Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z and I'm not making any money from
this.
Chapter Fourteen: Against Her Will?
"I think he's breathing, Sir!"
A voice, so far away, sounded so scared, but at the same time, so relieved.
"Are you sure?"
This voice didn't sound so happy. He couldn't recognise either of them, but he stubbornly kept his eyes closed, ignoring his curiosity.
"My Lord, should we get the doctor?"
Doubt. He could hear it in the voice. There was a long pause that seemed to last for hours. He didn't open his eyes, and kept his breathing as shallow and quiet as possible.
"No. Leave him like that"
So familiar. That voice was so, so familiar. Where had he heard it before? He was swept away to a while back, a huge manor, people dressed in suits and long ballgowns. A short, middle-aged man with greying hair stood on a balcony overlooking the celebrations with a huge smile on his face.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen"
That was he. That voice. Lord Krillin. Everything came back in a rush. He forgot that he was supposed to be playing the inconspicuous part and stirred, inwardly wincing with pain. Her name escaped his lips almost involuntarily.
"Marron"
Barely a whisper, but still audible.
"What?" Lord Krillin's voice came again. "What did he just say?"
"I didn't hear anything, my Lord"
"Good Goku, he just said my daughter's name! How dare a lowly criminal such as he refer to my daughter so disrespectfully? I'll not bear it! The sooner his life is ended the better! To think that he dare to kidnap my daughter and then speak her name with such fondness!"
Fondness? Is that what it was? He didn't want to admit it, but deep down, he had known all along. That noble woman, the very woman he was supposed to put to death, had been the one to steal his heart. How ironic. That sort of thing was only supposed to happen in the books he'd stolen as a child. Not in real life. And definitely not to him. He prided himself on being completely unfazable, he had seen the most horrifying things as a young boy living in the slums with his two companions, and he was the one who stared blankly on as the others regarded him with disbelief that he was not affected by such sights.
He could hear footsteps stamping angrily away, getting softer and softer and then finally, the slam of a heavy sounding door. Then there was silence. After a few seconds, he could hear a shuffling, then a sleepy groan, and the sound of different footsteps getting closer.
"What's..where am I?"
He recognised that voice too. Goten. His best friend, trusted comrade, the one with the heart-warming naivety. Goku's voice spoke up.
"Sorry"
"What for? Where is this place?"
"You don't know? Lord Krillin ordered you and your friend be held here, in these dungeons, until you are executed a week from now"
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then Goten spoke up once more.
"Why?"
"For the kidnapping of Lady Marron, and the unlawful murder of Lord Masaki and Lord Serimori"
"M...Masaki? Who told you that?" Goten's voice was disbelieving.
"I can't say"
"Where's Trunks?"
"Trunks?" Was that shock he could hear?
"My friend"
"He's Trunks?"
Silence.
"My Lady? How do you feel?"
Marron didn't answer her nurse. Instead she stared at the wall opposite her, the tears streaming down her pale face. How could her father allow this?
"My Lady?"
Bulma sighed softly and sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking Marron's hair out of her face.
"Wherefore are you so upset? You are finally back where you belong, are you not?"
No response. Bulma smiled grimly, tucking her mistress' hair behind her ears.
"You were not kidnapped that night, were you, Miss Marron?" she muttered quietly. Marron started violently, looking up at the nurse in confusion and shock. And Bulma knew that she had been correct. The young woman's reaction was evidence enough.
Lord Krillin stamped angrily into the drawing room, his brow furrowed in agitation. Chi-Chi, who was in the process of dusting the large ornate fireplace leapt up on seeing him and bowed hastily.
"Get back to work, Miss Chi-Chi!" the Lord growled, and the woman nodded, turning her attention back to the fireplace. She knew from experience that Lord Krillin would talk to her in his own time, even though she was itching to know what had happened to Lady Marron.
Krillin sank down into his chair behind his large desk with a long sigh. He shook his head, grabbing a small letter opener with a ceramic white handle. Resting his chin on his hand, he traced circles on the desk with the letter opener.
