Hello people *waves*, thank you so much for the reviews. My computer just got fixed, so this is the part 2...!!
standard disclaimer applied
warnings: Satoshi + Daisuke, Dark + Krad, angst, PG-13
notes: beta-ed by Kaori and Tiggy.
special notes: italic: characters talking to their alter egos (well, not
all of the italics though -_-;;;), [in brackets] memories (I suppose...)
* * * * *
Pieces of Love
Part 2
Daisuke Niwa remembered how his body had fallen through the air, and was suddenly wrapped in white feathery wings. For one awful moment he'd been terrified to his bones, imagining that Krad would crush his body even before his head slammed into the ground. Until he realized the warmth that surrounded his body didn't belong to the golden-haired demon. It was Hiwatari who protected him with those wings.
Hiwatari-kun...
And suddenly he felt completely safe. Closing his eyes, he clutched the figure closer and felt their bodies drift to the ground lightly. He felt a gentle hand caress his forehead, fingers slip through his hair and lift his head carefully from the cold ground he was lying on. And as he opened his eyes, he found a pair of cautious blue eyes looking down at him.
"Niwa-kun, daijoubu ka?" The tone was soft and loving, so different from before when he was talking to Dark.
"H-Hiwatari-kun...?" Daisuke stretched out his hand to see if his eyes weren't fooling him, grasping at the other boy's upper arm. "Is it really you?"
He saw the blue-haired boy nod. Daisuke felt himself smile and then... the world just went blank.
* * * * *
Daisuke didn't know what happened to him afterwards. He was standing in the darkness, alone, cold. He looked around for any light, found it and ran towards it. It was a long corridor that looked strangely familiar to him. Someone stood there, leaning against a wall near a wooden door. He looked familiar. The violet eyes and hair the same color...
Dark
"Dark...!" Daisuke called, but there was no answer. There wasn't even a sign that the youth could hear him. He stepped closer and stood before the other boy, only to see the tears that started to leak from the beautiful violet eyes. Dark was crying.
Daisuke had never seen him cry before in his life. He was always.. optimistic, cheerful, and even acted like a snob. But the Dark he saw standing before him now looked so fragile.
"Dark..." Daisuke turned his head. It wasn't his voice calling for the legendary thief. A woman stood there, her long red hair reminding him of blood, and her eyes… they were also red. Just like him. A Niwa, he realized.
The youth rocked on his heels, looking up at the woman, lips trembling. "How is he?"
"I don't know. He was better an hour ago, but now..."
"Is he going to die?" Dark's voice was stuttering, his face pale like a doll's. "What can I do for him? What?"
The woman patted his shoulder gently and smiled. "Let's just wait, Dark..." she said soothingly, "Grandfather would be very proud of you."
Dark shook his head. "No, this is my fault, isn't it?! It's because I said to him that I would leave the Niwa family! It's my fault! My fault! My fault!" The violet-eyed youth slammed his fists into the wall.
The woman caught his hand and cradled him in her arms, soothing his back and wiping his tears. "Daijoubu, Dark. The most important thing is that you're here now..." She started to sob, "You're here again, with us..."
"Hai..." Dark clung to her tightly, "...Hai..."
The woman released him at last and smiled for the last time before she went back into the room. Daisuke's eyes followed her until she disappeared behind the door. Dark shifted from where he'd been standing and walked to the window. Daisuke followed him, watching the other youth press a palm against the thick cold glass. Another tear fell to the violet-eyed youth's cheek, but he wiped it away almost hurriedly. Daisuke saw those shoulders shaking heavily and then the youth fell crouched to the floor. He was trembling, hugging his knees with his two hands and crying.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." he cried as Daisuke knelt beside him. The pain in that tone made him ache inside and he also felt like crying when he heard Dark's muffled cry. The indescribable pain welled inside Daisuke's heart. Was it because his heart and Dark's were connected so strongly that he could feel the other's pain?
"Dark, don't cry..." He tried to touch the trembling shoulder, but his hand only caught empty air. "Dark..."
"Please forgive me..." Dark whispered again, "...Forgive me, Krad..."
