Chapter Twenty-One: Niwa, Daisuke
I blink as many times as I can, trying to renew my vision out of this dream. I can't be seeing what I am, this isn't Dark standing in front of me right now. I mean sure, it looks like him and when he says my name I recognize his voice, but it's just not possible.
With a shadow slanted across the hallway behind him, Dark reaches out to touch my shoulder, to pat my hair.
"Hey kid! You did it." He grins down at me and puts his hands on his hips. It's so surreal, staring at the face of a person who has only ever been me when I needed him.
"H-how...?"
"It seems the curse has been lifted, young Daisuke. Your bond with my master has created more life than you even know." It's Krad who speaks to me now and I let my mouth gap open in response.
"You don't have to call me Master anymore Krad. It can just be my name. If anything you should be my master." I'm not sure what has changed between the two of them, but Krad bows deeply and presses one of Satoshi's hands against his own cheek.
"As you wish, Satoshi."
They look so...normal. So not like angels. Krad still has his blonde hair, and even a ponytail. but it's significantly shorter and tied back with a white ribbon and a jingling feather. He simply wears a white t-shirt and blue jeans, like any other man on the street. For the moment he looks so down-to-earth, so ordinarily human.
And Dark beside him surprises me more. His hair is still purple and wild but he leans against the wall in a black t-shirt and darker jeans than Krad. They almost match in way, but are opposites, still. Around his wrist is a bracelet with a small black feather charm dangling from it. So this is what happens to an angel that is bound in love.
"Aren't you glad to see me Daisuke? It's been a while, huh." Before I can stop myself, I jump off of my knees and form Dark into a great hug. He's so warm and real. He's really here. I've only dreamed of the day when I could stand face-to-face with the great Dark Mousy. Yet, I never thought it would actually happen. Especially not this way. My mother will be so thrilled, I can see the look on her face now.
"It really is you! Are you staying? Is this for good?" The questions tumble from my mouth and I desperately try to tangle them together. Still, I cannot get them to stop.
"I guess so. I don't feel like we're changing back any time." I feel like I'm wading through a dream. With Dark in front of me and Satoshi holding my hand, the world can't seem to get much brighter.
I squeeze his fingers between mine and let my head settle on his shoulder. His cheeks are flushed with the moment and the colour looks better on him than I would have ever thought. This is Satoshi Hikari. Full of warmth and love, he will always be strong even if he doesn't think he is.
We eventually sit down and talk about as many things as we can. Even though we've had this long to speak in our minds, it's so different now. The small motions really get me; the way Dark scratches his arm or Krad crossing his legs, they all strike me as such human things to do. I don't know how I can even get used to this. At least not for a while.
I feel like there's something Satoshi and Krad aren't telling me when it comes to where they were as I was rowing around. I don't push, in case it touches on bad memories, but I secretly hope it will come up somehow.
It's Dark who mentions it first. "So, what did you do to Kei?"
Satoshi and Krad only glance at each other, speaking solely with their minds still. I guess that's one bond that will never be broken.
"He won't be coming back anytime soon." Satoshi takes off his glasses for a moment to pinch the bridge of his nose. After realizing what those glasses have always signified, he snaps them in half and sets the pieces down. No one even flinches at the sound because at this moment, we all know good to feels to cut anymore silly ties.
I wonder what he really means by 'not coming back' but I don't push any farther. If he's gone, he's gone. That is a simple fact I can trust Satoshi, and now Krad, with.
Time passes quickly and before we know it, the sky is blackened with everything we tell each other. We each walk our figures to separate bedrooms to stay for the night. Luckily, the house is large enough to hold many, giving everyone enough room to be free, for once.
"Goodnight Daisuke. It seems so weird saying that with you walking away, doesn't it? But ya know, I kind of like it." He fluffs a pillow on his bed and smiles at nothing.
"Yeah, it really is. Goodnight Dark." I close his door behind me and make my to my own bedroom. It has been a really long day.
As I reach my doorway, I can see a branch of light sliding out from Satoshi's room. He's still awake? I put my ear against the door and hear a slight trickle of soft music playing from behind it. My hand begins to turn the doorknob and I peer in. Satoshi is sitting on his bed, back against the wall. His shirt is discarded on the floor and he runs a sleek finger over the random markings in his skin.
"Satoshi?"
"Yes?" He doesn't stop because of my presence, he only glances up and flashes a dopey sort of smile. He looks tired but I know after today he's unable to sleep.
"Can I come in?" He nods and brushes out the wrinkles in the blanket next to him, allowing me to fall in line there. When I get comfortable, he unfolds another softer blanket and pulls it around the both of us, bringing us and the warmth together.
"Are you scared to have another nightmare?" My head is cradled against his collarbone and I allow myself to follow his lead and touch certain spots that shine brighter than others on his stomach. I don't know where these scars have came from, but even so, they are still so beautiful.
"I don't know. I don't think I can sleep."
"I was thinking the same thing. But you know I'd protect you if you did. I won't let anything scare you anymore Daisuke."
"Are you scared Satoshi?" He places his chin on the top of my head and cocoons my body with his, making sure almost everything is touching.
"I was, but I'm not anymore. I think it's OK to finally let myself rest." This simple fact is reassuring in itself. If he can relax, so can I. And the one thing Satoshi needs more than anything else is a bit of rest. Already, the purple under his eyes doesn't seem so extreme or serious. He feels more relaxed in general.
"Daisuke, do you think it would be alright if I tried something?"