AN: Yevips! Two chapters in one day Yipee! Thanks for the reviews, keep em coming! Speaking of reviews…I really have to do something about that answering machine… -_- Well, anywho last chapter in my opinion wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, this one's much better. I hope. Well I'm off too microwave some hotdogs. Ja mata!
Cool Boogie!
-Mizuko
Batter up!
Chapter 5- Space Again
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Was it wrong to ever think for a second that they could ever get along? To give a brief run down of the last two days: insults and silent treatment. It was almost absurd how they couldn't stay in a room for five minutes without arguing over something or nothing.
Trunks smirked to himself, that did have its perks from time to time, he thought leaning back in the navigation chair. The angry look on her face was priceless. He had only suggested that she make him breakfast. Of course it had been done in the most polite manner. Heh, heh, heh.
"I'm not your maid or servant, you insufferable, pompous jerk!" She snarled at him from the pilots seat.
"Hmm I'll just have to add those to my list. It's nice to see you expanding your vocabulary, Kirei na onna. "
He quipped, smugly today was getting off to an... interesting start.
The only reason the had even put up with each other's presence for the past half an hour was to adjust the ship's course, as the flew by Jupiter and her moons, not wanting to get caught in it's gravity well. For the first ten minutes their had been nothing but silent. But alas, all good things must come to an end, one thing led to another and so for the last twenty minutes or so Pan and Trunk argued, while she piloted, and he made sure they didn't get off course.
"Get it in to in to your thick pea size brain, my name is Pan! Must I spell it out for you, or is it above your stunted mentality."
She answered sharply, her eyes never leaving the main screen as they went past a small moon, Jupiter loomed in the background like a sleeping giant.
"Ouch, be careful Panny you might actually hurt somebody with that tongue of yours." He threw back sitting up to modify their course compensating for the extra gravity from the near by moon.
"I hope you rot in hell," she replied tartly.
"Only after you my fair lady." he returned, "You can tell me how the weather is. " he add dryly, smirking at the angry spark in her eyes and the redness that tinted her cheeks. This was far more entertaining than when they ignored each other. Much more.
"Don't you have anything better to do than be a pain in my-
"Such language, didn't your mother ever teach you its- Before he could even finish the sentence the dark haired saiya-jin was out of her seat, throwing a punch at his jaws. His blue eyes widen as he caught her fist in his larger hand, even as they were flung out of his chair from her momentum. He blinked at the petite woman sitting on his chest. 'Man she fast! A second later an my jaw would be sore all over again.' Being the prince he was he smoothly covered his surprise, "Please, there's hardly a need to throw yourself at me, Utsukushii. I never knew you were such a bold one."
She ignored the remark, snatching her fist out his, as if it were on fire. Trunks knew he'd stumbled across a line he probably shouldn't have.
"Don't you ever speak of my mother again. Ever!" she warned menacingly. "Maybe that's why yours choose not to wake up, if I had a son like you perhaps I would want to wake up either." she spat vehemently. Blue eyes narrow, hardening frigidly. He grabbed her by her hips and stood up she was lift clear off the ground as he did so. Placing her feet none to gently back on the ground, he towered over her by a full head. Had they not been on a ship there would have been a fight, but here was not the time or place.
"You don't cross my line and I won't cross yours." he seethed coldly, let go of her. They glared at each other, his ice blue clashing with her dark fire, each daring the other to back down. The sudden contest of wills was interrupted by the computer signaling another ship in sensor range. They momentarily put their differences aside.
"That's strange no ships are on screen."
"On the other side of that moon, most sensors wouldn't even pick them up but this ship has...a few adjustments to it. Stop the ship."
Pan hiked an eyebrow she could imagine who made those adjustments and how Uncle Goten probably wasn't happy to find out about such changes to his precious ship.
"Bringing engines to full stop." To background hmm of the engines slowly died down and the ship fell into complete silence. "Are the friends or enemies?"
"Both."
"Both? How can they be both? Why are they hiding behind that moon?" She asked aloud.
