Chapter Seventeen, in which Krillin finally bring 18 up on sexual harassment charges, alternative timelines are explored in ways that surprisingly haven't been used before, in media res is used, and Kame House's basement is shown.

Next Chapter, where 17 and Krillin hang out, 18 contemplates robbing Krillin, names are discussed, a sequel to 199 is finally posted, and Krillin is used as bait by the others to lure 18 to the Good Guys through use of seduction.

I look across the table and think
(fiery with love)
Ask me, go on, ask me
to do something impossible,
something freakishly useless,
something unimaginable and inimitable

Like making a finger break into blossom
or walking for half an hour in twenty minutes
or remembering tomorrow.

I will you to ask it.
But all you say is
Will you give me a cigarette?
And I smile and,
returning to the marvelous world
of possibility,
I give you one
with a hand that trembles
with a human trembling.

Norman MacCaig- Incident

"Okay, well, um, I don't know what else to talk about. You know, I mean, it's been kinda lonely here without Android Eighteen, 'cause you know she is my sophisticated blowup doll."

- Sonny Strait, talking as Krillin

401. I Should Have Kissed You By The Water

Juuhachigou knew she owed him nothing.

Yet she would admit in certain moments, as when her brother actually would talk about what had happened to him, that the situation could have gone worse.

Even as she looked at Juunanagou with disgust, for telling her, for not telling her, for reminding her. As she hated the fighters that had failed, hated that short weakling, hating and left with a rage that couldn't be displayed in a fit of destruction and had to learn to control it until it passed, something that came slower to her than it had her twin. Hating herself and these rooms she'd pace in, waiting for something to change, wanting.

The cyborg was left, in certain moments, wondering what would have happened if she hadn't given him a simple peck to his cheek.

And wondering if she should be glad of that decision or not.

402. "You'll have plenty of friends here, so you won't even need a girl."

Gohan, despite his own problems at home with losing a father and gaining a new sibling, still had time to check in on his friend. Krillin had to appreciate that, no matter how low he felt, how depressed. A sunny smile to lighten the gloom.

The kid just wasn't old enough to understand.

The others were, but could only help so much. Some of them simply couldn't understand his angst, this barrier that separated them from properly empathizing. Like with Piccolo and Tien, who could only nod mystified over his words and arguments with himself said aloud in their presence, and offer the advice to stop thinking about her, and whether or not he wanted to spar.

Yamcha though, would take him to single bars and offer him numbers and tried to set him up with various women such as Launch, which led to them both running together through the streets of West City for their lives.

Bulma had tried her hand as well at cheering Krillin up, offering advice on flattering women that turned from complimenting haircuts to circuits after finding out about his crush; any visits to Capsule Corp always leading to him babysitting either Trunks or Vegeta or both.

Chi-Chi kicked him, and told him to pull his head out of 'you-know-where,' and just move on with his life and stop pouting over some girl, 'wait, what did you say her name was anyway, you did catch her name, right?'

None of them were any help. But another day would slip away, and he could almost forget the certain smugness in blue eyes. Pale hair. Black and white clothing.

Just as he'd almost forgotten cloudy grey eyes and bright blue hair and wide smiles that had been for everyone.

In more time, Krillin was fairly sure he could move on.

403. You're In Harm's Way; I'm Right Behind

It was after they'd finally returned home and put Marron to sleep in their own bed, after he'd thought she'd fallen asleep herself, and he'd gone slipped outside the window for some fresh air, that Juuhachigou could finally reveal some of the pent up emotions she'd had from losing her family.

"If you ever do anything like that again, I'll kill you myself. I can't." She shuddered against him. Her face finding the hollow between his shoulder and neck. Against his skin, her nose was cold. "I can't stand to lose you Krillin."

How many times had they lost each other, almost lost each other?

Had she recalled Cell, when they faced Buu? Remembered the helplessness as he did, her anger and his later tears? The fear that he might not come back, as Krillin had been so sure he would never see her again after she'd been engulfed?

Krillin held his wife, and recalled those old nightmares and of her slipping away from him, of her death, and thought, Juuhachigou, to prevent that, I would have force-fed Cell poison to get him to spit you up. And I would throw myself before Buu a million times if it meant you and Marron got to survive even another ten seconds.

404. "Because Eighteen's neat! But Seventeen and Eighteen Are Like a Matching Set!"

In this dusty ruined landscape of his own creation, Cell doubled up, clutching his mouth, eyes bloodshot.

Gohan, watching with a smirk, was the only calm one. Even as a fountain of saliva began to pour from Cell's mouth. Even when an obscured figure, small, with a disgustingly wet splat from the enraged, losing android's maw.

Krillin hadn't been prepared for anything that had happened today, but particularly not this. Not seeing that person, of all people, again, and in such a way. Undignified, for once usual cold eyes unblinkingly staring Krillin down, in a puddle, a small unconscious figure lay there helpless.

If Juuhachigou had been spat up, it wouldn't have been such a huge surprise as this.

Cell stood there, eyes mad, insane.

It had been some time, not since first seeing the androids, had Krillin been so aware of their supposed-age. He looked a boy, sleeping from a long day.

After the initial confusion, of watching Cell reach for the android, Krillin decided he wasn't sure what to feel. This was either good, or bad, and he felt little empathy for that stranger down there. That creepy stranger. That was probably, according to his luck and Yamcha comments, probably involved with the woman he himself loved.

Strange, to feel jealous of the android lying in a pool of spit, but there it was.

Yet, Krillin had to step forward, and at least ask if they should stop Cell from grabbing him around the skull like that. For Juuhachigou really, even if unfairly, she was still inside Cell. Still in there. Could Gohan hit him again like that, and knock the second cyborg out? Would it be weird to ask him to do that? Yeah, it would be weird.

Either way, she would want Juunanagou rescued.

She must care for that guy right there. Would have wanted him protected and saved, and it's for her that Krillin worried even the slightest bit about the android. This android that looked like a young man and had distant eyes, thin and handsome, and had led the other androids to hurting others, whom was so loved by Juuhachigou.

If you loved someone, shouldn't you care for those they cared about? Love whom they loved? Protect and cherish, just as he would his friends' family and

He just hoped he wouldn't have to be the one to pick the guy up and carry him.

405. God Knows I Don't Hate You, But One Day I Must Learn How To

When the short fighter pried open his eyes, he needed a few moments to adjust to what he was seeing. His mind automatically tended to fill out the details of his room, the posters and pictures, and he needed a second to understand he was not seeing pale yellow walls and pinup of cars and girls. Things, oh, Kami, came rushing back, what this warmth and unfamiliar clothes slung over him meant, of taking a new shortcut and bottles and surly looks, and no this wasn't even the living room that he sometimes would fall asleep in, or the beach or Capsule Corp. If only it had been any of those places.

Even passing out in a back alley would have been better.

His head hit the steel of the floor with a small echoing thud.

Thankfully, the person next to him, currently using his stomach as a pillow didn't awaken.

The smallest miracle left for Krillin, who could only lay there and contemplate his life and the decisions he'd made. So many bad ones over the years, like breaking up with Maron and never marrying, because that would have been a nice thing to have done before dying. At least the old wish of having actually been with a woman could be crossed off, Kami help him. No, no there wasn't any guardian of Earth anymore; there was only Piccolo left, who'd never liked him much.

The newest item on his wish list, one that should never have been crossed off, even partially, was actually getting Juuhachigou to like him, and for her not to be a homicidal maniac. Did she even like him? Or had that been the beer she'd been drinking, sinking further and further into her seat as she badmouthed Juunanagou and Juurokugou, both of whom had left her behind to watch this idiotic van that she hated. His attempts at trying for friendliness must have worked because her glares, if not softening, became more curious than truly pissed off at his presence. It had been a stroke of luck even running into her, disorienting to see her now in the mountains or Gero's lab, but sitting inside a pink delivery van, bitter and drinking as he'd seen Bulma do herself a hundred times.

When he'd tried to escape, after simply standing there for thirty seconds, gaping at the angry drunk angel that currently was dragging his heart around after that kiss, Juuhachigou had yelled at him. To come back, and Krillin had stopped, turned around, and done so. Even though the smart thing would have been to run. Even more so with this new retrospective, to flee would that have been the intelligent thing to do. But he'd wanted to be around her. Ignoring things like, well, the basically rabid and mechanical parts and her determination to murder his best friend because uh, she was pretty? Fascinatingly cute and scary and clever with her sarcasm and with those wonderful creepy eyes. Adorable with that frown as she looked at him, and it was pathetic how easy it was for him to cave and not even raise his ki to warn the others of his state.

Because…because he wanted to be alone with Juuhachigou.

Because Krillin was a moron.

He had not run away. He hadn't saved the day. He hadn't fought her, and lost and been left for dead or for the others to help. Krillin had sat there beside her as she began ordering him to not leave. 'Just sit there, shrimp.' Pinning him with eyes that thrilled him when they met his own, even as he wondered desperately when she would finally murder him. Krillin had followed every order, secretly savoring the nickname and wondering if she actually knew his name, and why she was drinking, and analyzing every word she said loving the pouting mouth and span of her white forehead and perfect eyebrows and how those blue eyes saw down to his soul with a quick glance and sneer as she read his dumb dumb mind.

Rather than make an escape, the fighter just sat there and counted bottles emptied. Polite, becoming even politer as the angry android continued with her exasperations. With his hands in his lap. Nodding to what she was saying. Justas he'd done a million times before with Bulma and even Chi-Chi as they went on about their boyfriends/husbands. The strangest déjà vu that almost made Krillin laugh at such a connection, that yes, even the crazy machine woman could get pissed off at mundane things like a disappointing partner up and leaving her which was admittedly rude, Krillin could say with easy objectiveness. 'Oh, yeah, he's a jerk.' And even keeping a hopeful smile off his face.

