Be proud of me everyone! I actually finished two chapters while I was in Florida and plan on posting the other within the next week or two. I had fun with these chapters for some reason. Anyway, I hope you'll like. R & R please
New Disclaimer: I still don't own DBZ, but I now own Jun and Setsei and Pan's English teacher… I forget his name… "
Chapter 4: Shock and Surprises
Pan rapped three times on the back entrance to Capsule Corp. It was hidden amongst some bushes and trees, and not just anyone could enter through it. A small camera emerged from a white wall panel. It focused on Pan. However, it didn't focus on just her physical look. It also scanned her ki level and compared it to the last reading. Finding a close match, the camera beeped and a soft whoosh was heard as another wall panel slide open. Pan slipped inside, making sure no one else came behind her. You could never be too careful. Lately, many schoolgirls had been trying to sneak in to get a peak at Trunks working out.
She treaded softly on the maroon carpeted floor, looking at the walls. Bulma had had Vegeta to redo this area against his wishes. She had let him do whatever he wanted to it as long as it didn't get blown up, and it didn't look like the old hallway. So Vegeta had made it a tribute to himself. Picture after picture showed Vegeta snarling down. Ordinary people would shiver in fear at the man's menacing glare.
Pan slipped into another room at the end of the hallway. It was lit by a pale white light, but nothing else. Dark shadows fell over everything, but Pan knew exactly where she was heading. She tapped on the door at the opposite end of the room and waited for it to open. A few seconds later, the door slid open a crack, and an eye looked through at her. "Who is.. Oh Pan! Why have you come?"
"I came for the rug, and to talk to you about something."
"Oh… okay sweetie. One second though. I'm trying to get Trunks to learn the ropes of my lab, and he's not doing too well at it." A crash was heard as soon as she finished her sentence, and the door quickly slid closed. Pan could hear muffled talking from inside, but couldn't distinguish any of it. A few minutes later, the door slid back open. "All right Pan. You can come in now."
Pan followed Bulma and the door closed behind her. She glimpsed knocked over beakers and broken test tubes. Trunks must be awful at science she thought to herself.
"Ignore the mess. Trunks is way too clumsy for his own good. Sure he may be able to fight well, but when it comes to small things, he's like an elephant in a china store. He'll learn though. Eventually, I hope."
She led Pan to a side room, much like a lounge. Comfortable cushioned seats were place strategically. In the middle of the room was a polished oak wooden table, which was covered in stacks of blue prints and notes. Bulma swiped all of them onto the floor, and then sat down in one of the matching oak chairs. Pan did the same. "I'll get you the rug before you leave. What did you need to talk to me about?"
"Well… I've started thinking about my mom. Dad told me a lot about her. He tried to make sure he covered everything, and he gave me some of her things, but… I still don't think I know her very well. It doesn't even feel like she even existed anymore. So many years have passed, and dad only keeps a few pictures on the mantle and in his room."
"What makes you think you don't know her well?" Bulma got up and walked to the mini refrigerator, grabbing a few cherry sodas. She sat back down, and handed one to Pan as she opened her own.
"I've never gotten to know her. I had so many chances when I was younger to ask, but I didn't. At least, I can't remember ever asking. But after today, I have an idea."
"What is your idea, Pan?" Bulma took a sip of her soda. She was thinking that Pan wanted to do more exploring through her mother's things, or interview others that knew her mother. What came next though, she wasn't prepared for.
"I want to bring mom back using the dragonballs," said Pan in a determined tone.
Bulma turned her head to the side and spit out her soda. "What!?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but I want to. There's no other way that I can get to know my mother better."
"Pan, listen to me. Your father absolutely forbids it. After Videl passed away, he made sure to tell everyone to never, under any circumstances, wish back his wife. He wanted to let her live in the after life and not bring her back again. You know that he believes that the dead should stay dead."
"But Bulma, I'd only do it for one day. I'd make sure to keep her away from dad. I'd be careful!" Pan's voice kept rising with each assurance.
"Pan, you don't understand. You know that Videl will want to see Gohan. She will want to see her husband, the man she loved dearly. You don't know how in love those two were. And if Gohan saw her again, it'd break his heart if he knew she wasn't back for good. That is besides the fact that he'd be heart broken that you disobeyed his order." Bulma made sure that she said this in a firm tone.
"How else will I know what she is really like?" Tears began to form in Pan's eyes.
Bulma stood up, and walked over to Pan, hugging her close. "I don't mean to be mean to you, but you have to understand how many things could go wrong." She looked down at Pan. "Don't be selfish. You have to consider what everyone else would think, okay?"
Pan sniffled and nodded. She hadn't thought that Bulma would react like this. She had figured that Bulma would help her, and give her one of the dragon radars for guidance. Boy, had she ever been wrong. "I guess I'll find other ways then," she mumbled softly.
