AN/ Sorry it took so long to get this out to you all. (sighs) Stupid floppy disks! Really! They aren't that reliable! I was going to reply to some of your reviews in this chapter, but it'll have to wait until chapter 12, which I'm already a couple pages into! Well, here you are. Enjoy!

Chapter 11/ Loving Memories

(Daichi's PoV)

I climbed into the front seat of my brown Chrystler. Sighing, I slipped my key into the ignition. It was happening again. The curse of the Hikaris was once again taking affect. It happened to me. And it happened to Kosuke. Now, it was happening to Daisuke.

Nonetheless, I smiled. 'Let them enjoy it while it lasts,' I thought. It was so limited. Let them take advantage of the time they still have together.

I turned on the radio and Christmas songs poured merrily through the speakers. I didn't really feel merry, but I hoped that perhaps its joyfulness would rub off on me. But instead it just brought back painful memories.

"I'll be home for Christmas.

You can plan on me.

Please have snow, and mistletoe,

And presents under the tree."

It sang in melancholy tones. I swiped away a stray tear form my eye. I just couldn't help but be visited by the downhearted thoughts of my Hikari.

Flashback

"His name is Kaoru Hikari." I said into the telephone receiver. I had called the hotel that my lover, Satoshi's grandfather, had been staying at.

Kaoru had to visit Kyoko for a week to visit his son for the holidays. He took no joy in driving all the way out there to see his ditsy ex-wife. But he loved his son dearly. I had often offered for the boy to move in with Kaoru and myself, but Kaoru had insisted that the judge would never rule in favor to take a child from their mother and place him under the care of a gay couple. And who was I to disagree? I was young. Just nineteen, perhaps. It's not like I really wanted to take care of a kid at that age, but I wanted Kaoru to be happy.

"No, I'm sorry. He checked out this morning," said the woman on the other side of the line. Kaoru had called me already that morning to tell me that he was on his way home and he told me that he would call once he got close. But still, I hadn't heard from him.

"Okay. Thank you," I said to the woman before hanging up. It was Christmas Eve. He said he should make it back by five or six o'clock that evening. So when it was going on seven, I assumed his calculations were just off even though I knew that it was absolutely impossible! But once eight and nine o'clock came around, I could no longer blame it on traffic and such. I was running out of excuses and was neck-deep in worry. I had tried to call his cell phone many times, but the robotic recording kept telling me that the phone number I had called was out of service. I didn't have his ex-wife's phone number, and so I had no other idea of how to reach him.

Just then, the phone rang. I snatched it up quicker then Dark had ever grabbed a piece of artwork. "Hello?"

The next thing I knew, I was driving down to the Azumano Hospital to find Kaoru in devastating condition. The police said he must have been driving too fast, but I didn't believe them. And they said that because of the icy roads, he spun out. They had found the car in a ditch a ways off of the road. But I was stuck on the idea that it had to be something else.

The doctor said he had severe head trauma, some that he couldn't explain and had never seen before. I knew part of that had something to do with the presence of Krad. But they told me that the rest was just bumps and bruises and nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, he was still in a state of a coma. They said that if someone ha found him sooner, then he might have been in batter condition. But as it was, the doctor couldn't guarantee anything.

For weeks I sat by his side in the hospital bed. The steady beeps of the heart monitor, the proof of the other's continuing life, was the only comfort that was provided to me. But each beat threatened to be the last, and it stabbed me further. Here was my boyfriend… my lover… my Sacred Maiden. Here was my unbreakable Hikari, shattered like the Glass of Heaven's Light. He never awoke from his sleep. And as Christmas, New Years, January, February, and March all came and went, my hope of him healing slowly dwindled down.

April was here and I still was at his bedside whenever I was allowed. I worked graveyard shift so that I could be with him as soon as visiting hours started. Sleep for me was almost impossible without him at my side in that large bed, so the lack of time for such things never concerned me. And my college… I didn't have time for school, I took myself out.

It was April 7, around 8:15 in the morning, and I was headed straight from work to the hospital. Kaoru had been in Intensive Care. But recently, the doctors had approved that his coma was stable, and permitted him to be moved into regular accommodations. I got off work at eight a.m. which happened to be the time visiting hours started. I was just pulling into the parking garage when my cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Niwa Daichi?" asked the phone.

"Yes?"

"It's Kaoru. I'm afraid there's been some trouble. Please get here as fast as you can."

