Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z and I'm not making any money from
this.
~~~~
A/N: I hereby apologise for the (lack of) length and badly written fight scene of this chapter. Also, I quoted two lines of Romeo and Juliet. So sue me. (No, actually, don't. I'm saving up for a Cloud plushie.)
~~~~
Chapter 20: Release
~~~~
The Lord stood there, eyes narrowed, the moonlight bouncing off his black hair. Though he was a short man, his appearance that night was nevertheless intimidating, and the way in which the blade he held in his right hand shone in the light only seemed to add to the imposing appearance he had. Trunks slowed his run to a walk, then his walk to a stop, letting go of Marron's hand and immediately taking a hold of the hilt of his own sword, which had been strapped across his back.
"I knew you would come through this way." Krillin said, fury glinting in his eyes. "So, you planned to kidnap my daughter once again and do what you would with her, did you, vermin?"
Trunks said nothing, but simply pulled the sword from its sheath, bringing his foot forward to sink into a ready stance.
"Would you fight me, then?" the Lord sneered.
"If you continue to stand in my way." Trunks replied calmly, his eyes never leaving Krillin's, his face expressionless.
"Father - " Marron began, but was interrupted as the Lord let out a furious battle cry, swinging his blade forward with ease towards the thief. Trunks hastily brought his own sword up to block the attack, and there was a terrible grating sound of steel against steel.
"You would try and kill me in front of my love?" Trunks murmured. Krillin growled, pressing down on the sword with all his might to try and force Trunks' sword aside, leaving him open for attack. The younger man gritted his teeth, placing his free hand against the flat of the weapon and pushing upwards suddenly, catching his adversary off guard and knocking him away.
"Your love?" Krillin cried in a rage, scrambling to his feet and rushing the young thief once again, ignoring his daughter's cries of protest. "You try to tell me you are capable of such a feeling, scoundrel? And towards my fair daughter, of all people? I'll slaughter you for your insolence!"
He attacked again, and once more a metallic clang echoed throughout the area.
"Think of me what you will," Trunks hissed, blocking another assault with his blade, "But I will not allow you to compromise her freedom!"
He sprang forwards to attack, catching the Lord by surprise. Krillin shielded his face at the last minute, crying out as the thief's sword slashed the skin of his forearm. Ignoring the burning pain, he scowled, simply allowing the fact that Trunks had bested him to fuel his anger and hatred towards the boy. He grabbed his sword hilt with both hands now, going on the attack, lunging forwards and unleashing a vicious assault, his eyes blinded by rage.
~~~~
Eighteen stood in the drawing room, one palm pressed against the window, ice blue eyes fixed on the horizon.
"You did what was right, Eighteen."
She didn't answer, eyes still gazing out the window. Seventeen walked over to her, and was shocked to see a single tear roll down his sister's porcelain cheek. Awkwardly, he put his arm around her shoulders, and the blonde heaved a sob, leaning into his embrace.
"I will miss her, Seventeen," she whispered. "But I know that he will make her happier than Krillin and I ever could."
Her brother said nothing, but she felt him nod in response.
"But still, I'm worried."
"Dry your tears, Eighteen. Marron will be fine. The boy will take care of her. He wouldn't harm her. Once - "
"Once they get to the next town," she finished for him, wiping her eyes. "They'll be fine once they get to the next town."
And as she turned away from the window to smile at her brother, she truly believed that.
~~~~
Trunks quickly blocked the attacks with his blade once more, but was rapidly losing stamina and strength, being forced backwards by the furious Lord. He let out a groan of pain as the dull ache once again began to reside in his stomach, making it harder and harder for him to breathe. Another swing of the sword, another block, but he wasn't fast enough.
Pain seared through his shoulder as his adversary's sword scraped it, but still he defended against the onslaught. He could hear Marron's desperate pleas towards her father, but they fell on deaf ears. Krillin was letting his anger control him now; he couldn't hear her any more.
Marron watched in horror as her father and beloved continued their duel. Hot tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She'd come this far, she could see the dock from where she was standing, and a curtain of moonlight lit up the area like a beacon, calling to her. The ship was still there; they would have made it if only her father hadn't found them.
