A/N: I'm back! And I fell off the bunk bed a grand total of... four times! Guardrail my... anyway, I got nice reviews while I was gone! I'm happy people are enjoying this story.
Mutou Yasu- Ah! Thank goodness you told me! I can't believe I made such an oversight. I meant for him to tell her his original name in chapter one but you know, I am stupid. I am much obliged that you informed me of this wretched error obviously trying to sound more intelligent than she is so have a cookie!
Clarence Hikari- Here you go, and I am glad your enjoying it, there isn't too many fanfics about DN Angel out there, are there?
Chocbo-master- Wow thanks! Have a cookie! I hurried this up so you wouldn't die of suspense of anything lol.
Relax, read, and oh yeah, C'MON PEOPLE, REVIEW!
Disclaimer: C'mon, if I really had money, I wouldn't be here, I'd probably be at a bookstore. So don't hate and sue, because I will get you! (Out of court of course)
Part Three
"When the judgment's weak, the prejudice is strong." – Kane O'Hara
He sighed. The girl's emotions were firmly tied to her health, what had upset her so? Brushing back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face he frowned.
And just who was that boy? Was he the one who'd affected her? He reminded him of that ass...
"Well, rabbit, what was it?" The small thing blinked at him before making that odd noise it makes. "Why the hell am I asking you, you've got no damn clue either."
Her uncle looked at her neck where the necklace and ring hung. She obviously hadn't taken it off, and seemed happy enough with her limited freedom. Her marks in school were excellent, and she seemed to being adjusting well.
But he was not blind.
The boy had been watching her as closely as himself.
And it unnerved him.
He was now sure that she hadn't done the crime, but with that realization opened the door of questions. If she hadn't, then who did? There was no motive that he could see.
"Get away from her."
His head jerked to the doorway where the damn boy himself stood. "Just who do you think you are kid? This is my niece!"
"You're lying. She has no family, and you're a cretin for saying you're of her blood."
The damn punk looked angry but now he was as well. "She is my niece, even if she acknowledges me or not."
"Either way she wouldn't want you here. Get lost before I call the cops."
Damn punk.
"Ugh."
His head jerked back to Aeris, who's form now twisted in the sheets as she struggled to sit up, holding her head.
Her eyes opened slowly to see her uncle sitting on the bed next to her and she instinctively shot back.
"Are you all right?" He asked and she looked at him, utterly confused.
"What... are you doing here? What am I doing here?"
"You were passed out on the carpet, I brought you up to your bed." Satoshi stepped closer to the bed and she shrunk back against the headboard. "I left to get something for you to eat when I found him hovering over you."
"Please," Her uncle shot back, "I came in after he left, to see if you were all right."
She glared at him, "I'm fine, and you can leave."
He sighed heavily but got up. "I'll come back to check on you. Hopefully when I return I'll have news for you."
She blinked in surprise as he bent to kiss her check before leaving. (And gave Satoshi an evil glare)
Satoshi sat on the side of the bed that her uncle hadn't. When he felt her head it had cooled some. "Your fever's gone down somewhat. Do you feel like eating?"
She shifted uneasily. "Satoshi..."
"He's not my real father. He adopted me, simply because it would help his image." He spoke without emotion. "We are not alike."
"That's why you ran out isn't it? The nurse kept saying my name."
She nodded slowly and he moved Chuu to her other side. "Would you condemn me, simply because of my last name?"
Her head hurt, her whole body was sore and she was pretty sure at some point in sleep she'd broken out into a cold sweat.
And it was never wise to decide something when someone had a large headache.
But Satoshi had never been anything but kind to her, doing things most people wouldn't.
And she knew what it was like to be told she was something when she herself knew she wasn't.
"No, I'm sorry I judged you." She whispered and he nodded.
"It's all right Aeris. Now, are you hungry?"
It was late, and Satoshi had left.
She was alone, which gave her time to think.
Her head was slightly clearer, so things were less foggy.
Uncle's behavior slightly unnerved her. He had never been mean exactly, but now... he must be sure she hadn't done it.
Which means that something changed his mind. What was it?
Her account of the room could not be trusted. Her head had been spinning and she had been focusing only on their bodies.
But no one else had been in the room then, of that she was sure.
For one thing, there was no where he could have hidden himself, and another, she would have noticed had a man been standing there, no matter how upset she was.
Now her head was starting to pound worse and she lay down on her bed, and pushed the thoughts away.
She stopped brushing her hair. The storm outside was raging against the windows and she shrunk further away from the window.
The storm was particularly nasty, the wind howled and the sky was pitch black.
But she wasn't afraid, of course not, not Aeris.
Slowly she made her way towards to window and using every ounce of her courage looked through the pane of glass.
And just then a bolt of lightening lit up the entire sky and she could see.
