Chapter One: Fatal First Encounters
Daichi ruffled his short red hair, and lifted his still sleepy body out from under the covers, the white fuzzy animal, known as With, slumped across his stomach. It was the day of the Niwa's fourteenth birthday, and he had little idea of what things would happen to him this day. He leapt out of his bed, and scurried across the floor to his dresser. Daichi jumbled his clothes, accidentally tossing a pair of pants on the unsuspecting With that sat at the young boy's ankles. The creature let out a familiar "Kyu", as he desperately tried to shake the fabric off his face. The boy looked down with a smile, and removed the trousers from his companions face, "Sorry, With," he said with wide auburn eyes, and a large smile. The bunny-like animal smiled in return, and leapt up onto Daichi's shoulder.
"Dai!" two female voices called up the stairs. Daichi rushed for the door and opened it.
Just as the boy reached the stairs, his father emerged from the bathroom. At the exact same time, Daichi and his father, Daisuke, let out, "Yes, Mom?" the two red-haired males turned to each other and smiled.
At the bottom of the stairs, the two matriarchs of the family stood, Emiko and Riku Niwa. Daichi and Daisuke, with With in close pursuit, trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen, "Good morning, Mom," the two boys said in unison. The females giggled to each other, and Riku walked up to Daisuke, planting a small kiss on his cheek to help wake her husband up. Daisuke smiled, and kissed his wife on the lips.
The young boy turned away and stuck out his tongue in disgust, "Ew! Mom! Dad! You know I hate it when you do that!" he said with a shudder.
Emiko turned to her son, "Daisuke, we need to talk," she stated, motioning toward the kitchen. Riku handed her son a piece of toast, and ushered him into the living room. The young boy sat on the couch, and reached for the remote, dodging a blow dart that emerged from TV screen in the process. Daichi sighed deeply, almost getting tired of the traps that were set up all around his house. He flicked on some cartoons to watch before he had to leave for school.
Emiko turned to her son, "You know what could happen to him today, Daisuke," she said deeply.
The previous Phantom Thief nodded, "Yes. He is the next in line," Daisuke said, taking a seat at the table and folding his hands over his red hair, "I just hope he's ready," he said turning his face toward his son who sat fixed to the TV. Daisuke turned to his mother, "But will it really happen? Thirty-two years ago, Dark mended the Black Wings, so wouldn't he Krad have disappeared?" the red-haired man asked.
Emiko turned to the cupboard as she placed a cup on the top shelf, "I don't know, Dai. But I do know that one ancient artwork has just recently been found, The White Wind," she said, throwing a newspaper onto the kitchen table, and letting in slide into her son's view. Sure enough, printed in large black letters in the heading were: WHITE WIND FOUND. Daisuke lifted his face to meet his mother, "You remember that ring I gave Daichi when he was ten? The black one?" Emiko asked, turning away from his son, "It is known as the Black Stone. It has the power and ability to unleash a soul's other half," she said solemnly.
Daisuke gasped, "But, that means Dark can come back! But, why would we need him again if the Black Wings was sealed up again?" he asked quickly.
The elder woman turned back to her son, "The Black Stone has the power to initiate the "Love DNA" in Daichi. But, the White Wind," she added quietly, "Holds the power to release Krad from his tamer," she concluded.
Daisuke looked down. Krad's DNA was locked in the Hikari genes, but Satoshi never had any children, to their knowledge, "But, Mom. Why is it so dangerous, if Satoshi never had any kids?" he asked, seeming more like his younger self, than his actual age.
Emiko sighed deeply, "If Krad wills it so much, he could possibly make anyone who comes to possess the kaze shiori his tamer," she replied grimly.
Daisuke gasped, and turned to son, whom he wished never to have shared the same fate as himself.
Riku finished packing her son's lunch and placed it in his backpack, "Here, sweetie. Now, off to school," she said, as the boy got up from the couch.
Daichi opened the door, and grabbed his skateboard, "Bye," he said with a wave, as he slid down the street toward the train station. Riku turned to her husband, Daisuke as he poured himself for a cup of coffee.
"Do you think he's up to this?" she asked, with a touch of concern.
Daisuke sipped from the cup and let out a small sigh, "I sure hope so," he said, tilting his head toward the window as he caught a last glimpse of his son boarding over the hill.
Emiko placed her hands on her son's shoulders, "He is your son," she said sweetly, leaning down to kiss her boy on the cheek, "He'll been fine," was all she said.
Daichi slid into the station and hopped of his board, and waited for the train. Fortunately, the young Daiki hadn't inherited Daisuke's tardiness. He tapped his fingers on the board that sat between his hands. From out of nowhere, a dark figure whipped past him.
He caught only a glimpse of the individual as she dashed by, but he instantly recognized her. Suan Kotoboshi, a girl in his class. Her long black hair caught the sun, and it enhanced the natural blue highlights that lay hidden beneath. Her dark blue eyes flashed past, but he swore he caught a smile in them. The red and white uniform furled in the slight wind, and her steps were quick and true. She uttered a quick good morning, as she leapt onto the train. Daichi blinked to himself. He'd been in school with Miss Kotoboshi since he was young, but today was the first time he saw her in a new light. He cautiously stepped off the platform and onto the train. Daichi saw the face and the girl and decided to pursue her. He gently pushed through the crowds, until he was standing beside the young girl, "Um, hey Suan," he said quietly, running his fingers through his red hair.
The girl tossed her dark hair and turned her dark blue eyes to the young boy, "Hi," she said with a smile, "I didn't see you there, Daichi," Suan added, shifting her books so they sat more comfortably across her stomach.
