Stepping out onto the balcony – funny, in this household important decisions seemed to call for balconies, Krad mused – he watched the stars as if looking for support. He would need strength for this. Krad didn't turn as he heard the others appear behind him, felt the coat being slipped onto his shoulders.
"You're freezing," Dark muttered.
He gave the other a mild frown. "Temperatures don't affect us."
Dark grinned. "You looked cold."
Krad met the almost black eyes, then smiled. "Thanks."
"Fireworks are starting in a minute."
"I can't remember having seen them before."
"I did. They're beautiful, look."
Dark pointed into the night sky, where red and golden and green lights were exploding, blue sparks glittered, illuminating the scenery in an unearthly light.
"You're right. They are beautiful."
Krad looked at the amazing display, simple but yet so captivating. All around them people greeted the new year, laughed and cheered and shot fireworks into the sky.
"Happy New Year," Dark said quietly, smiling at him.
Krad looked into the expressive eyes. "Dark?"
"Hn?"
"Kiss me."
Violet eyes widened, searching his, question and confusion written all over Dark's face. Hesitantly the kaitou came closer, lips almost cautiously brushing over his, before he pulled back.
It tingled. It felt good.
"Dark?"
"Yes?"
"You can do better than that."
Krad reached out, weaving his fingers in the thick dark strands and pulled his soon-to-be lover close, sealing their lips together. He felt Dark gasp in surprise but then the other man reacted, responded in kind, and damn if he'd let him go now. Krad moaned silently as Dark opened up under him, and he ran his hands over the hard body that melted against his, and it felt good and so right, and why the hell had he waited so long?
Around them the fireworks continued, but Krad really couldn't care less.

Satoshi nudged his lover with one elbow, silently gesturing toward the entangled and suddenly very much occupied pair. Daisuke grinned and leaned into his lover's embrace. They stayed outside, watching the display of light a bit longer, then went inside.
They had a celebration of their own today.

Dark felt Krad's hands caressing his back, his lips on his own and he sighed silently. A hot tongue flicked over his lips in a silent request and instinctively he opened, invitation clear. It was taken and he sank into the embrace, melted against a body that perfectly matched his own. Closing his arms around the slender form of the man he loved – god yes, he did love Krad, why hadn't he seen it before? – and despite the outside temperature he felt heat coil inside of him.
Krad moaned, pressing himself even closer, hands wandering over his sides, back, deeper – whoa… he pulled back a little.
"Krad…" he breathed, only to find his mouth sealed once again.
There was hunger in each of Krad's kisses. Hunger and need and so much more.
"Krad… wait… what brought this on? Not that I'm complaining…"
Golden eyes glowed with a fire Dark had never seen like this before. In battle, yes. The thrill, the adrenaline, but now there was an addition to that fire. It was what Dark had always hoped to see.
"Let's just say I had a revelation, okay?" Krad purred, fingers caressing over Dark's cheek.
"Fine with me…" the kaitou answered, catching Krad's lips again, letting himself get swept away by the rising emotions.
Damn, the other was a good kisser. He wondered where he had gotten it from. Then again, they could adapt from their hosts.
Shit, Daisuke, Satoshi must be one hell of a kisser, Dark thought dimly.
Those nimble fingers slid under his pullover, met warm skin that was now briefly exposed to the cold air, but Dark felt no discomfort. Only the rising heat.
"Krad… uhm…"
"Your place or mine?" Krad whispered, flicking a tongue over his lower lip, and Dark had to inhale deeply.
That man had turned from reluctant to extremely hot and sexy in a heartbeat. Dark had always thought he would be the one to overrun Krad, but as it was... Damn, he had danced around the man, taken it slow, given him time – and look what had happened, a voice whispered happily.
"Mine," he murmured. "At least I've got a carpet."
"Oh, I don't think we need a carpet just yet… a bed will do…" Krad grinned mischievously.
Dark felt his body heat up even more at the suggestion in those golden eyes and he let Krad pull him into the house. He faintly remembered Daisuke and Satoshi being outside as well, but that thought was annihilated immediately.
The door closed behind them and Dark looked around the bare room, eyes on the bed. A thrill shivered through him, coupled with a strange kind of apprehension. He had never done this before, just like his other half, and suddenly the apprehension doubled.
Strong fingers slid over his shoulders, lips kissed his neck.
"Krad…" he whispered.
"Hm?"
His coat was pulled off and he was in the arms of his lover. Golden eyes regarded him calmly, radiating warmth and security. When had the tables turned? When had Krad become the leading element in this dance that Dark had started?
"Let's just get to bed, Dark Mousy," the demon murmured, nipping at his lips.
Krad led him to the large bed and both stripped down to their t-shirts, Dark's eyes never leaving the lean, muscular form. The apprehension was still there, coupled with anticipation. Krad pulled him close, kissing him, and they slipped under the covers.
"Just sleep," the blond murmured.

