Hey world! Thank you to all the lovely people who commented on my other stories. You all rock!
By the way, if you find a typo or something, tell me. I'll change it. I don't think there are, but you never know.
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own. Not now, not ever. Probably a good thing, as I can't draw to save my life…
On with the story!
A Reason to Keep Fighting
Sometimes Satoshi wonders why he bothers to keep fighting.
What with Krad whispermutterscreaming at him, wearing his mind down until he's exhausted, battles with Dark that leave him completely drained, and having to keep up an aloof, emotionless facade every day, it's a miracle he hasn't given up yet.
Dwelling on it leaves a taste like despair on his tongue.
Why? Why was he cursed with this?
He wasn't a bad person, not really, he was just stuck in a horrible situation with no way out that wouldn't leave him either dead or in the back of Krad's mind, watching his alter-ego destroy everything he cared about.
Every day he was reminded of how easy it would be to just give up and stop caring.
And then he'd go to school and see the cheerful face and bright hair. "Good morning, Hiwatari-kun!"
That was his reason. Seeing Niwa standing there in front of him was always a shock, like being plunged into icy water on a hot day. It left him with an inexplicable burst of happiness.
"Hello, Niwa," he would reply flatly.
I'll kill him, Krad would say, outlining in detail a horrible, agonizing death. Gloatingly, he'd add, And then you'll be all mine, Satoshi-sama. It'll be just us then.
Then Satoshi would despair again, but he knew he wouldn't give up, never, ever. For the rest of the day he'd carry that spark of happiness with him, and it gave him the strength he needed to keep fighting Krad.
The next day:
"Good morning, Hiwatari-kun! Do you want to eat lunch together today?"
"If you want to, Niwa."
Slowly, the ice that was the barriers that kept other people out of his heart was melting. In him lived that spark of happiness and a hope that someday he would be free.