-)*(-
Outside the night was warm and the lightly stirring air pleasant, but the town surroundings were a little lonely without crowds and their hustle and bustle of the daytime. Daisuke was nearly half a block away from Satoshi's apartment when Dark spoke for the first time since school.
'You really are an idiot if you leave when it's so obvious something is up with Creepy.'
"Eh?" Daisuke jumped, startled by Dark's rather serious tone. Anger quickly stirred inside the redhead and brushed against the inner thief.
"We're not welcome! And would you stop calling him that! He's sick, so we should leave him alone..." The last of the spoken words lost most of their steam and sounded very unsure to the kaito.
'I'm fine with leaving that boy alone, with no one to tend to him. I just want to know what Krad is up to. I know that psycho has got something going on. Wrongness is practically radiating from the Hikari.'
Like expected, Daisuke instantly stopped walking and turned to face back the direction they'd came. Red eyes looked soulfully up at his friend's dimly lit apartment. The large building gave off a forbidding aura; its crevices and bricks lined with darkness and covered with widely stretching shadows. Daisuke almost whined before looking determinedly away.
'So, you're going to give up and do nothing, just like that?'
The criticism lacing the thief's words tugged at the redhead's reluctance. Dark could feel it. Daisuke squinted his eyes shut and faced in the direction of home. But he only went half a step before looking back at his friend's apartment again.
Doing nothing was eating at him. Couldn't he help?
'We need to respect his decision,' Daisuke link-spoke reluctantly, but firmly.
Too easy, Dark thought.
'What if he's not thinking straight? He might not have meant what he said. And if he's not thinking straight, then he really does need your help.'
The possibility jolted the Wing Tamer. He was racing back to the apartment within the second. 'We check on him, but secretly so we don't disturb him! If he needs help, then we bust in and take care of him!'
The phantom thief smiled inside as Daisuke kicked up his running by a few notches.
'If it wasn't for your obsession with Creepy, your way of thinking wouldn't be too far from mine,' Dark nearly praised.
"I'm not-!"
'Shh! You look like an idiot running while yelling at nobody!'
And though no one was around Daisuke snapped his mouth closed, enduring Dark's teasing laughter the whole short way back.
-.-
Satoshi had crawled to the porcelain sink to stand, fighting an unusual sudden loss of energy and motivation. He removed his now crooked glasses and slowly washed his face, checking the mirror. His nose seemed to look proper and not like how it felt – like a pug's. That was at least good.
Trying to put the embarrassing incident with Daisuke from his mind, he trudged to his living room coffee table, to where earlier he had absentmindedly set down his prescription from the doctor. He twisted the childproof cap off and dumped two capsules out in his palm. They were plain white, free of any writing. The directions said it could be taken with or without food, so gathering some night clothes from his bedroom, Satoshi went back to the bathroom. Using a handful of water from the sink, he swallowed the pills one at a time and readied the tub. It was time to free his mind a little and get it off the subject it had been whirling around since at the hospital.
Steam filled the entire tiled room, fogging up his sink mirror with misty, trailing tendrils. He took off his clothes, having to keep telling himself there was no reason to fear his appearance. Surely the wrong hormones couldn't have warped his body since his most recent private time. And the pills would get everything taken care of before it became a real problem.
Besides, he thought as he slid into the deliciously warm water, it can't change me. Krad couldn't change me, and neither will my body decide how I will act and what I think. This one thought unlocked the negative swirling over his heart, and made his spirit soar. He felt almost as happy as when he only knew Krad had left him.
Strange, Satoshi leaned back in the tub and paused to think, Krad leaves me and this happens. It can't be coincidence, they have to be connected.
He sat up abruptly, spilling water noisily all over the hard, tan floor. Blue eyes were huge.
HE LEFT ME BECAUSE HE CAN'T POSSESS FEMALES OF MY FAMILY!
The realization made him lean his forehead on the side of the cool tub. A sense of dejectedness scorched through him.
How long had this change been going on undetected inside him, then? How much of him was still technically male? Risa couldn't have done this; she couldn't have altered him and made Krad go away. Not this fast. No magic could be so strong as to have done all of this since just this morning alone.
