Chapter 10

Dark couldn't keep his eyes off Daisuke. Ever since talking to Krad he'd been staring at the red head as if just staring would give him the answers to all of his questions. He knew Krad was watching him and getting some sick joy out of his confusion, which made Dark want to pummel the blonde, but he didn't want to scare off Daisuke.

Damn it! Now I actually care about his reactions to what I do. What's happening to me? I didn't care about him before, but now I find myself second-guessing myself. Dark scolded himself mentally. He had never been so infuriated in his life. If Krad hadn't said anything then he'd be fine right now, but because of his so-called friend his mind was filled with nothing but Daisuke!

"Uh Dark?"

"Hmm." Coming out of his thoughts he noticed Daisuke standing in front of him with a worried look on his face making him look extra cute. I wonder if he's worried about me, or if he's worried about what I might do to him? As much as Dark tried to deny it a strong part of him hoped for the first.

Smiling Daisuke pointed off to the side. Following the redhead's finger Dark's eyes landed on the hellhole known as school. "We're here," Daisuke announced cheerfully.

"Oh," Dark was at a loss of words. He'd never seen Daisuke give him a true smile like the boy just did. It was so radiant and beautiful, especially with the way Daisuke's eyes lit up.

"Honestly Dark, you amaze me with how much lack of attention you have," Satoshi mumbled under his breath as he walked into the building leaving a steaming Dark behind.

Chuckling Krad followed the bluenette. "I think I'll leave you two love birds alone."

Scowling Dark gave the two disappearing teens the one finger salute. Once the two were completely out of sight he dared to glance at Daisuke to see how Krad's comment had affected him. Dark was pleased to see the redhead's face tinted with the most brilliant shade of red he had ever seen.

"Uh shouldn't we go to class now?" Daisuke stumbled over his words. Normally Krad's words would have had zero affect on him, okay maybe a little affect, but not much, but snippets of what had happened that morning filled Daisuke's mind making the situation worse.

Giving the redhead his famous smirk Dark took a step to the door and without so much as a thought he pushed the door open and held it open for Daisuke.

"T-Thank you?" Daisuke couldn't stop his stuttering. Why was Dark being nice to him? Didn't Dark despise him? Maybe Dark was planning something that would humiliate him. Warily Daisuke forced his feet to move forward and into the school, he kept a watchful eye on Dark, but the older teen did nothing. Dark simply held the door open and then followed Daisuke inside.

Smiling mentally to himself Dark came to a decision. I'll flirt with Daisuke for the day and see how things turn out. If I really do like him then there's no harm in doing that is there?

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

"OH DAISUKE! DARK!" Yume shouted as the two boys entered the classroom together. "I MUST TELL YOU TWO! YOUY KNOW IN YOUR OTHER CLASS HOW I ASSIGNED YOU PROJECTS?" Before Dark or Daisuke could answer Yume went back to talking about their projects. "I DECIDED NOT TO GRADE THEM AND INSTEAD HAVE A FREE PERIOD TODAY!"

Daisuke could feel a vein in his forehead throb. He had to put up with Dark and Krad all night because of a stupid last minute project and this mock of a teacher had decided to cancel it! Why didn't someone just shoot him in the head and be done with it!

"Alright that's awesome!" Dark said in a excited voice. If he played his cards right then he could make this situation even better. "You know what would be even better Yume? Besides having this class be a free period, let's also let everyone switch seats!"

Yume's eyes sparkled at the idea. "Oh Dark, what a marvelous idea! EVERYONE! YOU CAN SIT WHERE YOU WANT TODAY AND DO AS YOU PLEASE!"

Cheers erupted from most of the students but some who were like Daisuke and Satoshi groaned and shook their heads in disbelief. What was the world coming to? And where did Yume get her teaching credentials? Clown College? Hyper People United? An asylum?

"Come on Dai-chan!"

"W-what?" Daisuke sputtered. Had Dark called him "Dai-chan?" However, before he could ponder this question, Dark grabbed onto his wrist and pulled the little red head in the direction of two empty desks next to each other. "Wait! Wait!" Daisuke cried out in shock, trying desperately to rip his wrist out of Dark's steel like grip. "I sit behind Satoshi!"

"Not today!" Dark declared swinging Daisuke into one of the empty seats, knocking the air out of the younger teen. "Today you sit next to me!"

