Family Matters
Prologue
A decade ago…
It was December 15th. Everything was peaceful as a shower of diamonds fell down from the sky. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said from the Niwa household. Actually, for a certain eight year old boy with the name-
"Kyo Niwa!!"
He looked up with a startled expression on his face. Usually, it should have had a mysterious grin on it as if he knew everything. At this moment, he had no clue of his surroundings as he was drawing again. The picture should have been more important right now. However, when the voice of authority demands to see you, you can't ignore it.
"Kyo, what nonsense have you been telling Daisuke again? I thought I told you…"
"'Once and I've told you again to always state the facts.' Yes, I know what you're going to say, Aunt Emiko", Kyo retorted. He didn't mind when his aunt yelled at him. After all, what are the problems telling stories to the smaller and younger members of the family? Then again, Wiz (or With) wasn't exactly the youngest member, come to think of it. He remembered that Wiz was more than 100 years old. It was shocking. After all, it seemed a bit impossible because Wiz was a very active and cute rabbit. (He can't be 100, no way.) And nobody had told him that little fact either, Kyo knew crankily. It was the aura of magic around Wiz that had led to that conclusion-
"Kyo, I want you to come down here now!" Emiko's voice demanded, which carried itself up the stairs.
"Give me five more minutes!" Kyo called. He didn't panic or rush at all. He knew what he was doing. He drew in the rest of the details of the picture and placed his pencil back on the desk. 'Should I paint this scene and show it off immediately or wait until everyone shows up?' he wondered. He decided to show it when everyone came by. Of course, the wait would take a pretty long time. In fact, a few years from now…
"Hey Wiz, want to see the snow falling?" Kyo asked. He climbed up the ladder to his bed and carefully shook awake the small bundle of white fur on top of his pillow. As he shook, the little bundle showed small, red, puppy-like yet sleepy eyes. It stretched out to reveal itself as Wiz, the pet of the Niwa household.
"Kyuuu…" Wiz yawned. He jumped onto Kyo's right shoulder and nuzzled against his neck. Kyo compensated and scratched his back while walking toward the balcony's window. He smiled at the snowflakes dropping down. He was only in the third grade after all. His friends had always commented about his liking of nature. Kyo kept telling them that he just wanted to see the impossible happen.
"How can I truly be described?" Kyo wondered out loud. He had asked this question to himself and others. It must be a coincidence that he always got the same answers back at him.
He was known as an artist, which was the first thing. He liked looking at and doing all forms of art. The art contest at his school had proven the fact well. The newspaper article pasted in his journal had been saying that he, Kyo Niwa, was in first place (out of all of the other elementary schools in Japan!). The painting was hanging around in the museum somewhere. It was great to visit the museum and be proud of his work. He felt a feeling of pride arouse inside him along with the happiness of finally being recognized. Not by the public, of course (he would have rather kept a low profile), but by his older relatives. His mother had taught him well…
What was the second thing again?
Ah, as a pianist, that was it. Kyo personally thought he shouldn't get any praise from that part of him. His father had gotten him addicted to Beethoven when he was only four, damn it. It had started out as a hobby and still was. Yet he kept getting asked to perform. He knew his friends were trying to help, but he preferred not to get into the annual talent show. Too many people staring at him… that was going to be too much for him to take. Especially from the girls in the audience whispering about him…
How embarrassing.
Now, what was the last thing?
SLAM!
Kyo's thoughts vanished as fast as the door behind him slammed open. His closed eyes, his small smile, his placidity and the feelings of positivity were swept away by the wind of anger. His eyes and mouth were as big as dinner plates as he whirled around. Dread crept up his back as he realized that he had procrastinated too long (uh oh). The woman in front of him wasn't his aunt. Actually, the Aunt Emiko in front of him wasn't the aunt he knew and liked…
o0o0o0o0o0
Crystal stared at nothing in particular. She was dressed in red. Red hair ribbons, red dress, even a red bow around her teddy bear's neck (which was on her lap). Her socks, however, were black. (How curious…) She was sitting on one of the couches in the living room. For being a cute, cubby four year old, she looked quite melancholy. (Why?)
