A/N: (You can skip this if you TRULY feel the need) Alright, so some of you loyal readers may be thinking something right now... and I can imagine what it is.
'Did I MISS something here?'
The answer is, inevitably, yes. The truth is, I hated the first chapter of Dream Maker. So I decided to replace it. The first chapter was... 1: Poorly written, 2: Formatted in a juvenile fashion, and 3: Poorly written. Did I mention poorly written...? It was poorly written. So, if you want to read the original chapter one... TOUGH DARTS!!! I loathed it! I hope the updated version will be more sufficient to my annoying and petty wanna-be author perfectionist ways. ^_^ Oh, and by the way, all chapters past this one I plan to keep original. If I do change them, I'll let you know!
Oh, and as for time-line? I suppose right before the Androids... but then again, that would make Goku on another planet, so this may as well be Alternate Universe. So... Gohan is somewhere between the age of 11 and 14, which would make Piccolo about 20, 25. Also, THIS IS NOT YAOI. IT IS ALSO NOT LEMON, OR SLASH, OR ANYTHING PERVERTED. Fear not, I'm a pretty clean writer. That's all. (yay!)
Disclaimer: I never have, and never WILL own Dragon Ball Z... however, I DO own the mysterious character who appears in this chapter, and I own all original characters past this point. I possess no rights whatsoever to DBZ, Piccolo, Gohan, Goku, ChiChi, blah blah blah... I also do not own the original idea of a disclaimer. And I am... grateful for that. I for one do not want to be blind-folded, gagged, and tied to a road-cone by angry fanfiction writers. Because, you know, some people REALLY hate disclaimers. However they CAN be a fun outlet to ramble!! Ever seen someone ramble on a disclaimer? It's pretty amusing, really. Man, I wish I had the nerve to do it myself. Hey, that reminds me! There was this one time where...
()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ());^. (Piccolo's winking at you!! Teehee!)
Dream Maker
Chapter 1: A Slumbering Weakling
Finish Date: The original was made around April of 2001... however THIS chapter was finished September 17th, 2002. Large gap that is... I feel somehow inspired to throw confetti.
Made By: Kittioto
(Piccolo)
I opened my eyes slowly, and swiftly came out of my meditating position. As I did so, I stretched out my arms and legs in the slightest. It had been a while since I'd bothered to open my eyes and get up.
However. Today... today was different. Today I would see Gohan.
It really had been a long time... since I'd seen Gohan, I mean. And it may not seem like a huge deal to most people, but the boy really did mean something to me. Almost as if I was the boy's real father. After all... I seemed to spend more time with him. Feh. Goku had spent so many years in the next dimension, it's a miracle he came back at ALL.
But still... he had come back. And who was I to step between a boy and his father? I can't say I'd ever know what it felt like to have a father of my own, but I understand the relationship nonetheless. Gohan has meant more to me than I could ever feel to protect myself... and that, as I can imagine, is closer than MOST beings become. Closer than I would prefer. It was Gohan who took me away from a sort of enraged silence... a silence I could NEVER describe with words. A terrifying, blood-curdling silence that only my original self, "King" Piccolo, could pass on. And I was thankful to be taken away from that silence. But it also came with a horrible price.
Need.
Need? Yes. Need. Life seemed so much more simple when all that would satisfy me was to blow up a building. Now... what exactly, did I need? It sounds petty, insecure, and generally foolish... but I needed Gohan. Or, at least, someone LIKE Gohan. Someone to keep me away from my silence, and not remind me of it. Even though I could never return to my former way of life... it's almost tempting to imagine it. Just so I wouldn't have to suffer through connections... petty, human, mushy connections. HAH.
And still, it had been so long since I'd seen Gohan. And so... SO very long that the thought of a returning silence haunted me.
"Today will be different..." I muttered to myself, bitter anticipation dripping from my deep vocals.
"Today I will NOT be reminded, my boy."
Will a continuously bitter smirk, I leaped off from the dirt-tainted rock I'd been standing on, and headed on my way to the Son residence, where Gohan had FINALLY invited me to go to for a sparring session.
