Disclaimer: Digimon, its plots, characters and concepts are not mine. They're belonged to such people as Toei Animation, Bandai and Saban. All are being borrowed and will hopefully be brought back as they were. No profit is being made, so please don't sue. Any quotes from the Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux aren't mine either. The Ghost Roads idea was borrowed from the Buffy Trilogy, The Gatekeeper I think. It's not mine either. Any original characters and this fic are mine.
The next few moments passed like hours in Takeru's mind, as he stared up at Daisuke in shock, pinned under Ken. The expression on Daisuke's face as he stared at then made him feel sick. At the least Daisuke looked disgusted. At the most he looked ready to kill them. Takeru couldn't blame him really -- it probably would have looked very suspicious to him if he'd been in Daisuke's position.
"Daisuke," Ken said flatly. Takeru couldn't believe how damn calm he was. Maybe he had been telling the truth, maybe nothing had been going on between them. Maybe Ken had fought with him just for something to do. Nah, he had a Digital World to take over after all. Ken didn't have spare time. And there had been something going on with him and Daisuke -- Daisuke had told him after all. Well, sort of. Shaking him probably hadn't been the smartest thing to do.
"Ken," the redhead snapped, life suddenly beginning to pour into his brown eyes. Takeru winced at his tone, while Ken remained calm as always, picking himself off of Takeru slowly and facing his student... if he could still be considered that. Takeru was pleased to note that Ken didn't look too happy at how things were turning out. His arms were crossed, his face paler than usual and his lips were drawn to a tight line. But could the Kaiser be sorry for what he had done? He didn't know.
"I suppose I should tell you the worst excuse in the book," the boy genius said, his voice still completely serene. Takeru wanted to hit him at this point, and he was sure he wasn't the only one. Daisuke did not look pleased with either of them. "It isn't how it looks." Ken had been right -- that was the worst excuse in the book. The Keeper of Hope resisted the urge to hit his forehead and groan.
Daisuke let out a deep breath and shook his head. "I sincerely hope you don't expect me to believe that!" he snapped, his face possibly livid. Takeru hadn't seen his best friend -- possibly his ex-best friend right now -- this mad before. Ever. Even when they had been in the thick of battle or arguments Daisuke had never truly lost his cool before. He had a feeling this was going to be a memorable experience and not in a good way.
Ken shrugged. "I told you it was the worst excuse," he said mildly. "I wouldn't have said it if I expected you to believe it." How does he stay so calm? Takeru wondered, looking extremely baffled. If he's not careful, Daisuke's going to hit him!
Daisuke tossed him a disgusted look, which, in Takeru's opinion, was even worse than being yelled at and then jumped when the redhead turned to him. "And what about you?!" Daisuke demanded. "Did you just do this to get back at me?!"
Takeru stared at him, appalled. "For once Ken's telling the truth! Nothing's going on! We just --" He broke off, unable to admit as to being so childish as to pick a fight with Ken because Daisuke had rejected him. Ken possibly came to this conclusion, for the grin that spread across his face was cruel and smug.
"We just what?" Daisuke demanded impatiently, crossing his arms and tapping one finger against his upper arm. His expression was not comforting in any way and Takeru found himself beginning to sweat.
"I picked a fight with him," he whispered, avoiding Daisuke's outraged gaze and staring down at the floor.
"Why?" The word was short and abrupt and the replusion in it made Takeru wish that the floor would just swallow him up right there and then. He hadn't realised Daisuke had this side to his personality and was glad he hadn't seen it before. Maybe that was the reason he had kept it hidden so well.
"You -- you -- because you rejected me," he said in a rasped whisper and sobbed before he could help himself. How could he have been so stupid? He thought he had been better than this! Feeling a despair well up in him that he had never, ever experienced before, he looked up desperately at Daisuke. "Daisuke, I'm so sorry!" he cried. "You have to believe me, I never meant to be so stupid!" It was desperate and it was foolish. He'd hurt Daisuke unbearably earlier this evening and now he had just hurt him even more. Daisuke wasn't going to listen to him now.
The hiss that escaped through Daisuke's lips made Takeru shudder and Ken to look at the redhead in surprise. Even when he'd made Daisuke mad himself, the Keeper of Courage had reacted with his fiery temper as the Kaiser had expected him to. All right, Ken hadn't expected him to send bursts of fire raining down from the sky, but the redhead's temper had cooled off after a while. He had the feeling this was Daisuke's real temper and he also had the feeling he wasn't going to like what he was going to see. Ken glanced from the seething Daisuke to the trembling Takeru with a grim expression on his face.
