-later on-

His head pounded with a dull ache, he felt as if his body where completely useless. Daisuke slowly opened his ruby colored eyes and looked about his surroundings. He was still in the museum laying on his back in a pile of rubble. 'What happened?' his memory was a blank all he could recall was Dark holding out the feather and the spell emitting from it then there was blank. 'Was Dark hit with it? What about Krad and Hiwatari?'

"Niwa, Niwa!" A weak voice called after the red haired boy.

"I'm here." Daisuke was relieved to see Satoshi standing over him, he looked a bit beat up but it didn't look to serious.

"I'm so sorry Niwa…" He kneeled down beside him. "Krad is getting stronger everyday, there was nothing I could do to stop him."

"It's alright Hiwatari" Daisuke somehow found the strength to sit up, he winced slightly.

"Your not injured are you?" Satoshi stared at him with such concern and worry, Daisuke had never seen such emotions in his eyes.

"Just a few bruises, how are you?"

"I'll be fine." Satoshi stood helping Daisuke up as well. "Although we may have a problem." He declared.

"What's that?"

"The Harada's saw me change." Satoshi explained. "I don't know how I can ever go back to school with them knowing I am Krad."

"Don't worry Dark will take care of it. He has erased Miss. Harada's memories before I'm sure he can do it again." Satoshi nodded.

Meanwhile the Harada twins remained safe in their home terrified beyond belief. They had left as soon as Dark had lured Krad away from them.

"What happened back there, why was Hiwatari acting like that." Risa asked her sister. As if she could help in making sense of all that had happened.

"That wasn't Hiwatari Risa." Riku explained, although she seemed calm, she really was on the brink of hysteria. "Didn't you see, Hiwatari changed into…whoever that was."

"But how? I don't understand."

"You think I do!" She snapped. Risa was taken aback by her sister's reaction and quieted down. Both remained in silence unsure of what to say to one another now. They were confused, and scared. More than ever Risa wished that Dark was there with her, and Riku secretly wished that Daisuke was beside her.

Back in the museum the boys were finally feeling well enough to try and make their way back home. Daisuke was still a little shaky on his feet but Satoshi was there to help him if he were to fall. Satoshi had made the decision to let Daisuke have the necklace of the Eternal Spirit. After what they had just gone through he figured it wasn't worth it.

"Hiwatari, I think I'll be fine now." They had gotten out of the museum and were on the road, the majority of the onlookers had left and the police were gone as well. Satoshi had radioed to them to leave.

"Alright." Satoshi reluctantly let go of Daisuke. This had been one of the few times he had been able to actually touch the Niwa boy.

"Will…you be ok?" Daisuke noticed Satoshi's saddened look.

"I'm fine, you go ahead." Daisuke nodded and began to go on his way, he walked a few steps when he heard a noise behind him. Turning around he found that Satoshi had collapsed on the ground, Daisuke hurried over to his side.

"Hiwatari!" Satoshi was wincing as if something was hurting him. "Is it krad?"

"No, not him." He looked up into Daisuke's gorgeous ruby eyes. "I guess I'm not fine after all." He sat up slowly trying to hide the pain he was feeling in his back. "Really Niwa just go, you don't need to worry about me."

"I'm not going to leave you here. Let me help you up." He placed his hand on Satoshi's back causing him to wince, seeing this Daisuke became concerned. Lifting up Satoshi's shirt he examined his back, around his shoulder blades where two large black and blue bruises, the skin tissue was also badly scarred, the result of Krad's white wings. "I think that I should walk you home." Daisuke stated, pulling the fabric of Satoshi's shirt back down to cover his wounds.

"Niwa that is not necessary." He shivered when Daisuke had touched his bare skin, he hoped he hadn't noticed.

"I think it is, you can't be walking out here all alone like this. Krad put a tremendous amount of strain on your body and you can't handle it." He stood holding onto Satoshi's arm to pull him up. "I'll walk with you." Satoshi didn't bother to protest, he liked that Daisuke was actually worried about him and was willing to help. At school they were like total strangers, but at night when Dark and Krad were out of the picture it felt as if they were the best of friends. Something Satoshi had wanted for so long but was prevented from having it due to the demon living inside him. "So where exactly do you live?"

"Not too far, I need to be near the museum in case something ever comes up."

"Dark?" Satoshi only nodded. They were silent for awhile until Daisuke spoke up suddenly. "Looks like its going to rain." He observed looking towards the sky Satoshi looked up as well seeing the heavy clouds covering the dark sky. Small droplets of rain started to fall. "We should hurry I don't want to get too wet." They began to pick up their pace as the rainfall became heavier. They were quiet for the rest of the way lost in their own thoughts. Daisuke hadn't been able to contact Dark, he could still feel his presence but he just wasn't responding. The spell that had been cast had really worked, he just wished it would wear off soon. As for Satoshi the little time he had without Krad was a blessing. He could finally be close to Daisuke and not worry about changing.

"Its right here." He pointed realizing they had arrived at his place of residence.

"Alright." They ran up to the front door, Satoshi pulled out his keys and opened the door. Stepping inside the dismal apartment Satoshi switched on the lights revealing the bland, and lonesome living area. The rain had begun to pour down and their clothes were totally soaked. "I'm cold." Daisuke shivered, he had gotten chilled being out in the rain for so long.

