Crystal Hearts

We can grow only once in our lives. As our love crystallizes and grows, so, too, do our hearts…they are a manifestation of our love. In time, they are given over to the one who inspired them…who wished them happiness. You at least…I wish you happiness…

Chapter 15: The Forgotten

Dark didn't utter a single word for the next few days, the redhead grew worried.

#Dark?#

/…/

#Come on Dark, you have to say something!#

The thief gave no response. Daisuke sighed and headed downstairs where he found Satoshi. The blue haired boy had been staying at his house ever since the blonde had disappeared, he showed just about as much life as Dark did, but at least he spoke.

"Good morning Satoshi-kun…"

The blue haired boy looked over and nodded his greetings. The redhead was stumped, he didn't know what to do with either of them, one whose lover's now gone, and the other who shared a soul with the hunter who's now gone, he was the only person who didn't really get attached to Krad. He felt the thief flinch at the name.

#Sorry…#

Dark looked away frowning, his attitude had become more serious. Even when he was stealing, no longer did he play around with the police, he just took the target and left. That's how great of a thief he really was, Daisuke realized, he'd simply stalled around to see if the blonde would show up…giving the police the slightest bit of hope that they could catch him. But in reality, any type of trap set up wouldn't have been enough. Satoshi didn't even attend to the nightly stealing anymore.

The redhead sat down, continuing his pondering when suddenly, Emiko dashed into the room, out of breath. "Dai-chan! Satoshi! Get down here quickly! Towa-chan's found something!"

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Dark frowned, he didn't like the redhead worrying over him yet at the same time apart of him simply didn't care anymore. He didn't feel like talking, sitting there in silence and contemplating about anything, everything, thatwas all he did for the past few days. No matter what he did, all his thoughts strayed back to the blonde. He looked at Satoshi and the last conversation he had.

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"He wanted to tell you…he loves you."

"I love him too…"

"He knew that, he also said that he was going to miss you."

"Stupid Krad…" He was choking and stumbling for words, they seemed to be stuck in his throat, "Why…" He couldn't finish, he found himself curling up and changing back into the redhead. Why would he say something like that after he's gone? Why did he have to leave? Too many whys filled his head and he found that his voice didn't want to work anymore, almost as though nothing was worth talking about anymore.

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Daisuke and Satoshi exchanged confused glances as to why they were both called down. They headed down the stairs to where the fire was lit, suddenly, the redhead noticed something. The painting, the one of the white and black feather, neither of them disappeared, but the white one now had a symbol on it, like the one that had been on Krad's collarbone! Satoshi must have noticed too for his eyes had grown wide, even Dark turned his attention to the scenario they were in.

"Kaa-chan, what's going on?"

Emiko pointed to Towa who was standing there, eyes giving off an eerie glow as though she was in a trance, "Towa-chan's found something I'm quite sure you'll all want to hear."

The three turned their attention to the gray haired entity, "The one who's been taken from you is not lost."

Three pairs of eyes widened/What!.?./

That was the first word Daisuke had heard from the thief in days, "Where is he?"

Towa looked Daisuke straight in the eyes, "He has been taken to the halls of banishment."

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Golden eyes fluttered open, he frowned, wasn't he dead? Was it all a dream? "Ah, I see you're awake."

The voice was familiar, too familiar, Krad hissed, "Aku…"

The demon laughed, "It's nice to know that you know my name."

Krad's frown didn't falter, he felt a recognizable sensation, then a moment later, he realized that he was surrounded by magic, "Where am I?"

"Get up and walk around, you'll be surprised." Golden eyes narrowed, slowly, he say up, already surprised that he was no longer weary. "Go on, there aren't any traps or anything around, I swear!" He could feel the other grinning at him.

