Chapter 1

He quietly snuck out into the hallway. He stuck close to the wall just incase one of them decided to come out early. Quietly he approached the door at the far end of the hallway. He pushed his short silver hair from his face to have it only fall back in front of his eyes. He reached the door and slowly pried it open. There were his targets. Lying down and doing nothing: nothing but sleep. He crept into the room as silent as he could. The one on the left stirred and rolled over. He waited until he was sure they wouldn't wake up. His father told him that only a coward would sneak up from behind while the enemy is unsuspecting but he didn't care at this point: he was too close.

He placed on foot in front of the other and silently made his way to his targets. He stopped about two feet away from them. He stared at them and almost laughed. So unsuspecting. He crouched down, took a deep breath, and sprang at them.

"Wake up! It's morning! C'mon!" He cried.

The two people jerked up in surprise and looked at the boy lazily. "Riku," one said tiredly, "It's four on the morning. Go back to bed"

"But Dad," he protested. "You promised you'd take me training today! You promised didn't he Mom?"

"Riku's right Trunks," the other said from next to him, "You promised."

"Kai," he complained, "I had a long day at work yesterday. I need to sleep."

Kai sat up in bed and looked at her son and back to her husband. "Put your face on." She whispered to Riku. "Now Trunks," she said mischievously, "How are you going to say no to a face like that?"

"I'm not looking!" he cried as he buried his face into his pillow.

"Daddy," Riku sniffed. "Please?"

Trunks opened his eyes and looked at his son. "Oh not the face." He complained as he tried to resist the sad face of his son.

"Trunks," Kai said in a low angry voice, "You promised him."

Trunks lay in his bed and didn't move. "Is he alright Mom?" Riku asked as he poked his father's side.

"I dunno son," she said. She lay back down next to Trunks and pushed him onto his side. "Trunks," she whispered in a gentle voice, "Just go be with your son. There will be a day when he won't want to be around you and you'll regret it."

Trunks's eyes shot open at that thought. "I guess you're right." He said to her. "Okay Riku, you win. Go downstairs and I'll meet you there."

"Yeah thanks Dad!" Riku jumped off the bed and ran downstairs.

Trunks sat up in his bed and Kai sat up next to him. She put her arms around him and nuzzled his neck. "Why does he have so much energy?" Trunks asked Kai.

"Besides the fact that he takes after you? He's seven years old; he's going to have a lot of energy for a while."

"And how long is a while?"

Kai looked at him in complete disbelief. "I can't believe you Trunks Briefs," she scolded. "Didn't you say that you wanted to be a better father than Vegeta? Well then spend more time with your son. Its bad enough you work those long hours at Capsule Corp. He just wants to spend time with you."

"Yeah you're right, as usual," he said as he climbed out of his warm bed to the bitter cold of the early autumn morning. "I would've done anything to spend some time with my father." He walked over to the window and looked out the window at their forest property. "To tell you the truth, I still do."

Kai smiled at her husband and joined him by the window. "I know you would. But don't do to Riku what Vegeta did to you."

Trunks smiled and kissed her cheek. "What would I do without you Kairi?"

"Working long agonizing hours at Capsule Corp from four in the morning to midnight. Just like when we first got married."

"You're talking about the time when I worked through our second anniversary and didn't get home until late that night huh?"

"Of course." She laughed as she went over to the closet. "What else would I be talking about?"

"You're never going to let that go are you?" he cried.

She raised an eyebrow at him and gave him an evil smile. "No, no I'm not."

"That's messed up." He said in a low voice. He approached her from behind and began to breathe down her neck. "What will it take for you to let that go?" He asked in a low sexy voice.

She turned around and gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, now that you've mentioned it…" she said in the same tone. Trunks got ready for what she was going to say and got rather excited but kept his cool. "Somehow stop sweating as much as you do." She said in her normal voice. "You can clear the three mile radius with the way you sweat."

"Very funny." He said disappointingly.

