Breaking Free

Breaking Free Chapter 7

Sorry about the long, long wait. I was almost done with this chapter when my computer ate it,
so I had to start all over, which is very tedious and annoying. So this chapter might not be that
great. I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Sorry to all of those who were offended by chapter 6 and no I won't be rewriting any of it. I
wouldn't be a good writer if I didn't offend a few people.

I've changed my e-mail address (too much porn mail, though I don't know why . . . ^_~) So if
you have any questions or comments please e-mail me at: necco418@yahoo.com. I like
hearing from you ^_^

Oh, and if you don't approve of extreme violence, sex, swearing or adult situations in general
then you probably shouldn't be reading any of my stories.

I do not own dragonball z.



Bra had never seen her father as mad as he was when they got back to the palace that day.
Well, at least not directed to her. Over the course of her life she found that nothing stays the
same for long. The only constant thing is change and turmoil and she found her life right smack
dab in the middle of both.

Never once in her life has her father ever raised his hand in anger toward her. He has never
lashed out and struck her for any of the things she has done. The worst she ever received was
a severe tongue lashing, but things change. She had always been ædaddy's little girl' no matter
what. She never stopped to think about what her actions would do to her father, but she
found out that day and she understood.

To put it bluntly, he beat the living hell out of her. Within an inch of her life, actually. He didn't
go all out, but there was little she could do to defend herself against him, even if she had
wanted to, which she didn't. Pain was the only thing she ever wanted to feel again. The
physical pain she went through only matched the mental anguish she had been in to begin with.
It had been something to take her mind off of it, if only for a while.

She remembered arriving at the palace and being led to the medical wing. He ordered
everyone out so they didn't have to watch her disgrace. She had been confused at first, not
knowing what to expect, but she never expected what he did. One look into his craze filled
eyes told exactly what was about to happen and she accepted it.

It had been bad, she knew. Broken bones and an obscene amount of blood and that was only
the beginning. He completely lost it when he saw the mark on her neck. The mark that she
belonged to someone. That someone out there had touched his daughter, the princess. A
trespass worthy of death. He stopped, demanding to know who was foolish enough to touch
her, who was dumb enough to mark her. She had pulled her broken body off the floor,
slipping on her own blood and stood defiantly in front of him and told him to go to hell, there
was nothing he could do to get the name from her lips.

This only managed to enrage him more and she received the worst beating that she imagined
anyone hver ver received in the history of their planet. She vaguely remembered the beating
getting so bad that Trunks tried to intervene. Her brother trying to help her because their
father was on the verge of killing her. His attention went to Trunks, who was better able to
defend himself, though in their father's blood rage it didn't do much and he got his ass beat
too. It got the desired effect though. Her father calmed down and dumped her in a tank,
where she stayed for three days.

He tried again, after she got out, to get the name of the man who marked her. She thought
better of telling him off this time and told him that the man was already dead. In a way it was
true. She was sure her sudden disappearance killed him. She said no more on the subject and
even though Vegeta knew she was lying he let it go. He knew that she wouldn't tell him what
he didn't want to know, he had to just wait until she slipped up and spoke his name. Then he
would kill him and his family for daring to touch what did not belong to him.

Bra's retwentwent without much fanfare. The only thing that marked it was the release of
prisoners two months after she'd been back. Her mother's precious lab, where she spent
countless hours, was finally closed off. Her father did not want her to have the chance to make
something else to get away with. Not that she'd leave if she had the chance. She truly had no
where to go. The only place she wanted to be was in Goten's arms and she couldn't go back
to him. Not after the way she left. He wouldn't accept her now.

It was plain to see that she wasn't the same since her absence. The passionate, vibrant,
outgoing young woman was now closed-off and withdrawn. Her blue eyes that sparkled with
the jf lif life, love and mischief were now dull, lifeless and hollow. The only time they shined
was when filled with unshed tears.

The sweet, sarcastic, demanding voice that once filled the halls of the palace was silent. She
only spoke when spoken to and even then it was barely above a whisper. There were no
more jokes or pranks. No proclamation of her greatness. Nothing.

It was unsettling to be in her presence. She always seemed to be in a daze, her eyes sad and
glazed, her body hunched over in depression. Even her hair fell limp and lifeless in her face,
which was always drawn and pale. She looked sick, as if she was slowing dying. In a way she
was. Every day was filled with torture and torment. Every day her will to live became less and
less. She wanted to kill who ever said that time heals all wounds, because hers were still open
and raw as the day she left him. She wasn't healing.

She couldn't eat. She couldn't sleep. Sometimes she felt as if she was suffocating, as if she had
forgotten how to breathe. She didn't want to breathe. The air was stale and filled with the
stench of death, even in her flower filled room, all she could smell was death all around her.
Her own death.

