Krad's POV
Dark's eyes were empty; lifeless and when he spoke his voice made shivers run down my spine. It was so similar to his voice, but then I knew it could not possibly be the Dark I knew.
"Krad." A statement, none of his usual fire at all, except the smirk that spread across the thief's face. "What a coincidence seeing you here!"
"Dark…?" I shifted closer, attempting to discern if the winged-figure in front of me really was Dark.
A laugh. "Kraddie, you're so cute tonight! And where is your little robe-thingy tonight, huh?"
I frowned. This obviously was not the Dark I knew. My eyes widened, was it possible this Dark was the one I had seen in my 'memories'? I was almost afraid to speak, unsure of what to say, what to ask.
"Cat got your tongue Krad? Or are you formulating another plan to catch me, that is sadly, destined to fail?"
I bit my lip. "I'm not entirely sure how to phrase this, but I am not the Krad you know. I don't have wings and I certainly don't have any interest in catching you."
His smirk widened. "Don't play naïve with me Krad. It doesn't work." With that, the other Dark spread his wings and took to the air. He stuck his tongue out. "What's wrong Krad? Forget how to fly? Come and get me!"
I tried to stay calm, knowing that the other Krad would have gotten angry at Dark and pursued him by now. But this just seemed to irritate the thief further and he swooped down, shoving me sideways into one of the glass cases.
I hissed in pain, but was thankful the case hadn't shattered. My side ached and I had a feeling it was bleeding but I ignored it, my brain working over time. Obviously this wasn't working. Whether I acted like the Krad this Dark knew or not, he was still attacking me. I needed to come up with a better plan.
I dodged to the side, narrowly missing a punch that could have broken my nose. I ran to the case that Dark had been standing by. Maybe this feather would help me out? He was chasing after me, thankfully this time, on foot. Unthinkingly, I smashed my fist against the case, shattering the glass.
Ignoring the blood streaming from my hand, I snatched the feather and dodged just before Dark slammed into the case, smirking. I tried all sorts of things with it, waving it, throwing it at him, even trying to pour magical energy into it. None of it worked; in fact, it just gave Dark a very amusing show.
He was always give the feather back to me, or give me an opportunity to snatch it up before attacks, as if he was curious to see what I would do next.
It was infuriating, and I knew I was losing too much blood to keep dodging his attacks for long. Obviously the feather wasn't going to help me. I needed a new plan, something that couldn't fail. Because if it did, I didn't think I'd have the strength to stand anymore.
I was already losing some of my vision. It seemed to me that the color was draining from around me into blackness just like the world in my dreams. Luckily, I was still able to see enough to dodge his attacks and it seemed that despite exhaustion and ignoring injury, the rest of my body was functioning normally.
'Come on…Think!' I hissed to myself, clutching my injured side as I narrowly missed being clobbered over the head with what looked to be a very expensive piece of pottery. 'Why isn't anyone coming? Aren't there security guards in this museum?' Those worthless employees couldn't be counted on to help me; no, I desperately needed a way to get the old Dark back.
And then-a memory.
"And what would you wish me to say?" I was glaring at Dark for a reason I couldn't discern.
"I don't know. Something outrageous like…I'm in love with you!"
'Something outrageous…' I narrowly missed being hit over the head by a smirking Dark. And then, I remembered the content look Dark had worn right after…kissing me. Could I? It seemed impossible to get that close…I would have to do it in the split second before he landed an attack.
It was risky and I would probably be injured badly, perhaps even fatally, if the plan failed, but my short-circuiting brain could think of nothing better. Bracing myself, I waited until Dark made a move to attack then froze, biting my lips as he grew closer and closer.
My legs itched to flee and my mind was going crazy, warning me of his approach, but I held my ground, gritting my teeth. When he was so close I could bare it no longer, I lunged forward and smashed our lips together into a panicked kiss.
'Please work…'
Dark's POV
I awoke to the feeling of soft lips against mine. At least, it seemed like I had woken up, although I was standing up for some reason, so maybe I had just blacked out for a second. Was it even possible to sleep standing up?
Frustrated at my lack of sight, I opened my eyes, to see the most beautiful sight in the world. Krad-my Krad, my brain cockily supplied-had his eyes closed and his pale lips against mine. One arm was wrapped around my waist and the other was behind my neck, presumably pulling me closer.
But the strangest thing was, I wasn't responding to the kiss and my hands were clenched into fists above his head, as if to smash them against his skull. I kissed back eagerly, and wrapping my hands around his waist, forgetting for the moment the strange situation.
