Title : Hazed Passions

By : BloodofInnocence

E-mail :

Status : Incomplete

Chapters : 1

Rating: R

A/N : This is one of my first fics, so please feel free to criticize, praise, or rip down my fics. I don't know if this plot will please you, though...

This is a D.N. Angel Fic, and the matching's dark Daisuke/Riku. Daisuke has changed ever since he left Tokyo at the age of six. He has become a hitokiri, an assassin for the government, with the nickname of Kage, or shadow. He comes back to Tokyo at the age of seventeen, a man hardened by experience. It's up to Riku to tame the demon inside him. The characters in this fic are also very out of character, so please do not send flames for me to cower under. I cannot stand pressure and will not tolerate it...if I don't get killed first.

I have borrowed some things from other anime, but it's not a crossover. I mainly drew things from Rurouni Kenshin, which is the best! Not the plot, but sword techniques, attacks, and all the like.

Note: "" indicates a note at the end of the chapter for reference

Another Note: Throughout the chapter I'll be using random Japanese words and phrases. If anyone does not understand them and need clarification, there will be (sometimes) a glossary at the bottom. Otherwise, just include the question in reviews and/or e-mails.

Disclaimer: I do not own either D.N. Angel or Rurouni Kenshin. It was the sugar that seduced me to write this fic. Otherwise than that....I own Riku and Risa's older brother. Goodie.

Prologue

"Chikuso! I told you that we shouldn't have gone out!" a man whispered frantically to his companion.

"It's your fault!" hissed the other. "You wanted a glimpse of the hitokiri, ne?"

"I didn't think that he would notice us!" They were oblivious to the shadow lurking just ahead of them.

"I thought that you two would run faster than I could," said a voice just ahead. The two men stopped and slowly lifted their heads. They peered into the eyes of death itself. The hitokiri took out a sword. "This is your punishment...for your sins."

It was over before they could blink. With agonizing groans the two slumped over and fell onto the ground, blood pooling under them. The hitokiri smoothly whipped the sword of the blood. Turning, he retreated to the shadows.

Crimson...eyes...

"I will find you again...Riku..."

"KYAAAAA!!!" A young woman with brown hair sat up in bed. She was drenched with perspiration. "Not...again..." Dropping her head into the palm of her hand, she waited for her racing heartbeat to slow. It was the same dream all over again...only different this time...

"Nani yo?" she asked herself. 'Who is the man who continues to haunt my dreams? Who is he? How do I know him?'

Crimson eyes...

Chapter One: Crimson Eyes

"Risa-chan!! Hayaku!!!" Harada Riku called, grabbing her schoolbag and lunch.

"Coming!!!" The younger twin came bounding down the stairs, half braiding her hair and half studying for the Calculus test. "Could you get my bag and lunch for me?"

Riku sighed. "Oh, all right...just this once." She loaded the bags onto the basket strapped onto her bike and got Risa's ready. When the other girl ran out of the house, the two set off for school.

"Have you studied for the test, Riku-chan?" asked Risa as they pedaled along.

"Hai! Three solid hours last night."

"Nani?! I only got one hour!"

"That's what you get when you constantly talk on the phone, Risa-chan!" Riku pedaled harder to get in front of her younger twin.

"Hey! Riku-chan! Matte!!!"

The two girls raced towards the school, stopping for a moment to chain their bikes to the rack. Fumbling with her books, Riku was too busy to notice that her lock had clattered to the ground.

A tall boy in their school's uniform stopped and reached down to pick up the lock. He said, "Here's your lock."

"Eh? Ano...Arigatou!" She retrieved the lock and bowed. "Gomen nasai. I didn't see that."

"You should be careful with your things." He bowed back, and looked at his watch. "You should go. Class is about to start."

"Hai...Arigatou!" Riku turned to run into the school, but she forgot something. She turned to ask the stranger his name, but...

He had disappeared, as if into thin air. There was not a single head of the same rich color of the stranger's. Looking back for a moment, Riku wondered who he was.

"Riku-chan!" Risa came bounding into the classroom, with her usual horde of male fans hovering over her. Riku looked up from her book. "Hai?"

