After school, Camino had placed the stolen jewelry he'd found under his bed in a paper bag and left it out in front of the shop where it had come from. He hid somewhere nearby to make sure no one else took it with the intention of stealing it. A young woman noticed the bag and opened it. A look of surprise came over her face and she ran inside to get the shop owner. The shop owner came outside and retrieved the jewels and was clearly thrilled.
Now word was getting around that the mysterious thief had returned the jewels. The shop owner and the young woman who had first found the bag were making statements on television and for the newspapers.
Now Camino was at home. He sat at his desk and tapped his fingers on its surface. He glanced at the window and sighed. He had been waiting hours after sunset and still no mysterious thief.
Maybe he's not coming, he thought. I wonder why. Maybe he heard about the jewels being returned and would rather lie low for now. Does that mean he'll eventually come back?
He went to the window and gazed out at the midnight blue sky. He didn't sense any strange or unfamiliar ki.
If I were to go to sleep and someone strange approached, I would wake up. He frowned. Hmm, if that was true then why didn't I wake up last night? He glanced over at the empty bottle on his desk. It was the bottle the potion had been in. I'm willing to bet anything that's the reason I didn't wake up. But it's gone now, so it's safe to sleep.
He stepped back from the window and thought maybe he should wait a little longer. He turned to go back to his desk and suddenly his body felt heavy and he stumbled. He put his hands on the bed to steady himself.
What's the matter with me? he wondered. I couldn't be this tired.
He lifted his head slowly and was left looking into a mirror. He pushed away from the bed cautiously, making sure he was stable enough to stand. A sharp pain shot through his chest and he clutched a hand to it and squeezed his eyes shut.
He groaned as the pain seemed to spread outward from the center of his chest, threatening to envelop his entire body. He fell forward onto the bed and lay there for a moment, feeling almost paralyzed by the pain.
He rolled onto his back. The pain was expanding, like something was trying to escape from deep within him. He fought against it, tried to suppress it. He increased his ki in an effort to overpower it, but when he was just about to ascend to Kaioken his body seemed to shut down on him.
He froze and opened his mouth to cry out, but no sound escaped. Then it abruptly hit him again, twice as hard and his face contorted in pain.
He felt himself fading away. Slipping into void where there were no people or anything for that matter. It was a place of peace where he could sleep soundly. He was both afraid and anxious to fall into this slumber, but either way there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Dark opened his eyes and when they focused he was left staring up at the ceiling. He sat up slowly and found that he felt no pain at all.
He smirked. Camino is a fool! If he wouldn't fight me, he wouldn't have to suffer. I was able to overcome him, though he was pretty determined to keep me at bay. He might have had me if he'd gone Kaioken. Dark paused for a moment and then shook his head. No, I still would have taken over.
He stood and walked over to the closet to change out of the clothes Camino had planned to sleep in.
I need Pan, he thought. My body, our body longs for her. I know he can feel it; perhaps that's why he gave in to me. I'll satisfy our need and pay her a visit tonight.
After changing clothes Dark descended the stairs and entered the dimly lit kitchen. He was surprised to see Snow sitting at the table. She glanced up and him and he spun out of the doorway.
She frowned, set down her teacup and stood. "Camino?"
He pressed himself against the wall near the doorjamb. What am I supposed to do? Once she takes a look at my face she'll know I'm not Camino.
He heard her footsteps approaching and turned his head away from the doorway. Snow walked into the room and repeated his name. When he didn't turn to face her, she reached up and grabbed his shoulders, turning him around.
Dark gave her a grin. "Hey mom!"
She studied his face for a moment. "Don't 'hey mom' me! What's the matter with you? Why are you slinking around the house?" She looked down at his clothes. "Just where do you think you're going?"
"Out," he said, firmly as he shoved her arms away from his shoulders.
She looked at him, incredulously. "Out where?"
"Just out," he said, pushing past her and walking into the kitchen again.
She stood there for a moment before she followed. "Camino! Wait a minute." She paused and waited for him to stop, but he never did. "Camino! Get back here! You're not leaving this house. You can't treat your mother this way."
Dark stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "I'll be back later."
Snow stopped advancing towards him and frowned. She had never seen such a look in her son's eyes before. "Camino?"
He opened the door and stepped outside. He spared her one last glance before levitating into the air and disappearing into the night. Snow ran to the door and looked up into the sky.
She shook her head. "That boy. Why does he have to get like this sometimes?" She shut the door and went back to her cup of tea.
Dark's feet touched down near a river in the woods. He crouched down and looked at his face in the water. He smiled. Dark's features were gone, leaving Camino's shorter hair and brown eyes.
Dark laughed. I can't believe I pulled that off! I was able to let a little of Camino show through, enough so that his facial features were normal, but I was still in control.
He watched his reflection as his hair grew longer and his eyes turned green.
"Much better," he said aloud.
He stood and tilted back his head so that his face was to the sky. A breeze came by and blew his hair around his face. He ran his fingers through it, pushing it back.
I can sense Pan, he thought. Again, she's not at her house. She sure gets out a lot. I'll find you tonight and this time we won't be interrupted by the police or by Bra. I will have you to myself and if not tonight then soon.