Those young scoundrels. How dare they kidnap his only daughter and injure her so? It was a good thing that he had sent for Doctor Lowell, the best doctor in the village. Yes, there was talk that he had been involved in some under the table dealings, someone had even said that he consorted with the most vicious criminals ever to grace the quiet town. However, Lowell was genuinely pleasant, and the Lord liked to see such a quality in his subjects. He just hoped that Goku would not mention that thief in the dungeons who was close to death. Lowell's kind-heartedness could be a problem if he did.
Growling, Krillin raised his hand and then slammed the letter opener straight into the desk. It became embedded up to the handle in the soft wood. Chi-Chi jumped, dropping the duster to the ground. Plumes of dust rose up, making the maidservant cough. Lord Krillin turned to her and smiled.
"Sorry, Miss Chi-Chi" he said. "I didn't mean to startle you"
Chi-Chi stared at him for a few moments before she came to her senses. She adjusted her white bandana absently and reached for the duster once more.
"No, my Lord, I should not be so edgy" she said with a wave of her hand. She quickly turned back to the fireplace and commenced working again.
"I expect you would like to know what has been going on today, am I right?" Krillin asked.
"Well, my Lord, I expect it is none of my business" she told him, concentrating on the task in hand. Krillin laughed jovially.
"Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "Of course it is! You live in this house, do you not?"
He ran a hand through his greying hair and smiled at the servant.
"Well, if you should be so kind as to inform me, then I would be most grateful" the woman said, setting down the duster. Krillin nodded, rising out of the chair and crossing the room to a large bookcase. He ran a finger slowly down the spine of one of the books, and then turned to Chi-Chi.
"My guards found my daughter in captivity" he began. Chi-Chi gazed at him with interest. "Held in the most squalid of dwellings, a dilapidated house near the square. Can you imagine? My daughter, Lady Marron, being forced to live in such a place!"
Chi-Chi shook her head.
"I cannot begin to, my Lord, " she said quietly. As he went on, Chi-Chi sighed softly. If she knew anything at all, she knew that there was more to the story than a simple kidnapping. And she had a feeling that Marron had not left the manor entirely against her will.
"Trunks. Trunks? Come on, my friend, you must wake up"
Goten reached through the bars of his prison and tried in vain to reach Trunks with his hand. His friend was lying on the cold stone floor, his eyes closed, and his face ghostly white. In the flickering light coming from the torches positioned on the wall, the young thief could also see a dark pool of blood still spreading out. How long had they been here? He had no idea, but he hoped against all hope that his friend hadn't been bleeding the entire time. Otherwise there was no way he could possible survive. Could he?
He turned away from the sight. He couldn't stand to see his friend like this. "Trunks, we've been through so much together. Don't you dare die on me now" he said softly.
The guard whom he had been talking to had been gone for a while now. After Goten had mentioned his friend's name, the guard had began acting strange, and when he had pushed the matter further, had made his excuses and left. Why was that guard so familiar? Had he seen him in the square before? He was sure he had seen him somewhere before.
"Trunks?" he called out again. He got no response. Eyes wide with fear, Goten fell silent. Was it too late already? Was his friend already dead? He closed his eyes, praying that he was wrong. Then he crept forward once more, reaching through the bars again. But before he could touch his comrade, the heavy dungeon door was suddenly flung open, and a woman he didn't recognise stood in the doorway. Goten winced and shielded his eyes, temporarily blinded by the sudden intrusion of light. The woman turned around, calling to someone outside.
"Goku speed up," she hissed. The guard from earlier joined her in the doorway.
"Miss Bulma, hurry and go inside before the Lord sees you," he whispered. Goten's hands fell to his sides in surprise. Did he just say 'Bulma?'
A/N: Finally! I haven't updated this for a month! Well, that's the end of that chapter! Hope you enjoyed reading it, and thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed so far! I hope this chapter was worth reading. Don't forget to review, and I'll see you soon for chapter 15!
