Dark woke the next morning to the sound of yelling downstairs. Frightened screams mingled with loud voices, and an excited female voice he'd heard several times before. He threw the covers over his head and proceeded to try to go back to sleep. He would have succeeded in the task, had the door not open, and had Daisuke not proceeded to prod him with his foot.
"Anou… Dark? Are you awake?" Daisuke asked gingerly, continuing to prod Dark.
"No… now go away…" Dark mumbled into his pillow.
"Anou… Dark? I… I have something to tell you…"
"Can it wait? I'm sleeping right now."
"Dark… It's important…" He said nervously
"Damnit, Daisuke, what in hell do you want?" Dark groaned quite audibly.
"Dark… the necklace… um… it's gone."
"Is that all? Duh, if it's gone then just get a new one." Dark threw the pillow over his head, and buried his face deep into the futon beneath him.
"No… the 'Illusion Breaking' necklace…"
"And?" Dark muttered sleepily, not really excepting information at that moment.
"Dark, it's gone!" Daisuke pleaded helplessly. Getting this blasted thief to react to stimuli was harder then it looked!
Suddenly Dark bolted upright, all the new information finally registering.
"What in the hell!?"
It was gone!? Where in god's name could that blasted piece of metal and magic go? It's not as if it had legs… did it? Or did that crazy old man forget to tell them something else. That would be so like Niwa-ji.
"It's part of a traveling exhibit…" Daisuke sat on the edge of his bed and looked down at Dark's form, sprawled out on the futon he had provided. "…and it's now traveling to China."
"CHINA!? What in the HELL!? Awe shit…" He buried his face in his hands and sighed deeply. "So what do we do now?"
Daisuke shrugged. "Chase after it I suppose… Dark?"
"Mm?" Dark groaned from behind his hands.
"I won't go back on my promise."
Dark looked up and saw a new light shinning in Daisuke's amber eyes. A light that made Dark's whole chest just float away on a cloud without a care in the world. He swallowed hard, blushed, then abruptly stood up.
"Ah… Dark?" Daisuke questioned, obviously startled by Darks sudden movement.
"I… I need a shower!" He rushed off, not being able to bear the atmosphere that Daisuke had suddenly created. It was so… emotional.
Dark had gone through his existence attached to nothing but his life of thievery, and when he had realized his feelings for the red-head whose mind he once took residence in, it was hard enough to adjust to that. But now… actually being able to feel and see how emotional and involved he wanted to be… it touched Dark.
However, on the other hand, it almost scared Dark to pieces, because he realized he was finally becoming attached to something real, and tangible. And embracing nothing but his own life had been the epitome of his existence, until the boy.
This double sided emotion confused him to no extent and he wanted not to be in the dark any more (no pun intended), but to be able to understand these feelings and embrace them with a full passion.
"I can't be attached…" Dark whispered to himself as he undressed in the bathroom. "I know I… love him. But… being so attached…" He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
I need to calm down. Everything will be fine… except maybe this whole China thing. Damn. I do not want to go to China… they're all weird over there.
Dark sighed, it looked like he didn't have a choice. Daisuke was putting so much emphasis on his promise, and it pained Dark not to see him living up to what he had so fervently promised without any reservations or worries.
Why? Dark thought as he climbed into the stream of hot water that now poured from the showerhead. Why does he have such powerful emotions? His love for life seems to radiate like light… I wish I had such passion for life…
Dark looked at his hands and sighed deeply. Daisuke was nothing like him, he didn't understand Dark's past… but he was so willing to help him. So willing to do anything for the good of Dark.
"I wish I was like him…"
The rest of the morning seemed to be nothing except Emiko fussing over Dark. She seemed to be the most excited that he had fully become part of the Niwa clan, and had made an extra large and varied breakfast.
Daisuke had to bite his tongue to keep from commenting to Dark. Where as Dark had to fight off his urge to run screaming in the other direction whenever Emiko approached him. That dream from the night before had shaken him up quite a bit, and no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, it was really weird to be even in the same room with her.
Daisuke bid Dark and his family farewell as he headed out for school. Wizu 'Kyu'ed after him, confused on whether to stay with Dark or follow Daisuke. He decided on staying with Dark, which made the older boy feel better.
For the morning, Dark was content to sit on the roof of the Niwa house and consider everything in his life then. By noon, one Niwa interrupted his peace with the question of milk and cookies, but other then that nothing seemed to be happening, and so Dark retired to the cool inside of the house.
"Dark," Daiki called to him as he heard Dark climb down the steps.
