dances happily I'm getting such helpful reviews. Helping me catch my wee mistakes and cover them. Well, I'm trying to update this story as much as possible. I have three weeks until school starts, so I want as much done as possible.
I must apologize for such a late update. School started and really carved up my freetime.
Both heads turned to see the green figure before them. Satoshi darted a look back at the painting; it was the same man, "Are you Daente?"
"Why, yes, yes I am."
Dark stared at them, and glanced at the painting as well, "Aren't you in the picture?"
Daente gave him a rather devastated look, "Yes."
"Oh." Dark scuffled his feet, realizing how stupid he must sound.
Satoshi defiantly stared up at Daente, "You are a creation of my family. Therefore you cannot hurt me."
"Ah, yes, the Hikari. I suppose your family painted me, but it was a Niwa's sorrow that brought me to life."
Satoshi was taken aback by that comment. He couldn't remember any of his family's art coming to life because of a Niwa.
Satoshi-sama. Let me out.
No. I want to find out more about him before you try to blast him into pieces.
But Satoshi-sama, this gives me pleasure. I choose this as my end of the deal.
Satoshi smirked inwardly.
Fine. Just don't blow him into pieces.
I won't. Not yet, at least.
Satoshi thought about all the times he had pinned Daisuke to a wall, the heat of their mixed breath, the gentle look in the ruby eyes of his friend…
"So, Krad, you made your appearance."
"Give me any good reason to not blow you to pieces."
"Krad! Why do you insist on doing that to everyone you meet?" Dark playfully punched his shoulder, but Krad returned his friendliness with a blood curdling glare.
"Everyone I meet deserves it."
"Stop bickering." Daente leaned against the podium that had held the vase Satoshi had smashed on Daisuke, "There are more important things going on here. I'm here for several reasons, most of which should suffice your demand, Krad."
Krad glared at him, "Start talking."
"No, not today. I just dropped in to… inform you of my presence. We'll meet again." With that, Daente strolled out of the museum, slipping past the guards and into the darkness. Dark put his arm around Krad, shaking his head.
"So, old buddy, do you know who he is?"
"Get your hands off me, slime."
Dark laughed, "Touchy touchy. I'll take that as a no. Until next time, Kraddy-kins… Wiz!" He sprinted to the nearest window, crashing through it and spreading his wings. The night covered his escape and sheltered him in a blanket of darkness.
Krad grumbled angrily. He gave up his end of the deal for this? A sigh of exasperation cut loose from his throat followed by his transformation back to Satoshi. Sato glanced at the vase that was lying on the ground. (A/N: no, it didn't shatter. it's a hard vase) He picked it up, quickly wiping the small smear of blood off its edge. Remorse began to gnaw at his heart. What had he done?
Takeshi woke up on his porch. His head was throbbing and his muscles ached. In effect, he felt like he had spent the night inside a blender set on chop. Getting slowly to his feet, he registered that his door was in front of him and he better go inside. Painfully he gripped the door knob and turned.
"Darnit. The door's locked."
Good morning, Takeshi-sama.
What the heck happened last night?
I'm sorry. The transformations will get easier as time goes by.
Why do I feel like crap?
The aftermath of the transformation. I wouldn't worry about it too much. It should go away in an hour or so. That's one of the perks of being my host; Quick healing.
Thanks, I guess. How am I supposed to get inside.
I don't know. Figure it out on your own. I'm going to sleep now.
Wait! Daente! Hello?
"Darnit again. Going to sleep on me, the nerve. And I bet I didn't get any good pictures of Dark last night." He leaned against his door, muttering angrily. Glancing at his watch, he realized he only had an hour before he had to go to school again. Hammering on his door, he prayed that his father was still home. No such luck, "Well. I'll just pay a visit to Daisuke. He's got a shower. I'll just mooch off him for today."
Smiling, he wandered down the street to Daisuke's house. As he walked, small tidbits of the night before filtered back to him. He vaguely remembered Daente talking to Dark and Krad. That's right, Dark is Daisuke. Somehow. Maybe Daisuke will answer some of his questions.
He looked up to see that he had arrived at Daisuke's house. Tentatively, he knocked on the door. Here, too, there was no answer. This was getting tiring; he shoved the door and was surprised when it swung open. Finally… He peeked his head in the door way, and saw that the lights were all out.
