The Past Returns

Part Eight

Morning light crept through the silk curtains to announce to Chi-Chi that a new day has begun. Chi-Chi's eyes fluttered open. She put a hand over her eyes to protect them from the blinding rays. Looking around, she discovered she was in a bed on the softest material her skin has ever felt. The sheets were an ivory color and it felt like silk on her skin. She sat up and looked around the room. It wasn't like any other room she had been in. Come to think of it, she couldn't remember the last bedroom she was in. Everything around her looked unfamiliar from the large canopy bed with bed posts made of gold, to the perfect marbled floor, the fireplace, displays of various paintings on the wall to the balcony which was bringing in the light of the morning sun.

She looked at her clothes. The long gown she was wearing felt so soft like silk. It felt strange to be wearing this type of garment. For some reason, she was use to cotton, not something as fancy as this.

"Where am I?" She asked herself. Chi-Chi tried to think what happened before she fell asleep but everything was a blank. She couldn't even remember her name! This feeling of not knowing sent a shiver of fear down her spine. What happened to her? How did she get here? Chi-Chi pulled her knees to her chest, shaking in fear. "Who am I? What's going on?"

The door opened and Chi-Chi looked at in fear and confusion as a man entered the room. He was smiling at her as if he knew her, but to Chi-Chi, he was a complete stranger. Apollo walked in confidently and gracefully. His blue eyes sparkled as he looked down at her. He sat on the bed, which prompted Chi-Chi to move further away from him.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not here to harm you. I would never harm you," he spoke in a soothing voice.

"Who are you?" Chi-Chi asked.

"My name is Apollo and I'm the ruler of this planet. It's no surprise you have no memory of me, considering what you've been through."

"You know who I am?" She asked and then became eager for knowledge of who she was. "Who am I? What have I been through?"

"Your name is Chi-Chi. You are a princess and sole heir to rule your home planet Earth. As children, you and I were engaged to unite our home planets when we marry. We were good friends and often visited each other on our respected planets. I soon had to leave you to train to become ruler and protector of my planet. It was going to take several years and I was separated from you for years. During that time, your planet was invaded by Saiyans. They are ruthless killers who enjoyed conquering planets and killing the people on it."

At the mention of the word Saiyan, Chi-Chi felt a familiar connection to it but why and for what reasons, she didn't know.

Apollo took Chi-Chi's right hand and placed it over his heart. He let out a heavy sigh as he continued his story. "Since you were a princess, you were captured and forced to be one of the Saiyans' wife. I don't know all that you went through but I heard it was torturous and volatile. When I learned what was happening to your planet several years later, I rushed to rescue you and tried to save your planet. I killed many Saiyans to get to you. When I found you, you were beaten very badly. I wasn't sure if you would make it." He looked at her regretfully as a tear shed from his eyes. "I had almost lost you. I wish I arrived sooner to stop them but I didn't know." He looked at Chi-Chi pleadingly. "I didn't know. The doctors repaired all the physical wounds. I'm not sure about the emotional ones. I've visited you here everyday for two months, hoping you would awaken and now that you finally have…" he sighed joyously. "It's a miracle."

He swept Chi-Chi in his arms for a hug which Chi-Chi instantly flinched at, but Apollo stroke her back soothingly to relax her. The act felt familiar. She wasn't sure if he did it before or if it was someone else, but Chi-Chi knew she felt that feeling before. "I'm so glad to have you back."

Chi-Chi wasn't sure what to think. To hear that she was engage to this man, shocked her. She tried to remember all that he told her but it sounded as if she was hearing it for the first time. "I can't remember it. None of what you say triggers anything in my mind. The only thing that sounds familiar is the Saiyan. I don't know why but the name is familiar to me."

"I believe that's a blessing in disguise, my dear." He placed a kiss on her forehead and looked deeply into her black eyes. "The trauma must have been so severe that your mind chooses to block it and not ever allow it to resurface."

"What happened to my planet, Apollo? Did I have any family?"

"Your family was killed when the Saiyans arrived and your planet was destroyed in the final battle with me and the Saiyans. It's best that it did. That way you won't have to see what horrors have happened to your once beautiful planet."

Chi-Chi finally pulled herself out of Apollo's grasp. Touching him felt alien to her. "My family was killed and I can't even remember them. I can't remember Earth. I have no identity. I can't even remember this Saiyan I was married to, but given what you say, I don't want to remember." She hugged herself closely and started to cry. "He raped me. I don't remember it but if these Saiyans came to destroy my planet, my family and made me marry one of them, then he forced himself on me. I wouldn't have gone willingly."

