It's been a while! But here I go again. Happy reading! ;)
Chapter 5 – Keeping Secrets
Chichi waved goodbye to Goten as he took off to his brother's house to stay. As long as he was out of the house, it was gonna be easier to hide the effects of her chemo. 18 had turned up at mount pazou first thing in the morning to check up on her and was in disbelief chi had sent her son away.
'You seriously think this is a good idea?' 18 asked
'Well if it's just me here, I won't have him sensing anything and finding out, cause he will not keep this from his brother or father. Its better this way, at least until I'm better' Chichi answered
'And how've you been feeling?' 18 asked as chichi sighed
'Still as I was before, only now I know I have…..ahem….. you know' chichi wasn't able to say the word. She couldn't say it
'Whatever you need. I'll be here.'
'You don't think Krillin will be missing you?'
'He's got Marron to keep him busy, besides he thinks I'm looking after you since I made you dislocate your shoulder' 18 grinned as chichi smiled
'You don't need to keep checking up on me 18, its fine. Besides I haven't started chemo yet so I'm still going about as normal until then, and getting ready for the surgery'
'What time will it be?'
'Friday 11am. As far as the boys know I'll be at my dad's for the weekend. And I intent to keep it like that' chichi said as 18 frowned a little, she never knew chichi to be lying to her family, and especially and something so important than this. Chichi noticed the look on 18's face and sighed 'I know what you're thinking'
'Do you?'
'Yes and you can change the record! I've made my decision okay?' she said
'What about your dad? surely you can tell him!'
'No way! He already went through this with my mom. You think I want to put him through it with me!'
'He'll hate you haven't said anything chi, no matter how old you are, your still his child! He'd wanna know!'
'I can't tell him! Or Goku or anyone! I want to keep this as quiet as I can cause I can't deal with everyone's pity!'
'No one would…'
'Yes they will! Okay I know they will! Please 18 I can't keep having this discussion about whether or not to tell people cause frankly I'd rather this be swept under the carpet! At least I know about it and can still fight it!' Chichi huffed as 18 looked defeated, there was no changing her mind about this so she had no choice.
'Okay. We say nothing' 18 said as Chichi nodded
'Thank you, Look I'm gonna get some stuff around the house sorted, you don't need to stay here. Go to your family. I'm sure they'd like you to be home' chichi smiled
'Its fine I….'
'18, I'm telling you it's okay, please go be with them'
'You sure?'
'I'm sure. Thanks for stopping by'
'I'll be here Friday to take you to the hospital. No excuses' 18 said as she gave chichi a hug. 18 couldn't sense Chichi's energy, but she guessed it felt like her battery life was draining away slowly. It frightened 18 to think about it. She didn't want to lose her closest friend.
'I'll see you Friday' chichi smiled
'Yeah, see you then' 18 said and took off for home
….
Krillen and Marron were doing sandcastle on the beach as Roshi and turtle watched on happily
'What do you think Marron, does daddy make a great sandcastle?' Krillin asked
'Yep! Daddy look at mine!' She pointed at her sandcastle with shells around it
'Oh wow that looks so good, your mommy is gonna love that'
'Where is mommy? She hasn't been here a lot'
'Well mommy has just been busy, but don't worry honey I'm sure she'll be back soon'
'Sooner than you think' Roshi pointed to the sky to see the blonde android flying down to The island and land on the smooth sand
'Mommy!' Marron cheered running to her mother, 18 picked her up hugging her close
'Hey sugar' she whispered. Krillin noticed something about 18, he wasn't able to read her mind but he could defiantly read her emotions, something wasn't right.
'Mommy Look! Look at my sand castle!'
'That's great baby, look I'll be right back okay I just need to go inside a second' She said as Marron nodded and began to build another sandcastle, Krillin got up to follow his wife inside and found her in their bedroom getting changed
'Everything okay honey?' he asked
'Why wouldn't it be?' she asked
'Well I just noticed that you have been out of the house a lot lately and you've been spending a lot of time with chichi'
'And? Is that a crime to spend it with a friend?'
'No of course not, but you never have as much before so why now?'
'We just have been hanging out okay? No need to read into it' she frowned
'But i….'
'Look! We are friends who just have been hanging out! is that problem? Cause I don't think it is to have friends! You hang out with your friends I can't do the same!?' she snapped at him as Krillin jumped in shock from her outburst, that was strange.
'Of course you can! I'm not stopping you, I just… 18 is everything okay?'
'Yes why wouldn't it be?'
'Well you seem off about something? I can't put my finger on it but I can tell something is bothering you? what is it?' 18 looked at Krillin, she wanted to tell him. Of course she did! Krillin had been best friends with Goku since they were boys and she knew he'd wanna know about chichi too. But she remember her promise and sighed
'Its fine. It's just been a long week, but don't worry. I'm just glad to be back, now shall we go play with our daughter?' 18 had dressed into her bathing suit and headed out. Krillin looked at her leave, and wasn't convinced in hr answer. Something was up.
…..
Later that night, Krillin had put Marron to bed and went to his bedroom and didn't see 18 there, he looked around the house and couldn't find her, he then looked outside and saw her sitting on beach chair overlooking the sea, he headed out to see and as he got closer he could hear her sobbing. Krillin was now worried, he'd only ever seen 18 cry twice since they met. Once when he told her loved her, and another when Marron was born. But they were happy tears and cries. This one sounder…scared. Krillin walked over to his wife who was quick to dry away her tears.
