)*(Let Me Attempt To Boot 'Cha)*(

Part Two: Seppuku Challenge

-)*(-

"So, any last words as we wait for our choices of death to cool?" Takuya tried to seem nonchalant, but it was obvious now that the time of reckoning had come, he was petrified. He seemed to shrink into himself a little in the corner of the booth where he sat.

"They won't really kill you," Cassie snorted, wrinkling her nose at him.

"You can still back out, Takuya. You too, Krad," Miki said nicely, turning slightly to pat Takuya's shoulder while giving Krad a comforting look across the table. She wouldn't hold it over them if they wanted to quit. All of them had felt their sinuses burn with the plume of rising steam.

How could any edible thing be so hot? Maybe... it wasn't edible... Or maybe it just really wasn't a good idea for it to be...

"Have you lost your confidence, Takuya-san?" Krad asked a bit cockily, trying to show some backbone as his eyes scanned over the slightly smaller man. He wouldn't let a mere batch of food run him away. And he hadn't forgotten about the deal between him and Satoshi.

"Hehe... hehe," Takuya barely managed a laugh, ending on a pathetic squeak. He cleared his throat. "No," he said sternly, screwing up his courage. "This is something I said I'd try when I first moved here, and now that I'm going away, this is my last chance." His face showed the utmost determination.

"Takuya... we weren't even serious when we talked about the challenge back then..." Miki didn't want him to feel pressured. She bit her bottom lip.

"I was serious," Cherri said with a shrug as she bottomed-up a small glass of Amaretto and pineapple, finishing it off. In the booth, Miki kicked left and bumped her ankle. "What?" Cherri turned to her and asked innocently.

"Maybe you should take the challenge, Cherri," Cassie said with a sneer, a very thin straw between her teeth; she'd ordered another Girl Scout Cookie.

"Only if you do, sweetie." Cherri raised her empty glass to her long-time friend and winked. Hanabara swiftly returned with a pitcher of milk, a couple of plastic cups, some thick napkins, and a stopwatch. She put everything on the table, then poured two full cups of milk and placed them in front of the two plates of wings. She set out the napkins and cleared away all their clutter of empty glasses.

"Someone needs to drink that shot of Goldschlager and let it set. I'll be back in five minutes. Do what you need to do and be ready," she said, turning and walking away. Why did it feel as if she pitied them?

"I think she feels guilty over letting us do the challenge..." Takuya said nervously, glancing over his shoulder at the leaving bartender.

"Not helping morale thinking like that," Cherri said.

"You can either do it, or you cannot," Krad said, inspecting the hall and memorizing where the restrooms were.

"You're not helping either!" Cassie thumped Krad's shoulder playfully. He looked a little taken aback, but slowly, Krad was getting used to the behavior of these people. A small part of him was actually liking it. Never could they be trusted or confided to, but they could talk and try new things, even understand one another on a basic level.

"This steam is really messing up my nose," Takuya said, leaning over his plate. He suddenly reared up straight, brushing his fingers over his eyes. "Whoa!" He blinked, looking at everyone through slightly redder and watery eyes. "You can't get close to them!"

"Remember that the oil from the pepper can burn skin. Be careful after you touch them not to touch anywhere near your eyes until you wash thoroughly," Miki reminded. "Hanabara-san also said to wash as soon as possible."

"It's a wonder a person can even digest those things," Cassie said, eying the plates with renewed respect.

"That's why it's called the 'seppuku challenge'; after a while in your stomach, it feels like something is stabbing you." Cherri brushed wavy red hair over her shoulder.

"Don't remind me," Takuya said, glum. Krad was slowly turning his face more and more away from the wings.

"And you know what else they say," Cassie chuckled, "that it hurts worse –"

"–Coming back up?" Miki interrupted curiously.

"Yeah." Cassie nodded. "Among other things..." She hid a cheeky smile behind her hand.

"I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight," Takuya complained loudly, seeming to sink into his seat. "I'm going to be so tired waiting for my flight tomorrow."

