Well, for some reason, ff.net doesn't like any other font other than times roman, so will do things like this. If the first chapter is kinda looking dumb, blame ff.net. Anywa, welcome to the second chapter! Enjoy!

Aftermath

The small island in the ocean always seemed peaceful, when there wasn't a world threat going on, of course. But the threat that had plagued the Earth a month ago was gone and things seemed to go back to normal, well as normal as things could be. The World Tournament champion had claimed the spotlight at destroying Cell and basked in the attention he got from being the Earth's savior. Only a few knew of course, who the real savior was, but they never let on. Or at least, they had learned to accept it after hearing it repeatedly on television.

It was on this small island where the Kame House and its residents spent their days since Cell. It was a cozy house and it had seen its share of happiness and tragedy. Though today was like any other, there was still tragedy that held a fog over the house. The house's owner stood looking out the window, completely ignoring his daily exercise program that played in the background, as well as ignoring the happy cries coming from the lone occupant on the couch.

Master Roshi sighed and continued to look out the window. He had been worried about the fall out that would happen after Cell and Goku's decision to stay in Other World, but he couldn't have foreseen this. It had been a month now and still his second tenant was secluded in his second story bedroom. Roshi had gotten used to Krillin's down days, times when the former monk found himself in a depressing rut, but it had never gotten to this point. Aside from showering in his master bathroom, Krillin never left. If he ate, it was after the rest of the house went to bed.

That alone had brought Master Roshi to ignore his favorite TV show and stare out the window. He was growing increasingly worried about his former student. He knew this new threat had brought about new nightmares that haunted the warrior; Krillin had never been the same after Namek, but then again neither had Gohan. But it was Krillin who was Roshi's mind now, as he looked at the wall clock. He had called the one person he knew would at least get Krillin to open the door.

Say what you will about her, but Bulma Briefs was a formidable woman and a force to be reckoned with.

The sound of an approaching helicopter put a shadow of a smile on the old man's face. "Here comes trouble." Muttered the pig who sat on the couch. Roshi shook his head at him.

"She's here for a reason, Oolong." The Turtle Hermit replied. Looking towards the stairs, he said, "I'm hoping she'll get Krillin out of that room."

Within moments, the young genius walked into the house, her aquamarine hair in a ponytail. "Thanks for coming, Bulma." Roshi said. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"No problem." Bulma whispered. "And believe me, I'm happy you interrupted."

Roshi took the tone and response as having taken Bulma away from a boring meeting, when in reality, Bulma had been in the midst of an argument with the father of her child. Since Goku's death, Vegeta had been training relentlessly in the Gravity Room, never taking time to see her or their son. To Bulma, there had been a time when Vegeta had been attentive towards her and Trunks and it just seemed to be slipping away.

So when she got a call from Master Roshi, saying he needed help, she turned her anger and hurt from Vegeta to the task of trying to get Krillin to leave his room. All in all, it seemed like a battle she could win or rather would win. Squaring her shoulders, she headed upstairs, with Roshi and Oolong in tow.

***

Even with the sun up, the bedroom was still incredibly dark. Krillin never did like having curtains in his room, he enjoyed waking up with the sun and watching the sun rise from his window. But ever since Goku's death, he didn't want to look at the sun. It reminded him too much of the happiness that he had shared with his friend and only made him slip further into his depression as he thought about how he was responsible for his death.

And if that wasn't enough, he couldn't get her out of his mind. That only increased his feelings of woe. It hadn't taken long for the former monk to discover this wasn't just a crush on his part. He wasn't crushing on the beautiful android. He had fallen in love with her. How, he wasn't sure, he just knew that after she had kissed him on that highway, he couldn't stop thinking about her. And after watching her fly off the tower to who knew where, he was still thinking about her. How was she? Does she have a place to live? How is she coping? Did she find her brother?

Shaking his head, he rolled over on to his back and stared at the ceiling. He was vaguely aware that a long time had past, how much he didn't know. He knew it wasn't a year, that was for sure. Or was it? He rubbed his face, his hand running over the beard he had built up. Time, once again, for the shaving ritual. Krillin sighed. He hadn't been very good recently at shaving his face or his head, the task being so daunting he didn't want to make the effort.

A sudden knocking, or rather, a sudden pounding on his bedroom door startled the former monk out of his stupor. "Krillin, open the door!" came the demand. Sighing and forming a grimace on his face, Krillin sat up in bed. Of all the people he just didn't want to see, it was Bulma. Even he had a small grudge against her for having a child with Vegeta. He was loyal to Yamcha.

"Go away, Bulma."

"Krillin, you open this door or so help me…"

That statement caused Krillin's eyebrow to go up. "Or you'll do what?" he retorted. He could almost see her face turn red with anger and began thinking maybe he should just open the door.

"I'll get Roshi to Kamehame this door!"

She's serious!

Wasting no time, Krillin got out of bed and went to the door. He then unlocked and opened it. "Bout time." Came her response, as the small man moved in order to let her in. Bulma turned back and looked at her friend. "Kami Krillin, you look like hell." And to her, he truly did. He looked haggard and tired, not the bright man she knew he was. Even more surprising, other than his beard, was the shaggy mane he now sported on top his head.

"Good to see you too, Bulma." He replied, sarcastically.

"Let me handle this." The young woman replied, winking at the hermit and the pig, before closing the door. Turning back to Krillin, she regarded him again. "Krillin," she spoke finally. "Don't be mad at Roshi. He's only worried about you. As am I."

"I know, I know." He sighed, sitting himself down at on the end of the bed. "I'm just in a funk, that's all."

Bulma laughed. "Some funk." She chuckled. "Do all your 'funks' last for an entire month?" Seeing the look he gave her, Bulma cleared her throat and continued. "Look, I know Goku's leaving hit you hard. It hit me hard, too, but do you really think Goku's up there in Other World being happy when he knows his best friend isn't?"

"Then he should've stayed."

Bulma sighed. Things weren't going well, by her standards, but at least she was making better headway here than with Vegeta. "At least come out of your room from time to time." She requested. "I've never known you to close yourself in, Krillin. I can't help but be worried." Krillin sighed, nodding. "Come see me time, okay?" she asked. "This isn't easy on me either."

"Or Yamcha." He muttered.

The young woman sighed. She had hit another area. "Leave Yamcha to me, okay?" she whispered. "Just…just don't take sides with me, okay? I don't want to lose another friend."

It suddenly hit Krillin like a ton of bricks. He suddenly had a common ally with the young genius. She had lost Goku, like they all had, but she felt she had lost Yamcha too with the news of Trunks. And knowing the friendship between the former monk and desert bandit, she thought she would easily lose Krillin as well.

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Krillin smiled, the first real smile he had done during all of this. "Don't worry, Bulma." He said. "The last thing I want or need is to lose another friend."

Bulma smiled as well before standing up. "Well, I see my work here is done." She said, triumphantly. "Now, here's the prescription. You are to open those blinds and let the sun in. Then you're gonna take a shower and clean up a bit." She stood back and looked him for a third time. "You know, I've never seen you with hair before." She replied. "Not even a little stubble. It looks good on you, Kril. Just don't let it get out of hand. I don't want to come back and find a mountain man living in your room."

With that, she left.

"So?" asked Oolong. "How'd it go?"

"Well, you'll be happy to know Krillin will emerge at some point." She said. "He's just taking things hard, that's all."

"Well thanks, Bulma." Roshi replied, walking her to the door. "Sorry to take you from that son of yours."

"No worries." She said, sighing. "Like I said, I didn't mind getting away."

Roshi patted her on the back and watched her go. Internally, he wondered what demons the young woman was fighting.