Shattering The Night Chapter 1: The Calm Before The Storm
Two pearlescsent sapphire eyes stared straight at him. Though he couldn't be sure, it seemed that a smile formed on her lips at the sight of his confusion. But after all, what wasn't confusing and out of place about this situation? What on earth was she doing here? Not so much that as, why now?
"You seem confused," the now clear feminine voice chided. "I wonder why? It shouldn't be that surprising. After all, this is my father's museum, isn't it?"
"Satsuki? What is she doing here?"
"Daiki, be quiet, you're not helping."
"C'mon Dark, I mean, you were wondering the same thing too, right?"
"So? Now if you don't mind, having a voice talking to you in your head while you're thinking is annoying."
"Oh…sorry…"
With a snap, the ceiling lights flickered to life and the ornate corridor was brightly illuminated. The lavish engravings on the Romanesque pillars gleamed in their ancient splendor while the pure crystal chandelier glittered high above. Satsuki paced toward a small display case. Expertly unlocking the case, her white gloved hand reached gently inside, her fingers grasping around the edges of a porcelain box. It lay in the palm of her hand as she stretched her arm toward his lean figure near the window.
"It's absolutely beautiful isn't it?" her eyes locked in a dreamlike gaze with his. "Some men would die to steal it, something as silly as this little box. And what for? Fame? Wealth? Power? They are all valid reasons for anyone to steal anything from here. Yet even so, the great art thief Dark Mousey chose a rather worthless diamond necklace. Why is that?"
Her gloved hand closed around the box as she returned it to its rightful place, deep sea blue hair draping across her shoulders. He didn't know what to do, he felt so lame, standing there as if he were at her total command. A chill of fear ran up his spine, yet he didn't feel as though the white suited figure standing before him were the cause of it. In fact, looking at her gave him an uneasy sense of…peace.
"Could it be," her melodious voice continued as she turned to face his uneasy form. "that you only take pieces of Hikari artwork?"
Stunned, he took a step back finding himself against the windowsill. How in the world could she have known that? Only people of Hikari or Niwa blood noticed the pattern.
"Dark…"
"Not now Daiki."
"Oh please," Satsuki began, musing at his sudden lack of words. "Don't you think I would notice if my own family's artwork were being stolen from right under my very nose. Give me some credit Mr. Mousey, I may be a curator's daughter, a snotty little rich girl, but I am in no way naïve."
"You're," he could only stand and stare. "you're not, you can't be…your father, he…"
"Married my mother, Mayo Hikari. Good deductive work Mr. Mousey. Just stop looking so suspicious, if I were going to kill you, the police would have shot you already. But that isn't what you're afraid of is it?"
A smile formed on her pale face. "Mr. Mousey, you of all people should know that only the males of each family carry the gene. As you can see," Satsuki spun around slowly. "I am definitely not a man. Krad is not here, yet."
His tense body loosened at the statement. The last thing he needed was to not only get caught off balance by a member of the Hikari family, let alone one who carried Krad's gene. Still, it was strange that only she, Satsuki Hikari had shown up, no police, no special ops, just her, and her alone. If this was a warning, she was certainly playing like she had the upper hand. But just to be safe…
"Why are you here, exactly?" He queried. "Isn't it dangerous? You are unarmed, I could easily take you down."
"And yet you haven't, Mr. Mousey, you haven't done a single thing but stare dumbfounded, I must have really startled you. Krad spoke so highly of your keen prowess and sharp mind. I'm disappointed; I expected a much more…charming greeting."
Satsuki sighed and turned her back toward him. Again her dark hair draped perfectly across her rounded shoulders, falling neatly back into place with each step she took away from him.
"This is a warning Mr. Mousey," her voice growing softer. "You can get away this time, completely unscathed. But next time, let's just say there may be some… fireworks. Good evening, Mr. Mousey."
With a second snap of her fingers, the lights vanished, and he was left in total darkness and silence once again.
"Satsuki?"
"Yes, Shaji."
"Why did you let Dark get away? After all, didn't mother tell us, before she died, that all the Niwas were our enemies? He is one of the Niwa, and he stole a Hikari work of art, yet you still let him get away. Why?"
For the second time that night her lips emitted a sigh. Her calm sapphire eyes lowered to meet the ocean blue ones of her younger brother. It seemed only natural that he didn't understand, being only fourteen and still a child. Shaji was still innocent and pure, at least for the most part. There was the minor detail that he carried the dominant Hikari gene and would inevitably turn into Krad. Still, he remained as cheerful and playful as he ever was. He was the child that everyone loved, the one talked about lovingly at dinner parties or banquets, the one with whom everyone could find a little of themselves as children in. And yet, she felt nothing toward him, neither love, nor hate, just a bland mixture of some feeling resembling family loyalty and the fact that they were forever bound together by the Hikari curse. But if she had known him not as a brother, she would have loathed his carefree way of life, and loved his purity. She couldn't imagine a more perfect child, and yet, she didn't even want to be around him.
For a long time, the idea had danced through her head many times that she was jealous. Everyone always referred to her as the business woman or as "that beautiful yet strangely cold young woman". Oddly, she liked those descriptions of herself. She had learned the hard way that loving something is a gamble, so she loved nothing. It gave her a cold but calm aura that seemed to trickle to those around her, it had even affected Dark. The fact was, that she did love something, and that something was the only reason she didn't regret the existence of her darling little brother. She quickly dismissed jealousy as the reason for impartial behavior toward her brother. No, it was something more…longing, longing for what he could be.
"Sister," the words broke her train of thought.
"Mr. Mousey has more to offer us than could be acquired through one meeting. I was merely informing him of our existence. This way, we can not only defeat him, but humiliate him as well."
"That seems cruel," Shaji responded pouting. "very cruel sister."
"Of course it's cruel," she snarled. "But what do you call what he has done to our family for over 200 years? Kindness? Good will?"
Startled by his sister's sudden outburst, Shaji lowered his head of pale blue hair. Good, she thought, maybe he will finally understand what I am trying to do. Shaji's head rose up, with what seemed like tears forming in his eyes. He was like that, breaking down at the slightest injustice. He would cry a river if a fly was swatted in his presence. She had always thought that was pointless, things die, and if you had to cry yourself half to death for everything that did die, you would join them sooner rather than later.
"If we have to sister," he whispered, submitting to her will. "I will help you do whatever is necessary, if that is what mother wanted, if that will help us, help you, be happy."
His words hit her hard; he would do anything to make her happy? How ridiculous, how absurd, how…unsettling. Ironic, she didn't feel the same about him, not at all. However it was uplifting to have him on her side. Just one step closer to the real goal. She smiled inwardly; this was truly the calm before the storm.
Destiny's Quill- This is chapter 1. Don't know if this is short or long, but I have a feeling that the rest of the chapters will be about the same length. Please R&R (no flames please, be nice) and note whether or not you like this chapter length. Thanks!
Disclaimer- I don't own D.N.Angel, if I did, well I would have enough money to have other people write this story for me!