Daisuke stood on the pavement, staring up at the window of the apartment above him and listening to his heart pound. His palms were sweating and a very large part of him wanted to forget that he had just pressed the buzzer and run away. Maybe Dark was right, maybe this was stupid. Hiwatari had never invited him over, and never gave any indication that Daisuke might be welcome to drop by. He could refuse to see him and leave him standing outside the building like an idiot.
But behind his frantically beating heart a small chunk of him was certain he was doing the right thing. That even if Hiwatari did refuse him or reject him, that the important thing was that he had tried. And that Hiwatari knew that he had tried.
Very sweet, Dai-kun, Dark commented scarcastically, but isn't your general wellfare just a little more important?
Daisuke ignored him. A few uncertain moments later, the intercom beside the door crackled and spoke.
"Hello?" The voice was flat and cool, but Daisuke could detect an undercurrent of suprise.
Maybe I'm starting to understand him better, Daisuke thought, happy at the notion. "Um, hello Hiwatari-san. It's Niwa Daisuke. From school."
There was a long silence broken by the static hiss of the intercom. "I know who you are, Niwa-kun," Hiwatari said finally, ammused.
Daisuke hung his head. Of course Hiwatari knew who he was. Only an idiot would have said that, and unfortunately, Daisuke seemed to be just such an idiot. He rapidly tried to formulate some excuse to go before he made a bigger fool of himself, but nothing came to mind. Well, I was walking by and thought I'd press your buzzer. It was nice talking to you, I'll see you in school. I'm such an idiot.
A moment later the door unlocked with a loud click. "Please come in, Niwa-kun," Hiwatari said, voice still chilly but absolutely polite. The intercom crackled for a few seconds longer, as if Hiwatari wanted to say something more, then abruptly fell dead.
Daisuke took a deep breath and grasped the door handle. I feel like I'm walking into the lion's den, he thought, sliding the door open and stepping inside.
You are,Dark replied, completely serious.
Daisuke walked up the several flights of stairs slowly, trying to dispell the nervousness that was uncurling in his stomach. His face was sweating lightly, but not from exertion. He was a little afraid. He didn't think Hiwatari would attack him or anything, but still. One usually didn't drop in on their sworn enemies. And besides, Daisuke had no idea what he was going to say to him.
Finally though, Daisuke ran out of steps. Reluctantly, he released the handrail and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. He stood staring at the door for a rediculously long time, trying to work up the courage to knock.
This is stupid. He already knows I'm here, he told himself firmly, then forced his arm into motion to knock on the door. Recieving no immediate response and fearing that Hiwatari hadn't heard his first hesitantly feeble attempts, Daisuke raised his fist to knock again. Magically though, before knuckles could rap on wood, the door swung inward.
Hiwatari stood, holding the door open, dressed impeccably in black. His button up shirt and slacks were crisply pressed, and Daisuke could see no evidence of lint dusting the fabric. Even his socks were strikingly black, showing no signs of fading or of wear. The rest of his apartment appeared to be just as strikingly immaculate.
"Come in, Niwa-kun," Hiwatari finally said, after a long moment scrutinizing Daisuke's face. As the smaller boy walked past him into the apartment, Hiwatari discreetly also wiped his palms across his pants.
Daisuke was frowning. The apartment just didn't feel like the home of a fourteen year old boy. Everything was spotless and completely devoid of any personality, except the living room coffee table, which was covered with piles of photographs and paperwork. There were no dishes waiting to be washed in the sink, the floor had no trace of debris, and there was no mess or clutter anywhere. Daisuke felt his heart sink for Hiwatari. How could anyone be happy in a place like this?
Hiwatari was momentarily taken aback at the expression of absolute sympathy on Daisuke's face as he looked around the appartment. However, he hid his suprise easily behind the icy mask he always wore. He had learned early on that showing his emotions was a weakness. But at the moment, he could detect to real weakness in the open emotions that swam in Daisuke's eyes.
"Is there a reason you came, Niwa-kun?" Hiwatari said at length, wondering for a moment what other people did when friends came to their homes. He was sure they didn't just stand in icy discomfiture.
"Uh, I--I wanted to see if you were all right," Daisuke said hesitantly, then with a momentary burst of inspiration "and to tell you the homework assignments."
"Thank you," Hiwatari said, taking the profered sheet of paper. Daisuke had written an extra list of assignments, with the fleeting thought of giving to to Hiwatari, but had never expected to actually do so.
"And, I'm fine," Hiwatari added after a moment. Shooting a sharp glance upward over the top of the paper at Daisuke he said "Do you remember anything I said last night?"
