Disclaimer: All Bust-A-Groove elements belong to Enix. I own nothing.

Pander Forever

Chapter 2: Some Strange Moments

by ArchFaith (formerly known as the ArchPrincess of Saturn)

Wake up, Pander. It's morning.

I opened my eyes. Robo-Z was leaning over me, his hand brushing my cheek. I slowly sat up and yawned. "Z," I greeted sleepily, using a shortened version of his name, "good morning."

I could tell he was smiling under that face mask. "I woke you up early because you have a lot of things to do before the competition."

"A lot of things? I thought I just had to fill out the papers," I replied.

"There is more to it than that," Robo-Z replied. "It is only three days before the contest and you do not yet have a stage."

"Stage?" I repeated. I vaguely remembered Capoeira telling me about a stage, but I couldn't recall. "What do you mean?"

"Every dancer in the BAG tournament has to have a stage to compete in," Robo-Z explained.

"My stage is the Kanagawa Bridge, to the east of Tokyo Bay. The stage of Capoeira is the inside of their spaceship. But you do not yet have one."

"Well, where do we find one?" I asked, pulling my knees under my chin.

"What kind of stage do you want?" he asked me.

I shrugged. "Well...something that...is different. Unique. I really can't explain..."

Just then, Capoeira burst into the room. Kiki was carrying a small box. "Good morning, Robo-Z, Pander!" they greeted. "Pander, we have a good luck present for you." Kiki placed the box in my hands.

Robo-Z looked at them. "A good luck present?" he asked suspiciously. "You are giving him a—"

"Open it, Pander!" Lala encouraged.

I carefully opened the lid on the box.

In the blink of an eye, the whole room turned white. I was somewhere else...

I looked around at my surroundings. It was an amazingly white room, with nothing in it. Totally bare. Frightened, I called out, "Robo-Z!? Capoeira?!"

"Hey Pander!" I heard Kiki yelling back. I heard his voice, but I couldn't see him.

"Where are you?! Where am I?!"

"Relax, Pander. Do not be frightened. When you opened the box, you were transported into another dimension," Robo-Z calmly told me.

"How do I get out?"

"Just push that red button over there," Lala said. I noticed a red button on the wall. I ran over to it and punched it. In the moment, I was back in the room, holding the box in my hands.

I immediately dropped it. "What was that?!" I demanded. "What happened to me?!"

Robo-Z patted me on the back. "Calm down, Pander. That box was a portal to another dimension. You see, those are Monia boxes. They are made specially on the planet Capoeira. Each box has a small dimension in it."

"So that room was another dimension?" I asked.

"Yes," Kiki answered. "It dosen't seem like much, but with a little work you could make it into your own, unique dimension."

I stared at the box on the floor. "Gee, thanks, Capoeira," I told them. Suddenly an idea popped into my head. "Hey, do you think we could use this other dimension for my stage?" I asked.

"That is a good idea," Robo-Z replied thoughtfully. "We could try it."

"But you've have to spruce up the place a little," Lala suggested.

"Right," I answered. "But how?"

"We have three days until the competition. Let us go out and buy some props," Robo-Z said.

"Great idea," Kiki said. "We'll meet you in the lobby." Capoeira walked out, leaving me and Robo-Z in a period of awkward silence.

"Thanks for helping me with my stage," I told Robo-Z.

"No problem," Robo-Z answered. We stared at each other for a while. Z's skin looked especially shiny and metallic in the morning sun.

"Pander...later, do you want to..."

"What, Z?"

"Ah, nevermind. It is nothing." Robo-Z quickly turned and left the room. I stood there, frowning.

Closer and closer you come to me, Robo-Z. And each time you draw back. What's wrong?

-

I met Capoeira and Robo-Z in the lobby. We walked out the door and into downtown Tokyo.

Tokyo is such a big city. It's full of wonderful things and beautiful sights. To think that I lived my whole life here, and yet did not know what it looked like from the outside of my enclosure? I sighed, and reminded myself that I had a life now. I was no longer Dumpling Li Wei Sang, a naive little panda who knew nothing. I was Pander, half-human, and now I knew many things. I learned how to dance, and dance well. I was in the Bust-A-Groove 2 Competition, and I would prove to the world I had changed.

