The one who protects his innocence is the one sought after. The one who will be eventually corrupted if he is not protected by those who remain true. Friends should fail him in his time of need if the demon child should win him over.

But he already holds his heart. The golden-haired, blue-eyed child is deeply at risk… for his life is to become shattered and worn. Yet he doesn't know any of this. He remains in a peaceful oblivion, waiting for his hopes to outshine anything.

If the innocent one loses his innocence, then the hopes for the souls of the forgotten will be utterly destroyed in the fire-child's ache for becoming whole and powerful. Even if he doesn't realize it yet, it is what's written deep in his heart. He is the devil's child, arisen again to claim what he desires most.

The child of the heavens.

: -: -: -: -: -:

"Daisuke!" Takeru screamed out frantically, thrashing through the crowd. He dropped right above the flaming haired child, sobbing bitter tears of rage as he clutched onto his bleeding body, wincing when his hands came in contact with the thick crimson pouring from his back.

"Takeru," Daisuke coughed as a thin trail of blood escaped his throat. There was blood absolutely everywhere… the coppery scent mixed heavily with the fragrant water that had been poured on him. Rose water, something Takeru's mother had used so many times in the past.

"Somebody call an ambulance!" Takeru cried out again, glaring at the man that was holding a bloodied knife. Even though he held a courageous bravado, Takeru was inwardly shuddering, his stomach doing flip-flops. These… monsters around him… they were petrifying. Besides the fact they were probably all stark raving mad, they had no iris. Well, they did, but they were completely colorless. Pure white. There wasn't even a pupil. They just had pure white eyes that seemed incandescent at the moment.

"Ken! Help me!" he cried to me, smashing the trace I was locked in. At once, I found myself down on my knees, pressing my hands into the gaping wound that these madmen left on Daisuke's skin. His perfect body now marred.

"Takeru…" Daisuke choked out as his eyes rolled in back of his head. His breathing became heavy and labored, almost painful.

"Daisuke no!" Takeru cried frantically. He was still in shock, but mostly in denial. He was too innocent. Entirely too innocent for this world. That's what Daisuke was attracted to. The notion of stealing purity. That was something I knew was inherited from his parents.

But when Daisuke's eyes began to flutter shut, panic swelled up in me and I shook him. "Daisuke don't! Stop!" I hollered, wishing with all my might that I could do something to save him. "You have to help him Takeru!"

"But how?!" the blond almost squeaked, gathering Daisuke's now virtually limp body in his hands. "God Daisuke, don't die on me… please don't die on me. I love you so much," he muttered over and over again, crying right onto his body.

Then, there was this odd, tingling feeling that scorched my skin, driving me mad with the itch. Even thought I knew Takeru couldn't see it; he was radiating this very, very pale light. And this light engulfed Daisuke. And then, right before me, Daisuke coughed, gasping loudly. His back had effectively stopped bleeding. I had no idea how he could have done it, but it was true. He was healed… the blood that matched the fire in his eyes seemed to vanish completely, leaving behind a scar shaped as a cross.

I almost wanted to kiss Takeru then, for then in him had been revealed a beauty that was pure and it was the pureness of his soul that allowed him to heal Daisuke. At this exact same moment, a light shattered behind us, small pieces of glass falling around us and I looked at Takeru and he appeared as normal as he did and I wondered if I had been seeing an illusion.

Daisuke looked up first at me, then Takeru, his voice drenched with appreciation. "Takeru…" I felt wounded, somehow. But Takeru only gasped and tears continued to spring from his eyes, pure as if from the springs of life that washed over Daisuke and the strange people backed away.

"Oh god, Daisuke. What happened?"

He could barely speak and I almost felt sorry for the blonde. Daisuke was as radiant as ever, though he still seemed weak, but the wounds were now gone. I didn't know what to do - to run and let them collect each other as they went… who knows where? To a hospital? I had been told to get help. Takeru had saved Daisuke and for a moment, his blue gems of eyes had focused on me, but I could see appreciation there too. My lips felt suddenly dry as I quickly looked away.

Perhaps, perhaps he thought it was me who had somehow healed Daisuke. The itch had worn away now and suddenly I was feeling refreshed. I helped him to his feet and together we pulled Daisuke up. The white light had vanished, but it was still there. Then the thoughts left my mind as I saw what had happened replay over and over in my mind.

I could hear Daisuke breathing and I wanted his face to be close to mine, not Takeru's. The ring of spectators was almost completely gone and I felt…forgotten. I wanted to feel Daisuke's fire against me again… and yet at the same time, that mad itch that led to the refreshing feeling that I have now. But I don't want to be refreshed…I just want to feel.

As I watched Daisuke leave with Takeru, he flashed me a look. A look that sent a shiver down my spine… it was one of demonic glee. And somehow… I don't know if it was because of the way the fire danced in his eyes or the fact it was Takeru who saved him… though he obviously still felt for me what I had for him and dammit, I wanted Daisuke.

Or maybe, I wanted Takeru…

--------

I couldn't believe what had happened either, but I already knew this would happen. It just goes to prove how much Takeru loves me… and instead of feeling the pain of those wounds all I felt was satisfaction.

Ken was staring after us… his hazy eyes a jealous shade of amethyst. So captivating and tempting his eyes were… I was attracted, of course. But Takeru was nearly a wreck. He just wanted to help me, but now it was I who was supporting him as we headed to a hospital in an ambulance that had miraculously appeared on the spot.

The ride was uneventful; Takeru's face had gone a very pale shade, while color was returning to my own features. He seemed tired and withdrawn, but was also very needy. He hadn't spoken to me since we got into the ambulance. He couldn't possibly understand all the things that were happening to us at once. Smiling to myself I turned my attention out the window, where I watched the scenery…

We arrived at the hospital, rushing by the hospital chapel. It was all white and silent, but in my mind I could hear the chorus of angels crying as they had sensed that they were losing Takeru… that he was lost to me, maybe forever. I smiled at this, ignoring the silent pleas that tugged at my brain, only when I looked at Takeru, there were tears in his eyes and on his face, yet he still wasn't speaking to me.

The doctor's checked me out, wondering at my scar and how there had been no blood. Takeru seemed to be in a confused daze, but my pain was gone. I'm not weak mentally or physically; people should know that. Finally we were able to leave and I was relieved. The doctors at the hospital couldn't find anything physically wrong with me, so they let me go home. I was more grateful than I let on, considering I would much rather be in my bed with Takeru than in some sterilized white prison.

Finally, we reached my apartment. Takeru seemed reasonably calmer as we went in. I went immediately to my bedroom and he slowly followed me. I wanted to smirk so badly I could taste it; I had waited so long for this day. I sat on my bed and he came in the doorway, standing for a few moments before running towards me. I received him and the tears started up again.

"God, I could have lost you," Takeru was sobbing onto my shirt, wrapped up tightly in my arms. It seems that even though I was the one that just had a near death experience, I was the comforter. Takeru was still reeling in shock and was virtually unreachable. "God I could have lost you forever!"

"But you didn't," I reminded him quietly, pulling him even closer to my chest. "I'm not leaving you that easily Takeru."

"You could have died," he continued to sob, clutching onto my shirt as if it were a lifeline. "There were so many things I wanted to do with you and I thought I would never get to do any of them," he wept as I tried to sooth him.

"Takeru, it's all right now. I'm fine. I'm better than fine!" that was no lie. I felt marvelous. He was sealed to me now.

