(no subject)
ONE… TWO… THREE…
THE GUNS SHOT RANG CLEARLY THROUGH THE NIGHTS AIR, A SHARP CRACKING NOISE AGAINST THIS UNUSUALLY QUIET COLD NIGHT. THE STARS WERE DULLED BY A LOW MIST THAT HOVERED OVER THE LAND SOFTLY AND THE MOON WAS HALF FULL, SEEMING TO GLOW SADLY FOR WHAT WAS TO COME, THOUGH, IF QUESTIONED, AN AVERAGE PERSON WOULD SAY IT WAS BECAUSE PHANTOM THIEF DARK HAD ESCAPED ONCE AGAIN.
NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE.
NO ONE…
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PERFECT CRIME. NO WITNESSES, NO EVIDENCE, NOTHING TO TIE HIM TO THE CRIME. THE KILLER ALREADY HAD AN ALIAS FOR THE NIGHT. HE WOULD HAVE WITNESSES SAYING HE HAD BEEN AT A BAR OVER FIVE MILES AWAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE NIGHT, ALL THE WAY TO TWO O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING REALLY.
IT WAS TO BE PERFECT, LIKE ALL BEFORE.
HE HADN’T COUNTED ON THE KID. HE REALLY HAD NOT COUNTED ON THE KID.
THIS WASN’T A NIGHT A KID SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT, MUCH LESS ONE RED HAIRED AND EYED KID OF ONLY FOURTEEN, STALKING HOME SOAKED TROUGH AND THROUGH, WITH HIS LEATHER OUTFIT SLOSHING WITH WATER. THE BOY WAS STARING, FROZEN ON SPOT, ONLY HIS SURPRISED GASP AND THE DROPPING OF THE STOLEN ARTWORK, A NECKLACE IN THIS CASE, GAVE HIM AWAY TO THE KILLER.
THE KILLER TURNED, HIS LAVENDER EVES COMING TO LOCK ON THE FROZEN KID, HIS EYES CAME ACROSS A PECULIAR SIGHT. REALLY, WASN’T IT WAS UNUSUAL TO SEE A KID WANDERING AROUND LOOKING LIKE HE HAD JUST BEEN DROPPED IN A SWIMMING POOL WHILE WEARING A LEATHER OUTFIT MUCH TOO BIG AND PROVOCATIVE TO SUIT HIM?
IF ONLY EMIKO HADN’T CHOSEN THIS NIGHT TO SEND HIM OUT, THE TEEN WOULD LATER THINK, AS KOSUKE DYED HIS NEWLY CUT HAIR BLACK, HIS EMERALD GREEN CONTACTS SITTING AT HIS SIDE ON THE COUNTER TOP, WAITING TO BE PUT IN.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT! PERFECT!
IF NOT FOR THE WITNESS…
THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLE…
DESTROY THE PROBLEM…
ANNIHILATE.
THE LAVENDER EYES GLITTERED WITH WELL CONCEALED LUNACY AS HE LEVELED THE GUN.
HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO KILL ONE MORE THING WOULDN’T HE? ONE MORE TO FIFTY PLUS WASN’T THAT MUCH WAS IT?
HE ALWAYS GOT THE JOB DONE-EVEN IF IT WAS JUST KILLING A WITNESS-IN THE END.
IT WAS GREAT TO BE AN AS OF SO FAR UNTRACEABLE CRIME OVERLORD WASN’T IT?
TOO BAD THE BOY HAD SEEN… HE WAS JUST A KID.
A CUTE ONE TOO…
THE GUNSHOT RANG CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE SECLUDED NIGHTS HEAVENS.
--X.X-WITNESS-X.X--
CHAPTER ONE
THE BANG SEEMED TO ECHO FOR DAISUKE AND AT THAT MOMENT ALL HE WAS AWARE OF WAS THE PAIN, THE SHARP LANCING PAIN AS THE BULLET TORE THROUGH HIS SIDE. IT WAS ALMOST MIND NUMBING AS HE CRIED OUT IN DISTRESS, UNMINDFUL OF DARK’S FRENZIED SCREAMING IN HIS PSYCHE.
THE NEXT THING HE HAD THE MIND TO NOTICE WAS DARKNESS, AS THE BLOW KNOCKED HIM OFF HIS FEET, AND THE SHORT FLASH OF PAIN AS HIS HEAD CAME IN SHARP CONTACT WITH THE EDGE OF THE DUMPSTER AT HIS LEFT.
BLOOD WAS SOAKING HIS HAIR, MAKING IT APPEAR DARKER THAN IT REALLY WAS. THE GUN WOUND POOLED IN A SICKLY PUDDLE AT DAISUKE’S SIDE, SPREADING ALL TOO FAST FOR HIS HEALTH. RUBY EYES FLUTTERED SHUT NOT A MOMENT LATER.
HIS FORM WAS UNEARTHLY; HE LOOKED ALMOST AS IF HE WERE AND SERAPH WHO HAD FALLEN FROM THE HEAVENS.
