Dark chuckled and scratched the back of his neck and his gaze moved to his other half. "You didn't tell him?"

"Didn't want to deprive you of the luxury." Krad said haughtily, stroking his long hair and glancing away. " Yer just embarrassed, aren't cha?" The thief jeered, walking over and mussing up the blonde hair and eliciting a growl from Krad. "That's so cute." White Wings stood up, but Dark shook his head, "Aw, I was just teasing you." and motioned for him to sit down. "Alright, alright. Well…" He stroked his chin and Aisoku watched him expectantly. "First off Krad and I were really drunk, you understand, and he does look a lot like a woman so-" From the bed, Krad drove his heel into the thief's diaphragm, and Aisoku covered a laugh with a hasty fake sneeze. After Dark recovered from a coughing fit and muttered, "Is this national inflict-harm-on- Dark day?" he began. "It started with this artwork called the Hatsu Shibou, which was supposed to grant people's deepest wishes. I had gone to steal it and twinkle toes-"

"Krad!" His other half barked. "- was there protecting it. We started fighting and the Hatsu Shibou got all worked up from our magic and woke up. It found out my wish and decided to… make Krad carry it out by drawing a curse on him." The blonde winced at the memory. "My abdomen, specifically. I think 'carving' would be a more appropriate word."Their son shuffled his wings. "But, what does that have to do with…" "I'm getting there." The thief assured and played with the metallic bands on his arms for a moment. "Just before he finished the seal he stole some blood from me and injected it in with the curse. Krad started getting sick but we ignored it for a while. A few months later Krad was still sick so I took him in to see our doctor, and that's when we found out he was pregnant."

"But how?" Their son said softly, incredulously. Dark glanced at Krad and he explained as best he could, "The curse the Hatsu Shibou laid on me- it's magic, created an environment in me where a child could grow. A makeshift womb if you will, not the real thing, but close enough. Then of course, the thief's blood merged with mine and created you." Krad shifted around as he talked and one of his hands lingered over his midsection for a half-second in fond memory. It was such a short delay Dark was fairly sure Aisoku hadn't noticed it. "But…since Krad's not a girl he couldn't have had eggs…" Aisoku ventured, a blush rising on his face.

"'Ey, the laws of human reproduction sometimes don't apply to artworks. If the magic and the emotion behind it are strong enough, strange things can happen."

Krad smirked at Dark, and the phantom brushed hair out of his eyes in a swift motion. "For a second there, you almost sounded knowledgeable." He sighed. "Whatever. I ain't gonna kill you in front of the children."Aisoku blinked, "Something else I don't know about?" and Krad shook his head. "He's making a joke. It would have killed me to have more than one…" He guessed, still remembering how bad the morning sickness had been. That, and all the other emotional turmoil. After a second Aisoku realized, "I was a curse…Wait, so your wish was me?" The great phantom thief gave a half-grin. "Sure was. It's one thing Krad and I could never have, and after watching the humans for so long…" He trailed off and glanced out at the thickening blanket of snow. "Guess I just wanted to be a dad. And now I am."

His eyes fell onto Aisoku again and the younger boy thought he saw, just for a moment, deep affection in the amethyst crystals. He wasn't quite sure how to respond but gave the thief a tentative grin before turning to Krad. "So did you actually give birth then?" Dark barked a laugh and Krad's blush returned. " Um, no. I got a cesarean." This is going better than I thought it would. Dark thought privately. He's taking it pretty well. Kyo agreed. I probably would've been flipping out by now. "Did you get really big?" Dark shook his head and tuned back into Aisoku and Krad's conversation. The blonde thought, stroking Rai's short black fur. "No, about average. I only gained twenty five or thirty pounds, and it went away right after you were born." Dark suddenly snapped his fingers together. "Hey! I just remembered- I think I have a picture of you…" He started rummaging around in his black jacket and Krad snapped, "A picture of me? From when?"

