A/N: Hey everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I'm back for now. I'm
still going to try and write whenever I can. But both Mama & Daddy are so
so sick, and need prayers. Thanks for reading! Please review, I still live
on them!
Dende's Love
Chapter 9: Confusion
Linden waved as Videl flew off, and just stood at the edge of the lookout, watching the sky, watching the ground.
She jumped as a pair of arms came around her shoulders from behind. She smiled as she smelled the mixture of sunshine and rain that was Dende. Her mind was confused.
She hadn't been mourning Loumil for long. And she still loved him. But her affection was growing for Dende as well. He wasn't of her kind...... /Loumil is dead, Linden. Moving on is natural,/ she thought to herself, making sure, as always, to block the thoughts from Dende.
Dende, though, noticed that Linden wasn't as up as she usually was. *Anything wrong?* he asked.
Linden gave him a small smile. *No, just.... memories. I miss my family and friends and......* she trailed off with a sigh.
Dende stood there, just holding her, wondering what else there was. He jumped when a voice intruded in on their quiet time.
"If you two are done," started the deep voice of Piccolo, "then I'd like to practice once more before we go to bed." He then turned and walked to his usual training space.
Linden reached her hand up and gave Dende's arm a light squeeze. She turned, pecked him on the cheek, and jogged in after Piccolo.
Dende sighed, rubbing his temples. /If I get any more confused, I'm not sure what's going to happen!/ he thought to himself.
"Dende, I have prepared your room........ should I go tidy up Linden's as well?" asked Mr. Popo.
"That's alright, Mr. Popo. I'll do it," he replied, and meandered to her room to see what needed doing. He saw that on her way to the training room, Linden traded her normal garb of, what he assumed, was casual Lousenthican wear, to her normal training outfit.
He paused, then picked up her clothes, folding them and placing them at the end of her bed, still made from waking earlier. He looked around, and realized that there wasn't really anything else to do.
He spotted her pack, and picked it up to put next to her bed as well, when a few holographic images slipped out. He frowned, and was about to put them back, when he spotted the tri-framed photos. It was undoubtedly Linden, her eyes a brilliant pink, with a man who had long, flowing blonde hair and eyes of the same shade.
His frown deepened as he studied them, the way they kissed, and he felt jealousy shoot through him.
*Dende, what are you doing?* came her voice into his head.
He quickly slipped the holo-pics back into her pack, and placed it by her bed. *Nothing, just tidying up a bit.*
Linden, looked at him strangely, her eyes purple, and uncertain. *Alright. Well, I'm tired. I think I'm going to try and rest. Piccolo wants to pick up training at dawn.*
Dende nodded, suddenly feeling nervous. /Perhaps I treaded on territory best left undiscovered./ he thought again.
Linden stood there for a second, lost in thought. /I love Loumil, I always will. But he's gone. And Dende's not. That's all there is to it./
She walked towards Dende, and stroked his cheek with her hand, and he turned towards her, his eyes filled with doubt.
Linden went up onto her toes, and kissed him tenderly on his mouth, one of her fangs poking him slightly, but gently all the same.
Dende kissed her, and pulled back, tracing her jawline with a finger. *I care about you.....* he started hesitantly, his eyes following his finger, *and I'm not sure what to do about it.*
Linden closed her eyes, and leaned into his hand as he cupped her cheek. *I would like to see where things go. But I must have time to mourn, even as I train. I lost so much, so many......*
Dende kissed her again, gently, barely brushing her lips. *I understand. We must take things slowly, and focus more on preparation, more than how quickly our affections get stronger, or how quickly we get closer.*
A ghost of a smile passed over her lips. *We will get closer as it feels right. But you are right, we have much to think about, and little time to prepare.*
Dende slid his hand, still cupping her cheek, down her neck, over her shoulder, and grasped her hand. *Then, we must make sure you get as far as you will go. I'll see you in the morning, but as always, you can call for me if you need me.*
Linden grinned, *Thank you.* She kissed him one more time, with slightly more pressure, and then Dende turned and walked out of her room.
While she was undressing, Linden felt different. She realized, with a start, that she felt at peace. /I will fight you, Doquenis, and I will win./ she thought gravely, before falling asleep.
She heard, at the back of her mind, a sinister chuckle, and a reply.
