Chapter 7
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Pan held her stomach as she leaned over in her chair at the restaurant. She never knew she would be in so much pain! She had to bite her tongue to keep from howling in the agony she was currently suffering. And she knew that the other men around could sense her discomfort. They could clearly see that the salt and sugar she consumed was taking its toll in her system. The least Pan could do was keep quiet and not bother them with her moans of pain.
Everyone had their plate of food, and most of them were finishing up the remaining portions they requested.
Gohan was looking to his daughter, however, as he continued to eat but in a slower pace. He couldn't help but wince as he brought up his chopsticks to his mouth with a piece of broiled fish. The emperor had a small idea of what kind of pain she might be having at this moment... she so happened to have downed two more packets of salt before the game was officially over. She was the victor.
But back to the salt consuming... It was bad enough they went through with these small games of self-torture. The game was to be played with only two or three rounds before the food came... but with all these warriors- saiyans nonetheless and an ice-jin- they insisted to make this game go until only one remained.
The emperor shook his head, and gently rubbed the side of his temple.
This was most definitely a competitive group...
A small moan was noticed, and almost all warriors turned their attention to the female saiyan.
She was now looking a bit green.
Bra scooted from her chair, stood up, and quickly walked to Pan placing a supportive hand on her shoulder.
The daughter of the emperor looked up, and the daughter of the saiyan prince instantly winced when she noticed the pain in the dark eyes of the other girl. "Come on... let me take you to the bathroom..."
Pan shook her head as she remained put, "N-no... I'm just fine."
Bra frowned lightly, looking very much like her mother that instant. "Pan, we can all see you are in pain-"
"No I'm not," Pan stated bluntly as she crossed her arms in a defying manner.
The saiyan princess rolled her eyes and grabbed Pan's arm, "You look like you are about to hurl! And I seriously doubt you would want to do it while at the table!" She abruptly grabbed the arm of the other female dragging her up from her seat.
Pan snapped her arm away glaring to the lavender locked female. "Don't you ever touch me again... or I swear-"
Bra snorted as she used hidden strength to pull Pan up once again and drag her to the bathroom.
Pan's anger was expressed in words not even a saiyan warrior would wish to repeat as she cursed in twelve different languages.
Gohan once more shook his head and placed his chopsticks back on the place before bringing his head down. The other saiyans just watched with signs of sympathy. Goku, Gohan's father, lightly patted him on the back. "She'll learn the truth soon; hopefully she'll accept it."
The emperor shook his head. "She has her heart completely bent with Kooler. There's nothing I can do... but keep her with us as long as possible." Gohan looked up and rested his chin on a raised up fist, his elbow supported by the table. One could see his eyes were haunted... they almost completely lost their shine. "He's coming for her."
Vegeta idly mixed his iced tea with his straw, "And the reason why all of us are here, in one single area, is to keep his claws away from her?"
Gohan closed his eyes. "Yes."
The saiyan prince nodded his head briefly, "I had thought so." He brought his tea up taking a sip of his beverage before placing it back on the table. "You know very well, that she can never rule your kingdom."
Gohan's lips were a firm line as he nodded his head. "I have been aware... and I wish it never happened."
"Don't we all wish for things as that?" questioned Raditz as he looked to his nephew. "But it's all in the past. All we can do now is move forward."
The emperor shook his head defeated as he sighed, "She's too far gone to be saved. It's that tyrant that has been raising her by his evil will-"
"And he has been treating her as his own flesh and blood, has he not?" questioned the brother of Goku as he too picked up his drink.
A scoff was noticed from the side of the emperor. All turned their attention to Hizashi as he crossed his pale arms, "That's what you think. Father and I had a little... chat with the enemy recently."
Gasps were clearly heard from every one around... everyone but the full-blooded saiyan prince.
"Kooler hasn't exactly been giving her the best care when she was younger." The ice-jin's dark blue eyes turned to every face that turned to him, "There's reasons why she is very untrusting... And it has mentally scarred her. She might only feel comfort when around her 'father'."
"Everyone," exclaimed a feminine voice. They turned their heads around to notice Bra. "Pan's sick; I seriously doubt she can travel too far. It seems that salt is doing its work in her system."
Gohan's face turned into a deep frown as he stood up. He turned to his father handing the full-blooded saiyan a wad of bills. "This should pay for our food." And in turning to Bra, Gohan nodded his head as she led him back to the bathrooms.
"Five packages of salt?" questioned Goten as he rubbed the side of his head, "I could barely handle one!" The young Goku clone turned to his best friend, "Trunks, isn't it lethal for one to consume about a pound of salt?"
The prince nodded his head, "For a human it might be... but a saiyan; you see the results."
