A/N: sorry it took a while. i have bad news. the computer that i put all my fanfic stories on was being really screwy, and it completely deleted my dnangel stuff. so it's going to take even longer to update now. (sigh) sorry u guys.

Disclaimer: (is it really necessary to put these up every chapter?) I don't own DNAngel.

The Next Generation

Chapter 7

Leave me Speechless

Daichii slowly opened his eyes. On the far side of his shadowy room, sunlight was creeping through the cracks of his blinds. The boy glanced down at his clock. It read 10:47 A.M. "Ahhhh, what would I do without the weekends?" Daichii sighed, scratching his head absentmindedly. He turned over to his side and just stared at his wall lazily, not wanting to get up just yet. Last night had been another late night for stealing, but at least he could make it up by sleeping in.

Morning, Sleeping Beauty.

Daichii narrowed his eyes. Couldn't you save it for later?

Question! When is later? Dark asked dryly. You're never in the mood to listen to me.

Well, maybe that's just my little way for hinting you should keep your mouth shut FOREVER!

Pfft! You know, I'm really starting to miss your dad. You're too much like Riku.

Daichii didn't respond as he jumped down from his bed. He only clenched his teeth and made his way to the bathroom. Daichii turned on the sink at full blast to drown out other thoughts and splashed his face with cold water. When he finally had to turn off the faucet, Dark could be heard again.

So what are we going to be doing today? Dark's cheerful tone really bugged the crap out of Daiichi. Removing the towel from his face, the boy glared at his reflection, hoping that Dark could see.

How about just relax? I've had enough excitement for one week.

That's just it. You've got practically nothing to do! Ah! I know. How about you ask Ren on a date?

"Grrrr. JUST SHUT UP!!!" Daichii shouted, clapping his hands to his head.

"Daichii?"

"Huh?" Daichii looked up in confusion, startled at the sudden change of voice. He poked his head out of the bathroom. His grandmother was walking down the hallway, eyes darting back and forth. Once Emiko saw Daichii, she brightened like a light bulb.

"Oh, Daichii! There you are!" she exclaimed like a little girl, gripping him in a tight hug before Daichii could react. Years of aging hadn't lessened the strength in her limbs . . . unfortunately. Daichii was too breathless to speak as his grandmother squeezed him and shook him as if he were a doll. "How long has it been?" she continued. "A decade? A year? A few months?"

"Only . . . a few days," Daichii managed to gasp, feeling dazed.

"This is amazing! This is astounding! The ole' Niwa genes still have some power to them! I still can't believe you're the new Phantom Thief!"

Daisuke appeared from behind the excited woman, smiling almost ruefully. "Uh, Mother, you need to let Daichii go or there definitely won't be another Phantom Thief," Daisuke chuckled sheepishly.

"Eh?" Emiko glanced down at her victim, who was starting to turn blue. "Oh! Sorry, sorry!" She released him, and Daichii fell to his knees, clutching his sides. She smiled again and ruffled her grandson's hair. "So, how does it feel to carry on the family tradition?"

Daichii's eyes burned. "If I could, I'd kill Dark." Both Daisuke and Emiko were at a loss of words as they stared at his bowed head.

"So, what are you doing here?" Daichii asked at the breakfast table as he helped himself to pancakes.

"Well, I didn't really have time to chitchat a few nights ago," Emiko explained while she was spreading butter on her own helping, "so I decided to drop by for a visit. I wanted to see how Daichii was doing with his new responsibility . . . and to help your parents out a bit." She flashed Daisuke and Riku a sympathetic look. "They must be terribly confused and overwhelmed, especially Riku."

"Even that," Riku said, rubbing her temples in desperation, "feels like a huge understatement."

Daisuke placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder and replied, "We were thinking about looking around town today. Maybe some new painting is causing this and its only temporary."

"Ah, but don't forget to check the old artwork too. You never know." Emiko sighed and stared into her tea. "That's a great place to start. Maybe I'll join you."

"I don't see why everyone thinks this is so terrible," Rikae interrupted with her mouth half-full of syrupy goodness. She swallowed and pointed her fork at her brother. "Daichii's cool points have just soared through the roof! I can already see crazed fangirls drooling over his-- or rather, Dark's-- picture." Rikae threw Daichii a wicked grin that she reserved only for him. "Now it would be even easier to get a girlfriend. Just transform into Dark and any girl will say yes, especially one that goes by the name of Re--"

In a flash, Daichii had grabbed a fistful of his sisters hair and was yanking on it. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Rikae had to bite her lip hard to keep from crying out. She began clawing her brother's arm like a crazed cat. "Let . . . Go . . . Now," she hissed venomously.

