Disclaimer: Maybe if I bought a giant butterfly net, my chances of capturing Dark and Krad would double? I still own nothing, only my OC's, rabbits and art pieces.
Sixth Theft
"Kosuke I have to talk to you right now." Dark said before he even fully landed in the backyard of the Niwa home. "This whole month has smelled rotten! I need to know just what the hell is going on, and I need to know now!"
Kosuke slid open the screen door and stepped into the backyard with Dark. "You'll have to tell me what you know, and what's going on, if you want me to help you solve this."
Dark sighed and glared at the ground, mind racing back through the instances and information he had gotten from Arien and Daisuke.
"I guess to start with, Riku is no longer my sacred maiden." He said, scrunching up his face when he thought back to that day in Daisuke's class.
"And how did that change?" Kosuke asked, taking a seat on the porch.
"Arien Zaiaku walked into the classroom a month ago." He said, walking over to the porch and taking a seat. "Daisuke saw her and thought his DNA was going to trigger like with the Harada twins, but it was my DNA. Suki Zaiaku introduced Arien to the class as her sister, but based off of what I saw tonight and what she told me the few times we spoke, I don't think that the truth."
"So they were lying to the class, but why?" Kosuke pondered. He looked at Dark. "Is there anything strange with them? Anything you noticed?"
"Hey Dark, every time you spoke to Arien she was always doing something for her sister, remember?"
Dark relayed Daisuke's observation to Kosuke, who nodded and clasped his hands together in thought. "And you're sure that this was the case every time you encountered her?"
Dark nodded. "She told me she was back from abroad."
"Abroad? Did she say where?" Kosuke tried connecting the information together some way, but it was complicated.
"No, but I believed it because of how she talks." Dark explained Arien's strange accent and her apparent ice-cream-less life before Azumano. "There was something else too . . .Right! On the day we got ice cream, I ran into a vegetable vendor who told me that a girl who looked like Arien paid for her food with gold. I got a look at the coins myself, and they were real."
"You mean she can create gold from nothing, or she was carrying around gold from a country with gold currency?"
Dark shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet that she can create gold after what I saw her do in the museum. Kosuke, she grew wings! I thought she was just a normal human, but this changes everything she told me."
After talking outside for close to two hours, Kosuke stood up from the porch and groaned, feeling the stiffness his back suffered from sitting on the wood for so long.
'Well Dark, it looks like I have some digging to do. I'll start first thing in the morning, but now let's get some sleep. Daisuke has school tomorrow, maybe he can get some answer from Suki." He said, opening the door in the darkness so that he could find his way to his room. He paused and looked back at the purple haired teen. "What did you say her name was?"
"Zaiaku." Dark mumbled from where he sat. Kosuke racked his brain, trying to remember why that name sounded so familiar, before walking into the house.
"Where should I put the boy, master?" Arien asked as she landed in the front yard of the Zaiaku house. Suki dusted off her pants and straightened up, removing her mask. She had figured out that the Phantom Dark would have noticed something odd was with Arien, especially after she had grown wings.
"I don't know, just put him somewhere." She said, not really caring where the boy went. She was tired from the stress that the job had put on her. She was exhausted from everything that day, but mostly she was angry with herself for failing again and resorting to Arien's scroll for back-up.
Arien watched Suki make her way inside the house and let the door close with an audible thud. She searched her learned human emotions and pieced together that Suki was feeling morbid and unsuccessful. Her master was . . . disappointed.
She hefted the golden-haired police officer higher onto her shoulder before walking into the house. Once inside, she contemplated where to place the boy that her master had thought to bring, and decided that her own room would have to suffice. She lugged him up the stairs until she came to her room and set down the boy on her bed. She removed his cap and jacket, and set the flashlight and handcuffs he carried on the floor next to him.
"I thank you for being there for my master." She mumbled quietly while sorting through his things. "I am sure you will be better received by her in the morning, when you wake up."
She closed the door behind her softly and started making her way down the stairs. Time to feed Onee her mid-night meal.
Krad opened an eye as her footsteps receded farther away and smiled his cruel, tormenting smile. The first step to Hiwatari's plan has been achieved. It is time for phase two.
Suki woke herself up the next morning, anxious to start the day and end it quickly. She showered, dressed and hurried down the stairs to the second floor. She wanted to check on the blonde boy herself before leaving for school. It turned out to be a pleasing visit for both.
She walked quietly towards Arien's bedroom door and raised a hand to knock on the wooden frame when suddenly the door opposite to it on the hallway opened, releasing a flood of steam and moisture. Her head turned in what felt like slow motion as her eyes connected to golden irises before they wandered over his slim but muscular shoulders. She felt her cheeks heat up in a massive blush as she took in his form, seeing him in only a towel held up by one of his strong hands at the waist.