Goten laughed dryly. "I don't think I'll be playing this game again anytime soon."
Trunks laughed as he and Goten stood up from their chairs, "You were the one who suggested it."
And that made Goten nervously rub the back of his head, "Yeah... remind me to never do it again!"
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A noise was noticed... almost like soft tapping. It was very... soothing for a time as this. She ached all over, and she found no comfort in just lying there... But she needed to sleep... just a bit longer... maybe the pain will pass...
"I don't know; she's been sleeping for a few hours."
Who was that?
"Oh the poor dear," muttered a new voice obviously from an older lady. Shaking in the voice was noticed. "Will she be alright?"
There was a pause for a moment or two.
The quarter saiyan held her breath for a moment, as she remained in her spot, motionless.
"She should be better by tomorrow."
Pan released the breath silently; her body began to relax once more limply laying on the soft mattress.
"Good, good," stated the woman with relief evident.
The voices sounded close to Pan... almost as if they were standing beside where she lay. She didn't dare open an eye or make any movement. She was sure that Gohan and his friends would be around somewhere watching her closely... even after she threw up her lunch and breakfast.
She never remembered getting sick in such a way...
"Are you sure she's the one?" questioned the older sounding woman. The voice was clearly to the right side of the mattress. But that question alone made her lightly frown.
'The one?'
The was a pause... before a reply, "Yes. The tests we took of her were positive. She is indeed of our bloodline."
'Bloodline? What the...'
"Well, I do hope she takes care of herself... especially when that tyrant is on the loose and searching for her." The woman's voice became softer; she was obviously moving away from the bed. "I do hope you can take the best care of her. She deserves so much more than having a horrible past... and a deceitful guardian."
The door closed and both of their voices became softer and softer as they headed down a hall.
Pan waited a moment or two more before she opened her charcoal colored eyes. All she could do was stare into the darkness as she thought things over. She didn't know what was going on... or how to handle things...
Obviously the two people were talking about Pan... the hybrid saiyan knew that fact from the beginning. How could she be of their bloodline though? Whose bloodline... in the first place? It almost sounded like that older guy! Maybe the father of Gohan...? Her family was dead! Her papa... now with a name- Kooler- was her only family.
'But what about Gohan, and Trunks, and Bulma? Aren't they like your family?' her mind questioned.
Pan gritted her teeth almost snorting out of her nose as she continued to stare out at the walls of the room.
No, they're just keeping me captive so papa can't get me...
'But didn't you find out ice-jins couldn't be trusted earlier with that rather... painful game of sugar and salt?'
Pan groaned. "Don't remind me..." she muttered softly as she brought an arm over her eyes. She didn't want to wake up just yet...
'Then don't... after all that salt did-'
She mentally growled as she brought her arm back down to the bed. "I need to stop debating with myself..."
"What's wrong with that?"
Pan's eyes shot open with the new voice. She knew that masculine voice all too well...
"Why are you in here Trunks?" she questioned keeping her head on the soft pillow. "I thought I heard only two people in here."
"You did. They left only a few seconds before. And I was remaining silent. As you can see, I'm in here to make sure you are okay."
Pan sat up, and felt a headache coming. She tried her hardest to block it out... showing any kind of physical or mental weakness was making yourself venerable to the enemy... and Pan still felt threatened by him... just in the smallest ways. But she couldn't hold it back. She hissed when the pounding began, and she applied pressure to the sides of her head.
The next thing she felt was a palm pushing her back to the soft bed. She opened her eyes and noticed Trunks bring his hand back; he sat on her bed while looking at her in the eyes. She could clearly read sympathy in those cerulean eyes. She didn't want ANY sympathy from anyone, especially from HIM.
Pan began to snarl, "Why are you pretending you care?"
"Pretending?"" questioned Trunks raising an eyebrow. "Who ever said I was pretending?"
The daughter of the emperor rolled her eyes as she turned her body away from him. "I can just sense these things. You don't have to continue pretending... and go back down to the other saiyans. I think you would like that so much more than sitting here watching me withering in pain from those evil seasonings..."
The female winced when she felt a palm over her back as it began to lightly massage her tense muscles. "Why would I want to abandon one of my friends in need?"
Need?
NEED?
Pan thwaped his hand away and glared darkly at him. "Need...?"
Trunks looked down at her, and he blinked for a moment. He then mentally slapped his forehead. Why didn't he realize that she wouldn't WANT any kind of help... unless it was from Kooler? "Um... well... I thought I would just stick here with you... kind of like for moral support!"
She just glared at him and laid her head back on her pillow. "Do you know how much I hate you at this moment?"
He lightly chuckled as be began to lightly rub her back once more, "I have a small idea."
