Chapter Two-Bad Childhood Memories

"Alright Trunks, mommy is going to go to the mall, get your coat and lets go". A younger Bulma said to her four year old son. Happy to spend time with his mother, Trunks grabbed his coat and rushed to his mother's side, but not before Vegeta walked into the living room, dripping with sweat after training in the gravity room.

"Woman!" he shouted at Bulma, "where are you going?"

"Shopping of course, Trunks is coming too" She smiled picking up her purse. Vegeta's eyes twitched, "Woman, what are you thinking, my son is a warrior, he doesn't need to go on one of your earth woman sprees" Bulma tightened her lips, "Well, at least some man in this house needs to become a gentleman!" She spat out. Trunks looked at his mother and father and then again at his mother. Bulma bent down and looked at her son and glared up at Vegeta, "Fine, if he doesn't enjoy it then you can train him as much as you want for the next six months." Vegeta smiled prideful, knowing this was one battle he was going to win over his wife.

Bulma took Trunks hand and walked out the door, only to return a short two hours later with her hands pull of bags and a crying, screaming trunks. Bulma threw her bags onto the table and stormed into the bedroom where Vegeta was taking a nap.

"Fine Vegeta!" She spat and stormed out the door. Vegeta woke up and looked at Trunks with an evil smirk and pulled a new video game out from under the pillow and handed it to Trunks. "Good, now that woman won't be bothering us" Trunks smiled happily unsure of what had just occurred and ran to his room and put in his new video game. It would be three years later when Bulma would drag Vegeta and himself to the mall for her hours on end shopping ventures, only to reduce the sayian prince and his son to in his fathers words, 'low rate sayain'.

Trunks woke up to his alarm clock the next morning and got up. He changed into a black t-shirt sporting 'Capsule Corp' and a pair of black pants. He yawned and crept to the corner of his door to make sure his father wasn't around before tiptoeing to the front door, only to be stopped by an unfamiliar voice,

"Good morning Trunks!"

Trunks turned around and saw Pan. The events of the night before flashed back and he sighed in relief before sitting down in front of Pan who was munching away happily on a bowl of rice. Bulma entered the room and poured a cup of coffee before slumping into the chair beside Trunks. She looked tired this morning and his belief was confirmed when she sighed,

"That machine is being a bigger pain to fix than I thought it would be, Trunks, I need you to take Pan shopping today and get me a few things while you're out. I need to work on the time machine." Trunks grimaced, but thought quickly. When his mom got into a project, nothing stopped her and him refusing to do so wouldn't appear well in front of Pan…but why was he thinking about her?

"Fine mom" he finally agreed. Shopping with Pan might not be as bad as shopping with Bulma, or any of his ex-girlfriends. Pan…maybe she was different. Maybe she was the type to go and get what you want and get out. When Pan finished her breakfast and Trunks ate his, they hopped into his car and headed towards the mall.

"Thank you Trunks" Pan said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do this. I know you didn't want to come shopping but you did anyway…if you want you can just drop me off." Pan said with her head down and a tear rolled down her cheek. Trunks was stunned at her, and felt bad, already he was judging her based on his own experiences. Trunks said nothing until they got to the mall a few minutes later and stepped out of the car. Trunks got out and went to pans side and opened the door. Pan was shocked and jumped out, "But…"

Trunks shook his head, "I'm the one you should be blaming. It's not you, Pan; I want to go shopping with you." Pan slowly nodded and stepped out of the car and the two entered the mall. Trunks looked at Pan, What's gotten over me? Was I actually sensitive?! But she seemed so hurt…most girls would cry and demand to be pulled over, but she told me what she was feeling…and now my heart is acting up. Must be the thought of shopping. Trunks agreed with himself, it had to be the shopping.

Trunks looked at Pan. She had on a red shirt and denim capris. Trunks wondered what would happen if Goten knew he was taking his future daughter shopping and then he wondered something else,

"Hey Pan. Do you practice any Martial Arts?"

Pan looked up and beamed, "Hai! Grandpa Goku taught me some. I think I'm pretty strong, I always beat papa when we fight."

Trunks smiled, though he had lost his interest in fighting not long after he entered high school he had a sudden urge to fight,

"Tell you what Pan, when we get back, we can spar."

Pan smiled again, "Yeah, sounds great!"

Pan and Trunks entered the first store and Pan quickly found several outfits she liked. Pan disappeared into the dressing room and Trunks waited outside, "How does it look Pan?" Trunks asked.

"I don't know…" Pan said quietly.

"Come out and let me see then." A minute later Pan emerged wearing a tan skirt that was just above her kneecaps and a yellow shirt. Trunks smiled, "You look cute Pan." Pan turned red, "no…no! No I don't!" Trunks laughed, "come on Pan, don't you have a boyfriend back home?" Pan got quiet and her lips quivered, "no…"

Trunks laughed, "Come on, I'm sure there's a guy who you love!" Pan turned a deeper shade of red and nodded, "Yes…I love…him…"

Trunks nodded, "Good, then wear this outfit for him, I know he'll go out with you in a second!" Pan blushed and the two spent another hour in the store before leaving with two full bags of stuff. It hadn't been as bad as Trunks had feared it would be, he had been expecting worse, but dare he say it, he enjoyed shopping with Pan? They had gotten the items on the list Bulma had given them and the two headed over to the food court, it was past noon and many hungry people were waiting in line.

"Pan, what do you want?" Trunks asked looking at the sign in front of the china café.

"Sushi." She exclaimed and Trunks laughed. They purchased their meal and took a seat at one of the tables far from the large crowd of people.

"Pan, after here, we need to head home, I have some company work to do, but after that I'll spar with you as much as you want." Pans face lit up again and the two talked until they were finished and then headed back to the car. Pan looked out the window, "You know, this place is very different from the era I'm from."

"Why? What's different?"

Pan shrugged, "I think it's the sky…its never this blue. They were right about pollution,"

Trunks said nothing and continued driving. Pan and Trunks didn't say much the rest of the way home and when they arrived home, Pan took her stuff to her room and Bulma came in and admired some of the outfits she had, Bulma even tried some on but in frustration said nothing as they didn't fit. Trunks had gone to the office; he had a board meeting and some paperwork to do. It wasn't until 9:00pm that evening when he realized the time and cursed under his breath and hurried home. He had broken his promise to Pan. When he arrived home Bulma told him not to disturb her and to let her sleep. When Bulma disappeared Trunks creaked open the door and walked in and sat by Pans bed,

"Pan-chan, you awake?"

Pan slowly opened her eyes and jumped, "Trunks!"

"Sorry, I got late at the office, but I'm off all day tomorrow."

Pan smiled, "ok, Bulma said the time machine was coming along good, and said probably in two weeks I could go home." Trunks nodded and said goodnight to Pan before returning to his own room and falling asleep.