A/N: Yay! I finally finished the new chapter!! It seems to have taken me forever, but at least it's a long one. Does that compensate the wait? The next one might take a while, since I'm rather busy at the moment.
Anyway I thought that, this time, I'd thank the reviewers of the last chapter personally, so:

Aymei: Yes.. eh.. well... that was some kind of review you wrote there ^_^" I got the point that you liked my story, so I hope you'll like the next chapters as well. Thank you for reviewing! BTW: About being more mature about it; don't worry, I sure won't mind if you're not.

Celesta + SSJ Pan: *hides behind a chair* Ok, ok, I'm writing already. I'm glad you liked it enough to threathen me. Thanks for reviewing. ^_^

Deadly Beauty: *refrains herself from hugging you* Yay! You've been reviewing ever since I posted chapter one!!!! I can't thank you enough; it's really nice to know, you take the trouble to check up on my fic. About reading your fics: I promise I will, after I finish this one. You see, I wanted to write this fic, without ever reading any other Krillin and 18 fanfic. This fic will probably be only 8 chapters, so I'll read your fics within a few weeks. (At least, I hope so ^_^")

flowerchild1313: Thanks for the review, and for wishing me luck. I'm sure it helped! Well ok, for every test exept the two I blew. ^_~

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ... bla, bla, bla, yackedy, smackedy...


***

Chapter 4

You burned your breakfast, so far things are going great


The window creaked as it slowly swung inward. The sun had yet to rise, but the pale light of dawn was already illuminating the small island and the room in front of her. She hesitated to climb in and instead just hovered outside for a while. Then slowly she placed one hand on the windowsill and jumped in with cat-like grace. Her feet didn't make a sound when they touched the floor, but the young man in the bed stirred nonetheless; as if he sensed her presence. She stayed completely silent for some time, just studying the short huddled up man.
The wind kicked up outside and blew through the window. Her blond hair billowed around her face and she waited patiently for the gust to pass by, to tuck the golden strands back behind her ear. It didn't seem like he was going to wake up, so she sat down on a chair next to the bed, making sure she'd be able to make a clear escape through the open window if he were to awaken.
As she looked at the solemn face of the 'baldhead', she wondered why she was there. To get money and a fresh start, the business side of her mind replied. That's not what I meant. She thought coarsely. Why am I sitting here, in his room looking at him, what made me come? Another part of her artificial mind, that had laid dormant for many years whispered softly, but with a hint of amusement: It was the kiss, wasn't it? She grunted, earning her some mumbling from her sleeping 'roommate'. It seemed like her mind actually chuckled. I knew it! And not just the kiss, but everything else as well. He's being so sweet and considerate. You're attracted to him, am I right?
She shushed the voice, not knowing the answer or just unwilling to accept it. He was making her go crazy, making her start conversations with her mind. Trying to distract herself, she looked around the room. It was very simply decorated with only the bare necessities. A glimpse of red fabric on the desk caught her eye. It was darker than the gi Krillin usually wore and she soon recognized it as the shirt she'd bought him. A smile crossed her lips as she remembered the loud thump she'd heard that night. She automatically looked up to see a large dent in the ceiling, where he'd hit his head. Then she returned her gaze to him. "What's happening baldy?" she mumbled.

***

Water, all he saw was water; it spread out to the horizon in every direction. There it blended into the darkness of the night sky. No, not the night sky; there were no stars, just blackness. The water lay quiet, no waves, not even the slightest ripple. He hovered a few feet above the endless ocean, wondering what this was all about. A soft splashing sound behind his back made him whirl around, but there was nothing there, only some circular ripples that slowly expanded into the dark. The wind kicked up and blew around his bald head, yet the ocean below him stayed unmoved. He decided to pick a direction and start flying, it wasn't like hanging around in the same spot would do him any good.
Another splash made him stop in mid-flight. He called out, but there came no reply. There was no one to be seen in any direction. He'd flown for some time again when he suddenly realized something. Up… He threw his head back and searched the dark sky. There it was a small, grey spot straight above him. He shot up to meet the thing or person, that had been watching him. After a few minutes it came nearer, but it stayed unclear, so Krillin couldn't make out what it was. His curiosity got the better of him and he put on a burst of speed, but when he stopped the grey spot was nowhere to be found.
Something collided with his stomach and send him flying back to the water below. He took in a deep breath, as he expected to hit the fluid, but it was knocked out of him when he landed on a hard wooden floor. Confused he looked around; after a moment he recognized his own room and his bed next to him. Still sleepy he got up from the floor and made his way to the bathroom. In the mirror he could see a blue spot forming on his skull.
"Oh, just great, a bruise." He mumbled. Some warm water eased the stinging in his head. He sighed, looking his reflection in the eyes. "Remind me never to have a nightmare again."
"Who says I'm going to be around long enough to keep such a promise?" A grumpy, but very awake voice answered.
He was still looking into the mirror and his eyebrows rose in shock, while a blush crept onto his cheeks, when he discovered the female figure leaning against the doorframe.
"I..I.. wasn't talking to you. I.."
"Save it baldy. I know that." She gruffly replied. "So are you done talking to yourself? I'd like to use the bathroom now." She made it sound like an order instead of a question; that somehow made him smile.
"Sure I'm done, go right ahead." He said while he walked past her out of the room.
For a minute she stayed in the same place, wondering why he'd smiled, but then she brushed the thought of and started her morning ritual.

