Wings & Mages (Version 2)

Chapter 7: Reminiscing While Cramming Part 1

(A/n: This chapter is intended to be a little bit educational. If you see italicized words with center blockings, those are notes written in Daisuke's notebook. If you want, you can takes notes of it, too. XD ^_^ )

Recap:

"Juvia Lockser... she isn't our enemy," thought Dark as he pulled the black feather he used earlier from his pocket, "no one must discover her as they might take advantage of her magic.

"That feather should keep her safe for the time being," Dark added, "she mustn't stay long in our world."

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"I completely have no idea how the rest will react to this," Daisuke muttered while both of them are still in the air, on the way back to their home. Those words were just Daisuke's thought but the way he said it was loud enough for his alter-ego to hear.

"Just trust me on this, Daisuke," Dark confidently responded, "I can handle the entire situation."

"How sure are you, Dark?" said Daisuke with one of his eyebrows raised, "You don't know how sneaky and clever my family can be when they notice something different."

Dark smiled. "I know them long before you were born."

Daisuke pouted inside. He knew that he has little chances of winning over the phantom thief especially when proving his stand. Dark can be more reasonable than him because he has gone through many adventures over centuries and he has more experiences than him. Daisuke would argue about that anymore.

When Daisuke got over it, he resumed their conversation. "So... are you going to tell them about the girl that confronted us earlier?"

"That depends on where the situation will bring us..." Dark replied nonchalantly.

Sooner, the Niwa house came at sight. Dark soared lower and landed carefully in front of their house, folding his wings close. His wings transformed back to their house pet, With, and he jumped to his shoulder.

Since their landing caused the wind to be gusty, there's no need to press the doorbell or knock on the door. Dark didn't want to use the balcony because the Niwas always expect him to come by the front door. The Niwas must have been alerted to their arrival. Dark stretched his arm to reach the door knob and turn it, but before he grabs it, the door flew open, revealing Emiko at sight.

Emiko's eyes dilated at the sight of Dark. She had no idea of what happened but she was surprised by the first time the phantom thief went home like that. There was an awkward tension in the atmosphere.

Though it wasn't his character, Dark started waving his hand in front of her, with a warm smile that resembles Daisuke's smile a lot. "Good evening," he said.

Emiko opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but the words didn't come out. Instead, she pulled the phantom thief inside the house, and slammed the door close.

She let go of her grip on him. She placed her hands on her waist, leaned a bit forward, furrowed her eyebrows, and glinted her eyes, studying him.

Dark blinked and inquired, "What's the matter?"

Emiko stood straight as she composedly asked, "Did you get the Sacred Painting of the Lotus Heel?"

"Yeah, I did," Dark replied, slipping the strapped painting off his shoulder and handing it to her, "Here you go."

Emiko took the painting from his hand and wiped the dust off the painting, revealing the 3D painting of the Lotus Heel that was diligently made stroke by stroke.