| within the woods with miss kobayashi.

[leopardus]

hello, this is a one x one with miss kobayashi. please no post
ing if you are not them or me, wade wilson, or cs staff .......
( will probably code this later if i don't get too lazy .......... )

[leopardus]

first name yuuto last name sorai gender cismale pronouns he/him age twenty three
sexuality homosexual height 176 cm, or 5'8 build lean-muscled, slender hair dark br
own eye color chestnut voice low and soft + traits: gentle, observant, humble, trus
tworthy - traits: stubborn, fearful, neurotic, resentful ───────────────────

wip

[miss kobayashi]

haru morikita - twenty one - turukhan wolf - w i p

[leopardus]

indentationsomething about this place didn't feel quite right. a neighborhood that merely rests within the woods; quite a while away from any larger town. he could vaguely remember living here, his moments of accomplish, failure, agony and bliss all embedded in this very house as memories of his not so distant past. his aunt and uncle took him in under this house, right after his father was mysteriously killed one night as he ventured through the woods to retrieve something that he lost. yuuto didn't remember exact details on this happening, preferring to keep any fragments of the memory closeted in the depths of his clogged, fear-driven mind. this eventually developed into a phobia, one irrational fear of many, and he made a vow to himself that he'd never ever go deep inside those god-forsaken woods. he'll never learn how to patch up the pain, he'll never learn how to let go the fear that made his head fuzzy at every day's moment when it decides to.

indentationawakening in a cold sweat was not something unusual to him, he'd, in fact, been having these sort of nightmares ever since the day of his father's death──but they've only just become this persistent when he first arrived back to the place. the organ that was hammering against his rib cage, his heart──the holder of his life and physical well-being, made his entire body move forward and back. yuuto stared up at the white, blank ceiling above with a deadpan expression──his entire face looking like a dead man's. he outreached to his bedside table to turn off the alarm that had luckily pulled him from the awful dream that had been created from the fears in his head──it read, 7:30 AM. it was time to get up and be productive. he pulled back his messy, russet bangs that were plastered against his forehead with sticky sweat──if he's this sweaty, he must hurry to his shower.

indentationyuuto hobbled over to the bathroom, flinching at the squeaky hardwood of the floor as he hopped out of his bed with little effort. the red sun had beamed through his grey curtains, the natural light bringing some sort of ease and peace deep in him. once he was in the bathroom, he reached towards the shower's faucet handle and turned it to the middle so that the water would come out warm instead of anything else──he'd learn that this was most necessary since this shower was kind of unstable, he had to learn this the hard way during one morning when the shower's water nearly scalded the skin from off his back. staring at the water that quickly poured from the head, one of his phobias came out to toy with him──if he remembered quite faintly, it was that unpleasant fear of water ... it wasn't that he was scared of drinking it or being around it, but whenever he was around big bodies of water it always made him uneasy. he remembered he almost fell in a pool one summer day, but luckily somewhere was there to save him──but they weren't quick enough to save his mentality. yuuto let out a sigh and shook his head, continuing on.

indentationnow that he was all squeaky clean──skin nearly radiating with cleanliness, he felt a lot more better ... the scary idea of germs crawling over his body and bringing him deadly diseases had now hid away from his conscious and returned to that very deep pit in his mind. it was now a quarter to eight──the reason he took so long was because of that phobia, he wanted to be unsoiled and pristine, not some kind of animal that only bathes like once a week──he feared illness, and apparently most diseases came from poor hygiene ... as he had been told by his auntie a long time ago. maybe she was correct, maybe she was wrong──but it didn't matter now, nothing can get rid of his worries. he did feel bad for letting his fear control his life and preventing him from living in his preferred lifestyle, he really did──but it was hard to rid of these things, once they came they stuck with him and he could never relax knowing that there is something potentially life threatening coming ahead. maybe he could have a normal day today, maybe .. just maybe .. but saying that would oxymoron, his life is always normal and it is not at the same time.