'Hey I was just about to come in' she said putting on a brave face
'What are you not telling me?' he said in a serious tone, 18 was a tough being, and she took no nonsense from anyone, but when her husband spoke to her like that, she found herself willing to oblige….. But not Now.
'Nothing! Don't worry about it!'
'I will worry about it, because its making you cry! So tell me what I don't know!' he huffed
'Krillin it doesn't concern you'
'You are My wife 18 of course it concerns me! What is going on!?'
'I can't tell you!'
'WHY?!'
'BECAUSE I PROMISED CHICHI!' She yelled as her eyes grew wide! She'd let it slip as Krillin looked confused
'Chichi!? What's chichi gotta do with this?' he asked
'Nothing! Forget it! Lets just go to bed!' she said walking back to the house
'18 what is going on?! What's happened to chichi!?'
'nothing just leave it!'
'Fine! If you aren't gonna tell me….. I'll go ask her!' Krillin took off into the night as 18 gasped
'NO KRILLIN WAIT!' 18 took off after him
….
Chichi sat in her kitchen sipping some herbal tea that was recommended by one of the nurses, it tasted gross but it would help with her immune system. Chichi sighed as she looked at her phone. Part of her wanted to call Goku, to tell him to come home and for him to know what was happening and stay by her side, but then she remembered why she couldn't do that and pushed the phone away. She got up from her chair and suddenly heard her door knock loud
'Huh?' chichi walked over to the door and opened it up and came across a familiar face 'Oh hey Krillin, what are you doing here?' she asked as Krillin let himself in
'What is going on with you and 18?!' he asked as chichi got nervous
'What do you mean?' she asked
'Don't play dumb with me chi, you both are keeping something from me and I don't like it! You tell me what is bugging my wife and I want to know now!'
'Krillin I don't know what you mean!?'
'I caught her crying about something tonight! And when I asked her she said she can't say because of you! so what does she mean by that!?' Krillin as 18 bursted into to the house also
'Chichi I'm sorry I tried to stop him!'
'What have you told him?!' chichi whispered
'Nothing!'
'So there Is something!? What is it?!'
'NOTHING!' Both women answered as Krillin looked at chichi who was calm but also he could sense something…..like she was…. Tired and weak… but she was still the same. He then looked at 18 who had a sense of worry and sadness on her. Something was defiantly wrong
'Fine! If you won't tell me… maybe you can tell Goku' he grabbed Chichi's phone and dialled
'No Krillin put the phone down!' Chichi yelled
'No maybe your husband can get you to talk'
'Chichi just tell him!' 18 yelled as the other to looked to her
'I can't!' chichi whimpered
'He can help!'
'Tell me what?' Krillin asked, he didn't like the tone in their voices. Something was defiantly wrong.
'Krillin, put the phone down' 18 said as he did as he was told as chichi sighed and looked at him
'I…. have breast cancer' she said as Krillin looked at her and then at his wife who nodded. Krillin sat down and had a look of shock on his face. This was big!
'I…oh god…. Chi… I'm so sorry… I had no idea….'
'Well how could you? we only just found out a few days ago'
'So that's why you've been here? To look after her?' Krillin looked to his wife who nodded
'Someone had to be here, I couldn't leave her go through this alone'
'Alone? Does anybody else know?' he asked
'No. No one knows. Only 18' chichi said as Krillin looked at her
'What just 18?! So Goku!? Or the boys!? They have no idea?!' He asked as she shook her head
'And I want it to stay that way!' Chichi ordered as he frowned
'I can't keep that from Goku, He's my best friend'
'You asked me to tell you wat was wrong and i trusted that information to you! I'm begging you Krillin he cannot know! I can still fight this!' chichi said
'You have cancer chichi your family deserve to know!'
'I tried telling her but she is not having it!' 18 said
'Look you both wouldn't understand okay but it is my choice who to tell and who to not tell. Please Krillin you just need to keep this to yourself!'
'I don't think I can….'
'Krillin I am begging you. Please! Please don't tell him!' Chichi pleaded with tears in her eyes, Krillin could see she was desperate for this to be quiet as he looked to his wife who gave him a look.
'*sigh* Okay I'll say nothing' he said as she nodded
'Thank you' she said
'So… what do we do now?' Krillin asked
'I have a surgery scheduled on Friday to remove the mass. Then afterwards I'll start chemo. I hope I can fight this and beat it before Goku returns home. Then he never has to know'
'But what if it takes longer? Or what if….' Krillin didn't want to finish the sentence but chichi knew what he meant
'Well let's just hope it won't come to that.'
'I told her I'd go with her to the hospital on Friday, she shouldn't go alone' 18 said as Krillin nodded.
'I'll come too' he said
'There is no need' chichi said
'There is! With Goku not being here, it's my job as his best friend to look out for you too. So I'm gonna help you through this! We both are' Krillin said as Chichi softly smiled and hugged him. She was always thankful that Goku had a best friend like Krillin in his life.
'Thank you Krillin. And you 18, I'm grateful for you both'
'So you're not mad?' 18 asked
'No. I put a lot of pressure on you to keep this to yourself. I'm sorry' chichi said as 18 hugged her
'We're both here now. And we'll be by your side on Friday'
'Thank you' chichi smiled softly. Inside she was trembling with fear, despite her upcoming surgery, was it gonna be enough to help her get back to normal?
Next Chapter will be all on the Surgery! And where is Goku? Will he come back? Will he find out about chichi? You'll just have to wait and see. X x x
Penelope Out ;)