Gack! I didn't update because I've entered myself into a contest on another fanfiction site, and have been furiously trying to compose my entry for the last few days. But just to compensate I made this chapter extra long. As in, freakishly long. Well, I guess I just wanted to wrap up book six.
Looking back on things, Daisuke would later comment that this was when things began to really change, and look even auspicious for once. He and Satoshi sneaked out and went down to the beach in the early morning to look at the water the morning after: neither of them had really gotten to enjoy their school vacation so far. Satoshi told him some things then: about his foster father, about Krad and himself, and how he'd come to be police chief. How he always lived alone. Why he couldn't come near Daisuke before, but now he felt like for the first time in his life he might be able to trust someone. When the ferry arrived and they had to pack up their bags, Daisuke's parents were there to greet him. It was a normal day, and a good one at that, not at all filled with the horror of two nights ago.
"You… are insane," Satoshi said. They had just finished a rather long make-out session in front of Azumano Square behind one of the park benches, where nobody ever came anyways, and the place was deserted. But hey, it was still public. That added the element of danger. The making out bit had been started by Daisuke, probably the reason Satoshi was criticizing him now.
"I know," he grinned. "Can't help it."
It had only been two weeks since the end of the class trip, and today was the day he had submitted his painting for the annual art contest. It hadn't been anything special, just a snowscape, but he had worked hard on it and he couldn't help but want to celebrate. And not only that: he'd been working on something else, something a little more secret. This was something he couldn't share with Satoshi, or anyone else.
"What's got you… like this?" Satoshi asked, fixing his glasses, which had fallen askew when Daisuke had shoved him down. Such long fingers. Daisuke stared at Satoshi's hand for a moment before snapping back to the present, replying, "Oh, the art contest. I finally finished a painting for once."
"You… are a painter." Half a question, half a comment.
"Yeah. I mean, no. I'm not very good. But it's fun."
Satoshi looked at him with amazement, then pulled him into his lap, one arm looping around Daisuke's waist as he pressed his chin onto the back of Daisuke's head. "You know," he said, "You really are something."
"Not really," Daisuke said, somewhat embarrassed. "I'm not smart, like you… I have to study a lot. And you're a police commander. I'm just a high-school student."
"Hey. I'm a student too," Satoshi protested with a wry smile.
"Everyone knows you're just pretending to need schooling. You've got the best marks in the class and you haven't touched a notebook all year, much less turned in any homework."
Satoshi didn't move his head for a bit, and then replied, "It doesn't matter how skilled someone becomes if they lose themselves in the process."
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm a B student, remember?"
"Nothing, Dai."
They kissed.
He couldn't say when he felt Dark had awoken, but he knew that the thief was stirring. For two whole weeks, Dark had not stolen anything, because he had been in a solid, deathlike sleep. Daisuke was partly glad that Dark was not awake and partly afraid of what would happen when he did finally regain consciousness.
And when he awoke, Daisuke would have to put his plan into action.
How could he possibly hope to get Dark to talk to him rationally? It was a futile effort.
At the dinner table, his mother asked him the same question she had asked every day for the last two weeks. "Dai, sweetie, how's Dark doing?"
"Fine, mom," he said.
See how she cares more about him than about you?
That's not true.
She didn't ask how you were doing, did she?
"Has he woken up yet?" this was To-to, who had recently joined the family, and was fitting in rather nicely. She'd taken to frilly clothes that Daisuke's mom had no use for, and when Emiko had given her a hundred dollar bill and told her to save it she'd run straight down to the corner shop and bought a maid outfit. It looked kind of cute on her, he had to admit, but she was still too much of a spaz for him. He sighed.
"No, but… he's going to soon."
"Oh, good! I was so worried!" this was his mother.
Not worried about you. Worried that Dark wouldn't come back.
That's… not… true!
Daisuke lowered his head to his food, and his stomach gave an uneasy flip and churn. He had suddenly lost his appetite for dinner. He pushed out his chair and stepped out, then walked over to the base of the stairs.