"Mm? What is it, Niwa-ji?" Dark entered the man's study and sat down in a chair.
"China." Was all the old man said. Dark blinked, confused.
"Ooooooookay. What about it?"
"You will be going there."
Dark rolled his eyes. The old man, though a good companion, had the tendency to frustrate him to no extent. "I know. Daisuke informed me already."
"What do you propose to do to get there?" Daiki questioned.
"Hijack a navel ship, why?" Dark grinned.
"Nani!?" Daiki's eyes went as wide as saucers. It was funny to see the old man in such a state of shock.
"Just kidding. You don't have to get bent out of shape, Niwa-ji. I'm just going to hitch a ride on an airplane." Dark smiled. "I think the boy's ready to learn how to smuggle himself, don't you agree?"
"Good… good…" Daiki said, looking dazedly out the window.
Dark suddenly turned serious. "What is it? Something wrong?"
"No… no, not really. I'm just worried… what if the necklace doesn't put both of you back together?" Daiki questioned, resting his chin in the crux his forefinger and thumb made. His eyes were glued to the floor, and he looked deep in thought.
Dark shrugged, leading back into the chair he was positioned on. "I guess I have to live my own life then. I'm sorry if that upsets you."
"It's not so much that… I'm worried about Krad."
Dark shuttered at the name. He hadn't really thought about that until now. Krad… what would happen if Dark wasn't there to beat his ass, as should be done? He gathered strength and looked Daiki in the eye. "I'll take care of that. You don't have to worry."
Daiki looked down at the ground again. "I hope so…"
"Listen, Niwa-ji," Dark began firmly. "I haven't let your family down before, I won't do it ever. If the necklace doesn't get Daisuke and I back together, then it's not as if I'm going to let Krad go frolicking off and destroying the world. I'll take care of it, you can count on that." Dark spoke with nothing but believability to Daiki, who could only agree with him and nodded in response.
"I trust you."
Dark smiled. "I'm glad. You're kinda stuck with me, ya know."
Daiki smiled. "I know."
(AN: I'm still sticking to my idea that Krad is not in the story. I'm talking about him, but don't expect him to appear. Sorry, Krad-fans… I'm in love with his pretty face as well, but I just don't know enough about him T.T)
Daisuke came straight home after his encounters with being a normal, fourteen year-old boy in school… for once in a great while. Dark sat in the living room, reading the paper, he smiled as the youngest Niwa came and sat in the room with him.
"How was your day?" Dark asked, looking up from the periodical in his hands.
"Good! I didn't transform into you at all!" Daisuke said happily.
Dark felt a twinge of pain pulling tightly at his heartstrings. Did Daisuke only consider him a burden? That transforming into the elder being was just a problem to be dealt with on a daily basis, like acne or a kanji test?
"That's… good." Dark forced a small smile and returned to the paper.
There was a period of strained silence when different states of confusion washed and re-washed over the youngest Niwa boy's face.
"Anou… Dark?" He questioned tentatively.
"Hai?" Dark responded from behind the convenient shield that the paper made.
"Is something wrong?"
"No… why?"
"I don't know…"
Dark put down the paper and looked at Daisuke firmly for a long moment before speaking.
"Daisuke… if something was wrong, I would have let you know." He picked up the paper again, and let the silence enclose around them slowly.
"Oh…" Daisuke shuffled his feet for a moment. "Mm… Dark?"
Dark sighed exasperatedly, too many questions, too few ways to tell Daisuke politely to shut up. "Nani?"
"How are we going to get to China?"
"Hijacking a navel ship, why?" Dark said nonchalantly as he turned the page.
"But… but that's against the law… wait…" Daisuke thought for a moment "… so is everything else we do… I'm so confused…" He mumbled as he held his head in his hands, then looked up as Dark began to chuckle.
"I'm going to teach you how to smuggle yourself on and off an airplane, Daisuke." He put down the paper and looked into those amazing amber eyes of the younger boy. "I think it's time you learn something useful."
Daisuke smiled, then laughed. "I guess… seeing as I'm not learning anything else real useful."
Dark chuckled again. "I guess not…"
"Mmm… hey, Dark?" Daisuke said softly.
Dark smiled at the boy. Daisuke was always inquisitive, and although it could be a hassle to deal with his curious mind sometimes, it really was an adorable aspect to Dark.
"Hai?"
"Do you think… the illusion necklace will bring us back together?"
Dark raised an eyebrow. "Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"I couldn't care either way." Dark shrugged as he picked up the paper again.