Until she'd mentioned that there was no one better around, and that even for being such an annoying little pest, Krillin wasn't so bad—

With him still trying not to grin, feeling all proud of himself over having a normal conversation with Juuhachigou of all people, and who was an evil cyborg that would destroy the human race but also had lovely legs that hopefully she would never notice Krillin noticing and-

- 'so, you won't mind if I just have my way with you?' Said with a little cocky smirk that had almost made Krillin laugh as he choked inside and tried not to freak out over her saying that because it meant she really could read his mind, and was she actually drunk or just faking, and her leaning in closer, scooting towards him, what, now would come the pain, blood and murder, her too close and moving in and him swallowing and Juuhachigou had kept that half smile on her face throughout the entire twitching event where she really had basically ordered him around some more.

An event. Yeah. That had definitely had been an event. One that should have normally been a grand, loving moment rather than one to be repressed and denied as Krillin hoped the woman he'd actually yes, had slept with, that his lover, my god, would murder him very quickly.

Because she'd had her way with him, and neither could survive on the same planet after such a thing.

…Maybe the cyborg had been lonely?

From what he could see of Juuhachigou's face, she seemed very peaceful. A different creature when her eyes were closed and she rested, slept, like any normal person did. When those pale eyes fluttered open, Krillin would- he would be…dead. Just dead. Again. And when the others felt his ki disappear, they would rightfully come after her, and either defeat her, or die in the attempt. Oh, Kami, the others. They would think he was dead. He had just disappeared as they searched for Cell, after all.

Somewhere, Future Trunks was shuddering, and didn't know why.

Please let none of the other fighters learn about this tragic event. Let Juuhachigou kill him swiftly, and with some dignity if she let him put his pants on.

Krillin was not the type to just sneak away after meeting a woman in general—and that was when fully clothed and under platonic circumstances. He'd been a secretive, sneaky boy growing up, and had disregarded that cynical exterior for his true emotional and needy self. Now it came back, all in a rush, of how to hide himself, how to act like nothing had happened, to run and never look back as you left another younger kid behind to face the bullies, so many years ago, before you would even slide a dirty magazine under your shirt and wave to the shopkeeper to displace any suspicions.

He was a new, old Krillin. One with a new steely vow to never approach a single person ever again with any hopes of a romantic entanglement. That was a punishment, and a reward for what had happened here.

This sordid terrible thing that could never be spoken of again.

Not even think about her. The taste of her in his mouth and her surprise 'you're actually good at this, shrimp' and his own strange pride over that. Their shared laughter when they'd fallen over and then had to rediscover one another.

Now he was trying to lift her head up from his chest to slide away from her.

- Where were his pants? Why had they used this strange cowboy outfit as a blanket? Where were her friends, her possible goddamn scary boyfriend with dead eyes and impossible strength? Oh, oh, Juunanagou. His earlier attempts at trying to edge in-between their relationship was now coming back to mock him. What the hell had he been thinking, messing with such a strong, borderline psychotic woman who had a frightening boyfriend? What had she been thinking?

…did this mean Krillin was the other man? A homewrecker?

Somewhere, Future Trunks was crying, and didn't know why.

Of course she woke up right as he searched for his boots, because fate hated him.

His shoulders caved inward, and he had no idea how far, how deep the depth of awkward could be reached until this moment. His stomach, pale and showing scars the last thing he'd see before she snapped his neck. Still silence. It strangled him and left him trying not to stare at her, trying not to die right here from spontaneous combustion from the uncomfortableness of it all, trying to not feel guilty for just being ready to take off.

Maybe someone else would be able to lay down clear guidelines and rule, a thing that wouldn't get him murdered, but Krillin could only slowly turn his head and stare at Juuhachigou. Her stretching and definitely still nude.

It would have been better to run, or take his murder like a man. But a real man wouldn't have given into his feelings for her in the first place that allowed him to sit there beside her, and hormones that led him to undressing himself while she waited and asked about scars. The scratch marks on his back hurt the longer Krillin stared at her.

Was she purposely doing all this?

"You want to get breakfast?"

Rubbing one cheek, looking a little still tipsy and adorable with her messy hair. "You're still here?"

406. Show Me That You Love Me, and We Belong Together

When she heard that she needed his Master's permission to see Krillin, from the turtle hermit himself, she laughed herself sick. Then felt sick in general it looked like from this vantage point of the stairs. And angry, defensive, as she so normally would retreat into. "Who said I was even dating Krillin?"

It was disorienting, to see her trying to get through the doorway, and his Master attempting to keep her out.

"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. And why would he need your permission? So she'll meet your standards?" Juuhachigou shifting, not moving away entirely.

"It's my house."

"Well, I don't need your permission to come in here, do I? If I'm not dating the shrimp, then I can come in."

"Why are you here, if not to see Krillin?"

"I'm here to see him. Just to talk to him. Are you his chaperone?"

Master Roshi straightened his spine. "Maybe I am, android. Why do you want to talk to Krillin?"

"Because I can. He's not your slave."

"And neither is he yours."

"You don't even know what you're talking about, old man."

"How do you even know he wants to see you, android? For all you can know, you'll have to take a number to meet him."

"How convenient. I already have one."

407. If There's a Reason, It's Lost On Me

There was, on the whole, not a lot to say to her. In general, it was hard to conjure up words that weren't curses or threats or whimpers. It was Juuhachigou, after all, and even for someone as easy-going as Krillin, the rules of small talk were thrown out the window. And not because she looked like a pretty woman. At least there was that much to cling to, to keep his crazed spirits tied down to his chest and make him still able to rise in the mornings.

'Hey there. Still a sociopathic murderer? How's that been going for you? Alright. See you next Tuesday?' Said with the loosest cadence of a joke, and sometimes making Juuhachigou actually laugh. A terrible thing.

When was the last time he'd even been able to joke? He'd used to laugh and smile all the time even during the worst moments...even if they'd never lasted this long, or been so severe. As bad as things had been on Namek, at least he could say that Goku would come and save everyone, that at least Gohan was still okay, that this could all be undone and at least it wasn't his home world…

There had been a time, when he'd used to wonder why they did this. When it would keep him up at night, and dig into him as he listened to the radio warn of another attack. Once, Krillin had been curious, had been hopeful that there were answers, had once had hope, had believe that there would be an end, and it would be a happy one.

Slowly, Krillin had learned better. Starting with Goku's death, unbelievably mundane. Then losing Piccolo, Vegeta, Tien, Yamcha and Chaotzu. Knowing that Gohan was too young for this, too young and weak, and that Trunks would grow up in this world. All it removed so much from him, and Krillin wasn't sure what was left.

Now he helped bury the dead, and fought when necessary, and moved supplies, and knew that the only end would come when the androids grew tired of playing and killed him. Overall, he tried not to think, to shut off any ideas or questions, and wanted to only be a robot that existed only to move boxes and bodies. Out of all his friends, and what few remained at that, Krillin had always been the thoughtful, conscious one, and the irony did not escape him.

The androids would play their childish games and keep score of who killed the most people, and Krillin and Gohan would become increasingly distant and learn to deal with losses emotionlessly and to simply hang on with whatever was left and wonder if today would be the day.

408. The Person Falling Here is Me

For a split dizzying and almost comforting second, she wasn't even all that surprised to see Krillin standing there because he'd been in her mind lately, a lot, too much, and him standing above her, her lying there before him, wasn't even that shocking, really, that he was still dressed was the real confusion. What had been a nightmare was Cell, a figment of her mind, and that was over and this, this was a much better fantasy.

Then she turned her head to see a strange tiny version of Piccolo and that Gohan boy and the real Piccolo and further back the three-eyed human warrior and even further back the scarred ex-bandit-and this was definitely no dream nor even a real nightmare, and Juuhachigou had to jump up in confusion and growing horror as things fit into place.

409. You know I dreamed about you for twenty-nine years before I saw you

You know I dreamed about you

I missed you for

for twenty-nine years

In the end, Krillin took no pleasure in his duty as he stepped in and stopped the person that might have been responsible for an untold number of deaths. For such a supposed scary figure, he had expected more of a fight.

"Now let's go destroy the androids."

In the end, Gero was just a scared old man, and Krillin was no hero for murdering him.

"Krillin?"

And it had been murder, Krillin knew, staring down the fallen figure, lost. Despite the threats, there had been no real strength in this man.

"Wonder what this remote's far. Better take it, in case."

It was him that Bulma had turned to, to talk to reason. To implore and ask and joke, and the sixth person to be told that she was pregnant, and Krillin. Krillin, please. I don't want to take the chance. I don't want this baby to grow up and have to face—what if the others…

Her hand on her stomach. Eyes not looking at him.

For her, their, sake, Krillin looked away from the broken body and didn't stare at his own shaking hands. For her. For her and her child, and all the other children, Gohan and the other kids on this planet that would die if that dead man had his way. He was no hero, but he was still a protector.

The lab itself wasn't so impressive either. Cracks in the floor. Medical and disturbing odors of blood and rubbing alcohol and plastic that even a noseless guy could smell. The ceiling was strange, elaborate and purple with square carvings, and piping and wires that twisted. Lights overhead, sunken and round. The walls the mountains, this was just a cave hidden away in the melting snow of this summer month. Bright, if oddly shabby and not too clean. Hard to imagine evil being created here; hard to imagine anything being given birth and creation here.

Blue eyes took in the small cave, understanding what she was seeing better than he ever could. Pods situated around the room, conveniently labeled with neat large numbers. Official. This is

19

18

17

with one further set back. Broken? There had been two androids, supposedly. Were the others empty? Which ones even held the androids? More than two.

