"That was too easy," Dark sighed as he flew over the rooftops after another successful theft at the Brandenburg Museum. He had been feeling depressed lately but was keeping it to himself.

"You sound disappointed that it was too easy," Dark's tamer, Rio, said into Dark's thoughts.

"I am. It was too easy and it only took 15 minutes. I'm not ready to transform back to you just yet," Dark admitted.

"Oh...I understand." Rio paused a moment lost in thought. "Well," Rio said emerging from his thoughts. "Why don't you do what you want for a while and I'll keep to myself," Rio offered. Rio felt bad for Dark. Dark never got the chance to be out much except for his appearances, which over the last few months, have been few and far between. It didn't help either that with Rio, now the successor of Dark after Daisuke, Dark had maintained a distance with him. Rio knew how close Daisuke and Dark had been, but he never thought that once he became Dark's tamer that Dark would be so indifferent with him. Rio wasn't expecting the same relationship Dark and Daisuke had, but he had expected more than what he and Dark now had. At first Rio was hurt but over time he got used to it and accepted the relationship which had become like a mutual business agreement.

"Really?" Dark asked, his face lighting up. "You won't mind?"

"No," Rio answered smiling to himself. Dark actually sounded excited. "You don't get out much to stretch your legs. Take as long as you like."

"Are you sure you want to give me that much freedom?" Dark asked with a mischievous smile forming. "I might take advantage of it."

"I trust you," Rio said ignoring the mischievous tone. Maybe this is a chance to develop a better relationship with each other, thought Rio. To allow Dark more freedom and not let my conservative side hold him back from his "questionable ways".

It was Rio's conservative nature that had also contributed to their distance. Rio knew that if they were to coexist there would have to be some kind of compromise and he knew that he hadn't been very fair with Dark. He had been so critical of Dark, especially Dark's flirtatious side and his love of stealing. Rio only took part because he had to. Stealing came naturally to Rio and he was good at it, but it wasn't in his heart as it was in Dark's. Dark needs to be himself and I don't think I've really allowed him the chance, Rio thought. Yes, this is a good thing, Rio finally concluded to himself.

Dark smiled and landed on the rooftop of a building near Rio's home. He stood there and stretched thinking about what he would do with this opportunity. I almost don't know what to do with myself, Dark laughed to himself. He looked around breathing in the night air and enjoying the feel of the cool breeze blowing through his hair. Having finally decided on what he was going to do with his evening he stopped suddenly from taking off. He noticed that someone down on the sidewalk was watching him. He looked carefully and noticed that Rio's sister, Aomi, had been watching him. When Aomi saw Dark look her way she waved. Dark didn't wave back. He stood there and just stared at her. The way she stood there reminded him of a beautiful silent spirit coming to steal the souls and hearts of men while they slept. Now that was a really corny thought, Dark thought to himself. But he couldn't stop watching her. It's just Aomi, he thought. Why am I looking at her like I'm seeing her for the first time. She's always been around but I've never noticed her like this before. He suddenly remembered Rio and tensed waiting for a scolding about from him about having such thoughts about his sister. But no verbal abuse came from Rio. Dark relaxed a little. Just as he relaxed he noticed Aomi turn away to leave. He watched her walk away. Then a sly smile spread across his face as he leapt up into the air and flew towards her.

Aomi was bored waiting for Rio and Dark to return, so she decided to take a walk. She was a little surprised to see Dark a couple blocks away from their house. She wasn't expecting Dark and Rio to return so soon. When she spotted Dark, she stayed watching him until he noticed her. While she watched, she thought back to a time when she had been in love with Dark. It had been a silly crush she finally told herself based more on the mystery of Dark than on the actual person that Dark is. So as she matured she became more realistic about her crush and eventually the feelings faded away. When Dark didn't wave back she figured he was about to transform back to Rio and she knew that Rio would want some coffee when he came home. So she turned around and made her way back home to get some coffee ready for Rio.

As she walked she heard the rustle of wings behind her. She felt a rush of air and the brush of wings on her face. Her hair had been blown into her face. She stopped to brush the it out of her eyes and, expecting to see Rio, saw Dark instead, standing in front of her. There was something different about him. There was a gleam in his eye that hadn't been there for a long time. And he was actually smiling. She hadn't seen him smile like that in a long time. It was that smile, she remembered, that smile that had first attracted her to him. He looked like he was up to no good and she had a feeling it was going to involve her somehow. Part of her wanted to know what he had up his sleeve but the older more mature her didn't care to find out.

"Going home?" Dark asked walking towards Aomi, casually putting his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, I was heading back to get some coffee ready for Rio," she answered watching him warily. It had been so long since she had seen him up close like this. Seeing him there, some of her old feelings for him started to stir within her. Feelings she thought had died a long time ago.

"I wouldn't worry about that tonight," Dark said stopping in front of Aomi. "Rio gave me the night to do what I wanted. Why don't we do something together?" He asked smoothly. He was sure she wouldn't refuse the invitation.

Dark was so close that it made Aomi nervous. She took a step back. Then her nervousness went away and was replaced by a slight annoyance. He sounded so sure that she would go along with him. He's so conceited, she thought. He actually thinks I'm just going to go along with him.

"No thank you," Aomi answered proud of herself for refusing. "I'm surprised Rio's letting you stay out so long," she added suspiciously. She knew Dark had the ability to take over if he wanted. And it wasn't like Rio to let Dark run around free. Rio usually transformed immediately after a theft.

"You don't believe me?" Dark asked sounding hurt but not looking like it at all.

"I believe you. It's just doesn't sound like something Rio would do," Aomi answered. The longer she stood there she knew that her steadfast refusal to go along with Dark would eventually give in.

"I know," Dark said letting that sly smile of his emerge. "I have to take advantage of it while I can." As he said this he took a step closer to Aomi and slipped an arm around her waist.

Aomi was shocked. She hadn't expected this. "What are you..." but she was stopped by Dark with his hand over her mouth. She froze as he looked her in the eye.

"Let's just skip the ten refusals and excuses you would have given me before you'd eventually give in and come along with me," he said quietly before removing his hand from her mouth. His hand slowly slid down her neck to rest on her shoulder. The feel of his touch sent her heart racing. All those old feelings she thought had died sprang back to life with full force. It was beyond her control.

Aomi's silence was enough consent for Dark. He leapt into the air with Aomi in his arms and flew off over the rooftops into the night.