"I just thought that I would never get to hold you again. Kiss you. Hug you. I felt dead… it was just awful Daisuke. I've never felt more alone in my entire life."

"Takeru," I said firmly, rolling slightly so I was positioned on top of him, yet wasn't crushing him. I gently took his face in my hands, cupping a palm to his cheek. "Takeru listen to me now. I'm not ever going away again. I love you, I honest to God love you and nothing will ever be able to tear me away from you!"

"I don't want to be alone again," he whimpered again. I brought my lips down to his, savoring the taste that always lingered in his mouth. He tasted something like candy and cocaine. Sweet and addictive. "I never want to be alone…"

I knew about Takeru's fear of being alone. His fear of abandonment. He's suffered through it his entire life. It all started when his father left him. Or more, when his mother got drunk at a party and woke up pregnant. It killed Takeru not growing up with a father. I know that even though mine is an egotistical bastard, I wouldn't be the person I was today without him.

Funny how fathers can have that impression on you. Mine was always there and still is even though I want him gone. Takeru's was never there and he wants him more than ever. But I could just picture the confrontation if that ever did happen. Takeru wouldn't be all smiles and welcome him back with open arms. I shuddered at the thought.

We had been through this before, several times in fact. The first time when I had to go back home. See, I didn't grow up in Odaiba. I just came here for schooling. I live someplace very, very far away. When I had told Takeru I was going away for a little less than a month to visit my family, he almost had a nervous breakdown.

I perfectly well couldn't take him with me, so I called my father and he came here. Takeru and him hit it off instantly, much to my dismay. I didn't want my dad even associating with Takeru. It felt like a sin.

"I love you Daisuke," Takeru suddenly whispered, breaking the dull silence as well as out of the embrace I had him locked in. He turned around in my arms, staring me straight in the eyes. The gorgeous shade of cerulean was surrounded with red veins from crying his heart out, quite literally. Bloodshot and blotchy were an understatement. It almost looked as if there were two twin balls of the most brilliant blue swimming in a sea of blood.

I smiled at him, wiping away the small tearstains that were on his perfect cheeks, kissing him full on the lips. He trembled briefly, hesitantly wrapping his arms around my back as he pulled me as humanly close to him as possible, rolling slightly so that I was practically crushing him to the bed.

At any other time, this would have been the biggest turn on. Having a very emotionally riled up Takeru, clutching to me tightly, kissing me with everything he had in him.

But for some reason, now it wasn't.

All I could think about was holding him tightly, making all his insecurities go away. I wanted to hold him close and kiss him until my lips turned blue and I wouldn't stop even then. I wanted to be with him, just lying the way we were, perfectly content being wrapped up in each other's arms. It felt right, perfect even. My own piece of heaven on Earth.

"Shh… Takeru, it's okay! I'm here now!" I tried to cajole, but it just wasn't working. The only time he wasn't making the small sobbing sounds was when I was kissing him. They were swallowed up by my mouth. So, to keep him from making himself sick with misery, I kissed him. No complaints on either side.

"Daisuke please don't leave me tonight," he muttered through tears, clutching onto my shirt in a death grip. He didn't even have to ask considering I had no intention of leaving or letting him leave. I simply nodded, bringing my lips down to his again. He tasted so good…

I don't even remember exactly what happened, but all of a sudden, out of absolutely nowhere, Takeru's hands were on my chest. His thin fingers were lightly tugging at the end of my shirt, pulling it up just enough so that he was physically touching my skin. My eyes sprung open, not knowing exactly what was going on.

"Takeru?" I muttered, slightly breaking the kiss we were engaged in, looking into his eyes. They burned with a determination I had never seen before. "What…"

"Shh," he whispered, as the tides seemed to turn. His fingertips kept brushing against my flesh causing it to tingle in an almost agonizing manner. Forming coherent words was a challenge for me now and all I could do was moan in the most incredible sensations I had ever experienced.

"T…T'keru…" I gasped as his lips snuck their way to my neck, sucking slightly. "W…wh… what are…" I moaned again as he gently nipped at my skin.

"Shh," he muttered again, pulling up slightly, only to resume his assault on my body. This time, his left hand began unbuttoning my shirt as his right continued to trail over my tanned skin, every now and then stopping, making my body scream at the lack of feeling. "I want this," he whispered in my ear, biting down hard on it, "I want you."

I had to stop this… that was the only thought entering my head. I couldn't let this happen even though it seemed that it was the only thing I was created for. As much as I wanted him now, then, every second of the day, this didn't feel right.

"Takeru," I exhaled as his still questing fingers found a point on my back that made me see stars. "We… we can't…"

"We can," he assured me, kissing my lips once again. He completely flipped me over, pinning me to my mattress. His aggressiveness was so alluring it seemed wrong to stop him. But, I wouldn't be able to look at myself right if this did happen. I already had too many skeletons in the closet. Adding fault to injury would snap the already broken lock that kept them just there.

His kisses became so much more demanding, almost hungry. I shivered slightly as I broke away from him, gently taking his hands in mine as I gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, pulling him close to me. He just continued to cry and cry and eventually cried himself into a troubled sleep.

I didn't rest that night. I lied awake, soothing away all his nightmares, listening to his breathing as it uneasily hit my throat. My father would most likely gut me if he found out what had happened here tonight, so keeping Takeru safe right now became my personal goal. I would have to get him back to his place soon before his mom called the cops.

I could only imagine the expression on her face if she found out the reason her beloved son didn't return home was because he was saying with me. She didn't like me at all. Typical stereotypical mother. Her son comes home with a boyfriend who's pierced, tattooed, at the time, purple haired and an atheist to boot. That automatically made me the devil reincarnate.

No matter how nice I was to her, she just always seemed to see the worst in me. It didn't help that she scared the life out of me. I found it amazing that Takeru, who inherited her eyes, could look at me with love and devotion clearly palpable, yet she could gaze at me with well-concealed dislike. That same shade of blue both scared and enlightened me.

Gently shaking my head, I shut my eyes, resting my head on Takeru's. Right now I wanted to sleep desperately.

--------

I woke up the next morning with a pair of arms casually draped around my body. I was warm and cozy being wrapped up so securely and I sighed, burring my face back into the soft sweater I was sleeping on. It smelled exactly like Daisuke did. Spicy and wild, warm. It was the only real way to describe him. He was always warm. No matter what season it was, no matter how cold it would get, he would always be a source of continual heat.

I always felt complete in his arms. He was like a blessing made especially for me. He was everything I could have ever wanted and so much more. I had never felt alive until I had met him. But last night… last night I thought my entire world had imploded in on me.

Just thinking I could have lost the only reason why my world keeps turning right now made my heart stop. He’s always there to meet my every need. It makes me feel special, feel wanted. There's something about him that makes me feel as if I'll never be able to get enough.

I'm always so needy and he's there to hold me, to soothe me, to calm me down no matter how upset I get. I felt as if maybe I have to be better for him. Sometimes I don’t feel deserving of his love and appreciation. He’s there and I feel whole, but still, alone. I’ve always hated being alone...

Yesterday went by in a whirlwind. First there was the movie, fun and relaxing, that we both enjoyed. Then the weirdness had to start. It seemed to happen once Ken appeared. Ken, who had bumped into us and knocked Daisuke away from myself; He seemed to be enjoying himself. Couldn’t he see how right Daisuke and I are together? Maybe it had been an accident, but there was something, the way he was looking at Daisuke… I can understand if he does somehow feel something for him; who wouldn’t? But still… it hurt. And Daisuke didn’t say a word. He deserves someone appreciative of him. Not those who stand and gawk at him like he is an exhibit. I hate people like that. They did that to my brother and he left me.

