Evening
Disclaimer- I don't own Dragon Ball Z. I don't own the rights to anything in the whole DBZ universe which I worship so.
Well we're getting to the end, I'd say maybe 3 or so more chapters until the grand conclusion. Thank you everyone who is sticking with me. Especially you PiccolosdragoN! You are by far my most loyal fan. And to Staci! For spreading the word about my stories! I love all of you guys! If you have ever reviewed any of my stories, thank you!
Marathon Chapter Below! About the size of two chappies! You guys earned it!
-------------------- = Changing view points or location. (Such as switching from Goku's point of view to Piccolo's)
'...' = Thoughts
Chapter 24: What will Happen?
Eve stood on the cave's edge, the cool night wind combing through her raven locks as she watched the failing light in the distance until the last traces of soft blue gave way to the endless carpet of stars. Her gaze climbed so that nothing blocked her eye's view of the sky stretched above her. Her exterior was peaceful and still but for the breeze nipping at the hem of her simple white dress.
But Eve's thoughts seemed to gallop through her mind. "A year has nearly past my love." her inner voice whispered to her heart. "Only two weeks remain." Her eyes fell to the ebony woods beneath the mountain. This was not the first night this week she had stood, waiting for Piccolo to come home from training, wondering, what would happen. "What will happen when the curse is lifted?" she breathed softly.
Her form shifted to look back, the firelight wavering in the faint wind. Dawn sat before it, she was crouched poking the fire with a long stick, gathering the appearance of a frog. She smiled fondly, warmly with pride. Dawn had come a long way in the time following her talk with Piccolo. She was walking constantly, and her speak had grown strong. In fact, they learned that Dawn had an ear for music, and loved to hum and sing tunes, which only she knew.
Dawn had come upon a sudden growth spurt, which seemed to have stopped for now. The child appeared to be 6 years old now, her ebony hair brushing her shoulders. Piccolo generated Dawn an outfit, a white gi with gray trim, matching her mother's dress.
The child's ears perked up and she turned to look at her mother. Her deep eyes questioned Eve silently. "What is it my joy?" Dawn stood smoothly, her feline grace channeled into her human frame as she strode to her mother, tail swaying with the pass of her pawed feet from left to right.
-------------------------
'Her eyes are sad again, what is it that she worries about? What plagues her thoughts every night?' Her ears twitched at the sounds of the wind rustling over her fur and over the rough cavern walls, and the leaves in the vast woods below.
Piccolo had taught her the basics of meditation, and it had in turn taught her how to utilize her heightened senses. He had also showed her some rudimentary ki skills, as she hoped to fly one day, but Eve didn't know about it, Piccolo wanted it to be their little secret.
"What are you and Daddy waiting for?"
------------------------
Eve's eyes widened a touch, 'She can sense that?. Well I suppose it cannot be that hard to tell.' Eve sighed and knelt before her daughter and opened her arms. The child clung to her mother and nestled against her chest and closed her eyes. Eve stroked Dawn's hair and spoke soft. "I think you are old enough to know."
-------------------------
Dawn loved the sound over her mother's voice, and she thanked the stars for the large ears in which she caught it. She listened to the first few words and her ears fell slightly, she knew this wouldn't be very pleasant by the tone of her mother's angelic voice.
Eve told her everything, from how the curse befell her, to the Dragonballs, and the promise Piccolo made to protect her.
--------------------------
Though she left apart the bit about her real father, she told her daughter everything, up to how long it was until they lifted her curse. Dawn stepped back, but her expression was passive. "What about Ken'ichi? ((Strong one))" Eve blinked.
"Who is Ken'ichi?" this worried her slightly, Dawn had never left the cave, and only Piccolo and herself were ever there. 'An imaginary friend perhaps?'
------------------------
Dawn's right ear tilted slightly, "Mother Tigress, that's her name, Ken'ichi." That bothered her a little bit. 'She doesn't know her name? They share the same body for Kami's sake.'
"What will happen to her when the curse is lifted?"
-------------------------
Eve didn't know how to answer her daughter's question, in reality, she had never really thought about it. In her mind the Tigress had always been a creation by the giver of her Curse, not a being.
"Well, I do not know Dawn." She truly did not, would Ken'ichi simply separate from her and be her own being, or will she vanish from existence?
