AN: Gomen nasai minna-san I've been away on vacation I'd like to give a big Thank yous to all those who reviewed. And for all those who didn't!!! Yes you!! I bite my thumb at you!! OW! *Sucks on painfully throbbing thumb* Grrrrr. (Memo to self: think of less painful meaningless insults for non-reviews.) Secondly Yevips to Starlight for another quote ^_^!
Cool Boogie!!
-Mizuko
If you scream for 7 years, four months and 3 weeks, you'll produce enough sound energy to warm up a cup a coffee.
Chapter 9-Just Confusing
Pan wondered if fate was conspiring against her on purpose or if this was just another strange chance meeting. She watched as Trunks' whole demeanor change the moment Saika had spoken. From teasing, grinning, witty and slightly annoying to reserved and calculating, and a cold mask hiding his emotions.
"I will come when I see fit, and now is not that time." He clipped icily, "But you can tell my father I shall return soon." His tone was commanding and brooked no room for argument. But Saika seemed to be expecting that answer and was glaring at her with burning hatred.
"What is she doing accompanying the Prince?" she spat, contempt dripping from her voice. Pan was ready to snap a remark at the navy haired saiya-jin but Trunks answered first.
"That, is none of your concern." he growled obviously not to happy with her continued presence. But Saika wasn't taking the hint.
Saika snorted, "I can guess that, that Hitohi b-
"Will amount to more than you ever did. Now if will excuse us, we have more important thing to do and make idol chitchat and as I recall you have a message to deliver." he said officially dismissing her. Pan surpressed a shudder. Brrr.
"Yes Your Majesty." she said giving a small bow, she sent one last heated look Pan's way before turning on her heels and storming off.
Trunks looked about ready to kill, the cold demeanor didn't leave as quickly as it had come. As they started heading towards Goten's, Pan wisely stayed quiet; she had a feeling that there was more to that exchange than what was being said. It was almost scary how he'd gotten so cold in an instant. He had done that with her too, but not since the time spent on the Mercushin on their way to Zion.
On the other hand, he had defended her, even if he hadn't really needed to. She smiled a small smile to her self. He did care; she just needed to look a bit harder for it. That small revelation made her heart flutter unexpectedly. "Will amount to more than you ever did..." 'Was Saika important to him once? Am I?' She pushed the feeling aside scolding herself. 'I'm being foolish. Grow up your not a kid living in some childish fanatsy world. Why walk willingly into heartache?
She studied him as they made it to the hall, which led to Goten's place. She hadn't been kidding when she said she thought there was something odd about him. It was something that nagging little voice told her she should have noticed before. His armor? No it was standard white chest plate, nothing unusual about that. So was the rest of his outfit. Except for the purple belt that went with his hair. Perhaps he was trying to make a fashion statement? Since when did a saiya-jin need a belt?
"You don't seem to have a tail, do you?"
He gave he a confused look as they stopped at Goten's door, "What are you talking about kirei na onna?"
She pointed at his waist as she knocked, "You don't have a tail, you have is the odd colored bel... And that was my foot going right in my mouth." She mentally smacked her herself on the fore head 'stupid stupid stupid.'
A blank look from Trunks.
"An earth expression, for when you say something ignorant or stupid." He nodded then smirked as he caught on; he had that look on his face that meant he had something sarcastic or rude or both to say but Goten answered the door.
He looked nervously at Trunks both letting them in.
Pan crinkled her nose, the place smelled alot different, not the way Goten usually did. It was sharp and thick. She saw her grandpa and Naav seated at the bar stools. Naav nodded acknowledging their presence and Goku waved grinning though he did not seem inclined to get up either. 'What's with every body?'
"Hey guys, what's that smell?" she asked curiously. Trunks, Goku and Goten turned three different shades of red. "Would like to inquire about such as well." Naav added in his emotionless voice.
"Well..uh you see... " Goten stammer inching ever so slightly away from Trunks.
