Hey y'all! Its been awhile but I'm back! Sorry, but this is going to be one of those chaps that don't really add to the main plot but helps you understand the characters. I know that's kind of annoying, but Chosen 1 brought up a very interesting and valid point. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it couldn't be ignored. Otherwise, my story would not be realistic.

Chapter 15- Another Chap I Just Threw into the Mix

"Bye ChiChi! See ya later!"

"But Goku whe-" Goku sped off, not wanting to tell ChiChi the truth. He would have told her (If she wasn't such a controlling freak who kept him on a leash *). This was the 3rd time he had felt that strange ki. Usually, it was impossible to detect, unless it had a huge burst of energy. The first 2 times, it had been activated only for a moment and was to fast to track. But last time, he had been able to pin point it. And now, he was going to find its owner.

*****

Trista was surprised to see the tall man groping through the fridge. "Excuse me sir, but this room is off limits to the general public."

Goku just stared at her blankly.

"You can't be back here."

"OOOHHHH!" Goku shouted in realization. "Hey... you're the one I've been looking for." He started to advance, but Trista backed away.

"Who are you?" She asked, unconsciously prepared for battle. She wasn't sure of his intentions and did not want to fall victim to any surprise attacks.

But Goku ignored all of this and thrust out his hand in a gesture of friendship. "Hi! My name is Goku!"

Trista couldn't help but to smile at his childish nature.

"I'm called Trista." She said, taking his hand.

*****

Piccolo was training when he felt a power on the move.

"Goku" He spat. Instantly, his hated for him burned in his heart. He thought of him when he trained, when he meditated, even when he bathed. Every available moment was used to plan Goku's demise.

Then Piccolo realized where he was headed: To Kolana.** His fury sky rocketed as he sped off at top speed to reach her.

*****

As the 2 new friends laughed at a joke, Piccolo landed between them, blocking Trista from Goku's view like an enraged alpha male.

"Goku."

"Piccolo!" Goku yelled, surprised and concerned. "Run Trista. This guy's dangerous."

But Trista did not run. She was caught in Piccolo's eyes. They were clouded over with such an intense anger and fury. It was almost primal. She had never seen him this angry, or heard the same malice in is voice as when he talked to Goku. For the first time, she was seeing the full dark side of Piccolo, and she was scared for him.

"I don't want any trouble Picco-"

"Well you got it! You should have never come here. Now, I will rip out your heart and feed it to the wild dogs."

"Piccolo stop!" Trista said, running to his side.

"STAY OUTTA THIS!" He screamed slapping her to the ground. Trista flew back 3 feet before hitting the floor. Goku started to run to her aid but was stopped by a hard blow to his stomach.

"You die today."

Trista winched as she sat up. It felt like he had broken the side of her face. Still, it was the initial shock of being hit by Piccolo that had really floored her. She touched her tender cheek as if it were bleeding. Then, a fierce determination took her. I'm going to stop him. She thought. Even if it kills me.

"Piccolo!" She yelled, stopping his choke-hold on Goku and grabbing him by the shoulders. "Stop this insanity! What do you have against this man?" What did he have against him? What didn't he have against him? That moron had everything he didn't. Family, friends, appreciation, respect and power. Yes power. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind, Piccolo had come to terms with the fact that Goku would always be the stronger of the 2. Which is why he had to rely on his brilliant strategic mind instead of brute strength and luck.

Like Goku.

That idiot couldn't read, could barely count, and was very close to being legally retarded. Piccolo was not only intelligent, but had the ability to apply that knowledge. And yet, Goku had everything he did not. Everything just seemed to fall into his lap. While he on the other hand, had to fight for every tiny thing. Goku had even had the audacity to deny him a warrior's death. Thus, shaming him with his pity. Now, he may even take Kolana away from him. Just like Kami would have if he hadn't shielded her presence from him. His only friend... He was not willing to share her with his mortal enemy. But of course, he couldn't say this. So he stated the obvious:

"He killed my father."

Trista looked at Goku in surprise. "Is this true?"

"Weeell yeah... But-he-was-really-evil-and-I-had-to-kill-him."

"There, its justified."

"What?!"

"It hurts but its true. If your father was evil and Goku had to kill him his actions were justified. The death of your father is no reason to pursue him."

"But I have to kill him-"

"Like you were going to kill me?"

Piccolo stopped, and stared at her with renewed shock.

"...You knew?"

"Oh yes. Its hard not to notice such cold eyes boring into your soul. I knew every time you were watching me. That day n the woods, and at the river... A killer like you does not pay a female that kind of attention because you like her. I knew you sensed something. That was confirmed the day you said you think of me 'as a person with great power.' Even though that was after you stopped stalking me. I don't know what made you stop, or what made you start talking to me, but I know this: I do not wish to see blood shed. Spare his life, as you have spared mine. Or as the Guardian of Time I will make you regret it." Then Trista stormed off, leaving the 2 rivals alone.

"You heard her." Piccolo said. "She has spared your life today, but know this:" He said, grabbing Goku by his shirt and pulling him to eye level. "There is nothing I would enjoy more than seeing your warm blood rippling down in cascades of mortality. I never want to see you here again. I never want to see you with her again. If I do, I will surely kill you."

Goku called nimbus and flew off, not fully understanding what he had just witnessed. Geez! You'd think he liked her or something...

*****

Piccolo followed Trista into the woods nearby. "Why did you do that?! Why did you make me stop?"

"Because you're being irrational." She said, sounding every bit of the princess she was. A very angry princess. "You have no good substantial reason to kill that man."

"I don't need one. I'm the Demon King-"

"Exactly. You're not Piccolo. Piccolo is aloof and stoic, but he's a good man. A man who underneath his cold mannerisms wishes to be loved and appreciated."

