{singing} No one is reviewing! No one reviewring! Whatever. Let's go.
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Continuing with the story...
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Chapter 15: Seeking for Answers
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"Tonight?" Daisuke repeated weakly, struggling to get the words into his brain, as much as he wanted it to be a lie, "But... why this all of a sudden..."
"We don't know," whispered Risa, tugging at her hair sadly, and giving Riku a look, "but, yesterday night... they just told up, and..."
"We're leaving," Riku stated, trying hard not to cry, by the sound that her voice seemed choked, "and... I promised to tell you, Niwa-kun, and..."
"Riku-san..." he bit his lip, hearing Dark within him.
This cannot be happening! the Thief was shrieking, Why the HELL does this happen to us?!
"I just... we just..." mumbled the younger twin, "Riku is really upset now," she whispered in the redhead's ear, "and I was hoping you could, you know, cheer her up," she slipped a small piece of paper in his hand, "I was just hoping you would be better by then, but still..."
"I'll... I'll try," Daisuke blushed slightly at being close to her, but knew she couldn't make him change into Dark anymore than Takeshi could. Hiding the piece of paper, and well aware that Riku was getting suspicious, he whispered, "how about you, Harada-san?"
"Me?" she smiled dreamily, "I'll be waiting for Dark-san!"
Two dates in one night. This night, muttered Dark, what annoying situations we encounter. And since you're still not very well, Daisuke...
'I have to go! Either way,' replied Daisuke, as Risa stepped back to talk to Riku, 'Riku-san...'
Okay, I get the picture, cut in Dark, now... are you going to continue the conversation or what?
"Uhm... Riku-san," the redhead started, making her stare at him, "are you... going to be alright?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure I will," she replied quickly, but turned away all the while, "just... I..."
"We have to go home now," Risa said softly, tugging at Riku's sleeve, "bye Niwa-kun..."
"Ah... okay..." he watched as the two slipped out, and then slumped back to open the small piece of paper Risa had given him. Her familiar writing was sprawled out on the small space, but he could read it well enough:
Tonight, at 9pm, please meet Riku at the bridge. --Risa Harada
This could be bad... mumbled Dark, does she mean the bridge where I saw her and spoke to her for the very first time?
'Maybe,' the redhead slipped it under his pillow, 'well aware that his mother was going to find out sooner or later that day, but will I be better by then? Or worse?'
Little ray of sunshine, aren't you? mentally, the Thief pouted at Daisuke's sudden flash of negativity, That isn't like you. Get a hold of yourself, or I'll be the one taking over to meet Riku, got that? Get a hold yourself!
'... you're right,' Daisuke flopped back against the pillows, 'thanks for the encouragement... Dark. If that was encouragement...'
Either way-- started Dark, but the redhead had already fallen asleep, and he gave up, great, now I have to talk to myself again. This ain't any fun... especially since that fever, or whatever it is, is really affecting the body, so I get it as well when I'm in control... what the hell is going on?
The Thief stopped when he noticed the door open again, and Akane entered, somewhat reluctantly, and sat on a chair close to Daisuke's bed. Bowing her head slightly, so that strands of hair fell across her face, she stared hard at her hands, mumbling under her breath. Dark leaned closer to hear what she was saying.
"... tracing the light within the darkness, the corners of fate and time within the very source of life..." she was mumbling, "again, we are seeking for the truth, and the truth alone, the will our very existence in life..."
Perplexed, he sat there, unable to make head or tale behind the words she was muttering, What the hell...
"And, so, is the will of Time..." she gave a small sigh, "Niwa-kun... I'm so sorry..."
Now what the hell is this girl blabbin' about?! Dark yelled in frustration, remaining in the back of Daisuke's mind, Why can't anyone speak straightforward and not going everywhere and never getting' to the point?!
"Time is running out..." she continued, looking away, unconsciously brushing her fringe out of the way, "and the different effects of magic are really affecting you... but strangely enough..."
She fell silent, allowing Dark to think over the last few words she had spoken, This girl... knows something... 'the different effects of magic'... did she mean, that time...?
