As Satoshi finally felt Krad stir he cupped the man's face between his palms and asked, "Are you alright?" softly as Krad fought his way to consciousness, his body relaxed and heavy. Hiwatari paused and ran his fingers around the two new appendages on either side of the blonde's head, then noticed that his fox ears and tail were also missing. He brushed Krad's hair out of the way just as the former Kistune Yuusen opened his eyes and revealed their new color- a velvety blue. "Hnn…Hiwatari?" The blunette lifted him up to his chest and ran one hand gently along the shell of his Krad's right human ear. "What happened to your ears and eyes? They're…"
The blonde saw his own reflection in the floor length mirror and froze, and then his hand covered Hiwatari's as he eyed his new ears. "I'm…human…" Hiwatari reached between Dark's wings and touched his shoulder. "Dark, the museum opens in two hours, and I'm guessing the police are going to be up here soon."The thief groaned and cuddled Daisuke closer, even though it made his ribs catch fire, "Leave me alone, dammit…" and Satoshi poked him while still supporting the blonde.
" You really want to spend the next few years in the slammer?" That woke him up- he dragged himself up and, mostly leaning on Daisuke, admitted sleepily,
"I suppose we should be going." Daisuke caught Krad's eye and ventured, "I …guess I'll see you later." and the blonde said quietly, "Wait, Daisuke." The blonde felt very strange now- he felt…extremely guilty for what had happened between the redhead and himself. Maybe it was just his new human heart, but he didn't want to scare him away a second time. He stood and the redhead could practically feel Dark bristling, but he merely glanced down at Daisuke's swollen abdomen with affection and offered, "I would still… like to be a part of our child's life, if you –" He caught Dark's killing gaze and added, "If both of you would let me." Krad reached inside his pocket and flipped over one of his cards, writing his cell phone number on the back and handing it to the redhead. "Well maybe if you didn't go around breakin' people's ribs I-" Dark began and Krad seemed a little confused. "I didn't-oh, wait." He thought for a moment, then scratched the back of his head sheepishly,
"I did, didn't I. My apologies." and gathered Satoshi under his arm. Dark gaped at him, to astounded to begin his ranting. "Well, goodbye then."
Daisuke caught Krad's sleeve and put his large ivory hand against his belly and promised, "I'll call you when he starts moving." then let it drop back to Krad's side.
He brought the same hand up and pressed it to his lips. "Thank you. Goodbye." The commander and his lover promptly left and Dark wondered just how they would escape out of the museum unnoticed. "Here, this way." Daisuke said softly and let Dark lean on him, his wings still fully extended behind him as they snuck downstairs to a discreet back door. The redhead put a hairpin through the lock and jiggled it open then looped and arm under Dark's wide shoulders and somehow they managed to get to Dark's home without being seen. As soon as they arrived the thief settled onto his couch carefully and flicked his cell phone open, calling Argentine and asking him to come help with his broken ribs. When that was finished he called Daisuke over and rested his head on the boy's chest, pulling him gently onto the couch with him.
Daisuke noticed for the first time that now Dark's wings held many different shades, not just purple- he could see traces of green, blue and red in the ebony feathers like they were carved from opals. "Your wings are different colors now." He said and added, "And bigger too."
He began massaging the sore limbs and Dark practically fell asleep in his arms as his eyes closed and his wings trembled happily.
"Dai, I love you." It was so simple, such a sweet and pure confession, and Daisuke cradled Dark's head and reassured him. "I love you too."
Dark's Blog
I know I haven't updated in…well, forever, but a lot of things have been going on. We finally moved into our new, smaller house though and it is awesome not to have Argentine and Towa here anymore. Lol. I finally married Dai- you know, the little cat angel I found? Yeah, a big ceremony and all, flowers and gifts and crap. My dad didn't come but I didn't really expect him too. Oh, and I've grown wings.
Haha, gotcha. No, things are going fine here and we're getting really excited because we'll be able to see our adopted baby soon. He's a little boy, in case anyone was wondering. People keep saying we're too young for him and it's probably true, but Daisuke and I are never gonna split up. Ever.
So really, I don't see the problem.
Anyway, I dunno if I'll have time to steal anything just yet, considering that I'm so busy, but I'll let you all know if I do. And the coppers too, of course.*wink* alright, seeya!
~P.T.
