A Tale of Two Thieves

by Sage Kaley

The Millenium Items are Dark's next targets but Daisuke ends up befriending those he's to be robbing blind. Yet someone else is pulling the strings, and there are unsettling parellels between the Tamers and the Item's Owners. YGODNAngel

3. Feathers of Reunions

A Tale of Two Thieves

A/N: Sage: Once again you're here at a new chapter of our latest story! We're glad to hear so much praise!

Kaley: Well you're on Dark and Kura!

Bakura: Right right, so anyways to confirm it all that was Satoshi! Good eyes! Not that he's hard to miss…

Dark: Heh I agree there. Ok Emiko ALWAYS encourages Daisuke to steal stuff, it's part of who she is. She encourages him in a lot of weird things though.

Bakura: Ok there won't be an OCs in this story but at some point for certain reasons a few other characters will play small roles who are outside of DNAngel and YGO. You'll see, it won't be nothing to sweat over!

Dark: Yay lucky us, not many questions this time. Well anywho just ask and we'll answer…because she makes us.

Bakura: Start the Ra damned fic!

Dark: That sounds stupid…

Bakura:…just read the story…

&&&&&&&&&&

He hated this room. It was an office high up in the Hiwatari manor, overlooking the sprawling city of Azumano outside the large window that stood as a wall. The other walls were lined with books, art books really, that told thousands of sad tales on thousands of pieces of art. Hikari art. His art. This man studied that art and had even acquired a very rare piece recently. A Hikari himself, Hikari Satoshi.

"Ah, good to see you Satoshi!" The man behind the huge cedar desk stood, only a silhouette against the sun's last hurrah. He opened his arms in false warmth, offering them to Satoshi as if he were Satoshi's real father. He was not though and would never be anything more than an art collector, albeit a serious one. "Are you well?" He came forward; the man called Hiwatari Kei, dressed in his straight and true suit and smiled at the boy.

"Why did you call me?" Satoshi didn't care for pleasantries, especially with him.

"Ah, so cold…as usual." The grin never flickered from his face. "I wanted you to come here because I happen to know that Dark is currently stealing the Millennium Items in Domino City."

"So? Those are not Hikari pieces. I really could care less if Dark steals them." Satoshi said coolly. Damn, sometimes he hated wearing these glasses. The twilight was far too bright and reflecting oddly through the room, tricking his sight. For he could have sworn he had seen his stepfather smirk like Krad.

"That is quite true but I thought you'd like to know that Dark is going to die." Kei said, just as happily as he said everything.

"What do you mean?" Satoshi had to be careful; he couldn't sound too interested or scared when in reality his heart had just skipped a beat.

"A friend has agreed to use the curses placed on the Millennium Items to ensnare and kill Dark. He will soon fall victim to the gathering darkness that those items hold." He watched Satoshi thoughtfully, his feral grin growing. "He will die and your job will be over, as a Hikari I mean. I just thought I would tell you."

"A friend?" Satoshi forced himself to say but as he did he knew his tone betrayed him. What Kei had said was now computing in his mind; running over each word and piecing it together. Dark was going to be killed soon over some artifacts he had never heard of due to some 'friend' of Kei's. This was indeed a 'what the hell?' moment but there was one thing bothering him above all. That thing or rather person was the Niwa boy that served as Dark's host. Deep down, he held Daisuke in a special place and wouldn't let harm befall him. Satoshi knew that if Dark died, so would Daisuke. This certainly merited his immediate attention, especially if he hoped to spare the redhead an untimely demise.

"Yes, more of an acquaintance really but no matter." He waved his hand, still smiling. Part of Satoshi wanted to wipe that right off his face, preferably with an energy bomb attack but he had stopped entertaining that idea long ago. "However I did arrange for a meeting with the current chief of security at Domino Museum if you wish to speak with him. I'm sure, as a Hikari, you might want to go see Dark's…end."

That was why he was here; standing in front of a strange boy whose paleness rivaled his own. There was an awkward moment during which the two stared at each other, ice blue eyes meeting chocolate ones. Satoshi pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, an odd habit he'd developed, and cleared his throat.

"Are you Bakura Ryou?" He asked calmly. The white haired teen continued to gawk at him then shook himself and nodded. "I am Hiwatari Satoshi, commander of the Azumano police force and I am aware that you are in fact the head of security at Domino Museum?"

"Uh…yeah I guess…" The boy blinked and slowly stepped aside. "You can come in but I don't think I'd call myself the head of anything. I just help my dad out."

