Dedicated to: Kenbu, for telling me to take my time and not say "Update soon please".
And the bold words are Black Wings, someone that I incorporated into this story with a personality I created.
Chapter 18: Run, Snow Patrol
Dark sat in the cold, white hall. It was too plain, too empty. It reminded him of Black Wings. Everything here was so… empty. Dark closed his eyes and squeezed his fists together. Sitting next to him was Emiko, crying softly into Kosuke's distressed embrace. Both were holding each other and Dark envied them. They had wonderful, long years together, as a husband and wife. And yet he and Daisuke were never close enough to call each other boyfriends, even with their love.
Dark let out a sad moan. Daisuke was in the emergency room, getting blood. It seemed Daisuke was too frail and lost a lot of blood, but the ambulance had said that the blood in his room didn't qualify as enough to faint.
The night was long. Daisuke was held limply in Dark's arms. Dark was wide-eyed and continuously shaking Daisuke's shoulders, trying to wake the boy who was lost. Unaware that his movement caused even more blood to fall out, Dark brought Daisuke close again and hugged a nearly back-cracking hold. His howls alerted the rest of the Niwa to enter Daisuke's room.
Emiko had screamed and immediately ran for her child. Kosuke fell to his knees and felt so weak, feeling he had failed his son. Daichii had collapsed, due to the shock and his old age. Dark continued to scream. Who knew how much time passed before Kosuke shaking called the ambulance. He almost dropped the phone from so much trembling.
Dark was lost in his thoughts, and holding Daisuke close to him, to never let him go, or to lose him. Yami had wisely kept quiet like how he did the night before. The immediate service had to force sedatives into Dark to let him let go of Daisuke, who was held in a very tight grip.
That night, two important people of the Niwa family were brought to the Azumano Hospital on stretchers.
Now, after Dark had awakened in a hospital bed, Dark is waiting with Daisuke's parents for news on the redheaded boy. They had waited for a few hours. Daisuke was brought to the ER and a nurse had asked questions to the crying Emiko. Luckily, the hospital had enough of the right blood for Daisuke. Now, they only have to wait for the signal before seeing Daisuke.
"Mr. Niwa, Mrs. Niwa, and… uh… Dark Mousy?" The nurse shook her head, thinking it was just a faux. "Daisuke Niwa is stabilized and you can go see him now. He's in room 54, which is down the hall." She continued shaking her head about thinking Dark Mousy was in the hospital while walking away with a clipboard in her hands.
Dark had run towards the room 54, absentmindedly remembering the Cantonese joke about those two numbers. 5 means don't or not while 4 meant dead or death. Dark hoped it was a good sign that the number of Daisuke's room said not dead.
Slamming the door open and getting chastising looks from a lot of nurses later, Dark rushed to Daisuke's side. Unconscious though the redhead may be, Dark knew Daisuke could feel his other half with him. Dark started sniffling and his eyes watered in relief, but he didn't let loose any of the tears. Daisuke would find his anguish.
"Dark… C'mon. I hear Black Wings trying to tell us something…" Yami whispered sadly in Dark's mind. Dark held Daisuke's lax hand in his grip while squeezing his eyes again. Dark wanted to ignore Yami and what he said. But the part about the Black Wings struck something in him.
"Dark, Black Wings said that… you have to come back. We have to go." Yami said. He shook Dark's imaginary shoulder. Dark shrugged him off and pushed his face into Daisuke's midsection stubbornly.
"Dark!" A loud voice bombarded in Dark's mind. Even though Dark never heard the voice before, he instantly knew whom it belonged to.
Black Wings.
"Dark! Foolish art, time to come back. I have given you a chance to bring joy to the Niwa tamer, but alas, how is he now? Depressed, and in the hospital." The powerful voice resonated in Dark's mind, accusingly. "You have failed and lost your chance. Now it's time for your consequence."
