Chapter 1:

Darkness. Night. Silence. Vacancy. At night, the museum seemed like a ghost town. At Satoshi's request the police had left the now blank canvas at the scene of the supposed crime…where Dark had allegedly switched the real Hikari painting for a blank one. But he had not, and Satoshi knew… for he himself had been within that canvas, the portal to another world, and been over come by its magic. After Krad and Dark had defeated the demon within the painting the symbols on the canvas that made the door to the Shadow World art, had vanished…at the deaths of the Guardians…Adel and Zanus…the painting had sealed itself from the inside. Yet, Satoshi had returned…for if the painting truly was of no more danger, then the canvas would have truly been blank…but it wasn't…to a being cursed with Hikari eyes, the canvas looked back at him. It became a mirror, meaning that the painting was not fully sealed. Tonight, he hoped to put his fears to rest and seal this painting once and for all.

Satoshi had finally entered the Medieval Exhibit room, which was now cleared out with only the large blank canvas in the center of the room. There was little light in the room, only the moonlight from the high skylight; it cast an eerie glow over the chamber.

Satoshi stopped in front of the canvas that to him looked like a mirror, and starred at his reflection. A bead of sweat rolled down his pale skin and the hair on the back of his neck was on ends, he felt as though he were being watched by something, but he knew no one was there.

"It…It's still emitting that aura…" Satoshi said softly to himself trying to subdue the knot in his stomach.

Satoshi's eyes narrowed, he knew what he had to do, and he knew he could do it…but he didn't know…if it would work. Starring at himself in the mirror that only he could see made him feel extremely uncomfortable, but he kept his composure and his mind focused on the mission at hand. Dark wasn't to strike anywhere tonight, he knew, Daisuke had assured him over dinner that Emiko had no plans for them and that Satoshi could finish his business at the museum undisturbed. A smile played on Satoshi's face as he thought of the red headed young man, his best friend…and secretly the love of his life. A sudden jerk of annoyed and magic energy from within his chest brought him out of his musings causing him to come back to the present time and task.

The ice demon living within him still harbored some detest towards the Niwa boy and didn't like Satoshi thinking about him to affectionately, though his tamer had brought Krad's temper about the matter under control, he didn't press his luck and moved Daisuke's image aside. Satoshi looked over the canvas again and focused on the center, the original opening to the shadow world, and placed his hand on the surface.

To his dismay, yet unsurprisingly, the doorway to the Shadow World was still opened by a small rift. The magic within was sealed so nothing would come from the painting…but something was missing and had escaped before Adel and Zanus's deaths. Thinking about the two sorcerers pained his heart a bit, for even though his other self had tried to kill him…in the end, he truly saved his life…by giving his own. Their sacrifice was the only reason he was alive right now…but more importantly, they were the only reason Daisuke was alive.

Suddenly at the thought of the two mages, the area where his hand was began to freeze and a quick shock of energy pinched his skin as he quickly removed his hand with a yelp. He wasn't at all suspecting this reaction. He rubbed his numb hand slightly starring at the mirror in front of him.

"What…what was that?" Satoshi asked confused.

'Satoshi…look at the edges of the mirror!' Krad growled quickly.

Frost! Shards of frost and ice were surrounding the boards of the mirror from within…but why?

"What do you think it is?" Satoshi asked looking at the icy interior of the portal worriedly.

'It must be sealing itself…' Krad replied, 'Whatever escaped from there…won't be able to return to it for much longer…'

Satoshi could feel a warm aura emit from within him and suddenly the ice stopped growing, for now at least.

'There…' Krad said as Satoshi felt a good-sized portion of his energy drained from him, 'that will keep it open for a while…but not for to long. Whatever escaped from here must be returned as soon as possible.'

Satoshi looked own at his hand worriedly, usually a spell like this wouldn't have drained so much energy from Krad, but it felt as though it caused him great pain to cast it.

"Krad are you alright?" Satoshi asked.

'I'm fine…I… I just haven't had to use magic without taking over very often…that's all…' Krad replied as if surprised himself that such a simple spell took so much out of him, but to Satoshi, Krad's theory seemed logical and didn't think too much of it after that. He still was trying to get use to caring about Krad in the first place.

"How long would you say we have?" Satoshi asked.