Bulma silently sighed in relief. If Pan had done such a thing… She didn't even want to think of what could have happened. It would be chaos, she knew that much. "I'll go get you the rug you wanted. I'm sure Gohan is wondering where you are," she commented in a sweet syrupy voice. She quickly left the room, leaving a trail of papers blowing behind her.
Pan sighed and began banging her head on the table. Where did I get the bright idea to tell Bulma?! Ugh that was the stupidest thing ever. I could have grabbed a dragon radar from Grandma's. Now Bulma will be watching out for me to do this. That's not what I wanted at all. I'll have to sneak around her, and not visit her for a long time. She'll be sure to question me. Kami, I hope she doesn't tell dad. He'd kill me…Pan's thoughts were interrupted by the returning of Bulma. She was lugging the big rug under her arm.
"Here you go. It's a bit heavy, but you'll be able to handle it easily. You might want to call Nimbus though. You don't want to tire yourself out."
Pan only listened half-heartedly while Bulma tried to tell her that she was weak, or at least, that's what it seemed to Pan. Just because I'm not as strong as Trunks or Vegeta doesn't make me weak! she screamed inside her mind. On the outside though, she smiled a sickly sweet smile and took the rug from Bulma's hands. "I'll see you later Bulma."
"Bye Pan. Tell Gohan that he doesn't owe me a thing in return!"
Pan quickly exited the Capsule Corp building, going out the way she'd came in. She was quite angry now, and she couldn't really figure out why. Bulma did this…putting done my idea. If she tells dad, I'll get her back. Dad cannot know about this.
Pan continued to think as she tucked the rolled up rug under her right arm, and took to the sky. No one knows how I feel. Everything's coming to the surface now in one big emotion. Dad never saw the look on my face when I saw a mother and her child. I never knew what feeling that was before… but I do now. It's empty, my heart is empty. Mom, why did you have to die? Tears began falling from her face as she thought this. A mother's touch she had never known. Right now, that was all she needed.
Pan's feet landed softly on the ground outside of her home. Her tears had been wind dried and the crying session she had had earlier had no traces left behind. Pan tried to perk up. She didn't want her dad to suspect something. He'd probably blame himself for it. She began walking towards her house, the rug held high above her head to avoid the grass and dirt stains. The house was a simple two-story deal. It was a small house, painted a sky blue with white trimmings and a white oaken door. Gohan (with a little help from Bulma) had built this house by himself for his family 18 years ago. Pan had not been born then, and Gohan and Videl were engaged.
"Dad! I'm home! I got the rug from Bulma's! Come see what it looks like!" Pan shouted as she walked in the door. However, she received no answer back. Pan looked puzzled. Her father always answered her when she got in the door. She shrugged, and figured that he left for a bit. She set the rug down against the wall and walked into the kitchen, looking for a note. Again, she was weirded out. Gohan never left without leaving a note of where he'd be.
She decided to take her book bag up to her room. Maybe dad forgot…I mean, not everyone remembers everything all the time…This thought didn't help to calm the worry that was growing bigger by the minute. Pan ran up the stairs to her room, the pounding of her feet echoing throughout the house. She ran past her dad's room, her nose picking up an odd scent. She ignored it for the moment, opening the door to her room and stepping inside.
As Pan tossed her book bag by her desk, she began to notice something strange. The picture of her mother that'd she'd placed on the side table was missing, the broken frame and glass lying on the floor in front of it. Her mother's Saiyaman II watch was missing, its case overturned on her desk. The stack of photo albums that her dad had given her last night after she'd gone to bed gone, simply gone from their spot on her chair. The white chair now lay turned over on its side. She couldn't understand what had happened. What is going on here? Why is mom's stuff missing? Did someone break in while I was away? Wait a minute.. that's nonsense. No one would break in without getting busted by him… unless he wasn't home… Pan was now utterly scared. If someone had broken in while her dad had been gone, they could still be here, waiting to get her. A descendent of the Son family would be a great treasure for any robber, even if only dead.
She crept out of her room, trying to make as little noise as possible. In her panic, she forgot to sense the ki around her. If she had, she would have realized that there wasn't anyone around for miles. She snuck past her dad's room, that weird smell once again filling her nostrils. She glanced toward his room. The door was slightly ajar. Pan began slowly walking toward her dad's room. As she got closer, the weird smell became stronger. She pushed the door all the way open. When she looked inside, her hand instantly went to her mouth and tears formed in her eyes.
Earlier that Day
Gohan had just sent Pan on her way to school. It had taken a bit of encouragement on his part, as Pan was not a morning person. He sighed as he watched her fly off, and then went back inside to clean up from breakfast. Gohan had been a stay-at-home dad ever since Videl had passed away. He had taught himself web design over a period of two years and now hired himself out as a designer for different businesses. He was currently working on a site project for Shackster Pizza, a pizza parlor for today's teens. It had spread throughout the nearby cities wildly, and now the owner wanted a website to do even more promoting of his great idea.