"Watch, listen and learn." Trunks flipped a few switches and the main screen divided into two section on one side, a barrel faced man, with a ruddy completion, or perhaps the old man was merely angry about something. Pan recognized the Hitohi uniform, it was from one of the smaller colonies, a general. On the other side was very bored looking saiya-jin, in the standard issue blue uniform and armor.
"So what if those brats have suddenly gone missing. Let them stay that way. I hope you didn't make me come all the way out here just for that, Human."
" 'So what?'" the red-faced man mimicked, "I have a hard time believing it is a mere coincidence that the keys to our plan have just up and gone out of the blue; I think they may be on to us."
The Saiya-jin on the other ship laughed, "I knew you humans were weak, but I never figured you were paranoid Menneth." he stopped laughing, "The Royal house of Beijita-sei knows nothing, I made sure of it. The Queen was far to smart for her own good; she is no longer a problem. I made sure of it a long time ago." Pan thought she saw a look of surprise cross Trunks' face, but it was quickly replace by a hate-filled look in those cold blue eyes. "No problems unless something... Something is a miss on your end."
"Well seeing as we planned to kidnap Pan Son and the Princess of Beijita-sei and they both 'POOF' disappear. But on the bright side Planet Neg'Vah is up to their ears in problems and probably just figuring out that their beloved Sovereign is just puppet now. Reenye is in almost total control."
"Is that all?"
"No. One last thing T'kal, you're getting sloppy," The saiya-jin, T'kal, growled at the accusation, but Admiral Menneth continued, "Even the Hitohi army is noticing the pattern in which, 1st and Elite class soldiers are beginning to disappear. Find the prince before the King gets to him I'll take care of the Son child and the princess. Starblazer out." The Admiral's portion of the screen went blank.
"Stupid humans" T'kal snarled then cut his transmission off.
Pan sat back more than a little confused, who were these people and why did they want her? And King Vegeta's children?
'If we weren't already on bad terms, it might look like they were trying to start a war, but that's already happening, Hmm...'
She looked to her companion, for answers. He didn't looked like he cared one bit not even for his own planet. His was lucky he had a planet to call home. Trunks was preparing to leaving the moment the second ship cut the transmission.
"Pan we need to leave, now."
'Huh?'
He gave her an exasperated look, "The other ships are going to leave the other side of the moon; they find us if we stick around here and I for one, don't want to be found."
She nodded; "For once we agree on something," she commented focusing her attention on the ship's controls, "Bringing engines on l-
"This is the Captain of The Bloodmoon of The Saiya-jin Empire. Identify yourselves immediately." T'kal voice rang loudly over the com.
"Uh-Oh."
"Don't worry Panny I can handled this."
"Uh-Oh." He ignored her sarcasm.
Switching the voice com to audio only, "This is the Independence, what do you want?" 'Does this guy have no sense what so ever? These are war ships! They could blow us sky high in a second, What's this idiot doing?!'
"Just curious as to why such a small ship is so far out in space, alone. Just happen to be at the same place, at the same time..."
"A coincidence." Trunks answered curtly.
"Ah well than you wouldn't have over heard anything, would you?" T'kal asked the computer signaling he was powering up his weapons.
"That depends."
"Depends on what weakling? You are in no position to be making deals. There is one of you and two of us; you do the math or are you as stupid as you are weak."
"It depends on whether or not I wish waste energy to kill you." Trunks threatened in an emotionless voice. Obviously having no qualms with carrying out that particular threat. "Be careful who you call weak and stupid T'kal."
".... Show your face! You coward!"
"Don't say anything!" He told her quietly without giving her a chance to protest before he turn on the visual on the main screen. Pan swore T' kal's enraged face turn pale in three seconds flat before managing to regain his composure. His mouth hung open and his lips moved but nothing came out. Pan glanced at Trunks through the corner of her eye, his face emanated confidence and cool composure. 'He didn't look all that powerful to me. Just who are you Trunks?'
"The Royal house is not as ignorant as you believe them to be, my father shall hear of this treachery as well."
