1150 Hours – May 3, 2011
School Clock Tower – Wait! What's going on?!?!
"Niwa-kun… I… I love you." Riku stood stone still.
Daisuke on the other hand was ready to crumble. 'Wait…' Daisuke couldn't think. His mind was racing with too many details. Where am I? Why is Riku here? What time is it? She said she loved me. I'm not at home. Dark is no where. She said she loved me…
… … … …
She said she loved me. Daisuke's gears in his head grinded to a halt and went in reverse. In seconds he felt it. His heart pumping faster and faster with adrenaline, the blood slowly fading away from his hands and feet, and blood rush up into the small red head of his.
Daisuke felt like his head was ready to blow. His vision was getting slightly blurry, but barely-just barely-he can see Riku's face red as his. He couldn't move, not even able to open his mouth.
Now to how did all this happen? How could this have happened? When did it happen?!?! (Just now moron! Get a grip and just pounce on her! She won't mind!)
"Harada…-san!?" The moment Daisuke had gathered enough guts to say even her name, Riku executed a 180 like an army officer and dashed like she was in a 500 yard sprint.
Daisuke stood for a second. "She just… confessed and I…" Daisuke suddenly snapped out of his trance and realized Riku just ran away after confessing to him. "Harada-san!" Daisuke took a couple quick steps to lean over the railing and saw Riku was already half way down.
"Harada-san! Wait!" Riku kept running without even looking back.
Daisuke quickly thought in his head. He'd never catch up to her if he followed her down the steps. He turned around and saw a rolled up bunch of rope and some gloves.
Riku kept running and slammed the roof door open, now looking for a way back into the school.
"Why is this happening to me?" Daisuke screamed as he jumped off the clock tower.
"Hey, what's that?" a group of girls eating lunch pointed when they saw Daisuke jump off the clock tower and the little figure of Riku running away.
"Aaa-a-aaah!" Daisuke screamed, the gloves in his hands starting to smoke. "Stop, stop, stop!" Daisuke suddenly swung left from the blowing wind. "Oh crap!" Daisuke jumped, rolled, and flew upright, stumbling forward a bit.
"haataa!!" Daisuke patted his hands. "Hot-hot-hot-hot!" Rope burn hurts like hell.
Slam!
"Ah!" Daisuke turned to see the roof door slammed shut.
Clack!
"Aaah!" Daisuke screamed hearing the bolt lock. Daisuke ran to the door and shook the door with no hopes of opening.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Daisuke heard from a nearby window. He quickly ran and jumped the fence, now running on roof tiles. He can hear bits of shouting little bit behind him now. He dove left, grabbed the ledge and found an open window.
"Kyaa! What the-… what are you-" Daisuke jumped into a classroom full of people of all places. Everyone stared at him.
"Oooh! My curry bread!" Daisuke caught her, the open classroom door. He saw her running by.
"Harada-san!" Daisuke ran again kicking the desk, he landed on, into the wall behind him. "Whoooa-aa!" A guy jumped out of Daisuke's way when he cut left, following Riku.
"Harada-san! Wait!" Daisuke was much closer now. Daisuke ran faster to catch up. Riku turned left, the stairs are there. Riku turned right again to take the rest of the stairs but passed a couple of students moving desks at the middle.
Daisuke turned left full speed and saw the people coming up with desks. Daisuke quickly switched to his instincts, he jumped right over 4 people carrying 2 desks, both feet connecting to the wall then the floor and jumped the remaining steps entirely.
The students stopped for a second making sure that a red headed middle-schooler didn't just do what he just did.
The second floor, Daisuke was ready to jump the entire steps again.
"Takeshi, you still owe me that curry bread. Your turn to pay for lunch now."
"Come on, the old man hasn't paid me yet."
Daisuke saw Takeshi and Sekimoto coming around the corner. "No!" Too late, he couldn't stop, going too fast.
"Aaa-aaah!"
Takeshi and Sekimoto turned to see their best buddy Daisuke over their heads. "Uu-aaaaa-aaaaah!!!" Both screamed until Daisuke landed on both of them with a heavy crash into the wall under the windows.
"Aaah… what hit me?" Sekimoto rubbed the back of his head.
"Hahaha…" Takeshi laughed, but looked like he was knocked out.
"Hey, Daisuke?" Sekimoto barely let out but saw his friend looking out the window. Sekimoto pushed himself up to see someone running from the school entrance to the grounds. "One of the Harada sisters? Hey Daisuke is that-." Sekimoto froze when he saw Daisuke open the window and climbed out.
"Daisuke you fool! What are you doing?!" Sekimoto gaped when he saw Daisuke jump out from the second floor window. About 20 people stopped and stared with lots of mixed expression in the crowd.
Sekimoto covered his face but still watched between the cracks of his hands, waiting to see his friend hit the unforgiving ground.
Daisuke's foot connected and his whole body rolled.
"Nooo-oo-oooo! Daisuke!" Sekimoto cried but stopped when Daisuke suddenly flew forward in a mad dash, kicking up dust behind him. Sekimoto stood there with his hands all over his face and hair, looking like a stressed housewife or something with Takeshi groaning on the floor.
"What is he?" Sekimoto muttered.
"Harada-san! Please! Wait!" Daisuke shouted, running down a grass slope towards the school field. Riku was running full speed towards the back of the school.
Daisuke stopped seeing where she was going and turned, going another direction.
Riku ran and finally took a quick glance behind her. Daisuke wasn't there anymore. She didn't know how he kept up with her until now. She wasn't on the track team for nothing.
"Harada-san!" Riku skid to a stop when she heard him. She snapped her head forward. The moment she stopped his face was an inch or two away from hers. Riku stood frozen for a second. His face and hers was red more from the embarrassing moment in the clock tower than from the running.
Riku bit her lip and took a slow step back, but Daisuke followed with his steps. Riku closed her eyes for a moment and turned.
"Harada-san!" Daisuke quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. Riku stood their. Riku was at a dilemma at the moment. She wanted to tear her hand away and run as fast as she can but another part wanted to run right into him as hard as she could.
"Um… Harada-san, about what you said." Daisuke's head was starting swirl and scramble up again. He couldn't think now that he finally caught her. (Yees, she's in your clutches! Alone behind the school! No one will know! A little dark secret between you and her!)
Daisuke almost jumped when Riku turned to look at him, tears welling up around her eyes. "W-wait, Harada-san why… um." Daisuke felt the air getting tenser every second. "Harada-san, you want to get some lunch with me?"
