TUSOKI

5; Third time's the charm!

Notes; It was interesting to find out Krillin had flunked his police exam twice before finally getting it on his third try. So I wanted to do something with it.


"I just don't see how you could fail this test for the second time in a row, Krillin."

Krillin let out a sigh as he sat up a little straighter in his chair. His instructor was furrowing his brows at him from the other side of his desk.

"You are top of this year's class, you passed all the exams so far and you did excellent on your ride-along days. What's going on here?"

"I guess my nerves are getting the best of me." The small man said miserably.

It wasn't a lie, he did get nervous the past two times. He hadn't been able to concentrate as well as he usually could on regular exams, knowing that this last hurdle stood in his way of becoming an actually licensed police officer.

"You've got to do something about that, I would hate to see you not make it. I would love to have you on my squad, you know."

His instructor leaned forward, resting his elbows on the surface of his desk.

"You do realize this is your last chance? After this you will never be able to try out again."

Krillin gulped softly, that was something he really did not need to hear right now, but he had already known. His teachers at the academy had been stressing this particular point several times throughout the course.

"Listen, why don't you go home and relax, do nothing, or do something fun to distract yourself. Look over the material one more time before getting a good night's sleep so you'll be well rested for tomorrow's exam."

Krillin stood up and shook the man's hand.

"I expect you to make it tomorrow Krillin, I know you can do it!"

"Thanks, Sir."

With that, Krillin left the police station. He walked around the city aimlessly for a little while, thoughts already at tomorrow's testing. He really did not want to mess it up again.

He decided that tomorrow, no matter what happened, he would just go with his first gut instinct while answering the exam questions, he would not allow his nerves to get the best of him again.

He snorted, he already knew that was easier said than done.

Yet, if he had to be totally honest with himself, he could not deny that his nerves weren't the only thing that kept him from passing.

His wife was less than thrilled with his career of choice, though she didn't voice it much, he knew it did restrict him just a little bit. He didn't like doing things that might upset her, but after deciding to retire from Martial Arts, he found that being an officer was the next best thing in doing good for humanity. Something he had explained to her and she had finally, begrudgingly, agreed with it.

He raised a brow when his phone started to beep. He smiled as he saw the small text message.

"Speak of the devil." He chuckled. He typed a response before stretching out and letting out a yawn. He walked into a back alley, watching his surroundings closely. When he deemed it safe, he shot up in the air and set course for home.


Krillin swallowed softly as he looked around the waiting area. There were a few other people here that had to retake the Police Exam. In a way he was glad he wasn't the only one.

He bounced his leg up and down restlessly, this waiting was getting to him. He just wanted to get this over with. He looked at the clock, he had arrived a little early, it would at least be 10 more minutes before they would be let into the test area.

He took a bundle of papers from the small backpack he had brought with him, deciding to use the remaining time to look over the material one more time. Though he already knew everything that was there to know. He had even asked Eighteen to test him the previous night which resulted in him answering all questions she asked correctly.

He let out a sigh, putting them down when his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from Eighteen.

'You can do it, I believe in you.'

Krillin arched a brow at the surprising message. She hadn't sent him such an encouraging message before, since she wasn't too happy about what he was doing so to get a text like this right now, gave him a much needed confidence boost.

"If you are ready, you may proceed into the next room." A deep voice suddenly said.

Krillin hastily responded to her before turning his phone off and putting it away. Taking one last deep breath, he set foot into the examination room.

Two hours later, Krillin stepped outside into the warm rays of the sun, shielding his eyes against its brightness for a moment.

He didn't really know how to feel about his exam, but he had a feeling this time things went a little better though. He only hoped it was good enough.

"Daddy!"

"Huh?" Krillin turned around to the source of the sound. He had only seconds to react when Marron ran into his arms.

"Hey firefly! What are you doing here?" Krillin said lifting her up. He smiled when Eighteen walked up to them.

"Well this is a surprise." He said.

"We were in the area." Eighteen simply said. She crossed her arms as she regarded him for a moment.