Gohan sighed, and sat down at the computer desk with a cup of coffee. He was almost finished with the site, but needed to find an attractive theme to use with his layout. He began surfing around online, getting ideas from other sites. Then he began adding in the final coding for the site. He was about halfway done, when his phone rang. He growled lowly, hating to be disturbed when he was working. He picked up the receiver. "Hello? Son Gohan, self web designer, speaking."
"Mr. Son, Shabuki from Shackster here. Listen up. I need that project site in my office today by noon, no ifs, ands, or buts. You don't show with it, there's no being paid."
Gohan's anger began to boil. Of all the nerve of that man…my due date was next week and now it has to be done. At least it is almost completed. Gohan finished working on the website around 10 o'clock when he heard a copter whirling outside. The loud whup, whup, whup of the blades was heard crystal clear to Gohan. He gathered the whole project- a CD-rom with the design and a stack of paper about ¼ an inch thick, into a manila envelope already addressed to Shabuki.
The whup, whup, whup of the helicopter became louder as Gohan stepped outside. He clutched the envelope close to his chest with his left hand as he held his right hand up to shield his eyes from the wind stirring because of the helicopter. As soon as it landed, he rushed over to the left door where the pilot was exiting. "Goten!" called Gohan. "I need you to run me to the city. Shabuki needs my project by noon."
"That little shit!" Goten was as outraged as his older brother was. "You had until next week to finish it. Why does he need it now?"
"No idea, Goten. At least I have it finished and I still get paid so that's all that matters right now. Can you take me to the city?"
"Well… it is my lunch break and I was only coming to see you for a bit…" Goten hesitated in his answer.
"I'll buy you lunch afterwards if you do." Gohan knew that food was Goten's weakness, just like their father.
"Deal bro. Better be somewhere good too."
"Trust me, it will be."
With that, both brothers jumped in the helicopter and headed for Satan City. Goten had gotten the helicopter free from Trunks. It was Capsule Corp's newest model, an XTS950. Its sleek design and compact cargo bay made it one of the most expensive helicopters on the market. However, Trunks was never one to say no when it came to giving his best friend new vehicles. Trunks never cared; he only wanted to have fun. If he couldn't do it, then he figured Goten was his only other option.
Goten landed the helicopter on the roof of Shackster Pizza. The actually restaurant was three stories. The first floor held the pizza parlor; the second held the top-notch arcade, and the third a hip hop dance club. "Wait outside Goten. I'll only be a minute."
Gohan began walking briskly toward the rooftop door. It was actually two doors. The first lead downstairs to the hip hop dance club. The second one led straight to Shabuki Ito's office. Gohan pushed open the second door, a simple gray maintenance door. A resounding bang was heard as it slammed against the stair rail handle opposite it. He ignored the noise and walked down the short flight of red-carpeted stairs, his eyes intent on reaching the elaborately carved door at the end of the short hallway. He rapped lightly and waited for a reply.
"If you don't have an appointment, scram. I don't need any commoners without any sense entering my office. Give me your name. I haven't got all day," came the gruff response from within.
"Son Gohan with your completed website project."
"Slip it through the slot. Your check will be in the mail on Monday. Expect it Thursday. Now go away."
Gohan's anger began to boil. Rich snobs. If I could, I'd blow that moron away. He turned on his heel and strode back out to the helicopter, fists clenched. Goten noticed, but didn't say a word. He knew a good lunch would soften Gohan's anger quickly. "I know," spoke up Goten, "How about we head to that small buffet place over on Angler Street? I hear it's pretty good. At least, that's what Krillin told me." Gohan merely nodded in response. Goten sighed and headed for Louie's Jubilee.
When Goten dropped Gohan back off that afternoon, he could tell that Gohan's anger had subsided some and figured that it would pass before Pan came home from school. He knew Gohan had been careful to hide the stress of his work from her, and no doubt he'd hide whatever anger was left as well. Goten couldn't help but wonder again how Gohan would have been different if Videl had still been around. Heh, my adopted sister as I used to call her. She would have known what to do with Gohan. She was one of the few that could always calm him down.
Gohan slipped inside, sighing deeply. He had nothing to do now that he'd finished that project until someone new called. He'd written down a few prospective customers back when he first started Shabuki's project, but he didn't feel like calling them right at the moment. He walked upstairs to change into something more comfortable, as his current suit and tie was feeling a bit too tight.
