Note: Keep in mind that I've never actually seen the battles between the Kaioshin and Majin Buu. Besides, this is an alternate universe fic, so the Buu Shin recalls is different from the one we all know.
Some important stuff: Dai Kaioshin is/was leader/king of the higher gods/Kaioshin (like Zeus, only fat and cheery). With him and the other higher gods killed by Majin Buu, East Kaioshin (or Shin) becomes THE Kaioshin at the very least, or the new Dai Kaioshin at the most.
While I'm not certain of all Shin's powers, he has displayed focused telekinesis (restraining Gohan), telepathy (reading Vegeta's mind & scaring the crap out of Piccolo), and a power type unlike any Z Warrior's (I'm assuming this is cuz his powers are almost entirely psychic, which is why Krillin thought he was weak). Now, either Shin really does have psychic powers, or maybe I'm just getting in touch with my X-Man fanboy roots. The point is, he has them HERE.

Summary: Another Kaioshin is reborn in a host body, but who is it?

Chapter 11: The New Gods of Old

Even the gods have their limits.

Trunks now had no problem admitting that.

The fight had gone on for hours now, and he could feel his strength slipping. Cell, on the other hand, only seemed to be getting stronger with each blow.

For all intents and purposes, Trunks was a god.

Cell was not.

That begged the question of where his power originated from, and how there could be so much of it. Even the Black Stars couldn't have given him this kind of might.

Not that Cell was giving Trunks time to think about very much. Far from it, in fact.

Trunks grunted as one of Cell's fists broke through his defenses. Their was a sharp pain in his ribs, and then another along his forehead. He stumbled back, trying to catch his breath.

Cell stared at him. It was a cool, calculating look. A look that said he would choose the moment of his opponent's demise. A look that, fortunately, showed no signs of wanting to kill Trunks immediately. A look that, unfortunately, meant to beat him relentlessly until then.

* * * * *

To most people, the East Kaioshin resembled a mere boy. But then, the appearances of one of his comrades had been deceiving, too. Usually, it had made her all the more powerful in a serious fight. Disbelief was an incredible tool, when used correctly.

The female android was a perfect example, he realized.

18 seemed to be exactly what she sounded like: a young woman with perfect hair, perfect eyes, and a perfect body. A little too perfect, he thought she might say. Who wanted to be eighteen forever? For that matter, who wanted to be half human, half machine forever?

But as 18 leaned over Chibi Trunks to check on him, the East Kaioshin knew that save for her cold eyes, it was nearly impossible to tell that she was a machine. Unless, of course, she'd been terrorizing you for years. Only a machine (or a Saiyan or a true monster) could do the kind of damage the twins had done over and over again, without remorse or any hint of mercy.

Although sparing Trunks's life certainly seemed like mercy. Perhaps 18 was more human than even she knew.

"Hey, you."

He looked up to find that 18 was staring at him. "Yes?"

"You can read minds, right?"

"That's right."

"Can you tell what I'm thinking...now?"

The East Kaioshin actually blushed at 18's rather vivid thoughts. "I didn't mean to intrude, 18. It's just that I am a little behind on what's happened in this universe, and this is the fastest way to get caught up. Besides, you have a very interesting mind."

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment." 18 smirked. "Although no one's ever told me that I have a sexy head."

The East Kaioshin was forced to look away. "I only meant that you remind me of an ally I once had. A long time ago, when there were still four universes."

"Was it another Kaioshin?"

"...yes, actually."

"Oh, great. Now I remind you of a goddess? You people and your divine compliments..."

But the East Kaioshin didn't hear her. He was thinking of the single most important moment of his life.

* * * * *

In the days of the four Kaioshin, there had been a perfect balance. Sort of.

As the strongest of the four, South Kaioshin was proud, quick to anger, and a real jerk when he felt like it, which was nearly every minute of his existence.

North Kaioshin was the wise, experienced swordsman, and his fights with South Kaioshin often went on for months.

West Kaioshin was the only female, and rumored to have actually been a Kai once. For the most part, she kept to herself, preferring solitude rather than listening to the other two fight. She spent her time training her mind and body. Of all the Kaioshin, she was the only one that constantly sought to improve herself.