T'kal seemed to snap back to his senses. "You may know, but the King does not. And your father isn't hear to protect you either, hybrid."
He momentarily eyed Pan, "Although I must say you have your father's interesting choice in woman," T'kal smirked when she sneered at the comment, "you should have stayed at home, instead run off all by yourself. You're too much like your mother, too smart. Oh well no witnesses, hybrid. No witnesses."
Trunk cut the transmission, "Brace yourself," he said, giving her yet another split second warning before acting.
Pan's thoughts were wrench from her mind as the engines came on full speed; the sheer inertia was enough to make even her saiya-jin stomach to feel uncomfortable as they sped past The Bloodmoon.
*****************
He stared thoughtfully at Mars which was now a mere speck in the window if he looked out the opposite he would have been able to see Old earth. One more day and then he'd be able to get some breathing room in between him and the little she-demon a.k.a Pan. After that run in with the secret group of rebels who seemed intent on causing problems for everybody, she seemed particularly mad that he hadn't informed inform her of his impromptu plan.
Of course he didn't see the need to tell her anything. One thing led to another and they were at each other's throats again. For a moment he let his tail hang loose, swaying lazily with mild amusement. 'Spitfire, she is. Why do those troublemakers want her? All they could possibly get is a headache a perhaps a broken jaw as well.' He thought with a small 'humph'. Footsteps. Out of habit he wrapped his tail around his waist and out of sight. He heard her come in to the room but didn't turn around; silent blue eyes watched her reflection in the window. He felt her gaze on his back as she left as quickly as she came.
Trunks found his thoughts wandering to his dark hair companion. She was as much as they traded their insults he knew so little about her. Except, something about her was...intriguing. The spark in her eyes every time a challenged presented its self to her, the way her cheeks flush when got angry, and that quick tongue her. Yes her personality was fascinating. Looking back Trunks could not remember one single person who had the nerve to argue with the Heir Prince of Beijita-sei (baring his family and Goten).
He smirked the little bomb was quiet easy on the eyes as well. Her short dark hair made it impossible to ignore her smooth graceful neck. Pan's usual gary uniform hide her curves; the ones he'd felt the last time she tried to punch him. Just another bonus on her part, she was smart too; what women in their right mind would go traveling across space in something that would draw attention themselves. Yes, she was quite stunning. That was a fact he made no attempt to hide from himself or Pan, instead, calling her beautiful seemed to have adverse affects than most women. It was fun to get her a riled up just by calling her so.
Trunks looked at the faint blue dot far ahead, the red one gone now; it reminded him of why he was really here.
'I should be focusing on my mission,' he thought thinking of his mother a Beijita-sei, 'Just a few more days, mother, and you will be well again.'
What she wouldn't give for something to do right now. She whirled around in her seat in the cockpit, staring bored at the specks of stars and planets in the distance. There was nothing to do but look at the inky blackness of space, which was nothing new to her, having spent her entire life on a mobile space colony. At least they had something to do she could train, help out or socialize.
She couldn't train on the tiny transport; it was too small and might break since there wasn't a specialized room to train in.
There wasn't any thing to do, the stupid ship was on autopilot, there were no vid-cubes to watch, nobody to talk to; Trunks was defiantly not an option, tolerating his presence was enough. 'I wonder what that jerk is doing anyways' she thought curiously.
She hadn't heard so much as a peep for a while. He had gotten oddly quiet and colder than his usual annoying self.
'Why is he involved in this anyway? That saiya-jin T'kal seemed to recognize him. I don't get it one minute he doesn't seem to care an ounce about his planet but the next he's challenging some stranger, and sticking up for the royal house. Hmmm Uncle said his father was looking for him as well...' standing and stretching she tried to recall all the names of the sons of the most powerful families in the Hitohi empire, half of which her father had so kindly introduced her to.
The name Trunks didn't ring bell, that in its self made alarms go off, one had to be of extreme wealth or power to send search parties in to space after a single person. That was like trying to find a pebble in an asteroid belt. Pan walked quietly down the short hall connecting the cockpit to the main room. It would have helped if she knew his family name. Unfortunately in getting anything from him, Pan risked, irritation, ridicule or a cold shoulder.
