Author's note: sorry it took so long but I had soooooo much homework! R/R enjoy!

Disclaimer: ::sniff:: I … I … I …::sniff:: Idon'townanyofthem WAAAAAAAAH!!



Part 2: Penitence

She sat in the dust clutching a red bandanna to her chest.

"What am I supposed to do now 17, huh? What am I supposed to do?" although her eyes were red and puffed, she could cry no more. "If I stay he'll kill me. If I leave he'll find me and kill me." She looked at her torn side, "I can't survive for long this way," she looked at her surroundings, "but I don't want to die here." She stood up, taking the bandanna with her. "Soon brother, I'll see you in hell soon, just let me find a quiet place to die." She trudged along the road smiling weakly to herself.

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Bulma heard a light uneven tapping on the door. Who could it be? There was hardly anyone above ground, and Trunks had a key. She slowly made her way to the door and opened it. One of the androids, the female, was laying pitifully on the door step. A cold fear gripped Bulma. What if this android had come to take revenge for what Trunks had done? Trunks was out at the moment and she had no way to defend herself. The android looked at her through beautifully cold eyes. "Please" she said, "may I come in?"

"No."

She looked up at Bulma "I don't want you to help me; I just want a quiet place to die. Please. I don't want to die alone."

"No. You deserve to die alone!"

"I don't really want to die, its just that there's no other option. I won't hurt you; I don't have enough strength, please? I only want…"

"You don't always get what you want."

"That's what Trunks told me."

"It's true. If I got what I want, this world would not be in ruin and my husband and friends would not be dead."

The tears that she had held back spilled through her eye lashes and 18 cried. "I'm sorry." She said, "I'm so sorry."

"…"

"I am alone now. I don't want to die alone. I will do anything you ask of me. Anything! Just please, please! Don't make me die like my brother."

Bulma looked carefully at 18. She should slam the door and tell her to go to hell. She should. She tried to close the door but her hand wouldn't move. She sighed, she just couldn't, after that startling confession of fear, she just couldn't turn away from the obviously suffering girl. Bulma nodded her head, "very well" was all she said. She opened the door wider letting the android stagger in. "but I won't let you die."

18 stared at her in shock. "I…"

"…should, if you are indeed sorry for what you've done, try to do something to help us rebuild."

"But…"

"I am willing to let it go, to start anew. I am not afraid of you because I am not afraid of death, should that be the consequence of my helping you. I once chose to put my faith in a ruthless prince who on numerous occasions attempted to destroy me, my friends, and even this very planet." She looked pointedly at the android, "now I choose to follow my instincts and put my faith in you."

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Trunks was so happy. He couldn't wait to get home to tell his mother the news; she would be thrilled. He landed at Capsule Corp. and rushed through the door. "Mother!" he called, "Mother, where are you? I have wonderful news!" the house was silent. "Mother?" Trunks was beginning to get worried. He went down the hall to search for her, passing the medical room. As he passed a slight stir from the one of the beds caught his eye. He stopped and peeked in the door. "Mother is that you? You shouldn't be sleeping down here if you're tired." The figure in the bed yawned and sat up, revealing a young blonde girl. Trunks gasped. "You!" he exclaimed as he recognized 18.

"Aahhhhh! Nooooooo! Don't kill me!"

"I thought I had. Where is my mother? What did you do to her? Did you hurt her! DID YOU?!"

"N-n-n-no. I didn't do anything to her!"

"Where is she?"

"I don't know!!" 18 was scared out of her mind. His mother? Bulma was his mother? She never would have come here if she had known that. Her chances for survival dropped quickly.

"Well, I won't miss this time." He started building power in his hands.

"Noooooo! Don't! Please!" she was backed all the way against the back of the bed. She began raking her nails against it in a desperate yet futile attempt to escape. Meanwhile Trunks kept building his attack. "KA…ME…"

"NOOOOO! HELP ME! SOMEONE PLEASE! HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!"

"HA…ME…"

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

"H-"

"Trunks NO!"

The energy ball dissipated. Trunks stared at his mother in disbelief. "W-w- what?!"

"You heard me young man! I thought I had taught you better manners than that?"

"M-m-m-m-manners? Y-y-you want me to show some MANNERS?!"

"Yes manners! M-A-N-N-E-R-S. Manners! We have a guest in our home and you act like a savage! Honestly! You act more like your father every day!"

"A-a-a guest? That bitch?!"

"TRUNKS!!! Watch your mouth!!" she sighed "oh where did I go wrong?"

18, meanwhile, was clinging to her bed sheets in complete terror. She turned her gaze from Trunks to Bulma. "Oh please", she whimpered, "don't let him kill me! You're not going to let him kill me?"

"Of course not!" Bulma snapped, "It would be a waste after I saved your life."

"SAVED HER LIFE!!!!" Trunks exclaimed

"YES! NOW STOP YELLING!!"

"How could you? After all she did? Father? Gohan?"

"I don't need to explain my actions to you!"

"I want answers!"

"Don't take that tone of voice with me young man!"

"Mother, I'm 20 years old!"

"I don't care how old you are! I'm still your mother, and in case you haven't noticed I'm not dead yet and until I am, control of this family belongs to one person in this household: ME!!"

Trunks sat on the floor and grumbled, "Yes m'am"

"Good"