"Yes well, whatever the case may be." Satoshi brushed past him, waiting in the hall to be led to wherever the other wanted to talk. Ryou shut the door, still peering strangely at Satoshi. "I am here to discuss Dark with you. I heard he has already taken the Millennium Scales from your museum?"

"Um, yeah…Hiwatari…san…he took them last night but—"

"And what sort of security did you employ?" Satoshi asked, pulling out his handy notepad and pencil. This was just business after all, his duty. "I also wish to know any details about the heist itself, perhaps anything Dark said or did if you know or anything that might be of value to me. Also anything you might know about these Items would be useful."

"Hang on." Ryou raised his hand up, slightly taken aback. "Why are you here? Yes I know what you said but care to explain better? No offense or anything it's just that I'm not used to people coming here asking these things."

"Fine, shall will sit then?" Satoshi sighed, trying not to cross his arms. He knew he looked irritated and he was. If Dark was even bothering to steal these relics then they had some odd powers in them. Powers that apparently were deadly to the thief and Daisuke. Not that dangerous artwork was all that shocking. Time was being wasted standing in the hallway and he needed to know things now if he wished to do anything to help Niwa and protect his duty as a Hikari. Even if protecting a Niwa and being a Hikari were a conflict, he really could care less. Ryou paused, glancing over at a pair of swinging doors that led to what looked like a kitchen.

After a thoughtful pause he said "Living room…this way" and motioned towards a room kept separate from the kitchen by a staircase.

"I thank you for your cooperation." Satoshi muttered automatically.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

((Shit. Shit shit shit shit SHIT!))

(Dark, don't swear so much…or so loud, it hurts) Daisuke mumbled to his other half. Seeing Satoshi had freaked him out enough to scramble back into the kitchen and now he sat, curled up in a nook between the fridge and the counter. Outside he could hear Satoshi's cool voice grilling poor Ryou for answers.

((Well excuse me if this just happens to be a really bad time for the commander to show up! I mean its one thing that he knows we're in the city but if he saw us…then again fighting those two for the Items might be fun. Eh not the point though.))

(I guess so…) Daisuke frowned, resting his chin on his drawn up knees. (But why is he here? Remember last time we stole something that wasn't a Hikari art piece? He didn't come after us)

((That is a little odd…)) Dark said, though Daisuke could tell he dismissed it just as quickly as he finished. ((But damn, creepy boy really does pop out of nowhere huh? He must have a homing beacon planted on you. Well the Hikari line have always been the Hunters so makes sense. Ok we need a plan. I say we jump out that window over there, call Wiz and fall back to where we hid the Scales))

(…Is that your brilliant plan?)

(No! It gets better!)

(Then what happens next?)

((Then we uh…escape somewhere and live on the streets in hiding until um…the next Item shows up. Or we could just sneak out of here. How the hell should I know?)) Daisuke quickly concluded that Dark didn't do well under pressure. Or maybe being cornered in a kitchen wasn't his style. ((But we can't stay unless you want to be randomly pinned to the wall with the 'What are you doing?' questions. He'd enjoy that but you know how those things go))

(I can't do that!) Daisuke glared at Dark for even suggesting such things (I can't just leave Ryou-kun without saying something for one! And why should I worry about Hiwatari-kun?)

((Ok fine here's how that would go "Oh hello strange person I don't know and Ryou-kun but I must leave right now and never return bye!"))

(Oh…yeah I guess that would be weird for them…)) Daisuke sighed and shifted himself so his forehead could rest against his legs. (Maybe he's not here to catch us?)

((Or maybe you're being waaay too optimistic?)) Dark groaned, putting his face into his hands. ((Well all I know is I don't like this. We need to make sure he doesn't see us here, no matter what he can't know that we're here…up!))

(What!)

((Up! Use your thief skills to get to out and up to the bedroom and we can camp out there!))

(Awww do I have to? Here is fine!)

"Would you like some tea Hiwatari-san?"

"Yes tea sounds fine Ryou-kun." Their voices were growing closer.

((Daisuke move!))

(Aww…) The redhead groaned, already pushing open a window. (But…knowing Hiwatari-kun, he'll probably still find us anyway)

&&&&&&&&&&&&

So then it was set. Yami placed the phone back on the hook, under the eager eyes of his partner and the tomb keeper and took a deep breath. Isis was in charge of their mission to capture Dark. According to her, the Pharaoh's memories would not be accessible until this thief 'Dark' was captured. While Yami could understand the need to get his memories, he wasn't too happy with how it was going so far. For one thing, fighting fire with fire usually only led to a burnt down building. For another? Well, he just plain hated that tomb robber.

