Striking The Heart
He's Here
The powerful warrior sat upon the mountainside and watched the amazing display before him. The sky was shades of several reds and oranges from the undying flames that spread across the city. From house to house, it burned and destroyed everything in its path. He could hear the screams of panic struck people, frightened, fleeing for their lives. He smirked, enjoying the view, satisfied with what he had done.
He enjoyed the view for several moments longer, more cries and calls erupting from the burning village, the heat becoming unbearable for the poor people who lived there.
"Perfect" he purred.
Krillin poked at the spring rolls with his chopsticks, as he sat upon the hard floor, his plate in his lap. Mr Popo had cooked them plenty of food for breakfast to enjoy but nobody seemed to be hungry. Not even the prince of Saiyans touched it. Krillin sighed, the food boring him, his thoughts leading onto something more important. The group had been quiet all morning, wondering if it was true that Goku had passed during the night. Chichi hadn't come out of the room yet, making them nervous wrecks.
He had to admit, he really was keeping his hopes up for Goku. With the dragon balls, he was sure Goku would be saved. But Piccolo and Yamcha still hadn't come back yet. Surely they would have collected at least five of the balls by now, right? He set the dish aside, leaning his chin in the palm of his sweaty hand. Goku was his best friend. He was like a brother to him, someone he truly worshipped and cared for. He always ended up going through the bad things in life, despite how good and pure hearted he was. He always seemed to be the one who went down. Maybe not in combat, but in life.
He had been through so much. Like loosing his grandfather, finding out he wasn't a human, dying endless times, and then loosing his wife a few months ago. It just wasn't fair. He felt for Goku, he had prayed for him and cried for him. He just really hoped Chichi would walk through those doors right now with a smile on her face. That's all he needed. Reassurance, so the hope he had in his heart would live on.
She wiped away another falling tear from her cheek and sniffed, snuggling back against the headboard. She had been awake for an hour now, crying, weeping and praying. She still held his cold motionless body close to hers, the hope still there, the begging still there. She couldn't tell if he was alive or not. Though the bond told her there was something there, she didn't know whether he was dead or not. She leant her chin on his head, rocking him back and forth and warming up his cold form. He was so cold she shivered at the contact.
How long she stayed like that she didn't know. All she knew was when she looked at the clock; it was nine in the morning. That's when she decided to give up. He wasn't moving, she couldn't feel him breathing, so she gave up. She shifted from the bed, placing him down fully on the mattress. She combed her fingers through his matted knotty hair and stroked his hard cold cheeks with her trembling fingertips. She smiled underneath the cascading tears and pulled the blanket up to his neck.
"I love you Goku" she whispered. She heard Gosha making gurgling noises in her crib and Chichi stood up, the tears flooding her face as she went over to her child. She felt helpless. She felt lost. As she stood there, she felt as though everything was nothing…everything was pointless. She felt like her world had been destroyed…her heart torn…again.
"Chichi" she gasped, her mouth wide from shock as she turned around on her heels. She immediately smiled, the sobs soon replacing it as she ran over to him. She fell on him, the tears soaking his shirt, but he didn't really mind.
"Hey, why the tears?" he croaked. His eyes were half shut she noticed, form exhaustion. She could see he was losing life, and very quickly. He was just so gloomy looking, it hurt her so much. It was as though he wasn't her happy go lucky carefree Goku no more.
"Oh Kami Goku. I'm so glad you're still alive" she whispered into his chest as she cried gently. His tired body grunted under her weight, but with a struggle he put his one arm over her back and stroked her fabric covered back up and down.
"Yeah. I was sure I was going to pass last night. I really felt bad and so weak. Not that I feel any better today" he said, that smile of his never leaving his lips. She couldn't help but smile, though she felt awful for the fact he was still in pain and still dying. But looking at him now she could tell…he wanted to die last night. He wanted to ease the never ending agony he was feeling.
"Maybe I could get you some pain killers or something"
"Nah they don't work. Bulma gave me some yesterday and they didn't help any. Don't worry so much hon. I'm very grateful for the help and support you've given me, but there's nothing you can do now" he said. Damn it, why is he still smiling? How could he still smile?
