if walls could...

by aymei

Before you say it crap title i know, but it's a k/18 get together and my first fic....R&R please, I would especially love reviews from those who like Krillin and Juu too, *COMPLETED* Thanks for your reviews! much appreciated ^__^

1. if walls could...talk

Authors note; Aymei jumps down the stairs two at a time brandishing a note pad and pen. She grins as she opens up her laptop. "What's so funny?" Lexi inquires. Aymei simply shrugs her grin getting wider as she opens up the media player. "I like that song." Lexi murmurs a few minutes later turning away from her computer but Ami brushes her away. She is already furiously tapping away at her laptop her eyes rarely straying from the notebook on the table next to her. Lexi shakes her head. "If she's not writing stories…" she began. "She's drawing…" Marvin finishes his gaze not moving an inch from the Gameboy in his hands. Aymei simply sighs a beautiful far of look coming to her eyes even as they are glued to the notebook.

Part one

If walls could… talk

Rating; G, I think, nothing bad here really except for a terribly mild citrus warning in part two, oh heck who am I kidding. It's not offensive if that's what you're wondering. I don't think I went overboard with any swearing…and ummm…oh yeah I must interject here 'I love this cute couple', and point out that I don't think their coming together would be a very easy one…and that this is my first fiction…and that it's my version…and that I really hope I haven't botched it up and oh what the hey, just read while I shut up. (*whispered* 'Enjoy!')

Disclaimers? Well for a start I do not own dragonballZ or it characters blah di blah (you guys have been through this before right? Hmm, thought so.) Oh and the song, I like songs to stories, almost like movies and their soundtracks, helps me write…anyway, it ain't mine it's by Celine Dion. I have to do that so I don't get sued right…I feel the words relate to what I write…you'll notice that soon enough with my fictions.

These walls keep a secret

That only we know

But how long can they keep it

Cause we're two lovers,

We loose control

We're two shadows

Chasing rainbows

Behind closed windows

Behind closed doors

If walls could talk

They would say I want you more

They would say I've never felt this way before…

And that you will always be the one for me.

::She'd said she would see him again. ::

For the umpteenth time that day Krillin lost his concentration. He gave a snarl of self-disgust and gave up totally. This was not working at all and it was almost pointless to continue. He knew well enough that he ought to get in some training but his mind kept wandering. It was a good thing he wasn't sparing with anyone or he would more than likely end up being knocked out. He ran a hand through his hair absently giving a wry smile at the head of hair. He'd forgotten how hot it could get under a head of hair. Bah, he just couldn't be bothered with cutting it anymore and besides, he thought to himself, the real reason suddenly worming it's way towards the surface…she'd called him an old man…he doubted she knew how much that had hurt. He'd sat in front of the mirror numerous times staring at himself and wondering if his bald head did make him look old, his present head of hair told of his conclusion. His excuse then? He'd missed his jet-black hair and that was what he fed to everyone who'd asked. He halted his thoughts suddenly realizing that he'd unwittingly returned to the same subject that had been occupying his mind for absolutely ever and the very same reason why he couldn't concentrate. It'd been four months;

Four months of nothing at all; silence. He hadn't seen or even heard of her. Sometimes he'd even gone searching for her on some futile expedition or the other, knowing he couldn't find her if she didn't want to be found but hoping to get lucky anyway. You would think he would have given up already. Sometimes he'd managed to convince himself he had but if he was honest with himself he never really had. It had always been there in the back of his mind gratifyingly allowing him to fool himself. It was obvious she wasn't going to come back, the rational, responsible side of him stated. Even if she did so what? She wasn't just going to jump into his arms and say she'd missed him and was suddenly and miraculously in love with him. What an idiot he was being. Sometimes he wondered if and when she did decide to return would he really be the old man she had accused him of being. Part of him knew he could be waiting forever, and yet the other part of him knew that there just might be a chance…no matter how tiny that she just might return. He wondered briefly if given the chance would he have done things differently? He already knew the answer to that, he found it a while ago.

Yes.

He would have done everything so very differently but he doubted he would've shut her down, that he couldn't change no matter how many chances he got, neither would he have left her to Vegeta and his wish wouldn't have been any different either but everything else…This was just pointless torture and for the love of god he was doing it again! He was suddenly conscious of the approaching sunset and couldn't help but be surprised at the fact that he had been so caught up in his thoughts that twilight had almost crept up on him.

::She _had_ said she would return.::

