Disclaimer: I don't own Dragoball Z/GT or any characters related. But the new original character, Kira, in this story is mine.

Chapter 3: Flashes of the future

Left behind, outside. He didn't really care they forgot about him. In fact, he was glad they paid more attention to that girl right now, that to him. Last thing he wanted was them yelling at him. They knew better than that, and for their sakes, he wished they would leave them alone.

The one place where he was left alone, was the gravity room. Bulma installed it outside, next to the larger building. People knew it was his place, where he was, and where he should be left alone.

Of course, they still bothered him there, being the nosy people they are, but only when it was necessary. Any other time, he was left alone. And it was a place where he blew off steam, gathered his thoughts and was *alone*.

He needed to be alone and to gather his thoughts. But when Vegeta reached for the doorknob, he found out it was locked.

Trying to open it with his code, didn't work. The computer showed there was already one person inside, someone with her own code. She had locked herself up, taking the privilege of using Vegeta's sanctuary.

"Brat, will you get *out* of the Gravity Room?" Vegeta snarled.

"NO, I will not!" Pan snapped back, annoying Vegeta more and more. "I'm staying right here, you can't make me leave."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "You know I can. Don't make me drag you out of there." He warned her.

How was it possible he could end up having a child with this girl? She herself was a mere child! Childish, annoying, loud! He shuddered at the sheer thought of it.

"You will get out of there, Pan, now!" he continued.

"I'll stay right here, thank you very much" She replied. "You can leave, Vegeta, I'm a bit uncomfortable with you around me, right now."

He growled. "And you think I'M not?! I'll ask you one more time. Please get out of there." He said, resting both of his hands on the large door.

Bulma had made sure that nothing could bother the person training inside, at least, nothing *human*. The door was huge and massive. But he could easily kick it down, and she knew it.

"Just go to your family. Your father is probably wondering where you are!" He said, in a last desperate attempt to make Pan leave.

"Sorry", her voice sounded, "He's too busy taking care of my future daughter. Oh wait, I mean *our* future daughter. And my future self is there too. Maybe *you* should go and see her"

The tone of her voice dripped with sarcasm and Vegeta's eyes widened at the comments she threw at him.

"This is not the time or the place to talk about this, brat."

"PAN" she interrupted

"And especially not with a door between us! You have some nerve, hiding out in my gravity room!" he continued, ignoring her comment but not hiding his annoyance.

"Just leave me alone, your house is big enough to find another place to *think* Vegeta, somewhere away from me!" she yelled.

"Baka onna!" he yelled all of the sudden and kicked the door down.

Inside he found Pan, who jumped back by his actions. He stared at her for a second but she just looked away. "Now that the doors gone, do you still want to talk about this?" he asked, glaring at her.

She shook her head. He could see how confused she was. As was he. And why were they having this 'argument' anyway?

"Then go." He said.

"Gladly." she said and almost ran past him

How could her future self ever *fall* for Vegeta! She shuddered at the thought. Of course she looked up to him. And her trainings with him were amazing. He taught  her much and she liked his attitude and spirit. And he tolerated her, allowed her to come close. That was something that didn't happen too often. But to have a *child* with him?

Why did she come? To show off? To tell her? Pans thoughts distracted her so, that she walked right past Bulma's lab without noticing the blue haired woman.

"Pan, wait a minute!" Bulma yelled, and Pan stiffened.

She turned around and faced Bulma, who didn't look her usual self. You could tell she was upset.

"Yeah?" she asked, cautiously. What on earth could she possibly want from her, especially right now?

"Did you see her yet?" she asked.

Pan blinked. "I don't know where she is, right now." She answered reluctantly.

"She..you are beautiful." Bulma said softly.

"I'm not her." Pan said shaking her head. "She's someone else. I don't WANT to be her."

Bulma looked a bit distant. "Of course you're not her.. but you should go and see her."

The young girl sighed. "Should I? Is she awake yet, then?"

"Goten put her in bed,  I think she's still asleep yes. You can wait, if you want. Are you still staying here?"

Pan had spent the last week here, training with Vegeta. Her father too, since he and Bulma had been working on a project. The two of them had their own room in the large building, and Pan always felt at home.

But she wanted to go to her *real* home. Back to her mom, and just ignore what happened today. Did she *have* to see her future self? What was there to see? Or to talk about.

Enough, of course.

"If that's okay with you." She eventually answered.

Bulma nodded. "Of course it is, sweety. You're always welcome, no matter what."

Pan smiled painfully. That was typically Bulma. Always nice, always kind, no matter what. She couldn't be like that. She wasn't like that at all. Pan was angry and confused. And because of Mirai Pan she now felt uncomfortable around the woman who could have easily been her second mom.

"Thanks." was all Pan could say.