Dawn's ears fell back and something close to defiance crossed her eyes, the child obviously didn't like that answer, not one bit.
"Alright Dawn, do not worry yourself over this. I will ask the dragon what will happen to Ken'ichi once he dispels the curse. How does that sound?" The cub's brilliant blue eyes sparkled and a smile once more graced her delicate youthful face. She nodded, ears flopping about carefree.
Just then her eyes widened and her smile, if possible, grew brighter and she clapped her paws together. "Daddy!" she cheered and ran passed her mother and leapt off the caves entrance and into the open air.
"NO!" but it was too late, she sighed, "Not again."
------------------------
Piccolo could effortlessly hear Dawn's cheerful welcome from over 40 feet away, and his eye sight was keen enough to see the chibi tigress bound into the air. He could not withhold his short laugh. As much as he fought the idea, he had finally come to grips with the fact, he enjoyed Eve and Dawn. Having someone who was happy to see him at the end of each day.
Of course Gohan did, but he could scarcely see the boy, nothing to say about every day. His mother considered him a bad influence, and perhaps she was right. But now he had,'a family' he blinked at the thought.' I have a family.' it settled odd in his stomach, but made him feel happy nonetheless.
He sailed downward until he was parallel to the 'flying' angel. "You're going to have to try harder than that!" He raised a brow and watched Dawn flap her arms and strain to use her power.
Piccolo could feel her power growing steadily, and for a moment it looked as if she were slowing her decent, but his strong arm lashed out and pulled her against his chest as his feet tapped the water.
He laughed shortly, "I think you are actually getting worse Noksa ne!((spoiled brat*not positive on the spelling*))" The child squirmed, "No I'm not! You baka!((.. If your reading this, then you know what baka means))" Her tail slapped his sides and she playfully began gnawing on his arm, growling. He smiled widely as her attention was on the pinkish flesh of his right forearm, "You shouldn't do that kid; Namakes are poisonous."
He withheld a chuckle when Dawn halted her assault. He heard a muffled, "weawy (really)?" He nodded and began floating upwards.
----------------------
Eve could hear her daughters mock cries for help and growls as they steadily grew louder pending when he and her offspring came into view and he sat her down, or rather, let go and she flopped on her bottom.
"Mommy are Namakes poisonous?!" the child was distraught "Baka say I only have a day to live!" Eve shook her head laughing warmly, "He was kidding, I seriously doubt he's poisonous."
"Well have you ever bitten him !?" Eve blinked and blushed wildly, remembering when she 'helped' Piccolo several months ago. "No, but he isn't. You're not going to die" She meekly looked up at Piccolo who had silently been watching Dawn; he was blushing, ever so faintly, but still noticeable, "Right Piccolo?" He nodded subtly and crossed his arms.
----------------------------
She huffed and stood, brushing her gray-furred arms off and swishing her tail lightly, "Fibber!" she humphed and turned going over to her bed that was actually just an extension of her mother's. For as long as she could remember, she couldn't sleep unless she was touching someone. So she slept burrowed against her mother's back or stomach every night.
Dawn strode to it and flopped down heavily, tail tapping the earth behind her in an irritated fashion.
----------------------
Piccolo's embarrassing memories subsided soon as he, noticed something about Dawn and Eve that bothered him, and it wasn't the first time he had noticed this.
Eve had no ki signal, no life force he could detect, while Dawn's seemed to be vibrant, and in an uncanny way, just like Eve's felt. Not how it had wavered all the time, but its essence. The first time he remembered sensing this was not long after Dawn's birth.
But he merely closed his eyes and shrugged inwardly, he couldn't think of what it meant, and would simply ask Kami when they arrived to lift the curse.
---------------------
Eve watched Piccolo for a moment then brushed past him, leaving the firelight and standing in the pale lucid starlight. The wind was picking up a little perhaps a storm was brewing. She moved to the left until she stopped to lean her back against the rough granite behind her now, the firelight's warmth leaving. The wind's cool traces swept over her causing her eyes to fall shut.
'What will happen?' her thoughts whispered in her mind. She hugged her arms around her, trying to steady her nerves, which seemed to tremble. After what Dawn said, she was frightened about the curse's departure. There was just so much uncertainty surrounding it and her future.
