Analysis on #18

[godzuko]

Hello I'm new here. Joined cause I love Dragon Ball and felt that talking to (or rather writing to) other people who share the same interest would be fun.

Anyway, as we all know their are a lot characters in Dragon Ball/Z/GT that we don't know much about. Among those kinds of characters is Android 18 aka Juuhachigou aka #18 aka C-18. Loved by many for her badassery, cold personality, and good looks yet we know so little about her.
We never get to see her side of her story much. Add on to the fact that usually has that cold stoic demeanor on her face doesn't help with seeing what she is thinking.

We know little to nothing about her past except that she and her brother 17 were kidnapped by Dr. Gero and they were turned into cyborgs, that both she and her brother had their memories erased by Gero, and that they used to be part of a biker gang. Other than that, nothing.

We also don't get any reasons behind her actions like: why she is in more of a hurry than 17 and 16 to find Goku? Why does she blackmail (or extort) Mr. Satan for money? Why does she kiss Krillin? Hell, why did she marry him and have a kid? (Actually, I love how she ended up with Krillin, I love those romance stories where the beauty and the dork get hooked up. ) Well, I will try to analyze her and try to find more in her than the pretty, cold, badass that we know her as.

What I like to do when trying to figure out a character that is hard to understand or I don't know much about a character what I like to do is look at other characters that are like the one character and relate them to that one character so don't be surprised when I bring up characters from other anime, cartoons, movies, shows, books, or even plays.

Lets start with the first controversial thing about 18 that we notice: she and her brother are not as cruel or twisted as their future counterparts. Well, why is this? For one thing it is most definetly because of Future Trunks' interference by giving Goku the antidote. But how did this affect 17 and 18? Did the fact that Goku lived cause Gero to change his designs for the androids thus making 17 and 18 stronger and improving 16? Or could it have been that because 17 and 18 had a purpose (that being to go after Goku). Though if the latter were the case, why is 16 not in the future? That and the fact that Trunks states that the androids of the present timeline were stronger than the ones from his timeline, so, I feel the former is more accurate. Perhaps its both these reasons.

Then there is how 18 acts throughout the Cell saga, it seems that she wants to get to Goku as fast as possible yet she lets 17 "be the boss." 17 nor 16 are not in much of a hurry to get to Goku yet 18 doesn't push them much though then again she does go along with going slow way just fine though she is still impatient. Well, for sure like her brother she really only truly wants to have fun but her interests are rather different to her brother. She likes to shop for clothing appparently. Her interest isn't much into fighting considering how she seems to prefer shopping over it and perhaps something else. She, also like her brother, seems to have a laidback personality. How is that when she seems so pushy towards getting to Goku? Well the character Sloth from Fullmetal Alchemist is quite focused on the goals set by his creator though he complains and doesn't ever use his full potential while fulfilling these goals. The reason? He wants to finish his tasks as soon as possible so he can go back to doing his favorite passtime, sleeping. Maybe the reasons behind 18's behavior is because she wants get to finish the job before her as soon as possible in order to get to do whatever she wants as soon as possible.

Then there is that infamous little kiss she gave to Krillin after all his friends and Vegeta end up pounded flat into the ground by her and her brother. Now why Krillin? Now besides teasing or mocking his weakness and or to scare him could have there been another motivation? Now of course I don't think she was like all head over heels for him right there, but I do think there was some attraction behind. Now, I know what you're thinking. What?! She was attracted to a short, bald, noseless guy?! Well, believe it or not I have found a surprising number females who Krillin lovers, yeah they think he's cute. If real life girls see Krillin like that, then is it so ridiculous that 18 could? Now lets take a look at more direct evidence. Lets fast forward to the very end of the Cell saga where Future Trunks goes back to his time to destroy the androids and Cell. Before he gets to 17 and 18, 18 is all upset because 17 killed a boy she thought was cute. Now really, think about this, why would one boy matter after killing so many others. What did he do? What did he look like? Wanna take a bet that boy was every bit as scared as Krillin was if not more so? It seems 18 likes to flirt with her enemies. So perhaps she kissed him as a way of flirting as well as teasing or perhaps to reward him for talking to them as humans instead threatening and attacking them as monsters? Who can really say for sure?

