Shadowed Memories
Um, hi. This story is my version of what happened while Dark was in the Sage of Sleep, THIS IS BASED ON THE MANGA NOT THE ANIME! Sorry, to anime readers, but I think the manga version is more interesting in that area. It happens round about when Daisuke gets the 9th memory feather from Riku. I had been expecting this to happen in the story and was very disappointed when it didn't. Please R&R because I will be happy to know that SOMEbody read it. SLIGHT SPOILER FOR BOOK 5!
Chapter 1: See the Light
"Yes! There's the feather!" Daisuke whispered joyfully to To-to, who was standing next to him. The redhead, along with his guide the Towa no Shirube, were in the mirror world of the artefact the Sage of Sleep. They were looking for the 10 memory feathers of Daisuke's alter-ego, Kaitou Dark Mousy, who was recently trapped in the mirror. Upon their arrival, Daisuke had learnt that in this dream world of Dark, he didn't exist. In fact, Dark existed as Daisuke in this world, with no memory of his time in the real world. To restore his memory, Daisuke had to find the 10 black feathers in order to do so. So far, however, all the feathers had been found with GIRLS, presumably ones Dark had favoured specially. That WOMANIZER! Daisuke had thought when he first realised this. Heck, he had even taken a feather off his 10 year old mother! There was also a freaky image he had imagined of Dark laughing (and looking) evilly, claiming that 'ALL WOMAN ARE MINE!'
"Daisuke!" a clear feminine voice rang out through the air. The redhead jumped up at his name, only then remembering that Riku was not talking to him but to the 'other' Daisuke.
"Hi Riku. Wait a minute…" the purple haired male pulled out Daisuke by the shirt, out of the bushes where he had fallen in his surprise, having noticed the blob of red hair.
Amethyst eyes stared into ruby orbs, scowls clearly evident in their depths.
"You're that little pervert from earlier! What are you doing here? I told you to leave me alone!"
(A/N: Pervert! Ha! Look who's talking!)
Daisuke stared into the other boy's eyes, a determined look on his face.
"You have to remember, Dark! It's me, Daisuke, remember!"
"I'm not Dark! And I'm Daisuke!"
SHOVE!
The boys pushed away from each other simultaneously, both with equally firm looks on their faces.
"See? You are Dark. If you hadn't been trained since birth, we wouldn't be so evenly matched!" the redhead pointed out, knowing his statement was true.
If Dark was affected by that, however, he didn't show it clearly. The purple haired teen grabbed the other boy's shirt and pulled him close.
"Listen here you squirt." He hissed menacingly. "I don't know who you are but if you don't bug off, I'm going to call the police. You got that? Now scram!"
However, Daisuke stayed put, and a hint of a smirk was on his face. He could tell Dark was surprised by his accusation.
"Why would Kaitou Dark want to practically hand himself to the police? To you, they are simply guards to dodge and laugh at."
The other boy gritted his teeth, obviously enraged by his stubbornness.
"Yeah right! As if I'm the legendary Phantom Thief Dark! Stop bugging me! Now just beat it kid!"
"I have a name you know."
"Oh and what's that? Daisuke Niwa? Or Phantom Thief Dark?" he sneered, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"As a matter of fact…I'm both." Daisuke stated calmly.
Purple eyes flashing threateningly as he pushed the redhead away, with such force that Daisuke was about to fall on his back. He flipped around nimbly, skidding across the rough ground. He straightened up and glared at the shocked boy. Was it shock from watching him perform this feat, or from realisation, he didn't know.
Daisuke watched as Dark headed his way, hope in his heart. Had he finally remembered? Uh…no. That was evident since Dark had thrown a sharp punch his way, and he had only narrowly avoided it.
Dark towered over Daisuke, leering sinisterly. He just had to be taller than Daisuke in the dream world too.
"Look you. Stop playing around with me. You don't want to get on my bad side!" he growled. "What is your real name and what are you trying to prove?"
Crimson orbs looked up pleadingly into amethyst ones, but the mouth remained firm.
"I told you. My name is Daisuke Niwa and I'm your other half. Alter-ego. Tamer. Host. Whatever you want to call it."
"Wha…?" Dark trailed off, confusion written all over his face.
"I am you." Daisuke replied, a hint of pleading in his voice.
"Like hell you're not!" he shouted, thrusting Daisuke away once again. "Now take your gibberish somewhere else you weirdo!"
Daisuke was about to counter back again when he heard To-to's voice.
"Stop Daisuke! It's no use! He won't remember until you get all the feathers!"
When he wouldn't listen, To-to used her own magic, and a flurry of black feathers swirled between the boys, separating them.
"Now just get the feather and hurry up! We don't have long left!" she ordered, halting the storm.
