"K—kill me?" Bulma asked in disbelief. The man she once loved, the man she, at one time considered spending the rest of her life with was now standing in front of her threatening it. "W-why would you want to kill me?"

"You would ask me that?" Yamucha shot at her. "I loved you. I lived for you. I DIED for you. And you repay me by shacking up with the one who killed me! And you ask me WHY I'd want to kill you?"

"B-but even after that happened, we were friends. Why would you do this now?"

"I was never your friend after that," Yamucha answered. "What you saw was a person that was too weak to do anything but accept things as they were. But that has changed."

Bulma pressed herself against the wall opposite to Yamucha as much as she could. "Yamucha, what happened to you?"

Yamucha smiled cruelly, "I've just been given the opportunity to do what I've been waiting almost ten years for."

"And what would that be?" Yamucha turned around and saw Vegeta standing behind him.

Yamucha's smile grew more vicious, "Simple. I intend to kill you for taking Bulma away from me." He turned back to Bulma, "And I intend to kill you for allowing yourself to be taken."

"To think that she was worried about you," Vegeta sneered, staring at Bulma. He turned his attention back to Yamucha, "As for you, you dare to come into MY house and threaten ME? You seem to have forgotten who you're dealing with."

Still smiling, Yamucha said, "Maybe it's you who doesn't know who you're dealing with."

Finally, Vegeta could take no more. He charged, attempting to land a punch that would've normally caved Yamucha's skull in. Not even flinching, Yamucha caught Vegeta's punch. A wave of surprise ran through his being at Yamucha's feat. That surprise turned to agony as his fist was being crushed by a strength that Yamucha should not have possessed.

Yamucha released Vegeta's hand. Vegeta instinctively flexed his hand, making sure it wasn't broken, then looked back at Yamucha, his face still a mask of astonishment.

Yamucha, on the other hand, never lost his cruel smile.

Dreamweaver Studios Preents

Dragonball Z

Tainted Hearts

Part Three

Deep underground in what used to be Dr. Gero's lab, the master manipulator was watching his handy work. Going back over all of the data tracks available concerning all of the encounters between Gero's creations and Goku, the android concluded that Goku was always able to win because of his friends; either they would save him, or he would find extraordinary strength to save them.

It was a logical assumption, then, that the best way to defeat Goku would be to pit his friends against him.

As he was, the android couldn't go after any of the Saiyans because he wasn't strong enough yet, though he was making improvements to himself to remedy that. But the Humans and one of the rouge androids were easy pickings. He thought the process he put them through to brainwash and empower them was a success, but apparently, that wasn't the case.

The ingrained orders he gave each of them were to attack and kill Son Goku. But the Human Yamucha was attacking someone else...he checked his data tracks again…the Saiyan Vegeta. He figured that it was likely that he would have to encounter the other Saiyan, but it wasn't his intention to actively seek them out. As it was, as he checked the monitors again, there were only two that appeared to be following the program…

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

It had become a rare occasion lately, so it was a real treat when Goku and Chi Chi were able to share the same bed. Despite how infuriating Goku was, jumping at the chance to run off into battle, Chi Chi always melted into his arms whenever the opportunity came. Not only that, but there was a feeling of security she had, knowing she was sleeping with the most powerful, if not the brightest, fighter in the universe.

This was a security blanket she would need to fall back on as a sound startled her out of her sleep. Now Chi Chi wasn't a slouch as a fighter either, but she too was aware that the enemies that appear that Goku, Gohan and the others constantly fight were way out of her league.

The sound repeated itself and Chi Chi decided it was time to wake her husband. "Goku…Goku honey, wake up."

Goku stirred and sleepily said, "Not again Chi Chi…even I need rest sometime…"

"Goku, wake up!" Chi Chi hissed. "I think there's a prowler."

"Hum?"

She started shaking him violently, "Wake up, Goku! Wake up!"

"Okay, okay. I'll go take a look." Chi Chi breathed a sigh of relief as Goku stumbled out of bed.

Goku didn't understand why Chi Chi was so worried. There were three Super Saiyans living in the house with her. Even if there was a prowler, it wasn't like they could do anything to anybody. Besides, Goku didn't feel the ki of anybody that didn't belong there. However, even though Goku wasn't the brightest light bulb in the package, there were universal things that even he knew…

Like you don't argue with a frightened wife.

