Author Note: I'm so happy! I was gone the weekend but I came home and found all these lovely reviews! Well here's the next chapter. It's a bit longer then the last one, but it's still kind of short. Sorry about the short chaps, I'm really tired and the words seem to be having trouble coming out of my brain. And my editor is currently elsewhere. I promise the next chap will be longer and I'll try to write it as soon as possible. Byb of course there is going to be Dark/Krad fluff! It's too adorable not to write!
Disclaimer: If you tried to sue me all you would get is seventeen cents and a batman pez dispenser
Chapter Two
Dark Enemies
No, this can't be happening! Daisuke was running as fast as he could toward the shrine.
Daisuke! Dark was yelling, all sarcasm gone, Daisuke, I smell smoke! I think it's coming from our house!
No! Nonononono! Tears were streaming down his face as Daisuke raced down the familiar streets. He choked out a sob as the scream of a fire-truck reached his ears.
Maybe it was a neighbor! It couldn't be his home. Not his family…
Daisuke turned the corner and was nearly run over by the aforementioned fire truck. Where his house once stood was now only charred foundation remains and billowing smoke.
Daisuke… Dark said to the boy as he fell to his knees, Just because the house is gone doesn't mean our family…
"What have we got, Jim?" A surly police officer said to another, rather thin one, "Any stiffs?"
"Yeah," said Jim, "It seems like the entire household was in the basement. Don't go messing with those bodies, George. The burns look like there was some sort of flammable material involved. We haven't ruled out foul play and we can't touch anything until the coroner gets here."
George sighed, "It's gonna be a long night. It's supposed to be my day off tomorrow too. Now I'll be stuck with a bunch of paperwork."
Daisuke… Dark said as the redhead stood up.
Daisuke's hands were shaking, at first Dark thought it was in grief but, because he had been with the boy so long, soon realized it was, in fact, anger.
Daisuke, don't!
Daisuke ran to the surly policeman, jumped up and grabbed his neck. "Is it a job to you?!" he yelled, "Is this just a job to you?! My family is gone and it's just your job?!"
Daisuke from behind but he swung his arm back and connected with someone's face. Daisuke was grabbed again and his arms were pinned to his side. Dark was yelling something but Daisuke was beyond all reason. Daisuke struggled and kicked against his captor. Suddenly the hold was turned into an embrace. Daisuke came back to earth to find himself being held by Satoshi.
"Y-you followed me?" Daisuke whispered.
"Of course I did," Satoshi responded.
Daisuke grabbed onto the taller boy and, burying his head in Satoshi's shirt, began to cry. Satoshi awkwardly patted the redhead on the back. After a few moments of standing there, Satoshi sat Daisuke down on a bench and went over to question the police officers.
Hey, Daisuke?
…Yeah.
I don't know if it's much comfort, but I'm still here.
Daisuke smiled a bit, I know. Thanks Dark.
Krad sighed and pushed his blonde hair away from his face. Well this was a mess. Not only was the seal empty but everyone spontaneously combusted, or something, before he could…interrogate them.
He sighed and pulled his singed coat up a bit, "I'm going to get such an earful for this."
Right on cue, his cell phone rang.
Krad took it out of his pocket and stared at it, wondering if he should answer it. Might as well get it over with now, he thought to himself.
"Hello?"
"Krad, I'm watching TV right now. Do you know what I see?"
"Brady Bunch reruns." Krad replied sarcastically.
"I see a very large, very not inconspicuous burned up shrine! What part of 'I want this done discreetly' did you not understand? What if you damaged my parcel?"
"I didn't damage your parcel because it wasn't there," Krad yawned, already bored with this conversation.
"It…what?"
"I went to extract your demon from the seal but it wasn't there."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! In a subconscious state there is no way to hide a demonic aura."
"I need that demon, Krad. I need it, and you better find it for me."
"You know…" Krad grinned, "I don't think you're giving me the proper respect. I kindly go to fetch you your demon, and not only is the information you give me wrong but the people living at the shrine set themselves and their house on fire burning my favorite jacket. Now you start yelling at me? You're going to have to be politer to me if you want the job done."
"Politer?"
"Yes. Politer translates here as money. I want more. No money, no demon."
"I could just hirer someone else!" The man snarled.
Krad laughed out loud at that one, "I'm the best bounty hunter in Western Hemisphere! And I'm the only living one who specializes in the capturing and killing of demons! You don't have anyone else to hirer!"
"Fine! You can have another seven hundred dollars-"
"I want a thousand."
"What?! Are you crazy?!"
"Oh, I think the signal's going out!" Krad said, covering the receiver slightly.
"Fine! A thousand it is! Just get me my demon, Krad!"
"Nice doing business with you!" Krad hung up and walked down the street.
He glanced back one more time at the shrine and noticed the teary, redheaded boy sitting on a bench near the ruins. Did this boy live at the shrine as well? As he watched, a blue-haired boy went over to the red-head, said something to him, and helped him to his feet. The two boys started down in the opposite direction of Krad.
