Disclaimer: See first chapter for disclaimer. Arigatou! .

A/N: Hey guys! Three more reviews and that makes ten! Yay, go me! You guys actually like it. . I'm glad. Sorry it's been a while! It probably will be between updates because I am taking turns between my three stories and I don't get loads of time to type them up! I always work on the stories though on my trusty, Rusty clipboard. :D Anyways, on with chapter four.

Chapter Four

At the Castle

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Soft foot steps sounded in the stone hallway and the sound of cloth dragging on the stone followed. Bulma was walking towards her son's room. It had been months since she had seen either of her children and since Vegeta had been killed by Donovan. She knew Bra was safe for the time being with Goku's family, but she was unsure of Trunks. Goku had been a friend of Bulma's for years before his death, since then she had stayed in close contact with his family. Once Trunks' life was put in danger by Donovan that was the only place she could think to send her only daughter. She had slept little the night before, not like she slept much anyways. She constantly had dreams about her beloved Vegeta's death or of Donovan finding Trunks, opening the fluid filled coffin and finishing his poison's job. She knew that Donovan wanted Trunks dead because he was the heir to the throne.

She came to the door of Trunks' room. It was dark inside, the drapes drawn closed on the windows. Everything was exactly the way it was the day Bulma found Trunks poisoned and had raced to save his life. There was a large king sized, four poster bed off to the right of the door. The head board was against the wall, the canopy was made of rich, red velvet material with large, plump cushions thrown on the bed. The bed clothes were slightly wrinkled where Trunks had hastily made his bed the morning of the "accident." The curtains to the window seat were drawn closed. She remembered many times coming into his room to find him staring out the window at the beautiful view of the country side and the village. There was a wardrobe, about a foot taller than Bulma, made of red oak across from the bed and a full length mirror beside of it. Bulma looked at her reflection. She was wearing a long blue gown that had once hugged the curves of her body, but now it was so baggy she had to wear a silver sash tied about her waist. The neck was cut low enough to fully show off her collar bones. Her face was pale with dark circles under her once bright blue eyes. She was a ghost of the woman she used to be. Donovan was not unkind to her, surprisingly, but she refused him. She had sworn the day Donovan killed Vegeta that she would never give in to him.

"I would rather die," Bulma growled at her reflection. Her long aquamarine hair fall down over her shoulders in waves, just as lifeless as she looked and felt. She turned from the mirror and walked over to the mahogany desk to the left of the bed. She sat in the cushioned chair and once more looked over the contents of the desk. There was stationary with the royal crest neatly printed onto the paper, a bottle of ink, a quill and an assortment of papers, a candle a stamp with the crest carved into the end used to steal letters. After a moment Bulma reached up into her left sleeve, untying a ribbon hidden there. She pulled the key out of the little pocket she had sewn there herself to hide the key. She opened the top drawer on the left of the desk and felt with her hand for the keyhole in the bottom of the drawer. It had been carved straight into the wood so it was difficult to find, even for one who knew where it was. When she found it she put the key in and turned it.

The hinged door popped up and Bulma put the key back into the pocket inside her sleeve. She opened the door and took out a small black, metal box. She set it on the desk and reached into the other sleeve and pulled out another key. It was small and silver in color. She put the key into the keyhole in the top of the box and opened it. She removed the piece of black cloth from the box and put it on the table. A soft glow emitted from the box, which was the reason the black cloth was put over it. She lifted out a small crystal vile, made of the same material the coffin Trunks was put in was made of, with a softly glowing red, tainted purple liquid that was thicker than water. This was a sample of Trunks' blood Bulma had taken after he had been poisoned. She had added the necessary amount of the blue liquid to his blood to destroy the poison. It had been a slow process, but showed good signs. The crystal in which Bulma had made the vial and coffin from was linked and she could also check his vitals because of the crystal.

She sighed softly, about to put the vile back when a hissing sound interrupted her. In the space above the rapidly changing liquid was a white mist. The blood was changing back to it's normal color and the crystal of the vile itself was glowing. Bulma's eyes widened and for the first time in months, she smiled.

"He's awake," she whispered to herself. She was happy again, but she would have to hide it from Donovan or he might suspect something. To him, Trunks was dead. They had, had a funeral for him, but the coffin had been empty. If Donovan found out he could kill Trunks in his weakened state. Bulma knew Pan had been locked in the tower with Trunks. She knew Pan went out there to the tower often and she chose a time that she knew Pan would be there to bring Trunks. She knew Pan would be curious and follow them into the tower where she would be locked. Donovan would have noticed one of the maids missing if she had sent them to stay with him. Bulma had left a letter for Trunks telling him not to come home and to go with Pan. She only hoped he finds it and that Donovan would not find out.