The air before her suddenly felt warmer, as the steady breeze lessened. '...And will he stay? Will he have us? Or. will he be rid of us when I am normal again?' Tears welled in her closed eyes, "Piccolo" she breathed in almost a sob.
"Yes?" a voice responded.
Eve jumped her eyes flying open shedding held tears. Piccolo stood in front of her, the wind held at bay by his broad form, his cape shuttering with the uneven flow of wind at his back. His expression was dark, closed, with his arms held loosely at his sides. She gazed up at him; still feeling warm tears wet her cheeks.
She couldn't hold back anymore, and she stepped forward wrapping her arms around him and crying into his lavender gi. Her heart ached and her hands gripped the back of his shirt tightly, as if it was her last tether to this world.
Her sobs were silent, but her voice found her after several long moments, "Please.do not leave me, or Dawn."
-------------------------
He left the cave to see where Eve had gone, and noticed her leaning against the mountainside, eyes closed. He flew over to her and landed soundlessly on the path close to her. He was certain she would have realized his presence, but she didn't.
'What is she thinking about?' he mused as he studied her features. Her skin seemed to glow in the pale light and her hair shined. But his eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed something about her expression as if subtly changed, 'Is she crying?'
"Piccolo" she breathed, her lips barely parted. Her tone was certainly tear worn. He couldn't stand there and watch this. "Yes?" he spoke softly, not wishing to startle her.
But he did apparently for she jumped. Eve's eyes opened and seemed not to catch the starlight, but hold the stars in their depths. Glistening tears fell abruptly from them and his jaw tightened, he was afraid his assumption was correct. Eve simply gazed upwards at him, crying silently, her eyes staring into his soul. He froze, unable to act for several long, silent moments.
He began to speak, to inquire to the cause of her tears, but before he could speak she flung her arms tightly around him, and began to weep into him. He stared down at her, as her shoulders shuddered with unheard sobs. The sight forced his eyes shut.
"Please.do not leave me, or Dawn." She cried into him, muffled against his clothes. Piccolo pulled her close then, and sighed deeply. "Never." He whispered. His eyes parted to catch her gaze. She had stepped away, but still within the circle of his arms. Her smile was warm though tears still gleamed unshed.
He leaned down and captured her lips to his.
-------------------------
Her tears quieted as she felt his powerful arms draw in around her frail form. His words then rumbled deep in his chest and brought a smile to her lips. Eve stepped back slowly, remaining in the protective circle of Piccolo's arms. She waited silently until his eyes opened.
Her eyes widened a touch as he leaned close and drew her into a kiss. But in but an instant her eye grew heavy and fell shut. Eve returned the chaste kiss, but her hands smoothed up his arms until they found his broad neck and locked around it. She deepened their embrace, and much to her delight it did not frighten Piccolo, nor make him break contact, he merely followed suit.
Eve felt his arms tighten around her as he stood up straight. She held herself up with his strong neck and then wrapped her legs around his waist. He broke the rhythm for a moment as she did this but continued, his right hand smoothing through her hair.
---------------------
When she returned the kiss he blinked, but did not stop. But their position was awkward, so he pulled her close as he stood, holding her against him. He felt her legs lock behind his back and his eyes parted for a second, but he felt her tongue slip between his parted lips and his eyes fell shut. He had no idea what he was doing, but it felt right, and Eve seemed to feel the same.
Every brush of skin of hers against his seemed to fill a void that had been growing, a longing he had for her was being sated. Then, he knew without any doubt, he would spend his life protecting, and cherishing this woman. He loved her.
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Whips sweat from forehead and cracks her knuckles Well, there you go! The longest Chapter of Evening!
I hope you all enjoyed it, I tried hard, many nights and a few writer's blocks have past to give you Chapter 24!
Only a few more chapters until the end. I have chosen an ending! I hade 3 in mind and I picked one. It's a surprise ending I shall warn you, and a sequel is in the mists of my mind. But its up to you, my readers, to tell me if a sequel is due. But don't tell me yet. You may feel the ending should be, the end, period, good without a sequel coughs I doubt it coughs clears throat well I'll be waiting to hear from you all!
Thanks again to PiccolodragoN. for all of your support!