Staring was something she could do well, which wasn't unusual for her age. She was one out of the two youngest children, the other one being Daisuke.
Speaking of Daisuke…
She came back from wherever she had been and refocused on her cousin. He was asleep on the right side of the couch. He had on a red sweater with white stripes going through it. It matched with the red pants and white socks that he wore. He was breathing softly and looked even cuter in sleep. He was also innocent, something she didn't even know if she had anymore.
Not that her aunt could even help her know. She was always 'too busy'…
Kyo couldn't be bothered, either…
Bickering could be heard from upstairs. 'It could only be my brother and aunt. Of course, isn't it always?' she thought. "Why must they argue so much? I can't even believe that Kyo hasn't kicked the bucket yet from the glares he gets from Auntie", she sighed, "What do you think, Yuki?"
The teddy bear gave no response to her question.
"Kyo, you are acting so irresponsibly. I have taken you into my house and yet you act so defiant", Emiko's voice came from the staircase. She had dragged the poor boy downstairs with his left ear between her thumb and pointer finger.
"Aunt Emiko, stop hurting my ear", Kyo whined. He wrenched himself out of her grasp and gingerly massaged his sore ear. "I may go deaf if you're not careful", he continued.
"To continue from earlier before, I have to go out", Emiko said. Crystal knew that obvious fact already. Emiko had her short, brown hair done nicely. She had on a black down coat and a black wool scarf. Her (black) purse was waiting for her on the coat rack near the door. As she kept talking, she placed on matching (black) gloves.
"I have to visit grandpa at the hospital. He seems to be doing fine, but he keeps sleeping for hours on end. It's getting too worrisome… children, the doctor even told me he may not make it for Christmas", Emiko spoke softly.
Crystal's body stiffened at the news. Kyo's expression was cold and faraway. Wiz moaned softly. Daisuke kept sleeping, unaware.
"Auntie, you're not planning to do…hmmm, anything else besides checking up on grandpa, right?" Kyo said slowly.
Emiko gave him a stern look. "What possibly gave you that idea? Kyo, this is your grandfather we're talking about", Emiko said. She walked toward the door and paused. "By now you should know the drill, Kyo. Keep everyone and the house safe. I'm going to be back late, so don't wait for me. I also don't want any mischief. I don't want to see any defaced walls when I get back," she said dryly. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her purse and went out into the snowy world.
"As if we're even going to do that", Crystal said.
o0o0o0o0o0
Kyo was riding on a sea of despair. Grandpa was expected to go before Christmas? That couldn't be possible. He was an energetic and witty person. He had inspired Kyo to tell bedtime stories to Daisuke, Crystal and Wiz. Most of the stories had been about Kaitou (Thief) Dark. He was an art thief, had never gotten caught and had black wings. He had been around for a couple of years (about 300 or 400 years, yikes!). Of course, Kyo had (kind of) known those facts already…
No, now wasn't the time to wonder about his grandfather's tales. If Grandfather Daiki was to live, Kyo had to put his plan in action before the week went out. But he needed to wait for the right time. For now, he must be patient…
"Let me guess… Auntie is going to buy a drink too, right?" Crystal's voice broke through his thoughts.
Kyo looked up. "With that amount of guilt rolling out of her (this is pretty much a lot), of course. I'm afraid that her drinking is going to get us in hot water someday", he said in a monotone-kind of voice.
Crystal simply looked at the floor and shook her head. She was feeling mournful.
It had started when Uncle Kosuke had left the rest of the family on his 'expedition'. Before he had left, he had made Kyo the 'man of the house' besides grandpa, of course. Emiko had gotten a little depressed over her husband leaving, but kept on a strong face. It was nice until grandpa had gotten sick. It was a respiratory illness (the name was hard to remember, not that it even mattered). The disease had gotten worse, so he was sent to the hospital. Emiko, having too much stress, lost it and really became depressed. Kyo had to make it his duty to keep everything together until she got better. He got her medicine, watched over the house and his family, and waited for a miracle.
