Goku and Sabriena appeared an instant later, standing outside a small temple set in the middle of a gigantic circle of big, white tiles. There was a zen garden with elegant designs in the sand and large trees growing out of planters. Goku smiled down at Sabriena, "Didn't scare you, did I?"
She looked off balance and shocked as she wobbled on her heels. "The fuck just happened?" she gasped. One second she was in a living room and the next thing she knew, she was here at this... place... She felt dizzy. "Oh, gods," she muttered, grabbing her head.
Goku chuckled, "Sorry, I should have warned you, the first time instant traveling is a doozy. Beats having to fly for seventy five miles. Or drive, if you drive." He looked around and grinned. "It's nice, isn't it? This is where the guardian of Earth lives! He and his brother are aliens. DENDE!" he called out, waving as he saw the robed figure emerge from the edge of the temple.
"Goku. What brings you out this late?" Dende asked, walking closer. He stopped when he noticed the blonde woman standing next to his friend. "Oh, hello." He swallowed at the girl's wide eyed expression and he sighed, rubbing his face. "Goku! You didn't tell her?"
Sabriena shook her head and squeaked, "No." She stared up at the man before her. He was as tall as Goku and had emerald green skin and long, slender, pointed ears. Two long antennae protruded from his forehead. She pressed her lips tightly together and sucked on them, not sure what to think or say.
"There was a mix up with the exchange students," Goku explained. "They sent an extra student, but Chichi says we only have room for one. And Bulma couldn't keep her either. Would it be all right if she stayed here with you and Piccolo? This was the only place we could think of that would have the room for her."
"Apparently jet lag can cause hallucinations," Sabriena finally said quietly. "Who the hell needs acid? I'll just come to Japan..." She continued to stare, unblinking at the alien before her.
Dende tilted his head at her curiously. "I suppose it would be bad for one hallucination to tell you that the man standing next to you is also an alien? With the benefit of human-looking skin., of course." He sighed, shaking his head and stepping closer. "My name is Dende. I'm the guardian of this planet. You traveled here from somewhere?" He looked at her a moment, "Sabriena Schuler... a college student visiting from America. Yes, I can imagine this seems like quite the bad trip, but you are quite safe here." He pressed his lips thin. "I'm not sure how my brother will react, but he mostly keeps to himself. You are welcome to stay here if you like. We certainly have more than enough room for you."
Sabriena side-stepped away from Goku. "You're an alien too?!" She looked back and forth between them, unsure of what to think or say or do. "Well, that explains that hair. Doesn't the exchange program check out who the hell they're sending students to?! Oh, I am so calling my dad about this." She turned from them both and stared at the place before her. It was beautiful. She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. It wasn't like she had much of a choice. Apparently there wasn't enough room at Goku's home. And the others hadn't been as discreet as they obviously thought they were; they didn't want her at Capsule Corp.
She rolled her eyes upwards and squeezed them shut, trying to force herself to sound polite as she turned to Dende. "Are you sure you don't mind?" If he said no, she was really screwed.
Dende chuckled, "Of course." He waved to Goku, "I'll get her settled in, don't worry."
Goku grinned widely. "Thanks Dende! I knew I could count on you. I would have kept her at the house, but Chichi said no," he pouted.
Dende smiled and nodded. "Say hello to Gohan and Goten for me. Tell them to come visit soon."
Goku nodded and vanished again.
Dende looked to Sabriena, "Are you sure you don't mind staying here? This is a lot to take in; I am aware."
"No, it's fine. Really. I... appreciate you letting me stay." She fiddled with the capsules in her hand. "At least you aren't trying to throw me out. They were all faking trying to be concerned about where to put me, but really they just were trying to get rid of me." She shrugged and rolled her eyes. "That's what I get for flirting with what's-her-face's boyfriend, I guess. Oh well."