He was still deep in thought looking out the window, but now he was sitting at the small table in the center of the room across from the widows was the kitchen and behind Trunks led into the quarters.
Looking out the window Pan could easily identify the growing blue orb the size of a ball as Old Earth. His arms were crossed and he had a meditative frown on his brow, slightly obscured by strands of lavender. He was still wearing his cloak but it wasn't closed in the front revealing the tell-tale blue suit and white armor of the Blues. No wonder he always wore that cloak, he was way past Hitohi borders and very long way from home. Pan sat down, not quite sure what to do now that she was there.
Trunks wasn't encouraging conversation at the moment a good and bad thing. 'Still he could at least say hi or something.' she groused. As if reading her mind, Trunks turn his thoughtful frown to her and gave her a 'What do you want?' looks. "Who were those men back there."
"Troublemakers." She frowned at his non-explanatory answer. It was better than ridicule. 'Better not press my luck.'
"Why were they after me? And the heirs of Beijita-sei for that matter."
"They're just troublemakers out to make some trouble."
'Only ten words out of his mouth and I already want to strangle him.' she thought irritated at his answers. She fingered the silver locket around her throat. 'Heaven forbid I ever get a straight answer.'
She abruptly switched the subject, thinking of why she had even come to be on her Uncle's ship with a complete moron in the first place.
Her uncle would pay later.
"What happened to your mother Trunks?" she asked softy looking at the table. Pan heard stiffen in his seat at the abrupt change in subject. He looked at her curiously, caution behind his ice blue eyes.
"...."
"That's okay I didn't expect an answer."
"She was smart, very smart; a genius in fact. It was during the year of truce. I was seven at the time and the Neg'Vah, the Reds and the Blues were all on the verge of peace. There was to be one last meeting before they signed a treaty... But something when wrong, someone poisoned some of the meals. Hers was one of them, I worked really slow for months on one could tell that each day was taking a toll on her and then...."
He paused looking down at his hands, "We put her in a stasis chamber. She has been there for over a decade now, every scientist on the planet trying to find a cure. No one could figure it out, until recently." He looked to the earth, an almost tender expression on his face. "My little sister's twentieth birthday is coming up soon; I don't want mother to miss another of her daughter's birthday." Pan was a little taken a back at sudden display of tenderness.
'I never knew he could be this caring. Well it's nice to know he isn't a total jerk.' Trunks snapped out of his trance, his eyes becoming hard again. "Now that I know who did this to her, after she is cured, he will feel the wrath of the Royal house of Beijita-sei."
"Oh. Your related to the royal family?" Trunks gave her this look, before out right laughing right at her.
"What's so funny?" She huffed indignantly
"Am I related?" He managed to say before bursting into laughter again. Pan stood to leave, unable to sit there and have him laugh his lavender head off at her.
"Panny, wait!" he called after her as she stormed out. Quickly walked after her gently grabbing her elbow and turned her around. Her dark eyed flashed menacingly, "Utsukushii..." he murmured. She looked defiantly into his azure eyes. She felt her heart start a bit, did he half to be so close? Not that she was intimidated or anything it was just that, she could make out every distinct feature on his handsome face and the developed muscles of the arm that held her close.
"I didn't mean to.....I mean...Your more like your uncle than I thought." he said the grin on his face had fallen to a lighter smile. For a moment she felt herself staring into those the glimmering frosty blue eyes. Then boxer boy had to ruin the moment. "Your both smart, but a little off sometimes."
"You never answered my question, before," she snapped, coming back to reality, knocking his warm hand from her arm. She backed away from him a little. He got that accursed smirk on his face again, "Like I said your a smart girl, you figure it out."
"You're insufferable."
He grinned devilishly.
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Earth, it was so beautiful from space, she had to wonder if it was just as beautiful on the surface as it was from way out here. She glanced at Trunks who was sitting at navigation as they prepared to enter Old Earth's atmosphere, his eye met her, he was giving her a strange puzzled look before it hard into the usual glare.
