Here's chapter 62! Thanks to Diosa de la muerte, Dragon1157, Scimitar X, icewolf, Masenko56,Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Zoiky and Hoshi 124 for all the reviews on chapter 61.

Disclaimer: I don't own Dbz or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!

…..

Zailora immediately set to stemming the flow of blood from Turles's shoulder. He gave a muffled curse as she applied pressure to the wound.

"Woman, I'm quite capable of managing by myself!" Turles snarled as he pulled away.

"Of course you are! You just decided to take a short nap for a few minutes!" Zailora shot back.

The Kabochan female didn't miss the sudden sheen on the dark-skinned Saiyan's forehead or his trembling muscles. Something was definitely wrong!

"Master Turles, You appear to be quite ill," he dark green- haired she-pirate said in a softer tone.

"I am NOT! Saiyans don't get sick!" the pirate commander snorted.

"Maybe stubborn Saiyans DO!" Zailora huffed.

Daiz became quite alarmed when Turles's right hand began to glow. He hoped Zailora realized that she was infuriating the pirate commander.

"If you're going to blast me then get it over with, if not hold still so I can treat this wound," Zailora said flatly.

"I give the orders here, Woman!" Turles barked.

The black and silver armored Saiyan tried to stand but failed.

"You need to get to the medical wing so stop showing off and cooperate!"

Zailora's face was an inch from his. Turles gave a low growl but she wasn't intimidated in the least.

To the former Kabochan prince's amazement, the dark-skinned Saiyan tugged off the upper portion of his armor and tossed it aside.

The sole female member of Turles's crew gaped in amazement. Daiz had an impressive build but Turles was pure sculpted muscle honed from a lifetime spent in training and in battles. Scars of varying descriptions crisscrossed his chest.

"Are you going to treat the wound or ogle me, Woman?" Turles snapped.

Zailora's face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't missed her blatantly staring at him.

"Maybe I'm multi-tasking! And the name is Zailora since you've forgotten!"

Daiz glowered as he hadn't missed the impression Turles had obviously made on Zailora.

Just then Gohan reappeared with Arquiris and several servants in tow. Gartoas was close behind.

Turles let loose a blistering tirade that had Gartoas clap his hands over Gohan's ears. To the shock of everyone present Zailora fired back an equal retort of epithets.

"I won't tolerate your lack of respect!" the Saiyan pirate hissed but he was fighting back a grin.

"And I've had QUITE enough!" Zailora snapped.

She poured a white solution onto the Saiyan's open wound. Turles's eyes rolled back in his head and he went limp.

"Let's get him to the medical wing. He should be quite cooperative," Zailora said brightly as she placed a small vial back into the pouch at her waist. She had known the potent sedative would put even a Saiyan under in seconds.

"Ya might be dead when e' wakes up ya know," Gartoas muttered. His female crewmate merely shrugged her shoulders.

The burly Kardanagan scooped up the unconscious pirate commander and followed the servants to the medical facility.

Aqirius shook his head ," "How very strange. For a moment there it was just as if Lord Turles was arguing with her Majesty once more."

Daiz grit his teeth. That was the last thing he wanted to hear!

"Will t-the c-commander be all right?" Gohan choked out.

Zailora gave the little half-blood an affectionate pat on the head. She could tell he had been crying.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. Get some sleep and you can check on him in the morning."

The youngster bowed his head," He might not want me there."

"Nonsense, of course he will! Now get some rest. The morning will be here before you know it," Zailora soothed.

"B-But…it's all MY fault!" the miserable demi-Saiyan blurted out.

"What are you talking about, Gohan?" Daiz demanded.

"S-some b-big animal with gray fur and a black mane attacked Master Turles. It m-meant to get ME!" Gohan sobbed.

"A Kanir! I thought they were hunted to the point of extinction!" the turtle-being exclaimed.

"Did the creature bite him, boy?" he queried.

"No, but the claws went right through his armor!" the seven-year-old groaned.

"The predator's claws must have been riddled with bacteria. No wonder Turles became ill," Zailora reasoned. "Gohan, it's not your fault if the Kanir chose to attack him."

"B-But I…" Gohan pressed.

"We'll discuss it in the morning. Now get some sleep, Gohan," the female pirate insisted.

"BUT.."

Zailora placed her hands on her hips and gave the demi-Saiyan a stern look.