Dende chuckled, "Catie. She's an interesting character, but I'm surprised that she was jealous. Trunks only has eyes for her." He gestured back towards the temple and started walking back towards the living area. "Staying at Goku's house would have been a bit cramped." He paused, almost biting his tongue. "That and I am not entirely certain that Chichi is prepared for the next year, but she wasn't about to be shown up by Bulma."
"Trying to keep up, is she?" Sabriena laughed. "Doesn't surprise me. Just the little bit I saw of her, I figured as much. She's about as fake as my eyelashes." This was all so weird, she was starting to wonder if she'd really lost her mind. Teleporting, aliens, and the way Dende seemed to know her… Sabriena paused in the doorway and stared up at him, placing her hands on her hips. "How did you know my name and where I'm from?" she demanded suddenly.
Dende looked a bit embarrassed, rubbing at the back of his head. "Ah, my apologies. It's a bad habit of mine. I keep forgetting I need to ask permission. As Guardian of this planet, I can hear the collective thoughts of the world's people, even the world herself. When people are closer to me, I can hear them more clearly, pick up on thoughts, things about your past. Names, images." He bowed his head. "I will not do it again. I am sorry."
She narrowed her eyes and drew a long breath through her nose. "You'd better not," she warned, pointing a finger at his nose. "Don't you ever read my mind again." The very thought of someone reading her thoughts shook her to her core. She felt terribly violated in that moment, like her privacy had been invaded. She straightened her back, tipping her chin up. "I'll find a room on my own," she stated and went inside, swinging her hips as she went, her nose stuck in the air.
Dende shrank back as she pointed a finger at him and nodded, staring at her as she walked away. She was almost as scary as Chichi. He sighed tiredly and called after her, "Just don't go into the lower levels. It's easy to get lost!"
Sabriena wandered the hallways of the Lookout, pausing here and there to look behind closed doors. Most of the rooms seemed empty with white walls, which she found totally boring. She wasn't concerned about eating at this point; she was so tired and worn out. All she wanted was a long, hot shower and a soft bed. If no one else wanted her to stay with them, then fuck them. Goku was the only one who seemed willing to keep her, and he had been overruled.
She opened another door and smiled to herself. Now this she could work with. The room was bigger than the others with a dark hardwood floor and a large bed. It looked unoccupied. There were no pictures on the dresser or the walls, nothing that would indicate that someone was staying here. She dragged her bags inside and dropped them on the floor, walking around the room. She ran her hand over the silky smooth comforter, loving the coolness of the fabric against her hand.
She opened a second door and found a full bath and smiled to herself. "Oh hell yes," she purred and hurried over to her suitcase, digging through it to grab her bodywash and shampoo. She quickly stripped, tossing her clothes carelessly around the bathroom before she jumped in the shower. Gods, that hot water felt amazing.
She was going to kill Lindsey and Jenny for talking her into this. Already she missed the warehouse and the rest of her friends. From what little she'd seen, this place was dull and far too quiet for her taste. She was still used to the loud drone of music and people back home. Not to mention she was exhausted and her feet were sore from the heels she wore. She still owed that Goku a kick in the shin for not picking them up on time, but she had to admit, he had been nice to look at with that handsome face and those big muscles, even if he was married and far too old for her. Not that she was available either, but just looking never hurt, right?
She lingered in the shower, letting the hot water work over her tired and sore muscles until the stream began to cool and she turned the water off, sighing contentedly. She stepped out of the shower, dripping all over the floor as she searched for a towel. She finally found one in the slender linen cabinet and wrapped herself up in it, feeling much better. She was still hungry, but her exhaustion was even stronger and she decided that food could wait until morning.
She opened her second suitcase, digging through the fancy nighties and racy negligées until she found the pretty hot pink one she loved so much and slipped it on. "Soooo much better," she groaned, dropping her wet towel on the floor and went to the bed, slipping under the thick comforter and sighing in relief. Now this, this she could work with. Maybe this place was a bit too simplistic for her taste, but that was nothing a good chunk of cash couldn't fix. She snuggled down in the bed, breathing in the scent of clean water and fresh cut grass, easily drifting off to sleep.
