Disclaimer- I don't own DB/Z/GT, but you can try to sue me if you wanna waste your time. I don't have anything worth suing for, so there.
A/N- Sorry this took forever! Last parts are always the hardest, and I've been busy over the summer. Anyway, here's the last part.
RIP
Justin
… … …
RIP
Johnny
… … …
RIP
Officer-person
… … …
RIP
Gohan
… …
I hate you.
I know.
Why?
Why what?
Why do you insist upon ruining my life?? My life used to be perfect- well, almost perfect- and then you go and trash it all up. Why? What had I, or any other of the girls, ever done to you?
Nothing…
Then why?!
BEEP! BEEP! BEEEEEEEEEP!
Pan's eyes shot open as the alarm clock went off. She listened a few moments after setting it off, but Matt's reply didn't come, so she got up (a bit reluctantly), put on a robe, and made her way to the bathroom.
["Pan! Kami! You're alive!"]
Mr. Satan's hall between the room he had lent to her to her bathroom wasn't too long, but rather large. The floor was of white tile, and a thin red carpet ran down the middle. Stone columns ran up on the walls every twenty feet or so. It was all nice, and definitely expensive, but rather irrelevant, Pan decided as she arrived at the bathroom door.
["Mom, I'm fine! Where's dad???"]
Upon entering, she dropped her robe and turned on the shower water. The bathroom, which was just as nice-looking as the hall, contained a shower, Jacuzzi, sink, water fountain, and, of course, the toilet.
[Videl held her daughter close and whispered quietly, shakily, fighting back the sobs that forced their way through.]
Pan considered briefly whether or not to use the Jacuzzi, which was warm and relaxing, but that's not what she wanted. Relaxing gave her time to think, and thinking brought back memories, and memories haunted. Even after a month, she did not need reminding of what happened during that stormy night.
["You were the only survivor, dear… Again… Everyone else died… Again… Those two little boys, that officer, and your father… You were untouched."]
She stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash over her body. She took at least three showers a day now; it was so easy to slip away from reality in the sweet-smelling fragrances of one of Mr. Satan's bathrooms and the inviting water surround her almost completely. It wasn't relaxing, exactly, just allowing her to drift away from any unwelcome thoughts. Or words.
Pan sat up. There was rubble and wreckage all around her, and the only thing she could recognize were the houses along the street. Only she was sitting in a bed, but outside? Peering at the ground closely, she could just make out carpet covered in debris.
The house had been knocked down.
Again.
And nothing had touched her within a six-foot square that surrounded her.
Again.
Everything else was destroyed.
Again.
Only now she wasn't worrying about the lives of Marron, Krillen, and 18. Now she feared the death of her father, and the two boys she'd been babysitting before their parents died during the storm. Thinking about it further, she realized she also worried about the police officer that had stopped by and spent the night.
"Mama," she whimpered, falling back into the bed and trying to wish it all away. Of course, it didn't go away, and in a few hours time the ambulance and police officers and detective came and, well, did their job.
It was all her fault.
Again.
Videl stirred her tea quietly from one end of the long table. At the other end, Mr. Satan ate his Lucky Charms rather noisily, while to the right Buu was gobbling down his large plate of chocolate chip Ego Waffles with chocolate syrup.
Pan pranced into the room, holding a large plate of scrambled eggs and a fork. She plopped down at the left side of the table and began eating. She wasn't smiling, but her eyes glittered- a sign she was in a peaceful mood. Good.
"'Morning, Pan," Videl said cheerily, trying to start a nice conversation.
Her eyebrows scrunched together, and her eating slowed slightly, but there wasn't any other response. It was as if she were disgusted at the thought that her mother would even dare try talking to her.
Videl sighed. How quickly her life had gone downhill in only a few nights. Her husband was dead. Her daughter was giving everyone the silent treatment- except apparently Trunks, but that wasn't important. Everyone else she knew suspected Pan as a murderer, and the evidence was against her, giving Videl's social life the smack down. But at least they all came to Gohan's funeral… How she missed him…
Videl's eyes brimmed with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. The crying stage was over. Now it was time to get on with her life.
Pan, meanwhile, was matching Buu bite-for-bite, seeing who could finish eating first, and Mr. Satan watched slightly amused. Only because Buu had started eating first did he win the little competition, and he gave a little chuckle before marching away from the empty plate.
"You'll beat 'em next time, Pan-chan," her grandfather said encouragingly.
She managed a small smirk.
"Videl!" he called down the table.
"Yes, Dad?"
