Chapter 2: Animals and Baskets

Rose walked into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes as she went. Videl was fixing breakfast while Gohan was drinking a cup of coffee. Videl turned from the eggs and smiled at Rose.

"Morning Rose. Would you like some eggs?" offered Videl.

"No thank you. I don't eat breakfast. Thank you for asking," she said. Videl smiled and nodded. Rose sat down at the table and stared off into space. Pan walked in, yawning loudly. Rose looked at Pan and kept quiet. Pan sat at the table and Videl sat a plate of food in front of her. Pan began to eat while Videl looked at the clock.

"Those two better get up; we have to leave for the zoo in a couple hours," said Videl. Rose looked at Videl with a questioning look on her face.

"Can Rose come too?" piped Pan.

"If she wants," said Videl.

About thirty minutes later, Gohan groaned.

"Those sleepy heads... FOOD!" shouted Gohan. There was a soft rumble was heard and one figure emerged, running as fast as he could. Goten sat himself down and began to gobble up his food.

"Goten, where is Trunks?" asked Gohan. Goten looked up.

"Still sleeping,"he mumbled between bites. Gohan shook his head and walked to the guest room.

"Hurry up. We have to go in an hour," said Videl, going to her room. Rose got up and walked to Pan's room. She dragged out her duffel bag full of clothes and changed for that afternoon.

Rose looked at the big gates to the Zoo. She looked over at Pan who just smiled. As they paid to go in, the lady handed them their receipt. Videl and Gohan looked around.

"Now, you guys stay..." she began and turned around. The four were gone. "...together," she finished. Gohan looked at Videl and shrugged.

The four walked around yet the group slowly broke apart. First Pan found a group of her friends and ran off with them. Next Goten noticed a group of girls. He smiled as they looked over at them. A blonde winked at him and giggled. Her brunette friend blew a bubble and it popped. She winked at Trunks who just ignored her. The blonde motioned for Goten to come over to the group and he smiled. He turned to Rose and Trunks and ran over to the group of girls. He linked arms with the brunette and blonde and the other girls surround him while they walked off. Rose giggled.

What a girl magnet, she thought. Trunks shook his head and began to walk away. Rose noticed this and ran after him.

Trunks sat on a bench and spread his arms along the backside of the bench. He closed his eyes and put his head back. Next thing he knew a body was next to him. He looked over at a smiling Rose. Trunks groaned.

"What do you want?" he asked plainly.

"Let's go see the tigers," she asked, smiling.

"I don't want to," protested Trunks. Rose began to beg for him to but he kept saying no. Rose pouted and looked at Trunks. She noticed something and smiled. Trunks noticed Rose smiling at him. His expression turned to confusion. Rose's hands stretched out and grabbed the blue bandanna around his neck. He yelped as Rose ran off, the bandanna clung to her chest. Trunks shouted at her and began to chase after the girl.

Rose ran to the monkey house and hid behind the doors. Trunks ran in and looked around. He heard a giggle and spun around. He watched as a braid disappeared. He sighed and ran after her. Trunks ran as fast as he could trying to catch up with her. He noticed how she was light on her feet, much lighter than any full-blooded human he had ever known. He shook that out of his head and kept in hot pursuit.

Rose ran to the penguin exhibit. She hopped up onto the railing that was around the exhibit. Trunks skidded to a stop and looked at her. He just stared. The railing wasn't even an inch thick and she was standing on it like it was a foot thick. He ran at her and dived but she did a roundoff to her side on the railing and Trunks went flying into the pen. Rose stood back up straight on the railing and gave Trunks a peace sign then jumped off the railing and ran off.

Trunks just watched as she ran off. It still boggled his mind how she could be so agile and keep her balance so well and be a human. A penguin waddled up to Trunks and began to bite him. Trunks grumbled and got up. He flew over the bar and landed on the ground. He dusted himself off, even if he was more wet than dirty. He stretched and began to run. He stopped. Why run when he could fly? He looked around. Well, there were people. He shrugged. Who cares? He lifted off the ground and flew after Rose.

The zoo was big and took him about an hour to find Rose. She had been hiding near the front and had the bandanna around her neck. She was looking away from him and he flew down. He appeared in front of her and smiled. Before Rose knew it, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her up into the air. Her small figure wiggled in Trunks's arms.

"What are you doin'?!" exclaimed Rose, beating on Trunks's chest. She soon stopped. Trunks had moved his head down to her neck. His breath was hot on her skin as he breathed. His cheek rubbed against hers, giving her a chill down her spine. He tugged on the bandanna with his teeth and tugged it off. He smiled as he held the bandanna between his teeth. He took one arm away from around Rose and held her with one. She was going to tell him not to drop her until Trunks noticed the tree in front of them. Rose gasped as she felt his arm wrap around right below her butt and squeezed her thigh as he brought her closer. He turned around fast so his body was the one to hit the tree. Rose was surprised, but was still stunned that his grip on her thigh was tighter. He looked at her.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Rose. Trunks lifted out of the tree and floated to the ground. Trunks let go of Rose but while he did this his hand moved up and squeezed her butt on accident that sent a blush to her face. She slapped him across the face. Trunks rubbed his face as the others showed up. Goten had a lot of stuffed animals that he had received from the girls and Pan's face was painted on.

"Ready to go?" asked Gohan. They all nodded and left the zoo. Rose still had somewhat of a shock still but didn't mind. Trunks, on the other hand, wished he still had her in his arms. Yet, he didn't know why.

That night Rose sat on Pan's bed, brushing her long dark hair out. She had it over her shoulder while she brushed it, looking off into space. She hummed as she thought about earlier. She liked the actions Trunks did, or did she? She was confused by his actions, and every one's actions. She had never known a family who could fly or eat so much. She was confused on her emotions. She never was until–

"Rose?" asked Pan. Rose looked up, dropping the blue brush in her hand. Pan had been trying to get Rose's attention for about two minutes and finally broke through to her.