East Kaioshin was the youngest and therefore the least experienced of them. He stayed that way, of course, as becoming a Kaioshin extended one's age almost exponentially. But he came into his position quite suddenly, and there was no one to teach him the ways of the Kaioshin.

North Kaioshin was his first choice of teacher, but his elder was always getting drawn into fights with South Kaioshin, so he wasn't much help.

In desperation, he finally went to find West Kaioshin on her planet. It was a place of lush vegetation, many animals, and endless spring.

He located her temple only after days of searching, and found her sitting near a stream, in a state of intense meditation. He was amazed by the waves of power he felt drifting off her in such a supposedly calm posture.

"Welcome to my home, East Kaioshin," she murmured without opening her eyes. "Is there something I can help you with?"

He'd planned to ask why she hid her home deep in a forest, but ended up asking, "How did you become so strong?"

At this, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I am not strong, but I am powerful. There is a great difference. South Kaioshin and North Kaioshin are strong." She reached up and felt the slight muscles in his arm, failing to notice him blushing. "We, though, are powerful. Do you understand?"

He did not.

"Strength is physical in nature," she said. "But true power is mental. If you truly believe you are powerful, then you are."

"But we are Kaioshin," he argued. "How can we not be strong?"

"As I told you, North and South are the strong Kaioshin. We are the powerful ones." She pointed to a large tree. "Can you tear that from the ground with your hands?"

"Of course not!"

"Neither can I," she replied, even as the tree was ripped from the ground by an unseen force. "My mind, though, is another matter. Now do you see?"

He did.

"Then catch it."

The tree flew at him suddenly, and he threw up his hands, seeming to catch it.

"You used your mind to catch it. Your hands supporting the tree are merely an illusion. Without your hands, you could catch it easily. Without your mind, you couldn't catch it at all. You are powerful, not strong. Do you see?"

"I do," he replied. "You are very wise, West Kaioshin."

"Yes," she agreed with a frown. "Do you have another name? Something shorter that the others call you?"

He frowned as well. "South Kaioshin sometimes calls me Shin, because he says his legs are bigger around than I am. I have no other names."

She smiled, and he decided at once that he would do anything to see her smile again. "Then I will call you Shin, because you have much to learn about the ways of the Kaioshin."

"And what will I call you?" he asked.

"Kaio, because I often wonder if I would've been better off as one. Kaioshin is a stressful position, and I worry it will age me faster. I would've been better off as a teacher."

"You can continue to teach me," he offered, his cheeks flushing. "And I think you look fine."

"Really? I think you look sick," she replied, patting his cheek with her hand. "I will teach you tomorrow. For now, we will meditate."

Meditation, of course, was the staple ability of any worthwhile Kaioshin. It was used to clear the mind, order the thoughts, and even expand mental capacity, if the meditation was intense enough for a time. The strong Kaioshin were limited to those three.

The powerful Kaioshin were not, as Shin soon found out. Under Kaio's watchful eye, he sharpened both his mind and his skills. Soon, he was ripping trees from the ground with a mere thought, and then restoring them in the same instant. Even so, he knew that he could only dream of becoming as powerful as Kaio was.

Perhaps that was why she filled his dreams, his days, his nights, his every waking moment, unknowingly, with her presence. For whatever reason, Shin knew with certainty that his training was not the reason he hadn't left her temple yet. But he could not find the words to tell her so.

Though he didn't really have to.

Kaio was well aware of his attraction to her after the first few days, but said nothing about it. She could sense his love for her growing and growing, until, finally, neither of them could meditate without sensing his desire.

"I can teach you no more of the Kaioshin," she said one day. "Now, you must learn the ways of man."

"Man?" Shin asked incredulously. "What could they have to teach me?"

She looked at him and replied, "Man loves. Kaioshin do not. Your only desire should be for the safety and stability of your universe. You must learn to control your emotions, Shin. It will not be easy, but you will never last as a Kaioshin until you do."