"Oh and what about me? I always sit next to you Dark, or have you forgotten me?" Krad spoke in a venomous voice, causing Daisuke to squeak in surprise, but if you looked closely you could see his golden eyes shining with amusement.

Huffing in annoyance Dark placed one hand on his hip and the other over his chin, as if he were pondering over a certain matter. "Well then I guess Daisuke and I will just have to share a seat."

"Wha? No!" Daisuke screamed in terror, but before he could escape Dark managed to wrap his arms around Daisuke's waist, lift the redhead off the seat, then sit on it himself, and then place Daisuke in his lap. Warmth settled over Dark. He couldn't understand it but it felt nice to hold Daisuke close and as the scent of strawberries assaulted Dark's senses he found himself fighting the urge to bury his head in Daisuke's hair.

"Once again I feel left out," Krad spoke in a sullen voice. "Dark gets to have someone sit on his lap, why can't I?"

Because you're psycho! Daisuke's mind screamed. Granted Dark was psycho too, but Dark was also more forceful at times and that was the real reason why Daisuke was now stuck sitting in one of his tormentor's lap.

"Hmm, maybe you could get Satoshi?" Dark suggested teasingly to his friend, not expecting the blonde to actually take his advice.

A devious smile formed on Krad's face and before anyone could blink he was at the bluenette's side, pestering Satoshi to sit in his lap.

Something loud echoed in Daisuke's ears and something vibrated against his back. Turning his head in the direction of the sound he saw Dark laughing like a maniac. The purple haired teen's eyes shining with mirth and his mouth curving into a sincere smile and then erupting into fits of laughter again as Krad pushed Satoshi off of his chair. The sight was strangely beautiful.

Too bad Dark has such a bad attitude though, Daisuke thought.

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

"Everyone take our a sheet of paper. You'll be taking notes on this video about matter."

The classroom filled with groans and pleas to not have to take notes. Dark and Daisuke sat next to each other in chemistry, the one class they both hated, but for different reasons. While Dark just flat out hated chemistry, Daisuke loathed the teacher, who made them take notes everyday and didn't know how to schedule things properly.

With a glare from the teacher all the students went silent and took out sheets of paper. "Also I will be collecting these notes after the video and I will grade them."

"What's the point of taking notes if she's just going to take them away?" Daisuke muttered indignantly under his breath.

"Because she loves to torture us," Dark replied back in a hush voice.

The video started and five minutes into it Daisuke moaned in pure annoyance. "I already know this stuff!" He whispered harshly to Dark.

Shrugging Dark took random notes. Normally he would just blow off the whole thing but since the teacher was looking over at him every thirty seconds he wrote down whatever he heard, not even bothering to look up at the screen.

Sighing Daisuke rubbed his shoulder, trying to loosen up some of the sore muscles there, but failed. He was so bored and he could feel his eyelids growing heavier by the second. What he would give just to rest his head and fall asleep. Unconsciously Daisuke leaned on Dark and rested his head on the older boy's shoulder.

Dark stiffened. This wasn't supposed to happen! He was supposed to be the one making moves on Daisuke, and making the red head feel nervous and embarrassed. Not the other way around! "Daisuke, what are you doing?" Dark hissed between clenched teeth, his grip on his pencil tightening.

"I'm bored and tired," Daisuke whined while burying his head deeper into Dark's shoulder.

Blushing ten shades Dark gulped down his embarrassment. Never had he ever felt this way before. Maybe Krad really had been right all along. Maybe he did like Daisuke as more than a friend.

When the video stopped playing and the lights were turned back on Daisuke pulled away from Dark with a yawn and stretched his limbs.

Dark's heart constricted at the sudden loss of warmth. Damn it! I'm really falling for him!

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

Apprehension made Daisuke drag his feet as he walked home that day. He couldn't explain it but Daisuke had a feeling something horrible was going to happen today when he got home. Call it intuition, but his gut felt strangely tight and he couldn't sit still for a moment.

As Daisuke walked up to the house he forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down. No point in letting his mom see his worry. Reaching out he placed his hand on the cool metal surface of the doorknob and wordlessly opened the door.

Glancing around the entrance of the house Daisuke felt a smile of relief tug on his lips when he found no signs of danger, until he saw an extra pair of shoes sitting in front of the door. Frowning Daisuke closed the door and ventured further into the house.