"From when you were pregnant, duh. I figured Aisoku'd probably want some proof." He stuck caramel hands in his front pockets, "Ah, here it is!" and started over to Aisoku when Krad jerked it out of his hands. "Let me see it!" He only just turned it over when Dark snatched it back and passed it to Aisoku with a hasty, "He gets to see it first!" Krad hopped up and plopped himself down next to his son, and Dark sat on the other side. "You would not believe the hell I went through to get this." The thief sighed. The picture was of an obviously asleep Krad in a thick blue sweater and loose black sweatpants, one of his ivory hands cradling the bulge in his form while the other hung off the side of the mattress. "Was this that morning when you were limping around…?" The blonde mused and Dark muttered, "Damn near broke my kneecap." He rubbed his right knee in reflex. "When did you take this?" Krad asked and Aisoku flipped the photograph over. On the back in Dark's scrawled but somehow sexy handwriting was simply,

Krad, 7 months pregnant with our little boy.

and the date. "I didn't get much bigger than that." The blonde curse said quietly. Somewhere within Aisoku, he felt an intense relief. So they both… really did want me… "You looked happy, even though you were asleep." Krad's eyes went molten again, soft and intense. "I was."

"We both were." Dark said with a nudge and his eyes fell on his son's necklace. "Heh, you're wearing my necklace." Aisoku put his hand around the metal moon possessively. " Your necklace?" Dark grinned and stroked the two feathers. "Yep. I made it for you when you were still this big-" He held his hands about a foot apart. "About as big as a meatloaf." Aisoku raised an eyebrow and Krad pinched the skin between his eyebrows. "What is it with you and meatloaf?" Dark shrugged. "So I guess you aren't some kind of half-girl then." Aisoku said with a nervous grin and the thief whispered in his ear "Well that is still up for debate. Not physically, but mentally-"

"What was that?" Krad hissed over his son's shoulder at Dark and he smirked. "Nothing sweetheart." Behind his son's back Krad drove a fist into his other hands palm and the Kaitou snorted a laugh. By the time Aisoku turned around both of his parents were facing forward once more. Their son decided to overlook their peculiar behavior and yawned, then rubbed his eyes. It was quite a bit to take in all at once… "Is it alright if I take a nap soon?" To his surprise his thieving father laughed. "Good luck. Emiko's bound to be here any minute."

"Oh yeah…" Dark nudged the boy with a few knuckles. "Any more questions?" Aisoku found himself leaning into Krad's shoulder. "Yes, but…I think I'll just digest all of this first." "Dark." Krad said suddenly and his eyes fixed on the inner pocket of the phantom's leather jacket. "Are those my hand-carved chopsticks?" He glanced down at the slight bulge. "Oh, that? No, Kyo got his nipple pierced."

Both Krad and Aisoku stared. "You can't be serious."Aisoku blurted, "You can't do that! You're my dad!" and Dark shrugged. "He wanted one, so I took him out late at night and- you want to see?" He started lifting up his shirt, and both his son and his other self shouted, "No!" The bedroom door flung open and Emiko threw herself into the room. "Aisoku!" She shoved both angels out of the way and brought the unprepared boy into a bone crushing hug. "Ow-Emiko-"She gasped as her arms looped around underneath his wing joints. "Your wings! Oh they're so beau- I mean, handsome. May I?" Aisoku took in a gasp of air gratefully and choked out,

"Yeah, go ahead." Krad sat up with a muted growl and Dark rubbed the place where his skull had met the bedpost. "Aow. Christ, Emiko, we just saved him from the Kokuyoku, not kidnapped him." After running her hands along the silver curves of the boy's wings she turned back to the thief. "Oh hush you- you're durable. If Satoshi hadn't been there to explain to us what happened-" Dark jerked his thumb in Krad's direction. "That was his idea." She thanked Krad without meeting his eyes and took Aisoku's hand, eyeing the spell around his wrist suspiciously. "I'm sure you've both been taking good care of him but it's time for him to come home." Dark opened his mouth but it was Krad who spoke first. "I'm afraid I can't allow that, Emiko Niwa." She glared and his yellow eyes met hers evenly. "Why not?"

"If he steps foot out of this Estate without those-" He indicated the twin spells around Aisoku's wrists. "Hikari artworks will sense his magic and come for him. In fact, even with them, they know he's here. Since he can't control it, he cannot sense the magic radiating off him even at this moment." Aisoku sat up straight, startled.

