a/n: I'm back!!! waits for applause, but didn't get any *sweatdrop* er, so no one cares. waaaaaaaaahhhh!
no, really, it's been like months since i updated this story. i'd like to blame everything on writer's block, that would be the easy way out, ne? heheh, but really, i was on a Rurouni Kenshin binged for months and I just couldn't stop writing RK fanfics. Oro! I'm still obsessed with my kenny-baby, but i've been re-inspired with dragonball coz i finally got to see DBGT! spawnie-chan is very happy! yeah, i know everyone says it's not the best dragonball series, but i love it coz Trunks and Pan are in there! I became a t/p fan even before i saw the series so i was like screaming every time i see trunks and pan standing together.
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:::::::AND THE JOURNEY BEGAN:::::::
"I'm just dreaming and this is a nightmare. I'm just dreaming and this is a nightmare. I'm just—" Uubu's litany was interrupted when the restaurant door swung open. He could feel Goten's ki coming closer now, and he tried his best to suppress his own.
Uubu tried closing his eyes one more time in hopes that he would wake up to find that everything was just part of some kind of a twisted dream.
Didn't work, too bad.
He spotted Goten scanning through the restaurant. Uubu sighed, the sooner the got his mission done, the better. So he raised his hand daintily and waved.
"Goten-kun! I'm here, Goten-kun!" he called out in a voice that sounded like a sick kraken. Remember, just 15 minutes and it's all over!
Goten turned around and frowned. "Hai?" Goten asked, confusion written all over his face.
Uubu smiled through red-painted lips. He was sweating so heavily that the thick foundation Bra had applied on his skin to lighten his complexion, started wearing off.
"Oh, you're still so silly, Goten-kun! Don't you recognize me?! I'm your honey-pumpkin Paris!" Uubu explained, attempting a giggle but ended up on looking like he just had a cardiac arrest.
"P-Paris?" Goten stuttered.
"Of course it's me, silly!"
Goten suddenly brightened.
"Paris! You're looking lovely as ever!"
Uubu sweatdropped. He's a Son alright, and no wonder he gets so many dates.
:::::
Capsule Corp:
"Alright Bra, coast is clear," Pan whispered on her communicator. Bra had gone inside the building, and that of course, was part of their plan.
"Yeah, but first we have to get Goku-san into the ship," Bra pointed out.
"Leave ojiisan to me, but here's the plan. Once grandpa is on the ship, I'll convince 'kaasan that I want to say goodbye to grandpa. Once I'm inside, you should pretend you are looking for me, and when they tell you that I'm in the ship, you go in and off we go!" Pan reiterated their plan, barely able to hold her excitement. This is my first and biggest adventure yet! I hope nothing goes wrong…
Bra frowned. "It sounds so simple. I have a bad feeling about this."
"Nah, you worry too much! Come on, we'll be in space within a few minutes! Ok, I'll send you a message when everything is set."
Bra sighed when Pan's voice disappeared from her receiver. That's right, if everything goes right, we'll be in space pretty soon! But that's IF everything does go right…
Pan linked her hands together in her back and walked carelessly towards the small boy sitting on the ground, who was disturbingly, also her grandfather.
"'jii-san," Pan began.
"Oi Panny!" Goku answered back fondly.
"So, 'jii-san, you're gonna go to space."
"Hai," Goku answered innocently.
"For a year, ne?"
"Hai."
"Ojii-san, have you checked if you have enough food in the ship? Maybe Bulma-san didn't pack you enough food, or maybe, she didn't pack any food at all! You're gonna be without food for a whole year in space! Oh no! That's too bad! You're going to starve! And you can't get any food from anywhere!---" Pan continued her description of Goku's Ultimate nightmare. And it did work, for her chibi-sized grandpa paled, almost like he was about to cry.
No food… starve… hungry… Goku thought. No food… no food…
"I'll go and check!"
With that, her grandpa flew straight to the ship faster than the eye could blink.
Pan hid a smile. Works every time.
:::::
Trunks knew something was wrong. A moment ago, he had felt Goten's ki fly out of Capsule Corp. Why the heck would Goten leave at a time like this? Must be another girl…
"Well, I was saying… Trunks-kun… I…" Marron stammered, blushing madly.
Somehow… I know something's up, Trunks thought.
"S-so… T-Trunks-kun… would you?" Marron finally managed to ask.
"H-huh?" Trunks jerked his head up, suddenly remembering the young girl he was talking to. "Ah, gomen-nasai, Marron. What were you asking?"
Marron blushed again. "Umm… I was asking if you would miss me?"
Trunks started at the question. Miss Marron? Did I miss something in this conversation?
Smiling politely, the President of Capsule Corp nodded. With his job, he was used to dealing with all kinds of people everyday.
"Hai, I will miss everyone here."
But I better watch Pan and Bra, you can never trust those two.
"How about we move to the other balcony Marron? I believe they are just waiting for Goten to get back, so we better move somewhere closer to the garden," Trunks added.
"Hai!" the now starry-eyed Marron replied readily, looping her hands on Trunks' arm. Maybe the other balcony is much more romantic for painful partings like this…
::::::
"Waaaahhhh!" Pan sobbed, running to Videl.
