AN: First attempt at a full-fledged DN Angel angst story. My other DN stories are humor, except for the oneshot. As usual, reviews are required to move this story along.

Disclaimer: DN Angel and all characters in it belong to Yukiru Sugisaki. Not me.

Satoshi found himself in a room made entirely of…ice. Even the furniture was made of ice. Beautifully carved ice…With high ceilings and large double doors for an entrance, it seemed like something out of a castle. Then, on a throne, sat the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. She wore a beautiful white dress and seemed both malevolent and kind at once. Silver hair cascaded down her shoulders in waves, and her cold ice blue eyes brought Satoshi back to a fairytale he loved as a child: the Snow Queen. Beside her throne were guards, plenty of them. In fact, they were all over the room. Dressed in white, and equipped with swords, they stared blankly into space.

Then he noticed somebody, lying down in a pathetic heap in front of the throne. Still wearing white, of course, and looking every bit as beautiful as the queen herself. Sun gold hair and eyes to match, Krad lay there. He stared right through Satoshi blankly, almost as if he wasn't there.

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. It's been proven time and time again. Therefore, Dark knew perfectly that there would be consequences for his actions. What he didn't count on was that his counterpart would take the fall, pushing you over the edge of sanity with his antics. You poor thing…Come, come and find peace with me." The queen had a beautiful voice, silky and haunting. She got off her throne and approached Krad. His eyes shifted to look at her.

She carefully sat down and cradled Krad in her arms. Satoshi was shocked, to say the least.

"The ice demon… We belong together…" She crooned to him. Krad seemed to marvel in her embrace. "My touch is cold, but it's better than nothing, is it not?"

Satoshi hated to admit it, but Krad and the Snow Queen do look like they belonged with each other. The Ice Demon and the Queen of Ice...In a way, they fit. They sat there, and she embraced him tight.

"I'll never let you go. You belong to me, despite your feelings for that thief."

--

Suddenly, the alarm clock rang and Satoshi woke up with a start. It was a dream, just a dream. Something told him it wasn't, though. Because if it was indeed just a dream, why was doorknob frozen?

-Krad.- Satoshi called.

'Hmm…? What's this, my host is attempting to contact me?' Krad's tone was mocking.

Satoshi shut up, pissed. Fine, let his curse be that way. He could be an ass too.

-I don't own DN Angel. -

The class was on a field trip to a forest that day. But right now, that wasn't the problem. No, the problem was that Satoshi had gone missing. They were assigned to go look for him in pairs, and Daisuke was stuck with Saehara. They wandered around a bit.

(Hey Dark.)

((Yeah?))

(Where'd you think they went?)

((Krad was probably acting like a bastard, so Satoshi probably took a break to try and get him to shut up.)) Dark replied simply.

(…If you think he's fine then...) Daisuke answered, shrugging.

"Oh wow, an angel!" Saehara announced softly and excitedly. He snapped plenty of photographs. Daisuke immediately paid attention again. Sure enough, Krad was there. Daisuke took a deep breath. Satoshi was all right after all. But wait, it was snowing. What the hell? Summer was nearing. It doesn't snow at this time of the year.

(Dark, it's snowing.)

((I know.))

(Can Krad do that?)

((Make it snow? No, of course not. Ice demon is only referring to the fact that he seems heartless.))

"It's snowing. Amazing…He must be a snow angel." Saehara gawked at Krad. "Beautiful and unearthly…"

Saehara suddenly ran out of film. He grumbled. "Hey, Niwa-kun, could you stay here for a while? I'll go get a fresh roll. It's all because my dad won't buy me a digital one." He left without another word.

A woman approached Krad. Daisuke drew in a sharp breath, and Dark let out a low whistle.

(Gods, that's Krad's girlfriend? She's gorgeous…and they look perfect together.)

((No, they don't.)) Dark snapped, scowling. ((I mean, yeah she's gorgeous, but they don't look good together.))

