Disclaimers: No, I don't own this. Only my characters and the entire strange, eerie concept. Oh, and all the spelling and grammatical errors you can find. I own them all! … To some extent.
Warnings: Nothing short but slight coarse language, and if you really want Dark and Krad, as well as Daisuke and Satoshi to be pairings, fine, whatever. Not like I'll actually mention it. They're just good friends, really. AU. Oh, and me being violent so that Dark ends up hurting himself quite a bit, so yeah.
Okay, this is going to be the last chapter for a while, soI hope you enjoy!
... And the chapter name isa bit strange... I know, I know.
-
"You can't escape the blood that you have, you cannot escape what the future has in store for you.
You can't keep running away from everything… you will have to face the truth."
- Raine, oldest of the family.
"There is only so much that can be said, but not before it is too late.
We just hope that the right thing is being done now."
- Emiko Niwa
- Four: Self Explanatory -
"Monster attacks have been getting more frequent, and even though the authorities usually handle them, I've noticed that there have been more and more appearing each day, and they just can't be handled the way they used to."
"Isn't that because your parents are part of this as well?" asked a classmate of Melanie's, looking bored and playing with her plaits in the process. "You get all the information from them first-hand."
"Exactly," nodded the leader, "But the question is: what can be done now? Most people these days don't even know how much danger they're in, and that causes the biggest problem if they get in the way."
"So you're telling us this... why?" a guy asked from the other side of the room.
"We might have to take some accounts into our own hands, that's what I'm telling you," Melanie stated. "If the authorities aren't around to get rid of the danger, we may have to do it ourselves."
"But we can't even use our magic or anything," Kazu piped up, wiping his glasses furiously. "How can we fight these things if we can't even protect ourselves first? It's suicidal, isn't it?"
"I'm sure most of your parents actually taught you some defense of sorts, so if you really have to, just find a way to hold them off to allow people to run away and those who can fight deal with it." She decided after a moment of thought, since what the boy had said was true. "We can't risk too much with this, so really... the problems just seem to be getting bigger and the monsters are apparently getting stronger."
"… How many recorded attacks do you have?" Dark finally asked, trying not to look too worried. The feeling in his stomach wasn't settling and he was in the mood to run away screaming, if he'd been allowed. Melanie flipped the pages over, not even glancing up at the dark-haired teen.
"Well, for the past week, the number of frequent attacks has come to… five hard hit-and-run ones, and about three stand-offs, kill-or-be-killed."
"But isn't that dangerous, doing these sorts of things on our own," murmured Akane, as she continued to read, "I would say leave it to the authorities, but if the attacks are getting more frequent…"
"It's a risk to everyone," finished Daisuke, knowing what she meant, while Melanie merely looked confused. "Magical and non-magical, these monsters may be too powerful for us. It's a risk to our own safety as well as anyone else's."
"True, but I'm sure all together we can deal with it if we have to!"
"I wouldn't put consent to that, though," Satoshi spoke up, looking over at her with a neutral stare, "Because none of us-" he jabbed Dark in the stomach to keep him quiet "-has actually dealt with monsters of any sort, and if the authorities have been having a hard time, then what is the chance of ourselves dealing with it without risk of death?"
"…" lost of words, Melanie huffed and closed the notebook, "Meeting's over. Don't do anything stupid, okay?" She got a muffled murmur from the group as a reply as they began to leave the classroom, since the bell was going to ring any moment for sure.
"I think you got her too hard, Satoshi-kun," Daisuke whispered as they filed out of the room.
"Maybe so, but she has to learn that not everyone can just deal with it," replied the blue-haired boy calmly, "And would you like others knowing that you can actually use the bases of magic? The authorities wouldn't be happy."
"I think they're trying to squash the magic out of us," suggested Krad, only speaking since the meeting was over and most people were too busy with other things than what groups of four were saying, "But if they don't find a way to close these happenings soon, then there may be no other choice. What do you think, Dark?"
"Me?" Dark pointed at himself, "Well, first, I'd say-"
"Dark? I need a word with you."
"Huh?" he turned around with a large question mark hovering over his head like mist. He then noticed it was Melanie. "Fine, fine. Whatever, but you'll have to make it quick." He waved to the others for them to go ahead and it wasn't long before the two were alone. Dark crossed his arms and regarded the older girl for a moment, "So… what did you want to talk about?"
"About the monster attacks of course." The boy stiffened.
"What about them?" he asked cautiously.
"Well, there's been a run-in with a…" Melanie flipped open a piece of paper that she had pulled out of her pocket, "'large creature with pure black plumage', as they say. I want you to deal with it."