I had horrible dreams about what happened next. It began in a blur and ended the same way. I was seeing through anger and I had to be strong. Yet if it had lasted any longer I don’t think that I would have made it through. I felt as though I was being pulled through fire and ice, my hands soaked with blood, the hot blood of Daisuke and my body, my insides, were so cold, I felt as if I had frozen somehow and yet, with all my might I cried and wailed and then it all was gone. A miracle. It had to be Ken. It had to be. But how? And why? Could he have seen how much I needed Daisuke in my life? It’s all so fuzzy now…

I still feel a little cold now that I’m awake. But laying here with Daisuke isn’t a dream. It's real and I want to go back to sleep and enjoy it more.

‘’Keru?” Daisuke murmured in his sleep, his arms protectively pulling me closer. I smiled, nestling against him.

“Daisuke?” I closed my eyes, letting myself fall into that overwhelming comfort as I again burrowed into his sweater. “Take me away, Daisuke… please take me away…” my words were muffled as I felt tears well up for no appropriate reason. I could feel him beginning to stir and I moaned, not wanting to move from this spot.

“’Keru…” his voice was low and soothing, making me feel soft, so soft that I could be molded into any shape that he desired. He began massaging my arms and then my shoulders, stimulating me so that it took nearly all my willpower not to relax and let him continue; my eyes were unwillingly releasing waves of water and last night was back to haunt me again. “It’s okay, 'Keru… my little angel… everything's okay…”

He kissed the top of my head, stroking my hair. I didn’t want to open my eyes again. It would force me to awaken into a reality that I didn’t want to face. Couldn’t he see, that I just wanted to lay here in his arms? That without him, I can’t find any hope to help me? I was once the child of hope; but I could never understand why.

“'Keru," he says more firmly and I was forced to awaken for a second time and was still able to smell that delicious aroma that is Daisuke. My eyes hit his and it made me want to cry again. He slowly cupped my face in his hand as he slowly traced little patterns with his finger, making me tingle with the joy. I still can’t find any words to use.

“'Suke… Dai…”

He smiled at me. “You’re awake. Good. I have plans for us today. And then, we’re going to have to take you home.”

He slid off the bed easily, as if he were as silken as his sheets. I didn’t want to move, as I lay, watching his movements. He laughed, but already I was curling up into the spot where he had laid and filled my thoughts with the wonderful feeling of being in his arms. I barely heard what he said to me as he left the room.

I don’t want to go home Daisuke. For me, this is home.

It's hard for me to accept things as they are. I wish the night could have lasted longer. Maybe I am being too dependent on Daisuke. He’s always there, and yet when I think of what could have happened, it just drives me insane. I think I’ll lay here for a few more minutes. To think that only a few days ago I thought of myself as an individual.

I forced my eyes open again, blinking. Daisuke said that he had plans for us. I should have taken more of an interest. Quickly and reluctantly I left the bed, knowing that I don’t have Daisuke's ease. How does he do it? It’s as if he’s the magical being and I’m left flopping in his footsteps. As if I’m not good enough to belong to him.

Bleary-eyed, I walked around when a door suddenly opened, emitting steam. There was Daisuke, clad only in a black towel. My mouth about hit the floor. God, he’s so gorgeous. I was frozen in place. That perfectly tanned skin; muscular, caramel… I though I might have die.

He smiled and I felt myself shattering into a million pieces. God how I needed him… God how lucky am I? After collecting myself, I ran straight into his arms, kissing him. I needed that taste; he was like a drug that I couldn’t get out of my system, but a good drug. He’s like my medicine without the bitter after-taste.

I finally wrenched myself away to take another look. Oh God he was desirable. “Daisuke…” I whimpered. “Why do you torture me like this?”

“Take a shower," he said soothingly. “It'll do you good. Really.”

“Daii…” I moaned, sounding quite pathetic. Then a thought occurred to me. I didn’t have any spare clothes with me. What would I do? Cleanliness is right up there with preserving my sanity. I hated the feel of yesterday’s clothes and yesterday’s dirt on my skin.

Daisuke grinned, obviously amused by my reaction. “Don’t worry, 'Keru. I’m not ready to drench your body in hot fudge yet,” I blushed furiously. He had read my mind.

“Youreally look like a strawberry now," he teased. “Don’t worry. There are clean towels in there and I set some clothes aside for you. And I think you’d like the shampoo.”

“Thanks,” I said, swallowing and finding my voice. He left me then and I stepped into the room. The mirror was still slightly fogged up. I wondered which was my preference. I usually didn’t like cold showers, though they could be refreshing at times, but not now. Right now, I wanted to be close to Daisuke. So I would take a hot shower and hope that I would at least come out looking half as handsome as he did.

I ran the water, testing it, hoping that my skin wouldn’t shrivel up. I looked at the shampoos, then about fell over laughing. Strawberry and vanilla-scented…I never figured myself to be a strawberry-type. But just to humor him I will, if it will bring him closer…

Smiling and singing to myself I continue to wash, at first not wanting to wash away the savory essence of Daisuke but knowing that he must find this one pleasing to himself. The hot water feels good and the steam…I couldn’t take a cold shower now. “Takeru?” I heard Daisuke call out and feeling robbed of not having him with me I turned off the water and dried myself. I wrapped the blue towel around my waist as the door flew open and Daisuke was standing there, fully dressed and smiling his head off and holding out some clothes. “They might be a little big.”

He stared at me and literally began to drool. “If I look at you a minute longer like this, I’m going for the fudge.”

“So what’s stopping you?” I asked innocently.

“Keru-kun, nothing is more important to me than you. I keep asking myself every day what I did to deserve such an angel.”

“No one’s more happier than I am," I replied and he smiled, stepping back. Yet it all is so strange. Yesterday I was aggressive and he pushed me away. Now it’s as if he wants to be the aggressive one. Well, at least with Daisuke, you never know what to expect.

“I bet. Come on, get dressed," he said teasingly, speaking as if he were an adult. If I didn’t love him so much I would want him to be my father. But how can you call the one you love ‘dad’? I felt sick for even thinking it. I smiled back as he closed the door behind him and I was alone in the steam. Daisuke would probably say that it was refreshing; my pores feel very clear, as if I’m taking my soul and washing it.

Daisuke’s clothes are warm and surprisingly soft, unless he purposely made it this way for me. But I like the feel of his shirt on my back, maybe because it is his shirt. It is a little large, making me feel small and the need to be with Daisuke even more. I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were still a little red, but otherwise were as they usually were, unusually large and blue. I finished dressing quickly and left the room. Daisuke was leaning back in a chair, holding my hat. “Need this?”

I smiled and took it. “Thanks.”

“Though I must say you look fascinating without it," he drew me into a hug. “You smell edible too.”

“In a few more minutes like this, I will be edible," I laughed, though it was the truth. We have to move past yesterday and get back to the way we were.

Daisuke smiled. “Well then we should get going, shouldn’t we?”

“Yeah," I replied shakily and he nodded, turning to leave and I followed him.

He was going to take me home…

Last night’s fog had slowly dissolved and there was a clinging dampness in the air. Visual conditions were much improved, but otherwise, not much. We walked for a little while. It wasn’t all that warm outside, but for some reason I let Daisuke take the lead, while I hugged myself to try and keep warm.

