A/N: I don't usually write author notes on top for this story! But I'm excited! This chapter has KradxSatoshi and DarkxDaisuke! Finally! After 12 chapters and 1 prologue of writing.

Chapter 12

Satoshi didn't know if he should spill or not. These three in front of him were strangers, and one of them could be a stalker (he wasn't exactly sure now). But all four of them (meaning Krad, Dark, Daisuke, and Satoshi) were already in Satoshi's room. The latter was sitting in his bed, glancing at the others, contemplating to tell about that night. The other three merely stared back at him, awaiting him to start talking. They looked at one another when the silence grew too awkward for them.

Just then, To-to walked past the door, humming and bopping her head to the music from the radio she was holding. Without looking at the room, she sang a few lines of the song. "Am I too lost to be saved? Am I too lost? My God, my tourniquet. Return to me salvation." She looked sad for a moment and Satoshi could see her no longer as the wall blocked her.

Somehow, the song that To-to sang, or at least the few lines encouraged Satoshi to speak. Satoshi wasn't sure why, but he thought maybe because the song would've fit him the next few months after his… rape. It felt strange to think about it now, after these years. He had avoided all thought about it, but he knew he hadn't truly let it go. If he did, he'd probably requested someone help. But he didn't. Satoshi suppose he's some sort of semi-masochistic person.

"Okay. This silence is awkward." Captain Obvious (a.k.a. Daisuke) stated obtrusively. "Satoshi, if you wouldn't talk about it, I'll let you go without question." His expression was nonexistent though his voice and tone were sympathy and caring. Satoshi didn't think he'd be let free that easily. But he needed closure, so he decided to shake his head.

"Daisuke! Are you serious?" It was Dark who asked this. Apparently, he didn't see Satoshi shake his head. Dark was too occupied by gawking at Daisuke, scandalized. Daisuke shook his head (not as an answer to Dark's question) and looked down briefly, frustrated. Then he looked back up at Dark and gave him a pointed look. It seems Daisuke too didn't see Satoshi's actions.

"Shut up, you two. If you can't notice, Satoshi said that he'd talk." Krad's cold, straight voice spoke. Though his words were quiet, the emotionless state carried the words to Daisuke and Dark. Daisuke doesn't think he ever heard of Krad in such a tone. He remembered hearing Krad as nice, gentle, malicious, threatening, bored, teasing and others. But not cold.

"O-okay." Dark stuttered. Seems like he mirrored Daisuke's thoughts. Krad rolled his eyes and the redhead and violet-eyed let out breaths they didn't know they held. All was normal, or at least as normal can get in another world.

"Sorry." Satoshi's quiet voice finally made an appearance. The other three's heads snapped to look at Satoshi. And almost like hungry dogs, they stalked up to the bedside. Gulping, Satoshi wondered whether he should laugh or bawl. Neither seems appealing. Satoshi questioned his sanity when Dark, like dogs, began drooling. (Sorry Dark!) Raising an eyebrow, Satoshi asked, "Why are you drooling?" Dark beamed.

"For lack of humor! The mood is oddly solemn and I'm bored. You're not talking and there's nothing to do." Dark's response caused Satoshi to raise his other eyebrow. Dark's voice sounded a bit childish, the way a kid talks when they want to make someone laugh. Satoshi was about to laugh, but then he registered the rest of what Dark had said. The solemn mood. Talking.

"I… I'll talk…" Satoshi doesn't think he should just blurt out the truth right after Dark saying that. He needed to prepare Krad and Dark and Daisuke. But how to do so when Satoshi wasn't quite prepared either. The three waited patiently as Satoshi closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was Krad's eyes. They were fiery, golden orbs that encouraged Satoshi, telling him that Krad won't be biased about Satoshi just because of what happened to him.