Apollo embraced Chi-Chi again to stop her crying. A wicked smile crossed his face. "It's the Saiyans that this to you. Don't think about it or them, my dear. It will only bring you nightmares. Just remember that Saiyans are cruel, evil people." He pulled back to brush the tears from Chi-Chi's eyes. Again, Chi-Chi got a familiar feeling of someone touching her that way but she wasn't sure who did it. "I know that this is a lot to take in. I want to marry you now to start our new, happy life together, but I'll give you time if you need it."'

"I need it," Chi-Chi said quickly and then apologized for her brusqueness. "I'm sorry. I don't have a memory of what had happened to me. You're just as strange to me as those Saiyans who captured me and destroy my home planet, but in a strange way, something about Saiyans destroying planets makes sense to me. It's going to take a while for me to let this all settle."

Apollo smiled. "Of course. I'll have a servant bring you some breakfast. Just rest and relax." He placed a kiss on her forehead, which Chi-Chi finding uncomfortable, and left the room.

"I can't believe all that happened to me. I'm partially glad I don't remember." Chi-Chi placed a hand on her face as she realized something. She pulled the sheets aside and got out of bed. "My memory is so gone that I don't even know what I look like," she said to herself as she walked to the mirror on the dresser. She gasped at the reflection staring back at her. "I don't know why but I hardly recognize myself. Why was I expecting to see an old woman?"

Chi-Chi stared at herself. She didn't see any wrinkles or feel any loose skin. It was soft, yet tight and firm. Her arms were firm, tone and strong like her legs. She raised the gown to view her stomach and saw defining, taut muscles. Her body was sculptured like a young, feminine warrior. Chi-Chi let the gown fall and ran her fingers through her hair and examined it in the mirror. All she saw were long, shiny, black hair absent of any gray hair. She looked herself in the mirror stumped.

"Strange. For some reason, I thought I was old, but I'm young. Why did I think that?" Chi-Chi turned away from the mirror and walked across the room to the balcony.

The scene before her was amazing. The sun was shining in the morning sky, giving a golden light of beauty over city below her. The castle she was in was on a tall hill, looking down at the finely sculptured homes and buildings of glass, iron and stone blended in a unique mix of classical and modern times similar to Ancient Greece on Earth.

"Even though I lost all my memories, I should have some familiarity being here like Apollo said, but I feel as if this is the first time I've been on this planet."

****

"Do we have to do this now?" Kira whined as she and her brother walked with King Apollo and a servant pushing a cart of food on their way to Chi-Chi's room. "I thought I'd have to wait a little looking before meeting her again."

After Kiro and Kira put Chi-Chi in the youth chamber, they went about their business while the servants tend to Chi-Chi's welfare and care from then on so they knew nothing about the transformation Chi-Chi undertook.

"So, what does she look like?" Kiro asked. "Still looking like an old granny?" he joked.

"Actually, she's quite beautiful," Apollo said with surprise in his voice. "Much better in person than the picture I have of her from all those years ago."

"She can't be that pretty," Kira thought.

Apollo paused at the door before opening. "Now, remember you must be kind to her. So, no wise cracks. She completely believes that story I told her and we're going to follow it as plan. Let her gain her trust in you. If you're out of line, then you'll answer to me."

The doors opened and Chi-Chi turned around seeing Apollo entering with a servant and the Gemini Twins. "Breakfast is ready."

Chi-Chi noticed the other people standing beside Apollo as they all approached her on the balcony. The three looked vague to her as did Apollo. Chi-Chi smelled food coming from the serving trays and realized she was very hungry. The servant bowed before Chi-Chi and began placing breakfast on the table. Once she was done with that, she left the room.

"Chi-Chi, these are my loyal warriors," Apollo said pointing to Kira and Kiro. "They are one of the strongest on the planet and will serve to protect you. Here's Kira and Kiro."

Kira smiled politely and bowed before Chi-Chi. "It's an honor to serve you."

Kiro stepped up next. He took Chi-Chi's hand and kissed it lightly. "Especially someone as pretty as you."

"Uh, thank you," Chi-Chi said nervously as she pulled her hand from Kiro.

"Chi-Chi, I will join you for breakfast," Apollo said sitting at the table. He glanced at Kira and Kiro. "I will talk to you later."

Kiro and Kira bowed before Apollo and Chi-Chi and left the room.

"Wow. Apollo was right. Grandma is better looking in person." Kiro said once they were out of the room. He glanced at his sister. "Now I wish I had followed your advice and gotten to her before Apollo met her."

"See? Sisters know best, but she's not that good looking. I'm so much beautiful than her."