Father, why?
Why was he doing this? She watched as Trunks fended off his attacks as best he could, but she could see that if she didn't do something, her father would be victorious and her lover...dead.
Trunks growled in frustration as he continued to parry Krillin's constant attacks. This was getting them nowhere, and the boat would be leaving any minute now. He wouldn't allow an insignificant injury to be his downfall. He and Marron would leave this place, and they would leave this place tonight.
With renewed strength, Trunks set about regaining the upper hand, and in a move that Krillin had not expected, he dropped his weapon, and leapt into the air, performing a spinning roundhouse kick which connected with his enemy's head, knocking him to the ground. Trunks landed, quickly retrieving his sword as Krillin got to his feet. The Lord raised his blade high for another powerful attack, and the young thief smirked, bringing his fist back and landing a solid blow to the man's stomach. He doubled over immediately, gasping for breath, the tip of his sword trailing across the dust covered ground.
Trunks, fuelled by adrenaline and the thrill of battle, quickly brought his sword up for the killing blow, and with one last sneer at his enemy; he expertly brought the sword down in a graceful arc towards Krillin's head.
"Father!" Marron screamed in terror, rushing forwards. The girl leapt in front of Krillin, without a second thought, throwing herself straight into the path of the sword. She closed her eyes, preparing for the blow that would surely end her life. But how ironic, that the one she loved would be the one to destroy her.
A second later, she heard a dull clang as the tip of Trunks' sword slammed into the ground at her feet. At the last moment, he had been able to avoid the girl, and with wide eyes, was now staring at her. The sword slipped from his grasp, but he paid no attention.
"God, I almost..." he trailed off as the full realisation of what had just happened hit him. Marron was trembling, her arms still spread out to shield her father.
"I almost..." His body went numb, he felt as though he were paralysed under his love's hurt gaze.
"Would you have killed my father? Truly?" Marron choked out. Trunks opened his mouth to answer, but the words never came. Suddenly, he felt a sharp blow to his midsection, and with confusion, he looked down.
A sword was embedded there, almost up to the hilt, and he stared with glassy eyes and a sick fascination as blood began to flow freely from the wound, the hot, red liquid painting a trail down his stomach, soaking through the ragged shirt he wore to mix with the dirt from the dungeons.
How? His mind couldn't seem to grasp exactly how this had happened. It shouldn't have happened, there was no reason for it. The duel had stopped, so then why the attack?
He followed the length of the sword with his eyes, until his accusing gaze fell on the person holding it. Lord Krillin looked nearly as surprised as he felt, his whole body trembling with shock. Trunks looked away from the Lord to stare dully at his lover, who was gazing at him in horror.
"T...Trunks..." she stammered as he drew one shuddering breath, his blank eyes fixed on her. The sword remained in its position, perhaps the only thing that was keeping the thief from collapsing. Tears began to fill her eyes, and he leaned forward slightly, a pained smile on his face.
"Why the devil came you between us?" he whispered to her. "I was hurt under your arm."
Then the tears began to fall, as she realised what he was referring to. The play that bound them together from the instant their eyes met. Their first meeting, how they had both recited their lines, Trunks doing nothing to calm the undeniable attraction between them. "I'll destroy you," he had said. And now...
"I thought all for the best," she told him brokenly. Her words seemed to offer him a slight satisfaction, and then as her father came to his senses and pulled the sword from the boy, he finally crumpled to the ground, the image of the beautiful young woman blurred by his own tears. She knelt by him on the dusty ground, her body shaking with sobs, and he yearned to reach for her, to say something more, to reassure her that it wasn't over, that they would escape someday, but he found that he couldn't draw breath.
"Not yet..." he heard her whisper. "It's not time yet..."
Her innocence still warmed him, even as the life flooded from him, soaking his shirt and the ground around him. It was always time. His vision dimmed, and though he had often fought against the darkness in the past, this time, he found himself lost to it. This time, it was over.
And nearby, the boat that would have been their salvation sailed away into the distance.