I was being too pushy, too…whiny. So much like the way I used to be, once. Before I met Daisuke. I was young. And I told my brother that I didn’t need him then, though inside, I did. I needed him, but swore to protect myself.

But this is different. I need Daisuke. He knows I need him, but what attracted him to me was not my pathetic ness. It was the fact that I was strong and yet he could see my vulnerability. But we’re not kids anymore, not exactly young, but not exactly full-blown adults either. I tripped suddenly on the sidewalk but straightened myself up. Daisuke turned then.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ve never been better," and it was true, because I was with him. He smiled.

“Why are you back there anyway?”

I shrugged and jogged up to walk next to him. He slung his arm around my shoulders and we continued walking. “So what’s the plan? You’ve been pretty quiet.”

“So have you," he replied tugging me closer in a protective way that felt oddly familiar.

“I’m still freaked out about yesterday. Daisuke, what if it happens again?” Suddenly I was reminded of what happened to me years ago. An angel had appeared and died again and the agony was enough to kill me. The fact that he came back afterwards didn’t really matter. The point was that there was always the danger hanging over us. And maybe I wasn’t appreciative of my brother either. But I was not going to let Daisuke go.

He was very patient with me, as an adult is with a young child, stopping and tilting my head upwards so I could see into those mahogany filled orbs that reflected a welcoming safe haven in face of the harsh realities that were going on around us. Maybe he understood and I didn’t. “Takeru…don’t worry about that. Please. Today, it’s about us. And then, you’re going home. Your mom will have the posse out looking for you.”

I laughed. “And to think at one time we didn’t think you knew what a ‘posse’ was.”

He smirked. “I’m very good at concealing myself, ‘ne?”

“Very so," I let my lips form into a casual smile, feeling relieved.

We continued walking then, down the streets, down near the water and we watched the boats sailing on the ocean as the wind continued to blow, filled with that fresh ocean scent. Daisuke seemed to get excited. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” I replied, following him. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Miyako and a different guy. Someday she’ll learn to settle down and that a guy’s heart isn’t supposed to be messed with like that. Daisuke yelled something to her as he passed and she waved and then resumed what she was doing. He still didn’t answer me and I slowed down in my step, careful to keep him in sight but still taking a better look at the sights around me. This area seemed unfamiliar though I thought that I had been everywhere in the area. Or maybe I was too absorbed into Daisuke to notice.

Walking in the opposite direction I noticed a shadow, or figure, which briefly glanced in my direction as it continued its walk. But those eyes…it was Ken. No one else that I knew had those haunting amethyst eyes that could be the key to so much darkness…or light, whichever way you chose to view them as. Whatever this beautiful place was, Ken had been here lurking. Is this where he went after leaving last night? We did sort of leave him there.

Part of me surprisingly wanted to turn and talk to him, ask him what was going on, even though I couldn’t stand the guy. Yesterday leaves me feeling strange. He had a history of being the type you couldn’t have a conversation with and having particularly nasty things to say to other people. Yet there is something about his eyes that has that seductive-ness in them. I admit I had been attracted to him once but after Daisuke and I hit it off there was no other and Ken instead became some sort of roadblock because I knew he wanted to take Dai from me in some way, though of course he never could succeed in that.

I now ran up to where I saw Daisuke smiling. “What took you so long?" he demanded of me.

“Just looking around, that’s all.”

“Ah," he smiled. “Look. See this place?" he began walking around and explaining a few things to me but I was more intrigued by the way he spoke than what he was actually saying and I think that he noticed because he stopped speaking and climbed into the wall.

“What’s this?”

“If you were paying attention, Takeru, you would have heard that I was going to show you how to walk over this thing. And don’t fall in, mind you. I don’t have an extra set of clothes with me,"

He laughed then and I began laughing as well, watching him walk without much difficulty and I followed him. Maintaining balance was pretty difficult. That and the constant breeze was enough to make one want to fall over. But, I’m actually very athletic. It was one of the coolest things in the world and I wondered why he had not taken me here sooner when we would have had more time.

When reaching the end of the canal he hopped off and waited for me and I jumped and he commented on how agile I was. “Not as much as you are.”

“You’re definitely better at basketball," he replied, laughing and that was true. “You also are more graceful and coordinated. We will NOT push the subject. Come on.”

The rest of the morning, afternoon, whatever it was, was spent in pure harmony. I spent it exploring with Daisuke, hanging on to his every word. It was the best time since yesterday, because I almost felt like myself again even with a huge chunk of it ripped out of me.

Somehow we had gotten back to my apartment, the two of us chattering away about what we had just done. My excitement was still there though Daisuke seemed to get strangely nervous at this point, but I tried to relax him. “Don’t mind my mother. I don’t think that she would have called the cops or anything.”

“Takeru, we don’t know that,” Daisuke said and although his voice was smooth and normal as ever I depicted an uneasy discord in it. “We don’t know exactly what your mother will do. She worries too much about you.”

He seemed to be biting back on something, but I didn’t push the issue. After all, we were here and there was nothing much to do about it now.

My mother threw the door open and immediately I could see her red rimmed eyes flash, in seconds, different moods all coming together at once. Fear…anger…hope…sadness…worry… relief that I was okay and at first she stood there blinking emotions until she stepped out and pulled me into her arms, sobbing profusely.

“I was so worried Takeru…where were you? Where were you? God…I thought I lost you. You didn’t call and I heard some strange reports on the news…”

The tears spilled down her cheeks as her grip on me tightened. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, Takeru.”

After minutes, which felt like hours passed, she pulled me inside the door. I couldn’t see Daisuke, nor tell if he were there. My mother’s sobbing gradually declined and she wiped her face and stared at me. Blue staring into eternal blue.

“So," she said, regaining her composure. “Where were you?”

“I was…” I faltered, but Daisuke quickly spoke up.

“He was with me, Miss Takashi.”

I could sense her shifting her gaze to stare at him. “With you, Daisuke?" her words had also shifted, with a slight shiver in them.

“Yes. And as you can see he’s perfectly fine. There was a bunch of crazy stuff happening and we needed to get away as fast as we could," I could sense Daisuke’s uneasiness even though he was being truthful with my mother.

“But you couldn’t call me? I worry so much," and she shifted back to me, “I worry so much about you Takeru. You know that you should have called me,"

“Sorry, Mom," I said, even though I really wasn’t. Though I should be. She worries so much about me and I take her for granted.

“Are you sorry?" she said suddenly, her gaze freezing over into a glare.

“Yes, Mom. I am. You don’t understand. You don’t understand how frightening it was. I can’t explain it. But If Daisuke weren’t with me I might not be here at all.”

Her gaze returned to Daisuke. “That will be all.”

“But-“ I stared at my mom in total disbelief. Dismissing Daisuke as if he were some servant. Who did she think she was?

“Thanks for bringing Takeru home," her tone was still eerily icy. I wrenched myself from her arms and turned to face him, but he was nodding.

“I’m sorry that we didn’t call," he said.

“Don’t let it happen again.”

“Daisuke?” I choked, wanting to stop this. My mother had no right to patronize him like this. It was all me. All me. I was in no shape last night to think clearly, but this was not Daisuke’s fault. Of course, I can’t explain what happened to my mother, because I can barely explain it myself.

“It’s okay, Takeru," he smiled at me and I felt my mother grab my arms, holding me back at a safe distance away. I wanted to run to him, tell him to ignore her tone and the things she was saying but I couldn’t because she was right there.

