Chapter 10
Me: Disclaimer- I don't-
Dark: We know, we know, now am I going to end up in the hospital?
Me: Shut up pervert!
Dark: Not until I get an answer.
Me: If you'll let me say the disclaimer, I'll tell you! *Rolls eyes*
Dark: PheoTheFlamedoesn'. *Gasps* Happy?
Me: No, I doubt anyone could understand a word you just said. Anyway, I don't own DN Angel, and I think I'll give Dark a concussion for being so annoying.
Dark: No, please- *Is hit on head by large glass vase and passes out.*
Daisuke: *Pokes head into room* Oops, there goes our "Glass vase indoor football" game. Sorry about that Pheo- san.
Me: No need to apologize, I was just going to go borrow that for the exact reason. Here. *Tosses vase back to Daisuke*
Daisuke: Thanks! *Leaves room*
Me: Okay, on with the story!
My hair was now tied back in a ponytail, and except for the color and the fact I'd wrapped it around my neck, it looked exactly like Krad's. Dark had a concussion, and I was just about to call my mom. I smiled ruefully as I thought of how I'd be able to explain what had just happened to her, and I could only pray that she'd be want to help, and be able to. I dialed her cell phone and hit the call button.
She picked up on the first ring. "Gray?"
"Hi mom." I said, not bothering to hide the frustration and hurt in my voice.
"Are you safe? You don't sound good."
"I'm safe. So are Lumi and Dark and Daisuke."
"Oh? What about Satoshi? And Krad?"
"They are stuck in the same body again." I said matter-a-factly, "Krad said he recognized your magic."
She didn't even try to deny it. "I did that for the good of everyone. You'll understand once you realize what he's like."
I squeezed the handset so hard I was sure I'd break it. My vision changed, and I growled into the phone, "All I understand is that you just locked my angel away, after tricking him into thinking that he was free, and that you have just re-cursed Satoshi."
"Your angel?" my mom asked pleasantly, "So you are Krad's Maiden? Who is Dark's?"
"Dark's Maiden is Lumi." I spat, "And if you aren't going to help me set Krad free, I'll go."
"Gray…" she said softly, "I didn't know… that you would be Krad's Maiden. I was so sure you'd be Dark's… I'm sorry. You have no idea…"
"Mom, please, is there anything I can do for him? I can't just do nothing!"
"I don't know Gray. I just don't know." Even in a different world, I could tell she felt terrible, "Maybe Daiki might have an idea, but from what I know, the spell I used couldn't be undone by any other."
"So why don't you come here?" I begged
"Honey, it's not that easy. It almost killed Dark to get me here, and I lost every bit of my magic when I arrived. But, could you tell Lumi that I've told her parents about what's happened? They want her to enroll in school. You should too. I'm really sorry about Krad. I know you'll find something that can help him and Satoshi." I heard a garbled shout on my mom's end, and she said quickly, "I've got to go Gray. Tell everyone I said hi!"
"Bye mom." I said glumly, and then hung up.
"Your angel?" Dark asked weakly and sarcastically, "How sweet." His hair had been dyed brown, and cut. He'd dimmed his eyes to a pale violet that matched Lumi's exactly. He looked like someone who'd tripped down two flights of stairs, then crashed through a bunch of badly repaired floorboards onto a cement basement floor. That was our cover story for him, because even in this world you couldn't walk into a hospital with an infamous thief and tell the nurses he had been attacked by a dragon that guarded an ancient vase.
"Shut up, kaitou, or else." I growled.
"Umm, Gray, that's not really a good idea…" Towa said, "Miss Emiko said not to touch him."
I smiled. "I won't touch him." I promised, "That's why I have my whip." I touched the handle of it, and Dark winced.
Satoshi got up slowly, shaking his head. "That hurt." He complained, apparently to Krad. I could tell these next few days would be confusing, and sighed. "Oh and Gray, Krad says to thank you for trying to help him."
"Can he hear me?" I asked. Satoshi nodded. "Krad, I'm still trying to help you. I'm telling the truth when I say you're psychotic, homicidal, you don't understand the value of human life; you're everything everyone says about you." I took a deep breath, and continued, "But, you want to change. And that changes everything. Some people just don't understand that. My mom, for example."
Krad's chuckle reached my ears, and I glanced at Satoshi, who looked up and spoke in Krad's tones. "This is the most I dare try to transform." he said. "But I thought I might as well try." Satoshi grimaced, and when he spoke again, it was in his own voice.
"That was…" he shook his head, "Painful."