"I knew you'd do something like this!" Daisuke growled irritably at him, looking for one minute like he was going to hit Takeru. The power radiating from him had the hairs on the back of Ken's neck standing and as a caution, the Kaiser silently put up shields around himself, and after a moment's consideration, around Takeru himself. The blonde hadn't a drop of magical talent in him and so needed to be protected in some way. Although Ken wasn't happy about it, he had some compassion in him. He just hid it well and burrowed it deep. "You just can't cope when you don't get something you want!" the redhead continued, and even Ken lifted an eyebrow at this. Wasn't this just taking it a little bit too far? It wasn't like Daisuke to harp on about things like this either, come to think of it. The Kaiser had some idea about his character by now, having battled against him and having to teach him to control his temper and powers. Although from where he was standing now, it seemed he hadn't done such a great job.
"I told you I'm sorry!" Takeru replied in a weary voice. Ken couldn't believe it, but he was beginning to feel slightly sorry for him. Daisuke was overreating just a little -- Takeru hadn't been able to do much damage to him anyway and his pride hadn't been hurt ... well, possibly Takeru's, but that was beside the point. The blonde looked crushed. "What else can I say?"
"Nothing," Daisuke replied flatly, shaking his head and turning away. "And you're no better," he hissed at Ken and the hurt and pain finally began to show on Daisuke's face. "I thought I could trust you!" the redhead told him in a broken voice, and Ken was beginning to realise this was having worse consequences on Daisuke that he'd first thought. "I guess I was wrong," the redhead mumbled, looking alarmingly drained. "You're no better than you were when I first met you. At any rate you're worse."
"Oh for God's sake Daisuke!" Ken said in an exasperated voice. "It was just a fight! It meant nothing!" Daisuke really was taking this too far.
"It doesn't matter if it was a fight or not," Daisuke muttered. "Takeru's still my best friend and you hurt him."
Ken stared at him. What was it with Daisuke?! "You weren't acting like much of a friend to him a few seonds ago," the progidy commented archly. "Besides, he was the one who burst in here and lunged at me!"
Daisuke shook his head hard, and his goggles flashed in the dim light from the monitors. It was then that Ken really started to worry about him -- he looked very pale. Ken was beginning to suspect he was having something like a nervous breakdown. But a fight and an argument shouldn't have been able to push someone as strong as Daisuke to this! What was going on? "Daisuke," he said quietly, reaching for him. The redhead jerked and shook his arm off, turning away and walking to the door.
"Just let me alone," Ken heard him murmur quietly as he disappeared out the door, leaving the genius and the blonde staring after him, both of them stunned and worried. Ken glanced at Takeru and wasn't comforted to see the worry and surprise reflected in his face. What the hell was up with Daisuke lately?
He dragged himself out of the ground at last, and brushed earth and dirt off of his cloak. He was free at last! He looked up at the night sky and laughed at the sight of the moon and the stars. He looked around and his excellent eyesight spied the trees and the grass and the plants. He managed to deceipher the shadows from the shapes and marvelled at the way the moonlight drenched everything it touched, letting everything else drown in darkness. Unable to believe he was free from that wretched curse at last, he threw back his head and laughed and mocked the druids who had chained him to a lifetime of misery. They were dust now and he lived! And his laugh held an undercurrent of warning to those who were good. For they would soon be no more, he would ensure that.
He began to walk through the land and his cloak brushed the grass stems. He smelled air for the first time in lifetimes and it was strange, as if there was too much magic in the air. It was then he sensed him. Daisuke. Close by. Alone. As he absently went through his mind, he was pleased to sense the emotions of sadness and despair radiating from him. His brooch, his 'gift' was working then. Daisuke would soon be completely under his control, and his power would be his. He was sure Daisuke wouldn't mind him draining his complete power source. He chuckled. Daisuke had no idea what was about to happen to him. A pity really. But as a new thought crossed his mind, his eyes narrowed. There was still that annoying, so-called 'Kaiser' to get rid of. He was powerful, but his power was not as intoxicating as Daisuke's. A delicate sneer curled the vampire's lips, revealing ice-white, deadly fangs that curved and killed.
