Chapter Fun Fact: As I was writing this I was listening to a bunch of sad songs, but when I reread it, I listened to Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. For those of you who don't know, it's a silly song about good guys and bad guys fighting each other. Strange, that I would listen to this song when there's so much drama in this chapter.

Chapter 19

Holding Out For A Hero

"Just a few more minutes." Toki called over her shoulder to Daisuke. They had been walking for half an hour almost, and had yet to leave the town, because of this Daisuke was surprised by Toki's comment. When he had first learned of the situation involving his old friends he had imagined Kyle kidnapping Elliot and taking him to an abandoned shack in the woods, not the city.

"You know, when you originally told me what was happening I thought you were more involved in this, but so far Toki, other than being everyone's friend I don't see how you're in serious danger here," Daisuke mumbled, unsurely. He wasn't sure if he had worded what he meant to say correctly. He knew Toki could get hurt emotionally over this matter, but she'd only get hurt physically if Elliot decided to attack her, which could be said the same for him.

Toki gave him a quick glance, but then turned her head so she was staring dead ahead. Her eyes never strayed from the path in front of her as she answered. "If Freedert dies, I die."

"You'll commit suicide like Freedert?" Daisuke asked, making sure he understood, but Toki remained unresponsive.

Sighing in defeat Daisuke stared down at his feet. He wished he understood every thing better. Even with the information given to him he felt as if he were being left in the dark, and no one was there to help him if got lost. It was as if he were some helpless creature, which he was in a way. How could Toki expect him to help them? He couldn't even help himself.

"We're here."

Looking up Daisuke saw they were standing in front of a fountain. He was about to ask Toki why they were standing in front of a fountain when she reached her hand out and placed it on the fountain's side, ignoring the water that ran over her hand. Like a door, the side of the fountain slid in with ease.

"This is my secret entry. Not even Kyle is aware of its existence. This will give us an advantage." Turning her head, she locked eyes with Daisuke and asked, "Ready?"

Daisuke didn't say anything. He stared determinedly ahead and walked into the secret passage. Whether he was ready or not he didn't know, but he knew it was time to face whatever fate had in store for him.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"Dark-san! Dark-san! Dark-san!"

Dark woke up to his name being shouted. He recognized the voice as Freedert's. What could she possibly want so early in the morning? He wanted to sleep more and snuggle up with his Daisuke. Smiling contently, he tried to bury his face into Daisuke, but was shocked to find the younger's body missing.

He sat up instantly, his eyes wide in concern. Hadn't he fallen asleep on top of Daisuke? How could he have snuck off without him knowing?

"Dark-san! Dark-san, Toki has gone missing I think she took Dai-" Freedert stopped speaking when she entered the living room to find only Dark in it. "Oh no! She did run off with Daisuke!"

Dark's whole demeanor changed at that moment. He stood up and with a glare that could bring the dead back to life and kill them again, punched the wall next to Freedert's head, startling the girl. "What is going on? Something isn't right. Daisuke would never run off without telling someone, unless it was an emergency." Turning his gaze on Freedert, the girl took a step back. "What the hell is going on here!"

Controlling the urge to shiver in fear, Freedert gulped down her panic and tried to form sentences with her mouth. She told Dark everything she knew. She told him about Elliot and Kyle, about Toki kidnapping Daisuke, how Toki kept saying Daisuke might be able to help them, and anything else that came to mind. By the end of it Dark was too stunned to speak.

"You're telling me that idiot thinks Daisuke can somehow help her stop your jealous friend from killing your other friend." Dark asked, disbelief evident in his voice. "You can't be serious. Daisuke is a nice guy, but he can't do something like that! He'll get himself killed."

"And neither can Toki," Freedert added. "That's why I need your help now. I know this sounds crazy, but if we want to help them we're going to have go to Kyle. That's got to be where they're headed."

"Wait, you've known where this Kyle guy has been all along?" When Freedert nodded her head, Dark felt like ripping his hair out. This was so frustrating! "Then why are you just sitting here? Why don't you go and save your boyfriend yourself?"

"It's not that simple," Freedert mumbled, bowing her head in shame. "I only know where Kyle is because he wants me to come to him. The moment I do come I'll have to make my decision, and you already know what that is."

