He was falling. There was a darkness beneath him, and he could hear himself trying not to scream.

He panicked and wondered if he was going to die.

Then, powerful wings lifted him up and carried him gently upward. He smiled as wind whipped around them. He couldn't have cared less about who was holding him.

They emerged into the sunlight, but he was sorely disappointed. The light there was not soft and comforting, as he had hoped for it to be. Instead, the radiance was almost too much for him. Such a harsh glow----who could stand it? he wondered. His eyes pained, and he could not open them.

I prefer the darkness! he yelled, in his mind. At that thought, there swept through him such a sadness that he almost cried. Anything but this light! It had seemed so bright and beautiful---and it was, to others---but to the boy flying toward the sun, he knew in his heart this was not the way it was meant to be.

A giant roar filled his ears, of a beast angered, and he became scared, even thought the light had lessened, and a gentle blue glow bathed his face. As he flew on, slowly, it was silent once more.

Silence. The silence and safety he coveted was being destroyed by the light.

Silence.

Daisuke Niwa woke peacefully that morning, not knowing what exactly would happen to him that day. At his feet was a furry little bundle. Beside him was the book that he was supposed to have been reading for school. With a jolt he realized he had not remembered a single word.

"Awww, darn it, Wiz! And we're going to do a project on it and everything!"

There was no reply from his rabbit-like friend. "Fine, sleep," Daisuke muttered, and within minutes was ready for school.

He had already taken five steps out the door---a new record---when his mother poked her head out. "Don't forget! You have a job tonight!"

Daisuke hung his head. "Mum, the whole street could hear you!"

His mother winked. "Don't be late."

Daisuke spent the whole walk to school trying to catch up on the reading he had missed last night. He had gotten to chapter 10 when Risa of-all-people fell into step with him.

"Daisuke!" she cried. "We're going to be late!"

Before he knew it, Daisuke had been dragged to class and plunked into a chair. "Why does everyone suddenly care about being late?" he wondered.

Another girl sat next to him. "Because today we are going to start looking at Dark! But it's only an extra credit study, so the teacher won't hear of us doing it during school hours."

Daisuke nearly fell out of his seat in shock. "What? Dark? How are we going to study Dark!"

From inside his mind, there came a sleepy hello. What time is it?

Oh good, you're awake. Daisuke felt a little better.

Riku's voice drifted over to them. "I agree. There's too little known about Dark to study him."

Oh my gosh, we're doomed, Daisuke thought.

He felt someone come to stand beside him and looked up.

"He's already left a note saying he will steal the 'Jen-jin Heart' tonight at 8:00 from the Municipal Museum," a familiar voice said. Daisuke felt his throat go dry. "The whole class can go 'observe' him there."

"Whose idea was this?" Riku asked angrily. "This is the stupidest assignment ever."

There was a yawn. What is? Dark asked.

Risa gave her sister the oddest look. "You should be glad the teacher let us do something so simple for extra credit. He's even let us use the classroom before and after school to divide into teams to see if we find out anything about the brilliant Phantom Thief."

Daisuke felt faint as a hand materialized by his shoulder. "We'd better choose our partners now," he heard the blue-haired boy grasping his arm say.

Why are you sweating so bad, Dai?

"Yes," Risa agreed. "The teacher said we have to do this on our own time, which means that we won't be able to meet until after school."

"I still think this is a bad idea," Riku murmured in an undertone. "Especially since I have to team up with my sister."

Sure enough, everyone else was standing next to their partners. Daisuke was stabbed by betrayal. How could Riku desert him for Risa, who she saw everyday?

The answer came simply enough. "Everyone's expected at the museum at 8:30. I told the class we would work on this together," Satoshi said softly. "Since we are the only ones who aren't actually going to be there."