If only I could forget everything now. Pan thought miserably to herself.
Then she shook herself. No. There had been good times as well. Like that
night in Kyoto, when the group had stayed at a youth hostel. She and Bra
had gone wacko from lack of real food and an overdose on high in sugar junk
food. Finding a staircase that lead to the roof of their 5 story buildings,
the demi-saiyans on a sugar high proceed to greet people in the streets
below and serenade them alternatively, using a variety of accents.
Needless to say, it had been fun. And the next day they were back on the
shinkansen, travelling to Hiroshima.
"Yo Bra! Come take my picture with this plaque!" Pan was standing next to a marble plaque that was covered in literally hundreds of tiny paper cranes. "Sure." Bra said, jogging over to talk the camera from her friend. Pan kneeled down and rested a hand on the plaque, trying to look sad for the people who had died where she was standing, but feeling to excited about being there to successfully pull it off. After a shot of the bomb dome and several of the millions of origami cranes, the whole group moved towards the museum. Everyone entered the museum together, and all bought their tickets. As the group walked into the first chamber, they were confronted with a huge screen TV which endlessly repeated a short documentary which was designed to make Americans feel bad. Bra and Pan both passed it by, relieved to be Japanese as they passed sniveling, guilt-ridden tourists. Pan didn't know exactly how it happened, but soon she was on her own. One minute Bra was beside her saying something about how devastating the bomb was, and then the next she was no where to be seen. Pan shrugged it off; she kinda preferred to be alone, anyway. She made her way up the stairs to the next level, and coming around to the display case was surprised to see Trunks already there. Pan didn't exactly ignore him, but since Bra's disappearance she realized she really did want the solitude for the time being. With this in mind she walked around to the displays on the other side of the room. In less than a minute, Trunks joined her. He made some comment to the effect of how sad it all was, and Pan agreed. Too upset by what she was seeing to notice his odd behavior, she simply moved on to the next section without saying a word to the purple-haired saiyan. Trunks stared after her sadly. What did he do wrong? Following Pan, he found her looking at some of the items that had been lent to the museum by relatives of the bomb victims. Pan felt tears well up in her eyes as she recognized the charred and twisted remains of a lunch box in the glass case before her. She was so distraught she didn't notice Trunks standing behind her. Pan jumped when she heard the familiar voice behind her. "Makes ya feel real sad, huh?" Trunks said quietly. Pan slowly turned to face him. Looking into his sapphire eyes, she agreed with him. "Sure does. I just can't believe how devastating it really was." Again, Pan felt the need to be alone and nodding to Trunks, she started down the hall that led to the darkened exhibition area. As Trunks watched her go, he realized that she wanted to be alone, but he could tell she had been deeply moved by what she had seen so far, and he knew there was worse to come. He wanted to be there for her, and so he walked a little faster to catch up to her.
As Pan walked away, she really did appreciate the silence, but secretly she hoped that Trunks wouldn't give up on her. This realization shocked her a little. Why do I want Trunks with me? Do I like him? As she thought this through, she realized that she did. Pan was still confused; she had thought that she liked Daniel, a boy who went to her school. But no, here she was in Hiroshima, desperately hoping that this guy she hardly knew would come and sweep her off her feet. As she caught sight of Trunks' reflection in the glass case ahead of her, the thought occurred to her that Trunks might be only too willing to oblige. Smiling to herself, Pan concentrated on looking as upset as she could as she turned to face the life-size diorama in the corner of the dark room. Earlier, she had pulled out the band keeping her shoulder length raven black hair back, and now as she tilted her head forward, it fell like a curtain to hide her face. The red lights of the display highlighted her hair, and Pan's saiyan hearing just picked up the gasp that escaped Trunks as he rounded the corner. Pleased with herself for getting the result she had wanted, Pan took a deep breath and turned to face him, flicking her hair and batting her eyes. Pan almost laughed out loud when her eyes came to rest on him. Trunks was standing stock-still, his mouth slightly open, in shock. It took him a moment to recover himself as he thought, God, she is beautiful! Pan struggled to keep the triumphant smile from her face. In her head, she reasoned that he might be shocked about the scene that now stood behind her, but the voice saying that was very quiet. So far, Trunks had shown no remorse for the tragedy, and it wasn't a war-torn mannequin he was looking at. Finding his voice after what seemed like an eternity, Trunks gestured to the display and said "T-Tragic, isn't it?" He could have kicked himself for stumbling over his words, but she seemed not to have noticed. Trunks breathed