Maybe she hadn't really done anything to him earlier. Maybe that power that he'd thought he'd seen around her, and what he'd felt when she'd touched him, hadn't been her at all. Maybe everything inside him was on the fritz.
Just thinking so made his skin tingle oddly. No, not his skin, but right under his skin. He rubbed his chest, to where it felt like the tingling was beginning to concentrate on either side.
Satoshi suddenly jumped, not because of the awkward feeling that just so happened to be centered in his breasts, but because he felt a presence.
Maybe...
Unconsciously keeping his hand over his chest like a shield, he quickly leaned, looking in front of him to his window, where he'd left the curtains partially open. With his apartment being on an upper floor he really didn't think this would be a problem. Could he have been wrong, even though only a flimsy set of thin, metal stairs were present on the open west side of the building? He narrowed his eyes as he stared through the glass and into the night, willing some shadow to stand out from the others and move.
None did, and he relaxed back into soothing heat.
Satoshi wasn't sure when it was that he closed his eyes, but he was aware of opening them and of the water being a few degrees cooler. Shivering a bit, he wondered how it was that, with his chaotic mind, he could doze for any length of time. And his skin felt like it was positively crawling now – still tingling underneath strongly. Forcing his thoughts away from the images of microscopic bugs, Satoshi dunked underwater, pausing when a strange tightening happened in his lower abdomen.
He practically threw the water off lifting back up, and it was as if it rained in the modest bathroom. Scowling, he reached for the soap and washed.
Thinking anymore about what was going on inside would drive him crazy. It'd be best just to let nature take its course. He'd deal, one way or another. He'd already proven that he could handle anything.
With a deeper scowl that was meant to keep out all doubt, he stood and reached for a towel, drying off. It wasn't until he was out of the tub and turning for his clothes that the burning in his stomach registered. He froze with his arm outstretch before pulling it in to tighten the towel at his waist. The material felt out of place there, as if he needed to cover up more of himself. Was he ashamed and feeling out of place in his own apartment?
Throwing the thought away, Satoshi hurried to the kitchen for a glass, hoping water would ease the burning. He barely had a quarter of it drank before he was racing back to the bathroom and his head was hovering over the toilet. There are few things worse than gagging with a stomach that's squeezing out practically nothing. After one particularly long gag he knew he'd have to get something down for his stomach to bring back up and be satisfied. Still somehow clutching his glass of water, Satoshi chugged what he could before the gags came again. This time, the liquid came back cloudy and his stomach slowly calmed.
Setting the glass on the top of the toilet, he wiped his sweaty forehead and waited to be sure it was safe before he moved to rewash his face.
Throwing up was unpleasant, but the doctor had warned the drugs might make him sick. He just hoped he had absorbed enough. Satoshi didn't dare take another dose to be sure.
He had brushed his teeth and entered his room when hunger struck. How the heck could his stomach want food after heaving as much as it did? And he never ate at this time of night. Grumbling, he decided to ignore it and slide under his covers. But he tossed, unable to get comfortable. And his stupid stomach would not quit making noise! It was so loud with its growls. He growled back at it and tossed once more, keeping his eyes scrunched tight.
He would get to sleep... eventually...
Finally he relaxed as the frustration started leaving him. His mind slowly drifted off as it blanked. And... there was a tap at his window. Instantly awake, Satoshi cursed and shot up out of bed. Whatever was on the other side of that window was going to get it, and if it was the window itself that had made that light noise, then the window was going to get it. Cranky didn't even begin to describe Satoshi.
Yanking back the curtain he saw... absolutely nothing. No one was standing out there, no animal had come to perch. Throwing his curtains back into place, he rethought his threat to the window and relented, leaving it intact and whole.
His stomach growled and twisted, reminding him that he had only eaten once today, and that was so very long ago. It pleaded for him to go to the kitchen and make some instant noodles. Just the one cup of instant noodles, then it would let him go to sleep easily.
Satoshi actually laughed at his own imagination as he traipsed away from that damnable window.
