even if it is for four months. My father often stayed with me or visited me for lengths of times, especially after Gohan went out to fight the Androids and after he was killed by them. Then he died a year later, leaving me his treasures and his kingdom. The people of his kingdom often tried to get me to leave this place but I couldn't. I let the wisest and kindest person to rule over his kingdom. My father's kingdom isn't my home. This place is, but it's been so lonely here, especially after you, um, my Goku died."
"How did his death happen?" Goku asked. "Was it sudden?" When Goku was in the Time Chamber training with Gohan, he often wondered about his other self and how the virus attacked him.
"Goku's?" Mirai Chi-Chi guessed. She looked as if she was in another lifetime just thinking about it. She smiled as the memories came flooding back. "It was wonderful after Goku returned from Yardrat. Things were back to normal. It was like before the Saiyans attacked. Gohan was back to studying to be a scholar and Goku and I were discussing plans for having another child. Then Goku became sick," she sighed heavily at the thought and frowned.
"Goku came to me saying that he was very tired and his chest hurt. I asked him what he was doing. He said he did nothing but his normal exercises, but each day he seem to have less energy for them. I joke saying his age was catching up to him but then I told him that maybe he caught a cold or something. I became concern when he was running a fever. I put Goku in bed and tried to break his fever with several medicines but nothing worked. I had a doctor check on Goku and he told me Goku had caught a new virus of the heart and there was no cure."
Mirai Chi-Chi gripped her hands in a tight fist over her dress in anger. "I refused to believe there wasn't a cure. I didn't want to believe that my husband, the strongest man in the universe was going to die by some stupid virus. There were days where Goku could walk around the house and feel fine. He couldn't do anything vigorous without breaking down in pain and being Goku you know how he is. He wanted to do his exercises. I yelled at Goku a lot during those times because every time he did exercises he would only worsen his illness and bring more pain to his heart."
Mirai Chi-Chi bit her lip as tears slowly fell down her cheeks. "Then the day came when Goku was so weak he became bedridden and slipped into a coma. I knew then that things were getting worse and not getting better. I took care of him as best I could, but nothing I tried worked. In his final days, I often held him, telling him how much I loved him and how I wished I could've done things differently in our marriage. I don't think he ever heard me. He wasn't in pain when he died and I was very grateful for that.
"The androids attacked a year later and then Piccolo and the others died one by one. I knew I couldn't stop Gohan so I gave up the dream of him being a scholar and accepted the fact he was going to be a fighter like his father. I worried and cried each time he fought and I somehow knew when Gohan was gone but Bulma's news made it official to me."
"I'm sorry," Goku said. He saw her crying again and he pulled her in a hug to comfort her. "I know Gohan did his best."
Mirai Chi-Chi sniffed and held on to Goku. "I'm sure he did. So, how did the virus get you?"
"It was the day the Androids came. I was in the middle of battling Androids 19 and 20--"
"Androids 19 and 20?" Mirai Chi-Chi questioned surprise. "There were more in your time?"
"Yeah, we had five in all. Dr. Gero, the man behind the Androids, turned himself in Android 20. I was in the middle of fighting Android 19 when my heart virus attacked and Yamcha had to take me home. I eventually slipped into a coma, having nightmares but I woke up thanks to the medicine."
"It's strange that it attacked you so suddenly when it took time in my Goku," Mirai Chi-Chi noted. "Did you have any strange symptoms before your heart virus struck you?"
Goku looked thoughtful for a moment. "Now that you mentioned it, a week before I met the Androids, Gohan, Piccolo and I were training, I felt kind of tired. I thought I was worn out from the fight. I was confident we could defeat them and took it easy until the Androids arrived."
Mirai Chi-Chi listened carefully to what Goku said. "It seems that the virus was starting to affect you slowly like it did with my Goku, but when you got in the fight with the Androids, it worked quicker because you were using more energy than you normally do in a day and it caused the virus to spread faster in you."
Goku thought for a second and realized Mirai Chi-Chi was right. "That does make sense."
"So you destroyed all the Androids in your time?" Mirai Chi-Chi asked to be sure. "Your world is safe."
"Not all of them. Dr. Gero had one more creation--Cell. He was suppose to absorb Android 17 and 18, which he did. After he was defeated, we used the dragon balls to revive everyone who was killed by Cell. Android 17 and 18 are back but they won't be causing problems again because they know they will be easily beaten. Plus Krillin has a crush on Android 18," Goku chuckled.
