Disclaimer: This story is in no way intended to infringe on any copyrights, It is a strictly a fan fiction. Dragon Ball, Dragonball Z, and Dragon Ball GT are owned/produced/merchandised by the following: TOEI Animation, Bird Studios, Akira Toriyama, Shonen Jump, Funimation, and others possibly not listed.

Warrior of Heart2
By The FanFiction Nymph

xxxxChapter 31xxxx
Family Outing

xxxx

Early morning light had just started to tickle her nose when Bulma opened one eye skeptical that it was time to get up. The sun had just barely graced the horizon. She groaned softly sitting back up in the chair to minimize her discomfort from the long night of not sleeping.

Rei lay asleep in her bed across the room, her teeth chattering slightly suggesting that she was still experiencing chills. Her lips were chapped up and her hair fell around her in a dull heap.

Bulma stood up and fixed the blankets on Rei as best she could. Before settling back down in her chair she stretched and popped the muscles that she could reach. She was debating how long Rei may sleep for and if she should send for a robot to fetch her morning dose of caffeine when a familiar shadow was cast from the balcony.

The glass door slid open to let Piccolo slip in side in a way that suggested mastered practice of the art. He leaned over the bed about to wake Rei when he heard "ShuuSH!"

Startled he turned to find Bulma.

She opened the door to the hall and motioned for him to join her.

"I've got to talk to you!" She hissed through tight teeth. It was amazing how she had forgotten how tall he was until she was cramped outside the door facing him. Piccolo's face was stone as he surveyed her. "Rei had …a bad night last night. She uh…well Cooler called her on that device on her neck and…I think she is suffering from some sort of addiction."

His eyes sharpened at Cooler's name, and he glowered at her in a way that made Bulma uncomfortable.

"Elaborate." Piccolo growled lowly exposing his fangs.

Bulma took a deep breath trying to gather her thoughts from the night. "Cooler will be here in less than 72 hours –"

"-about Rei."

"…She is not well. She is suffering from withdrawals due to lack of exposure to a substance called 'Ambrosia' which she is apparently addicted to."

"How do we cure her?"

"This is not something we can just give her medicine and make it better. Once you become addicted to something it is like your shadow – it will always be there. –But she can learn to live with it. There are some organizations that can help. I'll look them up."

"What does this mean for the child she carries?"

Bulma was slightly startled by his question. "I – I had not given it much thought but I suppose it would depend on the type of substance and addiction?"

"I doubt that Cooler would give her something that harms his child. It sounded like too much work to let it be harmed."

"…What do you mean it took too much work? It was intentional?" she said aghast.

"Rei said that this was the only one of the eggs that responded well to the fertilization." Piccolo tried to sound non concerned but disgust colored his tone.

"…And so all we have to say that it IS Rei's child is Cooler's word? And YOUR supposed to be the cleaver one of the group!" Bulma fumed before storming down the corridor.

xxxx

Time felt like a wet coffee filter; soggy, bitter and stinky. Each hour marked closer to Coolers arrival and that more time with her family had slipped by because of him.

Another part of Rei was secretly excited – elated – that she may see him again and that would mean her suffering for the exquisite taste would finally subside. This was the shadow side of herself that she was terrified of. Rei was offended and horrified that part of herself could feel such a way about her captor, but she felt so helpless against it.

Around her people smiled carelessly in the sunny day. Bulma had been told that the best thing to try and do was to keep busy to give Rei little time to think of her cravings. This is why the five of them were wandering about the local Zoo.

Trunks and Drum were in their prime rushing back and forth to different exhibits, pointing and laughing loudly. Bulma raced to keep the two in eyesight but eventually settled in a strolling pace, confident that the demi Sayians were more than able to fend off the advances of strangers with candy and hungry animals.

Piccolo stayed close to Rei's side adopting a very protective growl when people ventured to close to them. His scowling seemed to hold most people at bay; then again it also may have been his natural color, which put them off. The pair walked close together in an uncomfortable silence.

The Zoo animals were busy going about their daily business. The Buffalo pawed at the dirt and stamped their feet impatient for the sun to warm the ground. Small monkeys chirped as people passing dropped crumbs of food.

As they walked the chill air was all that reminded them to keep their jackets close. Rei tried to focus her attention on the furry creatures she faced, but somehow it was not capturing her. She longed to reach back into Piccolo and forget herself in his warmth.

There was nothing really stopping her. Rei sighed impatient with herself. Piccolo had did his part, he had apologized and done his best to show his support of her regardless of her condition.

They had not mentioned her addiction yet and it ate at her. She suspected that he knew. Rei was almost sure that Bulma must have filled him in. Too much had happened for things to go back to the way they had been instantly. She knew it – but she still wished for it with all her heart. In time they would mend…

Time seemed to be her constant enemy.

It was the guilt and the disgust with herself that kept her from reaching out to him. Rei did not feel like she deserved even the small piece of happiness he could offer her.

Perhaps Piccolo noticed or guessed her thoughts because when she started to move on to the next exhibit he pulled her hand gently back bringing her close to him.

Holding her hand he lead her away from the crowds to an open area decorated with small rocks. Piccolo picked her up and set her on one of the rocks so that they were closer to eye level with each other.

Rei shivered looking into his dark eyes and looked away.

"-I'm Sorry-." They simultaneously blurted out.

"Uh – you go first." Rei muttered nervously shifting her eyes back to him.

"Bulma said that you were taking care of something, but I – I should have gone after you when you were gone more than a few days. I am sorry I've failed you so often of late."

"What? No! It – there wasn't anything you could have – I mean it is best that you were here for Drum."

Piccolo did not look entirely convinced but a weight seemed to have been lifted in simply conveying to her his fault. Rei smiled nervously at him. His onyx eyes danced in reply.

"Your capacity to forgive me is remarkable." He whispered in a grave voice. Rei flushed feeling much stronger than a long while.

"There is nothing to forgive. All this wishing we had acted differently is un-suiting for warriors." He smirked at her and a wave of relief spread over her.

"Indeed."

Rei smiled and extended her hand "We are all good then? Shake on it?"

A devilish grin spread across his face as he put his hand in hers and pulled her against his chest pressing his mouth hungrily against hers.

He had taken her by surprise but relaxed into his familiar embrace like a warm bath. Rei let the thick scent of him fill her senses as the taste of their lips ran together. She ran her hand over his strong jaw line, marveling at the way he reawaken a part of her she had thought dead.

A throaty growl emanated from him as he broke their kiss. Feeling altogether dizzy Rei took several deep breaths to try and ground herself for fear of falling over.

"Ahem." Bulma pretended to clear her throat. "Would you mind going somewhere else? –You're scaring the animals."

Suddenly aware they had an audience the pair turned a purple shade of red. Rei glanced over at the pen closest to them and sure enough – the poor lemurs were all cowering like they had heard the roar of a fierce beast. She winced in embarrassment at the looks other zoo patrons sent their way.

Piccolo did not need further provocation and simply flew off with Rei in his arms.

xxxEnd Chapterxxx