OoOoOoO
"What'd she tell you?" Piccolo said pulling Tora aside once the two female Saiyajins returned back to the Capsule Corps. ruins. Tora made a face watching Kimura wander off to the bathroom and shut herself inside, her eyes ticked back to Piccolo.
"I can't tell you." She sighed folding her arms over her chest, "Shouldn't we be moving since the Androids know we're here now?"
Piccolo scowled not liking Tora's answer or her subject change, "We should," He grunted planning on finding out on his own what had happened between Kimura and the androids, "They were waiting for you two to return."
Tora nodded, "Well, we're back… after Kimura gets some medical attention… let's get moving. Why don't we hide out on Kami's lookout or something?"
Kimura walked out of the bathroom, having washed up and made her way towards the group. Bulma looked up as Kimura approached; she smiled holding Trunks more securely against her, "Kimura! Where did you," She paused noticing the bruises on the younger girl's face, "What happened to your face? Are you okay?"
Vegeta snorted, "Woman you ask too many questions." He barked folding his arms over his chest, "Leave the girl alone." He tossed Kimura a look saying he knew something.
She stared back at him emotionlessly, startling when Bulma touched her arm, "You okay?" She asked again ignoring Vegeta.
Kimura flinched slightly then forced a smile and nodded, "I'm fine. Hurt my arm in the explosion…" She cradled her arm to her chest gently.
Vegeta scoffed and walked off muttering something about women and weak underclass Saiyajins. Goku chuckled nervously as he stood up from his crouched position near Krillin. He had inadvertently heard Vegeta's subtle, or so he figured, insult towards Kimura, "We should get going, everyone's here now right?"
"I think so Goku." Krillin answered glancing around the crumbling yard, "Where're we going too?"
Goku's mouth twitched sideways as he bit then inside of his mouth, "Hm… Hey Piccolo," He called out waving at the Namekian who in turn sweat dropped in embarrassment, "Think it'll be okay to stay at Kami's lookout?"
"I believe it'll be fine." Piccolo nodded folding his arms over his chest, "I'm sure Mr. Popo would enjoy the company."
"Great!" Goku grinned then turned to Kimura, "And Kimura…" He tilted his head to the side, "We'll get you all fixed up there, okay?"
Kimura nodded, "No problem."
Piccolo moved to Kimura's side as the others rounded up to leave. They lingered back slightly as the other left, "Kimu.." Piccolo said softly noticing how weak the female Saiyajin suddenly looked, "You can tell me what happened…"
Kimura leaned slightly on him, "We shouldn't fall too far behind." She hung her head looking at him from the corner of her eye, "Is it very far?"
"No…" Piccolo looked her over, worry creasing his brow.
OoOoOoO
It was like paradise floating in the sky, Kimura decided upon seeing the lookout. She felt at ease noticing the beautiful gardens carefully maintained throughout the large palace.
"Kimura, this way." She looked up as Piccolo passed her retreating into the main building, the others going their own ways. Goku carried Gohan to a secluded spot, Tora and Krillin on his heals to help with Gohan's rehabilitation. The boy was still having a difficult time walking; the lack of sensus making his healing longer than the boy seemed to have patience for.
"I got this, I got this!" He snapped pushing Krillin away before falling over, "Damn it!"
Kimura frowned slightly before following Piccolo into the building to a small room with a red cross on the door. Piccolo was already pulling out supplies and setting them up for her. She moved over to a chair and sat down looking up at the Namek warily.
"It's really not that bad-" She winced holding back a cry as Piccolo lifted up her left arm carefully.
He eyed her, "It's broken." Kimura nodded looking away, "They'll pay Kimura." He said gently wrapping the arm in a splint.
Piccolo worked quietly dressing Kimura's wounds waiting for her to speak. He couldn't help but feel tension between the two of them. Generally he had to ask Kimura to be quiet for there to be any sort of silence between the two of them.
"Piccolo?"
The Namek froze looking up at Kimura as he put down the bandage wrap, "Hm?"
Kimura looked down picking at the bandage wrapped around her arm, "I think I'm falling for you." She blushed closing her eyes not wanting to see his reaction, "I know it's wrong… Tora already told me, I'm sorry.. but I just-"
"Kimura."
