Krillin and Juuhachigou

Chapter three

Clash of Destinies

Krillin sat quietly at the party. He was sitting in a chair along the wall as far away from the rest of the party goers as possible. He sighed and rested his head in his hands. Quietly, he watched the rest of the scene. Yamcha had been right; there were a lot of pretty girls at the party, but he wasnt really interested in their beauty. None of them were right to him, they all seemed shallow and fake. He didn't want someone like that.

Far across on the other side of the room, Juunanagou had spotted Krillin. And regardless of what Yamcha had said, he recognized the earth warrior. He narrowed his cold eyes and discretly crept over to Dr. Gero, who was talking to a bunch of giggling girls.

" Sir, there's someone over there who shouldn't be here." Juunanagou said quietly. Gero merely raised his eyebrows at the android before turning back to the girls.

"Who?" the demented doctor asked shortly. Juunanagou gave him annoyed look and jerked his thumb in the direction of Krillin.

"That one, over there. I think I've seen him hanging around Yamcha and those other members of the Montague gang. Should I get rid of him?"

Gero turned in his chair and sized Krillin up. He turned back to Juunanagou. "He doesn't appear to be any threat. Leave him alone, for now."

"But he has no place here! I could show those damn Montagues if I could just-"

"17! Leave it at that or you'll go back into your chamber. I still have the controller. Now go drag your sister out of her room. I don't care if she kicks and screams, I want her out here NOW!"

"....Fine." Juunanagou turned and walked away down the hallway, muttering under his breath, "What I wouldn't give to knock your head right of your shoulders, you crazy old man..."

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A while later, Krillin stood up to leave. There was nothing for him at the party, and being around so many androids was making him nervous. He looked around one final time before heading out the door. He paused outside, listening to the music from inside the house, and looked up at the stars.

"What a fun night this was. Thank you, Yamcha. A whole night of sulking, wasted." He started to walk down the front drive, but a girl's laughter stopped him. He froze and turned around. From behind the bushes stepped a girl with shoulder length blonde hair and the same piercing blue eyes as Juunanagou. An amused smile played on her face.

"Did you have big plans for tonight?" She asked, teasing him. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt himself blushing. He shrugged.

"No....not really. I came here because my friends said I needed to get over my....um....people.....phobia." Why did I say that? he thought. The girl studied him.

"If you say so. So did you?"

"Um...did I what?" The girl laughed again.

"Get over your phobia?"

"Uh.....I guess so. I'd better be going now." He started to walk again. He threw a glance over his shoulder. The girl was still watching him. There was something about her that made him feel......strange. He didn't know what it was. He stopped again.

"So what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. How come you're here all by yourself?"

"I'm trying to get away from my brother. He's getting on my nerves."

"Oh...Is he in there?"

"I guess so....why don't you come over here? Its a lot quieter than near all that stupid music."

Krillin gulped. "Uh....okay...." He followed the girl to a bench in the backyard of the house, where she sat down. She gazed up at the sky.

"Wow. Look at all those things," she whispered. Krillin followed her gaze.

"Yeah, the stars sure are nice to look at."

"Stars.....I heard, that if you see a falling star in the sky, you should make a wish on it. They say it'll come true. My brother says its a bunch of nonsense. I guess he's right. He always is, the stupid little brat."

"I think he's wrong. I mean, I wish for stuff all the time. Even if it doesn't come true, it always makes me feel better. So what's your name?"

"Ju....what are you called?"

"I'm Krillin. So Julie, have you ever wished for anything on a falling star?" Ju looked down.

"I did once...." She didn't continue. Krillin felt it was best not to press her further. Suddenly, she looked up at him.

"What do you wish for?"

"Me? Um...normally just stuff about raising a family and...." He trailed off. Even though he had just met this girl, he felt like he had known her for a very long time. She was still looking at him. He shifted and she snapped out of her stare.

"You know...." she said. "I feel like I've known you forever....But I couldn't have......I....know I couldn't have..." For more than two hours, they say on that bench talking. She laughed at all his jokes, and he listened when she told him how she felt inside. They barely noticed as a tall figure approached them. It was #16, the person who considered himself Ju's protector. He quietly watched the two of them before finally speaking.

"18, you need to come inside now. The party is over. Dr. Gero is not happy with you." Ju's face fell, as did Krillin's heart. She was an android!!?? But she couldn't be, she was so....full of life!! She scowled at 16 quickly turned to Krillin.

"I have to go....I'm all ready in trouble.....I'll.....see you later." With that she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran towards the house. Krillin's heart leapt and broke at the same time.

"Excuse me....but.....that girl...what is her name?" As he spoke, Krillin subconciously moved his hand to the place where Ju had kissed him. 16 didn't look at him as he answered.

"Her name is Juuhachigou, or Number 18. She is Dr. Gero's 18th cyborg. And if I'm not mistaken....you are supposed to be one of her enemies....friend of the Montague's." Krillin jumped up.

"I don't belong to that name! Not if her's is in the Capulet gang! Kame-sama, I'd be just as happy dead for this!....I don't care what she is. I....think I love her....In fact I know I do...." He looked at 16 and then gazed longingly at the mansion. 16 looked at him again and then began back to the house. Krillin sat back down on the bench and fell deep into thought...