*waves sheepishly* I may have accidentally another chapter. I'm sorry again for the insane amount of time between updates - writers block and a ridiculous year.
Thank you so much everyone who stuck with the fic and all you lovely new people! We're coming up to the final act now - hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 15: also entitled – The New Zero

I've been waiting for you all my life
hoping for a miracle,
I've been waiting day and night, day and night.
I've been waiting for you all my life
waiting for redemption,
I've been waiting day and night, I burn for you. – Johnny Clegg - Dela

"You have the package?"
"I do."
"What do you want for it."
"What have you got?"
"You can have dinner here one night this week and dibbs on any of my dresses if I die of second-hand embarrassment upon the viewing of this film." Said Chichi, holding out her hand for the film.
"Done. But if the secondhand embarrassment doesn't kill you the firsthand embarrassment will – wait until you see the dude who's supposed to be you."

18 was leaned over the sofa in the Son's living room, watching Chichi rather over-enthusiastically switch on the TV and play 'The World's Longest'.
"Pregnancy has ruined you, hasn't it?"
"At least I had Goku around last time; poor bastard didn't know what hit him. I'm climbing the damn walls this time."
"Oversharing, Chichi."
The cyborg looked around cautiously, "Don't you want to mute that? Isn't your kid round here somewhere?"
Chichi sat heavily down on the sofa, "Nah, he's at the Lookout with Dende," she turned around and grinned at 18, "It's nice that he's got a friend his own age."

She wrinkled her nose at the screen. "A white boy with gelled hair does not a good Goku make."
"Listen," said 18, "I'm not just here to supply you with filth. Krillin said he was going to be here, but urrr…I don't see him."
"Just missed him."
18 rolled her eyes, oh now you tell me.
Chichi pointed a finger at the woman behind her, eyes never leaving the screen "Don't you roll your eyes at me blondie."
The tiny dark-haired woman opened the bag of popcorn she had in her lap and wiggled happily in her seat. 18 climbed over the top of the sofa and dropped down next to her, frowning. Why have I seen this twice?
She waved away an offer of popcorn.
"Issss there any particular reason why you need Krillin anyway?" asked the pregnant woman, a note of amusement in her voice. Her attention was back on the pornography, "Oh! Ohh! Look at that! Guy me is so hot!"
"I've figured out how to get Majon to leave him alone. I think."
"Does it involve fighting her?"
"Uhh yeah, how did you guess?"
If there was a camera, Chichi would have looked directly into it.

"Well you can probably catch up to him if you're quick; he mentioned something about heading over to West City?"
18 stood up, "Hmmm. To Capsule Corp?"

"He's flown past Capsule Corp, he must be heading somewhere else." A deep, gruff voice cut across the grunting and saxophone music.
Chichi threw the popcorn into the air and all over 18 who was clutching her chest in surprise, "GODDAMMIT PICCOLO! WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?"
"I'm letting you know Gohan is staying over at-"
There was a slightly too long pause as the namekian took in t the sights and sounds coming from the TV.
"What ... am I witnessing?"

18 left the Son House as quickly as possible, wanting to both catch up with Krillin before he arrived at the destination she hoped he wasn't heading towards, and also escape the horrific awkwardness that was Piccolo, Chichi and the poor sweaty men who were portraying them on the screen.

"I'm so ungodly offended by this."
"I'm quite enjoying it. I wonder how they're going to do the bit where Goku had to rescue Kami from y-OOOOooohhhHHH wow nevermind."

She had taken too long messing around at the Son's. Which was ridiculous. Possibly ironic? If she was using the word correctly? She was supposed to have flattened that house and its inhabitants over half a year ago. But no. Now she was porn delivery lady and tiny man rescuer. I mean really, she thought to herself as she cut through the clouds, I seem to be doing a lot of out of character things recently. Well, they might have been something I would do, once upon a time – when I was someone else… but now? I sang a duet the other day. I did that. I actually did that. What was I even thinking?! Oh god I'm so embarrassed that my chest hurts.
Whyyy.
Because.
Because he had been upset. So very upset and she had hated it.

But this…idea. This cunning plan. This was a winner. This was her. She felt comfortable with this – in her comfort zone.

