Chapter 10: How do you Feel?
Me-*happily waves* what's up everybody? I'm so sorry it's taken so long for me to update, but I assure you, I had good reasons.*smiles wide* I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter, Strefe and I certainly had a good time, and Tarble, Ky and Dende did too. Though, cleaning up after any kind of party sucks a little, I found that it was actually really satisfying because everything went according to plane. I got to stay up late with friends, watched bunches of movies, and no doubt I got my revenge a certain jerky, leave-me-tied-to-a-freaking-chair Namek into a nervous wreck -
?-*BAMBAMBAM!* Brat! I know you're in there!
Me-*smirks*And speak of the devil, here he is.
*door swings open and reveals a steaming mad Piccolo*
Me-*smiles sweetly* why Piccolo, what a surprise, to what do I owe the-
Piccolo-Cut the crap you little punk!* slams the door shut* you know exactly why I'm here!
Me-hmm,*taps chin in mock thought* no, I really can't understand.
Piccolo: *Says through gritted teeth*Alright, then let me explain as clearly as I can. I'd been looking for the guardian of the earth from very late last night and all throughout the god forsaken hours of the early morning. He won't answer my calls, I can't sense his energy signature, I'm nearly having a stroke from the amount of worry I'm feeling because I don't have any idea if he's alive or dead-
Me-I didn't know Nameks' had strokes.
Piccolo-*Growls and ignores interruption* and here he comes to the lookout in mid afternoon saying that he had been at a party…..your party!
Me-yes, that parts true, Dende was over here with Tarble, Ky and Strefe.*smiles*
Piccolo-ah-HA! So you admit to kidnapping Dende!
Me- no, we didn't kidnap him, we just had a party.
Piccolo-well what was Dende doing at a party that lasted to the next afternoon?*glares suspiciously* you didn't make him do anything improper, did you?
Me-Geeze, ' Mr. Mother hen', All we had was a slumber party.
Piccolo-And what in the hell is a slumber party?
Me-Now Piccolo, that's just sad,*tsks' disappointingly* for being on earth as long as you have, you should know what a slumber party is. Mr. Popo does and he said it was just fine.
Piccolo-WHAT? I was never told any of this... Come to think of it, Popo wasn't anywhere at the lookout either!
Me- Oh yeah, booked him an instant trip to a nice spa that was around here. He's such a nice guy, and he works hard for you all the time, I thought he deserved a little bit a pampering*smiles wider*just thoughtful gift for him. *gives him a noticeably fake apologetic look* I'm sorry if not message wasn't given to you before he left.
Piccolo*growls with rage*you little witch!*leaps for me*
Me- *calmly watches as Piccolos' face switches from rage to shock as gray ropes wrapped themselves around him, pulls him away, and ties him to a nearby chair.*
Piccolo-*struggles against the ropes for a while and stops when he finally realizes they're not ordinary ropes and that he's not going anywhere and glares at me.* what….did you…do!
Me-oh, it's just a little something I came up with,*reaches over to the desk and brigs a piece of paper in front of me.* a small precaution I took, just in case you decided to have the urge to wring my neck. These babies are virtually indestructible, notice they have no knot, so they can't be untied, they can't be cut off with anything that has a blade on it, and your basically screwed to be stuck like that unless I tell you how to get them off.
Piccolo-you better tell me how to get these off, NOW!
Me-hmmm,*frowns in thought*I kinda what to get this story done, but I'll tell you what, how 'bout I'll tell you how to get out of those at the end,*gives him a smart ass smile*I mean, it doesn't look like you're leaving anytime soon.
Piccolo-*grumbles under his breath*like I have any choice…
Me- good*claps hands excitedly*then let's begin! Hope you all enjoy!
Ever since that night, it felt as if Tarble had gotten a little closer with his mentor. They talk more with each other, laughed often, and Sukuma was even letting Gure come over to watch them as they trained now.
And the villagers, their views of Sukuma and Tarble had changed rather drastically. Gures' family never told them that the frightening creature they saw rampaging over the land was actually Tarble, and because of this, they all assumed that Sukuma and Tarble fought it, and managed destroyed it. They saw them as heroes now, and welcomed them with smiles and praises whenever they walked through the village.
Things were much happier now, and Tarble loved it this way.
These happy times lasted for five long years, and the time the three of them spent together were well shared. But, it came to a halt when Sukuma suddenly announced that he'd be leaving the planet.
Three days after the announcement, Tarble found himself leaning up against the reconstructed hut he and Sukuma shared with each other, watching as his teacher made finale inspections on the space pod.
Positively sulking.
"I still don't understand with you have to leave!" Tarble said to him. For the 90th time in the last three days.
