Adelaide Emerson put the keys into the ignition of the car. She normally wouldn't go out this late in the day, but today was Risa and Riku's eighteenth birthday and she had forgotten to get them presents.
She shifted into reverse, pulling the car smoothly out of the driveway. She drove the car slower because it was night and the wind was battering her car, making her have to fight to keep it steady. She turned on the blinker to turn onto Enviel Avenue, past the museum, but that's when she saw it.
A flash of wings. Shouting. BAM!
It all happened so fast, all she could remember was seeing the tan truck, and then the impact...and debris massacring the highway.
Addie's eyes were wide, and she was blinking back tears. A scary looking old man with a cane came out of the truck.
What if he shoots me? was her immediate thought, but she brushed that away. No way is this guy gonna see me cry. I'm eighteen.
Addie got out of the car. "I'm so sorry, but I saw...it was..."
She looked at the sky. "Nothing, I guess I really shouldn't be out so late."
"Yeah, well, you better have insurance," the man said sharply.
Daisuke Niwa finished up the decorations for Riku and Risa's surprise party.
"Niwa!" Satoshi had been on the cell phone with Addie for the past thirty minutes. "Addie's been in an accident."
"What?" Daisuke dropped the streamer he had been hanging. "Is she alright?"
"She's fine," Satoshi replied. "She can't drive anywhere though. She has to wait for a tow truck. She said she...saw something."
"Like what?" Daisuke asked, taping the streamer back up.
"Like wings," Satoshi said. "But it's just not possible..."
"Hiwatari...does this mean that Dark and Krad are..." Daisuke paused, unsure how to finish the sentance.
Satoshi nodded. "This means they are beginning to get out of hand."
Addie finally arrived at the Niwa house ten minutes before Risa and Riku were coming. This whole thing had been her idea, and now it seemed to be crumbling around her ears.
Well, that's high school, she thought, brushing the irony to one side.
"Addie! Are you sure you're alright?" Daisuke asked.
"Yes, you had us worried," Satoshi said.
"My car's practically undrivable, and I've got to go to court about it," Addie sighed. "That's irony for you. Apparantly this was my fault. I have to face my parents tomorrow and..."
She stopped. She didn't want to start crying now. No, this wasn't her day; it was Risa and Riku's.
There was a knock at the door.
"I don't see why Niwa wanted to have a study group with everybody," Riku said to her sister.
"It was probably Hiwatari's idea," replied Risa.
The door opened to Adelaide's smiling face. "Surprise! Happy eighteenth birthday, you two!"
She hugged them both.
"Addie!" the twins chorused. They hadn't expected to see her here. She was friends with all of them, but she seemed at first like she would never do this type of thing.
Risa looked over the room. "You guys decorated the room and everything!"
"Daisuke did that," Addie said. "I just had the idea for a surprise party. Satoshi got you guys here at the right time without you guys finding out."
"But Addie..." Riku looked at her friend. "I saw your car get towed! I know it was yours because it's the only American car around here. What happened?"
"It's nothing," Addie said softly. "I just...thought I saw something, over by the museum. It reminded me of a few years ago when...never mind."
Addie realized she had almost just mentioned Dark again. Everytime the subject came around it got tense among her friends. She felt like since she had only transferred from Osaka in ninth grade, that she had missed a lot.
She had read about the famous Phantom Thief in her mom's tabloids, but she had never seen him.
Her mom was an American make-up sales-lady. She was that annoying lady behind the counter that asks you if you want a free make-over when you pass by on your way to look at purses or whatever.
The party ended at eight, and Addie went home. She had no car now, but her house was a short walk away.
On her way home, she noticed a butterfly struggling for flight on the ground.
It was weakly fluttering its battered wings, but the air was just to cold this late October night.
Addie's heart hurt; she wanted to take it inside, let it get warm and fly around a bit…but that would just be more cruel…prolonging its suffering.
So she kept walking, not shedding a tear over the sad, dying thing.
She thought her troubles were over, but really, they had only just begun.
Chapter 2: Meeting Dark
Adelaide woke early on October 31; she still had to get presents for her friends. No car this time; she'd have to walk to the store.
She walked slowly, bored and just waiting for bad luck to strike again.
She walked into a store that sold jewelry. She knew she couldn't afford any of this stuff, but she was just girly enough to appreciate how beautiful it was.
"Excuse me," said a male voice from behind her. "You dropped this."
He held out her wallet.
"Thank you so much!" Addie said, taking it from him. "I suppose I should give you a reward..."
She reached in and pulled out some money, but he waved it away.
"Why don't you pay me back by having lunch with me?" he said.
Is this guy serious? Addie wondered. "I-I don't think so. I have to buy gifts for my friends."
"You wouldn't be able to do that if I hadn't given you your wallet back," replied the stranger.
Adelaide looked him over. He had striking features. Violet hair and eyes-that was exotic. That's when she caught on.
"I know who you are!" she exclaimed, proud of herself for figuring it out.
"Well I don't know you," Dark responded, still flirting with her.
"I should call the cops right now," Addie said angrily. "You caused me to get in a car accident. Plus you're the Phantom Thief!"
Dark put a hand over her mouth. "Not here."
He steered her to a restaurant. They sat down where it was quieter.
He released Addie and she sat down. "I could still call, you know."
"Why don't you?" asked Dark. "You've had plenty of chance. Why didn't you call them instead of talking to me?"
"I-I wanted to see if you really deserved it before—"
"Do I then?" Dark asked mischeviously.
"No, I guess not," Addie said.
"Where are you headed?"
"To buy presents for my friends and then back to Daisuke's house," Addie said.
"Daisuke Niwa?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied. "Riku says that you and Daisuke were once the same. So…am I really talking to…Daisuke?"
"No," Dark said. "We're two different people now. Something went wrong…"
Addie suddenly took in his appearance. His clothes were ripped and bloody, and he looked extremely tired. But he still managed to pull off a well-dressed put together appearance, which was why she hadn't noticed till now how he looked like he'd been in a fight.
"You were hurt…yesterday," she said. "The other angel hurt you!"
"Were you hurt?" Dark asked her. "In the car accident."
"No…" Addie said. "Stop changing the subject! You were hurt! Are you—"
"Calm down," Dark said. "I'll be alright. I'm different from you. I won't die that easily."
Addie touched the cut across his chest. "But you're bleeding. Please, let me take you to a hospital!"
"Listen to yourself," Dark said, laughing slightly. "Take the Phantom Thief to a hospital?"
"Okay…I admit that was stupid," Addie said softly. "What can we do?"
"I need to get to the Niwa's house," Dark said. "They are the only ones who know how to take care of my injuries."
Addie got up and helped him out of his chair. "Lean on me, and I'll take you there. I was on my way anyway."
"Stop," he said. "I don't even know your name."
"I'm Adelaide," Addie said.
"That's…a pretty name," Dark replied. "For a pretty face."
"So are you like Riku says?" Addie asked. "A pervert and egomaniac?"
Dark laughed. "I'll let you be the judge."
"Well Risa says you're amazing," Addie said. "They both talk like you're dead. And Daisuke gets quiet whenever the subject comes up. You two must have been like brothers."
Dark was quiet for a moment. "I really left him alone."
Addie sighed. "Dark...Daisuke won't be angry at you for that. I meant that...he missed you, is all."
Dark nodded. There was a silence. "When did you come into the picture?"
"Well," Addie said. "My mom and I moved here from Osaka right before ninth grade began. We were here when there was that earthquake, and for the evacuation...and I've been to the museum since...but...I guess I missed out on the time when you were around. Are you back for good now?"
Dark looked at me. "I think so."