Why Can't I
I'm getting desperate for reviews! I want to know how I'm doing with this! I need opinions! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!
FINAL CHAPTER!
Chapter 37: What is Love?
The night of Bulma's party had been a vague blur in Rikku's memory. After Hittori had fed her drink after drink she was no more than a limp doll. The following morning was little better. Bulma and Chichi had found her naked curled up among the sheets which were covered in her blood.
Since then Chichi had an overlaying cloud of guilt hanging over her head. Rikku barely understood what happened let alone why Chichi would feel responsible. Even after the long lecture from Bulma about sex and why some people would force it on others Rikku couldn't understand their meaning. Was the feeling of lust such a weakness for men? She had never known Yamcha, Krillen, or Tien to give into that sort of play. Then again it was probably a topic none of them would discuss with her.
Never the less what was done was done. Rikku doubted she would ever see Hittori again so it was time to press on in life and forget it ever happened. At least that's how she felt about it at first.
"You look terrible Rikku." Chichi said watching as her best friend keeled over a toilet losing all the food she had just consumed. "I've never known you to eat too much."
"Me either." Rikku lifted her head her face green. "Why is my stomach rejecting food for the first time?"
"We should probably get you to a doctor. I'll go call the local physician and get an appointment. You better go lay down."
"Okay," Rikku said giving up any possibly way to weasel her way out of Chichi's motherly affection. Rikku had never been sick before. She had seen Chichi get colds like the flu and chicken pox but Rikku had bearly even had a sniffle in her life time. "What a drag. I was gonna go visit Krillen and Master Roshi today. Oh well guess it can wait."
The doctor arrived an hour later. The physical exam wasn't so bad, in fact she rather enjoyed the little games he played like saying "Ah" and listening to her own heart beat. There was just one detail she didn't enjoy.
"W-W-WHAT IS THAT!" Rikku cowered to the opposite side of the room pointing at the syringe inside the doctor's hands.
"It's a needle Rikku." Chichi explained. "doctors use it to either draw blood or inject medicine."
"Blood! You didn't tell me these doctors were vampires!" Rikku jumped up getting into a fighting pose. "I warn you I've beaten up far greater opponents than you blood sucker!"
The doctor couldn't help but laugh whole heartedly. "I see what the ox king meant about your childlike behavior. Most kids are afraid of needles but I swear it's just a prick you will barely feel it."
"Why do you need my blood?" Rikku asked hesitant to trust him.
"We need to run some tests. See if you have any diseases, check if you're pregnant, and so on."
"Pregnant? What does pregnant mean?"
A sweat drop formed behind Chichi and the doctor's head. "If you're pregnant it means you'll have a baby."
"A baby…" Rikku's eyes lit up. "Really?" She squealed holding her body. "I've always wanted a child. I watch the families all the time and all the children running around and playing. Wouldn't that be just wonderful?"
Chichi blinked at Rikku's reply. If Rikku was pregnant it would mean her child was a product of rape. Yet, Rikku didn't mind at all. Rikku's eyes were innocently and truly lit up at the thought of the adventure of parenthood.
Rikku allowed the blood to be drawn. She squirmed and held in her cries of uncomfortable pinching pain, but she got it done and a week later the results were in. Rikku jumped from bed to roof floating before moving her celebration outside to tell the whole village she was going to be a mother. Chichi held her head looking at the doctor . "I don't think she realizes the seriousness of the matter."
"Actually I think it's a good thing she's so excited. Most of those who find out they're pregnant by illegitimacy often regret their own actions and in turn put all the blame on the child. Does she have any family she could go to for support?"
"No, she doesn't." Chichi watched with a h eavy heart as she practiced her motherly skills by playing with the neighborhood kids in a game of tag. The sight warmed her heart. "Thank you for you help doctor. I'll take it from here."
Rikku blinked when she entered her room. All around were baby essentials; diapers, bottles, blankets, and a few infant garments. "What's all this stuff?"
"This stuff is just the tip of the ice berg on what you need in order to be a good mother. I got some tips from a mother of three and she gave me a list of things you must learn." Chichi pulled out a scroll and unraveled t the sheet flying all the way out into the hall. Rikku sweat dropped.
"Isn't that a bit… much?"
"Being a mother is hard work but I'll narrow it down since I'll be moving in with you."
"Huh?" Rikku's eyes widen. "moving in with me… You're gonna stay in my room?"
Chichi laughed. "No, no silly. I mean Papa has built you a house on Mt. Paos. Now that you're gonna be a mom I thought it was about time to tell you. He wanted to save it for when you eventually get married but this is the exception." Chichi looked up from the list to see see Rikku's eyes tearing. "What's wrong?"
"Your dad… made me… a house." She sniffled. "I'm crying.. Why am I crying? Oh I'm so happy! CHICHI!" Rikku launched and tackled Chichi to the ground making her squeak.
After picking herself back up Chichi went over the guidelines of motherhood in the early stages. "We have to watch your diet, a pregnant woman can only eat a particular amount of things."
"Okay I can do that," Rikku insisted listening intently.
"Your everyday motherly duties will be showering regularly, eating the right foods, arranging a nursery for the baby to sleep, practicing your baby feeding, changing, and burping, and getting some light exercising every day."
"Like training?"
"NO!" Chichi's eyes turned hard and she put her hands on her hips. "For the rest of your nine month pregnancy there will be NO TRAINING!"
"WHAT!" RIkku's eyes widen and she whimpered. "W-W-Why?"
"You could hurt the child if you have too much stress on your body. You don't want to do that now do you Rikku?"
