A/n: Sorry it's been so long, my semester's been pretty tough, but it's seemed to even out. Thanks for all the great reviews!

Can a Dragon Trust a Phoenix?

Before long the month of training was over. During that month, Rori spent every second of her time training, well, not every second...

"Gah-" Piccolo fell over as Rori tackled him from behind, he rolled over on his back so he was facing her, "Will you quit doing that?"

She was now on top of him, straddling him with an innocent look on her face as she teased him, "I was just trying to make sure you were on guard... someone might sneak up on you one day if you're not careful Piccolo."

His hands quickly shot up and grabbed her arms, pinning them to her waist with a grin. This same problem seemed to keep popping up ever since he'd marked her two weeks ago. The two would do a little training, but before they knew what had hit them, they were wrapped up in each other again before they could even realize what was going on. After they would both agree it was time to get down to some real business, but within a few hours they would fall into the same pattern.

"As you can see... I'm more than capable of taking care of myself." he sat up, keeping her pinned while trying to look as menacing as he could, but even he knew he wasn't being very convincing.

"I see... what a shame..." she started and tilted her head up to run her tongue along one of the antennae that hovered over her brow, "Would you like me to leave you to it then?"

Before Rori could wiggle out of his grip she was pulled to him, he released her arms and let his hands run up her back, pulling their bodies tightly together as his lips met hers. That was it, it seemed there would be no more sparring today, well at least not in the traditional sense. Rori moved her arms around neck, her nails grazed his skin causing him to exhale heavily, as she moved her hips slowly against him. She could feel him harden underneath her through his pants. Piccolo pulled back from their kiss leaning his forehead against hers, pausing for a moment, "Do you feel that?"

"How could I not?" she asked with a smirk about to kiss him again, but he stopped her despite her whimpering protest.

"Not that..." he growled and stood up helping her with him, trying to suppress his need.

"I don't understand"

"Concentrate." Piccolo directed. She was still new to sensing energies, but she should have still been able to sense the large one coming towards earth. Then she felt it and not the it she had hoped to feel.

"Raditz...I guess it's been a month already..." she laughed throwing her hands behind her head, "I stopped keeping track..."

"We better get going, Goku will have felt it too." Piccolo shot up into the air following the source of the energy. He wasn't positive of the exact coordinates, but he could find the vicinity the ship would land in and surely Goku and the kid would be there as well. Within a few seconds Rori had caught up with him and flew beside him. He eyed over to her realizing that soon, no matter how close they'd become she could be leaving him. He wanted to trust that she'd make good on her word, but only time would tell. "Don't forget about our agreement now..."

"I wouldn't dream of it." she answered before they both touched down when they found where Goku had been waiting. Rori ran up to her brother and gave him a quick hug. "Have a good month training?"

"Definitely. Was yours productive too?"

Rori tried to keep a straight face, thinking back to how she'd spent her month, "I would say so... I suppose..."

Goku grinned, "well I know Piccolo's was. I'm looking forward to testing that out after we beat this guy."

As usually Piccolo only glared over to Goku. He had to admit he hadn't been training as much as normal, the girl always seemed to get in the way, not that he had been complaining, but at least now he had an ally that was worth something, that was more than Goku could say, the cue-ball wasn't really much of a threat.

Before they had anymore time to ponder that thought a large crash caused debris to fly all around them. The were close to the landing, but they'd all quickly flown up so they wouldnt get hit with the dust. Out of the pod came the tall long haired saiyan, Raditz. All eyes were on him, but the first thing he did was click his scouter, as Rori had informed the men, Radditz, like she, could not detect power levels so he would rely on the machine. This would work to their advantage. Before long Raditz looked up in their direction, yelling out to them, "What kind of greeting is this for your older brother?"

They all descended until they were standing before Raditz. "Kakkarot, I don't blame you, but Rori you should know better. You've never been so rude to your big brother before."

Rori's eyes fell back on the others and she thought about it for a moment before she made her decision, "Guys... Please let me have a moment alone with my brother."

Goku had a questioning look, but quickly agreed, it was Piccolo who seemed to have a problem with this, though she should have foreseen that. "Our agreement..."

"Still stands... I just need to speak with him..." she assured him quickly. She could hardly blame him that he didn't trust her yet, but eventually she would prove to him that she was his now.

The two men flew off a bit to where they could still be seen, and Piccolo could still overhear her.

"Don't think you can just pout your lower lip now and everything will be fine, you've caused quite the problem for me." Raditz scolded.

"I'm not... I know I acted a bit... hastily, but I assure you I had good reason. I'm certain you will understand when you listen to my problem brother."

"Please tell me, tell me Rori! What kind of problem could you only tell me once you've stolen my pod and gone out here to the boonies? I'm dying to know!" he yelled but calmed down when he observed her anxiously fidgeting, "I'm all ears... this had better be good."

"Raditz... I overheard Frieza talking with Zarbon." she started but could see the impatience radiating off of him, "in short... He was planning to rape me in front of Prince Vegeta..."

That had certainly left him at a loss for words. "I know you probably hadn't realized it, but it was nearing my 22nd birthday and I was starting to go into heat... he knew and he was going to use that to his advantage and force Prince Vegeta to watch... I was going to tell you or Vegeta, but... Frieza's just too strong I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

Raditz sighed and pulled his younger sister to him hugging her tightly, "You could have told me... we would have figured something out..."

He ran his hand over her hair, "You're right though... I hadn't even noticed, I was so busy helping Prince Vegeta with his plan... I should have foreseen something like this. You are growing up after all...and... what's this..."