And then there is when 18 (offscreen) marries Krillin and has a daughter. Now you have to admit had to have started her growth of feelings for him. I think she was touched by his wish though given her lack of understanding for what she was feeling took her frustration out on Krillin. Now how did Krillin completely capture her heart? Well, in the Pixar movie Wall-E the protagonist Wall-E tries to get the attention of the cold EVE. He tries to do so by keeping going to her over and over and over and try to do nice things for her and in the end he succeeds in getting EVE's heart. One could say that Krillin does the same thing for 18.

Then of course how she acts while their togethor in the Buu saga. She still is within her cold demeanor and doesn't really show any physical affection. (She does smile at him several times and yells his name when he launches himself at Buu.) Well, perhaps the reason why 18 doesn't really ever break her cold demeanor is because she is too proud (like Vegeta)? Or could it be that she doesn't like being touched very much (besides her daughter obviously). This is similar to how Revy and Rock are as a couple in Black Lagoon. Yeah these two don't communicate much affection towards each other (Revy like 18 has a dark and somewhat mysterious past) yet they obviously care for one another. Perhaps it is similar in the case of Krillin and 18?

Also people have always assumed that Krillin is completely pushed over by 18. I disagree. While 18 is little pushy and bossy she doesn't completely order Krillin around. Remember when we first see them togethor in the Buu saga? Gohan tells them about the tournament and 18 and Marron keep telling him that he should join as a fighter. He isn't too sure at first but decides to do it. Yeah he decides to do it, he is not forced into, sure 18 eggs him on to do join but he isn't intimidated or anything. In fact do any of you ever see him intimidated by her at all in DBZ? Nope. In fact in the last episode of DBZ you'll see that Krillin didn't join the tournament though 18 is annoyed with him for it.

And thus I conclude this look 18. I don't think myself an expert on 18 butI would like to hear what you guys think of what I written here as well as what you think goes on behind those cold eyes?

[Legendary Saiya-Jin]

Ooooh... This is a nice read; just when I was wishing to do a character study on her
Thank you for the well-thought post; it's interesting to hear what you've had to say regarding her.

We know little to nothing about her past except that she and her brother 17 were kidnapped by Dr. Gero and they were turned into cyborgs, that both she and her brother had their memories erased by Gero, and that they used to be part of a biker gang. Other than that, nothing.

Whoa. I didn't know they were part of a biker gang. Where'd you hear that?

We also don't get any reasons behind her actions like: why she is in more of a hurry than 17 and 16 to find Goku? Why does she blackmail (or extort) Mr. Satan for money? Why does she kiss Krillin? Hell, why did she marry him and have a kid? (Actually, I love how she ended up with Krillin, I love those romance stories where the beauty and the dork get hooked up. ) Well, I will try to analyze her and try to find more in her than the pretty, cold, badass that we know her as.

I think these are interesting questions; I can't say why she extorts Mr. Satan; why do you think so? I guess the simple reason would be to get more money that way for shopping

It's also interesting to consider her reasons for wanting their mission to end so quickly.

Lets start with the first controversial thing about 18 that we notice: she and her brother are not as cruel or twisted as their future counterparts. Well, why is this? For one thing it is most definetly because of Future Trunks' interference by giving Goku the antidote. But how did this affect 17 and 18? Did the fact that Goku lived cause Gero to change his designs for the androids thus making 17 and 18 stronger and improving 16? Or could it have been that because 17 and 18 had a purpose (that being to go after Goku). Though if the latter were the case, why is 16 not in the future? That and the fact that Trunks states that the androids of the present timeline were stronger than the ones from his timeline, so, I feel the former is more accurate. Perhaps its both these reasons.