Aerith
Chapter Fourteen: Against Her Will?
"I think he's breathing, Sir!"
A voice, so far away, sounded so scared, but at the same time, so relieved.
"Are you sure?"
This voice didn't sound so happy. He couldn't recognise either of them, but he stubbornly kept his eyes closed, ignoring his curiosity.
"My Lord, should we get the doctor?"
Doubt. He could hear it in the voice. There was a long pause that seemed to last for hours. He didn't open his eyes, and kept his breathing as shallow and quiet as possible.
"No. Leave him like that"
So familiar. That voice was so, so familiar. Where had he heard it before? He was swept away to a while back, a huge manor, people dressed in suits and long ballgowns. A short, middle-aged man with greying hair stood on a balcony overlooking the celebrations with a huge smile on his face.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen"
That was he. That voice. Lord Krillin. Everything came back in a rush. He forgot that he was supposed to be playing the inconspicuous part and stirred, inwardly wincing with pain. Her name escaped his lips almost involuntarily.
"Marron"
Barely a whisper, but still audible.
"What?" Lord Krillin's voice came again. "What did he just say?"
"I didn't hear anything, my Lord"
"Good Goku, he just said my daughter's name! How dare a lowly criminal such as he refer to my daughter so disrespectfully? I'll not bear it! The sooner his life is ended the better! To think that he dare to kidnap my daughter and then speak her name with such fondness!"
Fondness? Is that what it was? He didn't want to admit it, but deep down, he had known all along. That noble woman, the very woman he was supposed to put to death, had been the one to steal his heart. How ironic. That sort of thing was only supposed to happen in the books he'd stolen as a child. Not in real life. And definitely not to him. He prided himself on being completely unfazable, he had seen the most horrifying things as a young boy living in the slums with his two companions, and he was the one who stared blankly on as the others regarded him with disbelief that he was not affected by such sights.
He could hear footsteps stamping angrily away, getting softer and softer and then finally, the slam of a heavy sounding door. Then there was silence. After a few seconds, he could hear a shuffling, then a sleepy groan, and the sound of different footsteps getting closer.
"What's..where am I?"
He recognised that voice too. Goten. His best friend, trusted comrade, the one with the heart-warming naivety. Goku's voice spoke up.
"Sorry"
"What for? Where is this place?"
"You don't know? Lord Krillin ordered you and your friend be held here, in these dungeons, until you are executed a week from now"
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then Goten spoke up once more.
"Why?"
"For the kidnapping of Lady Marron, and the unlawful murder of Lord Masaki and Lord Serimori"
"M...Masaki? Who told you that?" Goten's voice was disbelieving.
"I can't say"
"Where's Trunks?"
"Trunks?" Was that shock he could hear?
"My friend"
"He's Trunks?"
Silence.
"My Lady? How do you feel?"
Marron didn't answer her nurse. Instead she stared at the wall opposite her, the tears streaming down her pale face. How could her father allow this?
"My Lady?"
Bulma sighed softly and sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking Marron's hair out of her face.
"Wherefore are you so upset? You are finally back where you belong, are you not?"
No response. Bulma smiled grimly, tucking her mistress' hair behind her ears.
"You were not kidnapped that night, were you, Miss Marron?" she muttered quietly. Marron started violently, looking up at the nurse in confusion and shock. And Bulma knew that she had been correct. The young woman's reaction was evidence enough.
Lord Krillin stamped angrily into the drawing room, his brow furrowed in agitation. Chi-Chi, who was in the process of dusting the large ornate fireplace leapt up on seeing him and bowed hastily.
"Get back to work, Miss Chi-Chi!" the Lord growled, and the woman nodded, turning her attention back to the fireplace. She knew from experience that Lord Krillin would talk to her in his own time, even though she was itching to know what had happened to Lady Marron.
Krillin sank down into his chair behind his large desk with a long sigh. He shook his head, grabbing a small letter opener with a ceramic white handle. Resting his chin on his hand, he traced circles on the desk with the letter opener.