I knew what it was like to love someone. If only Robo-Z would admit that he loves me too. I see it reflected in his visor when he looks at me. That he has feelings for me. He seemed willing to admit it when we were about to kiss in the spaceship, but he seemed reluctant now. Why?

I switched back to reality and realized we were walking up Seraiko Square. Capoeira had told me it was a great place to do some shopping. There were places selling all kinds of things.

"So Pander, what exactly do you want in your dimension?" Lala questioned as we walked up the street.

"Um, I don't know," I replied. I thought. What kinds of things would I like in my stage? I wondered what the other dancers had.

"How about the challengers?" I asked.

"Well..." Kiki began thoughtfully. "There's a lot of rumors about the other dancers' stages this year. Hiro has his disco studio, Shorty has a new theme park, Heat has a warehouse, Comet has her restaurant..."

"I want something that will surprise people when they first see it," I answered. At that moment we were walking in front of a large department store. In its windows, I saw big screen TVs...

"That's it!" I cried. "TVs! Let's go!" I ran into the store. Capoeira and the mysteriously silent Robo-Z went in after me.

I raced to the TV section. "This will be great! These are what's needed for my stage!"

Capoeira decided to treat me and bought me all the TVs I wanted. Seven. They were the new style, very expensive. They were about eleven feet tall. The TVs were placed in boxes. Since all of us were so strong, we decided to carry them back to the hotel. Robo-Z and I carried two, and Capoeira each carried one.

As we rounded the corner, I spotted two people who seemed to be walking towards us; one was a man with black hair in a ponytail, wearing dark glasses. He had black pants and a black top with an 'S' on it. The girl was dressed in a cat costume. It looked strangely mechanical. She wore a cat helmet, and under it I could see her short green hair.

"Meow! I don't believe it! Never thought I'd see you again, Cappy!" the cat girl cried.

"Hey Kitty-N," Capoeira replied neutrally, but anyone could see they were irritated. "Long time no see. Hey Strike."

"Yo Capoeira," the guy known as Strike replied. "Yo Robo-Z. Yo...uh..." his voice trailed as he turned to me. I felt myself blushing. Did I really look so unusual?

"You must be Pander! Commie told me about you!" Kitty-N said, shaking my hand. "I'm Kitty-N! Pleased to meetcha!"

"Hello Kitty-N," I replied, feeling a bit more comfortable. "I'm pleased to meet you too."

Robo-Z, who had said nothing since our little talk, spoke up. "Greetings, Strike, Kitty-N. I see you will be competing this year."

"Ya got that right," Strike replied. "I'm gonna win dis time, too!"

"You've got new competition this year, Strikey," Kitty-N said, nodding in my direction.

Strike looked at me and burst out laughing. "New competition. Yeah right. Well, may the best...whatever win. See ya freaks later." He walked away.

Kitty-N frowned. "Oooh, sorry you guys. I don't think he meant it. He's really nice once you get to know him."

I could tell Robo-Z was angry from the way he spoke. "That is alright, Kitty-N. We shall see you later."

Kitty-N flashed a smile and walked after Strike. I was still quite embarrased. Robo-Z turned to me. "Do not mind them, Pander. That is how Strike usually acts. Are you upset?"

"Me? Nah," I replied. "I'm fine. C'mon, let's get back so we can fix up my stage."

-

Strike

Real Name: Miguel Santamos

Age: 22

Height: 183 cm

Weight: 75 kg

Origin: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Dance type: Gangsta rap

Likes: money, machine guns, burritos, motorbikes, cats

Dislikes: stool pigeons, dirty bathrooms, being in jail, cherries

-

Kitty-N

Real Name: Kitty (Kaodori) Nakajima

Age: 17

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 46 kg

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Dance type: Jazz

Likes: pink, kittens, being famous, mechanics, bad boys

Dislikes: dogs, cold sandwiches, airports, her last name

-

"Thanks for helping me out," I said as I finished putting in the last TV.

