(Hangs head in shame) I'm just not going to say anything… (Walks away) Here's your chapter…

Chapter 39: Grown Up

"Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear." –John Lennon

Pan burst into the boardroom, regardless of the fact that she was tired, dirty, and covered with sweat. And to top it all off, little Goku trailed in behind her, timidly looking up at all the surprised faces.

"Zamuri!" She cried, spotting him amongst the crowd. She leapt clear over the table and knocked him off of his feet and into a wall. "Oh Kami, this is too good to be true! Look at you, you're huge! I just can't believe you're all right, and you escaped, and you came back, and-"

"P- Pan… I… c- can't…" Zamuri wheezed, trying to pry her arms off of his neck. Pan laughed and released her hold. She looked him over; his tattered purple gi, unruly hair, sweat-coated face, and almost trademark red headband.

"Well, look at you… you're a mess." She sighed.

"Yeah…" He answered, smiling broadly. "And you're a full-grown woman."

Pan grinned, stepping back so he could admire her. Even through her harsh physical training and emotional stress, she had grown to become a beautiful young woman. Her raven-black hair reached halfway down her forearms, giving her a much more feminine appearance. But due to her constant amount of physical activity, it was always tied back in a simple ponytail, exposing her soft, stunning facial features and dark, sparkling eyes. Her skin was fair and decently tanned, and her muscles were firm and well-toned. She wore a red female version of the traditional Son gi with a black sash, thin black shoes, and black fingerless gloves.

"Wow…" Zamuri gaped. "I guess I've been gone too long. You're barely recognizable." He scratched the back of his head. "I mean, you actually almost look like a girl now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pan questioned hotly. Zamuri laughed, waving his hands in front of her defensively. The room broke out in laughter.

"Sorry to break up the happy little reunion," Piccolo interjected, "but I think we should get back down to business."

Zamuri caught the wise Namekian looking straight at him, and understood.

"Aww, come on, Piccolo!" Goku said. "Lighten up! Zamuri just got home. We should all be celebrating!"

"No, Ôjii-chan…" Zamuri interrupted. "He's right. There's something very important I need to tell you all."

Zamuri began his story, careful not to leave out any details. He explained how Keiko had rescued him from Prince Vegeta, how they had met up with Bra along the way, and all Keiko had told him about the planned attack on their village.

Along the way, Pan was forced to fill in some blanks concerning why Bra had been out on her own that night, and that led to the unveiling of why she too had been out, and why little Goku was with her. Of course, Gohan was furious, but he kept his comments to himself as he saw the heavy realization hit his daughter that she had been the leading cause of this new situation.

"I'm so sorry…" Pan said. "I'm so stupid… I should have realized something like this would happen…"

There was a moment of silence allowing these new facts to sink in to all who were present.

"Well, there's no helping it." Piccolo sighed. "The truce has finally been broken, and Vegeta's troops will be here tomorrow morning. We'll have to decide on our course of action now. The decision should be considerably easier now that Zamuri's well-being is no longer a factor."

"Goku…" Gohan said soothingly to the little boy, who this whole time had remained in the doorway, trying desperately to comprehend what was happening. "Why don't you go and see if your mother's awake, and have her clean you up?"

The young boy nodded and left without a word, looking back for one last glance at the strange, long-haired man he had never seen before. His sister seemed to know him awfully well. Just who was he?

Once the child was gone, the decision came easily as expected. They had no choice but to fight back. They knew that had no chance of winning, but if they were going to go down, they would go down proudly, as Saiyans.

The order was given to the people; every able man was to fight. The women and children were to flee with what little possessions they could carry. The village and everything in it was to be abandoned.

As King Goku and Prince Gohan rallied the troops for battle, Videl was given the assignment of leading the women and children away from the village and through the hills to where they could hide and keep safe.

"Now look," Goten said, for he and Uub had been the ones set in charge of seeing them off. "There's always the chance that the enemy will find out we're trying to move a large group of defenseless people out of here. If they do, they might send some troops over here to stop you."

"You're right," Videl agreed. "We'll have to keep some fighters with us to hold them off until help arrives."

Goten nodded. "Uub will do it, won't you?"

"Of course," Uub said.

"And Pan can help too-" Videl started.

"No way, Okaa-san!" Pan interrupted. "I'm going to help on the battlefield!"

"Young lady, you will do no such thing!" Videl scolded.

"I am NOT a young lady anymore, Okaa-san! I am a fully grown woman, and a strong and well-trained one at that!" Pan protested. "I would be more useful out on the front line!"

"Pan…"

"Please, Okaa-san. I know you're scared. But I'm the one who started all this, and it's the least I can do to make it right again." She looked into her mother's frightened blue eyes. "How's this…" She sighed, "If you get attacked, I'll be the first one to rush over and help. Okay?"

She waited for her mother to respond. But instead, the middle-aged woman wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"I know you've grown up, Pan-chan. I just don't want you getting hurt."

"Hey, don't worry." Pan comforted, hugging back. Stepping back, she added, "Besides, it's not like any of them stand a chance against me!" She showed off her biceps. Videl tried to laugh.