Disclaimer- I don't own Dragon Ball Z. I don't own the rights to anything in the whole DBZ universe which I worship so.
Well we're getting to the end, I'd say maybe 3 or so more chapters until the grand conclusion. Thank you everyone who is sticking with me. Especially you PiccolosdragoN! You are by far my most loyal fan. And to Staci! For spreading the word about my stories! I love all of you guys! If you have ever reviewed any of my stories, thank you!
Marathon Chapter Below! About the size of two chappies! You guys earned it!
-------------------- = Changing view points or location. (Such as switching from Goku's point of view to Piccolo's)
'...' = Thoughts
Chapter 24: What will Happen?
Eve stood on the cave's edge, the cool night wind combing through her raven locks as she watched the failing light in the distance until the last traces of soft blue gave way to the endless carpet of stars. Her gaze climbed so that nothing blocked her eye's view of the sky stretched above her. Her exterior was peaceful and still but for the breeze nipping at the hem of her simple white dress.
But Eve's thoughts seemed to gallop through her mind. "A year has nearly past my love." her inner voice whispered to her heart. "Only two weeks remain." Her eyes fell to the ebony woods beneath the mountain. This was not the first night this week she had stood, waiting for Piccolo to come home from training, wondering, what would happen. "What will happen when the curse is lifted?" she breathed softly.
Her form shifted to look back, the firelight wavering in the faint wind. Dawn sat before it, she was crouched poking the fire with a long stick, gathering the appearance of a frog. She smiled fondly, warmly with pride. Dawn had come a long way in the time following her talk with Piccolo. She was walking constantly, and her speak had grown strong. In fact, they learned that Dawn had an ear for music, and loved to hum and sing tunes, which only she knew.
Dawn had come upon a sudden growth spurt, which seemed to have stopped for now. The child appeared to be 6 years old now, her ebony hair brushing her shoulders. Piccolo generated Dawn an outfit, a white gi with gray trim, matching her mother's dress.
The child's ears perked up and she turned to look at her mother. Her deep eyes questioned Eve silently. "What is it my joy?" Dawn stood smoothly, her feline grace channeled into her human frame as she strode to her mother, tail swaying with the pass of her pawed feet from left to right.
-------------------------
'Her eyes are sad again, what is it that she worries about? What plagues her thoughts every night?' Her ears twitched at the sounds of the wind rustling over her fur and over the rough cavern walls, and the leaves in the vast woods below.
Piccolo had taught her the basics of meditation, and it had in turn taught her how to utilize her heightened senses. He had also showed her some rudimentary ki skills, as she hoped to fly one day, but Eve didn't know about it, Piccolo wanted it to be their little secret.
"What are you and Daddy waiting for?"
------------------------
Eve's eyes widened a touch, 'She can sense that?. Well I suppose it cannot be that hard to tell.' Eve sighed and knelt before her daughter and opened her arms. The child clung to her mother and nestled against her chest and closed her eyes. Eve stroked Dawn's hair and spoke soft. "I think you are old enough to know."
-------------------------
Dawn loved the sound over her mother's voice, and she thanked the stars for the large ears in which she caught it. She listened to the first few words and her ears fell slightly, she knew this wouldn't be very pleasant by the tone of her mother's angelic voice.
Eve told her everything, from how the curse befell her, to the Dragonballs, and the promise Piccolo made to protect her.
--------------------------
Though she left apart the bit about her real father, she told her daughter everything, up to how long it was until they lifted her curse. Dawn stepped back, but her expression was passive. "What about Ken'ichi? ((Strong one))" Eve blinked.
"Who is Ken'ichi?" this worried her slightly, Dawn had never left the cave, and only Piccolo and herself were ever there. 'An imaginary friend perhaps?'
------------------------
Dawn's right ear tilted slightly, "Mother Tigress, that's her name, Ken'ichi." That bothered her a little bit. 'She doesn't know her name? They share the same body for Kami's sake.'
"What will happen to her when the curse is lifted?"
-------------------------
Eve didn't know how to answer her daughter's question, in reality, she had never really thought about it. In her mind the Tigress had always been a creation by the giver of her Curse, not a being.
"Well, I do not know Dawn." She truly did not, would Ken'ichi simply separate from her and be her own being, or will she vanish from existence?