This idea is so simple yet interesting! I never even concluded it had anything to do with having a purpose; I liked to personally believe that maybe Androids 19 and 20 reeked havoc on the cities of Sasebo and everyone assumed it was 17 and 18, then android racism

I'd also like to say, that, I think it's possible Seventeen and Eighteen are actually not humans whatsoever except for maybe in the case of the latter with being able to birth a child, though that could have been retconned. A cyborg, is, after all, not necessarily human, but a mechanical organism with living tissue; perhaps 17 and 18 were programmed to think they were siblings to form an efficient, bonding duo. Continuing, I'd also like to think, like Android 19 and his sadistic traits, perhaps 17 and 18 were programmed with similar traits; 18 maybe enjoyed the psycho-sexuality of playing a femme fatale on prey.

[godzuko]

Ooooh... This is a nice read; just when I was wishing to do a character study on her
Thank you for the well-thought post; it's interesting to hear what you've had to say regarding her.

We know little to nothing about her past except that she and her brother 17 were kidnapped by Dr. Gero and they were turned into cyborgs, that both she and her brother had their memories erased by Gero, and that they used to be part of a biker gang. Other than that, nothing.

Whoa. I didn't know they were part of a biker gang. Where'd you hear that?

Well in the manga, 17 says that he remembers them being part of a biker gang you see.

We also don't get any reasons behind her actions like: why she is in more of a hurry than 17 and 16 to find Goku? Why does she blackmail (or extort) Mr. Satan for money? Why does she kiss Krillin? Hell, why did she marry him and have a kid? (Actually, I love how she ended up with Krillin, I love those romance stories where the beauty and the dork get hooked up. ) Well, I will try to analyze her and try to find more in her than the pretty, cold, badass that we know her as.

I think these are interesting questions; I can't say why she extorts Mr. Satan; why do you think so? I guess the simple reason would be to get more money that way for shopping

It's also interesting to consider her reasons for wanting their mission to end so quickly.

Yeah she is a greedy one. Though I think she extorted him to get money to support her family which she obviously loves.

Lets start with the first controversial thing about 18 that we notice: she and her brother are not as cruel or twisted as their future counterparts. Well, why is this? For one thing it is most definetly because of Future Trunks' interference by giving Goku the antidote. But how did this affect 17 and 18? Did the fact that Goku lived cause Gero to change his designs for the androids thus making 17 and 18 stronger and improving 16? Or could it have been that because 17 and 18 had a purpose (that being to go after Goku). Though if the latter were the case, why is 16 not in the future? That and the fact that Trunks states that the androids of the present timeline were stronger than the ones from his timeline, so, I feel the former is more accurate. Perhaps its both these reasons.

This idea is so simple yet interesting! I never even concluded it had anything to do with having a purpose; I liked to personally believe that maybe Androids 19 and 20 reeked havoc on the cities of Sasebo and everyone assumed it was 17 and 18, then android racism

I'd also like to say, that, I think it's possible Seventeen and Eighteen are actually not humans whatsoever except for maybe in the case of the latter with being able to birth a child, though that could have been retconned. A cyborg, is, after all, not necessarily human, but a mechanical organism with living tissue; perhaps 17 and 18 were programmed to think they were siblings to form an efficient, bonding duo. Continuing, I'd also like to think, like Android 19 and his sadistic traits, perhaps 17 and 18 were programmed with similar traits; 18 maybe enjoyed the psycho-sexuality of playing a femme fatale on prey.

You got a good theory there. Toriyama never really makes it clear what 17 and 18 are exactly. They are called jinzoningen which means artificial human. So yeah, not very clear. However, the fact that in the manga they remember a bit of their pasts as well as how Bulma describes schematics inclines me to disagree with your belief that they aren't human. Plus, I think what you're thinking of are tissue based androids. Cyborgs are actual living beings adhanced by whatever amount. Androids are not living beings they just resemble them.