Those young scoundrels. How dare they kidnap his only daughter and injure her so? It was a good thing that he had sent for Doctor Lowell, the best doctor in the village. Yes, there was talk that he had been involved in some under the table dealings, someone had even said that he consorted with the most vicious criminals ever to grace the quiet town. However, Lowell was genuinely pleasant, and the Lord liked to see such a quality in his subjects. He just hoped that Goku would not mention that thief in the dungeons who was close to death. Lowell's kind-heartedness could be a problem if he did.
Growling, Krillin raised his hand and then slammed the letter opener straight into the desk. It became embedded up to the handle in the soft wood. Chi-Chi jumped, dropping the duster to the ground. Plumes of dust rose up, making the maidservant cough. Lord Krillin turned to her and smiled.
"Sorry, Miss Chi-Chi" he said. "I didn't mean to startle you"
Chi-Chi stared at him for a few moments before she came to her senses. She adjusted her white bandana absently and reached for the duster once more.
"No, my Lord, I should not be so edgy" she said with a wave of her hand. She quickly turned back to the fireplace and commenced working again.
"I expect you would like to know what has been going on today, am I right?" Krillin asked.
"Well, my Lord, I expect it is none of my business" she told him, concentrating on the task in hand. Krillin laughed jovially.
"Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "Of course it is! You live in this house, do you not?"
He ran a hand through his greying hair and smiled at the servant.
"Well, if you should be so kind as to inform me, then I would be most grateful" the woman said, setting down the duster. Krillin nodded, rising out of the chair and crossing the room to a large bookcase. He ran a finger slowly down the spine of one of the books, and then turned to Chi-Chi.
"My guards found my daughter in captivity" he began. Chi-Chi gazed at him with interest. "Held in the most squalid of dwellings, a dilapidated house near the square. Can you imagine? My daughter, Lady Marron, being forced to live in such a place!"
Chi-Chi shook her head.
"I cannot begin to, my Lord, " she said quietly. As he went on, Chi-Chi sighed softly. If she knew anything at all, she knew that there was more to the story than a simple kidnapping. And she had a feeling that Marron had not left the manor entirely against her will.
"Trunks. Trunks? Come on, my friend, you must wake up"
Goten reached through the bars of his prison and tried in vain to reach Trunks with his hand. His friend was lying on the cold stone floor, his eyes closed, and his face ghostly white. In the flickering light coming from the torches positioned on the wall, the young thief could also see a dark pool of blood still spreading out. How long had they been here? He had no idea, but he hoped against all hope that his friend hadn't been bleeding the entire time. Otherwise there was no way he could possible survive. Could he?
He turned away from the sight. He couldn't stand to see his friend like this. "Trunks, we've been through so much together. Don't you dare die on me now" he said softly.
The guard whom he had been talking to had been gone for a while now. After Goten had mentioned his friend's name, the guard had began acting strange, and when he had pushed the matter further, had made his excuses and left. Why was that guard so familiar? Had he seen him in the square before? He was sure he had seen him somewhere before.
"Trunks?" he called out again. He got no response. Eyes wide with fear, Goten fell silent. Was it too late already? Was his friend already dead? He closed his eyes, praying that he was wrong. Then he crept forward once more, reaching through the bars again. But before he could touch his comrade, the heavy dungeon door was suddenly flung open, and a woman he didn't recognise stood in the doorway. Goten winced and shielded his eyes, temporarily blinded by the sudden intrusion of light. The woman turned around, calling to someone outside.
"Goku speed up," she hissed. The guard from earlier joined her in the doorway.
"Miss Bulma, hurry and go inside before the Lord sees you," he whispered. Goten's hands fell to his sides in surprise. Did he just say 'Bulma?'
A/N: Finally! I haven't updated this for a month! Well, that's the end of that chapter! Hope you enjoyed reading it, and thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed so far! I hope this chapter was worth reading. Don't forget to review, and I'll see you soon for chapter 15!
Aerith