AN: Yevips!!! I wasn't expecting that much of a response! Lots of Yevips and Thanks you's!! Actually not being able to update has given me some time to fix the story a bit and make some (many) corrections as well as some new (better) ideas. *Squeals!!* Well I can't keep you people waiting! And remember, the more reviews the more inspired I get to write faster! (hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge) ^_~!
Cool Boogie!
-Mizuko
Luz! Cámera! Acción!
Chapter 7- A Little Confession to Make
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Back on Old Earth, Trunks' thoughts were anything but 'honorable' but he didn't let Pan know that. Oh no, he settled on making her see red, even as they decided (argued) on how to go about getting to the Ambassador's house. After getting their bearings straight they realized that they hadn't landed too far off the were in the right area....er well, at least in the right mountain range or so he hoped. Pan sounded confident for some reason that the man they were looking for was close by. Pan thought it best to walk, and he wanted to fly. So like two stubborn bulls they butted head and refused to back down, result: they got nowhere.
"You're impossible!" Pan yelled at him, ready to pull hair at this point. He smirked knowing it would make her even more furious. He liked pushing her buttons; it amused him to no end to see her lose her cool. Not to mention, she was beautiful when she got angry.
"No, I'm right! Will cover more ground if we fly."
"Yes, but we may miss the house completely or have you forgotten that we happen to be standing in the middle of a very dense forest?" She retorted storming in a direction, he followed her still arguing his case. Trunks, if he had been thinking clearly, might have noticed the sneaky tactic but was too caught up to notice, beside watching Pan was more than enough of a distraction. Pan cleverly kept up the stream of talking just until he realized that he was walking anyways; she figured he got some sort of kick out of bugging her. This would certainly even things out; she couldn't wait to she his face.
"Beside you know what they say about men and their sense of direction."
Trunks snorted, "That's quite the lie and you know it. Unlike some people I prefer not to lie or deceive myself; it only makes thing worse in the end." He sated watching his step, making sure not to trip on the slightly uneven terrain.
"How's that?" she asked never breaking her stride not giving him a chance to really catch up, not that he was that far behind anyways.
"Take you for example." He said on a whim, stepping lightly over moss and leaves covered floor.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. See I know you have so much lack of control on your temper you could be considered a fire hazard."
"I do not." she bit back, seething, Trunks couldn't see her face but he could bet she was scowling murderously.
"See. But I stay honest with my self, and others-
"When you see fit," Pan interjected, he smirked and continued.
"Which is why I call you Utsukushii. Because you are."
She paused for a moment, still walking purposely in the same direction. "You really think so?"
She thought she saw a momentary blush but then the irritatingly smug look reappeared. "You, my fair lady, are looking at the epitome, the embodiment of good looks. I think I know how to appreciate someone else's as well."
Pan actually stopped and rolled her eyes, "And here all this time I thought you were the embodiment of pure ego." Pan had stopped not just because of the odd route this conversation happened to be taking but because there was water near by, and where there was water there was fish. Fish tasted good ki-roasted.
"SO you don't want to admitted to your self that I'm handsome?"
"Cute." she admitted, he wrinkled his nose in disgust. She laughed at the display, not sure what possessed her to tell him that, but was defiantly like the reaction of the lavender haired prince.
"Cute? Cute? I was thinking some thing more along the lines of...
"Dashingly handsome? Devilishly attractive? I got two words for you. Dream. On." she smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest, as an 'almost pout' came over his face. Cute. She continued to snicker as they came to the river she has been looking for.
"Cute." he muttered disgustedly, not as amused. She snickered having a feeling someone in his position was used to being awed, and feared not described with the same way you would a puppy or kitten.
"Yes cute. Adorable, sweet, cuddly-" He growled in annoyance cutting her off.
"I am not cute." he huffed under his breath scowling.
She smiled innocently before focusing her attention on the river before them. It was fairly wide a slow moving current, perfect for catching those big fish that she and her grandpa always talked about whenever he visited.
She took off her shoes tossing them to the side and she shrugged off her jacket too. Trunks raised one eyebrow and open his mouth, but she cut him off before he could utter a syllable.
"Turn around," she told him, glad for once he didn't argue or comment.