He turned to leave. I was still struggling with my mother and he walked out the door. “Daisuke! Wait!” I blurted out, finally wrenching away and running to the doorway and stood in the hall, panting for breath. He was gone…

My mother still stood behind me, arms folded across her chest, watching me as I slowly turned and walked back in. She was still standing there when I went to my room and closed the door.

I wanted to sink to the floor and cry. She won again. My mother always won again. I don’t understand her sometimes. Then again, most of the time. As if she really gave a damn how I led my life. I allowed myself to calm down a few minutes before heading back out of my room.

My mother was no longer there. I breathed in relief and then let the mornings events take control of me. I suddenly realized that I was hungry. Unfortunately, my mother was in the kitchen.

I stood watching her for a few moments before making my presence known, expecting the third degree, yet there was an eerie calmness about her.

“That’s a different outfit. I don’t recall seeing you wear that before.”

“It’s new," I lied. Lying hurt, but for some reason it came easily to me today.

“It seems a little large," she mused. “Want me to get them tailored for you?”

“No thanks," I replied, trying to keep the cheerfulness out of my voice. What would she do if she knew that these were Daisuke’s clothes? Burn them?

“It doesn’t seem you. You look like a lost little boy and I just want to hold you.”

I shifted uncomfortably. She was getting a little too close there.

“What are you cooking?”

“Food," she smirked. “Actually, nothing really. A quick stir fry.”

“Smells good," and it did. My mouth was watering.

"How are you sweetie?" my mother asked me as I entered the door. I smiled at her as I laughed, taking off my hat and haphazardly throwing it onto the nearest chair.

"I just had the biggest blast! Daisuke took me over to this canal and we walked right across the edge. He showed me this underground tunnel where he usually hangs out with a few of his friends."

"Hum, those stoner friends of his," she sighed theatrically as she continued to chop some scallops.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, offended that she thought that. Daisuke might be a lot of things, but he didn't do drugs. I knew that. "Daisuke's not into that type of thing."

"Or so he tells you," she muttered softly, hoping I didn’t hear. But I did. "I saw him and this other young man taking a drag, or haul or whatever you call it, of a joint in back of the grocery store."

I shook my head, refusing to believe that. "Then it must have been someone else, Daisuke doesn't do that kind of thing," I repeated stubbornly.

"Are you suggesting I'm lying Takeru?" she demanded, turning around as her hands flew to her hips in a typical motherly gesture.

"No, I'm saying you saw the wrong person. Daisuke isn't like that mom. If you'd just give him a chance…"

"Takeru, I refuse to give that boy a chance. Just look at him! He's seventeen and living all by himself! He has no parental supervision and just look at him! He's bad seed. I don't approve of him at all."

"The only reason he's by himself is because his parents live far away," I snapped, my patience growing shorter by the second. "And he dresses the way he does because he doesn't give a shit what people think of him!"

"Do not raise your voice to me Takeru!" she barked as she stormed over to me. "Just look at what he's done to you! Talking back to your other, why I never! You were such a polite young boy before you met him!"

"What the hell is your problem? Daisuke isn't like that mom! For the last bloody time, stop talking about him as if he were some juvenile delinquent!"

"That's it, you do not raise your voice to me young man!" she hollered, slamming her knife into the counter. "He is a horrible influence on you and I do not want you seeing him again,"

"Never!" I shouted out in defiance. I would have rather chopped off both my legs than run a marathon. "I won't ever do that! I love him!"

"No, you love the illusion he created. You think he's all great and fun but just you wit, once you see the real him you're going to be scared! He'll hurt you Takeru and I've tried all my life to prevent such a thing from happening!"

"Why do you hate him?" I spoke in a dangerously low voice. "Tell me now!" I demanded as I slammed both my fists onto the table top.

"Takeru stop this, this instant!" she screamed out at me. "I told you! Stay away from him! I don't want you to see him ever again!"

"You cannot tell me what to do! I'm old enough to decide whom I want to see and I want to see him! I don't give a shit whether you like him or not you will respect my decision!"

"Takeru Takashi you will not see that man again! Do you understand me?" I couldn't listen to this bullshit anymore. I turned around and grabbed my hat, heading straight for the door. "I swear to everything holy Takeru, you walk out that door you better not ever come back."

"Why mom? You scared that I might be happy? Are you scared that I actually found someone to be with? Unlike you, a stupid slut that got drunk at a party and fucked the closest thing with a pulse. What was I? Your burden? Your reminder that life's a bitch and nothing works out the exact way we wanted it to?"

She stormed over to me and before I knew it, had slapped my clear across the face. My right cheek stung sharply as I glared at her straight in the eye, azure on azure. "Get out now."

"With pleasure," I snapped, slamming the door shut on the way out. Right now there was only one place on my brain. There was only one person I wanted to be with right now more than anything. Daisuke. I was too emotionally fed up to bother walking the whole way as I ran, only stopping when cars passed. As hard as I tried, tears still flowed from my eyes temporarily blinding me as I climbed the steps to his apartment building. I stumbled a few times, clinging to the rail as if it were a life support. It was only when I got to the sixth floor did I stop. Ringing his doorbell, I waited for a second and I heard him coming.

"Takeru?" he questioned as I shifted slightly. He had just come from the shower obviously. Small beads of water were slowly dripping off his perfectly tanned skin, over the taunt muscles that he had acquired over the years. In my opinion, I had never seen anything so gorgeous. His hair was matted down and he had the most confused expression on his face.

I couldn't resist as I stepped over his threshold and wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his lips down on mine in a forcefully beautiful kiss. He seemed quite taken aback by this, but still snaked his arms around my waist, holding me tightly.

"Daisuke," I inhaled sharply, letting my fingers trail down his slippery bronzed skinned arms. He moaned into my mouth as I pressed him back into the wall, showing more force that I had actually intended, but now that I had done it, I wanted more. "Do you love me?"

Daisuke pulled away, licking his bottom lip slowly. His cinnamon hued eyes studied my face intently before he gently held my check in his hand. "More than anything on this planet," he muttered as I leaned up and kissed him again. I gently nudged his lips apart as I deepened it even more, pulling him so close to me I could feel his heart beating under his chest.

Knowing exactly where I was going, I lead him back, inching toward his bedroom slowly. I thought I would pass out at a moment's notice since the butterflies that were in my stomach decided to hold a derby, smashing against everything I had in me. But once we hit his room, my mind cleared and I could have sworn I knew exactly what to do.

"Takeru," Daisuke groaned as I pushed him back on his bed, crawling on top of him to resume my heated ministrations. He was literally shivering underneath me, even though his skin was hot to the touch; so, in retaliation, I lazily began swirling my fingers over his muscular chest, slopping occasionally to bring my lips upon it.

I smirked to myself when Daisuke's eyes began fogging over. I was causing him this amount of pleasure. That's probably what gave me the courage to do what I did next. I had never seen him shudder the way he was, literally squirming as I assaulted his flesh. But all good things had to come to an end as he finally regained what little sense he had and flipped me over.

"Bad Takeru," he muttered in a drunken daze

--------

Every single muscle in my body was in pain. As soon as I had gotten home from my running I filled a steaming bath and just sank into it. I couldn't even remember how long ago that had been but it still felt wonderful. I sighed as I slowly began rotating my shoulders, moaning as the tension magically worked out of my back.

"Resting on the job. I'm so disappointed," a voice I hated suddenly chuckled as he held up his arms. "Oh holy God, bless the waters from where I am standing with your glorious presence!"

