Lost Stage: Soul Ignorance
By Jyoohan
Phase 008 – Heart's Whisper
0420 Hours – April 25, 2011
Niwa Home – Everyday I want to see you
"SHE'S DEAD!"
"Uuuaaaah!" Daisuke yelled, sitting up with a cold sweat. Daisuke covered his face trying not to remember that horrible dream. He panted heavily, trying to calm his racing heart. His eyes were red as tears flowed, his throat dry. "Dream." Daisuke froze for a second to think. "That wasn't a dream!" Daisuke sat up to find himself in the living room of his home.
"Riku… Riku!" Daisuke shouted.
"Daisuke! Calm down!" Daisuke turned to see his grandpa was sitting close by. "She's alright." Daisuke felt relieved hearing that. "She's upstairs with your mother. Go see her, quietly."
Daisuke ran quickly but quietly. He wasn't trained to be a thief for nothing.
Daisuke stopped at the last ten steps and took in a breath.
He felt afraid, afraid to see her, but why? He swallowed the lump in his throat and quietly took those last few steps before looking into his room. He stared at his bed seeing the bulge of a person under the blankets.
"Daisuke, honey?" Daisuke turned to see his mother sitting on his couch.
"Mom." Daisuke didn't know what to say.
"What exactly happened?" Emiko said calmly, but inside she was worried to death.
'I think I'll step in.' Daisuke heard before they switched places.
"Dark." Emiko watched as her little boy changed into the thief of the night.
Dark had a dark cloud over as he slowly took a seat next to Emiko. "Look at this." Dark pulled his shirtsleeve revealing his right arm. Emiko covered her face seeing what she saw right then and there.
Dark's right arm or what should have been Daisuke's right arm black, charred, cut, blistered, almost every conceivable injury visible.
"What happened?" Emiko tried to keep her tears in.
"Back there… in that chamber. Daisuke was possessed by something. I'd like to call it a demon." Dark glowered. "Riku suddenly showed up and Daisuke attacked her, slowly choking her."
Emiko closed her eyes almost feeling pain hearing this story.
"We tried to stop him but there was a weird barrier. That minute felt like an eternity. I felt so helpless." Dark laughed lightly, trying to hide his shame. "But I felt something when that light appeared, in that moment I felt myself being pulled in by Daisuke and in that one second moment I felt it."
Dark turned to Emiko. "Whether Daisuke knew it or not, he was ready to destroy his own arm to save her."
Emiko tried to muffle a cry. If the situation weren't so grave, it would have been… it would have felt better than now.
A quick glow of light and Daisuke was back, standing up. He walked up to the bed and climbed up the small ladder. He watched her a moment. Riku's head resting on his pillow with her hair prettily covering her face, Daisuke traced his finger moving a strand of hair out of her face.
"Nnn, Daisuke… where are you?" Riku cried, a small tear forming around her closed eyes.
"I'm right here… right here." Daisuke reached with his thumb, wiping the tear but stopped when Riku's hand suddenly clasped his, not wanting to let go.
"Daisuke." Daisuke turned hearing that firm voice seeing his father by the stairs up to his room.
"Dad." Daisuke hand still held hers.
"We should get her home, there's school today." Kosuke didn't want act so cold, but these events. Best if Riku's parents don't know what happened.
Daisuke stood frozen for a second and turned to Riku. Both of them were still in they're old clothes, dirty as well. Daisuke looked at his right hand and arm. Dark took most of the damage over to his form but some of it was still left on his side. Cuts, bruises, burn marks dotted his arm.
Daisuke clenched his hand, his fist shaking. "Daisuke." Kosuke called again.
"Mm, I'll take her home." Daisuke slowly gathered Riku up in his arms and slowly removed her from his bed.
"Kyuu…" Wizu jumped on Daisuke's shoulder.
"Oh Wizu, you're safe." Daisuke tried to cuddle him, but his arms were full. 'Wizu will help you.' Dark whispered. Daisuke nodded inwardly. Slowly walking down the stairs with his precious cargo.
Kosuke took a seat next to Emiko, wrapping his arms around her. Emiko turned wrapping her arms around Kosuke's chest. "Our son, he's grown strong." Emiko tried to talk with a calm voice.
Kosuke stroked her back, calming her. "Mm, ready to sacrifice your own arm to protect someone you care about. He's not a little boy anymore." Kosuke smiled, feeling a sense of pride for his son. "I just… I pray they have a bright future." Emiko clutched him tighter and nodded into his shoulder, unable to summon up her voice.
Downstairs, Daisuke slowly walked to the back sliding door, but stopped seeing grandpa slowly opening the door for him. "Be swift and silent like the phantom inside you, the new sun will be up. I'll be waiting right here." Daisuke nodded and was about to exit but Grandpa's hand grabbed him.
"Also, don't do anything I would do." Daisuke stopped and stared at him for a second, Daisuke's brain slowly ticking.
Chk-chk-chk-chk-chk-chk-DING!
Daisuke's face suddenly glowed like a morning sun. "Grandpa!" Daisuke whispered trying not to wake Riku.
"Hurry up! The sun can come up any minute!"
0445 Hours – April 25, 2011
Harada Home – What kind of thief puts their stolen goods… -er… person back?
"Hah!" Risa suddenly jumped hearing a sudden noise.
Fwap!
"Kya!" Risa jumped and looked out the window and saw a shadow. "D-D-D-Dark-san?" Risa recognized those pair of wings anywhere. "He came to see me? But what time? So early. He couldn't wait to see me!" Risa kicked her feet, unable to contain her excitement.
"Ah! I lady can't present herself in her jammies!" Risa quickly dove into her closet, but meanwhile…
Daisuke quickly picked the lock to the balcony door and peaked inside. "Coast is clear." Daisuke whispered to himself and ducked in really quick with Riku on his back. He saw the bed but his vision was getting blurry.
"Ah why do I feel so tired?" Daisuke rubbed his eyes trying to keep himself awake.
"Kyuuu…" Wizu moaned in a low tone.
"I know, I know. Drop her and go." Daisuke quickly approached the bed and set Riku down covering her up in the blankets that were quite messy for someone who didn't retire in them yet.
