Chapter 7

More reviews! A lot more, since I haven't written anything in a long time.....

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ElysianAmazon - Hey, Amazon! Lookie! I updated My Beloveed Monster! Whoo- hoo!

pen dragon - Thank you.

dbzfan - I try to update as much as I can. I just lost inspiration for this story, but I'm back! ^^ Hope you like this chapter!

Aymei - Sorry I kept you waiting. I kept a lot waiting, because I was out of ideas. Yeah, 21 (Cell) is certainly seen in a different light in this story, isn't he? I wondered what he would be like under Gero's control, and 21 was what I came up with. Here's hoping he can make you laugh and cry some more. *wink*

Suiceene - Okay, here's whats going on outside the bunker. Goku died of his heart disease and everyone else is living a normal life. Since Goku is dead, Gero destroyed 16 shortly after the android was activated. 17, 18, and 19 are lying in wait until Gero gives the order to go out and kill the Z fighters, but he got the idea to create a bio-android from the Z fighter's DNA. Thus, 21 is born, and his purpose is to destroy the Z fighters, just like the other androids are. Gero is just waiting for the right time to strike. Phew, that was a lot. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter, since it took so long for me to finally come up with it.

Triple S - Aw, thanks!

Raija Darknight - Not all things are resolved. 21 has realized 17 lied to him, and needs to do something about it.......

Jesscheaux - Thanks, Jess! Sorry it took so long. I'm telling everyone sorry, but here it is.

Musashi - Thank you! ^^

Cleoraia - Thanks, I'm doing my best!

Soicko - Thanks very much. As for your request....... **blush** Uh....no.

vegeta - Wow. Thanks a lot. Well, maybe when I finish this, I could do a sequel. Right now, that's not looking possible. I'm glad you liked this fic, and Singing Mountain. Thanks for reading them. ^^

ULTRAnormalMAN - Goodbye, and don't review my fics again if you will never appreciate them.

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~~~RECAP~~~

18 smiled with a satisfied nod.

**Stop being so depressed and shunning. It's gotten annoying.**

21 nodded sharply once.

Then, 18 put her fingers to her lips and pressed them to the glass where 21's cheek was. 21 blinked before putting his fingers to his mouth then pressing them at the spot where 18's fingers were. 18 winked at him before taking her fingers away and heading for the bunker door.

**I'll be back in a while.** She pushed open the doors and left. 21 curled his arms back up around him, closing his eyes.

'There's that feeling again.

'I told myself that I loved her, but was it true?

'Androids can't love.We just can't.

'What do androids know of love?'

--------------------------

((Song: "Lullaby," Key: The Metal Idol))

MUKUDORI YAMABATO KOGANEGUMO

OMURASAKI mo yume no naka

OTSUKIMISOU wa nemurenai

gin no shizuku wo nonda kara

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

yoru no koe mori ni watareba

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

oyasumi yoiko

ashita sametara agemashou

KIICHIGO NATSUGUMI YAMABOUSHI

--Translation--

A gray starling, a turtledove, a Japanese gold beetle,

and a giant purple butterfly, all in a dream.

The evening primrose can't sleep

because it drank the silver drop.

A dream, dream, no dream...

Voices of the night... If you traverse the forest...

A dream, dream, no dream...

Goodnight, my darling child.

When you wake up tomorrow, I'll give to you:

a raspberry, a summer oleaster, and a dogwood.

-----------------------------------

Two days passed, and 21 was released from the tank. The moment Gero opened the hatch to the culture tank and ripped off the taped wires from the android's body, 21 walked out of the room for his bed.

"I suppose training will have to wait until tomorrow, 21." Gero said to the android's back. "I expect to see you in the training room at the usual time, understand?"

"Yes, doctor." 21 answered. "Thank you." Then, he closed the door behind him and climbed up the rail ladder.

I feel so sore all over......

Perhaps if I rested for the remainder of the day, I will feel better.

The moment he climbed up the ladder and set his feet on solid ground, a blanket was tossed at him. He grabbed it in one hand, and looked to see who threw it at him. It was 18, who was standing nearby.