"Daisuke? Dai, honey, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, mom. I'm not hungry."
"He's a growing boy, Emiko. Leave him be," said his grandfather.
"But… he needs to keep up his strength! Oh, he'll get sick! How horrible!" To-to exclaimed, the loudest voice there.
When Dark woke up, he wouldn't be able to see Satoshi anymore, or at least not as often. And Satoshi would never be able to touch him. He was miserable. He sat at his art desk, looking down at the blank sheet of paper before him, forehead perched on his fist. He couldn't think, he couldn't draw.
A knock gave blessed release from his own thoughts, and he looked up: "Yeah, come in."
His father stepped into the room.
"Kosuke?" Daisuke asked, one brow raising. "I mean… dad? What's up?" Normally his father didn't come to his room unless something was very important. He had, after all, missed out on the last fourteen years of his son's life. His own child was an enigma to him. He looked slightly hurt at Daisuke using his first name, but made a smooth recovery and turned to the wall behind him, flicking at a bare spot on the white plaster.
"Um… dad?"
"Security cameras. The house is riddled with them." He sighed, sitting down on Daisuke's bed, patting his hand on the comforter for Daisuke to sit next to him. Once settled, he gave the wall a dark glance: "Never liked your grandfather's surveillance system. It made me feel a bit invaded."
Daisuke blinked very widely. "What do you mean, surveillance system? There's cameras in my room?" he looked around, as if expecting to see one, and Kosuke nodded. "They're very small, but Daiki has certainly put plenty of them up. I think he wants to keep an eye on you, just to make sure that nothing bad happens to you. It's a kind effort but a stupid way to go about it." He shrugged, shaking his head. "Anyways, we need to talk."
"Uhm." Daisuke was distracted. There are cameras in my room. That means that when Dark and I… when we… grandpa might have seen… He wrapped his hands in the fabric of his jeans, knuckles flexing.
"Don't worry, they aren't on most of the time. But on certain occasions he likes to turn them on, like now. Your grandfather doesn't trust me. Isn't that right, Daiki?" he said, the last part to the wall. "Microphones, too," he mouthed at Daisuke.
"But you know, I only came to give you this," he said, and then pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small ring, just big enough to fit over Daisuke's left index, and was made of onyx with a tiny pair of wings carved into the side, studded with a ruby. Daisuke slipped it on, wrinkling his nose: "It's girly."
"Maybe. You don't have to wear it all the time; just keep it on you. I found two of them in an Incan temple. The priests used them thousands of years ago to ward off malevolent spirits. You can use it to suppress Dark whenever you want."
"He's stronger than I am. He'll break it."
"Not with this, he isn't. He took over your body on the school trip, didn't he?"
"…Yes," Daisuke admitted.
"This will stop that from ever happening again. He won't manifest, either. Not unless you want him to."
Dark will never appear again unless I want him to…? I'll never have to deal with him again! Well, he'll be angry, but I can handle that, and as long as he can't hurt me, maybe we can work something out. We can form some kind of truce.
He threw his arms around his father's neck in a tight hug. "Thanks, Dad," he said gratefully, smiling.
"Anytime, kid." Kosuke nodded and left, wagging a finger at the wall as he did.
Dark awoke that night.
What the hell happened? I feel like a train hit me…
"Oh, so you're awake. You fought with Krad."
Who won?
"Neither." Daisuke's words were biting, harsh.
It's night now, isn't it? Are we stealing tonight?
"No. Mom wants you to rest and get your strength back."
I'm fine. I'm not some weak human like you. Wait a sec…
Dark had just tried to manifest physically and failed. Daisuke felt a small barrier in the middle of his mind, separating Dark from the outside world like a very rubbery, almost transparent wall. Dark couldn't get past it. It was like Siran wrap all over his mind, keeping the thief in.
Daisuke, what the fuck is this?
"A gift," he said calmly, "From my dad." If his dad had told him it would work, then it would work. He had nothing but confidence.
