Answer Me This…
By Larien
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Summary: I've asked myself so many questions...but they all lead back to this...
Why can't I find you? I've looked so many years, so many times...
Why are you hiding from me? A story about Dark…
Prologue in Dark's POV, story in Third Person
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I think it must've been at least two hundred years ago that we met...I still remember it like it was yesterday. I remember it like the back of my hand. I had been possessing a member of the Niwa family named Daisumo...I remember that we had just stolen a piece of art called 'Venus's Heir' and we were supposed to be heading back to the Niwa house. Only, I was attracted to something else. I was attracted to the soft glow of the oil lamp in your window. I saw you every time we came back from the museum we stole from. You were always reading or drawing. I think you might've seen me too once or twice...
But tonight was different; I had the courage to talk to you. Daisumo was 15, so that means I was 15. I guessed that you were either 14 or 15. I was right. You were 14. You didn't know I was a phantom thief. At least not yet anyways. You found out later, or rather I told you...but that's later. You had dark brown hair that waved around your face. Your face was pale, but it didn't look sickly. In fact, it looked rather cherubic and angelic to me. You had catlike green eyes. That's what I first noticed about you. Your emerald green eyes that watched me. They were calm and patient. They weren't frightened.
We talked. I remember our first conversation. You asked me my name. I said that my name was Dark. I'd never said that before. Before, I was always Daisumo. But suddenly, I was Dark. I don't know why I told you first...but I did. Your reaction, you just smiled. I was mesmerized. Not by how you looked even though as I said, you looked angelic, I was mesmerized by your personality. How calm you were. I think other women might've screamed and fainted in fright, causing their husbands to come and kill me. I learned that you were good friends with Daisumo.
And I cursed Daisumo for not telling me about you...
You were a daughter of a high born noble family. Daisumo or rather the Niwa's were poor compared to you. They lived in a mansion though...a freaking mansion. Still, you were above us. Your days were boring. They were dull and colorless. At night, you said it was thrilling to wait for me and watch me streak across the sky.
You loved Wiz and he loved you. You marveled at how smart he was...phsa...the rabbit isn't that smart...oh well. I enjoyed seeing you happy. Besides, Wiz was always there. So I got to see you laugh and smile at Wiz a lot...I wish you'd smile at me that much in the beginning. You did eventually. But Wiz...damn him, he's got lucky in getting you to smile more often. Damn him for being so cute. Oh well...I got my smiles from you in the end.
I learned that you were drawing me. There were only ink quills back then, but somehow, you still drew me. I admit they were good drawings. You said, your father often asked you who you drew. Who was the boy in your portraits? You never replied. You said he was modeled after Daisumo. Your father would only grunt and nod. I imagined his fury and laughed. You were a good liar, I said. They looked nothing like Daisumo. He and I look nothing alike at all. He had dark brown hair, almost black. I had purple hair. He had bright blue eyes, I had dark purple. Modeled after Daisumo? To this day, that still makes me laugh.
You had an arranged marriage. You constantly had arranged marriages. You constantly were betrothed and betrothals were constantly broken. You didn't believe in love anymore you told me. After your first love had broken your heart, you didn't care about love. The last betrothal before I left was to the Hikari family. Maybe that's why they hate me also? Because from what I heard, I stole your heart from them. You wanted out of the engagement. I still have yet to ask if it's true. Because I can't find you anymore. But that's too far ahead.
You said your favorite color was black. I asked why once. You told me because it made you feel calm. Was that a hint that I made you feel calm? When I asked you to choose between Dark and Light, you said you'd choose Dark. Because in the light, you wouldn't know which one was your light. In the dark, you'd at least be able to journey around forever trying to look. That's what's happening to me. I'm still looking. Funny how things end up huh? Wait, no one understands what I'm saying.
You don't know this, but I like watching you read. It made you look peaceful. I often watched you read late at night. You'd curl up in a squishy armchair and read huge books that were thicker than your arm. But that's not saying much, since your arm was twig thin anyways. But it was a graceful twig thin.
You criticized yourself as clumsy. I'll have to agree with you on that. You spilled hot tea on my leg the first time you poured it for me. Since then, I've always snatched the teapot before you could touch it. When you pouted at me I'd say that it was to protect you from yourself. I remember the twinkle in your eyes when I said that, you'd pretend to be mad. But that twinkle can't hide anything. Your eyes don't lie like your mouth does.
You said that you used to be engaged to Daisumo. I asked what happened to the engagement. You replied that according to your father, the Niwa family had invested much money into the company of a friend that went bankrupt. The Niwa's had lost a lot then, they were too poor for your family by standards. Your engagement was broken. You were only 12. That wasn't too long ago, I said. No it wasn't, you replied, no it wasn't.