It was well after dark when the tall Namekian landed on the Lookout. After a long day of meditation and training, Piccolo was more than ready to fall into bed and get some well-deserved sleep. He could sense Dende's energy, it was low enough that Piccolo could tell his brother was sleeping. Good. Dende spent far too many sleepless nights walking the edge of the Lookout, the weight of the world on his shoulders, the constant sound of the earth's people crying out for help in his ears. Dende never complained, but Piccolo knew it wore on him. He could see it in his eyes.
He let his feet automatically carry him to his room, but paused just outside of his door, realizing that it was open just a crack. That was odd because he was absolutely certain he'd closed it before he left for the day. Mr. Popo didn't go into his room without telling him first and there was no reason for Dende to enter. The sound of soft snoring reached his ears and he felt an unfamiliar energy inside. Scowling, he pushed the door open carefully, flipping on the lights. He stopped short, seeing a splay of long blonde hair spread over his pillow, a young woman wrapped up under the blankets, still sleeping peacefully despite the light that flooded the room. A frown pulled at his lips as he surveyed the state of his room, her clothing strewn about, the puddles of water that trailed from the bathroom.
"What is the meaning of this?" he growled and stepped farther into the room, moving to stand at the bedside and glared down at the intruder. Was she one of Dende's friends? He wasn't aware of Dende having any friends other than Gohan. Perhaps she was a person who needed healing? But still, Dende knew better than to let her into his room. "Get up," he barked, crossing his arms over his chest. He sighed through his nose as she didn't stir. "I said get up!"
Sabriena blinked awake, hearing the unfamiliar voice and feeling like she was being watched. She sat bolt upright in bed when she saw the tall Namek standing over her. "Dende?" she asked and rubbed her eyes. She squinted up at him in the bright light, trying to let her eyes adjust. No, that wasn't Dende. This man was taller, with broader shoulders and sharper facial features. "Who the hell are you and what do you want?" she demanded, rubbing at her eyes. "I'm trying to sleep here!"
Piccolo growled; he didn't like her already. "In MY bed. I should be asking you the same thing. Who the hell are you and how did you just happen to wander into this place, into my bedroom?" He scowled and looked around. "And already you've turned it into a mess." He frowned and crossed his arms tighter. "So, pack up your stuff and scram, I want to get some sleep. After I've changed the sheets, of course," he muttered under his breath.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't just wander in here. I was brought here and Dende said I could pick a room, so I chose this one," she snipped. "Besides, how was I supposed to know that someone was staying in here? It looks empty to me." She gathered up the blankets and held them against her chest, glaring at him. "You can go find another room. Cause I'm not leaving." She threw herself back down onto the pillows and pulled the blankets up over her head, snuggling into the bed and heaving a contented sigh.
Piccolo gritted his teeth. "My clothes are in the wardrobes here, IN the closets. Yours are all in that suitcase or scattered on the floor. Who doesn't belong here now? And I know my brother would have NEVER told you to come into MY room." He leaned over and picked her up, covers and all and moved out the door. "DENDE!" he shouted, "SHE IS NOT STAYING."
"Hey! HEY! Put me down!" Sabriena screamed, kicking and thrashing in the blankets as he carried her out into the hall. "You son of a bitch! Get your hands off me!" She squirmed in his arms, trying to push herself away from him and finally managed to wiggle out of his grasp, only to fall flat on the hallway floor. She groaned and pushed herself up on her hands, blowing a stray piece of hair from her eyes. She growled as she saw Dende hurrying up the hallway, looking alarmed. She pushed herself to her feet, her shoulders shaking and she turned around to shove Piccolo, blinking in surprise when he didn't move at all, not even an inch. "Bastard," she spat. "How dare you put your hands on me?!"
Dende tried not to look at her in the far too see-through gown she wore. Good heavens, he hadn't expected to wake up and see that. He winced as he rubbed the back of his head, looking nervously up at his brother. "Ah, I see the two of you finally met."
