A/N: I'm trying to get my chapters out quick. Balancing the stories is getting easier. One chapter for this story, one for that. I figured out that I like to make Satoshi fall through holes. It's an addiction. X.x


"No, dear, you can't have the ice cream."

"But I want it!"

Memories plagued the unconscious form of Satoshi.

"No, dear, you can't go to the fair."

"No, dear, you can't keep that dog."

"No, dear, you can't have a sleep over."

"No, dear…"

Anger, he remembered that. Anger at his mother for denying him everything his heart desired. Anger at his helplessness.

"I want it! Why can't I have it?"

"Because you don't deserve it. You don't deserve it."

There was always that voice at the back of his head, the comfort, and the fuel of his fire.

'Satoshisama, you can have that. You can.'

"Mom. I can have that."

"No, dear, you can't."

'Are you going to take that?'

Satoshi twitched in his sleep, flipping from laying on his right side to his left.

No. I'm not.

'What are you going to do about it?'

I… I don't know.

"No, dear, put that knife down."

'It looks like you an idea.'

I can't hurt her. She's my mom.

'Let me help you.'

Satoshi's eyes flickered open, but all he saw was black and white dots dancing in front of his eyes. The dots formed the shape of his mother's broken, bleeding body, which he tried to shake away. Slowly, the dots cleared and Sato was able to get to his feet. Krad?

Yes, Satoshi?

Why did I do it?

Oh… is it at you again?

Why, Krad?

You were defending yourself.

She was just looking out for me.

You call denying your happiness looking out for you.

Looking out for me by denying you.

Ah, but your anger brought me forth. She didn't do a very good job.

Satoshi glanced around him; he was still on the rough red earth, but now he was inside some sort of building. A jail, he figured, as he spotted rusty iron bars over a high window.

I sometimes wonder if I really killed her. Or if you did.

Do I need to remind you, Satoshisama that our transformation that first time was sloppy and incomplete?

You don't need to. I remember.

Satoshi leaned his back against a wall, wincing as he leaned against the bruises that riddled his shoulder blades. From where Krad's wings had burst from his unwilling back.

Her murder was all your own.


Dark fiddled with the book in his hands. Time was passing so slowly and each page was like a bullet to his heart. So…. Boring…. But… What's this?

Hey! I found something!

What?

Daisuke had been sleeping in the back of his mind, but immediately snapped awake.

Page 403. "A rare occurrence in common times, the Hell Hole is a dank hole that spurns the user to a fate worse than death. Hell. The user is stuck there until he dies, or comes to a realization that saves his soul. This area is a pre-Hell, a purgatory."

Is that what happened to Satoshi?

I think so.

How can we help him?

We… can't. He has to figure this out on his own. All we can do is hope that he finds out soon.

Why?

Oh, it's nothing.

Dark closed the book, but the last sentence resounded in his mind. If the user does not come to the realization with in fourty-eight hours, he will be stuck in his self created Hell. Daisuke didn't need to know that added piece of information.

Well, I'm going to try to reach him.

How? You don't exactly have a way to talk on the phone through universes.

Daisuke looked at his feet, a blush creeping over his face.

We have a connection. I'll find a way.

What would you tell him, anyways?

What you just read me.

If he's down there, he must know what caused it. He is "the user", isn't he?

But what if it was an accident? Maybe he doesn't know.

There's nothing we can do, Dai.

Dark cringed, not wanting his host to be hurt. He closed his eyes and watched the smaller boy curl up in the back of his mind. I'm sorry.


Satoshi ran his hands over the rough wooden door, catching a splinter in his palm. Biting back a curse, he turned his attention to the walls, which he scoured over, trying to find a weakness. He had to get and and get back to Daisuke.

You're getting awfully attached to that Niwa.

Yes, I know, but I can't help myself.

It's damaging you. Let him go. Settle for that Risa creature.

Don't add insult to injury. I'm sure Daisuke feels something for me. Otherwise he wouldn't get so close to me.

Why did you try to hurt him? It was all I could do to keep you from killing yourself the other night.

I was protecting him from you.

Like your mother tried to?

Shut up.

You just have to live with the fact that you can never have him. He's getting in the way of your life's mission.

No. That's your mission, not mine.

Like I said, Satoshisama, whatever helps you sleep at night. By being close to him, you are hurting yourself and him.

Shut up.

Krad fell silent for a short time, letting Satoshi collapse onto a rough wooden cot that stood shakily in the corner. It broke under his light weight, leaving a very indignant Satoshi in the dust on the floor. The door to his cell opened and a hunchbacked creature slithered through the doorway, gazing at a clipboard it held in one tentacle.

"Hiwatari Satoshi?"

Satoshi glared at him.

"Ah, yes, in denial, crude, angry. We're not off to a good start. If you want out of here you'll need to shape up."

"Wait. I'm getting out of here?"

