Disclaimer: All normal disclaimers apply.
Alrighty. Actually. I'm surprised that I updated this story too! Not that I wasn't planning on updating, I just hadn't planned on updating any stories at all other than Hidden Secrets so soon. (Not that you could really call this soon I guess.) Anyway. I guess this is just a special treat!
Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! This story is still ongoing, and I'm starting to add some new elements into the story (different from before), so stay tuned and keep reading! XP
Enjoy!
Wings of Darkness
Chapter Four
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"D-Dark?" Risa broke the silence. The two of them had just been face to face with another gang, and he, the leader of the Wings of Darkness, had turned his back on them… was he allowed to do that? "I'm sorry…" she whispered.
Without turning around, Dark's deep voice answered her. "What for?"
Risa tucked a strand of strawberry-brown hair behind her ear and looked down, ashamed. "You had to turn down the fight because of me… didn't you? You were insulted and I couldn't do anything. I'm sorry."
"Risa," he turned and stared at her. His skateboard cruised slowly to a stop, and for the first time, the newest member of the gang realized where she was. "We're here."
The brunette looked up at Dark's mansion quietly, amazed at its size and décor. "What are we doing here?" She asked. Her eyes traced the contours of the building, noting the elegant design.
Flipping out his keys and opening the door, Dark motioned for her to follow him. "You need to learn how to fight." He stepped into the building, and began taking his shoes off, but Risa froze.
Dark's mesmerizing black eyes turned to look at her, and his voice became soft, "What happened back there was not your fault. It was of no consequence. I still have my pride. You need to learn how to fight in order to protect yourself… when I'm not there I can't protect you like before."
"What?" While she knew that fighting would have been inevitable, considering the fact that she was joining a gang, Risa hadn't thought that it would have been so soon… To be perfectly honest, she had always hoped that Dark would always be at her side… always protecting her. But that was impossible of course.
As if sensing her thoughts, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the house. "Stop dawdling. Did you really think that just because you're new that all the other gangs would be nice for a while just so that you could get used to this? Remember the looks on the faces of those people back there and think about what could have happened. You need to learn how to fight." There was authority in his voice, but the small trace of concern in it made Risa smile.
Looking over at her for a moment, Dark hesitated before pulling a gun from his jacket. "Here. This is yours from now on… hand to hand combat won't keep you safe if your opponents have guns. Follow me."
Risa said nothing, and followed him subconsciously as he led her through a maze of corridors, all the while staring at the weapon in her hands.
It was smooth and a shiny black, with an intricate design of white and pink Sakura blossoms scattered all over it. On the handle was carved and painted "RISA", and the entire gun had been rounded so that it fit perfectly in her hand. It was made so beautifully that Risa found herself captivated by it, and had it not been for the heavy, dangerous weight that reminded her of what it really was, she might not have been scared.
"Put that gun down for now. We'll work with it later… I need to teach you some of the basics first. We'll start with you're stance then." Dark took his coat off and Risa did likewise. "Get into what you think is the best position for beginning a fight."
Risa allowed herself a tiny smile of confidence. The basics, huh? Riku had taught her some of that before. Spreading her legs shoulder width apart from each other, she bent her knees slightly, balanced herself and brought her fists up.
"It looks right but…" Risa stared at him, surprised. What had she done wrong?
Dark strode over to her side and pushed her over. Almost immediately, her body swayed to the side and she toppled over. "Wha…"
He helped her up. "Just looking right on the outside doesn't mean that you're doing it right. Stand more firmly!"
"H… Hai!"
A pink stain rushed across her cheeks, as Dark walked around to her other side and put his arms around her body, positioning her. She could feel his hard chest pushing on her back and his warm breath tickling her ear as he murmured commands.
Suddenly Risa felt as if she would have trouble concentrating on learning anything new.
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"I guess that was a little cold of us…" Riku leaned back on the cushion of Dark's expensive car. "Risa must be having a hard time keeping up with Dark while he's boarding…"
Daisuke laughed and shook his head. Smiling at his companion cheerfully, he shrugged. "Nah… I'll bet you anything that Dark went extra slow just for her. Risa probably didn't even break a sweat. It surprises me though… how nicely Onii-sama treats Risa… he must really like her a lot."
Grinning at the cute red head, happy that the gang wasn't around so that they could just relax and be themselves, Riku sighed, "Yeah… but still, I doubt Dark will go easy on her during training. She's probably completely worn out by now."
"Hm… how about we stop talking about them… and go watch a movie?" Daisuke turned the car around sharply and sped off towards the closest theatre.
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Panting, Risa fell backwards, landing onto the comfy sofa beneath her. "I'm… done…" She was breathing heavily, and her face was shining with sweat. Her chest gasped for air, and her arms and legs ached like they had never ached before. While she really hadn't thought she was out of shape before, this just proved that she had a long way to go.
