Authors Note: Like everyone else, I do have an excuse for not updating in so long: Midterm Exams. 1st year university is not all it's cracked up to be, and it is worse than any of the horror stories you have been told. On top of that, Shitomy (my sister and bane of my existence) has me working on another story (that will not EVER be posted) and I got a little caught up in that. So sorry for the delay for those of you who were stuck waiting. Anyway, here's the next chapter I hope you enjoy!!

Page 4, Chapter of Morning

"How many stories will you tarnish? How many masterpieces must suffer because of your actions? Should I show you Dark Mousy?"

What do you want with me?

"I want you to make me complete… make me complete…"

"Wake up and eat Dark. Sorry, but your stomach is growling really loud, so I made you some pancakes. I have to go to school soon too, so…" she blushed again.

"I will see you again Rika," I wasn't sure why I was able to say it like a promise, because I wasn't supposed to meet or talk with anyone in this form, much less meet them more than once. She smiled and almost danced out the door. My stomach growled again as I smelled the strawberry covered pancakes she had brought me. Realizing I hadn't eaten anything since my brief encounter with the toast the day before, I practically gorged myself on them. The sleep had done me good, my wounds were almost completely healed, and Rika was right, if I didn't hurry, I would be late for school too. I carefully slipped down the stairs and followed an elegant hall toward the back of the house. Avoiding detection from the other members of the household, I made my way to the back yard, and continued on toward the park. I had to stop there and grab my school clothes or else I would be in even bigger trouble for inappropriate attire when I got to school. It wasn't hard to find a secluded spot, and I got changed with plenty of time to spare.

I ran through the front door of the school just as the bell rang, and entered class late once more. I could have sworn I had 5 minutes left before I had to get into the room. Maybe the teacher had enough magic to slow me just enough to miss the bell every day. I almost giggled at this thought.

"Mr. Niwa, do you think that the situation is funny?"

"No sir Mr. Burtson," I was in trouble now. First I had managed to get out of detention yesterday, and now this.

"Dante Niwa, your arrogance has just earned you a 3 hour detention! You will report to my office immediately after class, there a suitable punishment will be decided." Well it could have been worse. After all I didn't have to work tonight and I could call my mom during lunch. "Don't just stand there gawking like a pigeon, go and sit down." Maybe he was able to read minds came the thought in my head. I walked past Rika and noticed the faraway look on her face. I smiled as I sat knowing she was thinking about me waiting at her house eating the pancakes she had carefully made… waiting at her house? How was I going to be able to stay in contact with the girl I liked if I didn't even say thank you when she had been so nice to me? I'll have to see what I can cook up, there has to be something an angel can do to get out of detention. I couldn't wait to see her Maybe I can bring her chocolates. Too typical. Maybe flowers. That was romantic, but it had been done many times before. "Dante my boy, step up to the board and please demonstrate how to perform this equation."

vnvnv

"I'm alright mom, just a little sore," I said into the receiver of the phone. "I will be home late tonight though, I have detention for being late again. No, no I didn't bring it here, I put it in that place. OK, I'll pick it up on my way home. Mom, I have to talk to you later about something OK? See you later, bye mom." I didn't think that she would be that worried about me. I had stayed out all night before when there were too many police to risk going home. I knew that I was weird, but maybe my mom had some telepathic powers passed down from those people that Krad had been talking about. She was better than my teacher at knowing what I was up to. All I had left to do now was figure out a way to be in two places at once. I had an idea, but I would be amazed if it actually worked.

I passed the lunchroom headed for the gym. I needed privacy so headed for the one place in school that was guaranteed to be empty as long as people could get away from it: the boys changing room. I scanned it quickly and found it pleasantly empty. I locked the door and looked at what I had to work with. Mould, dampness, and the smell of sweaty jocks surrounded me… it wasn't charming but no one would be able to hear me or see me, and I could test my theory. I had used feathers as knives, curtains, and had even given them human like forms before. I needed something small that I could carry with me the rest of the day, and looked innocent enough to not cause any suspicion, yet it had to have the capability of looking like me when I needed it to. It had to have some sort of personality and mind to move on it's own without my attention. I had only read about this kind of thing in a book of mythology but it was worth a try. Being a young angel I felt that I at least had to explore what I could do with my magic. You never learned anything if you didn't try.

