" Whatever women do they must do it
twice as well as
men to be thought half as good.
Luckily this is not difficult."
Charlotte Whitton
" Women who seek to be equal with
men lack ambition."
Timothy Leary
" Pan!!!" bellowed Gohan's voice from below. " Let's GO. We're going to be late."
The young woman stood flushed in front of the mirror, turning and looking herself over. This was the sixth dress she had tried on and she still couldn't decide which she liked best. She picked up two other dresses and held them up by their hangers in front of her body.
" Hey Dad! Which do you like better? American or French food?" she called down to him.
She heard muffled cursing by the bottom of the stairs.
" What does that have to do with anything? Bulma is expecting us!" he shouted in reply getting a chuckle from Pan.
" Humor me by answering and we will get there faster!" she explained.
" French."
Pan tossed the dress she held in her right hand down. Adios Ralph Lauren. She looked back and forth between the one in her left hand and the dress she was wearing. This was becoming ridiculous and she was beginning not to care what she wore.
" Ok last one, French or Italian?" she asked frowning in the mirror.
" Italian! Now please hurry honey!" answered Gohan, who then stomped towards the doorway.
Goodbye Chanel and hello Anna Molinari. Pan quickly stripped off the green dress she had on and changed into the dusty rose colored one. It was a very romantic looking chiffon dress that had a plunging soft neckline and a few mesh layers that floated down to just above her knees. It hugged her to define her womanly shape in the right places and but still retained a flowing, loose effect. She decided to leave her hair down and leave it tousled and wavy a bit since it was an afternoon party. Although she enjoyed playing with clothes now she still wasn't sold on the sharp formal look.
Pan grabbed her Prada heels and hopped awkwardly down the hallway while trying to put them on. She descended the stairs and met her impatient father out on the front lawn.
" Well it's about…" complained Gohan turning around to face her. His voice faltered as he saw the sunlight shimmering threw her soft dress and the wind tossing her hair softly as she took his arm.
" …time," he finished with a proud smile on his face.
Pan squeezed his arm affectionately.
" You have great taste in food and dresses Dad. Thank you for waiting for me, lets get going since Mom is probably wondering where we are," she said.
Gohan was about to leap into the air but then he stopped to look Pan over.
" Maybe we should take the car?" he asked.
She shook her head. " I'm not one for vanity and we'll get there faster flying. Although I still think you should have made Grandpa teach you that instant transmission trick," she teased.
Her father grinned and agreed with her as they took off for Capsule Corp. They arrived a half hour later, landing at the front courtyard.
Gohan noticed numerous limos parked along the driveway circle that told him that they were probably the last to arrive. His daughter took hold of his wrist and lifted it up in front of his face to show him his watch.
" Dad…it's five to four p.m. we're going to be right on time," she said calmly reassuring him. " Besides, Bulma has to invite the entire bloody world to her shindigs, so I guarantee you that we're only seeing a quarter of the cars now."
He sighed knowing that she was right as they walked up to the entranceway. A staff member opened the door and directed them to the back lawn where the guests had gathered.
Bulma had transformed the grounds with decorations and flowers. Numerous round dining tables were set up around a small podium with a presentation screen and a dance floor stood off to the side. Most of the people were grouped at the full bar that stood farther back under a large white tent that provided shade. Lawn furniture was distributed about for the guests to relax comfortably and chat. Pan thought it was a perfect outdoor version of a turn of the century parlor. Bulma always did know how to throw a party.
And speak of the devil…she thought as she saw Bulma approaching her, arms outstretched.
" Pan dear! You look beautiful!" she exclaimed, stepping back a moment to look her over.
" Thank you Bulma and so do you. But then you always did," she replied sincerely.
Bulma embraced her again and grinned at Gohan.
" I'm sorry but I'm just going to have to adopt this one," she declared to him.
" No, no, no no. She's mine; you can't have her. Videl would kill me anyway. Besides you just love anyone who compliments you," he replied playfully wrestling his daughter away from her.
Bulma faked a pout. " That's just not true. I love anyone who speaks the truth!" she retorted with an evil grin, eliciting laughter from the other two.
The hostess then proceeded to tell them that dinner would be served in an hour and a half. Bulma also informed them that a majority of the guests were gathered at the bar for drinks and that the business guests wouldn't arrive for another half hour. She then took Pan aside for a moment and conversed with her privately for a few minutes leaving Gohan to wait and ponder what they had discussed.
" You'll find out later," said Pan walking back over and sensing his thoughts.
" You just reminded me… are you going to be ok with this crowd? There very easily could be 700 people here today," he asked suddenly concerned.
