Six-thirty…
Daisuke's heart beat sped a little at the realization. It always did before a theft. He shoved the horseradish into the vegetable crisper. He'd have to start getting ready soon. The Soul of Renai was really going to be stolen and he had very little information about it. He'd have to be careful not to be seen, now that he couldn't transform. Satoshi was sure to be there, and with him, Krad… it promised to be an interesting evening.
Daisuke jumped, startled from his thoughts by a gentle hand on his shoulder. He glanced up.
"Daisuke…" Dark was wearing a look of concern, his mouth drawn into a brooding pout.
Daisuke flushed; he felt warm all over, and he could hear his own heart beating. He hadn't expected Dark's interruption, nor had he expected the response his body gave to the older boy's gesture. Dark was real…and really his. "Y- yeah?" he stammered, trying to regain his composure.
"You understand about tonight… don't you?" Dark asked.
Daisuke blinked. "Understand?" Was there something his mother hadn't informed him about tonight's heist?
Dark shifted awkwardly. "You… can't go tonight, Dai," he finally replied. "You can't go from now on."
Daisuke blanched. "What do you mean, I can't go?" He was too surprised to be upset… at first. "Mom sent the letter; it's all over the news, Dark! I have to go!"
"No," Dark explained, "I have to go." He watched Daisuke, waiting for it to sink in.
"What…" The fire had left the redhead's voice as well as his cheeks. "You mean… I can't go because… I'm not the Phantom Thief anymore… I'm not you anymore."
Dark nodded sadly. "I'm sorry, Dai, but… people would recognize you."
Daisuke took a minute to let the picture clear in his mind. Dark would go alone… from now on. He would never be involved in another theft; he would never again be facing off with Satoshi and Krad but… that was what he wanted; wasn't it? "That's… that's fine." He replied. "I don't care just…" He flushed a little, glancing down to his stockinged feet while gripping Dark's shirt-sleeve. "Don't get hurt."
Dark chuckled, reaching down to cup Daisuke's chin. "Look at me." He commanded. He pressed his forehead to Daisuke's, gazing into the boy's eyes. "I won't. Now… can I have a goodbye kiss?" he grinned.
Daisuke's blush deepened, but he obliged. Pushing up on his tip-toes, he pressed his mouth delicately to the Phantom Thief's. "Itterasshai…" ((common greeting: kind of like see you later / come home safe)) he murmured.
It had been easy getting in. The guards were getting slower, and dumber. Dark slinked into the display room. Nothing; there were no trip wires, no laser sensors… "Pathetic," he spat, strolling up to the pedestal. Suddenly, with a hiss and a click, all exit was cut off as metal grates slid shut around the room. Dark grinned. "I was hoping you'd be here, Commander."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Came the reply as the younger, fair hared man made himself known. "You seem different this evening. Practically giddy."
Dark shrugged. "Love changes a man."
The commander paused, a puzzled look crossing his face. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
Dark turned to him with a smirk. "Why don't you ask your better half what it means," he shot.
What was he playing at? Satoshi glowered. He wasn't feeling exceptionally cross or anything, but he certainly wasn't in the mood for Dark's little games.
"He's gone." Came a startled voice from within himself.
"What do you mean 'he's gone'?"
"The Niwa boy…he's gone."
Satoshi paled. "Daisuke? But that's impossible! He is the main form, there's no way that Dark could…
-Love changes a man-
"Where's Daisuke?" he demanded suddenly.
Dark shrugged. "Probably on the Sofa."
Satoshi could feel Krad's wrath stirring within him. "Then… you confessed your love to Miss (Riku's last name… can't remember) ?"
"Heaven's no." Dark replied in a mocking tone. "I don't give a damn about Riku anymore."
Satoshi stiffened. "Then how have you separated from your tamer!"
Dark raised an eyebrow. "Temper, commander. It's not good to let your emotion's get the best of you. A man who doesn't control his temper… risks becoming a monster." He narrowed his eyes, alluding to a certain white-winged monstrosity he knew, before heaving a sigh. "I suppose I'll have to spell it out for you." He brushed the hair from his eyes arrogantly, suggesting that he was used to suffering the stupidity of others. "When one of my kind is able to find true love, and be accepted for everything that they are, they are freed, right Commander Hiwatari?"
"Yes." Satoshi grimaced, hating to be treated like an inconvenience. "And so?"