Taking off her shirt and pants she quickly jumped in the cold water in her underwear. She surfaced to get her bearings straight and saw a semi perplexed Trunks looking at her cloths on the shore.
"I hardly think this is time for a swim." keeping his eyes lowered, 'Is he blushing?' she giggled silently, 'he is!'
"I don't know about you, but I get hungry after I awake up and we haven't had breakfast yet. If you don't mind taking a small break I'll catch us some fish." He gave her an unreadable look than nodded, leaning against a tree he folded his arms and his face went completely blank, 'Hate it when he does that, I can never tell what he's thinking.' shrugging she dove beneath the surface to catch breakfast.
Trunks fought off the blush and dirty thoughts (most of them) with an emotionless mask. Even so he didn't miss the glimpse of soft creamy skin he'd seen when she dove. He allowed his tail swayed in agitation. 'Do not think of Pan. Do not think of Pan. Do not think of Pan. Do not think of Pan swimming half naked. Do not think of Pan half naked. Do not think Pan complet- this is not helping.' Thinking these kinds of thoughts would only lead to problems. No not problems just complications. He wondered what would happen if he and Pan were...
'The impact and repercussions would be unimaginable and yet if all went well with Goten's plan to lure Gohan and Vegeta into talking, it might help more than hurt to be close. Might' Close was good, really good. Part of him wanted throw caution to the wind and openly pursue his utsukushii onna. The other part was questioning his sanity for beginning to fall for someone he wanted to kill a few weeks ago. He wondered when his feeling about her had changed so drastically.
So caught up in his thoughts he almost didn't notice two giant fish flying out of the water to land on the shore at his feet. 'Those are huge! Jeez. No wonder the ambassador lives way out here.' his stomach growled hungrily. Out of habit his tail wrapped securely around his waist in the presence of another, even if it was only a couple of fish; old habits die-hard. His stomach growled again.
He momentarily forgot about his stomach upon seeing Pan emerge from the water.
Trunks had never been one to chase women; he had never needed to. Being the prince of a planet attracted all sorts, but Pan was different. She stood up to him Pan yelled at, argued with him, actually punched him out of anger.... and yet she intrigued him, attracted him without even trying. He mentally scolded himself for staring but could not take his eyes off her. Water ran freely over her smooth skin, chest, hips, thighs, and toned muscles from years of experience. Short dark hair clung to her face, soft dark eyes gleamed mischievously, and he could almost see a smirk gracing her soft pink lips. Her soaked bra and panties left nothing to the imagination. Was it possible for someone to be that beautiful?
For all this he could only think but one word, 'damn...'
Trunks blushed when Pan cleared her throat impatiently, putting her hands on her hips, "See something you like?" Trunks turned away, more to cover the red tint on his face; he certainly didn't miss the malicious glee in Pan's voice. She was toying with him! 'Does she know? No, no she can't-
"Have seen anything I didn't like yet Utsukushii." He drawled coolly just to make her mad, only on the outside did he sound so in control.
"Don't call me that." she quipped an almost automatic reaction now.
"Ok. I like what I saw Panny." a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. She gave an exasperate sigh but said nothing. After a moment of rustling, "Hey! Come over here and help me clean these." Yes Pan was something; she even bossed him around now.
"Only if you ask nicely."
Not that he would comply quietly without a fight.
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Deep with in the fathomless depths of space, a ship hovered near the remains of what had been a peaceful and quite planet. One, the leader of the now hundred or so mourning refugees held no tears in his eyes, but a burning hatred.
Hatred and loathing for the creature responsible for the destruction of his planet, his home.
"Where shall we go now?" another asked.
"Set a course for the Stardust Nebula."
"Piccolo?"
"I have a friend there who may be able to help us."
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Son Pan patted her stomach in satisfaction as Trunks put out the cooking fire, nothing felt better than a full stomach! She stood stretching leisurely, "That's much better!" It had taken them a lot longer to clean the fish the either had anticipated partly due to the fact the Trunks had never cleaned one before and had stubbornly refused to do such a task.