Dawn's ears fell back and something close to defiance crossed her eyes, the child obviously didn't like that answer, not one bit.
"Alright Dawn, do not worry yourself over this. I will ask the dragon what will happen to Ken'ichi once he dispels the curse. How does that sound?" The cub's brilliant blue eyes sparkled and a smile once more graced her delicate youthful face. She nodded, ears flopping about carefree.
Just then her eyes widened and her smile, if possible, grew brighter and she clapped her paws together. "Daddy!" she cheered and ran passed her mother and leapt off the caves entrance and into the open air.
"NO!" but it was too late, she sighed, "Not again."
------------------------
Piccolo could effortlessly hear Dawn's cheerful welcome from over 40 feet away, and his eye sight was keen enough to see the chibi tigress bound into the air. He could not withhold his short laugh. As much as he fought the idea, he had finally come to grips with the fact, he enjoyed Eve and Dawn. Having someone who was happy to see him at the end of each day.
Of course Gohan did, but he could scarcely see the boy, nothing to say about every day. His mother considered him a bad influence, and perhaps she was right. But now he had,'a family' he blinked at the thought.' I have a family.' it settled odd in his stomach, but made him feel happy nonetheless.
He sailed downward until he was parallel to the 'flying' angel. "You're going to have to try harder than that!" He raised a brow and watched Dawn flap her arms and strain to use her power.
Piccolo could feel her power growing steadily, and for a moment it looked as if she were slowing her decent, but his strong arm lashed out and pulled her against his chest as his feet tapped the water.
He laughed shortly, "I think you are actually getting worse Noksa ne!((spoiled brat*not positive on the spelling*))" The child squirmed, "No I'm not! You baka!((.. If your reading this, then you know what baka means))" Her tail slapped his sides and she playfully began gnawing on his arm, growling. He smiled widely as her attention was on the pinkish flesh of his right forearm, "You shouldn't do that kid; Namakes are poisonous."
He withheld a chuckle when Dawn halted her assault. He heard a muffled, "weawy (really)?" He nodded and began floating upwards.
----------------------
Eve could hear her daughters mock cries for help and growls as they steadily grew louder pending when he and her offspring came into view and he sat her down, or rather, let go and she flopped on her bottom.
"Mommy are Namakes poisonous?!" the child was distraught "Baka say I only have a day to live!" Eve shook her head laughing warmly, "He was kidding, I seriously doubt he's poisonous."
"Well have you ever bitten him !?" Eve blinked and blushed wildly, remembering when she 'helped' Piccolo several months ago. "No, but he isn't. You're not going to die" She meekly looked up at Piccolo who had silently been watching Dawn; he was blushing, ever so faintly, but still noticeable, "Right Piccolo?" He nodded subtly and crossed his arms.
----------------------------
She huffed and stood, brushing her gray-furred arms off and swishing her tail lightly, "Fibber!" she humphed and turned going over to her bed that was actually just an extension of her mother's. For as long as she could remember, she couldn't sleep unless she was touching someone. So she slept burrowed against her mother's back or stomach every night.
Dawn strode to it and flopped down heavily, tail tapping the earth behind her in an irritated fashion.
----------------------
Piccolo's embarrassing memories subsided soon as he, noticed something about Dawn and Eve that bothered him, and it wasn't the first time he had noticed this.
Eve had no ki signal, no life force he could detect, while Dawn's seemed to be vibrant, and in an uncanny way, just like Eve's felt. Not how it had wavered all the time, but its essence. The first time he remembered sensing this was not long after Dawn's birth.
But he merely closed his eyes and shrugged inwardly, he couldn't think of what it meant, and would simply ask Kami when they arrived to lift the curse.
---------------------
Eve watched Piccolo for a moment then brushed past him, leaving the firelight and standing in the pale lucid starlight. The wind was picking up a little perhaps a storm was brewing. She moved to the left until she stopped to lean her back against the rough granite behind her now, the firelight's warmth leaving. The wind's cool traces swept over her causing her eyes to fall shut.
'What will happen?' her thoughts whispered in her mind. She hugged her arms around her, trying to steady her nerves, which seemed to tremble. After what Dawn said, she was frightened about the curse's departure. There was just so much uncertainty surrounding it and her future.
