From last authors note: "I promise I'll have the next one up before 2007!" Oh wow… I am so sorry guys…

My author's notes are really long at the beginning… does anyone even read them? Anyway, 10th chapter… without a single 'meanwhile'!

Cold as Fire
Chapter 10 - Differences

"You're sure? You weren't exactly thrilled about it last night," Krillin said over breakfast.

"I wouldn't say I'm sure… but I'm willing to try it out. Maybe this is what I really want and I don't even know it."

"So it's a yes?" Krillin's eyes widened.

"Yes."

He smiled. He never would've thought this would happen. She said she wasn't so easy, but this was a piece of cake. 18 raised an eyebrow at his goofy expression, causing him to snap out of his thoughts. "So we're engaged now, huh?"

"Yeah I guess so." She smiled.

"Can I tell everyone or are you gonna yell at me again?" He smirked.

She laughed quietly, "Go nuts."

Almost instantly, Krillin took off to use the video phone. 18 sighed, but then smiled. 'Maybe I'm going too fast with this… but something in me tells me I'm not going to regret it.'

18 got up out of her chair and walked slowly to the kitchen window. Gazing out at the sea, she thought, '17 would kill me if he found out… but maybe I should tell him.' She took one last glance at her future husband, who was too busy talking to Bulma to notice her exit out the door.

As she took off, she remembered the fight she and her brother had, and how 'welcome' she would be going back there. About halfway there, 18 stopped. '17 hates me… what would he care that I'm getting married or not? But he is the only family I have…' Her internal struggle prevented her from realizing a man's presence behind her.

"Uh… 18?" Krillin tried to get her attention. She only looked down. Krillin stayed quiet, so not to interrupt her thoughts. But when she turned around to look at him, he spoke, "If this is too much for you, I underst—"

"I need you to come with me."

Krillin was confused, but nodded. "Where are you going?"

"Well you're telling all your friends. Can't I tell my twin brother?" 18 had that scowl on her face.

"Oh… yeah." Krillin had forgotten all about 17. He figured they weren't speaking to each other, judging by the way 17 kicked her out with nowhere to go. Krillin and 18 flew off without a word toward the empty clearing in the forest. They soon saw a small cabin surrounded by severed tree trunks and branches.

"He's been busy, I see." 18 said as she noticed half the forest was gone. They landed and 18 made her way for the door to open it, but it swung open before her, almost smacking her in the head.

"I knew you'd be back… and I knew you'd bring—what's so funny?" 17 looked at Krillin and 18, who were both hysterically laughing in his direction. Suddenly he realized what was up. 'Don't tell me I'm still wearing…' he looked down and sighed, '…spandex.'

Between laughs, 18 spoke, "You know, 17, that's a great look for you!"

"Shut up! Just because you have horrible fashion sense doesn't mean you have to make fun of mine!" 18 only laughed harder.

"Me? Horrible fashion sense? At least I'M not parading around in a leotard. You got a tutu in that house somewhere, too? Is there something you would like to tell me?" she smirked. Krillin laughed even though it might get his ass kicked.

"Well while you were gone I had to find something to occupy me. I was bored okay?" 17 was furious. "And you." He pointed at Krillin, and the laughing immediately stopped. "Now what would you be doing here on my turf?"

Krillin cowered in fear, "Um… ask her."

18 shot him a dirty look, 'Oh yeah thanks for your help, Krillin. Glad you came with me.' She thought. 17 whipped his head around at 18 and sauntered over to her.

"So, what's this puny little human doing here? I think I pretty much already know but I'd like to hear it from you, Sister." He was only a few inches from her face, glaring.

"Well, he and I—you know it's really difficult to take you seriously when you're wear—"

"Answer the question. Now."

18 took a step back for breathing room. "He proposed." She tried to say something short.

17 wore a sarcastic smile. "So you're going to wear a frilly white dress with flowers and be his forever and have a happy little get-together with a bunch of our enemies and then later, you will have BABIES. Pooping pissing crying screaming little BABIES." 17 put emphasis on that idea; he knew she hated kids. "Oh and did I mention you will be forced to be friends with all his and Goku's little friends?" He stopped for a second and put on a goofy smile. "Yeah. 18's gonna be best friends with Vegeta!" As soon as he finished that statement, he glared at her. "Are you serious, 18? Have you realized how pathetic that all sounds yet?"

18 looked down, trying to take in all that her brother had just shoved in her face. She looked at Krillin, who was in shock at 17's speech. She didn't know what to do, what to say. 17 stood before her, waiting for an answer.

"I… I don't…" was all she could muster at the moment. Krillin looked away; he was expecting 'I don't want to marry him anymore.'"I don't… care what you think, 17. Maybe all that is what I want. It may sound pathetic to you, but maybe I want to wear a dress, maybe I want to be with him forever, maybe I want to be friends with his friends, and maybe I want to have children." 18 continued. "You're the one who said we have a lot of differences. Well here's your proof. I want to live like a normal woman, and you want to be all like 'I hate humans, I hate the world, and I hate my sister and everything she does.' Well you know what, 17? I wouldn't care if you hated me." She finished, and Krillin didn't know whether to be happy that she still wants to marry him, or sad that she doesn't realize she's letting her family go.

17 sighed and walked toward the house. He stopped at the open door and turned around. "I don't hate you. I never did. I just thought… you and me could be best friends again. Like the good old days. But you want nothing to do with me. You have a chance at a new family and a new life. Why bring me into it?" He looked at 18's confident face changing into remorse. "I guess this is goodbye." And he disappeared inside the cabin.

18 collapsed onto her knees, staring at the door. Krillin walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. She choked out: "That wasn't what I wanted to do…"

That night, Krillin was about to go to sleep. He turned off the lamp when he heard a muffled cry coming from outside. He knew who it was. She was quiet since they got home. Krillin flew out his window and immediately saw her on the roof, her head buried in her arms. He sat beside her and whispered her name. The crying stopped but she didn't lift her head. "I can't believe I destroyed him like that." He heard her say.

"You were caught up in the moment. Both of you were. The argument just went a little far. He didn't mean what he said and I'm sure you didn't either. If you can, you should talk to him tomorrow. Maybe he'll be wearing normal clothes too." He smiled, trying to cheer her up.

18 didn't seem to hear the last comment, but she looked up, "It's just… he's right. We could've been best friends. Like when we were… little…" she trailed off.

"You remember? Things from before… you know…" He didn't want to say it.

"The altering? Not really… I just know we were really close."

"You still can be. I'm not here to take away what you once had. I just want to be with you." Krillin said, looking out at the moon's reflection over the ocean.

"And I want—" 18 stopped. Can she say that yet? Amidst all the other drama she had, was she ready to deal with her feelings too? She looked at him. Krillin was smiling, like he knew what she wanted to say. It made her smile on the inside, to know that he understood.

Krillin looked at her. "Hey. Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll come around once he comes to his senses. We have a wedding to plan."

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. As he put his arm around her, she chuckled and said, "And my dress is not going to be frilly."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Aww I was thinking one of those big poofy flamingo dresses—"

"Krillin, shut up." Krillin kissed the top of her head as she fell asleep.

Ok so that only took a half hour to type and yet I waited 2 years… procrastinating is not fun. I hope to get a lot of reviews so you can all have some money of you do. Haha just kidding I'm broke. Peace out. Next chapter will be a lot sooner... I hope.

--RR17