Chapter 8

It was a nightmare. Nothing could describe the horror and torture Daisuke was going through. No human could survive it; it was a miracle the redhead was even breathing now. What he had done to deserve this fate was unknown, but it must have been tragic, because no living mortal deserved this punishment. Dark, Krad, and Satoshi were at his house working on a project together! Or more precisely Satoshi and Daisuke were the ones working.

Satoshi made it clear from the beginning he didn't want Krad's help and Dark decided that if Krad didn't have to do anything then neither did he, at least that was the excuse he gave Daisuke. Truthfully the redhead thought Dark wouldn't have helped anyway. So here he was working on his project while Satoshi worked his own.

Daisuke sighed in frustration. What was the point of working in a group if no one helped you, and why'd he let Dark convince him to invite Satoshi and Krad over? He really needed to work on saying no to people.

"Will you two be quiet," Satoshi hissed as he looked up from his laptop and glared at the two trouble makers known as Dark and Krad, who were busy chatting up a storm. "If you two aren't going work then keep it quiet or else leave."

Giving the bluenette a flirtatious smile Krad walked over Satoshi, who was sitting on the couch, and wrapped his arms around the boy's neck. "You know Satoshi-sama, I'd gladly help you with this project, but you told me not to."

Growling Satoshi forcefully unwrapped the blonde's arms from him and pushed the boy away. "As if I'd ever let you touch our project. Maybe you don't care about your grades but I do. Now go away before I make you."

Satoshi's resistance caused Krad to snicker in amusement, but he complied to the bluenette's wishes anyway.

Dark, who was leaning up against the wall, was silently watching Daisuke work on their project while his friend harassed Satoshi. It'd be so easy to pull a prank on the boy right now, but strangely he didn't feel like it just yet. The timing wasn't right, and timing was everything.

"At least your partner is offering you help Satoshi-kun. Dark didn't even look at the paper that told us what the project is about."

Dark's eyebrow twitched. The way Daisuke just talked about him, he didn't like it. The redhead made it sound like he was lazy or something. Clenching his fists Dark pushed off the wall and sat on the floor next to Daisuke and looked over the papers that were spread out for the project.

Beside Dark, Daisuke squeaked in surprise when the older boy sat next to him, causing Dark to smirk. Eyeing Dark suspiciously Daisuke pulled some of the papers he had been reading closer to himself. What's Dark doing? This can't be good. Look, he's even smirking!

As if reading the redhead's thoughts Dark's smirk turned into a friendly smile. "Dai-chan," the nickname made Daisuke blush, and Dark made a mental note of that. "If you really want my help then you should have said something. I would have gladly helped you."

"R-really?" Daisuke asked surprised. Dark sounded sincere, but if his history with Dark meant anything that meant the older boy had something planned.

"Of course Daisuke," Dark said over sweetly, and took some of the papers away from the younger boy. "See, I'm a better partner than Krad."

Oh Dark was in for it now. Krad would not settle for being second best, so ignoring a protesting Satoshi Krad took the laptop away from the bluenette and began looking up information. For a second the blonde lifted his head up from the computer screen to glance at Dark. In that moment the two boys' eyes met and a silent challenge was made.

Without warning Dark stole the remaining papers Daisuke had been reading and started to scan over them and high-light any important facts. Krad's fingers began to type at a speed only someone who had been typing for years could accomplish.

As Satoshi ranted at his blonde partner for stealing his laptop Daisuke sat on the floor in shock. I never knew Dark and Krad were so competitive with each other. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. Carefully formulating a plan in his head Daisuke said, "I think Krad's doing a better job. Look how fast he's typing."

This comment caused Satoshi to glare heatedly at the redhead while it seemed to make the two older teens work harder. The two were constantly stopping every now and then to see what the other was doing, and then increasing their pace of work.

Giving Satoshi a meek grin Daisuke shrugged. He knew the bluenette was furious with him, but at this point he would do anything to get Dark to work. For a moment the bluenette continued to glare but with a frustrated sigh Satoshi moved closer to Krad and read over the blonde's shoulder.

Relieved Daisuke released the breath he didn't know he had been holding. At least Satoshi wasn't too upset with him. Suddenly he was hit with an idea, "Hey guys, I'm going to get some snacks okay?" No one replied, but Daisuke didn't care. They had been working for hours and he was sure all of them were hungry. He knew he was.

