I awoke in the morning and sat up, rubbing my head. Ebony and I had been up late due to the theft. Sitting up I saw Mo-Mo curled up beside me, sleeping away. Smiling and patting her head I stood, changing and getting myself dressed. Thankfully it was Saturday tomorrow and we didn't have class on this one. Having a two day weekend is the best since I get to relax and hang with my friends outside of school.

Of course, this time around, there was a third wheel that was tagging along.

I don't mind Ebony much at all. I've gotten more used to her, even though it's barely been one day. She can be a pain but she's at least caring. I don't know how she will be this weekend since we'll be with Riku and Risa on Saturday for a girls day out. Maybe she will chill and be helpful. Or she could be someone who will be snarky and rude. Who knows honestly?

"Good morning, birdbrain." Ebony said, sounding tired.

"Morning, Ebony." I replied, fixing up my uniform before heading downstairs.

"Do you think the news painted me in a good light?" Ebony asked, sounding full of herself.

"Can't say I know." I replied in a whisper as I reached downstairs.

I saw my grandmother in the living room as usual, watching the news. Mo-Mo followed me and went to her, curling up in her lap. On the television I saw Ebony and Dark on the screen. I rolled my eyes as they showed the kiss and went to the kitchen.

"And here we have a new mystery angel!" The news said. "She was spotted around 10:30 last night and appeared to know Dark. Even going as far as kissing him! Will we see more of her? Who is this newcomer? Is she on the side of good or evil? Tune in to find out at six o'clock tonight!"

"So they're neutral still…" Ebony sighed.

"My, you two were busy last night." I heard my grandmother say.

I froze and nearly dropped my bento, eyes wide. Now I was in panic mode.

Wait wait WAIT. How did my grandmother know?! Ebony had been locked away for over a century but my mother didn't know about her. Why didn't my grandmother tell me about Ebony before?! What was going on? I could tell Ebony was in shock as well.

Turning to her, I shakily said,. "Baa-san…?"

She smiled at me, motioning for me to sit next to her. "I didn't know the right time to tell you, but I guess I am a little late for beginning introductions."

I walked over and sat by her, hands shaking. "How did you know? Why didn't you tell me before? Did mom know?"

She patted my head. "I was only told of her right before my mother passed. And your mom did know, Aki. But we knew you were so young you wouldn't have understood. So we decided to hide it. We were going to tell you, but the same night we planned on doing so, they were killed."

I looked to my hands, nodding and listening. "Oh...so you didn't think that it would be the right time to tell me after that, right?"

She nodded. "Exactly. I couldn't bring myself to tell you. But we all didn't know when Ebony would return. I don't have much to go on, but we all thought she was sealed away forever, never to return. She hasn't been seen since your great great grandmother was in high school."

"But she's here." I replied, pointing to my chest. "She's returned. How is it that she did?"

"I do not know…" She shook her head. "Maybe it had to do with the other night."

"Other night? You mean two nights ago?"

She thinned her lips and nodded. "It's not the best time for this now, sweetie. You have to get to school."

"But-!"

"She's right, Akiko." I heard Ebony say. "We can talk more later on this. I have some questions for her too."

"Ebony said she has questions for you too…" I replied to my grandmother.

She smiled, ruffling my hair before smoothing it out. "I figured she does. And I would love to meet her as well. After school we can talk more, okay?"

I nodded, hugging her before going to the kitchen. It felt nice knowing that I wasn't alone in this secret. I do wish I would have been told sooner, but knowing it was kept for good reasons is a weight lifted off my chest.

"Hey, Aki! I almost forgot!" My grandmother started. "The Niwas invited us to dinner tonight. They want us to go over to their place after you get home."

"They want us to come over?" I asked, grabbing my jacket. "It's been a while since we've been over there. It sounds like fun!"

"For sure. We can talk more about Ebony when you get home before we go over. Maybe tomorrow I could meet her?"

"I wouldn't mind that." Ebony chimed in.