Dark stood in front of a large house and frowned. She's inside, but what is this place? It doesn't look familiar to me.
He started up the walkway to the house and spotted two male teenagers standing outside on the porch. They were talking to each other, but when they saw Dark they stopped and eyed him suspiciously.
Dark ignored then and headed for the open front door. One of the teens stepped in front of him. "Where do you think you're going?"
A look of amusement came over Dark's face. "Inside."
"What business do you have in there?" he asked.
"My business in there is of no concern to you."
The teen growled. "Don't mess with me."
Dark smiled. "Funny, that sounded like a threat." His eyes become serious and his smiled faded. "Was it?"
The other teen stood beside the first one. "We're not afraid of you."
Dark nodded. "And that shows how foolish you really are." He shifted his feet slightly. He could see that the teenage boys were becoming tense. "Let's make this quick."
Dark lunged forward and punched the first teen in the stomach. His eyes widened and he slipped to his knees onto the porch. Dark kicked the second one in the face and he toppled over backwards. The first teen had fallen prone on the floor and Dark stepped over him.
"Well that was easy enough."
He stepped into the front room and surprisingly found it to be empty. He scanned the room and detected Pan's ki upstairs. He started towards the stairs and sensed someone else up there with her.
"Pan? Are you even listening to me?"
She blinked. "Huh?" She looked over at the teenage boy next to her and smiled. His name was Rylan and he was a boy from her math class.
"I didn't invite you over so you could zone out, you know." He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"Sorry," she said. "I've just been a little preoccupied lately."
"Yeah," he said. "With all that stuff about the mysterious thief? You should forget about that." He pushed away from the wall. "You're never going to see him again. You should focus on something real. Like me, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."
"I know what you're saying sounds logical," she said. "But I have the feeling that I'm going to see him again. And besides Rylan, we're just friends right?"
"Well," he said, smiling. "I was kind of hoping that would change tonight."
Pan frowned at him. "That's a nice offer, but I'm not interested."
He started towards her with his hands outstretched. She moved away from him, but soon realized that he was backing her up against a wall. "Just one kiss, Pan. That's all I'm asking right now."
"Stop it, Rylan!" she cried.
He leaned his body over hers and moved in for a kiss. Pan punched him in the face and he grabbed her wrists. "What's the matter? I'm not good enough for you?"
She fought against him. "No you're not, you pig!"
He frowned and tightened his grip on her and she cried out. She turned her head and looked at the door. She couldn't reach it from where she was. She wouldn't be able to escape him.
Suddenly, the door was thrust open and Rylan looked up in surprise. Dark entered the room. "What's going on here?!"
"Who are you?" Rylan asked, loosening his grip on Pan.
She slipped out of his grasp and ran over to Dark. "Dark! It's you!"
"Dark?" Rylan asked. "Get out of my house!"
Dark stepped past Pan, towards Rylan. "You're worthless. What kind of man forces himself on a woman?" He grabbed the collar of his shirt and twisted it, lifting Rylan off the ground a little.
Rylan's eyes widened. "I...can't...breathe."
Dark smirked. "You'll never breathe again when I'm through with you." He tossed him onto the floor near an open door the led to the balcony.
Rylan tried to scramble to his feet, but Dark grabbed him again. He dragged him out to the balcony and shoved him up against the railing.
Rylan screamed as he felt himself leaning over the side of the railing. "Please, please, don't let go! I don't want to die. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"Don't tell me," Dark said. "Tell her you're sorry."
"Pan, I'm sorry."
Dark let him slip over the railing a little more and he cried out. "Please don't!"
"Tell her like you mean it," Dark said, sternly.
"Oh Kami! Pan I'm so sorry! I really am! I'm sorry, please forgive me!" Rylan yelled.
Dark pulled him up a little. "That's better. And I don't ever want you to lay a hand on her again. In fact, stay away from her. Got that?"
He nodded.
"Got that?!"
"Yes! Yes!"
Pan stood in the doorway to the balcony. "Dark, that's enough."
Dark looked at her and then pulled Rylan up and dropped him onto the cold tile of the balcony. Rylan huddled in the corner out of his offender's reach.
"Don't even think of going to the police," Dark said. "That will only make your fate worse."
Rylan looked up at him and nodded. His entire body was trembling.
Dark met Pan's eyes. "Did he hurt you?"
She shook her head. "I'm all right...now."
Dark smirked and took her hand in his. "Come, let's get out of here." He pulled her out onto the balcony and held her close to his body. He stood atop the railing and paused before jumping off.
Rylan gasped and slowly stood and moved to look at the ground below. He spotted Dark walking off with Pan. Dark stopped and looked up at him. Rylan fell back onto his butt and scrambled away from the railing. Rylan would never forget Dark's green eyes.
Dark took to the air once again, still carrying his beloved Pan. She held onto him and looked at his face, carefully. "Dark?"
He spoke without looking at her. "Yes, love?"
"Thank you."
"It was my pleasure," he said.
"Tell me," she said. "Would you really have killed Rylan?"
He chuckled. "No. If he would have harmed you I might have considered it. But don't you think murder in addition to theft would look bad on my record?"
