She stared in horror as she watched the water turn slowly blue. She bit her lip and looked down.

"No. I can't do this to him, not when he was going through this much stress already, with school and jobs and all. His family too. I can't do this to him. She thought. It won't show up that fast. Should I just leave? It would be easier on him..."

Gohan stared blankly at the girl before him.

" Gohan, did you hear me?"

" Sorry Videl-chan. What did you say?"

" I said I'm leaving Japan...and I'm leaving you. Did you hear me?"

Gohan bit his lip as her haunting words registered in his mind. He tasted the tangy metallic presence of blood on his palate as his mind screamed at him to refuse to let her go. Without realising, he gripped Videl's hand tightly as her words echoed in his mind.

" Gohan let go of me. You're hurting my hand."

"...Why? I thought we were...I mean...what did I do wrong?"

" Nothing. I have to go now...It was fun while it lasted. Goodbye Gohan."

He watched her turn her back and walk away. He was so confused. Why did this have to happen? Why was she leaving him?

____________


20 years later...

" Pan! You're going to be late for your flight!" Videl yelled.

It had been 20 years. 20 long years.

She had her baby. She had been all alone...but with the birth of her daughter it seemed she had found a new ally. Someone who could comfort her and explore the world with her. She had always wondered why she had picked America for her new home. Even after 20 years, she found that she still didn't have the answer.

" Coming mom!"

Videl smiled as she watched her 19-year-old daughter run down the stairs effortlessly carry suitcases in either hand, both of which she knew was twice her body weight each.

" I can't believe your leaving for Japan."

" Don't worry Mom! I'll be fine."

Videl forced her daughter to put her suitcases down as she hugged her. As she thought about Pan's destination, she wondered what it would be like in Japan. She hadn't been back in 20 years...hadn't seen anyone...hadn't talked to anyone. Until now. Pan was a saiyajin, she definitely had the abilities and, to both her happiness and dismay, could turn into a super saiyajin. Just like a man long ago...Pan's father. She was happen Pan could achieve such high power, even with the little training she could provide...but this would inevitable cause problems. What would her father say when he saw her...a blond like the rest of them?

He wouldn't say anything. He wouldn't know.

Would he still be there? In Japan...would he be married?

Videl squeezed her eyes tight, not wanting to think about it and tried to ignore the wrenching in her heart.

" Mom? Are you ok? Are you sure I should go? I can stay if you want. I can always take up that work experience offer at-"

Videl shook her head and dried her eyes. She brushed her daughter's hair behind her ears and stared into her youthful face, trying to compose herself to reassure her daughter.

" I'll be fine here. Trust me. I'm sure you'll have a great time. I know for a fact the people at Capsule Corp are nice"

" Capsule Corp...Bulma...I wonder how old Trunks is?"

" Mom?"

Pan waved her hand in front of her mother's eyes to try and catch her attention.

" Hmm?"

" Are you alright?"

" Sure...and I forgot to tell you. Don't go making giant balls of light around Japan ok?"

" Mom! I know! You've been telling me for the past..."

Pan counted in her head using her fingers to mock her mother.

" Okokok. I get the point. I can't believe you're going to be away for so long."

" Well...remember that 1 month course in France?"

" That's different. This is a whole semester."

" Maybe I shouldn't--"

A horn blasting interrupted their conversation.

" I guess I better go." Pan said apologetically.

" I guess you better...remember to write ok?"

" Hai. I'll miss you mom."

" Me too...now hurry up. I think that taxi is going to leave without you soon"
Pan smiled and waved a little as she climbed into the taxi. Videl looked through the window of her house.

"She's grown up so fast. I can't say I'm not proud of her...skipping two years in high school is quite an achievement. Getting that placement in Capsule Corp is too...but I really wish she wasn't going. I don't know what I would do...if he were to find out."

__________

Pan strode purposefully down the corridor, walled with frosted class, to the ramp which led to the waiting area of the airport. It hadn't taken her long to get through customs since there hadn't been many people on her flight...it wasn't the usual time to fly. It was now late afternoon in Japan. Slowing down, she stuck a hand in her open bag and began to fiddle around.

" Where did I put that piece of paper that had Capsule Corp's address on it?"

Suddenly someone knocked into her from behind her, making her lose her grip on her bag, making some of its contents spill onto the floor.

" I'm so sorry. Let me help you."

A cute purple haired guy bent down and picked her bag up for her, quickly stuffing the spilt contents back inside.

" Um...Thanks."

The guy waved and ran off again.

" Wow...that was weird." She muttered, continuing to walk.



_________

Goten chewed quickly as the toast disappeared into his mouth and the bottomless pit he called a stomach. He glanced up quickly to check the time on the kitchen clock as he grabbed his bag.

" oh crap I'm late...see you mom!"

"Don't forget we're going to your Aunt Bulma's house for dinner tonight!"

His mom called out to him before he jumped out the window, taking off into sky.

" I won't!"

Goten zoomed off, trying to gel his hair as he went.

" I'll be late meeting Kaori. She'll kill me."

He glanced down at his wrist to check the time again. He swore under his breath as he noticed he had forgotten his watch. Looking back up, his eyes caught sight of something floating in the sky.

" This Ki...I've never felt it before..."

Quickly, he flew to catch up to the person. As he got closer, he could see it was a girl, but he couldn't see her face.

" hey you!" he yelled as he got closer.

Immediately the girl took off as fast as she could...which was pretty fast as far as Goten could see. But he didn't have time to chase her, he was late.

___________


" Phew... that was close."

Pan landed on the roof of a tall building taking a loud sigh of relief. She fingered the capsule, which held her belongings in her coat pocket. Suddenly a loud sound started to make itself heard. It was a low rumble. Strong winds threatened to blow her off the roof. Suddenly a door creaking open made itself heard and she quickly ducked behind a big metal air duct.

" Where is Mrs Briefs this morning Mr President?!" she heard a male voice yell over the sound of the helicopter.

" She's gone on a long holiday with my father!" another male voice answered.

Out of the helicopter stepped the guy who had bumped into her at the airport.

"So he's my boss for the next semester..."

Suddenly someone tapped her on the shoulder.

" Eek!"

" Can we help you?"

She stood up slowly and turned around, wincing at the thought of getting caught. Standing directly behind her was the CEO of the company. She grinned sheepishly and bowed her head.

"Crap. I get in trouble before I've even officially gone to work!"

" Um...I got lost...I'm here on work experience."

Pan swallowed loudly as she yelled at herself inwardly. That was a pathetic excuse.
The guy looked genuinely puzzled until the older lady next to him explained.

" She's the one that won that work experience competition the American universities were holding."

" Oh yes. I want to see you in my office"

Pan gulped as she watched him walk off to the doorway. A tall older man nudged her a bit.

" Don't get so worried. He's really very nice."

Pan smiled and followed the group of people down the stairs.