Wow has it been a while since I last updated. Sorry about that but I've been preoccupied with stuff. I apologize to you dear readers. Oh um, also my parents keep threatening to turn off the aol so many times I don't know if they're messing with my head or if they're really going to do it. I don't think they will but if they do in fact do it, it means I probably won't update for and even longer time. Heh, sorry again. *Dodges flying chair* . Ok who threw that? I'll make it up to you guys some how. ^.^ Thanks for all the wonderful reviews you guys sent me! It means a lot. *gives everyone popcorn* Also, I'm trying to make Zarbon a good/bad guy. You know, the one bad guy that gets along with the good guys? And as you probably figured out by now, whenever it's in italics that's the present Pan talking in her prison cell and when it's not it's the past one explain it all and I hope I didn't confuse any of you on that. Now let's go back to the fic.

In The Time Of The Cherry Blossoms

Chapter Three Freedom Never Seemed So Bitter

The next four days my mother and I were sent on a wild goose chase finding the right papers to free my father. Time was running out, I could tell. I could barley feel his power level anymore, nor could my friends and family. What power I did feel, was weak. I needed to free him and there was only one way I could.

My mother and I visited the prison for the 8th time. They kept sending us back and forth saying we didn't have the proper signatures and crap like that. When we got the "proper" signatures and went back to the prison, they'd send us away saying the office was closed. This day we were NOT to be ignored.

"We've come to release my father," I said as I handed the fat secretary some papers. Mother sat and watched saying nothing. The guard sighed and looked the papers over. His grubby fingers wiping a sticky substance on them. He looked up and handed the papers back.

"These haven't been dealt with clearly. Get them renewed and come back tomorrow."

I pushed the papers back. "Check them again. they are in proper order for his release."

He sighed and looked behind himself. I looked as well and saw Zarbon watching us. I sneered despite my mothers warning.

The guard put the papers down. "Officer Zarbon has taken interest in your case. Take these papers and go see him in that office."

I stood with my mother and took the papers. *Great* I thought, *Now what does he want?*

As we walked to Zarbon's office my mother told me to be respectful. I grunted. Why should I show respect to these jerks? It made no sense to me.

Zarbon opened the door and greeted us friendly. My mother returned the welcome while I just nodded my head. We sat down and Zarbon sighed.

"Well," he said, "Where shall we begin?"

"You can begin with why you won't release my father," I said angrily, "He's done nothing wrong."

Zarbon nodded. "I know that you are angry but-"

"Angry? I am beyond anger Officer. I want to know why my father is in jail and why we can't get him out. We have all the right papers and we've gotten them checked and signed only to be turned away over and over again."

"Pan," my mother grabbed my hand. I shook it off and stood up.

"No! This time I will not be ignored and my father will be coming home with us today. Not tomorrow, not next week, today! I don't care what you say I'm not leaving here without my father." I sat back down.

Zarbon stared at us for a while. My mother was shaking. I didn't mean to scare her but I meant what I said.

Finally Zarbon stood up and smiled a faint smile. "I will talk to Lord Frieza and see what we can do. If you'll excuse me ladies, I will be right back." He left the room.

My mother looked at me angry.

"Pan, what do you think you're doing?"

"What?" I asked surprised,

"If you keep acting like that towards Frieza's men, he's going to have you killed!"

"I'd like to see him try. The bastard. It's the only way to have them listen." I spoke softer to her, "Mother, you know what they've been doing to us. Fathers done nothing wrong yet they keep him locked up. Dende knows how much longer he can stay in this hell. He's weak and I need to get him out even if it means yelling at Frieza himself."

"I understand Pan but please try to keep calm. I am as angry as you but we can not show it. It will only make things worse. Trust me. Just let me do the talking from now on, ok?" She wiped a tear from her eye.

I looked at her hurt but nodded. She took my hand again and smiled. I smiled back and hugged her.

Then Zarbon came back. He looked a bit uneasy.

"Well?" My mother asked.

"It seems that the one in charge of your father's arrest would like to speak to Pan."

My mother shifted in her seat. "Who is the one in charge of my husbands case?"

Zarbon seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Well it's uh... King Frieza."

My mother seemed to stiffen as did I. She looked to me and said nothing. She didn't have to, I know what she was thinking.

I don't remember exactly what I felt then. Anger, distress, fear. But I knew what I had to do and that I would do it. Zarbon took me to the palace while my mother waited back at the prison. I was led to Frieza's chambers. I was uncertain what was about to take place and kept quiet until he spoke to me. This is when I made things worse for myself without knowing it.