He cringed at his brother who looked furious. "Now Piccolo, she's just arrived here. Chichi apparently made a mistake when she signed up for that foreign exchange student program, you know the one Gohan's been talking about? She had two students show up instead of one. Goku just dropped her off this evening and she's already had a long two days of traveling. She was quite exhausted; she had no idea that room was yours," he managed to explain before Piccolo interrupted him.
Piccolo scowled, "Then you should have shown her to a room that wasn't owned! Figures Chichi was behind this. Find her a different room, one far away from mine."
"Maybe you should make your room look more lived in if you don't want people assuming it's empty," she spat. She gave Piccolo a filthy look. "You must be really boring." She crossed her arms, pressing her lips together, and stared accusingly up at him.
It took a lot of effort for him to not roll his eyes at her. As if he cared whether or not this earthling woman thought him interesting. He didn't know who he was more furious with; this woman, his brother, or Chichi for making the mistake in the first place. He stared right back down at her, a silent battle between them as each of them waited for the other to give in.
The muscles in Sabriena's jaw clenched visibly beneath her skin for a moment before she finally heaved a sigh, realizing this was a battle she wasn't going to win. "FINE." She marched back into his room, grabbing up the dirty clothes she'd tossed about and grabbing her soaps from the shower. "Big green bastard thinks he's going to tell me what to do, comes in here and just tosses me out of bed. Better watch his ass. This is far from over," she grumbled under her breath, stuffing her things back into her suitcases and dragging them back out into the hall. She gave Piccolo another dirty look before she turned to Dende. "Well? Show me somewhere I can sleep where I won't be fucking manhandled out of bed!"
Piccolo rolled his eyes this time. "Yes, take her far away from the big green bastard who'd better watch his ass. You have some mouth on you. I couldn't care less what you may say about me, but show the Guardian of Earth some respect." He turned and went into his room, slamming the door behind him.
Sabriena was sputtering as Piccolo slammed the door in her face. She turned to Dende. "You... he... you all heard that?" she asked.
Dende looked sheepish and took Sabriena's suitcase and started down the hallway. "Ah, sorry. I should have said watch what you say, but we rarely have guests." He pointed to his long slender ears. "They aren't just for show."
She felt guilty, but only for a second before she arranged her face into a haughty smirk. "Thanks for the heads up. Things just got a lot more interesting around here." She suddenly had a million questions. "So, like, is his hearing super sensitive? How far away can you all hear? Do loud noises bother him?" She was already planning a very rude awakening for him sometime in the near future, just after he let his guard down. She was not going to be treated so rudely like that and let him get away with it.
Dende gave her a wary look. "Miss, I do not care if you prank my brother, but what I do here is very serious work. I prefer the peace and quiet. The world is loud enough, full of chaos, fear, war. It is my job to help calm the world, bring it back some of the peace that I can give it. If I can bring even a small peace to the minds of men, many lives can be saved. Lives of children, lives of innocents."
"Well, then I suggest you start sleepin' with earplugs in," Sabriena replied coolly. They stopped outside another door, well away from Piccolo's room. "I assume this is for me," she huffed and opened the door. The room was smaller than Piccolo's with a simple bed and a dresser and, ugh, white walls. She sighed harshly through her nose, her shoulders heaving in disappointment, and grabbed her bags from Dende. "D'ya'll have something against color here? I swear. Every single wall here is white. It's so boring." She dropped her bags at the foot of the bed and frowned at it as she crossed her arms. Oh, she was SO going shopping tomorrow.
Dende chuckled, "I was not the one who built this temple. I rather think it was the humans trying to appease us. Apparently white is the color they think of when my elders came and told them we needed a place to clear our minds. Ask the caretaker, Mr. Popo, for details, he's been here since the beginning." He smiled warmly at her, despite the coolness he could feel wafting from her. "The bath is across the hall, and it is far bigger than my brother's room, so please do make yourself at home here."
"Oh, I intend to," she said, crossing her arms.