Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragonball X ❯ Hiding in Shadows ( Chapter 1 )

Time winds back 100 years.

It has now been four months since Son Goku disappeared with Shenron.

Time has been rewritten, as of now. Whatever happened in the past that made the Son's and Briefs' separate, never happened.

Life itself will change. People that would have had families might die, or not. The warriors Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. will never

exist. Bikini Briefs will never exist. Pan's son Neko will never exist. All thanks to the foul creature, Malice.

Malice.

His curses continue as the time capsule exits the time vortex and crashes in the middle of a desert. Technically, the time capsule

should have appeared in the basement of Capsule Corp. since that's where it took off from in the future, before it was erased.

But thanks to the chi blast fired by Goku Jr., it damaged the navigational and flight controls beyond Malice's ability to repair

them.

Using his chi, Malice blows the glass dome off and exits from the wreckage.

"Blast that damn Saiya-jin! If I knew he was going to attack at the last second I would have blasted him to nothing earlier!"

screams Malice as he kicks the side of the wreckage.

Malice closes his eyes and expands his senses to detect the nearest chi readings. The closest is 300 miles away; and there are

many. It is probably a city; perhaps even West Capital.

Malice grunts. He can easily fly to the city but surely someone will detect his chi. Malice doesn't know it yet, but he is currently

the strongest man on Earth. Not wanting to have the warriors of the past to detect him, it seems like walking is the only course

of action at the moment.

"Sure is hot. Could have landed someplace… cool." mutters Malice.

________________________________________________

Outside of Capsule Corp. reporters swarm around chairwoman Bulma Briefs. Capsule Corp. is unveiling a new product that

has been keep quiet, that is until a reporter somehow got `inside' information about it; resulting in the demand by the public for

Capsule Corp. to hurry and unveil it.

Bulma clears her voice and speaks into the microphone. "Everyone may I have your attention please." The sounds of the crowd

slowly calm until there is nothing but silence.

"As you are all aware, Capsule Corp. has been working on a device that will benefit all of mankind. It is a device that is sure to

help reduce world hunger by what I have estimated, at least 99.9%."

Several gasps are heard throughout the crowd and lights flashing on and off from cameras. The crowd is amazed. Capsule

Corp has always designed many helpful machines and products that have benefited everyone in the past, but surely this device

chairwoman Bulma has spoken of, surely this must be the best.

Trunks and Vegeta look out of Trunks office window upon the conference. Even though Trunks has been Capsule Corp.'s

President for almost nine years, his mother Bulma still likes to `steal' the show.

Trunks, however, doesn't really mind. He hates this job; always has, and always will. This job has stripped away nearly every

ounce of his freedom. Training, dating… everything he enjoyed before he became the president of Capsule Corp. In four years

he could resign, and hand over the presidency to Bra, but Capsule Corp. would then probably fall to bankruptcy because Bra

has no knowledge of running a business. Thus, Trunks is doomed to running Capsule Corp. until he can pass it down to his

offspring, that is, if he can find the time to go out and date and maybe find a wife.

The trip into space nearly five months earlier was a big getaway for Trunks. For a whole year in space, the Grand Tour, he did

not have to worry about the business since his mother Bulma took over in his absence.

Vegeta smirks. He knows exactly what his son is thinking. Vegeta turns his back to his son and walks out of the room. But

before he leaves, he calls back to his son. "Trunks tell your mother that I'll be in the Gravity Room. I don't want to be

disturbed until she has that blasted dinner party for Kakarotto's wife."

"Sure father." Trunks chuckles, and then smiles. His father almost never calls him by his name; it's either brat, or boy. Ever

since Goku disappeared four months earlier, he has changed. Vegeta had even stopped comparing him to his other self, Mirai

Trunks. Everyone has changed in the last four months.

ChiChi has changed most of all.

________________________________________

Goten and Paris are enjoying themselves walking threw the mall. Since Goku disappeared four months earlier, Paris has

been very supportive of Goten. They have become very close, even since the incident with Bebi less than a year ago.

In trying to cover up his unhappiness, Goten got a job coaching at a karate gym. Goten had plans to move out of the house

earlier, but now he doesn't want to leave his mother alone. After Goku disappeared, two months actually, Ox King passed

away. The old man's heart gave out. She has not really recovered from either loss. He doesn't wish to leave his mother in this

state.

