chapter 3
chapter 3
Trunks peered into Pan's room, it was only three in the morning, he knew that she would be asleep for another hour or two. He quietly tiptoed in to the room and sat on the end of her futon. He didn't want to leave her like this; her face was stained with tears from the night before. He laid down next to Pan on her futon; she immediately curled up to the new source of warmth. Trunks could smell her special Pan-scent that he would know anywhere; her hair always smelled sweet, but not sickenly so. He wrapped his arms around the little girl, now woman, lying next to him He wanted it to stay that way forever, Pan lying in his arms, and him always there to protect her. Trunks knew he was lingering to long here, he needed to say goodbye to his mother, father, and sister. Bra had insisted that he wake Pan up to say goodbye but the pained looks on Trunks' face convinced her otherwise. "I love you Panny, I just hope our cherry blossom times comes soon." Trunks whispered into Pan's ear and kissed her on the cheek as he climbed out of the bed. Pan shivered in her sleep after her warmth had been taken from her, Trunks tucked the blankets around her as she curled up and fell into a deeper sleep.
Trunks turned around to take one last look at Pan while her exited the room. It was almost like he was trying to memorize her every last feature.
"You really love her don't you?" Bulma asked her son as she saw him leave her adopted daughter's room.
"More than you will ever know." Trunks said giving his mother a hug.
"Oh I do know Trunks, don't you think your father and I know what it's like to be bonded?" Trunks fought back tears; he had to show his family he could be strong like his father, that he was a man. It was hard when his sister ran into his arms and gave him a tight hug.
"I still think we should wake up Pan." Bra sniffled and ended up sobbing into her brother's chest.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it. I'm sure you, Mom, and Pan will be so busy keeping up the dojo you won't even notice I'm gone." Trunks said with a very fake laugh. Bra gave him a look; she knew better to tell her brother when he was full of it. Trunks then turned to his father. "I'll make you proud father... I promise." Vegeta simply nodded, and that was all the encouragement Trunks needed. He hoisted his bag over his shoulder and left behind the only home, family, and love he had ever known. Trunks looked around him on the road, he could see all the men in his village doing the same as he just did, leave sobbing family members while pretending to be strong. At that moment everyman in the village were on the same plane, all suffering internally having to watch their families so openly upset to see them go. Then they would all turn their backs on their homes as they trudged off to the boatyard where they were all to be shipped to the battle lines, all with little or no training. When Trunks finally made it to the boatyard he went to line up for the check in with hundreds of men, most his age.
"Trunks? Is that you?" A familiar voice donned with a black Mohawk inquired.
"Yeah it's me, nice to see you Ubuu."
"You too, too bad we couldn't meet under happier circumstances, like a WEDDING perhaps?" Ubuu said. (hint hint nudge nudge)
"I wish, unfortunately I don't think I'll be hearing wedding bells for a very very long time."
"Does she not love you?"
"Well I didn't exactly tell her." Ubuu face vaulted.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm going to! The first thing I do next time I see her is tell her I love her." Ubuu just shrugged and said.
"Well you're up buddy, good luck, with the whole fighting thing and Pan." Ubuu pointed towards the direction of the check in.
"Thanks." Trunks replied and headed towards the table with a tall man with a childish grin and spiky black hair.
"Name please." The man said.
"Trunks Briefs Vegeta."
"A Vegeta? Your family is regarded highly by mine," the man said.
"Really?"
"Oh sorry, I haven't introduced myself properly. I'm Son Goten."
"Son Goten? The emperor's son?"
"The one and only."
"I had no idea our family was ever known by the emperor."
"Your family is more than known! Your father saved my father's life once." Goten responded.
"I see."
"So that means we have to become best friends, just like our fathers."
"Um... right."
"Here, I'll show you around." Goten said, handing an aid the sheets he had been writing on to sign people in. Goten threw his arm around Trunks' shoulder like they were old friends and led the lavender haired man around camp.
"These are the barracks where you and all the other men sleep." Goten said as he led Trunks through the barracks only to run into a taller man with black hair.
"Watch where you're going soldier." The man growled before turning around and seeing Goten.
"Sheesh Gohan, bite my head off why don't you?" Goten said rolling his eyes at the man. " Gohan, this is Trunks Briefs Vegeta."
"Hmmm... Vegeta's offspring?" Gohan asked.
"Yessir." Trunks said. Gohan just grunted in recognition and nodded at the younger man.
"C'mon Trunks, let's finish the tour." Goten said dragging Trunks through the barracks. "Excuse my brother, he's the general around here, he's a nice guy but he has to keep up his hard ass image." Trunks nodded in understanding, he did live with Vegeta after all and he knew all about tough guy facades. "So why are you fighting instead of your father?" Goten asked.
"My father is way to ill to fight."
"That's too bad, we could have used his strategizing." Goten said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Trunks asked, confused once again.
"Your father was one of the emperor's greatest generals." Goten responded with a laugh, as it was a very commonly known fact. " What else has your father neglected to tell you?"
"I have a feeling much more." Trunks replied sheepishly.
"That's ok, I'll be sure to fill you in." Goten said with a laugh. Trunks on the other hand was deep in thought; why didn't his father tell him about the emperor? As Trunks thought more about it, his father never even went to the capital, and pretty much forbid all of his children to either. "Something's very strange..." Trunks thought to himself as he allowed himself to be led around the camp by the hyperactive prince.