Mirai Chi-Chi was disgusted at what Goku said. "Krillin likes Android 18? I always thought something was wrong with him. He has the worst taste in women."
Goku threw a hand behind his head and laughed. "He really wants to marry and settle down now. Chi-Chi reacted just the same as you when I told her."
"I bet she was glad that you awaken from your heart virus."
"She was," Goku beamed happily before becoming serious again. "You should know that whatever you told your Goku, he heard you. I heard everything Chi-Chi told me when I was sick. Sometimes when I cried in pain from a nightmare, Chi-Chi would give me my medicine and talk to me. Just hearing her voice and feeling her around me, made me feel better. When I started to feel better, I could only respond by smiling or squeezing her hand if she was holding mine. At night, when I felt Chi-Chi holding me and talking to me, I would squeeze back letting her know I could hear her."
Mirai Chi-Chi laughed and cried at the same time. "I'm glad Goku was able to hear me. I feel a little better now. I thought he died without knowing…" Mirai Chi-Chi shook her head trying to avoid the memories but knew she couldn't. "After Goku's death, I had a lot to reflect on and I realized there were so many things I regretted in my marriage."
This worried Goku. If Mirai Chi-Chi regretted certain things in her marriage to her Goku, did his Chi-Chi feel the same when he didn't have any at all? "What regrets?"
"My wanting Gohan to study and be a scholar. If I had known things would end like this, I would've made Gohan's childhood happier. Gohan was only eight years old when he lost his father and nine when he lost Piccolo and the others. He had some happy times with his father after he came back from Yardrat but those were few since I had Gohan hitting the books hard. I think Gohan was happiest when he was a baby before he had the worries and pressures of studying. Gohan wasn't even one but Goku saw the strength in him that I just ignored. I told him that times were peaceful so there was no need for Gohan to fight."
Goku nodded remembering. Chi-Chi had said the exact same thing but what Mirai Chi-Chi said next surprised him.
"That was half the reason I didn't want Gohan to fight. He was your son after all so undoubtedly he inherited your strength. I wanted to raise a strong and smart child. I had wanted him to know martial arts. That was until I saw your fight with Piccolo. Seeing you almost die by him, scared me. When I participated in martial arts it was fun. I didn't expect the danger and violence I saw at the 23rd tournament and I didn't want my child engaging in that activity in fear of getting killed like you almost did. I wanted you to quit fighting and get a job where you would be safe from dying but I knew you were too far gone and in love with martial arts to ever change, especially after you learned you were a Saiyan. It was embedded in you, um, I mean my Goku." Mirai Chi-Chi rolled her eyes as she kept referring the Goku beside her as her late husband. "I don't I'm ever gonna get used to this."
Mirai Chi-Chi's confession surprised Goku. He didn't realize she thought this way and wondered about his Chi-Chi. 'Could Chi-Chi have thought this as well?'
"I always understood Chi-Chi wanting to get an education for Gohan," Goku began gradually, "but I never knew that was reason why she hated martial arts."
"Of course you didn't," Mirai Chi-Chi said almost scornfully. "She didn't tell you like I didn't my husband. It wouldn't have stopped you from fighting and it wouldn't have stopped you from trying to get Gohan to train. You would say, 'Don't worry. Everything's gonna be just fine.' How was I to think that when I knew better? When I knew how dangerous martial arts can be?"
Goku started to argue that but realized she was right. If Chi-Chi had told him her feelings on fighting, it wouldn't have stopped him. He would've said what Mirai Chi-Chi just said. He always looked on the bright side of things not at the possible negative. If Chi-Chi told him that, it wouldn't have stopped Goku from wanting Gohan to fight. Fighting was dangerous but they needed Gohan.
"Still, I wish she told me," Goku said glumly. "We always tell each other everything."
Mirai Chi-Chi glared at Goku sharply. "Do you tell your Chi-Chi everything?"
Goku rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well…"
"I thought so," she cut him off before he could explain. "I'm not mad at you and I'm sure your Chi-Chi isn't mad at you. She understands. You never meant to hide anything from her. You just don't want her mad at you."
