The rather delayed return, with Chapter 25... I really am sorry for how long this has taken, life decided to make this go veeeery slooowly.

Thanks to Lady Eldaelen, she did a wonderful job betaing! Made this chapter much, much better and caught all my retard moments!

I apologize ahead of time for random mistakes, like the disappearance of punctation at the end to a sentence or what have you - QuickEdit is being especially retarded today.

I also apologize for the breaks. I hate these breaks, personally, and being a neat freak I especially despise the spaces afterwards. I went through this twice just for the sake of the breaks (once to see if my own would work after being applied inside QuickEdit; the second time to install these godforsaken long breaks which I despise; and now, on my third revision, to fume as I observe all the spaces that have reappeared despite my painstakingly threading back through and fixing them) and I'm sorry about the spaces. Maybe they don't drive you crazy, but they drive me crazy, and I'm beginning to resent this QuickEdit crap more and more...

Ahem. Thank you for reading!

Last time on Kokuhaku...

But the voice was so sad. He couldn't ignore its words.

((We'll never be free… we were never meant to be free…))

His hands were clenched so tight that thin crescents of blood began to run along the nails.

He sobbed into the uncaring earth.

Kokuhaku: Chapter 25
Sepulchra
" 'Till death ends all surprises, said the Hive Queen."
-Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card

For a moment there was nothing... Only sand. The sound of the ocean... The dry heaves that shook his chest. For a moment, his mind was blank.

And then, with a burst of enterprise, thoughts began to spill forth, filling him with frustrations and confusions – they were begging, pleading with something. Anything.

He moaned softly, fingers entwining in stiff ebony hair and curling against his scalp.

How could I do that… How could I… He looked…

Alive.

His eyes, before held tightly shut in his personal nightmare, were suddenly wide open. He stared at the minute sand crystals that shifted subtly with each heave of exhalation.

Shin… Piccolo… How could you lay this on me?

I can't do this to him. My son. Gohan.

I just… I just hit him… I just wanted to kill him.

My Gohan. My son…

Why did it have to be him? Why can't it be like before? Why did it ever have to be complicated?

Why can't there be a black and a white- why can't there be a good and a bad?

Why must there be an in-between?

…Why must the in-between be my son?

Searching for any redemption, his thoughts continued to strengthen, more and more ideas throwing themselves in. I should have died in the Cell Games. I should have been the one protecting Gohan. I never should have let him protect me. Why did I do this? Why did I let Gohan die? Why did I stand by and watch as his life slipped away?

Why can't we change it, Supreme Kai? Why can't I be Babidi's slave? Why him?

Why did it ever have to be him…

I want it all to be over. I want… I want to be dead. I don't care if I lose. I don't care if I'm weak. If my hands are stained with my son's blood… I will never be able to forgive myself.

How could you lay this on me? How could you ever ask me to do this?

Or maybe you didn't – maybe I laid this on myself.

They all look at me like I'm so perfect, so innocent… but maybe I'm why Gohan is this way. Maybe I'm the reason Gohan is… dead.

And if he's dead, there's no harm in getting rid of the empty shell, is there?

The last thought surprised him – he wasn't sure where it had come from. But he cast aside this small doubt, allowing himself to return to the world once more.

When he got to his feet, the edges of his vision became blurry as a roar overcame his hearing. He paused, relishing in the sense of nausea that roiled at the back of his throat. Then it was gone and he felt two ki approach - Piccolo, the former Kami, and Shin, the current Supreme Kai.

An unexpected anger rose as he recognized the second ki. That was all he seemed to be today: unexpected. Different.

With a deft motion he allowed his ki to rise sharply, a wash of gold swiftly carrying away the moisture on his cheeks. He could do nothing about any redness in his eyes, but that would ebb soon. His ki subsided immediately; it was doubtful his approaching guests would ever notice it.

He settled into a kneeling position and waited.

Silent shudders rippled through his muscles as he flew. The shadow either ignored the quivers or could not sense them; Okiri watched them with a keen yet exhausted eye, taking note of where and when for each. It was a way to keep himself sane, noticing these dull and useless details.

((This is the end, isn't it?))

Juujen must have heard him, but ignored him. The silence clearly replied that this was a useless statement.

The Saiyan sighed, feeling despair pull him ever closer to the shadow. He did not jerk away as the darkness reached out all the farther, beckoning him; Juujen turned to him, silent and intent. After a brief period of observation, the human persona said, ((Do you know where we are going?))

((I don't care,)) Okiri replied callously. ((I'd rather die than continue on like this.))

"Your wish shall be granted," the shadow whispered. Gohan's flight path deviated suddenly as Juujen shuddered.

