Disclaimer: I don't own D.N.Angel……or Romeo and Juliet for that matter.

A/N: Oh, Cradle 2 the Grave…I just had to comment…you make me laugh. Of course I know who Gir is. Invader Zim is one of my favorite shows! And Priestess kurumi inu's sister (long name) brought up an interesting point. No, Dai does not still have the wings, they disappeared along with the energy stuff that surrounded him (heh, I actually sort of forgot they were there in the first place). But there was a point to them…sort of. Though I don't have the details worked out yet…actually I'm still working out a lot of ideas for this story. Several of them keeping popping up in my head; there's like a giant battle of ideas in my mind. Lol.

Anyway, now that that's out of the way…onto the story!

Japanese terms:

itai 'ouch' or 'it hurts' (basically) usually heard as 'itetetetete' (like owowowowow)

gomen sorry

blunette not a real word, just a play on the word 'brunette', used to describe sato-kun's blue hair. (I saw it on a few other fanfics and thought it was cute, so therefore, I shall use it too. )

Chapter 2: Confusion

Satoshi merely blinked at Riku's request. "You make it sound so simple." He muttered under his breath. She wanted him to 'explain'? That was a difficult task to begin with, then add the fact that the teen was tired beyond all reason, and you end up with a very irritated Satoshi. "No." he said, louder this time so the girls could hear.

"NO?!" Riku shrieked, making Satoshi wince from the assault on his ears. "I just saw--"

"Yes, I know what you just saw, Harada-san, and I will answer any questions you may have in the morning. But right now, I'm tired, Niwa is unconscious, and you two are still upset. It will be much easier if we agree to meet once we are rested. Agreed?" The young commander resolved easily with the heir of one used to creating agreements and compromises.

Riku pouted and seemed to think this over for a minute. She looked over at Risa, who looked as hesitant as she was to leave. "Okay" Risa answered for her sister. "But we're coming back first thing in the morning."

"Sure, whatever." Satoshi mumbled. He found it harder and harder to concentrate on what the girls were saying, as his eyes blurred in and out of focus. He was vaguely aware of the girls leaving, but once he heard the lock on the door beep, he sighed, and flopped down on his stomach next to Daisuke. He didn't actually remember hitting the pillow, all he knew was that that night was the deepest sleep he'd had in a long time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Daisuke grumbled half-heartedly as the sun's rays intruded his dreams, and caused him to reluctantly open his eyes. He was comfortable, and his mind was at peace. He had a feeling in the back of his mind, that waking up meant kissing that peaceful feeling goodbye, and he didn't quite want it to leave. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was blue. (deja-vu) Hmm, that's funny, since when had Wiz's fur turned blue? Wait…he blinked a few times. That wasn't Wiz's fur…it was Satoshi's hair! He looked around, and noted that he was in Satoshi's room. How had he gotten there? The last thing he remembered was the museum, the fight with Krad…and yelling to Dark as he was pulled from him…

Daisuke suddenly sat bolt upright. "Dark!" he cried. Then he winced as the action pulled on the cuts on his back, and the bruises he had obtained from the fall so graciously caused by Krad. "Itetetetete…" he whimpered as he fell back into the fluffy comfort of the bed.

Satoshi slowly opened his eyes, having been awakened by Daisuke's sudden outburst and his fall back onto the bed. "You're noisy when you wake up, you know that?" He mumbled into the pillow, still half asleep.

"heheh…gomen" Daisuke apologized, scratching the back of his head in a nervous habit.

"hnn" was the only response he received, as Satoshi slowly pushed himself up on his hands and knees, then turned around, staring blankly at his feet.

"Satoshi?" Daisuke asked, turning on his side to better view his –by all appearances stoned- friend. "What happened last night…to Dark and Krad? Where did he go? Why can't I hear him?" It wasn't just not hearing the kaitou that bothered him though –for Dark had been silent for extended periods of time before-, it was not feeling him. Not feeling the presence of the thief that had been with him so long. He was like the boy's conscience, only more talkative. And now he couldn't hear him. Was he gone? Would he be able to see him again? All these thoughts began to invade Daisuke's mind, as tears began to form in the corners of his eyes.

Even through his low-blood-pressure-induced 'coma', these questions still tore at Satoshi's heart. Daisuke's voice just sounded so sad...lost almost. He was forcefully reminded of a young child asking why his dog wouldn't 'wake up' when it was, in fact, dead.

