A/N: Sorry for the delay! This was a hard part to write and it took awhile to get it right. Anyhoo, about the Imposter thing- I had nothing to do with what he wrote, and personally, I found it kinda funny once I finally read it… But Imposter-dude, if you're reading this, DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT TO MY OR ANYONE ELSE'S FICS AGAIN, ok? K then. ^-^
"Pikachu! I choose you!"
"Pika Pika!"
"Pikachu, Thundershock, now!"
"PIIIIIKAAAACHUUU!!!!"
"Pan, are you sure you don't want to play?" a little black-haired boy asked his babysitter.
"No, Johnny, that's really ok," she mumbled in reply, not looking up from her book. "Just make sure you two don't hurt each other."
"Ok," Justin, the other boy, replied. The two twins continued with their game, seemingly beating up on Team Rocket.
Pan glanced up at the clock. 7:26PM. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had said they'd be back at around nine.
Great, she thought to herself as Johnny threw himself to the floor melodramatically. Justin walked over and kicked him lightly.
"Johnny Johnson," he said. "We regretfully must admit that you are not Pokémon League material, and we cannot allow you to participate in the tournaments. Sorry."
"Agh!" Johnny cried in anguish, writhing on the floor. And then he fake-fainted.
His brother gave a small shrug and walked over to Pan. "Whatcha doin?"
"Reading."
"What's it about?" He tried to peer over her shoulder and read the small writing of the thick book.
She rolled her eyes irritably. "It's about a girl and a boy and they make love to each other and-"
"Eww!" He backed off, accidentally stepping on Johnny.
"Ow!" he cried, getting up and blindly trying to punch his twin.
"Don't!" And thus broke out a fight.
"You guys!" Pan yelled over the roughhousing. "Justin! Go to your room! Johnny, you go to yours! And don't come back till I call you!"
"But Paaaaaaannn," Johnny whined, giving his brother another kick. "We were just kidding arroooouuunnnddd…"
"I said go to your rooms," she repeated, giving them a death glare, at which they both immediately obeyed her command.
"When mom and dad get home," Johnny murmured to Justin. "We tell dad what she said, and he'll give her a spanking, k?"
"I bet she would love that," he replied, rolling his eyes. Even though they were the same physically except for fingerprints, Justin had always been more popular than his twin and therefore knew more things than he did. Their maturity levels were almost opposite.
"What do you mean?" Johnny asked.
"Never mind. We don't tell mom or dad, alright?"
"Aiight."
They reached the end of the hall then and had to go to their own rooms.
Bra gasped as their lips parted and Goten's tongue returned to his own mouth. "Oh my gosh…"
"You ok?" he asked, looking down at her with a concerned expression. His arms around her waist loosened their grip slightly.
"Yes… Yes, I'm fine, it's just… wow…" She leaned her weight into him. "We should do this more often."
"Yeah," he agreed. He kissed her forehead lightly. "But I have to go. I gotta find someone to buy these Demons tickets before the game starts."
"I thought you were going with Trunks?"
"I was. But he's all worked up about something that he won't tell me about, and I don't wanna go alone. I'd invite you, but you probably don't like basketball much, huh?"
"Not really."
"Ok. Well, I'll see you later then." With a final parting hug, he stood up from the Capsule Corp. living room couch and departed out the door, leaving Bra to sit by herself.
"Excuse me, sir, were you going to go to the Demons game?" Goten randomly asked yet another passerby.
"They was all sold out," the man replied gruffly. "I swea, that casher dude got a bug up his ass. Probably a whole ant farm if ya ask me."
"Oh! Well, I got two third-row seats that I'll sell to you for only partial price!" he exclaimed, holding up the two tickets.
"Ain't that illegal? I don't wanna get in no trouble. Thanks anyway, kid." And he continued on his way.
Goten sighed, an action that made steam emerge from his mouth and into the dark night. Rain poured from the sky and made an annoying pitter-patter rhythm all around. His clothes were all dripping from it, his hair soaked, and his socks were wet as a result from holes in his shoes. There was no doubt in his mind that the storm was only going to get worse from then on. One more try, he thought, then I'll go home.
"Sir!" he cried out, seeing a man with a trench coat holding it around a woman as to keep both of them from getting to wet. "Please, a few minutes of your time?"
"Well… ok…" he replied.
"Were you wanting to go to the Demons game?"
"Yes, actually, I was. Today's our anniversary and we both love basketball, and I wanted to take the two of us to tonight's game, but they were all sold out."
"Oh! Well, isn't that a coincidence! I have two third-row tickets I'll sell to you for half price!"
"Really? Wow," he said, using his free arm to reach into a pocket and retrieve a wallet. He flipped it open, revealing a shiny yellow badge. "I'm from Satan City police, and you, sir, are-"
"Giving my tickets out free to law enforcers!" Goten finished quickly, shoving the tickets into the wife's hand and flying away as quickly as possible.
