Disclaimer: I do not own D N Angel, only this story belongs to me.

True Love Has No Happy Ending

Chapter Four The Twist of Love

"Have you ever been in love? Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up these defenses; you build this whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life. You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They do something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own any more. Love takes hostages. It gets inside of you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination, not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a body-hurt, a real gets-inside-and-rip-you-apart pain. I hate love."

-Neil Gaiman

Emiko looked at her husband sadly as they saw Dark flew into the compound of their home in the night, the moon silhouetting his figure. He had returned from sending Riku home, they had seen him flying back with her in his arms, his face one of anger and pain and then leaving again.

They could distinctively see the tired lines on Dark's face as he trudged up to Daisuke's room, With on his shoulder peering worriedly to Dark's face.

Emiko turned to her husband and whispered distressed, "Kosuke, do you think Dark knows of the spell?"

Kosuke pulled his wife closer to him, and whispered to her ear, "Even if he doesn't know, even if we tell him, do you think he'll allow it to happen?"

Emiko only clutched Kosuke in reply. "I only wish, that Dark would finally find the happiness that he deserves."

"We can only hope," Kosuke said back, quiet, "We can only hope."

xxx

When Daisuke opened his eyes he knew that today was going to be a very depressing day. He couldn't remember much from yesterday after Dark had finally found Riku. He had gone off to a corner of his mind and stayed there in the darkness, his own thoughts echoing and shrouding around him in the darkness.

He knew from experience that Dark would now e sleeping in his mind, the exhaustion of transforming taking its toll on him.

Daisuke got up slowly, even unwillingly. He clutched his head in despair, thinking about how much of a jerk he was to cause Riku so much pain. It was his undecided feelings for Risa and selfishness that caused this to happen. It was all his fault. Riku had been so loyal to him. She had loved him so much and he had not taken into account all that she had done for him.

It was then that he built up his resolve. He clenched his hands into fists hard till it dug perfect crescent shapes onto his palm.

"I will not let Riku get hurt because of me ever again. I will not." He said out loud resolutely. His voice bounced off the walls, echoing.

He could feel Dark stirring a little in him and without knowing why, he sad this aloud, more for Dark's sake than himself. It was as if he was goading Dark into doing something.

"I will love Riku with all my heart. I will."

Dark was the one that sat on that bed then, shock upon his face coupled with disbelief. Anguish and sorrow was clear in his dark, dark eyes.

"Daisuke…" Dark closed his eyes in resignation.

"I wish you the happiness you deserve with Riku." A bitter smile gnarled Dark's features. "It is what you deserve after all."

Dark's harsh laugh echoed off the walls, and in a few moments, another transformation took place, and Daisuke sat on his bed, disgruntled, and yet strangely empty.

Make a cross, make amends to set the record straight,
We've never said the only things we should have ever bothered saying.

xxx

Risa stared out her window, still only dressed in her nightgown although usually at this exact time on days she had class, she would be rushing and flinging out clothes trying to find something that she could wear. Not that she didn't have any to where of course, but she needed to look hip without making it seemed that she was trying too hard to look the part.

Risa sighed once again as she thought of going down to see her sister. Guilt shone through her eyes, along with the tears that slid down her cheeks.

She had been so worried yesterday, and had gnawed at her nails till it bled a little.

She had an inkling why Riku had bolt out of the class yesterday.

Risa didn't know when it had happened, but she had fallen in love with Daisuke, Riku's boyfriend. She had said to herself time and time again that she was in love with Dark, but even as she repeated it to herself, "I love Dark, I love Dark," it had felt empty and baseless.

She knew her sister too well sometimes, and she knew that Riku loved Daisuke with all her heart. It was what that twisted her heart when she saw them together laughing together and kissing that goodnight kiss in front of the door.

But as twins went, she could sense that Riku was trying too hard, loved Daisuke too much that she was breaking inside. Riku knew that Daisuke didn't love her as she loved him, but she pretended that he did. Risa bled for her sister. But deep in her heart, she constantly wished that Daisuke would just break up with Riku and finally uncover the illusion that shielded her sister's eyes from the truth.

But now that her sister had finally accepted the fact that Daisuke did not love her as she loved him, a triumphant feeling briefly touches her heart, before dissolving to despair and guilt.

Riku hadn't returned home last night, she had been so worried, and had paced around the big empty house over and over again. She had been almost frantic, the fear of being alone and the fear of losing her most precious sister in the world crippling her. It was raining rather heavily to and thoughts of her sister getting pneumonia and dying raced through her mind.

She had ran towards her sister's room when she heard a sudden 'thud' that echoed throughout the silent house.

