Notes:  Aye aye aye!  I certainly left this story to mold on my shelf for a long time… I'm sorry, to anyone who appreciated this story!  I won't give any excuses…'cuz  I'm sure I could've dedicated more time to this story.  I'll just say that now that summer's here, hopefully I'll have much more time to dedicate to the fandoms that I love.  *^_^* 

I hope that nobody is really OOC (aside from Miyako, maybe ^.~) due to my inattention to this fic.  It's hard to go back in the middle of a story.  So, hopefully it still flows well.  Thank you to everyone who remains loyal to this story, despite my horrible lack of updating-ness.

Oh, and lastly, I think I may have posted a Chapter Five for this story a loooong time ago on the DaisukeKen ML, but this is different from it, because I decided I didn't like that Chapter Five.  It let me into the rut that kept me from writing this story for so long, so I finally decided to change it.  If anyone read that chapter, sorry for the confusion.  :/

Disclaimer:  Yeah, and, as everyone knows, I don't own these people at all.  I love them to death, but Ken, Daisuke, Miyako, and everyone else who has appeared and who will appear in this story who is a character of something from which I stole I am not claiming as my own property.  I just like to mess around with them. ^.~

Bewitching the Dragon

Part One -- Chapter Five

By: Hanae Michiko

===============

            Daisuke stood in shock for as long as he could stand without breathing.  He swallowed a huge gulp of air once he remembered to intake oxygen, unaware that he had been failing to do so for so long. 

            "Are you serious?" he finally asked.

            "Absolutely.  Take it or leave it, Motomiya.  I don't make it a habit of giving my victims second chances.  Your offer was just so tempting."

            He thought long and hard.  Wasn't there anything else he could give her…besides himself? 

            "There's nothing else in the world you want?"

            Miyako took two seconds to consider.

            "Nope."

            "But…it doesn't make any sense!  You've just met me!  What would you want with--"

            "My motives are none of your concern.  Just know that it gets lonely when one is shunned by society for being different from everyone else.  You would be desperate, too."

            He supposed so…  So she wanted him because no one else would have her.  He figured it made sense.  But the consequences…  His desire was for and with Ken.  Daisuke turned to glance at the dragon, who looked to be having some kind of internal battle with himself; be brave and approach Miyako and Daisuke, or cower in fear of the witch?  Daisuke wondered if he'd even heard the proposal at all.  Sighing, and knowing he would never put his own selfish desires before Ken's happiness, Daisuke turned and agreed to Miyako's offer.

            "Okay, I'll marry you," he muttered.

            "I want you to be aware of the conditions before you agree so wholeheartedly," Miyako hissed.

            "What, then?" Daisuke asked, feeling immediately cranky.

            "You will marry me, and you will honor your marriage vows.  Infidelity will result in serious consequences, do you understand?"  Daisuke nodded somberly.  "After we are married, I will return Ken to his natural form.  The two of you shall not interact with each other for the duration of our marriage unless you are accompanied by me.  Disobeying this command will also result in serious consequences.  Is that clear?"  Daisuke nodded again.  "Good.  We must clean up, now.  I'm not going to marry a dirty swank."

            Miyako waved her hand in Ken's direction as if dismissing his presence.  When the dragon emitted a frightening squeal sound and froze as if petrified, Daisuke realized Miyako was doing anything but dismissing Ken's presence.

            "What did you do to him?!" Daisuke shouted incredulously, running quickly to where the dragon stood frozen.

            "Relax, I just don't want him getting into any trouble while we're off doing more important things.  I just paralyzed him, is all.  Made him into a sort of living statue."

            "You're not allowed to hurt him, that's not part of the deal!"

            Daisuke ran shivering hands down Ken's long mane and bit his bottom lip.  A huge ball sunk in his stomach, and he suddenly realized what he was getting himself into.  He whispered a pitiful sounding, "I'm sorry," against Ken's neck and ran his hands nervously through his hair.

            "He can't feel a thing!  He'll be fine, it's just so much easier than tying him up.  I won't injure the damn thing, now let's get going."

            Daisuke sullenly followed Miyako into her small hut.  It was a little cramped, a little dark, and just a tad dank, but overall the place was actually sweet and homey.  Daisuke thought, if he had to, he could get used to it…at least to the décor. 

Immediately in front of him upon entering the front door was a small sitting room with one love seat and one oversized chair, which looked immensely comfortable, by the way, surrounding an ancient-looking coffee table, situated nicely in front of a fire place.  To his right was a combination kitchen and dining room.  It wasn't very impressive -- smaller than the sitting room, it had one wobbly-looking wooden kitchen table with a few equally unsteady-looking chairs scattered around it.  It was darker than the rest of the house and only had a stove and a few storage cabinets.  To his left was a wooden stairway that Daisuke could only guess led to the bedrooms and bathrooms, if there were even more than one of each.

Miyako snapped at him to get a move on, and he followed her upstairs to get washed and dressed for the wedding.

