Dark jogged ahead of Daisuke to catch up with Engel. Daisuke stayed a few feet behind and watched as Dark conversed casually with his new friend. 'What is he up to?' he wondered as he tried guess what they were saying. After a few minutes of being excluded, he moved up to them.
"We can meet there during lunch," Engel was saying.
"Just make sure no one follows you," Dark replied.
"This isn't the first time I've done this," Engel bragged, "I've got it under control."
Daisuke did not know how to break in without getting a negative reaction from Engel. "So…uh…what's up?" he asked nervously. He immediately regretted the question, which was not the most strategic thing to say. Engel gave him a glare of disapproval for being so nosy. "Um…sorry."
Dark put his hand over Daisuke's face and pushed him away rudely, "don't mind him; he knows what I'll do if he tells." Engel chuckled mischievously in a way that brought Krad to mind. Dark and Daisuke exchanged nervous glances.
"Why are you socializing with him like that?" Daisuke whispered.
"I'm gathering information, ok? I'm not going to just come out and interrogate him…this has to be done smoothly," Dark answered with one of his suave grins.
"Very good," Engel said aloud for both of them to hear.
Dark and Daisuke turned their attention to him. "Eh?" Dark replied awkwardly.
"It's a good tactic," Engel stated. He turned to face them before continuing, "but he wouldn't have known anything about your predicament." He had a different look in his eyes.
"I think I missed something," Dark admitted.
"I suggest you start thinking more 'out-of-the-box'. Otherwise, you'll never make it in my world, Dark."
"You said he wasn't Krad," Dark whispered angrily to Daisuke.
"Well, Hideyoshi's not you and yet, here you are! I don't know all the rules," Daisuke whimpered pathetically.
"I'm glad you found him so quickly. I wasn't looking forward to waiting," Engel/Krad said, "now, why don't we get to the point?"
"Sounds like a plan," Dark agreed, "Why don't you let us out so you and I can have a real fight?"
"I'd be glad to let you out, Dark," Krad replied with an endearing smile, "of course, you'd have to cooperate."
"Cooperate," Dark repeated, "I've been playing by your rules this whole time."
"And I thank you for it," Krad responded pleasantly, "I would have been quite upset if your own foolishness resulted in your death."
"Death!?" Daisuke exclaimed.
"Yes, death," Krad explained, "luckily for you, Dark, you've stopped the countdown on your life by coming here. Congratulations." The evil angel paused for effect before pointing at them, "But the game isn't over yet." Daisuke gasped in a girlish way while Dark folded his arms defiantly. Krad seemed to delight in their characteristic reactions. "I suppose you could call this the climax. Up until now, everything has been working out for you…now, it could go either way…depending on your decision."
"That doesn't sound good," Daisuke murmured.
"We'll see about that. I think you're making a terrible mistake by underestimating me," Dark warned.
"Sounds like a challenge. Here is your choice: you and I become one or you and Daisuke never leave this place."
"You're losing your touch, Krad," Dark declared, laughing, "I saw that one coming a week ago."
"As long as I get what I want," Krad replied, "I could care less about my predictability."
"You probably saw this one coming," Dark began, "but my answer is no."
"Very well. You should get comfortable," Krad suggested, "that is…if you can be comfortable while running for your lives."
"What!?" Daisuke exclaimed.
Krad stood up straight, taking on a domineering appearance. "I am going to turn every element of this world against you. Your lives here will be Hell. If you die here, you die in the real world," he explained, making no effort to hide the pleasure he took in it. After his statement settled in, his stance softened and he shrugged innocently. "But I'm not completely heartless," he said, "when you tire of facing death at every turn, you can take back your answer and choose the safer alternative. Of course, you've never been one to do things the easy way, have you Dark?"
Dark instinctively threw out his hand, expecting Krad to be cut down by his magic. When nothing happened, he remembered who's body he inhabited. Although Hideyoshi Niwa shared every one of his physical traits except his wings, the boy was still only human in this world. Krad laughed at his attempt, grating against Dark's fragile temper. Before he could retaliate, Engel's eyes went blank and his body seemed to go limp. Seconds later, he blinked and stared at Dark.
"Why are you glaring at me?" he asked without a hint of Krad's spiteful manner.
Dark convinced himself Krad was done talking and he now faced an innocent human. "No reason…aren't we late for school?"
"Oh! I—"Engel's speech stopped abruptly. He blinked twice and looked at Dark in a new way. "You're…oh my god! You're him!"
"What?"
"You killed them…you killed all of them! Now…you're here to kill me! I can see it in your eyes!"
"I didn't kill anyone!"
Engel's eyes widened more and he pointed accusingly at Daisuke, "i-it's the knife!"
Daisuke looked down to see a long, bloody knife in his hand. "AH!" he screamed before dropping the knife.
"What the hell…"
Engel pointed at them both with a trembling finger, "you're not getting me too!" He took off running. The people around them slowly began to realize what was going on and some pulled out their phones while others screamed at them.
Dark grabbed the shoulder of Daisuke's sleeve, "we're leaving!"