"Hiwatari-kun hasn't been affected yet," her eyes reflected the last rays of daylight before dimming over, "what is that supposed to mean... or could it be that he wasn't effected by it...?"
... now I'm lost.
"Tonight," she whispered, a hand hovering Daisuke's face, "tonight will decide our fate..."
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO DAISUKE?! yelled Dark, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFFA HIM! Just as bad as Hiwatari, dammit...
"The fate between the Niwa and Hikari family-," a faded mist began to form itself around her hand.
Wha--?
"-and the Time Keepers..." the mist began to surround Daisuke's body, "is soon to begin..."
Magic... breathed Dark in awe as he felt it enter his host, healing...?
She stopped abruptly at the sound of the door being opened, and stood up, in time to see Towa enter, "Ah! He already fell asleep?!"
"Yes..." readjusting her hold on her schoolbag, Akane made for the door, "I best be on my way."
Without another word, she left the room, and Towa followed hurriedly to accompany her to the front door. This left the Phantom Thief on his own, with Daisuke sleeping and With poking from beneath the folds of the blanket.
Magic, huh? he mumbled unconsciously, but, it felt the same, like the last time. Scarlet's magic...
---
The sun was already gone as Satoshi stood a fair way away from the Niwa House's front gate. He was waiting, and, besides the odd hiss from Krad, most people who passed by left him alone.
He wasn't an idiot, having caught site of Akane at the end of school, waiting for the Harada Twins, most likely on their way to visit Daisuke to see his condition. And with that as the conclusion, Satoshi had followed.
Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose unconsciously, he took a glance at the front gate, waiting. Both Riku and Risa had left already, so the only person left was Akane, and he was making sure that she wouldn't be going anywhere before his questions were answered.
::You shouldn't be wasting your time like this, Satoshi-sama,:: drawled Krad, unexpectedly and Satoshi twitched slightly, ::what makes you so sure she will answer all your questions? You could always leave it to me, and, once I'm done with her, Niwa is next in line...::
:Shut up,: the blue-haired boy snapped, and then heard the gate creaking as someone stepped out. He didn't need to go any closer to know it was Akane, and, without hesitation, he went towards her.
Turning in his direction, she gave him a blank look, which made him stop in his tracks, "Were you waiting all that time?" her voice was low and oddly cold, similar to Krad's, and Satoshi frowned.
"And if I was?" he finally asked.
"You do know I won't answer any more of your questions," she said lightly, turning away, "and about Niwa-kun, he'll be fine soon, so your shouldn't worry."
"That wasn't my question," Satoshi muttered, trying hard to remain cool, "what I want to know is--"
"I told you before, and I'll say it again," she cut in, turning her head slightly so that her eyes met his, "I won't answer anymore of your questions."
"..."
::Maybe I should take over, Satoshi-sama...::
:Take...?:
Before he could even respond, Krad had shoved the other boy away and took control, right in front of Akane, who showed little sign of surprise at the sudden switch.
"And you..." her voice faded away.
"We haven't been properly introduced, have we?" Krad smirked.
"... we don't need to be introduced," she turned away again sharply, "and don't think I'll answer any of your questions even if you try to attack me, Krad."
:... she knows you?: Satoshi seemed fairly puzzled, not bothering to try and take over his body again.
The blond frowned at this, "How do you know me?"
A low chuckle escaped the girl, "I know many things, if you want to know," she said, "but none of that is your concern. If you really want some answers," she flicked a small card in their direction, "maybe you should speak to Scarlet instead."
As she started to walk away, she stopped for a moment, as if remembering something, "Oh, and if you're thinking about attacking Niwa-kun, I'd advise you not to," she turned, smirking slightly, "if you do, then your power will be drained completely, and you won't recover for... quite some time," she continued to walk, "keep that in mind if you plan to keep control over Hiwatari-kun's body."
Once she was gone, Krad, and Satoshi, took a look at the card she had given them:
Tonight, at 8pm, I am going to Esville Museum. Something that I want is there, and I will do anything to take it. --Scarlet
:Tonight...?: repeated Satoshi under his breath, and Krad snorted, shoving it into a pocket.