Goten looks over in the window of a passing store. "Paris, look at this dress. It looks like the one you modeled last month for

that magazine."

Paris giggles at Goten. "Oh Goten, it is the one I modeled last month silly!"

Goten blushes and scratches his head and gives her the goofy `Son' smile. "So it is."

Paris sighs as she leans on Goten's arm. Goten wraps his arm around her waist as they continue walking in the mall. Nothing

could be better, Paris thinks to herself. She has everything she could have ever wanted. A wonderful, caring, if naive

boyfriend, a wonderful high-paying job, and she would love to call Goten's family her own.

Recently, when she was chatting with Videl, Vide told her that she over heard Gohan and Goten talking about marriage. That

was a big clue. Goten plans to marry Paris, but decided to wait to propose; due to current events -- the death of his

grandfather, and disappearance of his father.

I wonder when he plans on asking me. Paris thinks to herself. I don't care how long. I will wait until he is ready. I love

him so much.

The couple continue on their little trip through out the mall.

_____________________________________________

Several hours have passed since Malice entered this time line. He is frustrated, and tired. But he is finally out of the desert.

However he is still several more hours away from any city. He stops by a little pond and quenches his thirst.

"Damn, I wish I could just fly. But that would risk my discovery, and I don't need that just yet. I don't know how strong this

Vegeta is and I don't want to bring attention to myself. Not yet anyway."

His stomach growls as he stands up. "Should have packed some food capsules, but I didn't expect that little brat to damage the

time capsule." Malice thinks about his current situation for the hundredth time. What is he going to do with his life now? He had

no idea that he would change the entire future. Now he has no time to return to. The best solution is to try to find a way to fit

into this time line.

A rabbit scurries past him. Malice grins. It is time to fill his stomach.

______________________________________________

Pan yawns. Just a few more minutes and classes will be out for the summer. She looks out the window of her class and

watches a flock of birds glide together over the sky. Pan sighs. Days like this, her grandpa Goku would take her flying out on

Kintoun.

But those days are long gone.

Pan shakes her head. It's best that I try to put the past behind me, Pan thinks to herself.

"Man, I can't wait to get home. Maybe I'll fly over to Grandma's house to see if Uncle Goten wants to spar." Pan's mood brightens. She loved the idea of training. No matter what it was for Pan inherited the Saiyans love to fight.

"To bad I can't get a regular sparring partner." mumbles Pan. "One day, I'll show everyone how strong I am."

RING!

"Thank goodness!" Pan replies as the school bell quits ringing. She gathers her books and waits until everyone clears the room.

Once everyone leaves, she opens the window and flies out, heading toward home.

Even though she attends school in West Capital, it only takes her about thirty minutes until she reaches her parents' home in the

mountains despite the large ocean that is between Satan City and West Capital City. Pan lands outside the driveway and walks

up the path to her home, where her mother Videl, who is hanging out clothes to dry, greets her.

"Pan dear, could you go next door and wake up on your grandmother for me?" asks Videl. "Remember there is going to be the

dinner party at the Briefs' home, so get cleaned up."

"Sure mom." replies Pan as she walks into the house. She drops her books in her room and then goes back outside next door

to Chichi's house. Pan enters the house and walks up to Chichi's room. Pan slowly opens the door and peaks at Chichi. Pan

notices that Chichi's cheeks are pink and damp.

Pan sighs. Her grandmother has been crying again. Everyone thinks that Chichi will never get over the disappearance of Goku.

That is one of the reasons of the dinner party tonight at Capsule Corp.: to try to cheer Chichi up. Pan exits the room and places

her hand over her heart and whispers.

"Grandpa, where are you?"

_______________________________________________

Bra sits back in the seat enjoying the ride with Marron. As soon as she walked out of the school, Marron was awaiting her

arrival. The past few months Bra has become a close friend Marron; and vice versa. They both liked to shop, talk about guys,

and try on many dresses. Everything she couldn't do with her friendship with Pan. It was kind of sad for the friendship she had

with Pan was beginning to disappear. It's a shame that it is not as strong as it was when they where children.

But they are no longer children. While Pan may like to train, Bra prefers the beautiful things of life. Like shopping. And dates.

Why not? After all, she inherited her mother's good looks. Bra plans on putting her beauty to the place it should be: magazines,

posters and television.

