Chapter 3
By: Bellchan
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ/GT characters.
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Pan averted her gaze as soon as she saw Trunks coming into her direction. He had a serious expression on his face, but she couldn't tell what he was up to.
"Nice dress." he told her, taking a bottle of wine from the table and filling his cup with more of the drink.
"Thank you." she replied, giving a quick glance at those intriguing ocean blue eyes.
"But I don't think you need that to call the attention of silly guys." he said, at first, keeping his voice as calm as possible.
"Excuse me?" asked Pan, not really understanding what Trunks was talking about.
"Never mind." he scolded himself mentally for sounding so stupid. "Would you like some drink?" he offered, as to act more casual.
"No, thanks." was her short reply.
"I see you're having a good time, Pan." he told her, while sipping his drink. "By the way, who's the guy?" he asked, still in a calm tone.
"Oh, are you talking about Michael? I thought you already knew him, since he's Marron's future brother-in-law..." Pan kept watching Trunks' indecipherable expression through the corner of her eyes.
"Actually, no. He may be kind of funny for you being all mushy around him." Trunks commented, turning his gaze to the people around.
"In fact, he is..." she said, staring at him oddly.
"Sure, but I think you shouldn't trust the first guy that pops in before you, much less let him touch you that way and..."
"Wait, wait, Trunks..." she interrupted him. "First, nobody was touching me and second, what's up?" Trunks was about to say something but she didn't let him speak. "I really can't see what's your point, you are talking as if I was only fifteen years old, but in fact I'm almost twenty-two and I don't need a big brother to defend me!" she spat, annoyed with his strange talk.
"I was just worried with you, is there anything wrong about caring for a friend?" he replied, sounding a bit hurt.
"Of course not. Then just not to make you worried, Mr. Trunks, I'll be sure to ask your permission to talk with someone the next time." she said, sardonically.
"Pan, you're getting me wrong..." he affirmed, placing a hand over her shoulder. He finally realized what he had started. He shouldn't have commented about the other guy. What was that sudden blurt? That was still unclear for him.
"Hello guys, are you arguing or something like that?" someone interrupted.
"Oh, hello Aya!" said Pan, sheepishly. "We were just talking, we always used to talk like that so just ignore us!" she continued, patting the older girl on the back.
"Sure! By the way Pan, we didn't have talked properly to each other yet, so I was thinking... What about the four of us going to a nice restaurant tomorrow, I mean, Trunks, me, you and your boyfriend?" suggested Aya.
"Well, if you are talking about Michael, he's not my boyfriend but I can invite him anyway..." informed Pan.
"So is that settled then?" asked Aya.
"Yes!" "No!" came Pan's and Trunks' replies, respectively.
"Oh, c'mon sweetie, don't be so indelicate..." insisted Trunks' girlfriend, kissing him on the cheek. He rolled his eyes and finally accepted the idea.
But maybe it wouldn't be a friendly dinner what would help to cool off the things between them. Actually, things just seemed to get worse, the next day.
"So your favorite hobby is raising flowers, ne Michael-kun?" commented Aya, while Pan, Michael, Trunks and herself ate their food at a fancy restaurant.
"Yeah, and my garden just seems to become more colorful and gorgeous on each passing year..." the boy informed, proudly.
"C'mon, Michael, don't you think it's too girlish for a guy like you? Raising flowers?" asked Trunks, grinning sarcastically.
Before the youth could say something, Pan was already replying Trunks' observation. "I don't think it's a girlish thing. I am a girl but I don't think I'd have such sensibility to deal with flowers and things like that... Actually, I really admire those men who can cook, clean and do what most of them can't..."
"A bunch of freaks, you mean." spat the lavender haired man.
"Skillful men, I mean." Pan said back.
"Er... guys, what about changing the subject?" suggested Michael, before the others could start an argument.
"I think you shouldn't interrupt people when they're talking, you know..." said Trunks, frowning.
"And I think he's right, Trunks. Let's stop this silly talk." stated Aya, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, I'm sorry people, but I guess I have to go now..." informed Pan. Actually she feared that Trunks could do something with Michael, and he was way stronger. She was a bit intrigued, though, because Trunks always used to be polite, but he had been acting strangely since she came back to Japan. At least that was her impression. "The dinner was excellent, but tomorrow I have to get up early for a job interview. Michael, would you drive me home?" she asked the boy sat by her side.
"Sure." he responded, bowing respectfully to the couple in front of him as he left with Pan.
When the Saiyan girl and her companion was out of sight, Aya turned to Trunks with a serious look on her face. "Trunks, what was that for? What's happening with you?" the young woman asked.
"That boy... He's really annoying." he declared, not too convicted, though.
"You know better than me that it was you who provoked him all the time. Now just tell me why." Aya had a self-confident look, but deep inside she prayed it was not what she was thinking.
"Now are you going to argue with me because of him too?" he complained, beginning to get nervous, although he knew she was right.
"Okay dear, we can talk later, I don't want you to be angry here at the restaurant." She sighed and kissed his cheek, trying to calm him down. "Let's go home."
"Aya, may I spend the night at your home?" he asked, in a soft voice.
"Sure, honey. You're always welcome." she affirmed, putting her arms around his waist.
"Thanks... I want you to take care of me tonight..." he told her, caressing her short brown hair.
"I love you, Trunks..." she whispered. 'And I won't let you escape so easily...' she completed to herself.
Back to Michael's car, Pan was trying to apologize for Trunks' unusual behavior.
