( Author's Notes: Alright, you asked for it... and here it is. The second chapter. Man alive, I am SO sorry it took me SOOO long to get this chapter up! A nice long period of what... eight months? ~Gulp~ I was more pre-occupied with Dream Maker, so please forgive me. (And I DO recommend you read Dream Maker. it's one of my favorite stories to work on, AND it's TOTALLY sarcastic in some spots) ... also yes, blaming this on Dream Maker IS just a lame excuse. Fact is: I'M LAZY!!!! AND I have a lot of writer's block. ~Grins~ (Stuuuupid idiootic disclaimer) Oh yeah, and I dun not own DBZ or the characters in DBZ... or anything I may have spoofed in this story. Ah yes, and someone mentioned in a review that I didn't give the kid an INSTURMENTAL name. Well, I hafta tell you. I tried and tried to come up with a good name. But ya know, Tambourine was already taken in the Dragon Ball series and Piano too. (As if I'd ACTUALLY name him that) so what does that leave me with? "Flute"? "Keyboard"? CLARINET? NO thanks. ;) I searched all over the Japanese dictionary for a good instrument name in Jap., but couldn't find one I liked. so I went with Kumori, sense he was born on one stinkin' cloudy night. Good point though, I would have liked to carry on the whole musical thing... "chapter two should be up soon enough!" --- I stand corrected!! Yes, I'm sorry!! I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH!!!!!!!!! One more thing: As mentioned before in the recent chapters of Dream Maker (Of which I have regretfully not added many chapters as of late) I don't seem to have spell-check on this program, unlike the program I was using before... so if I do make a few (or more) spelling/grammer/etc. mistakes, I'm sorry... I try, but I'm not perfect!)
12-11-01
:::Small Warrior:::
Chapter Two: A Fast Learner
It was the next day, and the storm had finally passed. Gohan was still here. he had told me he'd help me deal with `Kumori' for a while, then go back home to an angry Chichi. I did NOT want his help, nor had I welcomed it. but I did sympathize in the thinking of going back to Chichi. Oh yes, that I could sympathize with just fine.
From what Gohan had told me, Kumori was actually being reasonable for a small child. I don't know what he was thinking though. because the little squirt was driving me NUTS.
"Well, maybe he's hungry!" Gohan said, acting slightly panicked. Kumori had taken to screaming once again.
"How should I know if he's hungry or not!? Just SHUT HIM UP!" I clutched my large delicate Namek ears in near pain.
"How!?"
"I DON'T KNOW!!!"
Things went on like that for a while, unfortunately. eventually we figured out that yes, he wanted some water. GIVING it to him was a whole other story though. I'd shove the canteen down his throat, then he'd COUGH it up. OVER AND OVER again. I was going crazy. I thought I'd actually GONE crazy for a while there.
Kumori finally stopped crying, and shut his small Namek eyes, though some-what large compared to the rest of his features.
Gohan had calmed down as well, and was just staring down at the sleepy guy with this huge grin on his face, then looked back up at me.
"He looks just like you, Piccolo."
I couldn't suppress a smile at that. He REALLY did look like me. which I found quite amazing. I had no idea why I had a child. I hadn't planned on it, and DEFINATLEY didn't want it. And as you could well imagine. Nameks don't exactly reproduce the same way Humans do. So this small green creature wrapped in my cape was nothing but wonder to me. I still didn't want it. goodness no, I don't need this kind of responsibility, and I'm sure this will cut into my training time. As I stared at Kumori he turned around, gripping my cape with his fairly chubby fingers. He almost looked like Dende. but definitely smaller, and some of the features were different.
"Yeah, I guess he does, Gohan." I nodded. I needed to break the silence. It's not me to dislike peace and quiet, but after all that yelling and screaming I felt a little obligated.
Gohan smiled and looked down at Kumori, then leaned back on my cave wall, looking quite relaxed. I myself was sitting cross-legged on the cave floor, with the wrapped up Kumori in my lap. I'd have to get used to that too, I suppose. What a pain.
