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A fairly tall dark-tanned young man stepped into the house, his well-built chest on display from his open white button-up shirt. His shoulder-length dirty-blond hair fell loose around a well-kept face. He favored a pampered would-be model, but carried himself more like a California surfer dude. Dark instantly hated him, and growled out his disapproval, catching Mat's attention as he strode toward the middle of the room and closer to all of them. He frowned over at the two angels, both already giving him dirty looks of their own, before turning brown eyes on Miranda to address her with his hands deep in his jean pockets.
"What's with these two guys?" he asked, lifting one hand to rudely jab a thumb in their direction. "How come they get to come over and I don't even get invited?" His deep and irritatingly smooth voice sounded a little hurt.
"That's just the thing, you're not invited. Now go home, Mat," Miranda all but hissed. If she were a cat, claws would have unsheathed. The tense vibe easily made its way to Krad. His eyes narrowed a fraction, just enough to alert Dark, who was standing to the right of him. A hand laid on one of his tightly folded and barely hidden wings.
"Retract those," Dark spoke quietly from the side of his mouth, making sure only Krad could hear him. It wasn't like they were being paid any attention though; the other two were completely focused on one another—unpleasantly and angrily so. Krad turned and gave Dark an appraising look. He wanted him to put away his wings? What was he trying to do, even out the playing field for this guy if the guy wanted to fight? These were his wings and he wasn't going to put them away.
Dark wasn't surprised by the resistance he saw in Krad's expression. "Please put them away. Do you want to end up on the Jerry Springer show? You'd have to commit seppuku then," Dark said, with an incredibly straight face.
'I saw that show once. It was horrible! Yet, oddly entertaining. But I wouldn't want to be around all those crazy men and women. Could you imagine being in a cage and forced to witness obscene objects and bodies thrown around in front of you?' Satoshi mused.
Krad hesitated as his face suddenly blanked. That had been the strangest comment yet. And when one has weird comments buzzing off without warning inside one's head, it can make for a rather bad distraction.
"What?" Dark couldn't figure out the reasoning for this difference in his counterpart.
'I would never be forced into a cage—' Krad attempted a small rebuke.
'Oh, yes you would. Your butt would be shot with a tranquillizer before you could say "who's there". I'd make sure of it, even if I had to run in front of a poacher hunting an elephant to do so.' Bubbling laughter bounced around, quickly growing from the part of him that harbored Satoshi. Krad could not stop his expression from twisting into one of painful amusement, and Dark was really at a lost for an explanation. It bothered the kaito.
'Satoshi-sama, you obviously are not in your right state of mind.' And, without further delay, Krad's wings shrank until only two slits were left in the back of his white undershirt. Dark gawked in disbelief. He carefully tried to determine just what had come over his counterpart to make him listen so easily. It was difficult to tell; Krad put an unreadable expression as he turned to Miranda and Mat and straightened his stance. Carefully, Dark turned mostly toward the other two as well, but he kept cutting Krad assessing looks from the corners of his eyes.
"You know I'm always available for you, but you still go and take on two guys behind my back," Mat was saying, somewhat harshly.
"I don't like you, Mat! When are you going to get that through your thick cranium?" She'd had enough of this already. The very thought of him under the same roof as her disgusted her to no end. She quickly glanced over at the two angels and saw that they were no longer squabbling amongst themselves. Maybe they were waiting for some sort of signal from her? Good. They must have reached a decision. Now they could help her out. She forced a smile. "How about I introduce you to my new roommates?" she offered in a slightly more pleasant tone. It was certainly the best tone she'd used with Mat since the time of their very first chat. Dark squared his shoulders some, preparing for the introduction. He definitely didn't want to look the part of the uke. If he was lucky, Krad would fall into that role. In his opinion, Krad was highly suited for it.
WOOF! Flames danced for a split second from underneath the blackened poofy and previously charred chair behind them. Everyone tilted their heads at it.
