Without further ado:

Chapter 18: So Close...AGAIN!

The goldenly light that had consumed two of the three persons died down to reveal the natural black hair and dark eyes of Goku and the lavender-haired boy from earlier.

The z-warriors approached cautiously, although they knew one of the three to be Goku they hadn't who the boy or the ravened haired woman were. For all, they knew the three could start an all-out brawl if the fight between the two males were anything to go off of. Their power levels had been so massive that the warriors would have only been in the way if they thought about helping.

Vegeta's heart raced, each beat thundering in his ears. It rang out as if to be heard, forcing her to look and confirm her identity. He prayed for it to be her. There couldn't possibly be another; it could only be her.

He walked ahead of the others in a zombie-like a state, his feet moving on their own as his mind reeled.

Why did she stand so close to him: Kakarot? Had she taken another? Did she love him? Could she forgive him?

Kagome…

He hadn't realized he said her name aloud till she turned.

Raven hair swayed around blocking her view before it came to rest in unruly waves down her shoulder. His breath hitched at the sight of a perfect heart-shaped face, pale eyes the shade of sapphires searched the horizon between flutters of her long lashes that brushed her cheeks, slightly parted pouty pink lips twitched as she looked.

He couldn't move no matter how much he willed himself to. She was here, standing right in front of him; the dragon had been right; she lived. She stood there and stared straight back at him.

Her eyes grew sad turning dark in color, almost black before she looked away to stare at the lavender-haired boy.

His heart plummeted to his stomach. He'd never wanted to die so much.

~o.O~O.o~

Kagome looked away from Vegeta forcing down the sting of tears. If what Trunks said was true, Vegeta could have moved on to be with his mother.

"Anyways I will be born in two and half years from now. I didn't use the time machine just to come to tell you that; there's something important I want you to know,"

"Oh right, what is it?"

"Three years from now on May 12th around 10 a.m. a fearsome duo, monsters with power beyond your imagination, will appear on an island 9 miles Southwest of South City,"

Both Kagome and Goku's eyes hardened they had been hoping for peace.

"Who are they?" Goku asked.

"Aliens?" Kagome echoed.

"No, they're Androids created on Earth. They were created by Doctor Gero; Chief scientist for the former Red Ribbon Army,"

"The Red Ribbon Army?!" Goku asks in disbelief. Kagome only briefly remembers her brother telling her of the time he had defeated this so-called Army.

"Yes, you did crush the Army itself years before this, but Doctor Gero survived and continued with his research,"

"For what World Conquest again?"

"I can't be sure, but I suspect so," Trunks sighed defeatedly. "He created his ultimate killing machines, mechanical men numbers 17 and 18. And they killed him. The Androids enjoy the slaughter and destruction of anything and everything,"

"Makes Frieza sound like a fly. And you can't beat these things?" Goku asked. Kagome had to disagree, but even then Frieza would simply destroy the earth and be done with it, not drag it out for a long period of time.

"I confronted them. But well there are two of them, after all, fighting alone as I am, I am no match for them,"

"Wait do you not have any allies?" Kagome asked remembering all the times that Goku had told her of all his friends and allies. This World seemed full of strong Fighters.

"There are none, I'm the only one left on Earth,"

Goku and Kagome looked at him in shock.

"Krillin, Yamcha, Piccolo and Vegeta, everyone will all be killed in the battle three years from now. Gohan will escape... Barely. He becomes my master and teaches me to fight, but sixteen years from now he will die too. As you know when Piccolo dies the Dragon Ball will disappear, no one can return from death anymore. The androids prolong the killings for years for their enjoyment. The world I come from is wretched, they're too strong, they're just too strong,"

"Wait! What about me? What happened to me? Did I die fighting them?" Goku asked.

"And me?" Kagome wondered.

Trunks briefly looked at Kagome "As far as I know there has never been a female Saiyan on Earth," He looked to Goku then. "Goku you never got to fight you grow ill, not long from now, and die,"

"What?"

"The virus will attack your heart; not even a super saiyan can defeat this disease,"

"I guess not even senzu beans will work on a virus. Damn... That stinks I wanted to fight them too!" Goku whined sounding much like a toddler on the verge of a fit.

Sweat gathered on both Kagome's and Trunks' brows both in disbelief at how Goku acted after hearing about his demise.

"You're only upset that you can't fight? You're not afraid?"

"Sure I am," he shrugged. "But I gotta know if I can beat the things,"

"You are a true saiyan," Kagome laughed bittering under her breath. It was just like any saiyan to try his hand at getting stronger and testing his limits at any chance he can.

