Chapter Eleven

Barney searched through the drawers of the room upstairs, tossing random garments onto the floor as he went along. Krissy sat in the chair by the desk, sorting through things in the drawers curiously in the mean time. Finally, Barney pulled a shirt out and said, "This looks like it should fit, Daisuke's considerably smaller than I am…"

"He does seem pretty shrimpy, but adorable…"

Barney grinned and said, "Want me to give him your number when this is over?"

"Hey! Just…get changed and do whatever, I need to get home."

"Uh huh…"

He tried to remove his top but his shoulder still hurt and he uttered a painful moan, lowering his arms again. Glancing over at her, he said, "Do you think you could…"

"What! No! I am not undressing you!"

"Awe…but my arm hurts so badly…"

"Deal with it, I'll be downstairs calling home."

She stormed off down the stairs and disappeared as Barney chuckled to himself.

That really wasn't called for, do you ever act like a gentleman!

"Nope, not really…"

Barney grinned and he went back to changing, but at a slower pace this time. In the kitchen, Krissy picked up the phone and began to dial her home. Putting it to her ear, she waited for someone to either pick up or let her leave a message. The tone clicked and a voice came over the line, saying, "Hello…brother…"

Barney heard a scream emanate from the lower part of the house and quickly ran to the source. He found Krissy on her knees, the phone clutched in her hand a look of horror on her face. Kneeling next to her and pulling her to his face, he said desperately, "Krissy, what happened? What's wrong!"

"Becky, he's got Becky!"

"Who? Your father?"

"No, that monster!"

She began to cry and Barney knew whom she meant.

"Did he say where he's taken her? Krissy, tell me!"

"The park! He-he said to come alone and surrender to him or else he'd…he'd…"

Losing control, she gave in to her sorrows and bowed over, shaking as she wept into her hands. A determined look crossed Barney's face as he stood up and stared off into the distance as if burning a hole straight to the park.

Krad…you heartless jerk, how dare you bring an innocent child into this! I'll show you…this time, things are different, this time I can fight back and you better hope you can run fast because I'm coming to finish you off…once and for all.

"Krissy, stay here, I'll bring your sister back…this ends now. With!"

The bunny galloped down the stairs and leapt onto Barney's back, holding on as he broke into a run out of the house. Tapping With on the head, he transformed into his majestic black wings and took flight, soaring off to the park as fast as little With could go. 10 minutes later, Barney landed at the base of the bridge he had left just hours earlier. Standing in the middle was Krad, his arm around a very frightened Becky who jumped at the sight of her friend.

"BARNEY!"

Krad pulled Becky back as she fought his grip, saying, "Ah, there you are, I was beginning to think you'd never show! I suppose you got my message then?"

"I did, now let the girl go."

With a grin, Krad said slyly, "Get on your knees and beg first."

"Never, that wasn't part of the agreement."

"There was no agreement, you fool! Now beg or she takes a nice long swim in the lake."

"You vindictive wench, I don't take orders from you! Never will…and never have."

"How would you know, you can't remember your own name!"

"Oh yeah? Well, Madam Ruffles, guess what? I'm not so lost anymore, I've been 'enlightened'. I am finally myself again, I am the phantom thief that lurks in your nightmares and steals your hopes of winning, I am…DARK MOUSY!"

Spreading his wings with a swift flap, he lounged forward to attack the shocked man. Krad quickly grabbed the girl and gave her a rough toss, letting her tumble through the air and into the lake beside them.

"Becky!"

Dark turned sharply and dove in after her, pulling her body to the surface and holding her head up.

"With, take her back home, now!"

"Kyuu?"

"Do as I say! Don't worry, I'll be fine…"

Reluctantly, With took hold of the girl and flew away, leaving Dark bopping about in the water. A strong blast from Krad forced him back under and against the bottom of the lake, nearly knocking him unconscious. The pressure caused him to lose his breath and he struggled to reach the surface again. When he broke through, he felt something grab hold of his shirt and pull him out roughly. Krad whirled around and tossed him onto shore, watching as he tumbled across the ground before stopping by a tree. Flying forward, he prepared to launch another attack when Dark whipped out a single black feather, muttering a spell under his breath and pointing the feather toward Krad. The leaves on the tree suddenly shot off their branches, slicing Krad's body like razors as they sped past him, ripping his wings to shreds. With a cry of agony, Krad fell from the sky and crash-landed into the lake, disappearing below the surface. Dark staggered to his feet and clutched at his side as he stared distantly at the rippling water, thinking he had finally defeated his lifelong foe. Just as he turned to walk away, the water broke and Krad flew at him, tackling him to the ground as they collided. Rolling through the dusty dirt, they struggled with each other, throwing the occasional punch and kick when they gained the upper hand. Dark slapped Krad hard and threw him off finally, scrambling to his feet and readying himself for a return attack.

