A/N: Thank you for your reviews!!! For anyone who might be wondering why this is now in GT time, here's an explanation which you will hopefully accept:
I simply prefer Goku as a kid. He's so adorable!!! Goten's cuter though. I have not a single clue what happened at the end of DBZ, so placing my story in that time period might not be the most appropriate spot available. I watched almost the entire Babi saga, except for a few episodes in-between, so I have a general idea of what happened. I like it when Goku has a young companion. Goten could have worked out, except that, as previously mentioned, I really don't know what happened when Goten was that young.'nough blabbering. Enjoy this next chapter!
ConfessionA gentle breeze passing by ruffled Goku's unruly hair. There's nothing like relaxing by the riverbank without a care in the world. Even better, he's got company today. His granddaughter, Pan, has decided to join him. But then again, why won't she? Afterall, Chi-chi and Videl have gone on another cleaning spree, so the safest thing to do is to escape from home.
Goku turned his head left and looked at Pan. There is a place around here that he hadn't shown anyone, not even his own two sons. He was too busy then. This time, he plans to be there for Pan whenever she needs him. Getting up from his lying-down position, he stretched. "Follow me," he instructed his granddaughter. "There's something I'd like to show you."
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"There are two remaining full-blooded saiyins, living on the planet Earth," said a figure in a low, dark voice. "I want you to gather them and bring them here. I must have control over every last one."
"Yes Sire," answered two voices.
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"So here we are," said Goku as he entered a small, wooden building, followed closely by Pan.
"A house in the middle of these thick woods…whose house is it anyway?" asked a curious Pan.
"It's Grandpa's house. I was brought up here. Pretty neat, huh?" Goku said with contentment in his voice. This has got to be his favourite place in the world, and coming from a guy who'd travelled the world and beyond, that's saying a lot.
Pan gaped at Goku, wide-eyed. "Your Grandpa?" she exclaimed, astonished. "I've never been told anything about him, and neither have Dad or Uncle Goten!"
"That's because I don't really know what to say," Goku replied as he dusted off the cushion that used to hold the four-star dragonball, trying his best to avoid Pan's eyes.
Impatient from curiosity, Pan grabbed Goku by the shoulders and spun him around. "Tell me about him!" she chirped eagerly.
Goku chuckled. "Sure thing, but you'll better calm down first." When Pan did so, Goku started. "As a saiyan baby, I was sent to Earth to destroy this planet. My space pod landed nearby this place, and an old man named Son Gohan found me. He adopted me as his grandson, and named me Son Goku."
He paused, and Pan looked on to him with interest, so he continued. "I was a real pain, since saiyans are known for being rather aggressive. He didn't give up on me though, and loved me as though I am his real grandson. One day he went on a walk and took me with him. I got naughty and fell down a waterfall, injuring my head on a rock near the bottom."
At this his granddaughter winced. Ouch…
"It was quite the turning point in my life," Goku insisted. "I became the good guy you know today. Also, if Earth got destroyed, you won't even be here!"
"Now that I know of your past," Pan persisted, "I want to know what happened to your grandpa."
Goku fell silent instantly, the grin on his face disappearing. Now how is he supposed to go about this? 'I killed him even after all he'd done for me.' Nope, won't work.
"Grandpa? Are you okay? What's with the silent treatment?"
"Don't worry, everything's fine," he reassured. "Well almost everything, I mean," he sputtered hurriedly at the end.
"Please explain yourself," Pan insisted.
"Oh you're not going to like this," Goku muttered. "But anyway, here it is: I transformed under the full moon one day and stepped on my grandpa," he announced, and timidly turned to see Pan's reaction.
Once again Pan gaped at him, but this time with fearful wide eyes. "You're a murderer!" she managed to gasp. Without warning she fled, vanishing from Goku's sight before he can intervene. Heaving a sigh, he walked a little ways further and sat down on the ground. His eyes searched the plain Earth until they fell upon a certain spot that only appeals to no one but him.