Hmm, Krad thought, The shrine gone, an empty seal, and one member of the Niwa clan left. There's something going on. I'll need to find out more about this family.
"Are you hungry?"
Daisuke looked up and saw Satoshi holding a phone book.
"I don't have much food here," Satoshi said, "But does pizza sound good to you?"
"Yeah…it sounds fine."
Satoshi nodded and went into the other room to order the pizza.
Why do we have to stay here? Dark whined for the millionth time.
Because we don't have a home right now, and it will take a while for me to have access to my family's…life insurance. Daisuke's eyes filled with water and he let out a sob. It seemed so horrible to make money off of someone's death.
Are you sure it's not that you want to sleep with your lover? Dark said, referring to Satoshi.
Dark!!!! Daisuke yelled, the tears being replaced by a deep blush.
Dark snickered inside of Daisuke's head and started talking about all the things Daisuke wanted to "do" with Satoshi. Daisuke's blush grew surely and steadily deeper.
Inside, though, Daisuke was grateful. He knew that Dark suffered just as much from the loss of the Niwa family as Daisuke did. He was just keeping up with his sarcasm to make Daisuke feel better.
"Niwa-kun, you're all red." Daisuke jumped as Satoshi came out of nowhere and placed his hand on Daisuke's forehead, causing Dark to snicker and say more inappropriate things.
Or maybe it was just in Dark's nature.
"I'm fine!" Daisuke said, moving away from Satoshi.
Satoshi was about to say something else but the doorbell rang and Satoshi had to go answer it.
Daisuke may have been asleep but Dark was still wide awake. He rolled over in Daisuke's mind and tried to get comfortable.
Grr! It's no use! I just can't sleep! Daisuke, I'm going to use your body for a bit, kay?
Sure, whatever. Daisuke said sleepily.
Dark concentrated and felt the changes overtake his body. Daisuke's hair grew out longer and changed to a dark purple. He became taller and his feature's narrowed out, losing Daisuke's boyish profile. Now the best part. A twin pair of dark wings came out of his back.
"Ah! That feels good!" Dark said, stretching out his wings. He went over to Daisuke's schoolbag and felt around until he found the black outfit Daisuke kept with him in case Dark ever needed to take over.
Dark crept silently passed Satoshi and went outside. He was greeted by the sight of a beautiful full moon.
"What should I do first?" He said to himself. "I know! To the bar!"
"What about scheming'?"
"A demon! A demon! Do you know anything about a sealed demon?"
"Real dreamin'? Nah, sonny I don't sell drugs. Hey didja know the Niwa clan protects a sealed demon?"
Krad sighed and grabbed another beer. He had been having the same conversation with the old geezer for the past twenty minutes. "I hate old people"
"Then why are you drinking with them?"
Krad looked up and found himself staring at the most beautiful man he had ever seen. "They're all old here," Krad said, quickly regaining his composure.
"You could come with me instead." The young man suggested.
"Sorry, I don't involve myself with demons."
"Wah! How could you tell?"
Krad gestured to his two wings.
"Oh, I guess I forgot to put those away. I'm Dark by the way." he said as the wings faded into nothing.
"Krad."
"Nice to meet you. Now, why won't you come with me?"
"You're not too bright are you. Don't you recognize me?"
Dark stared, "…should I recognize you?"
"Krad!"
"You Krad, me Dark."
"No! I mean, you don't know my name? Demons around the world fear me! No demon has ever survived being on my hit list!"
"Oh…" Dark said, "So, you want to go somewhere."
Krad nearly fell over. He wasn't afraid of him at all? Krad suddenly turned to Dark and let out a big, "Boo!"
Dark stared for a moment before laughing, "I like you!"
Krad found himself smiling in spite of himself. "So," he asked the demon, "What are you doing out here?"
"Just hanging I guess. What about you?"
"Research project."
"Really? What are you researching?"
Krad looked around, "Nothing really. I suppose I've gotten enough information for tonight."
"So you'll hang out with me?"
"Sure, why not?"
Krad and Dark were sitting under the boardwalk at the beach talking and laughing. Krad was surprised at how easy it was to just talk to Dark. He could speak truthfully to the demon without having to mask any of his emotions with sarcasm. As the night when on, he found himself liking Dark more and more.
Well past midnight, Dark yawned and lay down in the sand "Sleepy," he murmured.
Krad lay down next to him and felt his own eyes starting to droop. His eyes opened again, however, when he felt pressure on his body.
Dark had apparently decided that Krad made a much more comfortable bed then the sand.
Krad smiled and ran his fingers through the demon's hair.
"What were you researching anyway, Krad?" Dark asked sleepily, snuggling closer to the demon hunter.
"A demon I'm supposed to capture. Some sort of demon of the seal."
