I don't own DN Angel

A/N: Wow, two chapters in two days. I can't believe it myself. I dunno, I guess my writing muse is back for a little bit so I can keep writing. Please read and review!

Chapter 5

Bright and Early

"Do you have your sweater on underneath? Did you remember to brush your teeth this morning? How's your hair? Oh my, it's a mess!"

This along with many other questions rang through the Niwa home as the morning of Daisuke's return to school was upon the redhead. After several more visit to the hospital with Dr. Sekaki and Dr. Musashi, it took two more months before Mrs. Niwa would let her boy go. Ms. Tekako, Daisuke's homeroom teacher, was more than happy to get the message that her little student was coming back, and had his desk waiting for him. But first, Daisuke had to get through the full inspection of his mother before even heading out the door.

"M-Momma, my hair is okay. Please, can we go?" Daisuke whined, his voice stronger now since his new 'imaginary friend' had been with him. With Dark being around, it wasn't long Daisuke was showing improvement; despite some minor coughing fits here and there. His breathing was better, and he could move around the small house again without losing his breath or fainting too often. However, he still retained his small, fragile frame, no matter how much his mother tried to feed him.

"I just want to make sure that you're going to be alright, I don't want you to get really sick again. It's a miracle that you're doing well, even the doctors were surprised." Mrs. Niwa said, the concerned, motherly tone radiating from her voice. "Just make sure that you stay inside for now, I don't want to get a phone call saying something bad has happened to you. Please? Do it for mommy?"

Daisuke pouted, looking at her with saddened eyes. "B-But..." and then he looked down, defeated. "Yes Momma."

Mrs. Niwa bit her lip as she looked at her son, giving Daisuke a big hug, sniffling a little. "Dai-tenshi, it's hard to say no to you, but...it's a Mom thing to be worried. Be a good boy for me."

Daisuke nodded, hugging his mother in return. He knew he would just have to wait a little more, like always.

Despite his mothers worries, Daisuke couldn't stop bouncing in his seat as the bus was taking him to school. He could see that the snow was still on the ground, but it was getting close to spring to hit and the snow would vanish very soon after that.

His stop was the first on route, and he was so happy to get to see other kids again. He sat behind the bus driver, opening up his backpack to make sure he had everything he needed, hoping he didn't forget anything back at home.

Dark sighed in the back of Daisuke's mind. ~Don't worry kid, you checked your bag enough times last night to make sure you didn't miss anything.~

'One more time won't hurt, everything has to be perfect.' Daisuke said confidently, looking at his books, his writing utensils, his lunch- good, everything was there.

~It must be hard going back to school in the middle of the year.~ Dark commented. ~You sure you're going to be okay?~

Daisuke looked out the window, feeling the bus slowing down to pick up the first group of students at the next stop. 'I don't mind. Anything's better than staying home all the time doing nothing.'

The bus came to a stop as students began flooding the vehicle. Some spotted Daisuke sitting in the front seat, but didn't pay him any mind. He looked at some of them, waving a little to see if any of them would wave in return, to no avail. So instead he just sat alone in his seat, continuing to look out the window and kept to himself.

Dark remained to himself during the duration of the bus trip, residing inside Daisuke and only being able to watch whatever Daisuke saw. 'This boy, I don't understand it. He seemed so weak at the start, but ever since I cast that spell for me to bond with his soul, he and I have both been...hmm.' he continued to contemplate the matter. 'I had to do it for emergency purposes, I had no other choice. I have to remain on this earth, the Clan will understand when they find out, hopefully.

'This bond works in odd ways, only a few have done it.' he paused. 'All I can do is watch and do nothing. I have to find a away to get my physical body back. I can't stay in here forever. But if I leave this child's body too soon, he might die.' Dark sighed. 'That wouldn't be fair to the kid. He's too cute-- wait...cute? Did I just think that?'

Dark could feel Daisuke's attention to the snow change as the boy's head turned, feeling his happy demeanor change to something completely different. ~Daisuke? What's wrong?~

"Well, well, if it isn't our little teacher's pet." a boy's voice said loudly.

Daisuke looked up to see the boy, a tall stocky boy with short, spiky blond hair that looked a couple of years older then the redhead. The new kid had a smug grin on his face, with two other boys that looked to be his friends. They too had the same grin as the blond.