She returned to enjoying the view from the cockpit windows.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes it is." she answered not tearing her eye away from white-swirled blue orb that completely filled the view even the inky darkness of space.
"It's said to be the most beautiful planet from space, even I can think of one thing that can compare...." The lavender hair saiya-jin trailed off, "It's a shame really, the wars have ravenged it so."
Her curiosity overrode her better judgment to ignore him.
"Why, what happen."
"I hear it used to be very beautiful every where on Old Earth but now only a few places are left untouched by the battles that ruined it."
Then he ruined the whole thing by saying, "Every body knows that, onna no ko, didn't you?" He smirked at her sneer.
'He is so strange, one minute he is cold the next...arrgh.'
This man, this saiya-jin, this hybrid was something else....
She couldn't find the right words for it, but what ever it was he was it. Was there a word for someone like him, an egotistical, annoying rude, cold-hearted jerk that was also a loving caring son who wanted nothing more than end his mother's illness. 'So he has his good points and his bad points too, so why can't we just get along' she wondered. Sighing she sat down in the pilot's seat as the computer signaled entry in 2 minutes.
"Are you okay?" genuine concern etched in his face, "I mean Goten would have my head if anything happened to you."
"I'm just fine, don't worry about me."
"Who said I was worried about you?" he interjected with another smirk.
"I can take care of my self thank you."
"Feh."
****************
The 'down' part went smoothly enough; it was the 'touch' part that they had a slight problem with. Being the first time she had ever attempted to land dirt side, she had only vague concepts on night and day first hand. And how it may impact landing procedures.
In short, they crashed, not too far from their original coordinates. But the ship, it was totaled, trashed, and maimed beyond recognition. It was not enough to kill the two demi-saiya-jins but it for Trunks to be flung from the wreck smack dab into a near by tree knocking him unconscious with a nasty gash on his forehead going straight across it. While Pan was fortunate enough to land on a not so soft bed of grass and clay, she now had the arduous task of hauling Trunks away from the potentially dangerous wreck.
"Jeez, someone never skipped a meal. Trunks you big ox your so heavy" she continued to grumble as she slowly move him a tree within view of the ship but out of range just in case it decided to blow. She hadn't even gotten 50 yards from the stupid ship and her shoulders were aching.
"Isn't the prince suppose to carry the damsel in distress? Humph Well I was never one to play the helpless female." She kept up the continuous stream of talking to keep herself focused on her goal of that tree which seemed a lot farther away than it had first looked. 'Focus on the goal Pan, not his weight' Not the body which was leaning heavily on her. She flushed at the thought. 'Get to the tree. Focus on the tree.'
"Trunks you're a pain in the arse even when your asleep, you know that?"
A groan emitted from the semi conscious Trunks. "Your no damsel and your not in distress either... there for I don't feel obligate to perform my princely duties." He groaned in her ear. Pan dropped him without a second thought. They were next to the tree anyways.
"Hey!" he scowled at her, "Thank god you're not a nurse. The those bedside manners could kill."
"That's what you get you ungrateful jerk." She scolded, more concern about any head damage he might have received in the crash; she was lucky to get out with only minor cut and bruises. He tried to stand but his balance was so off he was failing miserably, she gently pushed him back to the ground.
Ignoring his indignant reply she held up a hand in front of him, "Ok, how many fingers?"
"Four and a thumb."
"So many do you see?"
He sighed admitting his defeat, "eight and a half." She rolled her eyes, typical male saiya-jin pride. She sat down next to him, back to the tree. "Let's rest here then head to the Ambassador's in the morning."
"Why?" he asked haughtily "I'm perfectly capable of getting there right now. I've had much worse then a scratch on my head and I'm not about to let some little bump-"
"Would you get over your self! I was saying we should wait till morning it would be rude to barged in at this time of night. Besides," she huffed, watching Trunks attempt to stand again, "I don't think for all your tough talking that you could walk in a straight line anyways." She commented sardonically at his inability to keep from swaying. He sat roughly back down. The peaceful sounds of earth at night filled the silence.