Daisuke gasped in complete surprise, red eyes widened.
Krad?
* * * * *
Daisuke woke up some time later in a warm, comfortable bed in a room he didn't recognize. He looked up to the ceiling, tried to work out where he was. This was...
He sat bolt upright in the bed, ruby eyes wildly looking around the room. He remembered he was here once with Saehara, not too long ago, right?
This was...
"Niwa-kun? You're awake..." A calm voice from the door startled him. Hiwatari stared at him for a second or two before walking to the bed and sitting beside him, looking a bit wary. Now he was really sure that he was in Hiwatari's house.
The redheaded boy knew that Hiwatari was still worried about his condition, though he had tried to hide it from him. Hiwatari's blue eyes were unreadable and for one second Daisuke felt afraid. For God's sake, this was the same person who had tried to trap him a few hours ago. No, he corrected, Hiwatari tried to catch Dark, and Dark was not him...
"Your pet," Hiwatari started. Daisuke's eyes snapped open almost immediately. How could he forget about With?!
"It's okay. I don't think he was badly injured. He flew home, I guess..." Hiwatari read the wariness in the ruby eyes.
"I-I have to go home...!!" Daisuke said hastily. He had to make sure that With was okay. And worse, his mother might be worrying at home if With came back without him.
"You should rest, you're still in shock..." Hiwatari said warmly. Daisuke could even swear that he saw him smile in relief. He was safe, he thought dimly. Wait, he wasn't safe. He was in Hiwatari's place, of all people. This boy was not just an ordinary classmate, he was the young police commander who tried to catch Dark Mousy, And what a coincidence that Dark Mousy was his alter ego. And if that wasn't bad enough, the police commander could turn into Krad, Dark's biggest enemy.
[Forgive me, Krad...]
Daisuke was caught in surprise as he remembered the dream. Was it really just a dream?
Dark, are you there? Daisuke tried to call, but there was no answer from the thief.
"Uh-Uhm... I have to go home..." Daisuke said thoughtfully and looked up to the deep blue of Hiwatari's eyes. "Thank you, Hiwatari kun... I..."
"It's okay." Hiwatari said, coldly like he always did. But the glint in his eyes told Daisuke that he was also smiling. "But you don't have to go home so soon. You could stay..."
Daisuke could feel his face heat with embarrassment; he was feeling a little confused about everything that happened, and now this?
"No, it's okay." He smiled meekly. "My mother will be worried..." He tried to stand up, pulling the white blanket from his body. He didn't expect the thick fabric to be looped around his leg, overbalancing him back onto the bed. He tried to find something to hold on to, and the only object in reach was Hiwatari's arm. The blue-haired boy's eyes widened slightly in shock as he fell to the bed, on top of Daisuke.
* * * * *
There were times when I thought I had a friend...
There were times when I thought I had a lover...
There were times when I thought I would find my own happiness...
With you...
But everything was broken into pieces...
To pieces...
* * * * *
Satoshi's eyes widened in slight shock as his body was pulled down to the bed, right on top of Niwa. He blinked once and finally realized the situation. He tried to look down to see Niwa's face, and saw a faint hint of red in the boy's cheeks.
"Go-Gomen..." He heard Niwa's voice finally break the silence. "Hiwatari kun..."
"Ha-Hai..." Satoshi pulled himself away and sat back on the edge of the bed, watching all the while as Niwa jumped off the bed and to the floor.
He always had strange thoughts concerning Niwa. The redhead wasn't actually one of those eye-catching types; he wasn't as vibrant or cheerful as some of the other kids at school. He even remembered the time he'd offered his handkerchief to Niwa after the boy got turned down by one of the Harada twins. He was crying back then... what a silly boy...
But there was something about him... Something that attracted him...
Yes, attracted, he admitted it. He was attracted to Niwa Daisuke. But it was just a one-sided feeling, he realized. It seemed like Niwa had a relationship with that Harada Riku. It was something he'd wanted to deny all this time, pretending that he didn't see what was right in front of his eyes when it came to Niwa and that girl.
