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, slight (very, very slight) use of coarse language, horrible and bleak descriptions, strange characterizations; one too many new characters to contend with. Many, many subplots with the plot plots. Confusing, yeah? Oh yeah.

--- Darkened Heart ---

--- 12 ---

The term 'state of shock' was something that could not be denied, as the redhead was completely frozen in his sitting position at the revelations of his two former best friends. It seemed to be too much for his brain to handle, and he probably would have fainted if it wasn't for the fact that it was indeed a reality. Dark, who had been on vague speaking terms with the twins, just gaped slightly, as he attempted to regain his composure, which didn't seem to be working all that well. Akane, on the other hand, just stood around in the background, not wanting to interfere with the little 'reunion' although no one was actually saying anything… yet.

It was Risa who ended up breaking the silence: "Daisuke! We thought you were dead and we were so worried about you! Especially Riku! Do you know how much she panicked when she first heard that you'd been taken to the stake!"

Riku, who was hugging the redhead around the neck, frowned, "Risa! I was not panicking that much!"

"Yes you were! We all were!"

"Well… you make me sound like I was about to run around screaming down the streets in search of him!"

"It looked like you were!"

"Risa!"

"Uhm…" Daisuke finally seemed to manage to pull out of his shocked silence and swallowed slightly, "What… exactly are you two doing here… might I ask?" It seemed that the shock had affected his way of speaking as well, and Risa couldn't help but giggle as she plonked herself at the end of his bed and Riku finally let go of his neck.

Swinging her legs, the long-haired brunette looked over at him, "We want to help. We all heard about what happened to you and that was so appalling! I can't believe that they would even consider doing that to you and I just hate them and it's…" she seemed to be struggling for words but then gave up with a sigh.

Riku picked up where her younger sister left off, "We knew that you were in a lot more danger than any one of us would have thought possible, so Risa and I decided to look up what was there, what we'd heard on the streets, and we came to some dire conclusions. We were lucky enough to meet Takada-san on the way and, since she found out that we already knew the situation, she allowed us to join up and I couldn't believe it! You! Here! I mean… what?" She seemed to be at a loss at this, and then focused her attention on Dark. "And why are you here and never told us! We thought you'd gone off and finally dropped dead for once!"

This definitely shook him out of his stupor, "Hey, I'm not that old!"

"You are too! Pedophile!"

"Now that was uncalled for! Just because your sister likes me…"

"And you keep leading her on!"

"Riku--" whined Risa, who was now clutching her head as the shouting match continued, "You're giving me a headache and it's not nice! Don't be so mean to Dark-san!"

At this, the short-haired brunette whirled her attention around, lowering her voice just slightly, "Why shouldn't I be mean to that stupid stupid idiotic pervert? And you should know by now that we're dealing with one of the lowest beings possible here! That!" she pointed a finger at the indignant Dark, "Is the sort of scum that we should actually be avoiding!"

"Eeeeh? But he's Daisuke's cousin!" retorted Risa, pouting, "Doesn't that mean that you're calling him scum as well! You're so mean and we all know that you have a--" Riku covered her sister's mouth before the sentence was finished and coughed slightly, her face flushed.

"In terms of Daisuke being related to that stupid guy over there," she muttered, "I guess you can say that Dark is definitely the black sheep of their family."

"Now that's really demeaning on my reputation," the thief said loudly, frowning at her, "You shouldn't talk about a guy until they're out of the room."

Sticking her tongue out at him in reply, she calmed down and finally stopped gagging her sister, who gasped for air a bit. Having switched back to a more friendly figure of notion towards the indignant thief, she completely ignored him again and turned her attention to Akane, who had said nothing.

"How much time do we have then?" she queried.

"Hm… it really depends in the end, doesn't it?" she replied airily, looking around the room like it was the most interesting of things possible. "But who knows; I'm suspecting sooner rather than later."

"What?" lost, both Daisuke and Dark stared at her, waiting for an explanation. It was not long-coming.

"Ever since that last battle we had to get involved in, it seems that whatever's behind it is going to come at us at full force," Akane said, "I mean, that has to be the first time ever that the Squad has actually had to come with every available member, and that's saying a lot."

"You mean you don't even know what's behind all this?" Dark asked, scowling again.

"Sadly, no," she shook her head, "We have suspicions and theories, but they really don't help in the end. We need complete and solid evidence, and until then, all we can do is wait it out and prepare. I need to talk to Hiwatari about all this though, and his brother." At this, her gaze flickered to the older teen, "You two know each other how?"

He shrugged nonchalantly at this, "We've met, but that's not all that important, is it?"