***

It had been two hours since the incident in the bathroom. Krillin hadn't seen Eighteen downstairs yet. He was doing his morning workout on the beach, a little more energetic than usual. His thoughts kept drifting back to the night before. He still couldn't believe, he'd kissed her. Maybe that was the reason why she had been avoiding him all morning. I really hope I didn't scare her away. He thought. Another part of his mind replied dryly: Yeah right, like you would ever be able to scare her. After grunting aloud he got lost in his daydreams again. He was startled by a graceful hand that caught one of his swinging fists. His eyes traced the arm connected to it, to end staring straight into two icy blue eyes.
"..." (A/N: She looked a bit annoyed. "Do you always act this foolish?"
"... ehh.. no... I.. eh"
"Not very convincing. Now lets start my morning workout." She let his hand go and dropped into a stance.
He stood still in total shock for a moment. Trying to comprehend, that she actually wanted to spar with him. Then he dropped into a stance as well, focussing his ki and determined to deliver a good fight.
She flew straight at him and he braced himself, but she stopped just before reaching him and performed a perfect spinning kick. To her surprise it was blocked. She then she released a fit of blows and kicks on him, only to find the majority of them blocked as well.
He didn't understand, he had expected to have been biting dust within 2 seconds, but he'd been holding out for over 5 minutes. She wasn't going her fullest at him and he knew it, he just didn't understand why.
What am I doing? Why am going easy on this guy? I should have beaten him with one blow! Part of her mind shouted in between a kick and a punch. You can't. You might hurt him and you don't want to hurt him. The other side replied softly, but certain. I don't care if I hurt anyone! The voice screamed in rage and confusion. Yes you do!
Krillin saw an opening and threw in some kicks and punches of his own. To his great surprise some of them connected. He started to fight back with all he had and he managed to hit her a few more times. Then he jumped back and flattened his right palm up to the sky, forming a razor sharp slice of energy.
"Destructo disc!" He yelled as he threw it at her.
She almost didn't snap out of her thoughts in time to dodge it and it left a small cut in her left arm. Ignoring the cut she launched herself at him again, pushing him back by the fury of her blows, but she still wasn't using her real power. Let me go and squash him!!! Her mind screamed again. I'm not the one holding you back. Just face it; you really don't want to hurt him. You care about him! The inner struggle was becoming too much for her to handle. The cyborg part of her mind ended the fight with a final outcry:
"I do NOT!" It was accompanied by a large kiblast, that hit the startled Krillin square in the chest.
Too shocked to do anything she just waited until the sand and the water settled back to where they belonged. She was still standing in the same place, when she saw Krillin slowly getting up from the small crater he was in. His shirt hung in shreds and his chest looked seared, but otherwise he seemed fine.
Then she jumped up and flew to the other side of the island. There she sat down in the sand and stared at the waves that came rolling onto the beach. She was confused; she'd felt sorry for hurting him like that and she had wanted to apologize, but she didn't know how. I didn't mean to hurt him like that... or did I? She didn't know anymore.
"Why did he do that anyway?" Krillins voice sounded behind her.
She didn't turn around. "Who did what?"
"Gero, why did he make his androids so lifelike?"
He confused her, what did he mean? She looked up at him and he sat down to her left. His eyes were fixed on her arm and when she followed his gaze to the trickle of blood seeping from her cut, she understood.
"I wasn't always partly machine." She stared back to the ocean again.
"Partly? You mean you were human and Gero turned you into... an ..." He was cut off before he could find the words.
"Yes, he did."
It was quiet for some time; Krillin didn't know what to say. Suddenly, she turned to him.
"I've been wondering about something, can I ask you?"
He was curious what it could be. "Sure, go right ahead."
"Why do you shave your head? I think it would look better with hair."
He couldn't help, but laugh and blush. Not knowing whether to take this as an insult or a compliment.
"I'm a monk. In my order we all shave our heads."
"So there's no way you're ever going to let it grow?"
"No, unless I give up being a monk and that will only happen if I get married."
The information was registered into her brain, marked 'important'. She got to her feet and turned to walk to the house.
"Maybe you should go take care of that burn."

***