"Hey Eyes, how're you doing buddy?" Goku lifted his eyes slightly until they reached another spot. "I'm sorry Grandpa. I hope you're happy in Heaven. It's a nice place. That, I know." It was a secret he had kept from Gohan when Eyes's grave was being dug. It's barely one meter apart from Grandpa Gohan's. Slowly getting up, Goku hung his head and gradually walked away from the buried bodies. "This is great," he muttered angrily. "I can't say anything without upsetting somebody."
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Ever since the day Pan learned the truth, things have never been the same between her and Goku. Whenever Goku was around, Pan would grow rather jumpy and apprehended. Meanwhile, Goku tried to pretend that nothing happened, although it just doesn't work. Pan was right – he is a murder. At least, he was one. 'Wrong,' a little voice in the back of his mind said. 'You still murder occasionally. You just killed Babi not long ago!'
'I had no choice!' a frustrated Goku screamed back at him mentally.
'Oh yes you do. You were fully conscious during the making of your decisions,' it taunted mercilessly.
"Shut up!" Goku yelled out, one moment too late. Now whoever was present in the room just stared at him as if he was nuts. Maybe I am, he laughed to himself. Gosh this is embarrassing… Immediately Goku ran out of the house. He needs to calm down before meeting up with anyone else.
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No questions were asked when he returned home. That's good. But then again, he wasn't surprised, because the only one home was Pan, who often tries to play hide-and-seek with him ever since the "incident". Still, Goku made an effort to improve their relationship.
Pan sat on the living couch pulling her bow on the strings of her viola. There was a frown on her face. Once she'd been so obsessed with this instrument, but now it's all just a pain in the neck. Chi-chi and Videl constantly nags her to practice, which irritates her greatly. But those two are just so hard to ignore when they nag… No one seems to understand that it's hard work and requires too much time and concentration. Well…there was one person who insisted that teenagers should be free to have fun instead of being cooped up inside, though he always loses the arguments… Pan wiped the memories from her head. Nope. No more. That person is a murderer! And once she'd trusted him with her life… 'Get a grip, Pan,' she scolded herself mentally. 'That murderer is the legendary Son Goku. He doesn't kill for pleasure! There's always a motive.' But even after the criticism, she still felt uneasy about getting close to her grandpa.
"Hey Pan," Goku greeted cheerfully and sat down next to her. "Viola playing okay today?"
"Um hm," she mumbled in reply.
"Who knows? If you take your practices seriously, one day you might be able to travel on a world tour," he continued. Goku knew his granddaughter is talented. Exceptionally talented, actually, and had dreamed of touring the world with her beloved viola.
It was as if something snapped suddenly, as Pan felt an incredible amount of anger bubbling up inside of her. She'd just spent about two hours sitting patiently on the couch as someone would pass by occasionally and mention the fact that she should take her practices more seriously, until everyone left to attend to their own businesses. She had, with remarkable will power, gradually sat through the earfuls of pointless lecturing without screaming at anyone. Doesn't anyone understand how she feels? And here she thought that there is one person who would loyally stand by her side…
It was just too much. "You're no different from the others!" she shrieked in an explosion of anger. "I thought you'll at least be sympathetic, but no! Nagging is everyone's nature. You're all experts at it and have to choose me to be the victim each and every time!"
"Hey that's not true!" Goku protested, but his objection was cut off.
"Shut up! Just shut up and leave me alone!" With that, Pan furiously threw down her instrument, not waiting to hear the clatter, and stormed outside blinded by rage.
At the last second, Goku reached out and caught the viola and bow before it can collide with the floor and shatter. Phew, that was a close one, he thought, and settled back on the comfy couch. Suddenly he jumped up in surprise. Someone's energy level was rapidly fading, but why? And whose? No time for questions. He has to get to whoever needs help immediately. Then something else caught his sensitive senses. There are two massive power levels along with the dwindling one, and they are heading his way.
A/N: That one took a while, didn't it? Hehe, sorry! I'm not especially busy or anything, but am, unfortunately, attacked by a minor case of writer's block. Not to mention a cold! Having a cold in the middle of a really hot summer just seems rather weird. Oops, went off track. Anyway, all I ask of you are reviews. Please?