'…' Krad was silent for a while, 'I'd say…about a week…maybe two at the most if my spell holds…'

"Should we ask Daisuke and Da-" Satoshi began only to be cut off.

'NO!' Krad snapped venomously, 'the last thing we will do is ask for their help! Especially Dark's!'

"Krad, put your pride away…this isn't a time for your solitary…independent attitude…we could really use their help. Look at all the times their assistance has come through for us." Satoshi countered feeling assured he'd won the argument.

'Yes, but look at this…every time we've asked for their help…it's because they caused the mess!' Krad spat angrily and Satoshi shivered as Krad's rage ran through his head.

"Krad…" Satoshi replied trying to oppress the chills wreaking his body, "this time it wasn't their fault! And if we don't return whatever has escaped from this painting within our short time frame then we'll be the ones to blame for the mess. What do you think of that?"

'Sato-kun…trust me…we are better off alone!' Krad growled trying to calm himself down sensing that his anger was harming his host internally, 'The last thing we need is their interference.'

Satoshi stood adamant by his decision to ask Daisuke for help, unlike the fallen angel that lived inside of him; he wouldn't mind the Niwa's company at all. In fact…Satoshi was looking forward to it.

"Krad, I'm going to call Daisuke in the morning and ask for his assistance." Satoshi said firmly as his gaze ran from the canvas up to the skylight above.

Suddenly, Satoshi felt a sharp drop in any malice emotion from the angel. It worried him at first, back when Krad and he couldn't stand to live together within one body, whenever Krad's energy sharply dropped it would explode a moment later and unimaginable pain would surge through the young detective's body as Krad forcefully took over. But Satoshi was surprised to feel no such hostility.

'Fine then…beg your dear Niwa for help…' Krad said calmly as is he didn't care, but Satoshi knew better, 'But…I know you're aware of what we're dealing with here…'

Satoshi froze a moment and remained silent.

'Whatever escaped from that painting has control of whatever kind of energy held within that canvas…and you and I both know how powerful and evil that energy is…' Krad continued dropping his tone down to more like a warning, 'Do you really want to take the chance of having your precious Daisuke harmed by such evil? Do you really want him to be pulled into a hunt for something he could just as easily become the hunted?'

Suddenly a soft wave of guilt and worry flooded over Satoshi and his heart began to pound quickly.

'If you truly care about Daisuke…you won't pull him into such a dangerous mission. And I was under the impression you cared about him very…very much…' Krad finished sending another wave of guilt through Satoshi for even considering asking Daisuke for help.

A sudden realization came to Satoshi; he'd been relying too much on Daisuke. He'd been relying too much on his prey for help…and as a hunter his pride was damaged greatly. But more important then pride was the fact that he didn't want Daisuke to get hurt. Another shudder of cold washed over him and shivered slightly, he didn't want to stay here anymore…not like there was anything else to do.

"…" Satoshi was quiet for a long time as he came out of his thoughts, "Alright Krad, you win…I won't ask Daisuke for help…" He said quietly as his announcing it was a shame.

'Don't worry Satoshi…' Krad replied and Satoshi suddenly felt warmth all around him as if he were in an embrace, 'You've made the right decision…'

Satoshi's chest was knotted and tight, he felt so terrible about having to keep this from Daisuke…they had both helped to subdue and survive the world hidden within the painting, and now he felt like he was keeping a secret from Daisuke…and Daisuke deserved to know. Suddenly Satoshi felt a brief moment of pain and then nothing as white wings spread from his back and his short blue hair became long and golden. Krad had taken over as Satoshi was pulled deep inside of the golden seraph's mind.

Krad stood still a moment making sure that Satoshi had fully adjusted to the sudden switch in personalities, once he was satisfied that Satoshi was resting comfortably, he opened his large ivory wings taking in the sweet feel of the outside world. Though as he continued to relish in the feeling of blood running through his veins again a sudden urge to turn to the painting caused him to whirl around on full alert.