A blue haired girl about her age appeared in front of the hall to the bedrooms. "Trunks?" she blinked her sapphire eyes.
"Bra?" he stammered, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Pan silently gasped as his ki skyrocketed, boy was he mad. The look he had had after speaking to Saika was nothing compared to the murderous glare in his eyes now. She was a fool to think that she had ever been stronger than him it just kept going up! The only change on the outside was enraged scowl on his face.
"Trunks," Goten started off nervously, despite his nervousness in his voice, her uncle stood tall, "I know you're angry but you need to calm down so we can talk about this."
Before Pan could blink Trunks lunged at Goten punching him directly in the chest sending him into the wall, it would probably leave a dent. Pan frowned, "I don't care who you are. You can't just-
Her grandfather rested a hand on her shoulder from behind her and shook his head telling her she should let them deal with it.
"Damn straight I'm angry." he snarled letting his fist fall by his side "Just what the hell were you thinking?!" he demanded. Goten was a bit taken aback by his friend sudden (by not unexpected) outburst.
The girl seemingly unfazed by Trunks' wrath calming walked up to him with a determined look and slapped him. He looked at the girl perplexed, the slap probably didn't hurt, but he was still stunned.
"Trunks get a hold of yourself! I'm not a little girl any more! It's time for you and dad to quit babying me." she stated.
"But-" The girl didn't give him a chance to retaliate, quickly cutting him off before he could have his say, speaking quickly and angrily in saiya-go. Pan couldn't understand what she was saying. She only knew a couple words and a few choice phrases (not one of them lady like in the least) but she could defiantly tell the blue haired girl was mad.
Pan winced as the other girl's voice rose in decibels. Trunks looked at her grumble something inaudible, turning to Goten, "I apologize, Goten I lost my head." he said helping the other demi-saiya-jin up. It didn't take a genius to realize Trunk still wasn't too happy, what ever the girl had said it only work to get Trunks back to his senses.
"I kind of deserved that." Goten said sheepishly, "I should have told you sooner."
"You could've at least cleaned the place a bit." Trunks said mutter glaring at both Goten and blue girl.
Pan scowled yet again she was left completely clueless, except for Naav he looked just about as well off as she.
"Could some explain to me what is going on?"
"Men," the girl said directing the remark at Trunks. Who growled but said nothing.
Approaching her with a smile, "I'm Bra and that purple haired baka is my big brother."
Bra did kind of resemble Trunks in an odd way; her hair was a brilliant blue, like the sky on Old Earth. Her eyes were blue as well but darker than Trunks' and her tail was the same color as her hair.
Oh!!!! So that's what that smell was! Pan suppressed a blush 'No wonder Trunks was upset.'
"Ah well that explains a lot I'm Pan Goten's neice. Now what?"
Goten moved to the center of the room, going into 'general mode'.
"Now, we go to Beijita-sei. Gohan is already on his way by now, as is President Krillin, we shall awaken the Queen and hopefully start working on a treaty as well. I have learn from my source the there is a rebel group that is responsible for the disappearances and 'accidental deaths' of important or high ranking officers on Ewajima, the mobile colonies and Beijita-sei."
Pan blinked that sounded like the men she and Trunks ran into earlier, on the way to Old earth. "We ran into them while traveling to Old Earth," Trunks stated as if reading her thoughts. His expression was grim and serious much like that of when he'd been talking to Saika only less...animosity. "They are the ones responsible for the sabotage at the first treaty attempt, twenty years ago. The two we ran into, Admiral Menneth from the Hitohi and T'kal a high level elite, were planning to try and kidnap Pan, Bra and myself."
Pan noted her Grandfather was oddly silent and thoughtful with bland expression painted on his face.
Goten nodded taking it all in, "I figured they'd be after you guys sooner or later, it makes sense. I'm not sure who is behind it and I can't figure out why beside causing more problems." There was a pregnant silence.
