Chapter 5:

Daisuke had been out for a long time, exhausted physically and mentally. But slowly, crimson eyes opened to meet more darkness…the darkness of his room. He was still dressed in the black clothes he wore to sneak into the museum, lying down in his bed with the covers over him. The clock blinking with red digits said that it was almost five thirty in the morning… but how did he get home? Then a sudden wave of guilt washed over him, the last thing he remembered was Dark in pain calling out for Krad, what had happened? He wasn't sure…but somehow…he felt it was his fault, for Dark had hid himself deep inside of Daisuke's mind with a melancholy aura all around him. There was silence between the two for a long time.

"Dark…I'm sorry…" Daisuke said quietly and pulling himself under the covers more.

Dark didn't respond for a while, he was obviously too upset…yet he didn't move or show any anger or malice towards his host.

'No Daisuke…don't be…I don't blame you for what happened…" Dark replied after some time.

"But…you were in pain…and…Krad is too…isn't he?" Daisuke asked quietly.

'…'

Daisuke curled his knees tight to his body awaiting an answer, which he was sure he already knew the answer too.

'…It's okay Daisuke…what happened…would have happened whether we were there or not. Krad was bound to return to the museum…and the demon would have…' Suddenly Dark fell silent and Daisuke felt Dark fighting back the painful memory of what the demon had done to the angel, 'He would have…' Dark feel silent against and sighed trying to suppress his emotions, 'If we hadn't been there, things might have turned out must worse for Krad…so don't blame yourself, Daisuke…now get some rest alright…' Dark finished and Daisuke felt him pull farther away.

It didn't matter what Dark said! It was his fault, it was all his fault! He should have listened to Dark and never gone to the museum to steal that painting. And now…Krad must have thought that Dark broke his promise when it was really Daisuke! Daisuke's insides were turning inside out and tears began to swell up in his tightly shut eyes. He felt so terrible, he knew how much Dark cared about Krad…and that finally after three hundred years Dark had finally earned the demon's trust and maybe even something more…and now…now he hated Dark and it was all his fault! A quiet sob escaped Daisuke's throat as he could no longer hold his tears, and the crystal white drops fell from his face in streams.

Suddenly, Daisuke felt a gentle hand whipping away his tears with a loving stroke. He didn't want to open his eyes and see who it was…he was to ashamed to even show his face to the world…he felt like a traitor…a selfish traitor! Then he felt warm arms around him embracing him tightly and with the most sincere comforting love. But it couldn't stop the pain or tears…though it did lighten them a bit.

'Daisuke…please don't cry…' Dark said softly, gently stroking the young Niwa's hair as Daisuke wrapped his arms tightly around his mid section, being that he was much shorted then Dark, 'Please don't be sad…I don't blame you for any of this…so please don't cry…'

Daisuke wanted to speak and say something, but his sobs disabled his voice and he clung tighter to Dark.

'Daisuke…you were just following what you thought was right…and had we not been there…Krad might not have been so lucky as to walk away with his life…so please…don't blame yourself for something that isn't your fault.' Dark said gently as Daisuke slowly began to calm down in the Phantom Thief's embrace. 'Your intentions were good Daisuke…it just goes to show that you have a heart of gold…something not many people in this world have…so please…please don't cry anymore…it hurts me to see you sad.'

Daisuke just wanted to cry harder. How could Dark be so nice to him, after what he'd done? He didn't deserve it…he didn't deserve any of it! Why…why was Dark being…so nice…

Dark didn't speak again, he only continued to hold and comfort Daisuke with softly stroking his red hair and embracing him tightly. Soon the young boy's sobs slowly ceased and his tears had stopped falling, and now peacefully laid under his blankets, safe and warm in his home, while Dark held Daisuke's consciousness as gently as possible, continuing to comfort him even in his sleep.

'…Sleep well Daisuke…and know that I'll always protect and love you…no matter what…you are…my Daisuke…'

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The blonde angel had flown for a long time after he had left Dark at the museum…but soon he could no longer as a painful past over took him and he had barely enough strength to land on the balcony of Satoshi's apartment. He slowly stumbled inside and fell to his knees holding his head panting hard unable to stop the terrible memories from resurfacing.

