Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. D.N. Angel!

)*(Let Me Attempt To Boot 'Cha)*(

Part One: Seppuku Challenge

A/N: I dedicate this to Dawns Eternal Twilight, whom I wish was in better health. Get better soon!

Also, thanks, intelligenceisstupid, for your input in this. :D

-)*(-

It was late night deep within the heart of the town Azumano. It was humid and distant heat lightning flashed, showing the thick weave of rain clouds ready to pour and drench the few stragglers still about. But that isn't what made Krad drag his feet down the sidewalk.

Restlessness tore at him, as well as a sense of fruitlessness – Dark had done it again. Exactly one hour ago he had successfully stolen another beloved Hikari treasure. And Krad had been all but powerless to stop it.

But, oh, how the white angel had tried.

Frantically.

Krad had pulled out everything; simply EVERYTHING to catch his despicable other half this time: laser sensors, cameras, radar, trap wires, tasers, trick doors and rooms, traps that even James Bond couldn't have gotten out of, and, when all that had failed, Krad had given chase, only to make the dumbest of all mistakes and lose sight of his target. Dark had seemed to disappear upward into the sky and stars, but not regular stars, mind you, but the kind you receive from smashing to a sudden, teeth-jarring stop.

What a dumb mistake he'd made...

...And that dumb mistake was still hurting. Krad rubbed the middle of his forehead again, right where the lamppost had smacked him a gigantic goose egg. Damn! If he didn't know better he'd swear that lamppost had jumped out in front of him.

"Why?" Krad questioned to himself as he walked through town, almost feigning a normal human. What few people there were stared at him and his strange garb, with his enormous pristine wings dragging a burden behind him. It was a depressing sight watching the plainly evident, radiating heaviness in the weird man's heart as he went slowly by, the white feathers rubbing the uneven concrete, bending and quickly becoming shabby.

"Why can't I catch him?" Krad looked up at the rolling sky, his hands tucked deep into his white cloak's pockets. Rain began trickling onto his upturned face, splattering his cheeks. It was the closest thing to tears he'd had in centuries. Lowering his face, his bangs hiding his golden eyes, he continued on, seeing fewer and fewer places opened this time of night. Why he was even paying attention to humanities' civilization, he didn't know. He certainly wouldn't want to step foot inside a building run by the pests.

His stomach growled pitifully, but he didn't feel hungry. Still, Krad's eyes flicked over a neon red sign over on the opposite side of the street.

'Treb's Diner & Bar'

Underneath this was another, similar, though smaller sign:

'Best Hot Wings In Town!'

That would be good... Krad caught Satoshi thinking in a grumpy whisper.

So it had been Satoshi's interest that had mingled and teased his subconscious into searching and seeking around him. He harrumphed; Krad would sooner hunt than let a primitive instinct for nutrition drive him further into human clutches. He gave a somewhat delicate snort towards the diner and was about to turn away when another sign, this one taped up and typed on paper, caught his eye:

'"SUICIDE HOT WINGS: SEPPUKU CHALLENGE" HELD HERE! COME IN AND TRY IF YOU DARE. BE PREPARED TO SIGN A WAVER.'

"Suicide?" How oddly that peaked his interest.

'Are you that depressed tonight?' Satoshi asked, his mental form raising a disapproving eyebrow at the angel.

'Suicide is a contemplation for weak humans, however, to me, it poses its own challenge; I've toyed with death too long to fear it.'

This got the gears in Satoshi's head ticking. With a creepy grin that nearly turned his mouth into a 'V', he proposed an offer.

'Give it a go, then. And let's make this interesting for you; give you something to really gain: If you run from the pain and leave me in control, then you forfeit your claim of any mastery over my body. In other words, if you can't handle a simple human challenge, then you have no right to be like us in any way.'

Krad sucked his teeth loudly, then leaned his back against a damp building, fingers twisting in his pockets.

'What do I get if I successfully complete this challenge? Surely you are not willing to bet your existence on a food contest.'