Gohan nodded and headed to his room while still wiping at his eyes.

Arqirius shook his head," I'm afraid 'bacteria' is not the issue here concerning the Saiyan."

"What do you mean?" Zailora asked.

"The Kanir are a very unique species. Their bite is equivalent to that of a poisonous reptile. While not as potent as their fangs, the Kanir's claws can still deposit a considerable amount of toxin," the turtle-being informed her.

"I've never heard of such a thing!" the Kabochan female argued.

"As I said the Kanir are quite unique. Her late Majesty had actually tried to hunt them out of existence. I will inform the medical staff with this information. Lord Turles may be our guest for quite a while," quiris sighed as he headed for the palace's medical wing.

'Somehow he didn't sound too thrilled with that notion' the dark green-haired male pirate thought.

But who could blame him? An ill Saiyan couldn't possibly be a welcome prospect. And with Turles's volatile personality…Daiz didn't want to dwell on that. He turned his attention back to Zailora.

Daiz wrapped his arms around her," It's still late we should be going back to our room."

"But I have to go to the medical wing and check on Turles," Zailora protested.

"They have medics here for that and they are familiar with the problem"

"Their facility is actually quite primitive here. And it's my duty as a healer to care for Master Turles," the female pirate insisted.

"Are you sure it's your 'duty' or do you need a chance to get another good look at Turles?" Daiz growled.

"WHAT?"

"You were practically drooling when he took off his chest-plate. Did you think I missed that?" the former royal accused.

"I WAS NOT! It…it just took me by surprise…I.." Zailora stammered.

"JUST SAVE IT! You've made it clear you'd rather spend the night with HIM instead of ME!" Daiz stormed out of the courtyard.

"DAIZ! "

Tears welled up in Zailora's eyes as he ignored her. With a heavy heart she headed to the medical wing.

…

A monitor beeped softly in the sterile white room where the pirate commander lay motionless. Zailora gasped softly as she noticed the gray pallor of the once dark-skinned Saiyan. Pristine white bed coverings made the discoloration even more apparent. The monitor registering his vital signs was the only indication that there was still life in the slumbering warrior. His hair was disheveled and wild instead of his usual immaculate style.

"We successfully removed the poison from his system but we will have to see if there are any lasting effects. This is the first time we extracted from a Saiyan," Aquiris declared as he entered the room.

"Most….most have not survived an extraction," he added.

"Is Master Turles going to die?" the Kabochan female asked.

"Only Kami knows, but he is a Saiyan. Even now his system is fighting hard to recover. There is hope yet."

"I…I'd like to stay a while if that's permitted," Zailora requested.

"Of course, I'll have a seat …." the turtle creature began.

Turles begin to thrash about muttering in his sleep. The words were in a language neither of them could understand.

"He does that quite often," Aquiris sighed. "If there's a change in his condition or you require assistance. Merely press the blue button on the panel on your left. I must be going now."

The dark green-haired female nodded as she took in the small control panel in the wall above the bed.

A groan came from the Saiyan and he fell silent once more. Zailora thanked the servant who brought her a comfortable chair.

"It's not like I'm going to be here all night!" she murmured to herself as she sat down.

'I wish Daiz would understand. Turles hired me in part because of my training as a healer. How could I just ignore him at a time like this?' the she-pirate sighed.

…

Daiz tossed and turned unable to go back to sleep. The image of the stricken look on Zailora's face refused to leave him. He cursed inwardly as he remembered his harsh words to her.

'I guess I overreacted but it just galls me when it seems Zailora's favoring Turles over me. I'd better drag my sorry hide over to the medical wing and apologize for being a jealous baka . Hopefully she'll feel like coming back here instead of making me spend the night alone' the male Kabochan thought ruefully.

Daiz shook his head as he realized he'd do whatever it took to put a smile back on his woman's beautiful face.

….

Zailora yawned and decided it was time to end her vigil at Turles's bedside. She reached out to touch his right hand and was startled at how cool it was to the touch, almost icy. When he had staunched the bleeding of her injured hand, his touch had been quite warm. More evidence of just how much the Kanir's poison has affected him. Her eyes went wide in shock as the Saiyan seized her hand when she tried to pull it back.

"Raychalla." Turles whispered.