Niwa...
"Hiwatari-kun?" Satoshi was startled; he looked up to see a pair of ruby eyes watching him thoughtfully. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, daijoubu, Niwa..." He stood up and led the boy to the front door. "Just to let you know, I returned the jewelry to the museum..."
Niwa's face turned red and he grinned in embarrassment, "Oh, ha ha ha... about that... I'm sorry... Dark..."
"It's okay." Satoshi's lips twitched in a smile. "I know..."
He thought he saw Niwa blush at that statement and reluctantly turned his face away, "See you tomorrow, Hiwatari-kun..." Niwa gave a small smile and walked to the door, reaching for the doorknob and opening it. Satoshi knew that when he left through that door, there wouldn't be another chance for him to be alone with the other boy. He didn't want him to go, not just yet. It was painful enough to know that Niwa didn't return his affection, and now he was just going to let him go?
"Niwa..."
"Yes?"
Satoshi froze on the spot as he saw the ruby eyes staring at him in the way that was really Daisuke-like. The face that always looked so friendly and loving towards everyone. Anyone at all. And he was nobody special.
"Nothing." Satoshi shook his head, smiling faintly. "See you tomorrow at school, Niwa."
Niwa smiled again widely, his eyes shrinking into slits. "Ja ne, Hiwatari kun."
It was enough for now, Satoshi thought vaguely. It was enough if Niwa was concerned him as a friend and nothing more. It was okay with him if Niwa did like Harada Riku instead of him. He didn't deserve such an angel as Niwa Daisuke anyway. Walking to the window, he opened the curtain and stared down to the street, watching Niwa cross the street and run into the darkness.
He doesn't love you... Krad's voice entered his mind and Satoshi scowled as he let the curtain fall back. The Niwa wouldn't let him love you. He's not for you, Satoshi sama...
Satoshi closed his eyes and leaned against the closed window behind him. Maybe... But that's not important.
It's not important to have the person you love?
No. As long as he's happy... Satoshi blinked. It was the first time Krad had not been cynical about his feelings for Niwa.
There was a long pause from the blond after that, before he said the closing words.
I used to think that way too...
Satoshi frowned, his blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. Krad?
There were no answers.
* * * * *
Heh, I would never have thought that creepy boy would let you go…
Daisuke snapped his attention to the voice. Dark, you were there the whole time? he scowled. I was worried about you.
Dark smirked. You think that Krad could so easily kill me, huh?
Daisuke shook his head. He remembered the dream again, but he wasn't certain that it was the right time to ask the purple-eyed youth about it. He closed his eyes and pulled his dark jacket tighter around him. The clothes were rather too big for him, for they were meant to be Dark's size, but it helped him to get rid of the chill a little bit.
Do you think With is okay? Daisuke asked silently.
He's stronger than you think, Dai chan. Krad's energy blast won't kill him. Besides, it wasn't With he was after…
That sudden remark startled Daisuke. The way Dark said the words was almost... sad? They were filled with a remorse he couldn't understand. He remembered the other Dark. Dark in his dream, who clutched at his knees down on the floor, calling Krad's name.
Dark…
Yes?
What really happened between you and Krad? That was it. He'd asked the question, and he could only hope that the other would answer.
Daisuke could feel his alter ego was startled by the question. So there was something wrong between the two of them. It wasn't just because of the problems between the Niwa and the Hikari. There was also something wrong between Dark and Krad.
Nothing, Dai chan. It wasn't something I regret. Whatever I did back then, I never regret it…
[I'm so sorry…]
Daisuke closed his eyes, breathing hard. As he opened them, he saw his house not so far along the silent street. He took a deep breath and jogged towards the gate.
If it wasn't something he regretted, why was he so sad…? Daisuke could only keep the question to himself…
-tbc-
Oookay, before you send me flames, please know that all the anomaly happened in this fic will be explained later in the next chapters. All flames will be sent to Dark, while energy balls sent to Krad, however reviews will be sent to a certain blue eyed boy.
Daisuke: Hey, hey, what about me?
Plushies sent to Dai-chan then :)