ONLY THE SOUND OF THE LAVENDER EYED, BLOND HAIRED MAN’S FOOTSTEPS ECHOED DOWN THE ALLY WAY, AS HE CALMLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF HIS CRIME, NOT EVEN A SINGLE GLANCE WAS SPARED FOR THE TWO CRUMPLED FORMS HE LEFT BEHIND. ONE WAS CLEARLY DEAD AND THE OTHER NEAR.
--X.X.-.X.X--
“SATOSHI-SAMA?” KRAD INQUIRED OF HIS TAMER AS HE STOOD ON THE STEEPLY VAULTED ROOF HIGH OVER AZUMANO. HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE PHANTOM THIEF, HAVING ONLY LOST HIS TRAIL ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR. “WHAT WAS THAT SOUND?” KRAD HEARD A SECOND FAINT “BANG” NOISE, SEEMINGLY CLOSE BY.
THERE WAS A SHORT STRETCH OF SILENCE BEFORE SATOSHI CHOSE TO ANSWER, “I THINK THAT WAS A GUN SHOT.” HIS VOICE WAS SUBDUED AND TIRED, THE AFTER EFFECTS OF CHASING DARK UP AND DOWN AND ALL AROUND THE MUSEUM FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE THIEF IN QUESTION LEFT THE PREMISES.
A SLIGHTLY GIDDY NOTE STRUCK KRAD’S VOICE, “SATOSHI-SAMA, MIGHT IT HAVE BEEN DARK?” HE LEANED FORWARD IGNORING THE WIND THAT WAS TEARING AT HIS CLOTHES AND FLARING HIS HAIR OUT LIKE A STREAMER BEHIND HIM. ALL WAS GREAT IN THE WORLD IF IT WERE DARK! HE HAD TO GO SEE.
HAD ANYONE BEEN WATCHING THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HIS NEXT ACTION SUICIDAL, COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY SUICIDAL, IT’S NOT LIKE ANYONE GENERALLY MANAGED TO SURVIVE AFTER THROWING THEMSELVES OFF A VAULTED TOWER FIFTY FEET UP. MOST WHO DARED TRY WERE CERTAINLY NOT EXPECTING TO SEE THE BREAK OF THE NEXT DAY’S DAWN.
TOO BAD THEY DIDN’T HAVE WINGS.
KRAD FLARED HIS FEATHERED APPENDAGES OUT WIDE BEHIND AND CAUGHT AN UPDRAFT, THE WIND PLEASANTLY RUFFLING HIS SNOWY WHITE SLEEK FEATHERS. WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING TO EXPERIENCE. A TWISTED SMILE TWISTED HIS FEATURES.
THE FEATHERS DIDN’T SUIT HIS PERSONALITY AT ALL. SCALES AND LEATHERY SKIN WOULD SET WELL WITH HIS INSANE PERSONAS.
SATOSHI HADN’T ANSWERED KRAD AS THEY FLEW IN THE BITING NIGHT. AS MUCH AS HE WOULD LIKE TO BE RID OF DARK FOREVER, HAVING DARK SHOT TO DEATH JUST WOULDN’T DO IT, IT WOULD ONLY BE AN ENDS FOR SWEET LITTLE DAISUKE NIWA. HE DIDN’T THINK HE COULD HANDLE SUCH A THING.
“SATOSHI-SAMA?” KRAD BROKE THE HEAVY SILENCE, “I THINK THE TAMER IS DEAD… AND SOMEONE ELSE TOO.” HIS SMIRK COULD BE HEARD IN HIS VOICE AS HE WAS HARSHLY PUSHED TO THE BACK AND SATOSHI TOOK CONTROL ONCE AGAIN.
“DAISUKE!” THE BLUE-EYED TAMER’S VOICE WAS HOARSE, AN EFFECT THAT HAD MOST LIKELY ORIGINATED BY THE SCREAMING AS HE CHANGED INTO THE HOMICIDAL ANGEL. PANIC STRUCK DEEP IN HIS HEART AS HIS KNEES JARRINGLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE COLD SMOOTH COBBLESTONE, AND HIS HANDS SEARCHED DESPERATELY FOR A PULSE, BECOMING SLICK WITH BLOOD IN THE PROCESS.
HE FELT LIKE A GREAT WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED OFF HIS CHEST AS HE WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, MECHANICALLY CHECKING FOR THE RISE AND FALL OF HIS CHEST AND THE SOFT FEELING OF BREATH ON HIS EAR. THE ANXIETY DIDN’T LEAVE THOUGH. THE PULSE WAS WEAK, FLUTTERY.
SATOSHI’S CELL PHONE WAS IN A SORRY STATE WHEN HE WAS DONE FUMBLING WITH IT, THE EMERGENCY NUMBER TYPED IN WITH UNUSUALLY AWKWARD FINGERS. HE HAD A QUICK PASSING THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY OF NO RELEVANCE IN REFERENCE TO IT. THERE WAS SURE TO BE BLOOD STUCK BETWEEN THE KEYS IN THE MORNING.