"H-huh?" Riku stepped back, but Daisuke wouldn't let go of his vice grip on her hand.
"Ah, lunch is almost over, right. Um… can we walk home together?" Riku tried to walk away but Daisuke wouldn't let go. His hands were almost glued to hers but it wasn't hurting her.
Riku looked at him strangely despite how red her face was.
"Ha… ah." Daisuke suddenly saw people coming around them. Riku suddenly jumped also, noticing the men in black suits. Daisuke instinctively grabbed Riku and tried to put him between the men in black suits.
"Are you Ms. Harada Riku?" Daisuke tried to push her back more so they couldn't see her.
"I think he just answered our question for us." A man with spiked and gelled back hair appeared behind a tree.
"Who are you?" Daisuke said in a low threatening voice.
"You don't have to worry about that." The tall young man smiled.
"Kyaa! Niwa-kun!" Daisuke didn't notice someone came up from behind.
"Harada-san!" Daisuke turned but went face first into a large man. Daisuke fell back on his back.
"Come on, he's been waiting long enough." The tall young man pointed to two men. "And make sure he doesn't follow us."
Daisuke gritted his teeth. He dashed past one man but suddenly felt his shirt being pulled back and now flying backwards in the air. Daisuke rolled seeing the two large men blocking his way. "Get out of my…" Daisuke dashed along the wall. "Way!"
Both men gaped when Daisuke ran up the wall and over them. The two men in black suits were like 6 feet tall.
"What the hell?! Grab-" Both large men stopped when Daisuke was already 40 yards away.
"Aaa—aaa—aaah! That hurts!" A man screamed while Riku was kicking, screaming, and most importantly scratching the large man's face. "Just sit down and calm down!" The large man threw Riku into a black Buick sedan. Riku went for the opposite door and tried to open it but it opened by itself. Another large man was on the other side.
"What's going on?!" Riku cried.
"Harada-san!"
"Niwa-kun?!" Riku saw Daisuke out of the car door, coming towards her.
"How did he? Oh well, lets go." The tall young man got in the front passenger seat. The car shifted to drive and drove off with its tires squealing.
"!!" Daisuke stopped seeing the car head for the main road. Daisuke turned around, glanced around quickly and saw a very familiar looking bike.
"Let me go! Let me go! Molester! Kidnappers! Ra-." Riku stopped not even wanting to think that these men were.
"Calm down, someone really wants to see you so we're just following orders." The tall young man said coolly like nothing was happening. Riku sat still for a moment her eyes welling up with tears again. "Niwa-kun save me!!!" She cried, the large men covered their ears.
"What the hell is that?" The driver muttered, looking in his side view mirror.
"Hah?" Riku scrambled to look out the rear windshield. "Niwa-kun!" A large hand grabbed Riku's head like a soccer ball and strapped her down in her seat. "Let go of me! Pervert! Pervert!" The large man began to sweat.
"Boss, I'm really starting to feel bad now." All three henchmen nodded.
"Oh quiet, it's not like we're breaking any laws." The tall young man kept his mysterious smile while the 4 other passengers made a list of things of what they did.
Trespass on school grounds, kidnapping, assault on a student, possible molestation, speeding, speeding near school grounds…
Reeee!!!
Running a red light.
"There is a heavy traffic around the central square district. All drivers are advised to take back roads to lessen the traffic build up in the area." Everyone stared at the radio.
"Boss?"
"Take the back road." The black sedan swerved into a small one way street.
Daisuke was behind them barely. He wondered why they suddenly took the back roads. This was his chance. Daisuke peddled faster on Riku's bike. He knew this area like the back of his hand. He flew over this spot plenty of times.
Daisuke took his time.
"Boss, that kid on the bike. I don't see him."
"Hm… slow down." The sedan slowed to around 20 km/h.
"Take a right here. Let's head for more open ro-." The car skid to a stop.
"Kya!" Riku screamed with the two other men in the black sedan. Both weren't wearing seat belts. Very dangerous.
"Let Harada-san go!" Daisuke shouted.
The tall young man sighed. "You, switch seats."
The driver gulped. "What?"
"I said to switch, now." The driver scrambled out the door. Riku took this chance and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Niwa-kun! Help me! Help me!!!"
"Quiet girl and buckle yourself in before you die!" The men buckled themselves in and now trying to get Riku strapped in.
"I don't know how you followed us this far but it ends now." The tall young man said before getting in the driver's seat. The three large men grabbed the door handles with shaking hands. Riku had a very bad feeling and got worse when the two large men on both her left and right held her hand. "Wait!"
Screeee-eee-eee-eee-eee-eeeeeech!
Daisuke gaped seeing the car take off backwards and spin 180. The driver saw Daisuke's expressing in the rear view mirror and smiled. With another squeal of tires the car bolted forward.
"Damn!" Daisuke hit the pedals, scrambling after them.
"Aaaah!" Riku screamed with the large men as the car made a drift around a corner, now the vehicle was in a major road, but a traffic jam was in front of them.
"Boss! Please slow down!" The one in the front cried.
"I said quiet!" The driver smiled. Daisuke thought he finally found his break, but almost fell off the bike when he saw the car turn and sharp. The turn was so hard that the car tilted. "Riku!!!" Daisuke panicked thinking the car was about the flip end over end, but it didn't. The car disappeared into a tight alley to the left where only 3 people could fit shoulder to shoulder.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Daisuke turned left, trying to cut them off.
"Aaaah!" everyone in the car was screaming.
"You're all too noisy!" The driver hit a radio station and turned to volume up to drown out their shouts. The car finally exited the narrow alley and with a loud thud and squeak from the shock absorbers, the car now on all 4 wheels again.
"That little persistent..." The driver licked his lips.
"Hey," Someone suddenly was talking through the radio. "Take a left at the light and go over the bridge. You're cutting it close, it's about to go up." The driver smiled.
"Yes, sir."
"Eeeeee!" Everyone cried.
Daisuke was losing them, he was getting tired quickly. The car drifted left missing a car by mere inches.
"Come on" Daisuke grunted trying to keep up. Daisuke came around the corner and couldn't believe it. The sedan was heading towards the rising bridge. "He isn't stopping?!" Daisuke peddled hard as he could ever would.
"Remember the airplane feeling?" The driver smiled before he hit the jump.