She will be a model. That is her future and she plans on making the best of it.

"Where to today, Marron?"

Marron smiles and replies, "Satan City. Mom showed me a great shopping center when she and dad came to a business

meeting. Well, mom and I went to the mall. Dad got stuck going to the meeting."

Bra smiles. Poor Krillin. Bra always loved visiting Krillin. He always had the best stories of the time he, Gohan, and Bulma

went to Namek. Even though their families are not as close as they are with the Son's, Bra always adored the man. Maybe it

was his size, and the fact that he had no nose.

"Well I can't wait! Let's hurry and get there." Both girls giggle as they continue their way to the Satan City Mall.

____________________________________________

Just outside the West Capital mountain range a shooting star like object slams into a nearby mountain. On impact tons of rocks and debris is thrown into the air along with dust. After the dust settles a spaceship is seen in the mile-wide crator. The spaceship is similar to the one used by the Ginyu Force. The doors to the spaceship slowly opens as a lone figure steps out. He is young-looking around nineteen. He is wearing an outfit unfamiliar to Earth's standards. He has medium-dark skin with dark blue eyes and white hair like Bebi-Vegeta.

The man looks around at his surroundings and then looks at the readings on his spaceship navigator. "Shit! I didn't land close enough. I should have been closer to the Mount Poazu region."

The Spaceship's computer begins to respond to the man's complaint. "Prince Yuko, the navigator had temporarily misfunctioned due to a high power surge in the area."

Yuko looks around toward West Capital and begins to smile. He can sense many chi levels.

"It looks like my father hadn't arrvied here yet," Yuko says smiling, and then takes off toward West Capital. "Either that or he was killed. One of the powerlevels I can sense is almost as strong as mine."

________________________________________________________________ ______________

Bulma sighs as she walks inside her home. The conference was longer than she thought it would be and for a split second she

knew why Trunks hates the job. She bends over to pull off her shoes and feels a few bones pop.

She sighs again. Age is catching up on her. She is not that old, she is only in her late fifties. Vegeta, not long ago, swore that he

wished that he got a chance to make a wish with the Dragon Balls before they disappeared with Goku. He would have wished

her to age as Saiya-jin do.

That would be nice; to live to see her great-great grandchildren if need be. But it cannot be. After she is dead and gone, Vegeta

will still be young, in Saiya-jin standards anyways. For once she wishes that Vegeta were human like her, because she knows

that he'll be lonely after she dies, even if he doesn't care to admit.

Bulma continues to walk into the kitchen to see if the catering people she hired have dinner prepared. What she doesn't notice

is that Vegeta was watching her, the entire time from the shadows. He loves her, with all his heart. She was the only one to ever

push his Saiya-jin pride aside and see him for he truly was.

He can't help but love her.

She knows of his love. How can she not? Just because Vegeta never spoke the words doesn't mean that he doesn't love her.

One day he will tell her.

One day.

___________________________________________________

Malice walks through the forest. It is already nightfall. Just a little bit darker and he can run amok threw the night not having to

worry about been seen by someone who would think he is suspicious. Besides, who in their right mind would walk in the

desert, and a city, in the middle of summer, wearing nothing but black in the middle of the day?

Only he would do such a thing. Malice smiles. The moon is up. He remembers looking through the elderly Pan's memories and

learned that the former Kami of this planet, Piccolo, destroyed the moon. Many humans believed an asteroid destroyed it.

From her memories, he learns that the current Kami, Dende, regenerated the moon for this planet. It was regenerated only three

months ago in this time line. He continues to walk through the forest. He only has a few more hours till he reaches civilization.

The first thing he plans on doing is finding that little robot Giru.

__________________________________________________

Yuko makes it from West Capital mountains to the city itself in no time at all. As he walks around wearing his outworldy oufit similar to Bebi's he notices a poster of a science company tacked to a brick wall.

"Capsule Corporation." Yuko says, paying no attention to the odd-looking stares he recieves. "I sensed that name before in father's memories. One of the Saiya-jins lives there."

Yuko snatches the poster off the wall and heads for Capsule Corporation.

_______________________________________________

It's dark; the time when all the creatures come out to play. Malice easily blends in with the shadows of the buildings in the

Western Capital. He watches people crowd the streets at this late hour.