indentationtaking out a random book from the large bookshelf that was near the fireplace in the living room, he flopped down on the couch with little grace and skimmed through the pages ... "the silver wolf" was what it was called, and it was about such an overrated mythical creature ... a werewolf? lycan? he remembered when his uncle first showed him this book, and just one look of the first chapter had made him squeamish and uncomfortable──with him hiding the book someplace that he would never encounter it. yuuto rolled his eyes──he was scared of the most dumbest things back then when he was a child, but those same fears were somewhere in him ... somewhere. apparently it seems that his uncle had managed to find the book and return it to its proper home, even though yuuto hated the book──he still got curious and skimmed through it more, it was almost as if he wanted his fears to nag at him. his uncle ... his aunt ... the thought of them made him shrivel up with woe. their deaths weren't mysterious or anything like his father's, but it did made him feel dejected. his uncle passed away a long time ago, he was a diabetic that never listened to what his doctor told him ... this obviously had a negative affect, he died in his sleep a while back. his aunt passed away from illness, nothing that was chronic and stayed with her, but ... influenza. their deaths brought upon fear just as it brought upon sadness, and when it came, it latched onto him.

indentationyuuto had eventually tossed the book to the side as he quickly became bored, rolling over his side and closing his eyes. he could just lay here all day if he wanted to, but that's not something he wanted to do ... he wanted to go out and explore the town that was only a while away, but the journey there would be tough and anxiety-inducing as his car was old and worn out vintage car from the eighties──seriously though, how did his uncle manage to keep that car for so long? he could've just gotten rid of it but he decided to hand it down to yuuto, thinking that he could find some use with it ... turns out his thinking was wrong, that car was the worst. he would get a new one, but he was trying to keep a hold of his money and save it. the only money he had was some of his self-earned from yard work he used to do and his inheritance money from his uncle and aunt, but even that was only a couple of thousand sums. perhaps he could get a job from the town if he ever gets there someday, maybe he'll have a friend one day to rely on and they can help him out with life──but at this rate and with his mentality, befriending someone would be difficult──his neighbors seemed strange.

indentationhe had sat in that still, soothing silence before the piercing sound of knocking aroused his body's senses and put them into hyper drive. "what the hell?" he muttered to himself as he ran his fingers through his hair, cursing himself for reacting in such a way. slowly and cautiously, he sneaked over to the front door and peeked out of the window. his widened at the tall figure standing at the door with what appeared to be boxes in their hands ... oh, that's right──it was the delivery man, mister morikita haru? he exhaled and counted his breath for a few moments before finally opening the door, putting on a blank expression as if he weren't freaking out a couple of seconds ago. "hello, mister morikita?" he says monotonously, the curves up his lip turning upward as he offered a small smile out of courtesy. he stared at the package in the man's hands before taking in his appearance. in less detail, morikita was completely white ... his skin was pale with a pink tint, his hair was completely white from what appeared to be a genetic defect or something? haru didn't know, maybe he just dyed it that way; his eyes were also clear and white, a rather peculiar eye color──it almost gave him the idea of him being inhuman, but he should stop believing in myths and fables──he was twenty three. yuuto tears his eyes from off of him and stares him in the face once again, "what do we have here?" he inquires questionably as he scratches the back of his neck.

[miss kobayashi]

the window outside displayed a vast array of trees in the dawning woods. haru was in his delivery truck, taking the familiar road down the forest, one hand resting on the wheel while the other was kept comfortably at his side. the air felt warm. he took a deep inhale, nearby smells reaching his nose and telling him a little story about the scenery. no humans were around for a while, but there were several birds in the sky and a nearby doe guarding her fawn. he felt content, if anything, running through his daily schedule of deliveries, among other things.

it was an average truck, besides the occasional dent along the exterior and rust on the bumper it appeared to be in fairly good shape. the text fujji delivery was faded on the right side of the truck, a business he had been working in for a few years now. pay wasn't great──all in all──but they didn't require a background check and could care less if they hired you right off the street. which, in haru's standards, was perfect. it was about this time he would usually turn on his decrepit stereo, to play some music laced with crackling static, that is, if the truck hadn't been broken into and robbed a couple months back. why, of all things, would the perpetrator steal his god-awful stereo was beyond him, let alone the fact that there were plenty of other things in his vehicle that they should've felt much more inclined to steal. well, what's done is done, and his blue-collar job that could barely pass as a low-wage salary couldn't exactly afford him a new stereo. so he was stuck, instead paying attention to the passing scenery, avoiding the eerie familiarity and almost nostalgic vibe the woods passed off. for now, he could label it as nothing more than deja vu, even though haru knew this wasn't the case.