Daisuke risked a peek just as Satoshi disappeared around the bedroom door.
'It worked, he's going for food,' Daisuke smiled. That was easy, he thought. Now his friend would get better faster.
'What is with those severe mood swings?' Dark shuddered. 'It's like Creepy's been contaminated by Crazy.'
Daisuke's crimson eyes widened as he stepped in front of the window and peered deeper inside, as if looking for some kind of evidence of this.
'Could that be what's wrong with him?'
'Krad could finally be winning him over. Or, it could have something to do with that artwork we stole last night. He did go ballistic on it and nearly caused a backlash of power, which would have ended up demolishing half the town.'
Daisuke shuddered as the night before replayed through his head – Krad's face contorting and revealing Satoshi's crazed eyes as the hand-sized globe rose high above his head; Dark's fierce inward shout of dismay; the pain as his bruised limbs were forced to move without his consent to fly some odd miles;the sound of Satoshi's suffering echoing before heavy flaps warned him it was time for some drastic aerial stunts.
'Hibine was the only Hikari to completely and utterly give everything he was to Krad, even though he quickly realized he was being deceived. Perhaps something in that Hikari's signature has thrown Satoshi out of his mind. More so than usu–'
'Dark!'
The kaito paused, thinking he was about to get berated again. But he was wrong. Daisuke probably had tuned him out after a spur of emotion had swept through.
'Satoshi isn't giving into Krad. Whatever is going on, it has to be that artwork's fault. What can we do?'
The worried determination to do something sat like a brick in the redhead's chest, but Dark could feel the warmth of caring expanding, lightening the weight of it. It brought a slight smile to him before he reminded himself that these emotions were just too mushy. Dark was glad of the steadily growing shadow that was coming down the hall to distract his Tamer.
'He's coming back. Better move.'
Daisuke did just that, but maybe a little too late. The young Tamer heard barely audible footsteps quickly patter close on the opposite side of the glass. Daisuke, holding his breath, plastered to the bricks of the side of the window, trying to keep flat and out of easy sight.
He waited–
–and waited...
Finally light footsteps made for the bed, and Daisuke risked another glance. Satoshi was climbing onto the soft mattress and cutting on a small lamp on a wooden nightstand. A book and a cup of noodles were waiting on him to turn around as he was getting all comfy under his covers.
'Okay, enough staring,' the kaito warned, feeling just a bit of apprehension as his Tamer's control started slipping and revealing something even he didn't know.
But Daisuke stared harder, only wanting it so much more. An empty feeling made itself known in his gut, and he pressed a fist below his chest. A crazy idea of busting in there and snitching those noodles entered his head. There was even a print on the glass of the window where the steam had been so close a second ago. The redhead's stomach growled loudly. It didn't like having missed dinner one bit. Speaking of, Emiko was going to kill him when he got home.
'Dai, move! I think he heard your aggressive stomach!' The kaito wasn't afraid, however, but fighting laughter.
Daisuke was not so amused, and plastered to the wall again, but this time the window was being unlatched.
'I've got it from here,' Dark said smoothly, and with swift ease he took over, jumping over the rail and out of sight before Satoshi could look left and right out the side of his apartment.
Thanks to the kaito, the two made it home, snuck some food, and did some research and a little brainstorming.
'There's not much I don't know on how Hikari Arts work,' Dark said, 'but we're going back to do a few tests tomorrow night, so you'd better suck up whatever trouble your mom gives you and be prepared to go through it again.' Daisuke's brows furrowed as he ate his white rice.
'If you tell her you're the one that's got business out, then she'll happily let you.'
'And have her wheedle out the truth of where we are going and have the worst thought of me? No way! I'm not going to have it out that we're spying on a guy!'
Daisuke choked some and lost his chopsticks.
'Exactly. It's WRONG!'
'Spying in general is wrong, Dark, but it's not like how you're implying, so don't say it like that!'
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Satoshi had fallen into a fitful sleep. Short locks of blue hair whipped back and forth over his pillow. A sheen of sweat stuck a few wisps of it to his forehead. He grunted and snapped his teeth once as somewhere between wake and restless sleep he got the impression that he was melting down into something.
