Daisuke quietly followed Dark, trudging through the thick forest leading to their home. Not that he would call it a home after what was done to him in there.

Daisuke was just a little bit bitter of the whole thing.

Glaring at the back of the man walking in front of him, Daisuke didn't even notice the tree root coming out of the cold ground, just begging to be tripped on. Daisuke, being the kind and generous person and or vampire that he is, decided to grant this one little root it's every wish.

Daisuke shut his eyes, waiting for impact.

Which, or course, came all too soon.

"Oomph…" Dark looked over his shoulder at his companion, who was face down in the dirt. After that, he really couldn't help himself, as he doubled over in obnoxious laughter.

Daisuke slowly lifted himself up, looking up at the man laughing at him. "You could have caught me, jerk." he said with another withering glare.

"If you keep glaring at me like that, your face is going to get stuck. As adorable as you are when you glare, I prefer your happy face much more. It suits you better." Daisuke blushed at his somewhat of a compliment. "Blushing is adorable too…"

Daisuke's eyes widened as the scowl disappeared from his face. "Sh-Shut up!"

Dark chuckled again, offering a hand to the fallen boy. Daisuke slapped the hand away and tried to get up himself.

Dark's own laughing smile soon disappeared as he grabbed Daisuke's wrist, pulling the boy up and into his chest.

Daisuke looked up at the older male, confusion obviously written on his face. Dark was practically suffocating him…not that he really needed to breathe…

"Dark…?" Said man glanced down at the younger that was held firmly in his grasp.

"Shhh…" Daisuke looked to his right, finding it difficult to do because of Dark's grip on him. Hearing nothing he sighed irritably. Dark pulled him closer and snarled at what one might assume was nothing.

As if in response to Dark's humble greeting, the bushes moved. Daisuke stiffened and tried to see what was happening, but once again, Dark's protective grip was a little too stubborn to allow for much movement.

Dark, on the other hand, quite comfortably watched as a little white tuft of hair rolled out of the moving bush.

"Wiz…?" Big red eyes looked up at the pair.

"Kyuuuu…!" Dark loosened his hold on Daisuke, just a little. It was only just enough for the boy to turn around and look at the rabbit-look-a-like.

"You can come out now, Riku." Daisuke looked up at Dark, still completely confused. He didn't see anyone, hear anyone, or smell anyone…

That is, until a young girl dropped from a tree behind them. Whirling around, Dark released Daisuke, who fell on his behind when Dark let go. Groaning, all the while mumbling obscenities, Daisuke looked up at the girl, who gave a short bow to Dark.

Daisuke scowled again while hoisting himself up.

"Hello Riku. It has been a long time since we last met." The girl's eyes scanned Dark up and down before she nodded in response.

"I see you've gotten better at masking yourself; I almost couldn't tell that it was you." Dark said gave a soft smirk to the girl.

"Thank you." She nearly chirped, smiling at his praise. Dark looked at her expectantly, highly amused. She gave him a surly look she quickly, but with obvious distaste, added, "….Master. How did your hunt go…?" Riku spared a glance at Daisuke, who shifted nervously.

Dark sighed. "He refused."

"I see." she said both turning their glances to the fidgeting boy. He instantly froze and met their stares with another glare of his own.

"What? I'm not hungry… or thirsty or...whatever."

Riku smiled a bit at this, seeming to find something funny. Daisuke lost the glare and glanced at Dark, who attempting to keep his chuckles from creeping out.

"What? What did I do now?" Daisuke inquired irritably.

Riku stepped towards him, plucking a twig out of his hair. Daisuke grumbled again and crossed his arms. "Ha-ha. Very funny. Can we go now? I'm tired."

Dark smirked, walking closer to Daisuke.

"I seemed to have forgotten just how clumsy you are. Shall I carry you the rest of the way home?"

Peeved at the mocking tone, Daisuke marched past the confident fiend and hooked arms with Riku. Riku threw an amused glance over her shoulder at Dark and the two marched forward together. Without Dark.

Dark began muttering under his breath, picking up Wiz before gracefully striding after the duo ahead of him.

-x-

The trio walked towards the large entrance to the place called home. It was a gargantuan castle that had high yet graceful spires reaching to the sky.

The overall architecture was based on more of the gothic style, with pointed arches and many stain-glasses windows, making it seem mysterious yet beautiful. Daisuke couldn't help the bitter thought that he would only enjoy the stain glass in the moonlight now.

Daisuke pushed this thought out as he and Riku hung back a bit, every once in a while snickering at something the other said. Dark sighed dejectedly and viciously pushed open the doors, causing them to bang against the heavy stone that surrounded them.

"Geez Dark, what did the door ever do to you?" Daisuke snickered again while Riku just smirked.

"I have a question, master, why doesn't Daisuke have to call you master at all?" Riku inquired somewhat smugly.

Dark turned to face the pair, a triumphant smirk on his own face. Daisuke looked between the two worriedly, obviously noticing the tension.

Riku glared.

Dark gave his cocky smirk.

Riku glared some more.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from the main courtyard which was followed by a high pitched squeal. All turned to see a Riku-look-a-like except this one had longer hair, which was also had a bit more brown in it...

"Master Dark! You're home!"

…Not to mention a couple octaves higher in the voice category. With the exception of Risa herself, everyone within a 10 mile radius winced, grimaced or fell to the floor writhing in pain.

