Chapter 18 is here! I know you all thought that Vegeta and Gohan would make peace, but think again! Look at the title of this chapter, it’s interesting, eh? Well read on! (Standard disclaimers apply)

~PanHopeNvs~

Vegeta, Gohan, Bulma, and Videl followed the teens into the castle. Marron also was now with them. Marron saw a figure with black spiky hair standing at the top of the stairs.

"Uub-chan!" called Marron happily.

"Marron-chan?" asked Uub looking down.

Uub ran down the stairs and Marron ran up the stairs they met halfway and Uub took Marron into his arms and kissed her.

Pan sent a disgusted look at Trunks. "I’m surprised she wasn’t afraid that she would hurt her feet on the stairs!" whispered Pan.

"How much mushier can you get?" agreed Trunks making a face. Marron and Uub went off to talk somewhere privately. Pan led Vegeta and Bulma up to a room, while Trunks led Gohan and Videl to a room.

Trunks was walking in the direction of a spare room when he caught a glint of metal out of the corner of his eye. His warrior reflexes made him turn around instantly and he saw Gohan diving at him with a dagger. Trunks drew his own dagger, sidestepped Gohan and plunged his dagger into Gohan’s side.

Videl screamed and knelt over Gohan.

"Oh, Gohan!" she whispered touching his face, "Why do you have to be so foolish? Can’t you forgive and forget?" Tears streamed down her face as she saw the blood coming from his side.

* * *

Pan heard a scream and she turned around. She knew that it was her mother’s scream. She left Vegeta and Bulma and ran. Pan’s heart was beating at twice it’s normal rate, fearing for Trunks and her father. When she reached them she saw her father lying on the floor. Blood was coming from a wound in his side.

"Daddy…" she whispered dropping to her knees. She fingered the wound gently. Pan tore a strip of her dress and pressed it to his side. Then saw a dagger lying on the floor in a pool of blood. On the dagger was the crest of Vegeta.

Pan gasped. She turned to Trunks. She stared at him unwilling to believe what had just happened. The man she loved had stabbed her father.

"How could you?" whispered Pan softly, "You gave me your word that you wouldn’t hurt my family!"

"Pan…Let me explain!" cried Trunks taking a step forward, "He drew a dagger on me! I had to protect myself! Pan…"

Pan turned and ran. She ran into her room and sat on the bed. She froze. He lied to me! I thought he loved me! Oh, I’m so stupid! I believed him! Oh, Grampa, must everything go wrong for me? My life is such a wreck!

Pan didn’t notice Trunks enter their room and kneel in-front of her. He took her hands and gazed into her eyes. Pan’s eyes were cold and lifeless, so unlike the eyes of the girl he had fallen in love with; the eyes that once held fire, the eyes that once sparkled with happiness.

"Pan, please listen to me!" begged Trunks, "Your father drew a dagger on me! I had to protect myself! Please Pan! Don’t do this! I love you!"

Pan didn’t move or speak. She couldn’t even if she tried to. She was frozen in shock. Trunks pulled her into his arms. At first she was limp, but then she stiffened.

"No, Trunks," she said, pushing him, "Go away. You don’t love me. You lied to me, go away." Trunks heard the hurt in her voice and he felt his heart breaking.

"Pan, I do love you," he said firmly, "No matter what you believe, I will always love you." Then he left. Pan held onto the bedpost to steady herself. She sunk slowly down onto the floor.

"I love you too, Trunks," she whispered, as a few tears fell down her cheeks. She cried herself to sleep.

* * *

The next day Pan woke up early as usual. She went out onto her balcony to greet the morning.

"He’s telling you the truth you know," Pan heard a voice say. Pan turned around and saw her mother there. "Gohan did try to kill your husband. Trunks was only protecting himself."

"Daddy wouldn’t do such a thing!" said Pan, but she knew that it could be true.

"Yes, Pan," said Videl sadly, "I have a hard time admitting it too, but your father really wanted to get revenge on the Vegetans for killing Goku."

"Is he…okay?" asked Pan fearing the answer.

"Yes," said Videl, "He’s alive, but he’s lost a lot of blood."

"Does he admit what he did?" asked Pan.

"Yes," said Videl, "He admitted that he tried to kill Trunks."

Pan gasped. After the way I treated Trunks last night, he’ll hate me. He was telling the truth, and I didn’t believe him. He will hate me. Pan started to cry. How can I face him again? Videl hugged her daughter tightly.

"You two love each other, and there is nothing that can keep you apart," said Videl, "Not even your parents."

Pan frowned. If only she knew. Trunks and I will never be happy together again. And it’s all my fault. I’m such a loser, Grampa. Dad was right, I disgrace your honour.

Videl left the room. Pan went back inside and sat on her bed. Trunks had not come back to their room last night. Pan wondered where he slept. She heard the door creak open and she looked up to see Trunks enter.

"Uh…Pan," he said, "There is something I need to tell you."

"What?" asked Pan, looking at the floor, since she could not bear to look at his face.

"There will be a tournament," he said, "Our parents have agreed to it. Sons vs. Briefs. When it is over there will be peace throughout the land."

"A tournament?" asked Pan still looking at the floor.

"Yes," said Trunks, "Only men are competing."

"Oh," said Pan a little disappointed. Trunks turned to leave, but he turned back and looked at Pan.

"Remember that promise I made to you that I would never hurt your family?" he said. Pan nodded. "I am going to keep that promise."

With that Trunks left. Pan stared after him, fighting to keep her emotions under control.

Okay, so how was that? A little sad maybe? I had trouble writing this. There are only two more chapters, (I think) so I was trying really hard to make a good ending. Next chapter is The Tournament then The Epilogue. Well, If I don’t decide to change it, that’s how it will go. This turned out longer than I thought it would. PLEASE REVIEW!