Okiri remained impassive, or pretended to be. He unconsciously recalled the rush of pain when Goku had struck them and took a step closer to the darkness. The words he spoke were to himself alone. My fear of you, it is fading. I could be one with it. The shadow. The dark. I am darkness, am I not?

Aloud he uttered, ((So be it.))

The first words to spill from Goku's lips were harsh- "What are you doing here?"

Piccolo ignored the hostility as Shin took on a look of detached surprise.

"There's blood on your face," the Namekian stated calmly. "Whose?"

The Saiyan stood fully, brushing against the liquid in question- a few smears dotted across his forehead. A collection of semi-circle incisions, long forgotten, stood out brightly on Goku's palms as he looked at them. His response was simple. "Mine." Though reduced in severity, his tone remained acrid.

"The Supreme Kai and I," said Piccolo with notable distaste, "decided to come help you." His eyes flickered to the horizon. "Did you meet Gohan?"

"Yes," Goku replied coldly. "Babidi is dead and Buu was gone when I got here. Gohan retreated after I ambushed him. Goten wasn't here. He's either with Buu or he's dead."

A slight fracture gleamed in Shin's stoic expression – he blinked, obviously surprised. Goku musingly attempted to imagine what his superior was thinking. How could a father be so cold? What a barbarian… He's just a Saiyan in the end, just another Vegeta.

A silent chuckle formed in the back of his mind.

Good old Goku, a heartless murderer after all.

"I'm going after him," said Piccolo, expression lax. He stepped towards Goku and in passing whispered, "I want to be here as much as you do. However, if you are to become this – I am to become your enemy." The Saiyan's reply was a blandly curious look, nothing more and nothing less.

Shin fidgeted with slight unease as the Namekian abandoned the beach.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, the earthling's impassive gaze weighing down on his shoulders, the Supreme Kai stepped away. He was beginning to utter some weak excuse – "I had better…" – but Goku cut him off with a disturbing calm.

"How long will you use us, Supreme Kai?"

"I'm not using you," he replied with sudden hostility. "I'm not some psychotic wizard… I'm not controlling your minds. I'm asking for your help."

"Really?" asked Goku, impassive.

Shin waited quietly for further words - when none came, a silent frown crossed his face, dark eyes glittering.

"I still don't trust you, you know," said the Saiyan with false cheer. "You've been taking advantage of us all along. Letting us die so that you can win the good fight. Which is all we're good for, right?" He laughed. "That doesn't sound too nice, does it? Taking advantage is such a crude term. But if you weren't using, then why didn't you come before? There were four years that you could have warned us, after you saw Babidi and my son. But you waited until the very day of their attack to clue us in, as if you wanted us to fail."

The Supreme Kai studied him closer. Did I tell him when I met Babidi?

...Maybe earlier.

"And if you wanted us to fail, Kami knows why, then it won't be harmful if I step down, right? So what if I refuse to fight? What if I am the loser of this round? Then you can't use me, can you?"

The reply was bitter. "No. I cannot."

"Then I suppose I will have to fight him."

Shin gave a slim gesture of surprise.

"Well, either way, it all boils down to this: he can die or the entire universe can die. And sadly, I always seem to choose the latter." Goku gave Shin a brief pat on the shoulder, smiled dimly, and turned away.

"From what I have read, you are a true Saiyan," the Supreme Kai called after him. His next comment was softer, so as not to be heard. "A creature of two faces – on one, the perfect peacekeeper. And on the other… You are still a cold murderer."

"Yes, I am the perfect Saiyan, aren't I?" Goku replied sardonically, still facing away. "But if I'm a cold murderer, what does that make you? A Babidi in disguise?" At these last words, he returned his gaze to Shin, smiling darkly. "It's just manipulators and the manipulated. You happen to be on the better side in this battle."

"What is this?" Shin demanded harshly. "You were not this way before. Why are you acting like this?"

And again, he turned away, beginning to head down the beach. "I'm trying to think the way Vegeta would. But you don't remember him, do you? He wasn't useful enough. Died too early."

Shin frigidly tossed aside this comment, though the words obviously stung; Goku noted this calmly, surreally.

Am I still thinking like Vegeta? Or am I really saying these vicious things?

What does it matter...?

He looked down the beach again. When he reverted his gaze back, the Supreme Kai had disappeared.

I'm going to stand on this beach, and I'm going to debate- should I kill, or not? And either way, I have to choose the universe over my son. The greatest sacrifice. And the only way to do this…

He kneeled at a patch of sand stained with a heavy crimson and rank with the metallic odor of blood.

A faint whisper of the past came to him. Something Piccolo had said. Shouted.