Daisuke lingered for a moment. Daisuke kneeled down and watched Riku sleep, his head resting on the side like hers. Daisuke felt a familiar feeling moving up his throat, like something was going to jump out of his throat.
"Kyu, Kyu, Kyuu-uuu-u!" Wizu tried to get Daisuke attention, but something else did.
"Dark-saaan!" Risa jumped out in a black miniskirt dress. She quickly jumped towards the balcony and made a dramatic entrance, flinging both doors open.
"Dark…-san?" Risa looked around like a nerdy schoolgirl in love. "Hey, where are you?" Risa moved from one side of the balcony to the other, hand over her eyes trying to see across the distance.
"Maybe I imagined it. It is still morning, Risa." Risa scolded herself, getting worked up over nothing. Too lazy to change, Risa jumped, literally, into bed. She tossed and turned until she came face to face with her sister.
"Kya! Ri-Ri-Ri-Riku?" Risa almost fell off the bed, but oddly she could have sworn she felt the bed jump.
"Huh… uuuh." Riku pushed herself up and holding her throat. "What happened?" Riku slurred.
"Wh-wh-why are you in my room? In my bed?" Risa pointed with a stiff finger.
"Heh?" Riku scratched her head, obviously clueless.
"Did you sleep walk? Geez, Riku! You scared me! Was that you by the window, too?" Risa bounced on her bed in a pouting fit.
"Sleep walk? Window?" Riku muttered before her head fell back on the pillow.
"Ah! Sleep in your own room! You have one don't you?" Risa dragged her sister out of her room.
"Kyu!" Wizu said it like, "They're finally gone."
Daisuke tried to calm his racing heart. Daisuke poked his head out from under the bed and crawled his way over to the balcony, locking and shutting the double doors shut. "I think this took some time off my life." Daisuke jumped into the air with Wizu as his wings.
"Of all things, I went into the wrong room. I should know better." Which is true, since he's… ahem, technically been to Riku's room from the outside, just his first time breaking in… forcibly.
Risa sighed finally getting Riku in her bed, even though she's going to wake up in the next hour or two. "Good night Riku." Risa chirped before exiting, but didn't hear a small whisper.
"Niwa-kun… where are you?" Her fist clenched onto her bed sheets.
0700 Hours – April 25, 2011
Azumano Middle School – Sick call… wait he's not sick… house call… it still sounds like he's sick… um… argh! No title!
Riku rested her head down on her desk. Riku didn't want to close her eyes; afraid she'd remember that dream. Usually some people dream and can't remember a single thing after they wake up, but Riku remembered every single detail.
She was alone in a white room with nothing around her, nothing but white far as the eye can see. She stood in front of her mirror her hair slightly longer maybe a little bit below her neckline. She watched herself in the mirror, but the person in the mirror stood up.
Riku watched as the person stood and walked away farther into the mirror. She saw herself in the mirror change but it felt that wasn't her. The person in the mirror stretched out her hand and another hand held it. A person with light colored hair walked close to her mirror image as they both walked hand in hand, away from her.
Riku sat there feeling alone, until she felt something. It was warm, a comforting feeling. She turned to she a hand their on her shoulder. She looked up to see a familiar face. "Niwa-kun."
Daisuke turned his hand over, offering to help her up.
Riku reached for his hand, but that's where everything began to fall apart.
Her hand pushed right through his. Like a wind blowing, she watched as he slowly disappeared, each part of him turning into black sand.
"No! No!" Riku cried getting up chasing after him. "Daisuke! Don't leave me! Dasiuke!" Riku fell, her feat unable to keep up and gave way. "Daisuke… where are you?"
"Riku!" Riku looked up seeing two of her friends from the track team. "Hey, you alright?"
Riku wiped her eyes not even knowing she cried until they brought her back to reality. "Yeah, yeah. I just had a bad dream." Riku sniffed. Her friends looked worried seeing her in that state, a dream causing this much stress.
"You want to talk about it?" Riku shook her head not wanting to.
"I'm trying to forget. I hate that dream." Riku felt a bit more comfort when her friends hugged her.
"Okay, okay! Time to start class!" The teacher walked in. Everybody said their morning greeting and got to their assigned seats.
The teacher glanced at Riku, giving a silent question. Riku smiled, replying she's fine. The teacher sighed and decided to ignore it for now.
"Alright, quick announcement. Seems Niwa-san's family is off somewhere. I couldn't get the full details from this… 6 page letter front to back." The class laughed, but went silent when the teacher showed them the letter with tiny letters.
Riku felt a sick feeling climbing up her throat, feeling worried.
"For the most part, He'll be absent for the next 3 days, but he should be back before the week is over. They said it was something of great importance that needed attention. At least that's what the first page said." The teacher began to sweat.
"Anyhow, I was wondering if someone can volunteer to take the next 3 days of work to Niwa-san's home. If they're still there you can give it to them, if not, leave it in the mailbox. So who would like to go?" The teacher looked up with a smile.
Everyone was quiet. "Takeshi!" The teacher shouted a name.
"Busy!" Takeshi shouted instantaneously.
"With what?" the teacher doubted Takeshi's credibility.
"Old man needs me!" Teacher grumbled.
"Masahiro?"
"Club activity!"
"Sekimoto?"
"Ditto!"
"Haibara?"
"Track team!"
After twen-… a lot of students later.
"Sensei, I'll-." Satoshi tried to.
"I'll go!" Riku rocketed up, taking this chance, finally gathering the courage.
"Um… Harada-san… Hiwatari-san, that's very… nice of you to volunteer." The teacher seemed suspicious of Riku's sudden energy boost, but it's really the nervousness getting to her.
Risa sighed looking at his sister. "You ditz."
School was over, sun going down, after school club activities now coming to a close. Riku walked with her Lacrosse club uniform, not changing so she can get to Daisuke's house. Besides, she felt more comfortable in them than the school uniform. She found her bike and set off. Lucky that Satoshi said that he'd leave the delivery to her and go see Daisuke another time.
(Alone… making lewd noises! Kyaaa! I think I'll do more of these for fun. Riku tries not to imagine the mental images that this evil author is assaulting her with on her precious virgin mind. Boo-hahahahahahahahaha! Pang Author falls over with a large bump with an X-bandage, while Riku is holding a broken crosse stick.)
