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PART 28 Reminisce


Nusumi looked out of her window and placed her hand on the cool
glass.
"I said I'd wait forever." she whispered. "And here I am, still
waiting..."


Kurillin looked through the mail. Then he took out one particular
letter out of the stack.
"Hey, Juuhachigou!" he called out. "We got a letter from Bulma!"
Juuhachigou went over to him. Kurillin opened the letter. It was
an invitation to another one of Bulma's parties.
"Well?" Kurillin asked. "Should we go?"
"I don't have anything to do." Juuhachigou asked. "And she IS my
friend. It's up to Marron."
"It says here that everyone should be in couples." Kurillin
pointed out.
"Marron, dear!" Juuhachigou called out. "Could you come down here
for a while?"
Marron quickly went downstairs. "Yes, Mama?"
"We got an invitation from Bulma." Juuhachigou said.
"Oh, that's nice." Marron said, looking at the invitation. "Couples?"
"Maybe you could bring Aoi." Kurillin suggested.
"A-Aoi-kun?" Marron asked.
"I bet it would be fun." Juuhachigou said.
"Um...okay..." Marron replied. "I'll go call him."


"It was very kind of you to give us a ride." Kurillin said to Aoi.
"Don't mention it, Kurillin-san." Aoi replied.
"You must be loaded with money, right?" Juuhachigou commented.
"Mama..." Marron sighed.
"Well, I guess..." Aoi replied with a chuckle.
The limousine stopped by Capsule Corp.
"This is our stop." Kurillin said. They all got out. Marron held
on tightly to Aoi's arm.
"Don't worry." Aoi whispered to Marron. "It'll be all right."
"I hope so..." Marron replied quietly.
"Marron-san!"
Marron turned around and saw Pan running towards her. The rest of
the Son family were following behind.
"Pan-chan!" Marron exclaimed.
"It's been such a long time since I've seen you, Marron." Pan said,
pouting a little.
"I'm really sorry about that." Marron replied.
Pan nodded. "That's okay. Gee, what happened to you?"
"I...I just needed some time off that's all."
"Hey Marron!" Goten greeted.
Marron's smile brightened. "Hello, Goten-kun."
Marron looked over at Pan and Goten. "So who are your dates?"
"We're together." Pan and Goten replied.
Marron raised an eyebrow.
"We ARE two of a kind." Goten said. "The invitation didn't say
nothing about bringing a lover or anything like that."
"You're right." Marron said. "But, Pan-chan, don't you have a
boyfriend?"
"Sure I do." Pan replied. "But you've been gone so long that you've
never heard the news that he went to college."
"He did?" Marron asked.
"Yeah. And in 1 and a half years, I'll be joining him."
"My, my... Time sure passes by quickly."
"Yeah." Goten said. "Our little girl is growing up!"
"Hey!" Pan said. "Don't be treating me like a baby!"
"Do you want another diaper, Panny wanny?"
"GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Hehehe..."
"Son Goten, what are you doing to your niece?!" Chichi asked sternly
with her arms crossed.
"Um...hi, mom... I was just..."
"Don't tease Pan!"
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
"All right. Me and the others will be going inside now."
"Yes..."
"I'll see you inside. And Marron, it's nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you, too, Chichi-san." Marron replied.
Chichi smiled, waved and she went with the rest of the Son family,
Kurillin and Juuhachigou inside.
"Ojiisan no baka..." Pan sighed.
Marron giggled at Goten. Then she noticed her companion.
"Um, guys." Marron said. "This is Aoi."
"Hi!" Pan said.
"Hey man!" Goten said.
"Hello." Aoi replied.
"He's my...um...date." Marron said.
"Aoi, huh?" Pan said. "Marron-san's told me a lot about you."
"Really?" Aoi asked, looking down at Marron.
Marron started to blush. "Well, we should go inside now."
"Sure." Pan said.
"Yeah." Goten said.
"Of course." Aoi said.


"Nusumi? What's wrong?" Trunks asked.
"Nothing..." Nusumi replied. "Nothing at all..."
"You don't look very lively today."
"I'm just not in the partying mood right now."
"Well, okay..."
"I am going to get some fresh air, all right?"
"Sure."
Nusumi stood up from her seat and walked outside.