She froze, words locked in her throat, swallowing she looked up at him, her eyes resting just above his collar bone.
Piccolo touched her chin briefly before turning away, "It's not Tora's choice to decide how you feel." He continued putting the medical supplies away, "But…" His hand paused on the cabinet handle, staring straight ahead he frowned, "I'm not the best person to fall for." He said pushing away his feelings of self betrayal.
"What do you mean?" Kimura chewed on her bottom lip fighting back tears of embarrassment and hurt.
Piccolo closed the cabinet, "I told you before… I don't deserve to be with anyone."
Kimura bowed her head, "I get it." She stood up and walked to the door, "See you for sparring later." She said disappearing out of the room.
Piccolo fisted his hands at his sides bowing his head. What was wrong with him? He scowled looking up at the empty room. Here she was confirming she had the same feelings for him as he had for her, and he had to turn her down.
"Mr. Piccolo?" He startled finding Gohan leaning against the doorframe, "Are you okay?" The boy moved stiffly across the room to a chair and sat down heavily in it. He pulled a leg up to his chest, stretching the muscles in it, before looking up at his sensei.
Piccolo looked at the boy blankly, "I'm fine… did you walk here all by yourself?"
"Yea," Gohan smiled lightly, "Well… with the help of the walls. But I'll be doing it on my own pretty soon… and after that, I'll be fighting again. Those androids will pay Mr. Piccolo." His face grew dark for a moment before lightening back up, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Piccolo shrugged folding his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall.
Gohan looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, "Do you ever feel like you're unworthy of something?"
Piccolo raised an eyebrow, "I guess…" He answered thinking back on his and Kimura's conversation that had just taken place.
"I feel unworthy of being my father's son." Gohan said softly tilting his head to the side, "I'm nowhere near as strong as he is… do you think he feels the same?"
Piccolo snorted in shock, "Absolutely not, Gohan. Your father is proud of you. We all are." He placed his hand on Gohan's shoulder.
"Really?" Gohan smiled sadly, "You think so?"
"I know so."
OoOoOoO
The Hyperbolic Time Chamber was a little disorienting to be in at first, but as time went by, Kimura got used to it. Piccolo, to ease Kimura's fears of the room, promised they would only train in the room for a few hours at a time, not a whole year. Kimura fell to her knees in exhaustion after a four hour training session.
"What's going on Kimura?" He asked kneeling down beside her, "You seem to be running out of energy faster."
Kimura shook her head, "It's just this room, it disorients me." She lied trying to ignore the headache that was growing into a migraine.
Piccolo sat down next to her, "The door will open in another hour-"
"Can we talk?" Kimura asked cutting him off, knowing he was going to urge her to push herself into more training, "Would you mind?" She glanced at him. He was shirtless, his gi top having been mostly burnt off by a ki blast at one point during their sparring.
"Since when do you ask?" Piccolo raised an eyebrow.
"You know me, I'm random." Kimura grinned then bit her lip, "Do you think we'll defeat those fuckers one day?" Her face grew dark.
Piccolo studied her face for a moment, and then turned away, "Yes." He could feel a twinge of anger flicker in his chest, his hands closed unconsciously, "Or we'll die trying."
Kimura nodded rubbing her eyes, "This is so frustrating!" She grumbled climbing to her feet and looked down at Piccolo, "I'm tired of being pushed around Piccolo!"
Piccolo stood up, "Then fight Kimura." He said slipping into fighting stance, "You're strong, stop holding back, stop being weak!" He lunged forward at her pulling her to him in an arm lock.
Kimura struggled and let out a frustrated scream, "Piccolo!" She yelled elbowing him in the stomach with her good arm, causing him to double over and let her go, "I'm not weak!" She shouted, mainly to herself, tackling him to the ground. Piccolo flipped her off him and pulled her back into another hold, "Then prove it." He grinned antagonizing the young Saiyajin.
Kimura turned in his arms so she was facing him and kneed him between the legs. Piccolo released her doubling over in pain, "Ffffuuu!" He groaned out falling to his knees.