I looked at him, and I wanted to scream. His eyes were bloodshot, and there was something in how he was holding himself that just screamed pain at me. Daisuke noticed it too, and rushed over to his friend. "Sato-kun, are- are you okay?" Satoshi didn't answer. It didn't look like he could. He collapsed, and Daisuke barely caught him. I would've killed for a camera. Every yaoi fangirl in my world would go crazy over this. But, I'd have to take credit for posting it, and then Satoshi would probably hunt me down and kill me. Daisuke would probably hide in his bedroom for the rest of his life. I smiled, shaking the thought from my head.
"What're you thinking about?" Lumi asked, "You have that weird light in your eyes, like you're going to do something you'll regret later."
"Oh, just a camera." I replied; then whispered, "You have to admit they look cute together."
"I suppose." Lumi muttered, looking at the two boys. It was right then that Emiko came back in.
"Dark, I'm taking you to the hospital. While you're there, you'll be known as Kei. Sorry Satoshi, it was the first thing- oh my… what happened?" When she'd turned, she'd seen Satoshi, who Daisuke had set gently on the floor.
"I don't know." Daisuke said, "Satoshi, can you hear us? You don't have to speak." Wow. No honorific. Daisuke must have been really worried. Satoshi twitched his right hand, although I wasn't sure as to whether or not it was a response.
"Don't worry Miss Emiko." Towa said, "We'll take care of him. He and Krad re-merged. I think it's really hurting him…" Towa trailed off as she saw Emiko glaring at Satoshi.
"Demon." she muttered, "Lumi, could you please help me get Dark to the car? You can come with me to the hospital if you want."
"Umm, Gray, would you be all right if I went with Emiko? I mean, I just want to be sure Dark's okay, and-" I cut her off.
"Yeah, its fine, I understand. Someone close to me is hurt too." It took every ounce of self –control I had, and some I had to conjure up in my mind, to prevent myself from going completely psychotic. But I managed, and Lumi and Emiko helped Dark out of the room. When I heard the front door slam several minutes later, I unwrapped my hair from around my neck, and started twirling it around in a circle, trying to relieve my anger.
"What can we do for him?" Daisuke asked.
"Well," I thought aloud, "Maybe… is your father here? Or your grandfather?"
"They're both away, researching artworks." Daisuke replied glumly.
"… Argentine, could there be something in the library?" Towa asked, looking amazed that she was talking to him.
Argentines eyes lit up. "Maybe. We should go look." I made as if to follow the two artworks, but Argentine stopped me. "Most of the books are written in a language you wouldn't know. Stay here with Daisuke and Satoshi."
"Oh, okay." I said. I felt useless, but I walked over to Satoshi, and knelt down next to him, listening to Towa's soft, quick steps, and Argentine's slower, slightly heavier ones, until they were out of earshot. "What can we do for him?" I asked, echoing Daisuke.
"I don't know." Daisuke answered sadly, "We might as well try to get him onto the bed."
"Yeah," I agreed, "It'll be better than the floor." I smiled, and together we managed to get Satoshi onto the bed. He twitched and muttered something, but other than that, he looked like… "Gosh, he looks like a breathing corpse." I muttered, "Only a little worse. Why is this happening?"
"Krad…" Satoshi muttered keeping his eyes shut tight, "Go away…"
"I guess they aren't supposed to be reunited." Daisuke said, looking at Satoshi with worry. "I'm going to have to call Miss H- Risa. Have you heard of her and Riku?"
"Yeah, I have." I replied, "You and Riku are pretty cute together. But I never really thought Risa and Satoshi…" I shook my head, "But if they're happy…"
"Yeah, and Dark's pretty happy she's finally leaving him alone." Daisuke and I both smiled, but Daisuke's grin quickly faded. "I'd better call her though, and invite her and Riku over. Are you okay with them knowing about…?" he looked at my wings.
"Can they keep it a secret?" I asked.
"Yeah, they can."
"Go ahead then. I'd like to meet them." I gave him a weak smile, still worried sick about Satoshi. "But, umm, how will they react to me?
"You'll have to wait to find out." Daisuke said, "I'll go call now." I could tell he wasn't sure what their reactions would be, or if they'd be positive.
I didn't have long to wait. Ten minutes later, Daisuke came back, leading two girls I instantly recognized as the Harada twins, Risa and Riku. My hair was still tied back, so my wings were completely visible, a fact I realized about two seconds too late.
"Riku, Risa, this is Gray Valo. Gray, these are the Harada twins, Risa and Riku."
"Nice to meet you." I said with a smile, turning quickly so my wings weren't immediately visible. But looking at their faces, I could tell the damage had been done.
"Hi!" Risa said, acting like she hadn't seen my wings. I could tell she had though, it was in her eyes.