Bulma replied the fake smile and wanted to turn around and head back to her lab. But Pan stopped her, asking

"Bulma? Are you mad at me?" in a soft, innocent way.

The woman shook her head. "Of course not.  Not at you, at least. I.." she sighed. "For once, I don't know." She tried smiling.

Pan nodded and went up, to check if Mirai Pan was awake, already.

*Someone* sure screwed things up.

Flashes of the future haunted her in her sleeps. Everything seemed to be okay, once again. It all *seemed* perfect. Kira was born and they became a family. Not the average family, but they tried. Vegeta acted like a father, like he should. Pan wouldn't have had it any other way. She was unsure about everything, but knew one thing for sure: Kira needed both a father and mother.

Surprisingly enough, Vegeta treated Kira like an angel. There was no doubt in his affection for the brat, who grew up to act exactly like him. Only a hundred times cuter.

Life on earth returned to normal, once the cities crowded again. The virus seemed to have disappeared and the population grew. Kira had 4 wonderful years to grow up with a father and mother.

No one suspected anything. No one suspected the virus would have mutated. Mutated into something that destroyed human, animal and even Saiyan. After years of peace and recovering, Pan had to witness once again how people around her died. There was nothing she could do, once again. And when Vegeta caught the illness as well, she could just watch helplessly how he died a horrible slow death.

And as if that wasn't enough, Kira found out about her uncle. Goten left after Pan and Vegeta got together, and they hadn't talked since. But Kira was a curious little girl, and smart enough to figure out who Goten was. She could *feel* it, and see it, too.

Goten was not surprised to see her. He suspected her birth. And because of her, he finally returned "home" to face Pan and Vegeta. Only to find an ill Vegeta, who looked awful. He had seen the terror and panic in the villages, and suspected the virus had returned.

But when Goten saw Vegeta, he was sure. The mutated virus caused his skin to slowly rot, and took the strength from his body. Vegeta only wanted one thing.

Release.

When Vegeta died, a part of Pan died as well. Pan lost the one person who understood her best. She lost *Vegeta*. It meant she lost almost every reason to stay there. In that time. She had two choices.

Either she died, and with her, Kira would die too. Or she would go back.

Traveling back in time was Gotens idea. When he told her she *should* go back, she had laughed in his face. Why would she? She didn't want to go back, or go on. For a while, life had no meaning to her at all. Determined as Vegeta always had been, and with all his good intentions, she hated him for leaving her behind.

She never got the chance to say goodbye. He never got to hold her one last time. Goten had to pull her away from him. It was Goten who was ill as well.

Mirai Pan cringed in her sleep at the thought of that. When she found out he was going to die as well, she made the decision to take her daughter back in time. And to make sure no one would have to go through what she had been through. She wanted to prevent things from happening. Even though she had no idea *how*, she knew she had to try.

She wanted to prepare her family for the news. Slowly. She wanted to casually tell them about her and Vegeta. As if they would have just accepted it.

Hi, I'm Pan from the future and I took Vegeta after everyone died. This is our child. And oh yeah, the rest of you died, so I never really bothered with the consequences

Suddenly she realized she heard some voices in the room, and recognized those of Trunks and Goten.

"Shut up Goten.. can't you see she's sleeping?" Trunks' voice sounded.

"Oh shut up Trunks. She's fast asleep, she won't hear us. But seriously.. it's strange, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that Pan will grow up to be like this.. it's amazing.. I guess. But.. my father?" Disgust was heard in his voice. "I still can't believe that! And I really don't want to picture that!"

Goten  snickered, causing Mirai Pan to smile. Goten, never taking everything seriously. She had missed that.

"Look! She smiled!" Goten pointed.

"Ssssh! Goten!" Trunks hissed.

Mirai Pan heard a door open. The two boys went silent, as Present Pan placed her finger on her lips.

"Hey Pan-chan." Trunks greeted softly.

Mirai listened carefully. Her younger self.

"Would you two mind?" she asked. "I'd like to talk to her, I think."

Goten exchanged a look with Trunks and stood up. "We'll be downstairs watching TV if you need us." He said and left the room, dragging Trunks with him. Trunks smiled at Pan and managed to whisper "Don't let this get to you" before he disappeared around the corner.

Pan sighed. "Too late." She said, rolling her eyes.

She looked at Mirai Pan and was unpleasantly surprised to see her awake. They stared at each other for a silent moment, and Mirai took the time to examine her younger self.

Pan was 15, and still tomboyish as ever. She remembered she didn't care about her looks that much. It came naturally. She looked all right. Her raven black hair eventually grew too long so she tied it together and covered it with her bandana. The bandana matched her outfit, so Mirai could only guess her younger self began to develop a certain taste. However, she never cared *that* much, clothes weren't that important.