The water began to boil over as I screamed, jumping out as fast as I could. A towel was thrown out at me as I used it to quickly dry up the water on my scalding flesh. "That was uncalled for," I hissed.

"Since when have I given a shit?" he yawned. "He's coming. In fact, he should be here any minute. Don't make me hurt you again. It's time, even He knows it. Screw up this time Daisuke, I'll kill him myself. And I'll make you watch."

"You wouldn't…"

"Oh I would," he snapped, grabbing me by the throat as he pushed me into the wall, choking me as he continued. "Do not test my patience Daisuke! Fate or not I will kill him. I win either way. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes father," I sighed as he pushed me back before releasing me.

"He's here. I can feel him. It's making me nauseous," and with that, my father disappeared into the kitchen and out of sight. I wrapped the towel around my waist, growling at him. I never hated anyone more than I hated him. He was worse than every plague ever released upon humanity.

But almost as if on cue, the doorbell rang. Walking over to the door, I unlatched the hook and opened it. There, Takeru was standing. His face was flushed and his eyes were puffy and swollen looking.

"Takeru?" I asked slowly as he stared blankly at my chest before he walked over and kissed me solidly.

--------

It could have been like heaven. For once, Takeru was as aggressive as I was, and now I had him under my power. After all, it was all I ever wanted. Him and me. Together, really, as he’s supposed to be mine. I wouldn’t say that the tables have turned, even though he is certainly willing. If I were smart, I’d get up right now and recreate that fantasy. It was a delicious fantasy. I could imagine swirling the corruptive fudge along his chest. Then removing it only with my tongue.

Then of course, the reality of it all truly set in as I stared at him. Beheld him, rather. He was quite a treasure to behold, actually. I kissed him lightly. “We can’t do this…”

“Daisuke…” he whined softly, his words making me melt literally and figuratively as I nearly cried, tugging at me seductively. “It’s all you would talk about, and I could never understand that. I could never be ready for that. But I am now.”

He wasn’t ready. He just wasn’t, I just know it. “Listen Takeru…” it just wasn’t the fact that he wasn’t ready. I just knew that I sincerely did love him, and the last thing I wanted was to hurt him. If that had never happened, then this situation wouldn’t be here right now. Takeru’s hands were cold as he reached his arms out towards me, trying to pull me closer.

He moaned as I moved to massage his temples. “You’re stressed, Takeru. You aren’t supposed to act this way…” of course part of me was simply ecstatic and enthralled. After all, his purity was what made him what he was.

He closed his eyes, and I noticed as my haze lifted that he had been crying again. I touched carefully, tracing what must have been the path of a thousand teardrops with my fingertips, at the same time wanting to taste the saltiness with my tongue. His perfection. Why does he not see it? “You’re a God and I am not,” I whispered softly, stroking his golden hair. “I just thought that you would know.” I stared at his face, the pain, need, and want revealed in those clear blue eyes tugging at me mercilessly. The pain, though… “What happened before you came here?”

He wouldn’t answer that, and I could notice a quick glint of anger that emerged and then disappeared, flitting across his gaze. You could read so much from a person’s eyes. Either that, or it was my ability to sense what was inside a person if I looked at them long enough. It is remarkable about how long ago they all thought me so dense, when I could see inside them all along. I saw his mother in his eyes, that patronizing blue. “You had some kind of fight with your mom,” if it were any other occasion I would have been pleased.

Just as it was, I had his body pinned under mine to prevent further aggression.

“I didn’t come here to talk about her,” he said slowly, closing his eyes and then opening them, breaking their hold from mine as they had been locked for some time. “I came here to get away from her. Don’t ever,” and there was a pause, and in the silence his voice surprisingly cracked like a whip, “mention her to me again.”

“She’s probably called the police,” I said, resisting the urge to hit myself in the forehead, being I had to keep him pinned down as his breathing, which was before fast and heavy, had now slowed down, but his eyes didn’t return to my face. We sat there for a little while, myself wondering why I couldn’t enjoy myself in this situation.

“No. She kicked me out. I’m all yours,” his voice stopped abruptly as he was going to say something else but cut himself off, though I could sense what he was going to say. “If you want me, that is.” Yet there was still a lingering subtext. What he was actually saying didn’t seem to find it’s way to my brain. His mother would never throw him out for any reason, and the thought of having Takeru here 24/7 WOULD be heaven, but too much temptation. I stared down, my eyes leaving his face and traveling down his chest. Too great. The gratification of me having him wouldn’t seem to be worth it anymore.

“Come on,” I said, releasing my hold on him and lifting him up. Which was a bad move on my part. He seemed to revive and remember his initial advance upon me. But he wasn’t acting of his own will; that I knew for certain. He was a danger to himself; I couldn’t leave him in this state. Yet I being stronger finally exerted my full force upon him, grabbing his arms and pinning him to the wall. “Into the shower. Come on.” Oh this would be hard.

“Without you?” he sounded hurt. I can’t do much until I know exactly what’s hurting him. I just hope he doesn’t feel like I’m abandoning him. I don’t want to abandon him. I just want to protect him.

“Without me,” I said firmly. “And then, you’re going back home.”

And he gave me such a dejected look when he went inside the door that I could have stopped then, but I held myself back as I watched, and waited. I heard the shower running and let myself imagine again as I did before of his washing, his purification. If he were alone with me there wouldn’t be any of that left. I couldn’t destroy what was him even though internally, in my soul, it was what I required.

He finished, looking possibly even more handsome than ever, but I didn’t touch him, or his clothes, which were clean. I suppose it was my way of making a point. Just for one more day…or one more week. He has a holiness around him that makes him untouchable, and today wasn’t the day to corrupt him.

As usual, my internal voice of reason differs. Not today, not tomorrow, but soon. How will I ever feel gratuitously satisfied if I never corrupt him? If I never truly taste him? Feeling his chest beneath my fingers I can also feel the tingling excitement of his heart, because he doesn’t realize the force, which is inside of him. Why he is who he is and experiences so much of being the child of hope.

He says nothing as he leaves. Gives me one more long look with those tortured blue eyes as if he’s waiting for me to say something. I’m tempted to go to him, but I hold myself back. “Takeru…” the faint glimmer of hope appears in his again, and he seems as if he is going to relax, and I feel as if I’m slicing a knife across his wrists. “Get home okay.”

His silence gave me my answer as he turned away and actually left. I started to follow a few moments later, running down the six flights, upon reaching the bottom realizing that he had run faster than I did, and had stared up at the building for a few moments before turning away.

I watched for a few more moments before returning upstairs. Maybe I’d give the old guys a call. Iori. Another one with a strange pureness with his green eyes that both haunted and mystified me whenever I saw him, which lately, was pretty infrequent. I need an un-biased opinion, and at the moment, anyone will do, even if I’m quite aware of the way Iori sizes me up with those haunting green eyes with some hidden knowledge about myself that scares me.

He responded to my call right away, though I demanded that we speak in person. We decided on meeting in one of the small teahouses that lay somewhere between my apartment and his, somewhere I had passed with Takeru but never went inside with him, half hoping to see him nearby but maybe I wouldn’t be that lucky.

Iori was an image. Extremely, well, not as extreme as I, but still, pretty much, changed from his youth as a prude. He was still somewhat prudish, but not habitually so. He was waiting inside at a corner table near a large building. The first thing that I saw were his crystalline green eyes that could captivate me even in ways that Ken’s or Takeru’s couldn’t.

