a/n: hi, ummm... chapter 3. *sweatdrop* gomen for not updating soon. I was *planning* on updating Wonderful Journey first coz I haven't updated it in a while... but my life is kinda depressing these days, and I can't write humor for the life of me... so, hope this chappy is ok.

Disclaimer: guess what? I don't own dragonball! .

When Legends Meet

Chapter 3: Girl in the Portrait

"Ojii-san?"

"Hmm...?'

"Why am I different? Why are we different?"

The tall dark haired man smiled and ruffled the girl's hair.

"We are not different, Pan. We are no different than everyone."

"But the other kids at our school don't wanna play with me coz they say I always make their noses bleed..."

The man laughed and swung the girl in the air. He settled her small form on his shoulders.

"That's because you're special, Panny."

"You're special too, ojii-san!" the young girl giggled. "But do you make other people's noses bleed too?"

The man nodded. "Hai. But only if they're bad."

"Oh," the girl frowned thoughtfully, swinging her tiny legs dangling from her grandfather's broad shoulders. Out of habit, she stuck one thumb on her mouth, but the other small hand's grip wasn't enough to hold her up. The girl started falling, but before her tiny form could hit the ground, the dark-haired man caught her.

"Ops, careful now... but don't worry, grandpa's here..."

The girl smiled. That's right... grandpa is always here...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ojii-san..."

"Pan! Pan! Are you okay?"

Pan slowly opened her eyes to see a very concerned Marron bending over her.

"Marron..."

"What did they do to you?" Marron asked in a croaky voice. Pan could tell her friend was about to cry, Marron has always been the cry baby.

Pan winced as she slowly got up. For a moment, she thought, and hoped, that what happened was merely a dream, but the ache in her stomach reminded her too much of the purple-haired man's punch.

"I'm alright Marron, don't worry. Are you okay?"

Marron nodded silently. "W-Where are we?"

Pan looked around the small room. It was almost empty, saved for a double-decked bed with metallic frame, and a small compartment on the other side. There were no windows in sight, only a rounder door that was sealed shut. Her suspicion was confirmed.

"In a ship," Pan whispered.

Marron paled. "A ship? But why?"

"When you fainted, another man came... he must be their leader. He told one of his men to take you to the ship," Pan explained.

Suddenly, the door slid open and the two men who had earlier attempted to attack them stepped in, bringing what seemed like a tray.

Marron instinctively moved closer to Pan.

One of the men smirked mockingly at Marron.

"Don't worry lady, I promise we'll never attempt anything again, or the prince is going to have our heads. No one touches the prince's woman," then he turned to Pan. "As for you, you got lucky for being a boy. Boy slaves in our planet don't suffer as bad a fate as girls. I don't even know why the prince insisted on bringing you along."

The other man laughed. "Well, I guess male slaves do have their uses too..." the man gave a throaty laughter than made Pan's hair stand up in disgust. "But then, the female slaves are much more... fun to be around."

One of them bent down to place the trays on the floor.

"Here, the prince ordered for you to eat," with that, they turned around to leave.

As the door slid close, Pan's hands intinctively flew to her head, relieved to see her cap still in place. From what she could tell, they haven't suspected anything yet.

"Pan..." Marron sobbed in fright.

"It's okay Marron. But we can't do anything for now. Let's just eat."

Marron eyed the food suspiciously. "Do you think it's safe?"

Pan nodded. "Yeah, they wouldn't kidnap us just to poison us."

They ate is silence, Pan thinking of what the two men had said. No, she wasn't afraid of those two. She knew she could beat them no trouble at all... but the problem was the other man. Somehow, she knew he was the 'prince' the men were talking about. Their encounter had proven to her that he wasn't someone she could just take on by herself.

A few minutes later, the door slid open again, and nother man stepped in. He was the same man who had carried Marron to the ship.

"Pardon me, I wasn't aware that you two were still having a meal."

Pan pushed the tray away. "We're done," she said shortly, relieved to see that the man wasn't rude as the other two.

"The prince wishes to speak to you."

"Me?" Pan started in surprise. She had caught hints from all the conversations so far that they were only interested in Marron... but why would the prince want to talk to her?

"Hai," the man answered politely.

Pan pulled herself to get up, but Marron's grip tightened on her hand.

Pan smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry Marron, I'll be right back."

Marron let go of her hand hesitantly. With one last reassuring look, Pan stepped out of the compartment.

"I am called Tomo," the man began.

Pan stayed silent. They were enemies, no reply was called for.

"If you don't mind, would you tell me your name please?"

Pan didn't answer... not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't know how to. She continued to walk silently.

Tomo continued. "I see. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. We're here. This is the prince's quaters. He is waiting for you. I believe he admires the courage you have shown very much."

Tomo started to lift a hand to knock.

"V-Van," Pan blurted out.

Tomo turned around questioningly.

"Van, that's my name."

Tomo smiled. "I see. I'm pleased to meet you, Van."

Tomo knocked. Pan caught her breath when the door opened. She remembered his face... yet still, her pulse quickened at the sight of him. His purple hair glinted as if newly washed, the soft light making them radiate in soft lavender. And his eyes, they were the bluest she had ever seen.

The prince stepped aside and motioned for her to come in. Pan gave her self a mental shake. He was main enemy, and hell if she was going to be caught oggling at him! Especially not if she didn't want to blow off her guise.