[Legendary Saiya-Jin]

Well, 20, 19 and 16 were all referred to as "cyborgs" as well, so I don't think it really matters too much.

By the way, I'm still curious as to hear any thoughts you have about 18 extorting Hercule. Also, where did you hear they used to be part of a biker gang?

[godzuko]

Oh, oops I did respond to those questions they just got jumbled with the quote. I agree that 18 extorted Mr. Satan because it would allow her to do more shopping but I also think she did it for her family in order to support them. I also heard hat they were in a biker gang from the manga, 17 was remembering that he had a flashback of when they were in a biker gang I believe.

Also 20 is Dr. Gero himself thus he is a living entity (take note of that jar) Anddon't remember 16 and 19 being referred to as cyborgs? I know Gero called his creations androids in the english dub but not cyborgs.

[Son_Gohan]

Dr. Gero does express that he tried to "fix" #17 & #18 so they'd be more compliant. Since #16 was stated to be a botched test unit, we can assume he was used as the prototype to altering their behavior; which accounts for his odd personality. Despite his peaceful nature, he still maintained strong resolve for Dr. Gero's ultimate goal of killing Goku, as did the other two. I think that would explain why they weren't as inhumane as their future counterparts.

I don't remember her being overly eager to kill Goku, I think #17's childish and playful attitude was just something that particularly bothered her and probably a reason why she didn't end up hanging around with him after the Cell Games. The kiss she gives Krillin didn't appear to mean all that much, it's kinda clear she was only teasing him. She doesn't act cold out of pride really, it seems more attributed to the fact that she isn't completely human, so those sort of emotions wouldn't come naturally for her anymore; something she alludes towards when addressing #17.

She does eventually see the genuineness of Krillin's affection. But by choosing to live together and start a family shows that she is trying to embrace her human side. To me their relationship reflects more a subtle unfolding of her emotional state, she stayed with him because he is the only one that actually cared to make her happy.

[penguintruth]

I always wondered about 17 and 18 both. Do they have real parents? Were they abandoned, or did they just run away? Does 18 remember her real name or is she referred to as 18 for the rest of her life? How did Dr. Gero create an unlimited power supply? If 18 was deactivated by the button, would she have died completely or just shut down? Why did Dr. Gero even care about avenging the Red Ribbon Army if he could try to take over the world all on his own? How did Kuririn meet her again after the Cell Games when she flew off from Kami's palace and what made her decided to marry him?

I guess these fall under "Yeah, you're not supposed to think about those things."

[Pantalones]

As for what would happen if either of the Androids deactivated with the remote control, I assume it'd be exactly like what happened to them when they were deactivated with Dr. Gero's version earlier (they went unconscious and were put in pods.) The remote control Bulma made to deactivate them was designed based on the blueprints after all, so it probably works just like Gero's version of the thing.

Presumably the plan was to have someone kill them after they were knocked out that way, since they wouldn't be able to defend themselves when unconscious and with all their power-boosting technological stuff shut down.

[godzuko]

I always wondered about 17 and 18 both. Do they have real parents? Were they abandoned, or did they just run away? Does 18 remember her real name or is she referred to as 18 for the rest of her life? How did Dr. Gero create an unlimited power supply? If 18 was deactivated by the button, would she have died completely or just shut down? Why did Dr. Gero even care about avenging the Red Ribbon Army if he could try to take over the world all on his own? How did Kuririn meet her again after the Cell Games when she flew off from Kami's palace and what made her decided to marry him?

I guess these fall under "Yeah, you're not supposed to think about those things."

Thats the thing for a lot of the Z-Fighters. We don't know much or anything of their pasts. I mean, where did Tien and Chiaotzu come from and how did they grow up? How did those two meet up with Chen in the first place? How did Krillin end up in a monastary at such a young age? How did Yamcha get his fear of women? How did Yamcha meet Puar? What happened to Chi-chi's mother? What happened to Videl's mother? What was Piccolo's youth like and how did he grow so fast? How did Bulma and Vegeta fall in love?

