Draco: I'm back! Okay…I know, I know…it took long enough. With so many projects, though, it's hard to remember where I left off. So, here ya go!
* * *
Daisuke couldn't dream, it was too quiet, so he just slept. Dark, on the other hand, managed neither. He just stood there, leaning against the wall, and watched the boy. There was no tossing or turning, not a single flicker of eye movement, just the soft breathing of thankful slumber. It was a slightly disturbing sight, with nothing to watch save for the delicate rise and fall of his former host's chest, but it was somehow comforting. After the fright earlier, it was soothing just to know that the beautiful, little brunette was still alive, even if the proof was barely perceptible.
Sighing, the violet haired thief stretched and dared a few steps towards the bed. Oh how he wished he were lying there as well. Still, he knew that was more of a dream than anything Daisuke was currently missing. So he just stood at the bedside and stared down at that pale, placid face, thankful for whatever time he might have to view those stunningly serene features. In some ways, the chance was worth the pain.
* * *
"Krad!"
Still, even screaming out loud, the only response Satoshi received was insane laughter. The maniacal blonde sat in the back of his head, mocking him. What had he done?
~You're hilarious, Satoshi!~ the blonde cackled. ~You're so desperate for me to tell you what's going on, yet would you really believe me?~
Tearing his glasses off and cleaning them furiously, the boy growled, "Whether or not I believe you is beside the point! I just want to know what you've done!"
There was more laughter. ~I already told you! I asked a seishin no kyuketsuki to "multiply the power of the Phantom Thief's greatest weakness."~
"I know what you already said! I'm not stupid! You don't have to repeat it!"
~So what's the problem?~
"What the hell is a 'seishin no kyuketsuki' for one thing!"
Satoshi's skin crawled as the parasite rolled his eyes. ~A 'psychic vampire'.~
"And what are you giving this 'vampire' in return?"
Krad shrugged. ~Oh nothing important. Just the essence of the weakness.~
"And what is the weakness you've sacrificed the essence of?"
~How should I know? I'm not crazy or stupid enough to question a vampire."
* * *
All of the sudden, Daisuke felt himself falling. It was rather unnerving to crash into a dream after sleeping so peacefully and thoughtlessly before. There wasn't that much to it, though, so he paid little mind. As his dreams had placed him so many times, he was laying alone, naked in his bed. Finally, after everything that had happened in the last few hours, he was experiencing something normal.
Slowly he let himself sit up. He had learned long ago the advantages of lucid dreaming. It was the best way out of so many unwanted situations. If only he could do it in real life, too. Unfortunately, in conscious time, he was completely at the mercy of fate. That was why he had to think in his sleep, make the decisions that were too hard to make while awake and moving. Turning to let his legs dangle over the edge of the mattress, the blankets tangled around his waist, he sighed and let his mind wonder. It always seemed to get farther on its own.
Then something in his brain came into focus. It wasn't so much a thought as a sensation, the frighteningly comforting feel of Dark's arms around him. A blush spread across his cheeks as the thoughts started and he realized just how comforting it had been. Those arms had been so warm, so protective, so much of everything Daisuke had needed after waking up so alone. Yet he'd pushed them away. He'd been too scared to admit that they were what he needed, wanted, and the fear still held him back now. If only he could get past that, it seemed like it would make everything so much easier, but the fear was far too great now, far too great and out of hand. Theory was, one could always subdue their panic. Unfortunately, there was something in the way, something he somehow knew was far more than he could possibly comprehend.
* * *
"Dai-chan?" Dark whispered the name so softly he could barely hear it himself.
He moved closer, reaching out a hand to tenderly brush stray hair from the boys face. Daisuke would probably skin him for being so close, but he didn't really care. Dark had waited forever to be on this side, able to see the one he loved from the outside, able to touch him, feel his skin, his hair. If only it were possible to hold him.
"Dai-chan?" he whispered again. "Are you really that disgusted by me? Does my love really frighten you that much?"
A crystalline glint of light slowly beaded at his eye and rolled down his cheek, as he carefully took a seat on the edge of the mattress. Damn emotions. Damn them to hell. What good did they do if he was alone in them? Why should he pay them any mind if they only caused him pain? Still, he couldn't forget the way the younger boy had felt in his arms, couldn't forget how the other's body seemed to relax for a moment before the panic set in. The memory alone was enough to draw more tears, enough to force his throat to constrict in attempt not to sob out loud. Crying a little was one thing, but any sound could awaken the bed's precious burden. That he couldn't afford.
* * *
Daisuke stared at his feet, swinging them back and forth, in and out from under the bed. Then he jumped as a weight sank the bed beside him, turning to see a dark shape seated there, a glittering, tear-shaped crystal sliding down its cheek. Somehow he knew who it was, and his mind finished the image, giving Dark features and color. So his brain had decided to force him into dealing with the problem with a resounding "face your fears." Well, what could it hurt? It was just a dream after all.
"Dark?" he whispered softly. "Dark? Why are you crying?"
The form turned to him, wiping at the rivulets of tears. "Dai-chan? Are you really that disgusted by me? Does my love really frighten you that much?"
Biting his lip, Daisuke looked down. "I…I don't know, Dark. I mean…I'm not disgusted by you, it's just…well… Maybe it is your love that scares me. Maybe it's just the fact that you love me at all, the fact that you love me…that way. Or maybe it's the fact that I think I love you in that same way. I mean…I'd never really thought about it because you were in the back of my head. I never had to see you face to face, so I never had to see the issue face to face. So no…I'm not disgusted by you, Dark, I'm just really scared. And it's not your love for me that scares me, it's my love for you, because…because I love you, Dark…I really do."
* * *
Desperately trying not to let his sniffling wake the boy, Dark almost didn't hear Daisuke's mumbling. The little brunette was curled up on his side, knees tucked into his chest, muttering something Dark could barely hear. He did, however, make out his name, which caused his heart to jump and his lungs to seize. Swallowing hard, he listened closer, but heard little to nothing sensible. There was something about a "fact" and a "thought," something having to do with coming "face to face" with something, and something that sounded like…"love." Eyes wide, heart pounding, Dark listened carefully to every last murmur until the last words came out, clear as day.
"Because I love you, Dark…I really do."
"D-dai-chan…" he choked, the tears overflowing until he was almost blind. "My god, Daisuke…do you really mean that? Do you really mean…?" Then he couldn't hold it back, the sob coming forward in an uncontrollable rush. "God, Daisuke! I love you so much! I just…I wish you could know… I wish…I wish I could hold you and tell you everything was alright. I wish I knew what I could do to make you happy. I wish…" But he was crying too hard to say anymore.
* * *
Daisuke wasn't expecting the response he got. Then again, what response was he expecting? He sure as hell hadn't wanted to make the thief cry.
"My god, Daisuke…do you really mean that? Do you really mean…?" Dark was crying harder now, quickly dissolving into sobs. "God, Daisuke! I love you so much! I just…I wish you could know… I wish…I wish I could hold you and tell you everything was alright. I wish I knew what I could do to make you happy. I wish…"
Then Daisuke was listening to hysterical weeping, something he didn't know how to deal with, especially coming from Dark, and he was desperate to calm him down. "Dark…oh god, Dark. Please don't cry like that. I don't think I can handle you crying like that. Please stop. I meant what I said. I do love you. I love you so much, but I'm too scared to admit it. I know it's stupid, but I'm just too scared. Just don't give up on me, okay? Please don't give up on me. I promise I'll be able to tell you someday. So please…don't give up on me." Tears were now streaming down his face as well. "Please don't give up on me!"