"Are you telling me to leave?" he asked.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "No, Shin. I could never do that. But I am asking you to." Kaio turned away from him. "Kaioshin cannot love. You must go and learn what happens to men who love when they should not."

"What about you?"

"I will meditate, and remind myself that I, too, cannot love. No matter how much I wish to, no matter I how much I feel I need to..."

He left her then, though whether it was the shame of Kaio seeing him cry, or knowing he'd made her do the same that drove him on, he couldn't be sure.

With time, Shin did learn what happened to men who loved when they were not meant to. Only tragedy was their reward, and then most could never love again.

The instant he knew this, he returned to Kaio's temple. He planned to tell her that no matter what happened to men, he would continue to love her. She could agree or disagree, but she would have to accept it.

But he found the temple in ruin, the lush forest replaced with scorched earth. The smell of hatred, senseless fury, and a lust for destruction greeted his nose, and he despised it at once.

Then he heard laughter. Evil, cruel laughter that would be forever burned into his memory.

Shin found the creature hovering over the stream where he'd met Kaio. It was thin, pink, and had an aura of darkness unlike anything he'd ever sensed before. And when Shin saw the familiar pink and black robes floating in the stream, his own hatred rivaled the creature's.

Without a thought for his own safety, he flew at the demon, lashing out with every bit of power at his disposal. The demon was caught off guard, and was thrown into the stream by Shin's power, temporarily contained.

With trembling hands, Shin carefully lifted Kaio's body from the stream. There were wounds all over her fair face, and he could sense more beneath her robes. He knew at once that she was dying, and that he could do nothing to save her.

Then her eyes opened, and she looked at him with nothing but love in them. "You were right to love me, Shin," she whispered. "Because if I had loved you, if I had cared for you as much as I do now...perhaps I would've stood a chance against a thing solely composed of hate..."

He placed a finger to her lips. "Kaio, where are the others?"

She shook her head. "Shin, there are no others. You and Dai Kaioshin are the last."

"How can I defeat this demon, then? What must I do?"

She stared at him in silence for a long moment. "You can live," she said at last. "You can fight and live, with my love." And then she kissed him.

It was unlike anything he'd seen among men and their mates. They placed all importance on the first kiss, and each after that mattered less and less. But Kaio's first and last kiss was astounding, energizing.

He knew why only after she went limp in his arms.

She had given him all the power she had left in an instant, through her kiss. Admittedly, it was much less than what he'd sensed from her the last time they were together, but battling the demon had drained her considerably. She preferred to end this way, in his arms, instead of in battle with a monster.

Now she was gone.

The demon was not, Shin realized as he was struck from behind. Kaio's body flew from his arms and tumbled to the grass. He looked up to see the demon looming over him, chuckling evilly as it prepared to kill him. Its crimson-within-black eyes burned into his, like the dying of a billion stars at once.

"Step away from the boy."

The demon leaped back at once, frowning.

Dai Kaioshin stood behind Shin, a frown on his mighty, round face. He helped Shin up and whispered in his ear. "You must leave this place, Shin. I will not survive, and neither will you, if you stay. Return to your universe, and guard it well. I will contain Majin Buu."

And so he had.

To this day, Shin had no idea what Dai Kaioshin had done to stop Buu. But the pink terror had never reached the east universe, and Dai Kaioshin was never seen again. Shin could only hope that the kindly god had given his beloved Kaio a proper burial.

* * * * *

Goku frowned and glanced at Vegeta.

The Saiyan Prince did not return his look.

"What is it?" Goten asked.

"Trunks isn't winning," 18 muttered.

Bulma stared at her. "How do you-"

"I know," 18 said simply. She absently ran her hand through Chibi Trunks's lavender hair.

"So what do we do about it?" Goten asked after a moment.

"WE will do nothing," Vegeta snapped. He looked at Goku, then flew into the air.

"I'd better go with him," Goku said. "18, can you-"

"Yeah. Go on."

Goku smiled at her, then followed Vegeta.

Goten tugged on Bulma's hand. "Auntie Bulma, do you think Gogeta can beat Cell?"

Bulma gave him a blank look. "WHO?"

