I have a horrible tenancy to over think when I write.
It's honestly the worst kind of feeling for me, I read it repeatedly, almost religiously, and I barely feel satisfied with what I've created. Even with this chapter, I feel I've done poorly with grammar and the pace of things. But I think that's because I want to impress with what I can do and I berate myself for thinking that way. For me, it's not about 'nailing it on the head' it's about what makes me feel comfortable. So I apologize in advance if this chapter is poorly done. I don't have a beta, so I'm editing everything myself. And besides, I'm no expert when it comes to writing, I'm doing it for the hell-of-it and because this story I've pieced together in my head refuses to go away. It wants to be written and I'm trying my hardest to get it across.
ALSO! I'm late in updating because my laptop literally broke in half and imploded on itself, luckily this chapter was saved and I got a new computer in record-breaking time. This chapter is slightly longer than the last, but I stated in the first chapter that everything is going to gradually get longer and longer.
On another note, I had no idea I would receive ANY reviews let alone have anyone follow this. I literally was screaming with happiness, I never expected it. It pushed my motivation so much and gave me this overwhelming sense of confidence, but I wont let it go to my head, I'm just happy someone read it. So a big, huge hearty hug to all you lovely people.
Oh, before I forget, there is going to be a few changes and twists with ages and such with the cannon DBZ characters, such as Goten, I'm going to make him slightly younger than he really is so please don't get angry or anything. Or do, your choice.
Anyway, enjoy, I'm releasing this a day early. I'll be updating more regularly in future so look out.
Playing it off calmly and coolly had always been one of Goku's specialties.
Not a lot could phase him, even his wife in most cases. But this time it was different.
He should have noticed the warning signs the moment he stepped foot on his property. Living with Chi-Chi from the age of 18 should have gave him the head start in figuring out when or when not to approach, especially when a woman was angry.
However, despite his natural instincts that told him to wait, Goku couldn't waste another second. He'd already made a big mess of things and he was desperate to fix the strain between their marriage. Not only that but he could already smell dinner cooking which gave him extra motivation to go ahead.
Goku practically sprinted across the small opening toward the dome shaped house where wisps of smoke gently slithering out of the chimney. His stomach growled in an eager response to get moving faster and soon he found himself at the entrance of his tiny house in the mountains.
His hand shot out to reach for the handle of the door but before his fingers touched the cool metal, the door was flung open to reveal a smaller version of Goku.
Goku could only stare down at the child in confusion. The young boy cracked a small grin and before Goku could register what had happened, the miniature sized Goku had flew up at lightning speed and wrapped his short arms around Goku's thick neck, laughing carelessly as Goku stumbled back, but just as quick he regained his composure.
Goku laughed loudly, picking up the dangling boy by his underarms and spun him up high in the air, earning a loud giggle in response while he plopped the child onto his shoulders.
"Hey there Goten," chuckled Goku, preparing to enter the house. "Is dinner ready yet?"
"Mommy said five minutes," happily chimed Goten, swaying his head back and forth in mirth. "But I have to clean up first."
Goten reached down to show Goku his dirtied and slightly scratched hands, which Goku assumed to be from the radish patch in the back garden. Goten must have been helping Chi-Chi with the gardening. He nodded dumbly and ducked down to enter the house.
The scent of food attacked his nose the second he step foot inside the house. His stomach growled once more in anticipation and he continued down a small corridor toward the kitchen, ducking his head each time he passed a light swinging from the ceiling. His nose twitched occasionally as Goku attempted to guess what Chi-Chi could be cooking, ether way, he was ready to devour what awaited him.
That is, if Chi-Chi even allowed him to stay. He could only hope for the best.
Gulping nervously, he peered through the archway that led into the kitchen and his gaze immediately flickered to the form of a woman who angrily chopped away at carrots. Goku gulped once again, tensing. It wasn't a good start.
But before he continued, he effortlessly lifted Goten off his shoulders as if he was a pile feathers and placed him at his side, earning a small whine in response. Goku patted him on the back of the head and gave him a small push toward the bathroom, silently telling him to clean up.
Goku couldn't afford to screw up any time soon. After all, Chi-Chi always seemed to moan at him to be a proper and more respectable father, this was a foot in the right direction, right? It wasn't that hard. He could manage it, Goten wasn't a bad kid. If only Chi-Chi allowed Goten to train with him…
Goten quickly scurried off with a disgruntled expression but didn't question his father.
Goku clenched and unclenched his fingers, gingerly stepping into the bright kitchen, all the while his mouth watered as the smell of food grew stronger. But first thing was first…
"Chi?" he tested nervously, peering at the woman through slightly closed lids "I'm back."
No response. Definitely not a good sign.
Goku unsurely surveyed his surrounding, idly noticing the kitchen table had already been set. Toward the open window there sat a blue vase with a single daffodil inside. It had been there last time Goku was home, he could already see it had begun to wilt, turning a darker and more duller yellow.
Chi-Chi never usually allowed that to happen, she would always pick a different flower before the first would die. Something must have really ticked her off this time. Goku's stomach knotted at the thought.
Goku tapped the linoleum floor with the tip of his boot repeatedly, a nervous tic of his, along with rubbing the back of his head.
He licked his dried lips and turned back to his wife who still hadn't acknowledged his presence.
