Ever Just As Sure As the Sun Will Rise
Stage 5

"One, two, three, one, two, three... Daisuke- keep with the beat! I'm laying it out for you! How hard can it be to listen to me tell you when to put your damned foot down," Dark shouted, smiling sadistically from the edge of the room.

Dark had to shout, because it was a very large room, and Daisuke and Risa were dancing in the middle of the floor, trying to dance to a waltz played by servants Masahiro and Ritsuko on the violin, Freedert with a flute, and Elliot with a harpsichord. They were very good musicians, of course. They could even continue to play well, despite having to stifle laughter at Daisuke attempts to dance. Freedert especially, since she had to use her breath to play her instrument.

"It's not that easy!" Daisuke yelled to Dark over Risa's shoulder, seeing her smirk out of the corner of his eye. Dark began to laugh and Daisuke blushed fiercely, wanting to bury his face in his hands, but finding them placed on Risa's back and holding her hand up. And, after being reprimanded for the placements of his hands countless times, if he took them off of those particular spots, he was told that he would find a lovely surprise in his room late at night.

Daisuke could only imagine what that 'surprise' was. He certainly didn't want to find out.

So his hands stayed in place as he attempted to get back into the rhythm of the music. He even went so far as to close his eyes to let the music wash over him. Which was a mistake since he then found himself on the floor having tripped over his own two feet.

Needless to say, Dark was having a laughing fit, Risa was giggling, and all of the orchestration had stopped, the musicians looking away, trying to suppress their laughter. Masahiro's face was even red for the want to laugh.

"You... Are so hopeless…" Dark said between bouts of laughter and gasps of breath.

All Daisuke could do to respond was blush madly, crossing his arms, his butt still firmly planted on the floor.

"C'mon. Let's try it again," Risa said trying her hardest not to giggle while the musicians got ready to play again.

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"For all of the room in this castle, for all the people still in this castle, for all the restrictions I set about coming into the west wing, how is it that I never seem to be alone?" Satoshi asked, not even bothering to turn around. He could hear the footsteps, the breathing, the rustle of clothes. It was not so windy outside that it impaired his ears, and all was silent in the west wing. At least, it was supposed to be.

"I'm sorry, Lord Hikari. Shall I leave you in peace?" Riku said in a soft voice.

"Hmm... There must be a reason for you to enter my clandestine domain. I wish to know it," Satoshi said, finally turning around.

"Well... I just thought you should know that Krad's destroying his rooms... Shall I stop him?"

"I don't think you can. It doesn't matter anyways. It is his room anyways. He shall have to deal with it being destroyed."

"I will have to deal with it being destroyed, you mean," Riku said crossly.

"I give you orders to ignore any commands that Krad may give you. If he threatens you, notify me. I shall deal with him," Satoshi said, turning to face the wall again, signifying that the conversation was over. Riku nodded, though Satoshi couldn't see it.

"As you wish, my Lord," she said as she left. Maybe she would go visit Daiki again?

Satoshi sighed as he heard her footsteps fade away. He stepped closer to the wall, closing his eyes. He couldn't bear to look at it anymore... The portrait of Satoshi as he had been before the curse. He rested his head against the painting, firmly placing a fist next to his ear. He rested there for a few seconds.

Satoshi opened his eyes once more, backed off from the wall, glared at his portrait. He hissed and stepped forward violently while raising his hand. He struck the painting, digging into it with his fingernails and slashing it. He stepped back once more, admiring his work.

"Much better," Satoshi said as he turned to walk deeper into the west wing.

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Daiki was sleeping yet again, having finished his food. Riku had left Daiki after he finished to take his platter back down to the kitchen. That was when she heard the commotion in Krad's rooms and spied him wrecking them.

Riku checked in on him again, her face falling from its cheery smile to a pout as she poked her head in and saw him sleeping. No matter. She would just come back later. Maybe he'll be awake?

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Dark finished the dance lesson for the day with a "Gees, Daisuke, you have terrible coordination, but you're not bad for a commoner who's never danced before" to which Daisuke growled.

It wasn't that he hated the tall, handsome man. Daisuke liked Dark, actually.

It was just that the purple-haired one seemed to have it out for Daisuke.

It wasn't Dark that Daisuke had to worry about, though. The man just loved teasing the little redhead. Come on! He is just so tease-able!

There were other persons in the castle, though, that surely had it out for Daisuke.

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"Hey- Daisuke. You wouldn't happen to know a man named Daiki, would you?" Dark said later that night. Daisuke was eating in his room today, since Lord Hikari had holed himself up in his wing.

"Daiki?! Of course I know him! He's my grandpa!" Daisuke exclaimed, standing up suddenly and causing his platter to fall to the floor with a clatter. Dark raised an eyebrow at the redhead, surprised by this outburst.

"Well, you're grandpa is here," Dark said, leaning back in his chair. He tucked his hands behind his head, watching Daisuke closely.

"Really? I must see him! Is he alright?"

"Whoa! Hold on, Dai. I don't know much about him except that he's here as a guest. Much like you."

"Oh... But he was so sick when I left him... I was out to get him some medicinal herbs. That's how I stumbled upon this place."

"Ah, so that's what it was?" Dark asked, smiling slightly.

"Yeah." Daisuke blushed slightly, scratching his head. It was embarrassing to let this man know how he had stumbled upon the castle... After all, it was quite a distance from the village, and one could probably find said medicinal herbs closer to home.

"Well... How about I take you to see him?" Dark offered. He wasn't a bad guy. He really wasn't.

"Really, would you do that?" Daisuke asked, eyes brightening considerably.

"Sure. No problem. There's nothing else to do, anyways," Dark said, speaking the truth.

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Krad hissed quietly as he silently fled the staircase. So that boy had made friends with Dark? Perfect. Just perfect.

Not only did the Master like the boy, but he gets Dark to help him learn how to act. No doubt the boy would only climb in status in the eyes of Lord Hikari.

Whilst Krad fell.

That would not do. That would not do at all.

But! Hadn't he found out a precious gem of knowledge? That old man that he had found... He is Daisuke's grandfather? The one that the boy had been trying to help when he got lost?

Yes... That would indeed prove useful.

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A/N: I sprained my wrist. So you better be happy that I updated this. My wrist hurts so much; it's extremely hard to type. Don't you just love me? (Hee hee. Kidding)

Anyways, I got a little pamphlet thingy about becoming an author. It was funny. And weird. And cool. I'm going to check out the organization to make sure they're legitimate, and then maybe go for the program. It sounds cool, being paid to write. 'Cause really, all I'm doing now is writing for my own pleasure... And yours, of course. But to get paid for doing something I love to do anyways... That would be cool. (Even though I wouldn't be writing fan fiction -giggle-)

Um...

Sorry this chapter is short... But again- the wrist. And this is a purty good place to stop, so why not?

Please review.

--Chiisai Hito