She was cold, so very, very cold. Nothing she would do could warm her. Not like his arms
could. Cold and empty û lifeless. The night was the worst for her. Her bed was uncomfortable
and big, far too big for just her. She piled blanket upon blanket on her at night to ward off the
chill that settled upon her, only to wake shivering. She would toss and turn at night, looking for
his body next to hers. Searching for his strong arms to hold her and keep her warm, his
heartbeat to lull her to a peaceful sleep, his solid body to ward off the awful nightmares that
plagued her dreams.

The nightmares were bad. It was the same one every night since her return. She was on a
boat. An old,ketykety, wooden boat sailing on a black, lifeless sea. Thick fog shrouded her
vision and she could not see where she was going. She was searching for something, she
knew. She stood at the bow of the ship, straining her eyes for light, for some kind of life.

Tiny holes in the boat let the icy, black water in, slowly pulling it under, taking her with it. It
held her in place and she couldn't even struggle against it. As her anxiety and panic rose, she
would appear. Her mother. The dead corpse would laugh and taunt her, reminding her that
she truly was alone now. That she had always been alone. No one was there to help her.

Then she could see what she had been looking for the entire time. Goten. Standing only a few
feet away seemingly on top of the water. She would call out to him asking fis his help, but he
never turned to her. Then she could feel it. The intense, almost painful waves of unadulterate
hate rolling off of him. All of it directed toward her. She would cry and beg him to understand,
but he wouldn't listen. He hated her now. He hated her . . .

She would awake, drenched in sweat, with his name on her lips, moments away from crying
out to him. But she couldn't do that. All would be lost if she ever spoke his name. Her father
was watching her, waiting for her to slip. The dream would leave her up all night with a cold
sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. She could still feel the icy water all around her, pulling
her under. Her body would be colder than when she went to sleep and she thought she might
freeze to death.

Her body was hollow and empty. The small spark of life that had once been there was
missing. She always found her hand over her stomach looking for it, but it was gone. God, she
was cold. So freezing cold. Like the mountain top where she took his life. . .

Some nights she would awake to the sound of a baby crying. A tiny babe calling out to its
mother for food. She would get up to go and feed her child only to find that he was there.
Sometimes she would panic, thinking someone stole him from her, only to realize that he never
was. It didn't stop the crying in her head though. She could feel him, scared and alone in the
black oblivion of death, crying out to her for comfort. He didn't understand why she didn't
answer him. He didn't understand why she couldn't answer him.

Shntednted nothing more than to hold him and soothe away his fears and her own, but she
couldn't. The tiny spark of life was gone forever, she'd made sure of that. He wanted her to
keep him safe, but they could never be together again. Never again . . .

The days were almost as bad as the nights, although during the day she could try to find
something to occupy her mind. Some days were worse than others. On the bad days she
couldn't even leave her room. She would sit there on her bed trying to rock her child to sleep
or just holding her head trying to make the pain go away. The pain would never go away and
the baby would never sleep. He was so scared . . .

Her family worried about her, but there was nothing they could do to help her. They didn't
know what was wrong and she'd be damned before she told any of them. They tried
everything that used to make her happy but none it worked anymore. She wasn't the same
person as she was when she left. If only they knew how simple it could be. If only she could
return to her lover, her mate. But it was forbidden.

She saw him. Everywhere, he was everywhere. She saw his face every time she turned
around, heard his voice whenever anyone spoke. It was maddening, running down the halls
after an image of him only she could see. He would never wait for her, she could never catch
up to him and if she did she would only find that it was someone else. It wasn't him. It couldn't
be him. It would never be him. Not again . . .

Like the tiny boat on the black sea she was slowly sinking into insanity. Between the crying,
the nightmares, and his image she was losing her mind. Every day was worst than the one
before it. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed or even smiled. She took no
joy in anything anymore. There was no joy without him.

The only thing she had left any more was the knowledge that Trunks would soon be in r.
r.
She only had to wait a few more years then her father would be gone. Trunks would let her
take the mate of her choice. Why should he care? It was the only thought that kept her
hanging onto what little sanity she had left. That one day her father would be gone and she
would truly be free. Then they could be together. If only she could wait that long.

It's been almost two years since she's seen him last. The image of his face as they made love
forever burned into her mind, the peaceful smile he wore in his sleep as she looked at him for
the last time. It haunted her, along with knowledge that he might have moved on, found
someone to replace her in her absence. The very thought of it made her ill, though she
doubted he would. He had to know she would come back for him when she could, although
he had no real way of knowing that.

She clung to the one bit of news she'd heard about him since her return. She chanced upon a
couple of guards gossiping about a new squad leader taking command of some out of the way
planet a few months back. She didn't think much of it until they said his name. Apparently he
was the new squad leader and an impressive one at that. It had been the one thing that made
her truly happy in a long time. He was finally owning up to his potential. It also scared her
some, thinking that maybe this was the first sign that he'd forgotten about her.

