Chapter Six: Love and Swimming Trunks

06/02/2005, CY

Disclaimer: I do not own DNAngel.

AN: Here you go, chapter six. Everything is in place! At last! Now I can write freely! Yay! Thank you all for your reviews, I hope this is worth your time.

Please enjoy.

"Aww man! This is great!" The ebony-haired man greedily dug in as Krad watched in shock.

"Just how often do you eat?" Krad questioned, taking a small bite of his toast. Dark begin to choke and Krad sighed, "Please slow down. I have enough problems dealing with Satoshi. I don't need another kid to bug me."

Dark coughed for a minute and then grinned at his blonde host, "Daisuke's a pretty good kid! He does what I say!"

"That's not always a good thing…" Krad's younger brother remarked, holding tightly onto Daisuke's wrist with his left hand. The tiny red-head fumbled with his fork in his right hand, looking uncomfortable with Satoshi's comment.

Krad silenced the four-year old with a glare. "Anyhow, take time to chew."

Dark hastily went back to eating as Satoshi turned to Daisuke.

"How's the food?"

The red-head smiled at him, "It's good!" He looked down at his toast and frowned. "It's better then what I get for Thanksgiving!"

Krad blinked in surprise, "Really?" He stared down at his plate, "What do you have for Thanksgiving?"

"Sandwiches and chicken dipped in mayo!"

Krad felt his heart slow. SANDWICHES! ON THANKSGIVING! He gawked at the little boy, "You're joking, right?"

Daisuke shook his head, "Nope. Dark can't cook toast or anything!" Krad saw Dark stiffen in the corner of his eye as the red-head continued, "The only time he managed to cook something was when a fly flew in the microwave!" He giggled as Dark turned bright red.

"Would you shut up? What's it matter if I can't cook!" Dark grumbled as the red-head happily bit into his toast.

Krad stared in shock at Dark, "Is he serious?" His voice barely came out in a whisper. How can you be so-so-so-----pathetic!

Dark was red-faced as he nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I can't cook." He crossed his arms, "But so what? When I get married, it'll be my wife's job, not mine!" Krad felt lightheaded; he had to get fresh air or he would pass out.

He can't cook… He staggered to the backyard and fell into a lawn chair. Dark stood at the back door and scratched his head.

"You okay, Krad?" He came over and watched the blonde, "Is it that big of a deal?" Krad stared at him.

"I can't even imagine what it would be like… To not be able to cook." He stared off into nowhere, "Living off of sandwiches…."

Dark shrugged, "Eh, always have. Well, since we've been alone." Krad didn't hear his words--he was lost in thought.

I always thought he was just slim and trim! But he lives off of sandwiches! That means…. He slumped. He's almost starved to death… Skin and bones! No meat on him! A walking ZOMBIE! Krad jumped to his feet and grabbed Dark by the shirt front. "You have to eat something!" Dark stared at him weirdly, as he continued, "Come over to my house at least three days a week or you'll die!"

Dark blinked in surprise and then laughed, "You think we don't eat?" He grinned and patted Krad's shoulder, "We eat."

"What do you have?" Krad finally felt his composure returning.

The purple-eyed man gave him a wide smile, "Cup o' noodles, take-out, cold canned soup, milk and bread and lots of water!"

"Please stop!" Krad let go of Dark's shirt and toppled back into the lawn chair. "How can people live like that!" He grabbed Dark and pulled him down. But the twenty-year old lost his balance and fell forward. The lawn chair almost flipped backward as Dark landed face-first into the blonde's shoulder. Krad yelped in surprise and tried to quiet his throbbing heart.

Dark sat up slightly and they both stared at each other. Krad shivered at Dark's mouth being so close to his. The black-haired man began to laugh.

"Oops!" He smiled at Krad's dazed expression. "Stand up next time." Both suddenly noticed movement by the doorway. They stared at the toddlers, who stared back.

There was a long pause, then Daisuke asked cutely, "How do you make babies?" He hugged Satoshi's arm tightly and smiled, blushing.

His blue-haired friend shrugged a shoulder, "Something like that, I suppose."

Dark crawled off and began to sweat, "Geez… Look, I'll explain it later, okay?" He turned back to Krad, "Are you okay?"

Krad sat stunned and red faced. "Y-yes… I'm fine." He hastily jumped out of the chair and fanned himself. "You really—" He paused and took a deep breath, "shouldn't explain that to him until he's older!"

