"Love and Ranks" part 3 ******** The colour from their faces drained in realization that someone snuck-up on them. Trunks, faster than Pan could think, picked her up, jumped over the bed, and shoved her into the closet. "Enter," Trunks commanded, picking up some paperwork. Nappa and Raditz opened the door and knelt before the prince. "Ouji Trunks," Nappa began. "We came to check on you. Our scoters picked up two powerful kis coming from your room." "There was no one here but me, Nappa," Trunks said matter-of-factly not looking up from the papers. "Demo, Majesty, there was another ki-" "Raditz, do you not trust your Prince?" Trunks cut him off now looking away from the papers. "And don't you think I am strong enough to take care of myself?" There was a moment of silence and Trunks noted the look of fear on Raditz's face. "G? Gomen-nasai, Ouji Trunks," he finally spoke. "Please forgive me." Trunks nodded, returning to his papers. "Nappa, you and Raditz go and have your scouters checked. There might be something wrong with them," Trunks stated and dismissed them. He waited a little longer before running to the closet and freeing Pan. When he opened to door he saw her sitting with her arms crossed on a pile of old, broken armors. Other armors, gloves, boots, scouter and scouter parts, and clothes were on and around her. Pan's tail was unwrapped and frizzed and the tip of it flipped from side to side- much like one would a finger or foot when impatient. Trunks could hardy keep from laughing at her, but managed to extend a hand to help her out of the mess as he smiled. Pan just glared at him. "Think you have enough stuff in there?" she growled, crossing her arm. "I told you this would happen," he laughed as he walked back to the bed. Trunks picked-up some of the papers and began to read them as he sat on the edge. Pan walked over to him. "What's that?" she asked leaning over to see the paper Trunks held. "Some political work Otousama gave me to do while he's away," Trunks sighed. "Ick!" Pan said as she took off her armor. "What are you doing?" he asked looking up from the papers. "I've been in that armor all day," she replied throwing it on the ground. She then jumped behind Trunks on the bed; he had resumed reading and folded her arms on his back leaning her head over his shoulder. Pan felt him stiffen at her touch. "Waz the matter? Never had anyone read over your shoulder before?" she chided when she noticed a hint of red on his cheeks. "I'm surprised," he smirked, now relaxing. "Not every Saiyajin can read." "Humph, they never had my Otousan," she stated as she reached for her own paper and began reading it. Trunks began to laugh when she made a discussed face at it. "And this is what you have to look forward to when you become king?" she cried. "Yeah," he sighed. "Wanna help?" **** Hours had gone by sense they started Trunks' "homework". Pan was lying on his bed, her feet propped-up on the head-rest and her head side to side with Trunks', who's body was faced in the opposite direction as he listened to her read the last of the papers. He found her voice soothing as she ran her hand through his now dry hair and his eyelids became heavy. Pan's concentration was interrupted when she heard Trunks' deep breath and realized he was asleep. She observed his sleeping form, one she had seen many times before but always liked to see. He looked peaceful even though an inherent squall was on his face and Pan decided it was time for her to leave. If she stayed any longer Gohan would surly come looking for her. Pan, ever so gently, lifted herself off the bed using her ki and levitated to the floor; she then proceed to put on her armor. As she did, Trunks began to mumble incoherent words in his sleep. She walked over to and brushed a few purple strands of hair away from his face and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She smiled seeing him, even in his sleep, blush and to her surprise he smiled also. Reluctantly, Pan left him to his dreams and returned home. ****** Vegeta walked down the hallway, his feet hitting the ground hard and the frown and squall on his face was deeper than normal. Needless to say, he was not in a good mood. Every time he fought with Goku, Goku always seemed to be so much stronger. It frustrated the king more than it angered him that such a low class warrior could surpass him, the king of all Saiyajin. Of course, a small voice in the back of his head said, both Goku and his son, Gohan, were able to train all day everyday. Gohan's daughter, whose name Vegeta could not recall at the moment had trained so much that even she, a quarter-bread Saiyajin, had surpassed the pure Saiyajins of Vegeta-sei save the those who came from Earth. Were as he had matters of the planet to attend and now he hears that his own son did not attend to training or his studies. The guards walking at Vegeta's side could practically feel (if they knew how to sense ki they would truly feel) their king's rage as they walked towards Trunks' room. Trunks jumped off his bed and got into a well-practiced battle stains when he was awaken by the doors to his room being violently opened. In the doorway stood Vegeta, his arms crossed over his chest and his cape was still moving from the wind caused by the opening doors. Trunks was slightly relived that it was only his father, but that was just slightly. Trunks immediately knelt down. "Brat!" Vegeta yelled making Trunks wince, "You've missed both training and your studies. Why?" "I was sleeping Otou-? Sire," Trunks caught himself before addressing his father in an almost casual manner in front of the guards. "And your excuse for doing so?" "Only that I had stayed up all night to work on those papers you assigned me." Vegeta "humph"-ed and walked over to his kneeling son carefully concealing a smirk. "Boy, because of your neglect in training I fell you need to be tough a lesson, no future king of Vegeta-sei should neglect their duties. You and I will go sparring away from the castle," he stated, walking away. Trunks did not know whether to be happy or afraid. Training with his father away from the castle meant that they would be going Super Saiyajin but it also meant that there would be no light sparring, not that there ever was but now it would be more intense and bound to get a real beating. ***** Trunks painfully pulled himself out of the creator that was caused by his impact. There were multiple cuts and burns over his body and his armor was shattered in some places even if his Super Saiyajin form did give him some protection. Vegeta was abet better off. There were only minor cuts, a few burns and was not as shattered. Both were about to engage in another round when they sensed a ki and for some reason Trunks found it familiar? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------