Special Thanks to: intelligenceisstupid for beta-reading this chapter and agreeing to help with the rest. She definitely made some areas better, and gave me some confidence by double-checking content. Thanks so much!
-)*(-
The new day outside looked anything but vibrant and renewed. Dark clouds rolled against each other, bumping and colliding as lightning raced back and forth restlessly. The wind was fierce as it rolled over and past, adding to the roaring of impending thunder, slinging rain with stinging force. The water pelted in thick sheets, landing in ever deepening puddles, the pounding drops bouncing back up like a cavalcade of heavy fish before plopping down again.
The sun didn't have a hope of granting even a sliver of a ray.
Satoshi was drenched the instant he opened his front door. He gripped his bookbag tighter over his shoulder as the cold splashed wetly over. If it weren't impossible, he would have thought the force was a car blowing by on the third floor, throwing the equivalence of a tub full of water at him. The wave rushed into the apartment behind. Satoshi stepped out and slammed the door in an effort to save at least some of the carpet.
What a wonderful day for a walk to school...
Pausing on the sidewalk under a store's canopy, Satoshi plucked off his glasses, wiping them shakily on a corner of shirt that had miraculously escaped becoming wet.
What a storm. The chaotic clouds kept it almost as dim as nightfall, except for when it lightninged. At those time it was severely bright. And it seemed he never had quite enough time to adjust to the aftermath before more lightning came and destroyed his vision. Thunder threw a drum into his chest and rattled inside. The people around were disturbed by it too, picking up their pace just a little more.
Could this by a typhoon they were having?
Satoshi admitted to himself of a little fear whenever going out in this kind of weather. He always had a nagging sensation in the back of his mind, reminding him of all the reasons lightning was so deadly. He certainly didn't care for it, but he could usually ignore it in light of whatever important task he was doing.
So why was the fear more prominent today? As he'd been hurrying to the store, it felt as if he couldn't get there fast enough.
It was probably just because of the intensity of the storm. He'd never been exposed to this extreme of weather before. Wind was throwing anything people didn't have a firm hold of across streets, and others were busy barricading what kept shop outside – stands, signs, and the like.
Brushing wet strands of blue from his eyes, Satoshi entered into the store, much to the irritation of the janitor on-duty. Satoshi ignored him; he wasn't the only one tracking wet footprints into the store. They should have had a more absorbent mat down for the day.
He got what he needed quickly and headed back out, much against that new louder nagging in the back of his brain. He already knew that it was bad to get out in weather like this, but it wasn't like he had a choice. So couldn't his mind just quit running pointless drabble?
The school was tall – almost imposingly so – seeming to touch upon the low clouds as they swirled. Its looks had always been admired as something of a source of pride for the town. Its history, or at least some of the stories that previous students had come up with, made the place out to be something just short of extravagant.
Satoshi loved it. For here, no matter what other reasoning some might have, meant salvation for him. Or it used to, before Krad had left. For here would be when Krad would finally relent from any bickering and admit defeat, diving far into the recesses of his mind to get away from the sheer boredom of class.
Krad had hated school, and every loud mouth in it.
Satoshi shook his head, throwing thoughts of his past curse aside. Although, wasn't it just a couple of days ago he had wondered what it was like to be free? Well, now was his chance to find out, and revel in it.
So he supposed he should get out of the sopping rain and stop staring at the front of the building... Wasn't like there was anything new about it – just him.
But now everything seemed wondrous and different somehow. Aside from his new condition... Although after Krad – who could take his body – something that merely changed it (no matter how awkwardly) couldn't compare.
Didn't mean it didn't suck, though.
He moved up the concrete steps, finding shelter before the building, in search of a trashcan to dump his banana peels and empty drink bottle. Something caught onto the peels in his hand and he glanced back. A small terrier had latched on to his leftovers. As he looked, the playful dog wagged his tail at him and tugged a bit harder. The peels slid from his fingers, and the scruffy dog snapped them up in a few bites.
What did it take for a dog to be hungry enough for peelings?
Satoshi turned and squatted, reaching for the pitifully bony creature. The dog immediately jumped and propped its muddy forepaws on his chest. He just did turn his face in time to avoid a long, smelly tongue.
"Down, boy!" Satoshi said, but the dog was untrained and didn't obey. He pushed gently at squishy fur until the slightly hyper dog was forced off him.
He watched the overly-exuberant creature with narrowing eyes. Why did it have to be so darn happy to have his attention? It wasn't like he could do anything to help it; his apartment didn't allow pets. Besides, he didn't have the first clue on how to take care of an animal.
