Bleeding?!
She had never seen either Dark or Krad bleed like that. For real. They were eternal beings. Normal weapons could barely harm them and for such a damage to occur…
Emiko jumped a little as another sparkle of energy brought back Dark, who quickly sealed the doorway that had allowed them to follow the kidnapped Satoshi. Daikii murmured an incantation and Dark pulled out a feather, holding it out in front of him with a little flourish, features grim and determined. It glowed a dark blue, then he launched it at the Wheel of Dagan. It struck the artifact and was swallowed by it. There was a brief flare, then the artifact lost all its magical life, turning into nothing but a man-made piece of beauty.
The kaitou knelt next to the two men and carefully touched his counterpart, rolling him off Satoshi. A soft moan escaped the young man and dark blue eyes blinked open, filled with confusion. In a fluid display of control and magic, Dark morphed back into Daisuke, whose wide eyes reflected all the fear and panic he had experienced.
"Back…?" Satoshi whispered weakly.
"Yes. We found you." Daisuke stroked over one bruised cheek.
Satoshi let his head roll to the side, eyes gazing at the fallen angel. "How is he?"
Emiko hesitantly stepped closer, hands clasped around her staff. Wide eyes took in the scene, scanning over the three men.
"He needs time to heal," was all Daisuke could say, translating Dark's unheard words for the others.
Dark gave a cry of alarm and Daisuke looked at the demon once more. He's losing energy
Daisuke reached out, his hand surrounded by the purplish-black energy of Dark. He felt the energy of his partner's other half, the weak flickers, the desperate grasp he had on his existence. Reaching over, he placed a hand on one shoulder, allowing part of Dark's own energy to seep into Krad. The flickering grew less and evened out a little, though Krad didn't wake. Dark didn't like the way his other half looked.
The attack…? Daisuke asked.
Yes. The attack drained him. I'm not sure why he's even like this, the kaitou said, confused, and Daisuke translated for the other. We can't exist outside our hosts. And he's corporeal
But you and I… for a moment I thought I saw you outside, Daisuke said hesitantly.
Dark bit his lower lip. Too much was happening to them, too much in such a little time. He had existed three hundred years without change, and now…
Daikii stepped beside the fallen form. "Do you know what pulled him inside the Wheel of Dagan?"
Daisuke handed control back to his partner, though only the different eye color spoke of the change this time. There was no need for a full transformation. Violet eyes narrowed in painful memory.
"The same that took me and Krad from the Black Wings, that brought Daisuke and Satoshi there as well. Something powerful I've never encountered before. It tried to kill Krad."
"And that's bad how?" Emiko muttered, something flashing in her eyes.
Dark shot her an angry look and she sighed. Daikii placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"What wants to kill Krad is also dangerous to the other lives bound to him. Dark, Satoshi, and ultimately Daisuke."
Satoshi gazed at the demon, his face almost bland. "He asked me if I wanted to be free of him," he murmured. "He offered to erase Krad."
Dark blinked. "Who?"
"The voice inside the Wheel. I never saw a face nor heard a name. He just said.. he could free me." Then his eyes slid shut, but he wasn't unconscious.
Then why didn't he take the chance? Dark whispered.
Because killing Krad would be killing a part of you, Daisuke said softly. You're the same
Dark swallowed. His eyes were drawn to the barely awake human, then traveled over to the blond demon.
Vicious circle.
"Let's get Satoshi upstairs," Kosuke decided and stepped forward, pulling the slender young man up.
Satoshi stumbled, barely able to keep on his legs. While there were no physical wounds, he was truly exhausted.
"He stays here," Emiko voiced her objections when Dark stepped toward Krad.
Violet eyes flared. "He's hurt!"
"He will heal, just like you heal, Dark. He's a magical entity."
Dark grit his teeth. "His injuries…"
"Will be taken care of," Daikii interrupted him firmly.
"I won't have a demon run around my house!" Emiko added.
Dark bristled more. "Krad and I are the same, Emiko! I'm a demon, too."
"He's a monster," she shot back.
Dark… Daisuke said softly, trying to control the imminent temper outbreak. He's safe down here and you know Mom's right. We don't know what he might do…
He's bleeding, damnit!