[90sDBZ]

Maybe Gero kidnapped them to turn them into androids or something like that.

As for the extorting Mr Satan thing I guess she didn't like living with Roshi and wanted her own house.

[DBZAOTA482]

I always wondered about 17 and 18 both. Do they have real parents? Were they abandoned, or did they just run away? Does 18 remember her real name or is she referred to as 18 for the rest of her life? How did Dr. Gero create an unlimited power supply? If 18 was deactivated by the button, would she have died completely or just shut down? Why did Dr. Gero even care about avenging the Red Ribbon Army if he could try to take over the world all on his own? How did Kuririn meet her again after the Cell Games when she flew off from Kami's palace and what made her decided to marry him?

I guess these fall under "Yeah, you're not supposed to think about those things."

Thats the thing for a lot of the Z-Fighters. We don't know much or anything of their pasts. I mean, where did Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu come from and how did they grow up? How did those two meet up with Chen in the first place? How did Krillin end up in a monastary at such a young age? How did Yamcha get his fear of women? How did Yamcha meet Puar? What happened to Chi-chi's mother? What happened to Videl's mother? What was Piccolo's youth like and how did he grow so fast? How did Bulma and Vegeta fall in love?

1. Tao Pai Pai beat the shit out of Tenshinhan..or something like that.

2. Because Kuririn wanted to boost self-esteem.

3. Chi-Chi and Videl's mothers died.

4. Piccolo is a reincarnation of Piccolo Daimao and he was shunned/feared by the people around him.

5. Bulma felt sorry for him, allowed him to crash at her place and she digs his "bad boy" attitude (the same reason she digged Yamcha).

[godzuko]

I always wondered about 17 and 18 both. Do they have real parents? Were they abandoned, or did they just run away? Does 18 remember her real name or is she referred to as 18 for the rest of her life? How did Dr. Gero create an unlimited power supply? If 18 was deactivated by the button, would she have died completely or just shut down? Why did Dr. Gero even care about avenging the Red Ribbon Army if he could try to take over the world all on his own? How did Kuririn meet her again after the Cell Games when she flew off from Kami's palace and what made her decided to marry him?

I guess these fall under "Yeah, you're not supposed to think about those things."

Thats the thing for a lot of the Z-Fighters. We don't know much or anything of their pasts. I mean, where did Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu come from and how did they grow up? How did those two meet up with Chen in the first place? How did Krillin end up in a monastary at such a young age? How did Yamcha get his fear of women? How did Yamcha meet Puar? What happened to Chi-chi's mother? What happened to Videl's mother? What was Piccolo's youth like and how did he grow so fast? How did Bulma and Vegeta fall in love?

1. Tao Pai Pai beat the shit out of Tenshinhan..or something like that.

2. Because Kuririn wanted to boost self-esteem.

3. Chi-Chi and Videl's mothers died.

4. Piccolo is a reincarnation of Piccolo Daimao and he was shunned/feared by the people around him.

5. Bulma felt sorry for him, allowed him to crash at her place and she digs his "bad boy" attitude (the same reason she digged Yamcha).

I agree with all these theories except the third one. Afterall, he grew up there in that monastary.

[ChroniclyFlaming]

I'm actually working on an piece addressing the contrast and comparison between 18 and Krillin during the Android/Cell saga. There are things like the shots of Krillin spying on 18/16 that are later echoed when 18 is watching the gang on the Lookout Tower, and little moments that could be seen as foreshadowing for their relationship.

Parts of the rambling essay that has too many words:

Throughout the beginning of the Cell sage and end of the Android one, both Krillin and Juuhachigou are shown in similarly humanizing lights. Both sit in the passenger seats to their respective vehicle reflecting that the two of them are sidekicks to stronger members of their group. Both make jokes to the others (Krillin about Bulma, Juuhachigou about the bikers), and both seem content to take a more passive role at this time, and both were introduced by having goals of superiority [Krillin wanting to be the stronger figher (if only to impress girls) and Juuhachigou to destroy Goku (if only to have something to do)].

