Pan cursed repeatedly as she ran through the snow. He had been kind enough
the night before to give her his jacket to keep her warm and to cover up
her body but she had nothing to wear on her feet. They became increasingly
numb as she ran. Even her grueling training at the old government base
hadn't prepared her for this cold element. She also cursed at her
footprints. For the last ½ mile there had been no trees to dodge around and
so she was left in the wide, open valley of snow, vulnerable to detection.
'He should be out for a few hours'. Pan almost felt bad for her treatment
of Trunks. Almost. He was the enemy, no matter what he said. However she
had slipped up when she named Shin Tek. That jerk took her off her guard
and now knew her employer. She needed to get back to HQ and report to them
about the man who had lost his tail. They would surely forgive her for such
valuable information. Pan smiled cockily. All she needed to do was get into
the next town, steal a vehicle, get some supplies and figure out how to get
back to Japan. It would be easy, no one knew who she was and her current
appearance made her look poor, or perhaps a victim of some crime. She could
pull together a story before she gets there. She sped up, her feet
crunching in the show, the only sound that could be heard for miles.
Trunks could hear it easily. He had regained consciousness a few moments after she had left, dazed and angry. Instead of tearing after her and teaching a badly needed lesson, he decided to follow and see where she goes. He flew high in the air, just out of her eyesight. 'Damn it brat, this better be worth it.' Trunks began to formulate a plan on how to use this Pan to save his mother. 'Maybe I can trade her? No, they might turn on me, and who knows if they have finished treating mother, her next letter isn't due until two more weeks.' Trunks gained a bit of altitude and slowed his pace. The air was much cooler and he began to actually shiver. 'That's new' he thought wryly.
It had been almost four hours since Shi Kisu had knocked out Trunks. Now she struggled in the snow. A blinding snowstorm had come up out of nowhere and was threatening her life. She could no longer feel her feet and toes; they were like two pieces of meat that kept her moving. Her arms were wrapped around her inside the jacket. She had ripped off the sleeves and bundled up her feet earlier, but that provided little comfort to her suffering. 'Got to stop. take a break.' Her body seemed to call to her. All of her judgment was gone and she collapsed into the snow. She pulled her body with her blue arms towards a tree. Shi Kisu couldn't figure out how to get her arms back through the holes in her jacket so she covered her face with them. A warm feeling began to creep over her and she smiled and relaxed. Sleep will soon come and then she could sleep for as long as time.
For the second time Trunks landed in front of her. He could tell she didn't have very long left to live if she didn't get warm now. He powered up and golden light bathed his body. Shi Kisu opened her eye and saw the golden haired warrior. A feral growl escaped her lips as she remembered her hate to him. He frowned and picked her up. Shi Kisu began to struggle faintly but the cold had drained her of much of her power. She gave up and stared at the man directly in the eyes before succumbing to the darkness.
Trunks sighed in exasperation. She was becoming more trouble than she was worth. Silently repeating inside his head it was all for his mother he took off into the air holding his sleeping captive. Small lights through the falling snow alerted the saying that there was a town nearby. Sure enough he found a small settlement nestled in between the hills. Trying to avoid detection he landed just outside the cropping of buildings. Still carrying Pan he found a dark barn. He repositioned her so she now lay over his shoulder he used his free hand to break the lock to the barn and entered.
It was small but there was plenty of old hay still bundled in corners of the room. He gently placed the unconscious female on the ground and pulled the hay out of the bundles and made a small bed. He placed Pan onto the bed and piled a bit of hay on her. With one last glance to make sure she was still breathing he ventured out to find food.
The only place that seemed to be open that night was the tavern. Trunks walked in and surveyed his surroundings. 'Three story building, possibly an inn as well, mostly men, fur accessories in abundance.' He made his way towards the bartender. This one was a woman with frazzled hair and a large waistline. "Excuse me, is there an inn nearby?"
The woman gave him a wary look. "Aye, this be the only one in town, upstairs. You are in luck one room left" Trunks smiled the most charming smile he could muster.
"Would you be so kind as to give me a room for my wife and I?" The woman looked him up and down again.
"Where's your wife? What you doing up here so far north?"