Riku felt it. Like she was floating in air but suddenly gravity taking effect in her stomach, Riku screamed and everyone followed. Bam! The car landed on the other side.
Daisuke was going for it or bust. Daisuke hit the jump, but he was going more up than forward. "Damn it!" Daisuke jumped off the bike and his hands caught the other side of the bridge. The bike splashed into the water beneath him.
"Aaah!" Daisuke scrambled up and saw the car right there, almost taunting him.
"Niwa-kun!" Daisuke could barely see Riku inside the car. The car window rolled up.
"No!" Daisuke tried to scramble up but lost his grip. "Aah!" Daisuke fell into the river. But he heard something before he fell. He quickly swam back up to the surface and saw the bike not to far away floating by him.
Daisuke looked up and saw it, a helicopter. Wait he's seen that helicopter before, that logo… Saga Entertainment.
A young blonde boy in the helicopter smiled at the scene, seeing the red head in the river. "Hey, who is that?"
"Ah… Niwa Daisuke, a classmate." The co-pilot answered, holding a copy of the school registry.
"Hm… interesting…" With that, the helicopter flew towards the commercial district.
1520 Hours – May 3, 2011
Saga Entertainment Building – Save me!!
"I said let go of- Kya!!" Riku screamed when she was thrown-yet again-into a chair. "Where am I?"
"You're in the Saga Entertainment HQ." The tall crazy young man answered.
"Who are you?" Riku asked.
"Funabashi."
Riku sat stunned for a second. She didn't expect him to actually answer her. "I see you've met my assistant." A young blonde male entered the large room. "Harada-san! Welcome to Saga entertainment!"
Riku didn't like this. What's going on? Why did they bring her hear?
"Oh right! I didn't introduce myself! Here's my card." Riku took the card from the smiling blonde.
"Saga Keiji? Graphics Design, Department Head, Producer… so many titles." Riku began to sweat.
"Don't mind the details. Anyways, ladies!" Keiji clapped his hands twice. Suddenly two mature looking woman came into the room. One holding a paper screen divider and bunches of fabric. The other held a tackle box and more fabrics.
"Work your magic ladies!" With this said, a corner of the room was blocked by the paper screen divider and the two ladies grabbed Riku and dragged her behind.
"Wait! What's… What are you… Kya!!! No! Don't!" Keiji and Funabashi watched as a skirt, couple of shirts and stuff went flying here and the re.
"Oooh, you're pretty big for a middle schooler. Kids grow up so fast these days."
"Kyaaa! No! I… I… Aaah!"
"Hold still now, you're just making things more difficult."
"Aaa! Don't touch me there!"
Funabashi looked to his boss and saw he had a nose bleed. "Um sir, your nose."
"Huh? Oh? Ha-ha! It's nothing, it's nothing." Keiji began to wipe his nose.
"Sir!" Keiji leaned over and his the intercom on his desk.
"What is it?" Keiji stuffed a tissue up his nose while Riku still squealed and squirmed.
"I think we have a guest." The guard on the other intercom said.
"Oh the red head? I've been expecting him. Send him up." Keiji smiled, knowing that guy was coming.
"Uh… we found a bike that was dripping wet sir, but we're just suspecting an intruder sir." Keiji stopped fiddling with the tissue in his nose.
"What do you mean? Well if it's that red head guy, catch him and bring him up here pronto! I got plans for him… heh-heh-heh." Keiji rubbed his hands in excitement.
Somewhere
Daisuke moaned. He overheard Riku was in the top floor and was waiting for the damn elevator to work with him.
"She's ready chief!" One of the ladies pulled the paper screens and revealed.
"Aaah! They'll love her!" The other lady squealed happily, her hands clasped.
"What is this?" Riku grumbled not liking what she was wearing. Riku was wearing a dark red, long sleeve, mini-skirt dress with a white formal vest over it plus a small tie. She was also had stockings on with a mixture of a tribal, floral pattern on one leg and some of the same pattern on her dress.
"What is this?" Riku repeated.
"Your costume!" Keiji proclaimed.
"… eh?" Riku was wondering if this was a joke. She just made a big jump in her life by confessing her love, got kidnapped from school, and had the worst car ride ever, had two weird ladies do inconceivable things to her, and now a blonde making no sense and possibility making more complications out of this entire situation. Does god hate her or something?
"Your costume I'm saying. I want you to wear that when you go out to sing." Keiji smiled.
"Wait… sing?! What are you talking about?! I want to go home… or back to school but…" Riku started to get mad. "And besides, why would I sing for you?" Riku crossed her arms.
"Hee-hee." Keiji cracked an evil smile and pulled out a little panoramic camera. He opened the LCD screen on the side and hit play.
The LCD lit up and showed a familiar scene. The stairs at the clock tower back at school. Riku saw herself and Daisuke in the picture.
"Niwa-kun… I… I love you."
Riku fell into a chair and heard a loud thud. Funabashi quickly rushed over to a nearby air vent and kicked the cage, ripped the cage off, and pulled out a red head youth. "Oooh! So there you are? I was wondering where you were."
Riku was ready to die. Daisuke was pulled out of the air ventilation system. He heard a recording of her confessing.
"Get off! Harada-san! Are you alright?" Daisuke shouted and saw the… beautiful form she was in.
Riku was caught off guard when he suddenly shouted. "Y-yes! I'm alright!"
"Oh aren't you precious the both of you?" The two ladies, who're clothes designers, giggled making the two red headed youths blush.
"Now back to business." Keiji smiled.
"Wait! Waa-ait!" Daisuke stood in front of Riku. "What are you talking about? You kidnap Harada-san from school and made me scramble all the way over here. What are you trying to do?" Riku blushed seeing Daisuke trying to protect her.
"What I'd like to ask is how you got in here." Keiji smiled.
Daisuke gulped, taking a step back.
"I was there back at the clock tower if you didn't notice by the camera earlier." Keiji's smile grew even more, and Daisuke was starting to sweat. "Those were some pretty crazy moves for a middle-school kid to pull off." Keiji tossed and caught his little camera in the air.
"Now if both of you would be kind enough to work with me. I would be happy to… keep this little tape-" Keiji popped the tape out and twirled it in his hands. "-under wraps. If you know what I mean."
Both 14 year olds nodded.
"Good!" Keiji smiled.
"Sir, what plans do you have for Niwa-san here?" Funabashi asked.
