A/N: Contains slight Daisuke/Satoshi. Don't like, don't read.

F-M

SUMMARY

After finding the strength to get up so many times… It's easier just to stay down. (Slight DaixSato)

To Break

Chapter 01: Sidewalk

"BEEP… BEEP …" Daisuke Niwa groaned and groggily lifted his head off the pillow while trying to muster up enough energy to turn the blasted alarm clock off. Sighing, Daisuke glared at it's red numbers and fell back onto his pillows, his ruby eyes blinking heavily.

'Dark Turn it off…' Daisuke whined in his head. "BEEP"

'Yeah, sure.' The purple-haired thief replied sarcastically, inwardly twitching an eyebrow. 'Yo! Daisuke! School!' He exclaimed trying to get the younger teen out of the bed.

At this, Daisuke put his hands over his ears and moaned, turning opposite of the alarm clock. 'Shut up…'

Dark thought for a moment… hmmm… he'd get up for… ah that's it! 'DAISUKE! RIKU'S OUTSIDE WAITING TO PICK YOU UP!'

"WHAT?" Daisuke yelled and jumped out of his bed, his heart racing in his chest. Dark snickered at this. "Dark! Gosh!" Daisuke yelled, annoyed at his alter-ego, before calming himself down and hastily getting ready for school. "Great… school…" Daisuke promptly positioned his bright red hair into place, which didn't take long at all, and threw on his school clothes that were neatly scattered across his room from the night before.

Picking up his school bag, Daisuke left his room and ran down the stairs to meet a very stern looking Emiko who was waving her pointer finger dangerously in front of his face. "Now Daisuke sweetie!" Daisuke sweat-dropped at his given nicknames. Emiko's normally, over-sweet voice seemed to drip venom, "You were late to steal last night's item! Do you know what this does to poor Dark's record?" She huffed and let go of the collar of Daisuke's uniform that neither of them knew she was gripping. "Anyways! I expect you to be ON TIME tonight!"

Daisuke's eyes widened in shock. "But Mom! You said that today was my night off since I successfully stole four artifacts this week and it's Friday for god's sake!" He pleaded.

Emiko crossed her arms, "You'll get your Friday when Dark reclaims his perfect record!" She countered.

"How perfect can a thief's record be, Mom?"

'STOP ARGUING ABOUT MY RECORD!' Dark yelled in Daisuke's head, making him wince at the sound.

"See! Even Dark agrees with me!" Emiko announced, misinterpreting Daisuke's pained expression. "Now, go have fun today in school! Here's what you'll be stealing tonight -" She handed him a slip of paper with some necessary information about the artifact. She hastily gave her son a big hug and kiss on the cheek before handing him an umbrella and a breakfast bar. "It's raining, so you be careful and don't get your uniform dirty on the way to school, sweetie!" With that, she pushed her son out of the door.

Daisuke barely had time to get his umbrella open before a wave of rain came crashing down. He started down the sidewalk to his school. 'Dark, I'm freezing.' He thought miserably, trying to make himself as small as he could to save warmth. The chilled wind wasn't helping either, as it was directing the rain at him, getting him wet despite the large umbrella over his head.

'Moron, why didn't you grab a jacket?' Dark replied, rolling his eyes.

'Mom didn't give me a chance to think properly.' Daisuke meekly responded, while staring at the gathering mud on the stone sidewalk. The way the rainwater washed over it again and again, making the dirt swirl around in circles on the tiles…

'Well, you're still not thinking properly. Maybe if you walk strait, you might make it to school sometime today.' Dark responded sourly. "DAISUKE!"

"What..?" Daisuke hazily looked up to find himself in the middle of the road, car lights shinning in his face, and the breaks squealing like mad. "EEE!" He yelped and jumped out of the road, hitting his left arm cruelly on the concrete sidewalk. Daisuke hissed on contact.

"WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU DOING? YOU'RE FUCKING GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!" The driver screamed at the shocked-stricken boy huddled on the walk. The man seemed to get a grip on himself when he saw that the kid was struggling to get up and held his left arm protectively. He then switched on the emergency lights and put the car in park. "Hey! Are you okay? Do you need help?"

