Body Love Potion #9

4: It Works on Animals, Too

Piccolo sat in the middle of nowhere, meditating, trying to cleanse himself of the night's happenings. He was a Namek. He didn't go on dates. He didn't like romance. And he didn't kiss!

He jolted as something landed in his lap. Glancing down, Piccolo saw some sort of furry creature sitting on his lap. It looked back up at him.

"What?" Piccolo snarled.

He sweat-dropped as the creature began to rub itself against his belly. With a cry, Piccolo straightened his legs and the creature fell to the ground.

It landed near a bore which was circling beneath Piccolo making strange noises. When Piccolo looked at it, it rolled on its back and waved its legs in the air. It was female. The furry creature had been too.

Piccolo was beginning to work out what was going on. And he didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. He decided to get the Hell outta there.

Not watching where he was flying, Piccolo flew straight into a bird of some sort. It looked at him in the most bizarre way.

A horrified scream filled the night.

* * * * * *

"......Sing us a song, you're the Piano Man! Sing us a song, tonight......"

Goten ripped his clock-radio from the wall and threw it out the window - which was, unfortunately, closed.

"Take that, Billy Joel," he mumbled, still asleep for the most part.

Goten was about to go back to sleep, but his stomach growled loudly, noticing the delicious smells wafting up from the kitchen. Goten grumbled, but climbed out of bed and walked toward the kitchen.

As he walked passed the front door, someone knocked on it.

"I'll get it!" Goten called. He opened the door to Piccolo, who had definitely seen better days. He was breathing heavily. He had lost his cape and turban. His underclothes were in tatters and he was only wearing one shoe.

Goten was expecting Piccolo to warn about a new and dangerous enemy that had given him a severe beating. But instead, Piccolo simply groaned: "It works on animals, too."

All Goten could do was laugh. Piccolo, one of the strongest fighters in the universe, had been beaten up by a bunch of love-sick animals.

"Oh, man. Sorry, Picc......." Goten was cut off, as Piccolo clamped his hand over the demi-Sayain's mouth.

"Don't say my name!" Piccolo hissed. "You live with three women. Now listen, you're all going to Capsule Corp. again today, right?" Goten nodded. "Good. Do you know if Trunks has an antidote yet?" Goten shook his head. "Damn. Well, you guys can work on it today. I'm gonna come to Capsule Corp. too, but I think I'll hide in Bulma's lab." Piccolo released Goten. "Ummm....one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Could I borrow some of your clothes?"

Goten smiled. "Sure. I'll get you some once I've had breakfast. You can go and hide in my room, if you want."

A look of relief crossed Piccolo's face. He made his way to the bedrooms, but suddenly realised he didn't know which one was Goten's. He turned back to ask, but Goten had gone. Piccolo couldn't risk going to the kitchen - ChiChi was there, maybe Videl and Pan too - so he chose a door and went in.

Once inside, Piccolo had a bad feeling. Maybe it was the neatness, or the fact that there was an orange bandana on the bedside table. Something told him this wasn't Goten's room.

Piccolo jumped as the door shut. He turned around to see Pan in front of the closed bedroom door, beaming.

"Oh, Piccolo. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist!" Pan advanced.

"Uh....." Piccolo's eyes darted around as he searched for an escape route. The window was pretty much next to the door, and Piccolo knew Pan would jump him before he reached either. So Piccolo did the only thing humanly - or should I say, Namekly - possible.

"AHHHHH!!! HELP ME!!!"

Pan chased Piccolo around her room. "Ooo! I love a man who plays hard to get! Hell, I just love a man who plays hard in general."

"I'm not hearing this! I'm not hearing this!"

"What's going on!?!" demanded a voice.

Both Pan and Piccolo stopped to see Gohan standing in the doorway, waiting for an explanation.

"Dad, I.....ah....." Pan stammered. "I just came in, and Piccolo was here...."

"Gohan, I can explain!" Piccolo begged.