"Can I use your textbook? I forgot we had a quiz today for English."

"Risa-chan, it's the last period of the day. Why didn't you get your textbook during lunch break? Never mind. Here you go." Riku handed the textbook over just as their teacher came in for class. "Minna-san, go to your seats!" Grumbling, the students grudgingly obeyed.

"Class, today we have a surprise," said the instructor.

"A day off?" someone hopefully said. The class laughed, along with the instructor. "Iye, Ando. Instead, we're having a transfer student."

"Eh?" Another male student spoke up. "Not another girl, ne?" He ducked with several paper airplanes aimed for his face. The instructor quieted the class down, and answered the student's question. "Iye. This transfer student is a male, and he's from Kyoto. He's traveled all over the world, and he knows three other languages besides Japanese. Come in, Niwa-san."

The door slid open, and the transfer student came in. He silently stood while the teacher turned and wrote his name on the blackboard. "Minna-san, this is Niwa Daisuke. He'll be joining our class starting today." He turned to the transfer student. "Niwa-san, why don't you introduce yourself and tell something about yourself?"

"Hai." Daisuke turned and faced the class. He bowed, and said, "Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Niwa Daisuke. I am seventeen years old, and am looking forward to your companionship."

"What's your hobby?" asked the instructor.

"I don't have one." Daisuke looked straight ahead, waiting for the instructor to proceed.

"Aa. Etoo...Harada-san!"

"Hai?" Both Risa and Riku spoke. The instructor said, "Harada Riku-san, is that an empty seat next to you?"

"Hai, Takamori-sensei." Riku stood up. The instructor said to Daisuke, "Take the seat next to Harada-san. If you need anything, just ask her."

"Hai, Takamori-sensei," Daisuke said, and walked down the aisle to the seat the instructor had indicated. Sitting down, he took out his books.

Riku sat back down, already disconcerted from the abrupt ways of the new transfer student. He seemed so kind to her when he picked her lock up. Now he was as cold as ice.

Daisuke warily reached out mentally, instinctively searching for any threats. When he found none, he relaxed a little. Even though he was in Tokyo, he still had to be on his guard. There was no telling if a hitokiri showed up to kill. He was Kage, the feared Hitokiri of the Shadows. Employed by the government, he was required to keep a low profile. If he were to be discovered of his identity by anyone, he was to perform hara kiri, a ritual suicide to avoid revealing the secrets of the government.

It had all started while he was twelve, training under his sensei, Miyazawa Kio. A government official had approached Miyazawa-sensei and propositioned him to let Daisuke to become a minor assassin for the government. Daisuke reluctantly agreed, and entered the service under the Prime Minister, Takahashi Kaoru.

When he completed his first major assignment, he was instantly promoted to the highest level a hitokiri could go, a Hitokiri no Kage, Shadow Assassin. He was given the nickname Kage, Shadow. He was the sole Shadow Assassin, so a lot of politicians hired him to kill their enemies. He continued until he was given a golden opportunity: to go to Tokyo. He grabbed the chance when he could.

And here he was. Small wonder he was arranged to go to the same school with his long-lost classmate, Harada Riku. She had matured, just like he did. There was wisdom in her shining brown eyes. Her hair gleamed, as if it was brushed many times. She was busily writing down the notes for the lesson, oblivious to the world around her.

Riku felt someone's eyes on her. She knew that someone was watching her. Bringing up her head slowly, she turned her face towards the new transfer student. Surprisingly, he looked back at her with eyes that were...

Crimson.

Riku's breath caught. 'He has crimson eyes...' she thought, remembering her dreams.

"Harada-san? Harada-san!"

"Ano...hai?"

"How would you say this in English?"

"Ano...'The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom today.'"

"Very good, Harada-san. Saehara-san, how do you interpret this..."

It was unnerving. Completely unnerving. Niwa-san was still looking at her with those steady eyes, not once wavering his gaze. Inscrutable eyes that devoured her with one look. Just what was this warm, almost forbidden feeling flowering from the most covert places of her soul?

