Ok, this is chapter 3, where Dark and Anne meet up for the first time. This is a crucial part of the story, so pay attention to it if you are intrested in it at all. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Dark Mousy
“Did you hear about Dark last night?” It was all over school, the thief had struck again.
“Dark is SO HOT!” the girl named Lynn exclaimed. She was blonde, but she now had purple streaks in her hair, and judging by the way that she accessorized, she was extremely rich and she wanted everyone to know it. “I, as you all know, own many of Dark’s possible targets, the Hikari family’s artwork, and I am always looking for more, too bad I don’t know any of them in person.”
“All right class, settle down,” the teacher said, closing the door behind him. “Miss Hikari, the headmaster would like to see you please.” He looked into my eyes and saw that I was worried. “It’s ok, you aren’t in trouble, he just hasn’t met you yet, that is all.”
“Oh, ok, I’ll go see him.” I gathered my things and left the room. I went to the office and asked for him. A hand touched my shoulder and I turned around to be greeted with a warm smile.
“You must be Anne, I’m Headmaster Hiwatari,” he said. Hiwatari, where had I heard that name before? “Your father is my adopted nephew, sadly, there is no blood relation between us, he was such a good student here, along with that Niwa boy.” I had completely forgotten that my father lost his parents when he was a little kid, he never told me how, but he was adopted into the Hiwatari family.
“It is a pleasure sir. So you’ve been here a long time then?” I asked him.
“Of course, since Satoshi and Daisuke were your and Derek’s age. But Derek isn’t much like his father, he was strange, but Derek takes that to a whole new level.” Then he smiled. “I see you’re not in art, yet your book covers are already filled with drawings.”
“Oh, um, yeah, it’s just a habit, I can’t stand my things being plain, so I cover everything I can with drawings, is that ok?”
“It’s fine, just unusual, but that should be expected from a family of artists, your brother does it too.”
“What? Are we like famous or something?” I asked.
“You didn’t know? The Phantom Thief makes it even more so with just about every item he steals being one of the Hikari pieces.”
“No, I didn’t, they kinda left that part of our history out.” Why would they keep this a secret from me?
“They must have just forgotten that’s all.” He looked at his watch. “ You should probably go back to class now Anne, it was very nice to meet you.” The Headmaster turned and went back into his office. I went back to class to find it without a teacher, and most were yelling and laughing.
“Elizabeth, Ashley, what’s going on?” I asked over the crowd.
“Lynn got all worked up about her having more competition for Dark’s affections. Eli likes Dark too, and now Lynn thinks that, since you are a Hikari, that he will gravitate toward you.” Ashley told me.
“This is just stupid, I don’t even know what Dark is exactly, all I know is he steals art made by my family, and I have no interest in a thief anyways.” This was starting to tick me off.
“Here,” Elizabeth held out a picture of a man with purple hair and eyes, tight black clothing, and black wings. “this is Dark Mousy, he is so hot!”
“He looks familiar, but I’ve never seen a man with wings before. Are you sure that that isn’t just Derek in a Halloween costume?” That is what the picture looked like to me. “How old is he anyway? 19?”
“Actually, no one knows. He looked the same as he does now the last time he was around, that was 20 years ago, and the same with the time before that, which was 60 years ago,” Ashley explained. “He’s always reminded me of Derek too, but why would my sister like our cousin?”
“Anne! Do you do any art of any kind?!” Lynn hollered, “If so, I’ll buy it all from you!”
“I draw and sing a little, but I don’t think those count as art…”
“How does 50,000 yen sound to you for everything you’ve got?” She took out her wallet and started counting the amount offered into her hand.
“Umm, I can’t give you my textbooks, besides, why would Dark want to steal my junk? It’s not worth anything.”
“You’re a Hikari, same with your father and brother, and he’s already stolen things from them.”
“Why is he so obsessed with my family’s art? Aren’t they just nice things to look at?” I didn’t expect Derek to answer my question.
“It’s because the Hikari family’s art contains powerful, and sometimes dangerous magic. Dark steals it to seal the power it contains with magic of his own. Then there is also Krad, Dark’s exact opposite in most every way, who’s goal is to destroy him.”
“Wow, you know a lot about him don’t you? Can you tell us how old he is?” I asked.
“I’d say about 300, he has been around a long time.”
“You are really passionate about him aren’t you Derek? I do agree with Eli, he is kinda hot,” I said, looking at the picture Elizabeth had given me.
“Well, Dark is really important to my family, my mom even named me after him…”
“Who cares Derek?!” Lynn yelled. “So what do you say Anne? You gonna sell me your art?”
“No, I like what I do, but it’s not worth anything.” This was getting on my nerves.