"Control." Naav stated simply. He elaborated for them seeing questioning looks. His serious tone neither rising nor falling not an ounce of emotion could be picked up from his voice or his expression. "It is the same on Ewajima, but has been happening longer the Consulate has almost full control of the planet by destroying the order from the inside. And while everyone is away fighting each other...People suddenly disappear, civilians accidentally end up the middle of space battles or turn up dead somewhere." There was no need to continue.
Naav could have been talking about the molecular frequency of space dust for all the emotions he showed. Like an emotionless shell... Pan hoped Trunks never became that way. Trunks could be cold but Naav's impassiveness different. Pan couldn't describe it well in words. It was as if Naav's detached manner were his emotions. 'Even Trunks' cold emotionless mask was merely that; a mask. Perhaps Naav's is just better, no one should be that...' She was at a loss to explain even that lack of feeling coming off the winged alien.
Pan was shaken out of her thoughts by the intense stare of ice blue eyes from across the room. 'What's his problem?' She thought feeling irritated at Trunks for some reason. She blatantly returned his glare with equal intensity, oblivious of those conversing around her. His head twitched as if he wanted to turn away but thought again, for some reason she couldn't. She did want to either, his eyes held something in them... Pan felt a feeling stir inside her again different and nameless with tenacious intensity. It was deep and frightening and soothing all at the same time. She suddenly felt self-conscious, why did those eyes invoke such feelings?
While on the Mercushin they would have killed each other (and had wanted to) for less. If memory served her correctly that was the reason they were thrown in the brig in the first place. Looking back She really had wanted to kill him on more than one occasion but now she felt she was getting used to the irksome, infuriating, stupid, annoying, handsome, considerate, cute,- She was getting too use to that obnoxious-
"Well, I say we continue this on the way there."
She blinked realizing that she hadn't been paying attention to her grandfather and uncle's conversation. She glared at the little smirk that Trunks had gained from seeing the results of their distraction.
"Your right. The sooner the better. Which dock is my ship in?" Goten looked at Trunks and herself expectantly. 'Uh-oh.'
Pan looked at the floor, "well... you see um...
She took small but delightful pleasure knowing that Trunks was in as bad off as she.
"No not my ship. Not my...." Goten looked ready to keel over. "How could you?..." Pause.
"Trunks!!!"
"Goten, I know you're angry, but if you just calm down, we can talk about this!"
*************
Piccolo growled in frustration ignoring the frightened human starting back at him from the com. He and the hundred or so Nameks who had survived the planets destruction by the cruel tyrant Freiza, had reached the location of the Command Mobile Colony where Son Gohan resided. But it was there arrival had caused nothing but suspicion, no one there had ever come into contact with his people except Gohan. Judging from their reaction they weren't expecting anybody to know their location or demanded to speak with Gohan.
"Look we're not here to cause trouble. Just tell me where he is!"
He roared, losing his patience. His long time friend and companion Dende shot him a disapproving look. He humped but didn't calm down.
"Ah...ah...ah-" the guy stammered not knowing how to handle what to him was a first contact situation with potentially hostile race whose leader was demanding to see their. And Mr. Son had left a few days ago.
"What's going on here?" A feral looking saiya-jin pushed the smaller man aside.
"Who are you? 'n what da ya want?" the man asked with bluntly.
"Now we're getting somewhere. It is imperative that we speak with Son Gohan immediately."
The saiya-jin shrugged, "You outta luck, he left a few days ago to Beijita-sei. Why is it that you need to spea-
"He's headed towards there? That's all I need to know." With another reprimanding look from his comrade he added a terse, "thanks," shutting of the com.
Dende shook his head as he watched his friend leave to in the direction of the bridge. "It wouldn't hurt to be a bit more courteous, Piccolo." He suggested. Piccolo was a nice person. He just... needed to work on his people skills...