Rikku hung her head in defeat. "No but-"
"Mother's must make certain sacrifices for their children. I'm not saying you can't ever train again. Just during the pregnancy I'm forbidding you to overstress your body. Agreed."
"Agreed." Rikku sighed and poked her belly with a pout.
Eight months passed and Rikku's belly swelled a little every week growing strong and healthy inside her body. It was hard work learning how to be a mother, but she learned so many new things other than just fighting. Chichi was teaching her how to cook rice, and many other tasty dishes. Cleaning was a drag she had to admit, but the satisfaction of getting a job done was reward enough. Most of all Rikku loved learning about taking care of a baby properly. Tipping the bottle to feed him, the correct way to change a diaper, and her favorite part was learning how to cradle her baby. Rikku often practiced with a doll and sat in the rocker of the nursery Ox king had built for her.
She admired the room now. Unable to sleep due to the movement in her womb Rikku found herself wandering to this room. Ox King had been very generous in his gifts for her child. The room decorated with toy dragons, clouds painted all along the wall with a gentle blue sky color, and the furnishings including the baby's crib had been hand made and painted by him. Rikku couldn't help but imagine the scene of her and her child inside the room doing what mother and child ought to do. A surreal feeling had been taking over her heart ever since she could feel the movement. She like it.
It warmed her heart at how king he, Chichi, and everyone in the village had been. No one outside the kingdom knew about her condition. Per Chichi's request Rikku didn't travel or train but she made a promise to herself that once she and her child were able to travel she would make a point to introducing them to everyone.
"Rikku?" Chichi's voice broke the silence of the night. "WHat are you doing up so late? Is it the baby?"
"Yeah," Rikku admitted rubbing her bulging belly. "It's a bit restless. It hasn't stopped moving since dinner last night."
"Let me feel." Chichi placed her hand on Rikku's abdomen. A strong kick bumped her hand making her gasp. "My goodness doesn't that hurt?"
"A little, but I've been through worse. I actually like the feeling. It let's me knows he/she is alive."
"These could be contractions. Has your water broken yet? Are you feverish? Maybe we should call the doctor!"
"Relax Chichi I'm fine." Rikku made her way to the kitchen rummaging through the cupboards.
"Are you sure?" Chichi held her hands together tightly. "You are almost due." the sound of a bowl breaking on the floor made her jolt and she rushed to Rikku's side as she went to her knees groaning in pain.
"That one hurt." Rikku breathed a little heavy and clenched her fists. "Something's happening. I think you're right I think it's time." RIkku looked to Chichi her face full of pain. "what do I do?"
"Just.. Stay calm let's get you back to bed and I'll call the doctor!" Chichi noticed the water dripping down Rikku's leg and she whispered profanities for the first time in her life.
An hour later Rikku was lying on her bed screaming in pain. They had prepped her for birth, and attempted to dose the pain but Rikku refused the epidural shot rather taking the pain of birth then the prick of a needle.
"Just breath Rikku!" Chichi coached too afraid to hold Rikku's hand. The pregnant woman already ripped the sheets and broke the bones in Ox King's hand. "You're doing fine."
"I am breathing!" Trying to remember lamas training Rikku panted in steady breaths feeling the immense pain and pressure between her legs. "Oh god it's coming out Chichi!"
"Yes," the doctor said his hands grasping the head. "Push Rikku!"
"Pushing… I'm pushing AHHHH!" She screamed the heading sliding out into the doctor's hands. "Yes good keep it going! Good job Rikku we're almost there we just have the body left."
Rikku's abdomen felt like it would explode. Her face was covered in sweat and her mouth was dry from screaming. Never in a million years did Rikku imagine how painful childbirth would be. With one last push Rikku let her mind wander away from the pain and she found herself falling to sleep as the cry of a babe rang in her ears. "It's a boy!"
Rikku awoke to a crying Chichi, a laughing Ox King, and the smiling faces of her neighbors. Rikku blinked in confusion and looked around sitting straight up as a fearful feeling came over her. "My baby!"
"He's just fine." The doctor said smiling and walking over holding a bundle in a blue blanket. "Would you like to hold him."
Rikku looked to the bundle and subconsciously reached out. The baby laid in her arms and Rikku looked down at the face of her baby boy. "He's so tiny."
"Of course, he's a baby after all." Chichi sat beside her cooing at the boy. "He's got your looks. Which is a blessing."
"He does doesn't he?" Rikku gently touched the boy's face making him giggle and wriggle in her arms.
"What are you going to name him?" The doctor asked making out the paper work and birth certificate.
"Gee I don't know. I've been so busy trying to learn to be a good mother I never got a chance to think of one."
"How about Einstein?" The wail of the baby made everyone cringe and Rikku laugh.
"No I don't think he likes that… hmmm I wonder what Grandpa Gohan would say." The boy laughed and gurgled at the sound of Gohan. Ox king catching on right away said it again.
"Gohan." Once again the boy squealed and giggled and Rikku smiled brightly.
"That settles it. Your name will be Gohan." Rikku nuzzled him tears forming in her eyes. "Ox King… do you remember when you tried to teach me about marriage and love?"
"Yes, I remember."
"I think I finally understand what Love is. This feeling…" Rikku's eyes couldn't hold back the tears as they poured down her face as she watched her boy drift to sleep in her arms. "This warm irreplaceable feeling. Is love."
The end! For now… he-he. I'll have "Why Can't You" posted up ASAP. I have a few chapters already written out so I'll type them up when I have the time. For the meantime I hope you enjoyed this particular fic and tune in for the sequel! JA-NE!