It was the first and last thing she ever heard about him. The only other bit of information she
got from that discussion was his squad number, #418. Every day since then she listened to her
hyper-com link, hoping to hear something else about him, but there usually weren't reports
about third class squads. They were deemed unimportant. She thought about contacting
Bardock, but reasoned that it would be too risky. No, she only had to play the waiting game
and hope that he would want her when she came for him. And she would. Once her father
was out of the way there would nothing in the universe that could stop her.

She could only assume now that he was gone, off fighting the rebellion with the other couple
hundred or so squads that followed her brother. It was only her and her father in the palace
now, outside of the guards. She had wanted to go. It sounded like fun. Mindless bloodshed to
purge the soul. They wouldn't let her go, of course. Her father said that it was too dangerous
for her and that he couldn't afford to lose both heirs, he was too old to have another child. She
knew it was a bunch of bullshit because if Trunks had been the only heir he'd still be gone.
No, it was because of whom she was and the hold that her father wanted to keep over her.

Trunks had other reasons for wanting her to stay. He said he needed her to look after father,
that her absence had put a lot of stress on him and he would crack if she left again so soon.
She knew her father hadn't been whole since the death of their mother, it nearly killed him and
as much as she had despisim tim then she didn't completely hate him and certainly didn't want
him completely insane. So she stayed without much argument.

That was more than six months ago. Six months locked away in the palace-prison with only
her father for company. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. The first few weeks had
been a little more than difficult. Both knew that too much had changed between the two of
them to go back to the way things had been before. Surprisingly enough, it had been her father
who broke the ice first. Thinking to help ease her distress he taught her how to meditate and it
helped a lot more than she thought it would. She found that she could function better if she
meditated when she first woke up and before she went to sleep. It didn't make the dreams
stop, but during the day she could control the torturing voices screaming in her head.

That's where she was now. In her room meditating, trying to empty her head of all conscience
thought, to find inner peace through the turmoil in her heart. Yes, the months that followed the
reunification with her father had been good. Too good in fact and she knew it could have only
lasted for so long. She knew there had to be a price for all the privileges her father had
bestowed upon her. Taking over most of Trunks' duties in his absence could only come with a
price and now the bastard wanted payment.

He told her tonight what would be expected of her when they returned. Something he had
obviously been plotting for some time now. She just couldn't seem to still the rage that burned
through her blood at the thought of what he wanted her to do. No, what he was making her
do, for she really had no choice in the matter.

Marriage. He had chosen her a mate and already had the ceremony plans going. Mated to
Kiao of all people. Bra shuddered. The thought of being with anyone else besides Goten
made her sick. She couldn't even contemplate the idea. It was just too revolting. For some
reason Bra hadn't even thought of the idea that her father would try to marry her off, even
though he had as much before, she just didn't think he would really do it.

Bra already had a mate and it would be a cold day in hell before she ever willingly or
unwillingly let Kiao put his filthy hands on her. There wasn't much she could do about it now,
but she wasn't about to make it easy on them. Not while Goten was still out there. if if there
was even the slightest chance that they could be together again. It wasn't even a possibility.

She had known from the moment Vegeta had said anything about choosing her mate that he
would pick someone really fucked up. Kiao was at least twice her age and he gave her the
creeps worse than Bardock ever had. She remembered the leering looks he'd given her while
her father told her of the arrangements. His open desire to posses her had sent a cold,
frightening chill down her spine.

æHe's the only one that'll have you with that mark on your neck now, girl.' Her father had told
her coldly. æYou should be grateful.'

He turned and left, leaving her alone with Kiao. He stood there not even trying to disguise his
eyes roaming appreciatively over her body. He finished with a nod of approval, stepping into
her personal space, black eyes piercing into her blue. She had been terrified by the look she
saw there. It was the same look those drunken men at the bar had given her. The night Goten
had saved her. She only wished he was here to rescue her now.

Bra stared into his scared face defiantly, never one to back down. She wouldn't let him
intimidate her. He only smirked at her, taking another step closer and causing her to back up.
He raised his hand to her face, gently caressing her cheek.

æWith you I will have everything I want.' He said.

Bra smacked his hand away. æYou dare to touch to your Princess in such a way?!' She had
practically yelled, outraged.

Kiao's smirk grew menacing and he grabbed a handful of hair, pulling her face within inches of
his. She could still smell the disgusting stench of his breath, feeling it hot on her cheek.

æYou are already mine, girl. I will do with you what I want. Remember that Princess' He said
with a sneer. æI own you now.'

