Whoo-hoo! Another chapter up! And I am so proud of myself, except, well... it's only one chapter this week. Kinda disappointing for me, 'cause I usually do two chaps, but as long as it's done, it's all cool. Heh. Anyway, things are really starting to pull out and I don't think it'll be able to drag off anymore. We're really getting there, aren't we?

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Daisuke: This is tiring work.
Dark: I don't care about that! I want my pay on this!
Satoshi: Is that all you can think about?
Dark: Well, what else should I think of?!
Seena58: Settle down, settle down...
Celes: There isn't much of Krad, is there?
Seena58: No...
[I really need to have more Krad, if you ask me. Heh.]
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Chapter 12: Explanations

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Moonlight filtered into the darkened room, splattering dim light into the room, and Celes indicated the floor coolly to Daisuke and Satoshi and their other halves, who had temporarily taken into having their own bodies.

"Please take a seat," she insisted, "but do watch out for shards of crystal. I do believe that there are still some on the floor. I am sorry we do not have any seats."

Daisuke and Dark exchanged perplexed looks before accepting the offer while Satoshi threw a warning glance at his blonde counter-part before settling himself a fair distance away from the other two, and Krad was looking mutinous. Celes' eyes remained slightly glazed over and extremely calm as she gave him an even look.

"I suggest no fighting here," she whispered, "because this area is highly... unstable and any type of magic will make it collapse in on itself. Besides..." she gave him a thin smile of amusement, "this room has been sealed, so no one can use magic anyway."

"..." Krad raised his left palm up experimentally, but nothing happened. Not even a wisp of energy appeared and he twitched dangerously. Celes, seeing his anger, continued coolly.

"Besides the seal that has been placed," she explained, "you get almost all your power from your host, and at the moment you cannot use as much power because you are separated from them. At least, that is my theory."

After a bit of mutinous muttering from Krad as he sat down, Celes continued with what she was saying as if nothing out of the ordinary had just interfered with her concentration.

"You do know," she started, "that all artworks, especially before the Cultural Revolution, contain a type of power, magic if you will, that only a select few can actually feel, see and even use? The Hikari family," she gave Satoshi a slight glance, "used lots of forms of magic in their artworks, which made them... special. It brought an unknown happiness to those who saw them and... well, that's besides the point," she shook her head in frustration, "but, have you ever heard of the magic of Time?"

Daisuke looked politely confused, while Dark, Krad and Satoshi suddenly seemed more intent then usual. Celes frowned slightly when she noticed the redhead's puzzlement before turning to Dark.

"You didn't tell him anything?" she asked, keeping her voice level and Dark looked baffled and confused, if not slightly injured – mentally, anyway.

"Well, that is..." he started.

"Dark?" queried Daisuke innocently.

Celes waved a hand to keep everyone quiet, "No matter. It seems that I will just have to start at the beginning of this. Now," she gave the redhead a small smile, "you know a bit about the Niwa and Hikari history, no?"

"... parts of it," he mumbled, deciding better than to tell her that he barely knew anything of it, although he could guess, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Well, in their times, when there was peace with the families," she said smoothly, "there was also a lot of use of magic, although, as you may know, it drains the user a fair bit so it was only used in times of need.

There have been many different... types of magic, such as healing, offensive, defensive and elemental, to name a few. But there were rumors about another magical content that was never mentioned to the public, because of so many things.

It is a really old form of magic, which lives on even now. But sadly, it is now fading into nothingness," she closed her eyes, face creased with worry, "and we need your help, all of you... to save it from disappearing... otherwise everyone, everything that you care for, will be gone forever."

"And that is," started Krad softly.

"The magic of Time," finished Dark, eyes focused on Celes.

---

As Takeshi's father, Inspector Saehara, skidded down the hallway to the left wing where Dark was most likely going to be (unless he already escaped), he berated the group of young men who were supposed to be watching and keeping an eye out.

"If he past by your area," he growled, "then you'll be in a LOT of trouble--"

"But, inspector," puffed one of the guards, "we were keeping an eye out, just like you instructed us, but--"

Their conversation was stopped short as a figure blocked the corridor to the wing. Stepping up swiftly, the person threw the older man a sharp salute and he relaxed slightly when he noticed that it was just another guard.

"Inspector Saehara, sir!" he barked, "Commander Hiwatari said that only he was to enter this wing and that the rest should guard any entrances or exits to stop the Phantom Thief Dark from escaping, sir! I'm here to report any odd activity, sir!"

