This is just a side story to the over all plot of Empire's Heir. In effect it forms an extra scene that is either not appropriate or is an added extra to the chapter. If you miss out the side stories you will not miss out on any important plot points but you might miss out on some minor character development and some illustrative points. ^_-
Before we begin, I have to give my sincerest thanks to Kaeli-san, Sylv-chan, Rebecca-san and Yasai-san for pre reading for me. They have really helped to get rid of some of the glitches that bug fic writing. Thank you everyone.
Scene: The Son household, lunch on the day that Goku and Uub returned.
Pan and Goten faced off against each other. They both held their chosen weapons in the classic 'en guarde' position. The implements were held in front of them, angled downwards and held open, ready to bite. Blue eyes held black in a gaze which highlighted the seriousness of this match. This was war.
"Are you ready, Jichan?"
"The question is, are you, Pan-chan?"
"Any time you are."
"Ikuzo!"
"HA!" The call came simultaneously as they clashed.
Their weapons locked against each other for an instant before they pulled back and came back in for the second strike. Pan narrowed her eyes gauging his movements and determining the angle of attack. He's coming in from above... She thought and angled her weapon in a block. Their chopsticks locked perpendicular to each other.
"Just admit it, Jichan!" Pan gritted her teeth in an almost snarl.
"Admit what?" Goten returned. He too was straining although he tried to keep his face innocent.
"Yearh!" Pan pulled back and then thrust forward.
Goten jumped back, a grin on his face. "Parry, parry, block, dodge!" He cried as he moved his chopsticks in defense. Then he angled an attack in from below, trying to get beneath her defenses. Pan moved, blocking him perfectly.
"Why don't you just say you were wrong?" he asked as he pulled back and tried another attack.
"Because I'm not wrong! I know you were stealing my food!" Pan shrieked at him still blocking him perfectly.
"But stealing is such a nasty word," Goten joked. He pulled back in a defensive position. She could make the next move.
"Were you going to give it back?"
"Well, no."
"Hah, so you admit it!" Pan seemed triumphant as she lunged forward, her chopsticks aimed directly for his heart.
"Admit what?" he questioned again blocking her thrust awkwardly.
"That you were stealing my food." Pan pressed her attack, driving Goten up against the wall.
"I didn't say that," he protested. He jumped, avoiding the swipe she had aimed at his chest. With a delft movement he flipped over her and landed, chopsticks held at the ready. He barely got them into position before Pan came at him again with small cry of rage.
"Admit it!" Her hands moved quickly but Goten matched her attacks. The air around them was filled with a clicking noise as their chopsticks clattered against each other.
Pan still managed though to push Goten back against the far wall. This time he held his ground, matching her attacks with his own.
Clicketta, clicketta, clicketta. Their hands were a blur.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha..." It was impossible to distinguish who was making what call. This was truly war. Neither gave an inch to the other and neither would admit that they had been wrong.
Pan's teeth were gritted in both frustration and determination. He had stolen her food. He was going to pay for that but... Jichan was a Super Saiyajin and even though he hadn't transformed he was still stronger than her. (There were certain rules they observed in combat and his not transforming was one of them.) He could still hold her off for as long as it took. She needed a plan. It was simple really, she just had to out think him. Then once she had him in the weaker position she could force him to admit it. All she had to do was get through his defenses.
She lowered her head slightly to hide her smile as the idea came to her. It was so stunningly simple. Pan looked into his eyes and jumped back, letting him come off the wall. She waited, falling back into the 'en guarde' position, her chopsticks held as wide as they could. Her other arm was extended, wrist bent with her fingers spread slightly. She watched Goten through narrowed eyes as he examined her position. "Come," Pan invited softly.
Goten started forward slowly. It was obvious she was up to something, he just didn't know what and attacking blindly was not something which was advised, even for a super saiyajin. She's too confident... What does she have planned? He watched her closely but her face was one of patience. She'd learnt well the lesson of knowing when to attack and when to wait. The patience was mixed with determination and confidence. He narrowed his eyes. He was just going to have to be careful.
Now... He's coming now... Pan watched as Goten began his attack, stepping forward with deliberate care. Oh, he's being so careful... But that's NOT going to save you Jichan. She waited confidently, allowing him to fully commit himself to his attack before she responded. She fisted her right hand and thrust forward, her weapon held horizontally. "Yearh!" Her left hand fell and moved out.
"NANI?!" Goten cried as he felt his attack hit home. He wasn't expecting that, although he knew he hadn't hit Pan herself, she had allowed his hit to connect more solidly than the others. He looked down. Her weapon, held awkwardly in her fist, was caught in his but she was still looking at him confidently, a smile playing around her mouth.
Her weapon... Her SINGLE chopstick... Where's the other..? The thought trailed off as his searching eyes located her other chopstick. It was held in her left hand, it's tip resting gently in the small of his throat. He looked down at it. "Nice..." he murmured. But that was all the praise he would give her. It was a brilliant move. She had effectively tied up his weapons and while his left hand was still free, if he made a move towards her, she'd just thrust forward. Well, she wouldn't but as the score tally of fights between them went, this one was a clear victory for her.
"Now," Pan said quietly. She knew her Jichan had just worked out exactly how little space she'd left him to maneuver. "Admit it!"
"Admit what?" Goten looked down at her. The verbal fight had just begun.
Pan dug the tip in slightly. "Admit that you were stealing my food."
He winced. "Pan-chan," he said plaintively. "Stealing is such an ugly word. Couldn't we say borrowing?"
"NO!" The reply was forceful. Pan's eyes flashed. "Were you planning on giving it back?" She questioned with deliberate bluntness.
"Well..." Goten was sweating. He didn't want to admit defeat but it was drawing closer every second. "No..."
"Then that's stealing," Pan said with surprising insight for a ten year old. "So admit it, you were stealing my food."
"All right, all right. I admit it," Goten said with a sigh of resignation. "I was stealing your food..." He looked back down at her. "There. Are you happy?"
"I'll think about it, Jichan," she said as she drew back. She looked menacingly up at him, "Just don't do it again," she warned.
"Hai, Pan-chan!" Goten barked as he drew himself up into an 'at attention' pose.
She giggled inspite of herself. "Jichan... Stop that!"
"Hai!" he snapped once again before looking back down at her as they turned back towards the table and the food that remained to be eaten. "You've really improved Pan-chan! You're getting a lot faster," he complimented her.
"Honto?"
"Aa, much faster," he confirmed as he sat back down.
They were about to return to eating. They both had the saiyajin love of food. Half playfully, half seriously, Goten snaked his arm out across the table.
Clack!
Pan's chopsticks slammed down on his and she was looking at him, her small face determined, although her eyes showed her amusement. "I would have thought being beaten once would be enough for you, Jichan!" she said, raising her chopsticks into a guard position.
"Hai, hai!" Goten laughed, withdrawing his arm. "Once is enough, Pan-chan. Once is enough."
Word/Name Meanings
Side Story 2 - I Never Want To Hurt You
- WARNING LEMON
Chapter 4: The Invitations Arrive