Precious Days

Chapter Three:

"Did he keep in touch?"

"Yes, he did quite well actually, he wrote letters to Krad frequently and Krad would write back just as quickly." She picked up the wooden chest and looked through scraps of paper, she found one and unfolded it, "This was the first letter he wrote."

"They kept all their letters?"

"They're all in here."

Riku frowned and pointed to a picture of Dark in training, looking bored, "Who took these?"

"Dark's friend in the army who had an interest in photography." She turned the page and pointed to a picture of him writing, "He never did forget to write to Krad, he did so whenever he had free time."

Risa looked at the letter, "He has pretty messy printing," she held up another piece of paper, "Compared to Krad's."

Rika smiled at her granddaughter's feedback, "Yes…he always had messier writing than Krad's."

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It had been a few days since Dark had left, Krad sighed and looked outside, wondering when he was going to hear from him, then he saw the mailman put something into his mailbox. He blinked and headed outside to retrieve whatever it was, several envelopes had stuffed his mailbox. Krad frowned and took them back inside, he headed upstairs while flipping through the mail. There wasn't anything interesting, then the second last envelope caught his eye, finally! A letter from Dark!

Krad sat down and quickly opened it, reading the messy writing…

Kraddy-kins dearest,

Well…I'm at training camp now, everyone looks terrible, I mean in the manner where they're tired and all that. And of course, they look terrible compared to me. The food here stinks, literally, I miss Izumi's cooking. And what can I say?

TRAINING SUCKS!

It's beyond boring, and Sir Asshole's horrible, I swear, he hates me! But I suppose that was expected, sorta. Met this guy called Kin, he's like Takeshi, only better…somehow, strange isn't it? I miss you tons, not to mention I wish I was home with you and real food but oh well… Say hi to the other two for me, and tell the creep to not be so creepy when I get back. And tell Dai-chan to grow taller. Love you lots!

Your one and only,

Dark Mousy.

The blonde chuckled at how very Dark-like the letter was, he smiled and reread it before heading downstairs to tell the other two. Daisuke was excited about writing back while Satoshi just glared at the paper. That night, Krad sat at his desk and pondered what to write, "To Dark…"

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It's nice to know you made it, it's only been a couple days and you're already complaining? And you only managed to write half a page? Idiot…I miss you too and I suppose it's nice to know the food here's being missed. Izumi-san sends her love and wished she could send food over. But I'm pretty sure it'd go bad or something before it reached you so too bad for you.

Everything's quiet over here, too quiet, especially without your complaints. Did I mention you've made me paranoid? I keep expecting you to randomly pounce on me in the house since it's so quiet and all…that's usually when you're up to no good, you and your plotting. I never thought I'd miss it but I do.

The 'other two' say hi back. Daisuke wants to know how you're doing and wanted to yell at you in person for calling him short. Again. Satoshi's just shrugging a lot, I'm guessing it's some sort of secret language? Love you, hope to see you soon. And remember, you break your promise and expect the same to happen to your neck.

With love,

H. Krad

Dark ran a hand through his hair and smiled rather sheepishly at the letter, "As bright and cheerful as always I see…I miss him." He sighed and stared at the ceiling when a sudden flash momentarily blinded him, "Kin! Stop that! I swear! You're just like Takeshi!"

"Who?"

"Some kid back from where I came from."

"I see, did your lover leave you already?"

He snorted, "You only wish."

Kin shrugged, he was about to say something when a voice interrupted him, "Takehashi! Mousy! Back to training! Now!"

He stood up beside his friend hastily, "Yes sir!" When the lieutenant turned his back, he rolled his eyes and inwardly grumbled as 'Sir Asshole' assigned him, in his opinion, more training than he needed. Then the lieutenant left, he sighed and let his shoulder sag, "I swear…he hates me." Kin just smiled and nodded in agreement, "You think we're going to survive training?"

The other's smile never ceased, "Not a chance."

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Daisuke smiled at his friend as they walked down the road to the Hikari residence, "You miss Dark don't you?"

"That dork? I doubt it."

"But you don't have anyone to argue with now."

Satoshi paused, then continued walking, "Okay, maybe just a little."

The redhead smiled, "I knew it."

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Dark exhaled shakily as he plopped onto the ground, not wanting to do anymore drills, he panted, "Imagine all the glory you'll get, imagine how you'll be treated after this, I don't care how much glory I'm going to get from this…glory isn't worth this…"

"MOUSY!"

He stood up hastily, "Yes sir!"

"Get back to the drills private! Stop slacking off!"

"Yes sir!" After his commander left, he groaned, "I want my Kraddy…"

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"Krad! Did Dark write back?"

"Whoa! Calm down, I just sent it yesterday, anyways he's probably getting yelled at for slacking off during training."