"But why aren't they coming here?" Dark propped himself against the wall with one leg straight out and the other bent slightly and the metal on his boots glittered.

"They're not comin' here because Krad knows how to kill 'em. And they know he will." Aisoku's eyes went back to Krad and he murmured, "Kill isn't the right word. They were never really alive." He abruptly changed the subject. "In short, he wouldn't be safe. Once we train him to control his magic we'll send him home." Emiko stroked her hands through Aisoku's hair, "I was so worried about you, I'm so glad your okay, my dear little boy…"and Dark saw Krad's lip rise for a half-second at the pronoun before coming back under control. The blonde glanced at Emiko's hands and realized that she was in her fifties, at least. How much longer would she be able to take care of Aisoku? She turned to Krad. "I will come to check on him then."

"Fine."

"Twice a day, even." Their eyes flashed. "Good. Call the home phone. I'll give you the number…" He scribbled it on a sheet of paper and after Emiko put it in her jeans, she asked her adopted son, "Are you sure you'll be all right here? I was planning on taking you home because a repairman is coming at two and-" He managed to get in, "Emiko!" and she blinked. "I'll be fine. Besides Dark will be here and you trust him right?" Her eyes narrowed. "Well considering some of the things that have happened to Daisuke…" Dark rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Emiko, that was he past. Besides, Aisoku's technically twenty-two. It'll be good for him, getting the taste of a bachelor's life for a while." "Well…" She lingered for a moment, then gave Aisoku a final hug and left only after two more reassurances from Aisoku that he'd be fine.

As the door closed Aisoku shifted his wings. "Anyone else coming?"

"Not that I know of." Krad answered and blinked as his familiar hopped off his shoulders and onto Aisoku's lap. After a moment his son started petting the black fox over his ears. Dark watched with a slightly irritated look. " 'Course he warms up to you right away- he hates me." The little animal laid his pointed head on Aisoku's thigh and curled up, growling at Dark before closing his eyes. "To be fair, he hates most Niwa's." Krad agreed. "But your familiar hates me so we're even." Dark took Wiz out of his jacket pocket and put him on the bed right next to Aisoku. "Time for an experiment." Wiz sniffed Aisoku in confusion, and then hopped up onto his leg. Rai growled sleepily, "Ryuuu…" but after a bit allowed Wiz to sit next to him and soon enough they were both asleep. Together they looked like a fuzzy yin-yang symbol. "Huh. Look at that." Aisoku picked up Wiz and he squeaked and wagged his tail. "Is he a rabbit?"

"Not exactly." Dark ran a hand through his hair and just then, there was a knock. Toro opened the bedroom door and stated, "Sir, there's someone here for you." Krad waved his hand. "Tell them I'm not here." Wiz jumped out of Aisoku's hands and landed on his hair and the boy pouted, "Don't we have enough of a sausagefest 'round here as it is?" then covered his mouth. Dark stared at him and his eyes became round and glittery. "What did you say?"

"Um, I just say weird things sometimes-"He didn't get to finish as Dark put him in a loose headlock, his tan fist mussing up Aisoku's blonde locks.

"That's my word, you said my word! Ah, I knew it was more than just the eyes!" Aisoku struggled, "Lemme go!" and he did, but only after placing a big sloppy kiss on his forehead. "Yuck! Eww…" Dark laughed good-naturedly, and Toro interrupted. "I would have sir, but he said something about – well, about footage of Aisoku and his wings." Both Krad and Dark got quiet and Aisoku held his wings close. "But no one was outside when that happened. How did he?" Krad laid a hand on his shoulder. "He's probably just bluffing, but you stay up here alright?" The boy petted the fox in his lap and nodded as the two of them left. It nuzzled his hand and he sighed wearily. All of the sudden, his life had become very complicated. He closed his eyes for a minute and felt the pulse of blood through his wings, the web of feathers protecting them. I hope dad and …mom-dad will be okay. Downstairs Toro opened the door to reveal a very small, mouse-looking man. "Ah, hello! You must be…" He paused and stroked some graying stubble. "The Hikari curse and the Phantom Thief right?" Dark crossed his arms, the cold air bringing out goose bumps on his biceps. "You here to arrest me or something?" Dark looked unimpressed. "No, I'll leave that to the professionals. Is Aisoku in…?" He stood up high to see past them and the thief rested his arm casually but pointedly, across the door frame. "And how do you know him?" "He's my neighbor." The man shivered in the Japanese weather.

