A/N: This is last chapter which you will get to view the younger Riku-san, so relish in it. Dark and Riku's relationship will move rather quickly after this, but I'm sad to say that there will be eight years unspoken for between this chapter and the next. I'm going to try to finish this story soon so I can begin working on my other two epics already in process ((laugh)), which will be much much longer. I have final decided on a plot for 'No Need To Run' and it's going to be one helluva long story. While this story is on the light-hearted side the other's shall adapt to darker themes, Fortuna Smiles being sex and NNTR being angst and violence. So if you are a fan of this story you might not want to read those two ((more laughing)).
There are some very unpleasant scenes in this chapter. I am ashamed of lack of ability to make theme as dramatic as they should be. For give me!
Disclaimer: I don't own D N Angel
The air was unbelievably stifling and it was beginning to seem that the more she searched the hotter it became. The sun rose almost mockingly higher, burning against the young girl's back making her expedition even more uncomfortable. Soaked in sweat and covered in dirt, Riku had been searching for her lost feather since morning. Distressed at discovering its absence from around her neck, she set out to search the grounds she had covered that night.
"It's got to be around here somewhere," she whined, pulling at her shirt to keep it from futher matting to her skin.
A bead of sweat slipped from her brow and down the side of her flustered cheek. The salty liquid sneaked in through the corner of her mouth allowing the distasteful substance to dance on her tounge. She spit bitterly. She'd much rather be playing with the other children, but refused to return without that feather. What would Dark say when he discovered it was gone? It was a gift that he had given specially to her and she had promised to cherish it.
As the sun reached its peak around noon the shadows of the foliage around her began to grow. She knew that the dark shades would blend perfectly with charcoaled colored feather and that her hunt was only going to become more difficult from there. But it would seem that luck was gracious to the girl as she spotted the object of her desire nestled in the brances of a nearby bush.
"Ah," she let out a sigh of much needed relief as she removed the feather from its cradle.
Just her slender fingers wrapped securely around the object a low growl errupted from behind her. Trembling at the unexpected outburst, Riku turned around nevously to face a large beast.
To her knowledge it appeared to be some breed of wolf and not a very friendly one at that. Its frame was thin from weeks of almost complete starvation and recently closed scars revealed signs of previous scraps. Hot saliva dripped from it's bared fangs as it released another vicious growl. Dark eyes remained completely focused on the tender layer of skin covering her neck.
As any unexperienced person would, and a child at that, she ran and as animal instinct would have it, the creature pursued. In her mind was she was screaming, but the fear was so extreme that it rendered her silent. She didn't make it far before she felt the excrutiating pain of teeth sinking into her right ankle. Collapsing to the ground she let out a piercing scream as the beast shread her flesh. Millions of thoughts passed her as the wolf maimed her ankle, hot blood stained the ash colored fur around its mouth.
"DARK!" she cried, clenching the feather chokingly
Abruptly a sharp whimper of pain sounded and Riku openend eyes surprised that it wasn't her own. Feeling the monster's fangs desert from her flesh she turned to the wolf scurrying away, the hair around its abdomen singed. Dark stood, his chest heaving, about 5 feet away as the remains of a ki blast faded from his palms. Dizzly she peered down at the blood oozing from several open gashes around her feet as the metallic smell invaded her nostrils. Riku gave Dark one last glance, her eyes barely focusing on his worried expression, before passing out.
Her eyes wouldn't open and her head was pounding, but the smell was mildly comforting. Although unaware of her surroundings Riku could distinctly make out the sweet, earthy smell of something nearby. When her dark lashes finally fluttered opened there he was, smiling brightly and that was the only consolence she needed. His narrow eyes were still brimming with worry as he delicately stroked her brow.
"You've got to stop scaring me like this," he whispered hoarsely.
"I'm sorry," she choked, rubbing her fingers over the feather still grasped firmly in her hand.
"You should be okay now," he said pulling the bed covers up around her shoulders. "Your wounds weren't that bad and they've all tended to."
Sighing he strolled over to the bedroom window peering out it soberly. The sun was setting and the vibrant colors played beautifully off his every feature including his face, hair and wings. He gazed out at the horizon almost desperately, but there were no answers it could offer him. What do I say to her now? She's so brave, but I'm afraid it might get her killed. Running a smooth hand through his violet tresses, he turned back to her.
"I know it's not my place to scold you, but you can't keep running off like this. I don't care what your reasons are there' s no excuse to keep endangering yourself like that!" his temper rose. "I wouldn't be able to stand myself if something happend to you..."
Riku lowered her head in shame and his eyes softened. How could he yell at her at her like that when her adolescence made it so difficutl? It wasn't her fault, she didn't mean to look that way. He wanted to hold her, but he knew it would be wrong to just coddle her agian. Riku had to learn her lesson one way or another and he prefered it be like this. She could be angry with him if it would keep her safe.
Dark wished he could remember being that young. Although he inhabited the body of 16 year old boy, his appearance betrayed the actual age of his soul. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he was unable to age. However, this didn't mean that he was brooding or mature, Dark took every advantage of his youthful looks to act as such. Here I am acting like some type of big brother. Who would have thought?
There was nothing left for Riku to do for the remainder of the day, but rest her groggy head. The pain in her leg was willing to allow her a few hours of sleep and when she reawakend the sun had already passed. Rubbing her bleary eyes she remembered that she had forgotten to thank Dark for saving her. Considering that she wouldn't be able to sleep for quite some time, she decided that she would do it now. Groaning, she rose from bed and hobbled clumsily to the door.
The night air crept its way up through the bottom of her night gown, trailing up her stomach to tickle her skin. Closing her eyes, Riku relished in the cool, refreshing feel of it against her still flaming flesh. She instantly felt the girlish urge to twirl in the breeze, but was aware that the act would only futher strain her battered ankle. Hearing a familiar laugh nearby, Riku peeked open one eye, and head in its direction.
She found Dark at his usual post by the village gate, but he was not alone. With a hand propped against the wall he leaned in seductively toward one of the village's older girls. She was a georgous of course, with long blonde locks and sparkling azure eyes. Every man in the village desired her almost as much as every girl wanted Dark.
"I'm flattered really," he smirked, "especially coming from the prettiest girl in the village."
She ws blushing madly, "I would have come sooner, but you're always with that girl."
"Who? Riku?" he looked suprised.
"Nah," he fanned his hand, "she's like my little sister that's all. I could never think of her that way."
"Oh really?"
"Besides," he wrapped his arm around her waist, "I prefer girls more like you."
And so they kissed...
Deciding to stay unnoticed, Riku choiced back a cry. She would never admit to her fantasies of growing up and marrying Dark, but that didn't stop her from having them. In her mind he was her knight in shining armor and would always come to her rescue, but here it was her- her wake up call. She would never really add up to anything more than a sisterly figure in his eyes. No matter what feelings she had for him now or in the future, their love would have to remain strictly platonic and eventually she was okay with the idea.
Eight years passed this way, Dark protected Riku when she needed it and they perserved a pure, friendly relationship. Dark never let up on the charm and quickly earned the title of resident playboy, dating girl after girl. However, each day he watched Riku grow and learn with pride. She was still as close to his heart as the day the met, he immediately felt a bond to her that would never die. No matter what trials or tribulations were ahead of them he would remain by her side as her guardian.
a/n: you can tell i got lazy there at the ending. I really didn't want to write this chapter, but felt that it was needed. I'm such a slacker.
