Notes: Because I wanted to. No, I'm not going to explain how/why they're separate.

I'm sorry for stealing Meg-san's buttered toffee…but I couldn't resist. Yes the ending sucks with a Dark-Daisuke personality switch and the plot stumbles along like a drunken chibi fanged Krad bunny. I'm sorry.

The lyrics are to "Negai Kanaeru Kagi."

Satoshi: You're getting annoying.
Crysi: ^^;;

--------------------------------

Date-o, Take Two

"You're WHAAAAAT?" Daisuke stared at Dark. He was sitting on the floor of his room and watching as Dark changed clothes about fifty times. "You…you…"

Dark ran a hand through his hair and tugged at his shirt collar. "I'm going on a date with Hiwatari." He eyed himself critically in the mirror. "Maybe the violet *was* better…"

Daisuke twitched. "Oh, he'll be blown away…"

Satoshi probably would. Dark was wearing skintight black leather pants and an untucked white silk shirt with a loose black leather vest over top. He wore gleaming black dress shoes that matched the gleaming black choker around his neck. Dark nodded decisively. "I'm gorgeous."

Daisuke decided to try again. "But…you *can't* go out with Hiwatari-kun."

Dark gave Daisuke a Look. "Why *can't* I?"

Daisuke rubbed his forehead. "You…he…It's just…strange."

"Why is it strange?" asked Dark.

"Because it *is*!"

Dark shrugged. "Whatever. He's cute."

Daisuke sighed. "Where are you two going?"

"Out," said Dark, smiling. "And don't *follow* us, Dai-chan." Dark strolled out the door, then paused. "And don't worry if I'm not back by morning."

Daisuke fell to the floor, twitching. "DAAAARK!"

Dark grinned at him from the doorway. "You're so *fun* Dai-chan." With that, Dark walked off, whistling cheerily.

Daisuke stared after him for a few moments, then got up and followed.

***

Satoshi glanced at his watch and frowned. He was standing on a corner by a street lamp, and had been for quite some time. Everything was quiet, the breeze whistling overhead, making a backdrop for rather boring waiting. After a moment, Satoshi half-turned around, not quite looking behind him. "You're late," he said quietly, without much annoyance.

"I had to tease Dai-chan. And walk him around town a bit," replied Dark. The boy chuckled as he walked up to Satoshi. "We ran across half the rooftops in the city, but I finally lost him."

Satoshi glared at Dark. "You shouldn't tease him like that."

Dark cupped Satoshi's face in his hands and smiled softly. "Still dreaming about him? Join the club."

Satoshi blinked and sputtered, "I…I'm not…you…" He paused. "You too?"

"Yeah, but I'm lucky. He doesn't really think of me as separate from him, so he doesn't mind if I hug him or lounge on him bed with him…" Dark shook his head. "You and I are idiots, aren't we?" He gave Satoshi a pointed look. "Am I just a backup?"

"Am *I*?" replied Satoshi sharply. "Don't *you* want him as well?"

"Maybe." Dark gazed away, into the distance. "I like you too. You're the most fascinating person the Hikari family has put out in centuries. And I can see that sadness in you that Dai-chan misses."

"…I'm not sad." Satoshi's face was closed and cold.

Dark turned to Satoshi and gave him a soft, sad smile. "Right. We'll get to that." Dark shook himself and gave a rakish grin. "So. Where are we going?"

Satoshi checked his watch. "A concert. We won't be late, since I gave you a time that wan an hour early…"

"Hey!" Dark scowled at Satoshi. "That's not *fair*…"

Satoshi smirked and beckoned to Dark. "Come on. Let's go."

A silent shadow followed them as they walked away.

***

Negai kanaeru kagi sono te ni aru
Michi e tsunagaru doa sugu me no mae
Wakiagaru kodou shinjireba ii
Aratana sekai wo hiraku no sa

Dark grinned at Satoshi as the crowd screamed. "This is great!" he yelled. "I didn't know you liked this kind of music!"

"Daisuke-kun gave me a CD!" called Satoshi.

"*Daisuke* did?" Dark sated at Satoshi.

Satoshi shrugged. "Yeah, he loves this band."

The song thundered to an end and the lead singer beamed at the crowd. "How's everyone tonight?"

The audience screamed.