"…We told you, but you wouldn't listen to us! Well, maybe you'll hear this – your son's dead, Goku! He's dead!"

He smirked.

That's what I should, and will, believe.

Tracing a finger through the crimson sand, he looked to the sky.

I know how to do this, quite well. Just let go of all my doubts.

The smirk remained.

Abandon everything. Ignore everything. And become a Saiyan…

Goku silently closed his eyes.

When he opened them once more, they were empty.

Another patch of weak stone gave way underneath his grip. The shattered slivers fell away, crashing into the rocky soil farther below. The oni standing at the bottom of the cliff snorted, brushed irritably at his horns, and glanced up. Nothing was near the ledge ten feet above.

Snorting again to clear the dust, the oni began to stride away.

Vegeta's body tensed as his prey began to escape. If I don't grab this one I'll have to wait 20 minutes for the next oaf – but… He glanced around for any passerby. Though he had heard footfalls sheer seconds before, it was now silent save for the oni's movement.

Take it now…!

He levered his body up with his arms, ending up in a kneeling position on the very edge of the rock face. One well-placed jump and he would have the oni pinned against the opposing rock wall, free to gather any information he needed.

He gathered himself for the final leap. Fingers readjusting to get the maximum grip. Feet curling over the rocky edge.

And – just as he felt that twinge of finality, just as he began to shove off – a gruff voice called from behind, "Hey." Panicking on some base level, he swiveled, grace the only thing keeping him from falling backwards over the ledge.

A wizened gnome stared at him.

Settling back onto his rear, he fingered the ledge again.

The gnome blinked.

It (she, he corrected) had a strange witch's outfit, and hair even more violet than his son's. The she-gnome scowled over clasped hands, rear seated firmly on a humming crystal orb.

"Baba. That is you, right?" He whispered harshly. "I don't know what the hell you're doing here-"

"I work here," the witch replied coldly – and too loudly. Vegeta glanced over his shoulder. The oni was gone.

"Now I have to wait for another one," the Saiyan spat, voice raised to a normal level.

"Another one for what?"

He almost answered, but caught himself. Instead, he looked her over cautiously. "Nothing."

"You were going to try to escape Hell, correct? To find out what Babidi meant. You were going to find out from the guards how to get out of here."

Vegeta didn't reply.

"An unexpectedly noble thing, from you. You've been nothing but noble today. It's making me nervous," said Baba. "Well, don't mess with any of our guards. I'll take you to the North Kai."

"Why?" he demanded. The witch had begun to levitate higher, heading towards the clouds. He took to the air to follow.

Baba did not seem surprised by his question. "Because I don't agree with it, either. Grab hold before we pass through the clouds, unless you'd like to be doused with blood."

He obeyed wordlessly, but kept a suspicious gaze on the witch simultaneously. That idiotic Kai had better give me clearer answers than this.

The clouds were dry and odorless, no different from the air of H.F.I.L.; as soon as he passed through, a pleasant taste came to the atmosphere, the temperature adjusting to a pacifying warmth. He found he preferred the dry heat of the Underworlds.

Silent, he followed his guide to the residence of the North Kai.

Piccolo didn't quite know what to make of this anymore.

The sea below abruptly gave way to mountains and forests, and brought with it clouds of cooled moisture which had gathered at the mountain crests. He lowered his altitude to avoid the sight-inhibiting fog.

He was still trying to decide what had been more surprising in the day's events: the arrival of the Supreme Kai, the return of his dead student, or Goku's abrupt change into a cold intellectual. Moreover, he was trying to decide which event was more troublesome.

It stung to label the return of Gohan as 'troublesome,' and he regretted this thought, but how else could he describe it? 'Traumatic' was the only better word. He was having difficulty remaining detached from this, with old emotions running strong for the first time in years. Seven years of silence. And now, the one whom had filled the silence before was back. Shouldn't he be happy?

He would be if so many troubles didn't accompany Gohan's arrival. The great change of Son Goku being one. The creation of indecision among the fighters and a growing resentment of the Supreme Kai being the others.

And, most of all, a sense of fear within himself: the child was in pain. The child was scared, and alone. This was never supposed to be… Not while he was around.

Again he chastised the old instincts and emotions that were rising. The "child" was stronger than himself, and very likely to kill him. The child was a child no more. Gohan was a formidable stranger, of no relation to the eleven-year-old whose grave lay in the nearby mountains.

His target dropped to the ground.

This place? He thought with surprise.

Gohan had landed early; nearly three hundred yards still lay between him and his obvious goal.