Shin frowned and looked to Kibito. "I will stay here."

Kibito nodded and flew after the two Saiyans.

* * * * *

Trunks squinted and shook his head, trying to clear his vision. Taking a Masenko directly in the face hadn't helped at all, and neither was the blood and sweat constantly trying to run into his eyes.

Cell smirked and chuckled. "What's wrong, boy? Can't keep up?"

Trunks growled and charged, driving his sword straight into Cell's gut.

Cell threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, you're a funny one, boy. Now let me show you how to wield a sword properly. Or maybe..." He paused and grinned evilly. "Maybe I won't show you."

And before Trunks could react, an energy beam flew from Cell's mouth and slammed into his unprotected face.

Trunks cried out as pain overtook his senses for a few endless seconds. His hands flew to his eyes. The sensation was ten times worse than a Solar Flare. He could gradually hear Cell's laughter, seeming to come from every direction.

The white-hot pain pierced him like a bullet, starting at the small of his back and shooting through his entire body. Then the blade burst through his abdomen, coated in crimson.

Cell's arm tightened around his throat, and Trunks heard him whisper, "That's how you use a sword. Remember it...for as long as you still can."

The blade suddenly jerked upwards, a path of torn, bloody flesh opening in its wake.

Cell let go, and Trunks plummeted from the sky, his mind and body still reeling from the attack. Unable to speak with the blood pooling up in his throat, he thought, "Father...help me..."

* * * * *

Vegeta froze in midair, a frown on his face.

Goku stopped beside him. "Vegeta, what-" Then he locked onto Trunks's power, and realized it was dropping rapidly. "No..." he whispered.

A moment later, Trunks burst through the clouds, barely conscious.

Vegeta reached him first, carefully cradling his son's body in his arms.

Trunks blinked wearily and stared into his face. "Father...I've failed you..." he gurgled, blood pouring from his mouth. "If only I'd given you the wish..."

Goku joined them, his face pale. "Trunks..." He looked at Vegeta. "Vegeta...I think we might have to..." He trailed off uncertainly, knowing the Prince wouldn't be pleased with the idea.

Vegeta scowled at him, but nodded after a second.

"I will take him."

Goku looked back to see Kibito just behind them. "Can you...?"

"Yes."

Goku sighed in relief. "Great! You heal Trunks, and Vegeta and I will-"

"No," Kibito interrupted. "You must not fuse with Vegeta, Goku."

Goku stared at him. "What? Why not?"

"I cannot tell you why," Kibito replied. "But you must not."

"You're insane! Don't you see what Cell did to him?"

"I swear I will heal Trunks, if you do not fuse. Otherwise..."

Goku's jaw dropped. "Kibito...you can't let him die!"

"And I will not...provided you two do not fuse."

Goku opened his mouth to protest, but Vegeta suddenly shoved Trunks into Kibito's arms. "Do it," he said quietly. "We will not fuse. You have my word, as Prince of All Saiyans."

Kibito nodded and floated back to the ground with Trunks in tow.

"Vegeta...why did you do that?" Goku asked weakly.

"Cell has killed my son in one too many timelines. I will never let it happen again, while there is a breath in my body."

"But if we don't fuse-"

"Then we will fight as Saiyans were truly meant to: with the possible threat of death as our only reward."

Goku sighed. "But if Cell could do that to Trunks, what happens after he kills us?"

"Then I suppose one of us will just have to live," Vegeta replied. "And then we'll see who the true Super Saiyan !"

Goku's eyes widened as Vegeta suddenly tore at his own hair, writhing in obvious pain. "Vegeta! What's wrong?"

"PAIN!" Vegeta cried, trembling in agony. "So much...pain! GAH!"

"Is it Cell? Is he doing this?"

"NO! Not Cell! ARGH! The PAIN! I CAN'T STAND IT!" Vegeta's form was suddenly hidden in golden fire, and only his screams seemed to get through.

Goku actually flinched from the heat and backed away. "I haven't seen Vegeta like this since...since Babidi," he thought. "FIGHT IT, VEGETA! DON'T LET IT WIN!"