"She's down for that." I kissed my grandmother on the cheek, smiling. "Have a great day, Baa-san."

"You too, sweetie." She smiled as I left the house.

I am glad she knows. I just hope her knowing doesn't get her killed one day.

· · · · ·

At lunch I sighed and sat at my desk, picking at my food and looking to Satoshi. His hand was bandaged and he was clearly straining to not look my direction. He had looked to me when I entered class, but quickly looked away when I saw him.

I had so many questions for him. Why didn't he help me that night Krad almost killed me? He saw me and what happened. Why didn't he tell me the next day? Why didn't he make sure I was okay? What was going on with him.

"Akiko!" Risa snapped me out of my daze.

I looked over to her with wide eyes. "Y-yes?"

"Are you even listening?" She asked, pouting. "We need to figure out who that new girl is and why she is trying to get with my Dark!"

"Don't be so jealous, Risa." I replied.

"But I'm supposed to be with him!" She cried out.

"Wait till she knows that I'm right here." Ebony smirked in my mind.

I ignored her and nodded. "O-oh...I saw her on the news. I must have missed her last night."

"Where did you go?" Riku asked, holding my shoulder. "The last few days you've been kind of aloof."

"Yeah, sorry…" I smiled, rubbing my head. "I've been kind of sick, that's all."

The twins nodded, continuing with their meals.

"Are you okay, Akiko?" Daisuke asked, his voice filled with worry.

"Dai, I'm fine. Honestly." I replied, smiling. "Looking forward to dinner at your house tonight with Baa-san."

He smiled. "Y-yeah. Mom kind of last minute invited you guys last night."

I chuckled a bit. "Yeah, that sounds like her."

After a bit of chatting and laughing a hand fell upon my shoulder. I looked up to see Satoshi and I froze. His eyes bore into mine with coldness. Somewhere in there, however, I saw the worry he was masking. I could tell he had questions and concerns. I could tell he was holding back so much.

"Akiko, may I speak to you in private?" He asked, voice cold.

I nodded shakily and looked to the others, standing. "I-I'll be back soon." They all nodded and waved at me.

I walked a bit behind Satoshi as we walked down the halls. I kept silent and fiddled with my fingers. My mind ran at a million miles an hour. Was this Krad and he was going to kill me? No, he was too worried in his expression.

We soon got to the art room and he opened the lock, walking in and waiting for me. I entered and looked at him, seeing the door shut. "Satoshi, what's go-"

Before I finished he grabbed both of my wrists, picking me up slightly and slammed me against the wall. "I told you to run last night." He said coldly. "Why didn't you listen to me? You could have been killed!"

I winced as his grip tightened, looking to him with tears beginning to form. "Because you lied to me about not being there. I had so many questions and wanted answers. When I saw you in pain, I just...I couldn't leave you there alone."

I heard his teeth grit against one another, his grip slightly loosening. "You should not worry about me. No one should."

"But I do." I replied sternly.

"Why?" He asked, one hand letting go and letting that arm drop. "Why do you even care about me?"

"Because…" I gulped, looking to him with my heart pounding. "Because I-I like you…"

I felt my face go completely red with embarrassment. I could feel a tinge of pain in my chest and I gripped it with one hand, forcing it away as best as I could. He already knew about Ebony, but I couldn't transform now. Not in the middle of this. It would be too much for not just me, but for him.

"...it still hurts, huh…?" He asked, letting my other wrist go. I fell to the ground and held my chest more, shaking harder than before. I nodded and watched as he knelt down, placing a hand on my back. "You shouldn't try to suppress her that hard…you'll harm yourself…especially since you're still new to all of this…"

"He is right, hun." Ebony said. "You really shouldn't suppress me this hard. I wasn't trying to take over anyway…"

"How do you…?" I asked Satoshi, looking to him as the pain lessened.