Robo-Z, Capoeira, and I were in my Monia box, placing all the TVs in order. It turned out there were electrical sockets in the room, so plugging them in was no problem. It had been more of a problem getting them through the lobby; everyone had been wondering what two aliens, a robot, and a half-human panda were doing with some large packages.

I stepped back to admire my work. The TVs were in perfect order. As I stood in the center of the room, they were perfectly lined up with my body.

"So, what exactly are you planning to do with these TVs, Pander?" Capoeira asked.

"I really don't know yet. But I'll use them for something," I replied.

"Are you going to put some kind of image on them?" Robo-Z asked.

"I suppose," I responded. "But it has to be something that will shock people." I took that moment to look down at my new watch. Capoeira had found it in the lobby and given it to me. In between installing the TVs, I had learned how to tell time. "Let's see, my new watch says it's...seven o'clock."

"Seven?!" Capoeira yelled in surprised. "Wow, no wonder we were so hungry. Let's go have some dinner."

"That is a good idea," Robo-Z answered. "Let us eat at the Blossom Bay Restaurant."

"Yeah! C'mon, Kiki, let's go!" Lala yelled in excitement. He ran over to the red button and pushed. Kiki sighed and went after him.

Oh no. Not again. One awkward moment in one day was enough. But two? Was Capoeira doing this on purpose? No, I knew they weren't. But why was it that, every time something happens, Robo-Z and I are alone together?

"Your stage is very unique," Robo-Z said, to fill in the silence that was left in the room.

"Yes, I know," I answered, feeling kind of stupid.

In the next moment, we were moving toward each other. We almost kissed. Almost. We were one inch apart when Capoeira materialized in the corner of the room.

"W—whoa. Um, sorry. We just wanted to tell you that we would meet you in front of the hotel," Capoeira said sheepishly.

We scowled at them.

"Um, see you later!" they called as they vanished.

Robo-Z sighed. He looked at me. Great, we had been interrupted again. And once we were interrupted, it was hard to get back in the mood.

"We'll do this some other time, Z," I said, a bit embarrassed.

"Right," he said blandly as he pushed the button and disappeared.

I blinked. It was so strange. They were so irritating. He was so shy. I was so complicated.

-

I met everyone downstairs. No one really felt like talking. I could tell Capoeira was sorry. But Robo-Z, I couldn't tell. He was hiding his emotions this time. We hailed a taxi and rode to the restaurant.

We climbed out and entered. The Blossom Bay Restaurant was a very elegant place. It was made of brick, with green shutters on the windows. There was a red carpet spread out.

Robo-Z and Capoeira started up the carpet, but I drew back. I had always been self-consious about how humans looked at me, but now I was horrified at entering. Robo-Z noticed my nervousness. He went over to me and looped his arm around mine. "Forget about earlier," he whispered in my ear. "Right now you are my date."

"Your date?!" I whispered back incredulously.

"Yes. As long as you are with me, now one will stare at you or anything. Everyone knows me. And everyone knows what great taste I have in everything." Robo-Z and I walked up to where Capoeira stood.

"We want a table for three," Capoeira told the man at the desk.

"This way," he replied, ushering us through a door.

The inside was lovely. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Silver glassware was laid on the tables. Men in suits and women in dresses chatted about high-society subjects. When they noticed us, they either started whispering or tried not to stare. "Do not worry," Robo-Z told me as we walked through. "I am very famous here."

As we passed one of the tables, a vaguely familiar voice called out, "Hey you guys! What's up?"

We all turned around. Sitting behind the table were the two people from registeration yesterday—Hiro and Shorty. Hiro was wearing a blue dress shirt with a black vest and pants. Shorty was wearing a light pink blouse and a dark pink skirt.

Shorty was the one who had addressed us. "Hey Caps, hey Ro," she greeted. "I haven't seen you for a long time."

"Are you in the competition this year?" Hiro asked. In his voice, I detected the slightest bit of accent.

"Yep," Lala replied. "We were at the registration yesterday. I don't think you noticed us."

"You were? I didn't see you," Shorty replied. "Wow, I'm gonna get to battle you guys again! I can't wait!"