Riku tried to concentrate and remember the way to Daisuke's house. She trailed down the cobbled road and remembering these streets. During the day, while at school, these streets would flood with people, buying and selling.
She had a few childhood memories here. She used to be so shy.
Riku found the next turn and rode across the streets next to the coast. The sun was over the horizon already but the sky still gave off its golden hue. The opposite end was pale purple with few stars peaking out. Riku liked this hour of day, like it was a twilight hour.
"Ah!" Riku turned around passing Daisuke's house. Her bike creaked as she slowed to a stop. Riku stood there for a moment feeling her heartbeat kicking up a notch… quite a few notches.
Riku walked up to door feeling her nervousness pile on her more and more with every step. Riku gulped her finger shaking, held ready to press the doorbell.
"Do you need some help?" Riku jumped, pressing the doorbell.
"Ah!" Riku panicked. "W-wait I'm not ready."
"Ready for what?" Riku turned to see Kosuke with a watering can.
"Niwa-kun's dad?" Riku remembered. Kosuke smiled.
"Yes, who is it?" Daisuke opened the door… in his pajamas, he looked horrible.
A long… long… looong silence goes by. By the way, Kosuke is rather amused watching the two.
After a couple a minutes of awkwardness and cute silence, Riku ended up in the living room of Daisuke's house.
"We're really sorry for you having to come and bring over Dai-chan's things." Emiko set some tea on the table, ready to drink.
"No! I don't mind at all!" Riku tried not to blush; her face felt like it was about to explode. Daisuke sat silently next to Riku, his situation not much different either. Daisuke reached for the sugar, but Riku's hand got their first so his hand grabbed hers.
"Sorry, you go first." Now both couldn't hold back the blush covering their faces.
"No, you go first, it's your house." Riku insisted.
"No, you're the guest, please go ahead." Daisuke insisted as well.
Grandpa sat across them hiding his grin behind his cup. "Ah youth." He whispered.
"Don't say that dad, you'll sound even older than you are." Kosuke chuckled.
"I'm old but these old skin and bones still have life in them." Daiki took a good satisfying slurp of his tea. "Aaaah…" Grandpa sighed with utter satisfaction with the tea, maybe the current atmosphere made it taste that much better, eh?
"Dinner will be ready soon!" Emiko chirped. "Ah Riku-san right?" Emiko asked.
"Y-yes!" Riku stood up.
"You haven't changed or shower yet right, from your after school club?" Emiko concluded from the way Riku looked.
"Um, I guess I was sort of in a hurry." Riku didn't want to say the real reason.
"Oh, so why don't you take a bath here? I'm sure you have you school cloths or you could borrow one of Daisuke's shirts." Emiko dragged Riku up the stairs.
"Huh? Wait, I don't really." Riku couldn't form the words.
"Nonsense! We have spare towels and I'm sure Daisuke wouldn't mind lending some clothes!" Emiko laughed, "Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"
Daisuke watched with his jaw dangling open.
"You do know your mother is doing this on purpose right?" Kosuke tried not to laugh. "Well why don't you pick something for her to wear?" Kosuke watched his son go up the stairs, most likely to his room.
"He needs to be more honest!" Grandpa groaned. "He's being shy when she's in the palm of his hand."
"Calm down dad, kids will be kids. It's cute how naïve they can be about their feelings." Kosuke remembered he was just like Daisuke, so shy to be up front with Emiko back in the day. Emiko helped him a lot to overcome his shyness.
"Now we have shampoo and soap here and here's a fresh towel. You need anything else?" Emiko smiled.
"No, no. Everything's fine." Riku tried not to show her nervousness.
"Okay, I'll start finishing up with dinner. Don't take too long." Emiko closed the bathroom door.
Riku took a deep breath. It was weird taking a shower in some other person's home, no less Daisuke's home. She suddenly got a mental image she tried to hastily make it disappear. (She had a mental picture of Daisuke showering. Full censorship is of course provided). She shook her head harder getting this perverted thought out of her mind. She sighed and began to take her shirt off.
Ka-chak.
"Mom, I'm going to leave it in the bath-." Daisuke felt like all the blood in his body drain into his head seeing what he saw. The shirt fell from his hand on the bathroom floor.
Riku stared back trying to cover herself as much she can with the shirt she just took off. "Hn… nh…" Tears began to creep out of the corner of her eyes. "Kyaaaaaaaa!"
Daisuke screamed as well, immediately closing the door.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He said this before he ran down the stairs.
"Daisuke what was that scream?" Kosuke, Emiko, and Grandpa waited by the stairs and saw Dark walking down the steps.
"Emiko?" Dark face was hiding in the shadow.
"Yes Dark?" Emiko looked worried.
"I really… really need a lot of tissue." Dark tried to cover his face but some of the blood was already on the shirt he was wearing, which is also very tight on him. The three let out a "Pfft." And tried not to laugh.
"I'll go calm Riku-san." Emiko went up the stairs.
"So… good enough to make you transform?" Grandpa smiled wickedly.
"Seems so." Dark showed the same smile. "Ah." Dark groaned feeling pain in his arm.
"Oh the injury, is it better?" Kosuke slowly peeled back the long sleeve Daisuke was wearing earlier to hide Daisuke's own injury. "Hmm… better than when we first saw it." Still a good amount of cuts and bruises but the burns are almost gone.
"It's alright, Daisuke did this to himself after all." Dark laughed, admiring Daisuke's guts for a second.
"But what about Daisuke?" Grandpa asked a little worried.
"Hm, I think he passed out." Dark smiled, this was going to be even more interesting now.
Dinner was a lively event but two particular peeps didn't speak up much during the happy conversation, reason not wanting to be brought up. If any question were asked they would answer quickly and not talk again. Both took sneaking glances at each other, this not going unnoticed by the other inhabitants of the table.
"So is Lacrosse fun Riku-san?" Grandpa asked, taking a sip of his soup.
"Mm, it's really where's you out, but I have a lot of fun playing." Riku chirped up a bit, talking about her interest.
"Maybe Daisuke should join a club, but he's always busy-urp!" Grandpa tried to keep in his cry of pain when Emiko kicked Gramps in the shin.