I sat across from him at his desk while he looked me over. I cursed at him through my thoughts.

"Nice to see you again Son Pan, though I wish it were under better circumstances." he said.

I nodded my head but said nothing.

"Well, shall we get started? What is it that you want?"

I clenched my fists together to my legs. I spoke as calmly as I could. "I wish to retrieve my father from his prison cell."

He smiled a fake smile. "I see. What crime did he commit to be thrown into my prison?"

"That's just it my Lord, he committed no crime."

"Are you saying my officers are arresting innocent bystanders and throwing them into dirty cells to have them rot just for the sheer joy of it?"

I narrowed my eyes on him. "I really wouldn't know my Lord, why don't you ask them one by one and get a more accurate answer but I doubt it is any fault of theirs."

He chuckled. I cursed under my breath.

"I will tell you what I can do." he pulled out a deck of cards. I watched confused for a moment.

He smiled. "Let's let fate decide."

"I do not understand my Lord." I said.

"It's simple really. You make a bet and I make a bet. We both flip a card and whoever has the highest wins. Understand?"

"So what is your bet your highness?"

"Place you bet first dear child."

I thought for a moment. I looked at him. "If I win, I would like my father to be free from jail, not to be bothered again or anyone else that is close to me and-"

"And?," he laughed. "I said one bet, not two. Oh well, go on."

"And," I continued, "I wish to go to Law School."

He folded his hands on the nice oak desk and looked at me. "Law School? Hmm."

He leaned back in his chair, still looking at me. He laughed.

I straightened myself and looked back at him. "And your bet?"

He smirked. "If I win, you stay here."

I felt my heart skip a beat. I must've looked grave because his grin grew bigger. "Is it a deal?"

"If you win, you will have to let my father and mother go home not to be bothered."

"And?"

"And I will still here in your company for as long as you want."

He thought for a moment then nodded. "Alright."

I didn't hesitate and held out my hand which he shook. "Deal." He said.

"Deal." I said quickly.

He then shoveled the cards and gave me one than himself.

He grinned. "Ready?"

I nodded.

He flipped over his card and smiled. "King of hearts."

I frowned. It came down to this. I had to have a King to tie him or an ace to win. My chances looked slimed and I grunted at his smug look. I took a deep breath and flipped over my card.

I stared at the card for a moment or two as did he. Soon his smug look turned into disappointment.

Ace of Spades.

I dare not show him my happiness and stared at the card for another moment or two before saying, "It has seem that I have won."

He looked up at me obviously very pissed off but he didn't say so. "So it does. You should be happy."

*I am* I thought.

He got up from his seat. "You can go then. I will no longer keep you here for anything more. Go."

I lifted up from my seat and bowed. I smiled sweetly and left. I had won! My father can now be free with his family and friends. I can even go to Law School! Things were starting to look up.

But that wouldn't last. Wouldn't last at all. My happiness would soon fade as seasons pass and the cold harsh treatment of fate would crush me. If only I had- Oh what does it matter now? It probably wouldn't have been any better.

I enjoyed having my father back home, though he was very weak. My mother and grand mother helped care for him. I did too as well as Marron and Bra. I still wished we spent more time together, my father and I, before he- well, even Dende can be cruel.

We had had a party for my father's return. He was thankful for everyone's kindness but was too tired and went to bed. When my mother and I first saw him at the prison, he was bloody, dirty and light weighted. I didn't even recognized him he looked so old. The guards had to give him a cane to walk. He smiled faintly as my mother cried and held him. I held my tears in until I was alone in my room. I sat on my bed thinking what I had done to cause my father's pain. There was a knock on the door and I quickly wiped my tears and said as happy as I could, "Come in."

The door opened slowly and my father came in. I smiled faintly and he smiled back closing the door behind himself. "Hey Panny, what are you doing up here all by yourself?"

"I could ask you the same question." I said.

He sat next to me on the bed and held the cane to his side.

"Father, you should go back to bed."

He laughed a little. "I was only pretending to be tired. I just don't feel like talking to anyone right now. That's all."

I nodded and said nothing. We sat in silence for a moment or two when he spoke.

"I know you still think it's your fault Pan."

I looked up at him. "What papa?"

He looked at me sadly. "I felt your pain when I was in that cell."