With that he shoved her away. She stumbled a little, but managed to right herself before she
fell. She watched as he stalked down the hall away from her. æYou will never have me.' She
had whispered to herself before going to her own quarters.

So here she was now, body trembling with the effort to keep her emotions under control. She
would kill him for ever daring to touch her, for ever thinking that he owned her. There was
only one man in the universe that could lay claim to her and he was the only man she'd ever
have. It would be a cold, frostbitten day in hell before she ever lay with that man. She wasn't
too worried about him trying to have his way with her. Bra knew her father would never let
that happen before the marriage. Not if he had a decent bone in his body, which Bra was
beginning to doubt.

There surely was only one thing constant in her miserable life and that was turmoil.

****************************

Pan started as the door to her capsule hut banged open. She had been laying peacefully in her
favorite plush chair reading the printouts from the scouts on the other warring planets, waiting
for her husband to return. Apparently he was back and had company. She sighed irritably and
straightened herself in the chair. She didn't know why she should be surprised, Trunks brought
back his "friends" every night after a good battle and lately they've all been good. She hadn't
had a night alone with him in weeks. She stood and forced a sweet smile on her face as the
four men walked into the room.

"Panny-chan!" Trunks cried happily when he saw her, lifting her into a bear hug. "Tonight was
a good night, but I'm afraid that their resistance is wearing down and this will be over sooner
than we thought." He said grinning from ear to ear.

Pan growled. She hated it when he called her that, especially in front of subordinates.

"They should have known not to mess with the Sayian Empire, Sire." Some suck-up said.

She really hated these men. They wanted nothing more than to get on his good side in the
hopes of being raised in rank or having some other benefits bestowed on them. She saw right
through their little act. It was just too bad that Trunks didn't. Or maybe he did and just didn't
care.

Trunks set her down and turned to the one who had spoken. "You're right, Tyji. And it was
said that this planet was the one to offer the most resistance. They're nothing but a bunch of
pathetic weaklings." He said, clapping the man on the back.

"Of course this would be a walk in the park for one with as much power and strength as you,
Sire. They didn't even stand a chance." Another said.

Trunks puffed his chest out at the compliment, looking more smug than he had to begin with.
Pan rolled her eyes, thinking she was going to be sick. These guys were pathetic! Feeding his
ego like that. It was all she could do to not smack herself on the forehead, so she sat back
down in her chair while Trunks went and got his ale.

She listened as the two dumbasses went on and on about how great Trunks was. If they kept
this up, they'd have to get another room just to house his ego. There was only one who hadn't
said anything the entire time. The same one who had been a constant for the last month. She
looked over to the spiky haired man that stood silently against the wall. He was staring intently
right at her, with no regard to the others in the room. She looked away quickly, unable to
stand the heat of his gaze. She didn't like him one bit and Trunks knew that, but he was
always here, always staring at her.

He gave her the chills whenever she saw him. There was something not quite right about him.
Something she couldn't place, but he seemed almost familiar. Goten. Why did that name
sound so familiar? She was sure she'd never met him before the war. The way he looked at
her was so intense, like he wanted something from her. She shuddered, still feeling his
scrutinizing gaze on her. He had an ulterior motive, she knew, and that was to get to her.
There could be no other explanation as to why he was always staring at her so. She tried to
tell Trunks about it, but he wouldn't hear of it. Said she was just being paranoid, that she
thought everybody wanted her now that she was to be the next Queen. But he never caught
him staring at her like he was now. She started to get angry.

æI should just blast him.' She thought, æhe's nothing but a worthless third class anyway. I
don't understand what Trunks sees in him.'

She did know though. Goten had saved Trunks' life about a month back. They'd been
ambushed and she'd gotten herself into trouble. Trunks was right there to save her but the
natives were right on his back. The weaponry they had was astounding and they hadn't been
prepared for it. Goten was there just in time. He took the blast from the neural disputer
himself. It render him paralyzed for almost two weeks. If that blast had hit Trunks he wouldn't
have been able to fight back and all would have been lost.

The natives weren't very bright and because the blast missed its target they had just stood
around looking dumbfounded. They didn't even think to try and shoot again. It was all they
needed to kill all that was in the area. There had been others around at the time, but Goten
was the first to react and because of that, when he healed, Trunks invited him to their hut as a
reward. I guess you can say that was when he fell in love with him, because he was always
around now. Trunks saw Goten as some kind of guardian angle and he practically didn't go
anywhere without him. It was unheard of for the Prince of the Sayians to associate himself
with a third class the way he did and none of the elites liked it one bit. But what could one do
against their Prince and SuperSayian?

