"Leb wohl, mein kleiner." –Piccolo's last words to Gohan in the German Dbz series (nearly cried when he said it). Means 'Live well, my little one.' I don't own Dbz.

-

I didn't find anyone else. I decided that Briefs would have to do for now.

So instead of searching for a gun to shoot the man with, I had just walked around. No where particular, of course. Just down my street, and then the next, and the next… Until I didn't recognize my position any more. I had simply been thinking about Lila and forgot that my feet were still moving. I was thinking about the good days, before everything got so fucked up.

I remembered the first time we met. I was plastered, she was on her way… It was New Years, who wasn't? Our mutual friend Kyle Brachouski had introduced us. I knew him through playing ball back in high school, and he knew Lila through work. At the time, Lila was an office assistant, and helped manage his newly founded accounting office. Kyle was a good friend of mine, and wanted to remedy my then-single status. I remember talking to Lila and finding her so captivating, so…fresh. She laughed so easily, and talked with such energy that I couldn't help but be charmed. I couldn't believe how incredibly fun she was. We were still talking when the ball was about to be dropped at the official countdown, and drank the year's first celebration shots together. I remember how she kissed me on the cheek and cheered 'Happy New Year' while holding her glass in the air. She was so happy then…

But here I was, lying on Brief's couch again, remembering her. How pathetic. The world really is a sad place these days.

"Piccolo, I want to try something different today. Why don't you tell me a good memory of you and Lila, when you were first married, or even just dating." The doctor was looking out the window, his eyes partially closed.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, but deep down…that's just one of the things I wanted to remember, after all the shit I had to relive.

"I remember one time we were on the beach, about five months after I had met her. We had been dating for almost four of those months, and I was certain I had found the perfect woman. The first part of the day was really nice. I didn't have any classes that Saturday, and her office was closed on the weekend. We decided to head over and walk around, while the good weather kept up. We must have walked up and down the main beach about six times, just talking and laughing together. We eventually set out a place to just sit and have a drink. We still just talked the whole time. I talked about my earlier college days, and Lila would laugh and tell me about some of her crazy incidents with her friends, like going streaking through a frat. When I asked why she hadn't bothered to run by my room, she just kissed me and grinned, saying that I was too much of a gentleman to stare. I remember the way Lila lied there, putting sun tan lotion over herself. She knew it was driving me crazy, which is why she did it so slowly, I think. I felt that I was with the most beautiful woman in the world then." I noticed that Briefs way really paying attention now, and that my face was becoming warmer than an Australian sidewalk. I cleared my throat and continued, reminding myself that I was speaking out loud, and not just wondering to myself. "Anyway, it was the best date we had ever had. We had so much fun, and just relaxed… I even broke out a bottle of champagne to celebrate. That's when it happened, of course. These enormous clouds came up, black and ominous. The day was nearly over, so I thought they might stay back for a while, which of course they didn't. When the barrier broke and rain began to pour on us, I saw the end of my perfect date going down the drain. Here we were, ditching our glasses and towels, running to get out of the freezing downpour. We rushed under one of the now-empty life guard towers, soaking wet. My face was burning with embarrassment as I apologized to Lila. I was sure the entire day was ruined because of the shitty ending. Lila surprised me, though. She just laughed and took off her sopping wet shirt and shorts, and acted like she was tanning in the shade. I laughed a little too, but stopped when she sat in my lap and hugged me. She had said that she always had fun with me, even if it was sitting sopping wet under some tower. I had smiled and told her that whenever she was happy, so was I…" I remember her kissing me softly, placing her small hands on my chest. They felt so cold there, I had wanted nothing more than to make them feel warm and comfortable. At first I just held her hands together in mine, but then I deepened the kiss a little, putting one hand on her back, and the other through her damp hair. At the time, I didn't care if someone came along and saw me feeling her up. I was happy then…so damn happy. Lila had giggled slightly at the gesture and rubbed her nose against mine, saying how cute I could be. Her eyes were so soft and contented looking then… Still excited, but calmer somehow. Like she knew everything would be all right. I had laughed and rubbed her back, shaking my head. I had asked her, casually, if she would consider marrying me. It was the rashest, most important thing I had ever asked in my life… And I am still surprised today when Lila grinned and said, just as casually, that she would think about it…given there was a ring involved.

"What happened then?"

I swear, this guy was about to get an erection. Just looking at him made me forget any good feeling I was having. I just decided to tell the truth and let him 'analyze' it. "I more or less proposed to her." There. Examine THAT.

Apparently Briefs hadn't been expecting that, and adjusted his glasses slightly before glancing down at his notes. "You uh, proposed to her? Right there? That doesn't seem something you would do, if you don't mind me saying so."

"Nah, I don't mind." It was a true enough statement. I wouldn't dream of doing something like that now, probably. I had just reached the point in the session where I didn't care what Briefs thought. I remembered it didn't matter what he thought, and that we never saw each other outside of this office.

"Well, I must say I'm impressed with your progress today, Piccolo. You really opened up and talked about your past, instead of giving short facts over it. I think it's important that you relive memories, rather than just reporting them. Good work." What the hell am I, some kid in kindergarten who just drew an ugly flag with God Bless America on it? I'm a grown man, I don't need this dick to reassure me when I revisit some memories. I do it all the time, I just don't always have to talk to him about them.

I let my thoughts drift back slowly to that day, and forgot my surroundings. The softly lit office blurred into that May night. After the rain had let up, I apologized to Lila again for the crappy end to the date. She just slugged my shoulder and said it was better when something exciting and unplanned happened. It made things much more interesting, and a hell of a lot more fun. She especially liked the would-be marriage proposal that I had joked out. That night, I had originally wanted to end things by cleaning up and heading into the city to hang out some more. Maybe catch up with some friends and watch a show or something. Lila had something else in mind. We went back to her place, where she decided to take a shower…While I was still in it. I'm not going into details, but I will say this: Although the plans for the night were changed, they were not ruined. I wasn't complaining, at least.

"Piccolo?" Ah damn, forgot he was still there. He's giving me the agitated 'Now that I'm finally listening, you space out?' look. He can wait a minute while I 'relive' a memory.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I just thought you should know that I think we are coming up to your real problem. We should reach the core in no time, and have you feeling better in time for Christmas. Everything will really turn out ok."

I wasn't so optimistic, but decided to nod and go along with it… It was far more easier than saying that things would never be all right again.

"…Great."

-

Woot, another chapter out on the press! I rock so much. I'm able to upload so much because the weather is still shit, and I finish my homework as quick as I can. I still do lots of crap with my friends here, but during the school week, my social calendar slows down some. This weekend I get to celebrate my friend Sandra's 17th birthday…And since the drinking age here is 16 (for beer and light liquor), I'm probably going to have a good time. I didn't give up beer for Lent.

-Ace