Dark nodded and sat down next to her. Though he had been pushing her, making her learn and perfect skills that she had just learned, Risa had done surprisingly well. For a girl who was always more concerned with her appearance, her ability to take everything he had dished out at her was nothing short of amazing. He was proud of her, though he knew better than to say so.
"To… be… honest…" she panted. "I… didn't think that… I could last that… long… I really need… to… exercise… more…"
"You did fine."
Risa sat up straight and stared at Dark. That had sounded almost like a half-compliment – which was really saying something. Suddenly the tiredness of her limbs seemed to fade. It was worth it if all her efforts made Dark think just a little bit more highly of her. Some people might call her shallow, but who wouldn't want the person they liked to think well of them?
"We'll take a quick break… afterwards, you'll learn how to use that gun. It's not just for looks." He stood. "Wait here."
Risa's clear, brown eyes fell back onto the gun she had laid onto the table. It scared her… but then again, it was her best and most effective defense… there was no way she was going to let herself become a burden to Dark.
When he returned, in his hands were a pair of earmuffs. They were there so that their ears wouldn't be damaged by the sound of the gunshots. "You won't be able to use these in a real gun fight, but then some extra precaution for right now might be good," he offered her a hand. "Come on."
A smile lighting her features, Risa took his hand and he helped her up.
"We'll go to my shooting gallery."
Risa picked up her gun and went with Dark down into a large, underground room. There were many targets. Some moving, others motionless.
"Do you remember how to shoot a bow and arrow? How to aim? This is similar to that. Look along the edge of the gun and pinpoint your target before pressing the trigger. In a real fight each and every bullet is important. Waste could cost you your life."
While she took aim and tried to hold the gun still, he put the earmuffs on her. Going behind her and taking her arms, steadying them, Dark moved them so that Risa could see exactly what he was doing. His large hands closed around her small ones and his finger helped hers press down on the trigger. It shot and hit the center of one of the targets.
Risa's breath caught as the bullet released from the gun and shot out into the air. The force pushing back on her as the metal ball shot forwards was much greater than she had expected. A trickle of sweat slid down the back of her neck.
Letting her try it herself, Dark stood at the side, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. His eyes watched her carefully, making sure that she wouldn't hurt herself. After a half an hour he was satisfied. Not only had she gone from just hitting the target to closing in on the center, she looked worn out. That was more than enough.
Dark handed Risa a small dagger with her name engraved onto the blade part and on the shaft were many black cherry blossoms scattered over two silver wigs. The handle itself was a pale blue.
"It's so pretty… but… deadly…" Risa was unsure of what to say. Another weapon.
"Don't think about it too much…" he hesitated, seeing the expression on her face. "I'm not going to teach you how to use it today… maybe some other time. But remember. These weapons aren't toys, as you probably realize, and their sole purpose is for your self-defense. You don't need them for anything else, alright?"
She nodded slowly, and he frowned, worried. "Think about your own safety first. Let me teach you some simpler tricks. Small things that will help."
He taught her how to throw someone over her head, how to twist out of a grip, and the most painful little injuries she could inflict upon someone forcing her down. She learned them all quickly, liking them much better than the gun and knife she had held in her hands just moments ago. The cold metal hilt of the gun had felt so… foreign.
By the end of their session Dark was impressed. Not because she did everything right… because she didn't. The only things she could successfully do were the most simple of maneuvers, but it was more than enough. What impressed him was her determination and lack of complaints. He felt like smiling, but restrained himself.
"You did well," Dark motioned for her to stop her attacks on the punching bag. "We're done for today."
Risa beamed at him. A compliment… a full compliment. "Do I get a treat for being a good student?" she laughed.
Dark lifted an eyebrow. She was probably the only person… other than Daisuke who dared tease him. Even Riku was hesitant to do so. He looked at the silly grin on her face and he couldn't help but feel that she was cute. "What did you have in mind?"
She hadn't been expecting an answer and she looked it. "Um… how about ice cream then? I love sweet things."
"Then ice cream it is." He stretched before scooping her up into his arms, ignoring her squeals of protest.
"Stop it! Dark! W-What are you doing?" She was almost scared. This was very un-Dark-like behavior. "P-Put me d-down!"
There was a smirk on his face, and he didn't even bother looking her in the eyes. "Be quiet. If you insist on acting like a child, I'm going to treat you like one. Make yourself comfortable, I'm carrying you all the way to the ice cream shop."
For the umpteenth time that day, Risa felt a large, very-conspicuous blush stain her cheeks. "Mou… Dark…"
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To be continued…
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REVIEW! Please and thank you.
mou – an expression of mild annoyance
hai – yes or ok
