Chapter 4
*********
Let the sweet heavens endure,
Not close and darken above me
Before I am quite quite sure
That there is one to love me;
Then let come what may
To a life that has been so sad,
I shall have had my day.
*********
Kuso.
Trunks found himself in the middle of nowhere. It was dark and raining hard, not to mention freezing cold. In front of him was an abandoned wooden building of some kind. Something told him that she was inside there. Pan was there.
He moved quickly, jerking the knob of the door loose and kicking open the door. The old musty smell wafted towards him as he stepped through the broken doorway, splinters of wood lying all over the floor. He wandered through the building, entering room after room, showing no signs of habitation save a few empty cans, remnants of foor still rotting, sending out a less than pleasant smell.
His heart raced as he reached empty room after empty room, still not finding Pan. It seemed like he had been going in circles. At last he came to a door, already slightly adjar, with no dust covering the old splintered room, the white paint cracking off. Without another moment's hesitation, he pulled open the door. The tangy metallic smell of blood filled the air around him, making him freeze in fear.
The staircase that met him stared down into the darkness of below. His fists lay clenched at his side as he moved slowly forward, one step at a time. Part of him wanted to race down to see if Pan was alright...if she was down there. However, fear that something may have happened kept him from going, in case the truth was too much to bear.
A figure appeared in front of him, a knife gleamed in the light of upstairs, the blood dripping off the deadly blade evident, even in the dim light.
" You shouldn't have come pretty boy. Now it's time to die as well."
Now Trunks could see that it was clearly a man. A man racing up the stairs towards him with a knife pointed towards his throat. Numbly, he grabbed the man's arm, letting his elbow contact painfully with the side of the attacker's face, making him break and fall over the rickety handrail of the staircase into the cold darkness of below.
Below...
Die as well.
Die.
Now he raced down the rest of the steps, the smell of blood to his trained nose becoming stronger. Stepping onto the ground, he looked to the floor. He had stepped into a pool of blood, running all over the floor. His eyes moved frantically, tracing the trails of blood back to the source. A girl lay huddled in the corner, the shimmery material of her dress still shone in the dim light, soaked in blood.
He drew in a sharp breath as he rushed to her side. With a quick sucession of ki blasts, he freed her from the ropes and chains that held her, pulling her into his embrace, desperately trying to wake her. Make her respond. He ignored the blood soaking into his own clothing as he pressed his left hand on the wound, supporting her on his lap with his right hand.
Oh please...Panny...Don't die. I...I can't be too late.
He realised he couldn't stay...he had to move quickly. She had already lost a lot of blood. He grabbed the piece of rope from the ground and laid Pan gently onto the floor, quickly finding the fallen man and tying up in his own prison. His eyes were wet as he picked up the dying girl.
" Pan...talk to me...please. Don't give up..."
Without any more words, he raced out of the building, powering up to the fullest to speed towards help.
Pan moaned painfully as he felt pressure on her wound and someone shaking her. She drowsily opened one eye, pleading for that someone to stop.
" Pan! You're awake!"
Pan waited for her eyes to clear, letting the blurry image clear to form Trunks' face staring down at her worriedly.
Trunks? What? Where am I?
She heard the wind whoosh around her, realising that she was flying...or she was being carried.
" ...I'm free."
A tear dropped on her cheek, mingling in with her own.
" Thank Dende I found you Pan. I was so scared...so scared I wouldn't find you in time."
Pan opened her mouth to talk but found she had no energy.
" Shh...don't try to talk. Save your strength...we're almost there. Just hang on a little longer."
" ...Why...why did you come for me?"
" Because I'm...because...Aishiteru.."
" Why...why tell me now? After all this..."
That made Pan cough violently, spitting up blood which spilled ovewr the side of her mouth.
" Shh...don't talk Pan. Save your strength."
" I need to know. I...I thought you didn't care."
" Of course I care."
" But that night...at the park..."
" I was so shocked. I couldn't say anything...you ran away from me Pan. You didn't give me a chance to explain."
Pan let out sounds that seemed to resemble a laugh, followed by a hacking cough which spilt up more blood.
" So I was right..."
Trunks brushed Pan's hair, matted with blood, back so the strong winds couldn't blow it around. He increased his speed once more as he staired down at her.
