Chapter 3 - Halloween Costume!

A/N: I do not own Dragon Ball Z, or the idea of Piccolo living in a cave. That was thanks to Criticalthinking.

I do however own Mizuki and Mura.

Please ask permission before using them.

Enjoy!

Mizuki grinned as she sat near her bed in the cave she and Piccolo occupied, Bulma had invited her to her first party on planet Earth, and after a month of begging, Piccolo reluctantly agreed to come with them.

However she had left something out until the last minute. Piccolo would have to wear a costume, she had her's already, but she had to buy Piccolo's last minute, it wasn't something he couldn't pull off, infact, it was something that suited him to a T.

She felt Piccolo's presense before she heard him enter the cave, a strong smell of sweat slapping her in the face as she spun to talk to him.

Piccolo was sweating bullets and was panting hard, his body sheening with moisture as he had finished his training for the day.

"You're not going to a party like that!" Mizuki said, putting her hands on her hips as Piccolo chuckled and gave her a tough smirk.

"You can't boss me around, Mizuki...My Ki level is much higher than your's, you know I can pummel you without a second thought..."

Mizuki laughed and shook her head. "Piccolo-sama, you and I both realise I've been meditating to improve my Ki control, I might be stronger, but subconsciously hiding it..."

"I don't believe that..." Piccolo said, walking over to her and lifting her chin to gaze into her cyan blue eyes. She was shocked by this gesture, as Piccolo was usually rather cold. "When you're focusing your Ki, your eyes sparkle, but now they're neutral..."

"P-Piccolo-sama..." Mizuki breathed, then Piccolo turned and walked away. "I'm going to wash under the waterfall..." He said, tossing his shirt in the corner before vanishing from the cave.

Mizuki smirked, she had found a way she could get Piccolo into his costume! She ran quickly from the cave and flushed deep silver as Piccolo stood with his back to her, but his ass visible as he was stark naked.

"C-crap..." She breathed, looking around for his trousers, without focusing her attention on the Namek she had been in love with since the two Saiyans attacking Earth.

Once Mizuki grabbed both his shirt, sash and trousers, she hid them where Piccolo wouldn't find them, and placed the folded clothes on the little fold out table she had aquired to give the cave a more welcoming vibe.

~DBZ~

"MIZUKI!"

Mizuki hummed and turned, flushing deep silver when Piccolo stood before her in nothing, absolutely nothing! Of course he wasn't built like the average human male, so there was nothing to stare at, but still, being naked was a no go!

"P-Piccolo-sama, put some clothes on!" Mizuki said, covering her eyes to hide her view, but to also hide her blush.

"I would, but my clothes are MISSING!" Piccolo said, looking around the cave, his face dripping with water. "I'm sure I left my shirt in here, where is it?!"

"I don't know! I bought you some clothes for the Halloween party anyway, try wearing something new!" Mizuki said, pointing to the pile of folded clothes in the corner, along with his shoes.

"Did you set this up?!"

"Why would I do that?!" Mizuki lied, she wanted Piccolo to unwind for a change, but this seemed to have made things worse. "Anyway, can't you just use your Ki to make more clothes?!"

"No! I'm still recovering from the exertion during today's training! I can't get enough Ki to create clothes!" Piccolo shouted, growling at her, he didn't see why she was avoiding looking at him, it wasn't like he had anything to cover up.

"Then you'll have to make do!" Mizuki barked and Piccolo felt his anger surge as water dripped from his chin and the cold air slapped him hard, he didn't show how cold he was, he hadn't yet mastered surviving nature's elements, so this was getting more uncomfortable as the temperature dropped.

"Just give me my clothes back!"

"I don't have them!" Mizuki shouted, grabbing the clothes and tossing them at Piccolo, which he caught. "Now get changed, you're going to a Halloween Party, I thought you'd look good like this!"

Piccolo growled and took the clothes, slipping into them. "What the crap?! I look like Nail!" He barked and Mizuki turned back, blushing deep silver, he looked like Nail anyway, but this didn't look like Nail.

Piccolo wore a white pair of Gi pants with a deep red sash around his waist, instead of a Gi top, he wore an orange jacket, showing off his well built chest. Around his neck was a small white scarf, much like the ones the rest of his race wore and on his feet were his regular shoes.

"I think it suits you!" Mizuki said, smiling brightly as Piccolo felt his cheeks turn purple just slightly. He didn't like this. "I never thought you'd wear a costume!"

"You've made it so I have no choice..." Piccolo growled and Mizuki sighed, turning and stripping down, her back to her friend. She didn't care if he saw her strip, he'd already walked in on her once a long time ago, it didn't bother her.

Piccolo huffed and crossed his arms, focusing his attention on the wall to his right, giving Mizuki some privacy. "What are you going as? If I'm going as a regular Namek, what about you?"

Mizuki cleared her throat and Piccolo turned to her, his mouth going dry as she stood before him in a skintight black battle suit, her wolf ears and tail out and her eyes a dangerous red, her claws and fangs sharp. "I'm going as Wolf Girl! She was a superhero on my home planet, of course she had silver hair and ears and crap, but I like my natural hair colour so..."