He waited, while the old man took in everything he had just heard. Saehara gave the guard a long stare before nodding and they retreated. Shaking his head and trying hard to suppress the laughter, Akane swept her cap off and her hair tumbled back down, "Don't come back anytime soon now."

Having dressed in a security guard's uniform she had managed to 'borrow', Akane shook her head at how easily the old man and the other guards had fallen for her lie.

Once she was sure that no one would interfere with the particular room, the young girl returned to where the still forms of Dark and Krad were lying. Sniffing in displeasure, she inspected the holes that had been created during the short-lived battle before moving over to the painting and giving it a critical eye.

"Well, they sure know how to paint," she whispered, brushing a hand lightly over the painting, "it's been a long time since I saw you around. I wonder how you got here..."

After making sure that all the artworks had not been harmed in any way, Akane sat on a wall opposite to the limp forms and pulled out a small broach. Fiddling with it experimentally, she soon adjusted it and instantly recognized Celes' voice, as well as Krad's and Dark's voices.

"--otherwise everyone, everything that you care for, will be gone forever."

"And that is..."

"The magic of Time."

'They're sharp,' she had to admit, 'but how much will she really tell them? I'm a little worried...'

Shaking her head and watching a pool of light splash on the smooth, marble floor, she allowed Celes' explanation to fill the silent room as she sat there, alone.

---

"That is correct," nodded the small girl in approval, "the magic of Time is the very essence of our being. Without it, then we are all doomed..."

"Wait, now I remember where I heard that name before!" gasped Daisuke in sudden recognition, "Celes was from... that scroll that my parents translated! You were a priestess in training and you were curious about the Niwa-Hikari conflict as well!"

Celes looked surprised for a moment, but she soon regained her composure and nodded, "You are correct. So your parents found that old piece of writing. I hid it after I wrote it, otherwise my master would have been furious with me...

Indeed... that was a long time ago... when I first met them... your ancestors," she explained briefly, "and I heard about you two as well and how you came to loathe each other," she nodded at Dark and Krad unconsciously, "but being a priestess meant that I kept to myself more than anything else and I was not allowed to ask any questions concerning the matter."

"Then how did you meet our ancestors," started Satoshi, "if you were forced to keep to yourself?"

"I only met them briefly," she whispered, "when they were seeking my help. I mean," she sighed, "they wanted me to help them protect a certain child..."

"What do you mean?" Daisuke frowned. Celes shook her head and turned away from them.

"You read about the Time Keepers, no?" she asked, "And the Artifacts of Time. They are all connected..."

"So then..." Satoshi frowned, "why are we being dragged into this?"

"The Niwa family and the Hikari family were actually related to the Time Keepers," she whispered, "so only you two, with Dark and Krad of course, can help the child in this time of need. We have all been dreading of this coming day."

"What's she trying to say, Daisuke," Dark started, "is that if time stops, we're all just gonna become a group of statues. Like the Second Hand of Time."

"But that..." the redhead looked aghast, "I don't even know what's really going on anymore!"

"Let me just say," Celes cut in calmly, "that the artifact which needs to be saved is known as... the Flames of Time."

---

Getting bored of the explanation – as Akane saw, was getting nowhere – she got up and went over to large window and took a long look outside, the moonlight dimly reflecting off her hair. Reaching to the back of her plait, she pulled the broach - that was still dimly emitting a soft pink glow – and inspected it silently.

'So this is it, is it?' she thought, 'Once the flame fades away completely, then all mankind, from both worlds, is doomed for eternity. Of course, once time freezes completely, there is nothing to worry about is there. We'll all just be statues anyway.'

Sighing, she stared at the broach blankly, "Is this..." she whispered, "what must happen? The broach... thirteen in total, each with the element of its own kind, is the very essence of the Flame, so to save the flame..."

"—you have to retrieve these broaches," Celes was explaining, and her voice jerked Akane out of her own reverie. Sighing, the girl tapped her foot against the floor.

"Why do you always have to go on forever?" she wondered out loud in frustration.

---

"So if we get all thirteen of them," Daisuke started slowly, "then the Flames will be okay?"

"Of course," nodded Celes, "and that is why we need your help. Scarlet cannot do this on her own, so--"

"Scarlet?!" demanded Dark, "You're saying that she's somehow involved with this as well?"

