Chapter 19: December 19

Daisuke sighed and braced himself as he walked into the classroom. Sure enough, Saehara jumped on him as soon as he appeared.

"Daisuke!"

"Yeah?" he asked in a strangled tone.

Saehara didn't notice. "Aimi-chan and I are going to go out again tonight!" He loosened his stranglehold as he punched one fist into the air. "She said that I was interesting!"

Daisuke sighed deeply. Should we tell him about the Chinese curse thing?

Don't bother, Dark said dismissively. I don't think he's listening to anyone at this point.

You're probably right, Daisuke agreed. He slapped his bag onto his desk.

It 'kyuu'ed.

Oh, no. Daisuke ripped open the flap of his bag and With stared up at him.

"Kyuu!" he said cheerfully.

The redhead resisted the urge to bang his head on his desk. I have a test in ten minutes. I can't take him home.

Leave him in your bag, then.

And you really think he'll stay? Daisuke asked incredulously.

He could feel Dark shrug. He might. You don't really have any choice, anyway.

Daisuke peered into his bag and scowled fiercely at the rabbit. "You can stay for now, but you have to stay in my bag and be completely silent, do you understand?" he asked sternly.

With looked up at him happily. "Kyuu!"

Sighing, Daisuke closed the bag most of the way, leaving a hole so With could breathe, and shoved the bag under his desk.

XXXXX

Things went downhill quickly, of course. With quickly got bored cooped up in the dark bag, and tried to crawl out during second period. Luckily, Daisuke noticed With sticking his head out of the bag, and shoved him back inside with his foot.

With showed his extreme displeasure with this act by nipping the redhead's finger when Daisuke reached in to his bag to get his homework.

And then in third period, With somehow managed to get out of the bag and crawled into his desk. When Daisuke pulled him out and stuffed him back in the book bag, he 'kyuu'ed angrily. As the rest of the class looked around trying to figure out what the sound was, Daisuke tried to keep With from squirming back out. He ended up having to hold the flap shut with his foot for the rest of the period.

By the time lunch rolled around, Daisuke's nerves were on edge. So, naturally, Saehara wanted to talk.

"Daisuke!" The reporter bounced up and threw an arm around his shoulders. "I have an idea to bounce off of you."

"I'm kind of busy right now," Daisuke responded, keeping a tight hold in his slightly quivering bag and trying to slip out of Saehara's grasp.

Saehara didn't let go. "It'll only take a minute. I was wondering, what do you think about doing another class play in the spring?"

Daisuke frowned. "Another play? Like Ice and Snow?"

"Yeah!" Saehara said cheerfully. "Except this time we're thinking about Romeo and Juliet."

A sick feeling arose in Daisuke's stomach. "Romeo and Juliet?"

Saehara grinned cheerfully. "You and Hiwatari would be excellent in the leading roles!"

Who didn't see that coming? Dark asked rhetorically.

"I'm not interested," Daisuke told him a little sharply.

"But it would be so great!" Saehara enthused. "I mean, think about it. Two families who have hated each other for hundreds of years. And two, the best from each family, are destined for one another."

Dark shuddered. Make him stop.

Saehara pumped a fist in the air. "There won't be a dry eye in the house!"

"That's what you said last time," Daisuke pointed out.

"And I was right!"

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "I don't think tears of laughter count."

"Nah, they were real tears," Saehara objected.

Seriously, make him stop and get out of here, Dark told him. With's chewing a hole in the corner of your bag and he's almost gotten through.

Daisuke slapped a hand onto the corner of his bag and heard a squeak. "Later, Saehara, okay?"

A calculating look crossed his friend's face. "Of course, Daisuke. I wouldn't want to keep you from Hiwatari any longer."

Sighing, Daisuke didn't even dignify that with a response, but instead turned and walked down the hall.

"Make sure you tell Hiwatari about the play!" Saehara yelled after him.

A few people turned to stare at Daisuke curiously, and he could feel himself blushing. He strode the last few steps to the stairwell a little faster than normal.

So are you going to tell the commander? Dark asked curiously.

Daisuke shook his head violently as he pushed open the door to the roof. Of course not. Can you imagine what he'd do if I told him he was supposed to play Romeo?