IT WAS A NAUSEATING FIVE MINUTES LATER WHEN THE AMBULANCE CAME, TWO POLICE CARS CHASING AFTER IT. ONE OF THE VEHICLES, FORTUNATELY FOR SATOSHI, WAS DRIVEN BY INSPECTOR SAHARA. OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, SATOSHI HAD HAD A STRIKE OF COMMON SENSE. IN THE STATE THE BOY WAS IN, HIS MIND WAS MUDDLED, HE WASN’T THINKING CLEARLY IN THE LEAST. HE DEFTLY POCKETED THE NECKLACE THAT THE YOUNGER BOY HAD STOLEN. HE HAD ALSO CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER ONE WAS IN FACT, REALLY AS DEAD AS HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON FIRST SIGHT, NOT JUST WOUNDED, AS DAISUKE HAD BEEN.
HE COULDN’T HELP BUT BE THANKFUL THAT KRAD HAD OPTED TO LEAVE HIM ALONE FOR ONCE.
SATOSHI SAT, LEANING AGAINST THE LARGE DUMPSTER, WATCHING THE PARAMEDICS LOADING. THE FLASHING RED AND WHITE LIGHTS REFLECTED OFF HIS COBALT BLUE EYES. HE’D LOST HIS GLASSES SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. AN INDESCRIBABLE EXPRESSION WAS ON HIS FACE.
HE WAS FEELING WORRIED. THERE WAS NO DOUBT AGAINST IT. HE WAS WORRIED SICK. HOW HAD THIS HAPPENED TO DAISUKE? SURE, HE KNEW HOW IT WAS LOGICALLY POSSIBLE, BUT HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME PROCESSING THAT IT WAS DAISUKE WHO WAS STRAPPED INTO THE STRETCHER.
--X.X.-.X.X--
SATOSHI SAT ON THE COLD CONCRETE. THE WAILING OF THE AMBULANCE GRADUALLY FADING AWAY. HE STARED AT HIS GLASSES AND THEY STARED BACK IMPASSIONATELY, TWO CHIPS OF CLEAR GLASS IN A BENT METAL FRAME.
HE WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO PROCESS THIS.
HE HAD NEVER EXPECTED... NEVER QUITE EXPECTED TO EVER SEE DAISUKE SENT OFF THIS WAY. HE HADN'T EVEN BEEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW DAISUKE HAD GOTTEN HURT! IT GRATED ON HIS NERVES, UNCOMFORTABLY. EVERY OTHER TIME DAISUKE HAD BEEN IN DANGER, HE HAD HAD A CHANGE TO HELP. EVEN IF HE HAD SPEND PART OF IT STARING THROUGH KRAD'S GOLDEN EYES.
HE LOOKED AT HIS GLASSES AND THEY STARED BACK.
DAISUKE WOULD BE FINE. HE HAD TO BE. HE HAD SURVIVED MUCH WORSE, SATOSHI PLACATED HIMSELF, ONLY SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFULLY. DAISUKE HAD BEEN BREATHING WHILE HE HAD BEEN LOADED UP BY THE PARAMEDICS, WHICH PUT MATTERS IN HIS FAVOR, RIGHT?
--X.X.-.X.X--
RISA HARADA HADN'T REALLY BEEN LISTENING TO THE NEWS THAT MORNING, IN FACT SHE HAD ONLY TURNED IT ON IN HOPE OF SEEING ANY DOCUMENTATION ON LAST NIGHTS HEIST. PHANTOM THIEF DARK ALMOST ALWAYS MADE THE MORNING HEADLINES, TO RECOUNT THE HEIST FROM THE OFFICER'S POINT OF VIEW, SO WHEN 'IN BREAKING NEWS' CHIRPED FROM THE TV RISA WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR IT RECOUNT A SHOOTING THAT HAD HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE.
'IN BREAKING NEWS, AN AZUMANO TEEN WAS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING LAST NIGHT, ABOUND 9:30 PM. WE, HERE AT K4 NEWS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY. THE TEEN IS STILL IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND...'
SHE WAS SURPRISED, BUT NOT OVERLY CONCERNED. AFTER ALL, IT DIDN'T AFFECT HER, NOW DID IT? WHAT WERE THE CHANCES OF THE BOY HAVING BEEN SOMEONE SHE KNEW?
RISA WOULD LATER FIND HERSELF REGRETTING THAT ATTITUDE.
--X.X.-.X.X--
TEARS WERE WELLING UP IN HER EYES AND SHE SCREAMED OUT A SOB, HER SISTER RIGHT BESIDE HER, DOING HER BEST TO MUFFLE HER TEARS.
SATOSHI WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH OUT A HINT OF A TEAR. NO, IT WAS MUCH WORSE. HE LOOKED ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED, HIS HEAD HANGING LOW AND SHALLOW BREATHS COMING SLOWLY. DEAD. DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. HE FISHED HIS HANDS IN HIS HAIR AND DROPPED DOWN TO THE STARK FLOOR, FORGOING THE CHAIR TO HIS LEFT. DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. DAISUKE WAS DEAD.
DEAD. THIS COULDN'T BE RIGHT. IT JUST COULDN'T.
CUT SCENE:
DAISUKE GROANED, ALMOST INAUDIBLY AND TUNED HIS HEAD TO THE LEFT. HIS EYES CRACKED OPEN AND THINGS SLOWLY CAME INTO FOCUS FOR THE TAMER.
