Satoshi woke up again in the same room he had before. There were no windows but he could tell time had passed. He realized he must have passed out shortly after regaining control. From what he could tell, Krad seemed to lose whatever care he had for his host's health since this whole predicament started. Satoshi knew Krad's activities were taking their toll on him.

'Don't worry, Satoshi,' Krad assured him, 'it will all be over in a matter of time.'

'Must you always interrupt my thoughts?' Satoshi demanded, feeling slightly frustrated.

'I'm simply comforting you, dear boy.'

'You're not very comforting, Krad.'

Krad laughed quietly, 'suit yourself.'

Satoshi moved his head to test the small cut on his neck. He could feel it had stopped bleeding and whatever did escape his veins had dried. 'Look what you've got us into,' he remarked bitterly. Krad did not say anything in response, but his aura said 'I seem to recall you didn't want me talking to you.' Satoshi ignored it and propped his shoulder against the wall to help himself get up on his knees. He inched his way to the basement door and listened. The house beyond the door was incredibly quiet. Satoshi guessed it was either the middle of the day and everyone was away working or it was late at night and everyone was asleep. He knew he would not have trouble removing the handcuffs; first, they were his own, and second, he had knowledge of picking locks in order to counter Dark's skills. He looked about, trying to assess where Dark's 'extra measures' were, knowing they would be more of a problem.

'Trying to escape?' Krad whispered in Satoshi's head.

'Do you really have to ask?' the boy replied.

'Now, now. You know you're going to need my help.'

'Is that what you think?'

'You know Dark's surest way of keeping me in place would be through magic. You cannot use magic to destroy his…I can.'

'How do I know that once I give you control and we escape, you'll give it back?'

'What if I gave you my word? I have yet to lie to you…'

Satoshi hesitated and stared at the ground as he considered Krad's offer. Although the angel enjoyed tormenting him, he had never lied about anything. In fact, everything he ever said was true…to a sufficient extent. 'How do you even know you can break his magic? Dark would not have put it in place if he thought you could escape anyway.'

'Were you conscious when I had that wonderful conversation with Dark? I told him he would only hasten his doom to use magic. His body knows that and would not lend him all the strength he would need to hold me. He doesn't know it, but his measures will be easily broken.'

'How can you be so certain?'

'Do not forget, Satoshi, that I started this game. I know its rules and how it is supposed to end.'

Satoshi finally felt like they were getting somewhere, 'you have a conclusion in mind…'

'Of course I do. I'm not making this up as I go.'

'What could you possibly hope to accomplish?'

'The longer we stay here discussing, the more time Dark has to return,' Krad replied, changing the subject, 'We need to escape while he's not around. I'm sure you understand.'

'I do,' Satoshi replied. He looked about hoping to find a tool for the handcuffs. Luckily, one of the Niwas had been careless enough to drop a paperclip at some point in time. For once, he wished he had Dark's gifts as he slowly made progress on the cuffs. He finally felt the click and pulled them off. He rubbed his sore wrists and sighed. He knew it was Krad's turn, but allowed himself more time to think before asking for his help. If he left, it would certainly deprive Dark of information he could use to save Daisuke. Still, Krad would not tell him anything he did not want to. Satoshi decided the best way he could help Dark's efforts would be to conduct investigations of his own using whatever Krad might leak to him. He got off his knees and stood. 'Get us out of here,' Satoshi said at last.