The gruff Namek humphed and continued on his way. Well that was progress; at least he didn't snarl this time.
******************
Bra sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes; Goten loved that ship dearly and he was angry at Trunks for crashing it. Unfortunately she had a hard time taking Goten seriously about the whole matter. Partly because he could get another ship anytime he wanted and partly because he just looked so cute when he was all pouty like that.
He sat there, beside her, waiting to speak with the stationmaster so they could borrow one of Zion's ships. He was in the middle of a long tirade about how she and Trunks were going to be the death of him, when he suddenly stopped and asked.
"What do you think about Trunks and Pan." The way he asked her she knew he would begin to build plans around it.
"What do you mean?" she knew better than try and find the reasoning behind that question he'd tell her sooner or later. Patience was a virtue.
"Together."
She bit her lip, remembering the way they insulted each other after Trunks and Goten had calmed down from earlier. "They fight too much, plain and simple. I can't say for Pan but I think my brother is fond of her. He doesn't trust alot of women especially not after what Saika did to him. He seems to like Pan, it shows, in a weird, 'I'll-kill-you-first' kind of way. But I wouldn't be surprised if they had World War IV on the way home either."
Goten chuckled, knowing that to be true. "Pan holds more influence than her father lets on, especially for women in the Hitohi she was four when she won the junior championship in the Tournament that are held in the Mobile colonies. When she was sixteen she joined the Space force disguised as a boy."
"Wh-"
"It wasn't that girls aren't allowed to become pilots or fight in the army it's just that in human society women aren't expected to you know fight or anything like that."
"Well that's so sexist, that's just a waste of-"
Goten interupted her before she could began ranting.
"I know. It is not the same as Saiya-jin society. Anyway she didn't want any special treatment or to be hampered because of her gender. She became one of the best pilots I've ever seen. But when they found he was a she they gave her the boot, an "honorable discharge". There was a big ruckus about that. In the end the whole thing led to more women fighters and pilots in the Mobile colonies. Gohan was mad at her for putting her life in danger, but the people, most people, respect her. When Gohan resigns she will become the next leader of the Hitohi." He looked at her expectantly. She shook her head. He had lost her. Goten was thinking beyond her now. She didn't make the connection. His line of thinking made him a good strategist and that she was not. She was just your average run of the mill saiya-jin. Well, almost.
"How does this tie into whether or not she and my brother go well together?"
"Well if all goes well we'll have no more war between our respective nations. But who's to say another generation for now something or someone will start the fighting again? But say if we had something more tangible-- no, more binding than a piece of paper to hold the Hitohi and the Saiya-jin Empire together?"
Bra looked at Goten wide eyed. "Your not going to force them to marry each other!?"
He shook his head vigorously.
"Do I look like I have death wish?! No, that wouldn't work; they'd get all stubborn and bullheaded. With those two force won't work. We should probably just nudge them gently and subtly in the right direction." He said with a grin on his face. He was a genius in his own right.
If Trunks or Pan found out they were part of Goten's grand scheme of things there'd be hell to pay. She had to wonder if that wasn't his plan from the beginning he could have just as easily gone with them to Old earth, or gotten someone else to retrieve the medicine as Pan had. She smirked, Goten had surprised her once and again.
"Goten, you're a sneaky, cunning, sly, devious, scheming scoundrel. You know that?" she whispered falling into his innocent looking coal eyes.
He grinned devilishly, "A scoundrel am I? Like the sound of that." She yelped giggling as he rained kisses on her face neck.
She brought her arms around him so that she could return the gesture but.
"Ah Excuse me Ahem!" the secretary glared at them. She blushed remember where they were. Goten smiled innocently, scratching his head. The secretary turn it's nose up at their little display, "The station master will see you now."
*********************
"Menneth and T'kal have just informed me than our targets will be leaving soon and they plan to capture all of them in one swoop just as soon as they leave Zion security space."