Oh my god, please tell me I'm not dreaming. Her eyes raked over every detail of his upper body, taking in his abs and mentally counting each beautifully sculpted feature. At the very least, don't let me forget this dream when I wake up.
The golden-haired boy stood in the doorway of the bathroom, staring at the short girl like she was staring at him. He let his eyes run over her face and gazed into her eyes. He observed every detail about her, like her hair and her school uniform and her feminine physique. Master Satoshi never spoke of the girl in such a light before. It is a wonder that he never reacted around her, at least. I mustn't let her outward appearance distract me from my mission, no matter how tempting it would be to-
"That's enough Krad!" Satoshi said weakly, regaining his mind for a brief moment. "I . . . know what you're up to! You can't . . . you can't do it, Krad! Please, I'm begging you!"
Krad didn't let the internal conversation appear on his face as Suki's eyes traveled back up to his face. You are mistaken, master Satoshi. I can do as I please, you're at your last bit of strength. It will take you days before you can recover enough to force me to transform back. Have a happy sleep, master. I will see you again, in due time.
Satoshi's consciousness faded into the back of Krad's mind, and he was silent again. Krad blinked at the short girl before shifting where he stood, like he was uncomfortable under her gaze. She blushed and stepped back, nearly hitting the wall from embarrassment.
"Oh my gosh, sorry about that!" She said, willing herself not to make a fool out of herself. "Uh, I'm not sure if you remember me, but you kind of saved me from that thief last night, and I brought you here cause he injured you! Yeah, that's it. I didn't want to leave you there without knowing if you were alright, so I just brought you here. To my house. Er, this isn't too creepy, is it?"
Krad shook his head and smiled down at her. "No, it's understandable. I just remember seeing the thief on the monitor and . . . I, I well . . . I just didn't want him to hurt such a pretty girl."
Suki felt herself nearly flush with the compliment that the near naked man was giving her, but she swallowed it down so she wouldn't look like she was that easy. For some reason, she wanted to just play this boy by ear, and not make any big plans. She stopped herself from scanning his chest and abs with her eyes again, and fully committed herself to cementing that image in her mind.
"Well, thank you, Mr. . . .?"
"Krad, at your service." He said. Krad moved again and indicated to Arien's room with his free hand. "I need to get in there. To change, you see."
Suki flushed and nodded. "Yeah, of course! Go right ahead! Um listen, before you go. I have to go to school now, but if you feel like sticking around, that would be great-I mean, that would be pretty cool. Just so I know that you're alright, I mean. I don't want you leaving here and dying on your way home because of that thief's attack."
Krad nodded and smiled softly at the girl. "That is fine with me. I should rest up before traveling anyway. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you were the thief that broke into the museum and nearly fought Dark. There's something about you that just . . ."
He bent closer to her. ". . .Shines."
Krad was all Suki could think about as she walked into the school. Man, what I would've done to touch his chest and abs . . .
"Hey Suki!" Daisuke called out to her as she passed by one of the tree's in the school courtyard. "Can we talk for a minute?"
Suki walked over to Daisuke, wondering if he needed to borrow her notes. He's usually so good about taking notes. Maybe he was sick one day, and I didn't notice? Then again, I was hung up on Hiwatari for a while. Hiwatari . . . I wonder if he'll be in class today.
"What do you need to talk about, Dai?" She asked, stopped a short distance from him. "Were you absent one of these past few days and need the notes? Because if you were, then sure you can have them."
Daisuke shook his head. "No, I wasn't absent. I need to talk to you about your sister."
Suki blinked in shock. Daisuke likes Arien? But I thought he was dating Riku?
"And I need to know just what happened last night." He said under his breath. Suki's breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened.
Daisuke . . . he knows that I stole from the museum last night? But how?!
Suki looked around the courtyard, and whirled on Daisuke when she saw no one looking. "How do you know about that?"
"I was there last night." He answered straight-faced. "And I saw Arien grow wings. I saw your backpack glow before any of that, and then she walked out of the shadows. Suki, just what is going on?! Why have you been lying to us, the whole school, about Arien being your sister? Don't give me that look; I know she can't possibly be related to you. I looked up your family history and found no trace of anyone named Arien Zaiaku."
He lowered his voice, making sure that not even the closest kids could hear them. "You're going to tell me everything, right now."
Suki wouldn't be able to convince anyone if she did, but right at that moment, she could have sworn that Daisuke's eye changed to amethyst.
"Alright, I'll tell you. It started about a month ago." She said. "Look, I never meant to lie to everyone. I just wanted to . . . well, that part isn't important. What I meant to say is that Arien isn't my sister, she's-"
"Zaiaku! You're sister called the main office and has requested you go home early." One of their teachers suddenly walked over to them. "She sounded really upset."
Suki opened her mouth to protest, but her teacher placed a hand on her shoulder and started steering her towards the gate.