"Don't go then," Cherri quickly said, a little more forcefully and desperately than she meant to. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she wished she could take them back.

Takuya gave her a studious look. "You know I have to." Cherri frowned; she didn't want to hear this again. Standing, she went to the bar for another drink. Once she was out of earshot, Cassie turned to Takuya. "You know how she feels about you."

"We grew up as friends – all of us. I don't want to ruin anything by taking things further than that."

"But..." Cassie trailed off, not knowing what else to say. She knew all too well what unrequited love felt like, and she did not wish that pain on anyone.

"It wouldn't ruin anything; we'd all still be close," Miki said, searching to say the right thing. Takuya reached over for his shot that got pushed close to Krad and brought it to him, immediately drinking it. He shook his head and put the short, thick glass down a little harder than he meant to.

"I don't want to; she's too wild for me. Cherri's tough, and hard to predict."

"The fairer gender really is not fair," Krad said, figuring the gang had managed to mostly forget about him in light of their current dilemma.

"What do you mean?" Miki asked. Golden eyes looked and searched her deep blue ones.

"Women can be just like men in a lot of ways," he said knowingly.

"Do you know a lot of women? You can't be that much older than us," Cassie said.

"..." Krad remained quiet.

"You don't seem the sort for one-night stands," Cassie continued, her eyes widening a bit.

"Don't accuse him of such a thing!" Miki chastised, nearly jumping to reach across the table to smack her friend. "I think you've had too much to drink; your mouth has gotten too loose!" Takuya hammered once on the table, causing the dishes to clink as he laughed. Oddly, Krad started laughing as well, but it was somewhat chilling. The girls looked over at him. Miki was studying him with concern, but Cassie looked about ready to eat him up. Krad noticed and quietened down, drawing his lips, instead, into a smile. His eyes seemed to radiate a small glow. There was something different about him, relaxed; it was as if he'd grown accustomed to them all and they'd gained a powerful ally. Then, he did something no one could have foreseen: he reached close beside him to Cassie's face and forced her chin up. She went ridged in surprise, then completely relaxed, wishing and beyond hope that he was about to do what she thought he was about to do. Krad leaned down close, his nose nearly touching hers. His eyes glittered mischievously as hers closed and her lips puckered slightly in anticipation for his.

"Are you always so naughty?" Krad asked, mirth in his voice. Cassie opened her eyes again and blushed, then squeaked in embarrassment as her nose started bleeding lightly. She reached for one of their napkins. Takuya howled with laughter, and Krad couldn't stop chuckling as he quickly lifted away.

"You're so mean to tease like that!" She wiped her nose viciously.

"Don't worry, they won't be laughing for much longer," Hanabara said, coming up and resetting the stopwatch in her hand. Takuya immediately shut up. Krad just looked up at her, then took in a deep breath to prepare himself.

"Alright, girls, up here with me so you don't get sauce slung on you in their frenzy," Cherri called, appearing from behind Hanabara to lean on the table of the booth opposite, a new glass in her hand.

"Right," Miki answered, sliding out.

"Don't have to tell me twice," Cassie said, following suit.

"Guys, get ready," Hanabara ordered, her thumb hovering over the start button of the watch. Takuya picked up a smothered wing and gulped. Krad picked up one of his, already ready for this competition to be over. "Get set." Takuya placed the wing right by his opened mouth and whined. Krad copied the pose, but not the noise. "GO!" Hanabara yelled, smashing down on the timer. People began cheering as Krad and Takuya bit into the meat.

It wasn't too warm from the stove anymore, and it tasted really good. Takuya found a fast pace rolling the bones and peeling off their meat with his teeth. By the second or third wing he was practically shoving them into his mouth and pulling them out pretty much clean. Krad was going a bit slower, but not by much. He pulled the meat off more delicately and more precisely, but he was swallowing faster, barely chewing. The faster the sauce got off his tongue, the better.

