Chapter 21:

The sky outside was dark…but how could that be…nighttime? When Daisuke had fallen unconscious Dark immediately took over, still drained and exhausted from the rough magical ride back into Daisuke's body and out of the portal that separated the world of shadows and the world of light. Soft violet eyes opened slowly, there was little light in the room, the floor still smashed from when he and Krad had fought before they were thrown into the cursed painting, and through a window he could see…night. It was the same night as the one they had been sucked into the void, all that had happened, all the pain and fighting…everyone who had died…was it all…a dream?

Dark, using every ounce of strength he had left slowly lifted himself onto all fours and then sat down rather ungracefully onto the floor. No…it couldn't have been a dream…it was all too real to have been a dream. He didn't feel any more pain in his chest, at least nothing but the sore feel of one who had been lying on a hard floor for to long, and his wounds from the hard fight with his other self were gone. He examined himself carefully, his limbs were still attached…this was good…he could feel Daisuke peacefully resting inside of him, and the wings on his back were no longer attached to himself, but in a fuzzy lump on the floor called With. The small rabbit like creature was also out cold and resting peacefully, obviously exhausted. He smiled, everything was as it should be…but Krad, the thought struck him like a flash of lightning. Where was his golden haired seraph?

Turning his head over the direction of a soft moan, Dark's eyes met with a white clothed angel who was slowly turning over from his side to his back. Dark grinned and crawled over to him, Krad still had his eyes tightly shut and had a hand over his head obviously exhausted as well. His breath was a bit uneasy, almost afraid to open his eyes for fear of waking to the world of shadows.

"It's okay Krad…" Dark said softly and comfortingly, placing a hand gently on Krad's chest over his heart, yep still beating, quite fast in fact…but after Dark sat there with his hand on him for a few minutes it slowed down normally and his breathing calmed, "You're not dead…you can open your eyes now."

Slowly and cautiously, two golden eyes appeared still hidden slightly behind long golden locks, which Dark gently removed from his face. Krad looked up at him, almost like a prayer had been answered in seeing his face, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

"Welcome back Sunshine…miss me much?" Dark asked cocking an eyebrow and putting on a on his usual cocky grin that Krad secretly adored.

"Not as much as you would have liked me too…" Krad replied and put an arm over his face covering his eyes still tired and not wanting to show Dark how happy he really was to see him.

Krad didn't have to admit it, Dark could tell and settled himself down on top of him, straddling his midsection and looking down at him. Krad slightly moved his arm and looked up a Dark to see what he was doing, and suddenly felt Dark's body against his chest. Dark had laid himself down on him, with his head under his chin nuzzling his neck gently.

Krad could feel waves of comfort and desire run through him, but here and now… he didn't even have the energy, but he's so close…he could feel his heart beat against his chest, his warm breath against his neck, his body heat warming him, so close…right here on top of him! How much he longed to hold him close…just as he did when Dark had expected him to kill him…but he couldn't. He couldn't kill his angelic thief…the thief that stole his heart…that took so many centuries to form and grow. He shifted slightly uncomfortably underneath the weight, he couldn't do this…not here and now… a part of him wanted to kiss the thief with all of his bottled up passion and take him now as his own…but he couldn't. He was to exhausted, and the sweet warmth right now was all he wanted…Dark's hands came up and folded each hand around one of Krad's and placed them over his head lightly. Krad's muscles were still sore and he groaned at the action though it was only a brief moment of pain.

Dark lifted his head up and looked down on the beautiful angel beneath him, he was so perfect…just like the first time he saw him. Perfectly pale skin, beautiful long golden hair, flawless body, and seductive golden eyes…what wasn't to love? Physical attraction indeed…but Krad was just like him…created for the purpose of being used, only to be betrayed by their very masters…trapped within and immortal cycle of reincarnation for eternity, Krad was the only thing in Dark's life that was forever consistent and stable. And if he had to spend eternity in the world…he wanted to at least enjoy it with his sworn rival and enemy.

