Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Early Morning of a Life Together ❯ Simple Solutions? ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama does. This is fanfiction.

 

Early Morning of Our Lives Together

 

By Trynia Merin

 

Simple Solutions?

 

 

***

 

Hundreds of miles away two women pursued one another across a volcano-drenched plane. The dried remains of a lahar covered the deposits of lava that had half buried what was the old part of Chichi's father's castle. She had forced Videl to double back, and saw that the girl was starting to falter. From her position on nimbus, she saw Videl suddenly dropping in altitude. Giving Nimbus a mental command, she accelerated and banked her course downwards.

 

Videl felt power surging out of her, and dizziness overtaking her. Her stomach rumbled furiously and she felt lightheaded. "No," she gasped as she felt consciousness desert her.

 

Fortunately, she landed in the outstretched arms of the Ox Princess zooming under her. Carefully Chichi knelt down, holding the prone body of her future daughter in law. Arms wrapped around the younger woman, Chichi then spun back in the direction of her childhood home. Judging from the paleness of Videl's skin, the poor girl had not eaten properly.

 

An hour or so later, Chichi carried her unconscious charge through the front doors of her father's large home. Glancing up from his paper, the Ox King whipped off his glasses and polished them before putting them back on. Newsprint whispered to the floor as he stood up in shock. "Chichi, what are you doing?"

 

"Dad, we need to get this poor girl something to eat! She's half starved!" Chichi answered, effortlessly carrying Videl through the large living room.

 

"Chichi, why are you dressed like that? Moreover, what's wrong with the poor young woman! You never said you were dropping by to visit!" he protested, rushing up to her.

 

"No time to explain Pa. Gohan and Videl have had a big fight and the poor girl needs a good rest and a hot meal. I am going to put her in one of the guestrooms, then fix her something to eat, okay? Can you please help me find something?"

 

"I'll have the cook make something," he said quickly. "She's down in the town shopping… but I can call her back."

 

"Never mind. I'll get something going," Chichi said from upstairs.

 

"No, I'll be fine. You get her settled and then come down and explain what's going on!" Ox King demanded. He rushed into the vast kitchen, hoping there was something suitable still available. Of all the times for the staff to take the day off. Sighing he reached for the telephone in the kitchen, while poking through the cupboards.

 

Soon the cook had come back from the village shopping, her arms laden with supplies. A quick hurried word between her and her master yielded a rapid mobilization. Soup bubbled in a huge cauldron, while the cook chopped vegetables and tossed them in. A thick hearty scent of herbs and spices drifted through the entire house.

 

Down the hall in the laundry area, Chichi helped the maid search through the stacks of towels and clothing to find something for their impromptu guest. All that surfaced were some old dresses she happened to leave there whenever she visited or needed time away from the home. Selecting a blue dress and pink pants for herself, and a purple one for Videl, she returned to the bedroom where she had laid the girl.

 

On a generous double bed, Videl stretched out, still wearing what she recognized as a set of Gohan's old training gi. Chichi placed soap and towels at the foot of the bed, along with the fresh set of clothes neatly patched. Slowly Videl began to groan and stir, and Chichi quickly moved into the room next door to change into something more appropriate for a tamer discussion.

 

"I don't know hat I was thinking," Chichi mumbled, pulling off her helmet. Confused murmuring from next door tensed her up, and she returned to the wall to listen. Hearing no crashes or bangs sounded promising, so she elected to change.

 

No sooner had she reached for a towel and headed to the hallway bathroom, and then she heard a crash. Someone cursing in language that Chichi always hated the boys using followed it. Dropping the towels and soap, Chichi rushed back to the guestroom and knocked on the door. Wood splintered as something slammed up against it. She unlocked it and yanked the protesting wood too, rudely spilling Videl into the hall.

 

"What are you doing?" Chichi asked, standing over the girl to help her up. Videl slapped her hand away however and climbed to her own feet shakily.

 

"I should ask you that! ARE you CRAZY, kidnapping me! I swear if you weren't Gohan's mother I'd…"

 

"You'd what?" Chichi asked calmly, regarding the girl. Still in her armor minus the helmet, she figured she must be intimidating. "If you really want to fight me, we can go a few rounds in the yard. But this is fine thanks I get for bringing you to my father's home for rest and food!"