"Oooh… now that I think about it. How come Niwa-kun always come straight home?" Emiko was asking God for Riku not to bring up that question.
"Ah, well you see." Emiko was starting to lose her cool.
"He's training!" The entire family choked on their food when Grandpa suddenly blurted this out.
'The family secret is about to be blown wide open!' Kosuke thought.
"To be a ninja!" Everyone stared at him blankly.
"A what?" Riku thought she heard, 'ninja'.
"I was a master in the art in stealth and camouflage!" Everybody stared at him… very strangely. "Yet I'm old and these old bones won't listen anymore, so I decided to pass my teachings! But I couldn't pass them to my only daughter!" Grandpa cried.
"So when she had this healthy young boy here, meaning Daisuke, destiny brought me this child so I may pass on my legacy!" Grandpa had a far off gaze. 'I created this mess so I'm fixing it.' Grandpa sighed to himself.
"Dad! Your manners!" Emiko shouted.
"Oh, sorry, sorry." Grandpa sat down and went back to eating like nothing happened.
"Hmm, but it's weird." Riku felt suspicious. "Niwa-kun is so clumsy in school and I don't see him as the type of person to sneak around." Daisuke felt like those words were daggers, poking his… somewhat pride.
"Ah well he still needs more training." Grandpa complimented the belt fish for dinner.
"Niwa-kun's life is so interesting." Daisuke couldn't believe Riku was taking this in so easily. "Mmm! This miso soup is so good! Did you add fish cakes into them?"
"Oh you noticed? I'm so happy!" Oddly how it started, dinner turned into something very enjoyable despite the oddities.
Daisuke smiled, it was an odd sense of happiness. Riku was walking next to him. Daisuke was walking her home.
"So you're leaving tomorrow morning?" Riku asked.
"Yeah, we took the time to get ready today." Daisuke answered, but Riku's voice seemed… different.
"You'll be coming back right?" Riku took a few steps ahead.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" Daisuke thought Riku was acting a little odd.
"Nothing, I'm just acting weird!" Riku smiled brightly.
Daisuke smiled back. It seemed she doesn't remember anything back then.
By the time the two realized it, Riku's house was in front of them. "Ah, here already?" Riku sounded like this wasn't even her home.
Walking up to her door, "You know I'm kind of jealous." Riku head looked down.
"Huh? About what?" Daisuke tilted his head trying to better look at her.
"You spend so much time with you family. Mine is always busy or always want to do their own thing, leaving each other out." Riku lingered by the door. "I feel so alone in this house."
Daisuke stared at her. He wouldn't know how she felt, but he understood where she was.
"You know. When I'm with you, I feel like I don't need anybody else." Riku hid her face, staring at her front door. "As long as you're here… with me. I feel happy."
Daisuke turned her around gently. Riku's face was flushed. "I feel the same way to." Daisuke smiled. "I'm happy when you're by my side, too." Riku couldn't describe the happiness she felt hearing those words.
"Um you know…" Riku hesitated.
Daisuke saw her face turn away and saw a familiar mark on her neck. Daisuke raised his right hand slowly touching the lightly visible bruises. "Niwa-kun?" Riku was surprised when she felt his hand on her neck.
Daisuke stared at the mark for a moment but felt some deep dark feeling.
"I'll… I'll…" Daisuke heard a faint whisper coming from somewhere.
"I'll… KILL you…" Daisuke jumped back a step, feeling a sharp pain coarse through his arm.
"Niwa-kun?" Riku got scared.
"I'm sorry, I…" Daisuke shook his head. "I'm sorry, I got to go." Daisuke turned and left Riku by the door.
"Niwa-kun." Riku played with the hem of the shirt she wore. She sort of felt regret that night. She wanted to say those words to him. Those simple three words from her heart.
Back in the Niwa home, the family waited for Daisuke's return but didn't expect their current family member. "Dark? What happened?" Kosuke asked calmly.
"Daisuke, I can't hear Daisuke anymore." Dark said hesitantly.
"What?" Emiko wondered if she heard him right.
"For a moment I felt that same dark presence in Daisuke, the one that took control over him and almost… killed Riku." Dark explained. "Whatever it was, a ghost or something came back."
Kosuke stood up and began to pace. "So, Daisuke got scared and pulled himself inside didn't he?" Dark nodded.
"From what I've researched around the world, Daisuke alone will have to decide what he's going to do." Kosuke sat down.
"What do you mean?" Gramps asked.
"The spirit of the artworks usually disappears when their vessel or life-force is destroyed. But Daisuke is a unique case, he tried to destroy his own arm but didn't completely do it, now that 'thing' is in a sort of twilight state." Kosuke explained.
"Like a ghost." Dark finished.
"That's a more accurate depiction, yes." Kosuke rubbed his chin. "But ghost can't do anything but influence things around them. They can't control or manipulate things physically."
"So our son, he's alright?" Emiko sighed in relief.
"Yeah, but he must be scared right now. He cares about Riku-san so much. He's afraid he might hurt her again most likely." Kosuke worried about his son's well being.
"Well, we'll have to leave it with him. We need to meet Dad's contact so we can get that medicine for Dark's injuries so they'll heal completely without any scars of course." Emiko smiled.
"So considerate, thanks Emiko." Dark said from the bottom of his heart. "Make sure to have enough for Daisuke when he gets back out."
Emiko nodded. They all had faith in Daisuke.
1605 Hours – May 2, 2011
Azumano Middle School – A little different
Risa moaned, her head gently nestled over her arms on the window. Some may think this looks like someone trying to act like a over dramatized princess, but Risa's just naturally good-looking with these poses and trying to impress a certain thief.
"Oh my one and only Dark, where could you be in this small yet lonely world." Risa sighed with boredom.
(I got a chill for some weird reason when I typed that dialogue above this line. Maybe I'm going against my instincts as a guy when I trying to think what a girl like Risa might say. I felt so wrong so deep inside! rant rant rant)
"Hey Riku! Pay attention! That's more than 5 times already! You never miss the pass!" Risa tilted her head to see where the voices were coming from. Riku stood their in an apologetic yet uneasy stature. Risa easily knew why. Daisuke's been gone the entire week and still hasn't shown up.