-~-~-~-~-~
(_____)
*Wha... what's going on...?*
My eyes rolled up inside my head.
*Where am I?*
A thousand levels of pain swept through my forehead, like a tidal wave of confusion, frustration, and numbing mortality.
*... Something is wrong... where is mother? Where is father? Aren't they coming for me...?*
Another tidal wave, this one in my eyes. My eyes stung. Why did my eyes sting...?
*What did I do...? Why am I hurt...? ... AM I hurt? I think I'm hurt... ... why can't I move? I can't move!! No... don't panic... open your eyes, you fool!*
Dark. Nothing but dark.
*I said open your eyes! Open your MOUTH!! I don't care, just do SOMETHING!!!*
I was mentally talking to myself. Was I going crazy? No. No I just... couldn't move. And where was I? Somewhere cold...
*It's cold. Cold like... like... what is that word..? Winter. Cold like Winter. Is it Winter? Where is mother!??*
Darkness... darker... turning a deep gray... can't... think... can't... speak... losing... no, losing... wait... black?
Black...
~-~-~-~-~
(Piccolo)
Gohan told me to meet him at noon. It was ALREADY 11:45... but, no worry, the boy would understand quite well if I was late. No need to rush and use all my energy on my way there, after all.
I glanced at my surroundings in vague boredom, letting my astray thoughts conquer all doubt in my mind. Gohan had remembered, hadn't he...? Undoubtedly he did... but sometimes I wandered. Gohan wasn't as eager to see "Mr. Piccolo" as he was before, after all. It was understandable though. His father was back... he had things to do, books to study. And common sense knows, ChiChi was never of any help to extend ANY welcome I'd EVER received too see her "baby". The woman was far beyond my understanding... Gohan was obviously a "baby" no longer. But the woman failed to see it. I must admit, the boy seemed childish at times... but by no means an infant. I'd taught him far better than THAT. The very accusation that he required constant pampering and looking-after was not only ABSURD, but an insult to my teaching techniques. Being his mentor for so long, and what-not.
No matter, though. As long as the boy was... ... happy. Happy living with THAT woman, I'd never understand, but happy nonetheless.
I blinked, and stared at the plains below me. It was early Spring... the trees had blossomed, pink and puffy, flowers seemed to allow their aromas to waft through the air like energy focusing on more than one specific spot. Enough of the aroma to spread in every direction, and fill every air molecule.
Some would consider the season... cheerful. To me, it was just another year of training, and an inevitable mild silence. The same silence that had been haunting me for so long, only in another form. Same feeling, same fear. Odd, isn't it? It's hard to describe. I couldn't even dream anymore... for a short period of time, I did, actually, dream. It was a new experience for me. An... odd, and unexpected experience, as well. These... "Dreams"... as humans called them, seemed so peaceful. Peaceful like Winter. I'd always fancied Winter... however IT even seemed to make my insides feel like stone now. There was something missing in my life. Something... absent. It wasn't the fighting, it wasn't anything like that... it was something much different, that I could never hope in a million years to understand. Shoot, it wasn't even the longing for my home planet anymore. It was far more complicated than that.
Which is precisely why I couldn't figure out what it was.
Like I said before... life seemed SO much more simple when the silence was not a burden. Mental contradictions seem to occupy every crevice of my mind, these days. Complications, misunderstandings... the only other time I can remember that the silence didn't haunt me, was when Gohan had been my avid pupil. When he was JUST tearing me out of this "silence" I feel. Hmm... perhaps "silence" isn't the right word for it. More of a... a filled hollowness. See? That doesn't even make sense. I would just have to live to cope with it, that was all... to accept it. There was no solution I could even BEGIN to see. Pointless, anyway. I should welcome silence, perhaps... it's always been a comfort. And yet... so... horrible, at the same time.
'I'm getting nowhere with this...'
I thought bitterly once more.
'This is complete rubbish: just go to Gohan's, and enjoy yourself for a change!'
With that in mind, I focused my trained eyes on the ground below me, watching it rush by quickly as my cape ruffled gracefully behind.