'As if I would be so stupid.' Satoshi blushed, flustered, then thought quietly for a few minutes. 'I'll... let you destroy that lamppost that stopped us earlier. Though I think you already did that...' Satoshi voiced lowly. The thing was nothing but crinkled metal and shattered glass in the middle of a street now.

'Satoshi-sama, I hardly believe those terms are fair; the severity of my loss is so much more than yours.'

'What would you care for then? As long as it is safe for those around us, I might just agree.'

'Satoshi-sama, you are generous.' Krad looked to the raining sky and smiled. Their heart jumped a bit as Satoshi realized his curse was being completely serious in his remark. Krad looked back down and swiped his long bang from sticking on his wet face.

'A kiss.'

'What?' Satoshi managed to hammer across their consciousness in surprise and then fall back way away to the border of their mind. It was as if he ricocheted. It was a most unpleasant sensation as the white angel winced an eye shut. 'I didn't hear that right. K-kiss? How? With whom?'

Krad shrugged off Satoshi's utter shock. 'Everyone wants affection at some point. And you know how to kiss – two beings bring their lips together and –'

'ENOUGH!' Satoshi barked, his forced rippling through their head. Krad grabbed his skull.

'We still have a headache...' the golden hunter reminded sourly. 'So, is it a deal?' Krad wasn't waiting for Satoshi to answer, but crossed the empty street for the diner. He pushed in one of the double doors, letting the uneasiness crawling through him gather in his stomach, then he trampled it down. He hated unfamiliar buildings, especially when they were filled to the brim with unfamiliar people; and there were a lot of people filling up the booths lining the walls and stools set by the long rectangular bar in the middle, even though there were so few cars parked outside.

'You haven't told me who it is you've got in mind to kiss...' Satoshi still couldn't believe Krad had asked to do such a thing. Disbelief clearly laced his voice.

As Krad's eerie golden-amber eyes scanned the interior of the place and spotted an empty booth in the back, he answered, 'If I told you, you wouldn't understand. Why not instead balance what you have to gain compared to what you have to lose and see if it is not worth it?'

'That depends. Are you wanting to... t-to...' Satoshi's mental image closed its eyes, trying to force the sputtering words out of its mouth. Krad grinned haughtily and lightly darted the tip of his tongue across his lips. Satoshi sputtered worse than a broken tea kettle, then gave up trying to say anything at all.

'A kiss means a kiss; I want the kiss to have everything a kiss can have.'

"Hey, hottie, come here often?" A curly blond-haired woman came up fast, sticking her angular face up close to his. Krad stared down at the shorter woman, his expression cold.

"Don't be like that!" she admonished, narrowing and crinkling heavily made-up eyelids. "You were looking right at me a second ago; you practically called me over here!"

'Krad, I think she thinks you were licking your lips while looking at her...'

Krad was so appalled that he stepped back as if he'd been electrocuted, his wings flaring up to bang painfully against the door frame of the place. He yelped and almost lost his dignity falling backward, but twisted on his heels to catch himself as he barreled outside and down the sidewalk. The woman stared at his highly ruffled feathers.

"Oh my gosh! He's the real deal! He's the White One!" Krad kept running as two women and a man joined the woman at the door to look. Many more were turning heads at him before wide, darkened windows.

'You're forfeiting the challenge so easily?'

'You never agreed!'

'But I do agree.'

'Forget it! I can and will take over your body anytime I see fit!'

'Krad. What about your pride? Can't beat a human on their terms?'

Krad slowed to a stop. "I will kill –" he growled before getting pummeled. He twisted to face whatever it was that had plowed into him, falling backwards as his vision filled with blond curls, and with it, his innards with dread. He smacked the concrete with an 'umpff!', the woman sprawled on top of him. White feathers scattered upward. Her weight was smothering him. For someone smaller than him, she sure weighed a lot more. But... she had curves in all the right places. ...Wait... Where were his hands!

Krad shoved her off, feeling as if he'd never get enough air back in his suddenly empty lungs.

This is what I get for coming back through teenagers!