*  *  *  *  *

The wedding had been small, informal, and very empty.  Miyako and Daisuke had traveled to the nearest chapel and the lavender-haired witch had ordered a quick wedding, with few Bible readings and holy blessings.  The quicker the better.  The only people present were Miyako, Daisuke, the preacher, and an old woman who played a light wedding song on a hideously out-of-tune miniature pipe organ.

Upon returning to Miyako's hut, newly joined forever till death do they part, Daisuke and Miyako found Ken still frozen almost lifelessly in the front yard.  Miyako walked towards the dragon -- pranced, more like -- and muttered a few words neither Daisuke nor Ken understood.  Immediately, the dragon was mobile again.  Before Ken could turn on her and violently beat her to a bloody pulp, Miyako muttered another spell.  A dark fog swirled with purple smoke surrounded the creature, and Daisuke suddenly experienced a feeling of déjà vu.  An image of a similar smoke flitted through his mind, but it dissipated before he was able to remember why it felt so familiar.  By the time he was finished mulling over it curiously, the colored smoke had disappeared and where the mighty dragon had once stood was a young man of a slight frame crumpled on the ground.

Miyako stood back and smiled acidly at Daisuke.

"There," she said matter-of-factly.  "Let's go inside now."

Something seemed off, though.  All that human-eating certainly couldn't have been good for a human's diet.  Daisuke couldn't imagine Ken was perfectly healthy…especially not healthy enough to head back home on his own.

"He's…he's too weak…" Daisuke ventured cautiously, trying not to sound too concerned.  "I doubt he could make it home in his condition."

Miyako considered the situation and decided that if Ken croaked on his way home, there was no way Daisuke would stay with her.

"Alright then, he can stay to gain his strength, but the minute he shows signs of self-sufficiency, he must leave."

The idea thrilled Daisuke.  Ken would be staying with them for as long as he needed!  At least they would have some time together before Daisuke had to suffer through the rest of his miserable life with Miyako as his wife.

            "Remember the terms of our agreement," Miyako added off-handedly.  "Bring him inside.  I'll make us some dinner."

            Daisuke approached Ken's limp form and knelt down in front of the body.  The boy was beautiful…gorgeous, even.  His dark blue hair framed the porcelain-like ivory skin of his face perfectly.  The features of his face were delicate and soft…the curve of his lips and his nose… The russet-haired knight reached out a hand to brush across Ken's cheek, the flawlessly smooth line of his face, and the once-dragon's eyes fluttered open.  He groaned with discomfort, trying to stretch his limbs, feeling sick to his stomach and like he wouldn't be able to walk if he tried.

            "Ken…" Daisuke murmured softly.

            "Come on now!" Miyako shouted from inside her hut.

            Ken groggily moved to look at Daisuke, and his beautiful violet eyes met with Daisuke's warm brown ones for the first time as a human.  They smiled at each other with just the slightest curve of lips.

            "Daisuke…" Ken husked hoarsely, his voice gravelly from lack of use.  "What happened?"

            "Miyako changed you back!" Daisuke exclaimed, trying to hide his remorse and frustration behind the false excitement.

            Ken was keen on Daisuke's act, however, and frowned.

            "What's wrong?"

            Hopeless… Daisuke thought to himself.  Utterly hopeless…

            "Everything's fine, it's just… I…"

            For some reason, he felt ashamed.  He felt as if he could've fought harder for a different offer… As if he messed up.  There had to have been something else he could've offered the witch.  She hadn't wanted him all that badly, anyway.  He was merely a presence in her life, and it was the presence she longed for, not his presence.  He could've offered her a dog or something!  Daisuke took another look at Ken's frowning face, his furrowed eyebrows, his delicate beauty, and felt like punching something.  What had he done?  Now Ken was human, but how happy were either of them going to be with Miyako's new arrangement?  He should've thought of a better plan.  He should've thought of a plan, period.  He just went with the easiest way out, and it had gotten him nowhere…nowhere he wanted to be, anyway. 

            "I had to marry her, first.  And…there will be serious consequences if I am ever disloyal to her or if we ever see each other outside of her supervision…"

            Daisuke watched as Ken's features fell slowly from a look of concern to a look of utter despair.

            "I'm sorry…" Daisuke whispered, looking away. 

            How could he have done that to Ken?  Make him look so horribly depressed… He had to make sure Ken would be happy, now that he was finally human.  No matter what happened between him and Miyako, Ken had to have a happy life.

            "But…it'll be okay, you'll see!"

            Looking at Ken told Daisuke that the navy-haired boy didn't seem all too convinced.  Daisuke plastered a goofy grin on his face and smiled at Ken until the other boy's eyes lightened a bit.

            "I promise."

            The knight stood up then, still grinning as if he didn't have a care in the world.  No matter what, Ken had to be happy.  And for the time being, that included placating Miyako, as well.

            "Come on, we need to go inside for dinner."

