Anaen: "It's been nearly a month."
Cye: "I know…."
Anaen: "What's the excuse this time?"
Cye: "Actually, I have a good one."
Anaen: "Oh?"
Cye: Clears throat. "Final Exams, finishing projects, Driver's Ed, a bit of leg work for an anime club, new computer, and having to put on active sync to get the story off of my pocket computer."
Anaen: "Well….I suppose that's somewhat acceptable. Though I think Daisuke is about to die."
Daisuke: Laying on the ground, still wearing the sweater. "It's….too….hot…."
Cye: "Don't worry! It comes off at the end of the next chapter!"
Daisuke: "Ugh….."
Reply to Reviewers:
Fish tank the Stephs:
Eh-heh-heh. Sorry for the wait. Thanks for reviewing.
Draechaeli:
Daisuke: "That was…just….uhhhh…."
Cye: Covers Daisuke's mouth before he embarrasses himself. "It's simple. He's in denial! Don't worry, that'll be fixed soon. Soon, there will be limes aplenty. MUWAHAHAHA!"
Daisuke: Edges away. "She scares me."
Cye: "About Riku and Daisuke….I am a yaoi fangirl, but I still like the straight couples as well. Though, I felt like Daisuke and Satoshi, so apologizes Riku, but there must be dumping! But she will not be a bitch. I believe she can be sane despite what other people write."
Saffire Flame:
Cye: "I have ideas about that, but I need to get it to fit, but there will be a Krad/Satoshi moment in the next two chapters that I thought was sweet. There will be complications because, dang it, I love the psychotic angel bishie that is named Krad!"
Satoshi: "Why does everyone want that angel around me?" Curled up in a dark corner.
Nekozuki14:
That's the plan, but there's must be drama, neh? Not a story without it.
Warning: OC death and…that's basically it. Boy/boy love to those who haven't gotten it by now. There will also be dashes of Yuri, or girl/girl love as well. Got a problem, go away and don't flame me saying I'll go to Hell about it.
Disclaimer: If I owned DNAngel, then I would know who Argentine was.
Chapter Eleven: When Angels Fall…
"Only a few hours now." Daisuke said, cleaning a table.
"The security is still too light for Dark." Satoshi said, sitting behind Daisuke, looking at the archway that led from the dining hall to the art gallery.
"A crowd Dark could hide in and a few Dark could take out." Daisuke said.
"Hn. He just said the same thing." Satoshi commented.
Daisuke looked back and smiled. "I already said he was predictable." He said.
"Indeed he is until a robbery." A voice said from the other side of the table Daisuke was cleaning.
Daisuke jumped and looked around. "M-Miss Sairen." He stuttered.
Sairen rolled her eyes. "No reason to act since we're the only three here." She said.
"What do you want?" Satoshi demanded, glaring at her.
Sairen smirked and shook her head. "You know, what really happened was I interrupted a make out session between Kazu and Daika." She commented.
Daisuke blushed a dark red.
"That still doesn't answer what you want." Satoshi said in an icy tone.
"Always right to the point." Sairen sighed. "I'm simply following the play. I interrupted because I wished to speak with Daika."
"About what?" Daisuke asked.
"I'm afraid it's a private matter. Dark is not allowed to hear." Sairen said, looking at Satoshi, her voice and face devoid of emotion.
Daisuke stared at her for a few moments and turned to Satoshi who was still giving her an icy look. "Satoshi, I'll go with her. If she wanted to hurt me, she would have done something before now." He said.
"But Daisuke..." Satoshi started.
Daisuke held up a hand to silence him. "It's all right. I'll be fine." Daisuke said with a smile.
Satoshi stayed silent.
"Excellent. This way, Niwa-kun." Sairen said and walked away, Daisuke trailing behind her.
Satoshi was silent for several more minutes. She must despise your existence completely. He said to Dark.
"What makes you say that?" Dark asked.
The way she look and sounded when she said your name. It was a way to suppress the hatred in her voice. Krad says Daisuke's name like that when he's trying to be pleasant. Satoshi answered. You're name is always said in hatred though.
"Of course." Dark said and was silent a moment. "You know, I think this is the first time a female truly hated me. I mean, Riku called me a pervert, sure, but at least she didn't go out of her way to hurt me."