"Well, that was random," Dark spoke, staring at it.
"What killed it this time?" Krad wondered out loud.
"What?" Mat asked curiously, inclining his head in Krad's direction. "Killed?" The glare Krad sent him in return made Mat take a shaky step backward. It also had the desired effect of stalling any more forthcoming questions.
"Easy," Dark warned his blond reflection. Krad could be civil when he wanted to be, but maybe this was asking too much of him too soon? Miranda cleared her throat and stepped up beside Dark.
"Don't you want to add something to that to...you know, make it sound more endearing? Are you two going to run this guy off by playing a couple, or what?" she questioned quietly. Dark suddenly became horribly horrified at the task. His skin became clammy. He couldn't. He just couldn't do this! Her face fell as she realized it was a mistake to ask him to do such a thing for her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to do something you so surely cannot do." Miranda faced away and walked a few feet, leaving Dark put out. This is a challenge, I can do it! Yet, every fiber of mine screams in protest. But, if Krad can do this, then so can I! Yet...
Miranda smiled, a chuckle nearly escaping her. If she had as good of a reading on Dark's personality as she thought she did, then this was all the push he'd need to act his heart out. This was going to be great! She was going to witness a show AND get rid of Mat permanently. The guy would freak so much, he'd never come within ten miles of her house again! YES!
A couple of quiet seconds later...
"Honey, don't intimidate our guest. What have I told you about that jealousy of yours? Tsk," Dark blurted out, one hand on his hip, the other running through his deeply colored hair. He looked positively stunning. Sparkles came out of nowhere to glitter off his beautifully carved cheeks as he turned this flirtatious pose full blown on Krad, and Krad seriously didn't know what to do about it. Dark regarded him out of half-lidded eyes and the hunter almost missed the taunting smirk aimed his way.
'That made me shudder,' Daisuke announced from the depths of Dark's mind. Dark made a small sympathetic noise through their link. Krad stood numbly. He looked either ready to burst out laughing, or run screaming. Odd, considering who this was...
'Do something, Krad! It's not like he confessed love for you!' Satoshi bellowed at his twitching curse.
'If it was not a form of running, I would happily give this situation to your control, since you seem plenty capable of handling it!'
'What's so difficult about it?'
'Did you not just see what I saw?'
'Of course I did, but I'm obviously not feeling what you're feeling. … You can't be...in love with him, can you? That's simply impossible...even if you do obsess over him.'
'I am not going to comment on that. AND DON'T YOU EVEN THINK OF SINGING THAT REDICULOUS CHILD'S SONG!'
'Pardon?'
'The lyrics to that unbearable kids' song flashed through my mind. You know, the one involving a tree?'
'Right... That wasn't me, Krad.'
'OF COURSE IT WAS YOU! There is no third entity here!'
'I'm serious, that didn't come from me. Please let this be a dream...'
Back to the outside world...
"Um, excuse me, but you two aren't gay, are you?" Mat asked Dark, pointing back and forth at one angel, then the other. Dark shakily tilted his head down, seeming unable to speak at the moment. Perhaps this man has a speech impediment? Mat thought. But, he was fine a minute ago... Miranda walked up and stomped on Dark's right boot.
"WE'RE TOGETHER!" Dark managed to yelp as he hopped once. Krad's face started turning blue; from fear or lack of oxygen was anyone's guess. Dark looked over at him and snarled. He had no right to be turning blue, not when it was him doing all the work!
"Funny, my gaydar isn't going off," Mat laughed.
Dark felt his eyes beginning to water. He wasn't sure if it was relief, or disappointment in his acting skills that was causing it.
These two fellows just can't be gay. However, they are cute, Mat thought quietly to himself.