"Wh-when should I start?" Satoshi felt numb; his voice sounded distant. It was like he wasn't there. It was like watching a movie. Staring into Krad's strangely emotional eyes was too much and Satoshi looked away. Those eyes brought him back to reality, somewhere that Satoshi doesn't want to be currently. He didn't want to tell Daisuke, who was younger than him, Dark, who was so childish, and Krad, who's so mysterious you wouldn't really trust him about his past and about that night.

"Start from the beginning obviously." Dark's voice said. It too tried to bring Satoshi back to reality. And this time, Satoshi succumbed, because after all, they'll stare disgusted at Satoshi later when he tells them how he was raped. And at that time, Satoshi will kick them out of his house.

"No. Start from the point where things changed. I already know you were abused." Daisuke tried to make his voice not casual, so he wouldn't hurt Satoshi and aggravate Krad. It worked and Daisuke punched Dark in the arm that his comment was unneeded. Satoshi visibly gulped and Daisuke felt pity for the older boy. But he squashed down that pity as soon as it came. He didn't know whether or not Satoshi would want pity. And if Daisuke was correct, the event happened years ago. If Daisuke were to bestow Satoshi pity now, it'd be considered too late.

"I-I…" Satoshi was tongue-tied. He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know if he could even say the r-word.

"It's okay. We won't judge you. Take a few breaths." Krad said comforting, placing an arm around Satoshi in a half-hug. Though it was nothing really meaningful or special, Satoshi felt comforted, for some reason. Daisuke nodded and Dark shrugged. Daisuke elbowed Dark and Dark nodded seriously. It was such a friendly attitude that Satoshi didn't know how to handle it. He never had any friends, so this brought a weird feeling. He never was a people person.

"I… I was r-raped… when I was six…" Satoshi couldn't bear to look at them. He closed his eyes and his hands fisted in the comforter. "I couldn't stop her… That bitch Kiyomi." It was a dam was broken and hysterical words finally burst out after having been locked away for so many years. "I was just trying to hide from the bastard. I was in my own room! God damn it! Why did he have to come in and bring that fucking whore? I should've run away!"

Daisuke didn't know if he should calm down Satoshi or not. Satoshi was hysterical, fidgeting. He was sobbing and talking fast. But at least Satoshi wasn't crying. Krad was already taking Satoshi into his arms and the azure-haired boy still wouldn't open his eyes. But he grasped Krad's arms tightly, like it was a life anchor. Krad made some calming and cooing noises to Satoshi's ear to calm him down. It worked to a certain degree. Satoshi's body relaxed into Krad's embrace.

"Hi-Hiwatari was drunk. He collapsed halfway into my room. I-I thought I was safe for sure. But I was wrong." Satoshi let a few tears out. "Sh-she walked up to me, l-like a sl-slut. She… She laid down on top of me! I was only six! Why did she like me? She made me impale her! My dick wasn't even that big!" Satoshi finally opened his eyes and they first landed on Daisuke and not Krad, since Krad was behind Satoshi, hugging him. Satoshi's eyes were so pained, so hurt. There were other emotions in there as well, creating a torrent of feeling. Of pain. Of anger. Of sadness. Of hate. And of course of self-disgust. Because Satoshi couldn't protect himself.

Daisuke flinched at the display of emotions on the pain-stricken boy who was always reserved. Yes. Satoshi was still a boy, Daisuke realized. Satoshi didn't have a childhood, he didn't know about the simple joys. He was forced to grow up too fast. Though his mind was mature, it didn't mean he was an adult. It simply meant that he was a child who saw too much of the real world. Satoshi was forced to see horrors. By Krad's dark expression, Daisuke knew that Krad thought of the same things as well.

Satoshi let tears fall. Tiny droplets followed one another. And Dark nervously moved. Daisuke forgot he was there until he moved. Daisuke turned to face Dark and placed a hand on his arm to settle Dark. Then Daisuke turned back to face Satoshi.

"Are you okay?" What kind of question was that? Of course, Satoshi isn't okay. He just spilled about something that happened to him a long time ago that no one else knows. And it's also about rape.