The air before her suddenly felt warmer, as the steady breeze lessened. '...And will he stay? Will he have us? Or. will he be rid of us when I am normal again?' Tears welled in her closed eyes, "Piccolo" she breathed in almost a sob.
"Yes?" a voice responded.
Eve jumped her eyes flying open shedding held tears. Piccolo stood in front of her, the wind held at bay by his broad form, his cape shuttering with the uneven flow of wind at his back. His expression was dark, closed, with his arms held loosely at his sides. She gazed up at him; still feeling warm tears wet her cheeks.
She couldn't hold back anymore, and she stepped forward wrapping her arms around him and crying into his lavender gi. Her heart ached and her hands gripped the back of his shirt tightly, as if it was her last tether to this world.
Her sobs were silent, but her voice found her after several long moments, "Please.do not leave me, or Dawn."
-------------------------
He left the cave to see where Eve had gone, and noticed her leaning against the mountainside, eyes closed. He flew over to her and landed soundlessly on the path close to her. He was certain she would have realized his presence, but she didn't.
'What is she thinking about?' he mused as he studied her features. Her skin seemed to glow in the pale light and her hair shined. But his eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed something about her expression as if subtly changed, 'Is she crying?'
"Piccolo" she breathed, her lips barely parted. Her tone was certainly tear worn. He couldn't stand there and watch this. "Yes?" he spoke softly, not wishing to startle her.
But he did apparently for she jumped. Eve's eyes opened and seemed not to catch the starlight, but hold the stars in their depths. Glistening tears fell abruptly from them and his jaw tightened, he was afraid his assumption was correct. Eve simply gazed upwards at him, crying silently, her eyes staring into his soul. He froze, unable to act for several long, silent moments.
He began to speak, to inquire to the cause of her tears, but before he could speak she flung her arms tightly around him, and began to weep into him. He stared down at her, as her shoulders shuddered with unheard sobs. The sight forced his eyes shut.
"Please.do not leave me, or Dawn." She cried into him, muffled against his clothes. Piccolo pulled her close then, and sighed deeply. "Never." He whispered. His eyes parted to catch her gaze. She had stepped away, but still within the circle of his arms. Her smile was warm though tears still gleamed unshed.
He leaned down and captured her lips to his.
-------------------------
Her tears quieted as she felt his powerful arms draw in around her frail form. His words then rumbled deep in his chest and brought a smile to her lips. Eve stepped back slowly, remaining in the protective circle of Piccolo's arms. She waited silently until his eyes opened.
Her eyes widened a touch as he leaned close and drew her into a kiss. But in but an instant her eye grew heavy and fell shut. Eve returned the chaste kiss, but her hands smoothed up his arms until they found his broad neck and locked around it. She deepened their embrace, and much to her delight it did not frighten Piccolo, nor make him break contact, he merely followed suit.
Eve felt his arms tighten around her as he stood up straight. She held herself up with his strong neck and then wrapped her legs around his waist. He broke the rhythm for a moment as she did this but continued, his right hand smoothing through her hair.
---------------------
When she returned the kiss he blinked, but did not stop. But their position was awkward, so he pulled her close as he stood, holding her against him. He felt her legs lock behind his back and his eyes parted for a second, but he felt her tongue slip between his parted lips and his eyes fell shut. He had no idea what he was doing, but it felt right, and Eve seemed to feel the same.
Every brush of skin of hers against his seemed to fill a void that had been growing, a longing he had for her was being sated. Then, he knew without any doubt, he would spend his life protecting, and cherishing this woman. He loved her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Whips sweat from forehead and cracks her knuckles Well, there you go! The longest Chapter of Evening!
I hope you all enjoyed it, I tried hard, many nights and a few writer's blocks have past to give you Chapter 24!
Only a few more chapters until the end. I have chosen an ending! I hade 3 in mind and I picked one. It's a surprise ending I shall warn you, and a sequel is in the mists of my mind. But its up to you, my readers, to tell me if a sequel is due. But don't tell me yet. You may feel the ending should be, the end, period, good without a sequel coughs I doubt it coughs clears throat well I'll be waiting to hear from you all!
Thanks again to PiccolodragoN. for all of your support!