A startled Videl readily rushed to her sobbing daughter.
"What's wrong, baby? What's wrong? You can tell your 'kaasan anything," Videl cooed.
Pan hugged her mother and spoke between sobs.
"Grandpa… I'm gonna miss grandpa… grandpa…"
Videl's eyes watered. She knew Pan loved her grandpa very dearly, perhaps more than anyone else.
"Don't worry, honey. Your grandpa Goku will be back soon," Videl comforted her sobbing daughter.
"'kaasan?" Pan asked in a muffled voice, her face still buried in her mother's shoulders.
"Hm?" Videl asked softly.
"Can I… can I say goodbye to 'jii-san one more time?" Pan asked with teary eyes.
Videl finally gave in to tears.
"Of course honey. I think I saw him go into the space ship a while ago."
Pan hugged her mother one more time… in a way, it was her way of saying goodbye herself.
"Arigato gozaimasu, 'kaasan," Pan gave her mother one last hug and walked towards the space ship… strangely enough, there was no trace of tears on her face, only an thrilled smile.
Before stepping into the ship, Pan pressed a button on her communicator. Bra, it's your turn…
::::
"So you think so, Trunks-kun? Really?" Marron asked again.
Trunks just nodded his head limply. He had no idea what Marron had just asked him. He had lost track of what the girl was saying a long time ago.
He had noticed how Pan's expression suddenly changed, especially when she was just sobbing on Videl's shoulder. And then pressing a button on her watch? What was that all about?
"Oh my God! You are so like sweet Trunks-kun!" Marron giggled.
Again, Trunks nodded, and this time, something else caught his attention from below.
"Pan! Pan!" his ever so almighty-sister-Princess Bra called out. "Pan! I want to show you something!"
"She's inside the ship, Bra-chan," Trunks heard Videl answer.
"Oh my! You really think I'm pretty, Trunks-kun! You are so like flattering me!" Marron chirped in the background.
His sister shrugged noncommittally and headed towards the ship…
Goten-- away…
Goku-- in the ship…
Pan-- in the ship…
Bra- will be in the ship…
"Ohhh! Alright! Alright! I'll let you kiss me… but just one time, ok?!" Marron giggled and moved closer to Trunks.
Pan, thinking that no one was watching them, started the engine just as Bra stepped on the platform.
Trunks' eyes bugged out.
"N-Nani?! I knew it!" Trunks exclaimed and flew down the balcony just as Marron threw herself at him… or where he used to be.
Marron doubled over the railing and fell.
Trunks flew faster than he normally should and went flying straight through the now halfway closed platform. Bra lost her balance and fell out. But it was too late, the ship already lifted off, and in seconds, it zoomed through the sky.
"Yey! We're going to space! We're going to space! Bra this is it!" Pan exclaimed once the ship was out of the earth's atmosphere, jumping out excitedly off the pilot's seat. "This is great Bra—"
Pan was cut off by the site that greeted her as she turned around. Bra was nowhere to be found, but Trunks was there, almost flattened against one metallic wall. Well, that's what you get for not wearing a seat belt… Trunks?!!! What's going on?!!!
"Nani?! Trunks! What the hell are you doing here?!" Pan demanded.
"I… could ask you… the same thing!" Trunks shot back, gasping for air.
"Where's Bra? You're not supposed to be here!" Pan shouted.
"Well you're not supposed to be here either! You and Bra planned this didn't you? I knew it!"
"Do you mean to say that I'm stuck with a jerk like you in outer space?!!! NOOOO!!!" Pan asked incredulously.
"That's why we have to turn back the ship!" Trunks shot back.
Pan stomped her foot. "Of course we will turn back! I don't wanna be stuck with you for a whole year!!!"
"And do you think I want to get stuck with a whiny kid like you either?! Gimme the main control key!" Trunks shouted back.
"What did you call me?!!! And don't order me around! I can turn back the ship on my own, so I'll do it!" Pan shrieked, stepping out of Trunks reach when the purple head tried to snatch the key from her.
"You have no experience with ships! You have to give me the key!" Trunks insisted, attempting to snatch the key again from the quarter saiyan, albeit, unsuccessfully.
Pan gritted her teeth. "What do you mean no experience, huh, Mr. President?! I'm not stupid and I don't need experience just to turn a key!"
"It's more complicated than that! Pan! Give me the key!"
Pan stuck her tongue out.
The chase was getting nowhere, except, in the case of Trunks, it only got him a few bumps and bruises on the face as he bumped from on corner to the other.
In a stroke of brilliance, he collapsed against a panel.
"I told you I'll do it! Why don't you just let me?!" Pan shrieked once again, but Trunks didn't move an inch.
"Hey, Trunks!" Pan called out, a tinge of worry in her voice.
Kami… did I make him bang his head too much… Trunks…
Pan stealthily approached the demi-saiyan. She was really worried now.
"T-Trunks?"
Pan reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, but before she could do so, Trunks flipped and pinned her against a nearby seat.
Trunks gave a Vegeta-like smirk.
"Gotcha," Trunks grinned.