 

"Your fathers…" Videl blinked, staring around her in confusion. Again, dizziness overcame her and she collapsed against Chichi for support.

 

"You need to have food, dear, and rest. I guess a bath will have to wait," Chichi murmured.

 

"Let me go will you? I can walk myself!" Videl snapped at her.

 

"Oh hush," Chichi grumbled, tugging the girl along. "Either let me help or I'll carry you down. Or do you want to pass out from starvation! If anyone leaves my home hungry it's their own fault!"

 

"Fine, but you'd better have a darn good explanation for all this, Chichi!" Videl glared back at her. However, the Ox Princess smiled to herself as she let Videl heavily lean on her while helping her down to the dining room. It was a rather uncomfortable mirror being held up to her, and she truly comprehended what impact her blunt nature must have on others.

 

 

Billowing black smoke rose in a column on the horizon. Where they were sparring, Trunks and Goten felt the huge power spike and stopped. Concern wrinkled their young faces and they knew instantly things were serious. Nodding at one another, they rose into the air and streaked at top speed towards the target. A half-hour later brought them to huge bald spots in the forest around Grandpa Gohan's home.

 

"What happened here?" Trunks asked, levitating before touching down. Goten pointed to a miserable figure wearing blue and orange gi sitting by a fire. Fish bones were piled up, and they recognized the ki signature of Son Gohan. His eyes were red as he glanced up at them.

 

Concealed in the bushes, a pair of dark eyes watched them carefully. Piccolo frowned, seeing Gohan in such a state. He dared not interfere though, for he had promised Gohan. On the other hand, he still could monitor Gohan's current ki condition. While Mr. Satan had flown back to Grandpa Gohan's house with him, he could not keep from falling into another funk. Only a half-hour before Videl's father had returned home to try to reason with Videl, and leave Gohan to work on his part of the plan. Unfortunately, Gohan had lost the heart to follow through. Whatever darkness had been unleashed from Videl's rejection fought hard for dominance.

 

"Trunks, Goten, you shouldn't be here," he said, voice cracking.

 

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Goten suddenly asked as he landed nearby. He and Trunks had flown towards the massive ki disturbance, only to find Gohan there grabbing his hair. Rarely had he seen his big brother so upset, and it made him want to cry.

 

"Gohan, you're scaring me. Why are you freaking out?" Trunks asked, landing on Gohan's other side.

 

"Damn it," Gohan whispered. "Please just leave me alone."

 

"Is it girl problems?" Trunks asked.

 

"I mean it Trunks. Goten, you two had better play somewhere else. I don't want to get you two involved," Gohan repeated, using that stern voice that made him flinch.

 

"You don't have to get all moody, sheesh, excuse me the hell for caring!" snorted Trunks, kicking a rock.

 

"He said to leave him alone Trunks," Goten pouted.

 

"See if I care," Trunks snorted. "I'm going home. You can come too Goten, since your brother's being a pain in the ass."

 

"I'm staying with Gohan," Goten pouted.

 

"Suit yourself. I'm outta here," Trunks snorted, unimpressed. Every day he resembled his father more in looks and attitude. Goten wondered just how he could get away with such a smart mouth when his mother would make him eat a bar of soap for such language.

 

"Big Brother, stop it!" Goten whined as he tugged Gohan's sleeve. Glancing up again, Gohan saw the concern on his little brother's face. He literally did not know what to say.

 

"It's a big people's problem Goten. You wouldn't understand," Gohan sighed sadly.

 

"Where's big Sissy?" Goten asked.

 

"She... she... she's not here Goten," Gohan answered, heartsick at his little brother's crestfallen appearance.

 

"But I wanted to show her the new moves Trunks showed me! Now I can't! Where is she Gohan?"

 

"She and I had an argument Goten. She got mad at me and I don't know why. She's gone home," answered Gohan helplessly, knowing he could not hide things from his brother for long.

 

"When's she coming over again? I wanna see her!" Goten pestered, climbing on Gohan's back and pulling his hair.

 

"She won't come back, Goten. She doesn't want to see me any more," answered his big brother, unable to stop the words pouring out from him.

