Chapter 13

Feather in the Wind – Part 1

Satoshi glanced up from his newspaper as the door clicked open.

"Hiya," Risa said, holding a bag of groceries to her chest as she came in. "I thought maybe you hadn't eaten."

The boy fought off a rebuttal. It was true, he hadn't bothered. Risa was always worrying over his diet, but for the last few days, since Dark arrived, it had been worse. "How is Riku?"

"Not bad," Risa said, setting the bag on the counter and removing some cans and vegetables from it. "The doctor said she could begin walking on crutches tomorrow." Turning, she pulled a cutting board out from the cupboard and began fishing around for a knife.

"I'm really not hungry," he said tensely.

Risa stopped her rummaging and looked at him, displeased but unsurprised. "You seem so impatient lately…you have to eat, or you'll only get weaker."

"I will be fine," the Hiwatari returned suddenly. Fiercely. His eyes immediately flashed with guilt, but managed not to look away.

Risa's expression changed at his words, but she too didn't look away. She held his eyes and searched them, as if trying to understand. Something had changed since that conversation with Dark three days ago. Something between him and her.

'Strictly speaking, Dark is not alive. He's a work of art, and he's bought and paid for.'

Had Satoshi actually said that? Had he really told Dark that Daisuke's capture was his fault? Somehow, she couldn't quite forgive him for what he'd said. It was like she was suddenly faced with how little she actually knew about him, and she didn't like what she was seeing. Sure, Satoshi was a little distant at times, but she'd never seen him be cruel. Now, staring into his cool blue eyes, she could sense a shred of animosity – something screaming to be left alone. Left alone to what? Starve himself to death? She gathered her strength and did the only thing she could do. She pretended not to notice. "Where's Dark?" she asked, looking around.

"The bedroom," Satoshi said flatly.

Risa waited a moment to see if he would say more, but he didn't. She looked across the room at the open bedroom door.

"It's strange. The door's open, and it's my own room, but I can't go in and speak to him. It's an invisible fence I can't cross." Satoshi's quiet voice made Risa look at him again.

"You still haven't spoken with him?" Risa asked gently.

"We spent hours discussing planning for the rescue."

"I didn't mean that kind of speaking," Risa crossed her arms.

Satoshi fought back his annoyance. "I wasn't wrong. What I said was true, I just…didn't say it correctly."

Risa sighed. "There's no such thing as a right way to say those things," she said, firm and quiet. Here he was, the first time he'd spoken to her about that incident. She thought he'd been about to express the guilt she knew he felt, but instead he'd backed out. She shook her head and remembered to be understanding. Satoshi was not the smoothest with apologies. But it had been three days. "How's his health?"

"Miraculously good, but not good enough to help Daisuke. Hattori's convinced him not to do anything until he can fly again. The only plan with any hope of success depends on it.

In the next room, Dark sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed. He'd just finished eating something simple he'd prepared for himself, and was now drumming a terse rhythm with his chopsticks on the glass plate. He looked out the window at the waning afternoon sunlight, overhearing the conversation in the next room. God, they sure knew how to make a fuss. The angel looked at the doorway, a thoughtful grin forming on his face. The expression evaporated quickly. "Well, time's a-wastin'."

He put the plate aside and hopped off the bed, crossing the room to the mirror. Standing with his back to the pane, he looked over his bare shoulder at the marred skin between his wings. Three days, and it was already just a dark, ragged scar. 'Not exactly human,' he thought, noting the obvious. But he wasn't just some hexed statue, either. So he was created by artists, conceived from stone and ritual rather than flesh and seed. It was old news, and the last thing he could afford to worry about at the moment. Far from it; the angel was full of anticipation.

He stretched his wings in the mirror, letting them out to their full span. Stiff pangs ran through his back and neck, but he could feel his wings ready and waiting, trembling to be in flight once again. He turned to face the mirror, a determined smirk growing on his face. 150 million years since the origin of flight, and there was still just one way to learn. "Let's see what you've got, then," he said, and went to the window. Sliding it open, he swung out onto the small landing outside and climbed easily onto the rooftop.

Risa and Satoshi froze mid-discussion as a draft ran through the apartment. "He's gone again," Satoshi said.

Risa turned and rushed to the door, making her way down the stairwell. At the ground floor, she ran outside and crossed the street, making her way into the small open park there. She paused next to a large tree and looked up at the rooftop. Night was beginning to fall, and the hazy dusk drifted through the air like smoke. But she could see him make his way to the center of the roof and stretch his wings into the wind.

