Finding Inspiration
By: LLy
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT.
AN: Sorry for taking so long with this next chapter, but ff.net was having a lot of problems…anyways, thank you so much for all those who read the first chapter and many, many thanks to the reviewers
Special thanks*gWeN, SpawnofKakarot, Anime Ambreen, Aguinasmd, Bra-chan101*
It was no easy task carrying the out cold CEO into her home and it was an even harder task hauling him into the room and into her bed. He weighed a ton! But of course that was expected and Pan was no weakling herself. But still! If she hadn't continued her exercising and training all these years, moving Trunks would have been trouble. Then who knew where they would be!
"Oh well," she sighed as she removed his shoes and his over shirt. "At least he's getting some much needed sleep." With a sharp tug, she brought her heavy floral comforter around him and neatly tucked him in.
"All done. Now you better get a good night's rest and thank me in the morning for being a very gracious host." The only response she got was the sound of weight shifting in the bed.
Pan allowed herself a moment of affectionate gazing at her old friend before leaving the room, making sure to turn off the light and close the door softly on the way out. She crossed the archway between her room and the rest of the house and step into her lightly furnished living room, yawning tiredly along the way.
To the wall alongside of the archway was a miniature 2 seat beige couch. It was a tad dusty and Pan admits, with slight shame, that she had been neglecting her furniture. Opposite from the couch, on the opposed wall, was where the mighty television sat, on a wooden table. Adjacent to the television set was the 'kitchen', where a stove, refrigerator, and a hanging shelf were positioned. The wall that separated the kitchen and the living room was plain, with the exception of a standard hanging clock and various posters from plays performed at her university. The last wall, the wall containing the apartment door, was where Pan's favorite furniture, a broad writing desk, and a fine oak chair were situated. All in all, it was a basically furnished apartment, but Pan was more than glad to have it nonetheless.
With only a few steps across the small living room, Pan had reached her beloved table spot and plopped down on the wooden chair seated in the corner. She lowered her arms and head onto the mahogany desk in front of the chair and gave a tired moan. The parted curtained window, positioned between the door and the desk, revealed that evening was fast approaching, with the twinkling stars already appearing in the sky. It was a beautiful site to behold, had Pan looked out the window instead of resting her head on the desk.
"Great, what do I do now?!" she murmured into her arms. "I gave him my bed and I would have a sneezing fit on the couch, so I'm not even going to try. I'm not desperate enough to be sleeping on the floor." She brought her head up and got off the chair, stretching and doing some air punches to wake up. "Since I probably won't be sleeping this evening, I might as well finish some insurance files." Pan worked for a car insurance agency part-time to pay her college and living expenses. As much as she loves her parents, she didn't want to be dependent on them. Pan prided on being a well off, independent 23-year old college student.
In fifteen minutes time, Pan had a pot of coffee as well as insurance files taken out of her work briefcase, laid out on her desk and everything all set. With a final enthusiastic stretch, she began the intricate paperwork diligently, sipping coffee from time to time to keep awake. Without her conscious of it, hours hastily passed and soon even the sun was beginning to rise above the mountains.
Looking out the window, Pan was surprised to see the stars gone and the sky filled with developing sunlight. She swiveled in her chair to look at the hanging clock behind her and is stunned to see that she had worked the night away and that it was nearly time for her morning classes. In fact, if she didn't hurry, she might even be late!
The coffee was rapidly gulped down and all the paperwork promptly gathered up and put away. Pan soundlessly rushed into her room (so as to not disturb the still sleeping occupant in the bed) and into the bathroom within the room, grabbing a new change of clothing along the way.
In a matter of minutes, she stepped out of the bathroom thoroughly changed, brushed, and groomed. Instead of yesterday's outfit of jeans and a tied-dyed shirt, she had changed into a suitable pair of khakis and an eye-pleasing blouse with a blue unbuttoned sweater on top. Her hair was no longer tied messily into a ponytail and was instead let loose, revealing soft, waist length long hair. Small, delicate glasses framed her face, where there were none yesterday. Finally satisfied with her appearance, she was ready to leave but remembered about the sleeping guest in the house.
"No doubt he will be wondering where he is when he wakes up. Better leave him a note." Pan, with a pen in hand, thought briefly about what she will write.
'Trunks,
I met you wandering the streets yesterday and you looked absolutely beat so I offered you my place to crash for the night. Hope you had a nice snooze. Anyways, feel free to use the bathroom or anything else you might need. Oh, yeah, there is hot coffee on the kitchen counter and some pastries on top of the fridge if you feel hungry. Well, have classes now. Talk to you later.
Pan.'
It was a very brief explanatory note, but it would do. She left it on the mini stand to the side of the bed, where her small lamp and her high school graduation picture stood.
The picture, though slightly browning even with the protection of a frame, was truly cherished by Pan and she felt a need to keep it close by her when she slept. It was the portrait of a very triumphant 17-year old Pan, complete with a commencement gown, cap, and a diploma at hand, with her fingers gestured as victory signs and a goofy I-did-it smile on her face. The entire crew was there in the picture as well, from her parents to the Briefs to even Piccolo, had on either the same jovial expression or gesture in their manner (excluding Vegeta and Piccolo, who feigned indifference) or was crying from utter happiness. It may be just a simple ceremony, but it meant deeper to her; it was the last time everyone was together completely. The memory was both a happy and sad reminiscence, for while it was a joyous happy occasion, it was also the time before everyone had gone their separate ways. The picture never moved from its spot on the counter and doing so served as a daily reminder.
Mood slightly dampened, Pan leaned down and gave her resting friend a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"I miss you, do you know that?" She was tempted to just stay and wallow in memories, but she was reminded by the sounds of chirping outside that she still have classes to attend.
With a sad smile on her face, she closed the door to the room once more.
TBC
Comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading and please remember to review!