My DBZ Adventure—Part 9
A/N: By now I think you know what I'm gonna say. And if you don't...then I think you're a little dense. But that's okay, because I'm really dense! Just please review, k? I love getting good reviews. They make me really happy! Thank you so much to the people who do review. You know who you are. Thanx again! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Is this absolutely necessary? I think we all know what I do and don't own. And whoever does own it is one lucky guy. That certainly isn't me. (I'm not a guy, for one. ^-^) Anyway, on with the story...
"Bye, Jo!" we called, watching her until she was out of sight.
"We should be going, too, Gohan," Krillin said. Rose nodded. "Let me know when Goku gets back, okay?"
"All right, Krillin," Gohan said. "We'll see you later."
"Nice meeting you, girls," Krillin said, taking to the air. Kat and Cassie waved.
"Who are we taking?" Rose asked. Krillin sweat-dropped. Cassie raised her hand and stepped forward. "Okay. Krillin?" Rose looked up at him and he came down to pick Cassie up. Then all three took to the air.
"Bye, Rose! Bye, Cassie!" I called. Rose turned, waved, and continued flying. Kat and I watched until they were out of sight. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
"Sure," Gohan and Kat replied. Then they followed me into the house.
"So, what do you do all day?" Kat asked.
"Train," Gohan and I replied.
Kat smiled. "Right."
"Are you hungry, Kat?" Gohan asked.
"No, but thanks."
"Okay. I'll be in my room if you need me." Then he walked off.
"Jess, this is amazing!" Kat exclaimed. "We're actually here! It finally happened!"
I smiled. "I know, Kat. But...how are we gonna get back home? And if we do, how do we explain where we've been?"
"I don't know, Jess. But I don't think we'll be going back too soon. I think the portal only opens when someone walks by close enough."
"I don't know. People had been walking by closer than me and they didn't even seem to notice it. Maybe it's just certain people. But what makes us so special?"
Kat shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe we'll figure it out once we've been here for a while."
"Maybe. Well, let's get you situated so you can have someplace to sleep."
"But...Chichi didn't even say I could. She doesn't even know I'm here!"
"Don't worry about it. This is Goku we're talking about here. You know he'll say yes and he has a big influence over Chichi. Of course they're gonna say yes."
"That sounds so weird. And I can't believe you know Krillin and 18 and Piccolo and Chichi and Gohan—" She gasped for breath. "—And Trunks! It's a dream come true."
"Kat! Breath, girl! I know. But Piccolo...you have to get used to him. He's very tough to get along with."
"I guessed that, Jess. But I have to try. He's the best character on the show and my favorite. I have to try to at least be friends with him."
"I know, and I'm not saying not to. Go for it! The Namek needs friends. I'm afraid he doesn't know how to make them, let alone keep them. Maybe between you, me and Gohan, we can teach him."
"I really hope so."
"You know, underneath that tough exterior, he has a heart of gold. He may act all tough, but on the inside I don't think he's as tough as he wants us to think he is."
"I know, but what made you think that?" To answer her question, I told her what he did when Gohan almost broke my nose. She just stared at me when I was done. "He really did that?"
"Yeah. I know it's a little hard to believe, but he did. It was nice to know he cared, though. Sometimes it's hard to tell, but I think he does." Kat nodded, agreeing with me.
"I can't wait until I get to see him again," Kat said dreamily.
"You will, relax! We should talk to Gohan and see where you'll be staying.
"All right, but I'm still not so sure. I mean, Chichi already has one stranger living in her home, I don't think she needs another one."
"Look, everything will be fine, Kat. Trust me."
Kat nodded and followed me to Gohan's room where I knocked on the door. "Gohan?"
"Come in," he said from inside. I opened the door and walked in with Kat.
Before I got a chance to ask him about Kat, something caught my eye outside Gohan's window. "Piccolo!" I said happily. Kat gasped behind me. Gohan smiled and went outside to meet him. Kat and I followed.
"Hi, Piccolo," Gohan greeted happily.
"Gohan, what happened to training every day?" he asked gruffly.
"Something came up," Gohan said.
"Piccolo, this is the girl you saved earlier," I said. "Her name is Kat." Kat stepped forward. Piccolo nodded in acknowledgment.
"Gohan, I'll meet you where we were yesterday for training."
"All right. But I have to change. Mom will kill me if something happens to this outfit." Piccolo smiled slightly as he watched him leave.
Kat turned to Piccolo. "May I come?"
"Training is not a spectator sport...but I suppose you can." Kat smiled. "But only this once. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Piccolo?" I asked.