“I judged from your call that something was wrong,” He said softly in that peculiar voice of his.

“You have an cautious viewpoint,” I began slowly, and he listened as I told him the entire story, and didn’t seem to flinch at those risqué parts that would often make a prude curl. He listened to me, nodding, and genuinely interested. There was something comforting about the velocity of the green in his eyes, the many volumes it held. “So what do you think?”

He moistened his lips with his tongue, seemingly musing and complacent. “That depends on what you want to do, Daisuke. Do you want to save him, as for a different time, to love him, as he is now, to protect him, from a distance, or to savor him entirely?”

I blinked stupidly. “All of those, actually. They are in perfect harmony with one another. I can’t act when there’s something holding me back. Inside.”

“What about him? What made you stop his advances?” He asked, and I had to review the entire situation over in my mind, tensing up as I realized what I could have had and what I had missed, and yet it wasn’t the same.

“It wasn’t him. He is not the same person he was two days ago. I still love him, but there is that caution now. It’s strange. He was going to give himself to me, Iori, and now I’m wishing that I gave in.”

“It’s your instinct that’s willing you to do that. What about the real person inside of you? There is one inside there, which is why nothing happened between you and TK. He was troubled and felt that he couldn’t live without you.”

“He can and he can’t. I want him, not a sex slave,” though the latter selection could provide numerous benefits. Perhaps it was what I wanted all long; what I was made for. I felt considerably lighter now, talking to Iori. He absorbed my tirade and was able to come up with damn good advice. Part of me wanted to kiss him, that’s how strangely needy I felt, the lack of something within me prohibiting me from gaining any satisfaction at all. Even the thought of my “love” Takeru made me feel empty now, hollow.

“You can’t trust yourself with him,” Iori said plainly as tea and rice was brought over to us; quickly I grabbed the soy sauce and spurted it all over the rice and mixed it. Iori said nothing of my eating habit, just calmly began eating his own food as I tried to figure out a way to answer.

“No, Iori, I can’t,” I replied torpidly, chewing on my food. What I had wanted only a few days ago, only a few lifetimes ago, seemed futile now. “But hell, I can’t stop wanting him.”

“You can’t Daisuke, you can’t. But to save him, you know the only way.”

My eyes met his as I froze, dumbfounded. Just how much did those green eyes know?

----------

The sun was already beginning to set. It provided the sky with a red, demonic glow that slowly ate up the blue on the horizon. Yet building overhead were clouds, large ones, gray ones, heavy ones of all sort, and yet they did not hinder the setting sun.

Quite odd indeed.

I panted for breath as I finally slowed my running, absently wiping my forehead with my hand which remained strangely dry, though my hair was still slightly damp from the shower I took hours earlier. Had it been hours? The morning and afternoon seemed entirely different days to me now. The first part of the morning being one of the best mornings in my life, the latter part being something I wouldn’t want to repeat, but I suppose that I’m calmer now. I was wandering by a small stream and wondered if it were same from earlier. Whether it is or isn’t, I don’t care. I’m not going home tonight, and not tomorrow either. I just need time to figure myself out.

Daisuke must hate me now, and at the moment, I don’t blame him. I still love him, of course, but right now, I can get used to being by myself. I mean, if I’m doomed to be alone, I suppose I might as well get used to it. I can barely see my reflection in the water. Either the water is too dirty or it’s clear and I’m fading. There’s a chill in the air too, but that doesn’t matter. If I’m never warm again, it really won’t matter.

I’m tired of being perfect, of what everyone expects me to be. But considering I never could find myself, and learn how to be otherwise, I’m doomed to be weak and somebody’s tool. I lost my mother, Daisuke, and I never had my father. Even the man I thought was my father turned out to be someone else. But that’s all done now and it doesn’t even matter.

Somewhere walking along that deserted stream I finally gave in to the raging emotions inside of me, screaming, yelling, attacking things, my wrath and furor so great I should never have thought it possible of myself and the way I… It wasn’t me. And I woke up later, passed out, with some dried leaves in my hair and on my face, and I sought the tunnel, going deeper and deeper until the light finally stopped searching for me and faded. Nightfall came and suddenly it seemed as an explosion had come from overhead as the water from the clouds burst from the sky, tears from angels, we used to call it, and I felt the urge to cry as well, run out in that rain and stand there for as long as I possibly could. I never had felt so free and yet so dead inside.

And then I heard a voice behind me.

“Takeru…?”

I whirled around, recognizing it, confused, and yet it all seemed so clear.

“Ken…?”

--------

"He's hurting you master," one of the attackers hissed as he spun the chain around his hand. The other two closed in on us and the only thing I could do at the moment was hold Takeru close to me, shielding him from their glares.

Their eyes were black, pure black. Father had already gotten to them. I couldn't help them now even if I wanted to. "Let us save you master!" the bald one with the knife begged as he charged at me, ripping Takeru from my arms as I hit the dumpster. My head collided with it first, leaving me seeing stars. Pain exploded from my temple as I groggily tried to stand.

I was completely torn from my haziness as I heard a sharp gasp from Takeru. "Let me go!" he hissed as he let out a shielded scream. The bastard had slashed his arm.

"Atox!" I bellowed as the three stopped, each trembling with such fear I could smell it. "Let him go now or face me."

"Master I can’t! He is evil! He is hurting you! He must suffer!"

"Touch him and you will suffer a thousand torments by my hand! Atox! Now!"

"Dorr," something hissed from in back of me in the dialect I had been taught since I was born. "Atox dorr!"

It was then the worst most intense agony I had ever experienced literally ripped through my stomach. A bloodied silver cross hit the ground as the attacker vanished and the other three smirked. "Master takes care of us," the chained one chuckled darkly.

"I'm giving you one more chance. Leave now," I winced from the ground. My arms were wrapped around my waist, trying to stop the bleeding. But it was a spiked blade. This wound wouldn't heal quite so rapidly. I heard Takeru cry out in pain again. That was it. "You will regret this day for the rest of your lives," I swore as I shakily stood.

Shutting my eyes, I summoned what strength I had and focused it to one point. When my eyes flashed open, all I saw was red. I could see the outline of Takeru, pain riddled and confused as well as scared. It's not every day you see your boyfriend's eyes flash scarlet.

"Zbef!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, letting the thundering shriek roll over everything. Something began crawling and scratching up my throat as two large hands erupted from my mouth. They pushed at my face, struggling as it's equally large body yanked its way out of my esophagus.

It let out a piercing screech before it lunged at the one holding Takeru. The man backed away, crying out in fear as my inner demon bit into his neck, making sure he was dead before ripping open his stomach and eating his liver.

I ran over to Takeru's trembling body as I held him close, shielding him from the slaughter that was taking place in front of us. The other two had gotten the common sense to run but Zbef easily jumped from the dead man over to the slower of the two and began furiously clawing at his back. I even shut my eyes as his pointed fingers dug into the flesh and you could hear the snap from a mile away.

The small demon began pounding the man's head on the concrete before finally smashing his skull. Just like the other, as soon as he was dead, he reached into the hole in his back and pulled out his liver, greedily feasting upon it.

"That's enough!" I called out in the demon dialect. He instantly halted as I stood with Takeru who had almost passed out. "Protect him, the last one is mine!" I ordered as he screeched and jumped over to where Takeru was. "Please stay here and don't move. He'll protect you. And whatever you do, don't say his name. It'll allow him to enter your body."

