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Satoshi's POV
Hoisting myself up and out of the water along the ramp, I back completely away from the pool. Other than the dragging sound that my lower half makes with its little wet smacks against the hard floor, this is done fairly quietly. Triton left about five minutes previous, taking the dishes, leaving me for what I presume will be a while by myself. Although cameras can never be too far, but I want to dry off and see if that might help the return of my legs somehow. I believe what set the transformation off was the fact that I was in water, and salt water at that. I could be making a mistake, though. I'll know soon enough if I have to scramble back for the pool.
Krad had decided some time ago not to bother talking with me. He's probably waiting on the magic to wear off so he can try taking control. Best to be ready for him then.
My form is odd like this and it's getting tiresome to keep in a sitting position with no legs to help stabilize me. I look to the doors that can't necessarily be seen in the covering darkness, wondering where Niwa and Harada are and if they're alright. My mind wonders to what Krad had revealed about the past earlier... and I shudder. Too weird for me. So easy I almost miss it, Krad moves. Was he reading my thoughts? It's not like I'm currently blocking them. Maybe I should be.
An all-around tightening in my lower half warrants my attention. It even looks as if the bluish skin is shrinking. I'd dried off, and already started drying out. My eyes dart back to the water. Should I go to it? Or should I just wait what ever this is out? I could be turning back... or I could be about to experience great pain again, with no good outcome. Don't be a coward! Good, or bad, I need to see which way this is heading. The drying out continues and my body begins crying out for water. Trembling starts. The cool of the water taunts me.
"Mmph," I grunt and shiver as a thin pain slices somewhere within the middle of where my legs used to be. A bit of hope comes up, but so does fear. There is no way to tell if I'm actually damaging myself by trying this, this early on, but I want out of here – need out of here. Pink tinges blue, and soon a thin line of blood halves straight up and down. A powerful sting wells up and burning becomes apparent.
"Oh, God," I breathe and lift my face upwards in a vain attempt at distancing myself. Horrible twisting joins the burning. It almost flares white-hot. I can't take it yet! Like a coward, I move quickly back towards the water, a prisoner of my own doing simply because I can't face the pain. A cool rushing sensation fills me as I submerge some. Eventually the pain dies off.
"I'm such a coward," I mutter down to my reflection across the surface of the water. My face feels suddenly bare. The weight of my glasses have become a comfort me. I mostly use them as a shield against Krad, but somehow they'd become a sort of defense against the rest of the world, too. I could hide behind them whenever it felt like too much was going on around me. Such a coward!
I hit the water, shattering my reflection into sprays and turn away. Distant splashing over the opposite side of the pool causes me to face back. Water was sloshing over the edge with a bit of power. I watch as it slowly eases off to its normal level. Surely I didn't cause that? I look at my hands. Those fins, protrusions, or whatnot on my wrists were glowing slightly. A resonance pulsed out to the water surrounding me. Another cool rush answered. It filled me. Hardly daring to believe, I lightly skim the water beneath my palm. A barely controlled current runs excitedly along my hand and the water wraps tenderly around my fingers like a long lost friend.
Lifting my hand up, the water follows, erecting like tiny rotating water spouts, swirling around each of my fingers. I gasp and suddenly the water falls away. I'd lost it. Whatever it was. My ancestors have a lot of explaining to do. Should I practice this? No, I don't want them knowing more about me than they already do. If the need arises, then I'll just hope I can use this.
"Hmm..." This could prove highly valuable. I glance at the doors again.
-.-
Daisuke's POV
We had all lined up as we followed my parents to the exit that only they knew of. The few noises came from Riku's one faulty shoe again, as well as the rush of fast breathing from one of us occasionally letting nervousness get the upper hand.
At the end of the line, I turn around discreetly and try to sneak away... for a third time.
"Ack!" I grab my chest and stumble backward towards the wall.
Everyone turns to look back at me, nearly jumping out of their skins. Dark had sent another horrible pain through my chest. He'd stopped me from sneaking away to save Hiwatari... again. Mom looks at me, almost annoyed.
"You sure you're okay, Daisuke?" dad asks.
Aside from having a back-stabbing thief inside me, I'm fine.
'Hmph! It's for your own good!'
"Dad, I want to go back."
He gives me a knowing expression. "And, Dark is stopping you," he says. Guilty, I nod my head. "Why?" he inquires about Dark's weird behavior, not angered at all by my attempt to disobey him and mom.
My eyes trail from his and slowly take in the sterile white tiles of the floor. How was the touchy subject of Dark's phoenix form suppose to be explained? It has to be that form that's making Dark so jumpy; why he's refusing to work with me. A way of discussing it comes.
"Dark-" I'm cut short as another pain pierces my chest. The fierceness of it stuns me and I drop to my knees with my arms around me, putting my head to the floor.
"Daisuke!"
"He won't let me say!" I cry out, petrified. "What's wrong with him!" I sob. "He's been getting steadily worse since the beginning of all this! Why?" Someone's hand comes to my shoulder.
'Daisuke, I'm sorry, but I don't want them knowing about the phoenix.'
'Something is wrong with you! You never would have hurt me like this before!'
He cringes.
'I need out right quick, Daisuke. Let me take control.' He starts trying to take over. It's not gentle at all and it hurts. What's worse is I don't think he's even trying to hurt me, it's just happening. Maybe because I'm scared of him right now and it's causing this friction.
"Daisuke, can you stand up?" dad asks me. I grab my chest and shake my head fast. There is no way I can move. If feels like if I do, Dark will bust out. Right now, he's just being held back by a thread. My eyes widen at a sudden realization and tears come to fall. This is how Krad is to Hiwatari. This must be the same pain he feels every time. An empty feeling comes, then a shoving sensation as I'm removed from the situation.
