Disclaimer: You know, the usual. I don't own dn angel, but everything else I own.

Start

Dark sulked, staring into the midnight sky. He remembered what happened a few moments ago, after he kissed Krad.

Flashback

Dark kissed Krad. After a while, Krad shoved Dark away, violently. Dark was shocked, to say at the least.

"I don't know what sick game you're playing, Dark, but it's not funny." Krad aimed a feather at Dark, and pieces of cement from the crumbling side of the museum fell on the purple haired theif.

When Dark finally crawled out of the mess, the blond was gone without a trace. Dark felt a tear fall. What did he do wrong? What made the blond doubt him so much?

'Dark? Are you alright?' asked Daisuke softly.

Dark didn't answer, but instead he flew back to the Niwa home, painting in hand.

End of Flashback

Dark heard someone come and sit beside him. He continued staring at the sky, and concentrated on hearing the waves splashing on the rocks below anyway.

"Krad... is just a bit frightened." said Satoshi.

Dark didn't expect it to be Satoshi. "What do you care?" he asked bitterly.

Satoshi furrowed his eyebrow. "You mean you really like him back?"

"OF COURSE I DO!!"

"Or are you just saying that because you know I'm listening to your every word?" asked another voice softly.

Dark turned and saw golden eyes eying him suspiciously.

"What is it with you and doubting me twenty four seven?!" yelled Dark.

"Many, many things happened during the war, Dark. I'm not sure what to believe and what to doubt anymore."

Dark's eyes softened. The war. They were deserted, Krad, Raidon and him.

"Krad, I was there with you, wasn't I? I didn't leave in the middle of the night like the others did... They asked me to, you know." replied Dark softly.

"I know. I saw it... I saw the hesitation in your eyes. You WANTED to go with them. You wanted to leave me there, since you knew I wouldn't abandon my best pal, and Raidon would stubbornly refuse to admit that the war is lost." answered Krad bitterly.

"I did not." denied Dark violently. "I hesitated because... because..." Dark stopped. What the hell did he hesitate for anyway?

"Because of what, Dark? Could you give me another valid reason for your hesitation?"

"Okay, fine. I admit I don't remember. But I'm sure it's not for that reason."

"How could you be sure if you don't remember?" pressed Krad.

"Because... I love you Krad, and I mean it."

"No. You're just saying that because if I fall for you, it would be easier for you to snatch painting from right under my nose. You just want to use me!!" yelled Krad.

"NO WAY! I'D NEVER DO THAT!!"

"And tell me why not, Dark Mousy? Tell me why, and I will wait two days for that answer. After those two days, I swear that all my feelings for you will be no more!" The feather in Krad's hand glowed as he vowed.

"No.. Krad, don't please!! You still have thirty minutes to take it back!! Take it back!" begged Dark.

Krad gave Dark a defiant look and flew away. Dark was horrified. Two days... Two days and no more than that... How that hell is he going to manage without any help?! Dark bit his lip. Raidon. Raidon would know something about this. He had to know a way to make Krad take back his vow. He just had to!!

Quickly, he flew to the direction of the Akina estate only to be told that Ryuu was out visiting his deranged mother. Dark thanked the butler for the adress and left to find Ryuu. He arrived to see Ryuu watching his mother shout her same old accusations, and Raidon trying to persuade Ryuu to leave the old hag.

"Ryuu-sama... Please.. This won't do you any good." pleaded Raidon.

"YOU!! YOU KILLED YOUR SIBLINGS ON PURPOSE, JUST TO HAVE THE FORTUNE ALL TO YOURSELF!!" she screamed.

Ryuu stopped dead. That was a new accusation.

"YOU'RE A GREEDY BRAT!! ALWAYS WERE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE!! YOU DIDN'T SAVE EVEN ONE OF THEM!! YOU ENJOYED WATCHING THEM BURN, DIDN'T YOU? YOU'RE NOT MY CHILD!! YOU'RE THE CHILD OF A DEVIL!!" she continued.

Raidon felt a stab of guilt, sadness and fury from Ryuu. Ryuu was going into self-blame again!! He had to make the old hag stop!! If not, his poor host would attempt to kill himself, and might actually succeed this time!!

'Sorry, Ryuu-sama.. But I have to get you out.' said Raidon. He tried to force his way out of Ryuu. But Ryuu forced him back in. Stunned, Raidon forgot about getting Ryuu out of the room. Ryuu had never resisted him before.

"SEE? YOUR LITTLE DEVIL FRIEND HAD COME TO GET YOU!! YOUR FATHER WAS RIGHT!! YUKI IS THE ANGEL, AND YOU'RE THE FALLEN!! GO, GO WITH YOUR LITTLE FRIEND AND BURN IN HELL ETERNALLY!" she accused.

Ryuu turned to the window and saw Dark. Dark had heard everything his mother said. Then, Dark silently went inside the room. He transformed iinto Daisuke.

"THAT'S RIGHT!! KILL ME, THAT I MIGHT BE WITH MY CHILDREN!!! KILL ME, THAT YOU WILL HAVE FINALLY MURDERED ME AND HAVE NO ONE TO SHARE WITH!! KILL YOUR FATHER RIGHT AFTER, SO THAT WE WILL HAVE A COMPLETE FAMILY AGAIN!! A PERFECT FAMILY, WITHOUT YOU!!" she gloated.

Daisuke went over to the woman. She wasn't even that old. A bit older than Emiko by about two years only. She just had tangled hair, and a crazed look in her eyes. His fury grew with each word she said to his friend. Ryuu actually believed her too! He slapped her, and she stopped, stunned. Ryuu was too much in a daze to do anything.

"Do you know what you are doing? You are killing the only person you have left! He comes here to visit you, even though he knows you hate him. Does your husband visit you? Of course not!! He thinks your crazy. Akina-kun comes, even though you hate him. Even though you say these horrible things to him. Why don't you think about what you're doing?" scolded Daisuke. He grabbed Ryuu's arm and left. Ryuu wordlessly followed Daisuke. Once out of the building, Daisuke looked at his friend, who hasn't said a single word. Not that Ryuu is a noisy person.
"Akina-kun? Are you all right?" asked Daisuke softly. "I'm sorry that I hit your mother. She just... She said too much."

Raidon took over. He looked at Daisuke. "Thanks for getting Ryuu out of there. That... was new... She never said those things before."

"Ah.. Oh yeah, Dark needs your help." said Daisuke, remembering Dark's little problem.
"What about?"

Daisuke related the whole story. Raidon merely shook his head. "No known way. You're just going to have to remember what you hesitated for. Only that would actually satisfy Krad."

Meanwhile...

Krad looked at the feather in his hand. His vow... He still had two minutes to take it back. Should he?

One minute left.

"Krad, maybe you should..." started Satoshi.

"No... Living like this is torture." said Krad firmly.

"Krad, you'll kill Dark eventually!" yelled Satoshi.

Five...

"Krad, please!!"

Four...

"No... There's not enough time.." said Krad softly.

Three...

"Krad, you have to try!!"

Two...

"Okay, fine!! I take back-"

One...

"-the vow that I said to-"

Zero.

"Dark... One word too late, Satoshi-sama." sighed Krad.

So close...