Dark laughed. It was a quiet, dark, and disturbing laugh, and it subsided quickly, but out of everything that Dark could have done it was the one that had the most effect on Freedert. "Funny, Daisuke's only my friend and yet I'm willing to risk everything for him without a thought, and here you are, claiming to love someone and yet not doing anything about it. Have you ever thought over what you could possibly do other than follow his demand?."

"But if I don't-"

Dark cut her off, "If you don't then what are you going to do to stop Kyle from killing Elliot? Right now you're only thinking of two possible outcomes. You need to stop focusing on what Elliot has said are your options and start thinking about what you can do."

Freedert didn't speak, too busy absorbing the information. Dark was right. She had been so busy focusing on what she was told she could do, she had never seen what other options were open to her. "Thank you, Dark. Daisuke's lucky to have made a friend like you. I can tell you care for him deeply."

You don't know how deeply, Dark mentally responded, but on the outside he kept his cool, and put on a smug act. "Of course he's lucky to have me. I'm the best friend there is. Now let's get going."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

On the other side of town Krad and Satoshi lay in bed trying to fall asleep, but finding no success. Sighing, Krad turned over on his side, so his back was facing Satoshi.

Sensing Krad's unease, Satoshi sat up and stared at the blonde. "Let me guess, you feel guilty about how you treated Dark and you want to go find him."

Krad scoffed, and buried his head into his pillow. "As if I would feel guilty about insulting that loser. No, I'm just worried that he'll come back early in the morning and start demanding for us to help him find Daisuke."

Satoshi's face showed no expression of what he thought about what Krad's response. Instead he stood up and began to change from his sleeping attire to his normal clothes. "Are there times when you hate Daisuke?" Satoshi asked.

The bluenette's question caught Krad off guard. He would have never expected someone to ask him that. He thought that he always came off as supportive of Dark's feelings for Daisuke.

"Sometimes," he answered honestly, sitting up so he could speak to Satoshi directly. "It's more jealousy than hate. Dark has become infatuated with Daisuke and because of that he sometimes forgets about me, his best friend. I'm not saying I need Dark's attention constantly, but it's still nice to be talking to your friend and know they're listening to you and not staring at someone else."

Satoshi seemed to accept Krad's answer and nodded. At times Satoshi's empathy could really surprise Krad. The boy could be so cold and distant, but the next his caring and understanding, even if it doesn't always seem like it.

"Here." Satoshi tossed Krad a pair of jeans, which the blonde caught easily. "I can tell you want to search for Dark, even if you won't admit it."

Smirking, Krad got out of the bed got dressed, slipping on the jeans and a white top. Once he was fully clothed he checked to see if Satoshi was finished, and was pleased to see the bluenette leaning against the door. Reverting back to his flirtatious ways, Krad sauntered over to the door until he was mere inches away from Satoshi. "My, aren't you lovely this morning, Satoshi-sama. Your outfit suits you well. I almost wonder if you're trying to seduce me."

Satoshi grunted and opened the door, taking a few steps outside so he had his personal bubble back. "You wish Krad."

"Oh, I do."

"Shut it!" Satoshi command, walking away from Krad, trying to hide his embarrassment. He really hated Krad sometimes.

"Don't take it personally Satoshi-sama," Krad mocked, but there was some sincerity in his voice. "If it makes you feel any better I only flirt with you."

"Shouldn't I take it personally then?" He countered. "After all it's only me who you flirt with."

"KRAD! SATOSHI!"

The two mentioned teens turned their attention to the person who called their names, only to see Dark and some blonde girl running up to them.

Dark stopped in front of them and took deep breaths from running so hard. He looked like he was going to collapse any second. "You guys got to help us, Daisuke's in over his head!" Satoshi and Krad immediately began asking questions after that tidbit of information. Dark tried to answer all of them himself, but sometimes Freedert had to step in. By the end of it all Krad and Satoshi knew what was going on.

"So are you in?" Dark inquired.

Krad and Satoshi looked at each other, as if reading the other's mind before nodding their heads in confirmation.

