Shadowed Memories

Yay for lucky 3! I think I'll finally get to the point here, cool? I know, I know, the chapter titles are all lame, but I can't think of anything else! You got a problem, review me about it! Then I'll forgive you because you reviewed! So either way, I WIN! HAHAHAHAHA! Erhem, read on you readers!

Chapter 3: The Last Feather

"…What was that all about?" mumbled Mirror Dark, slightly puzzled by his mom's reaction. He looked over to the redhead who was still staring at the doorway, a small smile still on his face. Daisuke's smile grew smaller. His mom knowing his purpose here just made him feel even more homesick and eager to go home. His crimson eyes that were only just before shining with happiness lost its glow a bit with the thought of the real reason he was here.

Completely disobeying his mother's wish, Mirror Dark lunged at him once again, snapping Daisuke out of his reverie. They continue to bicker a bit, as though the past event had never happened.

Dark was too engrossed to notice the white bunny jump over to him, 'kyuuu'-ing loudly so as to catch the attention of Daisuke. His own Wiz was still in the form of wings and attached to his back, but he could feel them quiver slightly at the sight of itself.

(A/N: BTW, sorry I forgot to add this, but Daisuke did not catch the 1st black feather at the beginning.)

Unfortunately, Daisuke and Mirror Dark were both quarrelling so loudly that neither heard the crying animal. Wiz jumped back to Daisuke, desperately trying to get his attention but to no avail. Dark finally decided that it was time he showed himself to the bickering boys.

"…NOW WHERE IS HE DAMNIT!" (Mirror Dark)

"That's what I'm asking you!" (Dai)

"My, my. I'm so pleased that you two are so ahhhh, concerned about me."

Both boys turned towards the suave, cocky voice. Lounging just beside them, with black wings spread majestically, was the Phantom Thief Dark.

"Dark!" both boys exclaimed. "You idiot!" added Mirror Dark, giving him one of his punches.

Dark turned to Daisuke.

"Now who are you and what do you want?"

"Dark, where is the last memory feather!" asked Daisuke quickly, knowing all too well his lack of time.

"What memory feather?" questioned Dark, thinking the boy had lost it.

"These!" he pulled out the 9 black feathers that Dark had seen him examining only just before. Daisuke held them out to the Thief, begging him to remember.

Silently, Dark reached out for them, only to wince and draw back his hand.

"Ouch. I don't know where you got these feathers from but they hurt. What kind of magical property do they have?"

Daisuke felt depressed. Dark obviously did not remember. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked Dark in the eye.

"You have to remember Dark! To-to is dying and I can't help her!" he lifted the pink bird gently out of his pocket and cradled her lightly. There was only a whisper of life in her now.

A purple eyebrow shot up in confusion, followed by a questioning stare.

"The Towa no Shirube? How did she end up with you? It was destroyed ages ago!"

"She…she…" the redhead quavered under the fierce stare. "She still exists in my world. She promised to help me get you out of the Sage of Sleep in return for me taking her home."

"Sage of Sleep? That Hikari art piece?" asked Dark. Why was everything so confusing? "What do you mean 'your world'?"

Daisuke didn't know how to explain it but Wiz came to the rescue. He transformed into Daisuke and nudged the redhead.

"Kyuuuu! Kyuuuu…" urged the bunny. He pointed at the struggling bird, who was now To-to in her night form.

Daisuke noticed this and immediately helped her up.

"To-to! You're alright!"

"Nnnng…Daisuke?" she muttered, slightly dazed. "Have you got the feather yet?"

"No…not yet. Can you help me?"

"I'll try…" she replied. All this while Dark and Mirror Dark where watching them with question marks hovering over their heads, while Mirror Wiz transformed back and hopped to Wiz, sniffing confusedly.

