AUTHOR: Macx and Lara Bee
DISCLAIMER: Not ours. Darn it!
Author's Voice of Warning (aka Author's Note):
English is notour first language; it's German. This is the best we
can do. Any mistakes you find in here, collect them and you might win a
prize g> The spell-checker said everything's okay, but you know
how trustworthy those thingies are.....
ARCHIVE: yes
WARNINGS: none
TYPE: yaoi
RATING: R, for FFNet specifically (NC-17 version on my website)
PAIRING: Daisuke/Satoshi, Dark/Krad
FEEDBACK: empty inbox seeks emails g>
"Sato," Daisuke breathed, "it's beautiful."
'It' was a house. A house Daisuke and Satoshi were currently standing
in.
Two stories high, two bedrooms on each floor. The second floor's bedrooms
and the living room connected with a large balcony from which Daisuke could
see the ocean. There were an additional guest room and a bathroomon the
same floor. The first floor contained two more bedrooms, a bathroom and
the large kitchen. The attic could be converted and would be a nice huge
atelier for Daisuke and an office for Satoshi. Though the house was old
it had been recently renovated, its colors now warm and friendly, from
egg-shell off-white to Mediterranean red shades in the living rooms. The
upper living room contained ceiling high shelves and had obviously
been designed to be used as a library.
"It's a wonderful house, Sato. Why are you showing it to me?"
"Us, Dai. If Dark and Krad approve, I'd like us to live here."
"What? Why?"
Satoshi coughed slightly. Though he had recovered from the flu that
had caught him four weeks ago, he still wasn't quite well.
"We're not alone anymore, Dai."
Daisuke stared at his lover for an entire minute, before he wrapped
him in a loving embrace, kissing him gently.
"You do make a nice father."
"I … what?!"
"I like this house, Sato. I can imagine living here with you…
and it does have a garden and a terrace, too. Making love in the sunshine…
listening to the sound of the waves… and have you seen the kitchen table?"
"You're insatiable."
Daisuke laughed. And went to explore the second floor. Satoshi followed
a bit slower.
--Satoshi?--
--Yes, Krad?--
--Why do you need a bigger house? The old one was nice--
--As I said, we're not alone anymore--
--But … --
--You two are starting to spend more and more time outside of our bodies.
So, which room would you like?--
--Room?--
--Of course. Why do you think I chose this house? Four bedrooms, Krad.
What does that tell you?--
--But… a room?--
--You are a living person now, Krad. You need your own privacy--
--I can have privacy when I want to--
--Yes, within me. In the past you wanted to have your own body, your
own life. Did your wishes change?--
There was such a long time of silence that Satoshi almost got worried,
but then he felt the demon stir inside of him.
--Some did, Sato--
--So?--
--Could we take a look at the room at the east side again?--
Satoshi only smiled.
"Hey, Sato," Daisuke beamed happily at his lover, wrapping his arms
around his slender form from behind, "Mom invited us to dinner on Christmas
eve."
"Oh joy," Satoshi replied dryly, turning halfway to steal a kiss, before
he continued chopping vegetables for their own dinner.
"What's wrong with a party?" Dark asked, snatching a slice of carrot,
grinning at the annoyed glance this earned him.
"The Niwa family? Together, all in the same room at the same time?
That's chaos about to happen."
"That's not true and you know it."
Daisuke grinned, effectively distracting his lover with a nibble at
his earlobe to grab a piece of green pepper for himself.
"Stop that! Unless you don't want something to eat."
"About Christmas," Daisuke asked, sliding onto a barstool, "are we
going?"
"Like every year," Satoshi said, putting the food in the wok.
"Are we going to decorate the tree?"
"You will – like every year."
"Uhm-hm – and you'll pretend that all of it doesn't interest you the
slightest. Hypocrite."
Satoshi sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you that I love you,
I love your family, I even love Whizz … "
"You do?" Dark cut in, causing Satoshi to glower at him.
"…but having each and every one of them around me for a prolonged amount
of time makes me want to hurt someone – badly."
"Liar."
Dark had watched his other half from the corner of his eyes.
Krad had been silent throughout the continuing friendly bickering and
was now slipping from his stool, muttering something about laying the table.
Something inside of Dark clenched at the way the demon had looked, though
he couldn't put his finger on it. And unfortunately he couldn't ask because
of his foolishness Krad wouldn't talk to him.
"Uh, Dark?"
"Huh?" Dark was pulled out of his thoughts when Daisuke tugged at his
sleeve.
"Hey, who's the daydreamer here now? Mom asked if you could come over
tomorrow. And no, I have no idea what she wants. Maybe she needs someone
to clean the ornaments." Dai grinned.
Dark just shrugged. "Sure."
He didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave Krad alone, but the demon
wouldn't talk to him anyway. They were civil with each other, but ever
since the kiss, Krad had withdrawn even more.
Something would have to give soon.
Dark was afraid to think of what it was.
Christmas day came with flurries of snow, the sun out and the temperatures
just below freezing point. Daisuke and Satoshi were in good moods, which
couldn't be said of their demons. Krad hadn't separated from his host for
a minute and Satoshi had given up on trying to find out what was going
on with his other half. Dark had been in his usual good mood, but Daisuke
knew something was wrong.
They left their house in the late afternoon and drove over to the Niwa
home. Emiko greeted them with enthusiasm and warm hugs and a smile. She
ushered them into the living room, which was dominated by a huge Christmas
tree, and the view out of the sliding doors was incredible. The sky was
a magnificent blue and the whole back garden covered in snow. A vision
of perfection.
Dark separated and inspected the wrapped gifts, getting a scolding
from Emiko. Towa was buzzing around them, in a happy mood like the rest
of them, though she kept shooting Satoshi little glances of unease. She
and Krad hadn't met face to face yet and she probably wasn't looking forward
to it.
Satoshi settled on the couch and looked out into the white garden,
smiling to himself. He loved this family, as if it was his own, but right
now he needed a little bit of calmness, and he found it here. The kitchen
was currently occupied by Emiko, Towa and Daisuke, with the occasional
visit by Whizz who tried to beg for treats. Daikii was reading his paper,
looking content in his chair.
"Do you mind me sitting here?"
Satoshi turned his head and smiled at Kosuke.
Same procedure as every time, he mused. As pleasant and balanced as
Kosuke appeared, he was sharp-witted, very perceptive, and he could come
to the heart of the problem within no time.
"Not at all. Smells good."
Kosuke chuckled. "Emiko's been up and about since this morning. She
insisted to cook enough to feed a small army. Well, figuring we're two
more people this year, maybe it was a good idea."
Satoshi looked out the sliding doors again. Krad had retreated into
the recesses of his mind and he made no moves to actively participate.
Something was troubling him and sooner or later it would tear him apart.
--I wish you would talk to me-- he muttered.
There was only silence. He hadn't expected otherwise.
Kosuke had fallen into the same, comfortable silence and as the two
men watched the outside, it started to snow again. Laughter floated over
from the kitchen and Satoshi briefly glanced into the general direction.
"Dark's having fun," Kosuke remarked with a faint smile.
"Yeah. Like a child. It's like he never had a Christmas before."
Kosuke tilted his head. "He had, but this is the first time for him
after his… rebirth. It's special."
Satoshi looked inward at his own demon. "Yes," he murmured. "It's special.
For all of us."
"He is part of it, Satoshi."
"I know that," was the quiet reply.
"And he doesn't?"
A smile. "I think Krad has a hard time accepting it."
"I see."
And Kosuke probably did. He saw a lot more than people thought him
capable of. He was so unassuming, so mild, so… invisible. It was his strength.
That and his observance.
"He might not be able to keep on hiding for long. Emiko can be very…
convincing."
Satoshi chuckled. He remembered his own first Christmas here. It had
floored him, it had stolen his cool, his collected behavior, and it had
opened him up for the possibility of a normal family life. He loved the
Niwas.
"Dinner's ready!" Emiko called and walked over to them, smiling.
Kosuke rose and gave his wife a little kiss, then nodded at Satoshi.
Hikari looked up at his surrogate mother, his partner's mother, and Emiko
tilted her head questioningly.
--Krad? She wants you to be her guest--
There was a little shift and Krad seemed to uncurl from his position.
--Why?--
--Ask her yourself--
It got him a glare.
--Krad… it's a family dinner and you, as well as Dark, are part of
this family now-- He turned to his reluctant partner and held out a hand.
--Come--
--Why should I be part of it?--
--Because you're mine. I am part of this family. Maybe not by name,
but I am--
Krad sent a shiver through him. Finally there was a shift and Satoshi
felt the tingle of the separation. Emiko's eyes met those of the demon
and her smile was warm and inviting.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
Krad didn't reply. Satoshi simply rose and gave him a gentle push,
glad his partner had thought of leaving his wings off. They walked to the
table where Dark was having fun with Whizz. Krad chose the seat at the
other end of where Dark sat and Satoshi noted the brief flash of hurt in
Dark's eyes before the kaitou turned back to the demon familiar. Towa just
avoided looking at him, her face paler than before. She was an artwork
like them, but she had never seen anything but an enemy in Krad. The demon
wasn't fazed by it at all. He generally ignored her.
Something has to give, Satoshi thought again. And it was giving. Slowly.
It was breaking Dark…