Disclaimer: Surely there's no need to go through this by now.

Author's Note: I want to take this time to thank everyone who's read the story and added it to their Favorites list, and for all the feedback too. Thank you guys so much!

Epilogue


Near the outskirts of West City, Koji sat against a large oak tree on the bottom of a hill. It was ten 'o clock in the morning on a Tuesday in March, the day was sunny though windy with barely a cloud in sight in the blue sky. It wouldn't be long now before spring officially came in- two weeks, actually, according to the man on the news channel. Koji didn't need someone to tell him that a new season was coming, though; with his Saiyajin nose, he could already smell the change in the air. Right now, he was doing nothing more than enjoying the scenery. Just only three years ago, it would have been impossible for him do something like this. But those dark days were over with as peace had been fully restored to this era at last, and he owed all his success to all those brave warriors he met back in the Past...Young Gohan, Piccolo, Kuririn, Tienshinhan Yamucha, his father, Vegeta, but the one he felt indebted to most of all was Son Goku. Getting to know that great man had shaped his life in many ways, and he would never forget him. None of them.

After defeating Cell, Koji had immediately paid a visit to late Doctor Gero's laboratory to destroy it completely, so that way this world's Cell wouldn't show up trying to start problems. With the destruction of all of the Jinzouningen, the season wasn't the only thing that was starting to change. Word of the defeat of the Artificial Humans had spread like wildfire, and survivors came from their hiding places roaring celebration. Koji had been hailed as hero all over the world. But as soon as the celebrations were over, the remaining people of Earth immediately went to work on rebuilding what they had all lost over the years during the Cyborgs' rampage. While it would still take some time, the world was gradually beginning to look as it was before the artificial humans had ever appeared.

"A zenni for your thoughts?"

Automatically, Koji rose to his feet, grabbing the new sword his adopted mother had made for him as he did so. He was just about to pull his sword from its scabbard, but stopped mid-move when he saw who it was.

Juuhachi-gou raised a brow at him.

"Oh. Juuhachi-gou-san, it's just you," Koji said, feeling a bit awkward. "I thought-

A faint smile touched her lips. "Don't worry about it, I understand."

Koji pushed his sword back down in the sheath. It had been hard, and not to mention very awkward, for him and his birth mother to repair their relationship. After everything that happened, how could it not be? But Koji now realized she and her brother both had been victims of Gero's evil just as much as he and everyone else had. Dr. Gero had turned them into cold-blooded killers against their wills, all for the sake of getting revenge on Son Goku, causing his mother and uncle to develop a hatred against that which they could no longer be.

These days, it was pretty easy to separate Juuhachi-gou from the monster she used to be. After their reconciliation, Juuhachi-gou had threw away her old RR attire and these days replaced them for more regular attires, and she also smiled more. Her eyes were slowly losing their inhuman coldness, replaced by a warm glow. While he had accepted her now, she had surprisingly told him not to call her 'Mother' since she had never been one to him while Bulma had. He was still amazed at how easy his adopted mother had accepted it when he had told her about his decision to spare Juuhachi-gou and forgive her.

He still recalled her response after he told her: *Son, just about everyone I met through Goku-kun were jerks who had done horrible things- some more worse than others. But in spite of that, I fell in love with one of them and the rest became good friends of mine. I even had a soft spot for Piccolo and that father of yours.*

Although the two of them had forgiven Juuhachi-gou now and knew she had changed for the better, they knew the public were far from ready to do the same. With things still fresh in everyone's mind, they thought it would be best to keep her a secret until a true solution for the matter arose. Speaking of which-

"So, what you doing out here all by yourself?" Juuhachi-gou asked.

"Nothing. Just thinking," Koji replied. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I came to tell you that Bulma is finally finished with the ship. We're all set to go."

Koji's face brightened in excitement. "Really? So we can go to Nameksei now and wish the others back to life?"

Briefly, Juuhachi-gou looked vaguely amused by his elated expression. Then her eyebrows creased together as something crossed her mind.

"Your father and the others won't be happy to see me," she said. "Not that I blame them."

Koji looked at her sympathetically. It was true. While Juuhachi-gou had repented for her sins, she was still most likely not going to get a warm reception from the Z-Warriors. Certainly not from the ones she actually did kill.

He surprised himself and her when he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"For now, don't worry," he told her, smiling. "But when that time does come, we'll deal with it...together."

Juuhachi-gou smiled back at him and nodded.

A light breeze passed over them as they turned and walked off together towards home, talking and laughing together like a real mother and son should.


OWARI