CHAPTER 4
MISUNDERSTOOD
18 sat alone. She didn't feel very welcome. Being there seemed like an invasion of privacy even if she had been invited. Krillin was right at home, with his friends. She felt hurt that she hadn't gone through everything with them. They did seem like nice people and she would have liked to have been able to just sit and talk, remembering the old times and thinking of the new. It was no problem with Krillin, she could always talk whenever she liked and he would listen, rapt by her every word. She guessed that pride was a factor, she was afraid of being laughed at by these people who… who she and her brother had tried to kill. Although it was true that some might understand and accept her, it was the strong people like Piccolo and Vegeta that worried her. It wasn't their strength in muscle that had her worried, just that they seemed to be people in charge and grudges about her beating them seemed to be fresh on their minds. They seemed to be sore about it. Very sore. Vegeta snarled every time he looked her way, and Piccolo, although not outwardly showing hatred, hovered nearby whenever she got too close to anyone else, especially the kid Gohan. Honestly, she thought, the way he hovers around the kid you'd think he needed protection. From me! You wouldn't think he saved the world from that monster Cell. He's more protective than the kid's own father!
Lost in private thoughts, 18 didn't see Goku heading her way, realizing he was there only when he squatted in front of her, waving his hand in front of her face. "Hi 18!" he chirped, and 18 was sure that he was somehow mocking her.
"What do you want?" she growled, frowning at him angrily. Great, she thought, so much for trying to make friends by being nicer! Goku, however, didn't seem to have noticed her expression and carried on talking merrily. "Soooo… How long have you and Krillin been seeing each other? Do you think you'll be getting married soon? How many kids do you want to have? Where do you think you'll live? I'm sure Krillin would make a great dad! Hey! Can I come to your wedding? Can I? Can I? Please?" He stopped, waiting for her answer as she stared back at him, jaw slack and falling fast. Blinking wildly, she shook her head and tried to answer. Goku, however, had another idea and quickly pulled her up and towards the campfire.
"HEY GUYS! Guess what!?" he shouted out to his friends around the fire. 18 was struggling to free her arm from his grasp, but failing to do so, she strode forward instead. "What's wrong Goku?" Piccolo called from the group, standing to get closer to where Gohan watched with wide eyes. Goku ignored his friend, instead pulling 18 into the center of the group. "Krillin and 18 are getting married! And I'm allowed to come!" Goku called out. There was complete silence, then a terrified "WHAT!?" from all seated – and standing – around the fire. 18 stared at each face in turn. From Bulma's wide eyed – "WHAT!?" -, to Chi Chi's pale – "Krillin… married…?"-, Krillin's whispered - "18!"-, Piccolos horror - "No way!" - and Vegeta's outrageous laughter - "Cueball's getting married to the Tin Girl! Ahh haha ahaha! This is too good!" - she stared. Embarrassed beyond belief she took the time to glare at Goku's merry-turning-confused features before taking off at high speed. Krillin stood fixed to the spot, staring after the love of his life as she left him behind. He couldn't move if he'd wanted to. He had never, ever thought about marriage to 18. It had just seemed too impossible to think about, let alone arrange!
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MISUNDERSTOOD
18 sat alone. She didn't feel very welcome. Being there seemed like an invasion of privacy even if she had been invited. Krillin was right at home, with his friends. She felt hurt that she hadn't gone through everything with them. They did seem like nice people and she would have liked to have been able to just sit and talk, remembering the old times and thinking of the new. It was no problem with Krillin, she could always talk whenever she liked and he would listen, rapt by her every word. She guessed that pride was a factor, she was afraid of being laughed at by these people who… who she and her brother had tried to kill. Although it was true that some might understand and accept her, it was the strong people like Piccolo and Vegeta that worried her. It wasn't their strength in muscle that had her worried, just that they seemed to be people in charge and grudges about her beating them seemed to be fresh on their minds. They seemed to be sore about it. Very sore. Vegeta snarled every time he looked her way, and Piccolo, although not outwardly showing hatred, hovered nearby whenever she got too close to anyone else, especially the kid Gohan. Honestly, she thought, the way he hovers around the kid you'd think he needed protection. From me! You wouldn't think he saved the world from that monster Cell. He's more protective than the kid's own father!
Lost in private thoughts, 18 didn't see Goku heading her way, realizing he was there only when he squatted in front of her, waving his hand in front of her face. "Hi 18!" he chirped, and 18 was sure that he was somehow mocking her.
"What do you want?" she growled, frowning at him angrily. Great, she thought, so much for trying to make friends by being nicer! Goku, however, didn't seem to have noticed her expression and carried on talking merrily. "Soooo… How long have you and Krillin been seeing each other? Do you think you'll be getting married soon? How many kids do you want to have? Where do you think you'll live? I'm sure Krillin would make a great dad! Hey! Can I come to your wedding? Can I? Can I? Please?" He stopped, waiting for her answer as she stared back at him, jaw slack and falling fast. Blinking wildly, she shook her head and tried to answer. Goku, however, had another idea and quickly pulled her up and towards the campfire.
"HEY GUYS! Guess what!?" he shouted out to his friends around the fire. 18 was struggling to free her arm from his grasp, but failing to do so, she strode forward instead. "What's wrong Goku?" Piccolo called from the group, standing to get closer to where Gohan watched with wide eyes. Goku ignored his friend, instead pulling 18 into the center of the group. "Krillin and 18 are getting married! And I'm allowed to come!" Goku called out. There was complete silence, then a terrified "WHAT!?" from all seated – and standing – around the fire. 18 stared at each face in turn. From Bulma's wide eyed – "WHAT!?" -, to Chi Chi's pale – "Krillin… married…?"-, Krillin's whispered - "18!"-, Piccolos horror - "No way!" - and Vegeta's outrageous laughter - "Cueball's getting married to the Tin Girl! Ahh haha ahaha! This is too good!" - she stared. Embarrassed beyond belief she took the time to glare at Goku's merry-turning-confused features before taking off at high speed. Krillin stood fixed to the spot, staring after the love of his life as she left him behind. He couldn't move if he'd wanted to. He had never, ever thought about marriage to 18. It had just seemed too impossible to think about, let alone arrange!
***