One Simple Little Wish
by Pan no Ojousan
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I drummed my fingers against my knees, fidgeting uncomfortably in my chair. The leather normally would have been very comfortable, as it usually was, but this time it was different. This time, I had an icy stare to handle. “So,” I said, trying desperately to make conversation. “I heard…um, it might rain today.” He snorted. Sweat began to roll down my face. This was so nerve-wracking on me. I just wanted my friends back…but no, I had to sit through Vegeta. I’d never been put through so much pressure by him before. He was now viewing me as one of those girls that Trunks wanted to date. Normally I don’t think he would have cared, but I was Pan, Gohan’s daughter. Now I was the object of his careful observation. I finally realized why all those girls cracked before I got a chance to take them down myself. This was really difficult. That morning went quickly. I didn’t have to be at work until eight thirty, and Bra and Trunks could be as late as they wanted. So we had taken our time getting ready. First, I made them wait for me, and now I had to wait for them. And it was much more horrifying to wait for them. Vegeta’s eyes kept locked on me, his arms crossed over his chest and a death glare accompanied by a scowl on his face. “You said you had no intention to mate with my son,” he said, as though he were accusing me of something. I choked back the urge to either pass out or run away in terror. How was I supposed to handle this? “I, um, don’t,” I said cautiously. “Then what are you doing, showing up here in the morning along with him?” “Bra was there, too, you know,” I growled, then managed to shut myself up. Reminding myself that Vegeta could tear my head off in one movement of his arm. “I mean, I didn’t do anything. All I did was comply with Bra’s suggestion…” He narrowed his eyes. “What suggestion?” “She said she wanted to sleep at my apartment last night,” I began, ready to sink into the leather and die. “And, um, I let her. I didn’t even sleep in the same room as Trunks, I swear, I didn’t. You can call my dad, he knows, he called in the middle of the night and Trunks was asleep and Bra wasn’t so—” “Shut up,” he commanded. I did. “I will not have my brat and any spawn…” Bra came to save me, unknowingly. Vegeta shushed when she entered the room. She was dressed to kill, as usual. I kind of envied her ability to wear anything she wanted and still manage to look like she was ready to go to work. “I’m ready!” she said happily. Her smile faded at the terrified look on my face, then she slowly looked to her father. “Dad, why did you do that? This is Panny, you don’t have to worry about anything, she’s not gonna try anything. That will be left up to my brother. Now, please stop terrifying my guest and let us go out to breakfast.” Vegeta snorted in reply, leaving the room. I turned shakily to my friend. “Thank you so much,” I breathed, after a few minutes had passed. “No problem,” she said, slightly upset by her father’s reaction to this situation. “My brother will be here soon. Says he’s searching his room for some cash.” I still couldn’t find it in myself, but I would have laughed. “Liar,” I said, trying to sound sarcastic, but still coming off as frighteningly serious. Bra, however, had no trouble in laughing at me. “Dad really has you spooked,” she sniggered. “And for good reason. He could kill me.” “He could, but I doubt he actually would.” “I think he would.” She sighed. “Pan, quit worrying. You sound like Trunks, mumbling about how Gohan’s gonna slice him to bits.” “Trunks worries about that?” I inquired, a small smile lighting on my face. “Aww, that’s so cute!” Bra laughed at me again. “You’re hopeless,” she said dreamily. “I wish I was as hopeless as you…but then again…I don’t.” Her expression grew serious once again. “So, we have to get this thing figured out. With you and Trunks and everything. This is getting a little too deep to just be a theoretic conspiracy.” I nodded in agreement. The two of us sunk to the ground, using various items of furniture to hide our conversation from the hallway that Trunks would undoubtedly appear in. “What I figure is he’s planning something,” she stated, quickly and quietly. “There’s all kinds of proof written on various pieces of paper around his room…so I occasionally happen to wander in there, so what? Anyway.” “You little spy,” I scolded, but still curious as to what