"Daisuke, do you honestly think that I'm okay?" Satoshi asked, tonelessly. He wasn't really acting mean, but he wasn't being very agreeable either. Daisuke cringed but he shook his head in reply to Satoshi's question. "Good." Satoshi whispered as his hands dropped listlessly to his side and his head leaned back onto Krad's shoulder. He closed his eyes and hid his face into Krad's neck. Though no one could really hear sobs, the trio knew Satoshi was crying, if the shaking body in Krad's arms were anything to go by. Krad was happy that Satoshi trusted him that much, but he's also rather angry with Kiyomi for hurting the beautiful boy.

The tears traveled down from under Krad's ear to his neck and onto his shoulder and/or collarbone. Which is rather bad, because those are the spots where Krad is sensitive. Krad mentally groaned, frustrated. He wasn't sure if Krad Junior would become active, but he should be careful. Satoshi was in his arms. Shaking. Moving up and down. Near Krad Junior.

Satoshi was in his arms.

Satoshi was in his arms.

And damn, let's hope Junior will know the severity of the situation. Otherwise Satoshi would think that Krad wants the same thing that Kiyomi wants. Well, Krad does want the sex, but he also wants more. Krad wants to enjoy a real relationship, filled with love and smiles. Something he never had before. But he had to earn Satoshi's trust and love first. But thanks to what happened to his object of affections, it would be a hard and challenging journey. Krad snorted in the inside as he pictured himself all alone in a snowstorm.

"Leave." Satoshi said in a quiet voice. Through the thick silence of the room, Daisuke heard and so did Dark. They both stood up and exited the room with a concerned glance at Satoshi. Once they were gone, Krad slowly tried to stood up without dropping Satoshi. Then Satoshi pushed Krad back onto the bed and Satoshi laid down beside the bewildered Krad.

"You, stay." 'I don't know why, but your presence comforts me. You're so warm.' Snuggling up to Krad, Satoshi once again closed his eyes. Somehow, even with so many thoughts and emotions running through his head after telling not one but three other people his secret, he could still fall asleep, rather quickly too. His arm draped over Krad's abdomen as Satoshi's face nuzzled Krad's chest. Krad blushed. What was Satoshi doing? Did he expect Krad to sleep with him (and not that way, folks)? Satoshi snored and Krad received his answer. Sighing softly, Krad smiled gently as he parted Satoshi's bangs. He eased himself into a comfortable position and let sleep take himself into its sweet embrace.

"Daisuke?" Dark's voice was confused and questioning. In other words, Dark sounded cute. But Daisuke had other matters to tend to. Like his Tarot cards. Daisuke pulled out his deck and whispered in a soft voice.

"Renaca. Solaku. Out." Three simple words and in a second, two cards slipped out of the deck and into the air. The goddess and the god faced Daisuke and happily circled him.

"Daisuke-sama. It has been a while since we were last summoned." Renaca said. Daisuke nodded apologetically and Solaku jumped around.

"I have a question. About a friend." Daisuke said solemnly. Dark furrowed his eyebrows as Renaca nodded. A decade, more or less, so ago my friend was desecrated. I don't know if he hid anything then and I want you to-"

"Daisuke! I thought you promised Satoshi that you wouldn't tell anybody!" Dark exclaimed, outrage at Daisuke's decision. Daisuke shook his head and turned towards Dark to respond. But Dark's expression was too much and Daisuke bowed his head, being submissive (and that didn't escape Dark's mind).

"Dark, you don't understand. The Tarot cards hear what I hear. They know as much about things as I do, probably more. They know about it. I wouldn't be telling them, otherwise." Daisuke whispered as if ashamed. He didn't normally act like this but for some reason, Dark's opinion mattered the most to him. Was it because Dark knows about the world they came from? Dark gave him a confused pleading look; the face was pleading him to explain to Dark.

