Disclaimer – ...I'm kind of broke right now...(-.-)
A/N: Hi! coolkitty2 here! Thanx for the reviews!!! They were simply wonderful!!! Thanx! Sorry for the wait, here's a new chappie for all of you! Enjoy!
Ages – Trunks – 28 Pan – 20 Goten – 27 Bra – 21 Uub – 27 Marron - 22
Reminder – "blah" means speaking 'blah' means thoughts ---o--- means flashbacks
Reviewers – Thank you all so much!!! I wouldn't have gone this far without you guys... (tear tear)
Now on with the chappie!
When Two Worlds CombineChapter 8 – Revealing
"May I help you Miss?"
Pan flipped around at the man who addressed her. Ah, he was an elder...she noted.
She was inwardly relieved that it wasn't one of the many men who had come up to her with a flirtatious smile, she was getting really bored with the continuous cycle; first, the man would come up and lay a small kiss on her hand without considering her answer. Then he would get her up on her two feet and ask for a dance. And finally, she would decline the invitation politely...and then the man would still insist on one blasted dance and so...she would give in and accept with a forced smile.
Her feet were starting to ache and she felt so sore for her knees and down...curse Bra's high-heeled shoes!!! How did she survive in these??? They were hard to walk in and they cramped your toes with every single step! Hmm...but she had to admit...she was impressed that Bra can even walk in these type of shoes. Forget about running...
Just then, Pan blinked as she realized that she hadn't answered the elder man's question. She hoped that he didn't think of her rudely... The girl gazed up at the man's surprisingly sincere face, she blinked again as she looked at his attire.
'Is one of Trunks' butlers...?' She wondered as she gazed at his clothing. He was dressed in a white dress shirt with a black vest on top. He had matching black pants and dress shoes. He looked like the type who was very devoted to his work, and Pan couldn't help be admire that in a person.
She smiled softly and shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm sorry that I didn't answer you earlier, I was just thinking...I apologize for my rudeness.
The butler smiled once again, he nodded in an understanding way. And with a small bow, he left into the opposite direction.
'I guess I do seem kind of lost...maybe I should start searching for Trunks...' And with that thought in her mind, she turned around and headed down a different passage. Unfortunately, she returned into deep thought unexpectedly and didn't notice anyone in front of her as she collided into them, and before she could even stop and regain focus of the situation to apologize, the person did that for her.
"Sorry Miss, didn't see you there...hey!"
'Ah! That voice seems it be...???'
-x-
Where was she??? Counting last time, she had stood him up twice already!!!
Well... "stood up" isn't really his word of choice for this case...I mean, they didn't really promise to meet each other right away, but nonetheless, he should have a least catch a glimpse of her through the crowd. Or a small sign that she had attended the ball!
Argh...he was getting too riled up...he really needed to call down... Anger was not the best look on him, it wasn't the best time to get so angry either, they were people here who expected the host to have a pleasant feature and not so much as a nasty one glued onto his pretty face. Especially the ladies, they would prefer the flashy heart-melting grin of his.
He couldn't argue with that, he would choose that over anger any day!
Boosting his ego a little more, he then decided he would go and grab a small glass of champagne.
-x-
"M-mark! H-how...w-where...?" Pan stuttered as she stared at him with obvious surprise.
The handsome brown haired man chuckled softly as he lifted the girl from the ground. He helped her up and held her hand in his, still smiling.
"T-thank you..." Pan said as she pulled her hand away from his, embarrassment written all over her face.
"Don't mention it! So what's a lovely lady as yourself doing out here, away from the party?" Mark asked as he gazed at her face curiously.
Pan gave him a lop-sided smile and laughed nervously, blushing madly.
Mark waited patiently as she answered. "Um...well...I think I'm kind of...lost." Pan replied as she scratched the back of her head. Mark laughed at her silliness and poked her playfully. He then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her into another hallway and into a rather large room.
As Pan took her first few steps into the ballroom, her eyes suddenly bulged out as she took in the size of the room.
"I-it's humongous!!!"