No animal had wanted to be near him once it had sensed his curse. This was the first one that had actually come up to him and hadn't turned tail.
Satoshi smiled slightly at the terrier. As if recognizing the meaning behind the facial expression, the dog wagged its tail even faster. But Satoshi's smile soon faltered, and he stood up.
"You have to go," Satoshi said, as if the dog might understand conversation, but even if it didn't, it should understand the shooing gestures of his hands.
Unfortunately, the dog just sat down and looked up expectantly.
Satoshi sighed; there always had to be a problem. And there wasn't a way he could fix this one. So, he turned for the school doors, intent on ignoring the poor thing.
It whined, stopping Satoshi for a half-beat before he shook his head and continued on.
Why did some things in life tug so much on the heartstrings?
The splashing of footsteps made him look back as he reached, gripping one door handle. His jaw separated the barest of fractions in quiet surprise at who was running up the steps. Blood quickened in embarrassment, remembering the blunder from last night. Quickly, with a small grit of teeth, Satoshi pulled his focus back to the present, refusing to succumb to fruitless emotions and past mishaps that wouldn't ever happen again. Crimson eyes glistened as they blinked an abundance of moisture away.
Satoshi reminded himself once more that he wasn't going to feel embarrassment as those eyes locked on to his. He'd done a lot of things to be proud of, so one little trivial slip wasn't going to knock him down.
"Hiwatari!" Daisuke greeted, sounding surprised. "What a coincidence; we're both very late today." He came to a stop beside the blue-haired boy, an awkward expression on his face as he caught his breath. He must have been running all out. The terrier perked up, suddenly walking between them and deciding to go on its merry way; its nose raised in search of something through the rain.
So wonder it didn't get flooded sinuses.
Satoshi pulled open the doors and walked through, but not before he gave Daisuke a skeptical look. He was too practical to believe in coincidences. The redhead was up to something. He'd probably been off searching for more Hikari arts to steal. Which meant Satoshi would be getting a warning letter by tomorrow at the latest. He wasn't happy about that, as he didn't trust Dark with his ancestors' terrible creations, no matter how often he'd noticed that the kaito always fought with Daisuke in mind.
Satoshi would never trust a Hikari artwork.
And as upsetting as it was to be reminded that his "friend" coexisted with the phantom thief, he still noticed the feeling of relief in his chest. Relief that he didn't have to worry about Krad taking control, of hurting him – or hurting them.
As Satoshi made his way into the boys restroom to clean up, Daisuke hovered by the school doors, looking pensive.
'He knows, Dark! Or suspects us!'
'If he does, then Creepy Boy is just as creepy as I thought.'
Daisuke was so worked up; he didn't even bat at the thief for name calling. Come to think of it, this was the second time in a row he'd gotten away with it.
'Hiwatari is smart, I bet he knows we looped around the school to make it look like we got here after him! We should have just went and waited for him in class!'
If Dark could have rubbed his temple he would have. Daisuke was so exasperating in his easiness of getting bent out of shape.
'He doesn't know, Daisuke. But he does think it's strange.' Dark didn't want to elaborate on why he'd wanted to go outside and personally check on what was stalling the young commander. But, for Dark, there was almost a sense of something missing whenever he looked at Satoshi – something deep, basic, and extremely vital. And that wasn't even the scary part; he couldn't tell if the vibe was coming from the boy or himself.
Although he was only conscious of it when eye contact was made with that azure gaze.
'Now can we move on!' The kaito stimulated a nerve in one of Daisuke's legs, manually taking – what was to Daisuke – a giant step. Daisuke nearly did a forward splits, the dripped water on the waxed floor not helping him keep his balance.
'DARK!' Daisuke inwardly shouted.
'You don't want him coming out of the restroom and seeing you staring, do you? Hurry and get moving!' Dark gave another "push".
How was it that he always managed to infuriate, but turn right around and chastise? Not to mention get away with it all.
Satoshi was trying to get the muddy dog prints off his uniform, but he only seemed to be smearing it. If only his reaction time had been better he might have been able to save his shirt. As it was, all he was doing was causing bruises, and he was already sore up top. I must have slept wrong on my stomach, he thought. That had to explain why his chest felt swollen and tender.
Had to... Even though he'd slept on his back.
Daisuke walked in by the time Satoshi gave up. At least he didn't have decorative paw prints adorning anymore.
