Tell me what happened, Dark asked, radiating curiosity.
"Everything?" he laughed, feeling the wind in his hair.
Everything, his partner replied, smiling. Are you and Riku still together?
Dark turned to look at his partner in his mind. After what Dark had probably witnessed between him and Satoshi, how could he ask such a question? He grinned.
We're still friends
Oops
Daisuke smiled. It's not as bad as you think. It was junior high love. We were together till college, but then her parents moved and she and Risa did, too. We talked over the phone, sent mails… but it was suddenly different. I think the decision to be friends came when I visited her. He shrugged. It's okay, really
Dark's emotions were clearly readable. There was sadness and regret. Daisuke knew his friend had once loved, truly loved, and the woman had been a Harada, too. He embraced the presence inside him.
It's okay, he repeated.
You got a new girl? Dark finally asked.
No, he replied, grinning. And you know it
Dark raised an eyebrow. I do? he teased.
Yeah
So… you love him?
Daisuke's features softened. Yes
The kaitou radiated thoughtfulness and Daisuke waited. Wouldn't have expected it, though you two were close… he finally said.
We were friends back then, Dark. Get your mind out of the gutter. We got together three years ago
A chuckle answered him. Daisuke continued to fill his alter ego in on the past six years. Dark tilted his head, intrigued as memories told him of his host's exploits. Daisuke had gone to university, had studied Art and History, and he had finished just a few weeks ago, contemplating his future. His father's knowledge of Hikari artwork, as well as his friendship with Satoshi, had led to the decision to hunt down all the cursed artwork and seal it – even without Dark.
I'm not good at flying, but I can scale walls. The young man chuckled and Dark grinned.
There's no comparison to me, he boasted.
No, there isn't, Daisuke replied, smiling warmly.
Dark drifted away a little, embarrassed by his own response. He was happy to be back, to be here inside this particular host.
So you and Hikari became first best friends and then lovers? he asked after a while.
Yes. After his father's death… after you and Krad merged with the Black Wings again… he was completely alone. Sure, he had the money and the servants, but no family. Mom really jumped over her shadow when she offered him to stay with us until he was well again.
Dark was perplexed. And he accepted?!
No, of course not. But he returned to school. We started to hang out together, he helped me with some of the worse subjects in school… everything went from there. Daisuke smiled at the memories. He actually brought up my university courses and he helps with tracking down all the art work.
The young man closed his eyes as the warm breeze brushed over his features and he felt Dark come closer to the forefront.
Now Krad's back, he finally said.
Dark gave a grunt.
"What will we do?" his host asked softly.
I wish I knew
"I love Satoshi," Daisuke continued out loud. "I won't let him get hurt again. I won't let Krad do what he did before!"
Maybe that's in the past now
What do you mean?
Dark smiled a little. Let's wait and see, okay?
Satoshi stood staring out of the windows. The world outside was sunny
and warm, but in here, it was icy cold and dark. Just like he felt.
He had returned to the townhouse he owned and which he shared with
Daisuke. He had declined the offer and the demands of the Niwas to rest
a bit longer, to give them a chance to figure out what to do. He knew there
was no solution. There would never be one. His only chance of freedom had
come six years ago. He had taken it, only to revise it now.
Fool, he thought. You fool!
But it had been his only solution at the time. He couldn't watch Daisuke
die.
Resting his head against the cool window panes, he closed his eyes,
suppressing a shiver. He felt so sick, so weak, so… utterly miserable.
Somewhere inside him, Krad was active again. He had access to all his thoughts,
his memories, his body and soul.
I hate you, he snarled silently. I hate you!
There was no reaction.
He knew that wouldn't last long. It would be back to what it had been.
The pain would come without warning, the demon would come through, and
his life would be nothing but a game for him.
Satoshi sank down, resting against the cold glass, tears gathering
in his eyes. He had never cried as a child, at least that he could remember.
He had refused to show weakness while Krad had been his curse. Now he couldn't
stop himself as the tears came unbidden.
Daisuke was worried. Two days had passed since the incident that had
reunited him and Satoshi with their 'alter egos' and Satoshi had detached
himself more and more. He had claimed work in Tokyo. He hadn't returned
to the small townhouse he owned and Daisuke had barely seen him since.
They had moved in together under the pretense of roomies while Daisuke
was at the university, but soon it had become much more than that. Soon
it had become their home, their shared home as lovers and partners.
Satoshi didn't answer any calls either. All Daisuke got was the mail
box. Emiko and Kosuke told their son to be patient, but Daisuke knew Satoshi
better than anyone. He knew his past with Krad, and the worry grew.