The home of Son Goku lay a quarter of a mile away from the meadow that they were now approaching. The meadow had always been popular with the males of the Son family, for reasons Piccolo understood and didn't simultaneously. It was quiet and beautiful, but no more quiet and beautiful than the rest of the forest. There was obviously something in the lone pine tree, or maybe the creek which skirted the edge of the soft grass, that attracted them more than the silent, towering trees of the forest.

Gohan plowed his way through the underbrush, stumbling here and there. The light of the tired sun reached through pine needles and oak branches, flowing over the shivering teenager's dirt-streaked arms and blood-soaked torso.

Piccolo kept his distance. Watched, waited. Always a hundred yards back. The halfbreed had given no notice of him yet, though he doubted that he hadn't been sensed already. He was being silent, as always, but he was not being stealthy. There was no use in sneaking up, seeing as even an ambush would barely faze him.

But then again…

The teenager paused a moment, falling against a nearby tree. He held his face in his hands and remained that way for over a minute. After watching tersely, Piccolo began to wonder if this was the end of his student.

And then Gohan lurched forward again, using one arm to lever himself away from the tree. Piccolo took up pursuit.

What am I doing here? he questioned softly, scowling. What can I do, when I have no idea what's going on?

Maybe that's what I'm here for – to find out what is going on. To discover the truth, not the Supreme Kai's half-lies or Babidi's arrogant boasts.

Gohan, he thought desperately, you were alive once – are you now?

The teenager's path took a sharp bend; now a thick oak stood between himself and his target.

With Gohan so close, the ki was confusing and spastic. It ghosted across his sixth sense, here and there, separate and united simultaneously. So when he found himself abruptly face-to-face with the halfbreed, he wasn't entirely surprised. He spread his feet, preparing futilely for any assault.

Then his student opened his eyes, and all cautions and concerns disappeared from the Namekian's mind.

It was not matching eyes with Goku, eyes full of warm competitive humor or – so long ago he couldn't even remember – cold, calm determination. Nor was it Goten/ full / deep curiosity.

Gohan's eyes fell through, dragging him deeper, past iris and pupil and into some endless abyss he had never dreamt of. Something close, freezing and burning, whispering in his ear; a sea of glass beneath his feet; odd sentiments of panic and hopelessness, two things he had never felt, wreaking havoc on his stomach and throat.

This was not him. It was someone else. Something else. Piccolo felt himself begin to seize up, the motions of the living world fading away. A blurry haze of memories, some not his own, was interfering with his vision. Past words working their way into his mind.

"Stop it! That's enough! Tell them to stop it!"

"You're wrong about your son…"

The black-haired toddler jerked out of the frigid water, more surprised than hurt, gasping for air. The brat was definitely awake now... He cleared his throat gruffly.

"Shin, please, Shin…"

((Keep talking? It's all I ask…))

"He's not a fighter like you!"

Gohan was sitting in a shadowed hallway, covered in something black... Or was it red? Dripping onto the floor, everywhere, all over him...

Was that blood?

((We were… wrong…))

"I don't want you to leave. Veggie did and I want you to stay…"

A stranger brushed past, flanked by two pale bodybuilders. They were soon absorbed by the crowd. He stirred, curious. Something was off about that one - he couldn't tell...

"Why do you… follow Babidi?"

"No! No, it's a lie! He doesn't want to! Please!"

Gohan smiled uneasily. "We can do this, Piccolo." Trying to be confident.

He gave a half-smile in response, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked to the waiting arena. I think you might...

"Do you want to know what he is thinking? He's not thinking about strength… or competition! He's wondering why his father is standing there, letting him die!"

((I can't… breathe…))

"I'd rather die than wait."

And over it all was the soft cries of a young child. They were almost indiscernible among the jumbled memories.

Something was dragging him out of the past, perhaps Kami or Nail – a whisper of his true mission. He stretched forward for it, anywhere, searching for any connection. Gohan – where are you? Are you here? Alive?

A pale figure danced briefly across his vision. It was gone in a millisecond, impossible to pick up.

Gohan!

Faint laughter of darkness and insanity nipped at him.

A rough voice said, ((Is this my final test, master?)) It laughed, brief and harsh. Hopeless. Dark. Insane. ((Then I wish to fail!))

And another voice, soft and scared. ((Master… Master, let us go.))

Speaking to him. The first one wasn't. The second one was.

He knew what he was being told to do, but he lingered, despondent...

I don't know if I can do that.

The voices and sensations abruptly ceased; he was left isolated, alone in his own mind. The abrupt change was enough to bring unconsciousness.

Vegeta wasted no time in formalities. As soon as his feet touched the grass he haughtily barked, "I hear you have something to tell me." The grave disrespect elicited a groan of disgust from Baba, but the insect-like North Kai barely moved an antennae. Such words were probably expected of the prince.