"Well?" Marik asked finally, pulling Yami from his thoughts. "What did my sister say?"

"She said…" The king hesitated but pulled together as much dignity as he could before continuing, "According to Isis, we need more help in capturing Dark. So she has arranged for Bakura to return here."

"He is!" Yugi cried, jumping from his seat.

"No way! My sister convinced him?" Marik said, slightly in awe of his sister's power to nag people.

"Sort of. She merely mentioned Ryou could be in danger." Yami smirked. While he could understand the need to protect your other half, it also gave him something he could taunt the tomb robber with later. After all, Bakura prided himself on not caring for others. "Either way, he's probably already back in Japan. Tonight however we must use the Millennium Tauk to lure out Dark."

"Are we going to guard it again?" Yugi asked, subconsciously placing a hand on the bulge in his pocket where his dueling deck rested.

"Yes but Ryou and Bakura are going to help us. All of us will face off against the thief." Yami said, grabbing his jacket. "So let's go get them or at least Ryou and wait for the tomb robber to appear."

"Damn, I actually feel bad for Dark now if he's got a pissed off Bakura to deal with." Marik muttered under his breath.

&&&&&&&&&&&

"Then I'll see you tonight at the museum?" Satoshi asked. Ryou nodded, still a bit unsure about this strange boy. He knew way too much and seemed to be hiding a lot but there was nothing Ryou could do about it. Satoshi was here to help him capture Dark and keep the Items safe so who was he to judge? Still, part of his brain told him to stay alert and he always trusted his instincts.

"Yes, we can meet at the entrance…umm…how about seven?" He asked and the younger boy nodded curtly. "Alright then, see you tonight Hiwatari-san." Ryou opened the door, trying to be polite to the commander, as the teen slipped on his shoes.

"Very well, goodbye Ryou-kun." Satoshi's voice seemed to carry such deadness to it, no emotions present throughout the entire day. Well perhaps annoyance a few times. He watched the ice tinted one leave before shutting the door. However any thoughts of relaxing until their meeting were rudely pushed aside by a sudden cry from upstairs. Ryou tensed and launched himself across the hall, bounding up the stairs to the source of the cry. He knew it was Daisuke and threw open his guest's door, only to have his breath catch in his throat with shock. A whimpering Daisuke was being held tightly to someone's chest, a knife at his neck. This, however, wasn't what had caused his lungs to cease functioning. Rather, it was who was holding him.

Lightweight tan robes were disheveled —probably from Daisuke's current struggles— around his slender frame, though it was distinctively more muscular than it had once been. Gold shimmered in the manmade light, eye-catching pieces of jewelry draped over the man's tan arms and calves. Hair the color and radiance of moonlight hung down just grazing his shoulders. Yet for Ryou, he still couldn't believe it until his roaming attention reached his eyes. Narrowed and full of suspicion, they were the same mocha shade as his own. Such eyes confirmed what he already knew.

"Bakura…?" Ryou found his voice suddenly hoarse and barely audible. Bakura sighed and jabbed the knife carelessly at a frightened Daisuke, cutting a few strands of his flaming locks off.

"Ryou, its one thing to get a boyfriend while I was gone but giving him my room?" Bakura let go of the Niwa, who quickly scrambled onto the bed as if it were the last lifeboat on a sinking ship. He flicked the dagger's blade back into the wooden handle with a simple twist of his wrist, tucking it inside his cloak. "I wasn't gone that long…about…five months…six…ish…" Hearing no reply, he continued on. "I mean, look at him. He looks pretty weak to me. Usually your type go for stronger, more dominating people." Bakura paused, looking over Ryou thoughtful, taking in everything before speaking again. "Hey! You got some sun while I was gone, good, now you don't look sickly. Although I think you gained a few pounds. What, you need me to watch over you so you don't eat so much too?"

Finally Ryou came too, as if waking from a dream. His eyes first fell on Daisuke, who looked positively freaked out as he stared at Bakura. Ryou too, looked at Bakura, noticing the slight ways his confidence faltered under his other half's stare. He gazed at him for a while before slowly walking forwards, thousands of emotions playing inside him over the soft throbbing pain that still existed in his tired body.

"What's wrong with you?" Bakura asked, cocking an eyebrow. Ryou now stood only a foot away. Without warning he lifted his hand and delivered a swift slap across Bakura's cheek. Everything stopped, the sharp smack ringing in the thief's ears. He slowly raised one hand to his face, caressing the already reddening spot. His eyes were wide now with shock and Ryou felt a grin break across his lips. That was a rare expression on the older man's face. "What the fuck was that for?"

