Author's Notes: I'm really, truly sorry for the long wait! But here it is! Chapter 5 of 'Blast to the Past – Rewritten'! I hope you all enjoy! Not much happens in this chapter, but it's important for both Eighteen's story as well as Marron's story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DBZ!

Chapter 5

Eighteen studied the place in front of her… and felt her hopes plummet to the ground. There was no way she had lived here once upon a time in her past life. Shenron was no doubt getting senile and made some big mistake. There was no way this house was her past home. She shook her head and shut her eyes tightly. When she imagined her past life all those times on their beach, she always pictured a big sunny yard with lush grass and tall trees and beautiful flowers that ranged from roses to lilies to many, many others. She visualized herself, younger, playing outside with her brother, just plainly being kids. She envisioned her blonde mother calling them for supper at the end of a tiring yet fun day and her black-haired father waiting for them at the mahogany dining table while reading a newspaper then ask both she and her brother about their day. She imagined and pictured the perfect family. Time and time again. Because that is what she wanted to believe she had. Because that is what she wanted to have. After some time of that visualizing, she started to get convinced by that perfect family dream. Day by day, she started believing in it until it became her unshakeable reality. That's why… there was no way… no way… that this bleak-looking house in front of her was her younger self's home.

Yet there it was right in front of her very eyes. Instead of the welcoming, flower-infested porch she always dreamed about, wilted flowers rested right by the door, which perhaps was a bright brown once upon a time. The windows that were always shiny clean and big were but a fantasy. The big yard where she and her brother should have been in, playing and having fun, was dull. No flowers grew; no trees loomed ahead except for one miserable, old cherry tree that had all its leaves and cheer blown away by the wind. The state of the garden as well the condition of the house spoke of long years of abandonment.

Eighteen opened her eyes again to face her reality. She could feel the warmth of Krillen's hand on her arm and distantly realized that he was calling her, asking if she was okay. She hummed slightly. She didn't like the outer appearance of her past self's home, but maybe things were better on the inside. She shrugged mentally as she walked briskly down the dark, dark path and repressed a shudder when a cold and unsettling breeze licked her figure. She heard her husband's footfalls behind her but didn't turn around when he called her name. She gulped inaudibly and hesitantly knocked on the old door.

As they waited, Krillen watched his wife's face carefully. He was sure that getting back to find out more about yourself only to discover that you lived in an abandoned house was not that easy. However, Eighteen made it look painless. Through it all, her face remained emotionless, except for that one moment when she closed her eyes and he could feel more than see her sorrow. Thus, he reached his hand out again and interlaced their hands together, giving her an encouraging squeeze. Courage that he didn't really think he had anymore. She responded with a small smile that could barely be seen on her usually nonchalant face, and Krillen felt that some of the weight lifted off of his chest. He felt partially (entirely) responsible for the pain that befell his beloved. If he hadn't stuck his nose where it didn't belong and left his wife to her own thoughts, they wouldn't have come here to find out something they absolutely didn't have to know. If he hadn't decided out of the blue to go find the dragon balls, he wouldn't have made her troubled. He almost snorted aloud when he remembered that all of this started because he wanted Eighteen to be happy. He wanted Eighteen to finally remember her past and get the happiness she deserved… but he should have known that while his childhood was exciting and carefree, some other people out there had the most horrifying upbringings.

The door suddenly opening after what seemed like an eternity was enough to bring Krillen back to the here and now. A man with dirty-looking blond hair answered the door. His very familiar cold blue eyes and tan face held no room for argument. This was Eighteen's father. The icy orbs studied the duo, but the man did not speak. Krillen scratched the back of his neck. Wasn't the man going to ask them what they wanted… or say anything at all?

"Um… Excuse me?" The man's eyes were now fixed upon him causing sweat to build up on his forehead. Did he have to glare at him like that? What was he supposed to say now? Should he ask for little Eighteen? If so, then should he call her Eighteen… or did she have some other name? The man's glare was intensifying. What should h-

The door abruptly closed in their faces.