"Well, he's gotta know sometime. The sooner he learns the less he'll ask, right?"

Krad glared at him, "He's four years old! At least wait until he's---"

"But I'm four, too." Satoshi interrupted. "And I wanna know..."

"You can wait!" Krad snapped, and Satoshi flinched.

"Come on, don't yell at him. I kinda wondered when I was little, too," Dark pointed out.

Krad turned to him, "Didn't we all?" He crossed his arms, "That's not the point. They're too young to know…"

"Who says?" Dark shrugged. "I'm gonna tell Daisuke!" Krad was about to protest again, but Dark held up his hands, "Let's just go finish breakfast."

"Thank you for coming over." Krad opened the door for Dark.

"Thanks for breakfast!" Dark smiled and slipped his jacket back on, "It was great."

"You're welcome anytime." Krad frowned, "Would you come over tomorrow?" Dark blinked at him. "I…I can't stand the thought of you two eating bread and water!" Krad quickly added.

The older man smiled, "I know I'm thin, but don't you think this's a little much?"

"And maybe…" Krad trailed off for a minute and then sighed, "Maybe we could… Explain it to them."

Dark grinned, "Changed your mind, huh?" Krad nodded and Dark patted his shoulder. "Alright. What time?"

"Whatever's good with you."

The purple-eyed man smiled slowly, "How about breakfast again?"

Krad nodded, "Okay. That's good for me."

Dark snickered and called to Daisuke. "Come on, we have shopping to do."

"I don't wanna shop!" The red-head's eyes filled with tears, "I wanna stay here with Satoshi!" He sniffled and wrapped his arms around the other boy's neck, almost choking him.

"We'll be here tomorrow, now come on." Dark waved at him to come over but the little boy began crying loudly instead.

"No!" He hugged tighter onto Satoshi, now almost hysterical. Dark sighed and came over and swept his brother up into his arms.

"We're leaving, Daisuke." The little boy kicked his feet and sobbed.

Krad cringed, "We have shopping to do, too! Maybe we could shop together?"

Dark smiled and waved a hand, "You don't have to." Krad stared as Daisuke covered his face and sobbed.

"No, I really have to shop. We didn't get everything earlier, after finding Daisuke and all…"

Dark laughed nervously, "Yeah…" There was a long silence. "…Can we go then?" The blonde nodded. Daisuke had already calmed down at hearing that Satoshi was coming with them and wriggled until Dark sat him down. Running to the blue-haired boy, he snuggled his arm tightly.

Krad locked the door behind them as they left and then followed the other three. He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at the ground as they walked. It was beginning to get warmer and the sun peeked through the clouds every once in awhile. Krad sighed. It was a perfect daydreaming day, not too cold but not too warm either. Who needs to daydream… He glanced over at Dark, who was watching the toddlers walking ahead of them. …when your dream is beside you, living and breathing. He smiled, Ah, what a beautiful day!

Dark cleared his throat. The blonde stared over at him.

Dark grinned, "Whatcha doing this summer?"

Krad looked back at the ground, "Not much. Probably barbeques or something. And..." He groaned and slumped slightly, "Camping."

The ebony-haired man laughed, "What do you have against camping?"

Krad smirked at him, "Lots of things."

"Then why do you do it?"

Krad shrugged, "Satoshi loves it. It's the only thing we do in the summer. So I do it for him… Despite how dirty, wet and buggy it is." He snorted and looked away from Dark.

"I understand how you feel." Dark's voice was soft and gentle now. Krad looked back at him. The purple-eyed man was smiling and staring at the sidewalk. "I do all kinds of crazy stuff just to see Daisuke smile. I try as hard as I can to make him happy. Because I don't want to see him hurt again…" He trailed off, a look of pain crossing his face. "I swore I'd do anything to protect him then and I always will no matter what it takes." He smiled up at Krad, "That's love for you."

Dark's eyes seemed hazy, almost like he was daydreaming. Krad smiled back, "It sure is."

"AHHH! It's Ronan and Mothra!" Krad and Dark both jumped at the toddlers fakey screams, "Run!" The four-year-olds shot off ahead, giggling madly.

"Hey! You two slow down!" Dark ran after them and Krad smiled, following closely.

