author's notes is at the bottom of the page, now.. read the story ;)

Pieces of Love
by Kaz

standard disclaimer applied.
warnings: Dark x Krad, Satoshi + Daisuke, some sap, some angst, PG-13.
special thanks to Tiggy for beta effort.

* * * * *

Part 4

You're torturing yourself, Satoshi.

Krad's cold remark echoed inside his head as he made his way up the stairs to the roof. He didn't need Krad to tell him what he already knew. He'd said that he didn't want to harm Niwa by getting too close to the boy, but the next thing he knew he'd accepted the offer of having lunch together. It was an impulse. Something that he needed to do, even though he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold onto his feelings much longer.

Just one last time... Satoshi said, more to himself than to the demon inside him. The blond sighed heavily and shifted in the corner of Satoshi's mind. Maybe there won't be another chance, Krad...

What do you mean?

Satoshi stopped as he reached the last stair and pushed gently at the door to the roof. It creaked open; he could feel the warmth of the sunshine bathe his face. Maybe next time I'll catch Dark and...

Krad smiled mockingly. And then what? You'll let that boy be imprisoned with the thief?! We have to kill them, Satoshi-sama! We have to kill him!

Shut up. Satoshi scowled and walked out onto the roof. There was no one there, just like always, he noted. He used to eat his lunches from the school cafeteria alone there. And then Niwa Daisuke came into his life, and without saying a word the red-haired boy had offered him a friendship he'd never thought he needed. They started having lunch together; Niwa came to him that day and just sat there and ate with him in silence, staring at the blue sky above.

Long before that, of course, he'd started to pay more attention to Niwa. It must've been something in the way he smiled; something in the way he talked that told Satoshi how sincere he was. Or perhaps it was the way he blushed when he said or did something careless in class. But from the first day Niwa sat there and ate lunch with him, Satoshi had started to want something more. He wanted the boy to be more than just a friend.

And Krad came and his hope had been shattered into pieces before it ever even really got started. But he didn't regret anything that had happened. He knew he didn't stand a chance anyway, because Niwa had a crush on that girl, Harada Riku. Maybe Krad's presence in his life was a sign that he should stay away from Niwa; maybe that way he could forget about his dream.

Some things are more important than love. Krad's voice startled him, his tone calm and cold, but strangely Satoshi could almost believe that the demon was trying to help him. It's better for you to realize that now, before you regret everything...

I know... Satoshi sighed, not even knowing why he could agree with his alter ego.

Satoshi sat himself on the roof, trying to find a place with a little shade so it wouldn't be too hot. Maybe Niwa would arrive soon; his friends in class must've delayed him. Maybe he had something to say to his girlfriend before he met him. Maybe...

"Hiwatari-kun!" A familiar chirp startled the blue-haired boy. Turning his head, he saw Niwa by the door. He walked over easily before finally flopping down beside him, his smile as bright as the sunlight. "Yokatta! I thought you might have forgotten..."

How could I forget... Satoshi asked mentally, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Krad didn't say anything, but stayed in the dark corner of his mind, watching him.

Niwa opened his lunchbox and squealed as he saw the amount of food inside it, his eyes as wide as saucers. "Okaasan must have made me enough lunch for three days..." he whimpered, reaching for the chopsticks, and stopped in sudden realization. "There's only one pair of chopsticks..."

Satoshi's heart jumped before he spoke. "We could use them in turn..."

You're torturing yourself...

A smile crossed Satoshi's lips. I know...

* * * * *

Daisuke appeared stunned for a moment at Hiwatari's answer, and then shrugged his agreement with a smile and a nod. Using the chopsticks in turn wouldn't hurt, but it would mean they ate rather slowly and the bell could ring before they finished all the food.

"Okay then," Daisuke took some udon with the chopsticks, "I'll go first then..."

Hiwatari took the next turn and passed the chopsticks back to him. He'd never thought that the blue-eyed boy could eat so fast; maybe it was because he hadn't eaten breakfast that morning. But then again, he remembered, Hiwatari had told him that he never ate breakfast.

"It's been a long time, ne? Since the last time we had lunch together like this?" Daisuke started, looking at his friend. Hiwatari just nodded and took an onigiri from the box; he only needed to use his hand to eat it so Daisuke could continue to use the chopsticks.

"I don't see you so often anymore..." Daisuke smiled softly. "But I guess that's because you're busy, ne?"

"Ah..." Hiwatari answered before taking yet another onigiri. "Just some things I needed to take care of..."

Daisuke stared for a long minute. Hiwatari must've been very busy with his mission to capture Dark; and somehow he felt a little guilty because he had his own part in all those thefts Dark committed. He was, after all, the one who turned into Dark Mousy, the legendary thief himself.

