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PART 26 Long Lost Love


"Marron-chan? Are you all set?" Aoi asked. Marron came out of
the bedroom with her head lowered.
"Yes, Aoi." she said.
"Marron, why so glum?" Aoi asked.
"I...I...I'm all right."
"You don't seem so."
"I am, really. Really."
"Well, let's go."

Marron was staring out the window of Aoi's limousine. She missed
'him' so much but that was the only way she could think of to prevent
him from breaking her heart. But she really, really...
"Marron-chan?"
Marron snapped awake from her trance and turned her head to face
Aoi. "Y-yes?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. I was just looking at something."
"Marron...do you still miss him?"
"Well...to tell you the truth, I...in a way..."
Marron looked away and tried to find something good to say. Then
she felt Aoi's hand on hers. Marron looked back at him.
"Marron, please," Aoi said. "I love you with all my heart. I know
you love me back, in a friendly way. I know that we're not meant to
be. But I also know that you don't deserve to be with a jerk
like Trunks. He asks you for another chance and on the exact day
you are to give that chance to him, he goes off with another woman.
I can't let him do that to you. I can't. That's why I want you to
be with me while I'm on tour. I can't let you go back there where
he could take your heart again. I wouldn't forgive myself. 'Coz unless
I know that you'll be safe, I can't let you. We can call your
parents and ask them not to tell. I just can't let him touch you."
"I...Aoi...I don't know. I have a job and all and I..."
"I'll give you anything you need."
"I'd just feel guilty. It would be like stealing your money and I
don't want that."
"We can stop by the your place and everything else I give you is
considered as a present."
"What if...what if Trunks...is there?"
"I'll make sure that won't happen."
"I...I...I...a-all right, Aoi-kun..."


"Are you sure that you'll be all right without me for a while?"
Marron asked her parents. She tightened her grip on her suitcase.
"If you're happy, we're happy." Kurillin said.
"You had better take good care of her." Juuhachigou told Aoi.
"Yes, ma'am!" Aoi replied.
"Now take care of yourself." Juuhachigou told Marron as she gave
her a hug.
"I will, Mama." Marron replied. She dropped one of her suitcases
to wipe some tears in her eyes. She picked up the suitcase and she
and Aoi walked towards Aoi's plane.
"I'll miss you!" Marron said.
"We'll miss you, too!" Kurillin replied, waving to his daughter.
"Call us sometime!" Juuhachigou said, waving as well.
"Yes, Mama!" Marron said. She stepped into the plane and it took
off.
"Y'know, Juu?" Kurillin said. "That boy may be our son-in-law
someday."
"I have someone else in mind." Juuhachigou replied as she walked
back to the Kame House.
"Really? Who is it?" Kurillin asked.
"You'll find out sooner or later."


Marron placed her hand on the window as she saw Capsule Corp.
"Trunks..." she whispered.
Aoi noticed her looking at the Capsule Corporation Building.
[Marron, this is for your own good. Please get over him soon...]


"It's good to finally be back home!" Marron said happily as she
and Aoi stepped out of the airport. She breathed in the fresh air
and savored the moment.
"Back in good ol' Japan." Aoi replied as he and Marron got into
the limousine.
"What shall we do first?" Aoi asked.
"I'd like to see mother and father again." Marron replied.
"Really? Don't you want to see a certain Capsule Corp. president?"
"Trunks? But isn't he exactly the reason you insisted me to leave?"
"Wouldn't you like to see him again?"
"What good would it do?"
"He is one of your best friends, is he not?"
"Of course but what if I...I...forget it."
"What is it?"
"I said forget it."
"Okay, okay. Fine. We'll go straight to the Kame House."
"Well, I...I didn't say that..."
"So you DO want to see him?"
Marron blushed. "Um...what do you think? I-I don't mind if you'd
like me to see him and all. I could introduce you...or something..."
"Well, Marron...I'd like that very much."
Marron smiled and looked out the window. [Trunks-kun...I'm
coming for you...]


"Here we are." Aoi announced as the limo parked outside of the
Capsule Corporation main building. He stepped out and waited for
Marron.
"I...I think I changed my mind!" Marron said from inside the car.
"Oh c'mon, it's not that bad." Aoi coaxed.
Marron hesitated for a moment and then finally got out. She stood
still when she saw the Capsule Corp. building which she had not seen
in such a long time.
"Well?" said Aoi.
"Well?" replied Marron.
"Go!" Aoi said, giving Marron a little push towards the building.
"Aoi, I'm not so sure about this..."
"Go on ahead."
"I'm really anxious to see mother and father and I..."
"We'll see them right after this."
"Why are you so enthusiastic about this?"
"I just want this to be over with, that's all."
"Could we go now?"
"You said you'd introduce me and I will not let you turn back."
"I never PROMISED I'd introduce you, did I?"
"Go on!" Aoi said as he pushed Marron harder forward.
"Aieee! Fine, fine!"
"Good girl!"
Marron frowned at the comment and then started walking to the door.
She took a deep breath.
[Here it goes...] she thought. She knocked quietly at the door
and waited, hoping no one was home. She froze in her footsteps as
a familiar blue haired girl answered the door...and it wasn't Bulma
or Bra.
"Good morning." the blue haired girl said. "May I help you?"
[Nu...Nu...Nusumi?!] Marron thought in disbelief. She regained
her composure.
"I...I'm looking for Bra Briefs." Marron said, using the first
name that came to mind.
"I'm sorry." Nusumi said. "Bra isn't home right now. She's with
her friend, Pan Son. But her brother, Trunks Briefs, is here. Would
you like me to get him for you?"
Marron forced a smile. "N-no thank you. I'd really better be going
right now."
As Marron turned around to leave, she saw Aoi walking towards her.
He was curious to know why she was still outside. He stopped as he
saw Nusumi. Marron ran to him.
"Let's go Aoi-kun." Marron said softly. "T-Trunks is not here."
Marron took Aoi's hand and hoped he would believe her. She just
wasn't ready to face Trunks yet.
"Come on!" Marron insisted, pulling on his hand. What if he didn't
believe her and was going to persuade her to go see Trunks? Aoi
didn't make a move. He stood there, like a statue, staring at Nusumi.
Nusumi was staring back and her breathing was rapid.
"Let's go, Aoi." Marron pleaded. Aoi finally snapped awake from
his trance. He was about to say something but Marron had already
lead him out of the Capsule Corp. gates.
Nusumi watched as the ponytailed blonde girl and her male companion
left.
"It's...him..."


"Nusumi? Are you all right? You've been staring out there for a
very long time." Trunks said with concern in his voice.
"I'm okay, Trunks." Nusumi replied, leaning her head on the
door frame. "It's just...I thought I saw something, someone from my
past."
"What was it? Who is it?"
"Just...someone. It all started...a long time ago..."


"Aoi, are you okay? You haven't said a word since we left Capsule
Corporation." Marron said. "Did something happen to you there?"
"I'm fine." Aoi replied. "It's just that I...I'm starting to remember
something from my past. Someone. It all started...a long time ago..."