Goten and Trunks were sat under the old tree at the end of the lookout, Trunks playing on a small game of some kind his mom had given him. Goten sat in misery, his boot the most enjoyable thing to pick at and play with right now. He hated Kami. He hated him because he was hurting him. He lost his mom first, now his dad. It would be his brother next.
"Oh yeah! I did it!" Trunks cheered, successfully completing the level. He looked across at Goten, the huge smile he once had fading.
"Hey are you okay?"
"No I'm not" he moaned.
"Is it because of your dad?"
"Uh-huh" he whimpered, the tears welling up.
"Listen Goten, I'm not sure if this will help, but I'll be here for you. I'll help your momma take care of you"
"Thanks Trunks, but its not the same. I love my daddy. I don't want him to go" Trunks felt pretty bad for his best friend. He wouldn't like to loose his dad like that.
Trunks did something he rarely did and put an arm around Goten's shoulders.
"It's okay Goten. I bet Mr Piccolo and Yamcha will be back in time. The bad guys never win remember? Your dad will beat this!" Trunks sunk down when he saw Goten's drastic teary face.
"But what if he's already gone? What if it's already too late?" he cried, his bottom lip trembling furiously, "You don't know what it's like Trunks! I have only known my daddy for a little bit and now he's gone! You wouldn't understandid!" he sobbed. Trunks didn't know what to say this time. That's when he felt a familiar presence.
"Gohan?" Trunks said, "I swear, I didn't make him cry!" he suddenly said.
"I know Trunks, it's alright. Let me talk to him alone a minute okay?" Trunks nodded and left the area.
Gohan sat down next to the crying Goten and took the child into his large muscular arms.
"Hey squirt, some on now, you're a big boy, you mustn't cry"
"But…I can't…help it Gohan. I love…daddy. I want him…to stay" he sobbed. Gohan sighed and held him tighter.
"And so do I Goten. But we got to be strong. Mommy's gonna need us to be strong and so is our baby sister"
"I know…I just can't…help it brother"
"I know Goten…I know" Gohan whispered, the familiar wet substance running down his own cheek.
With a gurgling and very hungry Gosha in her arms, Chichi made her way to the kitchen. She had left Gosha's bottle by the microwave, the bottle ready to be made. After filling and warming it up she took the bottle and feed the baby as she walked outside.
"Chichi?" Krillin and Bulma questioned. Chichi seemed wary, but with that smile, they knew Goku was alive.
"Oh thank Kami" Bulma said silently.
"I knew he'd make it. I just knew it" Krillin rejoiced, happy tears glistening in his eyes.
"How is he?" 18 asked her friend, little Marron hanging onto her leg.
"He's not any better, but he's awake and he's smiling and talking. That's enough to keep me happy" she said. Gosha continued to drink up her bottle as Gohan and Goten came over. Chichi noticed her little boy had been crying.
"Sweetie what's wrong?"
"I want daddy" he whined, hugging her leg.
"I know honey. But he's awake now"
"You mean…he's alive?" he asked, his hopes suddenly up.
"He sure is. You can see him if you want"
"YAY!" He cheered, "My daddy's still alive! You hear that Trunks! He's okay!" Goten cheered, hugging Trunks. Trunks rolled his eyes and sighed. He was right all along.
"I told you" he said.
"Whatever! I'm gonna go see him! That okay momma?" he asked. She nodded. He smiled but as he was about to run in, a cold wind blew over the lookout.
Goku winced as he sat up, his body painfully exhausted and beaten. He tried to catch his breath as he stood up and slowly walked to the door. He was having a hard time breathing. That he couldn't handle. It was really getting him down.
He made it to the open door and with the door frame as his support he walked through and down the hallway.
The cold wind blew across the lookout, the warriors' cloths blowing, their neck hairs standing on end. Vegeta immediately knew what it was and he stood beside Bulma, little Trunks too. Chichi gasped at what the cold wind brought and she whispered, "You"
Goku ambled towards the main door and with a shaky hand he turned the knob. Opening it with a creak he put one foot outside, the sun making him squint and the cold wind chilling him even more than he wanted. He looked around, his friends and family in sight…and…someone else. He frowned…
"Wilhem"…