You didn't like the Hikari family that much. You got engaged the year that you turned 16. Your father was now eager to marry you off. You were getting old, he said. You needed to be married soon. Had I not been a phantom thief, I would've married you before any dirty old pervert got their looks at you. Before the word 'hikari' could be spoken, I would've flown off with you to a distant country and married you. But fate is cruel, and I was nothing but a phantom thief. And you just had to be so well to do.
Truth is, I started falling in love with you about three months after I met you. I don't know when you fell in love with me.
I tend to have flashbacks of you a lot.
"Silly girl. Every man isn't good enough for you. Who is?" I asked one night.
"There's one man that I've had my eye on for quite awhile." You giggled.
"Who's that?"
Footsteps were heard in the hallway. "Time to sleep, my lady!" A maid called out, "Your father's orders!" You reluctantly sighed and kissed me goodnight on the cheek like you always did as I flew out of the window.
I never got to find out who that man was...was it me?
"My name is Dai-I mean Dark. The phantom thief Dark." I introduced.
"Really? That's interesting. I've seen you often, but never thought you were Dark." You replied.
Who would think I was Dark? I look too young. It's impossible for someone so young to be such an experienced thief isn't it?
"Who broke your heart? Who made you forget about love?"
You were quiet…you didn't say anything, your eyes were downcast.
"I'm sorry." I said softly.
"Don't be…love means never having to say you're sorry."
I don't think I actually paid attention to the last part that day…but now I know…were you trying to tell me? Sometimes, I curse myself for being so ignorant that day. I'm sorry…maybe if I'd paid attention, things would've been different now and you wouldn't be so far away from me.
"The Hikari's…what do you think of their son?" I asked you once I heard about your upcoming engagement.
"I think he's boring and as dull as a piece of wood." You replied, "I'd much rather be with you."
That was two years after we met. We'd come to know each other's deepest and darkest secrets. And you had come to know who I was…I'll never forget that time.
"There's something I need to say. Something you need to know." I said one night.
You looked at me. I felt nervous but began nevertheless.
"I'm Daisumo. He and I are one. I'm merely possessing his body. I'm a curse of the Niwa family. A three hundred year old curse. We're the same people. When he thinks of a girl he likes, named Ritsa, he changes into me. I just somehow change back after I get home." I told you.
I forget your reaction though. Two hundred year old memories are hard to preserve that long. But I remember your clumsiness and your drawings.
You reached out to pour a cup of tea for me. But I snatched the white china teapot away from you before you could even touch it.
"Dark! You're so mean! If I never practice, when can I pour tea without spilling it?" You pouted at me.
"I'm just protecting you from yourself." I laughed.
"Hmph! As if! You just want to make fun of me!" You crossed your arms and pretended to sulk.
Like I said, your eyes don't lie. They were twinkling.
"My father asked again about my drawings. He asked me who the boy is modeled after. I said he was modeled after Daisumo."
"D-D-Daisumo?" I laughed out loud.
"What? It wasn't a good excuse?"
"Seriously, I look nothing like Daisumo." I laughed again, "Your father has a good reason for doubting your excuse."
"Well, could you think of a better one at early morning before dawn?" You asked me.
"No…but Daisumo!" I cracked up again.
You laughed with me…that was one of the first times I saw you genuinely laugh. Before that, you only had smiled. But now, you laughed. And it sounded sweeter than sugar. Oh, and there was the time we went flying together. But that's not to talk about now…I heard that you died from depression soon after I disappeared from that generation of the Niwa's…because Daisumo told Ritsa about me and she accepted me for Daisumo's sake and for the sake of her love of Daisumo. Good for her, I'd rather her have not accepted me so I could've continued seeing you. I never got to tell you farewell. I believe the soul is always reincarnated into the next life. I never got to see you to tell you about meeting in the next life of yours. I heard that soon after you died, the Hikari's made a piece of artwork for you. I've only stolen from them and will continue that…except for the time I stole the Agate Links for someone. I think that piece of artwork that they made for you after you died is so much more than a piece of artwork. And knowing the Hikari's, it probably is much more than a piece of artwork. It probably has much darker secrets than any of us bother to find out. That's why, I vow to steal every single piece of artwork they've made, and maybe, one of them will be yours…and maybe, that's when I'll find you again. I only can pray right now though, that it'll be in this lifetime, and not in the next. I've waited so long and patiently. Must the gods keep me waiting longer?
I miss you so much, Asuka.
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Chapter 1
Why Can't I Find You?
.x.x.x.x.x.x.
