Disclaimer: I have DNA, but, sadly, I don't own D.N. Angel.
A/N: DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ "THE PHOENIX, THE FLAME AND THE LEAF OF MARY J"! And just to point out, I don't do drugs. I also don't hurt animals in any way; I help take care of them in a homemade sanctuary. I know the recurring theme may suggest differently, but it's for comical purposes only. And the "animals" (more like creatures) aren't in pain. They just keep sorta having to... uh... fix themselves.
Special Thanks To: My Tiger for helping me develop this sequel. I dreamed of the gems and he thought of the dragon, and... Oh. You guys shouldn't know of that yet.
)*(The Reporter and The Dust of Dee Dee)*(
By: Fireflower19
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"You think I would just let you take it, as simple as that?" Krad charged the small distance between them and gave a thrust of his wings for added power, lifting both his feet inches above the floor as he lunged towards the black-clothed offender. He swung again with his right fist, barely missing a sidestepping Dark, who just managed to safely ram a small, decorated ring into his back pocket. Purple hair made the barest of touches against white knuckles as Krad missed and raced past. Dark quickly steadied himself and went into an immediate series of back-flips across the expansive marble floor, needing to put some distance between his raging other self—whom was already spinning around to face him again. The blond hunter was so angry that his mere presences cloyed the entire elaborate room.
Their new lighter-hearted battles hadn't lasted very long. The scarring simply ran too deep between the two, and their vastly different objectives constantly clashed. A blowup like this was bound to have happened sooner or later. Straightening, Dark took a second to draw his hand across his bleeding lip—where Krad had nailed him with a surprise shot in a sneak attack and first initiated the fight.
"You're awful determined," the kaito noted out loud, addressing the other with an agitated wrinkling of his forehead and curl of his sore lips.
"Am I not always?" Krad asked, a cruel smile tugging his own lips apart as he drew a white feather from neatly folded wings behind him.
"You'd better hurry, then." Dark inclined his head to an open door far on his left. He couldn't see anything outside it but the gray brick wall that curved around with the staircase, but he could hear the running footfalls coming up and closer. "We're about to be intruded upon." He smirked before lightly stepping to his right; almost dancing to close-in diagonally to Krad.
"Finally." Krad's golden eyes narrowed in mirth. "Tired of running?" The hunter readied himself into a wider stance.
"You could say that."
The attack came so swiftly. It was hard to process what had happened. Dark was suddenly right in front of the white angel, his open hand swiping horizontally for Krad's exposed neck. The amethyst eyes shining so brightly with magic looked so focused, but strangely empty of emotions. It reminded Krad too much of his own, angering him further.
Pulling a burst of speed to match his opposite, Krad stepped back, reaching and capturing Dark's striking limb. With a twist and a pull the kaito rocketed forward. The move exposed Dark's ribs. Like a spear, Krad's hand shot out for the target, intent on diving between the bones. Within a split-second Dark reasoned his best options and chose one: The phantom thief continued into the pull with a push of his foot, adding to his momentum. Krad felt the tips of his fingers connect, knifing past tough fabric to pop into skin and the warm wetness beneath.
Faces so close; almost twin-like, aside from the differences in hair and eyes; Dark's eyes finally showed a hint of something.
Pain.
A roaring came to Krad's ears, and unexpectedly, slipping over his fingers was a thick blackness—not blood. Fluttering darkness sped around on both sides, seeming to wrap around him. Then the wisps pooled together and Dark was suddenly directly behind. Krad could literally feel retribution coming as the slight sounds of the kaito made it to his ears. Too fast; an arm hooked around his throat, but before pressure could be applied Krad used his wings to thrust backward. Bending at the same time, Krad nearly came up underneath his opposite. He certainly rocketed them back a ways, surprising the kaito as he also came upward with as much force as his long legs could supply.
Dark almost had time to clear his lungs. Quickly exhaling what he could, he avoided being completely winded as the hit lifted him off the floor by his chest. He went into a roll as his counterpart bucked him over a shoulder. The thief's efforts sent him out of Krad's immediate range, and allowed him ample time to recover and get his bearings—easily getting up into an immediate counterattack. Turning for his enemy, while simultaneously dragging air mercilessly back into his battered lungs, Dark charged, snarling and showing his fangs like a vicious wild animal. Krad used the extra protection of a large wing as Dark slammed with a fist. At the hit, white feathers scattered all in front of the kaito like a snowstorm. A white boot shot out of it. Dark grabbed it before it could connect and twisted.
