Finding your way home......
By Saiyan Chaos

The phone on Trunks desk rang, causing his heart to beat with hope. He could only pray that it was Pan on the phone. The young demi-saiyan had disappeared four months ago from her home, leaving a note that she wanted to learn what the 'real world' was like.

Her parents where going insane trying to find her. It was quickly obvious that she was suppressing her ki. Everyone was constantly on the lookout for the young woman, Trunks more so than anyone.

Pan had always been a thorn in his side, following Goten and him all over the place. She would get in the way as they trained, beg them to spar with her, and basically act like a brat. Still, he had a special place in his heart for her, having more in common with Pan than with his own sister.

Now, he could only hope that she still thought of him as an older brother - someone to run to if she was in trouble.

He picked up the phone, praying that it was her.

"Hello?" he asked, eyes closed and fingers crossed.

"Trunks?" Her voice was low, and a little scratchy from tears.

"Pan? Where are you?"

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I just wanted to see how everyone was doing."

"Did you call your parents? They are frantic, you know! I can't believe that you could be this irresponsible!"

"Trunks, you don't understand! I was tired of being smothered! They have been afraid to let me out of their sight since we came back from space!"

"Well, Pan, you DID sneak on board. You weren't supposed to go."

"It's been eight years, Trunks. I'm an adult! I think it's time I made my own way in the world."

"An adult? I didn't know adults ran away from home."

"You know, I don't need this right now. I needed someone to TALK to! I guess I called the wrong person. Goodbye, Trunks." (click)

"Pan? Damn you! PAN?"

He stopped shouting, took a deep breath, then hung up the handset. His eyes fell on the digital readout, reading the name and phone number that had shown up.

"Son Pan - 555-7657 Panny-chan.. you make it too easy."

He smiled, for the first time in four months. Pan should be home by nightfall.

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Son Pan took off her stained apron and let herself fall back on the bed. She didn't know what caused her to make that phone call, other than that she was a little lonely, missing her family and friends. If she had called her parents, they would have talked her into going home. Trunks was the next best thing.

Glancing at the clock, she groaned. Her lunch break was almost over. Standing up, she grabbed a fresh apron and went out the door. It was day's like this that almost had her running home.

Liz was behind the counter when she walked back into the little diner. Her hair was frizzy, in a bad perm that was barely held in check by the hair net. She was the type of person that could eat constantly, and never put on any weight. She was in her early fifties, wore her uniform short, and stuffed her bra with Kleenex. (Pan could tell.. the woman always had some sticking out of her V-neck.)

"Good! You're back! I have to get going. Harold is taking me out tonight." The older woman said, running out of the door.

"See you tomorrow, Liz!" Pan laughed, as she finished taking a customers money.

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She had just locked the door behind her when she felt it. Trunks ki. It was close.. almost as if her were in the room with her..

Pan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned around.

"It's illegal to break into someone's home."

"Arrest me. Look, Pan, you shouldn't have hung up on me." He came out of the shadows and into the light of the single lamp. "I thought we were friends."

"Friends don't rag on people. Look, I'm tired, and I just want to sleep. I just pulled a double shift, and I haven't even eaten my dinner yet..."

"Don't let me stop you." He said, sitting down.

She swallowed, looking at him. He sat there, in control, acting as if he had a right to be there. His jeaned legs were crosses at the knee, with his back scrunched into the cushion of the seat. Trunks relaxed position belied his gaze, however. He never took his eyes away from her frame, noticing everything. She blushed, knowing that he was shocked. Pan knew him too well to buy into those emotionless eyes.

"I thought you were hungry."

So, he wasn't going to ask. She reached behind her to untie the apron, not bothering to try to hide her swollen stomach. Let him wonder, she thought, walking into the bedroom to change. She was too tired to really care.

Closing the door behind her, she unbuttoned the front, letting the pink uniform drop to the floor. Stretching, she reached into her drawers and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.

Hmmph! I'm not dressing up for uninvited guests. Snorting, she sat down on the edge of the bed, only meaning to rest for a minute. A moment later, she was curled up on the edge, sleeping.

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Trunks paced the length of the living room, his thoughts scattered. He was happy that he found her, but upset that she couldn't come to him earlier. He looked around the neat apartment, seeing nothing more than a place to rest at night.

No pictures hung on the walls, no rugs lay on the floor. He had opened the refrigerator, and he knew that she had no food. Snorting, he wondered who she thought she was fooling.

That brought his thoughts back to her condition. Whoever the father was, he wasn't in her life anymore. His hands clenched at his sides, and he cursed. He really wanted to get his hands on the man.

Trunks stomach rumbled, and he realized that he hadn't eaten either. Deciding quickly, he picked up the phone and dialed our for pizza.

Twenty minutes later, he paid the delivery boy, still waiting for Pan to come out. After putting the pies down, he walked over to her bedroom door. Raising his fist to knock, he heard light snoring. Shaking his head, he opened the door and found her lying diagonally across the bed.

Trunks brushed her hair off of her face, and carefully covered her with the sheet before returning to the other room. He felt lost, unsure of what to do. He hated feeling like he failed her!

Picking up the phone, he dialed the number he should have called before.

"Videl? Trunks here. Is Gohan around?"

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