 

"Damn," Piccolo grumbled, feeling another resurgence of strong emotion. He feared that through feeling he would lose all control he worked years to regain, however. A dam had sprung a leak inside his pupil through the firing of uncomfortable verbal arrows. So many years of straight-laced behavior fettered the inner rage, pulled to the front by Elder Kai's unlocking ritual. On another level not processing his sorrow, Gohan's intellect reasoned coldly that this was the down side to such gains in his power. Super Saiyan required massive emotions to trigger it, while his Mystic Form only needed a much slighter trigger. Had the Kais opened him up to destroy the planet unwittingly?

 

He knew the Elder Kai was half joking when he said for Gohan to go Super Saiyan, it would destroy Earth. Was it a warning disguised as a joke that Gohan was on the razor's edge of losing it? As his former master, Piccolo felt personally responsible. Still he remained an observer, silently willing for Gohan to master his abilities.

 

"What?" Goten yelped. "Why Gohan? Did you make her mad? How could you! You gotta say you're sorry and bring her back!"

 

"I can't Goten... I don't know what I said to make her upset! It's not that easy I can't..." Gohan inhaled deeply before he felt the sting of more tears. Damn it how much was he going to cry before he could focus long enough on Mr. Satan's suggestions? What had sounded sensible and hopeful at the time now seemed ridiculous and futile. She would only see it as another halfhearted attempt to do what everyone expected of him.

 

"But you said you loved her! What did you do?" Goten struggled to understand. His big brother hugged his knees tighter, burying his head in his hands making strange sniffling noises. Just hearing them made Goten feel the hot sting of tears in his eyes. Videl was a big sister to him, and the thought of not seeing her again was horrible.

 

"I don't know... I just don't know. No matter what I do, I don't think it will help," Gohan sobbed.

 

"Big Brother, stop it! Don't cry!" Goten whimpered, grabbing at his brother's wrist. Lifting up his head Gohan saw the glistening of tears in his little brother's eyes and swallowed hard. Heaving in and out, he struggled to stop crying.

 

"I'm sorry Goten. I should know better," Gohan said, angrily brushing his tears away. Goten moved over and hugged him tightly around the waist, pushing his face into his brother's vest. Feeling the attempt of the seven-year-old to comfort him, Gohan wrapped his arms tightly around his little brother and drank in the comfort. It was exactly what he needed at that moment.

 

"I want her to come back! You make her come back, Gohan! And stop crying!" Goten sniffled, his own tears wetting Gohan's training shirt. With his knuckle, Gohan reached around his crying sibling to dry his eyes and count to twenty. The latest wave of sorrow slowly broke over the shore, and he found himself able to keep from resuming his crying for a time.

 

"I will Goten, I promise I'll find a way. I just don't know how yet," Gohan relented. Something in the innocent and simple logic kindled an idea in his mind, and Mr. Satan's crazy plan made sense once more. Perhaps he was thinking too much. Rather than analyze it to death he had to simply feel his way through this.

 

"You could give her pretty flowers like Daddy gives mommy when she's sad. Like you used to do when Dad was gone," Goten suggested, lifting his tear stained face up. His small hands pushed away his own tears, looking expectantly at his big brother who knew all the answers.

 

"She wants something more then that, Goten. I asked her to marry me. And she said yes. Then she said no this morning. And I'm confused, Goten."

 

"Girls are real strange," Goten shrugged, swinging his ankles back and forth after Gohan set him down to sit on the nearest rock. "But I still say you gotta give her something nice. Like sweet smelling stuff, or a puppy... or something she likes... like that shiny ring Daddy got for Mommy!"

 

"What shiny ring? Mom already has a wedding ring."

 

"Oops, I forgot it was a secret. Daddy showed me a pretty ring he was gonna give Mommy, but he forgot where it was till a few days ago. He'd wanted to give it to her for something called a... a..." Goten blinked, and then tapped his nose trying to remember what Goku had said. "Anne Varsity?"

 

"Anniversary. Mom and Dad are wedding anniversary. I totally forgot, oh no," Gohan groaned.

 

"So are you gonna get big Sissy Videl a ring so she'll be married?" asked Goten. "Is that why she's saying she doesn't wanna get married cause you forgot where the ring was?"

