Disclaimer: I do not own DNAngel or YuYu Hakusho

Author's Note: No I'm not dead...just lazy lately.

Living in the Dark

Thoughts "blah"

Artwork's 'name'

Chapter 21

After Dark's little episode that morning Hiei thought that it best that the thief be tied up. Raizen had to smack his son after Yusuke made the suggestion to gag him too using one of his old gym socks…which had not seen the washing machine in the last six years.

"So what do we do when he wakes up? Ideas anyone?" Yusuke hated not knowing what to do. In most situations he could just wing it, but how do you do that when it involves a being 400 years old sharing a body with cousin.

Raizen dragged the thief into the living and set him on the floor in the between of the couch and chairs. "Atsuko, I say we wake him the same way that you woke me after our marriage."

Yusuke's mom scrunched her face recalling that day. Both of them had gotten in a drinking contest and somehow Atsuko ended up with a 4,000 tab. "Alright, be right back."

Kosuke recounted his earnings from the poker game while they waited and he didn't miss the demon lord mumbling about cheating humans and vengeance.

The detective eventually got fed up with his Uncle's laid back attitude in regards to Dark's demand and snapped. "Uncle Kosuke why aren't you more worried about this?! Dark is basically wanted to commit suicide and you're not even trying to stop him."

The spiky haired brunette put down the money and looked his nephew right in the eyes effectively shutting him up. The look spoke volumes, but Yusuke could understand none of it. Kosuke corrected this seeing the lack of comprehension. "I know my son and I know Dark. He will be fine. Dark and I have an understanding…if anything happens to Daisuke I'll seal Dark away in a place where even demons fear to tread."

The demons gathered around all looked at the human and then to Dark's unconscious body completely mortified. With the exception of Yusuke all of the demons present knew exactly what Kosuke spoke of. A place where your own worst fears were unleashed against you with a ferocity that made even the most savage of demons seem tame. Few people knew of 'that place', fewer still were capable of banishing one to said place.

Raizen, Hiei, and Kurama could tell without a shred of doubt that the man before them was capable of this feat. Kurama made a mental note to investigate this man further at a later time.

Hiei barely suppressed a shudder at the thought of doing something that even he would never do. "I maybe sadistic, but even I have my limits."

After several minutes of deafening silence Atsuko returned and immediately picked-up on the change in atmosphere. "What's going on? What happened?"

Before anyone else could say anything Kosuke stood and said, "I was just setting the record straight. Nothing that you need to worry about sis." He then lowered his gaze to the bucket she was carrying. "Is that what I think that is?"

Deciding to beat some answers out of her husband later she nodded and proceeded to dump ice cold water on the Kaitou complete with large chunks of ice from the freezer.

"Ah, damn! Mother #"

"Oh look, he's awake." Said Kosuke as he grabbed the ear of the thief and dragged him to his feet. In the coldest voice he could muster he said, "I do believe that we had an understanding Dark. Are you no longer accepting my terms?"

Dark tried to shake his head in the negative, but Kosuke's firm grip prevented it. "No, I would never do that. However it has just gotten a lot more complicated…dad."

It was rare for Dark to refer to Kosuke as 'Dad'. Normally the thief just called him by his first name. "Then now is the time to explain."

Seeing no other way Dark sighed and moved to sit down. Kosuke released the ear, but sat on the couch next to the Kaitou. "I know the risks involved in splitting a soul. Probably better than anyone with exception of Krad."

This caused the others to immediately suggest therapy or get an ass kicking (Atsuko's suggestion). "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S BEEN PUT INTO MOTION BY ME AND DAISUKE FUSING TOGETHER. I DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER UNTIL THE PROCESS WAS COMPLETE."

Everyone had wide eyes and wisely backed up to give Dark some space. Kosuke noticed the young man balling his hand into a fist and releasing it. "He only does that when he's both afraid and angry." He set his hand on Dark's should in what he hoped was a comforting manner and waited for the boy to calm himself.

When Dark looked up he immediately apologized which shocked everyone almost as much as the outburst itself. "It's hard to understand without knowing my full history. As you know I'm a little over 400 years old, but I am not like the other artworks created by the Hikari's."

"Isn't that because you're a lot more powerful then they are. Like on a completely different level." Chimed Yusuke.

The Kaitou shook his head. "That's complicated. The Black Wings is far more than just an artwork. It is like a nuclear reactor and Krad and I are the fuel." Not surprising anyone he released himself from the ropes and threw the handcuffs back to Atsuko. "I really don't wanna know why you have those."

She growled and gave a mischievous look to Raizen. "Sooner or later…" Atsuko let the threat stand while she took some pleasure in Raizen sweating bullets.

"Getting back on the subject," gripped Yusuke turning from his parents to his cousin's possessor, "mind cluing us in on why you suddenly want to die? Because while I don't really like you I won't let anything happen to Daisuke."

Dark chuckled half heartedly. "I am Daisuke and I always have been. If you want to know the whole story then just shut up and let me talk. You can ask all the trivial questions you want after I'm done." He looked around and was pleased that his crowd was all ears. "You see 400 hundred years ago I was just an ordinary Niwa. A human being just like some of you, but the difference was that I had mastered the art of using the darkness element to strengthen my own magic and aid me in thefts."