Sukuma gave a sigh of annoyance, "I've told you once, and once before, my prince, I've gotten no word from his majesty." The elder said, "It's been two years passed the stated date that we'd exchange information, and I'm started to grow concerned."
Tarble laughed a bit. "I thought Saiyans didn't worry about anything."
"I said I was concerned, never worried." Sukuma corrected. Then he stepped back and gave a satisfied nod and stepped away, walking back towards the hut. Going inside and gathering his bags. Tarble was close behind.
"But why do you have to go?" Tarble pressed, "If they're not here, then they're probably busy with something that's much more important than a status report." Sukuma abruptly headed back outside. Tarble close behind. "I mean, do you really have to leave for something so-"
"Tell me Tarble, how's Gure been lately?"
The young prince stumble over his words at his mentors surprising, if not random, question. "w-what?" he asked, wondering if he heard right, "why are you bringing Gure up in this conversation?"
Sukuma kept his back to him, "I've been hearing her name throughout the village quite often as of late." he said, "apparently she's growing into a fine Raudian woman."
Tarble felt his face grow hot, and he shifted uneasily. "oh, uh, is that so?"
"oh yes, it even sounds as if she's already got suitors trying to court her, she must be fetching" Sukuma stated, then shook his head. "I mean, that's only what it sounds like, I can't really tell," he suddenly added. "All of the women here look too much alike for me to really tell any difference at all."
Tarble felt a jab of anger prick his chest, and his tail bristled out. "What are you saying?" he demanded, "she's-"
He stopped himself, gasping at what he almost announced, his face burning with embarrassment. While Sukuma turned back to him, a smirk on his face. "she's 'what'?"
Tarble lost his look of surprise, and grit his teeth together, "that was a dirty trick, changing the subject on me!"
Sukuma wave a hand, "It was no trick, just something I've been wondering about." He explained. "But I am curious to know now what you were going to say."
"I wasn't going to say anything!"
"You're a terrible lair, my prince, you always have been." the elder Saiyan said, " now please, let me know what you were going to say about Gure."
Tarble looked at his feet, should he tell? Wouldn't he make fun of him? No, Sukuma wouldn't do that. Never-the-less, Tarble tried to swallow away a large lump in his throat.
"She….she's beautiful…"
His voice was just barely above a whisper, but Sukuma's sensitive ears picked it up. And his smile grew.
"Is that so?"
Tarble only managed to nod, and he scuffed of bit of dirt around with his shoe, his face feeling as if it was on fire.
His teacher was quiet for a moment, and then he walked forward, clapping a large hand on Tarbles shoulder. "It was only a matter of time, I suppose," he said with a soft laugh. "She was the only child throughout the whole village that accepted you for who you were, and gave you nothing but kindness and friendship through these long twenty-one years."
Tarble finally had the courage to lift his head, and saw Sukumas' smiling face looking down at him. "How long have you been feeling like this, my prince?"
"Ever since that night...when I.. you know.."
"Ah, I thought as much," Sukuma mused, "so when are you going to tell her?"
"I-I…" Tarble didn't know how to answer, but Sukumas laugh stopped him from trying.
"Haha, I suggest you tell her soon, my prince" the elder Saiyan told him, "before she's taken." he patted Tarbles shoulder, and walked away, picking the his pack up and slinging it over his shoulder. Tarble only watched, deciding to not persuade him from staying any longer. Sukumas' mind was obviously set. the elder then waved his hand in front of the space pod, and it opened with a sharp hiss.
Sukuma suddenly hesitated, and he turned around, his mouth opened. Was he was going to say something? Then his lips closed and he looked down. Tarble was confused had never seen him look so torn before. Sukuma suddenly looked back up, and he sent him a half smile." good luck and farewell, my prince, I hope to see you soon."
With that, he stepped inside the pod. Tarble only watched as the door slowly closed, and braced himself as it launched off the ground and soared through the sky.
Tarble lowered his arms, keeping his eyes on the white ship, he felt another sharp jab in his chest, this time with sadness. He knew he'd miss Sukuma...
so very much.
"So he really did leave?"
Tarble look behind him, seeing Gure standing a few feet away, her hands folded over her heart and a sad look in her eyes.
Tarble looked back at the sky, seeing one last tiny glimmer of the ship before he saw no trace of it any longer. "Yes, he did…"
He suddenly felt her small hand enveloped in his own, and he looked down into her soft black eyes. "I'm sorry, Tarble, I know he meant a great deal to you."
Tarble didn't answer for a while, instead, he just looked at Gure, his chest feeling warm. Sukuma had certainly called him on it, and was right about everything. Grue had been his best friend ever since he was a baby, she'd had always been dear to him, but ever since that night five years ago, he wanted things to be different between them. He wanted them to be something more.
the only problem was, he was scared to tell her.