"Only if you pass and have your enlightenment in the next two days."

Good luck, my pet.

Shut up.

"Come along. We'll get started."

Satoshi trailed along behind the creature, gazing at his feet as they traveled through a maze of dusty red passageways.

"I don't suppose you can tell me why I'm here?"

"Oh, I can tell you that. You opened a Hell Hole."

"I did no such thing."

Guilty.

KRAD! Why would you do something like that?

You need to realize that I'm the only one who can care for you.

"Appears to have conversations with himself. You are quite the interesting patient. Sit there, if you will." The creature pointed to a bench. Satoshi looked up from his shoes to see that he was in a garden. Every plant in it was dead and decaying, crumbling from even the most minor touch. He sat on the bench, shifting uncomfortably.

"Okay, let's get started. Let's see here. It says that you have low blood pressure."

"Correct."

"A Police officer, at such a young age, too."

"Correct."

"Hmm. I wonder what sent you on your way to Hell. You seem to have a clean recor—oh. Murdered mother at the age of five."

"…correct…"

"Ah. That'll do it. But it seems you have reconciled with that all ready. What seems to be the problem?"

"I'm not sure I can pinpoint it. I have a demonic being inside me who wants to kill the only person in my life I love. Does that count?"

"Ah, yes. I assume this girl—"

"Boy."

"Oh. I assume this… boy… is angering the inner demon somehow."

"Existing, mostly."

"Oo. Why do you think you were brought here? What do you think you need to come to grips with?"

"He says he wants me to realize that I can only count on him. My inner demon, that is. But that's not true."

"Are you so sure? I mean, your demon seems to know what you think, what you feel. He could have exploited you by now."

"Yes, I suppose."

"Count only on him." The creature gazed into Satoshi's stolid icy eyes, "Believe that and you can go home."

"No."

"You must."

"…No…. no… well, maybe."

"You must."

Satoshi weakened, "I could…"

"You must."

Come on, Satoshisama, lean on me.

Krad wrapped his ghostly arms around his young host, whispering loving words into his ear. Satoshi relaxed in his grip.

If I agree, Daisuke won't be hurt?

I'll leave him alone.

okay…

"Yes. He is the only one I can trust, the only one who I can lean on."

The creature smiled happily, scribbling on his clip board, "A very convincing answer. I'll run this by the boss and see if we can't send you home."

"Thank you."

The creature bowed before scurrying down the passage ways of redness.

Satoshi covered his eyes with his hands. What had he done… Why did he agree…

When we get back you must tell the Niwa that he has to go home and never talk to you.

Must I?

Yes. You're only hurting yourself, Satoshisama.

Can't he stay a bit longer?

No.

Satoshi nodded, his sore, dry eyes leaking a single tear over a love that could never be. The creature slithered back, "All right. Close your eyes and think of home."


Dark leaned back in the leather chair, still staring at the burned pattern in the carpet. Daisuke had long since gone to sleep in the far corners of his mind, and he was alone in a room dedicated to him. His picture leered down at him. The floor lit up again, and a disheveled Satoshi appeared on the ground, apparently sleeping.

Dai…DAISUKE!

What? Is it morning?

No. He thought of Riku and easily slipped back into Daisuke's form.

"Satoshi-kun!"

Daisuke darted to his friend's side. Satoshi only groaned in response, and Daisuke lifted his friend's back upwards, careful to keep the blue haired head from dropping backwards. He glanced around the room, spotting a bottle of water, which he tried to reach, but couldn't manage. There wasn't much else he could do; Daisuke put Satoshi back on the floor and scuffled over to the water bottle. As he struggled with the cap, Satoshi came back to his sense.

"Dai— Niwa, You can't stay here anymore."

Daisuke jerked the cap off and whirled around, getting himself and Satoshi mildly wet from the water, "Why not? I can help you."

"No. You can't. I have to face this… alone."

"Face what? What are you talking about?"

"I can't destroy Dark with you on my mind. Please leave before you are destroyed, too."

"What are you facing? Why does it have to be alone?"

"I'm facing Krad. And that's why I have to be alone. Now get out."

Daisuke looked at the clock that hung on the wall, "But it's three in the morning."

"Fine. Go sleep. Tomorrow you're going home."

Satoshi pushed him out of the room, feeling his heart rip as he did so. Daisuke gave him a concerned look before heading back to his room. Satoshi sat at his desk and pulled out a file from a drawer, flipping through the pages, but his eyes were stuck on the wall. The lowest picture was of Daisuke.

Down with the picture. You'll only end up hurting him, or even killing him.

He won't get hurt. You promised.

Take down the picture.

No, Krad, it stays. I think I can handle looking at his picture once and a while.

Well, I think I can handle snapping his neck.

Satoshi snatched the picture down and crumpled it on his lap, One of these days, I'll find a way to rid myself of you.

Until then, Satoshisama, you're all mine.