Author's Note: Yep, second chapter! Read and enjoy! (My goal ^^')
Here's the chapter you've been waiting for!!!
Chapter 34
Speeches
Raven eyes opened slowly, blinking in confusion. "…Huh?" Eyes that were not yet accustomed to the light continued to blink. "Wha…?" the voice was hoarse from the lack of use. Orbs drifted around the room, landing on a sleeping form sprawled out on a chair next to her. The form, who had tried to get comfortable in a chair, had unmistakable lavender hair. "T-Trunks?"
The figure's eyes fluttered open, landing on the once sleeping figure. She's awake…? He thought. Impossible! "…Pan?!" His eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-where am I? What happened?"
"Pan.. You're awake…"
"T-Trunks? I don't get it what-"
Trunks stood but did not rush by her side; he only stood at the foot of the bed. "I can't believe it Pan…"
"Believe what?"
Trunks chuckled slightly. She was awake no more then a minute and already making demands. How typical. "Don't you remember anything?"
Pan's eyes traveled from Trunks' ice blue orbs to his arms; there were long, not-healed-quite-yet gashes running down them. She tried to sit up, to demand what had happened and gasped in pain when she tried, falling back to the bed.
Oh, she remembered now.
Water started to form at the corners of her eyes. "T-Trunks," she stuttered. "What's going to happen to me? You know it wasn't me, right?"
Trunks offered a small grin and walked to the edge of her bed, sitting down by her feet. "We-"
A solider walked into the room, interrupting Trunks. "My Prince? Oh, Son-sama, you're awake!" The soldier grinned and bowed slightly-for himself or for Pan, Trunks wasn't sure-then continued. "There's a crowd outside wanting to see Son-sama, and it's getting rather large…"
"They're not rioting, I hope."
" 'Nay, sir, they're not. You yourself might want to go out and tell 'em to scat."
"Whoa-wait a minute," Pan said, looking from Trunks to the solider. "You mean, they know I'm innocent?"
Trunks grinned, and nodded. "Yeah."
"And… they want to see me?" she asked.
"Yes…" Trunks wondered briefly where she was going with this.
"Well then I'm going."
"What? Going where?" Trunks asked, his hands crossed in front of his chest loosely.
"Going to see them. They want to see me… right?"
Trunks was too shocked to speak, so the soldier spoke up, grinning. " 'Yay, Son-sama, they do…"
Pan winced. "Call me Pan, sir, or at least Son Pan," she told him. The title 'Son-sama' just didn't suit her.
Trunks recovered from his shock. "You can't go… you just woke up," he protested. He then smirked and added, "Son-sama."
She glared at him lightly. "I'm going, Trunks."
Trunks laughed and stood, walking out of the room. "I'll go deal with the crowd-you need to rest."
"Did you hear me, Trunks Briefs Vegeta? When I say I'm going somewhere, I'm going."
Trunks turned halfway to see Pan, who was struggling to stand. Her hand gripped the railing along side the hospital bed, pulling herself over so that her feet were hanging off the bed. Her teeth were clenched tightly in pain, though she tried hard not to show it.
Trunks walked over to her, shaking his head slightly. "Look Pan, if you really want to go, I'll help."
Pan froze and almost fell back down. "What? You'll help? Did I hear you correctly?"
"Count your lucky stars, Pan, because this is a once in a lifetime thing," Trunks said with a smirk or a smile, Pan couldn't tell.
Trunks shook his head softly, sending his hair rippling around his face. Gently he picked her up with one hand under her knees, and the other under her upper-back. Why am I taking her? He asked himself. He didn't have answer for that or the fact that his spirits lifted slightly when she was awake.
Pan was shocked into silence for a few moments. "Trunks? Are you all right?"
"Of course," was the self-assured reply.
"Are you positive?" she questioned, tilting her hear slightly to look up at him.
"Only fools are positive," he answered with a smirk.
"You sure about that?" Pan asked him.
"Positive."
Pan snickered as Trunks sighed and dropped his head as he walked out of the hospital wing. " 'Son-sama', you are testing my patience," he grumbled.
She grinned, ignoring the name. "Good. I was beginning to think something was wrong with you."
As Trunks carried Pan down the hallway, Pan saw soldiers give her a small nod of respect, greeting both Trunks and herself. Surprised at their change of attitude, she blinked blankly at them.
"You said I was innocent-who was the real assassin?" Pan asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Doshen." That name made Trunks narrow his eyes in hate.