I looked away from him. "I know that you told me it wasn't my fault but you were only saying that to make me feel better." I sighed, "I know that they did horrible stuff to you in there as well. I always felt your ki rise once in a while and-" I started to cry.

He hugged me. "Shh...it's ok Pan, don't cry. It's alright."

"Alright? How is it alright?" I pushed myself away from him, "You got hurt because of me. Because of me! It should have been me in that prison cell instead of you!" I cried harder and he just stared at me thinking of what to say. The door opened and my mother came in. She immediately came to my side and hugged me.

"Pan, what's the matter?" She rocked me back and forth as my father watched and I cried.

"I'm an awful daughter. I don't deserve any of you. Dende, I'm so stupid." I wept.

My mother looked at my father and he sighed.

"Pan," He said, "Do you remember what I told you the day Zarbon and Deborah took me away?"

I sniffed. "Yes."

"Did you forget what I told you exactly?"

I looked at him still crying a little, "You said that you were proud of me and that you loved me."

He nodded. "And I still think that, no, I know that."

I wiped my tears looking down at the floor.

"Pan, I know that I also said I was strong and that I could withstand their cruelty, truth is, I figured out I'm not that strong."

My mother looked at him concern. "Gohan?"

He avoided her gaze and looked out the window. "They did horrible things to me in there yes, but it isn't your fault Pan and I don't want you to say that it should've been you in there instead of me. It would've killed you. I know it would have."

I looked to my mother. She had tears in her eyes looking at my father. I looked back at him.

"And do you know what kept me alive? What gave me hope through the whole thing?"

I shook my head and said quietly, "No."

He smiled. "The promise I made to you. That I would return to you and your mother. My love for you as well as your love for me kept me going. Soon their torture didn't harm me as much and they left me alone."

I frowned. "But you would have never been in that mess if it wasn't for me."

He shook his head. "Not true. That night at the palace when I saw Frieza touching you, I was getting ready to kick his face in. Your mother stopped me though right when you slapped him."

I was confused for a moment and looked to my mother whom nodded.

"Mom? Is that true?"

"Yes. I kept holding him back. He was going to attack him about six times but I kept stopping him telling him that they might hurt you if he were to attack Frieza. He was worried about you."

I looked down thinking to myself.

My father shifted on the bed. "Had I attacked Frieza, they would have taken your mother, you Bra and Marron to Frieza's chambers and killed Vegeta, Trunks, Goten and myself."

"But you still got hurt." I said looking at him sadly.

"Better me than you and mother."

I hugged him and cried softly. He hugged back and my mother hugged us both, crying. Then a strange thing happened. I felt my father cry as well. I've only seen him cry once and even then they were only tears. Even when they took him away he only had tears in his eyes. Here was my father, one of the strongest men that I know, always laughing and playing around, a grown man, crying. As my mother, father and I sat there crying, I thought, *I am so lucky. I have parents that love one another and me with all their heart. I wish to never lose what I have.*

My father stood up with his cane and smiled at my mother and I. My mother stood up as well and held onto him. I sat up straight on my bed and forced a smile.

"I love you Pan." he said.

"I love you too, daddy."

My mother hugged my father and he kissed her. "I love you Videl."

She smiled. "I'll love you forever."

He smiled.

That moment I will never forget. We were together and in for one moment in time, we had nothing to worry about. I wish we could've stayed like that forever.

But like some wise person said in the past, good things never last long. How true that is. My father was still weak even after we gave him sensu beans. He never seemed to recover which didn't make sense to me. If he wasn't weak physically what on Dende's green earth was wrong with him? Was he weak psychologically? We never figured it out and when we did, it was too late.

For about 1 month things were fine. Father was doing better and everything seemed to get back to normal. One day when I was finished doing my chores, I went into the forest to train. As I walked along the trail I felt my fathers ki up ahead and ran to catch up to him. When I did, he was lying in the meadow looking up at the sky. I walked slowly up to him and sat down.

He looked at me and smiled and I smiled back.

"What are you doing here by yourself papa?" I asked happily.

He smirked. "I could ask you the same question."

I laughed as did he. I laid down by him just looking up at the sky. Birds chirped and bees buzzed by. It was so peaceful.

"Pan?" he said breaking the silence.

"Mhm?" I responded.

"Pan, do you..." he hesitated.

"Dad?" I glanced at him.

"Do you love Trunks?"

I blushed and looked away. "Dad!

"Well it's just..."

"Just what?" I looked back at him.

"It's just... Never mind. Forget it."

