Of Two Hearts

Chapter 28: A Secret No More

The next day, Talim and her family, along with Hisuke, were doing the morning chores with a slave woman named Minami, and her toddler-age son, Yutaka. They tended to the crops, fed the animals and cleaned the family quarter while Yutaka occupied himself by games he was playing with his pet kitten. Everyone was busy with their tasks, dashing back and forth from the fields to the main property. However, Minami felt cautious suddenly as she thought she sensed someone's presence.

She glanced up from pulling weeds out of the ground, and saw her son crouching a few feet away, his tiny hand rubbing away at the kitten's belly. She squinted her eyes as the bright sunlight shone in her direction, and squinted them even further when she saw a silhouette approaching from the distance.

When the figure finally came closer into view, Minami gasped and stood at attention. She whipped her head around to her son. "Yutaka! The princess is walking this way. Come to attention!"

The little boy jumped to his feet and stumbled as he accidentally stepped on the kitten's tail. He apologized and stroked its back before standing in respect at his mother's side. The kitten curled around his ankle.

"Good morning, Princess Chi-Chi," Minami greeted politely when they were close enough. She bowed before her. "How are you today?"

"Mornin' Princess!" Yutaka repeated cheerfully with a grin. His dark head bobbed in what was supposed to be a respectful bow.

Chi-Chi smiled mid-stride and paused to bow at them. "Good morning. I'm fine...a bit preoccupied, but fine."

Minami frowned. "Is there something I can help you with, Princess? My name is Minami, by the way, and this is my son, Yutaka."

"I'm Yutaka," the little boy echoed, his brown eyes shining. "I'm three years old!"

Chi-Chi smiled again. "My pleasure to make both of your acquaintances. Well, I'm looking for someone. Have you seen Goku around?"

Minami shook her head. "I'm afraid I haven't, Princess. I will keep an eye open for him. If there's any other problem, I'll be glad to talk and be of any service."

"Thank you," Chi-Chi said, then looked down as she felt Yutaka tugging on her kimono. "Hmm?"

Yutaka looked up at her curiously as he took his hand off the kimono's edge to pet the kitten again. "Do ya think aminals are cute?"

Chi-Chi laughed softly, ruffling his soft, black hair. "Yes, I do think animals are cute. Is this your kitten?"

Yutaka nodded, and giggled when he felt the little animal lick his hand. "Kitty give kisses!"

Talim emerged from the quarter at that moment, an empty clay jar in her hands. "Who was supposed to get the water today?" Minami perked up, looking at the young girl apologetically. "I'm sorry. I'll get it right away."

Hisuke ducked under the crook of Talim's arm as he left the quarter, taking the jar from her. "I'll take care of it. The jar will be heavy to bring back from the river." Talim smiled sweetly. "Oh, Hisuke, you're such a gentleman." After he left, she turned toward the little boy and beckoned him close with a wave of her hand. "Hey, Yutaka, do you want to play a game? Come on, bring Kitty and we'll all play together."

Yutaka brightened, a huge grin on his cute face. "Yay! Alright, I'm comin'!" He scooped up the little, gray animal and waddled toward Talim. "C'mon, Kitty, we're gonna have lotsa fun!"

Chi-Chi smiled at Minami as Talim and Yutaka ran to the yard to go play. "Your son is very cute," she told her.

Minami laughed. "Thank you. He's quite a handful too!" She paused, looking upward thoughtfully. "I wonder what it's like to have a daughter. To have a gentle, ladylike child is less stressful, from what I hear from the village women. Of course I wouldn't trade Yutaka for a girl. I love him too much. I'm sure other mothers feel the same with their own child."

Chi-Chi sighed, her thoughts going back to that desire ever present in her heart. She ached for Goku internally. "Yeah..."

Minami frowned again, hearing the tone of her voice. "What's wrong, Princess?"

"I wonder too," she answered simply, longingly. She turned toward the castle behind her. "I have to go now. Excuse me..."

***

Ox-King strolled in his secret room located in the rear of his throne, his mind flooded with memories from years ago. He remembered how he hated Goku, how he wanted nothing to do with him, let alone allow him to marry Chi-Chi. Well, that was a mistake, he thought ruefully. He mused as he paced over to a large chest in the corner. He opened it and searched through it for a moment before pulling out a large portrait of his wife. He blew off a layer of dust and cleaned the prized portrait before holding it out before himself. He smiled wistfully and whispered, "The time has finally come, love. Our daughter is getting married..."

He polished the wooden frame and set up the portrait on its stand. He stared at his wife in the picture, communicating with her in spirit about their daughter. Chi-Chi knows you won't be there for the wedding. But this way, you will be with her somewhat. That is the most important thing.

When Ox-King finally left the secret room, he was greeted by one of his guards, who bowed before reporting, "Your Majesty, I've come to inform you that the wedding preparations are complete. All is ready and well, and the wedding may occur on whichever day the bride and groom please."

