"Why haven't you changed back into Satoshi yet?" Krad's fingers touched his chest briefly. "I don't know." His head dropped as he attempted to transform and the brand flared up, making him hiss with displeasure. ~Satoshi? ~ ~Yes? ~ ~Why can't we transform? ~ ~ I don't know. I'm not happy about it, either. ~ Krad looked up. "I think I might be stuck like this for a little while. It's probably just the injury." Dark eyed him suspiciously. "Right. Well, I'm going to let Daisuke take over." As he transformed Krad managed quickly "Did you tell him about-" Daisuke naturally freaked out, "Krad!" and began to feign choking. "Daisuke, I am not choking you!" Daisuke paused and ran his hands around his throat.
"Oh. You usually do. What are you doing in my house?" Krad sighed and leaned into the comfortable pillows. "Ask Dark. And bring me something to eat when you're done. I am starving." The redhead left with an annoyed expression on his face and Krad realized with dismay he still had his shoes on. When Daisuke came back with a bowl of rice and vegetables he heard Krad muttering to himself and stood outside the door, listening . "Ow, no, no, God kill me now, Oprah, Dr. Phil, son of a-"
"Krad!" The blonde had almost removed his other shoe and glanced up, looking guilty. "Yes?" His voice was strained with pain and Daisuke set the tray down, walked over and took hold of the tennis shoe. "Please don't kick me." Krad managed to lie back down. "I won't." The Niwa removed the shoe and set it down next to the other one on the carpet. "Thank you." Krad emitted, the words feeling strange on his tongue. Daisuke looked surprised, "You're welcome." and handed him the tray, flinching slightly when Krad reached for the utensils. "Niwa, if I can't walk, what makes you assume I have enough strength to go after you?" Daisuke blushed in embarrassment. "Nothing, it's just a reflex…" Krad took a large bite of rice, swallowed, and continued. "You will be quite safe from me. Emiko-kun made sure of that."
Daisuke watched curiously as Krad made large amounts of food disappear in a civil and well-mannered way. "You're eating a lot." Krad choked, recovered, and said "Hiwatari isn't good about eating three meals a day, as you know. I compensate for him." He finished off the bowl and commented "Tell Emiko I approve of her cooking." Krad handed the empty bowl and tray back to him and asked "Anything else?" Daisuke realized he was just standing there and waved his arm
"N-no! I'm sorry!" He scuttled out like a bug. Krad blinked a few times, shrugged, and pulled the covers over his body. After turning out the light on the nightstand he burrowed deeper into the bedding, nuzzling the pillow happily. He usually didn't get to sleep in this form. It would probably be fun! He…was asleep in a few minutes and didn't hear Daisuke open the door about an hour later. The redhead walked over cautiously, saw the sleeping angel and thought ~ He looks much less dangerous when he's asleep. ~
~It's the same with crocodiles. ~ Dark commented morbidly, and they left, Daisuke closing the door softly behind him. Krad shifted during the night, one of his hands laying over the mark on his abdomen. His body was already aware that something had gone wrong, and it was preparing to fight. First, it had to heal but soon it would expel the contamination.
The next day Krad woke up to a cheerful red headed boy announcing "Are you feeling better today, Krad?" The blonde muttered something negative and rubbed his eyes, making him look exceptionally cute. "Not especially…" "Well, I'll see you when I get home!" Krad's yellow eyes opened wide. He would be stuck here with Emiko and Kosuke and… the grandpa for seven hours? He threw the pillow over his head in dismay. "Noooo…" "Don't worry, I won't make any detours!" Daisuke trotted off, leaving a small breakfast behind on the night table. ~See if we can transform. ~ Satoshi said quickly, and Krad concentrated. Pain suddenly assaulted him and he noticed the brand was glowing green. It stopped once he stopped the transformation. ~Strange…~ Krad ran an arm across the thick bandages.
~Take them off. I might be able to read the markings. ~ The alter ego went back under the blankets. ~No, I just want to heal as quickly as possible so we can get out of here." Hiwatari sulked in the back of his mind and Krad ate his breakfast, wondering why the Hatsu Shibou would do such a thing. Heart's desire…maybe…It had been trying to grant Dark's deepest wish-but how would it have involved Krad? Maybe Dark had given him cancer. Krad tucked into his breakfast and decided that while Mrs. Niwa may hate his guts, she was an excellent cook. ~It's probably poisoned. ~ Satoshi thought and Krad replied nonchalantly ~That's a distinct possibility. ~ while shoveling it all down.
In a few minutes the old man whose hair stuck up like Daisuke's came in to retrieve the tray. "White Wings." He nodded politely and after a moment Krad recognized him. "Daiki Niwa! I saw you through Rio's eyes…" "And I you."He lifted the tray and regarded the angel with scrutiny. "You've changed." Krad said mildly, running white fingers through his hair. "The only ones who don't are works of art, like you." "Dark has changed." The blonde said matter-of-factly. "He's decided to try loving another, instead of just being loved. We are-in tune with each other." "And you?" Daiki said, lifting the tray and preparing to leave.
"I- make the same mistakes with this family repetitively. It seems I do not learn." "It's about your familiar, isn't it?" The anger returned and he remembered clearly why he' sworn revenge on the Niwa family. Nice though they seemed, they were unbelievably cruel. His magic crackled in the air like electricity. "Get out." He said flatly, and Daiki looked at Krad's hands, curled into fists, with a sad expression. "The boy doesn't even know. Next time you threaten his life make sure to mention it."
Daiki left and the angel relaxed slowly, realizing with irritation that he had to go to the bathroom. Curse his human body's physical requirements.
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