"Damn, Mat, you'd usually run away at the mere mention of boy love. What's with you?" Miranda asked suspiciously. She'd been hoping Mat would be long gone by now. The angels were seriously going to have to put more effort into this. And why does Krad have to be the type to space out now? She thought frantically. The white angel was just standing there with his bangs hiding his eyes, while Dark beside him was slouching dejectedly. You'd think Krad had never thought about love in his life from his ridged posture.
Mat laughed. "I took therapy for it and found out that my problem was that I'm actually bi." Miranda dropped to the floor in a faint, Krad did nothing, and Dark bolted from the room. A bang was heard a few seconds later. It sounded suspiciously like a head ramming into a wooden door. Face-palming in this situation must not have been good enough.
"You were so far in the closet that you were finding next year's Christmas presents!" Miranda rolled on the floor, laughing hysterically. "Wait..." she quieted down. Does this mean he might go after my angels?
Mat walked over to the second unmarred poofy chair, taking both hands out of his pockets and, as he did so, a few blue diamond-shaped pills fell to the floor, unnoticed. "Why don't we all sit down? If it's love counseling that's needed, then I'm the one to turn to," he bolstered. He jumped as soon as he reached out a hand for the chair, because there was a smoke-colored rabbit...thingy...sitting directly in the middle of it. Dark, sporting an 'X'-shaped bandage on the middle of his forehead, quickly snatched the thing up and moved away. He stopped over on the opposite side of the room and held With in outstretched arms, checking him up and down. "What happened to you, With?" Dark inquired with a tilt of his head. Some yards away, Krad picked something up off the floor.
"I bet he is why the phoenix flamed," Miranda said, leaning up against the backside of the charred chair.
"Kyuu..." With confirmed, a tiny puff of smoke coming out of his mouth. Crap! Did this mean that the chick was loose and that they didn't know where the darn suicidal thing was? This was bad! There was a normal person here for goodness sake! Dark glared at With, who instantly looked contrite.
"Is anyone wanting counseling, or not?" Mat griped, sitting in the freed poofy chair. Gaydar going off or not, carrying around and talking to a little bunny...he's got to be gay, Mat thought or hoped, peering over the chair and reassessing Dark. He wasn't so sure of the blond guy yet. Speaking of, what was the beautiful golden-blond examining in his hand? He looked so perplexed. He walked very gracefully, Mat noted, as he stopped beside Miranda. He innocently revealed to her whatever it was he had in his palm and she let loose a shriek of anger. Dark stopped dusting off his bunny to race over to them to check what was going on.
"MAT!" she yelled, rearing back her arm for a throw.
"Ouch!" The hard object hit him right smack between the eyes. She must have been a baseball pitcher at one time.
"YOU BROUGHT VIAGRA TO MY HOUSE? YOU PISS ANT! OUT! GET OUT, YOU FILTH!"
"...Shit." Mat hung his head. Dark laughed, he couldn't help it. Krad just kinda stood there feeling left out. That is, until Satoshi finally explained the matter, then he simply wanted to forget everything. He did not need to know of matters he had no intention of ever taking part in.
'That's enough,' Krad mentally sighed at his Tamer. Ignorance could be a good thing sometimes.
"I hope you already took some, you asshole!" Dark laughed, rubbing at his watering eyes. Mat hung his head further. … Silence. … "Ugh, that's just not right." Dark was abruptly cured of his laughter.
"I have had enough of this," Krad announced, marching straight at the pitiful guy. Was he actually about to serve justice? Something moved by the man's foot, grabbing Krad's attention just as Dark came up behind the white angel to stop his advancing. Suddenly, Krad was launching forward, a terrified look on his face. Dark thereby threw himself to latch on to Krad's waist. Mat hollered as he scrambled up and over the backside of his chair. All of them thought Krad was going to commit murder. Miranda silently cheered. Dark and Krad crashed to the floor, Krad's outstretched hand missing what was the phoenix chick by mere inches as it ran away with a blue pill dangling from the first part of its beak.
"YOU FOOL!" Krad barked, twisting to see the idiot that held him.