And Krad's golden eyes opened and he broke the kiss. "Dark…" he whispered.
"That's me!" I replied and then he was sobbing, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Krad? What's wrong?" I asked, and I felt him sag against me. I was suddenly aware of how thin he really was, I traced my hands along his shirt and could feel their shape through his t-shirt, to my horror.
Most horrifying though, was when I went to cup Krad's face in my hands, and they were covered with blood. Giving a shout of surprise, I took a step back, giving me a chance to take in Krad's whole appearance.
Krad was a mess. Tears were streaking down his cheeks and his pristine white clothes were streaked and stained with blood. "I can't believe it." He was mumbling. "How like you Dark, just like a fairy tale…."
"What are you talking about? What happened to you?"
Krad shook his head. "You were gone."
"What do you mean 'gone?'" I had a sinking feeling that the position I had found myself in had something to do with the injuries marring Krad's form.
"It was the other you."
"The other me?"
"The one in the dreams. Y-You were bleeding and you saw a feather and you-" Krad was making no sense and he choked into tears again, unable to even finish what he was saying. "I thought you were-I thought…" He seemed like he was trying really hard to choke back his tears, but he was having no success. Something had really upset him.
"Shh…Krad, it's alright. I'm here and I'm going to get you all fixed up okay?"
Krad sobbed, and nodded.
"What a weird dream…." Dark mused, leaping to his feet. Usually, he would just watch Daisuke's dreams and never really have any of his own. But this one was vivid as if he was really there. And the Krad in the dream was strangely fragile and innocent and- beautiful.
"Oh no, don't go crazy on me now Dark!" He hissed to himself. "Krad can never be beautiful."
Or so he thought at the time…
Krad's POV
I felt stupid. I could barely choke out my sentences before bursting into tears and Dark didn't seem to understand the information I was slowly relaying to him. I had never been one for tears and emotion, and so I couldn't understand why this was affecting me so much. Is it just because it was Dark? Because I thought I had lost him forever?
I'd had many traumatic experiences worse than this one, as a child no less and I had never cried quite so hard or so long. I couldn't understand it. For the first time, I found myself unable to think; content to just let Dark carry me out of the museum.
I was wearing his coat to cover most of the blood stains and I expected him to put me down and take his coat back when we got outside, but he walked all the way home and I found myself dozing in his arms.
Before I knew it, we were back at Dark's home and he was treating my injuries. He seemed genuinely concerned about me, and this confused me a great deal. 'Perhaps it is because he was the one who injured me? Or at least his body…'
After I had calmed down and had taken a shower, I told Dark what had happened at the museum. He was serious throughout the story, which I didn't expect but he thought it was funny that I had thought he would come back if I kissed him. I found it very awkward.
But he didn't tease me about it and he even made a promise to never let it happen again. He told me he had felt and seen nothing of that time and agreed with my assumption that the 'other' Dark had taken over for a short period of time. He also believed my theory that our actions and any noise we had made during our fight had not been heard at all by the security. It was his belief that time had momentarily frozen during our fight, as if the 'other' Dark had disrupted the flow of time.
I honestly didn't know what to think, and I told him that it was quite possible that our world was not real at all. "First, no record that the past ever occurred even though we remember it. Secondly, no one wants to tell us how old this place is. And finally, when I was fighting the 'other' you, it seemed for a moment that the world was draining into the black world, the "Black Wings" that is in our dreams."
"Not real? That's crazy! Are you saying that…the 'other' Dark is the real me? No way! Any loser that fights you cannot be me! And you don't hate me do you?" A head shake. "So that guy in the robes can't be you!"
I shook my head. "I don't know. Remember, you were able to track me using a bond. And you shed that feather in the museum. No. If we can do magic and you can grow feathers, in all likelihood the dream world is actually the real one."
Dark scowled. "I don't believe it."
I sighed. This was impossible. Dark ran out of the room and returned with a first-aid kit. He proceeded to clean me up and I was suddenly very thankful my lower body had not been injured beyond minor injuries. Still, Dark didn't seem to be doing this for his own benefit; he seemed focused on patching up my wounds and for that, I was grateful. Today had been awkward enough.
Dark's POV
I expected Krad to talk to me about the kiss, to tell me "it didn't mean anything", but he never mentioned it. Weeks passed, and Krad's injuries healed up. I started going to school again and Krad would hang out at my house, researching until I came home.
