Three
Hold me now, in your loving arms,
Warm my heart, my cold and tired heart,
Stay with me,
Let loving start, let loving start
Terminal 46 at Satan City Airport was reserved entirely for Capsule Corps. The private jets of all of the executives boarded and set down here, as did all of the official jets carrying the normal employees of the world's biggest company. One of these planes had just landed. A leggy blue-haired female walked off the plane, catching the attention of many young men both on the plane, and in the waiting area of the terminal. She was wearing a black mini-skirt, with a matching three-quarter sleeve jacket. Dark glasses covered her ocean-blue eyes.
"Ms. Briefs!" called a young male attendant. "Do you require any assistance with your baggage?"
"Yes, I do," Bra answered.
The attendant nodded and grabbed a trolley. The two of them walked to the baggage collection area. The young attendant piled Bra's 15 suitcases onto the trolley.
"The taxi bays?"
Bra shook her head. "No, I've got a lift arranged. Someone is picking me up from the front of the airport."
Bra started walking in that direction, with the attendant following, his pace much slower now that he had to drag all of Bra's luggage. Out the front of the airport, Bra spotted a familiar blue convertible, with an even more familiar male figure leaning against it. As she got closer, he noticed her, and dropped the cigarette from his mouth, extinguishing it with his foot. He smiled a million-dollar grin.
"Onii-chan!" Bra greeted, throwing her arms around Trunks' waist. "Long time no see."
"No kidding," replied Trunks. He reached up and touched her hair. It was cut short around her shoulders. "What happened here?"
"I got sick of it being so long."
"Looks good, but okaasan is gonna pitch a fit."
"She can deal. I'm 20 years old – I think that's old enough to change my hairstyle."
"A-hem," the attendant cleared his throat, momentarily forgotten. He had already packed Bra's luggage into the back of the car.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" said Bra. "Thanks very much." She took out her wallet and handed him a wad of bills. "Is that enough? Sorry, I'm kinda new to this whole tipping business."
The attendant's eyes widened as he stared at the cash in his hand. "T-that's fine Ms. Briefs. Enjoy your d-day."
Bra climbed into the passenger's side of the car. She adjusted the rear-view mirror so that she could apply some lipstick.
"Hey!" Trunks complained, moving the mirror back. "I do need to use that."
"Sorry," Bra sighed. Trunks started the car, and sped off. "So, okaasan's party sounds like it's gonna be fun."
"For sure!" Trunks called, over the rush of the wind. "You nervous?"
"Why would I be?"
"Well, you know Goten's gonna be there?"
"And that means what to me?" Bra snapped.
Trunks kept his eyes on the road, and one hand on the wheel. He raised the other in his own defence. "No need to get cranky. I was just curious. I'm nervous. Marron's coming too."
They sat in silence for a few moments, before Bra replied. "Yes, I am. Every time I think about it, my stomach ties up in knots."
Trunks reached across, and squeezed one of Bra's hands. "It's gonna be just fine, Bra. We'll help each other out, okay?"
Bra smiled a little. "Okay."
* * * * * *
"Okaasan! We are leaving now!" Goten shouted from the front door. He couldn't believe his mother was taking so long to get ready. She was as bad as a teenage girl.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming." ChiChi emerged from her room, and quickly walked to the door. "How do I look?"
"Beautiful, okaasan," Goten replied, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Unnecessarily beautiful. We're only going to Capsule Corp. Anyone would think you were on your way to a date." Goten could have sword his mother blushed as his comment. "Well, now that you're ready, we'd better go; we still have to pick up Yamcha."
"Yes, Yamcha…" ChiChi almost whispered the words.
Goten was getting more confused. He decided to file his mother's strange behaviour under "Don't need to know…don't want to know". He simply started the car and sped off in the direction of Yamcha's apartment.
Yamcha was standing outside the complex waiting for them. ChiChi smiled broadly as they pulled up.
"Hey Yamcha," Goten greeted.
"Goten! Nice to see you," replied Yamcha. "You had me worried – I thought your mother had found another guy."
"Another…" Goten's mind finally worked out the equation. "You…guys are dating?"
"Yes…" ChiChi answered quietly. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Goten.
"Nah, it's okay. I haven't exactly been around much. I'm happy for you, kaasan. I'm glad you've found someone to look after you." He pointed at Yamcha. "And you'd better."