"For leaving me you ass! You fucking went halfway across the world and just left me here with no explanation or anything! You just…left! Did you even care how I felt! Did you think I would be useless in your fight? I can help too you know! I CARE about you but no you just are so heartless!" Ryou cried, his voice cracking with delight. Daisuke seemed even more confused now as Ryou threw his arms around Bakura's neck and brought him down into a warm embrace. "I missed you! You…you…I hate you so much!" He pounded on Bakura's chest as he hugged him, stressing his point.

"I hate you too Ryou!" Bakura yelled in mock resentment. "You slapped me! Me!"

"I know and it felt pretty damn good!"

"And you swore!"

"So? What the fuck does it matter to you!"

"Nothing it makes you hotter!" Bakura smirked and pressed his lips to Ryou's. The other smiled into the kiss, feeling Bakura's tongue run across him before a soft 'meep' made him pull away. Bakura casually pulled back his robes enough to show the source of the sound his hanging dagger and the noise silenced. Ryou glared at him and sighed.

"What did I tell you about doing that in front of people!" Ryou cried, pointing at the alarmed boy. Bakura groaned and shrugged.

"Like I care, he can join if he wants." Bakura winked at Daisuke, who made another strange noise as he inched further away from the crazy tomb robber.

"Bakura!" Ryou shouted, hitting him lightheartedly in the shoulder. "And what's with your hair? You cut it and spiked it different…"

"You like it?" Bakura grinned widely, running a heavily decorated hand through the aforementioned locks. "It's more or less because it was so hot in Egypt but it's closer to how my hair used to be, you know when I was Thief King?"

"It's nice." Ryou smiled, feeling his heart still beating rapidly in his chest. As their conversation died down, he felt a light blush run across his skin. He had truly missed Bakura, missed everything about him and now here he was, laughing and yelling at the thief just like he always had. Thoughts of their time together over Christmas Break floated through his mind, remembering the way they had bonded over the snow and their own tortured pasts. He shut his eyes and sighed, relief spreading through his exhausted body. The pain had decreased a lot and part of him worried that it wasn't all gone. Yet that didn't matter. Right now, things were back to how they had been during those dark, snow-filled days and he couldn't be happier.

"Are those…?" Bakura's voice drifted lazily to his ears, forcing his eyes to open. The man was inspecting Ryou's chest, gliding his ringed fingers across the necklaces dangling against it. One was a golden Ankh on a simple gold chain; the other was a Table Top RPG die on a brown leather rope.

"Yep, the necklaces you gave me…" Ryou said proudly. "I wear them everyday." A genuine smile crossed the older spirit's face.

"Ah…um…" Daisuke cleared his throat weakly and the two turned to him. Ryou felt his blush deepen.

"Right sorry…Uh Bakura, this is my friend Niwa Daisuke. He's been staying with me. He's here to see the Millennium Items. They're on exhibit you know…and Niwa-san, this is Bakura. He's um…he's…" He faltered, unsure of just what to call the 3,000 year old spirit. The thief crossed the room, sitting down on the other end of the bed to stare Daisuke down. Great first impressions overall, Ryou thought sarcastically.

"So Daisuke, like my room?" He asked coolly, waving his hand idly to indicate all the gleaming, wicked swords that covered his walls. Daisuke nodded nervously.

"Yes um I…I like it very much um…Ba-bakura-san…" The redhead's tongue tripped over the other's name, causing mirth to flicker brightly on his features.

"Bakura-san? That's new to me. Bakura does just fine kid…of course…" A glint came to his eyes, "Bakura-sama has a nice ring to it if I do say so myself…and of course, I do."

"Bakura." Ryou rolled his eyes and sat next to Daisuke. "Don't listen to him Niwa-san, he's just being stupid."

"Stupid!" The man's body jolted at the surprise insult and he leaned in closer to the boys. "Whatever, honorifics don't make sense anyways. But personally I think sama suits me. Anyway, he's here to see the Items huh? That makes two of us."

"Ugh no please don't tell me you only came back to steal them?" Ryou groaned and turned back to Daisuke, who now looked oddly curious, his fears forgotten. "He fancies himself as a thief and has for many years. He's been stealing the Millennium Items for awhile now…or at least trying to." He added, casting a sarcastic smile at his other half, who only sneered in return. "I suppose you should know that I own the Millennium Ring, which this idiot stole from me—"

"I didn't steal it! It was mine before it was yours anyway!" Bakura pouted unsuccessfully, even though Ryou did find it rather cute.

