-Hello, again, as per usual I am back. First off, I must thank Inkheart for one of the most amusing reviews ever! I have to completely continue praising you after the chappy is finished! Now then, onto the story!
Midorai sighed, leaning against her window sill, her chin resting in the palm of one hand while, with her left hand, she twirled the long black feather. Gleaming mischievously in the early morning sun she sighed, trying to unravel the mystery that came with it. Just what DID Dark have to do with the Niwas? And what did this mean to her? Eventually she gave up, making her way from the window to her closet. Cold air danced through the window to bite at her skin as she picked out her clothing for the day and made her way to the bathroom, taking the feather with her.
"I'm taking a bath!" She called out, pushing the door open with a nudge from one hip and sliding in. All it took was a gentle tap from her foot to make it close and she nudged an open finger at the lock and it clicked shut.
"All right, enjoy yourself!" Emiko called from downstairs and Midorai just smiled, waving a hand casually at the faucet. The silver knob spun three times around. Steaming water gushed from the spout, causing steam to slither across the floor to her like snakes. Quickly undressing she stepped out of her clothes and hopped into the warm, steaming water. With one sigh she breathed in the smell of jasmine and she sunk lower, staring at the black feather she still held in one hand.
"What were you doing outside my room, Dark?" she asked the empty room and then realized the water was still running. "Damn!" An angry flick of her wrist turned the knob again to stop flow of hot water.
"Ugh… What was Dark doing out there… this is defiantly a feather from his wings… and WHAT is he!" she demanded and sunk under the water, screaming into the bathwater, careful that nobody heard her. As she pulled her head out of the water, it dawned on her. It was a long shot… but what if it worked? Excited, she quickly scrubbed her body clean of dirt and some blood but stopped suddenly when she heard an earth shattering racket.
Hastily pulling on her clothes she raced out of the bathroom in only a pair of khaki cargos and a white sports bra. Her wet feet raced across the hardwood floors to see Daisuke lying at the bottom of the stairs. Scattered around him were books and a few metal boxes and she vaguely thought she saw Wiz racing away from the disaster zone.
"Daisuke! Are you okay?" Midorai cried out, her feet skipping down the stairs three at a time. Emiko emerged from the kitchen to just sighed, shake her head and mutter something off quietly then return from whence she came.
"Ugh… yeah… just fine," he groaned, taking her hand to pull himself off the ground.
"Heh, just call you Grace, right?" Her face was a bright red from trying not to laugh. As soon as Daisuke's regained his balance his eyes slowly drifted to Midorai and suddenly realized that she wasn't wearing a shirt.
"Um… Midorai… You need to wear a… uh…" he trailed off, looking away and motioning to her chest. She looked down then almost as quickly looked up at Daisuke, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"AH! SORRY!" she cried out, racing back to the bathroom to quickly throw on a long sleeve shirt and a baggy sweatshirt and made her way back down to Daisuke, apologizing profusely as she helped him pick up the last of books.
"It's… okay… heh…" slowly his face regained it's normal tone, the ruddy hue fading away.
"Hm? These are Art History books… What are you doing with these?" Midorai asked quietly, looking up at Daisuke with violet eyes.
It was the color of her eyes that struck Daisuke as odd. The irises changed from violet to gold erratically, every time catching him off guard. Rather than ask her about it, he felt that it was just something that, if she wanted to tell him, she would.
"Oh, I was just bringing these down for my dad, thanks," he gently took the book she was holding out to him and placed it on top of the large stack next to him and picked it up, heading off to the living room.
"Alright, well, at least let me help you out, those must be heavy," Midorai replied, taking around half of the books from him. Letting the books rest against her small stomach she followed Daisuke into the living room, setting them down against the coffee table.
"Thanks," Kosuke nodded his head to them, smiling.
"'welcome," Daisuke nodded to his father, sitting down and picking up a book.
"It was no problem, you're very welcome," Midorai replied, and then almost as quickly took her leave, heading back up to her room. The door clicked quietly shut behind her and she sighed, sitting down on her knees.
(Midorai's POV)
My body was exhausted, every slight movement made my muscles ache. The cool wood of the door sent shivers up my back as I felt hot tears brim in my eyes. Why? Why was this happening to me? Wyngs takes everything away from me. First my parents, then my life… now…
I don't know how long I sat there on the floor, but eventually I cried myself to sleep, propped up against the door. When I finally woke up it was dark and I knew it was time…
(Normal POV)
As Dark Mousy slipped out of the Niwa house something fluttered down, landing on the window sill before him. It was a small black card. Racing across the paper in elegant silver script was a note. It read: Dark, meet me at the park entrance. We need to talk. –Kitsune.