"Ouch!" the woman squeaked as her skirt-clad butt came into contact with the rough ground. "At least tell me your name!" she shouted up to Krad as he scrambled to his feet. "You can join us, you know? Takuya is attempting the suicide challenge too!" Krad stared down at her as if he'd never seen her clearly before.

"How did you know I wanted to try that?"

"Cassie!"

The blond woman looked back at her girlfriend running to catch up. She was followed by the rest of their group and close friends: Takuya and Miki.

"Cherri! I'm fine," Cassie said, as the dark redheaded woman raced to help her up. Krad could feel the sweat gathering on his skin as the other two quickly joined them. He couldn't keep running away like a coward, and Satoshi would manage to stop him before he could finish more than two off on account of his power was low for being out so long tonight. Besides, his pride had been rubbed against when Satoshi had said what he had. Why not complete this silly, little challenge with the bluenette's blessing? Krad forced a smile to his face. His cheeks twitched oddly. Which was odd because he could usually put up a nice facade.

"Kyaa!" Miki, the most petite of the group, shouted with vigor, "he's so cute!" Her short, black hair swayed as she jumped about. Krad's smile became even more forced. Cassie stepped closer to Krad, and his smile was lost to the true one stretching her lips.

"To answer your question: I saw you studying the bar earlier and debating. It could only be over the challenge; it's what Treb's is best known for. I wonder if you've got what it takes to beat it; many people have tried and only four or five have succeeded."

A fire lit in Krad's eyes. "I am not easy to beat." Cassie leaned forward, thrusting out her hips and shaking them. Krad couldn't help but notice her low-cut haulter top and what it was showing a good amount of. He blinked and looked pointedly away. "Join us and prove it." Krad's gaze swiveled instantly back to hers as he bristled at the challenge. Both narrowed their eyes at the other. Cherri playfully elbowed Cassie.

"Got it in for another already?" she giggled.

"So, I've already elected to do the challenge. Want to go after me... uh... what's your name again?" Takuya stepped from behind Miki, his height and short, brown spikes making him taller than her by at least a foot.

"I have not said," Krad answered. And it is not for a lowlife such as yourself to know!

'Krad,' Satoshi hissed, 'you'll need to sign a waver anyway.'

'Then I will just use your name.'

'No,' Satoshi said sternly. 'You have to present a picture ID along with your signature. You will have to use your real name, along with the card you've got.'

"Mind telling us your name? I'm Takuya, and this is Miki beside me. I think you already know Cassie," he grinned, "and Cherri."

"I-I am..." Why was he stuttering? Was it because all three girls were leaning close and looking at him as if their lives depended on them knowing his name? "I am... Krad Hikari," he said proudly, if only reluctant. All the girls screamed loudly.

"KKKKYYYYYAAAAHHHHHHHH! We know his name!" They all jumped, high-fiving each other. Meanwhile, Krad lost about a handful of feathers as he jolted, shell-shocked. Had he just gotten hit with a bomb? Takuya held his ears, trying to block out the deafening ring.

"Girls!" Takuya both complained and tried to get their attention.

"Sorry," they all said with big smiles on their faces.

-.-

He entered the diner, not feeling any better than the last time he'd tried to, his new acquaintances behind him. It was a bit smoky this far in and the gray wisps floating up from cigarettes danced around the many hanging, dim lights. The place was simple with its wood theme, but it was decorative. Many different types of wood had been used in its construction, and many were polished to rich and dark exotic colors. Obviously a lot of effort and creativity had been put into it. Numerous photos of family and friends of the diner's caretakers were tacked up along all the walls, except for right behind the bar's register. Tacked there were the few photos and recognition to the victors of the infamous challenge. ...Every one of them looked to be in great pain...

'I'm sticking around just long enough to make sure you're on your best behavior, then I'm out. And if you force me out to deal with the consequences, then you lose.'

'I take back what I said when I called you generous.'

'Are you pouting? You got yourself into this.'

'It was a joint effort.'

'Yeah, well...'

