FOREWORD: I'm sleepy... and tired... and I've been banging my head against the wall. Is that enough for you?
NOTES: The first and last bits are in some void or another, where Akane and Celes comment on the story. So if you don't wanna read it, you don't have to, since it won't affect anything. Actually... I think I'll just throw them away for awhile, since nothing much will happen... yet.
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own DNAngel, nor Cinderella, 'cause if I did, then they'd all be blowing up monsters or something. Maybe I should do that...
IN THE LAST STAGE: Well... Daisuke got very moody and Dark was yelling like there was no tomorrow. Three guesses on what happens next.
Other:
() Daisuke
(()) Dark
--- a time space
&Comment....& my own rambling opinions. If it annoys you, then just don't read it. Okay, there won't be as many, since I'm getting confused myself.
Italics are used when Dark and Daisuke are talking outside the lines of the story. So it shouldn't be too confusing to work out what's going on, hopefully... If you do get confused, just tell me and I'll fix it up.
COMMENTS: What am I? Superman? As long as I do an update, I can be happy... which reminds me... argh, still got Shrouded in Darkness and Darkened Heart to contend with, not to mention that other one... cringes in the corner I think I'll go into hiding for a while...
Stage 4: Why You Shouldn't Take Things for Granted
Celes waited patiently, while the void remained silent and lifeless. She didn't even turn when Akane entered, looking angry with herself. Sitting down next to the Priestess, she sighed.
"People aren't as nice after the first meeting," she muttered, as if that explained everything.
"Now, Akane, just remain calm for a moment and let us think this over thoroughly," came the simply reply.
"I guess I'm just a bit worried then. So... did you find anything out that can help us?"
"Well, Niwa has a suggestion that you may want to listen to."
"... Go on..."
Celes fidgeted for a moment, "Well, to begin with..."
-Let's just cut it off and start Stage 4, okay? Or are you opposed to it?-
"BOY! GET IN HERE NOW!" bellowed one of Daisuke's Evil Stepsisters. &Comment: Haa... should I give them names?&
With a sigh, the redhead dragged himself out of his own bedroom and managed to get down the stairs without tripping once. During this, he had a conversation with Dark, who was obviously in a bad mood.
((How are you going to live with yourself?))
(I'll manage.)
((I wonder what you're gonna tell your children...))
(I don't want to talk about that at the moment.)
((And you think that I'd forgive someone if they forced me into THAT?!))
(I wasn't going to ask you that question.)
((AND HOW CAN YOU STAND WEARING A DRESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!))
&Comment: I just died from laughing too much...&
(Dark, don't remind me...) moaned Daisuke as he shook his head, (It's bad enough to wear one, but to be REMINDED that I'm wearing one...)
((And WHY did you agree on that?!))
(Maybe it was because they burnt most of my normal clothes?)
((ARE YOU SAYING THAT I HAVE TO WEAR THAT AS WELL?!))
(Calm down! I still have a few hidden away... and I still have all those costumes mum made for you.)
((Right. Whatever.))
At this, Dark fell silent and Daisuke stopped at the foot of the stairs. The older of the two Stepsisters smirked at what he was wearing, but then turned to a mirror to look at herself and then at the redhead.
"I'm still prettier than you!" she shrieked before stalking off.
Daisuke blinked as she slammed a door close by.
(That... was unexpected.)
((You're telling me?))
"There you are," the younger Stepsister scuttled over to him while trying to keep her balance, "You know that mother won't be happy if you don't do what we tell you to."
"What do you want me to do?" asked the redhead, inclining his head because Dark was talking to him yet again.
((If you don't run away, I'll just run away for you! I mean, you might lose it all in the end, but what about OUR reputation?!))
(Who would I go to, then?)
((We'd find someone!))
(So you say...)
"You have to clean the bathroom floor!" declared the Stepsister, jerking Daisuke out of his conversation. She pointed at a bucket close by and muttered a few more words before; "You have to be done in half an hour! And then you have to clean the living room and also work on making lunch... we won't be doing it again, and then you also have to wash the windows--"
((In a dress,)) added the Thief.
(DARK!)
