I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, or Dragon Ball Super. I only own the original characters that I create.

Mystery...

The Mask

Chapter 7

It was strange to see Bardock in such a state of happiness. All his life he was full of anger and hatred. No one ever knew why they just suspected that he had always been that way. The only one to ever know the truth was his dear and closest friend, Toma. They had grown up together, fought with each other in battle. They shared times of grief and great joy as a team. No one knew Bardock like Towa knew him. It was just plain and simple. Towa was Bardock's closest friend, almost a brother. Now, Toma would observe from afar, waiting for his moment to pounce. He had been following Bardock since he had arrived on Earth without being detected. No one knew of his presence, not even Piccolo who had the most sensitive of senses. The mask was to thank for this ability, it did grant him several other abilities as well. However, Toma couldn't remember what had happened after Planet Vegeta had been destroyed, all he could remember was a blinding light and his awakening to a man and woman placing a mask on his face. He had broken free from the man and woman's control, though. However, despite Bardock, he could remove the mask. However, If he were to do so, it would send a bolt of pain throughout his body. Toma then left the mask on, it did bring him great power, though. But, what was on his mind the most was Bardock. A sadistic smile tugged at his lips and whispered to himself while staring at Bardock, "Bardock.." He turned away from Bardock and leaped from the tree branch into the barren forest. Yes, he would soon have his best friend back, and all would be well again...

Bardock had been overcome with chills. It felt like someone looking straight through him and into his soul. There was in itch on his neck, provoking him to look behind himself. Slowly, Bardock looked behind himself despite the tug at his pants from Goten. His eyes slowly moved across the trees and saw nothing but a few birds and deer. Bardock was frozen for some reason, it felt as if he wanted to turn around, but something was keeping him from doing so. He was then snapped out of the trance by Goten calling his name, "Baaadoock," Goten mispronounced while frowning at Bardock. Looking down, Bardock registered for a moment then smiled down at the frowning boy. Bardock lifted him into his arms and smiled, "Sorry, buddy, I was distracted," Bardock said and ruffled Goten's spiky locks. Goten gently grabbed Bardock's hand and began to swing himself as if he were a monkey. Bardock smiled fondly down at Goten but felt himself wanting to look back at the forest. He did so and saw nothing again. He narrowed his eyes and began to concentrate for any life force within. His eyes glowed but they soon ceased their glow for he felt nothing but the wildlife in the forest.

He let out an exasperated sigh, looked at Goten, and smiled. Goten looked up to Bardock and flashed him a brilliant smile and giggled. The boy then began to swing himself once more while Bardock decided to head into the house, "Are you hungry, Goten," Bardock asked while opening the door. Goten nodded vigorously at Bardock, "Yea! I'm vewwie hungwie!" Bardock chuckled at Goten's cuteness. The boy began talking a few weeks back and couldn't stop. It was fine, though, everyone found it absolutely adorable. Bardock slowly brought his arm to the floor to let Goten run to the kitchen to greet his cooking mother. Gohan had gone to school and Goku was out fishing, he wanted Bardock to come with him, but Bardock insisted on staying with Goten and Chichi. He stepped into the kitchen where he began to hear the gentle humming voice of Chichi. She turned around to Goten tugging at her dress. She smiled at her baby boy and picked him up and kissed his cheek. Chichi then looked to Bardock and smiled while setting Goten in his booster seat, "You could've gone with Goku, I wouldn't have minded." She looked Bardock with a gentle smile and went back to cooking. Bardock then took a seat next to the happy toddler and looked back to Chichi, "Yeah, but I didn't want to leave Goten here with no one to play with. Oh, and that reminds me, where is the river," He asked her. Chichi looked back and pointed the spatula to the wall as if she's pointing to the forest outside and said, "It flows from Mt. Paozu and into the forest, why?"

Bardock looked to the out the kitchen window that gave a clear view of the forest outside. He tugged the collar of his sweater, he was getting nervous. Bardock had been feeling something bad about that forest, but he didn't know why. He stood up from the chair despite the looks he received from Chichi. Bardock walked to the screen door and opened it while saying in a blank, monotone voice that sounded a bit worried as well, "I need to go check on something, I'll be back..." And exited the house where he began to run into the forest. He leaped from the ground and onto a tree branch and began to scan the surrounding trees. He jumped again from tree branch to tree branch towards the faint sound of water hitting against rocks. He finally reached the river and saw Goku slowly getting out the water with a huge fish on his back. Relief washed over Bardock to see that Goku was safe. However, just to be sure, he lingered for awhile until Goku was drying off. He nodded to himself and turned around began to leap from tree to tree back to the house.

Bardock, wasn't alone, though. He looked to his side and his eyes widen to see a man leaping a few trees from his side. Bardock narrowed his eyes at the man who looked back at him through the glowing mask's eyes, "Hey!" Bardock yelled to the man who only returned a wicked smile to Bardock. Bardock was getting annoyed at this point, "Who the hell are you! Why are you smiling like that? Are you the one has been watching me?" Toma's smile dropped, Bardock knew that he was watching him? Bardock growled, "So you have! So, what is it that you want!" Toma then gave himself some slack and he ceased his jumping. Bardock turned back and saw that Toma had vanished. He was breathing heavily from the adrenaline. It's been awhile since has been worked up. He was still looking back with narrowed eyes. Bardock wasn't about to take any chances. He was nearing the edge of the forest and faced forward once again. But, a boot connected with his jaw and sent him to the forest floor trough the trees that he was knocked into. Bardock winced as he struck the ground, making a trail as he skidded along the wet, muddy, ground. He looked up to see Toma standing on a tree branch with a friendly smile. Was this man a lunatic?

Bardock slowly stood up on his feet,"What do you want!?" Bardock yelled to Toma, his voice echoing throughout the forest. Toma dropped to the forest floor and walked to Bardock, putting his hands in the air as a sign of surrender. Bardock drew back and dug his boot into the soft ground, "Stay back!"Bardock warned Toma who reached a safe distance between them. Toma then reached into a bag that was slung over his chest. He reached into the bag and pulled out the broken mask Bardock had worn. Bardock looked at the mask, "Th-at... Wh-where did you get that? Who are you, answer me!" Seeing the mask frightened Bardock. Toma then dropped the mask and put his left hand on his mask, "It's been awhile..." Bardock's heart dropped as he began to recognize that voice, "Have you forgotten me? Your old pal, Toma?" The mask was removed and it displayed the face of a man Bardock had thought to be dead. The face of his friend, "It's me, Bardock. Remember me?" Toma's voice was gentle and he flashed a grin that exposed his sharpened canines. Bardock felt his legs weaken and he dropped his hands and stared at the face of who he believed to be his dead best friend, "T-toma... B-but you're dead..."

Toma gently smiled at Bardock, and began to speak, "Well, as you can see I'm very much alive.." As he took a step closer, he stopped and placed a hand on Bardock's shoulder, "I missed you, Bardock. I never stopped thinking about you, my friend." Toma smiled fondly at Bardock and then looked back to the edge of the forest. He placed his mask on his face and the eyes glowed pink, He picked up Bardock's broken mask and took Bardock's hands and placed the mask in his grasp. He smiled down at Bardock, "Keep it... as a reminder. I'll see you again," Toma said and took a step back and leaped into the trees above. Bardock's eyes followed Toma until he couldn't see or hear him anymore. Bardock then looked down at the mask. The mask that held him, prisoner, for so long.