two thick scars traced down his arm, starting at his upper arm and leading to his wrists, a curved cut that looks as if two blades sliced directly down to his forearm. he slipped on his jacket, not really to shelter himself from the cold but to hide his scars to avoid any confrontation on the injuries. haru was in denial, and still is, that those scars are anything less than an accident, so, it would just be easier to pretend they weren't even there.

and there it was. the infamous house haru had hardly come accustomed to. he pulled to the side, setting the gear to park and pulling the key swiftly from the ignition. there was something about this place, rather, about the resident in the house that had took hold of haru's curiosity. he had heard the rumors before, about a mysterious young shut-in, but had been skeptical until he had seen it with his own eyes. it wasn't his job to pry, rather, it was his job to simply deliver the packages from the shipping department to his house, but he couldn't help growing intrigued. haru had gathered what he could on yuuto from his delivery information, ignoring the validity of his actions and the consequences they might bring. yuuto sorai was his full name. he lives alone in this desolate neighborhood with little to no connection to the outside world. he gets occasional shipments of food, clothing, and other supplies deemed necessary to live. a recluse, haru deemed, only a few years older than he was. but that was about all he could get from research.

haru hopped out of the truck, turning around and moving to the back to grab the box. after delicately tucking it under his arm, he shut the back of the truck with a short grunt. before moving towards the house, he adjusted his hat, trying to tuck his hair back so he could at least make an impression without his hair looking as disheveled as it was. if there was anything wrong with his company, it was the uniform──a cheesy navy blue button up complete with a horrible fujji delivery logo, a box with flames to exemplify their 'speedy' delivery──that was probably the worst. not to mention how much the uniform so obviously exhibited his white hair, something he hated to talk about to anyone.

once he had grabbed his clipboard, he made his way to the entrance of the house, pausing for a moment before tapping against the door, taking a step back from the door. he had a few ideas abut this strange yuuto that he was weighing on ever since he was assigned to him. haru had always had someone of a vivid imagination, so it didn't take long for him to think of ideas to why yuuto──who he should've customarily called mister sorai, but didn't bother──was so isolated. one was that he maybe was really into video games or television and just never bothered to go outside. another was that he was actually a crazy person who maybe kidnapped someone and kept them inside. or... maybe... he was hiding from something that was outside. no... could he know...?

before he was able to think any further, the door clicked open to reveal the smaller, hazel-haired customer, whose expression looked as nonchalant as ever. " good morning. " haru greeted, taking a step forwards and offering the package to yuuto. the packaging was plastered with several stickers claiming it was 'fragile', and he didn't bother investing further, assuming it was food or something of the sort. and haru could no longer look into ──or ask──what was inside the packages after an incident that nearly resulted in his termination... among other things.

" new shipment today. and we're starting off with a morning delivery system. " he stated, offering a small smile. his glance at the other slowly drifted to the interior of the house, gazing in curiously for a moment. it was too dark inside to tell what was going on. could yuuto really be hiding something? taking a slight sniff──enough to hopefully not be obvious──he could detect a few scents, but nothing unsettling. except for yuuto.

all humans had a scent. most were distinct, and most families had similar scents besides slight changes to differentiate one from the other. to explain someone's scent was nearly impossible, like trying to explain a color to someone who couldn't see it. the scents of humans were also based on their feelings, which can make it easily to smell, for example, fear or anger. but yuuto didn't have a scent──moreover, was so thickly scented with a non-human smell (what he believed to be soap, water or fragrance), that he couldn't recognize a human smell on yuuto.