Goten did nothing more for Pan than give her the willies. She appreciated what he did and all,
but this was going too far. Not to mention the way he looked at her, so intimately, like he
knew her as no other did. It was disturbing and made her more than uncomfortable. fel felt
his burning gaze leave her as Trunks walked back into the room and she was grateful for it.
He handed everyone their ale and as always Goten turned it down. That was another thing
that was off about him. He didn't drink. She never saw him take in a drop and that was
unusual because normal sayians indulged themselves in almost everything.

She sat back, deciding to figure the mystery of Goten out later and enjoy her own drink while
listening to the men go on about the battle. Every once in awhile she caught him glancing
sideways at her. The hours passed quickly and Pan decided it would be a good time to retire
to her room where she could have her husband all to herself. The three other occupants in the
room stood with her, taking her departure as time for them to leave. That was one good thing
about them, they didn't overstay their welcome too often. The two elites said their goodbyes
with as many suck up phrases as they could. Goten only bowed low and turned to follow
them out the door. Pan was happy to see him go. She would try again to tell Trunks about his
"dear friend."

Just before Goten got to the door Trunks called to him. "Goten, stay. I need to discuss
something with you."

Pan's jaw dropped. He was turning her down to chat with that . . . that . . . third class baka!
She put her hands on her hips and gave Trunks the dirtiest, most disapproving look she could
muster, which he pointedly ignored. Goten looked confused but came back anyway and sat
back in his chair. Trunks looked to Pan knowing he was going to get hell for this, but not
really caring.

"Pan, I have matters to discuss with Goten. I'll be in shortly." Trunks said sternly.

He really hated having to explain himself to her. He was the fucking Prince for crying out loud!
He shouldn't have to explain anything to anyone, but he knew it was easier this way. Pan
didn't really care about his title. She was too strong willed to simply be told what to do. He
learned that the hard way, but it was one of the things he loved about her. Pan narrowed her
eyes dangerously at Goten, who was staring at her again. She shot Trunks one last look then
stormed into her room.

Goten watched Pan go, marveling once again at how she had turned out. Truth be told he
didn't really know what to expect when he saw her again. It'd been so long and they'd been so
young. She turned out beautiful with a fiery spirit to match, something that he hadn't thought
possible growing up in the palace. It was obvious to him that she didn't remember him at all.
He wasn't sure if he expected her to or not. He was disappointed that she hadn't, but then
relieved at the same time. Seeing her again had drudged up painful old memories and he
wouldn't want that to happen to her. It was better if she didn't remember anything about that
time in her life. She had it good now and there was no reason going back.

He turned to Trunks, who was watching him with a dangerous look in his eyes. He smiled
sheepishly but he didn't budge. He shrugged it off and looked away. Prince Trunks was a
difficult person to understand. The man was dark and moody and Goten had no idea why he'd
taken such a liking to him. When he'd taken that blast for him it was more to save Pan than to
save Trunks.

He found his first impression of the Prince to be off. After being around him for a while he saw
that Trunks wasn't so bad after all. He certainly made Pan happy. He found himself actually
enjoying being in his company. When he wasn't being a pompous ass he was tolerable. And it
was great getting to see his niece. Basically, he wasn't complaining, even if the others did give
him shit. The son was nothing like the father, in that he had a personality of some kind. Trunks
will make a good King and Goten had no problem being loyal to him.

Trunks had seen the way Goten had looked at his mate as she left the room. Perhaps there
was some truth to her words after all. If so, he was going to get some answers tonight. Trunks
liked Goten. He wasn't like all the other jackasses that were constantly around him, trying to
butter him up for their own personal gain. Goten didn't seem to want anything more from him
than his friendship. He didn't waste his breath telling him things that he already knew about
himself.

It was true that Trunks had been thoroughly impressed with Goten's fearless bravery a while
back. That was why he had given him the privilege of coming into his home. It was his
personality that kept him coming back. He was a good jokester and knew how to lighten his
mood considerably. Trunks liked to have him fighting beside him because he was fearless. He
fought like he had nothing to lose, like every battle was his last and he trusted his life with him,
which was saying a lot considering he didn't really know the guy.

There was a lot more to Goten than met the eye. He could tell that there was something far
more disturbing hidden beneath the friendly, carefree visage. For some reason this attracted
Trunks to him. Not in anything more than platonic companionship. He'd never really had a
friend before, but he was willing to make Goten his, even though it was unheard for someone
of his stature to fraternize with low-levels. Goten seemed to compliment him in the opposite
way that Pad. d.

He knew that Pan truly despised Goten. She said there was something off about him and
Trunks agreed. Of course that was part of the draw. But as he watched Goten earlier he
began to see what she was talking about and he certainly did not like the way he looked at his
woman. No one dared to look at his future Queen like she was just another girl. Trunks
waited until he caught Goten's eye again before speaking.

"Do you like what you see?" He asked in a deadly whisper. The more he thought about what
his gaze implied the angry he felt himself become.