 

"Um... well..." Gohan suddenly trailed off. Then a slow smile came over his face. If he could not convince her, he would show her.

 

"Are you Big Brother, are you, huh?" Goten pestered him.

 

Chuckling Gohan stood up, and then reached down to pick up Goten, and sling him on his shoulders. "C'mon Goten, you're going to help me pick one out. Then you and I are going to find her and bring her back. How's that?"

 

"Now you're talking! Let's go!" Goten pointed with his index finger. Launching himself off his brother's shoulders, he shot into the air. Gohan blasted off after him, soon overtaking Goten and leading the way to Satan City. He had an important appointment to keep at the jewelers that Mr. Satan had given him the address of. It was just one step in what would be a last ditch plan between son and Father in law to be.

 

Piccolo grunted with relief. Interaction with his younger brother had a positive influence. Now Gohan had a different focus to distract him from succumbing to his dark moods. Nevertheless, Piccolo levitated into the air, and followed at a discrete distance to continue his watch over them.

 

Three people sat around a large round table, highly polished. Bright vertical lines of red and green paint decorated the elaborate lines along with the gold paint of intertwined dragons snaking across the ceiling. The central lazy susan on the table rotated around to Videl's place, and she eagerly helped herself to more steamed rice.

 

"Thank you," she said politely to the Ox king sitting across from her. To her left Chichi sat, allowing the cook to bring servings of food to replace those that were lost. She felt as if she had been transported to some crazy parallel universe. Even though the Ox King had visited the Son home during one of Videl's stops with Gohan, she had never been to his distant home.

 

It seemed like the remnants of small amounts of money still helped him maintain the home. Things appeared neatly mended, for the furnishings were antiques lovingly maintained. Such a contrast to Videl's home where everything was modern and new, bought from the wealth of her father's gain. No, this was a family that had once had money but now barely managed to keep up the appearances of wealth. Was this why Chichi was always scrimping and saving? She knew they were very proud, and never said much about the lack of money. Never in a million years would she want to hurt their feelings by offering them handouts. Yet another possibility surfaced in her mind.

 

Was Chichi so enthusiastic about their marriage because of her wealth? She remembered the day she had first eaten Chichi's cooking, and been asked how large her home was. The idea of her having a cook had suddenly changed Chichi's tune entirely. Videl always kept this possibility in mind, but still tried to push it aside in the face of focussing on her relationship with Gohan. Now munching rice with ivory chopsticks, she was painfully reminded of another doubt that pushed her.

 

"Better now? You were pretty exhausted there for a time," Ox King asked.

 

"I can't believe I never visited here in all the time I dated Gohan," she blinked.

 

"This house was where I made my home after my castle burned down the second time," Ox King explained, sipping his mug of beer. "I'm wondering why you never brought her for a visit either, Chichi?"

 

"I suppose I was so used to having you see us Videl at our home," Chichi confessed.

 

"You really are a princess then. Rich just like me… or…" Videl trailed off.

 

"Well we don't speak about it much… but caring for three hungry Saiyans over the years does take a lot of money," Chichi answered.

 

"You always did think highly of me after you found out I was rich. I never asked you about it before, but I'm concerned, Chichi," Videl frowned.

 

"I won't lie, dear," Chichi said quietly. "Can you understand why I wanted Gohan to have a wealthy suitor? He is the child of nobility. He deserves so much more than I can offer him. But we don't want to ask for charity."

 

"But if he happened to marry someone rich, you figured the dowry wouldn't hurt," Videl blinked.

 

"Yes," Chichi admitted, her face blushing red.

 

"I see," Videl nodded. "Seems little point in hiding all this. I would have liked to know more about your side of Gohan's family. All these secrets and you people just keep piling more on…"

 

"You needed to know more about the responsibilities in Gohan's life. I figured you and Gohan argued because you were scared that you wouldn't make a good wife for him," Chichi said. Blue eyes widened in shock, and Videl leaned heavily into her chair. She picked up the lacquered bowl and then set it down with a clunk. Pieces of the puzzle dropped into place. Pressing her hand to her chest Videl caught her breath.

