Planning hurts, really. Or, should I say actually writing a chapter that fits hurts. To keep the spookiness is rather painful, and, well, I don't specialise in that category, if you haven't noticed yet. Sadly, I can't do anything to change that, so we'll just see how it all turns out.
--- Thanking Beta Readers Section: Yeah! Now, I'd like to acknowledge the people who helped make this chapter worth reading! Both SachiAmi and Staryday! Man, I love you guys for that!!! (hearts and hugs) Yes, special thanks to those two, and, Rekkabooziegirl. Is that how you spell it??? Anyway, I accept your offer, but my brain's been like mush of late, but I'll send you chapter 4 once I actually get it done! No, I haven't forgotten you!!!
Disclaimers: I don't own this, nor can I control where this story will go. The darkness is taking over... oh yeah; I own the newer introduced characters, obviously. All originals... why can't we just all live peacefully, without someone biting your head off in the process? So many questions, not enough answers...
Summary for Chap III: When Daisuke's family decides to go out for the day, suspicions arise. It is nearly time to return to school, but, when Daisuke finds himself in the presence of a fortuneteller, the future seems more clouded than usual.
It seems that there may be more on the line than usual.
Other:
() Daisuke
(()) Dark
:: Satoshi
:::: Krad
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Chapter III: Passing to the Unknown
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The shrill ringing of Daisuke's alarm clock woke him up, and, pushing the button to turn it off, he yawned and rolled over. Sunlight was filtering gracefully through the window, dispelling last night's terrors, and he looked up at the ceiling, trying to sort out how he was really feeling after what had happened the night before.
(Last night was horrible,) he reminded himself, (but nothing happened. Maybe Dark was right; maybe I am just being a bit too paranoid for my own good.)
He wanted to believe it, but for one reason or another, he just couldn't get his mind to accept the fact. With a sigh, he pulled himself out of the safety of his bed. In the process, With fell out of the folds of the blanket, 'kyu'-ing unhappily at the sudden disturbance. Daisuke paid no heed to it, his mind elsewhere.
(But... why did I have a dream like that?) he wondered, pulling a sweater over his head, (and why did it feel so... real...)
He shuddered slightly, banishing the thought with every ounce of mental strength that he had.
"I have to stop thinking that way," he said out loud.
Despite all this, he felt slightly shaky. Repeating the phrase a few more times, he opened the door, only to find himself face-to-face with the Niwa housemaid, Towa, who looked as cheerful as ever.
"Up already?" she asked shrilly, "You shouldn't set an alarm during the holidays, Daisuke!"
"Morning Towa-chan," the redhead sighed, "could I ask why you were standing right outside my bedroom door?"
"Oh! I... have reasons," she replied lamely, before bouncing off down the corridor with her usual energy, "I'll be off now!"
"... Was she eavesdropping on me?" he asked out loud, as With climbed onto his shoulder, (But why would someone do that to me...? Was it because of... last night?)
He bit his lip, not wanting to know whether or not his family was watching over him when he didn't know it. He shook his head, his mind confused. Walking out and downstairs, the redhead noticed that no one seemed to be around, and shrugged slightly. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach and sat down on a chair, too wrapped up in his own thoughts to really care about eating breakfast.
"Tonight, at nine, the Phantom Thief Dark will be making another appearance at--" cackled the reporter's voice in the room opposite where Daisuke was.
"Another one tonight?"
"Yes, Dai-chan," replied Emiko as she poked her head through the doorway, "so you and Dark have to be ready."
"... Are you going out?" he asked, noticing that her clothes seemed a bit more exotic then usual; a large, sky blue sundress with the usual wide-brimmed hat, which reminded him of the time when Krad had first appeared. For one reason or another, his family had come to interfere with what was supposed to be his own quiet time with Riku, and the whole trip had collapsed in on itself.
"Yes, we are," she smiled, "so just take care of yourself, and don't let any strangers in, do you hear me?"
"I already know that..." he mumbled, slightly annoyed that she was treating him like an infant again, "but... why are you going out?" something about the whole situation seemed strange to him, since she usually forced him into going with her whenever they decided to go out.
"Shopping," replied Emiko coolly, while Kosuke and Daiki slipped by, "so be a good boy until we come back, Dai-chan!"
With that, she left the house, with the other members of the Niwa family. This left Daisuke in bafflement, and, slowly, his mind tried to work out the inner meaning behind her overly cheerful words.
(Just like last night...) his mind told him, (the rest of the family leaves you on your own. Maybe the dream will come true...)