"Do you even have to ask?" Krad answered for both of them.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"What exactly do you have planned for when we reach Kyle?" Daisuke whispered, afraid that if he spoke too loudly they would be caught.

"I thought you had a plan."

"What!" Daisuke gasped. Why on earth would Toki think he had a plan? She was the one who kidnapped him, shouldn't she be the one with the plan?

"We need to hurry," Toki said, her eyes trained on the path ahead of them. "Freedert has probably figured out by now that we have run off, and is coming after us with that friend of yours."

"He has a name you know." Daisuke spat out bitterly, surprising himself with his defensiveness towards Dark,but shrugged it off. They were friends so it was only natural that he wanted to defend him.

"Quiet now, we're getting closer."

Is she really telling me to be quiet or trying to avoid what I just said? It wouldn't surprise Daisuke either way, but he was slightly offended that Toki wouldn't call Dark by his name. However, he couldn't focus too much on that fact for a bright light came into view. He had been walking around in the dark for so long that his eyes hurt from the light. Wincing, he tried to adjust his eyes to the new brightness.

His eyes didn't adjust as fast as he would have liked, but during that time he heard a loud cough, and then something that sounded like a person getting kicked, followed by a pain filled moan. Blinking a few more times his eyesight finally grew used to the light and he could see two people in the room.

Daisuke and Toki were hidden behind a giant statue, blocking them from the view of the two people in the room. On the opposite side of the room were two people. They were both teenage boys, but while one looked fit and healthy, the other one, with sandy blonde hair, lying sprawled on the ground, looked as if he were going to die at any moment.

"You know Elliot," The healthy boy spoke wickedly as he crouched down and poked the other boy in the ribs, causing him to hiss in pain, "I never really hated you, but the day you and Freedert decided to become a couple it broke me. It hurt to know that my two best friends had run off with each other. So tell me Elliot, how does it feel to know one of your oldest friends is responsible for the pain you feel now?"

Elliot remained motionless. He had no response, which only angered his attacker. Grabbing Elliot by the hair the other boy threw him into a wall.

On the other side of the room Daisuke had to control his urge to go running in there and stopping Kyle from hurting Elliot. As much as he didn't want to see his friend get beat up he had no other option. He didn't have enough strength.

"Daisuke, do something," Toki demanded in a harsh whisper, but Daisuke shook his head. He couldn't do it. He couldn't help his friend.

"KYLE!"

Freedert's voice vibrated off the dirty brick walls. Four sets of eyes stared up at the staircase that lead to the bottom of Kyle's hide out. Standing on the top of the stairs was Freedert, Dark, Satoshi, and Krad, all of which looked furious.

Krad and Satoshi are here too! What's Dark doing here? Did he come to help me? Wait, how did they get up there? Daisuke's mind couldn't come up with any answer for his questions expect for the last one. There must be two entrances, it's the only way they could have gotten in without anyone knowing.

Kyle's expression went from perplexed to happy. Smiling up at Freedert he said hopefully, "Have you finally decided, Freedert? Who is it going to be, me or him?"

"Neither!" Freedert stuck her tongue out at Kyle.

Kyle's mouth hung open like a fish, his eyes wide with confusion. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Freedert to rebel against him.

Scowling Kyle's hand moved to the inside of his jacket. "Really Freedert, I thought you would be smarter." After that everything seemed to move in slow motion as Kyle pulled a loaded gun out of his jacket and fired at the four teens standing on the stone stairs. Dark and Krad jumped down the side of the stairs in time to dodge the assault, while Satoshi pushed Freedert to the ground.

From there Kyle fired again, still aiming at Freedert, and in a last defense she threw her body so she was rolling down the stairs. Lying helplessly on her stomach, Kyle walked up to Freedert, his eyes shinning with sadistic pleasure as he lifted the gun but this time pointed it at, the too weak to move, Elliot.

Daisuke began running before Kyle pulled the trigger. He heard his friends shout his name. Even Kyle yelled his name as he fired his gun. In that moment Daisuke felt something hot pierce through his flesh, but the pain didn't hit him until the bullet had finished cutting through his shoulder, and he fell to the ground clutching it.