Daisuke blinked. "Nani? Why not?"
Dark thought for a long moment, pondering weather or not to tell Daisuke why he didn't care… he gave in to his thoughts and pleaded guilty with the boy… Well, partially guilty. He'd only tell half of the story to the younger boy, the whole romantic tangle would have to remain shrouded in Dark's mind, that is if he wanted to continue to live peacefully with the boy.
"Daisuke… I think you're wonderful…"
The redhead's cheeks flushed.
"But…" Dark breathed deeply and set the paper down. "I've been in the Niwa line for centuries… I want… I want to live my own life… I it's not that I don't enjoy being with the Niwa family… but I just want to be able to be free…"
He looked down and blushed. "But I don't want to be selfish about it…"
Daisuke shook his head. "You're not being selfish, Dark. I understand. You want to live your own life… that's a right that you gave up to be with the Niwa family… I think maybe it's time you had that right restored."
Dark smiled at him. "I always knew there was a reason you're my favorite Niwa."
Daisuke blushed, but smiled politely at the older male.
Dark stood up and ruffled the boy's hair. "Come on, Daisuke. Your mother is making ramen."
Daisuke nodded, then followed his elder counter-part to the kitchen where Emiko was waiting happily for the return of her son.
Dark rolled his shoulders and smiled as he looked at all the barren pavement of their surroundings. It would be too easy to climb on that plane. So easy it was ridiculous.
"It's a nice night, all the same…" He whispered, eyes glancing up at the cloudless, star-filled sky. He felt, more than saw, Daisuke nod in agreement nest to him.
"Mm… you're right."
Dark smiled, and fell back on his haunches, waiting for the luggage of their plane in question to finish loading. Modern humans were pitiful in their security… this would be like walking right into the enemy territory if the enemy was a pack of bunny-rabbits.
Dark felt Daisuke shivered for a moment.
"Cold?" The purple-haired male questioned, stealing a quick glance down at his younger.
Daisuke nodded, before sneezing. Normally Dark would have scolded him for such a noise, but tonight it seemed pointless with the lack of security… and Daisuke was too cute when he sneezed anyway.
Dark handed him a handkerchief. "Here… it'll be about five more minutes before we can sneak into the cargo area."
"Mm…" The redhead nodded, taking the dark colored handkerchief from his companion.
"On the way back we'll hitch a ride in the seating area," Dark stated calmly, eyes never leaving the two loaders who were quickly, and sloppily loading the luggage of the passengers.
"Can you do that?" Daisuke asked cautiously.
Dark just grinned. "We can do anything, remember, Daisuke?"
Daisuke smiled up at him, laughing lightly at his companion's musings. "Hai…"
"Okay…" Dark whispered, falling forward onto his knees. The loaders were loading the last two bags…
Daisuke shoved the handkerchief into his pocket and peered from between the two large, metal boxes that hid their presence.
"One more…" Dark whispered, his muscles going tight with anticipation.
"That's all for now!"
"Now!" Dark whispered harshly. Both he and his favorite Niwa sprinted forward, up the loading ramp, and into the cargo area. The loading ramp closed with the loud sound of many ill-oiled gears.
Dark turned to grin at his companion. "Good job, Daisuke!" He ruffled the boy's hair and smiled.
"Thanks…"
Dark pulled out a small round light from one of his pockets, then sat down on the floor. He took a strap, used for keeping luggage stationary, and tied it around his waist. To his unfortunate discovery, there was only one left.
He blushed deeply, thanking the gods the light wasn't bright enough to see his burning cheeks. Only one strap meant that Daisuke would have to…
Have to…
Have to sit on his lap.
His cheeks flushed again at the thought.
This could not be happening! These situations were reserved for bizarre fictional stories, not real life! And certainly not a real life concerning Dark and his object of affections.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no…NO! I cannot belive this! It's… it's impossible!!
But it clearly was possible. In order to keep Daisuke and himself safe, they would have to sit together… dangerously close.
"Anou… Daisuke?" Dark said nervously.
"Mm?" The younger asked as he looked at Dark in the thick black soup that surrounded their small pool of light.
"You're going to-" Dark's voice cracked. He cleared it quickly. "Gomen… It must be the cold weather," He lied. "… You're going to have to sit on… on my lap…"
There was a long pause, a pause that made Dark's chest cave with anticipation.
"Oh…"
"Dai-" Dark began to tell him that he should sit there and Dark would just find something else to keep him secure. But before he could finish, Daisuke approached him, and placed his self gently between Dark's legs, leaning back into the elder's chest.
