Bonds of trust and pain

"Kari, what're you…?!"

"If Krad wants to hurt you, then I want you to know you're not alone. I don't care if Krad does want to kill me…I can't stand to see you in pain like this, Satoshi," said Kari calmly.

"Why're you doing this? Don't you understand?! Krad will kill you if you stay!"

"I don't want you to be alone anymore, squirt. I'm tired of standing on the sidelines while you get hurt."

"Kari…"

"You're not going to be alone anymore, Sato-kun…"

Satoshi was in disbelief…why wouldn't she leave? He'd never had anyone who would stay with him despite the fact that Krad wanted them dead. As she tightened her grip, he reluctantly leaned into her embrace…the pain from his back quickly began to fade. It seemed that Krad would let her live…for the time being at least. Before he realized it, he had fallen asleep in her arms.

"Sweet dreams, otouto…" whispered Kari gently as he fell fast asleep.

At first Satoshi wondered why he felt so warm…then he remembered that Krad tried to break free and he lost consciousness! He also recalled that Kari had stayed with him, despite his warning. He was suddenly concerned that Krad had killed her like he had his mother. He was about to get out of bed when he heard a chuckled behind him. He turned to see…Kari with a grin.

"I was wondering when you'd wake up, Sato-chan," said Kari with a gentle laugh.

"Kari, you're still alive? But…how?"

"I guess Krad gave up. He must have been too shocked to keep trying to take over for now!" she grinned.

"Why would you stay even with Krad about to kill you?!"

"I told you before. I can't bear to see you in so much pain; you're like a little brother to me, Sato-chan."

"…"

"You're going to be okay now…you're not alone anymore."

-----

At this Satoshi began to fall asleep again…he couldn't keep his eyes open for some reason. That was when he heard a snort from Krad.

Krad…why didn't you hurt Kari?

I would have if her damn aura hadn't overpowered me! I don't like her getting so close to you, Satoshi-sama…you know you are my everything.

So that's why she wasn't killed…

-----

Kari caught him gently and covered him up with the covers. Satoshi lay in her lap on the bed…fast asleep and looking more peaceful then he had in many years. She turned when she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Don't think that I won't kill you sooner or later. You won this round, but next time you won't be so lucky!"

"Why didn't you come out, Krad-kun?"

"Your damn aura overpowered mine."

"Tell you what; if you really want to come out, then you can use me and not him. I don't particularly mind so long as you don't hurt Satoshi."

"Feh…so you didn't learn your lesson from the other night. I hope you can handle having my wings!" said Krad before he vanished.

-----

"Dai, I'm worried about her…"

You're talking about that girl, Kari, right?
Yeah…I'm afraid that Krad will kill her after she took him from Satoshi and let him use her.

She didn't seem that afraid of Krad, Dark.

She doesn't know him like we do. And she wasn't in her apartment last night!

How do you…? Dark, don't tell me you went there again while I was asleep!
…

You jerk! You know I hate it when you do that!

Look, I'm just concerned that she'll get hurt because she doesn't know what she's doing. Can you think of anywhere she might be?

Have you tried Satoshi's place? He said that he let her stay there after the Rutile was taken.

Let's go.

You better not try to pull the same stunt you did with Riku!

…

Dark!

------

She heard an all-too-familiar flap of wings nearby. She looked out side to see Dark landing and about to open the door. She tensed…somehow Satoshi sensed this and wearily opened his eyes. They were met with a pair of crimson, cat-like eyes that he knew all too well.

"Well this is a surprise. I never thought I'd ever see you sleeping on the job, Commander!" said Dark with a snicker.

"Dark! What're you doing in my…?!"

"I was worried that little Kari-chan might have had another encounter with your more irritating half. Instead I find you asleep in her lap!" said Dark with a laugh.

"Get lost, pervert! Or would you rather deal with both Krad and Satoshi?!" said Kari coldly.

"Yeah right…Satoshi is Krad's tamer! There's no way they can both be out at the same time!" scoffed Dark.

"Wanna bet?"

"Kari, what're you…?" hissed Satoshi. All he got was a wink and a feeling that she was about to do something he wouldn't like.

Oy, Krad-kun!

I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!!!!

Guess who's in Sato-kun's apartment.

Dark.

How'd you like to shock Phantom Dork?

It would be my pleasure…though I doubt Satoshi-sama will like what you want him to do.

Who said you were going to appear through Sato-kun? I told you earlier that I don't mind if you use me instead of him, so long as you don't hurt Sato-kun.

Are you…?

You can use my body instead of Sato's. I bet that'll shock that idiot thief Dork!

At first nothing seemed to happen…then she felt a jolt of pain from her back. She suspected that this was what Satoshi had almost gone through earlier. She acted like she felt nothing, and when she saw both their eyes widen in shock, she knew that the wings had finally shown. Her grin didn't calm Satoshi down in the least…he just grew more and more upset as Krad took over her body instead of his.

