Life Revival

Chapter Four

By Panny

The next day Trunks went back to the house of women cast of by a decrepit society. There were still some insecurities about his presence but Gladice insisted he was a welcome guest. He left early and returned with a bucket of plaster and sheetrock. With some help he fixed the hole yet again, this time making it look as it had originally. Again, there were some that debated whether he should have done anything with it but he did his best to assure them he had the best of intentions.

He went back again the day after that with even more supplies, promising to help them change the building into a true home. This time his over eagerness brought even more skepticism. As he was about to change the lights on one of the chandeliers in the main hall an unfamilar girl stepped in front of him. He stopped short and stood there as she glared at him.

"Is there a problem?" he asked. The girl scoffed and knocked what he was holding to the floor. "You've been here less than a week an you're already actin like you own the place and I ain't gonna stand for that. I'm tired of you shufflin around like the big man helping all the poor weak little girls. No one needs you so why don't you just leave."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Trunks said in a mix of confusion and anger. "I don't have to be here but I am because I want to help."

"Well being here isn't doing any good. All the girls agree we can do just fine without you."

"All the girls?" Trunks glanced over to where Pan was staring. Seeing her make no protests he nodded his head with a sarcastic smile and shrugged. "If that's how you all want it fine, I'll just go."

~~~~~

Trunks didn't show up the next day or the day after. The girl who had chased him off was shunned by a few of the girls who enjoyed the help and company he had provided and Pan dealt with her herself as well. Despite being there for only a short while there was still a good number who wanted him around. Every time the door opened someone looked at the door expectantly, only to be disappointed.

When she wasn't busy Pan would walk around outside, hoping to see him passing by so that she could explain to him what had happened. After a week Gladice told her to take a break from working since she was too distracted to do things properly. She started sitting on the wall they had first talked on for hours on end, all at the same time berating herself for putting so much effort into something pointless. He was nothing to her and there was no reason for her to cause herself so much sorrow over his leaving.

Two weeks after the incident as a few of the girls were walking through the market they saw him a few stands away. They quickly ran over, hoping to bring him back. "M-Mr. Trunks?" one of them asked to get his attention. He turned around solemn faced and looked at each of them. His eyes drifted over each of them until he recognized who they were. "Yes? What is it?" he asked.

"Well. We were wondering when you might be coming to visit us again." One of them said.

"It was my understanding that I wasn't wanted there." He answered, preparing to leave.

"But that's not true!" The smallest of the group all but shouted. "Sari, she was just upset and she lied. We want you to come back Mr. Trunks. Lady and Gladice say we need you, and the girls like having you around. You're nice to us and showed us that not every man is looking for the same thing."

Trunks stared at them, mouth open slightly. "Is that true?" All of them nodded and proceeded to ask him to come back. Smiling he nodded and followed them back.

~~~~~

"Gladice! Gladice! Come quick!"

Gladice walked in to the kitchen to find a group of girls gathered around a man she doubted would ever be back. Expressing her appreciation for his return she left the room and walked over to the stair to yell up. "Pan! Come on down here! We have a guest and I want you to get some coffee going."

"But Gladice." Pan answered, walking to the top of the steps. "You said I was on break."

"I said you were on break because Trunks was gone, but now you're break is over."

Pan looked down the steps confused then a glimmer of hope flashed across her eyes. Walking down and into the kitchen she stopped and looked at the small crowd and the man in the center of it. Seeing her come in he smiled in her direction. She smiled back at him then walked outside, forgetting about the coffee.

A few minutes later he joined her outside in the bright sunlight.

"I didn't think you'd be back." She said, still staring at the clearing that the house overlooked. He nodded and leaned against the building. "Neither did I." They both stood there awkwardly for what seemed like an eternity.

They watched a pair of squirrels chase each other from tree to tree playfully. Down the road an elderly woman threw out some stale bread, gathering a flock of small birds that hopped around on the ground excitedly. A few kids played a game of stick ball down below them with an obvious disregard for all rules.

"Pan..."

Pan turned to Trunks to see what he wanted. "Yeah? What is it."

"Uh- Well I... you see." Trunks furrowed his brow, angry with himself for hesitating. Realizing he wasn't ready to say what he had planned he changed his question. "Do you want me here?"

"Huh? Well yeah. You're very helpful."

"No, I mean, do YOU want me here."

"Trunks... we're all happier with you here, myself included. I have to go back to work but will you come back tomorrow?"

He nodded and she walked over to the door. "See you later then."