By the fourth wing, simultaneously, both men choked. Hot didn't even begin to describe the spicy heat stabbing needles into their tongues. And where the sauce had touched their cheeks burned, as did their lips. It was absolutely painful! Takuya was going red in the face. Krad suspected he was doing the same; he could feel his temperature and blood pressure rising rapidly. Takuya slammed a sauce-coated hand down onto the table, then dove for his fifth wing. Blinking back tears, Krad did the same.

"Two minutes," Hanabara announced.

"You guys are doing great! Don't slow down!" Cherri cheered. But they were definitely going slower now that the heat was battering at them.

"Don't think about it! Just keep shoving them in!" Cassie cried.

"Don't give up!" Standing, Miki raised two napkins in either hand as if they were pom-poms. She obviously had some practice being a cheerleader as she started to do a few precise arm movements.

The challenge was excruciating. Krad had never eaten food that wanted to fight back, but fight back this did! The needles were now trailing hooks down his throat. He coughed to clear it, but it did little good. He tried to ignore the rough sensation as he stuffed the next wing in his mouth, which felt swollen. Takuya, on his eighth, stopped for a breather, his mouth full and face covered in sweat. The pores on his skin looked huge. He sniffed, grabbing for a napkin to wipe off before attacking the challenge again.

"One minute."

Krad pitched forward and reached for a napkin to hold to his face. The girls all gasped, afraid, like he was, that he was about to lose it. It felt like something had kicked him in the stomach.

"No!" Miki shouted.

"Come on!" Cherri barked.

"...!" Cassie had covered her eyes.

His nose was running. He swiped it with the napkin, feeling as if he's lost two layers of skin from his upper lip in the process. This stuff was going to kill him! He swallowed what was in his mouth anyway, shook himself, then nearly ate his ninth wing whole in a rush, bones and all. Fire was alight inside his mouth. And nose. Oh God his blistered lips.

"Thirty seconds."

Three more to go. Takuya scrunched his face, breathing what he could past the lava in his mouth. "Mah noze is gonga fall off!" It did look inflamed. Krad tried not to think of how bad he looked as he went for his tenth.

"Twenty seconds."

"Hurry guys!" Cassie yelled.

"Pansies!" Cherri roared, lifting her glass high and sloshing some of her drink out the edges of it.

"Go! Go!" Miki cheered.

"Ten."

Both Takuya and Krad were on their last wings, each hurrying and trying not to grab for the milk. It was so tempting, and getting harder and harder to resist. The cups were right there with their condensation, looking so refreshing and relieving, and, above all, cool.

"Five, four –"

They both threw their cleaned wing bones down. But they couldn't sit back yet. "There's still some meat on some of them!" Miki and Cassie pointed out. Krad and Takuya scrambled to polish them off.

"–One, ZERO!"

Though their mouths were full, their plates were filled with only bones. Takuya immediately tore after more napkins, wiping his scorching lips and burning fingers. Krad did the same, then shimmed out of his cloak. It was just too warm for it now.

"All you boys have left to do is get it down and keep it that way for five minutes," Hanabara said. Takuya chewed faster and forced himself to swallow. "When can we drink?" he asked, tears streaming down his cheeks and wetting his already sweat-dampened shirt.

"After one minute." Hanabara scooped up their plates and continued to stand watch. It was part of the rules as referee – make sure no one cheats. Takuya laid his head down on the table in misery. "It hurts," he groaned.

"And I was going to take the challenge..." they heard one of the other customers say.

"Forget it," someone else answered.

"How do you two feel?" Miki asked, coming to stand close, looking a tad worried.

Takuya answered by grinding his face into the table. Krad was busy trying to stir as much air over his tongue as possible. It didn't seem to be helping any, so he discreetly closed his mouth and tried to breathe normally. The burn was enough to make his teeth ache, and his poor tongue felt stripped raw. Coals were glowing hot in his stomach (and seemed to be getting hotter), making his whole body feel uncomfortably warm, even without the heavy cloak.

