AN: YAY!! So many nice reviews! Someone asked me to do a chapter on what the guys thought about the entire situation. So, I'd like to oblige the reviewer, misswhitefang, by doing what was asked of me. Thank you for pointing out that I really needed to let the guys have their chance to tell the story. Misswhitefang also asked if Trunks was coming back, or if Pan's fans had killed him already.

((A man in a large trench coat walks-in))

A-chan: So he's back, but only for a limited time. I don't want to be a witness for when he's assassinated.

Trunks: Thanks! I feel safe... But this isn't just my fault. I mean Goten and Uubu are involved in this too.

A-chan: Yeah, I know. While you were gone, they were being hunted like ducks.

Trunks: Great. Am I the only one left?

A-chan: ((shrugs)) I don't know, nor do I really care. It's your entire fault anyway. I told you to go after her, but you decided to be an ass, and go out with those sluts...

Trunks: YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WROTE IT!!!!

A-chan: AND YOU BELIEVED ME, YOU PSYCHO!!! When will everyone learn to not take what I write in the story seriously? Pay attention to the Author's Notes. They'll never steer you wrong!

Well, on with the fic! I hope everyone enjoys!

Disclaimer: I have to do this... ((sigh)) I don't own it, but I don't think anyone really cares if I do or don't.

SxSxSx

Chapter 16: Thinking

SxSxSx

The preliminaries were quick. The expected teams had won, except for the wildcard, Team Silver Dragons. No one thought they'd make it this far. Not now, not ever. But they had surprised the public with technique that left people in awe.

So the first match of the semi-finals was Team Youkai vs. Team DBZ.

People had filled up the stands, waiting with anticipation for the match. Mostly women, who merely wanted to see Trunks, Goten and Uubu. Along with those woman sat Team SD. They merely came for some fun, not to judge.

Pan was on the roof of the main building, watching with a nonchalant expression. Bra was in one of the large hallways, where people went in to get in and out of the arena. All the while, Marron sat in the stands like a normal person. Her friends just didn't understand the words "blending in."

They watched as Uubu climbed onto the stage, and face his opponent. The match was going as smooth as silk for the man. He merely toyed with his opponent, just to make it look good, but ended it when his "rival" got a bit over-confident. Everyone knows you should never get too happy with your abilities when you face Team DBZ. After the fight, when the team has lost, they're probably in doubt of themselves...

Xx Uubu's POV xX

I had just finished my semi-final match. It was a win, of course. Like I would lose to weak and arrogant team like this one. They had a lot to learn if they were going to taunt someone who had seen more than street fights and small dojos with their sparring matches.

I wasn't a fool, but they certainly were.

As I walked towards the pit where Trunks and Goten waited, my steps were slower, more thoughtful. I had seen Marron when she had watched my fight. I could tell she was cheering for my opponent, even though she knew I would win. It still hurt that she was more interested in that mediocre fighter than me.

But I was one of the few that hurt her, wasn't I?

It was my fault. I mean I disregarded her like she was every other fan girl that threw herself at me. But the thing was, she didn't fling herself towards me with promises and sugarcoated words. She remained composed and indifferent. She didn't break down when I dumped her.

No, she turned the other cheek. She wasn't a fool. Marron wouldn't let herself be carried away by a crush. Her façade was against the world, and she held it. Not like the overly emotional girl that she was when she was a kid. Now...

She doesn't cry when she falls.

She doesn't whine over the smallest things.

She doesn't complain about training, even when I expected her to quit.

And she doesn't look back on what she couldn't change.

Marron didn't come back to me, even though I had expected her to. She never whimpered or begged. She merely took what I said to heart, even if I didn't mean a lot of it. She just walked away, knowing that she shouldn't have to fight a battle I was too stubborn to lose.

Maybe the fighter I defeated wasn't such an arrogant, self-absorbed fool.

Perhaps that was me...

Xx Goten's POV xX

Watching Uubu cram himself into the waiting area that we sat in, I could see that he had some things going through his mind. It was obvious that he was upset over something because his eyes were fired up. He wasn't in a good mood to be spoken to, so Trunks and I said nothing.

Walking onto the platform of the ring, I bowed to my opponent. I'd make this quick. I had better things to do.

But what caught my attention was my opponent's gi. It was a light cerulean, and it reminded me of...

NO! I can't think about her, not now! But it practically matched the younger girl's hair perfectly, along with the eyes that had sparkled at me, with the light of the sun reflecting off them. Those were the same orbs that had cried tears for me, as well as because of me. Something I swore that I'd never do to her.

But that promise was broken, because of the feeling that had been pent up inside of Bra, and me. She was just the first to admit it. She was the first to lose control over her heart, and the first to let it slip from her lips.

In the beginning, I was shocked, and in that state I reacted with anger, forgetting my feelings and hers, which was my first mistake. Then I practically pushed her out the door when I turned her down, piercing her with words that hurt her. But those words were a double-edged sword, and they sliced me too. That was mistake number two.