"Thank you Utsukushii"
"Quit calling me that." The dark haired woman said out of habit, but not as much anger.
"Sorry." He apologized. Through the darkness Pan looked at him shocked.
"Let me look at the forehead of yours. I think you might have hit your head harder than I thought." Using her ki she made a small fire. She carefully checked the gash; he only flinched slightly when she ran her finger underneath it, brushing a few strands of lavender away. "My heads fine" Trunks snapped batting her hands away. "I meant what I said." He said sternly but gently.
"Are you sure you're a Prince of the saiya-jin? I'd never thought I'd live to see the day when I'd hear a saiya-jin apologize, much less a saiya-jin prince."
"Ah so you finally figured it out."
"Nah I was guessing, Princy; you just confirm it."
"Like I said, smart."
She nodded from her seat next to him, she felt really comfortable sitting next to him, probably because he wasn't being insufferable at the moment. The Earth night was a bit cool and she could feel Trunks body heat radiating off of him.
"Is that your mother's hair?" She asked out of the blue after a few moments of comfortable silence. 'Huh? Oh!'
"Yeah, I guess that's kind of notice able on a saiya-jin." He chuckled
"It's purple for sun's sake!" She commented lightly fingering a strand. Trunks let himself revel in the feeling of her cool hand in his hair, "Lavender, actually."
"What is she like?"
"W..Why do you ask?" Trunks asked, no one asked him personal questions at home, or just about anywhere.
"Well she must be pretty special if you're willing to risk the king's wrath by sneaking away from home."
He smiled -yes smiled- at her.
"She was, is. She was a human from New Earth her family held a lot of power there. It was before, when the humans of New Earth were still neutral before the New Earth humans sided with the Saiya-jin Empire, My grandfather Vegeta was trying to persuade the humans to join our side and my father was appointed to head this little project, and that's how they met. The rest is history."
"Hmmm you said your mother was a genius, right? Would she be Bulma Briefs of New Earth Technologies?"
"Right again Utsukushii."
"I told you not to call me that." Pan snapped automatically, but there was little anger behind it.
"So you have."
"So where'd you get that thick head of yours, Trunks? Your father?"
"Is that were you got that stubbornness of yours?"
Watching her intently in the fire light as she addressed him so casually, as if she didn't care whether or not; to her he was a person, an ordinary person. At home a commoner would have been punished for addressing royalty so informally. 'But she's different and we're not home.' He had a feeling that ever if they were on Beijita-sei he would allow harm to befall her if he had anything to do with it. They talked for a while, their first civilized conversation.
He watched her in the firelight as her eyes slowly dropped and finally closed.
In her sleep Pan stirred and sighed, leaned on his shoulder, a few wisps of hair falling into her face. With the arm she wasn't leaning on Trunks reached over and hesitantly brushed the wayward strands back into their place. 'What do you think you're doing?!' His mind screamed at him, but his hand refused to comply as he gently caressed her soft face. For a second he felt her lean into his hand. "Hmm" Pan stirred again, Trunks stopped breathing as her dark eyes slowly opened... and closed in the same sleepy manner in which they had open. Trunks relaxed, 'Maybe she'll forget it or think of it as just a dream.' part of him hoped. In dreamland Pan smiled lightly and snuggled closer to the nearby source of warmth. The other part of Trunks hoped she would remember when the morning came. A small realization hit him slowly but strongly. He was starting like the little she-demon. 'No. No, I can't; she's...She's Goten's niece. She's one of the most influential people of the Hitohi Empire. She's...she's Utsukushii.'
He sighed defeated, he had a feeling things were gonna get real complicated real soon.
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Quotes of the day:
Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare.
-Unknown
From the reviewers:
"And what is as important as knowledge?" asked the mind. "Caring and seeing with the heart," answered the soul.
Thank you for another great quote Starlight! ^_~!
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Hi this is Mizuko's answering machine again. She's gone and left me for a sleazy microwave she met at Krazy Eddy's. Life sucks. Just leave your review after the beep. God, here comes that beep again.