Krilin was vainly trying to sense his daughter's ki, when he felt another one, much closer to him, but so weak that it was a great hazard he even noticed it. C-18, not expecting him to suddenly stop flying when their daughter was in potential danger, frown at him when he froze in the air, his attention now directed to the blue depth below.
- What the Hell are you doing?!? We gotta go home!!
- Shh... I feel something.
Sighing heavily, the blond woman gazed at the wavy surface that seemed to have caught the attention of her husband.
- I swear Krilin, if it's a fish I... What's that?
- What, that?
- That! It looks like... A person.
Obviously, she wasn't going to do anything, so Krilin followed the direction of her look and disappeared from his initial floating spot, to be seen a second later over the water, pulling something out of it. When he came back at C-18's height, he was carrying someone in his arms. It was a person, as the cyborg had said; a woman with long violet hair heavy with water, a fresh cut on the cheek, a few winkles that didn't spoil her beautiful features at all, and a halo. But the most disturbing about her, was the way Krilin's eyes widened as he looked at the pale face. It made C-18 feel uneasy, and that was a feeling she hated.
- Can we go home, now? she asked tartly.
- Of course, absently whispered the little man, slowly moving in direction of Kame House, his dark eyes still contemplating the rescued lady.
A wave of rage filled C-18 as she saw him so absorb in this new occupation and she flew ahead rapidly, her aura hitting Krilin in the process. Surprised, the latter looked up at her fleeing form and blinked.
- What have I done?!
Marron wanted to scream. Or to cry. Or to laugh. Anything to break this atrocious silence, which was even worse since he had moved his cold eyes onto her. She felt his look on her back, bitter, terrifying. He just stood there, with his expressionless face, his crossed arms, his torn T-shirt and his eyes that she knew but couldn't remember. There was also a gun in the holster at his waist, but the worst was definitely the silence.
Not the silence of the place, because birds were cheerfully chirping out there and a gentle wind was brushing the leaves, causing them to whisper softly. Not the silence within her, because her mind was filled with questions and fear, and blood pulsed loudly in her temples. It was the silence between them, dense, almost physical, that was bothering her so much. It was too deep, it held too much...
But when he finally broke it, with his calm voice, she still had a little jump and she had preferred he would have remained silent.
- You don't remember me, do you?
Now that her impression was confirmed - she did know him -, Marron felt cold sweat forming on her forehead. What was she supposed to say? To do? She heard him moving behind her and it seemed her heart forgot to beat for a few seconds. She wanted to turn her face toward him and see what he was up to, but she could just not move. And on the other side, she wasn't so sure she wanted to know.
- You don't remember the time you spent here? You don't remember what happened between us?
He was closer, much closer, so close now... She could hear his breathing and it was so regular and quiet, while hers seemed so difficult. Not even a meter behind her... He could probably touch her if he held out his hand...
And then he made two steps closer.
- They stole the detector and the Dragon Balls?! That's it! No one steals our things like that! We'll find that bastard and...
- Goten, shut up, will you?!
The black haired man pouted and glanced darkly at his friend, who had seemed quite annoyed by his impulsive reaction. Chichi patted her youngest son on the arm, smiling proudly, and Goten regained some of his good mood.
- Lunch and C-17 are back, and together, announced Bulma. They want the Dragon Balls, probably to come back to life.
The Son couple blinked together, in a very adorable way that was out of place but still brought a smile on Bulma's lips.
- Oh... Well... I suppose that's ok, slowly said Goku.
- It's not! shouted his wife, clenching her fists tightly. You saw what those morons did to our house?! That's not a way to come back to life if you want to stay alive afterwards!
Everyone stared at her with a look saying "I can't believe she really said that", but since she didn't seem to notice, they quickly returned to the current discussion.
- I think we should still keep an eye on them, explained Bulma. In case of...
- Right, like those weakling could do anything to us, snorted Vegeta.
- They broke my window, pouted Trunks.
- THEY COMPLE...
Chichi fell into Goku's arms, unconscious from the punch Bulma had administrated to her. The purple haired woman nodded to herself, then acknowledged the others' big eyes staring at her.
- What?! She needed to calm down a little anyway.
Trunks chuckled and received yet another slap across the head from Goten.
C-18's face grew in darkness as Lunch completed the story of her last adventures with the black haired cyborg. Not only had that woman been a close friend of Krilin (and of the rest of the gang of course), but now she was also supposed to be looking after her dead twin brother! What was wrong in the world?! But of course, what she would never admit was that she was truly upset at herself for being jealous of Lunch when Krilin had looked at her so intensively.
- Well I'm glad you're here, Lunch, said the small man when the dead was done. I'll help you gathering the Dragon Balls if you wanna! And maybe you could move back here, we got place enough you know!!
- That would be very nice, Krilin... But I must find C-17 first. Kaïo gave me a mission and I have to fulfill it.
- Where's he anyway? rudely asked C-18.
- I don't know...
- Of course.
Lunch looked down, C-18 looked away with the shadow of a smile on her face. Krilin sighed.
- Well we gotta find him, he said. Let's go.
- But we don't even know where to begin!
- C-18, you remember that house...?
Slowly, the blond woman nodded.
- It's possible he went there.
- Better check now.
Krilin and Lunch went out and the purple haired one was climbing onto the back of the little one when they noticed C-18 hadn't followed. With a tired but unsurprised face, Krilin went back inside.
- C-18? Why don't you come?
- I don't go if I'm not paid.
He blinked. It was typical of her to participate in a battle only if money, Krilin or their daughter were involved, and to stay behind if it didn't serve her interests, but... He would have thought she'd be motivated to see her twin brother again, especially if he was the one Marron was with. But she was sitting straight, her arms crossed tightly on her bosom, her eyes colder than usual. She would not come, even if not for the reason she had given. For some reason, she didn't want to see C-17.
- Alright then... If Marron comes back, make me know.
- Sure. Bye.
- Bye...
Krilin left with Lunch, in direction of North, unaware that Oob was already at the door of the previously mentioned house.