"…" Daisuke didn't say anything for his heart was beating too fast and his arm was shooting electricity throughout his entire body. 'D - Dar…I..' He thought desperately, he about died. Even when Dark and Krad were fighting and Dark was brushed with the chance of not existing anymore… he wasn't as terrified for it wasn't him who was in danger, or so he thought.

'Dai! Calm down! That guy is getting out of the car! Don't just sit there!' Dark persuaded Daisuke somewhat for he staggered to his feet and ran blindly to school. His umbrella was left on the ground, forgotten.

'Daisuke, come on, get a hold of yourself, you're a bloody mess! You're arm is… Daisuke…' Dark closed his eyes inside of Daisuke's mind shook his head; there wasn't going to be any stealing tonight…

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Daisuke burst through the doors of Azumano Middle School, not caring about his rugged appearance, and raced to his home room. He was in mid-knock when the door was pushed open revealing none-other than Satoshi Hikari. 'Gosh, Creepy Boy is everywhere these days.' Dark huffed.

"Sato-" Daisuke's crimson eyes glanced up into the icy blue ones of his classmate and felt a light blush appear on his face. 'Daisuke, what ate you?' Satoshi thought. Frowning, he pushed by the soaked redhead with his torn uniform and… bloody arm.

"Daisuke, how nice it is to join us." The teacher piped up, then looking him up and down… "MY LORD! To the nurse now!" She yelled, the class all turning to look at Daisuke with shocked expressions.

Daisuke seemed to apparently snap out of his stupor and blushed furiously while making his way to the nurse; unfortunately leaving a trail of mud behind him.

'Dark, everyone saw me like this!' He exclaimed, embarrassed.

'Yeah, and they probably smelled you too. Eww, Dai! You reek.' Dark snickered and Daisuke blushed even more.

'It's just dirt, I took a shower last night.'

'Yeah, I know.'

'Dark?'

'Hmm?'

'My shoulder is killing me, I think that it's broken or something…' Daisuke averted his eyes to the floor. 'Will… will that affect you tonight?' He still held his left arm.

'No, Daisuke, tonight is your break.' His voice was softer. Wasn't he angry?

'But Mom…' Daisuke's shoulders slumped. 'She'd be disappointed again…'

'Stop worrying about her reactions. Get yourself feeling better already, you're a drag Niwa!'

'…' Niwa?

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"Okay, can you take off your top shirt? Thanks, now let me see…" The nurse poked and examined his left shoulder for what seemed like forever much to Daisuke's dismay. Daisuke bit his tongue to keep himself from suddenly yelling out.

She backed up and put her hand on her chin, in a thinking manner. "Well, Mr. Niwa, it's defiantly not broken…" Daisuke's face instantly lit up.

'Dark! It's not broken!'

'Dai-'

"It's just badly dislocated." She continued. Daisuke's face fell.

'Dis… Dislocated..?' Daisuke felt Dark sigh.

"But don't worry! It's nothing I can't fix!" The nurse crunched her knuckles and headed back to where Daisuke was sitting, who in turn, looked horrified. He audibly gulped as she loomed over him. She then ruffled his hair in an affectionate way to get him to loosen up.

"Come on Niwa, you're too tense! Loosen up already or this will be very painful for the both of us." Feeling him relax slightly, she quickly gripped his arm and shoulder in a death grip and…

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

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Satoshi, who happened to be passing by the nurse's room after coming back from the main office, stopped abruptly when he heard a scream. "Niwa" He breathed in and glanced at the nurse's room door from which the sound was coming from. He leaned in and listened, not caring that he was snooping.

"See, that wasn't so bad?" He heard the nurse say and then heard a muffled choking noise. "Now come on, stay put, I just need to clean up these scratches. Ouch, the skin is shredded there, what did you do, fall down the stairs?" The nurse full out laughed.

"C…ar…" Niwa's voice was shaky and barely audible.

"You got hit by a car," The nurse raised her eyebrow and started laughing again. "Right… I tell you, youngsters these days come up with the best stories!" She applied alcohol on a large gash.

"N..no…" Satoshi could hear Daisuke make a grunting noise.

"Oh, really." The nurse wasn't really paying attention to Daisuke, just trying to keep a conversation going so that he wouldn't start paying attention to the stinging of the disinfectants.