Zailora was at a loss of what to do. Should she yank her hand away and risk waking him? Or stay still and hope he would release her momentarily? The Saiyan interlaced his fingers with hers. Panicking she tried to pull away but he held her fast.

Daiz started to enter the room that held their unconscious commander. He stopped short at the unbelievable sight before him. Zailora stood at Turles's bedside… with the Saiyan's hand tightly clasped in hers!

The former prince bolted from the room.

….

Zailora sat glumly in her seat. She couldn't free herself from the Saiyan's grip or reach the control panel. Her desperate attempts to wake Turles had been in vain. All she could was wait for someone to check on Turles. Hours passed, she leaned back for just a moment and fell fast asleep…

…..

"Don't tha two o' ya be lookin' cozy!"

Zailora sat up at sound of the burly Kardangan's voice. Her face colored as she noticed her hand was still clasped by the Saiyan's. His grip was now relaxed and she easily freed herself.

"Holdin' 'ands wi' Turles all night,eh?" Gartoas teased.

"It wasn't like that! Besides it's not even…" the female Kabochan fell silent as she noticed the sunlight filtering into the room.

Had she really spent the entire night sitting with Turles?

'Oh No! Daiz!' she thought.

"Well ah guess ah know why Daiz be mad as a wet Shnir-cat now," the bearded pirate continued.

"What are you talking about?" Zailora demanded.

"Daiz came 'ere las' night ta' talk to ya…."

"I never saw him!"

"Mebbe not but e' saw tha two o' ya," Gartoas said pointing toward the still quiet form of the Saiyan pirate.

"That's crazy! He doesn't think that I…." her voice died in her throat. After the argument they'd had if Daiz had somehow seen her sitting with Turles…

Gohan burst into the room.

"Let tha boy alone wi im' fer a while. Ya gotta face Daiz sometime," Gartoas mused.

Zailora sighed. Surely Daiz would understand…wouldn't he?

…

Arquiris entered the Saiyan's room and breathed a sigh of relief. The pirate still lived even if it was difficult to discern whether his chest rose and fell with each breath. Each movement was so slight it was barely apparent. The turtle-being was surprised to see the sad-faced male child sitting by Turles instead of the young green-haired female. When he happened to check on Turles in the night and found the pair with their hands clasped together, Arquiris had not known whether or not to disturb them. Rather than risk the Saiyan's anger, he had let them alone.

Turles shifted his position and opened his eyes. His gaze came to rest on Gohan's tear-streaked face.

"Are you severely injured, Brat?" he asked gruffly.

"No, Master Turles," the little half-blood sniffled.

"Then what reason do you have for tears?" Turles growled.

"I..I don't want you to die…Commander"

"That matters to you?"

Gohan let loose a torrent of tears "YES IT DOES! It's all my fault you got hurt! Master Turles, that creature wanted to kill ME!"

"You could have taken your pod in the night and escaped. No one would have known," Turles pressed.

Gohan shook his head," No. I ran away and I challenged you but you still protected me. My place is with the Saiyan who is responsible for me. It's the Saiyan way."

A wide smile broke over the face of the former commander of the Crusher Corps," Stop your blubbering. It will take more than a Kanir to end me, Gohan. See Daiz for your duties."

Aquiris was rendered speechless at the exchange between the two. He was even more stunned as the pirate ruffled the child's hair before dismissing him.

"Should I send for the young woman, Lord Turles?"

Turles was startled by that request. He had dreamt constantly of the snow-haired pirate queen. Whether it was due to the poison's effects or the damned sedative Zailora had dared to pour into him he wasn't sure. His dreams were so vivid he could have sworn that Raychalla had truly been at his side. He had even felt her touch.

"What young woman, Aquiris?" Turles demanded.

"Why the pretty green-haired one," Arquiris said casually.

Zailora? …

…..

Chi-Chi sighed with relief as she settled into her seat on the shuttle that would be taking her and Bulma back to planet Arturay. Her ordeal at the healing station on Grizet was finally over. Her life could go back to normal. Well as normal as her present life was.

Bulma glanced at Chi-Chi as the shuttle lifted off. It was so good to see her back to normal. The Ox-King's daughter leaned back, closed her eyes and started to nod off. She didn't notice the short black hairs which suddenly sprouted on her left arm. They began to rapidly fill in the bare smooth skin on both of her slender arms…

….

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