A strange wind began filling the room and Dark noticed that the room was empty except Daisuke and he. Emiko and Kosuke were nowhere to be found and the room no longer looks like a hospital room. It looked decrepit and lost. The wind swirled around Dark and like a tornado, wanted to pull Dark into it.
"Let go!" Dark yelled, holding on to Daisuke, who strangely was not under the pull. When the wind began to pick up, Dark began to lose his faith. Loosening his grip on Daisuke's arm, he leaned in to Daisuke's ear and began to sing.
I'll sing it one last time for you
then we really have to go
you've been the only thing that's right
in all I've done
When Daisuke heard the words, he wanted to wake. Opening his eyes, Daisuke felt so tired. It was like he only woke from a long, long sleep. His body almost felt like it wanted to stay as still as a statue. Everything looked bleary and Daisuke groaned. He closed his eyes again and felt his veins burn. When he tried to squeeze his fist, he remembered he accidentally sliced one of his palms from the pain.
If that was real, so must the fact that Dark was back!
Daisuke gasped for breath at this revelation. He was so happy he almost hyperventilated. He tried to open his eyes again and blinked a few times before he could see clearly again. Once it was established that he could see, he pushed his painful body up and looked around frantically in the hospital room.
It was empty.
Nobody stood there in the room. Daisuke was alone. He let out a frustrated sigh and felt his eyes begin to sting. Daisuke roughly rubbed at his eyes. After that little crying session in his room, he didn't want another one. Daisuke sighed again, but this time it was filled with exhaustion. Still sitting up, Daisuke looked out the window.
It was nighttime and Daisuke could see the stars. It seems the nurse let the window drapes hang on the hook and left the window open for Daisuke to get fresh air. Daisuke couldn't see the ground, so he assumed he was on one of the upper levels.
His eyes landed on the stars again, with the moon hanging right in the middle. Some breeze wafted through the window and ruffled Daisuke's hair. The silence around him made him think it was well over midnight. But that was okay. Daisuke could finally get some peace and quiet. His thoughts seemed to stop too.
Staring straight at the moon (which is a crescent moon), Daisuke felt compelled to say something to the dark sky. It wasn't something to break an eerie silence. It was merely a need to talk to an inanimate object, knowing it'll be with you even when others abandon you.
"The beauty of the night sky… Something to be admired- unattainable…" Daisuke sighed for the third time. He blinked and looked down at his lap with his hands. One of them was bandaged tightly and Daisuke squeezed it briefly, as if trying to reassure himself that no one was holding his hand. He let out a deep breath before looking out the window once again.
Daisuke was unaware that he wasn't alone in the room. Even if it seemed so to him. A nearly invisible Dark hovered over his bed, with an imaginary pair of wings attached to his back. His wings gently fluttered in the cool breeze as Dark continued staring at the tamer. It seems he had lost to the Black Wings and now he's going to leave.
Yami appeared to be gone, Dark felt, since the part of his mind that carried Yami's personal things is empty. Black Wings must've already taken him, seeing that Yami is technically a part of Dark.
Dark strained his ears to hear what Daisuke whispered. The words kept on going around and around in his placated mind. Is that how Daisuke thought of him? Beautiful but beyond his reach? Dark felt flattered, because it seems like Daisuke thinks of him as a God. But at the same time, he feels an overpowering sadness. For Daisuke and for himself.
'Can we never be together?' Dark asks himself. He looked at Daisuke, wondering how long he has before Black Wings comes to fetch him.
"Daisuke." Dark whispers, knowing that the other cannot hear him. "I'm going to leave soon… But know that- I won't be completely gone. I was a part of you and I'll always be a part of you. We'll be together forever, even if it seems we're not."
"Daisuke… I love you…"
And I can barely look at you
but every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
"Daisuke. I'm going to leave soon… But know that- I won't be completely gone. I was a part of you and I'll always be a part of you. We'll be together forever, even if it seems we're not. Daisuke… I love you…" The words slipped into Daisuke's ears and his eyes widened.