"You didn't think I would actually…"

"And why not?" He asked as he pulled her closer and started to kiss her neck.

"Trunks, your son is waiting."

"Yep," he said as he went back to what he was doing.

Trunks and Kai walked down the stairs together. Riku was over on the sofa watching early morning cartoons.

"Whatcha watching kiddo?" Kai asked after she kissed her son good morning.

"Venom's About," he answered.

"Awesome I love this show," Trunks laughed. He used to think that show was completely mindless but now he uses it as an opportunity to bond with his son. He sat down next to Riku and put his arms around the back of couch. Riku spun around and watched his mother. She turned around in the kitchen to make breakfast. "Is it clear?" Trunks whispered.

"Yep," he turned around and they both kicked their feet up on the coffee table. Trunks and Riku held in their laughter and continued to watch the TV.

"Feet off the table," Kai scolded from the kitchen.

Riku and Trunks looked at each other in surprise. "How does she do that?" They both asked each other at the same time.

"Because I'm a mother and a wife with a son and husband who think very much a like." Yet again they looked at each other in awe because of the acute senses of their loved one.

"Must be those ears," Trunks whispered, "Elves can hear almost anything if they want."

Kai set the table and lay out waffles, orange juice, Trunks's coffee, syrup and butter. "Okay time for…" Before she could finish her sentence, they were already at the table stuffing their faces with waffles. "Sayians," she muttered. She sat down and began to eat.

"That was yummy Mom." Riku said once he was finished.

"Yeah that was delicious," Trunks agreed and took a long drink of his coffee.

"Glad you enjoyed it." She said happily. She stood up and cleared the table.

"Okay Dad, c'mon!" Riku jumped up and began to pull on Trunks's arm.

"Alright Riku calm down." He said. He walked into the kitchen and kissed Kai goodbye. "See you later." He whispered into her ear and kissed her again.

Trunks and Riku went out the door and sprang into the air. Kai ran after them as fast as she could. "Trunks, you take it easy on him! If he comes back and even one hair on his head is damaged I swear I'll torture you until death!" Trunks shuddered at her threat and smiled. He knew she would do that if anything serious happened to their son. "Be careful Riku. I love you two!" They waved her goodbye and disappeared in the rising sun. "Take care of him Trunks."

Trunks and Riku stopped a little before they reached the end of their property. The sun was warming up the cold the pervious night had left and the little stream that ran a little further down from where Riku and Trunks stopped roared from melted early snow. The air was pure and crisp; the breeze was nice and refreshing, and the sky was a light blue accompanied by fluffy cumulus clouds. The grassy hills stretched on for miles beyond the ending of their property and Trunks often trained there: he thought it would be a perfect place for Riku.

"Okay where did we leave off last time?" He asked his eager son.

"You were teaching me how to go Super Sayian." He said punching at the air.

"I don't think so." He laughed. "That was a good try though."

"You were teaching me the kamehameha wave thing."

"That's more like it." He laughed. He grew serious and fell into a fighting stance. "Okay come here Riku." He ordered. Riku did as he was told and copied his father's stance. "Now, let's see if I can explain this, concentrate really hard on you energy. Concentrate it to your hands and keep it under control." Riku put his hands down at his sides and began to concentrate. Trunks felt the little energy Riku had stir and try to make its way to his hands. "That's it Riku," Trunks embraced, "Just like that." Enough energy gathered at his hands and Trunks continued with the lesson. "Now, here's the tricky part, collect the energy at your hands, thrust your hands in front of you and release." Trunks let out a weak blast that fly for a few miles and exploded. "It's a little easier if you scream out kamehameha while you're doing it. Got it?" Riku nodded his head.

"Ka-me-ha-me-ha!" As he finished, a little blast flew from his hands and went about one hundred years and blew up.

"Good job Riku," Trunks congratulated. "I'm proud of you!" Riku beamed up at his father and then frowned at the ground. "What's wrong Riku?" He asked.

"I'm never going to be as strong as you and grandpa." He said. "Even Akira's better than I am."