"I think he can help with a video I was working on. I just need his parents' permission also along with the lovely Harada-san's parents, too."
"Wait!" both shouted at the same time, looked at each other, and blushed.
"So cuu-uute!" The design ladies sighed again.
"Why are you doing this?" Daisuke finally asked.
"Oh! That's a very interesting story to be told!" Keiji kicked his legs up on his desk. "Funabashi!" Keiji clapped his hands.
Funabashi hit a button and a group of servants came in with tea and delicious things to eat. "It's a long story so relax and listen okay?" Keiji smiled.
Daisuke and Riku sat down with the honorable Keiji's great hospitality and listens to his story.
1740 Hours – May 2, 2011 Sakura Street Mall – Once upon a time…
"Aaaah." Keiji yawned. Keiji had been up for the past 3 days now with only 4 hours of sleep. The new shopping district that opened, Saga Entertainment added a special thing to a nearby arcade as a tool to find a star in this sleepy little town.
"That's over 2000 horrible singing high school girls now. More than 500 men that can't even control a single pitch and middle school girls that's yet to hit puberty!" Keiji ruffled his head in annoyance.
"Well finding a singer with that new open karaoke star machine isn't going to be easy, sir." Funabashi held a tray full of fresh coffee cups.
"Shut up! My plan never fails! It just has been going slowly… too slowly." Keiji sipped his bitter drink delight.
Outside a group of middle school girls walked by.
"Come on Riku! We've come this far so we can check this place out." Riku's friend dragged her.
"Jeez, I thought we were practicing, not shopping." Riku pouted.
"We finished practicing! Now we're hanging out!" Riku sighed at her friend's enthusiasm and just decided to go along.
"So we already went into 4 different shops that all involved food. Where else are we going?" Riku laughed.
"Oh! What's that? What's that?"
"Looks like a game hall."
"Is that Karaoke?"
A large machine was nearby the entrance and a few high school girls were on it. Riku and friends got closer and took a better look. It was an interesting machine. It would first play the song entirely around a minute or two long with vocals and then you take your turn singing without the vocals.
The high school girls called it quits and Riku's friends jumped at the chance.
"Waah, it's like an open concert type thing huh?" The girls giggled.
"Come on! Try it!"
Keiji sighed again. More inexperienced middle school girls trying to sing and pass off themselves as decent singers, god he hated amateurs.
"Oh, she's going for one of the hardest one." Funabashi commented.
"She's probably doing it just for the fun of it. None of these girls have any talent!" Keiji waved it off.
"Hm…" Funabashi just stared at the screen as the final vocals went off and it was now Riku's turn to sing.
Message of the blowing wind
Erasing memories
Stars are the witnesses of our existence
Change is what the world awaits
Could that be peace or war?
The answer no one knows
Trusting the break of dawn
The blue birds flies away
Keiji slowly stood up with his mouth hanging open. "Who is singing right now?" Keiji's body was shaking.
"Hm… the red head… that uniform. I think that's Azumano Middle School." Funabashi mades some notes and took a screenshot of Riku singing.
"Get everything you can on her. We'll be seeing her tomorrow at her school." Keiji smiled, his whole body still shaking with excitement. "At last my plans are coming to fruition!"
1140 Hours – May 3, 2011 Azumano Middle School – Please pardon the intrusion
"Oh, the school festival that's coming up soon? Of course we would love to have you sponsor!!" The staff room was buzzing with activity.
"Yes, we would sponsor a great sum but under… certain conditions." Keiji smiled.
"And that would be?" The school chairman asked.
"We need Miss Harada Riku to cooperate with us in a little… project." Keiji twirled his hand, his face looking elsewhere.
"Hm… you only need one student? I thought you'd needed… something else." The chairman wiped the sweat off his bare scalp.
"Oh, since you're so kind to offer. I'll ask for more when things come up." Keiji clapped his hands got up and deftly left the room with Funabashi behind him. "Hee, hook, line, and sinker."
"We tried contacting Ms. Harada Riku's parents but they're on a business trip and hard to get in touch of." Funabashi reported.
"Hm, that's fine. I'm sure things will smooth over on that end with my undeniable offer." Keiji laughed, rubbing his hands as his plans are coming together ahead of schedule.
"Sir, what are you next plans?" Funabashi asked.
Keiji simply whipped out a panoramic camera and smiled. "Excuse miss!" Keiji shouted like a curious hound dog, advancing towards a group of girls in the track team. "I'm looking for someone."
1550 Hours – May 3, 2011
Saga Entertainment Building – And the storm had been predicted
Riku and Daisuke sat amazed but mostly scared at this man's tenacity.
"So! Did you like my story?" Keiji smiled. Both Daisuke and Riku sat silent. Keiji's gaze was suddenly piercing them.
"Yes-yes!" Daisuke and Riku answered like obedient little puppies.
"Ha-ha!" Keiji smiled again while young budding couple became more and more disgruntled. "So! School's over by now and I think it's already too late to get to your after school activities." Keiji mulled, "How about I give y'all a ride home?"
"Eh?" Both shouted.
"What? Are you going to walk or take a bus?" Keiji asked.
The couple couldn't say anything. "Great! Funabashi! Prepare the car!" Riku tensed up and unconsciously grabbed Daisuke's hand, making Daisuke blush. "Ah don't worry, He'll behave." Keiji said to quell Riku's worry, but it didn't, not one bit
"Ah, there's one more motive to this, too." Keiji slammed his fist into his palm. Daisuke and Riku began to sweat what it was now. "I need to talk to Mr. Niwa's parents." Keiji smiled… a very evil smile… a smile that made Daisuke worry about his… alter-ego, Phantom Thief Dark.
1625 Hours – May 3, 2011
Niwa Residence – Welcome to the Niwas!
"Thank you, Harada-san." Daisuke whispered to Riku. Both of them were sitting in the back seat of the sedan. Riku decided to stick around and not leave Daisuke alone with this blonde shark and its friends. But now that Daisuke thought about it… a certain memory came to mind, back at Riku's home on that one night
"I feel so alone in this house."
Daisuke took a slight glance; Riku was looking out the window. Daisuke didn't even realize he was staring until… " Cough ahem." Daisuke jumped, looking forward to see a grinning blonde shark baring its teeth.
Daisuke dropped his head into his hand knowing somehow this will be used against him, but what bother him even more was he got caught staring, badly.