" I'm bonded to you...Aishiteru...forever. " he whispered softly.
A small smile played on her lips as she felt herself tire.
" ...you know Trunks...I held on just to hear you say those words."
She wanted to sleep...just a little. Her eyes began to slowly close.
" No Pan...don't fall asleep...Stay awake. Don't leave me."
But her eyes remained closed as her lips moved every so slightly to mouth her words, a soft whisper and then nothing.
" I promise I won't leave you...aishiteru forever Trunks."
Her lips curled to give him one last famous So Pan smile. Quickly, he bent his head to kiss her, tasting her blood as it entered his mouth. He could hear her breathing slow and feel her body slacken in his arms as he sped up, hoping against everything that his Pan could hold on.
Don't die Pan...not like this. Don't go like this...don't leave me alone. Please. I love you...
**********
The bright white lights of the room flickered annoyingly. A broken young man sat impatiently on a hard white plastic hairm leaning forward with his head in his hands. The room was deathly silent, the gentle 'plop' of tears falling on shoe leather could be heard. Occassionally, he would look up, to see if the red light of the emergency room would have turned off. The bitter disappointment and guilt could be easily seen in his sky blue eyes.
A loud bang could be heard, followed by many voices. They were here. All the people who have ever loved and cared for her. He couldn't bring himself to face them...if he hadn't saved her in time, he wouldn't ever forgive himself.
" Trunks! How is she?"
A nurse had called her family earlier when he had reached the hospital. Numbly, he sat staring at the blood encrusted underneath his shoes.
Bura glanced at her brother. He seemed lifeless. His white shirt was soaked in blood, as were the rest of his clothes and his shoes. Not his blood...then it would have to be...
" Oh Pan..." she choked out between her sobs as she felt her father lead her to a chair.
The Son family were in a state of shock. Tears tinged everyone's eyes, Vegeta's fists clenched in fury as Bulma tried to console Chichi and Videl. Gohan stood silently in front of Trunks, watching the boy with his head lowered.
" What happened?"
Trunks looked up at Gohan. His eyes bulged with rage, his pale skin flushed with anger as his hair was starting to glow gold. He was struggling to keep from transforming.
" Gohan...I'm sorry."
He tensed as he felt Gohan grab him the collar and haul him to his feet.
" Look at me boy. What happened to her?"
Trunks refused to look in his eyes.
" I'm sorry I couldn't find her earlier...I'm sorry I couldn't save her."
Gohan's fist contacted with his right cheek. He flew and smashed into a wall, allowing himself to slide to the floor like a rag doll.
" She's alive Trunks. She has been saved."
Trunks wiped his blood from his lip and stood up, straightening his suit.
" She was taken...held in an old building...stabbed."
Gasps of horror and muttered words of guilt could be heard. None of them had taken Pan's disappearance seriously.
" Who did this? I'll kill him."
Goten clenched his fists and went over to Trunks, demanding where the bastard was. He left as soon as he found out, with Vegeta trailing behind him.
Trunks stood motionless, filled with worry lest he had not made it in time. He was slightly aware that his sister was tugging at his arm, talking to him. All that he could hear was the soothing tones, none of her words came through. The room seemed like nothing but a swirl of colours and muffled sounds. Sorrowful and sad sounds that attacked him, leaving him no relief. All he wanted to know was if Pan was alright.
She is going to make it.
However, the painful constricing of his heart told otherwise. He felt a burning pain inside him as he felt a part of him die. Somehow he knew. He hadn't made it in time. She hadn't made it. She'd left him because he didn't deserve her. He had taken too long to realise his love.
He waved his sister away, wanting her to stop touching him. He didn't want anyone touching him as he stared at the blood in his hands. Her blood. The blood he had helped spill. He looked up, straight at the swinging double doors which led to the emergency room, expecting them to open.
A doctor stepped through, removing her scrubs, and looking at the group with a saddened look.
" How is she?"
He heard Gohan's voice, clear in his mind, ask the question on everyone's lips.
" I'm sorry. She lost too much blood..."
Trunks stopped listening as he strode through the double doors to see Pan. To confirm for himself...and see her one last time. The doctor had followed him but to his surprise, she waved away all the medical staff surrounding the body lying on the table. When he heard the green doors of the surgical room close, he approached her.