As I was watching the surface, green fields and all, I noticed something - or rather some ONE - stuck in between the rocks and grasses, precariously close to a river.
The form appeared to be sleeping, and I slowed just in the slightest of curiosity.
Sleeping. Now... that, that there was a feat not EASILY accomplished by yours truly. Sleeping, dreaming - the works. It didn't come easily at ALL anymore. I suppose it's all rather useless when you can go without it... but the idea WAS appealing.
Meditation could be considered restful for the physical form, but the mind grows tired when it doesn't have a chance to shut down every once in a while. Even then... I guess it doesn't really SHUT DOWN, but at least you're not aware of it. In meditation, you are. Ohhhh yes, you DEFINITELY are.
Staring at the human as I drifted through the air casually by, I actually grew a little jealous. Ridiculous, I know... that I, being such a powerful being, perhaps not the strongest, but still powerful... would feel envious of a mere human.
"I must be getting old..."
I shook my head and continued on my way.
It wasn't long until I reached the Son's residence. And, despite my demeanor of emotionless facades, I was THRILLED to see the expectant watermelon-sized toothy smile on Gohan's face. He was still just a boy after all, still waiting to see his "Mr. Piccolo" with an eager attitude. And, for a while there, the silence, or "filled hollowness", or WHATEVER you want to call it, actually DID disappear. It was all I could do to keep a straight face, and... to tell the truth, I couldn't. Not when Gohan hugged me.
"Mr. Piccolo, you CAME!!" The boy buried his face into my leg, like I'd actually GO somewhere if he ever let go.
"Of course I did, Gohan..." A smirk made its way upwards as I looked down at the boy, whom, in return, looked up at me.
I tasseled his hair some-what jokingly like I often did when we were training on a regular basis. The small demi-Saiyan could BARELY keep in his excitement.
"... After all, it's not every day I get to beat up a Saiyan."
Gohan laughed whole-heartedly, and let go of my leg.
Ah. Free at last.
THAT'S when I saw ChiChi. OH boy. I could certainly tell she didn't like THAT comment.
She was standing, arms folded, almost like I would, leaning against the front door frame, scowl plastered with a look to kill. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"HEY there, Piccolo!"
Much to my relief - oddly enough - Goku came to my rescue. Another watermelon smile that mirrored Gohan's swept across my former nemesis. It was still a profound mystery to me how ANYONE can possess a mouth that wide... then again, I suppose it should come to me as no surprise, taking in consideration of how they "put the food away", so to speak. Still a marvel of genetics, though.
"Hello Goku. Feeling weak today? I should hope so, maybe I'll get in a punch this time." I smirked my usual festive "let's do this" smirk, and Goku returned with his own, festive, competitive, grin.
"You may just do that today, friend! I'm STUFFED, ChiChi makes a wonderfully humongous lunch!!"
"I HAVE to, Goku, sweetie... otherwise you complain about being hungry a half hour later!" ChiChi hollered from the doorway, cold and angry lethally dangerous glare temporarily turned away from me. That woman, I'm not going to lie... SCARES me. Shoot, she scares Goku, too.
"Heheheh, guess you're right...! Aw, ChiChi, you know me too well!"
I think I'm going to be sick.
"Of course I do! Now go on and... play... ugh." ChiChi shook her head, taking time for one last "harm him and die" glare directed towards me, and then went inside. Probably to do the dishes... or... something.
I looked back down at Gohan, and he laughed a little.
"Let's TRAIN!"
Hours passed by, and difficult, but enjoyable punches landed. I actually DID get a couple in on Goku... but then again, he'd agreed NOT to turn Super Saiyan, too. So that helped to a substantial degree. Gohan battling with us as well, of course. We sort of threw this large gut-punching contest... it may sound juvenile, but it DOES make you stronger, believe it or not. And competition often inspires fighters to do their utmost.
The Son's laughed like maniacs the WHOLE time. What a surprise.