Dark's silhouette crouched down, preparing, and then shot forward, running toward the edge of the building. His strong legs struck together at the edge of the roof and launched him forward, great wings spreading wide to embrace the night air. Risa clutched her hand to her chest, holding her breath.

The angel caught the wind in his wings, faltering for just a moment. Then they gave out completely. With a hoarse, frustrated cry that made Risa's chest tighten, the graceful form buckled and tumbled hard onto the flat roof of the adjacent building. "Still no good," Risa murmured. She closed her eyes tightly as another scream of frustration ripped through the air. Satoshi or the vet would do all in their power to stop this behavior if they ever learned of it. Risa had nearly told them, the first time she'd seen it. But somehow, she understood. The pain of a winged being torn from the sky. Perfect, airborne freedom and a lost soulmate, all waiting beyond just one leap. A leap worth taking, every time, no matter how many times you fell.

It wasn't something she could interfere with, no matter how much it hurt to watch. The most she could do was pray, and observe to make sure he got up again.

Dark punched the concrete he was kneeling on, fighting back the urge to shout out again. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, he could try again. And when he could fly, he could go after Daisuke. Tomorrow…was so damn far away. He got up and methodically turned back toward the building he'd jumped from, hopping over into a fire escape and making his way up to the other rooftop. The buildings were only one story apart in height. It was the shock and disappointment of the fall that hurt more than the impact. But it was the only way to really see if he was ready. His wings would stop failing long before they stopped hurting, and there wasn't time to wait for the latter.

He swung down into the window of Satoshi's apartment and walked stiffly toward the bed, brushing himself off.

"Ahem," a voice in the corner of the room made Dark jerk sideways. It was Risa, sitting by the TV with a gentle expression. "Enjoying the sunset?" She looked calm, but she wasn't sure this was a good idea. Dark had to be in a bad mood after what just happened. She probably shouldn't intrude, but she had to.

Dark put his hand on his hip and looked at her. "Making an honest effort," he answered, a curious grin coming to his face.

Risa stood up and walked toward him. Dark stood his ground, but she could feel him mentally drawing back from her as she advanced. She hesitated when she noticed it, dropping her eyes from his lavender gaze. That only left her to stare at his shirtless chest, which didn't help any. A flush grew across her face. "I know you're eager to help Daisuke, but your health matters too," she said gently, deciding she was better off meeting his eyes after all.

"You were watching."

"I was." She frowned as Dark looked away, wondering if she'd somehow invaded his privacy. "I'm sorry."

"Not like it's a secret," Dark said, turning and flopping on his back on the bed.

"Doesn't that hurt? Landing on your back?"

Dark shook his head, crossing his arms behind it. "It's practically just a scar. The pain is gone."

"But I saw you…you fell," she said in confusion.

"The skin is healed, and the wings hurt only when I move them," Dark said with a note of concern that made Risa curious.

"And they hurt too much to fly?" she tried to clarify.

Dark frowned, a bit indignantly. "I can handle pain, if that's what you mean, but it's not the problem," he mused, squinting at the ceiling as some unspoken doubt crossed his mind. Suddenly the angel was having trouble keeping pain out of his expression.

Risa felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. She stared at him, trying not to consider the thought that just occurred to her. "You're not thinking…they can't…No, that's impossible. They flew fine before," she said, her eyes begging him to explain.

Dark sat up, resting his arms on his knees. His face was set in thought, not quite looking at her. "But that's incorrect. These have never flown before. At this point, we should prepare for the possibility they won't fly." His voice was cold and dry, practical. Then he focused again on his surroundings and looked at her. "What is it?" he asked, a bit alarmed by the expression on her face.

Risa's eyes were watering. She couldn't help it. "Of course they'll fly…how could they not fly?" she asked quietly, a faint tremble in her voice. Dark showed her a serious frown and looked at the window. Shouldn't have told her after all.

"Dark," Risa pressed. "Hattori said they were in perfect condition, no breaks, no wounds. I'm sure they'll be fine. Just give them a little more-"

"We don't have time," Dark tore into her sentence.

Risa closed her mouth and looked at him closely. "You're really, really afraid for him…why? I mean, I know he was kidnapped, and we're all worried, but you've been more than that, all this time. Do you know something?" she asked, slowly coming closer and sitting at the edge of the bed.

