DISCLAIMERS: I don't own DNAngel, or anything else. Understood? I'm sure you do... and, no, I don't own my brain either. It owns me.

WARNINGS: Uh... evil to such well-loved characters. That's all.

--- Darkened Heart ---

--- 2 ---

The world around the redhead was blissfully dark and his thoughts were swimming wildly in all directions. He greeted the darkness that was presented to him, embracing it with all the energy left in him. The flame inside of him guttered slightly, as the cold seeped into his skin. But still it fought back. In an attempt to get his mind to work properly, it called out to him.

(You have to live... you can't let your parents die in vain. You know that... don't you?)

(... Do I?) came the weakened reply as the cold power shot through him.

(Don't you remember what happened? On that particular day?)

(I... I don't want to remember.)

Daisuke struggled with his thoughts, as the small flame continued to fight back, dispelling the darkness around him. His skin seared with pain when the warmth touched him, and he almost screamed, but the small voice continued to talk to him. Its tone was warm, as if a parent trying to calm their child.

(Your parents died to protect you, and you know that. Even your friends; your girlfriend, even Dark... they all helped you, although they were putting their own safety at a risk, if they had been caught by... them.)

(I know, but...) the redhead gasped as the warmth continued to seep into his skin. Unknown to him, its power was bringing him back to reality, (some of them... they died because of me being there. Even now, Dark... he's being chased. They know that if either one of us are caught, we can be used as bait for the other.)

(But he won't be caught. And neither will you.)

The voice faded away, the words echoing to him, as reality seemed to form itself back to him like a jigsaw puzzle. He stirred, groaning as the pain from his injuries hit him at full force.

"You're awake?"

At the sound of an unknown female's voice, Daisuke opened an eye, in an attempt to refocus on what had happened. All around him was fuzzy, but his nose was greeted with a musty smell of a room that had been sterile for more than a year. Once his eyes had adjusted with the dim light of where he was, he noticed that he seemed to be in a bare room. The walls were stripped from any decoration, and the only light source he could locate from his position was a tiny lamp.

"Where...?" he croaked, unable to get his mind to work properly. His throat was dry and he couldn't get his mouth to move properly at his command.

"You've been badly injured," said the unidentifiable voice, "so please, don't stress yourself too much, or it'll get worse. Here, drink this."

A cup was pushed in his direction, and he felt someone helping him up. He drank slowly, as his eyes focused on the person helping him. She was about his age, with dark red hair done up in a braid, and her eyes were the same type of flame-red that he had seen many times before by an old friend that he could no longer remember. Once he was done, she got up again.

"You should rest, okay?" she said, not turning to face him, "I'll get Celes. We have to check the damage you inflicted from your escape, Niwa-kun."

Daisuke didn't even ask how she knew him. He lay back and closed his eyes. Almost instantly the darkness of sleep engulfed his weary form gently.

---

"Yo! Daisuke! Catch the damn ball already!" called a sharp voice.

"Saehara!" whined the redhead, as he chased the escaping ball, "You keep on kicking it away from me! How am I supposed to catch it then?"

"Stop asking questions and get it back already!" barked Takeshi.

With a sigh, Daisuke did as he was told. Trudging down the road, his amber eyes looking for the soccer ball he had apparently 'lost', since his best friend had decided to aim it at gap between the trees next to him instead of straight at Daisuke.

Passing a group of older children who were talking among themselves, he managed to catch sight of a black and white object, and instantly went after it. It didn't take long before he managed to locate the soccer ball, and he picked it up.

"Why does Saehara always..." he grumbled slightly, as he turned to start his long trek back to his friends, but was cut short. His eyes widened in horror and he took a step back, unable to tear his gaze away from what had appeared before him.

A shapeless blob was forming into a giant creature. Claws began to form, and wisps of mist started to make their way towards the scared boy, who couldn't move. It struck out at him, and he was knocked back forcefully into a brick wall close by. The attack seemed to trigger something inside the boy, and he scrambled up from his sprawled position.

"Who... who are you?!" he managed to stammer, his eyes still locked on the demented creature, "What... what do you want?!"

The monster stopped in its tracks, as if trying to comprehend what the small boy had said. It hissed in reply, making the boy's skin crawl unpleasantly, but he couldn't stop staring at the creature. Unknown to him, wisps of pure white energy had begun to form, and was counter-acting the other, darkened wisps of energy. Before Daisuke's eyes, the white energy got larger, towering over the monster, and, as it howled, it faded away into nothingness.

"What...?" he whispered, as he clutched the soccer ball close to him, "What was that...?"

"Dai-chan?!" shrieked a female's voice, and he turned.

"Mum?" he asked. Emiko ran over to him, her hair flying behind her as she got to her son.

"Oh, Dai-chan, why?" she asked, "Why did it have to be him?!"

She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as she talked to herself. The small boy was confused with her reaction, his mind still not working properly to understand the full meaning and danger he had just faced. Inclining his head slightly, he attempted to open his mouth to speak, but weariness took over him unexpectedly and, as he fell unconscious, he heard his mother speaking softly.

"I'm so sorry, Dai-chan... I didn't think that you would have to be the one to carry the burden..."

---

Daisuke woke up, sweating. He sat up gingerly, only vaguely noticing that someone had put his arm into some sort of cast. He bent over so that his head was lying on his knees. Tears formed in his eyes, as the memory came back to him. A small voice in his head, unlike the flame inside of him, reminded him that he had only been a small child then, and it was only natural that he hadn't know what to do. But still, the feeling of grief descended upon him.

"Mum..." he whispered, "you knew... didn't you? Why did you keep it away from me then? Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Ah... are you back with us again?" asked another voice, unlike the one from before. It seemed more faded and misty-like, yet calm and friendly.