Once again, Mark laughed as he led her further in, drawing her towards himself as he snaked an arm around her waist. Pan, who seemed oblivious to this movement, joined her companion's laughter. Just then, as she continued her giggling, an image of a certain handsome lavender haired man flashed before her eyes.
She gasped in realization as she looked around frantically, trying to find a clock or something similar to it. Spotting an old looking grandfather's clock, she gasped once again – except this time, it was a gasp of horror. Mark, who had been observing her different reactions for the past few minutes, tapped her shoulder lightly.
Pan whipped her head around and looked up at the man before her. Mark smiled down and offered his arm, Pan glanced down at it with slight confusion but before she could utter a single word, he pulled her away to another unknown spot.
"Are you thirsty Pan?" Mark inquired as he dragged the ebony haired girl along with him.
"Um...I guess...but I have to find – "Mark just flashed her a smile, stopping her through mid-sentence.
'Ack! Everything's happening so fast...! I'm going to end up apologizing to Trunks again!!!'
Pan just hoped he wasn't too mad/upset with her...
Boy, was she ever wrong...
-x-
"Ah...uh...Mr. Briefs...?" One of the braver butlers asked as he stepped in front of the boiling man.
"WHAT?!" Trunks snapped as his eyes...which seemed to have fire in them glance down sharply at the now trembling butler.
"Ah...sir...are you alright? Should I arrange something for you...?" The poor man suggested as he continued to tremble like a leaf.
"NO." Was Trunks' single booming answer. The butler nodded quickly, terrified of what this man would do to him if he didn't disappear from his sight. And so, he mumbled a chaste apology and ran for dear life.
-x-
He wanted to rip this guy's head off!!! Who did he think is??? How dare he call himself a professional businessman!!! With his behavior tonight, he didn't seem like the serious type who was here on official business!!!
Instead, he was draping over a girl! And not just any girl!!! This girl was his own personal secretary! Of all the nerve!!! He was so furious he couldn't even stand in one place, he just darted forward to the destined spot. He was boiling with rage no...he wasn't boiling...he was enraged! His own business partner trying to act like the man of the party when he should be! He was getting all the glory and compliments at his ball!!! He planned this! Not some big-shot named Mark Devero!
And to tick him off even more, he's hugging Pan so close to him! Must think he's some kind of God with that smug grin on his face! Heh, he won't be smiling anymore after what he was going to do to him! Yeah...he would beat the shit out of him and claim his Pan again!!! Boy would that feel good...wait...wait just a second... His Pan??? Did he actually think of those words???
Couldn't be...he would never...I mean she was just another lousy female! ...right...?
Argh! This was getting him confused and the more he thought about it, the angrier her got! He decided that he would just throw his frustration on Devero...the rest would be determined real soon...
-x-
"Um...Mark...?"
"Yes, lovely?"
Pan was getting really nervous as she stared back at those light brown eyes...sure he was a nice guy and all but she couldn't help but feel a little...tensed when she was beside him. ...Maybe it was just her imagination...? Yes, that was it, I mean, how could a nice guy like Mark be a bad guy? He had such a sweet smile...
"Pan...? Are you okay?"
Snapping out of her reverie, Pan quickly recovered and smiled. "Sorry...I kind of dozed off there...heh, I must seem very silly to you."
"No, not at all...actually it's quite the opposite..." Mark said as he lifted her chin gently but Pan felt something otherwise, something that wasn't gentle at all...brushing it off Pan made eye contact with him.
"uh...really? So I'm not as crazy as I think I am?" Pan smiled slightly, trying to make conversation.
Mark grinned and shook his head and then he did something Pan never thought that any man would dare do to her, he bent do and positioned himself so his face were just centimeters apart from hers...
Inwardly...Pan was panicked and slightly furious with him...
'...Is he going to do what I think he's going to do??? Oh no, oh no! Do something Pan! Push him away! Slap him! Tell him that it's making you uncomfortable!!! Do anything!!!'
Just when Pan opened her mouth to protest, something hurled them apart, causing Pan to trip back and land on the cold marble floor.
"Owch...," Pan moaned as she blinked and glanced up with a frown at the person who supposedly didn't look where he/she was going. But as she stared at the "person", her frown turned into a nervous panic and disbelief as she continued to stare at her boss.
