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PART 11 Hinageshi


Marron opened the door to find a big bouquet of flowers and
Goten's smiling face behind them.
"Good morning, Goten." Marron said. "Is it White Day already?"
"No, no." Goten replied, entering the house. "I just thought
it might be nice to bring you these."
Marron took the flowers and brought them into the kitchen. Goten
followed her.
"Really? That's really sweet. But why?" she asked.
"Oh...I just needed...um..."
"Well, what is it?"
"It's just that I...um..."
"What?"
"Since...um...Trunks is unavailable, I was thinking that we
could...get...together sometime... If that's all right with you,
though!"
"Um...I really don't know what to say."
"It's all right with me if you don't wanna. It's not like I'm
real anxious to 'coz my parents kinda also wanted me ta ask you
out an' stuff and I really don't mind..."
"Yes, Goten-kun. I'd love to!"
"Uh...really?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"It's just 'cause you like Trunks so much and..."
"I think it's time for me to move on, Goten. I should have done
that a long time ago. So...do you still want to go out with me
even if it is in favor of your parents?"
"Of course!"


"Thank you for the very lovely evening, Goten-kun." Marron
said.
"It was really nothing, really." Goten replied.
"I should be getting home now."
"Why?"
"Well, this date is over, isn't it?"
"Says who?"
"...I guess nobody did!"
"We still got lots of time! What do you wanna do?"
"I don't know."
"Why don't we look for a bar and get drunk on sake!"
"What?!"
"Jus' kiddin'! Why don't we...um...I don't know."
"Uh...Goten?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we could stop by Tsuki park?"
"Of course we can! Do you wanna fly there?"
"Err...okay. Just don't drop me."
"No way! I would never let you fall."
Goten picked up Marron and they flew to Tsuki park. When they
arrived, Goten gently let down Marron. Marron sat down on a bench
and Goten sat next to her. They didn't say anything. Marron was
looking at the stars and Goten joined her. They looked at the night
sky and no words were said.
"I never actually looked at the stars like this." Goten finally
said to break the silence barrier. "They're beautiful tonight."
Marron nodded. "They're always beautiful."
The two were silent for a while once again. Now Marron decided
to make the first move.
"Goten?" she asked.
"Yeah?"
"Did you agree to go out with me just because your parents
wanted you to?"
"Heck no! They did want me to but that's not really the reason."
"Then what is it? Is it because we're friends?"
"Well...partly..."
"You really didn't have to. Just because I'm really depressed
about Trunks getting married to somebody else, it doesn't
necessarily mean that I'm not happy for him. I am. You didn't
have to do this just to cheer me up."
"No. No, it's not that. Well, it's a little bit of that but the
real reason that I asked you out was...was...because I like you
a lot."
"Me too."
"But not just 'like'... The other 'like'..."
"You mean that you...have a crush on me?"
"Not really..."
"Do mean that...you...do you...um..."
"I...love...you..."
Marron was speechless for a moment. It wasn't that what Goten
said was unbelievable. He did tell her that once before. Marron
just didn't know what to say. She really didn't love him back
that way.
"I guess you'd like to know how I feel about you, too." Marron
said.
"I would but...I mean, it's your business and I wouldn't want you
to be telling me stuff that you're not ready to say."
"You told me how you felt. Twice. I can't just leave you hanging
in there. Even I'm hanging on when I know it's worthless but I
also know that you can definitely get the girl you're meant to
be with. I don't want to ruin that."
"So it's...a 'no', right?"
Marron was speechless once again. She looked down at her hands.
They were trembling. Maybe it wasn't the right time after all. Her
body was telling her that it wasn't time. She was too nervous to
tell her friend her true feelings. But her heart and mind told her
that Goten would understand and nothing was stopping her. Goten
probably already did understand. He already knew. He just needed
someone to tell him that.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Goten said.
"No. I just have to. I..."
"Tonight's not the right time for you, Marron."
"Well..."
"How about tomorrow? I'll wait here. In Tsuki park. If you
show up then it means that you're ready to get over Trunks.
If you don't then...I guess you aren't."
"A-a-alright..."
Marron was about to add something but instead, Goten placed
a finger on her lips and just smiled. Then he looked up at the stars.