Dark threw his head back and looked at the ceiling. "I can't feel him, in my mind. I always could before. Now he's gone."

Risa studied him for a long moment. "You're three hundred years old…aren't you?"

Dark glanced down at her, uncertain what she was getting at. "Three hundred and four."

"In all those years, was there always someone else with you? Inside your…soul?" she asked, her soft eyes stripping his expression bare.

"Yes," he said, not liking the way his voice sounded. A feather lost in the wind.

"Then you've known Daisuke…"

"Since he was born. And his grandfather before him. But this body is…mine."

"And now you're alone in there, and you don't know how to be," she murmured. Risa stared at him, deep and intense until Dark was the one that had to look away, wide-eyed. "I'm so sorry," she gasped quietly, realizing what she was saying. The raw look on his face made her wish she hadn't asked anything. She'd never seen this side of Dark. Or maybe she'd never looked. Dark was a cool, suave daredevil, fearless and confident. He was above and beyond this world. Dark Mousy didn't get lonely. He didn't need the contact of another mind in his.

Dark glared at the wall outside his view of the girl. She was looking right into his soul, and he didn't know how. She was seeing things he hadn't told, or tried to tell, anyone. It filled him with an odd amalgam of relief and anger. And it hurt.

"Dark?" Risa said cautiously, reaching out to touch his tensed hand.

"Don't, please," the angel said stiffly. Her hand froze and drew back. He straightened up and gave her an apologetic, mirthless grin. "But thanks."

"Dark… I-" Risa's voice squeaked up as the bedroom door suddenly flung open.

"Did you miss me?" Hattori announced, strolling into the room lugging a large, hard plastic case.

Risa looked back at Dark, and could have jumped. His entire demeanor had changed in an instant. That knowing smirk was up on his face. He leaned on his elbows , legs crossed, his eyes challenging the vet as he walked towards him. "I hope you're not planning to perform any sadistic experiments without my approval," he sneered.

"Oh, look at the birdman. It's so peppy today," Hattori mused, crossing his arms and squinting as he mock-studied the angel. "And perhaps even showing signs of intelligence! Or wait…maybe it just wants some seeds…"

"Personal pronouns. They're neat, try them sometime," Dark snorted.

Risa looked down at the large case Hattori had carried in with him. "What's in that?"

Hattori cast Dark a look. Dark raised his chin, approving something. "This little beauty is an electromyograph," he said proudly, unlatching the case and opening it up to reveal an unfamiliar machine and a collection of wires and sanitary supplies.

Risa blinked. "A what?"

"EMG. A test. Long story short, measures nerve activity in muscle tissue." Hattori was barely focusing on his explanation as he dug out a set of long needles. "Stick the needle in, measure the electrical activity in the muscle."

"It's a shot?" Risa stammered, a little uneasy at the sight of the needle.

"Oh, not an injection. And not just one; it takes a good number of samples to get a clear image of the muscle. The more complex the nerve system, the greater the number of points required."

"Don't you think your weird science could wait until after he's recovered?" she scolded the doctor.

Hattori's expression grew more serious. "No. This is by request."

"Request? But what do you need to do that…for…" Risa looked from the vet to Dark.

Hattori paid little attention to the unsettled look on her face as he set up the equipment next to Dark on the bed and Dark turned so his back faced the vet. "EMGs are my specialty. Don't worry, I'll keep it as short as possible," he murmured to Dark as he sanitized the needle and cautiously touched the center joint of his left wing. "Then we'll have a clear-cut answer."

Dark took a deep breath and focused on relaxing his wing as the vet supported its weight in his experienced hands.

Hattori pressed a metal sensor in through the feathers against the skin of the joint. "I'm sending through a small shock," he explained, and touched a button on his machine. Dark flinched and his wing gave a restless tug against Hattori's grip, feeding electrical readings through the machine and into an earpiece the vet was wearing. "Easy. Here's the needle." Dark looked straight ahead as Hattori slipped the first needle into his joint.

"How long does this take?" Risa breathed.

"Fifty…no, forty five minutes. You might want to keep him talking," was Hattori's answer as another needle prompted a tense jerk from his patient.

"Nice personal pronoun," Dark grinned tightly.

"Is it supposed to hurt him like that?" Risa asked skeptically.

"The more damaged the nerves, the more the potential for hypersensitivity," Hattori noted and flicked his hand at her, indicating that he needed to stop talking and focus on his earpiece.