"The Piccolo you know is a lie."

"No he isn't. I see him deep in his eyes when we talk. His true self, not you. You're not Piccolo, you are only a part of him. The epitome of his one fatal flaw: His hatred."

"Silence!" He raises a hand to strike her again, but she stopped him this time. As their eyes met, their were familiarity in them. They were the hate and rage filled eyes of The Demon king, and the cold, serious eyes of an livid Princess of Pluto.

"You are angry, and you have a right to be. But to let that anger fester into contempt for all the world is lunacy. It is this lunacy, that you hold to with all your might, that will ultimately be your undoing. As long as you hate Goku, you will hunt him all the days of your life. Leaving no time for pleasure. You will spend every waking hour thinking of ways to destroy him. And while he lives happily, you will waste away. A slave to your hate, and to Goku as well since your anger centers on him." She never looked away from his eyes, which by now a reflection of the fires of hell.

"Your hate blinds you, clouds your thinking, and only allows you to see what it wants you to see. As long as you hate Goku, he controls you."

"NO ONE CONTROLS ME!"

"NOT EVEN YOURSELF? You're hatred, not lucid thinking is the cause of all you actions. And as long as you hold on to that hatred it will consume and control you. Like Goku."

She turned from him as stalked out of the woods. She went straight to her sewing machine, blasted the radio, and furiously set to work.

*****

Piccolo was beyond infuriated. He went to train, but no matter how hard he tried he could not hit his double.

"What's wrong?" It taunted. "Is your hate 'blinding you'?" Piccolo panted, more from his anger and confusion than anything else. "She's not right. *pant* She can't be right. *pant*"

He put as much force as possible into his next punch. And hit nothing but air. He was rewarded with a hard knee in his stomach. Causing blood to spew from his mouth. He tried to elbow him but missed again.

"She's *pant* not right. My anger's not blinding me. *pant*pant* There's NO WAY she's right!" Still he fought miserably. His double assaulted him and beat him ragged.

*gasp* "She can't be right..." He gasped, falling to his knees in utter exhaustion. "There's *pant* There's no way..." That's before he blacked out.

"Uhh..." He awoke several hours later in a daze. His rage, only a cloudy memory. As he looked at the endless stars above, he realized that no matter what happened, in the end all that was left was the truth : She was right. She was absolutely right. He rose, his head throbbing a bit, and went off to see her.

*****

Trista looked at her new dark red dress. Her first attempt had been a complete failure due to her anger. But the second was much nicer. It had 1 strap and went down to just below her knees. From there, the dress went diagonal to just above her ankle. It was a rather fine dress. Just then, she felt a breeze.

"Hello Piccolo. I was expecting you a bit earlier." She said plainly. Piccolo couldn't help but notice the dress. It looked so lovely on her. It accented her eyes and focused the eyes on her shapely curves. But he quickly banished these thoughts and focused on what he came for.

"You were right."

"I know." Trista answered, sitting on her bed. "But I must ask your forgiveness. True as they may be, my words were (ironically) spoken out of anger. I'm sorry."

" You have nothing to be sorry for, but I do. In my anger I hit you. And tried to hit you a second time." He moved closer and knelt down before. "But I swear to you Kolana," He said, taking her hand in his. "I will never let my anger control me again."

Trista wasn't quite sure of what to say. She had felt such a sensation when he held her hand. She didn't want him to stop. Piccolo didn't either, but he was unfamiliar with such emotions and sensations. And neither knew how to tell the other without destroying their fragile friendship. So Piccolo got up and began to leave.

"Wait Piccolo."

He turned to face her.

"When you attacked Goku... Was it just because you hate him?"

"I don't know. All my feelings just blended together at the time. So I really couldn't say."

"Oh."

Piccolo left with Kolana on his mind. He wasn't sure of what he thought of her now, but he knew it wasn't as just a friend.

*****

As Trista changed into her night gown, she found herself thinking of Piccolo. He was rather valiant whether he knew it or not. He usually was a little candid, but he was a man of honor. And he was so tall... And his voice was so deep and rich... And he was so strong, but not arrogant or over confidant... He wasn't the jealous type either. Or was he? She couldn't tell, but if he had seen her laughing with Goku, might it have sent him into a jealous rage? That only happens when you like someone a lot. Which of course, was why she asked. But since he honestly didn't know, she couldn't either.

It would have been nice. She thought as she slipped into bed. Just once, to have someone jealous over me. Especially if it was Piccolo... I may never be so lucky, but... I do like him. A lot. If only I could tell him...

* OH! Did you just read that! *0_0* Oh well, its true.

** Unless you forgot, Kolana is Trista's birth name in this story. By calling her so, Piccolo acknowledges her as she was in her past (and in his own mind): Sweet, simple, and .

Kolana is a name known only to those form her past (who are all coincidentally dead) and knew her more personally. By calling her this, and letting him do so, both recognize Piccolo's meaning to her. And her meaning to him as well.

A/Ns: I would like to thank all my friends who helped me with this Chapter: Chosen 1, DreamWraith, . I couldn't have done it without you. *Gives them big hugs and double chocolate chip cookie dough*

Well, gotta hurry with the next chap. I only pray I can get it out by my new personal deadline.

By the way, I'm sorry posting is going so slow now. But there's really little I can do about it.

Gee... I was really hoping to get through this story without mentioning Goku of anyone else. But this chap wouldn't have worked so well without him. *sigh* Oh well, maybe next time right?

Isn't FanFic great? I mean, I wouldn't be able to write little notes like this if I was publishing a book. Then I'd have to leave you all on your lonesomes without little notes and cute gestures written in ascetics **. *content sigh* I love FanFic...