"You've been staying here for, what, a month now? I don't mind, of course, but when are you planning to go back?"
"Soon… I think I'm going to sell the house, though; I can't bear to live there again. If that's alright with Pan, that is…?"
Pan stared blankly at Buu's empty chair.
"I'm sure it's fine with her." Mr. Satan finished up the last marshmallow, gave a brief excuse, and left the table.
"This is my best plan yet!" Trunks exclaimed, giddy with excitement. "I swear I'm a genius sometimes. I've figured out how to bring Gohan, Marron, Krillen, and everyone else back to life again!"
"How?"
"Has your dad ever told you the story about Planet Namek? How they got everyone Frieza killed to come back to life again?"
"Of course," Pan replied, still confused. "They used the Earth Dragonballs to wish back everyone Frieza had killed within the last year, and then the last wish of the Namek Dragonballs to transport everyone except Grandpa and Frieza back to Earth. So what?"
"Sooo we can gather up the Dragonballs and wish back everyone you've killed within the last year! Meaning, everyone Matt made you kill!"
"I don't know, Trunks, what're we gonna tell everyone when people who're supposed to be dead aren't?"
"We can… we can… We can tell them we wished back everyone who died of house collapse in the city… Yeah, that'll work," he said with confidence.
She looked at him a little skeptically. His eyes gleamed with optimism. She once again marveled at how determined he was to solve her problem. It was kind of him. It was almost as if…
Nah. He just wants his Marron-chan back.
Shut up.
"You really think this'll work?" she asked, still doubtful. "I mean, even if it does, what'll happen to Justin and Johnny? We can't wish their parents back…"
"No," he agreed, "but hey! They can stay at the Capsule Corp! I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind none." His grin widened.
"What about your dad?"
His smile faltered a moment and he gave an impatient shrug. "Who cares? Anyway, you're gonna have to help me with this plan, especially since I'm doing it all for you, ok?"
Not for you. For Marron.
"Sure, what do you want me to do?"
"Well, we'll collect all the Dragonballs a lot quicker if we both look for them. My dad has two- I think he still wants immortality. So that's five. I'll get three, you can get the other two, ok?"
"K."
["Does it matter anymore?? They're dead! That's all there is to it!"]
His grin widened. "Alright, then. I better be off, my lunch break's almost over. See you."
"Bye."
He got up and walked out of the Starbucks they had chosen to meet in, leaving her to sit with herself. The café was nearly empty- the only other people in it were two old men drinking their coffee and reading a newspaper, a worker sweeping the floor, and the cashier chatting aimlessly on the phone from boredom.
She sipped her mocha quietly. Choir practice began in an hour, but she didn't care much to go. Why had she signed up in the first place? She couldn't remember. Something to do with Matt. After the rehearsal was the tutoring session with Trunks. Again, it was something to do with Matt, as he always gave her the answers. Then, head to her grandpa's (Mr. Satan's) house for dinner and stay quiet for the rest of the night. Staying quiet, once again, was an affect from Matt. He seemed to take over her life now, even though he rarely showed himself. It was all part of
[an insane girl's dream]
the new life-style he had given her and many other girls.
She finished her mocha, tossed it into the garbage, and headed off to the school auditorium.
"You're what?" Mrs. Wright demanded.
"I don't want to be a part of the choir anymore," Pan repeated.
"But… but… The spring concert is only weeks away! Who's gonna head our Panis Angelicus?"
"Bra's quite a singer, I think."
The large, plump woman heaved a sigh, then turned to the choir, which was already lined up on the stage, ready to begin. "Bra, dear, may I have a word?"
She hopped down and scampered over to the teacher. She gave Pan a smile, then turned to Mrs. Wright. "Yes?"
"Pan here would like to resign from the choir. Would you like to take her place in 'Angelicus?"
"Oh! Yeah! That would be great, thank you!"
The teacher forced a smile. "Excuse me a moment, ladies." She walked over to the choir, where one of the tenors was making out with one of the sopranos. "You two! What do you think you're doing?! This is a rehearsal, not a…" She went on and on.
"What made you quit?" Bra asked.
Pan shrugged. "I have better things to do, plus I need to take care of my mom," she lied. "You know how it is, with Dad gone and all."
"Ah. Well, thanks!"
"Sure."
Trunks re-checked the dragon radar. According to it, a Dragonball was just below him. He was currently hovering over a city called "Biarritz", although he wasn't quite sure where he was. Deciding to go along with it, he landed and searched around.
"Pardon me," he said to a cashier of an antique store. In the window, the six-star Dragonball was presented in a large silver goblet. "I'd like to buy that." He indicated it.