The high-pitched horror launched herself at her 'Master', attempting to glomp him.

Dark let out a yelp in horror, it coming out as an 'Eep!' Daisuke just watched the common greeting, obviously entertained. Riku sighed before pulling her sister away.

"Risa and I have much work to attend to, Master Dark. Please excuse us." Riku all but growled her disdain evident through a use of sarcasm.

Dark sighed in relief before he turned to face his fledgling. The boy pretended not to notice the intense stare Dark had fixated on him. He casually watched as Riku led Risa away, the two bickering the whole way until they were out of sight.

Daisuke grinned and looked towards his sire. His grin soon faltered as he saw the serious expression plastered on the other's face. He fidgeted a bit, looking down at the ground.

"You know, you're going to have to feed sometime in the near future." Dark's serious tone differed greatly from the usual happy-go-lucky attitude he usually exuded.

Daisuke kept his eyes on the ground. "I… I know"

He had whispered it so quietly that, had Dark been human, he would have never had heard it. Fortunately, he did, and his grim face housed a newly formed frown.

"Dai…" Daisuke looked up, his eyes showing his obvious inner turmoil. Dark felt a sudden pang of guilt, but forced himself to keep eye contact. "I'm sorry. Please excuse me, I have work that I must attend to as well."

Dark confidently strode away, leaving Dai all alone. He sniffed, suddenly feeling something in his stomach. Walking towards the kitchen, he decided that he might as well experiment with food…

…if they even had actual food in the castle anymore.

-x-

Risa hummed a quiet tune to herself, throwing out the useless food they had kept for Daisuke when he was human.

Back when Dark couldn't have him. Back when she felt she still had a chance.

Risa inwardly cringed. She could still win, Dark could still love her. She could still become his.

Maybe… maybe it was because she wasn't strong enough? Give her a few years and she'd be stronger.

The girl sighed as her 'rival' entered the kitchen. He offered her a small smile as he sat in a chair on the table. She curtsied in response 'Must show some respect to the master's fledgling' she said to herself, and continued her cleaning.

"Miss Risa, ummm…" She paused to look at the speaker. "Can I... maybe try… to eat some of that?"

She gave him a questioning look, but tossed him whatever was in her hand. He gave her an odd look, but decided to try it.

The first thing he noticed was the horrid, but ridiculously bland flavor. It was as if he was eating ash. Figuring the item had expired, he politely requested another, which Risa handily provided.

It tasted the same. Daisuke sighed as Risa continued her duty, ignoring him completely.

"Is it all like that?" Daisuke looked towards the charming girl.

"Hmmm…? The food? Oh, yes. It is." Daisuke looked down at the wooden table, his finger drawing a figure eight.

"That… heh. Well, I can at least tell Dark that I tried to eat… I guess." Daisuke commented quietly. The girl suddenly stopped moving, tears coming to her eyes.

Daisuke, noticing this, immediately rushed to her side, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Miss Risa, what's wrong?"

The girl sniffled before leaning into the boy and crying.

Between sobs, she managed to utter "I've… tried… everything I could… think of…"

Daisuke patted her back awkwardly, wondering what she was referring too. Honestly, there wasn't that much food to begin with…

The crying gently subsided and Risa pulled back. Daisuke let his arms fall to his sides and cocked his head to the side, as if silently asking her what has just transpired.

Risa sniffled again and let out a weak laugh.

"I must look so silly. I'm sorry. Please don't tell Master Dark, I don't think he likes weakness…" She sniffled again.

Then it dawned on Daisuke. Risa was crying because…

"Miss Risa! I'm sure that's not true. I mean, I'm weak and clumsy, and we get along… most of the time." At Daisuke's comment, Risa's eyes noticeably darkened.

"You're right. You and Master Dark get along quite well." she growled, venom lacing her tone. "You drank some of his blood… his power… You aren't considered weak to him… I can…" She turned to face Daisuke. "I can absorb some of that."

Risa took a step towards the red head, Daisuke taking two steps back on instinct. Her eyes had a glazed look, betraying little to no emotion. Daisuke released a weak laugh as his back met the dining room table.

"Miss… Miss Risa? Is everything… okay?" Ignoring his voice, she continued stepping forward. Daisuke quickly looked for an escape route, noticing the closest exit was to his right. He bolted, Risa following quickly behind him.

Now, more than ever, he wished he wasn't so…

…so tired.

Risa was fast. Really, really fast. To the ordinary human she would have only seemed like a blur.

The last thing he remembered before it all went black was a startled yell (was it my own?), and red… and brown…

But the most comforting color that he saw was amethyst.

-x-

A/N:

Rio: …ahem. I had a lot to say while I was typing this out, but I can't for the life of me remember what any of it was. My comments on Risa are as follows:
She's annoying, she has a really high pitched voice, she's desperate and naïve, and what too often happens, is that the little bit of character she WAS given in the ani-manga, is often murdered, slaughtered and generally killed by fans. I know how hard it is to characterize a ditz like her, but I tried. PLEASE tell me if I killed her too?

… And by 'me' I mean 'us'.

Dark Mage: (raises hand) I agree whole-heartedly on the bit about Risa. Her voice is like scratching fingernails down a chalk board. I think that Rio did well trying to give Risa a bit more character to her. I admit, she was better by the end of the anime though. Let us know if me have made any mistakes! Also R&R!