Chapter Three: A New Beginning..

Cold.. Water.. Silence.. The words ring in Subei's ears as his eyes shut tightly.. His entire body felt numb, he could barely move, barely breathe.. He grimaces slowly, trying to pull himself free of the stupor he was in, but his body was out of his control, merely floating in this space..

He felt a warm hand press against his cheek, and he turns his head towards it, slowly opening his eyes to try and see his savior, but there was nothing.. Black..

He let out a gasp, a single large bubble rising into the water as his body arched, and finally he gave in to the blankness surrounding him.

Suddenly, his entire body was warm, as if he was enveloped in a large blanket of sunlight, bright lights dancing about on the other side of his eyelids. He grimaces, opening the violet orbs of his eyes to gaze about at his surroundings.

It was a large meadow of soft green grass that stopped about knee height, he could only imagine the buffet chiggers would be having on his bare chest and back when he sat up.. Wait, where was his shirt? God dammit, what the hell was going on!?

He slowly lifts his hand, well, tries to, but he couldn't feel it, couldn't see it.. He turns his head slowly towards where it should be, only to find nothing there, as if someone had ripped his arm off at the joint and burned it closed. His eyes widen, and he lets out a short yell, scooting back to only bump into something..

He tilts his head back to see who was behind him, only to find a smiling face and two bright green eyes staring down at him. It was a woman, with long white hair tied into a single braid and a small bell at the end of the tie. She had jagged bangs that fell over her eyes slightly, but brushed easily to the side behind her ear.

She wore a white tunic of sorts, with white billowy pants and two chibi blue wings flutter on her shoulder blades. She looked about nineteen, maybe twenty, it was hard to tell, as she was wearing glasses and smiling so wide. She lifts a hand, revealing a golden gauntlet of some sort on her wrist, a single silver chain dangling down and the design of a phoenix engraved onto the metal.

Subei felt his face flush a soft pink, she was beautiful.. A real angel.. And then his eye twitched. ANGEL!?

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?" he scoots in the opposite direction, staring at her and pointing ridiculously, "Where the hell am I!"

She merely giggles softly, lifting a hand to cover her mouth and causing his cheeks to flush a slightly deeper red. Great, he had one arm, probably dead, and already he was acting like an idiot.. He didn't want to go to heaven, not like he had, he was in a bad mood, and he already knew he wasn't going to enjoy it..

Then her next words threw him for a loop.

"Nothing's going on, I'm here to bring you back to earth!" she smiles, moving her wings a bit she floats over to his side, helping him stand slowly. It wasn't until then he realized a pastel blue cape had been draped around him, and he flushes a bit more. He was being taken back to earth by this woman..?

"My name is Meishi Kuwihari! I'm kinda like the grim reaper, except I travel between both worlds and bring the souls either to, or from the earth and other planets!" she nods, lifting her hands and resting them on his shoulders, "By the way.. How do you feel? It was a good thing I found you, you would've drowned!"

Subei blinks his eyes once again, turning his gaze towards her in surprise.. How was he? Drowning? Then he remembered the bike accident, and he jerks slightly, "Dark.. Where's Dark!?"

"He's fine.. You've been out for a week, you know that? They're holding your wake right now as we speak!" Meishi then began to remove the cape, lifting a hand to Subei's chest and leaning forwards a bit to examine his arm, "This won't do, nope.. Won't do at all.. We'll have to visit Gadjet before you can go back.."

Subei blinks his eyes. Dark was all right? His wake? So they thought he was dead.. He lowers his gaze a bit, then squirms slightly at the sudden loss of space, watching the angel stare so intently at his arm made him a tad nervous. He turns his gaze towards her, "Who's Gadjet..?"

She smiles, "He's the man who's going to give you a new arm! It'll be mechanical, mind you, but at least you can still play your music and dance and swim and stuff!"

He felt something turn in his stomach, something sinister twisting about in his gut as he lowers his gaze.. Was he.. His stomach suddenly growls loudly, and he turned beat red. Meishi merely laughs, "Aww! You're hungry! C'mon, let's get you some food!" with that she took his hand, helping him move a bit before flying into the air.

This was going to be a wild ride.. He looks down, seeing the world spinning below him as they continued to fly, fingers gripping tightly about Meishi's as he tries to pull himself closer absently. He couldn't help but smile, amazed at the view below him, the rolling plains, the beautiful blue ocean, even a few dolphins leapt out of the water to greet them.