"Tarble?" Gures' voice snapped him back into focus, seeing Gures' head tilted in curiously, "Is something the matter?"
Tarble again felt that lump in his throat, but he clenched his jaw in determination, Sukuma was right, he had to tell her now before in was too late!
Tarble let go of Gures' hand and turned to face her fully, gulping away the lump. "Gure, t-there's something I've.. been wanting to tell you for sometime now," Tarble stared, mentally punching himself for the waver in his voice, "it's not going to be very easy, though," he admitted lamely.
Grue gave him a warm smile that nearly made him melt. "It's okay, Tarble, just take your time, you have my attention."
Tarble coughed in his throat, 'don't be a weakling!' Tarble told himself, 'toughen up and be a Saiyan about this!'
"Gure, for as long as I can remember, you've always been right there at my side, throughout the good, and the difficult. Even that night, when I transformed, you still chose to be there for me, you kindness and friendship for me never at all wavering...I think ever since then, my feelings for you have grown deeper...deeper then just friendship"
Tarble stopped, gritting his teeth as his face burned, unsure how he should continue, but Gures' eyes widened at his words. Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
'Come on!' Tarble yelled at himself. 'Sukuma made it sound so easy about just telling her! So why is it so hard?'
Gure looked up at him in concern, what was wrong? why wasn't he saying anything? "Tar-"
"GURE! I LOVE YOU!"
There! he finally said it! Well.. yelled it, but still! He finally told her how he felt!
Gure felt as if she was floating, had he really said it? she had to be sure! "you what?"
"I love you Grue," Tarble said again, his voice softer, " For five years, I've felt my heart burn with new feelings that only you can make me feel, and I want to keep it this way, forever until the end of time, with you right here beside me."
Tarble brought himself down on one knee, and took her hands, looking deep in her eyes with a strong, confident look, all his fear gone.
Gure could only hold her breath, if she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake up.
"Gure, will you marry me?"
Gure couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She gave a happy sob and leaped at him, wrapping her little arms around his neck. "Yes!" she choked out, "yes I will!"
Tarble smiled, and wrapped his arms tightly around her as well, holding her to his chest as close as he could to his heart.
************later*************************
They never left one anothers' arms at all that evening; Tarble had flown them over to their special place. Where he made himself comfortable as he sat down and leaned against boulder, and Gure sat on his lap and fell asleep against his chest.
Tarble continued to hold her against him with one arm, and stroked the back of her head with the other. Listening to her gentle breathing, and watch the sun as it slowly sank behind the horizon.
He never wanted to let her go. He wanted this moment to last forever, holding her, feeling her close. He wanted also wanted this feeling in his heart to get stronger and stronger with each second of each day. He wanted to love her with his whole entire self forever and for always.
And he vowed that he would do just that until the day he took his last breath.
Me-*sniff* aww that was so sweet…*wipes the mist away from my eyes* it makes me feel so warm inside.
Piccolo-A-hem! Now that your stupid chapter is done, GET THESE THINGS OFF!*violently jumps in the chair*
Me-*sigh* moment ruined.*swivels the chair around to look at him, folding one leg over the other* now you understand, right? When you left me tied to a chair, that was very mean.
Piccolo-well you can't say you didn't deserve it! But now you've had your payback, so tell me how to get these off!
Me-fine, you have to pour a bunch of tomato sauce on them.
Piccolo-...….seriously, how do you get these off.
Me-*folds hands over lap, smiling* oh but I am serious, Piccolo. Virtually indestructible you know, I had to find something that you'd never think use to free yourself from them. Tomato sauce will safely dissolve the ropes from you.
Piccolo-*bares teeth at me* you little punk! When I get out of these-
Me- believe me, you won't be back, ever. I added another safety measure. If you so much as touch that doorknob, you'll find yourself bathing in tomato sauce over and over and over again.
Piccolo-*growls and awkwardly stands up, tromps towards the door, and stands there*
Me-*mock concern* oh please piccolo, let me get that for you*gets up and slowly walks to the door, opening it for him.* it was nice having you over Piccolo, we'll have to do it again sometime.
Piccolo-*shoots me a dirty look and flies off without a word*
Me- Tata Piccolo!*waves good bye* I hope you have plenty of bleach to get the stains off of that pretty white cape of yours!
*Closes the door, leaning against it a takes out a list from back pocket*Step 1, executed and successful,* scribbles the pen over something on the paper*Step 2, will now commence*laughs evilly, twirling the pen between my fingers.* who ever knew revenge could feel so good?