"Okaasan." Was the only thing she could say. Her voice so soft yet so beautiful. A tear crawled from her eyes down her cheek. "I'm so sorry. So sorry." Her soft voice turned into a mere whisper as she remembered the incident.
****
They had a happy life for six years after Goku disappeared. Pan had turned more beautiful than before. Her fashion sense changed to be more femenine but her tomboyish look was still there. She had attracted quite a lot of boys her age but no one ever could fill the gap in her heart. The feeling was horrible. she knew there was someone she needed. Someone she wanted. But the question was who. She was twenty then. Her getting a job as a music teacher in a music center. But one 'accident' changed it all. Pan had once turned down the marraige of a drug dealer, making him mad. Her mother, Videl was visiting her that day. Videl went inside the music room where Pan was playing her favourite tune. A soft and beautiful music she created with Videl's help. The class was over when Videl visited. Videl sat down beside her daughter as she together played the music with Pan.
****
Pan could still remember the things they talked about that day.
****
"You know as a girl you should get rid of that bandana. You've been wearing that since you're seven." Videl said with a smile on her face.
"You know as well as I do you gave it to me that year. I'm wearing it till I die." Pan replied, continuing her music.
"Don't say die, Pan. It's not a good omen." Videl immediately hushed her daughter.
"Come on mom. You don't believe in all those supersitious stuff, do you?" Pan smiled at Videl.
"Of course not. But the bandana makes you look chilish. How do you expect to get married looking like that?"
"I have dozens of boys swarming around me mom. I'll get one......er...soon." They both laughed. Then Pan gave her mother another smile and played her music all over again.
But little did she know that what the last smile she could give her mother and the last smile she will see on her mother's face. Videl saw a gleaming light of metal behind Pan when she was playing the music and saw it being thrown towards Pan's back. In a blink of an eye, Videl had moved herself in the way of the sharp knife. Before Pan even realised what happened, Videl let out an agonized scream and slumped to the ground.
"OKAASAN!!" Pan screamed. But she knew...her scream was a mere whisper in her mother's ears. In her panic, Pan took off her bandana, took out the knife that was stuck deep in her chest and pressed it against her wound. "Okaasan. I could've survived that attack. I'm a quarter saiyajin. Remember? Why?" Pan franticly asked. Videl weakly raised her hand and grabbed Pan's.
"Be...be...cause....you're...my....daughte r. T....tell...your...father....I.....I..." Videl paused as blood trickled from her mouth. "...love...him.." Her hand loosened from her grip. Her body relaxed and Pan cried. For Pan, the next few minutes was a blur for her. She easily caught up with the assasin and if not for the law would have breaked his body in half. she snapped the bones in the man's right arm and sent him to the police. The next week, she was attending her mother's funeral.
****
"Pan." a soft and filled with pain voice called out her name. Pan turned her body around to look at her father's sorrowful eyes. The funeral was today and her mother's death was still a shock to both father and daughter. All their family and friends came to pay their condolence as they head to where the funeral was to be held.
"Okaasan..." Pan whispered in her hoarse and pained voice as she kneeled down in front of her mother's nearly covered grave, putting a flower gently on her coffin. Gohan too did the same. His flower was a white rose. He claimed it was Videl's favourite colour. The rest of them followed suit. Soon Videl's coffin was filled with flowers and the most painful moment came. They'll have to cover Videl's coffin with dirt. The slow and agonising process made Pan cry silently. It was then she felt a warm hand fall upon her shoulder. She turned her head up and saw Trunks. He was supposed to be what? Fourty? And yet he looked twenty. He was now legally the President of Capsule Corp as Bulma had retired. The warmness in his eyes caused Pan to cry but this time in his chest. She didn't care about the stares around her but she needed someone and Trunks was the one.
"Pan-chan." Trunks whispered in her ear. It was then. It was then she felt her gap was filled. The empty gap in her heart was filled. She felt sorry when she had to let go.
"G...gomen nasai." she whispered, drying the remaining tears in her eyes. "It's just..." A finger was suddenly placed in front of her mouth.
