Four Light Heaven
Author: Fields of Hope
Title: Four Light Heaven
Summary: Daisuke Niwa has always been quiet and shy. Never been in love. They think they know him. How wrong they are. A new threat, an old flame, a complication… Four Light Heaven.
Disclaimer: I don't own D.N Angel or any of the characters associated with the anime/manga.
Daisuke Niwa ran. He ran for his life. He ran for a love that could never be. Daisuke Niwa ran.
Daisuke Niwa ran.
Every morning he would get up early to go for a run. His mother never knew why, but she never asked. Daisuke had run every morning since the day that everything went wrong.
Ever since the final battle, Daisuke had never been the same in Emiko's eyes. He would do his homework, go out with friends, never be late for school... He was generally busy.
Emiko didn't like it.
Daisuke got up at five-thirty every morning to go for a morning run, whereas the old Daisuke would get up late and have to run to school to get there on time.
Daisuke would come home and do his homework, go to the library to study, whereas the old Daisuke would leave homework to the last minute, doing what she called a JP job. A Just Pass job.
Daisuke would go out with friends, go to movies, go to the beach and have lots of fun with his friends, hang out with large groups, whereas the old Daisuke would hardly ever go out. And if he did it would be with his closest friends to a place he knew well, or by himself to work on his art.
His art.
Ever since the day when Dark and Krad had their last battle, Daisuke had never touched his art.
Never picked up a pencil, or paint brush.
At least, not that she had seen…
Daisuke woke up like he did every morning, suddenly and in a cold sweat.
Daisuke sighed.
He'd had the same dream again.
Daisuke had the same dream every night. The same, horrific dream to remind him of a past that refused to be left behind.
He dreamed of the final battle. He dreamed of Dark disappearing. He dreamed of Riku leaving him. He dreamed of all that blood on his hands…
All that blood…
Daisuke shook his head to rid himself of the images of his past. He didn't need to think about that right now, there was plenty of time to do that on his morning run.
Daisuke pulled himself out of bed and jumped onto the ground. He felt no need to use the ladder to his bunk bed anymore when getting out of bed. He knew he wouldn't hurt himself.
Daisuke grabbed a pair of jeans and a black long-sleeved top as well as a white sleeveless hoodie and headed towards the bathroom.
He stopped by his mother's room, and was relieved to hear he sleeping peacefully.
His dreams didn't always stick to truth.
When he got into the bathroom he turned on the shower to hot and dumped his clothes on the floor beside the sink.
While waiting for the water to heat up, Daisuke looked in the mirror above the sink.
His red hair was messed up and sticking up on weird angles from his restless sleep last night and his also red eyes were bloodshot, making him look a little like a red-eyed monster.
Daisuke thought it was appropriate.
Although they were only dreams, Daisuke couldn't help but feel that he was a monster. His dreams were horrific and, sadly, based mostly on truth and actual events.
Putting his hand under the water cascading down from the shower head, Daisuke deemed the water hot enough to wash himself in.
Stripping down, he stepped into the shower, carefully remembering to not trip on the step that kept the water in the little unit.
Standing under the water, having it run down his scarred back and wash away all of his sweat was somewhat comforting to Daisuke, somehow making him feel clean.
And he didn't mean that he was dirty.
He meant wash away his past mistakes, his sins, everything.
Sighing Daisuke decided to enjoy his hot shower.
Even before the final battle, Daisuke loved it when he showered.
He loved to feel the water down his back, the warmth of the scolding water, the sound of the drip drip drip when the water fell off him to the floor of the shower unit.
He still did.
Picking up the soap on the shelf hanging on the wall, Daisuke began to rub it into his skin, pausing when he reached his back.
Even though it was more than two years, Daisuke never failed to pause when he, or anyone else, touched his back. His mother and father knew not to touch him there, and so did his grandfather. But his classmates didn't. Whenever they tapped him on the back, it took all he had not to wince or cringe. They had no idea about it and he planned on keeping it that way. He never took his top off, never went swimming... And didn't want to.
His back was covered with scars.
All over his back.
Long, thin lines of contorted skin covered his back in a grotesque way, a constant reminder of his past.
Exhaling deeply Daisuke continued to rub soap into his skin and wash himself.
Once done, Daisuke let the water flow over him and wash away all remains of the soap.
Carefully stepping out of the shower, Daisuke wrapped himself in a towel, mindful of his back.
After drying the excess water off his body and running the towel quickly through his hair, Daisuke picked up his underwear and jeans and proceeded to put them on.
