"We don't have much time to lose," Krad said matter-of-factly, "this entity won't, either. I remember what it did last time, and if I'm right it's hungry. It will start to feed on Dark immediately."
"And you want to be the dessert on the menu?" Satoshi snapped.
"As you once so rightfully stated, if he dies, I die. Balance, remember?"
"Sato," Daisuke whispered, touching his lover and curling his fingers around one hand.
The simple touch had an amazing effect, as always. Satoshi settled back again, though still glaring at his demon, who wouldn't give an inch.
"We have to find Dark first," Kosuke cut in. "The Mugen Light and therefore the Light of Helheim are both destroyed, so you won't have an easy access. The entity ruined the Goddess for exactly that purpose to not leave an entry behind."
"There are other portals. And we have many of them in our basement," Daisuke stated.
"Are you kidding!" Emiko erupted. "You know how dangerous these are."
"Niwayour family sealed them for a reason. Which one would you want to have released?" Krad asked calmly.
Emiko glared daggers at the blond, but the demon didn't so much as flinch.
"Dai?" Satoshi asked, looking into his lover's eyes.
Daisuke turned, his eyes searching for his grandfather.
"Towa-chan?" he asked.
° ° °
The plan was ridiculous. Ridiculous and dangerous and completely nuts, but it was also the only plan that had any viability. They had discussed it, they had looked at it from all angles, and still there were so many unknowns, so many risks involved...
But there was no risk greater than losing Dark, Satoshi decided as he watched the last minute preparations. Towa had immediately taken to helping them, despite her open hostility and dislike concerning Krad. The demon had never cared for the other's feelings and so they co-existed if need arose, which meant whenever Satoshi and Daisuke visited home and their respective partners separated. For now that animosity had been buried, and the Dark Mark was preparing herself to open a gateway into the art world, the dimension all art souls existed in.
Daisuke himself had been patched up by Emiko, his wounds cleaned, but there was nothing anyone could do about the wound in his soul. His eyes spoke of the suffering, of the internal horror, the memories of the separation. Satoshi had been with him throughout the treatment, holding him, touching and stroking and soothing his lover. Touch was the strongest connection they had at the moment and Daisuke leaned onto him with such need, it hurt to see him this way.
"We'll get him back," Satoshi had murmured over and over as he held the other man against him, Daisuke's head resting on his chest.
He prayed they would. Their balance was a precarious one, shared by four individuals. They all needed each other in a way, some connections stronger than others. Dark was a part of Daisuke, had become more and more an intricate piece of the human soul, just like Krad was Satoshi's.
His own preparation for the task had been brief. He had changed into fresh clothes, still all-black, and had tried to put his emotions into a drawer, locking them tightly away. Still, some leaked. Most of all anger and the fear of what might be the outcome of this.
Hours passed.
Precious time. Too much time.
Kosuke and Daikii had conferred over and over again while Towa was trying out portals into the art world. It was difficult and dangerous and the Dark Mark had had a few setbacks in attaining a connection. Each and every effort had been thwarted. She herself could enter, but no one else. By now, Daikii and Emiko had agreed that only magic interference could keep the portal from rejecting Krad and Satoshi, and it was what they were preparing for now.
°
Daisuke had retreated to his room, feeling empty and exhausted. Echoes of Dark's abduction raced through his body and mind, and he tremors shook his body now and then. It was like a brief spasm, painful and soul-deep, and it left him even more empty.
The abduction was clear in his mind; he had been conscious throughout it. He had felt Hel's sharp claws digging into what made Dark into Dark, his essence, his energy... his very being. He had felt his partner's struggle, his howls of rage and then pain as she had torn him out of the intimate contact with his host. Daisuke had struggled to hold on to the kaitou, to the black wisps that were torn out of him. Like with the mirror Satoshi had used to separate them so many years before, he had put everything into it.
He was stronger now.
He should have been stronger now.
Tears streamed down his cheeks unchecked and he scrubbed at his eyes, ashamed. He wasn't a child any more. He shouldn't cry.
Daisuke sobbed dryly and let his head sink against the cool window panes.
He wasn't weak.But you lost him.
He wasn't a child any more.You lost him.
Eyes screwed shut, Daisuke tried to get a grip on his runaway emotions.
Someone touched him, a voice reached his turmoiled mind, and he turned his head to glance at the intruder. The touch was warm and the voice soft, calming him, and ice blue eyes bore into his brown ones, drawing him closer still.
"Dai," Satoshi whispered.
"Sorry," Daisuke hiccupped and turned away once more, running a sleeve over his wet eyes.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I shouldn't cry."
"Why not? It's a normal reaction." Satoshi's hands were on his shoulders, massaging them tenderly. "I wish I could," came the whisper.
Daisuke gave a choked laugh. "You're stronger than me, Sato."
Those tender hands rubbed over his arms and then wrapped around his waist, pulling Niwa against the slender form behind him.
"I'm not strong, Daisuke," Satoshi whispered into his ear. "You've always been the stronger of the two of us. You live your emotions, your love, your passions. I'm still learning. I learn every day, even now, and you are my teacher."
Daisuke shook his head in denial.
"You are," Satoshi murmured. "You taught me to feel again, to live, to love. Don't hide your emotions now. You are entitled to them." He kissed his neck. "And we'll find Dark."