"Good, they had better get something do right I grow tired of these games." The evil Tyrant waited intil the other left the room before summoning his right hand man.
"You called Lord Frieza?"
"Yes Zarbon, inform me as soon as Reenye has transferred the engine upgrades for the ship after that we have no more use for him." He looked at the unsuspecting planet below, "It's time we had a little fun. Those Nameks were such poor sport; I hope these birdbrains can put up a better fight. Begin our descent."
*******************
Pan walked behind Bra who was following Goten's lead to the docking bays. Her thoughts were on a certain lavender haired Prince. He was a puzzle inside an enigma.
He'd taken all the responsibility for the wreaking of her uncle's ship
"What's wrong with you?" he asked haughtily, "My ears have finally stopped ringing and I realize why."
She glared at him, 'Why can't he just say are you okay? Like a normal person? Is that what he is really trying to say?' She blinked, that was confusing. 'Or what if he was just really being an annoying baka?' That was confusing.
"Utsukushii?" his, tone was impatient, but his eyes said other wise, showing concern. His lips curved in that cute smug little smirk of his.
An impish little part of her mind wonder what it would be like if she could taste those lips and wipe that stupid smirk off his face. If she stood on her toes she could, he was walking close enough. She shook her head to rid it of such improper thoughts.
"You didn't have to take responsibility for me. Why did you do that any ways? I don't need your help." she sneered snapping out of her thoughts. He blushed and stammered not expecting that question.
"I...ah...Who said I was helping you?" he said somewhat defensively, "It was my reasonability as far as I'm concerned, because you didn't have any experience in dirt-side landings." He ended condescendingly. She let it go amused he'd found something to back up his claim. He looked at her with those frigid blue eyes for a good moment before a smirk or lop-sided smile; slowly curled it's self on his lips.
"What?"
"Oh nothing."
He was just too confusing sometimes.
The ship supplied graciously by Zion was no pleasure cruiser but it was considerably larger than the last two ships she had taken before, and that was a blessing.
Already there were some minor problems; first was that they couldn't till they'd been cleared by security which meant they had to wait an hour or so. Second her uncle and Bra were all lovey-dovey with each other the moment the group boarded. It was nice to see him happy but after five minutes it got just plain disgusting. Trunks, was in one of his deep thought/brooding modes, and had slunk of to a quieter corner for some peace of mind. Probably to sulk, perhaps he was still a little angry at Goten for taking his little sister as his mate.
Having nothing to do she explored the ship there wasn't much to it, it was basically one long hall. At the front end was the bridge, piloting and navigation and such, the there were about 15 or so rooms all facing each other. Behind they larger door was the kitchen and mess hall where she could feel Goku Goten and Bra, and hear them talking and joking as well.
After that the was and extremely small med facility, which was no more than a few cabinets and a bed, in conjunction with a tiny bay in which there were escape pods. 'Someone out there is a real genius.' she thought ruefully, counting the pods. There were five. 'Why would some idiot build a ship that could fit up twenty people and then put in five pods? Jeez. At least we won't need to use them.'
Bored she headed back to the bridge, if any thing she could familiarize herself with the controls. She was surprised to see Naav there, quietly sitting in the navigational chair. 'Is he always so serious?' she couldn't remember him saying more than a few sentences. He acknowledged her presence with a small nod.
"What are you doing?" she asked curiously, he seemed to be doing nothing more than staring at the blank main screen. "If you don't mind me asking."
He shook his light sea-green head, "No, not at all." He waited for her to sit down in the pilot's chair, "I was working of my mental shields." She tilted her head confused.
"The Neg'Vah are and empathic race-"
'Empathic like in being able to sense other's feelings.' She blushed he probably knew how she felt about Trunks-
"Don't worry, it is not my place to devulge in another's personal life," he said reassuring her, it almost looked like he was amused, a sort of smile with only his reddish-brown eyes even though his face showed nothing. The guy was way too serious but right then that was a good thing.