And finally, to drive the hit home, I never even tried to tell her I was sorry. I was, even if I didn't admit it. I just never knew what to say. The words were slow to come. My words flow when I'm angry, which is why she left.

But when I'm nervous, what I really want to say gets jumbled, and I usually make things worse.

'But how much worse can it get?' I thought gently, watching as the paramedics carry off my opponent. I saw Trunks make his way to the ring, and he gave me a nod for the good job.

Why did words have to be so complicated? Why couldn't people understand what's going on just by body language? If people could, then perhaps Bra would be my student still, my friend maybe. She might even be closer to me than that.

But until those complicated words could come from my lips effortlessly, I suppose I'll never know.

Xx Trunks' POV xX

Why is everything our fault? I mean Goten, Uubu and I had no obligation to the girls besides training. We didn't have to treat them any differently. And yet we did...

It was stupid, I know. We let those girls get under our skin, and now they're affecting us in a way that they shouldn't be allowed to do. Our team went soft because of those wretched teenagers, but now what? I couldn't keep pretending that everything was the same like when summer began. I mean, they told us they were in LOVE with us!

I'm sorry, but that's just creepy. Nothing should go beyond the student-teacher relationship. But, not only did they violate the code, but...

We did as well...

I'll probably never admit it out loud, but Pan was something else. She wasn't gorgeously beautiful, or stood out greatly when it came to her features, but she didn't really need to. Just by being near her, you can't help but either be warmed by her or scared shitless. It all depended on her mood.

Her radiance was enough to make people drop dead. She just had that kind of affect on those around her. Her body language would tell her mood, right off the bat. She never had to try and impress because people were already in awe of her confidence and respect for herself.

That was something I admired about her, she was just...

"Ack!" I whined, taking a hit from my opponent. This is what she's reduced me to! Taking hits from a weak opponent because I wasn't paying attention. I blame her for my misfortune, even if I was the one who started this domino chain. I saw my enemy smirk, proud that he got a hit on one of the World Champions.

But mine was much more sadistic, and it spread across my face. I needed to vent my anger. So why not take it out on some weakling? That attack didn't even hurt though. I'm just used to saying something when I'm hit. It was a habit that I've never really gotten over.

((CRACK!))

Why did she do this to me? All I've ever tried to do was be a good teacher. I couldn't help the fact that my student was an attractive teenager that I had happened to know since I was about six. And I couldn't help the fact that she fell for me! I can't manipulate people (unless I feel like it).

((CRUNCH!))

I mean I tried to hold back my feelings, so why couldn't she do the same? That's why I dated that chick, near the town that we trained at. I was hoping my feelings would dull, but they didn't. Guilt had seeped into my veins like water into a sponge. I betrayed her, even if there wasn't really anything between us...

And now, there might never be...

"ALL RIGHT TRUNKS!!! IT'S A K.O. ALL READY!!!" I heard someone yell behind me. I saw Goten there, looking like he was about to burst out laughing. Looking over at the body I stood before, I had destroyed his ribs and his face wasn't in much better shape.

So THAT was all the noise I had heard! I thought something might be wrong with my ears. In a daze, I had beaten the stuffing out of my opponent. I barely even noticed.

Shrugging, I walked off the stage and over to the dugout, where Uubu and Goten hid from the sun. They smiled and gave a thumbs-up, but all I could do was smile tiredly, as I watched the overexcited announcer scream to the crowds about the next matches, with Team Shinobi vs. Team SD.

Ignoring the names of my former pupils, I noticed that my body wasn't tired, but my mind was. Trying to figure out where everything went wrong did a number on my head.

Pan wouldn't come back. Not without a fight. To win her over may be impossible, but even a nice comment from her would be rewarding. Just some kind of token to know that she didn't completely despised me, even though I knew, personally, that she does.

I miss our petty arguments.

I miss her annoying screams when I woke her up.

I miss her smile before I slept.

I miss the gentle look that glazed her eyes when we talked.

I miss...

Her...

But missing her wouldn't get her back to me. She would merely turn away when I offered her shelter. Even if I were the last man alive, she would hate me till she left the world as well. I had broken her sacred trust, the trust that she had given to me without warrant, without contract. She just gave it to me because she could.

And I destroyed it; along with my dreams to one day hold her in my arms, as someone she loved. For, one day, Pan would find a man that could love her the right way.

But I won't let any man get close enough to find out...

SxSxSx

AN: Possessive, much! I hope you all enjoyed. This was a chapter, I'm very proud to say, was done in only a few hours. I hope the grammar and stuff isn't too bad. Please review!! Thanks!

Next chapter: The Final Match, and the real key in the story. It's the climax of the tournament, as well as our tale. Will our Team DBZ claim their title again, and learn how to win back the people they had thrown away in anger? Or will our rookies, Team SD, win back their pride, as well as a nice trophy and title? But will the hearts that had once been crushed come back as their ultimate weakness?

Who knows...? (Besides me!)

Well, till next time!

Much love,

Adobo-chan