Satoshi looked over the security once more. He walked down the darkened halls of the museum, nodding to the guards as he passed, and double-checked the locks on all the doors. He knew it would all be easy for Dark to get through, but it all might make him slow down a bit.

Give Satoshi time to meet up with him.

Satoshi had learned to expect a lot from Daisuke after going to school with him, and even more after learning that he was the Legendary Thief, but his actions earlier that day had exceeded anything he was prepared for.

Did Daisuke mean everything he had said? Everything he had hinted at …?

Satoshi brought a hand to his lips. It was the one Daisuke had pressed to his chest. Satoshi could still feel the warmth of Daisuke's fingers around his, the heavy beating of his heart, his breath in the space between them …

And he stopped.

Focused on his breathing, Satoshi banished away all thoughts of the redhead as he felt Krad stir inside him. He had ignored his call once today; he didn't have the will to do so twice. And he could not afford to have Krad tear Dark apart. Not with Daisuke so close …

The bell tower across town rang out, clear and crisp in the stagnant night air.

On the first bell, Satoshi heard the cries of people outside. He knew they were yelling at Dark. As the second bell rang, he could hear the thief's wings himself, a steady beat in the night. The third ring drowned out the sound of Satoshi's footsteps as he ran to the window, looking out in the dark for the man that was its namesake.

The bell rang again, and again, and again. Satoshi could see nothing in the skies, and a glance at the ground brought only brief glimpses of the police and guards and onlookers, all hoping to get just one glance of the thief.

By the time the last bell rang, its sound echoing through the city, Satoshi had given up hope for the outside. He turned around.

Dark was standing right in front of him. He flapped his shady wings once before they folded away and disappeared. In Dark's open hand, Satoshi saw the small glint of silver.

"Hello, Commander," Dark said.

"You're fast."

"You're blocking my exit," Dark stated matter-of-factly.

"Really," Satoshi said, equally sarcastic.

"I won't ask you twice."

Satoshi grinned, taking a step closer to the Thief. "You haven't asked me once."

"Please."

"That's better." Satoshi took a step to the left, allowing the Thief to pass.

Once at the window, Dark looked back. Satoshi was watching him. "I thought you'd put up more of a fight." He leaned out the window, watching as the policemen on the ground rushed to and fro. He needed to hurry. "Come, Wiz!"

Satoshi grinned. "Well, Dark-kun, I guess you're right," he said softly.

"What?" Dark cocked an eyebrow, confused. He looked out the window again, and called out to the dark room once more, "Wiz!"

"Kyuu!"

Satoshi's grin widened. "You honestly think I'd let you go that easy?" He shook his head and walked toward Dark. His hands were behind his back, and Dark saw a flash of Wiz's tail beat franticly against his capturer's arm.

"Now, when did you pick him up?"

"You're not the only one with a few tricks hidden away, Thief." Satoshi took small steps toward the taller boy.

Dark, too, grinned, holding up a hand. He pointed two fingers up, then raised his other hand in the same position. Satoshi had him cornered against the wall. He leaned in, almost touching Dark with the whole of his body. He was so close, Dark could feel the heat rising from his body.

Dark closed his eyes and concentrated, muttering a few strategic words in German under his breath.

Satoshi watched, fascinated. He felt the animal behind his back stop squirming. A heat poured from it, crawling up Satoshi's arms. Holding Wiz in one hand, Satoshi spun around to see what Dark had done to the animal with his spell.

Wiz was emanating a bright golden light that trailed from the floor to way above the animal, right about to where Satoshi's own head stood. As he held Wiz, the animal's mass changed, becoming more solid, elongating. Satoshi had to shade his eyes from the glare, but he did not unhand Wiz. He felt his grip loosen, until he was barely cupping the figure.

As the light died down, Satoshi lowered his arm. The grinning form of Daisuke had taken the place of little Wiz. He smiled wide at Satoshi, and looking straight at the boy, proclaimed simply "Daisuki!"

Satoshi's eyes widened and he took a step back, hand falling from where it rested on the figure's hip. Wiz grabbed the falling hand with both of his borrowed forms', saying again, "Daisuki, daisuki!"

"Wiz, that's enough, now," Dark commanded, reaching over the Commander's shoulder to touch Wiz-Daisuke's shoulder. The figure's attention turned to him, then.

With a pointed glance at Satoshi, Dark said, "Better luck next time."

And with that, he leapt from the window. The image of Daisuke waved back at Satoshi as it too fell into the night before fading into Wiz's black-winged form and attaching to Dark's falling back.

Satoshi leaned out the window and watched as Dark's wings caught a draft of air and he took off. Light from the moon caught the feathers of his wings, flickering in misty night.

This was how Detective Saehara and his gang of merry policemen found Satoshi minutes later, blankly staring into space after Dark.