Kiro rolled his eyes. "Naturally."

"What did you think of them?" Apollo asked Chi-Chi as they ate breakfast on the balcony of Chi-Chi's room.

"I don't know them well enough to form an opinion," Chi-Chi answered as she took a bite of her food.

"You'll find them to be the most loyal and bravest warriors a kind king could ever have," Apollo answered. "Do you find this room familiar to you?"

Chi-Chi shook her head. "No. Why?"

"This is the room you stayed in when you were a child."

"It looks too elaborate for a child to stay in here," Chi-Chi thought aloud.

Apollo chuckled. "You are a princess. You lived in the finest riches. That was until the horrible Saiyans took it from you. After breakfast, I'll show you around the kingdom and planet. It should help trigger your memory." 'Or make you this was your home, too,' he thought wickedly.

****

"We have a problem."

Goku was in the gravity room doing pushups on his hands at 1,000 times gravity when Vegeta walked in and interrupted his exercises. "2,997... 2,998... 2,999...and… 3,000. Okay. I can remember that number," Goku said to himself and flipped on his feet. "What problem, Vegeta? Is it the ship?" He asked as he began doing waist turns.

"No, although I wish it was than the problem we do have."

At that, Goku ceased his exercises. If Vegeta had wished something like that, then the problem had to be serious. At first, Goku thought Vegeta might say they were out of donuts.

"What is it then?" Goku asked at full attention.

"Not what. Who. Iris."

"Iris?" Goku tilted his head in confusion. "Why is she a problem?"

Vegeta stood before Goku with his arms cross looking proud as ever, with anger in his eyes. "She's suspects something between Gogeta and I. Yesterday, she said that when Gogeta smirks, he looks a little like me."

"That's true," Goku admitted.

"That's not the point, you idiot!" Vegeta barked angrily at Goku, especially at how calm he was acting. "If she continues to gets suspicious, she may talk to Gogeta about it if she hasn't already and then he will get suspicious, and if he finds out on his own, there's no telling what will happen!"

Vegeta had a point, Goku admitted. He folded his arms and began thinking. With an idea, he smiled. "Maybe we should beat Iris to the punch and tell Gogeta now before he starts to get suspicious."

"No!" Vegeta said immediately.

"Why not?" Goku asked. "He's old enough to understand. Don't you want him to know the truth now?"

Something in Vegeta's eyes said yes. The Saiyan Prince turned his back on Goku. "Not if it's going to hurt him."

"Wow, Vegeta. You're actually showing feelings and everyone else said you had a heart of solid granite." He laughed. "I knew you had it in you."

"Shut up!!" Vegeta roared angrily. He grabbed Goku by his shirt. "If you don't shut up with that stupid sentimentality, I'm going to kick every square inch of your---"

"Okay. Okay," Goku waved a hand cutting Vegeta off. "You're no fun." He pulled Vegeta's hand off his shirt. "I still say we should tell Gogeta now."

"No. We'll wait until Chi-Chi is back. She can explain it to him better than anyone else. I can't speak on sensitive matters and you will just blab it out without thinking."

"If that's what you want," Goku agreed. "But I don't think it's a good idea to wait."

"As if you're always right," Vegeta mumbled. "In the mean time, we should keep a closer eye on Iris and Gogeta; make sure they're not together where Iris would sneak her suspicions on him." Vegeta started to leave and then looked back at Goku. "You better keep your guard up as well, Kakarot. She may question you next and we all know how gullible you are."

"Ha. Ha." Goku responded dryly. "I don't think Iris' as bad a person you make her out to be, Vegeta. She's probably curious about Gogeta's appearance and his likeness in both of us and wants to know what is going on. When Gogeta and I went to the New Namek, Moori was looking at Gogeta oddly, too. Chi-Chi was right. We can't keep this secret forever."

"We'll keep it for as long as we can," Vegeta said and stepped out the room.

Goku sighed again. He strongly believed that keeping the secret now wasn't a good thing, but Vegeta didn't seem all that ready to tell the secret now and out of respect, Goku backed down. He looked upward, thinking about his wife. 'Chi-Chi, I hope we find you soon--safe and alive. I feel you're alive, but I know something isn't right with you.'

****

"What is this?" Iris asked as she stared at the food before her--a sandwich on a large loaf of bread decorated with various meats, cheeses, lettuces, onions, tomatoes and pickles. It was stacked six inches high and it was a foot long.

"It's a hoagie sandwich."

"Hoagie?" Iris echoed with a raised eyebrow. She poked at it.