"Ok…so long story short. In the real world, for this is the mirror world created by Dark's dreams, Dark was trapped by Krad in the Sage of Sleep. Yes I know it doesn't exist here but then again, neither does me or Daisuke and we're still here." She indicated the redhead and herself, noticing Dark's look. "We have come to get him back, and found out he remembers nothing of his past. And you," indicates Mirror Dark. "Are basically Dark's connection. Like his soul rests in your body, but the real one is trapped somewhere you don't need to know. I don't know how you come into this though…" she trailed off thoughtfully, looking at Dark. "And we have to get the 10 memory feathers back so his memory can be restored. Now…"She explained, suddenly vibrant again, her gloved finger pointing at Dark. "Where's the last feather?"

"Look I don't know what you're on about lady!" he shouted angrily. "I have nothing of that sort which hurts so much just by me getting close to them." he finished indignantly.

"Ahhhh…it seems that the feathers are filled with Dark's strong memories. They are also filled with negative feelings of pain and loneliness." To-to explained, then she turned to Daisuke.

"Daisuke, I talked to Dark before. You have to hurry. He's losing his will to come back because of the confusion he is in now. I tried to convince him, but I don't know if its working…" To-to's voice trailed off as she once again grew weakened and fainted.

"To-to!" cried Daisuke, instantly worried. He turned back to Dark. "You have to tell me where to find the feather Dark!"

"But I don't have it." He whispered, and suddenly, the world seemed to fade away into confusing mix of blues. Only Daisuke was left, sitting there in the emptiness, his red hair contrasting sharply with blue. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came, blowing the black feathers from his hand. They danced about, flying just out of his reach. Eventually, he caught them all and sat down to think about everything.

Dark didn't have the feather, and no-one else here seemed to. So what other memory was so important to Dark that they had missed out on?

Daisuke felt the burden of the whole situation heave onto him. Dark would be gone soon if he didn't do something soon. He couldn't bear to think what life would be like without that voice in his head. Ironic how hard he had first tried to get rid of him, but it seemed now that Dark had become an important part of him.

Important part…

Daisuke's head shot up instantly. If Dark played such a big role in Daisuke's mind, surely he would be the same for Dark? He had always thought that under all the teasing and jokes, there were hints of something else…like how a brother would act over his little sibling.

But…he was sure he didn't have the last feather.

"Ouch!" Daisuke suddenly winced. The tip of one of the feathers had run sharply along his fingertip, causing it to bleed. A drop of blood dripped down onto the blue ground and became a deep purple in the light.

Red and blue make purple…he thought vaguely. Absent-mindedly, hisfinger slashed across the floor, and he finished quickly. The picture was of a feather.

He stared at the feather. Why did he draw that? Maybe because the words purple and feather somehow merged in his mind, causinghimto think that for somereason, itwould have something to do withDark. He waited. And waited. Nothing happened. He sighed. Guess it was just wishful thinking.

Without warning, the picture flashed black, and Daisuke felt a searing pain in his heart.

"ARGHHHH!" Daisuke cried in agony. He started sobbing in pain. 'Why did this have to happen?' he thought in between fits of pain. His shaking hands were over his throbbing heart, and his eyes wide open in anguish. He suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to laugh, and he soon realised the feeling was from his hand. Ignoring the pain for a bit, he removed his hands and stared.

For in his hand, lay a single black feather. And it had most certainly not been there before.

A wild thought came to him. Had it…come from his heart? What did that mean? Did it mean…the true Dark was with him all the time? All that time, he was still inside him?

Out of the blue, the pain hit him again, harder than ever. He shut his eyes in a vain effort to contain it, but to no avail.

'Please help me Dark!' he thought desperately. 'Come on Dark!'

Daisuke lifted his head, and shouted for the entire world to hear.

"COME OUT DARK! DARKKKKKK!"

As he slipped away from the world, he vaguely thought he saw a smiling face, and a familiar feeling of warmth. His mind finally relinquished its hold completely, and he distantly thought he heard two simple words from a familiar voice.

"Thank you."


Yippee! Dark is back! Isn't everyone just soooo happy? But wait! Dark is back, but it isn't finished yet! I think I'll write one or two chapters more, just to end it ok? Well, until the next update, bye!

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