she’d discovered. She took a breath, making sure to keep her voice very low. “There was one thing with something written about Marron and Goten and how he can’t believe she did that to him…but that must’ve been from when they first broke up, because it doesn’t say anything about you. Then, there’s another one mentioning you and Marron about…well, love and all that mushy stuff.” I couldn’t help but smile. “It has all kinds of really serious stuff…like how he thought he was gonna end up marrying Marron and everything, but he wasn’t the one she wanted. There’s where you come into the picture. He apparently feels bad about using you for some reason…but it doesn’t go straight out and say why. So, again, we can’t definitely say he’s done something.” “And yesterday, you were willing to accuse him with a much more vague idea,” I laughed. “When did you find this one, anyway?” “This morning,” she replied, smiling slightly. Her eyes moved from mine to peek over the couch and see if he was on the approach yet. “I can take you in there and show it to you, after he comes out.” “No,” I said softly, a wicked grin slowly making its way to my face. “I have an idea. Come on.” I promptly grabbed Bra’s arm and slid past a still-angry Vegeta toward Trunks’ room. I knocked quickly on the door. “TRUNKS!” I yelled. “Bra and I would like to speak to you in the hallway! Please!” “What for?” he called through the door. I thought for a moment. Drawing a blank, I turned to Bra to see if she could help. “Um…the company,” Bra sputtered quickly. “Something about the profits taking a dive. Mom said she’d like to see you.” In an instant, he was out of the room and glaring at Bra. Shirtless, but otherwise clothed. Thankfully for me, because I think I’d have died on the spot. “Are you serious?” he asked, very calmly, but towering over her and looking enraged. Bra let out a tiny squeak of fear. I quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her out from the corner of the hallway (seems weird, but it really felt like a corner to us right then) and into Trunks’ room. Giggling like six-year-olds, we slammed the door right in his face. He was silent on the outside for a while, just listening to our insane giggling. “What did I say about not reliving those days?” he yelled after a few moments. “That was so stupid!” Bra laughed. “We’re not doing another ‘plan’ like that ever again, hear me?” “Yeah, well, we’re in here, right?” I pointed out. “What is it you wanted to show me?” “Over here,” she said, leading me to a small corner, cluttered with papers. “Here’s where all the ‘deep thoughts’ go,” she informed me, leafing through the loose pages. She pulled one out and examined it before handing it to me. “Read. Cry. Get mad. Then later, forgive him.” “Okay,” I said, smiling again. I knew it was true. I analyzed the document, wondering what kind of hatred I’d gain for him this time. ~*~
~*~ “Guilt and shame and reluctance to tell me about being used,” I summarized thoughtfully. “I wish we could just be normal about this.” “Well? Thought and feelings?” Bra prodded. Trunks was suddenly pounding on the door. “LET ME BACK INTO MY ROOM! We’re not gonna have time to go out if you prevent me from finding a shirt.” “TOO BAD!” I yelled back. “Then Bra and I will cook.” She paled. “We will?” “Yes, we will. That is, unless…nevermind, now back to the topic. I think this is a lot more suspicious and convincing than the first one,” I admitted. “It sort of makes me wonder what this ‘kinda using Pan, but kinda not’ business is all about.” “I know. I mean, is he using you for the reasons we think, or…not?” “GET OUTTA MY ROOM, GUYS!” “Girls,” I corrected, though not loud enough for him to hear me. “Looks like we have to think about this newest development later. Trunks it about to blast the door to bits.” She complied, losing the paper in the sea of others. I wondered how she found that so quickly when it looked just like everything else around it. Maybe she put it five from the top or something. No time to worry about it now. We opened the door, smiling brightly. “Hi,” Bra greeted cheerfully. “Sorry about that…we just…um…got lost.” “Yeah,” I said. “Lost. That’s…convincing.” “It’s the best I could do?” she offered, giving me a questioning like-you-could-have-done-better glance. I shrugged, and we scurried down the hall, leaving Trunks very confused. “Come on,” I ordered, practically throwing Bra into the kitchen. “We cook!” “Cook!?” she shrieked. “Why?” I