"I already am." I said urgently. I pulled into a parking space, careless on if I was straight or not. I hung up and jammed my phone into my pocket. In my haste out of the car and into the front office, nothing registered with me except the possibilities of what could have happened. Bad possibilities…

I went right to the fifth floor and to room 502.

It was empty.

The morning glories still sat in their vase on the bedside table. And the mystery novel I had been reading to him was sitting next to them. The bed sheets were thrown askew, and I started to panic.

"Niwa?"

I turned around and to find a nurse in a blue gown and white apron. She smiled at me and asked me to follow her. She led me to a waiting room on a different level and told me that the doctor would come out to talk to me soon.

But it wasn't soon. It was hours. I couldn't eat, and I wouldn't allow myself to sleep no matter how exhausted with work and worry had made me. No one had even told me what happened! I was nineteen! My lover was terribly ill, and I was at a loss.

Around one o'clock, a woman, who was carrying a small child, ran into the waiting room. I was soon informed that she was Kaoru's ex-wife and the child was the beloved son.

She rushed to the front desk and talked in a hurried, out of breath voice. "Where is he? Can I see him? Is he alright?" she asked frantically. That same nurse had tried to calm her down with a serious smile still on her face. The nurse, Kaeoni, led the woman and her son to sit near me.

"Mrs. Hikari, may I introduce Mr. Niwa. He's a friend of Mr. Hikari," said the nurse, indicating myself. I stood and took the young woman's hand in mine. She hadn't been much older then myself. I kissed her hand.

"Mrs. Hikari," I said, as a way of saying 'hello.' Then I realized. 'Mrs. Hikari! Wait, were… were they still married?' I kissed her hand. Could she really have been married and divorced at such a young age?

"It's a pleasure to meet you." How was I able to be so polite in my state of worry? With that, the nurse left her.

"Um… you too. I'm Ayumi Hikari. And this is my son, Yuki." she said. Yes, I could tell the boy was Kaoru's son. They looked exactly the same. I smiled fondly at the child. I wondered if the young one, only around two years old, had any idea of what was going on with his father.

Just then, the doctor approached us, and his expression was too serious to be good. When meeting his eyes, I stiffened, the upcoming news that was about to pour from his mouth was going to be too tough to bear. I heard Ayumi sink heavily in her chair, sick with disbelief and horror.

"I'm sorry," he said. "He didn't make it."

Ayumi held her son tighter to her heart, tears burning their way to the surface.

I gritted my teeth in agony. I couldn't do anything against the tears that slid rapidly down my cheeks. Dead…? Dead…? That- that was ridiculous. Kaoru couldn't die. He just couldn't. It was impossible!

HONK, HONK

End Flashback

I looked up. My red light had turned green. I sighed. Why did he have to die? How? I still couldn't believe it. I turned into the driveway of the Azumano Cemetary. The least I could do about it now was to mourn as little as possible and just remember the good times. And pay him many visits.

I smiled. I just realized how much Satoshi resembled Kaoru and Yuki.

(Daisuke's PoV)

"That was pretty bold of you. To ask Grandpa for permission to spend time with me, I mean." I told Satoshi as we cleaned up the living room. He had packed his gifts away in his bag and I had taken mine up to my room. We pushed my family's piles to the side.

Satoshi shrugged in response. "I suppose."

"Not that I mind, or anything. It was just kind of… noble?" I said. It was if he had asked a father for permission to take his daughter out on a date. Satoshi looked curiously at me. "Ah, nevermind. But I'm glad you did." I smiled at him, and he returned it. (Satoshi/ why is it that whenever he smiles, I can't help but smile back) I was glad. It didn't feel like I was keeping a secret anymore. Dad and Grandpa knew, and they were completely fine with it… even if Satoshi and I were both boys. And I tried not to think of how Mom would react when she found out. I didn't know if she would be okay with it, or if she would flip!

I found Satoshi's Santa hat lying next to where he had sat. I sighted. At least Mom took some pictures of us when we were opening gifts. 'I'll have to frame one of him and his hat in my room,' I thought.

I went upstairs to my room, taking my own hat off. When I went inside, I saw the box that was my gift from Satoshi, still lying on the bed. I tossed the hats into the bottom drawer of my dresser, and then grabbed the box off the bed. I picked up the card and reread it. 'My fire…' That was the second time he had referred to me 'fire.' The first time was in his laptop, and now again. I stood the white card on my nightstand and stared at it for a few seconds. I'd always remember it. Then I stared at the rose. What to do with it? I planned to place it in a crystal vase, one that reminded me of Satoshi's ice. But until I could go out and buy one, I slipped it into the center of a vase full of sunflowers.