[leopardus]

indentationyuuto looked down on the small package in his hands as if it contained something illegal──he was quick to purge the feeling of dread down his throat as he glanced back up at haru, giving him a subtle nod. for a brief moment, he could have indistinctly seen the man slyly peeking into his house, causing for yuuto's heart to jump. what was up with that? was he trying to intrude into his personal business? ── well, he didn't really have business to hide, his life was vacant and desolate──he didn't do much often. the only thing he hid in house were the old, aged photographs of his mother and father, and he was hiding those from himself as they appeared to bring back unwanted memories. he felt bad for doing it, but he didn't want to experience pain whenever he stared into their faces──straight-faced they were . . . just like him, never expression any emotion──sometimes he wondered if they were even human, he could faintly recall seeing his mother smile ... but it was only that one time. did they ever show him any affection or love? not really, and maybe that was why yuuto was the way he was──the only sign of endearment he'd ever experience from anyone was his aunt and uncle, no one else.

indentationturning his attention fully back to haru, yuuto then began to blank out as he openly gaped at the man in his face──his face still blank and seemingly unfriendly now. he couldn't help but wonder what who he was and what more came to him than with him just being his delivery guy. his visage was not the only thing intriguing, not to call him attractive or anything like that, but a man ... with white hair and white eyes? he didn't even look like he was old, clearly young──maybe a few years younger than yuuto himself──and he did not hold any wrinkles and facial deformities that came along with age. he could faintly see something though, a line coming from down his arm and stopping at his wrist ... it was a light pink color, perhaps a scar? the sight of it made him feel unsettled at the story behind it ... maybe he received it when he was little? maybe he fought someone and they ended up scratching up his arm? maybe he has a cat that isn't particularly fond of him and just one day decided to have a go at his arm? it could be either one of those, a simple explanation and nothing more ... but the thought was now lodged into his head, coming up with new clarifications behind his scar. and maybe haru was a criminal, that fijji delivery service did seem sketchy and he did seem to give off a strange aura.

indentationwhen haru was finished speaking his usual lines whenever he delivered to him, he was always quick to close the door behind on him. maybe it was kind of rude for him to do so, he practically slams the door in his face and never really says thank you ... so he decides to actually be mannerly for once. "um, thank you. have a good day . . ." he murmurs, his voice merely dropping an octave as he trails off awkwardly. for some weird reason, yuuto has the annoying urge to actually talk ... he's been like this ever since his first days of arriving back to this small neighborhood, but it would be odd to randomly try to converse with someone ... especially if that someone is supposed to be your deliveryman and nothing else. he does not give in to that need, doing the habitual action of closing the door on his face──though instead of slamming it like he normally does, he closes it slowly──he needed to be polite, he couldn't have deliveryman haru over here attempting to spread rumors about his rudeness.

[miss kobayashi]

haru raised an eyebrow when yuuto responded with a quiet thanks. he hadn't expected a response, rather, he was used to the silence in response after he spoke. but it was oddly satisfying to hear him answer. it was typical for a deliveryman like him to be bombarded with──mainly useless──conversations throughout his day. older women loved talking to him for entirely too long while other worried customers would bother him about quality assurance. and at that point he would always have to explain that he didn't work with the creators of the product, but merely transported them, which probably explained his low pay. he also couldn't accept tips, which made any conversation he had with customers fundamentally useless. still, hearing yuuto thank him for the delivery urged him to continue the small talk, at least for another minute or so. he still didn't know entirely why he was so invested in this customer, perhaps it was because yuuto was one of the only people he delivered to around his age, and he was just hoping to make a friend through meaningless conversation. or, it could be that haru was still interested that someone so young would live alone so deep in the woods. it almost reminded him of...

his thoughts trailed off, at that moment realizing he had took so long to respond that the door was already closing shut. haru flinched, his wrist twisting back and worth into a short and awkward wave. " ah, um, sure. you, too, have a nice── " haru couldn't finish his sentence in time when the door clicked shut. he took in a heavy inhale, letting out a soft huff, his eyes shutting in disapointment. and that was it. " ──day. " he muttered behind the closed door, although now pointless. his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. " right. " almost had quickly as it had happened, his interaction with the mysterious mister sorai had ended, still knowing as little as he did before. he waited for a moment in silence, knowing there wouldn't be a response but still holding onto a twinge of hope. haru lifted his hat, slowly running a hand through his hair before slipping it back on his head. after another second, he turned himself around, tucking his clipboard under his arm and making his way back to the truck.