"Thank you. Why do you need mental shields than? If you can't read peoples minds then why do you need to protect your mind?"
"My race has acclimated it's self to these gifts, by shutting our selves away and keeping to ourselves. After a few centuries, the natural shield my people used to have, disappeared. And now only a few have that natural protection, which they can call at will and not be over whelmed by his or hers the senses."
"I see a take it that since your working on it the you don't have one."
"I can block out most but not really strong or intense ones. I hope your uncle won't be offended if I keep my distance from him and his..aah...'mate'."
"He probably won't even notice I doubt them can see past each other's faces." Pause "You must have thought us all a bunch of lunatics, when Trunks and I arrived after you and my grandfather."
"Tell me it's not some saiya-jin greeting, is it?" Pan couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious. She laughed anyways; it was slightly funny either way.
"No. Trunks was just a little angry." His eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. "Ok maybe a lot, but you would too if you found out your best friend had taken your sister as a mate without telling you anything about it." He nodded. "They're not like that normally."
They sat in silence awhile thinking processing this knew information, Pan didn't bother to try and hide her feelings or anything. What was the point? She trusted Naav not to say anything, heck he didn't say much anyways. At least she could hang around him and not be totally disgusted by an overly mushy display, or worry about confusing emotions...'Trunks,' she silently sighed, she wondered what it would have been like if they had a similar relationship as Bra and Goten. Making goo-goo eyes and being all lovey-dovey didn't seem quite as disgusting then. Like that dream she a two nights ago on Old Earth, (has that much happened in such a short amount of time?) he had been so gentle when he caressed her face. 'Ah, well I'll never know how gentle he can get, so no use thinking about it.'
"If I may be so bold," Naav said interrupting her quickly depressing thoughts
"Why don't you just tell him?"
She fiddled with her locket, "It's not that simple. We both have obligations to for fill later. After his father he will become the King of the Saiya-jin," at this Naav's eyes widened slightly probably more shocked then he let on, "and I the leader of the Hitohi after my father."
"I see. I think..." He had a perturbed look on his face, a total expression not hampered by his usual stoicism; just about as close to totally confused as she had seen him get. She laughed causing his confusion to greaten, which made her laugh even more. Suddenly everything seemed funny. Poor Naav, her and Trunks, her father (who by the way still thought she was a 19yr old girl), the war; it was all just a joke. 'Just a really bad joke; a sad tragedy laid out by fate,' She thought sadly, sobering up and calming down.
Naav shook his head slightly not understanding these Saiya-jin at all. He wondered what Nyaane would think of these 'barbarians'. For the first time in his life Naav felt a twinge of loneliness, he was far from home and had no way to contact his little sister. He wondered if he would make it home before her wedding ceremony. Probably not.
Envy. Protectiveness. Resentment.
He narrowed his red sienna eyes; he felt a strong wave of jealousy, but not from Pan. The Neg'Vah turned his head towards the doorway only to catch a fleeting glimpse of lavender.
*****************
Quotes of the day:
"Love is the flower of life, and blossoms unexpectedly and without law, and must be plucked where it is found, and enjoyed for the brief hour of its duration."
- D. H. Lawrence
People say that dreams are for crazy people but truthfully dreams are what keep you alive.
-Unknown
****************
Mizuko's answering machine: Okay here are the stupid soap opera like questions.
What devastation has the deceitful Freiza have in store for Naav's home world? What do Goten and Bra have planned for the unknowing Trunks and Pan? What happen with Trunks and Saika in the past? *grumble grumble*
How 'bout some better questions? Like, will Trunks go into a berserker jealous rage and attack that statue-ish stoic for movin' in on his woman?!
*receive glare from Mizuko* Mou! I was just getting creative nobody appreciates my creativity anymore. "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Says Einstein, but when I complain no one listens to me. I'm the one with-
BEEEEEEEEEEPP (please review)