“Kaasan! Tousan!” Goten panted. He was having trouble holding onto Kione; his whole body was shaking so violently with fear he kept losing his grip. The minute he burst through the door, their parents looked up in alarm. ChiChi gasped and flew to Goten, taking his sister from his arms. He was left standing alone while his mother placed Kione on the couch. Gokou walked over and attempted to calm his nerves. He sat his son down and asked for an explanation. Goten recalled the events down to the very smallest detail.
“I don’t know what happened......I don’t know......she got so pale.....I don’t know why....” he repeated.
“It’s not your fault; she could have overworked herself out there. It happens. Don’t blame yourself, son.” Gokou reassured him. “Is she alright, ChiChi?”
“I’m not sure. Oh, I knew something like this would happen sooner or later. That’s it, no more. I’m not risking you getting hurt too, Goten, I’m not risking it.” she answered. There was no arguing, there wasn’t any time to argue nor did anyone want to. A half-hour went by and there was still no sign of movement from the sleeping Kione. ChiChi had discovered her daughter was sick with a fever and placed a damp washcloth over her forehead.
Finally, twenty minutes later, Kione’s slender arm moved. She curled her fingers into a fist and opened her eyes slowly. Gokou was the first to notice and he leaned over next to her.
“Tousan?”
“Hello sweetheart. Do you feel better?”
“A little. I’m still kinda tired though.”
“Kione?!” ChiChi cried and dashed over to her.
“Hi Kaasan.” she answered and smiled. Goten ran over and stood next to his father. His nervous face relaxed when he saw his sister smile.
“Kione, I was so worried! Are you all right? Do you need anything? Are you cold? Are you hungry.....I’ll make you whatever you want.” ChiChi spoke quickly, hugging her little girl.
“Don’t cry Kaasan, I’m ok.”
“I know honey, you‘re always ok. But I think you should get some more rest, you have a fever. Gokou, would you carry her to her room? I’m going to make some soup.”
“Yeah. Come on kiddo,” Gokou said, as he lifted her up. Once she was alone in bed, Goten went up to see her.
“Hey, Goten.”
“Kino, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Goten! It wasn’t your fault.”
“Yes it was.”
“It was not. You didn’t hurt me.”
“Then what happened?” There was a long pause after that question and Goten continued staring at his sister.
“I don’t know.” she finally answered.
“You have to know. You were the only one it happened to.”
“I got tired.”
“You didn’t just get tired.”
“I did! I’ve been tired every single day for months now. And I can’t run as fast as I used to anymore. I can’t even go up stairs too quickly sometimes! Whenever I bump into something I get a damn bruise. I have bruises all the time! Cuts are even worse. They bleed for hours and don’t heal for days. I can’t deal with this anymore; I’m weak and useless! I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” she blurted out with tiny sobs in between and slammed her hands down onto the bed. Goten stood quickly and rushed over, pulling her into a hug.
“It’s ok, Kino, don’t cry. You‘ll be alright, you‘ve got me, I won‘t let anything happen to you.”
“You sound like mom.”
“I sound like you.” Goten said. Kione smiled. Her brother let go and looked at her with a concerned face. “You need to tell mom and dad. You and I can’t keep this a secret, not anymore.” Her facial expression changed and she lowered her head.
“I know.”
“Good. Wait here, I’ll get them and you can tell them what you told me, ok?” he said and got off the bed. Kione nodded and he walked out, heading towards his parents. Before entering the kitchen, he stopped, overhearing them having a conversation that didn’t sound like a good one and stayed next to the entrance door, listening.
“Gokou, we can’t agree with her when she says she’ll be fine anymore. This isn’t just another cold. We have to call a doctor.”
“I know, ChiChi, I‘m aware.” he replied, frustrated, and rested his elbow on the table and placed a hand against his forehead. “I just wish we knew what was wrong.“ ChiChi’s eyes shook and Gokou looked up at her. “I’m sorry ChiChi, I didn’t mean....”
“No, you’re right! What if something really is wrong and we didn’t see it?”
“We can’t think like that.”
“But you can’t say you’re not considering it! Do you see how thin she’s getting?! We didn’t pay enough attention!” she sobbed. Goten watched his father rise off the chair he was seated at and take his mother into his arms, trying his best to comfort her. Goten turned away and leaned against the wall. His heart was beating at a rapid pace and so loudly the sound was deafening. Standing there was unbearable and not knowing what else to do, ran towards the front door and rushed out.