"PAIN!" Vegeta screamed. "POWERFUL PAIN! SO MUCH...PAIN!"

There was a blinding flash of light, and Goku was thrown backwards by the backlash of Vegeta's rising power. Whatever the Saiyan Prince was turning into, it was unlike anything he'd ever witnessed before.

* * * * *

The entire sky was a bright golden color.

"What's going on up there?" Bulma cried.

"Is it Gogeta?" Goten asked excitedly.

"No," Shin said quietly. "It has begun."

"What has?" 18 asked warily.

"The Kaioshin," he replied simply. "They're coming back."

"I thought they were dead?" 18 asked.

"That's just it," Shin answered. "They still are. It must be the boy's wish."

"But I thought he wished for the power of one Kaioshin?" Goten asked.

"True. But it wasn't enough. Now the other two Kaioshin are trying to defeat Cell. He poses a threat to every galaxy that wasn't destroyed by Majin Buu."

"Just how does a dead Kaioshin come back?" Bulma wondered.

"A host body is required for the transfer. A particularly strong host body. In this case, the body would need blood ties to the person who initiated the wish."

"But then...VEGETA?" Bulma nearly screamed.

"Yes," Shin said calmly. "And unless I'm sorely mistaken, you're next, Bulma."

"WHAT?" Bulma shouted.

"That's great, Auntie Bulma!" Goten laughed, grabbing her hands and hopping up and down. "You're gonna be a Kaioshin!"

"No, it is not great, Goten." Shin turned to Bulma. "You're the only female with blood ties to Trunks, and my beloved Kaio will be forced to choose you. But in doing so, she may unintentionally destroy you. Your human body could never hope to contain such power."

"I...I'm going to die?" Bulma whispered.

"Yes. Unless you will the power to someone else." Shin looked at 18. "Someone like her."

Bulma hesitated. "Her? But..."

"She's the only female alive powerful enough to handle the transfer, and she is...close to Trunks, the way I was with Kaio. There should be no complications."

"It's not like you have a choice, Bulma," 18 reminded her. "I promised Trunks I'd protect you, and I don't think watching you burn up to a crisp is what he had in mind."

Bulma paled considerably. "What do I have to do?"

Shin nodded. "As soon as you sense Kaio, you must will the power to 18, before Kaio gains a firm grasp on your soul."

"Oh," Bulma murmured weakly. "Is that all?"

* * * * *

Goku landed just behind Kibito, watching as Shin's assistant healed the unconscious Trunks.

"Do not worry about Vegeta," Kibito said, clearly drained by the effort it took to heal Trunks. "He is merely preparing himself for the transformation. Rather, the South Kaioshin is preparing him."

"If you say so," Goku muttered, not sure whether to be more concerned about Vegeta or Trunks. "Kibito...why wasn't Trunks strong enough to beat Cell?"

"I can only assume that all the Kaioshin are needed to defeat such a threat. Fortunately, Trunks's wish seems to have affected the very cosmic balance of this world. Somehow, he's allowed the Kaioshin to all be reborn."

"And Shin? What will happen to him?"

"That...is a very interesting question, Goku. One only my master himself knows the answer to."

* * * * *

Cell eventually became aware of an astounding power, rising with every second. Nothing that could rival him at that point, but Saiyans had a nasty habit of getting stronger on the brink of death. It had been a mistake not to finish off Trunks instantly.

He would not make that mistake again.

But it was definitely not Trunks who appeared in front of him a moment later.

It was Vegeta...sort of.

The Saiyan Prince's muscle mass had nearly tripled in size, and was eerily reminiscent of "Super Vegeta" from long ago. Cell certainly did not plan to repeat THAT experience.

"And what are you supposed to be?" he asked with a smirk.

Vegeta scowled at him, almost hungrily. "Royally. Pissed. OFF!" The crimson power swirled around him like a flame, tainting his hair and eyes.

Cell watched from a distance. "Impressive...for a Saiyan. But I hardly think Kaioken can save you now, Vegeta. I'm not you, after all."

"That's Kaioshin, baka!" Vegeta spat in a voice totally unlike his own.