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Pan had been sitting with Trunks in his room when Chi Chi can in to check his wound. He laid still as she removed the bandage and looked over the wound. She then put some more green paste over the wound and put a fresh bandage over it.

"There you go, Trunks," Chi Chi said.

"I get out of the tower after being poisoned, just to get poisoned again," Trunks sighed. Chi Chi looked at Pan with an eyebrow raised.

"I know you heard about his accident, right? Well, he said while he was recovering someone gave him a dose of strong poison. His mother put him in a coffin with this liquid that slowly heals damaged tissue and put him in the tower for safe keeping. That was when I was locked inside. Whoever this guy is that is trying to kill Trunks thinks he's dead, but I don't understand why someone shot him with a poisoned arrow if Trunks is supposed to be dead?" Pan explained.

"Rogues, that's why. Thieves live in the forests near the village. They care about nothing but the valuables you may be carrying," Chi Chi said. Pan nodded her head.

"That makes sense," she said.

"Well, I'll be going now. There are things to do around the house. I'll be back to check on you again in a little while, Trunks," Chi Chi said. Trunks nodded to her and she left the room. Pan stood up and looked at him.

"I better go help. Would you like me to get Bra so you two can talk?" Pan asked.

"Yes, please, Miss Pan," Trunks said. Pan cocked an eyebrow.

"Didn't I say not to call me that?" she said. Trunks laughed. Pan swatted him with a pillow and then walked out to go get Bra.

Bra and Trunks visited for a while and Chi Chi came in to check on Trunks. Pan helped with chores and talked with her parents. Lunch and dinner came and went, Pan staying to help with dishes. Chi Chi told Pan that Trunks was doing better, but just in case she might want to stay one more night in the room with him. Pan agreed with her grandmother, but Gohan had to argue, of course.

"You said he was doing better, Mom," he said. Chi Chi looked at him.

"He may be doing better, Gohan, but he's not out of the woods yet," Chi Chi answered.

"Why can't someone else stay with him? Why Pan?" he asked.

"She volunteered to, Gohan. She told Bra she would take care of him," Chi Chi said, putting her hands on her hips.

"There are other people other than Pan who can stay with him other than Bra," Gohan argued.

"I am an old woman now. I need my rest. You would prefer Videl with you. Bra is a young girl who watched her father die. She cares for Goten and Goten for Bra, he is holding her together. Pan has been with Trunks since they were both locked in that tower. Pan is strong and so is he. She can help him in his weakened state. Pan can sense that something is wrong, therefore she would wake if something were wrong with the prince. Other than Bra, Pan is the only person he knows here. She is the only one who is capable," Chi Chi said. Gohan sighed.

"Gohan, she isn't a little girl anymore and she's not sleeping in the bed with him," Videl said. Gohan nodded, defeated. Pan, however, was already in Trunks' room getting ready for bed. Trunks was resting on his stomach, his eyes closed, but he was not asleep. She watched him a moment before blowing the candles and the oil lamp out. She laid down on her cot and pulled the covers up.

"Goodnight, Trunks," she said, rolling onto her side away from him.

"Goodnight, Pan," he answered. A few moment later, they were both fast asleep.

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Around midnight Pan awoke to Trunks calling out in his sleep. He had rolled onto his back and was tossing and turning wildly. Pan got up, shaking him slightly. He was sweating all over.

"No! Father!" Trunks cried out, opening his eyes wide. He winced feeling the pain in his back and sat up. He was breathing heavily as he pressed his face in his hands. Pan sat on the edge of the bed by his legs. She was worried about him and her concern was evident on her face.

"Trunks, are you okay?" she asked, watching him. His breathing eventually became normal after a few moments.

"I will be," he answered.

"Bad dream?" Pan asked. Trunks nodded.

"Yeah," he said. She was silent a moment.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked. This time Trunks was silent.

"His name is Donovan. He killed my father right in front of my mother, Bra, and myself," Trunks began.

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Flashback

"Father would not let me aid him in the fight. He said that as king it was his duty to protect his kingdom and to protect his family."

Trunks stood dressed in his black armor with his hair tied back with a white ribbon and sword at his left hip. He was standing beside his mother and sister, looking on at the battle between his father and Donovan. A moment before he had refused Trunks' help even though it looked at though Vegeta was not going to win. Vegeta was wearing white armor with the royal symbol etched into the metal in gold at the left shoulder, designs in gold all over the edges of his armor. A red cape hung from his shoulders held in place with a chain of gold, his black hair sticking up in its natural way, defying gravity. Trunks could see that his father was tiring against Donovan whose black cape swirled about behind him.

