A/N: Okay, so lately, I've been suffering from brain damage until I completely screw up my fanfic, but I think it's all fixed. So, for anyone who might have gotten confused, GOMEN!!! GOMEN NASAI!!!!!!!!! (pulls a ritsu. i am the year of the monkey after all) And, just in case no one's been reading lately, YOU'RE A-OKAY! (thumbs up) Well, tecnically, you're not okay, because you're making a poor otaku stay out in the cold and shiver while she waits for REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!! (wink wink)
So, here's the chapter. And if you're worried about my sudden bi-polarness, I ate iced animal crackers, brownies, and a snow cone today. (hops up and down) Does it show?
Disclaimer: I do not own DNAngel
The Next Generation
Chapter 5
The Darkest Night
"STEAL!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN STEAL!?! WHAT'S GOING ON? I WANT ANSWERS NOW!!!"
"Daichii, calm down," Riku pleaded.
"CALM DOWN! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN!?!" Daichii shouted angrily.
"Daichii! Be quiet," Daisuke commanded, and with a swift, stern gaze, Daichii fell silent. Daisuke turned to Riku and said, "I'm going to call my mother. Maybe she can tell me why this is happening again."
They all watched Daisuke leave. They stood there in silence before Daichii murmured hoarsely, "You know about this, don't you? You guys knew about it and didn't tell me?"
"No!" Riku exclaimed. "Daichii we're just as shocked about this as you are! This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"But you do know what's going on," Daichii retorted.
"Well . . . yes. We do." Riku looked at her feet. "I don't know all the facts, but I guess you'd except anything at this point." Riku paused and took a deep breath. "There used to be a powerful phantom thief with jet black wings named Dark. For over 300 years, Dark's magic has been passed down through the Niwa genes. On his fourteenth birthday, every male member must go through a major transformation and uphold the Dark's tradition of stealing."
"So . . . Dad . . . ?
"Yes, your father went through the same thing when he was younger." Riku sighed and leaned against the kitchen counter. She brought her hands to her face. "But what are we going to do? This wasn't supposed to happen! Stealing is dangerous, and you haven't had any training! What's worse, if Krad comes back . . ." Her shouders shook, and Daichii knew she was fighting the urge to sob. Daichii gazed at his mother softly.
" . . . Mom."
Rikae was watching a little ways away, kneeling in a chair. She glanced at her mother to her brother to her mother again with eyes that were slightly troubled. But when she opened her mouth, she asked loudly, "If Daichii dies, can I have his room?"
"You have got to be kidding me." Daichii growled in a low voice. He clenched his fists to keep himself from whacking Rikae one. "What a selfish brat!"
Just then, the kitchen door swung open. Daisuke walked in with the phone in his hand and his shoulders sagging. "What did Emiko say?" Riku asked shakily.
"It's as I suspected," Daisuke admitted. "If Daichii wants to return to his normal self, then he has to steal the heart of Divine Maiden." Daichii felt his head whirling in confusion, but he snapped out of it when he caught his dad staring at him.
"Uh, dad?"
"Dark! Come out. I know you're listening," Daisuke suddenly said.
"Wha--?" Daichii began, but broke off with a gasp when he was enveloped by a blinding light. Riku and Daisuke watched calmly enough, but Rikae stood bolt upright in her chair.
"Daichii!" she shrieked.
"It's alright, Rikae," Daisuke reassured.
The light subsided, and left a confused looking teen standing in the center of attention. He looked himself up and down. He flexed and stretched his hands. While testing his limbs, he mumbled, "I'm alive?" He peered at Daisuke. "You must be Daisuke, right? It's been a while," Dark replied.
"I wish I could say it's great to see you again, but right now I'm a little too confused for warm welcomes," Daisuke remarked, folding his arms.
"And this is Riku," Dark continued, facing the woman.
Riku didn't say anything. She only stared back at Dark with her mouth set in a straight, grim line. "I see you're still as cold as ever," Dark chuckled. "I thought you might have changed over time." He narrowed his eyes and glanced at the last member in the room. Rikae was still standing in the chair, trembling with her eyes wide. Her grip on the chair tightened when Dark walked up to her and reached out a hand to touch the little girl's cheek. "So this must be--"
"Get away!" Rikae shouted, pushing Dark's hand away. "What have you done to Daichii?"
"Our daughter, Rikae," Daisuke explained, but Dark wasn't listening anymore. He was gazing at his hands again.