Goten looked at his Prince in utter confusion. He had no idea what he was talking about. Was
he talking about himself? And if so, how did one answer? He decided to take the easy route
and be clueless. "Huh?"

"I saw the way you were looking at my mate, Goten. I was asking if liked what you saw."
Trunks clarified for him.

Goten blinked in surprise. He wasn't exactly sure what way he had been looking at Pan, but it
mustn't have been good judging by the tone of Trunks' voice. How exactly was he supposed
to answer that? If he said no, he might get offended thinking he was calling her ugly. If he said
yes, then he would think he was after his own niece and he certainly couldn't tell him who he
was in relation to Pan. Goten suddenly found himself in a sticky situation.

Trunks took Goten's silence as submission that he wanted his mate. He felt himself power up
and threw out the window the original reason he had wanted to speak to him. Instead, he was
going to beat him to death for his audacity.

Goten could feel the deadly energy emanating from Trunks and knew that if he didn't say
something soon he'd be a dead man. So he decided to go with the truth. , at, at least one
truth.

"You mistake me, my Prince. Your wife is lovely and I meant no harm. I have my own mate. I
do not want yours." Goten said in a rush.

Trunks stopped with the threatening power trip and looked at him curiously. He hadn't known
he had a mate. Why hadn't this come up before? He thought for a moment that it was just a
trick to throw him off.

"Then why do look at mine like that?" He said not really believing him.

Goten looked very uncomfortable. This was not something he had expected to come up.
Trunks was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his reply. He had no idea how to answer
this without giving himself away. He was sure that anything, even the truth, would earn him the
beating of his life.

"Answer me, Goten, before I kill you." Trunks growled.

Goten sighed. He should have known that there would be consequences to getting this close.
He just couldn't help himself. He missed his niece terribly. He wondered if he told him the truth
if he would still be aloud in her presence. Trunks growled again and reached over, grabbing
the front of Goten's armor and hauling him up. Eyes narrowed, Trunks raised a hand,
preparing to blast him to the next dimension.

"Do you wish to bring harm to her?" He yelled in his face, his temper barely in check.

Goten brush Trunks' hands off of him and took a step back. Not looking at him, he answered.
"I couldn't hurt Pan if my life depended on it. She is my niece and I haven't seen her since we
were children. That's why I look at her so, hoping that she will remember me."



Trunks dropped his hand, shocked by the revelation. What the hell? "What the hell? What do
you mean Pan is your niece? She has no family."

Goten grinned sadly. "No, she doesn't. Not really anyway. I am Gohan's younger brother.
Forgotten the night of the slaughter that took my entire family away. Pan and I were together
that night, that's why we survived. My grandfather made sure that no one knew who I was.
Not even Pan remembers, which is for the best, I suppose."

He sat down as he finished and looked to the Prince to gauge his reaction. Trunks stood stock
still, letting the startling information sink in. He often forgot that Pan's father had been a third
class, didn't remember the circumstances that brought he liv live in the palace. And now here
this man was, who had nearly given his life to protect him, claiming to be Pan's uncle. He
wondered if his act of bravery had been for him or directed at Pan.

"That day . . . " Trunks began to voice his thoughts.

Goten gave a little laugh. "Sorry, your highness, but I wouldn't think twice about protecting
what little I have left. It was no coincidence that I was there that day, making sure that nothing
happened to her. I would give my life for her."

Trunks nodded his head and sat back down, disturbed by the news. As unseng ang as it was,
he found that it didn't change his mind about him. He was actually relived that Goten could be
trusted around his mate. More than that, that he would protect her if for some reason he
couldn't. Goten could see that he was having a hard time digesting the information. He too
found it odd that the play of events had led him to be in the company of the Prince and his
niece.

Trunks wasn't sure if Goten could still be trusted or not, if he was really telling the truth,
although he didn't strike him as the type to lie. Everyone knew the story of how Pan came to
live in the palace and he didn't think there was anyone stupid enough to make a story up like
that. He would keep an eye on Goten to see if his loyalty was true. For now he would send
him off in head of the other troops to take on another warring planet.

"There is no reason for Pan to know about any of this. She is not a third class and has no
family outside of me and that is the way it will stay. I am sending you and your squad ahead to
planet Umata where the rebellion continues. I'm putting you in command of the 50 or so
squads that will accompany yours." Trunks said at last.

Goten nodded his head in understanding. He knew that if he told the Prince his relation to Pan
that he would never see her again. At least he was still alive. "It is better that she doesn't
know. It will just bring back painful memories. You're right, she is beyond that now. There is
no reason for her to know who I am."

He stood to leave when Trunks stopped him again.

"Tell me about your mate, Goten. Where is she?" Trunks questioned. He wanted to know if it
had just been made up or if he really was telling the truth.

