Stage Three: Clash in the Shadows
"How did you get here?"
"I'm pretty sure I already answered that." The day was dragging long, as if time moved slower to keep people asking Dark questions. Towa so far had been the only one not to so much as inquire about the Black Wings. Now, Emiko and Kosuke, who had returned in the middle of Emiko's triad about Krad, were the only ones thirsting for answers.
Kosuke, who surprizingly had been leading this game of twenty questions, shook his head. "I didn't mean that. How did the feather that contained you get here? All your feathers disappeared when you were sealed."
To this, Dark frowned, face contorting in an expression of thought. "Now that you mention it, that is a very good question." Until now, he hadn't considered the fact that since he was composed mostly of magic, that his sealing had erased any physical evidence that he had existed. Even if that was not so, how would a lone feather make it from the museum to the Niwa family home?
"Oh, I can answer that." Towa chirped in her normal, cheery tone. "Last night, just when I was about to rest for the night, someone knocked on the door. They handed me Dark's feather. Whoever they were, they must have mistaken me for miss Emiko, since they said to 'give it to my son'. I simply assumed it was Daisuke." she said with a perky smile.
Everyone looked to the artwork with raised eyebrows, one question on their minds. "And that didn't seem... odd at all to you?" Daiki asked bluntly.
"Not until just now."
Everyone in the room sighed in exasperation, sometimes Towa was a little too spacey. Their questions answered, everyone dispersed around the room. There came a knock on the front door, the hallway carrying the sound throughout the house. That's Riku! We were going to go out today! Daisuke panicked within Dark's mind as his mother walked out to get the door.
A date, hm? Maybe I should go greet her...
Ah! Dark, don't you dare!
Ha ha, calm down. Afraid I'm going to steal her from you? Truthfully, the angel found the conversation very comical. In the end, he turned control over to Daisuke, allowing the boy's body to return to normal. Be careful; unless you want to turn into me in the middle of your date.
It's not a date! With that last defiant thought, the red-haired boy ran upstairs, determined to change into more normal clothes before Riku saw him. The clothing he choose was casual, a simple red t-shirt and blue jeans. But hey, it wasn't a date. They were just going to hang out together. He hurried back down to the living room once he was street-worthy, only to see Riku sitting on the couch. "Um, hi Riku. Shall we go now?" he asked, trying to remain as calm as possible. It still made him nervous having her around his mother, or in his house period.
"Hm? Oh, yeah, sure Daisuke." The girl stood and bowed thankfully to his mother. "Thank you for letting me wait here." And so, the two of them left. Riku had taken to calling Daisuke by his name, just as he did hers. She couldn't help but feel it helped things go more smoothly between them.
The day went by quickly. Daisuke and Riku had indeed just been going out, as until the sun set they were practicing art at the fountain park. The Harada girl had gotten continuously better at drawing in the last few months. However she still disliked her level of skill. "It's a sign of a good artist," Daisuke said at one point. "if you doubt your arts quality." So consumed by their work, and with each other, it was well past dusk before they realized the time.Dark hasn't even commented on anything, which is good... I think.
"I think it's time we headed home." Riku stated with a nervous smile. Even now, she was still slightly intimidated by romantic situations was Daisuke. He turned to her with a nod, and so began the long walk home. It was set in Daisuke's mind to walk Riku home and with the shadows heavy in the air, he did not notice the figure gliding high above them.
x x x x x
Daisuke! Dark yelled, but got no reply from the blissful boy. For hours now he had been trying to get the red-head's attention, but it was as if he could not hear him. At this rate, he would have to force himself in control in order to get his message through. Shortly after they had arrived at the fountain, the black-winged angel had sensed an all-to-familiar energy watching them from above. But no matter how hard he tried, the boy would not answer him. And since he actually didn't want to ruin this little date with Riku, he was stuck playing bystander.
x x x x x
They were walking by the beach when the figure made his presence known to the children. In front of them landed a creature in the purest of white robes. Blonde hair, large white wings... There was no mistaking it. It was Krad. The angel looked at the two with his normal sadistic smile. "Greetings."
Riku backed away. After a week of asking, she had finally been informed about both Dark and the white Dark from above the museum Krad. And from what she heard, he was not one to be trifled with. "Daisuke, I thought you said he was gone..." She had also been told, if vaguely, that both he and Dark were never going to return. Heart pounding up into her throat, she swallowed, trying to remain composed.
"Really now? I'm hurt, little Wing Master." Krad replied with feigned insult. His head turned to the girl, Riku, as she tried to dash away. Wasn't she surprized when she found a gloved hand wrapped around her neck. "And where might you be going...?" he inquired, watching as she squirmed.
"Krad, let her go!" Daisuke yelled. Dark, now would be a very good time to intervene... Dark? Dark! He was scared now. Why wasn't Dark answering? What could have happened? Come on Dark, I need you. He pressed on, a feeling of helplessness washing over him as he watched Krad squeeze Riku's neck. She struggled, pounding on the winged man's hand, but they bothknew it wasn't going to help. Slowly, but surely, her struggles stopped. "No!" Dark!
Daisuke! A feeling he remembered from only once before washed over him. Two perfectly black wings burst outward from his back, tearing holes in the back of his shirt. Then, his hair changed color, grew longer, spikier. Angered purple eyes glared at Krad. Actually, anger isn't the right word. The person behind those eyes was downright pissed. "Krad!" Dark screeched, running forward.
Krad's smile grew more twisted if it was possible as he tossed the now unconscious girl aside, over the edge of the railing to the beach more than fifty feet below. He watched with satisfaction as his counter-part changed direction, heading over the cliff after her. Taking to the air, he coasted his way down to the sand, arriving just in time to see Dark lay Riku down. "How sweet."
Dark stood and turned to glare at his opposite. Dark! Why didn't you--
Not now, Daisuke. The black winged angel moved away from Riku, keeping his eyes on Krad the entire time. Both men arched out their wings and took flight, intending to clash in the skies. Once they were a fair distance from the ground, the two charged at each other, ready to knock the other from the air. They hit head on, and were both deflected by the force of the other. They continued, exhausting the other within minutes. By then, Krad's gaze was that of a madman, as he was desperate to kill Dark. Suddenly, an idea dawned on him, and his sadistic smile gained a homicidal edge.
With a flick of his hand, he send almost a dozen magic charged feathers out... All headed for Riku. Riku! It was hard to tell who thought it first, Daisuke or Dark, but either way, Dark found himself rushing down after the feathers. When he finally close to them, he realized that there was no way he could get Riku out of the way in time. It was a race against time, against all odds that the girl would be killed by the force of Krad's magic. "I'm sorry..." Dark muttered, beating his wings one last time...
Haven't typed a cliffhanger with this much suspense in a while. It feels good. Anyway, thanks to DalisaY-17 and Shinjiru Kokoro for my first two reviews. Just as a heads up, school is back in session now, some I will try(keyword 'try') to update twice a week until further notice. And if you have any ideas for the story, like artwork to steal or something, please tell me. I'm running low on ideas surprizingly fast.