A/N: Sorry for the long over do update here. I hope I haven't lost any readers. I've been so busy with other projects, but it's summer break and that will provide me with some time to work on my fics. But I do have a life people, with work and upcoming cons. So don't expect a chapter a night. This story should wrap up in about 5 more chapters so I'm gonna go a head and try to finish. I hope you all still enjoy the story.

I hope I haven't lost touch with the characters!

Disclaimer: I do not own D N Angel.

Dark Mousy wasn't jealous. Dark didn't get jealous, he had no reason to. He was gorgeous and charming in every sense of the words. So if he wasn't jealous then what were the emotions boling inside him as he watched Riku flirt with one of the village boys. Dark bit down on his pride as she giggled and lightly brushed the boy's forearm. How was it that every girl in the settlement was falling head over heels for the phantom thief, but Riku? Instead here she was content with someone so...average.

Dark racked his brain for every logical reason as to why Riku wasn't attracted to him. Thinking back he concluded that it was probably his playboy traits that repelled her the most. He just had to show her his sensitive side; give her a real look into who Dark Mousy was. That would win her over...

"Where are you taking me?" Riku groaned in nothing short of utter annoyance. She hated suprises and, even more so, being blindfolded. Yet here she was, visionless, following Phantom Thief Dark, of all people, to God knows where. Her functioning senses weren't as keen as she'd hope them to be, but the distinct sound of a branch snapping underfoot definately wasn't a positive sign.

"You'll know when we get there," Dark exasperated, his grip tightening around her wrist. "You know, impatience isn't really a quality that guys look for in a girl."

"Why do you care?" she retorted.

"Who said I did?" Dark laughed over his shoulder at her.

Privately, Riku imagined all the charming things that could have spilt from his lips at that very moment. The reply she received, however, was not the one she hoped for. With the release of small "hmph" she accepted her defeat and followed the rest of the way in silence.

"Well here you go," Dark smirked untying the back of the blindfold, "a trip down memory lane."

She blinked a few times instinctively as the dull cloth released and drifted down ward. As her sight gradually focused on the mouth of a large cave, her bottom lip dropped. She felt a nostalgic tug on her heart as the memory of a life changing event that occured at this very spot quickly flooded her mind.

Terrified the girl took a few steps backwards, before falling and then breaking out into a nervous sprint. A she hastily exited the cavity her foot caught on a stray rock and sent her hurtling face first into an awaiting puddle of mud, skinning her knees in the process. Releasing a small cry she turned back to see the feared being, silhouetted, looming over her. Lightning popped and thunder rolled behind the creature as it expanded its wings. The girl's eyes widened as stray, black feathers danced around her.

Two amber orbs watched as moisture swelled into drops and descended from the roof of the cave to an awaiting puddle. The echoing splash yanked her from her reverie. Still staring a bit dazedly at the puddle, It must have rained recently. Yes, she remembered it all perfectly. She was so young then, too young to understand what it all meant. Even now she wasn't sure she full comprehended it all.

"This is where we met," her voice was quiet and sentimental.

"It sure is," Dark,stepping up from behind her, placed a consoling hand on her shouder. His voice was lacking the same emotion.

"Lets go in shall we," he smirked, ushering her into the cavern.

They traveled a bit down the length of the winding tunel, the sound of Dark's heavy boots riochetting loudly off the stone walls. He stopped, staring down sadly at the rusty shackles extending from the rock. "You saved me you know," his voice was just louder than a whisper.

"Saved you?" Riku laughed half-heartedly. "I was just a scared little girl."

"I think you still are," sighed Dark, relaxing against the chill of the cave wall.

"What does that mean."

"It doesn't matter," he smiled," because I'll always be here to save you. I made a promises to protect you and those you love- a promise I intend to keep."

"It seems so long ago," she mused, falling beside him.

"To you maybe," he laughed. "Time really does go by too fast."

Her gaze drifted to the floor, "But you, you don't age. You'll always be as beautiful as you are now."

"It's both a blessing and a curse," Dark groaned pushing himself from the wall with his heel.

Her lips pursed, as her eyebrows gathered upward to peer at him curiously.

"You can't truly be with the one's you love when you're like this," he gravely answered her unspoken question.

Riku felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks. She felt ashamed for being so easy to read; there was a reason she hadn't verbally asked the question. It wasn't like Dark to express his emotions, but it was obvious all of this was painful for him. She was grateful for his efforts to reach out to her. It was clear that he wanted her to understand who he truly was.

"Maybe one day," she rose from the wall and followed him as he ambled toward the entrance, "you'll be free of those chains as well. I'll help anyway I can."

"Thanks- " he paused as Riku tapped him on the back of the shoulder.

"What do those markings mean?" she inquired, gesturing toward the large boulders embellished with vibrant paint and cryptic symbols that lined the path to the cavern's mouth.

"Oh, that," Dark trailed a hand smoothly over one of the over-sized stones. "The Hikari's were the ones who trapped me inside the cave. It's the language of their God's, the word of the light."

"But what does it mean?"

"Um well," he scratched the back of his head, " in short it says that with my freedom comes a life of severtude. I am bound to the one who grants me liberty of those shackles- you. The catch was that not just anyone would could open the cave and free me."

"You mean I was the only one who could have freed you?" She snorted skeptically.

"That's right," he cast his arm across her shoulder as his lips brushed lightly over her cheek," it was destiny."

"Destiny..." Riku stressed over the single word.

"Come on master," Dark, now a few feet in front of her, teased, "I have to get you home soon or your parents will have my head."

"Hmm." Once again shaking from an alluring daze, she rushed to follow him up the hillside. "Coming."

A young man was sleeping soundly against the stone wall with her the girl securely against him. He appeared to be about 10 years older than her, with multilength violet hair that fell in strands over his motionless face. Squinting she made futher evaluation of the man she had spent the night with. He looked human enough with the exception of long onyx wings sprouting from under his shoulder blades. Even though his face was lifeless, he still took the girl's breath away. He was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen; a sleeping angel. Extending a shakey hand, she reached out to brush a purple lock of hair from his cheek