A/N: I know I said there would be 11 chapters, but this isn't the end! There will be a chapter after this one and then an epilogue!

Disclaimer: I do not own D N Angel

"Where's the girl?" Krad hissed over his shoulder to the descending angel at his back.

"I told you that you wouldn't touch her," he replied cheekily, his feet firming on the ground.

"I see," Krad said coolly,"you hid her from me.

He turned to face his dark winged nemesis, "And tell me, how did you know I was coming?"

"It's not my fault you're so predictable," Dark shrugged innocently.

"And besides," his face took a serious turn, "you and I are the same aren't we."

"This has to end somewhere Dark Mousy," Krad growled, "and it might as well end here with everything you love in flames."

The blonde haired man threw his head back in a menacing laugh as a line of fire spread behind him. Dark watched in horror as homes began to burn and frightened villagers scrambled for safety. His gaze traveled angrily over to his smirking enemy, it was just like the savage to take it too far. The situation was no longer about art or thieves. The war brewing between Dark and Krad was a matter of pride and unadulterated hate. They would see who was the stronger guardian once and for all.

Watching the scene about him only made Dark's infuriation grow and with it the purple Ki ball forming in his palm grew. When it reached a desirable size, the Phantom Thief sent it hurtling his adversary's way. Krad evaded it gracefully, returning a blast of his own and an equally smug expression. This was going to be fun.

"All you can do is destroy other people's lives for your own kicks," Dark lunged forward.

Krad caught Dark's fist in his own." Really, when did you become so sensitive?" he glared back at his counterpart.

Krad sent a barrage of fistful attacks in Dark's direction, which the phantom narrowly missed-slightly knicking the side of his cheek. Dark retaliated in the formation of a wind tunnel of Ki. Without hope of dodging, the assault knocked the white robed angel out of the sky and rolling limply to the ground. Quickly gathering to his feet, Krad scowled up at his rival.

Whiping away the blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, "It's not going to end like this," he protested.

"Oh really?" Dark rebutted."Because it looks like your on the losing end."

"I will make sure you suffer for an eternity!" Krad charged toward his untimely foe.

The two would battle it out until their bodies gave way. In the end they would always be equally matched, Dark's love for Riku countered by Krad's hatred for the thief. The result of their quarrel would only result in a loss for both sides. That night everyone was defeated.

Flames rose from every angle as the sound of another head piercing explosion left Dark's ear drums ringing. The force of such an erruption sent him flying back to make a rough impact with the ground. Groaning, he rolled limply over unto his stomach. Dry earth stirred around him, invading his lungs and sending him into a fit of coughs.

Every limb felt unusually heavy and he found himself paralyzed at the fire's mercy. His tattered wings folded as ebony feathers abandoned their places on his back and danced about in the distance. He felt his fingers grow warm and sticky as he rubbed them together in efforts to move. He sighed in realization that the substance pooling around him was in fact his own blood.

"I'm going to die like this?" he chuckled to himself only to spit up an alarming amount of the red liquid.

Peering hazedly across the wall of flames before him, he could make out the figure of his enemy. Krad was sprawled out on his back in a similiar condition. Ivory feathers blew toward the flames only to be singed into ash. Dark thought of all the cocky things he could say at that moment, but disregarded them all. What did it matter now? They were both going to die.

"I promised...I would come back..."

"You'll never see her again," Krad's voice crackled, yet held it's heartless tone over the burning barrier.

"I PROMISED!" Dark's tear filled voice boomed through the charred village.

He felt defeated in more ways then one. But more then anything he felt like an asshole for forsaking Riku like that. Some where she was worried about him, waiting for him and he would never return to her. He didn't even kiss her goodbye. Although blinking rapidly in attempts to keep a stream of blood from entering his eyes, he still managed to see the frightened young man only feet from him.

"Get out of here before all the exits are a flame," Dark commanded coldly.

"I-I want to help you," the red headed boy clammered advancing toward the fallen angel.

"Don't," he whispered, blood seeping from the corner of his lips.

"Please," the boy pleaded a gentle hand landing tenderly on Dark's blood matted hair. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"A death wish," the thief couldn't help but laugh. His expression saddend as did his tone, "I want to see her again; I want to keep my promise."

"How can I help?" the boy asked nervously.

"Merge with me..."

"Of course," he knodded in agreement.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"From this day foreword, my DNA shall course through your blood line. When a male member of your family turns fourteen I will awaken to continue stealing the Hikari arts and search for my love. When the choosen member thinks of whom they love they shall transform and only when their affections are returned shall I sleep. This curse will continue until my love and I are reunited. Understand?"

"Yes."

"And you still want to do this?"

"What do I need to do?" the boy's crimson eyes hardend determination.

"Take a feather from my back and repeat this chant."

The boy obliged, quickly plucking a feather from one of Dark's long black wings. The phantom winched briefly in discomfort, but the pain was quickly over ruled by much larger injuries. Deep down he felt bad for becoming a burden on the naive boy, but couldn't pass up the opprotunity to see his love once again.

"Wait, first...what's your name?"

"Niwa."

"Well from now on Niwa, you and I are one."