Dark snuggled against the body he had held in his arms before, but at that time Krad had either been out of it or deeply disturbed by something. This time he was allowed to hold him, feel him, touch him, the only thing between them their t-shirts. Dark closed his eyes, feeling Krad's breath on the skin of his arm, depth indicating the demon had fallen asleep. They had caressed and stroked each other between kisses, getting used to just having the other one close.
Sure, he had touched the demon before. He had fought against him, slammed into the lithe form, battling him, wrestling him to the ground and trying to defeat him. And he had held him, had enveloped him in his embrace, in his arms and with his wings, but at that time there had been nothing sexual about it. Now there were no negative feelings between them. Now there was only tenderness.
He inhaled, enjoying the faint scent of his lover that somehow reminded him of apples and something spicy… pure Krad. He had never consciously noticed it… and with that thought Dark slowly drifted off.

The next morning Dark was woken up due to the touch of a pair of gentle lips on his own. Purring he wrapped his arms around the other person, opening up under the kiss, feeling the response almost immediately. Krad deepened the kiss, making Dark pull back in the need of air soon.
Opening his eyes he found himself watched closely by golden eyes. He met the fascinating gaze, wondering why Krad's eyes were golden for the first time. Feline and predatory, but able to express such gentleness like right now. No longer cold and distant, touched by insanity. He noticed the small swirls of greenish gold that were around the black, cat-like pupils. At the moment, in the twilight of the room, the oval shape had widened to a rounder one.
"Morning," Dark whispered.
"Good morning."
Krad returned to his former actions and hell, if Dark had anything against that, on the contrary. Krad's hands were traveling again, and Dark didn't hold back either. And then he felt a hand slip under his shirt.
"Krad…" he started, only to gasp in surprise when a jolt of pleasure ran though his body.
Dear god!
"Krad…" he whispered again, almost pleading, and then coherent thought fled him as he was kissed again; quite thoroughly too.
He felt the heat rising. Krad's fingers were on his skin, touching him…
Dark exploded with a hoarse strangled cry and the world exploded with him.

Slowly coming back to himself he was aware of the body in his arms. Krad had his face buried into his neck and was breathing hard, too, and his back was slick with sweat.
"Krad?"
His lover stirred lazily, golden half-open eyes glancing at him like a large cat. Only the purr was missing and Krad was probably close to doing that now, too. Pushing himself up on his elbows, the blond looked down at him.
"What was that…?" Dark asked softly.
Not that he didn't know, well, not first hand anyway. He didn't peek with Daisuke and Satoshi, but he had felt the results. They had felt good already, but having it happen to him had truly floored him.
"A revelation?" Krad suggested and bent down for a kiss again.
A revelation? One hell of one! He had never thought it would be this good. He had only known that he needed Krad, that he couldn't be without him, that there was a hunger only the demon could satisfy, and he had done just that. In a way Dark would never have believed possible.
"You had one yourself?" he asked, pushing back a strand of hair from the handsome face.
Krad smiled. "Yes. While thinking of you."
Dark grinned cheekily. "Damn, I'm good."
"That you are, kaitou," was the husky reply and Krad traced his lips with his fingers.
Dark nipped at the playful fingers, licking at the pads, and Krad leaned down to capture his lips in a new kiss. One of his hands brushed over Dark's ribcage, traveling up and down in a soothing pattern and the kaitou stretched underneath him, humming with delight.
His shirt was the next to go, revealing him to the intense gaze. He was kissed, those kisses wandering down his neck and to his throat. Dark pushed himself against his lover, wanting and needing more despite the release he had felt before.
"Krad," he groaned.
"Yes?" came the soft rumbled.
He smiled at the demon. "You're not so bad yourself."
Krad chuckled, but suddenly his eyes fell on the mark on Dark's right shoulder. Brows drew down and pain was visible in the formerly so hungry eyes.

