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Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter contributed by : moviefan

(A/N: For the past three chapters, things have mostly revolved around emotional moments and plans to turn 18 good. In this chapter, 18 will started to return to normal, well, mostly normal. She'll also begin setting her sights on Trunks.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 4: She's So Stubborn
Thankfully, 18 hadn't asked any other serious questions like she had those few months ago. It was a relief really. He didn't think he could handle anymore questions, at least not without leaving holes in his story. That isn't to say that she wasn't still curious about her past, which Trunks and Bulma were forced to lie and stretch the truth about in order to give her satisfactory answers.
As time went on, and more of her reprogramming was completed, 18's old personality returned. Not the homicidal darker side of her, but the stubborn snobby attitude was back. Arrogance and playfulness was common in her, but she wasn't homicidal. Her girly side also returned as well. 18 could spend hours shopping and trying on clothes, much to Trunks' horror. And to Bulma's horror, as it was her clothes that 18 tried on since she wasn't allowed to go out.
"Why do I have to stay here all the time?" she demanded one day.
Trunks had a ready answer for her. "Because the people may be afraid of you. Though you may be different from 17, the fact that you share the same creator will have people frightened."
18 crossed her arms and looked away irritably. "It's been months now. My reprogramming is almost finished, and I'm not a danger to anyone. I'm tired of trying on your mother's clothes and pretending they're new. I want to go shopping like a normal girl!"
Trunks sighed. She was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. She did have a bit of an attitude problem, just as she did before her memories were erased. Sometimes he wondered how 17 put up with her.
"18, look, I know it's frustrating, but think of this from their point of view. They've been at 17's mercy for years. Now that he's gone, just when they're rebuilding society, another one of Dr. Gero's creations appears. How would you feel?"
18 humphed. "Fine, whatever. Just leave me alone."
Without another word, she took off. Trunks groaned. Should he follow her? She'd be able to sense him if he did, and would no doubt be angry; reprogrammed or not, 18 had a temper. But if he didn't follow her, he'd never be able to find her unless she returned since he couldn't sense her power level. Then again, she would have to come back. Where else did she have to go?
With a sigh, he went back inside. He came across his mother, who was once again absorbed in her work. "Hey, Mom. What are you working on?"
Bulma glared at him. "I'm trying to repair the training robots you and that android destroyed during your last training session." Her eyes narrowed at Trunks' nervous grin, then she sighed. "Oh, I don't know why I expected any different from you. Your father destroyed them all the time. My father fell behind on his work all the time because he had to keep repairing them." She gave her son a smile and a wink. "Like father, like son."
Trunks sweat-dropped. "Sorry, Mom. We'll try and be more careful in the future."
"See that you do." She looked around. "Speaking of which, where's 18?"
Trunks shrugged. "Don't know. She took off somewhere."
"What, and you let her?"
Trunks tapped his chin. "Well, didn't think it'd be a problem. She may be a bit stuck up, but she hasn't hurt anyone since... then. Besides, she's programmed to protect now, not destroy."
Bulma crossed her arms. "Trunks Brief, you get your tailless saiyan butt out there right now and bring her back this instant! Honestly, what if someone sees her?"
"I thought we had a plan for that."
Bulma grumbled. "Yes, if she's discovered, we'll tell everyone that we caught and reprogrammed her. But still, that wouldn't stop the hatred for her. I know you haven't forgiven her."
Trunks' eyes narrowed. No, he hadn't forgiven her, he never would, but he was no longer blinded with rage while being in her presence. Even Bulma had gotten used to her. She was no longer paralyzed with fear, but she did remain on edge. It would still be a while before either of them would be able to be around 18 without feeling some sort of resentment.
"Ok, ok, I'll go look for her." he grumbled.
"And be quick about it."
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Not being able to sense where 18 was hiding was very frustrating. He had no idea where to look, and if she didn't want to be found, she wouldn't be.
"Stubborn android." He mumbled. "She probably went to a clothes store or something just to spite me."
That's when it became obvious. Of course, that's exactly what she would do. She'd get to go where she wanted, and tick him off at the same time.
'Killing two birds with one stone.' He thought irritably. 'She better not be where I think she is.'
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Like hell she was going to stay in that lab for the rest of her life. She appreciated Bulma and Trunks' hospitality, but she was beginning to feel like a prisoner.
'Was this how things were before I lost my memories?' she wondered.
She doubted it. She didn't think she was the type person who would let anyone push her around. So she wouldn't let that happen now. No one was going to tell her what to do.
That didn't mean that she didn't take Trunks' warning seriously. So even though she was going against his wishes, she was still taking precautions. She made sure to keep her face well hidden beneath a large hat and a large coat.
'I just have to make sure that no one sees me out of disguise.'
That shouldn't be too hard. Of course, it made clothes shopping less fun. She had to stay in the changing room while she tried on clothes and couldn't show off to the public. What a drag. Showing off her new clothes was part of the fun.