Mirai Chi-Chi placed a gentle hand on Goku's face. "When you go back, just try to be more understanding to Chi-Chi. You already know whenever she does things that may sound restricting she only has the best intentions."
"I know."
Mirai Chi-Chi gave Goku a lingering look as she caressed his face softly. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away. "It's getting late and I'm tired. If you want, you can sleep in Gohan's room or the guestroom."
Goku rose from the sofa. "I'll take the guestroom." The two went up the stairs, not saying a word. Goku had a lot on his mind. He was still thinking about what Mirai Chi-Chi told him, which shed a whole new light on his wife. Goku opened the guestroom and paused to say good night before going to bed. "Good night, Chi-Chi."
"Uh, Goku," Mirai Chi-Chi began quietly.
"Yes?"
Mirai Chi-Chi couldn't believe she was asking this but she couldn't help herself. He looked like her husband and ever since this Goku came into her life, a part of her came alive that she didn't want to be lonely anymore. "Do you mind… if I sleep with you?" She saw Goku raised an eyebrow as a look of surprise cross his face. "Not anything sexually of course. It's just that you're a copy of my husband and I miss him so much. I hated sleeping in our bed by myself all these years. Just once," she broke off as she started crying again.
Goku placed a finger on her lips silencing Mirai Chi-Chi. "I know what you mean and yes."
Mirai Chi-Chi embraced Goku. "Thank you. I'll be back."
Goku entered the guest bedroom, removed his clothes except for his boxers and got in bed. He then realized that Mirai Chi-Chi was joining him and wondered if Mirai Chi-Chi would feel uncomfortable if he slept in just his boxers. He shrugged his shoulders thinking the idea was stupid and pulled covers on him.
Mirai Chi-Chi entered the room moments later wearing a housecoat over her nightgown. She pulled back and paused seeing Goku in boxers and quickly dismissed it as she got in bed and cuddled up beside him. "Thank you again, Goku."
"It's all right." Goku said turning out the lights. "Good night."
"Good night, Goku," Mirai Chi-Chi said and closed her eyes. For the first time in years, she felt peace and knew this wouldn't be a restless night.
To Be Continued
GD: Yep, I'm at it again! ::cackles evilly:: What will happen? Guess you'll have to wait and see on that one.
Sadako: Yes, this was the one I was talking about. To be honest, I'm not sure if Chi-Chi lived long to when Trunks went back in time. She could've died well before Gohan did. I know the Trunks movie had her still living but most of the time the movies aren't accurate and it's something the anime created like Dead Zone for example. Goku's friends knew about Gohan, but in the beginning of DBZ which takes place after Dead Zone, Goku's friends were stunned to learn that Goku was a father. Trunks never did mention Mirai Chi-Chi to Goku and when he arrived at the house with Krillin I don't know if he was speechless because Chi-Chi slammed the door on Krillin or that he didn't recognized her because he didn't know her. In the Japanese version, Krillin tells Trunks that she was Goku's wife, which made Trunks greet her suddenly and bowed. It made me believe he never met her. I would prefer it that she died because I think it's so sad for that woman to have lost her family like that and continue to live alone. Am I proud of myself for ending it in a cliffhanger? Of course I am. Heh. Heh.
SSJ Chika: More than you know.
Danichan: Thanks.
Oninu: I think we've seen Chi-Chi faint enough on TV.
Karen: I'm not saying. You'll have to wait and see what happens.
Chichi5: She's dealing with it to say the least.
The Prince: Thank you.
Keebler-elmo: He'll be all right. A kiss from his future wife isn't that bad. Hee. Hee.
Daughter of Ashes: Thanks.
Puppiescute: More than you know. Hee. Hee.
KitKat: Thanks. I doubt anyone thought of Goku going to the future since he was dead when Mirai Trunks left.
Gogirl: Been watching "Wayne's World?" Yes, this was the fic. Will he go back? Hmm, good question. Just what will happen. Heh. Heh. Only I know and I love it.
Knight: There's no need to suggest anything since I have already written out what I planned to do with my story.
Lady Athena: Thank you. When I saw Mirai Chi-Chi in the Trunks movie, it looked as if all the mourning of Goku's death and Gohan fighting and nearly getting killed by the Androids had taken its toll on her. It was very sad to see her looking like that. It really made me think she is just lost without Goku.