"Does this city ever sleep?" He wonders. Even in the original timeline, before it was erased, West Capital never seemed to

sleep. At least that's the way it seemed to him the first day he arrived on Earth from space.

He strolls over to a phone booth, and picks up the phone book. He looks for Capsule Corp.'s address to see if it's the same in

this time as it was in his. Indeed, it is. He heads back into the shadows and slowly but gracefully makes his way to Capsule

Corp.

At this moment Marron and Bra drive by. Both of them had completely forgot about the surprise dinner for Chichi. They are

now rushing to get back to Capsule Corp. so they can reach the dinner party in time.

Bra having some bit of knowledge in reading chi, feels uneasy. She briefly felt Malice's chi, but shrugged it off, because it

disappeared right after it appeared. Marron looks over at her younger friend.

"What's wrong Bra? My driving is not that bad is it?" jokes Marron.

Bra smiles and replies, "Not at all, I just got a bad feeling for a second. Oh well, hurry up and let's get to Capsule Corp. I'm sure

my mom wouldn't mind if you stayed the night. She'll love to see the dresses we bought! She'll probably cook some good

sweets for us after the party. Maybe Pan will want to spend the night as well."

Marron smiles at the thought. "Then we'd better hurry."

_______________________________________________

Son Gohan frowns. Something is wrong. He can feel it. Something is transpiring, but what? He has had an uneasy feeling ever

since 7:00pm. What could be making him so uneasy?

He looks at his watch. It's a little past eight and here he is, along with Pan, Videl and his mother in the car flying over the large

ocean that is between the two cities. Gohan would have preferred to fly but Chichi cannot fly. Not wanting to bring up

memories of Goku, he decided it would be best to drive.

Now he is sorely regretting it.

"Why couldn't I just left work an hour earlier? Then we would be late! SPEED UP YOU BLASTED MACHINE!"

The three women in the car chuckle at Gohan; seeing him upset over something so trivial is very funny. His expression is

hilarious.

"Gohan dear," replies Videl as she pats his hand, which both of them are clutching the steering wheel tightly. "I don't think

screaming at the car is going to help."

Gohan glares at his wife. "I… I know. But for some reason, I feel jumpy. Don't ask me why because I can't tell you."

Videl shrugs and leans farther back into her seat. Pan yawns and looks out the window. A bright light flashes inside her mind.

Pan closes her eye and concentrates. It's someones chi. She can spot chi anywhere.

"Someone is out there. Someone even stronger than father or Vegeta." Pan thinks to herself.

____________________________________________

Twenty minutes pass.

Malice crawls along side of Capsule Corp.'s main building. He hides in the shadows away from a room wherein the light is

shining brightly and music is blaring loudly. He grins as he watches the two females strip down from their clothes and begin

applying make-up and put on dresses. One of the girls has blond hair and one has blue.

It takes all of his willpower to stop himself from leaping through the window and taking them.

"Not now. I can't have my plans ruined due to some `urges'. I'll get the robot/Dragon Radar, split, make my wish, and then

maybe I'll return for some fun." Malice grins broadly.

"That one with blue hair has spunk. I'm sure she'll be quite fun. She reminds me of that Bikini broad I killed in the future."

Malice continues to crawl along side the building. He finally comes across an open window. He sneaks up and looks through

the darkness.

The girl's giggles can be heard not far away. He can faintly see the light shining from underneath the door. His grin widens.

"Ah the hell with it. If I knock them out, they wont know anything. Besides, I think I deserve a little fun after all the crap I went

through today." Malice thinks out loud as he walks silently to the door of Bra's room.

__________________________________________

Paris giggles like a schoolgirl as Goten picks her up within his arms and leaps off the top of the mall. She has always loved it

when Goten took her flying. It made her feel so free.

She wraps her arms around his neck and leans closer to Goten. She sighs. "Goten, how long will it take to reach Capsule

Corp.?"

"Not that long hon." Goten replies. "Why? Are you in a rush for anything?"

"No." Paris remarks. "It's just... I don't know… it's just, I've had a weird feeling today that's all. It started around noon

today."

"Do you feel sick?" Goten asks, concerned.

"No, I feel fine." She smiles. "Come on, fly faster!"

Goten smiles at his girlfriend and speeds up, flying faster above West Capital City. Both enjoy the peace, and being with each

other.

They do not know it will be the last time they get the chance.