It had been a while since she'd fought anyone, but that didn't bother 18. It wasn't like she trained anyway, or lost power, or even forgot any of the moves. It was all ingrained into her brain, uploaded like she was battling Agents in the Matrix. Fighting was something she had never learned to do. And yet – it was what she was best at. Of what she could remember at least. She knew for certain now that baking was not one of the things she was best at. Neither was art. She tried to draw a cat a week prior only for it to look more like an angry potato than a beloved pet.
Where was she? Ahh, the fighting. 18 didn't tire. Didn't run out of energy. Didn't use ki so couldn't be sensed. Oh yes. 18 was confident about this; of course she'd win Krillin. Hell, Majon might even just forfeit – surrender before a blow hit.
But, thought 18 as she tried to combat a frown forming, I might still rough her up a bit. Even if she does give up.
For upsetting Krillin. Or… just because I can. Not for Krillin or anything… she bit the inside of her cheek, maybe a little bit for Krillin.

Krillin thumped on the closed door of the Rakshasa for the third time, hoping someone would answer before he was forced to break through… and feel bad and then probably spend 10 precious minutes trying to reattach the door again.

Graciously, however, the door swung open, and Krillin looked up to see 17's pale and flawless face.
"Greetings mortals – I hope you- wait. Where's 18? Isn't she with you?"
Krillin blinked a couple of times as he processed the Android's presence. 17 rolled his eyes dramatically and pulled the smaller man into the building by his shirt.
"What are you doing here?"
17 continued dragging Krillin through the bar, behind it and through a STAFF ONLY door. "I'm waiting here for you and my sister, who appears to be AWOL. Did she send you straight here?"
Krillin struggled feebly to free himself from the cyborgs iron grip, swatting at the hand still clutching the front of his shirt.
"What? No I came here myself, I need to talk to Majon. Why are you waiting here for 18 and I? 17, 17! Let go!"
The taller man did indeed let go, but only when they were both halfway up a flight of stairs.
When he reached the top and waited for an annoyed Krillin to climb back up, 17 found he was worried. The plan was for 17 to head to the Rashaka and see if Majon was there, or find out where she was. He had accomplished this on his own thus far. The other part of the plan was for 18 to go to Son Goku's house where Krillin had been all afternoon, grab him, explain the plan and bring him to help. She had apparently failed at this part of the plan.
Where was she?

He had explained this to Krillin by the time they got to the very top of the stairs and an office door. 17 barged in to find a stressed looking demon on the office phone. Spike kept the receiver to his ear as he wildly gestured at the two other men to come inside and shut the door. 17 said nothing, but stood and pointed at the short fighter beside him.

Krillin ran his fingers through the dark stubble on his scalp. He still had no idea what was going on. Blinking at the demon at the desk, Krillin was sure he recognised the man – had he met this demon before? Maybe it was because he looked a little like Majon…actually… a lot like Majon.
"Wait… do I know you?" Spike cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at the smaller man, scraping through memories to try and place the ex-monk's face. It appeared Krillin was trying to do the same.
"I got it!" said the demon, clicking his fingers, "Fortuneteller Baba's place! You and that weird haired kid after a dragonball. I'm Akkuman… um… Spike. Tried to kill you guys. "
17 had walked around to the desk, taken the receiver out of Spike's hand and hung up the phone.
Krillin shrugged, "to be fair that's how we meet most people."
Spike came around the desk towards the smaller man, "I do I remember you. You flashed your friend's breasts to win a fight."
"That…sounds accurate."
The android patted Krillin's shoulder in what would seem to be an affectionate manner, as he pointed at Krillin again. Spike gestured impatiently, wanting a better explanation.
"This," announced 17, "Is you're sister's pet boyfriend, Krillin."

The pet boyfriend waved weakly; Spike sort of waved back, giving up halfway through. He then apologised for his sister's whole Demon Promise thing, only for Krillin to apologise for Oolong and Roshi agreeing to the damn thing in the first place.
"She likes you. She's actually pretty excited about it being you, her and -"
"How do we fix this?" Krillin interrupted, shooting a glance at the forever impassive face of 17, "I mean I had an idea?"

Krillin explained that he was going to try and win himself back, poker or something. Hell, even Rock, Paper, Scissors. They could just make a new Demon Promise to cancel out the old one.
17 let out a snort of amusement, "That's cute. We we're thinking of something similar for our plan."
Krillin blinked rapidly. "You… you were?"
"Yeah that's why 18 wanted to find you before we did anything. Clue you in. Make sure we didn't mess anything up."
Spike listened intently, nodding along. "I'm not sure – but there's a tiny chance that might work. "
He scratched at his pointed blue ears and frowned a little, "I mean if you could get her to agree to it. She's not too happy at the moment. On a bit of a warpath. I… may have messed up a little. Told her something I thought she'd react better to."
The monk was confused again, so Spike elaborated.

