The people have spoken! Star Crossed Lovers will stay right here!*Applause*Applause*

A/N: If anyone knows the proper term for the ability to see into the past, please tell me in your review.

Chapter 11- Conflicts

Trista was out in the woods looking for her keys again. The icy fall air nipped her face as she searched with her good arm. She pulled the hood of her new white coat over her head. After recognizing Piccolo's cape for the fine material it was (and after he never came back to retrieve it) she made it into a lovely coat. Since then it had served her well. She could feel the warnings of winter in the wind. If she didn't find her keys soon they would be buried under snow. Then she'd have to wait until spring before she could start the search again. She needed to find her keys, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to. Not yet anyway. Frustrated with her conflicting desires she sat on a log, her face buried in her hands.

"I have to find them. I have to stop those men who confronted me at the gate. I have to save the timeline. It's my duty. But... I like it here. I like the bar and working there. I like the fact that my hardest decision is whether a man has had enough to drink. I like Groob and his family." Then another thought occurred.

"But also, I miss Amara and Michelle. I miss the Serena and her friends. And I miss Houtaru and Rini. God how I miss Rini... Her eyes all full of hope and light. And Houtaru... So calm and quite, but still full of that innocence that comes with childhood...

But they will leave me, like the Sailor Scouts of the past. They will get married and have children and die. And I will be alone again, left with nothing but memories. But the same applies to the people I meet here, so that makes no difference.

Oh why did let Rini into my life? It took so long to shut out my past, to get use to being alone. I don't think I can do it again. But how could I deny a child who was so much like me at her age? Feeling rejected because her parents were busy with their work. The difference is that her parents did it solely because their jobs were to demanding at the time. Not because they couldn't like Mom, or because they were afraid to raise you alone like Father. And she didn't have brothers or sisters to lean on like I did. No, I'm not mad I met Rini. How could I be? Fate brought us together, and I am thankful."

She looked up at the sun and the world around her and closed her eyes, taking in its effect. Then she started speaking very fast, almost hysterically.

"But I like the sun and the trees and the wind on my face. I like seeing the stars at night and the clouds in the day and the rain and sleet and the snow. Let It Come In Torrents! I Don't Care!"

She sat there staring off into space, a remote fear in her eyes.

"I don't want to leave it again... I never want to leave it again..."

There was the sound of feet touching the ground behind her. She didn't need to see who it was. She was quite glad for his intrusion. It gave her time away from her thoughts and the pounding headache they were giving her.

"I was wondering when you would come to see me." She said, her voice serious. "I know what you want: Answers about what happened the other day. I'm prepared for your questions."

Piccolo wasn't expecting such a straightforward greeting and her melancholy; almost defeated tone made him a bit concerned. But this meeting was strictly for business, so he plowed ahead.

"Who are you?"

"I am called Trista Meioh."

"What are you?"

"I am a woman and Earthling, born and raised on this planet."

"I know you are closely associated with time. Explain."

"Each member of my family born into the line receives a gift of time. They are born with the gift of postcogniction (an ability to see the past), clairvoyance (an ability to see the present), or precognition (an ability to see the future). These gifts usually reveal themselves before a child's 5th birthday. I am precognitions. However, the other day I showed postcognictious abilities as well. I am sorry." She said with a bow. "I know you enjoy your privacy and I invaded it. Forgive me."

Her sudden apology caught him off guard. The only people who had asked for his forgiveness were begging for their lives. And, as she stood there waiting for his response, for the 1st time, Piccolo noticed that she was more like him than he realized. She was aloof as well, she just not as blatant about it as he. She would listen to people and smile and talk, but she always gave as little information about herself as possible. If someone got to close to her personal life, she tactfully avoided the situation. In fact, this was the only time anyone got such straightforward answers about her life before he found her. He figured it was because of what happened the other day. Her way of making it up to him.

"Also, you said something about a staff."

"The staff is an heirloom of my family. It can be used to see any span of time."

"And you've done this before?"

"When the time called for it. But it was never like what happened the other day. I wasn't just watching a scene from the past; I was in it. I felt it as well. The weather... And your emotions."

"My what?!" Needless to say Piccolo was shocked."How much did you see?"

"To when you were looking into the crowd." Trista said in a meek voice, looking down as if she had shamed herself.

Piccolo couldn't take it. She not only saw one of his worst memories, but she felt his feelings as well? It was all too much for him. She knew how weak and pathetic he was then. How painful it was... Without thinking he stalked up and grabbed her by the arms, forcing her to look into his frantic eyes.

"You saw nothing understand? Tell no one. If you-"

"What makes you think I would do such a thing?" She asked, her eyes and voice full of fury. "Do you think me so low? I would never betray your confidence. Ever."