Pan nodded. " It'll be all right. I've gotten quite good at shielding and avoiding picking up stray thoughts. And I never pry into another's head unless its for a good reason," she answered.
They found Videl chatting with Juuhachigou and Krillin. Pan had no sooner hugged her mother hello than her legs were suddenly tackled. She glanced down to find two blue eyes glowing at her accompanied by a beaming smile.
" Livi!" she exclaimed and picked her up much to the girl's surprise. Not caring if it looked ridiculous, she held onto the child's hands and began to spin her in the air. The both of them laughed merrily and Livia cheered as she was whipped through the air.
They slowed down and both fell to the ground giggling and groaning in their dizzy state. Pan looked over at Livia while she panted and grinned. The five year old beamed back and smoothed out her soft blue floral dress. Pan stifled the urge to go 'awwwwww' at how cute she looked.
" You look very pretty Livia," she observed noticing the trademark pigtails had been replaced by her hair being gathered at the nape of her neck with a white ribbon.
" Thanks Pan! Dad picked out the dress himself too! I couldn't believe it. Usually he can't match his own socks," she blurted out.
Pan chuckled and began to pick the grass out of her hair.
" You sure are strong Pan. Do you fight?" asked Livia scooting over curiously.
" Yep. I trained with your dad and grandfather Vegeta for a time," she answered.
Livia's face darkened a bit at the mention of Vegeta's name.
Pan frowned noticing the disturbance. " Livi? Something wrong? You looked upset when I mentioned your grandfather," she said gently.
The little lips pouted and the small arms folded.
" I don't like him! He's mean!" she said angrily.
Pan flipped her hair over and shook the grass out of her hair. " He's not always mean on purpose hon. Vegeta isn't good with people. But what he does, he does well, which is fighting."
A small tear trailed down the round cheeks followed by a few more. Pan paled slightly and realized that she was really upset.
" He always yells. Always says that I'm weak. All he ever does is tell me that I'm only ¼ saiyan and that I'll never amount to anything," she said quietly hanging her head.
Boy…that all sounded too familiar, thought Pan. She cursed Vegeta for treating his grandchild like this. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around the little girl in a protective embrace.
" I'm going to let you in on a little secret Livia. I'm a fourth saiyan too," she
revealed while smiling against the blonde head.
" R-Really?" asked the tiny voice.
" Yep. Honestly, truly and honor bright. Don't let Vegeta get to you. You just keep on continuing to grow and worry about getting up in the morning for your cartoons. When you get older and decide you want to learn how to fight then that will be your decision. Fighting ability is not the measure to be used in evaluating worth. It's about time that ornery Prince realized that," growled Pan. She looked down again to see Livia rubbing her eyes and the sniffling had ceased.
" Besides," she continued with a smirk. " We quarter saiyans do just fine. I'm not lacking at all in the ass kicking department."
Livia gasped and looked up at Pan, eyes wide as saucers.
Pan raised an eyebrow at her.
" What Liv?" she asked.
The little girl glanced around them and leaned up to whisper in her ear.
" You said the "A" word!" she informed the older woman.
Pan bit her lip to keep from laughing. Recovering slightly, she straightened up and forced a somber expression upon her face.
" You're right Liv. I was wrong to do that," she confessed trying to make herself sound remorseful.
Livia tilted her head to look at Pan and giggled.
" Don't worry Pan. I won't tell anyone! Not even Dad. I'm so happy that we're the same!" she exclaimed punching up into the air.
" Well…we're not exactly the same but I'd say we have a lot in common," replied Pan looking up at the clouds with a small smile. She felt small fingers brush against her neck and looked back down.
" You wore this at Grandma Juuhachi's house, I remember it. It's so pretty, where did you get it Pan?" asked Livia, who had been inspecting a choker around the woman's neck.
Her hand reached up and touched the choker absently as she let herself become absorbed in old memories.
" It was given to me by a very special person, my teacher, Mogiri," she answered, reaching behind her neck to unclasp it.
She held it in her hands, a choker made of two rows of smooth bone-colored segments linking to where a beautiful white shell lay in the center.
" I never take it off because it serves as a reminder," she added.
" Of your teacher?" asked Livia.
Pan ran her fingers softly across the grooves of the shell.
" Of my teacher, yes. And also to remind me of all the potential I have. You see, Mogiri loved to study belief systems and cultural folklore. He was especially was fond of early Native American theology. One day he told me of the southwestern peoples' deity "Changing Woman", she was their version of Mother Earth. White Shell Woman was said to be the younger version of the goddess. I was told that white is the color of dawn and of the east. White Shell Woman created and nourished the Navajo people, she gave them numerous gifts: the sky, the rain, plants and animals. Mogiri used this story to illustrate how I could find my own harmony with the earth and my own power. He presented me with this necklace later, telling me to always remember that my abilities are formidable and that I should trust my inner guide. To me, this symbolizes the duty to protect and nourish life," she said. " With…" she added with a wink. "…Occasional nudges along the way to point them in the right directions."