Daisuke wondered if the thief was jealous of Krad or of the woman, and why the woman was wearing such clothes. It was too warm for the heavy, long-sleeved dress she wore. It was lacy, true, but still...

She touched Krad's lips gently, and he drew back a bit.

"Come with me," she begged. "I'll keep you from being lonely. We'll rule over my kingdom." She rested her head on his chest.

"Who are you? Why…Why did you invade my dreams?"

"My name is Isolda. I am the Snow Queen." She whispered.

He gave her a strange look.

"Why? Why do you insist on staying here? That thief…you always face the consequences of his actions. You pay the price for his mistakes. Why is it that you…bear his burden without complaining?" She asked, crying. Her tears turned to ice before they even fell off her face.

(Dark, did you know that Krad…?)

A guilty silence answered Daisuke. (Dark, why…)

((I figured it out after Rika Harada. It's a long story, okay?)) Dark replied testily. ((I never meant…))

"Your sanity…for his safety." She whispered. "But if you come with me, you can run away from it all. We don't belong in this world."

When Krad still didn't respond, Isolda turned her attentions to Daisuke, who was right behind the bushes.

"I know you're hiding there. Human warmth is easily detected." She called.

Daisuke came out, determined. "Krad-kun, why did you let Dark get away with all this?"

"SILENCE! He doesn't need to be bothered by your petty insolence." An angry Isolda was something to behold. The trees began to freeze up. "Pass this message on to the Phantom Thief. I WILL take my groom. He has had his chance…It's my turn now."

Just as quickly as that, she vanished. Daisuke stood there, shocked.

(You heard her?)

((She thinks Krad likes her.)) Dark replied sourly. He came out.

"Krad, look, I -!!" He was cut off by Krad, who wasted no time and threw a barrage of energy balls towards Dark.

"Krad, you never give me time to explain!!"

"THERE'S NOTHING TO EXPLAIN!" Krad yelled.

Dark flew away, hoping for safety. The angel didn't bother to come after him this time.

Never giving me a chance to explain… It's no wonder you're mad at me. But if only you'd hear me out… I don't take you for granted at all...Please, just listen to me...even once. Even for just a minute: it'd be enough.

(Dark, tell me what happened.)

((…I don't want to…))

(Dark, I'll start to shower Risa with gifts from Dark-san if you don't tell me what happened.) Daisuke threatened.

Dark twitched. Since when did Daisuke know how to blackmail? ((Later…at your house.))

(You better…or else.) Daisuke was a horrible liar, but luckily, Dark didn't notice that Daisuke didn't really mean what he said.

--

-Krad, you bastard. You knew it wasn't just a dream, and you knew she'd come after you if you were alone. Bastard.- Satoshi repeated.

'…' Krad stayed rooted to his spot.

-What does she mean by saying you bear the burden of Dark's mistakes anyway?- Satoshi continued.

'You're a smart boy, Satoshi-sama. You'll figure it out eventually.'

-DON'T LEAVE IT AT THAT.- Satoshi yelled.

Too late. Satoshi was pushed out and Krad was back inside.

Satoshi sighed and adjusted his glasses. Just then, Saehara returned and looked around wildly.

"Hiwatari-kun! Did you see the blond angel who was standing here a few moments ago?"

"…You're crazy." Satoshi answered coolly. He looked at the sky. It had stopped snowing, but the trees that Isolda had frozen in her anger remained frozen.

What had happened between Krad and Dark? How in the world did Krad manage to steal the consequences…and bear them all for Dark in the thief's stead? Satoshi frowned. He was going to find out, whether or not his curse liked it.

Sometimes I wonder, is it really worth all the pain? Is Dark worth it? I hoped for his love in exchange for my sanity…No such luck. I lost both.

AN: The name Isolda is a name that literally means to rule over ice. It's different from Isolde. I think it's a fitting name for the snow queen.