"What are you doing?" The Phantom asked simply, crouching down and curling a few fingers around Krad's jacket, the corner of which was sticking out from the baseboard and gave away his hiding place. White Wings felt the slight tug and pulled his clothing out of the thief's grip with a sharp jerk and he said, "Nothing." dully. "Don't give me that bull." Dark said rather harshly. "Emiko's worried and so am I." Krad apologized "I didn't mean to upset her. I just- misinterpreted her intentions."

He had never been very good with… people. The wood groaned as Dark leaned against it and crossed his arms, then his legs at the ankles.

"And what about me?" Krad merely snorted and Aisoku stirred in his grip, his eyes moving under his eyelids. He stood up curtly but carefully and opened the door to face Dark, who looked genuinely surprised at the well-constructed escape route. Instead of apologizing to his face he handed Aisoku to him and said

"I need to go out flying for a few moments so if you'll excuse me…" As he turned the Kaitou's hand caught his pale wrist. "You're not excused. Tell me what's going on." Those yellow eyes that he could never read seemed to flicker for a moment and Krad swallowed, and Dark felt the pulse under his fingers quicken. "Let me go. Please." He seemed paler than usual, wide eyed and nervous. He really needed to get out of here, if only for a moment. The purple haired Niwa pulled him into a light half- hug that was over almost as soon as it had begun and then pushed him lightly towards the nearest window. "Alright, but you'd better tell me later." He saw relief flicker over the angel's features and Krad murmured "Thank you." before leaping gracefully out the open window, calling his familiar behind him. "Rai!" It was heavily misty outside so White Wings didn't need to worry about being seen, a fact he took full advantage of. He stared out with a few turns and evasive moves to warm up, then gained more altitude and thought mildly ~ I wonder if I still remember how to…~ Satoshi who was looking rather green from all the turning asked sharply ~How to do what?~ Krad simply grinned and enjoyed the feeling of moisture in his hair and on his skin. Little beads of it gathered in his white eyelashes and he tilted his left wing downward a smidgen, lulling Satoshi into a false sense of security.

~Oh, you're just turni-~ Then his wing and body rotated in a dizzying, horrifying 360 flip where for a moment he was simply facing the sky. ~iiiaaaaAAAAGH! KRAD!~ White Wings asked guiltlessly,~ Whatever is the matter Master?~ His heart beat fast from the rush of adrenalin and he wondered if this freedom was the only thing that had kept him sane these last hundred years. Most likely. ~Not afraid of heights are we?~ The feathers on his wings ruffled in response to the cold and he smoothed them like he would force goose bumps down, a little unused to the absence of pain that usually came with these wings.~Rai…~ He was nothing but a tiny loyal presence in his mind, no happier than when he was connected to his master. Satoshi argued ~ No! But stop all this turning you're making me sick.~ Krad purred in amusement

~ I've never had a Tamer throw up in my mind before. This should prove interesting.~ Before the blunette could object he reassured him,

~ I will, but right after I do-this.~He pulled his wings in and added a spin, yanking them in tighter and tighter to speed up and ignored Satoshi's terrified,

~You're going to kill us!~ as they streaked down, the distance where Satoshi though the ground was closing in on them both. With a loud

THWACK

he snapped his wings out at the last second and sped over the blue-black waters of the Pacific, the yellow and white dots of light from the town flickering in the fog behind them. Krad knew this town like the back of his hand and even in this crummy weather, had never been more than a little lost. The air over the sea was filled with salt and the scent of seaweed and he drank it in, mulling privately ~ I wonder… If Aisoku will inherit wings. If he does, I would very much like to teach him to fly.~

The thought of flying side by side with his son sent affection singing through his veins and for a single stretch of time, he was able to forget about his giving him away. ~Oh…~ Hiwatari said quietly after his stomach had settled and he gazed outward. The mist clung to the town but had cleared over the water and there was nothing but the deep blue water and grayish sky, on and on for miles. Except for a few squealing seagulls( Who were eyeing Krad and undoubtedly saying to themselves "What the heck izzat?') they were blissfully alone. ~This is beautiful.~ The Hikari admitted and his other half smirked fleetingly, trailing his fingers in the liquid and them pulling his hand back up. ~This is the gift Dark has given us by returning my familiar. I do not have to harm you anymore.~ Satoshi went silent and bit back a cynical retort, then changed the subject.~ We should probably head back now. The Niwa's will get worried.~ Krad enjoyed the stark silence for a little longer and then tilted one wing and made a sharp u-turn back in the direction of their home. ~Of course.~

As they neared the rocky outcropping that could barely be defined as a 'beach' Satoshi noticed some curious rock formations almost a mile out.