'Questions, questions, didn't anyone teach her not to ask strange men with swords questions?' Trunks smiled even wider. "She isn't feeling very well," he lied, "she lost her boots in a snowdrift and she is a bit feverish and blue."
The woman gasped and reached under the counter. She pulled out a small silver key. "There ya go." Trunks reached for the keys but the lady pulled them back. "You still didn't tell me what you are doing so far north?"
Trunks gritted his teeth. "We were with some friends looking to buy some furs. Unfortunately a storm came up and we were separated from the vehicles. That's why we are here. I am planning to call our friends in the morning."
The woman handed him his key. "Well there have been some strange things, can't be too careful. Room 14. Better go get your wife, it's pretty cold out."
"Thank you, would it be possible to bring some food up there now? Also do you have any spare clothing? We lost ours. We can pay of course."
The woman smiled at the word "pay". "Of course dear, what size is she?"
Trunks smiled. "I am not sure, she isn't very big."
The woman narrowed her eyes believing that she was just insulted. "Well I will find something and add it to your bill. Please pay half now, half tomorrow." Trunks reached into his pocket, glad to have remembered to take his wallet out of his jacket.
"Thanks, I will be back." He said after he handed the woman the handful of bills. She smiled a toothy grin on her round face and waved goodbye. He raced back to the barn, sprinting over roofs to avoid the small winding streets. He reached Pan quickly. She had barely moved underneath the straw. Lifting her back in his arms he flew over the buildings back to the inn/tavern. He stopped before entering the door. 'This might look bad. Oh well, could be worse.' He entered the tavern again and tried to creep towards the stairwell as inconspicuously as possible. The woman who he had talked to was busy serving drinks and attending to customers. By some miracle Trunks managed to slip by all of them and get up the stairs. "Room 14, room 14. Here it is." He said out loud to the unconscious woman in his arms. "If only mother could see me now."
Their room was small with all the furniture built out of pine or oak. The furniture was a four-post bed and a small dresser. Unlike his room at the base, this room seemed much more cozy with a tiny woodstove in the corner. Beside the stove was a small supply of kindling and two logs, enough warmth for two or three hours. 'Wood must be extra.' On the dresser were a tray of bread and meat and two mugs of unidentifiable liquid. Trunks placed Pan on the bed and pulled the quilt and blankets over her. To his relief she began to shiver, the first signs of movement from her in a while. He sat down beside her and began to eat the food. 'She isn't awake so I am sure she won't mind me eating hers.' He finished the meal except for the other mug, which he placed on the stove to keep warm. Remembering the clothes that he was promised, Trunks began to pull out drawers. In the top one was a large white nightgown and a few shirts and two pairs of drawstring pants. Pulling out the pants Trunks figured that they would work for both him and the girl.
A knock came from the door. Trunks looked up in surprised. "Sir, you in yet?" came the gruff woman's voice.
"Yes ma'am we are both here. There was a small pause but Trunks knew she was still at the door. He got up from the bed and opened it. The woman looked surprised when he appeared but she threw a pair boots at his arms with a scowl. "There are my old ones, you can have them for your wife, I'll add them to your bill."
Trunks smiled at her. "You are a kind, wonderful woman," he replied with a hint of sarcasm. She scowled again and left in a huff. Trunks shut the door and laughed. Dropping the boots at the door he walked over to the bed. "Try not to kill me in the night," he told the sleeping woman. Placing his sword by the bed just in arms reach he grabbed the nightgown. Ignoring the blush that began to cover his face he pulled his jacket off of Pan gently. 'It's not like you haven't seen her naked before, hell it's barely been a day since you did. He positioned her so he was facing her back. Lifting her arms up on at a time he slid the gown over her head. His face now blood red he pulled the gown all the way down. His eyes didn't miss the wound where her tail was cut off. 'Saiyan.' He smiled at the sleeping form. 'I'm not really alone.' He absently pulled the jacket off the bed but froze. "What the hell happened to my sleeves!" He remembered the strange material that was wrapped around her feet when he found her. It had dropped back into the snow when he had picked her half frozen body off the ground. Trunks groaned. 'I really like that jacket.' Dumping the jacket on the ground, he pulled the sheets over him. It had been three days since he had gotten a good night sleep. The warm body beside him shifted slightly on the mattress. Her hair brushed his neck slightly. He groaned again in exasperation as he felt the warmth come to his cheeks and his body begin to sweat. Looks like that good night sleep will have to be at another time.
