Dark's worst nightmare

When Daiki was about to enter the house, Sato stopped him. When Sato saw his questioning look, he said, "There're traps all over the place…and they're active!"

"Emiko must have set them on early then."

"She sets traps?!" said Dai in dismay.

"Want me to go through and deactivate them?" asked Sato.

"You can get through traps? I'll enjoy seeing this," chuckled Daiki.

Sato stretched a bit before taking hold of the top of the doorframe and swinging past the tiles onto the floor, sliding across it until he reached the other wall. He grinned as he said, "San, Nii, Ichi…" and as if on cue, the poles shot out of the wall. (Note he said '3, 2, 1' in Japanese.)

He jumped onto the walls across the obvious banana peel trick, and knew to run fast to avoid the revolving trap door, dodging the second peel from the ceiling, and then short-circuited the electric current on the door using a stitching needle. He unlocked the door and turned off the course. (It only took him 30 seconds to do all this.) Daiki whistled, impressed by the speed that Sato used throughout the course.

"Impressive! Even Daisuke takes over a minute to get through all that!"

"He's obviously not as alert as we are then," said Dai.

Daiki led them to the living room and they waited until his daughter woke up; she was a tad annoyed he turned off the traps. When she entered the room, she was surprised to see both Dai and Sato sitting close to him.

"You're up early Daisuke!" said Emiko.

"Why does everyone keep calling me Daisuke?! My name is Dai!" grumbled Dai.

"Emiko, Daisuke is still asleep," said Daiki.

"Then who…"

"My name is Dai Niri," said the red-head.

"Sato Hikawa," said the blue-haired boy.

"Father, why are they…?" started Emiko.

"They said they came out of the Black Wings, and Sato here flew through all the traps in less than 30 seconds," said Daiki.

"But that's impossible…"

"Not for me it isn't," shrugged Sato.

An alarm is heard from the upstairs, followed by a crash and a yelp. Emiko went to make sure Daisuke got dressed in time; Daiki turned towards them and asked, "So do you want to meet my grandson Daisuke?"

"No thanks…" grumbled Dai. When they heard him come down the stairs, they instinctively said, "Glamora Akanorum!"

Daisuke ran past, and only saw his grandfather on the couch. He called out, "Bye Grandpa, see you after school!"

"Have fun Daisuke!" answered Daiki.

"Father, where did those two…" started Emiko when she heard and audible, "Dispelion!"

Dai and Sato reappeared on the couch, amused at her surprised reaction.

"What was with the vanishing act you two pulled?"

"Easy…we didn't want to deal with answering his questions this early in the morning," shrugged Sato.

"So how did you two…?"

"Don't tell me you've never heard of a glamour!" said Dai surprised.

"Nope…I didn't know you two knew magic," said Daiki.

"Why wouldn't we? We come from two of the most powerful clans around!" grinned Dai, amused.

"Maybe 500 years ago, but nowadays most people can't use magic," said Daiki.

"500 years…?"

"Yeah…that's how long we were trapped inside that blasted mirror. Our brothers sacrificed themselves to keep the mirror from destroying itself and the land…" said Sato quietly.

"That doesn't sound right. The Black Wings was created by the Hikari clan 400 years ago!" said Emiko.

"No it wasn't."

"Then it can't be the same Mirror."

"It's large, has a soul, and happens to be bound with chains. And it happens to predate both the Hikari and Niwa families. I know your family was the one who interrupted the ceremony to give the mirror a soul," said Sato.

"You've got most of your facts right, but that mirror was created by the Hikari," said Daiki.

"No, it was made by three clans. The Hikawa, the Niri and the Tsubasa. Now that mirror is tied to nature itself, so when the Hikari tried to give it a soul, they only made things worse," said Dai.

"Oh? What else do you know?" asked Daiki, amused.

Sato and Dai told them the true story behind the Kokoyoko, and it was only when they reached the part about the sacrifice their brothers made that Sato became deathly quiet. Dai finished and waited until the truth had sunk in before becoming silent.

"So Dark and Krad aren't the two halves of the Black Wings?" said Emiko finally.