"Daisuke. Tell me what you want to talk about. I don't think Satoshi will appreciate someone talking about his… desecration." Dark said, the same pleading, begging look on his face. Daisuke lifted his head a bit, but it could still be considered an act of submission. He looked at Dark's face, his eyes roaming all over before landing on Dark's eyes. There, Daisuke looked for the question that Dark wants to ask, but couldn't find the correct words.

"Dark. You don't understand. And I don't think you ever will." Daisuke knew that was hurting Dark for him to hear those words escape Daisuke's mouth. Daisuke wasn't even sure if he meant it with all his heart. "But I can try to explain." Dark's hurt face lessened a bit, but it was still there. Daisuke, who was only a few feet away, slowly walked towards Dark.

"If we want to help Satoshi out, we have to see everything that ultimately led to his isolation from society. That way, we can help Satoshi. And if Satoshi wants, we could find some proof to get the woman called Kiyomi into jail." Daisuke elaborated. Once standing beside Dark, he tiptoed and kissed Dark on the cheek. Why he did that, he didn't know. He stepped back once and the cards, all of them started circling around Daisuke. Strangely, it felt like Daisuke would be gone for a very, very long time, if not forever.

"Daisuke!" Dark shouted. His arm came up and Dark was afraid the cards would paper cut him if he went any closer to Daisuke. But heedless of his fear, Dark continued onward. His arm outstretched, Dark was surprised when the cards parted and let Dark's arm across and touch Daisuke's shoulder. Without Dark knowing, Daisuke somehow turned his back on him and when Dark's hand came into contact with Daisuke's shoulder, he turned around. Their eyes met and Daisuke's widened. Then, like a cliché movie, a bright light flashed and they were out of there.

Satoshi sat up abruptly, forgetting the fact that Krad was next to him. Something was happening. Satoshi could feel it. Something happened. A groan came from beside him and he felt a vibration underneath his fingertips. Looking down, he noticed that he jostled Krad awake. Disgruntled eyes stared up at him and a silent question was asked. 'What's wrong?' Satoshi didn't know how to answer Krad, though. He didn't even know how he knew something was wrong. He just knew.

Something lurched on his rear end and his body jumped up a bit at the sensation, but Satoshi knew no one touched it. Krad's arms were hugging his pillow; therefore Krad couldn't have touched him. And no one else was in the room. Everything was black for a second and Satoshi opened his eyes again, blinking away the darkness. Did he just black out for a second? His body wasn't that fatigued, was it? His eyes flashed and he saw the darkness again. But this time it wasn't gone as fast. However, this time it wasn't only black, black, and more black.

The flashes of colors that followed weren't simple colors. They made up things, like tables, chairs, papers, etc. And things like that brought Satoshi to the conclusion that he was seeing a memory. He heard Krad shout his name, but he was far too gone into this movie of memories. It wasn't exactly familiar though. To a certain degree, Satoshi could recognize his room, but not what was happening. Did he ever smile like that when he was eight?

Another flash. Satoshi could see a familiar redhead leaving a ten-year-old Satoshi. Satoshi was crying and asking if he'd ever see Daisuke again. Daisuke and Dark. He never met those two, before. So how did they appear in his memories? He wasn't even that emotional. Not after what happened.

"Satoshi!" Krad! It's his voice! He wasn't in Satoshi's memories, so he supposes that'll bring him to present time. Satoshi doesn't think he could handle any more strange visions. Gasping, the darkness that followed each memory receded and Satoshi saw a light and something yellow, or was it golden?

"Krad!" Satoshi's vision cleared and he jumped on top of Krad, surprising the blond man. But Satoshi didn't care. The new memories frightened him, not that Satoshi would admit it. He needed something real to hold on to. Otherwise, Satoshi would go crazy with an identity crisis.

"Satoshi, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, Krad. Just please let us stay like this for a while." Satoshi whispered softly. He got an approval from Krad and he absentmindedly wondered where Dark and Daisuke were.