Five months later
Daisuke woke up next to Dark and streched, pausing as he felt wetness between his legs. "…mrrow?" This had certainly never happened before…he touched his inner thighs and scooted back. It was on the bed sheets too but it didn't smell like anything except water…Daisuke gently shook Dark's shoulder, who was still a little tired from yesterday's 'activity.' "Hnn? What is it, Dai…?" He sat up slowly and stretched his wings, and then snapped them close to his body and opened his eyes as the redhead said, "Um, I… think I wet the bed…?" Dark touched the damp sheets near him and brought his hand up to his nose.
"It doesn't smell. I think you're water musta broke." They looked at each other in shock and dawning apprehension and Daisuke placed a small hand on his swollen belly. "But I don't feel- I feel fine right now." Dark shrugged. "Well, let's change the sheets, you can change your sweats and I'll call Argentine to see what we should do." They changed them, had some breakfast and were just talking to Argentine over the phone around lunchtime when the contractions set in. Daisuke tried to hide it but he couldn't help but slouch down and hold his breath as it washed over him, his abdominal muscles gripping up tighter than steel, then slowly relaxing.
"Ah…" Dark put the phone down and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "Dai?" going pale himself as he noticed a sheen of sweat on the boys forehead.
"Ok, that one hurt…" The redhead said softly and leaned into Dark after taking his thick arm and digging his small hands into Dark's red sleeve.
The thief snatched the phone back up. "Dammit Argentine, when is your next break then? I don't know-" Argentine tried his best to calm the expectant father,
"Look, how far apart are Daisuke's contractions?" and Dark asked his shorter lover, then snapped back, "Every fifteen minutes or so." The other line went quiet and Dark bristled while stroking Daisuke's soft hair. "ArgentIIINE!" The bumbling male nurse replied quickly, "Sorry, I'm just- I'll come over as soon as I can ok? I didn't think it would be this fast…" There was the sound of someone shouting in the background and he finished "Bye!" before hanging up. "I'm scared…" Daisuke admitted and Dark snatched up his hand and led him back up to their room, a confused Dai pestering him with, "Wait, why are we going up here, Dark?" When they arrived Dark gestured for Daisuke to get in and then crawled in himself, wrapped his body around the redhead's protectively with his arms cradling his swollen abdomen and asked,
"Do you feel a little better now?" Daisuke nodded and wiped his face just in case there were tears forming there.
"You just gotta trust that your body knows what to do."
~ And I gotta trust it too.~ Dark added in his mind, startling as the child within Daisuke kicked hard. "Ah- I'm still not used to that." He wrapped his arms firmly around him again and smiled over his narrow shoulder as the baby kicked again, gently this time. "He's just doing that because he knows he's going to be out soon."
Daisuke explained in a hushed tone and thrummed his fingers against the skin of his abdomen to calm him down. "Shh-it's ok…" As they lay together Dark asked reluctantly, "Uh, did you want to call Krad? Before the contractions get really bad, I mean." and he handed his cell phone to Daisuke. He went and called the commander who was currently waiting outside an apartment complex where a domestic disturbance had been reported. "Hello? Oh, it's you, Daisuke." He heard the blonde's voice change in an instant, becoming smoother and velvety. "Is everything all right?" The redhead smiled even as another contraction tore through him and told him the good news. "Yeah, you're…going to be a daddy today, Krad." For a moment it seemed as if everything stopped- he put his mug down, leaned into the black fabric of the police cruiser and let that word sink in. …Daddy… ~I'm going to be-me…?~
He brought his curled hand up to his mouth in wonder and whispered, "Oh, Daisuke. " then let it rest against his heart.
~Our child, the same blood that runs through these veins...~ "Anyway, that's it. I'll make sure you see him real soon, and-"
Krad interrupted, "Make sure you take care of yourself, my other half. Do not push yourself too hard." And Daisuke assured him, "I will."
He then whispered, "If I was there, I would kiss you and then the place where our baby lies until he came into this world." Daisuke blushed severely and Dark narrowed his eyes and hissed, "What did he say?" but the redhead brushed the question off. "I know. I- w-well, I have to go." Krad nodded, "Aright. Goodbye." and hung up, placing the phone back in his pocket. It was without a doubt the best news he'd ever received on that cell phone. Dark tried to comfort Daisuke as best he could, but by the time Argentine arrived about half an hour later the poor redhead was nearly in tears from the pain. "Sorry, Daisuke," The male nurse apologized as he and Dark helped him to stand up. "But I need to measure you to see how far you're dilated." He wiped sweat from his forehead and muttered shakily,
"M-measure me?" leaning most of his weight on Dark as Argentine led them to the bathroom. "Yes." He put a rather large medical kit on the counter and explained. "Your labor is going really quickly so I don't know if we'll have time to take you to the hospital-it would be safer in case anything goes wrong. But then again-"
He observed the way Daisuke was leaning on Dark, counting on his support. "You probably feel safer here at home then there, don't you." The redhead nodded and Argentine snapped on some gloves and shooed Dark out of the bathroom. "Out! It will be quite awkward enough with me looking at him." Once he'd left Argentine instructed for Daisuke to drop his pants, which he did after lighting up as red as a water balloon. "Well, you certainly look like a boy to me." He said jokingly and if possible, the redhead flushed deeper. "I-" "I'm teasing you, Daisuke." He explained as he found the anomaly in Daisuke's otherwise male physiology. "Ah…oh."