"What! Why me!"
"Because…" she drawled out, shoving the paper in his hand, "You don't do your work. The teachers aren't very pleased with you, and I thought, since you don't do anything, that you could handle it. It shouldn't be too hard to find."
Dark looked baffled, "But…"
"Don't be late for class now!" Melanie called, already making her way down the hall as the school bell rang out dully over the grounds and building. The dark-haired teen was still a bit slow on the uptake before finally taking a look at the paper that had been forcefully given to him.
…
He sighed and shoved the paper in his pocket, not really wanting to think about the… whatever it was that Melanie had left him to deal with. He was getting delusional enough with voices speaking with him, and it wasn't exactly fun with family being really, really evil. Of course, they were always evil, so that didn't effect him as much. He was the only one of the family actually going to this particular school, since everyone else went to an all-girls school, so at least they didn't bug him during the day.
Then he noticed he was late for class.
Swearing under his breath, Dark sprinted down the corridor. The teacher was going to kill him, the teacher was going to kill him…
-
"Dark-kun? Are you alright?"
"I think just looking at his face gives you the answer."
"Uh…"
Krad sighed as the three watched Dark as he went back into a sort of zombie mode and waved a hand in front of his friend's face. "Hello? Anyone in there at the moment?" Silence was the only reply he got. "…"
"Maybe we should just leave him alone," suggested Daisuke.
"We've been leaving him alone for the past two days," reminded Satoshi, "And when Dark's quiet, it seems like the whole world is going to collapse under the weight. That or Dark's been possessed."
"I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to try and possess Dark," the blonde decided out loud, "Since he really is useless, and stupid, and doesn't even pay attention in class…"
"Is that why he's zoning out now?"
"Anyone who wanted to possess him would have to be as stupid as him. Or more so."
"Hey! I can't believe you're saying that behind my back!" snapping out of zombie mode, Dark glared at Satoshi, who had made the last statement. "And why does everyone I meet call me stupid!"
"Because you are," suggested Krad.
"Krad! I believe you said that just now!"
"Well, I just did. Get over it already, Dark."
"…" Dark pouted.
"So, what's going on?"
"I dunno!" the dark-haired teen waved his hands in the air wildly, trying to emphasize his point, "With all this crap going on I don't know what to think! And I thought having problems with family was bad enough!"
"I… see…" Satoshi muttered, while Krad remained silent, taking in what his friend had just said.
Daisuke turned to the blue-haired boy, "Satoshi-kun?"
"What Dark's trying to say is; everything has built up to the point where he will have a mental breakdown. Sooner or later, anyway."
"Hey! I wasn't going to say that!"
"What, that you are going insane? You said that just earlier today."
"But that doesn't mean I want to go insane!"
"Who said that you weren't already?"
"Shut up, Creep!"
"Make me."
"Why you-" Dark had to be forcefully restraint by Krad while Daisuke tried to keep Satoshi quiet before an all-out brawl was assured. The two had never really gotten along well, and seemed to have a constant battle in their hands that the other two boys couldn't get rid of. Despite being highly amusing, especially when there was nothing to do, it was also dangerous and the little line between friendship and hatred was forever quivering.
The redhead smiled nervously, while Dark remained tightly restrained, "Uh, anyway, what are we going to do about these monster attacks anyway? If what was said was right, what are we supposed to do?"
"Fight or die, that seems to be the only two options," Krad said, looking over his shoulder.
"… What would my parents say about that…"
"A lot, that's for sure," giving up on trying to rip Satoshi's throat out – or at least hurting him badly – Dark smirked, "You are an only child, Dai-chan. But as for my family… I'm sure Raine and Karal wouldn't have any complaints with me being eaten by a monster."
"Dark-kun, do you really think they wouldn't care?"
"You don't know how those two really are. Karal doesn't even leave the house unless she's wearing all black sometimes! Do you know how creepy that is! It's even worse than the Creep right there!" he pointed at Satoshi to prove his point. The blue-haired boy raised an eyebrow but didn't bother to comment.
"Maybe that's just the way they are," suggested Daisuke gently. "I'm sure that they care for you…"
"But they would never notice it until the day you were all rotting away," finished Satoshi.
"Watch it-" Dark started. Krad sighed. It was definitely going to be a long, long day…
-
By the time the school bell rang to commence the day, most – if not all – the students were snoring on their desks, unable to process anymore information their teachers tried to cram into their brain. Since this was the case, most people fell off their seats or hit their heads on the wooden desks as the loud ringing brought them back to some form of reality, which involved homework, homework, and, of course, more homework. Nothing fun about that.