The drive home just got worse and worse, especially watching Keiji with his little notepad. He was probably jotting down ideas for what to do with his, ahem, victims.
"Niwa-kun, there's your house." Riku saw the quaint little home coming to view.
"Ah, that's a nice house. I have a feeling I'll be right at home." Keiji rubbed his chin with his thumb.
"I'm glad you like it. Ha-ha-ha…" Daisuke was getting the jitters.
The car pulled up and parked close to the gate. Everyone got out, but Daisuke stopped them, "Let me tell them we have guest first!" Daisuke rushed in.
"Hm… Hm!-mm-mm…" Keiji's eye shifted to Riku. Riku jumped, startled. What was he thinking? "Don't you want to follow him?" Keiji said innocently but he was everything except innocent at this moment.
Riku slowly started to move around him, keeping at least 10 feet between him and her. Once around, Riku began a slow run to the front door.
"You should stop acting like a dirty old man, sir." Funabashi commented with a blank face.
"Shut up! It's more fun this way!" Keiji tries to kick his assistant but Funabashi easily dodges.
Inside
Riku walked through the front door. It was quiet… a little too quite. She looked down… there were no shoes at the entrance… odd. Where did all the shoes go? Riku took her shoes off and slowly went down the hall. She didn't notice small, round dents on the wall that almost looked like polka-dot patterns.
She laughed to herself, remembering how to get around the house; she's been in Daisuke's house more than she can count. (Also some she can't even remember.) She made another right and heard the floor creak, as if it was loose or something. She shrugged and continued on past a banana peel.
Ah, there it was. The entrance to the kitchen and living room was there. Funny, there's a piece of tape above the door frame, ah whatever. Riku slowly reached for the door handle.
"Riku!" Daisuke suddenly opened the door, almost pulling the block of wood off its hinges. Riku took a step back seeing Daisuke sweating profusely and breathing heavily.
"Um… did something happen?" Riku looked at him oddly.
"No! Nothing! What makes you think… that?" Daisuke took a moment to breathe before finishing his sentence.
Riku didn't buy his outright lie.
"Kya-a-a-a-a!!!" It was so sudden, but Riku suddenly felt herself being grabbed by something and her body being shook left and right like a doll.
"You look so cu-u-ute!!! Where did you get this from Riku-san?" Daisuke watched as his mother molested an under age girl.
"Dear, calm down. Emiko… please." Kosuke had his hands full.
"Daisuke, you said we have guest. Hurry up and invite them in." Daiki sat with his usual tea and newspaper.
Riku looked at him, almost begging, asking him to help her but Daisuke silently apologized, disappearing behind the door. Riku sighed, she forgot she didn't change back into her school uniform yet. She was still in the dress, but it felt really comfortable for some odd reason. (Maybe its because little Daisuke is looking at you more often when you're dressed the way you are… I know I would.)
Emiko finally let Riku go and took a better look at her. "The design is simply wonderful. The miniskirt looks so good on you!" Emiko clapped her hands. Riku blushed; she didn't really like wearing skirts to begin with. She always felt more comfortable in jean pants or something of the like.
"Ho-ho! So this must be Daisuke's momma!" Keiji walked in with Funabashi always by his side. "So young! I'm honored for you to be my host tonight." Keiji smiled, charmingly.
"Young? He said young? Oh, you sweet-talking little man." Emiko was sucking it all in. "I should be getting dinner ready, would you like some tea?"
"That would be most delightful." Funabashi answered before Keiji could.
Keiji kept smiling until Emiko went into the kitchen, and then glared at Funabashi. Keiji hates it when people get ahead of him.
Meanwhile, "You alright?" Daisuke said it more as a joke than anything else.
"Mou, stupid! Just leaving me like that!" Riku punched Daisuke but it didn't really hurt him.
Daisuke chuckled lightly. "But you like good, my mom can't help it if she sees something cute."
Riku tried to stop the blush coming over her. If she wasn't mistaken, Daisuke just called her cute.
"Yes, she looks grand doesn't she Daisuke?" Keiji sat down on a nearby couch, assistant F close by. "But you should have heard her sing, a grand voice to match!" Riku defiantly couldn't hold back the blood rushing to her face.
"Hm, I wish I can hear you sing soon." It may have been simple words from Daisuke… but somewhere in her head, working with this Keiji guy may not be so bad if things go out right. Accordingly to what she's daydreaming at the moment.
"Daisuke."
Daisuke looked up, seeing his dad calling him. "Dinner's almost ready come set the table." Daisuke got up, Riku watching him go.
"Hm-hm-hm…"
Riku felt a shiver got up her spine, slowly turning to see that blonde guy staring at her intently with a face that says, 'I know what you're thinking right now.'
"Let me help, too!" Riku scurried away.
"Is it really that much fun, sir?" Funabashi said without even looking at Keiji.
"Of course it's fun! Why would I even do it if it wasn't?"
Din-Din time… (Dinner)
"Oh! Oh!!! This is shrimp? I've never seen shrimp like this before and… … … MMmm! So good! Ah, even fried chicken. A-ah! Salad! Is this really all you Mrs. Niwa? This is a feast fit for Kings!! Seconds!" Keiji was devouring the homemade goodness.
"Oh keep talking, keep talking!" Emiko gave Keiji an extra few shrimps onto his plate.
Funabashi was quietly enjoying his food with formal compliments. "It's delicious."
Daisuke sighed, and Riku giggled quietly as she could. Daisuke heard her though and looked at her with a disgruntled face. Riku only giggled more. Daisuke cracked a smile despite the circumstances.
"So I wanted to ask. Who designed the clothes Riku-san is wearing?" Emiko asked, getting the attention of the entire table.
"Me of course." Keiji said proudly. Everyone was dumbfounded, but Riku was more… disturbed that a man like him made the clothes she's wearing right now. "Well, the original design. I went and gone over it with a few people that are more professional in this department and there is the final product. We did the fitting and everything today. Luckily it fits like a glove." Keiji put his hand under his chin admiring his work, despite Riku's visible discomfort over his eyes going over her.
"Oh and you remind me. I have some… important business I would like to discuss." Keiji pushed his finished plate to the side and drummed his fingers. He's a fast eater, his… profession demands quick eating habits if you know what I mean.
"The reason Ms. Harada here has this lovely attire on is because she's going to be working with me in a big project." The Niwas sat a little more upright, interested. Keiji smiled from this reaction. "And after a little… excursion, I want Daisuke here to join me as well."
