The Hidden Darkness

The Hidden Darkness

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Disclaimers: I do not own Dragonball Z. If I did...I would be one happy, happy person!

First…thank you all for the really nice comments! I really appreciate all of them! I cannot believe that someone actually likes this story! You all made my day . Um, I know Goten does not meet Paresu until later, but for the story, they already know each other! Also, I hope the italics work right for this story...And I read and re-read this story for typos and whatnots, so GAIA FAYE, if you are out there, help me out:). Well, thanks for showing interest, and keep hope alive…err…yeah! -Jodi

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Goten was happy.

For the first time in a couple of days, he had been free of those awful nightmares and those ill-willed feelings towards his family. Why did they stop? Goten couldn't care any less. He was just grateful to be free and actually do something with his best friend without those feelings and haunting dreams blaring at his mind every second of each day.

"Hey! Is it just me, or is this the best place to eat at in the mall or what?" Goten mumbled while stuffing another doughnut into his mouth. "I mean what could be better?"

Trunks nodded as he gulped down his drink. "Yeah...I mean, I would order more, but the manager said that we cleaned him out. Oh well. But there is that nice Café down on the first floor. I heard they have these big chocolate waffles with whip cream and the ladies who go their ain't too shabby...get my drift?"

Goten looked up and shook his head. "Yeah...so I hear. But," Goten smiled as his eyes glazed over. "I met this girl...and she really cute. I think she will be the one who I will spend my entire life with."

Trunks gaged on his water as he looked incredulously at his friend. "What? You actually found a girl who you wouldn't mind marrying Goten? Who is she?"

Goten laid his head on his hands as he looked up into the air. "You know her...Paresu. She is so great!" Goten smiled as Paresu face came into view. Her brown hair and sparkling blue eyes. She was perfect...and she also liked to use cell phones, like he did! 'We are a match made in heaven. I just know it' Goten sighed to himself as he continue to daydream about him and Paresu at the beach...alone...

Goten smiled. "Heh, heh! If only..." Goten's thoughts were interrupted by a loud obnoxious laugh from across the table. Looking back down, he saw Trunks laughing hard. He finally sucked it all up, stopped, and gaped at Goten.

"Paresu?" Trunks's eye twitched in disbelief. "What do you see in her? I mean...she is...well..."

"What?" the lovey-dovey look in Goten's eyes turned into one of defense. "What is your problem with Paresu?"

"Nothing! She is a nice person! It is just that she is so like you."



"And this is bad?"

"Well," Trunks said. "It would be scary to see your kids!"

Goten leaned forward as smirked at his friend. "Ha! You're just jealous 'cause you have no one."

"Humph. That is because I am not looking...yeah...that's right!" Trunks placed his hand on his chest dramatically. "I am not looking."

Goten smiled and began to retort when his vison suddenly dimmed. "I think I need to change my contacts...wait. I don't wear any." He rubbed his eyes thinking that it would stop, but it didn't. His vision became dark and suddenly he was totally blind. Goten felt a cold shiver run up his spine as fear began to creep into his mind. "Trunks? Where are you?"

No answer.

Panicking Goten rose from his chair and began frantically rubbing his eyes and look around for something, anything that told him that he did not lose his vison. Suddenly a flash of light suddenly came from right in front of him causing Goten to fall to the ground in pain. He opened his eyes slowly incase the intense light was still there, instead, he saw his vison had been restored. "Trunks?" Goten weakly called out as he looked around. Shock turned to fearful confusion as he realized that he was not in the mall anymore.

To his horror, Goten looked around and saw bloody skeletons and corpses laid all over the place. The moans of the half dead filled Goten's ears. The sky swirled with darkness...darkness just like his dream he kept having. Feeling a cold wind blow, he brought his arms up around him. But they felt wet. Looking down, Goten recoiled in horror to see his hands draped in blood. He quickly rose up and tried to rub the sticky crimson substance off his hands, but it just stayed. "What is going on? Trunks? TRUNKS! Where are you?"

'Vision....'

"What? 'Vision'? What do you mean? I don't understand?" Goten asked the nothingness.