Raditz pulled back part of her hair and found the mark Piccolo had made on her. She quickly backed away hearing the rage in his voice again, "Who did this?!"

"Umm..."

"You didn't!" he yelled as his eyes focused in on something behind her, she turned to notice Goku's son had arrived, he must have followed him. Raditz shot up into the air heading towards the two "how could you mate with a weakling like our brother!"

"Raditz! The kid isn't mine!" she flew up in front of him before he could get anywhere, "it wasn't him. Jeez someone needs to teach you about how long it takes to have a child..."

He grabbed her by the shoulders, not letting her make light of the situation, "then who?! Any weakling from this planet is a disgrace! You might as well have gone with Frieza you little who-"

Thankfully before he could finish that last word he plummeted to the ground letting her go. She turned to find Piccolo next to her. They both descended again and Goku flew over as well after he was sure Gohan was in a safe spot.

"It was me" Piccolo answered Raditz while moving out in front of Rori. Raditz stood checking his scouter again, "lucky shot, but with a measly power level like that I wouldn't count on being lucky again."

He began to brush himself off from being hit to the ground and laughed, "let me make this clear to my younger siblings, why I am here. I AM going to take you both back with me. But as I see it now... you both need to get back into my good graces. Kakarot, you were supposed to have demolished this place which I can see you haven't. I want you to kill one hundred humans by sunset and pile their bodies here. Rori...you have the same task, but you must start with the one who you used to disgrace our name... and if you're a good girl we won't tell Prince Vegeta... I'll just tell him I marked you to spare you from mating with one of these weaklings... but I'm not adamant about lying to our Prince so you'll have to be a good little whore and do as I say"

This time it wasn't just Piccolo who came to her aid, but her brother as well. The three began to fight and she was about to jump in to help when she felt a tug on her boot. It was her nephew. She picked him up curiously, "How did you get over here? I thought your dad set you far away..."

Her attention was drawn to an explosion. Goku was now on the ground and Piccolo looked as though he was about to collapse. Raditz slowly made his way towards her, "I've changed my mind. Rori, you're coming with me... as for the other two and the planet, well I hope you've enjoyed your stay because you won't see any of it again."

Before he could take another step though he fell to his knees. Goku had caught him by the tail! "Quick Piccolo, while he can't move!" Piccolo grinned, "I'm already on it."

He quickly moved his fingers to his forehead, focusing his energy to one point. "Hurry!" Goku called.

"Brother!" Raditz started, "Please let me go. You're not going to let him kill your own brother are you?"

"You were just going to kill us!" Goku shouted, "I'm not letting you go!"

"I'll leave! I'll leave and never come back! I swear it!"

"Goku, no!"

It only took that second of wavering for Raditz to wriggle his tail free and get out of the way of Piccolo's blast. He kicked Goku's limped form over and chuckled, "let that be a lesson to you!"

Raditz made his way towards Piccolo, "I think I should get rid of you first... I wouldn't want you interfering..."

"Raditz!" Rori called pulling his attention away from Piccolo. She stood in front of Goku, sighing, "You're right brother... I'll come back with you quietly... I don't know what I was thinking... lowering myself like that... I doubt Prince Vegeta will ever take me now, but perhaps we can find a way to make it work. I will be a good girl and follow your instructions... let's just leave, please... I can't stand to be here another minute."

Raditz paused and studied her face moving closer to her. Whatever it was he was looking for he must have found because he smirked and pulled her to him. "I knew you would come to your senses... I don't know what you saw in that green bean, but it looks like the haze has cleared."

"Of course..." she said hugging him back. Piccolo stared at the two. He should have known. He'd known all along. He'd never trusted anyone, yet somehow he'd placed what little trust he had in her, but in the back of his mind he'd always known it had been misplaced. Now she was going to leave with her brother and he would miss her despite that.

"Piccolo!" she screamed, "what are you doing over there! Do it now!" He awoke from his thoughts and realized she wasn't hugging Raditz. She was holding him still. She was willing to take the hit for him. He hesitated, there had to be another way. Well, as long as he was still alive he could always use the dragon balls, yes maybe this was the best way. He started charging his attack, mentally smacking himself for ever doubting her. She'd done everything he'd asked of her, of course she was his.

"Hurry! I don't know how much longer I can hold him." she cried as Raditz struggled to get free of her grasp, trying to win her over the same way he had with Goku earlier. Then finally Piccolo unleashed his energy. Soon the bright light cleared, but she felt no harm at all, was that what it was like to die? Quick? No she was still where she was before. She looked around. Raditz was on the ground a large hole through his chest, and next to him, Goku, with a similar scar.

"Goku!" she ran over to him. "What is wrong with you?!"

"There's no sense in both of us dying, I was already weak..."

"If you weren't already in such bad shape I'd kill you myself! What about your son?!"

"It's alright... the dragonballs.. I can be wished back..."

"What...? Piccolo... he's spouting nonsense... I think he's gone already"

"No, I'll explain it to you later..." Piccolo corrected before he reached down and pulled her to her feet. He wasted no time and kissed her deeply, pulling her as close as he could. Sure he could have summoned her back with the dragonballs, but he liked this much better.

"What's that for?" she blinked up at him.

"Proving me wrong..."

"I think you're forgetting something sister!" Raditz interrupted with a gruff cough, "One year from now... Prince Vegeta and Nappa will be here to avenge me. For your sake I hope they just kill you because if they don't Vegeta will have something much worse in store-"

Piccolo cut him stepping on the saiyan's face with his foot. "One year is more than enough time."