"You need some…warming up?" Satoshi hinted seductively.

"Excuse me?" Daisuke wasn't sure if he had heard him correctly.

"In the shower." He corrected. "If you need to warm up your welcome to shower quickly before leaving." Satoshi didn't know why he had said it, it just came out. His feelings for the red haired boy were so strong it was getting more and more difficult for him to repress it.

"Are you sure, I don't want to intrude."

"Its fine, the bathroom is down the hall last door on the right." Daisuke nodded and headed towards the bathroom. When he was gone Satoshi let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, something was wrong with him he felt different around Daisuke now. He had no trouble before, holding back his urges but now with him in his house it was as if Satoshi now had the upper hand. This was his one and only chance to get close to him. Before he knew it Satoshi was now standing in front of the closed bathroom door, he could hear the water running from the shower. He raised his hand and pressed it against the wooden door, then leaning his head against it closed his eyes and sighed. He was so close, so close to the boy he cared so much for.

His mind wandered and he fantasized about Daisuke, what he was currently doing inside that room. The hot steamy water running down his perfect nude body, trickling down his bare chest to his smooth abdomen. Over his visible hipbones and down to between his legs. Satoshi's eyes snapped open what on earth was he thinking, he pushed away from the door when his eyes caught the door handle. All he had to do was turn it and push, then walk inside and all would be revealed.

"No." He whispered to himself. "I can't do that, Niwa doesn't think about me that way. I would only scare him away." Before getting carried away again he walked away from the bathroom and into his own room. He felt chilled and decided he should put on some dry clothes, that would help him warm up a little.

He pulled off his white school uniform shirt and tossed it on the floor, he examined his back in the nearby mirror. As usual it was the same bruised and scarred flesh he always had after Krad had gotten control. He shrugged and began to unzip his pants, when his door opened.

"Hiwatari?" Daisuke called as he pushed open the door, he froze when he realized he had walked in on him undressing. He blushed a bright red and looked away. "I, I'm sorry! I should have knocked." He left the room immediately and waited in the hall. As much as he hated to admit, Satoshi (as much as he could see) had a very nice body. He was tall and very slim, with a decent amount of muscle build. He had a flat stomach with exposed hip bones, and a few of his ribs were visible as well.

"Did you need something?" Satoshi asked opening the door a few minutes later. He noticed Daisuke only had a towel on, it was wrapped tightly around his waist.

"Um…yeah I was wondering, if maybe you had some clothes I could borrow. Since mine are all wet." He was still staring down at the floor, cheeks still red with embarrassment.

"Niwa, if anyone should be embarrassed it should be me." He smiled slightly for the first time Daisuke had seen. "But I'm fine, if you need some clothes you can look in the closet and just pick out whatever you want." He stepped aside to allow him to enter the room. "I'll wait for you here."

"Alright." Daisuke went in and began to search through the clothes, he didn't want anything fancy. So he chose a plain pair of blue jeans, that looked like they had never been worn, and a black T-shirt. He also swiped a pair of black boxers. 'I hope he doesn't mind, but I have to wear something underneath.' He slipped them on then started on the pants, he had to suck in to zip and button them. 'Hiwatari really is skinny.' When Daisuke came back out Satoshi was leaning against the wall.

"You can go ahead and have those, I never wear them." He started walking into the living room.

"Thank you." Daisuke followed and glanced out the window, the rain was really coming down. He could hear thunder in the distance.

"Maybe you should stay here, until the storm lets up." Satoshi suggested, looking back at Daisuke, he looked as if he felt uneasy. "Something wrong?"

"I've never liked thunderstorms." Daisuke admitted. "I've been afraid of them ever since I was a little kid." There was a flash of lightening and a sudden loud boom of thunder, Daisuke jumped at the sound. Satoshi found it adorable, sixteen years old and he was still frightened of a little thunder. "You probably think I'm pathetic, I'm the notorious phantom thief Dark but thunderstorms scare me."

"I don't think your pathetic, there are a lot of people out there that dislike storms." Satoshi approached him. "You can sit down if you like." He gestured towards the couch next to him.

"Oh…right." He sat, but still looked tense. Satoshi sat down as well, near Daisuke. There was a another flash and a boom, making Daisuke whimper. "I remember whenever there was a storm my mom would go up to my room. She used to sit and hold me until the storm was over, she would stay up all night if she had too." He smiled at Satoshi. "I don't know why I'm telling you this."

"You are not telling me, you are telling yourself. You're trying to ease your fright by remembering the comforting feeling of your mother being there for you." 'Something I never had.' He admitted to himself. Another lightening flash, and the house went dark.

"What's happening?" Daisuke sounded panicked as sound of thunder rolled through the house.

"Its alright, the power just went out." Satoshi pointed out.

"I don't like this…I want to go home." He whimpered. Satoshi scooted closer to Daisuke hoping his presence would help in easing the fright. Then hesitantly wrapped his arms around the scared boy and held him close. "H…Hiwa…tari?" They were so close, Satoshi's lips brushed passed Daisuke's cheek.

"Everything will be alright…Daisuke." He whispered comfortingly, using the boy's first name. "And please call me Satoshi." His voice was pleading yet strangely seductive.

"…Satoshi?…"

"Yes?"

"You're…a …really…great friend."

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A/N. I hate to leave it there but I didn't want to go on. Next chapter will be lots of "fun" I promise!