Dark grinned mischievously. No, but I'd really love to see it.

The redhead sighed and walked over to his normal spot. It was getting a little cold to eat up here. The wind whistled over the top of the roof, and Daisuke pulled his jacket a little closer. He turned into the sheltered corner where he and Satoshi usually ate.

Satoshi looked up from his book. "You're late, Niwa."

"Saehara wanted to talk," Daisuke said sourly as he sat down and pulled the bag into his lap.

"About what?" Satoshi asked casually, turning back to his book.

"You don't want to know," Daisuke said with a small sigh. He reached into the bag to grab With, but the rabbit evaded his grasp. The redhead scowled and turned the bag upside down and started shaking. Books and notebooks fell out in a rain of paper. A napkin-wrapped bundle fell out as well, coming open to reveal a mess of half-eaten food, empty wrappers, and other debris.

Umm…was that your lunch?

Daisuke's mouth fell open. He yanked the bag closer. "Is this payback for stepping on you in third period?!" he demanded.

"Kyuuuuu," came the annoyed answer from the depths of his bag.

"Niwa…" Satoshi was looking at him rather oddly. "What are you doing?"

Scowling fiercely, Daisuke shook the bag harder. "Get out here!" he demanded.

The little rabbit creature tumbled out of the bag, landing on Daisuke's lap headfirst. He whimpered and glanced up at his owner. "Kyuu," he said unhappily.

Despite himself, Daisuke's anger faded a little. "Oh, I'm sorry, With."

With turned away, sticking his nose into the air and pouting. Or pouting as well as a rabbit can.

Satoshi was still looking at him quite strangely. "Why did you bring your familiar to school?" he asked.

"Oh, believe me, I didn't bring him," Daisuke said in an exasperated tone. "Sometimes With just stows away, and then I'm stuck trying to keep him out of trouble all day." He poked the remnants of his meal and sighed. "Well, it would have been a nice lunch."

"Can't you just send him home?"

Daisuke gave him an incredulous look. "He's a rabbit, not a dog, Hiwatari-kun."

"Actually, it's probably some sort of lesser demon," Satoshi corrected dryly. "If it can come find you at play practice, I'm sure it's intelligent enough to go home when you tell it."

"He won't," Daisuke said with finality. "With has a mind of his own, and he does whatever he feels like doing."

"An appropriate familiar for Dark."

With crawled into Daisuke's lap, apparently having come to the decision that getting out of the cold was a better idea than sulking. Daisuke sighed and patted him on the head. "Why do you do this to me?"

"Kyuu," With mumbled, settling in for a nap.

Satoshi studied him for a moment, then calmly held out the meat bun he usually brought for lunch. The redhead blinked. "What…?"

"I wasn't going to eat anyway," Satoshi said neutrally. "You should have it."

"I—" Daisuke was touched by the gesture, as simple as it was. "You don't have to do that."

"It would go to waste otherwise," Satoshi responded.

Daisuke smiled, knowing that the teen wouldn't admit to any other reason than that for sharing. "Thank you," he said, taking it.

Satoshi nodded and glanced back down at his book. Daisuke took the hint and settled back to enjoy the silence and calm. The bell was going to ring soon, and he didn't have a clue what he was going to do about With. But, hey…the day was half over.

XXXXX

Unfortunately, the last half of the day didn't get any better than the first half.

Already late from having to drag With out of the corner of the boys' bathroom, Daisuke ran off to get dressed for his PE class. He slid into the boy's changing room, opened his locker, and seriously considered sticking With in it for the period.

That's probably not a good idea, Dark commented.

Yeah, you're right, Daisuke admitted. He might suffocate.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of he might chew up your clothes.

"C'mon, Daisuke!" Nishimura slapped him on the back. "We're gonna be late."

With a sigh, Daisuke yanked his shirt over his head and grabbed his bag. He'd leave With in it and sit the bag by the bleachers.

"Can you believe we're actually supposed to go outside today?" Saehara groused to Nishimura as the three of them walked outside to the field. "It's cold and windy! Miserable!"