The singer grinned and said, "We've had a request for a popular song…that doesn't actually belong to us."

The audience murmured. Dark turned to Satoshi with a puzzled look. "What's he talking about?"

Satoshi shrugged.

The singer continued, "But after hearing that the famous phantom thief Dark Mousy was in the audience, I decided that performing Groovy Blue would be fun."

The audience exploded with noise. People everywhere looked around wildly. Dark his under his seat as Satoshi chucked and pretended to look with everyone else. The band started up again and ripped into a rendition of Groovy Blue.

Dark crawled out from under the seat and glared at Satoshi. "How *could* you…"

"It wasn't me." Satoshi was snickering. "I think Daisuke-kun has found us…"

The two looked around. "I don't see him," said Dark.

"Let's just enjoy the concert," replied Satoshi.

***

Dark and Satoshi strolled down the street, chatting idly. Well, *Dark* was chatting *at* Satoshi, but it counts. They took a route through the Park, past a particular fountain…

"That's where you asked me out," muttered Dark. "The same place Daisuke told Riku he liked her. The same place they came after *their* first date."

Satoshi nodded. "It's a peaceful place…"

There was a pause.

Dark took a deep breath. "So. I'm still not sure why you asked me out…"

"I don't know. Well, actually, I do." Satoshi gave a wry smile. "Daisuke-kun told me in the nicest possible way that he *really* appreciated my interest, but that he wanted me to be happy, and he suggested I'd be happier if I found and dated someone."

"But why *me*?" asked Dark. "You have a flock of fangirls, another flock on fanboys too."

"You're different. You *know* me. You understand what I am, what I've been. Even more than Dasiuke-kun." Satoshi shook his head. "Does there need to be a *reason*?"

"That was a reason." Dark though for a moment. "You know me too, don't you? You know me better than anyone, better than even your family and the Niwas."

"Maybe."

Dark grinned. "We're such *depressing* dates. We should go *do* something."

"What about our chaperone?" asked Satoshi. "We can't live Daisuke behind."

Dark glanced around and said in a loud voice, "Well, I'm *sure* he wouldn't follow us to your *apartment*."

There was a crash, as if someone had fallen out of a tree. "DAAAAARK!"

"Go home. *Our* date is none of *your* business," said Dark, smiling. The he said, "Really, Dai-chan, you've heard some private stuff."

Daisuke sighed and turned away. "Have fun then. Say hello to Daisuki for me."

Dark and Satoshi both twitched. "With?"

The form melted into the trees and Dark and Satoshi stared after it. Then they ran to Satoshi's apartment.

***

The door to Satoshi's apartment was unlocked. They cautiously pushed it open and gaped at the scene inside. Candles dotted every flat surface and bathed the room in a warm glow. The table was set nicely an inviting meal out in covered dishes. Soft music played in the background. Dark stepped into the room. "He did…all this?"

"It seems so." Satoshi followed Dark inside and walked over to the table. He sat down and picked up his napkin. "Are you coming?"

Dark flopped down across from Satoshi. "How did he manage it?"

"I don't know, and I don't think I'll ask," replied Satoshi. "Sometimes he has too much fun with things."

Daisuke perched outside the window with With. "*Finally*," he muttered. "I thought they'd *never* get here."

"Kyuu!"

Daisuke peered in the window again. "They seem to be having a good time." Dark was gesturing widely with a fork and laughing while Satoshi smiled and shook his head.

Dark leaned toward Satoshi and grinned. "Y'know, I *did* tell Daisuke not to worry if I didn't come home…"

"And you'd mar our unsullied honor?" replied Satoshi, smiling.

"Oh, we don't have to *do* anything…but it would bother Daisuke." Dark glanced at the window. "It's soooo far past his bedtime…"

Daisuke sighed and took off, receiving a terrific lecture for being home so late, then congratulations for the video With had made of the date. Dark was not to arrive home (through Daisuke's window) until the next day.

"So, did you have sex?"

"What kind of 'hello' is that?"

"Did you make out?"

"Yes. Well, no and yes."

"No sex, yes make out?"

"Yes."

"He *does* taste like buttered toffee, doesn't he?"

"…yeah, I guess. How is it your business?"

"I kissed him first. And I set you two up. And Mom wanted me to *videotape* your first time!"

"Daisuke!"

"You're so *fun*, Dark-chan!"