“Anne! Come with me, we gotta go!” Alex came into the classroom.
“Huh, what’s wrong?” I asked him, startled.
“You know how Dad’s the chief of police right? Well, there’s been another warning letter from Dark, and he wants us to go with him. This time, the target is at the Hishatori mansion.”
“I knew e would come to my house one day! What’s he after?!” Lynn was obviously over excited.
“I don’t know yet, but we need to get ready to help out.”
“Ok, geeze. bossy. I’m coming!” I got my stuff and was about to walk out the door when Derek stopped me.
“Here, I want you to have this,” he put his arms around my neck, and when he pulled away, there was a pearl chocker with a silver locket imbedded with a heart shaped sapphire in the center. “It’s Aphrodite’s Collar, it is said to offer protection against harmful magic, and it also has your birthstone in it. It might come in handy when you face Dark tonight, especially if Krad decides to show up.”
“Wow, are you sure you want to give me this? I haven’t even been here a week yet…”
“I’m positive, besides, my great grandpa bought it from your family along time ago, but he never gave it to the one he loved, so it was passed down and given to me, and I think it should be given back to your family, and since you are the only surviving female, it is yours anyway.”
“Thanks Derek, you are so sweet,” I said, turning toward my yelling brother, then as if I was possessed, I turned back and kissed him on the cheek.
“ANNE HIKARI!!” When Alex yelled, I realized what I had done and I was so embarrassed that my hands turned red, even cool and calm Derek Niwa was blushing. Alex on the other hand, was furious enough to grab me by the hair and drag me out.
“OWW! Let go Alex!” It hurt bad enough that I was on the verge of tears. “What was that for?!”
“What did Derek do to you? And why were you both blood red?!”
“He didn’t do anything except give me this necklace. I don’t even know why I kissed him, it just happened…”
“I find it hard to believe that you kissed him, and not the other way around.” Alex folded his arms across his chest.
“Just drop it and get in the car Alex, I thought that Dad wanted us somewhere.”
“Ok, fine,” he sighed as he got into the car. “I hope you have a set of black clothes so he can’t see you.”
“I have a black skirt, that is it. I don’t really have that many occasions to wear it.”
“Looks like we will have to get you a set then. You’re not planning on wearing that are you?” He said, eyeing my necklace.
“Of course, Derek wants me to for protection, I don’t know if I believe in magic, but it couldn’t hurt could it? Besides, if I didn’t, it might hurt his feelings.” It was also absolutely gorgeous, but Alex would refuse t let me wear it if I told him that. “Now why don’t you go already? You’re wasting time.” Alex finally drove out of the parking lot. Before we went home, we went to a clothing store and got a set of well fitting black clothes and a pair of onyx boots. When we got home, we changed into our “mission” clothes as Alex called them and we went to talk to Dad about what we were to do.
“Anne, you are to stay near your brother and do as he tells you ok? Alex has done this many times, but since this is your first, consider it training.”
“Training for what? I don’t plan on becoming a cop or anything. Besides, if Dark only steals stuff to seal its power, then what is the harm of it?” My head was spinning from all the new things that were going on.
“It’s the fact that he is stealing Anne. It’s just wrong,” Alex said.
“Ok, whatever, but why do I have to help?”
“You’re my daughter, and a Hikari, I had to do it when I was your age, and every Hikari since Dark first appeared. It’s tradition, besides, I say you have to.” He wasn’t giving me a choice, so I went along with them to the Hishatori Mansion without complaint. Dad went to the south side, and we went to the east, Alex shushing me all the way. Then, a black figure appeared in the sky. It looked like the silhouette of an angel.
“That’s him! That’s Dark, don’t let him get inside the house, I’m going to the north, you stay here.” Alex ran off. About five minutes later, there was yelling from above my head.
“You leave her alone!”
“Ah, so you care about her. You are a fool for showing weakness.”
“I care about the innocent, I don’t even know her, but she has no part in this fight between the two of us Krad, it started 300 years ago, and it will end tonight, without more human sacrifices.” That’s when I decided that it would be a good time to leave, but a tall, blonde man in white robes with silvery white wings was blocking my path.
“Going somewhere?” he asked with a grin that sent chills down my spine. “I sure hope not.”
“What are you going to do if I leave?” I asked.
“Try and you will find out, no mortal is to ever see me and survive the encounter.” He reached inside his clothing and took out…
“A feather?? What are you going to do, tickle me to death? That’s pathetic!” I almost fell over laughing.
“Ignorant child! Perish!” He held it out and light emitted from it. Then it exploded and a blinding white light flashed for an instant, but instead of being hurt, the necklace that Derek had given me was glowing with a brilliant blue light. “Ok, I am officially NEVER taking this thing off!” I knew then that the story about art that Derek told was true.