Pan's expression darkened. Cheater! And to think that I was actually worried about him! Grrr! I'll never forgive him for making me worry! Baka! Well, if that's how it is, than two could play the game.
Pan grinned and slipped the control key inside her shirt.
Trunks jumped back, a hint of red staining his cheeks. His eyes traveled to where Pan had stashed the key away. True, she was once just Son Pan, the spoiled little girl who was his best friend's neice… but now…
But now… no! She's still the same girl, she's still a kid… she's still a kid! Trunks repeated the thought over and over again. But she's grown into a young lady, Trunks… Trunks shook his head as if to clear the evil thought away.
"Trunks? Daijobo? Why are you shaking your head?" Pan peered curiously.
"H-huh? Uh, nothing, my brain just messed up, that's all," he replied evasively.
Pan laughed. "Well, don't worry, it's messed up in the first place anyway! Hahahahah! And I get to turned back the ship, so out of the way!" Pan gloated, sticking out her once again.
Trunks nearly smiled in relief. Seeing Pan acting so childish and spoiled is much better than seeing the grown up side. The latter would just make him act all weird again.
Just then, Goku emerged from one of the compartments, almost covered with bits and pieces of food.
"It suddenly started shaking. Is there an earthquake or something?" Goku asked innocently. "Oi, Panny-chan, it was a good idea to check if there are enough food. There's lots in the fridge!" Goku greeted his granddaughter fondly.
Trunks sweatdropped… Goku and his food.
"No Goku-san. Our ship just took off, but don't worry, we are turning back."
Goku shrugged "Nani? But we're supposed to go to space, right? Why do we have to turn back?"
"Because I don't want to get stuck with Trunks is space, that's why," Pan put in, pulling out the key from her shirt and walking towards the control panel.
Trunks simmered. "And I don't want to get stuck with a brat either."
Pan humphd, sticking the key in the slot.
"Please enter the password," the voice of the main computer prompted.
"Nani? What's going on here? Hey Trunks, what's the password?"
Trunks looked totally clueless. "I don't know."
Pan turned the key again.
"Please enter the Password," the voice prompted again.
"Hey Trunks, gimme the password!" Pan demanded.
"I dunno! That might be why 'kaasan said she wanted to give me a briefing before taking off. Maybe she was planning to tell me about that. But since some kid got too impulsive and took off with the ship that's why we don't have it," Trunks explained, a little too sarcastically for Pan's peace of mind.
Pan seethed. "Are you talking about me? So you're blaming me?"
"I don't see any other kid here," Trunks replied.
"Well, if you hadn't interfered with our plans, we wouldn't have to turn back anyway, and Bra and I would be having our adventure right now!" Pan shot back.
"Hey! The original plan was that Goten and I go to space with Goku-san! Not you and Bra!" Trunks countered.
Pan clenched her fists. "Fine! Fine! Fine! I'll try to decode the password!"
Trunks' eyes widened. "You can do that?"
Pan smirked. "Hmph, it should be pretty easy."
She turned to the keyboard and typed some characters, but the computer gave a beep.
"trunksisajerk is not a valid password," the computer responded.
Trunks facefaulted. "Hey! What makes you think that's the password?!"
"Because it's the truth!" Pan glared back.
"Here, let the CC president decode the password."
Pan stepped aside and raised an eyebrow.
After typing some letters, Trunks leaned back and confidently pressed enter. But there was another beep.
"panisabrat is not a valid password"
"Why you!!!" Pan raged and bonked a certain purple head.
"Hey you started it!" Trunks complained.
"Out of the way! I can decode it on my own!" Pan said, shoving Trunks lightly to the side.
"What are you talking about? I know that last one was pretty close, so I should try one more time!"
"No!"
In seconds, they were both pressing the keyboard to their heart's content.
"trunkspervert is not a valid password. panannoying is not a valid password. trunks pan password not creep valid passwd…" the computer rumbled. With a series of beeps, the screen flashed in red.
"System Locked, System Locked," the computer's monotonous voice announced.
"Now what the did you do?!!!" Pan screeched.
"What do you mean me? You're the one who crashed the computer!" Trunks retorted.
"System Locked," the computer repeated.
Trunks and Pan took one look at each other, and then realization dawned.
"Then that mean…" Trunks began.
"…that we are stuck," Pan finished lamely.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Both of them thought.
Goku sat comfortably on a seat, happily eating his meal. Trunks and Pan are arguing again. Well, that's nothing new, and so he just shrugged and concentrated on his meal. Taking one last look at Trunks and Pan who were still glaring daggers at each other, Goku hid a smile. What a wonderful journey this will be, he thought.
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a/n: alright, so here's another chapter. Admit it! This chapter was long… (heheh, author is feeling kinda guilty for not updating for so long, ^_~)
~~~and what happened with Uubu, Goten, and everyone else? Well, that would have to wait. I'm getting lazy again
anyway, I hope you review! Flames? Go ahead.
Also, if anyone's interested in RK fics, I'm working on a couple of RK fics right now, so feel free to browse under my name!
Arigatou gozaimasu!
Ja!
~~spawnie-chan