The blunette absent-mindedly placed his hand on Daisuke's head, stroking the boy's soft red tresses as a mother might do to comfort that child. He wasn't sure what exactly compelled him to do that, (for he wasn't really known for showing any sort of affections) but then again, he didn't really care. And it was then, as Daisuke asked those questions about Dark, that the full reality of the situation hit Satoshi. Now that he was awake enough to mull it over, he realized…that Krad was gone. That malicious voice in the back of his head that was always threatening to hurt the only person he had ever really cared about was now gone, and he realized, he couldn't be happier. Though he knew he couldn't talk to Daisuke about that at the moment, for the separation had caused the exact opposite emotions in the younger boy. He sighed and said, to answer Daisuke's questions, "I'm not entirely clear on what happened myself, but I believe that somehow, the two were pulled into this." He reached into his pocket, and took out the chaos gem.

Daisuke's eyes widened. "Pulled…into it? You mean like that mirror?" Daisuke asked, referring to the lighthouse incident.

Satoshi smiled lightly, not having to ask what the boy meant. "Yeah, except this time, I didn't do it."

Daisuke reached out, and took the gem. It started to glow when it touched his hand, and grew warm, as it had the night before. Then, a voice began to speak. It came from the jewel; sounding like it could only be heard in the boys' heads, while at the same time reverberating around the room as it would in a great music hall. Daisuke and Satoshi looked at each other wide-eyed in surprise, then back at the shimmering gem, as the deep voice surrounded them.

"Fear not the chaos as it resides within the serenity,

Only as it breaks the bonds of reality.

Once the spirits are taken, and lost from the world,

Only the red-winged angel can restore the balance once intended."

The voice faded off, and the two teens could only stare at the gem, now back to its normal state, with mixed expressions of awe and fear.

Satoshi looked up, and was surprised to see that Daisuke was shaking. "Niwa-kun? Are you okay?" He asked softly.

"What is all that supposed to mean?" Daisuke whispered.

Satoshi slowly shook his head. "I don't know…but I'm beginning to think there's more to this gem than meets the eye."

"What--?" but Daisuke was unable to finish his sentence, as a doorbell rang throughout the apartment. He looked up curiously as he heard Satoshi groan.

"And that would be the Haradas." Satoshi looked over, and upon seeing Daisuke's confused expression, smiled a bit. "I told them that if they came back in the morning, I would answer any questions they have. You can only imagine how confused they must be after seeing the events of last night, if even we don't understand them."

Daisuke laughed softly. "I suppose so."

Satoshi was relieved to see Daisuke laugh, even if it was only half-heartedly. He was a little worried with the boy's earlier questions and upset tone…for who knew what sort of effects losing a part of himself would have on the boy? But he was distracted from his thoughts when the doorbell rang again. The young commander reluctantly got up to answer the door. He didn't particularly like the Harada sisters, and wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing them first thing in the morning. Riku he didn't like, because she so strongly held Daisuke's affections, and he didn't like Risa merely because she was annoying…and rather dense at times. Oh well, might as well get it over with.

He checked his emotions as he touched the doorknob, and placed his ever-stolid mask on his face. And what he saw when he opened the door didn't necessarily surprise him…it just annoyed him to no end. For, standing on the other side of the door, was Risa looking anxious and nervous, Riku looking annoyed and demanding…and Takeshi, looking eager and excited.

Satoshi slapped his hand to his forehead in a defeated manner, and gestured for the three to come inside. "Why, may I ask, are you here too?" The question was directed at Takeshi, because from what he could remember –and he was pretty sure his memory was not failing him just yet- the over-eager reporter had not been witness to any of the previous night's events.

"Apparently he saw some bright lights coming from the direction of the museum from his house last night, and when he saw us walk you two back here, he became curious." Riku replied in a tone that suggested she was just as cross about it as Satoshi.

Risa, at seeing Satoshi's expression, decided to try and justify their actions. "He wouldn't stop questioning us!" she exclaimed desperately.

"Hey!" Takeshi cried. "Don't blame everything on me, you two didn't exactly hesitate to answer my questions, you know."

Risa was about to retaliate, when a small noise from the doorway to Satoshi's bedroom interrupted them.

All four people looked up when Daisuke cleared his throat. Takeshi was most surprised by the other boy's appearance. He lacked a shirt, but had bandages wrapped around his upper torso, (courtesy of Satoshi and his excessive worry over the boy's welfare), and looked…so…solemn? Was that the right word? Either way it was a strange expression set upon the boy's normally childishly happy features.

"Daisuke! You're awake!" Riku yelled as she launched herself at the stunned boy. Though she was stopped mid-jump by a hand grabbing the back collar of her shirt. She squeaked as she was pulled back, and nearly fell into Satoshi. "What did you do that for?!" she snapped at the blunette, who was giving her a rather unreadable glare.

"Do you want to knock Daisuke out again? His strength has not yet fully recovered." He answered simply, releasing the girl's shirt in favor of rubbing the bridge of his nose, to ward off a threatening headache.