He stood abruptly, opened the bathroom door and asked Dark to bring them some towels and peroxide. Daisuke began redressing himself but Argentine interrupted,
"I wouldn't. You're fully dilated, Daisuke. The baby should be coming in the next hour or so." He stared at him before repeating, "The next…hour? But-" and then nearly doubling over in pain as another wave gripped him. Argentine helped him down to the floor and asked, "Listen, Daisuke, where do you want to have him?"and after a moment he replied in a rush, "Here in the bathtub, I guess. I don't want to get our bed all messed up." Dark came back and together with Argentine they put Daisuke in the tub and tried to make him as comfortable as possible, layering a few towels underneath him and at his request, draping one across his waist as well.
The thief sat at the head of the tub next to Daisuke ad Argentine sat near the other end ready to go into action once Daisuke started crowning.
He was amazed that this was going so fast- usually for humans and especially for the first child; it was a very lengthy process. The fact that this was going so fast worried him and he hoped Daisuke wouldn't pass out. Another half-hour passed and the redhead was reduced to a quivering, sweating child himself, pale and afraid.
"D-dark…" He sniffed and gritted his teeth as the pain hit him again, and then wrapped one arm around Dark and held him so tight his still-healing ribs squealed in protest. Dark winced a little and kissed his hair, then his forehead and whispered, "I'm right here. It's almost over, Dai." and felt his little body tense up with the biggest contraction yet. Daisuke moved one hand and gripped the side of the tub so he wasn't hurting Dark, hissing through his teeth but refusing to scream- he didn't want his boy to come into the world hearing his cries of agony. Argentine moved the redhead's thigh and announced, "Alright, here he comes." opening up the medical kit he'd brought to the side of the tub. "You alright, Daisuke?" He added but sincerely regretted it as the redhead spat spitefully,
"Do I look alright to you?" and knotted his hand into a fist, ready to punch the man away from his crotch if he came any closer.
After another minute another contraction hit and the little artwork let tears run down his cheeks as he cried, "I can't- I can't do this Dark ah AAAAAHHHH-!" He finally did scream, but his cry was abruptly cut off as Dark pressed his mouth to the redhead's. His lips were so soft and calming Daisuke immediately relaxed and as he did so the baby was born, sliding into Argentine's waiting hands perfectly. Daisuke panted and watched through glazed eyes as the nurse rubbed him off as best he could and then wrapped the little pink bundle in a clean towel. The baby never stopped making small little puppyish grumbles and whines and the redhead crooned softly back at him, "Shhh..." almost unconsciously."He doesn't have an umbilical cord." Dark noted with interest as he supported Daisuke's limp form and Argentine said,
"I've noticed. Very strange." and then handed the newborn to Daisuke carefully. "Here." The baby seemed to recognize him as soon as the artwork's arms encircled his body-he snuggled into Daisuke and whined again, quietly this time with his eyes still closed.
He held his child and stroked the damp, new red hair on his head, then looked up at Dark. "Dark, look. He's so- so lovable. I thought…"
The thief leaned down over him and kissed the newborn's head and then put one arm underneath the baby and muttered,
"Yeah, he sure is. You know …we haven't even picked out a name for him yet." Daisuke smiled weakly, "We'll do that later. Right now we should just-" He went quiet as the baby's eyes began to twich and exclaimed breathlessly, "His eyes are opening." Dark looped one arm over his shoulder, rubbed between his shoulder blades and watched as Daisuke's child opened his eyes for the first time. His left eye was almost completely gold, but his right only had a few flecks of it in a ruby background.
He caught Daisuke's heart and the fiveteen-year old knew that he loved him so much it hurt. Dark gave Daisuke a little peck on his cheek and fluffed his hair.
"Looks like our little family is finally complete."
Thank you to everyone who supported me through this story! Continue the legacy-