I still got pains in my back sometimes, but I didn't tell him. I knew he would freak out and worry about me.
I tried to talk to Santo to see if he knew anything but it turned out Krad was right. Santo had never had a dream like ours or any dreams of that nature at all. Or at least, that's what I got out of the strange looks he gave me when I asked him.
Ria is getting mad at me. I used to take her out every weekend but now I'm taking Krad. Krad's always cooped up in the house when I'm at school, so I figure it's good for him to get out once in a while. Ria never asked to break up with me though, which sort of annoys me. I want to be with Krad and I know I should break up with her, but I'm not even sure if Krad had kissed me because he likes me too, or if he did that to save his hide.
So, for the time being, I'm maintaining my normal collage life. But Krad is my free time now. I think my friends are getting irritated with me, because I never come over anymore. Daire says mom is wondering where I went, and I feel guilty. But I know I don't want to leave Krad at home alone for too long, and I couldn't have him be around Santo in case it triggered another 'migraine'.
My friends are suspicious, but I blow it off. Daire says he thinks I look "happier" though and maybe I am. I have no idea what's going on or what's coming next, but I really like hanging out with Krad. My notebooks are filled with sketches of him. Honestly, I think I'm freaking everyone out.
Today, I came home to find Krad on the couch, watching an old western movie. His golden eyes flicked from side to side as the cowboy galloped across the screen and he even cracked a little smile when the villain went flying off his horse.
I cleared my throat and he whirled. "Dark!" He looked disgruntled, and he flushed.
"Hey." I said, plopping down beside him. "Haven't seen this movie in FOREVER! Pretty good though; a classic."
Krad raised an eyebrow. "Really? I've never seen it before."
"Never? Looks like we're eating here. You haven't gotten to the best part yet!"
It was times like these, seeing Krad's eyes light up at the prospect of a home-made dinner and an old Western, that I could forget about the dreams, and the magic and just pretend that all this was real. It was scary to think that one day I would wake up and be my 'other' self. And I would hate Krad. My Krad. How was that possible?
Krad's POV
Life was starting to feel like a dream. And honestly, I hadn't uncovered much during my hours of research. I'd even taken to taking breaks once in a while to exercise or even play online games! There really was nothing there and some days, I honestly felt like I was imagining it all.
And then-a word, or a picture, or a face would trigger a memory.
Krad flitted to Dark's side just as the thief sensed his arrival.
"So! Can you do it?"
"It will drain quite a bit of my powers and I might even require the use of some of your abilities as well, but it is in my power. Our memories will create this world but of course, it will be different then the real world based on our hidden desires."
"That's great!" Dark cried, pumping a fist in the air. "Can we start?"
Krad snorted. "If that wasn't my intention I never would have taken the time to find you. Now, I need access to your powers. Either that or you need to be saying the incantation and I will leak my powers to you."
Dark frowned. "I'll say it. That way, I can always stop if you decide to leave me hanging."
Krad smirked. "Fine. But, as you should know, we share a common interest in this endeavor. After all, it is not my wish that we be without any form of entertainment for our entire existences. And as you refuse to aid me in breaking free from the Black Wings, it seems this is our only option."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with already!" Dark cried, slapping his hands together and beginning to chant. Krad rolled his eyes, of course Dark would jump right into it without even giving him a cue.
Closing his golden orbs, Krad let his power flow to join Dark's in the spell, praying that it wouldn't drain his energy so much that he had to pull his power back. Just imagining the smug look on Dark's face was enough to make him determined to keep lending his powers until the spell was complete.
But already he felt his body shiver with exhaustion and he could sense Dark was feeling the effects of the spell as well. Cursing, he added more of his powers to keep the spell afloat and prayed they would have enough combined power to complete the spell. After all, neither of them had attempted a spell this complicated or powerful before and Krad only had the speculation that they should have the power needed to complete it.
'It's no use worrying about it.' Krad berated himself. 'I should be concentrating on the spell and fully extending my powers. In frustration, he added yet another burst of his unique energy and all of a sudden, the world shifted.
Krad could hear Dark tumbling to his side as his white-winged counterpart lost his balance as well. Both were unable to return to their feet; Dark because he was unable to stop chanting lest he break the flow of the spell and Krad because of his sudden lack of power.
Hissing, the pale artwork fought to stay awake, but his senses were fading and he could barely detect Dark's concern over their link at his sudden lack of power before Dark was gone and he was vaguely aware of the memories that were slowly replacing the ones he had already-and sighing, gave in to the release.