And then he remembered what had happened the previous night again. How Hiwatari had saved him from the fall, protecting him with those wings. "Uhm--I wanted to thank you about last night... Anou... Thank you, and..."

"You've said that already," Hiwatari replied calmly. "Besides, it's not you I'm after; there's no way I would leave you in danger..."

"Eh?" Daisuke was stunned, a strange feeling creeping up from his heart and warming his cheeks. "Uhm--Arigatou..."

The blue-eyed boy nodded and took out a water bottle, uncapping it with his fingers. Daisuke watched as the boy put the bottle's lip to his own, stretching his neck back to drink, the soft muscles of Hiwatari's throat contracting enticingly with every slow swallow of the mineral water. Daisuke tilted his head as the sunlight poured through the transparent bottle, casting prisms of light across Hiwatari's body.

"What is it?" Hiwatari suddenly asked, somehow realizing that he was being watched.

Daisuke shrugged and lifted a takoyaki to his own mouth, chewing it for a moment or two. "I don't know..." He finally said; his lips parted but he wasn't sure what to say, so he just smiled and took another takoyaki. "Nothing, I guess..."

Oi, Daisuke. What the hell are you thinking?! The thief suddenly made an appearance. Don't tell me that you're... fascinated by this... creepy boy!

Daisuke glowered silently, looking down at the fast-emptying lunchbox. He's my friend and friends pay attention to each other! Stop bugging my social life...

Mad aren't you now, Dai-chan? Dark teased, but the boy didn't retort. They ate in silence afterwards, not saying a word but enjoying the warmth of the sun together. Even Dark didn't disturb him further, muttering something but not making any more comments about what he was doing.

The sun was getting high when Hiwatari suddenly broke the silence between them. "The lunch break will be over soon..."

"Ah, hai." Daisuke ate his last udon hastily. There were only three takoyaki and an onigiri left inside the box. The blue-eyed boy took the onigiri with his fingers and started to chew it. He seemed to like it very much. Daisuke made a mental note to ask his mother to make him some extra onigiri for lunch tomorrow.

The bell rang and Daisuke started to put the box away, realizing that there was just one takoyaki left. Hiwatari stood up, brushing the dust from his pants as he did so. Daisuke wanted to eat the takoyaki but his stomach was too full. But maybe Hiwatari wanted to eat it...

"We'll be late for the next class." Hiwatari informed him.

Daisuke stared at the takoyaki in the box and then at Hiwatari; Daisuke picked up the takoyaki skillfully with the chopsticks. "Ne, Hiwatari-kun. Do you want a takoyaki?"

"Eh?" Hiwatari's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Daisuke and the takoyaki in his chopsticks. "You mean...?"

Daisuke just smiled as he stepped closer and held the takoyaki in front of the other boy's face. "Eat it before I drop it, my hand's starting to shake..." Daisuke winced playfully. He saw Hiwatari bite his bottom lip, hesitant. And then the taller boy leaned closer and took the takoyaki into his mouth.

"Yosh! It's finished now! Let's get back to class...!" Daisuke put the chopsticks back in the box and closed it happily. "Maybe we could have lunch together again sometime, ne?!"

Hiwatari was still busy chewing the food, but he nodded; and for a second there Daisuke saw the blue eyes shimmering, more beautiful than ever.

You're fascinated alright... Dark snickered.

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not.

* * * * *

For almost the tenth time since lunch, Satoshi stole a glance over at the red haired boy in the middle of the class. A smile forced its way to his lips as he remembered the lunch, and the last takoyaki. Maybe he was a fool to dream such things. But he wanted to live in his dreams. For just a second he could forget his destiny to capture the legendary thief; for just a second, there was only this boy named Niwa Daisuke in his life.

Don't forget, Satoshi. This isn't over yet. The boy does not care about you...!

Satoshi groaned at the sudden statement from the blond demon. But he had to admit that he was right; he was always right. But whose fault was it that he couldn't get near Niwa Daisuke in the first place? If it weren't for you...

You've made the worst mistake of your life. You're going to really fall in love and you'll be left to suffer in the end... Krad continued for him.

If that happens, what can you do? Satoshi challenged, eyes fixed on the window.

Krad smiled wickedly. If that happens, I will be the only person you can turn to. I will protect you, Satoshi-sama...

Satoshi almost laughed at that remark. Protect me? You've said that over and over, Krad.

There was no answer from the blond and Satoshi spent the rest of the class looking out of the window, not really focusing on anything, just distracting his attention from Niwa. He was so lost in his mind he didn't hear the bell ring, and his classmates started to pack their bags and rushed to the door. He didn't really care anyway. Home was just another place to sleep and eat. There was no one waiting for him at the apartment, so he couldn't see the point in going home. But he wasn't going to wallow in self-pity. He was in town for a mission, not to have fun, not to fall in love, not to...