"I understand." Pan gave Trunks a look of attitude. Her mother was buried. The funeral was over but to Pan. Her sorrow had just begun.
For the next few days, Pan was absent from teaching and started to take responsibility in the household, Chi Chi had offered them to come back to the Son house and live with them but Gohan declined. It wasn't fair. Why does it always have to happen to the Sons? Why? Was the question that rang in Pan's head.
Gohan was still sad and his heart filled with Pan but he was good at hiding it. But Pan knew better than to believe his act. Ever since the funeral, Trunks had been dropping in for a visit from time to time. Pan might not see anything in the visits but it sure made her feel better. A whole lot better. About two weeks after the funeral, Trunks asked Pan out. Seeing nothing in the offer, Pan agreed. They met at the park where Pan was wearing a pink shirt that showed her curves beautifully and a pair of tight jeans. Her hair tied into a pony tail.
"You made it." Trunks finally said after a moment of silence.
"Hai." Pan nodded.
"Let's go then." Trunks put out his hand and Pan took it hessitantly. It was as if the touch was electric. For at the touch, her body felt as light as air. Her sorrows were gone and the only thing she had her mind on was having fun with Trunks. The gap in her heart seemed to be filled again at that time.
That night, Trunks sent her home in his car. There was a moment of arkwark silence between them in the ride back home. Pan noticed that Trunks had swallowed a couple of times when nearing her house.
"Thanks for the great time, Trunks. I really appreciate it." She sad politely and slowly got out the car. Some part of her mind was screaming for her to get back in the car! Stay with Trunks! But she ignored it. However, Trunks made the decision for her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back in the car. Without thinking twice, he gave her a kiss. A very passionate kiss. Pan's spirit soar. Her head went light as she returned the kiss. When they broke up, Trunks went into an embarressed state.
"Gomen." He said quickly with his head bowed.
'Baka!' Pan cursed in her mind. Then she realised. The one she needed. The one she wanted. All along it was Trunks. Without knowing and without thinking, She pushed Trunks's head up by his chin and gave him another hungry kiss. Then broke it with a satisfied smile. "Ashiteru and thank you, Trunks-kun." She smiled then waved.
The next day, Pan returned to work. It was then she got her first surprise in a long while. Trunks was standing and waiting in front of the music center for her. A bouquet of roses and other flowers in his hand. Pan gasped in surprise as Trunks head towards her and gave the flowers to her. Then gave her a peck on the cheek. Before he pulled his head back. He whispered in her ears.
"I've always loved you, Pan-chan." He flashed Pan a smile. Pan gave Trunks a smile. Her mind were filled with emmotions. She was happy. She was angry. She was....the happiest girl in the universe. She suddenly leaped into Trunks' arms, throwing away the bouquet on the ground and gave Trunks a hungry kiss on the lips, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Trunks-kun. Thank you. Thank you for making me the happiest girl in the universe. Thank you for taking away my sorrows." She said. Her voice full of gratitude. "And...thank you for loving me!"
"You're very much welcomed." Was Trunks' reply as he gave her another kiss. "I've been waiting for this moment all my life. since your mother died, I had had the longing for you, Pan-chan. I love you."
"I guess mom was the one responsible for this, ne?" Pan said with a small chuckle. "Trunks-kun. Come with me!" she grabbed Trunks' arm and dragged him up the music center. She didn't care about the looks everyone was giving her. She ran into her music room, ushered all her students out and sat down in front of the piano with Trunks beside her.
"What are you doing?" Trunks questioned. "If mom wants us together then I guess we better tell her." was her reply. She placed her slender fingers on the keys and started playing her favourite tune. After a moment, Trunks wrapped his arms around Pan's waist and leaned his head on her shoulder. Pan gave him a smile.
With the music and Trunks' warm embrace, Pan smiled. She was happy. Her mother had brought them together.
"Thank you okaasan." She whispered in her mind. Somewhere. Pan knew. Her mother was smiling.
THE END
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So what do you think of it? ^_^ It just came into my mind. My first Trunks and Pan romance fic! *leaps with joy* Please sent in your comments at Juhachigou@hotmail.com. ^_^