This time she raised an eyebrow, her eyes and expression unreadable, "I suppose not. But the solid fact remains that we're fighting a force too powerful for us to handle alone, and I think that's the key aspect now. We have to power up the defence."

"Wait, then how do these two get involved with it?" Dark waved a hand at the twins, "I mean, they're just kids and they will get killed if they're not careful…"

"Are you saying we can't protect ourselves?" demanded Riku, flaring up instantly.

"Dark-san! You're making it sound that we're clueless five-year-olds!" added Risa, although not exactly angry at him, it seemed.

"Well, don't expect me to be around if you two are in danger!"

"Yeah right, pervert!"

"Hey!"

"Riku!"

"They can get into the inner circle, which means that we can get an idea of what normal citizens are thinking for the time being," Akane finally cut in, as if fed up with the three constant bickering all around her, "It's dangerous if they're caught, true, but I doubt that will really happen in the end."

Dark, who was halfway through his own retort with Riku, froze suddenly and the short-haired brunette smirked. Risa, who was pouting and had been attempting to calm her older sister down just stared at the purple-haired teen for a moment and then there was more awkward silence. Incredibly silent, for that matter.

Giving up on the arguing and usual bickering that seemed to be around them all the time, Daisuke cleared his throat and everyone's heads turned to face him. "So does that mean… what you're saying is that what we're fighting against may not even be human in the end?"

"Yes," Akane nodded but then turned away, looking at her watch, "But the fact is that both Riku and Risa-san should be going home otherwise they're disappearance will be noted."

"That's right," Risa scrambled up, closely followed by her sister, and they followed the girl behind as they left. But before they were all but gone, Akane nodded over at the two of them.

"By the way, Shia's been thinking about giving you private lessons sometime, Niwa-kun; it might be very useful."

As the door clicked shut behind them, Dark suddenly began to fume again, "What's with all these people? I mean, why do they have to keep speaking in riddles and not making any sense at all and expect us to agree to it all quietly!"

Watching his cousin in such a mood made Daisuke smile; whether it was due to the fact that it was rather comical or just plain nostalgic, he no longer knew, "Maybe it's just how they live and they're used to it. But Dark… I'm worried… you know?" blinking, he turned away to stare at the wall, "So much is happening at the moment and I don't get it anymore… was it because of me? Or was it just coincidence? Does it mean that I'm in danger, or is it everyone in this world that will end up getting hurt in the end as well? I know that the world doesn't revolve around me, but… it just feels like that sometimes…"

Shaking his head, the purple-haired former phantom thief stalked over and took a seat before ruffling the already ruffled red hair, "I can't really blame you that, now can I? I mean, think about all that you've been through already. Your parents were afraid that something like this would happen, but they couldn't stop it, and I'm here to make sure that you end up out of it all in one piece."

"Really?"

"Yeah, that's my promise to you."

"Hm…" pushing Dark's hand away, the redhead shifted so that he was now face to face with his cousin, "Anyway, before we ended up with unexpected visitors," he smiled softly, glad to see his friends just fine, "I wanted to ask about how you know Krad-san."

"… Just call him Krad, for one as he hates any sort of formality, and why would you want to know in the first place?" it seemed that the purple-haired teen was attempting to move the conversation away as he suddenly said in an offhand voice; "Wonder what the weather's like up there?"

"Dark," Daisuke's eyes narrowed suspiciously and Dark backed off slowly, "This might be serious to the situation, as we've both heard in the end. And I'm honestly curious about all this; how did you meet him anyway?"

Holding up his hands in an attempt to ward the boy off, "Come on, how can it be serious anyway? What does it matter? We knew each other, we were friends at one point or another, and then we decided that we couldn't stand each other's faces so we split. But the thing is, I never expected to see him of all people to come at all…"

"Come on, if it's that simple, why don't you just tell me?"

He glanced over at his cousin, who stared back, and then finally gave a sigh, "Fine, if you want the full version from the very start, then don't start whining to me afterwards about it being too long and all that other stuff."

Daisuke rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Dark, we're stuck in an underground place with nothing to do at the moment; do you really think that I'm going to start complaining about stories that go on forever? Not that I care, but still. And don't think that little explanation you gave me about the gang fight is going to work either."

"This story doesn't go on forever. It's just… long-winded and incredibly boring."

"Nope, I'm not convinced. Start away, great Phantom Thief."

"…" glaring at the boy before taking a seat, Dark began his tale, which was directly linked to Krad's own, who had told his half-brother only moments ago.

---

"It's merely a matter of perspective in the end, though, isn't it?" muttered Milea, mostly to herself, but seeing as Leah was present, she heard it too.

"Maybe, but that really isn't the point at the moment, though, is it? I mean, what are we to do in the first place?" she replied.