thought about that one for a moment. “Um…because it’d be more fun than going out. Plus, we all seem giddy this morning, and I don’t want to be banned from anywhere.” Bra’s eyes drifted to the oven, looking very worried. “But what if we burn the house down?” she asked fearfully. “Bra, how old are you? You can’t tell me you haven’t cooked before.” “I haven’t cooked before.” I sighed. Truthfully, I’d never really cooked breakfast, either. It usually consisted of only cereal or toast or the occasional egg. But for some reason, I felt determined to cook that morning. “We’re doing this. I don’t care if we all miss work, we’re getting this done.” Bra smiled. “That’s the Pan that I remember.” “Don’t get too used to her,” I warned. “I soon have to revert back to intelligent businesswoman mode to fool Z TV into thinking I’m a good employee. Speaking of which, what time is it?” “Six fifty-seven,” Bra read. “Sure didn’t take long for us to get ready. This is too early to be awake.” “Well, I’d be up right now anyway,” I pointed out. She paled again. “I wouldn’t.” “Come to think of it, neither would I,” I admitted. “I mean…I’d be up soon, but not at this very second.” We then ceased our argument as we stared into the refrigerator. It was…full of food. Food that I didn’t know how to cook. We were both clearly thinking the same thing: There is no way we’re gonna do this right. Bra turned to me, fear and worry in her eyes. “Maybe we should just…” “…go out for breakfast,” I finished, nodding my head. “Good idea.” “We have to take Mom and Dad, because we came here and they’d want to come—” “NO! Vegeta is not coming!” “He’ll probably not want to, but if you’re going there’s a chance he’ll say yes and Mom would yell at me if I didn’t invite them,” she said reluctantly. “Sorry, Pan.” I sulked, leaving the kitchen to go wait in ‘my’ leather chair. I stared at my feet the whole time, wondering why they were in black, high-heeled shoes. I should still be little Panny…I should be practically Bra’s sister… A thousand thoughts suddenly clouded my mind. What was I thinking!? This couldn’t work out, Trunks and me. There was no way. And yet, I’d let myself fall into what was so obviously a trap. I was being used. There was even written proof against me! And still, I found myself reluctant to believe it. My mind refused to accept that Trunks would do such a thing to me…but he was. How could this work? I was using him, he was using me. We could just confess to each other and get this whole thing over with. He could get what he wanted, and I…what did I want from him? Nothing. I only wanted to keep my heart in one piece. Trunks… I thought wistfully, my hair draping down before my face. I finally took my eyes off of my shoes and looked at my hair. It was longer than it had been at eighteen, almost too long. It came down to at least my mid-back. Trunks, this is stupid. We have to end this…lie…I don’t want to be in a lie anymore. I heaved a sigh, knowing he couldn’t hear me. And also knowing that he’d have no clue what I was talking about if I said that to him. If only it could be that easy, and I could just work up the courage to tell him what I thought was real. Let him make everything okay again, if he could. Or if he couldn’t, he could always refuse to ever see me again. I sighed. My shoes began to click against something other than the soft carpet of the hall I was in. I stopped walking and glanced up, realizing that I’d achieved my destination. But Vegeta was in ‘my’ chair. I wanted to scream. But I didn’t. I only smiled best I could. “Hi, Vegeta.” “Brat,” he acknowledged. I surveyed his expression, waiting for a scowl or a glare to appear, but he remained calm. “Did Bra tell you what we’re doing?” “No.” “We’re going out to breakfast,” I explained, coming into the room and sinking down onto the couch across from him. “We thought you and Bulma might like to come…if only just to make my morning hell.” He scoffed quietly at that, but remained expressionless. His eyes moved away from mine, focusing on some part of the floor. “Sounds appealing, but no. Leaving soon?” “I think so…unless…” A thought crossed my mind. It had been a while since I’d spent any sort of time with Vegeta. Throw caution to the wind, Panny! “In fact, no, I’m not leaving soon. I don’t know about the others. But I wouldn’t mind a quick training session before I go to work this morning, if you have time.” * * * * * Vegeta and I fought furiously for nearly an