Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Love In Writing ❯ The Book ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: A little warning that Piccolo actually talks a lot more often. He is a little OOC, but will still retain his stand-offish and scary persona.

About two months later:

Piccolo sat under his usual tree in Capsule Corp's backyard during another one of the Z fighter's usual get-togethers, hosted by Bulma Briefs.

He watched through half closed eyes as Goten and Trunks chased each other around the yard, Goku sat at the food table and ate constantly, and Chi-chi and Bulma talked about things. Vegeta leaned against the side of the house in his usual stance, growling at anyone that came to close, and Gohan was supposed to bring a friend when he arrived shortly. Krillin, Eighteen, Yamcha, Chaoutzu, Tien, Puar, Master Roshi and Oolong were also there.

For some reason, Bulma and Chi-chi kept looking in his direction from time to time. He was getting a little frustrated at them and was about to go over and demand what they wanted when they got up and approached him.

Piccolo stood up and opened his eyes, waiting for them to say what they wanted. Bulma spoke first. "Hey Piccolo, how are you doing?"

"What do you want?" Piccolo asked, knowing that she wasn't just trying to make small talk.

"All right," she drawled, "I wanted to ask if you knew someone with the initials M. K..?"

Piccolo thought for a minute before replying, "Why?"

"Well, I was reading this book," Bulma said, holding up a book, "and the person in here is very much like you, green skin and all."

Piccolo grabbed the book from her hands and looked at the cover. It showed a woman with long, golden hair and an amazing figure, the kind only artwork portrayed, and a tall, green skinned man with green antennae poking out of his golden locks of hair. Other than the hair, the man looked very much like Piccolo.

Piccolo scowled at the cover and snarled, "What is this about?"

"Why don't you read it?" Chi-chi suggested, trying to keep herself from smiling as she had already read the book and knew what happened. It was, after all, a romance novel, and everyone knows what happens in those types of adult literature. She just couldn't picture Piccolo in such a compromising situation.

Piccolo looked at her like she was nuts, which he had always thought she was, but decided that he had nothing better to do and wanted to know what this was all about. He sat down in his usual meditative position, thanked Kami that he was literate, and began to read the book.

Bulma and Chi-chi smiled at each other and returned to the bench where they sat and gossiped. Vegeta and Goku got into a mini battle over the food, which Saiyan could eat more, and Goten and Trunks cheered them on. Gohan arrived soon after with a girl, causing Chi-chi to exclaim 'grandchildren!' at every turn.

Gohan saw his mentor and best friend seated under his usual tree. As he pulled his friend along, he at first though Piccolo was meditating, but his head was bent and as they got closer, he saw that he was reading. Gohan approached him and said, "Hey Piccolo, it's good to see you."

Piccolo looked up from the book and greeted his friend, "hey Gohan, who's your friend?"

Gohan smiled widely and ushered his friend forward, "Piccolo, this is Videl."

Piccolo just nodded his head when Videl said, "It's nice to meet you." She appeared a little nervous, which was normal considering she was talking to a tall, green Namek.

"Hey Piccolo, what're you reading?" Gohan asked, noticing the book that he held.

"Nothing," he replied, not really wanting people to know he was reading this type of book. He had just reached a part where Lola, the woman, was coming on heavily to Drum, the alien man, and he was just going along with it. Clothing was being removed at the moment and Piccolo wanted to know what was going to happen.

Unfortunately, Gohan saw the cover of the book and exclaimed, "That looks kind of like you, except for the hair."

"That's why I'm reading it," Piccolo said, when Videl noticed the cover also, and the title of the book.

"Did you know that book is on the best sellers list? They sold over one million copies in the first two weeks of publication."

Piccolo's eyes went wide at that. Then he thought about how the pathetic humans would just think the author had made the alien up, which was a possibility considering Piccolo didn't know that many people.

"We'll let you get back to your reading Piccolo. I want to get some food before dad and Vegeta eat it all." Gohan ran over to the buffet table with Videl walking after him.

About two hours later, the party was winding down and several people had left. All that remained were Bulma and her family because they lived here, and Goku, Chi-chi, Goten. Gohan had left to take Videl home.

Piccolo had just finished the book when he walked over to Bulma and asked, "Who wrote this thing?"

"I think I have a picture of the author on one of my other books. Wait here," she said, and rushed into the house. She came back a few minutes later with another book and turned to the back cover. "Here she is," she said, turning the book and handing it to Piccolo.

Piccolo's eyes widened and he said, "I know her."

"Really," Bulma exclaimed, "can you introduce me? I'm a really big fan."

Piccolo scowled and took off. Bulma screeched in protest, "hey, bring back my book. It took me forever to find a copy."

Bulma was still scowling when Vegeta walked up to her with the book with the author's picture in it that Piccolo had dropped on the ground. He looked at the cover and tilted his head saying, "hey woman, let's try this."

Bulma looked at the cover and blushed, saying, "Vegeta!"

Vegeta smirked, "What? Is it too much for you?"

"Wait until everyone is gone," she whispered, gesturing to the Sons.