The clerk looked at him a bit distrustfully. "Je ne parle pas anglais," he said.
"What? Oh." He took out his wallet, pulled out a wad of twenties, and put them down on the counter. "I think that's enough. Yeah." He rushed over to the Dragonball, took it, and left before the clerk could say anything.
Happy with himself, he flew back to Japan (he was in France, if you didn't know) with all three of his Dragonballs collected.
"Pan! Hi!" he greeted as he landed in front of her in the large front lawn of Mr. Satan's manor. "I got all my Dragonballs, did you?"
"Yeah," she replied, pulling them out of her pockets and handing them to him. "It's almost midnight, Trunks, I'm gonna get in trouble for being out this late."
"Ok, sorry. I gotta go anyway, how bout we make the wish tomorrow? After school, around five?"
"Alright."
"K." He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, then left.
She sighed a little happily, watching him go. It was almost disturbing, thinking about how devoted he was to bringing Marron back. He really likes her, she decided. Well. Good for them, then.
"Pan?" someone called out from behind her. "Are you there?"
She turned around. Her mother was making her way across the lawn with a flashlight, since her night vision wasn't as good as her daughter's.
"There you are. What're you doing out so late?" she asked.
"Training," she lied briskly, turning away.
"Oh, I see."
Videl sighed inwardly. She had definitely heard Pan talking to someone out here, and talking wasn't usually required to train. Why wouldn't she tell her?
"Pan," Videl said, trying to start a conversation, "I know I'm not nearly as good a fighter as you are, but your dad taught me how to fight, a little, so maybe we could… train together?"
Her eyebrows shot up from surprise. Apparently, it was so startling that she forgot about not talking. "No offense, Mom, but you fight like old people fuck."
Videl laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Ok if I watch, then?"
"I'm about done." There was the sharp monotone voice again. But when she turned to face her, her face had a look of longing, as if she wanted to tell a secret she couldn't. "Mom…"
"Yes, Pan?"
["I'll just let him hear you, ok? Not see."]
She hesitated, then looked away again. "Never mind."
"Oh…" She couldn't hide the disappointment from her voice. "Well, I'm heading back inside, come back soon."
She nodded in reply, and Videl left.
Pan…
He appeared at the foot of her bed, fully clothed, wearing an appraising look.
Yes?
I'm tired, Pan. My body is tired, my mind is tired, and my heart is tired. What are you trying to do, wishing them back?
I'm trying to win back what I lost because of you.
You do realize, then, that Krillen won't be able to come back?
I… oh… shit.
She looked down at the covers. Why hadn't she thought of that? Why hadn't Trunks thought of that?? Would 18 and Marron approve if they were wished back, but not Krillen? Would her father approve of that? Would-
Oh, stop it, Pan. They aren't coming back. The wish would be unacceptable.
What? No, it wouldn't.
Yes it would. Trust me, I know.
But… That ruins everything!
Yep. Unless…
Unless what?
He reached into his pocket and brought out a small pocketknife. He flipped it up, and a small but sharp blade appeared.
Kill your mom. Then it'll all be as it should.
What?! No! I won't!
I can do for you what the Dragonballs can't, Pan. It won't even matter, your mom would be back alive again.
… You're sure?
Have I ever lied before?
No… But then, what's the point?
The point is, you show me that you're willing.
He put the knife into her trembling hands. She stared at it, wanting to drop it, but mesmerized by it at the same time.
It'll all be ok once that blade enters her heart, Pan.
Matt…
Just trust.
"It's sad, seeing her like this," Marron remarked, looking into the dark, tinted window. "She was a good friend."
"Yeah," Trunks agreed, putting his arm around her. "I feel sorry for her parents. Gohan-san told me he and Videl can't even bear to come and visit, it depresses them too much."
"That's so sad…"
"Yes, it is." He checked his watch. "We'd better get going. The movie's gonna start in a half hour, and your dad wanted you back early."
"Alright." She glanced once more through the window, then walked out of the building with Trunks.
The tinted window showed a small, completely white room empty except for the dark-haired girl in a straight jacket sitting in a corner, sleeping.
"Know what I want right now, more than anything?" Marron wondered.
"No, I don't," Trunks replied, smiling a little. "What?"
She grinned and told him as they walked out of the institute, past the large gate.
A white-haired boy who looked like he was in his early thirties watched them go. After a few moments, he took out a small notebook, and murmured as he wrote, "Marron… Blonde, resembles Rachel P. slightly… Mid-twenties… Satan City, Japan."