His head swirled around from the window and he looked around the room with a curious desperation. The voice was familiar. It was Dark. But Dark wasn't there. Daisuke had already accepted the fact that he was hallucinating earlier that night, but this?
This is simply toying with him. Daisuke growled and grabbed his red hair. Suddenly the scenery doesn't seem so serene. The peace was beginning to annoy him. It was like the door, taunting him, telling him something he cannot have.
Daisuke limply pulled at his hair, his body's exhaustion preventing him from causing dangerous bodily harm. What the voice whispered is always what Daisuke wanted to hear. He'd have dreams, fantasies that Dark loved him as much as he Dark. But that's just it: a dream, a mere fantasy. It won't become reality like in clichés.
Dark will never say those words to him. But Daisuke was growing doubtful of every matter. It could be Dark, but maybe not. In his dreams, Daisuke always couldn't get Dark's voice right, or the wording. But this…
The words, the tone, the overall voice.
It was all Dark.
Daisuke thrown up his arms, pushing his body that was still screaming in tiredness off the bed. Stumbling, Daisuke walked around the room, waving his arms about. A passerby might think Daisuke to be crazy and insane, but Daisuke is only trying to find something that can't be seen.
But he couldn't find Dark.
Dark wanted to cry. Daisuke seems so pained! Dark knew he was trying to find him. But Dark also knew that Daisuke never would. Floating to the redhead, Dark hugged Daisuke from behind. As if feeling that embrace, Daisuke paused his actions, leaving his arms hanging floppily on his sides.
"I'll be with you, Daisuke." Dark murmured. And he was gone.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Daisuke blinked back tears as something in him broke away. It didn't shatter into pieces, but disappeared. Hearing another thing from Dark, Daisuke took in a shaky breath. The invisible arms around him were gone. Daisuke turned around, hoping to see someone, anyone, behind him. He was disappointed.
Then everything went black.
"Mr. Niwa, Mrs. Niwa, I have good news and bad news." A nurse stated. Emiko was still in Kosuke's arms, but no longer sniffling. When the other nurse had said Daisuke awoke, they didn't go after Dark. Dark and Daisuke deserve to be alone together, if their pain from being separated was anything to go by. But Dark was taking his time and Emiko isn't exactly pleased with him.
"Wh-what is it?" Emiko quietly croaked out. Her voice had become hoarse from all the crying and screaming throughout the night. Now, she's paying the consequences.
"Ma'am, the good news is that your son had become conscious and he was able to move, which is a miracle since his body should be in paralysis due to the fatigue. However, the bad news is that he's collapsed with no reason. The doctors had moved him to another room for treatment. At the moment, we still didn't find anything wrong except for the low energy." The nurse said, rather emotionlessly. She must've done this a lot of times to be so apathetic to such situations.
Emiko's eyes grew wide and she let out a worried sound. She turned to Kosuke and said, "Kosuke! Honey, what's happened to my baby? Dark was inside with him!" And then she turned to the nurse.
"Was there another person in my son's room? Something resembling the thief Dark Mousy?" Emiko was terribly frenzied. She stood up and grasped the woman's shoulders, squeezing them too tightly.
The woman shook her head, trying to push the strange mother away. "No. There wasn't anyone there. The patient was lying on the floor in a strange position beside the window." Emiko let out a wail and fell to Kosuke's arms again.
Down the hall, in another room, the doctors were checking over Daisuke's body. They couldn't find anything wrong with the male (except for the natural spiky hair). This was something considered a mystery.
People rushed around in the room, having no reason to run. Though Daisuke has fainted, nothing life-threatening has happened as of late. The nurses were confused. One of the new nurses, Kiyo was her name, stood still. She was scared. This was her first job and it was like she was failing. A determined gleam was in her eyes, but she could do nothing yet.
With narrowed eyes, she pushed away disgruntled doctors. They were trying to do their job and some newbie was pushing them around. They chastised her, but she ignored the comments. Standing over the non-responsive teen, she examined his body and face.