"And you have something to hear," his consultant replied sagely. This was not expected. In fact, though this was his first time seeing the Kai in person, he had never heard him so serious.

So there was something going on that made even the corniest grave.

He became tense.

"So what is the Mark of the Gods?" Vegeta inquired after a long period of silence. The North Kai nodded calmly, antennae bobbing.

"I don't think it is necessary to start there. No, it is easier to start with my death."

"What else is there to know?" said the prince, impatient. "Kakkarot pushed Cell to your planet, he exploded, you died. It came back and stronger than ever – the whole thing was a complete waste."

The Kai scowled, but otherwise ignored the remark. "After I died, there was a meeting among the four Kai – North, South, East, West – and the Grand Kai. He was demanding that Goku be punished for my death. I protested, of course, because it was not ill will that had brought Cell to my planet, and I died for a good cause, I suppose. Well, I pointed out that Son Goku couldn't be killed or otherwise, he was far too important for Earth's protection and no one would be able to step up and take his place. You were not his equal at the time and Gohan, the strongest of you all, probably couldn't handle such responsibilities. Ah… Maybe I should explain the mark after all."

Vegeta grunted irritably, aggravated by the Kai's silencing.

"All innocent souls, after a certain progression in life, are rare. A soul is deemed truly 'innocent' if no intentional or unwarranted malice is shown before reaching adulthood. Of course, adulthood is judged by the mind, not the body… Gohan was, by layman's terms, an adult at 10."

Kakkarot still has a long way to go, Vegeta thought idly.

"The 'Mark of the Gods' is Babidi's way of describing an immunity we gods automatically place upon all innocents to protect them from dark magic. All children possess it until they commit a 'malicious' act – you haven't had it since 3, Vegeta – and a choice few retain it all their lives. However, sometimes the Kai are forced to intervene and remove the mark as punishment. Mostly, in a case where an innocent commits an act that wasn't malicious in itself, but was damaging to others.

"Of course, dark magic is very rare nowadays. Babidi's the only one I've seen using it in centuries. So most of the time, people don't notice the mark; the chances of an adult innocent running into a dark magic user are infinitesimal," said the Kai.

"And Gohan doesn't have it, obviously," Vegeta replied dryly. "So what did you Kai do? Kill him in his sleep? Drain the life from him while he lay in his father's arms?"

"Goku and Goten possess the mark. So does Trunks, ironically," the Kai continued in his unconcerned manner. "Back to the Grand Kai. He was insisting on some sort of punishment. I didn't want anything to do with it, but no one would listen to me. Thought I was delusional with being killed or something. Well, I think I was the only one thinking clearly at the time…"

"What excuse do you have for killing Kakkarot's boy?" Vegeta interrupted coldly. The Kai studied him for a moment, silent, and then continued his explanation.

"I had said that Gohan would not be able to replace his father. So they decided that they'd punish Gohan, instead; this way, Goku would suffer but still be able to protect Earth. And Gohan they regarded as collateral, I suppose. At the time Gohan was unlucky enough to be the one Goku had the strongest emotions for. It was also an opportunity to render punishment without making it completely obvious that we had done it… We've had problems with vengeful family members in the past. Well, the moment was ripe since Gohan was still so weak from the fight." Disdain had slowly crept into his voice, until the final statement was practically dripping with hate. "Grand Kai and the others helped along and drained the rest of his energy, finally killed him on the Lookout."

"So this is how you repaid an innocent savior?"

The Kai seemed surprised by the remark, but again chose to ignore it. "As further punishment, they removed his mark. But they didn't even stop there. They wanted to make sure that Earth's Eternal Dragon wasn't going to bring him back, so 'somehow' Bibidi found his way out of his containment area in H.F.I.L. and 'somehow' a ruckus started. I believe the original plan was to have the riot to distract Gohan, and then accidentally get him stuck in Hell. Or maybe Heaven, if he were lucky. There are so many places for a soul to get entangled here.

"The plan went too far, and Bibidi killed him. The Grand Kai was surprised, but Bibidi was captured again and everything went back to relative calm. As far as they were concerned, it was all over. Punishment rendered."

"And you never let on, did you? Not to Kakkarot or any of them."

"It's a talent of mine," King Kai answered.

"So Kakkarot mistakenly sends a being about to kill us all towards you, and his son is enslaved for it?"

"If Goku had simply died with it, nothing would have been done," North Kai replied. "Gohan would probably be some dazzling fighter by now, Babidi would have been fended off easily, and Goku would be having a peaceful respite in Heaven."

"And I'm sure he was weighing these decisions as he faced the extinction of his home."

"Just a pointless hope of mine."

