The Mystery Within
Part I - Prelude to Terror


by namek kaia


Disclaimer: I own nothing except original characters and attacks. And don't use them without my permission. You won't like the consequences.


Chapter Eight - Desperation




As Niko hit the freezing pond below, Piccolo's pain suddenly subsided. It wasn't a slow process as pain usually was; it just suddenly lifted from his body as if some sort of evil spirit had caused it.

But he had no time to contemplate on the strange occurrence. Without thinking, he leapt off the ledge and landed beside the pond. He was scared to death. Could she really be dead? He didn't know what to do. He momentarily thought of jumping in himself to save her, but knew that it wouldn't do much good if he were disabled from the temperature of the water as well. He stretched his arm outward toward the middle of the pond where the ripples of her impact still flowed out toward the bank. A sharp pain from the cold rushed through his arm as it made its way to the bottom, feeling for her body. Finally, after what seemed like forever to him, his hand reached an object that lay at the bottom of the pond. It had to be her. He quickly grabbed her and pulled her back to the surface. Having reached a source of air, Niko instinctively inhaled sharply and began to shake fiercely in his hand. The cold had been so severe, it had caused her to go into shock. He was almost unable to keep a hold on her, but he tightened his grip and carried her the rest of the way to the embankment.

He pulled her wet body close to his and wrapped his cape around the both of them, trying to transfer some of his heat to her. He rapidly stroked her arms in hopes of creating more heat. But instead of transferring heat to her, the opposite was happening. He was getting colder by the second. He had to get her inside before they both died. Still keeping her wrapped in his cape, he picked her up and carried her inside. He thought of running a warm bath for her, but remembered her saying something about the pipes being frozen earlier. So he quickly moved her beside the fire.

Leaving his cape and turban, he rushed to the hall closet where he knew she kept the blankets. He returned with an arm-full of blankets and set them down beside her. Hesitantly he spoke, not sure how to respectively word what he was about to say. "Niko, it's not safe for you to stay in these wet clothes. I'll have to remove them. Do you understand me?" he asked, almost blushing. She understood, but could barely nod her agreement through her shakes. Slowly, but as quickly as he could, he removed her shirt. Her jeans were creating a problem though. The water wouldn't allow them to move easily. He quickly ripped them and removed the rest of her drenched clothes. He then dried her wet, naked body with a towel he had also removed from the closet. And once again he tried to transmit his heat to her by wrapping them both in the blankets.

It was useless. His mind raced from one idea to another. He had to think of a way to get enough heat to her. But not a single idea came to him. He knew he was running out of time. If she didn't get warm soon, her system would shut down and her heart wouldn't be able to continue beating. Then an idea came to him. He had remembered part of a conversation he had had with someone. Probably Goku, but he wasn't sure. Was it possible? Could it actually work? It was his only option, wasn't it? But could he bring himself to do it? To do what he thought would never even come close to happening? To allow himself to give in? To show what only his subconscious felt? Then he felt her against his body, still violently shaking from the cold. Yes, he had to. He couldn't let her die, not when there was a chance he could save her. Without another thought, he forgot all his reasoning and let his instincts take over.

He titled her head up towards his and kissed her icy lips hard with passion. After a few moments, he almost stopped, thinking there was no way that this would work, that he couldn't risk it. But then he felt her lips respond. She kissed him back with the same passion. Her heart raced and her mind was full of confusion. She couldn't feel her body. Her numbness had surpassed her pain. His body provided a slight warmness, but was no comparison to her iciness. She couldn't feel his lips on hers, but knew they were there. She knew what he was planning to do, and that he didn't want this anymore than she did. He was only doing it to save her life, although she couldn't understand why. He didn't know how scared she was at this very moment. The fear that pierced her soul at the mere thought of what was about to take place. But still, she kissed him, letting free her emotions, her anxiety that she had held back for so long.

Her back arched as his kiss moved to her neck and his arms caressed her back. Laying her on her back, his lips moved still further to her breasts. Massaging one in his hand, he devoured the other into his mouth. His actions were rough, trying to stimulate her sensitive spots, but being careful not to harm her.

His other hand moved to the small of her back and began to massage her thigh. He could sense her body starting to give off a small amount of heat. His plan was working, finally. This only excited him more, urging him to take it further. He slid his hand between her legs and felt her wet folds. Moving his fingers deeper, he almost froze in surprise. But he told himself that he should have guessed it already. She wasn't a virgin. Her body had been too relaxed, despite her constant shakes. Not knowing why he didn't figure this before, and not caring, he pushed deeper into her, causing her hips to arch toward him. His lips left her chest and returned to her neck.

Regaining some feeling in her body, she reached her hand around the nape of his neck and began to nibble on his ear, throwing him in a world of ecstasy he had never experienced before. Not being able to hold back any longer, he lifted himself off of her and pushed away the blankets that encircled them, letting them fall to the floor. He quickly removed the top of his gi and untied his cloth belt, disregarding the remainder of his clothes. Once again he lay on top of her, spreading her legs further apart.

As he entered her, firmly but slowly, a wave of pleasure mixed with pain flowed through her body. She elevated her legs and wrapped them around his waist, allowing him to go deeper and quicken his pace. She closed her eyes, basking in the pleasure that burned from inside her. As their breathing grew heavy, they both became lost in a world of pure and unspeakable bliss. After no more than twenty minutes, Piccolo was the first to return to reality.