Daisuke just smiled apologetically to Riku. "Come on Satoshi, I'm not that weak." He muttered. Then his gaze wandered to Takeshi. "Ne…Takeshi-kun, how much, exactly, did they tell you?" he asked walking over and taking a seat on the couch.

Takeshi clasped his hands behind his back, and walked nonchalantly towards Daisuke. "Oh, not much really…just the fact that…You're DARK MOUSY!" he ended in an exclamation, merely a foot from Daisuke's face, his hands extended as far on each side of him they would reach. "Why didn't you ever tell me!?" He asked loudly, standing back up, frightening the other occupants of the room slightly. "All those times I asked you if you knew anything about Dark's next heist, and you didn't say anything!?"

Daisuke watched his friend with an apologetic, yet nervous smile set upon his pale face. "I-I'm sorry Takeshi…but I couldn't…I mean…I'm not…" Daisuke stuttered to find something to say, but was saved when Satoshi cut in.

"It's strictly forbidden. No one but those of the Niwa and Hikari line are ever to know about the identities of Dark and Krad." Satoshi said, taking a seat next to Daisuke (much to Riku's disappointment), indicating the others to follow his lead. Takeshi was made to sit on the floor, as Riku and Risa took the chair and last remaining couch seat.

"Hikari? But isn't your name Hiwatari?" Risa asked from Satoshi's other side on the couch.

Satoshi sighed as he resigned himself spill his life story. Well…not all of it, (Only Daisuke would ever know anything personal about his past) but the parts they needed to know to be satisfied enough to leave him alone anyway. He removed his glasses, placed them on the coffee table, and dove into the tale of Dark and Krad's existence, as well as the reason he had referred to himself as 'Hikari', with Daisuke filling in with his own details every now and then.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dark groaned as the world of consciousness slowly fell back into place around him. He reached up and rubbed his head, on the back of which was a rather large bump from where he hit it when he fell. He blinked a couple of times. Fell? Where had he fallen from? As his vision once again slid into focus, he took a chance to look around.

The world around him looked vaguely familiar, yet at the same time, entirely unrecognizable. As he looked around, he would see a building he knew, but when he looked back for a double take, the familiarity was gone, and in the same place stood a building, or object, the he'd never seen in his life. Then when he blinked, he would see that same building on another part of the street.

He shook his head, and buried his face in his hands. "That's it…I've finally gone insane." He muttered quietly to himself.

"About damn time you woke up." A deep -and rather annoyed sounding- voice growled beside him.

Dark looked up in surprise. "Krad!" The blonde was not looking directly at him, as he seemed to be concentrating hard on their surroundings, trying to get an inkling of an idea of where they might be. Dark stood up and walked over to his opposite. "Any idea where we are?" He asked seriously, usual playfulness all but forgotten.

"No idea." Grunted Krad. He seemed very annoyed at the fact that he didn't know, and he refused to look at Dark.

Dark pondered for a moment on the situation. He remembered the events of the night before, and shuddered at the look he'd last seen on Daisuke's face; a look of such desperation to keep the kaitou from leaving him again. And now he was stuck in a strange place –that annoyingly kept switching locations of buildings and other various objects, and who's colors constantly and seamlessly shifted from one to the other to create a myriad of rainbows that almost gave the illusion that the colors never even changed at all- with his sworn enemy of the last few centuries. He blinked as he tried to adjust his mind to the utter strangeness of the world around him, then a sudden thought struck him.

"Hey Krad…" he said hesitantly, a hint of his normal playfulness back on his features, as he walked around to stand in front of Krad, bending over slightly with his hands behind his back.

"What?" He answered tersely. It was more of a sentence than a question.

"Seeing as I was just unconscious…and you're standing here…why am I still around?" He blinked his amethyst eyes innocently up at the angel-like man.

Krad sighed and rolled his eyes, as he started to walk down the hill (as they had landed on a rather large hill when they were thrown into the world). "I don't have time to deal with your nonsense Dark."

The thief blinked and then trotted after him. "It's not nonsense, I'm being serious. Why didn't you kill me then? It would have been easy…"

"That's just it. It would be a disgrace upon myself to kill an unconscious man. Besides…" he paused as he concentrated on navigating over a few boulders in the path. "Don't you think we have a much better chance of getting out of here…if there are two heads to contemplate on an escape plan?"

Dark smiled as he passed the boulders in a single leap to land in front of Krad. "Well well, Krad, are you saying you actually want to work together?" He started to walk backwards, keeping pace with Krad in order to see him answer.

Krad, in turn, scowled at the thief in front of him. "Not at all. I never said I wanted to work together, I merely suggest that it is a necessary evil if I wish to escape from this ridiculously idiotic world."