"Stronger shock," he warned, and clicked down the button. Dark jerked and locked his gaze in front of him, not looking back to see the next set of needles entering in for readings.

Risa stood up and walked to the other side of the bed where she could face Dark. She pulled up a chair and sat down. The angel's tense gaze settled on her. The shields were fully up in those deep purple eyes, but they still locked onto her like she was the only handhold on a sheer face. "So, Harada Risa, tell me about Earth and the last two years," he smiled.

Risa blushed as she realized how attentive he was being. Calm down, you're just distracting him from the test. That stare doesn't mean anything. "Um…Niwa-kun and Riku just celebrated their two-year anniversary! Satoshi and I, too. I know you're not crazy about him, but he's-" she faltered without meaning to as a shock made Dark wince, but he didn't quite blink. He was focusing all the attention he had on her.

"Satoshi's different now. He changed so much since that day. He opened up a lot, started talking to people, although he's still not very good at it. Oh! He even bought me flowers for our anniversary, although we didn't get to actually have a date. I know he hasn't been very nice to you, but you have to understand that Daisuke's his best friend. He's probably really worried about him."

Dark held his tongue, but he doubted that was really all it was. They had been enemies; Satoshi had endured a harsh childhood just so he could destroy him. And if he was right that the blue-haired wing host somehow missed Krad, then telling Satoshi he'd left the other angel to languish in solitude for eternity may not have sat well with the boy. Satoshi's attitude was more than just anxiety over rescuing Daisuke. Technically, everything the Hiwatari had lost in his life was Dark's fault. His childhood, his father, his soulmate, and now his best friend. Of course the boy blamed him. Dark hadn't argued the point.

"Hey, I have an idea," Risa said, concerned about the grim expression that had grown on Dark's face. "Instead of lying around here tomorrow, let's get out. There's going to be a school festival at the junior highschool down the street. It's known for being pretty amazing, the kids really go all out. Why don't we all go there?"

Dark grinned cooperatively. "Alright. Sounds like fun."

It was an hour later when Satoshi looked up from his book to see Hattori emerging from the bedroom with Risa close on his trail.

"Are you certain that's what it said?" Risa was demanding. The annoyed look on Hattori's face said that this wasn't a new conversation. "Can't you just do the test again? There may have been some mistake."

"Don't you think he's had enough?" the vet turned on her, the large plastic case forcing her out of his personal space, and gave her a stern look. "I do this for a living. There's not a mistake."

"But you've never even treated a…him before. He can still heal."

"I'll give you this much. It's a miracle he can move them at all. But they won't fly."

"He will!" she said confidently. "And you've got to tell him so! If you don't give him hope, he won't even try."

"Will you stop it! Believe me, I'd have loved to see him fly as much as you." Hattori snapped as Dark emerged from behind them. Hattori glanced over at the angel, and they both fell quiet. It was unfair to have this conversation right in front of him. "Sorry, pal," he said, meeting Dark's eyes.

"First time I've seen you this ruffled, Doc," Dark commented with a bemused Smirk. "Don't let me break up the party." He walked past the vet and the girl to where Satoshi was sitting at the table. The angel spun a chair around and sat on it backwards, crossing his arms over the chair back and meeting the Hiwatari's curious eyes across the table.

He looked at Satoshi with an expression so logical and composed that it hurt a little to look at. "We're going to need a new plan."

-oOoOo-

Krad walked a slow lap around the fountain in the park, glancing occasionally at the last shreds of color draining from the horizon. The kid had been staying after school working on some big project each night, but he'd never been this late. The angel swallowed his irritation. He wasn't about to sit around waiting for the stupid human to show up. Pulling his coat a little tighter against the chilly night, he picked up his gait and headed toward the city.

'What am I doing, anyway?' He wondered as he entered the populated streets. He'd been on Earth, in this body for four whole days, and done nothing toward his goal. No humans had died by his hand, and he hadn't located any of his objects of revenge. He'd flown over the Hikari boy's old house, and found it empty and up for sale. The annoying redhead also seemed to be absent from home. And all evidence strongly suggested that Dark was no longer alive. That made revenge a bit more complicated, but if there was one person the white angel most wanted to destroy, it was the wing host who betrayed him to that wasteland for two years. Of that, he had no doubts. But what was he thinking, keeping this child around him?