He turns his gaze to Meishi, laughing softly. The girl looks down at him, smiling gently at him as she pulls him upwards, flying in between a formation of ducks as they began their migration.. She flaps her wings, and suddenly they grow out, about ten feet in length, feathers a mother of pearl color to shimmer every color of the rainbow with each movement she made.

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Dark could feel his throat starting to constrict as he spoke, he turns his gaze over the crowd, having to bite back his tears.. He wouldn't cry, he needed to get over this. He was the Dark Mousy! Phantom Thief! He shouldn't be sobbing like this..

He stops for a moment, something nagging at the back of his mind as he turns his gaze towards the entrance of the shrine, ignoring the contemplating stares of the audience as he could have sworn he saw a shadow of.. Something.. His eyes squint slightly as he stares at the doors, feeling a soft breeze shift into the house he tilts his head back a bit, eyes closing slowly..

"Subei.. I don't believe he's dead.. Nothing can convince me otherwise.. I won't give up until I find him.. Or even a part of him!" Dark suddenly finds himself yelling, hands gripping the oaken podium as he glares at each person in turn, "Until I see his rotting body in front of me, I will NOT believe he's dead!"

Dark turns sharply, racing off through the double doors, pushing past startled teenagers as he continued to run, faster now than ever. He stumbles slightly, falling on his wrist and sliding across the gravel.. He lays there, ignoring the sting of the sharp rocks that tore through his pants and skin on his knees and palms..

Tears sting his eyes as he slowly pushes himself up.. Daisuke was right.. He would believe the boy.. He wasn't going to give up on Subei, just because of some stupid mortals' words.. He lifts his ruby colored gaze, glaring at the world around him. Such disbelieving fools, all of them.. He stands slowly, staggering slightly as his arms fell to his sides, head still bowed as he staggers onwards, wind stinging against his knees as he feels his entire body suddenly heave..

It wasn't until then he noticed a shadow above him. He looks down to the silhouette on the ground, seeing to wings and another form below that. He jerks quickly, lifting his gaze upwards, only to see the clouds.. He lifts a hand to his brow, blocking out the sun, and he finally manages to realize he must be going insane. He lowers his head slowly, making his way towards the University, hands stuffed in his pockets as he shuffles his way towards the path.

What was he going to do after all of this? What if Subei really was alive? What could he do for him? Is he all right? He closes his eyes softly, then leans his shoulder against the wall of the city, turning his eyes towards the ocean and finally turning around completely, arms folded as he leans forwards against his elbows.

He sighs, watching the waters quietly.. The ocean always soothed him, always helped him to relax. He closes his eyes, tilting his head back as the breeze shifts through his long hair once again, a soft smile across his lips as he finally opens his eyes upwards towards the sky..

When was he going to learn?

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Subei turns his gaze towards Meishi as they finally land near a large oak tree. He blinks his eyes, looking upwards at the thick branches and falling forwards as a large rope drops down towards them from the canopy.

Meishi looks up as well, waving an arm as she grabs the rope and ties it about Subei's waist, "Hold on!" she grins, nodding her head as the two of them rise into the air, her wings fluttering a bit as he was tugged upwards.

"Ack! Hey!" Subei yelps as he was suddenly pulled upwards by his waist, hanging there and managing to keep himself from being bumped by the large branches, he turns his gaze towards the ground as he rises, arm and legs dangling under him as he grumbles, "I feel like a rag doll.."

"You're a handsome rag doll!" Meishi grins, taking his cheeks in her hands and pinching them, pulling them apart slightly. He makes a face at her, sticking out his tongue and trying to pull his face out of her grasp without causing further damage to his cheeks, "Le go uh' mah fashe.."

Meishi merely grins, tugging his cheeks a bit more, then letting him go, lifting her gaze as they approach an overhang of some sort. It almost looked like a small tree house. He blinks his eyes as he suddenly finds himself inside, though.

He was on a wooden floor, of course, but around him the room was huge! There was a large table with all arrays of bottles, vials, and curling tubes ranging from one bottle to another to the right hand side, a large chart on each wall, each of a different element or concept. To the left, there was a large chalkboard, different equations and formulas written in scrawl across it in chalk, though some appeared to have been erased by someone's arm in a rage.