Risa stopped at the door then when she glimpsed the dark wings from one Dark Mousy. She hid behind he shadows, apprehensively watched as Dark stroked Riku's pale face with a tender look in his eyes. He whispered in the darkness, but even from where she stood, she could hear him.

"Riku. What spell have you cast over me?"

Risa felt a strange burning in her heart, jealousy, but as soon as it came, it passed. Riku deserved someone to love her with all his heart. Daisuke was not the one.

"I promised you, that no one will ever hurt you ever again. No one." Dark said stroking her hair.

"I promised never to let you fall."

Risa felt the tears come to her eyes, Dark really loved her sister. She could see it in his eyes that had love and yet, unexpectedly, pain. She finally remembered that Riku hated Dark. That must be what that he feared. So, Risa thought, smirking a little. Dark was human just like all of them. He may be the all handsome, gorgeous thief ever, but even he felt afraid to be jilted, and could suffer heartbreak as they all did.

Risa waited in the darkness, watching Dark kiss Riku gently as if afraid of breaking her and then leaving with a wistful look in his eyes.

He was amazing, Dark, that was sure. Risa watched him leave with new eyes. She was a bit jealous though, Riku had always managed to unexpectedly land the good guys. Risa sighed and got closer to her sister's bed, sitting beside her still sister, stroking her sister's hair that was not unlike hers.

"Riku, I'm terribly sorry. It was partly my fault that this happened to you." She whispered out.

"I'm sorry. I know you love Daisuke, I love him too. Now that I've matured considerately." A bitter smile.

"I'm willing to give him up. I'm willing to let him love you and only you," Risa said resolutely, staring out the window. "But what about Dark?" She added then.

Risa sighed again aloud. "Love is like a game, but how can we win when there are no rules?"

Now, after sleeping over what to do all night, Risa still had not thought of how she could approach Riku without guilt and being around Daisuke without pain.

With reluctance, she dragged herself out of bed, and had put on whatever that she first saw in her huge wardrobe.

She got down with deliberate slowness, creeping down the stairs, trying to find any trace of her sister.

'Where is she?? Hasn't she woken up yet? We're already going to be late!' Risa thought frantically.

"Risa, what on earth are you doing?" She turned up in fright and shock and turned rather hurriedly to face Riku whose eyebrows' were arched high above her hairline, looking amused.

"Er, checking for thieves?" It wasn't meant to come out that way.

Riku had the most astonishing look on her face, and Risa got the feeling that her sister's mind had drifted to a particular person.

"Riku?" Risa murmured after she had stayed silent for some time, with the same look on her face.

"Oh, sorry Risa, I was just.. thinking." Riku smiled, a little too brightly and climbed the steps down rather clumsily, unlike her usual self.

Risa gave a small smile. Thinking. Right. She frowned though after a moment, biting her lower lip. How could she approach Riku and apologize for yesterday?

She slowly went down, and observed her sister who seemed rather absent minded this morning. Riku swore when she noticed belatedly that her bowl of cereal was already overflowing with milk. Risa covertly smiled, and demurely took up the wet cloth and helped her sister wiped the table. They were quite domestically trained as their parents often went away for an extended amount of time on their business trips, and their mother didn't like the idea of maids and nannies.

After contemplating hard, and decided to give it a shot, ignoring the warning bells in her head, Risa blurted out. "Riku-neesan, gomen. Hontoni gomen ne! I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. I really don't like Daisuke that way! He's your boyfriend and I would never dream of taking him away from you!" She rambled off, telling how she didn't think Daisuke was cute and informed Riku unnessarily of her other choices in men.

Riku cut her off with a short, "Stop. Risa."

Risa looked up from where she had been staring at her twiddling fingers into her sister's deep brown eyes rather guiltily. "Erm. Yea, sorry."

Riku frowned and to Risa's relief, she didn't seem to be angry but there was a hint of sadness in her dark brown eyes.

"I.. It doesn't matter Risa. I believe you." Riku gave a small smile towards Risa, whom immediately reached and captured her sister's hand from across the table. "I know that Daisuke's too nice to hurt me."

"Does that mean you thought your sister would do such a thing?" Risa teased Riku with a bright smile on her face, trying to look affronted. Riku laughed, and Risa was glad that all was well.

But she caught the brief look of hurt and confusion mixed in one big mess in Riku's eyes. Her smile faltered for a moment, but she got up from her seat and got their usual breakfast for the both of them.

She would never ever do anything to hurt her sister unintentionally ever. Even if it meant forgoing her happiness. It was after all her own fault. She was the one whom turned Daisuke down first. And now, she had no right to seek him again, after she had hurt him like she hurt her sister now.