"No. At least, I doubt it. That mirror already has a soul, and the Hikari only made things worse for the Black Wings!" said Sato.

"So where are your brother's bodies buried?" asked Daiki.

"Bodies? What're you talking about?! When they sacrificed themselves to the Black Wings, it took them completely, soul and body!" said Sato angrily.

"If that's true, then how will you get your older brothers out?" asked Emiko.

"We need to find what happened to their souls. Yami and Hikari's bodies were there, but their souls were no where to be found. I think that the Hikari clan may have done something to them…" said Dai.

"So there's a chance your brothers are already out," said Daiki.

"Yeah…"

"Oh dear! Look at the time! Daisuke's going to be home soon!" said Emiko suddenly. She ran to turn the traps on, and then came back.

"So are you going to let Daisuke see you this time?" asked Daiki, amused.

"I'd prefer not explaining things all over again…" sighed Dai.

"Well you two are more than welcome to stay the night…or until you get a place of your own," said Emiko.

"Arigato," said Dai and Sato in unison. When Daisuke did return, he never saw the other two boys, who were still sleepy since they woke up so early. Luckily there was a spare bedroom, so they stayed there until after Daisuke went to bed.

Two days later…

After receiving a lecture of sorts from Emiko, they agreed to attend the same school as Daisuke. They went to pick up their new books and school supplies, and had to get their schedule from the Principal's office.

"Welcome to… Daisuke Niwa and Satoshi Hiwatari! What're you two doing here?! I was told that the new students were here!" said the man surprised.

"You've got us mixed with someone else," said Dai.

"We're not Daisuke and Satoshi…" said Sato, (anime-sweat-drop)

"How do I know this whole thing wasn't a prank?"

"Is Satoshi left-handed?" replied Sato, determined to get it over with.

"No…"

Sato took a pencil and wrote something with his left hand, proving that they weren't Satoshi and Daisuke.

-----

"Class, we have two new students!" said the teacher.

"New students? I didn't see anyone new…" started Takeshi when the teacher opened the door and in came the first boy.

"I'd like you all to meet…"

"Hikawa, Sato," said the blue-haired boy.

"And…where is the other boy?" said the teacher confused.

"Not again! Dai, will you get in here already!" sighed Sato. When 'Dai' didn't come in, he went back out and dragged another boy with red hair into the room!

"This is…"

"Niri, Dai," said the boy, nervously.

"No way!" said Takeshi loudly.

"Saehara, that is no way to greet new students," scolded the teacher.

"But they look just like…!"

"We know…We look like someone named Daisuke Niwa…" started Dai.

"And Satoshi Hiwatari! We've been getting that all day!" finished Sato.

"Hikawa-san, your seat will be next to Hiwatari-san. Niri-san, yours is next to Niwa-san."

"Hai!" they said in unison.

During lunch, they were practically swamped by the others.

"So where are you two from?" asked Riku.

"A small village…" shrugged Sato.

"How long have you been here?" asked Takeshi.

"A few days…" said Dai.

"Where do you live?"

And it went on and on. It quickly became clear that Sato and Satoshi were completely different. Where Satoshi was cold and indifferent, Sato was friendly and easy to talk to. Daisuke and Dai were almost complete opposites too! While Daisuke was a shy, klutzy, and rarely serious, Dai was openly friendly, spoke his mind, and had an exceptional sense of balance! It was unnerving how alike and different the boys were. It was almost as if their other half had come out! When asked about Phantom Dark, they were clueless.

By the end of the day, Dai and Daisuke were friends, while Satoshi regarded the other as a mortal enemy. When Sato went to leave, he noticed immediately that the other was following him.

"What do you want, Hikari?" asked Sato without turning to face him.

"How did you know I was following you? And who told you my birth name?" said Satoshi suspiciously.

"I felt your aura and it's very similar to my older brothers. So it was only logical to assume that it was you following me," replied Sato.

"Who are you really?"

"I told you…my name is Sato."

"No, I mean who are you? Why do you and your friend look exactly like me and Daisuke?"