Teacher received another (long) notice how Daisuke is not in the proper condition to be in school. Whatever that letter meant.
But now that she thought about it. Daisuke has been standing out more lately. Like he's suddenly growing up faster than anyone else now. Risa suddenly felt someone walk by and recognized that spiky red hair. Risa was just about to call out, but stopped.
"That's Niwa-kun, but why is he." Risa stopped looking at that serious face on Daisuke's face, the slightly slanted eyes with those solid yet slightly pursed lips. "Ano… Niwa-kun?"
Daisuke turned to see Risa and gave a coy grin. "Harada-san, how are you?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm alright!" Risa didn't know why she suddenly got so nervous.
"I guess this saves me the trouble but, do you know where our sensei is. I can't find her and need to turn in those assignments and get those that I missed." Daisuke came up to Risa and Risa noticed how tall Niwa seemed in front of her.
"Yeah, she's still in a meeting at the teacher's lounge I think, c'mon." Risa led the way; meanwhile, Riku glanced up and happened to see Risa and Daisuke smiling and chatting.
For a moment Riku felt a lot of worry disappear but at the same time a sharp, cutting feeling.
"Hey Riku! Hurry up!" Riku turned her attention back to the game seeing a pass coming her way.
"So where have you been?" Risa asked Daisuke, curious about his missing episode.
"Went to the hospital, don't worry." Seeing a sudden worry look on Risa's face. "I only went to get some shots. I was due today, but mom decided to give me a full examination while I was there at the hospital." Kept that reserved little smile.
"Eh… I hate shots. They look so scary when they bring the needles." Risa moaned not liking the most recent memory she had about large needles with weird liquid inside of them.
Daisuke chuckled, but without luck tried to hide it.
"Hey! Shut up!" Risa pouted.
"Sorry, sorry. I just thought it was cute." Daisuke saw a sign saying the teacher's lounge. Right when they got there 5, 6 teachers came out the room. "Oh, meetings over, lucky timing."
"Well I see you later then." Risa walked away.
Daisuke waved with a smile. But right when Risa went around the corner, Daisuke's grin disappeared.
2035 Hours – April 25, 2011
Risa's room – lovely moon… yeesh what am I saying?
"Dark-san…" Risa sighed longingly for that dark man in the sky.
(I think I figured it out. Risa's nature just completely goes against mine. That's why I get this damn chill. But as a (soon to be, someday) professional writer, I must endure.)
Risa sat by the window with rain hitting the glass panels. The TV was on with one of the popular night shows currently on.
"This just in! The police have found a notice! Sources say that the advance warning was taken from its original location before police intelligence could notice the advance notice." A reporter suddenly interrupted the scheduled programming.
"Seems a fan of the Phantom Thief Dark has taken the note when nobody has noticed it yet. Currently she is in the custody of the police force as a witness and obstruction of police forces." Risa suddenly bolted to the TV.
"The time is set at exactly nine o'clock, which is only minutes from now. Police forces are madly scrambling their forces to the location at Count Vista memorial mansion. Police forces are baffled what the Phantom Thief may found in this old mansion and intelligence are looking into the history of the mansion."
Risa felt excitement and adrenaline rush into her system. "That's not far from here." Risa looked outside the rain then to a certain suit she's been dying to try.
Little time passes before, "Risa!" Riku bursts into the room. Riku acted quickly when she got word of that pervert. Riku quickly analyzed the room. An empty close hangar, TV still on, and a messy desk with a map most likely missing. Riku groaned knowing this was going to happen. "Risa!" Riku screamed going back to her room.
Police sirens blared with blue and red lights swirling against house walls. "Get the perimeter set up! I want all windows lit up like a Christmas tree! I went 4 man sentries on all gates and doors to the mansion!" Inspector Saehara shouted running back and forth. "Get a road block set up in a half mile radius! Is that chopper here yet? You! Get that light on now!"
Large clicks went off as giant searchlights were aimed at the mansion.
"Set up cameras around overlooking areas! Where is that damn engineer? You help the lights!" The inspector was on a spree trying to get the zone on lockdown.
"Has the new equipment come yet?" Suddenly an armored truck came up by a line of police cars. A crew of armored policemen brought out a couple of large trunks from the back. The inspector wiped the rain off his face despite the raincoat hood he had on.
"Special delivery from the commander, sir." They opened the trunk. One had heat vision gear, perfect for the rain. The other was opened and the inspector was pleased to see his sniper getting the air rifle pieced together.
The inspector walked over and looked at the long darts with its feathery ends. He can just imagine Dark with one of these stuck on him.
Bang!
The inspector looked down and saw a dart in his stomach. "You idiot! You didn't assemble it right! Inspector? Inspector! Who let the rookie assemble it?"
The inspector saw everything starting to swirl, bloat, then shrink. "Oooooh!" Thunk!
"Shit! Inspector!"
Risa peeked through the curtains but blinded by the lights. Risa giggled. Lucky she got here before the police did. Now was the perfect chance to be with Dark. It's been so long!
Risa ran down the corridor, thankfully the police didn't set up inside the house since the intended target is unknown. "The Seven Colors of All Brilliance" or something close to that. Something with seven involved.
She wandered the house and came to a library. "Ah! So big!" Risa ran up to the fireplace.
Riku grumbled in the bushes. She did not want to be here, in the bush, in the rain, in the cold with several guards floating above her little head.
"Hey! You heard that!" Riku winced, but heard the same sound. Like something flapping. "Over there. Slowly now." They whispered.
Riku panicked. Did they find her? She didn't want to look.
"Hey not too close. What if-."
Kssshhat!
"Whaaa!" The one of the guards fell over.
"It's just a stupid cat! Pesky animal." A guard threw a rock watching the cat jump on and over the wall. "Jeez! But I that's odd."
"What now?" The guard crossed his arms.
"A cat can't make that flapping noise we heard."
Everyone stood still for a moment to think.
"What did then?" As they were thinking, they didn't notice the door was not closed completely.
Dark finished turning over a large rock and dusted his hands. He want down close to the sand by the ocean and looked up seeing his target brimming with lights. "Well now they seem over eager and I'm right on time." Dark smiled, but disappeared immediately as it came.