She looked so peaceful, just lying there with a white sheet covering all but her face. Nothing but the stillness of her chest, where it should have been rising and falling betrayed her look of life. He looked at her skin, now translucent and glowing in the bright lights. He silently willed her to open her eyes and smile at him.
He bent over and kissed her blue lips, hoping that she would respond.
One last kiss.
Tears fell onto the lifeless body in front of him as felt for her hands, wishing they would grip his as he was gripping hers. Both his hands held hers, touching his warm lips to her cooling skin as he stared at her beautiful face. He wanted to see her captivating blue eyes again. He wanted to see her smile. He wanted her to hear him speak.
" Pan...Aishiteru...so why did you leave me?"
He sank slowly to his knees, gripping her hand tightly as tears fell rapidly, soaking the starched white sheets which lay beneath her.
" Why did you leave me?"
Nothing but heart wrenching silence.
*******
Bura stood alone, watching Trunks through the window on the door. Her brother seemed to be a broken man as she watched him sink to his knees. This had been the first time she's see him cry. His broad shoulders heaved in his sobs. He seemed to be more effected than her.
Pan...my best friend. You can't be gone.
If only I had paid more attention.
If only.
Bura bit her lip to try to stop herself from crying as she watched the heart breaking scene before her. She turned away, feeling as if she had invaded her best friend's and brother's privacy. She would never have guessed that Trunks had fallen in love with Pan. She knew that Pan had loved Trunks...and now...
She's gone.
Bura walked slowly back to the waiting room, staring at the black and white tiles become a blur as her tears blinded her.
What are we going to do without her?
Turning, she took one last look at her brother crying on the cold lino floor.
What is he going to do without her?
*******
Author's notes: um. Sorry about that. Bit depressing? Oh well! Don't worry...Goten and Vegeta won't go off and kill the guy...! He'll have to suffer first. More in next chapter! ( yes it's not over yet. One more!!). R&R please!
Oh and um...with the Untitled fic. I think i'll wait awhile before i go back to that. I seem to be suffering a writers block for that particular fic for some reason! Argh! I'll get back onto it as soon as i figure out what to do with it. I promise! heh :P
*********
Let the sweet heavens endure,
Not close and darken above me
Before I am quite quite sure
That there is one to love me;
Then let come what may
To a life that has been so sad,
I shall have had my day.
*********
Kuso.
Trunks found himself in the middle of nowhere. It was dark and raining hard, not to mention freezing cold. In front of him was an abandoned wooden building of some kind. Something told him that she was inside there. Pan was there.
He moved quickly, jerking the knob of the door loose and kicking open the door. The old musty smell wafted towards him as he stepped through the broken doorway, splinters of wood lying all over the floor. He wandered through the building, entering room after room, showing no signs of habitation save a few empty cans, remnants of foor still rotting, sending out a less than pleasant smell.
His heart raced as he reached empty room after empty room, still not finding Pan. It seemed like he had been going in circles. At last he came to a door, already slightly adjar, with no dust covering the old splintered room, the white paint cracking off. Without another moment's hesitation, he pulled open the door. The tangy metallic smell of blood filled the air around him, making him freeze in fear.
The staircase that met him stared down into the darkness of below. His fists lay clenched at his side as he moved slowly forward, one step at a time. Part of him wanted to race down to see if Pan was alright...if she was down there. However, fear that something may have happened kept him from going, in case the truth was too much to bear.
A figure appeared in front of him, a knife gleamed in the light of upstairs, the blood dripping off the deadly blade evident, even in the dim light.
" You shouldn't have come pretty boy. Now it's time to die as well."
Now Trunks could see that it was clearly a man. A man racing up the stairs towards him with a knife pointed towards his throat. Numbly, he grabbed the man's arm, letting his elbow contact painfully with the side of the attacker's face, making him break and fall over the rickety handrail of the staircase into the cold darkness of below.
Below...
Die as well.
Die.
Now he raced down the rest of the steps, the smell of blood to his trained nose becoming stronger. Stepping onto the ground, he looked to the floor. He had stepped into a pool of blood, running all over the floor. His eyes moved frantically, tracing the trails of blood back to the source. A girl lay huddled in the corner, the shimmery material of her dress still shone in the dim light, soaked in blood.