Krad walked up to the bar and the older woman managing it. "I am here for the challenge," he said, fairly calm. He had to admit that he was excited. Somewhat. Nervous, too.

"He's with us, Hanabara-san," Takuya spoke up over his shoulder with a goofy grin.

"You guys are going to seriously regret this," she sighed, but pulled out a piece of paper from under the counter. "I need your signature and ID, please. Also, while you're at it, take a menu and pick a drink. It's on the house. Any friend of Takuya's gang is a friend of ours." She winked and clacked a pen on top of the paper. "And I suggest you drink the drink first before taking the challenge, or you'll never get to taste it. Once your stomach's pitching a fit, nothing else will be allowed into it."

Krad hurriedly looked down at the paper, gulping slightly. "Thank you," he said as he read over the script. The first part was a warning. If he had any health conditions whatsoever then he was advised not to take the challenge. Treb's Diner & Bar also took no responsibility for him if he had to go to the E.R. He skipped over the rest of that part. Next were the conditions on which to win the challenge. He had to eat twelve wings dripping in sauce made from the "ghost pepper" within three minutes, and could not eat or drink anything else until told to. And he couldn't throw up within a time frame of five minutes. That seemed simple enough. In fact, it was so simple it had warning bells ringing. But he couldn't turn back now.

Next the paper told of his reward if he made it. He'd have a picture taken and framed to join the others on the wall and a pass that would allow him whatever he wanted in the diner free. And the pass would stay active for a week. The rules made it clear that the pass could only be used for him though. Below this was the dotted line for his signature. He clicked the end of the pen and drew it neatly across it, then reached into his cloak, clacking a plastic card down and sliding everything across the counter toward the bartender. The older woman studied his ID with slowly widening eyes before putting the signed paper back underneath the counter.

"That's a very unusual ID you have there," Hanabara said, as she handed it back to him. "How can you be so tall and weigh so little?"

"Let me see!" Cassie reached and snatched the card from her before Krad could properly grab it. "No way!" she sputtered. "That can't be true!"

"Let me see!" Cherri and Miki both hollered, but Krad snatched it back and stuffed it in his pocket quicker than the eye could see.

"He barely clears a hundred pounds!" Cassie turned to the girls, her jaw not working properly. "No way!" they all squeaked. Miki tried to reach the top of Krad's head. Her fingers barely cleared his hairline. "He's got to be over six foot!"

"And he's so photogenic!"

As the girls continued to chirp over this, Krad became exasperated. Takuya looked at him and their eyes met. He wore the same expression. Takuya pointed to the booth in the back, then left for it. Krad did the same.

"Hey, I didn't see your wings before," Hanabara spoke up, following them from on the opposite side of the counter, a menu clutched in her hands. "Here, you forgot to grab this," she said to Krad, handing it to him. "Are you cosplaying? We don't get many of those here," she said. Krad sniffed in an offended manner before stretching his wings wide open. Hanabara had little time to duck. "Oh, wow..." he heard her breathe from off the floor behind the wood separating them, then he felt a slight tug as she grabbed a feather and a cold finger tip as she eased up it to touch skin. He yanked it back as she gasped. "They're warm!"

"They are real," Krad almost growled.

"So you're what's been chasing The Phantom Thief sometimes?" She jumped up, slamming her hands to the counter, leaning over to inspect him closely. He nodded stiffly, not appreciating her scrutiny. The girls finally came over. "Yep, he's the real deal!" Cassie repeated.

"I hate to bust this up, but how about we let the guy get his drink and prepare for his challenge," Takuya said.

"Jealous, Takuya?" Cherri joked.

"No, but think. Maybe this is why Krad has never revealed himself to the public before now. It's too much hassle putting up with people ogling you just because you're different." At this, the people getting up to join them and fulfill their curiosity, sat down again, contrite.

"Ruin the atmosphere, why don't you?" Cassie complained, looking at the retreating people and crossing her arms.

