The Light in the Shadows:

Chapter 52: I Have Twenty One 8's

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Daisuke Niwa pouted, "I'm running out of betting material…" the young thief in training tapped a finger lightly against the table top. "I may have to raid mom's secret stash."

"That's really bold of you Dai-chan," Kaito Dark smirked not bothering to hide his amusement at the teen's plight.

Ruby eyes pinned the magical thief with a hard stare, "Maybe if you didn't cheat so much."

Dark waved a finger chidingly, "Now, now Dai-chan, innocent until proven guilty and all that." The purple Haired angel smirked widely.

Riku rolled her eyes hearing her sister's snicker from beside her. "I don't think that you were ever innocent." The young woman frowned, "besides, I'm pretty sure that policy is for the American legal system, we're in Japan, its somewhat different."

"I'm Hurt," Dark clutched at his chest pretending to swoon.

"You're a bad actor too," The short haired teen was completely unsympathetic. She then turned her attention to the figure who'd remained silent, "and you stop smirking, you're just as bad as the idiot." She pretended to pout, "taking candy from us poor little children."

Golden eyes rolled, "that's supposed to make me feel bad?" The Hunter cocked his head, "so much sugar is terrible for you… poor little children. Might as well give it to someone who can appreciate it." Krad casually laid his cards on the table, "royal flush by the way."

The rest of the players all groaned,

"You suck so much," Risa muttered as the blond added the pot to his large accumulation of sweets.

The feline eyed angel chuckled amused,

This is the seen that Satoshi Hikari walked in on. It only took a moment for the sapphire eyed genius to realize the situation. Regarding the group at the kitchen table in amused exasperation. "You all might want to take this as a learning experience." He smirked at his classmates, "So what is the lesten here?"

Several people looked at one another before Riku lifted her hand pointing, "don't play poker with Kokuyoku, they both cheat."

Daisuke snickered into his teacup at the completely exasperated expression on his best friends face.

"Of Corse they do!" The police commander rolled his eyes "but this is kinda low even for them." He gave both magical spirits a flat look, "I mean seriously?" He waved a hand at the table.

Dark shrugged casually, "occupational hazard?"

"I blame Mousy," Krad stretched lazily reaching for his half consumed can of soda. He looked about a sorry as his opposite which was… not at all.

Amethyst eyes blinked slowly, "how is your cheating… my fault?"

The hunter gave his counterpart a pitying look, "Mousy," he waved a finger chastisingly, "I did not say that it was your fault. I said, that I was going to blame you."

Risa giggled at the rather resigned sigh from the Master Thief. "I find myself rather unsurprised by your skewed logic my other self."

"They both are good at lying too," Riku waved one hand, "so you better be careful when playing Bullshit."

"Agreed," nodded Risa, "they lye like a pair of rugs."

Both Angel snickered completely unperturbed about the besmirching of their characters.

"Ah." Dark leaned forwards holding up a finger with a wide grin, "you see, a dishonest person you can always trust to be dishonest… honestly. It's the honest ones you really have to watch out for… because, you never know when they're going to try and do something incredibly… stupid." He casually slapped his tamer's hand away from his illicit winnings.

Daisuke sniffed pretending that he'd been reaching for the plate of cookies in the middle of the table and not trying to lift some of the kaito's mountain of candy.

The last Hikari pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment wondering where in his life he'd gone wrong. Breathing out a soft huff of air he resigned himself to his fate. "I believe that I will go with the old saying, if you can't beat them, bribe them. If you can't bribe them, blackmail them. If you can't blackmail them… join them." He settled down in the vacant chair next to his magical companion, "deal me in."

The Hunter smirked as he pushed the plate of gingersnaps towards his Host, "welcome to the dark side Satoshi-Sama… we have cookies."