Things continued well for quite a long time... until sunset. I hadn't HONESTLY thought that Goku could possibly hold out on his hunger that long, considering he had starting complaining somewhere around 3:00. Eventually, though, the mighty Saiyan let his stomach ultimately conquer, and was forced to beg ChiChi for dinner. I pity the man. For both reasons. The food problem... and the wife. And then again, the man WAS one of the strongest fighters ever known of... so I guess "pity" isn't quite befitting.
Gohan smiled at me again, right before going inside. That lovable, childish, warm smile that makes you want to do anything for him. Give him a lollipop, give him anything he wanted... ... which in this case, was a hug.
I acted like I didn't care, but it felt good. To be hugged by my first real friend. Gohan had taught me... everything. More than I could ever hope to teach him, and something that nobody else could have possibly even tempted me with. My first FRIEND.
"Good night, Mr. Piccolo!!"
Gohan let go, and he galloped off to the house, undoubtedly to fetch his enlarged dinner.
When he was too far away to hear me, even with Saiyan ears, I whispered my reply.
"Good night to you too, Gohan. I had a good time."
I bowed my head slightly, knowing it might be a while until I would be able to spar with the boy again. It was not all his fault... ChiChi purposely made the boy study more than he could handle. I could never really understand that. But, I DID know that ChiChi wanted me, the "green monster", to stay away from her "baby".
"It was fun while it lasted, kid."
Mumbling ever so slightly, I materialized a new cape and turban around my head and shoulders. Tomorrow I would train through meditation once again.
So I headed "home".
I took the same basic route I'd taken to get to the Son's house back to my own cave and waterfall. Same trees, same grass, same slanted mountains, same human. Wait... human!?
I stopped, dead in the air, and stared directly beneath me. Look and behold, I wasn't going insane. The human was STILL there, still slumbering away, looking weak and pathetic and slightly relaxed all at the same time. Not that the thought that the human looked relaxed in itself BOTHERED me... it BOTHERED me that it was still there, slightly propped up against the rocks, unmoved, un-phased, and undisturbed like it had HOURS before. NO human slept THAT soundly. Not even the king of sleep, Goku, could sleep that many hours in a row without so much as tossing onto their side.
Something was WRONG.
Somewhat hesitantly, I floated down to the human below. As I landed softly on the ground, I took an unimportant notice and mental note that the human was female, young, about the age of Gohan, and very, VERY... pale. Unnaturally pale.
"Oh come on, don't be dead... you're not worth a wish with the Dragon Balls."
I bent down on one knee next to the female, and slid her off of the rock her head had been slightly propped up on. With slight relief, I noticed her chest rise and fall.
She was breathing. This was a good sign.
However, the irregular rise and fall was not.
"Alright, okay, so you're sick... snap out of it, kid."
I slapped the human's face lightly, nothing to hurt her, and hoped for a reaction. None.
Of course not.
'Ah crud... don't tell me I have to bring you IN! Ah shoot...'
It would be rude to take her to the Son's house at this hour, and I didn't CARE to confront ChiChi once again, so, with a grumble, I picked up the human in my arms, and arranged her head onto my shoulder. What a pain.
"Well, kiddo... you'll PROBABLY be up by tomorrow. Just a gash in your head, a couple on your legs... your pathetically exposed stomach... eck, how weak! This is making me sick."
I blinked, just now realizing that I was talking to an unconscious human female, and grumbled to myself quietly, lifting off from the ground in a careful manner. I didn't want to injure the weakling any more than she already was.
To make matters worse, she would need new clothing... she was still "decent" in human terms, but she would definitely be cold tonight. With another grumble, I stealthily managed to take off my cape without disturbing the form too much, and quickly laid the soft material on top of her.
*She'll be gone by morning, two days, tops... after all, it's just a little gash in her head. Nothing to worry about.*
Little did I know what I'd REALLY gotten myself into.
()):^,
End A/N: Well now. That there took a few hours. I should just take whole days like this one and finish up a chapter all at once more often!! ^_^ Anyway, I hope you liked this... I'm okay with it. Heh, beats the original. Sooo... what more is there to say? You know the drill. REVIEW!! Thank yooouuu. ^_^ ~Peace sign~ Oh, and constructive criticism is always welcome... just not the other... kind. You know, the flamers out there. So if you don't like this, tell me WHY! I'm begging you, people!