Vegeta's head shot up and he shouted, "Everyone leave now!"

Piccolo shot through the air, heading towards the house in the forest where that woman he had rescued lived. He couldn't believe that she had written some of that stuff about him. The compromising positions, the gentle gestures and the soft words were definitely not him.

In the distance, Piccolo noticed clouds rolling in, darkening the already dimming horizon. A storm was approaching as he landed in the yard and stepped up to the front door. He pounded on the door and waited, standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

The door opened slowly and a voice said, "I'm armed."

"I don't care," he said, grabbing the bat that was about to be swung at him.

May looked out and said, "Piccolo! What are you doing here? I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"I wanted to know what this is," he said, and handed her the book.

May blushed and gestured for him to enter the dwelling. Piccolo stepped into the house, having to duck his head, and the door being closed behind him. "You see," she began, "after our encounter, it gave me a great idea for a story. I'm an author."

"Hn," Piccolo said simply, waiting for her to continue.

"My editor loved it and had it out in the stores in record time. People loved it."

"I've noticed. I heard it was on the best seller's list." Piccolo said in reference to what Videl had told him.

May smiled that another one of her stories was making people happy. "I'm sorry," she said, noticing that Piccolo was not happy, "but no one will know it's you. I doubt many people have even seen you, right?"

"Hn," he said again, and May took that as a yes.

Suddenly, the clouds opened and rain began to pour down. "Oh no," May groaned as she walked into what looked to be the kitchen. She came back with several pots and set them around the room.

Piccolo looked at her questioningly until he felt a cold drop hit his head. Looking up, he saw that water was leaking through the roof. He stepped aside and May put a pot where he had just stood. "Why don't you get it fixed?" he asked.

May looked at him, a little perturbed, and said, "I have all the stuff to fix it in the shed, but I just never have the time. For some reason, whenever I'm about to start, I get an idea and I have to write it down. I never get back to it."

Piccolo was getting a little uncomfortable and decided that it was time he left. "I better get going," he said, and took a step towards the door.

"But it's pouring outside," May said, "you can't go out in this weather."

"I've been out in worse," he said, reaching for the doorknob.

"Well, at least stay until it calms down a little. You can stay for dinner," May said, in an attempt to get him to stay. The fact was, she liked having him around and she didn't want to be alone again. She didn't like a lot of people around, but Piccolo was different; he seemed to be the uncomfortable one, whereas most of the time, she was very uncomfortable around others.

"I don't need to eat," Piccolo said, turning from the door to regard the woman.

"Really? How come?" She asked, curious about this alien.

"I'm Namek. I only need water."

"Oh," she said, trying to keep disappointment out of her voice. "Well, why don't you stay for water while I eat dinner?"

Piccolo looked at her suspiciously. "Why don't you want me to leave?" He asked, eyeing her warily.

May blushed a little under his scrutiny and said, eyes downcast, "I guess I like your company."

Piccolo was taken aback by this. The only one who had ever enjoyed his company was Gohan while everyone else just ignored him, was afraid of him, or just wanted a good spar.

"It is storming pretty badly," he said, trying to justify what he was about to say. "I guess I can stay for a little bit."

May smiled and gestured him into the kitchen. The room also served as a dining room and had a small table setting for two. Piccolo sat in one of the chairs while May went about making herself dinner. She set a glass of water in front of Piccolo, and gave him a smile before turning back to her cooking.

Piccolo had almost felt the inklings of a smile tugging at his lips when May had grinned at him. He sipped at his water and watched her work. She wasn't what humans would call beautiful, but she had several features that were considered nice. She had long, red hair that flamed down her back to just past her shoulders. Her eyes, he had noticed, were a lovely shade of green.

She was short although next to his six feet six inches height almost everyone was short, but the top of her head came to the middle of his chest. He guessed that she was what people would call cute, but he had never been a good judge of human features.

At the moment, she was wearing a dress with spaghetti straps that reached to her knees. It was bright with yellows and oranges in an array of patterns.

May brought her plate filled with food to the table and sat across from Piccolo. It was nice to have someone for dinner even though that someone didn't eat.

The dinner was quiet, but neither person really minded. They each had things on their minds, and the first thing spoken was by Piccolo when he noticed what she was eating.

"That smells good," he remarked. He didn't need to eat, but he did every once in a while and chicken and white rice was one of his favorites.

"Thank you," May said, surprised at the compliment. "Can you eat at all?"

"Yes, but I usually don't."

May got up and came back with a small plate with some rice and a little bit of chicken. "Here. I made plenty," she said, smiling brightly at him and returning to her seat.

Piccolo tried a bit of it and said, "It's good."

May smiled even brighter and continued to eat her own dinner. After the meal, she put the plates into the sink and looked back at Piccolo who had stood up. "It's stopped raining."

He walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door. May followed closely behind and watched as Piccolo opened the door and prepared to leave.

"Piccolo," May called, causing Piccolo to turn back, "would you, maybe, come visit me again sometime?" May knew she had too much hope to expect anything from Piccolo, but she generally liked his company.

"Maybe," he said, and took off into the air, heading towards his cave.