The vampire's green eyes glowed as he began to walk towards Daisuke. And as he passed all the plants died.
He'd never felt so alone and confused before in his life, he was sure of it. Daisuke stumbled through the Digital World, his eyes dazed and his chest feeling as if it was on fire. He felt so strange, so woozy... surely having a fight couldn't have this sort of effect on him? He groaned, falling to his knees as his strength failed. Black dots danced across his vision and his head throbbed. What was happening to him?
He groaned again, clutching his stomach desperately. He felt like he was going to throw up, but he hadn't eaten anything. Maybe that was the problem, he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten anything. He hissed as his stomach lurched uncomfortably. He felt terrible!
He didn't hear the footsteps approaching until someone stood over him. He gasped, looking up in fear and shock. A man stood beside him, a man that was tall and confident. He stared. He was tall all right, a long, dark cloak swirling around him. Hair as black as his cloak curled softly around his neck. His eyes watched him silently, green as emeralds. Daisuke found himself unable to look away.
"Erik," he whispered, his eyes widening. He couldn't remember ever learning his name, but he knew it as well as he knew his own. "You came." He looked away from him, ashamed at how he sounded. He couldn't help it, he felt so broken, so helpless...
"Daisuke," he replied softly, saying his name like a caress. He kneeled before him, easing his fingers under his chin, gently forcing the redhead to look up at him again. "Of course I came. I would never let you like this and not come."
Daisuke managed to keep himself composed for a few more moments, before his composure crumbled nicely and he flung himself into Erik's arms, sobbing quietly. Erik hugged him to his chest, letting him cry for as long as he needed to. The vampire closed his eyes briefly and if one looked close enough, they could see the brooch still attached to Daisuke's shirt glow steadily.
When he pushed himself away, Daisuke was blushing. Erik chuckled. "Are you embarrassed?" he asked softly.
Daisuke shook his head. "No...yes," he admitted with a sigh. As the older man chuckled again, his blush deepened.
Suddenly Erik's laughter stopped abruptly and his pale face turned serious. "You know I would never hurt you," he whispered. Daisuke nodded slowly. "Not like how Ken and Takeru have hurt you."
Daisuke stiffened, but replied tightly, "I know." He looked down at the ground as he spoke, his voice trembling. "Will you hurt them for me? Will you hurt them as they've hurt me?"
"If you want me to," the vampire purred and gathered Daisuke once more in his arms. The redhead gasped as the vampire's lips landed on his neck. He shivered, for they felt rather cold. "But you know I would never hurt you," he repeated. Daisuke could only groan as the lips moved around the sensitive skin. The vampire felt only mild annoyance as Daisuke squirmed.
"Please," he hissed, trying to keep his emotions under control. "Please stop." He wasn't ready for this, he wasn't, he knew this! Not after what had just happened to him! "Stop!" he cried, wrenching himself away. "Let me alone!" He glared at Erik, who looked decidedly displeased at the turn of things.
"I told you I wouldn't hurt you," the vampire snapped, and Daisuke shivered, but this time it was because he was afraid. Erik frightened him, and he wasn't quite sure why. Realising how he had acted, Erik quickly changed tactics. "Just let me hold you," he crooned softly. "Let me comfort you."
Daisuke watched him, looking extremely wary and with good reason to, but he let him hold him, more because he was afraid to refuse Erik than because he wanted to be comforted. After a few moments, he relaxed, thinking, This isn't so bad after all. He hid his face in Erik's shirt.
As he couldn't see Erik's face, he didn't notice his face turn a sickly shade of white, unnaturally pale. He didn't see his eyes turn even a brighter shade of green, a green that eyes should not be. He didn't feel any fear as Erik gently tilted his face to the side, exposing his throat. He didn't see Erik's lips draw back in a feral smile, exposing curved, deadly fangs that shone dully in the dim moonlight.
However he did feel something as Erik slowly drew his fangs across Daisuke's neck. Panic bubbled up through him as he heard the savage snarl Erik uttered. With a desperate panic, he tried to wrench himself away but Erik's grip on him was iron tight. No! he yelled silently. No! No! NO!
Daisuke's scream died in his throat as Erik sank his fangs into his neck, tearing into the vein in his throat, and everything turned into chaos. But his power uttered the screams for him.