Thump

Dark groaned as something heavy and large was dumped onto him. His midsection would surely bruise. With the impact, Dark had hit his head and his eyes were closed in pain, as stars seemed to fly around like in cartoons. A moan sounded by the weight on top of him and when Dark deemed his eyes okay, he opened them to see a head full of red hair. Daisuke. Daisuke moaned again and he shifted around. Luckily, the pain that Dark feels stopped him from being aroused.

"Daisuke? Could you please get off?" Dark asked, his voice cracking as Daisuke shifted again and landed on a large bruise. At Dark's painful whisper, Daisuke opened his eyes. When they landed on Dark, they widened. Daisuke instantly jumped off of Dark and Dark groaned again at the difference of weight settling in.

"Dark! Are you okay! Oh my god! I am so sorry!" Daisuke exclaimed worriedly. He accidentally tapped into his stereotypical blonde high school girl accent. (A/N: This is just there for humor! XD) Daisuke's voice became shrill and high-pitched as Dark grunted in pain.

"Can you be quiet for a second? Your voice is too high for my poor, abused ears." Dark weakly chuckled out. Daisuke glared, peeved. But Daisuke complied nevertheless. After a while, Dark blinked his eyes and slowly, pulled himself up. No, more like being dragged up by Daisuke. "Daisuke? You're pulling my arm out of its socket." Daisuke's eyes widened and he immediately dropped Dark's arm, letting it hit the floor.

"Ow." Dark said. He shakily stood up, pushing away the help from Daisuke. Daisuke glared again, but Dark glared back for a second, before he stumbled from trying to take a step. Daisuke decided to forget about Dark's refusal of help and gently place both of his hands around Dark's arm to steady him and not let Dark fall head first into the floor. Once Daisuke was sure Dark was okay, Daisuke removed one of his hands and placed it on Dark's opposite shoulder.

"We should go somewhere for a doctor to see your injuries. Wait. What are you doing here?" Daisuke asked with a pointed look. He stepped away, his arms still touching Dark. "When I said we, I meant by my cards and me, not you." Dark cringed at Daisuke's choice of words. Daisuke blinked before realizing what he said.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean that you're useless or anything! It's just easier and faster by myself. I always do things alone." Daisuke quickly said, trying to ease Dark's ruffled feathers. Of course, he doesn't know that Dark doesn't really care after Daisuke apologized. Daisuke doesn't know Dark feels pity for him. After all, Daisuke was alone. He might not have said that he was lonely. But Dark knows that Daisuke is forced to get used to being alone, because those who chose to be lonely would one day regret it and would be in the same spot as Daisuke is in now. Well, not really stuck in another world, just not used to other people or their help.

'Gah. Too many thoughts. Confused, now.' Dark thought. Out loud, Dark said, "It's okay. But now you have me! I could help you! You don't have to be alone. And neither would I." The last part was whispered, not meant for Daisuke's ears. But it appeared to be futile, if Daisuke's red cheeks and ears were anything to go by. Hm. That makes Daisuke blush worse than anything so far.

"Y-You mean it?" Daisuke stuttered nervously. It was the first time someone said that to him and he didn't know what to do. No one, and Daisuke means no one, have ever chose to speak with him outside his Tarot store. No one bothered to. And now, people talk to him. AND Dark uses the words you have me to Daisuke. That meant something! Daisuke wasn't alone, anymore!

The hope that rose with those thoughts was squashed as fast as it came. Dark only spoke with Daisuke because they were on this journey. Daisuke knows that once they return to their own world, Dark would abandon Daisuke just like everyone else. Daisuke doesn't know when the journey would end, though.

'At least I still have time with him. Them! I mean Krad and Dark. Not just Dark.' Daisuke thought. He mentally sighed and wondered why he doesn't just kill his heart before it wants to hold someone's attention. But killing a heart literally would mean death… Daisuke doesn't fear death, however… 'I guess I don't want to die yet, because now I have some people to cherish, though as short time as I have, it might be pointless.'