------------
So I finally updated. This is a very long chapter because I really don't know when the next update is going to be. I know how this story is going to end, but I don't want to drag it out. I think I will have to cut some scenes.
Thanks to all my reviewers. You guys are all so great!
Trunks could hear it easily. He had regained consciousness a few moments after she had left, dazed and angry. Instead of tearing after her and teaching a badly needed lesson, he decided to follow and see where she goes. He flew high in the air, just out of her eyesight. 'Damn it brat, this better be worth it.' Trunks began to formulate a plan on how to use this Pan to save his mother. 'Maybe I can trade her? No, they might turn on me, and who knows if they have finished treating mother, her next letter isn't due until two more weeks.' Trunks gained a bit of altitude and slowed his pace. The air was much cooler and he began to actually shiver. 'That's new' he thought wryly.
It had been almost four hours since Shi Kisu had knocked out Trunks. Now she struggled in the snow. A blinding snowstorm had come up out of nowhere and was threatening her life. She could no longer feel her feet and toes; they were like two pieces of meat that kept her moving. Her arms were wrapped around her inside the jacket. She had ripped off the sleeves and bundled up her feet earlier, but that provided little comfort to her suffering. 'Got to stop. take a break.' Her body seemed to call to her. All of her judgment was gone and she collapsed into the snow. She pulled her body with her blue arms towards a tree. Shi Kisu couldn't figure out how to get her arms back through the holes in her jacket so she covered her face with them. A warm feeling began to creep over her and she smiled and relaxed. Sleep will soon come and then she could sleep for as long as time.
For the second time Trunks landed in front of her. He could tell she didn't have very long left to live if she didn't get warm now. He powered up and golden light bathed his body. Shi Kisu opened her eye and saw the golden haired warrior. A feral growl escaped her lips as she remembered her hate to him. He frowned and picked her up. Shi Kisu began to struggle faintly but the cold had drained her of much of her power. She gave up and stared at the man directly in the eyes before succumbing to the darkness.
Trunks sighed in exasperation. She was becoming more trouble than she was worth. Silently repeating inside his head it was all for his mother he took off into the air holding his sleeping captive. Small lights through the falling snow alerted the saying that there was a town nearby. Sure enough he found a small settlement nestled in between the hills. Trying to avoid detection he landed just outside the cropping of buildings. Still carrying Pan he found a dark barn. He repositioned her so she now lay over his shoulder he used his free hand to break the lock to the barn and entered.
It was small but there was plenty of old hay still bundled in corners of the room. He gently placed the unconscious female on the ground and pulled the hay out of the bundles and made a small bed. He placed Pan onto the bed and piled a bit of hay on her. With one last glance to make sure she was still breathing he ventured out to find food.
The only place that seemed to be open that night was the tavern. Trunks walked in and surveyed his surroundings. 'Three story building, possibly an inn as well, mostly men, fur accessories in abundance.' He made his way towards the bartender. This one was a woman with frazzled hair and a large waistline. "Excuse me, is there an inn nearby?"
The woman gave him a wary look. "Aye, this be the only one in town, upstairs. You are in luck one room left" Trunks smiled the most charming smile he could muster.
"Would you be so kind as to give me a room for my wife and I?" The woman looked him up and down again.
"Where's your wife? What you doing up here so far north?"
'Questions, questions, didn't anyone teach her not to ask strange men with swords questions?' Trunks smiled even wider. "She isn't feeling very well," he lied, "she lost her boots in a snowdrift and she is a bit feverish and blue."
The woman gasped and reached under the counter. She pulled out a small silver key. "There ya go." Trunks reached for the keys but the lady pulled them back. "You still didn't tell me what you are doing so far north?"
Trunks gritted his teeth. "We were with some friends looking to buy some furs. Unfortunately a storm came up and we were separated from the vehicles. That's why we are here. I am planning to call our friends in the morning."