'The dark will destroy...hope...you...future...death...'

Goten shook his head. "I still...you are making no sense whatever you are! Why are you doing this to me?" Goten waited for an answer, but the only response he heard was the howling wind and the mocking laughter of the long dead that was strewn about this desolent wasteland of despair.

Standing up shakily, Goten willed himself forward.

Goten cried out as he felt another pain rack his body, causing him fall upon the cold, bloodstained ground again. With unshed tears burning in his eyes, Goten caught a glimpse, more like an outline of a figure appearing before him. Goten squinted trying to make the apparition clearer, but to no avail. He could not see the face, but he could sense the malevolent intent and the dark nature of this...thing. 'So dark...what are you?' Goten murmured to himself as he slowly raised himself up. He recoiled as the figure reached its hands towards him. Almost invitingly. Goten felt sick. 'This...this...thing is so evil...so vile, the soul...is....is...horrible."

Goten shook his head furiously as he looked back to the ground."Leave me alone! Why won't you just leave me alone?" Goten whispered harshly. He clinched his eyes shut as he felt the dull aching pain in his head intensify suddenly, as if a hundred guns were going off in his head repeatedly. He wanted to scream out in agony, but he would not show any weakness. He must be strong.

"Come to me..."the voice said. .

Goten shook his head defiantly. "You do not control me. I will not listen to you. Go...away.." he growled. Goten once again looked up at the figure. It did nothing. Nothing but raise its hand...

Goten screamed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like every place in the galaxy, Chikyuu has its history that it is proud of. Some of it highlights the greatness of the planets civilization. How courageous men and woman rose up and protected the land from invaders and other such threats that hampered the prosperity of the planet.

But the planet also has its dark moments in its history. Though not history, yet, there was a story that started long ago, which said that during a time of great peace, the people will grow complacent, and a great darkness will begin to over take the land. And this time, not even the strongest of heart, the strongest in the light, will be able to stop it.

But it is not history...

So, many people disregarded it as mere ramble, nothing more than a old fairy tale to scare little children, thus making the dreaded story become little more than a old wise tale.

But unfortunately, the age old story is true.

And it has already begun to claim the its first victims.

Three teenagers who did not heed the warnings of those wiser than them searched and opened the first three seals of darkness. As proclaimed in the story, three ignorant youths will unleash the ultimate evil upon the planet, thus giving them unimaginable power and control over all those who opposed them. The only consolation though was that they had to give up ownership of their own lives, their one and only soul to the darkness. Many would turn their heads away from this damnable offer, but these easily influenced youths took the offer with open arms.

They now wielded the power of darkness.

The seals they had opened increased the power given to them, but that power, the darkness, was draining away...quickly. The only way for the power to stay, was for them to find the 4th seal. But not only the seal, but the opener, the possessor of that seal. Each of the three youths had been 'destined' to be the opener of the seal, or so said Makai, the leader of the group. And now the three were on the mission to find the person 'destined' to open and wield the dark power of the final seal. So far, the search as been fruitless...

Kijo laid her head upon her hand as she gazed impatiently upon her brother who sat across the room. Cold blue eyes focused more on her brothers form...disgusted. 'He sure is taking his sweet time translating those documents. Must I do everything myself?' Kijo pulled her dark green cloak around her as she rose from her chair and approached the silent figure.

She walked slowly up to her brothers chair and stood behind him, waiting to be acknowledge. When none came, the red haired woman grabbed her brothers shoulder angrily "Akuma. You have been studying that paper for months now, perhaps even weeks! Are you done yet?" she questioned. When she received no answer still, she slammed her hand on the scroll in front of her brother. "Don't ignore me! You are wasting your time! Now is there anyway possible for us to open that 4th seal without the..."

"Will you be quiet?" Akuma growled as he violently grabbed the scrolls off the table and stood. " You have already tried numerous of times and have failed. We cannot go further without the 4th seal being left unopened. And it cannot be opened without the fourth member...whoever they are." Akuma gave Kijo a cold glance as he walked pass her. "Besides, Makai said that she thinks she has found the one who we are looking for. So we should just wait until she is sure before move."