"Hello." I replied evenly, "You're here to see Satoshi?"
"Oh yes! Is he okay?" Risa walked over to me quickly, and I stepped aside, keeping my wings folded tightly at my back, and pulling my hair down to hide them a little better. "What's wrong with him?" she asked.
I glanced over at Daisuke with a look that I hoped said, 'do they know about Krad?' He shook his head yes, and so I simply said, "A spell, and Krad."
"What is that monster doing to him this time?" Risa asked, and I was amazed by the hate in her eyes. I felt my eyes change, and smiled lightly, imagining Risa looking up and seeing them. She did, and gasped. "What did you do to him?" she whispered.
"It was my mom." I replied, "Her hatred towards Krad did this."
"But… your eyes…"
"And my wings." I said, unfurling them. Suddenly my vision was back to normal and I almost collapsed. I glanced around quickly, and saw my guitar, the neck splintered. I walked over to it, and imagined it whole again, passing a hand over it. It repaired itself almost instantly, and I grabbed it. "I'm sorry." I said, "I don't… that's never… if you want me, I'll be on the roof." I jumped out of the window and spread my wings. The wind caught me, and when I glanced back, I could see Riku and Daisuke looking at me. I gained altitude quickly, and circled around the house three times, enjoying the calming feeling of the wind whipping through my long hair. I landed on the roof carefully, seeing as I wasn't sure if it was strong enough to support me, but it held. Very quickly I thought about something I might be able to play, that could actually express how I felt. I was scared about how quickly my temper had gotten out of control, and embarrassed about it. At the same time, I was furious at Risa for instantly coming to the conclusion that Krad was responsible for Satoshi's condition, and at my mom for telling me to go to school and not worry. Well, she didn't tell me not to worry, but still. I finally decided on "Hurricane Streets" by Hey Monday. I picked up my guitar and tried to start the song. Emphasis on 'tried'. I couldn't concentrate on the strings, and I ended up plucking different strings at random times. I shook my head in disgust, and then jumped back down to the window I'd flown out of in the first place. As I slipped through it, I saw only Risa there, next to Satoshi. Someone had brought a chair up to her, because she was sitting down. Satoshi was now in a state of semi-consciousness, and he gave me a weak smile when he saw me fly in.
"Risa," I said, "I'm sorry about what happened earlier… I don't really know what it was."
"It's fine." Risa said, but I could tell she was still a bit cold towards me.
"Where's Daisuke?" I asked.
"He and Riku went on a walk." Risa replied coldly.
"Oh." I whistled lightly for Fenga and Ryoushi. It would be nice to see them. Fenga trotted through the door after a minute. Ryoushi was nowhere in sight. "Hey Fenga." I said softly, "Did you lose a friend too?"
"Grr? Grrr-rrr?" What? Where's Krad?
"He and Satoshi re-merged…" I said sadly, "I don't think there's anything we can do about it, and it's really hurting Satoshi." I ruffled her ears and stood up.
"Are you…" Risa began.
"Talking to her, yes." I replied.
"That's a wolf."
"Her name's Fenga." I said conversationally.
"She's a wolf." Risa repeated.
"I've noticed."
"Is she tame?"
"Quite." I stroked Fenga's pointy ears for another minute, but it was too silent for my liking. I wished Lumi was back, and Emiko. I even missed Dark. Well, not really, but still.
"Are you related to Mr. Dark?" Risa asked.
I almost gagged. Me, related to Dark? "What makes you ask that?"
Risa looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I just thought, since… you know, you have wings…"
"I am from my own family." I said, "But I am supposedly the third half of the Black Wings. I'm not sure if I'm related to Dark or not." I heard footsteps running up the stairs, and a second later, Argentine burst through the door.
"I… think… I found something…" he gasped, "Well… technically, Towa… found it, but here." He handed me a tiny, dusty, old, leather-bound book. I opened it carefully, revealing yellowed pages covered with, believe it or not, English writing! There was no caption, or date, but I guessed it was an old journal. I flipped open to the first page, and started to read.
I was given some time out today. Master Ryuu tells me that I should know what the world looks like, even though it causes him great pain. He tells me that I should try my hand at painting, but I've found an excuse not to each time he suggests it. I'm afraid of embarrassing myself in front of him. He says I'll be an amazing artist, that I am, after all, a Hikari, but I still do not wish to disappoint him.
I blinked. I blinked again. "Argentine, could you go ask Towa where she found this? I think… I think it's Krad's." I looked back down and continued reading without waiting for a reply.