EVERYTHING WAS WHITE, WHITE, WHITE! WITH, MAYBE, A BIT OF BLUE THROWN IN, HE AMENDED, SQUINTING AT THE PLASTIC CHAIR AT HIS SIDE.
HE COULDN’T HELP IT. HE WAS CONFUSED. HADN’T HE BEEN OUTSIDE? HIS ALMOST BLANK GAZE STARTED TO ROAM THE ROOM. HE WAS FAR TO EXHAUSTED TO MAKE MUCH OF A FUSS AT THE MOMENT.
TO HIS LEFT HE SEEMED TO FIND DARK BLUE PLASTIC CHAIRS PUSHED TO THE SIDES AND OUT OF THE WAY. TWO OTHER UNOCCUPIED BEDS HAD PRIVACY CURTAINS STANDING WIDE OPEN YET STILL POSITIONED TO OBSTRUCT VIEW OF THE DOOR, IF THE DOOR WAS REALLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM IN THE FIRST PLACE. HIS EYEBROWS FURROWED AT THE SIGHT OF MACHINES, LIKE THOSE YOU WOULD SEE AT A HOSPITAL TO MONITOR HEART BEATS AND THE LIKE.
WAIT A MINUTE… DAISUKE’S BRAIN FINALLY SEEMED TO CATCH UP.
HOSPITAL… HE WAS IN A HOSPITAL!
DAISUKE’S HEAD THRASHED TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HIS ATTENTION CAME TO REST ON THE MACHINE AT THE HEAD OF HIS BED. A STEADY ‘BEEP-BEEP-BEEP’ CAME REASSURINGLY FROM THE MACHINE. HE’D GOTTEN SO USED TO ITS SOUND IN HIS MEDICATED SLEEP THAT HE DIDN’T EVEN NOTICE IT WHEN HE WOKE UP!
DAISUKE DEARLY WISHED TO JUST BURY HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS AND WAIL. THIS COULDN’T BE HAPPENING TO HIM!
AS HIS SENSES SEEMED TO FINALLY COME AROUND, DAISUKE NOTICED THE HEAVY FEELING IN HIS BODY AND THE INSISTENT THROBBING IN HIS SIDE.
“OH MY GOD…” THE RECENT EVENS QUICKLY FLOODED HIS MIND AND HE STARTED FEELING VAGUELY SICK. THE GUN WOULD BANG AND THE BODY WOULD FALL, OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN IN HIS MIND.
/ DARK? / DAISUKE ‘PRODDED’ AT THE PRESENCE AT THE BACK OF HIS MIND, FEELING HIS ANXIOUSNESS CALM SLIGHTLY BY THE COMFORTABLE EXISTENCE LIVING THERE.
THEFT, HIKARI NECKLACE
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?!” OOTOGI HISSED SNATCHING A PRETTY LITTLE NECKLACE OUT OF BAKURA’S HAND. IT WAS MORE OF A THREATENED RATHER THAN THREATENING HISS, BUT IT GOT HIS ANXIETY ACROSS CLEAR ENOUGH.
THE FRAIL LOOKING NECKLACE TINKED LIKE A BELL AS IT JANGLED IN THE TIGHT HOLD. “WELL?!”
BAKURA BLINKED, LOOKING TAKEN ABACK. “WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S YOURS!”
“NOT MINE? NOT MINE?!” OOTOGI LOOKED OUTRAGED, “THIS NECKLACE HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS! IT IS TOO, MINE!”
“WHY ARE YOU UPSET, ANYWAY?” BAKURA SNEERED, “IT’S A PRETTY LITTLE TRINKET BUT-“
“FOUR GENERATIONS! MY GREAT GRANDFATHER ST-“ HE CUT HIMSELF OFF ABRUPTLY, AND VISIBLY RESTRAINED HIMSELF. “WHEREVER YOU GOT THIS, DON’T VENTRURE AGAIN.” HE STRUNG THE CHAIN THROUGH THE NECKLACE HE WAS WEARING AND CLASPED IT SHUT. “YOU WONT BE IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE.”
OOTOGI THEN SPUN AROUND AND SHOULDERED HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD.
THERE WAS A HEAVY SILENCE LEFT IN HIS WAKE.
“THAT WAS… ODD.” YUGI CREPT UP A BIT CLOSER TO YAMI BAKURA’S SHOULDER WHILE STILL KEEPING A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL DISTANCE. “WAS OOTOGI ACTING WEIRD, OR WAS THAT JUST ME?”
TEA LOOKED PRETUBED AND VOICED HER THOUGHTS, “WHY DIDN’T HE PUT THE NECKLACE ON?”
“HUH?” HONDA FROWNED.
“HE PUT THE NECKLACE THROUGH THE LOOP OF HIS OTHER NECKLACE.” SHE LOOKED AT YUGI FOR SUPPORT. “ISN’T THAT STRANGE?”
“YEAH. THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH OOTOGI, ISN’T THERE?”
“NAH. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.” JOU SCOWLED HEATEDLY.
TEA LAUGHED, “YOU THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE HE PUT YOU IN A DOG SUIT.”