Gokou turned his head at the noise and sighed, knowing all too well who had left the house, and wished their son hadn’t heard them. A few minutes later, ChiChi was on the phone scheduling an appointment. Kione was to be brought in on Saturday, at 11:30 a.m. sharp. After the call, ChiChi headed up to Kione’s room, carrying a tray with a bowl of hot soup.
“Kione? Sorry this took so long. I called the doctor and they’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds good. Guess Goten told you then?”
“Told me what?”
“Didn’t Goten talk to you a few minutes ago?”
“No, I haven’t seen him.”
“I sent Goten to get a few things. But he did say you wanted to tell us something.” Gokou covered up as he walked into the room. “What did you want to say?”
Kione sat up and began telling her parents what she had yelled at her brother a little while ago. They smiled sadly, glad, yet also broken hearted to finally know the truth. Goten returned an hour later, after having spent time trying to keep from growing too upset with the sudden information he was now dealing with as reality.
Saturday came quickly and all four decided to go, since Gokou needed to drive them and Goten decided he didn’t want to stay home alone. They didn’t wait very long and soon, a nurse came into view and called Kione’s name.
“Son Kione?” she said and ChiChi and Kione walked over to her. “Right this way.” the woman added, leading the two down a hallway and into a room. She took Kione’s blood pressure, temperature, which had returned to normal, and her weight. “Hm, that can’t be right.” the nurse muttered, moving the weights back, and tired again. She blinked and tilted her head to the side; the scale again read 92. “You were here three years ago, when you were twelve, and you weighed 89. Have you been eating properly?”
“Yes. I eat all the time.”
“Kione doesn’t have an eating disorder. She knows better then that.” ChiChi interrupted. The nurse nodded, a little unconvinced, and wrote it down on her pad.
“The doctor will be right with you.” she said and left. Some thirty minutes later, the doctor still hadn’t come.
“What a pain. If I wanted to waste my time sitting around for an hour, we could have stayed home. I hate these places; a half-hour always ends up taking four.” ChiChi said angrily, looking at the clock again. Kione giggled.
“Want me to read you a story, Kaasan?” she asked in voice that sounded as though she were speaking to a child and held up a book, “look, Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree.” ChiChi grinned and the door handle jiggled. Kione threw the book back into the basket as it opened.
“Hello Kione, haven’t seen you in a while.” a woman’s soft voice said as she closed the door behind her. “What’s bothering you today?” Once again, Kione retold the story she had told her family. The doctor listened and wrote everything down, once and a while flipping through a booklet she had pulled out of a drawer. She was no longer smiling as brightly as before.
“Ok. Kione, can you lay down for a minute, I want to check if everything’s ok inside.”
“Yeah.” she answered, doing as she was told. The doctor lifted up Kione’s shirt half way and began feeling around her stomach and sides. Two times she stopped and examined two specific places. Each time, with a hidden frown.
“Ok, you can sit up.” she began and then took a deep breath.
“What? Is something wrong?” Kione asked.
“That‘s a possibility,” she said slowly, “I felt something on your side that I don’t think is supposed to be there. What I can conclude from it is that by the way it felt...” she hesitated, always hating to say this to her patients, “is that the chances of it being....something called a tumor.....are a possibility.” Kione’s eye widened and ChiChi put a hand over her mouth. “I think it would be best to go to the hospital and have it checked. It may be a tumor or it may not and the chance of me being wrong is equal to me being right, but I’d rather not risk it. There’s no way to be sure until it’s confirmed. I will set you up an appointment. Wait here a moment?” she said and left the room. Kione sat shaking on the table. She snapped her head over to her mother’s direction and stared. ChiChi was trying her best to control herself and stood up, crossed the room and took hold of her daughter’s hands.
“Kino, don’t start assuming it’s a tumor, remember..........remember what the doctor said. She only felt it.....she didn’t see it......she doesn’t know.”
Kione’s hands trembled and her mother rubbed her daughter’s arm gently. The doctor returned shortly and said they would be expected at the hospital on Tuesday. The two left the office with the doctor following closely behind. Once Kione was over by her brother and father, she pulled ChiChi aside.
“Mrs. Son, there’s a little more to the situation then what I said in the room, I just didn’t want to further upset Kione.” she said softly. ChiChi began trembling herself as she waited for the finishing sentences. “I didn’t just feel one lump.......I felt two. I want you to know that both could very well be tumors and that you should probably,” she paused, “.......I don’t how else to say this, but I’m not going to lie to you. You and your husband will be needing to consider the worst as well as the best. It’s possible Kione may be sicker then we think. Like I said, to be positive, the trip to the hospital will confirm it.” ChiChi tried to answer, but choked and stumbled over her words. The doctor hugged her and knew the pain ChiChi was feeling. She too had children of her own.
