-)*(-

Another day in school, learning everything he already knew all over again. It was so mundane that Satoshi actually enjoyed it. It was the only downtime that his life had at the moment, between his part-time job and position as police Commander. Not to mention his role of being the last Hikari.

And everyday he cursed his family's inheritance.

The class around him chattered excitedly while the teacher was still making her way over to the bricked building. Satoshi picked out the small notebook within his front pocket and sat at his assigned desk to read it. The pages were mostly full of information he'd gathered from watching Daisuke. … The Niwa. The new Phantom Thief.

According to his written notes, it was almost unbelievable that the clumsy and somewhat socially lacking boy could be Dark. But Dark he most certainly was. They'd already run into each other at a scene of the crime. And besides that, like himself, Niwa was the only male of their clan this generation.

Satoshi thought on that for a moment.

What would life have been like if he hadn't been born a Hikari? Icy azure eyes lifted and looked around the filled classroom. Kids his age were talking happily, immersed in the topics of their own lives. A few looked a little dimwitted. Few others decided to "tweak" their uniforms a bit to make them a fraction shorter. Would he have been among the better half of the class, or the lower? He liked to think he would have gone with the better, smarter half. But the thought was worthless. Who really knew what might have been?

His gaze was still revolving around the classroom when it stopped on one of the Harada twins. It was the long haired one; Risa. She was staring at him with a strange gleam. It wasn't like the expressions most girls gave him. This look brought an eerie sensation crawling up his spine. She had him in mind for something, and she would not allow him to get away.

Girls.

They were all the same. Always thought they could have what they wanted, regardless of the feelings of others.

An image of his mother came to him out of the blue. It was enough to make him immediately take back what he'd thought.

He smiled, a small lifting of lips, full of confidence. Risa blinked a few times, coming out of her rude staring. She squared her shoulders at him, then turned around correctly in her seat, a bit in a huff. He'd caught her off guard. Good. Maybe she would realize she, like the others, had no chance with him.

His Hikari curse would end this generation. That was a vow he'd taken a long time ago. And the way the girls fawned over him only made the resolve that much stronger. They knew nothing about him, yet they practically offered him undying loyalty in their love letters. Ridiculous. But not as ridiculous as that time three of them had ambushed him and threw him into an empty classroom. That hadn't ended well, but at least they had learned better.

Finally, their teacher came in. A few minutes later the first bell rang, and that's when Daisuke rushed into the classroom. He had a bad habit about cutting it close, but for once he wasn't the last one through the door. Saehara was behind him, the first print of the day's school paper clutched tightly in his hand.

"The warning letter has already been sent in," Saehara was saying. "It's going down at the same place as last time. It's unusual that the phantom thief would strike the same place back to back, don't you think? He's getting too arrogant!"

The redhead looked as if he'd rather be talking about anything else as he took his place at the far left of the room, next to the window, and started unpacking his supplies.

Satoshi perked up some as he began writing in his notebook. The teacher made a brief comment on how good it was of the boys to make it on time and the blue-haired teen looked up at her. She wasn't much earlier than them, so Satoshi didn't know where she thought she got off sounding so condescending. He tore his gaze from her before it could turn into a glare. Nothing irked him so much as an adult that held themselves superior above all others when they clearly weren't. They never were.

Daisuke looked over at him and smiled, then tilted his head curiously at the notebook in Satoshi's hand, just like he did every morning. The bluenette closed his eyes then looked away, finished his writing and put it up. The second bell rung, and so began their first class of the day.

-.-

Lunch time slowly came around. Daisuke was starving. He retrieved his bento, then went out to the school's expansive grounds. It was a cool, clear and slightly windy day. The sun sparkled warmly overhead and the lush green underfoot stretch out as far as he could see. He was alone. The fresh air and quiet were enough to give him a small revitalizing boost.

He needed this. After being turned down by Risa once and for all, he needed some peace. And as much as Dark was turning into an older brother figure, the kaito left him alone to get his affairs in order. The Wing Tamer appreciated it.