Piccolo opened his mouth to say something, but all words were lost. She looked truly beautiful. "Well then, let's go!" Mizuki said, walking out of the cave, her tail swishing behind her.

The green Namek cursed at himself and followed, he hated how he was powerless to the beautiful wolf, and that he had gotten careless as to lose his clothes in the first place.

~DBZ~

Mizuki and Piccolo arrived at the party, Vegeta was the only one who hadn't dressed up. Even Dende was here and he was dressed as Nail.

"Ah, Mizuki-chan!" Bulma said, running over to her dressed as Cat Woman. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"I'm Wolf Girl, she's a popular super hero on my home planet..." Mizuki said, twirling and making Piccolo swallow hard as her tail curled around her perfectly.

"I bet you never dressed up Pic-" Bulma looked up at Piccolo and froze. "What the crap, how did you get him to dress up?!" She gasped and Piccolo growled, scaring her off before she got an answer.

"If I get anything like that again, I'm going back..." Piccolo said darkly, his arms crossed and his glare sharp. Mizuki giggled and tapped his solid chest affectionatly. "You look fine, Piccolo-sama, just try to enjoy yourself!"

Piccolo huffed and walked off, while Mizuki finally blushed. His chest was like stone beneath her palm. My Gods he was buff!

Mizuki calmed herself and walked into the crowds, determined to have a wonderful time this night.

~DBZ~

Piccolo was fuming in the corner, his hand gripping a glass of Sake with too tight a grip. She shouldn't be doing that, he was her training partner, she should be next to him, talking and trying to get him to have fun!

But no, she was dancing with Goku, who was laughing, they weren't showing any signs of romance, but Piccolo wanted her to stop! He didn't like Mizuki dancing with anyone but himself.

He caught his thoughts. He was never going to dance, why was he being so protective over a Houlamek who for all he knew, didn't fall in love because of her species. His species wasn't meant to fall in love, yet here he was being jealous for a woman that wasn't his.

When a slow dance came on and the two got close, just for fun of course. Piccolo snapped, his glass shattering in his closed fist before he stormed over to Mizuki, putting his hand on her shoulder and tugging hard, detaching her from Goku and making her collide with his chest, causing his arms to instantly close around her.

Piccolo glared at Goku who quickly made an excuse to find his wife and left, while Mizuki realised what had happened and gasped, pushing the Namek away. "What did you do that for?! Me and Goku were having a laugh!"

The Namek didn't answer her and Mizuki scoffed, pushing away from her best friend. "I'm going to get a drink, am I allowed, oh mighty ruler?" She sneered, hitting him with her shoulder as she stormed past.

However when she got a little distance away, she felt clawed fingers coil around her slim wrist, enveloping it completely. "Wait..."

Mizuki didn't say anything but she listened as Piccolo spoke with a blush on his cheeks. "If you want to dance that badly...I'll dance with you..."

This made her spin around in shock. Was something the matter with Piccolo, he was doing two out of character acts today! Was he dying, dear Gods she hoped not!

"Wh-why?"

"Because I wanted to know what dancing was like..." Piccolo lied, looking her straight in the eyes. He wasn't going to tell her he secretly loved her and that he didn't want her dancing with anyone else. "Well, are you going to dance or not?"

Mizuki blinked and nodded, unsure if she had made the right choice, luckily the song changed to a slow dance, much more romantic than the last, but it was still a song.

Piccolo wrapped his solid arm around her fragile waist and entwined their fingers of their left hands with the other. Then he felt Mizuki's hand on his lower back, and they swayed slowly to the music, a little awkward, but more comfortable than they looked.

They danced like that for some time, unaware of the stares they got from others, oblivious to everything but themselves as time seemed to stop.

Once the song ended the two of them returned to reality just as everyone else looked away, as to avoid causing more awkwardness between the two friends.

Piccolo and Mizuki realised after a second that they were much closer than when they started, so they pulled apart, Piccolo's cheeks a faint purple while Mizuki's were a bright silver.

"Mizuki-chan!" Gohan said excitedly, running over to the older Houlamek, he was wearing a replica of Piccolo's outfit, including the heavy shoulder pads and turban. "Will you dance with me?" He asked and Mizuki nodded with a smile, taking the young boy's small hands and dancing childishly, both of them laughing.

Piccolo smirked at how adorable Mizuki was being and leaned against the back wall, away from all the guests, his arms crossed and one foot propped against the vertical surface.

"Hey Piccolo!"

The green Namek growled and turned to Goku, who walked over with a glass of sake. "Want some?" He asked, holding out the glass.

"I'm fine..." Piccolo sneered, he didn't want to socialize with anyone, he just wanted to wait for the party to end and go home.

"You sure? I know you don't like parties, so why did you even choose to come, especially in costume!" Goku said and Piccolo finally noticed who he was dressed as.

"Why are you dressed like Kami?" Piccolo asked and Goku looked down at himself. "I don't know, I couldn't find a costume, so Kami-sama leant me some of his clothes, I have to admit, I suit it well!"