At this, the redhead shook his head violently and got up, (It won't happen. Dark's always with me anyway.)
"Kyu!"
"Hm? Is something wrong, With?" Daisuke turned to his pet, who pawed the refrigerator door in clear indication of wanting food, "Oh, you want to eat something now, do you?"
"Kyu!" the rabbit-like creature nodded vigorously.
Chuckling slightly at the enthusiasm, the redhead opened the door, and took out a couple of strawberries, "Okay, okay."
As he watched the happy creature gnawing away at the red fruit, Daisuke's ears picked up a low whining sound that made him. He froze. Jerking his head up, he scanned the kitchen. It was clean, in courtesy to Emiko's usual policy of cleanliness, but everything still seemed in place and the sound faded off slowly. Biting his lip slightly in worry, and kicking himself for being so jumpy, he returned to watch With, who seemed oblivious to the fact that the redhead looked fairly nervous.
(It was just my imagination,) he told himself firmly, (that's all...)
((You wish, Dai-chan.))
(GAH! DARK!!) completely taken by surprise, Daisuke fell off the seat he'd been sitting on, (WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!)
((... Zzzz...))
"Kyu!"
"Huh? Finished already?" he shook his head before he turned to face rabbit-like creature, all the while wondering what Dark had meant, "So... should we take a walk outside now, With?"
"Kyu!"
"Sure," laughing slightly at the creature's vast amount of enthusiasm, he got up and With hopped onto his shoulder, "since everyone else is out already... it wouldn't hurt for us to..."
He opened the front door and stopped sharply, jumping back in surprise as he caught a glimpse of a dark form at the edge of his vision. But before he could get his mind to work properly, whatever he had seen was gone. With 'kyu'-ed in concern and Daisuke shook his head to reassure the creature before he took a step outside.
"It was nothing, With," he said calmly, but looking far from it, "let's go."
(I was sure... for a moment there...) he thought, his mind reacting drastically to the sudden remembrance of the dream and he started to panic again, (just for a second... someone was watching me... from that bush?)
He scratched the back of his head, confusion replacing the fear, (Oh well... nothing happened so...)
Closing the front door behind him and locking it, Daisuke turned out onto the street. He was oblivious to the unearthly mist that had appeared behind him. It flickered slightly before it faded off, seeking shelter in the cool breeze.
Because of his early rise, and it also being the holidays at the same time, the redhead noticed that most streets were fairly deserted. The noises that were heard were coming from the residents inside the buildings themselves and only the breeze seemed to stir in the weak sunlight.
He turned his attention towards the sky, which was a deep blue colour, and the sun shone brightly over the buildings and the trees, as the wind rustled gently in its wake.
(At least it's the holidays,) he told himself, as the calm scenery washed away the fear that had locked itself inside of him, (so I can have some more time to myself... and not worry about... jobs.)
He cringed slightly at his mother's use of the word 'job' - he had argued that 'theft' would probably fit the category better, but Emiko had refused to listen. With a slight shrug of his shoulders, he continued down the street, staring up at the bright leaves, which filtered the sunlight as it splashed across the pavement.
"No more..."
Daisuke jerked up at the sudden hiss of a voice that seemed to be right behind him. He looked behind himself swiftly. Disturbed by the sudden movement, With protested in a series of loud 'kyu's, and clutched onto his shoulder firmly. The redhead scanned the street behind him warily, as if waiting for movement of any form of life. When nothing happened, he relaxed slightly and rubbed his hands – they were slightly clammy and unbearably cold. He shook his head and shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
(It's just my imagination...) he told himself firmly, (nothing more.)
"Kyu!"
"Look out!"
Daisuke looked up in time to see a large, round ball fly towards his head. Out of sheer surprise, he jumped back, barely avoiding the solid object, and fell heavily on the concrete pavement. With, surprised, jumped off his shoulder and hid behind him, while the redhead tried to work out what had just happened.
"Yo, Daisuke! You alright?!" called a familiar male's voice, "For a moment I thought it had you there!"
"... Saehara?!" he spluttered, as the raven-haired boy ran over to him in an attempt to catch sight of the soccer ball he'd kicked, "What was that for?! You could've killed me with that!"
"Yeah, you're right about that!" grinning broadly, and unable to contain his laughter, Daisuke's childhood friend offered him a hand up, "So... how've your holidays been then, eh?"
"Uh... okay, I guess," the redhead shrugged, as With hopped back onto his shoulder with an indignant 'Kyu!', "how about you?"