Daisuke's face was frozen with a sad sort of pained look. His body was straight, too straight to be a normal sleeping pose. This was no medical disease, Kiyo realized. It was matters of the heart. Such heartache is so rare. Kiyo, the young nurse, was very perceptive. She could tell Daisuke's life was much out of the ordinary, and due to such, his love must be quite special to be able to cause such pain.
Kiyo pitied the redhead, and she knew what to do. She clapped to get everyone in the room's attention. Instantly, they quieted, if only to glare at the audacious nurse. A newbie shouldn't be so impudent, they thought.
"He cannot be saved by medical means." Kiyo stated, and caused gasps in the room. Some were worried and some were scandalized. Some thought that Kiyo was saying they could not save Daisuke and others thought Kiyo said they weren't "professional" enough. "Hear me," she shouted, "the only way he can be saved is for him to be brought home and spend time with his loved one." Immediate uproar rose after this statement. She knew they thought she meant that Daisuke is going to die.
"Stop interrupting!" Kiyo said, frustrated. "He's not going to die. He just needs time. After a while, he'd be fine. Time heals all wounds, ne?" Some doctors and nurses were still grumbling but most of all, they sighed.
Daisuke's situation is different from others, so they want to find out if it's a new plague. But their top priority is to cure anything. If Kiyo thinks this is the best course of action when there are no other options, they best go along with it.
Daisuke slept on his bed, dreaming of something indefinable. As time dragged on for worried parents, a child is witnessing his greatest fear: losing the closest, dearest person to his heart. To others, it may not seem like a big deal, but when you're Daisuke, it is something worth mentioning. Daisuke's whole life had been plain and normal and ordinary (if you exclude the part where Daisuke had trained to be a thief) and girls considered him the boy-nest-door or little brother type. It had seemed so pointless living until Dark came into his life.
Everything was sparked up and things around him changed. A girl started noticing him (Riku), he finally got over a childhood crush (Risa), and he finally got something no one else has ever has: someone that can understand him from inside out. That's because Dark knew him; Dark was there for Daisuke since the beginning of Daisuke's life.
And now, Daisuke's dream features him losing Dark once again. No matter how much Daisuke cries out, Dark doesn't seem to be able to hear. Dark doesn't seem to know about Daisuke's unrequited love. Even though Daisuke heard the words I love you escape out of Dark's mouth, Daisuke isn't sure if it was merely an illusion or not.
"Dark…" Daisuke sniffed to himself. In his dream, darkness surrounded him and he had curled up into a ball defensively. Daisuke continued crying out for the one he loved, yet no one came.
Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
"Dark! Where did you go? I need you…" Daisuke shouted into the darkness of his mind. No one was there. There was nothing. So empty. So dark. Daisuke pushed himself off the ground and tried to escape this depressing scene. But it seems wherever he goes, there's nothing but darkness and more darkness. Daisuke's normally silent footsteps ricocheted loudly, bouncing off walls unseen.
When nothing answered back except those same footfalls, Daisuke began growing paranoid and afraid. But besides that, Daisuke was starting to feel that horrible, terrible fear of loneliness. The desperation to find Dark threatened to wash over Daisuke as his strides began to pick up. Each step was faster than the last and Daisuke began running.
The lack of anything except for himself made no sign of change. Daisuke doesn't know if he's been running a long, long road that goes on forever in this dank place, or if he's simply running circles.
Daisuke repeatedly spoke Dark's name, as if hoping only calling him would bring him magically. But it was futile. Nothing appeared or came. Only the sound of nothing.
Slowly, Daisuke's franticness began to diminish. His steps slowed down before he finally stopped. He wasn't panting or anything. His eyes only held a light that was being snuffed out. And then, he fell to his knees.
Daisuke couldn't cry anymore. Even though emptiness is beginning to fill him up, Daisuke doesn't cry. Nor does he care. As he lay on his knees, he closed his eyes as a water drop from his eye leaked out. Daisuke wouldn't call that a tear.