The blue-haired girl glanced over in her friend's direction, "You don't have to reply to me about it. Hey, this looks pretty interesting…" she managed to heave up what looked like an incredibly heavy tome as she staggered about for a moment. Leah went over to help her carry it to the desks that were literally papered with, well, paper and they opened it.

"What is it?"

"That… we're soon going to find out, aren't we?"

"Do we have to?"

"Stop complaining. You're the one who offered to help and all, remember?"

"Oh yeah…"

She opened the book, tsking at her friend's rather clueless attitude, but then focused on the book in front of her. As usual, the text in an insanely small font that forced people to squint to read what was on it, but Milea hoped for something that could help in their research. It was the whole thing with the matter of life and death on the line, and so forth, and so on.

But it was hard in their position. And although this underground world was something to gape at, if you didn't know your way around, you were more or less doomed for life. And files and such were constantly flittering to one place to another without warning so it was impossible to find what one wanted. That was their little dilemma.

It was an excuse to do something, though, so maybe they shouldn't have been complaining so much about it, but you couldn't really help it in the end.

Milea sighed while Leah groaned; they had a lot of reading to plough through, it seemed.

---

After making sure that both Risa and Riku got out safely and without any sort of mishaps, Akane left off to her own quarters to think things over. The only problem was that there were so many things she had to put into perspective that it was nearly impossible to work out what the main priority in the end and that was what annoyed her the most.

Not only that, but the people who had been pulled into this mess…

She rolled over on her bed to stare at a guttering candle, struggling to stay alive. Daisuke had been an innocent child and this was what he got from it. People he cared for, people who were close to him, they had nearly all been annihilated and it was only by chance that Dark hadn't ended up on the death list as well.

And now this.

Why was it that people like him, people who had done nothing wrong, ended up suffering the most? Why was it that fate and the world hated them so much that these powers – once considered gifts from the gods – were now something that had to be destroyed? It wasn't completely hereditary and everyone had it; it was just sometimes some people had more of a degree and a knowing of it than others.

That was why. And this stupid war between humans against their own kind… it was never going to end good and those with magic didn't even want to use it to hurt others. Those who believed to be without it had started it, and as the majority was of the non-magical-aware…

"It's so pointless," rolling over to her back, the redhead stared at the ceiling and then at her right wrist, where a small bracelet hung, "they've taken away so many lives already. And at this rate, the real trouble will begin. And not only will it be three ways, the side that wants peace will probably be obliviated by the other two."

A knock on her door made her sit up, "Yes?"

"Oh, so you're here," Clara crossed her arms once she had entered the room, "You know, you're not setting a good example to everyone else by walking off and doing things your own way. We look up to you and the others, and this isn't--"

"I've heard that before, and as I recall, it was Celes saying those exact words," Akane mumbled, cutting across her senior, "But some things have to be done on my own, and without mention of it. If they knew, it could be trouble."

"What… do you mean?"

"It doesn't really matter, I suppose I shouldn't put personal affairs before my own, especially if I'm helping trying to keep the rest of us all alive. But am I needed for something? Or was this merely a good chance for you to reprimand me for being a child?"

"You are a child, Akane, and that's what worries me. So many of us are learning and finding our talents sooner than later and that means they have to be separated from their parents long before they can fully grasp the concept. I know that all the magical-gifted parents can bluff their ways out of it, but they leave their kids caught in the crossfire and then they're the ones killed!"

"I know. It's horrible."

"Babaric!" Clara shook her head furiously, "We have to stop this madness, Akane, otherwise the younger generation of children are over!"

"The completely magical side of it," Akane corrected her. "But what can we do? Starting a war would merely kill millions of more people, and then we would be in the wrong."

"Then what are we supposed to do about it!"

"I don't know…" she turned away to stare at the opposite wall, "it's in the hands of certain people now… from both sides. And when the real trouble starts, those who hurt innocent children may finally see themselves in the wrong."

"But what if they don't? What if they accuse us of being the cause of it?"

"We just have to defend our own position until they come to their senses. This evil… whatever it is, it'll attack anything and everything in its way. Us, them, everything. We can only hope that they'll accept us before they're wiped out."

"So you think that we can stop it?"

"It all depends in the end. But we aren't going to die without a fight. It's not worth it."

"Akane…"

"People we loved… they usually end up dead because of us… no matter what, we can't stop it."

"…"

---

Footsteps.

It was all that could be heard in that alleyway. That and the sharp, ragged gasps of those trying to live in the darkness; trying to survive another day without ended up like… the others. Those like them but not and the pain… the suffering… the fear.

The fact that it was all gone now. That there was no one left. They had to live, for them, but it was so hard. And getting harder every day.