haru was about ready to hop into the truck, tossing his clipboard into the passenger seat and watching the papers scatter all around. he had forgotten to get yuuto's signature, another new protocol that he knew he would get reprimanded for forgetting, but could accept the scolding──for now. he just wouldn't let yuuto scurry away so quickly next time. haru hoisted himself inside the truck with one arm, abruptly pausing before he had made it inside, his head tilting the other direction. his gray eyes narrowed into slits, staring off into the forest beyond. a scent caught his nose, one far enough away to not identify the figure but close enough to know it was there. the aura presented was suspicious, although he couldn't tell if it was hostile or afraid. and, like nothing had ever happened, he casually took a seat in the truck, putting the key in ignition, ready to leave. he'd check that out later.

[leopardus]

indentationhe observed haru from out the window, pulling the blinds open a bit to see but not to the point of being noticed. yuuto couldn't help but feel a bit troubled when he didn't leave immediately after him shutting the door, gaining random thoughts extracted from his paranoia. oh what the hell, as if this man was murderer, delinquent or . . . whatever. what were the chances of him being a victim of crime? those kind of things only happen more commonly in horror movies, and horror movies were unrealistic. yuuto shook his head, patting at his soft locks as he reassured himself. why would he just be randomly targeted by someone who doesn't even know him well? or did he know him . . . ? yeah, right.

indentationfrom the looks of it, haru seemed disappointed by something . . . yuuto had wondered why, but decided to not think anymore of it as he was filled with many questions and thoughts as it is. he felt sort of relieved when he left, finally able to relax and be his normal self──which was freaking out and hiding within the very walls of this house. yuuto moved away from the window and walked back to the living room to sit on the couch, exhaling deeply as he closed his eyes for a few moments. being in this empty house certainly made him feel lonesome, as if there were no one here in this world for him to communicate with or rely on──and to be honest, there really isn't at this point. yuuto's eyes opened wide and instantly darted towards the glass coffee table, noticing his phone that he had forgotten about last night. he grabbed a hold of it and entered his password which was a complex set of numbers──he couldn't have anyone finding his phone and invading into his privacy, but he really didn't have anything on it . . . he barely had any contacts, the only numbers being the fujji delivery service itself and his aunt and uncle . . . who he obviously couldn't call . . .

indentationlaying in his bored haze as the hours passed by, he fiddled around on his phone──having done nothing productive all day . . . he hadn't opened the package yet, it was currently sitting on one of the counters in the kitchen of the house; he hadn't even eaten anything really aside from an apple and a small bag of chips──but that was because he wasn't really hungry . . . it was usual of him. the house was quiet and silent, the faint noise of the outdoor world muffled──but he grew used to it. when his aunt and uncle were around, the house was much more active and boisterous, but it felt dead . . . its spirit having left entirely just like they did. growing tired of his phone, yuuto quickly fell into a heavy slumber──his mind finally leaving him alone for the moment . . . and surprisingly, the nightmare was not there.

indentationwhen yuuto finally woke, the house was pitch-black and dark. he nearly felt his heart jump up when he was unable to squint and see the faint details of the room, snatching his phone to turn on its flashlight. hopping up from the couch, he turned on one of the lamps which illuminated a dim red light, barely lighting up the entire room and freeing him of the wave of anxiousness that crashed onto him. he trudge over to the front door and flipped on the outdoor light, staring out the window . . . there was nothing there yet that made him uncomfortable . . . his house and his neighbors' were barely even near each other, which made his fear heighten. just as he turned away from the window, a howl rung out through the air from the outside, causing him to stop completely in his tracks──merely petrified. what on earth was that? his heart had began to beat heavily in his chest, but he tried to calm it by taking deep breaths──it didn't help. reluctant, yuuto turned away and ran back and sat down on the couch, grabbing the folded blanket that was on the floor and covering himself beneath just like a scared child would. he sat in the silence, staring at the front door with intensity . . . he didn't hear anymore howling, so he assumed that the animal──perhaps only a stray dog──had left, but he didn't give in so easily. should he get a weapon? the idea was tempting, but nothing happened yet . . .