That was as good an excuse as any to drop by and see him right? Fulfill the curiosity that had been knawing away at her for some time now. What was holding her back? Juuhachigou looked up at the approaching twilight expressionlessly. To anyone else she might have seemed barely conscious of anything happening round her but they would have been wrong. Her senses were so heightened that she felt and heard every little thing. First the twilight falls…then the stars start to appear…the noises…the night arrives. She'd seen so many night falls that she knew without having to think what would happen, how it would start, how it would end. The cycle was printed in her mind, so clearly she would be able to see it if she closed her eyes. This time it was different though, she hadn't spent time studying it, to actually stay still and just let it fall while she watched, to wonder how it could be. She'd never really cared before, it had simply been part of the insignificant things, things that just happened with no reason or explanations needed because they didn't matter. There were far more important things to have done…tear down buildings, blast things to bits…get Goku. That was then, this was now…there wasn't a Goku to get…and she didn't much feel like blowing things up…what was the point now? It wasn't like she couldn't…only it would call up some unwanted attention and now it didn't seem as much fun, there wasn't the burning desire to destroy. It had frizzled out and she knew who's fault that was. Questions, questions and more questions everywhere she turned and she wanted answers. The quiet times she'd spent thinking only produced even more and they all seemed to revolve around one theme. Unanswered questions were like a plague. She just couldn't stand not knowing. She heard the noises that filtered past her ears but they didn't register. She turned her head slightly the wind catching her hair teasing the corn-flour strands. She followed the path the wind had just taken noticing the trees. Funny, she must have destroyed many without a second glance, merely obstacles in the way. _' 18 you're no fun'_ A smile touched her lips. She'd never been one to waste time in the attainment of a goal, why should she when there was an easier and quicker way to get things done. Something Juunanagou didn't seem to understand. The smile dropped as an image flickered through her mind and with it the feeling of having the air punched out of her. Fear? Loneliness? Sorrow? Or had it been all at once she'd felt when Cell…took him…she closed her eyes rising. That was then, it was all over, she reminded herself quickly but that didn't stop unbidden memories. She closed her eyes tightly turning away, wanting to block out his face, leering at her, laughing at her helplessness. _'I'll self-destruct'_. She opened her eyes. Her hand had unconsciously gone to her chest. Well that privilege was gone. Krillin. She didn't want to think about him, she didn't owe him a thing! In fact he'd just made things worse. She sighed walking before realizing she was. It was hard to ignore what he'd done though and she had so many questions about that too. Why oh why had she kissed the poor sucker. That's what had started this whole mess in the first place. She couldn't have just walked away huh, nooo, she had to go tease him and now look how it had backfired in her face. Time stretched out before her…what to do with it in a world that she couldn't remember ever fitting in. Her head snapped round suddenly. He was back. He was getting used to this kind of life better than she was. He didn't seem to feel out of place at all. In fact if he was truthful with himself, which Juunanagou rarely was, she was sure he was enjoying himself. Building a place to stay was more a result of showing off than their real need for it, but she hadn't complained, she'd just watched allowing him to be the center of attention as her twin always liked it to be. She went off in search of him.

Gohan had called earlier. Apparently everyone was meeting up at Goku's. He had a suspicion it was more due to the need to keep Chichi company than for any real need to meet up. In those moments everyone could forget a while and he more than suspected everyone was in need of a pick me up and what better way than a picnic away from the house and it's memories. It was supposed to be Bulma's surprise but she'd told him of it and had even told him to drag master Roshi and the others along with him. He'd accepted feeling the need to be occupied today; today he was determined not to think about Juuhachigou at all. He looked up at himself in the mirror running a comb through his hair. Yup, that was exactly what he meant he thought at the image of Juuhachigou in the mirror. He put down the comb slowly…in the mirror!? He looked up again, yes, that was her in the mirror, now there were only two possible explanations...either he was not really awake and this was a major hallucination or she was…really…He turned sharply half expecting to find no one but there she was, large as life watching him with her so typical superior air of disdain. "J-Juuhachigou!?" it occurred to him that she must have walked right past Roshi without even waking him. He could just see him now lounged in the sun with the latest Playboy draped across his face. "I see you decided to get some hair then." The familiar low unhurried drawl of her voice was like a benediction. Funnily enough the first thing that popped into his head was what was she doing here. He stood there having lost the use of his vocal cords. She rolled her eyes heaven ward. "I need to talk to you." She said slowly. He didn't know why but his gaze was drawn to his watch and finally getting his voice to work he opened his mouth and said, "I can't right now, I have somewhere I need to be."

He couldn't believe he'd just said that.

He blamed it on the shock at seeing the very thing that had encompassed his every waking thought for as long as she'd left, right here in his home. She towered over him menacingly, her eyes burning holes into him. "Then cancel it or you won't be anywhere you need to be _ever_ again."

He did it again.

"You could come-"

She fixed him with a withering gaze that held a multitude of dire warnings and he wisely stopped mid sentence. He laughed nervously slipping past her as unobtrusively as he could. He suddenly realised his heart was going at it like a jackhammer and he briefly wondered whether it had been her close proximity or the warning he'd seen in her eyes. He was distinctively aware of her as she followed him always just a few feet behind. Well this was not how he had envisioned himself behaving on her arrival. He'd gone over different possibilities but this one hadn't been there at all. It wasn't going to be as easy as his inequitable imaginings had led him to believe. He got Bulma this time and not Gohan as he'd hoped and as expected she wanted to know why he wasn't coming over and she wasn't about to accept a weak flea-bitten excuse. Even over a monitor she could be quite intimidating. "Well Kurinrin?" she prompted her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What possible reason can you have for not coming? If every one else can make it so can you right?" not really asking it as a question but rather expecting it of him. "Something unexpected came up," he said cutting close enough to the truth. Unexpected…that was a laugh. "Something like what? We could help –"

"No, really, it's okay, I can handle it…I'll be as quick as possible and then I'll be there."