After pulling on his black long-sleeved top and putting on his white sleeveless top, Daisuke picked up his pyjama's and towel and put them into the washing basket beside the sink and headed out the door.
As Daisuke was walking down the hallway, thinking on what he was going to eat for breakfast he heard a cry.
Instantly tensing, readying himself for an attack, Daisuke looked around, searching for the source of the noise."
Left?
No.
Right?
No.
Forward?
No.
Back?
"…"
Daisuke relaxed, allowing himself a laugh at the so-called 'threat'. Standing behind him, arms waving in the air, obviously wanting to be held, was Daisuke's little sister. At one and a half years old she was dark haired like her father, but with the beautiful style of her mothers, she was the spitting image of both of them.
Daisuke smiled and bent down to her level. She smiled brightly at him, lighting up his world. Although she was only one and a half years old, she was able to light up any room she was in, and able to make any situation happy. Daisuke couldn't help but want to be the 'older brother' type to her.
He put out his arms to pick her up and she ran toward him with that bright smile on her face.
When she reached him, he picked her up held her close.
She was the only one exempt from his nightmares and he wanted to keep it that way. He would die to protect her, he loved her that much.
Naturally he wasn't too happy when his mother announced that she was going to have a baby, especially with his father. His father left him when he was two years old and didn't come back for twelve years. He didn't want his sister to experience the rejection he felt at his father leaving him.
Daisuke never really got over that.
"Ohayo Dai-chan!" His little sister chirped happily in his ear. Daisuke smiled at her antics.
"Ohayo Nela." Daisuke said in greeting.
Daisuke then, with Nela in his arms, carried on to the kitchen.
When he reached the stairs Nela and Daisuke had a bit of trouble. It ended up with Nela laughing her tiny blonde head off while Daisuke sat rubbing his aching behind at the bottom of the stairs.
"Kawaii Dai-chan!" Nela laughed in her soft voice. At that Daisuke couldn't help but smile.
Anything was worth making her smile.
If she thought that him tripping, falling, stumbling and yelling his way down stairs was cute then that was fine with him.
After Nela had made her way down the stairs, with Daisuke's encouragement, he picked her up again at her request.
"Nii-san?" Nela asked.
"Mmmm?" Daisuke said in response.
"Can I come on your run today?"
Looking at the expression on his adorable sister's face was enough to make him want to say yes, but his run was his only time to think without interruption.
And besides, she wouldn't be able to keep up. Daisuke thought to himself.
"Nela-chan…" Daisuke said in a soft tone, he knew how sensitive she was.
"Mmm-hmmm?" She replied with a smile at her older brother.
"You know how I'm a really fast runner?"
"Yup! You have to be 'cause you have to fit to be a Phantom Thief!" She said happily.
At the mention of his family curse, Daisuke winced. He didn't want to remember his past; because it wasn't one that anyone would want to. He didn't want to remember the cursed artworks, he didn't want to remember Satoshi and Krad, he didn't want to remember Dark, he didn't want to remember the blood…
"Yeah… You do." Daisuke agreed. "And today I'm training…" He trailed off, wanting his sister to come to the conclusion herself.
"Oh! Okay then Dai-chan! You're gonna be to fast for me. Can I run with you later then?" Daisuke smiled, letting her know that they would indeed go running together another time.
She, in turn, smiled back.
Daisuke walked into the kitchen to find his mother and father already there.
"You guys are up early." He said to them.
Emiko and Kosuke jumped, not having realised that he was there.
"Yes… well…" His mother said.
Daisuke sighed. He wasn't and idiot. He knew they were talking about something they didn't want him to know about.
Just yet at least.
"Daisuke…'" His father started.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"Are you busy after school?"
I should have known. Daisuke thought to himself.
"I'll cancel my plans." He said to his parents. No doubt they wanted him to housesit while his parents and Nela went out.
"Thanks Dai-chan, it means a lot." Daisuke simply nodded, sick of having to give up his life for them.
"Arigato nii-san!" Nela said enthusiastically. Daisuke smiled at her.
Daisuke's mother, Emiko then asked him what he wanted for breakfast.
"Dunno, I'll just get something on my run." Daisuke replied.
"Oh. Okay then." His mother said.
"Kay, later then. I'll see you when you guys back."
"Bye-Bye Dai-chan!"
"Ja Daisuke." His father and sister said.
Daisuke waved behind him as he walked out the door, knowing he won't see them until nine o'clock if they get back early.
Breaking into a jog, Daisuke slipped back into himself and thought on his dream last night. For some reason it was different from the rest. It was closer to home… closer to his heart. Daisuke guarded his heart with extreme caution, for he knew what it was like to have his heart broken by another. Although he thought that was his fault his love had left him.