Dark shot him a sly grin. "I never guessed that shy little Daisuke would be such a good kisser."
The world broke. With one heartbeat, it shattered into a thousand pieces of burning glass, flinging Satoshi into the dark recesses of his own mind.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SUCH A THING!" Krad raged, charging Dark in a furry of feathers and jealousy.
"I mean," Dark dodged the first attack thrown at him. "That he tastes like strawberries."
Composing himself, Krad narrowed his eyes, summoning his wits about him. "So you've found love in the arms of your trainer? Well, I suppose he is the only one foolish enough to accept something like you."
Dark smiled, unabashed. "And he's the only one I need to." He replied. "Too bad Satoshi hates you."
Krad lunged, landing a solid punch to Dark's jaw. It hurt more than he remembered. It seemed sensations were a bit stronger in his own body. Dark chuckled, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor before returning the insult with an uppercut to the other man's solarplexis.
Krad coughed, doubling over. "I'll kill you…" he wheezed.
"Try." Dark challenged.
"Time stands still for the crowd gathered here at museum." The tv announced. "None can say what will become of tonight's attempted theft of the Soul of Renai, an Edo period statue carved from--"
Daisuke felt his teeth clenching again and he had to remind himself to stop. Dark was there now, probably already in the room, enjoying the thrill, doing the things he'd trained his whole life to do. He glanced away from the television. Why did he even care? He tried to convince himself that it wasn't important, but the truth was, he did care. He wanted to be there… with Dark, sharing in the thrill and the success. He felt like a fool.
"I'm going to bed." He announced, standing to leave.
"Don't you want to watch 'till the end, sweetie?" Emiko asked.
Daisuke paused, trying to formulate a reply. "I'm… too tired."
"Ooph!" Satoshi landed on the marble floor, sent back to himself by a final punch dealt to Krad. He sat panting, eying the phantom thief.
Dark strolled to the pedestal, removing his evening's prize. "He was never yours to begin with, Commander." He said quietly. "So don't think of it as a loss." With that, he stepped over the boy, deprogramming the trap and leaving.
Once outside the museum, something caught Darks' eye and he grinned.
"It seems the phantom thief has made an unscheduled appropriation." The newscaster announced.
Emiko shook her head with a smile. "He's going to ruin his good name."
The moon was full and casting blue light in through the open blinds of Daisuke Niwa's bedroom window. So the burglary had been a success. Dark had done fine without him. Daisuke sighed. He wasn't… needed. For the first time since it had all begun, he felt useless. Daisuke had trained his entire life to be the next phantom thief. He had survived rigorous physical training while managing to obtain skills in lockpicking, decoding and all other forms of tactical thievery. What purpose did any of that serve now? He'd never thought about what he'd do when it all ended. He'd assumed Dark would be a part of him until his own son came of age. Now the future wasn't so clear. Don't sulk, he chastised himself. He knew he should be happy, and in truth, he was. He loved Dark, and his love was returned, but in dispersing his previous fears, he'd opened the way for a whole new horde of anxieties.
The door creaked open. Daisuke stiffened, pretending to be asleep. He didn't want to hear about the theft. He didn't want to explain why his pillow was wet with tears.
The bed creaked as another form made use of it. Gentle fingers brushed over Daisuke's cheek. Something soft and fragrant was being placed in his hand. Daisuke's eyes fluttered open.
A rose.
There was a single, long-stemmed red rose in his hand. He glanced over to the other boy in question.
"Faker." Dark scolded, kissing the boy's jaw. Then "I stole it." He explained the rose. When Daisuke did not reply, Dark studied him a bit more carefully. "Why were you crying?" he demanded.
Daisuke groaned, not wanting to discuss it. "It's nothing." He protested, and in truth, it was nothing. What were his petty fears and jealousies next to this love?
"It's not nothing if it makes you hurt." Dark replied sternly.
Daisuke sighed. He didn't want to make Dark worry. "It's really no big deal." He curled up a little tighter as if shielding himself from his insecurities. "It's just… This is the first time you… didn't need me."
"Oh Dai…" Dark felt like he could cry. He loved the boy so much. Not able to hold back after such a pitiful display, Dark slid his hand behind the younger boy's neck, bringing him closer, wrapping his other arm around the redhead's waist. "Daisuke, I always need you. Tonight, all I could think about was getting home to you as soon as possible, but Krad showed up and-"
"Krad!" Daisuke sat up in shock. "Are you okay?" He noticed the bruise forming on Dark's jaw, and a few others across his arms.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Dark replied. "He landed a few solid shots, but I won in the end." He stroked his fingers through Daisuke's baby-down hair. "You're beautiful." He commented.