"You sound like you've taken a persona insult to it, or something," Miki pouted. They all blinked at one another as they noticed the person they were arguing over had disappeared from their midst. They looked and quickly spotted him already sitting at their booth, the menu flat on the table as he looked it over. The way Krad was intensely studying it made them all think the same thing: Has he never had a mixed drink before?

The girls all rushed over to help.

"You should try the Long Island Ice Tea!" Cassie said, slipping her finger right over the text of it.

"I do not know half of the ingredients used in making it," Krad said, as way of dismissing it.

"You mean you've never had alcohol?" Miki asked in disbelief.

"Pssh! Bet he has. He's just a lightweight. Literally," Cherri laughed.

"Oh! Oh! If you like rum, try the Zombie," Cassie smiled broadly.

"No, I do not want anything alcoholic."

"You girls are picking some of the most potent drinks, are you trying to get him drunk?" Takuya asked, sliding in the booth opposite of Krad, folding his arms and staring at them all.

"Noooo," the three sang, but they kept pointing out and recommending drinks. Finally Hanabara came over to them.

"Know what you want?" she asked Krad, past the bent heads of the surrounding girls. Krad looked at her, his patience obviously thinning, and shook his head.

"I have not been able to read a thing yet."

"Girls! Quit suffocating him!" Hanabara barked. Miki and Cherri dispersed to sit beside Takuya, but Cassie, giggling, slid in beside Krad. He looked at her, and she him. It was a standoff.

"I'll order for you, dude," Takuya spoke. Turning to Hanabara, he said, "Just get him a coke."

"Boring," Cherri yawned, and quickly got up. "See ya in a bit." She winked, sashaying over to the other side of the bar and out of sight.

"She's up to something," Cassie said lowly. Everyone, excluding Krad, nodded.

"Anything for anyone else?"

"I'll take another Girl Scout Cookie!" Cassie requested, hand raised in the air.

"Um..." Miki fidgeted. "I can't say the name out loud... it's so inappropriate!"

"Whisper it to me, then." Hanabara bent to her level and she cupped her hand around the older woman's ear, blushing. Hanabara nodded. "That's not so bad," she chuckled, rising. "And you, Takuya?"

"I'll take a shot of Goldschlager."

"Going for the hard stuff, eh?"

"You know it!" Takuya grinned widely. Everyone seemed to be taking it easy here. They were so carefree. But Krad wasn't – he was busy looking for Cherri. The others had all agreed that she was up to something.

"I'll be right back with your orders, dears." Her heels clacked as she left.

"So, Krad-san, tell us about yourself." Cassie scooted a bit closer to him.

"No," Krad answered simply, making Cassie frown.

"Erm, isn't it weird to be eating wings when you have a set of your own?" Takuya asked. "It's almost like cannibalism, isn't it?"

Krad looked at him coolly, straight in the eyes. "Bigger birds eat smaller birds."

"Eh..." Takuya sweat dropped. "Okay..."

"How did you get your hair so long and shiny?" Miki asked. "It looks so smooth, too. Like silk." Krad didn't think so with it being damp and somewhat scraggly, but maybe it didn't look that way to her. She reached a small hand over the table to him, and something in him let her touch his long bang. She ran her fingertips through it once. "Such an unusual style too, but it fits you." She took her hand back, but left him a kind smile. She immediately became his favorite of the group. Meanwhile, Cassie was staring daggers at Miki.

"I'm back," Cherri, giggling like a maniac, came sliding in next to Miki.

"What did you do?" Takuya asked in a droning voice.

"Nothing!" Cherri beamed over at him.

"Like we're believing that," Miki chuckled.

"Spill," Cassie said sharply.

Cherri looked her up and down. "Something sure ruffled your feathers while I was away."

"Pardon." Krad raised a curious eyebrow.

"Oh, not you," Cherri laughed. "It's an expression for her attitude," she explained, pointing at Cassie.

"Didn't your mom teach you that pointing is rude?"

"Ladies, ladies," Takuya tried to soothe. "Remember why we're here."

This quietened them up.