If I had been honest from the start… well things might not have turned out as they did. In a way it was a good thing that she left; now she doesn't have to be hurt by me. I loved her… so much… She was my life, my light, my heart… my soul… my everything. It hurts so much! I wish you were here. Then, maybe, I might be able to take this pain. If you were here I would have something to look forward to everyday. I think, if you were here, I could handle these scars that I carry like a cross. My burdens would be lighter, because… just being around you makes me feel better. You made me feel whole, you made me feel safe, like I was wanted, you made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time… You made me feel love. I don't know how I take the day without you, how I manage to get through the day… It's like living without air… You can't do it. I'm dying without you…
Ri-
Daisuke skidded to a halt, barely avoiding the car that was just now coming around the corner.
He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the car. Breathing heavily, Daisuke quickly apologised to the driver of the car, thinking that the driver looked vaguely familiar.
Shrugging, Daisuke forgot about it and carried on with his run, careful to look out for cars.
Thinking back to his previous thoughts before he was almost run down by the car, Daisuke sighed. He never got a good nights sleep anymore, his nightmares made sure of that. But, as he thought before, last nights dream was different. He dreamt about her. Daisuke thought he had left her behind when she said that she never wanted to see him again, that she would rather die than ever talk to him again. As much as it hurt him, he accepted it. He didn't yell, he didn't beg, he didn't cry, he just let her go. He knew that he couldn't do anything about it, so he didn't try.
Daisuke looked around him, taking in the view. He stopped to appreciate the beauty of what was in front of him.
It was sunrise. The sun was hitting the sea at a peculiar angle, making it glow a light yellow with hints of blue where the waves broke over the calm ocean, generated by the wind. The sun was making a red pattern of paint with streaks and splashes of pink scattered on the horizon. Just looking at it made Daisuke want to pick up his paintbrush and try to capture the magnificent scene before him, but he didn't create art anymore. After you loose love, you lose the ability to capture it. And Daisuke loved to create art.
At least, he used to.
Sitting down, Daisuke absorbed the scenery, trying to forever remember the beauty of this morning.
I don't think I have ever seen a prettier sight.
No sooner had he thought that, a brunette's face flashed into his mind.
No, she's the prettiest sight I've ever seen.
Heartbroken all over again, Daisuke began his morning run once again.
A young brunette sat in her car, unable to think, unable to breathe. Her driver asked if she was ok.
"N-nani? Sorry." Her driver repeated the question and she smiled.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for caring."
But she wasn't. She had seen him. The one person she had sworn never to see again, the one person who she hated with all her heart.
The one person she couldn't live without.
Oh why did it have to be you? Why, why, why? I… I don't know what to do… I… love you… Yet… How can I… after what happened?
"Sis? You okay?" Her sister asked her, a concerned look on her face. She knew exactly who they had almost run into. Taking a deep breath, se answered as truthfully as she could.
"I honestly don't know…"
"Great, I almost get run over, and then forget to get breakfast! Nice one Dai!" Daisuke muttered to himself after he'd dropped off back at home to grab his bag and wash his face and get his lunch.
By the time he had done all that, it was time to leave for school and he didn't have time to get breakfast.
Daisuke was walking to the train station to get to school when he heard one of his friends calling out to him. He stopped next to the pet shop in the market, waiting for his friend to catch up. Daisuke remembered when Uizu had fallen in love with a rabbit here. Daisuke smiled at the nostalgic memory.
"Geez Daisuke, could you go any faster?" Looking at his friends face, Takeshi added
"Don't answer that."
Daisuke laughed at Takeshi. "Gomen Takeshi, I wasn't concentrating and forgot we were supposed to meet." Takeshi waved his hand in dismissal.
"Ne, ne, doesn't matter. I was late anyway." Both boys grinned at each other and continued they're journey to the school.
Thanks for reading my first chapter of 'Four Light Heaven'. I know the title doesn't make any sense yet, and won't for a while. Sorry about that. Reviews are most welcome, and although I do read flames, I don't take any notice of advice. If you want your point across, talk don't yell please. This is my first D.N Angel fic, and I would like any constructive criticism you feel the need to give.
Ja everyone!
Glossary
Ohayo – Japanese greeting
Chan – A suffix used at the end of someone you know well or are familiar with
Kawaii – Cute
Nii-san – Older brother
Arigato – Thank-you
Ja – A form of saying goodbye
Nani – What?
Gomen – Sorry
Ne – a form getting someone's attention.