"You don't poke at it. You eat it. It's a huge sandwich stacked with all the best meat and cheeses," Gogeta explained and took a huge bite into his sandwich which was six inches high and two feet long. He swallowed his bite. "The robots at Capsule Corp. did a good job making it but it's not as good as Mom's," Gogeta said proudly and took another bite of the sandwich. "Come on. Eat it."

Iris picked up the sandwich the way Gogeta had. She had never had food like this on Olympus. Gogeta was looking at her intently as if waiting for her to eat it. She took a small bite and found it to be delicious. She smiled at Gogeta and he smiled in return and continued to eat his sandwich. Iris thought this was a good opportunity to ask about his mother since Gogeta did mention her.

"Tell me about your mother?" Iris asked Gogeta.

Gogeta smiled. "She's great. She's really nice, sometimes strict but that's okay and a great cook." He took another bite of his sandwich.

"You love her a lot."

Gogeta swallowed a huge bite of his sandwich and washed it down with some soda. "Of course I do. She's my mother. She's done everything for me, always been there when I needed her and my brothers. She really loves and takes care of my Dad and that's a lot considering the type of person my Dad is," Gogeta chuckled. "Dad would be lost without Mom and think Mom will be lost without Dad."

"Your parents love each other a lot?" Iris guessed as she took another bite of the sandwich.

Gogeta nodded. "They've been together for a long time but they've also been separated for a long time. Still, despite the years they've been apart, they've been very loyal to each other. My brothers, Gohan and Goten told me how happy they were to be together. Gohan knows it best since they've been separated the most when he was around. Gohan always said Mom was happiest when Dad was around."

'Something's not right,' Iris thought. 'Gogeta makes it sounds as if his parents were really happy. Maybe they were happy. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe his mother didn't cheat on his husband, or maybe Gogeta doesn't know the real truth.' She watched as Gogeta happily ate his sandwich. She'd eaten a few meals with the Son Family on the ship and noticed how much Gogeta looked like Goku but then a part of him favored some of Vegeta's features. 'This doesn't make sense. How can one person look like two people who are not related?'

"Iris?"

Iris snapped out of her thoughts to look at Gogeta. He was looking at her curiously. "What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Looking at you like what?" Iris asked nervously as she took another bite of her sandwich.

"You were staring at me. Do I have something on my face?"

"Oh," she looked down, trying to hide her eyes. "No reason."

"No, come on. Tell me," he insisted.

What was she to say--that he looks a little like his father and Vegeta? She remembered how he reacted before and knew he wouldn't like hearing it a second time. So, she said the first thing that came to his mind. "You have intense eyes? It's kind of deep and passionate. It shows you're an honest person. It's very commendable."

"Really?" Gogeta eyes lit up. "What else do you find commendable?"

Great. This would have to start something. "Well, men who don't pressure women into asking them what they find commendable."

Gogeta smiled and then laughed. Iris noted he had a nice smile. "Okay, I get it," he said and munched on his second hoagie sandwich.

"Gogeta."

Both Iris and Gogeta looked up to see Vegeta standing in the doorway. A scowl was on his face as he looked at the two. He stared at Iris bitterly and then softened his features as he looked at Gogeta. "Come with me," he ordered and stepped out of the room.

Gogeta knew with Vegeta's tone of voice, he meant now. He put his sandwich down and followed Vegeta out the kitchen door. "What is it, Vegeta?"

"You shouldn't get too close to Iris," Vegeta warned.

"Why? She seems like a nice person."

Vegeta groaned and rolled his eyes. "You're just like Kakarot. Don't be too trusting of her. Remember who she is--she's the brother of the man who kidnapped your mother."

"I know that, but she's different from him," he defended Iris. "She's helping us get to Olympus to save Mom. She's good and he's evil. You heard her story--he killed their mother."

"That's all it could be--a story. We could be heading for a trap and not know it.

The way Vegeta was making Iris out to be angered Gogeta. "I can't believe you, Vegeta. Iris risked her life coming here to tell us about my mother and Apollo's plans for her. She's told us about the warriors on the planet that we will be fighting to get to my mom. I don't believe she would do all that just to trick us in the end."

"I'm more experienced than you and I know for a fact how people can deceived others by playing on their good hearts," Vegeta said, angry and a bit surprised at how Gogeta was defying him.

"Maybe because of your past, you only see what you want to see and you have experience playing on good people's hearts," Gogeta shot back.

Never before had Gogeta raised his voice or shot a snappy retort at Vegeta. He was always a good kid, obeying his parents and everyone else, doing what was told him without much fussing and now he was getting upset at Vegeta, the only man beside Goku that he looked up to. The thought of it actually hurt Vegeta.