a sigh of relief. Pan turned her head slightly so he couldn't see her face. She had to smile! It was killing her not to laugh. Turning back to him she quietly replied. "Yes, it is. I can't believe anyone could do something like this." Her gaze had drifted upward to rest on his face, and she could tell he was struggling to focus on her words. "Yeah, I know." He said uncertainly, hoping it was an adequate answer. Pan thought of all the things she could do to torture him while the moment lasted, but dismissed them, deciding to put him out of his misery. "Come on. I see something I recognize." Before Pan lost her nerve and backed down, she grabbed his hand and dragged him the few meters to a huge glass case. Letting him go, but not looking at him, she started to speak. "Do you remember, while we were all at the A-bomb Dome, I was telling you guys about the stones steps of the Bank of Hiroshima?" Trunks nodded, and looked sideways at Pan as she continued. "I've read about it in several books. The bomb was dropped early in the morning. There were people lining up at the Bank, waiting for it to open. When the bomb exploded, they died where they stood. This shadow," Pan raised her hand to point at the stone inside the case, "was made when the radiation blasted the building, but was stopped by the body of a person who fell there." Pan was speaking slowly, letting her words sink in. "A person died, right there, while laying on that stone before us." Well, that affected him. Pan thought as she watched Trunks' face. He had turned back to face the stone steps, and she now saw a change in his expression. He turned to her silently, but she could read his expression like he was shouting out loud. He felt bad for the devastation of Hiroshima, and Pan knew he would go home changed.
After that, the two tried to look at things with a more positive outlook. They even joked about suing the museum if they got leukemia after touching radiation-mutated roof tiles. Trunks signed the guest book and together they descended the stairs. Before Pan's speech at the stone steps, they had pretended their meetings were accidental. But afterwards they walked around together, stopping for the other and commenting on everything. Once back in the sunshine, they headed back for the main entrance. Peering through the glass, Pan called back, "I think we're the first out." "Cool." Came the reply. Trunks had walked over to the concrete seats to the side of the entrance. Settling back, he lit a cigarette and took a drag, not noticing Pan's disapproving look. "What?" he asked, slightly annoyed, when he finally noticed her. "Who long have you smoked?" she questioned, stepping up closer from where she had abruptly stopped. "Since I was about 12." He casually replied. "You're kidding?!" Pan was shocked. "That long?" he nodded his affirmation. "Woah. You know you really shouldn't. It's bad for you." Trunks merely raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? Haven't heard that one before." He sounded bored, which annoyed Pan even more. "Don't you even care that you're slowing killing yourself?!" Pan had marched up to him while speaking, and she now stood inches in front of him. With her hands on her hips and her accusing glare, Pan had no idea how hot she was looking to Trunks right then. His eyes never left hers as he stubbed out the cigg on the back of the seat. Pan's eyes softened as she saw him do this. "Thank you," she said softly, still watching him. "I don't want you to die." They both started to smile slightly. Trunks was truly touched by her concern. She was the first to ever care enough to mention it. He was about to tell her this when Bra came bounding up and broke the mood. "Hiya!! How long ya been waiting? What did ya think of the museum?" Bra said quickly and in one breath, jabbing her hand over a shoulder at the museum as she spoke. "Hey, Bra. The museum was." Pan looked at Trunks for support. "Enlightening." Trunks finished for her. He flashed her a conspirital smile as he continued. "I've discovered many things today. Things that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Pan couldn't help grinning; she just felt so happy. Bra looked a little confused, but didn't question either of them. The rest of the group turned up one by one, and conversations drew in everyone until Mrs Johnson appeared to herd them back onto the bus.
The bus trip had been boring and uneventful. Mostly because Trunks was at the opposite end to Pan. Thankfully, it wasn't long before they were back at the shinkanshen terminal waiting for their ride to Fukuoka. Pan was walking near to the end of the platform, lost in her thoughts, when suddenly she felt someone grab her and hold her over the edge. Screaming, although not to loudly, she twisted to see Trunks grinning his head off. He pulled her back from the edge but didn't let her go. She stepped back slightly, but remained in his arms. Lightly, she slapped his shoulder in mock-anger. "Trunks Briefs! Why do you keep doing that?" Pan tried to look haughty and dignified, but was finding it hard. "Because it's so much fun!" He said happily. Pulling her close again, Trunks whispered in her ear, "I like you like this." Referring to the way he was holding her. Smirking, he let her go and sauntered back to his friends. Pan quickly recovered and went to find Bra.