"You took it without asking me if you could take it!" Ryou glared at him. Yes, he had missed Bakura. No, he was not going to let him off the hook for all the hell he had gone through. "You want to know something? Your little romp cost me a lot! Probably years off my life or something like that! It made me sick being away from you!"

"Geez I know that I'm your one true love and all but really…"

"No!" Ryou snapped, edging forward. "By sick I mean agony! Everyday I had pain…so much pain…I couldn't see straight or think right! All I could feel was—"

"Your body being torn in two?" Bakura asked quietly. Ryou was struck, his face showing it clearly. The tomb robber gave an actual sigh and crossed his legs, propping his head up on his arms. "Yeah I know…I felt it too. Everyday. I…I'm sorry Ryou. You know I'm selfish though, I just wanted to have some fun and get back to my roots a bit." He paused, as if trying to find something to distract from the fact that he was apologizing. "Diabound says Hi by the way, at least I think he did, he grunts so sometimes I can't tell…you remember him right?" Ryou nodded, distantly recalling the spirit beast Bakura had once controlled. It didn't surprise him that they had teamed up again. "…but um yeah. I didn't mean for you to be in pain too." He reached up his neck, taking off the heavy pendent that was the Millennium Ring, a golden circle with five sharp spikes dangling off it, jingling as he held it. In the center was a triangle with an Egyptian styled eye staring watchfully at the two boys. Bakura leaned forward, looping the Ring around Ryou's neck and letting the heavy golden artifact fall against his chest with a dull thud.

"I…can have it back?" Ryou asked, putting his hand on the cold metal. Bakura nodded and looked away.

"Well it was yours anyway…" He dug into his pocket and pulled out the Millennium Eye, a simple sphere with the Egyptian eye gracing the center. Bakura held it up so that it covered his left eye and grinned, "Besides, I have this so it's not like I'm totally powerless."

"Wow…" Daisuke said softly, his innocent admiration visible. He reached out tentatively, letting his fingers grasp the Ring's outer loop before running them across the resting pointers. "They're really pretty Ryou-kun."

"Pretty?" Bakura snorted with disgust, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. "Yeah, they're real pretty Daisuke…beautiful in fact." He stood, pulling off his cloak to reveal he was wearing what Ryou forced himself to call a 'not-a-skirt' and a shapeless white tunic. Bakura followed Ryou's gaze and smirked, tossing the cloak in his face. "I'm going to go take a shower. Have fun you two." He laughed then paused thoughtfully. "Not too much fun though." He said in all seriousness before leaving.

"Um…he was…I mean…Bakura-san…he is…" Daisuke babbled, blushing deeply. Ryou smiled gently and patted the younger boy on the head.

"Yes, I know, he's crazy."

&&&&&&&&&&&

The plan itself was quite simple. Even the newest member of their group agreed to it, a boy Bakura knew as Hiwatari Satoshi. Sadly Ryou's 'other boy toy' wasn't feeling too well, which Ryou blamed on shock, and so he had stayed home. Bakura of course took great pleasure in torturing everyone to make up for his missing time, including the commander now affectionately known as "Sato-chan". The ancient thief now had found a new art form: insult by honorific. He was also throwing around "sama" endings randomly and annoying the hell out of everyone to the best of his god given abilities. Yes, he was actually happy to be home. Especially if it meant proving that he was the best thief around and there was only one way to do this…

A challenge for Dark, to see if he was truly the Phantom Thief he claimed to be. Isis knew that it was a brilliant idea and Yami grudgingly admitted that maybe it would work. Plus he didn't want to give Bakura so much freedom. Bakura issued it from the steps of Domino Museum, in front of the news crew that Sato-chan had so kindly provided.

"So if he's such a great thief then let's see him steal from me!" Bakura had cried gleefully, shaking the Millennium Tauk. "I'll be waiting for you Dark, come get me if you think you can." With the assurance it would make the eight o'clock news, the group prepared themselves. Ryou, Bakura and Satoshi formed Team One and Yugi, Yami and Marik formed Team Two. Bakura figured Dark would chicken out and even tried to take bets on it.

Satoshi quickly came to like Ryou, who was quiet and kind. They talked for a while as Satoshi doodled out of boredom. They spoke about art and music mostly and the icy commander enjoyed the fact that Ryou even knew a little bit about Hikari art. Bakura, however, he decidedly hated with a burning passion. It wasn't even because he was an arrogant, pretty boy thief but because he was just too much. In fact, he was also getting on Krad's bad side. The angel was currently running through a very graphic list of things he could do to Bakura later, most involving tearing out his vocal cords at some point. Ryou seemed good at ignoring his antics for attention and so Bakura had moved on to Satoshi while they waited for Dark. Satoshi now respected Ryou greatly if he could put up with this all day.