Majon knew about 18. She knew 18 was living with him. She knew that he was very very smitten with her. Spike folded his arms, looking down at the tiny distraught looking man.
"I think the word that was used by your dear Oolong and Master Roshi was 'Love'." He sounded tired. And sad.
Krillin let out a small desperate sounding laugh, only to be interrupted by the cyborg.
"Yes, he's completely in love with her."
The monk just gazed up at him, heart suddenly beating very fast. "You know?"
17 's face faltered and he actually smiled down at Krillin. A genuine smile, devoid of the cold and arrogance it usually held. "You are not exactly a subtle man."
He watched 10 different emotions pass over the small human's face and quietly wondered if he would ever get to that point. The wide sweep and range and full damn complexity of the human being. Maybe.
The last emotion that 17 registered on the ex-monk's face was worry.

Krillin clenched his fists, head bowed, concentrating. "Akkuman?"
"Uh-huh?"
"What did you mean when you said Majon was on a warpath?"
"Ohhh. Yeah, she got Baba to show her where 18 was. But that was like… half an hour ago. No idea where she is now. I'm not going to lie I think she went out looking for a fight."
17 awkwardly played with a strand of his black, straight hair. "Um, she might have found one."

The plan was to find Krillin.
He was not who she found first.

They actually flew past each other. By just a few feet, looking each other in the eye and then screeching to a halt mid-air when they realised the person they were looking for was now couple of meters behind them. 18 and Majon reversed until they were facing each other and then dropped swiftly down to the roof of the building directly below them.
Neither women had seen each other since the night Krillin, Yamcha and Piccolo had trashed the Rakshasa and beaten Majon's bouncers/lackeys to pulp (with more than a little help from 17).
"So I take it you quit?"
"I think your security camera's recorded my formal resignation." Dammit, thought 18, quips are hard, where the hell is 17. Her former employer wandered a little closer, playing with the wispy white hair hanging by her ear. She moved to the left of 18, slowly, starting to circle her in a manner that was almost shark-like.
"Let's call the zeni you stole from the till your severance package, shall we?" she purred.
18 remained still, something telling her (a very very human sense of self-preservation kicking in perhaps) something was wrong. She was supposed to be looking for Majon. The demoness did not appear to be even slightly surprised to meet the cyborg 30ft above West City. The very fact she was there on the roof of an office block with her and not even asking why was enough to nudge a little nervousness to the front of 18's mind. Had Majon been looking for her too?

Majon had tidied herself up a little bit following her little conversation with Baba. She'd taken a deep breath, exhaled and then told her brother she was going home – she'd meet him at the Rashaka later. She'd had a shower, fixed her makeup and changed into a black top so the 18's blood wouldn't show up on it when she beat the girl to death. Should be easy, she figured as she scraped her hair up into a ponytail, 18 had no power level she could even sense –just that weak.

18 spoke first.
"I was trying to find you – I have something I need to discuss with you." Majon chewed on a nail, nonchalant.
"Oh? And why is that?" her tone was almost sweet. Almost.
"You need to break off this Demon Promise arrangement thing you have with Krillin." A statement, not really a discussion opener thought the demon. 18 was looking her straight in the eyes now – icy blue meeting black. Majon let out a dramatic sigh and sat down heavily on the walled edge of the building.
"No of course not."
"Why not?"
Majon slouched forward, staring up at 18 from under thick eyelashes. "I can't. Not until it's fulfilled. If you know what it's called then someone has surely filled you in on the rules," the demoness quirked an eyebrow, "and before you start demanding that I call it fulfilled – it's not as simple as that. It's a contract that is either held or broken by magic far, far stronger than me or any old demon. That's it, sweetie-pie. End of. "

Crossing her arms over her chest, 18 nodded sagely – this confirmed everything Krillin and the Turtle Hermit had told her. And only convinced her more that her plan was the best option.

"And on that bald little subject…" began Majon, the sweetness in her voice now growing sour.
"Fight me."
"…whut?"
"Fight me. For Krillin. This is…This is a challenge – I'm challenging you. Majon, Me and You, one on one, winner gets the pet boyfriend. A Promise."
"Sweetheart, I really don't think this is anything to draw blood over."
"Probably not, but this is a Shonen anime and this is just how things are done" Growled 18, and she stood with her feet a little wider apart.