Pan was never scared of the dark, even as a toddler. She always found it mysterious and curious- and other times, provided privacy. Even sometimes she preferred the dark to the light, which was often too bright.
But now, it scared her.
"AHHH!!!!!!!" Justin or Johnny cried out from their room. "The electricity's gone out! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEE!!!"
"No we're not!" she yelled back, powering up a small ki in her hand to provide light. "We're all gonna be fine! You can come out of your rooms now!"
At this, the twins immediately shot from their rooms and clung to her legs, whimpering. "I WANT MOMMY!" they both yelled at the top of their lungs above the now-roaring thunder.
"I know you do," she replied relatively quietly, carefully not touching them with the hand that held the ki as she waddled over to the phone. She picked it up and prepared to dial. "I'll just call the restaurant they're at and-"
Silence.
"Oh…"
"What's wrong?" Justin asked, looking up at her.
She put the receiver back down. "The phone's dead."
"Where could he be?" Chi-Chi wondered, gazing out the window and into the hell's punishment from the skies. "It's almost ten… He said he would be back from Bra's at nine."
"He's twenty-eight years old, honey," Goku reminded her, walking up and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. "I'm sure he's fine, wherever he is. He'll be back soon."
"I know, but honestly, what a night to be away," she sighed.
"He's probably going to stay at Bra's until the storm passes, even if she is a tad too young for him. Don't worry."
"You're right. I'm just an overly-concerned old woman." She sighed again. "I do hope he's alright."
"Wow, Videl, you cook better than Mom!" Goten praised, his mouth full, gobbling down the food.
"Why thank you, Goten," Videl replied, beaming. She nudged Gohan lightly with her elbow.
"Mhm? Oh, yeah. Good food," he said, continuing to eat.
The three of them sat down at the circle-shaped, wooden table, Goten sitting where Pan would usually sit. He hadn't been able to make it all the way to his house so he stopped by his sibling's instead, to rest until the storm ended. He tried to call back but- of course- the phone was dead. In any case, it didn't look like he was going to be leaving any time that night anyhow.
The food was chicken and fried egg over rice, which Videl had been able to make/steam over a small fire, provided by Gohan. She didn't do so badly if she did say so herself, even if it was a rather late dinner by a few hours. The drinks were water and they used candles for light.
"What a storm," Goten remarked. "Satan City hasn't seen something like this in awhile. Mom's probably worried I got caught up in it."
Videl glanced out a window. "Um… dear," she said, addressing Gohan. "It's awfully late. Do you think Pan's alright?"
Gohan swallowed a mouthful of rice and answered, "The parents are probably home by now; she's probably spending the night there. I'm sure she's fine."
"Still, I don't want her to be at some else's house if a flood starts. Please, honey, can we go pick her up?"
"Sure," he replied, standing up. "You can stay home with Goten, Videl, I don't want you to catch a cold."
"Well…" She glanced at Goten, who was looking up at the two of them with large, innocent eyes. "Alright. Be home soon."
"You know I will," he said, getting his jacket and strolling out the door. "But don't be surprised if I'm not back 'till morning."
Pan stared at the police officer, unable to believe what she was hearing. On either of her sides, Justin and Johnny stifled a whimper. The officer nodded slightly.
"I'm very sorry. Were you their daughter?" he asked.
"What? Oh… no. I'm their babysitter," she replied, indicating the twins. She shifted her weight uncomfortably in the doorway. "Would you like to come inside?"
"Alright." He stepped in, Pan closed the door behind him, and they all settled down on the living-room couch. "I'm very sorry, boys," he said. "I know how hard this is. But, I assure you, it was instant. They felt no pain."
"MOMMY AND DADDY ARE DEAD!! WAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" they screamed between sobs. They clung to Pan's sides and she hugged them tightly.
She closed her eyes. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson…. So nice. They were like second parents to her. And now, just like that, because of some dumb old rain, they were gone. Forever.
A feeling of dread overtook her. She groaned slightly, as if she had a stomachache. Her insides churned. She realized tears were running down her cheeks but she didn't bother to wipe them away.
There was a knock at the door. The constable stood up and answered it.
"Hi!" Gohan's voice greeted. "I'm Pan's father. Um… Why're you here? Did she do anything illegal?"
"Oh! No, sir, she didn't." He turned to Pan. "Miss Son, is this your father?"
"Daddy?" she asked, standing up with each of the boys in an arm.
"Pan!" he called, pushing passed the officer and walked over to her. "What's the matter?"
"MOMMY AND DADDY ARE DEAD!! WAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" Johnny and Justin wailed again.
"What?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Johnson died in a car accident an hour ago, because of the storm," Pan explained, trying to keep her voice level. "We just found out; that's why he's here." She indicated the sheriff.
