"In the Future"

AN: Story cover by RAGOH on deviantart

Chapter 1: The Future is Now

He sat there thoughtfully on the bench holding a solitary cane in both hands idly moving the smooth polished wood over his skin. There was no need to close his eyes as there was always darkness. Many years ago his ability to see had disappeared seemingly into thin air, but his other senses were as sharp as always if not more so. Silently he placed his cane on the area of bench beside him. He had to keep up appearances—he was over 200 years old. At the very least he had to carry a cane.

Vegeta's hair was completely and utterly white and his eyes had become so cloudy that they were grey. He wasn't the regular `old and wrinkly`. No, not one wrinkle ever touched his face, but when one looked at him one could sense his seniority.

The sounds around him were pleasant. Birds chirping incessantly, children playing idiotically, cars' engines rumbling away, and especially the light footsteps of Pan walking towards him. Vegeta pretended that he could not sense her presence coming ever so closer…

"Vegeta, I knew I'd find you here."

Pan sat down next to the Saiyan Prince. She heard the other sigh.

"Am I that predictable these days?"

Pan laughed lightly, "That's not such a bad thing. At least I know where to find you."

"At least," Vegeta repeated thoughtfully.

"So, anything exciting happened lately?"

Vegeta grinned slightly, "You know the answer to that."

"You mean you didn't run into any bad guys?"

"No—they all seem to have been taken care of."

"I'm sure there's some you missed. Maybe they're hiding in the shadows."

"I doubt it—I would have heard them. Pan, what are you doing here anyway?"

Pan was caught off guard when he addressed her directly. They usually would go on for hours on end talking about nonsensical things. Vegeta didn't seem to mind so much, but then again he wasn't bothered by much of anything.

"To keep you company like I always do."

"You're wasting your time. A young girl has better things to do than warming up a bench."

"I'm not so young you know. Once you get past a hundred you're practically ancient in human eyes."

"Hmph. You and I both know there are things that you've yet to get around to doing in your life."

Pan knew exactly what he was referring to—the fact that she had yet to marry and have children with another. On the day that Goku left the Z-fighters forever, they had all been left on their own to defend earth. It had not been an easy task and eventually Trunks, Goten, and Gohan had lost their lives—there was no way to wish them back. The Z-fighters had been reduced to Vegeta, Pan, 18, Uub, Krillen, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and Bra's two boys she had had with Goten. Many of the Z-fighters had died of old age. Now it was mostly her and Vegeta. 18 was still out there, but she was hard to get in contact with. Marron had married and had children and some of her children had had children and so on. Bra's children were a quarter Saiyan and old enough now to live on their own. Contact with them was far in between.

"The time never seems right. I never seem to find anyone I fancy."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Well, it's true."

"What about Trent?"

"We broke up months ago, Vegeta."

"And Ben?"

"He's a lost cause."

"Cheating?"

"No, he was a homo."

"What—homosexual?"

"Yes, Vegeta, two guys. Together…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Vegeta stopped her with a bit of disgust in his tone.

"Are you trying to get rid of me? You don't like my company anymore?"

"Maybe I am trying to get rid of you. It's just not healthy being so idle."

"Oh, but it's okay for you?"

"Are you really comparing yourself to me?"

Pan laughed lightly, "I guess I am."

"That's not a good sign."

"Let's walk," Pan said suddenly if not with a little enthusiasm.

"Alright—if I can fit it into my busy schedule."

Pan stood up then and watched as Vegeta picked up his cane casually and lift himself ever so smoothly from the bench.

"Do you really need that thing?" Pan asked pointing at the cane.

"What, this cane?"

Pan nodded, but then caught herself and instead answered verbally, "Yes."

"Just keeping up appearances."

"The great Saiyan Prince concerned with what others think?"

"When have I not been? All my life I've usually been shaped by the ones around me. I'd say I was very concerned."

"Since you put it that way…"

The two of them were walking then side by side down the sidewalk. Pan grinned when she watched him 'use' his cane. It barely even touched the ground and he would twirl it absently between his fingers. Far be it that he actually leaned upon it. Any reasonable person could tell that the cane was only a mere prop.

"Another bright and sunny day," Pan said.

"I can tell. The children seem attracted to it."

"I just feel like sparring with someone."

"18 would give you a good workout."

"Yeah, but where is she?"

"Hiding, I think. Moping around."

"Well, I guess it's just you, then."

"I doubt it. You really feel like beating up on an old man?"

"Who else?"

"I'm out of practice, Pan. I wouldn't be much fun."

"There you go again trying to get rid of me."

"For your own good. It would be a shame for the Son line stop with you."

"Is this what it's about? Producing more fighters?"

"You make it sound so…cold and thoughtless. I wouldn't use the word 'producing' as if you're some kind of baby-making machine…"

"And what word would you use?" Pan asked with an edge to her voice.