"Beats me. All I know is that we're related," shrugged Sato.

"Why were you at the museum and how did you sneak past those guards before Dark?" Satoshi said, changing the subject.

"Haven't you ever heard of a glamour?"

"Glamour?"

"I believe you'd probably call it an illusionary spell these days…" chuckled Sato.

"These days?"

"Yeah…I don't feel like discussing it where overly talkative would-be reporters would blab…" hinted Sato.

"Saehara, get out here NOW," hissed Satoshi annoyed.

"How'd you know I was here Hikawa?" asked Takeshi.

"Honestly? Or would you prefer the short version?" asked Sato sarcastically.

"Yeah! It'll make a great article for…"

"Well, I knew you were there because you're a reporter. And everyone knows reporters are noisy fools," chuckled Sato.

"Ouch…though he does a point," snickered Satoshi.

Sato and Dai were walking back with Daisuke to his house. He was very surprised to find out that they were staying in the empty guest room! When they arrived at the house, Dai stopped his present day counterpart from entering the house first. He grinned as he pointed to the tiled floor.

"What?"

"He-he…do you want to deal with the trap floors? Or would you prefer I go through it in your stead?" chuckled Dai.

"WHAT! You mean mom activated…?"

"Yup…the bottomless trap. Watch and learn…" grinned Dai. He jumped up and grabbed the top of the door frame, then swung onto the floor, sliding across it fast enough for the floor sensors not to activate upon touch.

"3, 2, 1…and…!" said Dai as the poles shot out after three seconds.

"Woah! How did you…?"

"I've got 500 years of experience over you," chuckled Dai.

Dai flew through the course in less than 45 seconds, and deactivated the traps for Daisuke. He came in, and was still in awe at the speed Dai went through the course.

"So what did you mean by you had 500 years experience?"

"I meant that literally. I'm older than this infamous Dark," said Dai.

"Yeah, speaking of Dark, I heard from that noisy fool Saehara that he sent out a warning letter for the 'Thief's Heart' around 9:30…" said Dai.

"Ah yes…and it is near 9. Better get ready then Daisuke!" said Emiko.

"Another night, another theft…Any chance Dai could take my place tonight mom?" sighed Daisuke.

"He could if he can turn into Dark for you. Can you?" asked Emiko.

"Um…I don't know if I can turn into an idiot like Dark. But…I can do one better. I can turn into my older brother for about an hour or so. He's just as good as I am…with a minor catch."

"What kind of catch?"

"You'll see. So Daisuke, you turn into Dark, is that it?"

"Yeah…stupid love gene…"

"So you don't want to go?"

"Not if I can help it. I don't like stealing…"

"Eh…it's not that bad. Anyway, what does Dark look like? The only time I've even seen him was in the pitch-black night!"

"Daisuke, think you can turn into Dark and show him?"

"Fine…"

"In that case, I'll turn into Hikari," said Dai.

As Dai and Daisuke transformed, they were in for a serious shock! Instead of just Dark and the brother they barely even knew about, they were stuck with TWO almost identical Phantom Thieves!

"So where's this Hikari guy and why am I looking at a red-haired version of myself?" asked Dark.

"What the…? I would say you were Hikari with your memory erased, but there's one big problem with that," said Dai, switching back.

"What?"

"Your balance doesn't rely on your wings being out all the time. Plus he wasn't always that good at making escapes…or jumping… That, and he also jumped me on sight!" said Dai.

"Wait…so basically you're saying I was a klutz without my wings out all the time?!"

"Yup…I was always better at thieving than you were. I wonder what changed."

"Whatever…so do you know what the piece looks like?"

"I'll follow the strong aura. I can feel it from here," said Dai, switching into his brother's form. Sato wrote something for Dai, who took it with him as he went to steal the 'Thief's Heart'. By the time he came back, he was all smirks. It had taken him less than ten minutes to steal the 'heart' and return…which broke Dark's record by five minutes. Dark had been foiled by a boy who looked exactly like Daisuke! He was in a foul mood for three days straight after that.