"Oh… I'm so sorry, boys," Gohan said softly. "I really am. Pan, they can spend the night at our house tonight, if they want."
"I don't think so," the officer interjected. "The storm's not at it's worst quite yet- I suggest you four spend the night here as you might get killed yourselves. I don't know what I'm gonna do, the cruiser's not used to this kind of weather."
"There's two guest rooms," Justin managed to whimper. "You can sleep here, too. Pan or her dad can sleep in our… parent's…"
The twins buried their faces in Pan's sides to muffle their cries [ooh it rhymes]. She patted their heads awkwardly. "What do you think, Daddy?"
"I guess we should do what he says. Videl'll be worried, but she'll understand," he responded, then turned to the police-person. "You can stay if you want."
"Well… alright."
Little Pan, it's time to play.
"So, Videl," Goten said, sitting down on the couch. "Looks like it's just you and me tonight, eh?"
She sighed, shifting her weight slightly. She sat on a stool in front of the window, staring out into the millions of droplets of rain pound into the earth, over and over and ceasing to stop. Somewhere out there were her husband and daughter, and they weren't with her. Instead, she was stuck with her brother-in-law. "Yeah, I guess so, Goten."
There was a small moment of silence between the two with the pitter-patter and occasional thunder in the background. All of a sudden, Goten started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Mmm nothing. Just that me and Trunks were supposed to go to a Demon's game tonight. You know, basketball? Yeah. Well, anyway, the game's supposed to be still going on, and everyone's stuck in the stadium. Heh. Probably have to spend the night there, man, I'm glad Trunks called it off."
Videl stared blankly. "Yes, well, I do suppose that's funny… Sort of. Gohan and I were never really big basketball fans."
"I figured." He sighed and sank into the couch a bit deeper, staring up at the ceiling.
Videl sighed as well and turned back to the window. Gohan, Pan, where are you?
Pan tossed and turned about in the large bed meant for two, not being used to its size or how much comfort it offered. Also, she feared Matt would come that night- it was the last thing she needed at a night like that. And, to top it all off, the rain was still pouring down, worse than ever now, and the wind seemed to pound against the walls that surrounded her.
Well, well. It's about time you got a bed fit for both of us.
Matt, please, not tonight.
She heard a small rustling sound beside her, and before she knew it strong arms wrapped around her waist and cold lips pressed against her cheeks.
Rachel's dead.
What?!
I said Rachel's dead.
She killed herself? Why? I thought she liked you.
Yes, well, that's the thing I can't figure out. She was fine one night- and I do mean fine- and the next morning she was dead. I didn't do anything, she didn't do anything, it just was.
Weird…
I never liked her anyway. You were always my favorite.
The arms tightened slightly as he pulled her closer.
That's really nice, Matt, and if I am your favorite, can you do me a favor?
Like what?
Like not doing this tonight. I'm depressed because of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and… I doubt my ability to… uh… "perform" for you tonight. You do understand?
I understand, but Pan… it's raining. After all I've done for you- your singing career, your thing with calculus, and stuff- can we do it? I'd feel horrible doing this when you're involuntary, but you know it won't stop me. And I've always wanted to do it in the rain.
Outside? You're joking, right?
Nope. I'll soften the rain a bit, just for us, if you'd like.
No, Matt!
He sighed softly. His arms relocated themselves in a way so he could pick her up, which he did, and walked over to the left wall- facing the outside. He kicked it softly; it collapsed forming a nice little hole, and he stepped out into the storm.
I'm sorry, Pan.
-An hour later-
He lay a few feet away from her, on his back and panting. The rain- which had softened- made sparkles across his body. His eyes were closed so Pan assumed he was asleep. Quietly, she managed to creep away back into the house, picking up her torn garments as she went.
She collapsed onto the damp bed, shivering and soaking wet. She lay there, waiting for the blood from her wounds to disappear as it always did. After about ten minutes of waiting, she looked up at Matt.
"Well?" she yelled out.
Ungh.
What's the matter?
That felt better than I thought it would… Mmm….
Yes, well, if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep tonight, sooo if you could heal me and leave, I'd be grateful…?
Nah… Let's do it again!
Before she could protest, he was once again in bed with her and another "session" began.
He was crazy, no doubt about that, Pan decided. He was being so incredibly rough and forceful that she wasn't sure how much more she could take, even after a few minutes. The pain was past hurting- it was overwhelming.
He'd ripped, bit into, and nearly crushed her till blood flowed. A sudden sinking sensation overwhelmed Pan suddenly, and her greatest fear then was that all her insides would seep through "down below".
Enough was enough. Pan's conscious separated from her mind and her body relied only on her instinct-, which was to try and destroy this… person.
She powered up for a Kamehameha attack and went all out.