After slightly regaining her composure, she headed over to her family and all walked to the car while she explained to Gokou and Goten what they had been told, leaving out the information she had just received. She would tell Gokou the rest later on when they were alone. The ride was quiet, as was the rest of the day. Come nightfall, Goten had walked out of his room to get a drink and heard something that sounded like a whimper. He stopped near his parents door and felt his stomach jump into his throat. ChiChi was crying and Goten could gather nothing good from it. He knew something was terribly wrong but knew that they would all be told the truth soon.
Monday morning ChiChi had protested Kione was not to go to school, but her daughter insisted that she wanted to. Instead of arguing, ChiChi agreed and the twins went on their way. Goten did his best on trying to act like the events over the weekend had never happened, for his sisters sake.
“Hey Kino, over here!” Hayama shouted.
“Hey, how was your weekend?” she asked once she joined him.
“Pretty good, how was yours?”
“......Boring. As usual.” she answered just as the bell rang. Both rolled their eyes and went their separate ways. After homeroom, Kione was off to history. She met Suzuka on the way.
“Good morning class,” Mrs. Masaki greeted her students, “I’m sure your weekend went well. I’ve got a treat for you all this morning. A pop quiz on the Tang and Song dynasties of China. Take out a pen and put all your things on the floor.” The class groaned and their teacher passed out the papers. After class Kione talked to her teacher about not being in school tomorrow and asked if she could have the work they would be doing. Mrs. Masaki had no problem with it and handed her the few pages. Kione did this after every class and by the end of the day, had everything to keep her form falling behind.
During the day Trunks saw through Goten’s happy act and decided to ask him about it later on. He invited his friend over after school and ended up with both of the twins. Kione didn’t feel like sitting around at home by herself. Bulma greeted the two as she walked into the house, carrying bags of groceries. Kione offered to help and as she and Bulma entered the kitchen, Trunks turned to Goten.
“Goten, what’s up? Something’s bothering you, I sensed it all day.”
“I don’t really know everything.” he muttered. His friend tilted his head to the side in confusion and asked,
“You don’t know everything about what?”
“I don’t know.” he sighed helplessly. Trunks frowned.
“You might feel better if you tell me. I am your best friend ya know, I’m supposed to listen to you complain.”
“But I’m not sure I’m even allowed to say anything about it.”
“Alright. I understand. But, if you feel like letting me know, I’m here for ya.”
“.....Trunks?” Goten said meekly. The way he had said his name caught Trunks’ attention and he looked at his friend in confusion.
“Yeah?”
“It’s about Kione.........she’s.....sick....” he said quietly, lowering his head downward. Trunks blinked and listened with wide eyes as Goten poured the whole story out. In the kitchen, Kione was helping Bulma put everything she bought away.
“Thanks sweetie, you really don‘t have to. Trunks should be in here but he’s obviously too busy.”
“That’s ok, Bulma, I don’t mind.”
“Thanks again. Ugh, I left one in the car, I’ll be right back.”
“Ok” she answered and went back to emptying the bags left on the counter as Bulma left the kitchen. Kione turned around and accidentally bumped into someone. When she looked up, she saw Vejita’s cold face looking down at her. “Oops, sorry Vejita, I didn’t see you.” she apologized quickly. Vejita only continued staring, looking her over.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m really sorry, I wasn’t looking.......”
“That’s not what I meant.” he interrupted angrily.
“Then, what did you mean?”
“Look at you, nothing but skin and bones. How do you expect to become a warrior when you’re not taking care of your body?”
“Why does everyone say that? I don’t have an eating disorder and I‘m no weakling.” she replied defensively. Vejita huffed and walked passed her. She blinked and shook her head. “Whatever.” she said to herself and went back to putting the groceries away. Bulma returned shortly and helped. Back in the living room, Trunks sat speechless and pale.
“......Couldn’t that doctor have made a mistake?”
“I’ve been trying to convince myself she did ever since Saturday. But....I couldn‘t, I still can‘t. I mean, just look at her Trunks. She doesn’t look like herself anymore....” Goten said, resting his head in his hands. Trunks shook his head. There was no way Kione had a tumor. That was out of the question. She’d been perfectly healthy for as long as he had known her. Until now?