"You put your trust in her, you're going to yourself and maybe one of us hurt," Vegeta warned.

"The only person I'm hurt by now is you," Gogeta said and turned his back on Vegeta to go back in the kitchen.

Vegeta folded his arms angry and hurt by Gogeta's attitude right now. 'I'm only doing this because you are my son and I love you.'

****

Apollo gave Chi-Chi a tour of the castle, introducing her to his many warriors such as Hynos--the warrior who could put his victims to sleep, Morpheus--the shape shifter, Poseidon--the warrior who could command the very waters of any planet at his command and turn them in thunderstorms and hurricanes that could cause destruction, and Midas--the simple being with the cursed power that anything he touches turned to gold.

After the tour of the castle, Apollo and Chi-Chi traveled the planet in his hover carriage. Chi-Chi took in the designs of the buildings, homes and the people who waved politely at the engaged couple. Some of the women handed Chi-Chi flowers and gave wonderful praises to her as she will be their future queen.

After hours of touring, they stopped at a lake. Apollo took Chi-Chi's hand and they walked to sparkling, blue lake. Chi-Chi wasn't comfortable in holding his hand, but since she was his fiancée she felt she should.

"We used to come here a lot as children."

"We did?"

"Oh yes," Apollo said. "I remember playing hide and seek with you here." He faced her and gripped both her hands in his. "It was a very special place for us."

"It was?" Chi-Chi said and saw the deep look on his face as if he was remembering a special moment between them.

"Oh, Chi-Chi," Apollo said softly as he released one of his hands to cupped the side of her face, caressing it. "You don't remember anything. I wish you hadn't forgotten all the wonderful times we had here. This is the spot we shared our first kiss. It's also the same spot I told you I love you."

Chi-Chi wasn't remembering anything. She wanted too, but everything was coming up blank. It was like she was hearing this for the first time and then there was the touch. The way he caressed her face. It was so intimate but it didn't feel as if Apollo ever done this to her before. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her and Chi-Chi wasn't sure if she wanted that.

"You look so beautiful, Chi-Chi. Just as I remember you so long ago." He cupped both sides of her face gently and drew her close in a slow but sensual kiss.

To Be Continued

Moonlight Angel: It's okay. A lot of people are going through finals now. School should be out for winter break now right? Somebody's gonna be running and I think that will be me from the reviewers who will want to choke me for this chapter.

Danichan: I suspected it was finals preventing you from reading stories. I remember teachers always gave test before Christmas break. You should be out now right? I know some poor souls who won't be getting out until next week. That sucks.

Midnight: I'm sure Vegeta isn't happy about this chapter. Hee. Hee. You will protect me from him if he comes after me in a murderous rage? LOL! Wait, you may want to strangle me, too after how this chapter ended.

Chi-Chi: Wow, you're excited. LOL! Calm down. If it happens that way, then it happens. Wow, if you were excited over the previous chapter, you must be livid over this one.

Chibi Fyrefly: I have my reasons for not making Pan go on this trip. I have enough females in this story. No, I won't have the machine malfunction so ChiChi could pretend to lose her memory. That's no fun. Bad things have to happen okay.

Lady Athena: Yes, it's best for Gohan and 18 to stay where they are. I think I better hide from you and Moon Girl after how this chapter ended. I know you're mad at Apollo now. You want him to die, don't you?

Mii-chan: Iris doesn't know what happen so of course she will be confused and think several thoughts about the situation, some right, wrong, and completely out of the question.

Xephon: I bet you really hate Iris now. Now she's turned Gogeta against Vegeta. Hmm, I think I'm going to have an angry mob after me for this chapter. Oh, well. That's the price of being a writer.

GD: You'll have to wait and see on that one. Who doesn't love Friday?! That's one of the best days of the week!

Gogirl: Aw, why did you have to tell me that? Now I'll be wondering now until January 5th or until they show commercials on what they will be airing. Then there's the chance it might not air. CN has changed their schedules at the last minute before. I'll much rather wait until the commercials starts before knowing in advance like this. When I said I rather not know things in advance, I meant everything. It may seem weird to you but that's me. Just because you like to know things ahead of time doesn't mean everyone else does. It spoils the fun to me. I never said how old Iris was. If bad things happen, then it has to happen. Hee. Hee.

Moon Girl: I can't say. You will have to wait and see. Well, reading this, you already know. I better run and hide. Hee. Hee.

Chuquita: You might be mad or excited at what happened to her.

Lady Kouga: Oops. My mistake. I would say Central Regions rocks but I'm a bit biased to the East Coast.