…Daisuke…
"Dark, I need to talk to you. This is the only way I can get you to listen."
…Now I remember… you ran off and screwed Hikari the second I disappeared! You two-faced little bitch, you fucking went back on me! You left me, after everything I've told you, after I've loved you for almost an entire year!
"Dark…" Daisuke winced. He didn't like it when Dark got foulmouthed.
No. You still didn't listen, did you? You've been with him all this time, probably. What a slut. I can hardly believe we're from the same lineage. You disgust me! He went on to say several very nasty things about the content of Daisuke's character, and to name various objects which Daisuke ought to shove up various orifices in his body. Daisuke let him get his rant out and then counted, in his head, down from ten. After he got to one, he spoke again.
"Dark, why do you want to hurt me so badly?" he asked in a very clear voice.
I'm in love with you, and you don't like me. How else am I supposed to get you to behave? How else am I going to get you to listen to me?
"I'm not even going to question your sanity yet," he replied, "But I have to tell you, that's not the way to make your Tamer love you. You're losing serious brownie points here."
Brownie what?
"You're just making me hate you more." He wasn't being as serious as he ought to about this. Dark was a dangerous spirit. But maybe he was getting a little complacent; the ring had worked, and he was near deliriously happy. "Why are you so set on me returning your feelings? Wouldn't you rather we both try and break the curse? You like Risa too, don't you?"
Not as much as you. Risa's got a fantastic chest, sure, but I know your soul. I know everything about you. Doesn't it make sense that you love me in return?
This was where he put the first steps of his plan into action…
He'd been thinking things over lately, and he'd decided that he wanted to change something. He didn't like the way his family fought with the Hikaris. And why, he wondered, hadn't anyone been able to break the curse before? Because none of his ancestors were able to get Dark to love anyone his Tamer. So maybe, if he could get Dark to like Risa… Satoshi, of course, was out of the question.
I can't even see what you're thinking. This stupid ring… is blocking everything…
"Good. It's supposed to do that. Now listen, Dark. I want to make a deal with you."
I'm listening. He could sense Dark's hesitation.
"Suppose I could get you a body of your own?" This was the second part of his plan. He'd been doing research, compiling notes from his father's personal library, poring over his grandfather's tomes over the last week. And he'd found some things.
…What do you mean?
"I mean I can turn you human. I don't know into what form, but you'd be in a body of your own, free to live a mortal life."
Dark considered this and seemed to like the idea. Daisuke felt a sense of longing, stretching so wide he thought it would swallow him. And then Dark concealed his thoughts for a minute before replying. What do I have to do?
"You have to fall in love with someone who isn't me, and get them to love you back. In this case, Risa or Riku, I guess."
And that's all?
"Yes, according to my grandpa's books."
You did all this while I was asleep?
"Yes."
…
"Do you get it?"
…Dai…
…
…I'll do it…
Daisuke was sure his sigh of relief was palpable. "Thank you, Dark."
…I still hate you, though, for leaving me… and for HIM…
"Well, I've got the ring, and there's nothing you can do about it for now. Just please, try this, Dark. It'll be good for you to learn how to love someone the right way. I didn't think there was a different way, at first, but there is, and it's much better. So can we please agree to a truce for now?"
…Truce, my love. But only for a little while.
Dark said nothing after that. And when Daisuke finally turned over and went to sleep, Dark was still in his mind, mulling things over, brooding as if he were formulating a plan of some sort. Daisuke could only hope Dark would keep his word.
If he didn't, then there would be hell to pay.
The next day, Daisuke really was sick.
To-to blamed it on his lack of dinner. "I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD GET SICK! OH MY GOSH! MRS. NIWA, DAISUKE'S GOING TO DIE!" she screeched, fluttering around and dumping all the medicine from every medicine cabinet in the house on his bed. Daisuke sat up groggily and accepted a single cup of cough syrup from his mother, but no more.
"Hon, you've got a fever," his mother proclaimed. "You're staying home."
"HE'S GOING TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"There's something important today at school. We're choosing roles for the Spring play. I can't miss it, mom."