So Goku checked everywhere inside the house and as expected, found nothing. He looked in his sons' room and found them sound asleep. Satisfied that he could assuage Chi Chi's fears, he started back to bed. That was when he heard the sound that startled Chi Chi out of her sleep.

'Sounds like something hitting the house,' Goku thought to himself. He stepped outside to check what was making the sound. Being so far into the mountains as the Son family was, there, of course, were no streetlights. But the moon, which returned when the Earth was recreated, shone with enough light to illuminate the valley. It was by this moonlight that Goku made a startling discovery.

"Kuririn?!?"

"It's about time," the diminutive warrior said. "I was wondering how long I was going to have to wait out here before you came out. You always did sleep like a log though."

Goku rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Kuririn!!! It is you! Where've you been?"

"Oh, here and there."

"We were worried sick about you. We thought something might have happened to you."

"Something did happen to me," Kuririn said. "I've been given a wonderful gift and I'm just dying to use it." Goku had a slightly confused look on his face. Kuririn knew that look all too well…it was the one Goku wore most of the time. "Goku, do you remember, back when we were growing up and training with Master Roshi...do you remember how we used to spar?"

"I sure do," Goku said, smiling. "You really used to keep me on my toes."

Kuririn nodded. "Those were the days, weren't they? Even then you were much stronger than me, though. And when you became a Super Saiyan, what was the use? There was no way I could compete with a Super Saiyan."

Goku could feel the bitterness in his words, "Kuririn, I-"

"But, as I'm sure you're quite aware, things and people can change. So, whadya say you and I go a round or two?"

"Wha…now? This early in the morning?"

"Sure! Oh, by the way, it's been a long time since we last sparred. I think It'd only be right if we did all that time worth of sparring now." Goku looked confused again. "Of course that'd mean that this sparring match will have to be to the death." He added the last part with the same jovial tone he used with the rest of the conversation.

Goku only responded with another "Wha…" before he was struck in the gut by a strait punch from Kuririn. 'I don't get it,' Goku thought, 'he was a good fifteen feet away from me. I didn't even see him move.'

"Surprised?" Kuririn said, his voice darker than it was a moment ago. "Like I said, I've been given a wonderful gift; a gift of power. I'm dying to use it. Of course, you realize, after I use it, you'll be the one dying."

It was then that Goku realized that he couldn't read Kuririn's ki. "Something isn't right," he said aloud. "Either somebody did something to you, or you're not the real Kuririn!"

"Let me clue you in on something, 'old buddy'," Kuririn said, spitting out the last words, "That other guy you're referring to; always helpful, always supportive, always willing to put himself on the line to help his Super Saiyan friends, that person you're thinking of was just an illusion. Sure, he was real enough early on. But after Cell, Bojack, and Majin Buu…" he started trembling with rage as he remembered all of those encounters and how he ended up.

"C'mon Kuririn, I never cared how strong you were. I was always impressed with the amount of courage you had. That's what always helped me to continue fighting. If it wasn't for you, I would've never become a Super Saiyan."

"Yeah, and how many times has that courage you talk so highly about gotten me bruised, battered and buried? Courage is nothing without strength. I was genuinely happy for you when you first became so powerful. But when it became clear that as you and the other Saiyans got stronger I would become more useless, I became very resentful of all of you. You especially."

Goku was almost moved to tears, "Y—You don't mean that…"

"That other guy was just a figment of your imagination. I am the real Kuririn; consumed with all of the pain and feelings of worthlessness harbored for half my life. I'm determined never to be helpless…never to be worthless…never to be a second rate warrior to you, to Vegeta, or anyone, EVER AGAIN!"

With the outcry of emotion, Kuririn attacked Goku with a ferocity he had only seen in Vegeta. Goku tried to defend against it, but he couldn't overcome Kuririn's new strength. Kuririn easily slipped through his defenses and rained down combinations so quickly on him that he couldn't see them. Finally Kuririn caught Goku with a roundhouse kick to the temple that knocked him back fifty feet before coming to rest on the ground.

"What do you think of your old buddy now?" Kuririn sneered.

By this time, everyone in the house was awakened by the commotion. Gohan and Goten were the first out the door to see what was going on.

"KURIRIN!" exclaimed Gohan.