I starred at it for a moment. It was a great contrast, the bright yellows and browns against the pale white. And it reminded me very much of Satoshi. He was different from the rest of us. He was much more beautiful. But he didn't like attention, and he didn't want to stand out. He was simple, yet elegant. He was more fragile then the rest of us. And it's only now, after all this time, that I realized that.

I stood back, admiring the picture. "Oh, that reminds me! I still haven't given Satoshi his present!" I said to myself. I opened my desk drawer and pulled out what I had planned to be the second part of his present. I stuffed it into my pocket and left for downstairs.

Satoshi was right where I left him downstairs. He was starring at the angel on top of our Christmas tree.

"It's the Angel of Darkness." I said. Satoshi glanced over at me. "My mom had told me its story many times before. It went something like… 'Most people have angels of white purity, with flowing blonde hair. But that angel is our enemy. It is the opposite of Dark; it's Krad. But the darkness is our friend. It holds all our secrets and covers us at night. We thank him by giving him an angel of 'Dark'… ' Or something like that!" I said, sending him a smile.

"Hmm. I've never heard that one before," he said.

"That's because it's not a Hikari Artwork… It's a Niwa Artwork!" I chuckled at the strange look on his face. We both looked back at the angel before I remembered that I still needed to give Satoshi his present.

I ran to the window and peeked through the blinds. "Do you think Grandpa has been gone long enough?" I asked, searching up and down the street for the brown Chrystler.

"Nani?"

I took Satoshi's hand in mine and began to drag him away. "Follow me."

I led him to the basement, its fireplace empty of its usual flame. "Daisuke? What are we doing?"

"You'll see." I responded simply. I ran my fingers along the wall, counting seven up from the floor and five to the left of the door. I recounted quickly, and came up with the same stone. I was becoming a little nervous. I had never done this before and if I was caught… let's just hope that they stay away for a long while.

I licked my bottom lip anxiously, and pushed the stone in.

The stone popped in a few inches, then slid aside. It revealed a security panel, and I looked at it hopelessly. Thinking for one last moment, I quickly typed in the numbers, trying not to double think myself. When it beeped its acceptance, I let out a general sigh of relief.

But my relief was short-lived. I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard heavy wrought iron slide against stone. I turned around the see that the bottom of the fire pit had slid away and left it open, like a deep endless well. "Daisuke? What the hell are we doing?" repeated Satoshi, glaring at the new passageway.

"I'm, uh… I'm taking you to your Christmas present." I said, rubbing the back of my head. Alright! I know how stupid that sounded, but it was the truth! "Look… you'll see when we get there…" I said. It was enough of a struggle to crack the code on how to break into the Hikari vault without the worry of Satoshi's questions.

"My what?" he asked.

I looked into the gap to see a winding set of stone steps that wrapped around the inside of the opening. I was grateful that Satoshi didn't ask any more questions as we made our way down the stone steps.

(Daichi's PoV)

Kaoru L. Hikari

Loving Husband and Father

1947-1967

Husband and father at the age of 20? I smiled. It wasn't really true. I had found out that he was in the middle of a divorce at the time. But he was definitely a proud father!

I stuck the green plastic cone into the soft earth next to the stone slab, some of the water sloshing out. I took a pair of scissors, ones that I kept in my glove compartment for such occasions, and trimmed the stems of the morning glories before arranging them in the plastic 'vase.'

It had become tradition to bring him morning glories since it was the last flower that I had brought him when he was still alive… and they were the ones anointing his body

The day he died. They alone watched as he entered severe seizures and then go brain dead.

With the scissors still in hand, I cut the grass that had dared to grow over the edges of the slate. I swiped the sliced plants away from the granite stone and dried it off with an old dish towel I had the scissors wrapped in.

Sitting comfortably on the grass next to him, I laid back to stare up at the grey, clouded sky.

"Merry Christmas, Kaoru. It's been awhile. It seems that the Hikari Curse has once again taken affect. Satoshi and Daisuke have finally discovered their feelings for each other. It was about time that Daisuke gave up on the Harada's and Satoshi came out of his shell. I suppose all they had really needed was some time alone. Our grandsons have done well.

