ASN: Sorry for the delay in updating. I had to go to my graduation.

AN: She just had to work that in somehow…

ASN: Hey, I'm a Master of Science now. Respect me.

AN: I'm going to go eat a box of cookies. Stop me.

ASN: Seeing as how the only cookies we have in the house are sugar-free, have at.

AN: (mutters) Damn nutrition majors.

ASN: Anyway, here's today's chapter.

AN: And there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that today's chapter is short. Very short.

ASN: The good news is that since I'm in a wonderful mood—

AN: Braggart.
ASN: You're just jealous. The good news is that I'm going to go ahead and post the next chapter, which is really, REALLY long as well. Enjoy!

AN: PS – Over 300 reviews! Thanks to all our loyal readers and reviewers!

Chapter 18: December 19

Satoshi was still angry the next morning, and even the appearance of a second, somewhat-embarrassed-sounding notice about the pendant didn't amuse him. Apparently the Niwa had discovered the fake.

He closed the notification email from the police station and shut down his laptop. Slipping it into his bag, he gathered his few loose papers and headed out of the apartment toward the stairs.

He wasn't looking forward to seeing Daisuke after last night.

This is why I warned you not to get close to the Niwa, Krad hissed. They will not hesitate to use any means necessary to defeat us.

Go back to sleep, Satoshi said flatly.

No. Krad pushed briefly against his barriers. It is high time that you realize what that boy has done to you.

Don't lecture me.

Look how weak you have become! Krad sneered. Before, nothing could stand in between you and capturing Dark. Now, all it takes is the sound of the Niwa's voice and you are vulnerable.

I didn't know Dark's capabilities for voice imitation were that impressive, Satoshi said shortly. I was startled. That's all.

And how do you know it was Dark? Krad asked maliciously. He and the Niwa could have been working together, to 'startle you.' And it worked, did it not? Did you ever think of that?

Actually, the thought had crossed Satoshi's mind the previous night. After all, Daisuke had initiated everything thus far. It was possible that this friendship, or whatever the hell it was, was something that Dark and the Niwa family had come up with to distract him.

And deep, hidden within Satoshi's most private thoughts, he admitted to himself that if such was the case, he didn't how he would handle it.

However, he would never give Krad the satisfaction of saying so. I know what I'm doing—

No, you do not. Not anymore. Krad's voice was deadly serious. You are confused, uncertain. You no longer know where you are going with this entire charade. You are going to ruin everything.

Satoshi's eyes narrowed as he strode through the lobby of the apartment building. It's my damn life, not yours, and I'll ruin it as I see fit.

He pushed open the outside door with more force than was necessary; so hard, in fact, that the door swung all the way open and slapped against the outside wall.

A surprised Niwa Daisuke blinked first at Satoshi, and then at the door, which had come within ten centimeters of hitting him. "Good morning to you, too."

"What are you doing here?" Satoshi asked, annoyed. Krad hovered on the edges of his consciousness, scowling at the Niwa boy. Satoshi ignored him.

Daisuke raised an eyebrow. "I figured you would want to talk." He eyed the door, which was slowly swinging shut. "I guess I was right."

Satoshi pulled his bag a little further up onto his shoulder and began walking. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Last night," Daisuke said simply, falling into step beside him.

"I see you discovered the fake," he responded coolly.

"Yeah," Daisuke said with a slight grin. "That was a good trick."

Surprised, Satoshi glanced at him sideways. "I thought you would be angry."

"Well," Daisuke ran a hand through his hand, "Mom was kind of upset, and Dark whined all night, but it was a good trick. Fair's fair, after all."

The commander's face hardened. "From what I can tell, our definitions of 'fair' vary greatly."

Moving so quickly he almost blurred, Daisuke stepped squarely into Satoshi's path, forcing him to stop and look at him. "Hiwatari-kun…that wasn't my idea. I had nothing to do with that."

Satoshi was somewhat startled that Daisuke had realized precisely what he was talking about that quickly. "It sounded exactly like you," he said not-quite-accusingly.

"It wasn't." Daisuke shook his head. "Dark's really good at imitating voices. Remember the time with that female lieutenant's radio a couple weeks ago?"

Against his better judgment, Satoshi found himself believing him. He knew he should be doubtful, but he wanted to believe Daisuke. "But—"

"Hiwatari-kun." Daisuke looked straight into his eyes. "I would never do that."

Satoshi recognized the honesty in the amber eyes, and nodded. "All right."

A smile surfaced on the redhead's face. "Good."

"If your curse ever does that again…" he warned.

"He won't," Daisuke answered with absolute certainty.

Satoshi again looked at him doubtfully. "Really?"

Daisuke nodded. "Yes. I already yelled at him for it."

He couldn't quite believe that. "You…yelled at Dark?"

"Yeah, I did." Daisuke shrugged. "What's between you and Dark is between you and Dark, and what's between you and me is between you and me, and they shouldn't be mixed."

Satoshi nodded once in agreement, and the two boys continued walking to school. Daisuke quickly returned to his easygoing chatter about everything and nothing, and Satoshi let the words flow over him as he walked.

But in that deep, private part of his mind, Satoshi couldn't help but wonder what exactly was between him and Daisuke.