"How did it go?"

"Better than last time, I hope. I don't know... I guess we'll just have to wait and see." He answered softly.

He let go of Marron, taking her hand instead. The small girl took a hold of her mother's hand as well and proudly walked in between them as they made their way through the bustling street.

"What were you doing here?" Krillin asked curiously.

"Nothing in particular, just waiting for you." Eighteen admitted with a small smile.

She looked down at him.

"I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I really do hope you passed this time, Krillin." She added softly.

Krillin smiled slightly.

"Thanks Eighteen, that means a lot to me."

He let out a sigh. It would be a few days before he would get the final results in the mail. He was already dreading it. He wouldn't know what to do if he failed yet again. But he decided to not let it ruin the rest of his day. He squared his shoulders and shook his head, banishing the depressing thoughts from his mind.

"So, anywhere you need to go?" He asked. Eighteen shook her head.

"Not really, though we do need some groceries."

"And ice-cream!" Marron added, she let go of Eighteen's hand and pointed at a colorful building a little ways in front of them.

"Remember Mommy, you promised we could get some when we came back to the city!"

Eighteen arched her brows at that.

"I guess I did, hm?"

Marron nodded eagerly.

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Krillin added.

"Yes!" Marron squealed happily letting go of Krillin also and going ahead. Eighteen chuckled as she watched her daughter stop at the entrance, impatiently motioning for them to hurry up. She took a hold of Krillin's hand and squeezed it softly.

"Come on, let's go in before someone loses her patience and orders the whole menu."

Krillin's eyes widened at that. He chuckled, nodding in agreement.


Eighteen unzipped her raincoat and shrugged it off, hanging it to dry. She frowned as she hastily made her way to the kitchen to grab a small towel to dry her soaking hair off. She halted her step when she observed her husband at the kitchen table, he was looking at something in front of him on the table.

"Hey." She greeted softly. She took a clean towel from the cabinet and started drying her hair.

Krillin looked up at the sound of her soft voice.

"How did it go?" He asked, referring to Marron's surprisingly hard transition with going to school.

"Better." Eighteen said

"At least she didn't cry as much this time." She said with a sad look.

"I hate to leave her there when she's so upset."

Krillin nodded.

"It'll get better once she's used to it."

"I guess."

Eighteen sat across from him at the table.

"What's that?" She asked pointing at the envelope in front of Krillin.

"Test results."

"And? Did you pass this time?"

"I don't know." Krillin said with a sigh.

"I'm scared to open it."

Eighteen arched a brow at that. Sometimes her husband could be so silly.

Krillin shoved the envelope toward her.

"You do it, I'm too nervous."

Eighteen took a hold of it, turning it around in her hands for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Krillin said not looking at her. His heart was beating rapidly when he watched her open the envelope slowly.

Eighteen read the letter's contents, but didn't say a word. Krillin gulped, he tried to read her expression to no avail. Eighteen was very good at keeping a so called poker face, no matter the situation.

He let out a shaky sigh.

"Well?"

She looked up from the letter, smiling fondly at him.

"Congratulations, you passed."

"Wha? Are you serious?!" Krillin said standing up abruptly resulting in his chair falling to the floor with a loud bang. He didn't care as he made his way to where she was, taking the piece of paper from her hands. He was shaking slightly as he reread it at least five times.

It was true, right there in black and white. He had passed the exam with an almost perfect score.

"I don't believe it." He whispered.

"Well you better believe it, you've been moping around long enough." Eighteen said. She snaked an arm around him and pulled him into her lap.

Krillin let out a surprised yelp at the sudden movement.

"I guess you're right, I have been a bit of a downer lately, haven't I?" He said softly. He was still holding on to the letter.

"It's okay, I've been kind of hard on you too, regarding this whole police business." Eighteen admitted with a chuckle. She pecked him on the lips affectionately.

"But I really am happy for you."

Krillin smiled, laying the letter aside as he returned her kiss.

He couldn't wait to see where this new career would take him, but he already knew he was going to love every moment of it.

End.