Oob was slowly dozing off, the head filled with Marron's anger and the heart heavy with sighs, when a slender creature floated from the door frame, where it had magically appeared in the light of another lightning, to his bed, where it fell onto him, all of that during the short among of time separating the lightning from the thunder, which followed the maiden's fall.
Immediately wide awaken, the young man wrapped his arms around Marron, more by reflex than willingly, as she put hers around his waist, her warm cheek pressed against his muscular and bare chest. In fact, Oob was only wearing his baggy training pants and his boots laid on the floor beside the bed. He felt the smooth skin between his arms and heat instantly rose within him.
- What's wrong? he asked, surprised by the softness of his own voice.
- I'm sorry Oob... she whispered. Can I stay here for a while?
His heart missed a beat and he found his fingers brushing the golden hair slowly.
- Of course...
- Thank you.
They didn't move for a long moment, listening to the violent rain, the howling wind and the alternance lightning-thunder-lull. Marron calmed down, finally moved from the youth's body, smiling with gentle sorrow.
- I'm sorry... I've been rude with you and now I run into your arms like a little girl.
- It's alright.
His warm voice was peaceful, tranquilly kind. Marron lowered her eyes, remembering she wasn't exactly wearing clothes, and her face reddened instantly.
- I...
A great uproar interrupted her. Protectively, Oob jumped from the bed and placed himself between the young woman and the door, listening attentively, his senses in alert. Aware that he needed to concentrate, Marron remained silent, slowly pulling a blanket around her body and trying to control her difficult breathing.
An endless moment passed. She would have stopped worrying if only Oob had moved, but he stayed immobile in the darkness, as if something was to happen.
And something happened. A feminine voice shouted loudly.
C-17 had paled a little when he had realised the fifth Dragon Ball was in Kame House. Around the flying couple, the storm was raging, but he didn't care and Lunch was cursing under her breathe even though she didn't really mind it. He casually knocked down the door, causing it to fall loudly onto the interior floor. They both stepped inside slowly.
Ignoring his companion, C-17 stuck his eyes to the detector screen and began walking toward the signal's origin, easily avoiding every obstacles by instinct. While he slowly made his way into the living room, Lunch walked toward the kitchen, detailing the place with a strange expression on her face. Not exactly sadness, nor curiosity...
The orange ball was dully gleaming on the couch when C-17 saw it, right after a lightning had illuminated the room. He grabbed it, put it in the bag with the four other spheres and turned around to tell Lunch they could go now. He did not see her, but his eye caught something else.
It was a picture. A simple, plated faked-gold, frame around a little picture... He tried to show no emotion as avidly staring at it.
It was the picture of a little girl, probably playing outside on the beach. The photographer had only caught her head and shoulders, but the sky behind was of a deep blue. It had been winding that day: the golden hair (in fact, it was too dark for the cyborg to distinct colours, but he just knew them) was wildly swirling around her head. The child was still young and had puffy cheeks, huge eyes and a little neck. But the most remarkable detail of the cute face was the missing nose.
Lunch interrupted his contemplation by poking the Dragon Balls' bag. She had stepped to his side so quietly even him hadn't heard her coming, and this apparition made him startle a little.
- You have it?
She was whispering and her sparkling eyes of jade contained something... C-17 nodded.
- WOOOOOHOOOOO!! Only two left!
- Why do you scream like that?!
- Why not? This house must be desert anyway.
- It's not...
- Who are you?
The new, unexpected and low voice surprised them. They turned toward the stairs in the same wary movement and they saw the young man in the same time. Both smirked.
- And you? asked C-17 with his usual calm and mocking voice.
He was still holding the picture. Beside him, Lunch crossed her arms. The young man jumped over the last steps but didn't approached them. He was well built, though still young, but C-17 didn't fear him at all.
- Are you thieves? asked the youth carefully.
The thunder rolled, far away. Lunch chuckled. Thief...
- I lived here, kid, so go back into your bedroom and hide under your bed if you wanna, but don't get on my nerves!
C-17 glanced at the woman. He didn't know she had lived here...
Obviously, the other boy didn't either. His charcoal eyes moved from on to the other swiftly, as if he was trying to guess their intentions.
- Oob? What's going on?
The clear, young voice coming from the other floor had a curious effect on the black haired cyborg: his eyes widened slightly and he dropped the picture, that fell onto the floor. The glass shattered into dozens of tiny particles that would shine when the next lightning would strike.
Frowning, the young man glared at C-17 before answering:
- Stay up there, Marron! I'm taking care of this!
Marron.
C-17 breathed deeply, then threw the bag into Lunch's arms and ran toward the stairs, with such a speed that even Oob could not stop him.
- MARRON! shouted the dark skinned boy, setting off in pursuit of the pale man.
In a sudden and precise move, C-17 hit him on the neck. Oob emitted a weird noise and fell heavily on the steps, unmoving.
- Oob?
Marron's voice wasn't as loud and it was marked with fear now. In fact, it was more than fear, it came near of terror. A second after Oob's fall, a lightning struck. Two seconds later, the thunder growled but didn't cover the scream that followed C-17's irruption in the room of his sister and brother-in-law.
Lunch sighed. She wasn't sure of what was going on but she wouldn't put a foot in it. So she left the boy in the stairs, the man and the girl up there, and she left, pulling a capsule out of her back pocket and holding the Dragon Balls' bag tightly.
- TRUNKS! GOTEN!!
The two friends froze when they heard their name screamed in such a way and would probably have hidden under Trunks' bed if only they have had the time. But Bulma was in the room before they could think of all the reasons she had to yell at them.
- You... That woman... Is it...
- Mom, breathe slowly...
- Is it her?!
She stuck a picture in her son's face, making him fall onto his back and Goten to burst into heartful laughter. Muttering, the purple haired man took the time to look at the given picture carefully.
- Yeah, it was her.
Bulma nodded seriously. Goten gave a look at the picture.
- Eh! It's dad! And..Krilin?! Wow! He was bald!
- Look at Goku! So small! Eh mom, who's that woman?
- An old... Friend, said Bulma reluctantly. We hadn't heard of her in years... I wonder why she's with C-17 now... And why they want the Dragon Balls...
The younger adults shrugged simultaneously. Bulma left the room after getting back her picture, thoughtful.
