Chapter 10: November 14

Come on, Daisuke, be a man! They're not going to do anything really horrible.

Daisuke sighed as he slowly walked towards the school entrance. Did I ever tell you how reassuring you are?

Well, it's not like they will. And you can take a little teasing. You came through Saturday just fine, Dark said bracingly. And as much as I'd usually be the first one to propose an exciting day of hooky, if Emiko finds out, she'd kill you and that would be bad.

Yeah, it would.

A shame too, Dark mused. It's a lovely day, just screams…shit.

Daisuke frowned. It screams what?

Ex-girlfriend-slash-cousin at three o'clock!

He turned to see Riku walking through courtyard with her sister.

The red-haired twin saw him. Her eyes narrowed.

With a most undignified squeak, Daisuke fled into the building.

Way to be a man, Daisuke.

Shut up. You'd do the exact same thing after Saturday, Daisuke snapped.

Dark considered this. You're probably right, he said finally.

Really? Daisuke was gratified by the admission. Thanks.

He walked towards his classroom, feeling a little bit better. The good feeling soon faded away, however, being replaced by a sense of something being off…but he wasn't sure what.

I'll tell you what, genius; no one is staring at you.

There was a pause as Daisuke considered this. He cast a quick look around. No one was pointing at him. No conversations got softer as he walked by. No one flinched when their eyes met Daisuke's and quickly turned away. You're right!

Of course I'm right. Dark sounded affronted that Daisuke had even thought about doubting his conclusion.

That's weird, Daisuke thought, a frown creasing his forehead. I thought there would be even more pointing and staring.

Well, I sincerely hope you're not complaining.

Oh, no, it's just…weird.

Speaking of, there's the creepy bastard.

Daisuke looked up as he entered the classroom. Hiwatari-kun was already in his seat, reading something.

"Hey, Daisuke!" The redhead looked up in shock as Saehara came bounding over with Masahiro. Saehara wrapped an arm around his neck. "Didja hear about Dark's latest heist? They say he's gonna try and steal this tiara that's hundreds of years old tonight."

Daisuke coughed. "Can't…breathe," he gasped.

Saehara let go of him with a grin and bounced backwards. "Oh, sorry. Anyway, I'm gonna go take pictures. You wanna come and help?"

Daisuke rubbed his throat as he stared up at his friend. "So you're talking to me now?"

Masahiro had the grace to look embarrassed, but Saehara just grinned wider as he raised his hand to the back of his head nervously. "Well, it's not really any of my business who you hang out with, so just forget everything I said, okay?" he said brightly.

Daisuke stared at the two, but was spared from having to say anything by the bell ringing.

You know, Daisuke, you were right.

About what? Daisuke asked absently as he pulled his notebook out of his bag.

That's really weird.

Oh, well. At least they stopped treating me like I had the plague.

Yeah. It was only a little bit of giardiasis, anyway.

Daisuke sighed and attempted to pay attention to the lecture.

XXXXX

At lunchtime, Satoshi expected Daisuke to spend the period with Saehara and the others, since relations had apparently vastly improved since Saturday. To his surprise, however, the redhead waved his friends off and bounded up the stairwell to join him on the roof.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" he chided as he plopped down next to Satoshi.

He shrugged. "I thought you would eat with your friends today."

Daisuke looked taken aback. "You're my friend, too," he pointed out.

"To some degree, but your other friends are talking to you now."

"Yeah, it's really weird!" Daisuke told him. "All of a sudden, it's like the past week didn't happen."

"They know why you broke up with Harada now," Satoshi said simply.

Daisuke looked blank for a moment. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Before, you had ended your relationship with her without a reason. She was the wounded party, and the school closed ranks behind her. You were the villain."

"I'm not a villain," Daisuke protested. "I couldn't tell her."

"Yes, but they didn't know that." Satoshi unwrapped his meat bun. "And now the school has a reason for your breakup, or at least they think they do, and Harada has sufficiently chastised you. Thus, the mystery is over and the explanation wasn't anything overly interesting or terrible. Now it is safe to talk to you again without offending one of the most popular girls in school. She may be upset now, but she'll get over it eventually."