"Sato-chan…Sato-chan…Sato-chan…Sato-chan…" Bakura whispered, hunched over the boy, poking him endlessly. Finally after ten minutes Satoshi forced himself to look up, annoyance twitching in his features.

"Yes?" He asked, his voice almost a hiss. A grin came across Bakura's face.

"I was just wondering what you're drawing that's all!" Bakura's voice was cheerful enough but after Satoshi let out a groan of frustration the spirit's eyes grew darker. "You're art is pretty good there Sato-sama. Maybe you should do it for a living and give up chasing after the impossible?" Bakura smirked and sat down next to Ryou, playing with the long sheet of ivory hair that came down his back.

"Just ignore him…" Ryou sighed. "I wonder when Dark will come?"

"He won't, he's too chicken. I am the King of Thieves after all." Bakura declared with a sudden flare. "That puts him below me." Just then a swift movement caught their eyes and, like some ninja star thrown by the most skilled assassin, a white card came flying at them. Satoshi caught it easily between two of his long, slender fingers and flipped it to see Dark's handwriting scrawled across.

At the moment you read this

I am already stealing the Millennium Tauk.

Nice challenge there

Dark

"Yes!" Bakura cried, untangling his hands from his lover's hair. "Good thing I gave it to the Pharaoh. Diabound!" Bakura waved his arm and a shadowy figure began to materialize behind him, a massive demonic creature with muscles bulging from its giant arms and ripping torso. It had a blank, unexpressive face that reminded one of a bull, only with hard gray skin. A pair of angelic wings were folded on its back and to complete such a strange beast was the bottom half: From the waist down a angry, hissing Anaconda like snake danced and slithered in the air, snapping its venomous jaws at Satoshi and Ryou. "This…" He said with enormous pride, "is Diabound!"

"He's lovely." Satoshi said dryly, earning a hard glare from the serpent. Bakura smirked and nudged Satoshi.

"Hey he likes you! Well time to split up gang! See you later mortals!" Another wink and suddenly both he and the beast became transparent, sinking quickly into the floor. Ryou and Satoshi both stared at the spot for a moment before rushing off to find another way to the Tauk and Dark.

&&&&&&&&&&&

Dark had never played tag but he could imagine it went something like this: One person was it and chased everyone else. This however, was the complete opposite.

(Left!) Daisuke screamed as Yami suddenly drove out of a door. Dark narrowly avoided him, twirling to the side as he sprinted through the twisting passages, his black cape dancing around him.

((Damn it! I wish these halls weren't so narrow!)) Dark shouted, clutching the Tauk tightly to his chest as a number of strange creatures chased him. ((Then I could use Wiz whoa!))

(Watch out!) Daisuke cried as Ryou slide in front of the thief, duel disk raised and ready. Dark wasted no time in throwing himself down a different hallway, now being chased by Ryou, Yami, Yugi, Marik and a swarm of bizarre lights and animals that the group had summoned. If the word stampede had ever been appropriate in his life, without involving fans, then this was the time.

((Damn it!)) The phantom thief cursed again, pushing his legs as fast as they could go. ((Where's a window when I need one!))

(Stairs! Stairs!) Dark saw them as the redhead shouted and dashed for them, stumbling a few times in his haste. He didn't dare look back; he could hear the others only feet behind him.

"You know somehow I don't find this fair!" Dark grumbled under his breath and nearly gave a cheer when he saw the words 'Fire Exit' on the door above him. "Yes freedom!" Dark burst through the door, slamming it behind him with a lock's 'click' only to find himself confronted by liquid gold eyes. "Ah shit!" Dark ducked, running once more as Krad threw a ball of light at him. "Damn …" He got to the end of the roof and turned to face his enemy.

"Ah Dark, it has been awhile hasn't it?" Krad landed gracefully on the roof, folding his snow white wings around himself, a cruel smile dancing across his lips. Those same eyes that had greeted the thief before now displayed the angel's sadistic amusement, no doubt at seeing Dark again. His golden hair was tied back like normal, flowing around him as though it were a frayed rope in the wind. Even the heavy cross that rested at the end of his ponytail was mysteriously suspended. His elegant white cloak with intricate yellow patterns gave him a regal, almost knightly feel which was only accented by his silky ivory gloves. He pushed his bangs aside gently, not bothering to pull away the single long strand of hair that always dangled down his chest. Yes if there was one thing Dark would always think of when he saw Krad, besides years of bloodshed, it was his aristocratic ways. "Well now, branching out I see to other people? Will you destroy their lives as well? Haunt them until you've taken everything they have to offer?"