"You're still wet." she pointed out. "You'll freeze to death in this place if you don't dry off, you know."

"......" He couldn't bring himself to say anything at that moment. He just stared at her, feeling his face grow hot for no reason. He looked away from her and rubbed the blanket over his face.

"I will rest today. I don't feel I am needed around the lab."

18 shrugged.

"That's fine. See ya later, then."

21 walked off for his room, rubbing the towel around his neck and shoulders.

18.......

Now that I know how I feel about you.......

And how you now feel about me.........

............

How should I tell you?

Android's aren't supposed to feel love.

How do I even express it?

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he accidently slammed into the closed door to the room he and 19 shared. Impact on the door made him snap out of his thoughts and hold his beak in pain.

"OW! What the......" He glared at the closed door. "I thought I left this open......." He opened the door to see that no one was there. "19?" No answer.

Sighing, 21 walked into the room, closing the door behind him. He stared at the towel a moment before realizing........

Oh. I don't need a towel to dry off....

He shook his body fiercely, then shook his head around, flinging the water droplets off him. He smacked an ear on one side of his head to knock out any water, then shook his head around again.

"Much better."

Then, he remembered when he and 18 first met. She had reminded him he was wet, and he dried himself off. It made both of them smile. It was the first time he smiled.

Thinking about it also made him smile to himself.

"18.........I don't know why you make me feel this way..........but I love this feeling. I want to feel this way forever......."

He lowered his head in thought for a moment, which reminded his muscles they were sore. Moaning slightly, he flopped down on the bed stomach first. He gathered the pillow up to his chin and closed his eyes.

Shortly afterward, he fell asleep.

-----------------------------------

"I still don't get it...." 18 muttered to herself. She was in the living room, listening to the radio and reading a magazine. "He treated me like I hated him. What made him think I didn't like him."

17 pretended to make a face of thought. He was reclining against the wall, tapping his foot to the old radio music.

Feh. Twenties music is all I can get now......yuck.

"You said he was low on energy, right?" he brought up. "Well, maybe he was having delusions. Gero does that when his energy resovoir gets low."

18 looked away from her magazine to glare at him.

"Really." It didn't sound like a question, in fact it sounded suspicous. She remembered how Gero stormed out of the lab after putting 21 in the culture tank.

"What?" 17 asked.

"Something is telling me otherwise."

"See? You're having delusions too. You must be low on energy."

18 went back to her magazine.

"Yeah right, 17. We don't need to be recharged. Our power is everlasting." She turned a page. "Gero went to go see you after 21 collapsed, didn't he?"

"Yeah. He thought I had something to do with it. C'mon, 18, he always sees me when one of his crazy experiments goes beserk."

Goes beserk?

18 closed her magazine and slammed it down on the ground.

"17...."

"Now what did I do?!" he snarled, glaring at 18 as she got up from the couch.

"What did you do to 21?"

"Whadaya mean 'what did I do to 21?' I didn't do anything to him. He ran out of power on his own."

"So, why did he think I hated him?!"

"I told you, he musta been delusional. Hey, what are ya doing?!"

18 rushed up to her brother, pinning him against the wall with one hand, and grabbing his shirt collar with the other.

"Talk! Now!"

"What? What? What did I do?"

"17, what did you do to him?!"

"I told you, dammit. I didn't do anything."

The grip on his shirt increased, and 18 pulled him closer to her face until their noses were touching.

"17, IF YOU DON'T TELL ME RIGHT NOW, I'LL RIP YOUR LIMPS OFF YOUR BODY AND REWIRE THEM INTO A CELL PHONE!"

"Calm down, already!" 17 shouted back, "just let me go, and I'll talk!"

18 took in a very deep breath to calm herself, and let go of his shirt collar.

17 crossed his arms and smirked.

"First of all, why do you care?"

"Because you were picking on him before it even started. And I know you."

"Why do you care about that.......thing.....anyway, 18? It's a freak."

18 grabbed 17's shirt again.

"Don't call 21 that! He's not a freak! Now what did you do to him?"

17 smirked, seeing it in her eyes.

Well, well......

Looks like sis is in love too......

Why does she go for the big, dumb, and ugly ones?