Frowning, he got up and reached for the closet wall, still unable to see where he was going, he could sense magic hanging all around him. Finally, his hand felt something cold, rough, and bumpy, it was a brick wall. Golden-red eyes watched him, probably amused. His hand went up and landed on a frame, then, even higher, it became glossy and smooth, magic radiating off of it. "This is…"

"A Hikari painting? I know, there are several others here."

"How'd you-"

"I didn't, I don't steal, the curse did it for me, do you know where we are? No, of course you don't. We're in the halls of banishment kitten."

Krad blinked, he didn't understand what was going on at all, "Didn't the curse kill off the artwork?"

Aku must've shrugged, he sounded laid back and uncaring, "No, it's simply a curse of banishment for eternity, in some ways it's very much like dying. Eventually, you'll be forgotten by everyone, even the ones you love. It's bound to happen."

Krad turned around, "You speak no words that I can trust. What would you know about this?"

"A lot more than you about this...curse." Aku replied with a chuckle, "Tell me, do you know why you and the thief separated from the Black Wings in the first place?"

"The Niwa messed up the sealing."

The demon sighed, "No, not quite, their seals were perfect, but what they didn't count on was the curse. You see, the Black Wings was cursed and was to be banished since the magic was too strong, but then along came the Niwa who instead of sealing the art, they separated you two and messed up the curse. Nice little story with a happy ending no?"

"Then these are all Hikari artworks…"

"Aren't you the smart one? These are the cursed pieces, they're forgotten, here for eternity, they don't exist. After all, how can something exist when no one knows it's there?"

"Then you're a Hikari piece? You aren't one that I recognize…"

The demon's clothes ruffled as he settled himself against a wall, "You're smart, but not quite. I suppose in some aspects I'm a Hikari piece…or bits and pieces of Hikari artwork."

"What?" He didn't understand at all, the words were being spoken but none of them made sense.

"I'm simply the evil, the pain, the sorrow of some of the famous artworks the Hikari have created. I feed off of them in a way. The longer they stay here, the angrier and more stressed out they are, it makes me stronger, would it surprise you if I told you that I was the strongest Hikari piece of all? Although there are times where there are artwork that aren't here but are still in pain…I told you I was apart of you, do you wish to know why?"

Despite not wanting to, Krad nodded out of curiosity, "Tell me."

"Remember your crystal heart?"

The hunter froze, "What about it?"

"Don't you remember all the pain you felt through it? So painful that you could barely handle it?" Krad tensed, "Well, what can I say? The sentimental fool of a thief put it in his safe thinking that no one would ever get it but honestly, what an idiot he was. It's thanks to your heart that I gained so much power, your pain was endless, it was delicious." He licked his lips and grinned, "I see that even now, you're in pain. You really have no idea how much you've helped me do you?"

"Shut up…"

There was a soft ruffling noise, Aku was swinging something around, "It looks so beautiful, yet fragile, quite ironic isn't it?"

"Shut up!"

"Ah yes…even at the moment you're still helping me…but events will occur and honestly, I'd rather you not get further involved."

"What-" The blonde didn't know when, but suddenly, there was a sharp blow to the back of his head and he fell unconscious.

Aku smirked and picked the blind hunter up, "Oh no, we couldn't have you further involved, after all, what if the thief actually gets you back? No…I couldn't let that happen." Heading down the great hall filled with forgotten paintings, he smirked, "Now where shall I hide you? Where can the thiefnot toget you? Ah…but of course…" As he walked down the hall, he gave a sharp glance to the paintings hung about, "The thief if coming, as your guardian, I order you to slow him for as long as you can, I need to set things up." Then with a grin he continued walking as the paintings began to glow.

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Nya

Super short chapter! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! But honestly, I have no time at the moment, at least not with my current...situation XP And yes there's still more I've just been stuck for the longest time, that's all :P I mean with getting sick and having to be semi-mute for a couple hours...everything's just peachy :P Crappers...no time for responds >.O have to get going so buhbye and hope you enjoy! Thankies for all the reviews :D Promise I'll do responds for next chapter! XD