"Daisuke, where are we?" Dark asked as he looked around. There were trees and bushes and statues around him and it was a familiar site. 'Satoshi's garden? Then what was that flash? … And why does everything look so brand new?'

Dark's assumption of everything being new was correct, even though he didn't know it at the time. The statues were newly carved and the subjects were of fairy tale creatures: unicorns, fairies, mermaids, centaurs, etc. The trees that blossomed beautifully were just dug into the earth not too long ago and the bushes were the same.

"We're in the past, Dark. The cards have that power and I don't like to abuse it. This is a few days before Satoshi's… rape." Daisuke explained. You could tell that Daisuke doesn't like the act or the word, rape. One would assume either a) he was a victim or rape, b) his friend was a victim, c) he has seen someone raping another, d) he knows someone forcing themselves onto another, or e) all of the above. The answer would probably be b if Satoshi admits them being friends.

"Th-the past!" Dark exclaims, in shock. He thinks of the many things he could correct. Then he sighed when he remembered that he was in Tarot. But being the kind-hearted boy that he was, Dark had to ask a question, "Daisuke? Could we prevent Satoshi's rape?"

"No! If you change the past, you change the future! Haven't you ever seen those time-travel movies!" Daisuke said loudly. Dark winced at the loud noise and wondered if his ear could bruise like the rest of his body by loud noises.

"Okay! Okay! Just asking." Dark says, sighing. Dark thinks back on how Satoshi looked after he told them about what happened. His eyes were so… painful, asking Dark to either kill him or wipe his memory of that night. Of course, Dark could do neither. So the next best thing is preventing that from happening. "Daisuke. I just want to know. Can we prevent Satoshi's rape?" Daisuke sighed before nodding, not knowing what Dark really planned on doing, even after hearing his forbidding.

"Right now, we're incorporeal and solid, so yeah. The people from the past could see us and interact with us; therefore we could alter the past. But doing that, we might change the future so some people might not have lived and some people lived. We might not meet Satoshi at all, if we change what has already happened." Daisuke spoke casually, but his face was giving Dark a meaningful look, a warning. Dark knows the consequences, and he doesn't care. But Dark was pretty sure that Daisuke won't let him change anything. Daisuke was too much of a cute goody-good two shoes; that was a charm that attracted him to Dark… Forget that thought.

"Thanks…" Dark muttered as he looked around. He could not let Daisuke know what he was doing. Dark knew what he was about to do was reckless, stupid, dangerous, stupid, life altering, stupid, cheating, stupid, and a whole lot that can make a list of sorts. Hm… Dark kept on repeating stupid.

'I AM NOT STUPID! But why didn't I repeat dangerous, then?' Dark asked himself. Mentally blinking, Dark was startled out of his thoughts when Daisuke pulled him down. Daisuke turned to him and placed a finger onto his lips, a sign to be quiet.

"What?" Dark whispered. Though he lacks some intelligence (Dark: Hey!), Dark knows when Daisuke is really serious. Too bad Dark forgot that Daisuke told him to keep quiet.

"Who are you guys?" A familiar blue-eyed male asked them. It was Satoshi! Only not him… It was a mini Satoshi around the age of six or five. He cocked his head to the side and looked cute.

"Satoshi-sama! Where are you?" A butler probably shouted. Satoshi squealed and jumped over the kneeling Dark and Daisuke in a surprising way. He then copied their positions and kneeled down. While Dark and Daisuke were preoccupied with the smaller Satoshi, they hadn't seen the butler chasing Satoshi coming their way.

"Who are you two? This is private property."

A/N: I don't know why I added To-to at the beginning. She was rather obvious, ne? To stop the silence. I guess I used My Tourniquet because I was listening to it while I was writing this.