"Nothing permanant."

18 put a warning finger up to 17's face.

"If you, or anyone else, does anything bad to 21 again, you'll answer to me! And we all know THAT won't be pretty!"

"Yeah. We've seen you angry, sis."

18 let go of 17's shirt and walked back to the couch. She picked up her magazine, and walked out of the room. 17 walked back over to the radio to find another station to listen to. Meanwhile, he muttered a little song to himself.

"18 and 21 sittin' ina tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G......."

-----------------------------------

The next day, the time for 21's training came around. However, 21 didn't show up. Gero was rather concerned.

"It's not like 21 to be late." he muttered to himself. He walked out of the training room, looking for someone nearby to take a message. The closest happened to be 18, chugging down on one of his beers. Ignoring that for now (he'd punnish her later), he walked up to her.

"18, have you seen 21 this morning?"

"No." she answered. "I thought he was training right now..."

"Well, he hasn't shown up yet. Go check on him."

"Sure." she nodded. She headed for 21's room, downing the rest of the beer. Gero headed back to the training room.

"Something must be done about those disobedient wretches....."

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YUUSUGE KISUGE KONOHAZUKU

yofukashi NOUSAGI BENISUZUME

shippo no kireta TOKAGE no ko

kawari ni tsukeru RYUU NO TAMA

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

yoru no koe mori ni watareba

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

oyasumi yoiko

ashita sametara agemashou

GENGE no juutan mimi kazari

--Translation--

A day lily, a yellow lily, a screech owl.

Staying up late: a wild rabbit, a tiger finch.

A baby lizard without a tail...

In its place, a dragon jewel.

A dream, dream, no dream...

Voices of the night... If you traverse the forest...

A dream, dream, no dream...

Goodnight, my darling child.

When you wake up tomorrow, I'll give to you:

A carpet of Chinese milk vetch, adornments for your ears.

-----------------------------------

19 mentioned that 21 hadn't left the room since he had wandered in yesterday. Apparently, the bio android was still asleep.

18 opened the door a crack and looked inside. Sure enough, 21 was still on his bed. He was on his stomach, wings fanned out, tail swaying slightly like a cat's, and out like a light. He also had his pillow gathered under his head, and had half his face buried in it.

She smiled at the sight.

Aw...how cute!

She crept into the room, and closed the door behind her. 21's eyes opened a moment, and looked straight at her. But then, they closed again and 21 went back to sleep.

"Weird." 18 commented out loud. "21, are you okay? You're usually a light sleeper...."

He didn't answer, confirming that he was asleep. She walked over to his bed and knelt down so that she was looking him in the face.

"Twenny-waaa-aaaan...." 18 softly crooned. "Good moooor-ning...."

His eyes squinted together a moment, then relaxed.

"18?"

"Yep. Aren't you going to get up? Gero's waiting for you."

21 blew out a very heavy sigh.

"I am still sore all over. Can't I train tomorrow?"

18 stood back up, making a thinking face.

"Still sore? That's odd....." Then, she got a very strange thought. She slightly debated it in her head before deciding to try it out. "Here, lemme help."

She shuffled onto the bed until she was sitting by his side on her knees. Then, she put her hands on his shoulders and started softly massaging them.

"How does that feel?"

"What are you doing?"

She instantly frowned.

"I'm giving you a shoulder rub. What does it look like to you?"

He turned his head so that he could see her hands moving up and down his shoulders softly. He turned a little more so that he was looking up at her.

"What does this do?"

She glared at him.

"You're supposed to feel more relaxed, moron."

"I don't feel anything."

She blinked at him.

"What? Well, maybe if I pushed a little harder, and used a little ki....."

She rubbed a little harder, using ki to make her hands feel warm. 21 instantly flinched in shock.

"OW! 18, stop!"

She took her hands off, and glared at Cell's shoulders.

"I think I get it, your shoulders feel like rock. No wonder why you couldn't feel anything."

21 got up slightly, to get a better look at 18.

"That hurt, 18! What are you doing, anyway?!"

She pushed him back down on the bed.

"Just sit still, I'm trying to help. Here, I'll do your back next."