Daisuke pouted, "Aww…I miss him…"

"Me too, so where were you? You and Satoshi…"

"Oh, we went shopping for Kaa-chan! We bought wheat and flour and eggs and…"

"Okay, okay, you didn't have to recite your shopping list to me…"

"But weren't you worried?"

Krad raised a brow, "Not really…"

"Krad doesn't love us anymore!"

"My god! You sound just like Dark!"

"Do I? Maybe missing him is unconsciously doing this to me…"

Golden eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What are you trying to get at Daisuke?"

"Nothing…just…"

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"My god that was hell…" Dark groaned and practically melted onto the bed, Kin stood there and took a picture, "Stop it…how can you be smiling like that? Wasn't it hell?"

"Not really."

"What?" There was another flash, "Stop it!"

"Aww, don't you want to send pictures to this 'Krad' of yours?"

Dark blinked, "Actually yea…but can you not take pictures of my bad side? Anyways don't you have someone to write to?"

It was Kin's turn to blink, "Actually yea…Seijun, I should write to him shouldn't I?"

The violet haired boy smiled, "Yea, yea you should. Why isn't he here?"

"He's always had a weak body so he can't really handle this kind of training. You think I'm missed?"

"Yea I'm sure you're sorely missed. That, or the town you came from's celebrating."

"That's just mean Dark, inside I'm bleeding."

"Good, well bleed me a river so I can get away from Sir Ass…"

"Mousy!"

"Yes sir?"

"Expect extra training tomorrow!"

Silently, Dark sighed and dipped his head in half-defeat while his friendquietly snickered at him.

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"They'd only been there for a couple months when the Azumano army became desperate for soldiers so they sent the most capable ones out, that included Dark and Kin."

"W-what? Why would they do that? I mean they're not even qualified soldiers!" Riku protested.

"I know but desperate times calls for desperate measures." Her grandmother sighed.

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Nya

Shiza! Dark and Kin's going to war! XD Yea..Kin's back due to my lazy attitude that stops me from creating new OC's. Anyways...I like that name :) No idea why...I just do XD Umm...again...short chapter therefore...omake! XD The last one...Dark and Krad are 7 while Daisuke and Satoshi are 4 X3 Yes Dark was a mean-spirited child whilepoor Daisuke ended up the victim XD I see I'm not the only one to suffer from pranks of the 'older kids' XP The sleepover thing happened before, just sitting around scared as hell X)

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Omake 4: Revenge

"Hey Dark…"

"Yea Krad?"

"I heard something outside when me and Daisuke were playing catch…" He said with a frown.

"You heard something…what did it sound like?"

"Remember what Kaa-san told us last night about the monster who ate kids?"

"Yea…wait…you think it was the monster you heard?" The blonde gave a slow nod, Dark smiled, "Don't worry! It probably isn't, let's go outside and get Daisuke and the ball and play inside."

So, he took his friend's hand and led him outside where the ball was on the ground but not Daisuke. "Where did Daisuke go?" Golden eyes blinked.

"Dai-suke!" Amethyst eyes too blinked, "Do you think he went inside?"

Krad shook his head, "We would've saw him…do you think the monster ate him?"

"N-no way!" He said with a nervous grin, "Your mom just made that up to scare us that's all!"

Then there was a snap of a twig, the two yelped and turned around, and there was a grunt, "Did you hear that Dark?"

"Y-yea…there's no such thing as monsters!" His grip tightened on the other's hand.

Suddenly something popped up and grabbed him causing him to scream and hide behind the blonde who, but a second later, burst out laughing, and he heard Daisuke's voice, "We got him didn't we Kuad? We got Da-chan back!"

"We sure did, you should've seen the look on your face!"

Dark's eyes widened when he realized that he'd been tricked, "What was that for?"

"Well, you always went around scaring Daisuke so we thought you should get a taste of your own medicine."

"Medicine tastes yucky!"

"I know, so does being pranked." He said with a smile.

Violet eyes narrowed at the redhead, "Dai-chan, you're going to die!"

The redhead yelped and took off running while Dark chased him, dragging poor Krad along.

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Omake 5: Revenge for revenge

"Dai-chan…"

"Yea Da?"

"Did you hear about the monster downstairs that eats kids?"

He nodded, "You told me that last time."

"Oh…"

The redhead pouted, "You're trying to trick me again."

"No I'm not…I heard it! It was groaning downstairs! I think it's hungry!"

Daisuke's eyes widened but his resolve stayed intact, "No it's not! You're lying Daa!"

And so, he left, Dark snapped his fingers and walked down the stairs and closed the door, "Dai-chan! Dai! It's got me! Help!" He yelled.

That's when the redhead panicked and ran to find Krad, "Kuad! Kuad!"

The blonde looked up from his book to the frantic boy, "Yea?"

"Daa…Daa got caught by the cellar monster!"