"DEAD! AGH! AND HE'S SO YOUNG!"
"Well, you'd better get going, then. You only have five minutes."
"DAISUKE, I'LL STAY BY YOUR SIDE WHILE YOU SLIP INTO OBLIVION!"
"Agh! Really? Then I'd better— um, miss To-to, can you get off me, please?" Daisuke asked politely. She was on her knees, arms wrapped around his neck like a small child, and sobbing hysterically into his chest. He gently pushed her off, not unkindly, and dressed as fast as he could in the bathroom before darting out the door.
He was still late, of course. When he got into the classroom there was already a notice on the board.
And at the very top of the board was his name. Daisuke Niwa: 59 votes was written in white lettering,and then in large print underneath, UNANIMOUS!
He snagged Takeshi by the shoulder. "Um, Takeshi, what's going on?"
"Hey, man, you're here!" he hadn't been acting any differently since their talk on the island. Maybe he really just didn't care, which was the probable case, because he threw his arm around Daisuke. "You guys, Freedert's arrived!" he addressed the class. All the girls turned around and cheered, and from the guys' side of the classroom came hoots and hollers.
He felt remotely uneasy. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to his name.
"You got chosen to play the lead role, Daisuke, 'cause you're hot, and the girls decided the play this year would have an all-boy cast."
"The girls decided?"
"There are twice as many girls as guys. They swung the vote. Go figure," he replied.
"But wait. Up there it says 'unanimous'."
"Well, the guys kind of liked the idea, too. I mean, if you didn't take the part, then one of us would have to be Freedert. And nobody wants to do that. She's such a chick. But you? You're perfect for the job. Besides, you only have to profess your undying love, which isn't so bad."
Daisuke choked. "To whom?"
"Duh, Elliot. Don't you know the storyline?"
"Yes, but… who's playing Elliot?"
"Oh! Right. Everyone voted unanimously on Elliot's part, too." He jerked his thumb towards the back of the classroom, where Satoshi was poised on the edge of the class bench, a novel in one hand, clearly more interested in the book than in anything happening around him.
...Ugh, how ironic.
"No kidding," Daisuke muttered. Dark hadn't seemed as if he wanted to break out yet today, but Daisuke had the ring on, just in case. And was it his imagination, or was Dark almost… friendly? Sarcastic, of course, but friendly and lighthearted. He hadn't been this way since the very beginning, when he had first appeared. Daisuke was rather enjoying it.
"But I'm playing a girl, Takeshi. Can't I get out of it?"
"No. The rabid girls in 4-A would tear you apart, man."
He looked over to the side of the room where said girls were in a giggling huddle, an immense pile of crinoline and lace between them. They looked to be making the beginnings of a corset and petticoats…
"O-ho! If it isn't my good friend Niwa-chan!" came a voice from behind him. Oh, he knew that voice. He knew that voice! And it was definitely a bad voice at that. Please don't let it be.. please don't let it be him…
"Mister Keiji Saga," Daisuke said flatly. "How nice to see you."
Saga was only twenty-two, not very old at all, and already he was the head of a multi-million dollar advertising conglomerate. It was actually amazing how such an idiot could produce such wealth, and all by himself… though Daisuke suspected his assistant, Funabashi, had done most of the hard work. Funabashi stood right next to Saga. Whereas Saga was blonde, tanned and handsome, Funabashi was average and dark, with quick-thinking eyes and a sharp chin.
Saga threw his arm around Daisuke's shoulder from behind, petting the top of his head as if he were a puppy. "I just love you. When I heard you were going to be the drag queen star of our little show, I absolutely had to direct it! Unfortunately, these morons are all I've got to work with…" he gestured about the room. "But you are just the cutest little thing I've ever seen!" he tapped Daisuke lightly on the behind, giving him a sharp wink.
…And was suddenly dragged backwards and thrown to the floor. Funabashi was standing right behind him, rolling his eyes.
"FUNABASHI-chan! What have I said about interrupting my private time with the actors?"
