As I said before, this story is bordering on DarkDaisuke, but not quite. It's not a romantic thing, Dark is just... very touchy feely for reasons that I hope that I can make clear in this chapter. If I haven't, please let me know and I'll do what I can to explain my reasoning. Please review!
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Chapter 3
Emiko opened the door and then gasped in shock. Her son stood in the doorway, drenched and holding an unconscious and naked thief in his arms. Daisuke was panting, and the small soaked form of Wiz was settled on his shoulder, shivering in the cold. Emiko instantly backed out of the way, allowing Daisuke to come inside and take the unconscious Dark to the living room.
Emiko stood back as Daisuke wrapped Dark in a blanket, using a towel to dry the choppy violet locks and the slender body. The brown haired woman finally found her voice when Daisuke settled on the floor beside Dark, watching him. "D-Dai?"
Daisuke looked up at his mother and then frowned. "It was that artwork you had us go after. The Ties That Bind. As Dark and I were flying home we got hit by lightning, and it separated us."
"And the art?" Emiko murmured.
"Gone. It dissolved." Daisuke said. He reached out, running his fingers over Dark's face. "Do you think he'll be okay Mom?"
Emiko came forward. "Let me look after him for a moment, you need to go get out of those wet clothes Daisuke, before you catch a cold."
Daisuke seemed reluctant, but he nodded, standing and going up the stairs. "I'll bring some clothes for Dark too."
Emiko pulled back the blanket, carefully examining Dark for any sign of affects from the lightning, but she didn't find any at all. She put a hand on Dark's forehead; there was no sign of fever. As she removed her hand she saw Dark's eyelashes flutter, and then the thief opened his eyes, staring at her with dazed violet eyes.
Emiko smiled. "How are you feeling Dark?"
Dark blinked fuzzily, and then sat up sharply, instantly placing a hand against his forehead and flopping back down on the couch with a groan. "What hit me?"
Emiko smiled softly. "From what Daisuke said, lightning. You're very lucky to be uninjured Dark, and even more lucky to be alive."
Dark looked around, and then turned his attention inward. Daisuke's usual warmth wasn't there. Dark opened his eyes fearfully, looking around. "Where's Daisuke?"
The redhead walked into the room at that moment, carrying a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt. "I'm here Dark, don't worry."
The thief instantly sought contact, and Daisuke obliged by sitting beside him and letting Dark lay his head on his lap. Daisuke looked up at his mother. "Is he okay? No injuries?"
Emiko shook her head. "None whatsoever. It's pretty amazing, I think. Neither of you are hurt at all, even after being hit by the lightning."
Daisuke leaned against the back of the couch, thinking. "Perhaps it was because of The Ties That Bind. When we were separated Dark was wearing one bracelet, and I was wearing the other. Maybe it protected us as well?"
Emiko shrugged. "Perhaps." She leaned forward, running her fingers through Dark's still damp hair. "I'm just happy that my two boys are okay… I was a little worried when you took a little longer than normal getting home. And when that storm started up, it made it even worse."
Dark smiled at the woman. "Thanks for worrying, Mom."
Emiko sighed. "Well, since you're now separate, I guess I really do have two sons now. We'll have to get you a bed Dark, and I'm afraid you'll have to wait until we can fix up one of the guest rooms as your own."
Dark hesitated. "Actually… I was wondering if Daisuke and I could share a room. I just…" Emiko blinked, tilting her head, and Dark sighed. "After being a part of him, it feels strange to be separate. There's this… empty spot in me, and being near him helps it a little."
Daisuke smiled, running his fingers through Dark's hair gently. "Take this for example. While we were a part of each other we could easily interact, maintain touch, we were always in some sort of contact. Even though we're separate, the need to be in contact with each other is still there. Dark will be more comfortable in my room, and I think I would rather have him there anyway."
Emiko nodded in understanding. "That seems like a good reason to me. Very well, we'll still need to get you a bed. I can send Kosuke out for that, and hopefully you won't mind sleeping on the couch for tonight."
"We can share the same bed." Daisuke supplied. "It's not like we're going to get romantic or anything."
Dark shuddered slightly at the thought, but nuzzled his head against Daisuke all the same. The redhead smiled, his hands continuing to pet the thief's damp hair.
Emiko giggled slightly, and then stood. "Well, I think you should both get to bed, it's been a long and eventful day."