"Riku you will not be as strong as your grandfather and I." Riku looked up at his father hurt form what he said. Trunks smiled at him and kneeled down next to him. "You're going to be much stronger. Your mother also has skill in combat. Since she's and elf, she can control some elements and has incredible skill with weapons like the bow and arrow, daggers, and swords and no doubt you've inherited that from her. And you have your grandfather's strength. I can feel it. You will surpass us all. And the only reason why Goten's son Akira is stronger than you is because Goten doesn't have a job that keeps him from 3 A.M to 11 P.M. Not to mention, Goku is always willing to train Akira. So don't blame yourself. It's partially my fault."

Riku smiled at his father and hugged him "I love you Dad." He said.

"Love you too son." Trunks embraced his son for a moment then jumped up. "Now, shall we continue?"

They went over martial arts, energy attacks, speed build ups, and more. Trunks was surprised how fast Riku learned everything and how well he could keep up for someone his age. "He's defiantly his mother's child." He said to himself. They sparred well into the evening until about six o'clock.

"I think that's enough for the day." Trunks said as he collapsed down on the grassy cool hill.

"Aw just a little longer." Riku yawned and fell next to him.

"You can barely stand up let alone throw a punch." Trunks laughed. "Let's get home. Your mother is probably freaking out."

Riku yawned again and slowly rose to his feet. He could barely keep his eyes open and stand up straight. Once he was on his feet, he fell down again. Trunks laughed softly and picked up and flew home.

Trunks and Riku got home about twenty minutes later. Trunks opened the door and called for Kai. "We're home Kai." He said. He sat Riku down and he straggled around before he stopped moving.

"Hey," a familiar voice called happily.

Riku jerked awake. "Gramma!" He cried. He ran a straight as he could to Bulma and fell into her arms. "Hi Gramma!"

"Hi Riku. You look tired."

"I'm not tired," he denied and yawned.

"Well that yawn argues with you!" She laughed.

"Is grandpa here?" He asked.

"He's out back." She said. "Why don't you go say hi?" Riku hugged Bulma one last time and ran off to go greet Vegeta. "He's so much like you it's scary." She said to Trunks.

"Yeah," he agreed. "But why is Dad here?"

"I dunno, to be honest. I just came over here to talk with Kairi and then he showed up about an hour later. He's been waiting for Riku."

"Really?" He asked in shock. "That's a surprise."

Bulma hugged her son. "I know he wasn't father of the year material, but he loves you and he's a pretty decent grandfather."

"That's all I care about." He said. "As long as he treats my son with respect and doesn't blame him for every fault, I don't care." Bulma shook her head. "Say, where's Kai?" Trunks asked.

"She was out back with Vegeta. I think she's still out there."

"He didn't say anything bad to her did he?" He asked fiercely.

"Trunks, I think your father learned last time to watch what he said to her." She laughed. "He still remembers on your guys' wedding day when he said something about her being an elf and you went off on him." She laughed again. "He's afraid to look at her ears now."

Trunks chuckled and looked out the window to his left. "I think I'm the luckiest man in the world mom." He said. "I have a great wife, son, house, a decent job…"

"Decent?" She cried. "What do you mean decent? That's the best job I the state. You make athletes look like people who get minimum wage and you're saying it's decent?"

"When it takes out of my family time yes I am."

"I thought you started working shorter hours once Riku was born."

"Yeah, I knocked off an hour." He said. "Anymore and everybody would be going hay wire."

Kai walked in from the back her dagger in her hand. "Hey honey." She said. She went over to him and kissed him. When she was pulling away, Trunks cupped her face and put his tongue into her mouth. She returned and they kissed for another fifteen seconds. She hugged him and went into the kitchen to throw some weeds away.

"So what are Dad and Riku talking about Kai?" Trunks asked when she returned.

"Riku is telling him about the sparring."

"Is he listening?"

"Yes," she said dryly, "He listens to every word he has to say. He's a pretty good grandfather in my perspective."