"S-Stop it…" Krad hissed as the horrid nightmare of each death and rebirth played again and again in his head. Being born into a host more vicious then the last, "Stop it…leave me alone…" He demanded over and over again as every muscle in his body racked in the memory of each vicious cycle.

Memories of when he had first taken life, and then the pain of being tortured into submission by the first head of the Hikari household until he accepted his role in life as a monster who's soul purpose was to kill and destroy without cause or question. Of dying and then being brought back without a body to call his own or a life in which he himself would have the will to control…the countless blood of other stained on his hand. The horrible things that family made him do…labeling him a curse, or a slave to be used at their disposal. He begged over and over again that it would stop…he felt knots in his stomach, as the memories flooded to him all at once like a tidal wave of monstrous force.

The memory of when he had given up trying to be freed of the cruel cycle that he now was eternally bound to. When did he ever give them permission to use him like a puppet then throw his life away only to be brought back for the same torment all over again? No…he'd asked that question before, and only received more torment and pain…they were the Hikari's…his creators…they didn't need a reason, that was the answer. Finally he'd just given into them, he had come to the realization that he was nothing more then a puppet…a murderous monstrous puppet. A demon. When he had finally cast aside what little humanity he had left and forced himself to enjoy the true nature of a demon…killing with pleasure, developing a lust for blood and power, manipulation of his hosts, and all for what? So he could cope with his existence and not be hurt by it, for a demon felt no feelings or pain…And then finally, after being the demonic nightmare for so long…he'd finally felt safe enough to allow himself the consciousness of humanity. He had locked those memories away for good…but now; he was forced to relive them all at once, it was too much! And on top of that…Dark was there…he was almost hurt…hurt by more damn Hikari magic…hurt by the same magic that had been used to torment him for so long, and then he'd pushed him away after he tried to save his life…why was this happening! Guilt, pain, anguish, exhaustion, sorrow, and torment washed over him all at once and he collapsed to the ground still holding his head with tightly shut eyes. "Stop…make it stop…" He repeated over and over again.

Satoshi was at a loss at what to do…he had never even known about this, any of this! This was the first time he'd seen Krad's memories, and all of them sickened and scared him. He had always hated his bloodline…but looking at everything they had done and were capable of…he hated them even more. In a way this was the first time he'd felt any type of sympathy or remorse for the demon, the demon that plagued his nightmares and he'd always thought of as a curse. He felt so alone and cut off from Krad…now that they were starting to trust and live with each other's existence civilly…seeing this, experiencing these well-kept secrets for the first time…was like he'd never even known the demon before. He wondered what he could do…he'd never been good at comforting, and the thought of comforting Krad still sat with him as improbable…but would Krad except him again? He now knew how much Krad hated the Hikari's…and he had good reason too…Satoshi was a Hikari…so, how would Krad react to him now that these old feelings and memories were forcefully resurfaced? Krad had always been so strong, so seeing him like this was both shocking and painful to him.

'K…Krad…' Satoshi said trying to reach out with uncertainty to the demon, unsure of what his reaction would be.

"Go away…" Krad growled distancing himself for the young man, "Leave me…alone…just leave me alone!" He yelled.

Satoshi stopped a moment trying to search himself to find the best why to help Krad without hurting him farther or angering him. In the past few months his fear of Krad had dwindled greatly…but now, he felt more fear towards him then ever. Krad had always been unpredictable…but seeing him like this made him even more unstable. Once again Satoshi tried to reach out for Krad, his aura cold as ice and his body shaking uncontrollably with fear and anger as the angel wrapped his arms tightly around himself trying to suppress his tremors.

Satoshi reached out and slowly put his hand on Krad's shoulder from within, putting only the slightest amount of pressure on it just to let Krad know he was there and with no intention to hurt him.

Krad did notice the hand but didn't fight back, he couldn't. He was to exhaust and he kept trying to remind himself that this was Satoshi…not those other masters and tamers that had hurt him so badly. Satoshi was the only Hikari that he regretted hurting, because at least Satoshi had come to accept him as not a demonic puppet…but almost…as an equal. He didn't order him to kill like the others, he wasn't his slave…no…this was Satoshi…Satoshi Hikari…and the most human of his tamers…even now, Satoshi was kind enough to suppress his fear of him and try to reach out to him with no malice.

