AN/ I have a lot to say today! You are warned.
Firstly, To-to is the Towa No Shirube from book 5 and/or the Eternal Mark from episode 13. Yes I have this memorized because I'm a fanatic. That's not a problem, is it?
Secondly, I will not be posting for another 3 weeks, which is why this is a week early.
Thirdly, how many of u read the manga, watch the anime, or both. I want to know because there are some major differences and I want to make sure I'm going to go in the direction that most of you know about.
Fourthly (is that a word?), I'd like to beg you all to become a staff member to my Sato/Dai c2 Community! You all would love it! Even if you never do anything for it, I wish to know that I have some people to help me and back me up.
Fifthly (still not a word), lemon scenes will come in due time! You simply can't rush some things…
And last but not least, some of you don't think a butterfly kiss counts as a real kiss. But don't worry, that should be solved soon. (snicker)
12/ Making the next move
(Satoshi's PoV)
'To-to' was as energetic as ever. I followed Daisuke, quite unsure of what I was doing. We walked through the darkened vault, a small candle the young girl held being the only source of luminance.
I took this time of silence to let my mind wander.
If there was some kind of relationship between Daisuke and myself, it was off to a very shaky start. He had basically spent the past three days in a depression due to the damage I had caused. It was my fault that Dark left. If I hadn't told him, if he never found out, then he would have never lost some one who was so close to him. Perhaps Dark and Krad really were curses. Once we turned fourteen, then they were only there to cause misery… perhaps.
Look at Daichi and Kosuke. They fell in love with my forefathers, but now my father and grandfather are dead. I never allowed myself to forget that fact, for humans are frail and easily destroyed. I'm not sure how they died, but I expect it to have something to do with Krad. And now, the Niwas, they're alone. Not literally, of course, but what if I die like my fathers? I don't want Daisuke to go through the same thing.
I wished that there were a simple way to be rid of this curse. Because, however it works, he's still a curse, which caused me to become the curse myself… a curse to any who dared care for me. Sometimes, I thought Daisuke to be so very lucky. Once he fell in love, his curse just vanishes until fourteen years into the next generation. So, he's set free and able to spend the rest of his life with his true love at the same time. Whereas, Krad stays with us until the second we die. Then he is sent straight to the eldest male descendant. There is no moment in time that we are ever free.
And that's why I was so close to suicide in my younger years. If I died without children, it would kill the curse… my own, and the Niwas'. Or, at least, that's what I suspected. If Dark and Krad are like Light and Shadows, then neither can exist without the other. So, I had thought, if one dies out, then the other will have to die as well.
"Here you are, Daisuke!" announced To-to.
I drifted away from my thoughts and tried to center in on reality. I had to blink once… then again, before the image registered fully. The Orchid's Looking Glass hung brilliantly before us.
It was exactly like it was four nights ago. The mirror was large and stained many shades of amber and scarlet. The colors were bold against the crystal clear reflections of To-to, Daisuke, and myself.
"Thanks, To-to," I heard Daisuke answer in melancholy tones. I turned to him to find him starring at the floor. To-to glanced quickly between us before mumbling something about leaving us alone, and then she pranced off.
"Daisuke?" I asked softly.
"I know that you don't really believe that you're my Sacred Maiden. So, I thought I'd prove to you… that… we're meant to be together…"
I just continued to stare at him curiously.
"You have to be. And you said, '-the mirror would either become transparent, which shows that they are meant to be, or it would become solid, indicating they are not meant to be.' I remember your exact words; they ring in my ears. I didn't know why I remembered them so well, but I chalked it up to being the way you stared so intently at me while you said them. But I know why I remember them now; it's because it's my only proof. I can't prove to you that Dark is gone. There's just no way. But, I can prove this.
"I thought that something strange was going on when I asked you about it… about how it become see-through Friday night when you and Dark stood on opposite sides of the mirror. But you refused to acknowledge that it meant something. And I was too oblivious to piece two and two together." He looked up to me, his eyes showing tinges of seriousness, sadness, and excitement.