"Isn't darkness supposed to be evil and all that?" Asked Riku dragging herself into the living room. She immediately faced knowing grins from Raizen, Hiei, Kurama, and Kosuke. Seeing the look on her husband's face filled in any blanks for Atsuko. "Not under my roof. Couldn't they have waited until they were at some place else?"

The violet eyes sparkled slightly before the owner grabbed the young girl pulling her into his lap. While she blushed he explained, "Darkness doesn't translate into evil. My element is Darkness just as Hiei's is both fire and ice."

Facing the others he resumed his explanation not wanting to look his beloved in the eyes when he revealed the truth about himself. "I was a normal human soul with magic before the Hikari's got claws into my soul. That is actually the cause for the long feud between the Niwa clan and the Hikari clan. Somehow my talents came to their attention while they were working on the Black Wings. They realized that they needed a soul with a strong affinity towards darkness…as well as one with a strong affinity towards light."

"So you're one, but who's the other one?" Riku felt afraid of where this was going, but she would not leave her love now.

A lone tear fell from Dark's face as he answered. "He was my best friend who also happened to be a Hikari. He didn't agree with his clan's way of thinking or their blatant abuse of their magics. He was Krad before his own clan turned on him." He heard the surprised gasps and sounds of disgust. He'd been expecting that and felt the same. "When they found out that one of their own was friends with me, a Niwa, they used his soul to complete the equation. Light and Darkness used correctly can generate enormous power far greater than anything even most demons could obtain."

"But that's sick. To use their flesh and blood like that. I know very few demons capable of something so disgusting." Said Kurama whose eyes had turned golden and slitted.

Dark shrugged. "That's the way things were in the Hikari clan. You were either with them or a victim for their experiments…sometimes both." Still he refused to look Riku in the eyes which made her worry that much more. "The supposed awakening of the Black Wings was incomplete as my soul and Krad's were incomplete."

Understanding dawned on Kosuke and Kurama. "No, no. Then?"

With a nod Dark made his father go ghostly pale. "Daisuke and Dark have always been two parts of the same person. My soul has been trying to pull itself back together since this nightmare began." He looked up at ceiling absentmindedly counting the tiles. "Someone out there is trying to bring about the true awakening of the Black Wings and I can think of one word that summarizes that outcome…apocalypse."

BOOM!!

"So that's why you're so highly desired. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting that." Called a voice from the smoking debris. As the cloud cleared the Urameshi family and friends were able to see the source. It was a tall red headed human looking man with spiked hair and a giant sword strapped to his back that was just as big as he is. He wore bright orange pants with flames on the legs and held up by a yellow sash. On both wrists were jeweled gauntlets with phoenixes carved into the gold.

To his right was a woman with long blue hair in a ponytail. She had a chain rod leaning against her shoulder and wore a light blue armor.

On his left were two other guys. The first had a large triangle shaped tattoo under his right eye and wore dark green robes. He was much large than the others and had huge bulky muscles that showed from his open robes. The only weapons seen on him were his spiked knuckles.

The last seemed smaller than the rest, but the fastest of the lot. He had golden eyes and vibrant red hair like the boss only his wasn't spiked. To his left was a pulsing green blade that was the same size as him. He looked back at the pulsing sword and smirked, "There will plenty of action for us too. Don't worry so much Arashi."

The leader looked over his subordinate and said, "Just remember that Raizen is mine. I'll kill anyone that gets in the way you guys included."

"Right." They replied in Unison.

By this time the shock had worn off and everyone was in their battle stances. Riku had been pushed behind Dark while Raizen stood protectively in front of Atsuko. The demon lord looked at the leader of the mercenary group for several minutes trying to remember where he knew this guy from. "Now I remember. You were that arrogant young fire demon that I met several centuries ago."

The demon smirked while Yusuke asked, "Who is this guy dad?"

"He's a former runt that was always challenging those stronger than him and, oddly enough, winning. He's never really been interested in power, but he loves a good fight to the death." A swirl of demonic energy formed in Raizen's hand forming a seven bladed black sword. "Ready Shichinanhakku?" (The Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains; a series of disasters.)

Hiei took the shortest one while Yusuke and Kurama readied to fight the Hulk impersonator. The lady was left for Dark, Atsuko, and Kosuke.

"Don't hold back Raizen." Stated the lead demon.

The demon lord replied, "I'd never dream of it youngling. Let's see just how far you've come Agni."

Feeling left out the other three introduced themselves. "I'm Tala. I'll be your executioner for this evening." Said the woman releasing her rod into segmented pieces.

The bulky one grunted and simply said his name, "Genbu."

Finally the runt of the group spoke, "Names Kome, the Wind Wolf. I've heard plenty about you and your exploits Hiei. After I've killed you I plan to make your sister my woman."

Hiei's demon aura immediately flared scorching the walls and furniture. "I'm gonna cut them off and make you eat them."

Kome smirked and replied while drawing his sword, "Charming as ever I see. No matter this will be over soon enough."

Outside several buildings over another figure watched the excitement. "Just as the master predicted. Now it is just a matter of time."