Emiko jumped, excited. "Of course! You would love to don't you Dai-sweetie?"
Daisuke didn't expect this and didn't know what to say. They didn't even know what he was going to do.
"Excuse me but… what exactly is Riku-san and Daisuke going to do?" Kosuke asked politely.
"Harada-sama will be practicing for a live concert-type event during the school festival that is coming up soon." Funabashi answered.
"Oh! You should have told us this sooner Riku-san!" Emiko sounded excited, but Riku was the exact opposite.
"And Daisuke-sama is going to be in a video, in pre-production at this present time, related to the infamous thief Dark." It was like a domino effect. Kosuke looked at Daisuke and Daisuke motioned he just found out now. Grandpa almost choked on the Miso soup he was enjoying. Riku couldn't believe the fact Daisuke was being related to that perverted thief. Emiko standing silent like a pillar of stone. Wizu on the floor enjoying his dinner.
Keiji kept a businessman look, especially since Emiko was completely silent. "Is there going to be any problems? I hope not." Keiji said this seriously; a little too serious when compared to his looser demeanor.
"I have one question." Emiko stated in a low tone. Daisuke gulped. Daisuke's fate in his mother's hands. "May I design the costumes?"
…
…
…
It was silent for a full three seconds…
"Yeah."
"Where do we sign?"
Keiji pulled out a few papers from a folder. "Here, here, and lastly here."
A minute goes as the sound of a pen scratching the parchment fills the dinning room. "Hm… parental permission is check, limited contract check, and notice to school is also check."
"Wait! Was that like a something amount of years contract?" Kosuke asked.
Daisuke and Riku froze. Riku's parents probably got the same thing.
"Oh, no-no-no-no-no… These guys are only 14-years-old right? We can't really expect them to do a whole lot for us. They're just working with us for while and it'll be over by the end of the school festival." Daisuke and Riku relaxed when they heard this, but wait a minute… isn't he roughly the same age? The three kids looked the same age. Well assistant F looked a bit older.
…
Just a bi-i-it older… yeah.
1615 Hours – May 6, 2011
Azumano Middle School – The festival is in the making!
Daisuke sighed. The sun was starting to go down, but the day was still hot. It's been three days already since they made the crazy deal with the blonde TV guy. Ever since then Daisuke couldn't even make the time to talk to Riku about… the… … blush
Daisuke couldn't help but feel embarrassed yet also flattered from Riku's sudden confession. Everyone has been so busy, you could barely even eat lunch in peace. The festival came and pumped a lot of people up, but it's a couple of more days till the start and they were barely half done.
Everyone began to panic today and worked even harder like they were almost possessed. And more importantly, Riku suddenly disappears after school and he can't find her anywhere on the school grounds. He worried at first but always saw her the next morning, looking tired.
He also noticed Riku talked very quietly now. When she greeted him today, he barely heard her say good morning.
Ta-kunk!
Daisuke heard the clunky door open and close. Oh, he was on the roof. Everything was slowing down and he decided to finally take a late lunch by himself. Quiet time was at a short supply.
"Who's there?" Daisuke asked the stranger.
"Hah? Who's there?" Daisuke barely understood what the person said and peaked around the corner wall to see… "Harada-san?"
"Niwa-kun? What are you doing up here?"
"Lunch." Daisuke took another bite of his onigiri.
Riku smiled and looked away, down to the school field. Daisuke looked down also seeing many concession stands that popped up in the last few days. Not to mention the big stage set up in the middle of the sport field.
Riku put her hand on the metal fence, looking up and watching the orange slowly setting. Daisuke got up, dusting his hands from the little rice grains sticking to his fingers.
"It's kind of exciting isn't it?" Riku giggled.
"Huh? What is?"
"How everyone is busy getting everything ready." Riku turned to look at him.
Daisuke froze for a second. The atmosphere taking it special effect. The setting sun's warm rays washing over her lithe figure. Daisuke could feel it, his heart slowly pumping faster and faster. The adrenaline rushed throughout his entire body.
"Um… you… Harada-da-san" Daisuke couldn't control his stutter.
"Huh? Yeah?" Riku smiled innocently only adding to Daisuke's tension.
"About… that thing… few days ago." Daisuke tried to hint something.
"That… thing?" Riku looked at him lost.
"At the clock tower, you told me…" Daisuke paused again. Riku suddenly remembered and began to tense up also.
A lot of things were going through Daisuke's mind at the moment… one was doubt. The first love of his life is unmistakably Risa, she open rejected him. Yet he felt something inside him say that going to her twin sister now seems wrong. Or maybe his love for Risa is just being pushed to Riku.
Suddenly a lot of things he didn't consider started to cloud his mind.
"Riku I…" Daisuke didn't know how to answer… but…
"Hey!" Daisuke and Riku jumped. "Riku! There you are!" Risa closes the roof door behind her. "There a weird guy looking for you, oh and I think he was looking for you too Niwa-kun."
Both sighed. Riku disappointed and Daisuke somewhat relieved but still frustrated.
"Hey Riku!" Risa pouted. "I've been wondering. Where do you go with that crazy blonde guy? He gives me the creeps." Risa as always spoke her mind without thought.
"Ah well… that's a-."
"A secret." Funabashi walked in, ending the conversation.
"Ms. Harada and Mr. Niwa, please, it's almost time." Funabashi urged them.
"Huh? He needs me now? But…" Daisuke remembered tonight he has to…
"Is there something else you are worried about?"
"Huh?" Daisuke snapped back to attention when Funabashi said this. "Worried? What do you mean?" Daisuke laughed… obviously hiding something.
Funabashi turned and hid a smile of his own. "We're about to move to the rendezvous and we shouldn't be late." Funabashi opened the door and left the roof.
Both Daisuke and Riku sighed. "Hey, what was that about?" Risa murmured, curious.
"Ah, well, you'll see soon." Riku excused herself with Daisuke close by.
Risa pouted but letting it go for now… or not.
2045 Hours – May 6, 2011
Town Square – The cameras are locked-on
This is crazy, impossible, the worst case scenario! Daisuke was in a panic with this crazy idea yet here he was dressed in his costume his mom made. He took a quick glance to see Riku little bit off away in the crowd.
His mother gave him the brief while she got Daisuke ready for the shooting.