"Sir, it's my duty to inform you that you're being a pervert."
"Oh, yes. I did tell you to warn me about that, didn't I? Thank you, Funabashi-chan." He dusted himself off and stood, as if nothing had ever happened. "Right. So. We have practice all next week after school every day. I'll see you there! Oh, and by the way, Saehara, we're changing Hiwatari's part to Dark Mousy instead of Elliot. It'll make it much more dramatic, don't you think?" and then he dashed off again.
Satoshi looked up from his book and quirked an eyebrow.
Daisuke was called over by the art teacher just then, who informed him in a rather sympathetic voice that his painting hadn't placed, though it had done very well.
"You've got a good gift there, Niwa. Maybe next time, eh?"
"Yeah," he said, disheartened. "Maybe."
He was walking out of the school when he met Satoshi, who was sitting by the tree on the outside edge of campus with his book. He wasn't wearing his glasses, and Daisuke wondered if he really needed them or if they were merely cosmetic? Either way they gave him a striking, intellectual look, and it was odd to see him without them.
"Satoshi."
He looked up, startled, and started to stand. "Hey. I'll just leave, it's okay…"
"Leave?" Daisuke asked, puzzled. "Why?"
"Ah…" he said, pausing, half-risen. "Dark… is he… awake? I didn't want to come near you today… in case he, ah, transformed."
"Yes, he's awake, but we made a truce. He promised not to attack you." As if to reassure himself, Daisuke pressed one hand against the front of his shirt, where the ring dangled on a thin silver chain just beneath his clothing. His other hand was busy holding the painting, though, and he didn't dare set it down lest he ruin the oils.
"A truce?" Satoshi stared hard at him, decided he wasn't kidding, and scowled. "So the bastard thinks he can get off hurting you and then just trucing his way out of it?" His voice rose angrily as the sentence finished. "And now," he said, almost shouting, "He thinks he's going to get off free for what he did?"
And you're in love with this guy.
"No, but it's the only way. I can't make him go away, Satoshi, not yet. I'm working on it. You have to believe me when I say that he's not going to come out anytime soon, except for when he steals things. My dad gave me a ring to suppress him."
"Stealing…" Satoshi rubbed a hand over his face. "Right. That's tonight, isn't it? At the Klein church?"
Ooh, very good, Commander. I'm going to come over tonight and make your entire security team burst into tears within thirty seconds. And then I'll have a little fun playing around with you.
"Dark!" Daisuke said sternly.
"What did he say?" Satoshi asked, smirking.
"Nothing," Daisuke muttered.
Oh, yeah. Revenge will be sweet. Go ahead and set up all your little cameras and all your guard units, lock all the windows… I'll still find a way in faster than you can say 'oh, shit!'
"Must be something bad. You're flushing red. Is he angry, I wonder?"
Damn straight. I'd just love to rip your head clean off…watch you bleed… mm, now that's what I call fun. Niwas can steal and hide, but nobody bleeds quite like a Hikari.
"Y-yes, he is," Daisuke said. Satoshi was getting very close, and he found the look in Satoshi's eyes to be rather disconcerting. It was predatory and competitive at once, and altogether seductive.
"He wants to kill me, doesn't he?"
…And maybe castrate you with a dull knife too… and eviscerate you with a rusty knife… I've heard stomach wounds take a day to kill you…
"Dark! You promised!" Daisuke said, shocked by the threats. He'd never felt Dark in such a nasty mood before. He was slipping back into his old, homicidal, overposessive self.
Oh, I won't, but I could… it'd be easy.
"Hmm," said Satoshi. "Well, I don't blame him for his jealousy. After all, he lost, and I won…"
And suddenly he kissed Daisuke, smiling. Daisuke didn't protest, because he didn't have the will to. He folded into Satoshi's embrace without entirely giving in, because at this Dark was positively livid and he was making so much racket that Daisuke couldn't even hear his own thoughts. And then, to Dark's further infuriation, a hand crept up and cupped Daisuke's rear, drawing the two of them closer.