"Ya know, Piccolo." Gohan began. "You should really. nah, never mind."
"WHAT is it, Gohan?" I didn't like it when he played these games, and I wasn't in the mood.
"Well." The fourteen year-old version of Goku scratched his head. "Maybe. maybe you should have a party for Kumori!" That actually caused me to look up.
"WHAT?"
"Um. you know, Mr. Piccolo, a party!"
"NO." Once again, my usual answer.
"Aaaaw, c'mon Mr. Piccolo!" He leaned back up to look at Kumori and I. "He's so CUTE, he DESERVES a party!"
"I said NO, Gohan. I mean it."
"But Mr. Piccolo."
"NO!"
Gohan just shut his mouth with a shrug and leaned back again. "Well. it's an idea anyway."
I grunted and closed my eyes.
"Hey Piccolo." Gohan started again. "What kind of outfit are you going to buy him?"
I had to suppress pure idiotic laughter, and faked it with a grunt. ""Buy"? Buying is for WOMEN." Gohan raised an eyebrow at that.
"Well. he's got to wear SOMETHING, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well WHAT?"
I sighed. "I'll give him an outfit like mine." Sure, why not?
Gohan looked happy enough with that answer and shut up again.
"Hey, Mr. Piccolo."
"WHAT?" Couldn't get him to shut up for more than two minutes.
"Can I hold him?"
"I don't care!" I shoved Kumori. well, HANDED him anyway, to Gohan as gently as I could. Immediately Kumori's eyes popped open and began to glance all over the place. Sure was a fast learner.
"Waa. waa. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Not AGAIN!
"Quick, quick, GIVE HIM BACK!" I panicked. Gohan gave him back and Kumori almost immediately quieted down when he saw me. Yeesh. why'd he do that?
". Looks like you're stuck with him." Gohan commented.
"What do you mean, "Stuck with him"?" I re-wrapped the cape around the small green figure, hardly even acknowledging Gohan's comment.
"Well, I guess he knows you're his mom. rr. dad. or. whatever, and it's going to be a while until you'll be able to leave him alone."
Those words sunk in like a brick on the water.
"Yeah. I'd say you're stuck with him."
I looked at Gohan with horror drenching my face. This kid would have to be EVERYWHERE I went. I'm not what you call a kid-adorer in most cases.
"Mr. Piccolo, you alright? You look a little pale." Gohan looked at me oddly as I just stared into empty space, while Kumori was actually starting to play with my heavy cape.
"Mr. Piccolo. earth to Piccolo. helloooooooo.?" Gohan waved a hand in front of my face. "Is anyone aliiiive???"
"CUT IT OUT!" I finally snapped out of it and snatched Gohan's hand away from my face.
"You alright, Piccolo?" Gohan looked worried.
"Fine, fine. just PEACHY." I felt like throwing up again. I'd always loved peace and quiet. solitude and training. just myself. I mean sure, it was nice to have Gohan around. but I like time with myself, too. This was one heavy brick sinking in.
::: TWO DAYS LATER :::
(Gohan)
"Hey Mr. Piccolo!" I spotted Piccolo and Kumori sitting under a tree, almost looking as if they were taking a nap. But I knew better than that. Piccolo doesn't really take naps I don't think. As if to prove me correct, Piccolo opened an eye to look at me.
"Hello Gohan." He said and carefully got up, as to not drop Kumori, whom was sitting in his lap. as usual. I just smiled goofily and ran on over.
"How's everything goin'? Has little Kumo here done anything extra cute?" I teased poor Piccolo. He didn't like it when I asked how cute Kumori is. especially sense the little fella looked just like him.
"I wouldn't know." Was his blunt reply. I'd expected that.
Piccolo had given Kumori a nice outfit that matched his own, minus the heavy cape. now Kumori REALLY looked like Piccolo. Well, a really really SMALL Piccolo, but still, you could tell they were related. Quite easily.
Then, to my pure emazement:
"... He's learning to crawl."
I smiled at Piccolo.
