-)*(-

Dark took control swiftly, barely giving Daisuke time to adjust as their body grew into the larger kaito's frame. He was being more demanding than usual, as if he had to hurry.

Purple hair swayed and amethyst glanced sideways to the warehouse's opening. "I heard it," he said, answering an unspoken question.

"Then why did you take a moment to react? You are getting slack, thief," Krad said haughtily, signaling for Molten.

Dark sniffed. "You wish." Torch chimed in with a small squeak of his own as he was placed into a pants pocket. "Looks like we've been discovered. It would be best to part ways."

Just as Molten touched down on Krad's outstretched arm, the white angel smiled. It was a very cold smile.

"Let us continue where our phoenixes left off another day."

Dark ignored him, walking to the vacant, wide doorway. Before he stepped over the threshold he looked back. Krad was heading for the back door.

"You'll never forgive me, will you?"

Krad paused and turned around, his face completely neutral. Dark continued, "I played no part in how we were born, but I chose to protect those closest to me. You would think you could understand with what heart you do have."

"You are talking of a matter that has been settled long ago," Krad responded flatly.

"We're still fighting! It obviously hasn't been settled!" Dark said hotly. "I thought after the incident with Miranda—"

Krad interrupted, "What? That we could go on pretending to get along? Do not be naïve. You are not as dense as you sometimes act. You know there are some actions that can never be made up for."

"And who would that pertain to—me, or yourself?"

Krad finally revealed some emotion at the question. He looked angered, and only because the kaito knew his counterpart so well—hurt.

"This is not the—"

A sudden flash went off within the dim warehouse interior and the angels heard a small whisper: "Wow, both are together!"

Molten let loose a series of fast noises. It sounded almost like laughter. She took off for one of the high windows. There she attacked whoever was taking pictures.

"Wah! Get away!" A boy screamed, waving his arms like mad. But Molten kept on him like a mother defending her nest.

"That's Takeshi..." Dark could barely see the boy's black hair past the flurry of wings.

'Dark, he could fall off the building!'

The phantom thief was already rushing outside. Meanwhile, Krad studied the upper torso of the boy flailing about. Takeshi accidentally pressed a button on his camera and another flash went off. Stunned, Molten hissed a few flames through her beak. Takeshi's eyes bulged.

"No way... P-poke'mon exist?" He laughed in disbelief.

At this, a white bolt shot up and fried his camera, singeing a few of his fingers in the process. He jerked, losing his grip on the warehouse ledge as easily as he lost his balance. Takeshi gave a sharp yell as he fell off the building. Krad didn't bother sticking around any longer. He picked up Satoshi's empty backpack and went for the back door, flying high as Molten obediently trailed after him into the sky.

Outside, Dark grunted as Takeshi fell into his waiting arms.

"Whoa!" Takeshi shook himself, then immediately focused on Dark's face. "Dark!" Shock made him speechless. He couldn't believe who'd rescued him. Heck, he was still trying to get over the event leading to being rescued.

"The one and only. Consider yourself lucky—I generally only allow females into my arms."

Takeshi's huge eyes blinked at him. Dark sighed, reaching to bring up a single black feather. "We can't have tomorrow's headline saying 'Poke'mon Are Real!', so you'll have to excuse me for this."

"Wha—?"

Dark held the black feather up in front of Takeshi. The spine emitted a light purple aura and suddenly the boy went slack. Dark looked back up to the high window from where Takeshi had fallen and scowled deeply. Krad would get a piece of his mind for risking harm on his "classmate".

"With!"

-.-

Later, during the night, Daisuke was taking a nice warm bath and thinking.

Just because you can do something, doesn't always mean you should.

'So, when are we challenging creepy boy again?'

"I don't think I want to. Today was kind of dangerous." Daisuke lay back in the steamy water, letting the liquid go passed his ears.

'But we have to! We lost today! We can't let that go!' Dark almost wailed. 'What if we try again once we figure out how to get the phoenixes to adulthood?'

"I'm still thinking no, Dark." But Daisuke's voice held a waver of interest.

'Think about it—a fair fight with a grown phoenix at your side. You could dominate the sky, show off flame techniques, and who knows what else! Besides, you barely gave Torch any commands today. You needed to have played a more active roll. You need a second chance!'

"Erm..." Daisuke's brows drew forward in his effort not to give in to temptation so quickly. After all, hadn't he just learned a lesson?

"We'll see, Dark."

The kaito laughed. It was a sound that resonated inwardly, bringing a strange sort of tingling throughout him. "I haven't said yes for sure," the redhead reminded.

'I know.' But still the kaito's confidence radiated strongly. Daisuke grumbled, but only a little as he sat up to finish his bath.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to keep up with this training since Krad has Molten...

-)*(-

A/N: This was something different, eh? Hope everyone enjoyed! And yay for me; I have another multiple chaptered fic! Short, yes, but still... :D

Special thanks to: Sapphiet! And a big thanks to my reviewers and any future reviewers! You guys are the best!