THE GUNS SHOT RANG CLEARLY THROUGH THE NIGHTS AIR, A SHARP CRACKING NOISE AGAINST THIS UNUSUALLY QUIET COLD NIGHT. THE STARS WERE DULLED BY A LOW MIST THAT HOVERED OVER THE LAND SOFTLY AND THE MOON WAS HALF FULL, SEEMING TO GLOW SADLY FOR WHAT WAS TO COME, THOUGH, IF QUESTIONED, AN AVERAGE PERSON WOULD SAY IT WAS BECAUSE PHANTOM THIEF DARK HAD ESCAPED ONCE AGAIN.
NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE.
NO ONE…
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PERFECT CRIME. NO WITNESSES, NO EVIDENCE, NOTHING TO TIE HIM TO THE CRIME. THE KILLER ALREADY HAD AN ALIAS FOR THE NIGHT. HE WOULD HAVE WITNESSES SAYING HE HAD BEEN AT A BAR OVER FIVE MILES AWAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE NIGHT, ALL THE WAY TO TWO O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING REALLY.
IT WAS TO BE PERFECT, LIKE ALL BEFORE.
HE HADN’T COUNTED ON THE KID. HE REALLY HAD NOT COUNTED ON THE KID.
THIS WASN’T A NIGHT A KID SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT, MUCH LESS ONE RED HAIRED AND EYED KID OF ONLY FOURTEEN, STALKING HOME SOAKED TROUGH AND THROUGH, WITH HIS LEATHER OUTFIT SLOSHING WITH WATER. THE BOY WAS STARING, FROZEN ON SPOT, ONLY HIS SURPRISED GASP AND THE DROPPING OF THE STOLEN ARTWORK, A NECKLACE IN THIS CASE, GAVE HIM AWAY TO THE KILLER.
THE KILLER TURNED, HIS LAVENDER EVES COMING TO LOCK ON THE FROZEN KID, HIS EYES CAME ACROSS A PECULIAR SIGHT. REALLY, WASN’T IT WAS UNUSUAL TO SEE A KID WANDERING AROUND LOOKING LIKE HE HAD JUST BEEN DROPPED IN A SWIMMING POOL WHILE WEARING A LEATHER OUTFIT MUCH TOO BIG AND PROVOCATIVE TO SUIT HIM?
IF ONLY EMIKO HADN’T CHOSEN THIS NIGHT TO SEND HIM OUT, THE TEEN WOULD LATER THINK, AS KOSUKE DYED HIS NEWLY CUT HAIR BLACK, HIS EMERALD GREEN CONTACTS SITTING AT HIS SIDE ON THE COUNTER TOP, WAITING TO BE PUT IN.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT! PERFECT!
IF NOT FOR THE WITNESS…
THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLE…
DESTROY THE PROBLEM…
ANNIHILATE.
THE LAVENDER EYES GLITTERED WITH WELL CONCEALED LUNACY AS HE LEVELED THE GUN.
HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO KILL ONE MORE THING WOULDN’T HE? ONE MORE TO FIFTY PLUS WASN’T THAT MUCH WAS IT?
HE ALWAYS GOT THE JOB DONE-EVEN IF IT WAS JUST KILLING A WITNESS-IN THE END.
IT WAS GREAT TO BE AN AS OF SO FAR UNTRACEABLE CRIME OVERLORD WASN’T IT?
TOO BAD THE BOY HAD SEEN… HE WAS JUST A KID.
A CUTE ONE TOO…
THE GUNSHOT RANG CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE SECLUDED NIGHTS HEAVENS.
--X.X-WITNESS-X.X--
CHAPTER ONE
THE BANG SEEMED TO ECHO FOR DAISUKE AND AT THAT MOMENT ALL HE WAS AWARE OF WAS THE PAIN, THE SHARP LANCING PAIN AS THE BULLET TORE THROUGH HIS SIDE. IT WAS ALMOST MIND NUMBING AS HE CRIED OUT IN DISTRESS, UNMINDFUL OF DARK’S FRENZIED SCREAMING IN HIS PSYCHE.
THE NEXT THING HE HAD THE MIND TO NOTICE WAS DARKNESS, AS THE BLOW KNOCKED HIM OFF HIS FEET, AND THE SHORT FLASH OF PAIN AS HIS HEAD CAME IN SHARP CONTACT WITH THE EDGE OF THE DUMPSTER AT HIS LEFT.
BLOOD WAS SOAKING HIS HAIR, MAKING IT APPEAR DARKER THAN IT REALLY WAS. THE GUN WOUND POOLED IN A SICKLY PUDDLE AT DAISUKE’S SIDE, SPREADING ALL TOO FAST FOR HIS HEALTH. RUBY EYES FLUTTERED SHUT NOT A MOMENT LATER.
HIS FORM WAS UNEARTHLY; HE LOOKED ALMOST AS IF HE WERE AND SERAPH WHO HAD FALLEN FROM THE HEAVENS.