"Don't worry about your school work; I'll set it aside for you tomorrow!" She said. "Just get home and take care of your sister."
Suki cast an apologetic glance at Daisuke before the teacher made him walk to class. She pointed her feet towards home, wondering what Arien needed her for.
"Yes, she forgot something here at home, and it's really important that she come pick it up right away. I wouldn't usually ask this of her, but it really is important." Arien spoke into the telephone. Suki had forgotten her lunch again, and Arien couldn't leave the house because she had to look after the blonde boy. When she hung up the phone, she walked into the kitchen and grabbed the board full of cut vegetables for Onee.
Arien scrapped vegetables from the cutting board into Onee's bowl. Suki had left earlier, leaving the blonde police officer home in her care. She had encountered her master coming down the stairs with a mass of red streaked across her face. When she asked what it was, Suki had told her what a blush was.
So it is natural to change color depending on the blood flow to your head and other areas of your body. Perhaps an extensive investigation of the human anatomy is needed for the complete understanding of what makes up a human.
She heard footsteps approaching her from the stairs and stood from Onee's cage, letting her eyes linger on the white rabbit before she turned to investigate. She stepped into the entrance hallway and eyed the blonde policeman walking down the stairs.
I may not have access to legal human bodies for examination, and I might not have knowledge of the human healing process, but the feather that Dark threw at the blonde policeman should have injured him to a large extent. How is he moving around so quickly?
"Are you alright, Mr. Policeman?" She asked, walking to the base of the stairs. "Do you need assistance in walking down the stairs?"
The blonde said nothing, and his face showed nothing as he continued down the stairs. Arien narrowed her eyes. Something is telling me that this boy is more dangerous than he lets on.
"Suki told me your name is Krad. Tell me, how are you walking so well on your own?" She asked.
Krad watched the art work stand still at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his answer. This is almost too easy. She doesn't suspect me at all. I hoped there would be challenge behind all of this, but she really isn't all that threatening. I can't believe Kei Hiwatari wants this little thing in order to destroy the Niwa family. Krad stopped at the bottom of the stairs, touching shoulders with her.
"Servants do not talk of their masters like they are friends." He said. 'And we both know that you are the servant, Jewel of the Scroll."
Arien's eyes widened and her head wiped around to stare at him.
"Who are you really, and what are you playing at?" She asked, glaring into his eyes. He smirked, finally finding at least some challenge from the girl.
"I am Krad of the Hikari." He said. "And you will help me in my plans."
Arien brandished the knife she had kept hidden in her sleeve at all times, and stepped away from the threatening boy.
"I do not serve the Hikari, I only serve the Zaiaku. I will not do anything you say!" She growled out. "You had better leave, Krad Hikari, before I throw you out myself."
Krad's smirk widened as he took in the sight of the maid, wielding a knife at him. "You think that you can stop me? No, I have plans that require you specifically. Your precious master will be eating from the palm of my hand soon enough, and she will command you to act as my weapon."
Arien's eyes glinted with the harshness of her glare. "You mean to harm my master. You were warned, and now that I know your intentions are ill-suited for my master, I must do what I do best, and eliminate the threat to the Zaiaku bloodline!"
She lunged at the blonde.
Suki entered her house and saw Arien lunge at Krad, who stood right in front of the door. Krad threw her a frantic glance.
"Step back, Suki! She means to kill you!" He shouted loudly. Arien hissed at his lies, but as she was about to shout out her denial, Krad reached into one of the pockets of his jeans. From within it, he pulled out a jeweled scroll that glinted in the sunlight.
This is where the plan all comes together. He summoned a white feather in his hands, and as it glowed brightly, he touched the scroll with it. Let's see how being sealed back into the art work feels, shall we, Arien?
Arien screamed as immense pain spread throughout her body, as she was sealed back inside her scroll.
Suki stared at the scene, shocked and in disbelief.
"Krad, what . . . what just happened?" She asked, nearing the point of tears. Krad turned to face her, scroll in hand, and took in her terrified face. He walked slowly over to her until he stood right in front of her.
"She was waiting for you." He said, crouching down to her eye level. "I heard her from upstairs. She was going to . . ."
He clutched the scroll tightly, looking away from Suki as if in emotional turmoil. Krad reached out suddenly and took her into his arms, leaning his head against her shoulder.
"I wanted to stop her, and she attacked me." He whispered. Suki could feel the tears falling down her cheeks in streams now. "I'm sorry, Suki. I know she meant a lot to you, but I had to seal her away. I have these powers, and they allow me to seal evil artwork. I'm so sorry you had to see this."
Suki let herself break down in Krad's arms, falling into his embrace in the doorway. As she cried, he stroked her hair softly and murmured nothings into her ear. His golden eyes glinted with hidden emotion. It's all coming together, now.