Leaving the three teens to work together Daisuke made his way to the kitchen. I wonder what snacks they'd like. Jeez, I don't even know what Krad and Dark would like and they've been at my house before. I'm such a lousy host. Cursing softly under his breath Daisuke opened up one of the cupboards in hopes of finding food, only to have a pie thrown at his face.

"Ah! What the?" Daisuke yelled as he whipped the pie off his face. "What the heck is going on?" As if to answer his question Emiko came running into the room along with Dark, Krad, and Satoshi.

At seeing Daisuke's face covered in pie Krad and Dark burst into a fit of laughter. Satoshi's face remained calm looking, but if you looked closely at his eyes you could see the mirth there. Unlike the three teens however Emiko looked upset, so upset in fact that Daisuke could hear the little alarms in his head going off, telling him to run if he wished to live.

"Daisuke! Were you trying to sneak a snack before dinner?" Emiko scowled at her son. When Daisuke nodded his head her fury seemed to increase. "Daisuke it's only an hour before dinner! You'll ruin it if you have a snack now. I'm sure glad I set that trap up today or else you would be spoiling my wonderful dinner for you right now."

"Mom," Daisuke groaned as he stared helplessly at his mom. Why'd she always have to do things like this? "I was only getting a snack for Dark, Krad, and Satoshi." And myself, but I don't think she'll like it if I tell her that.

"Oh Dark and Krad?" Emiko's mood changed so fast it would give any normal person whiplash. "Well if that's the case then of course you can get them a snack." Running around the kitchen Emiko started grabbing an armload of food, and presented it to Dark and Krad. "I hope you boys like them. It's been a while since I've gone shopping."

"Thanks Mom," Daisuke muttered under his breath, but deep down he didn't feel that grateful. His own mother would give the two people he disliked most food, but wouldn't even let him have the tiniest of food.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself Daisuke went to the sink and began washing the last of the pie off of his face. Once done with that he turned to face the three teens who were looking through the pile of snack foods Emiko had made for them. Smiling he grabbed some of the food and walked back to the living room where the four of them had been studying earlier while shouting over his shoulder, "Come on guys let's take this food and go back to working on that project."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Hours passed and still the four teens were working on the never-ending project. Krad, Dark, and Satoshi had stayed for dinner, and since the bluenette complimented Emiko's cooking the woman now adored him too, which only frustrated Daisuke more. He swore ever since he'd moved to this stupid town his mom had grown to like him less and less each day, or maybe it was just him?

"Hey, are you okay," Dark, who was sitting next to the redhead in the living room, asked.

Daisuke jumped in surprise at the question. Where had that come from? As far as Daisuke knew, Dark hated him, or at least disliked him. Why was the purple haired teen acting so caring? "Yes," Daisuke lied.

Dark frowned at the answer. He had planned to start torturing the younger teen again, but when he looked at the redhead he was surprised to see Daisuke stabbing a piece of paper with his pencil, with a frown spread across his lips and a look of concentration plastered on his face. Before he knew what he was doing he was asking if the redhead was okay, and had received a positive answer, but his gut told him that it was a lie.

Feeling Dark's gaze on him Daisuke shifted uncomfortably and moved his body so he was lying down on his stomach with his head resting on his arms.

"Daisuke?" The redhead heard one of the other teens in the room question.

"I'm just going to take a little nap. I'm tired," Daisuke answered before the actual question was asked. When no one protested he closed his eyes and let the darkness of his mind consume him.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

Emiko glanced at the clock near her bed and frowned. It was a little before midnight and the three teens still hadn't left. Pushing off the covers she stepped out of the bed and made her way out of the bedroom and into the living room.

As she was rounding the corner to the living room she paused and stared at the sight before her. Krad was propped up against the side of the couch and Satoshi had his head resting in the blonde's lap. On the other side of the room Dark lay on top of Daisuke with his arms wrapped around the redhead's waist and face buried in Daisuke shoulder. All of the teens were sleeping peacefully.

Smiling to herself Emiko left the room and came back with a camera and took a few pictures of the cute scene. If only there were more moments like this in life.

X.X.X.X.X.X.