"Daisuke!" his mother called from another room.

Following his mother's voice Daisuke ran in its direction. "Yeah Mom?"

"Come here!"

In a matter of seconds Daisuke was in the room. His mother was sitting comfortably on the couch, but next to her was a man with dark brown hair that had spikes similar to Daisuke's.

"Look Daisuke! You're father has finally come to visit us!"

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

Dark walked the quiet streets alone. No clouds covered the pitch-black night sky tonight. The stars twinkled like gems and the full moon shone brightly. Some would call it a night for lovers, but Dark didn't think anything of it. He needed time to clear his head. The idea of flirting with Daisuke had seemed fun, but the thought of actually liking the guy scared Dark like nothing else. Never had he felt such intense feelings before that it now made him feel as if he were drowning and there was no one to save him.

How did I go from bullying the kid to liking him and wanting to possibly date him? Krad's words flashed in Dark's head, answering his question.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that little boys pick on the ones the love?"

Shaking his head rapidly Dark tried his hardest to deny what his head was telling him was true. He didn't pick on Daisuke because he liked the boy; that would be immature. He did it because the boy was weak and so easy to fluster. Though Dark had to admit there were times when he was teasing Daisuke and the red head would ignore him, which for unknown reasons angered him.

Dark gave a tiny laugh. It was funny. One day he thought he hated Daisuke and the next he was thinking about what it would be like to date the guy. Life sure liked to mess with people's minds.

Kicking a stone near his feet Dark looked up from the street the first time that night and saw Daisuke's house in front of him. Sneering Dark cursed in his head. Why did he walk here of all places? Why couldn't he have walked to the park instead?

Sighing in frustration he eyed the house only to notice that Daisuke's room was the only one with a light on. Strange, Dark thought and looked at his watch. Two o' clock in the morning, what's Daisuke doing up this late?

Wordlessly Dark walked up to the house and climbed up its side until he was at Daisuke's window.

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

Daisuke's room was filled with soft music as he painted. He couldn't sleep. His father was back and it had him on edge. He hadn't seen his father for the longest time. His father was always traveling and rarely came home for a visit and when he did it was usually short, but now his father was planning on staying for months, maybe years. The thought was just too much for Daisuke to handle.

A tap on his window caught Daisuke's attention. Turning his head in the direction of the window the red head felt his heart jump out of his chest. "Dark!" Daisuke spoke in a harsh whisper. Jumping up from his seat he ran over to the window and opened it up only to stare into deep inquiring amethyst eyes. "What are you doing here Dark?"

Pushing Daisuke out of his way Dark shoved his way into the room and took a seat on Daisuke's bed. Feigning disinterest Dark voiced his own question. "Why are you up so late?"

"None of your business!" Daisuke snapped. Scowling he folded his arms over his chest trying to intimidate Dark, but the older boy remained unfazed. "I just couldn't sleep."

"Why?"

"Get out!"

"Tell me why you can't sleep then!"

"Why do you care?"

"Because-" Dark started but cut himself off. Why did he care about Daisuke? The boy had never done anything for him. "Think of it as me making up for the rat poison thing."

Huffing Daisuke took a seat next to Dark on the bed. "Well you don't have too. Now leave."

"Just tell me."

"No."

"Fine, then I'll just stay the night." with that said Dark fell onto his back and closed his eyes.

"Get off my bed!"

"Make me."

Growling with annoyance Daisuke did the only thing he could think of, he pushed Dark in the side, but the older boy remained motionless. Scowling in frustration he pushed Dark's side again, but again nothing happen. Finally he laid down on the bed next to Dark and tried using his body weight to push him off.

Dark burst out laughing at Daisuke's futile attempts. "You're too light to push me!"

"Or maybe you're fat!" Daisuke rebuked.

"Hey!" Turning over in the bed Dark pinned the red head beneath him. "I am not fat! Don't blame me for the fact that you're weak."

"Oh Shut it!" Daisuke shouted, his eyes closing and his body going limp. "I'm-" Daisuke yawned, "tired now."

Dark went silent. He didn't move, didn't breath as he watched Daisuke fall asleep. I guess he just needed to take his mind off something.

Looking around the room quickly for any signs of someone possibly finding out he was there Dark let himself relax and a fall asleep when he felt it was safe enough.

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