"You guys don't look so good," Cherri said.

"You think?" Takuya lifted up to say, giving her a dirty look. She laughed.

"She's right; you guys must have sweat buckets," Miki said.

"And your eyes are bright and watery, and your faces bright red," Cassie added.

"That makes us feel a whole bunch better." Takuya put his head back down with a thunk.

"Minute is up; you both can drink," Hanabara said, not yet pocketing the watch.

Takuya had his milk gone before Krad even grabbed for his. But the white liquid was only a temporary relief. After a few seconds, the intense burn came right back.

"How long will we have to keep this up?" Krad asked, after his third glass of milk.

"It varies from person to person, but you two can't keep guzzling it down like that or you'll both spew. The body can only handle so much lactose at one time," Hanabara warned. And with that, Krad put his cup down. Takuya reluctantly did the same, but he couldn't quite let go of the plastic. Just his fingers wrapped around the coolness, at least, gave an illusion of comfort.

The rest of the five minutes passed slowly, in near agonizing silence. No one wanted to put the two in more agony by making them talk.

"This burn needs to go away!" Takuya tapped his foot rapidly and angrily, finally breaking the hush.

"It will eventually," Krad remarked, just as agitated, but his wings pulsing slightly open and close were the only outward sign of this. Cherri threw her arms around Takuya's neck, the movement a bit unbalanced. "Just get your mind on other things." He grumbled something in reply.

"Success! Congratulations! This will go down in our history; we've never had two to complete the challenge in one night!" Hanabara looked happy as she presented them with what looked like credit cards from out of her big apron's front pocket. They both had Treb's as a logo on them, but instead of a magnetic strip on the back, they had giant barcodes to be scanned. "These are yours. Now if you'll stand over here we'll take your pictures, and then you're free to go wash up." Both men slowly stood. Krad was ready to leave; his stomach wasn't feeling any better, but he obliged for only one reason. He smirked, imagining what would happen tomorrow, and let the digital camera capture the expression. It was sure to drive the person he was thinking about insane.

"Urgh," Takuya complained as he and Krad exited the men's room a little later, "my stomach's starting to feel all prickly."

"And that's just the beginning!" Cherri came up to and slapped him on the back, much to the young man's aggravation. Cassie came up a step behind Krad, reaching to grab one of his arms tightly within her own as they continued to walk. "You're going to stay with us for a while longer, right?" she asked, her bottom lip protruding outward some as she looked up to him with the most pleading look she could muster. Barely a man alive could resist it, but Krad glanced down and shook his head impassively.

"I will be heading back to deal with the aftereffects on my own." Cassie let out a frustrated noise. Krad removed himself from her hold, making her even more disappointed.

"We come here every Friday night. Will you be joining us again sometime in the future?" Miki asked, then appeared stricken as she looked over at Takuya. "I mean..." She hung her head. Takuya stopped and turned around to face Krad. Being in front, this made all of them stop in their tracks.

"This is my last night here for a long time to come. Will you come by every now and again? The girls need someone else that will look after them and keep them out of trouble when they're here." Cherri hit his arm hard, but he only winced, determined to see this through. A small smile tugged at Krad's lips as he looked around, seeing his signed waver being tacked below an empty frame in the wall next to all the others. By tomorrow his photo would be hanging there. He glanced back at Takuya.

"Sure. I will be here tomorrow, actually." For someone was going to come inspect what had happened here.

Takuya couldn't look more appreciative as he bowed slightly. "Thank you very much!" Cherri still didn't look pleased with her arms crossed tightly, but Cassie was all thrills. "We should set something up," she said. But Krad was already bypassing them all for the doors. "Aw!" she pouted. The four ran to catch up just as the angel exited to the now rain-free night. The cleaner air did a lot to refresh him.