'Did I MISS something here?'
The answer is, inevitably, yes. The truth is, I hated the first chapter of Dream Maker. So I decided to replace it. The first chapter was... 1: Poorly written, 2: Formatted in a juvenile fashion, and 3: Poorly written. Did I mention poorly written...? It was poorly written. So, if you want to read the original chapter one... TOUGH DARTS!!! I loathed it! I hope the updated version will be more sufficient to my annoying and petty wanna-be author perfectionist ways. ^_^ Oh, and by the way, all chapters past this one I plan to keep original. If I do change them, I'll let you know!
Oh, and as for time-line? I suppose right before the Androids... but then again, that would make Goku on another planet, so this may as well be Alternate Universe. So... Gohan is somewhere between the age of 11 and 14, which would make Piccolo about 20, 25. Also, THIS IS NOT YAOI. IT IS ALSO NOT LEMON, OR SLASH, OR ANYTHING PERVERTED. Fear not, I'm a pretty clean writer. That's all. (yay!)
Disclaimer: I never have, and never WILL own Dragon Ball Z... however, I DO own the mysterious character who appears in this chapter, and I own all original characters past this point. I possess no rights whatsoever to DBZ, Piccolo, Gohan, Goku, ChiChi, blah blah blah... I also do not own the original idea of a disclaimer. And I am... grateful for that. I for one do not want to be blind-folded, gagged, and tied to a road-cone by angry fanfiction writers. Because, you know, some people REALLY hate disclaimers. However they CAN be a fun outlet to ramble!! Ever seen someone ramble on a disclaimer? It's pretty amusing, really. Man, I wish I had the nerve to do it myself. Hey, that reminds me! There was this one time where...
()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ()):^, ());^. (Piccolo's winking at you!! Teehee!)
Dream Maker
Chapter 1: A Slumbering Weakling
Finish Date: The original was made around April of 2001... however THIS chapter was finished September 17th, 2002. Large gap that is... I feel somehow inspired to throw confetti.
Made By: Kittioto
(Piccolo)
I opened my eyes slowly, and swiftly came out of my meditating position. As I did so, I stretched out my arms and legs in the slightest. It had been a while since I'd bothered to open my eyes and get up.
However. Today... today was different. Today I would see Gohan.
It really had been a long time... since I'd seen Gohan, I mean. And it may not seem like a huge deal to most people, but the boy really did mean something to me. Almost as if I was the boy's real father. After all... I seemed to spend more time with him. Feh. Goku had spent so many years in the next dimension, it's a miracle he came back at ALL.
But still... he had come back. And who was I to step between a boy and his father? I can't say I'd ever know what it felt like to have a father of my own, but I understand the relationship nonetheless. Gohan has meant more to me than I could ever feel to protect myself... and that, as I can imagine, is closer than MOST beings become. Closer than I would prefer. It was Gohan who took me away from a sort of enraged silence... a silence I could NEVER describe with words. A terrifying, blood-curdling silence that only my original self, "King" Piccolo, could pass on. And I was thankful to be taken away from that silence. But it also came with a horrible price.
Need.
Need? Yes. Need. Life seemed so much more simple when all that would satisfy me was to blow up a building. Now... what exactly, did I need? It sounds petty, insecure, and generally foolish... but I needed Gohan. Or, at least, someone LIKE Gohan. Someone to keep me away from my silence, and not remind me of it. Even though I could never return to my former way of life... it's almost tempting to imagine it. Just so I wouldn't have to suffer through connections... petty, human, mushy connections. HAH.
And still, it had been so long since I'd seen Gohan. And so... SO very long that the thought of a returning silence haunted me.
"Today will be different..." I muttered to myself, bitter anticipation dripping from my deep vocals.
"Today I will NOT be reminded, my boy."
Will a continuously bitter smirk, I leaped off from the dirt-tainted rock I'd been standing on, and headed on my way to the Son residence, where Gohan had FINALLY invited me to go to for a sparring session.
-~-~-~-~-~
(_____)
*Wha... what's going on...?*
My eyes rolled up inside my head.