"Krillin, I don't see why you won't come now, you promised to help me with the things I need to do, 'Vegeta', won't get of his royal backside to help," from the way she stressed the name and with a slightly higher note, he could tell her husband was probably near. "You're not telling me why you won't come, what could be more important-oh…I see." She trailed off. He was surprised at the suddenly change in both her voice and expression. She was looking beyond him now and he followed her gaze and saw Juuhachigou standing a few feet away where she knew Bulma would see her and was watching them with that synonymous air of quiet danger. He looked back at Bulma her gaze on him was suddenly worried. "You okay?" she mouthed. He nodded. "We can be there in just a second." She mouthed again. He smiled "Gee thanks Bulma." He said a nice warm feeling washing over him even though he knew despite the Calvary he seemed to have at hand they probably wouldn't amount to much against Juuhachigou or for that matter get here in time. Still it was nice to know. Aloud she said "Okay, I hope you make it then." She said hanging up. He turned to Juuhachigou and found a small smile on her lips. "Nice friends to have, pity none of them would get here in time." She said echoing his recent thoughts and walking off. He didn't need her to tell him she'd read Bulma's lips perfectly. He went after her and found her in the kitchen ransacking the fridge. He realised briefly that by rights he should be angry at her sudden invasion of the house, her appearance from nowhere and her ordering him about but he couldn't bring himself to feel even the slightest bit angry. Instead he found himself wondering how she fit right in. Like she belonged here. He wanted to keep her here forever. He was very sure everything he felt was plastered in the feet-not-touching-the-ground' expression that was currently on his face. She turned suddenly catching his gaze. She frowned "What? Are you ill?" It wasn't so much concern as it was curiosity.

"No, no, I was just thinking" He said quickly snapping out of his reverie. Her gaze was questioning and she didn't have to say it for him to know what she was asking.

" That you seem…hungry." He said amazed at how easily that lie came to him.

"Hmm…" She shrugged "not really, but it's something to do." She said smiling a little as she admired the sandwich she'd just made. She found him still watching her with the strangest of expressions on his face and frowned again. "What now? You want the sandwich?" Krillin had to exercise some restraint as he shook his head; her tastes seemed to vary from his…a lot. He half wondered if what she'd made was even safe for human consumption. She handed half of it to him her sudden interest seeming to be to see him eat it and he couldn't very well refuse, in her own way he supposed she was trying to be nice. He took a bite instantly regretted the presence of his taste buds and was sure his mouth was going to collapse in on itself. It took an enormous amount of restraint not to cry as he smiled and even managed to carry off a small 'hmm' of enjoyment. As she brushed past him and headed for the living room he made a dash for the sink and a glass of water wondering as he gulped down the precious liquid which would kill him first the sandwich or Juuhachigou.

"So why did you do it?"

He was taken off guard as he entered the living room. "Huh? What do you mean?" She fixed him with a scorching gaze that seemed to say 'fine! If-you-want-to-play-dumb' "Of all the things to wish for, why that, why did you destroy the controller…why did you do any of these things, what do you want in return, what did you expect of me? What possible logical conclusion did you reach to have decided on any of the things you did." She couldn't have asked a worse anthology of questions. Most of which he'd avoided asking even himself, he'd thought about it just not deep enough, he knew what he would find if he only tried but he certainly wasn't going to go into it right now. "I don't know-" he began but caught her dangerous gaze "I-I just thought you both deserved another chance, I mean Juurokugou got one, what I mean is-is well he helped and everything and you all can't be that bad…what I mean is I guess you guys deserved to be able to have another chance…" he trailed off realizing he was rambling. First his mouth wouldn't work, now it was working faster than his brain could think. She snorted in disgust "You are pathetic, you and your entire kind play god under the guise of doing good deeds…." She said bitingly her statement more of an insult than the observation it would at first seem to be.

"Maybe, but the choice is still there." He said shrugging unwilling to show how much her statement had stung. She either didn't get the reaction she wanted or the answer she needed because she became angry. "Don't get full of yourself" she snarled "you may feel yourself the hero but I don't owe you anything and don't think it will get you any favors if I decide to rid the world of your sorry, smug little self." Her voice had gradually become louder such that by the time she was finished Krillin had practically sunk halfway into the sofa he was sitting on pinned under stormy grey eyes. Still no master Roshi, he thought, honestly that man could sleep through an earthquake, then again what would Roshi be able to do? She realised she'd got up just seconds before silence descended and she moved away fuming. He was deliberately skating over the issue, there was something he was holding back on…damn it all he was lying to her. It was so _frustrating_. She couldn't very well force it out of him or he would only end up telling her what he thought she wanted to hear. Sure she wanted a reason, an answer to her questions but she wanted the truth too, she didn't just want any fabricated reason thrown at her. Somehow she knew if she didn't have an answer the questions would remain and she wouldn't ever understand. The silence seemed to go on for hours and it was becoming very uncomfortable. His next mistake came in his attempt to break the silence. "Erm…so how have you been?" He saw her tense up even before she turned to face him. "What?"

"I-I said how h-have you-"

"Lets get something absolutely straight, I am only here for answers, not to play _pally-wallies_ with you, _you_ do not ask anything about me because it is none of your business, I am not your _friend_. I ask the questions, _you_ answer. Is there any part of that you _didn't_ understand."

