Chapter 12
That afternoon, Pan was getting ready to leave Capsule Corp. She and Bra had gone shopping earlier, and had lunch, and now they were almost talked out…almost.
"Hey, do you think we could go on another double date again?" Pan asked, as she shoved her clothes in her bag.
"Great idea! But we'd have to fool our parents though." Bra felt that they'd have no problem with her parents, Trunks could just be taking me out to dinner, a treat for me 'helping him' with 'work'.
"Yeah, me and Goten often go out for dinner, so that's no problem."
"Then, we meet up, and we swap partners!" Bra was getting excited.
"So, when do we organise it for?"
"Hmm, let's look at Trunks' calendar. He's the busiest of all of us, being the vice-prescription of Capsule Corp. and all." They ventured into Trunks' room.
"If he finds us, he's gonna kill us!" Pan whispered to Bra.
"No, He's gonna kill me, then take you to his lair, and ravish you." Bra laughed softly as they made their way to his calendar on his desk.
"BRA-CHAN! You bitch!" Pan whispered loudly.
"Get over it…or is it under him?"
"BRA-CHAN! I'm gonna KILL you if you don't SHUT UP!" Pan was getting angry, and her ki was rising rapidly
"Pan-chan! Keep your ki down!" Bra whispered. "Ah, here we are…Nope…nope…nope, dende your boyfriend is busy…he was busy last night too, eh?"
"BRA!!!!" Pan was getting more pissed off the more Bra said. "Get on with it!" Pan said though her gritted teeth. One more comment and Bra would get it.
"Nope, oh my dende! The Capsule Corp. birthday bash!" Bra gasped in surprise. "I can't believe I forgot!"
"Isn't that the biggest social event on society's calendar?" Pan asked.
"YES! And it's the perfect excuse to buy another formal dress!"
"Bra-chan! Lower your ki!" Bra controlled herself.
"This party could be our date!"
"But won't people see us?" Pan asked, eyeing Bra with suspicion.
"That's the fun. We have to try and avoid being seen. Be careful!" Bra smiled and walked out of the room.
"But that's what me and Trunks have been doing for the last 5 or 6 months!!!" Pan cried as they walked back to Bra's room.
"You weren't careful last night though, were you!"
"That's it!!!" Pan thought as she quickly charged up a small ki blast on the second and third fingers of each hand. In a second they were ready. Pan got behind Bra and jabbed her in the ribs.
"EOUCH!!!! SHIT!!! PAN-CHAN!!!" Bra collapsed on the bed, and held her sides. After a few moments she sat up. Vegeta's smirk appeared on her face as she slowly looked up at Pan.
"I deserved that, didn't I?" Bra looked at her straight in the eye. "But that was pretty good. Took me by surprise, it did, pretty fast." Pan was still staring at her. "Umm, I'm sorry." Bra hung her head.
"Bra…"
"Hey, the only reason I'm making fun of you is because he's my brother, you're my best friend…and you guys were at it all night!" Bra cowered on the bed and closed her eyes.
"BRA BRIEFS! I OUGHT TO TAN YOUR HIDE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THESE THINGS!!!" Pan was on the verge of blasting the crap out of her.
"Pan-chan…I'm sorry…really…it's just…that…that…." Bra stuttered.
"THAT WHAT!!!"
"I'd never thought you'd find a guy to love with all your heart before me, you just don't seem like the type to. And remember the deal me made when we were about 12 years old?" Bra's tone had changed and she truly seemed serious.
"Yeah…"
"How that we wouldn't be like the sluts in our school who slept with anybody and everybody, the first time had to be with someone you loved deeply, with everything you had. It's our saiyan tradition, basically. You've found that someone, and I guess there's a bit of jealousy on my part…I guess…" Tears started to well in Bra's eyes.
It was at that moment that Pan realised that she'd found her someone- her mate.
* * * * *
Back at her house, Pan thought and thought about what Bra had said.
Where did she get all that sentimental stuff from? She thought while unpacking her bag. I'll go talk to dad. She walked out of her room and threw out her senses, searching for Gohan's ki. He was in his study, probably reading or working out something for tomorrow's class.
"Hey dad…" Gohan froze. By the tone of her voice, and instincts, he could tell something was bothering her.
"Pan! What brings you here?" Gohan asked, removing his glasses, getting ready for a long talk.
"Umm…just out of curiosity…how did you know that mum was the one for you…?" Pan shyed away slightly and sat down on the armchair in the corner. Gohan was shocked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Cause I just want to know…and I can't ask mum…"
"Why not?"
"Cause mum isn't a saiyan!"
"Oh, the saiyan mate thing…" Gohan realised. Pan liked someone, and her saiyan feeling had kicked in. He remembered when he felt that strange sensation soon after he met Videl…and now his little (well, really, not so little, she was 18…) girl felt the same way about someone. Why else would she ask me about that kind of stuff??? he thought.
"Dad…?" Gohan cleared his throat and started to speak.
"Pan, do you like someone?"
"Ummm…no…" She whispered, smiling to herself, or so she thought.
"You're smiling. Who is he?"
"No one! I'm just curious…" Pan lowered her eyes.
"Come on Pan! You can tell me!"
"Just tell me how you felt!" Pan cried in frustration. "I don't wanna talk about me!" Gohan was taken aback.