"D…dod…dodged…" Daisuke took a sharp intake of breath. He then shut his eyes trying to get the imposing bright headlights out of his head… how his heart stopped right before he jumped out of the way…

"Hey Niwa," The nurse nudged him. "I'm all done now, put on this clean uniform and wash up a bit in the bathroom. Don't get your bandages wet just yet, and don't put any pressure on that shoulder of yours," Daisuke grabbed the dry and clean clothes and hastily made to leave before she was done speaking.

He abruptly opened the door to find a surprised-looking Satoshi standing there. Daisuke blinked in confusion. "It'll be sore and tender for a few days," She continued. "Oh! Mr. Hiwatari, could you please help him out? He seems a bit disoriented. Thanks!" She shut the door, leaving the two teens to awkwardly stand out in the middle of the hallway.

"Come on." Satoshi motioned for Daisuke to follow him but instead, Daisuke started walking off in the other direction. Satoshi's eyes narrowed, 'What's he playing at?' He thought as he watch the red head walk aimlessly in circles. He rolled his eyes and clasped his hands on Daisuke's shoulders and spun him around. "Niwa, the washrooms are this way."

Daisuke blinked a few times to clear his head. "Yeah okay…"

"Did you hit your head or something?" Satoshi's voice echoed in his head, but he didn't comprehend any of it.

"What?" He snapped his head up. 'What's Satoshi doing here?'

'Gosh, Daisuke! Creepy Boy has been here the whole time, and would you stop playing that stupid car scene over and over! It's gets really old!'

"Yeah, I'm okay!" Daisuke stated.

Satoshi raised an eyebrow, "I asked if you hit your head…"

Daisuke's eyes widened for a split-second and he glanced down at the floor. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't, I just had a near-accident… coming to school."

"So I heard." Satoshi replied.

"You…You eavesdropped?" Satoshi didn't seem like the type… Daisuke rubbed his bandages subconsciously.

Satoshi shrugged his shoulders like it was no deal and continued walking towards the bathrooms.

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"Is it out yet?" Daisuke asked for what seemed like the hundredth time while taking his head out of the sink.

"No, you still have mud on the top roots." Satoshi was leaning up against the bathroom wall next to the sink where Daisuke was "attempting" to get the mud and rocks out of his rain-matted hair.

Daisuke looked up again… "No, it's still there."

"Man! This is hopeless!" Daisuke exclaimed and angrily shut of the water.

Satoshi took off his glasses and put them in his shirt pocket. "Let me help." He stated rather than asked. Daisuke looked up at his taller figure.

"Err sure…" Daisuke turned back on the water and Satoshi took hold of the back of his head without warning and put the mud-clogged area under the faucet. Daisuke barely had the time to make a muffled "mmmff!"

Daisuke started to relax as Satoshi's long and slender fingers ran through his hair and massaged his scalp. 'He's so gentle…'

'Creepy Boy is gentle' Dark replied, disgust evident in his voice.

Daisuke blushed. 'I didn't mean it like that!'

'Creepy Boy's touch is oh-so gentle… mmmm' Dark started laughing and then did an impression of Daisuke getting his head rubbed.

"Pervert! Stop doing that!" Daisuke's face turned so red that it was a shade of purple. Satoshi was far away from him, with his eyes wide. "No! Did I say that out loud? I really didn't mean it Satoshi!" Daisuke took his head out of the sink and turned off the faucet while ringing out his hair.

"Well, it looks like your managing fine, I guess I'll go back to class now." And with that, he just turned and left, he didn't even take a look back. But Daisuke failed to hear the hurt in his voice.

'DARRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKK!'

After four long minutes of sitting under the hand dryer, and screaming at Dark for just being alive, Daisuke headed on to his second hour class, thinking that nothing else could be screwed up in a school day. Oh… he was wrong…

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Satoshi's POV

I wasn't doing anything so why would he just yell at me for nothing? I know he said that he didn't mean to say it but if that's what he was really thinking of me…His words seemed to stab me, hard. I rubbed my sore eyes and put my useless glasses on.

What if he knows? What if he knows how much I care... What if he just… rejected me… I'm being stupid, hell why am I talking to myself?