Finally, on the third day he couldn't stand it any longer. He started
to look for his wayward lover. No one in Tokyo had seen him. None of their
friends or the teachers at the university, or even the people Satoshi worked
business deals with. In the end, Daisuke returned to the one place Satoshi
hated, the one place he had moved out of right after everything had been
over but which he hadn't sold for some strange reason.
Dark's amusement flooded through him as he deftly broke the lock on
the back door of the apartment Hiwatari Satoshi had spent over two years
in. The apartment, the huge, empty place, had never been sold. It was a
sore spot, a dark mark, a place of pain, but Satoshi still held on to it.
Slipping in through the door, Daisuke quickly picked his way around
the sparse furniture. Stepping into the living room he froze.
Oh shit, Dark murmured, looking through his partner's eyes.
Everything was a mess. There were books scattered on the floor, plates
with dried food, and the blinds were closed.
"Satoshi!" Daisuke exclaimed as he discovered his friend curled up
on the couch. "Damn, what happened?"
Blurry, blue eyes looked at him, filled with longing, pain and remnants
of a nightmare. Daisuke remembered the laughter, the freedom Satoshi had
had, and part of him wanted to cry out at the unfairness in life as he
looked into so much despair. He had wanted Dark back, the part he had missed
so much, but he had never wished for Satoshi to go through a reunion with
his demon.
"Satoshi?! Koishii, talk to me!"
"Why can't this end?" the other man whimpered, curling up more tightly.
"What…?"
"Why did I have to bring him back?"
Daisuke stroked over the long hair, unable to say anything. He had
no idea what to do, so he just took the shaking man into his arms, cradling
him protectively.
"Sato…"
"I know it will be bad. I know it'll be all back," the broken voice
continued. "He won't tell me, but I know he just wants use of this body
again."
"Krad… did he try to come out?"
"No. Just a matter of time, though…" Hikari's eyes slid shut. "I don't
want us to be enemies, Dai. I never wanted it. But it's inevitable."
Daisuke inhaled sharply. "No!" he said, voice decisive. "It won't happen
again!"
A snort of laughter. Satoshi finally uncurled and sat up, looking thin
and small and very lost despite his tall frame. Daisuke refused to lose
body contact, hands curled around his lover's cold ones, trying to rub
some warmth back into them.
"Krad is Krad. He might be confused now, but he'll soon be back to
taking what he wants. He's your enemy."
"Dark doesn't think so," Daisuke told him calmly.
Blue eyes held his brown ones. "You dream of the impossible."
"And maybe you fear shadows. Everything has changed… this isn't the
setting of before, Satoshi!"
Hikari sank back against the couch. "I've to leave… before he comes
out, before he turns us against each other."
Daisuke clamped his hand around one slender wrist. "You'll do no such
thing! If you run, I'll come after you! I told you so before and I'm telling
you now, stop running! I doesn't accomplish anything! I love you, damnit!
We can only handle this together!"
Satoshi swallowed, unable to meet the intense, burning eyes. "He'll
use that love, Dai. He'll destroy it like he destroyed everything else."
"No! We survived this before, we can do it again! Understood?" He jerked
at the wrist he was holding. "Understood?!"
Satoshi looked at him in wonder and despair. "Dai…" Daisuke glared
at him and he relented. "I understand."
Niwa pulled him into his embrace once again and Satoshi couldn't but
let himself fall. Tears were running down his cheek and he was so cold
to the touch, but Daisuke was determined to warm him.
"I'm done with the U for now and we had plans, right? The Wheel of
Dagan is on exhibit in the Church Museum. We planned on sealing it." He
gave his lover a cocky smile. "I think we got a little edge now. How about
it, Satoshi? Feel up for a little action?"
Satoshi stared at him, incredulous, then he smoothed his features into
a thin smile. "You're serious? You want to work like this?"
"Dead serious. We've worked jobs before, we still do. I got a little
edge now. Dark's back."
Damn right I am!
We're not sending out warnings, Dai told him firmly. We
grab the damn thing, get it back to Mom and Grandpa, let them deal with
it
Yeah, yeah. No fun, his partner huffed.
Satoshi smiled more, some life coming to his eyes. "He's complaining?"
he asked.
"Yep, but we get fun time later. This time, it's just to secure the
cursed thing. You with me tomorrow night?"
"Yes."
Daisuke gave him a bright smile. "Thanks, partner." He leaned in and
their lips brushed together.
Satoshi answered the contact, seeking the warmth that Daisuke gave
so easily. It was all Dai could do for now. Except help clean up this mess
and see to it that Satoshi ate and slept.
"I love you," Daisuke whispered into his lover's ear.