Daisuke moved forward onto the path leading to the gardens, a small smile on his face. The wind blew and waved his soft spikes, making the sun gleam off them brilliantly. It was a good thing his hair color changed whenever he went to steal. He'd be a beacon under any light if not.

The wind curled around him, and he could have sworn he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was so prominent that he looked behind him, and for some reason upward. There on the rooftop Satoshi peered down at him with his arms firmly crossed. He looked so sturdy in his stance, and slightly forbidding.

'And that's why he's creepy,' Dark commented for the first time today.

'Quit that! He just needs a friend,' Daisuke fired back. And with that, he turned around to head for the stairs leading to the rooftop.

-.-

Daisuke pushed on the heavy door carefully. Bright sunlight beamed as he exited the stairs and made his way across the roof. Satoshi was no longer standing near the edge of the building, but was sitting against one of the walls further back. He glanced nonchalantly at Daisuke, then returned to eating his bread. The redhead walked up and sat beside the other teen. Satoshi gave him a wary side glance. Daisuke stiffened for just a fraction of a second before saying, "Would you like to try some of my bento?" He opened it and held it like an offering between them.

Azure eyes swiveled to the array of food. How did Daisuke always manage to make it seem like they were close friends who had been right in the middle of a friendly conversation with one another? If anyone else tried it, they'd be shot down for being annoying and pushy in an instant.

"No, thanks." Satoshi reached for his juice carton and slipped the straw into his mouth. Daisuke frowned some.

"Don't you ever want something other than plain bread?" He was not going to be deterred that easily. Another pleasant breeze blew. Satoshi lowered his drink.

"Not really, and I don't have much time to pack anything else."

"Problem solved, then! My mom packs too much. Here, try a sample cake. Mom put in three different ones. There's sponge cake with cream filling, chocolate silk, and cheesecake." The redhead reached in and pulled them all out. They were all individually wrapped and fit in his one hand neatly.

Satoshi ignored them and went back to sipping on his juice.

"You don't like sweets?" Daisuke pouted.

"I don't normally have them," Satoshi responded. Which didn't answer the other's question. Or maybe it did.

"That can be changed."

The cakes were just about shoved in front of Satoshi's nose. He considered getting up and going inside then, but a word repeated itself in his mind. Changed. If only that word could apply to his life. Maybe it could.

Azure focused on crimson. A slim pale hand took the sponge cake. Daisuke smiled broadly. "My mom's secret recipe chicken is in there, too. And you have to like chicken." Light reflecting on glass kept him from seeing the other's eyes, but lips twitched upward.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Well, you wouldn't be normal if you didn't."

"I'm not normal."

"I'm not, either, but I still like it."

"So?"

Daisuke didn't have a comeback for that one. He paused, looking up at the first wispy cloud to pass by. Without further hesitation he grabbed his chopsticks and broke them apart, offering one to Satoshi.

"Here. Now you can get anything you want."

"I wasn't implying-"

"I know." Daisuke's smile was more blinding than the sun. Satoshi took the single chopstick before reconsidering the option. Daisuke looked down and jabbed his into the bento, coming up with a piece of cut chicken. He took on a blissful look as he chewed the bit of meat and overlooked the line of cherry trees out in the distance.

Satoshi studied the face, committing details to memory like any true artist would. Did this person have to be his mortal enemy? Fate was so cruel.

"Hmm?" The redhead looked back over at him, then tilted the bento for him. Satoshi took the cue and speared randomly into it, coming out with a strawberry.

"Ack! No fair!" Daisuke complained before thinking better of it.

"Do you want it?" Satoshi lifted it and held the fruit almost directly before Daisuke's mouth. His color darkened some.

"N-no. Go ahead."

Satoshi gave his first smile as he leaned back on the wall and looked at the faraway trees.

'Like I said, creepy.'

-)*(-