            Daisuke entered the hut again with Ken slumped against his shoulder.  There were three plates on the table that were already adorned with food, and Miyako was seated in front of one of them.

            "It's about time," she muttered as Daisuke sat Ken down at the table.

            Daisuke smiled sweetly, but otherwise did not respond.  He only sat at the remaining set and began eating.  The others followed suit, and dinner was eaten in silence.

*  *  *  *  *

            Daisuke flopped onto the bed in his and Miyako's new room.  The room smelled musty, as if it hadn't been used in a very long time, if at all, and faintly like something feminine, which he assumed was the fault of Miyako's presence.  The sun had barely set, yet Daisuke felt exhausted, emotionally strained.  Attempting to be happy and hopeful for Ken's sake was arduous.  He watched idly as Miyako removed her own wedding clothes -- a soft white dress dotted with flowers and shiny embroidery…it was very unlike the personality that matched the woman wearing the dress.  When she began to remove her corset, Daisuke looked away embarrassedly and decided to untie his shoes.

            "I don't suppose you're in the mood to consummate the marriage," Miyako stated as if it made no difference either way.

            The thought made Daisuke uncomfortable and embarrassed and he chose not to answer.

            "I didn't think so.  It's okay, though, you'll come around."

            Somehow he didn't think so.

            Miyako joined him on the bed once she'd changed into a decent-looking nightgown and pulled out a book to read, as she, unlike Daisuke, was neither exhausted nor emotionally strained and did not feel like sleeping quite yet.

            "Don't worry," she said, speaking casually.  "It won't be so bad.  I'm not as mean as I appear to be sometimes.  I just have a bad temper."

            "I noticed," Daisuke muttered, slipping under the covers and turning on his side.

            "And Ken will be fine, you'll see.  He'll move on with his life and you'll move on with yours and it will be like you two never met."

            "Sounds great."

            Miyako sighed.

            "Just get some sleep, you'll feel better in the morning.

            I doubt it…

            Miyako read for a few more hours and finally decided she was tired.  She fell asleep almost immediately after she turned out the light.  Daisuke laid wide awake in the bed for at least another hour after Miyako had fallen asleep and decided he would get up and go to the bathroom.  On his way to the restroom, however, he spotted Ken's bedroom, and the temptation to go in and see him far outweighed the risk of getting caught.  Unfortunately, the door was locked, and Daisuke's effort to enter proved fruitless.  With a curse, the knight returned grumbling to the room he shared with Miyako and shuffled around in his bag for something he could use to pick the lock.  He shoved a map, a compass, some clothes, and a hairbrush out of the way before he found his old shoebox of lucky charms.  Inside was a pin that had been used to hold together his diaper when he was a baby; it was long, narrow, sharp, and perfect for lock picking.

            The pin was just right, and within minutes, Daisuke had silently broken into Ken's bedroom.  Sleeping soundly on a bed on the other side of the room was the navy-haired boy Daisuke had come to see.  The lack of light in the bedroom did not deter Daisuke from his goal, and he managed to find his way to Ken without creating too much of a racket.  The bed sank a little under his weight when he sat on its edge, causing Ken to stir in response but not awaken.

            "Ken…" Daisuke whispered, running his fingers through Ken's dark locks of hair.  "You're more beautiful than I could've imagined.  No offense, but that dragon look was doin' nothing for ya."

            The knight chuckled to himself and poked Ken's nose when the other boy began snoring very lightly.  He enjoyed just watching Ken sleep, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed deeply, lost in some land between consciousness and dreaming, watching as he formed noiseless words with his lips as if speaking to some ephemeral creature in his mind… It was peaceful, watching Ken with a symphony of night sounds lulling in the background -- crickets, owls, other assorted animals of the night, slight breezes rustling the leaves…

            Daisuke didn't know how long he'd been studying the vision before him when Ken suddenly awoke with a start. 

            "Daisuke…what are you doing here?" Ken asked, slightly startled, slightly, worried, and mostly pleased.

            "Spying on you, obviously.  What does it look like I'm doing?"

            Ken surrendered a small smile before shaking his head.

            "Aren't you going to get in trouble?"

            "Not if I don't get caught," Daisuke offered bravely.

            Something drew Daisuke's gaze to the window, and he found that it was the first sign of approaching dawn.  He frowned in disappointment.  Now that Ken was awake, he wanted to spend more time with him.  But he had to go before Miyako awoke and found her new husband absent.

            "Listen, Ken," Daisuke said, turning his eyes to the boy staring groggily up at him.  "I should probably go…but I want you to come outside tomorrow night at a little past midnight, alright?  I've thought of a plan."

            "But, Daisuke…"

            "Trust me, it'll be okay.  I have to go now.  I enjoyed watching you sleep.  You're too lovely for words."

            With that, Daisuke leaned down and gave Ken a small kiss on the cheek before rushing out of the room.

~ End Chapter Five ~