"Yes?" asked Rose.

"Do you have something on your mind?" chirped Pan, jumping onto the bed and sat. Rose looked at her hair then at Pan. She knew that Pan wouldn't stop until she knew what was bugging her. She tossed her hair behind her and looked at Pan.

"Trunks," was all she said. Pan grinned.

"You like Trunks?! OO!" she exclaimed. Rose put her hands up.

"I don't know if I like Trunks or not. That's why I'm confused..." she said. Pan nodded her head as if she understood, yet she didn't. How could you not know if you liked someone or not? That was just confusing to her.

Rose looked out the window and sighed. She didn't like him; she didn't like him. Or did she? Rose let out a grunt of frustration and fell back, but accidentally fell off the bed. A thud was heard and Pan began to laugh.

"Reow... That ain't funny!"

Pan laughed. "Is too!" she exclaimed. Rose grabbed a pillow and the two had a pillow fight, the thought of Trunks flew out of Rose's head.

"SPEED!" shouted Goten.

"Damn it damn it!" exclaimed Trunks, throwing down his cards. He had so many cards, it wasn't even funny.

"You usually don't have that many cards in your hand. What's up?" asked Goten, finishing his little victory dance. Trunks was being distracted during the game, but he dare not say. Goten gave a pouty face and looked at Trunks. Trunks sighed.

"I like this girl... I think. Yet I don't know if she likes me back," he blurted out. Goten smiled.

"Well, you have come to the right place. Love Doctor Goten, here at your service," he said, sitting straight up. Trunks laughed. Goten was a chicks magnet. That was his nickname yet now it was Love Doctor Goten.

What's next? Pimpin' Goten?

"Well, Doctor how can you solve my problem?" asked Trunks, pretending he knew nothing.

"Well, first you've gotta talk to 'er," said Goten, a fake accent was thrown in to make it sound funny. Trunks tried not to laugh.

"Oh doctor, I'm too scared," said Trunks, his smile getting bigger, trying not to laugh.

"Then take this, and call me tomorrow mornin'. It should perk you right up!" exclaimed Goten, dumping M&Ms into Trunks's hands. He cracked up laughing, throwing the M&Ms behind him. Goten began to laugh as well, his impression of a doctor sure was funny. Trunks took some M&M's and threw it at Goten, and they began to get into a candy throwing fight.

Gohan laid down a checkered blanket and Videl sat down two picnic baskets. They were at the park for their picnic and afterwards were invited to a party at Capsule Corp. Trunks sat down another two baskets. Videl had to make a lot of food since we all know saiya-jins eat a lot. Videl sat down and took out a juice box. She looked up at the kids and tossed them a Frisbee she had brought. Pan snatched it out of Videl's hand and ran off with Goten, Rose, and Trunks running after her. Videl laughed and looked at Gohan who had a grin on his face.

Pan threw the Frisbee over to Trunks who threw it to Rose. Rose caught it and threw it to Goten. Goten caught it and threw it towards Trunks. Trunks ducked while the Frisbee almost cut his head off. It cut through the trees and up into the air and disappeared. They all looked up and then at Goten. He looked at them and laughed.

"That went far. Okay Trunks, it's your turn. FETCH!" he exclaimed and began to walk backwards then turned and ran.

"I AIN'T GOING AFTER IT!" shouted Trunks and ran after Goten with Rose and Pan right behind him.

They all began to eat their sandwiches on the big checkered blanket. Trunks and Goten had finished five sandwiches each while everyone was on their first. Rose sipped her juice and she ate a piece of her sandwich. Videl popped a grape into her mouth. It was very quiet and the only sounds were Trunks and Goten who were chowing down. Rose sat her drink down and put the sandwich wrapper in the basket. Pan looked at Rose.

"Can I brush your hair?" she asked. Rose nodded and Pan scooted behind her. She undid Rose's braid and began to brush it out. Rose closed her eyes, a little purr came from her throat. Pan ran her hand down Rose's head, followed by her brush. The purr began to get louder. A pair of cat ears began to appear where Rose's ears were at. A brown tail began to show as well. As Rose relaxed some more, she purred.

A sound of bullets was heard and snapped Rose back to life, the ears and tail disappearing. Videl had a hold of Gohan's arm while Goten and Trunks stopped eating. They looked at each other. Two white hover motorcycles flew towards them, shooting their guns.

"Hand over that girl" they shouted. Rose looked up. How could they have found her? Wasn't her cloak good enough... Damnit! She let her cloak down just for a moment of weakness and they found her. Damnit damnit! She shot up and began to run towards the woods.

"Rose!" shouted Trunks, running after her. The two hover cycles zoomed past the rest of the group and went after Trunks and Rose.

"Whoa..." said Pan.

A blur of green passed as Rose ran through the woods. She began to breath heavily as she ran. She stumbled at times, but not too much. She could hear gun fire behind her and two people calling her name. She wouldn't let them take her back to Dante, never. He had already made her suffer; she just wanted to be free. As she ran, someone grabbed her and pulled her behind a tree. She whirled around and her nose brushed the nose of the person. She looked into the eyes of her savior.

"Shh..."said Trunks, pulling away. She wished he hadn't moved, but she didn't like him... right? As the two cycles passed, Trunks ran out and shot two ki balls which made the two cycles blow up. The two burning balls dropped to the ground, burning to ashes. Rose just looked at the two burning heaps and gasped. He did that? Unbelievable. Trunks grabbed Rose's hand and began to walk back to the others. Rose couldn't explain it, but Trunks seemed to be mad, angry. Was it something she did?