"I wonder where Bra-chan is..." Marron wondered.
"Oh look! There's Trunks!" Goten said.
"T-Trunks?!" Marron said.
"HEY! TRUNKS!" Goten called out.
Marron squeezed Aoi's hand tightly.
Trunks turned around. Marron hid behind Aoi.
"Hey Goten!" Trunks said as he approached them.
"What's up? I want you to meet Aoi here." Goten said.
"Hi!" Trunks said, holding out his hand.
"Nice to meet you." Aoi said, shaking Trunks hand. He squeezed it
a little and raised his eyebrow. Trunks stepped back, feeling a
little uneasy.
Trunks gave Aoi his friendliest smile. Then he noticed a pair of
feet behind Aoi.
"Um...is someone behind you?" Trunks asked.
"Is someone...uh...behind me...?" Aoi stuttered.
"It's Marron!" Goten said.
"Ma-Marron?" said Trunks.
Goten grabbed Marron's wrist and pulled her out.
"You do remember her, don't you?" Goten asked. "She's one of your
best friends?"
"H-hello...um...Trunks..." Marron said, keeping her eyes glued to
the floor.
"I'm gonna leave you two to get reacquainted, 'kay?" Goten said.
"I'll go get some fresh air." Aoi said.
The two left Trunks and Marron behind.


[I hate to have to do this to you, Marron-chan.] Aoi thought. [But
you need him. I'm sorry for putting you up through all this...]
He went outside to the balcony. There was already a young blue
haired woman outside. He was about to leave but then he sensed that
she was depressed about something. He inhaled and made his way
towards her.
"It is very beautiful out tonight, is it not?" he said.
She quickly turned her head to face him.
"Oh!" she said in surprise. "I didn't know you were there."
Aoi smiled. "So what are you doing out here by yourself?"
"I'm with you, aren't I?"
Aoi chuckled. "Of course. Let me rephrase that. What WERE you doing
out here by yourself?"
"Just getting some fresh air."
"May I get some with you?"
"Well...I don't know. With you being a stranger and all..."
"A stranger, am I? How long would a guy have to know you before
he gets to have some fresh air with you?"
She smiled. "Not very long."
Aoi sighed and leaned on the railing. "So who did you come with?
This party was for couples, right?"
"I'm with Trunks Briefs." she replied.
"You're..." Aoi faced her. "Nusumi Aino?!"
"Yes." Nusumi replied. "How did you know?"
"Oh, just by reputation." Aoi said, regaining his composure.
"I'm popular, am I?"
"I'm Aoi Senritsu."
"A pleasure to meet you."
"I've heard about you. From Marron, Trunks' friend."
"She told you about me, did she? That's very nice of her. Is she
who you're with?"
"As a matter of fact, she is."
"I heard a good deal about her from Trunks. She's a nice girl.
You're very lucky to be dating her."
Aoi sighed. "I wish I were dating her... But I'm afraid we're just
not meant to be..."
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. Besides, I know there's only one girl out there for me.
I still haven't found her. I promised I would return to her. But here
I am, 9 years later and I still haven't found her. I don't think
I'm doing much to fulfill my promise..."
"I know how you feel. I promised a guy I would wait for him forever
and here I am, in love with some other man."
Nusumi laughed at herself. "But I shouldn't be telling you this.
I'm only a burden."
"Oh no, you're not. I'm interested to hear about this special man."
"Um...really?"
"Sure. If you're willing to tell me, that is."
"All right."
"What was his name?"
"His name? Uh...oh my goodness. It was only until this moment I
realized! I never knew his name..."
"Honestly?!"
"No... I never bothered to ask... He never bothered to tell me
either..."
"That has to be the strangest thing I have ever heard of. This
man whom you loved so dearly and years later, you just noticed that
you've never found out his name. No offense but I truly think that
is bizarre."
"Well, what is the name of your girl?"
"Her name? Well..." Aoi thought for a while and then chuckled. "I'm
afraid I didn't get her name either!"
Nusumi's smile widened. "What a coincidence."
"I know." Aoi said. "Strangely enough, she looks a lot like you."
"You too." Nusumi replied. "Do you think that...that... No. No, it
couldn't be."
"I don't think so either. There's a difference between you and her
and you really couldn't be... No, I don't think so."
"Me neither."
Aoi sighed. "Well, we really should get back in there."
"I know." Nusumi replied.
Aoi held out his arm.
"Shall we?" he asked.
Nusumi took his arm. "Sure. Why not?"
They both walked back inside and decided to part from there.
"It was really nice meeting you, Mr. Senritsu." Nusumi said.
"Same here, Ms. Aino." Aoi replied.
They nodded and went their separate ways.

"Hey Nusumi." Trunks said. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, Trunks." Nusumi replied. "Yes, I'm all right. That fresh
air really did me good...yes...and I bit more than I thought..."