"Wha—?" Dark looked past his angry reflection and saw the red-gold blur hurrying away. It stopped after a few yards and took to trying to swallow what it had instead. Dark paled.
"Does anyone know if the chick is a male, or female?" he asked unhelpfully, releasing Krad. Krad raised off the floor with a fearsome scowl and sprinted. The chick saw him coming and rushed into a nearby guest room. Krad followed, nearly tripping. Who knew he could be clumsy?
"What the hell?" Mat asked irritatedly, as he straightened the lines in his rumpled shirt.
"That was a phoenix chick getting chased by an angelic hunter that's currently off his game. Watch now as he chases his prey at top speed, stunning everyone as he does so," Miranda narrated. With perfect timing, the chick entered back into the living room, Krad hot on its heels. The chick ran straight for Dark, who dodged the barreling hunter; to its dismay and disappointment.
The chaos blasted on passed, entering into the kitchen.
Miranda laughed close beside Mat. "Welcome to the Crazy Cottage, Mat," she said evilly, with a face set to match. "There's no going back now." Some random pot banged from in the kitchen and the phoenix was spotted by a counter without a hunter chasing it. No...wait...there went Krad! And there goes Dark laughing his ass off. Chick and hunter disappeared from sight again. With all the noises and crashes going on, Krad must really be tearing up the place. A rather loud popping sound was heard, then a large object doing a power slide, ending in another terrible crash. A couple of white feathers floated up. Must have slipped on an unopened bag of chips. At least, that's the closest thing it sounded like.
"Come on! This isn't a barn! Get that bird out of here and stop this stupid mess!" Mat yelled in frustration. He was tired of not getting his way with Miranda. Time and time again something always hindered him with her. He wasn't considering the earlier given term of phoenix, nor where the white feathers were coming from. Idiot didn't think. Dark stopped laughing and glared coldly in his direction.
"You're right, this isn't a barn. Why don't you get lost, then?" Dark said in a tone that matched his unusually icy glare. He suddenly went from looking like a teenage goof ball to something otherworldly. His eyes held a mysterious glow.
"How exactly did I offend you?" Mat snickered, sounding more confident than he felt. This very familiar looking purple-haired dude seemed plenty capable of taking him out. With ease, one might add.
"You don't insult a bird around me," Dark glowered in all seriousness. For some reason, he reached with his left hand to just behind his right shoulder. Sensing this was escalating badly, Miranda jumped into his line of vision, waving her hands to fully catch his attention.
"As much as I want this guy gone, Dark, calm down. He's stupid, remember that." She gave a forced laugh.
"Hey!" Mat protested.
"Quiet, jerk!" Miranda snapped over her shoulder at him.
"Wait a minute," Mat paused. "Your name is Dark? I knew you looked familiar!" He pointed in shock, and Dark rolled his eyes. This irritating guy really never did think beyond one track or so, Dark was willing to bet.
"Cheep!" went the little phoenix from between Miranda's two sneakered feet.
"Huh?" Everyone switched focus to it.
"Well, if you're here, then where'd Krad go?" Miranda faced the kitchen and everyone followed suit. It was quiet, too quiet...but soon Krad flopped his head and torso over one of the nearby counters. A frying pan balanced on top of his head, seemingly like a kid's makeshift helmet, and it didn't flatter his hairstyle. Laughter rang out.
"Dark! Grab the phoenix and make it spit it out!" Krad yelled, regardless of his ridiculous position. Collecting himself, the purple-haired thief didn't need to be told twice. How idiotic of him for forgetting. He bolted for the chick, but just as his fingers could close around it the phoenix chick wobbled, closed its eyes, and fell over. He retracted his hand for fear of flames, but none came. Dark slowly blinked, then gave a forced half-smile.
"No worries," he said, "it might take it a few minutes to flame." He regarded Krad once more and straightened. Krad frowned at him, then glanced away, looking at anything but Dark. The pan was still on his head. Was he embarrassed by all his fuss?