"Don't change the subject." Daisuke snapped. "You fought with Krad. You promised you wouldn't get hurt."
Dark chuckled, trying to pull Daisuke down to lie on his chest. "We were fighting over you." He replied. "How could I just let that go?"
"Me?" Daisuke asked with a squeek. "Why me?"
Dark raised an eyebrow. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed…"
"Noticed what?" Daisuke demanded.
"Never mind," Dark replied, deciding it best to refrain from informing Daisuke of his other admirers for the time being. He stroked his fingers along Daisuke's jaw and down the column of his throat before leaning up to kiss him. The boy's cheeks were hot with embarrassment, but Dark knew that even Daisuke's modesty could only go so far. He grinned to himself as a thought struck him. He pulled away momentarily, running his finger along the collar of the younger boy's t-shirt. "Take it off." He ordered in a hungry voice.
"W- what?" Daisuke stammered, his cheeks coloring in shock.
"Take it off." Dark repeated. "I want to see you with your shirt off."
"I - I - Dark, that's…"
"Come on," he pressed. "It's not like you've got anything to hide."
"but… well…" Daisuke objected, "It's just-"
Dark snorted. "Fine, then I'll do it." With that, he tackled the boy, wrestling his shirt off and removing his own while he was at it.
"Dark!" Daisuke yelped, trying to wriggle away.
"Now…" Dark slid his hands over the boy's chest back up to his face, leaning in so that Daisuke could feel his hot breath. "I'll show you how very much I need you."
Daisuke's eyes widened in alarm, but before he could protest, Dark's mouth was on his again.
Dark ran his tongue lightly over Daisuke's lips, loving the taste and the satiny feel as well as the knowledge that his was the only mouth the younger boy would ever taste. When Daisuke made no move to allow Dark entry, he slid one hand to the boy's chest, rubbing his thumb over a very sensitive area.
Daisuke gasped and Dark seized the opportunity to slip his tongue between the boy's parted lips. He ran it lightly over the tips of Daisuke's teeth before trying to coax Daisuke's own unmotivated tongue into joining the game. Finally, Daisuke gave up the ghost of modesty and began to return the kiss, timidly at first, but then with increasing passion.
Time passed and the kiss broke, but only for a second. Daisuke wrapped his arms around the older boy's chest, drawing himself up into Dark's arms and another firey kiss. He whimpered slightly against the older boy's lips.
Dark groaned. It was difficult to restrain himself, hearing such sounds from the boy. Finally, they broke apart, both panting, each studying the other.
In Daisuke's eyes, there was apprehention and confussion, want and fear, love, lust and something more.
Dark pursed his lips, reaching beneath the bed for a moment. "Is this…" he held the book up, open to a bookmarked page, a mischievious twinkle in his eye. "What you want?" he asked.
Daisuke paled at the suggestion, his innocent eyes going wide in panic. "It's - that's - it's not mine!" he protested. "It - I was just-!"
"Curious?" Dark cut him off with a grin. "You know…" he tossed the book aside, burying his face in the cradle of the younger boy's neck. "I could show you… so much more than these books can."
"D-dark…" Daisuke stammered. "I don't think I…"
Dark chuckled, nipping the boy's ear gently. "You don't think your ready for that?" he finished, smiling adoringly down at the boy. "That's okay Dai." He sighed contentedly, kissing his tamer's nose. "I'm not going anywhere. We have all the time in the world."
He lay down, pulling the younger boy on top of him, his chest heaving slightly from their previous actions.
Daisuke lay quiet a minute. "I'm… sorry." He whispered.
Dark kissed the top of his head. "Dai, baby, I was only teasing you!" he apologized. "Don't be sorry, you don't have to want to do those things with me."
Daisuke sat up suddenly. "But I do want to!" he declaired with conviction. "Just… not yet." He flushed, embarrassed by his own forewardness.
Dark raised an eyebrow. "You're kinky." He replied.
"Shut-up!" Daisuke buried his face in the older man's chest. "You're the one who brought it up!"
Dark laughed. "Well…" he said decidedly. "I'm kinky too. Now go to sleep." He pulled the boy back down, resting one hand in his hair lightly.