Goodbyes were quickly exchanged (impatiently on the angel's part), but Miki was in the very back and couldn't see. Her dress shoes slapped gently on the wet concrete as she pushed her way to the front and stopped not far from Krad. She seemed to realize she'd went a few steps farther towards him than was proper for her status, but chose to ignore it as she said cheerily, "Come see us soon!" Krad, who had been studying the night sky intensely, looked down at her. His eyes were serious and seared the small woman as all of his attention focused to her, but his face was more of a mask than it had ever been. A slim, pale hand larger than her own grabbed hers. She gasped, trembling some as he lifted her fingers up to his lips and pressed a light kiss there. The contact seemed to burn.

It's probably just from the peppers, she told herself. It's not any kind of mark, or a sign of Fate.

In stunned silence white wings fanned and Krad lifted into the dark, having learned a valuable lesson: Not all human life should be valued as he had originally thought. But later that night, if he could have killed Satoshi without ending his own existence, he would have.

He hadn't been able to fly very far before he'd been forced to land and walk to their apartment. The stabbing sensation in his stomach had him drawing in a fraction, and that didn't bode well with flying straight. But that wasn't nearly the worst of it; after much pacing in the living room and a few tantrums as the pain continued to escalate and refuse to let him lay down and rest, Krad knew he had to go. As in, use the bathroom.

He gulped and looked down the hall at the forbidding door. He'd never stayed out long enough to deal with the... disadvantages of being mortal. That was not for him. But Krad couldn't bring out Satoshi to handle this or he'd lose the bet for calling on help. So Krad tried to ignore it. He sat on the small two-seater couch and started preening the ends of his wings. He'd really made a mess of his feathers, dragging them like he'd done. But his lower bowels growled and quaked, not wanting to be denied. Eventually the pressure got so bad his fingers began trembling.

Standing, beyond irritated, he gave a dark glance at the bathroom. He shook his head in stern refusal. He wouldn't go! He just needed to focus on doing something else until morning, because then Satoshi would check on him, meaning he'd held out and won and he could retreat in a deep recess somewhere in their mind and be safe from this disturbing mortal dilemma.

But nothing worked. His body seemed to be losing the ability to hold itself together. It felt like his sanity was slipping until, finally, he ran into the bathroom cursing out loud every Hikari and Niwa he could name.

The bathroom door slammed shut with a finality. He was actually going to have to do this. He looked around the dull room. Did he have everything he needed? He tried to check a list off mentally, but his gut was threatening and wiping his mind blank.

"Uuuhh..."

Maybe music would drown this out and make it easier. He turned to open the door and instinctively his legs crossed. Not going to make it! He raced to the toilet, and woke the neighbors with his shouting of the agonizing burning and indignity.

-.-

Dark was suddenly out, replacing Daisuke as he stopped mid-run to the front door from the kitchen. Daisuke's morning toast dangled from his mouth as he stared back at the newspaper Daiki sat reading. His bookbag dropped heavily to the floor from his shoulder, forgotten. The toast soon followed.

A black and white picture of Krad stared back at him. Dark galloped, then kneeled, practically sticking his nose into the paper to zero in on the writing. Jumping out of his skin, Daiki lifted the newspaper away to see what had disturbed him, but Dark snatched it back down, hearing it tear in his haste.

"Dark? What...?" The old man was surprised out of his wits. He must be getting incredibly old not to notice the Hikari Curse on the freakin' front page!

Krad!

Right there!

The hell?

Had he slipped into another dimension last night as he'd slept?

Dark read: "'The white-winged angel that has sometimes been seen chasing the infamous Phantom Thief, took part in a challenge at Treb's Diner & Bar late last night, introducing himself as Krad Hikari and winning the difficult Seppuku Challenge: Suicide Hot Wings, along with one other man, Takuya Yule.' What the hell? Krad in public? Has he finally snapped the rest of the way?" Daiki was turning the paper around where he could read it as Dark shot up, jumped over the fallen bookbag, and raced out the front door and down the street.

'Dark! Someone probably saw that!' Daisuke grimaced as he contemplated everyone knowing where The Phantom Thief lived. The hassle... The paparazzi!