Kione walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. The boys looked up at her and Goten immediately turned to look at Trunks. Trunks was staring at her, scanning her body. He blinked in shock and let his mouth drop open slightly. Goten was right, she didn’t look like herself anymore. He had noticed a change in her over a period of time, but never stopped and actually stared at her to realize it.
She had lost a lot of weight and was so much more paler then he remembered her being. She looked so uncomfortable and it seemed that even walking those few short steps was painful. He tried not making his stare obvious and looked away as she came nearer. Those few seconds seemed like an hour and he looked up again, staring at her stomach. Somewhere inside her frail body there was a lump, an unconfirmed tumor, and unaware to the boys, another said to be beside it. Those lumps, if they were even there, were the cause of the hell she was going through and there was nothing he or Goten could do about it. But if there were no lumps, what was wrong? Kione’s voice brought him out of his trance.
“I better get going, Goten. Kaasan doesn’t want me out long.”
“Alright let’s....”
“You don’t have to come.”
“What?”
“You can stay here and hang around with Trunks a while longer. I don’t need an escort, I’ll be ok. Besides, it’s not really fair to you.”
“Yeah but, are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Just be careful, ok?” Goten said, standing up. Kione flinched and sent a silent message to her brother with her tired eyes. He had forgotten that their family were the only ones who were supposed to know about the tumor right now and sent her an apologetic look.
“Bye, Trunks.”
“See ya later.” Trunks answered. Kione walked over to the door and Goten followed.
“Don’t think you have to rush home for me. I don’t want you putting your life on hold for mine.”
“I’ll be home soon.” Goten interrupted and gave her a quick hug before she lifted into the sky. Kione smiled, never realizing how good a hug felt, especially one from her brother. Many of them were being given now a days. She was now beginning to greatly appreciate the little things life had to offer. Though, she wished it hadn’t taken such a terrible way to make her realize them. She knew she had been selfish and took a simple hug for granted, but now, it was different. Every touch, smile, or sparkle of someone’s eyes were little gifts from whoever she was with.
“Kay. Bye.” she answered and flew off. Goten watched her fly out of site and went back into the house. He turned around and saw Trunks with a morose facial expression. He hadn’t meant to upset his friend, but the truth was bound to get out sooner or later. There was no use hiding what was reality.
Vejita had walked back into the kitchen and Bulma turned to face him.
“I heard the door open, did the twins leave?” she asked.
“No, the girl did.”
“Hm, wonder why.”
“There’s something wrong with that child.”
“Vejita!”
“Not in that way, woman.”
“Then what?”
“She didn’t look normal.”
“Since when did you pay attention to anyone besides yourself?”
“Are you going to listen or mock me?”
“Fine, I’m listening.”
“She looked sickly.”
“Sickly?”
“You have eyes, didn’t you see how scrawny she is now?” Vejita asked. Bulma tilted her head and thought.
“I didn’t really pay attention but yes......she did, now that I‘m thinking about it. When did you see her?”
“Before.”
“I wonder if ChiChi knows. But what I’d like to know is why you even brought this up. This isn’t like you, to notice something like that.”
“What does it matter? Do I need to explain every action of mine to you?” he snapped. Bulma sighed and happened to look out the kitchen doorway. She spotted Trunks sitting on the couch and let her face soften. Having children of his own must have led him to see it. Vejita always did act a little different whenever Trunks wasn’t feeling well. He obviously had nothing more to say and walked passed her and exited the room.
The boys talked amongst themselves for another hour and before Goten left he decided to tell Bulma about Kione. He knew she would be upset if she wasn’t told soon. He also knew he’d probably get in some sort of trouble for opening his mouth. But since he and Trunks’ families were so close, they almost seemed like one big family put together and keeping information like this a secret wouldn’t be appreciated.
Bulma didn’t take the news lightly. She was completely horrified and almost fell over due to shock, but Trunks was there to catch her fall. She was also very supportive towards Goten because she could see he was trying his best not to get upset after having to tell the story a second time that afternoon. Her heart immediately went out to the twins, their parents, and brother.
“Does Gohan know?”
“Dad should have called him up about it by now. I’m sure he and Videl will be meeting us at the hospital.”
“And you can count on us too. We’ll be there.”
“Thanks Bulma. I’m sure Kaasan will appreciate it.”
“I hope so. You better get home, I don’t want you getting in trouble for staying out too late.”
“I’ll see you all tomorrow then.”
“Right. Take care.”
“I will. Later Trunks.”