Dark finally caught up to his little brother, "No more running around, we have shopping to do!" Some girls giggled as they passed by. Dark frowned, Guys can shop, too!

"AH!" The blonde crashed into Dark's back and Dark staggered forward before regaining his balance. He stared over his shoulder at Krad. "Hi."

The blonde smothered a laughed with his hand and stood straight, dusting his shirt, "Hello, Dark." He walked past him and opened one of the mall's glass doors. "Shall we?"

Dark grinned and strolled inside, "We shall."

Right inside the door was a huge 'SWIMWEAR SALE' sign. Dark glanced around and spotted the toddlers gazing in a window nearby. Krad was looking over a pair of swimming trunks.

Dark walked up behind him, "Swimwear sale, huh?" He exaimined a pair of black trunks with a white strip up the side. "Hmm. Black." He picked them up and looked at the size. "Heh, my size too."

"Must be fate." Krad said, rolling his eyes and digging a pair for Satoshi out. "'Toshi needs another pair, he cut his others up for a water-proof underwater bubble house." Dark stared at him. Krad smirked back, "It didn't work though."

The older man nodded and watched the toddlers as they poked at toy desplays. "Yeah, he seems like the type to do that." Dark put his hand on Krad's shoulder and leaned down close, "How're we gonna explain it to 'em?"

Krad's neckhair stood up, "Explain w-what?"

Dark smiled and poked Krad's shoulder, "Y'know." He turned and spread his hands out dramatically, "The way things work." He turned back to Krad, grinning.

"Oh." Krad rolled his eyes and went back to digging, "We'll just explain it."

Dark leaned an elbow on Krad's shoulder and stared at him side ways, "No… demonstration?"

Krad glared at him, "They are four Dark. Four. They don't need a demonstration."

"Ahh… That's too bad." Dark slumped but then smirked at Krad, creeping up behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist. Krad flinched, dropping the swimming trunks. Dark turned him around, pressing his nose to Krad's.

Krad couldn't move; his heart beat so loudly, he was sure Dark could hear it. Dark leaned forward slowly. But just before their lips touched, he burst out laughing and put his hands behind his head. Krad wavered for a minute while Dark continued laughing happily.

"You thought I was serious!" He patted Krad's arm roughly, still snickering, "Don't worry, Krad." He slung his arm over the blonde's shoulder and grinned. "I'm straight."

He kept sputtering as Krad mumbled unhappily, "What a relief…"

AN: Close, Krad, close. Geez, thanks so much for all your reviews! It's mind boggling to think that many people like this! I hope you all liked it, now enjoy the outtakes (sorry they aren't that good this time) and leave a review!

Outtakes:

Number One:

The purple-eyed man smiled slowly, "Well, I have to work really late tonight, so how about breakfast again? Though I might be a little late… Oh, by the way, would you marry me? Your cooking's so good, I don't think I can live with out it. How do rubies sound?"

Krad nodded, "Okay. That's good for me."

Dark jumped forward and grinned, "You'll marry me then!"

Krad backed up quickly, "WHAT! When did you ask me THAT!" He had been daydreaming and hadn't heard.

"Just now," Dark pointed out.

"Oh…." Krad pondered for a minute and then crossed his arms, "No. We haven't even kissed yet!"

Dark tackled him, "I can fix that!"

But, alas, Krad's heart burst with joy and he was buried beneath the willow while the angels sang a bloody lullaby.

Number Two:

Dark put his hand on Krad's shoulder and leaned down close, "How're we gonna explain it to 'em?"

Krad's neckhair stood up, "Explain w-what?"

Dark's grin widened, "About us." He winked.

Krad went back to digging, "Idiot."

Dark pulled Krad around to face him, "Come on, you gotta admit I'm hot!"

"Hot and dumb, maybe."

"I'm not that dumb!"

Number Three:

But just before their lips touched he burst out laughing and put his hands behind his head. Krad wavered for a minute while Dark continued laughing happily.

"You thought I was serious!" He patted Krad's arm roughly, still snickering, "Don't worry, Krad." He slung his arm over the blonde's shoulder and grinned. "I'm straight."

"Like hell you are! Look, if you want me, you can have me," He grabbed Dark's shirt front and yanked him down, "but don't play with me."

Dark sweatdropped, "Eh heh. I was serious. I'm straight."

Krad let go of his shirt, "Oh. Okay then."

Next time! -