"You know, you shouldn't joke about that. You're a wanted man!"
"Am I? How exciting." He smiled and finally looked at her.
Her breath caught in her throat when he turned those emerald eyes to her. "You returned the jewels. Why?"
"You didn't want them," Dark said. "So I had no use for them."
"You stole them for me?"
"Sure," he said, landing on the ground below. "And if the alarms hadn't have gone off, I would have gotten away with it. We have Bra to thank for that."
Pan looked around and noticed they were in a park. She let go of him and stepped away. "Why would you steal for me?"
"Everything is for you, love," he said. "I exist for you and you alone."
She looked at him. "Who are you? I feel as if I should know you, but..."
He placed his finger over her lips. "I am Dark and that's all you need to know. I will protect you for as long as I am able to." He slid his finger to her cheek and cupped her face in his hand. "And I love you."
Her eyes widened a touch as he leaned in to kiss her. She met him halfway and kissed him softly. He pulled her closer to his body and deepened the kiss. She slid her arms around his neck.
Their lips parted and she stared up at him. "Dark?"
"Hmm?"
"Stay with me." She hugged him tightly and he smiled and stroked her hair.
"I would like to stay with you forever, love," he said. "But it's late and your parents will worry." His smile widened suddenly. "Kidnapping definitely wouldn't look good on my record."
"I want to see you again." She pulled away enough to look at his face.
"Then meet me here tomorrow night," he said. He looked up and noticed that they were standing in front of a fountain. "Here, by this fountain at nine o'clock."
She glanced back at it and nodded. "I will."
"Until then, love," Dark said.
She pulled away from him and he grabbed her face, kissing her once more. "Your house isn't too far from here. We wouldn't want anyone to see you with me, especially your parents." He smiled. "Walk home and I'll be with you the entire way."
She nodded and walked away from him. He ascended into the air and watched her go. She turned back and looked into the sky, but she didn't see him. She could feel his presence somewhere close, but she couldn't see him.
She smiled and started in the direction of her home. "Until tomorrow night, Dark."
Dark stood in front of the door that led into the kitchen. He had seen Pan home safely. She was greeted at the front door by Gohan who had demanded to know where she had been. She told him to leave her alone and slammed the front door.
Dark chuckled to himself. He could remember the look on Gohan's face. He appeared to be so concerned about his daughter and she yelled at him. Dark laughed harder. The look on his face was priceless! If only he knew that Pan had been out with Camino.
He opened the door and peered inside. This time the kitchen was empty. He closed the door softly and headed towards the stairs. Halfway there he stopped and brought his hand to his head.
What's this that has hit me all of a sudden? A headache? He drew in a sharp breath and brought his other hand to his head. No, it must be Camino. Is he trying to come out again?
He gripped the back of a chair. No, Camino is at my mercy. He won't awaken from his slumber until I allow it! He let go of the chair and took a few steps towards the stairs.
He stopped and gritted his teeth. This pain...I can't take it. This isn't happening because of Camino's will. It's his body. It's trying to reject me like a virus.
He fell against a wall. No, I won't succumb to this. I won't be thrust out again. This is my body as well. I have to stay. I have to fight this...for Pan.
He slid down the wall into a sitting position, still cradling his head. Stars invaded his vision and frowned. This can't be happening. I will not leave! I will not leave!
Dark screamed, wordlessly as he felt himself slipping away. His cry echoed through the house.
Snow was startled awake by the sound. She tossed back the covers and ran for her bedroom door. She thrust it open and hurried down the stairs. She entered the kitchen and clapped her hand to her mouth.
She took a step towards her son's still form. "Camino?" She stood over him. "Camino!" She knelt beside him and placed her hands on his face. He was burning up.
He opened his eyes slowly. "Mom?"
"Oh honey, are you okay?"
He tried to sit up and she helped him. He leaned against the wall. His body felt like it was on fire and he was panting relentlessly.
"What happened?" he finally managed to ask.
"I should never have let you gone out," Snow said. "You were acting so strangely and now this." She stood. "Stay here. I'll be right back." She darted out of the room.
"Gone out?" Camino asked aloud. "But I didn't..." Pan's face flashed in his mind and he closed his eyes as the ache returned to his head. He covered his face with his hands. What's...what's going on? Why did I just see Pan?
Snow returned to the room and noticed her son's state. She knelt by him again and slowly moved his hands away from his face. Camino opened his eyes as she touched a cold towel to his forehead. He relaxed a little as she continued mopping his face with the towel.
"Let's get you into bed," she said.
He looked up at her and nodded slowly. He tried to stand, but she stopped him. "Take it easy, honey." She helped him stand and he leaned heavily against her.
They stood in front of the stairs and she looked over at him. "Would you rather lay on the couch?"
He shook his head. "No, I can make it upstairs."
She managed to get Camino upstairs and into bed. As soon as she had helped him into bed, he fell asleep. She pulled the sheets around his body and touched his face. She laid the cool towel on his forehead and kissed his cheek.
She backed away from him and reached out for the door. She stood in the doorway with a worried look on her face. "What's happening to my son?" She turned and left the room.