*Where am I?*
A thousand levels of pain swept through my forehead, like a tidal wave of confusion, frustration, and numbing mortality.
*... Something is wrong... where is mother? Where is father? Aren't they coming for me...?*
Another tidal wave, this one in my eyes. My eyes stung. Why did my eyes sting...?
*What did I do...? Why am I hurt...? ... AM I hurt? I think I'm hurt... ... why can't I move? I can't move!! No... don't panic... open your eyes, you fool!*
Dark. Nothing but dark.
*I said open your eyes! Open your MOUTH!! I don't care, just do SOMETHING!!!*
I was mentally talking to myself. Was I going crazy? No. No I just... couldn't move. And where was I? Somewhere cold...
*It's cold. Cold like... like... what is that word..? Winter. Cold like Winter. Is it Winter? Where is mother!??*
Darkness... darker... turning a deep gray... can't... think... can't... speak... losing... no, losing... wait... black?
Black...
~-~-~-~-~
(Piccolo)
Gohan told me to meet him at noon. It was ALREADY 11:45... but, no worry, the boy would understand quite well if I was late. No need to rush and use all my energy on my way there, after all.
I glanced at my surroundings in vague boredom, letting my astray thoughts conquer all doubt in my mind. Gohan had remembered, hadn't he...? Undoubtedly he did... but sometimes I wandered. Gohan wasn't as eager to see "Mr. Piccolo" as he was before, after all. It was understandable though. His father was back... he had things to do, books to study. And common sense knows, ChiChi was never of any help to extend ANY welcome I'd EVER received too see her "baby". The woman was far beyond my understanding... Gohan was obviously a "baby" no longer. But the woman failed to see it. I must admit, the boy seemed childish at times... but by no means an infant. I'd taught him far better than THAT. The very accusation that he required constant pampering and looking-after was not only ABSURD, but an insult to my teaching techniques. Being his mentor for so long, and what-not.
No matter, though. As long as the boy was... ... happy. Happy living with THAT woman, I'd never understand, but happy nonetheless.
I blinked, and stared at the plains below me. It was early Spring... the trees had blossomed, pink and puffy, flowers seemed to allow their aromas to waft through the air like energy focusing on more than one specific spot. Enough of the aroma to spread in every direction, and fill every air molecule.
Some would consider the season... cheerful. To me, it was just another year of training, and an inevitable mild silence. The same silence that had been haunting me for so long, only in another form. Same feeling, same fear. Odd, isn't it? It's hard to describe. I couldn't even dream anymore... for a short period of time, I did, actually, dream. It was a new experience for me. An... odd, and unexpected experience, as well. These... "Dreams"... as humans called them, seemed so peaceful. Peaceful like Winter. I'd always fancied Winter... however IT even seemed to make my insides feel like stone now. There was something missing in my life. Something... absent. It wasn't the fighting, it wasn't anything like that... it was something much different, that I could never hope in a million years to understand. Shoot, it wasn't even the longing for my home planet anymore. It was far more complicated than that.
Which is precisely why I couldn't figure out what it was.
Like I said before... life seemed SO much more simple when the silence was not a burden. Mental contradictions seem to occupy every crevice of my mind, these days. Complications, misunderstandings... the only other time I can remember that the silence didn't haunt me, was when Gohan had been my avid pupil. When he was JUST tearing me out of this "silence" I feel. Hmm... perhaps "silence" isn't the right word for it. More of a... a filled hollowness. See? That doesn't even make sense. I would just have to live to cope with it, that was all... to accept it. There was no solution I could even BEGIN to see. Pointless, anyway. I should welcome silence, perhaps... it's always been a comfort. And yet... so... horrible, at the same time.
'I'm getting nowhere with this...'
I thought bitterly once more.
'This is complete rubbish: just go to Gohan's, and enjoy yourself for a change!'
With that in mind, I focused my trained eyes on the ground below me, watching it rush by quickly as my cape ruffled gracefully behind.
As I was watching the surface, green fields and all, I noticed something - or rather some ONE - stuck in between the rocks and grasses, precariously close to a river.