With a sigh, she took off the dress she had been trying on and put on her coat again. It was too bad she couldn't buy anything. Some of these outfits were really cute. But she'd settle for what enjoyment she could get.
Leaving the discarded clothes behind, she went out and began browsing through the swimwear section.
"Hmm, should I try the two-piece, or the one-piece?" she wondered out loud.
A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder. "Does it matter? You won't be swimming anytime soon."
18 froze. She was busted. Turning around, she looked up into the angry eyes of Trunks. "Trying things on is fun in itself." She told him. "How'd you find me?"
Trunks crossed his arms. "I just thought to myself, where would 18 go after I told her she can't go out in public. Then it hit me. She'd go out in public. And this mall has the biggest clothes store around. After that, it was just a matter of finding the one person I couldn't sense. Oh, and your costume is a bit of a give away."
18 shrugged. "It keeps who I am hidden."
"It also draws attention and makes you look like a criminal. Now lets go, we're going back."
"Whatever."
Following Trunks, they walked out of the store and down a dark alley. From there, when they were sure that no one could see them, they took flight. Neither said anything the whole way back. The silence eventually got to Trunks and he glanced back at 18. She was giving him the silent treatment. Damn it, why did she have to be so stubborn?
"Look, 18," he muttered, "I know you're upset, but I only have everyone's best interests at heart. Yours Included."
18 glared at him. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." When Trunks opened his mouth to say something, she cut him off. "Don't think I'm ungrateful. I appreciate everything you and your mother have done for me, but I'm not going to obey your every whim."
Trunks raised an eyebrow. "What every whim? We simply requested that you not reveal yourself. Is that so much to ask?"
"It's so restricting! I can't go anywhere, can't do anything. I'm confined to that damn house all the time. I want to go out and enjoy myself every now and then. So I'm an android, so what? So Dr. Gero created me, who cares? An android is what I am, not who I am." She pointed an accusing finger at him. "And you're a saiyan, aren't you? Weren't saiyans a bloodthirsty race of savage space pirates? Yet you're not like that. You're a good person, Trunks. I can see that. And I know about your father too. The fearsome saiyan prince. Didn't he once spread fear through everyone's hearts? But he got to settle down and make a life for himself here, didn't he? And wasn't Piccolo the same way? He was obsessed with concurring the world. Everyone knew and feared him, yet he too was accepted eventually."
Trunks' eye twitched. She was treading on dangerous ground. But she did make good points. Saying that there was a difference between her and his father, or her and Piccolo would make him a hypocrite. Perhaps he was treating her unfairly because of his past experience with her.
"My father and Piccolo may have settled down, but they never did reveal themselves to the public. My father's identity was never known outside of our family and friends. And as for Piccolo, when he did go out, he took on a different name."
18 rolled her eyes. "Oh, he took on a different name, did he? As if that would make a difference. He sort of stands out in a crowd and is easily recognizable, even if he does change his name."
Trunks groaned. He could tell that she wasn't going to back down. Damn her for being so stubborn.
He sighed and decided to meet her halfway. "Alright, I can see that we're not going to agree so let's compromise." She looked interested. "I'll allow you to go out every now and then, if you follow two conditions."
18 narrowed her eyes. "Depends what they are."
He ignored her stuck up tone. "Number one, you're going to have to continue to disguise yourself."
"I figured as much. Though I'm going to have to get a better one. This coat is too hot."
"And number two, you're not allowed to go out without me."
18 sighed. "I should have seen that coming." She gave him a cocky grin. "Very well, it's a deal."
Trunks frowned. Something about the way she smiled at him made him think he had played right into her hands.
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Trunks regretted the second condition for letting 18 go out. The girl could try on clothes for hours at a time. And she always insisted on getting his opinion on each outfit. When he voiced this complaint to his mother one day after a long 3 hour shopping spree, she just smiled at him and said, "When you get a girlfriend, that's just something you're going to have to get used to. Though your father wasn't very fond of shopping with me either."
Trunks had dismissed this as common motherly advice that didn't mean anything. However, 18 had overheard Bulma's words, and had taken them much more seriously. It got her thinking about something that had been at the back of her mind all this time, but she had never voiced it. But the next day, while they were taking a break during their training, she finally decided to talk about what was on her mind.
"Hey, Trunks?"
"Hmm?"
She considered her words. "How long have we been together?"
Trunks gave her a confused look. "What exactly do you mean by 'together'?"
She rolled her eyes. Did she have to spell it out for him? "How long have we been boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Trunks fell over. Out of all the things she could have said, that was the absolute last thing he expected to hear from her. "W-What? What the heck made you ask that?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, did you think I forgot? I could never forget my first memory. Well, my first memory since getting my old memory erased." She cocked her head to the side. "When I regained conscious after the accident, I asked who you were. You told me you were my boyfriend. Remember?"
Trunks felt his stomach drop from beneath him. He had completely forgotten about that. Furthermore, he hadn't been serious. When she asked who he was, he thought she was trying to trick him. So he had given her a sarcastic remark. She had taken it seriously?