A painful shadow entered Goten's eyes and he looked away, but not before Trunks caught it.
Was it possible that his mate was dead? Goten sighed heavily, not really wanting to talk about
it, but one look at Trunks face he knew that he would soon be spilling his guts. He hadn't
talked about her is so long . . . he hadn't seen her in so long. The pain at her sudden departure
that he'd managed to keep locked away, came back in a sharp, blinding rush, almost taking
his breath away. The way it did every time he thought about her. Beta . . .

"I don't know where she is." He said quietly, painfully.

Trunks nodded his. Suddenly he really wanted to know what happened to her. "Go on."
Trunks said. It was more like a demand than anything else. Using his power to open sore
wounds was wrong, but he assured himself that he was doing it to make sure Pan was safe.

Goten sighed again and averted his eyes. "Her name was Beta and she was the most beautiful
creature to ever wake in this universe. I met her a little more than two years ago, in a bar. She
was snotty, rude, arrogant and I loved her immediately. I brought to my home and we lived
blissfully for a few months. One night I fell asleep and when I woke she was gone."

It was the edited version of what really happened, of how he really felt, but it was all he
needed to know. Trunks' brows were raised in slight shock. Gone? What the hell did that
mean? He knew there was more to the story that he wasn't telling but he didn't have the heart
to force it out of him. Not after seeing his face as he spoke.

"What happened to her?" It was the one thing Trunks needed clarification on.

Goten shrugged his shoulders, suddenly wishing he had something to drink. He hadn't drank
since the months after she left, hoping that by sobering up she would return to him. "Vanished
without a trace. I guess she wasn't happy there with me. I looked, but could not find her
anywhere. I'm still looking for her. It's the reason I took the position as squad commander,
hoping to run across her and find out why she left."

Now Trunks was genuinely shocked. She had just left him? It was obvious that this was the
dark that Goten kept buried inside himself. It must have almost killed him to have her leave in
the night. He didn't know what he would do if Pan suddenly decided to leave him. Kill her
probably. It sounded good, but he already knew he couldn't do that.

"Why do you still look for her if she left you?" Trunks asked, still not ready to drop the
disturbing subject that was obviously painful to talk about.

"Do you believe in fate, Prince Trunks?" Goten asked cryptically.

"Not really. I am the master of my own destiny." He answered with pride.

"I used to think the same thing until I met her. She changed my entire world in the span of a
few months. And I find myself asking why? Out of all the girls I have known, why her? How
did she manage to make me feel the way I did? I knew it the moment I looked into those soft
brown eyes. She was my destiny, we were meant to be together."

Trunks snorted. "If you were meant to be together then you would be. Fate is a bunch of
bullshit."

Goten nodded his head. "I know. It is a bunch of bullshit and I wish we were still together, but
we are not and I do not know why. But it's all that I have left. When she is done abolishing the
demons that haunt her dreams, the fates will bring us back together. I have to hope. It's all I
have."

Trunks watched Goten drift off into his own little world, remembering a time when things were
better. He thought about what Goten had said, the emotion that was barely veiled in his voice.
How sad it was to hang onto some abstract dream. He shuddered. His words and tone giving
him chills and he suddenly wondered how the man next to him managed to go on without this
deep love he claimed to have had. He knew what he felt for Pan and that he wouldn't be able
to go on without her. Is that the way Goten feels? Is that why he fights like he has nothing to
lose? Because he truly doesn't?

Trunks felt Goten's eyes on him and turned to look at him. The black orbs were hollow,
seemingly drained of all the life they once held. The room abruptly felt colder as he looked at
him. He felt an empty, gnawing pain inside of him, making him flinch. He could feel the
loneliness and despair rolling off him in waves, threatening to consume him, to drown him in a
sea of madness. His eyes were filled with death and Trunks knew that Goten wanted to die
and would if he never found his mate.

Goten's despair was so strong he could feel it. It was overpowering and he couldn't believe
that the man had lasted this long without taking his own life. This girl had really fucked him up
good. He thought of Pan and the power she welded over him. She could do this to him and
Trunks realized that it was a warning. He broke eye contact with Goten and stood abruptly,
glancing at the door to his room where his mate waited for him.

Goten stood slowly, half-consumed with the insanity that threatened to take him over every
day. He walked out the door and into the night, not saying a word and flew quickly to his own
empty, cold hut. To lie in his tiny, cold cot alone with only the memory of her to ward off the
impressing chill that enveloped him every night.

Trunks stood and watched Goten leave silently, lost in his own thoughts. It had been so awful,
what he felt from him and he wished that he had never even asked. A cold gust of wind blew
past him at the thought of his mate, giving him goose bumps. He shivered and went to shut his
door.

