Engel gasped and managed to get a few words out of his constricted throat, "what are…you…doing?"

Daisuke took up his knife once again and gulped. Engel's mouth formed a snarl and he kicked Dark away from him. Dark stumbled on his injured leg and fell to one knee.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" he demanded. Dark noticed him twitch awkwardly before glaring at him. "What is this?" Engel inquired in a different tone, "what are you hoping to accomplish? I have you accused of murder and you decide to live up to it?"

"Don't take it personally, Krad, we thought it would be fun," Dark teased as he stood up. Daisuke blinked and forced himself to catch up with what was going on. The instant switching between Engel and Krad left him wondering who was who…but Dark always seemed to know what was going on.

Krad did not say it, but he must have known exactly what they were trying to do. "I suppose this is your way of saying 'no' to my request earlier."

"You could think of it that way," Dark answered defiantly.

"In that case," Krad began in a sinister tone, "you have forced my hand." He shot his arm out in Daisuke's direction and the young boy was thrown off his feet. Daisuke flew toward the edge of the roof, but landed a few feet short.

"Krad, no!" Dark exclaimed.

"You don't have your wings to save him," Krad pointed out, "and you can't use your magic against me." He pushed Daisuke further toward the edge with a wave of his hand, "what will you do, Dark?" Daisuke stood up while Krad was focusing on his other half, but an invisible force pushed him back down.

"Stay down, Daisuke," Dark called, "you'll only provoke him." He took a few steps closer to Krad. "Leave the kid alone, Krad," he said, "let's fight it out. You and me. Perhaps you'll beat me into submission? Hell, you can use your magic."

Krad grinned, "you're getting nervous…perhaps you are unsure whether or not I'll really throw him to his death? Do you think I'm bluffing?"

"I don't think you're one to bluff," Dark replied, "but wouldn't your victory be sweeter if you earned it?"

Krad appeared to consider what he said then shook his head while Daisuke slipped closer to the edge. "I do enjoy our little duels," he said, "but I have waited centuries and this is so much quicker." Daisuke slipped more.

"Krad, you coward! Fight me! It's not like I can fly away!"

"Dark!" Daisuke called when only six inches separated him from a sheer drop and certain death.

"Alright, Krad," Dark muttered, "you win."

"Wasn't that easy?" Krad asked lightly.

"Just…before you finish me…let me say goodbye to Daisuke."

"How sentimental," Krad observed, "yet…harmless." The force holding Daisuke dissipated and he got up. He and Dark met halfway.

"You can't," Daisuke protested.

"Listen," Dark ordered in a hushed tone, "He'll be trying to assimilate my power into his own. We'll be connected and I'll have a few seconds to fight against him before I'm completely consumed. During that time, I'll have access to his some of his power. I'll do whatever I can to make him an easy target…but I don't think I'll be able to delay him for more than five seconds unless I'm incredibly lucky…but I wouldn't count on it if I were you."

"What if you can't stop him?" Daisuke whispered back, "what if I can't kill him? He probably won't let me go".

"If that's the case…you're on your own," Dark glared at Daisuke before adding, "Don't mess up, got it?" Daisuke gave a discreet nod and Dark turned back to Krad. "So," he said, "what happens to Daisuke and Hiwatari after this?"

Krad made no effort to hide his ignorance on the subject, "all I can offer is a guess. You and I are the only creatures of our kind…how could anyone know what the ramifications of our actions would be?"

"But you don't care what happens to them, do you?"

Krad smiled and replied, "After you and I are one again, I will have no need for a human host. Still, I'm slightly curious." Daisuke ignored his apprehension and focused on watching Dark and Krad for his opportunity to strike.

"If they die?"

"Humans die at a constant rate and yet they continue to be an infestation. Would their world really miss two children?"

"And what if…we die?"

Krad's patience wore off and he glared at Dark. "Enough of your stalling."

"I'm not stalling; it's a reasonable question, right?"

Krad ignored him and brought his hand up. Dark braced himself. Daisuke saw Dark get struck by some invisible force and cry out. Daisuke took off running in Krad's direction while Dark subdued the pain and began fighting back. Krad never stopped smiling.

'It's not going to work,' Daisuke thought and his steps began to slow. He saw Krad look at him, but the angel froze before he could do anything. Daisuke leapt the rest of the distance between him and his target then plunged his knife into Krad's chest. The feeling was no different from cutting raw steak, but it sickened him. Dark was released from the hold and Krad's expression softened as Engel returned.

"Daisuke…why?" Engel fell to the ground and Daisuke stared at his bloody hands with disgust.

"You did it, Daisuke," Dark said lightly, "we can leave now."

"But…I…"

The night around them suddenly turned bright as day before a blinding whiteness engulfed everything.