When the Furture Falls For the Past Part Five: What They Can't See Mirai Trunks and Trunks waited outside Orange Star High School for Bra and Pan to finish for the day. While Trunks was un-nerved by the stares of people passing by, Mirai Trunks stared off into space. "Trunks-san! Tru-chan!" pan called as she stepped out of the school. She waved as she and Bra weaved their way through the mass of students. "Bra-san. Pan-san," Mirai Trunks said, a smile on his face as he caught Pan's eye. "Hey Pan-chan, Bra-chan. How was school?" Trunks asked as the four walked to the car. "Too long," Pan replied. She ignored the envious looks of her school mates. "Interesting if you like staring at the clock for hours on end," Bra said. "Where's Goten-san?" "He's training for some tournament," pan replied. "I'm going to enter it as well. How about you Tru-chan?" "Of course. And I've managed to get Trunks to enter it as well," Mirai Trunks said. He grabbed Pan's textbook and flipped through it as they drove off in the car. "What are you studying?" "Bioenergetics," Pan replied. "You know anything about it?" "Some. With Bulma-san for a mother and Chichi-san always making me study when I was little, how could I not?" Mirai Trunks asked. 'Wanna spar later?' 'You bet!' Pan replied eagerly. "Then could you help me with my homework? Tousan and Kaasan are going to a social in town tonight so I can't ask them for help," she said aloud. In the front seat, Trunks pouted a bit because Pan hadn't asked him for help. "I could help you Pan-chan," he offered. "No you can't," Pan said. "Why not?" Trunks asked, slightly offended. "You and Bra-chan are going to the social with your parents," Pan replied. "That's why I asked Tru-chan for his help." "Hai. I'd forgotten about the social. But who am I going to take with me?" Trunks asked. "Marron-chan is free tonight," Bra suggested innocently. "Then I'll ask her when I get home. Ja na pan-chan," he said as Pan got out of the car, pulling Mirai Trunks with her. "Ja ne !" Pan called when she reached the front door. She unlocked the door and pulled Mirai Trunks in with her. "Kaasan! Tousan! Tadaima!" "I don't think they're home Pan-san," Mirai Trunks said when there were no greetings from her parents. Pan just shrugged and led Mirai Trunks upstairs. "Here's the plan," she said. "We do my homework, eat something then spar. Sound good?" "Sounds good," Mirai Trunks said, shrugging off his jacket. Pan dropped her school bag on her bed and pulled out the work she needed to do. "Let's get to work on this then," she said. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mirai Trunks leapt out of the way of Pan's latest attack, but he wasn't totally successful. He crashed to the ground. He got to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. Pan landed lightly on her feet near her best friend. "Are you okay Tru-chan?" she asked as she walked over. "Hai Pan-san," Mirai Trunks replied, giving Pan a rueful smile. "Where'd you learn that move?" he asked. "I made it up," Pan said proudly. Mirai Trunks' smile grew. "Could you teach it to me?" he asked. "You're gonna have to persuade me to," Pan teased. Mirai Trunks caught Pan and began to tickle the teenaged girl, making it impossible for her to escape. Pan collapsed against Mirai Trunks in a fit of laughter. She struggled weakly, gasping for breath. Mirai Trunks stopped tickling Pan for a second, long enough to ask the girl if she'd teach him the technique. Pan took the opportunity to twist around to face Mirai Trunks. She glared up at her friend. "That's not gonna persuade me," she said. Mirai Trunks grinned. "I'll teach you how to fight with a sword if you'll teach me that technique," he offered. "That'll persuade me," Pan said. She gave Mirai Trunks a quick hug. "When do we start?" she asked. Mirai Trunks returned Pan's hug then released the girl. "How about we start now?" he suggested. *************************************************************************************************************** "Did you ask her?" Marron questioned Bra. Bra nodded and smiled. "She said she'd choose Mirai-san," she replied. "Why would she choose Mirai-san?" Marron asked. "Pan-chan said she wants a warrior. Trunks-chan isn't enough of a warrior for her," Bra replied. *********** Trunks and Goten were hiding behind a group of potted plants and listening to the girls. Goten was trying to calm down a steaming Trunks. "How dare she say I'm not warrrior enough for her?" Trunks hissed to Goten. "I'm sure she didn't mean to insult you. She's just stating her preferences," Goten whispered back. "Do you want to hear what they're saying or not?" *********** "I think she's out of her mind. Trunks-san is soooo much better than Mirai-san," Marron said. She was still miffed from Mirai Trunks' refusal to flirt with her. "Tousan said that Pan-chan is the only one of us who acts like a Saiya-jin female should," Bra said conversationally. "How do you mean?" Marron asked. She was curious to know. "Tousan said she was choosing the strongest male as her mate, even though she isn't in heat yet," Bra replied. "I'd have to agree with him." "She's chosen Mirai-san as her mate?" Marron asked increadiously. Bra nodded. "And according to Tousan, Mirai-san has also chosen Pan-chan as his mate. They've bonded." "So, she's thinking about him when she's got that faraway look on her face?" Marron asked. "Lie. She's probably talking to him. Kaasan and Tousan can do that sometimes," Bra replied. "Not often. But sometimes." "Sugoi! Who would've thought that Pan-chan would be the first one out of all of us to find her lifemate?" Marron asked. "Pan-chan and Mirai-san don't know that they've chosen and accepted each othe ras mates though. They don't even know that they've bonded. All they are right now is close friends," Bra said. she smiled. "That means you have a clear field with my brother," she said impishly. "Hey! At least I'm close to his age!" marron protested. "Goten-san is 14 years older than you are." "Your point is?" Bra asked calmly. She took a sip of her punch. "I wonder what Pan-chan's doing right now." *************************************************************************************************************** Pan lay on her side in the graa if the field she and Mirai Trunks had sparred in, fast asleep, her head pillowed on one arm while the other arm was draped across her friend's chest. Mirai Trunks lay on his back, his eyes on the night sky, his arms behind his head. He occassionally turned his head to lookat the girl beside him, a smile spreading across his lips. "Why do I feel so safe around you Pan-chan?" he asked the sleeping girl softly, feeling it was okay to use an affectionate term because she was asleep. "Why can you alone make me feel whole again? I thought I'd lost all hope after my world was destroyed until I met you. Why are you the one who brings hope back into my life?" Pan just sighed in her sleep and snuggled up against Mirai Trunks. *************************************************************************************************************** "Why doesn't he just admit that he cares about her?" Piccolo asked irritably. He and Dende were watching the two again. Dende just smiled. "He's afraid. And he doesn't know how much or why he cares," he said. Piccolo only grunted and turned away. "What is he afraid of? He's one of the strongest warriors in the whole universe." "You were afraid to admit that you liked Gohan-san when you first got to know him. It's sort of the same for Mirai trunks, except he's afraid that Pan-chan won't return his affections," Dende explained. "It should be interesting to watch these two souls come together."