Krillin and 18: One Stupid Kiss

Part 9: Reunited and Reconciled

The android had been flying for what had felt like forever and Krillin wasn't sure she even knew where she was going. He kept a safe distance from her considering she had looked ready to kill him since the explosion hadn't. It turned out to be a good thing he did so because of how abruptly she came to a halt and whipped around to face him. Had he been any closer, he would've ran face first into her bosom.

"Are you insane?" she yelled at him. Even though he had seen it coming, Krillin was still startled by her anger.

"I, uh, I'm not quite sure which part exactly you're mad about," he stammered. 18 closed her eyes and clenched her fist. He could tell he was seeping away at the little patience she had left but had no idea how to stop.

"I'm mad 'cause you could've died, you idiot!" She caught him off guard with that. Unlike when she found him napping after sparring with Gohan, there was no doubt she was worried about him this time. Though, teasing her about it at that moment definitely did not feel like a smart move.

"Well hey, I didn't thanks to you," he gave her a meek thumbs up. His uneasy grin quavered as her shadow covered him, emphasizing how threateningly close she had gotten. In a split second he decided to do what he did best when it came to women: flee the scene. Unfortunately, 18 was ready for him this time and caught him by the foot. Krillin squirmed futilely as she descended with him in her grip.

"I wouldn't try running again if I were you," she warned before she let him go. Then she sat and gestured for him to follow suit.

"What were you thinking?" at least she sounded calmer now. He scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit noticed by the android.

"I thought, you know, maybe I could go back in time, and then maybe, stop Gero from kidnapping you and your brother..." She furrowed her brows and blinked a couple times.

"Why?"

He briefly wondered how his odds at another escape attempt looked.

"I just... After you told me what happened to you, I... I don't know," he dug his fingers in the sand he sat on. "I guess I thought I could help."

"So you decided to do something that would drastically alter my life without even talking to me first?" Krillin wondered how she could manage to call him stupid with simply her tone alone.

"It wasn't just you," he appealed. "I thought if I went back and saved you, the games never would have happened and Goku would never have to sacrifice himself. You'd have your life back and Goku would still be here. I just...thought I could fix everything." He looked down at the ground; not like he had been looking her in the eye anyway.

Then he stiffened and gasped faintly when the cyborg leaned in and wrapped her arms around him.

"I understand," she whispered gently. When he recovered from the shock, he returned her embrace. She released him first.

"Listen, you keep trying to go backward and that obviously hasn't been working out for you." Krillin averted his gaze from her and frowned dismally. He knew what was coming next.

"I told you before that you can't change the past, Krillin." Hearing her say it this time felt so... final. It made his heart sink. She brought to the surface what he tried to drown in denial. She placed a hand on his shoulder, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," he sighed.

"Maybe you should try something different."

"Like what?"

She cocked her head at him and raised her brows. He wasn't sure what that look was hinting at.

"If you wanna go back so badly, maybe you should try going back to somewhere else," the cyborg had a slight smile that the bartender was not sure he appreciated. If she meant what he thought she meant...