"Hey, Daisuke. You still alive?" Dark tried for the hundredth time. No answer. Dark sighed. Knowing he was there but had a very big wall built up and he had no time to drag a kicking crybaby back to reality.
"Whatever is wrong with you, you better fix it quick. Our time is running short." Dark jumped into the air heading up towards the house.
"Daark!" Dark covered his face seeing the police were quick this time.
"Oh, they're very peppy today." Dark suddenly dodged and caught something and stared at it. "A dart?" He looked down to see 1… 2… no 15 different snipers. "Ah, so annoying." Dark already been through this, has a lot of experience in his years.
"What are you waiting for? Shoot! Shoot!"
Everyone fired almost simultaneously but Dark suddenly vanished.
"What? Where is that cocky, conniving little, censor-censor !"
"Sir, calm down!" The inspector was getting tired of losing.
Risa screamed when black smoke came down from the chimney and coughed.
"Crap, they have guards here too?" dark grumbled.
Risa jumped hearing that voice and literally did too, at Dark. "Dark-san!"
Crash!
"Oooh! What hit me?" Dark didn't expect that. Who would jump recklessly other than… "Risa?" Dark looked annoyed.
"Oh Dark-san! I missed you so, so, sooo much!" Risa cuddled herself into Dark's chest. Dark rubbed his head hitting the side of the chimney.
"Risa, what are you doing here?" Dark asked trying to control the tone of his voice.
"I was lucky to get here first! I wanted to meet you!" Risa said it like it was nothing.
Dark slapped himself, knowing he should have expected that answer. Risa was all smiles.
"Look… Risa. You go back home, and I steal stuff. Okay?" Dark tried to be simple.
"You wouldn't let a lady out there those mean men with guns are would you?" Risa put an innocent face.
"Oh she's good." Dark whispered, the lady killer in him wouldn't let him even fathom the thought. Dark looked at that ditzy face but had a calm serious look for a moment. "Stay close and don't get lost." Dark walked over to the chimney and started knocking on the marble.
Risa acknowledged and really did stand right by him. "So what are you-." Before she could finish. Dark slid an unnoticeable section of marble revealing a large dial. He grabbed it and turned it with a clank like a winding noise.
Risa yelped when the marble fireplace slide about a foot forward. Dark had that thieving smile and walked behind the fireplace to see and old cargo elevator. "This is…" Risa looked fascinated.
"The owner was an old, War veteran and a rich one. He was also suspicious art collector so of course he was a hidden gallery." Dark and Risa entered the elevator. Dark turned another dial and the fireplace slid back forward but also blocking out whatever light was left.
"Um… Dark?" Risa tried to reach for him, but a light grew brighter. Dark held one of his feathers in his hand. He found a crank and pulled with a loud creak. The elevator cables moved with a low hum, a few bumps on the way too.
"Risa?" Dark said in a low voice.
"Ah? Yes Dark-san?" Risa said cheerfully
"We need to talk when this is over." Dark had a not too happy look on his face.
Risa's smile faded, fidgeting with her hands.
Riku groaned walking around the mansion. "Risa!" Riku cried but with a whisper. Afraid the guards outside will hear. "Risa! Where are you?" Riku cried.
Thump.
"Kya!" Riku jumped feeling a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" Satoshi glared at Riku.
"Hiwatari… wait… what are you…" Riku didn't expect this.
"Leave from the back the guards are switching sentries. You got 3 minutes." Satoshi walked past her and entered a large room with a fireplace.
Riku stood there and finally realized she had 3 minutes to get the hell outta there. "She already looked from bottom to top of the house and staying any longer wasn't going to help."
Satoshi stared at the marble and quickly reached out finding the hidden compartment.
Dark walked down the tunnel and finally found the opening. Risa mouthed slowly opened seeing the large room with balconies and decorated walls.
"This is so amazing! To think that this is under a house!" Risa cried, jumping with excitement.
"You should see our house." Dark huffed.
"Eh? Really?" Dark didn't expect her to hear that.
Before Dark could respond he heard the elevator start up again. "Shit, so he's back." Dark walked more quickly towards his target.
"Eh? Who?" Risa tried to keep up. Risa took one last glance as the elevator disappeared with only the moving cables visible.
Dark came up to a large double door and quickly pushed them open. Risa was amazed even more. "How are you going to steal that?" Risa looked at the large painting this one room holds.
The painting was incredible. Best to say simply than to describe every detail. The heavens rays down upon a rich earth but as the painting dropped lower you would see desolation, then war and eventually the flames of hell.
The entire painting was an amazing arrangement of life, color, and sadly a grim reality. Though there's the good, there's also the bad and ugly.
Beep-beep!
Risa looked down lower to see Dark setting something up. Dark quickly retreated dragging Risa along as well. "Wait what're you?" Risa saw for a moment a square block blinking red with a timer with 4 seconds left. "You didn't!"
Dark ducked and covered Risa.
Boom!
"Whaa?" People above ground stumbled when the ground shook slightly.
"An earthquke?"
Risa coughed from the dust. "Warn me next time!" Risa thought she was going to die.
"Don't worry it wasn't that strong." Dark walked towards the rubble, the dust now cleared. A metal plate was there now, where the explosion took place. "Here it is I knew it." Dark took a few feathers and inserted them in key spots, breaking away the last of the rubble.
Risa couldn't imagine what could be hidden there, but Dark stopped right when he found a handle and turned to Risa.
Risa looked at him wondering what he was waiting for.
"It's time to talk." Dark glowered.
Risa suddenly had a deep sinking feeling. "About what Dark?"
"About you and me." Dark grumbled. Risa felt uneasy. "You do know how dangerous it was to be near me don't you?"
"Of course!" Risa answered readily.
"Really now?" Dark didn't seem pleased with that answer.
"All those policeman and sometimes traps laid down inside those museum. Of course you're no match for them." Risa giggled
Dark eyes narrowed. Risa took a step back. "That's what you're talking about right?"
Sfff…Phomph!
Dark felt it. He quickly dove behind Risa.
K-Baash!
Dark lifted a shield, a chunks of the double doors smashed into splinters by his shield. Risa stood their, too scared to move.