"Oh! Crap!" Kimura knelt down beside him, "I'm sorry Piccolo!"
Piccolo held his hand up to her trying to give himself space, "Kimura," He grumbled straightening himself out a little, "uhg.. don't do that again."
Kimura winced, "I'm sorry." She said fully sitting down, "Are you okay?"
"Yea," Piccolo shook his head and sat down cross-legged letting out a sigh, "You're crazy." He smirked slightly.
Kimura blushed, "Thanks.." She said softly, "No really.. Thank you Piccolo." She looked at him earnestly then glanced away.
Piccolo looked at her in confusion, "For what?"
"Putting up with me," Kimura said softly, averting her eyes to the door at the far end of the room, "I know I'm not very easy to train. And… well sorry for insulting you awhile back."
"Easier than most," Piccolo grunted, "You're strong Kimura, you just hold yourself back." He tilted his head to the side, "When did you insult me?"
Kimura blushed, "It was a while back.. when I sorta.. said you didn't have… any anatomy and that shouldn't stop you from having emotions," She flushed a deep red picking at the unraveling bandages wrapped around her arm, "That wasn't really any of my business to say.. and I shouldn't-"
She was cut off by Piccolo pressing his lips to hers, "Shut up." He grinned at the surprised expression on her face, "It's true." He said looking away, "Namekian's don't have the same anatomy as humans or Saiyajins. But it still hurts when we're hit…" His cheeks flushed a light purple, "We can also still have feelings for others."
"I wasn't expecting… that…" Kimura smiled touching Piccolo's cheek, "I thought you didn't feel the same…" She dropped her hand, the smile turning sad, "I kinda feel like this may turn out bad, Piccolo."
Piccolo put his hand over hers, "Bad how?"
"It's okay," Kimura shook her head looking up, her eyes resting on Piccolo's shoulder, "I'm used to getting hurt, if you don't mean it.. I mean.. I-"
"Kimu," Piccolo grunted, "I promise, to the best of my ability, I will not hurt you." He said softly. In the back of his head he knew he couldn't keep her from never getting hurt again, but he would try his damn well hardest. He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to her head.
Kimura smiled enjoying the feeling of his arms around her. Her stomach flipped suddenly and her face dropped, "But… the others… Tora doesn't think we should be together, and Vegeta.." She leaned back looking at him with sad eyes.
Piccolo frowned, "Don't let them dictate your life Kimura; it's none of their business." He tilted his head to the side, she allowed him to briefly make eye contact with her, "This is between you and I, no one else."
"Pic.. I need to tell you something-"
The door opened and Gohan ran in 'causing the two to separate in surprise.
"Hey guys! Have a good session?" He grinned at the two, totally oblivious at what had just transpired between them as they climbed to their feet, "Dad and I are next. We're going to train for a full year!"
Kimura smiled lightly at Gohan catching the mild irritated look flash across Piccolo's face, "Good luck kiddo." She said patting him on the head. The young Saiyajin had worked hard over the past few weeks to get back into fighting shape. She turned to Piccolo and offered him a small smile, "I'm gonna get something to eat from the kitchen."
Piccolo took a step to follow her but was ambushed by Gohan and his insistences in letting him know exactly how hard he and his dad were going to train.
OoOoOoO
Tension was high on the lookout, especially between Vegeta and Kimura. Tora had confided in Piccolo that she didn't understand their behavior herself.
"They had always gotten along, or so I thought." She bit her lip in thought folding her arms over her chest, "He knows something…" She muttered to herself not expecting Piccolo to have heard her.
The Namekian eyed the Saiyajin for a moment, "You know something as well." He tilted his head to the side, "I have a feeling it has to do with Kimura's withdrawal from us during the past couple of months."
Tora blinked tilting her head away, "Pic-"
"Get the Hell away from me Vegeta!" Kimura screamed from inside the palace. Tora and Piccolo looked at each other in confusion before investigating the sudden outburst. Kimura was glaring at Vegeta, her arms wrapped around herself protectively.
"I knew it!" Vegeta hissed clenching his fists at his sides, "Weak low class mutt!" He spat, "Don't you have any Saiyajin pride?"