"Wow, already? Goodness he's a fast learner..." I really couldn't believe that Kumo was learning so fast. A NORMAL child would take a lot longer to do... well... ANYTHING.
"I think it's a Namek trait. I don't recall a lot of when I was small, weak and generally pathetic... but I survived. And he's growing faster, too." He said some-what off handedly. Well... if you could call ANYTHING Piccolo says off-handed. He'd always had a way of making everything sound... serious.
"So I see!" I remarked and studied the small Namek. "So... when are you going to tell the others about him?"
I could FEEL Piccolo's anger growing.
"He's not READY to go ANYWHERE Gohan! And don't you DARE tell anyone about this!"
"But Mr. Piccolo, you've got to show him to everyone EVENTUALLY. You can't just raise him solely around you and I out here in the middle of nowhere, right?"
"He's not ready, Gohan. For crying out loud... he's not even a week old!"
"Yeah, but Piccolo, you said yourself that he's growing faster than normal kids... I bet you're just being overly-protective. I mean it's only natural."
I don't think I'd EVER seen Piccolo more stressed out then in the last few days. And I could have sworn Piccolo was... what... BLUSHING!? No way! His face was probably just a bit discolored from frustration.
"I said he's not ready!!" He barked out and re-arranged Kumo in his arms.
"Okay, okay, sheesh! I won't tell..." I grimaced slightly while little Kumo woke up from all the noise. Piccolo frowned as well, in the knowledge that Kumori would probably be hungry... again.
However, to both Piccolo and my own amazement, he didn't cry. He simply blinked the sleep away from his eyes and stared at me. Man, was he cute... like a little green stuffed animal. Mom and Bulma would've LOVED to take care of the guy for a day. Buuuut, according to Piccolo, he wasn't going anywhere for a while.
(Piccolo)
Several weeks went by... and taking care of Kumori was becoming more and more challenging. He still seemed to be in the "Cry for Kami knows WHAT reason" stage, but now he knew how to walk. Not very well, but he knew how to get places. This posed quite a problem. And worse still - Kumori couldn't seem to understand what I was talking about when I'd tell him to stay away from something, or "NO". He clearly knew my voice, but never seemed to obey it. Gohan had suggested that it was probably because Kumo was still so young... and that made enough sense to me.
I was meditating for the time-being... arms and legs crossed, eyes closed: the works. It was rarely possible for me to now, with Kumori around. I always had to keep an eye on him.
Torture. That's what this was. Pure, honest and true: TORTURE.
I heard a twig snap and both my eyes popped open. "Kumori, NO!" He was wandering by a stream... why, oh WHY did I have to pick THIS spot to meditate? I should have known better than to go by any real amount of water... Kumori was always curious, I should have KNOWN!
And he, of course, did not stop. He simply looked at me blankly, turned back around to face the stream, kneeled down and....
I cought him. Seconds before he fell head-first into the large stream.
"Darn it, kid... when will you learn?" I snatched his collar and led him back over to where I was sitting moments before. "Now stay here!"
... Kumori did stay. For about ten seconds. But at least he wasn't by the water anymore... now he seemed to be much more entertained by the near-by bullfrog. Who would have ever thought that children would take so much maitenance...? I couldn't understand how female mothers could do it... or why some of them would actually WANT a small annoying version of themselves or their mate around. Or I suppose in some cases a 'blend' of the two. I wouldn't know... and I don't make it my business to know. I'd prefer to leave those matters in human hands.
Though right now I was much more conscerned by the fact that Kumori would NOT listen to me. Was it some stupid method I was using? Gohan had told me that by the time that most children could walk, they could start understanding some of the more simple words. True, Kumori had learned to walk far faster than any normal child, and perhaps he would learn slower and at a more normal rate than walking... but was that really it? I had absolutely no clue.
Question was: Would I EVER GET a clue?
In my history I did not spend a great deal of time with small children. Shoot, even when I started training Gohan, he was a toddler. At least he understood most words and phrases... could even count to a certain extent. THIS, on the other hand, was a whole other ball game. I was almost tempted to run to some motherly human just to get some ANSWERS.