[miss kobayashi]

deliveries went find for the rest of the day, besides a little shipping incident when haru supposedly mixed up two packages──although he swore he grabbed the correct ones. once the work day was over, as haru had expected, he was chastised for missing the signature, along with a few other delivery mistakes he had made in he past few days. he was used to this type of berating──the owner was a fatherly man, and had considered himself an important authority for haru──considering how young he was. it was something that he didn't ask for but received anyways, and after a light scolding he could leave. haru obliged, apathetically thanking his boss for the modest punishment, and heading out the door. he figured after making some dinner──hopefully not microwave again──he could go to bed and get an early start tomorrow. that was the plan.

-

there was a beast in the forest. a sort of beast that could be recognizable to the eye, but still predominately unfamiliar. although the night was cold, and the wind pushed against the trees forming a chilly and unexpected breeze, the beast wasn't cold, nor phased by the coming winter, or afraid of any of the creatures that resided in the forest. and although their footsteps were light, so delicate against the ground as if to not make a sound, their size far surpassed anything that was in those woods. long, slender legs connected to a heavy, dark white and shaggy body, but the sky too dark to make out the figure as a whole. besides it's inexplicable size, one that made this creature stand out were it's fiercely reddened eyes, tinted with gray, both orbs most resembling what looked like a opalescent moon surrounded by a sky of deep crimson.

the beast slowly tread through the trees, head dipped forward and walking so surely in a direction that it almost seemed that this beast knew exactly where they were going. every now and then, they would pause, jolting up, head perked and cautiously observant. they would wait... wait... wait, and then continue moving in that same direction. the forest kept completely silent, as if any noise would disturb the presence of the creature.

most beasts were well-renowned because they wouldn't do well hiding in the world, finding it to be too small of a place to stay secretive. as a result, many were easily found, some captured and others killed. some believed that these monsters were a menace, something that would roam the forest searching for nothing but a quenchless thirst for bloodlust. others thought it to be the exact opposite, praising these creatures and deeming them the guardians of the forest and the spirits of nature. however, no one knew the true essence of what these beasts were and why exactly they existed. since there wasn't a viable explanation to why they were here, many people labeled them as fake, as fable, nothing more than stories to tell children. and soon, they became nothing more than a simple myth.

after a short travel, a scent that had caught the creature's nose a while back grew stronger and stronger. they could sense the hostility that the scent presented, a broad and heavy smell that only grew with the more steps the beast took. so they stopped in their tracks, eyes staring farther down the path and the scent continued to grow stronger. a heavy rumble escaped the beast's throat, lips curving into a threatening snarl. in an instant, the beast tilted their head towards the sky, the low growl ascending into a loud bay into the night sky. it was a warning howl, and the beast could already tell the hostile presence back away as the scent began to fade.

it seemed that was all it took for the beast to be satisfied with their work, and they promptly turned from their standing point, before something different caught their attention. a light could be made out, illuminating the window of a house in the distance. the beast set towards it, like a moth being drawn to a light. who could be up at such an hour? it was almost as if they were wondering that as they made their way towards the house, soon only a few yards away from the entrance. the beast kept still, eyes unblinking like a stature as they stared into the window, as if they were familiar with it's appearance.

[leopardus]

indentationin the dim light, yuuto had continued to stare onward at the door──body shaking and pulse quivering. after the howl that rang through the air, he couldn't hear anything else afterwards, only the faint noises of the forest trees shivering and the wind whistling sharply. after some moments of silence, at that very moment, yuuto's body relaxed and he pulled the soft, woolly blanket from over his head and shuddering briefly as the cool air of his house kissed at his light skin. as much as he wanted to take the blanket back and curl up in it, he felt the strange urge to check his surroundings, protect his home . . . and he was about to do just that, springing up from the couch's cushion that aerated as his weight was lifted from it. he decided to head to the back door, sneaking over to it as the wooden planks that made up the flooring squeaked beneath his feet.