Daisuke took some paper towels to his damp, spiky hair.
"You would think they'd cancel school in weather like this," he said, sounding hesitant and strained. Why was he trying to force conversation when they didn't usually talk in the mornings? Satoshi copied him in getting a few towels for his own hair. The trickling water was tickling at the suddenly too-sensitive skin of his neck.
"It's never stopped you before."
"Eh?" Daisuke stopped drying his hair and looked over a bit in shock at Satoshi. What was with that slightly-more-flat tone than usual? And could he possibly be bringing up his thievery? Something in his chest plummeted.
It wasn't his fault (not exactly) that Dark stole. Nonetheless, he did partake of it. How could he expect his friend to overlook that fact? Even though he'd agreed to never pursue him in his normal life.
The Niwa and Hikari feud would always be a locked gate between them.
Unless the bars broke.
Maybe they're cracking, Dark thought, scanning Satoshi through Daisuke's eyes as they stared at each other for only the briefest of seconds. The kaito was getting that strange vibe again. The same empty one he'd felt last night. And the more he felt it, the more he was sure Krad wasn't doing anything to cause it. But he was at the root of it. Somehow.
The sixth sense of his was being infuriatingly vague.
'Dark,' Daisuke said, interrupting his thoughts, 'I think he's a mind-reader.' The Wing Tamer shook some as he watched their quarry leave for the classroom. 'We've been busted. He knows what we're doing. He has to.'
'No. I'll tell you what he suspects. And he's gonna get it. This evening when you get home, we're going to Emiko to setup a heist, and little commander is invited.'
Daisuke fumbled the paper towel and missed the trashcan as he sputtered.
'No way! I'm not setting up a fake heist. Especially to involve Hiwatari when he's probably sick!'
'It's obvious now he's not sick physically, but I'm expecting him to slip up and reveal a clue that will let me know what's going on. It's important, Daisuke!' Dark spoke above more sputtering mutiny of his Tamer. 'Or at the very least he'll be so worn out we can conduct our test later without fear. And look at it this way,' the kaito said to tsking as they left the restroom, 'Emiko won't be mad at your absence tonight. And with the prospect of you doing your "Niwa duties", I doubt she'll carry out her punishment like she said she would.'
Daisuke's shoulders drew in as he shuddered. Emiko had given him the scolding of his life, waking him up after he'd somehow already been placed in a Rack, complete with rollers on each end. And she'd even turned the handle and ratchet a few times for good measure, making sure he remembered his place as the heir to the Niwa lineage.
But she hadn't asked for answers pertaining to his whereabouts of last night. According to his mom's weird thought process, that was his business and she wasn't going to interfere in his personal matters. She'd taught and instilled in him all the morals, knowledge, and skills to the best of her abilities.
However, when what he did affected his availability to steal...
Daisuke became blue in the face, whereas Dark could only grin. The thief had known she wouldn't ask where they'd been, therefore saving them from an embarrassing explanation, much to Daisuke's contrary 'it's not like what you're implying'.
Implying or not, Dark would be caught dead before being seen spying on another guy.
'You've done it many times before, watching where high security hid their spare keys,' Daisuke pointed out, catching on to his counterpart's thoughts.
'That's different. This is personal. ...Ick! That made it sound worse!'
And so, Daisuke asked the question that he'd been dying to ask since Dark had first refused a drawing of his own portrait: 'Are you homophobic?'
-.-
Risa could not keep her nose glued to her textbook enough. Once Satoshi had came in, interrupting their teacher mid-way through a poem and leaving her put-out (which the whole class silently applauded him for), she didn't dare let her eyes stray too far. One of the boys she'd been passing notes to noticed. Try as he might, he couldn't get her to loosen up from her sudden strict reading. Thinking he had wrote something offensive and he was now getting the cold shoulder, he left her alone, feeling very confused.
But she couldn't afford to draw attention to herself. Maybe if she sat very still Satoshi wouldn't notice her.
But that was just foolish. How could he not notice she was here? Especially if he'd come to school with the intention of getting her back. She had to check him out; to read him and see if he was throwing her any death glares.
Why did the full-moon have to be so far away? She was in danger until the playing field leveled out and her nemesis changed. A dark chuckle rose from her throat. When Satoshi changed he would need to learn the ropes of femininity. And there was none better than her; he'd already told her that. So he'd naturally veer to her, as long as he hadn't kill her by then. She gulped.