"You don't remember?" she frowned, as if remembering, "Oh, well, yes, she is involved, and you will have to accept her company when it happens. I am assuming..."

"There isn't much time left, is there?" asked Krad in his usual drawl, "And that is why you forced us here. Not to mention to stop me from killing them--"

"Both the Hikari and the Niwa blood is needed to save the Flame," Celes stated coolly, "didn't I already say that both families are involved with the Time Keepers? So if I'd allowed you to kill Niwa Daisuke, then there would be no point in talking to you at all."

Krad fell silent there, looking mutinous, and the small girl continued, "I better let you four go now, this magic won't last for much longer..."

As the four stood up, mist began to swirl around them. Refusing all sense of safety, Daisuke called out to Celes.

"Wait... about this Time Keeper," he yelled, "how... how can they be related to our families if neither family can't use the magic of Time?!"

"That is because," she whispered, "the Time Keeper--"

As they were sent back into the swirling vortex, her voice echoed all around them.

"—holds the blood..."

She was cut off before her sentence was complete.

---

Watching coolly until she was sure that both people were going to be fine, Akane swept out the room without another glance.

"Celes..." she muttered, "you never truly got your point across, did you?"

---

The first thing Satoshi noticed when he regained consciousness was that someone was lying on top of him. Struggling to get the other person off him, the person groaned and Dark's voice could be heard above him.

"I am never doing that again," groaned the Phantom Thief.

"Get off me," Satoshi muttered, although he was relieved that he had changed back rather than staying as Krad. Dark froze at his voice, and jumped off instantly, yelling something about the 'Creepy Bastard' before falling silent again at the blue-haired boy's level stare. Pushing his glasses back on, he frowned, "you seem to be rather energetic today."

"Oh no!" Dark's eyes widened as he tried to reach to the redhead, "Daisuke?! ... dammit," he hung his head in annoyance and worry, "I think his condition's worse..."

"Niwa..." for a moment Satoshi had forgotten that the other boy had been sick, "you should take him home and not go out until he's better."

"I know that," snapped the Thief as he strode past the blue-haired boy and took the painting, "so I'll be on my way now."

For the first time in quite a while, Satoshi found himself letting the Phantom Thief go free without a chase and then made his own way out the museum, while Krad muttered under his breath.

::You should've left him to me, Satoshi-sama.::

:Be quiet,: Satoshi replied, :I need to think.:

As he exited the museum, he could catch the first rays of the sun slowly creeping onto the cold footpath and he frowned slightly.

Things were starting to get out of hand.

###

Celes didn't flinch when another figure stepped up behind her.

"You talk a lot, don't you know?"

"Of course, Scarlet," she gave the other a serene smile, "but that's all part of the plan, no?"

"Hmph," Scarlet sat down heavily and watched as the room shattered and they were back in the void, "so now it's all forwards, isn't it? We don't enough time to hang around."

"We have to wait until the Niwa boy recovers," Celes reminded her friend, "or it won't work."

"I know that already," Scarlet said impatiently, "but I don't think they really want to work together that much."

"You are talking about Krad and Dark, no?"

"Yeah," she sighed, "but I guess that's how it will have to go to..."

Her sentence was cut short as Celes jumped up in alarm. It didn't take her too long to catch sight of the fading wisp of energy and her face paled.

"No..." she whispered weakly.

They both bolted out of the room and it wasn't too long until they reached a glass room, where a huge flame stood, surrounded by a number of smaller flames. As they watched in horror, one of the smaller flames flickered out and died, leaving no trace of its existence and Scarlet shook her head.

"This can't be happening already..."

"Scarlet..." Celes gazed at the other girl uncertainly, "are you saying... does this mean..."

Fear filled the silent room as Scarlet spoke through the fearful silence, which seemed to blanket over them.

"The Flame is already dying. Time is running out..."

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Yes, it is kinda confusing, but hopefully you got the gist of it. Anyway, I've gotta plan the next few chapters and all, but since the stories going its own course... yeah, okay. And I am well aware that some parts don't connect properly, like the Celes-Niwa-Hikari thing. I'm kinda confused myself, but since I know what I'm supposed to be talking about, I'll fix that up when I have time, okay?
I have to thank all those who've been reviewing and all. You guys are cool! I've got more plans and things are really getting there, isn't it? Hope you'll be back for the next chapters!