Ox-King smiled at him. "Thank you. Do me a favor, would you? Please find Goku and tell him that I wish to speak with him."

The guard bowed again before leaving. "As you wish, my lord."

***

Meanwhile, Goku was up in one of kingdom's many trees, thinking of what had happened last night.

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Goku blinked at Chi-Chi, confused and incredulous. "I do trust you, Chi-Chi..."

There was an uncomfortable period of silence between them. Finally, there was a sound that broke the silence: the hollow, painful tone in Chi-Chi's voice. "If you didn't want to talk about it, all you had to do was say so..."

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That hurt. Hearing her say those words, and seeing walk away afterwards, hurt him deeply. He knew she was in pain due to his reticence, but she did not know how he was feeling. She didn't know he was so confused about the whole thing, and that he had no idea what to do. Goku sighed as he gazed up at the sky. He had a week to get his thoughts together and let her know how he felt. He couldn't avoid it anymore; he didn't want to hurt her anymore. He never wanted to give her any reasons to doubt him. Now he had an idea as to what he wanted to say.

"Goku?"

He looked at the direction from which the voice came, and peered down at a guard on the ground. He waved to him before jumping out of the tree, startling the guard as he landed on his feet from a fifty-foot drop. The guard stammered, "Uh, well... um, H-His Majesty wishes to speak with you immediately."

"Alright. Thanks."

Goku headed toward the palace, leaving the pale guard behind. When he made it to the Ox-King's courtroom, he bowed before his future father-in-law. "You wanted to see me?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," Ox-King said cheerfully, clapping him on the back. "I have good news for you, my boy."

Goku looked up at him curiously. Ox-King continued, "The long wait is finally over, my boy. You and Chi-Chi shall finally be wed on the day that you and she choose."

Goku smiled. "Thank you."

***

Night had fallen by the time Goku made it to the third tower. He climbed it skillfully, then jumped into the tree that sheltered the tower balcony. A strong, spring breeze began to blow, and Goku saw the curtains in Chi-Chi's room sway rapidly. He saw her brushing her hair, and thought she looked beautiful even doing a simple thing like that. He sighed in both admiration and regret, and immediately perked up when he heard her footsteps.

Chi-Chi cautiously stepped out onto her balcony, straightening the curtains before closing the doors behind her. She didn't have to look around to know he was here. "You can come down if you like, Goku," she said quietly.

Goku jumped out of the tree and landed on the balcony, glancing at her partially timid. "How did you know I was here?"

"I sensed you," she replied simply.

Goku approached her tentatively, and when she did not leave his side or push him away, he went on to ask, "Can I talk to you?"

Chi-Chi nodded, her voice even. "You know we can talk about anything, anytime." Her heart began to pound, suddenly, as she felt Goku take her in his arms in a warm, intimate embrace. "I'm sorry," she heard him say gently. "I'm sorry for this past week...for worrying you and making you cry..."

Chi-Chi pulled away to look him in the eyes, hers full of compassion and forgiveness. "I'm sorry too. I think I let my feelings get out of hand. It's just...I really want to know what you think because I... I love you, and I really do want to have a baby with you someday..."

Goku cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, touching his nose to hers when he pulled away. "I know you do," he whispered. "And I love you too. I want to raise a family with you when the time is right. I've been having a lot of thoughts about it though..."

"What kind of thoughts?" she questioned, laying her head on his chest.

"If we bring a child into this world, I don't know what will happen. I'm sure we'll raise him or her just fine, but it'll be different..."

"Different?"

Goku nodded. "Yes.. our child will be different."

"In what way?" She wasn't seeing the point he trying to make.

His voice grew quiet with concern and fear. "I have no idea who I am, Chi-Chi. All I know is I'm not normal...not human. I don't know what things I'll pass down onto our child or what might happen when he grows up. I don't want him to live the way I did..."

Chi-Chi lifted her head up to look at him tenderly, and understood why he had been thinking so much and agonizing over it for the past week. But she thought it wasn't something to let get in their way. She leaned into him and kissed him passionately, reassuringly. "I always knew you were...different," she began in a comforting whisper. "But I didn't care. All that mattered was my unconditional love for you, the same love that I'll have for our child when the time comes. I don't know everything that will happen either, but we can't let obstacles or fear of the unknown determine how we live our lives. I love you so much, Goku... please understand that. I'm willing to face anything as long as I'm with you. I'll always be at your side and love you forever...I promise."

Goku tightly embraced her, kissing her hair as a single tear fell from his eyes onto her dark, soft tresses. "I love you too, Chi-Chi," he managed to whisper, his heart pulsating with tender emotion in his chest.

No more secrets.

No more doubts.

Just love.

To be continued...

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Dream Come True