A/N: (bawls loudly) how depressing. this is probably going to be my last chapter for this summer. nnggg. i feel like curling up in a corner and being emo for a day.
well maybe i'm not that depressed.
Disclaimer: if i owned DNAngel, which i'm not saying i do, IF i owned DNAngel, i'd use it as an excuse to get out of school. "oh, sorry miss frankinchowder. i couldn't do my homework last night because i was too busy writing the second season of DNAngel. i'm sure i'll find time for homework sooner or later, but right now, this is more important!"
The Next Generation
Chapter 12
Cherish the Memories
"It's Monday, and we just HAD to spend it at school," Haru complained, something that would have sounded very weird if one didn't consider what the town had gone through. "And here I was hoping that we'd get another day off too."
"Mmm-hmm," Daichii agreed as he cleaned the blackboard, trying hard not to laugh.
"But man, this weather sure is crazy!" he continued. "I went to bed on Saturday night hot and sweaty. I didn't even sleep on my bed. I just grabbed a pillow and hung out by the air vent. Next thing I know, it's a few hours before dawn and I'm freezing and shaking like a dog!" Haru raised an eyebrow at Daichii's cheshire cat grin. "I mean, did we just imagine the heat wave or something?"
"Definitely strange." Daichii wrapped his jacket around him a little tighter. "Hey, Haru. Are you going to help me with the classroom chores or not?"
Haru leaned against a desk and replied, "Aww, but you're already doing such a good job!"
"Nice try," Daichii said, narrowing his eyes playfully. He chunked the chalk eraser at his friend and moved on to do something else. "You might as well do something. The rest of the class should be coming soon."
Haru quickly got off the desk. "All too right. Wouldn't want them to think I was slacking or something."
"You were slacking."
"I prefer to think of it as a prolonged break," Haru smirked.
"Yeah, yeah." Daichii paused with the daily assignments. He glanced over at Haru and asked, "Have you heard anything about Ai?"
Haru flashed the boy an amused look out of the corner of his eye. "Why? Have you been worried? Is someone developing feelings for another someone?"
"Say that again and I'll break your nose," Daichii muttered through gritted teeth.
Haru laughed and shook his head. "No, not much. It wasn't too serious, whatever she had. Someone said something about major dehydration." Haru lost himself in deep thought for a moment. "Come to think of it, she didn't drink much before the race. Said something about she didn't want to be stuck in the middle of the race and have to pee, because, you know, that would be--"
"Alright, I didn't need to know that! Anything else?" Daichii pestered as a few students walked in.
Haru made a face as he thought hard again. "I think I heard a rumor that Ai wasn't going to come to class today, but not because the hospital hasn't released her yet." Haru shrugged. "She's probably using her collapse as an excuse to skip as many school days as possible. At least, that's what I would do."
"The sad thing is, I know that's exactly something you would try to do," Daichii sighed. He finished writing the daily report and looked around wearily. The last phantom thief experience had left him drained, but it was worth it if the weather was finally normal now. Daichii actually kind of prefered the crisp mornings of a coming winter.
The boy's eyes involuntarily shifted to the door as Ren walked in. 'Bout time, Daichii thought with a small smile, but that smile mutated into an angry scowl when he saw the person who trailed after her. Since Daichii had to be early because of the daily chores, Ren had walked to school with Takahashi.
Joy.
The two were both engaged in a deep conversation. Daichii couldn't hear what Takahashi said, but whatever it was highly amused Ren. She started giggling.
Daichii's blood boiled at the sight of them. What made Takahashi so special? What gave Takahashi the right? What the heck did Takahashi see in Ren?
The same things you see in Ren, Dark reminded dryly.
Daichii's shoulders sagged at that. Do you have to interfer right now? he asked weakly.
I'm just saying, so what if somebody else is able to see past her talking problem. Isn't that a good thing? It means Ren won't be as lonely. You can't always be around for her.
I know, but they just became friends so fast . . . Daichii's fists tightened as he trailed off.
Eh? Dark seemed a little interested. It wasn't the same for you and Ren? I've always been under the impression that it has always been best friends forever. Dark grinned wickedly. Or should I say, love at first sight?
WHY WON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME ALONE!?!
Because you're fun to tease. Anyway, if it bugs you that much, just talk to Ren.
Maybe I will!
Fine.
Fine!
Fine.
FINE!
"Daichii?"
"Huh?!?!" Daichii exclaimed, jumping back a few feet. His temperature rose in anger at himself, then dropped until his whole body felt frozen. Unconsciously, his feet had carried him all the way to Ren's desk, right in between Ren and Takahashi.