.... ALMOST tempted, that is.
(Another Author's note: Ooohkie... I know, this is kinna short... but as mentioned QUITE FREQUENTLY before, I have a tendecy to do that. ^-^** Once again: SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!! Yes, I will probably still be sucking up to all of you throughout the entire story, and no, I don't entirely know where this story is going. I've had quite a few ideas, but no actual plan, whereas in that way: It's the opposite of Dream Maker. Buuuut, this one does however share quite a bit in common with "Ends and Begins." (Yes, new story, YAAAAY!! ... I should REALLY just work on one, but hey, the more variety of Piccolo, the better, am I right!??) Soooo, pleeeaaase review!! I love ya'll for reviewing me! CAUSE I LOVE REVIEWS! *Duh*. Heehee.)
12-11-01
:::Small Warrior:::
Chapter Two: A Fast Learner
It was the next day, and the storm had finally passed. Gohan was still here. he had told me he'd help me deal with `Kumori' for a while, then go back home to an angry Chichi. I did NOT want his help, nor had I welcomed it. but I did sympathize in the thinking of going back to Chichi. Oh yes, that I could sympathize with just fine.
From what Gohan had told me, Kumori was actually being reasonable for a small child. I don't know what he was thinking though. because the little squirt was driving me NUTS.
"Well, maybe he's hungry!" Gohan said, acting slightly panicked. Kumori had taken to screaming once again.
"How should I know if he's hungry or not!? Just SHUT HIM UP!" I clutched my large delicate Namek ears in near pain.
"How!?"
"I DON'T KNOW!!!"
Things went on like that for a while, unfortunately. eventually we figured out that yes, he wanted some water. GIVING it to him was a whole other story though. I'd shove the canteen down his throat, then he'd COUGH it up. OVER AND OVER again. I was going crazy. I thought I'd actually GONE crazy for a while there.
Kumori finally stopped crying, and shut his small Namek eyes, though some-what large compared to the rest of his features.
Gohan had calmed down as well, and was just staring down at the sleepy guy with this huge grin on his face, then looked back up at me.
"He looks just like you, Piccolo."
I couldn't suppress a smile at that. He REALLY did look like me. which I found quite amazing. I had no idea why I had a child. I hadn't planned on it, and DEFINATLEY didn't want it. And as you could well imagine. Nameks don't exactly reproduce the same way Humans do. So this small green creature wrapped in my cape was nothing but wonder to me. I still didn't want it. goodness no, I don't need this kind of responsibility, and I'm sure this will cut into my training time. As I stared at Kumori he turned around, gripping my cape with his fairly chubby fingers. He almost looked like Dende. but definitely smaller, and some of the features were different.
"Yeah, I guess he does, Gohan." I nodded. I needed to break the silence. It's not me to dislike peace and quiet, but after all that yelling and screaming I felt a little obligated.
Gohan smiled and looked down at Kumori, then leaned back on my cave wall, looking quite relaxed. I myself was sitting cross-legged on the cave floor, with the wrapped up Kumori in my lap. I'd have to get used to that too, I suppose. What a pain.
"Ya know, Piccolo." Gohan began. "You should really. nah, never mind."
"WHAT is it, Gohan?" I didn't like it when he played these games, and I wasn't in the mood.
"Well." The fourteen year-old version of Goku scratched his head. "Maybe. maybe you should have a party for Kumori!" That actually caused me to look up.
"WHAT?"
"Um. you know, Mr. Piccolo, a party!"
"NO." Once again, my usual answer.
"Aaaaw, c'mon Mr. Piccolo!" He leaned back up to look at Kumori and I. "He's so CUTE, he DESERVES a party!"
"I said NO, Gohan. I mean it."
"But Mr. Piccolo."
"NO!"
Gohan just shut his mouth with a shrug and leaned back again. "Well. it's an idea anyway."
I grunted and closed my eyes.
"Hey Piccolo." Gohan started again. "What kind of outfit are you going to buy him?"
