A/N: This chapter has been edited 12/8/14.
Co-Starring Characters: Ami Mizuno (Sailor Moon); Momo Adachi (Peach Girl); Kain Akatsuki, Hanabusa Aido, Senri Shiki (Vampire Knight); Mao Mizusawa (Kimikiss). Google for visual emphasis :)
:*: Pan's Hell Week :*:
The cool November breeze blew through the cherry blossom trees that were rooted throughout the Briefs property. The only sound in the house was that of the tree limbs tapping on the windows. Operation Vorce appeared to have been successful. Bulma and Vegeta , well Bulma anyway, thanked the teens for everything and dragged her husband upstairs. They both looked eager, a little too eager, to go to bed. In the kitchen, the sound of faucet water and dishes clashing together filled the air as Goten and Marron scrubbed away. Pan cleaned the counters while Trunks and Bra returned the dining room to its normal complexion. After a brief contemplation, the two decided to leave the family pictures up on the wall.
Once the dishwasher was humming and the black granite counters were sparkling, the five teens gathered in the dining room and sat at the table. Trunks unfastened his tie and let it dangle around his neck while Goten balled his up and tossed it at Marron's head. She simply exhaled in exhaustion and dismissed his antics.
"I feel like I've been standing all day." Bra raised her arms over her head, giving her back a good stretch. "My legs are kind of sore." The other four nodded in agreement. "Marron, Pan, do you still want to go in the h-o-t-t-u-b?"
Their faces glowed at the idea. Without speaking, the three scrambled away from the table and headed upstairs to change.
Before the boys could process what plans the girls had made, they were already headed upstairs without mentioning a word to them. Being left out, Trunks and Goten had a brief staring contest as if reading the other's mind to see what they should do now, and soon decided to eat the leftovers from dinner.
The girls tossed their towels on a stone bench near the hot-tub and slowly eased themselves into the boiling bath of water. Pan swiftly dunked her head under water and inhaled a deep gasp as she returned to the surface. "Wow, that's hot!"
"Hence the term "hot tub", Pan." Marron nudged her with an elbow.
Pan smoothed her palms through her hair to move it from her eyes. Her right hand sent a small sting of pain, but nothing intolerable. She caught herself holding it in her other hand above the water, remembering those blue eyes that were set on hers with an unreadable expression just over an hour ago. Had the flame not caught her hand, she wondered how long Trunks would have prolonged the moment. She wondered why he was even looking at her like that to begin with.
Marron and Bra copied Pan and dunked their heads under water, then tied their hair into careless flops on the top of their heads. They each rested their heads on the plush perimeter of the spa and closed their eyes.
The stars shone brightly in non-cloudy areas, as did the moon whom illuminated every cloud that dare cover it. The moment was absolutely mesmorizing as the cool air tingled their exposed flesh.
An audible moan hummed in Marron's throat as a warm sensation caressed her shoulders. Snapping from the hypnosis, she shot an eye open, wondering what was touching her. "Goten!"
"Sorry, but you guys looked so comfortable. We just had to join you." He replied as he and Trunks bombarded from both sides and eased themselves into the water.
"Wow, this water's hot! Oh yeah, it's because we're in here." Trunks and Goten exchanged a cocky smirk as they sat at the ledge, letting their lower legs warm in the water.
Pan and Marron rolled their eyes in disdain at Trunks' remark. Marron grabbed his hand that was resting at the ledge nearest her and pulled it towards the water. "Get in, the water's not hot enough." She added onto his arrogant role.
"Alright, alright, give me a minute." His face twisted in pain as the heat boiled over him. In the blink of an eye, Marron was standing square in front of him and pushed his shoulders down, forcing the rest of his upper body into the water. He shrieked in thermal shock, then gripped her leg under the water and jerked it so her head slipped under the surface. "Yeah, let's see those cheer muscles put to work now." He teased, calling truce when she had his hair balled in her fist.
Pan's mood plummeted as she listened to the two of them interact and watched involuntarily as their hands touched and pulled at each other. Attention gravitated to Marron like a magnet, or that's how Pan saw it anyways. She hated that she actually felt jealous, or upset, or some negative feeling manifesting itself right now as the laughter continued. Before Trunks had gotten with his recent girlfriend, Ami, he and Pan used to be playful like that. Pan has always had a crush on him, but knew he didn't see her that way, so she didn't make anything of the hair pulling or biting. Ah, she had forgotten about the biting. She always felt her body grow limp when his warm mouth engulfed her for the slightest moment. Then, out of nowhere, the playing stopped. He seemed to have distanced himself from her. It wasn't long after when Marron introduced him to Ami, and they had been together since. Well, on and off anyways.