"What did you wake up on the wrong side of the commander or something?" Dark sneered, backing to the roof's edge as Krad drew nearer. "I think you're the one haunting me though. No offense but you are a good stalker. Like your host!"

"Do not call Satoshi-sama by such a derogatory name." Krad's air changed swiftly, becoming closer to his true, twisted self. He now glared at the thief, raising a single white feather. "Did you know that we, well I should say Satoshi-sama, came to help you? You of course are too foolish to even comprehend such an idea." He held the feather out yet even as he tried to draw out its power his face changed and he bowed his head, a tremor of pain visible. "Ah…Sa…Satoshi-sama!"

"Oooh looks like someone's mad at you!" Dark grinned when he saw a tuff of white fur appear near his feet. "Bout damn time Wiz!" He snapped as the rabbit climbed up to his shoulder. Dark touched it lightly and it issued a soft 'Kyuu' before leaping into the air and shape shifting into the large, black wings that the thief always used. Dark jumped into the sky, flapping his wings and waving brightly at the angel. "I guess I won your side's challenge didn't I?" He laughed heartily, not noticing the confused look that crossed his opponent's face. He dove down, still looking up at Krad as the man stood on the roof, watching him.

(That's weird, why isn't he chasing you?)

"Oi! Dark!" Dark spun around just in time to see the incoming tree trunk. A loud smack resonated through the area and the thief fell quote ungracefully to the ground in a heap of black leather and feathers. "Heh, like my tree?" Dark raised his head, vision swimming as he saw Bakura standing over him with a devilish smirk. Above the other thief was a massive bullish creature with a snake for a lower half, holding the tree that Dark had run into. "I had Diabound here pick it out. He's never played baseball but I'd say he's pretty good." Dark growled low and pulled his wings around him. "Trying to hide? Sorry but I'm going to take MY Millennium Item back now." Bakura reached down towards him but stopped when a poof of smoke consumed the Phantom Thief. When he got up again, his wings were gone. "Err, all that to get rid of your wings?"

"Nope!" Dark smiled cheerfully. "All that to make sure you didn't get the Tauk. I have it still but I'm not here anymore!" He waved and run off into the woods, a slightly confused Bakura chasing after him.

Only Krad noticed the real Dark slip silently down a nearby alley.

"Well, let's go find out where the Thief is going, shall we Satoshi-sama?" Krad suggested. For once, his other half agreed.

&&&&&&&&&&&

An hour later, things had settled down. Dark had hid the Millennium Tauk and was finally at Ryou's empty house. The others had gone off to 'debrief' and so now was his only chance to get Daisuke in bed as though nothing had happened. He changed in the bathroom and stuffed the clothes in a duffel bag, which he threw carelessly into Bakura's room.

Dark breathed a sigh of relief and had barely turned around when he suddenly found himself thrown to the bed. He gasped as a hand covered his mouth and immediately started struggling against the thin person above him, only to find his hands were already cuffed. Though his eyes hadn't adjusted to the black room, he knew who this was. Satoshi sat up, removing his hand from Dark's face as he stared down at him.

"Just what are you doing here in Ryou-kun's house?" He asked casually. "Are you hiding here, using Niwa-kun to get closer to the Millennium Item holders?"

"How about I answer that when you stop straddling me? I'm not Dai-chan so you don't have to be so friendly." Dark said playfully, though underneath him he was doing his best to break free. Satoshi only smirked, refusing to move from his intimate position. He leaned in closer, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose.

"You know, I'm actually doing you a favor. I came here to protect you and now I have just saved you…and yet this is how I get treated?"

"Protecting me? My dear commander, this is what we call 'hitting' on me." Dark grinned when a soft click informed him that the cuffs were broken. His arms flew out from beneath him but Satoshi reacted quickly, grabbing the thief's wrists and pinning them above his head. Dark grimaced as Satoshi dug his nails into his skin and tried pushing the slender boy off using his legs but to no avail.

"Must you fight me? You're only making this difficult." Satoshi sighed and shook his head. "I actually have something to tell you."

