Daisuke had never known how excruciating two years could be. Two years, 24 months, 104 weeks, 730 days-the more he thought about it, the longer it seemed. His violet-haired alter ego had been around for less than a year, but somehow spending two without him had almost been more than Daisuke could handle.
Which was why, when December 22 returned yet again to stir up those memories that broke Daisuke's heart, he was sure the voice he heard was some sort of depression-induced hallucination. Yes, this was some kind of schizophrenia; Daisuke Niwa was hearing things and that couldn't possibly be Dark because Dark was gone, sealed away in the Black Wings along with Hiwatari's angelic blond doppelganger.
The voice-Dark's voice-insisted otherwise, though, of course. Daisuke had been having conversations with it (it, not him, because it wasn't Dark, it was just a voice) since the moment it had greeted him in the morning like nothing had ever happened. He supposed it must have just been his delusional way of reminiscing, but whatever it was, it was excessively distracting. It kept talking to him during class, attempting to catch up, threatening to take over if Daisuke didn't answer the goddamn question this time.
By the end of the day he was beginning to lose his conviction that this was only a voice. It was getting on his nerves, being taunted by a figment of his imagination, especially one resembling that thief whom he missed so dearly. So what if it wasn't his imagination? What if it really was Dark? The thought made his heart pound-but not just because he'd have his own second self back. He needed to find Hiwatari.
He had no idea where to look though; the only class they had together was first period art, and there had been no first period that day. All he could do was go through the halls and ask everyone he saw whether they knew where to find Hiwatari, and endure the strange looks and the questions of "What happened to him today, anyway?"
At last it was, in the end, Riku who knew where Satoshi's last class was; Daisuke didn't ask how she knew that but instead bolted for that room hoping he hadn't gone home yet. Thankfully their school was small and there weren't too many classrooms, and Satoshi was indeed still there by the time Daisuke made it to the English room.
"H-Hiwatari!" he called out from the doorway, not shouting although his tone of voice was urgent. "Do you have a minute? I, um... I have something to ask you about."
He had tried to keep that from sounding awkward, but in the end all the girls in the room were giggling and that voice in his head was telling him that that was the wrong side, and Daisuke had to ignore what that meant while he waited for Satoshi to answer.
"It's Hikari now," Satoshi grumbled as he looked over at the redhead. "And yes, Niwa... I can always make time for you." The chorus of giggling girls continued. The majority of the females in their class thought Satoshi and Daisuke would make the cutest couple in the world. Too bad for them Satoshi didn't like Daisuke in that way... however he never claimed to not have an attraction to... certain aspects of him.
He sulked over to the doorway. "What is it?" he asked in a rather sullen tone. He was having an awful day and his temper was short.
Turning a blind eye to the circle of girls that had begun to form around them, Daisuke sighed and said, "I can't really bring it up right here," only to be answered with a round of muted squeals. "Let's... take a walk, okay?"
"All right. Let's go somewhere more... private." He couldnt help putting on a show, even if his mood had been sour all day. Maybe Daisuke was having the same issue he was and if that was true, maybe his day wouldn't be all that bad.
Daisuke groaned at the reaction that comment earned from their audience, but at least Satoshi was acting like he always did. From the questions everyone was asking, he'd been afraid something was seriously wrong with Satoshi.
As he left the classroom and subsequently the school building, Daisuke didn't say a word. He was trying to figure out a way to bring this up gently. Hey, I think my supernatural alter ego came back this morning, are you hearing voices again too? They were both used to the concept by now but it was still sort of unnerving.
"S-So," Daisuke murmured once they'd gotten to a fairly empty section of the sidewalk, "I, uh... how should I put this... Has anything different happened today?"
Satoshi blinked a few times before answering. "Well... I wasn't quite feeling like myself this morning if that's what you mean. And due to my change in attitude my father and I had an altercation. I am no longer allowed on his property... So I am basically homeless." He was nowhere on the verge of tears, and was actually quite glad to be rid of his adoptive father. He was however rather miffed that he didn't have anywhere to stay.