"…You know…all these years you were trying to kill me…" Dark began calmly as Krad's expression became a bit worried, "And you had your chance…why didn't you?"

Krad sank back slightly and bit his lower lip, then looked away. There was silence between the two for some time before Krad spoke again.

"Because…" He said thinking for a moment; "it's no fun if you're unable to fight back. And you know me…I'd rather beat you at your best." Krad replied with a smirk and narrowed eyes.

Dark smiled, he didn't expect anything less from the hunter, his hunter, his beautiful…eternal hunter.

"I see…" Dark said with a devious grin, "But now look at your situation…"

Krad looked up at him confused and realized that Dark was putting more pressure on him and clamping his wrists to the floor. His confused expression turned to one of surprise and anger.

"You still haven't fully recovered yet from our little adventure…and I've restored more then half my strength…right now you're helplessly trapped beneath me." Dark replied with another smirk and Krad's muscles began to tense beneath him, "I could do whatever I want with you right now, and you'd be powerless to stop me…still satisfied with your earlier decision to let me live?"

Krad said nothing and only bitterly growled. He let his guard down for one second and Dark thinks he can just sit there on him with that cocky grin, mocking him at his helplessness. And to make him feel worse…it was indeed his own fault for not killing him when he had the chance! …Then Krad relaxed himself and returned to his normal expression of emotionless frustration and starred up at Dark through narrowed eyes.

"So…since I am powerless to stop you…what do you plan to do with me then?" Krad asked glaring at the thief.

Dark looked down at the helpless angel beneath him and his grin widened into a look of satisfaction that Krad had submitted to defeat. He reminded Krad of a cat whose prey had finally stopped struggling beneath its paw after being caught in the feline's clever trap.

Dark seemed to be contemplating the possibilities of what he could do to…or with his beautiful prey, and finally decided on one he liked when he brought his face closer to Krad's. As far as Krad was concerned Dark was merely playing with him, teasing him…and he hated it, but remained still and never taking his eyes off the thief.

"I could just have my wicked way with you…" Dark said whispering into his ear, Krad shivered at the feeling of his breath against him but kept still, "But…" Dark continued and nuzzled Krad's neck gently…almost as if he were asking permission, "that's just to easy…and I rather like a challenge too…" He replied and he lightly kissed Krad's neck, "and the real challenge would be asking you nicely…so…" He continued and lifted his head up to be only inches from Krad's, "Do you accept? …I promise to be gentle."

Krad's heart was racing slightly again, as he starred at Dark's beautiful face. But he refused to give in so easily, if Dark wanted him, he'd have to work for it.

"Did you actually expect that to win me over?" Krad asked as if insulted.

"No, not really…" Dark replied with a grin, "But it was worth a try, and I know you enjoyed it too."

"Hmph," Krad said cocking a grin of his own, "Right…well Dark Mousy…" Krad began and relaxed his muscles completely, "Let's see how badly you're willing to fight for me…" Suddenly Krad's muscles tensed in a single second and trusted Dark off of him with a single burst of energy.

Dark gracefully landed on his feet and grinned. This was going to be more fun then he thought. If Krad was going to play hard to get…then he'd have to play rough…though he didn't want to damage his angel to much, so he'd just have to be as gentle as he could.

Krad was on his feet now and in the time it had taken Dark to tease him unmercifully, Krad's energy had returned to him. This was going to prove to be interesting.

Krad was quick to start things off by lifting off into the air, since Dark's wings were incapacitated at the moment, he'd have the disadvantage of being grounded. Krad cast one of his many spells and launched a ball of ice magic at the thief.

Dark could see it coming and quickly jumped out of the way as the ground he once stood on was now covered over with ice. Dark began to chant a spell of his own and suddenly disappeared.

A teleportation spell, or a spell of invisibility? Krad couldn't tell, nor could he pin point the thief's exact location. What good was the advantage of flight if you could find no target?

"Come out Dark!" Krad growled frustrated.