'ACK! It's Trunks!!! Of all the rotten luck...and he appears to be so...angry too...I could even sense the fiery aura around him!!! I'm really in for it now!!!'
-x-
Mark was thrown against the wall roughly and he glared up at the man before him. Regaining his posture he re-fixed his bow tie and gave out a small sigh.
"What did you want to talk about Briefs?" He said casually as he dusted off the front piece of his suit.
"You know darn well what I want to talk about! What was that stunt that you pulled off on her back there?!" Trunks seethed furiously at Mark, his ki was rising at a dangerous level.
"What did it look like to you Briefs?"
"You were going to kiss Pan!!!"
"Wow...did it take you that long to figure it out?" Mark replied sarcastically as he glanced back at the ballroom. He was already losing interest in this conversation.
"You never mentioned to me about that Devero; she's my secretary and a close friend to my family so keep your dirty hands off of her or I'll-"
"Or you'll do what exactly? You're going to make me pay dearly? Don't make me laugh Briefs!"
"Devero...!" Trunks simply said as anger overtook his body, his fist was clenched tightly. Mark knew that he was playing with fire and he knew better than to anger his partner...but seeing that jealous expression of his...well, it provoked him to tease him a little more.
"Look Briefs, why are you taking this so seriously? She's just your secretary-"He paused as he noticed that the man wanted to counter his statement and so, he quickly raised a hand that signaled he had to wait until he was done talking.
"Anyway...jealousy does not suit you at all my friend...take it from America's top bachelor, it'll be good advice for Japan's number one bachelor eh?" Mark grinned as Trunks grimaced in disgust.
"It almost seems like you have feeling for this girl Trunks, am I right?" Mark inquired with a raised brow.
Mark noticed that his companion stiffened and tensed at the question and smirked inwardly, victorious with his way of stabbing at the sensitive spot. He always did have his ways with words.
-x-
"I wonder what Trunks wanted talk to Mark about...he seemed pretty furious when he dragged him out into the hall..." Pan pondered, as she murmured out loud to herself, but then she gasped as horrific realization came into mind.
'What...what if Trunks wants to fight Mark??? He's going to pulverize him..no..he's going to kill him!!! I got to stop this!!! Trunks looked angered before...who knows what he might do!'
And with that in mind, she set off down the hall, hoping that she wasn't too late...unfortunately for her, she was about to overhear a couple of secretive words that weren't meant for her ears and it would eventually tear her apart...
-x-
"I-I do not...have feeling...for her...!" Trunks retorted as he stuttered slightly.
A smirk found its way onto Mark's lips. So...he does feel more than friendship towards Pan...hmm...this might get a tad bit complicated...
"Is that the truth? You don't feel anything else towards the girl? Because you know Briefs...if you feel any other type of feeling besides friendship..."
"You don't need to remind me Devero, I know what I said before and I'm going to keep my end of the bargain, I think she's already falling for me anyway...but you know...if I succeed in doing so, you better keep your end of the deal, got it!" Trunks snapped but then as he looked up again, ready to glare menacingly at his partner...Mark's face seemed to pale slightly as he looked beyond Trunks...
Trunks spun around and stared at the figure who stepped out from the corner. His breath was caught back in his throat and he continued to stare...unsure of what he was to do... His handsome face paled visibly mimicking Mark's.
"So...I-I overheard you two talking about...me? I'm right aren't I?"
Both men gulped and paled even more...if that was possible. So...this was how it felt to hit rock bottom... now, as they looked at the woman before them...who was trembling, they felt so...angry with themselves for hurting such a creature... Knowing that she was hurting inside was overbearing...for the both of them...
"I guess...I am pretty clueless to fall for such a trick...what a fool I was..." Pan said softly as her body shook with mixed sadness and frustration.
And then...before any of them could emit a word...she turned around and ran.
A/N : Aw...poor Pan... ( If you want to know what happens next I guess you just gotta review right? hehe Thanx to all you wonderful reviewers! I'll update soon! Bies for now!!!
-coolkitty2