She respected his relationship, all relationships in general, so she wasn't one to be touchy with somebody else's boyfriend. She often found herself comparing herself to Ami. Why was Ami preferable over her? Why did their friendly relationship abruptly change in that month prior to dating Ami?
Frustration, envy, insecurity overwhelmed her, causing her eyes to spring open as she shook her head and mentally slapped herself. I am one of his closest friends, I should be grateful for that alone. She remembered being confronted by Marron. She had caught on to Pan's subtle blushes and smiling around Trunks.
"Pan, do you like Trunks?"
She had completely caught her off guard, so she answered with the safest response. "No, of course not. He's my friend, that's it."
She wasn't lying, they were just friends. But she did lie to the first question. She wanted more. The thought scared the hell out of her, but deep down, she knew she wanted more.
"Earth to Paaaan. Pan!"
Pan's attention shot towards Bra who was waving her hands in her face. She felt the frustration etched on her face, but hoped that Bra or the other two didn't notice.
"Oh, sorry. Getting kind of tired I guess. I need to get home anyway, school tomorrow. Goten, can you give me a ride?"
"Yeah sure, I'll be in in a few minutes."
Pan entered her room and threw her overnight bag onto her bed, then fell backwards to lay next to it. Her eyes wandered about her black painted walls and the numerous photos plastered upon them. She had several photos of her sports teams since she could play any sport she signed up for. She also had several photos of her with family and friends, one of which she stood up to get a closer look at. On her mirror, there was a picture of her and Trunks from only a year ago. They were at his friend's house party, posing in the kitchen with their red cups in hand, his free arm around her waist while her free hand made the infamous peace sign. They were both laughing, at what she can't remember. A smile curved the edges of her lips, but faded as she remembered who had taken the picture. Marron. The woman who stole his heart away and gave it to Ami Mizuno.
With these thoughts racing through her head, Pan dragged herself into her shower and tried to occupy her mind with other things. She focused on her waterpolo championship this weekend. For the past three years, Orange Star High had held the championship title, mostly because Pan was their lead player, and she was determined to keep it that way. Besides, it was her senior year. She can't have second place on her college application.
Monday was going pretty normal for Pan, except for the fact that she could not take her eyes off of Ami Mizuno. She could not figure out what Trunks saw in her. Sure she was smart, really smart, long dark blue hair, and she was pretty good at volleyball. She was only partially popular because she was involved in just about every club that the school had.
"Ugh, I give up!" She grumbled as she threw her head back.
The class lightly snickered as the teacher turned away from the whiteboard and lowered his glasses at her. "Is there anything you'd like to share with the class, Miss Son?"
Pan looked up, slightly startled. "Oh, um no Mr. Gawasaii. Sorry."
"Well then, if you are finished interrupting, I am pleased to announce a new project. Based on your readings of historical non-fiction, you will write a sixteen hundred word essay." The class moaned in protest as he handed out the assignment instructions. "It is due Friday, so get to work-"
"Friday?!" Pan jumped from her chair and slammed her hands onto her desk. "Mr. Gawasaii, that is hardly reasonable! I have practice every day this-"
"Miss Son! You will learn to hold your tongue while a superior is talking! Now sit!"
Pan crumpled her paper and folded her arms as she returned to her chair. How can this week get any worse?
Later that day, Pan returned home physically exhausted from a three hour practice, and now she had to mentally exhaust herself over a stupid essay. She could hardly remember what book she had read to base the essay on. As she entered her house, she dragged her feet passed the living room and towards the stairs to get to her room. "Hi mom, hi dad." She waved to her parents who were in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.
"Pan," her dad called. His voice didn't sound too friendly, and she was curious as to what she had done this time.
"Yeah?" She gripped the stair railing.
"I got a call from your English teacher today."
Oh. That. "Dad, it's totally not fair. He could have at least given us the weekend to work on it. I have practice all week and championships Saturday, it's impossible. I'm sorry I'm not as smart as Ami Mizu-" Pan stopped herself, forgetting where she was and who she was arguing with. Ugh Pan quit thinking about her! You're becoming obsessed!
"Ami? Who's Ami?" Her father asked, confused.
"Nobody. I'm going to bed."
"Pan, come eat before it gets cold." Her mom butted in.
"Maybe later, I'm not very hungry." She continued up the stairs at a much faster pace, ignoring her mother's pleas for her to join them.
Once inside her room, she tossed her waterpolo duffel bag aside and fell back onto her bed. As she watched her fan go round and round, she continued to contemplate on Trunks and why everything was bothering her so much. She couldn't have Trunks, he was a friend. She didn't even want to try for anything with him. She would surely mess something up and ruin their friendship forever. Those eyes over the candle light though... He was just messing with her. It must've been an elongate scowl since she had claimed victory in reaching the candle first. It meant nothing to him. 'And it meant nothing to me.' She closed her eyes as she repeated this over and over to herself, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
Tuesday and Wednesday didn't go too well for Pan either. She was now behind on her essay since she passed out Monday evening, she was on the teacher's bad side, and today Bra had some interesting news.