Vents in the back confused him. Was there air-conditioning in this place? For comfort? For whose comfort?

Unafraid, Bulma pushed on. Not even pausing to begin struggling with the doors in the back.

Dark heavy blue-green glass hid any features. Were they behind there, watching him? Surely they weren't conscious and aware, were they? Eyes wide and empty, following the fighter and pregnant woman's every movement. Would they awaken, pull back their lids, and reach out to kill Krillin and Bulma? Would the others even know, or would the androids murder so quickly that there would be no chance to raise his ki?

"Where's the rest of the lab? Back here?"

An elevator that led downward was the last thing he wanted to go on.

Whatever down here were things that Gero had wanted further hidden. Had not wanted anywhere near the door, and discovery.

"Well, it's for you. And the baby. Does Yamcha know yet?"

"About the kid? Oh, yeah."

In the back, down the elevator, that was where his work had actually taken place. The smells were worse; Krillin could actually notice them. Bloody meat and oil it in his mouth and feel it sinking into his throat and making him want to gag. Bulma only wrinkled her nose, and dealt with it.

It was like a crude hospital down here. With beds that had straps, too many, and needles everywhere. A good thing that Goku wasn't here, maybe, no matter how afraid Krillin was. Metal scraps stacked around, bits of human skeleton carved from metal, intricate with wires, and some thin, some thick. A desk, a small screen and keyboard and blueprints scattered, tossed about. Tubes, nearly as tall as Krillin lined up like soldiers. Tile beneath their feet, also crumbling, and something huge in the corner, round and square. A tank, empty and a paler green than a Namek's skin.

"We have to destroy them."

That boy from the future had never actually explained what the androids looked like. To him, you'd know them when you saw them.

And even further back…

The surgery room.

But all Krillin saw was two teenagers. Youths. Older than Gohan by a decade, and younger than him by years. Maybe that future boy's age. Similar haircut, but theirs was longer, bright and darker. Their faces of a similar cast, square and sharp. Naked and defenseless, and covered with sutures and half-healed pink scars. Couldn't look away. One a girl, one a boy. Held in place with heavy restraints.

They bled, all bruises in the hollows of their arms. Needle tracks.

Humans? Down here? Experiments.

Had they been completed? Or were they still works in progress?

Krillin didn't notice until he was biting his fingers that his hand had gone to his mouth. Tasted fresh blood combined with the odors in the air, and he nearly did vomit then. Bulma had to reach out to steady him, the thin pregnant woman that wasn't even a fighter had to steady him. Too thin, maybe, for being pregnant, and up close he could see smudges beneath her eyes hidden partially by mascara.

It didn't matter when he closed his eyes. Saw Gero falling, the sting of ki in the air, and hear Bulma's question when she arrived on Kame House so early in the morning. Could remember the sound of the ocean, could see the grey water and the doorway as she'd stood there before dawn.

He saw pitted marks and could guess what might be under there.

He could guess too much.

"You think these two might be it? That guy said there were two of them."

"Or they might be something else. The androids might be in those tubes up there."

"Maybe. This entire place has to be blown up. C'mon. Let's get out of here. I'll get a head start while you blow the entire mountainside up. Don't leave anything, Krillin."

"Bulma. Bulma. These are people. They're practically kids."

"So was Gohan, when they killed him. What do you think they'll do when they wake up? You think they let kids get away?"

"We don't even know if they're androids."

Hadn't he already killed an unarmed old man? What was this, if not more blood on his hands? Why hold back? Why not finish this? Kill them right here. A kinder face than one they might experience if Gero had still been here, cutting into them. There were scalpels sitting here, strong enough to cut into them already. One swipe to each, and it could be done. It wouldn't matter if his hand shook, even. Cover their mouths and noses, and let them go peacefully. While they slept, press against that soft part of the neck. Pass from whatever dreams might remain in them to the Otherworld. Wouldn't that be kinder to them, if they even were alive? He could sense the softest amount of ki from them.

Alive, barely.

A quick death. Faster than the ones they might themselves might dish out. Wouldn't even need to use any of his strength. Bulma waited there, his friend, wanting to see what he'd do. She was the strong one.

The girl had paler skin, bruised heavily in part, the slimmest wrist that even he could have wrapped his thumb and index finger around. Bone and skin.

Why had it come to this? Why couldn't the others be here, why couldn't they be trusted, and brought to kill these two. He wasn't a hero anymore, was he? Why come up with any excuses, justifications, for murdering these two? Why cry, when he knew what had to be done, and knew that it had to be him.

Had his tears fallen on them?

A stir. Their eyes were a matching bleached blue.

Krillin wasn't sure which one was the one to say the one syllable word; maybe it had even been him that had pleaded a soft, "Help."

410. My Therapist Said To Not See You No More

"Why did you even do that?

"Was it just to tease him? Again? With all his friends there? You know, you shouldn't be so cruel to the shrimp in front of everyone like that. I was weirded out by them inviting up to their party, but I didn't kiss anyone as revenge.

"What's with that look? It's like I need to shake you back to Earth. You in there, Juuhachigou?

"Do you even like him? Do you? Euch.

"…Do you?"

"What you need to do is just ignore her. I know, I know, Krillin, but it's for the best. She's a cyborg after all. Who knows what she can even feel? It's entirely possible she's just using you. Softening you up.

"Plus there's the creepy factor of her having videos of you. And that she was programmed to kill Goku.

"And...really, bro, do I need to add anything more?

"I do, don't I? I should never have invited them. Bulma was right. Hell, Vegeta was right. Do you need to be slapped back to your senses?

"Krillin. Stop grinning."

411. Please Don't Go, I Love You So

His clothes sticking to him despite the cold rain, Krillin dug into the alien dirt. He didn't feel the sweat rolling off him, or notice the worried stare from the wounded Saiyan and Bulma, who still clutched the son that had been so recently returned to her alongside her partner. She was coughing, still unused to this ruined atmosphere, turning her head away as though unable to look at the bodies and the blood.

Like she hadn't also cherished these deaths caused from her husband and friend.

Krillin looked away from Bulma, turning back to his work.

She was not his to even mourn.

Not his to worry for, as Juuhachigou had told him so many times on the way here. 'We're not even friends.' Her smile, her laugh in his ears that one night a week, an eternity ago, and the touch of her fingers, cold and trembling, and the way she had turned away from him so many times. Sun on her skin and hair, the yellow-white glow of home and her lying next to him a single time, and then this terrible bright light that wouldn't fade soon enough on this dying world. 'You never meant anything to me.'

But they had buried her alive.

She had turned away, and come back to him again as she always said she would, and this time changed further. Become exactly what Gero would have wanted, standing there and ready to murder him as she never had been interested in, not even in those snowy mountains when they first met.

(alive, is she even alive, are you sure you want to see what might be left, what might be ruined and destroyed, if there was anything left)

Krillin dug further, no more ki left. No more strength left but for digging into this hideous dirt that stung his wounds. No more power left to fight away the memories of her.

Juuhachigou's considering pause before those blue-skinned bandits. The way she'd look so innocent when Gero had attempting siccing his androids onto the fighters. Her fear and concentration when watching Cell fighting. Anger and disbelief as everyone else told her how Krillin felt for her. The knobs on her spine as she'd curled around him and shadows that slipped away as the sun rose.

His betrayal. Her betrayal.

Nothing unexpected or new, on this planet. Hadn't that only been par for the course, when it came to fighting. Hadn't Vegeta himself turned for his own sake? Hadn't the pirate bandits turned on each other without their leader, and hadn't that girl helped him along with the big guy, with giving him that remote their fellow alien had made? Even that had hurt, taking it, thinking of them, even as he'd rejoiced that there could be allies…even that, them, were so much ash.

Hadn't that been what the others had been so scared of? That she would kill all of them, even after Cell had knocked the other androids down a notch. And hadn't he even been afraid, when facing her with that remote (which time?) that she would not be what he thought she was. That Juuhachigou would be something other than his cherished illusion that he held only in his own head? Hadn't that been what she'd also feared, his dreams and expectations? They'd been so afraid that she might not live up that they'd never spoken of it, and could never have expected that he, Krillin, would be the false one.

It was almost funny, and he bared teeth that tasted of poison rain.

But there is also the simple bare fact: they had hurt her.

And no matter what he might be now, liar and lost and retired martial artist, without any clear loyalty, he was still a fighter. A man that could throw a punch at least. Someone capable of rage, who had raised his fist sure enough and had brought it down as he had his finger onto that button.

He was so cold, enough now. Even after he'd awoken from that rage that had burned itself out, this horrible figure from boyhood nightmares of ogres and fists driving into helpless pale faces, he'd been so cold. Unafraid for once, as he fought another battle. Krillin had burned for her; it only made sense that now he'd freeze for her as well.

(Had he ever thought there would be a last battle, really?)

Had he really pressed that button, for real, this time, or was this all another nightmare, a dream he'd wake from with sweaty sheets and stifled screams. Had Krillin imagined this all, this world of bandits and fire as the volcanoes exploded and him even winning a fight, fighting alongside Vegeta of all people, to save the ones they loved? Had there even been a remote in his hands again, blood on his hand, on her hands, unfocused eyes as she fell, had he ever thought she was capable of love and that he could have

(a happy ending?)

her?

It practically looked like a coffin, and he didn't feel the wounds on his hands as he tugged at it. A pod, like so many they'd seen here from that ship that might have brought relief only to be brought down. The survivors of it forced into slavery and slow deaths. Coffins, yes, they had buried her after…

Shut down. Krillin had only shut her down, but that might have been enough.

The blood on the handle matched the color of those buttons on those remotes.