He pointed to his chest. "You know what's inside of me...That monster…almost constantly…"

I nodded, leaning against the wall and thinning my lips. "Why didn't you say something about the night before last…? Why couldn't you tell me before now? Now that I know, I just…"

He shook his head, looking down. "I couldn't bring myself to do that...I couldn't put you in harm's way again...not after what I did to-"

"But it wasn't you, Satoshi." I interrupted, pulling my shirt up just enough to show him the scar. "You didn't do this to me. Please don't blame yourself…"

He winced when he saw the scar, holding his face. "Akiko…"

"You did nothing to hurt me…" I thinned my lips, leaning back and looking down. "It wasn't you...it never was ...not even when you rejected me…"

He frowned and stood, adjusting his glasses. "I still stand by what I said. I do not have time for any sort of relationships. Not even friendships."

His words stung. Worse than the spear through my abdomen. I balled my hands into fists, looking down and letting my hair cover my face. "I know...you don't like me at all…" I muttered, standing and walking out the door.

"Akiko…" Satoshi followed, grabbing my hand and turning me around. "You must stay far from me. Forget your feelings for me. You'll be safer that way."

"Kind of hard to, Satoshi." I yanked my hand away. "I just want to help and I will do so in any way I can."

"Akiko…"

I shook my head, pointing to my chest. "Ebony can protect me if needed."

"Excuse me?" Ebony sounded shocked.

"Don't count on her every time…" He said in my ear, walking back to class.

I stood alone in the hall and watched him walk, sighing deeply. 'I know he is suppressing his feelings…' I thought to Ebony.

"No shit, sherlock." Ebony retorted. "He is right. I can't help every time Krad or someone else harms you."

'I know…' I thought back, walking to the classroom and sitting at my desk. At this point I wished that class would end sooner so I could go to Daisuke's sooner.

· · · · ·

After school I went back home, chatting with Ebony while pretending to be on a phone call. Once home I changed and walked to the Niwa house with my grandmother. Along the way I asked her more about Ebony and her past, but my grandmother didn't know much more than before. I did find out that Dark had brought me back on the night I was almost killed, so she did know about Dark and about all that. She said that he had healed me and left soon after.

I guess the thief does have a heart.

After a while we arrived at the Niwa house. I was nervous, but wondered why they decided to do this last minute. Maybe since we hadn't seen them in a while? Maybe it could be because they were excited about a new recipe and wanted to share it. If that was the case, then I will have to get it from them.

After a minute of waiting at the door it opened and a middle-aged woman opened it. "Oh my! You're much earlier than we expected!" She hugged us both, lingering a bit on me.

"Hi, Mrs. Emiko." I smiled, hugging her back.

"Oh please, you know you can call me Emiko." She smiled, leading us into the house.

Inside Daisuke sat with his grandfather, Daiki, at the dining table. On Daisuke's lap was a bunny creature who I think was called Wiz. I couldn't remember since it's been a while since being here.

I sat next to Daisuke and smiled. "Hey, it's been a while since I came over."

"Yeah, it has." He smiled back. "Hey, everything okay with Satoshi earlier?"

I nodded. "Yeah...just needed to talk about something…"

"Is it kind of secret?" He inquired.

"Yeah…" I replied.

He nodded in understanding, petting Wiz. I smiled and continued chatting with him.

Soon Emiko and my grandmother brought out some food. It was Katsu Curry with green tea to drink. We all said our prayers before digging in. It was incredible. It reminded me of the Katsu Curry my mom made when I was a kid. I smiled widely as I ate it all, feeling so happy and full after the meal.

Afterwards I helped with cleaning the dishes. It's been so long since I felt happy and content. It almost felt like we were all a family. We laughed, drank (well, some of us did), and ate. We all enjoyed our time.

I only wished Satoshi was here.

After a while I sat next to Daisuke, chatting away about different things. His mother stood and cleared her throat, calling our attention.

"Okay. I am so happy you two could join us for dinner. We haven't had you here in years and I'm so glad you could join us." She began. "It isn't the only reason. We've kind of kept something big as a secret from you guys for a long while and, since we've known you for so long, we figured it was only fair you knew."

