Author's Note: Konnichiwa again, minna! Here's the fifth chapter, as promised. Major "THANKS!" to everyone who reviewed. I almost gave in at 8 and 9, but, thankfully, I held out until I got that tenth one. ::dodges random thrown objects:: Hey, I SAID I'd update when I got 10 reviews, didn't I? Well, anyway, be sure to review at the end! Enjoy! ^^

Disclaimer: *sigh* Do I really have to say it?

Broken

by Supaa Saiyajin Trinity

Chapter 5

Juunana was modeling in front of the full-length mirror when Pan suddenly burst into the room, yelling incoherently.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! What's up?" he asked.

Taking a breath, Pan opened her mouth to repeat her sentence, when a shout was heard from downstairs. "Pan! Are you all right?"

She swallowed. "I'm fine, Tou-san! I justtripped!"

"Are you hurt? Do you need me to come up there?"

"--NO!" A pause. "I mean, no, I'm fine!"

"All right, then."

She breathed a sigh of relief and closed her bedroom door. She leaned against it and swallowed. "Juu-kun," she began quietly, "We've got a problem. Bulma-san just called and she wants me to come shopping with her."

He frowned. "And?"

"And, I have to find a place to stash you. And it can't be here."

He rolled his eyes. "Great." Flopping on the bed, he commented, "Why didn't you just say no?"

"Juu-kun," she whined. "It's Bulma-san! She doesn't TAKE 'no' for an answer."

He groaned. "Wonderful. And why can't I stay here?"

She gave him a look. "Gee, let me thinkmy father, you dimwit!"

He got to his feet. "Don't call me a dimwit!"

"I'll call you whatever the hell I want!" Pan responded hotly. "What're you gonna do about it, huh?"

"Hey" he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look in his eyes. "Don't tempt me."

She glared back at him. "You men are all the same."

"You should be so lucky."

The two stood this way for a few minutes, gazing at one another in anger. But eventually the anger began to fade from their minds and their expressions softened.

"Sorry," Pan muttered, blushing.

"Don't worry about it," he smiled. "We're both a little stressed out right now."

"Yeah..." She moved her head slightly, releasing his grip on her chin. "Listen, why don't I just stash you in the forest again? I mean, just for a while."

He sighed. "I guess that'll have to do."

She grabbed a jacket. "We're going to have to hurry. Bulma-san could be here any minute. Here, put this on."

He did so, slipping the hood on over his head. "Are you sure this is a good idea? If anyone sees us"

She pointed to the window. "You go out that way. I have to go downstairs to let Tou-san know I'm going out." She sighed. "I'll have to make up a lie or something. Maybe she won't get here before too long."

He nodded. "All right."

She opened the door and thudded down the stairs. "Tou-san, I'm going to Bulma-san's!"

Gohan, who was presently sitting in a large armchair and reading the newspaper, looked up. "Oh? How come?"

Pan went to stand in front of her father. "She called, remember? She wants me to go shopping with her."

"Oh." He went back to reading. "Okay. Don't be out too late."

"I won't!" She opened the front door. "Bye!"

"Bye."

She slammed it shut and sighed. "Well, that was easy." Going around the other side of the house, she saw Juunana hovering just below her window. "I'd better go with you in case you're spotted." She took to the air as well and grabbed his hand. "Come on."

The two of them flew as quickly as they could back to the spot where they had first met only hours ago. It seemed so much longer to Pan, after all that had happened that day. They landed quietly.

"Well, this is it." Pan commented.

"Yep."

"Um, I won't be too long, I think. Just a few hours. Think you can manage on your own?"

"Well," he grinned. "I've managed for this long, right?"

"Heh, right." Looking down, she suddenly noticed that their hands were still connected. She let go. "Sorry."

"No--" He reached for her hand again. "I didn't mind."

She raised her head to look at him. "Juu-kun?"

He lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to hers. Pan's eyes drifted closed as she surrendered herself to him.

It was over all too soon. He pulled back and smiled. "Be back soon?"

Still flushed, Pan nodded. Still holding his hand she began to rise into the air. Slowly, they parted. "Bye" she whispered." Then she turned around and headed home.

***

Unfortunately for her, the sight that greeted her when she returned wasn't pleasing. One of Bulma's capsule cars was parked in front of her house. "Uh-oh"

She walked up to the front door and opened it. "Tou-san?" she called.

"Pan? Come into the living room for a minute, please."

She swallowed and made her way to the living room, thinking, 'Maybe it was a bad idea to go with him'

When she entered the room, she took note of the fact that her father was still in his chair, and Bulma was sitting on the couch next to him. They both had unidentifiable expressions on their faces.

"So..." Gohan began, studying his daughter. "Where were you?"

"I--I--" she stuttered, searching for an answer. "I went over to Capsule Corp, like I said I was going to."

"Oh?" He leaned forward. "Bulma tells me that she told you she was coming here to pick you up."

"Um, really? Gosh, I must have missed that part. My mistake." She smiled. "Well, anyway, Bulma-san, let's go, hmm?"

"Pan," Bulma said gently, "I called Capsule Corp. They said you never came there looking for me."

"Well, maybe you called before I got there."

"Perhaps," Bulma agreed. "But that was more than a half-hour ago. I told them to call me back if you ever showed up."

"Come on, guys," Pan laughed. "What's the big deal, anyway?"

"They haven't called."

"Oh, I'm sure they just forgot." Thinking fast, she picked up on the phone on the coffee table. "Look, I'll call then for you."

"Uh, Pan..."

"No, no, you'll see." She dialed the number, praying her plan would work. 'Please, please, please'

"Capsule Corporation. This is Akane, Miss Briefs' secretary speaking. How may I help you?"

Pan turned away and spoke in a low voice so the others couldn't hear. "Listen, Akane, this is Son Pan. There's fifty bucks in it for you in you vouch for my whereabouts."

"Um, Ma'am, is this an unsolicited advertisement?"

Pan sighed quietly. "No, it's Son Pan, you know me. Listen, just do what I say. Fifty bucks."

"I can't lie to my boss! If she finds out, I'll be fired!"

"Fine. One hundred dollars."

"Miss Son"

"Please. I promise she won't find out."

A sigh. "Oh, all right."

Pan turned back so that Gohan and Bulma could hear her. "Yes, hi, this is Son Pan. I have Bulma Briefs on the line" She handed the phone to Bulma.

"Yes, hello. I'm calling because I need to know if Pan was there in the past half-hour.She was? And I wasn't informed? I left you instructions.Oh, I see. All right, then. Take care." She hung it up and turned to Gohan. "She's telling the truth. Akane just went to take a bathroom break and took longer that she thought she would."

"Oh." Gohan nodded. "All right, then." She ruffled Pan's hair with one hand. "Sorry for doubting you, kiddo."

Inside, Pan cringed. She hated it when her father was over-protective and treated her like a kid.

"Well, anyway," Gohan coughed. "I guess you two have shopping to do, right?"

"Right." Bulma grabbed her handbag. "Let's go. See you later, Gohan."

He picked up his paper and gave a light wave. "Bye. Don't keep her out too late."

Pan groaned. Note to self,' she thought, have a talk with Otou-san later.'

******

Hmm... Things are heating up, huh? Hehe. Reviews, please, I'll update ASAP! Bai-bai for now! ^^