"H-Hi Fukomachi." Daisuke squeaked, looking at the boy towering over him. "Sho. Honda."

Fukomachi laughed, taking the seat behind Daisuke's. "How are ya, Teacher's Pet? Did you have a fun vacation? We all thought you fell off the face of the earth. Did you miss us?"

Daisuke squeezed himself into the seat, a wave of anxiety flooding his mind, making Dark a little preturbed. ~So, bullying is still dominating the school system I see...~

'H-Help...' Daisuke thought, feeling a little dizzy. "I-It wasn't a v-vacation..."

"Oh? Then what was it then? Got too scared to come back that your mommy had to force you to go to school? Couldn't keep the facade up for long huh?" Fukomachi narrowed his eyes, his voice whispering so the driver couldn't hear. "This is going to be fun semester now that you're back, Niwa. My fists have missed your face."

Daisuke could feel the tears starting to well up into his eyes when he heard two familiar voices above him.

~That's enough--~

"Fukomachi, leave Niwa alone!"

"Yeah, pick on someone your own size! You big ogre!"

Daisuke looked up to see his salvation: two girls, both with brown hair and brown eyes that almost looked exactly the same as the other, except one had shorter hair and the other had shoulder length. They stood inside the bus and glared at Fukomachi and his little gang before sitting down in the same seat as Daisuke, one girl on each side of him to protect him.

"R-Risa-chan, Riku-chan..." was the only thing Daisuke could get out of his lungs, feeling a little safer now that some of his classmates was with him.

Fukomachi grunted. "Figures that you would have to get a bunch of girls to protect your hide." he sneered. He and his two friends got up and moved to the back of the bus. "We were done here anyway. See you on the playground, Niwa."

Daisuke wheezed a little in his seat, trying to get air back into his lungs. 'T-That...was close.' He felt a hand touch his shoulder, trying to get him to snap out of his shock.

"Daisuke-kun? Are you alright?"

He looked up, seeing the long-haired twin staring at him concerned, only able to give her a small nod. "Y-Yes...Risa-chan. I'm okay."

The other twin, Riku, looked down the bus to the three boys fooling around in the back. She stuck her tongue out at them and turned towards Daisuke. "That Fukomachi, why does he have to be so mean to you?"

Daisuke could only slump down a little further into the seat, holding his backpack the way he usually held his pillow back in his bedroom. 'Maybe I should've stayed home...'

Risa noticed his reaction, and took his hand in hers and gave him a reassuring smile. "Listen, you may have been home all this time, but me and Riku are still your friends, okay? We won't let anything happen to you now that you're back."

Riku smiled, fisting her hands and looked like she was some kind of boxer. "That's right Dai-kun. If anyone comes your way, you know that I will pummel them into the ground. Hi-ya!" she said triumphantly, punching the dividing cushion between the three of them and the driver. She shook her hand and whined a little. "O-Ow! That one hurt."

The bus drived looked at the mirror towards the three of them. "Miss Harada, are you alright?"

Riku looked up at him, giving him a big smile while cradling her hand. "Y-Yes Mr. Mikan."

Dark blinked, stunned at the scene he just watched. He could feel Daisuke's anxiety rise despite him being safe with the girls now protecting him. ~Daisuke.~

The redhead relaxed hearing Dark's voice, trying to keep his hands from shaking. 'Dark...I'm sorry that you had to s-see that.' Daisuke breathed, 'I didn't mean for that to happen.' He closed his eyes, seeing a pair of glowing violet eyes staring back at him, making him whimper softly. 'D-Dark?'

~Sorry kiddo, but that's not going to happen again. You're going to open your wings, little angel.~

'W-Wings?'

Dark grunted. ~Forget it.~ the eyes faded, Dark falling silent again for the rest of the way to school. 'Damnit, I let it slip.'

Dark's comment left Daisuke confused, but at least feeling a little better that Dark was on his side, trying to protect him in his situation. He didn't pay it much mind as they continued the bus ride with no problem. He released his now strangled backpack and began to converse again with the Harada sisters, feeling his excitement return as they were getting closer to his school.

.o~Fin~o.

So! There you have it. Another chapter added to the book of Ebony Snow. Tune in next time!

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