"Doshen?! No way… I knew I didn't like him for a reason… Natural instincts, I guess." She gave him a lopsided grin.
Trunks didn't return the smile, face withering. "Yeah. Natural instincts." Looked like he didn't have them.
Pan looked confused at his sudden change of attitude, wondering what had gone on while she had slept, and realizing that she'd never truly know. "You ok?" No answer. "…What happened?"
"Nothing." The answer was harsh, and Pan was taken aback from it.
"Liar." She poked his side with the hand that didn't have the broken arm, trying to lighten the mood. "Tell."
"When you look at me, what do you see?" he suddenly asked.
She blinked at the brazen question, but answered simply. "Trunks."
He gritted his teeth angrily. "That's not what I meant."
"But that's what I see." Understanding washed over her abruptly. This all started with the word 'natural'. Someone had probably accused him of not being natural; it was bound to happen some day. "Trunks, are you saiyan?" she asked.
He looked away from her, stopping his feet. "My father asked me that."
"Well, are you?" she pressed.
Reluctantly, he answered. "…Yes."
"Then why worry what others think?" she asked. "It doesn't matter what's out here-" she tapped his shoulder- "If you have what it takes in here." At that, she tapped his chest, his heart.
Pan's words froze him, and numbly, without saying another word, he continued on down the halls.
Trunks arrived at two large double doors-the doors out of the palace-and was about to open them when Pan halted him. "Wait."
"What?" he asked, wondering if now she was too frightened to go out. There was a whole crowd of people wanting to see her and her only.
"Put me down."
"What?!" Trunks exclaimed, incredulous.
"Put me down," Pan answered him casually. "You know, on the ground?"
Trunks blinked, then shook his head. "But… you're not strong enough…" he protested weakly.
"I'm stronger then you think," Pan answered him indignantly. "Now put me down!"
Trunks slowly let her feet touch he ground, still keeping his hand around her shoulders, as to make sure she could handle it. "You all right?" he asked her.
"Of course I am," she snapped. When her feet first touched the floor, she found her footing quickly. "Now remove your hand."
"All right…"
As soon as Trunks removed his hand she gasped as her weight came crashing down upon her legs. Swaying on her feet she winced, trying to stay standing. She could feel her head pounding and her legs screaming in protest, but she willed herself to open the door.
She was on top of a flight of white marbled steps, and at the bottom were hundreds-no-thousands of people, standing there. As soon as they saw her, they burst out into cheer.
A chant began sweeping its way through the crowds, Pan watching with incredulous blinking eyes. "I… I…" she said, her voice no more then a whisper.
Trunks laid a hand on her shoulder, careful to be gentle. "They're waiting for you," he said. "Now go talk to them."
"Me?" Pan squeaked. "Talk to them?"
Trunks chuckled slightly. "Yes. You're the one who wanted to come." The chanting finally reached his ears-they were chanting 'Son Pan.'
Pan turned from Trunks to look out at the crowd, trying to gather courage she didn't have. "People of Vegeta-sei," she started.
Trunks was standing right behind her. "Louder, Pan." She glanced to him, then back to the cheering crowd. "They're waiting…"
"People of Vegeta-sei!" she cried. The crowd instantly silenced. She had their full attention now. Great…"You are my friends, my family, my people." Pan looked out at the sea of happy, grinning saiyans-a rare sight indeed-and gulped. They were all here for her, to listen to her words and watch what she did. "I am honored to have your support and your respect. I just found out only a few moments ago that my name was cleared, and that a crowd of saiyans were waiting for me.
"I am still healing-as you can see-" the cuts on Pan's arms and the few gashes on her face spoke for themselves- "and it had brightened my spirits to see that so many saiyans are awaiting my return. I know now that my recovery will be a swift one with all of you backing me. Thank you." With a shaky hand, she made a fist a raised it, blocking out the pain that it caused her to do so. She felt her knees began to buckle, and her vision dampen. No, I can't fall unconscious yet… not yet… Willing her body to stay and stand, she refocused her eyes at the crowd. They had mimicked her movements, their fists all raised as well. "For the glory of Vegeta!" she cried, pumping her fist into the air.
The answer from the crowd was resounding, as they repeated her answer in a single, united voice. "For the glory of Vegeta!"
Author's Note: Well, how'd ya like it? Was it what you expected? Hehe! Reviews, please!
And as always, thank you!
"Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'"
~Yoda