Katbell- Grins Yes, poor Sato-chan is right! giggles evilly
Fireandflames- I know! Between college aps and passing classes I haven't been a very good author lately! . I'm working on it though!
Hikari Fubuki- 0.o the soft drinks speak to us…
Smirnoff- Hey don't forget me!
Kitsune- 0.o
Daere-walks up behind Kitsune quietly We all know I'm going to win this upcoming battle right?
Kitsune- (silent screem) You'll have to read the next chapter!
Kloudy Reignfall- I must agree! I'm glad I looked at my reviews on fan fiction . Net! For some reason I didn't get a review alert for this one! I'm glad it didn't come off as forced! I'm afraid it felt that way to me, I hope this chapter is even more enjoyable for you!
Lenora- 0.o Mew. That's all I have to say. Mew.
Neko-nya- That I did! Seasons greetings to you as well!
Rinoki Rio- 12- Wow! This is like your twelfth review! O.o As for Daere, you'll see…(evil laugh)
13- You know, due to high review rates, there is a patch for this story, (twitches)
14- My poor babies! T.T I made their lives miserable! (twitches and slaps on patch)
15- Yes! Daere learns his lesson- but does he really learn?
16- Well we all love evil bishies! (slaps on another patch labled patch for evil bishies)
17- (hands you box of patches) Welcome to the club!
Animegoil- lol! Yeah, I figure if Krad doesn't grow, he'd be a stagnant character, and that ruins it. So I had him grow, but since he's so mature already, he had to learn that it was okay to be a kid again. As for Drem and Leiko, yes I've had to protect them from rabid OC hate groups, the main thing is to make sure your Ocs have no romance with main characters no matter how tempting. Not too difficult on my part considering Leiko and Drem were literally made for each other! oh, and I love commas too, or do I?
Baka-chibbi- Yes, it's a shame that Daere is so huggable and damnable at the same time- blame him for my cliffhanger! Daere-O.o
Beysie- I'm glad you liked it! Everyone thinks I'm going to have Satoshi raped- The thing is, I didn't even think of it! But I am writing the story as I respond to the reviews so you never know! -
Silvertears- Kitsune-chan updated! Mewi! shoves Dark and Krad into bed together
Dark&Krad- We feel use-ed
Daisuke- Eh…(blushes)
Satoshi- (glares) Save. Me.
Golden-flame4- o.0 lol! Hope you like this next chappy just as much!
Mutou Yasu- Lol! That's right, poor Sato-chan!
Christopher (Blizzi too)- o.O (whistles) That's one helluva long review! (puts up next chappy before heading over for tea)
Ch18- A Nightmare Come True.
Mekura and Kiyohi, Ignorance and Denial. Daisuke had seen many things, but it seemed that these beasts got uglier every time he saw them. Their red flesh grew more putrid, their veins protruded more along raw sinewy muscles. Their eyes were more crazed, feverish even as if they had some plague within their bodies to spread.
His crimson eyes narrowed at the sight of them. They were disgusting. And they were the creatures of the monster that had stolen his Satoshi.
It was time he showed them, once and for all, that he was the Niwa they'd waited fourteen years to see.
XxXxX
When Dark heard noise outside, he knew he should probably get up. When he found himself weighted down with Krad's light form he reconsidered. It was then he felt a burst of energy that had him and the newly awakened blonde running out the door.
The dogs were backing away from Daisuke, and who wouldn't Dark and Krad were backed against the wall of the house as Daisuke stood before the demons, fist clenched white knuckled as energy radiated off his body. The dogs bore their fangs, poison dripping down.
It was as if they understood, that if they lost, this was the final battle. "Enough." said Daisuke furiously as hot tears ran down his cheeks. "This is enough. Daere will regret this!" he growled.
It didn't take even a second for Dark and Krad to figure out what had happened. Satoshi wasn't there, and the dogs were. They stepped to Daisuke's sides, shadowy and ethereal guardians. The beasts charged.
XxXxX
Leiko ran into the yard and her heart jumped into her throat. Dark and Krad were having difficulty fighting off Kiyohi but they were managing. No it was Daisuke fighting Mekura alone that had her worried. His eyes were wild. Not the eyes of the Daisuke she knew. His brows were knitted as he fought bravely against the dog, using all his skills of thievery and martial arts.
In the end, he was good, better than she'd expected, but no match for the demonic dog with the long claws and poisonous fangs. He had blood running down his arm but since none appeared burnt she had to assume it was from the long claws of the dog which were no where near acidic as the dog's saliva.
But his eyes were so determined. He had something to fight for. She looked up to the doorway where Drem watched, clearly feeling hopeless and realizing he was no match for these mystical creatures. The moment their eyes met she darted.
Emiko was right. She had something to fight for too.
XxXxX
As a normal boy, Drem was considered beyond adept at fighting. He was strong and he knew it. But the moment he saw those dogs he knew, if he tried to help he would only be in the way. That's why when Leiko lunged into the fight to help Daisuke it was as if his heart was wrenched out of his chest.