::It seems like a little run around, doesn't it, Satoshi-sama,:: he drew back into the corners of his mind, allowing the blue-haired boy to take control again, ::until tonight.::
:So you took heed to her warning?: unable to stop the question, Satoshi waited for an answer. Krad took a long time reply, but when he did, it was in a toneless voice.
::I have other tings to take care of,:: he hissed, ::and this Takada Akane, she knows what she's talking about. I can sense a strong magical force within her.::
:Hmm...: deciding better than to try the blond's patience, Satoshi made his way to the apartments, where he lived, waiting for night to fall.
---
The night was still, the moon covered in a blanket of gray, and a shadow flittered passed the windows of Esville Museum as Scarlet made her way into it.
Her eyes shot around expectantly, hair falling down past her shoulder blades, as she inspected an old painting, apparently fascinated by its beauty. After a while, she shook her head, muttering under her breath, "No... not this one..."
She slipped into another room, inspecting the odd art piece before making her way into a room where a single item sat on it's own. Trying hard not to slip, she gave the small rock a long look.
"Well, well, well," she muttered, "I'm guessing that this is the one...?"
Not expecting an answer, she literally jumped in surprise when Satoshi answered, "Is it really?"
"The High Commander of the Police Force trying to catch the infamous Dark Mousy, Satoshi, I presume?" she said, recovering from her shock quickly, and giving the boy a displeased look, "And I was wondering if you were planning to come tonight."
"Don't play with me," Satoshi replied, closing off the only escape route, "and I think you may be able to answer some of the questions--"
"That you've been asking, I know," Scarlet sighed, aware that she was a good few centimeters shorter than him, and that there was no way of escape, "but don't think I'm going to say everything to you, just because we're here."
::That attitude...:: muttered Krad, under his breath so that Satoshi almost didn't catch it.
:What?:
"Time is fading, and life itself will fade with it," she said dully, and he frowned.
:That...: "What are you talking about?" :... was out of the blue.:
"I'm stating the Flame's power," Scarlet said loftily, "do you want to hear it, or not?"
"..."
Taking his silence as a 'yes', she continued, "The Flame was created millions of years ago, and is the very source of life, mankind, everything," she sniffed, "and, every few thousand years, a child is born, with the ability to watch over, and even manipulate the power of Time, or so it goes."
"So a Time Keeper."
"Precisely," Scarlet frowned, "life was... at peace, with the Time Keeper, until a warning was exposed to everyone: Time will surely come to fade. Life will cease to exist..." she stopped.
"The Flames of Time," Satoshi muttered, "so, then, what is supposed to be done?"
"Celes told you," she replied, "get the thirteen broaches of the elements, and everything will be fine," she held up a broach, which was glittering pink, "like this."
"..." :...:
::...::
Turning away haughtily, she held the broach so that it was above the rock, and it began to glow eerily, "Elements of Time, show me your strength..." she mumbled. Her words faded into barely a whisper, and Satoshi watched mutely as she continued, both the rock and broach glowing, reacting to each other. After a while, there was a huge flash, Scarlet was holding another broach, this time yellow.
"I'll be on my way-" she started, but, suddenly, it looked like the world had collapsed, like a glass pane exploding into a million pieces of glass, "What!? No... this can't be happening already!!" she shrieked, "Why now--"
"What..." started Satoshi, but was cut short as the world went black.
"CELES!" Scarlet shrieked again, 'Did they... already... no...'
Without another thought, she brought her hands together and cast a spell, sending then both away in a flash of orange-red light, 'One more...'
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What?! yelled Dark, as power began to surge through him and Daisuke, SCARLET?!
He felt both souls being pulled away, into another dimension, and made a grab for Daisuke's limp soul, "Now what..." he muttered in annoyance, "it always ends up like this..."
As five separate souls were teleported away, time seemed to stop, and not a single living creature stirred. Silence engulfed the area, where nothing, and no one, had a chance to escape.
A short scrawl was at the bottom of the sheet that Emiko and Kosuke had been translating of the scroll:
And there was one child who became the Time Keeper. Her name... Ak
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On the wheel turns...