With a roar, he slung with all his might, pulling his nemesis out of the disorienting debris and sending Krad like a misfired shot across the room and into an intricately carved pillar. Falling away from the erected stone, Krad pushed off the floor as soon as he touched the level surface, standing with only a small stagger. He welcomed his yelling reflection as Dark sped for him with a clawed hand raised.
And that's where everything went black.
For the both of them.
-.-
Cold metal bars pressed relentlessly into the side of his face. Krad carefully blinked open his eyes, feeling as if cracks were spreading from the recent knot on the back of his skull. The first sight that registered was the extremely bright lights glaring off the floor from beneath the uncomfortable bars. Gently, Krad un-wedged himself from the unforgiving metal and pushed to sit up, leaning back against the wall of what was most definitely a heavy-duty cage. It was nearly tall enough for him to stand in. He rubbed a gloved hand across his cheek as he looked around, studying the contraption and surroundings (which hadn't changed as he was still within the room of the museum, almost to the very spot he last remembered being), noticing with his clothed fingers that there were deep imprints in his skin.
He must have been out for a good half-hour or more if the prickly sensation in the whole half-side of him was anything to go by. His hand slowly lowered as golden eyes locked onto the other side of the cage and what it confined. Present, though separated by more thick bars, was Dark; sitting and leaning nonchalantly on the inside of the cage adjacent of him. Dark lifted a knee and balanced an arm on top of it. Purple eyes blinked, but didn't look over. Instead, they focused on an unimportant spot of pristine flooring, looking lost in thought.
"What you in for?" Dark finally spoke, his voice holding a tad of amusement.
"Why are we in this? Who set it up?" Krad demanded, feeling his temper pour back into his veins at the mere sight of the kaito.
"How should I know?" Purple eyes were still intensely focused on the floor. "I'm not even sure where this thing," Dark lifted the arm draped across his knee to tap against the metal behind him, "came from. But keep things toned down—reporters came in and wheeled live cameras into the corners of this exhibit." Krad immediately jerked his head to the four corners of the room, seeing large wheeled-tripods with bulky cameras staring at them from all angles; each with a little red dot lit on their tops.
Were they on Live TV?
"Since when is it a reporter's goal to trap their subjects?" Krad growled, eying the devices and their devious reflecting lenses while pulling to test the strength of a few random bars. They were quite thick, and none of them were loose. The welding was even reinforced, but that didn't explain the seeming lack of a built-in door. Surely it was just well camouflaged within the structure, though that didn't help any at finding it. Dark probably knew where his was on this conjoined caged, but the hunter wouldn't dare ask for the location of his own.
"Again, I don't know," Dark said, sounding curious. Krad looked over at him, fuming. Dark didn't seem worried at all over their shared predicament, which irked the white angel to no end.
"Well, I am not staying here to find out." Krad reached behind him and pulled a feather. Dark finally regarded the other as he tilted his head and looked out the corner of his eyes.
"You shouldn't do that."
"And why not?" Krad asked, glaring and lifting his feather to a single bar as if to slice through it.
"Call it a hunch." Dark shrugged and went back to semi-ignoring the other. Krad already knew well why he shouldn't.
"Dark's right: you shouldn't do that," came a steady and unforgettable feminine voice from behind the pillar. She was behind them. The cage suddenly shook and rattled as Dark sprung up and hit its unyielding roof with a bang. He quickly bent to his knees, holding his head with a whimper as pain came, blocking his vision with stars. Krad nearly ricocheted to the opposite side of the cage, white feathers bending some as wings snapped across the interior of the metal.
"I see you both haven't forgotten." There was unmistakable anger in the comment, and a touch of hurt. There was also a supreme sense of satisfaction and joy.
Still crouched, Dark spun on his heels, his eyes wide and staring at a well-dressed Miranda.
She remembers! Krad didn't erase her memory? Dark glanced searchingly over at his opposite, but the appalled look of shock and horror as Krad appeared to be mumbling to himself told the kaito that the hunter at least thought he had successfully wiped their time together from her.