I raised a brow, thinking about what it could be. I noticed Daisuke stand and look at all of us, his mother taking his seat. "Daisuke?" I asked, standing. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah...I know I shouldn't have kept this from you. You're my best friend and best friends shouldn't keep secrets. That's why I wanted you coming over." He smiled a bit, scratching the back of his head. "Promise not to be mad?"

"Depends on the secret." I replied.

He sighed and nodded, closing his eyes. Soon I saw him literally transform in front of my eyes. His red hair went purple and grew, spiking out with strands framing his face. He grew almost a foot in size. The slightly baggy clothes he wore now fit him perfectly. When he opened his eyes, his red eyes had turned purple.

I nearly passed out at that point.

In Daisuke's place, Dark stood.

The Dark.

I fell backwards and pointed at him, eyes wide. "Y-y-y-you-!"

"Yes, I know." Dark began, his voice changed from Daisuke's. "It's all shocking and surprising." He walked over, holding a hand out to me. "No worries. I don't plan on taking Daisuke's place."

"Y-y-you…" I stuttered more, panicking a bit and feeling dizzy.

What the hell?! Daisuke is Dark?! How long has this been going on for? Why has he kept this from me? Does he not trust me to keep this a secret? More importantly, he-

"You're like me!" I blurted all of a sudden, not realizing what I said aloud for a minute..

Silence filled the air.

No one spoke a word.

Oh shit.

Now I realized what I said.

That's not something I could take back.

I could hear Emiko drop her cup of tea on the floor. "Excuse me?"

"Nice going, birdbrain." Ebony sighed.

I realized what I had said and held my hand over my mouth. Shit. Great going, Akiko.

"What do you mean by that?" Dark asked, brow raised and helping me to stand.

I wobbled a bit and held my head, shaking off the dizziness of what I was processing. I sighed and looked to my grandmother, seeing her nod. I looked back to Dark and frowned. "I want answers. Promise me I will get them and I will tell you what I meant."

He frowned, hands on his hips. "I'm not understanding. Did you hit your head on the way down?"

I shook my head. "No. But I am not lying either."

He raised a brow. "Explain."

"Promise me answers." I said sternly.

He sighed. "Fine."

I nodded, placing a hand on my chest. "I am that girl last night. The one with white hair."

Dark's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. I think I heard Emiko drop another cup. Thank god they were plastic.

"So, she's returned?" I heard Daiki say.

"Yes, she has." My grandmother replied.

"That is great and bad news." He said, taking a drink of his tea.

"Wait...bad?" I asked.

"Don't do it, Daiki." I heard Ebony say.

"Did I say bad?" He asked, smiling at me. "I must have misspoke." I heard Ebony sigh and frowned. I will have to talk to her later on that.

"So...you're that angel who kissed me?" Dark said and I turned to him. He looked me up and down, raising a brow. "You're not as tall as her...and not as...you know…" He made a motion over his chest to symbolize it being larger.

"Hey!" I shouted at him, face turning red.

"If you're really this girl, prove it." He smirked, crossing his arms.

"Oh, it's on. Let me at him!" Ebony said, raring to go.

"I don't have to prove anything to you. You promised me answers."

He grinned. "If you want answers, then you'll need to prove you're that girl. What even is her name?"

"Ebony." I replied, slightly forcing Ebony to not come out.

He busted out laughing. "With that white of hair? I call bullshit."

I heard Ebony shouting in my mind, losing her temper with him. And honestly I was too.

"Ebony, you want to show him up?" I asked Ebony aloud. I heard some encouragement from the others at the dining table.

"Let's fucking do it." She replied.

I grinned, looking to the thief. "Alright. You win. But I still expect answers."

"If you can prove to me right here and now, I promise you will-"

Before I even finished I let Ebony take over. Time to show up the thief for once.

Honestly it felt kind of good.