A loud explosion shook the air, and with a great commotion, several frightened birds took to the air. Dirt and gravel sprayed up into the air like a geyser, dust billowing up like a mushroom cloud. In a secluded section of the forest, silence reigned-until it was broken by the happy babblings of a toddler.
"Unca! Unca make boom!" Marron laughed, clapping her chubby hands together and pointing from 17 to the small gouge left by the energy blast. A faint grin turned the corner of his lips, and he sat back, bracing himself with his hands. His niece entertained herself by throwing out her hands and trying to imitate him. Marron had little success.
She looked so much like his sister. Straw blonde hair, electric blue eyes. He could overlook the fact that she had her father's nose-or lack thereof. A sigh stirred the ebony strand of hair caressing his cheek.
Android 17 couldn't understand why he felt...restless. As though he needed to move on. He loved it here, with his sister and her daughter, on the tiny little island in the middle of the ocean. The job he'd picked up was something he was good at, and he even enjoyed it, when he forgot he was not supposed to. But still, he wished...the thought brought him up short. He had not wished for anything since the day Gero had changed his life forever. Made him the half-human cyborg that he is today.17 sighed. What he wanted was there in his heart, but he pushed it away. There was no mystery. 17 wanted something from his sister that he could not ask her to give. It wasn't his right, not after he'd failed her. He did not deserve to ask anything of 18. She was so happy where she was, in the life she'd created. Shattering that happiness would be like breaking his own heart. He couldn't ask it of her. But the ache was still there in 17's soul as he gathered up his niece and took off into the air.
What would normal have been a normal, enjoyable sparing between Krillin and 18 had grown into something very akin to a battle. Each punch became more deadly and less playful as anger and bitterness grew inside of each of them. 18 fought for her brother. Krillin fought to save the life he'd grown accustom to in a little of two years. Neither was willing to admit defeat, for that would be disastrous. Android 18 formed an energy blast between her hands, blue eyes fixed on her husband, who floated high about the sand with her, so far up that the pink Kame house was but a black dot among a sea of blue.
He barely had time to cross his arms in front of himself to protect his face. The blindingly bright blue energy sent him hurtling down to earth, where he landed hard on the sand. Air rushed out of his lungs with a whoosh. Dazed, the ex-monk did not move until, far more gracefully then he had, 18 landed beside him. In one fluid motion, the android flipped him and pinned his arm high between his shoulder blades. Krillin gritted his teeth but did not struggle.
"Enough is enough, Krillin," 18 said softly, suddenly feeling very tired. Her churning emotions suddenly took a backseat to her shame. Releasing her husband, who immediately pushed himself up and stood in front of her. "I..." not knowing what to say, 18 shook her head sadly, then lifted into the air, flying out across the ocean, away from the mainland and the island.
A brilliant orange sun was just beginning to set, making the sparkling ocean more beautiful then anything else in the world, when a young man landed gently on the sun-warmed sand outside of a squat pink house. An infant slept peacefully, nestled inside his jacket for warmth. Silhouetted against the purple, red and orange sky, 17 stared out at the water for a long moment before turning towards the door to return his niece.
An angry father was in his face before he'd taken a step.
"Give me my daughter," hissed Krillin, his fists clenching spasmodically, ki level rising dramatically. Relief mixed with anger and uncertainty churned in his soul. The short warrior's hair stuck up randomly from hours of being subjected to a harassed combing from his fingers. Strain was etched upon his face like lines of age. Fear burned in his eyes, though he did not know it.
Silently 17 unzipped his black leather jacket and gently slipped his hands under Marron, lifting her away. The infant's face scrunched up against the sudden lack of warmth, and twisted in his hands. Krillin snatched her up in his arms, closing his eyes against tears as he held her close to his body. He had not taken her.
When he opened his dark eyes again, there was no one there.