Livia looked at the necklace and then back at Pan. It was clear that her teacher had been very important to her. And if Pan liked him then he had to be pretty cool, deduced the five year old.
" Do you think he would tell me stories too Pan?" she asked hopefully.
A deep sadness emanated from the golden brown eyes just then and the lips gave a weak smile.
" I am sure he would have been delighted to honey but he can't. Mogiri passed away five months ago," Pan told her. She felt a small hand take hold of her left hand.
" I'm sorry. Don't be sad Pan," the little girl said giving her a concerned look.
Pan shook her head to reassure Livia.
" No Livi, I'm not. Believe me when I say that he lived a very long and fulfilling life. He was ready to move on. Death is always hardest on those of us who are left behind but for the deceased, you can't help but rejoice for them because they are truly in a wonderful place."
" Like my mom? Is she there?" asked Livia eagerly leaning forward.
Pan nodded down at her.
" Oh most definitely. And she's always watching and smiling over you."
The little girl smiled at this and looked thoughtful.
" Maybe your teacher and my mom will meet each other then," she said.
Pan shrugged slightly. " You never know. They could be laughing at us right now for all we know," she chuckled, smoothing her hair back with her fingers.
" The only one laughing right now is me," said a voice behind him.
The two females looked behind them to see a tall man in a dark blue suit standing a few feet away, laughing lightly with his hands in his pockets. He had a lean muscular build and dark hair that brushed against his eyes, the rest falling behind and just below his ears. Pan couldn't help but notice his light blue eyes that appeared to be so bright against his tan skin and dark hair.
She glanced down at herself and then over at Livia realizing how silly they must've looked, just sitting here covered in freshly cut grass.
Livia gave a squeal and jumped up from Pan's side making a dash for the man.
" Uncle Juuuuuuu!" she greeted, launching herself into his arms.
Pan stopped brushing herself off and looked up. Uncle Juu????? Her eyes darted back to the man who was holding and talking with Livia.
"…of course y'know you're my favorite uncle don't you?" giggled the munchkin voice.
An exasperated sigh came.
" Squirt, I'm your only uncle."
She stared hard trying to recognize the man. It couldn't be…he was too old. He looked like he was 29 or so. Juuannagou, like his sister Juuhachigou, was an android and didn't age. And he certainly didn't have a personality like this grinning man before her. The android had had the appearance of a seventeen year old for as long as she could remember. Apparently she hadn't been the only one to go through some changes. Juanna just then called out to her, interrupting her thoughts.
" Huh?" she said blinking.
He raised an eyebrow at her.
" I asked…if you would mind if I took the Squirt off your hands for a little while," he said, poking Livia in the stomach playfully.
Pan flushed with embarrassment. " Oh not at all. Have fun Livi," she said waving.
Juannagou then turned and walked away with Livia slung over his shoulder, who, happened to be laughing hysterically.
" Bye Pan!" she called waving back quickly.
The android stopped just then and looked over his shoulder in Pan's direction in a funny way. Pan had finally rid her dress of the last blade of grass and stood up. She looked up to see Juanna glancing at her with a strange look on his face. Before she could say anything he turned back and continued on his way with his grandniece.
Pan simply shrugged and decided to go to the bar. Her father waved at her from the corner surrounded by a few of his fellow scholars. She ordered a Peach Martini and then asked where the nearest washroom was. Normally she wouldn't worry about not looking presentable but today was important.
Walking into the large washroom she accidentally bumped into Bra. The two young women stood there facing each other with shocked expressions on their faces. Neither one said anything for a few minutes. Finally they both glanced away in embarrassment.
" So um, you look good," they both said at the same time.
" Thanks," their voices chorused again.
They both began to talk again but stopped themselves by laughing.
" This is ridiculous," declared Bra walking forward to hug a surprised Pan.
The blue haired beauty smiled at her old friend when she pulled back.
" I know what I said all those years ago. I didn't mean a damn word of it. I'm so sorry Pan," she apologized.
Pan stared into her old best friend's eyes remembering how angry Bra had been with her for leaving. When Pan had told her she was leaving Bra had been shocked and deeply hurt. She felt betrayed and abandoned and translated her feelings into hurtful words. Not that she blamed Bra. It was her fault after all and her decision.