He held his head up slightly, and came face-to-face with another girl. Her hair was held back into two ponytails and was a rich crimson colour.

(Like blood...) he thought instantly, but shook his head to face her, "Did you help me? Um... thank you."

At this, the girl smiled, her eyes glimmering slightly, "It was my pleasure. And you, Niwa Daisuke, are you feeling alright now? I mean, better to know that your arm will be fine as long as you do not bother it too much."

"... How do you know me?" he asked, "Who... who are you?"

"My name is Celes," came the simple reply, "and I came to help your injuries, since I am a priestess. As to knowing you, who does not know you?"

At her polite tone and speech, Daisuke couldn't help but cringe slightly at her serenity of her answer, and felt frustrated yet again. The flame inside of him flickered slightly, bathing his soul in its warmth and he sat back, as the girl left.

(As long as you live... there is still a chance...) it told him.

(A chance for what? To be killed?) he shot back. It didn't answer him, and he stared up at the dusty ceiling, until he heard the door creaking open again. Turning his head slightly, he took a brief glance at the other girl, who he recognized as the one who had been with him before he had fallen asleep the first time.

She was balancing a tray with one hand as she placed her free one on the door handle before she entered. He noticed that she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, with a small embroidery star on the shoulder, and had a pair of faded, light blue pants on, which also held a small star on the outside leg.

"Niwa-kun... is something wrong?" she asked, as she closed the door carefully, and he shook his head in reply, "Well... if you insist... I brought some food for you."

He accepted the offer, although his stomach didn't feel like taking in food. As he slowly gnawed at what he had been given, the girl sat on a stool in one of the corners of the room, as if not to cause too much attention to her being there. When he was done, she got up again, but, before she could hurry out of the room, Daisuke stopped her.

"What's your name and how do you know me?" he asked.

"You can call me Akane," she said softly, "and... I know of the Niwa family... and the 'curse' that you hold."

"But... that doesn't make any sense..." he whispered, trying to ignore the pain that seemed to grow stronger as the depression of reality came back to him, "I know that people chased me because..." he swallowed, "I was a Niwa... but where..."

"We're in an underground sort of base," putting the tray aside, Akane took the stool and sat close to the bed he was on, "but... the world now is scared of... supernatural sorts of occurrences. That's why Celes and I... well, we kinda formed our own little resistance here."

"So... you live here?" he asked.

"Yeah..." she sighed, "some of the ones who haven't been discovered are free to wander for short periods of time, but for those who have been found... well, it's a depressing thought, and I can't help but feel sorry for them..."

"Won't they kill you if you're caught?"

"That, or use us as guinea pigs for crazy experiments," she stood up, preparing to leave, "you need to rest now, Niwa-kun."

"... Akane-san... why are you helping me? You and Celes-san...," he crouched over and buried his head in the folds of the blanket that covered him, "people have done the same for me before... and I don't want to put anyone in danger again..."

Akane sniffed, "You can say that all you want, but I don't allow anyone to stay at death's doorstep as long as it's in my power."

She then turned her head to face his bent form, "I know it may hurt now, especially to see the people you care for and love to be hurt. But, if you keep on living, they will too. Although I have to say that I was really scared when Hiwatari-kun found you in the rain... are you sure that you're not coming down with a flu or anything?"

"... Who?" Daisuke asked blankly, confusion stirring within him at the mention of another name. She shrugged lightly.

"You'll meet him soon enough, I'm sure," she said, "he's one of the few people who actually live outside this base: under high magical-protected circumstances, of course. He was worried about you as well, so I should send someone over to tell him you're okay..."

"Then... can you tell him... that I thank him...?" the redhead looked up briefly, and she smiled, one hand on the door, the other carrying the tray.

"Of course. But you can always tell him when he comes. Now, rest."

She closed the door softly, and he did as he was told for the second time. He closed his eyes, as he tried to work out what had happened.

(So... I won't be left on my own? But... what about all my friends?)

(You'll see them again, I'm sure of it. Just believe in yourself, whenever you feel doubt of any sort. Only then can you change what has happened.)

As he felt the flame inside him awakening again, he embraced its warmth, not trying to escape it. He was bathed in the power, and, as he fell asleep, only one question remained for him.

(Is Dark okay?)

----

Yes yes, I'm leaving it here. Why? Well... he thinks too much, and my head hurts. Owie... well, people like it, so I continue it, right? Okay, I should be doing my other stories, but... well, you know... okay, maybe not.

Not as evil, right? And don't ask me about where I pulled this off, 'cause I can't remember anymore, nor do I care. My brain's been too evil to me... have to kill it eventually... Argh...

-- Reviewer Replies! (Well, why not?)

-Staryday: Glad you liked it! (smiles and hands over a large land mine) Use this to get rid of anyone who annoys you... oh wait... you gave me a cookie... I give you a land mine... (shrugs) fair trade. Well, I'll update everything ASAP... but what's the chance of that?

-Rekkaboziegirl: Did I spell it right this time? Hope so... anyway, hope you liked this chapter and all that! And my mind still isn't working straight, so you'll have to bear with me... sadly. You get a fluffy cloud for your review! (Yes, I'm obsessed with clouds)

-xXdark-angelXx: Hmm... no one cares that I hurt Daisuke... oh well, what's done is done. Let's just see how long it takes for me to finish this! Uh... glad you liked the story! Here's a fluffy duck for you! (Duck: quack quack. Seena58: Awwwww...!)

And if you want a particular prize for reviewing, just tell me and you'll get it (not literally, of course. Wish I could, though...)! Hm... need to find that little With toy I threw somewhere... (and, no, I don't have one of those. I wish...)

Well, that's all for now! Tell me what you think, okay?