The phone rang in the Niwa house. Emiko pranced to the phone and answered it, "Niwa residence. Who may I ask is calling?"

"Hiwatari Satoshi… May I speak with Daisuke?"

Emiko paused, unsure of letting her son talk with Dark's enemy, "He's not home." She pouted, hoping her distaste would carry through the phone wires.

"Oh." Satoshi paused. He realized that Daisuke's mother wouldn't let Daisuke go without a fight, "Well, then I will talk to you. I've noticed that he has a tendency to be late to school. I live much closer and while he was delivering my homework an idea dawned on me. Will you let Daisuke board with me? It would make it easier for him to get to school on time? I have extra rooms."

"Can you wait for just a moment?" Holding the phone to her chest, Emiko called for her son. Daisuke walked uncertainly up, his feet dragging again. Emiko tilted her head to the side, "Hiwatari is on the phone."

Daisuke felt an unconscious grin light his face, "Oh. What does he want?"

"For you to come live with him."

"Oh…"

"What do you think?"

"I've never thought about it, but I'm sure I'd be fine."

Emiko twitched her nose, her maternal instincts holding onto her son, "Do you trust him?"

"I do. He won't hurt me."

"Fine. Go do your homework."

Daisuke looked blankly at her, "I can't. I lost my book bag." He gave her a parting smile and returned upstairs. Emiko watched him go, remembering him when he was just a small child knee high to a grasshopper. She returned to the phone.

"Hmm. Why did you want him to move in?"

"School."

"Daisuke was not opposed to the idea. I'm not sure if I trust you, but he does. When can he move in."

Satoshi grinned, "As soon as he wants. He left his book bag here this afternoon."

"I'll have him pack up, then. He'll be over soon. Thank you for your thoughtfulness." She hung up, still very unsure of this set up. She glided upstairs and into Daisuke's room, "Daisuke, let's pack your overnight stuff up. He has your book bag, too."

Daisuke grabbed his duffel bag and threw in his extra clothes and other necessities. Wondering aloud, he asked, "When will you bring my other things over?"

"Tomorrow, dear."

Nodding, Daisuke zipped his bag up with a final tug. His mother kissed his forehead, "Be careful." Daisuke got to his feet and walked out the door without a second thought.

The crisp night air caused a shiver to run through Daisuke's body. He pulled his jacket closer to his body, thinking that the weather seemed a lot like Hiwatari's personality. He shivered involuntarily. An overhead light flickered out, and Daisuke quickened pace.

Satoshi's apartment was completely dark, making Daisuke pause. The formidable house was no more welcoming in the dark. A shadow fell in a front window; Satoshi, Daisuke suspected. Another shadow appeared and a light flickered on. The first shadow seemed to be at least a head taller than the other. Daisuke was not sure what he was witnessing, but his curiosity held him glued to the spot.

Daisuke could barely hear the sound of yelling voices from within. The two persons were apparently arguing, and fiercely by the sounds of it. The shadows shrank as the figures moved away from the window. Daisuke ran to the window, his curiosity overtaking his common sense. All ready the quarrelling figures were in the next room. A loud bang ensued and Daisuke saw Satoshi fall to the floor, blood swirling down his forehead. It cascaded onto the floor. An odd thought passed through Daisuke's mind: He even makes bleeding graceful…

Daisuke watched no longer, but ran to the front door and without thinking burst the lock and dashed to Satoshi. He dragged Sato to the couch, subconsciously concerned about the other boy's weight. A moan escaped Satoshi's lips and Daisuke tried to imagine what had gone on. The blood was still pooling out and Dai looked around, searching for something to stop the flow.

I told you this was heading for disaster. Daisuke furrowed his eyebrows and muttered quietly to Dark, "You didn't tell me anything. How am I supposed to do this?" Look beside him; there is a blanket. Just wrap it around his head and find him some water. Daisuke leaned over Satoshi, their bodies barely touching. With the intake of air, his chest grazed Sato's and a warm, unknown sensation spread from the point where he touched the other. Unwelcome thoughts entered his brain. What in the world are you thinking? Daisuke snapped back to reality, "Nothing. I just need to bind his head." Hmm. Sure. Dai chose to ignore that comment as he wound the blanket up.

Satoshi stirred, blinking rather owlishly up at Daisuke. He managed to croak, "Water…" before lapsing back into silence. Taking one last look at his hasty bandage job, Daisuke got to his feet and wandered down the main hall to the kitchen. The kitchen, like the rest of the house was in immaculate order. Daisuke grabbed a cup off of a rung that hung above the sink and filled a glass with water from the refrigerator. When he returned to the living room, Sato had pulled himself up to a sitting position. Eagerly, although tired, he reached out to grasp the glass. It slipped from his fingers, but Daisuke's reflexes were good enough to catch it before it hit the floor.

"Let me help you with that." Daisuke held the glass to Satoshi's lips and tipped it slowly, letting the water drip into his waiting mouth. Satoshi brought his hand up again to hold the glass, this time successfully able to hold it up. Letting go, Daisuke ran his hands through his feathery hair, watching Satoshi. Watching him again? No. I know what you're doing. It's not right.I don't feel that way.

"Thank you for the water. I'm feeling better now. Shall I show you to your room?"

"Yes, please."

Satoshi got unsteadily up and stumbled down the hall; Daisuke followed on his heels, ready to catch Satoshi if he happened to fall. Traveling down the hall was slow going, but Satoshi seemed determined to walk on his own. Satoshi's right arm twitched and he paused; Daisuke hesitantly reached out, but as quickly as he had stopped, Satoshi had begun to walk again. Sato stopped, this time in front of a door.

"This will be your room. I left your schoolbag in there for you. You can use whatever you like of this house but stay out of the room at the end of this hall. That is my private office. Bathroom's over by the kitchen."

"Oh, thank you."

Sato flashed him a grim grin; the smile died long before reaching his eyes. He plodded down the hall and into his office. Turning, Daisuke pushed his door open to his room, curious. From what he had seen from the rest of the house Daisuke figured that his room would be simple with nothing in it but a bed. When he opened his door, he found his assumption to be almost true. A bed rested in the center of the back wall underneath a window that was open. To one side was a dresser and sliding glass doors that lead onto a balcony. A desk sat in on corner, a black lamp staring at him blandly from across the room. Daisuke crept into the room, not wanting to… invade his own room. It seemed to him that Satoshi didn't quite live in his house so much as temporarily stay there.

The hall light flicked off. Daisuke could hear Satoshi bumping around in his office. As a yawn battled with his stiff jaw, Daisuke realized how tired he was. Slipping into the loose black pants he brought and wrestling out of his shirt, he slipped under the covers of his bed. Sleep, however wanted it was, evaded him. His thoughts skimmed back to the shadow fight he had witnessed. Recognition hit him like a ton of bricks; when he had rushed in, Satoshi was completely alone. Who was he fighting with? Get some sleep. He's a creepy boy. Just leave it at that. He's not creepy.Dark did not answer, and slowly Daisuke drifted off to sleep…