Please realise that the children's ages in this story might not be correct. I aimed to make Trunks and Goten still child-like, young teenagers, if that makes sense. Pan and Bra are roughly both 5 years old (Pan = slightly older - 6? 7?). If their ages don't suit and you're angry, email me or flame me or something. After all, comments would be appreciated ^_^ "
Prologue - A Warning:
"KA…ME…HA…ME-"
"GOTEN! I said no energy waves!"
"Oh. Okay, Trunks." He shifted down into a defensive pose: knees bent, arms held out before him, a tiny smirk on his face. Trunks repaid the smile with a grin. There was a second's silence, and stillness, and then Trunks darted forward. He flew through the air and made a punch to the head, but Goten disappeared and re-appeared behind his companion. Hand to the centre of the shoulders, and Trunks was down. Goten flew backwards, his silvery clothes catching the moonlight. Trunks, murmuring to himself, lifted his form from the dirty ground and stood up again, eyes darting. His gaze carved into the bushes and the darkness, searching. Goten's weak spot, when it came to battle and fighting, was hiding his power level from opponents. So if he could just feel a slight reading-
There! There he was-
He flew forward towards the offending hedge, jammed an arm through the dense foliage and grabbed a tuft of jet-black hair. He tugged it triumphantly.
"Owww! Trunks, LET GO!"
"Admit defeat, or I won't," he smirked, pulling harder. There was a loud rustling of grass behind him, and a moment later Bulma's green-haired head appeared above the vegetation.
"Trunks? Trunks, what are you doing?"
"Nothing," he said innocently, just as Goten's shrill cry of, "LET GO OF MY HAIR!" rang out through the forest. Trunks kicked his friend's leg sharply through the bush, which resulted in another loud "OW!"
Bulma's eyes narrowed. "Do what he says. I want you inside that house pronto, mister. You too, Goten," she added, then turned and left them to their play-fighting.
Trunks made sure she'd gone before releasing the tuft of hair. He brushed his hands together in a self-satisfied way. "You're such a whiner sometimes," he muttered.
Goten, rubbing his sore scalp, left the secure hiding place of behind the leaves and walked into the moonlight. He looked down at the brand new silver suit Chi-Chi had brought for him that morning, and frowned at the wide brown dirt stain smeared down his front. "This is your fault, Trunks!"
"Hey, you're the one who hid in the mud, don't blame me for it!" Trunks shook his head. "What's the bet Chi-Chi won't even notice. C'mon, Mom's got the food up."
The latter statement had the effect he desired. A grin spread on Goten's face, and his stomach rumbled in chorus. Trunks followed the path his mother had just made. When there was no crunching of grass behind him, he looked for Goten. "What are you waiting-"
"Hey Trunks, I think there's someone else here." His grin had disappeared. He pointed into the deeper part of the forest. "Over there, I saw a shadow move."
"Your stomach's getting to you," Trunks muttered, walking over to Goten and following the path of his finger. There was nothing but shadow there: the shadows of the trees, of the bushes, of the Capsule Corporation building near by. "Yep, you're seeing things."
"But, I swear-"
"Food, Goten. Food." When this didn't make him forget, Trunks grabbed his arm and dragged him back towards the building. Before he had even reached his front lawn, Goten yanked his arm from Trunks' grasp and pointed backwards. "Look! I told you!" he muttered excitedly.
Trunks turned, and his eyes narrowed. So there had been someone, after all.
It was a thin, pasty-faced teenage girl. Her face was long and drawn downwards, pulling her glum expression down with it. Her clothes were casual, jeans and a white v-neck T-shirt, with a long black coat hanging around her weak-looking shoulders. Her hair was the same colour as her coat, waist-length and tied into a loose ponytail with a large, red ribbon, tied in a bow shape. Her eyes were waxy grey, and sparkling.
"Um - hi?" Trunks muttered. Goten stepped forward at his side. "What are you doing on my property?"
She spoke. "I'd be careful, if I were you." Her voice was a whisper, but just as sparkly and light as her eyes.
Trunks glared at her. "That sounds like a threat," he retorted. "But you're the one trespassing. You're the one who ought to be careful, because if my Mom or Dad catches you, you'll be as good as dead, believe me."
She snorted. Goten asked, "Who are you?"
Trunks was furious. "Who cares who she is, just as long-"
"Just think of me as your Guardian Angel," she replied. Her gaze fell on Goten, and Trunks saw the hint of a smile on her lips. But then she looked back at Trunks, and the expression fell back to one of surliness and, almost, boredom. He was about to say something, when:
"Look, don't think about telling me to go, I'm leaving in a moment. But before I do, I've been given a warning to give to you. They're coming, probably tonight. And don't give me that look," she snapped at Goten, who had looked puzzled and amused, "I know it sounds stupid, but that's what I have to tell you. They're coming. I saw it."
"Right, that's all. I'll be leaving now. See you."
She spun on her heel and ran in amongst the trees, her long coat billowing out behind her. The shadows hid her figure. She was gone.
There was a stunned silence.
"What. A. Psychopath," Trunks stated slowly. He looked at Goten. "Who the heck was she, huh?! Our, 'Guardian Angel', who 'saw' that 'they're coming'?! Give me a break!"
"Should we follow her?" Goten asked. "Should we tell someone?"
"Neither. She's left now, probably a mile away by now. And I don't think anybody wants to know or cares about a freaked-out little girl trespassing. Either that, or they'd organise a man hunt." Trunks shook his head. "'They're coming', honestly."
"C'mon, let's go inside, before we end up meeting any other strangers." Once again he caught hold of Goten's arm and dragged him towards the front door. With a parting look of curiosity, Goten succumbed and allowed himself to be led back to the Capsule Corporation.