The Dragon Dance

"Rii, come on!" Piccolo reached out his hand, smiling. "Come dance with me!"

She looked up at the tall strong Namekian warrior in front of her, a smile on his face and an outstretched hand. She smiled, lightly setting her own in his. He pulled her to her feet, and she stood next to him, her cheeks lightly turning red.

"You are very beautiful, Rii." He said, bowing.
"Why thank you, Warrior Piccolo." She answered, bowing back.

Around them, other Namekians did the same, bowing to their partners. Piccolo, however, was the only one dancing with Rii, the female Namekian, an honor is his Village. The dancers all stood in a circle with their partners across from them. Piccolo smiled at the thought of Rii, scantily clad and gorgeous as ever, standing in front of him, about to partake in the sacred Namekian Dragon Dance.

Drums beat in the background, soft flutes and chimes playing along. As the music began, one of the elders began to tell a story. One Rii had heard many times, one she knew by heart. The story of Namek, and the tale of Porunga. And she and Piccolo had the honor of dancing to the elders story.

As the elder spoke, Piccolo walked closer to Rii, his Namekian clothes blowing in the soft breeze. He circled her, running his hands down her back and over her arms. She stood straight, looking out at the faces of the watching children, trying hard to not smile at their awe struck faces. After a few moments, Piccolo stopped and her side, tracing two fingers down her arm. She shuddered. She had done this dance many times before, but something about having Piccolo run his hands over her made her feel....Different.

She turned and faced him, her long swirling garments blowing to the side. She circled him, running her fingers around his middle. Her grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her face inches from his. He glared at her, making a disgusted face, and gently tossing her to the side. To the viewing Namekians, however, it looked at though he had violently thrown her down, following the words of the elders words. However, even though they were simply acting, when she looked at him, Piccolo's eyes seemed sad that he had to do such a thing to her. Her cheeks reddened, donning a purple color across her green skin, and she stood up.

The dance went on for many hours, and Rii tried to focus on making her feet follow the beats of the music. But the way he was gazing at her...That had never happened. She didn't know why he was staring into her eyes every chance he got, or why he seemed to hold her in his glances.

When the dance was over, she bowed to the crowd at Piccolo's side. Then, as the audience decreased, she began to walk towards her home, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Rii, wait."
"Yes, Piccolo?"

Rii looked up at him, his cheeks purple and his eyes glistening in the fire light.

"Thank you for the dance." He said, smiling at her, his face going darker.
"Piccolo, your face is very  purple. Are you sick?"

He turned. "No. See...See you tomorrow, Rii."

She watched him leave, a bubbly feeling coming into her own heart.
"What…What the?"