"I told you son." Bulma said.

Trunks rolled his eyes and sighed. "So are you guys staying for dinner?" He asked.

"No, Bra already invited us over." She said disappointingly. "But I wish I could. Those elvish dishes Kairi make are to die for. And Bra isn't the greatest cook in the world."

"Aw thank you." Kai said as she hugged her.

"No problem." Bulma looked at the clock. "Oh, we have to go too. We're already a half an hour late." She rushed over to the back door and called to Vegeta. "C'mon Vegeta. We have to…." She stood shocked at what she saw.

"What is it Mom?" Trunks asked as he and Kai joined. They saw what shocked her and their mouths dropped open. Riku and Vegeta were laughing. It's not a surprise that Riku would be laughing but Vegeta's face was red and he was holding his sides.

He felt he was being watched and looked over at the door. Bulma and Kai were grinning happily and Trunks was just shocked. Vegeta quickly calmed down and walked around to the front and got into the car.

"He's so embarrassed." Kai and Bulma chimed.

Riku lazily walked inside. "Riku, give Gramma a hug. She has to go."

"Aw, does she have to?" He yawned.

"I'm sorry sweetie," Bulma apologized. She gave Riku and big hug and went to the front door.

"Bye Mom," Trunks said as he hugged his mother.

"Yeah bye Bulma," Kai said.

"Kairi, how many times do I have to tell you? You and Trunks have been married for nine years now. You can call me Mom now."

"I'm sorry Bulma…er I mean Mom. It's kinda hard to."

"Just work on it." Bulma waved goodbye and got into the car and Vegeta sped off.

Trunks and Kairi went inside. "I'll get dinner started," she said. She headed towards the kitchen but Trunks grabbed her and pulled her very close to him.

"I love you," he said. They kissed passionately again and Trunks let her go. She made a very good dinner of chicken with the sides of mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and Fairsous bread. When they were finished, she sent Riku to take a bath and then Trunks and Kai put him to bed.

Riku was fast asleep before his head hit the pillow. Kai stood over him and watched him sleep. Trunks wrapped his arms across her waist and began to shower her neck with kisses. He stopped a minute later and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"He reminds me of you." Trunks whispered. "He has your ambition and skill."

"And he has you attitude and looks."

"But he has your beautiful emerald eyes. And your mischievousness ways." She smiled at her son and leaned further into Trunks. They gazed at their son for a while longer. "C'mon, let's go to bed." Trunks suggested.

"Alright," she said. She kissed her son and pushed back his silver hair. "I love you Riku." She whispered.

"Love you too Mommy." He yawned hypnotically. She smiled and left his room. Trunks stayed a while longer and kissed his son goodnight and left behind his wife.

It was about midnight. Trunks and Kai were snuggled close together sleeping soundly. Riku was in his room down the hall dreaming away. Outside was a cold night. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. Rain pounded on the roof top. It was soothing to Kairi who was a light sleeper.

All was quiet: except for downstairs. Someone skillfully cut the glass out of the window and snuck inside. They slowly made their way up the stairs. Once at the top, they debated if they should go left or right. He looked down to the right and saw a lot of drawings and signs up on the door; assuming it was a child's room, they went that way. He reached the door and opened it carefully with a knife. They opened the door al the way and saw Riku curled up in a little ball in his bed. They grinned evilly and approached him.

In Trunks and Kairi's room, Trunks was tossing. He bolted up in his bed and began breathing heavily.

"What wrong honey?" Kairi asked sitting up next to him.

"I just got a horrible feeling." He said. "It won't go away."

"I feel it too." Kairi said. They looked at each other and ran out of their room. Kairi swiftly made her way to Riku's room. She stopped in front of his door and found that it was wide open. Trunks arrived right after she did. He pushed her behind him and stormed in.

"I don't see anything." He said. He examined the room and didn't see anything. Kairi went up to him.

"But, I still have that bad feeling." She said almost in tears.