He tells me that he could show me how to paint, if I would try something. He says it will separate us, but it might not be permanent. I'll ask him more about it later, what he means by 'not permanent'. Maybe I'll try painting once I have my own body. I wonder what it would be like, not constantly having another presence at the back of your mind. I suppose that's all for now, I'd better give Master Ryuu control again, after I hide this. Even though we share our thoughts, I'd rather he didn't see that I am keeping a journal. He adores poking fun at me.
The entry had taken a page and a half. It would have been simple to slip the journal somewhere it wouldn't be noticed. I turned to the next page. It had a shorter entry.
It has been a few weeks since I have written, but they have been uneventful. There has been news of the kaitou Dark, my other half. Apparently he has been acting cockier lately, even sending warning letters before he goes to steal an artwork.
I have yet to ask about how I could get my own body, but I am slowly becoming obsessed with the idea. Master Ryuu is asking for control back now, I think he's hearing the knocking on the door. I'll hide this quickly, and I hope I can write again soon. It's nice to be able to put down exactly how you feel on paper, although a bit difficult.
As I carefully turned the page, I wondered if Krad would be upset if he ever found out I'd read this. I hoped not.
Today I finally asked Master Ryuu how he could give us separate bodies. He told me to astral-project myself, which I did, and he showed me a small artwork. It was a golden cross. Engraved on it was the word, "Byakuya", the white night. Master Ryuu said that he thought that one word described me perfectly. He said that the cross, if I wore it, should give me my own body. I decided I would put it in my hair, just to try something different. He gave me control, and I took a few minutes to admire the golden artwork. It is studded with tiny pieces of amber. Carefully, I managed to intertwine it into my golden ponytail. There was a blinding flash of light, and then, nothing.
The next thing I can recall is Master Ryuu calling my name. I don't want to open my eyes, because I am afraid that I will still be in his mind. But I couldn't keep my eyes closed forever. Very slowly, I opened them. Bitter disappointment flooded through me. I was still in Master Ryuu's mind. I hear him thinking to me, but I ignore him. I need to be on my own for a while. Or as alone as I can be in someone else's mind.
I could hear the bitterness in Krad's voice as he penned down those final words. I flipped to the next entry.
Today, I finally spoke to Master Ryuu again. He told me that he feels terrible for letting me down. Then he asked me to astral-project myself again. I did so, somewhat reluctantly, and I saw him sitting cross-legged on the floor, with a white dog's head on his lap. When the dog saw me, he jumped up and ran over to me, and tried to jump up and lick my face. Of course, since I had no form, the dog passed straight through me, which didn't feel very good. Master Ryuu smiled at me, and told me that the dog's name was Ryoushi, and that he would be my immortal familiar, and my hunting partner. I asked him what he meant by 'hunting partner', and he told me that the thief, Dark, was setting his sights on the Hikari's artworks, and he wanted me to protect them. He told me that it was my choice, if I didn't want to, it would be fine, which of course, made me agree instantly. The nerve of this thief! Trying to steal the Hikari artworks. Master Ryuu tells me that I cannot kill him, since we are the same being, the same artwork, which hurts. Not that I can't kill Dark, but that we are the same. Why would I want to kill anyone? I hear a disturbance downstairs, in the underground passageways, so I must go now. I will take Ryoushi, though I doubt he will be any help to me. I've heard the thief has wings as well, as black as the night sky, but maybe Ryoushi can provide a distraction.
The last few sentences were barely legible. Krad must have been in a hurry. I looked back to the small book, completely unaware of my surroundings.
I have retreated to the back of Master Ryuu's mind, bringing this journal with me. I didn't know I could do that, but it's nice. I am completely exhausted from my fight with the self-proclaimed "Phantom Thief" Dark. I had no idea any being could fly so fast. I let him get outside with the artwork before really giving chase, but it was Ryoushi who finally caught him. The dog has golden wings, which he uses like he had been flying for years, and he got his teeth into Dark's arm right before I lost sight of him. I found the artwork a few minutes later, in the branches of a tree I didn't take the time to identify. I flew back to the two story house Master Ryuu lives in, alone, and gave him control again, after grabbing this. I'm going to stop writing now; I can barely keep my eyes open.
I smiled and traced an ink smudge on the bottom of the page with my finger. Krad must have fallen asleep before he'd put away whatever he'd been writing with. I wondered if he'd gotten ink on his clothes.
"Gray?" Risa's voice shook me out of the trance I'd put myself in, and I looked up. "Gray, what's wrong with Satoshi?" I closed the Krad's journal, stood, and walked over to where Risa sat. Satoshi's skin had lost what little color it had, and when I pulled one of his eyelids up, I saw only white.