The form appeared to be sleeping, and I slowed just in the slightest of curiosity.
Sleeping. Now... that, that there was a feat not EASILY accomplished by yours truly. Sleeping, dreaming - the works. It didn't come easily at ALL anymore. I suppose it's all rather useless when you can go without it... but the idea WAS appealing.
Meditation could be considered restful for the physical form, but the mind grows tired when it doesn't have a chance to shut down every once in a while. Even then... I guess it doesn't really SHUT DOWN, but at least you're not aware of it. In meditation, you are. Ohhhh yes, you DEFINITELY are.
Staring at the human as I drifted through the air casually by, I actually grew a little jealous. Ridiculous, I know... that I, being such a powerful being, perhaps not the strongest, but still powerful... would feel envious of a mere human.
"I must be getting old..."
I shook my head and continued on my way.
It wasn't long until I reached the Son's residence. And, despite my demeanor of emotionless facades, I was THRILLED to see the expectant watermelon-sized toothy smile on Gohan's face. He was still just a boy after all, still waiting to see his "Mr. Piccolo" with an eager attitude. And, for a while there, the silence, or "filled hollowness", or WHATEVER you want to call it, actually DID disappear. It was all I could do to keep a straight face, and... to tell the truth, I couldn't. Not when Gohan hugged me.
"Mr. Piccolo, you CAME!!" The boy buried his face into my leg, like I'd actually GO somewhere if he ever let go.
"Of course I did, Gohan..." A smirk made its way upwards as I looked down at the boy, whom, in return, looked up at me.
I tasseled his hair some-what jokingly like I often did when we were training on a regular basis. The small demi-Saiyan could BARELY keep in his excitement.
"... After all, it's not every day I get to beat up a Saiyan."
Gohan laughed whole-heartedly, and let go of my leg.
Ah. Free at last.
THAT'S when I saw ChiChi. OH boy. I could certainly tell she didn't like THAT comment.
She was standing, arms folded, almost like I would, leaning against the front door frame, scowl plastered with a look to kill. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"HEY there, Piccolo!"
Much to my relief - oddly enough - Goku came to my rescue. Another watermelon smile that mirrored Gohan's swept across my former nemesis. It was still a profound mystery to me how ANYONE can possess a mouth that wide... then again, I suppose it should come to me as no surprise, taking in consideration of how they "put the food away", so to speak. Still a marvel of genetics, though.
"Hello Goku. Feeling weak today? I should hope so, maybe I'll get in a punch this time." I smirked my usual festive "let's do this" smirk, and Goku returned with his own, festive, competitive, grin.
"You may just do that today, friend! I'm STUFFED, ChiChi makes a wonderfully humongous lunch!!"
"I HAVE to, Goku, sweetie... otherwise you complain about being hungry a half hour later!" ChiChi hollered from the doorway, cold and angry lethally dangerous glare temporarily turned away from me. That woman, I'm not going to lie... SCARES me. Shoot, she scares Goku, too.
"Heheheh, guess you're right...! Aw, ChiChi, you know me too well!"
I think I'm going to be sick.
"Of course I do! Now go on and... play... ugh." ChiChi shook her head, taking time for one last "harm him and die" glare directed towards me, and then went inside. Probably to do the dishes... or... something.
I looked back down at Gohan, and he laughed a little.
"Let's TRAIN!"
Hours passed by, and difficult, but enjoyable punches landed. I actually DID get a couple in on Goku... but then again, he'd agreed NOT to turn Super Saiyan, too. So that helped to a substantial degree. Gohan battling with us as well, of course. We sort of threw this large gut-punching contest... it may sound juvenile, but it DOES make you stronger, believe it or not. And competition often inspires fighters to do their utmost.
The Son's laughed like maniacs the WHOLE time. What a surprise.
Things continued well for quite a long time... until sunset. I hadn't HONESTLY thought that Goku could possibly hold out on his hunger that long, considering he had starting complaining somewhere around 3:00. Eventually, though, the mighty Saiyan let his stomach ultimately conquer, and was forced to beg ChiChi for dinner. I pity the man. For both reasons. The food problem... and the wife. And then again, the man WAS one of the strongest fighters ever known of... so I guess "pity" isn't quite befitting.