"No…" he said. Oh could this get any worse. Everything was heading downhill very fast. She was suddenly heading for the door. She was leaving…already? He was on his feet quickly "You're leaving…" He knew what he was asking. Would she be back? How long would he have to wait this time…? Just then Master Roshi decided to walk in yawing widely and rammed right into her. To say he got the shock of his life was an understatement. The force of it sent him falling back onto his hide leaving him with no option but to look up at her open mouthed glasses askew. "J-Juuhachigou!?" She simply stepped over him. The men, if they could be called that, in this house seemed to have problems saying her name she thought to herself briefly. "Juuhachigou!" Krillin called after her falling over Master Roshi who was attempting to get back on his feet. It took precious minutes to get up and he realised he wouldn't catch her now. "Will you be back?" he called after her. She was in the air before he finished but he knew she'd heard him. He wanted to go after her but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up so he just stood there. "W-what w-was-" Roshi began confused. "I don't know." He answered simply. I wish I knew what she was thinking sometimes, he thought. Walking back into the house. He sincerely doubted today would be a day he wouldn't think about her, this time it would be worse.

She did come back though, later the same day, but like her first entry it had been silent. He'd woken up. He remembered going down the stairs wondering what had woken him when the sound had caught his ear. At first he'd been overwhelmed the darkness but as his eyes had adjusted he'd seen her, at least the form of a person slumped on the sofa but he'd known it was her. He'd turned on the lamp coating the room in a soft glow not enough to have disturbed her but enough for him to see as he tried to bite back his smile. He moved over to the window he'd left ajar and locked it. There was always a chance, no matter how small. He'd got a blanket and covered her up. Asleep she was extremely different manifestation. There was a softness that though seen rarely when awake was so obvious during sleep that it made her look so…defenseless. Not at all like the fireball she could be awake. He'd been about to leave when he'd heard her mumble something he hadn't caught. She'd seemed restless and her hair had fallen across her face. As he'd pushed it back out of her face, why he couldn't remember now, he'd noticed the perspiration clinging to her forehead. It had confused him since he hadn't thought she was able to. Her eyes had been moving agitatedly behind her eyelids and he'd realised she must be having a bad dream. As if to have confirmed his suspicions she'd called out, he hadn't understood what she'd said but more importantly he'd realised she'd been fighting for air and worrying that she would suffocate, only wondering briefly if it for possible for androids to die from a lack of air, he'd woken her up only for her to push him away from her with a force that would have sent any normal human smashing into the wall as she awoke. Despite the haunted look that had been on her face she'd been livid. Her reaction had not only surprised him but shocked him as well as did her refusal to even look at him. She'd kept her head turned away till he'd left her alone like she had with a no nonsense tone barked rather than requested, confused but happy at the fact that she was near.

It wasn't the only time she returned because it wasn't the only time she left either though the amount of times she did slowly decreased and every time she did leave she always left something behind, a wordless sign that she would return. She never thanked him for anything but he didn't mind what so ever he was just happy to have her round. He wondered if that made him a push over but somehow it didn't matter. Master Roshi didn't seem to mind at all, sure he'd been a little awestruck, but then since when had he ever complained about having female company round the house even if it was in the form of a dangerous cyborg. Oolong was wary of her but Umigame seemed to have acquired a silent understanding of her.

He'd begun to notice little things she did and it took him a while but he realised it for the silent thanks it was. Far be it for Juuhachigou to actually say the word out loud. She'd even begun to relax a bit more and no longer stood off in the distance with her arms folded tightly against her chest.

Juuhachigou didn't know why she kept coming back or why she stayed but one day would lead to another. At first she'd stayed to set Krillin on edge until she'd realised she couldn't even accomplish that because the fool was actually happy to have her around. Then she'd stayed out of curiosity. Eventually she'd realised she stayed because she liked staying and it didn't feel so bad to admit that…to herself. She actually liked being near him though this was something she never confessed to at all. He intrigued her like nothing else and a constant source of new discoveries. She'd thought she knew him but he'd retained the ability to surprise her time and time again. Besides there was something nice about living with people even though it was with a sad old man, a short monk and two talking animals. Somehow fitting into this group of misfits seemed so easy to do for they willingly accepted her though warily. They actually wanted her around. There was even something quaint about the shared evening dinners. Despite the frowns and sounds of disgust she made at their table manners and the aloofness she held, she actually enjoyed it. She was quick to point out the fact that they wasted their time with insignificant things such that days were wasted and by this she'd meant daily chores. She'd come to find out why they did them however when they'd left the house in a terrible mess and she'd had to wade through the place. She'd realised she could have left it but she'd got the sudden urge to do it herself…boredom or curiosity, she'd wondered at the time. Woe betide anyone who'd come in at that point and seen her with that silly apron and top on. She'd done everything else with relative ease but handling the washing machine had been a bit more challenging. She'd wondered briefly why they had to bother washing the stupid things, why didn't they just throw them away as she was so tempted to have done there and then and save everyone a whole lot of grief.