"We've got a few more hours of daylight left let's keep going and find a place to rest for the night." Trunks merely nodded his head and followed her without disagreement. He'd been unusually quiet again. Not that most saiya-jin talked while eating, but Pan noticed the serious look of deep thought on his face. 'Maybe I shouldn't have teased him earlier.' Pan laughed silently remembering the look on his face when she caught him staring at her. Naah. That had been worth it.
Her amusement faded slightly as they began to walk onward she could feel her Grandfather's ki not too far ahead at the rate they were going they would be there sometime tomorrow morning. The amount of space, wall-less, with no need for gravity floors or boot, amazed Pan. The colonies where she lived were giant ships, huge monstrosities big enough to house millions living there. But there were only twenty of the really giant ones. There were smaller one that were built for a few wealthy people, but all had one thing in common: the ability to move at a moments notice without disrupting the lives of its residence. In the war that was a major factor, the enemy could never keep track of Hitohi because they were always moving among the stars.
All of her life had been spent in space it was strange not seeing the comforting darkness of space and the constant twinkle of distant stars. And than noises too. All strange and unfamiliar too her sharp ears. Glancing at amazingly blue sky of Old earth she saw a large bird soaring high above her.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust, 'wish I knew how to fly.' Sure lots of people knew. Her mother had started to train her.
Gohan never found the heart or the time to finish what Videl had started and living on a mobile colony meant little room for that stuff anyway. When Gohan had started training his daughter the fly lesson got dismissed, partly because at that age Pan was notorious for getting herself into trouble, being able to fly would have allowed her to get in to much more than the single father could handle. Later on it never really came up in Pan's life it wasn't like any place on the giant ships that she wasn't able to get to. Not like planet dwellers.
But would Pan admit to such a weakness? No way. Her pride wouldn't allow her to. Not to certain arrogant prince who made it a habit to torment her. She looked back at him again and was met with the now familiar blue orbs, and a mischievous smirk. Pan turned back to the imaginary trial to her grandfather's ki, a suppressed red tint on the bridge of her nose. Did he have to look that good? Down right wicked with that devilish smirk on his face? She a shiver ran down her spine, 'He has such intense eyes,' she felt that they could have burned right through with there gaze. She kind of felt like he was looking at the way he had been when she had gotten out of the river. Not the way some guys just ogle or stare lustfully. He had this look of wonder to it, like...
'Like you know you've been spending too much time with one person, when you start to analyze his looks. Come on Pan, a few weeks ago you were at each other's throats, now your thinking thoughts you wouldn't normally and probably shouldn't. Besides it's not like he would be interested in me. He's a prince. Probably has someone already waiting for him at home or loads of girls chasing after him. He doesn't need me hanging on to his every word or gesture, heaven forbid anyone give his ego another boost.'
Pan stopped; her Grandfather's ki had suddenly disappeared. No, not disappeared but move very far away, in a minuscule amount of time. Deciding not to wonder about how it got so far away. Pan decided it would be better to wait until her grandfather came back to this area. "Go figure." She muttered taking a seat at the trunk of the nearest tree. Trunks gave her an annoyed look. "Why are we stopping now?"
"His ki has moved." She answered simply.
"His what? I thought you knew where you were going."
"I don't know where I was going, exactly I was following his ki." Another blank look. "His ki, you know his energy. How do you think we're suppose to find the Ambassador without the ship?"
He leaned against the side of the tree she was sitting under, "You can do that? Without a scouter?" he asked skeptically crossing, his arms. "Well then why don't we just fly, I ask again? What are you afraid of heights or something?" he scoffed.
"No!" she snapped irritably, "But he has moved a great deal of distance, it would be wiser to wait till he has returned to this area."
He didn't answer, his face becoming that hard impenetrable mask again.
She shrugged. Whatever. At least he wasn't being a pain for the moment. Pan fingered her locket absently; it would be nice seeing grandpa again. Perhaps he would be able to tell her what exactly happened to her mother. Her father never talked about it. He sure told her all about her mother with love shining in his eye the entire time. But when ever Pan asked what happen to Son Videl Satan he would change the subject or not answer at all.
He never told her if her mother was dead but Pan assumed so. What other reason could there be? Gohan expressed too much love for his wife for them to have broken up or something. And she doubted the person her father described was the type to go off and leave one's husband and 4yr old daughter. She continued to fiddle with the locket allowing her thoughts wander.
