You guys are most certainly the best reviewers in the world, do yah know that? I was expecting only one or two reviews at max but you wonderful readers have amazed me. Aishiteru, aishiteru minna! I love you all! Inspired me to write this chapter hyper-ninja-lightning-fast:zoom: So, where did we leave off? Oh yes—leaving off with the creepy shadow. :giggle: I'm happy a lot of you approve of the way Dark and Krad somewhat 'share' our lovely Dai-chan. But don't be confused; Daisuke is Dark's all the way. Let's get this chapter rolling, shall we?

I warn you though—this chapter is going to be the biggest shock, I think. Mwaha! This is going to be straightforward and out there.

Disclaimer: Sue me and all you'll receive is some pennies, a few nickels, and one very angry me. :glares: Nah, just joking. :giggle: Ah, I'm a fool.

Chapter Twelve

The shadow moved throughout the castle, preying on several unaware persons and frightening several others. Before long the lower royals were in an uproar and soon after that they were all dead. Filled with blood the shadow moved smoother than ever, slinking through from room to room until he stood outside of Daisuke's. Dark had been called away to the King—who had been severely punished the night before—and Krad was tending to business elsewhere, so the black-haired beauty was left to himself for the day. He didn't mind; the night had been long and he had not received much sleep.

"Mmm…" Daisuke stretched his arms and legs before plopping himself back onto bed, falling into a deeper sleep than before.

"Mmm…" the shadow mimicked as he entered the room, standing before Daisuke's bed. The shadow reached out a slender finger and traced the curve of Daisuke's jaw; the smoothness of his cheeks. Daisuke stirred as the shadow let out a moan, pulling away from the boy before him. 'What…' Daisuke opened his red eyes to see…

Himself.

The shadow was not truly shadow at all but another Daisuke. The same silken skin and unruly hair, the same eyes. But no, as Daisuke's own eyes widened he saw that his reflections were dark and deep—the eyes of someone who had spent too many years suffering. Too many years in the dark. He held out a hand to his other, who grasped it lightly.

"Daisuke…?"

"…Yes…"

"You've come back?" his other traced his jaw again, reveling at the soft and silky feel of the skin beneath him. "Little brother."

"Little brother!" Dark slammed the door open, fire burning in his eyes. "What the hell is going on here, Daisuke?"

"I…I don't know."

"You don't remember me? It's me—Ryuu!" 'Ryuu' shook Daisuke roughly, causing the boy to tumble into his arms. "I'm your big brother!"

Dark sent a swift punch to Ryuu's mouth; blood spewed across the stainless white walls of the room. Ryuu collapsed against the bed, dragging Daisuke down with him. Said boy was too shocked to do anything but stare at his 'older brother' in silence. The picture, oh how it made sense now. Not next to a mirror—no! He was standing toe-to-toe with his brother. Numb as he was he couldn't feel anything when Dark scooped him into his arms and ran from the room, cursing under his breath.

"Satoshi! Krad!"

Daisuke blinked at the first name. He had barely seen Hiwatari in the past months, though he knew not where the bluenette may have gone. There were only so many places in the castle that he could hide. Suddenly he longed for the boy's rough touch, his evil dancing lessons (which had actually come in handy during one of the many mini-balls the King had insisted upon.) He whimpered and his hold on Dark's arm grew tight.

"Dark…if I die," Daisuke muttered, eyes rolling wildly until they showed nothing but white, "I want you to know I love you."

"Shut up, you're not going to die! Damn it, Satoshi, answer me!"

"It's too early for this Dark," Satoshi drawled, appearing in a doorway. "What is it that you need?"

"And I love Krad and Hiwatari-kun as well," Daisuke muttered. He was shaking now; shaking and it came to the point where Dark couldn't hold him anymore—he fell to the floor with a 'thump.' Hiwatari reached for the hand that was extended to him and pulled the boy into a rough hug, trying to calm him.

"Some psycho is after Daisuke; claiming to be his brother."

"Ryuu."

The smothering glare Dark set to Satoshi was enough to make even the usually stoic bluenette tremble a bit in fear. Daisuke gave a long, shuddering gasp as a shadow flickered over them; but none but he noticed.

"You knew?" the malice in Dark's voice was unmistakable.

"I haven't been lounging around this month!" Satoshi shot at him, clearly pissed at Dark's tone. "And I only figured it out just recently so would you please get off my back!" (1)

"I ought to slay you alive for this, Satoshi!"

"Hiwatari-kun," Daisuke gripped the boy's sleeve. "You know my brother?"

"I know of him, yes."

"He's above us."

Startled both Dark and Satoshi looked up, only to see Ryuu leering down at them, sticking on the ceiling.

"I just want to meet my little brother," he hissed at them. "And maybe help you a little!"

Satoshi silenced Dark's oncoming wave of insults with a look, nodding his head at the boy to enter the room outside which they were standing. The silence in which he did so was alarming; he was standing before them in a matter of seconds, a smirk on his pretty-boy face. When he turned to Dark he had a look upon his face that was exactly like that of Daisuke's usual one, and it was all he could do to keep from stroking the boy's face.