"Gohan! Goten!" Goku coughed, "Get back! Something's happened to Kuririn!"

The brothers finally saw the condition of their father and went into shock. "You should do as your father says, boys," Kuririn said, his aura starting to come alive around him. "This little discussion is between him and me. You should stay out of it." With that, he started towards Goku's fallen form.

"DAD NO!" Fearing for his dad's safety, young Goten changed into a Super Saiyan and attacked Kuririn.

"No! Goten STOP!" Goku and Gohan called.

Goten went after Kuririn with every attack he knew. But Kuririn dodged them all. Finally, Kuririn just swatted him away. "I told you, this is between me and your father. DON'T get involved."

Both Goku and Gohan were amazed. The same thoughts ran through their heads, 'I can't believe it. Kuririn was able to swat Goten away like it was nothing, even though he was a Super Saiyan!'

Gohan began to power up. "I don't know what happened to you Kuririn, but I won't let you do anything to harm dad!" He flew full speed after Kuririn. But before he could reach him, a ki blast descended from the heavens and exploded right in front of him. Gohan came to a quick stop, barely missing being hit, and looked up.

"Not quite the joyous reunion you had in mind, 'ay 'Great Saiyaman'?"

For what was the third time that morning, Gohan was in complete shock, "VIDEL!"

Videl landed lightly in between Gohan and Kuririn. "He's going to be busy with your father. I'm your opponent."

Gohan took a step back, "But-but why?"

"Same reason," said Videl. "Just another lowly Human who's tired of being in the shadow of a Saiyan. Now, I'm every bit the fighter you are. And I'm going to prove it by destroying you."

"Videl, no…" Before he could finish his plea, Videl, also with speed and power she shouldn't have, landed an elbow to his gut that launched him into the side of his house.

** **

Piccolo's eyes shot open and he bolted to his feet. Gohan was in danger. Immediately, he thought that whoever snatched the missing warriors were now trying their luck against the Sons. He didn't know who he would be going against, how strong they were, or if Gohan was in danger why Goku wasn't helping…nor did he care. There were only two words that ran through Piccolo's mind, 'Save Gohan.'

Piccolo was about to go over the side of Kami's Lookout to make his way to Earth, but he suddenly stopped. Turning around, he spotted an energy blast screaming towards his back. Simply stepping out of the blast's path, it harmlessly whizzed by and away from the Lookout.

Piccolo turned back to find the source of the attack. His eyes went wide in momentary surprise as #18 was standing about twenty feet away from him, with her arms crossed.

"I thought you were missing," Piccolo said, his astonishment passed.

"Nope. I'm right here," she said in her cold, emotionless voice.

Piccolo nodded. "I can probably guess what you're here for too." She smiled, making her look less like Kuririn's wife and more like the near unstoppable monster Mirai Trunks warned them about. "There was a part of me that figured you would turn on us."

"I'm not turning on anyone but you," #18 said.

That caught him by surprise. "Oh? And to what do I owe this distinction?"

"Because, even though you were responsible for my having a husband and a child now, you're also responsible for me and #17 getting absorbed by Cell."

"And how do you figure I'm responsible for that? If I remember right, #16 was the one who couldn't stop Cell from absorbing #17. And it was Vegeta that allowed Cell to get you."

#18 started towards him. "We were moving, trying to find Son Goku. But you stopped us and challenged us to that fight. If you hadn't done that, then we would've still been moving and Cell wouldn't have caught us. The nightmare with Cell was all your fault and I'm here to see that, after all this time, you pay for that."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

"This is nothing like I had intended…" the android commented as he watched his would be assassins battle four different targets instead of the one he wanted. As the android was upgrading his superstructure to make him more battle ready if it turned out that he would have to fight the Saiyans, or even his assassins, himself, he thought it wise to send a camera along with them to keep tabs on their progress.

When the four were caught going in three different directions, he sent out additional cameras to catch everything that was going on.

Watching the madness unfold before him, a new thought ran through his mind, 'Hmmm…this may be better than what I had in mind. Before, if my drones had carried out the plan as I outlined and killed Son Goku, then all of the others would've come looking for revenge. But if my minions kill all of their opponents…then even if all of their friends that remain come for revenge, they'd be too weak to stop me!'

'Oh yes, this is going much better than planned…"

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