"Yeah, yeah," laughed Yamcha, climbing into the car. "I already got the 'Look after my okaasan, or else' talk from Gohan."
Goten joined in laughing, as he drove towards Capsule Corp.
* * * * * *
"Coming, coming, coming!" called Marron, as her doorbell went insane. She had only just finished doing her hair, and had a toothbrush in her mouth.
Fortunately, it was only Pan waiting at the door. She rolled her eyes at her friend. "Geez, aren't you ready yet? I told you I'd be here at 10, and it's 10.15!"
"I know, I know. I slept in this morning," Marron admitted. "I'll be ready in a sec, okay. Just sit down or something."
Pan smirked as Marron ran back in the direction of the bathroom. She made herself at home, plonking down on one of the couches. As she did, she knocked over a photo frame, which was sitting on the coffee table. She picked it up, eyes widening as she saw what it was of.
Six friends posing around a red sporty car. The car was Trunks'. He was sitting behind the wheel with Marron in the passenger seat next to him, his arm draped over her shoulder. Bra was lying on the bonnet of the car, with Goten leaning next to her. Uub and Pan herself were in the backseat, leaning between Marron and Trunks.
Pan remembered having that photo taken. That was just before we went to the coast. She was surprised that Marron still had the picture. She knew that Marron and Trunks were often very uncomfortable around each other.
I suppose that's better that Uub and I. I haven't spoken to him in like a year. With a sigh, Pan placed the photo back on the coffee table, and made a promise to patch up things between herself and Uub."Marron, I am leaving now! So you'd better hurry up, or you're walking to Capsule Corp.!"
* * * * * *
"Morning Trunks," Bra greeted, entering the dining room of Capsule Corp, with a plate of muffins in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other.
"Is that for me?" Trunks asked, eyeing the food.
Bra sighed. "You can have a couple."
"Aww, thanks sis. Love you!" Trunks kissed his sister's cheek.
"Ewww, Trunks germs!" she cried, giggling. She took a sip of coffee, then picked up the largest muffin – which Trunks had been eyeing off.
Trunks took the second largest muffin, and bit a huge chunk out of it. With his mouth full, he motioned at her outfit. "Is that what you're wearing today?"
Bra looked at herself. She was wearing a short denim skirt and red halt-neck top. "Yeah…so?"
"Just wondering who you were trying to impress."
"You, oniichan." Bra rolled her eyes. "You know I always dress like this."
"Point taken."
"Are you gonna get ready soon? People are arriving at 11, you know."
"Yeah, just let me finish breakfast!"
* * * * * *
Pan and Marron were the first to arrive. Trunks was still in his room getting ready, but Bra heard her mother babbling to her two friends.
"Hey there!" she called.
"Bra!" they cried out together. The three girls hugged.
"Oh, wow, I love what you've done with your hair!" said Marron.
"Okaasan doesn't, do you?" Bra stuck her tongue out at her mother, and Bulma mock-scowled.
"So what's college like, Bra-chan?" Pan asked, eagerly.
"Now you've done it. Be prepared for a very long story, girls," laughed Bulma, walking out of the room.
* * * * * *
Goten, ChiChi and Yamcha pulled up several minutes later. Yamcha pointed out Krillin and Juuhachigou's car, as well as Pan's. Next to the two cars was a motorcycle; the rider just climbing off.
"Uub!" Goten called, pulling up beside the bike. "Niiice bike. How'd you afford that?"
Uub laughed. "Hi, Goten, nice to see you too. Though you may find this strange, I have a job."
"Sweet." Goten stepped out of the car. Yamcha was helping ChiChi out, so Goten was free to talk to his friend. "So, how have you been?
"Not too bad. I didn't know you were back."
"Only got back a few days ago. I…uh…got sick of music."
"So your band bailed out on you?"
"Yeah, you could say that," Goten admitted. "Hey, are you and Pan still together?"
A shadow passed over Uub's face. "No…we're not."
"Oh, I'm sorry, dude. Didn't mean to upset you."
"It's cool, Goten." Uub smiled. "I'm pretty much okay now, but I did go through a bit of a bad stage. I'll tell you about it later – we really should go inside."
"Sure thing."
Uub and Goten followed ChiChi and Yamcha to the front door. Bulma greeted them, and let them in. The minute he was inside, Goten froze. He heard a voice. One that he was certainly not expecting to hear.