"That's kinda cu—cu—bah bah...ah? W-what was I about to say?" Dark tapped his two index fingers together nervously, glancing quickly down to the left and right, anywhere but at the hunter. His expression showed petrified shock. Krad jolted. The frying pan slipped off his head, hitting the floor with a loud clatter. A blush tinted his cheeks as he stared over at the kaito.
"Okay, gaydar is officially going off now," Mat spoke.
"Yeah, it's so kawaii," Miranda sighed. Krad turned his head to the side, refusing to acknowledge anymore, then gave a sharp gasp as he accidentally slipped off the counter. The floor welcomed him with a smack. What was wrong with him? Oh yeah, the Angel Dust wasn't completely gone from him. That would explain Satoshi's behavior, too. That had to be it. But, what was Dark's excuse? Better not be his way of calling me feminine again!
A few minutes later, everyone was gathered by the fireplace in the living room. Dark stuttered to himself quietly, apparently lost in his own world. The chick still laid on the floor, apparently dead as it wasn't moving. Why wasn't it bursting into flames? What exactly did Viagra do to a phoenix? Should they throw it into the fireplace? Would that help it? Dread hung around the big room and its people. Surely something was going to happen?
"Why are you still here?" Krad asked Mat sourly, leaning with his chin in his left hand while he sat on the floor.
"I'm not leaving until I get something." Mat cut his eyes suggestively at Miranda. If she would have been close enough, she would have slapped him. As it was, there were about one and a half yards separating them.
"You would leave if I told you to," Krad stated in a bored tone.
"What could you do to make me? You have nothing that I'd run away from." Mat knew better than to hint around with this man; he didn't seem like the type to mess around, but he just couldn't help it. Dark internally shivered from hearing the obvious come on, even if it wasn't directed at him. Miranda hunched over.
"It just isn't cute when you do it," she said sadly.
"I could easily show you something to make you run," Krad remarked, agitated. Dark fell backward, circles swirling in his eyes as Miranda chuckled. Krad was so clueless when it came to hidden meanings within the English language.
"Oh?" Mat leaned forward some, now more than hopeful. He was thinking some pretty bad thoughts. Sadly, it involved almost everyone within the room. (Enough said.)
"Yes," Krad said stiffly, raising his chin off his palm. He didn't like the way his spine tingled. Was he actually feeling threatened?
"Hehe," Miranda giggled.
"Then why don't you show me it?" Brown eyes trailed a lower torso and sunk further. Instinctively, Krad drew his legs the rest of the way closed. More than anger played on his face. It was as if this guy was undressing him just by looking at him! He no longer questioned if he was going to kill the guy, he questioned himself on why the guy wasn't already dead. Repeatedly. That conversation he'd had with Dark earlier should not be effecting him this badly.
"That's enough, Mat. He's not into you," Miranda spoke. Mat laughed at this.
"That was such a girlish reaction! I'm smitten by another again!" Mat quickly reached over and touched Krad's leg. The next instant, he saw stars. Krad had backhanded him across the jaw so hard a molar shot out of his mouth. Dazed, Mat spoke once before he hit the floor, "That was another girlish reaction, but it sure didn't feel like one."
"I think you must have overdosed on Viagra before coming here," Miranda smirked.
Krad stood. He was livid.
"YOU DISGUSTING, VILE HUMAN!" Wings flared out in the intensity of his emotions. "YOU THINK TO TOUCH ME? I WILL KILL YOU!" Krad reached down and grabbed the astonished scum by the scruff of the neck.
Mat had never believed in angels before, why did he have to go and piss off the first one he'd ever met? The air rushed from his lungs as he was rammed and pinned to the closest wall by two arms. He gave a pathetic squeak when Krad's eyes narrowed to slits and those extremely white wings lifted up high in glory. He was so sorry that he didn't try a better tactic when it came to seducing this proud being. No one was coming to help him. A sudden whoosh of flames caught everyones' attention. Krad gave a repugnant sniff before simply throwing the curd to the left a few meters and returning to his previous spot. The guy gave a yelp as he smacked and slid across the hardwood floor.
