Surprise, two chapters in one day. I've been reading fanfics all day, and it made me want to update mine a little more. Drama ensues in this chapter, although there is also some nice stuff. Hope you enjoy
Disclaimer goes here
Kiri sat on her bed, crying, when Dark walked in. He sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her, letting her cry onto his chest.
"Kiri, what are you trying to say?" Dark asked gently once Kiri had seemed to calm down slightly. Kiri stood and went to her desk, picking up her notebook. She wrote something down and showed it to Dark.
"I have all of you, what else do I need," he read. He glanced up at Kiri, who was nodding.
"Why can't you just say that?" he asked her. Kiri put her hand to her heart and shook her head once.
"You don't think there's enough feeling, and you don't know how to make people realize how sincere you are? I think your little display down there showed them that," commented Dark, raising an eyebrow. Kiri glared at him, then sat down on the bed next to Dark, putting her head in her hands. Dark put a hand on her shoulder.
"Look, everyone down there knows how sincere you are. And we all know how much you want to say this just right. Come on, I'll explain it to everyone," Dark offered, standing and walking towards the door. Kiri nodded and followed Dark out of her room. Before they began heading downstairs, Kiri grabbed Dark's arm, turning him around. She hugged him, burying her head into his chest.
"You're welcome," Dark replied, tousling Kiri's hair.
After Dark left, everyone downstairs sat in silence. After a few minutes, Kyoko turned to Daisuke.
"Why is it you think Dark is good at calming Kiri down?" she questioned curiously. Daisuke shrugged.
"Whenever she has these breakdowns, he's the one who's managed to calm Kiri down. She doesn't like me seeing her like that, so having me around just makes her embarrassed. We don't know why she doesn't respond well to Nathalia," he explained. It was almost thirty minutes before Dark led Kiri downstairs, and she stood behind him shyly. Dark pushed her lightly in front of him, then steered her over until she was in front of everyone.
"Kiri wants to tell everyone that she has all of us, and that she couldn't wish for anything more," Dark paused, and Kiri poked him, urging him to continue. "She wants me to tell you that she's sorry about earlier and that she didn't feel like there was enough feeling behind her words when they're written down. She also wants me to convey how sincere she is when she says that she doesn't need anything else, and that she is truly happy right now. If she could talk to say this all to you, she would, but words still do not come for her." Kiri nodded from next to Dark, then walked slowly over and smiled apologetically at Daisuke before sitting back down. Dark took his seat next to Nathalia, and the rest of the night was passed with comfortable chatting and joking. When it was time for Kyoko and the Niwas to leave, Kiri walked them to the door, then locked the door behind them. She turned and went back into the main room.
"Was this birthday happier than your other ones?" Daisuke asked Kiri from the couch. Kiri sat down next to him and nodded. She watched while Nathalia and Dark began to clean up, then hopped up, walked over to them and grabbed their arms, pulling them back to the couch. She pointed at all the things that needed to be cleaned up and shook her head once, then pointed at the couch and nodded, miming talking. Dark and Nathalia both laughed, sitting down on one side of the couch while Kiri sat down on the other side next to Daisuke. Daisuke, Dark, and Nathalia talked, while Kiri dozed off in Daisuke's arms, the sounds of her friend's voices comforting her.
Eventually even Daisuke began to fall asleep, and Dark stopped talking. Nathalia stood and picked up Kiri, who stirred slightly, but kept sleeping. She carried the fifteen-year-old girl into her room and placed her in the bed, pulling a blanket over her gently.
Kiri woke up to her alarm the next day, letting out a silent moan. She put on her uniform, then went downstairs to see Nathalia and Dark fast asleep on the couch, and Daisuke at the counter. Daisuke smiled at her in greeting, and Kiri silently sat next to him, turning to smile at her friends on the couch.
"They look peaceful," Daisuke whispered. Kiri nodded, then turned and looked at the clock, a look of dismay on her face. She stood and picked up her bag, Daisuke following more slowly. The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Kiri laughed more and more, and every time it sounded clearer, the harshness disappearing until her laugh sounded almost normal.
