Disclaimer: I do not own DNAngel or any of its characters

Hey everybody, I hope the New Year is going good for you! Thank you to those who reviewed, here is chapter Twenty-Two!

Arranged Marriage

Chapter Twenty-Two

"I'm getting the bed, and that's final!" Riku shouted.

"Oh really?" Dark asked.

"Yes really!" Riku shouted.

"Fine, you can have the bed, under one condition though." Dark said.

"And what condition is that?" Riku asked.

"I get something in compensation for letting you have the bed." Dark said.

"What is it that you want?" Riku asked, sitting on the bed.

"Hmm…Nothing much." Dark said, checking Riku out from head to toe.

"Pervert!" Riku shouted, throwing a pillow towards him.

Dark caught the pillow.

"Riku, we're going to get married, and you know it. Something like this is going to happen anyways, so you might as well get used to it. Okay?" Dark asked, nearing Riku.

"How am I supposed to get used to something like this?" Riku asked, as Dark got too close for comfort.

"Usually, Dark would end up being the victor…" Were the words that kept repeating themselves repeatedly in her head.

"Riku." Dark said.

"What?" Riku asked, backing as far away as possible in a comical way to lighten the mood.

Riku backed into the headboard of the bed, as Dark slowly neared her. As he finally got up to her as close as possible he spoke, "About yesterday, what did he do to you?"

"Huh?" Riku mumbled stupidly.

"What did…Krad do to you?" Dark asked.

"Wh—why?" Riku asked nervously.

"Because, I want to be the only one to touch you, and be with you." Dark said, kissing her on her collarbone, as he embraced her loosely.

"Wha—what are you talking about Dark?" Riku asked, gently pushing him away.

"I want you all for myself Riku. I don't want anyone else to have you, or even come near you… I know it's selfish, but I couldn't care less about that, all I care about, is you…" Dark whispered, pulling Riku up into his lap effortlessly.

"Usually, Dark would end up being the victor…" The words rung in her head again and Riku's heart began to beat fast.

/ "I—I don't know what's going on anymore!" /

Riku looked up at Dark from her position in Dark's lap, and her face felt like she was burning up.

Dark just looked down at her, holding her head up with his left arm and hand.

"What are you thinking…?" Dark asked, shifting in his seat.

Riku was silent, her mind completely out in space.

"Riku…" Dark said, sounding a little impatient.

Riku finally realized that Dark had speaking to her, and then she stuttered, barely managing to say anything except for, "What?"

Dark repeated the question, and Riku paused, thinking about how to reply.

/ "If I reply with something he doesn't want to hear, what am I going to do? On the other hand, if I say something he wants to hear, it might make him think the wrong things! What am I supposed to do?" / Riku shouted in her mind, shutting her eyes.

As Riku kept on thinking, Dark lowered his head, and placed a chaste kiss on Riku's forehead, bringing her back from wherever her mind had wandered off to.

Riku looked back up at Dark innocently, as Dark lifted her off his lap effortlessly, and placed her on the bed.

"Go to sleep. It's better if we have a good relationship, especially since I plan to have kids in the future." Dark said, completely serious.

Riku sat up straight, but Dark pushed her back down onto the bed, making one last comment, "Unless you're offering yourself to me, get some sleep."

Riku quickly crawled under the blankets, and stayed there, taking Dark's warning seriously.

"Good. I'll see you in the morning." Dark said, setting up his bed on the floor, and then shutting the lights off.

Riku stayed in bed, rigid as a board, unable to calm her breathing and heartbeat.

Dark lay on his futon on the floor listening to Riku's breathing—it drove him crazy.

The next morning, Riku and Dark greeted each other unenthusiastically, mumbling to themselves about how much they wanted to sleep.

As they left the room together, they walked into Daisuke.

"Good morning Dark, Riku!" Daisuke greeted, smiling.

Dark and Riku both leaned on either side of Daisuke's shoulders, both worn out.

"What's going on?" Daisuke shouted, freaked out by the physical contact of both Riku and Dark.

"Need…Sleep…" Dark and Riku muttered, leaning more weight on Daisuke.

"Uhh, guys? Err—I don't think this is going to work…" Daisuke mumbled, completely ignored by Dark and Riku both.

As Daisuke stood nervously, Satoshi walked up from behind.

"Huh? Oh Satoshi, do you mind helping me with this?" Daisuke asked awkwardly.

Satoshi stared for a moment before taking Riku's shoulders, and pulling her away from Daisuke.

"…"

Satoshi stood, holding onto Riku.

"Satoshi, what about Dark?" Daisuke asked.

"I'm not touching him." Satoshi stated, as if he were saying the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh I see… Well, thanks for helping me." Daisuke said, looking at Riku.

"Daisuke looked down at Dark, and tried to push him off, but ended up falling.

Daisuke looked up at Satoshi, the world was spinning and blurring, and things were even changing color?

/ "Wait! Why is Satoshi's hair the only thing that changed?" / Daisuke thought, as he saw Satoshi's sky blue hair change to a beautiful gold.

Daisuke tried to get up, but with Dark lying on him, it was nearly impossible.

Satoshi sneered, and then kicked Daisuke in the face, "Go to sleep, little brat."

Riku immediately reacted to the voice, and stood up.

"Krad! What the hell are you still doing here?" Riku shouted angrily.

Krad smiled devilishly, as he grabbed Riku's hair, pulling her towards him.

"I don't need a reason to be here, and I think it's time for you to shut up." Krad said, putting a cloth damp with a sleeping drug against Riku's mouth.

In a few seconds, Krad had put Riku to sleep.

Krad turned his back on Daisuke and Dark, but that was a huge mistake.

Dark came from behind, knocking Krad down with a single blow.

"I see you're finally awake." Krad said mockingly, as he sat up, still holding onto Riku.

"I thought we went over this before." Dark said, tightening his fist.

"Really, I don't seem to remember." Krad retorted.

"Well then, I'll make sure you do this time, because I'm not about to let you run off with Riku!" Dark shouted, kicking Krad over.

"Are you blind or stupid? Do you not see what you're doing?" Krad asked.

"I'm neither. So explain to me what that is supposed to mean. I don't speak stupid." Dark said.

"I have Riku here, as what you might call a hostage." Krad said threateningly.

"And your point is?" Dark asked calmly.

"Don't you care what happens to her?" Krad shouted.

"Of course I do, and you do too… That is why I know that you would not actually put Riku in danger instead of yourself. Krad, you—are in love with Riku." Dark stated, pointing his index finger at Krad.

End Chapter Twenty-Two

Hello everybody, hope you all enjoyed the first update of 2007! Thank you for reading, please review!