"Conceive. Give birth to. Any of those."

Vegeta could sense as she crossed her arms, but her mood was not dampened for long.

"I always wanted children," Pan said hesitantly, "I waited too long. Before I knew it, it was too late."

"Waiting, huh. That was the reason."

Pan grimaced when he said this. Somehow he had managed to belittle her statement as if it were some practical joke.

"Yes that's the reason," Pan retorted.

"Where are we headed?" Vegeta asked abruptly changing the subject.

"In life…?"

"No, where are we walking to."

Many times Vegeta could be rather abstract. It was hard to tell just when he was thinking in more literal terms. She tried to read his facial expressions, but she found this task virtually impossible. His eyes, which were so cloudy, made it seem as if his mind was in a far off place. He never looked at her directly—of course not he was blind, but even so it only added to his already enigmatic nature.

"Oh. You mean you don't know?"

"West Point Avenue," Vegeta said with a frown, "But where specifically?"

"You'll just have to see. We're almost there."

There were few things that Pan could surprise him with. His senses were so robust that he had even developed other ones. Seeing the future at some points or even perceiving those that were dead—spirits. Or so this was what Pan had believed. Vegeta chalked it up to just 'going crazy with old age'. He commented that no Saiyan that he had been aware of had ever reached his age. Saiyans usually died prematurely in battle only living long enough to at least mate with another. It truly was a miracle that he was still alive. He had died a few times—twice at the most. If he died again, it would be final as the dragon balls had long since disappeared. Even if they did exist Pan doubted he would want to be wished back. There was nothing left here on Earth. He was completely without family and he had basically done all that he had set out to do.

The two of them eventually stopped in front of a house.

"You're taking me to see Bra?"

"How did you know?" Pan asked with perched lips, "She just moved a few days ago."

"Her ki is unmistakable."

"But I told her to hide it. I don't even sense it."

Vegeta gave her a barely perceptible grin, "You can never really 'hide' your ki just as you can never truly play dead. Your heart is still beating and your ki signature will always be present."

Pan shook her head. It was all just a matter of perception—it was impossible to surprise him anymore. "Oh, well," she said with a shrug, "She wanted to see you, but you haven't been around lately—well at least at your house."

"You mean that mansion? It's too big. It's too empty."

It's too much like a reminder Pan thought. "I told her I'd bring you."

It seemed as if Vegeta looked up to the house though it was impossible for him to really see it. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Pan asked unable to keep the disbelief from her voice, "Do you have something important to do?"

"No, not really. Of course, you already knew that."

"Alright, I won't force you."

"It'll be her birthday tomorrow. You think I'll do for a substantial present?"

Pan smiled, "There couldn't possibly be a better one."

She heard a characteristic 'hmph' from him.

"Force me?" Vegeta said as an afterthought.

Pan thought about how it would turn out if she had wound up trying to force him through a doorway. She smiled bitterly.

"Is that all you have 'planned' today, Pan?"

"I'm fresh out of ideas."

"Good," Vegeta said finally.

The two of them began walking again.

"I know what you need, Vegeta, a job."

Pan expected to get some kind of startled reaction out of him, but once again she was mistaken.

"One look at my résumé and the employer would have an instant heart attack," Vegeta responded playing along.

"I don't know. Maybe you could be a martial artist instructor or something. Start your own business."

"Ha! As if I would waste my time like that."

It was the most emotion she had gotten out of him in awhile.

"Don't you have a job to concern yourself with?" Vegeta asked Pan.

"I'm off. It's the weekend."

"Oh, it is? And you're hanging out with me?" Vegeta said shaking his head.

"There's nothing wrong with that. I'm sure you were getting lonely."

"Oh how sweet," Vegeta said with obvious sarcasm. "Don't you have an appointment with the mall?"

"I'm not the kind of girl who goes around shopping every weekend."

"No, maybe not. You're too much of a tomboy."

"And I enjoy being one. Now, where are you going?"

"Home."

"Already?"

"What time is it anyway?"

"3:15."

"That's long enough considering that I had absolutely nothing to do today. And you—do something exciting."

"Like what?"

Pan looked over to Vegeta when he didn't say anything immediately. His expression was again unreadable.

"Get a boyfriend," Vegeta said simply.

Before Pan had realized it, they had arrived at his house at that moment. Pan stopped at the driveway and watched as he trudged casually to his rather large house.

"It's not as if I haven't tried," Pan said with a raised voice to reach Vegeta.

He turned to her when he reached the front door and gave her a don't-expect-me-to-believe-you look. Then he went in and closed the door behind him.

AN: Was it interesting enough for you guys? Don't worry it'll get more exciting as the chapters keep coming. As always: Read & Review