Stay quiet.
Ok.
Takeshi pushed the door open further and slipped inside. Sneaking around, he found nobody on the ground floor. As he was about to go upstairs, he saw a flickering light winking at him from in the closet under the stairs. He strayed from his course to softly twist the knob and enter the small space. The light swayed gently as if there was a breeze coming through. But that was impossible for a closet. Takeshi shivered as a small gust of air wisped around him. Which brought his attention to a slightly open door on his left.
Go through there if you want answers.
Can do.
Takeshi slipped through the doorway and padded silently down a long set of stairs that met him. Vaguely he could hear two voices arguing.
"I got the painting, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you put yourself in danger."
"I'm always in danger when Satoshi is on offence."
"I was talking about that new man, uh, what's his face, Daente."
Takeshi peeked around the corner; Daisuke was on his tiptoes, glaring into his mother's face. She was doing her best to glare back.
"Daente isn't a threat. The Niwa's brought him to life didn't they?"
"But he was crafted by a Hikari!"
Takeshi stepped forward, "Excuse me?"
"WHAT?" Both of the yelled. Blushing, Daisuke scuffled his feet, looking downwards.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but may I use your shower? I was totally locked out of my house, I'm dirty, tired, and I hurt all over."
Emiko brightened, "Why didn't you say so?"
Takeshi blinked at her, but Daisuke cut off anything he had to say with a discreet jab to the side.
"He'll be right up, Mom. Why don't you go get him a towel?"
Emiko stared at the two of them, before prancing up the stairs.
"Can you answer a few questions for me, Niwa?" Takeshi whipped out a pad of paper and uncapped his pen.
"I think so…"
"Are you really Dark?"
Daisuke stared at him, "How'd you know?"
Takeshi poked Daente with his mind.
Can I tell him about you?
Might as well. I'm napping, though. Please do not disturb for the next ten to twelve hours.
"I've been hearing this voice in my head lately. And last night when I was in the shaft in the museum waiting to take your picture, I saw you and Hiwatari going at it. When I saw you get hit, I transformed into another person. Daente he calls himself."
Daisuke stared at him, mouth agape, "You're Daente?" He shook his head in disbelief, "That answers that question. But raises a few more. Do you know why you transformed last night? What were you feeling?"
"I was feeling… erhm…. Sad I guess. Depressed, unhappy. Broken."
"Like what Daente was saying! The Niwa's sorrow brought him to life. That must cause the transformation, too!"
Takeshi flashed back to the evening before, "Is your head all right?"
Daisuke timidly touched his gauze-encompassed head, "Fine."
"Oh… What are you going to do about seeing Hiwatari today?"
"Nothing. He doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned."
Inwardly, Takeshi cheered, "I'm glad. That kid gives me the creeps."
Daisuke gazed at him, making Takeshi blush slightly, "Did you know that you are kind of cute?"
Takeshi turned, walking up the stairs, "Yes, yes, I did. You're mom is probably wondering why I haven't turned up to shower." He winked before pounding up the stairs.
He likes me!
Don't get too sappy. He just broke it off with Hiwatari. Do you want to catch him on the rebound?
It's better to have taken on the rebound than to have never loved at all.
I don't think that's how it goes.
Oh well.
Takeshi accepted the towel from Emiko with a grateful nod, closing the door to shower.
Dark, did I just call him cute?
Yes. And I have to agree.
But I thought I loved Sato-kun.
How can you love anyone after they bean you with a vase?
Daisuke shrugged, padding up the stairs. The shower was running; Takeshi must be getting clean. He piled his books into his book-bag, waiting for Takeshi so that they could leave. Takeshi appeared at the door five minutes later, his hair still dripping wet. Shaking like a dog, he splattered Daisuke's clean clothes.
"Hey!"
"Hah! Let's go to school!"
The two boys had to run to make it on time, both of them barely landing in their seats before the bell rang. Daisuke caught himself gazing at Takeshi, clenching his eyes closed, and trying to concentrate on the teacher's monotonous tone. Finally, the lunch bell rang.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Satoshi leaning against his desk.
"We need to talk."