"..." Risa closely examined her twin sister. For as long as she could remember, Riku wasn't really that interested in boys, preferring to beat them up than to go out with them. But now, Riku was blushing in front of the new transfer student. It was almost perplexing to see her sister with a boy. For years she, Risa, had been the one who had been surrounded by good-looking boys. Now a boy, not to mention that he was totally hot, was paying attention to her sister rather than her. It was puzzling. What did the new transfer student see in her sister?

BBBRRRIIINNNGGG!!! The bell rang, ending the instructor's lesson. "Write an essay, in English, about love. Have it first thing tomorrow," said Takamori, closing his book. "Class dismissed."

There were distinctive scraping of chairs, and the students escaped the classroom. However, three specific students lurked behind.

Daisuke gathered his books with no particular hurry. Straightening, he noticed that Riku was still writing down notes. He knocked the top of her desk. "Harada-san."

"Ano...hai?"

"Do you know where the kendo team meets?"

"Hai. I'm part of it." She stood up and gathered her books. When she looked up, Daisuke was looking at her again. She tried to break away her gaze, but it was useless. Something about his eyes looked her in place.

Someone cleared his throat awkwardly. Riku and Daisuke looked to see Hoshizawa Hiei, the kendo coach. "Harada-san. Shouldn't you come to practice?"

"Hai. Sensei, this is Niwa Daisuke, a transfer student. Niwa-san, this is Hoshizawa Hiei. He is the school's captain of the kendo team."

"Konnichiwa." Daisuke bowed. "Hajimemashite."

"Hajimemashite." The elder man bowed to Daisuke. "You want to join the kendo team?"

"Hai."

"First, we'll have to test you out. Come. Do you have an uniform?"

"Hai."

"Then, let's go." The three went out of the classroom and headed toward the dojo. "The school's kendo team is fiercely competitive. Some wants to be professional swordsmen, and they dedicate their lives to swordsmanship. Often people who are in the kendo team had some kind of training in their early years. We enter many tournaments, including the National Kendo Tournament. Aa. Here we are." Hiei directed Daisuke to the male locker room. "Just pick a locker and put on a lock on it. That'll be your locker for the time being."

Daisuke changed into a black gi and a gray hakama. Putting on traditional socks, he locked his locker and went out. He observed the training students, and reached out to test their ki. There were varying levels. Pity.

"Niwa." Hiei came out in a white training gi and hakama. He just looked at the dark colors of Daisuke's uniform, but didn't do anything about it. Instead, he said, "What kind of sword would you prefer? A shinai or a bokken?"

"...Are there any sakabatou?"

"You've already passed the wooden sword stage?" asked Hiei, surprised. The transfer student nodded. Hiei thought for a moment. "Well, we do, but students will have to be particularly advanced. I'll go get you one, and we'll see what you can do." He disappeared into the closet, and emerged with a reversed-blade sword, complete with an iron saya. He handed it to Daisuke, who went to the center of the room.

"Are you sure it's wise, Sensei?" asked a student with a large build. "To trust a sword with a newbie?"

"Silence, Motomiya. This one's different. I can feel it. He easily hid his ki."

"Hmph."

Sliding the sword into his belt, Daisuke paused to adjust his sandal strings, tightening them. He needed to test this sword, if it was strong enough for him to use. Standing up again, he touched the hilt of his sword, tapping his right foot once.

Then he was gone. The only evidence of his presence was the sound of his feet on the floor, walls, and the ceiling. He landed lightly on the floor, with the sword back into its sheath. Standing up, he said, "This will do...Sensei."

"Good." He noticed the rivaling school's kendo team coming. "Niwa-san. Come over here."

"Hai?"

"The approaching team belongs to a school that we have not been able to beat in three years, because of a person on that team who is more advanced than any of us. I want you to go against him today."

"Hai, Sensei."

"Good. Practice until I call you."

"Hai." Daisuke retreated to one of the practice rooms.

Daisuke came out of the practice room when he heard his name called. He gave away no sense of a strong opponent, just stayed calm.

"Oishii," said Hiei stiffly. "You wished for a real competition?"

"Have you got one?"

"Hai. Niwa, this is our opponent's coach, Oishii Keii."

