Chapter 15

Daisuke laughed, watching Riku as she attempted to get them to understand what she was trying to do. They were busy playing a game of charades, which, to everyone else's surprise, Satoshi had suggested. And the blunette even played the game.

Dark, still shy and feeling out of place with Daisuke's friends, just sat on the loveseat on his own. Even though the thief didn't participate in the game, he couldn't help the small smile that had taken up permanent residence on his face.

Emiko was busy working in the kitchen. After they had finished eating the cake and ice cream, she had cleaned up, and was now getting ready to pour some soda. She poured out Coke for everyone, and then paused, remembering that Dark wasn't particularly fond of that soda. She smiled, reaching into the fridge and pulling out a bottle of Pepsi. After pouring the glass, she turned to put the sodas away.

As she went to pick up the glasses she frowned, looking to the window that was above the counter that held the glasses. 'Strange…' the woman thought. 'I don't remember leaving that window open…' Shutting the window, Emiko shrugged, putting the glasses on a tray and going out into the living room.

"Does anyone want some soda?" Emiko called as she walked in, holding up the tray. There were a few happy answers, and Emiko handed out glasses to everyone. "Coke, I hope that's alright."

Satoshi, Riku, and Risa nodded, and each took drinks of their soda, and then returned to their game. Daisuke grinned. "Thanks Mom."

Dark's face was a little down, and Emiko smiled softly at the thief, knowing that he was feeling as though he had to take the glass of what he thought was Coke, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "Don't worry Dark; I remembered that you didn't like it, so I got you some Pepsi."

Dark's violet eyes lit up, and he smiled at her, taking the glass. "Thank you Emiko."

The thief drank his soda, watching with amusement as Daisuke took his turn at charades. Risa glanced over at him, and then smiled softly. The look in Dark's eyes was nothing short of adoration as he looked at the redhead, his eyes shining. The girl sighed inwardly. 'I guess I'd lost Mister Dark before I ever had him…'

After a while Daisuke called a halt to the festivities as he glanced towards Dark. The thief didn't look very well, and the redhead walked forward to the violet-haired man. Dark had gone as white as a sheet, and he was sweating. Daisuke could see the sheen of it off of his skin, and as Daisuke touched Dark's forehead he discovered that his Phantom Thief had a fever.

Daisuke knelt down beside Dark, pushing his bangs back to reveal dilated pupils and a hazy sheen over the thief's eyes. "Dark? Are you feeling alright?"

To his surprise, Dark responded by giggling madly, nodding rapidly. "Of course, why wouldn't I be fine? I've been feeling fine all day, just like I was last night!"

Daisuke narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't right. He started to turn to his friends, who were watching with shocked eyes, but Dark's slender arms wrapped around his neck an instant later, pulling him to the thief's body.

"Where are you going Daisuke?" the thief breathed in his ear, very nearly purring.

As Daisuke was yanked against Dark he noticed that the thief's heart was racing, and his breathing was irregular and quick. He was also shaking. Daisuke pushed himself away from Dark easily, his eyebrows twitching together. "Mom?"

Emiko came into the room, spotting Dark with a gasp. "What in the world?"

"What has Dark had today Mom?" Daisuke asked seriously, watching as Dark rolled onto his side on the loveseat, still giggling madly.

"Only cake, ice cream, and Pepsi." Emiko murmured, going forward to touch Dark's forehead. The thief let out a shriek of laughter, rolling his head away from her. "What is going on?"

"It's like he's been drugged…" Daisuke muttered, lifting the laughing thief from the loveseat and placing him on his feet. Dark swayed, and then overbalanced, nearly falling. Daisuke sighed, lifting him again and draping him over a shoulder. Dark hung limply, still laughing.

Satoshi nodded. "You're right Niwa. I recognize these symptoms; I have to know them for what happens when I'm out on police work. He's been given Amphetamines, or as it's commonly known, speed."

Emiko gasped. "How in the world did he get a hold of that?"

"I don't think that he got a hold of it." Satoshi replied, lifting Dark's near empty glass of Pepsi and sniffing at it. He wrinkled his nose. "Yea, someone put it in his drink. The smell is really faint, but it's there."

Daisuke growled softly, and Emiko frowned. "But I just opened that bottle before I poured Dark's glass, and it was just sitting on the counter while I put the soda away. It couldn't have possibly been drugged."

Dark started wiggling on Daisuke's shoulder, but as the boy let him stand Dark almost fell over again, still laughing like a maniac. Daisuke sighed, and then raised a fist. "Sorry Dark…"

Daisuke's fist collided with Dark's left temple at a startling speed, and the thief crumpled instantly, falling into Daisuke's arms. The boy hoisted him into his arms, cradling him bridal style. The redhead sighed, pressing a gentle kiss against the spot he had hit. "Sorry…"

Emiko frowned, but she knew well that if Dark had started acting even more hyperactive, like speed was known for, he may have gotten out of control, ran out into the streets, even done something to hurt himself. They couldn't have him out in streets; anyone in this town would recognize him easily.

Emiko thought a moment, and then frowned deeper. "However, when I turned back to the drinks, there was a window open that wasn't before. Do you think someone could have gotten in that fast and drugged the soda?"

Daisuke shrugged. "It would take some fancy work, but probably. The thing I have to wonder is how did they know which one was Dark's? They had to have been watching you."

Satoshi frowned. "This is certainly strange."

Risa glanced to the unconscious thief in Daisuke's arms. "Someone's after Mister Dark, and it doesn't look good."

Riku placed a finger to her chin. "But why give him speed? What's going to come of that?"

Daisuke thought over the symptoms of speed, trying to remember the things he had learned in the drug class his mother had made him take. "Well, there is the fact that Dark's just getting to his appropriate weight. Speed can suppress appetite, and do it for a while, depending on how much is given. Maybe that's got something to do with it."

Satoshi nodded. "It could. Speed is also known to cause hallucinations. With what Dark has seen in his life, and with what happened after he was separated from you Daisuke, those kinds of illusions could possibly drive him mad."

Daisuke frowned, his arms tightening where they held Dark's shoulders and knees. His protective instinct was flaring. "That's true as well. What I want to know is who did this?"

Daisuke looked down at Dark in time to see the thief's eyebrows twitch together slightly, and then relax again. Daisuke sighed. 'What are you seeing my dark angel?'

Sorry it took me some time, had to do some research. I'm working on the next chapter right now, and it should be out within a few days. Please review, and thanks for reading! Dark plushies and cookies for all! -throws cookies and plushies-