"That was an...um...interesting business meeting, wasn't it Trunks?"
Nusumi commented as she and Trunks got on the elevator.
"Trunks?" Nusumi asked.
Trunks took Nusumi by the wrist. "Nusumi, I have to tell you
something..."
"All right..." Nusumi replied.
Trunks stopped the elevator door from closing and then led Nusumi
to the staircase. They went up to the roof.
"Okay, Trunks," Nusumi said. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Nusumi...I..." Trunks reached out and brushed away some hair from
Nusumi's face.
[She's just like an angel...] Trunks thought.
"Nusumi..." Trunks said. "I know that I really haven't been that
good to you the first time. Before, I was really confused. I never
really knew what I wanted and so I settled for whatever just simply
satisfied me. Even now I'm confused. But there's one thing I do know.
Nusumi...I...want...you."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Nusumi asked.
Trunks got down on one knee and took out a small velvet box.
"Nusumi Aino..." Trunks said as he opened the box. "Will you marry
me?"


"Hello? This is the Kame House."
#"Hey! Is um, Marron home?"
"Yes, this is she."
#"Heya Marron!"
"May I ask who this is?"
#"Tsk, tsk, tsk. And I thought you considered me a better friend
than that."
"Trunks?"
#"No, this is an evil serial killer out to get you!"
"Cut that out, Goten!"
#"You remembered! What an honor! I'm speechless!"
"*giggle* So, what do you want?"
#"So didja hear about Trunks?"
"What about him?"
#"Think 'Wedding Bells'."
"Say...what?!"
#"Trunks told me he just proposed to Nusumi this morning!"


Marron looked out at the city as she stood out on the balcony.
[I can't believe you would do this to me again, Trunks...]
"Um...excuse me?"
Marron turned around and saw Nusumi. Nusumi walked over to her.
"Hi!" she said.
"Hello, Nusumi." Marron replied as politely as she could.
"Good to see you again, Marron." Nusumi said. "May I join you here?"
"Sure. It IS your...your future husband's place."
Nusumi smiled.
"By the way," Marron said. "Congratulations."
"Thank you very much."
"Marron?" Aoi called out. The two women turned around and saw Aoi
coming out. "Hey Mar-- Oh. I didn't know you had company."
"I see we meet again, Mr. Senritsu." Nusumi said.
"You two know each other?" Marron asked.
"We've met before." Aoi replied.
"So what is it, Aoi?" Marron asked.
"Uh...yeah. Goten was looking for you. He wanted to tell you
something."
"Sure thing. I'll leave you two alone to, y'know, get reacquainted."
Marron gave Aoi a peck on the cheek and left. After she was gone,
Aoi made his way towards Nusumi.
"So you're getting married, huh?" he asked.
"Yes. And I'm really happy about it." Nusumi replied.
"Could it have been that Trunks Briefs was that man you have been
waiting forever for and you've just realized it?"
"No." Nusumi sighed as she leaned on the rail or the balcony. "No.
What I've just realized is that he's never coming back. Never. Nine
years I've waited and nothing. I would have died an old maid.
He's never coming back."
"You said you'd wait forever." Aoi said. "Nine years is not forever,
Ms. Aino."
"How about Marron?"
"It is not what it seems, trust me. I'm trying to get her back with
the man she deserves."
"Well, he's still never coming back. He probably died after the ship
sank."
"Look, although I may sometimes think that the girl whom I've been
looking for might have died somehow after the Unsinkable went down,
doesn't mean I'm thinking of giving up."
"The...Unsinkable...?"
"Uh, yeah. That's the ship I was on when I met her."
"That...that was the ship that I--"
"Aoi?" Marron called out. "You have a phone call. He says it's
really important."
"Sure." Aoi replied. "I'll be there in a sec."
Marron nodded and went back inside.
"Well, Ms. Aino," Aoi said with a sigh. "It was a pleasure seeing
you again. I hope you and Trunks Briefs have a good life together.
My congratulations to the both of you."
"Yeah." Nusumi replied. "Thanks a lot."
Aoi flashed her a dazzling smile and went inside.
[Could it really be...?] Nusumi thought. [Could he really be...him
...?]


#"Hello?"
"Hi. This is Nusumi Aino speaking. Is this the Kame House?"
#"Sure is."
"Um...do you know where I could contact Mr. Aoi Senritsu?
#"Hold on for a while, okay?"
"Of course."
#"Thanks. Marron! Could you come over here?"
"..."
#"Hello?" Marron said.
"Hi, Marron. This is Nusumi Aino."
#"Hi Nusumi! How are you?"
"I'm great. Well, I called because I wanted to know where I could
contact Aoi Senritsu."
#"Sure. He's at the River Stone Hotel. Do you need the number
for that?"
"River Stone Hotel? Oh, I know that place. I don't need the number.
Thank you very much Ms. Marron!"
#"You're very welcome. Anything else?"
"Nothing more. Goodbye!"
#"Bye."