 

"What has THAT got to do with anything?"

 

"Because I thought the same thing when I married Goku," Chichi said, seizing Videl's hand across the table. "You think I grew up learning how to cook and clean? This was my childhood. Just like yours Videl."

 

Videl relaxed, her hand suddenly reaching out to clench Chichi's. "You… you know. Then you understand… but how… did Gohan…"

 

"I know what you're going through, dear," Chichi patted her hand. "There's no need to be ashamed. I couldn't even wash a dish or clean a room before my honeymoon. Why I was every bit the way you are now. I became a good wife by learning what I needed to know."

 

"But Chichi," spluttered Videl. "What if I don't want to just cook and clean for Gohan? What if I want my own career?"

 

Chichi drew in her breath, and then sighed deeply in a long pulse of air. "Videl, that's your choice to make. If you don't see yourself doing that you can always hire someone ELSE to do it. I just want you and Gohan to be happy. But I also want you to give yourself the chance to find out whether you hate something or not by actually trying…"

 

Frustrated, Videl tugged her hand out from under Chichi's. Standing up she tossed her napkin down and pressed both hands flat against the table. "Thank you for the meal but let me get something really clear. I am not you, Chichi. And I don't want him to marry me just because he feels he has to please you!"

 

Ox King rolled his eyes and sighed. Chichi's eyes gleamed brightly, her face flushing with anger. However, she bit her tongue hard to keep the angry retort from spilling out. Two sets of eyes burned into one another as they leaned across the table, causing it to creak. A low growl vibrated Chichi's throat, but was echoed by Videl. Tense moments clicked by, and then Chichi slumped back into her chair.

 

"So that's what you think?"

 

"Isn't that how it is, Chichi?" Videl asked, folding her arms across her chest. "You want Gohan to have the best, but aren't you pushing him too fast? He's only 18. We're only teenagers! WE have to have time to see the world!"

 

"But do you or don't you love my Gohan?" Chichi demanded, standing up again and banging her fist on the table. Dishes rattled.

 

"I… I love Gohan. Make no mistake. But I love him enough to know he has to have his own dreams and the chance to make his own mistakes. And I don't want to make him settle down for someone who isn't right for him," Videl glared.

 

Chichi shook her head, slapping her hand to it. Dragging that same hand down her face, she finally exhaled. "Videl, this isn't just about being afraid to be a wife or be married is it? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that if you did marry him you MIGHT actually be happy instead of miserable?"

 

"Now look!" Videl snapped, her own face flushing pink as her shirt. "That's not it! Don't you ever feel angry and scared that your own husband's staying young… and that he might not want you anymore? I don't want Gohan to be tied to me and then be with me because he feels sorry I'm growing gray and his not!"

 

Chichi's eyes widened, and she spluttered a half laugh. Pressing her hand to her mouth, she could not stop giggling. "Is that… what you're scared about?"

 

"It's not funny!" Videl gritted. "You honestly aren't scared of that yourself?"

 

"Honey, you don't know how many times I've thought that too," Chichi gasped, laughing uncontrollably with tears spurting in her eyes. "If you're scared of that, why ever didn't you come to me?"

 

Defeated, Videl now sank to her chair. Now that her fear had been voiced aloud, she felt the wave of hostility vanish along with the pulse of angry adrenaline. Burying her head in her hands, she struggled to keep back the angry tears. Chichi rose from her chair and moved over to wrap her arms around the sobbing girl. Pressing her face to Chichi's shoulder Videl sniffed, "I know it sounds stupid and petty, but I'm scared!"

 

"You don't think I'm scared? How do you think I feel?" Chichi whispered, rocking Videl against her. "I worry about that every day. Nevertheless, Goku still always comes back to me. And right now my son's hurting because he feels you don't love him."

 

"Chichi, what do I do. He'll hate me now," Videl whispered back, her heart pounding with fear. A wide chasm opened up in her chest, painfully empty and aching for something to fill it. The thought of Gohan never being in her life again rose like a dragon and blasted her with hot self-anger.

 

"You need to go talk to him. Right now," Chichi answered, cupping the sides of Videl's face. "And I'll go with you if you want me there. But he will understand. Just give him a chance. Give yourself a chance."

***