"Err.. why are your clothes looking like that?" she asked with a frown. It was the first thing she had said to her, and maybe it was for the best it was completely off topic.

Pan looked down at her outfit and noticed she was still wearing her half destroyed training clothes from this morning. She rubbed the back of her head and grinned.

"I sparred with Vegeta this morning.."

"And lost" they both said simultaneously.

Both of them laughed, and the awkward silence seemed to have vanished. Until Pan cleared her throat and sat on the bed.

"I doubt if I'll ever look at him the same way.." she said softly.

Why she was telling Mirai this, she didn't know. But it was what she felt at that very moment, and she might as well share it with her older self.

Mirai sighed.

"You don't have to worry, Pan. It's not like I *just* fell in love with him."

None of them understood. She never had the time to explain properly. And she felt so tired. She didn't want to tell them. She didn't want to do this. She wanted to go home. Return. But that was impossible.

"Is it meant to be, then?" Pan asked.

Mirai blinked and thought for a second.

"Not meant to be, no."

She could hear the relieved sigh coming from Pan.

"It happened under circumstances. I lost everyone, in the future. So much happened and will happen from now. It took ages for things to turn out like this."

She hesitated, and then continued. "It wasn't supposed to happen, but I have no regrets."

Pan frowned at this comment. "Oh.. I bet. And how did Bulma respond to this in the future? Did you ever think of that? And Bura, oh lord.. Bura, and Trunks! They're my friends, and I took their father?"

Pans voice wasn't a soft whisper anymore. Her frown had turned into a look of disgust.

"My parents, and Goten!" Pan shook her head. "I just don't understand how I could? How could you!"

"It wasn't like that at all!! " Mirai snapped back. "They weren't there, Pan. They *died*!"

Pans jaw dropped. "They died?"

Mirai nodded. "All of them. My entire family. They weren't there for me, anymore."

"So, that's why you fell in love with him?" Pan softly asked.

"No, that's not *why*. But it does explain *how*."

"Then why did you come back, if you finally got what you wanted?" the young girl continued to ask. "To rub it in?"

"Of course not!"

"I just don't understand." Present Pan continued, ignoring Mirai's comment. "It's not like I don't have enough on my mind! Didn't you ever …"

Mirai shook her head.

"No, there was no time. I never considered what my presence here would do to you and the others. But it could never be worse than what I had to go through in my time."

"I just can't believe this" Pan said, shaking her head also.

"Me neither. I never expected to see them again." Mirai explained in a whisper. "You have no idea how it is to see them again, after so long. I don't want them to be mad at me. I just want them to be okay."

Present Pan looked at her older self. Trying to ignore why she was so angry at her, she just looked. This would be her in, what? 15 years? She smiled inwardly, realizing she was quite cute. She liked her hair that way, it was long and she wore it loose. Pan suddenly realized the curves on her body. She was curvy! With her 15 years, she barely had breasts, and her figure wasn't *that* impressive. She was glad to see that she'd definitely grow up to become a good looking girl. What did she say? Gorgeous!

Mirai smirked. "Like what you'll become?" she asked, causing Pan to blush.

"I wasn't looking at that!" she denied.

"Hey, I'd be curious too. I *am* you, from the future." The older girl replied, still smirking.

Pan smiled shyly. "And the scars?" she asked hesitatingly.

"Oh, most of them are rather fresh. I heal fast, but the scars take a while before they disappear. I blame Kira." Mirai told cheerfully, until she mentioned Kira and her smile disappeared.

"Yeah." The girl replied. "Kira." Pan stood up and walked towards the door.

"I should leave you alone, you still look tired." She said, and turned the doorknob. Before she stepped outside she turned around and looked at Mirai, who sat on her bed helplessly.

"I guess I am. And I *am* sorry for bringing this on you, Pan."

Pan shrugged. "Whatever."

"Would you do something for me, maybe?"

Pan looked at Mirai. She didn't want to look at her anymore. She didn't want to talk to her anymore. And she certainly didn't want to do her any favors. She was far from happy with her presence here. But against her will she asked what she could do for her.

Mirai gave a faint smile. "Would you watch Kira for me?"

"You're kidding right? We've been looking after her from the beginning, ever since you fainted" Pan snorted.

"I've been asleep that long?"

"Half a day, maybe." The girl replied shortly.

"Thank you, then. Just keep an eye on her, at least until tomorrow." Mirai begged.

"Sure sure sure. Let me take care of the kid!" Pan sighed annoyed. "Just go to sleep, you need it." She said and closed the door behind her.

Mirai laid back in the bed and yawned. She *was* tired. Too tired. So many thoughts and questions and worries. Right now, she didn't care anymore.

She fell asleep with ghosts of tomorrow haunting her.