#"This is the River Stone Hotel. How may I help you?"
"Good morning. This is Nusumi Aino. Could I speak to Mr. Aoi
Senritsu?"
#"Of course. I shall connect you to him right now."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
#"Hello?"
"Hello? Whom am I speaking with?"
#"This is Toru Merodi."
"Um, is Mr. Aoi Senritsu there?"
#"He's not here at the moment. He's getting ready for his flight
to England tomorrow."
"He's leaving for England tomorrow?!"
#"Yes. By special request of the queen, of course. We will be off
by tomorrow morning."
"Are you serious?"
#"Certainly am."
"Which airport?"
#"The Narutaki International Airport."
"May I ask which airline?"
#"Japan Air of course!"
"Well...thank you very much."
#"You're welcome. Shall I tell Mr. Senritsu that you called?"
"No. No, that won't be necessary. Thank you. Bye."
#"Bye."
Nusumi put back the receiver and slid down to the floor.
[He's leaving me again... How could he...?]


"Good morning, Ms. Aino."
"Good morning." Nusumi replied as she stepped inside Capsule Corp.
She went up to Trunks office and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Trunks called out from inside. "Hey Nusumi! I didn't
expect you to come over today."
"I never planned on coming here." Nusumi said. "But I've completely
made up my mind."
Trunks pushed up his glasses. "Well, why did you come?"
Nusumi faced him with tear-filled eyes.
"Nusumi dear, what's the matter?" Trunks asked, very concerned.
Nusumi took off the engagement ring off her finger and put it in
Trunks hand.
"I'm really sorry Trunks." she whispered. "The wedding's off. I...
have a promise I have to keep."
Nusumi ran out of the office and out of the building.
"Narutaki International Airport!" she demanded the second she got
into her limousine. Her driver immediately drove off.
[Please don't leave now...] she pleaded.


Nusumi jumped out of the car and rushed into the airport when her
limousine reached the Narutaki International Airport.
"Which gate is the Japan Air flight to England boarding now?" Nusumi
demanded when she got to the information booth.
"Um...gate 29, ma'am!"
"Thanks!"
Nusumi went off to look for gate 29. When she reached it, the plane
had not yet boarded but was about to in a minute.
"You have to let me in!" Nusumi pleaded. "Someone I care for deeply
is in that plane and I have to tell him! At least let me say
goodbye!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am but you need a ticket." a flight attendant said.
"No exceptions!"
"You have to let me in!"
"I'm so sorry, ma'am." the flight attendant said as she closed the
doors.
Nusumi watched the plane take off.
"I...I can't believe this..." she said softly to herself. "He left
me again..."
Nusumi took out a tissue from her bag and cried.
"Nusumi?!"
Nusumi looked up.
"A-A-A-AOI!!!"
"Why are you here?" he asked. "Are you all right?"
Nusumi jumped up and embraced Aoi tightly. Aoi then felt himself
blush as he hugged Nusumi back.
"It's um...good to see you again...Nusumi...?" Aoi said, feeling
very confused.
"I thought I'd lose you again..."
"My plane is in twenty minutes."
"Please don't leave me again." Nusumi whispered into his ear.
"What are you talking about?!" Aoi asked.
"Forever is too long! I've found you and I don't want you to leave
again!"
Aoi unwrapped Nusumi's arms around his neck and put her down.
"Okay," Aoi started. "I like you and all but I'm starting to think
you're crazy! Why in the world are you saying this to me?!"
"Because I love you!"
Aoi crossed his eyebrows and looked down.
"Ms. Aino..." he said. "I'm afraid I don't feel that way for you..."
"Of course you do!" Nusumi insisted. "At least that's what I thought
nine years ago! On the Unsinkable, you yelled at me so that I would
get into that lifeboat, to save my life..."
"Nu-Nusumi..." Aoi replied. "I must go."
He took his suitcase and turned around to leave. Before he could
take his first step, Nusumi grabbed his arm.
"Please don't go!" she pleaded. "You told me you would search for me
no matter what! You promised! Remember? Please remember! I'M that
girl you're looking for!"
"The girl I'm looking for is lost forever! You belong with Trunks
Briefs!"
"Remember that night we first met? You played a piece just for me...
I'm that girl!"
Aoi shook Nusumi off his arm. But instead of walking away, he dropped
his suitcase, turned around and kissed Nusumi.