Hiro glanced at me. "This is my date, Pander," Robo-Z explained. "He's also in the competition."

"Hello," I greeted confidently. "Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to see a new challenger," Hiro said, shaking my hand.

"Ditto!" Shorty added cheerfully.

"Well, we'll see you later," Capoeira said as we continued on.

We sat at a table in the back. It had a wonderful view of the city of Tokyo, with the radio tower glistening in the late afternoon. I had some trouble ordering from the menu, but Robo-Z helped me pick. We practically gobbled up the food when it arrived. I helped myself to something called 'escargot' in the menu. I didn't know what it was, but it tasted very good. After finishing the main course, we all ordered a chocolate creme pie. Then Capoeira and Robo-Z ordered something called champagne. I tasted it, but didn't like it. The others, however, drank two whole bottles.

"Oooh...I'm so full," Lala said, rubbing his stomach. "Hey, I wanna make a toast," he added, raising up his glass full of champagne. "To us. We're gonna do so well in the competition...blow everyone else out of the water..."

"Oooooh yeah. Cheers," Kiki replied as he banged his glass against Lala's.

"Y-yeah...I (hiccup) agreeeeee," Robo-Z toasted, uncharacteristically sloppy with his words.

I was unaware of the condition of my companions as we set out that night. Capoeira and Robo-Z waited in the front to get a taxi; they didn't notice that I had slipped back into the shadows, and was leaning against the wall of the restaurant.

As we waited, the doors swung open and Hiro and Shorty came out of the building. Hiro's arm was around Shorty, and they were both laughing. They didn't notice me in the shadows. As they walked by me and into the parking lot, I decided to follow them.

Shorty stopped Hiro in the middle of the lot. "H-Hey Hiro baby, I had lotsa fun (hiccup) tonight," she said.

"I think you drank too much champagne," Hiro said, looking at Shorty's flushed face.

"Not at all...not at all," Shorty replied, giggling. She quickly straightened up and smoothed out her skirt. "I mean, I didn't drink that much. Um, Hiro, I wanna ask you something."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Well, um...Hiro, do you think this counts as a date?"

"A date? Well, if you want it to be. I wanted to take you out before the competition."

"Oh, okay. Well, I want to ask you to do something for me."

"Sure Shortstuff. What?"

Shorty smiled slyly. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Gimme a kiss."

Hiro was surprised. "Aren't you a little too young?"

"Oh c'mon. I'm already 13. And besides, I like you a lot. Why not?"

Hiro seemed surprised at her persistence. "Just a little kiss Shorty," he finally agreed. He placed his arms around her waist.

They kissed. It wasn't just a 'little kiss.' It was actually a very long kiss. Shorty was definitely enjoying it, and after a few seconds, Hiro enjoyed it as well.

They finally broke it. "W—wow!" Shorty exclaimed. "That was awesome!"

"Yeah, yeah, Shortstuff." Hiro continued as though it were no big deal, but by this time I was too good at reading facial expressions. He probably thought it was awesome too. "C'mon, I promised Columbo I'd have you home by ten o'clock."

They walked to his car. I stared on, interested. A strange way to kiss somebody. Asking them. Maybe I should ask Robo-Z to kiss me?

I hurried back to the front of the restaurant. Capoeira had finally managed to get a taxi. I hopped in. "The Tokyo Garden Hotel," I told the driver, since my companions were too floored to say anything.

When we arrived at the hotel, I helped my friends up to their rooms. I placed Robo-Z in bed and tucked the sheets up to his chin. He looked so cute asleep. I resisted the urge to give him a peck on the cheek. Instead I patted his head and whispered, "Good night, Z."

To be continued...

Notes: Here's Chapter 2. It's a little shorter than Chapter 1, hope you don't mind. And I hope you don't mind that it had that bit about Hiro and Shorty in there. I am a big fan of that coupling and decided to add them in. Don't worry, Pander and Z will still be my main couple. And I didn't mean to make Strike act like a jerk, but he just came out that way while I wrote it. Sorry to all Strike fans!!

In the next chapter, the preparations will be complete and Bust-A-Groove 2 will begin...