The three girls found their table at lunch and prepared their food as usual. "I was having a casual conversation with my brother last night and it turns out he and Ami finally split."
"Really? When?" Marron asked with her mouth full.
"Apparently a couple days ago. He didn't say why, but he ended it. That's all I know."
"Wow, and right before his birthday. That means there are going to be a lot of giddy college girls at his party this weekend." Marron pointed out waving her fork in the air.
Pan's eyes widened. "He's having a party this weekend?"
The other two stopped chewing and stared at each other. "Yeah, a group of his friends are planning a surprise party for him Saturday night. Goten was supposed to tell you..." Bra frowned as her friend sank her head into her hands. "I'm sorry Pan. I would tell them to change the night but-"
"No, it's fine." She combed her fingers through her hair and poked at her food. 'I think this week has reached far beyond the worse limit.'
"Well, I don't care if it's my brother's birthday or not. I'm still going to your game."
Pan feigned a small smile. "Thanks."
Marron patted a hand on her back and sighed. "I would go Pan, but I was included in the party plans so I have to be there. I'm really sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
By the time Friday rolled around, Pan was a complete zombie. She handed in her essay as requested by the teacher, then rested her head on her desk to catch some much needed sleep. She had gone the entire week without seeing her friends outside of school and locked herself in her room to work on homework. Now all she had to focus on was becoming Tokyo Champions and she could be herself once again.
"I will have your essays graded by Monday. Have a beneficial weekend." The lunch bell rang, marking the end of fourth period and the beginning of lunch. Pan jumped into the crowd of people filing out of the classroom but felt her arm being grabbed and yanked back.
"What the-"
The blue haired student released Pan's arm and adjusted her white blazer. "Hi, Pan. Do you have a minute?"
This was the last person Pan expected to talk to today. "Oh, hi Ami. Yeah, sure."
"As part of the yearbook committee, it is my duty to photograph and document all major sports activities. Since you are the star player of this weekend's waterpolo championship game, I was wondering if you would join me at lunch today to answer some questions."
From the moment Pan agreed to this lunch date she felt the awkwardness multiplying around Ami. She wasn't sure if it was the graceful way she walked, the odd silence that surrounded them on their way to the cafeteria, or perhaps it was the fact that she was Trunks' ex-girlfriend.
After a couple of sport-related questions, the girls took a break to eat. Pan couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled when the sunlight hit them just right. Maybe it was little things like this that attracted Trunks to her.
"Is there something wrong?"
Pan averted her gaze. "Sorry... You have pretty eyes." Ami thanked her for the compliment and even laughed about it. Afterwards, they held a casual conversation and ended up laughing about several things. After several minutes, Ami regained her composure and shuffled through the papers in front of her.
"Okay, I just have one more question. The theme of the year is wish upon a star, so my question to you is if you could have any wish granted, what would you wish for?"
Pan's expression slipped into one of deep thought. "Anything I want, eh?" Everyone at school saw her as a funny, class-clown jock. They would expect her answer to be no more homework or teachers to get off her back. But now, her mind drifted to a certain someone. She shook her head viciously, trying to get the thought out of her head. "I wish... that basketballs would never deflate."
Ami chuckled at the answer and wrote it down. "Okay, all done."
RIIIIINNNNGGGGG
Lunch was over. Pan and Ami threw out their trash and started towards the doors. "Um.. Ami?"
"Yeah?"
"I heard about you and Trunks..." Pan dropped her head, wondering if now was the right time to bring it up.
"Oh. Don't worry about it. It would've never worked."
"Why do you say that?"
"He's a sophomore in college. You know how college guys are, all guys are the same once they hit puberty. Plus... He always seemed bored, or distracted on our dates."
"Did he say why he wanted to end it?" She held a casual tone to not seem overly-interested.
"Yeah. He said there was someone else." Pan's ears perked up. Someone... else? "He also said that dating me was a way of forgetting this other person, but obviously it didn't work."
"Oh. I'm sorry Ami, but you're right. Maybe it's for the best." Ami nodded in agreement. "You know, honestly I didn't like you very much before today. But I've learned that you're a really down to earth person."
"Oh, well thanks, I guess." She laughed. "I wasn't very fond of you either. I just thought you were incapable of learning anything educational and were a complete sports airhead."
Pan took a moment to pull the daggers out of her heart. "Gee, thanks Ami." The girls stopped in the center of the hallway, preparing to part ways.
"So, good luck at tomorrow's game. I'll be on the sideline taking photos, so smile."