The woman handed him his key. "Well there have been some strange things, can't be too careful. Room 14. Better go get your wife, it's pretty cold out."
"Thank you, would it be possible to bring some food up there now? Also do you have any spare clothing? We lost ours. We can pay of course."
The woman smiled at the word "pay". "Of course dear, what size is she?"
Trunks smiled. "I am not sure, she isn't very big."
The woman narrowed her eyes believing that she was just insulted. "Well I will find something and add it to your bill. Please pay half now, half tomorrow." Trunks reached into his pocket, glad to have remembered to take his wallet out of his jacket.
"Thanks, I will be back." He said after he handed the woman the handful of bills. She smiled a toothy grin on her round face and waved goodbye. He raced back to the barn, sprinting over roofs to avoid the small winding streets. He reached Pan quickly. She had barely moved underneath the straw. Lifting her back in his arms he flew over the buildings back to the inn/tavern. He stopped before entering the door. 'This might look bad. Oh well, could be worse.' He entered the tavern again and tried to creep towards the stairwell as inconspicuously as possible. The woman who he had talked to was busy serving drinks and attending to customers. By some miracle Trunks managed to slip by all of them and get up the stairs. "Room 14, room 14. Here it is." He said out loud to the unconscious woman in his arms. "If only mother could see me now."
Their room was small with all the furniture built out of pine or oak. The furniture was a four-post bed and a small dresser. Unlike his room at the base, this room seemed much more cozy with a tiny woodstove in the corner. Beside the stove was a small supply of kindling and two logs, enough warmth for two or three hours. 'Wood must be extra.' On the dresser were a tray of bread and meat and two mugs of unidentifiable liquid. Trunks placed Pan on the bed and pulled the quilt and blankets over her. To his relief she began to shiver, the first signs of movement from her in a while. He sat down beside her and began to eat the food. 'She isn't awake so I am sure she won't mind me eating hers.' He finished the meal except for the other mug, which he placed on the stove to keep warm. Remembering the clothes that he was promised, Trunks began to pull out drawers. In the top one was a large white nightgown and a few shirts and two pairs of drawstring pants. Pulling out the pants Trunks figured that they would work for both him and the girl.
A knock came from the door. Trunks looked up in surprised. "Sir, you in yet?" came the gruff woman's voice.
"Yes ma'am we are both here. There was a small pause but Trunks knew she was still at the door. He got up from the bed and opened it. The woman looked surprised when he appeared but she threw a pair boots at his arms with a scowl. "There are my old ones, you can have them for your wife, I'll add them to your bill."
Trunks smiled at her. "You are a kind, wonderful woman," he replied with a hint of sarcasm. She scowled again and left in a huff. Trunks shut the door and laughed. Dropping the boots at the door he walked over to the bed. "Try not to kill me in the night," he told the sleeping woman. Placing his sword by the bed just in arms reach he grabbed the nightgown. Ignoring the blush that began to cover his face he pulled his jacket off of Pan gently. 'It's not like you haven't seen her naked before, hell it's barely been a day since you did. He positioned her so he was facing her back. Lifting her arms up on at a time he slid the gown over her head. His face now blood red he pulled the gown all the way down. His eyes didn't miss the wound where her tail was cut off. 'Saiyan.' He smiled at the sleeping form. 'I'm not really alone.' He absently pulled the jacket off the bed but froze. "What the hell happened to my sleeves!" He remembered the strange material that was wrapped around her feet when he found her. It had dropped back into the snow when he had picked her half frozen body off the ground. Trunks groaned. 'I really like that jacket.' Dumping the jacket on the ground, he pulled the sheets over him. It had been three days since he had gotten a good night sleep. The warm body beside him shifted slightly on the mattress. Her hair brushed his neck slightly. He groaned again in exasperation as he felt the warmth come to his cheeks and his body begin to sweat. Looks like that good night sleep will have to be at another time.
------------
So I finally updated. This is a very long chapter because I really don't know when the next update is going to be. I know how this story is going to end, but I don't want to drag it out. I think I will have to cut some scenes.
Thanks to all my reviewers. You guys are all so great!