Here's Chapter 8! Thanks to Ryo-chan wolfgirl, gohanFanfics,Rawrzx3, Laania, SSJ2Silven, bardockthetruesupersaiyan, FinalFlashx andd icewolf for all the reviews on chapter 7.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
...
Gohan and Daiz had finished their meal and were wandering about the business area of planet Krazlzdor. Turles was still visting with his former teammate. Daiz was to return to Katchia's lab at the hour Turles had appointed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gohan noticed the green-haired pirate step behind a well-dressed reptilian merchant. When the merchant walked away, Daiz slipped what obviously was a currency pouch into his belt.
The six-year-old's mouth dropped open in utter disbelief as he watched the former Kabochan prince follow a feline female that was practically dripping with expensive jewelry. Daiz's skillful hands whisked the jewels from the neck, ears and wrists of the feline without being noticed in the least.
Daiz looked up to see the little half-Saiyan glaring at him. Gohan stood with his arms crossed over his small chest and a furious expression on his face.
"You've been STEALING!" Gohan snarled.
"Hmm, I prefer to call it acquiring," Daiz chuckled.
"It's STILL stealing!" the son of Goku accused.
The pirate shook his head," No, Kid. Stealing is merely removing objects from a person or property. Acquiring takes special skills and courage."
"So it's different than stealing?" the confused youngster persisted.
"Most of these merchants have made their fortunes due to their loyalty to Frieza. They grow fat from Frieza's conquests and he in turn receives tribute from them. If their pockets are lightened a bit, then some small justice has been won," Daiz declared.
Somehow Gohan could picture a angry Chi-Chi shaking her finger at him and railing about how only delinquents would stoop to such behavior.
"I wouldn't expect someone with your limited training to be able to even grasp the situation," the green-haired pirate began.
"Hey! I could "acquire" something! If I wanted to!" the six-year-old child huffed.
"Sure you could, Kid!" Daiz taunted.
"I'LL SHOW YOU!"
Daiz felt a small stab of guilt as Gohan rushed into the crowd. Turles wasn't the only one who would be guilty of corrupting the small child from Earth. But the guilt quickly disappeared, he was a pirate after all.
As he lost sight of the boy, Daiz began to worry. Turles would be furious if the boy went missing. He plunged into the crowd in search of the little half-Saiyan. The former Crusher Corps member chuckled as Gohan slammed into a huge elephantine lifef-orm. He pocketed the gray behemoth's currency pouch as the timid creature apologized profusely for his clumsiness.
"The kid's a natural,"Daiz mumbled to himself.
Gohan snatched a small bag from a tall thin fish-faced being. He felt a bit guilty as he took the female's possession. Suddenly he felt something else , a strange excitement coursed through him as he procured yet another currency pouch from a overfed blue- skinned rodent being.
The mischievious Earth-raised child giggled, this was starting to be fun! He whisked through the unsuspecting crowd snatching a pouch here, a bag there.
Daiz finally caught up to the little half-blood. The boy's tail was waving about excitedly. When the pirate snatched the boy up his weight had increased quite noticeably.
"Did you eat some rocks this afternoon? You 're a lot heavier than you were before," the former prince puffed.
"Oh! It's probably these!" Gohan chortled as he held up four currency pouches!
"Put those away!" Daiz sputtered in surprise.
No one needed to see the blantant evidence of the boy's thievery. The Kabochan was impressed with how quickly Gohan caught on. As the child stuffed the pouches into his belt, he pulled a small bag out for Daiz's inspection.
"I'm not sure what these are. But they're awful pretty!" the youngster blurted out.
The dark green-haired male's jaw dropped in absolute disbelief as he eyed the bag's contents. Six perfectly cut pink Steralas diamonds glittered in the sunlight. Each were worth a considerable price. Turles would be beyond pleased.
"I was wrong, Kid. You're VERY good at acquiring!" Daiz laughed as he ruffled Gohan's hair.
"REALLY?" Gohan asked. The look in his eyes seemed desperate for approval.
"You might even be better at it then ME! Say, Let's get some Garathian chocolate before we meet up with Master Turles, " Daiz suggested.
"Can we really?" the son of Goku asked eagerly.
"We sure can, Kid! You deserve it!" his crew-mate declared.
...
"I have to be going, Katchia. There are some prospective new crew members on planet Marteraz that I need to confer with," Turles informed the half-Saiyan female that sat beside him.
Katchia shook her ebony tresses and sighed, "I wish you could stay for a longer visit but i understand. It's been great to see you again and thanks for the fabulous lunch."
Turles cringed at the word 'see', it didn't go unnoticed.
"Turles, Stop blaming yourself for the loss of my sight. IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT! It's because of you that I CAN SEE. Sure, my vision isn't perfect but you saved me from a world of darkness for as long as I live. I'm happy here please believe me," Katchia pleaded.
Tears began sliding down the blue-skinned face of his former teammate. The dark-skinned Saiyan reached over and squeezed her right hand gently.
"Don't cry, Katchia. I believe you," Turles said softly.
"You think I'm weak now right?" the female sniffed.
"I think a lot of things about you, Katchia. But I will never consider you weak," the pirate commander insisted.
A mischievous smile lit the woman's face," You know, when we served together I used to have the biggest crush on you."
Turles cleared his throat as a faint blush colored his face "So t-that wasn't just a rumor?"
Katchia giggled at her former commander's obvious embarrassment and ignored his baleful glare," never said anything because I knew you had a girl at practically every single base!"
"That wasn't true!" Turles huffed.
His former teammate looked surprised "It wasn't?"
"Of course not! On most of Frieza's bases I had several!"
Turles burst into laughter at the indignant look that appeared on Katchia's face and ducked as she aimed a punch to his face.
...
As their ship sped on to planet Marteraz, Turles listened to Daiz inform him of Gohan's new skill. The Saiyan was more than pleased especially with the acquisition of the Steralas diamonds.
"You're a horrible influence on a child, Daiz. Excellent work," Turles snickered.
"Thank you, Master Turles," Daiz chuckled.
The former prince sighed. He knew Turles would reward the boy for his thefts to encourage him to continue such exploits. Gohan was well on his way to be a true member of the crew.
Gohan had fallen asleep on the floor across one of his thick books. Daiz swallowed hard as Turles approached the snoring child. A kick from the pirate's boot would probably be used to rouse him. The Kabochan's eyes almost popped out of his head as he watched the dark-skinned Saiyan lift the boy from the floor and deposit him into his bunk.
Seeing Daiz's bemused expression as he walked back to the bridge. Turles crossed his arms over his chest and snarled "What was I supposed to do? Leave him on the floor where we could trip over him?"
...
So what'd you think? Please review!
daughterofrisingsun