'Oh hell, I did not see this coming.'
So now what did he say? Did he tell her that he wasn't serious? That would be rather harsh. 18 had spent all this time thinking they were a couple. To tell her that what she had been led to believe was a lie might shake her trust in him. She might begin questioning other things he told her too.
'Come on, Trunks, think of something. Hurry up, she's waiting for an answer.'
18 tapped her fingers impatiently. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"
"I... well... it's just... What made you ask that all of a sudden?"
She shrugged. "I've been thinking about it for a while. You certainly don't treat me like a girlfriend. You never show me any affection. So I was just curious about our relationship. Did something happen, or are you just not good with romance?"
Trunks felt a twinge of irritation. "I'm perfectly fine with romance!" he blurted out without thinking. "The reason I haven't done anything is because... well... because you forgot everything."
He noticed 18's eyebrows rise. This seemed like a good enough excuse. He could use her loss of memories as a reason for his careless use of words those months ago.
"It would have been awkward, wouldn't it?" he asked. "Having a boy you have no memory of to be putting the moves on you. I was just being courteous. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. So I was holding myself back. Putting our relationship on pause, if you will."
He noticed her eyes soften. She seemed to be accepting what he was saying. That was good. Now if she would just let the subject drop, they could pretend this never happened and have things go back to normal.
Unfortunately that was not to be the case. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. I think we can get our relationship back on track."
A feeling of dread washed over Trunks. How was he going to talk his way out of this? "I don't know. It just won't be the same. With your memories gone, it's almost like we're strangers."
18 smirked. "Trunks, we've been living together for the past 7 months. I may not remember what happened before then," she batted her eyes at him, "but we're certainly not strangers."
Trunks felt himself blush and looked away. She was flirting with him. Actually flirting with him. This was not good.
He suddenly felt her hug him from behind. He could feel her breath tickle his ear as she spoke seductively to him. "Even though I don't remember what I was like before, something tells me that when I wanted something, I went after it. So, Trunks, what do you say we pick up where we left off before my accident."
She blew softly in his ear and a chill ran through Trunks. He wasn't blind. Regardless of the grudge he held against her, he couldn't help but be attracted to her. She was stunningly beautiful, only a fool would think otherwise. But he had to remind herself of who she really was and what she had done.
Taking hold of her arms, he shrugged out of her grasp. "I don't think this is such a good idea. Things are different between us now."
18 crossed her arms, a knowing smirk on her face. "Perhaps. But you said yourself that I've become more like my old self. Don't worry about my memory loss. I'm fine with it. You won't be taking advantage of me."
"18, stop it!" he snapped. "Things can't go back to the way they were before, so just let it go."
18 frowned. She studied him for a moment before sighing. "Figures you'd be the gentleman type when I don't want you to be." She shook her head and smiled. "Well, no matter, we have all the time in the world. I'm sure I can get through to you."
"Don't bet on it." Trunks grunted. He just wished he sounded more convincing.
18 must have picked up the uncertainty in his voice, because she just smirked at him. "We'll see. Something tells me that I was also the type of person who didn't give up until they got what they wanted." Her grin widened. "You may be stronger than me physically, but I'll bet that I have a stronger willpower than you do." She winked at him. "I'll get through to you soon enough."
Trunks growled irritably. Great, that was just what he needed; his former enemy, turned alley through lies, was out to seduce him. Why, oh why did he have to make that sarcastic remark back then?
"Come on, lets head back." He mumbled, trying to drop the subject. "We're done for today."
18 stretched, deliberately showing off her figure. "I'm fine with that. I really need a shower." She gave him a sexy grin. "Care to join me?"
Trunks blushed profoundly. "Cut it out, 18!"
She chuckled and walked past him in a casual manner. She stopped next to him and ran her fingers through his now shoulder length hair. "I like your hair long like this. Keep it that length for me, will you."
Trunks groaned as she took off. Things had just became a lot more difficult.
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Trunks wasn't sure if he should tell his mother about this new dilemma. How could he explain to his mother that 18 thought she was his girlfriend? What a catastrophe. Why did he have to be a smartass back then. He could have simply told her that he was her death, that would have been just as intimidating, and it couldn't be mistaken as something serious.
No doubt his mother would kill him. Maybe he shouldn't tell her and just deal with the situation on his own. How could she help him anyway?
He was still debating on what to do when they landed by Capsule Corp. The moment they arrived, Bulma came running out the door, looking worried.
"Trunks, thank goodness you're back!"
Trunks blinked. "We weren't gone that long. You knew we were off train-"
"No, that's not the problem!" She cried. "It's Cell!"
(A/N: An unexpected twist at the end there. Poor Trunks can't catch a break. While being a wise ass in the first chapter and calling himself 18's boyfriend, she'd gone and taken it seriously. And now he just went and dug himself deeper. He should have just told her the truth and risked her anger. Now she's after him. And to make matters even worse, Cell has finally shown up, and he's going to be after 18. Stay tuned for more.)
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