Satoshi sat up in bed and sighed. He couldn't sleep. The damned redheaded boy kept invading his mind. Why can't he leave me alone?

Perhaps he enjoys torturing you. A deeper voice rang out in his mind. He mentally rolled his eyes.

He's too innocent to enjoy torturing ANYONE.

Looks aren't everything, child.

He just doesn't know what he does to me.

And are you determined to keep it that way? Satoshi was silent.

…Yes.

The boy knows you are my tamer, does he not?

Yes, he knows. The angel nodded.

Does he know what triggers your transformation? Satoshi thought for a minute. Feelings of love didn't trigger his DNA, unlike Daisuke's. He was transformed by something…different. Feelings of importance. Closely associated with love, but not love exactly. He had crushed all emotions so he wouldn't hold anything dear to him. If nothing became important to him, then the evil angel inside of him, Krad, never would've awoken. But somehow…regardless of what mental and sometimes physical barriers the blue haired teen built…somebody was starting to slip through.

And that somebody just happened to be a red haired boy by the name of Daisuke Niwa.

Satoshi uncovered himself and stood, walking to the glass doors that opened to a stone balcony. Seeing that it was a fairly clear night, he opened the door and slipped outside. He leaned heavily on the handrail.

No. He doesn't. He just knows that I am a tamer as well.

You've grown soft, Satoshi. Satoshi sighed again.

…I know.

But you do not regret it, yes? The bluenette was silent again.

Regret him? No. Regret you? Yes. Krad put on an exaggerated face of offence and pain.

Why would you regret me? I am your destiny, as you are mine. We are one and the same. The blonde caressed his master's cheek and leaned in, as if to kiss him. You are my everything. The tamer pushed the mental image away. The last thing he needed was to be "cheered up" by his pedophile alter ego.

"He doesn't know what he does to me…"

"Who doesn't know what who does to you?" Satoshi turned around, not knowing where the voice had come from. He shrugged and passed it off as the wind. He turned back around, shocked to come face to face with an upside down child. His eyes widened for a minute and blinked at the redhead. He smiled and laughed. "Hi!" Satoshi looked up. The boy was hanging upside down from the canopy above the balcony. He felt a bead of sweat develop on the back of his head, a bead also developing on Krad's.

"Yes…hello."

"Why're you awake so late, Hikari-sama?" Satoshi pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Satoshi, Daisuke, call me Satoshi if you would be so kind." Daisuke pouted and Satoshi rolled his eyes. "And don't pout. You're fourteen, not eight."

Oh please. You know you like it when the boy pouts. How did you put it? 'Adorably innocent'?

I said no such thing!

You didn't have to, I can see your thoughts.

Nosy old man.

Gay young boy.

Shut up.

Make me. Satoshi growled inwardly and mentally slapped his inner demon angel. Krad rubbed his cheek and Satoshi blinked out of surprise that it had actually worked. A voice brought him out of his mental argument.

"Okay, okay, Satoshi, why are you up and out of bed this late?"

"I should be asking you that. I couldn't sleep."

"Yeah, me either. So I took a walk!"

"A rooftop walk?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? I like heights."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Now this begs the question, why are you here?"

"I'm not sure. I just walked around and then I saw you coming out so I came, too." Satoshi shook his head.

"Such an odd child." The bluenette slid open the glass door and walked inside, turning back to the boy when he didn't follow. "Are you going to hang there until the blood rushes to your head or are you going to come in for tea?"

Your common sense is getting poorer and poorer, Satoshi.

I've realized that.

And yet you still invite the boy in?

Yes, not one of my best ideas.

I'm assuming you expect me to behave?

Just this once. Krad tapped his chin thoughtfully.

…Only for you, only this one time.

Thankyou. Daisuke smiled again, flipping himself right side up and following the commander inside. Satoshi pointed to his bed. Daisuke nodded and sat on it. "What kind of tea do you want?" The redhead smiled.

"Iced!" A drop of sweat rolled down the side of the bluenette's head, making the boy laugh. "Just kidding. Black tea, if you have it." Satoshi nodded.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." Satoshi slipped out the bedroom door and to the kitchen. Daisuke tried to sit still, but eventually curiosity got the best of him. He stood and walked around the room. It was large and neat. Sky blue walls and midnight blue carpet lined it. There were a few canvases on the wall, most of which were breathtaking landscapes. He walked to the bureau and opened one of the smaller top drawers. He was shocked to find a sketchbook in it, much like his own.

Geez, Daisuke, when did you become so nosy?

H-Hey! I'm not nosy, just…curious.

Curiosity killed the cat. Just ask wiz. Daisuke rolled his eyes.

Go back to sleep, Dark.

Fine, fine. But if he tries anything, wake me up, okay?

Yeah, sure. He won't do anything. He has that much self control at least.

Daisuke flipped through the sketchbook. He saw many pictures that looked like rough drafts of the landscapes on the wall. Did Satoshi paint these? Well…I guess he is a Hikari… Daisuke skimmed the book again, a few pages in particular catching his eye. They were portraits, unlike the rest. And the first one looked a lot like himself. Same red hair, same big, kind and happy eyes, same goofy grin, that WAS him. He flipped to the next page. A violet-eyed man was smirking up at him. A vivid image of Dark. Next page had him and Dark standing back to back, eyes closed, a loosely tied red ribbon binding his left arm to Dark's right. The one after wasn't as sharp as the first three. More cartoonish, nearly chibi. Dark and Daisuke were sitting Indian style on the floor. The violet-eyed man had his arm around the redhead's neck, pulling him closer, while his other hand ruffled his hair. Daisuke was holding Dark's arm in place, smiling brightly. The redhead couldn't help but smile at that one.