hour, out on the rear grounds. I told Bra that I couldn’t come, and she didn’t ask why. She simply nodded and went off to find her brother, leaving me to change to more appropriate clothes. I think she thought I was feeling insecure, but that was far from the case. I wanted Vegeta not to hate me. Sparring was a nice way to ‘talk,’ sort of. It allowed me to vent my emotions, and it let him know what was going on. I figured maybe that was how he always knew everything. So many people looked to him for a spar. So I fought for my right to eat breakfast, and never quite earned it. I ran out of time. He easily held the advantage, but he didn’t senselessly beat me into the ground. I didn’t exactly thank him for it, but I was sure he knew I was grateful. He was sort of like a second father to me, only in a much scarier way. I was pretty beat up and worn out by the time eight o’clock rolled around. I hadn’t slept at all that night, and now I was burning what was left of my energy on a spar, not even eating breakfast afterward. Stupid of me. When we were finished fighting, he looked me over like it was the first time he’d ever seen me. Much like the way Trunks had a few days prior. It sent a chill through my body, remembering, but I didn’t have much time to dwell on it. He came over to me and helped me off of the ground, a smirk on his face. “The brat is in the kitchen,” he said in a strange tone that I’d never quite heard him use before. “He will make sure you don’t leave here unhealthy.” I think I paled a few shades at the act of uncharacteristic kindness I was witnessing. “Thanks,” I said weakly, hobbling off in the direction of the kitchen. I had only a half-hour until work started…I should have been at least on my way by now… Just as the prince had foreseen, Trunks was in the kitchen with Bulma. They both gasped in horror when I entered the room. “Pan,” Bulma exclaimed, “you look horrible!” “Thanks,” I said dryly. “Your husband let me live this time. Remind me to thank him again later.” She nearly passed out, but her anger overtook her at the last second. She slammed her fists on the table and pushed herself up, roaring, “VEGETA!!!” louder than I thought humanly possible. She then stormed from the room to find the accused. Trunks also looked stricken at how beat up I was. “You should go to sleep or something,” he said, as though these injuries were life-threatening. I laughed softly. “I’m not even bleeding. I’ll be fine.” “But you…but…” “Trunks, I might look like someone else, but I’m still Pan. A little fighting isn’t gonna kill me. I promise.” “Are you sure?” I laughed again, sinking down into an empty chair. I winced slightly, as there was a mysterious pain in my side when I bent like that. “I’m sure. You’re too…” My vision suddenly blurred. Oh, I’m gonna pass out, huh? I wondered to myself, feeling lightheaded. Yeah, I probably am… The light in the room seemed to dim. I heard a crash to the side, and suddenly I was lifted into strong arms. “Hhmm…?” “Pan, you’re not going to work today,” I heard Trunks say in a panicked voice. “Pan? Pan! Pan!?” “Argh! I’m awake!” I cried, flailing suddenly. He kept his firm grip and held me close. Hmm…this is nice…I’m not fully conscious, am I? “You’re not okay. You should have slept last night. You’re not in any condition—” “Trunks, will you stop acting like I’m gonna fall apart?” I growled, my dazed attitude reverting to angered. “I’ll be fine! Just shut up so I can go!” “No, you’re not going anywhere. I’m gonna stay here and make sure of it.” I sighed and relaxed in his arms, knowing that he was being truthful. I wasn’t exactly in the best condition, anyway, and a day at home might be good for me. But not necessarily a day with Trunks…I wanted to sleep…but I’d just feel so uncomfortable around him…alone…and… My mind softened, wandering into sleep, despite the fact that I was still being cradled by Trunks. My thoughts left me and my eyes fluttered closed. I wasn’t aware of much after that. ~Begin Dream Sequence (which is actually a memory ^.^)~ “Hey, Panny! Come over here and look at this!” I climbed down off of my uncle’s shoulders and scurried over to where Trunks and Bra were standing, pointing into the water. We were out…on a picnic, if I remembered correctly. Goten had been pronounced my ‘guardian’ for the day, and Trunks was Bra’s. We’d offered to trade, but we chose to keep that secret from them for fear of being ‘discovered.’ Bra had the biggest crush on Goten, and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of Trunks. He was so much older than me…but then again, so was Grandpa, and he acted like a kid. I scrambled to Bra’s side and peered off the small cliff we had gathered on, down into the water. There was a huge river raging below, at some points turning to foam as it crashed against various stones and boulders in its wake. Bra’s eyes glittered with excitement. Even at that age, there was a suppressed passion for fighting burning within her. She wanted to be able to fly and crush things with a single blow…but she kept herself from acting on it. I guess her desire to become ladylike was stronger. Even so, she loved the height and the rush of power she felt when something was noisy several meters below her. “Isn’t it great?” she asked, her eyes glowing. “Yeah,” I agreed, just as enthusiastic. We must have been nine and ten at that point. “You think we can swim in it?” “No!” Trunks and Goten cried together, panic overpowering their expressions. Bra and I burst into laughter. “We won’t, really,” I giggled. “You two are so overprotective!” Bra chimed in. They breathed again, looking annoyed from the rush of fear we’d imposed on them. “I hope neither of you are like this when you’re older,” Goten warned. “We will be,” I teased. “You’re gonna be plagued with our annoying presence for the rest of your life. We’ll be right there next to you, ready to raise your own kids to take our place someday.” Goten raised his eyes to the sky, trying to look distraught, but still smiling faintly. “Why us, Dende? I don’t want any children of mine turning into a little Panny!” I snickered at him. “Goten, we’re joking. We’ll want our kids to torture you day-in and day-out. It wouldn’t be the same effect, otherwise.” “You’re right. You really wanna swim in the river?” “Yeah!” “Okay, come on down here. Bra, hold on real tight. Panny, just come on.” The four of us floated down to right next to the river, where we realized just how violent the water was. Bra cast me a nervous glance. I nodded slightly, reassuring her. “Uncle Goten, we don’t wanna swim, after all.” He smiled down at me. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. Eat?” “YEAH!” all but Goten cheered. My uncle rolled his eyes. “Okay, good. Come on back up. Bra, you cling to my head like you’re trying to kill me—AAHH! Not…hhph…that hard!” “Oops. Sorry,” Bra giggled. ~End Dream Sequence~ My dream faded away, memories of it lingering in my mind. “Why didn’t Uncle Goten like us?” I mumbled to myself, shifting on whatever I was laying on. “We were good kids…we…huh?” I opened my eyes, seeing a worried-looking lavender-haired man standing before me. “Trunks!” “You’re okay,” he breathed. “I was starting to think you were…I don’t know, sick or something.” I groaned and sat up, rubbing my forehead with the hand I wasn’t propping myself up with. “I’m not sick,” I muttered. “Just dreaming.” “About?” I smiled, despite the intense pain in my head. “When I was little. I wanted to swim in the river, but you and Goten said no.” Trunks looked confused. “But…what does that have to do with anything?” “I don’t know! It’s just a dream! A memory! It doesn’t have to…ouch…” “I know, but usually you dream things that have…meaning…toward whatever you’re thinking about.” I shrugged, my eyes forcing themselves closed again. The pain was almost unbearable. “A couple days ago, I dreamt Grandpa came back and tried to take over the world. Does that mean something?” Trunks paled. “Probably. Oh, man, none of us are strong enough to take him!” A smile played onto my lips. “Yeah, I’m sure that’ll happen. To make things worse, he wasn’t hungry or anything.” “Oh…well, that makes it just a dream. There’s no way of that ever coming true.” “I have to go to work…” I moaned, trying to open an eye, but receiving fierce pain instead. “Trunks, what time is it?” “Nine.” “I still have time…I’m only a half hour late…” “No, Pan, you’re staying here.” I growled. “Why?” “You haven’t slept more than an hour in the past day, and I already had Bra call and tell them you weren’t coming, and I already told my mother I was spending the day taking care of poor you because I knew you’d run to work the next opportunity you got. Answer your question?” “…I guess so.” I scowled, not intending to look weak. I didn’t like to look weak. But here I was, falling asleep from pure exhaustion. “You wouldn’t mind having no one to talk to, right? Because I’m not