Love hurts, it always has. Would it be worth it if it was not?

They left the house together, and left for the tram together, Riku choosing to follow her sister instead of riding her bike.

When Risa caught the glimpse of red, red hair, she immediately made an excuse – Sorry sis, but I think my textbooks are at my table, why don't you go on first? – and left for home.

She couldn't take to facing him. And she turned around the corner and breathed heavily. She had to stop this. She had to stop thinking about Daisuke. She had to get over her unexpected crush on him. She had too. But it was bloody damn hard.

It takes a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Especially, one that you love so terribly much.

I love you.

I love you.

But.

I know I must not.

Because.

Because it is for her happiness.

Because I love her too.

And I can't love you of she loves you.

Help me.

Help me, anyone.

I want to forget.

I want to stop loving.

But is it even possible?

Dais…

I…

Stop!

I love Dark.

I love Dark.

And I always will.

He will help me.

He will help me forget.

xxx

The magic of first love is our ignorance that it cannot end.

"Riku."

Riku's heart jumped and she turned almost painfully towards Daisuke who had appeared behind her without her noticing.

She turned and upon seeing the grim look on his face she could not help but feel anxious and she pushed down the urge to turn and just run away from Daisuke.

"Riku," He repeated and she felt annoyed though her traitorous heart skipped when his childlike and yet husky said her name instead of Risa. Was yesterday all her imagination?

"Daisuke." She turned and momentarily stumbled as people pushed past them to get to the tram.

Daisuke's hands held her steady and she nearly went numb with shock and delight as he pulled her towards him and held her close. She breathed in his scent, and her heart was beating fast. She could even hear his heart beating.

"We should go." Riku murmured, her voice muffled as she was pressed against him intimately. He slowly and gently pulled her away from the throng of people, and unslunged her heavy bag from her shoulders before gripping them, forcing her to look into his beautiful crimson eyes, that were so dark. Dark.

"Wait. I need to talk to you," Riku hated those words. She tried to hate Daisuke. She tried to be angry, she tried to be emotional, but facing those eyes of his, pressed against him like this, with her heart in pieces and throbbing, she just could not do it.

"Gomen ne." Weren't those the words Risa said to her this morning. Did they rehearse this yesterday to make sure she wouldn't stay mad at them? It sure was working.

But as Daisuke continued to gaze at her, she knew that it wasn't true, she could see the sincerity shining from his eyes, and the guilt at having thought otherwise hung heavy in her heart.

"Daisuke, I.." Riku started but Daisuke only held her closer and pressed a finger on her lips.

"Ssh.. Let me speak first." He said seriously.

He hugged her, and her hands were stiff at her sides. He murmured in her ear, and it inevitably sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. "I know you might not be able to forgive me, demo.. Riku, I.. Trust me." He whispered simply in her ear. And Riku closed her eyes.

The tears were coming, but she didn't know why. Pain? Was she being lied to again? Her hands fisted his clothes, and she pressed her face to his chest. Daisuke kept quiet for a moment but he continued to whisper to her as others went on with their work and school.

"I promise. I will not hurt you any longer." So many promises. Which is real, which is not?

I can't tell.

She pushed him back a little and looked at his crimson eyes. It was the solemnity in his eyes, alongside with the earnest look and the way he held her close that made her feel so safe.

"Yes.. I trust you."

He smiled, the happiness in his eyes. "Thank you. I.. I love you.." He bend down and took her by surprise as he kissed her slowly with a gentleness that made her knees go weak.

Dark's saw and heard all that happened, and in his sanctuary in Daisuke's mind, he felt his heart break all over again, not for the first time, and not for the last time.

Love can make you happy. Love can make you sad. Love can make you have feelings that you never had. Love can make you smile. Love can make you frown. Love can make you do things when you're feeling down. Love can make you weak. Love can make you strong. Love can make you right. Or it can make you wrong. Love can make you laugh. Love can make you cry. Love can make you live. Love can make you die.

xxx

This fic is my attempt at a romance fic as I know I suck truly at such scenes, so I'm trying to improve myself by writing this story. If you don't like it, don't read. Don't expect much adventure scenes or what not. Might be pure fluff all the way, though I can't guarantee that as I might not know what level of romance s considered fluff. To me, all I know is I don't know how to write such stuff.

Just enjoy what I have here.

Though would like to ask though.

Want this to be a Risa/Daisuke?

Riku/Dark/Daisuke?

Want someone to die?

Riku/Dark?

Give me your comments in this fic. Flames are welcomed.

I need to know if this is good enough romance. Or if it's just plain stupid. Thanks!

Yours truly, Nicole.

xxx