Wait, her enunciation of "forgotten" hinted at her knowing what had been...attempted...? Done? He stared at her again, dulling noticing once more that she looked different; healthier, more radiant. And her outfit of a dress blouse and slim jeans were a sharp combination.
Dark slapped himself to bring his mind back up to pace. Also, to prove to himself that he wasn't caught in some nightmare. Unfortunately he wasn't—the slap stung something awful and didn't dispel the cage holding them. Daisuke griped about inflicting added pain, and that he was scared enough without the phantom thief losing his wits. Dark whipped his head around, searching for any bit of shadow. The blaring lights effectively lit everything brighter than day, so even if he didn't consider the cameras recording and airing, he couldn't shadow to weasel through the bars and to safety. Namely away from Miranda.
"Miranda," Krad said breathlessly. He twitched at his own voice, as if he hadn't meant to speak in an audible pitch. The cage clinked a little behind him at his movement. Miranda crossed her arms and looked down her nose at him, obviously pissed.
"The one and only."
It was as if the angels were suddenly back at her cottage, reliving the day and two nights they'd shared with her. ...And Mat.
Dark jolted upward, doing some wacky haphazard motions and turning circles within his side of the cage. It could have been a dance of some sort, but it seemed more like he was trying to shake some invisible, disgusting something off of him. This snapped Krad out of his stupor. Golden eyes regarded the thief; shaky in their disbelief, and now crinkling in confusion at the purple-haired teen. Dark stopped and explained himself.
"I thought of Mat."
"Okay." Krad's tone let it known that he didn't fully understand.
"I might have been fatally injured and unable to help it, but I still practically fell across that despicable guy's lap!" Dark shook a last time, ending on a violent shudder. Miranda giggled, drawing the twos' attention back to her.
"Glad to see you haven't changed any these last few months," she addressed Dark. Looking at both of them, she continued, "And thank you two for finally putting Mat away. The bastard deserved it and I can rest easy at night now."
"No problem," Dark said with a smile. Miranda returned one in kind. "You are going to let us out, right?" he added with a hopeful grin.
"Nope."
Dark's grin faltered. "B-but–"
"I'm a reporter now—check out the name badge," she said, plucking the plastic card on her pale-pink blouses' pocket. "It's my job to interview you guys."
The cage suddenly tipped towards her as Krad rammed it, holding the bars tightly within his fists. It crashed back down up-right, tripping the kaito and sending him to his butt. "SO THIS WAS YOUR DOING?" the white angel shouted furiously.
"Um..." Miranda scratched her cheek, hesitating in answering. "Not exactly. It was my boss's. He hired me exclusively to do reports on you two, and now he's wanting the full scoop. He keeps telling me he knows I'm the only one that can get it, but that I better get it soon in order to fulfill my contract if I want to keep my job."
This didn't appease Krad's anger. Meanwhile, Dark was still on his butt, seemingly horrified.
'She knows our secret, Dark! And Satoshi's! How have we not had the paparazzi tearing down our door? Or worse: the police!' Daisuke was going berserk inside with paranoia.
'Simple.' Dark's next words brought a terrible chill to the red-headed Tamer: 'Bargaining chip.'
"Let me out, or you will regret it," Krad growled. Miranda's brow wrinkled. Her face hardened as she nailed Krad with a piercing glare..
"Maybe you have forgotten some things. All I have to say is your other name in front of these cameras and all of Azumano will know it. And soon after that—say, oh, by tomorrow—the whole world will."
The four cameras surrounding them seemed to hum dangerously in response. Everything became still and quiet as the threat hung in the air.
"You wouldn't dare!" Dark suddenly blurted, "Not without adding the stipulation of agreeing to your interview!" Miranda looked at the phantom with appreciation and nodded.
"I was just about to say that. You guys will be free as soon as you agree to an interview with me. And," she pointed a deliberate finger at Dark, "I get to ask anything I want and you have to answer me with full honesty."
The blood drained from Dark's cheeks, making him appear a sick, pasty color.
"Why should I agree to that when you could expose us just as easily then? I know you; you would ask things that are way too personal."
Miranda thought about setting the kaito's worries at ease; her semi-new profession had taught her a few good tips. But, it was important to instill just how powerful her hand of cards were in this game. Besides that, it was fun watching Dark squirm.
"If that's the case, I can just say your name now and spare us the hassle, Dais–"
Dark's arms shot out of the cage and he waved them in panic. "WHOA, WHOA! OKAY, OKAY! DON'T SAY ANYMORE!"