"So the boy is alive. Right now. Imprisoned in his own mind."

"Not imprisoned, right now. He's been struggling with it all day. Doesn't conform well to the ideals of a raging lunatic, apparently."

The Kai watched with interest as Vegeta's fists began to clench, grow tenser, tenser, until the very bones could be seen through his gloves, and then completely let go. Relax. Breathe.

"You care very highly about this," he noted calmly, glancing back up to the Saiyan's face. It was dark, but relatively stoic. "But you barely even know the boy. You despised each other."

"It's more the idea," he replied, a low growl adding untold fierceness to his voice. "I'm just not fond of this idea – a child dying for the error of his father? It's not entirely fair, is it?"

"It's more about Babidi, I think. Being controlled. Am I correct?"

"I care very highly about this because Kakkarot is falling apart. And I have not spent the last seven years of my life training for my rival to fall apart. I'm going to kill him someday, and killing an emotional wreck holds little to no interest for me."

"Is that all?"

"I am also simply giving the argument that Kakkarot wouldn't." Vegeta paused, eyes roaming. Finally he stilled and smirked. In two steps, he was in front of the Kai's ape; in an even shorter time, he had it dangling by the neck from his hand. The choking ape babbled in panicked confusion, squirming.

Baba gave a soft gasp; the Lord of the Worlds frowned.

The dead Saiyan smirked. "So I can kill this thing, can't I?"

"It's already dead," King Kai replied in his nasal voice.

The smirk faded. "So was the gaki."

"You're presenting a decent fight," the North Kai responded. "You have outdone Goku by far." And then, suddenly becoming intent, the Kai stepped forward. "You hold no fear of the gods, do you?"

Vegeta scowled and tightened his grip. But just as the ape's squeals were fading, he released the creature, allowing it to drop to the ground. It remained on its back for a minute, dazed.

Charcoal eyes leveled on the pale-skinned god. "Truthfully, I'm beginning to resent them."

"I have told you all I can tell, Vegeta," he said. "And I am sorry for what has happened. What will you do now? Will you remain here until you are brought back to life?"

He grimaced in disgust. "I'd rather return to Hell. There, murderers are proud of what they have done – they don't mask it with weak lies."

"So pride is better than shame."

"I am not in the Underworld for being humble."

With a nod and a sigh, the Kai consented. "Your nature will not change, I suppose. Baba can return you there."

Vegeta seemed to have no argument left. Eyes still icy with hate, he turned away. But as Baba began to levitate past he turned back, an indescribably / indescribable / expression dancing between down-turned mouth and resentful glare. "You were wrong, you know."

The Kai's response was a twitch of the antennae.

"Gohan could have replaced Goku. He could've done a better job here."

"You would give up your rival?" King Kai asked with mild surprise.

His statement was ignored. Vegeta turned away again. The Lord of the Worlds looked to the ground. I know.

"Your morality is scaring me again," Baba rasped as the palace of the Grand Kai grew smaller beneath their feet. The dead warrior snorted in reply.

Does he realize the price of this?

We came back before...

The human glanced back again. There Okiri stood, the darkness so close that his black eyes seemed all the blacker. The darkness was unnatural, an abrupt opaque barrier where meek halftones should be. But it was not solid. As he watched, it slowly crept forward, growing all the closer to the Saiyan component of Gohan's mind. Almost touching him.

He focused ahead once more, uneasy. But I don't think we'll come back this time.

"Descend," the darkness hissed, making Juujen flinch. He barely felt it as he hit the ground. Something was wrong - it was as if his nerves were malfunctioning. He couldn't quite sense when his feet were on the earth. It was as if... As if parts of his control were disappearing.

As he landed, he looked to his hands, to see if he could still control those accurately. They were still covered in blood, most of it dried. He dropped them in disgust.

Stumbling forward, he managed to catch himself by grasping a nearby tree. His fingers barely felt the rough bark.

An inane fear had begun to work its way into him.

Vaguely, he began to recognize certain trees around them. There was a clearing ahead through the trees, he knew that much. But what was in the clearing? It was...

"Why doesn't it burn?"

...Of course.

Okiri had realized it, as well.

The Saiyan whirled upon the darkness, grinning darkly. ((So this is where you take us to die. Fitting, isn't it?))

It didn't respond.

Juujen could just begin to make out the brighter meadow beyond the next stand of trees. The mutter of a creek was nearby, too, meaning they were on the east edge. Meaning right behind them was home...

For a moment he couldn't let go of that thought. He wanted to turn and run. But of course, the darkness would see all of this. With a jolt, he realized something. He paused, holding his face in his hands - Gohan's body mirrored the action. Juujen smiled.