Trunks put his arms around her. "Calm down Kairi." He cooed. "Everything's fine."

Kairi lifted her head and saw a black silhouette sneaking up from behind. "Trunks look out!" She screamed.

Trunks spun around and got smashed against the eastern wall. Riku jerked up and saw the figure. "Mommy!" He screamed. Kairi ran over to her son's side and held him tightly. The figure made his way over to them and Kairi formed an attack of ice in her hand. The figure rose up a steel gray sword and prepared to bring it down on her.

"No you don't!" Trunks yelled as he punched him to the side. He fell into a fighting stance and sprang at him. Trunks flew at him and drop kicked him to the side smashing him through the wall. He walked towards him and prepared to finish him off. He raised his hand to blast him with a ki blast, but just as he prepared to fire, the figure stood up and loomed over him.

"You will die!" It screamed. His eyes turned an eerie yellow and orange, their skin turned into rough brown and forest green scales, and their energy sky rocketed.

"Kai, you and Riku get out of here!" He yelled as he transformed to Super Sayian.

"Trunks what about you…"

"Don't worry about me just get the fuck out of here."

Riku's eyes went wide with horror. He'd never heard his father say that word before. Kai swept Riku up and ran for the door. She opened the door and was thrown back against the wall. Blood dripped down from Kai's forehead. She wiped it away from her eyes and saw another person. This one was short and plump and was smoking a cigar.

"Need help Shispon?" He croaked.

"Get out of here you bastard." Shispon roared. "I can kill them."

"Not if I kill you first." Trunks screamed. He charged Shispon and threw a series of punches and kicks at him. Shispon deflected them all with ease. He just began to laugh at Trunks. "What's so funny?" He demanded.

"You're pathetic." He said. "I would've expected better from the Sayian Prince's son. But a feather could do more damaged than you."

Trunks's Sayian pride took over him. "How dare you insult the Sayians!" He charge at him and got knocked aside from its horrendous strength.

"Daddy!" Riku cried. He tried to run to his father but Kai held him back. "Let me go! Dad needs help!"

"Stay back R-Riku." Trunks ordered as he struggled to his feet.

"But Dad…"

"God damn it Riku, just stay back."

Riku choked on his tears and fell back in Kai's arms. Kai shielded him with her body and kept him safe from the flying ki blasts. Riku buried his head in his mother's shoulders and tried not to cry. Kai stroked the back of her son's neck and prayed for Trunks to prevail.

Trunks was loosing energy, and loosing it quickly. He could barely throw an effective punch. "You're an annoying little pest." Shispon taunted as he picked Trunks up by the neck. "And weak. Just look at you. The Sayian race as gotten soft. You have a family that you cherish more than life itself, don't you?" Trunks just glared at him and struggled to get free. "No? So you don't mind if they die?"

"You touch them and I swear I'll…"

"Oh don't you worry." He cackled. "I won't touch them. But, him on the other hand…" Trunks cast his eyes over at the door and realized the short man for the first time. The short man laughed and flexed his chest. Power and a demonic aura surrounded him. His power far surpassed Shispon's and Trunks's combined.

"I've been waiting for you to let me kill them." He laughed. "I think I'll have some fun with the woman. Any objections?"

"Whatever you like." He said evilly.

That was too much for Trunks. He exploded out of Shispon's grasp. He sprang at the short man preparing to kill him. He threw a punch at him but stopped just before he hit his face. His face went pale and his body began to shake. "The hand is quicker than the eye." The short man said. He thrust the sword further into his abdomen and Trunks didn't do anything. The pain was too much for him to scream. The man pulled it out and watched Trunks's body fall to the floor.

"Trunks!" Kai screamed in horror.

Trunks was still shaking. Blood dripped from his mouth and from his stomach. He slowly turned his head Kai and Riku. "I love you tw…"

Before he could finish, the sword was brought down on his neck detaching his head.

"Trunks!" She screamed again.

"What happened Mommy?" Riku cried.