Inside. Pale, and whole at least. Was she breathing? He couldn't hear over his own heartbeat. Was she okay? Did she still have a heartbeat, when shut down? Did she need to breathe? After so long, Krillin had nearly forgotten the aspects of her inhumanity. Always, Juuhachigou had to look so young with her eyes closed. He could have fallen in love with her for that alone.

But it was her opening her eyes, that put everything right, and it's her voice saying his name, with all its inflections and meaning still there.

Whether or not they forgave each other just yet seemed irrelevant when they reached out to check the other was yes, still alive.

412. What's Your Deal With Me

Juuhachigou had a strong feeling about why she'd been ordered to HR. It was her and Vegeta attempting to stab one another with pens and letter openers, like children. But both had despised each other after the second glance and first smirk, and it was only a matter of time before they'd had enough of each other's taunting. Of course someone would complain and both would suffer consequences besides stitches and glares.

Only, inside this office, there was no scowling bruised Vegeta.

Only that short bald guy, Krillin, looking horribly uncomfortable, unable to even make eye contact. He was always so awkward and uncomfortable around her; a borderline creep with his stares. Now he only looked up at the ceiling, while Bulma sat across the other side of the disastrously messy desk, next to Goku. The tall man was making his way through another sandwich despite lunch being hours ago, and the blue-haired woman, their boss, was busy with her nails.

"What's this about?"

Goku attempted to say something, and nearly choked to death if not for Krillin jumping over the desk and punching his back. She and Bulma simply watched them.

In fact, Goku's oldest friend's only reaction was to say, "You have to chew more, Goku."

Juuhachigou tried again. "…Why am I here exactly?"

"We have to talk. All four of us. About this company's policy on proper work conduct."

"But why is he here?"

Krillin's round face was writhing with effort. "I was just talking! I didn't know it was going to be an official complaint!"

"He's your HR rep. Of course you can't tell him about wanting to…I don't want the details. Do something inappropriate to Juuhachigou. Something with an office kink. I assume." She flipped through a folder sitting on top of a pile of candy wrappers. "Wait. You're pressing charges against Juuhachigou? What the hell?"

The blonde woman nearly had a stroke. Crap. "What?"

"Yeah, says here you 'made an inappropriate and unwanted sexual gesture' towards him? Wow."

"When?" Her wide eyes moved from staring at Bulma, lost, to looking at the sweating weirdo sitting next to her.

"When you first started? I guess only now Krillin is filling against you. Alright. Let's get this over with. All this he said, she said B.S."

"I never did anything to him!"

"You did…"

"What?"

The short man was sinking further into his seat. "Kami, Goku, why did you file that thing?"

Goku shrugging, working on a cookie. "You seemed unhappy. Like, you didn't like it. Therefore, you know. It was bad."

"I was just saying stuff. I wanted girl advice. Not to sue Juuhachigou for sexual harassment!"

There was too much horrifying implications to that. She had to fight back. "I'd like to file my own complaint against him!" She pointed a finger at Krillin. "He's always staring at me. Trying to talk to me. Thinking my twin brother was my boyfriend; what the fuck was that? And don't you remember that Christmas party?"

"That mistletoe was definitely a mistake." Bulma nodded, understanding. As she herself would claim, Bulma could be all 'beauty, brains, and compassion in one well-dressed package.' "The alcohol too. Vegeta got so wasted…and you won't believe the state of the supply closet we found the next morning. Disgusting."

"Didn't need to know any of that."

"Well. I guess you'll see each other in the sexual harassment class."

"This is crazy. Do I even need to go into what that old man does around the office?"

"I guess you could solve this by filling out a paper that neither of you will sue. An official paper that state you two are in a relationship. What, you have to do it even if all you do is have a one-night stand after a Christmas party, when you were both gone on peppermint schnapps."

Krillin was tugging at his tie, his collar. "Speaking of which, how is the pregnancy going?"

"Oh, fine. The baby kicks a lot."

Juuhachigou wished she could find a letter opener on Goku's desk, somewhere among the mess. "…what? Look, I'm not signing anything. I didn't do anything to him."

"Well, what was this gesture she did to you Krillin?" Bulma was leaning over the desk, all ears. "Bet it was something mean. Did she tease you, because you were drooling over her?"

"No! She kissed me."

"Oh my god. Are you kidding me? That thing is what you're so upset about?" Of course. That was the dumbness that led him to watching her too much. And trying to be too polite, and asking about Juunanagou in weird ways. The little bastard. Was that why he'd asked for her to join the same team he was on? She had known there was more to his feelings than simple kindness.

"Yeah." Goku was nodding along, brow furrowed. "That was it. You were upset by it. Before the firms joined, and she was with that other place. And then she kissed you, and you were all weirded out and thinking about her, and you said you were…what did I put?"

Bulma read off the paper. "'Increasingly unable to focus on work.' Because of that unwanted sexual advance, is the implication."

"It was just a kiss on the cheek. It was nothing. How can that be anything? Is that really enough?" Because, honestly, she had done worst. And to Krillin, even. Making him add paper to the copier, even when nearly full, just to see him bending over. Real instances of harassment, like sitting on his desk and practically letting him ogle her, just to see a certain file and really, because it was funny and he was kinda cute in a pathetic way. Things that had actually occurred in those videos new employees were forced to watch.

She shrugged, nearly spilling Goku's soda. "Well. It's in here now. In the system. And then Juuhachigou is also filing a complaint?"

"So now we both have to do to that sexual harassment seminar? Who's doing it this time?"

"Um. Piccolo?"

"Oh, great."

"You both apparently have boundary issues to work on. Either sign the document that states you had a consensual relationship at one time, or go to the seminar. Your choice."

"I dunno." Goku dug around his desk drawers, probably searching for more food to choke on. "That kinda seems like a 'hostile work environment,' Bulma."

413. Got A Taste Of You, Threw Up All Night

It didn't change a thing, nothing, there was no mark even, no physical mark, and yet Krillin still found himself rubbing the washcloth against his face to take off another layer of skin. Ridiculous to find himself in this bathroom he'd been in a thousand times since he was a boy, feeling like he'd never been in here and having to search for the soap.

She'd had no right to play that game, to look at him like she had. To taint him like this. There, where his ex had actually kissed him with real affection.

Was she why his hands now felt unfamiliar, why this all seemed moved about and different, and why Krillin hadn't told anyone what had happened?

But it didn't matter how hard he scrubbed, because the darkened irritated skin of his cheek only looked all the more guilty.

414. You're a Million Ways To Be Cruel

Nothing. It was nothing but a flippant response to Bulma's joke about her time free of Gero as going on a vacation, and just exchanging a cabin in the woods for a tropical island.

"Of course," Bulma had said with too flippant a smile most definitely not aimed for Krillin. "It's probably less romantic a setting. Less roaring fires and cuddling up on a bear rug."

Perhaps she'd been referring to the stacks of porn in the corners of the living room. Or Roshi's presence. Or Oolong's room filled with women's underwear. Or mocking Krillin's obvious intent.

Juuhachigou had agreed without thinking. "Probably more likely a turtle shell than a bear skin rug."

Not even said with a smile as Krillin's brain turned to mush, and the other's eyes slowly grew, and then Juuhachigou caught what she'd said. That her only response was to stand there, horrified, rather than play the entire thing off only further stole the air from the room and the euphoria and disbelief threatened a smile that she would hate.

415. You're a darkness and you bring your darkness.

There were many strange moments in her current, new life of transition and change.

She was Juuhachigou, cyborg created to kill Goku Son and his friends and comrades if need be.

She was also the person who had watched two utterly crazed rabid half-saiyan toddlers run about while nearly running away while Krillin tried to fend off the ki blasts he'd helped teach.

But she had to say, finding herself saving others…this was not her. She might not be a murderer, but certainly was no hero either.

But she was here, raising her hand again to throw another blast. Laughing and taunting these absurdly dressed enemies (as they were certainly no friends to her) with their sad attempts at weapons they used. She is here, and then there, driving her fist into a weak point, watching a pained grimace, doing what she had been repurposed for.

Just to the wrong people.

Perhaps.

Juuhachigou, once again alive and thunder and with a mission to complete, to help push one of the humans out of the way from something they couldn't handle, ignoring Krillin's grin and compliments while ducking another blow by another lackey, exchanging a morbid joke with her twin as they all waited for Gohan to get angry enough to murder everyone he considered a bad guy.

416. If You Need Me, I'll Be Downstairs

It took an entire year before she discovered the basement. To make it a little bit more humiliating, her brother was there to rub her nose in it.

"Well, it's not like I live here." Exactly. No, she just stayed here, sometimes sleeping downright platonically with Krillin after they were both too warn out to continue, and ate here and spent at least twenty three hours a day inside this building while yelling at the perverts and refusing to pay any rent...because she did not live here. "And it was hidden."

"Yes. Behind a door." No one was more sarcastic, sardonic, and as annoying as her twin. Had the time apart only made him worse, or was she less immune? "So. Let's see what's down there."

"I'm not going down there. Into the porn dungeon."

But as soon as Juunanagou began heading down those stairs, Juuhachigou was forced to follow. Not out of curiosity so much as to make sure he didn't destroy something valuable, and be forced to explain to the others what had happened. It would have sounded so juvenile and idiotic. 'He just blew it up. I don't know why. Why didn't I stop him? Uh. I didn't care?'

"…so that's where the washing machine and dryer are."

"You didn't know?"

"I don't do the laundry."

"Well, hasn't this been an interesting field trip. I'm glad we came down here. Learned so much. No bodies even. And less porn than I imagined.

"Well, I guess you can make this your room. Or let Krillin actually have a place to stay."