Kosuke handed over Satoshi to his father-in-law and his wife. "I'll take care of him," he told them calmly. "You go and get Satoshi to rest. Dark, Daisuke…"
Dark hesitated, then nodded. He knew Kosuke was a compassionate man, that he wouldn't hurt the demon, and that he had enough knowledge to keep himself safe should Krad try something, which he doubted. The entity was way too weak.
Kosuke looked over the unconscious form, sighing. Krad had bled, had
been cut in various places, and he was a mess. Niwa had cleaned up a lot
of the wounds, but the demon hadn't regained consciousness. Sitting back
he studied the pale, lax features that held a resemblance to Dark, but
only faintly. He was the kaitou's antithesis, his complete opposite in
so many ways, and he was also a part of him.
Steps announced the arrival of his father-in-law and he looked up,
smiling briefly.
"He's still unconscious?" Daikii asked.
He nodded. "I think his energy levels are quite low. Even if he wakes
he won't be much of a threat."
"Hm." The older man crouched down next to the demon. "We can't be too
careful." He took out two bracelets. They were black, looked like made
of metal and there were small spikes on the outer surface.
Kosuke's eyes widened. "Binders?"
"Yes. It will ensure he will stay docile."
"Father… I don't think that's truly necessary."
Daikii's mouth was a fine line. "Maybe. I can't risk the safety of
this family, Kosuke. Even with Dark here, Krad is a powerful creature."
He swiftly clasped the Binders around each wrist.
"You know these aren't really an obstacle once he regains full power."
The older man chuckled. "Yes, I know. But it might give us the minute
we need to find another defense."
Kosuke shot the unconscious entity a last look, then sighed and stood.
He didn't like it, but he would bow to Daikii's decision.
Daisuke sat next to Satoshi's bed, looking at the pale form. Satoshi
was awake, but he looked tired, exhausted, and his face sometimes twisted
into a grimace of pain that had no physical source. He was fine, unharmed
except for a few bruises, but he was barely keeping anything down and was
fading in and out of sleep.
One night had passed since the incident and while Dark was recovering
from using so much magic, resting inside Daisuke, Satoshi and Krad were
doing worse. The demon was in the basement, unresponsive though awake,
and no one came near him. Emiko refused to even acknowledge he was here.
It had infuriated Dark to no end that the Niwas had used the Binders, though
part of him did understand, and Daisuke had needed a while to calm him
down.
Dai reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his lover's face.
Satoshi turned into the contact, closing his eyes with a sigh. Daisuke
cupped the lined face.
"Hurts," Satoshi murmured.
There was nothing anyone could do. The magic had messed up Satoshi's
body and it would need time. Then there was the fact that he had been separated
from Krad, something no one had thought possible. Daisuke was wondering
if he and Dark were able to do the same.
We could try, Dark's voice told him.
Well, he sure felt experimental enough. But they had no idea what had
triggered it.
Not now. Later
Right now his worry was about his lover. He crawled onto the mattress
and pulled the other man to him, feeling arms come around his waist as
Satoshi sought his nearness, holding on.
Will you give me time with Krad? Dark asked, voice serious.
Yes. Just… give us our time now?
There was a gentle touch to his mind, a smile. As long as you need,
Dai
Daisuke pressed a kiss on the brown head, sitting with Satoshi until
he fell asleep. Even then, he twitched when the pain hit, when his body
fought to regain its balance.
He won't have balance unless Krad returns Dark murmured. They're
together, just like us. He needs him to heal
Daisuke clenched his teeth. "He'll hurt him."
Dark was silent, but doubt flooded Daisuke.
"You think he won't?"
I… I don't know. He protected Satoshi. He caressed Daisuke's
presence. Protecting the host is instinctive for me
Dai leaned into the contact. He never did so before
I know. It's different. Somehow it's different. It's like… I want
to remember things from the Black Wings and can't
Things about Krad?
I don't know.
Daisuke gazed at the sleeping man in his arms, feeling a wave of tenderness
and longing. He loved Satoshi and he wanted him to get well. If that meant
Krad had to return…
Unfair
I know. Life never is. Dai… I need to talk to Krad. Will you let
me?