Piccolo held back a laugh, seeing as he couldn't picture the fighter staying at the Lookout and watching over Earth without fighting.

"I'm guessing Mizuki tricked you into wearing that..." Goku said, pointing at the Namek clothes. "Last Halloween, when Gohan forced you to come, you didn't dress in a costume, so it must have been snuck in somehow!"

Piccolo huffed and glared at Mizuki, he knew for a fact she knew where his clothes were, but it was either come to the party naked, or wear the clothes he was wearing now.

Humiliation was a road that took two paths, he chose the one with the most pride left over.

~DBZ~

Piccolo and Mizuki were walking from the city, tired and wanting a rest. Mizuki wasn't drunk, but she was sluggish from all the dancing she had done, her eyes drooping every time she took a step.

The green Namek hummed and caught her wrist when she tripped and almost face planted the concrete floor. "What's the matter with you?!" He snapped, he had put up with this behavior for the last ten minutes.

"N-nothing..." Mizuki slurred, blinking and wiping her eyes with a yawn. "I'm fine..." She tried to tug her wrist free from Piccolo's grasp, but with her exhaustion came a lack of strength and she could barely move her wrist, let alone relenquish the Namek's grip.

Piccolo scoffed and pulled her so she slammed against his hard chest. "You're pathetic!" He hissed, grabbing her under the knees and lifting her bridal style, then he took off into the sky, a look of pure irritation on his face.

Mizuki had to admit, even if Piccolo was pissed to hell at her for being such a weak woman, he was really attractive at this moment in time.

They got to the cave in record time and Mizuki was dropped without anything making it romantic. Typical. "Ah crap!" Mizuki hissed, waking up slightly when her ass made contact with the solid stone floor.

Piccolo stood over her, his arms crossed as he wore a Namek outfit, he was strangely powerful looking even in his species' natural clothing. "Now, before you go to sleep and rest from this rediculous excuse for an energy consuming activity, I want you to get my clothes back!"

Mizuki growled like an animal, Piccolo had to ruin her mood somehow. "How about apologising for bruising my ass, Namek!" She seethed, standing up and glaring up at the two foot taller Namek.

"Give. Me. My. Clothes..." Piccolo snarled, his anger radiating with each word.

"No! Get lost!"

Mizuki turned and stormed towards her quilt of fur, she had hunted and washed for her bed. However she only got so far before she was slammed into the wall, hissing in pain as Piccolo kept her pinned against the surface, glaring down at her as he turned her to face him.

"Mizuki, I grow tired of these games!"

"I grow tired of your constant attitude!" Mizuki snarled, she could become a very difficult being when angry and it wasn't Piccolo's favorite trait of her's.

"Clothes, now!"

"Apology, now!"

Piccolo growled and leaned closer, his eyes dangerous as his breath mingled with her own. He didn't realise how close he was and how he had snapped so quickly.

Mizuki glared at the Namek, not showing any of the fear she felt in her heart. Piccolo snapped rarely however over the last two weeks, his anger had surged whenever she had done something he found irritating.

Maybe hiding his clothes was the last straw and he was finally going to kill her.

"Why do I put up with you?" Piccolo barked, squeezing her shoulders tight enough that she winced, he wasn't even aware he was doing it. "I let you do things I would normally kill others for! What makes you so different?!"

"Piccolo, let go of me!" Mizuki barked, grabbing both his hands with her own and trying to force them off her shoulders, terrified of the Namek's fury.

"I let you get away with everything, including dressing me up in a rediculous outfit I didn't even want to wear and taking me to a party I didn't even want to attend!"

"I asked you, you just said whatever! If you didn't want to go, you could have said something!" Mizuki snapped, gripping his hands with as much force as she could, causing a miniscule amount of pain to the green alien. "Now let me go and we'll talk, just release my shoulders!"

Piccolo stood there, glaring down at her, panting as his anger began to slowly subside, his rage turning to regret as he let go and saw the bruises on her shoulders.

He huffed and turned, walking towards the corner he usually sat in to meditate while she slept.

Mizuki walked over to a hidden corner near her bed and pulled out a folded purple Gi. "Here..." She said softly, placing the Gi infront of him with a smile. "I don't blame you for snapping, I shouldn't have tormented you so much over the last two weeks..."

Piccolo stared at his clothes, then at Mizuki as she walked over to her bed and relaxed on the cover, closing her eyes and allowing her dreams to take over.

The Namek felt more guilt, it wasn't her irritating him that caused his anger, it was the fact that the more things she did, the more adorable he found her and his urge to kiss her and tell her how he felt became stronger each time.

Piccolo sighed and stood up, quietly walking over to her and brushing her hair from her face. She was rather a heavy sleeper on some nights, so he knew she wouldn't wake.

"My apologies..." Piccolo whispered, hiding a pain in his pride as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple, before standing up and grabbing his Gi, leaving the cave to train.

Mizuki's peacefully asleep face melted into a subconscious smile.

A/N: What did you think?

I think I made Piccolo a little too harsh around the ending there. But I hope that little dig on his pride set him straight XD

Please Review, your comments and advice are welcome.