“Bye.” Trunks responded and Goten left. Vejita stepped back into the kitchen and stared at his small family in silence. “He was right,” Bulma thought as she moved her eyes over to his figure.
“I can’t believe this...” she said aloud helplessly and put her hand over her forehead. Trunks’ face remained as morose as before while he stood just as helpless as his mother.
The next morning, Kione was up early, too jittery to sleep. ChiChi had been a nervous wreck from her first waking minute, scared to death of what the doctors were going to find. But what she did know was the lumps inside Kione couldn’t possibly be cancerous. There was no way. Her daughter was not going to be pronounced diagnosed with cancer of any sort. Not her Kione. It was out of the question.
“I’d say we better get a move on,” Gokou said, glancing at a clock, “it’ll take a while to get there.”
“Right. Come on you two, out to the car. Gohan said he would meet us there, didn’t he?” ChiChi responded.
“Yes.” Goten and Kione headed outside and Gokou smiled at his little girl. He was trying to remain calm and in good spirits for as long as he could. The worst thing he could do was burst into tears and lose control of himself. He needed to stay strong for his family.
After the long ride, they had finally pulled up to the hospital entrance. ChiChi and the twins got out first while Gokou drove off to find a parking space. They waited until he returned and all four walked through the doors. Their arrival had been expected and two nurses were waiting for Kione with a wheelchair. She glanced at the chair and then looked back to her parents.
“Do I have to go alone?” she asked.
“I’m not sure, sweetie.” ChiChi replied. The two waved the family over and Kione was seated. They were lead through different hallways and finally taken into an elevator where they traveled up a few floors. Upon entering a large room, they had been expected again and a man stood waiting by the main desk.
He introduced himself as Doctor Dryden and only said that he would try and work as quickly as possible. No explanation of what he or anyone else was going to do was given. ChiChi was growing furious while Gokou was trying to calm her down. A woman walked out and introduced herself as Doctor Ameria and calmed ChiChi by going over what was going to happen in the next few hours. Goten and Kione took the chance to exchange a few words before she was wheeled away.
“I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can, just think of it as a regular visit to the doctors office to get a flu shot or something like that. If you keep a positive attitude you’ll be just fine.”
“I know....but I just don’t want to go in there alone.”
“You won’t be alone, “ Goten said, taking hold of his sisters hand, “I’ll be right there with you. Look at your reflection and you’ll see me smiling back.” They hugged one another and a second later Kione’s chair moved away from her brothers grip. He reached his hand out slightly to bring her back, scowling at the man who had pulled her away. She was out of reach now and Goten balled his hand into a fist and let it drop at his side. Gokou settled his hands down onto his son’s shoulders and all three watched Kione disappear through two large doors.
“ChiChi!” came a distant familiar voice. ChiChi whirled around and gasped.
“Bulma!?”
“ChiChi, why didn’t you tell me?” Bulma cried as she ran up to her friend, pulling her into a hug.
“What are you doing here? How did you know?”
“Goten told me, even though he knew he shouldn’t have.”
“Oh Goten.” ChiChi said softly as Goten lowered his head down. Trunks and Vejita walked into the room soon after and headed towards the small group. They hadn’t run because a few nurses had already yelled at Bulma for speeding down the hallways and didn’t feel like hearing any more scream about going so fast. Vejita seemed uneasy in the hospital but sensed the importance of being there and kept quiet as Trunks walked beside him, looking slightly sick. He joined Goten’s side once he and his father reached the group and gave him a smile, hoping it would cheer him up.
“Is she alright?”
“We don’t know, she just went through those doors,” ChiChi said, pointing ahead of her, “I can’t believe I left her alone.....she must be so scared.....I‘m such a terrible mother.”
“No! You’re not a terrible mother! Don’t say that. You’re only doing what you can, and you and I know it means a lot to Kione. Now it’s time for the ones who are trained for these situations to take over, they can help.” Bulma said encouragingly. ChiChi nodded and all took a seat.
A long two hours passed by and now Gohan and Videl were also waiting impatiently. The two families sat quietly as each agonizing minute ticked by without word from any doctor. After another fifteen minutes, Gokou’s impatience reached its maximum level as he clenched the chairs armrests he was seated at and held him self from standing up to go look for someone who could answer his questions. The armrests of Goten’s chair were about ready to fall off and was doing his best to keep his hands off them.