Nishimura nodded sympathetically. "We're running laps today, so we can't really do that inside."

Saehara scowled slightly and pointed at a slight figure sitting in the bleachers. "Isn't that Hiwatari?"

Daisuke could see the sun shining off the pale hair, and nodded. "Yeah."

"Is he sick?" Nishimura frowned.

"No," Saehara frowned. "Didn't you notice? Hiwatari never has to do anything for PE." He grinned slightly. "The closest thing he ever did to actual exercise was give Daisuke mouth-to-mouth during that swimming class."

Daisuke blushed to the roots of his hair.

"So, Daisuke," Saehara elbowed him, "Tell us, how does he get out of it? He doesn't have some weird medical condition, does he?"

Not unless you count a psychopath that lives in the back of his head, Dark said cheerfully.

Daisuke ignored him. "I don't think so."

Nishimura looked confused. "So why don't the teachers make him participate?"

Daisuke winced at the thought. "I don't think anyone could make Hiwatari-kun do something he didn't want to."

Both Saehara and Nishimura looked confused at that, but by then the three boys had reached the rest of the class.

"All right!" the teacher called. "Everyone is going to run five laps around the field, and we're going to start off in groups of three. Sakimoto, Harada, and Harada, you're up!"

The three girls started jogging around the field. The teacher waited about thirty seconds, then called another three students.

Daisuke stretched slightly, getting loosened up to run. He bent over to touch his toes.

Daisuke! Heads up!

The redhead jerked his head up to see a white flash go buzzing by. He whirled and set off after With.

"Masahiro, Nishimura, Niwa! Your turn!" the teacher yelled.

Daisuke sighed and catching up with the demon-rabbit, scooped him up.

He could see the teacher looking around in the distance. "Niwa? Where are you?" she called exasperatedly.

Daisuke looked around somewhat wildly. Where could he leave With for the period? Where could he put him so that the rabbit wouldn't cause trouble?

He could only think of one place, and started running.

XXXXX

"Hiwatari-kun!"

Satoshi looked up from his book in surprise.

Niwa came running flat out towards him, the demon-rabbit clutched in his arms. The angry shouts of the PE teacher followed him. He came to a screeching halt in front of Satoshi. "Can you watch With for a while?"

"What?" Satoshi's eyes widened as he stared at the white creature Daisuke proffered. "Niwa, it hates me."

"Niwa! Get over here or you're getting a zero!" came a bellow from the field.

Daisuke tossed the rabbit into his arms. Satoshi automatically caught the animal, but quickly set it down on the bench next to him. The redhead started running back. "Just rub his ears, he loves that!" he yelled and was gone.

Satoshi stared at With.

With stared at Satoshi.

They didn't move.

They didn't blink.

A brisk breeze blew, and the rabbit ruffled its fur against the chill, huddling on the bench.

"If I touch you, will you bite me?" Satoshi asked finally.

The demon rabbit 'kyuu'ed in a friendly sort of way and jumped onto Satoshi's lap, snuggling down away from the wind.

Satoshi hesitantly touched it along its back. The fur was soft and dense, and very warm. The teen tentatively began to stroke the animal.

It chirred happily.

Satoshi was still stroking the demon rabbit, burying his cold hands in the warm fur, when Daisuke returned, dressed in his school uniform again and carrying his bag.

The redhead gave the two a huge smile. "See? He's not so bad." He plucked the rabbit from Satoshi's lap and stuffed With back in the bag. The demon-rabbit protested, but he ignored the sounds, closing the flap and sighing. "Only two more classes to go."

Satoshi frowned slightly. "What are you going to do about studying this evening?"

Daisuke clapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh, no!"

"How long will it take you to go home?"

"It depends." Daisuke sighed. "If I take him home after school and he actually cooperates with me and doesn't run off somewhere, I'll still have to deal with my parents. I mean, Mom will have her training traps set up, and I'll have to get past those."

Satoshi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Then she'll want to talk, and that'll take hours, and Dad's been quizzing me on the stuff I'm supposed to steal lately, can you believe that?" He looked at Satoshi, who simply shrugged. "All of that is going to cut into my research time. The whole day is pretty much wasted." He yanked the flap of his bag open and glared at With. "This is important research, With, and your reckless decision to stow away has cost me an entire day."