"NO! THAT HURTS!"

"I haven't even touched your back yet, hold still."

21 gave her a very frustrated look before relaxing the best he could. 18 looked around his backside in confusion.

"This tail is in the way. I'm amazed you even have a back. Oh, here we go. Just under the wings." She carefully put her hands just under his wings and rubbed back and forth softly. "How's that? Feel anything?"

21 moaned softly, instantly losing tension in his back. 18 smiled at that reaction.

"Finally. You'll like this, trust me."

21 just closed his eyes, and sunk his head deeper into the pillow. He could feel the tension just melt away from his back, and it felt so good. He started purring deep in his throat, like a satisfied cat.

18 heard the sound and blinked in surprise.

"What's that?" she wondered. Moving her hands in small circles along his back, she leaned down until her ear was against the back of his neck. "Oh, you're vibrating slightly. 21, is there something wrong with your inner mechanisms?"

"Hm?" 21 wondered, opening one eye.

"It sounds like something came loose and is rattling around inside your throat.....21, are you feeling alright?"

"Feels great...." he moaned. "Keep....mm......keep doing it...."

Just hearing him say that made 18 smile and blush.

"Anything you want, big boy." she whispered in his ear. He shivered and blushed.

"18?"

"Hm?" 18 leaned her head on 21's neck, moving her hands lower and lower down his back, and closer to his tail base. 21 sucked back some air feeling her full weight on his back. He had never been this close to her before, never felt her this way before.

"18....."

She sighed just over his skin, making him shiver again. He felt strange, like his body was overheating, and he no longer had the power to move. 18 was just massaging away all his strength.......

He tried not to fall asleep again, but he felt so relaxed......

"18......I...."

"What's wrong, 21?" she asked, sounding almost sleepy.

"Nothing. But......."

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her more than ever now. He felt he had to.

18 lifted her head off his neck, and took her hands off his back. She put her head on his shoulder and put both her hands softly on the back of his neck.

"Go ahead." she prompted, "What is it?"

He stopped purring, and turned to look at her.

"I....don't know how else to say it....."

I have to tell her! I have to say it! I don't care how she feels about me!

"18.......I am in love with you."

The second he said it, he turned his head away.

NO! SHE HATES ME! SHE HATES ME! SHE'LL HATE ME FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE!

He heard her giggle. He wasn't expecting that responce at all! He slowly turned his face towards her, blushing like mad. She was blushing too, just under her eyes, a very light pink color. She moved her thumbs just over the back of his neck before she spoke.

"I've been thinking......the same thing too, 21." She looked him right in the eyes. "I've been feeling the same way. I'm not sure what I feel either, but.......you're like a brother to me, and I'll always care for you, no matter what."

That was all he needed to hear.

"18...."

"Shhhh...." She silenced. "It's okay."

She starteded to gently massage his neck, making 21 close his eyes and purr again. 18 smiled at the sound.

"What makes you do that?"

21 smiled back, putting a hand on the side of her face.

"Being so happy....."

18 smiled even more, leaning her head next to his. He nuzzled her forehead, feeling his face grow really hot. He turned to his side, cupping her face in his hands. This was the closest he ever had been to her. He felt he couldn't even move, but just stare at her and that beautiful face. She stared at him too, and smiled.

"21......"

"Yes, 18?"

"Does this mean you aren't going to train this morning?"

In his surprise, he forgot he couldn't move, and bolted right from the bed.

"OH NO! I COMPLETELY FORGOT! GERO IS GOING TO KILL ME FOR THIS! OR WORSE!"

He bolted right out the door.

"See you later, 18!"

18 sat up on his bed in shock, then started laughing.

"He's such a child. I love it."

She sighed dreamily, thinking of how warm his body was and how gently he touched her.

"......and I love him."

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DOKUZERI ASEBI YAMAKAGASHI

MOZU no eda ni wa AMAGAERU

KITSUNE ga tabeta SHIKA no ko wa

tsuki no momo-iro mite shinda

--Translation--

A water hemlock, a Japanese andromeda, a grass snake.

On a branch with a shrike, a tree frog.

The fawn that was eaten by the fox

had looked up at the ruddiness of the moon as it died.