Wow. Someone actually read to chapter 3! (Eternal Star falls off computer chair. Eternal Star is in shock.) Thank you, thank you, but don't stop now! ^_^
"Yo Bra! Come take my picture with this plaque!" Pan was standing next to a marble plaque that was covered in literally hundreds of tiny paper cranes. "Sure." Bra said, jogging over to talk the camera from her friend. Pan kneeled down and rested a hand on the plaque, trying to look sad for the people who had died where she was standing, but feeling to excited about being there to successfully pull it off. After a shot of the bomb dome and several of the millions of origami cranes, the whole group moved towards the museum. Everyone entered the museum together, and all bought their tickets. As the group walked into the first chamber, they were confronted with a huge screen TV which endlessly repeated a short documentary which was designed to make Americans feel bad. Bra and Pan both passed it by, relieved to be Japanese as they passed sniveling, guilt-ridden tourists. Pan didn't know exactly how it happened, but soon she was on her own. One minute Bra was beside her saying something about how devastating the bomb was, and then the next she was no where to be seen. Pan shrugged it off; she kinda preferred to be alone, anyway. She made her way up the stairs to the next level, and coming around to the display case was surprised to see Trunks already there. Pan didn't exactly ignore him, but since Bra's disappearance she realized she really did want the solitude for the time being. With this in mind she walked around to the displays on the other side of the room. In less than a minute, Trunks joined her. He made some comment to the effect of how sad it all was, and Pan agreed. Too upset by what she was seeing to notice his odd behavior, she simply moved on to the next section without saying a word to the purple-haired saiyan. Trunks stared after her sadly. What did he do wrong? Following Pan, he found her looking at some of the items that had been lent to the museum by relatives of the bomb victims. Pan felt tears well up in her eyes as she recognized the charred and twisted remains of a lunch box in the glass case before her. She was so distraught she didn't notice Trunks standing behind her. Pan jumped when she heard the familiar voice behind her. "Makes ya feel real sad, huh?" Trunks said quietly. Pan slowly turned to face him. Looking into his sapphire eyes, she agreed with him. "Sure does. I just can't believe how devastating it really was." Again, Pan felt the need to be alone and nodding to Trunks, she started down the hall that led to the darkened exhibition area. As Trunks watched her go, he realized that she wanted to be alone, but he could tell she had been deeply moved by what she had seen so far, and he knew there was worse to come. He wanted to be there for her, and so he walked a little faster to catch up to her.
As Pan walked away, she really did appreciate the silence, but secretly she hoped that Trunks wouldn't give up on her. This realization shocked her a little. Why do I want Trunks with me? Do I like him? As she thought this through, she realized that she did. Pan was still confused; she had thought that she liked Daniel, a boy who went to her school. But no, here she was in Hiroshima, desperately hoping that this guy she hardly knew would come and sweep her off her feet. As she caught sight of Trunks' reflection in the glass case ahead of her, the thought occurred to her that Trunks might be only too willing to oblige. Smiling to herself, Pan concentrated on looking as upset as she could as she turned to face the life-size diorama in the corner of the dark room. Earlier, she had pulled out the band keeping her shoulder length raven black hair back, and now as she tilted her head forward, it fell like a curtain to hide her face. The red lights of the display highlighted her hair, and Pan's saiyan hearing just picked up the gasp that escaped Trunks as he rounded the corner. Pleased with herself for getting the result she had wanted, Pan took a deep breath and turned to face him, flicking her hair and batting her eyes. Pan almost laughed out loud when her eyes came to rest on him. Trunks was standing stock-still, his mouth slightly open, in shock. It took him a moment to recover himself as he thought, God, she is beautiful! Pan struggled to keep the triumphant smile from her face. In her head, she reasoned that he might be shocked about the scene that now stood behind her, but the voice saying that was very quiet. So far, Trunks had shown no remorse for the tragedy, and it wasn't a war-torn mannequin he was looking at. Finding his voice after what seemed like an eternity, Trunks gestured to the display and said "T-Tragic, isn't it?" He could have kicked himself for stumbling over his words, but she seemed not to have noticed. Trunks breathed a sigh of relief. Pan turned her head slightly so he couldn't see her face. She had to smile! It was killing her not to laugh. Turning back to him she quietly replied. "Yes, it is. I can't believe anyone could do something like this." Her gaze had drifted upward to rest on his face, and she could tell he was struggling to focus on her words. "Yeah, I know." He said uncertainly, hoping it was an adequate answer. Pan thought of all the things she could do to torture him while the moment lasted, but dismissed them, deciding to put him out of his misery. "Come on. I see something I recognize." Before Pan lost her nerve and backed down, she grabbed his hand and dragged him the few meters to a huge glass case. Letting him go, but not looking at him, she started to speak. "Do you remember, while we were all at the A-bomb Dome, I was telling you guys about the stones steps of the Bank of Hiroshima?" Trunks nodded, and looked sideways at Pan as she continued. "I've read about it in several books. The bomb was dropped early in the morning. There were people lining up at the Bank, waiting for it to open. When the bomb exploded, they died where they stood. This shadow," Pan raised her hand to point at the stone inside the case, "was made when the radiation blasted the building, but was stopped by the body of a person who fell there." Pan was speaking slowly, letting her words sink in. "A person died, right there, while laying on that stone before us." Well, that affected him. Pan thought as she watched Trunks' face. He had turned back to face the stone steps, and she now saw a change in his expression. He turned to her silently, but she could read his expression like he was shouting out loud. He felt bad for the devastation of Hiroshima, and Pan knew he would go home changed.