ONLY THE SOUND OF THE LAVENDER EYED, BLOND HAIRED MAN’S FOOTSTEPS ECHOED DOWN THE ALLY WAY, AS HE CALMLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF HIS CRIME, NOT EVEN A SINGLE GLANCE WAS SPARED FOR THE TWO CRUMPLED FORMS HE LEFT BEHIND. ONE WAS CLEARLY DEAD AND THE OTHER NEAR.
--X.X.-.X.X--
“SATOSHI-SAMA?” KRAD INQUIRED OF HIS TAMER AS HE STOOD ON THE STEEPLY VAULTED ROOF HIGH OVER AZUMANO. HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE PHANTOM THIEF, HAVING ONLY LOST HIS TRAIL ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR. “WHAT WAS THAT SOUND?” KRAD HEARD A SECOND FAINT “BANG” NOISE, SEEMINGLY CLOSE BY.
THERE WAS A SHORT STRETCH OF SILENCE BEFORE SATOSHI CHOSE TO ANSWER, “I THINK THAT WAS A GUN SHOT.” HIS VOICE WAS SUBDUED AND TIRED, THE AFTER EFFECTS OF CHASING DARK UP AND DOWN AND ALL AROUND THE MUSEUM FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE THIEF IN QUESTION LEFT THE PREMISES.
A SLIGHTLY GIDDY NOTE STRUCK KRAD’S VOICE, “SATOSHI-SAMA, MIGHT IT HAVE BEEN DARK?” HE LEANED FORWARD IGNORING THE WIND THAT WAS TEARING AT HIS CLOTHES AND FLARING HIS HAIR OUT LIKE A STREAMER BEHIND HIM. ALL WAS GREAT IN THE WORLD IF IT WERE DARK! HE HAD TO GO SEE.
HAD ANYONE BEEN WATCHING THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HIS NEXT ACTION SUICIDAL, COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY SUICIDAL, IT’S NOT LIKE ANYONE GENERALLY MANAGED TO SURVIVE AFTER THROWING THEMSELVES OFF A VAULTED TOWER FIFTY FEET UP. MOST WHO DARED TRY WERE CERTAINLY NOT EXPECTING TO SEE THE BREAK OF THE NEXT DAY’S DAWN.
TOO BAD THEY DIDN’T HAVE WINGS.
KRAD FLARED HIS FEATHERED APPENDAGES OUT WIDE BEHIND AND CAUGHT AN UPDRAFT, THE WIND PLEASANTLY RUFFLING HIS SNOWY WHITE SLEEK FEATHERS. WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING TO EXPERIENCE. A TWISTED SMILE TWISTED HIS FEATURES.
THE FEATHERS DIDN’T SUIT HIS PERSONALITY AT ALL. SCALES AND LEATHERY SKIN WOULD SET WELL WITH HIS INSANE PERSONAS.
SATOSHI HADN’T ANSWERED KRAD AS THEY FLEW IN THE BITING NIGHT. AS MUCH AS HE WOULD LIKE TO BE RID OF DARK FOREVER, HAVING DARK SHOT TO DEATH JUST WOULDN’T DO IT, IT WOULD ONLY BE AN ENDS FOR SWEET LITTLE DAISUKE NIWA. HE DIDN’T THINK HE COULD HANDLE SUCH A THING.
“SATOSHI-SAMA?” KRAD BROKE THE HEAVY SILENCE, “I THINK THE TAMER IS DEAD… AND SOMEONE ELSE TOO.” HIS SMIRK COULD BE HEARD IN HIS VOICE AS HE WAS HARSHLY PUSHED TO THE BACK AND SATOSHI TOOK CONTROL ONCE AGAIN.
“DAISUKE!” THE BLUE-EYED TAMER’S VOICE WAS HOARSE, AN EFFECT THAT HAD MOST LIKELY ORIGINATED BY THE SCREAMING AS HE CHANGED INTO THE HOMICIDAL ANGEL. PANIC STRUCK DEEP IN HIS HEART AS HIS KNEES JARRINGLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE COLD SMOOTH COBBLESTONE, AND HIS HANDS SEARCHED DESPERATELY FOR A PULSE, BECOMING SLICK WITH BLOOD IN THE PROCESS.
HE FELT LIKE A GREAT WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED OFF HIS CHEST AS HE WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS, MECHANICALLY CHECKING FOR THE RISE AND FALL OF HIS CHEST AND THE SOFT FEELING OF BREATH ON HIS EAR. THE ANXIETY DIDN’T LEAVE THOUGH. THE PULSE WAS WEAK, FLUTTERY.
SATOSHI’S CELL PHONE WAS IN A SORRY STATE WHEN HE WAS DONE FUMBLING WITH IT, THE EMERGENCY NUMBER TYPED IN WITH UNUSUALLY AWKWARD FINGERS. HE HAD A QUICK PASSING THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY OF NO RELEVANCE IN REFERENCE TO IT. THERE WAS SURE TO BE BLOOD STUCK BETWEEN THE KEYS IN THE MORNING.