"But how long do you think it will last? We lasted a few years before the curse completed itself. For Kosuke, Yuki had just discovered his feelings for him when he, too, past away. I can only wonder, and pray, that it will be long enough for them to really get a chance to truly love each other. Like the way we did. Heh… if only we had realized it sooner…" I told him longingly, letting my mind drift into memories and fantasies. It felt odd to say it out loud, but I missed him dearly. "You would be as proud of Satoshi as you were of Yuki. Because they had both been to Hell and back, yet were still able to love. If only you were here to see the way that they look at each other…"

(Satoshi's PoV)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . There were really no words to say…

But I got an inside look at just how Daisuke and Dark got past all the museum traps so simply. What were these people thinking? Who sets up lasers, drop-out floors, security panels, electrified floor tiles, and flaming beams in a single hallway… in a house? I had come to one conclusion… the Niwas were insane… (Daisuke/ 'He must think I'm insane…')

We now stood before a vault and Daisuke was regarding it in a fluster of confusion. I recognized the device almost immediately, and I was no longer surprised by what I saw. "It is voice activated," I told him.

"But, I don't remember this part at all. I don't know what the password is!" he said, sounding even more flustered then he appeared. We stood there for many long moments before he sighed. "Sacred Maiden?" he said shyly. The vault emitted sounds that reminded me of heavy metal sliding around, like the dead bolts of a front door.

pop

…Pop? Pop? When that heavy door opens, it's a 'pop?' … Things will never cease to amuse me. I helped swing it the rest of the way open. But when we looked inside we couldn't see anything. The room was pitch black.

Another few moments passed by with us just standing there. Daisuke frowned at the entrance, but walked in… and tripped… on string, no less.

I sighed as he sat on the floor rubbing his head. "Daisuke, you're such a klutz," I said, holding out my hand to help him up. I didn't quite understand. How could he dodge lasers and flip over security traps, and still trip on string? He looked up at me with big eyes, ones that plainly said, 'that hurt.' If it was the fall or my words, I wasn't sure. But I think it was the bump protruding on his head.

He took my hand and I pulled him to his feet easily. He sent me a sheepish glance. "Sorry." He looked back at the room, but didn't release my hand… and, I didn't really want him to.

I looked back at the string he had tripped on, and realized that it was strung tightly across the doorway about 2 inches above the ground. 'Another trap?'

I let go off his hand and followed the string to the wall. 'Is it even linked to anything? Or was it put there to simply trip someone?' I thought dully. Either it was malfunctioning at sending the message to the alarm system, or it was plainly useless.

At that moment, I heard a yell of surprise from Daisuke, and the unmistakable sound of him falling down again. I stood and turned toward him to find him lying on the floor, his arms behind him giving him support to help him sit up. He stared up at the girl who was floating quite a ways above the ground with a bright smile on her face.

"Jeez, To-to! Don't scare me like that." He said, grasping his chest as if it would slow the racing heart within.

"Hehe! Hello, Daisuke." She said warmly to him. "I thought that you had forgotten about me. You know, I was only gone with your parents for the weekend. It's not like I was gone long enough for you to forget, right?"

'To-to? You mean, she's the…' I remembered when Dark was taken from Daisuke's body, and I told him that he had to ask 'To-to' to help him get his alter-ego back. 'That's right. And Daisuke had told me that he was going to take her home with him.' I thought, my mind racing with images of Krad fighting Daisuke. No, not Dark. Daisuke. 'But why is he calling her To-to?'

"Umm, sorry?" he replied to her.

"You know? I'm not surprised that you flipped the trap."

"Trap? You mean I actually hit one?" he asked, looking behind him at the long hallway from which we had just come.

"Yeah, duh! The string that you tripped over, the one Hikari-sempai is looking at, if you set it off, it calls for me. (Pulls out big, anime machine gun) And I come ready to battle any thief that comes my way! Wha-ha-ha-ha! (Gun disappears with a 'pop' and her voice goes back to sweet and innocent) So, what can I do you for, Daisuke?"

I swear, if this really were an anime, there would have been the biggest sweat drop on Daisuke's head. "Well, actually, there is something you can do for me, I guess. Can you act as my guide once again?" he asked.

She set her hands on her hips and looked at him skeptically. "Are we going to an alternate world again?"

He shook his head.

"Then, sure! Why not? Where is it you need to go?"

He leaned up to whisper in her ear. I was surprised at how loud he whispered. Or maybe it was the fact that there were no other sounds to drown out the sound of his voice… I had felt like that many times before…

She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! This way!" And with that, she went off in a motion that made me think she was trying to dance. Daisuke took my hand, nd we followed her.

AN/ Awww! Poor Daichi! Poor Kaoru! Poor Everyone! At least I rewarded your good reviews! Our fav couple has finally shared their first kiss! Who-hoo! Review with what you think of this chapter, and especially of Daichi's past.

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!