She gasped and fell onto her back in her fright.
A man stood on the ground, grinning up at her with a handsome face and long hair. With the most amazing gold eyes.
Then the lightening was gone, and nothing could be seen but darkness.
Aeris sat straight up in her bed, her head reeling.
Someone else had been at the house, right before the murders.
And he had smiled at her.
"Aeris, you really should be home, resting." Riku said as she watched her climb the stairs slowly beside her.
"Really Riku, I'm just a little tired. That's all, besides school's almost over." And she would be fine as soon as she got up these insane stairs. Why is it 39 steps to the next level anyway? Such a stupidly large number.
"I know Satoshi isn't happy you're straining yourself." She grinned as Satoshi and Daisuke emerged at the top of the stairs and once Satoshi spotted Aeris, came down them, grabbed her bag and her hand and helped her up the rest of the way.
"Satoshi! I'm fine!" Aeris could feel her face warm with a blush and she took her bag back and marched into the classroom.
"Hey Aeris!" Takeshi yelled from inside, "Why's your face so red?"
Riku laughed and Satoshi merely entered the classroom while Daisuke grinned.
"Aaah! Satoshi, what ya do to put that blush on her pretty face?"
"TAKESHI!"
"Ow..."
Aeris laughed. Satoshi was after all, very sweet.
After offering to hold Chuu while she paused to tie her shoes, Chuu had started to rub against his cheek and "Kyuu!"
"She likes you." Aeris smiled taking Chuu back into her arms.
"I like her too," He pat her head slowly and Aeris laughed again.
They were walking home and had just gotten into their neighborhood when Satoshi stopped.
"Satoshi... what's wrong?" She looked at his face then where he was looking and almost dropped Chuu in surprise.
Police Commissioner Hiwatari stood on her doorstep.
"Ah, Miss Shimensoka, it's been a long time."
Satoshi grabbed onto her arm as she made a move towards him, pulling her back slightly behind him. "You vile-!"
"What do you want?" Satoshi asked tersely.
"Satoshi, since when can't I visit you?" His voice was sickly sweet and Aeris fought down the urge to hurl on his shoes.
"Since when have you ever?" Satoshi shot back, his grip tightening on Aeris's arm.
"Get away from my home!" Aeris snapped and he frowned.
"You shouldn't even be allowed a home girl, you belong in a cage."
"That's not true!" She yelled and fought against Satoshi's grip, but he would not release her.
"Then why are you collared like a beast?" Hiwatari shot back and Aeris forgot.
She forgot her uncle's warning.
Reaching to the back of her neck she roughly yanked off the chain.
She couldn't breathe.
Aeris clutched her throat and she could already taste blood in her mouth. "Ugh-!"
"Aeris!" Satoshi grabbed the chain and attached it once again around her neck as she fell to her knees, coughing into her hands, coloring them red with blood. "Aeris!"
Good gods! That hurt! She coughed violently and cursed whatever being created such a wretched thing.
"Jin!" Hiwatari said in surprise and she heard footsteps approach.
Satoshi knelt beside her, pulling her form against his own as her body shook while her uncle angrily pushed Satoshi and his adopted father out of his way.
"Aeris!" He knelt in front of her and pulled her into his chest, holding her against him. "Just relax, take deep breaths, steady your heart beat." He whispered his head near her ear, holding her tight.
Instead of pushing him away, she obeyed his commands and slowly started to feel the pain go away and her coughing stop.
Once he was sure she was all right he stood and glared at the police commissioner. "What did you do?"
"She removed the chain of her own will, Jin. Now will you listen to me? This girl is violent, and uncontrollable."
"You provoked her!" Satoshi said in her defense.
"I'm not surprised." Jin spat. "Stay away from my niece, you've got no right to bother an innocent girl."
"Innocent!" He laughed, "I've never heard a bigger lie in my life!"
Jin looked ready to kill but Satoshi stepped in between the two. "I can't speak with you, sorry." He knelt and swiftly picked up Aeris. "Get her bag and Chuu for me, Jin." Then he opened her door and carried her inside, without so much as a look back at his father.
Jin glared at him but picked up her things and carried them inside, slamming the door in his face.
Satoshi watched over her as the daylight faded into the night. Every so often she would wake and tell him to go home but he refused until it was very late.
He turned out all the lights on his way out, but forgot the TV in the living room from when Jin was watching it earlier. But the sound was so low Aeris wouldn't hear it upstairs.
"The legendary thief, Dark Mousy, stole the Hearts of Ice painting just moments ago, our camera crew managed to get a shot of him."
The screen flickered then showed a shaky image where a man clad in black flew through the night air with beautiful black wings. He turned his head towards the camera and it focused in, showing his bright gold eyes with a heart-breaking grin.