Saturday
Pan slowly stirred out of her sleep and wiped her eyes. She had actually gotten a full night's sleep and felt rejuvenated once again. "This is going to be a great day." She sat up and stretched her arms while releasing a yawn, then threw her green blanket from her legs and stood to her plush pine green carpet. As she skipped to the bathroom and hopped into the shower, she remembered one particular event that was sure to ruin her mood. "Trunks' birthday..." Her game started at seven while his party started at nine. And surely his someone else was bound to be there. Maybe it was a good thing she was unable to go. Leaving it at that, she put on a happy face and marched downstairs to join her parents in a healthy breakfast.
Afterwards, the teen went for a jog around the neighborhood to let off some pre-game excitement. She always found it soothing to run throughout the calm streets. The neighbors were friendly and the different landscaping on each property was interesting to look at. She inhaled deeply as a breeze began to blow, was this the natural high anti-drug spokesmen ranted about? Aw yes, this day was going well.
"Hi, Pan."
"Huh?" She slowed her pace to a halt and looked behind her. "Kain? I didn't know you lived here!"
Kain Akatsuki was the lead player on the men's waterpolo team. The ladies went wild for his mysterious personality and tousled blonde hair. "I didn't know you lived around here either." He rested his elbows on the black iron fence that surrounded his property as Pan approached him. "Nervous about tonight?"
She shook her head. "Not really. Just excited. How about you? Your game starts at six, right?"
He nodded. "I'm pretty excited I guess. Hey, if you're not doing anything this Friday, do you want to catch a movie or somethin?"
Pan froze. A date with Kain Akatsuki? A girl would be insane to turn down such an offer! Her answer almost leaped out of her mouth, until he flashed through her mind. "I... I would love to, but-"
"Boyfriend?"
She bit her lip."No. I'm not sure what I'll be doing next week or if I'll be grounded but I can let you know later on..."
"Okay, that's cool. Good luck tonight. I'll be cheering you on." He gave her a heart-crushing smile as he turned to return to his large white stone home. This wasn't the first time he and Pan had conversed, of course. They were both much involved with sports so they'd see each other at practice, sports events and yearbook pictures. They haven't spoken much, but enough to know each other as acquaintances.
Later that day, Pan met with her teammates in the school parking lot as they awaited the buses that would transport them to their match in Tokyo. Tokyo was about two hours away from Satan City so the girls and boys prepared themselves for a long trip. At three o'clock, the buses pulled in as scheduled and the girls piled on one while the boys piled onto the other. Pan sat with the main goalie on the team, Momo Adachi.
"So, we get to Tokyo, win, then senior dinner afterwards. Sounds like a good day."
Pan chuckled at her friend's confidence. "I am totally psyched." She loved the adrenaline rush of competition.
"Hey ladies, I have an announcement!" The girls turned their attention to the middle of the bus where another senior player, Mao Mizusawa, stood, smiling dubiously at Pan. "I have been told by a very reliable source that Pan got asked on a date by Wild!" The girls gasped in unison and whirled around to stare at Pan.
"No way! How lucky!"
"Pan, why didn't you tell us?!"
She hid her face in her hands. How in hell did she find out? She slunked herself in her seat and prepared for a long bus ride.
"Alright ladies! This is what we worked all season for. Show that Tokyo High School that Championship title belongs to us!" The coach threw her hand in the center of the huddle and the others followed."1, 2, 3, ORANGE STAR!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tokyo's twelfth annual High School Women's Water Polo Championship. This year, the three time champions Orange Star High will be up against Tokyo High School. Tokyo has held a remarkable record of scores this season..."
Pan tuned out the announcer's voice as she basked in the moment. Her and her teammates stood on the side of the pool in their black swimsuits labeled with an orange star on the back and on the chest. This would be her final time defending Orange Star's title. She felt Adachi grip her hand, meaning she was probably thinking the same thing. Pan scanned the audience for familiar faces. She saw Ami in the front row along with a couple others from the yearbook committee. In the middle of the bleachers she saw her parents and Bra sitting together. Bra and her mother waved frantically at her and cheered her name. As she lowered her head in embarrassment, her eyes locked with another familiar face. It was Kain, otherwise known as Wild to the female student body. She saw he was with two other boys from the men's team, one of which was his blabbermouth cousin Hanabusa Aido, or Idol, another thanks to the female student body, and the other was Senri Shiki. All three of them were much liked by the female eye, and she feared this sudden news of Kain and her would attract unwanted attention from the girls at school.
As the announcer neared the end of his speech, the players entered the water and got into position. This is it. She thought to herself. Her eyes locked onto the lead player of the opposing team for the pre-game intimidation stare.
"Tokyo High, Orange Star, are you ready?" The players flashed their ready gestures, which was a peace sign for Pan's team. "Let the match begin!"