Gohan smiled at me again, right before going inside. That lovable, childish, warm smile that makes you want to do anything for him. Give him a lollipop, give him anything he wanted... ... which in this case, was a hug.
I acted like I didn't care, but it felt good. To be hugged by my first real friend. Gohan had taught me... everything. More than I could ever hope to teach him, and something that nobody else could have possibly even tempted me with. My first FRIEND.
"Good night, Mr. Piccolo!!"
Gohan let go, and he galloped off to the house, undoubtedly to fetch his enlarged dinner.
When he was too far away to hear me, even with Saiyan ears, I whispered my reply.
"Good night to you too, Gohan. I had a good time."
I bowed my head slightly, knowing it might be a while until I would be able to spar with the boy again. It was not all his fault... ChiChi purposely made the boy study more than he could handle. I could never really understand that. But, I DID know that ChiChi wanted me, the "green monster", to stay away from her "baby".
"It was fun while it lasted, kid."
Mumbling ever so slightly, I materialized a new cape and turban around my head and shoulders. Tomorrow I would train through meditation once again.
So I headed "home".
I took the same basic route I'd taken to get to the Son's house back to my own cave and waterfall. Same trees, same grass, same slanted mountains, same human. Wait... human!?
I stopped, dead in the air, and stared directly beneath me. Look and behold, I wasn't going insane. The human was STILL there, still slumbering away, looking weak and pathetic and slightly relaxed all at the same time. Not that the thought that the human looked relaxed in itself BOTHERED me... it BOTHERED me that it was still there, slightly propped up against the rocks, unmoved, un-phased, and undisturbed like it had HOURS before. NO human slept THAT soundly. Not even the king of sleep, Goku, could sleep that many hours in a row without so much as tossing onto their side.
Something was WRONG.
Somewhat hesitantly, I floated down to the human below. As I landed softly on the ground, I took an unimportant notice and mental note that the human was female, young, about the age of Gohan, and very, VERY... pale. Unnaturally pale.
"Oh come on, don't be dead... you're not worth a wish with the Dragon Balls."
I bent down on one knee next to the female, and slid her off of the rock her head had been slightly propped up on. With slight relief, I noticed her chest rise and fall.
She was breathing. This was a good sign.
However, the irregular rise and fall was not.
"Alright, okay, so you're sick... snap out of it, kid."
I slapped the human's face lightly, nothing to hurt her, and hoped for a reaction. None.
Of course not.
'Ah crud... don't tell me I have to bring you IN! Ah shoot...'
It would be rude to take her to the Son's house at this hour, and I didn't CARE to confront ChiChi once again, so, with a grumble, I picked up the human in my arms, and arranged her head onto my shoulder. What a pain.
"Well, kiddo... you'll PROBABLY be up by tomorrow. Just a gash in your head, a couple on your legs... your pathetically exposed stomach... eck, how weak! This is making me sick."
I blinked, just now realizing that I was talking to an unconscious human female, and grumbled to myself quietly, lifting off from the ground in a careful manner. I didn't want to injure the weakling any more than she already was.
To make matters worse, she would need new clothing... she was still "decent" in human terms, but she would definitely be cold tonight. With another grumble, I stealthily managed to take off my cape without disturbing the form too much, and quickly laid the soft material on top of her.
*She'll be gone by morning, two days, tops... after all, it's just a little gash in her head. Nothing to worry about.*
Little did I know what I'd REALLY gotten myself into.
()):^,
End A/N: Well now. That there took a few hours. I should just take whole days like this one and finish up a chapter all at once more often!! ^_^ Anyway, I hope you liked this... I'm okay with it. Heh, beats the original. Sooo... what more is there to say? You know the drill. REVIEW!! Thank yooouuu. ^_^ ~Peace sign~ Oh, and constructive criticism is always welcome... just not the other... kind. You know, the flamers out there. So if you don't like this, tell me WHY! I'm begging you, people!