"W-Wait, what? He actually kicked you out?" The words seemed to trip over themselves, stumbling from Daisuke's lips. "That's so horrible." For a moment he paused, contemplating the situation, trying to process the information. If his hunch was right, that 'altercation' had been over a particularly striking change in personality, meaning that the voice really was -
/Yes,/ his train of thought was interrupted, /for the thousandth time, it's really me./
Daisuke sighed. Returning his attention to Satoshi, he began, "Hiwata-er, Hikari... I'm sure my family wouldn't mind if you came to stay with us. I-I mean, since you don't have anywhere else, right? And we're friends, so..."
Satoshi's eyes lit up. "You would really let me stay with you?" Since they weren't really rivals anymore there should be no problem with them living together.
"Of course!" Daisuke replied as his countenance lit up as well; he was greatly relieved that Satoshi had accepted the offer so easily.
There was a pause, and after a minute or two Satoshi asked, "And... I suppose you wouldn't mind if I... brought my stuff over?"
"I wouldn't mind at all!" Daisuke replied cheerfully. "I'll help you move out if you want. I assume... he'll let you back in to get your stuff?"
"Well yes. I believe he threw it all in a shed in the back. I also left a few things back in the class room. You don't mind going back right?"
"Of course not."
When they got back to the classroom, a few girls were still suspiciously lingering, curious as to what had gone on with the two. After grabbing his things Satoshi smoothly added in a voice loud enough to be heard by the eavesdroppers, "Thank you so much, Niwa. I can't wait to move in."
Immediately the remnants of their onlookers burst into fits of giggles and chatter and squealing, and Daisuke wished he didn't blush so easily. Did Satoshi always have to make it seem like they were a couple?
By the time they got out to his car it was about 4:15, and Daisuke pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to call home. He had to at least let them know Satoshi was coming home with him... they could talk about the moving in part later, in person, when Satoshi wouldn't have to just stand there and listen.
"I, uh... don't really know the way to your house," Daisuke told Satoshi with a laugh as they situated themselves in the car. "Where do I go?"
"Wherever your heart may take you."
/KRADWHATTHEHELL./
Daisuke's heart forgot a beat when he heard that voice - wasn't that Krad's...?
"J-Just kidding, Niwa... It's down that way."
Trying not to look over to see whether Satoshi's eyes had turned yellow just then, he laughed and went along with the directions he was given. For a while he didn't say a single word, even as he helped carry out some of Satoshi's things from that dusty shed. He maintained his silence until they arrived at his house, and he had to tell Satoshi that he'd be right back, he just needed to talk to his parents about this moving in business.
The only one who was even vaguely upset was his mother, who still bore an inherent reluctance to accept Satoshi, given his connection to Krad (which Daisuke didn't mention, although unfortunately this also meant that he couldn't mention Dark either). The discussion only took a few minutes and in the end Kousuke even came outside to help with the rest of Satoshi's belongings. Promises were made to obtain a lower bunk for Daisuke's bed, along with other things which they decided to deal with after Satoshi was settled.
And once everything was in the room, Daisuke had absolutely no idea what to do next.
"Thank you again..." Satoshi attempted to break the awkward silence. He was grateful, but what he was really interested in was the other side of Daisuke Niwa.
Unfortunately his other half had a peaking interest in the redhead. This situation was so much more awkward that Daisuke could possibly understand. Satoshi had to struggle to stay in control while thinking of a way to ask about Dark in a way that wasn't horribly... well, awkward. Yes, he was grateful for having a place to sleep, but he wasn't sure it was the best idea to have all four of them in the same room.
Daisuke gave a sort of nervous laugh, realizing that this really was sort of awkward... Maybe he'd done something wrong? "Y-You're welcome," he replied, but then immediately continued with, "If there's anything you'd like, please tell me. I don't want to cause you any extra stress. We can turn my dad's old office into a room for you if you want..." He knew he was rambling, but this was making him nervous. He didn't know how to deal with this situation just yet.
"Oh, no no no, I wouldn't want to intrude any more than I already am! I can't take away your dad's office." He laughed nervously. "I just... this may be a bit odd... um. Do you mind if I talk to Dark? It's just, I haven't talked to him in a while and..." He trailed off. He was fairly certain Daisuke had no idea about him and Dark.