They were oddly symmetrical and gave the impression of once being a structure. ~What are those?~ Krad barely glanced at them and explained

~ Those are what is left of the 'Bachiatari Kegan' – the 'Cursed Manifestation' mansion. The Hikari's left it for a time and when they returned the Niwa's had destroyed it. There used to be many works there, and it was quite beautiful in its time.~ Now that he saw them closer he did see uneven walls made of tiny seashells cemented together, and sections of what used to be polished but was now rotted wood boards. ~ The 'cursed manifestation'?~ Krad was suddenly silent.

~That's- what they referred to you as?~

~That's what you refer to me as occasionally.~ Through a square gap where a window used to be Satoshi caught a flash of bright pink and objected,

~Wait! What was that?~ Krad paused, then flared his wings and landed on the nearest wall, the white shells crackling at his weight. As he examined the human hunched there he realized who she was just as his tamer exclaimed ~Harada-san!~ Luckily she was wearing that bright pink skirt otherwise he might not have noticed her at all. The tide was almost completely in and she was perched on the last rungs of dry wood, her brown hair hanging in thick ropes from the salt. ~Krad!~ The Hikari snarled, ordering with his tone to do something. ~Hmm… You have been rather lenient to my possession of your body lately. Perhaps just this once…~ The sand gurgled and sucked at his shoes and the wood creaked dangerously as he made his way towards her, picking her up under the legs and shoulders once he was sure she was unconscious. ~What is she doing here?~ Satoshi pondered, then flushed angrily as Krad wrapped his wings tightly around her and held her body close to him. ~Hey!~

~Her body temperature is low, Master. You do want me to 'save' her don't you? I'd be quite content just leaving her.~ Krad explained levelly and Satoshi let his silence speak for him as the blonde jumped back up to the wall before curling the creamy appendages around her once more. ~What a stupid girl.~ Krad observed.

~Staying here without noticing the tide. I cannot pick your sacred maidens for you, but good grief…~ The blunette colored and admitted ~I- don't really know why I'm… Why she holds a certain attraction for me but…~ As he crouched there the warm air from his breath stayed in the barrier of his wings and created a warm pocket of air for his tamers idiotic maiden, warming her. ~Why would she…~ His master wondered again and Krad pointed out flatly,

~Probably pining for a certain thief…Would be my guess.~ They both went quiet for a few minutes then Krad announced

~ She is back to a normal temperature now. Should I drop her off at her dwelling?~ Hiwatari's blue eyes narrowed, ~And how do you know where that is?~

and Krad stared pointedly off into space. ~ I don't really feel like divulging that.~

~Krad?~

~Yes?~

~Tell me.~ He paused.

~No.~ Hiwatari sighed. ~Fine, just- let's go. It's getting colder.~ He took off and as he flew Risa began to stir in his arms, her breakable small hands playing with the end of his shirt, which had rode up lightly when he's picked her up. But her breathing hadn't changed so Krad had dismissed her wriggling and therefore was utterly unprepared when her cool damp arms snaked underneath his shirt and met his own warm dry skin. "Aah-!"

He dropped a few feet in shock, then growled, cursed~Shit! S-So cold!~ and colored severely, gritting his teeth. If any other human but the one that allowed for his release had done this…He felt unclean. Inside his mind Satoshi winced as well when he heard her murmur softly "Mmm…Dark." and tighten her grip. ~Obviously…~

He began, relief flooding through him once the Harada mansion came into view (Now he wouldn't be taken advantage of any further.)

~ Your Maiden still belongs to my other half.~ Satoshi snapped back hastily ~She doesn't belong to him!~ and crossed his arms smoothly, trying to replace his emotionless mask. Krad landed on their large balcony and noticed every room except for Risa's was lit up. He would have to make this quick. He slid open the sliding glass door and her scent further assaulted him, something like chestnuts and he laid her down slowly, careful not to wake her. That was the last thing he needed. Her arms unwrapped from his torso and he pulled the covers to her shoulders, ignoring the tickly feeling as her hand ran unconsciously through his long blonde locks.

~ Dim witted little girl, wrapped up in a web of her own fantasies. If she was not essential to me-~ He heard someone say "Mom? I think I heard her!" and small quick footsteps coming down the hallway. He shuffled his wings to rid himself of her smell, her touch, and escaped, an as Riku flung open the door and found her twin she also noticed a sliver of a white feather near the sliding glass-door.

It was as curved and shiny as a newly cut crystal.

"Risa!"

Yeah... Honestly I dunno why Risa is in here but this seems like something she would do.