Miranda smirked. "Do you agree to my terms, then?"
"Sure!" Dark nodded, pressed up against the bars. His nose protruded a fraction as his head quickly moved up and down. He retracted his arms, choosing to grab onto the bars instead, looking like the most hapless prison in-mate ever; especially with the helpless expression donning his features. But Miranda knew he was a sly devil.
"Promise?"
"Yeah," Dark hurriedly answered. If he was lying, he was doing a real good job of it. Miranda regarded Krad, whom had stood staring at her all this time in silence.
"And you, too, Krad?" she asked.
"Just because that lousy thief so readily agreed does not mean that I will," the hunter returned coldly.
"Really?" Miranda put her arms on her hips and took a deep breath. "SATO–" she began really loudly.
'NO! AGREE, KRAD, AGREE!' Satoshi shouted through their mind-link, his urgency flooding into the angel.
"STOP!" Krad yelled, also pressing his face up to the cluster of bars to better see out. His odd-colored eyes glowed, piercing more scarily than any animal's. Miranda felt a bolt of fear squeeze quickly through her at the sight. Perhaps this was the wrong...person...to lock down and threaten. Or maybe she felt that blackmailing her crush would be taken as a form of betrayal.
"Fine," Krad said more calmly, but turned his head to the side, looking away as he huffed angrily.
"Awesome!" Miranda bounced on her heels, fear forgotten. "You know, I really have missed you guys."
Dark gave a serious glance at the cameras, seeming to deeply consider something. Whatever it was, he wasn't happy about it.
"Miranda, I hate to take back what I said, but I can't give you that interview."
"What?" Happy bubble busted so quickly, Miranda looked at the thief in bewilderment. "You're kidding?"
"Afraid not," Dark glanced at the cameras again, his tone flat, "I know why your boss says you're the only one that can find out about us. You've been too obvious; he knows you've had direct interaction with us. I'm sorry, but we can't talk."
"But..." Miranda felt her stomach drop at the finality in his voice. And it was over more than just the loss of her interview, or even her career that she'd grown to love so much.
Trapping and threatening them had been a big mistake. But she'd thought if she could just get their attention... It should have all worked out!
"Dark, I didn't mean—" She walked forward just a little closer, just enough to reach for his hand, but Dark suddenly turned and bolted, throwing open the small door to the cage as if it hadn't been locked. It was low to the floor, but somehow he shot right through it head-first and still managed to speed right into a run, without ever pausing for balance. "Dark, please!"
"Alright, men, grab 'em! The reporter's had her chance, as promised!" Sergeant Saehara bellowed. The police force began pouring into the room, seeming to come from the walls themselves. Dark changed course and headed back, passing a watery-eyed Miranda for a window, but there was an officer suspended on a wire blocking his exit! What were the police thinking?
Marching footsteps, a wall of officers coming closer with batons raised—he was running out of time. Spotting a large vent cover about ten feet high, Dark seized his chance and rushed for it. He jumped impossibly high and kicked, knocking the cover clear off. He jumped again, this time sliding into it and disappearing quicker than a cat. "Just don't turn on the heater; I don't do well with hot metal," Dark's voice echoed, already sounding distant. The police all looked up at the open vent, dumbfounded. Dark had just escaped their clutches again!
He couldn't be human. Most of the police force were already mumbling this back at the station, as well as different theories of the phantom's origins every night.
"Not again, you don't," the Sergeant said. "Head 'em off!" he commanded to all the many heads filing out the room.
They will fail again, Krad thought, still in the cage, seeming a bit lonely without the thief. This was probably just an impression. The two appeared to belong together somehow. Like twins. Or better yet: like yin and yang.
"Krad," Miranda sniffled, "I wasn't—" But the angel interrupted her. "Stay away from me." Miranda's breath caught at the fearsome scowl her gave her. Gold flashed bright and the hunter's skin shone even brighter before white wisps mingled with the light and the cage was left empty.
Empty.
Just like her life now.
A gentle clacking of footsteps had her twisting toward the door. The end of a white cloak vanished beyond it. Krad's shadow hesitated going down the stairs, and Miranda's heart thumped; whether in hope or fear, she didn't know. But the angel continued on without turning back.
-)*(-