"No, tell me."

He sighed. "I think he has something for you and you for him. I just want to make sure because if you do in fact get married I would like for it to be soon that way I can...." he trailed off.

I sat up. "Daddy? So you can what?"

He smiled. "So I can walk you down the aisle."

I looked at him confused. *What is he trying to say?* "But you can do that when and if I ever marry. Whether to Trunks or someone else."

"Maybe..." He looked back up at the sky.

I kept looking at him worried. After a while he said, "I just want to make sure your happy. That you will be taken care of. No need to worry about it Panny." he smiled as if to reassure me and tried to stand up. He stumbled and almost fell but I grabbed him before he could.

"Are you ok dad?" I held on to him.

He cursed, "Stupid cane!" He threw it in some bushes nearby. He laughed at himself and mumbled, "Me, of all people, using a cane. A useless shit cane!.............. Damn it," He sighed, "What a fucking joke."

I stood there not sure of what to say.

He sighed. "Pan, I want you to do something for me."

"Anything daddy."

He smiled. "I want you to remember this moment that we were together. Care free and happy. In this meadow. Can you do that for me?"

I nodded. "Of course daddy. I will."

He smiled again. "Don't you forget. Remember everything. The smell of the flowers, the blue sky, the chirping birds....... everything." he seemed to think to himself and was silent.

A little wind blew, blowing the flowers and tall grasses. For a moment, everything was quiet.

Finally he pushed himself from me and tried to walk. I tried to grab him but he put up his hand.

"No. I can do this."

I nodded and watched him.

He stumbled a bit and started to walk. He almost fell twice but kept walking. He walked towards the bushes for which he had thrown the cane in and picked it up. He then started to walk on the trail. He looked back. "Coming?"

I smiled. "I'll catch up."

He nodded then walked away.

I watched him for a moment or two then looked back at the scenery. I smiled at the peaceful place then thought of my father again. I was so proud of him. I love him so much. I looked around once more then started after him.

I will never forget that day or the next few. I will also never forget the times I spent with him. Those memories are precious to me. So very precious. I'm crying now remembering them. Such good times I had only to get worse.

My father, Son Gohan, father of myself, Son Pan, husband to Videl Satan, brother to Son Goten and son to Son Goku and Chi-Chi, died four days later of unknown causes. It was hard on everyone, especially me and my mother. Thinking about it now is just too painful and I can't help but cry.

On the day on the funeral, a gray car pulled up just as my father was put into the ground to rest for eternity. Zarbon stepped out and waited for my uncle and I to approach him. My mother stayed with my grandmother, and grandfather, watching my father being buried while everyone else waited by the cars.

"What do you want here?" I asked him bitterly.

He handed me an envelope. "These are your transcripts to enter your new school." He sighed and bowed. "My deepest sympathy for the lost of your father. He was a good man."

"He was a great man." Uncle Goten said.

He nodded. "Forgive me for asking but did they ever find out what caused his death?"

Uncle grunted. "No but we all know what killed him."

He looked at him confused. "Really? What?"

"Your men and your torture. That's what killed him. Very slowly. He was strong and your men killed him."

Zarbon sighed again like he understood. I started to cry again and Goten hugged me and started to walk me to the others, away from Zarbon. I looked back at Zarbon and he nodded a goodbye and went back into the car. When I joined the others, my mother hugged and cried with me.

My father was dead. He would never get to walk me down the aisle as I said he would. He would never know if I were truly happy. Knowing that true fact hurt. It was..... words can't describe that feeling.

The next three weeks, when I was to leave for school, Trunks and Bra visited us. My mother was still depressed about my father and mostly stayed in bed. Bra helped me clean the house and make dinner while Trunks talked to my mother.

Bra seemed to watch me closely and worriedly like she had wanted to tell me something important but wasn't sure if she should. When we were washing the dishes I decided to ask her.

"Bra." I handed her a plate to dry, "What's wrong?"

She looked at me confused. "What do you mean Pan Chan?"

"You looked worried about something. What is it?"

She put down the plate and sighed. "I really shouldn't say."

I turned off the water and looked at her. "Bra? What is it? What's wrong?"

She walked to the table and sat. I watched her for a moment than joined her. She sighed again and picked up her purse. I silently watched her not saying anything.

"Do you know," she said, "that they put up pictures of traitors they have killed in the newspaper?"

I nodded my head still not getting what she was saying. "Yes. They put the pictures in there saying they were dangerous to the republic which is a bunch of shit. But what does this have to do with me?"