IT WAS A NAUSEATING FIVE MINUTES LATER WHEN THE AMBULANCE CAME, TWO POLICE CARS CHASING AFTER IT. ONE OF THE VEHICLES, FORTUNATELY FOR SATOSHI, WAS DRIVEN BY INSPECTOR SAHARA. OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, SATOSHI HAD HAD A STRIKE OF COMMON SENSE. IN THE STATE THE BOY WAS IN, HIS MIND WAS MUDDLED, HE WASN’T THINKING CLEARLY IN THE LEAST. HE DEFTLY POCKETED THE NECKLACE THAT THE YOUNGER BOY HAD STOLEN. HE HAD ALSO CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER ONE WAS IN FACT, REALLY AS DEAD AS HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON FIRST SIGHT, NOT JUST WOUNDED, AS DAISUKE HAD BEEN.
HE COULDN’T HELP BUT BE THANKFUL THAT KRAD HAD OPTED TO LEAVE HIM ALONE FOR ONCE.
SATOSHI SAT, LEANING AGAINST THE LARGE DUMPSTER, WATCHING THE PARAMEDICS LOADING. THE FLASHING RED AND WHITE LIGHTS REFLECTED OFF HIS COBALT BLUE EYES. HE’D LOST HIS GLASSES SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. AN INDESCRIBABLE EXPRESSION WAS ON HIS FACE.
HE WAS FEELING WORRIED. THERE WAS NO DOUBT AGAINST IT. HE WAS WORRIED SICK. HOW HAD THIS HAPPENED TO DAISUKE? SURE, HE KNEW HOW IT WAS LOGICALLY POSSIBLE, BUT HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME PROCESSING THAT IT WAS DAISUKE WHO WAS STRAPPED INTO THE STRETCHER.
--X.X.-.X.X--
SATOSHI SAT ON THE COLD CONCRETE. THE WAILING OF THE AMBULANCE GRADUALLY FADING AWAY. HE STARED AT HIS GLASSES AND THEY STARED BACK IMPASSIONATELY, TWO CHIPS OF CLEAR GLASS IN A BENT METAL FRAME.
HE WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO PROCESS THIS.
HE HAD NEVER EXPECTED... NEVER QUITE EXPECTED TO EVER SEE DAISUKE SENT OFF THIS WAY. HE HADN'T EVEN BEEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW DAISUKE HAD GOTTEN HURT! IT GRATED ON HIS NERVES, UNCOMFORTABLY. EVERY OTHER TIME DAISUKE HAD BEEN IN DANGER, HE HAD HAD A CHANGE TO HELP. EVEN IF HE HAD SPEND PART OF IT STARING THROUGH KRAD'S GOLDEN EYES.
HE LOOKED AT HIS GLASSES AND THEY STARED BACK.
DAISUKE WOULD BE FINE. HE HAD TO BE. HE HAD SURVIVED MUCH WORSE, SATOSHI PLACATED HIMSELF, ONLY SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFULLY. DAISUKE HAD BEEN BREATHING WHILE HE HAD BEEN LOADED UP BY THE PARAMEDICS, WHICH PUT MATTERS IN HIS FAVOR, RIGHT?
--X.X.-.X.X--
RISA HARADA HADN'T REALLY BEEN LISTENING TO THE NEWS THAT MORNING, IN FACT SHE HAD ONLY TURNED IT ON IN HOPE OF SEEING ANY DOCUMENTATION ON LAST NIGHTS HEIST. PHANTOM THIEF DARK ALMOST ALWAYS MADE THE MORNING HEADLINES, TO RECOUNT THE HEIST FROM THE OFFICER'S POINT OF VIEW, SO WHEN 'IN BREAKING NEWS' CHIRPED FROM THE TV RISA WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR IT RECOUNT A SHOOTING THAT HAD HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE.
'IN BREAKING NEWS, AN AZUMANO TEEN WAS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING LAST NIGHT, ABOUND 9:30 PM. WE, HERE AT K4 NEWS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY. THE TEEN IS STILL IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND...'
SHE WAS SURPRISED, BUT NOT OVERLY CONCERNED. AFTER ALL, IT DIDN'T AFFECT HER, NOW DID IT? WHAT WERE THE CHANCES OF THE BOY HAVING BEEN SOMEONE SHE KNEW?
RISA WOULD LATER FIND HERSELF REGRETTING THAT ATTITUDE.
--X.X.-.X.X--
TEARS WERE WELLING UP IN HER EYES AND SHE SCREAMED OUT A SOB, HER SISTER RIGHT BESIDE HER, DOING HER BEST TO MUFFLE HER TEARS.
SATOSHI WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH OUT A HINT OF A TEAR. NO, IT WAS MUCH WORSE. HE LOOKED ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED, HIS HEAD HANGING LOW AND SHALLOW BREATHS COMING SLOWLY. DEAD. DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. HE FISHED HIS HANDS IN HIS HAIR AND DROPPED DOWN TO THE STARK FLOOR, FORGOING THE CHAIR TO HIS LEFT. DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. DAISUKE WAS DEAD.
DEAD. THIS COULDN'T BE RIGHT. IT JUST COULDN'T.
CUT SCENE:
DAISUKE GROANED, ALMOST INAUDIBLY AND TUNED HIS HEAD TO THE LEFT. HIS EYES CRACKED OPEN AND THINGS SLOWLY CAME INTO FOCUS FOR THE TAMER.