Kyou, ame ga furidashita no dakara
Yakusoku yabutte ie ni ita no, Mmm
Gomen! kirai ni natta no ja nakute
Nanto nakusou shitakatta

Hana o ichirin, kazatte mita no
Potari to shizuku, namida mitai ni...

Hinageshi no hana de, nakute yokatta
Mujaki ni sakuki ni wa narenai
Na mo nai sono hana wa, watashi mitai ne
Hissori hotori inoru no


Today, because it began to rain
I broke my promise to you, and stayed indoors, Mmm
I'm sorry! It's not like I don't like you anymore, but
I couldn't help doing it

I tried decorating with a single flower
A dewdrop fell, just like a tear...

I'm glad it wasn't a poppy
I'm unable to bloom so innocently
That flower without a name seems just like me, don't you think?
It reflects quietly, by itself



Marron looked out at the rain pouring down. The water already had
covered three inches of the beach but nobody was worrying yet.
Even if it reached three feet, nobody would worry. Master Roshi
and Oolong would be too busy watching girls on TV and her parents
would know what to do if it was enough to sink the island. Marron
had nothing to worry about...except one thing. Goten. He was
probably at Tsuki park right now, waiting in the rain, soaking wet
and sneezing. Marron wanted to go there but how would she? It
was pouring out there and she had no means of transportation. Her
parents couldn't fly her there because of the storm. She couldn't
fly there by herself because, of course, she had been too afraid
to learn how to fly and even if she did know, she wouldn't go
out in that kind of weather. All she could do was to wait for
the rain to stop or take the risk of trying to go there. She
was so bored and very worried about Goten. Maybe he didn't want
to go out in the rain either or he assumed that she couldn't
come.
"Marron!" Juuhachigou called out from the kitchen. Marron
went to the kitchen.
"What is it, Mama?" she asked.
"Do you mind doing a chore for me?"
"Sure."
"I'd like you to water the plants."
"What? Water the plants when there's a huge storm outside?"
"It was only now that I remembered that the plants haven't been
watered this week."
"All right."
Marron took out the watering can and filled it up. She watered
the small palm trees in the pots and then the water vases. Then
she remembered the bouquet that Goten gave her yesterday. She
finished her errand and took out the flowers from the refrigerator.
She got found an empty vase and put the flowers in water. They
were very pretty. They were still fresh from being put in the
refrigerator. Marron was quite skilled in flower arranging and
decided to pass time by arranging the flowers. She was almost
finished and realized that there was only one poppy flower and
it didn't fit with the rest of the flowers. Goten probably
picked out the flowers because they looked good individually but
he didn't realize the error he made.
She looked at the lone flower. All by itself but still, very
beautiful. It kind of reminded her of...her. But she couldn't
be as innocent as the poppy flower. She felt guilty for leaving
Goten hanging. But he would understand, wouldn't he? She was
really sorry for doing what she did and it wasn't like she didn't
like him anymore. She had to break her promise because it was
raining.


Goten looked at himself. He was soaking wet. The rain managed
to get to him even with an umbrella. Where was Marron? Goten
was sure that Marron really wanted to move on. What if Marron
thought that if she moved on, she would have to be with him but
she didn't want to. Maybe she didn't like him. But they were
good friends. They grew up together and knew each other well.
Why would Marron want to break her heart again? But why would
Trunks want anybody else than Marron? Maybe Marron was still
hoping.
Goten sighed. [I guess it's 'no', Marron.] he thought. He turned
to the direction of his house and started to take off.
"Wait, Goten!"
Goten turned around.
"Marron-chan..."