Just so ya'll know ahead of time, I'm not as happy as I could be with this chapter. I got where I wanted to go, but some things may be a little vague. Do forgive me for that. I just want to move on with the story... Please review, and enjoy!

Chapter 16

Dark opened his eyes to darkness. Confused, the thief looked around, trying to figure out where he was. The window let in the soft moonlight, and Dark used it to figure out that he was in Daisuke's room. He looked to the side to see Daisuke lying in his own bed, sleeping soundly.

Dark sat up, rubbing at his forehead. 'Gods, I have the biggest headache...'

He looked back out to the window, and then let out a yelp, recoiling away from the glass and shoving himself into the room's corner. Krad waved cheerily from the window, an evil grin spreading his features. "Well hello Dark."

Dark shook his head frantically, trying to fit himself farther into the corner. 'No. No! I'm dreaming, I'm still sleeping, there's no way he could be here!'

At that moment Daisuke shifted on his bed and sat up, looking to the side where Dark was currently crammed in the corner. The crimson haired boy frowned, sliding his feet to the edge of the bed and moving over to Dark's side. "Dark?"

Dark flinched, his wide violet eyes flashing to Daisuke's face. He stared for a moment, eyes wide, chest heaving with each breath he took, and then he tried to force himself to relax, smiling shakily. "I-I'm alright… Just a dream…"

Daisuke wasn't so sure, but he nodded his consent, and then sat down beside the thief. "Would you like me to stay with you for the rest of the night?"

Dark whimpered slightly, and then nodded. Daisuke crawled into the bed, holding up the covers and opening his arms. Dark hesitated, and then wormed his way under the blanket, curling up next to Daisuke's chest. The redhead wrapped his arms around the shivering thief, murmuring comforting words into his hair. "It's alright Dark, I'm here. No one's going to hurt you."

Dark closed his eyes, shuddering again. He buried his nose in Daisuke's neck, and then let out the breath he'd been holding, trying to settle down enough to fall asleep again. It wasn't working very well; the image of Krad outside the window was still dancing through his mind.

There was a flash in the room, and not a moment later a loud boom. Dark flinched, and Daisuke soothed him, his hands moving up and down Dark's slender back. "Easy, my dark angel, it's only a thunderstorm."

There was a pitter-patter of rain, and then the storm started up in earnest, the rain pouring down on the windows and the roof of the house. Dark peeked out from the safety of Daisuke's arms, looking out into the dark night. Thunder rolled again, and then thief sighed slightly, settling back down in Daisuke's arms and trying to sleep.

Daisuke continued to stroke his hands over Dark's back, trying to keep him calm. He didn't know what Dark was afraid of, or why he had been in the corner like that, but all he could do was try to make sure that the thief knew that he was there, and that nothing would hurt him.

Lightning flashed in the distance, and Daisuke shifted so he could look out the window. He always did love thunderstorms, they were calming, and he loved to watch the lightning and listen to the thunder. They, like the rain, reminded him of Dark. The rain was a cool reminder of the thief's scent, the lightning a way to remember his flashy personality, and the thunder a booming tribute to his explosive ways.

The thief in his arms shifted, and Daisuke looked down to see Dark's violet eyes peering out into the storm, watching with fascination as the lightning danced across the sky. "Daisuke…"

Daisuke looked down again. "Yes Dark?"

"Can… can we go out and watch the rain?" Dark asked timidly, shifting again in Daisuke's arms.

The boy smiled, and then stood, taking Dark's unresisting form with him. "Of course we can Dark."

Daisuke walked to his balcony, one arm still around Dark's shoulders. Daisuke wrapped the blanket around their shoulders, and together the two sat by the window. The redhead opened the window to allow in the sounds and the smell of the rain, and then sat back with Dark, pulling the blanket around his shoulders as well as Dark's. The thief snuggled into his side, looking up into the dark sky and watching as lightning played across the clouds.

Daisuke sighed, resting his cheek against the top of Dark's head. The cooling rain was soothing, and Daisuke could feel himself falling asleep again. He shook himself slightly, and then Dark suddenly flinched, trying to burrow closer to him.

Daisuke was immediately awake, looking around him. Dark shivered against him, and then Daisuke was surprised into letting out a cry as Dark flung himself away from the redhead, his wings exploding from his back and unfurling with a sharp snap.

With a scream the thief flew from the house, shooting into the storm. Daisuke let out a cry, reaching in Dark's direction. "NO! DARK!"

The thief paid him no heed, only continued to fly frantically, as though he was trying to fight something as he flew. Daisuke immediately threw the blanket to the ground, calling upon his crimson wings and shooting into the air.

The rain poured around him, soaking his clothes and his hair, weighing him down. His wings fought to keep air while wet and Daisuke gritted his teeth, flying for all he was worth. Dark was flying as though the devil himself was after him, cries escaping him, his arms flailing as he tried to fight off some villain that only he could see.

Daisuke slowly began to catch up with the frantic thief, and the redhead reached out a hand to him. "DARK!"

Dark screamed, and suddenly his wings crumpled, and he fell like a stone. It was in that instant that Daisuke saw what he thought at first was a flash of lightning. 'Oh god, he's been struck by lightning!' was the boy's first thought.

And then he saw that Dark was grappling with something, or more precisely, someone. Dark screamed again, and Daisuke caught sight of large white wings and flowing blond hair. "KRAD!" The scream escaped Daisuke as a roar of fury, and the boy pumped his crimson wings harder, diving for the two fighting angels.

Dark fell, and Krad fell with him, falling down to hit the sand of the beach at a startling speed. Daisuke hit the ground an instant later, and he looked to see Krad standing over Dark's still form. Daisuke ran forward, screaming his fury as his fist connected with Krad's back.

With a cry of rage the blond angel was up and fighting an instant later, magic sparking at his fingertips. Daisuke's wings surged, and the boy was shocked as crimson feathers shot out, wrapping around Krad's wrists and binding him.

"What is this?.!" Krad roared, fighting the hold that the red feathers had on him. The blond tried to use his magic, but the crimson feathers had apparently sapped his magic for the moment as well.

Daisuke stared. 'I didn't know I could do that… Even Dark had trouble binding Krad, how in the world can I do that so easily?.!'

The boy decided not to worry about it for the moment, and he flew down to Dark's side, kneeling in the sand. He touched his angel's shoulder gently, turning Dark onto his back. "Dark? Dark!"

Thunder boomed overhead, and the rain poured down even fiercer. Dark moaned softly, and the opened his eyes. Daisuke sighed in relief. "Thank God you're okay…" Daisuke hugged Dark to him, petting the thief's hair gently.

Krad stood, burn marks over his wrists and around his throat from where Daisuke's feathers had held him, a silver gun gleaming in his hand. "As much as I hate crudeness, this will have to do for now. Goodbye, Daisuke Niwa, make Dark suffer."

Dark let out a scream. "DAISUKE, NO!"

Daisuke hardly had time to think when Dark suddenly turned him, placing the redhead against the sand. Dark shielded Daisuke with his own body, his want and need to protect the one he loved overriding his own safety.

A gunshot rang through the night, and Daisuke screamed.

Yes, I know I'm evil. -dodges random thrown objects- Don't kill me!