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that…" Dark answered with a smirk, then as an afterthought, finished with, "Kraddy-kins."

"Don't call me that!!" Krad snarled and let out a frustrated roar as he jumped at Dark, who merely laughed maniacally and ran away, as white balls of energy exploded into the ground around him. He figured they could look for a way out later, (and was depending heavily upon Satoshi and Daisuke being able to figure something out as well) but it wasn't every day he got to have so much fun with golden-eyed beauty behind him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A very tense and uncertain silence hung in the air of the apartment of Hiwatari Satoshi. All eyes were staring fixedly at Satoshi and Daisuke, and all mouths hung agape. Daisuke blushed and sank low into the couch. Usually when he received this much attention, he was in the back of Dark's mind, and was not the direct focus for it.

"I can't believe it…" Riku whispered. "My only love, sprung from my only hate!"

The group sweat dropped. "Um…Riku…he wasn't exactly 'sprung'" Takeshi muttered.

"So then…where is Dark-san now?" This comment of course came from Risa.

Satoshi glared at her as he saw Daisuke slump even further into the couch at this question. "Like I said…we don't. know."

Daisuke chanced a look at Riku, who was looking at the floor with an unreadable expression in her light brown eyes. "You…you didn't trust me, did you?" she whispered. And the redhead blinked in surprise.

"You didn't think you could tell me?" she said, now looking directly at Daisuke, her voice slowly rising. "I get it, you never really liked me did you? I knew I was always just a replacement for Risa. It's obvious since you didn't even have enough faith in me to tell me your secret!" she finished almost yelling, and ran off to the front door. It slammed behind her, and the room was once again drowned in silence. Though this time, the tension was so thick, you could've cut it with a knife.

Satoshi chanced a glance at the crimson haired boy beside him, and saw that he was trying really hard not to cry. He wanted so bad to reach out and hold him, to comfort him, but he knew he couldn't, especially not with Risa and Takeshi still in the room.

"Daisuke?" Takeshi whispered in a concerned voice.

Daisuke looked up at them all with a smile so fake it was almost painful to look at. He sniffed, and faked a yawn behind his hand. "Erm…sorry guys, but I'm still tired…so, I'll, eh, see you later." He said with that same fake happiness, and disappeared back to Satoshi's room.

Risa and Takeshi exchanged glances. "I…think we should go." Risa muttered nervously.

Takeshi nodded and followed her to the door. Satoshi stood, and followed as well. "Remember, you have to promise to tell no one." He ordered firmly.

"Not a word. Reporter's honor." Takeshi answered, though Satoshi didn't think that much of a viable occupation to swear upon. (Perhaps 'scouts honor' would have been more dependable.) But he knew that was Takeshi's way of promising, and he nodded as the two left.

Once the door closed, Satoshi turned around, and stared hesitantly at his bedroom doorway, cursing Riku for leaving him with such an upset Daisuke. Her walking out on him was the last thing the young wing-master needed at the moment. He sighed and walked back into his room, to find Daisuke sitting on the side of the bed with his knees drawn to his chest, staring out the window.

"Daisuke?" he whispered softly, walking over to sit next to the smaller boy.

Tear-filled ruby eyes looked over towards him, causing Satoshi's anger at the elder Harada twin to double. "First Dark…then Riku…left me too." He whimpered.

Satoshi smiled softly in what he hoped was a comforting manner. He reached his arm out, and pulled Daisuke's head gently towards him. The distressed redheaded boy allowed himself to be pulled into Satoshi's embrace. He wrapped his arms tightly around the blunette's waist, and buried his head into his shoulder, sobbing openly.

"Don't worry Daisuke." Satoshi whispered, not using the boy's surname for the first time. "We'll find a way to get Dark back…I promise." He tightened his embrace on the younger boy, hoping against hope that he would be able to keep that promise. As much as he hated the fact that that would bring Krad back too…he would do it…for Daisuke.

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Wooo! End chapter 3. I'm actually quite surprised, it only took me three separate sittings to finish it. Probably because I enjoyed writing this chapter more. It's funny though, because I actually intended for all explanations to take place that night…but apparently Satoshi was too tired. And then Takeshi was never meant to find out, but he somehow found his way in there. Stupid nosy Takeshi. lol.

Anyways, I'm pretty happy with the way this chapter turned out. Hope I'm not just kidding myself though. So tell me what you think! Or any ideas you may have…

It's also funny how many comments I get on the length of my chapters. That's because I always try to get at least 3,000 words per chapter. (at the moment, this one has 3,757) so yeah, just thought you might like to know. I wanted to get this chapter out now, since I leave for Louisiana on Friday for my cousin's wedding. So anyways, thanks for reading, and until next chapter…ja ne!