He flipped the card absent mindedly between his index and middle finger, trying to decide on what to do, and finally came to his decision.
Wind whipped at Kitsune's short hair, the cool air biting at her nose and cheeks like bees. She felt like a fool, just waiting there for some thief. Well… not just any thief but the Phantom Thief… but still.
"Hey, got your note," a familiar voice spoke in front of her and she looked up. There he stood, dressed in black as usual but now had blood red bandages bracing his wrists like a fighter. A loose black shirt seemed almost casually thrown on, it's neck buttons left open, revealing a small necklace with some archaic symbol on it that looked vaguely like a pair of wings and a kite shaped ruby.
"Well, I must say, after all the things you've put me through, you decide to ask me out on a date?" he replied smugly, looking over at the fox eared thief.
"I'm not here to ask you out, you egotistical little pickpocket. I'm here first to apologize… and second… I'm here to explain to you just what is happening."
Kitsune sighed, looking up at Dark with apologetic gold eyes; her ears seemed to droop sadly.
"The man that I was fighting yesterday, his name is Kellan… well in his human form. I wish I knew his true name, but try as I might I can't remember. He's a prisoner of the corporation known as Wyngs and is being sent to kill me," Kitsune sighed.
"A prisoner of Wyngs? You mean that multi-national corporation?" Dark asked, down at Kitsune.
"Yes. Wyngs is in constant competition with Skye. The CEO's constantly battle over the creatures they keep prisoner, sending their strongest to kill one another. They... they barter lives like gambling chips… The true monsters are the people who run it!" Kitsune bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. Startled he looked down at her, trying to figure out why this would be so painful to her.
'Idiot, she probably was stuck there!' Daisuke cried out in Dark's head, and without thinking he cried out, "Who're you calling an idiot!"
"Ah!" She was surprised by this sudden outbreak of screaming and looked up, wiping tears from her face.
"…" for once Dark was at a loss for words, trying desperately to come up with a way to make her think he wasn't crazy.
"Heh…" she began to giggle until she broke out in uncontrollable laughter. Finally, she stopped, gasping for breath and smiling up at him.
"What was that all about? Schizophrenia if I ever saw it," Kitsune added coolly, her voice belying the fact that she had just been crying.
"Listen, you're the one who asked me here, and now I'm minus another item. So, start explaining!" Dark took a step forward at the young woman, annoyed and trying to make her forget about his little outburst.
"Item? Oh, you mean that crown thingy?" she asked innocent, holding up a magnificent crown. Fashioned to look like flowers and vines it sparkled mischievously in the moonlight and Kitsune just smiled at Dark.
Really, it was in those moments that Dark really began to loathe her. First she steals his items, then next thing you know SHE'LL be getting all the credit.
"What worried your rep will be tarnished? Nah, chill," she tossed the crown over to him, "The cameras think YOU stole it. Kitsune didn't make an appearance."
"How did you manage THAT?" he demanded as his eyes scanned the crown to check it was real.
"How? Like this!" as soon as she said that, Kitsune just melted away. Her short red hair quickly grew and turned a deep purple. Tight, torn jeans quickly turned into loose black pants that fell over large black shoes. Her loose black blouse spread over a suddenly flat chest , the first few buttons left unfastened. A swirl of darkness raced around her neck, becoming a necklace with an archaic symbol that looked oddly like a pair of wings and a kite shaped ruby.
Yes, Dark suddenly found himself staring at… well… himself. Yes, the Dark clone suddenly broke out in a large smile.
"Don't look so shocked! I must say though, that look on your face is worth a million dollars!" it cackled in his voice.
"K… Kitsune?" Dark asked. (note: Dark's Expression: 0.o)
"You bet!" In an instant, Kitsune was back, though still wearing what Dark was.
"How did you do that?"
"I can shape-shift. What, didn't you know?" she sniggered, as though it was common fact.
"Hmpf. Listen, thanks for the item and this waste of time," he replied, getting ready to leave.
"Wait. Meet me here tomorrow night and I'll tell you EVERYTHING you want," she replied, grasping onto his arm.
"Everything?" he asked, looking over, mildly interested.
She nodded solemnly. Dark sighed, casting his eyes heavenward then looked back down.
"Fine. Tomorrow night."
And with that Dark left. Only after she could no longer see him did she finally leave…
-THANK YOU! Inkheart, I am just soooo happy to get that AWESOME review! It was great! And to all of the rest of you… thank you so much for review, and please continue to! All righty! Until the next chapter! Have fun.