Daisuke hesitated, shooting a glare at the older boy, who was clearly stunned. His eyes were wide open, transfixed by the falling feathers. For a moment, it seemed as if it was just Daisuke and the Kaitou on each side of the feathers. Dark was wrapped in a black cage, each feathery piece filled with negative feelings of loneliness. He looked up, and his eyes were glazed, as if forgetting who he truly was, before the image faded, leaving only the gaping boy, who uttered 3 words, that Daisuke could only just hear.
"Black feathers…? Dark?"
Riku watched them all, confused and slightly afraid. What was going on? Who was this boy who claimed to be Daisuke? And did that woman just use magic?
Giving another meaningful look in the other's direction, the redhead walked to Riku, where she was clutching a black feather in her hand.
"I'm sorry Riku, but I'm going to have to take your feather." He placed it into his pocket with the rest before heading off, more determined then ever to save Dark.
"To-to! We can't find the last feather!" Daisuke groaned, leaning against the clock tower with the Eternal Guide.
She concentrated slightly, before looking up and shaking her head.
"I'm sorry Daisuke, but I can't seem to locate the feather! And there's only 30 minutes left!"
"And the Phantom Thief Dark has disappeared! Where could he have gone with the artefact?"
Daisuke looked up suddenly.
"That's it! The Phantom Thief Dark must have the last feather!" he stood up as he saw Dark darting near where he was. "I'm going after him!"
With that, he took off, jumping rooftops as he followed the racing Thief.
"Dark! Wait up DARK!"
"Wow! Daisuke's so amazing! He doesn't even need wings!" exclaimed To-to admiringly as she watched the two.
Daisuke followed the Phantom Thief everywhere, over houses, skidding down rooftops, even jumping through trees. Yet it seemed that no matter how hard he ran, he never got any closer to Dark, but at least Dark didn't get any further away either.
Eventually, he went back to the clock tower where To-to was waiting with a loud round of applause.
"That was amazing Daisuke!" she squealed, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Well, I haven't been trained since birth for nothing," he replied modestly. However, the disappointment of failure soon returned to him and he slumped down, sighing audibly.
'My abilities are the same as Dark's, so I'll NEVER catch up to him.' He thought glumly. 'Unless…I catch him at home!' he brightened up as he explained his plan to his guide.
She smiled weakly but there was a glimmer of sadness in her eyes.
"That's a great plan Daisuke, but I can't take you there. I'm only just strong enough to fly myself."
"Don't worry To-to. You need to preserve your energy anyway. Hmmm… now what to do…"
"Kyuuuu!"
"What the…Wiz!"
"Kyuu!" the bunny nodded his head in a happy affirmation. Daisuke turned to To-to, hope alight in his heavy heart.
"To-to! Is this Wiz from my world or from this mirror world?"
Towa looked up and mumbled something faintly.
"What! I can't hear you To-to!" Daisuke was getting frantic. There were only 15 minutes left!
"Come on To-to! I need you to help me! And you've got to stay alive so when we're done, I can take you home!"
Happiness filled the Eternal Guide's eyes as she, seemingly with more strength, sat up and hugged him gratefully.
"Thank-you so much for that promise Daisuke! You're the first person who has ever told me that I was needed!" she sobbed happily. Daisuke patted her back awkwardly, waiting for her to finish.
Finally, she sat back and peered at the white bunny with searching eyes.
"Yup! He's definitely from the real world Daisuke! Apparently, he sensed your need for help and came to assist you!"
"Kyuuu!" cried Wiz, nodding his head in confirmation.
"Yes! Now I can go home to meet Dark!" he exclaimed, standing up. "Ok Wiz, transform into the wings!"
"Kyuuu!"
"What! Awwww, come on Wiz! You have to!"
"Kyuu!"
"What's the use of coming to help when you can't fly me somewhere!
"Kyuuuu!" said the bunny once again, shaking a firm no. He would not transform unless it was for Dark.
Daisuke picked up Wiz and looked straight into his crimson eyes.
"Come on Wiz. You have to do this for Dark's sake! He would want you to anyway…"
The bunny seemed to think for a bit before giving a short cry.
"Kyuuu!"
"To-to! Do you know what he is saying?" he asked the older woman.
To-to nodded.
"Yes. He is saying that you have to take the appearance of Dark so his transformation could take place."
"Ok."
Wiz gave a happy cry as To-to muttered an incantation, which transformed Daisuke's appearance to that of Dark's. The redhead was surrounded by a deep blue light, before his hair grew longer and darker, a deep plum colour, and he grew slightly taller. He was even dressed in one of Dark's thieving outfits, sleeveless black top with white lining and stiches across the middle and black pants (To-to can do a lot of different spells XD).