Tears, crying, were when you're feeling some sort of emotion, like sadness or frustration or happiness. But right now, Daisuke feels almost nothing. Almost being the key word.
But that minor feeling that he has, emptiness, didn't cause any urge to cry. So Daisuke doesn't count that little droplet a tear.
He only wishes Dark were here with him.
To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do
Faster than the speed of light, Dark was whirred away somewhere. When the flashing colors finally ceased, Dark opened eyes that he never knew he closed. There, standing right in front of him, were three beings. Two of which he had wished never to meet again. The last was something Dark expected to be with him always.
Who (or what, if you want specifics) was there were Krad, Yami, and last but certainly not least, Black Wings. Krad and Yami were both chained in front of him, each with manacles tied to a hidden wall or barrier. Chains encircled both of them, but they did nothing to hide the welts, bruises, and wounds that they bore. Krad held more injuries than Yami and Dark suspected that it was because Krad was never let free when Dark had been.
But still, Yami was injured. It seemed he had a few cracked ribs, if those things protruding out of his midsection was to be trusted. Dark winced. Even if Yami had seemed like an annoying pervert who wanted Daisuke all to himself, Dark wouldn't wish that kind of treatment on anyone, not even Krad. Speaking of Krad and Yami, they were both unconscious, probably worn out from all the hits. Once again, Dark had to wince.
During the time Dark used to look over his two "friends", Black Wings was kept silent. But now that he recognized Dark to be finished with his inspection, Black Wings stepped out of the shadows he was half hiding in.
"Hello, Koku-Yoku. I've longed to see you." Black Wings's face contorted into a malicious grin that no one could best or match. "I honestly wanted to give you a chance, even if I didn't want to let you go. I didn't want you to be in pain…" Dark gave a disbelieving scoff.
"…from anyone else besides me. Heh. But you just blown that chance into smithereens didn't you? Pity; the Tamer was just so innocent." Black Wings smirked. Dark snarled. The way Black Wings talked about Daisuke was simply maddening.
The tone, the expression were mocking, lusting, and discriminating. That caused such fury in Dark. This beast in him, created by ambitious mortals that were simply too determined, is so ruthless. It seems it doesn't know emotions.
Dark angrily stalked forward, standing merely a centimeter from the barrier in which Krad and Yami hung. Dark wanted to spat. Black Wings was technically Dark as well. Or the other way around is better. Krad and Dark in one is what created the Black Wings. But when they had separated, the Black Wings transformed into a mere container.
Dark couldn't understand how a container could be so evil. How can a container be animated (too)? Dark cleared useless thoughts and focused back at the demonic thing in front of him.
"Shut up! Don't talk about Daisuke like that!" Dark replied heatedly. Black Wings gave a scornful laugh and pointedly look at Dark.
"You are part of me. However I talk is how you talk. Do you not understand?" Black Wings gave Dark such a look. Dark clenched his fingers and gritted his teeth. He knew he couldn't push past the wall, but damn it! He wanted to punch that bastard's face in till next Sunday!
"SHUT UP!" Dark shouted. Yami groaned in pain at the loud noise and tried to shift his body. Then Yami groaned again, the pain on his body taking its toll. Dark's fists shook and he closed his eyes, knowing whatever pain Yami was in now was Dark's fault. If he hadn't been so stupid…
In Dark's mind, an image of a happy, smiling Daisuke came to view. It was like a photograph from so long ago, back when Dark was merely an attachment to Daisuke's mind. Daisuke's face was grinning, his smile so big that his eyes ended up squinting. But it was a cute squint, with dimples on the edge of his mouth. And the peace sign that Daisuke made.
This visualization of Daisuke made Dark feel even guiltier. But most of all, Dark felt the love that he owed Daisuke. Dark had told Daisuke that he loved him, yet he also knew Daisuke believed it to be a fantasy of his own imagination.
