IV

"Krad, come with me. I'll explain on the way," Emiko said.

Krad pulled on his coat, and Daisuke and Satoshi grabbed theirs. Emiko looked serious as did the sandy-haired blonde next to her.

"Krad, your mother is dying. She's asking for you," Emiko said quietly so only Krad heard her.

"How long does she have?"

"Maybe another two days at the most."

While Krad and Emiko were talking, Daisuke and Satoshi were also talking.

"Satoshi-kun, who is that boy? I don't think I've seen him before."

"That's Argentine Hikari, Krad's cousin. He's our age."

"Krad doesn't talk about his family. I wonder why?"

'Don't worry, Dai-chan. Krad will open up in time."

"I can't help but worry about him. He's my friend. Whoa!"

Daisuke stopped staring at the huge manor before them. Satoshi smiled at his friend's expression. Argentine looked at the redhead and frowned.

"Come on, you two. If you don't hurry, you'll be locked out."

Argentine's tone was snobbish, but it snapped Daisuke out of his awe.

"Oh…I'm coming."

Krad and Emiko had already reached the porch.

Krad turned and called out, "Dai, Satoshi, feel free to look around."

Daisuke's face lit up and Satoshi couldn't help thinking how cute Daisuke was. Argentine went inside. Daisuke and Satoshi's jaws dropped when they entered the manor.

"It's…." Daisuke was lost for words.

Rich rugs covered the floor and paintings hung on the walls. Brilliant tapestries brought out the color. The hall was marble and a giant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. A staircase lead up to another floor. Satoshi went upstairs and Daisuke followed him. Doors lined the hallway and they peeked into a few of them. They were richly furnished, but otherwise uninteresting. They went up another staircase to the third floor.

"Satoshi-kun! I found a library," Daisuke called out excitedly.

Satoshi went inside and immediately went straight to the shelves. The library was probably two or three rooms wide and overlooked the garden. The shelves were lined the walls and arranged in neat rows down the middle. Comfortable chairs were positioned throughout along with as many tables. A fire blazed merrily in a marble fireplace. It was peaceful.

Satoshi quickly became engrossed in a book and didn't hear Daisuke say that he was going to look around some more.

Daisuke went up another staircase, emerging onto the third floor. It was clear nobody came up here often. It was cold and Daisuke shivered. He tried some doors and they were locked, all except for the last.

The knob, an ordinary silver handle, turned easily and he pushed the door in. Large objects were covered with dusty white sheets. He pulled one down and stared at the uncovered painting. It was a portrait of Krad!

"Whoever did this was talented," Daisuke whispered.

He looked at a couple more and stopped at another portrait. This one was done by someone else and it looked only a few years old.

Krad was dressed in white and gold. Another boy was standing next to him. This boy had violet hair and unusual amethyst eyes. He was dressed in pure black. A cocky grin was on his face as he looked at Krad. Krad was also smiling! Daisuke glanced at the bottom right-hand corner. It read: Krad & Dark.

Then Daisuke spotted something out of the corner of his eye. It was a black book lying on top of a pile of sheets. Daisuke picked it up and opened it.

"It's a journal. By this Dark."

Jan. 1

Today I met my new master, Lord Krad. He's the son of Lord Hikari. He was short. I thought he was girl at first because he had long, gold hair…"

(Daisuke could see the entry unfold.)

Dark's POV

I followed behind the boy who wasn't much older than me. He looked frail and lonely.

"Lord Krad, is there anything I can do for you?"

He stopped and faced me.

"Do not call me Lord Krad. And do not follow me. I don't need you."

I stared at him and shrugged. I started following him when he started walking again. I didn't like him.

"Stop following me!"

"Stop following me!" I mimicked.

"Do not do that!"

"Do not do that!"

I thought this was fun. He didn't and he was getting mad. Then. He hit me. I was mad now. I screamed and hit him back. Soon, we were fighting. The adults cam and pulled me off. I had a black eye and he had a split lip. He was also short of breath and couldn't seem to breathe properly.

"Call Emiko! Kei, disappear that servant."

Kei. I hate that man with every fiber of my being. He pulled me into my room and tied my hands to the bedpost. He unclipped a whip that had been attached to his belt. The first lash nearly made me cry out. I managed not to scream for I sensed this man would enjoy the screams. I clenched my hands and bore the pain.

"Scream damn you!"

He whipped me harder and I closed my eyes almost fainting from the pain. I forced myself to endure in silence. By the time he had finished, my shirt was in shreds, and my pants and the floor were soaked in my blood. He untied my hands and left the room. I slipped to the floor half unconscious. I would make Kei Hiwatari pay one day.

I woke up later in my bed. I had no memory of how I got there. I started to get up and inhaled sharply when the movement jarred my back. I recalled the whipping and smiled ruefully.

"I guess I shouldn't have hit that kid. Oh well, lesson learned. I have to play along the rules of someone else's game for now."

(Daisuke was a bit alarmed when he read Kei's name. That was Satoshi's father!)

I got out of bed and pulled on a shirt. I carefully opened the door and went down the stairs to Krad's room. I knocked on the door and entered without waiting for an answer. Krad looked up from his book, golden eyes narrowing. I walked right over to him and stuck my hand in his face.

"The name's Dark Mousy. I think we got off on the wrong foot."

He looked at me suspiciously but shook my hand.

"I think we're going to be great friends, Krad."

He looked a bit startled when I called him by his name without a "Lord" or any other honorific. I also saw respect and what might have been gratitude in his eyes. He was as lonely as I was. After that day, he never treated me like a servant. I decided never to tell him about the whipping. The scars would fade in time.


Ohaiyo! I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I've been very busy recently. I've completed a few more chapters but I'm rewriting them. It'll take me awhile to finish them all. Bear with me a while longer. Much thanks to those few who have sent me reviews. I need all the support I can get. Even if you don't like the story please tell me anyway. If any of you whom decides to review have any ideas about what my next story sjould be please tell me. I'm anxiously awaiting your replies!! If no one reviews this, I think I'll have to cut myself to make up for it... Emo moment! Sorry about that. Please review! Sayonara until next time!

Twilight