The Demoness let out a shot sharp burst of laughter.18 simply sank a little deeper into her stance and raised clenched fists by her side.
Opposite her, Majon narrowed her eyes, face splitting into a terrible toothy smile, razor sharp. Oh, she was serious. Standing up, she cracked her knuckles and started removing her earrings.
"Good, I was hoping to break some teeth today."

More than a little confident, 18 allowed herself a small wan smile. Cocksure idiot in tight pants? Not like she hadn't handled this before.
"So it's agreed? I win, I get the pet boyfriend. You win, you keep him."
Majon finished tying her hair up out of her face and made an long suffering noise, "urgh, I wasn't particularly wanting to bet Krillin. But you know what, "she said with a flourish, "It's not like I'm gonna lose him now is it sweetie?"
"So that's a yes?" Make it official, 18 willed, a Demon Promise.
"I guess it is, yeah."

And with that, the Demoness, tall and blue and lithe stood up and walked purposefully over to the much smaller blonde woman, wings stretching out and flapping a little in anticipation.
If she was charging her ki, 18 could not be sure.

(But Spike could. And Krillin sure as hell could.
Back at the Rakshasa, the monk and the demon looked at each other in horror and raced for the door, leaving a vaguely confused 17 standing there with his fingers still fiddling with his hair.
"Well that can't be good." He mumbled to himself, following after.)

The demoness stopped in front of the android and paused, as if searching for something.
"And what the hell even are you anyway?"
18 blinked rapidly, Majon continued, gesturing up and down the blonde's frame. There was something very… off about the young woman in front of her, something uncanny and … wrong. She had sensed it from the day she hired her, just putting it down to her being a bit weird, a bit too cold and stoic. But no… Majon could see it now.
"You've got no powerlevel – no ki. How can you have no ki? It's literally life force. Even trees have an energy signature. And yet," here she paused for dramatic effect, "you do not."
She watched that pale beautiful face grow even paler and saw anger flash in it. Oh, thought Majon. That hit a sore point.
18 clenched her fist so hard her knuckles made cracking noises. And oh that familiar ache, like she'd swallowed a bite of something too large and scalding; burning its way down her throat and into the pit of her stomach, spread over her. She tried to quell it but felt only bitter gall.
"Well that at least establishes that I'm not a Silver Pine." Said 18, her voice low, and deep and dangerous.
"Sweetie I think that establishes you aren't even a person."

18 threw the first punch.
It connected with Majon's nose.
The demon stumbled back, clutching at her face. "OW! Ow shit! Ah ahhahhh! Hang on, hang on a sec! Shit!" she said, waving 18 back and pinching her nose.
18 dropped her fighting stance, a little awkward and unsure of how to progress from this point. The other woman had hit a nerve – maybe she'd hit her too hard? She didn't really want to kill her. She inched closer, to see what damage she'd caused.

Majon whirled round with a left hook that caught 18 in the jaw.
Now on the rooftop there were two women holding their faces, swearing.
18 recovered first and deftly kneed Majon in the chest whilst she was bend over, knocking her onto her back. The demoness rolled over backwards and then sprang into the air, wings spread wide and desperate to get out of arm's length. 18 followed only to be hit with a barrage of ki blasts. Nothing incredibly powerful – but just enough to force her back to the rooftop. With no way to sense ki, 18 needed to do this quickly and efficiently, just in case.
"Well that was annoying." She grumbled to herself, crouching into a fighting stance again, ready.

She fired a ki blast right back at Majon, who only just managed to dodge it; the look of shock illuminated on her face as the beam flew past her.
"Okay, you're stronger than I thought then." She laughed, a nervous note to it.
"Just a little." Smirked 18 and she made a 'come hither' motion with her hand – the ki blast made a U turn and hit Majon in the small of her back, sending her plummeting back down to the rooftop.
In the nick of time, the demon slowed herself with her wings and stopped before she hit the concrete – landing on all fours like a cat.
"Thank Kami I'm not wearing heels."
She had only seconds to recover as 18 was already barreling towards her, clenched fist drawn back. Majon blocked the first and second punch, but the third connected and she flailed with her left hand; catching 18 in the ear.
That was painful.
There was a loud ringing in her ears and everything went a little off balance – but Majon had shaken off the blow and went for a right kick – and a high one at that – right to 18's head again.
Blocked, duck, strike back. Left punch, right chop, backhanded strike – they danced and whirled avoiding and taking and dealing out blows.
Majon was starting to sweat a little. This girl, this little blonde thing was tougher than she looked. Stronger too.
Why didn't she have a ki signal?