He drew in a sharp breath as he rushed to her side. With a quick sucession of ki blasts, he freed her from the ropes and chains that held her, pulling her into his embrace, desperately trying to wake her. Make her respond. He ignored the blood soaking into his own clothing as he pressed his left hand on the wound, supporting her on his lap with his right hand.
Oh please...Panny...Don't die. I...I can't be too late.
He realised he couldn't stay...he had to move quickly. She had already lost a lot of blood. He grabbed the piece of rope from the ground and laid Pan gently onto the floor, quickly finding the fallen man and tying up in his own prison. His eyes were wet as he picked up the dying girl.
" Pan...talk to me...please. Don't give up..."
Without any more words, he raced out of the building, powering up to the fullest to speed towards help.
Pan moaned painfully as he felt pressure on her wound and someone shaking her. She drowsily opened one eye, pleading for that someone to stop.
" Pan! You're awake!"
Pan waited for her eyes to clear, letting the blurry image clear to form Trunks' face staring down at her worriedly.
Trunks? What? Where am I?
She heard the wind whoosh around her, realising that she was flying...or she was being carried.
" ...I'm free."
A tear dropped on her cheek, mingling in with her own.
" Thank Dende I found you Pan. I was so scared...so scared I wouldn't find you in time."
Pan opened her mouth to talk but found she had no energy.
" Shh...don't try to talk. Save your strength...we're almost there. Just hang on a little longer."
" ...Why...why did you come for me?"
" Because I'm...because...Aishiteru.."
" Why...why tell me now? After all this..."
That made Pan cough violently, spitting up blood which spilled ovewr the side of her mouth.
" Shh...don't talk Pan. Save your strength."
" I need to know. I...I thought you didn't care."
" Of course I care."
" But that night...at the park..."
" I was so shocked. I couldn't say anything...you ran away from me Pan. You didn't give me a chance to explain."
Pan let out sounds that seemed to resemble a laugh, followed by a hacking cough which spilt up more blood.
" So I was right..."
Trunks brushed Pan's hair, matted with blood, back so the strong winds couldn't blow it around. He increased his speed once more as he staired down at her.
" I'm bonded to you...Aishiteru...forever. " he whispered softly.
A small smile played on her lips as she felt herself tire.
" ...you know Trunks...I held on just to hear you say those words."
She wanted to sleep...just a little. Her eyes began to slowly close.
" No Pan...don't fall asleep...Stay awake. Don't leave me."
But her eyes remained closed as her lips moved every so slightly to mouth her words, a soft whisper and then nothing.
" I promise I won't leave you...aishiteru forever Trunks."
Her lips curled to give him one last famous So Pan smile. Quickly, he bent his head to kiss her, tasting her blood as it entered his mouth. He could hear her breathing slow and feel her body slacken in his arms as he sped up, hoping against everything that his Pan could hold on.
Don't die Pan...not like this. Don't go like this...don't leave me alone. Please. I love you...
**********
The bright white lights of the room flickered annoyingly. A broken young man sat impatiently on a hard white plastic hairm leaning forward with his head in his hands. The room was deathly silent, the gentle 'plop' of tears falling on shoe leather could be heard. Occassionally, he would look up, to see if the red light of the emergency room would have turned off. The bitter disappointment and guilt could be easily seen in his sky blue eyes.
A loud bang could be heard, followed by many voices. They were here. All the people who have ever loved and cared for her. He couldn't bring himself to face them...if he hadn't saved her in time, he wouldn't ever forgive himself.
" Trunks! How is she?"
A nurse had called her family earlier when he had reached the hospital. Numbly, he sat staring at the blood encrusted underneath his shoes.
Bura glanced at her brother. He seemed lifeless. His white shirt was soaked in blood, as were the rest of his clothes and his shoes. Not his blood...then it would have to be...
" Oh Pan..." she choked out between her sobs as she felt her father lead her to a chair.
The Son family were in a state of shock. Tears tinged everyone's eyes, Vegeta's fists clenched in fury as Bulma tried to console Chichi and Videl. Gohan stood silently in front of Trunks, watching the boy with his head lowered.
" What happened?"
Trunks looked up at Gohan. His eyes bulged with rage, his pale skin flushed with anger as his hair was starting to glow gold. He was struggling to keep from transforming.