He walked through the crowded streets until an appealing scent caught his attention. Slipping his hand into his coat pocket, he slid out the credit card Jirou had left with him. Krad examined it, and then looked up at the ramen shop across the street. Humans sat at every chair and table inside the shop, eating and talking with their arrogant stupidity and foolish, snorting laughter. Suddenly the food seemed less appealing, as did the human money he held in his palm. Shoving the card back in his pocket, the angel frowned and continued on down the street, unpleasantly conscious of the humans swarming around him on the busy sidewalk.

The angel clenched his fists, considering the aftermath if he were to wipe out this whole block right now. Blow away every sniveling, self-absorbed human in sight, and reduce the shops to burning wreckage. But using that much power would leave him weakened and even hungrier, and then he'd definitely have to go to a human shop for food. He didn't feel like it. But the anger inside him felt good, familiar. His hatred was good company, like an old friend. It was a relief to find it again, to be able to clear his head of confusion.

He walked on with new energy, uninterested in destroying them tonight, but comfortably determined to do it soon. Turning down another street, he began passing a large open gate when the sign next to it caught his attention. "Morita Junior High School." This was the boy's school. Krad's expression grew into a dark sneer. He'd teach that Brat to keep him waiting.

Turning in through the gates, he proceeded down a path that ended at a large brick building several stories tall. So this was the school. Krad walked up to the front door and let himself in, making his way down a long, pale hall. A pair of female students walking down the hall noticed him and stared at him curiously as they passed. With his bright gold hair and burning eyes against the dull grey trenchcoat, he more than stood out. Krad made eye contact with them. "I'm looking for a boy named Jirou," he said.

The girl on the left blushed fiercely under his gaze, while the other said "He's from class 2-C, right? I think he's in the auditorium working on the set for their play tomorrow."

"Although I heard it's way behind schedule. Will they really be ready by the festival?" commented the other girl.

"Which way," Krad said flatly. They pointed down the hall. Krad followed their gaze toward a pair of double black doors and walked off without another word.

"God, he's cute…" the girl murmured.

"I know…how does he know that scrawny book freak?"

"Want to follow him?"

"Don't be crazy. Guys who stand out like that are usually bad news. Besides, we've got to finish our own stand for tomorrow. We're not exactly on schedule either," her friend said, scooting her off toward their classroom.

The heavy black door whined as Krad pushed it open and stepped out onto a large stage. The curtains were open, baring the stage to a dark, empty auditorium. One row of stage lights lit the stage area, which was strewn with large standing canvases and cans of paint. Krad walked slowly onto the stage, his shoes thudding dully against the wooden floor. He came up next to one of the canvases and studied it. The image of a lush forest was half-finished on it, smelling of wet paint. He inclined his chin and looked down his nose at the amateur technique, continuing forward between two canvases to spot Jirou seated on a stepstool with a can of paint in his lap.

The boy was facing sideways relative to the angel, completely lost in what he was painting on the canvas in front of him. "Quite the artist," Krad said sourly, making Jirou jump. The boy spun toward his voice, looking at him in shock. There was a smudge of green paint under his eye and across his cheek. "You…you came to my school?" he gasped.

"I can go wherever I choose," Krad snapped.

"I guess that's true…" Jirou murmured. I'm sorry for taking so long…I'm really glad you're here. He met Krad's eyes, and looked surprisingly close to tears. Still, he was smiling. Krad eyed the boy suspiciously. "I never thought you'd come here for me," Jirou said.

"I'm not your friend," Krad said coldly, "We already clarified that. Explain your failure to meet me this afternoon."

Krad's words didn't sink in. Jirou was too thrilled to be hurt or afraid of the angel. "You're in my school! This is amazing!" Noting the impatient glare in the angel's eyes, he started explaining, "The others were supposed to help me. They all went home and left me to do it. I don't even know how to paint, and the sets are barely started…it could take me all night."

"And you expected I'd wait all night in the park?" Krad said sourly.

"No…I thought you'd disappear. I'm sorry I left you alone," Jirou said. "I guess it's stupid of me. My classmates stole my favorite book from my locker. I'm not supposed to have it in school…they told me to finish the set or they'd report it. Then the teacher will contact my parents, and they're angry as it is that I disappeared overnight after what happened at Shinto World."

Krad rolled his eyes. Children's bullying. Although a lot of the problems in Jirou's life did seem to spawn from him, but that wasn't the angel's problem.