Krad's fingers lingered over the faint white scar on the other otherwise so smooth, faintly tanned skin. It was long, jagged, speaking of a deep wound by a sharp blade. That was exactly what it was. He had pushed the Link Pin of Time into Dark's right shoulder, twisting it, making the other scream in a pain that was his alone. No host to buffer it. Dark had been alone inside the human body, trying to save Daisuke at the time, trapped in the world of the Second Hand of Time, and Krad had nearly beaten him. Satoshi had stopped him with an immense effort, but it had been close.
So close.
He ran shaky finger tips along the proof of his madness, a proof that had remained on Dark because it had hit him all alone. Inside, something twisted with the memories and he fought not to cry out as that time replayed over and over, as he looked into the face of his enemy, a grimace of pain, hearing the agonized yell as he drove the sword even deeper.
Strong fingers caught his, pulling them away from the mark. A mark that was on Dark's body now, too. Through the separation he had transferred the same scar his host bore to himself.
Violet eyes bore into golden ones and Krad caught his breath.
"It's in the past," Dark murmured, kissing the questing finger tips.
"That doesn't mean it's forgotten."
"No, but it has healed."
Krad tore his gaze away, straying to the white scar. "Things like these never heal." Pain wormed into his voice and something inside of him curled into a tight fist. "How can you feel anything toward me but hatred?"
Dark's eyes flew open and he stared at him. "Krad, no!"
"All I ever did was hurt... My hosts, you..."
Dark pulled him close, the shock of the more intense physical contact breaking off whatever Krad had wanted to add.
"I feel a lot toward you, Krad. A lot. None of it has anything to do with hatred or loathing. What happened in the past is history. It was a senseless fight, born out of desperation and fear and the simple fact that I didn't understand – and because we didn't know differently." He brushed his lips against Krad's. "Now we do know differently." He caressed the slender form and Krad shivered with longing. "We all bear scars. Mine are just on the outside."
Krad buried his head against one slender shoulder, feeling skin against skin, warmth that was more physical than he could ever have thought.
"I don't understand you most of the time. I really don't."
"I don't understand myself either. That's the fun of life." Dark grinned cheekily and Krad could only chuckle.