I had to suppress pure idiotic laughter, and faked it with a grunt. ""Buy"? Buying is for WOMEN." Gohan raised an eyebrow at that.
"Well. he's got to wear SOMETHING, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well WHAT?"
I sighed. "I'll give him an outfit like mine." Sure, why not?
Gohan looked happy enough with that answer and shut up again.
"Hey, Mr. Piccolo."
"WHAT?" Couldn't get him to shut up for more than two minutes.
"Can I hold him?"
"I don't care!" I shoved Kumori. well, HANDED him anyway, to Gohan as gently as I could. Immediately Kumori's eyes popped open and began to glance all over the place. Sure was a fast learner.
"Waa. waa. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Not AGAIN!
"Quick, quick, GIVE HIM BACK!" I panicked. Gohan gave him back and Kumori almost immediately quieted down when he saw me. Yeesh. why'd he do that?
". Looks like you're stuck with him." Gohan commented.
"What do you mean, "Stuck with him"?" I re-wrapped the cape around the small green figure, hardly even acknowledging Gohan's comment.
"Well, I guess he knows you're his mom. rr. dad. or. whatever, and it's going to be a while until you'll be able to leave him alone."
Those words sunk in like a brick on the water.
"Yeah. I'd say you're stuck with him."
I looked at Gohan with horror drenching my face. This kid would have to be EVERYWHERE I went. I'm not what you call a kid-adorer in most cases.
"Mr. Piccolo, you alright? You look a little pale." Gohan looked at me oddly as I just stared into empty space, while Kumori was actually starting to play with my heavy cape.
"Mr. Piccolo. earth to Piccolo. helloooooooo.?" Gohan waved a hand in front of my face. "Is anyone aliiiive???"
"CUT IT OUT!" I finally snapped out of it and snatched Gohan's hand away from my face.
"You alright, Piccolo?" Gohan looked worried.
"Fine, fine. just PEACHY." I felt like throwing up again. I'd always loved peace and quiet. solitude and training. just myself. I mean sure, it was nice to have Gohan around. but I like time with myself, too. This was one heavy brick sinking in.
::: TWO DAYS LATER :::
(Gohan)
"Hey Mr. Piccolo!" I spotted Piccolo and Kumori sitting under a tree, almost looking as if they were taking a nap. But I knew better than that. Piccolo doesn't really take naps I don't think. As if to prove me correct, Piccolo opened an eye to look at me.
"Hello Gohan." He said and carefully got up, as to not drop Kumori, whom was sitting in his lap. as usual. I just smiled goofily and ran on over.
"How's everything goin'? Has little Kumo here done anything extra cute?" I teased poor Piccolo. He didn't like it when I asked how cute Kumori is. especially sense the little fella looked just like him.
"I wouldn't know." Was his blunt reply. I'd expected that.
Piccolo had given Kumori a nice outfit that matched his own, minus the heavy cape. now Kumori REALLY looked like Piccolo. Well, a really really SMALL Piccolo, but still, you could tell they were related. Quite easily.
Then, to my pure emazement:
"... He's learning to crawl."
I smiled at Piccolo.
"Wow, already? Goodness he's a fast learner..." I really couldn't believe that Kumo was learning so fast. A NORMAL child would take a lot longer to do... well... ANYTHING.
"I think it's a Namek trait. I don't recall a lot of when I was small, weak and generally pathetic... but I survived. And he's growing faster, too." He said some-what off handedly. Well... if you could call ANYTHING Piccolo says off-handed. He'd always had a way of making everything sound... serious.
"So I see!" I remarked and studied the small Namek. "So... when are you going to tell the others about him?"
I could FEEL Piccolo's anger growing.
"He's not READY to go ANYWHERE Gohan! And don't you DARE tell anyone about this!"
"But Mr. Piccolo, you've got to show him to everyone EVENTUALLY. You can't just raise him solely around you and I out here in the middle of nowhere, right?"
"He's not ready, Gohan. For crying out loud... he's not even a week old!"
