As had Satoshi, lo and behold. He wouldn't have thought that the creepy kid would become such a fine specimen of a man and a lover to his host.
Dark 'watched' them from a distance, not really that much of a peeping tom as Daisuke had always claimed he was. He just enjoyed the flood and its echoes, but he didn't peek. He wasn't a voyeur, he respected Daisuke's privacy.
Feeling pretty good, bathing in the positive emotions, Dark found himself in the realm he meanwhile recognized quite easily as the space he somehow shared with Krad, the space where he could meet his alter ego and talk to the demon. Lately there had been hardly any contact. Krad was alive, he had recovered, but he refused to talk to Dark. Well, maybe now he would. Somehow it was easier to reach Krad in the afterglow of their hosts' passionate encounters. Dark was still baffled by the way Krad reacted to the love his host Satoshi emitted – and received. The emotions, the sensations seemed to overwhelm the demon sometimes, and then he would simply retreat into himself and not talk to Dark in any way.
This time Krad was nowhere to be seen and Dark felt himself getting worried about his other half. They had reached an understanding throughout the time Daisuke and Satoshi had invited them back into their bodies and their lives, Krad being the other half of Dark and vice versa. Dark had started to think of Krad as a friend – an aggravating friend, but nevertheless. Dai's and Sato's lovemaking had been intense this time, bringing tears of unrestrained emotions into the young man's eyes as Satoshi had clung to Daisuke afterwards, as if a dam had been broken.
If that was how Satoshi reacted…? And Krad had been too quiet and withdrawn lately.
"Krad?"
No reply.
Damn.
"Krad?!"
A muffled, sobbing sound answered his call this time, and finally Dark was able to make out the demon's form. There, huddled in a far away corner, sat Krad, his white wings, wrapped around himself, forming a protective barrier.
Which was shaking every now and then.
"Krad?" Dark asked, stunned to see the other demon in a state like this.
"Leave me alone."
"Krad…" Dark stepped closer, reaching out but hesitated.
He couldn't remember a moment he had actively touched the other, had only fought with him.
"Go… please… " The last was almost inaudible, suppressed by a hitch and another sob, and Dark's eyes widened. Krad was indeed crying – like Satoshi had.
"…Krad…" Dark whispered, remembering how Daisuke had held his partner, giving comfort silently.
He crouched down beside the huddled form, noticing how Krad desperately tried to suppress his sobs – with not much success, too. Dark carefully wormed a hand under the wings, pushing them aside. Krad had his knees pulled up to his chest, his face buried into his arms which were tightly wrapped around himself, panting hard in the effort to regain control.
"Krad … "
Damn... Dark thought. What happened?
Warmth lapped at his senses, sent out by his host, and a similar echo had to come in through Satoshi. Krad paled even more, moaning in denial, and he curled up as if in pain.
"Stop it," he begged.
It couldn't be hurting him! Those were positive emotions and while Krad had been ignorant of their meaning at first, he should enjoy his host's pleasure just the same.
"Krad..."
The demon turned pleading eyes to him. "I can't... it hurts..."
"But... love can't hurt..."
Krad gave a distressed sob. "Always hurt... I couldn't get close. They punished closeness. Why does he...?"
The kaitou was speechless. Krad was breaking apart, had started to break ever since returning to Satoshi's body, and it was getting worse. Satoshi's withdrawal, his refusal to accept Krad as part of him, had been part of that, too.
Dark felt old memories rise, tease him with their knowledge, and he reached out, touching the fragments. He stiffened as images of what he already knew joined the knowledge.
"Oh, Krad..." he murmured.
And Dark did the only thing he could think of right now, the one thing he had seen Daisuke do – he pulled the other man close, feeling the lithe body stiffen in his arms, but when a new wave of love and affection touched the two entities, he groaned softly and collapsed.
The same dam broke in Krad as he had seen break in Sato. Arms came around Dark's waist as his other half allowed himself to let go, burying his face in Dark's shoulder. Dark held the shaking body close, felt the hot tears, the way Krad was grasping his shirt almost desperately, and he murmured soothing words, running his hands over the trembling back as all the despair and anger and finally hatred born out of rejection and abhorrence and abuse of Krad slowly dissolved, until the body in his arms slowly grew limp.