People were suspicious; they hated those who were not the same. They blamed those with differences because of the monster attacks. Mortals had no proof of that, and besides, the gates between worlds could never remained sealed forever.

There had probably been a time when they co-existed; but those days were over, and all there was was the fear. The pain. The agony.

The fearful reality of it all.

Gone.

Lost.

Mortals would soon cease to exist when the time came.

When… no one knew.

The footsteps were getting louder.

Each second they stayed there, the noise would get louder in their ears; pounding all around them and bouncing off walls. People were approaching.

And it didn't take a genius to work out that, whoever they were, they weren't friendly.

---

Shia bowed out a couple of customers from her shop before closing up. It was beginning to drizzle out there and she cursed her luck and knowing that it would be lasting a good part of the night hour. And she had forgotten her umbrella. Yes, she was going to have a fun time going home in that; that was for sure.

Running a hand through her hair and thinking about the situation now, it wasn't hard to see the danger the entire world was in. But without everyone in agreement, there was no point trying to fight back at full strength.

Besides, they weren't even at full strength, so that was rather pointless.

Already she had a lot on her hands. The last major attack had drained a lot out of the main forces and it would be a while before they recovered, so another attack would wipe them out. With her own branch of manipulation, Shia had done her best to contain it, but it wouldn't be enough if they decided an ambush or a full-force hit.

Life was beginning to get tiring.

Dragging herself over to the bookshelf, she began to shuffle through the books that sat upon it. She had gotten word from the others about what needed to be found and that every little bit of information counted, so she might as well try and do something of use while she was here; waiting for the rain to blow over.

By the sounds of the rain getting heavier and the occasional flash and rumble of lightning, it would be a while before that actually happened.

Well, it was time to dig out even older memories; some good, most of them rather… painful to remember. But if it helped, in the end, it'd be worth it. If not…

---

"Spells, spells…"

A low muttering was all that could be heard down the now-empty hallways. Everyone had either gone off to do their jobs or had crashed for the night. But there was someone still awake in that area, and they seemed intent on completing what they had begun.

"Why are mortals so afraid of it? I don't get it…"

Moonlight filtered into the closed library, throwing patches onto the bookcases of the school's library but no one else was there to witness it. It was way past curfew, and still, that one person moved from one place to another like a shadow, eyes sweeping over every book cover in an attempt to find something, anything, that would help.

"The Niwas suffered from it… the family who I knew so little of, but were so kind," the person murmured, her dark hair pulled back into two plaits, "Risa and Riku were crushed at the accusations. It was only by luck that their parents had so much pull in society, otherwise they might have died as well…"

Ritsuko stopped abruptly at this, staring at her hands, which were shaking just slightly, "And why is it that I feel so uncertain about something? Is something going to happen to us all?"

She blinked before collecting herself and pulled down another book, flicking it open deftly, "What is so dangerous about them and why…"

Starting at the sound of the door creaking, Ritsuko stepped back, the book falling from her hands. Pressing herself against the bookcase behind her, she edged into a shadowed area, hiding her from view. Footsteps, as quiet as they were, could be heard and her breath hitched up a notch, not knowing who or what it could be. No one was supposed to be here; the janitor's had long since gone home, so why was it…?

Moments passed, the owner of the footsteps never coming into a place where she could see or identify the intruder, and then the door closed again and silence.

She allowed herself a breath of relief, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Whoever it was, they were now gone; but she couldn't help wondering what their intentions were. Although it could have been just some wandering spirit… Ritsuko smashed the option with a slight snort, giving herself time to regulate her breathing and to stop her legs from shaking. No way, it just wasn't possible.

But that sudden disjoint feeling of uneasiness that swarmed the room like a virus until the thing had left. What was it?

She knew that there was no way she would ever be able to find out now, but she wasn't even supposed to be here. Hell, she didn't even attend this place, but they had the largest library known, even if it was just for students.

Deciding that she had done enough looking around for the night, Ritsuko left, hoping against everything that that feeling had been nothing more than a figment of her imagination.

---

Something was stirring. Awakening.

Yet… it had no form.

It would wait.

---

I'd tell you now to shoot me, but then I wouldn't be able to complete some of my better stories. You'll have to forgive me, this thing has gone to hell and I've lost all sense of plot, characters, etc. Not only do I have to go through that again, but this is such a bad… chapter-thingy. I really have nothing to defend myself against the horridness.

Much thanks to Makurayami Ookami (Krad will say more… one day… if I don't die)…Who was the only one who reviewed the last chapter. oO Well, I suppose I should have expected as much. Ah well, always forward and never back and… hell, I need to update other things that I haven't updated for a while…