" Gohan...I'm sorry."
He tensed as he felt Gohan grab him the collar and haul him to his feet.
" Look at me boy. What happened to her?"
Trunks refused to look in his eyes.
" I'm sorry I couldn't find her earlier...I'm sorry I couldn't save her."
Gohan's fist contacted with his right cheek. He flew and smashed into a wall, allowing himself to slide to the floor like a rag doll.
" She's alive Trunks. She has been saved."
Trunks wiped his blood from his lip and stood up, straightening his suit.
" She was taken...held in an old building...stabbed."
Gasps of horror and muttered words of guilt could be heard. None of them had taken Pan's disappearance seriously.
" Who did this? I'll kill him."
Goten clenched his fists and went over to Trunks, demanding where the bastard was. He left as soon as he found out, with Vegeta trailing behind him.
Trunks stood motionless, filled with worry lest he had not made it in time. He was slightly aware that his sister was tugging at his arm, talking to him. All that he could hear was the soothing tones, none of her words came through. The room seemed like nothing but a swirl of colours and muffled sounds. Sorrowful and sad sounds that attacked him, leaving him no relief. All he wanted to know was if Pan was alright.
She is going to make it.
However, the painful constricing of his heart told otherwise. He felt a burning pain inside him as he felt a part of him die. Somehow he knew. He hadn't made it in time. She hadn't made it. She'd left him because he didn't deserve her. He had taken too long to realise his love.
He waved his sister away, wanting her to stop touching him. He didn't want anyone touching him as he stared at the blood in his hands. Her blood. The blood he had helped spill. He looked up, straight at the swinging double doors which led to the emergency room, expecting them to open.
A doctor stepped through, removing her scrubs, and looking at the group with a saddened look.
" How is she?"
He heard Gohan's voice, clear in his mind, ask the question on everyone's lips.
" I'm sorry. She lost too much blood..."
Trunks stopped listening as he strode through the double doors to see Pan. To confirm for himself...and see her one last time. The doctor had followed him but to his surprise, she waved away all the medical staff surrounding the body lying on the table. When he heard the green doors of the surgical room close, he approached her.
She looked so peaceful, just lying there with a white sheet covering all but her face. Nothing but the stillness of her chest, where it should have been rising and falling betrayed her look of life. He looked at her skin, now translucent and glowing in the bright lights. He silently willed her to open her eyes and smile at him.
He bent over and kissed her blue lips, hoping that she would respond.
One last kiss.
Tears fell onto the lifeless body in front of him as felt for her hands, wishing they would grip his as he was gripping hers. Both his hands held hers, touching his warm lips to her cooling skin as he stared at her beautiful face. He wanted to see her captivating blue eyes again. He wanted to see her smile. He wanted her to hear him speak.
" Pan...Aishiteru...so why did you leave me?"
He sank slowly to his knees, gripping her hand tightly as tears fell rapidly, soaking the starched white sheets which lay beneath her.
" Why did you leave me?"
Nothing but heart wrenching silence.
*******
Bura stood alone, watching Trunks through the window on the door. Her brother seemed to be a broken man as she watched him sink to his knees. This had been the first time she's see him cry. His broad shoulders heaved in his sobs. He seemed to be more effected than her.
Pan...my best friend. You can't be gone.
If only I had paid more attention.
If only.
Bura bit her lip to try to stop herself from crying as she watched the heart breaking scene before her. She turned away, feeling as if she had invaded her best friend's and brother's privacy. She would never have guessed that Trunks had fallen in love with Pan. She knew that Pan had loved Trunks...and now...
She's gone.
Bura walked slowly back to the waiting room, staring at the black and white tiles become a blur as her tears blinded her.
What are we going to do without her?
Turning, she took one last look at her brother crying on the cold lino floor.
What is he going to do without her?
*******
Author's notes: um. Sorry about that. Bit depressing? Oh well! Don't worry...Goten and Vegeta won't go off and kill the guy...! He'll have to suffer first. More in next chapter! ( yes it's not over yet. One more!!). R&R please!
Oh and um...with the Untitled fic. I think i'll wait awhile before i go back to that. I seem to be suffering a writers block for that particular fic for some reason! Argh! I'll get back onto it as soon as i figure out what to do with it. I promise! heh :P