He nodded, half in a daze as I bolted off in search of the other. I knew Takeru would be safe with Zbef, but I couldn't take any chances on that. The other needed to be killed before he told anyone else about Takeru.

--------

Even thought I told myself to be strong, I couldn't stop shaking. I had just seen two people being killed by a monster. A monster that had come out of Daisuke to boot.

It was enough to cause anyone to go crazy, I was positive, but for some odd reason, I wasn't scared. I was shaking like a leaf, but I wasn't scared at all. Maybe it was because it was Daisuke, maybe it was because it came from the man I loved, but I wasn't scared of the demon in front of me.

For almost two minutes we stared at each other straight in the eye, not saying a single word. But for some reason, I felt compelled to talk to it. "What are you?"

It screeched at me then stopped, scratching a line across his throat. It bled. "Is this better?" he asked in a deep voice that filled me with warmth. I nodded silently and he continued. "What do you think I am?"

"A demon," I replied slowly, unnerved by the way it kept staring at my stomach. I wrapped my arms around myself just for a small protection. I liked my liver in my body.

"If you think that, then you are wrong. I am not a demon at all. That is the name mortals have given me because of my form and master. I am an angel. A guardian angel, but I was born to the darkness and by that, I am dubbed an inner demon. I serve the same purpose as an angel, but only for the darkness."

"I… I don't understand…" I stuttered as it hunched over to the dead body and began ripping things out of him. My stomach was churning at the sight so I squeezed my eyes shut. "Like why are you doing that?"

"For someone very powerful, you are very naïve. How do you think I survive? You could gut my master from side to side and all you will find is me inside his belly. He needs to live on Earth. And Earthlings need organs."

"What?" I blurted out as my jaw scraped the floor.

"You still haven't figured it out have you?" he demanded, swallowing his appendix. I had to swallow the bile building in my throat. "I have told you. I am an inner demon. I require organs to keep my master alive. Without me, my master is weak and will eventually die."

"What about my inner demon?" I asked, taken aback that a part of me would actually have to kill to survive.

"You don't have one. You are a child of light; you have a guardian angel. It is only the children of the dark that have what I am. You see; angels and demons are all alike. We are born of the same creator and given to every person on Earth. If the person is good, they become guardian angels. If the person is bad, they become inner demons,"

"But why do you look like that if you're supposed to be some sort of angel?"

"Angels take the appearance of humans so you don't fear them. They all look like me. We all talk the same language but adapt to the human language so you can understand us. Those with inner demons can talk Agros, the language of the Dark."

"Like Daisuke…" I muttered, sitting down on a bench. "Wh… what is he?" I had to know this. It was burning at my soul and ripping me to shreds. What was he?

"You mean you don't know?" he sounded surprised. His large purple eyes suddenly burned with pride. "My master is the son of the ruler of fire. He will eventually rule over all that is dammed and evil!"

"Ar… are you telling me… Dai… Daisuke is…"

"Yes. And if you haven't noticed, you are his mission. He was sent to Earth to take you, you know," he started matter-of-factly. I stood staring at him like an idiot as he continued. "No one is allowed to leave hell; only if they have a mission. You were his freedom from a life of eternal torture. He was supposed to kill you, but he didn't. That's why I respect my master so much. He had so many changes to extinguish the good in you but he chose to keep you alive all because he fell in love with you.

"His father had been furious with him, naturally. He's killed him many, many times over the years. He's endured more torture and misery than you could even begin to fathom and he did it all for you. He literally split me from his stomach and attacked him. It's never a pretty sight in hell, but his screams… the literally echoed within the Pit, they never died. I would never go through that. Not if I could avoid it. Satan is an angry man that doesn't like being disappointed."

I bit my trembling lip. Daisuke was sent to kill me. That was shocking enough, but to know that he refused to and ended up dying himself, that just put it all in a new light. I felt the most overwhelming amount of hate and love for him course through my body as I began to cry. Dammit Daisuke, why did you always have to be so perfect, even when you were evil?

"Do not cry child. As great as his pain is, it would be even worse if you were dead. Believe me. I could have killed you at any point of this conversation, individually ripping each of your entrails out in such a way you would stay alive throughout the entire process, but I didn't. He's holding me back."

"I… I can't believe this," I muttered, turning away from the small demon. "I was always taught demons were never supposed to tell the truth!"

"And I was always under the impression that Seraphim were never supposed to lie," Zbef stated calmly as both his pointed ears suddenly sprang to life. "Master!" he cried as he rushed over to a darkened corner.

"Daisuke," I whispered as I saw him. Zbef was helping him stand even though Daisuke was over twice his height. He looked horrible. Blood covered everything he wore and his dark arms were tainted with the ruby liquid. Despite myself, I rushed over to him, wrapping my arms around him as he literally sagging into my embrace.

"D…" he raped, his legs giving out on him, "did he hurt you?" even in a time like this, he was thinking of me. I hated him so much. I hated him because he loved me more than I could ever possibly hope to love him.

"Master," Zbef looked up at him, his eyes shinning again. Daisuke nodded as I backed away. He was weak, very, very weak. He sat up on his knees; trying with everything he had in him to stand straight. He shut his eyes almost as if he were expecting to be executed. The small demon looked at his stomach, where the large cut line still was and shoved his fist right through the fine cut.

Daisuke screamed aloud as the demon began burying himself into his flesh. He threw his head back with a pure look of agony etched onto his gorgeous face. I almost couldn't stand it anymore. I was at his side, clutching onto his hand with everything I had in me as his scream died down. He was refusing to make a sound. But by this time, Zbef was halfway within him.

Doing the only real thing I could think of at the time, I took his face in my hand and kissed him. Tears were rolling out of his eyes as I deepened the kiss, wanting nothing more than take this torment away from him. It was all because of me… it was always because of me.

Daisuke made me feel wonderful and in return I literally put him through hell. He died… many times just so he wouldn't have to harm me… God, I hated myself for making him hurt…

It seemed like a lifetime had passed between us before he slipped from my lips, inhaling sharply. Words couldn't even come close to expressing how much I was sorry, how much I loved him for the sacrifices he went through. I wanted to take him in my arms and hold onto him forever, not moving a single muscle.

"Takeru…" he coughed, his forehead on my shoulder as he tied to speak. I hugged him close to me, offering him what little protection I could, hoping that he felt as safe as I did whenever he held me. "Help…" he begged as more tears fell. He was bleeding so much…

"How?" I cried as my tears began hitting his skin. He couldn't even work up the strength to reply to me. I was losing him. I knew he would come back because his mission wasn't over, but I wasn't going to lose him. I had almost lost him when those people took him and he swore to me he wasn't going to leave me again… was holding him to that. "Just hang in there, please Daisuke."

He moaned as I gently turned him over, examining the wound on his stomach. It was so large. I doubted that even the most skilled doctor would be able to heal him. I was not going to let him die. That was the only coherent thought that was going through my head. My fear turned to determination as I sat up, placing both my hands over the slash to try and stop the bleeding. 'I will not let you die Daisuke Motomiya,' I vowed as I had the strangest urge to push. So I did.

The three street lamps that were surrounding us suddenly exploded into a billion shards of glass rain, falling on us as Daisuke yelled out. "You will not die on me!" I almost spat as his eyes shot open, the molten brown suddenly changing into an incandescent white. They appeared to glow almost right before he completely passed out. When I looked down at him, I saw my handprints engraved into his skin. Two hand shaped scars were left behind and the wound was completely gone.

I had done it…

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