"What is it?"
I turned my back on Kat so she couldn't hear what I was saying to him. "I just wanted to say thank you for saving Kat earlier today. She's like a sister to me and I don' know what I'd do without her. Thank you."
"Don't get all sentimental on me, kid. I did what I had to do. I'll meet you at the waterfall." With that he flew off.
"Are you ready?" Gohan asked, reappearing. We nodded. "Good." Gohan picked Kat up and flew after Piccolo while I followed close behind.
"What's training with Piccolo like?" Kat asked as we flew.
Gohan and I looked at each other. "Well, I really haven't been training with him long enough to really answer that question. But from what I've seen he's...a little rough," I told her.
"He is, but that's what makes him such a good teacher," Gohan said. "He works you to your best ability to bring out the best in you. He pushes and pushes, brining out some abilities you never thought you had. As Jess said earlier, look at what he did for me! If he can't bring out the best in you I don't know who can."
I smiled. "That's why I asked him. And between him and you, Gohan, I don't think I can lose."
Gohan blushed. "I wouldn't go that far."
"Are you kidding? She idolizes you!" Kat whispered. "She keeps talking about you back home. She wants to be just like you."
"She does?"
Kat nodded. "Oh yeah. She started the martial arts because of you. You inspired her to do her best at something she never thought she could do. She saw you working so hard and she thought she could do it, too."
"Wow. I never knew my life impacted other peoples' lives."
"Of course it does! Gohan, so many people love and care about you," I said.
"Yeah, and idolize," Kat quipped. I blushed and Gohan laughed.
"Hey, there's Piccolo!" I said, pointing to a figure hovering above the water.
Kat sighed as she looked at him. "He looks the same as in the show," she said dreamily.
"Kat, get a grip," I said. "And if I were you, I'd keep my voice down. His ears do more than shape his face."
Kat smiled. "That sounds familiar," she said. I winked at her.
Gohan decided not to ask and landed on the bank next to Piccolo. I lande next to him.
"Took you long enough," Piccolo said, standing up. I held my tongue. "Gohan, you work with Jessie." He looked at Kat. "I'll work with her."
Kat sucked in her breath. She looked back at me as she followed Piccolo. I gave her a reassuring smile. I watched her as she walked out of sight.
"Are you ready?" Gohan asked. I nodded and turned to face him. "Good. We're still working on defense, so let's warm up, okay?"
"All right." We sat on the ground and stretched. "Gohan, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you have a telepathic bond with Piccolo?"
"Yes, why?"
"That must be nice. I wish I had that kind of bond with someone."
"It takes a little while to develop," Gohan said. "But not too long."
"Bet it's useful in battle." Gohan nodded. "Especially with Dr. Gero in the canyon."
"You know about that, too?"
I smiled. "Yup. I told you, I know a lot about you guys. And I'm glad I do or else I wouldn't have met you."
Gohan smiled back at me. "I'm glad you came," he said softly.
I blushed. "Thank you."
"Are you ready?" he asked, standing.
"Yes." I stood up next to him and got into a defensive stance. "Teach me."
Gohan and I sparred for hours, him teaching me everything he knew. (Of course, that was gonna take a while.) By the time we were nearing the end of our match, it was dark. I was so engrossed with fighting Gohan, I didn't notice two figures floating above us.
All my concentration was on fighting Gohan, blocking all his attacks. I ignored all else around me. Well, until I heard Kat call to me.
"Go, Jess!" she called.
Startled, I looked up. I smiled when I saw her. But because I wasn't paying attention, Gohan got a punch in connecting to my stomach, knocking me to the ground.
Kat grimaced. "Sorry, Jess."
I waved from where I laid on the ground, catching my breath. "It's okay," I panted. I watched Gohan walk over to me and hold out his hand. I took it and, in the process of being pulled to my feet, I pulled Gohan to the ground. Everyone laughed. Well, Piccolo just smiled, but that's better than nothing I guess.
"Let's go home," Gohan said, getting up and going next to Piccolo in the air.
"All right." I jumped into the air and went next to Kat. "How was Piccolo?" I asked as he flew ahead with Gohan.
Kat sighed. "Everything I'd ever hoped for. He's the same as in the show! Perfection!" Her voice got high and tight.
I smiled. "I thought you'd like him. He's a good teacher, isn't he?"
"The best."
Up ahead I thought I saw Piccolo smile, if only to himself, and I smiled with him. Then I looked at Gohan, next to Piccolo, and wondered again if it was only a dream.