"Onee-san!" Little Goku ran over to her and gave her a big hug. "Promise you'll come back, okay?"

"Of course, Goku-chan. I promise. You be good for Okaa-san and Obaa-san, alright?"

"Okay!" The child sniffed, putting on a brave face.

"Well, ja ne!" Pan waved, preparing to fly off.

"Matte, Onee-chan."

Pan looked back to see Zamuri hurrying towards her with Keiko right behind him. Pan immediately noticed his hair had been tended to straight away as soon as his mother had seen him. Tears were shed, as well as a good couple of inches of ratty black locks. Pan could finally see how his features had matured over the past five years.

"I'm coming with you, Onee-chan."

"But Zam…" She began, but stopped when she saw the fire that had lit in his eyes. "Heh… okay. But don't expect your big sister to protect you from all those bad guys."

"Heh… don't worry!" He said, demonstrating with a few punches and kicks to the air. Pan blinked. He was faster than she remembered him. "What, did you think I've been sitting on my butt for the past five years? I've been perfecting my techniques!"

Keiko beamed behind him, affectionately looking back on all the times when she had 'accidentally' forgotten to replace his shackles so he could have some time to move around freely.

"Alright, Onii-chan." Pan smiled.

Young Goku watched as the two said their goodbyes to Keiko and flew off. He was still confused by the presence of this man with the red headband who seemed to know his sister so well. Surely he simply called Pan 'Onee-chan' out of friendly affection? He didn't understand. No one had bothered to explain anything to him.

"Okaa-san…" He said, turning to Videl. "Who is that man?"

Videl felt her heart jolt. Luckily, she was saved by the presence of Goten's daughter, Emi, who came over to ask if Goku wanted to play. She sighed with relief, and turned to Goten, who was preparing to leave.

"Watch over them for me, won't you? My children…"

"Of course, Videl-san." Goten smiled. He saluted her, and was off. Videl turned to the large throng of people she had been put in charge of. She called to them, signaling that it was time to start moving.

Outside the village walls and facing the rising sun in the East, Gohan was just beginning his final speech to the army as Pan and Zamuri touched down next to him.

"We're in for the biggest civil battle in Saiyan history." He said to the men. "I have not much to say to you, other than fight bravely for your family and your friends. Fight for the life you lived here, and the memories you made on this land. Fight, if not to win, then to make it known to King Vegeta that we will not tolerate his persecution any longer! There are no words I can say to you that can ensure victory, or even that you will come out of this alive. All I can say is that I am proud to see such a fine assemblage of men who are willing to go down fighting for what they believe is right. May Kami have mercy on our souls, and may those who are destined to leave us today find peace in the next life."

For his magnificent speech there was no cheering, no battle cries, no sound at all. He didn't need a reply to know that they were ready. He could see it in their faces, intermixed with the fear and uncertainty.

He turned to his two children, finally together again and perhaps for the last time. Their faces expressed the same intensity, and Gohan didn't even bother to argue with them. It was clear that their minds were made up to fight.

Goten arrived shortly after, and the final preparations were made. A scout that had been sent to the mountains had returned with word that Vegeta's troops were fast approaching the base on the other side.

Trunks approached Pan, sword in hand.

"I had it sharpened for you." He said, slinging the sheath around her shoulder. "I knew you'd be joining us on the battlefield."

"Arigatou…"

"Pan-chan… I don't know if I'll be able to come to your aid like I did last time. Once again, you choose to put your life at risk. You've been lucky up until this point. Now you'll have to learn to fight for your life."

"I've already learned." She said, sheathing the glinting blade. Their gazes locked, and for a moment Pan had the urge to lean up and kiss him. But he beat her to it, planting his lips against hers. His touch was so warm and soft… Pan felt as though a lifelong desire had just been fulfilled, and burdening weights had been lifted from her shoulders.

"You may not be my sister, but I'll always love you like one…"

Those words flooded through her mind as their kiss ended. That had been so long ago… the night when Trunks had come to her window to tell her that he was leaving for a little while.

Even way back then… over five whole years ago… was it possible? Even then had he loved her?

Pan thought suddenly about all the times Trunks had been there to help her. Twice he had saved her from being killed on the battlefield. He had trained her, taught her how to manipulate her ki. Through all the secrets he had been forced to keep from her, he had more than made up for it. Then came all the times when she had acted less than grateful for his help. Right after he had saved her from being pummeled by King Vegeta, the secret had slipped that he could become a Super Saiyan, and she had slapped him for it. And then there was when he had made his ultimate sacrifice… letting himself be captured and taken prisoner in exchange for her freedom.

"Be strong for me, Pan… And whatever you do, don't come after me…"

She had done nothing but cause him trouble all these years. And yet here he was, telling her without words that he loved her for it.

Through her thoughts, she could faintly hear the sound of distant battle cries rising from the east along with the sun. She suddenly felt eager to rush into the heat of the fighting. She knew that this time Trunks wouldn't be watching her back. But it didn't matter. This time she would show him that she didn't need it anymore. She had grown up.