It wasn't that I refused to acknowledge it, I just didn't want to get my hopes up… if I thought that there was a chance for me to be with him, I didn't want to be exposed to rejection. I didn't deny being his Sacred Maiden because I didn't want to be, I had just always ran on the ideas of it being one of the girls that he had been so in love with… one that I watched him kiss, and the other that made him transform into Dark. I was never any part of that crazy love triangle. And I didn't want to pretend I was.
I switched my gaze to the floor, unable to look into the eyes of memories that had hurt me so deeply.
"Will you believe me after this?" asked the crimson eyes.
I could only nod.
It wasn't until then, when he released my hand that I remembered that I was still holding it. I almost reached out to grab it once more because of the lack of warmth that ran through my own veins… I needed that warmth more then anything. But I kept my arms at my sides.
I simply watched as he walked around the mirror. For a few moments, I stared… waiting. Like waiting for judgment. Each passing second weighed heavier on my heart, the anxiety reminding me of a lead brick pressing down on me. My reflection in the stained red and amber was still holding its stoic mask, which made me a little nervous. I know I cared to find out… so why didn't my face show it?
My thoughts were cut short as my reflection wavered. The mirror was changing.
And I waited. I knew that I had only remained there a total of a couple seconds, but the moments hung in the air like a lingering aroma, one that burned your nostrils but still tasted sweet.
Soon, I could see Daisuke on the other side. The glass had turned into a stained window, and Daisuke's eyes were glittering brightly. A toothy grin spread over his face although he bit his lip in an attempt to hide it.
I knew the Glass couldn't lie!
I turned to my side and looked at him from the corner of my eye. His eyes were anxious for my reactions. "Fine, you get away again. You win, I'm your Sacred Maiden…" I paused, placing my hands in my pockets, and sent him a small smirk. "…Now what?"
His smile took flight once more, and I barely had time to see him run around the window before I felt his arms wrap around my waist.
"Now…" he said into my chest. "Now I'll give you your Christmas present, if you want it."
I looked down at him and stroked his back softly. "What is it?"
He released my waist with one hand and let the other rest on my hip. Reaching into his pocket with his free hand, he pulled out a leaf that was connected to a white, waxy berry. I let my hands slip away from him and took the plant. "A piece of greenery?" I inquired, raising a teasing eyebrow slightly.
His smile turned sweet and soft, and he shook his head lightly. He covered my hand that was holding the gift with his own warm one. "It's mistletoe."
He guided my hand to be held just above our heads, though I can't say I really noticed. He was just so close.
Before anything could register with me, Daisuke's lips were on mine. I couldn't believe it. I had dreamed, and daydreamed, lived with unrealistic hope of this happening. Yet here I stood, kissing the redhead. His small pink lips were hot against mine. I blinked, then let my eyelids fall into the bliss of the contact.
It sent pleasant tingles throughout my body. My heartbeat quickened until it felt like only a mere flutter because of jumping beats. And all my thought seemed to haze into oblivion. And it hurt. It hurt terribly. Each passing millisecond increased the aching that was weighing on my heart. I could feel the pain that Daisuke had been holding in for the past few days flow through the kiss. And I could almost taste the uncertainty.
Unconsciously, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled the pain closer. It wasn't the bodily pain like that of which Krad caused me. It was a pain that I was so familiar with, but had never truly known existed… one that felt almost natural. A pain only found deep in the soul of your heart.
How was it possible to feel hurt and pleasure at the same time? How could it be fair to feel as confused as that? How could his pain still take place of a fire inside me?
Then my mind's ramblings were shattered at lost contact, and I stared into the crimson orbs of a boy that meant everything to every part of me.
Daisuke's cheeks were a bright red due to embarrassment. But I wasn't. That was the only thing I had ever wanted in the longest time. But a flush still covered my face in hearing a shriek behind us.
"Oh My GOODNESS! You guys are so CuTe!" squealed To-to, holding her cheeks as a blush came to her own features. And I had no doubt that it was because she had let her mind wander on the subject.I looked back at Daisuke to see how he was dealing with this little turn of events; he was staring hard at the floor, his face a brilliant red!