Daichi laughed a little, "Yeah, well," he said, moving closer, "I kind of blend in with the crowd," he added with a little chuckle.
Suan smiled, and her eyes sparkled. Daichi was smitten, "Well, this is our stop, Daichi. Should we get off?" she asked leaning forward to look around for the nearest door.
"Sure," Daichi replied, motioning his hand outward, "Lady's first," he said regally with a tiny bow.
Suan giggled, "I'm far from ladylike," she said, and quickly dashed out of the car. Her blue-black hair flowed like a bolt of satin as her feet landed on the stone platform. Daichi was close behind, filled with joy, and honored by the girl's elegant presence. The two ran down the street and into the school, their books clenched tightly to their chests, "Hurry up, you snail. My grandmother could run faster than you!" Suan shouted, as she turned around and began running backwards.
Daichi's pace began to slow as his breaths got heavier, "Easy…for…you…to…say," he said, gasping between each word, "You're not carrying a ton of books on you back," he said with a deep breath.
Suan turned forward again, "That's because I finished my homework in class, instead of drawing mind puzzles and codes in my textbook," she replied, accelerating her speed.
"Hey!" Daichi cried out, "Wait for me!" he said, stumbling after her.
"I don't have all day, Niwa. I'll catch ya later," she added with a wave as she disappeared down the hall.
Daichi reached out his hand, "Okay," he uttered quietly, before collapsing on the ground.
When the young Niwa awoke, he was lying flat in a hospital bed, with a cool cloth over his brow. He moaned quietly, "How'd I get here?" he asked the air around him. Daichi turned his face to each side. He was alone, "Did I collapse in the hallway?" he questioned.
"You sure did," a familiar voice stated. Daichi jumped up with a gasp, and turned in the direction of the voice, "I guess that means you won't be trying out for the track team anytime soon, huh?" Suan added with a smile as she took a seat in the chair beside the bed.
"Suan, did you bring me here?" the boy asked, titling his head to one side.
The girl nodded with a straight face, "But there wasn't anyone here at the time, so I took the liberty of taking care of you," she stated, grinning widely.
Daichi smiled, then sat up abruptly, "But…Hey! What time is it?" he said, desperately looking around for some device to tell him the time. His eyes fell to the window and the warm rays that poured in from the heavens.
The girl exhaled, and got to her feet, heading toward the cupboard with the towels in it, "A little after noon," she said calmly.
"WHAT??!!" Daichi screamed, his face filled with horror, "You mean I missed all my morning classes!!" he added, frantically shaking his head back and forth. Nausea overcame him, and he fell back on his pillow with a quiet moan, "What a way to spend your fourteenth birthday," he uttered silently.
Suan returned with a fresh cloth, "Oh? It's your birthday? I didn't know. Happy Birthday, Niwa," she cheered with a reassuring smile as she placed the cloth on the young boy's forehead.
The young Niwa smiled a little, "Suan, how come you're so kind?" he asked calmly.
Suan turned to him with a smile, and she sat back in the chair. She chuckled a little to herself, and then turned to the door, where a number of familiar faces stood.
Emiko Niwa rushed to her grandson's side, "Oh, Dai!" she said, embracing him gently, "are you all right, dear?" she said, inspecting him.
Daichi moaned quietly, "Grandma, this really isn't necessary," he said, gently trying to push her off.
Riku walked over to her son, "What happened?" she asked, placing a hand on his red hair.
"Nothing Mom!" he interjected, "I'm fine," he added with a fake grin.
Daisuke strode to the bedside, a large grin on his face. He placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and whispered in her ear. The woman smiled, and then motioned to Emiko. The two ladies left the room, leaving Daichi, Suan, With (who was hiding in Daisuke's jacket), and Daisuke alone. The young man turned to the girl, "Thank you for taking care of my son," he said, his large eyes shining, "But I would like a moment with Daichi," Daisuke added nicely.
The girl bowed her head, "Not at all," she turned to Daichi, "You get some rest, okay?" she demanded. The boy nodded, and he turned to his father as Suan left the room. The two Niwas stared at each other. Daichi sat up quietly and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the now bright lights, "Is this how it felt for your first time?" Daichi asked firmly.
Daisuke was taken aback. Was his son referring to the inevitable first transformation of Dark? "What do you mean son?" he asked cautiously as he took a seat in the chair. It was at this time, that With popped out of Daisuke's pocket, and leapt onto the bed.
"When you met mom, was this how it felt?" he asked, referring to his affections for Miss Suan.
Daisuke breathed a silent sigh of relief, "Yes, Dai. It was….," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "A similar experience. You get some rest," he said, ruffling his son's hair before exiting the room. Then, he was alone, with nothing to entertain him but his own thoughts….about her.
Daichi's heart started to race as his mind filled with images of Suan, and his breaths became quick and shallow. His face became drenched in sweat as he fell from the bed and onto the cold linoleum floor. His short red hair lengthened and took a dark purple tinge, while his eyes narrowed to a more elliptical shape, darkening to a deep violet. His legs grew, and a coy grin curled around his lips.
Dark stood up, and turned to the bed, where the white creature sat patiently, "Hey, With. Long time no see," he said, scratching the bunny-like animal behind the ear.
Daichi's voice echoed in the back of Dark subconscious, "So…" he paused, "You must be Dark," he added with a coy laugh of his own.
The phantom thief smiled, "Aw," he said with a hint of disappointment, "It's no fun when they tell you beforehand," he said, striding over to a large mirror. He admired himself in the red and white school uniform, so much like his previous tamer, "Just like old times," he turned to the window, and leapt out of it, landing softly on the front lawn, and dashing out of sight.