Piccolo suddenly returned to his senses. Looking at her, body trembling from the anger his actions had caused. I can't believe I just did that. To her of all people...The only person who treats me like a man... He turned from her.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I lost control. I know you better than that." Not sure of what else to say, he left.

Trista watched him go. I can't believe he just accused me of that! It's a good thing he left, or I might have hit him. Like I did Nav. Trista couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Nav, the young male she had served a few weeks ago. He thought of her as nothing but eye candy and had made a show of his sexist attitude. A lot of the regulars had offered to teach him a lesson but Trista thought this was one she had to take care of herself.

Flashback:

"May I speak to you alone?" She said, to make sure no one would follow her.

"Sure. Someone has to teach a girl her place." Nav said, arrogantly walking outside.

"If you're so manly, you'll be able to beat me." Trista said, picking up a push broom from the foyer.

Nav gave her 1 look and laughed. "You? Beat me? Listen girle, I'm a mighty fine boxer, and you expect to beat me with a broom?

Trista said nothing, but prepared herself for battle.

"It's a darn shame when a man has to beat a girl in order to teach her right"

Trista took that broom and beat the poor slob half to death.

As he crawled away like the dog he was, Trista gave this remark.

"I'm a woman, fully developed in mind, body, and soul. You on the other hand, have a long way to go before you can begin to be considered a man. Now git like the worthless dog you are." She said with a little laugh, giving him a playful boot in his booty.

End Flashback:

Trista had to admit it felt good to fight again, but that was something she was willing to give up for a normal life. With a sigh, she returned to her previous task and the thoughts that came with it.

*****

Piccolo went and did the one thing he always did when he was full of emotions. He trained. It was his way of relieving stress. Only after a good spar did he find it possible to contemplate such things. He trained his hardest until he was physically exhausted. Then lying on the grass, he tried to understand what he was feeling.

"Why would I yell at her so? I know I don't like that she knows, but I'm usually so much better at controlling my emotions. She looked so angry, I didn't mean to upset her...What's wrong with me? I never fretted over who I hurt before. Maybe I'm just hungry." With that, Piccolo fixed himself some fish, along with apples and water* However, this did not help. He still felt bad for yelling at her, so he decided to go find her.

*****

Trista was down by river that wasn't to far from the forest. The site of it had given her an idea and she was currently bent over gathering water. That's when she heard them. Their heavy feet snapping twigs in their wake, despite the fact they were trying to be quite. By the sound of them there were about twenty. She stood slowly, mentally preparing herself for battle. Besides a few rocks, there wasn't anything she could use as a weapon. She would have to use bare hands. She turned to face them.

"So this is the b@#$% that beat you to a bloody pulp?" One said, laughing.

"Don't be fooled. Her bite is worse than her bark says." Nav commented moving forward.

"I see you brought your pack this time." Trista said. Calculating her chances of victory. 14:1 with bats blades. She could take a few down, but her chances of winning were slim.

Just then, Piccolo arrived. He watched as the men encircled her. His 1st impulse was to help her, but then he caught the look in her eye. It was the look of a warrior. The look she had rivaled his own he knew it. So he sat back and watched. Lets just see how much a warrior you are.

The 1st man who attacked her waved a plank with a nail in it like he was crazy. No technique. Trista punched him in the stomach and quickly disposed of him. The rest rushed her and she put 5 more out of commission, but someone got 1 good hit in and she was through. They beat her hard, but she never cried out, or let 1 tear fall. That's what they wanted. Someone kicked her in her stomach and she involuntarily spat blood. Her assailants jumped back at the site of the midnight red metallic liquid.

"What are you? Some type of freaky alien?" One screamed. Trista paid their ramblings no mind, but slowly rose to her feet and prepared to defend her self. Piccolo decided not to waste any more time. He had seen what he wanted to see. She had technique, strength, style, and endurance. There were no doubts about that.

"I suggest you leave the woman alone." He said, floating down. Nothing else was needed.

"DEMON! RUN!" In a matter of seconds, Trista and Piccolo were alone by the river.

"You came back?" Trista asked, holding on to her side.

"I had to. I wasn't sure if you knew I was...Sorry for my outburst. By the way, I believe I do think of you as a friend."

Even though she was in pain, Trista had to smile. So... He finally admits it.

He lifted her and her bundle and flew her to the Black Dragon. But before he did, he couldn't help but notice the unusual blood on the riverbank.

*Come on y'all, how are you gonna have those huge, beautiful fangs and not use them? I mean, you bite into things with them. That's what there for. Just because we don't see him eat on the show, doesn't mean he doesn't do it. We didn't see Vegeta eat anything until the beginning of the Buu saga, but no one questioned his ability to do such things.

A/N: Well, not my best. But still good. Right? Right?