Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Piccolo's Embrace ❯ End of Shadows, Love Triumphs ( Chapter 13 )

She let out the breath she hadn't even been aware she had been holding when she saw the small dark shape growing larger in the darkness of the sky. As it came closer she could make out the green of his skin and the purple of his tattered gi and smiled painfully at the welcome sight. One thing which surprised her, but in a pleasant way, was that he was not missing any limbs!

Piccolo's strength was nearly gone, it took all he had left just to continue on towards the beach where he knew awaited his reason for fighting in the first place, even though he would do the same all over again to save her if it came to that. He had not killed Vegeta as he had wanted, but instead left him almost as beat up as he, too much so to continue fighting. Piccolo had taken the unwilling victory but all he could think of was Alaura and being in her arms once more.

As he touched down on the sun-warmed sand, he heard her sharp intake of breath at her first sight of his bruised and battered body, his gi hanging in a tattered mess off his chest and legs. She raised her eyes to his and silently spoke her relief that he was still alive and her love for him was so real that he could almost touch it. He collapsed to his knees in front of her, taking her gently in his arms and felt her tears wet his shoulder.

"It's all right, now, Alaura." He said, huskily, so thankful to whatever Gods exsisted that she was with him now, "It's over now. It's over."

She did not speak but continued to hold him as tightly as she could. She felt the overwhelming urge to kiss his face, his throat, his chest, everywhere. Piccolo let her caress him with her lips and tongue, realizing that she needed to feel every part of him to make herself realize that he was really there with her and was alive and holding her. For how long she did not know, she had worried that she would never be able to touch him like this ever again.

So caught up in her own body's reaction to having her love with her once more, Alaura did not see that Piccolo was healing from his wounds and his breathing became less ragged and forced. His grip tighted around her waist and he stood up, quickly shifting her body so that he was carrying her, one arm under her knees and the other cradling her upper body. Carefully, aware of her own injuries, he took to the skies once more.

Alaura did not care if they were flying or on the ground, she was persistant in her almost frantic kisses. She had her arms wrapped about his neck and her lips covered his in an almost unbreakable, blistering kiss. Piccolo felt her tongue within his mouth, persuasive and vulnerable all at the same time as he continued to fly them home.

When they arrived home, Piccolo summoned a new set of clothing forself and offered to do the same for Alaura but she laughed and shook her head. "I have clothes in the house, My love."

Before they could open the front door and walk in, it was opened from the inside and Alaura cried out in relief; "Tae!" She ran to him and dropped to her knees to be on his level. She hugged him tightly, "Oh, Thank Heavens!"

"It's okay, Miss. Flaxen." He said, patting her shoulder, "I'm fine."

"Oh, Tae!" She cried, "It was just so aweful..."

He nodded, seeming so wise and solemn and said upon being released from her grasp, "Your hurt, Miss Flaxen."

"Yes, I know." She said, "But I am just so thankful the ones I love are still with me that I had forgotten my own pain."

"I can heal you, Miss. Flaxen." Tae said, a bit shyly as if he feared her rejection or shock, humans were odd about certain things.

"You can, Tae?" She asked, "How?"

"I don't know how." He answered, "I just know I can. If your a pure heart and I can feel you are. Come here."

She sat down in front of him on the ground near her porch step and allowed the little Namek to place his hands on her shoulder and knee. She watched as he closed his eyes and something seemed to happen between his flesh and her's as a sort of crackling energy engulfed them both and she felt a sudden growing warmth all through her body. She closed her eyes and sighed, the feeling was something she'd never encountered before and likened it to sinking slowly into a bath of warm water.

Piccolo stood at a distance, his arms crossed over his chest, wearing his white cape and turban with the training weights, watching the little Namek as he healed Alaura. His expression was grim and allowed none to see past into his heart. He waited until the little one moved away from Alaura and she opened her eyes once more.

He had seen healer Nameks before, Dende being one, but he had not encountered one on Earth in a long time, at least not since being with Alaura. He wondered, briefly, how little Tae had come to this planet so far from his own. Piccolo saw that Tae was looking at him with his head cocked to the side just a bit and felt a little uncomfortable with the young Namek's oblivious study of him.

"Thank you for healing Alaura, Tae," Piccolo said to him, nodding his head toward the younger Namek. Tae smiled and turned to Alaura, "I have something to ask of you, Miss. Flaxen..."

"Tae, please," Alaura said wearily, "Call me Alaura. You don't have to keep addressing me so formally, you know."

"Sorry," He looked remorseful and went on, "Alaura...I was just wondering if it would be all right if I stayed here...with you..."

Alaura and Piccolo shared a glance and she realized that Tae had no place to go, no place to live, now that Vegeta obviously did not want him living with him, Alaura was certain he had only kept the youngster around to physically and mentally abuse when he was bored or for whatever sick reason Alaura did not care to imagine.

Piccolo answered before she could say anything and she smiled at his words; "You may stay with us for as long as you want, Tae."

"Are you still going to teach your dance class, Miss...umm...Alaura?" Tae asked, turning to look at her with wide, expectant eyes.

Regretfully, Alaura shook her head. She had been though so much, too much, they had been, for her to concentrate on teaching anything to anyone anytime soon. She said; "I need time to recover, Tae," She added, "Inside."

Tae understood her meaning. He could heal her body but only she could begin the mending of her shorn mind and soul. But, he wanted to be here to help her in any way he could. He believed that they could help each other chase away the dark shadows within.

"The first thing we need to do," Alaura said, standing up with her hands on her hips, looking at the mess of her house, "Is find another place to live."

"With that be hard to do?" Tae asked, and she giggled at the worry in his tone.

"Of course not, Tae," She patted his head and he moved closer to wrap his little hand in her's. Piccolo stepped to her other side and wrapped his arm about her waist, holding her close to his side, "Everything will be just fine. This little ballerina is a survivor."

With that, Piccolo and Tae took to the air, carrying Alaura along with them. Piccolo heard Alaura's soft laughter of pure joy and smiled at the sound he had grown to love so much. He turned his head and looked at her. She looked back as a message was passed from him to her and back to him.

** I love you. ***

** Always **

Tae giggled and they continued to fly, higher and higher, embracing the future and love and leaving the past and it's shadows far behind like the ruined house Alaura would not spare a backwards glance.

She was just thankful to be, once more, within Piccolo's embrace.

~ The End ~