/If I took over now, this conversation would be a lot easier./
/ You are not taking over right now. No way in hell are you raping him. Especially not on the first night./
/It's not rape if he wants it.../
"What? Dark? But why?" Daisuke couldn't imagine any reason Satoshi would want to talk to Dark - hadn't they always been stuck in that game of cat and mouse? It wasn't like they had any reason to chase after one another anymore.
/Don't ask questions,/ Dark's voice seemed a little strange, /you wouldn't get it anyway./
/What are you talking about? Don't tell me I've missed some important detail again./
/Oh, you have. You always do./
/Come on! Tell me what's going on!/
/Don't worry about it. Just let me talk to him./
Daisuke sighed. "I guess it can't hurt..." And for the first time in two years, Dark saw the light of day (and, more importantly, Satoshi) once again.
Satoshi couldn't say anything at first, he could only stare at the face he had been wishing would appear before him once again. Krad was probably saying something condescending or sarcastic, but he didn't particularly care, nor could he hear anything in the first place apart from his own heartbeat. He wasn't able to contain his emotions any longer; before he could even comprehend what he was doing Satoshi felt his body flying towards the phantom thief's and found himself sobbing into his chest, unable to form any understandible words. He had realized earlier that day that he would see Dark again, but his emotions refused to acknowledge the idea until it was a reality.
The shock on Satoshi's face brought a smirk to Dark's lips, but when the boy threw himself at him, he failed to bite back a chuckle. This was adorable. He would never have expected someone like Satoshi to cry, ever, especially not in front of other people. It made it so easy to forget how controlling and dominant he could be sometimes.
Closing his eyes, Dark folded his arms around Satoshi and lifted one hand to the back of his head, stroking his hair lightly. Softly and only a little arrogantly, he murmured, "Miss me?"
"I didn't even get to say goodbye, of course I fucking missed you!"
Again Dark chuckled, this time at the way Satoshi phrased his response. He was even precious when he swore.
Satoshi clung desperately to his lover, abandoning his usual sense of pride and desire to be in control. This would pass eventually, but for now he was content being held in the arms of a phantom theif. "Dark..." He squeezed him a little harder still sniffling into his chest. "You missed me too right?"
As he tightened his hold, Dark decided that he rather liked this side of Satoshi, most of all because he was the only one who had ever seen it. The question prompted him to place a kiss atop the crown of Satoshi's head, then lean down and whisper, his lips a hair's breadth from Satoshi's ear, "More than I could bear."
Satoshi lightly pushed dark just far enough away so he could look into his eyes. "Prove it." His voice sounded as if it were smirking although his expression was serious. He then put his hand on the side of Dark's face and drew him into a long awaited kiss.
Dark, on the other hand, actually was smirking; even when their lips came together his were still curled up at the corners. He really had missed Satoshi, though - his face, his voice, his kisses, everything. Even the way they tended to maintain the delusion that they were both somehow in control of this relationship.
After a moment he pulled away just enough to be able to speak, but he was still so close that his lips brushed against Satoshi's as he spoke. "I never meant to disappear without saying goodbye." He closed the distance between them again before moving away to say, "I hated leaving you behind," and then moving one hand to brush away the tears that had streaked Satoshi's face as he resumed the kiss once again.
Satoshi let it linger a bit longer before it was his turn to pull away. He didn't specifically acknowledge the things that Dark had said, but his flushed cheeks were proof that he greatly appreciated what Dark had said. "You should probably let Daisuke come back... He'll start to wonder what took so long if you don't..." He didn't want to have to say goodbye again so soon, but it wasn't like his thief was really going anywhere, and it wasn't fair to Daisuke to kick him out of his own body.
Dark had to admit, he was rather disappointed in this suggestion, but he also had to admit that it made sense. In all his elation he'd sort of forgotten that this relationship was still a secret.
"I guess you're right," he said nonchalantly, a smile still lingering in his voice. Grinning down at Satoshi, he pressed a kiss to his forehead and told him in a way that was only half teasing, "I won't be able to stay away from you for long, though. Don't expect me to keep you waiting." With that he relinquished his control of the body to Daisuke, who returned with a much less deviant smile on his face. "I didn't know you two were close enough to have anything to talk about," he said, tilting his head slightly to the side as his smile grew ever brighter. "That's good."