She took part of a newspaper article out of her purse and handed it to me. "This is what my father found while reading it yesterday."

I took the paper and unfolded it. I looked over the article and my heart stopped. It was like the last time when I found out he was part of the plot to have Frieza murdered. Only instead, Kino was the one who was murdered. I stared at the picture of him. Dead.

Bra put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry Pan."

I didn't respond. I was dumbfounded. How could have this happened? I lost two important men in my life. To make it worse it was all because of the same person. I crumpled the paper in my hands and just stared ahead of me. I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks.

Bra took a deep breath. "I shouldn't have shown you but-"

"No Bra," I stood up, "I'm glad you showed me." I smiled at her and she smiled back faintly.

"I need to go outside for a while. I'll be back in an hour or two."

She nodded. "Alright. I'll finish the dishes."

"You don't have to-"

She hugged me. "I want to."

I smiled though she didn't see me. "Ok then." I walked out of my home and took a random trail. I wiped my tears and just thought to myself. After a while I stopped and looked around. The tears came back to my eyes. I was in a meadow. Not just any meadow, the meadow where my father and I......

I started to cry again. I sat on the ground and just cried. How weak I was to cry, but I had to. It was the same. The meadow was the just same as the day my father and I left it. So why wasn't my life the same as the meadow? It made no sense to me. Maybe it did.

After a while, when I had finished crying, I looked up at the sky. It was beautiful. Blue and clear. I smiled a little. My fathers words echoed in my thoughts, "Don't you forget," he had said. I remembered his smile and looked down at the ground. Dende, how I missed him.

"Pan?"

I looked back up and saw Trunks standing there. He smiled and I smiled back.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?" he asked.

I laughed. He looked at me confused and I shook my head. He walked up and sat next to me.

"Bra said she told you about uh, Kino."

I nodded and looked down.

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok. It isn't your fault."

He nodded and laid back. I laid back as well and stared at the sky.

"Pan?"

"Mhm?"

"I... well I've been keeping a secret from the others."

I glanced up at him. "Secret? What kind of secret?"

He hesitated. "Well, Goten and I are part of the rebellion."

I looked at him shocked. "You mean you were like Kino?"

"Yeah. We were trying to keep it a secret though so our parents won't know and try to stop us. You know how they worry."

"And Bra and Marron? Are they in it too?"

"No. I wouldn't let them either. It's too dangerous for them and I don't want them to get hurt."

"So then why did you tell me?"

He thought for a moment and sat up. "I don't know."

I laughed at him and he smiled.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I want to join the rebellion."

He looked at me shocked. "What?"

I looked back up at the sky and repeated, "I want to join the rebellion."

He shook his head. "No Pan. I can't let you do that."

"And why not Trunks Vegeta Briefs?" I asked angrily.

"Because, like I said, it's dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm not a baby. I can look after myself you know." I said sitting up.

He sighed, "Pan, I shouldn't even have told you about-"

"Yes you shouldn't have but I'm glad you did."

He started to talk again but I stopped him, "Trunks, I have to be a part of this rebellion. I need to." I looked up at the sky once more, "You need all the help you can get. Besides, Frieza has killed three people very dear to me; Jena, Kino, may father, and I can't stand him doing it more or to any one else. By me joining the rebellion I feel like I'm doing something, that I'm avenging my fathers and friends deaths. Please let me help. I..." I looked into his eyes, "It's the only way I feel my fathers death wasn't in vain. Please Trunks, let me join."

He thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Alright Pan. You can join. I'll take you to one of our meetings."

I smiled and hugged him. He seemed surprised but hugged back. "Thank you Trunks." I whispered in his ear.

He smiled at me and we stayed there in the meadow and talked. Remembering all the good times and what we were going to do. It was bliss.

And this is how my quest began to end Frieza's reign of terror. This is when my time for retribution came. Little did I know just how far I would go and how many people would stand with us. It was the beginning of something great and powerful that would lead to the final battle. A battle that I have yet to win.

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Ok that's it for chapter 3 and I'm sorry that it was not as long as the others. Dang I almost cried writing this chapter with Gohan and all. Please don't be mad at me for killing him off! *dodges a beer bottle and chairs* o.o;;

Hey I'm sorry but he had to die. *shrugs* Anyways, I'll update when ever I finish the 4th chapter so just review and tell me what you all think, k? Great. Until the next chapter, bye!