She nearly asked Juunanagou what the hell he was talking about, before her mind snapped into place and sense stopped her mouth from opening, and revealing the truth. Then Juuhachigou could picture his reaction to going upstairs to explore, and finding the clothes in the drawers. More destruction, and this time, it would be her things her brother might wreck. "…right. Well, if you're interested in looking through things, you could always peruse the old man's video collection. Or the magazines he keeps outside under his chair. The chair right outside."

417. In-Laws

"You can't win this one Juuhachigou! I'm stronger than you."

But that didn't stop Juuhachigou from tearing down the front door to chase her brother through the living room, and then pounding his head into the walls.

Krillin had thought that letting Juunanagou stay there wouldn't be so bad. The other man was quiet, didn't eat much, didn't insult him much, and Marron certainly liked chasing him around with a water pistol. And he was a better chess player than Juuhachigou. As was evident as she nearly threw him through a window; no patience. Raw brute strength despite her graceful appearance. He'd never thought to hear the calm smug android yelling in pain.

Krillin covered his daughter's eyes the best he could.

Juunanagou reached out for help, but when Krillin and Gohan made a move, Juuhachigou glared at them long and hard enough for them to sit back down. Then she shoved her brother's arm further up his back.

"Is this what siblings do?" the almost-teenage wondered aloud.

"I have no idea. Hey. Hey." He did what the older monks would sometimes do and break up fights. But trying to drag Juuhachigou off her twin only made her angrier, and decide to pull him into their wrestling bout.

"Is this what's going to happen with Goten, one day?"

"I think those two are on of a kind." Master Roshi scratched at his beard. "Then again, my sister and I don't often see eye to eye."

Maybe it really was best that Marron was an only child.

418. And You Will Believe in Love and All it's Supposed To Be

"Krillin? You like the android girl? The blonde one. I think the other one was a guy. But you like this one?" Pointing at her. Goku cocked his head, blinking. Then beginning to smile his old happy smile that meant everything would be okay—despite all signs to the contrary. "Wow. Way to go."

Just as innocent as his son. Krillin could have gladly slammed both their Son heads together. Then pleaded with Juuhachigou to forget whatever they'd said, to forgive him for not using that remote, to appreciate that he hadn't used that remote, to simply look at him and understand without ever learning why he'd spared her.

The others were making their own little comments of disbelief, looking at him wide-eyed and a little pitying, with Yamcha acting specifically as though Krillin had betrayed all they'd stood for.

Though Goku, he was perfectly accepting of it all. Saw nothing wrong with it, perhaps. He was always so accepting of everyone, and must have seen nothing wrong with Krillin falling for the evil android that was supposed to kill him. So quickly he understood, with a smile for Krillin, and one for Juuhachigou, as pleased as though he'd brokered the match and would be the best man at the wedding. At least he was better at differentiating genders, and wouldn't 'pat' anyone, as he'd used to when growing up.

Further throwing the android off her game. Android Number Eighteen, who had been turned from a normal human woman to a destructive cyborg to wreak revenge onto this group before her.

The warrior winced when her glare moved from Krillin to him.

Then, oh, Kami, Juuhachigou was looking back at him.

Nothing like how it had been earlier, their situations. Everything was so different. She was not so evil and frightening any more, and there was no evil monster headed their way, and instead, they stood as possible friends, companions, maybe sparring partners, allies, someone to nurse a doomed crush on and think about too often.

"Don't hold your breath if you think I'm going to thank you. What, expect me to fall at your feet now? Big strong boy rescues me, so I'm his forever right? Not that easy." Turning her back, turning away from him and all the others. "I was wrong about you Krillin."

Only Goku's disappointed voice stopped her from taking off. "Awww, but why? Krillin's a really great guy."

…the man had no subtly whatsoever!

Now it was her turn to wince. And look just as disturbed as when the others had found out how he felt for Juuhachigou.

"I don't owe him anything!"

"Hmm. Guess not." Goku's brow was furrowed. Then that goofy grin came out. "But he sure seems to like you. That counts for something, right?"

It was probably the worse argument Krillin had been in that he'd never directly involved in.

"No, it doesn't." Juuhachigou sounded so sure.

"Hey. No. Jeeeez. I know that you and Juunanagou are meant to be together and—" and I couldn't give you whatever that creepy guy does and you two are pretty much made for each other and he has way better hair than I do and is taller and-

"What are you talking about? Juunanagou is my twin brother."

"Brother? But I thought…" Brother. That explained some things. And opened new scary, frightening, wonderful doors.

"I know what you thought, bonehead!" Gritting perfect teeth and fury in blue eyes.

"Uh, does that mean you like Krillin now?"

"Of course I don't like that cantaloupe head." …was she blushing? Unable to even look at him now.

"Really? Who doesn't like cantaloupe?"

This time, Juuhachigou really did leave.

Unbelieving, and disturbed by all of them. A twist of her ankles and she was running off, away, from him. All of them, really, but maybe Krillin in particular. Only, before taking off, she did stop, to turn and look at him. For just a brief second that he almost would believe he'd imagined.

His friend's hand was heavy on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I think she likes you. Maybe. You know, when Chi-Chi's mad at me, I usually bring her some flowers or something pretty. Or hey, clean her house up. Um. Or cook. Just not anything with fruit.

"All you need to do is something nice for her. Don't worry. I'm sure she'll come back. Or we could find her, and you could give her stuff then."

Goku might be either the best or worst wingman ever.

419. In The Food Court, By The Hat Store

I Could Love You In Such Unremarkable Ways

Juuhachigou was reminded every day, from the second she awoke from whatever sleep she'd managed, at every conscious moment of self-reflection when she'd find herself tracing her clavicle and wondered where that bomb had been set anyway.

She had known too much about him, what he thought and wanted and his petty sad attraction. What had made him use that last wish to help her, despite being sure that she was involved with someone else, thinking that she might very well hate him and might never see him again. And had Juuhachigou thought that she might hate him as well, after, before that wish, had she thought consciousness of this new awareness of her own body and gaze, and of his presence.

But somehow, seeing him just sitting there with all her bags as another hour passed gave her a whole new appreciation for his devotion. How long could she get him to stay here, like an obedient puppy? Though, that was selling him short since it wasn't like she could throw him a ball to entertain himself, or a bone to chew on so he could entertain himself.

Standing there, watching him, thinking of how she could destroy this building, thinking of his slumped shoulders and way his head would twitch towards her and Krillin's smile that would flick on when seeing her, of how their clothes hung on each other. Of this perhaps domestic scene, and the ones that would follow it.

Juuhachigou could just stand there in this crowded mall, and watch him waiting for her return.

420. Please Save Me From Myself and Rescue Me From Everyone I Know

Their existence on Earth continued again atop Kami's Lookout. Dropped off, unkindly, by some power from the Eternal Dragon. In time, they recovered, and separated themselves from each other, only to come together in a group hug. Bulma seemed to have learned to fly in the time they'd been dead, if how fast she threw herself into Vegeta's arms was any indication. "Oh, Veggie."

Everyone just subtly turned away, breathing in the fresh air of Earth.

Trunks stood there, about twenty times as tall as the last time they'd seen him, both heartened, and disgusted, by his parent's display. Everyone had to thank him, pat him and Dende (who'd also grown alarmingly tall) on the back. Krillin was greeted with Oolong hitting the back of his head, and his Master giving him a gruff hug ("it's good to have you back, son") while Puar was practically breaking one of Yamcha's ribs.

"Um. What's going on?" A small, forever smug voice asked. One they'd never thought they'd have to hear again. Only Vegeta and Bulma were unalarmed, since they were unable to move their faces.

They'd been seemingly dropped there, away from the others, and the slight wind up here ruffled the clothes that set them apart further. Unchanged in every way, except for the wideness of their eyes and shocked expression. With what little light there was, you could still make our the small red insignias on their clothes.

Looking up, mouth open, staring at the dragon with all amazement.

"What. Are. You. Doing. Here." Every word was carved into stone and pressed into their forehead by Trunks.

Never before had anyone seen these two flinch. Only in another timeline had Trunks witnessed fear in those pale eyes. "We don't know! Who are you people!?...why's there a dragon up there?

"And who are we, even?"

They exchanged looks, shrugs. Becoming increasingly alarmed, as the fighters watched them was an eerie silence. There was ice in the mountains they'd been reborn in that was warmer than these men before them. Even Oolong and Puar glared, and Master Roshi wasn't even staring at Juuhachigou's chest.

Above, the Eternal Dragon remained larger than the sky. "I have brought back all of Gero's victims, and undone the damage he has created."

"Including to the androids?"

"The damage has been undone. What is your next wish?"

None of them ever thought they'd see the day that the android twins would cringe before them.

"We can't use the next wish on Goku, guys."

"First. Let's get rid of these two." Yamcha cracked his knuckles with some authority. "Then we'll wish to all be filthy rich or something."

Trunks' smile was all his mother's, cruel and cheerful. "Right. I already killed these androids once before."

"We're not androids!"

"We're normal people! I think."

Juunanagou reached over to pinch his sister's cheek, making her cry out. "Knock it off!"

"See. Normal. Please don't kill us."

It was…hard to outright snap and kill them. Them, the two scary teenagers that had rampaged through Earth. They were so skinny, and their normally hostile eyes were large with fright. No, no way would those two normally cringe away in fear. They'd been arrogant until the end, Trunks could have told the rest. There was no way for them to sense ki, androids or not, but you didn't need that to know the energy swirling in the purple-haired man's hand wasn't safe.

"If they really aren't murderers anymore," Krillin voiced. "Then we can't kill them."

"Or can we?"

"No, Yamcha. We can't."

