It had been a while since he had come here, but not much had changed. Daisuke looked around the large, granite hall of the Art Museum and smiled to himself. He had been here countless times before, even as a kid. Back then he had mostly climbed in through skylights or another secret entrance way, had stolen art or sealed it, and been off into the night. Well, Dark had. He had been just the vessel.
°You were always more than just a vessel° a soft voice told him firmly.
°I know° he answered, smiling more at Dark's voice in his head.
°I never saw you as a tool° the kaitou added.
Daisuke turned to the warm presence inside him and brushed over it. °I never thought you did, Dark. I saw you as my friend, not a burden. You still are °
Dark's soul seemed to flow all around him, embracing him.
°And now we're entering these holy halls through the main entrance for the first time° Daisuke added, grinning. °Must be a novelty for you °
°A lot has been novel lately was the reply. °
Daisuke chuckled and walked past some smaller art prints toward the section where the really good stuff was hidden. The exhibitions were fun, but he was aiming for a back room where he would find something that made not only a thief's heart miss a beat. Daisuke was an art student, on his way to his doctorate, and he had finally been granted access to one of the rarest pieces in a collection that had still no opening date so far. It was a matter of security and the city was currently working on how to insure the valuable items wouldn't be stolen.
°Who do they think would go after that stuff aside from me?° Dark asked as they passed through the hall and entered the heart of the museum through an 'employees only' door.
°You're no longer around, so I guess they're thinking normal thieves now° Daisuke replied.
°Well, I am around °
°Not to steal °
°No, just to be bored to death° Dark complained.
°Krad not keeping you occupied?° his host teased.
Dark snorted and a warm wave sloshed round Daisuke's mind, making him grin. Ever since Dark and Krad had finally resolved their problems and had become an item, things were getting interesting.
°Which reminds me... why are you here with me and not with Krad?° he asked.
°Because he and Sato are doing something or other in the library °
°Something or other? Now that sounds like they're making out behind a shelf °
Dark poked him gently. °You'd be the first to object to that °
°What makes you think I'm not interested in a threesome? °
°Niwa Daisuke! I'm shocked!° the kaitou laughed.
Daisuke flashed his ID card to one of the guards and the man nodded.
°You're easily shocked nowadays° he remarked.
Dark chuckled. °Naw. Getting used to you being such a pervert all of a sudden °
°I learned from the best °
Dark chuckled. °I knew I could teach you something °
Daisuke nodded to himself as he walked down the halls. °You taught me a lot, my friend °
The kaitou radiated a question, slightly confused.
°You taught me confidence, Dark. You taught me to challenge myself, to become more than I was° Daisuke gazed into a display case, meeting his eyes, looking at himself and at his demon at the same time. °You taught me to grow up °
There was a long silence and Daisuke felt the presence of Dark shift a little. °You grew up just fine on your own° the thief finally muttered.
°Never doubt that you didn't have an impact. You did. I was shy, Dark. I was easily embarrassed. I was clumsy °
A snort was added from within him. °You were never clumsy! °
Daisuke grinned and continued his way. °Oh, I was. I could master all obstacles constructed by Mom and grandpa, but outside... I was all left hands and gracelessness. And just talking to girls had me go beet red. Not to mention facing any kind of challenge. You changed that. You were a nuisance, I was annoyed more times than not... but you changed me, Dark. Without you... I probably wouldn't be here today, wouldn't live this life °
Dark was quiet again. °You would have gotten there eventually° he finally murmured. °I just... kicked you a lot °
He reached for his symbiote and smiled. °Thank you for that, Dark °
°You said I was a nuisance There was a little of the old outrage there. °
°You were °
°Really? °
°Really °
°Oh °
°And a challenge. And I missed you when you were gone °
Daisuke leaned against a window, gazing outside. Dark flowed closer, hesitating.
°You were a part of me, Dark. As much as I hated having to share my body in the beginning, you were my best friend° Daisuke whispered. I° knew you would disappear when I finally realized who I loved, but I didn't really want to think about it later on. I didn't want you to leave. And when you did... it was forever. I didn't even have the hope of meeting you again... in a child of mine...a son... You just sacrificed yourself and left me alone °
°Dai, I never... at the time it had to be done° Dark answered roughly.
°I know°
°We all would have died °
°I know °
There was a tingle as the separation happened and from one moment to the next Daisuke was held in a gentle but strong hold, black wings closing around him like a protective cocoon. Dark's head rested against his shoulder and he felt the magical being tremble a little.
"You were more than just another host for me, too, Dai. You were the first where I wished it didn't have to end. Sure, I was annoyed at you, but I was annoyed with all you Niwas. Your grandfather was just as clumsy in his love life. It took him a lot longer than you. But I liked you a lot, Daisuke. A lot. You were special."
Daisuke inhaled deeply. Yes, he had been different. He had stopped the hating. He had wanted Satoshi as a friend, not an enemy. And he had done his best to keep them both alive, to save Satoshi.
He had fought the final battle with Dark and for Dark.
"I missed you, too," Dark whispered, hugging him tightly. "I was terrified when Hel woke us, when she ripped us apart. I was scared to death for Krad and myself. And then you came, and I was scared for you. You just walked in there, ready to die instead of leaving."
"I couldn't leave," Daisuke said softly. "I couldn't leave you again, sacrificing yourself..."
Dark pressed a kiss against the warm neck. "I owe you more than I can ever repay, Niwa Daisuke."
The young man smiled gently. "There is nothing to repay, Dark. Just stay..."
"I will."
The feathers were warm and silky and soft, and they were filled with magic and life. Daisuke reached out, stroking over them in a simple caress. No longer Whizz but a true part of Dark. The demon had grown strong enough to have the energy to spare; he didn't need a substitute.
Daisuke smiled involuntarily at the thought of their future together. All four of them.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Dark just rested against him, his wings encasing him. "Mushy," he mumbled.
"Yeah."
But neither man moved.
After a while the kaitou loosened his embrace and when Daisuke didn't protest, he merged back into his host. Daisuke briefly closed his eyes, then pushed away from the window and finally walked into the examination room where the documents and art he was looking for were located.
The moment Dark saw the art, he whistled appreciatively, grinning.
°We're not here to steal° Daisuke chastised good-humoredly.
°Just looking° Dark sang.
His host chuckled as he logged into the computer to begin his work.
end of this chapter
to be continued