Night Shadows- Chapter 16
by Tanyaneko
Disclaimer: Don't sue me. I'll cry. Besides, I'm saying it right here- I don't own it! Oh, and I don't own the song I Will Always Love You either. That's by Whitney Houston. Great song…
A/N: Thank you, thank you, wonderful reviewers! You're the best! ^.^ Thanks to Baby, Riptide, mrchezzysnickers, dolphinskickbutt, ***, riceangel06, Animechick, Netty, pan-chan16k, Hanamaru825, amcm74, alannapurple, SSJ Son Kat, Jackie, dragon agility, PD, and Cka3ka. And thanks SO SO much to Cka3ka for betareading for me. This chapter would have had a bunch of mistakes without your help!
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Pan wiped away the last of her tears. Oh, she was sure she was going to start crying again soon, but she could at least try to be strong and pretend she wasn't about to for a while. She wanted to be strong- needed to be strong. She knew exactly what she had to do- knew that she loved him. And because she loved him, she was going to do it.
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So she opened up her window and jumped out. She hovered in the air for just a moment, trying to grab back onto her illusions, let herself be happy for just five seconds. She had absolutely no success and flew off in the direction of Capsule Corp.
She closed her eyes as she flew- it didn't matter, she could get there with her eyes closed, literally- hoping that maybe if she didn't see how close she was getting, maybe she could hold on to the fact that she hadn't given him up yet for just a tiny bit longer. But that just made her remember how hard she'd tried, and that started the tears flowing again. With characteristic determination, she flared her ki, forcing the little droplets coursing down her cheeks to evaporate into nearly nothingness. With nothing to wipe away, it was a bit easier to make herself stop crying again. Still hard, but easier.
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way
It was because Pan had her eyes closed that she nearly crashed into Trunks. If he hadn't called her name, she would have. She'd been too concentrated on willing herself not to cry that she hadn't noticed his approaching ki.
"Pan!" He exclaimed, and she thought she heard surprise in his voice.
She halted and opened her eyes to see him floating there. His lavender hair was wind-tangled and his shirt was crumpled- it was obvious to her that he'd been flying at top speed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him, wondering what he'd been flying so fast for that he'd messed up his usually perfect appearance.
"What are you doing here?" he questioned back.
"I needed to talk to you," they said simultaneously.
"It's important!" Again, in perfect unison.
"Oh."
It was Pan who'd spoken. She noticed Trunks was silent. It looked to her like he was contemplating something. She just stared at him for a moment with deeply sad eyes, taking in how handsome he looked, how charming he was, how Trunks. Maybe for the last time, she wasn't sure. She didn't know how she'd be after she told him, but she had a feeling it would be too painful for her to stay.
Then she took a deep breath and said it. "I'll go first. I have to say this now because I don't know if I'll be able to later if I wait.
"I love you. You know that, right? It's taken me a while, but now I understand you'll never love me like that." She saw him open his mouth, but she shook her head to keep him from speaking. She had to finish. She had to get this out. She had to.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You my darling mmm
"I realize now I'll never be anything more than a really close friend to you. I understand I've been a bother to you recently, ever since that night in my room. I know the kiss that happened didn't mean anything to you, that it was just a mistake. I was hoping too much, and deluded myself into thinking there was something to hope for."
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
She paused to take a few deep breaths- the look she was shooting him ensured Trunks would not interrupt her. The tears had started again sometime during her speech, and it was becoming hard for her to talk. But she had to talk, because she loved him. She loved him, so she had to let him go.
So goodbye, please don't cry
We both know I'm not what you, you need
"So I'm going to stop. I'm going to quit bothering you and trying to make you fall in love with me. I won't stand in your way anymore.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
"I… I heard about the engagement. I hope that you're happy with Marron, really I do. I promise I'll leave you two alone." Her voice started to break, but she continued on haltingly but determinedly. "I… I can't promise… to s-stop lov… loving you.
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have
All you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy
And happiness
But above all this, I wish you love
"I'll love you forever, Trunks," she finished in a whisper, and then turned to fly away.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
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"Oh," Trunks heard her say, and then he slipped into daydreaming about how happy they'd be after he admitted to loving her.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
He was getting ready to just say it when she started talking. When she said the bit about him never loving her, he tried to interrupt, tried to tell her that she was wrong, that-
But she shook her head at him, and he was forced to close his mouth and simply listen.
He noticed when she started crying, saw the tears sliding down her cheeks and the way she stubbornly ignored them and just kept going. Trunks wanted so badly to stop her talking, to take her in his arms and kiss away her tears and tell her that he loved her over and over again. But he knew Pan and knew her looks, and the one she was wearing now told him he was most definitely not allowed to interrupt.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
He could only float there, shocked, when she turned and fled away from him. He couldn't think, couldn't move- all he could do was stare.
When he finally snapped out of it, he turned in her direction and yelled, "No, Pan! I love you too!"
And I will always love you
I will always love you
But she was gone, and no one heard him, only the stars, the dark night sky, and the shadows they cast- night shadows.
But night shadows are only an illusion…He knew that now… he could see past them now… he understood now-
Except she was gone.
It was too late. She's gone.
I, I will always love you
You, darling I love you
I'll always, I'll always love you
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Boo-hoo, boo-hoo! Oh, the angst! The angst! Next chapter, will things finally be resolved? We shall see… Now remember, as always, tell me what you think! ^.^
~Tany