"Do it now!" commanded the Stepsister before she flounced off into another room. He heard it slam forcefully and wondered for a moment how long it would take for the entire house to collapse with the way they were treating it.
He picked up the bucket and shook his head in annoyance, "I don't care too much about all the chores," he muttered, "It's what I'm wearing that's really bugging me at the moment..."
((What happens if Riku comes over to visit?))
"... I don't want to think about it."
((A dress?))
((You know, I think you look pretty cute in dress, Daisuke.))
(Did you have to tell me that?)
((Well, it's the truth!))
(Dark...)
((Just be glad you don't have long hair. If that was the case...))
(DON'T TELL ME! Let's just... continue already.)
&Comment: Daisuke looks cute as a girl, anyway. Who doesn't agree with that?! ... Don't mind me, I'm high on lack of sugar...&
---
Moodily, Daisuke scrubbed at the bathroom tiles. It wasn't necessary, he noted, since he used to be the only one to use it and he always kept it clean. But remembering that he had other people living under the same roof, he sighed in frustration.
((It may look fine now,)) Dark pointed out while the redhead scrubbed away, ((But wait until THEY get into this room.))
"Do you really have to tell me that?" the redhead muttered as he soaked the rag he'd been using, "I thought we had a mop somewhere. Why did they make me do this with pieces of cloth?"
((They want you to suffer.))
"That's nice."
Daisuke frowned as he continued with the job, while Dark muttered about anything and everything that came up in his mind. For this, the boy was glad; at least he had company instead of doing it on his own.
Once he was finished, he got up again, "What do I have to do now?"
((Kill someone.))
"... That's not funny, Dark."
((To me it is, but I'm dead serious,)) the Thief said in a less-than-serious voice.
"Let's just go already..." Daisuke shook his head while Dark laughed and heaved the bucket up to find a way to dispose of the now dirty water. He found himself dragging it out to the garden and, without as much as a second glance, he threw the water into the garden.
((Can we kill someone now?))
"Stop asking that!" the redhead burst out and went back inside. Because he didn't turn around, he failed to see the shadow that had been watching him from behind a rather tall oak tree. &Comment: Did I need the 'tree' part? I don't think so but... eh.&
Daisuke finished the other jobs set for him at record speed and without much delay. Except when the older Stepsister, who was only a year older than him, came out once more to give him a snide comment.
"You'll never be as pretty as me!" she declared before she made a 180-degree turn to walk off... only to fall face first onto the floor. Luckily for her that they had been in the living room during that time, and the floor was covered with more carpet than needed.
"Are you okay?" the redhead asked, while Dark sniggered in the background.
"I've never been better!" she scrambled up again and flounced off, only to fall down in the hallway.
Daisuke shook his head, smiling, as he continued to work on cleaning up the room, which was, like every other room, so clean that cleaning it again wasn't even necessary.
"Kyu!"
"With?" he turned as the white ball of fluff hit him face first, "What's going on?"
"Kyu!"
"Oh, you're hungry, aren't you?" Daisuke poked at the creature that was currently occupying his head, "Well, I'm done here anyway, so why don't we get something for you?"
((You seem to be handling the situation pretty well, Daisuke,)) Dark pointed out, ((How can you adapt so easily?))
(Dark... saying that makes me sound like some animal,) he shot back as he went to the kitchen, (And, in a way, this takes up some of my spare time...)
((Where you could be visiting the Harada twins or even hang out with that weird friend of yours, Saehara,)) his other half pointed out.
(Yeah, I guess...)
The kitchen was as large as the living room and lavishly furnished. Sliding past the chairs and benches that got in his way, Daisuke opened the refrigerator door and pulled out some strawberries for his pet.
While With was occupied with the food, the redhead began to make lunch. Not knowing what the rest of his 'family' wanted, he made anything that came to mind and served it without getting any signs of gratitude.
((Let's go before they start yelling at you.))
(Agreed.)
Picking up With, who was still gnawing away at the red fruit, Daisuke made his way back upstairs. His bedroom had obviously become his refuge and was the only room that his Evil Stepmother didn't possess the keys to. Taking this as an advantage, so that they weren't able move him anywhere else, the redhead opened the door and entered.