"It was not your fault, Pan. Now I finally understood what's going on between you and Trunks." stated the boy.
"What do you mean?" Pan asked surprised.
"It's obvious. The way you look at each other... You love him and he loves you."
Pan was shocked with what he had just said. Trunks? In love with her? "Stop joking, Michael. It isn't true."
"You say that because you didn't see the way he looked at me. It was like he wanted to kill me. He was obviously jealous."
"No, you're wrong. That's because he was always too protective over me, always playing the big brother. Me, on the other hand, is the one who has been in love with him since a long time ago..." she confessed.
"Yeah, I know..." said Michael.
"You know? Is it so evident?" she asked, staring at him with a concerned face. The boy just smiled and nodded.
"Shit... If you noticed, so did Aya. That girl is pretty observant..." Pan sighed and turned her gaze to the road. Now she wished she did not have accepted to go to that dinner. Why have things to be so complicated...
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"His smile, his touch, his kisses... All of them had the sweet taste of a forbidden love... But I didn't care, because he was the light I was missing in my life. He was my angel, my savior."
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One month had passed since the young noble girl had begun secretly meeting the mysterious lavender haired boy. She would always give the excuse of visiting her parents grave, her little garden of lilies or whatever came to her mind. Brenda always accompanied her until mid way, stopping by a church, which was the safest place to wait for Pan's return.
Those short encounters did mean a lot for Pan, she learned so many things that she would never be allowed to at the palace. She felt safe and happy with him. Trunks even taught her how to manage bow and arrow and how to climb trees. Like that day, when they decided to pick some apples.
"There you go, Pan!" cheered the enthusiastic boy. "You're becoming an excellent climber!" he chuckled, as he watched his beautiful companion skillfully climb a high apple tree and throw some of the fruits towards him. "But you should watch out, though... I can see your panties!" he chanted, playfully.
"Trunks, you pervert! Stop looking at my butt and take those damn apples!!!" shouted the angry girl, tightening her dress around her legs with one of her hands and blushing furiously.
"Sorry... I think we got enough of them, you can just go down... Be careful!" he told her.
"Okay..." she was about to start going down the tree when, suddenly, the image of a serpent approaching her made her stop frozen. Terrified, she lost her balance and slid from the branch she was on. She hit some other branches on her fall, until she collapsed on the ground.
"Pan!!!"
yelled Trunks, reaching the girl in a single second. "Pan! Are you ok?"
he made a very concerned face as she began to moan loudly. He lifted her
carefully and brought her next to a big pile of leaves, where he finally
put her down as gently as possible.
"It will be fine, Pan...
Don't move, please..." he whispered.
"Ouch... It hurts..." she spoke through clenched teeth.
"Did you brake something?" he asked, holding her hand.
"I don't think so..." she responded.
"But we need to be sure, anyway. I'm sorry, Pan, but I'll have to examine you. Do you mind?" he looked at her expectantly.
"What...
What are you going to do?" she widened her eyes as he carefully took off
her dress, leaving her only on her underwear.
"Why are you stripping me,
you hentai! Didn't you learn not to take advantage of defenseless ladies?"
She was about to continue scolding him, but the look of pure concern on
his face made her shut her mouth and stare curiously at him.
"My father used to be a doctor before he died, and I always helped him with his patients. Don't worry, if you have any serious injuries, I think I can handle that." he said. He began pressing each one of her ribs gently, always asking the girl if that hurt. Although he was being very serious and skillful, she couldn't help shivering at his touch. His hands felt warm against her skin and there was no way she could ignore that. She stiffened a bit as he reached her legs. Oh, damn, that tickled... That... She slapped herself as impure thoughts came to her mind. He was just taking care of her, damn. When he finally finished his job, he smiled at her and stroked her cheek. "No broken parts! Just some small cuts and scratches, but we can treat them with some herbs I have brought with me."
"Thank you, Trunks..." she whispered softly at him. He just smiled again and stood up to take his herbs.
After treating her injuries, Trunks grabbed Pan's dress and handed it to her. "Here... let me help you." he offered. Again, the contact with his skin and his gentle manners made her blush deeply. She wondered if he was a member of the nobility the women in the palace would compete for him until they killed each other. What a man... she thought.
"Trunks... Now that I'm properly dressed, let me properly thank you." she said, putting her arms around his neck and staring straight into his crystal blue eyes.
"Hmm... I guess you will properly kiss me, right?" he asked, smiling innocently.
"Right..." she closed her eyes and touched his lips with hers. She wished time froze like that. So she would never have to leave his comfortable and protective arms.
The first stars were beginning to appear in the sky, as the two youths kept holding each other. Pan looked up at Trunks to stare at his handsome face once more. "You know, boy, you're a hell of a fighter, a skillful doctor and a damn good kisser... Now don't tell me you're also a mage." she said.
"A mage? Why?" he raised his eyebrows.
"Because I think you cast a spell on me..." she responded, resting her head on his chest.
"Nah... That's just because I'm gorgeous, strong, gentle, sexy and smart." he spoke, matter-of-factly.
"I bet you are..." she chuckled. "Well, I already kissed you, so now it's your turn to kiss me." she told him, brushing his lower lip with the tip of her small finger.
"As you wish, pretty lady..." He grinned and obeyed.
Making
the best of their little time together, the happy couple didn't notice
a pair of eyes watching them on the shadows. A pair of sparkling evil eyes.