By the time Daisuke and Satoshi made it out of bed it was already close to noon on New Year's Day, but neither cared. Of their demons there was no sign – which was actually a good sign.
Breakfast was a lazy affair.
Daisuke was pouring himself another cup of coffee when Satoshi finally breached a topic he had been trying to talk to his lover about ever since ist revelation on Christmas.
"Dai?"
"Hm?"
"You know that Kei was my step-father, right?"
Eyebrows dipped a little and Daisuke put down the pot. "Yes," he answered slowly.
"My mother died when I was four and I always believed my father had died before her."
Now the brows dipped even deeper.
"He isn't dead, Daisuke."
Wide, brown eyes stared at him. "He's not?"
"No. According to Krad he's alive."
"How... how does he know?" Daisuke sputtered.
Satoshi smiled slightly. "Kei apparently kept a file on him, for whatever reason. Krad saw it throughout the times he had taken over my body while I was asleep. He says he knows his name and where he lived some years ago."
"Damn..." Daisuke breathed. "So you... want to go look for him?"
Satoshi evaded his eyes. "I don't know."
"He's your father!"
"And he had a reason why he left my mother when I was only two. He must have had a damn good one. Why should I go look for him when he never did the same?" Satoshi snapped back, surprised by his own rising emotions concerning that topic.
He had never thought much about his father. He had been a bright child even at the age of four and he had understood that Hiwatari Kei wasn't his real father, but he had cared for him just the same. He had never tried to find out where his birth parent had gone off to. Why should he? It had been apparent to him that the man had wanted nothing to do with his son.
"Maybe he didn't know where your mother had gone to?" Daisuke suggested. "She had a new husband, a new name... you had a new name..."
He shook his head. "It's history. I don't really want to unearthe the family ghosts. One demon is enough." He smiled a little at that.
Daisuke regarded him steadily. "If your stepfather had the file, it's on the old computer, right? Maybe you should at least read it."
Satoshi sighed a little. "Maybe. Not now. I just... wanted you to know. And in case I do want to find him..."
"I'll be there," Daisuke finished the sentence when his lover stopped, unsure.
"Thank you."
Daisuke gave him a warm smile.
"Mornin'."
The tired greeting had them both turn and smile almost simultaneously as they discovered their respective demons. Dark looked downright exhausted, his hair in wild disarray, eyes hooded. He was yawning despite the late hour. Krad looked a bit more awake, thought even his normally so neat style was more mussed that usual. His pony tail was in place, though. While Dark shuffled over to Daisuke to steal a some coffee, Krad met the blue eyes of his host. It was as if he had felt the brief flare of emotional upheaval.
He probably had, Satoshi mused.
"Sato?" Krad inquired softly, barely loud enough for him to hear.
"I'm fine," he replied.
Warm hands landed on his shoulders and squeezed them gently, reassuringly. Strong fingers massaged the slightly stiff muscles and Satoshi began to relax, shooting his demon a little smile.
"Thanks," he mouthed.
"Hey, I'm jealous here," Dark pouted.
Krad shot the other entity a mischievous smile. "Oh really?"
"Yeah!"
"Didn't get enough?"
Satoshi snickered and Daisuke hid behind his coffee mug.
"You know I'm insatiable."
"Yes, that I do." Krad's expression was seductive. "But right now I'd rather be with my host."
Satoshi almost broke out laughing. If anyone was listening in, it sounded like a threesome or worse.
Without much fuss, the demon merged back with his host to recharge. Satoshi welcomed him, wrapped himself around his tired symbiote, and Krad hummed softly.
--You're bad-- he chuckled.
--Born that way-- Krad replied with an evil smirk.
--Had fun?--
Waves of satisfaction and warmth lapped at the fringes of his perception.
--Yeah, I guess you did. Good for you--
--Very good for me-- Krad agreed. --Thank you for everything--
--You're welcome, Krad. Very much--
After a moment of silence, Krad came slightly closer. --Is everything okay, Sato?--
Satoshi knew his demon was picking up on the echoes of his thoughts, of what he had talked about with Daisuke, but Krad did nothing more than to curl closer, solid and warm and supportive. He was glad for it.
"Unfair!" Dark's protest drew him back to the real world. "Without a good-bye kiss?"
Satoshi smirked. "Want me to kiss you instead?"
Dark grimaced. "No way."
Daisuke's mock glare added to the statement. "Exactly. No way. No one kisses you but me."
"Is that so?"
Daisuke just leaned close, caught his head with one hand and kissed him. "Yes, that's so," he muttered.
"In that case..."
Satoshi initiated another kiss, a deeper one, tasting the coffee flavor in his lover's mouth.
--Possessive-- Krad teased.
--Who? Me?--
--Both-- came the laughing reply.
--Learned from the best--
Krad smirked a little, then retreated to recharge his energy levels and rest. Outside, Dark merged with his own host, muttering about the unfairness of the world in general and lovers in particular.
The two humans chuckled and Daisuke caressed his lover's cheek.
"Happy New Year," he murmured.
Satoshi only smiled. Yes, happy new year. And maybe, one day in this new year, he would want to get to know his birth father.