And to Trunks' horror, it was once again Krillin defending the insane psychopathic machines from what they deserved. And once again, the others reluctantly were going along, even his father, even his mother and Gohan, whose scarred face was set in a grimace as they all listened to their friend plead for mercy.

He'd never thought to see Capsule Corp again. It was no longer a perfect yellow dome, faded and cratered from old blasts and marked with smoke, but it was still there.

A vision swelled before his eyes, of his home: Kame House, the salmon paint darkened from some past explosion, but still standing. The walls inside a paler pink, and his room hopefully not filled with porn/trash. He could go back to his life as it had been before trying to fight those androids. His death had just been another intermission. One where, admittedly, there had been enough time for baby Trunks to have grown up, but he was still the old Krillin. Hadn't even aged. With a joke to always distract and ease the tension, and who just ultimately wanted everyone to get along. Still thirty-two and single, but able to breathe again. Look out world, here he came.

Of course, him during his worst stage of a rude smartass teen didn't compare to these two in that stage. His had never involved murder, for instance. Or the leveling of a city. Just stealing a few beers and girly magazines had been the full extent of his crimes onto others.

So was it in him to forgive the androids? Vegeta had almost gone ahead and destroyed them anyway, with only him jumping in front of the androids, followed by a reluctant Gohan and Trunks.

"If they're innocent, than my father would have spared them." But still the teenager, adult really, couldn't even look at them. Krillin couldn't blame him for that, and was only grateful that there were others on his side, to see the confused teenagers with their hated faces and pathetic power levels. Yes, Goku would have spared them, and that had stayed even Krillin's hand, no matter how much he despised the blue eyes that had widened with fear.

They were sad, and that was somehow worse than if they were full of rage.

But, wouldn't you also be afraid to wake without any memory, before a group of angry murderous strangers?

Of course. Of course.

Easier to look away from them, as Gohan and Trunks did. Easier to follow the others back. With his friends here, heading down to repair the damage and rejoin the world of the living.

No more Afterlife.

And that was—good, yes. There would be peace. More peace, as there always was in that paradise that had consisted of training and waiting and playing too many hands of solitaire. For something, anything. Down on Earth, there would be rebuilding and starting over. Yes, of course it would be better, his future.

"Maybe we should just leave them here?"

Piccolo had refused such a plan for their rehabilitation. "So they can kill the guardian of the Earth?"

"Who?"

"'Guardian of Earth'?"

And Krillin

He'd somehow gotten the duty of caring Juuhachigou down. The aircar Bulma had brought could only fit so many people that couldn't fly, after all, and no one wanted to sit too close to Juunanagou. Juunanagou, who'd refused to fly, let alone be carried, and the contrast between the frightening machine to this sweating teenager were again considered. Juunanagou, if he can even be called that now, who hadn't wanted to be separated from his sister, even while the others practically had to part them to simply make sure they weren't plotting.

Given that Krillin's face was practically friendly in comparison to his friends, she'd specifically picked him out of the others. 'You're going to carry me?' If she and her brother hadn't been mass serial killers that had in fact murdered Krillin himself, he would have felt a ping at being so close to—no, better not to think about it. Who she was, this cringing scared, yes, pretty young woman.

Which was what she was, now. Not even a cyborg.

One that still looked utterly confused, and downright terrified when they were flying. Practically clinging to him, this woman who'd killed so many millions—if not billions of people. Who had at one point buried her face in-between his neck and shoulder, while her nails dug into his skin, as her attempt at saving face disappeared.

"Go slower!"

"We have to keep up with the others. Or they'll think you snapped my neck." She didn't smile back at him. "Besides, I'm not going to let you fall down and die."

"But you'll let me fall enough to scare me?"

"You have a suspicious mind. No." He sighed. "I'm not dropping anyone. Ease up your grip, please."

"You're more polite than then muscle-headed friends of yours." She looked at him for a long time, hardly blinking those startling eyes. They were different, as well. Darker, and there were twisted lines from the pupil like any other person, one that they'd lacked when they'd been androids.

Billions, yes, definitely billions had died because of her.

And of course now was when he got this close to a girl. There had been more than a few female fighters in Otherworld, but none apparently had a thing for short bald guys. Just his luck.

Really too bad she wasn't also riding in that aircar with her brother.

She might not know her name, or her brother's name, or if she was even human, but she understood the hate from these strangers. Perhaps she was human, for being able to tell that difference, to sense it even from the other room as they talked. Hearing their tones wasn't even needed, and she missed her brother all the more.

Was he still alive, or had they murdered him?

A couch with a knitting blanket thrown over it, bookshelves with titles that stirred nothing in her imagination, no window.

Next to her, her babysitter sat and flipped through channels and explained what he was watching. News reports that featured blurred images of her and her brother, twin murderers it was stated, and dead. Images of a world that was healing without them. To hear of it, they had killed even puppy dogs and rainbows, and she guessed that might as be true. How many people had they killed, supposedly, was there even a toll, what—

The strange bald man changed the channel, giving her nervous stares.

Afraid of her. Afraid for her.

"You don't remember anything?"

"I told you that already."

She looked at her nails. Pale hands, and thin, nothing hands that seemed to be here, and hers. Had she created power in them, spilled power out of these palms?

"Juuhachigou? Number Eighteen?"

"Is that me?" Her voice? Was it her, from vocal chords or a box, what was beneath this skin, was there wires beneath there, if she could claw her own skin off what would she find-

"Juuhachigou? Stop."

His hands were much rougher than her own, stronger, as they caught her.

"What are you doing?"

She moved even closer to him, seeing her supposed reflection. "What's under here? Am I human?"

He looked away before her. To her palms and long fingers and fingernails that had broken and stinging pale skin. "Yes. You're bleeding."

"Machines can't do that." Can they?

"You were never a machine, exactly. Just…well, you had some mechanic parts, I guess."

"Are they still there?"

"I don't think so."

"Why are we here? Why are we alive?"

"The Eternal Dragon, that big scary green dragon, he undid the damage Gero did. To everyone. Except, you know, memories and things like that. So you and your brother came back, and human. Completely. I think."

"What's his name? My brother?"

"Juunanagou."

Number Seventeen.

"Don't we have real names?"

The stranger was still looking at his hands, still touching them, afraid. Of her. For her. "Yeah. At some point. But we don't know your names. I'm not sure if you and Juunanagou knew them either. Or you just shut off the human part of you."

"We killed all those people."

"Yeah." Now he was looking at her eyes. Maybe trying to see his reflection in them. "Yeah."

"And any other family…"

"Don't know. They could be out there."

If they hadn't killed them.

Was this a dream? Maybe it could be a strange dream, but shouldn't she know her name, even in a dream? A brain tumor, maybe.

"We should get your hands cleaned up."

Again, he was leading her as though she were a child. Had she been a child, even? A normal child with a name and a family? Or had she been born in a lab, metal parts covered with a fake skin? Had she been in such homes like this, with pictures on the walls and knickknacks on the shelves? Held hands with a man before, even in such a ridiculous way?

"Here's the bathroom. There should be some antiseptic under here. Some-where."

On his knees, searching, he looked even shorter, and it was hard to believe he could fly and was a fighter, as in would go around punching people in the face like some superhero. She almost wanted to touch the back of his head to see if he was real, if there were some sign, but if she had, the man might have been afraid. Broken her fingers when he thought she was an attacker. Better to stand here, holding her hands together and touching the already-dried blood.

When he stood, he didn't even reach her shoulders. Had to look up, while he tilted the bottle to dampen cotton balls and wiped her hands clean with rubbing alcohol. Fingers calloused and misshapen, and little like her own.

If she were such a murderer, a robot as they claimed, should it hurt less? Should she not wince in front of him and want to pull away? If she'd been stronger than him, should she be so afraid and uncertain?

It was maybe something in the slump of his shoulders and quick dabs that made her finally ask. "Did I kill some of them? Those men?"

"Oh. Some. Uh, a couple of us." He was worrying on his bottom lip, definitely not looking past her fingers and seemed to focus on them. Clean blood off the wounds and find a Band-Aid and not deal with her.

Unable to peel the wrapper off completely, the man had to use his teeth to get it off, and looked simply…"You?"

"Me?"

"Did I kill you?"

"You, and your brother."

Then he was putting the bandages around her fingers and neatly applying them to her palms.

Oh.

Better that she be a helpless child than a killer android, in his mind anyway.

There were six dots on his head, and she wanted to ask what they were about as well, what did they signifiy, and what had happened to his nose, and why had she and her brother killed him, or anyone. How he could be strong and have the power to fly, but still had to search for the garbage, still looked at her as though she might be dangerous.

Maybe better to be helpless and at least mentally innocent of crimes. But how could she not ask questions?

"How old am I? My brother and I?"

"Hmm. Hard to say." Did he always have to wait to put together a sentence? Did he know how annoying that was to hear him stuttering and trying to piece together something safe? Or how painful it was when he did look up at her, actually looking at her and analyzing her face that in the mirror when she glanced, seemed too scared and pale? "You looked the same when you two showed up to—you know—and you haven't aged."

"We didn't age?" The face definitely looked too young and if not innocent, at least non-frightening. Her features she knew, as she'd known her brother was her brother. This person had killed or helped kill some of the men under this very roof, and countless others outside it. But the man besides her was still a mystery.

"No, and we didn't in Other World. That's the afterlife. Right, so, we should…I don't know. Hey. Maybe something nicer would help. Um, I don't have any pictures of you and your brother, but maybe looking at something of us might help. Stir some memories. Since you know, you and Juunanagou were created to kill us? Okay, maybe it won't help." Eyebrow twitching, mouth pursing and shifting eyes. Had he a particularly expressive face, or was her own just so numb? Where was his nose, for that matter?