…SON OF A BITCH I HATE HIM I'M GOING TO SHOOT HIM STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HEAD MOTHERFUCKING GOD I'M GOING TO HURT HIM SO BAD HE'LL NEED A WHEELCHAIR TO WALK AND…
When they finished, it was nearly five o'clock. And Dark had still not run out of (very colorful) insults.
As he walked out the front drive of the school onto the main road, Riku caught up to him, her lacrosse stick thrown over one shoulder and her school uniform on over her sport socks and cleats.
"Daisuke! Hey!" she said brightly. "I haven't talked to you in a while, it feels like."
"Oh. Yeah, I guess not," he said, feeling sort of guilty about this. He'd been avoiding Riku, mainly because he couldn't think of a way to break it off with her.
Another awkward silence. He never could think of anything to say with Riku.
"Daisuke, did your painting win anything?" she asked to break the ice.
"No. It's not very good. I tried, but I guess I just don't have a talent for art," he said rather sadly.
She took the painting in both hands and looked at the snowscape, her eyes going dreamy and pleased the way girls tended to do when they were looking at something pretty. "Ooh, I like it, though!" she said. "Where's it from?"
"Um, nowhere," he said. "It's just… a snowy place. Where it's always quiet, and there's nothing around… still and silent, but the snow keeps falling." He gave a peaceful smile. He'd had that picture in his head while he painted it: a world where he didn't have to worry about Dark, or anything else for that matter, where he could be blissfully free…
"That's beautiful," she said quietly. "Daisuke, this is amazing. Can I keep it?"
He was surprised, but nodded.
"Yay! I'll hang it on my—oh, God, it's him," she said, and shuddered. Daisuke looked around to see where she was pointing, and was met by Keiji Saga, who was standing just behind him with a leering grin on his face.
"Daisuke-chan, my pet, I'm coming over to your house!" he said giddily.
"No. You're creepy," Daisuke said blithely. "Besides, I'm kind of busy tonight."
At this Saga's eyes alighted. "Busy, you say? Ooh, you wouldn't happen to be going to the Klein church, would you?"
"No." his voice was calm. "I'm going to do homework."
"Well then, I'm coming over. I want to get to know you. All of you," he added, moving his face incredibly close and opening his eyes wider than Daisuke would have thought possible. He was handsome, it was true, but the effect was sort of odd looking. Saga took up one of his hands and ran hisown hand over the top of it. "Such smooth skin!" he marveled.
He was suddenly tripped by a long foot and fell onto the concrete. "Gack! Funabashi, you imbecile, what was that for? I was hardly doing anything!"
"Sir, I believe you were being a sick pervert again, sir."
"Remember your place, Funabashi. And be polite, we're going to be staying at Daisuke-chan's house for dinner."
"Hey! I didn't invite you!" he protested, but before he could react, he was dragged off by Saga, who seemed to know exactly where he was going, leaving a very shocked Riku in his wake.
"Does your friend have to eat so much, Dai?" his mother whispered to him as she sat next to him at the dinner table. "You know, I think that's his sixth helping."
"Seventh." He sighed. "I didn't invite him over, mom."
"Well, at least his assistant doesn't eat much. He's hardly touched his."
"Watching Saga eat would make anyone lose their appetite." Daisuke smirked.
Saga did not look up once during the course of the meal, but when he finished his seventh plate, he sat back in his chair with his hands folded on his stomach, clearly satiated. At this Emiko leapt up and immediately cleared all the plates faster than Daisuke would have thought possible, an enormous grin on her face. "Dai, sweetie, you'd better start on your homework!" she sang as she disappeared into the kitchen.
Daisuke glanced at the clock. Eight thirty: he had half an hour to get to the church by the time on the note.
Just transform and I'll get us there in five.
"I can't here," he muttered.
"Hmm, Daisuke-chan?" Saga said.