"Looking for me?" Suddenly Krad felt something slam into him from behind and grabbed him around his chest locking his wings in place, he was falling!

Suddenly, just as Krad braced for the crash with the marble floor, he felt nothing…no impact no pain…He had clamped his eyes tight before the expected impact, and now slowly opened them…he had stopped in mid air. Dark must have used a levitation spell before they hit, and now Krad was being held up by Dark who was still holding him tight and immobile from behind.

"Hehe, see caught ya." Dark chuckled proudly, "Play hard to get all you want…but I'll catch you every time."

Krad turn his head to the side and looked at Dark, he hated to admit it, but Dark had indeed won this little bout. He'd been caught, and by his own quarry no less. Suddenly he felt Dark's soft hair nuzzling the back of his neck, it felt so good…but he wanted to hate it and Dark…but he was just so soft and warm, it sent shudders of pleasure and comfort up his spine…he couldn't hate him, and after all they'd been through, he wasn't sure if he could ever bring himself to again.

"So, give up yet? Or should we go another round?" Dark asked pulling Krad closer to him.

Krad never gave him an answer…but suddenly Dark felt Krad's wings melt away and he was able to pull him closer and he kissed his neck lovingly.

"Making my job easier huh?" Dark asked with a purr.

"Only slightly…" Krad replied with a moan as Dark kissed his neck again, "But I'm holding you to your promise to be gentle…"

Dark nuzzled his neck again and whispered in his ear, "Then I guess I better keep it…"

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Daisuke didn't remember much about what had happened before he woke up in his bed. He knew that shortly after he had fallen unconscious outside of the painting, Dark had taken over, after that was just a blur.

"Early this morning, officials reported, the prized painting 'Ein Fenster Nach die Vergangenheit' by Ishoto Hikari was stolen by the infamous Dark Mousy. A blank canvas was found where the painting once hung in Medieval Arts Exhibit, it is believed that the Phantom Thief disabled all of the security systems and replaced the real painting with an empty canvas. It is a terrible tragedy for the art world, but fans of the Phantom Thief are not at all surprised by the nearly impossible theft." Emiko read from the newspaper she held in her hand as she walked into her son's room. "Daisuke I don't remember telling you to take this painting." She replied with her arms crossed.

"Huh?" Daisuke moaned as he sat up…when did he ever take his shirt off? "But…we never stole that painting…" Daisuke said scratching his head and looking down at his shirtless chest, he never recalled going to sleep without it…he didn't even remember how he got in his bed in the first place!

"Oh I see…" Emiko said with a sigh, "Every time something ends up missing it's Dark's fault now right?" Emiko shuck her head and turned to walk out of the room, "Oh well…I was going to ask you to steal it tonight…but since someone has beat us to it, I suppose you're spared for tonight." She giggled as if she knew something that Daisuke didn't, and then left the room.

Daisuke looked after her with extreme confusion…and then decided that he didn't want to know after realizing he was naked.

'Dark…what did you do?' Daisuke asked with a moan and holding his head.

Dark was fast asleep and seemed to be more tired then he was, but he persistently shuck his to get up.

'Dark!' Daisuke pressed.

'Mmm…what…?' Dark groaned and rolled back over.

'What happened?' Daisuke asked, 'Are we really back in our world? And how did I end up here? Dark what happened?' Daisuke asked quickly.

'Woah, woah woah!' Dark groaned and final sat up awake…sort of, 'Stop going so fast…' He said with a sigh, 'I'm to tired for this…'

'Dark…what happened last night…I can't seem to remember…' Daisuke repeated and shuck his head.

'Well that's because when we got back you fell unconscious…so I took over…' Dark said stretching.

'I did?' Daisuke asked and looked up at the ceiling, 'so…you brought me back home? But what about Satoshi and Krad?' Daisuke asked concerned.