I smiled softy. For some reason, I didn't mind her seeing.
XXXXXXXXXX
(Daisuke's PoV)
It was about 1:30 pm when we climbed back up the fire-pit-well-thingy, including To-to, and then Satoshi and I left in search of some lunch. Considering the fact that the two of us had skipped a lot of meals lately, we were starving. I suspect it was Dad who ate everything, but Mom's little Christmas Feast hadn't survived. To-to had offered to make something for us, but we insisted on going out for a walk.
We were less then a block away after leaving my house before I turned around, walking backward so I could be in front of Satoshi. Looking him in the eye, I smiled. "I'll race you to the South Gate of the park!"
With that, I turned and ran. Satoshi had paused his steps for a moment to give the dare time to register, and then he came running after me. After only a block or so, I ran head on into something and lost my balance, falling backward. The next thing I felt was Satoshi's arms around me, holding me up. I blushed slightly at my clumsiness. I looked up at him sheepishly, but he was plainly glaring at something ahead of us. I looked straight and my blush increased.
"Ha- Harada-san?"
Riku was standing there, panting slightly, just like Satoshi and I. There was also a flush to her cheek that was most likely caused by the exertion of running. Risa was next to her on her bike, yet she was breathing harder then the rest of us.
"Daisuke? Oh, I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going…" Riku started, her tone threatening to initiate the 'babbling sequence,' or what I would imagine Satoshi would call it.
I raised my hands and began waving them in front of me in an attempt to make her stop. "no, no! It was my fault. Gomen!" I looked over my shoulder at the other boy. He had helped me stand, but kept one hand on my waist. I smiled internally. 'Possessive, much?' I thought. His straight face was as hard to read as ever, but the small details were becoming more noticeable and clearer to me. And his eyes were simply burning in annoyance.
/Not really…/My eyes went wide. Did I just hear something inside my head? Dark?
"Oh, well, Merry Christmas. Tanoshii kurimasu! I was just racing Risa in a long distance thing from my house to the park. Where were you headed?" Riku asked, pulling me out of my worried thoughts.
"Umm… we… we were headed to the park too…"I answered, still searching my mind for the faintest signs of Dark, and not succeeding. I gave up as writing it off as just my imagination.
"We?" Risa glanced from me to Satoshi and back again. "As in, you and Hiwatari-kun?"
I blinked, "yes?"
I could almost see the sparks flying between my three friends as they glared at each other, causing me to become very confused, very quickly. "Ahh, um, how about we all go to the park together?" I suggested, causing them all to look at me instead. This Haradas agreed momentarily, and all I could do was mentally apologize and beg Satoshi to at least try to play along.
When I looked at him, he shrugged slightly; although I could tell that he didn't like the idea at all. We all began to make our way to our destination.
"I heard that there was a special Christmas concert in the center of the park later tonight. Were you going to go, Daisuke?" Risa asked, climbing off of her bike so she could walk beside me. Riku walked ahead of the rest of us, leading the way, but still listening in on what was being said. Satoshi had set his pace a few steps behind us, not saying a word, but still sending the twins death glares at random intervals. I smiled. That's right-! I remembered how, while sorting out our newly bought gifts, he had made a pile for 'enemies,' which just happened to include the Haradas. Oh, which reminded me. I almost forgot that I still had their gifts at home.
"No," I answered her. "I hadn't even heard of it." Hmm? Maybe Satoshi and I could attend later. I'd definitely bring it up again once the Haradas left.
"Well, Risa and I are going. Why don't you come with us?" Riku and Risa both smile at me. But when I looked back at Satoshi, his eyes seemed to want to strangle them for even thinking of such an absurd event. I gave a light chuckle, "Not today. Maybe another time, okay?"
Risa frowned, and kept looking between Satoshi and I. (Satoshi/ You could almost her the wheels of her brain turning until she pieced two and two together to get 16.) And I think she understood a fraction of the relationship between us, because at that moment she grabbed my wrist and began pulling me along faster, explaining as she walked. "Hiwatari-kun doesn't have to come. It could just be the three of us, like old times."