"Here you all are." Hanabara walked to them with a tray full of drinks. She set a shot glass of clear liquid dotted with gold slivers in front of Takuya, a somehow brownish-green drink in front of Miki, a glass of what looked like chocolate cream in front of Cassie, and, finally, a regular glass of ice and coke in front of Krad, whom watched the fizz in his drink for a moment.

"Would you like something, Cherri?" the bartender asked. "I didn't get an order from you last time." Cherri just smiled toothily and shook her head. Hanabara shook her own in an exasperated manner and walked back to the bar. Without further ado, Takuya knocked back his shot like it was nothing. He clacked the thick shot glass down and sighed long and hard. There came a strong smell of cinnamon.

"That will always be my favorite!"

Miki sipped her drink, a look of ecstasy on her face. "And this mine," she mumbled past the straw.

"You can't beat chocolate and mint!" Cassie gulped hers almost gone in the first go.

Krad was watching each one handle their drinks, curious to see if he would notice any differences in them. He soon caught Cherri watching him like a hawk, a smile never leaving her face. She was waiting for something. He furrowed his brows at her and she finally looked away, only to watch him from the corner of her eye. He ignored her, finally bending to his drink, which had a straw. He gave it a test sip. It burned a little, but that was probably the carbonation; he wasn't used to soft drinks. Satoshi usually drank either juice or water.

He took another tentative pull from it. The flavor was robust, sweet, and a little spicy. Another words, it was totally addicting! Krad drank happily until the glass was nearly empty.

"Wow. One would think you've never had a soda before," Takuya said.

"They are a... rare treat for me," Krad explained, feeling warm, relaxed, and somehow... fuzzy. He shrugged, stifling a burp. It went through his nose instead and burnt, making his eyes water. He scrunched his eyes, rubbing his nose to alleviate some of the pain.

"So, Takuya, if you have much more alcohol, you aren't going to be able to take that challenge and keep from puking. You wouldn't want us to remember that for your going away party, would you?" Cherri said, her smile faltering a bit.

"One more Goldschlager," he said, slapping his cheeks. "I can take it!"

"I'll go order it for you. Also, I saw your wings being cooked, they're probably done by now. I hope you're ready." She got up to go to the bar, looked back and blew him a kiss. Takuya laughed, though a little nervously. "B-bring it on!"

Krad noticed a light tingling sensation starting in his legs. Perplexed, he wondered what could be the problem. The others seemed able to sense something was up with him, probably from the look on his face.

"What's the matter?" Miki asked him.

"Nothing." Krad shook his head, which made the earth spin slightly different.

"Something is going on; your eyes are huge," Takuya stated.

"I do not know... what the matter is." Krad tried to stand up, but he swayed and Cassie forced him back down. "Are you drunk?" she asked incredulously.

"How? He didn't have anything with alcohol," Miki pointed out. Getting a bad feeling, Takuya practically snatched Krad's glass off the table and put it up to his nose. He gave it a slight sniff.

"Cherri," he said. "She must have spiked it when she was up at the bar. It was loaded with rum." He thrust the glass across the table and it nearly fell off the edge. Krad stood, anger nailing him in place. His wings rose in an arch above him, but unlike him, they took turns rising and falling a few inches, unable to find balance. Cassie stood with him.

"Please don't be mad," she said, "Cherri didn't mean any harm! She just goes overboard sometimes..."

Krad growled dangerously. Cassie backed away from him.

"I should not have had alcohol..."

"Why?" Miki asked, fearing the answer. Krad just shook his head gently – him and his wings drooping slowly back towards the table.

"What happens when you have alcohol?" Takuya asked, coaxing an answer.

"I... do not... know," he admitted. He extended his arms to the table to hold himself up. Why did the floor feel so soft under his feet?

"I'm so sorry," Miki said. "We'll make sure and take care of you if anything happens." She bit her lip, highly uncomfortable about the situation.

"Oh, come on! Surely that little bit couldn't be such a big deal for you." Cherri came back, a platter in her hands, along with another shot of Goldschlager.

"Cherri, what –" But Takuya didn't get to finish. Krad had belly-flopped onto the table, trying to reach over for her. Cherri backed in time to avoid his swiping hands.