She lightly smiled as she closed her eyes.
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Gohan looked out a window; it was still raining. It was a wonder how the light tapping of water against a home or window could be so... relaxing? He also felt comfort at that time a period. For some reason, that instant it felt as if all the tension was lifted. Finally he and the others in the household could have a time of peace. It was rare at a time like this.
"What do you think we should do now?" questioned Gohan as he looked over to the other saiyans. Yes... they all did come along with the emperor. Mainly for 'meeting' manners but also to give each other company. They started to become as one giant family.
Goku's stomach began to rumble loudly, almost sounding very much like thunder. A sweatdrop fell from the sides of the saiyans' heads. "I think we should eat first!"
His wife, Chichi, glared to her husband as he sat back in one of the many chairs in the large kitchen, "Is that all you care about? Food?"
Goku blinked as he fell back in his wooden chair, almost breaking it as it fell to the hard tiles. Thank goodness for his hard head... or he would have been knocked unconscious! "No! Nothing like that Chichi!" he exclaimed with wide eyes.
"You sure act it, Kakarot," interjected Vegeta from the side of the room. He was the only one deciding to stand. He leaned his body against the far wall with crossed arms. "Unlike you waiting for your food, I actually have to MAKE my own."
"Only because Bulma's such a bad cook!" interrupted Goten with a smile.
Poor Goten... the pan in Bulma's hand became his head's best friend...
The saiyans around winced.
Yes, and along with the saiyans being here, so were their wives... and kids...
Raditz watched as his young daughter laughed while being chased around by Bankotsu, Nappa's son. "Times really have changed..." He looked up to his wife, who was helping with preparing the meal for the saiyans. He noticed her laugh at something Videl- who was also helping with the meal- stated.
"What do you mean by that?" questioned Raditz younger brother as he rubbed his growling tummy.
The older brother of Goku lightly frowned. "Times have changed from when we were still slaves to that tyrant Frieza."
"So much HAS changed," added Nappa as he leaned back in a chair he was seated in. "I still remember the wide open space... and the different planets we were once assigned to..."
"Those memories still haunt me," commented Vegeta as he gritted his teeth, "It's a shame that we can't exactly forget them."
Gohan shook his head as he ran a hand through his unruly spiky locks of hair. "Well, we're now amending our sins. From what was done before in Frieza's time, we're fixing and gaining trust. Hopefully we can make things right and set out a good name... even if it's to the deepest part of space where not much is being done."
They noticed a small knock to the side of the doorway, and they turned to Trunks, who was lightly smiling. Pan was at his side holding onto Trunks' arm for support. She was still a bit disoriented, yet there was a gentle smile on her face as she continued to glance at everyone in the room.
Gohan cocked an eyebrow as he gazed between the two, and he turned to Vegeta. It seemed as if the saiyan prince was having the same thoughts. The emperor of the galaxy turned back to the two as they slowly walked into the large kitchen. Was there something going on between the two?
And as always, there has to be someone to break the trance like state that happens from time to time. It was Bra's turn to break it as she dashed up to the hybrid saiyan female. Bra's smile grew as she grabbed onto Pan's shoulders. "Oh! I'm so glad you are okay!" She gave Pan a big hug. "I was worried!"
Pan tensed up as she looked up to the brother of this girl. Trunks just gave her a look that said 'I told you so'. Pan sighed as she brought her hands up to the female hugging her in a friendly embrace, and she returned the hug.
Bra released the younger girl, and she looked up to her brother. "And I see you're doing just fine also!"
Trunks just nodded his head in agreement as he wrapped an arm around Pan's shoulders. It surprised the saiyans, and the other women around- who have heard of this older teen's actions- when she didn't react in a violent way!
The men looked amongst themselves for a moment, before Trunks lead her into the room, and to take a seat. Pan gave a small sigh when she arrived at the table, and she laid her head down on the hard wooden eating surface. She was still very tired. Every one of them noticed this. They didn't dare to say a word to anger her now... surprisingly calm spirit. That was... all but the father of this girl.
"Pan."
She turned her attention towards Gohan as she moved her gaze to him.
"You seem a bit tired," he noted as he gently looked into her eyes. "Shouldn't you try to regain your strength while resting in bed?"
They heard Pan scoff as she closed her eyes. "I don't like being alone in a room for a long time."
All the saiyans blinked in confusion as they heard this comment. This was indeed news! Wasn't it just yesterday that she wished to rip the heads off of anyone who came with in ten feet of her?
But it didn't matter to the emperor as he smiled to his daughter. As long as Pan felt comfortable with him, or any of the long time family and friends, then he was happy. At least she wasn't acting as a vampire anymore!