In front of him was a small circular table, a plate and a half eaten sandwich on top of the dark cherry surface, and small tools that resembled curly screwdrivers. He slowly stands, turning his gaze about to see Meishi watching a large machine bop and move about slightly, jumping really. He blinks, then slowly standing he makes his way towards it, only for a large blast of black smoke to knock him right back down on his rear with a short yell.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry! My bad!" a large puff of blackened red hair suddenly pops out from under the machine, a huge pair of black goggles hiding the eyes from view. They wore an odd outfit, much resembling what once was a white muscle shirt, now stained black with oil and from the small explosion. Two slender arms reach out, covered in oil and grease, hands hidden by two large brown gloves as they pull out from under the odd cyborg machine. As it stood, Subei realized the person was a male.

Black jeans rest on his legs, a few holes here and there hastily patched up with twine and different colored patches, and he was barefoot, revealing claw-like toenails. Subei cringes slightly, more than likely, that meant the man hadn't bathed or even performed any kind of hygeine on his person in weeks.

The man offered a huge grin, spikey hair swaying as he shakes his body off, then pulls the goggles off and onto the top of his head with a loud 'SNAP!'.

"The name's Gadjet! How do you do!?" he races forwards, taking Subei's hand and pumping his arm in greeting. Subei blinks slightly, feeling his only arm threatening to fall off he pulls it back, "Subei.. Uh.. What is this place..?"

Gadjet grins, swinging his arms out and spinning, "This is my home! My lab! My sanctuary!"

Subei turns about at area around him, watching the angel and the scientist chatter about something, he smiles a bit, surprisingly enough, he felt at home with them. The inventor reminded him of Daisuke, and the angel, being as she was, acted like Dark a lot, but not as bashful..

He lifts his hand, running his fingers through his hair and slowly sitting down in a chair, only to have it buck him out of it and skitter off somewhere. Subei blinks at it in shock, "I.. Guess I'll sit in the floor.."

Meishi turns to him, letting out a laugh and fluttering towards him, arm about his neck as she looks to Gadjet, "What do you think, onii-chan? You think you might be able to fix him a new arm? Onegaiii!?" she whimpers.

Gadjet laughs, hands on his hips as he throws his head back, then lowering it he lifts his arm, giving a thumbs up, "Anything for my little nee-chan!"

Meishi squeals, "See!? I told you he'd do it for you! I told you!" she hugs about Subei's neck tighter. Subei lets out a soft cough, trying to breathe without offending the female angel, but he simply smiles, this was going to be an interesting day in deed..

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Dark was still standing by the wall when Satoshi saw him, riding on his scooter he pulls the machine over towards the once dark phantom.. He lifts a hand, resting it on the man's shoulder, "Hey.."

Dark flinches slightly, but turns his gaze towards the blue eyed teen, offering a half hearted smile, "Yo.. Whatcha' need, speedy?"

Satoshi twitches slightly at the nick-name, not even Subei got away with saying that to him. He lifts his hand, popping the phantom thief in theb ack of the head to cause the older teen to cringe, "Hey hey!"

"Hay is for horses.." Satoshi mutters, leaning against the wall to look out at the ocean, arms folding as he leans against them. He closes his eyes slowly, tilting his head back, "Dark.. What are you going to do now? You going to move in with Daisuke again..?"

Dark shrugs slightly, turning his gaze towards the waters again, "I.. Don't know.. He'll probably want me to now.. But.. I don't know if I'd be able to take it again.. His mother's not all there.." Dark lfits his hand, twirling a finger at his temple in the 'lolo' motion.

Satoshi chuckles softly, "I see.. I have to admit, his mother is quite.. Interesting.. And his father isn't half as normal either.."

The blue haired boy turns his eyes towards the clouds, watching a small plane shoot across the sky in a white arc, letting the lids fall halfway closed he exhales in a soft sigh, "If you really need a place to stay, my father won't mind if you kick it back with us for a while.."

Dark shakes his head, "I'm not going to leave the dojo.."

Satoshi starts at his tone, turning his optics quickly over to him, "What..? But, you don't even have a job, how are you going to be able to afford it on your own?"