Dark squeezed his eyes tighter.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Daisuke's fists tightened. Anger filled his body, with minor pieces of guilt and worry overhead. Daisuke knew these emotions were not his. Daisuke was feeling only emptiness of loneliness. This was someone else's feeling, that much he knew.
But Daisuke was no empath (1). He doesn't know whom it belongs to. But simple deduction would be enough, Daisuke supposed. Who did Daisuke understand perfectly, knew so much about that he knows what the person would do? Who does Daisuke treasure so much that he'd actually bother to know the person? Who was a part of Daisuke? Who did Daisuke love?
There was only one answer that fit every category. Dark Mousy. Dark Mousy, the famous art thief, the Phantom Thief, the Niwa's curse and blessing, the other half of Daisuke.
The sudden clarity caused Daisuke's eyes to widen, before he closed them tightly. 'Not again. Not the pain.' Daisuke, still on his knees, clutched his fist even more, causing his nails to dig deeply into his hand, even the injured one. But no blood came. Not in Daisuke's mind.
Daisuke took a deep breath, released it, before repeating the process. Soon, the anger ebbed away. Daisuke took control of himself. Dark. Now what has caused the one he loved such anger?
Perhaps where Dark had ended up, there was a girl he liked? A girl that already had a boyfriend? Maybe he was only jealous. Daisuke scoffed. Dark would never be jealous. His looks alone would woo the girl to him.
So that kicked that option out. Maybe Krad annoyed him too much? That wouldn't explain the guilt and worry Dark felt. Not unless Dark began to warm up to the blond and was concerned of whatever he did to Krad. Naw. Krad seems too blood lusting (or more specifically blood-from-Dark-lusting) to let anyone close.
Daisuke took a deep breath in again. Now that he experienced Dark's feelings, Daisuke's emptiness and loneliness began to lessen. Perhaps, knowing that it was Dark's eased the longing Daisuke felt. But that thought didn't help much.
Daisuke knew that Dark would never be his, no matter what. Dark was stuck till Daisuke or his child gives a son that would live more than fourteen years. And that meant Daisuke had to have sex with a woman. Daisuke couldn't cheat on Dark, whether or not Dark knows he loves him.
"Dark… What should I do?" Daisuke whispered into this dark, dark room, expecting no answer to come.
Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
"Koku-Yoku, be at peace." Black Wings said. It seems he decided to be agreeing now. " I can assure you, your Tamer would be happy in the future. Not now, surely, when you left him once again. But in the future, with someone." The word, else, was left hanging in the air.
Dark's eyes stung, but Dark wouldn't give the pleasure of letting Black Wings see that. The words that Black Wings spoke hurt him. They made him jealous. Knowing that Daisuke would eventually end up with someone else didn't help the anger he felt towards Black Wings.
"Why are you doing this?" Dark asked, almost in a pleading tone. Dark was unaware that he was slipping to his knees slowly. "Why did you take me away from him? I need him. He needed me." Dark fell to his knees and grasped the wall. His body shook, but Black Wings couldn't tell if it was in anger or if Dark was about to cry.
"Why?"
"Because… an artwork and a mortal were never meant to be…" Black Wing's words were quiet, almost like he was in regret. Dark ignored that as his eyes watered a bit more.
Dark already knew that. He already knew Daisuke deserved someone better, someone that was actually a human, not something like him. But love was a bitch. Dark couldn't let him go like that.
Dark took a shuddering breath, releasing it, and spoke, "Let go of Krad and Yami." A pause. Some contemplating. "I-I'll go with you." Dark closed his eyes in resolution. His head was bowed, arms overhead, on his knees, the perfect pose of giving up.
He didn't notice Black Wing's sorrowful look. Nor did he see the glimmer of reminiscing and remembering in Black Wing's eyes. Black Wings nodded and like a jury slamming down the hammer, Black Wings gave a snap that would echo in Dark's mind for ages to come.