Daisuke just inclined his head in acknowledgement. He carried the sakabatou, which worried Keii. The boy carried the sword as if it was second nature. Where did Hiei find this boy? "Very well. Oi! Kigai!"

"Hai, Oishii-sensei?"

"I have an opponent for you. Use the sakabatou."

"Hai." He retrieved the sword, and he and Daisuke went to the center of the room, with everyone looking on. Daisuke calmly looked back at his opponent, gauging his skill and presence. Hai, he was strong, but he was no match for Kage, the Shadow Assassin. Sighing inaudibly, he slid the sakabatou into his belt, and tapped his sandal. "Shall we go?"

"What is your name?" demanded the one named Kigai.

Daisuke smiled dangerously. He flicked his eyes toward the side, and saw Riku staring at him, her face revealing every emotion. Fear. Hope. Admiration. Love...

Looking back at Kigai, he said, "Daisuke. Niwa Daisuke." He tapped his foot again. "Here I go." He disappeared again, easily going behind Kigai and drawing his sword.

"Nani?!" Kigai barely avoided being hit by wildly thrashing his sword. Daisuke landed on the bars that hung suspended from the ceiling and looked down at Kigai. "I would have thought that you would have stood a better chance than that, Kigai."

"How did he get up there...?" Oishii wondered aloud, staring in disbelief. He was filled with dread. The new kendo student Hoshizawa had acquired was no ordinary student. This one was much more experienced than any other kendo student in the room—no, than the whole country. This student...was way out of their league. He watched as his best kendo student fell into a trap like a fly to a frog. It was done before he could even blink.

Daisuke stood up fluidly, slowly sheathing the sakabatou. His eyes were faintly glowing, his hair mussed from the extraordinary speed he was running. He had a dangerous aura about him, an aura that warned other kendo players not to approach him.

Riku stood at a distance, stunned by the amazing power that this transfer student wielded. Dimly she remembered someone saying something about this kind of power...

"Daisuke-kun, why do you always carry a shinai?" six-year-old Riku said as she sat watching the little boy swinging the bamboo sword.

Daisuke shrugged. "Wakarinai. Okaa-san said to always practice and carry it around. But I'm not carrying it around for that."

"Doushite?"

"So I can protect you, Riku-chan," Daisuke said, smiling brilliantly.

"How?" The little girl was confused. How could her Daisuke-kun protect her when he carried a wooden sword?

"It doesn't matter what weapon you use, Riku-chan," said Daisuke, his expression

serious. "It matters how much power and drive you have to defeat your opponent...even if it means killing them."

Riku started from her flashback when she heard frightened murmurs about the new transfer student. She stepped forward, walking towards Daisuke. She didn't hear the frightened voices of her friends calling her back. All she was aware of was her and an untameable demon unleashed from its prison. She walked to the center of the floor and stopped a few feet from Daisuke.

Daisuke raised his gleaming eyes to Riku's soft ones. In them he saw compassion and concern for him. It had been a long time since he saw those emotions. His master, even though he had been kind in his rough way, did not have the warmth that a woman had. Yet...his heart stubbornly wouldn't let go of the ice wall it was incased in. That wall had been erected ever since he saw his parents—no, his whole family—murdered in front of his eyes.

"I'll get that for you," she said, holding out her hands for the sword. He hesitated, but turned the sword over to her small hands. She pressed it against her chest, and smiled. "Congratulations on your match."

He only inclined his head in acknowledgement. She walked by him, falling silent. Instinctively she knew that he needed peace and quiet for the time being. Putting the sword away, she went into the girls' locker room. The minute she stepped inside, she was bombarded by questions:

"Who is he?"

"How do you know him?"

"How could you go to him when everyone else was afraid?"

"Is he single?"

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

"What's his zodiac sign?"

"Are you two going out?"

"Do you love him?"

"..." Riku just swept past them and began to change. The girl fell silent, awed by Riku's sophisticated manner. It was common knowledge that Riku was a trained geisha, but did not work as one. It was required by her parents, who were traditionalists by nature. She was studious and was everyone's elder sister. Even though she had no interest in boys, there were admirers. Until now.

