Disclaimer: Akira Toriyama is the rightful creator of DB, DBZ, and DBGT.

A/N: It's been…four months and I know that I have been ignoring this fic for a long time, but I seriously had no idea what to write next. I'm sorry for letting all of you wait this long, I truly am. (Special thanks to Fireluvangels for encouraging me so and to all my readers)

When Two Worlds Combine

Chapter 11 – Letting go

"Love."

Oh how the four-letter word pained her so. The word she desperately wanted to hear, but at the same time she feared.

Her mind had gone completely blank, yet her mouth opened and closed several times, her lips wanting to form unsaid words.

Her gaze was pinned to the floor, erasing the man in front of her from sight. She didn't want to see him. She didn't want to see the eagerness in his eyes. But most of all, she didn't want him to see her like this.

She was in a state of complete vulnerability.

"Panny…?"

Her body flinched noticeably. She could tell that he saw how uncomfortable she felt because he mumbled a quick apology seconds later.

Conflict soon rose in her head as thoughts began to rush in and out of her mind. She knew that she had to come up with an answer, but the question was…how would she respond?

Pan didn't even know how she felt anymore. Seeing him here, next to her brought back old and strong exploding feelings. But…she also harbored feelings of resentment towards the man that rejected her.

It was clear to her then that she couldn't possibly make up her mind, and even if she could, she wouldn't have enough courage. And so, without even saying a word, Pan dashed back up the stairs and into the safety of her room.

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What a long night it was. A retreat filled with joy and pleasure.

Bra and Marron had just been dropped off by Goten and Uub and within minutes, the two started to converse in all that had happened during their outing. The four of them had gone off to a club, then to a romantic candle light dinner chez François, a new French restaurant that had just opened downtown.

The pair already secured their night in town in their memories. This was something that they would never forget. This special night would have been complete if their dear friend had tagged along. Pan could be so stubborn at times. She insisted that the two would have a much better time with their lovers if she weren't there.

Bra and Marron seized to pester anymore after that. They knew what Pan meant.

She would end up being a third wheel.

The two girls had always been protective of their friend since they were small. Being the baby of the group, it was their first instinct to stick close to Pan. But as they grew up, their protectiveness waned realizing that they could not protect her as much as they used to. They kept different agendas now.

Pan had grown up a lot. The mischievous girl that she used to be had grown a softer side. She became a lot more mature and level headed, though she always kept her confidence.

Her friends were proud and letting go wasn't easy, but in their hearts they knew that it was time. Maybe they had always known that this time would come, but they never wanted to admit until the moment arrived.

"Hey…do you think Pan will be okay?"

Bra turned around in surprise. Marron had caught her off guard while she was still occupied with her own thoughts.

"I'm sure she will be." She paused, then added, "She's Pan after all."

Marron grinned knowingly. It was useless to bother with the matter any further. Pan would pester them to no end insisting that she would always be alright, no matter what happens because she would always have great friends.

Tears would always well up in Bra's eyes when she said that. Next thing you know, she would give the ebony haired girl a big bear hug.

"Let's go check up on Pan." Marron said, taking her keys to the apartment out of her purse. Bra smiled and nodded.

Once inside their cozy household, Bra and Marron rushed pass the kitchen into the living room to get a hold of their roommate. But their thoughts of Pan vanished as they froze before the spectacle in front of them.

"Nii-chan?"

Bra looked completely flabbergasted as she stared at the man that was her so called brother. Marron peeked in from behind her aqua haired friend and yelped in surprise as she also fell into a stage of puzzlement.

Trunks seemed equally stunned as he stared back at his sister and friend.

"What are you doing here?" Bra hissed as she lowered her voice for fear of alarming Pan.

"You don't need to whisper Bra, Pan already knows I'm here." Trunks replied, sweat dropping.

"WHAT?" The two girls exclaimed, their eyes as wide as saucers.

"How did you get in…?" Marron was the first to recover.

"Yea, we didn't even give you a key yet." Bra added, putting her hands on her hips.

Trunks fell silent and prepared for the worst. He knew his kid sister would throw a nasty fit knowing he would do something so reckless.

"…I climbed through Pan's window…"

"You what?" Bra shrieked, turning towards her friend for some support. Though her reaction wasn't what she had expected it to be.

Instead, Marron stared at Trunks for a while, merely reflecting on what had happened thus far. Then, to Trunks' surprise, her lips broke into a smile. She walked up to him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"That'd a boy, Trunks." (A/N: can't spell XD)

Bra gaped. "Marron! Have you just lost your mind? My brother just broke into Pan's room!"

Marron grinned. "Well it wasn't the best option, but I'm glad he did that anyway."

Trunks eyed Marron uneasily. "Is this some sort joke?"

The blonde shook her head. "No, it's not. I think you did the right thing."

Marron paused as if trying to form a better explanation.

"I think it was destined to happen sooner or later and I knew that it would be you, Trunks, that would come back for Pan again."

Bra's shocked expression softened at Marron's words. In her heart, she knew that it was bound to happen too.

She ran up to her brother and hugged him tight. "You better take care of our Panny, okay?"

Now it was Trunks's turn to smile. He hugged the two gratefully and the three stayed that way for some time.

Yet when all seemed bright again, something unexpected happened.

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Pan sat on her bed in her dim lighted room. She hugged her knees tight close up against her small frame and laid her face in her arms.

She was once again left confused and distraught.

Seeing Trunks again opened unhealed wounds. His face replayed over and over again in her mind, it was paining her even more. And better yet, she had fled from him. His confession was left unrequited and empty.

What was he to her?

She didn't know exactly, but she wanted to find out. Maybe after thinking over everything again she would know, but not now, she didn't want to realize anything now.

'…I'm exhausted…' Pan concluded.

Just as she slipped under the covers again, Bra and Marron rushed into her bedroom, slamming the door wide open.

Stunned, Pan stared at her two friends. "Oh hey guys, I didn't know you were home…" Her voice trailed off as she sensed the building tension in the atmosphere.

"Pan…Trunks, he…" Marron began, her eyes uncertain.

Pan sighed. "Yes…I know. I was talking to him not long ago." She thought for a flickering second that they had caught Trunks in the house after she had retreated back to her room.

"We know, we…we already know." Marron's voice trembled.

"Oh…well…" Pan answered, looking down at her hands uneasily.

"My brother is leaving for the London tomorrow!" Bra blurted, unable to control her voice.

Pan's expression turned blank as Bra's words echoed through her head.

'Trunks is leaving for London…?'

A/N: A little longer than I expected. ;p Thanks to everyone who read the previous chap, and I hope to see everyone again soon. (And I apologize if the chapter wasn't to your liking, but I hope it wasn't all that bad.)

P.S. Previous chap is not chapter. 9, it's chapter 10. My bad