At the door he felt the warm night air and wondered where the cold wind came from. He
could still feel Goten's despair weighing heavily on his chest. It was a feeling that he never
wanted to feel first hand. He shut the door and retreated back into his house, making his way
to his room. For some reason, he almost expected to not see her there. To find that she too
had taken off in the middle of the night. He sighed with relief when he opened the door to find
her sleeping peacefully.

He stripped out of his worn armor and climbed into bed wier. er. Wrapping his arms around
her he brought her close to his body, reveling in the feel of her skin pressed against his. She
sighed happily and snuggled closer to him, loving the warmth his body gave her. He held her in
a bone crushing embrace, never wanting to let go. Goten's haunting words filled his mind. His
mate had simply left him and it was slowly destroying him. He wondered at his speech of fate.
If the fates had brought them together why would they tear them apart?

He looked at the beauty that lay sleeping in his arms. Had it been fate that finally brought them
together? She had been there his entire life, could it have been destiny that finally opened his
eyes to her? Is that why her life was tore apart at such a young age, so that they could be
together? He kif iif it hadn't he would never have known the love he felt for her. If she had
been raised as a third class, she would have been ineligible to be his mate. And yet here she
was, soon to be his Queen. As wrong as it was, he was thankful of all that had happened to
bring them together.

It was disturbing to think that Goten was related to Pan in some way, but it didn't matter. That
life was behind her and she didn't remember any of it anyway. He wouldn't let Goten tear
apart everything that Pan knew to be true. Trunks was all that she and he planned to keep it
that way. She wouldn't leave him if she had no where else to go. No, Pan wouldn't leave him.
He offered her too much and would give her even more. She would be the next Queen and it
didn't matter how her life began because it would end in greatness. There was nothing in
heaven or hell that would tear them apart. He would never again take his love for her for
granted and would let her know everyday how much she meant to him.

He laid awake all night simply holding her close. Tomorrow he would send out his troops to
the remaining planets, then crush the rest of the resistance here. When that was taken care of,
he would form the new alliance with them back into the Empire. Then they would leave this
godforsaken planet and continue their conquest across the galaxy. His Empire will great, far
better than his father's ever was. He and his woman will storm across the cosmos, conquering
everything in their path. They would do it togther. Ruling the known galaxy side by side,
bringing the Sns ins into a new era of wealth and prosperity unknown to any others before.
Races would tremble at the sound of their name and everyone would know to fear and
respect them. It will be good and he will do it. He will do it with her by his side.

****************************

Bra ran through the palace halls, knocking over anyone dumb enough to get in her path. Tears
flowed freely down her face and sobs came unbidden and raw from her throat.

æNo!' Her mind screamed. æNo, this can't be happening. This can't be true.'



Her life has been one living nightmare after another. Even after her father's betrayal to that
horrid monster Kiao she was supposed to marry, she had kept her hope that she would find
Goten before then. She'd managed to stay away from him for the last three months and tried
to convince her father to change his mind. He wouldn't hear of it so she has spent the time
plotting her escape. She planned to find Goten when he returned from the war, steal a ship
and get as far away from here as she possibly could. It had been all that had consumed her
since she found out that her father intended to marry her off. But now . . . now it could never
be.

She'd been listening to the hyper-com link in hopes of contacting her brother. She wanted him
to pick her up something nice from planet Venesha, they had the best clothes, when the
distress message came across. A deadly ambush had been set up on Umata, taking out
hundreds of soldiers. She listened, a rock of dread forming in her stomach as he listed off all
the squads that had been annihilated in the first attack. Most of the squads had been third
class, the planet wasn't supposed to offer much resistance.

Everything that had held her together for the past two years shattered in an instant. A dozen
tiny fragments of love and hope falling as her world came crashing down on her. As if it had
been nothing, as if no one out there would give a damn, with no emotion what-so-ever he
listed squad #418. He just went on naming off all the others that had gone with them, but Bra
didn't hear him.

Goten. That was Goten's squad. How? How could this have happened? He was strong and a
smart fighter. How could they have just taken him out like that? Didn't they know that she
needed him, that she was waiting for him? He couldn't be dead . . . He couldn't be!

Bra reached her room and burst through the doors. She didn't know what to do. In the flash
of an instant her entire life, all her hopes and dreams were torn apart again. She felt as if her
heart was being ripped from her chest and crushed before her eyes. She sank to her knees,
sobbing like a baby. How could she go on without him? How could she live with the
knowledge that no matter what she did, no matter what happened now, she would never see
him again?

She hadn't felt kind of heart breaking desperation since the night she left him. Nothing. She
had nothing now. All was lost. The simple plan of finding him and taking off had given her so
much hope, had pulled from the deadly nose dive into her own damnation. Now . . . now she
truly had nothing left to live for.

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