The next page had a portrait of Satoshi himself, his mature, angular face and banged hair looking very realistic. The next had a picture of the hunter, Krad, standing behind Satoshi, wings wrapped around them both. And then he came to the last page and saw what he decided was his favorite out of all the ones he had just seen. It was a picture of him. And Satoshi. But it was a view of their backs. They were sitting on a cliff that overlooked an ocean, the sunset turning the water and sky several shades of different colors. Next to Satoshi was Krad. He had his right hand on Satoshi's left shoulder. Next to Daisuke was Dark, who had his left hand on his right shoulder. The bluenette had his hands on the ground, as did Daisuke, but Satoshi's hand was covering the redhead's. Said redhead felt his face heat a bit.

And then he heard it. The creaking of steps. He fumbled to get the book back into the drawer and belly flopped into the king sized bed behind him.

"Here's the-" Satoshi looked at his friend, eyebrow slightly arched in confusion. The boy was laying in his bed, face buried in his pillow. "…Tea."

"U-um, Satoshi! I'm sorry, I kind of jumped into your bed…"

"I can see that." He handed the boy a cup of black tea. They drank for a few minutes in silence.

"So, did you paint these landscapes?" Satoshi looked around the room at the different pictures.

"Yes, I did most of these. The two over there," The commander pointed to two paintings next to each other on the wall. "My mother painted those, but the rest are mine." Daisuke smiled.

"You're really good." He scanned the landscapes quickly, eyes resting on one in particular. He pointed to it. "I like that one the best." The bluenette followed his finger. The painting he pointed at was a snowscape. Satoshi smiled a bit.

"That's my favorite, too."

"Do you ever draw people?" Satoshi nodded.

"I dabble."

"Who do you draw?" His eyebrow arched in confusion again.

"Krad and Dark a lot. Their wings are a good challenge. I've drawn myself a few times, too. You're in one or two of the pictures as well, if I recall correctly." Daisuke blushed a bit.

"Because I found your sketchbook."

"…You went through my drawers?"

"N-no! Well, yes, but just that one! And all that was in it was the sketchbook, I swear! I'm sorry!"

"Hmm…" Satoshi stood and pulled the sketchbook out of the drawer, sitting next to Daisuke again. "I assume you looked at them all?" Daisuke nodded. "Then you've already seen the last one?" Satoshi flipped to the last page and looked the picture over as Daisuke nodded again.

"I'm really sorry. It looks good though. I love it." Satoshi sighed a bit.

"It's fine, although it isn't much of a surprise anymore is it?"

"Huh?"

"The last picture? I drew it for you. I was going to put it on a canvas and give it to you." Daisuke smiled.

"Really? Thanks, Satoshi! I'd love that!" Satoshi nodded.

"You're welcome. It won't be done for a few days, though."

"That's okay. So why the urge to give me something? Or did you just draw it randomly and then think I'd like it?"

"No, I drew it with the intent of giving it to you. Before I left." The redhead's eyes widened.

"You're leaving? Why?"

"All this time you've spent around me, and you don't know why?" Daisuke shook his head, before the reality hit him.

"Are you…leaving because of him? Or…because of me?" Satoshi sighed.

"Half and half. You're in danger with me. You'll only be safe after I'm far away. Then I can never hurt you again."

"But Satoshi, you didn't hurt me! Krad did!"

"Krad is me, you little fool. If I stay…I don't know what will happen. I can't control him. And…I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm not weak! And besides, Dark is always there to protect me."

"But one day he won't be. He'll be sleeping, or worse, out of your body altogether. And then it'll happen. And it'll be all my fault."

"No, it won't be! And it won't happen! I swear, it won't!" Daisuke tensed, balling his hands into fists until his knuckles were white. Tears were starting to pool in his eyes. He looked down in an attempt to keep the beads hidden from his friend. "Just…p-please, Satoshi…Don't leave…" Satoshi was dumbfounded. He expected Daisuke to be a bit shaken up about his leaving, but to cry over it? He wasn't worth tears. The commander grabbed the boy's shoulder and pulled him into his chest. The redhead looked up at his friend.

"Don't cry, Daisuke. Calm down. Save your tears for someone who deserves them. Try to understand, It's for your own good." Satoshi silently reminded Krad of his promise to let him have one night with Daisuke without interruption, who nodded in response. Daisuke felt a familiar burning sensation and arched his brows in shock and confusion. He jerked away from Satoshi.

"Uh, yeah, c-calm down…Gimme a minute…" He ran onto the balcony, jumping onto the handrail and onto the roof, leaving a once again dumbfounded Satoshi in his wake.

"…Dark is rubbing off on him."

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

"A little of both. He could use more confidence. Although I hope Dark's perverted thoughts stay separate from Daisuke's thoughts." Krad laughed a bit.

Oh really.

"Yes really. Wait, what's that supposed to mean?" Another inner laugh.

I'll tell you when you're older. Satoshi growled and gave the angel a mental kick in the stomach.