He entered the tan colored room, tossing off his overcoat and tie. He sat down on the bed and the springs creaked as they adjusted to his weight. Untying his shoes, he glimpsed the picture of Videl and him on their wedding day on his side table. He sucked in his breath as memories began to rush to him, but he quickly shut them away. He didn't want to remember. It was still too painful for him. He had given himself wholly to the only girl he had ever loved, and she had been taken from him over a year later. I could have used the dragonballs… and still can… but she should stay dead right? That's what she would have wanted. That's what I wanted…. But I introduced Pan to a life without a mother. She grew up with only my guidance, but I know she needed Videl's…Another voice took over. Pull yourself together Gohan. You've done a fine job raising Pan and it shows. She's grown up just fine and Videl would have been proud. She still watches her little girl from the heavens. Gohan shook his head to clear away those thoughts. He didn't have time for voices today. Voices always tormented him, so it was best that he shoved them aside as soon as he could.
Gohan got an idea of how to get rid of his oncoming depression, something that he'd never done in his life ever, but he knew it could… no it HAD to help him. More memories of Videl came rushing to him, and he needed them gone, needed them pushed back done into the very depths of his soul. He quickly crossed the room to his closet and dug deep into the back. His hand searched blindly for a long wooden box. He groped amongst the boxes and piles of clothes, his hand settling on something hard- hard and wooden. He pulled it from the closet and set it on the floor in front of him.
Gohan stared intently at the box, knowing full well of its contents and their effects on him. He shook away any last minute thoughts that would cause him to change his mind. He flipped the golden latch, and the lid sprung open. Gohan looked at the familiar velvety maroon interior, a liquor bottle resting in its special mold. Gohan picked up the bottle by its long neck. This was the hardest liquor available in Satan City, strong enough for a Saiyan to pass out if he or she drank too much. Krillin had given it to him as a gift at Gohan's bachelor party and been told to "save it for a good occasion eh?". Since then Gohan had kept it hidden in the back of his closet, not knowing what to do with it. However, he knew that he had to use it now. He gripped the bottle, easily popping the cork from its resting space. The cork flew into the back of the bottle and banged against the wall.
Wiping all thoughts from his mind, Gohan rested the lip of the bottle on his own lips and tipped it back. The liquid rushed forth from the bottle, the hard sour taste biting at Gohan's tongue. He found it hard to drink at first, but forced himself to swallow the bitter, biting liquid. He felt his senses disappearing from his control, and slowly he realized he was fading from his own body. He was only able to watch, as though viewing himself through a looking glass, as his Saiyan heritage took over, and he began crying out in frustration for all things Videl.
Back to Present
Tears flowed from Pan's face as she realized what her father had done. She saw the broken liquor bottle on the carpeted floor; it's foul remnants staining. Beside it, she found her father passed out in his own vomit, Videl's possessions spread out all around him. She almost gagged from the stench fouling up the room, making her feel queasy on her stomach. She stepped back into the hallway, tears flowing down her face. She only had one question in mind. Why? Why did her dad do this? Why did he take any of her mom's things he could get his hands on? She shook her head in frustration. She couldn't bear to be here any longer. She had to escape the site she'd seen. She didn't know what else to do.
Pan flew down the stairs, her mind racing. She grabbed the telephone, blindly punching in her grandma and grandpa's phone number. Her heart raced as she listened to the ringing of the other phone. One ring. Pan wished someone would get the phone. Two rings. Where were they? Three rings. Kami, they've gotta be home. Four… "Hello?" answered an older female's voice.
"Grandma, something's wrong with dad. Get over here now!" She said it so quickly that Chichi could barely understand the frantic girl, much less respond. Then the line went dead and Chichi became very frightened. Not only for her son, but her granddaughter.
The phone was left dangling as Pan ran out the door. She took flight, not knowing where to head, but knowing that she had to get away from home. Her mind reeled with what she had seen, never knowing her father to be capable of doing such a thing. It baffled her to think about him without her mind flashing back to the scene she had seen minutes earlier. Her flight took her to Satan City Park, but she was so distracted by her thoughts that she landed in a secluded area without realizing where she was.
She curled her legs up to her chest under a weeping willow tree. The brook near it babbled softly, salmon jumping as they swam upstream to mate. Her head became buried deep in the folds of her blue jeans, sobbing loudly. She could do nothing else but cry, not caring who or what heard her. She just didn't care anymore.
Someone else did care though. The girl slipped silently through the bushes, tiptoeing softly. Her face was bathed in concern for the older girl, even if she didn't know her well. She fell to her knees, facing the sobbing Pan. Pan never noticed this. "Pan? What's happened?" she asked softly.
Sorry to say, but no songs intertwined in this chapter. There'll be one in the next chapter though! Oh yes. Don't kill me for what I did to Gohan! It was just a sudden twist idea I got one night and thought it'd fit with the story. Besides, there hasn't been much focus on Gohan in this fic :P. Anyway, see you all next chapter.