Before Cell could make sense of it, the crimson power washed over him, and it was all he could do to keep from screaming out in pain.

* * * * *

Trunks slowly opened his eyes. "Father?" he whispered weakly.

"He has gone to fight Cell," Kibito answered, still focusing his power on healing the fallen warrior.

"What? NO! He can't-"

"He has the South Kaioshin's power now. He will be fine."

Trunks relaxed, but only a little. "But he can't defeat Cell on his own. When he...struck me...I could sense that Cell was holding back. A lot. His true power...it's insanely high...and rising by the moment. Where is he drawing this power from?"

Kibito shook his head. "I do not know, nor do I wish to guess. But we will not stand a chance until all four Kaioshin are reborn."

"But...who are the other hosts?" Trunks asked, frowning.

"I cannot say," Kibito replied firmly. "Now, relax. It's difficult enough to heal you without a Kaioshin inside you. Your anxiety isn't helping."

"Sorry," Trunks murmured, trying to clear his mind. All the same, he couldn't help thinking about his mother and Chibi Trunks. They were safe, at least, for now.

* * * * *

Vegeta's blows echoed across the sky like thunderclaps, each one lighting up the clouds with a bright, brief flash of red. Each one, inflicted by a weaker opponent that wasn't worthy to kneel at his feet, made Cell all the angrier. And yet, for some unknown reason, Vegeta's blows HURT, hurt as if the Saiyan Prince were stronger.

But that wasn't possible, because Cell had carefully gauged Vegeta's power before they began. He'd even allowed himself to accept that a Kaioshin aided Vegeta, but even then, his punches should've had all the effect of a gnat's bite.

And because the blows hurt so much, Cell was distracted by the pain, and could not build a proper defense against them. So Vegeta continued to beat him mercilessly, slowly and gradually wearing him down, even as the power from his dead brothers continued to feed him.

* * * * *

Bulma suddenly gasped and clutched her heart. "I feel...strange..."

"Quickly, Bulma!" 18 said, rushing over to her. "Give me the power!"

Bulma squeezed 18's hands and closed her eyes. "I can feel her...she's so beautiful..."

"Kaio," Shin whispered faintly, a smile on his lips. "Welcome back, my love."

18 grunted and backed away, her body taking on a golden glow. She rocketed into the sky as the glow became blinding, and with a final scream of pain, she vanished.

"Is she okay?" Bulma asked.

"Yes. All the Kaioshin can teleport. It's just a sign that she's adjusted to the transfer."

"Well...you're the last Kaioshin," Bulma murmured. "So...are you going to...?"

"In time," Shin said simply, his gaze falling and Goten and the sleeping Chibi Trunks. "In time..."

* * * * *

While Vegeta's fists continued to pummel Cell, his mind was very much occupied. He kept thinking of which finishing move would be best. He still had no idea what South Kaioshin was truly capable of, but they'd made an admirable start.

Suddenly, something golden flew towards them and slammed into Cell's head, sending him zooming to the ground.

Vegeta's eyes widened slightly as he took in 18's new power. He almost smiled. "It's been a while, East Kaioshin."

"Too long, South-sama," 18 replied. "But we can speak of that later. For now, we have a job to do."

"Agreed." Vegeta smirked. "Strange that Kakkarot isn't the one saving the world this time..."

18 chuckled. "Always did want to rip him off..."

Vegeta grinned wickedly. "Let's."

The two reborn Kaioshin cupped their hands at their sides, and stared down at where Cell had crashed.

"KA...ME...HA...ME...HAAAAAAA!"

They thrust their hands down, and twin beams of power, one red, one gold, streaked down and detonated upon impact.

"It's not over," 18 whispered, readying herself.

"No," Vegeta agreed, licking his lips in anticipation. "It's just starting to get interesting..."

* * * * *

Continued in Chapter 12: Gotenks Is God!

You guessed it. Gotenks is TRULY the man this time (with some help from Shin), and then some! And Trunks is back in action! But will the four Kaioshin have enough power to take down Cell? Well, of COURSE not. You think it's THAT easy?