And as bizarre as this was, the thought of cookies being pouring into those little paper cups to be baked entered his dreams. Maybe it was some sort of analogy to himself? He could almost smell them. No, wait. Duh. Those weren't cookies, but muffins. How did he get those mixed up? Had it really been so long since he had either?
Content, a happy memory began changing his dreams, and lulled him deeper into sleep. There his heart swelled just by watching his mother in the kitchen, tending to those one-of-a-kind muffins.
"Just a few more minutes, Satoshi," she turned her head to say as she straightened and closed the stove's door. Her beautiful face was so cheerful, and blue curls delicately weaved passed her cheeks, on passed her shoulders. Though petite, the strength and love radiating from her could not be hidden. She smiled broadly at him, affection radiating out of her gorgeous blue eyes, enhanced by the sun shining in through the small kitchen window.
Satoshi saw so much of himself in her. His looks were hardly anything like his father – the one he could barely remember and didn't want his mother to think of. She always became sad when he was mentioned. Like he'd been something precious she'd lost.
Perhaps he was since his mother had loved him.
But Satoshi would protect her now. No one would harm her! Ever! They'd have to go through him first! She was his world. And he'd teach anyone that the hard way if need be.
"What's my little man thinking about so strongly?" His mother came around his chair and put her arms around his shoulders, laying her chin gently on his head.
"Uh..." Satoshi thought quickly, wanting to avoid any topic that could possibly leave his mother saddened, "I want two."
"Excuse me?" His mother lifted from him, a playful tone in her voice.
"I want two," Satoshi repeated. "I'm hungry!" His hair was suddenly ruffled, and his mother pulled him from his seat and set him on his feet before he knew it. He turned to her as she was reaching behind her back to untie something.
"If that's the case then you have to earn them," she said, taking off her frilly apron and handing it to him. He automatically took it, looking it over heavily for the first time. "I'm going to help you make the next batch, but you have to wear the apron so your school clothes don't get dirty."
"But, Mother!" he whined, "It's pink! And it has lace!" Satoshi tried to hand it back to her, but she folded her arms, refusing it.
"So?"
"I can't?" he half begged, half questioned the way only children can.
"Yes, you can. What's wrong with the color pink?"
"It's for girls! And lace is itchy!"
His mother smiled at him, as if she knew of some wise secret.
"You know, pink isn't just for girls."
"I thought–"
"My favorite color isn't pink, nor do I care for frilly things. Pink and lace are not what makes girls. That apron was a gift... from someone special. That's why I wear it. So can you wear it until we finish a second batch of muffins? You do want two, right?"
Satoshi nodded, but gave the cloth in his arms a distasteful look.
"Turn around and let me put it on you."
He did, and the landscape changed. His mother and her apron was gone, and he was older, walking by himself to school. Azumano to be exact. He glanced behind him sadly, hoping to see his mother's kitchen again. But it had all been replaced by familiar landmarks of the town.
She was now well beyond his reach.
"Hey, Hiwatari!" Kenji, the school's wanna-be bully called him in the classroom. "Why are you wearing lipstick?"
Satoshi, who had actually been ignoring him as he read from his notebook, looked over at the lanky, mullet-haired boy. "Excuse me?" Satoshi said in a flat tone.
"Your lips," Kenji and a few other of his friends snickered, "they're the brightest pink I've ever seen on a guy."
"I assure you, I'm not wearing any female products." Satoshi returned his attention to his notebook. Most of his classmates began to stare at him, but he payed it no mind. Kenji and two of his buddies got up to stand before his desk. Satoshi sighed and closed his little book, hoping that the teacher would soon be in here to put a stop to this early morning fiasco. He hated it when idiots approached him and he was forced to confront them. They had no brains in which he could reason with, therefore it all fell out of his style.
"Then did you use a color marker? No guy has lips like that." Again, they all snickered as if they had found some kind of brilliant answer. And they were really beginning to rub Satoshi the wrong way. Lighting on his glasses hid the spark in his eyes, but a comment flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
"Why are you so obsessed with my lips? Would kissing them make you feel better?"