A month after Kiri's birthday, Kiri sat alone in her room staring at the painting Daisuke had given her. She mouthed the words 'thank you' again and again, willing her voice to come back. She threw her notebook at the wall in frustration, hating that she couldn't even make her body do this little thing. She knew no one had heard the crash. Dark and Nathalia were both out, and Daisuke was in the basement, working on something, although he wouldn't tell Kiri what. Kiri liked working on things in her room, so she would know as soon as Dark and Nathalia were back, since they still had to go through her room to get inside. She heard them now, talking as they landed on the roof. She listened to their footsteps coming down the stairs, she heard the door open. She heard Nathalia leave, but she could tell the Dark was still in the room, looking around at the various things Kiri had thrown at the wall that night.
"Trying to talk again?" he guessed. Kiri nodded, tears forming in her eyes. Dark was the only one who knew she was trying, he had caught her at it one night when she had thought herself alone. Dark sat down next to her.
"I told you it'll take time. You can't force things like this," he told her. Kiri nodded, then turned away from Dark. She hung her head.
"Keep working at it if you want, but don't rush it. And don't get angry when your voice doesn't come back right away," he said. Kiri turned and hugged Dark, then stood and walked over to where Daisuke's painting was hung, right where the moon hit it fully at this time of night. She turned around and motioned to the painting, mimed talking, and pulled out a picture of Daisuke.
"I know you want to say thank you, and you'll be able to eventually," Dark assured her. Kiri sat down next to him again and looked at him. She gestured to her heart, then mimed talking, then pointed at Dark, smiling.
"I like talking with you too, Kiri," Dark replied, tousling Kiri's hair. Kiri giggled, ducking her head. Dark stood and walked towards the door.
"Good night Kiri," he called as he left the room, closing the door behind him. Kiri stayed up for most of that night, working on trying to talk. The next day, she stumbled downstairs, looking exhausted. She glanced around, then found Daisuke on the couch. She sat down next to him, taking his hand. Daisuke looked at her curiously.
"T-thank…..you," Kiri croaked, her voice gravelly. Daisuke smiled at her.
"You're talking," he said, grinning. Kiri nodded, grinning as well. They hugged, then pulled apart when Dark and Nathalia walked downstairs.
"Good morning, you two," Nathalia greeted as she and Dark walked into the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Guys, come see what Kiri can do," Daisuke called, waving the two adults over. Dark and Nathalia looked at Kiri curiously, walking over. Kiri looked up at them, her expression nervous. She took a deep breath.
"Thank…..you," she said, her voice a little bit stronger. Nathalia grinned and hugged Kiri. Dark stood back, smiling. Once Nathalia had stepped back, Dark walked over and tousled Kiri's hair.
"I told you it just needed time," he whispered, smiling at her. Kiri grinned back.
"Well, I think we need to celebrate today. You two don't have school today, so how about we go to the carnival," Nathalia suggested. Kiri glanced at Daisuke, then nodded, grinning. Nathalia grinned back. After breakfast, the four left their house and began heading to the carnival. Once there, the four all went on several rides. Around lunchtime, Dark and Nathalia disappeared, and Daisuke and Kiri went in to see a movie. When they left the movie theatre, Nathalia and Dark were waiting outside, Nathalia holding a large shopping bag.
"We got you something, Kiri," Nathalia told her, holding up the bag. Kiri took the bag and opened it, pulling out a large stuffed animal. Kiri looked at it, then gestured to Nathalia, spread her arms wide, gestured to Dark, and brought her hands close enough to be almost touching.
"Okay, you're right, I picked it out," Nathalia admitted, looking sheepish. Kiri walked over and tapped Nathalia on the head, then mimed talking and shook her head once.
"Nats, I don't think Kiri likes it when you lie," Daisuke remarked, walking over and standing next to Dark. Kiri nodded, pushing Nathalia lightly. Most of the rest of that day was spent just sitting, everyone enjoying having a day out of the house. As night fell and everything lit up, Kiri hopped up from the bench they'd all been sharing, then turned to face them.
"Ferris wheel," she croaked, pointing. She grabbed Daisuke's arm and pulled him pleadingly. Daisuke smiled and followed her, waving at Nathalia and Dark, who waited on the bench watching. They watched as Daisuke and Kiri got into a car, then began talking. An hour passed without them noticing, and suddenly Nathalia glanced at her watch.
"Dark…" she began slowly, grabbing onto Dark's shirt as though needing support.