Later, just as the clock on the wall finished another half hour, the doors Kione disappeared through opened and ChiChi and Gokou jumped to their feet. Goten’s stomach tightened and his knuckles turned white as his grip on the edge of his chair began growing stronger. Trunks put a hand on his friends shoulder while Bulma ran hers through Goten’s hair. Vejita sat quietly, showing no disrespect the entire two hours and a half, had shot a startled look at the door as he heard it creak open. Gohan and Videl looked up with frightened eyes.
The doctor that had walked out had not been either one of the doctors who would bring the desperately wanted news but was another familiar face.
“Dr. Tsukino?” ChiChi asked.
“Mrs. Son! What a surprise. I see you’ve brought the whole family and then some. Though, I don’t see Gohan. Ah, is his wife expecting?” the man said. He had been the doctor who delivered the twins fifteen years earlier.
“Unfortunately no, we’re right here.” Gohan replied, waving to the doctor.
“Oh, I‘m sorry I didn‘t see you two back there,” he answered, scanning the group again and rested his eyes on Goten. “You’ve got yourself another fine looking son, ChiChi-san. I haven’t seen you and your sister since the both of you were babies but I can see you’ve grown up handsomely. By the way, where is Kione?” he added. The group became silent and many cast their eyes downward to the ground. Dr. Tsukino grew concerned. “Is everything alright, Mrs. Son?” ChiChi choked back a sob.
“I’m afraid not, Dr. Tsukino. The reason we’re here is for Kino. She’s become quite ill and it was suggested by her regular doctor that she be tested for,” Gokou answered for his wife, but hesitated at finished his sentence. “Well, during a checkup she discovered Kione had a few lumps inside of her that didn’t belong and right now, she’s in there being tested if they’re tumors. We thought you were one of her doctors.” Gokou finished. The mans face went sick with every emotion simultaneously.
Dr. Tsukino wasn’t the only one receiving this news, everyone else also heard it and a lump grew in Goten’s throat, preventing him from talking steadily. He turned and stared at his parents and yelled in a choking voice,
“There’s more then one?!”
“Goten.....” Gokou began.
“You never told me there was more then one!”
“We didn’t want to upset you......we didn‘t tell Kione at the time either.”
“You didn’t even tell her? Why not?!”
“Goten, please calm down.”
“How do you expect me to calm down? What else haven’t you told me?”
“Nothing, you know as much as we do. The only ones who knows more then us right now are the doctors in that room and Kino herself.” Gokou replied. Goten looked away and stared at the floor angrily. A woman’s voice came over the hospital intercom, calling Dr. Tsukino to maternity.
“I’ll have to leave now, but never lose faith, Mrs. Son. Things will work out. If I hear anything I’ll be sure to let you know. I know this is hard, but you must stay strong, Goten.” he said as he walked by the boy and patted his arm. Goten barely nodded and the doctor walked away slowly, still in disbelief. As he disappeared down the hallway the familiar sound of a door opening caught everyone’s attention and silence overcame them.
As they feared, this time it was Dr. Ameria and she was holding a stack of papers. Gokou cleared his throat softly and held onto ChiChi. She was already a nervous wreck and had stayed as calm as she could but the long wait had torn at her strength and hope.
“Well, what do you know, what were the results?” Gokou asked. The doctor took her glasses off slowly and hooked them on her coat pocket.
“The testing went well and Kione is just fine...”
“The results?” Gokou repeated. The doctor frowned.
“We wrote down every single one of the symptoms she told us she experienced, did a series of blood tests, took x-rays of her stomach where the lumps were and we found no sign of a tumor anywhere.” she began. ChiChi sighed, somewhat relieved. “What we found was that her spleen and liver have enlarged a little, which is what must have given your doctor that scare.“
“So, she’s all right then?“ ChiChi asked.
“Unfortunately, no.“
“No? But you said you didn’t find any tumors.......how can she not be fine?“
“We found other problems and continued with the examination, even doing a bone marrow examination which we’re still waiting for the final results. Everything we did turned up positive and.....”
“What do you mean positive? Positive for what?” ChiChi interrupted, growing tense again.
“I’m sorry, but your daughter has been diagnosed with a disease called Leukemia. We knew things were bad when the first blood test read positive.”
The force of the word took its toll on everyone in the room and seemed to echo and bounce off the walls, coming full force and slamming against the two families. Positive. Goten leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. Positive. Gohan, who had been standing, sank into a chair, paler than the white walls behind him. Positive. ChiChi fell into Gokou’s arms and wept. Positive There was little hope now. The only thing Gokou could do was stare in anger at nothing while he held onto his broken hearted wife. The tests were positive. The doctors had declared it. Kione had Leukemia.