"I'll be right back." I told Risa, "I'm going to go get Towa and Argentine. Maybe they have an idea as to what's happening." I jogged out of the room, slipping the journal into my pocket, and ran down into the stone corridors, realizing as I did so that the walls looked scarily close to those that I'd seen in my world. I'd had the strangest feeling then, that I didn't recognize. I still didn't. I felt only mind numbing fear as I ran, not really sure where I was going. "Argentine! Towa! Where are you?" I was lucky. I ran straight into Towa as I turned a corner.
"Oh, Gray, are you alright?" She asked me, standing up and offering me a hand. I gently touched my nose, and when I saw it wasn't bleeding, nodded.
"It's Satoshi." I gasped, "He's… worse. I need to go get Emiko. Can you or Argentine stay with him and Risa?"
"Well, sure!" Towa replied, "Argentine just asked me to come upstairs anyway, so I might as well stay. He said you wanted to know where I found that old book. It was hidden behind a larger book; I think it was the one about…"
"It doesn't matter. Where are my boots?" We were jogging towards the stairs.
"By the front door. Don't worry, the traps are turned off." We ran up the stairs, and I went to the left. Towa turned right and ran up to the second floor. I went to the front door and grabbed my boots, putting them on as quickly as I could. Which took about five minutes. Swearing under my breath, I ran flat out until I found a spot I could ask for directions. I stopped at a small cart selling fruit at a corner, and asked the man standing behind it if he could give me directions to the hospital. He did, without even raising an eyebrow. With a quick thank-you, I was off again.
My hair was blowing around in the breeze created by traffic, which was a problem. If someone saw my wings, they would probably stop me. No, they would stop me, and I had to get to Emiko. I didn't want to risk flying, but it was quickly becoming my only option of quick transportation. Then I ran into a traffic jam. The cars were packed so tightly that not even a mouse could have woven through them, so I was pretty sure I would have to take off, or turn back. Or…
I didn't know where the idea had come from, but I quickly clambered onto the trunk of a small red car, then onto the roof, ignoring the driver's shouts. I was pretty sure I was light enough to not dent any of the roofs as I jumped to the next one, and luckily for me, I was right. I jumped from car to car, avoiding convertibles, until I came to the hospital. My legs hurt, but I quickly ran through the doors.
I went over to the information desk, thinking about what I would have to say.
"Can I help you?" The woman at the desk asked.
"Yes," I said, "I'm looking for a Kei Niwa; he came in earlier this morning with a concussion… I was just wondering if I could see him."
"Hmm, Kei Niwa… He's on the third floor, room 156, and he's already got visitors, you can head on up. The elevators broken though, so you'll have to take the stairs. Can I ask if you're related?"
"Yeah, we're cousins." I lied, "Thanks for the help!" I quickly walked over to the stairs, then jogged up to the third floor. I couldn't rush up to Dark's room, because it would seem suspicious to be running towards the room of someone who would probably be headed home soon like he was dying. I spoke the room numbers under my breath, and when I got to Dark's- I mean, Kei's room, I knocked and slipped inside.
"Gray?" Emiko said, "What- Why are you here?"
"Satoshi's worse. I thought… you might have an idea…" I realized how stupid it had been for me to rush over here, thinking Emiko would have all of the answers. I shook my head, and turned to leave. "Sorry for coming. It was thoughtless of me."
"Gray?" This time it was Lumi talking. I turned and saw how well she had been blending in with the shadowed wall. "What happened to you? You used to be so hotheaded…"
"I don't know. I'm just scared. For Satoshi, Krad, even for Dark. How is he, by the way?"
"He's fine." Emiko and Lumi said at the same time.
"And Gray," Emiko said softly, "You must really care about Satoshi and Krad. We'll be back in about an hour, after Dark's awake."
"I thought he was being unusually quite." I muttered, "I'll see you then." I turned and walked out of the door, and jogged down the stairs, then back out the door, to where the traffic was still backed up. With a running leap, I managed to get onto the back of a deep blue sports car, and made my way slowly up the stream of barely moving traffic. I was making pretty good progress, I thought, until the traffic suddenly sped up. I threw myself flat onto the roof of the car I was on, and tried to calm my racing heart. Why had the traffic picked up so fast? I didn't have time to figure it out. Very slowly, I stood up, trying to keep my balance. For those of you who have never tried standing on the roof of a moving car, it's quite difficult. I knew I should use my wings, just fly off, but I was nervous to do so after how I'd been treated back in my old world for having them. I took two quick steps and jumped for the roof of a car behind the one I was on. And overshot.
AN: Will Gray be crushed? Or will she be an angel on a windshield? Tune in next time, and please forgive me for the confusing disclaimer!