Kijo watched as he brother walked out of the room. 'Wait, wait, WAIT! That is all that we seem to be doing.'

"D! I am sick of this. We...I have waited long enough for the fourth member to be reveled." Kijo closed her eyes and began to concentrate. Using the dark energy that was given to her by her Mistress, she focused all her energy to somehow find a glimpse of who she was searching for. She smiled as she remembered how she was before she gained all this power. 'I was nothing...no one cared about me and no one realized my potential...but now I have the power...my hidden power has been released. And soon, I will show how wrong they were about me...they will all pay!' Kijo concentrated harder and harder until a face began to form in her mind. 'I found the 4th! I am so close...who are you?' As Kijo began to revel the face to herself. She reached out to the figure, invitingly, trying to persuade them to come nearer. The apparition, she sensed, was trusting...so full of light. It was sickening, as she felt the goodness emanating from the blurred figure. She wanted to recoil in disgust, but she still reached, hoping to get that final step. "Come to me..." she pleaded with the figure. She placed a hand out, but she was shocked back out of her vision when a stabbing pain shot through her psyche.

Falling back onto the floor, she cried out in pain. "What happened?" Kijo looked around and growled when she saw Makai standing at the doorway, cold blue eyes staring at her...amused.

"Kijo, your brother warned you to be patient. So," Makai coked her head to one side. "See what happens when you do not listen to people wiser and older than you?" Kijo stared hard at Makai as she laughed at her, turned and walked out the door way. "I warn you. Do not attempt such a thing again without informing me. You were not placed in charge of finding the seal. Your part will come into play later."





Giving Kijo one last look, Makai walked out the door from which she came leaving Kijo sitting on the floor with her anger coursing through her. Breathing in deeply, she began to mediate, trying to calm herself. 'Once the 4th is reveled...I will finally be able to fulfil me desires...so close, yet so far away...'. Rubbing her temple, she rose from the ground slowly. Feeling ill all of a sudden, she rushed out of the room towards her quarters.

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"Goten! Stop it! Calm down!" Trunks shook his friend who laid down on the ground racked in convulsions. Trunks had not noticed anything wrong, until Goten stood up and started looking around like he couldn't see anything...like he was confused. He had grabbed Goten's arms and began to shake him, but when he touched him, Goten started screaming like a madman and started to fight him. Thank goodness he didn't use any Ki attacks. He got even more worried when Goten suddenly stiffened, like he went into shock, fell down, curled up on the ground and started shaking. Trunks looked around at the growing crowd of people who came over to look at the situation. 'Bystanders! Why can't they go do something useful like get a doctor or something?'

Trunks turned angrily at the crowd while trying to keep Goten pinned down, trying to stop him from hurting himself or others. "Will you stop staring and go get some help for him?" Trunks screamed.

"I can help you."

Trunks looked over his other shoulder at the person who spoke. A girl came forward and bent down beside the hyperventilating Goten. Laying her hands on his forehead, she closed her eyes. Trunks eyed her suspiciously, but suspicion turned to awe as he saw Goten beginning to calm down and breathe normally right before his eyes. Making a confused face, Trunks turned to the girl for an explanation. "How did you do that?"

The girl turned her intense brown eyes onto Trunks. Giving a hint of a smile, she spoke. "I just focused my Ki. Nothing more than that. But," Trunks watched as she stood, trying to haul Goten up. "We should take your friend to a safer place. He is in danger if he stays here any longer...I fear."

Trunks nodded and helped her pick Goten up. For some reason, he trusted her, though he just met her. "Fine. Let's take him to my house. It is closer than his. My car is parked outside." Trunks said as he looked at Goten. He sighed in relief as he heard a groan escape from his mouth. Quickly casting a peek at the girl he sighed.'Great. Now I guess I can't complain about people who instantly trust people when they just met them. I am guilty of doing the same thing now I guess.'

"I just hope she doesn't plan on killing me." Trunks mumbled.