"Ok then…when I met your mum, things changed…for me anyway…I felt so safe when I was around her…and I couldn't stop thinking about her, I just wanted her to be mine. I still think about her all the time, but now I know that she is mine, and I'm happy with that…. After a while you start to know their every move, every thought, and you can't bear to be without them, and you don't want to leave when you are with them. You know that they'll be with you forever, if they love you back." Gohan paused for a moment. "There's much more, but I can't explain it…" Pan sat there, stunned.
"Ummm, that's ok…thanks…well…cya around!" Pan quickly flew out of the room before Gohan could ask her any more questions.
"Ok? I wonder…" Gohan said to himself as he went back to his work.
* * * * *
"I can't tell him, can I?" Pan said aloud to herself as she flew to the rock pools. She hoped Trunks would be there, she needed someone to talk to. When she got there, Trunks was nowhere in sight (not that she expected him to be). She walked over to the rock where she had first written her feelings for Trunks in chalk that day almost 6 months ago- now they had been carved into the rock by both of them. Pan sat down and started to cry.
"Why is life so damn confusing!!!" She yelled to the sky, and buried her head in her hands.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, back at Capsule Corp., Trunks was at his desk thinking, as always, about Pan, and last night. All day since they'd parted he'd had this strange feeling. He didn't know what it was, but it was kind of a feeling of…he couldn't explain it. He wanted to be near Pan, and never let go…
Why do I feel this way? He thought. All of a sudden, the feeling intensified, and he now felt like something was wrong. Without knowing what he was doing, he stood up and went over to the window. He tried searching for Pan's ki at her place, and it wasn't there. He tried his place.
No, only Bra and Vegeta's ki is there…where the hell is she…she's probably at the rock pools… He thought absentmindedly, not knowing why he thought that last thought.
"HEY!! That's where she is! The rock pool!" he said out aloud. He opened the window and flew quickly towards the rock pool. As he came closer, he could feel her there, sitting on their rock. He stopped mid-air and looked down at her. She had her head in her hands, and she appeared to be crying. Now he knew why he felt so bad. In a second, he was sitting on the rock next to her. He put his arms around her and drew her towards him. Pan didn't try to get away, instead she buried her head into his chest.
"Why is life so confusing, Trunks?"
So she did know it was me. Maybe she just knew. Like I knew that she was here. Trunks thought.
"What do you mean?" Pan asked, looking up at him though tear-stained eyes.
"What?? How the??…" Trunks spluttered.
"What did you mean by what you said about you knowing where I was?"
"I didn't say anything."
"I'm sure you did."
"I thought it though…Did you read my mind?" Trunks' eyes lit up, and Pan thought for a moment.
I don't know… she thought.
"You don't know?" Trunks said, and Pan covered her mouth.
"You read my mind too?" she gasped, slightly giggling.
He really is my mate. Pan thought.
You're right, you are. Trunks thought. He leant forward and lifted her hand off her mouth and, holding her chin up, kissed her gently.
"Come on, let's go home." Trunks stood up and took Pan by the hand. He was about to take off when she pulled him back.
"We can still keep this a secret, right? I mean, I'm still having fun." Pan smiled.
Sure, it'll be good. Trunks thought.
Hey, we can talk like this and no one will know. Pan thought.
Great idea, come on. We'd better go.
Ok. Pan levitated to where Trunks was, then they flew off towards Capsule Corp. When they got closer, Pan stopped.
I'd better go.
Ok then. Trunks grabbed both of Pan's hands and they levitated together. They kissed in mid-air, then parted and Pan started to fly off. I love you. Trunks thought. Pan flew back to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, and they started to kiss again.
I love you too.
Guess what! We can now talk while we are making out! Trunks smiled.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Bye Trunks. 'Talk' to you later…anytime. Pan then flew off. Trunks stayed there for a moment, then flew down to Capsule Corp. below.
* * * * *
Bra was inside Capsule Corp., looking out her bedroom window. She had seen Pan and Trunks kiss goodbye, then Pan start to fly off, then stop, then rush back and then…they started to kiss passionately. She heard the door slam downstairs. Bra ran down the stairs. Trunks didn't see or hear her, he seemed to be preoccupied by something.
"Have fun?" Bra yelled to Trunks. He spun around in surprise.
"Bra…I…I…"
"You were making out with Pan in the middle of the sky!"
"Ummm, yeah…" Trunks started blushing.
"Something happened this afternoon, didn't it?" Bra paused. "Other than what happened last night…"
"BRA!! YOU BRAT!!"
"You guys have to be more careful. But enough about that. The big Capsule Corp. party is on in 2 days. What are we gonna do about it?"
"You and Pan could do what you always do, go shopping and get new clothes, then spend the rest of the day fixing each other up." Trunks smiled. I hope she looks beautiful, as always… Trunks went off into a little dream world.
"SNAP OUTTA IT!"
"Oh, sorry…"
"Trunks!!…" Bra whined.
"Ok, ok, ok!" Trunks sighed. He couldn't stop thinking about Pan…
"You're doing it again!"
"OK SORRY! About the party. As no one else knows about our ummm…current situation, I suggest we keep it that way." Trunks looked over at Bra, who was smirking.
"You two just have to be careful not to be caught making out again."
"Shut up you bitch,"
"He he!"