Golden cat like eyes glared at the canvas that to him reflected his angelic visage… however nothing was there. Something had drawn him to quickly look at the canvas as though it were a threat… 'Yes' he thought, 'it's best that this time…Dark not interfere… it's far to unpredictable and risky to have his immature behavior destroy what little chance we have at ending this thing once and for all…I can only hope…he'll forgive me…'

With a great and graceful flap of his mighty wings, the fallen angel disappeared into the night through the open skylight above, leaving the cursed canvas behind. At the certainty that his presence was gone, an icy and shadowy hand emerged from within the painting. It seemed that whatever had escaped the painting hadn't gone to far…

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"Daisuke! Wake up, you're going to be late!" Emiko called from down stairs as her son lazily slept upstairs.

"Mmm…" Daisuke groaned and rolled over in his bed trying to block out the annoying sounds of the morning.

'Dai, come on time for school!' Dark chimed trying his best to make sure that Daisuke didn't get a wink more of sleep. For Daisuke had deprived him of his sleep when he decided to stay up until four a.m. doing his homework that he neglected to do over the weekend because he decided that spending it with the 'creepy bastard' was more important. 'Come on Dai-chan, you brought this mess upon yourself!' Dark said in a tone that sounded more suitable for Emiko.

"Dark…" Daisuke moaned putting a pillow over his head, "Have a little more sympathy!"

'Nope!' Dark said plainly, 'you'll get none of that from me! It's your fault that you thought Satoshi was more important then your math and English homework.' Dark shouted sending shock waves of pain through Daisuke's head.

"Grrr, okay, okay, okay!" Daisuke growled and slowly forced himself up and out of his comfortable bed, "I'm up, I'm up, I'm up!" He shouted with a yawn and lazily rubbed his eyes.

'Well it's about time Sunshine!' Dark mocked with a laugh, 'Let's see those bright and beautiful eyes greet the new day!'

"Dark…I swear…if you had a tangible neck right now…I'd wring it…" Daisuke growled irritably as he pulled off his nightshirt and sloppily tossed it onto the floor.

'Aww, well good morning to you too.' Dark replied sarcastically.

Daisuke's morning was tiring and irritating, but like usual he plastered a smile on his face and nearly slept through all of his math class. One thing he was able to notice besides the aggravatingly complicated mathematics on the board…was that Satoshi was missing. He hadn't shown up at all to school that day, he wondered if something was wrong…maybe he had some trouble with sealing that painting last night. Maybe he'd just go over to his apartment today after school?

Finally the school day was over…and as usual Daisuke survived…barely. As soon as the bell rang and the art room was cleaned he took off down the street to Satoshi's apartment. He'd been there often enough to memorize where it was, though it was a bit of a distance from the school.

As Daisuke approached the building leading up to Satoshi's place, he noticed that the balcony window was open, a strange thing to see at Satoshi's. He quickly dashed up the stairs and stopped in front of Satoshi's door, he knocked on it slightly. As his hand reached the hard wood…the door slowly slid open. It was unlocked? But, Satoshi always locked his door.

Cautiously he entered and called out Satoshi's name…no answer. Daisuke called out again as he shut the door behind him stepping into the living room. Empty. The place was completely empty. It looked as though Satoshi hadn't been home all night, the place was void of any mess not that Satoshi wasn't a neat freak, but usually he'd forget to wash the dishes or something. His bed was still made and looked untouched, where was Satoshi.

"Dark…he's not here." Daisuke said a bit worried.

Dark didn't reply. It seemed that he was still asleep, but Daisuke could tell that he was listening to his host a bit concerned himself at his hunter's absents.

"Maybe we should stay here a while and wait for him to come back…" Daisuke said leaving the bedroom and walking into the living room.

Dark remained silent. Daisuke guessed that he had no objections; obviously he was concerned about them too.

Daisuke sighed deeply and sat down on the large leather couch, surprisingly it was immensely comfortable. Suddenly Daisuke eyelids began to drop and his tiredness over took him and he fell over onto his side and fell into a sound sleep.

Notes from the Author:

HURRAY! A third sequel to "Distance"! For those of you who are reading my work for the first time, I'm General Kitty Girl the author and creator of the DNAngel set of fanfics called 'Distance'! This is the third addition to the series, so I encourage anyone who hasn't read the first two to… READ THEM! I promise you won't be disappointed with them. And as to my wonderful and faithful readers who I am happy to present the third addition too…HOPE YOU ENJOY! And until my posting of Chapter 2, Ta-ta for now! And Happy Holidays!