He felt his cellphone vibrate in his pocket and took it almost instantly, recognizing Inspector Saehara's number on the screen. He spoke in a low, certain tone and his eyes glinted once again as he heard the news from the other end of the line.

Dark Mousy had issued yet another challenge; he was going to steal the jewel that was returned yesterday. Tomorrow night.

This time… Satoshi stood up and grabbed his bag. This time he'd catch the thief for sure.

* * * * *

"Riku!" Daisuke waved to the girl who was waiting for him in front of the school gate. She turned and gave him her best smile, waving back. "Gomen, ne. Saehara slowed me down a bit..." Daisuke was breathing hard after his run.

Riku stared at him carefully. "Do you want to rest for awhile? We could..."

"Daijoubu," Daisuke chimed in, cutting off her words. "But we'd better go now or we'll be too late to shop..."

"Ah, yes!" Riku started to move off, but then someone accidentally bumped her shoulder, making her lose her balance and almost fall. Daisuke caught her in surprise, clutching the girl's hands in his. Riku's face flushed, and so did his.

Daisuke stepped back and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Are you okay, Riku?"

The girl nodded and smiled sweetly, her face turning even redder. "Arigatou, Niwa."

"Oh my God!" someone exclaimed from behind them. Daisuke turned and saw Keiji shaking his head at the pair. "How long you two have been together anyway?! You act like you just got together..." he muttered.

Daisuke turned bright pink and then took Riku's hand, running away from Keiji. Her hand was warm inside his palm. Riku chuckled behind him, not losing her breath as she kept pace with Daisuke's long racing strides. As they made the next turn, Daisuke knew that he had to slow down, at least for Riku's sake. But before he did, he was brought to a sudden stop as he bumped into someone. His hand separated from Riku's as he yelped, falling forward, and was caught by a pair of strong arms in front of him. He looked up at the person he'd just collided with and gasped in embarrassment.

"Hiwatari-kun?" Daisuke saw the blue eyes were also widened slightly in surprise, "I-I thought you went home after class..." Daisuke could hear himself stammering.

"Aa... My apartment is around here, remember?" Hiwatari caught Daisuke's hands, his tone flat as usual. "Are you okay?"

Daisuke thought he saw wariness in the taller boy's face when he took hold of his hands. The redhead laughed nervously and pulled his hands away, causing a fleeting surprised look on Hiwatari's face. "I-I'm okay..."

"Niwa..." Daisuke froze; the voice belonged not to Hiwatari but to the girl behind him. He turned and saw Riku waiting for him, her eyes filled with concern. "A-Are you okay? Eh, Hiwatari-kun?"

Daisuke turned his face towards the blue haired boy; he had changed to the usual cold Hiwatari Satoshi. Somehow, disappointment crept into Daisuke's heart. He didn't know when he'd started to like the warm looks the boy gave him, but when Hiwatari replaced it with his cold mask, Daisuke felt a strange sense of loss.

"We have to go now..." Daisuke was almost startled by his own words. He saw Riku smile warmly at him and then at Hiwatari. "See you tomorrow, Hiwatari."

"See you tomorrow, Hiwatari-kun." Riku echoed.

Hiwatari just stared at them for a long second before pushing at his glasses and walking away. "Aa.. see you tomorrow..."

Hiwatari walked past him; the end of his sleeve brushed Daisuke's as he went. A long minute passed and Daisuke turned back to watch Hiwatari as he walked down the street alone. That word again, alone... Loneliness...

Daisuke, you know that you shouldn't think about him too much... Dark reappeared.

But it was a tug on his sleeve that made him realize he wasn't alone. Daisuke turned to see Riku eyeing him warily. "Niwa, are you okay? If you don't feel very well we can just go tomorrow..."

The redhead shook his head and tried to give the girl a reassuring smile. "Daijoubu, let's go...!" He held out his hand and the girl took it gladly, faint color rising in her cheeks.

Maybe I do think about him too much, ne, Dark? But that's because he's my friend...

Yes, he was a friend...

-tbc-

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Waaah, it's getting sappy.. heheh.. not for long 'coz Dark and Krad will be back soon, nyahahahah.... *inserts Saehara's laughter here*

speaking of the two, I wrote a Dark x Krad lemon fic *eep* yep, it's at my site though 'coz they didn't allow lemon here anymore g (somehow I can understand why...). So go there if you wanna read it ^_^;;;;;

And one more thing, please tell me if you found my way of writing confusing, ok? (I mean, which part you think is confusing, I'll try to fix my style next time). Okay, jaaaa...
- kaz misaki
www.geocities.com/aosou23/