To Daisuke, Dark seemed troubled lately. He seemed so pensive and thoughtful. If not out stealing, or fighting Krad, or egging Daisuke on, Dark seemed just so lost and wistful. Daisuke was worried. Dark didn't seem so playful like he had been in the beginning. But Daisuke couldn't find out anything. It wasn't fair. Dark always went into Daisuke's mind and into his private thoughts, but Dark was blocking Daisuke from his private thoughts.
'I just wanna help you Dark.' Daisuke thought to Dark.
'This is something I need to do on my own.' Dark thought back. 'It has been for the last 200 years.'
'Two hundred years? And you won't let me help?' Daisuke asked.
'No, Daisuke. This is strictly my business.'
'At least you can tell me what it is…'
'When the time comes.' Dark said as he shut himself away again.
Argh…Dark could be so stubborn sometimes. Daisuke mentally cursed Dark for being so hot headed.
'Daisuke. You must understand. Sometimes a person has secrets that do not wish anyone to know. Not even their closest friends.' Dark said.
'But…I just wanna make sure you're alright.' Daisuke pleaded again to Dark.
'I am alright Daisuke.' Dark said and shut himself away once more.
Daisuke sighed. Oh well, Dark would come to him when the time came. He had said so himself. But is it so hard or wrong to care for someone?
'Oh…alright, Daisuke, I might as well tell you.' Dark relented.
'Really?' Daisuke sat up straighter.
'After we steal the Saint of Tears Maiden statue tonight at 11pm.' Dark replied.
'WHAT!' A vein in Daisuke's forehead popped, 'Why not now!'
'Duty before pleasure.' Dark replied emotionless.
'This has nothing to do with my pleasure , it's about helping you!' Daisuke argued.
'Still, you need to get your job done before you can relax and hear my story.' Dark said.
'You're just saying that because by the time, we come back, I'll be dead tired and collapse and won't be able to listen!' Daisuke whined.
'So wait until tomorrow. Go find out what the Saint of Tears Maiden looks like so we know what to take.' Dark prodded.
'Fine…' Daisuke grumbled and went downstairs to ask his mother about the Saint of Tears Maiden.
.x.x.x.x.x.
At approximately 11:45pm, Dark and Daisuke returned back to the Niwa household, Saint of Tears Maiden in hand. After hearing about 15 minutes of praise from Daisuke's mother and listening to Grandpa talk about the next heist, Daisuke hoisted himself upstairs wearily to go to sleep.
'I guess your story will have to wait till tomorrow.' Daisuke mumbled, 'You planned this didn't you?'
'Maybe I did.' Dark said.
'I really hate how all your excuses are actually logical.' Daisuke grumbled.
'So you do.' Dark said.
'Whatever…this is pointless, I could be arguing with you until tomorrow, and then I'd be too tired to listen tomorrow and it would have to wait till next week or something.' Daisuke yawned and slipped under the covers.
'Hnn…good night Daisuke.' Dark said as Daisuke fell asleep.
.x.x.x.x.x.
The next morning, it was Saturday. In me saying so, Dark allowed Daisuke to stay asleep as long as needed while he contemplated the best way to tell Daisuke about his problem. His problem, being of course, finding Asuka. What would Daisuke say if he found out there was one girl who actually captured the heart of the infamous, flirtatious, phantom thief Dark?
'It's not like I've always been flirtatious…I just tried to forget Asuka…that's why I'm flirtatious.' Dark sighed.
How many girls has it been? There was Menou, Rika, Hana, and so many more. They all had dark hair and big eyes like Asuka. But they weren't Asuka.
'That'll work real well…sure, just tell Daisuke you flirt because you want to forget.' Dark muttered darkly to himself.
Daisuke would laugh over that. Dark could picture Daisuke rolling around on the ground, clutching his sides, and laughing at Dark about his forgetting.
'It's not so easy forgetting your first love.' Dark mumbled to himself.
Then again, it's hard forgetting anything for that matter.
'Then Daisuke would ask about Risa.' Dark thought. 'I'll tell him I liked Risa because she reminded me of her grandmother.'
Sure…that's a credible excuse. Daisuke woke up at that moment. He sleepily tumbled through his morning rituals and went downstairs for breakfast. After eating and looking very refreshed, Daisuke perched himself on his window seat and let Dark come out in spirit form.
"I'm listening Dark. No excuses or appointments this time. Tell me your story." Daisuke said.
Dark paused and then began.
"I met her at least two hundred years ago…"
Chapter One Finish
Reviews and Criticism always appreciated! Hope Asuka doesn't seem that mary-sueish. I promise it'll get better.