"So it's true. It really has started again," Dark whispered. Then he slapped himself. "Wait! If I'm back, that means Krad is back too! Idiot! I was sure that I had sealed us properly."
"Well, what's done is done," Daisuke reminded. "We can't do anything to reverse the past, so we're just going to have to get back into the swing of things . . ." Daisuke trailed off as he searched for a pen and paper. "I'm going to say you'll steal the Divine Maiden at 11:00. Sound good?"
Dark's eyes scanned the walls until he found a clock. It said 8:33. Dark smirked. "Ah, a bit soon, but I guess it's okay."
"Dark, listen. This has been a surprise for all of us," Daisuke said. "Daichii has had no training whatsoever. He's going to be lost for a while." Daisuke frowned worriedly. "Daichii may be the top athlete in his class, but he's no thief. Make sure you don't push things, and try to help him along the way."
"Yeah, yeah. As a father, it's your job to be concerned, yadda yadda," Dark responded in a bored voice. Then, he whispered, "So, Daichii, huh? Well, if you're anything like your father, this is sure to be a interesting."
Eh?!? What's that supposed to mean? Change me back!
"Ahhh. I don't really feel like it." Dark shrugged and headed upstairs to clear his head. "Oh, and happy birthday."
The slow beat of wings and the slight glimmer of faded stars. The faroff noises of citylife and a cool, inky darkness. That's all there was. Some might consider it enchanting. Some might consider it romantic. However, for one teen, it was anything but.
I think I'm going to be sick, Daichii groaned, eyeing the town that now resembled his sister's dollhouse.
"You'll get used to it," Dark said, smirking in amusement. He scanned the streets below. "Ah! Good. The police came. I was worried that they wouldn't show on such short notice."
That's a good thing!!!
"Well, it gets boring if there's no challenge. Hmm, I hope the town detectives have shown up too."
You're a bit arrogent, don't ya think?
"Not really, but I do know that no lousy guard can catch me. What we really need is someone with brains and cunning. Then it will get fun."
Sounds arrogent to me.
"Think whatever helps you sleep at night. Just make sure you pay attention to a pro at work."
I'd say that I'm soaring with impatience to learn, Daichii muttered dryly, wincing again at the dizzying height, but this is just ridiculious!
Dark laughed before swooping down. "Well that's new," Dark remarked as he circled carelessly around the magnificent art museum. "It's strange how much things can change in only twenty years."
Dark! What are you doing?!?! Daichii cried hysterically. You're flying right through all the spotlights!
"So? I want to make sure they know I'm back."
Dark finally chose a window and hovered by it. With a flick of his wrist, a dark feather shot out from his sleeve. While Daichii watched in confusion, the phantom thief slid the feather under the window pane. After several heartbeats, a dark, pulsing dome of magic shot from the feather. As it grew, it forced the window open to a crack. Smiling in satisfaction, Dark lifted the window open the rest of the way.
A mere shadow, Dark crept through the deserted hallways. He paused when he heard distant but quick footsteps. Straightening up in boredom, Dark snapped his fingers. Somewhere in the museum, the Divine Maiden dissappeared under a wall of illusion. Dark walked around in a circle, surveying his situation. Multi colored flags hung from large poles on the wall. In a small corner, high up on the wall, there was a dark gargoyle. The window Dark came out of had huge, thick curtains of red satin. The footsteps were getting louder and more frantic. "Hmph. This is two easy," Dark complained. "It's as if they actually want me to get away with this."
Dark! Drop the confidence and hide already! Daichii panicked.
"Calm down. Calm down." Dark looked up at the gargoyle again and flew up to it. There was just enough room on the niche between the wall and the gargoyle. Dark didn't bother getting rid of his wings. They went well with the ugly statue.
Showoff, Daichii muttered irritably. The curtains were just as good.
Still, Daichii watched in fascination when the group of policeman came running. The boy's heart stopped when he saw two lone, dark feathers lying on the ground. The policemen, whose heads were bent low anyway, spotted it almost at the exact same time. "Sir! It's the phantom thief's feather!" one of them said to a guy in a brown trench coat that was obviously in charge.
The trench coat guy glanced at the open window. "Do you think he already has the Divine Maiden and has made his escape?"
His three officers looked horrified at the very idea. Without another word, they scrambled to the art piece's exhibit, leaving their leader behind. Trench coat hesitated at the window before barking into a walkie talkie to increase the lookout outside.
See? I know what I'm doing. Now we have our own personal guide to take us to the Divine Maiden. Dark winced slightly. I have no idea where it could be.
