Three Rivers of Remembrance

Chapter Fourteen

Piccolo could not remember being in a more desperate situation. There was less than two hours left before the anniversary of Rhyne's death, or disappearance. Whatever the hell it was. And they were no closer to finding her than they had been the day before.

Neither had they located Tekoa. Piccolo was frantic; having searched parts of the Earth he had never even seen before.

Nothing.

Likewise, Gohan's nerves were on edge. He was distraught and a little disoriented, having not slept in so long. But, he didn't care. He had to find Rhyne. Gohan would not give up until he did. He loved her even more now than he did a year ago, and he didn't think he could continue on with his life without her.

All Kami and Rikola could do was pray and hope. They watched as Raina played in the back of the Lookout, her father Gowan keeping watch out front. With no reason to believe Tekoa had left the planet, they were on guard.

"It just makes no sense." Rikola said. "How can she be alive, but not exist?"

"I'm not sure my dear." Kami said. "I have spent many hours in meditation as your father and friends have searched. And still, I have no answers."

"I believe Tekoa has done something with her." Gowan said, overhearing their conversation. "Some kind of mind trick. Would that be possible?"

Kami had already thought about it. "Yes, there are several Namekian spells, magic if you will, that can invoke demons. These demons can then do all sorts of things, including mind tricks. It's a hard ritual, but not impossible. Not even for someone an inexperienced at Tekoa."

"Then, it must be something like that." Gowan said angrily. "That bastard has ruined her mind, got her to thinking she loves him or something twisted like that. I swear, if I could get my hands on him, I'd kill him without regret for the pain he's caused my family." Rikola put an arm around his waist. "Thank you for loving her so much. It means a lot to me."

Gowan smiled. "I love both your sisters. They are my family. Even that stubborn headed father of yours." He joked.

Slowly and painfully, the two short hours passed. It was now too late to wish Rhyne back, if in fact she were dead. Even more frustrating, they were back at square one. No clues. No ideas. Seemingly, no hope.

Piccolo walked past everyone and went directly to his private room. "I haven't seen that look on his face in…gosh…since he tried to kill Goku." Krillin said.

"He's in pain." Goku replied. "All this time he's waited patiently, hoping to bring Rhyne back, only to have his hope shattered in the eleventh hour. It's just not fair." Goku glanced around, looking for Gohan, but he was not there.

"Hey, Krillin. Did you see which way Gohan went?" Goku asked.

Krillin shook his head. "No, I thought he flew in with you."

Goku became concerned. "He didn't. And come to think of it, I don't think I've seen him in the last few hours." Goku walked to the edge of the Lookout. "Maybe I'd better go look for him."

But, Kami put a hand on Goku's shoulder. "The boy needs time, as does Piccolo. They feel that one they love is lost and may never be found. Gohan is in a great deal of pain, his heart is breaking. He loves that girl with every fiber in his soul."

"I know." Goku said sadly. "I just want to help him."

"But you cannot. No more than I can help Piccolo. They must work it out alone." Kami spoke wisely.

"It still hurts to know how helpless I am." Goku said. "The least I can do is try and locate Tekoa. If we find him, maybe Rhyne is with him."

"That would be wonderful, Goku." Kami said.

"Guys, I'm leaving. I'll see you later." Goku said, leaping off the platform.

A few miles away, Gohan sat in the clearing. Running his hand over the once grassy area where he last kissed Rhyne. Now, the grass was dried up and dead, having survived a cold and bitter winter. Soon, spring would arrive and new grass would grow. But, Gohan didn't care. It wouldn't be the same. The grass would somehow be different this year, without Rhyne there to kiss and hold hands with. In some ways, Gohan felt a closure. The year was up, and he felt Rhyne was not coming back. Yet, deep in his heart, he did not believe she had ever left. She was somewhere, on this planet, or perhaps another. And she needed him. She was waiting for Gohan to find her and bring her home, but he didn't know where to look. He was full of anger and hatred for things he did not understand. Gohan pulled is knees up to his chest, put his head in his hands and cried.

Piccolo got one final and desperate idea and asked Kami for help. "We can summon the Dragon and ask him to transport me to Rhyne, wherever she is."

"And what if that place is somewhere from which you cannot return? What becomes of your other daughters?" Kami asked.

"They have husbands….families of their own now. Rhyne has only me." Piccolo said sadly. "I cannot give up on her."

Kami thought about it for a while. "It might work. We can try." He retrieved the bag of Dragonballs, going up front. Everyone had left except Rideria and Rikola and their husbands, so they explained to them what they were going to attempt.

"Father, I can't lose you." Rideria said. "But, I know you have to do this for Rhyne. Just know, no matter what happens, we love you and need you in our lives."

"You've got a granddaughter, and she needs you. I want her to grown up looking at the same scowl I saw all these years." Rikola joked. "However, I will support you in whatever you decide."

"Then, let's begin." He got the Dragonballs out and placed them in order, then called on the Dragon of Earth once again.

YOU HAVE AWAKENED ME AGAIN. WHAT IS YOUR WISH?

"My daughter, the one you said was not dead, but did not exist. I wish for you to transport me to her. Wherever she is, whatever planet or dimension." Piccolo said.

The Dragon looked at Piccolo with sadness.

I CANNOT DO THIS, FOR YOUR DAUGHTER IS NO MORE.

Piccolo was irritated with all the riddles. "Then….transport me to the place where her body is….the body she had when she was my daughter."

Again, the Dragon looked on Piccolo as if sensing every thought.

THE BODY THAT WAS YOUR DAUGHTER'S IS NOW SOMEONE ELSE'S. I CANNOT GRANT YOUR WISH.

"DAMN YOU!" Piccolo shouted. "WHAT GOOD ARE YOU IF YOU CAN'T HELP ME FIND MY DAUGHTER!" He picked up one of the Dragonballs to throw it, but Kami stopped him.

"NO!" He said. "We just have to ask the right question!"

"THE HELL WITH THE RIGHT QUESTION!" Piccolo yelled. "I WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK!"

"What if you asked him to transport you to the spot where Rhyne ended and the new person began?" Rideria said. "The place where Rhyne ceased to exist?"

"Yes!" Kami said. "To the place where Rhyne ceased to exist!"

"And what if I end up in that same clearing! What good will that be? The wish will be used up and Rhyne will be gone!" Piccolo shouted.

DO IT ---The Dragon said, startling everyone.

"Will we find any answers by asking this question?" Kami asked.

FOR YOU GUARDIAN, I WILL ANSWER. YES, BY ASKING SUCH A WISH SOME TRUTHS MAY BE REVEALED.

Kami looked at Piccolo. "All right." Piccolo said. "Dragon, transport me to the place where Rhyne ceased to exist."

The Dragon's eyes glowed red and flicked once.

YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED.

Piccolo was gone.

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