You cannot see this.

When he whirled, the darkness was reaching a questing tendril towards him. It jerked back under his gaze like a slapped child. Okiri looked to him with an eyebrow raised but said nothing.

((So why don't you just kill us now,)) Juujen demanded, mirroring his companion's former grin. ((Why wait for all the drama? Or are you still the same ignorant fool, Babidi?))

As the human had predicted, Okiri caught on immediately. Their cold relations a moment before seemed to be forgotten.

Smirking, the Saiyan returned to the darkness as well. ((You've always waited for the ideal moment, but it never really came, did it? And it's a little late now, you being dead and all. You have to hide out in a slave's mind just to keep that illusion of power. What if you have no power? What if you're just a lost little soul, hiding from the big scary reaper?))

The darkness recoiled, wavering slightly. Juujen could see it wasn't uncertainty, though, or fear. It was anger... And it was his cue.

Keeping as quiet as possible, he went to work.

((So how do you prove you're real?)) asked Okiri boldly. ((And not just some shadow?))

"Why don't you come in and see?" replied the darkness.

That was answer enough for the Saiyan. But he did not become serious; retaining his ironic smile, he said, ((And what do you plan to do with this body after we're gone?))

"It won't matter to you anymore." If it could grin, it was now, letting a wave of cold mirth fall over them. Juujen shuddered at the distraction but quickly recovered.

((That's true. So there's no point in fighting anymore, is there?))

Juujen paused in his search, looking up. He doesn't intend to go that far, does he?

He soon realized the truth. It stung, but it brought a weak smile to his face. But that's the only way, isn't it?

He returned to work.

The darkness had begun to look towards Juujen. Okiri smirked vaguely. It may look like a little kid staring at the floor to him, but he's doing much more than that... And with any luck it'll work.

It had better work.

But it wasn't going to just look at Juujen for long. The Saiyan took a step forward, drawing the shadow's attention immediately.

((So did you read our memories to find this place, knowing that we'd be vulnerable here?))

Juujen looked up.

Something nearby...

((You knew this was the perfect place to ruin us completely. All along you've been testing us, to see where we are the weakest. And now you've found it. The fitting place for our death...))

The human fell back, surprised, and glanced over his shoulder.

...Piccolo!

But the darkness hadn't noticed, and neither had Okiri. They didn't feel the extra presence...

If Babidi sees, who knows what he'll do...

Panicking, Juujen looked to Okiri.

Say the right thing. Say it now. Say it, say it...

The darkness pulled forward, questing.

((Is this our final test, master?)) Okiri shimmered in the mind's eye, submerged in an aura of pain and dread quietly intermingled with submission. He bowed his head, chuckling dangerously. ((Then I wish to fail!))

For a terrifying moment Juujen thought the darkness would leap right then and consume the Saiyan standing inches away. But it remained where it was, and Okiri continued to stare it down, grinning madly.

Juujen felt a sudden ache. You're not pretending anymore...

And then he returned to the matter. After stumbling over his thoughts momentarily, he finally managed to whisper, ((Master... Master, let us go.))

It was what the weak mind would say, or at least he hoped so. And Piccolo would notice. Hopefully understand.

But the presence lingered, hovering near the edge of their mind.

Any longer and he'll see you. Idiot, move away from here-!

Juujen shoved against the entity, and Piccolo abruptly disappeared. When he looked up, the Namekian had disappeared from their line of vision, as well.

He fought back his desperate sorrow. I'm sorry...

Only one thing left to do.

A wave of surprise slammed into him, nearly bowling him over with its strength. It was Okiri.

He whirled about and began to step towards his counterpart. But that was before he registered what had happened.

The darkness had wrapped a tendril around the Saiyan's arm, holding him in place. Okiri tried to pull out of the grip, but it would not give.

Juujen froze.

This is it.

"Let you go? But you're much too close now."

Okiri pulled back again, and again... Juujen watched helplessly.

"How is it to be back in the same position, Okiri? That desperation returning? Feel like collapsing again?"

The Saiyan stilled.

"I probably could have taken you then, dear Saiyan... Just as I can take you now... All those times that you fell apart."

((What is he talking about?)) asked Juujen uneasily.

Okiri stayed silent, looking to the floor now.

"I doubt I've seen anything so pathetic since."

((Shut up,)) the Saiyan whispered fiercely.

"You really are just a weak thing. Never able to fight me off. No... You're terrified of me, aren't you?"

((Shut up!)) Okiri cried, striking out with his free hand - it was absorbed by the dark. He let his head fall, body shaking. ((Leave me alone!))

Juujen stepped back. The fear and pain rushing from his counterpart was nearly overwhelming, and it was all he could do to stay self-aware in it all.