"Oh, the usual," catching sight of the soccer ball lodged between a couple of bushes close by, Takeshi went over and held it up.
"Muckin' about an' all that kinda junk. The only thing that's keepin' me goin' at the moment is Dark's appearances."
"Okay..." twisting his head slightly to avoid the obsessed look in Takeshi's eyes, Daisuke blinked as he tried hard to contain the uneasy feelings inside of him, "Uh... I better get going now..."
"What, you don't wanna play with us?"
"I really can't at the moment," he bowed apologetically, "I... have other things to do right now..."
He bolted down the way he'd come, unable to explain the uncomfortable feeling that had shot itself down his spine. He shivered, as his eyes darted for a place to calm himself down.
"Kyu!"
"With?" stopping abruptly at the creature's sudden call, Daisuke stopped, and noticed that he'd somehow managed to enter the darker areas of the city, where many buildings were dilapidated and falling to pieces. With hissed slightly, but the redhead took a step forwards, biting his lip.
"I can... feel something here..." he whispered, "With... can you feel it too?"
He stepped lightly over the hard-worn tiles that made up the pavement, and went into the deserted street. No breeze blew as he moved – With's hissing being the only source of sound. That, and the constant pounding of Daisuke's heart against his ribcage.
(What is that feeling?) he wondered, (that really weird, clammy type of feeling... it just doesn't seem right...)
He stopped as his spine tingled more persistently with the same unpleasant feeling he had felt only once before. He turned around, in hope that he could catch sight of whoever – or whatever – that might have been behind him.
Silence blanketed the street, and he bit his lip in dread, unable to explain the feeling that continuously descended upon him.
"Maybe... we should go..." he started uncertainly, taking a cautious step back, but his legs wouldn't move.
"You need not run... for I am watching your every step..."
Daisuke gasped in surprise, the hissing voice forming more words into his mind and he fell back, not truly knowing why. With jumped in front of him, fur up on end, and hissed again, at the white mist that had begun to form in front of them.
"Soon we will come face to face, boy..." the mist said, as it became a shapeless blob and started to fade away, "and then you will know true fear..."
He shook as the mist suddenly vanished into the silence, and swallowed nervously, "Just then... that was..."
"Kyu!"
"Oh? A customer? It has been a while since I have had one..." whispered a misty-like voice, "Why don't you come in and try your luck with the cards... for you see, everyone's future, their destiny, has already been decided by the stars..."
Daisuke located the voice in a shop close by; it seemed fine, unlike most of the others he had seen, and the purple sheets that fluttered over the doorframe seemed more mysterious than anything else did.
(Uh... maybe I should go now...) he thought, as he took a step back, but Dark's voice stopped him.
((What, are you really scared of a little shop?)) he asked.
(But just look at that place!) protested the redhead, as he took another step back, eyes focused on the purple fabric.
((And you don't trust me?))
(... Dark...)
((If anything happens, I'll be the one who has to get you outta it, isn't that what always happens?)) snorted the Theif, (('Cause you know as well as I do that if anything happens to you, it happens to me as well.))
At this, Daisuke bit his lip.
(... I guess you're right...)
((Damn straight.))
At this, the redhead scooped up With to calm him down. He took a deep breath before he pushed past the purple fabric and entered.
He was instantly greeted by small crystal ornaments that filled the shelves around the small box-shaped room, delicately fashioned with the same purple cloth he had passed through. He shivered slightly, remembering how soft the fabric had been between his fingers, and how unsettling it had felt as he had entered.
His gaze was fixed on the cloaked figure that was sitting in front of a large crystal ball. Taking a step forward, he stopped as the figure whispered, as if the folds of the thick fabric were choking them.
"So... you have come to seek Madam Lia's help, child?" she asked, her voice cool and it held a mysterious ring to it, "Not many children come to this part of town... ever since the time of Destruction..."
"..."
"Do not fear," her voice held a slight hint of amusement as she waved a thin hand in indication of a stool on the other side of the round table, "besides, I do not charge customers for the first reading."
(I guess... it wouldn't hurt to try...) Daisuke told himself, as he sat on the stool indicated, (and With will know if danger's coming... and Dark's here as well...)
"Aah..." whispered Lia, her gaze directed towards the crystal ball, "I can see... your mind is troubled, no?"
"Um... yes," he stammered, taken by surprise by how her voice suddenly seemed full of life. She shrank back, as if trying to decide what to do. Then, she pulled out a deck of cards.