I've always wondered, Daichii stated, if in movies and books, the bad guys always hide on the ceiling, why do people never look up just in case?
Mmm. Who knows? People just don't think straight in real life situations. Too tense, I guess.
The doors opened and revealed three gaping policemen. Dark, dressed up as one of them, fought to hide a smile at their dumbfound expressions. "Officers!" Dark exclaimed, standing firmly at attention even when the three men jumped. "Dark has been found soaring through the skies. He has the Divine Maiden!"
Curse words rose up, and everyone ran out the door. Everyone exept Dark, who slowed down and hesitated at the last second. When he was sure they were gone. He took off his cap and faked an exaggerated bow to the exhibit. "Nice to meet you again, O Beautiful Maiden."
Can you get any cornier? I'm starting to die here!
Ignoring the hot-headed teen, Dark picked up the Divine Maiden and traced the curves of her face. Then he frowned. Holding it at an arm's length, Dark admitted, "I could have sworn I would meet Krad here. Oh well, I guess it's for the better."
Who is this Krad dude everyone keeps talking about?
"Eh, nevermind. I don't feel like explaining it right now. When we get home, ask your father if he still keeps in touch with his friend Hiwatari."
Hiwatari? Daichii echoed.
Daichii watched with slight indifference while his family performed a strange ritual on the artwork. The boy shuddered. Forget dark basements. It was creepy being in a place that looked like it would belong in a castle dungeon, not to mention all the magicky junk his relatives were shouting out carelessly. And to think that this had been in his grandmother's house all these years.
"There. It's done," Emiko sighed, pulling off her hood.
Smiling, Daichii unfolded his arms and headed over to his father and grandmother. "Thank gosh this is finally over!"
"That's right," Emiko said, ruffling her grandson's hair in affection. "The Divine Maiden's power has been release. You should get some sleep so you can do well at school and be wide awake for your next phantom thief appearance."
Daichii yawned. "Yeah, I am pretty -- WHAT!?!" Daichii slapped his grandmother's hand away and jumped back.
"What is it, Daichii?" Daisuke asked as he put away the Divine Maiden.
"Y-you were joking, right?" Daichii stuttered. "I-I'm back to normal, r-right?"
"You're back to normal alright, until you're hormones go through trauma again," Emiko giggled with a wink.
"HAAHHH!??!?!?!?!?"
"Daichii, don't tell me you really thought it was over. I thought I was clear," Daisuke replied.
"You said I had to steal the Divine Maiden!" Daichii pointed a finger at his father accusingly.
"No, the heart of your Divine Maiden," Emiko explained a little too cheefully.
"You mean I have to get a GIRLFRIEND!?!?" Daichii shouted, ready to yank out his hair.
Emiko put an arm around his shoulders and steered him towards the stairs. Poking him gleefully at every other word, she whispered, "It's more than just a girlfriend. Your mother was Daisuke's Divine Maiden, you know." Daichii felt the color rise in his cheeks as his grandmother laughed.
He whirled around. "How is this fair?!? First you tell me I have to steal, then I'm forced to find my true love!" Just saying the word made Daichii face burn uncontrollably. "I don't know the first thing about girls! I can't just spend my whole life searching! I want to go back to normal NOW!!!"
Daichii didn't talk to his parents the rest of the night. As soon as they reached their house, Daichii stormed up to his room and locked his door. In the dark, the boy slid down his door in exhaustion and rested his head on his knees. That's her, isn't it? came a soft voice.
Daichii narrowed his eyes when he recognized it. "Her for what?" he demanded angrily. He glared at his left, but his expression softened when he saw the broken picture frame. The photo of the mud-covered devils lied somberly under the shattered glass, one corner bent up.
Your Divine Maiden.
"She's just a friend, okay?" Daichii got up and began climbing up his bed ladder.
Well . . . things can change. They did for your father.
Daichii paused on the last rung. He hung his head and muttered, "Things will never change for me. Ren would never like me." Daichii''s temper flared up again. "Just leave me alone and let me get some sleep!" Daichii plunged into his bed, punched his pillow a few times, and then tried his best to fall asleep.
PREVIEW
"Stealing is wrong! Why do I have to be forced to be the bad guy?"
"Aww, now you hurt my feelings!
"Just shove it up and be quiet!!"
"Yep, that's definitely your Divine Maiden. What do you say I meet her?"
"Either I've gone crazy with guilt, or I've just gone crazy."
THE VOICES IN MY HEAD