Wizu is going to come in from the sky in Dark's form. Wizu will put on a quick show and dive away among the buildings surrounding the square. At this time while the shooting is taking place. Find a chance to change and meet up with Wizu.
After all of you are together, steal the Eyes of Artemis in any way possible. After they have been taken. Go back among the buildings and transform back to finish your escape… well back to the camera crew right Dai-sweetie?
Easier said than done in more than one way. Daisuke grumbled but his outfit was fit for the job. Long pants with zippers where his knees were. A skin tight shirt with the classic black jacket.
His job for the camera crew was simple. He was supposed to jump across buildings close by where the scene is taking place. As explained earlier, he finds his chance to lose the cameras and meet up with Wizu.
"Hey Daisuke."
"Yeah Dark?"
"Be ready to transform okay?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"I just thought I should let you know." Dark said nonchalantly.
"Okay…" Daisuke didn't give it much thought.
"Now… let's get this show started!" Dark was getting into the mood.
"Uu-aa-aah!! There he is! Get those lights on him!" Searchlights pierced the sky like light sabers, swinging here to fro.
"Dark isn't going easy today with the police forces." A news caster and his camera man was close by. "He's darting back and forth and incredible speed, taunting the police forces when the statue is in such an open public place.
Daisuke watched, the Eye's of Artemis in the middle of the town square. It was just recently given to the city. A statue with gems embedded where the eyes were. The gems were twins and one of the rare kinds but nobody could ever take them out of their sockets as if they were magically sealed there. (I'm sure you can guess I'm running out of ideas.)
"Go! GO!" Daisuke suddenly heard Keiji screaming with his megaphone. Daisuke jumped down and began his job. "GO-… huh?" Keiji blinked. Daisuke just cleared about 30 meters in seconds. (He isn't thinking about limiting himself despite the cameras everywhere. Mind somewhere else.)
Daisuke was speeding through the crowd at an incredible pace. It was as if he can see all the gaps between the people, effortlessly getting past them. He turned left, jumped past a group of guards caught of guard. Daisuke didn't even realize he went into an off limits zone, running off without even paying attention.
Daisuke suddenly snapped out of his daze when a guard managed to grab him. He twisted arm, spun behind the guard and ran back into the crowd.
Keiji sat in his director chair with his mouth hanging open. "My camera! I need my camera!!" Keiji got up threw his chair and ran off.
Daisuke mentally smacked himself. He got off track. A little distraction caught his eye, quickly relishing the fine figure of Riku in her dress.
"Ah… no-no." Daisuke shook his head. He looked up seeing Wizu flying closeby. In the blink of an eye, both disappeared into an alley.
"Hey Daisuke, you changed pretty quick. Looks like you were thinking ahead for once eh?" Dark quickly jumped up to a nearby fire escape, reaching the roof in 2 bounds.
"What? No… I just."
"Yeah, yeah, keep denyin'." Dark gave an ok signal to Wizu, now in Daisuke's form. Wizu jumped down, landed on a news van scaring some of the people and ran down the hood and back into the crowd.
Dark smiled, getting excited with so many people in front of him. Like a sea, but made of people.
"Hey, hey, the commander is here so he must have some sort of trick up his sleeve."
"Wait… Dark. You can't just. No!"
"I'm a thief! But that doesn't mean I have to be out of sight!" Dark jumped off the roof landed on a lamp post and making his way across. The police could do nothing but follow from below.
He jumped to the next light but this time grabbed the pole and slid down.
The police can get him in a few seconds.
Before they came a foot near him the pole suddenly sparked. The bulb burst with a bright flash. The guards flinch away covering their eyes. More electricity sparks and more lamp post around the square popped.
A guard pulls out a flashlight to see the pole had a section opened off where Dark messed with the wiring and added an extra juice to the neighborhood power grid.
"Get the light running. Start them up, start the generators up!" Inspector Saehara shouted.
"On! On! Get it on the statue!" The light turns only to see Dark sitting on the statues head with two sparkling gems, juggling them with one hand.
"Urgh! Get that cocky bastard!" With that as his cue Dark flipped backward disappearing in the shadow the spotlights made. Guards quickly circled around looking furiously.
"Now that was fun wasn't Daisuke?" Dark chuckled
"Dark! Let's get out of here now! Hurry up!" Daisuke couldn't believe Dark was trying to walk away leisurely with only a small cap covering his face.
"Kyaaa! Da-da-da-Dark!!!" Dark turned to see some ladies cooing over him.
"Good evening ladies." Giving that pheromone inducing glance. The ladies scream some grabbed him, but he was trying to calm them down.
"Oh!" Dark ducked. The guards were already on top of them. The dodged another grab, slapped another arm away into another guards face. Suddenly three popped up behind him.
"Stop it!!" Suddenly ten girls popped between Dark and the guards like a human shield. Dark took this chance to take his leave. He was surprised they cornered him that quick. Someone above must be seeing everything.
"Dark! We Loooove yooouu!!!" The girls waved, buying the two seconds he needed to bug out of there.
About 2 more guards were following, closer look… he could see wireless headsets. Ah… sneaky. He was now among the residential alleyways and streets. This part of town could almost be considered a labyrinth if it weren't for all the street names.
Dark smiled and forced some energy inside himself. But… "Huh?" Dark stopped for a second. The guards came quickly dove in a tackle form but Dark turned sideways, dodging them clean.
"Dark? What happened? Why'd you stop?"
"Quiet I can't use any magic."
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
"That sneaky commander. I don't know what he did but I can't use any magic." Dark turned and headed back to the square.
"Then why are we going back to the square?"
"You, side character!" Daisuke felt a bit of a shock from that comment. "Quiet if you don't know."
'But that's why I'm asking.' Daisuke felt a headache coming along.
Before he knew it he could see the lights from the square the police set up the perimeter again, and it looked even more fortified. Something is amiss here.
Dark smiled, he suddenly turned and climbed back onto the roof. The police below still scrambling. Dark quickly looked around and found what he was looking for.
"Dark stop, you're under…" The guard couldn't finish what he was saying since nobody was there.
A little bit away, Dark walked up to a figure with some radio equipment. "Nice strategy commander. But I do have a question. I'm wondering how you've been able to know where I was to move your little pawns.
Satoshi got up and turned to Dark. A smug look in his face. When it comes to art, I'm the expert not you Dark. Satoshi pulled out a hand sized mirror.
"You should know that some artworks are linked with each other. Those gems are called the Eyes of Artemis for a very good reason." An overhead image of Dark could be seen in the mirror.