After that, the two tried to look at things with a more positive outlook. They even joked about suing the museum if they got leukemia after touching radiation-mutated roof tiles. Trunks signed the guest book and together they descended the stairs. Before Pan's speech at the stone steps, they had pretended their meetings were accidental. But afterwards they walked around together, stopping for the other and commenting on everything. Once back in the sunshine, they headed back for the main entrance. Peering through the glass, Pan called back, "I think we're the first out." "Cool." Came the reply. Trunks had walked over to the concrete seats to the side of the entrance. Settling back, he lit a cigarette and took a drag, not noticing Pan's disapproving look. "What?" he asked, slightly annoyed, when he finally noticed her. "Who long have you smoked?" she questioned, stepping up closer from where she had abruptly stopped. "Since I was about 12." He casually replied. "You're kidding?!" Pan was shocked. "That long?" he nodded his affirmation. "Woah. You know you really shouldn't. It's bad for you." Trunks merely raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? Haven't heard that one before." He sounded bored, which annoyed Pan even more. "Don't you even care that you're slowing killing yourself?!" Pan had marched up to him while speaking, and she now stood inches in front of him. With her hands on her hips and her accusing glare, Pan had no idea how hot she was looking to Trunks right then. His eyes never left hers as he stubbed out the cigg on the back of the seat. Pan's eyes softened as she saw him do this. "Thank you," she said softly, still watching him. "I don't want you to die." They both started to smile slightly. Trunks was truly touched by her concern. She was the first to ever care enough to mention it. He was about to tell her this when Bra came bounding up and broke the mood. "Hiya!! How long ya been waiting? What did ya think of the museum?" Bra said quickly and in one breath, jabbing her hand over a shoulder at the museum as she spoke. "Hey, Bra. The museum was." Pan looked at Trunks for support. "Enlightening." Trunks finished for her. He flashed her a conspirital smile as he continued. "I've discovered many things today. Things that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Pan couldn't help grinning; she just felt so happy. Bra looked a little confused, but didn't question either of them. The rest of the group turned up one by one, and conversations drew in everyone until Mrs Johnson appeared to herd them back onto the bus.
The bus trip had been boring and uneventful. Mostly because Trunks was at the opposite end to Pan. Thankfully, it wasn't long before they were back at the shinkanshen terminal waiting for their ride to Fukuoka. Pan was walking near to the end of the platform, lost in her thoughts, when suddenly she felt someone grab her and hold her over the edge. Screaming, although not to loudly, she twisted to see Trunks grinning his head off. He pulled her back from the edge but didn't let her go. She stepped back slightly, but remained in his arms. Lightly, she slapped his shoulder in mock-anger. "Trunks Briefs! Why do you keep doing that?" Pan tried to look haughty and dignified, but was finding it hard. "Because it's so much fun!" He said happily. Pulling her close again, Trunks whispered in her ear, "I like you like this." Referring to the way he was holding her. Smirking, he let her go and sauntered back to his friends. Pan quickly recovered and went to find Bra.
Wow. Someone actually read to chapter 3! (Eternal Star falls off computer chair. Eternal Star is in shock.) Thank you, thank you, but don't stop now! ^_^