"How's it going?" Goku tried again. He mentally cheered when he gained some form of response. Chi-Chi chopped down harder on the seemingly offending carrots. Goku felt more sorry for the chopping board though, it seemed as though it would snap at any moment. Knowing Chi-Chi, that probably would happen. It would be the fifth one this month.
He slowly stepped toward her until his form easily towered over Chi-Chi. But Chi-Chi didn't even flinch, instead, she tensed and gripped the knife in her hand tighter. She grit her teeth together and her dark brows pulled down into a deep V. She pursed her lips and tried to focus on what she was doing, though it was difficult when a man the size of a giant was leaning over her and breathing down her neck.
Goku peeped over her shoulder to lazily examine what she was doing.
"Is dinner nearly done?"
Chi-Chi slammed her knife down onto the counter-top, causing Goku to flinch back, leaning away. The last thing he wanted was Chi-Chi to stab him, though he doubted it would do any real damage.
Chi-Chi robotically began to turn toward Goku, a nasty scowl gracing her aged features. Goku always thought Chi-Chi looked a lot more older when she was angry, but today she seemed even older. A few loose strands of greying hair was evidence enough to give him that thought. He swallowed hard when she faced him directly and poked one of her long bony fingering into his chest.
"Is that all you can say?" she snapped, rage bubbling up into her dark orbs. Goku noticed her red rimmed eyes. Had she been crying? He shook it off, instead he attempted to understand what his wife was telling him.
Goku licked his lips once again, trying to swallow back the nervousness that had set in. "So dinner isn't done yet?" he unsurely responded, tensing as he awaited her response.
Apparently, this only seemed to anger Chi-Chi even more. She dug her finger deeper into Goku's chest, along with her sharpened nail. Goku jerked back at the pinch of her nail. He didn't like anything pointy sticking into his skin, Chi-Chi knew this.
He took two steps back and narrowing his gaze at her, not liking where this was going.
"So you finally decide to grace us with your presence," growled Chi-Chi, dropping her hand when Goku was no longer in her personal space. "What took you so long? Too busy frolicking with another woman?"
Goku wanted to respond but found himself at a loss for words, he opened his mouth only to snap it back shut. He suddenly felt very small. It was Chi-Chi who handed him the ultimatum, she wanted him to think and make a decision and that's exactly what he did. Had he messed up? More importantly, why was Chi-Chi always so confusing?
Goku shifted his weight from foot to foot. Chi-Chi didn't know about Goku's infatuation with the girl in yellow. Though she had her suspicions, he never let it on that it was another person. But she knew that there was something going on under her nose, Goku guessed it was her gift, it was hard hiding things from her.
"You told me to think about it Chi, I did what you wanted…" Goku meekly replied after a few seconds of searching for an answer.
Chi-Chi bristled at his comment, her cheeks reddening with the anger that had very quickly began to spill over. "Idiot!" she shrieked, rushing forward to slap Goku clean across the face.
If Goku was honest, he hadn't expected his wife to hit him. His head flew in the direction she slapped him in and his eyes widened a fraction before blinking in surprise. It hadn't hurt, but it was more the shock that got him most. Chi-Chi barely ever lashed out in violence any more and instead picked her vocabulary to send Goku's head into a spin.
His hand reached up to touch his slightly pink cheek while he averted his gaze toward the creamy yellow wall.
It reminded him of her.
A short pause flew over the shaky couple and Goku eventually let his hand drop to his side.
"It should have been obvious," continued Chi-Chi in her shrilled voice, her hands flying into the air with obvious frustration. Goku resisted the urge to slap his hands over his ears, she was just too loud sometimes. "I'm your wife, I should be your first priority Goku. The answer was easy."
Goku met Chi-Chi sharp gaze and scratched the back of his head, arching an eyebrow in confusion. "Then why did you ask me to think about it?"
Another cry escaped Chi-Chi's lips and she harshly pushed Goku in a fruitless attempt to gain space between the two. Though it was difficult when Goku was built like a mountain, Chi-Chi almost bounced right back off him.
She growled up at the child in the body of a man. "I cannot wait until I leave this horrible place."
"You're leaving?" quickly replied Goku, not missing a beat.
"Of course I'm leaving! I can't stand having to baby you any more, you're a grown man and I need a break." her finger found its way to his chest once again, she prodded roughly and took a step forward while placing her free hand on her hip. "For once I'm doing what I want and you will have to deal with it while I'm gone."
Goku blinked down at his wife. It seemed like déjà vu. He had heard his wife scream the same words before as if to threaten Goku. The first time it happened Goku had pleaded most of the night until she gave in, after that, it became a routine. She would threaten to leave and he would beg for forgiveness, despite Goku really knowing that she wouldn't leave.
He guessed he did it just to please her. It worked every time. It also gave Chi-Chi a sense of power of him.
Now all he had to do was fake it. Easily done. By tomorrow, things would be back to normal, he had a pretty good feeling about it.
But before he began to fake his beg, Goten skipped into the kitchen after his prolonged bathroom trip, happily greeting his arguing parents, oblivious to the stressed atmosphere and proudly showed off his now clean hands. Chi-Chi's demeanour changed like a light switch and she smiled down at her youngest son, greeting and praising him in response.
Goku sighed lightly. As soon as Goten was gone, he would have to start begging. It was a plus really, it gave him extra time to think about what words he could say to gain Chi-Chi's affection… and if he was really lucky, other things too. He smiled at the thought, a blush lightly coating his sun kissed cheeks.
But unbeknownst to him, Chi-Chi really meant it this time.