A/N
Second drabble/short story out of forty. Whoot. And, it seems that Yuno's just.. not here in this one. Story just flows better with her absence. Let's assume she's waiting with mother, yeah? Review if you wish, but most of all, enjoy.
xoxos
- dare (dair)
- noun
A challenge, especially to prove courage.
...
The sun was dropping low over the horizon, noting the end of the day and night just beginning. The dusk was filled with scattered clouds, and the park darkened along with the rest of Sakurami city. The grass flowed with the breeze, the air a comfort on the warm summer day. The noise from the main streets were dulled as the group of teenagers hung about the playground, the mischievous laughter of young hearts filling the lull. Four adolescents chatted about this and that, enjoying their time with one another.
"I bet you won't."
Kousaka sneered at Yukiteru, the latter's expression indecisive. Kousaka had decided to challenge Yukiteru's courage. Hinata and Mao laughed from the park bench at Yukiteru's scarlet cheeks, his anxiousness endearing.
Yukiteru's brows furrowed in frustration. He was being mocked once again, and he would not stand for it! "I will. I mean, it's not a big thing, right?" Yukiteru tried his best to look brave. He glanced over to the woods inconspicuously; Kousaka had just dared him to walk through the woods until he saw a tree that had his name written. Apparently, Kousaka had planned this from before they even came to the park. Yukiteru was suspicious of what the ulterior motive was, but after a moment he realized Kousaka may have just wished to frighten him. His paranoia seemed to be getting the better of him.
Kousaka snickered, "You sure? You look scared."
Yukiteru glowered, not liking the taunting. He flipped open his phone, reading nothing suspicious in it. There was no reason to be afraid then, right?
He snapped his phone closed. "I'm sure."
Kousaka gave a condescending smile, motioning his arms to the woods, "Go on then."
Hinata looked slightly concerned, "Amano, you don't have to."
Yukiteru gave an honest smile, lifting up his phone and shaking it in her direction, "It's fine, Hinata."
The phone at that exact moment went Bzzzt, indicating a change. Panicked, Yukiteru flipped it open. He looked through it all, first noting there was no cursed 'Dead End' listed.
8:27 PM [Sakurami Park]
Kousaka jumped out of the woods in an attempt to scare me.
Yukiteru gave Kousaka a blank stare, "You just made that decision?"
Kousaka groaned. When he realized that Yukiteru's diary said everything was fine, he thought he'd be able to sneak up and scare the kid. But, apparently, he made the decision much too soon. Yukiteru beamed, "I'm off! I'll mail Hinata when I make it to the tree."
Hinata grinned in response, "I'll be waiting."
Yukiteru headed towards the trees, the night having grown later causing the wooded area to seem eerily darker. He held his phone up as a light, allowing it to guide his path. He stepped over sticks and stones, hopping over a fallen branch and looking at each tree he passed to see if it was the one. Yukiteru looked at his phone, it stating that the tree would be about quarter of a mile in.
"Yukiteru-kun."
Yukiteru stiffened, pulling his phone close to his chest as an automatic response of self-preservation and swiveled towards the voice. He relaxed and exhaled heavily, his heart racing. "Akise-kun." he breathed. His relief was tangible, causing Akise to laugh.
"I'm sorry for startling you, Yukiteru-kun." he said, an honest smile playing on his face.
"It's fine. What are you doing out here?"
Akise placed a finger on his chin, looking up, "Amusing myself, I suppose?"
Yukiteru gave him a puzzled look. His lips turned up, disregarding it as another mystery of Akise. "Why aren't you with our friends at the park?" he asked.
Akise looked back at Yukiteru. "I was busy when they asked."
"Are you still busy? Since you're just standing here. You could join us now." the brunette offered.
Akise gave a soft smile, pleased. "I'm enjoying just standing here."
Yukiteru knew Akise was an enigma, but it was times like these, when Akise was simply smiling at him and his words were filled with inscrutable meanings, that he couldn't understand what Akise was truly thinking.
Suddenly, there was a billowing shout of Yukiteru's name. Yukiteru screamed loudly, shoving his phone in his pocket and jumping towards Akise. The detective's heart thumped strongly, catching Yukiteru's shaking figure in his arms.
Kousaka jumped out from behind a tree with frenzied, hysterical laughter. Yukiteru's horrified gaze transformed, irritation replacing fear. He glared at Kousaka as the boy attempted to tease Yukiteru through his heaves of laughter. Yukiteru relaxed once more, only then realizing the arms wrapped protectively around his waist. His face flamed, a blush tinting his red face an adorable colour.
He staggered away from Akise, embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry, Akise-kun. I didn't mean to."
Akise registered Yukiteru's bashfulness and smiled calmly. His heart calmed down slowly, and he chuckled. "It's absolutely fine, Yukiteru-kun. I'm happy to help."