~~~~
A/N: I hereby apologise for the (lack of) length and badly written fight scene of this chapter. Also, I quoted two lines of Romeo and Juliet. So sue me. (No, actually, don't. I'm saving up for a Cloud plushie.)
~~~~
Chapter 20: Release
~~~~
The Lord stood there, eyes narrowed, the moonlight bouncing off his black hair. Though he was a short man, his appearance that night was nevertheless intimidating, and the way in which the blade he held in his right hand shone in the light only seemed to add to the imposing appearance he had. Trunks slowed his run to a walk, then his walk to a stop, letting go of Marron's hand and immediately taking a hold of the hilt of his own sword, which had been strapped across his back.
"I knew you would come through this way." Krillin said, fury glinting in his eyes. "So, you planned to kidnap my daughter once again and do what you would with her, did you, vermin?"
Trunks said nothing, but simply pulled the sword from its sheath, bringing his foot forward to sink into a ready stance.
"Would you fight me, then?" the Lord sneered.
"If you continue to stand in my way." Trunks replied calmly, his eyes never leaving Krillin's, his face expressionless.
"Father - " Marron began, but was interrupted as the Lord let out a furious battle cry, swinging his blade forward with ease towards the thief. Trunks hastily brought his own sword up to block the attack, and there was a terrible grating sound of steel against steel.
"You would try and kill me in front of my love?" Trunks murmured. Krillin growled, pressing down on the sword with all his might to try and force Trunks' sword aside, leaving him open for attack. The younger man gritted his teeth, placing his free hand against the flat of the weapon and pushing upwards suddenly, catching his adversary off guard and knocking him away.
"Your love?" Krillin cried in a rage, scrambling to his feet and rushing the young thief once again, ignoring his daughter's cries of protest. "You try to tell me you are capable of such a feeling, scoundrel? And towards my fair daughter, of all people? I'll slaughter you for your insolence!"
He attacked again, and once more a metallic clang echoed throughout the area.
"Think of me what you will," Trunks hissed, blocking another assault with his blade, "But I will not allow you to compromise her freedom!"
He sprang forwards to attack, catching the Lord by surprise. Krillin shielded his face at the last minute, crying out as the thief's sword slashed the skin of his forearm. Ignoring the burning pain, he scowled, simply allowing the fact that Trunks had bested him to fuel his anger and hatred towards the boy. He grabbed his sword hilt with both hands now, going on the attack, lunging forwards and unleashing a vicious assault, his eyes blinded by rage.
~~~~
Eighteen stood in the drawing room, one palm pressed against the window, ice blue eyes fixed on the horizon.
"You did what was right, Eighteen."
She didn't answer, eyes still gazing out the window. Seventeen walked over to her, and was shocked to see a single tear roll down his sister's porcelain cheek. Awkwardly, he put his arm around her shoulders, and the blonde heaved a sob, leaning into his embrace.
"I will miss her, Seventeen," she whispered. "But I know that he will make her happier than Krillin and I ever could."
Her brother said nothing, but she felt him nod in response.
"But still, I'm worried."
"Dry your tears, Eighteen. Marron will be fine. The boy will take care of her. He wouldn't harm her. Once - "
"Once they get to the next town," she finished for him, wiping her eyes. "They'll be fine once they get to the next town."
And as she turned away from the window to smile at her brother, she truly believed that.
~~~~
Trunks quickly blocked the attacks with his blade once more, but was rapidly losing stamina and strength, being forced backwards by the furious Lord. He let out a groan of pain as the dull ache once again began to reside in his stomach, making it harder and harder for him to breathe. Another swing of the sword, another block, but he wasn't fast enough.
Pain seared through his shoulder as his adversary's sword scraped it, but still he defended against the onslaught. He could hear Marron's desperate pleas towards her father, but they fell on deaf ears. Krillin was letting his anger control him now; he couldn't hear her any more.
Marron watched in horror as her father and beloved continued their duel. Hot tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She'd come this far, she could see the dock from where she was standing, and a curtain of moonlight lit up the area like a beacon, calling to her. The ship was still there; they would have made it if only her father hadn't found them.