-.-
Dark's POV
Shaking some, I stand and throw the purple bangs out from my vision. For some reason the transition this time had hurt Daisuke, and I have a bad idea as to why it did. I brace on the wall behind me and make out Kosuke's face through the colored spots I'm seeing. He doesn't look happy. With the way Daisuke acted, I can't say I blame him.
"Dark, what's going on?" he demands. I glance to Riku and Risa to find them worried. Risa wants to reach out to me, but her sister keeps her from doing so. I try not to notice.
"I'm not going to bother sweetening this situation. I'll only tell you that this is between me and Daisuke. Our focus needs to be on getting out of here while the going is still good. We don't need to worry about someone sneaking off back into trouble."
Immediately Kosuke tenses. Guess I struck a nerve with him being so protective and all. He quickly tries to calm his posture to seem more relaxed. He thinks he knows how to handle me. Anger flares with the thought. What is my problem today? I'm being so defensive. I sigh very wearily.
"Can we just keep going?" I ask.
"Yeah," he answers. "But, you are going to have a lot of explaining to do."
My eyes narrow as I close in on Kosuke. "You have some explaining to do yourself." I hadn't forgotten the ease in which he had navigated through those dark tunnels. Something isn't normal about him. My shoulder bumps him as a go around him. I'm being such a jerk, but darn if it doesn't feel good right now. Emiko turns around and continues walking. I follow behind her, not bothering to give attention to the ones behind me.
"Kyuu."
'Not now, With.'
We walk in silence down more white hallways. The darn color, or lack of, is getting on my nerves. Rows of lights blare above, and I can't help but feel trapped as if in a dream. It's like we're getting nowhere because nothing is changing around us. At last, we turn down another hall and a set of steel doors give something different to look at. Even though they're sterile looking, too, it's still better. A quarter down the hall I don't notice the slight numbing coursing through me; I'm too focused on the steel spelling freedom. But, Kosuke notices something is not right.
"Dark, you're not looking well," Kosuke says. I stop walking and turn towards him, about to state otherwise so we can keep moving on, but the expression that takes to his face cuts the lie away before I can force it out. He's studying me with something akin to horror, and so are the girls.
"That's ...unbelievable," Riku says in awe. Risa appears frantic as she watches me.
I glance down at myself, seeing my caved, bare chest and raise an eyebrow. My skin is very clammy and gray, with blue arteries becoming more and more pronounced. They map out all over my body. This can't be good.
"Oh," I say. "Well, this is new."
"What is causing this?" Emiko asks me, rushing up and falling into mother mode. Honestly, I don't know. I'm not doing this.
"Let's keep going," I say, and brush past for the doors. Emiko and Kosuke mutter something, but I don't pay it any mind. The girls begin walking again. We're about half way when that numbing turns into something worse. It's comparable to tiny claws making their way through you, picking and tearing. My insides feel like they are being crawled through. I make a gagging sound before falling over.
"Dark!" one, or two, heck maybe even all of them scream my name. The room is spinning. I'm burning up. I press a hand to the floor and pick back up before they can properly surround me. I don't want to be fussed over. I may go nuts if I don't get out of this place right this minute. Someone helps me stand, but their features aren't clear enough to tell who it is. I shake my head and just make for the doors again. A hand grabs mine and I pull away. Don't stop me. I want out!
"Dark, stop! You can't make it by yourself! Didn't you hear what I just said? Arteries and veins are sticking up all over you! Quit walking!" Emiko shouts with tears in her voice. More voices sound garbled in the background. I turn and look at Emiko, who is right next to me, and make an effort to calm down for her. I've never almost panicked inside a building before, but this is a very hated place. Sweating, I stare and she moves to grab me by the arm.
"Kosuke, grab his other arm," she directs behind me. I feel him come up beside the wall and take my other arm. Together, they nearly tote me down the rest of the length of hallway. Inside, things become maddening. With each step the clawing gets so much worse. Pressure quickly rises as if I'm far underwater. My head feels about ready to explode. I grumble as my head goes back and I go limp. They give a bit of a surprised sound, but they manage to catch my weight before I slip all the way to the floor. My eyes close on their own volition.
"What's wrong with him?" one of the girls cry.
"We don't know!" Emiko about yells.
They stop and I'm moved, repositioned to be carried by Kosuke. They hurry on for the doors. Right before we reach it, claws gather and attempt to rip out of my stomach. I cry out and jump, trembling and spasming, wanting to get away from the terrible pain. Kosuke just barely holds on to me. Confused shouts start up and I taste something metallic.
Blood.
It's streaming from my nose.
"Go back!" I hear Emiko yell amidst hysterical crying of the two girls. "Whatever this is, it only gets worse the closer we move towards the doors!"
"Right! I'm glad you all figured it out before he died," a voice that had me even in this state growling crackled over a ceiling speaker. "Now put my prize down and the rest of you might be able to leave, unharmed."
"Emiko, you go with the girls," Kosuke says. Emiko rounds up the panicking girls and runs while Kosuke turns around to do the same with me in his arms. We were heading back into the white hallway. No... But even as I think this, the clawing and pressure lifts. I start struggling anyway.
"Dark! Dark! Stop! We'll find another way out of here!" I open my eyes to look at his. Vision is fuzzy.
"It won't matter," I choke out as loudly as I can. My insides hadn't recovered yet. "The same thing will happen. Just go back!"
"Are you crazy?" He keeps running. "You look almost dead! What's causing this?"
"Nanomachines."
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