"Daisuke…he tried that last time, there's no monster in the cellar."

Daisuke was on the verge of crying, "But Da was screaming that it got him…"

"Let's just wait awhile and if he doesn't come back up we'll go look okay?"

The boy gave a small nod, not liking the idea of leaving his friend down there to be eaten, but it was better than going down alone…

A long while later, Krad got worried and headed down to the cellar with the redhead. Dark on the other hand, awoke to the sound of voices getting closer, he let out a loud yawn.

"Kuad…I scared…"

"There's nothing down here Daisuke."

There was a yawn, the redhead clung onto the blonde whose eyes widened slightly, "Kuad! It groaned! Daa said it did!" He began to cry, "Da was eaten by the monster!"

"N-no he wasn't." Krad replied unsurely.

Dark grinned and stood beside the stairs and reached a hand through the wooden railing, pulling on the redhead's leg, dragging him down the stairs. Daisuke shrieked, "It's got me!"

The violet haired boy gave a sharp tug, pulling him down the stairs, he ran and caught the screaming redhead in a hug, but he didn't count on the blonde falling too, the three ended up in a heap on the cellar floor. "Ow…"

Daisuke continued crying, "I don't wanna be eaten! I want Da and Kuad!"

"Dai…"

Crimson eyes blinked, his wish had been granted! There was a rather dazed Krad along with a Dark in pain under them, "Da! You're alive!"

"Dark…you tricked him again…"

"You were scared too." He said with a grin.

"I was worried!"

He gave a rueful smile, "I'm sorry Krad, I'll stop it with the cellar monsters okay?"

"You better…"

So, the three headed back up, Dark grinned and nudged the redhead, "Did you hear about the ghost in the attic?"

"Kuad! Da's being mean again!" Daisuke cried.

"Dark!"

"Dai!" He glared, "You know there's a monster that eats tattle-tails too."

"Dark!"

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Omake 6: First Sleepover (where everyone's a year older)

"Kuad! Daa!"

Krad looked at the redhead standing at the doorway, "Yea? Why don't you come inside?"

"I brought a friend! Can he stay for the sleepover too?"

"Sure, where is he?"

"Satochi!"

The blonde raised a brow, "Satochi?"

"It's Satoshi." A boy came into sight beside the redhead.

"I see…"

"His daddy works at the bar!"

Then someone latched onto his arm and pulled him towards the door, "I want to see the new kid!"

"Dark!"

The violet haired boy stared at the blue haired boy who glared back, a moment later he decided that the boy was creepy, "Krad…he creeps me out."

Blue eyes narrowed further, "You're stupid."

"Stupid!? Why you little creep…how old are you?"

"Four."

"Same age as Dai-chan I see…respect your elders! Dai sets a good example! Follow it!"

"No…just no."

The two glared at each other, "Creep…"

"Idiot…"

"Creep, creep, creep!"

"Idiot, idiot, idiot!"

"Shut up creep!"

"Why don't you, idiot?"

"You little creep…"

"Boys, dinner!"

Daisuke smiled and dragged Satoshi down the hall, "Come on Satochi! Izumi-san makes the best food!"

The other boy didn't say anything but allowed himself to be dragged, Krad smirked, "I think he's got a soft spot for Daisuke, and a hard spot for you."

"I hate him…"

"You don't mean that, come on."

Dark pouted and followed the blonde into the dining room. "I so do hate him…"

After dinner the four headed up to Krad's room, they sat around with nothing but a dully lit candle, the blonde sighed, "Well…here comes Dark's favorite event…"

Amethyst eyes lit up with excitement, "Yes! Finally! He placed the candle in front of the huge wall mirror and sat back down, he smirked and looked at the mirror to make sure it looked creepy enough. "Did you hear about the lady that burnt to death?" The three of them shook their heads, "Well…it began when this lady was in her kitchen just cooking as usual when suddenly, her ribbon caught on fire.

Daisuke's eyes widened and he scooted closer to his new friend, "And since her ribbon was tied to her hair, her hair caught on fire too!" Krad hugged his ponytail and stared at Dark, "Soon enough, she was completely on fire…she was dancing around in flames and it was said that everything that was in the kitchen when it happened had her imprinted on it since it was such a horrible sight.

He pointed to the door, "The doors had a lady on fire imprinted on it, even when they changed it, it somehow popped up again, the pots and pans had faces on them, the tiles on the floor too. And the windows, so it looked like someone was watching you." At this point, he too began to shiver in fright, "And…the mirror, they say that at night, a lady on fire will come out of it and watch you as you sleep."

"Why?"

"Because when she gets the chance to, she'll curse you with the same fate as her." He felt the blonde shuffle closer to him, still hugging his long hair, beside him, the redhead scrunched up right next to him followed by the blue haired boy, who, even though didn't really show it, was beyond scared.

That night, none of them got any sleep.