AN: Yay!! Four people reviewed. I'm so happy. D Also, Saki's behavior is somewhat inspired by Akito from Fruits Basket. So if you see the similarities…

The tension in the room was unbearable. Dark, being the only unconcerned party, fidgeted.

((Why doesn't Shadow just say he likes Krad better?))

(Because, Dai, something tells me he's not so sure…Either that, or he's scared of that little girl for some unknown reason.)

((She's not so little anymore.))

(Yeah.)

"Saki, I…"

Saki leaned in closer to Shadow and touched his face. "Is that hesitation, Shadow-chan?"

"…"

Krad continued staring at Shadow and Saki. Maybe he should just kill both of them, so that they'd both be happy in hell together. But he knew he wouldn't be able to do in Shadow. He…He actually LIKED Shadow.

"I like…Krad."

Everything in the room practically froze. At first, when Saki was just looking at Shadow blankly, Dark thought Saki was powerless. Well, that changed when he saw that the birds outside had slit necks, and the trees had been cut in half cleanly. He gulped.

Saki gentle touch became a vehement slap. Shadow didn't bother defending himself. She rained blows on him.

"Shadow, why? You promised, no one else! Just me…Until the day I die." Saki replied, crying. She stopped hitting him. Shadow had sustained a cut on his lip, and when Saki saw it, she began to shake. She touched the cut. "Shadow-chan? Did I hurt you? I'm sorry." She lay down on his chest.

Krad twitched. He thought that Shadow said he liked Krad better. Dark, understanding what his other half was thinking, grinned. "That doesn't mean he hates Saki, now does it?"

Krad twitched even more as he glared at Dark.

"Saki-sama, I -!"

Saki quieted Shadow with a kiss. Dark could have died laughing right then and there thanks to Krad's face. It wasn't abject horror, but it said, "WHAT THE HELL?! He likes me, ME!!"

Shadow pushed Saki away, gently but firmly. Saki pouted.

"Don't….Just don't push it, Saki-sama." Shadow replied softly.

"You only like Krad because he reminds you of me, don't you? I noticed, he resembles me in a sense." Saki whispered to Shadow.

Shadow sat up, forcing Saki to get off him. She got off him, but quickly climbed back onto his lap. Krad twitched again. Dark wondered when enough was enough.

"Saki-san, I think Shadow said he likes me."

Dark paused. Did Krad say that smugly? Damn that bastard. He had fallen for Shadow.

Saki got up to hit Krad. Just as she was about to slap him, Shadow embraced her from behind. This time, Krad's jaw could have dropped.

"What is this, Shadow-chan? Something similar to redemption?" Saki chuckled.

"Don't…Don't hurt Krad." Shadow pleaded.

"Why not? He stole something from me. Not just anything either, he chose to steal you of all things." Saki answered. She was clearly enjoying Shadow's show of affection. "I suppose you have redeemed yourself…But only for now. If I ever find Krad around you again…" Saki approached Krad and hit him. Shadow inhaled sharply.

Suddenly, a sharp kick hit Saki in the gut. She staggered. Dark glared at her. "Don't hurt Krad. Shadow, do something! You like Krad better, right?"

Shadow just laughed. Like a madman, he just laughed. Saki frowned and disappeared, shocking both Krad and Dark.

"You can't fight a ghost."

"Ghost?" Krad echoed.

"She's dead…She died about a hundred years ago."

"Liar! She's wearing new clothes. Her clothes aren't old fashioned, I mean." Dark accused.

"That's because she stole some poor soul's body and life." Shadow answered, no longer laughing.

"What was your relation with -?" Krad wasn't able finish, because Shadow interrupted.

"You have to leave. She'll come back for you. She'll get you." Shadow said. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess, Krad."

"Leave? Why don't we just seal her off or something?"

"It's not that easy." Shadow replied. "Krad, please. It's for your own good."

"No, I'll stay here."

"But-!"

"I'm staying." Krad said firmly.

Shadow sighed. "Krad, she'll hurt you."

"Maybe, but I don't care."

xxxxxxxx

"Dark, I found her records! She didn't make Despair…Oh." Satoshi called, frowning. They were in a private library, full of records about all Hikaris.

"Then who did?" Dark replied.

((Who knows? Maybe Despair isn't recorded there.))

"Her father made it… Here it is! Her father's journal. I've read it before. He just never mentioned the name of the artwork, so it never occurred to me…"

Daisuke drew near Satoshi, having taken over the body.

"He made Shadow to keep Saki company. Saki died early due to an illness. Apparently, he thought that Saki really loved this piece of art as if it were human. She didn't treat Shadow properly, he thought. Anyway, he died before she did, so I don't have an idea in all hell why Shadow was caged in Despair."

"How old was Saki when she died? Twenty-nine?" Daisuke whistled. "That's…early."

Satoshi nodded. "If you want to learn the rest of the story, we're going to have to comb the library for her journal."

"Don't worry, we've got a long time."

(I can't believe Krad wanted to stay with Shadow.) Dark complained.

((Dark…))

"Hey, Daisuke…Can you answer me honestly?" Satoshi asked, his voice quivering.

"Sure."

"Do you think Krad would ever…come back? You know, as in sharing a body?"

Daisuke took a deep breath. "No…I don't think so. I think…He'd keep his body."

Satoshi sighed, and a stray tear fell. Daisuke hugged his friend tightly. "It's going to be all right…"

"I hope so, Niwa-kun."

(What about me, Dai? Do you think Krad would ever come to me?)

((That...That I really really don't know.))