Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Slumber Party! ❯ Under His Sway ( Chapter 24 )

Piccolo stood next to Toshi, a bit to the side as she observed, silently, the still form sprawled out on the sofa covered with a thin blanket. She had her head cocked to the side and her long hair fell over one blue eye as she crossed her arms under her chest and took a deep breath. Terra had felt weak and asked to lie down somewhere so Toshi had shown her the room she'd been staying in since her own house had burned down.

He watched her from the corner of his ebony eyes, uncertain as to what she was planning or even as to what she was thinking. Finally, she asked, in a low voice; "What kind of creature is he, Piccolo?

What kind of being would knowingly flirt with death as though it had no more meaning that a used tissue? I saw the way he looked at Vegeta when he first saw him. I know that he knew he was no match for him. I could see it in his eyes, Piccolo. So, why?"

"I don't know." Piccolo shrugged, "I'm tired of watching you stare at him."

Toshi quirked a thin blonde eyebrow at him, "Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?"

"Your crazy." Piccolo snorted, turning away, raising his two fingers to his forehead, "I'll be meditating if you need me."

But Toshi hadn't missed the hint of a smile in his voice before he shimmered out of sight. She looked back down at Terra's disturbed little brother and shook her head. She really wanted to try and understand him better and actually to help him and his sister.

But so far his behavior had only served to fuel her mistrust and contempt. If his sister hadn't proven her worth and sincerity, she would have used her pyrokenesis on him and ended him as he slept, vulnerable, here before her.

But, she felt that she owed Terra the debt of her life and lives of her friends. She also knew that she could not ignore her nature instinct to help a being in need and reached down to pull the blanket up tighter about his shoulders, feeling his forehead with the back of her hand. He felt cool, that was good. She'd been afraid of fever. But, perhaps Terra's herbs had done the trick.

Suddenly, she felt his hand wrap tight about her wrist and his eyes popped open, catching and holding her own in a vice-like grip as strong as his hand about her wrist. She started and tried to draw back but he only tighted his grip and pulled her closer, forcing her down to her knees upon the floor beside the sofa. She was amazed at his strength so soon after a life-threatening injury! He sat up as he held her down until he was face to face with her and whisper harshly, "You are going to help me, little girl."

She started to shake her head and he noticed her eyes began to change into the deep crimson-on-black orbs they became when her power was building up inside of her. He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a breif, violent shake, startling her out of the midst of gathering her power.

"Look at me!" He commanded and Toshi felt she could not refuse. Like a slave drawn, unwilling by the tug of the shackles upon her will, Toshi's eyes, now back to their normal cornflower blue, riveted upon Cyclone's gaze, "You shall not deny my power!"

She nodded, feeling oddly at peace, his eyes were odd, she thought vaugly as a still uncaptured part of her being screamed for her to turn her face away quickly, to look away before it was too late! "N-no!" The words felt forced from her as she tried to turn away. It was so hard…so hard to…move. "I…will…not…be…controlled…"

"Oh, but you will be," He chuckled, knowing that his rarely used skill as a master hypnotist would be more than enough to win her to his side, and after he'd gotten her it would be little effort to bring the others over. Though, I see more trouble with that irritating Saiyan Prince and the Namek. He thought, as he felt Toshi slipping, once more, under his control, Ah, well, all in good time.

At the exact same moment; Piccolo outside, in the middle of the deeply altered state of meditation and Terra in the middle of a series of disturbing images which flashed through her mind as her body sought sleep, jerked out of their inward worlds and felt Toshi's silent cry for help.

"Cyclone." Piccolo growled, as he teleported.

"My brother, stop this!" Terra cried as she ran into the living room at the same moment Piccolo appeared and leapt foreward to jerk Toshi away, "What have you done to her?!"

Piccolo held Toshi in his arms, she seemed listless and her head lolled back like a ragdoll's. He looked down her somehow sightless eyes and felt somethin akin to rage just beneath the surface of his thoughts. With clenched teeth, fangs showing, he handed the woman he loved more than his own life over to Terra, who he knew would protect her and faced Cyclone.

"I'll kill you for this!" He started to gather his ki, building his power higher and higher, fairly glowing with strength, "I'll kill you!"