Azule-san
Based on the time just after Vegeta�s self-destruction and Gohan�s �death�.
�You�re the one who killed Gohan!�
Though the words were spoken almost a fraction below what his ears could pick up, they cut through Piccolo like Trunks� sword through Freeza. He managed a shallow gasp as his knees gave out, causing him to sink to the ground. Trunks glanced up at him questionably, �What did my dad say, Piccolo-san?�
He didn�t hear the boy as he knelt there shaking. It wasn�t possible. Off all the z-fighters, could it be that the ssj2 had been the first to fall? He didn�t want to believe it, he wouldn�t believe it�until he reached out with his senses, hoping to find Gohan�s ki. But that familiar energy didn�t come into focus. �Gohan��
Piccolo stood alone on the edge of the Lookout, gazing down at the world below. The news had hit him hours ago, but it was only beginning to sink in. He felt a sick feeling in his stomach, and for reasons he didn�t quite understand, it was getting harder and harder to swallow. It seemed like he was almost choking back something.
�Piccolo?� a small voice called from behind him.
Oh great, it�s Goten. Piccolo thought. I�m not sure if I can talk to him now.
All the same, the namekian straightened, realizing he�d been slumping. Not turning to glance at the boy, he simply answered, �Yeah?�
Goten approached to sit down on the edge a few feet away. He looked down as well, his face red from crying. �Is it really true what dad said? Is Gohan really dead?�
The tall namekian drew in a deep breath, but ended up cut short as his chest hitched. He had to maintain his composure, especially in front of Gohan�s little brother. He turned towards Goten, folding his arms across his chest. �I wish it wasn�t, kid. But�we can�t sense his life-force anymore.�
The child nodded glumly, sniffling as quietly as he could. For some reason, he knew he shouldn�t cry in front of Piccolo, especially so soon after Gohan was revealed to be dead.
�G-Gohan said that you were his trainer ever since he was 5.�
�That�s right.�
�Was he as strong as I was back then?�
Piccolo shook his head, closing his eyes. �No, but back in that time, we all considered him to be strong. We saw the potential he had.�
Goten nodded. Then he managed a bitter smile. �Gohan told me all about how you died to save him. He said that some guy was about to blast him, but you ducked in front of him.�
The namekian also managed a bitter smirk, �Sometimes it ends up that way, kid. It�s either you or your fellow warriors.�
�Why did you save him? Weren�t there other people there?�
Piccolo couldn�t believe that question, but instinct told him to answer. Turning away, he muttered, �I didn�t just train him for that whole year�I sort of raised him as my own, though I don�t think either of us pictured it that way. To him, it was just brutal training, all work and no play.� He drew in a deep breath, once more in an attempt to prevent his voice from catching. �I felt�like I owed him something, for all the hardships I�d pushed him through. If Goku had been there, he would�ve done the same thing.�
�He said you were like a father to him, even when Daddy was around.�
�Yeah, we�ve been through many battles together.� Piccolo answered, staring up at the sky as it grew darker. �And lemme� tell ya�. We�ve saved each other�s tails so much, it�s uncountable.�
By now, a broad smile had crept its way across Goten�s face. �Wow,�
�Yeah,� Suddenly, Piccolo noticed how late it was getting. Goten needed to be ready for a day in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. �You�d better head back to bed now, you�ve got a lot of training to do tomorrow.�
Nodding, the boy leapt to his feet and galloped off towards the palace. �I can�t wait till we avenge Gohan! I�m gonna� work real hard until then!�
Following at his normal steady walk, Piccolo smiled to himself. For some reason, he felt a little better, like a massive weight had been taken off his chest. As he headed up the steps, he glanced back over his shoulder, the wind ruffling his cape. �I wasn�t there for you this time, kid and for that�I�m sorry. But rest assured, I�ll get Buu for this!�
With that, he proceeded up the steps, sat down on the porch, and meditated till morning.