Dark answered her with a long and wide yawn. Daisuke chuckled, and then bounced his knees slightly to get Dark to lift his head, and then stood. "I agree with Mom, I don't know about you Dark, but I'm exhausted."
The thief nodded his agreement, rising to his feet and carefully keeping the blanket around his thin naked body. Both boys kissed Emiko's cheek, and then they made their way upstairs, Dark pulling on the sleep pants and t-shirt as Daisuke shut his door and changed his own clothes.
Daisuke climbed into his bed, and he watched, amused, as Dark hesitated in repeating his actions. Daisuke rolled his eyes, reaching down and grabbing the thief's arm, pulling him up into the bed and earning a small squeak.
Daisuke released Dark as soon as the thief was on his bed, curling up on his side and closing his eyes as his exhaustion finally caught up with him. There was silence, and then the rustle of bedding as Dark did the same. Their backs touched gently, and Daisuke could feel how tense the thief was through the contact.
After a few moments of silence Dark rolled over, and then the thief's arms snuck around his waist. Daisuke sank into the thief's touch, knowing that right now Dark was just scared and confused, and needed the contact. The two fell asleep holding each other.
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Daisuke yawned widely as he came out of sleep. He didn't open his eyes yet, he didn't want to spoil the moment. He was so warm, and something was weighing on his chest. Curious, the redhead opened his eyes.
A head of purple hair rested against his shoulder, a muscular arm flopped over his chest. He could feel breathing against his skin, and the press of a slim body along his own. Daisuke smiled, reaching and tangling his fingers in the violet locks streaming over his shoulder. 'Dark is such a cuddle-hog, especially in his sleep…'
Dark inhaled slowly, and then shifted his position, pressing himself closer to Daisuke's warm body and settling back into sleep. Daisuke looked down again to see Dark's face, thin and worn. The redhead frowned, thinking on Dark's condition.
'He's so tired; I can see it in his features… And he's so thin too, I wonder why…'
Daisuke sighed, and then slowly attempted to pull himself away from Dark's embrace. Most people would probably feel very claustrophobic by now, but Daisuke knew well that Dark was very much a creature of contact, of touch, of feeling. Now that the thief didn't have the constant contact of Daisuke's soul, he sought touch instead, and this was just one way for Daisuke to comfort Dark, so he didn't mind.
Dark murmured slightly in his sleep as Daisuke managed to get out from under him, but he didn't wake. Daisuke let out a breath slowly, relieved that he had accomplished his goal. After pulling the blanket up over Dark's shoulder, the redhead changed his clothes and quietly left the room, going downstairs where he could hear his mother in the kitchen.
Emiko looked up as Daisuke walked in and smiled at her son. "Good morning Dai. Did you sleep well?"
Daisuke nodded. "Sure did."
"How is Dark?" Emiko asked, her expression growing concerned for the thief. She, like Daisuke, could feel that Dark was a little scared by what was happening, and she was worried about him.
Daisuke's face grew serious. "He's very cuddly; he always wants to be touching somehow. I can feel through his touch that he's frightened and confused. He doesn't understand what's happening, he's always been in touch with someone's soul, and he's never been separated from anyone like this. However, he didn't wake up when I left this morning, so hopefully he'll be okay."
Emiko nodded with a smile, turning back to the eggs she was cooking. "That's great to hear. I'm sure Dark will be just fine, as long as we give him some time to adjust."
Daikii walked in at that moment, smiling at his grandson. "Good morning Daisuke. I heard what happened last night, how are things going?"
Daisuke smiled back at his grandpa. "Good Grandpa, thanks for asking. I think things are going to be alright now."
"I sent Kosuke for another bed, I'm sure he'll be back soon." Emiko said while putting the eggs on a plate.
Daisuke tilted his head. "I think that for the first little while we probably won't need it. It will probably take Dark a little while to get used to sleeping on his own, it'll be like dealing with a child in this aspect. I'll have to wean him off of sleeping with me."
Daikii nodded. "We just have to remember that Dark is lost in a world that he doesn't understand. He's spent his entire life in close constant contact with someone else's soul, and now that he has his own body, that touch is no longer there."
Daisuke looked to the stairs, where he knew Dark was sleeping in his room. "Yea, I know Grandpa…"