Krillin had hurried home to catch up on the housework only to find everything had been done and all the clothes on the line. To say he'd been surprised was an understatement. It wasn't like her at all. He'd gone looking for her and found her in the spare bedroom where she'd taken up residence, fast asleep oblivious to the world. The manual she'd been clutching had fallen to the floor. It would have taken an earthquake to wake her up but what brought a smile to his lips was more the fact that she was wearing one of his shirts, albeit slightly small, it fit. He realised he probably wasn't meant to know that she'd worn his shirt or the apron that had 'kiss the cook' emblazoned on it (one of Master Roshi's purchases) and he never mentioned it. He was amazed at the amount of emotion he felt just watching her in that rare instant and eventually lost the battle with himself. He pushed the stray lock of hair back behind her ear whispering his thanks as he did. He'd risen to leave only to be halted in his tracks by her sleepy reply. At first he thought he'd misheard, he'd turned back to her sleeping form in surprise. He shook his head and left. It must be her tiredness why else would she have murmured, "You're welcome".

"Explain why you're doing this again." Juuhachigou asked leisurely floating unhurriedly alongside a running Krillin. "I'm running, it a change, it's…fun and a great way to keep fit. I haven't done it in ages" He puffed grinning. She rolled her eyes in skyward "_what_ is the point of running when flying is much easier and takes less effort." He looked over at her "I know flying is easier, but running is fun." He explained wondering if she would ever grasp the concept of 'fun'. She looked confused "It's a waste of energy." She repeated "and very clumsy, there is always the possibility of tripping over your limbs or something else that gets in the way. Believe me I know." She said "I've seen many of you human's run and it's a sorry sight." She was suddenly thoughtful awhile before saying "for someone with such short legs you seem pretty good at it so far." He was so taken aback by the grudgingly given compliment that he forgot to concentrate on what he was doing and where he was going that he tripped and fell flat on his face. "I spoke too soon" she said giving an 'I told you so' sigh as she came down beside him. He rose, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. "Never heard of that little thing called _concentration_?"

"You distracted me." he said accusingly suddenly defensive. She scoffed "and you're telling me there are no distractions in a real fight."

"I wouldn't be running in a real fight." He pointed out quickly his brows coming together. She fixed him with a scathing gaze "Could have fooled me." She said folding her arms. He muttered something under his breath, loud enough for her to hear but so mumbled that she couldn't understand though one didn't have to be a genius to know it wasn't nice, and rose into the sky to begin the flight back home. He didn't see the small smile she gave as she rose into the sky and followed him unperturbed.

"Hello Juu-Chan"

That was the greeting she got as she entered the house and she looked for whom it had come from. The turtle. She looked at him both in faint surprise and disapproval but she said nothing as she walked away. She was letting that animal get away with a lot…one good bop on the head ought to be enough she thought almost running into the pig. He'd drawn to a sharp stop and then jumped a couple of paces backward practically falling over his words as he apologized for an accident that hadn't even happened. "Scat!" she said as he hurried past quickly in her usual friendly mood. She closed the door behind her resting against it for a while. _He_ wasn't home. She untucked her white top depositing the black waistcoat on the bed. Gathering her hair back into a ponytail she sighed and sank down onto the bed the weight of boredom falling. She had to say no when he'd offered to take her shopping. What else did she enjoy more. However, she'd become tired of him treating her so auspiciously that she'd rounded on him. For pities sake it was enough, he ought to hate her, not give her everything under the sun. She'd opened her big mouth and told him if she wanted to go shopping she would've gone _herself_ and taken what she wanted _herself_, she wouldn't _need_ him. He'd looked confused and she had known what he would say next even before he said it. That she couldn't just go crashing into the mall like she'd done before, only he put it a bit more delicately. It still meant the same thing though and she had countered with a sharp "I can and I will…" though the effect must have been dampened by the last part of her statement "…when feel like it."

She wondered if she'd been a bit too hasty in writing off his offer. She could've just dragged him along and let him carry everything. If he wished to pay that would've been his own problem. Oh well—She suddenly noticed the box on the table nearby and wondered how she hadn't spotted it before. She scooted over to the bedside table wondering who would leave a box here. Her curiosity was piqued and she opened it. She had a suspicion as to what it was even before she saw the note inside.

I know you said no…

He hadn't…

He had.

Ok, so they weren't bad, she had to admit that much…that's beside the point she reminded herself fuming. She wasn't a charity case and he had deliberately gone against her wishes. She went into the living room where Umigame and Oolong were. They looked up at her as she entered. "Where is he?" she asked her voice dangerously low "T-training…on one of the islands." They offered almost simultaneously. She found him with such relative ease that she begun to wonder why she had even bothered to ask, the stupid fool's energy was so easy to find.

He felt rather than saw her coming and he knew she wasn't happy even before he narrowly dodged the Ki blast aimed at him. He suspected that if she'd wanted, he wouldn't have been able to miss it. "I-is something wrong?" he asked attempting to laugh nervously at the storm brewing in her eyes. I know what this is about he thought.

"I told you not to get me anything, I don't want anything from you, I said I could get what I want myself…do you just deliberately not listen to a thing I say or do I happen to speak in a foreign language?" she asked heading towards him with a blow that would've done serious damage if he hadn't avoided it by rising into the air. "I-just wanted to…help" he said his voice trailing of in a tone of questioning making it seem like he was asking her rather than telling her. "I-don't-need-your-help!" she said sending a volley of blasts at him. He managed to dodge them all except one that sent him almost crashing back to the ground. He gained control quickly.