"What is it?" Dark inquired, looking at Nathalia with concern in his eyes.
"Daisuke and Kiri should've been back by now," Nathalia stated, showing Dark her watch. Dark stood, taking Nathalia's hand and leading her over to the Ferris wheel.
"Excuse me," Dark said to the operator, a young woman. He smiled, turning on the charm. The operator gave him the attention he knew she would.
"Can I help you, sir?" the woman asked, blushing slightly.
"There were two young teenagers riding this ride earlier. There was a girl with short, brown hair, and a boy with spiky red hair. Do you remember them?" inquired Dark. The woman nodded.
"Yes sir, I remember them. Why?"
"Did you see them get off?" the woman shook her head, looking as though she had just realized that fact.
"Did you see which car they got into?" Nathalia demanded, tears forming in her eyes.
"That one, the red one right there. It's empty now, if you want me to let you in there next time it comes around," the woman offered, pointing to a car that was almost at the top.
"That's okay, we can get there ourselves," Dark assured her, winking. He took Nathalia's hand, then held his other hand up to Wiz's nose. Wiz had been on his shoulder all day, and now was only too happy to help his long-time companion. Wiz transformed into Dark's wings, and next to him, Nathalia spread her own wings. They flew up to the car, landing easily. They both began searching the car, knowing that there would be some sign of what had happened. Dark was searching around the seat on one side of the car, his back turned to Nathalia, when he heard her fall to her knees behind him, a half-sob escaping her lips. Dark turned and knelt down next to her, looking over her shoulder.
"Dark, Krad has them…" Nathalia told him, her voice breaking. Dark held her as Nathalia began to sob.
"We'll find them," he assured her quietly.
"I know, but Dark…..I don't know if Kiri will survive another round as Krad's prisoner," Nathalia said, burying her head in Dark's chest. Dark held Nathalia close as he spread his wings and flew them back to their house. Once he had landed, he tucked Nathalia into their bed, then left through the front door, locking it behind him, and walked down to the Niwa house. He knocked on the door, and Emiko opened it, smiling when she saw Dark.
"Emiko, I have something to talk to you guys about," he told her, his voice serious. Emiko's expression fell, as though she knew what was coming. She led the way to the main room, where Kosuke, Daiki, and Kyoko were sitting around the table, watching Dark expectantly. Dark noticed that Towa was in the kitchen, and although she had been cleaning dishes, now she was listening intently. Dark sighed, hating himself for what he had to tell the people in front of him. He noticed the fear that was in Kyoko's eyes, as well as in Emiko's eyes.
"Daisuke and Kiri have been taken by Krad," he finally said, avoiding meeting anyone's eyes. He heard the footsteps, felt Kyoko slam into him. He allowed her to yell at him, blaming him for the disappearance of her daughter. She beat his chest, until finally her screams dissolved into sobs and she was leaning against Dark as he held her.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. As soon as Kyoko stepped back, Dark fell to his knees, tears forming in his eyes. Emiko wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"It's not your fault, Dark," she whispered, compassion in her voice.
"I shouldn't have let them go off by themselves. If I'd been thinking about it, if I'd been more careful…" Dark whispered, anguish in his voice.
"Dark, you couldn't have known," Emiko knelt in front of Dark, taking his head in her hands, making him look her in the eyes. "None of us blame you, Dark. You shouldn't blame yourself. Now go, be with Nathalia. She needs you." Emiko stepped back, and Dark stood, nodding. He left, walking slowly.
Once he was back in his house, he went up to the bedroom that he and Nathalia shared, where Nathalia was curled up under the sheets, sobbing silently. Dark sat down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Nathalia turned and looked at Dark with red-rimmed eyes.
"It's my fault, Dark. I never should have let them go off alone. I should have-" she began, her eyes full of regret. Dark put a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"It's no one's fault, Nathalia. We were celebrating, none of us was thinking about the dangers, and we can't be blamed for wanting to forget about our worries for a day. Get some sleep, and first thing tomorrow morning we'll go check Krad's old mansion," Dark responded, sounding like he was trying to reassure himself as well. He pulled Nathalia into a hug, allowing her to cry into his chest. Eventually, she fell asleep, and Dark moved slightly so that he was leaning against the headboard, still holding Nathalia tightly. After another half hour, he was sleeping as well.