Krad stood over Dark's head, who was still snoring, completely oblivious to the end of the school day. Poking his friend, he got a reaction that was just Dark grunting in annoyance. The blonde stood there, contemplating his options – poke him even harder, kick him off his seat, throw him out the window… - when the dark-haired teen woke up on his own, blinking owlishly.
"Wha-" he grumbled, "No' now…"
"School's ended," Krad pointed out. This seemed to wake Dark up properly as he rubbed his eyes and sat up properly.
"Grea'. Then I 'ave 'o go 'ome," he muttered, still not forming the words correctly, but neither one of them cared, as the blonde had to forcefully pry Dark out of his seat and drag him down to the footlockers. By this time there was barely anyone there, so at least they got some peace and quiet, even if Dark was currently banging his head on the wall. Krad crossed his arms and frowned: "Care to explain why you're doing that? Family or not, I've never seen you so desperate to get into a concussion."
"Let's just say that life is getting worse, then," Dark suggested, pulling on his shoes while still banging his head on one of the unoccupied lockers. "Ow." –bang- "Ow." –bang- "Ow."
The blonde grabbed his wrist and wrenched him away from any solid objects: "If you do end up knocking yourself out, I'm going to leave you there to rot, you know."
"You can be so mean sometimes…" was the only thing Dark said as he rubbed his head, "Those things are HARD."
"Oh, and you only worked that out now when you were banging your head against it." Krad snorted.
"Of course."
"… idiot."
"You say something?"
"No."
"Say," as the two made their way home, Dark suddenly remembered something that hadn't occurred to him, "Are your parents still mad at me for getting you injured?"
"You know how serious they are," replied Krad, not really in the mood to do much but get home and go to bed, "But the rest of the family don't seem to care too much. As far as they're concerned, as long as I'm still alive the next day, there's really nothing to worry about."
"Oh. Well, at least they care about you… somewhat."
"Like the time they pushed me off that cliff to see if I could fly? Yeah, they really cared about my well-being. The parents weren't too happy about that, though."
"Hey, I remember that time! You managed to just miss Karal's head that day. Pity, it would have killed her if you'd hit…"
"Dark, you can be so weird sometimes. And I ended up landing on you, anyway, and you're not dead are you?"
"Well…" Dark tapped a fist on his head, "I don't think so, but it could just be me with a really thick skull."
"I wouldn't question that theory."
"Hey, that's not very nice."
"Who ever said that I was nice?" The two stopped their conversation by the interruption of shrieking and loud cursing as people ran past them, looking panicked. Krad sighed as he watched the situation. "Looks like monsters are making day appearances now."
"Wonder why everyone has to scream that high-pitched though," muttered Dark as he plugged his ears for a moment until the streets were cleared off properly.
"Hey, you two!" yelled a man in a police car, "Clear off already!"
He didn't even wait to see whether the two teens had decided to run or not as he sped away. Krad could only sigh and then scanned the scenery for a moment before talking to Dark.
"The authorities don't seem to be around either," he said, "I guess this is what she was going on about this morning. Not to mention that if we leave it now it's bound to just create more havoc."
"So true. So true," Dark agreed readily. "Now, where could it be…" He was cut short as said monster hit him from behind, knocking him face-first on the concrete. He rubbed his nose, which was beginning to bleed and tried to staunch the flow with a tissue that had come out of nowhere. "That… hurt."
"Oh, really now?" Krad asked sarcastically, as he watched the shadow of whatever-it-was as it swept across the sky. "You are always stating what is BEYOND obvious, so I won't comment on that. But as for flying monsters…"
"We can't hit it from here," finished Dark, "So, what do you propose we do? It has the advantage, we don't."
"Shoot it from the sky?" asked the blonde, "Of course, if we miss, we're bound to blow up a building or two."
"Hey, that sounds like fun! And not very Krad-like either," the teen added as an afterthought. "You were never the one to mention blowing up buildings." They both ducked as the thing swept past them again. "Not that that's a bad idea. You try first."
"Why me?"
"Because my aim is, and always will be, the worst thing in the history of mankind and any other kind during my life here. Even you've said it sucks."
"Right, whatever. You just don't want to get blamed." The blonde sighed as he held up his right hand and began to gather energy. "Just shout if you see anyone's approaching. I'd rather they don't see this."
"Aye aye, captain!" Dark saluted as he watched the thing soaring over them yet again. "Do you think it's getting ready to dive down again?"