"It might." Anything but wondering who and where she was, who her brother was besides her twin.

He led her back, more eager this time. Their hands still touching, and that did feel off. Because he was a stranger, or because of the fact that it was him, an enemy apparently, that she'd killed. Had she ever touched anyone before, without causing pain?

"Let's see." At least he turned his back to her, unafraid of doing so, as he went through shelves by plants with varying degrees of drooping, dying leaves. Carefully brought them to her, watching her reaction.

They were heavy, thick with tape and featured smiles from people she still didn't know. Her victims? Wearing normal clothes and eating too much or laughing or with small children or getting drunk and ridiculous. She almost felt a third-hand embarrassment over some of their antics done with ruddy flushed faces and beer bottles in hand. In the background, things looked as peaceful as their forever cheerful faces. People that were not the same as those she'd met in that strange place. Her victims.

"Does that help any?"

She slammed the album shut. Was it fear or shame that made her so angry? How could she even know? "Well, now I'm just convinced that you're all alcoholics."

"We really don't get drunk that often." He was smiling, head bowed a little, and she didn't know her name, but she could guess that he was trying to cheer her up. Strange, given everything that she had been.

Spared, and carried her, and seemed to not wish death on her or her brother.

Merciful, even this strange woman could tell. Could see and understand in some dim way through human instinct

(human. now are you human?)

Kind and capable of forgiveness. Was that why she might be less afraid, if only of him in particular?

"What's your name?"

"My name? Oh, it's Krillin." His laugh was… "I guess it would be dumb to say exactly that I'm glad to have met you."

His laugh was rueful, hurtful.

"Still, I guess I might be."

And why couldn't she look away?

421. It's Time To...Tango!

"No. Get away from me." She nearly literally slid away from him on the bench. In a red dress that bared her shoulders, and matched her lipstick and shoes. All anger and perfect cheekbones. The prettiest woman in the room.

Krillin ran a tongue against the rough stem of the rose in his mouth. "You shew?"

"Yes."

"Dasth?"

"What?"

He pulled the flower from his mouth. "You have a date?"

"No." There was more steel and titanium in her voice than any modification in her body.

But Krillin only smiled rather than back down. It was that reckless grin that stuck with her, even when his dumb friends and her idiot brother finally broke up their fight and pulled her hands from around his neck. That, and the happy-go-lucky look in his eyes and the cheerful confidence that would haunt her as he asked her, "Do you want one?"

422. Why Am I Standing Here, and Missing Her and Wish She Were Here?

Amazing, how even in this she was graceful.

She had not even fought it.

Those eyes had seen him, taken in his presence and what he held, and had only stood there and accepted.

It was out of respect for both their choices that allowed him to remember his own strength. To not weaken at this moment, and preform a half-measure. Krillin would follow through, and not flinch too badly from his duty.

Krillin had won, and that was all that mattered.

Her afraid had hurt, but her unconscious and as innocent as any girl asleep was all the worse. In another life, he might have protected her properly. In another life, he could have been a better man, and properly helped her. In another life, Krillin might have met her under kinder circumstances.

But then, in another life, she'd murdered him and his friends, and countless others.

(Was someone yelling her name?)

He summoned strength from somewhere.

Without any anger or relief, Krillin could almost think about where to aim. Her head, that held those brains that had so allowed her to fight and mock Vegeta and had given her the idea to kiss him and search for Goku to murder? Between pale eyes that had been so amused with his pleading and so wide when he found her? Her chest that held what facsimile of a heart she possessed

Three years training for this, no, longer, since he'd become friends with Goku, since the Red Ribbon Army had tried taking over, since he'd been brought back from the dead and the fates had decided to send so many enemies to cross his path. From the corner of his eye, he saw green and black.

I could kill her. Defenseless.

The other android was yelling something, telling him about the existence of something cruel inside her that he already knew about. Stupidly, he'd almost forgot.

Or maybe it didn't matter. How big an explosion would it be?

Would it wipe out this island? Kill Cell, and the Saiyans? Or just enough to destroy him, and maybe the machine, who was still talking in too calm a voice, speaking of compassion and mercy and all that Juuhachigou wasn't?

She is defenseless, and I can't kill her. Could I ever kill her?

I knew about those bombs, and still charged.

He didn't care if that large android, Juurokugou, killed him now.

It really didn't matter.

423. My, My How The Time Does Fly When You're Going To Die By The End of The Night

It hurt, physically, to press the button. Something inside squeezing shut, an artery in his heart, veins turning to ice.

Yes, you did it.

Krillin wished he hadn't done it.

Felt unsteady on his own feet. A knot in his stomach. Was he going to vomit? Right here? Krillin could barely swallow and tried to look into the world again.

Her eyes were wider than ever. He could so rarely read her, even now, as her attempted murderer. "You actually used it." Voice hushed and crushed velvet.

"What was the point of that?"

424. "Krillin, what are you doing? Put that android down right now."

The tiniest portion of his brain that wasn't yet deadlocked with panic could appreciate the fact that she wasn't wearing a skirt as he threw her over his shoulder. While the rest was simply marveling over the fact that he was touching her, that he was still alive, that he'd actually used that remote, that Juurokugou hadn't yet flattened him yet.

"Where are you taking her?" His eyes were the same pure unblemished blue.

"Away from Cell." It was the dumbest thing. He needed to destroy her, not act like she was sack of flour to take back from the store. Yet he couldn't, could not bring himself to do something so permanent, had blown all his courage on even approaching her and actually following through on Bulma's advice. Some of it, anyway.

The hulking android still had squirrel on his shoulders.

Sweating, idiotic, Krillin asked, "Can you follow?"

"No. I'd only slow you down."

As though the large figure was her chaperone, Krillin had to explain himself, this witness to his dumnness and bravery and cowardice. "I'll take her. Somewhere. Somewhere safe."

Where the hell was that? Capsule Corp, with Bulma and her family? Put them and the entire city in danger? The worst idea yet. Where, oh, kami, where? Kame House? Right. Hey, Master, I need someplace to hide this android for a while? Imagine her waking up there, possibly next to Oolong's collection of panties and Roshi's porn and Krillin's bed, or in his bed with him possible standing too close and having to explain what happened with no backup. This was not how he'd wanted to pick up women—especially Juuhachigou. Kami's Lookout? With Goku and Gohan? She'd wake up on some scary place she'd never see, but there wouldn't be any pile of porn at least. Would they be safe there? Would Vegeta follow? Oh, crap, he had to get her away now before the angry Saiyan plucked her away and served her up to Cell on a silver platter. Fuck.

Where?

Juurokugou offered an idea. "Whoever created that remote. Take her to them. So long as they won't hurt her."

"They won't." They would try, but Krillin wouldn't let them.

Bad enough he'd actually used that damn remote. That had been terrible enough. For so many reasons—not that he'd ever thought he had a real chance with Juuhachigou, between her being an android and probably with Juunanagou and trying to kill his best friend, and Krillin being human and a protector of Earth and so short and miserable and weak.

But this definitely wasn't helping whatever secret doomed fantasy he might have once conjured where she might look at him. Yes, he'd been content to love her from a healthy distance, to admire from afar, but if she'd ever offered to dump her boyfriend and have some strange attempt at a relationship, Krillin wouldn't have minded much that floundering attempt at something more than friends.

It also definitely wasn't a great thing that he had tossed her over his shoulder and fled with her. Like some caveman. Horrifying, to find his arm so close to her—her, just her, think of her as a solid figure, genderless, a bag of potatoes that was rather bony. Completely ignoring her feelings on the manner, and being an idiot that wasn't even sure where to go. One still holding that remote that might not wake her up. Oh, Kami, what if she woke up right now, to this? To his back in her face, his hand around her waist? She would pull his spine out, by inches.

And wouldn't he deserve it, for using that remote, and not actually killing her?

Splitting the difference. If anyone asked, that was what he'd say to explain it. I was being pragmatic.

And I'm totally not enjoying having her so close.

Thank Kami she wasn't wearing that skirt, seriously.

No one seemed to notice him flying off, close to the ocean with her. Just as they hadn't noticed him approaching the island. If he kept his head down, and ki low, they could make it through this. To Capsule Corp. By then, Trunks would have talked sense into Vegeta, or hopefully destroyed Cell.

Then Juuhachigou would be safe. And awake, right, Bulma would wake her up and save the day again, and she would forgive him and become a good guy and a friend to the gang, and since Krillin was imagining great impossible things, why not see her becoming single, as in breaking up with Juunanagou when he was brought back, and suddenly that kiss wouldn't be mocking, and would magically become a sign of affection and a mark of her attraction for him. Right. Juuhachigou was going to be into short guys with annoying voices and no noses, that was her type, not taller, dark handsome guys that she'd been made for, practically.

Really it was good she wasn't awake right now. Or through the entire trip.

Or when he arrived on the huge lawn that led to the yellow domed house/lab, and had to explain everything to Mrs. Briefs, who this was and that she wasn't a date from a party that had gotten out of control as what happened when Bulma and her Vegeta went out, and the prince would have to drag her home.

"Is she sick, dear?"

Yes. And so am I.

"Yeah, she is and needs to see Doctor Briefs."

If she'd awoken when Krillin slipped her off to carry her, more comfortably if equally distracting, in his arms, she surely would have been pissed off.

Or freaked out, when Doctor Briefs proposed dissecting her and seeing what human parts remained and if those blueprint were the same for her as well. It was great for all of them that she was unconscious, when Krillin panicked, spun to keep her from the doctor, and accidentally knocked her head into the wall hard enough to expose the electrical wiring—of the building, not her head.