She lifted her chin and sent him an icy glare before stepping in. She heard that soft chuckle again. The door slid close, and she was alone with him.

"I see you are still mad at me, aren't you?"

Pan didn't falter in her glare. "I have the right to be mad."

"I'm glad you still have your pride after being defeated."

Pan snorted. "I wasn't defeated. I was caught by surprise."

The prince let out an amused laughter. "You're an interesting young man, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't say the same thing about you."

The prince laughed again.

"I haven't laughed this much in a long time."

"And am I glad to please your highness," Pan said sarcastically.

Trunks sobbered. "Please, call me Trunks."

"No thank you."

Trunks nodded. "Then can you tell me what you are called?"

Pan simmered. "Listen Mr. Prince. I'm not exactly here for a chit chat. I demand that you release us at once!"

Trunks grinned. "You know... I'm starting to wonder if you're really as young as you look."

Pan gasped. Shimatta.

For someone with a small figure like her, dressed as a boy, she must look no more than 14, perhaps, even 13. And the way she had been talking so far didn't exactly befit that age.

Pan pulled herself together before she could give her disguise away. No, she couldn't afford to reveal herself. Not after she learns what these barbarians do to female slaves... and she had a pretty good idea about that, thanks to those two men.

She lowered her chin, if only for a fraction. Shoving her hands on her pockets, she grumbled. "Van, that's my name."

"Van," Trunks repeated. "It suits you. Although, I expected it to be a more... feminine name."

Pan choked. "W-why is that?"

Trunks shrugged. "I don't know... I guess you're just a little too feminine, that's all."

Pan balled her sweating fists. "Well, excuse me if my name doesn't meet your expectations, your highness! You ask for my name! Don't complain! Be glad I told you in the first place!" Pan struggled to control her temper...otherwise, her cover's going to be blown in no time.

"Whoa, easy. You're a little spit-fire, aren't you? Alright, like I said, the name suits you. "

Pan gritted her teeth. There's just something about the man that annoys the hell out of her. "If that's all you want to discuss, your highness, I'd like to be excused now." Pan headed for the door but before she could reach it, Trunks stopped her.

"What's that?"

Pan spun around, but too late, Trunks had already picked up the crumpled paper on the floor. Pan gasped when she realized what it was. It must have fell when she took her hands off her pockets.

"G-give it back!" Pan hissed as she reached for the paper, but Trunks easily moved out of her reach and smoothed out the crumped paper against the nearly table.

Pan slowly backed towards the door.

Silence.

"Who is she?" Trunks whispered, staring at the picture as if mesmerized. The flier… she had so casually crumpled and shoved into her pocket earlier… how could she have been so careless?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Pan evaded, moving closer to the door.

Trunks looked up. Pan gasped. There was something in his eyes... almost like, he was pleading. But...

"Tell me, who is she?"

"I said, I don't know!"

Trunks moved closer, Pan stepped back.

"You do know her. You have the same eyes…"

Pan shook her head. "I have very common eyes."

"No. I've never seen black diamonds glow before…"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Who is she?" Trunks repeated. Pan's eyes widened when her back touched the wall.

"She's… she's my sister!" she blurted out.

Trunks stopped on his tracks. '…your sister?" he was barely whispering. And was that disappointment in his eyes?

"Yes, she's my older sister," Pan breathed.

"Where is she?"

"She's…" Pan frantically racked her brain.

"She's?" Trunks prodded.

"She's… dead!"

The room fell silent again. Trunks walked back to the table where the crumpled picture of a young girl with black hair and dark eyes had been laid.

"I see…" Trunks said in barely a whisper. "But she looks so alive," he added, running a finger through the girl's cheeks in the picture.

Pan stood back watching him. Almost by an unknown force, her hands lifted over her cheeks… they were warm, as if someone had just touched them.

Trunks didn't miss the small gesture. He walked forward… this time, there was no hesitation.

Pan gasped. She was pressed tightly against the wall now. The door was a good few meters away… there's no way to run. And somehow, she knew what was going to happen next. There was something in his eyes, something that told her the game was over…

But the door burst open just before Trunks reached her.

"Your highness, I'd like to discuss something with you," Tomo announced.

Trunks stopped on his tracks, there was a frown marring his handsome features.

"What is it, Tomo?"

Pan's eyes shifted between the two men. Realizing it was the perfect opportunity to escape, she bowed slightly.

"I need to see my friend now," she declared, heading towards the door. Tomo stepped slightly aside to let her pass.

Pan walked briskly… missing the looks the two men exchanged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a/n:*bows her head in shame* as what yukari would say... zero talent, poor vocabulary, totally inoriginal. heheh, i'm talking about Pan's name... why I'm calling her Van. i dunno, i'm just too inspired with the escaflowne movie... Van is soooooooooooooo gorgeous in the movie! and btw, as i'm sure you already know, it's pronounced as 'Von'.

and does trunks already know about pan's secret? *shrugs* who knows? heheh, of course i do... but... um, till next time.

ALSO, I added a Trunks and Pan Forum on my site. I already posted a couple of topics, but you are always welcome to post any topic related to t/p. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE drop by and share your opinion! I'd really appreciate it. You can go to the forum directly at http://pub.alxnet.com/forum?id=1071420 or you can to go my site http://www.animewood.com and click on the 'T/P Forum' link at the top. please, i really hope i hear from yah.

and please review!

ja ne

missy-chan (yeah, it's my new nick name ^.^)