"If it hit it right, it won't be," muttered Krad, before sending the shot off. It had the profound effect of a missile being shot out of a cannon and the blonde was knocked off balance for a moment. Dark watched as the beam of light shot up and hit the black thing and then there was a moment of grave silence.
"And so, we must part with the monster that tried to hurt us all," the dark-haired teen said, with that air of a funeral hanging around him.
"Dark, stop being so stupid-" the blonde started in reprimand, but stopped as Dark was knocked to the ground the second time in the last five minutes by the black monster. "… I don't think it's dead, somehow."
"Says you," groaned Dark as he pushed the creature off him and then looked closer for inspection. "Hey, I think this is the thing Melanie was talking about!"
"What?"
"Oh, it was after the meeting, she was going on about some monster that was annoying people… but," Dark fished out the piece of paper from his pocket and opened it, "Hm… this thing really wasn't doing anything to annoy anyone, so why…"
"Kyu?"
"Huh?" he looked up and jumped back as he saw the big black thing change in a puff of smoke into an adorable little bunny/rabbit looking creature. "Hey, I want it! I want it!"
"Dark…" Krad started, as his friend hugged the confused rabbit. "You do know that that was the monster that I just hit less than two minutes ago. And that's the one that's been causing quite a lot of chaos as well."
"I know, but he really is cute!" Dark replied, "Come on, I'm the one who'll take care of him, not you. So stop worrying already! Come on, you know he's cute!" The rabbit seemed to have recovered and seemed content to be with the dark-haired teen, and the blonde sighed.
"Fine, whatever. It's your funeral if it kills you."
"Aw… lighten up already, Krad!"
"Let's just go home."
"Kyu!"
-
"Oniisan? What is it?" Christina asked as she poked her head into Dark's bedroom, pushing her glasses up in the process. The bunny was currently bouncing on his bed while Dark sat by his desk, looking agitated – most likely from the amount of homework that had piled up since he was too lazy to do it every now and then.
"Oh, I dunno. Something that's a cross from a rabbit and a monster? Beats me, but I like him."
"Kyaa! He's so cute! Can I pet him?"
Dark shrugged in reply, aware of the girl's love of animals, "Sure, go ahead. You, unlike some others -cough-Karal-cough, have some respect to living creatures." He watched from his seat as she approached the still bouncing creature, which seemed to be having the time of his life. He stopped when he noticed Christina.
"Kyu?" the rabbit looked up as the young girl approached him, "Kyu?"
"Hi!" chirped Christina, holding up a hand in a sign of peace, "My name's Christina! What's your name?"
"Kyu! Kyu! Kyu!" the rabbit seemed to smile before jumping up and down again in some form of reply. Christina inclined her head for a moment, looking somewhat confused and then spoke up.
"Hm? Oniisan," she turned to face Dark, "He says his name's With."
"Really? Well, I can't talk to him, can I?" Dark didn't seem surprised that his own sister could talk to strange animals, "But With isn't that bad a name, huh?"
"Kyu!"
"Well, he agrees…"
"Then it's settled! Oh yeah, did you see the other's faces when they saw me with it! It was beyond hilarious!"
"… Dark-san, you can be so evil sometimes… teasing your own family…"
"Well, that's me."
"Kyu!"
-
Yes, I just HAD to intorduce With/Wiz so yeah, that's why. I can't help but feel sorry for these people, though...
Hakudoshi-chan: well, here's the update, so yeah. Hope you enjoyed it, and maybe I will put some romance in it, if I can manage...
neko-nya: little imps don't have to be evil, and maybe I'll put in some gnomes as well... ? Not a bad idea, actually. Either that or you have a monster under your bed that likes to eat stuff. Mwhahahaha!
SpinningAvia: Coincedences are definately scary. I don't know why I ended up using the name Raine, but I did. Really not much else to say but thanks for reviewing!
SoralovesRiku: thanks! I guess I could use it as a last name, so yeah. And I may try romance, but it's not really one of my forts. So yeah, that's why I usually avoid the topic.
Okay, I'm a bit hyped up, but that's not the point. Glad you liked the story up to here and I'll TRY to do an update. But since I am working on other stories, and school... yeah. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed and to anyone else out there that at least tries to read it! Thank you all! (hands out plushies and chocolates out of sheer kindness and slight insanity) I wonder if there's such thing as a Krad plushie...?
And one question, just for the sake of it: Should Karal try and get a boyfriend in one of the chapters? I know it's supposed to be more focused on Dark and stuff, but it would be insanely fun to have a part with this crazy girls attempts to get herself a boyfriend. Should I do it though?
Anyway, thanks again!