"Stay here Riku and take this." She placed an orb in his hands and took Trunks place in the battle. She formed to daggers of her ice and moved with speed slashing and cutting at them.

"This one might be worthy of killing." Shispon growled. "I'll need some back up."

The short man casually walked over to them and joined in the battle. Riku watched his mother take on both of them at the same time. He was so afraid and begged to wake up from the nightmare.

Kai was hit with great force and fell to the ground paralyzed. Shispon walked up to her and grabbed her by the neck like he did to Trunks. He eyed her up and down and smiled wickedly. "I don't think we should kill this one." He said.

"What do you mean?" The short man barked. "Of course we can."

"Only those with out honor would kill a woman baring a child."

"What do you mean?" He demanded again. "We were ordered to kill the brat as well."

"Yes but Master said nothing of killing an infant who hasn't been born yet." He looked at Kai with his yellow eyes. "How far are you into this pregnancy?"

"Why would I tell a monster like you?"

He laughed softly and pointed his hand at Riku. "Because if you don't, I'll kill the boy." Riku shivered and clutched the orb his mother gave him.

"About a month." She said quickly. "Don't hurt Riku."

"We'll be back in eight months," he said.

"You've gotten soft Shispon." The short man cried. "I will not fail this mission." He took up his sword and shoved right through Kai.

"Mommy!" Riku cried. "No Mommy!"

"You little bastard." Shispon cried. "Have you no honor?"

"I could care less of the unborn. I just like finishing missions." Shispon rolled his eyes and let Kai fall to the floor. "Now, it's the kid's turn to die." They both came towards Riku. He froze in fright. He looked at his decapitated father and his dead mother. He was hoping they hadn't died and would get up and protect him.

"Grandpa!" Riku screamed. He didn't think Vegeta would be coming to his aid.

"Oh are you afwaid," Shispon mocked. "This is why I love this job."

"You can say that again." The short man agreed. "I don't think grandpa will come and save you kid. There's no way he could protect you from us."

"He could kill you with out breaking a sweat!" Riku insisted.

"You know, you're right. But that's why we killed him and all the others before we came over here."

Riku froze. His mind raced with thoughts and pictures of all of those who are close to him dead. "Gramma…Grampa? Aunt Bra? Goten, Valise, Akira? You killed all of them?" His sadness turned into blind anger. "And then you killed my Mom and Dad? You will pay for that!" He stood up and yelled as loud as he could. His energy over powered Shispon's and the short man's. His eyes flickered between sapphire blue and blood red. Shispon and the short man stared in awe and horror at the power of the youth. Riku's hair stood out in different directions and turned bleach white. His eyes settled for blood red and a black aura surrounded him.

"What the hell is he?" Shispon cried in terror.

"You'll die now!" the seven year old screamed. He picked up his mother's daggers and charged at them: slashing and cutting them as he flew about them. Blood sprayed on the walls and other vile fluids sloshed to the floor. Within thirty seconds, Shispon and the other man fell to the floor dead. Riku collected a small portion of energy in his hands and put them to his sides. "Ka-me-ha-me-ha!" He released the energy and blasted them to oblivion. He cut off the flow of energy and looked at a pile of black ash were the monsters once stood. He spit in the ash and turned to his parents.

He powered down to his normal self and ran over to them. "Mommy Daddy, please wake up!"

No answer.

"C'mon Dad! Let's go spar or something please?" Trunks just lay there. "Mommy…? Can we go to the archery course please? I've been practicing and I want to show you." Kai just lay there next to Trunks. "Mom…? Dad…?" Riku pushed his mother over to Trunks and put Trunks's arm around her. "I love you guys." Riku said. He lay in between them like he did when there was a thunder storm and cried. The rain pounded harder and harder on the roof. The sky was crying for his loss. Riku got up and looked at them one last time. Riku thought he saw his father's arm move. "Dad…?" He cried. He dropped to him knees and shook him. His head rolled loose and fell away from his shoulders.