EVERYTHING WAS WHITE, WHITE, WHITE! WITH, MAYBE, A BIT OF BLUE THROWN IN, HE AMENDED, SQUINTING AT THE PLASTIC CHAIR AT HIS SIDE.
HE COULDN’T HELP IT. HE WAS CONFUSED. HADN’T HE BEEN OUTSIDE? HIS ALMOST BLANK GAZE STARTED TO ROAM THE ROOM. HE WAS FAR TO EXHAUSTED TO MAKE MUCH OF A FUSS AT THE MOMENT.
TO HIS LEFT HE SEEMED TO FIND DARK BLUE PLASTIC CHAIRS PUSHED TO THE SIDES AND OUT OF THE WAY. TWO OTHER UNOCCUPIED BEDS HAD PRIVACY CURTAINS STANDING WIDE OPEN YET STILL POSITIONED TO OBSTRUCT VIEW OF THE DOOR, IF THE DOOR WAS REALLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM IN THE FIRST PLACE. HIS EYEBROWS FURROWED AT THE SIGHT OF MACHINES, LIKE THOSE YOU WOULD SEE AT A HOSPITAL TO MONITOR HEART BEATS AND THE LIKE.
WAIT A MINUTE… DAISUKE’S BRAIN FINALLY SEEMED TO CATCH UP.
HOSPITAL… HE WAS IN A HOSPITAL!
DAISUKE’S HEAD THRASHED TO THE OTHER SIDE AND HIS ATTENTION CAME TO REST ON THE MACHINE AT THE HEAD OF HIS BED. A STEADY ‘BEEP-BEEP-BEEP’ CAME REASSURINGLY FROM THE MACHINE. HE’D GOTTEN SO USED TO ITS SOUND IN HIS MEDICATED SLEEP THAT HE DIDN’T EVEN NOTICE IT WHEN HE WOKE UP!
DAISUKE DEARLY WISHED TO JUST BURY HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS AND WAIL. THIS COULDN’T BE HAPPENING TO HIM!
AS HIS SENSES SEEMED TO FINALLY COME AROUND, DAISUKE NOTICED THE HEAVY FEELING IN HIS BODY AND THE INSISTENT THROBBING IN HIS SIDE.
“OH MY GOD…” THE RECENT EVENS QUICKLY FLOODED HIS MIND AND HE STARTED FEELING VAGUELY SICK. THE GUN WOULD BANG AND THE BODY WOULD FALL, OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN IN HIS MIND.
/ DARK? / DAISUKE ‘PRODDED’ AT THE PRESENCE AT THE BACK OF HIS MIND, FEELING HIS ANXIOUSNESS CALM SLIGHTLY BY THE COMFORTABLE EXISTENCE LIVING THERE.
THEFT, HIKARI NECKLACE
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?!” OOTOGI HISSED SNATCHING A PRETTY LITTLE NECKLACE OUT OF BAKURA’S HAND. IT WAS MORE OF A THREATENED RATHER THAN THREATENING HISS, BUT IT GOT HIS ANXIETY ACROSS CLEAR ENOUGH.
THE FRAIL LOOKING NECKLACE TINKED LIKE A BELL AS IT JANGLED IN THE TIGHT HOLD. “WELL?!”
BAKURA BLINKED, LOOKING TAKEN ABACK. “WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S YOURS!”
“NOT MINE? NOT MINE?!” OOTOGI LOOKED OUTRAGED, “THIS NECKLACE HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS! IT IS TOO, MINE!”
“WHY ARE YOU UPSET, ANYWAY?” BAKURA SNEERED, “IT’S A PRETTY LITTLE TRINKET BUT-“
“FOUR GENERATIONS! MY GREAT GRANDFATHER ST-“ HE CUT HIMSELF OFF ABRUPTLY, AND VISIBLY RESTRAINED HIMSELF. “WHEREVER YOU GOT THIS, DON’T VENTRURE AGAIN.” HE STRUNG THE CHAIN THROUGH THE NECKLACE HE WAS WEARING AND CLASPED IT SHUT. “YOU WONT BE IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE.”
OOTOGI THEN SPUN AROUND AND SHOULDERED HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD.
THERE WAS A HEAVY SILENCE LEFT IN HIS WAKE.
“THAT WAS… ODD.” YUGI CREPT UP A BIT CLOSER TO YAMI BAKURA’S SHOULDER WHILE STILL KEEPING A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL DISTANCE. “WAS OOTOGI ACTING WEIRD, OR WAS THAT JUST ME?”
TEA LOOKED PRETUBED AND VOICED HER THOUGHTS, “WHY DIDN’T HE PUT THE NECKLACE ON?”
“HUH?” HONDA FROWNED.
“HE PUT THE NECKLACE THROUGH THE LOOP OF HIS OTHER NECKLACE.” SHE LOOKED AT YUGI FOR SUPPORT. “ISN’T THAT STRANGE?”
“YEAH. THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH OOTOGI, ISN’T THERE?”
“NAH. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.” JOU SCOWLED HEATEDLY.
TEA LAUGHED, “YOU THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE HE PUT YOU IN A DOG SUIT.”