Family and friends
Later on that evening,
Salla got out from the shower and went over to the bed, wrapped in a towel. She untied her hair and reached for the comb on the side table. Her lover was laying in bed, wearing only boxers. He had one arm behind his head and the other over his chest. The tall Namek followed the young lady with his eyes, then slowly moved them to the ceiling.
Salla sighed and shook her head with eyes closed. She seemed frustrated and worried.
"We need to tell them about us, Piccolo-Kun." Salla said as she brushed her hair. "This is really getting tense."
The young lady then placed the brush down firmly and went into the closet. Piccolo sighed and closed his eyes. Salla rushed as she put on clothing. The princess then went over to the bed, crossed her arms and looked down at the Namekian warrior. She breathed out gently and then laid next to him. Salla snuggled on top of his shoulder, taking his arm and wrapping it around her. Piccolo frowned slightly and darted his eyes downward.
She noticed his worried expression and then supported herself on to her elbow. Piccolo put his other arm under his head, as he lifted his other forearm on her shoulder's. He relaxed his face and sighed.
"Salla... I wanted to wait a bit longer until the place was finished. I not only wished to let everyone know that I love you, but to show your father's and brother's that I can provide for you." Piccolo said as he blinked and looked upward.
Salla looked at him with amazement. She then lowered her head as the words he said flowed around her heart like warm, rushing water.
"...Piccolo..." She sighed.
"What kind of man cannot provide for the woman he loves?" He said in a low voice. The Namek warrior then blinked and looked downward.
Salla closed her eyes and embraced him.
"This was you're project... I'll support any positive thing you endeavor in. As long as I am with you, it will be alright." Salla said in a warm voice.
Piccolo turned his head to her with a agape mouth. Salla looked at Piccolo through the tops of her eyes. He placed his hand on her shoulder and lifted her face toward his.
"But you are right, we shouldn't keep this from you're family." Piccolo replied.
"Let's wait a few more months then. Just after these Earth holidays. Everyone seems busy." Salla noted.
Piccolo nodded his head and then embraced her. Salla sunk into his chest and closed her eyes.
That night, Salla sat up in bed, heavy laden with his words. She watched the man that she loved as he slept and thought of their future. The young lady suddenly started to become dizzy and cough.
"Oh great... I must of caught a cold laying down on that dusty island. I need to rest... But still... *hmph*." Salla said to herself. She laid down and willed herself to sleep.
A few days later at the lookout,
Salla seemed a bit more sick. Piccolo started to become concerned and asked Dende to heal her.
"Wow, that feels great Dende. Thank you very much!" Salla smiled.
"*Hmph*, I suppose that's the only thing I can do... I mean the least I can do." Dende said coldly.
Salla and Piccolo looked at Dende with concern. Salla then lowered her head and crossed her arms. She sighed as Dende turned away from the both of them.
"Piccolo... Please get the rest of you're belongings from the subterranean house. I need to talk to Dende... Alone." Salla told Piccolo.
"Hmm... Well, o.k. I trust you." Piccolo replied. He then crossed his arms and lowered his head.
"So everyone needs you're permission to do anything?" Dende snapped.
"Piccolo... Please... It will be fine..." Salla said.
Piccolo and Dende looked at one another intensely. The tall Namek then turned away sharply with tightened fists. His cape flowed like churning waves as the Namekian Warrior went downstairs. Dende shook his head and body lightly. He then turned away from Salla. Salla crossed her arms and sighed. Dende walked a few steps away from her and then slammed his staff on to the ground.
"Dende... I do not want to assume anything... But... It seems that you have been bothered by Piccolo and I being with one another." Salla noted.
"Piccolo is such a lucky devil, isn't he?" Dende said in a low voice.
"What... What do you mean by that?" Salla asked.
Dende quickly turned to Salla and looked at her with frustration. He breathed in deeply, puffing up his chest.
"How can you say that...? HOW?!" The guardian yelled.
"Well, Dende-" Salla begun.
"First he was born of the purest evil. His father was known as the 'Demon King'! Piccolo was suppose to be the embodiment and reincarnation of him! Then, he kidnaps Gohan a few times and everyone forgets about it. Goku call's him his 'Tall younger brother', Gohan, his 'Big Green Uncle', then you literally float down from heaven and... And, FALL-IN-LOVE-WITH-HIM!" Dende yelled.
"Dende, please..." Salla cried. She laced her fingers together and looked at the frustrated guardian pace back and forth. He then stopped and looked at Salla with tears in his eyes.
"Dende... I realize that alot of things have happened. But it is for the better... We are all friends now..." Salla said lovingly.
"My brother... He gave Piccolo his body to defeat Frieza... And he could-not-even-do-that... DAMMIT!" Dende cried.
Salla went over to him and placed her hands on his shoulder's. He turned away from her and supported himself on his tall wooden staff. Dende's body trembled as the feeling of Salla's warmth and concern mixed in with his negative energy. She rubbed his shoulder's and placed her head on his.
"...*Sniffle*... I... I just feel... If I was the one to do all of that... Then I would of been condemned and shunned. It is as if everyone is alright with what happened... Lucky... Fucking... Piccolo..." Dende said in a emotional, trembling voice.
"No one is excusing the past, Dende... It is stronger for someone to over come it and use it to make a better future. We have all done bad things... And some worse than others... Far worse... But, we are trying our best to work and be with one another, peacefully, so that the errors and wrong of the elder days are not repeated. Please join us in that... And as a friend... I will help you..." Said Salla with calm and comfort.
Dende paused as he looked down at his tears dropping to the ground. He contemplated the young lady's words and then nodded his head. The guardian then stood straight and sighed. He rolled his head back and looked up at the morning sky. Dende breathed in and out of his agape mouth, then closed his eyes.
Salla rubbed his shoulders then lowered her hands. She then laced her fingers together and sighed.
"Some Kami I turned out to be, huh? *Hmph*, Getting all emotional..." Dende said as he heavily dropped his head.
"You would not be worth being the guardian of this planet, if you lacked emotions..." Salla retorted.
"...That's... That's not really what I meant..." Dende replied.
"...Oh... Then what is it?" Salla asked as she walked in front of him.
Dende opened his eyes slowly. He looked at her through the tops of his eyes with great intensity. Salla paused and was taken a back by his body language. She stepped back and looked at him with caution.
"...Dende..." Salla said in a low voice.
Dende stood straight and looked down at the nervous young lady. Salla gulped and stepped back as he stepped close to her. She searched his face for emotion, but it was frozen and stoic. Dende stood close to Salla, then lifted his free hand to the side of her face. The young lady widened her eyes in frozen shock as the guardian brushed her hair with the ends of his fingers. Dende swallowed and blinked rapidly. He then turned his head away and breathed out as his hand dropped to his side, heavily.
"...He's so... Very... Lucky..." Dende said as he rushed past her.
Salla laced her finger's together and raised them to her mouth. The young lady sniffled and sighed quickly. She then blinked, releasing tears and breathed out warm, congested air. Her eyes darted to the side as she blinked again with more tears dropping from her eyes.