"Many years before," she said, voice misty and faded once more, "I might have read the person's mind, to find what was in store for them, but over time, I have learnt that many don't like their minds read by a complete eccentric."
She laughed softly. The noise echoed around the room, making the hairs on With's fur stand up unpleasantly and Daisuke held his breath.
"These are Tarot Cards," she explained, placing them in front of her, in full view, "so you have nothing to fear. Come, place your hand on the deck, do not be afraid."
The redhead did as he was told, until Lia told him to move back, which he did so gladly.
"Good, now you have placed a bit of yourself in the deck, for now," she added in reassurance, "over time, the power will fade off. So this means nothing can be redirected. Now..."
With speed that seemed unnatural, she shuffled the deck, cut it in half, and placed three cards on the table, leaving the rest on the side, "Now, we have to turn them over, and I can tell you what they mean."
He flipped the three cards over. Lia took a long look at them while her hands moved around restlessly at their own accord. Finally, she sighed.
"I see... oh, poor, troubled child," she shook her head sadly.
"Wh-what?" he stammered, unable to comprehend the meaning, "Is something the matter?"
"You have uncovered the power of the Tower, Five of Cups, and the Moon card. Oh dear..."
"But... what does this mean then?"
"Oh, many things, but I would be careful if I were you, child," she bowed her head as she shrank back into the shadows of the store, "please leave now..."
As he saw that she wouldn't be speaking anymore, he got up, but she held out the deck to him, "Take one. It will decide your future. Take care."
Taking a card from the offered deck, he slipped out quickly, trying hard not to shake too much from the tension.
"That... was weird," he muttered, as he hurried back to the safer parts of the city, (But... what did she mean, exactly?)
Once he was sure he was safe, he flipped the card over to see what it was; it was richly decorated, with a small figure placed in the center, a large star dominating the sky. He took a look down at the English writing placed at the foot of the card, and sighed in confusion as he slipped it into his pocket.
(Whatever it means...) he told himself, (I guess I'll never now. And I have school tomorrow...)
He walked off and was unaware of a person who had been watching him from behind a building close by.
As the leaves rustled, the figure vanished.
--- To Be Continued ---
Did you like it? Was it spooky enough??? Am I missing something that should be there? Well, if that's the case, then just tell me and I'll fix it, 'kay?
Yeah, this may be the last chapter for a while, since I've had a horrible case of Writer's block, and I think I ought to get that flamethrower and burn it to pieces, or something. Anyway... thanks to all those who reviewed and all the beta readers, and all the usual junk, and, like I said before, I don't know when chapter 4 will be up, so you might have to wait. I don't like it anymore than you do, but I'm trying to work out my brain at the moment. The gray mush of mine isn't being very kind at the moment...
Now... about the Tarot cards and that fortuneteller. Well, to put it simply, I wanted to add something weird, weeeeeiiiiiirrrrrdddd, ahem, into the story, and this was the way to go. I like reading about the Tarot cards, they're cool and all that, and that's why they're there in the first place. ANYWAY, here're the meanings with the cards, in case you were wondering...
The Tower: Sudden change, release, downfall, revelation.
The Five of Cups: Loss, bereavement (... Huh? I don't even know what that means... gotta check my dictionary eventually...), regret.
The Moon: Fear, illusion, imagination, bewilderment.
I don't think you need a clearer explanation than this, right??? So, I'll just cut to the chase and shove the usual thanking reviewers section!
-- Thanking Reviewers Segment! Other people do it, so why shouldn't I??? If you threaten me, just remember... I have a flamethrower... oh, wait, you're all kind people! Here we go!!!
- ToTalLy WeIrD Grl aka Redrose Moon: Well, if you're still here, here's chapter 3! Hope you enjoyed this!
- Rekkaboziegirl: Well, yeah, I accept the offer. (insert hearts here) Glad you loved the chapter, and I've given writing it on paper, it's too long and boring! And glad you like the characters! I'll send you an email as soon as I can, 'kay? (more hearts)
- Kakarots-Frying-Pan: Thanks for the nice encouragement! Yeah, guess I should make it a bit longer, but I've got a lot of work to do at the moment... stupid writer's block. Have to kill it... well, what'd you think???
- neko-nya: Yeah, you must inspire many people! Well... you got to me, anyway. Hope you update you're stories soon and I hope this chapter went well!
Again, I must thank everyone who has decided to take their time to read this! (hugs everyone) I love you guys for that! And it makes me wanna do it more! I'll get chap4 up as soon as I can... okay?
Take care everyone! – Seena58