Gohan smirked. He had never seen his teacher look so pathetic. "Don't worry about it, Piccolo-san. Pan. Kitchen. Now."

"But, Dad....."

"Now!"

Pan rushed to the kitchen without further complaint. Once she was gone, Piccolo collapsed on Gohan's shoulder and started........sobbing?

"Oh, thank you, Gohan."

"Uh....it's fine, sir." Gohan didn't know what to do. He had never seen Piccolo cry. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Ummm......forgive me for asking, but what were you doing in here, anyway?"

"Looking for Goten's room. He said he'd lend me some clothes."

"Oh, right. Goten's room is the one across from here. Go and hide in there. I won't tell any of the women where you are."

"Thanks." Piccolo moped over to the opposite room, shutting the door behind him. Noting that there was an adjoining bathroom, Piccolo locked himself in the shower.

Gohan, meanwhile, had called Goten aside and explained what had occurred. Goten excused himself from the breakfast table - after only 17 pancakes! - and dashed to his room.

He banged on the bathroom door. "Piccolo? It's Goten. Are you in there?"

Piccolo opened the door and stepped out. He looked downright miserable. He had looked pretty bad when he arrived, and the encounter with Pan hadn't helped much.

"Uh....just let me take a shower. Then I'll grab you some clothes. You can lock the door if you want."

Piccolo obviously wanted to, and did so. Goten quickly had his shower. He didn't want to leave Piccolo alone for too long. Did Nameks get suicidal? Goten wasn't sure, and he wasn't about to find out.

Goten stepped out of the bathroom. Piccolo was sitting on the bed, a towel wrapped around his waist, looking at his feet. He looked a little better than before.

Goten dressed, and found some clothes that he hoped would fit Piccolo. "Here are some things, Piccolo. You know how to put them on?"

"Yah. I had to borrow some clothes off your dad once." Piccolo replied, pulling on the shorts.

"Really?"

"Your mum ordered us to get our driving licenses. Wasn't THAT fun."

"Oh, I think Dad told me about that. Hehe." Goten glanced at Piccolo as the Namek pulled a T-shirt over his head. "Hey, Piccolo. When Bra kissed you last night, she had her tongue in your mouth, huh?"

"Are you kidding?" Piccolo's head popped out of the shirt. "If it was a trained doctor, her tongue could've removed my tonsils and adenoids in that one kiss."

Goten laughed. At least Piccolo was feeling better. He was making jokes - that'd have to be a good sign.

"Hey, if you want me to, I'll come with you to Trunks' place now." Goten offered. "The rest of my family will be leaving later. Maybe I can help you fight off your admirers."

"Sure. Thanks." Piccolo smiled. He was starting to have a good feeling about today.

"Okay. You wait outside. I'll just be a sec." Goten let Piccolo climb out the window, then ran back to the kitchen.

"Hey, Mum! Trunks wanted to see me early today, so we're gonna leave now." Goten didn't notice his mistake, but ChiChi did.

"Oh, okay. But who's 'we'?" She raised an eyebrow.

Goten's face went blank, but his mind raced well, as fast as it could. Then he saw his only hope. In a flash, Goten grabbed something from the corner.

"Me and Boris, of course!"

"Boris?"

"Yeah, Boris. My pet spider. If Gohan could have a dragon, then I should be able to have a spider." Goten opened his hand to reveal the small, black arachnid he'd grabbed from the wall.

"YE-ARGH!" screeched ChiChi. "Get it away!"

"Oh, alright. Bye." Goten raced out the front door, where he released 'Boris'. "Thanks, little buddy. I owe you one."

"Goten!" called Piccolo. He swatted at a bird that was circling him. "Can we go now? Please!"

Goten grinned, and nodded. Namek and half-Saiyan flew to Capsule Corp.

Piccolo's troubles are getting worse! Now he has to deal with animals too! And he's getting impatient for an antidote. Will Trunks and Goten be able to make one in time? Find out in part 5: Cured At Last.