His bed covers were thrown across the floor, while the sunlight filtered through the still open window. His desk was scattered with papers, most of them sketches of whatever he saw, and he moved over to them to rearrange them.
((I'm going out tonight,)) Dark told him.
(Huh? As in a 'job-going-out' or just a 'wandering-around-going-out'?) questioned Daisuke as he set the papers straight.
(('Wandering-going-out',)) was the answer, ((But I have a job to do tomorrow, okay?))
(I guess after all this I have nothing to complain about.)
((Okay, whatever. I'm sleeping now.))
The redhead shut the sound of the Thief snoring away and sat on his bed, contemplating on the strange turn of events that he had been forced into. Inclining his head, he went back to the wedding fiasco.
(Who was attacking us in the first place?) he wondered, (And why? Big beams of really dangerous light... hm...)
"Kyu?" With looked up at him and wagged his tail before leaping onto his lap. Curling up, the small creature fell asleep almost instantly and Daisuke stroked the soft fur unconsciously.
((Time for some bloodshed.))
(Dark! ... You sound too much like Krad now.)
((Well, once we find out who started all this, I am gonna kill them anyway. If you don't wanna see it, than keep your eyes closed.))
(Celes-san agreed on your theory, though. Maybe we'll be out here sooner than you think.)
((And then I'll kill whoever started this.))
(Dark...)
---
"BOY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
He sighed as the shriek reached his ears. Removing With from his lap slowly, he opened the door and locked it before, once more, going down the stairs. The younger Sister's face was bloated – like waiting was something she wasn't used to – and was obviously angry.
"Where were you?!" she demanded, "You have a lot of work to do, you know!"
"I know..." (I did?) Daisuke blinked innocently as she fell into a long-winded explanation and complaint about how rude he was.
((Did you really think that they'd leave you once you did all that once?)) replied Dark, having woken up by the Sister's screams.
The redhead was no longer paying attention while she continued to rant, only noting what he would have to do. The list of housekeeping jobs were endless and some of them seemed a bit more ridiculous than most.
(('Talk to the cat for twenty minutes after dinner'?)) repeated his alter ego in a skeptical voice, ((First, why do they have a cat here? And second, who the hell wants to talk to a fur-ball like that?))
(Uh...)
Once the Sister had finally run out of breath so she couldn't say anything, Daisuke nodded in understanding before practically bolting off so that she couldn't open her mouth again. He shook his head as the list ran around through his head, at the same time wondering exactly what they expected from him.
"They could always hire a maid, servants, anyone" he muttered under his breath, "We have more than enough money with Dad's job and all... so why me? I didn't need the servants, but now..."
((They just want you to suffer, Daisuke, can't you see?)) Dark cut in with an annoyed tone of voice, ((Isn't that kinda obvious?))
"..." Daisuke shook his head, "Well, I'll just have to make sure that I don't suffer then."
((What? Not run away? You're mad.))
(Maybe...)
The redhead could only smile at Dark's warnings before beginning his set tasks.
(Do I really act like that?)
((No. At least, not that weak minded, I'll say that much.))
(I don't think I want to ask what the second meaning to that reply was.)
((Then don't.))
((... Am I that big of a jerk?))
(... Do I have to tell the truth?)
((Yes.))
(At times... but still... you're a part of me.)
((I guess that's some form of consolation. Well, I'll just take a nap for a while.))
(Dark...)
---
The moon could be seen clearly that night, as Dark made his way through the quiet streets, lost in his own thoughts. Daisuke was asleep already, since all the tasks he'd been forced to do obviously tired the young boy out.
At this the Thief seethed with anger at the people's disrespect to his host, who was probably the most trusting and kind person he had ever known. In his rage, he kicked a can that was in his way. It clattered against stone pavement noisily and he couldn't help but sigh. Even just thinking about the dress they had forced him to wear...
Dark stopped as his sharp eyes caught sight of someone leaning against a lamppost. His rage fading for a moment and his curiosity aroused, the Thief made his way towards the person.