The guys recoiled in horror. Kenji stepped back up to his desk angrily.
"So you're gay?"
"I believe you were the one to first show such dedicated interest in my lips, so I should be asking you that," Satoshi reiterated.
"If you're offering, I'm not accepting!" Kenji cried mockingly, a laugh in the edges of his voice. The students surrounding them didn't know what to think. And this is why Satoshi hated fools.
"The point is," said Satoshi, trying to redirect everyones' focus, as well as his unusual spike in anger, "you were the one who came to me. But I think you'd only have any luck with a mirror. So don't be so quick to get your hopes up over a possible misleading statement."
Everyone around him sucked in a loud breath. Meanwhile, Kenji was trying to figure out how he could attack Satoshi's retaliating words. His face fraught with confusion, Kenji finally gave up on making a comeback, only snarling, "Why you!" before lashing out with a fist. It came swiftly, but before it could connect the scenery changed again.
Cherry Blossoms were stretched out in the distance. The sun was overhead, and it warmed the concrete he was sitting on.
Satoshi's anger instantly melted away as if it never had been. It was lunch time, and his redheaded friend was out on the roof with him.
Satoshi smiled. He had good news to tell Daisuke. But, what was it again? It had been very important.
"Satoshi, is something bothering you," Daisuke asked, an orange slice hovering before his mouth, "you've been acting so different here lately." Daisuke seemed worried. The smell of citrus floated on the lazy breeze.
"Yes, actually," Satoshi answered, despite himself. When had he been this open? "I... just can't remember what it is..." he finished thoughtfully.
"Maybe you're just hungry. I've brought enough food for us again."
The red-haired boy tilted his bento toward him. "The cherries are really good," Daisuke said as way of a suggestion. Satoshi took the hint and grabbed a few by their stems. They were really good.
"Whatever has you worried, you shouldn't... well... worry about so much. Things always have a way of working out." Satoshi nodded, wanting to believe him. It was just so hard to. If you didn't worry about things, then could you really be ready to live up to life's expectations?
"Do you like oranges?" Daisuke asked.
"Hmm?" Satoshi shook himself.
"Oranges. Do you like them?" the redhead repeated.
Satoshi had no sooner nodded than a slice got somehow pushed into his mouth. Blue brows furrowed as Daisuke smiled wide.
"That was a little awkward," Satoshi admitted when he could. His friend blushed at him.
"Not really," Daisuke argued shyly.
Thunder sounded out of nowhere, and suddenly Daisuke was a shadow before him, bending down to press Satoshi's back into the concrete wall. "But this," deceivingly innocent red eyes looked into shocked blue ones, "might..." crimson trailed to overly bright, pink lips, "be."
Thunder clapped again and Satoshi sat up ridged and absolutely straight in bed. His heart pounded as he took a minute to collect his thoughts. Rain beat hard at his window.
What a weird scenario of dreams. But they were just that – dreams. And he had no control over them, and medical books often state that stress is a leading factor in producing nightmares.
But still...
"That was disturbing." Satoshi sighed and grabbed his forehead, which was slick with sweat. It was fairly dim in his room until lightning flashed and thunder roared. The green lighting of his alarm clock finally caught his eye. He stared at it for all of two seconds before jumping out of bed. It was 8 o'clock! He was late for school! How had he slept so late?
His feet hit the floor and every muscle protested. They felt as if they were cramping up. And he was hungry again...
"Damn," Satoshi muttered, racing for his bathroom. "I'll pick up bananas for potassium, and Gatorade at the store. Might as well, I'm already late."
-)*(-
A/N: The dreams just kinda took off, sorry about them. But, hey! I managed to get this out before New Year's! And, admittedly, with everything that's been going on, it was hard to get this story rolling. And I'm having to hurry, so please leave a few comments for me on this chapter as well. I'd appreciate it! And hunger and the color pink seemed to be a running theme through the end. Any guesses why? Really hope you've enjoyed it!