One last thing...

What has happened to you, Okiri?

((S-sorry,)) he stammered, unable to remain silent. ((I'm sorry, I'm sorry...))

Okiri looked to him. The mad grin was gone. He was pale... tired... scared. But he smiled weakly.

You had better have this finished, he would have said. Your stupid plan had better work.

Instead the darkness flexed. Okiri doubled over, arms freed, and gave a short scream of pain. The resulting surge of emotion bowled Juujen over entirely.

"You're much too close now..."

((But I have something,)) Okiri gasped, teeth gritted. ((And that's more than I had before.))

His next words were unintelligible. Still flat on his back, Juujen jerked as something fled past him; it had disappeared before he could identify it.

He laughed desperately. ((This is how far we have to go...))

The darkness surged forward.

Juujen leapt to his feet, fleeing from the advancing darkness. But it stopped before he had gone far.

Okiri was gone...

And the darkness was looking at him.

Okiri was gone. He was alone.

He had never felt this before...

But with Okiri gone, a deep desperation bit into him, something he couldn't shake off. Gasping with shock, he turned to Gohan's vision.

Cold, calculating eyes - black as his own.

S-Supreme Kai.

This is the end for us, then...

The darkness could probably hear his thought, but he found he didn't care. The desperation grew stronger.

((I can't believe this is happening,)) he sobbed quietly. And then, steadying himself, he looked into the Supreme Kai's eyes.

((Supreme Kai... I have one last thing to tell you. I just hope you can see...))

And he let his work go. The darkness did not overwhelm him, this time; a blinding light, void of any emotion, collided with him and propelled him backwards - into the dark.

I didn't really want this to happen, he gasped as the world faded, but I guess it did.

He had only been back for a few minutes when harsh laughter echoed from the other side of the barrier, bringing a sense of dread to his stomach.

A foreign sensation swept across him, vision temporarily claimed by something he had never seen before. And a child's voice... "I guess it did."

Vegeta slammed a fist against the opaque barrier and felt the familiar sting. He fell to the ground, overcome by this bizarre sensation. He couldn't shake it off...

An image of the Supreme Kai overtook him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, and the underworld shook with his cry.

"What have you done?"

Only silence answered.

Shin stepped back, shaking slightly with exertion. I've done it - Babidi's gone...

The teenager lay still. He had fallen to the earth shortly after his arrival. It was strange - the Majin had just looked at him at first, then suddenly stumbled back, as if in fear, and fallen over an unearthed root. And there he had lain, offering no resistance...

He had done his work. Now Goku could cease his psychotic rampage.

With any luck, his attack had broken Babidi's ties, too, and would let loose what remained of Gohan's soul - if there was anything left. If not, the body would probably perish in a few minutes.

Feeling rather relieved, the Supreme Kai stepped around the halfbreed and headed into the open meadow. The sun had fallen low on the horizon, but there was probably time left before it would set entirely. An hour, maybe more...

He wondered what he would do about Kabito, and returning home. It was a shame about Kabito...

Something splashed in the creek behind him. Curious, he turned, thinking that the Namekian had perhaps regained consciousness.

That was another strange thing, finding Piccolo...

Shin stilled.

Goku's eldest son smiled darkly, right arm outstretched. Towards him.

"Thank you, Supreme Kai. You were worth something after all..."

A small, pale sphere sparked into life in the proffered palm. It then grew, doubling and tripling in size while Shin watched on in horror.

"You've been a great help."

The Majin smiled.

I showed you a good day, Son Goku. A day when his resolve remained. I could not bear to show you the others – the days when he was shattered, nothing, without mind or heart, so horrified by those things around him and those things that he had done that he could not move. Those days when even Babidi had difficulties among the darkness, even the master of torment could not gather this ravaged soul together and bid it to function. He nearly died so many times. He was dead for so long.

A Kai is to be impassive. But even I, a rootless soul, am tormented by these images. I will not burden you with them. What would you have done with this knowledge? Could it have been a defining factor in this battle?

I am sorry. there is so little that I may do.

Finis

Again, I'm sorry for any random mistakes, changes, whatever. QuickEdit has somehow managed to become even more retarded... I don't even want to press the "preview" button for fear of what it will delete this time. This time being the third time that I've gone through fixing what it's deemed "unimportant."

I honestly and truly despise this program at times... Mostly being whenever I use the damned thing...

Review responses can be found on my Livejournal, as usual. Look at my author page for the link. You'll probably have to copy the basic part (www.livejournal...) and paste it in the address bar, seeing as among its many charming qualities QuickEdit has decided to delete some essential slash marks within the link.