Daisuke was silent for a long moment. "That doesn't make any sense."

"No, not really," Satoshi agreed. "But remember, this is middle school. It's not supposed to make sense."

"But you talked to me the whole time," Daisuke said, looking confused.

"What makes you think I care about middle-school cliques and intrigues?"

"Oh. Thanks?"

Satoshi shrugged, then smiled humorlessly. "Apparently we have a special relationship."

"Yeah, that's the other thing," Daisuke said, running his hand through his hair. "What are we going to do? Everyone thinks we're dating."

Deep inside, Satoshi found the school's assumption amusing. In addition, it irritated Krad, which amused Satoshi more. "Yes, I know."

"And yet, they're treating me better." Daisuke sounded utterly frustrated. "I thought they would be laughing!"

A frown crossed Satoshi's face. "Laughing at what?"

"Well…you know, you and me…together…" Daisuke trailed off.

Satoshi was slightly miffed. He disliked the idea of being laughed at…probably because Krad did it so very often. "Of course they can't laugh, Niwa. It wouldn't be politically correct," he said sourly. "After all, in this day and age, it's considered prejudiced to deride people for being gay."

Daisuke flinched. "Right…"

"Besides, they're not picking on you anymore," Satoshi continued. "I would've thought you'd be pleased."

"I am happy!" Daisuke protested. "Now! But as soon as they find out we're not dating, I'll be in even more trouble!"

"And then the twins won't leave you alone until you tell them the truth," Satoshi agreed thoughtfully. He hadn't really taken that into account when he had led Riku to believe that her assumption was correct.

Daisuke slowly banged his head against the wall. "I am so screwed!" he wailed.

A solution suddenly presented itself in Satoshi's mind. He knew it was a bad idea, a very bad idea…but he voiced it anyway. "Just make it so they don't find out. Not for a while."

Miserably, Daisuke turned to look at him. "How?"

Satoshi sighed. "Have you ever heard the phrase 'neither confirm nor deny?'"

The redhead straightened and looked at him hard. "You mean…pretend that we're…you know—" He vaguely waved his hand between himself and Satoshi.

Satoshi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Not even that. Just continue acting as we've acted for the past week. People will see what they want to see, and we just won't say anything about it."

Daisuke looked thoughtfully hopeful. "Would that work?"

"I don't see why it wouldn't," Satoshi told him.

"Dark thinks it's a bad idea."

"I know it's a bad idea," Satoshi agreed. "But unless you want to tell the twins the truth…"

Daisuke shook his head. "Not really. Not now." He looked up at Satoshi timidly. "Y-you don't mind?"

"Again, Niwa…why would I care what the other people here think of me?"

"Thanks," Daisuke offered with a sheepish grin.

"It's fine," Satoshi said offhandedly, standing and brushing nonexistent crumbs off his pants. He turned to walk toward the stairs, then glanced back at the redhead. "Just don't tell your mother."

Daisuke looked horrified.

As Satoshi headed down to class, he couldn't help the small smile. It wasn't that he enjoyed making Niwa panic like that, it was just…so satisfying.

And that, Satoshi-sama, is exactly why you're a Hikari.

The satisfaction faded. I don't want your opinion.

I'm giving it to you anyway. A sudden pain rose in Satoshi's skull, signifying Krad's anger. What do you think you are doing, forging this 'alliance' with the Niwa? It's ridiculous!

I take all opportunities when they present themselves, Satoshi told his curse coldly. I told you before, closeness to Niwa will lead to familiarity to Dark…and that will give me the chance to win.

Now I know that you are lying, because you don't take all your opportunities, Satoshi-sama. You've had plenty of chances to get the Niwa, and they've all slipped by. Krad's tone became persuasive. Besides…you have me.

You can't do anything.

I could kill them, Krad corrected. Stop fighting; let me out, and I'll kill them for you eventually.

Satoshi glanced around the hallway, which was filled with students. And how many innocents would die between you and Dark?

What do they matter to such as us?

Satoshi's mouth tightened. And that is exactly why you're going to have to fight me if you ever want out.