((Slim, Epitaph, Stone Roses, Someday, Isotype Newtype, Moonflower, or Mayfly Weiss Kreuz are probably the best songs to listen to while reading this chapter XD))

It was cold and windy tonight, despite the summer-like blast of unwelcome hot and humid air from earlier that morning. Streets lining the city were all a buzz, people filling up every last bit of space and discussing the latest rumor. Dark was back! After he had stayed quiet for so long, the town began feeling safe and decided to bring in the "Koneko no Bando," a beautifully carved ring set with three light grey-purple jewels, each one small enough to be out of the way, but still eye catching. Elaborately interrogate designs were part of the band itself and looked so terrifically fragile it was a wonder as to how it was managed to be made in the first place, and on the inside in a lovely tiny script was the name Hiwatari.

There was of course a match to this one, the "Neko no Pendanto"; a single jewel in the likeness of a cat's head, and meant to be worn as a pendant. But this was one Dark didn't know, it was only made recently, seeing as how this too was still a recent work as well.

"So, I trust you know what to do, Satoshi," Hiwatari's eyes were hidden by the glare over his glasses and no longer visible.

"Yes…father," his voice was even and unfeeling. He had yet to mention anything of the current situation with his curse, and he didn't plan on coming out anytime soon. There was no reason for them to know. It was none of their business.

……………………/

"Satoshi?" Krad looked around the almost empty "house" and greeted the newly returned tamer. He knew something had to be going on, Satoshi didn't just leave like this/ He didn't say to where, or even why, just vanished sometime this afternoon and left Krad worried sick about him. He almost followed after, but his tamer might've felt threatened and that would've been bad for them both. So he restrained his natural urge to search for him, and merely waited for his return alone.

"Dark is back…" His voice was cold and even, like he didn't know how to feel; or that he had upset Krad. Brushing past, he made no offer to share his newly acquired information with his other half; and he carefully folded up the papers and hid them in his pant's pocket, away from Krad's prying eyes. Not exactly the best place for them but oh well. He wouldn't retrieve them just yet…

Raising an eyebrow to Satoshi's more than just odd behavior, he moved closer and closed their gap. "…And?" His lips brushed against Satoshi's ear while he whispered to him, wanting to be even closer still.

"Tonight I suppose you're going to go…" Satoshi shivered, secretly enjoying the feel of Krad so close to him letting himself be embraced without a fight, "Alone."

Krad bit his lip, glaring just past Satoshi at an invisible intruder. So, he wouldn't see his love? All night? He'd be left alone to fend for himself! No, he'd not have it! "…No…" He felt Satoshi tense up in his arms, obviously not expecting to hear that or to feel the suddenly tighter embrace from Krad that hindered his movement. "I want to be able to protect you, Sato-kun…" Krad's eyes narrowed while he once again became possessive. "So you're coming too."

……………………/

Dark looked around, making a quick surveillance of his surroundings. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he signaled Daisuke over, and took his hand. They wore matching outfits that complemented their bodies perfectly, and it was Daisuke could do to get him out of the house on time for the theft. He had to promise to let Dark steal something else when they got home, and Daisuke wasn't sure as to what he meant but if it would get Dark moving so be it! Dark refused to let him stay home, to Emiko's distress, but they shrugged it off as him being over protective with Krad on the loose. Well it was that too.

Running down the hall, he slowed his regular pace a bit to make sure Daisuke could keep up easily without tiring. "Alrighty, Dai! Let's go get that kitten!"

When the hall stopped, they noticed something odd. There were four oddly painted doors they had to choose from. Seeing as how there were only three of them there, they'd only manage to search three areas; that was if Dark would've let Daisuke part from his side. "Wizu!" Dark called him forward, and once they were all together he decided on a door. "Umm…that one!"

"You mean you're not sure!"

"Not like you know either! Come on!" Dark threw open the light blue door, spotting the pedestal ahead of him. "Alright!" Running in, he blindly crashed into Satoshi, knocking the later to the floor and almost falling himself. Regaining his composure, Dark looked down at the other tamer. "Why hello there, commander—What Dai?" He turned around at the insistent tug of Daisuke's hand on his almost nonexistent sleeve, and almost had a heart attack when he saw Krad so close to them.

"I see you brought him along too. How…convenient," Krad's voice was bitter while crouched down, picking up his tamer. After he was sure that Satoshi could stand well enough alone, he put him down and kept an arm wrapped about him protectively, the mirror image of Dark.

"Don't Krad," Satoshi's voice was so small that Krad could hear him, barely, "…Please…" He voice became even softer still.

"Hush, Satoshi-sama," Krad kept their conversation in hushed tones, his voice gentle and soothing. "I won't…tonight," it was amazing how Satoshi wasn't struggling against him.

……………………/

While they shared a private conversation, so did the other two. Just as Krad stepped forward, he noticed something peculiar. Dark never said "Kyu," or shrank away from him! Looking around, he noticed that there was something amiss. Although Daisuke was still in front of him, now unprotected, Dark was missing!

"You really need to have shorter conversations, Krad. Or learn to keep your mind off—Hey! That was too close!" Dark narrowly avoided the attack of light, Koneko no Bando successfully obtained and now on his finger, reflecting the angel's light with an eerie glow. Dropping by Daisuke, he once again took his hand and tried to make a run for it. "So if you'll excuse me, we'll be off now!"

"Dark, stop right there," Satoshi walked forward, his eyes hard and unwavering. His fist was clenched, and held to his side, "I don't think you'll want to leave this behind as well," He held out his hand, Neko no Pendanto visible in his palm. "It's the only way to break the curse…"

"Damn it!" It didn't take long for Dark to disappear, Wizu as his Black Wings while he carried Daisuke.

Once they were gone, Krad turned back to Satoshi, who now looked slightly fearful of the other. "Why, Satoshi-sama?" He came close, embracing him as he wondered what had possessed him to tell Dark. He ignored the slight flinch from Satoshi as he responded.

"…He needs to know…where to go next…" Satoshi spoke carefully, choosing his words with the utmost care. As he spoke, he gave the jewel to Krad, having no real need for it himself. Krad noticed that while he held it up, he looked weak, hand trembling slightly as though the light pendant were too much for him. When he went limp Krad caught him, wrapping him up in his arms. In the pale moonlight shinning through the glass windows just behind them, he noticed something very peculiar about his Satoshi-sama.

He had sprouted dark blue cat-like ears and lost his human ones, and now he had a matching tail! Strange…This was the curse he had mentioned earlier…

……………………/

Dark flew as fast as he possibly could, urging Wizu to go faster once Daisuke fainted. "Dai-chan?" His voice was worried, and he held him closer, clinging to the lithe form of his other self. "Answer me!" He sighed when he realized that he woudn't be able to go after Daisuke, to see what was wrong. In the lights reflecting from the city and with the moon's light, he noticed something new. Daisuke had cat ears!

((Sorry it's so short! Next up is the Bonus Chapter! But here's some translations:

Koneko no Bando Kitten's Band as in a ring

Neko no Pendanto Cat's Pendant

Neko no Hyoukyo Cat's curse

Watashi no Tenshi My Angel))