" It's my fault too. I was being selfish and I didn't realize how much you needed me. I did what I needed to do but I wish I hadn't hurt you," said Pan.
Bra flashed her a perfect smile.
" So do you think we can pick up where we left off? I still have an opening for a best friend," she said placing a hand on her hip.
" I'd be willing to once I clean myself up," Pan replied, gesturing at herself.
" Now that you mention it you do look like you took a tumble in a field," Bra observed looking her over. " Come with me…Bra will make everything all better."
****************************************************
Fifteen minutes later Pan emerged looking perfect once again with a proud looking Bra beside her.
Pan glanced over at her a smile. Bra was still Bra. Beautiful, smart, confident, a clothes fanatic, caring but at the same time a shrewd businesswoman. It didn't surprise her at all that she had flourished acting as Capsule Corp's president. In her black Armani dress and blue hair gathered in a loose bun, she looked lovely.
Bra led her back to the bar where most of the Briefs and Son family members were.
" Dad you haven't seen Pan since she came back have you?" asked Bra, leading Pan up to Vegeta.
The saiyan prince scowled and looked her over with a grunt.
Instinctively Pan made some foreign movements speaking in a strange tongue. She ended by bowing and getting down on one knee before Vegeta.
Everyone in the nearby group suddenly stopped talking and stared. Pan could feel their eyes upon her and swore silently.
Bra leaned down and poked her friend.
" Um, Pan? What the hell was that?" she asked.
" That…" answered Vegeta before Pan could speak. " Was a formal greeting meant for royalty made by saiyan members of the first class."
Pan raised her head slowly to find Vegeta's black eyes burning holes into her. She wanted to kick herself for doing such a thing but when she saw Vegeta, reflex had taken over.
" At least someone knows how to show some respect, even if it is Kakarott's grandbrat," he sneered.
She stood up, bristling slightly at what he called her. Normally she had the patience of a saint but Vegeta was the only one who could easily get a rise out of her.
Vegeta smirked when he felt her ki rise a little. He admitted to himself that he had been just as surprised at her action as everyone else. Luckily all the eyes were still on her and no one had seen his startled expression. Where did that brat learn to do such a thing and speak his native tongue?
" Well, I prefer to go by the name of Pan," she said, meeting his deadly stare.
The saiyan prince folded his arms in disinterest. " I really don't care what you prefer brat. I'll call you whatever I want."
Bra glared at her father. " Daddy! Apologize to Pan right now!" she demanded.
Gohan walked over to see what was going on, followed by Trunks.
Vegeta ignored his daughter and leaned against the bar smugly. At least he wasn't so bored now and this might prove to be interesting.
" Don't waste your breath Bra," sighed Pan. She turned and walked away with her drink to sit down in a chair on the far side of the room.
Bra looked as her friend walked away and started to go after her until she saw a client enter. She decided to quickly greet him and then check on Pan.
Leaving Pan alone had not been the best of choices.
Realizing that Pan was alone, Vegeta grinned evilly. He decided to see if the quarter saiyan had gotten stronger over the years. Of course to do so would require…some persuasion. Especially since this one was known to keep a pretty level head.
Trunks had been chatting with one of his engineers when out of the corner of his eye he spied Vegeta talking to Pan. Unfortunately it didn't look to be a pleasant conversation. Pan was clearly fuming but trying to keep her cool while Vegeta was saying god knows what, clearly enjoying himself.
Trunks excused himself and started to walk quickly toward the pair, intending to separate them. He never made it, suddenly being hurled backwards by a ki wave that came from Pan. When the air cleared he saw Pan standing over Vegeta who lay on the ground smirking. Her eyes glowed golden a bit and for the first time Trunks was scared of her. She leaned down and grabbed Vegeta by the collar, pulling his face up inches away from her own.
" I have fucking had it with you. The spoiled and bored prince…it's about time you gave my family the respect they deserve. Yet you only seem to respect power. Well, guess what Veg-head? That's just fine with me," her voice snarled sounding unnatural.
Pan's face set in determination as she yanked him up farther issuing her challenge. " I'll win your damn respect. You. Me. Gravity room. Now."
A/N: Let's get ready to rummmmmmmmbbllllllleeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah I think you all know what comes next. This has been the longest chapter yet so far, but I really am trying to keep it moving along. Of my saga this first half "WSW" has to do so much explaining and setting up for the second half that comes afterwards. The second half has more adventure in it. I also wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has been reviewing! More people seemed to have discovered this fic and to them I say, " Welcome aboard!" I hope you're all enjoying this and thank you again for the support you've shown. Btw it's my birthday today! (Same bday as Tamahome from FY! Although I'm sure you all think that's bloody amazing, lol)