He'd thought he'd loved Nori, until he saw what kind of person his girlfriend really was. But Leiko, Leiko had just shown him exactly who she was. She had the purity of Eriko. The sense of responsibility of Cadell. And all the beauty of both women combined, inner and outer. Also a bravery that was all her own.
She lunged at the dog knocking it off balance before it could close its jaws around Daisuke's torso. "Drem!" she shouted. "Emiko is at the shopping center!"
She didn't have to say any more. He knew she loved the other woman like a real mother. Even if he couldn't help here, he could help elsewhere. He jumped into his car and sped off.
Leiko yelped as the dog roughly head butted her ribs knocking her down before roughly digging its claws into her shoulders. She screamed as the Mekura's large jaw descended towards her throat along with impending death. Her last thought was that she'd never told Drem that she loved him.
Then there was light.
The dog let out an almost human scream as it's flesh was burned away and it released it's hold on Leiko's shoulder where it'd dug it's teeth in. Within seconds, Mekura had ceased to exist.
They all stared at Daisuke. Even Leiko who was near blinded with pain. Daisuke sunk to his knees. He didn't know how he'd shot off that blast. All he knew was that he was seeing spots, and that where Mekura's corpse was slowly disintegrating, Kiyohi was nowhere to be found.
XxXxX
Daere could only watch in disbelief as Kiyohi crawled in whimpering, wounded beyond repair. "No," he murmured. "It can't be!"
His protests were cut off by Satoshi's cool laughter. "I'm guessing Daisuke handled your other puppy. Niwa never fails to surprise," said Satoshi almost affectionately.
Daere hauled up Satoshi by the lapels as the boy glared at him defiantly, his hands twitching. "You have yet to understand what a dire situation you're in! The only reason I keep you about is for bait- and if you're lucky, a bit of entertainment. You should keep your mouth shut or else I might find other duties to occupy it." growled Daere.
"You don't scare me Daere. I made you. I know what you're capable of. But I also knew your limitations." said Satoshi, his cold eyes making even Daere shiver. "The Niwa or his creature Leiko will destroy you. It doesn't matter what happens to me, I'll die with the satisfaction of knowing you're coming with me."
Daere's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that!" he said pulling Satoshi's lips to his.
As Daere's tongue invaded Satoshi's mouth, he knew that like Krad he was about to be infected with the terror of this creatures poison induced nightmares. Or he was going to relive his painful past.
When Daere tossed him down he was dizzy for lack of breath.
Satoshi's glasses tumbled across the floor. True, he didn't need them, but now that they were gone his head hurt. Or that could be the fact that he'd hit the headstand of the bed.
He gritted his teeth as the dreams came. He was up for a long night of hell. It didn't matter. Hopefully as long as he kept Daere angry, Daere would probably keep making mistakes.
XxXxX
It seemed to Emiko that the ride home was particularly long today. It didn't help that a nervous adolescent boy was driving- clearly trying to hurry, but not make any mistakes she'd disapprove of.
It was sweet. But at the time, both unnecessary and annoying.
"So…Drem, I'd heard at the high school you boys like to race your cars,"
His face flushed. Bingo.
"Not at all miss, we don't speed at all and I-"
"Drem. If this car isn't in my front yard within the next five minutes, I'm going to call your parents and tell them you race in the parking lot during lunch."
"…Yes ma'me!"
There was only the screech of tires and the smell of burnt rubber to ever show that they'd been there but a second before.
XxXxX
When the car's front wheels stopped spinning and the back wheels didn't, Emiko was certain they'd careen into a tree, a fire hydrant, or a small dog. When instead it stopped in her driveway, perfectly parked, she took about five seconds before she fixed her hair, and began breathing again.
One thing she'd learned about Drem in the past 3 and ½ minutes, was that though sweet, he was the leader of a high school metal band, he was quite possibly the best street racer in all of Japan, and he could jump an eight foot high garden fence in under three seconds.
She'd begun to consider that he was a bit inappropriate for sweet innocent Leiko when she too scaled the garden fence in under three seconds. One didn't mother a master thief without learning a few tricks first.
When they immediately saw the battle was no longer outside, they ran in the house.
Drem stopped with a gasp. Around the kitchen table sat Dark, Krad, and Daisuke, beat up, but relatively unscathed. On the couch however was Leiko. She was deathly pale, and most of her torso and shoulders were wrapped in bandages that in the end were practically a t-shirt. Blood soaked through on the right shoulder.
He rushed up to her and grabbed one of her cold hands, his own face gone very, very pale. "Leiko. Oh god Leiko I'm sorry! I couldn't do anything!" he said shaking his head.
Leiko smiled and put her other hand on his cheek, she didn't have the heart to tell him she couldn't even feel her right hand in his grasp. "It's okay Drem. I'm just so glad you're okay, I was worried."