"Do you think…could you stay with me here? If you're not busy, I mean… I hate being in here alone." Jirou looked into his can of paint and frowned. "Sorry, that sounds childish, right?"

Krad grimaced. "I'm not some kind of stuffed animal. What is this shoddy painting meant to be, anyway?"

"Those three are a forest, the four over there are a school bus, and the rest are for the classroom scenes."

Krad closed his eyes and took a slow, contemplative breath. Why was he doing this? "Get started," he finally ordered, rubbing the side of his head.

Jirou's smile was bright enough to light the auditorium. He dipped his brush back into the paint and tackled the canvas. Krad sauntered over to a stepstool and thunked down on it, watching the boy's progress dully. An awkward silence fell between them as they sat without speaking for some time.

"I wish I had a name to call you," Jirou said eventually while he was prying open another can of paint.

"Why? 'Master' should be good enough for you."

Jirou rolled his eyes. "There's no way I'm calling you that. It's corny," he sighed.

Krad crossed his arms, not offering anything further.

"So, what about your friends? What do they call you?"

The white angel frowned at the boy. "Stop asking about pointless things."

"If you never let me ask you anything, I can't get to know you. It's okay, I'm not great at making friends either," he said in frustration.

"I'm not interested in your friendship," Krad snapped.

"Then leave! You have my credit card already, if that's all you want!" Jirou's face paled as the words slipped out. Krad's livid expression was like a train wreck he couldn't look away from. Don't chase him off, you idiot!

But Krad didn't say anything, and he didn't move. He doesn't have anyplace else to go…what if he has no friends? Jirou looked over at him strangely. He'd never really considered that before.

"Who were you with, before you met me?" he asked cautiously, careful to keep his eyes on his painting. "What were you doing?" He'd wondered about it constantly. Was he from another planet? Another dimension? Was he a mass killer on the run from somewhere? "Sorry, guess you won't want to answer that one either."

"I was with an enemy," Krad surrendered the information emotionlessly.

Jirou stopped what he was doing and looked up at him. He'd actually answered. He pushed his astonishment aside, wanting to ask more before this window of cooperativeness passed. "Then where is your enemy now?"

"Dead," Krad breathed too quietly for the boy to make out.

"I…couldn't hear you," Jirou said.

"He's dead. And the one who was to be my ally betrayed me long before his death." His gold eyes met Jirou's with fiery heat. "So you see, human, I need another 'friend' like I need a hole in the head. Understood?"

"I'm sorry," Jirou said, "If I knew, I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Don't you dare pity me!" Krad spat in disgust, rising to his feet. Jirou raised his arm instinctively in front of his head, expecting the angel to hit him again.

Krad came up on Jirou so fast that the boy was certain he was going to get beaten, if not killed. "Look, all your foolish talking and you've barely done anything. I've never seen such blithering artwork in my life," he scorned, looking over the boy's shoulder at the half-finished canvas.

"I told you, I stink at art! And I suppose you're some kind of expert," Jirou snapped, frazzled by the fright Krad had just given him.

"As a matter of fact, I am," Krad said, leaning in close to the canvas and examining the linework.

Jirou sighed, throwing down his brush. Krad's attitude was just making the work more miserable. "Serves them right if it's not done at all."

"If you feel that way about it, it is no wonder your work is terrible," Krad said. "Art doesn't work that way."

"Fine, then let's see you do it," Jirou smirked, holding out his paintbrush. That should shut the angel up.

"I have no interest in completing your project," Krad snorted.

"Have it your way, but the sooner I finish, the sooner we can eat," Jirou said, dipping his brush into the paint. Jerk, he thought, not looking back at the angel. What had he expected? That because he was some fantastical creature, he'd automatically be a good person? That his boring, isolated life would somehow change? He pressed harder into the canvas, brushing with harsh, impatient strokes. He just wanted this done so he could go home.

"Come," Krad's voice said over his shoulder. A strong hand grabbed the back collar of his uniform and tugged him up off the stool, dragging him backwards to the edge of the stage with paintbrush still in hand. "Stay." Krad left him standing there in shock and walked back toward the canvases. He grabbed one and rotated it so it was facing the audience, studying the line art. Then, he lined the next up with it, and the next, until all the canvases were standing in a line. He gave Jirou a cross look as he marched back to stand at his side. Jirou narrowed his eyes in confusion.