staying awake just for you.” “You’re nice,” he scoffed. “Well, I’m tired, and if you won’t let me go to work anyway, I see no reason to stay up and talk to you.” “Me and Bra went out to breakfast without you, ya know.” I smiled partway, too tired to officially give him the Son Smile. “That was thoughtful of you,” I laughed. “But I expected you to go without me. I wanted to spar with Vegeta, so I did. And I wasn’t allowed to eat unless I won.” “Well, you go to sleep,” he said softly, getting up to leave the room. “I’ll have someone make something for you by the time you wake up, okay? “Okay,” I smiled, laying back down and snuggling against the pillow. “G’night!” I watched his eyes fill with affection, and I felt a slight shiver run through me. “Good night, Pan,” he murmured, then left the room. I smiled to myself before drifting off to sleep again. ~Begin Dream Sequence~ “…Goodbye, Panny. We’ll miss you!” I hugged Bra tightly, feeling tears come to my eyes. “You’ll take care of my apartment, right? No one will take it while I’m gone?” She laughed, wiping the teardrops in hers. “I promise. I could never let anything happen to that beautiful balcony.” “You won’t forget me, right? I won’t be gone for so long that you forget what I look like?” She laughed and pulled me tighter. “Of course not! I’m practically your sister!” “I’ll forget you,” Goten volunteered, as he was next in line to say goodbye. I let go of Bra and practically strangled him. “YOU are gonna be the FIRST one I torture when I get home,” I laughed, my voice hitching horribly. “I’m gonna miss you guys…college is far away…I hope I can visit…” Goten hugged me back, trying to reassure me. “You’ll be able to visit. You could always fly back…y’know, by air. Not by plane.” “I know,” I said. I was sobbing by this point. My parents stood back and watched as I said goodbye to my friends, my mother near tears herself. “Uncle, you better have missed me, or I’ll smother your head in barbecue sauce and trick you into eating it!” He laughed into my hair, stroking the bit of it that reached to my back. “I’ll miss you,” he assured me. “Okay,” I whispered, pulling back. I turned to Marron, who was next on my ‘list.’ “Marron, you better take care of everyone because I know they won’t.” She smiled, unable to open her mouth without crying herself. She gathered me into her arms and let me cry onto her shoulder and mumble about how much I’d miss her. “We’ll E-mail you, Panny,” she said softly. “That would actually mean a lot,” I sniffed, pulling away from her, as well. I turned to my last victim and wrapped him tightly in my arms. “I’m gonna miss you probably worse than anybody,” I said, softly enough that only he would hear. “Why’s that?” Trunks murmured into my ear, sending a familiar chill down my spine. “I…don’t know,” I sniffed, trying to wipe away my tears without letting him go. I wanted to tell him…I tried…I almost formed the words in my mouth…but… He pulled back and held my hands steady, looking deep into my eyes. “I’ll be here when you come back,” he said quietly. “I promise.” I laughed. “And since when has that meant anything?” “Hey, name one time I haven’t kept my promise!” “Well, there was that time last year—” “I mean, an important time.” “Like I said, last year—” “Okay, fine. So I have trouble keeping promises. But this time, I swear. Okay?” I nodded, not finding my voice to respond. I could almost feel the words forming in my mouth…the words that I wanted so desperately wanted to tell him before I left and he found someone else…someone who could love him… Almost as much as I could. “Trunks…I…um…” “Panny!” my father called, standing near the car. It was already running, and Mom was inside crying her eyes out. “Time to go, you’re gonna miss your flight!” I turned back to Trunks, nearly in a panic. I’d almost told him! So close! I wanted to tell him to wait for me…wait until I came back…but… “PAN!” “I’m coming!” I shouted. “Go ahead, Panny. See you when you come back!” I bit my lip, staring into his eyes for a brief moment. I was so close…but I tore myself away, and quickly ran to the car. I climbed into the back seat and immediately rolled down the window, waving like mad at my friends as my father pulled the car out of the driveway. And just like that…they were gone…for four whole years. ~End Dream Sequence~ I remembered it all like it was just yesterday. I should have said something, I still thought so. Then maybe none of this would have