Gero was clearly the worst person to have ever crossed her path, but up next had to be Krillin. He was a bad luck charm, and not only for himself. Ever since she'd met him, Juuhachigou's life had taken a turn for the even worse. Sure, the short fighter couldn't be blamed for her no longer having a normal body (though it was still lovely, and oh, Kami, so light and defenseless in his arms), but she hadn't fulfilled her mission, and had lost a boyfriend and friend and had gotten beaten by someone so pathetic as he, and was now being lugged about from room to room as Briefs looked for his tools, and a lighter and an ashtray as he didn't want to get any on anything important.

"Important?"

"I hate getting ashes all over delicate circuits."

Her hair was practically tickling his chin as Krillin pulled her closer. "I told you, you're not dissecting her."

"Yes, yes. We'll see. She may also have a bomb inside her. That might need removing."

"Oh. Huh. Maybe. No, wait, until she wakes up and gives permission. With paperwork, and everything."

Carefully, they found a place to rest her on, and Krillin could only stare at her, wanting to tuck the loose strands of white-gold from her eyes, and sure that if he were to do so, Juuhachigou would awaken then. Sleeping Beauty brought back from an evil spell not through kiss from her true love, but from sensing a short weirdo being a pervert over her. One of the dwarfs that hung around the princess, maybe, with a crush, and who wasn't allowed to take part in any of the songs. He was the dwarf that no one ever talked out: Creepy.

"You know, I hear there are safer machines for that kind of thing. You can get them designed exactly how you'd want. Now, they might be expensive, but at least they're designed for having-"

"Doctor Briefs. Stop right there."

Thankfully, she didn't awaken then either. To hear that, or notice him almost touching her hair and knowingly having the saddest puppy-love expression on his face. This was pathetic, even for him.

For falling for her in the first place. This was Juuhachigou, non-human and non-alien, perhaps not even alive in any true way, especially now. Whom he'd betrayed.

For being unable to bring himself to even look at her with whatever expression was on his face. Because this was Juuhachigou, and he loved her, inside and out. Gears and circuits and sarcasm and mean laughter and blue eyes that were now too empty and had to be closed with a shaking hand.

Krillin could just sit here, and look at her, and wait.

The only truly major villain he'd helped destroy, and he happened to be in love with her. Because he was Krillin, and he was short and broke and so awkward at the worst moments and had the most terrible luck of anyone on the planet.

…Except for maybe Juuhachigou. Who had been turned into a cyborg by a madmen, along with her partner, and had been chased by a giant bug, only to be turned off by a short, broke, awkward, desperate man that was in love with her so desperately that he hadn't had the courage to actually kill her, and had only brought her to the home of an enemy. If she'd been awake, what would her reaction to all this have been? Bemusement? Rage?

Probably rage.

'What do you mean, carried me? Why would he do that? Why does my head hurt? Why does that old man keep talking about a 'sex doll'?'

When Bulma came into the 'waiting area', attempting to hold a screeching Trunks, hours later, she was both annoyed, and livid. She handed Krillin Trunks, as a clear punishment, while she surveyed the scene before her. Then she had to find her own cigarettes before giving him a clear answer about what was wrong.

Then wait until she'd finished her diatribe about how idiotic Krillin was, how selfish and careless, and was Vegeta alright, he did what, that jerk oh, and how was the other Trunks, was he alright, good, what, hang on, where's my lighter.

"Here. Now, can you help her?"

"Who? The android?"

"Obviously!"

"You mean 'it'?"

By then, Trunks began mauling him, and it was all Krillin could do to fend him off and ignored Bulma's terrible comment.

When she'd thoroughly ignore the ash tray and made a mess of the couch, she stood. Looking perfect with her hair and clothes so neat, collected when Krillin pulled tiny, deceptively chubby fingers from his cheeks and away from his eyes. The short, scratched fighter could almost imagine that this modern and calm woman could get along with the equally confident person he'd brought. "Alright. Let's see it."

One glance, and she had to flay Krillin some more. "Ooooh, I get it. God, Krillin, did you learn nothing from Maron?"

"It's not like that!" The worst lie. The most painful. The most pathetic.

Baby Trunks slapped him for his mother.

"You know this won't end well, don't you?"

"She's different. I swear. Not from Maron—I mean, yes, she is. But she's not like the scary androids Future Trunks described. Really, Juuhachigou's not so bad."

"Is that her 'name'?"

At least none of his teeth felt loose. Gradually, he managed to find a restraint-heavy contraption that could hold Trunks. "Yes—don't blow smoke into her face."

"Shut down. Completely."

"Don't poke her. She's not really gone, isn't she?"

What if he'd killed her? Permanently shut her down? Gero might have had something temporary, but Bulma could have messed something up. All she'd had were some blueprints—blueprints that hadn't even been Juuhachigou's.

"It's off, that's for sure." She rotated Juuhachigou's head on that boneless neck, poking at her eyes, peeling back the eyelids, feeling for a pulse. "Hey, Dad, Dad? Where's he gone?"

"I have no idea."

"Hmm. Well, since we've got an android here, why don't we test some things? Don't look at me like that. We have to find out exactly what's going on, and if we can wake your girlfriend up.

"What? Krillin, stop pouting. We'll get this all figured out. Then get you a real girlfriend."

"Please, Bulma, can you help her."

The desperation must have moved something for Bulma. She patted his shoulder, eyes scanning the lab. "There's something we should do first. Before tinkering around. I've got to check what's under the hood. No, really, I need to know exactly what that remote might have done. She's got a pulse, but it must have done something to her brain. Cut off oxygen, maybe. Here, help me out with this thing."

Despite any misgivings, Krillin had to listen to Bulma's commands to grab some husking scary white machine, and take the heavy smock and glass of lemonade that was handed to him by the pair of Brief women. At least Bulma's mother seemed less sarcastic when she referred to Juuhachigou as 'his little girlfriend.'

"She seems nice."

"Oh, Mom. Can you watch Trunks for me. And maybe find Dad?"

Juuhachigou seemed small, under that contraption.

"Okay, let's just turn this on. We can see everything here. Don't be a baby, Krillin."

It was terrible, how they talked about her like she was an object, a thing, rather than a person.

But they still hadn't killed her yet.

There was that.

"Look at that. Look at what Gero did. Man was a genius."

"I don't want to look."

Bulma ooed and awed over the various parts that Krillin didn't understand. "Gero was a genius. What, what's that. Oh, got it. Huh. That's interesting. Still got a spleen? Where's that other kidney? Right there? Nevermind. That's boring. Mm. Maybe I was wrong about some things. Or not accurate enough."

"What, is she okay?"

The scientist sounded disappointed as she leaned into the screen. "Sure, sure. More parts that I expected. Or maybe, less parts."

Krillin immediately really wished he hadn't looked.

Better to look at his glass of lemonade, and pretend he didn't know what a close-up of Juuhachigou's liver looked like. Right, that was a liver right? And what was that, when she panned out, was that ribs, was that metal right there, or had Bulma zoomed in accidentally on a leftover bowl of soap left scattered through the lab?

Out of somewhere, wearing a smock like the other two complete with a mask, the doctor strolled up with something in his hand.

"Try this, son." Briefs handed him a duplicate to the remote he'd used on that island, and thoughtlessly left behind. "Maybe this'll wake the android up? Oh, is that—huh, wouldn't have thought Gero would have left that."

"I know, right."

Awful, how something so small and simple could ruin someone's life. Completely shut her down, as though she really were only a machine. Could he keep claiming that she were human, basically, if a remote could turn her off like a television set? But that fear Krillin had seen, when watching her focus on Cell, that couldn't have been feigned. Some metal parts, yes, but that didn't mean she could feel, couldn't think and express emotions, and didn't deserve a second chance to live a life.

Just a simple remote to turn her off. Enough to ruin an innocent life. Krillin stared at it, this light contraption that had less buttons that even the TV remote at Kame House so neatly tucked into his calloused hands.

What if it was just a matter of pressing the remote's button again?

Closer than ten meters.

Those eyes fluttered, awake, terrifyingly awake and aware.

"Hey, Krillin, you're in luck." Bulma was laughing, unbeknownst. "I think she can have your noseless children."

425. If It Came Down to Your Life or Mine, I'd Do the Stupid Thing and Let You Keep Living

It was Juurokugou who decided to try a truce.

Juuhachigou had gone along, out of necessity, and could only wonder what Juunanagou would have said in this situation. Would he have gone along, only to double-cross the humans, and go after Goku? Or would her brother have simply smirked and followed their lead, giving up his own plans? If nothing else, Juunanagou had always been capricious.

They all watched her. Waiting for a reaction that Juuhachigou herself had no idea what might be.

She watched the humans talking, straight-backed and waiting. Unafraid for whatever would come, simply biding her time as she had with her twin. Again at the mercy of those that didn't care for her and treated her only as a means to an end. How would she woke her way out of these shackles, and what would she do without her other half? What could she do without Juunanagou, and with so many fighters that had once again regained their grasp around this mud ball?

Juurokugou also still was alive, petting a cat and almost looking content.

Given her options, perhaps it was best to follow his lead, as ridiculous as it appeared. Though she would shoo away any felines, or sad puppy-eyed short fighters that kept staring at her, even while arguing with their friends.

Bulma Briefs, oldest friend to Goku and lead scientist at Capsule Corp, took in Juuhachigou's presence in her home for the thirteenth time. She lit another cigarette with a snap of a lighter. When she offered one to the cyborg, she accepted to the human's bemusement. It only seemed to make Krillin's eyes go wider, if possible, and Bulma all the more skeptic.

Another stare, as though seeing what was beneath her skin, and the human woman once again had to chew Krillin out for his decision of mercy, and for bringing the androids here of all places. "I should never have given you that thing."

"You really shouldn't have."