"How dare you, you fiend."

Krad touched his cheek tenderly, a spiteful glare in his fiery eyes. Dark scoffed at his comment and said, "What's wrong? Can't take it? Did I hurt your pretty face, Krad? Come and fight me like the man you're not!"

With an aggressive growl, Krad threw his hand up and unleashed a blast of energy on Dark. He blocked it with the power of his feather and broke through the assault just as Krad came at him. They wrestled momentarily until Dark threw him off, dodging the thrown punch and landing an uppercut into Krad's jaw. Stumbling back a few paces, he shook off the hit before turning about to throw a kick Dark's way. Catching his foot, he pulled back and knocked Krad to the ground where he attempted to step on his back. Krad planted his hands firmly and twisted around, slamming his free foot into Dark's wounded side, forcing him to release his foot and stagger backwards in pain. Krad leapt to his feet and took this chance to grab Dark by the shoulders and pull him into his knee, pushing him down afterward and letting him revel in the anguish before continuing. With a cocky toss of his hair, Krad said, "You're still weak, Dark. The old Dark I knew would have put up more of a fight than you have."

"The old Dark wouldn't have been so wounded!"

"True…but you're still not the same as you were!"

Krad jumped onto him to pummel him with his fists but Dark grabbed a hold, wrestling with him to get free.

He's right, something's still missing. I have my memories, my name but…Daisuke…I still can't feel him but I can hear him now and then. Where is he hiding? I need him to win this battle; I'm not complete without him! Daisuke, please, you have to help me, Daisuke! Daisuke!

"DAISUKE!"

Dark cried out, feeling a rush of energy as he threw Krad into the air. Violently, he pushed off from the ground and rammed into Krad's gut, forcing him into a tree where he repeatedly punched him in the face until blood flew from his nostrils. Fighting back, Krad landed a blow to Dark's jaw and sent him reeling to the side just to be kicked in the rear end and forced to his knees. Krad wiped the blood from his nose and looked at the stain it left on his pure white glove, sniffing sharply and glowering down at Dark with a rage unbridled by the sun. He stalked over to him with intent on harming him when Dark kicked back, catching him in the stomach and shoving him back into the tree where his head cracked against the hard wood. With a moan, he crumpled to the ground in a stupor and stared distantly at the ground, his head still spinning from the collision. Dark staggered to his feet and growled, walking over to Krad and placing his foot on his throat, pinning him back against the tree. Krad let out a small croak as he stared wide-eyed at Dark with a look of horror in his eyes as he clawed as his shoe.

"I'm sick of seeing your ugly face, I should just kill you now and be done with your pathetic life."

"You…wouldn't hurt a…friend…would you?"

Krad squeaked out, moaning as his body lit up, shrinking down into the smaller and frailer blue-haired boy that harbored his soul. Dark released his hold on him and stared with shock, blinking as he said, "S-Satoshi?"

The boy looked up with saddened and pained eyes and said in a whisper, "You're…alive…Dark…"

Dark contemplated still finishing the job when he heard the voice in his head again.

Dark, no, don't hurt him! He's my friend, he's not Krad, he won't hurt us anymore…not now…

"You're lucky Daisuke's so fond of you, or else I'd kill you regardless of your form."

"I'm…glad you're…okay…"

Frowning, Dark wondered why he was still so concerned with his health, letting out a sigh and kneeling in front of Satoshi. He picked him up and carried him over one shoulder to a nearby bench where he laid him down. Turning to go, he said over his shoulder, "I guess I do have you to thank, if it weren't for my memory of you, I wouldn't have had such a desire to find myself. So…thank you…"

Satoshi didn't speak but merely watched him go, his body reluctant to let him go anywhere but into a deep sleep.

Thank you, Dark…now, let's go home…

"Yes…home…"

The End.