"I don't care! I need to get to that diner and see what damage Krad did! Or maybe something about the place has attracted his interest! I need to find out what's going on!"

Dark was out of breath by the time he reached downtown and the diner. As he slowed to a stop before the darkened double doors, his hand flew to loosen his collar, which stretched out Daisuke's school uniform and broke off a few buttons. Oh well. He had much more pressing matters at the moment.

He carefully pushed open a door, peering in to study the interior of the place. It looked classy and classic – a place he'd very much like to hang out in. What had Krad been doing here? What was his reasoning? That anti-socialist had to have a very good reason motivating him.

Dark walked halfway in, stopping as Krad's framed picture behind the register spotted him. The too-knowing expression gave him a chill. He wanted to blow it off the wall.

"Excuse me," he said, coming up fast to the woman running the bar. A small part of him was distracted enough to wonder if they served alcohol this early in the day. Her slightly flat face looked up at him from whatever she was doing and she stared at him with captivated eyes behind a dusting of freckles. "What do you know about that guy?" Dark asked, pointing at Krad's picture. She jerked as she twisted to look behind her. She quickly faced him again. "I don't know; I wasn't here. You'll have to ask night shift," she said a little breathlessly.

Dark's brows quickly wrinkled and he frowned, trying to think. Something felt very wrong here.

The woman's eyes suddenly flicked to stare behind him, but Dark had been too lost in his thoughts and reacted late. Hands came down on his shoulders and fingers dug into the pressure points there. His body automatically started folding to the floor, but the strong hands turned him on his heels, spinning him on the spot. He couldn't believe he'd made it this easy for Krad to catch him. He continued to berate himself even as he fought the debilitating effects of the hold and tried to break free.

Glittering gold eyes pierced him and glared mischievously and levelly into his amethyst ones. What was about to happen? Did Krad want him to see his deathblow coming?

He blinked as he noticed something sticking from Krad's mouth. It looked like a black pepper; the tip cut as its juices dripped out of it. He was too startled and still too physically stunned to do much more than grunt as Krad's face pressed to his own. Golden hair wrapped around him like silk and golden eyelashes swept downwards, almost closing, but not quite. Whatever was in Krad's mouth speared between his lips. The invading object smashed to a stop upon the barrier of his teeth, the shock of which gave him the force to break backwards. Black wings sprung out and shot in opposite directions, coming forward to hammer Krad and send him dropping to the floor.

Dark's eyes were wider than they'd ever been. He couldn't have been more shocked by anything in this world than what had just transpired.

"K-krad! What are you thinking –" Dark couldn't finish his remark as he slapped a hand to his suddenly burning mouth. Krad smiled as he looked up, getting up and dusting himself off, the pepper having rolled somewhere.

"A Kiss of Burning for my dear enemy," Krad sneered, turning to walk calmly away.

"Krad! What was that?" Dark started panicking, wiping his mouth as hard as he could on the sleeve of his shoulder. It didn't help; only made it feel like he was tearing his lips off. Black wings fanned up and down, desperate, it seemed, to cool the fiery wrath of whatever it was that Krad had used on him. Krad gave a smirk over his shoulder, continuing on to exit to the sidewalk. He had a small thing of milk that he was drinking as he walked past the windows. Dark bared his teeth and ran after him to demand answers. "What were you thinking? Have you gone flat insane? What was that?" Dark puffed as he ran in front of Krad, ready to pound his opposite to a pulp. And ready to scratch his own tongue off it was hurting so bad.

"So to catch you, I need to get you chasing me?" Krad smirked, then drank more milk. He knew he'd end up getting a taste of some of the oils. Dark eyed the container before snatching for it. Krad was quicker and lifted it out of reach as Dark began almost dancing around for it, his wings beating in time to his steps. Krad laughed as Dark cursed, managing to just keep it out of his reach.

"It hurts, you sonuvabit–"

I've got to keep thinking of ways to beat Krad and get rid of him, Satoshi thought quietly. Next time, I'll have a real plan.