FWOOSH!
Black feathers swirled everywhere as Wiz transformed into jet black wings on to Daisuke's back.
"Ready To-to? To-to!" he crouched down next to the unconscious bird. He picked her up gently and placed her in his pocket, hoping she could hang on for awhile longer.
"Ok Wiz! Home to Dark!"
"Kyuuuuu!"
With a rush of black feathers, Tamer and wings flew off towards the Niwa residence.
In the place of Dark's imprisonment, To-to materialized. This was only her spirit form; her real body was safe with Daisuke. However, Dark was not there. Instead, Dark-as-he-was-in-this-mirror-world (We'll call him Mirror Dark) was before her, stubbornly refusing to give in.
"Listen to me Dark!" she urged him, but he simply would not look her in the eye.
"Daisuke's right you know." She whispered, knowing that Dark could hear her. "And deep down, in your heart, you know it too. Just that, the place is locked, and the key gone. The only key now, is for your willingness to come back, be Kaitou Dark once more." She smiled, contentment alight in her eyes. "Daisuke's a great person, he cares about you. So don't leave him alone…if you don't want to come back, Daisuke will not leave, and he will be forever trapped in this maze of mirrors that you have created. He will be trapped, truly isolated like you are now, except, he has no place here. He does not exist as himself here. You at least somewhat belong in your dream world."
Mirror Dark looked away adamantly, but To-to could see the real Dark, trapped within tendrils of confusion. His wings were wrapped around him firmly, leaving only a small vision of sight. His wings that once gave him freedom above all, now his personal cage. He looked up, and she could see his isolation.
"I…don't know how." He whispered softly. "I want to…but a part of me doesn't…all I wanted was to be normal." His eyes were blinded by his imaginary dreams of fitting in when he knew he couldn't, and accepted it long ago. But now, now that he had another chance, he did not seem to want to leave.
To-to's eyes filled with tears. Poor Dark…maybe it was best to leave him here. But then, he will be forever blinded by his false hopes, hiding him from his real dreams. And Daisuke…she couldn't leave Daisuke here, where he did not belong.
She looked down at her hands, tears running down her pale cheeks.
"How…COULD you!" she sobbed angrily, her voice rising an octave with every word. "HOW COULD YOU! You are not alone! Daisuke is still with you! As well as every member of the Niwa family that there ever has been and ever will be!" she looked up, determination calling out from every part of her body. She had to make him see, she had to.
"And…are you…are you just going to leave them alone? When they truly care for you? Are you going to make them all suffer what you are going through? This is not the Dark I know! The Dark who is like a god in our realm! Do you want to be someone who puts a whole clan into eternal sadness? You are an important part of every Niwa males' life. You are their other half. Without you, they are incomplete. It is acceptable that you leave when the time is right but now…now…you are going to leave Daisuke in the dark forever!" she screamed at him, willing him to understand. Her normally cheerful eyes were saddened by Dark. Couldn't he see what he was truly doing?
"He has Riku…" Dark stated quietly, normally vibrant, knowing, purple eyes downcast.
"Don't you get it? Riku isn't enough when he knows you left him before she accepts both of you! Isn't it a Phantom Thief's job to give as well take! Well then, give Daisuke the feeling of being wanted and accepted! He will feel that you did not care about him at all, when he has truly accepted you for whom and what you are!" To-to shrieked, crystal tear drops flying around her.
"Look how hard he is searching for the true you! The true you who is his alter-ego and the Kaitou Dark!"
"No…they don't accept me. I'm a curse, taking away their freedom to truly love and be loved. I know, that in their hearts, all they ever feel towards me is hatred…For once I didn't want to be the centre of attention. I just wanted to be a bystander, free from all sins. Accepted, by…everyone."
He was consuming himself in more and more lies. Lying to himself, encouraging the wings to hold him tighter, refusing to accept reality.
Dark looked away, sadness still remaining, and the wings covered him even more so.
To-to thought of the young redhead, trying his best to get Dark back.
"Hurry Daisuke," she whispered. "Before the Black Wings takes Dark from you forever…"
So what do you think of my remake of it? Hope you enjoyed my weird version of it. Dark is REALLY angsty here, for some reason, I like angsty fics. Really hard to explain, but those type of stories seem to like, affect me. I love suspense. Hehehe, Daisuke kinda speaks the way Dark does when: SPOILER! When Daisuke is trapped in the Second Hand of Time and asks Dark who he was when Dark came to rescue him! Yeah and To-to takes the spotlight here. I just HAD to put in a depressed Dark. But all the same, it is much appreciated if you review! So, ta! Press that 'Go' button at the bottom corner and I'll leave you in peace!