"I will be here tomorrow after school," said Riku, picking up her bag. She bowed to the other girls, and left the locker room.

Running across the courtyard through the rain, she reflected on the final question the girls had asked. Did she really love Daisuke? "Masaka desu," she muttered to herself. "I can't fall in love that quickly...ne?"

She didn't notice the tall boy until she ran straight into him. "Ano...gomen! I didn't see where I was going!" She hurried bent to pick up her soggy books, but stopped when the other person began to pick them up. "Niwa...san?"

"Here." He took her books and carried them. "Where's your car?"

Riku shook her head. "I don't have a car. I ride a bike."

The tall boy looked down at her, frowning slightly. Then he said, "I'll drive you home."

"Daijoubu desu. I can go on my own. Now, if you—" She was stopped by a sudden crack of thunder. She flinched, and shrank into herself, her eyes wide with fright.

She jumped when she felt a hand through her soaked clothes. "I'll drive you home." His voice brooked no arguments.

She timidly followed him to the parking lot, where he unlocked his car from a remote on his key ring. He gallantly opened the door, and helped her in, ignoring her protests about getting his car wet. Tossing their books and bags in the backseat, he ran around to climb into the driver's seat. He starting the ignition, and drove off.

"Risa-chan? Do you know where's Riku-chan? It's getting late." Risa's mother, Harada Yui, stuck her head in.

"Iye, Okaa-san." Risa looked up from her fashion magazine. "She should have come in about an hour ago, though."

"That's odd," murmured Yui as she walked through the suite. 'Riku-chan's never this late.' Taking two umbrellas, she went out to wait for her daughter.

She shivered when a cold blast of air hit her as she went outside. She rubbed her arms, watching for her daughter and her bike to be coming her way. "Riku-chan, where are you?" she murmured.

She looked curiously at the gleaming black car that drew up to the fire line. As a valet came running, a tall boy got out of the driver's seat and nodded at the valet. He came around the car and opened the passenger's door. Leaning over, he shook the passenger awake. Yui noticed with sympathy that the young man was dripping wet.

The girl slowly climbed out with the help of the young man, shivering. Taking a double take, Yui gasped. It was Riku-chan!

The boy opened the door to the backseat and got out bags and books. He took the girl's arm and guided her to the building.

"Riku-chan!" Yui came running, a look of relief and worry written on her face.

"Okaa-san," Riku said, and shivered as another wind blew. The young man drew her to his right side, murmuring, "This should block the wind."

"A-a-arigatou," Riku said through chattering teeth. She let her companion and mother help her into the heated building, and sighed in relief when the heat began to return to her fingers.

"Harada-san," said the young man to Yui, "I'll carry her up. She's too cold to stand."

"D-d-daijoubu," Riku said, rubbing her hands.

"Get on," he said, going down on one knee. Too cold to protest, she climbed onto his back. She locked her arms around his neck, feeling heat emanating through his wet clothes. It was almost comforting to be carried by a strong man, even though she barely knew him. It was odd, this feeling, but it felt good.

Yui hurriedly opened the door to their suite and called, "Keisuke-kun! Risa-chan! Hayaku!"

"Nande yo, Okaa-san?" asked the twenty-three year old Keisuke, popping his head out of his bedroom. He gaped when he saw Riku with a man. "What's happened?!" he shouted, bounding up to the three.

"Risa-chan, get your sister's clothes ready. Keisuke-kun, get some clothes for our guest. You can put Riku-chan in her room," she said to the stranger. He nodded his head and followed her.

After the whirlwind of chaos was over, Daisuke was in Keisuke's clothes, Riku was in bed, and Daisuke, Yui, and Keisuke were in the living room, sipping tea.

Yui finally broke the silence. "Who are you?"

A/N : That's it for now. Just tell me if you want me to continue this.

Yes, Daisuke's an old friend of Riku's, only they don't remember it. The reason will be explained later. The plot? Well...some of it should be revealed in the next chapter.

The reason why I included Keisuke into the story is that I pictured Riku having an overprotective brother, someone to butt heads with Daisuke. laughs I've always wanted an elder brother.

Note: The National Kendo Tournament is PROBABLY not real.....I just made it up.