Daisuke swallowed, hands clenching into the ones holding him. He wasn't strong, he insisted. Satoshi had always been so much more mature, so grown up. He could deal with a crisis. As kids, Daisuke had fumbled and stumbled, had made a fool of himself. Satoshi had been the cool-headed one, so very much in control.
"Control isn't life," Satoshi told him and Daisuke became aware of the fact that he had blurted his thoughts out loud. "I was raised like... a tool. I was to be Krad's vessel. I functioned. My control removed me from humanity, from friendship. Your innocence, your warmth... you thawed me, Dai. You removed that block of ice. You loved me and you saved me."
"I still love you," Daisuke whispered.
Satoshi smiled. Daisuke felt the lips move against his neck.
"And I'm thankful for it each and every day."
He chuckled through a half-sob. "You're sappy, Hikari Satoshi. It doesn't suit you."
"Probably."
Satoshi turned him gently and wide, teary eyes looked into the calm blue ones. "We'll manage this crisis, too," Satoshi promised.
Daisuke swallowed and hugged him close. "I can't be without him again, Sato."
"I know. I understand."
Just like Satoshi couldn't be without Krad ever again.
"Will you be okay for now?" Hikari asked after a long time of just holding each other.
Daisuke knew he had to go downstairs again to finish preparations.
"Yes. Give... give me a moment, okay?"
Satoshi stepped back, smiling. "Sure."
Daisuke gave him a teary smile and watched him go. Satoshi and Krad were risking their lives to save Dark and there was nothing Daisuke could do to help.
Almost nothing.
Inhaling deeply he squared his shoulders.
There was one thing he could do. And he would.
°
Satoshi watched the proceedings with half an eye while most of his attention was on his lover. Daisuke had come back down into the living room on shaky legs. He was pale and drawn but still determined when he had come back. There was an inner fire in his soul Satoshi had always admired, even back as a child.
He settled close to his lover, smiling as Daisuke snuggled close to him.
'You're so much stronger than I could ever be,' he thought tenderly. 'So very much stronger.'
The strength came from Daisuke's spirit, unbreakable, solid, built on a foundation of love and trust, and Satoshi couldn't but admire him for his resolve and determination, his openness, his acceptance, his way with people. Daisuke drew all that from his family. A weird family, but family. Satoshi had never had one. His own emotions were crippled, needed jumpstarts, and without meeting Niwa Daisuke he would never have experienced what he had in the past years.
"I love you," he whispered into the ear closest to him.
Daisuke gave him a warm smile that was tinged with the suffering and pain of his soul, but it was a smile. His smile; only meant for him.
A door opening announced Krad's return from the basement where he and Kosuke had disappeared to earlier. There had been talk about going armed. The demon had his magic, but the creature was strong, had beaten them before, had nearly torn him apart, and this time they came prepared. This time, they had their own terms. The Niwas had amassed an incredible collection of art over the centuries and every museum in the world would lick its fingers to get its hands on the collection downstairs. All was sealed art, mostly Hikari but also others, and there were weapons among the sealed pieces. Weapons that could be used without breaking the seal.
Satoshi's eyes widened and he rose from his sitting position when he spotted his demon. Krad carried a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other, and there was something glittering in his eyes that made Satoshi shiver. It was cold, terrifying, lethal. It was an expression that spoke of death to whoever had taken Dark, who had hurt Daisuke, who had harmed them all so badly in the past. Those inhuman eyes met his own and he swallowed, feeling defenses flare that hadn't come up ever since he and Krad had achieved their own balance.
He was looking at the creature that lurked underneath the demon's outside. He was looking at the horror of his childhood, the nightmares, and for a moment he froze in that terror.
Satoshi felt small tremors coming through the faint connection they had. Closely guarded emotions boiled behind walls that couldn't be breached, but even without a clear contact, Satoshi knew the dark demons that raged just under the surface of Krad's calm demeanor, snarling for blood.
Someone was going to die today.
Krad stopped in front of him, an imposing, threatening figure. He was dressed in black, which only added to the horror, his wings were out, his hair bound back tightly.
"Satoshi?"
The voice was cold and laced with a threat that was not going against his host but the enemy they were about to face.
Satoshi swallowed. "I'm ready," he answered, glad to hear he wasn't stuttering.
Still, he was trembling inside.
He was distracted when Daisuke sneaked an arm around his neck, pulling him close into a kiss.
"Bring him back," he whispered hoarsely.
"We will," Satoshi whispered back.
"Here." Daisuke tossed him a long, light coat. "If you're carrying all this weaponry you'll need this."
"Thanks." Satoshi slipped into the coat, looking at his demon expectantly. "Ready?"
"No," Krad answered dryly, but he initiated the merge.
Satoshi felt the cool presence inside him, trying not to wince away from something that felt too much like the Krad he had feared as a child. His nightmare. His own, personal terror.
:Sato: Krad whispered, sounding apologetic.
:I'm fine: he replied automatically.
Something brushed over his senses and he whimpered, trying not to flinch away.
:I won't hurt you: Krad promised soothingly. :Never. I never will...:
But he would kill whoever had abducted Dark. That was an unspoken promise.
:I know: Sato answered, voice slightly uneven, and he reached out to touch Krad. :That I know, Krad:
"Let's go," Satoshi said out loud.
Towa led the way to the basement where they would start their attempt to free Dark. Daikii and Emiko followed, preparing for the ritual, while Kosuke stayed with Daisuke.
tbc...