"I know that…it doesn't stop me from wanting to help though." He said with something like an apologetic quality to his voice just as she materialized behind him attempting to thump a blow right down on his head. He didn't have to turn. He'd foreseen this coming and caught her hands flinging her over his head. He could tell she hadn't expected that. Her surprise lasted just a second but it was still comical though he daren't laugh. She growled low in her throat angrily her foot coming in contact with his chest and knocking him so far back he slammed into a nearby tree and slid all the way down it to the ground. "I don't want favours, I don't need them and I don't need or want you being nice to me! You don't have to make me comfortable-god! You must be the most stupid person alive…it is time you stopped." She said towering over him. He rose wincing but still took a fighting stance in anticipation for her next move as she drifted down to the ground. "What do you mean?" he asked genuinely confused.

"Do you even remember who I am?" she questioned. He looked puzzled even as he blocked another move. What was she on about? "Of course I remember…I know who you are."

"Sure? You could fool me sometimes, or maybe you need me to refresh your memory. I'm an android, I've made people suffer, I've caused you to loose a lot, I destroy things…you know, boom, boom and gone!" So when will you stop being so bloody nice to me? Why make it so hard for me to-It just wasn't done. He should be angry, hate her; somehow she would readily believe he was a defective part of the human race. How she'd gotten herself into this position she couldn't remember...She wanted answers but found nothing but more confusion every time "…You don't just waltz out and buy me stuff. If I want something I can get it myself, I do not need you to get it for me…I don't want you to!" She finished her tone holding exasperation and weariness that contradicted with the look on her face which was one of defiance. "I'm sorry." He apologized not really knowing what else to say at that moment.

" You know," He offered after a moment of her still glaring defiantly at him. "What's past is past. Why do you want me to hold it against you?" he asked lowering his guard when he saw her shoulders unconsciously slump ever so slightly, he doubted she even realised it had happened as there was a whole range of emotions playing across her face in a moment of vulnerable confusion. ::Cause it would stop making me feel so…_guilty_, cause it would be so much easier::, hate she could deal with, was more familiar with, this unconditional forgiveness he was attempting to force into her hands was something else. I don't want to be forgiven, she thought stubbornly. By rights she should be in oblivion…like cell, after all what was the big difference between them? Made by the same man and ruthless killers…what made her so different then.

"You do know that you needn't punish yourself because you feel you deserve it. You might not think so but it doesn't have to be like that." He said quietly "I don't hate you and I don't hold a grudge against you."

"Well you should." At least the others were consistent and quite predictable in their emotions. She'd recently bumped into Tien and Yamcha, hadn't told anyone but was sure it would get round, and the looks they had given her would have melted right through metal. Krillin on the other hand was different. Logic dictated that he should feel the same if not more. Had he forgotten exactly what he'd lost? "Aren't even in the slightest bit broken up about your friend's death…don't you feel angry, vengeful? I am a reason for his non-existence have you forgotten that? Don't you care enough to avenge his death?" He took her in suddenly realising he'd been too distracted to notice her appearance. It occurred to him that she might possibly be the only person who could dress so casually and still look absolutely fabulous. "He gave his life to save others." He said

"That's not going to bring him back though is it?" she pointed out cruelly. A sad look descended on his face "Guess not. Sometimes I…" he stopped and she could visibly see him withdraw into himself like he'd gone into the house and shut the door in her face as he stopped himself. She spotted that look of sadness and it was only a bit later on that the sudden anger she had felt at that point had been because she'd realised that sadness wasn't a part of him she was used to, it was something almost alien to the Krillin she was coming to know and she'd felt lousy at being the one to hurt him like that. Why she should have cared was beyond her but it certainly hadn't brought her any joy. She turned to leave but his voice stopped her "Don't you want to finish sparring?" he asked. She turned shaking her head in bewilderment "but I wasn't-" she began trailing off uselessly. Was he really that naïve or did he just prefer to look at the world through rose tinted glasses or worse still was he just blind entirely. She left with an angry exasperated sound.

She was awoken before realising what had woken her up. That nightmare, when would it stop haunting her? She got up. Sometimes it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. She almost expected to find him there, to reach out and actually find it was no longer a nightmare but something so very real and back for her— She pushed her hair from her face. Something was happening outside and she could _feel_ who it was. She sat on the window ledge as she watched him pummeling into the tree. What was he doing? Something wasn't right, his moves were messy, uncoordinated and clumsy but he still hadn't noticed her presence or anybody else's for that matter she thought as she picked up on the fact that she wasn't alone in her observation of him. She floated to the ground arms folded, in a single flawless movement.

"He's been like that for a while, he woke us up, I don't even think he knows we're here." Umigame said as Juuhachigou landed beside him. She looked over at the turtle cloaked in the shadows that now hid her as he spoke.

"Either that or he doesn't care. I just wish he'd keep it down." Oolong said yawning widely.

"And his teacher? The old guy, why doesn't he go to him." She questioned.