"Kyuu," the familiar sighed dejectedly.

"Unless…" Daisuke turned to Satoshi, a sheepish hope growing in his eyes. "Unless you wouldn't mind if With came over with me."

Satoshi's eyes widened. "You want to bring your familiar to my apartment? With all my books?"

"He won't do anything," Daisuke said persuasively.

"Niwa-kun," Satoshi sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose above his glasses, "You said earlier that it has a mind of its own and does whatever it feels like doing."

"I really don't want to go home and face my parents right after school," Daisuke said pleadingly. "Please?"

Satoshi sighed again. "All right."

Daisuke's face lit up. "Thank you, Hiwatari-kun!"

The commander shot him a glare. "If he does anything to my books or papers, Niwa, Dark will have to find a new set of wings."

The bag quivered as a faint 'kyuu' came from it.

"Aw, he wouldn't do anything to you," Daisuke waved the threat away and patted the bag comfortingly. He looked up at the commander. "Would you, Hiwatari-kun?"

Satoshi gave him his best deadpan and walked into the classroom.

XXXXX

"The familiar doesn't come near the books," Satoshi said flatly as he closed the apartment door behind them.

Daisuke frowned slightly. "Are you sure? It might be a good idea to keep an eye on him." The look Satoshi gave him could have chipped diamond. "On second thought, we could shut him in the bathroom."

I just want you to know, I am in no way seeing this end well, Dark stated.

Daisuke ignored him and took With into Satoshi's tiny bathroom. "Now, stay here and don't eat the shower curtain," he said flatly.

The animal grinned up at him. "Kyuu."

The redhead sighed deeply, closed the door behind him, and returned to the living room.

As soon as the two sat down, Satoshi handed him a book with a tattered binding. "This is a history written by one of the Hikari daughters during the Cultural Reform. It might mention the axe."

He obediently took the book and began to read. It was very interesting, so much so that Daisuke didn't notice the hours flying by.

"Niwa?"

Daisuke jerked his head up. "Hmm?"

Satoshi actually looked somewhat concerned. "Aren't you supposed to be home by seven?"

Daisuke dropped his gaze to his watch and gasped. It was twenty till. "I'm gonna be late," he groaned, sliding down on the sofa. "Mom's going to kill me."

"Why don't you just call her and tell her you're going to be late?" Satoshi asked slowly. "That way she'd know you were on your way, at least."

"That's a good idea, Hiwatari-kun!" Daisuke said gratefully. "Can I borrow your phone?"

"It's on the desk." Satoshi gestured.

"Thanks, I'll just grab With first," Daisuke called over his shoulder, opening the bathroom door.

With was nowhere in sight. "Oh, no."

Told ya, Dark said smugly.

"Niwa? Is something wrong?"

The redhead ran forward and yanked the shower curtain aside. There was no rabbit hiding within. Or underneath the commode. Or in the cabinets.

"Niwa…" Satoshi was now standing by the entrance to the room, and his mouth had compressed to a thin line.

"No, I'll find him," Daisuke assured him frantically as he dashed into the kitchen. With was not sleeping on top of the refrigerator, hiding underneath the table, or tucked away by the stove.

"Niwa, I don't think he could have gotten in those," came the cool voice from the door.

Daisuke looked up from opening all the overhead cupboards and grinned sheepishly at the teen leaning against the doorframe. "You're probably right." He walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room. "The front door's closed and locked, and even With can't do locks yet. I think."

Satoshi sighed. "It's probably still in the apartment somewhere. We just need to go about this methodically."

"Yeah," Daisuke agreed, downcast. "I guess we should check your other rooms."

The commander nodded, a carefully blank look on his face, and gestured for the redhead to go first.

"I'm sorry," Daisuke offered miserably as he pulled his bag off the couch. There was no rabbit underneath, or tucked away asleep inside. He ducked to look under the couch. No rabbit.

"It's okay, Niwa," Satoshi said with a sigh as he peered under his desk. There was no rabbit. "I just hope he hasn't destroyed anything, that's all."

