Chapter Three

Satoshi ran as fast as he could past the run down apartments. He passed many homeless people, but didn't pay them any mind. They ignored him as well, other than the occasional glance to see if he was any threat to them or their meager possesions.

He had to find Krad, whom Dark said was in danger. Why Dark would worry about his supposed enemy was lost of Satoshi, but qpparently he was in danger of being beaten by his stepfather. The boy finally reached the house Dark said was Krad's, and wasted no time in pounding on the door frantically.

"What?" The door swung open to reveal a bleary eyed Krad. Satoshi sighed in relief. "Oh, it's you." Krad said, relaxing. "How'd you find this place?"

"Dark told me…." Satoshi panted. "He said you were in trouble…..that your stepfather is going to hurt you." Krad snorted, but his eyes widened a bit in, was that….fear? "You should come with me, I can help!"

"Is Dark okay?" Krad asked, ignoring Satoshi's statement.

"Dai's helping him. My father is going to be meeting us at Dai's…..please say you'll come with me Krad? My father can get you out of here!" Krad lowered his gaze, dropping his shields for the first time. "He's a cop assigned to your case…."

"I'll go." Krad said firmly and stepped out and shut the door. Satoshi grinned and fearlessly grabbed his hand. Krad let him and followed the boy back to Dai's house.

"I'm sure Krads fine." Dai said as Dark shifted restlessly on his bed. "Why are you so worried about him? I mean, I thought you were enemies?"

"Krad and I used to be friends, much like you and Satoshi. But when our fathers died, our mothers remarried. Our stepfathers hate each other, so they forbid us from being friends. Every time we socialized or were nice, we'd get beaten."

"Oh…." Dai patted Dark's arm. "So you don't want to hate each other. I'm sure he's fine." Dark gave Dai a sad smile and turned to curl up beside him. Dai absently started stroking his hair. They were interrupted when Satoshi entered the room. Krad was right behind him.

"Krad!" Dark shot up despite the pain in his back.

"Dark!" Krad immediately took his place beside his friend, who buried his face in Krad's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Been better." Dark muttered. "You?"

"Fine." Dai sat back and Satoshi moved to stand to one side. "Thank you Dai. For helping him."

"And thank you for leading us right to you." All four boys whirled to see two men standing in the doorway, sneering hatefully. "Dark, get over here." Dark whimpered and tried to scoot away from them.

"Krad, come." Krad shook his head and placed himself in front of Dark. One of the men, obviously Krad's stepfather, pulled out a gun. "Now, before you force me to do something drastic."

"Go." Dark whispered. "Don't let him use it." Krad lowered his head and stepped over to his stepfather…only to be punched hard. He fell to the floor with a cry of pain and Dark leapt up. "NO!" He ran over, despite Dais plea to stay put, and was hit by his own stepfather.

"Dark!"

"Quiet!" Dai quieted and Satoshi put a hand on his shoulder. The two men pulled out their belts and with evil glares began to hit the two boys, who screamed in pain, mindless that they were in another persons home. Dai and Satoshi covered their faces as blood sprayed from the force of the strikes. Dai was pulled into Satoshi's arms.

Ten minutes later, although it seemed like hours, two shots rang out and blood sprayed onto every surface within meters of the two men. Dai shrieked as they toppled over. "Are you boys okay?" Satoshi looked up to see his father and another officer standing over Dark and Krad.

"Help them. They're worse off." Satoshi said. In his arms, Dai trembled in shock.

"They'll be fine, an ambulance is on the way. Is Dai okay?"

"Shock…" Satoshi toppled over right after Dai passed out, and landed in the arms of his father, who held him tightly.

TBC