He looked down at Niko. Her face was flushed from the change in temperature she felt, and her eyes were still closed. Knowing his task had been completed, but having no desire to stop, he prepared himself to continue and emit all his passion into her. But something made him pause. He looked at her face. Her brow was wrinkled and her eyes were being clenched shut. Not able to be contained any longer, a single tear escaped the outer corner of her eye and slid downward into her hair. Piccolo was taken aback. She had never let anyone see her cry, save the event of her father's death, but that was understandable. Was he hurting her? He slowed his pace, eventually coming to a stop. As he lifted himself off her, she once again slid her hand to the back of his neck and pulled his ear closer to her.

"Don't stop," she pleaded in a whisper. "Please, don't stop. Please."

Piccolo was at a loss for words. "A... Are you... sure?" he faltered.

"Yes," she breathed seductively in his ear and moved him to the floor so that she was now sitting on top of him, straddling his hips.

They made love for hours on end, neither one fully acknowledging what was happening. The only thing racing through their minds was the passion they felt for the other. It was intoxicating. They both fell in love with the blissful world they had escaped to. (A.N. - You thought I was going to say they fell in love with each other didn't you? Just thought I'd tease ya with that one.) Neither had never experienced such sensual, raw passion. They never wanted it to end. The only time there was a pause was for the purpose of changing their positions, if need be. Somehow they had moved to Niko's room and onto her bed, although neither remembered when or how they had done this. They climaxed in unison one final time before Niko collapsed onto Piccolo's body. They allowed their bodies to melt into the other as the sun seeped into view on the horizon.

Then they slept side by side, exhausted. Piccolo's arm rested around her waist, keeping her close. He awoke to the feeling of her body pressed against his. He could feel the rise of her bare chest against his own. He looked down into her face as she slept. Her beauty surpassed anything else on this earth. This was the Niko that he knew. Whoever that was that longed to end her life by jumping off the rock ledge was gone. Whatever spirit had possessed her last night had now dispersed. She was herself again.

As her eyes fluttered open, the first thing that came into her sight was Piccolo's face, which still gazed upon her. They both smirked as their eyes met. Niko broke the stare and placed her hand on his chest, nuzzling her face against it. "You saved my life. You made me see what no one else could. I am forever indebted to you. But you know that, don't you?" she spoke quietly.

"Yes. And you could repay me by telling me the truth about yourself," he explained.

She sighed heavily against his chest. His eyes fell closed at the feel of her hot breath on him. "Piccolo, I can't do that. You don't understand. It could cost you your life. I don't want you to be among the others that lost their lives because of me. I can't bear to lose anyone else I care about. Please understand. I couldn't live with myself. And I doubt there would be someone to save me then."

"You... you care about me?" he asked confused. No one had ever cared for him, or ever spoken it. He and Gohan cared for each other dearly, but it was never spoken. There was no need to. But he was stunned by her words. Could she actually care about him?

"Yes. I would die if it meant saving your life," she replied with such seriousness in her voice that it nearly sent a feeling of fear through him.

"Well then, answer me this. Last night... why did you cry? Was it because of me?"

She looked directly into his eyes as she spoke. "Alright, if you must know, I can tell you. But... just as before, you can never speak of this to anyone. I'm serious this time. I will not lie." Piccolo knew by the look in her eyes that she was telling the truth. He would not be lied to this time.

Looking away, she began. "When they captured me, they didn't just lock me up in a room and wait for my father to come. First they beat me. My lip had been busted and my left eye had almost been swelled shut. My clothes were ripped and I couldn't stop the heavy sobs that came without my permission," she said, then hesitated for several moments. "They... they tore off the rest of my clothes. I was a mere child, only thirteen years old. And then they raped me," she paused again, not able to hold back the tears that stung her eyes. "Not just one, all of them, one after the other. I don't know for sure how many there were; I've tried to forget. I struggled with all my might, but I was just beaten in response. When they were finished, they threw me in a room. It was cold, so cold. And they gave me no clothes. After about a day or so, they sent a woman to see me, to clean my wounds and give me some food and clothing. She pitied me, something I despised back then.

When father came, we escaped. Miraculously. I never told him, never came close. I didn't know how he would react. I wasn't sure if it would break his heart or if he would go insane with the madness it might have carried. So I never told him. Only one other person knows. The only person I've ever loved, Lelio. He wanted to make love to me so badly, but I wasn't able to bear it. My heart was broken. I couldn't show him the extent of my love, my loyalty to him. And I was never given the chance. He was killed just like all the rest. Another soul that I had damned. He was only killed to bring me pain. He had done nothing. Then I vowed never to love anyone else, ever again. That's why I cried. It wasn't you. I couldn't stop the pain, physical or mental. I couldn't stop the memories. I'm sorry," she finished, tears flowing down her cheeks and onto her pillow. Piccolo remained silent, but pulled her closer still, allowing her to cry into his chest. Soon, the tears stopped and she remained still. He listened to her breathing as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Her words played over and over again in his mind, until he too drifted into a sleep.





Pronunciation Guide:

Lelio: lay-lee-oh


So, what'd you guys think? I've never written anything like this chapter before, and I want to know how you think I did. If I get a lot of good reviews, then I might write some more chapters like it. Once again, please review and tell me what you think. Your opinions mean a lot to me. And thanks for all the support y'all have given me so far. I know I'm probably not the best writer, so knowing that you take time to read my work really inspires me. Hope to have the next chapter up soon. Until then. -Nak