Dark gave up. He didn't deserve Daisuke. He knew that. This was the best choice. Dark ignored the nagging voice in his head that said this was the easiest choice, the loser's way, not having to go back to Daisuke and see Daisuke in pain.
Slower slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads
Daisuke felt the feeling of helplessness, before everything was gone. Dark gave up. Daisuke knew. But he didn't know what Dark gave up. Only that it caused a great strain on Dark.
Daisuke spoke with a watery smile and crying eyes, "Goodbye, Dark…" He closed his eyes from the darkness.
When he opened them again, he saw the ceiling of the room. He laid there, on his bed, for a few moments, basking in the empty peace that would be gone soon. He felt the trickles of tears on his face and he closed his eyes to prevent more from escaping. The salty taste of the tears entered Daisuke's mouth and he sniffled.
Once he was sure the tears had stopped, he opened his eyes. Without having to look in a mirror, Daisuke knew his eyes were red and puffy. Daisuke pushed his weary body up into a sitting position and his eyes took in his bedroom.
Everything seemed the same yet different. It felt clichéd. Daisuke gave a sad smile at this thought. But it was true. Everything was exactly the way he left it, the painting, the work on his desk, the somewhat messy floor. But somehow, the room felt different. In the past, he was annoyed of all the normalcy of his room, but now…
Daisuke welcomed the familiarity feeling his room gave off, the homey lived-in quality. His smile was still sad. Everything in his life changed so much this time, and yet, his room did nothing to change.
Daisuke slid his body off the bed, and on wobbly legs, walked over to the painting that he did so long ago. The painting of him and Dark together. Standing just a few inches from it, Daisuke's fingers ghosted over the smallest detail. His eyes stung, but no tears came out.
Even though Daisuke and Dark were not together now, at least at some point in time they were.
Even if in reality, Dark and Daisuke were separated by something unexplainable, at least in a painting they were close together.
Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess
Dark stood in a doorway. Everywhere was darkness yet the doorway was one sharp beam of light. It was white, but not blindingly, shockingly white. This was the path of the Black Wings, where Dark and Krad were one. This is the road Dark has to take where he waits for the next male Niwa. Black Wings, with Krad and Yami leaning on each side, stood inside the doorway, waiting for Dark to come along with.
Dark turned around, as if there would be someone there waiting for a farewell. No one was there.
Suddenly the image of the splitting-grin Daisuke came to mind again. Dark gave a sad smile into the darkness, squashing the hope that Daisuke would be there. Dark knew that was impossible. But the humanity in him just kept on hoping, kept on wishing.
"Daisuke…" Dark spoke to the image in his mind, to a smiling Daisuke. But Dark spoke to the real Daisuke as well. Black Wings recognized that this was a personal thing, so he walked ahead.
"Daisuke… I… I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this earlier. There's just so much I wanted to say." Dark gave a pause, willing his voice not to shake. "I really do love you, even if you don't believe me. I want to stay with you so much. But… Black Wings said you'd find someone. You'll be happy. I can't keep that from you."
Dark smiled sorrowfully, with eyes watering unrelentingly.
"Daisuke. I love you and I just wanted you to know that I'll be by your side forever, watching over you."
With those last words, Dark turned around, letting one tear escape. Even though Daisuke wasn't there, even though Dark felt silly and stupid for talking to air, Dark felt a responsibility to do something. It's not an obligation he had to fulfill. It was a token of love.
Dark slowly walked up the stairs, never once looking back.
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
1. I realized that this isn't a real word. But some know that this is supposed to mean someone who can feel the emotions of others.
A/N: Who hates me? I know I do. But this is not the end, despite the complete sign up there. There's still an epilogue coming up. But I can't guarantee when it'll come out. Dark and Daisuke might end up together again, but I'm tempted with a sad ending.
A/N 2: Whew. This sure is long. 10 pages on Microsoft Word. The longest I've ever written. I'll finish the epilogue before continuing on my other fic, Fortune Telling. Be glad, folks.
Stay tune.