"Why doesn't your sister have a ki signal?" Spike shouted back at 17 as they ran out of the Rakshasa and searched for Majon's energy signature again.
"Cyborgs."
The blue demon whirled around and looked at the young man like he'd grown and extra head.
"Like a robot?"
"No not like a damn robot, a cyborg. Mostly human … just with … added bits. Y'know, wifi hotspots and chainsaw hands."
"So my pregnant sister is fighting a cyborg?"
"Wow that is a sentence and a half."
Krillin ignored them, trying to focus – find the ki that would lead them to Majon and 18. It was times like this that he wished he'd gotten Goku to teach him that instant translocation technique.
Got it.

He spun around to the two men, each aiming to find and stop their sister kicking seven shades of hell out of the other one. Well. Spike was. 17 was reveling in the chaos as per usual.
"Found them. Follow me." And he took off, rocketing high above the club and buildings around it. They both took off after him.
17 caught up to Krillin; shouting over to him, "Sooooo pregnant huh?"
Krillin grimaced, nodding, not making eye contact. He should have said something. Told her. "We need to be fast."
Spike the Devilman folded his arms across his chest with a chuckle, gliding alongside them, "Majon's a demon remember? Our girls have been causing mayhem and destruction with a bun in the oven since the dawn of time! This'll be no problem for her!"
Krillin locked eyes with 17, who raised his eyebrows back at him.
"So our other sort of brother was Cell. You heard of that guy?"
Spike blinked and turned a slightly lighter shade of blue, then sped the hell up.

Majon was tiring faster than she thought she would; it was harder now to dodge the slightly too powerful ki blasts and block the vicious strikes 18 launched with well-manicured hands.
The other woman showed no sign of slowing down. Only cold steely determination.
Urgh, thought Majon, this isn't going well. Time to try a different approach.

"I just want to know one thing, blondie" Majon growled, "What are you? I mean, where do you come in to this?"
"What?"
"Why the hell do you even want to win Krillin from me?"
They pushed back from one another, Majon breathing heavily – 18 not so much. The small blonde didn't answer, but used the break in contact to take off her jacket. Majon pressed on, hoping 18 might be distracted… or give up altogether should she prod in the right place.

"What is he to you?"
18 scrunched up her nose, still not taking her eyes off the other woman. "Important. He's... important."
"That isn't an answer! Are you his lover or something?"
"No –"
"His damn caretaker?!"

"No I'm his friend, and I love him and I won't let you take him." Yelled 18, her calm and collected demeanor slipping away totally now, and all of that anger and worry and frustration that had been fighting its way out without the inhibitor to stop it was there. Raw and exposed. Bubbling out, more human than she'd ever remembered feeling. Where was her damn baking when she needed it.

"Look," snarled Majon pointing her finger at her chest and gesturing rather violently, "I'm not the bad guy here!"
"What are you talking about – yes you are! You're carrying him off like a damn dragon in a fairytale!" 18 shouted back, barely aware she was raising her voice, she wanted this over – why couldn't Majon just admit defeat? She looked exhausted already.
"And you're the knight in shining armour I suppose." Sneered Majon, lush blue lips curling around sharp sharp teeth.
"You know… I'm honestly ok with that metaphor."
And they began the dance again.

I don't deserve this, Majon thought as she launched herself back at 18, swinging in with a side kick, blocked. All I did was try and find myself some support, (spinning to the left for a roundhouse kick, blocked again) someone to be there for me and the bean and what do I get? Some skinny yellow-haired girl pulling it out of my grasp. No, not today bitch.
"I just want my happily ever after." She got in close and with an almighty crack, headbutted 18.
Standing over the felled cyborg, Majon started charging a ki blast in her palm, "Isn't that what everyone wants?"
18 frantically wiped the blood that was oozing into her eyes from her forehead – deep cuts from where horns had connected with flesh. She felt the air around her sizzle and heat up, a deep thrumming and a bright pink light coming from the person looming over her.
BOOM!

Majon's blast hit the concrete of the roof as 18 rolled out of its path. With a grunt, she swept the demons legs from beneath her, knocking her down with a sickening crunch.
The cyborg smashed an elbow into Majon's sternum and swiftly moved over her – pinning her in place, a hand at her throat.
"Everybody wants that you stupid cow – you think Krillin doesn't? You think you can just take him away from the people that love him and that's okay? Because you're the one who gets the happy ending? Well Fuck You."
And she started squeezing.