happened. And I completely expected everyone to be waiting for me when I came home… But they weren’t. I came off the plane after the four years had passed, anxious to see someone…anyone…but there was nobody. Just my father, mother, and grandmother, smiling sadly. “I know you wanted everyone to be here,” my father had said regretfully, “but you know them…their schedules are so cluttered nowadays…Bra called, at least.” My throat choked up, refusing to believe it. I had wished desperately to see everyone and tell them how much I missed them, but they didn’t come. They didn’t come to welcome me back to the world I had longed for. I had forced a smile onto my face, and told my father that it was enough that he was there, but when we were driving home, I couldn’t help but cry. My tears were spent in silence, since Grandma was mercilessly firing questions at me about college and life and my future. I had to keep it to myself. “I remember that,” I whispered to myself, having awakened enough to know it was just a memory and nothing more. I couldn’t help but smile to myself, despite the fresh tears that now stung at my eyes. “Trunks, your promises really are worthless.” What was I going to do now? I couldn’t very well just pretend that this dumb plan wasn’t real. There was proof in his room that it was. That paper was all the proof I needed. So how could I just pretend it didn’t bother me and portray myself as so naïve not to notice? “Pan? Are you awake?” I heard his voice from the hallway. “Yes,” I called back. He wasted no time coming into the room, his eyes full of concern. I can probably pretend it isn’t obvious…just for a while… “What’s wrong? I don’t look that bad, do I?” A small smile appeared on his face. “No, I just thought you might want lunch or something. My mother offered to cook…” We both shuddered. “…but I think it should at least be edible.” I pushed myself off of the bed I was laying on, somehow managing to slip and fall on my face. Trunks had a fit of laughter over that. “Shut up,” I growled, getting to my feet. “Just take me to the food.” He led the way through the many, many hallways until we eventually came to the kitchen. The food actually didn’t smell too bad, surprisingly. I had to wonder for a moment if it was actually Bulma cooking. It was, I soon found out. I gained her attention immediately after entering the room. “Pan!” she gasped, almost dropping the glass she was carrying. “You’re still in those…clothes!” I looked down at my borrowed sweat suit, realizing there was quite a bit of damage to it. One leg was torn at the knee, revealing very bruised flesh. The sleeves were tattered, though they had been rolled at the time. “Bra is going to kill me if she actually used this,” I gasped. Bulma laughed. “No, she doesn’t. Consider it your training clothes. Would you like some food?” “Sure,” I smiled, sitting at the table. “What did you make?” “I’m not sure,” she confessed, “but it smells okay!” She brought out an assorted dish of…something. I couldn’t tell what it was supposed to be, either, but I gladly ate it. “Trunks? Join her?” “No, thanks,” he said quickly, looking pale and perhaps slightly green. I just grinned and practically swallowed the whole thing in one bite. Well, maybe not…it took more like a half-hour for me to eat the whole plate, not pausing for conversation in between. Bulma and Trunks had gone off to do whatever it was they were doing while I finished my meal. I silently wondered what had happened to my other clothes. I honestly couldn’t remember where I’d put them before my spar…probably in Bra’s room. Maybe they were still there. Vegeta came in somewhere in the middle of my eating and grabbed some food for himself, but not before receiving a scowl from me. “You’re still here,” he stated. “Yep,” I managed to squeeze out of my full mouth. I swallowed everything before I went on. “Just like you said, Trunks wouldn’t let me leave ‘till I was healthy.” “You seem healthy to me.” “Well, I may seem healthy, but…okay, I am. Just don’t tell him that.” He scoffed and got himself something to drink. “You were mumbling about the brat in your sleep.” “I was?” I asked, surprised. “I wasn’t aware that I mumbled in my sleep.” “Nor was I.” I just nodded, then focused back on the food. I wondered what I’d said about him. I hoped it wasn’t anything Vegeta disapproved of. “I…” he began hesitantly, a uncertain frown on his face. “I…apologize…for the way I acted toward you earlier. Your relation to Kakarot is somewhat diluted, so…it’s…n-not that…important.” I smiled. “Thanks,” I said sarcastically, although it was a sincere thank you. I knew Vegeta, probably too well. That was his way of apologizing and telling me that I was allowed to ‘mate with his son.’ It made me feel kind of important. It was extremely difficult for him to do…forgive me for being related to Grandpa like that. “More food?” I offered, holding out the plate. He gladly accepted, proceeding to eat the remainder of the tray. I scowled at the empty plate, but was otherwise quiet about my unhappiness toward it. After he finished, he left, an evil smirk on his face. “HEY!” I shouted after him. “YOU KNEW I WANTED TO EAT THAT, DIDN’T YOU!?” “Yes!” he yelled back, with obviously no intention to come and replace it for me. “It was your own fault! You offered!” I growled, knowing he was right. I turned my head to looking at the clock. “Only noon…I could still make it back for the last half of the day…” “Don’t even think it.” I turned around again to see Trunks, his arms folded over his chest and leaning against the frame of the door. “You dare challenge me?” I said mockingly, a sarcastic smile making its way to my face. “Yep. You’re staying here if I have to knock you out myself.” “Hmph. Right. I have work to do, you know.” “So do I, but I’m not going and…” His serious expression wavered for a split second, and he was suddenly on his knees and hugging my legs. “Please, Pan, don’t make me go back there! If you go back, I have to go back and I don’t wanna!!” I laughed at him. “Kami, Trunks, you’re being so immature! Fine, you won’t have to go back!” “THANK YOU!” I finally pried him off of me, after a lot of reassurance and the promise that I wouldn’t leave him here without telling him, though the thought had crossed my mind. Besides, I’d only gotten in less than four hours of sleep, and I needed more than that. Trunks escorted my back to my guestroom and let me go to sleep again. * * * * * The bright rays of the sun were shining into my face. I scowled at them, realizing that it must have been fairly late in the afternoon for the light to hit my face like that. “TRUNKS!” I yelled, thinking he’d be somewhere close by, but I didn’t hear a reply, or sense his ki raise in slight panic at the perception that I might be in trouble. “Trunks?” Great. He’s not nearby. Now how am I supposed to know what time it is? “TRUNKS!” I bellowed again, accompanying my shout with a sharp ki spike. Still, I felt nothing in return. “Damn it! I don’t wanna get up and find my way back alone!” Wait, there was his ki. I felt it now, coming slowly toward me. I smiled to myself, knowing I had complete control over him. Before all too long, his form appeared in the doorway. “Yes?” he asked quietly, and somewhat angrily. I swallowed hard. “Um…I only wanted to know what time it is, that’s all…” “It’s five. Happy?” My expression quickly became that of confusion. “Trunks? What’s wrong?” “Nothing. Your job is over now, so if you want to leave, you’re free.” “Your mom didn’t make you work anyway, did she?” “No, she didn’t. I don’t see what business it is of yours, anyway.” Now I was hurt. “Trunks, what? What’s going on?” “Shut up, Pan. If you’re gonna go, go.” I felt like I’d been stabbed. Why was he being so cold toward me…? “I didn’t—” He put up his hand to silence me. “I should have figured, anyway. You want me to show you the way to the door, or do you think poor, injured little Panny can find it herself?” Tears began to sting at my eyes. “I can find it myself,” I said quietly, trying desperately to keep my voice level and even, trying not to sound as insecure as I felt at that moment. “Can you please just tell me what happened? Why do you hate me all of a sudden?” His expression softened. “I don’t,” he said softly. “I just…I don’t know. I’m sorry. Forgive me?” “I…don’t know,” I choked. “I guess I do…but…” “Pan, I’m sorry. I didn’t think before I spoke. Do you want me to—” “No, I don’t want you to do anything,” I cut him off, my eyes now read and very pained. “I…um, I love you, okay?” “Yeah,” he said, distantly. Like he was preoccupied with something more important. I turned toward the window. Yes, it was the kind that opened nice and wide, so that I’d have no trouble leaving from this room. “See you tomorrow,” I whispered, almost to myself, then lifted through the air and went out the window. Wondering what went wrong. And what I was supposed to do now. |