The angel looked over the canvases, an old excitement he'd nearly forgotten about tingling in his blood. He reached into his coat, knowing the boy was watching, and produced a pure white feather. Holding it at arm's length, his narrowed his eyes and the feather burst into golden dust, floating in a loose sphere in front of him. The angel reached out, cupped the spell in both hands, and drew them apart until the sphere had grown to several feet in diameter. With a flick of his fingers, the restless energy dispersed.

"It's…gone," Jirou said, fascinated but confused. Krad looked at him, tilting his head condescendingly. "Brush," he said, his eyes holding a supernatural glow as he remained focused on the spell. He held out his hand, and Jirou gave him his brush uncertainly.

A smirk formed on Krad's face. He pointed the brush at the end of the leftmost canvas and slowly began moving his arm to the right. A golden light swarmed over the canvases as he moved, like water flowing over a pane of glass. And appearing in the light's wake as it traveled was finished, beautiful scenery. Krad's eyes swam with images and lights as his own muses swarmed through his mind into the spell, until he'd aimed the brush all the way to the opposite side of the stage. The last of the gold light faded, leaving the result in front of them. Forest, school bus, classroom. Every single canvas was painted with exquisite realism. When it was finished, Krad's eyes burned back to their normal golden hue and he handed the brush back to Jirou.

When he looked down at the boy, however, Jirou wasn't staring at the finished sets, but straight up at him.

"You looked happy," Jirou said in disbelief, "Just now. I've never seen you look so happy." He glanced to the scenery and his smile widened. "This is incredible! How did you even…"

"Expert," Krad reiterated, grinning as he surveyed his work.

"My classmates will never believe it," he shouted victoriously, turning to Krad. "You're amazing!" He ran to get a better look, staring at each canvas in awe. He jumped up and punched the air in excitement. "Yeah!! It's perfect!"

Krad crossed his arms and watched the boy jumping foolishly around. It was amusing. Maybe the kid was right; he was happy. It had been a long time.

"Alright! Let's go buy a huge dinner!" Jirou said ecstatically, sealing up the paint cans and dragging them off stage.

Krad smirked. "Be careful what you wish for," he said sternly, but the cold tone didn't match the expression on his face. Jirou couldn't stop looking at it as they sealed up the auditorium and made their way back out to the street.

"You know, the school festival is open to the public," Jirou said quietly. He'd been gathering up his nerve in silence for three blocks now. Krad looked down at him, those deep gold eyes drilling into his head. "In…in case you wanted to. I mean, if you were bored." Jirou bit his tongue, deciding to stop there before the angel grew annoyed again. Another foolish question for the master with no name. He'd learned more tonight than in his whole time spent with the strange being so far. Better to quit while he was ahead.

"I'll see."

Jirou looked slowly up at Krad like he hadn't understood the comment. "Sorry, what?" he asked warily.

"I said," Krad looked directly at the boy, stern eyes sending a futile warning not to get his hopes up, "I'll see."

-oOoOo-

To be continued…

Well, I know I said Satoshi would meet Krad in this chapter, but then I remembered a bunch of stuff I wanted to happen first. Then the chapter wound up too long, as you can see, so I'm going to have to post it in two parts. I also rewrote the beginning of this chapter twice, so sorry for the long update time.

I was playing around with more fan art. This time it's one of Krad and Jirou on the roller coaster from an earlier chapter. The link for it is over in my profile, if you'd like to see.

I just started watching Dr. Who. I haven't fallen this hard for a show in a LONG time. Not since I first saw Trigun in 9th grade. Watching three seasons of that may be another reason this chapter took so long to come out hehe. SO GOOD!

Stormshadow13: Very good observations, all very right. The reunion scene for Krad and Sato will definitely be a challenge. I wish I'd gotten to it here! Thank you as always for your reviews!

D: Love interests, coming up! I'm very glad you're enjoying it so far, feel free to make all the suggestions you want!

Falsetto54: Thanks for the review! See you on youtube, and keep writing!

Sanluris: That is extremely flattering! I'm always wondering if my pacing is right and if the story is making sense to people, so it's a real joy to read your comments! Thanks for the review, and I hope you keep reading!

Sapphire: I was so happy to read your reviews! I woke up one day and they were all in my inbox and it just completely made my day, and helped me to finish the chapter. Thanks for your comments on Deviantart as well. Don't be a stranger!

Peppymint: Those words never get old. So nice to know the next chapter is wanted! Thanks for your review.