Rise and Shine
By Duran the Gladiator
Chapter 6: What can be done in one day
Tora and Pan started training the next morning, immediately after breakfast, on simple mathematics, which he easily got the hang of. By noon, they were working on complex multiplications.
"What's two to the tenth?"
"Eh… one thousand and twenty four!", he replied, very proud of his achievement. She was about to ask him another one when the phone rang.
"Hello uncle Goten! Ah, she is?! Of course I'll come! Can Tora come with me? …Uh-huh… yes, he knows… Right. See you in ten minutes!" She put dwon the receiver. "Tora, my mother is back from the hospital! Wanna come with me?" Tora nodded, since he found himself mentally tired, and the little time off from learning would allow his mind to recover. Pan grinned, knowing she was right to say to her uncle Tora cared for her grandmother's health as well, and five minutes later, they were on their way.
Goku was already waiting for them.
"Panny, Tora, glad you could make it! Chichi's still a bit weak, but the doctor said she'll be as lively as ever if she sticks to her diet and takes her medicine every day. Gohan and the others are with her already. Oh, Tora… can you wait a bit? She said family first." Tora nodded, and gave Pan a gentle nudge to go ahead and come back to get him when she wanted to introduce him. A bit afraid to see her beloved grandmother in such a frail condition, Pan went to Chichi's room: Gohan and Videl looked up.
"Grandmamma! Oh, I'm so happy to see you're as good as new again….", Pan said, hugging her grandmother very carefully, a bit relieved as Chichi hugged her as firmly as she always had done.
"As good as new indeed!", remarked Chichi, visibly in better condition. "But a bit scarred…", she said while showing the stitchings.
"Ah, mom, that's gross!", remarked Goten, suddenly very pale. "I would prefer to not know about how wounded you really are, you know… But you're in good health again, that's what matters." They sat and talked about what the doctors had done – Gohan had heard it from the doctors – when a knock on the door startled them all a bit. Goku opened the door and asked his wife if the friends could also enter.
"They're getting a bit impatient down there!"
"Sure, Goku, send them in. They've waited long enough! Now, you guys must have other things to do. Go ahead – unless you're all lazy bums who don't have a life of their own…" This comment made them all laugh. Gohan and Videl went back to their work, and Goten said he went to Capsule Corp. to check on the stoleaway, promising to tell Chichi the full story later. Pan, however, stayed and waited for the rest to leave. When Krillin and Eighteen had gone out again, she went forward again to introduce her new friend.
"Grandmamma, I'd like to introduce you to Tora. Tora saved my life on planet Vegeta, and to reward him I've given him a second chance here. I'm training him to work at Capsule Corp. with me." Chichi blinked as she heard the words "saved my life", and eyed the young man very attentively.
"Hmm… he's got a high power level, I can tell. Maybe with a bit of training… He's handsome, and polite. He's perfect for you!"
"Huh?", said Pan, a bit caught off guard. What was her grandmother insinuating? That Tora…
"No, no, grandmamma, it's not like that… I mean, he's living with me and all, but just because I can't leave him to himself."
"Of course it isn't… But Panny," she motioned for her granddaughter to near a bit and whispered, "do remember: your grandfather saved my life too." This made Pan blink in confusion again. Tora saved the day by coming a bit closer to the queen and bowing slightly.
"It's a great pleasure to see you, miss Son, err, I mean Chichi.', he corrected as Pan gave him a nudge. "I can see where Pan got her good looks!", he said.
"Oh, what a charmer! You're a very kind and gentle person, Tora, I can sense. Your character is like Goku's a bit. He's got a heart of gold, but wouldn't hesitate to kill those that pose a threat to those he loves.", replied Chichi, emphasizing the word "love" a bit. Tora blushed, confirming what she already had presumed.
"Well, grandmamma, we have to go now. We haven't eaten lunch yet, and I have to train Tora a bit more. I'll come back to visit you next monday, okay? Bye bye!"
Chichi called for Goku and asked him what he knew of Tora.
"Well, he used to be a thief, but only because he had no other choice. He took the opportunity to get a second chance eagerly. The life saving thing was, well, about a misunderstanding. Pan was nearly hanged because of a crime neither she nor the boys committed. In fact, Bulma is coming here to set this straight… yes, Bulma's Queen of Vegeta… anyway, she was about to be hung when Tora decided to steal from King Vegeta, and he ran across Pan. Something compelled the boy to save her. You think it's…?"
"Yes. It's starting already. We should tell Gohan and Videl. …Shouldn't we?"
"And give them the chance to kill Pan by separating her from him? Not a chance I'm gonna tell them. I know the consequences. You nearly got killed when your father locked you in your room to keep you away from me, remember?"
Days passed since then. Pan and Tora trained some more: mathematics and economics. But that Friday, they realised they still weren't ready at all.
"You say I've got to learn two new languages, some informatics and a whole lot of other stuff in just two days – that's impossible!"
"No it isn't… this is where my little backdoor comes in handy. I trust it you can fly, being Saiyan?"
"Yes, every child back on Vegeta can fly."
"Okay, then, follow me!", she said, grabbing some capsules and lifting off. Tora was a bit surprised, but followed her all the same. Meanwhile, Pan explained to him what she was planning to do, and Tora grew more and more incredulous. They landed on Dende's lookout. Mister Popo, Dende's helper ever since the young Namek had become the Guardian, greeted the two.
"Good day, miss Pan. Who is this young man?", he asked, looking at Tora a bit suspectingly.
"Good day, mister Popo. This is Tora, one of my friends. He saved my life. Is the Chamber of Spirit and Time open? I'd like to use it. Just for one day. I have tons to learn to Tora, and that can't be done in just two days. I figure in the Chamber, it'll work."
"Sure…", said Mister Popo, unlocking the door to the Chamber, letting the two in. Pan settled her capsules, containing her computer, some spare clothes, a calendar and dozens of books, while Tora was stunned by the nothingness in the Chamber.
"You say we can pass a year in here, and only have missed a day back on earth?", he asked again.
"Yes. Now, come here. We can start on French…"
Meanwhile, Bulma had called Goku again.
"Goku, I'll be arriving tomorrow evening. You know, I'm really anxious to see you guys back again. How's Chi? Is she allright?"
"Well, she is now. She had to be operated a few days ago, but the doctor was very pleased about the progress she was making. But she's a strong woman, you know that."
"Yes, I know allright. It was ever so hard to help her break out of her room to go and marry you. Anyone else would've died by then, but she didn't. Say, and how are Seventeen and Eighteen? Eighteen still as pissed off with Krillin."
"Eh, no… actually, they married a year after you left. They have a daughter Pan's age called Marron. Seventeen's being trained by your father to be his successor. That poor man has been missing you for a long time. He confessed to me he kept a picture of you in his wallet and on his nightstand. Annabelle is planning a welcome home party. Just so you know what to expect when you come home…"
"Heh… Okay. Say. I've gotta go now. The ship has to be prepared when I near the meteoroid belt later on the day. See you soon, Goku!"
As soon as Bulma had disconnected, Goku called Gary Briefs to tell him his daughter would arrive the next day, so the party could be thoroughly prepared…
AN: Another chapter, another day. I like the newly set trend, so I'll try to keep it up. As usual, you can say all you want to say in a review. But don't ruin the fun for others (by solving the little mysteries in the story, for example). Greetings!