Kyle dropped his gun. He had been prepared to kill Elliot. He could have done it. He had every right to. Elliot had taken the one person he cared about, but Daisuke had never done anything to him. The last person he had expected to take a bullet for Elliot was Daisuke. Freedert or Toki, he would've been ready for that, but to see his old friend instead, brought him to his knees. His whole body went numb.

"Daisuke!" Dark cried as he watched the red head's body crumble to the ground. He ran towards his friend's side, making sure to punch Kyle in the head in the process. He'd deal with Kyle later, he had to make sure Daisuke was safe first.

Cradling Daisuke's body in his arms his anger grew when the red head groaned in pain. Kyle was going to die if he had any say in it. Pulling Daisuke closer to himself, Dark stood up and caught sight of Toki hiding. He had to stop himself from screaming at her right then. It was her fault Daisuke got involved in this whole mess.

Satoshi and Krad gave each other a quick glance before they both ran off to do their self assigned jobs. Satoshi was at Freedert's side checking her for wounds while Krad towered over Kyle.

When Kyle finally looked up from the ground Krad punched him in the head and then kneed him in the gut, causing the boy to fall to the ground completely. "What the hell is your problem! You're jealous about your friends hooking up so you want to kill them! Learn to deal with it!"

"You have no idea what it feels like to have your best friends dating, especially when you have feelings for one of them!" Kyle countered, spitting up blood in his hand.

Krad scowled and sent a kick into Kyle's ribs., while replying sarcastically, "You're right, I have know idea, but that doesn't matter. My friend is busy flirting with someone else to be a good friend to me, and of course there are at least a million people in the world who have gone through what you're going though, and yet you don't see any of them trying to kill their friends."

Punching Kyle again, Krad continued. "You are nothing more than a spoiled brat who's upset about his two friends becoming closer. Let me ask you this, if it had been some else other than Elliot who started dating Freedert would you be doing this now?"

Kyle didn't answer at first. His body didn't move and Krad was beginning to think he had killed the guy when a menacing chuckle escaped Kyle's lips. "Does it matter if I would be doing this now or not? It's too late anyway."

Without warning Kyle picked up his gun and shot at Krad. The blonde was quick to move. He threw himself to the ground, but as he did this Freedert screamed in pain.

All heads in the room turned towards Satoshi and Freedert. Blood flowed freely from Freedert's chest. Satoshi was tearing of his jacket and pressed it up against her wound, trying desperately to stop the blood flow.

Daisuke began to struggle in Dark's arms, startling the older teen. He had thought Diasuke had fallen unconscious, but he had been awake the whole time. In a slurred voice Diasuke spoke, "Let me go. I got to help them."

Tightening his hold on Daisuke, Dark shook his head and placed his hand on the back of Daisuke's head and forced him to look away. Daisuke protested, but Dark ignored him.

The ground began shaking and the bricks fell out of place. A collective gasp rose from the teens. The items that decorated the walls fell to the ground crushing whatever was there.

Delivering one last punch to Kyle, Krad shouted, "We need to get out of here! The place is going to collapse!"

They didn't need to be told twice. Satoshi lifted Freedert up from the ground and carried her. Krad ran towards Dark and Daisuke and picked Elliot's unconscious body.

"What about Kyle?" Daisuke whispered to Dark.

"We can't carry everybody." Dark reasoned, but his reasoning only cause Daisuke to squirm.

"Let me go! I can walk! We need to save Kyle!"

"I'm more concerned about saving you!" Dark shouted, silencing Daisuke's protest. "I don't care what you say. You are too weak to walk. Now shut it!"

"The stairs!"

Satoshi's yell grabbed Dark and Daisuke's attention. They let their gazes follow Satoshi's and cursed. The stairs had already started falling apart. There was no escape.

"Over here!" Toki shouted and waved her arms. Once everyone's attention was on her she ran off. "Follow me! This is a secret way out!"

No one questioned her. They didn't have time if they wanted to escape with their lives.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Akira: Whee! Long chapter! (sniffle) Sadly the Ice and Snow part of this fanfic is coming to a close, but don't worry there are still quite a few more chapters before the actual fanfic ends. Heck, Dark still needs to admit his feelings to Daisuke, and Daisuke needs to learn about his, though I have to say after all of this he has started realizing it.