"Would you stop that? It's annoying."
She fingered locket again just to spite him.
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Goten didn't know whether to be angry with her or thankful, when he awoke to see his blue haired goddess sleeping peacefully beside him. A part of him felt relived and happy all this time what he had was most afraid of was that, when he woke up she would be gone and vanish from his world completely. Trunks would be here in a few hours maybe a day at most, and boy would he be mad. And her father, good lord that was whole 'nother can of worms, life threatening can at that. He stroked her face gently so as not to wake her.
She was worth it. His mate. His hand moved downward to lightly trace a pattern on her abdomen. Now he really had a reason to make their world a more peaceful place. One more reason to strive for peace.
Trunks and Vegeta were gonna hang him by his finger nails, chop him up into little pieces and scatter what was left into the four corners of the universe.
He smiled in spite of the morbid thoughts. She was worth it.
Sapphire eyes smiled shyly up at him.
Defiantly worth it.
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Trunks sleepily opened one ice blue eye to the predawn light.
The fire had long since brunt out, yet he felt warm. Even thought the air brushing his back was slightly chill. He opened his eyes a bit gray obscured most of his vision. Black too. The black and gray was also breathing deeply, still asleep and in an interesting position. He blushed realizing that his face was practically in her chest.
His arm rested lazily on her waist, hand resting on her hip. His tail had a gentle grip around her kneecap. His face turned even redder even if no one was there to witness the protective embrace. If only...
Trunks mentally sighed gently getting up without waking sleeping beauty. A chill ran down his spine at the sudden lack of warmth as he wrapped his tail securely around his waist. Pan whimpered slightly, reaching for the missing body heat. She mumbled something incoherent and fell back into her deep sleep.
"Damn you," he cursed her quietly fist clinching his side. "Why?" he asked no one. A sudden rage in his ice blue eye burn with cold fury at something he could not defeat, or ignore completely.
"Why couldn't you have been just another saiya-jin wrench hunting for the strongest mate? Just another vapid, giggling human? Or the rude, hate deserving girl I thought you were Utsukushii?" If she had been someone- anyone else's daughter... There was no way he could become attached to her there were so many, too many things that could go wrong and make everything worse. And yet with every beat, his heart was defining his mind.
"I wish I could shut them all up far away from me, throw away my weak emotions and become nothing more than a statue of ice." He quietly confessed to Pan's sleeping form. Feeling something and doing something were two completely different things. He would not- could not act on his emotions. His weakness. Or so his mind believed even as his heart betrayed. He turned his thoughts away from his inner battle and focused on the sunrise in the east, though his thoughts never strayed far from his raven haired beauty
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Naav watch in mix revulsion and interest as Goku managed to pack away yet another portion of the gigantic fish he'd caught for breakfast. He was like a bottomless pit!
"Do all saiya-jin eat as much as you?" he asked curiously, though to Goku his voice lacked much emotion.
"Most do. Why?"
"It seems quite much."
The amiable saiya-jin shook his head, "Naah!"
Naav blinked his brick red eyes; Goku certainly wasn't what he expected of the 'barbarian.' In all honesty Naav expected them to be well, barbaric. Not that he had ever personally come in to contact with any other species.
But saiya-jin were suppose to be cunning bloodthirsty warriors. Not goofy smiling idiots. No offense to his most gracious host, but the guy seemed at first a few bricks shy of a full load or at least incredibly simple minded. Naav couldn't feel a trace of animosity or dishonesty from him. So much so he felt rude for using his gifts.
Till he found out that this strange man wasn't all he seemed. Turned out that Goku was THE Son Goku, the only ambassador to ever tempt to get the three warring empires call a truce and nearly succeed at a treaty between nations. Aside from that the man was known for being a fighting genius, despite this, his disposition was sunny and quite friendly. Naav felt inclines to trust him and surprised himself by telling of the usual problems on Ewajima. He was shocked yet again when the friendly saiya-jin became serious and thoughtful.
"Nyaane, my twin sister is my last living relative but I can do nothing to help her or my clan.
"I will help you."
"Forgive me for seeming rude but I am not able to return the with out being killed or thrown in jail. I seriously doubt that we could get past the border defenses, much less planet side. And even if we were I still cannot think of away to change the situation."