Dark looked up at Krad. "You're not going to kill him?" he asked, impressed by the blond's self-control.
"Later," Krad claimed.
"Um, do you two notice something different?" Miranda asked, astonished. She was leaning back on her arms and had wide eyes directed solely on where the phoenix currently was. Dark jumped up from his position, and Krad blinked. A grown peacock-sized-and-shaped, red-gold phoenix stood with deep blue eyes. As it looked at them, it ruffled its shimmering feathers.
"Kyuu!" With jumped up and down in appreciation on back of the charred chair.
'Dark, can we move?' Daisuke questioned, fearing what else might have changed about the grown phoenix. It had eaten one of those pills...
"So, it's male?" Miranda wondered out loud.
"Female," Krad stated easily.
"How can you tell? I thought the long tail feathers symbolized a male," Dark said, intrigued.
"Not in this case," Krad answered. "Take a look at the feathers that fall limply and trail all the way to the end of the neck. It is like a mane similar to that of a horse. Only the female phoenix has that. Remember this isn't an actual peacock, it is an artwork."
"Unusual," Miranda noted.
"Most Hikari artworks usually are," Krad agreed, "but if you notice, the markings are also different from a normal peacock."
"Artwork?" Miranda looked confused. Dark shook his head at her and she took the hint not to question further.
"What I want to know is how Viagra made this bird grow up," Mat said, coming back into the group. He wasn't so dumb, as he gave Krad a lot of space.
"I have no clue," Dark shrugged.
"I have no idea," Krad remarked, while giving Mat an evil glare.
"Um, Mat? You should leave. You're pulling aggro," Miranda said, pointing over at Krad.
"I'm not leaving unless you come with me!" Mat crossed his arms defiantly where he stood. Miranda simply looked the other way. Krad abruptly walked off, which made Dark wonder why he was acting so differently. Wouldn't the normal Krad have attacked instead of leaving something undone? He must have his reasons. Dark followed him. Krad opened the door to the bathroom and glanced behind him at the sound of another's footsteps.
"What is it?" the hunter asked.
"Oh! Um, nothing!" The kaito had enough of an answer. He was going to leave Krad alone now.
"I'm tired of accompanying idiots that I want to kill. I want to relax. Were you hoping to join me?"
"Huh?" Dark jumped away, his face terribly red. He was not expecting that to be thrown his way. Krad's eyes softened some as he stepped in and closed the door.
"Do me a favor and do not pick the lock this time," Krad said through the wooden barrier. That's for throwing me off earlier.
'Nice tactic. He's sure not to bother now,' Satoshi praised. 'Unless you're possibly going for reverse psychology, but that would require him to have an interest in you.'
Krad stayed quiet as he peeled his undershirt off, taking great care with his wings.
"Dark, we have a problem," Miranda addressed the horror-filled countenance that was Dark Mousy as he walked back to them all. The black angel was in total shock about how funnily Krad was acting.
"Huh?" Dark looked around at the sound of scampering claws running every which-way. With was in his true black-winged bird form, dashing from a pursuing phoenix. Mat was nowhere to be seen. "What happened?" he turned to a wide-eyed Miranda.
"The phoenix started what looked to be a dance, then your bunny...thingy...grew into a black bird...thingy...and joined it. From then on it has been a chase."
"Great." Dark exhaled. This night couldn't possibly get any weirder. Why did With have to decide to play at the wrong time? For goodness sakes, didn't his familiar know a mating dance when he saw one? Especially from a bird of all things? With spun for an open guest room door and the brilliant-colored red-gold phoenix lost her footing and slid right on by it. A man's scream tore out of the guest room With had just entered, and suddenly Mat was blazing passed in a panic.
