C-17 would fix the situation. As he flew toward Kame house, a smirk drew out his thin lips. It was good to feel young again.
Short but muscular arms held C-18 tightly and a nose-less head was resting on her bosom. One of her hands was laid on the man's back, the fingers of the other lost in thick black hair. Their legs interwove under the sheets and they breathed in the same time, quietly, peacefully.
The room was of shadows, the gleam of the hidden moon too weak to light it. Silence reigned, somehow heavier than the muffled sound of the ocean agonizing on the little beach all around the house.
C-17 looked at that oh so romantic picture from the door frame, bitter. How he wanted to grab that bastard by the hair, to see C-18's face while he'd rip the oesophagus from that throat with his bare hands.
He observed his twin's profile - so smooth, so changed - for a little moment and then went to Marron's bedroom.
It was the first time he saw her with untied hair. The blond locks were spread across her pillow and her plump arms thrown each side of her. She was on her back, the sheet pushed away, only wearing panties and a small T-shirt for this warm summer night. C-17 could see her belly button going up and down as she breathed slowly.
A model of innocence.
The cyborg stepped soundlessly to her bed, kneeled down, brushed her cheek with his fingertips, softly. "If only you weren't hers, kid." His fingers caressed the chubby face, avoiding the area where a nose was missing.
Her eyelids fluttered, opened slowly. He moved his index onto her mouth, commanding the silence. She looked confused, but not scared. After all, he was her uncle and she trusted him, no? She smiled a sleepy smile.
'Good kid' his lips said silently. His free hand reached his belt. The other one stroke Marron's hair gently.
She yawned, stretching a little in the process. She didn't say a word, but her eyes demanded an explanation. C-17 didn't give it, placing her hair behind her ear with tainted tender.
Roshi wasn't too sure about what he should do. On one side, there was a (dangerous) man at Marron's bed head, caressing her. That was wrong. On the other side, it was C-17.
He was to just forget about it (you never want to make a cyborg angry at you) when he noticed what the other hand was up to.
Slowly, terribly slowly, it was taking the gun out of its holster.
Sweat iced on his back and his mind raced to find the right thing to do. He was no match for C-17, but awakening the parents could be a fatal mistake.
Marron took her uncle's hand, began playing with his fingers like only a child can do. C-17's smile softened. She was such a cute kid. His free hand finished liberating the revolver, began lifting it at the same, slow speed.
A bigger wave rolled onto the sand. The floor cracked, a shot broke the peace the night.
A child cried.
Krilin and C-18's eyes opened in the same time and it wasn't too long before they were up, wide awaken and rushing to their daughter's room.
C-18 didn't like to notice she was trembling more than her husband. She wasn't supposed to tremble. She heard Krilin's scream but didn't understand it.
- Master Roshi!!
It took her endless seconds to realize the gluey substance sticking her feet to the floor was blood. Fresh, dark and thick blood. Warm blood. Her eyes didn't lower to see the body of the old sensei, losing his life in the door way.
There was a neat hole in his forehead, done by a bullet even him hadn't seen coming. The blood - there was so much of it already - came from the other side of his head, where the bullet had exited. His eyes were still wide open.
She didn't hear Krilin's painful and then furious sobbing breathing. She couldn't move her eyes from C-17.
He still held his gun before him, as if to aim Krilin's head when he'd get up. His face was of stone, inexpressively hard. His blue eyes gleamed with a cold fire. He held Marron with his right arm, a hand covering her mouth.
But the worse, what made C-18's heart stop beating, was that Marron was still holding onto her murderous uncle. As if he hadn't killed Roshi, as if he would actually protect her.
"Marron, don't... Go to him..." Too slow, her mind was numb and she couldn't handle seeing that. But her eyes wouldn't move away.
- I'm gonna kill you, bastard! suddenly shouted Krilin, his harsh voice slapping her back to reality.
BANG! A second bullet flew. Krilin moved aside, winced when it penetrated his shoulder. Nothing he hadn't experienced before.
Marron's eyes widened and, though muffled by C-17's hand, let go a long wail. Her tiny hands tightened their grip on the black sweater.
- What do you want?! exclaimed Krilin, holding his bleeding - always more blood - shoulder.
He wouldn't attack. Marron could be injured. Above all, keep her safe and sound.
C-17 lowered his revolver at last.
- To be myself. Aren't we supposed to kill everyone and destroy everything?
He smirked at C-18. She looked at him and slowly regained her usual composure.
- Let her go, C-17.
Her voice was shivering a little. He chuckled quietly, playfully aimed the gun at Marron's belly. The child whimpered, staring at the weapon with terror. Her fingers were white from holding the fabric so strongly.
- Why would I? She's just a kid.
- Because I tell you to!
C-17 lost his smirk. It wasn't a game anymore and he put the weapon against the soft skin, dreadfully serious.
- Come back with me, C-18. This isn't what you're meant for.
Tears were flooding on Marron's cheek and she was shaking in his arm. Krilin looked at his wife, horrified. How could anyone do such a terrible black mail? "It's no blackmail. If she goes with him, we're dead..."
C-18 experienced a strange feeling of flashback. Someone had asked her to join him, one day. Nine years ago. And she had...
Put her hand on her heart and said...
- If you do anything, I'll explode.
Krilin's jaw dropped. C-17's icy eyes slightly widened. She swallowed with difficulty, staring at her twin and forgetting her husband.
- You can't do that, said the male cyborg.
- You very well know I can. Let her go.
He frowned. He didn't expect her to jump back at his side enthusiasmly, but he surely didn't expect that.
- That you die won't stop me from killing them, he finally said.
- It's not what you want though.
He sighed, annoyed. Why couldn't she just come already?
- Listen, C-18, you come with me now and I let them safe, or I kill them both. Now choose.
Marron's cries filled the room despite the hand before her mouth. C-18 clenched her teeth.
- We'll stop him, softly said Krilin. With Goku and...
- No.
Her voice was sharp, cold.
- But...
- Let her go, C-17. It's only between us.
Suddenly Krilin felt very out of it. Something was going on between the two cyborgs and he couldn't help but disliking it. His heart throbbed with worry - fear - but he knew he wouldn't make her change her mind.
C-17 stared at his sister for a long moment before removing the gun from Marron, who calmed down a little.
- You wanna fight? he asked.
She stared at him intensively, cruelly aware of Krilin's eyes on her.
- If that's what you need to let her go.
He smirked.
- Very well.
He put Marron on the floor, the gun in its holster.
- Let's go.
They left by the window, heading toward the darkest side of the sky. Wincing because of his shoulder, Krilin quickly picked up his sobbing daughter, hugged her tightly.
- It's ok, Marron, it's over now.
"For you..." He wished he could follow the twins and help his wife, but he had to stay. Not only for Marron, but it was also C-18's fight. He had to stay out of it.
Even if it was horrible to just wait without knowing.
Part Four
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