Krillen blinked at the once open door. He turned his head to watch Eighteen's reaction. He was happy to note that she was out of her emotionless mask. Nevertheless, he didn't know if the anger he saw written all over her face was better than the blank façade or not. The blonde cracked her knuckles and she rapped on the wooden door with more force than necessary that Krillen was afraid she might accidentally break it. A longer silence descended upon them again. Eighteen, apparently, had no patience to wait another time, so her fists thudded on the door over and over.

"Coming, coming," they heard a woman's voice yell over Eighteen's thunderous knocks, "Can't you wait? Sheesh," Krillen barely managed to restrain his gasp when he saw an almost Eighteen-identical staring down at him. His mouth opened and closed like a fish as he struggled for something to say. The Eighteen-identical with black hair rolled her eyes.

"No, we don't want to buy anything. No, we don't want any services. And no, we don't want to partake in any campaigns," The woman stopped after listing off everything in one breath.

"Ah, luckily we're not here for any of those," Krillen said with a chuckle only to have the almost Eighteen-identical roll her eyes at him again.

"Well, what do you want?" A sharp cry startled both husband and wife, but the woman at the door merrily rolled her eyes and entered the house again. The woman returned to the door after several minutes, and the cries became louder as the source of the noise closed in on them. The woman rocked the baby back and forth in her arms as she watched them intently, questioningly.

"Well?" Krillen cocked his head to one side when he saw blond hair from between the mother's arms.

"Who's this?" the woman looked disinterestedly at the bundle in her arms.

"Her name's Juuhachigou," the woman replied evenly, but Krillen could hear something else in her voice. And he didn't like that something else. Hate? For such a little, cute thing?

"Juuhachigou… like the number?" he continued the conversation hesitantly.

"Exactly like the number," the woman replied, "You see, she has a twin brother, Juunanagou," she paused for a while before continuing as if not sure if she should tell them or not, "It took me seventeen damn hours to get the boy out, and eighteen freaking hours to get the girl out. That's the purpose of their names," Krillen nodded half-heartedly. He did not want or need to know that.

"So… back to the question… What do you want?"

-oOo-

"Trunks, Goten!" the little blonde girl yelled from the ground, "It's not fair anymore! I thought you said you weren't gonna cheat anymore!"

"We aren't cheating, Marron," Goten called back from above.

"Just because you can't fly doesn't make us flying when playing 'Tag!' cheating!" Trunks cheerfully shouted as he floated in the blue sky. Marron stomped her foot on the ground in frustration and the two boys laughed at her antics.

"Hey, Trunks, don't you think we're being rude? Mom says that I should never be rude to anyone," Goten said as he scratched the back of his neck in a very Goku-like manner.

"Go down if you want, then," Trunks replied.

"Nah… it's funner this way!" Goten said as he motioned with his hands enthusiastically, "Marron looks like a little ant from here!" Then, a worried look overtook his features, "But what if Mom found out that I was being rude?" Trunks shook his off with a wave of his hand.

"Think about it this way, Goten. We're trying to help Marron learn how to fly, so we flew up here and waited for her," Trunks said, then added as an afterthought, "That's not rude… we're actually being helpful," Satisfied with his answer, both boys nodded at once.

"Come on, Marron! You can do it! Just try to jump and then you'll be able to fly!" Goten yelled encouragingly as he put his hands on both sides of his mouth.

"Eventually…" Trunks muttered under his breath. Marron tried hard. She jumped and jumped. She focused and tried to jump even higher. But alas, she couldn't do it. She sat down on the grass with a huff.

"It's too early to give up, Marron!" Goten shouted trying to support his friend.

"Let's play another game!" Marron yelled back. To his credit, Trunks stopped himself from retorting with a sarcastic remark or even an eye roll. Ever the nice guy, Goten nodded and landed next to their blonde friend. The lavender-haired kid followed shortly.

"Fine… What do you want to play?" he asked as he landed softly.

"Hide and Seek!" Marron responded eagerly.

Author's Notes: And that's it for Chapter 5! Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I really want to hear from all of you whether it be by reviews, pms, favorites or follows… it really would mean the world to me… Thanks for reading!

xconversegirl99x: I'm really glad that this story still gets attention! Please let me know if this chapter was satisfactory or not ;)

Guest: Thanks! And here's more :D