{Disclaimer-I own nothing.}
-Week 3, Day 3-
*Friday Morning*
Marron sighed drowsily as she sat up, mentally urging herself to wake up and get prepared for work. Though that was easier said than done, for she barely received any sleep last night, or better yet-since Trunks left. Though she knew she was partly responsible for his absence, that didn't mean, not even for a second, that he wasn't just as responsible, or more, as she was; she was deeply worried about him and, of course, angry. She was angry with him for not attempting any forms of communication with her. She was angry because he hadn't stopped by, or even at least tell someone to tell her that he was fine. He was basically acting as if he didn't care about her or their marriage at all, and she was starting to get furious.
Did he care about her at all? Was he mad at her? Avoiding her? Or simply waiting for her to make the first move? It has been a little over, if not more, two weeks. And as she previously stated before, he hasn't attempted to make any form of communication with her. At all. Just what was his problem? And just who did he think he was giving the cold shoulder to? She was usually understanding, and if she couldn't understand, she at least tried to, but what she couldn't understand was what going on.
But she was definitely determined to get to the bottom of things.
###
Bulma released a sigh, making her way down the hall for her and Vegeta's bedroom...if it could even be called that. At this rate, it would no longer be 'their' room, he was barely in there, mostly spending his time trapped within the walls of the GR. The more she tried to talk to him and find out the source of his behavior, the more evident it became that something indeed was wrong. He was transforming into the old Vegeta more and more everyday. And that was unacceptable. Whatever it was that was bothering him, why couldn't he just talk to her about it instead of shutting her out? He was holding her at arm's length, more than that if possible...
All she could do, was hope that this 'party' would release all of the answers she was desperately searching for. Each day that passed, her questions were increasing more and more.
And each day she was losing her husband before her very eyes.
But she would end that. She was certain.
Hopefully, everyone would show up. Earlier, she took it upon herself to deliver each invitation in person. And given what the 'party' was for, she was confident mostly everyone would appear, if not for her, then for Bulla.
The blue-haired woman let yet another sigh loose, before pushing open 'their' bedroom door and entering it. She then closed the door behind her and headed for the bathroom, in need of a hot shower.
###
Pan watched Goten out of the corner of her eyes, not failing to note his behavior towards her. Almost as if he was ignoring her. Was he? He hadn't said anything to her at all yet, and he usually greeted her as soon as he spotted her. They've been here for half an hour now, yet she received no acknowledgement from him. That was definitely a first. Could he possibly still be upset? Even after she explained her reasons for her 'behavior' when she didn't necessarily have to? She sighed as she stole a quick glance at her wrist watch. Their pupils wouldn't be here for another hour or so, so that left her plenty of time to figure out whatever his problem was.
The raven-haired Saiyan stood up and walked towards him, her hands in her pocket as she casually made her way over towards him. "Goten?"
Goten spun around at the call of his name, now facing Pan. "Yeah?"
She raised an eyebrow, allowing her indifferent facade to fall for a moment before quickly re-gaining her composure, her face neutral again. "What's up with you?"
Goten mimicked Pan's previous actions, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Her eyes narrowed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You haven't spoken yet...Are you ignoring me?"
Goten shook his head, casting Pan his full attention now. "What reason would I have to ignore you, Pan? I haven't spoken to you...because I'm giving you you're space. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Was that a hint of anger she detected in his tone? "Even if that's the case, don't you think a simple greeting would be appropriate?"
"Pan," Goten began, a trace of tiredness seeping through, "Listen: I'm sorry if you feel as if I ignored you, but how am i suppose to greet you when I know something is tearing you up on the inside, yet you refuse to allow me to help you? I'm not asking you to tell me everything in one go, but you seem to forget that I'm still your uncle."
"Goten, why can't you understand-"
He shook his head, cutting her off. "No, Pan. Why can't you understand that you don't have to shoulder everything alone? That there's people here for you. Why can't you understand that I want to help you because you're family...I practically consider you like my younger sister for pete's sake. Is that not enough to at least know the source of what's bothering you?"
Pan released a sigh, letting his words sink in. "Goten, I'm sorry...but I can't-"
"-You can't or you won't? There's a difference, Pan. A big one."
"Goten, I-"
"-Which one is it, Pan?"
"Why can't you just listen, Goten? I already told you-"
"-Just forget it, Pan. It's clear now."
She clenched her jaw, getting slightly irritated with his interruptions. Did anything she tell him go through to his head? "You're being ridiculous about this."
"Let's just drop it. Our pupils will be here any minute now."
Not giving her a chance to respond, he walked away and headed for the entrance to greet everyone.
###
Krillin watched Eighteen, openly, studying her intently. Something seemed different about her, but he couldn't place his finger on it at all. He could be merely hallucinating, but something within him strongly doubted that. Now that he thought about it, she definitely seemed different. For a while now. Was he not imagining things like he thought he was? He raised an eyebrow in curiosity as various thoughts began to skip through his head, not noticing that Eighteen was now staring back at him, her blonde eyebrow slightly raised, silently questioning him.
Once it became apparent that Krillin wasn't going to speak anytime soon, she spoke, effectively delivering him out of his trance, "Krillin." The blonde watched as he shook his head a few times, before meeting her gaze. "Yeah?"
"You were staring. Something wrong?"
Krillin stared at her blankly for a moment, mentally debating on what to say. Should he tell her the truth? It really wasn't a big deal...something just seemed off about her...if so, then why did he feel the sudden impulse to lie her, something he'd never done before. Ever. He sighed once more, before realization hit him and he realized that she was awaiting his response. Concluding that his instincts never failed him once, he decided that for the first time since he and Eighteen been married, he was going to lie her. "No, I just got lost in my thoughts. Nothing new."
She momentarily narrowed her eyes at him, before finally seeming to accept his answer and then nodding.