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Bulma sighed as she placed a cold compress on Goten's head. She made a face as she looked at his pale, cold skin. He looked like he was dead. Shaking her head, she rose and turned towards her son who was standing silently in the doorway "Trunks, I want you to call Goku and Chi Chi and tell them about what happened to Goten, and also," Bulma stood up and grabbed a bottle " that I am going to keep him here for the night. He is in no shape to travel at this moment."

Trunks nodded as he made his way to the family room. 'What in the world happened back there to Goten? He totally freaked out! He looked so scared...so...serious. I never seen him like that before.'

Trunks walked slowly into the family room to get the phone and was surprised to see that girl there. She sat on the couch looking out the window quietly. 'Figures. I enter the room to see the 'maiden' staring sadly out of the window...I guess she expects me to ask her what is wrong or something.'

He cleared his throat loudly, startling the girl from her reverie. Brown hair whipped across her face and she stared hard at him. Trunks made a face as he walked over to the phone. "I hope you don't expect me to be nice to you and ask you why you seem so pensive." Trunks said as he picked up the phone. "After all, I don't trust you. For all I know, you are the one who caused Goten to act like he did back there."

The girl sat across the room still looking intently at Trunks. She bent her head inquisitively. "Back at the mall, I felt that you trusted me. What could have changed that feeling so quickly?"

Trunks stared at her a few moments before he spoke. "Who are you?" He asked ignoring her question. "And how did you happen to come by just in the nick of time to help Goten? I mean, you say that I trust you, but I guess you aren't so all knowing if you say that. And I must really don't because I am saying this..huh...what did I just say?" Trunks sighed as he flopped down into a near by chair.

Trunks looked up as the girl shifted in her position on the couch. "You know, I do understand what you are saying. But I know you trust me." the girls gave Trunks a small smile. "I can sense it...even though you do not believe it yourself."

Trunks shifted uncomfortably in his chair, looking down at the phone in his hand. "Ok...fine...so...I'm supposed to believe some stranger I just met has the ability to see good and evil in the hearts of man, huh?" Trunks made a smirk. "You know you're starting to sound like old 1930 radio show."

The girl gave Trunks an amused look before she turned away to look back out the window. 'Geeze, what is so amazing that is out that window?' Trunks thought. He began dialing the Son's residence when the memory of Goten laying on the floor, screaming in pain came rushing back through his mind. Clicking of the phone, he looked slowly back at the girl. "B-back at the mall," he stuttered "You said that Goten was in danger. Do you know what happened to him? Why is he in danger? And you had better not give me those 'Now is not the time to revel all either' speeches either." Trunks huffed. "I want to know...now or else."

The girl turned slightly and looked at Trunks, angered. She stood up to her full height and stared at trunks from across the room. Trunks felt cold suddenly as she stared at he motionless form. He previous warm brow eyes had turned into a cold dark, obscure color...though still brown, they just seemed darker. "Do not threaten me. You do not realize yet what you are dealing with. I will tell you what you want to know, when I want you to know it." she warned as she turned quickly away. "Don't push it."

Trunks made a face at that last remark. 'I didn't even 'push' her a lot. And she got this hostile?'

Sighing, he turned on the phone and dialed the Son's up again. "Well, since you're going to be here. Might as well know each others names. My name is Trunks Briefs."

The girl gave a sideways glance before giving a hint of a smile. "My name is Matsukai"

The phone rang as Trunks mentally sighed. 'Angel...figures.'

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"What is that third class baka's son doing here, woman?" Vegeta growled as he shut the door leading to his and Bulma's bedroom. "I don't like him being here. He has a home of his own, so why doesn't he just go there?"

Bulma was digging through the closet for extra blankets when Vegeta walked in complaining about Goten's presence in their home. Sighing, Bulma grabbed the blankets and kicked the closet door shut. "Vegeta. Trunks brought him here when he got really sick at the mall. It is late and I did not want him flying home in the condition he is in. He looks really bad."

Vegeta scowled as he grabbed one of the blankets from Bulma. "What? Vegeta? Are you actually going to help me take care of Goten?"

Vegeta's scowl harden as he marched over to the bed. "I couldn't care less about him. I just don't want that spawn of Kakarrato touching my blanket." Vegeta jumped on the bed and pulled the covers over him.