But why was she so worried? They were in school. There was nothing anyone could do to her here. She was safe, so long as she stayed in sight of the teachers. Maybe if she could play teacher's pet until the full-moon, then it would be smooth sailing from there.
When the teacher turned to write on the board, Risa peeked behind her. Satoshi sat at his desk as usual, without any indication that anything was bothering him as he worked. Could it be that he no longer suspected she'd done something to him? Perhaps not, because he didn't look any different than normal. She smiled happily and turned back to her book.
Of course! He'd probably reasoned that she'd only shocked him with static by accident. Who would think of being cursed? Hardly anyone truly believed in that in this era. And after having checked the book, it had said that only other powerful magic-users could detect some magics when within their range, depending. And Satoshi surely did not have powers like hers.
An evil grin spread her lips. She was powerful and mystical, something not to be trifled with or neglected. A wild thought of Phantom Dark coming to adore her filled her head, and for the rest of class she looked out the window, imaging her Dark being there, coming to her over and over again with different proposals and sweet words each time. She didn't noticed when Daisuke came in, and didn't even notice later when he sneezed so hard, nearly ramming his desk face-first.
And, again, she was lost to the world as a sneezing fit came over and just about shook the poor boy out of his seat, disrupting a lecture from their teacher.
"Mr. Niwa, has the weather given you a cold?" the teacher asked, adjusting her small glasses on her face as her sharp eyes trailed to him.
"Ugh. No, ma'am." He was getting mighty dizzy though.
'Good lord!' Dark exclaimed. 'It sucks when we're in sync like that. No doubt someone doesn't have good things in mind for me. Bet they're planning my demise after all that.'
'How can you sneeze like that and affect me?'
Daisuke could feel Dark shrug lightly.
'Magic. Gotta love it. Its got to have an outlet, and since you're my vessel, it pertains to you just as much as me. But since it's directed at me, we get a double dose.'
"Let's resume class then," the teacher said, a tad snootily, finding her place in the book she held.
So that means normal people have magic, too?'
'A lot of things in this world are magical,' Dark said, as a simple explanation.
The tiny scratching noise of writing abounded all around once more, accompanied by the pounding of rain. Daisuke looked out the window he was so near, barely listening as the teacher began droning on. It was hard to see through the glass. It was as if it was getting pressure-washed by the storm. Still, when lightning lit up the sky, variant dark clouds shone, looking as if gigantic pieces to a puzzle. Daisuke smiled at the thought. This scene would make for a very energetic painting.
This was how most of class pasted for him. Aside from the few notes he got from Saehara asking how come he was late, and also how come both he and Risa were staring avidly out the window. Was there something out there no one else was seeing? And if so, would he care to let him know what it was when he came back down to Earth? Daisuke waved him off. How like his best friend to be so observant at all hours during the day.
Satoshi was already familiar with the poem they were studying, and of its origins. He finished writing what meanings were behind it and what inspired its creation before anyone else. There wasn't as much time to sit quietly as usual. Since he'd arrived late, it wasn't long before the bell rang.
As the new teacher came in, Satoshi thought about the recent differences he'd noticed since Krad had gone. It was so uplifting to just be able to sit in class and not feel drained from lack of sleep, or worse; to not feel stressed over plaguing thoughts and burdensome emotions that weren't his. To not have to worry about dealing with a psycho over any new developments. To not have to dread school ending because that meant an increase in psychotic activity.
He almost felt giddy with happiness, so long as he didn't think about the new condition that had arisen after Krad's departure.
But of course his mind drifted to it. And with it came a sort of troubling worry. The worry didn't go away as he remembered the prescription he'd gotten from the doctor, which by all means should keep his body in-check and take care of most of his current problem. It was like he was forgetting something, and his mind wouldn't quit analyzing the facts until he figured out what it was.
Remembering what he'd concluded during his bath last night, it suddenly hit him, and he stood out of his seat. He'd been so floored by the cause that he hadn't consider the consequences of trying to fix it.
"Mr. Hiwatari, is there anything wrong?" their mild-mannered teacher asked, concerned by the look on his student's face.
"Uh, no, sir." Satoshi almost sat down again, but realized that he simply couldn't. What he needed now what a place where he could be alone and pace some of his distraught energy out and come to a conclusion on this disturbing revelation.
"Sir, may I be excused?" Satoshi quickly thought of an excuse, deciding to use one that would probably be true within the next few days. That was if he decided to keep taking the prescription. But he had to, didn't he? He wasn't a girl. He couldn't be a girl. "Some medication I took isn't agreeing with my stomach."