As the two seem to bring out the best in each other, their scenes are a reflection of one another. A fadeout of Krillin’s face as he and the others wait on Kame House turns to Juuhachigou, in a similar pose as she waits to finally catch up with Goku, a wish that Krillin can no doubt relate to.

We see Juuhachigou worrying about clothes and appearing more on the screen than the other androids, being annoyed by the selection of choices in some cowboy store (and I still don’t get why she didn’t just grab a shirt and some jean) and in the Son house. Had Krillin himself seen things like this, he probably wouldn’t have even approached Juuhachigou with that remote or worried about a squirrel scurrying towards the androids on that island. During the entire trip, the worse the androids do is threaten bikers and throw a cop car into a mountain.

Both characters even have technically beat up Vegeta, though Krillin shot the man and nearly stabbed him in the back much earlier in the show. The Saiyan prince can even be seen as a mirror of both their decisions as the series continues, as both meet him under similar antagonistic circumstances. The difference being that when Krillin fights Vegeta, he is in the role of the protagonist and Good Guy, while when Juuhachigou fights him, she is certainly not a hero. Vegeta may have challenged and threatened her, but she goes out of her way to taunt and toy with him before breaking both his arms.

Krillin comes to relatively accept Vegeta, and even talks Bulma into giving up her reasonable plan of stopping Gero in order to continue the peace the group shares. That Vegeta joins the group is only foreshadowing for Juuhachigou joining up with the protagonists. It’s only after Freeza/Cell, worse enemies, that he and Juuhachigou no longer are able to continue acting in their own self-interest with some dignity intact by switching sides and joining the Good Guys.

Krillin is actually shown saving a woman and kid brother—the only person to actually rescue anyone from Cell during this time. He makes jokes about Bulma’s temper to Trunks, sleeps on Kame Island complete with covering his face as Piccolo rants, and helps chase Cell along with the others. At one point he shows off a sense of decency and arguably chivalry by rescuing an innocent woman and her brother, thinking as their plane takes how cute she was. Hmm.

When making his decision, Krillin is in a moment of power, for once. And unlike when Juuhachigou was, he doesn’t abuse this. Krillin finds it within himself to openly confront her and unlike Juuhachigou’s middle path of slow travel but with smooth roads, he does not even shut her down to let someone else destroy or Cell to absorb her.

Juuhachigou is thrown off completely when it comes to Krillin now. As when the androids were awakened for the others, she is unprepared to face him fully yet at this time.

The kiss I'm going to say was another act of domination over any enemy. If she can't beat another overconfident fighter that challenged her first, she can still scare and show this guy who's in charge.

Also, with why 18 fell for Krillin...the guy used a wish for a magical dragon specifically on her when he could have used it for anything else. And then he used it only to try and make her feel more normal. Combined with Piccolo telling her about him protecting her from Cell (even approaching her after she was specifically 'spat out' from Cell), and then Krillin defending her from his friends...All that had to get him some points. Really, why wouldn't she start having feelings for someone who would do all that for someone that not long ago, was a bad guy? For someone that was 'raised' (for lack of better term) by a madman that had nothing but conditions and orders and that took away her memories, Krillin's mercy, offer of a second chance and chance at a normal life with no selfish motives (since he thought she was either with 17, or uninterested/not listening in on the wish), that must have been pretty attractive.

[godzuko]

I'm actually working on an piece addressing the contrast and comparison between 18 and Krillin during the Android/Cell saga. There are things like the shots of Krillin spying on 18/16 that are later echoed when 18 is watching the gang on the Lookout Tower, and little moments that could be seen as foreshadowing for their relationship.