Bulma stared incredusly at Vegeta as he laid sprawled across the bed. " Can you ever be nice or even show concern about anyone or anything for once in your life?"

Vegeta rolled over and fumbled with the remote. "Onna. I spared with the brat tow days ago, and when he was sick, mind you, I told him to suck it up.. And yesterday, I took I took Bra to see that stupid girly movie. That was torture enough! So why should I have to endure more? Especially when the person is NOT my offspring, but that imbecile Kakarrato's?" Vegeta growled as he turned on the televison. "The things I do for this family. So leave me alone. 'Cops' is on."

Bulma let out an exasperated sigh as she glared at her husbands motionless form. "Oh yes, Vegeta. You are so right. We do underestimate you and your amazing abilities in this family. You're such a self-less bastard." Bulma snapped. Grabbing a extra pillow, she walked out of the room slamming the door behind her.

Vegeta smirked as he took in her words. "Yeah. I am a self-less...hey!"

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Goten moaned as he began to regain consciousness. Opening his eyes slightly, he brought his hands up to his eyes when a bright light shot through them. Groaning louder, he turned over and coved his eyes, this time, slowly opening them. He looked at his surroundings. 'Capsule Corp.' he said to himself as he closed his eyes again.

He breathed in deeply, moving sightly again, he felt a dull ache in his body. Though it was not much, and in a fight, he could withstand much more, for some reason, this little pain was bothering him. So much, that he did not want to move.

Goten laid subdued on his side, wondering how he got to Capsule Corp. The last thing he remembered was being in the mall and...and that vision hit him. Goten felt sick again as the images of death and destruction played again and again through his mind. He closed his eyes, hopefully to shut them out somehow, but the images and feeling just go stronger.

Goten something cold and wet on his head. He made a slight, painful move and felt the compress slid of his forehead and onto the blue carpeted floor. He stared down at the floor for a few moments before closing his eyes again. Breathing shallow breaths, Goten tried to fall asleep again~~

"Goten. Are you feeling better?"

Goten opened his eyes to the form of 12 year old Bra standing in the doorway. Smiling, she walked into the room carrying blankets and a pillow. "Saw Mom in the hallway up stairs. She asked me to bring these down to you." Bra placed the blanket on top of Goten as she kneeled down beside him. "So are you feeling better? I mean, you look a whole lot better than you did when Trunks brought you in a couple hours ago."

Goten faced vaulted when he heard what Bra said. "Couple hours? How long is a couple of hours?"

Bra looked up into the air and shrugged. "I don't know. Trunks brought you home around 5:00 or something and it is now...ah..." Bra looked down at her wristwatch. "11:00pm!" she exclaimed happily as blue hair whipped around her face.

Goten moaned again. "I was out that long? Man...I feel horrible." Goten ran his hand across his for head taking off the compress. He rose slowly from the couch, ignoring the aching pain, until he stood up. Stretching, Goten started to limp towards the Brief's kitchen.

"Goten! You can't get up!" Bra said as she grabbed onto Goten's blue shirt. "Ma' said that you were sick, and you looked really bad to me earlier..."

"But I look fine know don't I?" Goten asked his friends little sister.

Bra regarded Goten for a few moments before she nodded. "Yeah."

Goten gave Bra a goofy look that made Bra smile. 'He must be feeling better if he is acting silly again!'. Bra nodded again as she took Goten's hand and led him towards the kitchen. "Fine. I know you must be hungry. After all, it has been a couple of hours before you ate. " Bra looked up at Goten.

Goten looked down at her and laughed. "Yeah. I am hungry. So hungry in fact that I think I can even eat your mother's cooking. Let's go!"

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YES!!!! I finally got it done after two weeks! SOO EXCITED! Well, I hope it was decent :). Any C/C will be appreciated...as long as it is not from Gaia Faye:P...kidding;) Well thank you and the next chapter will be up soon. Next chapter, we are going to REALLY start getting into the story! Yea! And for you people, Paresu will be in it! I cannot wait to start writing her character. I think she will work out well! ..I think...ah well. -Jodi