"Oi!" he called, glad that he was wearing something appropriate and that Daisuke had managed to save a good number of his normal clothes.
The person that had been sitting there turned in his direction in acknowledgement, but didn't yell back. Despite the fact that Dark knew that it was dangerous to talk to strangers, especially at night, his curiosity was stronger than his safety and Daisuke was asleep, so he couldn't yell at him.
When Dark reached the lamppost, he noticed that the person had unnatural golden eyes comment: like having purple eyes isn't unnatural? and long blonde hair, which was tied up into a ponytail. The person was also a male.
"I haven't seen you around," commented the Thief, keeping a good distance between them, "New here?"
"Perhaps," replied the blonde, looking bored, "But I don't believe we're met."
"Hmph, you're a cold one. I'm Dark."
"Krad."
"Krad?" repeated Dark, "Hey, I like that name!"
"Hmph."
It was only then that the Thief noticed that Krad was wearing white robes with strange trimmings on the seams and he frowned. His other senses kicked in and he spun around.
"I should go now."
Without hesitation, Dark started off at a fast sprint, to cover as much distance between himself and the blonde. The power he had felt was particularly disturbing and he decided better than to tell Daisuke.
The little redhead didn't need to know, anyway.
(Well, it looks like we found Krad... right?)
((Does it make much of a difference? At least he didn't blow my head off or yours... yet. You can't trust someone like him.))
(I guess... I wonder if Hiwatari-kun is okay?)
((I don't care, okay?))
(Hm...)
-End Stage 4-
Akane inclined her head as Celes waited patiently for her comment. After a few moments of thought, she jumped up.
"So you're saying that Dark said that this is all because someone wants us to change the story," she finally blurted out, "I have to say that that sounds a bit off the mark and definitely not like Dark, so I guess that's our only clue on this. By the way... how's your research going?"
"Not very well," replied the Priestess softly.
"Ah well..." she sighed, "Now that Krad's in the picture, all we have to find is Hiwatari-kun."
"Would he not be with Krad?"
"I don't know. That's what we're trying to find out."
"Yo."
"Yes, Dark?"
"Anything to tell us?"
"Well, only your clue," replied Akane, "so we'll try and work on it. Just... take care, okay? We'll get you out of there as soon as possible."
There was a loud sigh, "Whatever."
Once he was gone, Celes suggested softly, "But perhaps they cannot leave until the tale is done?"
"I was thinking that too," Akane frowned, "If that's the case, then we'll just have to tell them that. Dark won't be happy, though."
"I know..."
---- Now that Krad's in the picture, where's Satoshi? Let's keep going, shall we? ----
This took just WAY too long to do this. I'm punishing myself for my laziness and whatever else that delayed me to do this. I apologise to my readers for that and I hope that you like this chapter... at least a bit, anyway...
Is it just me or is this slowly getting longer? ... Must be me. :)
-- Reviewer talkback:
-Hakudoshi-chan: I think I made it confusing on purpose. Acutally, I'm confused myself. It can from nowhere and is bound to end nowhere. Ah well... that's life, isn't it?
-Staryday: Thank you! I guess... everything's in a muddle. My head isn't working right, and, well... I'm lost, really lost, and there's no way out! Help me! ... I'll be fine in the end, but I've really gotta stop doing this...
-Rinkufan: I know, the comments don't stand out, and it's really annoying. Anywho... about the asterisks and stuff, I don't think supports them... ? Might be me though, you never know. Thanks for the nice comments, though!
And, uh... about what time frame these people are in? hits head against the wall. Hard I have no idea anymore. They're like in the past-present or something really messed up, since I don't do my homework and I'm too lazy, so forgive me for my really lazy attitude on the info for whatever time frame they're in. My head hurts now... maybe I should put a TV in it as well! ... Okay, maybe not, unless you want one there. Oh, wait... argh, never mind.
Well, I guess we'll be waiting for a while till the next one is up, right?
8/10/04 - Wow wow wow! Guess what? It's my birthday! Happy birthday Seena58! &runs around happily& ... Sorry, just a bit high. Heheh. Well, let's see what happens next! Soon, eventually...
