Three Rivers of Remembrance

Chapter Four

"What the hell is going on here!" Piccolo demanded. He walked up to the group of young people, half a mind to blast them good.

"Father, we've made a decision." Rideria stepped forward. "We want to be with the men we love. You can't hold us back and keep us little girls forever."

Piccolo gawked at his daughter and her brazen attitude. "How dare you." He said angrily, his face slightly red. "You go behind my back, steal the Dragonballs just so you can wish your boyfriends to Earth?" He drew a hand back, his first instinct to fight. Then he stopped. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. "Go home." He told the girls.

"Not without…." Rideria said, but Piccolo shouting cut her off.

"I SAID GO HOME AND I MEAN NOW!" It was the sheer anger in his voice that told them they needed to do as they were told, or he might not be able to control his temper.

The girls looked at Kaizer, Gowan and Tekoa and then flew away. Hoping they'd still have boyfriends in the morning.

The young men stood there as Piccolo glared.

"Sir, we had no idea what they were doing until it was already done." Kaizer said bravely. "We did not mean to go behind your back."

Piccolo did not speak, but continued to seek out their emotions with his mind. He felt fear….first and foremost. But, he also believed Kaizer was telling the truth. The young Namekian had never lied to him, and he had no reason to believe it otherwise now.

"Do you wish to marry my daughter?" He asked Kaizer.

Immediately, Kaizer stood tall. "Yes, sir. I do. With your blessing of course."

"And you?" He looked at Gowan. "I assume you still wish to marry Rikola."

"Yes, sir." Gowan replied.

Then Piccolo looked at Tekoa. "Rhyne has never indicated to me that she was interested in marriage. Am I to assume you are asking my permission to date my youngest daughter?"

"It would be an honor, sir, if Rhyne would agree to give me a real chance." Tekoa said.

Piccolo wondered how he figured into the equation now that Gohan seemed dominant. Either way, it was something for Rhyne to figure out. "Very well." He said, reasonably calm. "I will give you all permission. However, my blessings and my respect must be earned. If any of you ever….ever dare to mistreat one of my girls…or any offspring…I will have no qualms about gutting you and throwing you to the animals." His voice as well as his words sent chills through the young Namekians bodies.

Gohan couldn't help himself. He was so glad to have Rhyne there; he pushed her onto the bed and kissed her. She returned every gesture, but was still crying and upset over the argument with her father. Even through her tears, she kissed Gohan, letting his hands go in places they had never gone.

But, then he stopped. "No." He said. "I won't do this to you, and not to Piccolo." Gohan said. "Come on. I'm taking you home. It's time Piccolo and I had a talk." Gohan sounded very mature and extremely determined.

"Whatever you say." Rhyne told him. "Just know….for you, I would do anything you asked me to." She blushed.

"And for you, I would never ask you to do anything I know you aren't ready to do." He kissed her one last time before they flew out the window together.

When Rideria and Rikola landed at the Lookout, they were very ashamed of having taken the Dragonballs.

Kami shook his head. "I am very disappointed in you two." He said. "Common thieves. Taking from your own family! What were you thinking!"

Rideria spoke first. "I just want control over my life." She said. "Father is just so…."

"He is your father, child!" Kami said, angrier than they had ever seen him. "That man would walk through fire for you! He'd battle any demon living or dead, and he'd kill his best friend to protect you! And this is how you treat him!"

"I'm sorry!" Rikola said, crying. "I just wanted Gowan here with me!"

"It's only been a few weeks!" Kami shouted. "How selfish can you be, how deceitful? You go behind your father's back, mine as well! You've probably broken what little heart he had!"

"What can we do?" Rideria asked, realizing the older Namek was telling the truth. "We messed up….big time."

"Yes you did." Piccolo said as he landed behind them.

Then, Kaizer, Gowan and Tekoa.

"I've decided to give you permission to marry, if that is what you wish." Piccolo said.

"What?" Rideria asked, astonished. "After this? I figured you'd pummel us into the ground."

"I may still do that." Piccolo said. "But, I've come to realize that you are young women. I'd much rather see you wed than sneaking behind my back." He said angrily. "But, know this. Marriage is not all rolling in bed and skipping through daisies." He shocked them with his words. "Two people, joined for a lifetime, is a very big commitment. One that you cannot enter into lightly. Exactly one month from today, if you are still certain this is what you want….and these are the young men you love, then I will allow Kami to marry you."

Kami himself was flabbergasted. "Sounds….reasonable." He stuttered.

"Until then, you will not be alone, chaperoned at all times, and you will respect my wishes as their father." He directed to the boys. "If for any reason, I find that you have dishonored my daughters, death will not be the worse thing that I will do to you."

"Yes, sir." They said.

Seconds later, Rhyne landed at the Lookout, surprised to find everyone there. "What's going on?"

"Rhyne!" Tekoa shouted and rushed forward, grabbing her off her feet. "I've missed you!"

She was completely shocked. She looked over Tekoa's shoulder toward her father and sisters, but had no chance to ask any questions.

"Take your hands off her." Gohan said angrily as he landed.

Tekoa put Rhyne down and looked at Gohan, then back to Rhyne. "Who is this?" He asked.

Rhyne looked back at Gohan and smiled. "Tekoa, we need to talk." She said. "I'm not sure what is going on here."

"At least you were not a part of their master plan of thievery and disobedience." Piccolo said. "I'll let your imaginative sisters explain it to you. Right now, I need to speak to Gohan."

Piccolo flew off the edge of the Lookout. "Gohan, come on."

He went to Rhyne's side and put his hand on her cheek. "You stay put. I'll be back." She smiled, never doubting his word.

Gohan stared angrily at Tekoa as he left. He followed Piccolo a few miles down to a nearby waterfall.

"Piccolo, what is going on?" Gohan demanded.

"I could ask you the same thing." He replied. "I believe my suspicions about you and Rhyne are confirmed. Am I correct?"

"Piccolo, I have never touched her." Gohan said emotionally. "You know I have more honor than that. You are my best friend….a father to me."

"I don't doubt you, Gohan. But, you are a male, and she is a female. If you say you are only friends, then I believe you." Piccolo said.

Gohan stood tall. "We are more than friends." He said.

Piccolo looked at the boy he loved as a son. "Explain."

"I love Rhyne. I always have." He admitted. "And she loves me. We're just not ready for marriage….at least, I don't believe she is."

Piccolo studied the look on the Saiyan boy's face. "But, you are?"

Gohan decided to be honest. "I want to be with Rhyne. Completely. But, it wouldn't be right unless we were married. So, I will wait."

"You can do that?" Piccolo had his doubts concerning a Saiyan male's sexual behavior. "You can abstain from anything sexual? Until when? What if Rhyne is not ready for a year? Two years? Will you dump her and go on with one of your new college girl's?" Piccolo knew his tone was angry and he didn't mean for it to sound as cold and callus as it did. But, Rhyne was his baby girl.

"Piccolo, I will never touch Rhyne outside of marriage. I swear to you on my life….on her life." Gohan said honestly. "If Rhyne chooses that Namek over me, then I will wish her the best. But, she is the one I love. I can't imagine there would ever be another."

Piccolo smiled, shaking his head. "Looks like you will finally be my son….at least one day."

Gohan grabbed Piccolo and hugged him. "Maybe sooner than you think!" He smiled.

THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW FOR ME! SOME SERIOUS ANGST IS COMING UP! WHO WILL RHYNE CHOOSE? WILL SHE FOLLOW HER HEART? OR HER HERITAGE?

SHERRI