Oolong scoffed "Roshi is still asleep, he wouldn't wake up if his life depended on it. Besides, does he look like he's in a talking mood" He inclined his head slightly in Krillin's direction. She watched him a while from the shadows as she stood with them. If someone didn't stop him he'd probably end up hurting himself. No one saw her downcast gaze because her face was in the shadows. She realised this was partly her fault…okay, she conceded at the niggling voice, almost all her fault. She stepped away from her position against the wall and walked over to him. He didn't even notice her approach. He was so intent on beating the tree to a pulp regardless of whether the poor innocent deserved this out pouring of emotion it was currently getting or not.

"What are you doing?" Her low voice startled him.

"Juu?!" She noticed the tears in his eyes before he could quickly wipe them away but she didn't say anything. He stared at her in surprise.

She thought it was surprise at his not having noticed her arrival and was about to tell him he wouldn't have anyway because she could hide her energy from him or had he forgotten but decided against it.

He, on the other hand, was staring at her because she looked so… angelic and that wasn't just a figure of speech. The white nightdress fluttered round her and the matching robe presently billowed behind her cause she hadn't bothered to tie it. Her hair was now more of a sparkling silver-blonde in the moonlight.

"Why?" she questioned.

He shrugged attempting to laugh it off.

"Don't do that!" she said angrily. Her voice softened "what's wrong?…really…" He sat down on the sand even more surprised by the concern in her voice. He almost questioned how this could be then remembered she'd been just as gentle with 16 when he was hurt. She'd refused to leave him. It made him feel warm and fuzzy to realise she was trying to be the same way with him. That she was even making an effort. However remembering her kindness to 16 simply brought other unwanted memories with it and in it's wake memories that threatened to break his heart. :: 'Remember the promise you made'… 'What promise'… 'Remember we promised to grow old together?'… 'oh yeah, how could I forget'… 'it's those memories that keep us close'… 'Whose loosing their memory now'… 'ha, I got you good sucker!'…'Yeah Krillin, You're real funny'…

"It's what I said earlier isn't it?" Juuhachigou asked expressionlessly. He shook his head "In many ways you're right, it does hurt, I do feel angry sometimes, I just didn't want to admit it to myself." He closed his eyes then opened them slowly, "It isn't your fault, if we were to find fault it would no doubt fall back on me,"

::You're wrong:: was her instant mental response to that. If he was at fault then what did that make her. She'd started that whole chain of events in the first place.

"but you're wrong in thinking I don't care…he was, is my best friend." He murmured drawing shapes in the sand with his finger. "It's just sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd done it differently, if the controller had been given to someone else, If I hadn't let him get you and become complete…if I was a stronger person…if I could stop feeling like this all spiraled out of my stupidity…" He felt a slight touch on his hair and at first thought it the wind for it was gone that quickly. She pulled back her hand folding them against her chest least they move of their own accord again. "I've dealt with this you know, at least I thought I had, I guess I bottled it up without realizing it." he gave a crooked smile. I won't ever mention it again, she thought to herself as she looked down at the dark head of hair her mouth remaining resolutely shut. Instead she said, "Do you want to eat something?" remembering that humans seemed to derive some sort of comfort from food when unhappy.

He looked at her confused "Not particularly" he said slowly at first then he remembered the last time she'd made him something and shook his head quickly almost too eagerly and more firmly he said, "No, I'm not hungry."

"Want a sparing partner?" she asked. He'd begun shaking his head when it suddenly dawned on him that she was trying to make him feel better though she seemed at a loss as to how she was going to go about it. The last thing he wanted was to make someone else miserable so he gave a small smile pushing his grief aside. "Would you stay?…a while?" There was a brief silence though it seemed to last forever. She couldn't find anything fitting to say though 'no' was on the tip of her tongue. She sank down next to him.

"Well what d'ya know, he just might have a chance after all." Oolong said.

Umigame smiled lazily "good."

"Now maybe I can get some sleep," Oolong said as they went inside.

She looked over at him as he looked at her. "What things do you like doing?" he asked suddenly curious. She looked surprised "Why?" she asked. Because I don't seem to know much about you and I'm only just realizing it, he thought to himself. "Friendly conversation." He said instead. She glared at him "I am not your-" she began

"Between polite strangers." He amended quickly. She gave an almost inaudible grunt "Nothing" she said.

"Favourite things?" he ventured. She hadn't shown an inclination towards anything that would suggest it was something she liked. Except for blowing up stuff and raiding malls that is. Then again that was Juuhachigou for you. "You do realize that you are the hardest person to get to know?" He hadn't meant to say his thoughts out loud.

She didn't answer. "Ever cloud gazed?" he asked looking up at the sky. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way round, clouds in the day and star gazing at night?" She questioned suddenly.

"They're hidden Juuhachi." He pointed out looking up at the clouds that had moved over the full moon. I _can_ see that Krillin, she thought sardonically but said nothing.

"Take that one over there, it looks like a dragon, what do you think?" he asked.

"I think this is a silly waste of time." She said damningly.

"You aren't trying."

"Because it is a waste of time." She reaffirmed. He made a small movement with his mouth and went silent. She rolled her eyes heavenward as if pleading help from above and decided to humor him "A snake"

"A Snake?" he repeated questioningly "which one?"

"That one there." She said pointing ahead. "Huh?"

"The one coming up next to the one you said was a dragon."