"Um, could I come in?" Both halves looked at each other and decided that he wasn't much of a threat. "Fine." Dark removed his arm and the two angels escorted him into the living room. Toro stood at the corner of the room as well. "My butler informed me you spoke of some footage concerning Aisoku." The portly man eyed him and Krad growled "What!"

"Are you his father, then?" The Hikari curse blinked, "Excuse me?" and glanced at Dark worriedly. "Well he really doesn't look like Emiko or Kosuke so, are you?" Krad hissed. "I don't answer your questions little human. Tell me of the footage. Now." His last word rang loud in the room like a slap.

The man seemed to deflate and looked away from the wolf eyes. "A few weeks ago I was upstairs and I saw him- it looked like fire exploded out of his hand, and it burned my roof, so I decided to put a camera outside my window at his bedroom. I wanted to understand what it was-" Dark barked "How much did you see?" and the man shriveled a bit more. "Right up to when Aisoku threw one of those shadow-things out of his bedroom door. Then it melted from the heat." Krad crossed his arms. "Have you sent this to anyone? Where is this?" The little man adjusted his collar. "No, it's on my personal computer at home."He turned to the thief, aware that Krad was no longer answering questions. "Is Aisoku okay? He seems like a nice kid." Purple eyes assessed him and they looked vaguely familiar.

"He's fine. He'll be a lot better off once you get rid of that footage. Go home, and destroy the original copy." He sighed. "You might have been trying to help, but in the wrong hands…" He trailed off and the man looked indignant. "But- that kind of power is incredible, it could-" Krad flicked a finger, and a tendril of yellowish magic snapped out at the man, disappearing just before it touched his skin. "Incredibly dangerous. Best if it doesn't get into the common man's hands." He sat there for a minute, numbed by the sheer speed of Krad's magic and the power behind it.

"F-fine. Fine, I'll get rid of it. But can you at least tell me what you are?" Krad smirked, "What do you think we are? Human?" then gave a laugh.

"It's best if you don't know."The man glanced at Dark but he shook his head. "He's actually right on this. Please- if you do care about Aisoku, get rid of it-" A muscle in his crossed arms flexed. "Or I will." The man nodded and gathered himself up and the two of them escorted him to the front door. "Will he be able to fly?" He asked the thief just as he was about to close the door and Dark snorted, "What are wings for?" then the door closed.

They both headed back upstairs and Krad whispered, "Shh." as they snuck into Aisoku's room. Dark walked over to his horizontal, immobile son and poked him.

"He's asleep!" Krad shooed his hand away and gathered Rai off Aisoku's hip. "He said he was tired." "Well what are we supposed to do now!" The Kaitou fumed quietly and noticed that Aisoku's head rested on his black leather jacket. "He's holding my jacket hostage…" My stolen chopsticks are in there, you little... He reached for it and Aisoku, sensing that his pillow might get taken away, dug his hand into the fabric and pulled it close. "Dammit." Krad straightened his white, gold-trimmed sleeve.

"That's cute." Dark looked at him disbelievingly. "Eh?"

"I think he remembers you too." The thief paused. "Nah. No way could he remember that far back."

"You never know." Krad stroked a silver wing gently. "Let's let him sleep."

Krad left and Dark followed, patting Aisoku's head once before closing the curtains around his bed and leaving.

And just like before, Aisoku fell asleep to the sound of his parent's voices.

FF19- well, here you go. And about Dark's manners...I dont think he ever really had any.

RosalieCullenHale1- Um, was this akward enough? I was blushing while writing it.

Damaged Ghost of an Angel- how was this? XD

Sapphiet- Oh, Aisoku will be fine. He's tough.

xOtaku4Ux- thanks, I like sweet stories too.