"With isn't destructive," Daisuke said softly, "Just…playful. He probably thinks this is a game."

Satoshi pushed his glasses back up his nose and stared at him darkly.

Flushing, Daisuke turned away and walked to the room across the hall.

You know, if you let me out, I could call for With, Dark said casually.

Daisuke shook his head. What do you think would make Hiwatari angrier, having With loose in his apartment, or having you loose in his apartment? he asked dryly.

Dark considered that for a moment. Good point. He brightened. At least now we have an excuse to look through all his stuff!

The redhead sighed.

Satoshi opened the door and walked inside, and Daisuke followed. This room was clearly Satoshi's bedroom. It was empty except for a small dresser and a bed, the covers twisted and tossed around.

For some reason, seeing the sole spot of disorder in the house seemed incredibly private, and Daisuke stayed in the doorway as Satoshi peered under the bed and behind the dresser.

"He not in here," Satoshi said sourly as he got back to his feet. "He must be in the storage room or the study." He shut his door behind him firmly as he approached the next room.

"What do you keep in the storage room?" Daisuke asked cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood.

Satoshi didn't answer, only pushed open the door. The small, windowless room was filled with brown cardboard boxes and a few pieces of odd-shaped furniture draped with protective cloths. They were all loosely closed, not sealed. It was entirely possible that the familiar was hiding in one of them. Daisuke saw Satoshi's shoulders tense and sighed again. "I'm so sorry, Hiwatari-kun," he murmured.

The commander sighed. "It's okay, Niwa. Stop apologizing." He started opening boxes, looking inside, then closing them more securely.

Daisuke tentatively approached. "Is it okay if I help?"

Satoshi shrugged, pulling open another box. "Please do."

The redhead bent down and opened the carton closest to him. It was filled with pastels and packages of watercolors, but no rabbit. He closed it and went onto the next. It was heavier, and contained some oddly shaped pliers and cutters.

They're used to make jewelry with, Dark told him, peering curiously at them himself. Daisuke frowned and opened a box that seemed less dusty than the others next to it. This one contained paints and a set of delicate brushes decorated with a wing pattern. His brow furrowed. "Do all these boxes contain art supplies?"

"Mostly," Satoshi said shortly, securing a box and moving onto the next.

Daisuke stood and pulled the dustcover off one of the odd shapes. It was an elaborately carved easel, carefully designed to be able to tilt in any direction to catch the maximum amount of sunlight. He gaped shamelessly. "These are really nice, Hiwatari-kun!"

The commander didn't say anything.

The redhead pulled the cover off the next lump, which appeared to be a pottery wheel of some sort. He swirled the cloth back over it, and turned to the older teen. "I thought you said you didn't make art," he questioned softly.

Satoshi closed the lid of the last box and stood. "I don't."

"But…" Daisuke gestured around him.

"They're not mine, not really," the commander said. "I inherited these."

Daisuke frowned. "Art supplies?"

"Some of the art that you Niwa have has been passed down for generations, has it not?" Satoshi asked with a sigh, walking forward and replacing the cover on the easel.

The redhead nodded slowly.

"Very little of our art remains within the family. These," he gestured around him, "are the Hikari heirlooms; not art but the tools with which to make it."

"Oh," Daisuke said, surprised. "That's…kinda cool, actually."

Satoshi shot him a startled glance, then relaxed a little, smiling slightly. "If you say so, Niwa." He straightened the cover over the easel and gazed around the room. "I don't think your familiar is in here."

Daisuke frowned as he walked back into the hall. "Where did he go?"

At the end of the hall was the door to the archives, which With certainly wasn't in, since Satoshi kept that door securely closed.

That left only the back room. Daisuke's eyes widened as he approached. The door was slightly ajar. "With!" He pushed the door open and dashed in.

The room was lined with bookshelves, but Daisuke didn't notice. His attention was focused on the chair that stood in the middle of the room.

It was a large stone chair, elaborately carved with a pair of wings that spread out triumphantly from the back of the chair. Even more interesting was the fact that one of the wings was broken. It hadn't been broken over time. Rather, it had been carved broken.

