Chapter 22/ Watery Eyes

(Dark's PoV)

I had to pry my eyes open due to the heavy sleep that held them down. The blearing white didn't blind me so suddenly, mostly because there wasn't any. As I urged my eyes wider, I took in the change of my settings. What was once white nothingness was now complete shadows. And whereas I recognized my bleach-like surroundings as my place of rest between hosts, this new black home was foreign to me. My lazy sight scanned the area thoroughly.

Black…

Black…

Black…

White…?

A short ways away from me was a splotch of white that stuck out like a sore thumb. I continued to stare at it. What was it? Why was it there? And then the splotch shifted slightly. It was alive?

'Krad?'

A sudden want to race to the fallen angel came over me. I longed to ask him where we were and why we were there. Having been lying facedown, I tried to push myself off of the ground. My wrists immediately gave in and I fell back to the floor. I glared at my arms as if to blame them for betraying me, but I gave the tiniest gasp when I saw why. Deep gashes encircled my entire wrist. Some blood had dried and stuck crustily to my yet to harmed flesh, while my main artery still pumped the fresh crimson liquid out of me to slide along my wrist, down the same sticky line that previous pumps had caused, and drip onto the floor. I stared in disbelief. Those same circles were where the invisible bonds from the white world had once held me. Is that what caused it? (1)

I continued to try to stand up, but each time, I fell to the floor. After many attempts, I simply shut my eyes in momentary defeat.

"Giving up? That's not like you, Dark."

My eyes shot open this time to see Krad's white shoes in front of me. I followed the body upward until I met the gaze of golden orbs.

"In your dreams, Krad!"

"Tsk tsk," he chimed in, shaking his head disappointingly. "You would have thought that the infamous Dark Mousy would know what is a dream and what is reality. And look. You have a scratch." The fallen angel knelt down beside me and touched the slash on my wrist, ever-so-lightly. I gave another gasp of pain at the rue infection, and earned a sadistic grin from the other. "We can't very well leave you lying on the ground, now can we?" Seizing both of my wrists, he yanked me to my feet. I screamed at the rough treatment of my wounds.

Through light pants of exertion, I glared at my other half. "Krad…"

"Don't bother fighting me here. Nothing will be gained. We can't die right now."

I blinked. 'Here?' Where were we? "What is this place, Krad?"

"You mean, you don't recognize your own place of birth?" he asked with a mocking chuckle.

"Birth? We're inside the Black Wings!" (2)

With a sigh, Krad rolled his eyes. "Yes. You truly are oblivious."

"Why are we here?"

Krad scoffed. "You Idiot! We're here to die! When Satoshi passed, I was supposed to, as well. The only kink in the chain is that I can't die while you are still alive. So, we're here to wait for your klutzy host to keel over. Then we will die together like the 'brothers' we are." He rolled his eyes once more. "Yeah, let's all go die like one big frickin' family."

"Daisuke? Why should he die anytime soon?"

"Ever think he may kill himself? With Satoshi gone, what is there to live for?"

"Daisuke's not like that."

"Are you sure?" he asked. Shrugging, he turned away. "Nonetheless, he's still human. He'll die sooner or later. As long as he doesn't produce an heir by that time, you and I have no choice but to wait here for the Black Wings to consume us, its own young."

I stared at him in disgust. "You are a sick bastard, do you know that?"

He smirked devilishly at me. "Yes."

(Daisuke's PoV)

I stood in front of the apartment door with the key in my hand. The longer I stood there, the more nervous I became. I knew what I'd see on the other side. I had grown used to those things and was now comfortable in their presence. But I also knew that something would be missing as soon as I stepped inside.

Deciding to only stay long enough to retrieve my letter, I took a determined gulp and opened the door. The familiarity of the apartment pleasantly surrounded me. The two windows on the opposite wall allowed light to flow onto the scene. The scent of the fresh paint rushed over me. I stepped over the threshold and immediately noticed everything that was left untouched.

The several, simple paintings that Satoshi and I had sketched five days ago were leaning against the wall. Satoshi's leather book bag and laptop were lying next to them. The plastic tarp still covered the floor, and the couch and coffee table were missing. 'They must still be in the kitchen or bedroom where we moved them for during our painting,' I thought. I also noticed Satoshi's small table, the same one which held my letter within itself, was not in the room either. Realizing that I would have to stay longer than I had originally hoped, I gave a small sigh and entered our bedroom in search of the offending furniture.