Daisuke…
The boy of his dreams was so close to him… so purely tangible in an emotional and physical way, that it felt as if this whole thing was only a dream, nothing more… but it was real! Daisuke was right there, snuggled (quite comfortably) between Dark's legs, and leaning into his chest.
Dark buckled and locked the strap over his and Daisuke's hips. Then he very slowly, and against the more reasonable part of his mind, wrapped his arms around the slender, and will-formed waist that belonged to his counterpart.
To his great surprise, Daisuke leaned even deeper into Dark's frame as the strong arms encompassed his waist. Dark mused how wonderful it felt to have him like this… it must be a dream, nothing could feel this soft, this warm… this beautiful.
Daisuke sighed a little, nuzzling his head into the crook of the neck of his elder. "You're so warm…" His lips brushed the soft, bare skin as he spoke, sending shivers into the spine of his companion… and perhaps even the spine of himself?
Dark blushed, trying to keep his raging emotions stable when he was so close to a new territory that could prove perilously dangerous. "What did you think I'd feel like…?"
"I wasn't sure…" Daisuke's eyes felt heavy and his body began to feel slackened. Dark nudged him a little in response to his weakened muscles.
"Hey you, don't fall asleep yet. Wait until we're in the air, okay? I don't want you rolling all over the cargo area."
Daisuke nodded, and promptly pushed his eyes open. He looked up at the stone face of his elder and smiled.
Dark raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the boy. "What are you smiling at?"
Daisuke shrugged. "Nothing really… I was just thinking of everything that's happened to us… how you're still there for me."
Dark quickly turned off the lantern to hide both his blush and to save energy. This was dangerous! And Daisuke was still snuggled inbetween his very nervous legs.
"Mm… yeah. You're right… I'm glad we're-" he paused, gathering the courage to say the most despicable work to his ears. "-friends."
"Yeah…" Daisuke said softly. "me too…"
Dark's swallowed hard, something in his chest was fluttering rapidly against his rib-cage. Did Daisuke just sound sad, or were his ears playing a rather nasty trick on him? No! It couldn't be… there was no way. Daisuke loved Risa, and that was who he was. Nothing more, nothing less. He couldn't love Dark… as much as the elder wanted it to be so, it wasn't going to happen.
And besides… this whole episode had to be a dream. Dark had to be sleeping on the futon in Daisuke's bedroom, tossing and turning from this… this… dream.
Or per haps it was not a dream, per say, but truly a nightmare.
A loud whirring sound signaled to Dark that the plane was beginning take off. He gave a start, and fell from his reverie, to hold tightly on to his counterpart, as the gravity of the earth pulled and tugged them in very different ways then where they actually wanted to go. They struggled to keep themselves upright and in a respectable position. Several times a stray piece of luggage came careening in their direction, and Dark would kick it out of the way. Nothing, not even an inanimate object, would hurt his precious Dai-chan.
Then it all stopped, and the plane leveled off. Dark thought slowly for a moment, trying to decide if he wanted to let Daisuke go, but it appeared he didn't have much of a choice… did he?
He nodded finally, letting a small sigh of discontent escape his lips. "Right. We've got about four hours before we land… so you might as well sleep."
Dark unlatched the two of them, and waited for Daisuke to move, but the younger just sat there, snuggled close to his elder's body.
"Are you going to sleep too? You're going to need it." Daisuke questioned, innocently looking into his companion's deep eyes.
Dark blushed and looked away for a moment before answering the subliminally provocative question.
"I guess you're right… okay." He leaned against a particularly large bag and closed his eyes, letting his breath slow as sleep began to take over.
"Anou, Dark?" The soft sound of wind chimes asked.
"Hm?"
"It's okay if I sleep with you, right?"
Dark nodded letting a small, sleepy smile pass over his lips. A dream… "Hai…"
Daisuke snuggled very deeply against Dark, clenching the soft material of his shirt in his weary hands. "You're so warm…"
Dark felt him self slowly succumb to the blackness that filled his mind. His conscious mind drifting off as if on the wings of the moon. "You're so soft… soft… and beautiful…"
"Mm… arigatou…"
***
::Bows:: Thank you for reading my story!! I'm glad you like it and I'm so sorry it's taking me such a long time to get out. It'll hopefully be finished within a few more chapters… like maybe four or five? Or something like that. Anyway… Thank you again!!
Lots o' Love: Xaph!
PS: I don't own D.N.Angel