Kimura grit her teeth together, "Bastard-"
"Didn't think I would know did you?" Vegeta cut her off, stepping closer, "I could smell him on you the minute you returned," He narrowed his eyes, "And I'm not talking about you and Piccolo." Kimura's jaw dropped slightly. Tora did a double take at Kimura before turning back to Vegeta, "Vegeta, what the Hell?"
Vegeta advanced towards Kimura, "Your best interest would be to get rid of it."
Tora stepped in grabbing Vegeta by the arm and pulled him to the side. Piccolo went to Kimura standing protectively in front of her, "What's wrong with you Vegeta?" He snarled.
Kimura gaped at Vegeta, his glare on her unwavering even as Tora shouted at him and shook his shoulder.
"What's he talking about?" Piccolo growled eyeing Vegeta one last time before turning to Kimura. The girl before him, looking shattered and at a loss of words, didn't look like the woman he had been training for the past few months. All the confidence she seemed to have built was crumbling like a wave hitting a sandcastle. Her shoulders trembled, her head tilted down so he couldn't see her face, or the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Kimura?" Piccolo furrowed his eyebrows reaching a hand out towards her chin. He could hear Tora and Vegeta bickering behind him, Tora's voice rising in volume at Vegeta's stubbornness.
"You will not treat my sister like that Vegeta!"
Kimura wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, "I gotta tell you somethin' Piccolo." She said lifting her head.
Piccolo dropped his hand to his side locking eyes with the woman before him. He felt a wave of energy rush through him as he realized briefly that this was the first time she allowed him to make eye contact with her.
"Sister?" He heard Vegeta scoff behind him, "That little whore?"
"Be a brother to my sister Vegeta." Tora whispered.
Kimura bit her lip dropping her eyes to the ground quickly feeling uncomfortable with the eye contact. Old memories surfaced, she gritted her teeth together, "The Androids… The male-17... H-he…" Her eyes slammed shut in sudden anger and fear, "Damn it! Piccolo I'm pregnant!"
There was sudden silence followed by a soft snort and retreating footsteps. She opened her eyes to find Vegeta had left the room and both Tora and Piccolo were staring at her.
"Pregnant? Kimu why didn't you tell me?" Tora whispered moving closer to the girl.
Kimura bowed her head, "'cause… I wasn't sure I would… keep it..."
Piccolo opened and closed his mouth a few times before scowling, he growled turning away.
"Pic!" Kimura grabbed his arm and he froze clenching his fist, "Please don't leave-"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Piccolo whispered.
Kimura let go of his arm, "It's not like that… I-"
"All these fucking secrets!" Piccolo shouted, not sure why he was feeling so angry, so betrayed. He looked at Tora noticing the anger starting to spread across her face; she opened her mouth to retaliate, "No!" He shouted at her, stopping her before she could speak, "You don't get a say in this! I'm tired of being in the dark; I'm tired of the tip toeing around!"
"You think you get a right to know things!" Tora shouted clenching her fists at her sides, "Who the fuck are you!"
Piccolo scowled looking at Kimura, the woman looked at a loss of words, her mouth hanging open in shock, "Apparently no one," He growled turning, "I'm sorry you feel I couldn't be trusted." He said walking away. Kimura bowed her head sighing once he was out of the room.
Tora wrapped her arms around Kimura, "I'm sorry." She said softly, "You'll get through this, you're strong. I told you that Namek isn't worth it."
Kimura pulled away raking her hand through her hair, "Tora," She turned, "Please. Stop." She shook her head backing up, "You don't know who is 'worth' it and who isn't." Her eyes welled up with tears, "I'm tired of being told who I can and can't love." She swallowed swiping at the tear running down her cheek, "You need to let me figure this one out."
Tora watched Kimura walk away speechlessly. She looked away from the girl's retreating back to Goku standing on the other side of the lookout relaxing with Krillin. The two were oblivious to the drama that had gone down and looked quite content and happy. Her heart skipped a beat when Goku looked back at her and smiled. She smiled warily back before looking away feeling a little guilty.