I walked to the damp center of room and spread my feathers shedding my disguise at the same time. I summoned several feathers and arranged them into a circle magic always seemed to flow better towards the center of some circle, and made another pile of them in the middle. This would have to work as a body. I decided that it wouldn't work unless I actually gave it some kind of living median, so as I began to give it a form I used another feather to cut my finger. Two large drops of blood fell into the pile. A creature made of magic has to have magic put into it, and so I summoned up every spark I could muster. I kneeled down at the edge of the circle to bring myself a little closer and began to concentrate on a form. I wasn't quite sure if this would work or what it would look like, as I only had a vague idea of what would suit my needs. I released the breath I was holding now or never. I spread my hands and wings wide as I watched as my magic began to flow around the circle I had made. It seemed to be spinning around the outside edge ruffling the feathers. As I pushed more magic into, the spinning became faster, until the feathers started blowing around like a large sphere around the black pile in the center.

I concentrated harder. Now the circle was dragging the magic out of me at an alarming rate. The entire circle was glowing indigo. It would have all been very pretty if I wasn't so scared that every last drop of my power would be drained by my own stupidity and inability to stop the circle from draining me. Suddenly all the feathers stood still, quill end pointed toward the now moving mass of feathers in the middle of the circle as if waiting. I dramatically lowered my arms to the level of my chest, pointing at the lump. There was suddenly a huge yank on my insides as one final burst of magic was dragged out of my already tired body. The outer feathers moved as one like a bullet towards the pile of feathers. What happened was a spectacular sight, almost never witnessed before, which is why it is such a shame that all I remember was a flash of white light as my vision faded away.

vnvnv

"Will you help me? Will you hurt me? You are the black mark on the page and I am the true story. If you don't form into my story Dark, you will stay a stain forever. You will be erased and yet you will never completely fade away because you will cause pain to the people around you no matter what you do…"

"Kyuu?"

"I wish Krad would stop talking in riddles and just tell me what he wants me to do already." My head hurt and for some reason I was wet. Something else wet touched my nose. It could be water from the shower if only it wasn't so warm and soft. I slowly opened my eyes as I remembered what I had just tried to do.

"Kyuu?" a voice repeated. My eyes began to adjust to the light in the change room and two deep red eyes met mine. I blinked and the fuzzy white head turned curiously to the side.

"Did it actually work?"

"Kyuu!" it exclaimed. I guess that answered my question. I slowly sat up and looked at my creation. It looked kind of like a rabbit, but its ears and tail were too long for it's body. It's eyes were very large and the colour of blood. It was tiny and cute, but would it actually be able to imitate me?

I put my had on its head and patted it, "how am I going to make you look like me?" I felt my own magic stir inside the tiny creature as it seemed to vanish into itself, then reappear as a perfect replica of me, water stains on my uniform and all. "Can you understand me little guy?" It simply nodded at me and said kyuu. "Can you try to look like this?" I asked as I began to weave my disguise. It was one of the first and easiest spells I had ever learned and yet I had to try four times before I was able to cast it properly. I really needed to sleep to restore some of my magic. I had barely finished the disguise when the creature disappeared and flashed back into the exact form I had taken. I couldn't believe it, I had created a spirit for myself. I knew my magic was advancing but even I didn't know I was this good already.

"I need to sleep really badly, and I have to get to Rika's house," I sighed. It nodded its head and looked at me. "You don't speak English do you? I must have forgot to think about that when I made you. Do you think you could go to class for me and do my detention just this once?"

"Kyuu Kyuu Kyuuuuu!" It actually seemed excited to go to school.

"What did I ever do without you… well you're with me to stay now, so maybe I'll call you With." I never was good with names and had never had a pet. Someone may say that it was a silly name, but I would have said it was original. It seemed pleased with my choice anyway. I showed him where the room was while avoiding the few students in the hall, gave With some final instructions, picked up some spare dry clothes from my locker, and started to make my way back to Rikas'. I wanted a quick nap in her room before I saw her and could thank her properly. I had gained a girlfriend, a familiar, and a scary strange angel who I didn't quite trust all in less than 24 hours, I think I deserved the nap.

Yay!! I always wondered how With was made and why. This was a silly reason, but if he is used for it later on, why not :P I am sorry if people don't agree with the spelling of With's name, but that is how I saw it on the t.v. series (if you really have a problem, correct me and I will fix it). Anyway, if you have any questions or comments, they are all appreciated, I do actually read the reviews you give me! What's going to happen next chapter? Well, it's a secret!!