Parts of the rambling essay that has too many words:

Throughout the beginning of the Cell sage and end of the Android one, both Krillin and Juuhachigou are shown in similarly humanizing lights. Both sit in the passenger seats to their respective vehicle reflecting that the two of them are sidekicks to stronger members of their group. Both make jokes to the others (Krillin about Bulma, Juuhachigou about the bikers), and both seem content to take a more passive role at this time, and both were introduced by having goals of superiority [Krillin wanting to be the stronger figher (if only to impress girls) and Juuhachigou to destroy Goku (if only to have something to do)].

As the two seem to bring out the best in each other, their scenes are a reflection of one another. A fadeout of Krillin’s face as he and the others wait on Kame House turns to Juuhachigou, in a similar pose as she waits to finally catch up with Goku, a wish that Krillin can no doubt relate to.

We see Juuhachigou worrying about clothes and appearing more on the screen than the other androids, being annoyed by the selection of choices in some cowboy store (and I still don’t get why she didn’t just grab a shirt and some jean) and in the Son house. Had Krillin himself seen things like this, he probably wouldn’t have even approached Juuhachigou with that remote or worried about a squirrel scurrying towards the androids on that island. During the entire trip, the worse the androids do is threaten bikers and throw a cop car into a mountain.

Both characters even have technically beat up Vegeta, though Krillin shot the man and nearly stabbed him in the back much earlier in the show. The Saiyan prince can even be seen as a mirror of both their decisions as the series continues, as both meet him under similar antagonistic circumstances. The difference being that when Krillin fights Vegeta, he is in the role of the protagonist and Good Guy, while when Juuhachigou fights him, she is certainly not a hero. Vegeta may have challenged and threatened her, but she goes out of her way to taunt and toy with him before breaking both his arms.

Krillin comes to relatively accept Vegeta, and even talks Bulma into giving up her reasonable plan of stopping Gero in order to continue the peace the group shares. That Vegeta joins the group is only foreshadowing for Juuhachigou joining up with the protagonists. It’s only after Freeza/Cell, worse enemies, that he and Juuhachigou no longer are able to continue acting in their own self-interest with some dignity intact by switching sides and joining the Good Guys.

Krillin is actually shown saving a woman and kid brother—the only person to actually rescue anyone from Cell during this time. He makes jokes about Bulma’s temper to Trunks, sleeps on Kame Island complete with covering his face as Piccolo rants, and helps chase Cell along with the others. At one point he shows off a sense of decency and arguably chivalry by rescuing an innocent woman and her brother, thinking as their plane takes how cute she was. Hmm.

When making his decision, Krillin is in a moment of power, for once. And unlike when Juuhachigou was, he doesn’t abuse this. Krillin finds it within himself to openly confront her and unlike Juuhachigou’s middle path of slow travel but with smooth roads, he does not even shut her down to let someone else destroy or Cell to absorb her.

Juuhachigou is thrown off completely when it comes to Krillin now. As when the androids were awakened for the others, she is unprepared to face him fully yet at this time.

The kiss I'm going to say was another act of domination over any enemy. If she can't beat another overconfident fighter that challenged her first, she can still scare and show this guy who's in charge.

Also, with why 18 fell for Krillin...the guy used a wish for a magical dragon specifically on her when he could have used it for anything else. And then he used it only to try and make her feel more normal. Combined with Piccolo telling her about him protecting her from Cell (even approaching her after she was specifically 'spat out' from Cell), and then Krillin defending her from his friends...All that had to get him some points. Really, why wouldn't she start having feelings for someone who would do all that for someone that not long ago, was a bad guy? For someone that was 'raised' (for lack of better term) by a madman that had nothing but conditions and orders and that took away her memories, Krillin's mercy, offer of a second chance and chance at a normal life with no selfish motives (since he thought she was either with 17, or uninterested/not listening in on the wish), that must have been pretty attractive.

Nice, That is a really interesting observation. People always say (especially in this site) that Krillin was completely selfish with crushing the remote and that wish of his. That he wanted nothing more than to get into her pants. I can't help but disagree.

Also you probably don't recognize me but I'm ohallo4 from ff.net, I'm a fan of your writing.