Well, you were inadvertly the cause of death for three people she cared for. Satoshi said.
"Hey, that was never my intention. I feel sorry for her and sorry for what happened, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let her kill me." Dark said.
I'm not saying you should. We just have to find a way to reason with her. Satoshi concluded.
"Where are we going?" Daisuke asked after following Sairen for a few minutes in silence.
"I want to show you something." Sairen said and stopped in front of a cabin door. She pulled out a key, unlocked it and entered the room, leaving the door open for Daisuke.
Daisuke closed the door after he entered and looked around the room. It looked like his and Satoshi's room except this one had a lot of flowers and what looked like another room. Maybe two.
"They're from fans of Maria. This is her cabin along with Lana and myself." Sairen explained, walking out of a room with a book and case. She sat down on the couch and gestured for Daisuke to sit too.
Daisuke walked over, feeling a bit wary now. As he walked over he saw her pulling a flute out of the case. Daisuke froze. "What are you doing?" He asked, nervous.
"I can't use those spells in here. Don't worry." Sairen said.
"Oh." Daisuke said, hesitating a moment before he sat down.
Sairen held the flute in front of her, just staring at it. "The flute and Kazu are my parents. Kazu is the artist who painted me and this flute is the one Maria played the song that gave Kazu the inspiration for it. This flute is the only that can play it right." Sairen finally said.
"Uhhh..." Daisuke just stared.
"Maria played the song after her husband died. Kazu happened to hear." Sairen said. "And so I was created." She said, holding up the flute and started to play.
Daisuke was silent for several minutes. "Wouldn't Maria be a parent too?" He asked.
Sairen stopped, silent a moment. "No." She said and looked at the flute. "This flute is called 'Heart of a Siren'. That was what name it was given because if you can play it right, you can captivate anyone." She looked at Daisuke. "I'm Siren of Lost Heart and she's Heart of a Siren. She's my other half, my siren."
Daisuke stared at her and nodded. "Well, you guys definitely have a strong bond of friendship..." He said started.
"Actually the fact was that Kazu wasn't the only one who was gay." Sairen said.
Daisuke turned beet red and looked away. "Oh." He said.
Sairen laughed. "More shy now that Satoshi confessed to you, huh?" She commented with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.
"What!" Daisuke squeaked, head whipping around to face her and jumped back, falling off the couch. "H-how did y-you know about t-t-t-THAT!" He stuttered.
"Because I am an art spirit close to this piece. I see all." Sairen said. "Not to mention I saw you guys."
"Oh." Daisuke said, still sitting on the ground.
"But that is irrelevant. This won't stop me from achieving my goal." Sairen said.
"What goal?" Daisuke asked, thinking he already knew the answer.
"To destroy Dark once and for all. No matter who gets in the way." Sairen said, staring right into his eyes, looking serious, determined, and.…pained?
However, Daisuke wasn't concerned about that. "You can't! Dark didn't mean it!" He yelled, moving forward, on his knees now.
Sairen glared at him with a hateful look. "Because of that...ghost...I lost my treasured person. Because of him, I can no longer take my real form on my own! Because of him, I was in the dark with my last picture of the real world was of MARIA DYING!" She shouted with venom dripping from her voice.
Daisuke stared at her, silent for a few moments and sighed, climbing to his feet. He then looked at Sairen with a sympathetic look, but serious. "Dark made a mistake. He is likely to eventually, but I won't let you destroy him. Even if you could do it without killing his tamer, I won't let you." Daisuke paused, closing his eyes for a moment and opened his eyes halfway with a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry for you and Maria. You're both good people and didn't deserve death, but it was still an accident. The first time Dark…he didn't even recognize you." Daisuke said.
Sairen studied Daisuke for several minutes and then sighed. "Leave. Your boss is looking for you." She said and left before Daisuke could stop her.
Daisuke sighed. I hope this can end well. He thought and then waited for Krad's usual sarcastic remark, but was surprised to hear none. Krad? He questioned and looked back to see he was asleep. "But…he was awake just a few minutes ago." He muttered.
"Krad isn't waking up. It's been four hours now." Daisuke said.
"It's not like Krad to sleep through something important." Satoshi said.