"Leiko!" he said, tears in his eyes. "It's not okay! I didn't protect you before when you were Eriko, I didn't trust you when you were Cadell, and now this!"
With one swift movement she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down into a passionate kiss. "Drem." she repeated. "You saved me back then. Eriko couldn't remember, but I do. You've saved me more times than I can count. And I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Right after this final battle."
He was still dazed from the kiss, but he didn't miss her words. "Battle? Leiko," he said seriously. "You're In no condition, you could die!"
"I heal quickly!" she protested, "beyond that, Daisuke will go with or without me, won't you Daisuke."
Daisuke was silent by the door, white knuckled as he clenched his fists. "I'm sorry Drem. I have to go. He has Satoshi, and Leiko is the only way to beat him."
Drem wanted to protest. He wanted to argue and shout. But he knew he would have done the same thing were their positions reversed.
So he kept his silence. Emiko put her hand on his shoulder. "Kosuke and your grandfather went off this morning to research Daere, but I suppose this is the way it was meant to happen." she said with a smile as her eyes got teary.
She found herself enveloped in the arms of her son. And it was strange that at this moment she realized he was no longer the boy she'd sent through obstacle courses. This was a man, and as much as she was crying on his shoulder, he was crying on hers.
"Oh Daisuke!" she murmured. "Please, come back to me,"
He pulled her away and kissed her on the forehead. "I will mother, I will."
"We'll bring him back," said Dark winking at her and putting a hand on Daisuke's shoulder. His eyes widened when Krad put his hand on Daisuke's other shoulder.
"And I'll bring them all back. You have my word as a Hiwatari artwork!" said Krad winking as well.
"You two are coming?" asked Daisuke in disbelief. He knew he should have expected it, but he saw it as a score for him and Daere to settle- with Leiko helping somewhere due to the fact that it was prophesized that she'd defeat Daere in the first place.
"Of course, do you think I'd let you go alone? Creepy boy is important to me too!" said Dark.
"And I don't intend to let Dark run off and get himself killed." said Krad. "Beyond that, you don't need Kiyohi appearing at an inopportune moment."
"Thank you," murmured Daisuke with watery eyes. He then wiped his tears away with his sleeve revealing a determined smile. "Let's go show Daere what happens when you mess with the Niwas and the Hiwataris!"
XxXxX
Satoshi attempted to stop the sobs, but even through his gritted teeth the cries of misery rang out clear. First the dreams had been simple nightmares. Daisuke leaving him for one of the twins. Krad taking over and going after Daisuke.
Then they'd gotten so much more complex. Daisuke being taken against his will. Crying out for Satoshi to help him. But still his body remained leaden.
Then someone with his face hurting Daisuke. Daisuke screaming out for him to stop. That he loved him. Trusted him. The whole time, Satoshi wanted to stop it. To pull Daisuke away, tell him it was a bad dream, and that he'd always protect him.
But he couldn't stop them. Couldn't stop himself.
Tears gathered in his blue eyes.
It wasn't long before it got to his already troubled mind. He screamed until he went unconscious.
XxXxX
Daere watched all this with a smile, brushing the bluenette's hair out of his pretty face. It wouldn't be long before his lover came to reclaim him. Any creature would be mad not to.
Satoshi's face was serene, showing that in this state of unconscious dreamlessness he'd escaped Daere's curse. Daere, surprisingly, wasn't angry.
The main reason of which being simple. He planned to make most of Satoshi's nightmares come true. He'd heard small pieces of Satoshi's nightmare from the bluenette's own innocent lips.
He wanted them to stop hurting Daisuke. And it was fairly obvious how they were doing it. He was begging for them to take him instead. Tears had run down his face presenting a beautiful image for Daere's eyes. That look, he decided, was the one the red head would have before he killed him.
He ran his hand across Satoshi's face. He was rather tempted to use this one, his pretty mouth begged to be kissed and his pretty eyes begged to be widened in terror. It simply wouldn't be any fun were he unconscious. In fact he was rather disappointed that the boy had had no dreams of being raped. He would have loved to have made them reality while they happened. But no, his dreams were simply Daisuke, Daisuke, and more Daisuke.
"Leiko," he murmured. Would she, he wondered, prove to be an eternal rival if neither of them died tonight? Surely he would kill the humans and the angels. That he didn't doubt. But Leiko might prove a tad more difficult. If she lived, he would chase her down for eternity. Never leaving a hell that he'd create for her.
Kiyohi whimpered in the corner, missing his brother and sensing the mad energy emanating from his master. He was nearly fully healed, but some of the wounds inflicted wouldn't close. They'd been ugly beasts before, but with the gaping gashes along the beast's side it was even uglier Daere decided.
It wasn't long before he sensed Leiko and the others approaching quickly. He smiled as he walked out of the shrine to greet them. This should prove to be a very eventful evening.