"No way." Daisuke began to get worried feeling a trap.
"Oh… I also forgot to mention another side effect." Satoshi begin to get close. "The gems have a nasty habit of sucking up any magic in the air like a sponge." Dark took that as his cue to leave.
"So you won't be able to stop this!" Satoshi smashed a stake into the ground, a bolt of electricity fired towards Dark.
"Shit!" Dark felt it connect and fell to the floor.
"It's a special device to chain down things. You won't be able to get out of it without your magic."
Dark cursed under his breath.
"Do you admit you've lost?" Satoshi had that 'win' look on him.
"Commander!" Satoshi looked up and on the next rooftop to see… Dark?! And holding one of the gems. Satoshi looked down only to see a stupid smile on Darks face.
"Shit!" Satoshi bolted towards the real Dark.
"…" Daisuke was confused.
"You really need to pay attention to details." Dark suddenly cancelled the binding device.
"Eh? What's going on? I thought." Daisuke's head began to swirl.
"If you have to know. Wizu and me tricked him." While making his way towards Satoshi's position, Dark dropped the gems where Wizu can pick them up. Later when talking to Satoshi, Wizu copied the same pose Dark had.
"And now that we're done with the explanation." Wizu jumped out of nowhere next to them. "Let's get out of here." But unfortunately their escape point is on the other side of the square. Should we go around? Would Dark avoid all these people and attention?...
…
…
He-e-e-e-ell Naaah!
Rejoice as you can here the screams of girls and shouts of police officers as our spirited yet cocky thief skips away between fine figured female companions and inelegant officers in their dull blue uniforms designed to uphold public order. (Oh… that sounded neat-o!)
Couple yards away…
"Geez… why does that stupid blonde have me come out here and even decided to bring my sister. Guuuh!" Risa tagged along at the last second. Something about needing to see Dark one more time.
"Ah, Daisuke?"
"Suki?" Wizu-Daisuke turned his head hearing his… current name.
"Hey, don't stop all of a sudden!"
Crash!! Shatter!! Clunk!!
Riku began to sweat. From what she saw… someone ran into Daisuke making the two roll into a row of tables and chair.
"Niwa-kun!" Riku rushed over.
"Shit I'm still in Dark's form" Daisuke couldn't believe the timing.
"Niwa-kun? Are you alright? Niwa-kun?" Daisuke covered his face despite being shook, quite hard, by Riku. "Are you hurt?"
'Wait… this isn't how Riku would act to Dark.' Daisuke thought and feeling a bit of anger from his alter ego.
"Harada-san?" Daisuke looked up to see Riku's worried face.
"Good, you're alright." Daisuke began to laugh getting a little hit from Riku all of a sudden for laughing.
"Wait what about…" Daisuke turned to see the last of the smoke clear to see…
OMG!!!
Everyone froze seeing Dark get up out of the rubble.
"I told him to change but I didn't think he would change back into me. Maybe he thought change places." Dark chuckled.
"Henta-a-a-ai-i!!!" Riku shouted at the top of her lungs. Almost as if everyone turned with a single solid step, all eyes were turned towards them. (I want to hear Riku say that… I think it'd sound cute. Hentai Pervert)
A flurry of shouts boomed with crowds rushing left and right. Ecstatic fan girls trying to jump Wizu, guards swimming towards them, and… Keiji's Camera crew?! The camera van was 3 yards away.
"Get him! Get the shot, get the shot!" Keiji pointed… ug... directed with a rolled up magazine.
"Let's get out of here!" Daisuke grabbed Riku and ran for a nearby alley leaving Wizu to his fate.
Daisuke and Riku turned left and right randomly until they finally ended up in one of the major street, a shopping district in fact. A large fountain was nearby.
"That…was scary." Daisuke sat down next to the fountain, trying to catch his breath. He ran way too much today.
"Yeah, I didn't think…huff… so many people can rush you like that." Riku leaned forward, her hands on her knees.
Daisuke glanced around. Nobody around. And the only light was from the fountain giving a blue glow on the buildings surrounding to two.
Daisuke stood up. Chance.
"Um… Harada-san."
Riku stood up straight wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead and suddenly felt the mood in the atmosphere. Or is it that mellow light from the fountain? Which ever it is…
"Harada-san back then… on that day."
"Hey um… we should head back right?" Riku suddenly blurted out.
"Eh?" Daisuke felt like his head got lopped off.
(To be honest, if you're about to confess and you get off like that by the person you love… I think I'd feel like that.)
"Um we really should head back." Riku began to walk away, but she was stopped.
Daisuke stopped her with a serious look in his face. Truthfully Riku was scared witless. She wasn't mentally prepared.
"Please listen to me, because I think I can only say this once." Riku tried to calm herself but it really didn't help when Daisuke only got closer and closer to her.
"Ah… Niwa-kun…" Riku tried to back away but eventually Daisuke even stopped her from getting away.
"The person I want to be with… The one I like most is…
…
…. (add a bit of suspense)
Riku's heart is ready to explode.
"The person I love is… Riku." The moment he said this Daisuke quickly ran past her and disappeared into an alley. Riku stood still for a moment. Moment of shock rolls along.
"He… he…" Riku fell to her knees then her butt. "What do I do? He just suddenly ran away!" (Stress build up can do some weird crap… oh and you ran away too)
Riku held her hand in her face unable to control the blood flow and the… smile?
A little bit away a little lens was recording the entire event. "Um sir?"
"Shut up Funabashi!"
To Be Continued… (Maybe…) Disclaimer: I no own D.N. Angel…Author's Chatter Corner:
Sigh… Merry Christmas Everybody! I told myself I'd do this by Christmas and I did it! Here's my present to all of you fans out their and I'm afraid I'll have to ruin the Christmas mood a little.
To be honest, I'm tired. I'm running out of ideas to keep going with this. So I might do either one or couple of things…
Discontinue… I can hear you screaming inside you're head.
To bear with it but quality will be mush
Pass it on to someone else.
With these choices in mind I have to say sorry, but it isn't working out for me. I am a working man and also having a concept of an original story idea in my head. Things aren't going out too smoothly.
Unless all of you are satisfied with this ending here, I must say it's done. I only wanted to do a confession story type thing to begin with. (The reason I started it to begin with cause there was way too much yaoi.)
It has been a good run while it lasted. Merry Christmas Everyone.