"Kari…" whispered Satoshi in worry.

-----

I told Dark that he'd have to deal with you and Sato-kun. Remember Krad, you can use me ONLY so long as you don't hurt Satoshi!

Very well…I guess I could agree to that.

-----

"We meet again, Dark Mousy," said Krad coldly.

"Impossible! How did you take over her body without the Rutile?!"

"She said I could use her instead as long as I didn't hurt Master Satoshi."

Before Dark or Satoshi could say anything, Krad attacked the thief. Dark would have stayed if Daisuke hadn't forced him to leave.

-----

Dai, what'd you think you're doing?! We have to stop Krad!

NO! Satoshi knows what to do! The best thing we can do is leave and regroup!

But what if he attacks Satoshi after we leave?!

You heard what he said! She only gave him permission to use her body as long as he didn't hurt Satoshi! I'm pretty sure if you hadn't shown up, he never would have come out in the first place.

…

-----

"Kari! What did you think you were doing?! Krad could have hurt you!" said Satoshi in worry.

"No he wouldn't have. Not if he wanted to keep a willing host around…" said Kari with a shrug. (Krad re-gave her control once the Phantom Thief had left.)

"Why did you let him take over?!"

"It was the easiest way to get rid of Dark. Besides, he's only allowed to use me so long as you don't get hurt," said Kari. She sat on the bed wearily…allowing Krad to use her had taken more than she originally thought.

"Kari, please don't let Krad use you anymore; if you do, then…!" started Satoshi. She cut him short.

"Look, I get along better with Krad than I do Dark. And he has agreed to leave you alone so long as he can use me instead!"

"But…!"

"I think we've had enough excitement for one night. Let's get some sleep, 'kay?"

"Kari…"

"Would you like to hear something funny about Krad?"

"What could possibly be amusing about him?" snorted Satoshi.

"He hates it when I call him Krad-kun," said Kari with a grin. Satoshi stared at her in disbelief before he chuckled…she was right; that was funny!

A week later…

"All right Sato-kun, it's time to have some fun!" said Kari happily.

"What're you…?"

"We're going to the new amusement park silly!"

"Nani?! Why're we going there?" asked Satoshi in surprise.

"You know as well as I do that there's no school today. And since today's my day off, I thought we'd go have some fun at the amusement park," explained Kari.

"I don't know…I don't think that's a good idea. What if…"

"Krad said he'd let us have some fun today. He's feeling generous today…if you can believe it. And by the way, you don't exactly have a choice…we're going even if I have to drag you there," said Kari evilly.

"What!"

"You spend too much time acting like an adult. You need to act your age once and while or you'll burn out. And as for that fool Hiwatari…I already hid your cell so he can't get ahold of us unless he comes in person!" laughed Kari.

"My name's Hiwatari," Satoshi pointed out.

"Not from what Krad told me. He said your real name is Hikari. And I gotta tell ya, that sounds a LOT better than Hiwatari Satoshi!"

"…"

"Let's get going! Oh, and I don't recommend wearing your glasses…you can lose them easily on the roller coaster."

"All right, I'll leave my glasses. I sure hope this doesn't turn into a disaster…" said Satoshi in defeat.

The cell rang…it was Commander Hiwatari. He had found yet another way to bring Krad out. When Satoshi didn't answer, he tried again…and again, and again. He grew frustrated and wondered why Satoshi was ignoring him. He then tried through the home phone…still no answer. Now he was losing patience. He left an ominous warning on the answering machine…

"You can't escape me forever by ignoring me, Satoshi. You will have to bring out your better half eventually. This won't be the last time you hear from me about this…"

A certain homicidal blond who had stayed behind heard the message. He briefly thought about warning Kari and Satoshi, then thought the better of it. He'd tell them before they came back. He knew that the foolish Commander Hiwatari would be paying them a visit to see why Satoshi didn't answer. If he found out about Kari and her strange ability to bring him out willingly, then she'd be in danger; Satoshi would be in worse since his step-father would consider him useless.

Krad sighed and waited in boredom for Hiwatari to pay his inevitable visit for answers. He wasn't about to answer the door for that man, if he could help it. Even if he did get in, Krad figured Kari would allow him to stay with her to avoid him. He did have a decent excuse after all! His mind then began to wander towards thoughts of a certain girl and her strange attitude towards him and Dark… He immediately snapped out of his daze.

"What am I doing? Why am I thinking of her as a friend and not a vessel?!" said Krad in anger. But for some reason he couldn't help but feel different around her. Whenever she was around, he felt like he could trust her. He learned a long time ago that trust shouldn't be given away lightly…the hard way. His memory of what happened flashed through his mind and he drifted into the comfort of the one place he could never become confused. His memories.