It was dark. He liked it that way. It reminded him of the night, which he was patiently anticipating. This night, Kakarot would finally walk the Earth again. Piccolo could finally have the honor of killing the murderer with his own hands. He was no fool, though. He knew this would be one of the hardest battles he ever had to fight. Two age-old vampires, fierce and protective of one another, against a single hunter and a mob of concerned humans who had feelings for the one vampire, was hardly a fair fight. So Piccolo meditated, gathering strength for the battle in this dank, dark basement of an abandoned building in the country, where no one would bother him. This battle would require his full attention, strength, and commitment. He couldn't fail.

When he heard the pounding at the doors echoing through the expansive entryway of the castle, Nappa was not the least bit surprised. He'd been wondering when Piccolo or Roshi or any other one of those rejects would show to try and kill the master and his lover.

Nappa stood from his creaky wooden seat to head to the doors. When he flung them open, intent to strike before the human or hunter would have a chance, Nappa was shocked by who he'd struck in the face. Not the wiry old man, not the obstinate hunter, not even one of the young men in town who considered themselves strong and brave.

Nappa quirked a brow. "Chi-Chi King?"

"That's right!" The woman growled furiously, springing back from that hit to punch at the stunned man. "Where is he?"

Nappa didn't even dodge her punch. He was too stunned by the identity of the castle's intruder to react. Still, her punch, though powerful for a woman, hardly caused any damage as it lodged in his chest. Nappa didn't even flinch.

"Stupid woman!"

"I want my fiancé back!"

Nappa dodged this time, as Chi-Chi struck at him again. He could have restrained her to end this, but he had to let her know he was not pleased about being attacked. Even if she couldn't pose him any harm. With a furious roar, Nappa raised his fist to strike the woman again.

"Chi-Chi!" A massive man tumbled between them, taking the hit in his massive chest.

Nappa removed his fist and glowered at the interceptor. "Mr. King."

"Mr. Nappa." Ox King's gaze softened as he turned to face his daughter. "Chi-Chi, you're going to get yourself killed. What were you thinking, coming over here?"

Nappa crossed his arms and tapped his foot as the father and daughter exchanged looks - guilt, sympathy, reprimand and concern crossing both of their faces.

Chi-Chi met her father's gaze, only to turn away in an instant. She couldn't stand to see the pity in his eyes. He understood like no one else could, what she was losing - what she had lost.

Mr. King placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Chi-Chi. Goku's always been a man who has to go his own way. This has nothing to do with you."

"Right." Nappa huffed. "So why don't you do yourself a favor and leave this castle, before I decide to become less hospitable."

Chi-Chi's expression turned fierce as she looked at Nappa. "No. I want to see him."

"Chi-Chi."

"I want to see him!"

Nappa scowled at the intolerable woman and her cautious father. He didn't want those two in the master's castle any more than he'd want Piccolo there. He was tasked with keeping the vampires' relocation a secret for the day, but it would be so much easier to get rid of them if he just told them he wasn't there.

Chi-Chi seized Nappa by the collar. "Take me to him! I don't care if he's resting, or grotesque, or bloody. I just can't leave without seeing him one last time."

Mr. King sighed sadly. "Chi-Chi, honey."

Nappa snorted and pried the woman's fingers off of him. "You're going to have to."

Chi-Chi crossed her arms and glared. "No, I won't."

"Oh, yes. You will." Nappa moved to escort the pair harshly towards the door, which fortunately wasn't far. But the woman planted her feet and the man was heavy to drag with his massive size. "Get out!" Nappa yelled.

Chi-Chi removed her glare from Nappa to crane her neck and see past him. "Goku!"

"Bloody hell." Nappa grumbled.

"Goku! Goku, where are you?!"

Nappa growled and finally shoved the woman harshly through the door. "He's not here!"

Chi-Chi's mouth was already open to call again, but she snapped her lips shut and looked blankly at Nappa instead.

"What?" Mr. King blinked. "Where else could he be?"

Nappa snorted. "Like I'd tell you."

Chi-Chi blinked before lowering her head despondently. "He's really not here? Is he leaving?"

Nappa rolled his eyes, fighting the sympathetic feelings that threatened to emerge. "Look. If you want my advice, forget about him. He's not Goku anymore. He's Kakarot. And being around Kakarot is only going to get you killed. Just get out of here and move on with your life."

Nappa moved to slam the door in their faces, but a tiny hand shot out, halting the door before it closed. Nappa grunted in surprise and peeked around the edge of the door.

When their eyes met, Chi-Chi's gaze was soft. "At least give him a message for me. When you see him, Mr. Nappa, tell him I still love him. I always will."

As Chi-Chi King turned to leave, having said her piece, Nappa slowly pushed the castle doors shut, rubbing the back of his neck with a pensive frown on his face. His master had certainly managed to make a mess of this town in the short time he'd been here. It seemed everyone was affected by his powerful presence, in some way or another. He couldn't imagine what more would happen when both of them awakened together.

There had been no sign of him. Roshi had checked the inn, where Piccolo was said to be staying. He checked the Kings' and the Briefs' homes to see if he'd ventured over there. The Briefs both attested that they hadn't seen him, and the Kings both weren't home.

There was no sign of Piccolo at the tavern, or the general store, or any other place Roshi had checked as of yet. Roshi knew he shouldn't have left this in the hunter's hands. Now it was a new day, and if Piccolo didn't fulfill his promise, as Roshi suspected, there was no telling what kind of havoc the vampires could have caused overnight. He still hadn't seen any signs of either their wake of damage or the vampires' demise, but he knew proof of what happened had to be out there somewhere.

Now, he was searching perhaps the only location he hadn't checked in his pursuit of confronting Piccolo. He hoped not to find him here, however. His presence at this place could only mean one thing - he'd shirked his responsibility and now planned on fleeing the town, to return to his home.