"Rikae! Daichii! That's enough!" Riku commanded.

The sibling rivalry paused long enough to glance at Riku's serious face. They glowered at each other one last time before Daichii let Rikae's red hair slip through his fingers. Moving as one, the kids sat down heavily and folded their arms.

"This is why I only had one," Emiko muttered as she sipped her tea. Everyone gave her more or less a look of annoyance. That's when the woman's eyes widened in realization. "DAICHII HAS A CRUSH!?!?!?" she exclaimed, squealing with glee on the last word.

Daichii slouched in his seat miserably as Rikae blurted out, " Yeah, yeah! It's this skinny, pale girl with sparkly blue eyes and light blue hair. Almost every guy would be crushing on her . . . if it weren't for her condition."

"Condition?" Emiko echoed blankly.

Rikae nodded enthusiastically. "Mmm-hmm. You see, it's hard for her to talk much. Daichii says it's because her parents' deaths were so traumatizing, but everyone else figures it's just because she's retarded and mentally chall--"

"YOU'RE WRONG!"

Everyone jumped at the sound of Daichii's fists slamming against the table. Taking the cue, Riku scolded, "Rikae, that's a horrible thing for a young lady to say. Yes, Ren has had a very bad past. It's common for orphans to hold painful memories. You shouldn't--" Riku fell silent when Daichii stood up abruptly. "And where are you going?" his mother sighed in exasperation.

"Out," came the gruff reply before Daichii stormed out and slammed the door.

Daichii strode through the streets, feeling his anger come off him in red waves. Man, was he steamed! After a while, Dark broke the silence by asking, Was what Riku said true? Is that Mara girl really an orphan? Dark's voice was soft, gentle . . . not anything like it usually was.

Yeah. So what? Daichii retorted.

. . . What happened to her?

Daichii actually stopped in his tracks. In the middle of road. In the middle of swirling emotions. His eyes were lowered at the ground, but he saw through the asphalt, through the past. She won't even tell me that. Truth is, I think she forgot. A person can erase a terrible memory if they try hard enough.

Why is Ren so quiet?

Dark was treading on treacherous ice. Daichii could feel him edging out towards the danger zone. The boy didn't feel comfortable at all with this subject, but he surprised himself by spilling everything out to Dark.

I only know so much, what others have told me. But it's more than what the other idiots know, Daichii added bitterly. The sound of an approaching car nudged him out of his thoughts. Daichii hurried out of the road before daring to continue. Ren was hysterical and emotional when the police finally found her. No matter how hard the police tried to calm her, she wouldn't tell them what had happened. She was too scared. Everyone tried to tell her that she'd be safer -- that everyone would be safer -- if she told them who murdered her parents. For some reason though, she just couldn't.

Ren was put into an orphanage. All the time, everyday, she was questioned about what had happened that night. The police grew angry whenever she refused them, and this bewildered her. Everyone became impatient with the girl. There was a murderer out on the loose with a number of kills to his name, but he couldn't be caught all because one little girl wouldn't open her mouth. Ren knew they desperately needed the information, but she couldn't relive that horrible memory. Since it was the only thing that would make them happy, Ren never spoke again.

Daichii recalled the day when he first met the frail, pathetic looking girl. Eventually, she was adopted by Mr. Mara. Mara knew what it was like to lose your loved ones, so he felt bad for her. Ren, however, thought Mara only gave her a home because he was going to question her too. It had happened before. Trusting no one, Ren shut out everyone else from her world. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't talk, wouldn't play with other kids her age. She would spend long days locked up in her room, forcing herself to forget so she would never be able to tell anyone, so she would never be able to remember the truth.

Did you become her friend because you pitied her? Dark asked abruptly, but he had wandered too far. The thin ice broke, the tiny pieces sparkling in the sunlight.

Daichii lowered his head. I don't want to talk about this anymore.

I just want--

No. I'm done, Daichii replied firmly.

Dark was silent for a long time. After a while, he began, Whatever brought you together-- Daichii's head flew up, and he stood up. His feet had carried him all the way to the Mara house without him realizing it. --I'm sure it saved Ren-- Daichii gazed uncertainly at the dirt path leading up to the front door. --And one day-- Hesistating every few steps, Daichii made it to the porch. Daichii took a deep breath and knocked on the door. --I bet it will save you too.

The door opened slowly.

PREVIEW

"If they see me like this--!"

"And Ren? You've got a big spot of orange paint right there."

"Who cares about that dumb old thing? I want to see Daichii!"

"Want me to give a demonstration on what to do when you're around cute girls?"

"Don't worry. Don't worry. She's not my type."

ALL ABOUT THE LOOK