"W-Why…" Krad asked slowly opening his eyes and slowly regaining control of his breathing.

'…Because you are me…and I am you…' Satoshi replied calmly still with his hand on Krad's shoulder, now squeezing it a bit more as proof that his response was sincere.

"…" Silence reined for a while before Krad spoke again, "You saw them…didn't you…" The tired angel asked lying motionless on the ground.

'…Memories…are just that Krad…memories…' Satoshi said after a moment, 'The past can't hurt you…because the past is no longer tangible…' He said and grabbed Krad's shoulder a bit tighter trying to choose the right words, 'You…nor I…can change what happened…but…I can promise you…' Satoshi said and gently smiled slightly, 'I can promise you…that as long as you are with me…that won't ever happen again…'

Krad lay there silent for a long time as Satoshi knelt down beside him still with his hand on his shoulder. Slowly Krad felt his heartbeat returning to slowly even rhythms, and his body now only slightly shuck every now and then. The flow of his memories had slowed and now only vaguely lingered in his mind. The barricade that once held those memories in place was slowly rebuilding itself around them…but how; whose will was rebuilding it? It was Satoshi, he was channeling some of his warm energy into Krad easing the demon's pain a bit and pushing back the memories from his mind. Krad's wings hung lifeless at his back then slowly disintegrated into a mass of vanishing feathers. A beautiful cloud of cool white feathers that softly floated through the air then vanished into nothing.

Suddenly Satoshi felt a warm hand gently rest upon his own, however slight the contact was…at least it proved that Krad wasn't going to hurt him, and had accepted his presence. For some reason…Satoshi felt a warm sense of relief inside, like a soft glow that eased his mind and body greatly. For once he was able to save his inner demon, he for once was able to protect the very creature that had protected him his whole life…and a great weight was lifted from his chest.

"…Thank you…Satoshi-sama…"

Satoshi's eyes widened, and then softened. This was the first time Krad had ever thanked him for anything, and that once sudden feeling of distance between the two faded away as gently as the feathers had. The two stayed like that for some time until the exhausted angel drifted off to sleep and slowly returned to the back of Satoshi's mind to rest and replenish his depleted strength and soul.

Satoshi now sat on the floor of his dark and lonely apartment, feeling somewhat reviled and as if a rift in his bond with the demon had been filled. Satoshi too was exhausted and didn't have any strength or energy to move. His exhaustion gave in and he fell forward onto the ground and his heavy eyelids closed but he couldn't sleep just yet…He still wondered if Daisuke was alright…it didn't matter to him if Daisuke had been at the museum against his wishes…he just wanted him to be alive and well. And he knew that Dark had promised Krad to stay out of this…and he knew that seeing Dark there had both angered and scared Krad…not to mention the sense of betrayal that the angel felt towards the thief. It had hurt Krad more then Dark could ever know…what would Krad do if he saw Dark again? What did having these thoughts matter now…all he wanted to do was fall asleep knowing that he had gained his inner demon's…no…his inner angel's trust…he slept better knowing that finally, he was able to save Krad from the demons of his past…though he knew that it would take a lot more time to heal before Krad fully recovered from this experience…for now there was an inner peace between the two. For now…that's all that mattered to him…

"You're…welcome…Krad…sama…"

Notes from the Author:

WOW! OMG! 2 chapters uploaded in one day! Gasps Woah! And such a sad and touching chapter too! Cries I admit, I cried as I wrote this…sniffles sniffles Well you all asked and I delivered, twice in one day as a matter of fact! Meow Meow! And it's because I love you all so much for your wonderful comments and support! So to all of my readers and commenters…bow bow bow THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You guys are awesome! And I apologize if this chapter makes you all cry as much as I did…cause I'm running out of Kleenex…sniffles And to the many of you who want to lynch me for leaving cliffhangers…um…Opps! Sweat drop Guess I did it again huh? EEEEEEEEEEEP!! Don't hurt me! Runs away

General Kitty Girl