Two months ago, Emiko somehow got out of her depression and drank down a whole bottle of wine. Then she began going out to 'visit grandpa', but Kyo knew that was partly an excuse to go to a bar. (He had stalked her on one visit to find out the truth.) It had gotten to the point of when she began hiding bottles of whiskey, gin, wine, alcohol and even beer around the house. (Yikes!)
Kyo had also been appointed as the babysitter to Daisuke, Krystal and Wiz. (Double yikes!) However, he was in a position to try and stop her from drinking. For example, he had taken all the bottles in the house and threw them outside into the trashcan. He had tried reverse psychology, had tried to beg, argue, plead, throw a fit and be forceful (the worst idea ever-he still had the bruise on his back). The only other option was a rehab facility, but he needed an adult for that kind of help (Who would even believe an eight year old kid saying that his aunt was getting drunk?). If only he knew where Uncle Kosuke was, then maybe she would stop. (But where in the world was he?)
'I also don't want any mischief. I don't want to see any defaced walls when I get back' .The words echoed inside his head and he felt annoyed. Was it his fault that he liked being lively and wanted to have a good time? Okay, maybe thinking up pranks and countless schemes was his fault. (Don't worry, Crystal and Wiz were wearing helmets and had pillows all around their bodies when we were sliding down the stairs! Just like penguins would at the South Pole!) Besides, it was okay to laugh every once in a while, right? (Hey, Aunt Emiko, Daisuke's head got chopped off when he fell off the tree. Oh man, don't faint! It's just a mannequin, see?) Maybe they were getting a little mean, though… (Guilty...)
Hey, that was the third and last thing he was known for. He was a terribly great trickster. (That is a good thing to be, right? Not to his family, though.)
o0o0o0o0o0
Suddenly, an idea came to her head.
Crystal shook Daisuke awake. "Hey Dai, we need you to wake up. Aunt Emiko's out and Kyo… err, is going to tell us another story", she improvised.
Daisuke immediately jumped up. "What's it going to be about, Kyo?! Come on, tell us, tell us!" he said. (What an energetic cousin…) Wiz jumped down from Kyo's shoulder and landed on Daisuke's head.
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you. It's going to be about this winter and Christmas", Kyo laughed. He shot a look at Crystal before sitting down on the couch.
She looked down guiltily. She realized that he knew she was trying to lighten up the mood. She didn't like it when her brother thought about things too seriously. (Doesn't that hurt your head?) Man, wasn't it enough that he was a… wait, was that again? Was he even telling the truth at the time? No, he had to be telling the truth, his face was too serious when he was pouring out what seemed to be the impossible. At the time, he was being frantic and was trying to keep everyone he loved safe. However, it was too late because many people had gotten injured because he just couldn't hold back his temper. The temper had come from the hatred of that evil demon…
No.
Don't think about it now. Kyo has a much better temper now. Besides, look at him. He's smilingand telling us a good story. Only that could happen if he was in a good mood. Yes, his face had none of that seriousness now. Just sit back and listen to Kyo weaving another story…
"Now, I want you to close your eyes", Kyo said, "Imagine that you had the power to fly. You're flying over Azumano and it's at night. Do you see the full moon? Yes Dai, you have the right picture. Well, now we can begin. So, one moon lit night…"
There are some things I want to state from this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the manga or anime D.N. Angel. I may use some parts of the anime/manga to keep the story as true as possible, but I don't own it. All I own is Kyo, Crystal and anything else not taken from D.N. Angel. (If anyone tries to take my characters from me without a disclaimer, I shall be mad and forceful.)
This is a pretty long prologue, I know, but I had to put down as much as I could. If anyone has a problem with the size or anything else about the story (like not having enough details), do tell. If there are any suggestions, review.
Oh yes… this is my first story on fan fiction. Flamers, if you flame me, give me a good reason why. I'll try to be tolerant enough.
It's going to be at least a month before I put up chapter one, so I'm sorry if people are impatient. (I'm being truthful here.) But I need a certain amount of time to write out everything, okay?
(One last thing I shall mention-Emiko seems a bit mean in this story, isn't she? Don't get that idea; she's just having too much stress. As for Daiki, he'll be fine too. Don't worry; you'll see all of your favorite characters come in. Dark may be in chapter one, but I can't promise that. Daisuke will be, though.)