"The rain has stopped," commented Trunks as he looked outside. The windows were opened, and the rays of the sun were peaking through the dark clouds. The hybrid saiyan prince smirked as he walked over to the window looking out at the grassy lands. "I think this is a perfect chance to train," he commented; he looked up to his father. "What do you think dad? Care for a spar?"
The father of the lavender locked adult smirked as he lifted himself from the side of the wall. "I can't believe I'm hearing these words coming from your mouth, brat. It's almost a miracle."
Pan looked up, and she noticed the father and son stride out the door. She then noticed Bulma watch the two make their way out the home, and her eyes lightly frowned. "I can't believe them! They just leave and don't wait to get something to eat!" exclaimed the earth scientist as she crossed her arms while wearing a blue apron over her designer clothing.
Videl lightly laughed as she began to cut some carrots. "They never change."
"It might be for the better," stated Chichi as she snorted. "I just don't understand WHY they have to leave for long periods of time and leave ME alone to do all this house work!"
"But Goku stays with you!"
And in hearing his name, Goku lifted his head and to the women. Chichi turned back to her husband with a smile as she poured the contents of cooked food from the pan it was in to a giant bowl. "You're right. I do have my husband here with me!"
Goku just tilted his head to the side as she looked back to his brother, and to Nappa with a confused look in his eye. He then scratched the side of his head. "Raditz?"
The older saiyan looked to his younger brother. "Yes?"
"Why must women be so confusing?"
A sweatdrop was noticed to the side of the saiyan's forehead before he lightly frowned. "Well... they ARE of the opposite gender than us."
"But that's not sooooo different... isn't it?"
Raditz sighed as he rubbed the side of his head. "What are we going to do with you Kakarot? You're turning more naïve than when we first met you."
Goku lightly chuckled. "I guess living here on this planet... and protecting it will do these things to you!"
Nappa nodded his head slowly, "And it is... sadly." The bald saiyan looked over to his comrades, "This planet is making all of us soft."
"But for the better," commented Goku as he leaned back in his chair. "Just think of how peaceful the children's life's are now." Both looked to the Bankotsu, son of Nappa, and Nigirimeshi, daughter of Raditz. Both were laughing as they ran out into the living room still chasing each other. They were about seven or eight years in age. Goku smiled, "And they both have had their father's around while growing up."
Gohan sighed at hearing this. It opened up old wounds that he wished to keep hidden. But that was one thing that brought Gohan to what he was now. Nothing could change the past. It was fated to happen...
"I just don't know how you can do it," whispered Raditz to Nappa, "You're wife is expecting to give birth to twins in just two months!"
"I feel so sorry for you," Goku commented with a bit of humor in his voice.
Nappa rolled his eyes as he looked over to his very pregnant wife, who was also helping with the meals. He noticed her tie back her long dark emerald locks of hair into a ponytail before she began to wash some vegetables. The saiyan couldn't help but smile.
He and Raditz didn't know how much joy a family could bring... even though the saiyans thought of it as a weakness before. It actually made them stronger; they desired to protect their families with all their might, and that helped for them to strive for the higher levels of power.
Pan turned her eyes from the men, to the women, then back to the men.
She didn't understand why... but she was now starting to accept these people as her family. And now... Trunks was becoming the older brother she never had. Just earlier in the room he promised to protect her at any costs, and to always watch over her.
That alone brought her to realizations that all these people just wanted to help her... not hurt her as her father wanted her to think. He said so many lies about these saiyans... and she had yet to meet the emperor! If these were his subjects... he must a kind and fair person.
Pan decided to take this time to slip out of the room. Her head was now clear, and her legs were strong enough to walk in a straight line with out the help of others. She stepped out into the wet grass. The water on the grass was chilled against Pan's bare feet. She knew she would have to find a dry place to stand on soon... but...
She looked into the sky and noticed Trunks sparring with his father. Both were in the 'golden' forms and were traveling at super high speeds. Pan had a hard time catching up with where they were going! It looked evenly matched!
She noticed a tree near by, and her feet felt the dryer grass; that gave her the signal to give this place the O.K. to watch the two super saiyans.
The female saiyan couldn't help but sit back and look up as she continued to watch the two. She lightly smiled silently learning from the two adults. She was unaware of the gaze of her family watching her through the windows of the home.
"She seems to be accepting our ways..." muttered Goku with a small smile.
Gohan chuckled as a weight, seeming to have built on his shoulders lifted. He also smiled. "Yes... and things seem to be changing for the best too."
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Phew! That was 11 pages on my page counter! For the past few days, I had decided to take a break... mainly because I had NO INSPIRATION to write. And when I had completed a new chapter to another fic... I was too lazy to post it... I also have other reasons for not posting. It's better explained in my bio.