He followed her directions but he was sure he wasn't looking at the wrong one. It was remarkably square-like, in no way like a snake and he couldn't figure out how she'd arrived at a snake. "That one there." She reaffirmed at the puzzled expression on his face. He stared ahead intently trying very hard to make himself see a snake but even if he stretched his imagination to the limits he would still have to conclude that it looked nothing like a snake. "I know, but…it's remarkably triangle-like…" he trailed off "Wait a minute-" he turned to her his voice one of teasing suspicion "you're just pulling my leg." He said at the same time he noticed the wide grin illuminating her face. He started laughing because the grin was one of such smug satisfaction, so unexpected, so out of place on a face that seemed only to frown all the time and yet wonderful at the same time. Her laugh when it came was such a carefree, musical sound that it was over too soon as far as he was concerned. She leant forward pressing her lips against his before he could record the movement. She pulled back a little as if suddenly questioning what she'd just done but he wasn't about to let her change her mind. He kissed her. He'd expected her to push him away, what he hadn't expected however was the way she yielded to him, the way she opened up to him so honestly not holding back on her response to his kiss. He certainly hadn't expected to find himself as lost as he did. Did her name filter through his mind or had he actually whispered it out loud. She trembled slightly and he pulled her against him. He'd almost expected her to feel cold, he wasn't sure if she could feel cold or not but she was certainly warm, he could feel it through the thin material of he nightdress. He wondered briefly if he should have just stuck with the baggy PJ's he'd been about to choose instead before he'd asked the shopkeeper for her help but then he realised it might not have made a difference whatsoever. This close she would still set him aflame no matter what she wore. She broke away suddenly rising.

"You better go back to sleep it will be morning soon."

Was all she said as she left him staring after her more than a little disoriented and nullified. He didn't even take in what she'd said. More to the point the question floating round his head was how could she even be so unaffected when his legs seemed to have turned to mush and he couldn't even put together a coherent string of words let alone say them.

She eventually asked the question he'd been dreading a few days later. The question always started with why. It always set him on the defensive. It made him unconsciously withdraw. He remembered how everything had spiralled the last time they'd been through this and he'd hoped she wouldn't ask him again though he'd know that was not going to be the case, it was obvious that she hadn't been satisfied with his last answer. This time he could see that she had been pondering on it quite a bit. He on the other hand couldn't forget that mind-numbing kiss… "I explained before-"

"No you didn't…you didn't answer my question, you evaded it. Why'd you do it? What were you hoping for? What did you want?"

"I told you I didn't want anything" he said quickly.

"You're lying." She accused "Your friends I can understand, they only kept Cell from getting me because it prevented him becoming complete. That is the _only_ reason they did it…you however, had the chance to destroy me and you didn't, You risked thousands of lives to save mine and then that wish…no one is that 'good' why?"

"I only did what I would have done for any one else. You needed help."

"Why? What should it matter I was still your enemy, I could've killed you the next chance I got…I probably would've if I'd got the chance." She muttered as if deprived of something she'd desperately wanted. "What where you thinking at that point in time? to do something like that?"

He realised that he'd thought along these lines sometime ago. He wondered if she was right. He had wanted something hadn't he? Had he hoped she would feel the same way as he did if he saved her? Had that been the sole reason he'd tried to help her, was that why he'd made the wish. If he was truthful with himself would he find that she was right? when he had made the wish, he had hoped it would make her feel differently about him hadn't he? Wasn't that wanting something in return? That didn't make it selfless did it…

"It's what I do…you could say it comes with the job description." He ended up saying.

She was unable to hide the slight second in which her face seemed to fall. Job? He'd done it because he'd felt…obligated? Because it was what he _did_? That was obviously not the answer she'd expected because she became angry. "Even Jobs are done for something in return." She said smartly "Just remember the decision was yours and yours alone, just don't expect me to feel indebted to you because I don't." She said. He noted the downward twist of the conversation again and felt that if he didn't say anything else it couldn't possibly get any worse. Wrong. She seemed to be awaiting some sort of reaction, some reply he hadn't given yet. She got none partly because he couldn't find anything to say at that point in time. She'd just thrown everything he thought he knew into whack. Now he didn't think his actions had been so pure and was unwilling to linger on and question these doubts least of all admit them. She'd left by the next morning.

End of Part One

Author's Note; Ami sighs as she stretches. "First part done…second part here I come...tomorrow." She sighs again and breaks into a beautiful smile. "I hope they like it…" She thinks as she looks over at Lexi. "Don't you think you went a bit overboard on the smooching bit?" Lexi asks. Ami shrugged. "Do you want a total lack of feeling Lexi? It's the way it turned out. Besides your one to talk remember that little story you wrote hmmm? I wonder what everyone else out there would think about that cringy, sickly-sweet piece of mushiness."

"You wouldn't!" Lexi says even at the mischievous glint in Aymei's eyes.

"Let's see now, where was it the last time I checked…"

*** If I made any spelling or grammatical errors I'm sorry, I tried to find them, I went through it lots of times…anyhow d'ya think that was okay? I'll be bringing the next part soon, it's done (I'm lazy, yes I know) but I'm just re-editing and checking spellings, I know it's taking me a while but I want it to be a good one. Just for you.