"Too late, I'm too sleepy to listen to you tonight. But I know someone who's ready to talk…" Dark winked at him. "Wake up Dai-chan!" Sure enough, Dark's purple hair faded to red, his form shifted and shrunk and soon Satoshi was sitting right on top of Niwa Daisuke's hips. The boy stirred, opening his scarlet eyes tiredly. There was a brief moment as the Niwa boy's eyes grew accustomed to the darkness that the two stared at each other. Finally Daisuke's cheeks flushed and he found himself squirming violently against Satoshi.

"Niwa-kun!" Satoshi's cheeks grew hot and he let go of Daisuke's wrists. The second he did the younger one's hands flew up, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him down closer. Satoshi's heart beat franticly against his ribs as his face stopped inches away from Daisuke's. Daisuke kept his fingers dug into the commander's shirt, a pleading look in his eyes. Satoshi braced himself against the bed by planting his arms on either side of Niwa's head.

"Please…Hiwatari-kun…please don't tell Ryou." He begged his voice barely above a whisper. Satoshi could feel his warm words against his own lips. "Don't tell any of them ok? If they knew…they'd hate me. Then I'll be caught too…you won't tell right?"

"O-Of course not…Niwa-kun…" Satoshi stared at him, the two boys out of breath in the darkness. A smile of relief graced Daisuke's features and his grip loosened.

"Thank you…I…I know we shouldn't be here…I'm so sorry." Damn, did he have to talk like that? So innocent; it was part of what made him so beautiful. Even now as he apologized, his voice and eyes took on the tone of sad music that played through the older boy's ears and reverberated through his soul. However it was music he couldn't let himself take notice of, even if his efforts were useless. Even now he could hear Krad's voice, whispering to him, talking knowingly about exactly what Satoshi wanted to do to the Niwa. The false angel's cruel laughter rang over Daisuke's song. Satoshi could feel his old frustration returning: frustration knowing that he could never have Daisuke, that Daisuke could never know his feelings, that he was still fated to hunt the Niwa and perhaps worst of all, that Krad was right about everything. "I'm sorry Hiwatari-kun…" He said again, bringing Satoshi back to where he was: Alone in a dark room with an out of breath Daisuke pinned under him. He smiled weakly, and shook his head.

"Niwa-kun, don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for…" As Satoshi spoke he gave into one desire, slowly sweeping away Daisuke's hair from his face, letting his fingertips graze the soft, flustered boy. Just then a sudden burst of fluorescent lights came into the room as Bakura threw open the door. Satoshi and Daisuke froze in their place.

Bakura blinked several times, staring at the two young boys, breathing heavily in their awkward positions on, well, Bakura's bed. He stared another moment then stepped into the hallway.

"RYOU! Come look! There's sex in here!" He called loudly, a smirk on his face. Satoshi jumped off a babbling Daisuke, calmly vowing to kill Bakura before this whole messy ordeal was through.

&&&&&&&&&&&

"Two pieces taken. So close to a checkmate, I can see it so clearly now…" Isis sighed and looked up from her breakfast to see the silver cloaked man sitting on her window sill. He pulled back his hood to smile at her, his blue eyes gleaming in a way that rivaled the sky itself. He ran a hand through his short, eternally messy sand colored hair before leaping down and sitting in a chair near her. The young man raised his palm and held it out to her. A rosy aura gathered in it, forming the shape of a pawn from a common chess game. "Here, I want you to have this, my dear Isis. A gift if you will."

"I don't want your gifts." Isis glared at him and went back to her cereal. A frown crossed his face and he set the figure down on the table. "Don't act as if you have feelings."

"But I do." He said, looking a bit surprised. "Why wouldn't I? If I am ruining your meal then I shall come back later. I merely wished to inform you that Black Wings now has the Millennium Tauk as well. Oh and that your thief, Bakura, is there as well. Annoying the hell out of White Wings too." He chuckled. "I didn't know he was so amusing. Of course it doesn't take much to annoy either the Tamer or White Wings. Why I can remember this one time—"

"You mentioned leaving?" Isis said coldly, giving him a look that would usually have her brother sobbing in fear. He sighed under her glare and stood, his cloak swirling like storm clouds.

"Yes yes, of course. I apologize." He bowed deeply. "I shall see you again tonight then perhaps." He made his way to the window, only to be stopped by her voice.

"…Argentine?" A nasty smile curled his lips, the first hints of the sinister nature within. This was however the first time she had used his name and merited a kinder smile. He turned to her, his smile gentle once more.

"Yes?"

"Why must you do all this? This is…terrible…" She asked, not looking at him but rather the chess piece he had given her.

"Because those two must pay." Argentine's smile didn't cover the icy tone in his voice and very suddenly Isis found that the desert's warmth was no comfort at all.