"Easy, boy, just enjoy your night tonight. We won't steer you wrong."

"I don't know, you don't seem very trustworthy," Miki said disapprovingly. She looked almost as angry as Krad, but Cassie appeared ready to worship Cherri and her trouble-making ways.

"Krad-san, just try to relax. Getting upset only makes the effects of the alcohol worse," Takuya explained, moving to pull Krad back down off the table. Krad growled, but plopped stiffly back into his seat. "Miki and I won't let them sneak anything else to you. And in about an hour and a half, you'll be back to normal."

"Oi, Takuya, you don't know how to read people very well, do you?" Cherri chortled and sat opposite of Krad, whom looked at her icily.

"What do you mean?" Takuya asked, not understanding where she was going with this.

"I mean, Krad-san is the type that never lets his guard down; never enjoys the easy way in life, unless by force. ...It's hard to explain, so just watch this." Cherri gazed right into Krad's eyes. He looked back at her hatefully, but she didn't flinch. "Thank the alcohol for this," she said, then pinched her cheeks and stuck out her tongue, making the absolute weirdest sound Krad had ever heard in his life.

It was as if he'd been slap with confusion. Then a sound burst from him, and he was lost to wave after wave of laughter. It was too much and he choked, coughing, and leaned sideways in his seat, unable to hold himself up, suddenly too weak and warm. Cherri appeared mighty pleased with herself as Miki and Takuya looked on wonderingly. Cassie started giggling. "I like him much better like this," she said.

"See?" Cherri stood back up, "I did it for his own good. Bottling yourself up like that isn't good for stress levels."

"Still, you shouldn't have went behind his back like you did." But Miki couldn't help chuckling a bit as well. Takuya just rubbed the back of his head and sighed, "What's done is done. We'll just have to take responsibility for him."

Krad suddenly sobered as fast as if someone had hit him upside the head with a two by four. He sat up and grabbed a napkin, wiping his lips and looking astonished as much as ashamed of himself. "What...?"

"That was you, my dear," Cherri said, hands on her hips. "You'll be fine if you just enjoy yourself some more." She reached and shoved Takuya's shot of Goldschlager to the white angel. "Here."

"Cherri! He's not used to drinking and you're giving him a light after he's drank a dark? You don't mix different liquors at the best of times!" Takuya voiced, amazed at his friend.

"Oh, hush! We're here for him."

"B-but we don't even know what kind of drinker he is. Maybe he's bad as a drunk..." Miki looked worriedly from Cherri to Krad.

"Tch! He's obviously a happy drunk," Cassie said, sliding beside Krad again, but Krad was shaking his head.

"No more," he said. "I just want to take the challenge and leave."

Cassie looked heart-broken, but Takuya nodded. "I can't blame you," he said. "Alright then, do you want to take the challenge at the same time as me? I bet your batch of wings is nearly done by now. The kitchen is pretty big."

"That would be fine."

Speaking of, Hanabara was coming to them with a platter of the steaming food.

"I'll be referee. Give them a few minutes to cool, and then have at them," she announced as she set a full plate down before Krad, who eyed it miserably. Could he do this? "Restrooms are a little further down to your left if you need them. I'm going back for a pitcher of milk just in case this is too much for either of you," Hanabara said. She didn't believe they could do it. It added to both mens' determination. But the rising steam was making Krad's nose burn... He looked up to the distant roof and felt like praying. And with that, Satoshi quietly excused himself behind the strongest mental barrier he could possibly make.

-)*(-

A/N: I realize the alcohol worked unusually fast on Krad here. It generally takes about thirty minutes to fully feel the effects of it after consumption, but remember Krad isn't a normal human. His stomach is also empty. And, he's so lightweight, and he isn't used to drinking. That alone would make it very easy and quick to get him drunk. Course, he's only a little more than tipsy here.

By the way, this is a two-shot. Hope to have the second part up soon. And, please, tell me what you think of this. Reviews are awesome!