I took my seat in class and didn't even bother to look up to see Daisuke enter. If I mean nothing to him, he means… nothing to me. But in my heart, I couldn't register that simple little piece of information.

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Daisuke's POV

I slumped down in my seat, trying to not make eye contact with anyone. 'Aww, man, I don't feel to well.'

'Why not? You just told Creepy Boy off.' Dark smugly replied.

'…don't… push it Dark…' I thought, mentally sighing.

'Oh lighten up. If he never talks to you again, who cares? It's not like you live to get a conversation out of him.' Dark spoke up, oblivious to the real situation.

I felt the corners of his eyes start to sting. 'You don't know what you're talking about. Just… be quiet okay? You're making things worse.' I better not start crying not in the middle of class! My eyes started to drift off in Satoshi's direction, much to my dismay and I snapped them back to the front of the room. I really can't concentrate… Satoshi's head is down farther than usual. I felt the pit my stomach turn in regret. 'Satoshi… I'm so sorry…'

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Normal POV

The last bell of the day rung and the students made way to leave. The sky was dark and threatening and the rain had yet to cease. The wind was no better. 'I wish I brought my jacket… Oh no! Mom's umbrella!' Daisuke thought.

"That has to be the longest day of school ever! Eh, Daisuke?" Takeshi bound up to Daisuke and slung an arm around his shoulder like he has done every day. Daisuke winced and peeled his arm off. "Man, Daisuke, what happened to you?" He indicated his bandaged arm and the scattered Band-Aids on his face.

"I… err…" Daisuke stuttered, not knowing what really to say.

"I mean, that's all everyone talked about all day!" Daisuke blushed at the extra attention. Takeshi told Daisuke to come closer and said in a low voice. "There's a rumor going around that you got mugged! Is it true?" Takeshi asked with big starry eyes and pulled out a portable video camera from nowhere before Daisuke had a chance to respond. "Can I give you your first interview, please oh please?" He zoomed the camera in on Daisuke's disturbed face. "Alright, Takeshi here with the survivor of…"

Daisuke placed his hand over the camera's lens. "This is stupid! I didn't get attacked! Put that camera away, Takeshi!"

"Daisuke!" Riku ran over to where Daisuke was standing, not looking pleased. "Daisuke, I can't!" She exclaimed, hot tears running down her face. "You're so sweet, Daisuke, and I hate to say this but you never call, and ask me out, and you get into too much trouble! I can't stand to worry over you!" Riku sniffed and Daisuke's eyes widened in horror.

"No… Riku… don't…" He trailed off, reaching out to touch her, but she backed away.

"It's over Daisuke Niwa! I'm sorry, but I can't, okay?" She then ran off with fresh tears streaming down her face leaving Daisuke shocked and confused. 'She was so blunt about it…'

Takeshi backed up slowly, "Whoa, man! I'm sorry!" 'Riku's up for grabs and is upset, this is perfect!' He thought to himself but still managed to keep a strait and pained face. "I'll see you around, okay?"

When Daisuke nodded, Takeshi took off in Riku's direction.

"Riku… not you too…" He said to no one, depression sinking in his voice. Satoshi heard though… he heard the whole thing.

"Daisuke…" He whispered out but the sound of the pouring rain covered it. Satoshi looked over to where Daisuke stood underneath the entrance pavilion to the school. He hadn't a jacket or an umbrella with him… was he crazy? For Satoshi knew that Daisuke lived a good ten-minute run from the school, on a bright sunny day. But this day was far from being sunny.

Daisuke shook his head several time trying to get the anguish to go away but it didn't… and it started to smother him. 'I have to get away from this place.' He thought and ran away… heading to the park.

Satoshi's eyes widened in shock when Daisuke took off into the rain right after a huge flash of lighting. "Daisuke!" He ran after his distressed classmate to find that he wasn't going home.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard… "Sirens…"

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Ooohh What's Dai going to do out in the open in the middle of a storm? Sneak peek: Dark and Krad fight in the next chapter! Also, I wrote this really quickly and didn't read over it, so if you see any stupid mistakes, my bad!

If you have any comments/suggestions/requests/flames or simply think this plot is no good, you know where the review button is! D

Thanks for reading.

-Frozen Mittens