"Nothing. Ah, I kind of need to finish some work, so if you'll excuse me…" he rose and walked up the stairs, down the hallway, and to the bathroom adjoining his bedroom. Once there, he felt a sort of light air current brushing the back of his neck: he turned around and realized Saga and Funabashi were right behind him and he could feel Saga's breathing, he was so close.
"Mr. Saga? 'Scuse me, but I need to go to the bathroom," he said, raising both eyebrows.
"Hey, that's cool. I'll come with y—" Funabashi grabbed onto his ear rather roughly, and he yelped. "Funabashi-chan! What are you doing? I ORDER you to let me go!"
Daisuke slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it. "Wiz, you can come out," he whispered. Wiz climbed out of the shower, looking very tired, but nonetheless ready to go. Daisuke bent down to the floor and pressed his hands to the tile, searching for the quick-release spring that would open the trap door in the floor and let him get down to the basement. He could sneak out from there. As he found and opened the door, Wiz was changing his appearance, adding touches here or there. For a moment there were two clone Daisukes in the bathroom, one of them making minor adjustments on his eyebrows with a sort of purring noise.
"Thanks, Wiz," Daisuke whispered with a smile. "Good bunny." He took off the ring. Dark did not try and force him to transform, but allowed him to initiate the change. Maybe he'd already saw the light of reason? Or maybe he was just biding his time so that he could take his sweet revenge on Satoshi later.
"Can't believe we had to take the sewers," Dark complained as he raised the top of a manhole cover, sliding into the room where the Second Hand of Time was. Daisuke had spent the trip to the church telling Dark the story of Ice and Snow, something to keep them both occupied, and something to try and distract Dark from his anger. Give him something to think about besides pounding Satoshi into a very bloody pulp—or even worse, changing into Krad.
It's always so easy to get in. I wonder why Satoshi didn't think of the sewers.
"Daisuke, you really are dumb sometimes. Hikari's been leaving us an entry since the very beginning. He doesn't want us getting caught by the security guards outside; he knows that we could easily fight our way through him."
So he's not been trying to capture you so much as study how you work…
"He wouldn't be the first to do that," Dark said with a self-satisfied sneer. "I'd be surprised if every guy in Azumano doesn't take their cues for womanizing from me."
Mmph. Daisuke didn't want to annoy him tonight. Best to let him have his little tirade and tiptoe through the minefields for a while if he ever wanted to wear that ring again. It was going to take some tricky persuasion to get Dark to put it back on.
The Second Hand of Time was a small stone about as big as Daisuke's head, and as Dark made his way to the center of the room, he expected to merely grab it and run. But as he reached out for it, there was a flicker of light to his left and he turned. "Shit, there's some kind of spirit ward here…" Dark mused, but retreated a few steps as the light formed into the shape of a young woman with cropped hair and wide, blue eyes.
I smell… flowers?
"Yeah, they're everywhere. And who's that woman?"
What woman? I can't see anything!
Dark was surprised. "Her! She must be the Hand of Time's manifestation!"
The woman gave a serene smile, then raised both her arms. The air currents in the room shifted and swirled so that the flower petal clouds thickened, drawing Dark towards the stone. Dark scrabbled back onto hard stone and tried to find purchase in the rock, but failed. "Daisuke! Don't touch the stone!" he yelled over the sudden roar that was rising.
Dark, I can't see anything! The stone was very close now, and even though he didn't want to go near it, a sudden force threw Dark's body from the ground straight into the stone itself. He crashed against it and sank down, trying to push away from it, but then…
…he found himself being dragged into the stone…
Dark! No! What's happening!
…he felt Dark separating from his mind, and there was a sort of schlup like a suction being released in his mind…
"DAISUKE!" Satoshi's voice resounded over the din and clamor. For one instant, Daisuke saw a replica of himself looking at him, its face twisted into an expression of mute horror, and Satoshi running for the stone, preparing to launch himself at it, coat-tails flying after him…
…and then nothing.
Silence.
He opened his eyes. I'm tired.
It was very cold here.
Where am I? Is this…
…Snow?