I suck. I know. It's true. I don't update for like, two days, and now when I finally do update the chapter is super short. I have a good explanation, I swear. My explanation is that I was without my computer for a day and a half, and then when I got it back I found an old Rurouni Kenshin fic that I'm working on completely redoing. So I suppose the good news is that you guys will be getting an RK fic soonish. The bad news is I suck. And, to top it all off, I leave you with the worst cliff-hanger ever. The good news is that you guys only have to deal with me for another 2 chapters of this. Maybe 3, I haven't quite finished this yet (really, I swear, I'm half-way through the last chapter). Please forgive me.

Disclaimer

Nathalia re-applied the salve to the wound every day, and Dark began to improve. He woke up one day feeling almost as good as new, with only a slight fever. At one point Nathalia had moved Dark to Kyoko's bed, though Dark didn't really know when she'd done that. The past few days were rather blurry for him, and he barely even remembered being moved. Now, Nathalia slept soundly next to him, her head on his chest. When she felt him move, Nathalia jerked awake, looking around as though confused about where she was.

"Good morning sleepyhead," Dark greeted, his eyebrow raised. Nathalia glanced up at him, and the relief was plain in her face.

"Dark, you're okay," she whispered, sounding almost overcome. Dark grinned, chuckling.

"Of course I'm okay. I've got the world's best healer watching out for me," he responded, wrapping an arm around Nathalia.

"I'm not that good," Nathalia protested, glancing down. Dark chuckled again. He kissed her forehead and slid out of bed, swaying slightly as he stood. Nathalia hurried out to help him, but he pushed her away.

"I'm fine, Nats. Just a little groggy," Dark assured her, grinning. They walked downstairs and into the main room, where the Niwas and Kyoko were sitting eating dinner.

"Hey guys," they all greeted. Nathalia and Dark both nodded, then went outside.

"We should steal something tomorrow," Nathalia remarked, looking up at the stars.

"Sure. We can write the warning notice tonight," Dark agreed, nodding. Nathalia leaned against Dark's shoulder, and Dark wrapped an arm around Nathalia.

"Well, maybe we should-" Nathalia began to say.

"I love you too," Dark whispered, silencing Nathalia. She turned and looked at him.

"What?" she asked.

"Before, when I was first sick, you said you loved me. I never said anything, so now I'm telling you. I love you too," Dark explained. Nathalia's eyes widened, then she jumped into Dark's arms, burying her head in his chest. Dark laughed, hugging her tightly. The next night, they went to the art museum to steal a sculpture created by the Hikaris. On the way back, a net fell over Dark, causing him to spiral to the ground. Nathalia went to go after him, but another net fell over her, pulling her to the ground. They struggled to get out when a weight dropped on top of Dark, and another one dropped on Nathalia.

"Dark, what's going on?" Nathalia called, twisting to escape the net and the weight. She heard an 'oof' as whoever was on top of her fell off. Nathalia twisted to look, and found herself staring into Daisuke's eyes. Behind her, she heard Dark let out a shout of surprise. She turned and saw Kiri tackling Dark, a rope in her hands. Suddenly she felt Daisuke tying her hands together.

"Daisuke, what are you doing?" Nathalia demanded, struggling.

"How do you know my name?" she heard Daisuke ask.

"Daisuke, it's me, Nathalia," she said, struggling again.

"Nathalia, I don't think they remember anything," Dark called, trying hard not to hurt Kiri as he struggled against the ropes. Nathalia sighed.

"Sorry Daisuke," she whispered, then rocketed her head backwards, knocking Daisuke out. She pulled her hands out of the half-tied ropes and managed to cut through the net with a feather. She tied up Daisuke, then went over to where Dark was still struggling against Kiri carefully. Nathalia easily yet gently over-powered the younger girl and tied her up, placing her next to Daisuke. Nathalia lifted the net off Dark and he stood, looking at his friends.

"What happened to them?" Nathalia asked, fear in her voice.

"I don't know," responded Dark, taking a step forward to grab them. Suddenly there was a blinding light and they were both gone. Nathalia stopped, looking as though she had been slapped, then fell to her knees.

"They were so close," she whispered. Dark knelt and pulled Nathalia to him, then tried to spread his wings, wincing as he realized that they'd been damaged by the net. Instead he stood, pulling Nathalia up with him.

Kiri was terrified as she went to report to Master after leaving Daisuke in their cell. They had failed, and she knew Master would be angry with her. She walked into Master's office and bowed, gulping down her fear.

"Kiri, where is Daisuke?" Master demanded, glancing up at her.

"He was knocked out, Master. We have failed," Kiri told him, her throat catching in fear. Master seemed to read the fear in her face, and he stood, going to stand in front of her.

"Fear not, Kiri. I will give you two one more chance," Master told her, his voice sickly sweet.

"Thank you, Master. We will not fail you again," responded Kiri, bowing. Master waved her away, and she went back to her cell, taking care of Daisuke carefully. Their second chance came some time later, days were uncountable in their lightless cell. Master came to them, which was unusual in itself, and offered them advice, which showed how much he wanted them to capture this target.

"Remember, Kiri, Daisuke; if they struggle, just hold on and press the gem, they'll end up here no matter how much they struggle," Master informed them. Kiri and Daisuke nodded, then left, climbing to the rooftops to wait for their targets. The winged figures passed them, and the two teens followed the targets silently. They threw the nets again, and each jumped on top of one of the targets, pressing their gems immediately.

Nathalia grunted as Daisuke forced her into the cell, pulling the net away with the same motion. Dark landed next to her, looking up at their captors. There were no emotions in the eyes of either Daisuke or Kiri, and that scared both Dark and Nathalia more than anything else.

"Master will be in to see you in an hour, please do not attempt anything while he is here, or we will be forced to harm you, and Master prefers his prisoners to be healthy when he starts on them," Kiri informed them, closing the door. Nathalia turned to Dark, tears in her eyes.

"Dark, I don't know if I can do this again," Nathalia whispered. Dark pulled her close.

"We'll get through it Nathalia. Together, we'll escape, and we'll bring them with us," he promised, resting his chin on the top of her head. Nathalia nodded, the tears rolling down her cheeks now.

Kiri and Daisuke walked into Master's office, bowing, their eyes holding no sign of the relief they felt.

"Master, the targets are in their cell, waiting for you," Daisuke reported. Master nodded, then waved them away.

Krad watched as his servants left, then looked back at the papers on his desk. He laughed as he thought of what his former host would do, were he here. Krad waited another half hour, then could not wait any longer. He stood and made his way down to the cells, delighting in the sobs he heard throughout the long hallway. He opened the door to Dark and Nathalia's cell, smiling sadistically as he saw them break apart from a hug.

"How nice, you two are in love," he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Krad, what did you do to Daisuke and Kiri?" Dark demanded angrily, taking a step forward.

"Nothing compared with what I'm going to do to you two," answered Krad, his eyes glinting evilly.

Kiri was dreaming. One of Master's newest prisoners, the man, was sitting on a bed next to her. He was talking to her, though she couldn't hear what he was saying. Kiri hugged him, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Dark," she heard herself say. She felt the man tighten his hold on her, nodding.

Daisuke glanced up as Kiri jerked awake. She breathed heavily for a few seconds, then turned to Daisuke.

"I think we made a mistake," she whispered, her eyes wide.

"With what?" Daisuke inquired curiously. He wondered what she could mean, they had been successful with all their missions recently, and Master was happy with them. Kiri sighed, knowing she would never make him understand unless she made him remember. She walked over to him and knelt in front of him. She gestured to her heart, then to his, then laced her fingers together tightly.