Luckily for myself, I found it almost immediately. It stood to the side of the room next to Satoshi's dresser. But the storage unit caught my attention. On top of the dresser were three pictures: one of my parents, one of Dark, and one of the Haradas with Takeshi. I stared at them for a moment, remembering when I placed them there two and a half weeks ago, the Friday that I first came over. I took up Dark's picture in my hands and looked him over carefully. He was just how I remembered him. I wanted him back co badly…

Setting the picture back down before I grew too upset, I returned to finding my letter. I slid open the drawer of the table to see the envelope lying innocently inside. Taking it gently from its home, I sat on the bed while examining the outside. It was blank except for a single word in the small, precise font that was Satoshi's handwriting. 'Niwa-kun.' I peeled over the flap and pulled out a couple sheets of folded paper. I felt a chill go down my spine, so I lied down and drew the covers over me. I was nervous. What did it say? How long ago was it written? Why was he using my surname? Pushing these questions aside, I unfolded the letter and began to read.

Niwa-kun –

I'm not sure what our relationship will be by the time you read this letter, but I'm writing for many reasons. I also am unsure of what words may have been passed between us by this time, but I hope that it was enough to make what I'm about to say inoffensive. To begin, I'm going to tell you a story.

Now, this story pertains to my past, but to yours as well. It starts with the understanding that our families are always connected through the Hikari Artwork; no matter what time or generation, we will always be connected. And it's our fate to always be together. With this understanding, the magic of the artwork in unleashed and the unbelievable may occur.

Do you remember the very first time we met? My three-year-old self was being led out of the orphanage by the hand of Commissioner Hiwatari, my adopted father, when I bumped into you. Literally. You lost your balance and fell down. I'll never forget the way you looked up at me. Your young eyes were so wide and you looked so hurt that you were the most adorable thing that I have ever seen. It may seem odd that I call you that, but you truly were.

As I moved on, through school and college and into the police department, that image of you stayed with me. I couldn't remember much, just the crimson hair and eyes and the completely innocent appearance. I hoped that I might be able to meet you again, so I decided to return to junior high, where a normal 14-year-old was supposed to be. The chances of me finding you were extremely slim. But then, I was transferred into your class, and I immediately recognized you. You're rather hard to forget, did you know that?

At the time, I didn't know that you were actually Dark. Yet, for some reason, I was drawn to you. Perhaps it had something to do with the Hikari Artwork, but I don't believe so. When it became my job to capture you, it was the absolute last thing that I ever wanted to do. I wanted to find out more about you and how we met so many years ago. But, the only things that lived between us were feelings of suspicion, anxiety, distrust, and I need to hide what we really were… born enemies.

There was a time when I was fearful of you. You were the only one who could bring out my fallen angel, the only person who could make me vulnerable enough to reveal Krad. The pain was unbearable, and the longing I once had to find you became the urge to break our ties. Little did I know that it was impossible. As I said before, we are connected, no matter time or generation. And we always will be connected.

So, now, the only reasons you should be reading this letter are either because you went digging through my apartment out of curiosity, or if I have died. In the case of the latter option, don't worry. I'll see you soon. I think I no you well enough to say that you wouldn't mourn or be depressed, but instead, come find a way to get Dark back, right? But that's just an idea, of course. And how did I know that Dark would be gone? Hmm, just a guess.

One last thing, the laptop that I was always typing on was a kind of journal. It used to be a college assignment, but once I found you, I erased all its previous entries and made it into my actual journal. Now that I have passed, you are free to read it. But, you need a password. I suppose I could give it to you to save you the time of breaking into it.

Password/ D N Angel

The document that you're looking for is called 'Burning Ice and Freezing Fire.' And, Daisuke, remember that I will always love you.

Satoshi

XXXXXXXXXX

I wiped stray tears away from my eyes. "I love you, too, Satoshi. Always." I buried my face in the pillow. I couldn't just lie there; I needed to do something! I needed to get him back. I needed to get them back. Jumping out of my bed, I grabbed the laptop that lay next to the wall, ran out of the door, locked it, and then raced to my house. There just had to be some way for me to bring them home.

"Hang on, guys. I'll find a way."

TBC…

This is due to the bonds, yes. Remember when he tried to break them earlier in the story, but his efforts were futile? Well, here, once he was sent to the Black World, he was ripped away from the bonds, causing great gashes.

That's something you'll have to discover on your own from the Anime or Manga. It takes to long to explain and I don't want to ruin anything for you.

AN/ Hehe! Now what will happen? You can't bring people back from the dead, can you? What hope does he have? And what's he going to find on the laptop/sigh/ All will be explained in the next and last chapter of 'Burning Ice and Freezing Fire.'