*We will see, beautiful one. We will certainly see.*
Alright, I'm stopping there for tonite! It's almost 1am. Please PLEASE review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And my thanks to Jessi-chan and Brendy-chan for their unending and unwavering support. Arigatou!!!! Ja ne minna! ^_^
Dende's Love
Chapter 9: Confusion
Linden waved as Videl flew off, and just stood at the edge of the lookout, watching the sky, watching the ground.
She jumped as a pair of arms came around her shoulders from behind. She smiled as she smelled the mixture of sunshine and rain that was Dende. Her mind was confused.
She hadn't been mourning Loumil for long. And she still loved him. But her affection was growing for Dende as well. He wasn't of her kind...... /Loumil is dead, Linden. Moving on is natural,/ she thought to herself, making sure, as always, to block the thoughts from Dende.
Dende, though, noticed that Linden wasn't as up as she usually was. *Anything wrong?* he asked.
Linden gave him a small smile. *No, just.... memories. I miss my family and friends and......* she trailed off with a sigh.
Dende stood there, just holding her, wondering what else there was. He jumped when a voice intruded in on their quiet time.
"If you two are done," started the deep voice of Piccolo, "then I'd like to practice once more before we go to bed." He then turned and walked to his usual training space.
Linden reached her hand up and gave Dende's arm a light squeeze. She turned, pecked him on the cheek, and jogged in after Piccolo.
Dende sighed, rubbing his temples. /If I get any more confused, I'm not sure what's going to happen!/ he thought to himself.
"Dende, I have prepared your room........ should I go tidy up Linden's as well?" asked Mr. Popo.
"That's alright, Mr. Popo. I'll do it," he replied, and meandered to her room to see what needed doing. He saw that on her way to the training room, Linden traded her normal garb of, what he assumed, was casual Lousenthican wear, to her normal training outfit.
He paused, then picked up her clothes, folding them and placing them at the end of her bed, still made from waking earlier. He looked around, and realized that there wasn't really anything else to do.
He spotted her pack, and picked it up to put next to her bed as well, when a few holographic images slipped out. He frowned, and was about to put them back, when he spotted the tri-framed photos. It was undoubtedly Linden, her eyes a brilliant pink, with a man who had long, flowing blonde hair and eyes of the same shade.
His frown deepened as he studied them, the way they kissed, and he felt jealousy shoot through him.
*Dende, what are you doing?* came her voice into his head.
He quickly slipped the holo-pics back into her pack, and placed it by her bed. *Nothing, just tidying up a bit.*
Linden, looked at him strangely, her eyes purple, and uncertain. *Alright. Well, I'm tired. I think I'm going to try and rest. Piccolo wants to pick up training at dawn.*
Dende nodded, suddenly feeling nervous. /Perhaps I treaded on territory best left undiscovered./ he thought again.
Linden stood there for a second, lost in thought. /I love Loumil, I always will. But he's gone. And Dende's not. That's all there is to it./
She walked towards Dende, and stroked his cheek with her hand, and he turned towards her, his eyes filled with doubt.
Linden went up onto her toes, and kissed him tenderly on his mouth, one of her fangs poking him slightly, but gently all the same.
Dende kissed her, and pulled back, tracing her jawline with a finger. *I care about you.....* he started hesitantly, his eyes following his finger, *and I'm not sure what to do about it.*
Linden closed her eyes, and leaned into his hand as he cupped her cheek. *I would like to see where things go. But I must have time to mourn, even as I train. I lost so much, so many......*
Dende kissed her again, gently, barely brushing her lips. *I understand. We must take things slowly, and focus more on preparation, more than how quickly our affections get stronger, or how quickly we get closer.*
A ghost of a smile passed over her lips. *We will get closer as it feels right. But you are right, we have much to think about, and little time to prepare.*
Dende slid his hand, still cupping her cheek, down her neck, over her shoulder, and grasped her hand. *Then, we must make sure you get as far as you will go. I'll see you in the morning, but as always, you can call for me if you need me.*
Linden grinned, *Thank you.* She kissed him one more time, with slightly more pressure, and then Dende turned and walked out of her room.
While she was undressing, Linden felt different. She realized, with a start, that she felt at peace. /I will fight you, Doquenis, and I will win./ she thought gravely, before falling asleep.
She heard, at the back of her mind, a sinister chuckle, and a reply.
*We will see, beautiful one. We will certainly see.*
Alright, I'm stopping there for tonite! It's almost 1am. Please PLEASE review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And my thanks to Jessi-chan and Brendy-chan for their unending and unwavering support. Arigatou!!!! Ja ne minna! ^_^