"And you would not believe how pathetic the guys there are! All they ever want to do is get drunk and laid!" Bra laughed, with Marron and Pan joining in.
From the corner of his eye, Goten noticed that Uub had gone pale. Obviously, he had not expected Pan to be there…at least, not yet.
To add to the terrible discomfort that was about to start, Trunks emerged from his room, and noticed the two men.
"Uub! Goten! How ya doin'?"
The conversation between the three girls instantly stopped. Sensing the mood, Bulma suggested to ChiChi and Yamcha that they join Vegeta, Krillin and Juuhachigou outside. The remaining six just stared at each other; Trunks halfway down the stairs, the girls still sitting on the couches, and Uub and Goten just inside.
Trunks was the first to move. He took a seat on another couch, trying desperately not to make eye contact with Marron. "Pan, M-Marron…I didn't realise you two had arrived!"
"They got here while you were taking forever to get ready," Bra replied.
"Oh…okay…um…Goten, Uub. Why don't you sit down?
Goten and Uub wandered over, and sat with Trunks, so that Goten was opposite Pan, Trunks was opposite Bra and Uub was opposite Marron.
There was another moment of unbearable silence. This time Marron broke it, but regretted it afterwards. "How's your band doing Goten?"
Bra stood up and fled from the room.
"Bra, come back!" Trunks called out, knowing it was useless. The doorbell rang, so he excused himself to answer it.
Uub was trying not to break down. To be able to see Pan, but not hold her in his arms was almost painful. Marron was looking at her feet, feeling stupid for asking the question that had upset Bra.
"Gohan, Videl…come on in!" Trunks' voice came from the front door.
Pan looked up with an extremely venomous look on her face. It became worse when her parents walked into the room.
"Pan?" Videl asked, quietly.
"Fuck you," Pan replied, following Bra's lead and storming out of the room. Videl started to run after her, but Gohan held her back by placing a hand on her shoulder. He shook his head, and Videl gave in. Trunks told them that Bulma, and the rest were outside, if they wanted to see them. Videl and Gohan walked outside.
"What happened there?" Goten asked.
"Pan had a fight with her parents. They thought she was a lesbian," Marron answered quietly.
"What made them think that?" Uub asked, momentarily stirring from his depressed state.
"She hasn't had a boyfriend since you two broke up, and all of her friends – aside from Bra and I – are guys."
"That doesn't make her a lesbian – just a tomboy," said Goten.
"Well, your brother didn't think of that."
"They didn't think that maybe…she was…still…in love with me…?" Uub stammered, almost in a whisper.
Marron shook her head. "Nope, but if you ask me, I think that might be the real reason. Pan and I have always been close, more so now since Bra moved away. If she was gay, I'd know."
Marron neglected to mention that she was almost positive that Pan still had deep feelings for Uub. She would blush every time they spoke about him, or would start listening more if his name was mentioned. Marron smiled at Uub. "Why don't you go find her? See if she's okay."
Uub paled, which seemed strange on his dark skin. "Uh…okay then…"
He wandered off in the direction that Pan had taken. That left the three eldest of the group. They had basically known each other since birth, but since Marron and Trunks had hooked up, and broken up, meetings between the three of them had become uncomfortable. Trunks looked at Marron, and felt the same yearning Uub had felt when he looked at Pan, and Goten had felt when he had seen the photo of Bra.
"Um…Goten," Trunks stammered. "Bra seemed pretty upset. Do you think there might be a couple of things you guys need to work out?"
"Well…I guess…" Goten had been caught off-guard by the question. "Maybe I should go talk to her, huh?"
Trunks nodded. "I think that'd be a good idea. Be careful, buddy."
Goten smiled a little, then went in search of Bra.
"That was good of you," Marron stated. "I don't think he would have had the courage to do that by himself."
Trunks shrugged. "That's what friends are for, right? Besides, you did basically the same thing for Uub. And he's ten times worse than Goten. I mean, he's extremely shy as well."
"Yes…" Marron looked at her feet. The uncomfortable silence that seemed to be taking the place of sound returned.
"So…."
"Yeah…"
* * * * * *
Leaving it there for now evil grin. Next chapter will show the meetings between the couples. Resolutions? You'll just have to wait and find out.
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