"Well, Leela's agreed to let Vegeta go, too." Silvia shrugged. "And besides, that show is in two weeks. We really need to rehearse."
"She's right, Maple. We really can't stay any longer..." Leela said softly.
"Hey - but you're just gonna let Vegeta go?!" Maple protested. "Did you two FORGET what he did to Zarbon?!"
"Maple, of course not!!" Leela exclaimed. "How can you say that?!"
"Besides, I promised him we wouldn't ^_^" Silvia added.
"Well you had no right to!!" Maple accused. "I promised my brother I'd avenge him and I'm gonna!"
"But what GOOD will it do?!" Leela persuaded. "Nothing will bring Zarbon back. Besides, it's not as simple as avenging him. Vegeta isn't on his own anymore. He has a family." she looked at Maple. "You were six years old when we first met you. Don't you remember the day your father died?"
"What does Vegeta have to do to with my father?" Maple asked.
"It was horrible losing your father, right? That's just how his kids are gonna feel!" Leela insisted.
"She's got a point, little sis." Silvia said.
"That's different." Maple argued. "I only had one parent, Vegeta's kids will still have their mother!"
"It'd still be painful, Maple..."
"Okay, how about this: What's Piccolo gonna think if you kill Vegeta?" Silvia questioned.
"Piccolo?" Maple looked at her. "What about him?"
"Well, think about it." Silvia began. "You kill Vegeta, and you'll have to kill Goku, too. Then Piccolo will think you've turned against him or something. You two would become enemies."
"Enemies?!" Maple gasped. "But I don't want to be his enemy!"
"Then don't go attacking his allies." Silvia told her.
"..... But... I promised Zarbon..." Maple said, sitting down on the couch and looking away sadly. "He'll never forgive me. I've never broken a promise to him before..."
"He'll forgive you." Silvia said. "And I'm not just saying that. He'll understand."
"You think so?" Maple asked.
"I know so. I am his sister after all." Silvia replied.
"Come, on, Maple..." Leela urged.
".... Okay.... okay. I'll leave Vegeta alone." Maple gave in. "But I'm still mad at him!!"
"We're all mad at him." Silvia mumbled.
Maple stood up.
"When are we leaving?"
"As soon as possible. But I guess you wanna say goodbye to loverboy, hm?" Silvia replied.
"Give me an hour." Maple told her. Silvia shrugged.
"Whatever. As long as we leave today."
"I'll be back soon!" Maple left the ship.
"I really hope in works between them..." Leela said. She looked at Silvia. "Can Maple handle a long - term relationship, do you think?"
"Hm... yeah." Silvia nodded. "I think so. It's Romeo I'm concerned about..."
~~~~~
Piccolo squinted at whatever it was flying towards him.
"Maple?" he realized.
"Piccolo!" Maple arrived in front of him in a few seconds. She landed, and looked up at him.
"What's with you?" Piccolo asked, noticing the look on her face.
"I'm leaving today."
"Leaving?!" Piccolo gasped.
"In an hour." Maple told him.
"Isn't this a bit sudden? I thought you'd be here for a fortnight or something." Piccolo admitted.
"So did I." Maple replied. "But my sisters and I are starting a new show at the club. We need to rehearse. Besides, we only came because of Vegeta.... but I guess we'll leave him alone."
"So... what are we gonna do?" Piccolo asked.
"I'll write to you. Just like I agreed." Maple nodded. "Write back, okay? And we'll arrange something."
"Y'know, the mail isn't always reliable." Piccolo told her.
"Then... if it's over a month since we last heard from each other... assume the letter got lost in the post, and write again." Maple answered.
"Alright..." Piccolo agreed. "So, I guess... I'll see you around."
"Yeah..." Maple mumbled. She smiled. "But we've still got a whole hour yet."
"You're right." Piccolo said. "Better tell her now, though..." He looked at her. "Maple..."
"Mm?" Maple looked at him.
"You know..."
"Maple!" a voice called.
"Huh?" Maple turned around, and saw Leela running towards them.
"What's up?" Maple asked.
"Mom's just contacted us." Leela began. "She wants us to come home right now - the show has been moved to this weekend!"
"But that's just three days away!" Maple protested.
"I know! We gotta go home now and rehearse!" Leela insisted.
"... Okay... you go to the ship, I'll be there in a minute..." Maple replied.
"Un!" Leela flew off.
Maple turned back to Piccolo.
"You're leaving now?" Piccolo mumbled.
"I'm sorry." Maple said. Piccolo shrugged.
"Hey, don't sweat it. It doesn't matter."
"I promise I'll write to you - I'll send the first letter, okay?"
"Okay."
"Piccolo..." Maple kissed him. "I'm gonna miss you."
"Yeah..." Piccolo said. "I guess I'm gonna miss you too a little, brat."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!" Maple yelled. Piccolo laughed.
"Hey, I was just kidding."
".... Hmph!" Maple frowned. But she still smirked a little. "See ya, Big Boy."
"Bye." Piccolo waved when she kissed him, and then flew off. "Hey, and if your big sister picks on you, you tell your mom!"
"QUIT IT!!!" Maple shouted angrily.
"Ha ha!" Piccolo smirked. He watched her leave, but she was soon out of sight.
*Earth, a week later*
"Sir?"
"Huh?" Piccolo snapped out of meditation, and looked at the alien that stood in front of him. It was a race he didn't recognize.
"Are you Mr. Piccolo?" the man asked.
"Yeah. Who's asking?" Piccolo replied.
"A letter for you, sir." the alien man handed him an envelope.
"Oh, right. Thanks." Piccolo said, taking it. The alien flew off. Piccolo opened the letter. Just as he thought, it was from Maple. He read it.
"Dear Piccolo,
Heya! The show went really well. It was a pain in the ass rehearsing,"
"Heh." Piccolo chuckled, and continued reading.
"But at least it's over now. We're gonna start doing that show every Saturday night. That's okay, we always performed on Saturdays. But this one's more complicated, with all these rehearsals I won't have much time to train until I know the show off by heart. So the next time we meet be ready for a fight!"
"Typical."
"I'll probably kick your butt even quicker than usual."
"Yeah, right!" Piccolo smirked.
"Anyway, see ya soon. I can't come over for a while because of the shows and things, but I'll try to get a bit of time off. Once I know the show I'll be able to come see you.
Lotsa love (from Silvia, too ^_^)
Maple"
Piccolo smirked.
"Silvia..." he mumbled. He picked up the pen and paper Gohan had given him. He carried it with him all the time, having nowhere else to put it. He started to write, keeping it short. He'd decided to tell her those "things" face to face.
"Dear Maple
Don't worry about it. But I'm looking forward to that fight. And think again, kid. This time, YOU'LL be the one getting their butt kicked.
Nothing much has been happening on Earth. Apart from Gohan ranting on about that fetus of him. Videl went for another scan and Gohan brought another picture back. What is that thing?! I'd never tell him, but it's looks kinda like an old potato. Or perhaps a relative of Frieza. I can't decide - and you can tell Silvia I said that!
I should've guessed Silvia would send her love. So how is the family, anyway?
Anyway, that's all I have to write.
See ya soon, brat
Piccolo"