"Dark! You're still alive?" Krad shouted.
"My, so happy to see me?" Dark grinned.
"You should have been dead. How the hell did you survive?" Krad walked up to him.
"Well we sat down, had a little chat, and decided to get along." Dark grinned even more knowing this is actually what happened.
"You…" Krad stepped forwards but stopped. "Don't you dare interfere!" Krad shouted firing a wave of energy Dark ducked and returned fire.
"Hey, hey, this place is old. Don't want the roof on our heads." Dark dodged sideways. Risa hid behind a column.
"Daaa-ah!" Krad fell on his knees. "Aaaaah!" He screamed as his wings faded. Risa watched wondering what was happening. Krad's hair color changed, from blonde to a pale blue. Risa gasped recognizing that person.
Satoshi picked himself up, gritting his teeth. Some blood on his back where the wings used to be.
"Hey, hey. Forcing yourself like that is going to hurt you even more." Dark said light heartedly.
"I don't care if you take that Hikari work." Satoshi started. Dark suddenly looked… interested. "I don't care if you someday come and steal anything I may have created… but…"
Satoshi glared at Dark.
"I'll end this damn curse here and now while I'm still alive. Get my body back from Krad and his stupid fights." Dark looked down with a frown.
"Sorry." Satoshi looked stunned for a moment. "I didn't mean to make you feel like that, but you know…" Dark smiled. "I think you and Daisuke would make good brothers."
Satoshi just stared, wondering if this was a trick to let his guard down.
"You know Daisuke isn't like the other generations. He doesn't like to steal, whines every night we go do our work. He much rather stay home and paint." Dark walked around the room a bit.
Satoshi watched carefully from where he stood.
"But do you know why we still steal your artworks now?" Dark questioned.
"How should I know the mind of a thief?" Satoshi spat icely.
Dark frowned. "So no ones suffers from the Hikari's madness."
Satoshi felt like something slapped him in the face.
"You know as well as I do how much harm the Hikari's art can do." Dark walked up to Satoshi. "I'm the living proof."
Satoshi gritted his teeth even more. "Shut up!"
"You're one as well." Dark glared.
"I said shut up!"
Pomph!
Dark jumped back as energy waves explodes around the room. "Kya!" Risa screamed
Satoshi hears the scream. The column collapses and begins to fall. Risa cried covering her head until she felt someone grab her and picked her up. "What are you doing here?" Satoshi took her hand and began to run out the open gate.
"Hey!" Dark grabs both of them before the frame collapsed where they stood a moment before.
"Damn! We're trapped." Satoshi cursed looking around for an exit. "What the hell did you bring her for? Why are you smirking? Do you understand the graveness of this situation?" Satoshi grabbed Risa again, pulling her away from more falling debry.
"I'm sorry I." Risa started but Dark.
"Don't understand anything." Dark said seriously.
"Huh?" Risa didn't understand what Dark meant.
"You think you know me, you think you know Commander. But you don't know a thing." Dark crossed his arms. A large explosion behind the fallen debris vibrated in the large room.
"Damn the entire room must've collapsed." Satoshi covered Risa's head protecting her from falling debris.
"You go pushing yourself upon others not caring how they feel." Dark crouched and looked Risa in the eyes. "I was too soft on you, letting you carry on what you will. But this ends now."
Risa felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"Hey Dark this is not the time!" Satoshi raged.
"I don't know how you can be so cold and ignorant to other you know that?" Risa tried not to look at Dark's frown. "Rika was never like this." Dark stood up and turned away.
"Rika? Wait… Grandmother?" Risa shouted.
"Yeah."
"Wait then you." Risa couldn't believe this.
"Un… she's the only person I will and ever love." Dark didn't turn to look at her. To Risa staring at Dark's back, it fell like there was a wall there. A wall she should never touch.
"Daaark!" Satoshi shouted.
"Alright, alright. One exit coming up." Dark pulled out a little remote with a 'pretty' red button.
Bleep!
"Hey it's already been like 20 minutes. You think the search time found anything?" A policeman carried a conversation.
Phooooom!
Everyone ducked hearing the ensuing explosion. "Get a team down there stat! I went sentries ready!" Inspector Saehara suddenly woke up.
Satoshi helped Riku out the hole, Dark coming out last.
Krack! Tack! Kack!
The three turned around to see the hole covered up instantly. "Not one of my most elegant escapes but who cares tonight. Nobody important saw me." Satoshi glared when Dark said that. Dark patted the quarry under his arm.
"Now it seems you have everything under control here so I'll see you later."
"Dark-san!" Risa cried.
"What now Risa?" Dark said in a low tone.
"Please don't say that it's over. I love you!" Risa tried to keep in her tears. "So please… don't."
"But that's the problem Risa." Dark looked at her calmly. "I don't."
Risa stopped thinking for a second. She stood still and couldn't hold it anymore. Her tears came pouring out. With a loud flap, Dark disappeared into the night sky. Satoshi watched with mixed feelings. He didn't know how to handle this situation. I mean. Dark just dumped a girl literally, and Satoshi was a guy not really interested.
"Hey Harada, your family might start getting worried." Satoshi said this with no feelings. Satoshi got no answer. "Hey, did you hear me?" Satoshi walked up to her and turned her around and surprised seeing the amount of tears.
"Hey you-" Before he could finish, Risa dove into his chest and let everything out. Risa screamed letting all of her tears flow. "Hey." Satoshi didn't know what to say. Risa had his shirt in her fist, her tears slowly soaking his shirt.
For a moment Satoshi felt helpless and hated it to every degree. He suddenly closed his eyes, a bright light blinded him.
"Commander!" Satoshi knew more than saw the patrol team coming.
Riku paced around like a panicking mother hen. She was a worried sick knowing Risa was around the area but didn't know where. She had a violent thought for a moment of strangling her but her worrying came back after the 2nd explosion.
"A civilian? The police found a girl you say?" Reporter trying to get details shouted.
"Risa?" Riku shouted running over to the mob. "Risa?" Riku shouted.
"Hey! Let her through!" She heard a familiar voice shout through the crowd of reporters. Someone grabbed Riku and brought her into the circle.