"Your father hid you…" Satoshi started softly.

"Yes. But they found me. And then they killed me," the smile on Ryuu's face as he told his story was too frightening for words. "But I had been left with explicit instructions from my father. I had to live. I had…I had to help my little brother. I sold my soul to come back as this."

"And what exactly are you?" Dark spat.

"I'm not sure. Some sort of demon, I'm sure. One that can stick to walls and blend with the shadows and such."

Daisuke stirred in Satoshi's arms as Dark closed the door completely; locking it. His wide eyes opened to see his brother watching him. He smiled, softly, and began to cry, tears falling down his cheeks in small rivulets. His breathing was ragged and soon his eyes were rimmed with red that wasn't going to go away any time soon. The boy's pale, thin chest heaved as he gasped his brother's name, reaching out a hand to him.

"Hello, Daisuke."

"What did they do to you?" he whispered.

"Nothing, after that. I continued living my life here, in the shadows. I know everything about this castle. I knew you were coming, even."

"So when this is over, you will rule?"

Dark rolled his eyes. Just moments ago said boy had been writhing on the floor, spouting nonsense as if he were on his deathbed. And here he was now, still in Satoshi's arms, eyes sparkling and shining as he heard his brother's woeful tales of life in the castle; of all the weak spots in its defense system. Of the rooms still unknown to the King. And, most interesting of all, of their grandfather.

"He passed away just days before you arrived," Ryuu stroked his brother's hair softly. "But he left you quite a lot of stuff."

Dark chose the moment to steal Daisuke into his arms, leaving Satoshi free to take a seat on one of the many chairs in the room. He, however, was moving to the bed. Daisuke turned his eyes upon his lover, leaning in to kiss him softly. Ryuu's eyes widened at the gesture. He had been asleep for the months that his little brother had been in the castle, still mourning over his grandfather's death.

"Did our grandfather…?" Daisuke whispered, eyes still shining.

"Know? No, he believed me to be dead. I wish, though, he could have known. I wish I would have asked him how he managed to escape alive," Ryuu pondered. "But I did come to know him quite well through all his silence. You would have loved him, little brother."

And then he disappeared, escaping into the shadows in silence.

"Ryuu!" Daisuke pouted, extending a hand as if that would help bring his brother back.

Suddenly a pair of soft lips were pressed against his as Ryuu came back for a kiss. And then he was gone again, leaving a blushing Daisuke, a furious Dark, and an amused Satoshi. A soft mewl of frustration left Daisuke as he cuddled closer to Dark, and the boy was too entranced with Daisuke's adorable face to complain about his actions.

The door opened as a bewildered Krad pushed through it, his golden locks messy and his eyes wide.

"Did someone call?"

"You're about ten minutes late you dummkopf!" Dark resisted the urge to pounce on his cousin. (1)

"My goodness, Dark; I didn't think you had the intelligence to speak German," Satoshi broke up the on-coming fight by replacing it with another.

"I'm not stupid!" Luckily holding Daisuke held Dark back.

"DARK!" Daisuke rocked against the boy, pulling him out of his fighting daze. "Can we go back to our room, please?"

"Whatever! I don't care!"

The violet haired teen stomped from the room, barely leaving Daisuke time to wave good-bye to his other friends; Satoshi and Krad simply stared at each other. Daisuke squirmed in his lover's arms—the boy was squeezing him way too tightly.

"How can you just accept this?" Dark hissed.

"Wh…what do you mean?" Daisuke batted his lashes at Dark, trying to curb his anger. "Aren't you happy that I have a brother?"

Dark didn't reply.

"You aren't happy?" tears welled in Daisuke's eyes. "Oh. I see. You're jealous."

"The hell? I am not jealous of your fucking brother!"

Daisuke captured his lips in a searing kiss, his eyes begging to differ. The two toppled over onto the bed where Daisuke pinned Dark beneath him, laughing into the kiss. Dark was so cute when he was jealous, Daisuke had noticed. His black locks brushed against Dark's forehead as he straddled his waist and pulled away for air.

"You do know that you'll always be the one I love most…right?"

"Supposedly," Dark muttered.

"Bastard."

The door opened. "Oh my." The voice was squeaky and as the two looked up they saw Riku standing shock still, gaping at them. "I'm sorry!" She backed out quickly.

"Love you," Daisuke snuggled closer to Dark's chest.

"Daisuke! You cannot just leave me hanging!" Dark demanded, poking his uke in the chest. "Daisuke!"

"Nighty…"

"DAISUKE!"

"…Poo."

-evil laugh- I couldn't resist. Well that was a bit…rushed. " But I just had to bring in Ryuu. My lovely, sweet Ryuu-kun. I collaborated this guy with my friend Calismo while we were still talking but yeah. Lol. Alright, let's leave it at that. :giggle: Love you guys so much!

(1) Dummkopf - Idiot