Suddenly Donovan moved in and knocked Vegeta's sword upwards, quickly pulling a dagger from his belt and putting it to Vegeta's neck. Bulma and Bra cried out as Trunks seethed. He wanted so badly to help his father, but he couldn't. This was his father's fight. Donovan smirked and Vegeta glared at him. He then kneed Vegeta in the gut, sending the king to his knees. Donovan then knocked his sword from his hand.

"I'm not so cruel that I will not let you say goodbye to them, Vegeta," he said in his mocking voice. Vegeta refused to look at his crying wife and daughter. He could not stand to see them that way though he did not show it. He did, however, turn his gaze upon Trunks and their eyes locked. Trunks got the message, bowing his head, his whole body shaking in rage. He looked up again, putting his hand on his sword's hilt, gripping it tightly. He stepped forward, but his father's voice stopped him.

"No, Trunks," he said. The look in Vegeta's eyes made him release his sword. Donovan smirked, pulling the dagger back and plunged it into Vegeta's neck. Bulma screamed and Bra sobbed loudly.

"No! Father!" Trunks cired as he watched Vegeta fall with Donovan standing over him. Donovan laughed as Vegeta suffered, not yet dead. Bulma ran to him, her gown billowing behind her. She knelt by Vegeta, holding his head gently in her hands. When Donovan moved to stop her, Trunks stepped between them. He wasn't going to let Donovan hurt his mother. He unsheathed his sword, challenging Donovan. Bulma cradled Vegeta, focusing only on her dying husband. A tear rolled down her cheek and fell onto Vegeta's face. He looked up at her, moving a hand up to touch her face. His breathing was ragged as he tried to live.

"I love you, Vegeta," she said softly. Bra came and knelt by her father as well. She kissed his cheek, tears falling down her own face. Bulma kissed him softly, knowing he was unable to speak, but his eyes told her everything. His hand fell silently and he laid still. She held him to her chest and cried.

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At first Donovan and Trunks matched blow for blow, but Trunks as his father was slowly tiring. It was strange because Donovan hadn't even worked up a sweat, his body moving with ease as he struck out again and again. Donovan smiled evilly at Trunks, his icy blue silver eyes watching Trunks' every move. Trunks fought for his father and his broken family, his spirit on fire. After a while Donovan got a lucky blow in, knocking Trunks to the ground. He put a black boot on Trunks' chest, putting his sword blade against his throat. His short, black spiked hair set off his eyes and pale complexion. He would have been handsome where is not for the evil gleam in his eyes and his wicked heart. He grinned down at Trunks, Trunks daring Donovan to kill him with his eyes.

"I'll spare you, boy, but I will tell you this. Defy me and it will be your family that will suffer," Donovan hissed, removing the sword from his neck. Trunks glared at him before getting up and going to his mourning mother and sister, bowing his head. He closed his father's eyes and moved to lift his body into his arms. Bulma picked up her husband's sword, making a vow to Vegeta, her family, and herself. Trunks carried Vegeta inside the castle with his mother and sister following behind. Donovan stood in the courtyard smirking as he watched them go inside.

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End of Flash Back

"My father was buried later. I believe in my heart he died honorably. I just wish I could have been able to do something before Donovan had killed him. He forced my mother to marry him. She refused until he said he would do terrible things to my sister. Ever since he's been kind to my mother and showered gifts upon her. She either throws them away or burns them because she won't take anything from that evil man. Before my so called accident my mother didn't look so well. She's not who she used to be since Donovan killed my father. The reasons Donovan wants me dead are I am the heir to the throne, and the day I challenged him after my father's defeat. I proved that I am a threat to him. He'll regret letting me live," Trunks clenched his fists, "I'll make sure of that." Pan watched him in silence as he struggled with the memories. He kept his head bowed, his body trembling. Pan wished she could help him. He sat that way for a little bit. Pan reached out and touched his uninjured shoulder. He looked up at her in the dark.

"Are you going to be okay, Trunks?" she asked.

"I will be eventually…," he answered. She nodded and he moved, hugging her and putting his head on her shoulder. "Thank you, Pan." He closed his eyes and she patted his back.

"What for?" she asked.

"For everything," he answered. She stayed quiet a moment.

"Goodnight, Trunks," she said. When she got no answer she laid him back down and kisses his forehead softly. She got back into bed and fell asleep shortly after with no more problems for Trunks.

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A/N: And there is part IV guys! I hope you enjoyed it! I had fun writing it. Please review on your way out, they are very much appreciated! I'll try to update again soon! Sayonara!

V-Chan

INSANE & PROUD!!

Max & Kane Forever!!

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