“Krad! I told you to leave her alone! Your battle is with me!”
“Lucky girl, Aphrodite’s Collar, the necklace of protection and love, I wonder how she could have gotten it Dark.”
“KRAD?!” Apparently my dad had seen the light or heard the yelling.
“Satoshi, how nice to see you again my old friend. How are you this beautiful night?” The winged man asked. What I was wondering was where the black winged man had gone.
“You had better get out of here Anne,” my dad said under his breath. I was behind Krad, so I backed out of the area slowly and quietly, then a hand covered my mouth and I was lifted up into the air.
“It’s ok, I won’t hurt you. I’m going to let go of your mouth, don’t scream ok?” I nodded and quit squirming.
“Oh my God! We’re flying!” I gasped as I threw my arms around the man’s neck. “You’re Dark Mousy aren’t you?”
“Heh, guilty as charged Miss Hikari. I hope I didn’t scare you too bad, are you afraid of heights?”
“If I’ve got something supporting me then I’m ok. How did you know who I was?”
“Well, you were with Satoshi, someone who has hunted me since he was a kid, and I heard that he had a beautiful American daughter with black hair.” He smiled, “You think you could loosen your grip please?”
“Oh, sorry! You know, your eyes remind me of someone in school.” Actualy I could see Derek quite well in his eyes, but no human could have wings, could he?
“Really? Do you like this guy? Maybe he likes you, you seem nice.” Was he flirting?
“I don’t know, he’s very sweet and he seems to care a lot about me, and I kissed him on the cheek earlier as a thank you for my necklace.” Then I felt wet on my leg, which was up against his. “Dark, you’re bleeding.”
“Huh, what? Oh that, I guess I reopened an old wound, it’s no big deal.”
“You’d better let me down to take a look at that.”
“I don’t think that is such a good idea, I haven’t been tested for any blood diseases, I don’t know if I have something or not.”
“Just do it. I’m not afraid of blood, and my mom was a nurse. Think of it this way, if you don’t, I have some options. One is to report you to my dad for kidnapping, the other is for me to kick and scream and possibly hit something that you don’t want to be hit.”
Dark cringed “Oh ok, you win, I’ll let you look.” This sounded very familiar. “You know, I bet that boy who gave you Aphrodite’s Collar is interested in you, it’s the necklace of protection and love because if someone gives it out of love, then it will protect that person from harm.”
“Derek Niwa, the hottest guy in school, yeah right. I’ll believe that when and if he tells me that he does. Go sit down and I’ll check it.” Dark did as he was told, blood still seeping through his clothes. He started to pull away when I went to pull up his pant leg to look. “Hold still or it will only hurt worse.”
“I’ll do it, I know where it is at, I won’t hurt it as much.” I let him pull it up, and I was stunned at what I saw; a burn in the same exact place that Derek’s had been , but this had been opened and was bleeding.
“How did you get a cut on your burn Derek?” I asked experimentally, I wanted to see if he would answer to “Derek.”
“Krad’s feather exploded and hardened, a piece of that hit me,” he said, wincing in pain.
“I’ll try again,” I thought. “ How did you get the burn in the first place?” I asked.
“Me and Alex were arguing and he got his lighter and caught my pants on fire.” At this point, I was sure that Dark was Derek. “He was calling me something that I am not, and that is something that I can’t stand. Ouch!”
“Sorry Derek. You’re probably going to have a scar from this.”
“Hey, wait, how did you figure that out Anne?” He started pulling his leg away again.
“A wound like that usually leaves a scar, I’ve got several form even small burns.”
“No, my identity, am I that obvious?” He looked really upset by this.
“Well, to me you are, but I saw this same burn on you that day remember? Plus you were reluctant to show me then too.” I took the black ribbon that was holding my hair back off and used it as a bandage for his leg.
“Ouch! Could you do me a favor and not let word get out that I’m Dark please?” By this time, I was looking at the 16 year old’s face, not the winged thief’s.
“No problem, as long as you tell me something.”
“Anything, just ask.”
“Are you absolutely sure that my guy friend at school likes me?” He stood up and pulled me with him, covered my eyes with his hand, then kissed my lips for what seemed like forever, then he pulled away.
“Positive Anne, I know he does. Now, does my female friend like me back?”
“No, she doesn’t.” Derek’s eyes dimmed. “She is in love with you, that happened the day she first saw you, she just didn’t know it until just now.”
Note: I have one more chapter finished at this time, it just isn't typed up yet, so it will come soon. Thanks for reading my story, it means alot to me!