Lookit, a brand new story, and a Trunks/Pan songfic at that!  Isn't it grand?   It's gonna be fairly long, too, cuz I'm planning on using every song from the CD.  I've even got it planned out.  I'm so damned organized.   And for those who might be following my other stories,  don't fear!  I shall still keep updating those as well. 

Tip for the day:  Don't go sledding near brick walls.  They hurt on impact.   Don't ask me how I found that out, it's rather embarrassing. 

Disclaimer:  I don't own Dragonball Z or Hoobastank…although there are some cute guys from both I wouldn't mind getting my hands on….and if you've not heard this CD, it is awesome.  Go get it.

Just in case you can't figure it out, song lyrics are bold and italicized

Chapter 1:  Up and Gone

Clear blue eyes stared at the moon overhead, eerily reflecting the light on the now-gone sun.  Dende had restored the moon a few months after Goku had disappeared.  It had been six years since then, and still no one knew where Goku was.  Trunks, who was indeed the owner of the blue eyes, suspected that his father really knew but just refused to tell.

            The moon was quarter-filled.  Quarter moon was Trunks' favorite phase, when only one quarter could be seen but that part burned so brightly it gave the impression of fullness.

            Like Pan.  Trunks thought to himself.  Images of the raven-haired girl danced through his head.  It had been two years since any of them had seen her, as she had been on tour with her grandfather Satan for that long.  They were traveling the globe, hosting martial arts competition and holding workshops.  Trunks knew it had been hard on Gohan and Videl to be separated from their only child for so long, but some one had had to go with Hercule, and Pan willing volunteered.

            Trunks believed, no, he knew that there were ulterior motives for Pan to run away.  She had possibly taken the disappearance of Goku the hardest.  Trunks thought this because he was the one Pan had come too for comfort.  Late at night when he heard a tapping on his window, he had known who he would find floating there, with tears struggling not to break over lids.  Pan was not the type to show many emotions in public, but one on one she would sob her heart out.  Trunks would always pull her in with open arms, and listen while she recounted her 'grandpa Goku' stories over and over again.  Trunks didn't mind; he himself had become fairly close with the man, being both Goten's father and the year they had been in space together.

            But Pan…Pan had been crushed when Goku had left.  Everyone knew, deep in his or her hearts, that Goku would not be coming back this time.  Pan however, refused to accept the fact that her dear grandfather was gone.

~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~

"He can't be gone, Trunks!  He wouldn't just leave us like this!"  Pan yelled, the day after Goku disappeared.

              "Pan, listen.  If he's gone, you know he did it for us.  He wouldn't just leave, you're right.  But wherever he is, he's there for a good reason.  But you need to realize that he is gone, and he might not be coming back."  Trunks replied.

            "NO!  HE'LL BE BACK!  He can't leave us!  He can't leave…me."  Pan finally broke down.  Trunks silently pulled the younger girl into his arms and held her as the tears poured down her face.  A few tears of his own spilled out of his eyes and dropped into her glossy locks.  Eventually, she had fallen asleep, but Trunks had been unable to leave her side.  He had stayed there all night, by her side.

~*~*~END FLASHBACK~*~*~

            That was the first time Trunks had felt anything different towards Pan.  Unfortunately, it had taken Trunks longer to actually realize he felt different.  And by that time, it was almost too late.  Indeed, Trunks was still not sure if he had been too late or not.

            Trunks grinned ruefully.  Who'd have thought that he, Trunks Briefs, the most eligible bachelor in the world, would be sitting on his parent's roof, alone, pining after a girl he had know his entire life?

Staring at the white above,

Can't tell if I'm alive or am I dead?

Or is it in my head?

(Where'd I go wrong?)

Had he gone wrong?  He must have, because he was sitting here, awfully lonely.

Staring at the white above

One day I closed my eyes

Then here I am

A cold, unhappy man

Well, he certainly was cold.  Winter did that to a person.  And he supposed he was unhappy.  He was pining after a girl.  But, was he really a man

I've come to realize the life I have

I hate, the pulse I need slowly fading

Until I've lost it all

I've been waiting for an inspiration

For a chance I never got to take

Before it's much to late

(Where'd I go wrong?)

Maybe he didn't hate his life…entirely.  Certainly, there were aspects of it he didn't like.  But hate?  He didn't hate it.  As for the chance he never took, that was fairly obvious.

Where's that boy who used to run?

Could it be he's up and gone away?

He seems so far away

And all the things I could have done

 Could it be they've up and gone away?

They seem so far away.

Idly, Trunks did wonder where that sneaky brat of an eight year old, constantly pitting one parent against the other, had gone.  If he'd angered his father, he could run to the lab for his mother, confident she would calm the nerves of the Saiyan prince.  Or, if he annoyed his mother, he could take refuge in the Gravity Room, knowing his father would distract his mother long enough for her to forget her anger.  That kid was light-years away.

Feels as if the boy in me

Has left and been replaced with a cheap and bitter

Imposter of myself

I must find the one that used to be

Approach him slow, don't be afraid to say

"Can he come out to play?"

(Where'd I go wrong?)

Bitter…maybe he was bitter.  Everyone else seemed to have a someone to come home too.  His parents had each other, Gohan had Videl, Goten had Marron, Bra had Ubuu…those last two couples were happily engaged, by the way.  Vegita had practically blown up Capsule Corp. when Bra and Ubuu had started dating, and when they announced their engagement…oh boy.  Japan hadn't had an earthquake like that since…well, Vegita had arrived in the first place.

Where's that  boy who used to run?

Could it be he's up and gone away?

He seems so far away

And all the things I could have done

 Could it be they've up and gone away?

They seem so far away

Staring at the sky above

I've found a chance I'm finally going take

I've learned from my mistakes

(Where'd I go wrong?)

He had learned from his mistakes.  His chance was coming home tomorrow, and he was going to try that chance.  He knew where'd gone wrong, and he was going to fix it.

Where's that  boy who used to run?

Could it be he's up and gone away?

He seems so far away

And all the things I could have done

 Could it be they've up and gone away?

They seem so far away

(Where'd I go wrong?)

Trunks stood up and stretched.  It was late, and everyone was meeting Pan and Hercule at 10 the next morning.  He was not aware of the coal black eyes that had been watching him during his entire stay on the roof. 

            Vegita couldn't say it aloud, but he really was proud of his son. He knew more about Trunks that anyone suspected, and knew what Trunks had been thinking about up on the roof. And he liked the Son girl.  He had known the problems the two had been having before she left, and was glad Trunks had finally decided to do something about it.  He chuckled softly to himself.  The next few weeks should be interesting.