Perfect Enemy

...Seventh Part: Dark...

Niwa had it figured out. I don't know how he did, but he found out about me and Krad. After a time of being humiliated by his gagging from my remembered sensation of kissing my counterpart, I showed him thoughts of Krad that I'd never even told Krad about, just out of spite.

That was probably a bad idea.

Niwa was seriously mad at me. What were you thinking!? he yelled at me. I told you, I want you to have nothing to do with him!!

"Well, I don't care what you want!" I shot back at him. "I want Krad, and there's nothing you can do to stop me from seeing him!"

Niwa's dark laugher made me doubt what I had just said, a little bit. Is that a challenge, Dark?

"No..." I began to feel that odd sensation that I only got when Niwa and I were trading places, and I began to panic, knowing exactly what the creep planned to do. NO! I shouted. You can't do this! He was still in my form.

"Watch me," he said, and took off into the night, using my wings. He was heading straight for Hikari's place.

. . .

I watched in panic-stricken silence as Niwa slid the window open and peered inside the familiar room.

Krad was there, of course, waiting for me to show up as usual. "Dark!"Just hearing him say my name sent a pleasant shiver down my spine – it happened every single time. But this time it wasn't really me he saw, it was Niwa.

"Hey, Krad," Niwa greeted him, mimicking my voice. He suppressed a disgusted shudder when Krad kissed him.

I thought I was going to die.

Stop pretending to be me! I objected. What are you planning!? Leave Krad alone! I continued to yell at Niwa as he and Krad flew off to our usual spot on some arbitrary rooftop, trying to gain back control of my body so he couldn't do whatever it was he was scheming. Damnit, Niwa!!

Shut up, Dark, he growled. "Krad, I have something to tell you..."

What the hell!?

Krad looked over at him with a puzzled look on his face. "What is it?"

"Well, you see," Niwa said, touching Krad's face much like I would do, "I've suddenly realized..." His hand slid down to Krad's throat then, and he sank down to his knees, pulling Krad down with him.

"Dark... What are you doing...?" Krad covered my hand with his own, and I felt the skin of Krad's chest beneath my fingers as Niwa tugged the first few buttons on Krad' s shirt open.

Niwa leaned in close to Krad's face as if he were going to kiss him. "I've realized," he repeated, avoiding Krad's lips and whispering into his ear, "...you've been a complete waste of my time."

WHAT!!? I promptly began screaming profanities at him. That's not true! I tried to tell Krad. Don't listen to that jerk! I want to spend all the time in the world with you! You're the most valuable person –

He can't hear you, Niwa pointed out, a cruel smirk crossing his face.

The expression on Krad's face was one of utter shock and disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something, but apparently couldn't get the words out.

Niwa stood and stepped away from him, and my hand burned with magic that I had discovered on my first thieving excursion.

Krad's eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet, backing slowly away. "Dark...!?"

What are you doing!?Stop it!!

"I suppose Hikari warned you about me, didn't he?" Niwa said smoothly, letting the magic accumulate even more.

"What are you talking about?" Krad whispered. "Dark, what's wrong with you? What's going on?"

Enemies, Dark, was the only explanation I was given.

Krad got no explanation – just a violent and inescapable blast of violet magic.

KRAD!!