It was one of the most fascinating art pieces Daisuke had ever seen.

"Niwa," Satoshi said softly.

Daisuke turned to face him, and the commander wordlessly nodded towards the chair.

With was curled up asleep underneath it.

"With!" Daisuke reached down and pulled the demon-rabbit out from under the chair.

The rabbit 'kyuu'ed sleepily and snuggled into his arms. Daisuke scowled at him and shook him slightly. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"

With only turned over in his sleep, and Daisuke looked up at Satoshi. "I'm sorry, Hiwatari-kun. At least it doesn't look like he did anything."

The commander nodded agreement.

Daisuke walked back towards the door, carrying the familiar, then turned to look back at the chair. "What is it?" he asked softly.

"A chair," Satoshi said dryly.

The redhead shot him a look. "That wasn't what I meant, Hiwatari-kun, and you know it."

Satoshi shrugged uncomfortably. "It's the other Hikari heirloom."

Daisuke gazed at it. "It's amazing. I've never heard of this piece before, and I thought I knew most of the Hikari works."

"It's not Hikari."

The redhead's gaze shot back to the commander. "It's not?"

"No." Satoshi shook his head. "It was made for the Hikari, but the man who made it wasn't Hikari himself, only married to one. He made it for his wife after their son died."

"It's lovely," Daisuke said distantly, finding his gaze drawn back to it.

"I like it," Satoshi said softly, gazing at it as well. Then he abruptly shook his head and his face grew closed again. "It's late, Niwa."

Daisuke's mouth dropped. He jerked his arm up to read his watch. It was almost seven fifteen. "Oh no!" He bolted down the hall to the living room and snatched up his bag, unceremoniously stuffing With into it. He heard the door to the back room click as he swirled his jacket on, and Satoshi appeared from the hallway.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Niwa," he said.

Daisuke waved and tossed his bag over his shoulder. "Bye!" He bolted out and down the stairs, hitting the ground floor running.

Mom's going to be so angry, he moaned.

He could feel Dark shrug. It's not really your fault.

Since when has that made a difference? Daisuke sighed, jogging towards home. His thoughts wandered back to the chair. That was an amazing art work. I can't believe it's not Hikari.

The guy who carved it was almost as good, Dark told him.

You knew him?

In a sense, Dark said softly. His son was Krad's host for a while.

Daisuke frowned. I thought Hiwatari-kun said that the son died.

He did.

There was a pause as Dark's words sank in. How? Daisuke finally asked softly.

Dark's voice suddenly sounded tired. Krad is very hard on his Tamers. This one wasn't strong enough to carry him.

Daisuke was silent.

I followed the Hikari Tamers every once in a while. It's always best to know where your enemies live, Dark explained. The boy's father had started carving the chair for him before he died, and it had two good wings then. He must have finished it after his son died.

And then he finished it with a broken wing, Daisuke finished softly.

When I appeared in the next generation of Niwa, Krad appeared in a son in another branch of the Hikari, since the stonecarver's son had died without children. But I remember seeing the chair in the Hikari household. I guess it's been passed down. The phantom thief shrugged. It's never exhibited any magical potential, which is why I never stole it.

Daisuke was thoughtfully silent for a moment as he continued to run. Did it seem…sad to you?

It speaks of loss, Daisuke, the phantom thief said slowly. Nothing in the world hurts like the loss of a loved one.

The redhead's steps slowed briefly as an echo of the thief's pain resonated in him. Are you okay, Dark?

Yeah, the thief said brightly. Too brightly. Just…make sure you appreciate what you have while you have it, okay?

Daisuke nodded solemnly as he jogged up his street. He did appreciate everything he had. A thoughtful dad, a strict-but-caring grandfather, his slightly-insane-but-loving mother, Dark, Towa-chan, With, his friends…

Hiwatari-kun.

Daisuke turned into the sidewalk leading to his house. He had…whatever it was he had with Hiwatari-kun.

But before he could ponder it any more, the door was wrenched open and an infuriated Emiko stood in front of him. "Daisuke!" she said ominously. "You're late!"

The redhead sighed. Thinking about Satoshi would have to wait.