Father, why?
Why was he doing this? She watched as Trunks fended off his attacks as best he could, but she could see that if she didn't do something, her father would be victorious and her lover...dead.
Trunks growled in frustration as he continued to parry Krillin's constant attacks. This was getting them nowhere, and the boat would be leaving any minute now. He wouldn't allow an insignificant injury to be his downfall. He and Marron would leave this place, and they would leave this place tonight.
With renewed strength, Trunks set about regaining the upper hand, and in a move that Krillin had not expected, he dropped his weapon, and leapt into the air, performing a spinning roundhouse kick which connected with his enemy's head, knocking him to the ground. Trunks landed, quickly retrieving his sword as Krillin got to his feet. The Lord raised his blade high for another powerful attack, and the young thief smirked, bringing his fist back and landing a solid blow to the man's stomach. He doubled over immediately, gasping for breath, the tip of his sword trailing across the dust covered ground.
Trunks, fuelled by adrenaline and the thrill of battle, quickly brought his sword up for the killing blow, and with one last sneer at his enemy; he expertly brought the sword down in a graceful arc towards Krillin's head.
"Father!" Marron screamed in terror, rushing forwards. The girl leapt in front of Krillin, without a second thought, throwing herself straight into the path of the sword. She closed her eyes, preparing for the blow that would surely end her life. But how ironic, that the one she loved would be the one to destroy her.
A second later, she heard a dull clang as the tip of Trunks' sword slammed into the ground at her feet. At the last moment, he had been able to avoid the girl, and with wide eyes, was now staring at her. The sword slipped from his grasp, but he paid no attention.
"God, I almost..." he trailed off as the full realisation of what had just happened hit him. Marron was trembling, her arms still spread out to shield her father.
"I almost..." His body went numb, he felt as though he were paralysed under his love's hurt gaze.
"Would you have killed my father? Truly?" Marron choked out. Trunks opened his mouth to answer, but the words never came. Suddenly, he felt a sharp blow to his midsection, and with confusion, he looked down.
A sword was embedded there, almost up to the hilt, and he stared with glassy eyes and a sick fascination as blood began to flow freely from the wound, the hot, red liquid painting a trail down his stomach, soaking through the ragged shirt he wore to mix with the dirt from the dungeons.
How? His mind couldn't seem to grasp exactly how this had happened. It shouldn't have happened, there was no reason for it. The duel had stopped, so then why the attack?
He followed the length of the sword with his eyes, until his accusing gaze fell on the person holding it. Lord Krillin looked nearly as surprised as he felt, his whole body trembling with shock. Trunks looked away from the Lord to stare dully at his lover, who was gazing at him in horror.
"T...Trunks..." she stammered as he drew one shuddering breath, his blank eyes fixed on her. The sword remained in its position, perhaps the only thing that was keeping the thief from collapsing. Tears began to fill her eyes, and he leaned forward slightly, a pained smile on his face.
"Why the devil came you between us?" he whispered to her. "I was hurt under your arm."
Then the tears began to fall, as she realised what he was referring to. The play that bound them together from the instant their eyes met. Their first meeting, how they had both recited their lines, Trunks doing nothing to calm the undeniable attraction between them. "I'll destroy you," he had said. And now...
"I thought all for the best," she told him brokenly. Her words seemed to offer him a slight satisfaction, and then as her father came to his senses and pulled the sword from the boy, he finally crumpled to the ground, the image of the beautiful young woman blurred by his own tears. She knelt by him on the dusty ground, her body shaking with sobs, and he yearned to reach for her, to say something more, to reassure her that it wasn't over, that they would escape someday, but he found that he couldn't draw breath.
"Not yet..." he heard her whisper. "It's not time yet..."
Her innocence still warmed him, even as the life flooded from him, soaking his shirt and the ground around him. It was always time. His vision dimmed, and though he had often fought against the darkness in the past, this time, he found himself lost to it. This time, it was over.
And nearby, the boat that would have been their salvation sailed away into the distance.