"Ah! Hiwatari-kun!" Risa shouted but saw something on his back covered in a blanket. "Risa!" Riku just knew it had to be her.
"She fainted but she's completely fine. I'll take you two back home." Satoshi pointed to a police car.
Riku began to sweat. Going home in a police car felt… awkward.
The ride was a quiet one. The driver was stoic. Satoshi was even more stoic. And the atmosphere just felt thick. "You know." Riku jumped hearing Satoshi talk, so did the driver. "I got to somewhat admire the her." Riku suddenly became interested what he meant. "Having the courage to confess your love to someone is a great task, to a phantom thief no less."
Riku suddenly turned to stone.
"But you know… you never know how far that little bit of courage will take you. Especially for her." Satoshi half smiled. Not completely, but almost there.
Riku reverted back to normal hearing what Satoshi just said. Riku looked down at her sister sound asleep, petting Risa on the head. "A little courage huh?" Riku whispered.
The police car rode off silently in the darkness.
0100Hours – May 3, 2011
? – Alone with the Dark (Get it? With the Dark? I kill myself.)
Dark was calling. "Hey Daisuke I know you can hear me." Dark tried to look inside himself, knowing what that space felt like. But there was something new there, like an iron fence or invisible wall, and Daisuke was somewhere behind it.
"Hey Daisuke, how long are you going to be like this?" Dark sat down next to those invisible bars. Dark sighed hearing no answer and probed the defense.
Daisuke felt something jolt through him. He looked up slightly and saw someone far off in the distance. "Dark?" Daisuke got up and slowly walked closer.
After a couple of minutes Dark felt it, Daisuke coming closer. "Hey, are you really content like this? Locking yourself up?"
Daisuke stayed silent.
"What's wrong with? You want talk or do anything. Why are you doing this Daisuke?" Dark stood up, getting annoyed, not understanding what Daisuke's thinking.
"I'm… scared." Daisuke spoke for the first in a long time.
"Scared?" Dark posed the word.
"I know mom… dad… you can stop me. But what if it happens again." Daisuke voice shook uneasily. "I can still hear him, left a part inside me. A part you don't even know."
Daisuke stood up and turned towards Dark. "What if he takes control again? What if he does something to horrible at school? Or anywhere? I don't want that to happen again."
Daisuke watched Dark standing there with his back towards Daisuke. A long minute passes by until Dark finally spoke up. "Coward."
Daisuke slowly took that word in. "What?"
"I said you just a spineless coward!" Dark shouted. "I've been sitting around thinking what this stupid, immature brat might be thinking by himself and found out that he's just a scared little rat."
"You don't understand!"
"Oh I do understand!" Dark turned around with a solid glare. "You're scared of the darkness inside and worry and worry non-stop about."
Daisuke took a step back.
"You too terrified and blinded to even realize it yourself." Dark started walking away.
"Hey wait! Dark wait do you mean?" Daisuke cried.
"What did you do to yourself in that room." Dark said almost too quietly.
Daisuke stopped for a moment to recollect. That time when Riku… Daisuke remembers. He wanted to do… not anything… but everything he had to do to save Riku. "I remember Dark…" Daisuke responded.
"Then what are you doing now?" Dark looked angry seeing how slow Daisuke's going.
But that question hit him like a thunderbolt. What is he doing? Daisuke looked down and up… then said. "Absolutely… nothing."
"There are three kinds of people Daisuke: those who fight, those who run, and those who do nothing." Daisuke gritted his teeth hearing those words.
"Dark." Daisuke stood up more straight. "You think there's light in the darkness?"
Dark looked at him oddly for a second and smiled. "How can there be darkness without light?" In that instant Dark felt that barrier shatter. Both men walked up to each other. "Welcome back… partner." They shook hands.
"It's… nice to be back." Daisuke smiled. For moment went by and suddenly to two hugged each other.
Daisuke felt his conscious fade but heard Dark whisper…
She's been waiting…
Daisuke blinked a bit feeling weight… balance… control. He was back in his body… or back in control I should say. And… 'Riku?' Daisuke almost said it seeing the person in question standing in front of him.
He looked around real quick. He was in the art room. Sun was down but still see some golden rays spilling through the window into the room.
"Niwa-kun."
Daisuke turned and looked Riku in the eyes and watched her lips say the next few words.
"I love you."
To Be Continued…
Disclaimer: My and that DN Angel author should have a collaboration going! This way it's half mine! But right now it's not!
Oh my… can this actually be true? The end times must be near!
Uploaded… and Updated! Hooray!
Ah I'm so close to finally ending this story and go write my own original… it's been 2 years already… almost 3 in fact. Geez I wish I had more time.
Now I bet some are ready to kill me for dropping it right here of all the smut freakin' places ever huh? Well I thought I really needed a bang of a cliffhanger so what better than this? Another reason, I greedy for reviews. Plain and simple so you better be reading this. You know how to please? Then I release… the next chapter of course.
Now on to my infamous review look up! (It's famous right?)
PandylBas – I'm trying… don't be so forceful… with no caps lock.
RainnSnow – Without a doubt it's one of the best! Why do I spend such a long to update?
Kat – I just love the way you say it… Alsome… I love it! I'll be saying that a lot.
GTA Guy – Thanks… just don't hire someone to wank me if I don't work faster.
Pyroblade – Thanks for the review. I think my writing is improving little by little with every chapter.
Hittocerebattosai – Calm down, I'm right here by you. This update is for you and everyone else out there.
ArmorBlade – Here's a little spoiler. I got the idea from shadow Sora from Kingdom Hearts II.
Kemious – Yes, trap readers for hours and hours and force them to horribly come up with reviews to feed my selfish need to gloat over my accomplishments… … I never said that!
Anthony1 – Did this come faster than the last one? Can't remember. People will probably laugh at that. Since it was probably as equally long.
Hououza – What's up man!… Don't really know what to say!
Alpha – I'm begging for ideas dood (dude).
Mikkasura – Mikkasura-saaaaan! I want pizza toooooo! (The nose is just a personification/metaphor of my pride. The longer, the bigger.) "Kyaa!" sounds so kawaii
Hate me, Love me for what I did. I'll let you decide.
After much fun and review of reviews. Review me! On www.fanfiction. net, yo!