"DEMON BIRD!" he screamed.
Dark had a hand to his mouth, holding his laughter in.
"Oh, yeah?" Miranda turned and shouted back at Mat, "Well, you're a PERVERTED CHICKEN! So there!" She stuck her tongue out at him as he disappeared into another room. Suddenly, she was engulfed in a hug with purple hair tickling her face.
"I'm so glad you aren't scared out of your mind by all this," Dark said, laughter in his voice.
"Um...ah...you're welcome?" She patted his back awkwardly a few times and he let go. "This is really nothing," she explained, "I've had many hallucinations that were far worse than real life, so I'm prepared for anything." Over by the guest room door With had run through, the phoenix stood, unsure of what to do. It backed up as another purpled-haired teen in black stepped into the living room. Big, watery purple eyes watched the phoenix apprehensively as With—now in Dark's form—stepped around the confused red-gold bird and walked fast in the direction of the real Dark and Miranda.
"Correction, I'm prepared for almost anything," Miranda restated.
"With, you can't be running away in my form. What if the phoenix gets wise and comes after the both of us?" Dark reproved.
"No pun intended, but then you'd both be screwed." Miranda helpfully acknowledged.
Dark pursed his lips as With began crying. Even now the phoenix was studying the two kaitos.
"Help! I did'na mean to!" With sobbed cutely, grabbing a hold of one of Dark's shoulders with both of his now human hands. Tears ran down his face and the real Dark wiped them gently away with his thumb.
"Awe!" Miranda gushed. They're like twins! I wonder if this means Dark can turn into a bird? It'd make sense.
"Alright, calm down. As long as you don't get excited and 'kyuu' you should be safe in my form," Dark said.
"Correction, you should both be safe," Miranda pointed out. With nodded his head, not daring to look back at the phoenix, who happened to be trotting their way. Dark noticed and turned to walk off. Scared, With followed. Miranda watched as the phoenix passed her, heading slowly and curiously after the two. "Ut-oh..."
Meanwhile, Mat paced the room he was in. It looked to be another guest room, though this one was dusty and unused. The only items present were an old bed, and a dresser with an attached mirror. He looked at himself through the dusty surface, his sheet-white complexion standing out prominently within the dingy thing. "I've got to get out of here! And I'm taking Miranda with me!" Problem was, he was currently too scared to leave the room.
"Stop following me!"
Mat looked to the only window of the room. Dark's voice had come from outside. Cautiously he walked over to it and glanced out, only to end up falling down on his butt. Red-orange flames had shot closely passed, illuminating the whole room for an instant. "Gah!" Dark hollered. The purple-haired kaito ran with everything he had as he dashed by and beyond. Not long after, the red-gold phoenix ran past, beating its wings in a huff. All Mat could do was lay on the floor and curl into a distressed ball.
"Dang this phoenix is smart!" Dark complained loudly, still running the length of the cottage. He'd thought that he could scare the thing away from him and With, but no; the thing had to sling massive fireballs at him. And what's worse, the traps Miranda set out back hadn't stopped it. As soon as Dark thought he had lured the high-strung girl into a spotted one, the thing sizzled it and kept running for him.
Dark turned and started heading toward the front of the cottage, the phoenix gaining on him all the while. He spotted With—still in his form—heading quickly his way. His familiar gulped nervously as he passed him. The phoenix came to a dead stop and whirled backward in confusion. Then, it decided to take off after With.
"Oh, man!" Dark said, grabbing his chest as he panted. "That thing can run!" He slowed to a stop to lean on the side of the cottage, trying to get his breath back.
"KKKYYYYYUUUUUUU!" With howled from somewhere.
Dark hurriedly pushed off the wall and ran back the way he'd came.
-)*(-
Just so everyone knows, the Viagra wasn't my idea. Credit goes to my Tiger. I had to look the stuff up on Wikipedia to find out what it looked like.