-----------------------------------

Down at the lab, Gero had 21 working overtime at his training. 21 was forced to fight all ten of Gero's battle dummies, and the poor bio android was losing.

"Doctor! They're all ganging up on me! Help!"

"In a moment. You have a lesson to learn about tardiness, 21." Gero insisted, tapping at his lab computer. He was still trying to figure out why 21 didn't come out the way he wanted the android to.

I can only conclude he is missing DNA. But I already collected DNA from all of Earth's fighters, and DNA I didn't intend to collect isn't interfering. Who could I be missing?

"Doctor!" 21 sobbed helplessly. "You know I can't fight more than one person at a time!"

"Then learn!" Gero snapped. "Now shut up and train!"

"Help!"

"Grrrr..." Gero growled turning back to his computer.

I know I missed some strong fighters. I guess 21's problem is he didn't aquire enough DNA to be perfect.

Let's see.......according to these calculations, about two other individuals are needed to achieve 21's perfection. But I gathered samples from everyone already! Who could I possibly add now?

Suddenly, there was an explosion on the other side of the room, followed by 17 and 18's voices.

"Hey, doc! The radio doesn't work! I can only get that stupid twenties station!'

"Hey, Gero. Aren't you going to get us new clothes? I can't stand wearing the same thing every day!"

Gero turned to the androids, both of whom were walking through the blown- down door.

"How many times do I have to tell you punks to knock?!"

"Gee, I dunno...." 17 scratched his head, "...I can't tell you without a calculator....."

"Are we getting new clothes or not?!" 18 demanded. "I can't even remember the last time I went shopping."

"Oh God, sis...." 17 slapped his forehead. "We don't take you shopping because you spend hours in one store. We'll be gone for a week if you want a new wardrobe."

"You should talk!" 18 snapped back. "You'd spend months at one of those stupid car dealers, and you'd test drive and crash all the cars."

"Oh, shut up."

"You shut up!"

The two of them started to argue, making Gero slump over the keyboard.

Three screaming androids in one room, and not enough asprine in the western hemisphere......

"We don't even have room in the lab for a car, 17!"

"A car is more useful than those rags you look at all the time!"

"You'd crash it all over the place!"

"HELP ME! MAKE THEM STOP! MAKE THEM STOP!"

"We'd be swimming in your stupid fashions after you go shopping! You'd flood the place with your clothes!"

"I don't buy that many."

"Hell, you don't even buy them!"

"I SAID I'M SORRY, DOCTOR! PLEASE!"

"You don't pay for your car either, you used to steal them, I remember that!"

"So? It's more useful than those potato sacks you find."

"What?! Why you...."

"HELP! I CAN'T FIGHT THEM ALL! THERE'S TOO MANY!"

Gero remained absolutely silent, about to lose his cool and his concentration.

'Two more fighters......two more fighters........two more fighters.....'

He glared over at 17 and 18 for a "push the button" threat, when he took his first good look at them. Although they were bickering like a married couple, Gero pointed out the qualities in each of them. Both were very strong, thought quickly in battle, had powerful artificial ki, and an everlasting power source............

He turned away from them with a smile.........and he started to chuckle.........

"I do believe I have found the answer to all my problems......" he said to himself, typing in new calculations to his computer. ".......and I can kill two birds with one stone......."

"18! HELP! I DON'T WANNA TRAIN ANYMORE!"

Gero heard 18 sigh.

"Okay, 21. I'm coming."

"What a baby...." 17 muttered, heading out of the room.

All three androids were unaware of what the "good doctor" had in store for them........

-----------------------------------

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

yoru no koe mori ni watareba

andoro-n doro-n naidoro-n

oyasumi yoiko

ura no SUGI no ki naita nara

akai fuku kite nigemashou

oyasumi yoiko

oyasumi...

(saa)

--Translation--

A dream, dream, no dream...

Voices of the night... If you traverse the forest...

A dream, dream, no dream...

Goodnight, my darling child.

When the Japanese cedar 'round back weeps,

don your red garb, and flee.

Goodnight, my darling child

Goodnight...

(Come, now...)