Goku chuckled "That's the most I've heard you say since yesterday." he commented absently, holding his chin in hand, in a thoughtful expression, "Well we can figure something out later, I'm sure. Getting on the planet won't be a problem. I'll take care of that." Pause "You're the first Neg'Vah I seen in a very long time. If given the chance, would your people be interested in a treaty with the Saiya-jin and Hitohi empires? And probably New Earth as well." Naav's eyebrow twitched in a momentary uncertainty.
"Can not speak for all, but for the majority I say yes. We are not by nature war-like, but cautious."
Goku nodded knowingly. "Most saiya-jin tend to be a bit aggressive. If I had your talents I probably wouldn't want to hang a bunch of angry people for to long either. But you must under stand not all saiya-jin are aggressive all the time."
Naav's red sienna eyes widen, the only clue given to his shock. That was the Neg'Vah's biggest advantage, next to their technology, and greatest weakness.
"How did you know this?"
Goku eyes twinkled with hidden wisdom and knowledge. Naav strangely felt young and foolish next to Goku. But the feeling only lasted a second and was gone as swiftly as it had come.
"I spoke to the last sovereign before the tragedy that prevented the treaty from being signed." Naav felt a great sadness emanating usually happy Goku. He stopped, looking out towards the direction of the door, "We have guests."
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It was a week after he had called his little brother, that Goten gave him a call. Not really a call more left a message. Brief short message basically saying that he and their father were heading to Beijita-sei. A little strange, yes, but no need to worry Goku and Goten could take care of them selves if worse came to worse Goku was stronger than if not as strong as King Vegeta (not the latter would admit so). But then Goten had to say five little words that caused the older to question what little trust he had in the younger's ability to make responsible decisions: "Oh, yeah, Pan's with us."
What was Goten thinking? Bringing her to the absolute heart of the enemy's strong hold? Gohan's initial reaction was to be absolutely and irrationally angry. What father wouldn't be if they knew their child was heading into a place were they could be hurt or killed? Gohan did try to get hold Goten but was never answered. Gohan had rush preparations to take his personal cruiser to Beijita-sei and was now only a few hours away.
Looking out of the windows in his quarters he could the orange and yellow swirl planet of Bejita-sei it was larger than Earth (both) seeing as the gravity was ten times as much but smaller the Jupiter.
"Videl..." even now, almost twenty years later his heart still felt the agony and pain of separation from his wife just as strong as the as the day he last saw her so many years ago...
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~20years ago~
He held her tightly not wanting to let go, whispering quiet comforts. The chamber was ready once she stepped in, there was no turning back but if she didn't she would die slowly form the inside She felt terrible, not physically but the constricting lump in her throat and the tears that she fought to hold at bay.
There was a chance she would miss her daughter's childhood completely. There was a chance that she could miss the rest of her husband's life and her grandchildren's and their children's. What if a cure was found centuries after this day and everyone she knew and loved were gone? She would be able to live with out him?
He helped her into the chamber, sharing one last kiss before the glass sealed them off. The stasis chamber began to fill up slowly with the isolating liquid.
"Gohan?" the lump in her throat made it almost whisper. She couldn't cry she'd be asleep. It'd be just like taking a nap, for her at least. Gohan was the one who'd hurt the most and her little Panny.
"Yes?" The tears in his eyes; they hurt. The fluid was at her waist, and rising.
"Promise me you'll be there when I wake up." Her voice cracked but she willed herself not to cry, not to breakdown.
"Videl-
"Please Gohan?"
He smiled for her one last time; broken little thing that is was. 'Always loved that smile.' It was becoming harder to think her mind becoming sluggish like thick molasses.
"I promise. I'll be there." He told her in a soothing voice.
She smiled lightly as the liquid gently swallowed her and pulled her into a dreamless unconsciousness.
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Quotes of the day:
Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion in old age-Booth Tarkington
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Mizuko' answering machine:
You're dazed, bewildered, trapped in a world with out time, where dial tones collide with flashing red lights and endless cheery beeps. You see a signpost up ahead—-This is no ordinary telephone-answering device…
You have reached, "The Twilight Phone!"
Please leave a review after the beep.