"Ahh, Risa, let go!" But she didn't hear my protests, and continued on. Mere seconds later, Satoshi and Riku were at our heels.
Unexpectantly, Satoshi moved in front of Risa and cut her off. Grabbing her wrist, he tore her hand away from my arm. She stared wide-eyed at him, a 'how-dare-you-touch-me' look on her face.
"Do not touch him if he does not wish to be touched," he said in that infamous stern tone of his.
I gapped, unbelieving at first, but then smiled. 'No… he's very possessive.'
The next thing I knew, Satoshi was standing next to me, and while still glaring daggers at Risa, prodded my hand with his in a silent invitation to hold it. I slipped my hand into his and we interlocked fingers. Luckily, the Haradas didn't notice this little exchange for who knows how they would've taken that bit of news.
As Satoshi began to lead me towards the East Gate instead of the South, I called back to the girls. "Um, I- uh, I'll see you guys later."
"Hey, Daisuke! Stop by our house later. We have a Christmas present for you." Riku called after us. Risa was still too shocked to really say anything at all.
"Okay. See you then!"
A short while later, after walking in relative silence (which greatly reminded me of the walk on Friday that we had when he first picked me up), Satoshi turned to me.
"You need to learn to say 'no.' "
"Huh?"
He sighed internally at me, letting his shoulders fall slightly. "What I just did was quite out of character for me. But if you don't want someone to do something, you have to say so. Stand up for yourself a little more." And with that said, he turned back and exchanged the firm grasp he had on my hand to settle into a gentle caress.
I gave another chuckle as Satoshi sent a curious glance at me. "It's just," I tried to explain. "It's just that you care so much now, and not five days ago, all you wanted was to put me in jail."
He blinked at me and thought for a moment. "Actually, I never wanted to catch you. I had to… because of my father… and because of Krad. I never wanted it."
X X X X X
We were quickly nearing the park, and my stomach grumbled greedily. I rubbed it in a hopeless attempt to soothe it. And it wasn't long until I could smell food.
The air was thick with moisture and the ground was covered in snow. Yet the warm aroma swam through that moisture to tease your senses. Satoshi smirked as I licked my lips unconsciously. "How about we go to a restaurant instead? I doubt many snack carts will be out in the park in all this snow," he offered.
I thought for a moment, then asked, "like a date?"
He closed his eyes and smiled softly. "Yes, like a date."
TBC…
Special thanks and answers to reviews…Thank you to Sesshomaru'sbabygrl. I love you too! Thank you xXZeroCoolXx, you're an awesome friend Marlene! And thank you frozenmagicfire, we've known each other for one day and I'm already good friends with you, Jessica!
These are responses to your chapter 10 reviews, sorry they're late!I'mAGirlxD / I had thought about that. It was the coolest idea EVER! The only problem was… it ended up making Satoshi and Daisuke cousins…
JukkaBushtail / Well, I wanted to capture all the different sides of the story. And OOC means Out Of Character.
Monchi / Please don't die on me… you're a faithful reader and the last thing I want is for you to die without knowing the ending!
Lovesickbunny / (squeals) You highly recommended me! Wheeee! I Loooove you!
Ultimate-animefan25 / Hehe! Sure! I'd be more then happy to write another Sato/Dai fic. I have a couple in the making… just which one should I post…?
ZageIllustertheStamped / LOL! Hahaha! That was soo perfect. Yes, by all means, paint with Risa's blood and cry many tears for our bishies! It's PER-FECTLY normal. (laughs nervously)
ManamiNakaoni / Hehe! It won't be over until ch. 25! So, no worries! KK?
xXZeroCoolXx / (starry eyes) awww sooo cuuuute! Of course I'll write more for YOU!
Anukis-san / You read my mind perfectly when it came to those handcuffs. Heheh! (No, I'm completely innocent! My head didn't go to the gutter. Uh uh! Not me! hehe)
I Love You All! E-mail me if ya want. I love hearing from you guys. Hope ya liked the chapter! Laterz!