"Yeah, but Piccolo, you said yourself that he's growing faster than normal kids... I bet you're just being overly-protective. I mean it's only natural."
I don't think I'd EVER seen Piccolo more stressed out then in the last few days. And I could have sworn Piccolo was... what... BLUSHING!? No way! His face was probably just a bit discolored from frustration.
"I said he's not ready!!" He barked out and re-arranged Kumo in his arms.
"Okay, okay, sheesh! I won't tell..." I grimaced slightly while little Kumo woke up from all the noise. Piccolo frowned as well, in the knowledge that Kumori would probably be hungry... again.
However, to both Piccolo and my own amazement, he didn't cry. He simply blinked the sleep away from his eyes and stared at me. Man, was he cute... like a little green stuffed animal. Mom and Bulma would've LOVED to take care of the guy for a day. Buuuut, according to Piccolo, he wasn't going anywhere for a while.
(Piccolo)
Several weeks went by... and taking care of Kumori was becoming more and more challenging. He still seemed to be in the "Cry for Kami knows WHAT reason" stage, but now he knew how to walk. Not very well, but he knew how to get places. This posed quite a problem. And worse still - Kumori couldn't seem to understand what I was talking about when I'd tell him to stay away from something, or "NO". He clearly knew my voice, but never seemed to obey it. Gohan had suggested that it was probably because Kumo was still so young... and that made enough sense to me.
I was meditating for the time-being... arms and legs crossed, eyes closed: the works. It was rarely possible for me to now, with Kumori around. I always had to keep an eye on him.
Torture. That's what this was. Pure, honest and true: TORTURE.
I heard a twig snap and both my eyes popped open. "Kumori, NO!" He was wandering by a stream... why, oh WHY did I have to pick THIS spot to meditate? I should have known better than to go by any real amount of water... Kumori was always curious, I should have KNOWN!
And he, of course, did not stop. He simply looked at me blankly, turned back around to face the stream, kneeled down and....
I cought him. Seconds before he fell head-first into the large stream.
"Darn it, kid... when will you learn?" I snatched his collar and led him back over to where I was sitting moments before. "Now stay here!"
... Kumori did stay. For about ten seconds. But at least he wasn't by the water anymore... now he seemed to be much more entertained by the near-by bullfrog. Who would have ever thought that children would take so much maitenance...? I couldn't understand how female mothers could do it... or why some of them would actually WANT a small annoying version of themselves or their mate around. Or I suppose in some cases a 'blend' of the two. I wouldn't know... and I don't make it my business to know. I'd prefer to leave those matters in human hands.
Though right now I was much more conscerned by the fact that Kumori would NOT listen to me. Was it some stupid method I was using? Gohan had told me that by the time that most children could walk, they could start understanding some of the more simple words. True, Kumori had learned to walk far faster than any normal child, and perhaps he would learn slower and at a more normal rate than walking... but was that really it? I had absolutely no clue.
Question was: Would I EVER GET a clue?
In my history I did not spend a great deal of time with small children. Shoot, even when I started training Gohan, he was a toddler. At least he understood most words and phrases... could even count to a certain extent. THIS, on the other hand, was a whole other ball game. I was almost tempted to run to some motherly human just to get some ANSWERS.
.... ALMOST tempted, that is.
(Another Author's note: Ooohkie... I know, this is kinna short... but as mentioned QUITE FREQUENTLY before, I have a tendecy to do that. ^-^** Once again: SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!! Yes, I will probably still be sucking up to all of you throughout the entire story, and no, I don't entirely know where this story is going. I've had quite a few ideas, but no actual plan, whereas in that way: It's the opposite of Dream Maker. Buuuut, this one does however share quite a bit in common with "Ends and Begins." (Yes, new story, YAAAAY!! ... I should REALLY just work on one, but hey, the more variety of Piccolo, the better, am I right!??) Soooo, pleeeaaase review!! I love ya'll for reviewing me! CAUSE I LOVE REVIEWS! *Duh*. Heehee.)