Dark closed his own eyes, as some tears escaped him as well and shifted into a more comfortable position. He opened his mind instead, accepted the memories that were part of him as well. He was Krad's other half, was part of him, and he would share this with him. It was painful to see it all, be unable to help, and it was even more painful to understand the consequences. Hatred toward the Hikari rose, but it was quickly squelched. They hadn't understood. No one had, except for the first host.
Close to three hundred years and I don't know you at all, he mused as he held the white-clad figure in his arms, feeling the tremors course through the slender form.
Krad clung to him like a child, no longer caring that it was his former enemy he was showing this weakness to. Not that Dark cared. He had learned a lot about the other ever since they had come to be together again, and now that he was back with Daisuke. Knowing about the abuse was one thing, but actually living through the memories, seeing and feeling it in a detached sort of way...
He stroked tenderly over the blond head, felt the silent tears that ran down the handsome face while Krad refused to make a sound. His hands were clawed into the kaitou's clothing and Dark had folded his wings over the miserable, suffering man. Now and then he made little noises of comfort.
Never in his wildest dreams had he ever believed that this was the reason for Krad's behavior, his hatred, his actions... Then Krad had told him about the past, and it had been like a slap into the face.
After a while Krad quieted down, sniffling a little, but he didn't let go of his security. Dark was content to hold him, feel him relax, and he didn't stop his caresses. Not even when it was clear that the demon had slipped off into sleep.
It was the realm between two minds, both sentient and aware. They had
once been one in a way, brought to life inside a work of art created by
an aspiring artist. Born from love and energy of the soul that had poured
so much into its creation, as well as from the life and love of others,
it had become more than just a piece of dead stone, glass and metal. It
had come to be the haven of two sentient forms that been violently separated
three hundred years ago.
Now they were together again, but not in any form that remotely resembled
what had been.
Dark looked at his counterpart, taking note of the slender form, the
way Krad seemed to be much thinner and less powerful than he remembered
him from their confrontations. the long, blond hair, bound into a pony
tail, lay over his shoulder. The wings were gone; usually they gave both
entities a larger size. His normal clothing, the white, flowing cape, had
been traded in for a more mundane outfit that enhanced the fragile look.
Fragile and Krad, he chuckled to himself. Not a combination of words
he would have used.
Krad was sleeping, a restless slumber that spoke of little refreshment.
He was lying close to Dark, almost snuggling, and the thief calmly stroked
over the long bangs. Here they were, mortal enemies of before. Now the
entity that had hated him, despised him and wanted to kill actually sought
his presence, needed him so badly it took Dark's breath away. Krad had
changed. Their last separation had changed him.
Memories teased at his waking mind again. Ever since the reunion inside
the Black Wings, both entities shared more than a common source of existence.
The thing that had torn them apart had each left them with parts of the
other. Dark wasn't too bad off, all things considered, but Krad's defenses
were slipping and breaking.
The simple fact that he had told his former enemy everything was a
sign for the desperation the demon felt. Krad was yearning for contact
but all he could have were the moments with Dark.
The kaitou sighed.
Right now it had to be enough. He knew he himself could never be what
Krad needed, but he would try to be there for him as long as the demon
needed him.
Dark?
Daisuke's voice sounded mildly shocked, mixed with quizzical and confused.
Of course his partner knew about he connection. They had talked about it
in the beginning. What shocked him was the way Dark was comforting his
former enemy, how deep the bond truly went by now.
It's okay, he murmured, turning slightly toward Daisuke.
What... what happened? I mean, how...?
He smiled sadly.
He needed me
Daisuke was silent, then collected himself, looking at the two entwined
entities. What happened? he asked again, calmer now.
Nightmares. From a long time ago. He sighed. Long story.
Give me time here, Dai, okay?
Dark rested his head on the blond hair, felt the demon in his arms
shift a little, but Krad didn't wake. Exhaustion had taken its toll. He
was close to the end of his emotional rope, actually too close, and Satoshi's
denial and refusal to let him close only ate away more at the fragile psyche.
Okay... Dark?
Hm?
Daisuke just smiled and hugged him briefly, then turned his attention
back to the outside world and his lover. Dark chuckled.