By Azule-san
The rising sun�s rays crept across the barren wasteland, bringing everything to life�save the green-skinned namekian who sat in the tall grass against a large boulder. Piccolo sucked in one shallow breath after another, trying his best not to cough for each time he did, pain would ripple through his entire body. He tried his best to get himself together, to get to his feet, but it seemed he was paralyzed. �I�don�t get it�� he murmured. �I�ve never been sick before.�
It had started just the day before. He had suddenly felt weak and tired. Now he burned with a fever and his skin was pale. He was too weak to help himself, so he continued to rest there.
Just then, a familiar energy caught his attention. Smiling slightly, he opened an eye. �G�Go�han.�
The instant he saw his friend sitting against a rock on the ground, 7-year-old Gohan felt a sense of foreboding. Diving straight to the ground, he ran to Piccolo. �Piccolo-san!! Are you okay?�
�I�ve�been better.� The namekian wheezed, face twisting as a surge of pain racked his body. He began to shake as it continued, the throbbing in his head increasing. Gohan dropped to his knees beside his friend and supported him. The boy regarded Piccolo�s situation frantically. What could he do to help an alien from the planet Namek? Take him to the hospital?
Gohan quickly shook his head. No way. The moment the doctors would see the downed namekian, they�d probably jump out the windows screaming. There was only one other option. Deciding on it, Gohan slung Piccolo�s arm over his shoulders and hoisted him into the air. �Hang on Piccolo-san! We�re going to get you to help.�
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�NO WAY!!!!� Chi Chi shrieked, as Gohan stood before her in the front yard, still carrying Piccolo.
�But mom��
�HE�S A KILLER GOHAN!! HE�S CORRUPTED YOU!! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY ASK TO LET HIM INTO OUR HOUSE!! HE COULD HAVE RABIES FOR ALL WE KNOW!!
Piccolo moaned, yet he was unaware of the argument between mother and son. By now, he had sunken into unconsciousness. Gohan�s lower lip trembled with the realization and he slowly lost control of his emotions.
�BESIDES, HE TRIED TO KILL YOUR DAD!! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT HE WON�T DO THE SAME TO YOU?!�
Unable to take it anymore, Gohan screamed, �PICCOLO-SAN IS MY SECOND DADDY!! HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO SAVE ME AND PROTECTED ME AGAINST FREEZA!! HE�D NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT ME!! NEVER!!!!!�
Chi Chi stood, stunned by her son�s outburst. But by now, tears poured from Gohan�s eyes as he drew Piccolo�s limp form closer. Sighing, the mother understood. �Fine, Gohan. But at least keep him in the spare room.�
The 7-year-old�s face brightened and he scurried past her into the house. Chi Chi slumped as she followed. �What have I done?�
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�Gohan?�
The boy�s head snapped up from the desk he�d been leaning on and he rushed to Piccolo�s bedside. �Piccolo-san! How are you feeling?�
A frail smile crossed the namekian�s face. �A little better.� He suddenly realized that they were no longer in the wasteland. �W-Where are we?�
�You�re at my house.� Gohan answered, moving his chair closer to the cot. �Mommy actually let me bring you in.�
Piccolo chuckled lightly. �Let me guess, you had to resort to the puppy face attack?�
Gohan giggled. �Yeah, you might say that!�
Though it took some effort, the namekian warrior, raised a shaking hand to the top of Gohan�s head. �Thanks, kid.� Just then, he sank back into unconsciousness, the hand dropping back to his side.
Gohan gasped in fear and reached over to feel for a heartbeat. He was relieved to find that there was.
�Gohan! Time for dinner!!� Chi Chi shouted from the kitchen downstairs.
The demi-saiyajin gazed worriedly at his friend. He didn�t want to leave him all alone in case he needed help. Yet, he couldn�t refuse dinner. So, he ran down to the kitchen, hoping that he would be back before Piccolo woke up.
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�Hey Gohan?�
The boy glanced up from his bowl of rice to make eye contact with his mother. �Hm?�
Chi Chi paused, as if unsure of what to ask. Finally, she spoke. �What did you mean about Piccolo earlier? About sacrificing his life for you and defending you in battle?�
Gohan nearly choked. Had his mother actually asked why he worshipped Piccolo in such a way? Without hesitation, he told her the story. �The big saiyajin, Nappa threw a huge blast at me. I was too scared to move. Piccolo got between me and the beam and pretty much shielded me with his own body.�
Chi Chi gasped.
�When he was dying�he told me that he was proud of me�and he was sorry for training me so roughly.� The boy�s eyes filled with tears as the memory tore at his mind. �He also said that I was his only true friend.�
�Oh Gohan��
�And ever since then, he�s been my guardian.� Gohan continued, his face brightening. �He saved me from my own blast, kept me safe from Freeza, and helped me withstand the battle. He even saved dad!�
�What?!� his mother leaned forward, anxiously.
"He knocked him out of the way of Freeza's blast. He was struck instead."
The woman's black eyes widened and she sat back in her chair. "My gosh..."
Just then, a heavy moan could be heard from upstairs. Gohan leapt to his feet and rushed up to the spare room, where he found Piccolo still lying in bed, teeth clenched and sweat beading his head. The fever had created a purplish hue to his cheeks.
"Oh no, Piccolo-san..." the demi-saiyajin moaned. Panic seized him. What could he possibly do to help?
"Here," a voice said from behind him. Gohan spun around and stared in shock as Chi Chi handed him a damp washcloth. "Put it on his forehead."
Nodding, the boy took it and placed it just below Piccolo's attenae. His mother then handed him a glass of water. "Try to get him to take it." she commanded. "It's best to keep him hydrated."
Crawling up onto the bed and lifting the namekian's head onto his lap, Gohan whispered, "Piccolo-san, if you can hear me, try to drink this water."
Though his eyes remained squeezed shut and he said nothing, Piccolo opened his mouth slightly for Gohan to pour in the nourishing fluid. After managing to gulp down half the glass, he refused any more. His body gradually relaxed and the sweat on his brow disappeared. Both Chi Chi and Gohan sighed tiredly as Piccolo's breathing returned to near-normal.
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