"What's . . . wrong?" Ren asked curiously.
"Yeah, you seem pretty jumpy," Takahashi smirked in amusement, folding his arms.
Daichii was still frozen, appalled at his stupidity. What was he supposed to do to get Takahashi to go away? He couldn't just utter the magic word, "please," and stare out the window with big, hopeful eyes, waiting to see the first flock of pigs soaring through the skies. Daichii laughed awkwardly and placed a hand behind his head, trying to ignore the way Ren was looking at him, like some derranged lint monster that had crawled out of her pencil bag and asked Ren what her favorite color was.
Since when has she ever given me a look like that? Daichii thought in alarm. He placed both hands firmly on her desk and looked Ren straight in the eyes.
"Yes?" Ren continued slowly.
"Uh, yeah um." Daichii's head pounded as he searched for an escape. "Do you remember that sketchbook my Dad gave me for my birthday?"
At least Ren wasn't looking at Daichii in that almost freaked-out expression anymore. Of course, complete confusion and bemusement wasn't that much better off. "I . . . I guess."
"Um, could you please move?" Takahashi hissed in Daichii's ear irritably. "Like right now."
"Would you mind giving me art lessons?" Daichii ignored the snickering behind his back. "I mean, since you're just a great artist. I'd love to learn how to do something other than stick figures," Daichii explained in a rush, fighting the blush that was trying to stain his face.
Ren blinked a couple of times. Then, slowly, slowly, a beam started to grow on her face. "Of course!" Ren smiled happily. Her eyes widened, and she looked away in discomfort.
"But?" Daichii muttered, feeling his heart sink.
Ren opened her mouth, but Takahashi pushed Daichii aside and beat her to it. "Don't you remember? She's gonna be busy with an art contest that's coming up soon."
Daichii's hands slipped off her desk. Now it was his turn to feel confused. "Huh? What art contest? Ren hasn't told me about an art contest." Actually, Ren hasn't been telling me much about her home life recently, now that I think about it, Daichii recalled silently, thoughtfully.
"She's only been working hard on her entry for days now," Ronin told him arrogantly, as if it was Daichii's job to know everything about Ren. Ren nodded her head enthusiastically.
Daichii glanced at his friend questioningly, but then class started, and everyone had to return to their seats. The boy didn't pay much attention that day, however. He kept staring out the window, picturing Ren's face when he had interrupted her conversation, and hoping to dear God that it wasn't because Ronin was influencing her in some way.
Daichii walked into his house. As he shouted out his arrival, his big yawn told him how much he could use an afternoon of sleeping and being lazy in front of the TV. Figuring it would be more satisfying if he did the later, Daichii grabbed a snack and headed for the living room.
The TV was currently off, but his father was there, currently absorbed in some book. Daichii collasped on a sofa, propped his feet up, and grabbed the remote. "Do you mind?" he asked his father politely, indicating the TV.
"Go right ahead," Daisuke permitted, not looking up once. "It won't bother me."
Daichii shrugged and pressed the power button. After flipping through the channels and finding nothing but commercials and lame junk, Daichii glanced over at his father, who was starting to smile at the book. "What is that?" the boy asked, scooting close to the edge of the sofa to see better.
"A yearbook." Daisuke closed it smartly and rolled his eyes. "Riku was cleaning, and she found a bunch of photo albums and other stuff. She's going through one of those, 'cherish the memories' phases." Daisuke ran a hand through his hair, an involuntary habit that Daichii often caught himself doing as well. "I swear, almost every hour she comes back with something else for me to see."
The mention of a yearbook made Daichii remember something. "Oh yeah. Not too long ago, Dark said something about wanting to know how one of your old friends are doing. What was the name? Hiwatara? Hewatari?"
"Hiwatari?" Daisuke corrected quietly, the memory slowly dawning on his face. "I've barely heard anything about him. It was hard for us to keep in touch after high school. He moved to another town, and next thing I know, years later, I was informed that he and his family had died. Murdered, actually, was the word I think they had used." Daisuke shook his head. "It's a shame. He may not have always been the most social person, but he was a great friend . . . later on."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know who Krad is?"
Daichii frowned, thinking hard. "I've heard the name before."
"You see, a long time ago, before the Cutural Revolution, there were two families, both interested in art. The Hikari were successful painters. Almost everyone of them was blessed with an amazing gift for art. Then there was us, the Niwas. We were mainly interested in the profit of art, even though we weren't very successful at it. There was a long rivalry between the families. The Hikari earned glory and fame through their passions. The Niwa stole their passions for their own benefit."