"'Didn't she play the flute?" Dark asked.
"She said her music wasn't effective here." Satoshi said.
"She could have lied." Dark said flatly.
"Well...that is true. She could've lied." Satoshi said.
Daisuke paused and sighed. "Well, I suppose..." He admitted sullenly.
"Hm." Satoshi looked at the clock. "Break's over." He said.
Daisuke had a look of dread, but nodded and left the bedroom.
Satoshi stood up two minutes after Daisuke left and walked out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Dark asked.
To see how set in stone this painting is. Satoshi answered, heading for the deck.
"How do you plan to do that?" Dark asked.
Satoshi didn't answer. He wasn't even sure himself.
Daisuke was walking down the hall with a bucket and mop, heading for the gallery. His 'boss' had said Maria had said she would only trust him to clean the room tonight. He could understand why. He was almost family. It was that, or because he was a Niwa who might be able to predict Dark. If Daika's brother was Dark then he must have been the candidate until he was born. He should have some training.
"Where are those guards?" Maria shouted when Daisuke entered the room. "They should be here by now!"
"I don't know." Sairen replied.
"Miss Haria?" Daisuke said questioningly.
Maria and Sairen looked towards Daisuke.
Maria was silent a moment and smiled. "Hello Daika." She said.
It's the training. Daisuke thought, remembering that look on Saga's face before he was told him mother signed the contract to make him act in the commercial. "You wanted me to clean?" He asked.
"Right, of course." Maria said, walking towards him. "Though an interesting thought came to me Daika-kun." She said, stopping in front of him. "You're a Niwa, correct? Tell me, could you predict Dark's movements?" She asked with an innocent smile.
Daisuke sighed. "Skylight, or with a woman he charmed." He said.
Maria smiled and patted Daisuke shoulder. "Thank you Daika-kun." She said and left to examine the skylight.
"Where are the guards?" Daisuke asked, looking at Sairen.
"They're late." Sairen answered.
Daisuke paused. "Daika doesn't realize?" He asked.
"No, he doesn't." Sairen answered.
"Nothing I can do to change things?" He asked.
Sairen was silent for several moments. "No." She said and followed Maria.
Daisuke sighed sadly and started to clean the room. It was an hour before anyone else came.
"Where have you been? And where are the others!" Maria demanded of the guard.
The guard saluted. "Sorry ma'am! I was patrolling and the others...don't think Dark will show." The guard answered.
Of course they wouldn't. You already knocked them out. Daisuke thought, recognizing Dark's voice already.
Maria sighed. "Underestimating the Phantom Thief Dark? They forgot his wings. He could get here easily." She said.
"That's why I'm here, ma'am." The guard, or rather Dark, said, tipping his hat. "Now, I'll just want to check on the pieces." He said, looking around.
"The painting is on the wall. I'll get the flute." Maria said, walking away.
Dark walked towards the painting, looking at it closely.
Daisuke looked at Sairen, who was sitting like a statue on the couch. He looked at Dark and walked over to him.
Dark looked over at him. "There a problem, sir?" He asked.
Daisuke studied him a moment and then he gave Dark a pleading look. "Do you have to take the painting?" He asked in a whisper.
Dark stared at him, surprise showing on his face a moment before he regained his composure. "I'm guarding it, not stealing it." He said.
"I'm a Niwa. You're not fooling me." Daisuke said.
"A Niwa?" Dark looked shocked.
"Yes and I'm telling you not to steal this painting." Daisuke said stubbornly.
Dark stared at him for a moment. "Niwa or not, I still have to take this painting." He said, reaching up and grabbing the frame.
"Dark, don-" Daisuke started.
"Hey! What are you doing!" Maria demanded. "Daika, don't let him take it!"
Dark sighed, "Thought it'd be easy." He muttered before he kicked Daisuke away, taking the painting down.
"Oof!" Daisuke grunted as he hit the ground.
"Daika-kun!" Sairen cried, rushing over to him.
Dark turned to Maria, looking at the flute, and then meeting Maria's eyes. "Now, I'm not one to hit a lady, even with Hikari blood, so why don't you hand that flute over?" Dark said in his most charming voice.
