July 28, 2009

Daisuke was just getting ready to go to the museum when he heard something. His bedroom door opened.

Kuri was standing there.

"Give me the stone," she said.

"I won't give it to you," he replied. "You're asleep! Wake up!"

Daisuke went over and shook her, but she pushed him aside and held out her hand. The stone flew from its hiding place into her hand.

"Motina scienon," Kuri said, and she shimmered out of view.

"No!" Daisuke said. "This can't be happening!"

He ran out of the house, got on his bike, and rode to the museum.

"She came," Satoshi said. "I can't get close; the magic she's using put a barrier around her."

Kuri stood in front of the Black Wings. "Lennles Mortis, scopio mensio," she said.

Suddenly there was a vibration and Kuri flew straight up, spinning. Her arms went out, and she was almost glowing.

"Miss Kuri!" Daisuke said, and ran towards her, but Satoshi stopped him.

"It's too late, Niwa," he said. "If you break the connection now, you could kill her."

"But it's hurting her!" Daisuke said.

Kuri stopped spinning and then went limp and started to fall. Daisuke ran and caught her.

"Don't touch her! It'll suck your energy too!" Satoshi yelled.

"Good! Then it won't suck all of hers!" Daisuke retorted, holding her in his arms, barely able to keep standing as the energy was being sucked from his body.

Suddenly the forms of Dark and Krad shimmered into view, and were sucked into the bodies of Daisuke and Satoshi.

Daisuke switched into Dark's form immediately, succumbing to unconsciousness.

Dark looked at the strange girl who had brought him back. She was out cold.

Suddenly she opened her eyes. "Dark? Oh….Oh no!"

She tried to stand, but her knees gave way and she fell back into Dark's arms.

"It's okay, calm down," Dark said. "How did you manage to cause so much trouble?"

"M-Magic…" she muttered. "Dark…I'm sorry."

"It's fine, it's you I'm worried about," Dark responded. "Magic is very hard on humans. Why did you do it?"

Her eyes widened slightly. "It started…with a dream. Then it became something stronger. I don't really know…"

I woke up back in my bed. I sat straight up, blinking a lot.

"Did I dream all that?" I asked myself sleepily. I then realized I had clasped in my left hand a black feather.

I punched my pillow in frustration. Why? Why had I awakened the Black Wings?

"Are you okay, Kuri?" Maia asked.

"I awakened the Black Wings, Maia," I said softly. "All I've done is hurt people. I have to put things right."

I stood and took a shower, then got dressed. I unloaded the dishwasher.

My plan was simple. Rather than wait for that magic lady to appear again, I'd summon her. And then I'd ask her to give me a way out of this. There had to be a way.

Maia watched her best friend sadly. She'd never seen Kuri so depressed.

This is so dumb, she thought. I'm going to talk to that boy!

She unlocked the front door, and left quietly so Kuri wouldn't hear.

Maia walked to Daisuke's door and pounded. Daisuke opened it.

"Miss Maia?" he said. "What is it?"

"Daisuke…you need to talk to Kuri," she said. "She just mopes around the house clanking dishes around, and I can't take it! She says she awakened the Black Wings, and maybe she did, but that doesn't mean that you should stop being her friend! I thought you liked being Dark anyway, and it might interest you to know that she doesn't even know about that, someone messed with her memory!"

Daisuke flinched slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't know she was so upset!"

Maia sighed. "I'm worried about her. She just wanted to meet you. And now neither of you remember each other. Try, Daisuke. I'm sure you remember her."

She handed him an envelope. "It's a party invite. Since Kuri's going to Azumano University in a couple weeks, we're having a going away party for her. We invited a friend you don't know, along with you and Satoshi, if he'll come."

"Miss Maia?" Daisuke said before she could turn away. "I think I do remember…but it's like a dream."

"I think sometimes two people…have to meet. And no matter how much they try to fight it, their meetings could change both their worlds forever." Maia smiled slightly. "I read it somewhere once."

She ran off to her side of the street. "Don't be a stranger, Daisuke! Come by anytime!"