"But that makes us seem like we're the bad guys," Daichii interrupted, disliking his heritage and genes more with each passing second.
Daisuke smiled in understanding. "Yes, when you first think about it, stealing is wrong. On the other hand, the Hikari filled their artwork with dark magics that could wreak major chaos upon the city. Neither family was exactly perfect."
Daichii still didn't buy it. He released a sigh. This is just all the more reason not to transform into Dark.
Hey! I heard that!
"Then, one time, the Hikari had just made the 'Black Wings.' During a fight between the two families over the artwork, it split in two, and the magic energies made Dark and Krad. As you know, Dark's magic has been passed down through the line of the Niwa males, fighting for what we always believed in."
"Is Krad the same thing?" Daichii asked.
"Basically, only he keeps alive the Hikari traditions."
"So what does this have to do with your friend Hiwatari?" Daichii questioned impatiently.
His father raised his hands in a "I'm getting there. Don't worry" gesture. "Hiwatari was an orphan, just like your little friend."
"Little?" Daichii scoffed. "I'm not five anymore, thank you."
"And his true last name," Daisuke continued, unphased, "was Hikari."
A lightning bolt shot through Daichii, paralyzing him in silence for a while. "But, you said he was you're friend."
"He was."
"Wasn't he supposed to be your enemy?"
"He was."
Daichii scowled in annoyance. "Which one?"
"Both."
"How can you be friends with your mortal enemy?"
"How indeed," was Daisuke's only reply. He smiled at his son softly.
"Arggg, you're melting my brain! I'm going to relax in my room," Daichii said, getting a little exasperated with his dad's demeanor.
Unfortunately, his room was no more peaceful.
"RIKAE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM!"
Rikae looked up innocently from the book she was examining. She leaned back luxuriously in Daichii's computer chair and said sweetly, "Nothing." Her attention returned to the book and she laughed. "Jeez, Daichii! Have you ever been to art class before? These drawings are horrible!"
Daichii flushed in embarrassment when he realized his sister was leafing through his sketchbook. He took a deep breath and asked calmly, "Okay then, could you give it back to me now?"
Rikae glared at the boy suspiciously. "What's that tone for? Are you hiding something from me?" She flipped to the next page stopped dead. "Oh . . . my . . . GAWD! Is this supposed to be REN!" Rikae exclaimed in barely concealed mirth. The red head began squirming and laughing uncontrolably. When the sketchbook fell out of her hands, Daichii dove for it and tilted the chair. Rikae dropped to the floor, rolling in the carpet. Daichii immediately ripped the page she had seen into many tiny pieces and tossed them out the window.
"Aww! . . . Why'd you . . . do that?" Rikae gasped out between giggles. "I . . . wanted to post . . . it on the . . . internet!"
"Alright. You had you're fun! Now get out!" Daichii ordered angrily, grabbing his sister by the collar of her shirt and yanking her to her feet.
"Fine, fine. It was worth it," Rikae sighed as the laughter died down. She headed for the door, but then hesitated. "You know, one of your pictures broke," Rikae explained, jerking her thumb towards the glass shards by Daichii's desk.
"I already know that."
"Then why don't you clean up the mess? Don't want wittle Daichii to cut his itty bitty fwingers." Rikae stuck her tongue out at her brother and left the room with her nose in the air, misson accomplished.
Eyes narrowed furiously, Daichii dropped to his knees and picked up the glass pieces. He tossed them expertly into his trash can, never missing a single shot. Why haven't I cleaned this up yet? he wondered as the anger ebbed away. This broke the night I first turned into Dark, right?
The boy tried to pick up the photo, but something fell from the back. Curious, Daichii examined what had been hiding in the frame. It was a flat, metal sun, just about the size of your palm. Daichii smiled, recognizing it instantly. It was Ren's charm. She had given it to him a long time ago for his birthday once. It was girly, yes, but it meant a lot to him when Ren told him that her mother had given it to her. Daichii had refused to accept the charm at first, but Ren had insisted, saying that best friends deserved the best.
Best friends, huh?
Daichii remember the way Ren looked at him this morning, and he grimly tucked the charm away in one of his pockets.
PREVIEW
"But last time I checked, my hand seemed a little more human-like."
"You're heart's already racing? You better control it or Ren's going to get to know you real well in the next few seconds. The other you, that is."
"Do . . . do you still have your part of the charm?"
"I've had dreams . . . They were . . . all about . . . you."
"Niwa . . . ?"
THE SPECIAL TWO