A/N: Whoops. Sorry about not updating this story fast enough. I got wrapped up in the other story I'm writing along with this. Thanks for reviewing. Stupid writer's block. I had this whole story plotted out, but then I lost my train of thought.


Satoshi hit the dry, red, crusty earth. He quickly got to his feet, and corrected his glasses so that they sat straight on his nose. The sky above his was churning; clouds swirled in a fluffy whirlpool. Satoshi watched regretfully as Daisuke's hand was swallowed by the clouds and he was alone.

Well. Great job you've done so far. Putting us down here.

Very funny. We both know that I had no part in this.

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Satoshi started ignoring Krad's snide comments, sniffing the air, and recoiling at the sulfuric scent. The land was barren of all life; even the trees were black and twisted. On the ground, scattered about, were vents from which periodic puffs of smoke would issue forth. The earth was brittle and cracking, as well as a deep shade of red.

"Hello?" Satoshi called out, not really hopeful of finding another person out there. He sniffed the air again, but this time he smelled something stranger than sulfur. Panicking, he started to run away from the steam that was swirling around him. Two nearby vents were the cause. His legs were glued to the ground. The more of the foul air he inhaled, the fainter he felt.

Finally, he collapsed on the ground.


Daisuke felt his hand being sucked down into the void where Satoshi had dropped, causing him to rip backwards. The hole in the floor rippled and sealed. Silence danced around the room, taunting and teasing Daisuke and his worried self.

What happened to creepy boy?

I'm not exactly sure… Daisuke stared at where the hole had previously been. Cautiously, he prodded the space, but the carpeted area did not yield any information. What am I supposed to do?

Hmm. This hasn't exactly happened before.

Am I just supposed to let him die in there?

Not a bad idea… Dark laughed as Daisuke seethed with frustration and anger.

There's got to be something around here that'll tell me what happened.

Good luck with that. I am going to get some beauty sleep.

Daisuke scrambled over to Satoshi's desk and fluttered through the loose pages. Sketches, traps, plans, legal documents, but nothing that might explain what had just transpired. Dai snatched the closest book off of a shelf and glanced at the title before throwing it behind him. Another book, another toss. Soon, there was one last book. With an audible gulp, Daisuke reverently took it into his hands and read the cover.

Occultic Pitfalls

Daisuke blinked. Dark…Dark!

Eh?

What does Occultic mean?

Something along the lines of magic, I think.

Cautiously, Daisuke opened the cover, and flipped through the first bunch of pages. Bunch of text, bunch of text, bunch of text, ah! Picture! Daisuke stared at the image. It showed a circle with a bunch of strange symbols. He glanced at the carpet; the symbol was burned into the ground, "Well, I think I have a lead…" He turned his attention back to the book, scanning the text ridden next page. Dark cackled at the back of his head.

You really suck at this.

I don't see you helping.

Dark became silent, but it was a poisoned silence. Fine. Change into me and I'll do the research.

Wow, Dark. That's awfully out of character for you.

Eh, well, without Satoshi around you won't transform. Dark shoved an image Sato in front of Daisuke's eyes, causing the transformation. Daisuke blushed and huddled in the back of Dark's mind. Hours passed with nothing said. Slowly, Daisuke drifted off to sleep.

Hey! I found something!


A/N: Ooh.. Snap has a cliffy. Somewhat. She really needs something else to do than write false cliff hangers.