Trunks laughed. "You're just like my mother and Gohan told me. I'm glad I came," He smiled. "When the symptoms appear; shortness of breath, chest pain, and any limb weakness take this and follow the directions," digging within his breast pocket he pulled out a small bottle which Kagome takes to examine. She was sure she could heal him if he showed any of those signs but it was nice to have for sure. "It's the cure. It may be an incurable disease in this time, but twenty years from now there'll be a drug for it, with this you won't have to die,"

"Really?! Great! Thanks! Why didn't you say so in the first place!" Goku cheered taking the small bottle from Kagome.

"I really shouldn't be doing this, as it could change the future," again Kagome had a weird sensation when he mentioned anything about time travel. "But with the future like mine, I have faith that you'll make it better. All my mother wanted was for you to survive, that's why she worked so hard on that time machine,"

"Your mom, she knows me?"

"Yes very well," he grinned.

"And she made the time machine?" Goku squeaked on the verge of trembling. "You mean your mom is," he didn't even get to finish his sentence because at that moment he knew it could only be Bulma.

Trunks nodded and pointed to the group just under a hundred feet away, just out of hearing distance. "She's right over there,"

Goku's stiffened with his own knowledge and slight nervousness. Bulma.

"And you're sure you don't know who your father is?" Kagome asked for the both of them. She didn't like the thought of it being Vegeta.

The lavender boy shook his head. "I haven't a clue. My mother was very close-lipped about it and told no one. But some, including myself, thought it be Vegeta,"

Again Kagome's heart constricted painfully inner chest. It hurt to think that the man she loved for so long and had hoped to be with once more, would find happiness outside of her and so soon.

Could she be selfish enough to take what she wanted and risk Trunks very existence?

Her heart dropped. No, if he had found happiness outside of her, there was nothing she could do. Years had passed since they had been together for all she knew he could have all but forgotten about her.

'Would he have looked at you that way if he had?'

Kagome looked up to Goku with a glare in place. If there were anything she hated about her time on Yardrat it would be that Goku learned to speak telepathically, so did she but she wasn't as damn nosy.

'Just because he thinks it's Vegeta doesn't mean he is, for all we know I could be his father,' a cocky smirk pulled at his lips as he gave a sideways glance at the group. 'I already told you how I felt about Bulma anyways. You really think I'll give up?'

"Just stay out of my head would you?" Kagome snapped back causing the boy to look at them questioningly.

"Please promise you'll keep this part a complete Secret?! If they are and find out and it bothers them, I might never be born,"

Goku almost laughed "Sure, sure whatever," it was a very saiyan like answer his mind no doubt on training or maybe this Bulma.

Trunks nodded "Okay, then I should get going now. I want to reassure my mom as soon as I can,"

"Yeah tell her thanks for this," Goku said shaking the bottle as he held it between his finger and thumb. "I hope the future does change,"

"Yeah, I have a little hope now that I've seen your strength,"

Will we see you again?" Kagome asked.

"I don't know it takes a long time to build up enough power for a round trip on the time machine, but if I'm still alive I'll come to help in three years,"

"Stay alive now," Goku said as Kagome, and he waved Trunks goodbye.

The boy had taken a couple of steps away from them turned back and gave them a big thumbs up before in a burst of ki he took off flying as fast and as far away from them as he possibly could undoubtedly wanting to keep his influence of the past to a minimum.

"I have something to work towards now!" Goku cheered happily. "Going to train hard for three years, I'm going to be so much stronger by then," Goku told Kagome who gave him a narrow look. If she could help she would but they could very well take care of it before it even became a problem.

"This could be a problem Goku," his arm wrapped around her shoulders having felt her uncertainty and then nervousness. She worried about what they would think about her; she, after all, was a newcomer.

"How should I tell everyone? Do you think I should tell everyone?" He shrugged, he never was good with his words.

Kagome reassured him while she nervously clenched and unclenched her hands as she walks next to him. She didn't want to face them; she didn't want to face Vegeta of all people knowing that he could find love outside of her and possibly would, probably would actually. She wanted to cry.

"Don't worry Kagome it will be okay," his arm drop from her shoulder and she latched onto his arm. He reminded her so much of Bardock more and more each day. "You know how I feel about her, and how you feel for him. If anything I'm going to be his father,"

Kagome looked at him with wide eyes.

"Why else would Bulma work so hard and for so long to save my life?" he grinned confidently, he really had taken to acting like a true saiyan. "Besides I want her to mine and mine alone,"

The group was in sight. "Oh my God, it's Goku!"