'Well…sort of…' Dark said with a chuckle, 'I stuck around the museum for a little while after we got back…then I teleported home. As for Krad and Satoshi…they're fine, so stop worrying…' Dark said with a yawn, 'Now may I go back to sleep? I had a rough night…'

Stayed at the museum? What could he have possibly had to do at the museum? Suddenly he didn't want to know that either.

Shortly after recovering from his extreme tiredness, Daisuke had gone to the museum; he had to see for himself that the painting was really gone. Verruckt, Xilef, Zanus…Adel…could they all really be gone? The world of shadows, it couldn't be gone…Daisuke ran into the museum that they had entered the night before. There was police tape blocking the entrance but Daisuke slipped in unnoticed and hid behind the walls and in the shadows to pass guards into the Medieval Exhibit.

The room was lit up pretty well and the only person standing in the room was a tall young man with blue hair, he was standing in front of a blank canvas in the center of the now cleared room. The floor was cracked and some of the marble was in chunks around the room, obvious signs of a fight or struggle, and the police still knew nothing of the Hikari's eternal guardian that lived within their prized and young commander, so the battered room looked odd to them as they had never seen anyone oppose Dark, nor did Dark ever stick around for a fight after a successful theft.

"Hello Daisuke…" Satoshi said still starring at the canvas.

"Oh…how'd you know I was here?" Daisuke asked shyly walking towards the other young man.

"Because I can see your reflection in the canvas." Satoshi said glaring at the blank whiteness of the material.

"What? My reflection?" Daisuke now stood beside him and starred at the blank canvas, "I don't see anything…" Daisuke said confused.

"I'm not surprised…" Satoshi said with a sigh and crossed his arms, "It's something I suspected only a Hikari could see…" He replied pushing his glasses up with his hand, "A painting with such magic in it…I should have seen this coming…"

"What do you mean?" Daisuke asked a bit worried at Satoshi's tone.

Satoshi was quiet for a while and continued to stare at the painting, "One of the properties of a true Hikari piece is that once the magic within the work is sealed…it looks like an ordinary piece of art…but when the magic is…released…it because a blank canvas to ordinary humans…but to a Hikari…it looks like a mirror."

"Satoshi…but what does that mean?" Daisuke asked blankly.

"It means…" Satoshi said, "That the magic within the painting might not have been destroyed at all…"

"What!" Daisuke exclaimed in a panic, "But…but we destroyed it! Well Krad did but…you mean this thing is still a portal to the World of Shadows?" Daisuke demanded.

Satoshi shuck his head, "No…the portal is sealed…I already checked…I can't get back into the other realm…" He said plainly. "But, that doesn't mean some essence from that world didn't escape to this one. I'm afraid that some of the magic from that world traveled back with us…but I found no evidence of that…and it worries me…" He said with a sigh.

Suddenly Satoshi looked up and felt Daisuke's hand on his shoulder, he looked at the boy and only found a warm smile.

"Well…there's nothing we can do about that now." Daisuke said and put his hands into his pockets shyly, "So in the mean time, let's take our minds off things…do you wanna go out for some lunch? Looks like you haven't eaten much lately."

Satoshi looked confused a moment then smiled, a day with just Daisuke? That didn't sound so bad, "Yeah sure, sounds good." Satoshi replied as Daisuke smiled and lead the way out of the room.

Suddenly Satoshi felt a shiver up his spine and looked back at the blank canvas, something about it made him uneasy…and looking at his own reflection in it unsettled him. He would have to come back here later at night when everyone was gone and seal it…that is…if he still could with a piece of the magic missing from it's depths. He turned away reluctantly and followed after the red haired young man who stood waiting at the entrance to the room for him. He could worry about the painting later, right now he was going to spend the day with Daisuke, and he was going to enjoy it.

Notes from the Author:

OKAY!! WOOOT! Finished the story! Hallelujah plays and I even left off for a third story since nearly every one of my readers asked for one! Though I may not upload one for a while…I have some college applications to take care of. So until then, thank you for reading, commenting, and being patient with me! blows kisses to you all and bows I LOVE YOU ALL!