He didn't wait for a response, or a written pass, but walked out as fast as he could. The teacher didn't try to stop him. Reasoning dictated if he was about to throw up, then he needed to get to the restroom as fast as he could.
"Could I get a volunteer to go to the restroom and check on him?" the teacher asked. A few girls immediately put their hands up. "Girls, you know better. Ah, yes, you can go. Thank you. As for the rest of class, please pay attention to what I have to say next, as it's very important and you'll be getting tested on it later this week."
Satoshi paced restlessly across the restroom. Every now and then he would stop and look at his reflection in whatever mirror was closest, then he'd continue pacing again. Luckily no one seemed in need of the facility as it remained as empty as he'd found it.
Krad left me because I'm turning female. Like Dark, he can only inhabit males of my clan. If I take the hormones to stay male, Krad will return, won't he? Since I'm the last of my clan, I don't see how it's not possible that he won't return. Satoshi's brows were knitted tightly as he thought and paced. He rubbed a hand across his face, shuffling his feet at times, usually pausing a little afterward to look in the mirror again.
I can't stand him! I don't want him! Satoshi thought frantically. But... I can't become a girl.
A war was taking place inside his head. One part of him thought the decision should be no contest; anything was better than Krad. But another part declared viciously that he was male, that he couldn't change what was at the core of his being. Then a more logical part spoke up.
It would just be my outside that changes. Satoshi squinted his eyes shut tightly in horror. There didn't seem to be a way to accept that. But it looks like I don't have a choice; it's either become female, or allow Krad back...
Azure eyes found the mirror again and focused, searching its own reflection for the answer, or maybe just the resolve.
Transsexuals can disguise their gender as they're crossing over. I should be able to apply the same techniques and keep the change a secret. Providing my looks don't change drastically. Which they shouldn't, should they?
He walked closer to the mirror, studying himself more intensely than he could ever remember doing. It was just so hard to imagine something so identifying as his face changing and altering what he really was.
Get rid of one mask and obtain another, he thought disgustedly.
"Hiwatari, are you okay?" Daisuke unexpectedly appeared. Satoshi jolted and whirled to face the redhead. How long had he been standing there watching him? The other was already halfway in the large restroom.
"Niwa!" he said, utter surprise making his voice loud and high-pitched. Satoshi looked to the side, embarrassed. He was getting tired of being so embarrassed in front of the other. It was appalling. "It's nothing." His voice came out more controlled that time, thankfully.
Not knowing what to say to the obvious lie, Daisuke's expression became muddled with confusion and worry. The bluenette couldn't stand it. A minute went by. Finally, Daisuke decided to just show some support by placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. But Satoshi shook him off, and like a whipped horse, took off out of the room.
It was several minutes before Daisuke could get over the shock of the abrupt departure. What on Earth was causing this behavior? This wasn't like Satoshi at all. Satoshi was detached, but dedicated, cool and efficient at all times. Except for certain times... and last night... starting from the night before that. It had to be that artwork's fault. But what was it doing to his friend? And was it reversible?
'Dark,' Daisuke said, with unusual deliberation, 'we're making that heist a real one. And we are going to steal what counteracts that globe. If such a thing exists. It has to exist!'
'Easy. We still have to do those tests. We're not sure what the problem is.'
'How could it not be the globe? This all started after Krad touched it and he had that reaction.'
But the more and more the kaito watched the little commander, the more he began to think the globe wasn't the cause of what was going on. For one thing, Satoshi's aura wasn't polluted. On the contrary – it was brighter and stronger than it had ever been.
So why did Dark feel that emptiness? It was like a plummeting hole opening in his gut, getting deeper and deeper every time he looked at it reflecting from eyes the color of the endless sky.
What the hell did it mean? What did it all mean? And why was this happening?
Daisuke looked in the same mirror Satoshi had, his eyes churning to shiny amethyst. No way was he going to let this mystery baffle him for much longer. It was against his policy to bring Hikari artwork anywhere near a Hikari once it had been successfully stolen, but he'd bend if he had to. And there were a few arts that came to mind to use in finding the much needed truth.
-)*(-
A/N: It's been too long since an update. Sorry about that. I'm trying to get back in the roll of things while I'm on medical leave. I'd appreciate getting a peep and hearing from you guys again. I've missed you all, plus I'm a bit nervous. I can only hope that my absence had made me better.
I'm crossing my fingers and holding my breath, so how about letting me know it's safe to breathe again? Pretty please? I'd loves you forever! XD