Daisuke shook his head. "Dark sort of put me to sleep last night, so I don't know anything that happened. Why, what did you say?"
Hiwatari shruged slightly and looked back at the paper he was holding. "Nothing of importance." Internally, his knees felt almost weak with relief. Daisuke hadn't heard his slip. That could potentially have made things very awkward between them.
Daisuke had wandered a little further into Hiwatari's apartment, and had caught a glimpse of the bedroom beyond an open door. A pile of twisted blankets cascaded halfway off of the rumpled unmade bed, and books were scattered like fallen leaves across the floor. Daisuke smiled. That was a room that looked lived in.
Daisuke swung back around toward Hiwatari with a dazzlingly bright smile. It was unexpected, and Hiwatari felt his breath catch, for only a moment. But it was enough to make his alter ego awaken and start grumbling menacingly. "I think it would be best if you go now, Niwa-kun. It is getting late, and I have a lot of work to get done." He gestured to the scattering of photos in the living room. Daisuke glanced at them, eyes clouding momentarily when he saw they were photos of Dark during his various exploits.
Everything is always about you, isn't it, Dark? Daisuke felt his spirit sink. Everyone had some vested interest in Dark. He wondered if there would be anyone left to care if he just faded away and let Dark have his body. Sadly, Daisuke turned to go.
Hiwatari watched as Daisuke's face fell, his emotions running conflictedly under the placid surface of his calm face. His heart felt slightly bruised, knowing that his abrupt and icy manner had caused Daisuke's sadness, but he also felt a rush of awe, discovering that he could have this large of an impact on Daisuke. He reached out to brush his fingers across Daisuke's, but pulled back after only the lightest physical contact. Angry now, his inner demon was fighting the constraints that Hiwatari had so carefully put around him.
Daisuke turned toward the door, eyes lowered to avoid Hiwatari's arctic blue ones. He had known it was foolish, but he had wanted something. Hiwatari to tell him that he liked him maybe, or wanted to be his friend. Just something. His lowered gaze swept across the sofa, and fell on an open notebook left abandoned, a pencil beside it. And above that, another photgraph. It was one Daisuke recognised, it had been taken by his friend Saehara Takeshi during a class trip. Posing in front of a fountain, hand raised in a peace sign, with a silly smile on his face was Daisuke himself.
Why would Hiwatari have that? Daisuke wondered, mouth slightly open in suprise. Then his mouth firmed with new resolve. Hiwatari may not realize it yet, but he needed someone to care about him. Daisuke's hand shot out and grasped Hiwatari's slender wrist tightly. Raising his head, he met Hiwatari's ice cold eyes unflinchingly.
"I am going to be your friend, Hiwatari-kun," He said firmly, emphasizing the kun slightly, "because you need me to be. You need someone to care about you. No one can live alone."
Hiwatari's eyes narrowed to slits, and his breath hissed out like a cat's as Daisuke spoke. His insides were a roiling turmoil of rage fighting to be set free. With as much willpower he could muster, Hiwatari clamped down on it. Mine, the golden voice growled, mine. You are mine.
Daisuke's grip tightened on Hiwatari's wrist, his eyes never wavering. Of all people, he understood what was happening inside of Hiwatari. Gasping, Hiwatari tried to wrench his arm away. "Leave me alone! I told you we could never be friends!" His voice was ragged with pain and fear.
You can't keep me locked inside. You don't have the strength. The voice echoed in Hiwatari's head, I will kill him. For taking my other self. For trying to steal you.
"No," Hiwatari's voice was filled with strain, "Leave me alone. I hate you."
Instead of releasing the suffering boy, Daisuke pulled hard on his wrist instead, sending him stumbling into his arms. Wrapping his arms around Hiwatari, Daisuke held tightly onto him as he trembled. Resisting violently at first, Hiwatari's glasses were knocked away, and Daisuke could detecta faint gold cast overlaying the deep blue of his eyes. Refusing to let go, Daisuke gripped tightly enough to Hiwatari to leave black and blue marks were his fingers sunk into the pale flesh. Finally with a gasping sob, Hiwatari sunk into Daisuke's embrace, wrapping his own arms around the smaller boy's waist and gripping tightly in return.
"Hurts--" Hiwatari breathed between clenched teeth, "It hurts."
"I know," Daisuke whispered gently, trying to soothe his friend. Another spasm rocked Hiwatari's slender frame as his hair began to lighten to a pale gold, then darken back to it's blue shade. The tremor had knocked both of them to the floor, Daisuke still refusing to let go of Hiwatari.
Cradling Hiwatari's sprawled form, Daisuke gently wiped away the tears on his cheeks, like a mother with a hurt child. Hiwatari gasped and pulled away as if burned, then grasped the collar of Daisuke's shirt in one fist.