Maria glared at him. "Over my dead body." She growled. "I demand you give back my painting NOW!" She shouted.
Dark sighed. "I don't like forcing a lady, but I really do have to take that." He said, reaching for the flute.
"Things can't be stuck like this." Daisuke muttered, moving to his feet and jumped forward. "DARK! STOP IT!" He yelled.
Dark looked back and grabbed Maria's arm, pulling her along as he moved out of the way. "Too slow." He said with a smirk.
Daisuke looked at Dark as he flew past, shot his arms to the ground and spun around to kick Dark.
"Whoa!" Dark yelped, leaning back to just avoid the kick.
Daisuke spun a 270 turn before he's feet hit the ground, now facing Dark, before he lunged forward again.
Dark's free hand shot out, grabbing Daisuke's shirt and turning and throwing him away.
Daisuke grunted as his back hit the wall and slid to the ground upside down.
"Well, I have to say you're impressive for a cabin boy. Now I think its time for you to rest now." Dark said with a smirk as he stood up straight. "Now for that flute..." He said, turning back to Maria.
"Leave Miss Haria alone..." Daisuke groaned, struggling back to his feet. Now I know how the guards feel. He thought.
Dark looked at Daisuke with surprise. "Well, you're certainly resilient." He said. He glanced at the painting and then Maria, who had ran to Sairen, and nodded. He bowed. "Well, madam, I'll have to return for the flute later. Good day to you both." He said, running for the door.
"Hey! Get back here!" Sairen yelled, and started after him.
"Miss Sairen! Stop!" Daisuke cried, running after her. He heard Maria follow. He ran up to the deck and looked around.
"GIVE IT BACK!" A voice shouted and Daisuke looked over to see Sairen as she threw her shoe.
He watched as the shoe made contact and Dark letting go of the painting before diving after it. Sairen ran to the railing and Daisuke followed. He got to the edge right when the painting hit the water.
"Miss Sairen, you don't hav-" Daisuke started, turning to Sairen, but she put her finger on his lips to shush him.
Sairen smiled sadly. "Maria knows it's my life if the painting is destroyed. Thanks for trying to stop what time had deemed to happen." She said before putting her bare foot on the railing before jumping over the edge.
"MISS SAIREN!" Daisuke shouted as he reached out to grab her, but couldn't reach. He watched in horror as she fell, her clothes changing with her appearance as she changed into the siren from the painting.
"NO!" Maria screamed as she hit the railing, stopping beside Daisuke. "SAIREN!" She cried, looking at the water in horror.
"S-she'll be fine." Daisuke said, knowing it was a lie.
"No…as the painting degrades, she'll lose her strength." Maria said, looking at the water, searching frantically.
"Well, the flute is part of her. S-she'll be fine." Daisuke said, not able to help the slight stutter.
Maria looked around for several minutes and then frowned before shoving the flute into Daika's hands. "Give it to Lana." She said, climbing onto the railing.
Daisuke stared at the flute and then grabbed Maria's hand. "Miss Haria, wai-" He started.
"I said for you to call me Maria." Maria said, smiling back at him.
"Maria...you can't do this." Daisuke said.
Maria turned to face him, still standing on the railing. "What would you do if that were Kazu?" She asked.
Daisuke froze for a moment before answering already knowing what Daika would say. "I'd go after him." He said looking away.
Maria smiled. "I know. That's why I have to go after Sairen. She needs me and I need her." Maria said. "Please let me go."
Daisuke hesitated, but then let his hand drop.
Maria smiled. "Thank you." She said before falling backwards, off the railing and towards the sea.
Daisuke bowed his head as he heard the splash, silent. Then drops of water fell to the deck and Daisuke clenched his fists. "Why...am I always unable to change anything for them?" He whispered.
"Because this is not a world, but a memory." A soft, musical voice said.
Daisuke looked up, tears still flowing from his eyes and saw the siren from the painting. Everything around them was frozen.
"I appreciate the effort…even Satoshi tried, but I stopped him. Had to freeze everything that wasn't apart of it. Had he continued, he would have died in this painting." Sairen said, her eyes sad.
Daisuke was silent before he breathed one word, "Why?"
"To show you my world…and my hate." Sairen said and then snapped her fingers before everything went black.
To Be Continued...