Dark shrugs once again, "Well.. I'm gonna try my best to keep working on it.. But.. Right now, I don't want to think about it.. I'm trying to relax.. And think.."

Satoshi could only watch him, just.. Watch him as he continued to speak, he couldn't help but wonder if Daisuke was feeling the same thing the thief felt at that very moment, if the red headed boy was in an equal amount of pain that this man was radiating off of his body at this very second.. There was no telling with these two, only that the both of them had been hit hard with Subei's disappearence.. Maybe things would get better once Dark was by himself for a while, though, Satoshi muses, he wouldn't want to leave the man alone any longer.

He could tell by the bags under the man's eyes that he hadn't slept in a long time, and the fact that they were bloodshot meant that the teen was crying a lot.. He looks down, "You need to stay with Daisuke.."

Dark looks down at him, "What are you, my mother..?" he laughs lightly, though the hollow sound only brought a slight cringe to Satoshi's sensitive ears.

"Just do it, it's not going to kill you, Dark.. And Daisuke needs you more than anything right now.. I'm not really good with this whole 'comforting' thing.. Remember?" Satoshi looks over towards the man, a slight smirk on his lips as Dark flinches. Good, he had hit a nerve, maybe that would put a bit more in the picture, "Besides, you two need to figure out how you're going to prove Subei's alive, right?"

Dark stops, staring at Satoshi for a moment, then with a grin, he smiled, turning his head towards the waters as the two of them simply watched the waters shift back and forth. Maybe now they would be able to both figure out the real mystery behind the disappearence of Subei..

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"It's almost done!" Gadjet yells over the roar of the machine he was using. Subei turns his gaze towards him, lifting a brow as the man continues to poke and prod at his other good arm, it was kind of embarassing, to have so many different suction cups sucking on his skin to show how it moved.

Meishi was sitting behind Subei, hands on his shoulders and rubbing them lightly, to help calm him down, so he thought, though it only made him a bit more nervous. He wasn't used to such close contact by someone who barely knew. He felt his cheeks flush and he lowers his gaze, moving his arm when he was told to and closing his eyes slowly.

"There! Now all I have to do is fix it so it'll stick!" Gadjet sits in a green rolling chair, spinning it around and stopping at the stump on his opposing side. Subei watches him quietly, curious as to who the new metallic arm was going to stick to his body, and keep from getting noticed. He couldn't help but wonder if refridgerator magnets were going to stick to the newfound appendage, or if he'd be able to go through another metal detector again. Oh well, things happen for a reason right? Isn't there an old saying, 'Que Sera Sera?', whatever the hell that means..

Gadjet then began to seal up the wound at the stub, holding the arm up and fixing a few wires as he began to connect them to the small outlets he had made for the socket joint in Subei's arm, twitching the cords here and there so they'd fit inside as he pushes the arm into place.

Subei grinaces slightly, gritting his teeth a bit as he leans forwards. That hurt a little too much for comfort, but, he felt something twitch, looking down he saw that if he thought about it, his arm moved for him. He blinks slightly, turning towards Gadjet as the man pulls his legs under him indian style and rocks back and forth in the chair, "Well, see if it works right!"

He moves his hands and points towards a guitar, making a soft 'woosh!' sound as he rolls towards it, and picks it up, blowing off about ten years worth of dust and tossing it to him. Subei eeps, catching it just in time and looking down at him, using his now robotic arm he strums a slight cord, nodding his head a bit, "Wow, it's amazing!"

And at that moment his arm stummed a bit to hard, causing the guitar to snap straight in half.. Subei sweatdrops, looking over at Gadjet as Meishi bops the older man in the head.

"Eh heh, looks like I've got some work to do, then.." and so Gadjet began to prod at his arm once again..

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Well hey there, wadaya know!? I finished chapter three! Yay! Now, I need a bit more feedback than what I've been getting, now, c'mon! I need ideas for the next chapter, cuz I'm drawing a blank.

RutsuSatoshi : Thank you so much for your comments, I really appreciate the fact that you love my stories! I'm glad atleast YOU leave reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter a lot more than the second one.

Also, thanks to all my friends that have supported me by reading the story and telling me at school just how.. Uhm.. Nice you thought it was! Eh heh, though 'WRITE MORE IN YOUR FCKING FANFIC' is more threatening than supporting, atleast it keeps me going!