"I won't let him win," He gritted out, searching Daisuke's face with his eyes. Shifting his weight slightly, Hiwatari slid his other arm tightly around Daisuke's neck. He stared intently into Daisuke's wide amber eyes, gathering strength from them.
Stop fighting me! The golden voice was howling with rage now, I will make you watch as I tear him apart--
Hiwatari ignored the voice, and ignored the pain. Focusing all of his thoughts on Daisuke's eyes, he somehow gathered enough willpower to throw the raging demon back into it's hole. As he sealed it in, triumph soared in Hiwatari's veins. He couldn't keep it sealed forever, and he knew he would be punished later, but it had been worth it.
With the last of his strength, Hiwatari pulled himself foreward and pressed his lips to Daisuke's. The smaller boy stiffened in shock, but Hiwatari wound his arms tighter around him. He was so cold, and Daisuke felt heavenly warm against him. Heat seemed to flow into his body through those lips, and Hiwatari's trembling lessened, and then ceased.
Daisuke was the one shaking now. He had held on to Hiwatari for dear life, knowing that he was battling with Krad, the angelically beautiful but psychotically insane counterpart to Dark that lived inside of him. Daisuke had known that Hiwatari couldn't hold back Krad on his own, but had thought that with someone to hold him and help him, maybe he could. Daisuke's lips burned against Hiwatari's a million fleeting thoughts running through his brain.
This isn't real, it can't be happening. Hiwatari-kun would never--never-- Daisuke felt Hiwatari's tongue flit softly against his lower lip and completely disolved. He exhaled sharply, hot air escaping his lungs and being drawn into Hiwatari's. Icy fingers began to warm against his flesh, as if Hiwatari were pulling warmth into himself throught Daisuke's skin. Dizziness enveloped Daisuke's brain, and he knew there was nothing that could stop him from transforming right here in Hiwatari's home.
Pulling his lips away from Daisuke's finally, Hiwatari watched through eyes half lidded with exhaustion as the small red-haired boy shifted below him. Limbs elongating and hair darkening to a dusky purple shade, the mouth changed to a scardonic smirk. Removing his arms from the Phantom Thief's neck, Hiwatari slumped foreward.
"It's not fair..." Hiwatari's voice trailed off as his eyes finally fell closed. Completely exhausted, he lost consciousness still half on top of Dark's body.
"I know it's not," Dark murmured almost tenderly, running his fingers through the boy's feather soft locks. Sliding out from underneath the innert form, Dark stood and stretched. Sighing, he stooped to lift Hiwatari from the floor. Carrying the slight boy with little effort, Dark laid him on the messy bed. Hesitating for only a moment, he swiftly unbuttoned Hiwatari's shirt and slid him free of it. Pausing, Dark gazed down at the boy. He looked pitifully pale and incredibly fragile like this. Dark leaned over and gently laid his palm on the white chest, feeling the heart beating steadily beneath the skin. Withdrawing, he pulled a blanket over Hiwatari's sleeping body and exited the apartment.
Night had descended, and the darkness was absolute. It was cold, and Dark felt exposed, wearing only Daisuke's school uniform. Luckily, Daisuke wore his pants slightly long, so they were long enough for Dark's legs. Dark sighed.
Dark, I--I'm sorry, Daisuke finally offered meekly, but he needed me.
Dark remained silent for a long moment, and when he spoke it was aloud, but softly. "You can't help it, can you, Dai-kun?" He shook his head. "You see pain and need in people and rush to their aid, never thinking twice. You behave blindly, stupidly sometimes." He shook his head. Then in a voice that was uncharacteristically gentle, "I admire you for that sometimes, Dai-kun."
Daisuke didn't reply, and Dark walked in silence for several blocks. Stopping suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk, Dark threw back his head and laughed.
"He kissed you!" He crowed in delighted ammusement, "and you kissed him back. I told you, you have a crush on him." A black cat looked up startled from it's bath and jumped off the wall it had been perched on. Dark was laughing so hard now his ribs hurt. Doubled over he gasped for air.
Dark! You're causing a scene! Daisuke protested, wishing he could die of mortification.
Abruptly straightening, Dark reached up and grasped the edge of the wall and hauled himself up. Still chuckling to himself, he lept gracefully to a rooftop.
Taking a shortcut, he informed Daisuke. Wouldn't want to anger your mother any more than she already is.
Yeah, Agreed Daisuke glumly. But as Dark vaulted from rooftop to rooftop, Daisuke's mind kept looping back. Why did Hiwatari-kun kiss me?