The docks were busy, as they usually were, during the day. Many fishermen and cargo haulers were out in full force, preparing their ships for departure and rounding up their crews. Roshi frowned at the sight of one of them-an old rival of his. Shen had seen better days back in their youth, but now he was just an ornery old sailor, still holding a grudge over their shared mentor's favoritism towards Roshi. Roshi felt a small smile cross his face at the memory of Mutaito, his mentor, before a familiar voice drew him to turn around.

Roshi squinted at the pair speaking to each other in the distance. One, he recognized as Shen's crew mate, a serious and disciplined sailor. The other, if he wasn't mistaken, was Krillin. What was he doing there?

Roshi made his way around stacks of cargo crates and wound up rope to approach the pair from behind Krillin. Immediately upon being sighted, Roshi was greeted by a glare from Krillin's counterpart.

Roshi narrowed his eyes at the young man, before tapping Krillin on the shoulder. "Krillin?"

Krillin jumped, turning to face Roshi with a forced smile. "E-elder, uh...w-what are you doing here?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing, Krillin." Roshi clasped his hands behind his back and eyed his junior, then Shen's crewmate. "I've never known you to have business with the likes of this man before."

The tall, bald, muscular man crossed his arms and raised his chin. "He has business now. If you don't, I suggest you stay out of the way and let us conclude ours."

Krillin winced. He couldn't let Roshi know he was securing passage of cargo to Vegetasei. At all costs, he had to avoid letting anyone find out before the vampires were off. He wished Tien could have kept his mouth shut. He just knew the old man was going to ask more questions now.

Roshi sighed. "Tien, I have no qualms with you."

"No, just my captain."

Roshi smiled wryly. "I believe it is he that has qualms with me."

"Even so, I guess I won't hold it against you," Tien paused, "as long as you don't interfere with my work."

At Tien's pointed nod towards Krillin, Roshi sighed. He studied the young man, who was visibly trembling under his gaze. He knew Krillin far too well. The young man was doing something here he didn't want Roshi to know about. Roshi decided to change his line of questioning. A direct approach would only scare Krillin off.

"I've been looking for Piccolo." Roshi said to Krillin. "Have you seen him today?"

"Piccolo? No."

"Are you talking about that foreigner that's been staying at the inn?" Tien asked.

"Yes." Roshi answered carefully.

As Roshi peered at Tien suspiciously, Tien smiled. It wasn't every day he was more well-informed than the wise old man, but for once he knew something that would surprise the old coot.

Tien chuckled. "The vampire hunter. I've seen his work."

Roshi and Krillin balked. "What?"

Tien smirked. "That's right. I'm familiar with Piccolo's reputation. I was actually hoping to meet him before he left town." Tien paused to gauge Roshi and Krillin's tense mannerisms. "So it's true. There are vampires here."

"Well," Roshi drawled, "hopefully not anymore. You see, yesterday, Mr. Piccolo promised to take care of them before nightfall. But that's why I'm looking for him. I haven't seen him since."

Krillin scowled and narrowed his eyes peevishly. "Before nightfall? He told you that, did he?"

Roshi peered at Krillin. It almost seemed like the younger man knew Piccolo hadn't fulfilled his promise. It almost seemed like he had proof of it. But Roshi knew Krillin wouldn't share that with him. He couldn't imagine his reasoning, though. Perhaps Piccolo put him up to it. Maybe Krillin was being threatened by the powerful hunter.

"I doubt that's true." Tien said, shaking his head. "Judging by Piccolo's reputation, I doubt that man would ever kill a creature in their sleep. He'd want to meet them head-on."

"I believe you're right, Mr. Shinhan." Roshi said. "But perhaps he confronted and killed them during the night. I need to find him so I can be sure. If you see him, you'll let him know I was looking for him, won't you?"

Krillin nodded. Tien stared impassively back at Roshi, but he was certain that the man had enough honor to follow through with the request. However, he didn't expect either one of them to run into Piccolo. The man hadn't left, he hadn't killed the vampires during the day, and he wasn't showing his face in town. This led Roshi to one conclusion. Piccolo had failed during the night somehow and was waiting for the vampires to rise again for another chance. Perhaps Krillin knew something of Piccolo's failure during the night. Roshi had to try one last time before leaving.

"Krillin! Do you know where Piccolo is hiding? If you do, you need to tell me."

Krillin's heart stopped racing when he realized Roshi was asking him where Piccolo was, not where the vampires were. Of course. Why would he be asking Krillin where the vampires were? He probably didn't even realize they had moved. He was too busy searching for Piccolo, and he wouldn't expect Krillin to know where they were. He was off the hook.

Krillin exhaled heavily in relief. "No. No, but if I see him, I'll be sure to tell him to find you, Elder!"

"Alright." Roshi frowned. "I'll let you finish your...business then."

Roshi peered at Krillin suspiciously before turning to leave. As the younger pair began discussing cargo and times for delivery in the evening, Roshi hummed pensively to himself. Krillin really didn't know anything about Piccolo. But it seemed for a second there that Roshi had caught him in his secret. He was so sure it was about Piccolo. But now it seemed it was something else Krillin was hiding. Or someone else.

As much as Roshi found it hard to believe that Krillin would take any part in working with them, there were only two people aside from Krillin who could've been hiding from him. Once he reached the edge of the docks, Roshi ran in a new direction, towards Vegeta's castle. Dusk was already upon them and if they were anywhere else, it would be too late for him to do anything about it. But he had to know. He had to see that the vampires were there.

If they were, he would stake the both of them himself, even Goku. But if they weren't, well, he knew exactly who to ask first about their whereabouts. Of course, by then, it would be too late to stop them.