indentationglancing out the window, he instantly came face-to-face with pure darkness. he looked over at the light switch and noticed that it was already on . . . but was the light perhaps broken? yuuto sucked his teeth, moving away. he'll need more light bulbs, maybe he'll call in tomorrow morning and buy some more──he definitely couldn't live without light. his hand moved towards the door knob with intent of opening it, a bizarre choice of option for someone like himself to be honest, but he needed to check . . . and it'd only really be crack. the door squeaked rather loudly when opened, he cringed at the unpleasant sound it gave off but continued on with the process anyway. pulling his phone from his pants pocket, yuuto turned on the flashlight once more and faced it towards the outdoor world ahead of him . . . nothing, he saw nothing──the only thing he could make out within the night were the tall forms of the wild pine trees and usual bushes and plants. up in the night sky, it was an obsidian black . . . like ink, very much like ink──the full opaline moon floated high up, its faint moonlight brightening the world only a tad bit. there was nothing abnormal yuuto concluded before shutting the door quietly.

indentationyuuto's hands down to his sides as he stared at the floor, slight relief flooding his blood stream. there's nothing there, there's nothing there. the howl he had heard a few minutes ago was perhaps a product of his mind, nothing more than an hallucination──nothing but a mere illusion. he pinched the bridge of his nose before turning around and heading back to the living room. his attention then went back to the front door, its outline faintly visible a couple of feet away. yuuto chose not to sit back down, instead, he strode on over to check the premises of his house once again──peeking out of the window. what he saw out there was not what he expected . . . it was not the dark sky, but the amber irises of a beastly creature's face . . . completely horrified and silence by his heightening dismay, he recoiled from the window instantaneously and took a couple of steps back. just that sight was enough to make him edge onto having a full-on heart attack. though after seeing that, it clearly was not enough for him──he may have been terror-struck at the minute, he proceeded to the front door and after a few seconds, he turned the knob . . .

indentationhe could see more clearly out this way, the outdoor light brightening every object out there──he could see the stony pavement of the driveway and road in the short distance, the large flowering dogwood tree in the front of his house blocking his view only a little. there was nothing over here, but he knew that some animal was roaming near his house and he couldn't have that. with a strange sense of bravery, yuuto took one step out onto the porch and then another before he stumbled down the three cobblestone stairs of the porch. he could make out an long object leaning against the wood of his house, squinting more he noticed that it was the old, rusting rake that his uncle used to use to get pile the autumn leaves that fell heavily from the trees during the fall . . . it was not only perfect for that job, but he could potentially use it as a weapon and intimidate that animal into leaving his home──he snatched it and held it, it shook slightly as he did. once finding his weapon of choice, he headed over to the side of his house to investigate where the animal had been looking in from.

indentationignoring the shaking feeling of his physique, he slowly ambled his way over to the side, trying to limit the sound of his feet crunching the grass and leaves on the ground . . . his foot made contact to a pine cone, stepping on it let out a overly loud sound and made him draw back with a sharp pain; he wouldn't be surprised if the bottom of his foot was bleeding, he entirely forgot to put on his shoes, but they were worn out anyway so there wouldn't be a major benefit──he just hoped it wouldn't get infected from all the germs the dirt and mud carried . . . the thought made him shudder once more, but that was not something to focus on──he ignored his fears for the moment. yuuto had lifted the rake up a bit so that it would not drag against the ground, it would have eliminated the element of sneaking . . . he desperately needed to keep quiet or his life may potentially be at risk to whatever this animal was . . . it probably was nothing, but that didn't make him turn away.

indentationonce he finally made it to the side of the house, he let the rake fall to the ground silently as he rushed to get his phone from his pocket as the darkness engulfed him once again. he couldn't see anything like this, and he was terrified of what he'd get to see . . . yuuto's finger trembled over the flashlight button before he finally pressed it, the light shining out brightly. his heart had jumped when the light hit something and cast a shadow against the house, the sight made him drop his phone as he froze in fear. it was a dog . . . was it? the creature had the form of a dog; its ears were pointed sharply, its silky pelt seemingly once the color of snow as it slightly stuck out in random directions with mud and dirt caked from its paws all the way up to its mid legs . . . if it were a dog, why was it so tall and burly? it probably wasn't a dog but a . . . no──no, a shaky gasp escaped him as he took a step back from the creature with his rake raised in his hand, the beast's attention was now turned to him──its amber irises the color of gold staring back at him with such a ferocity that he couldn't match. a wolf──was it a wolf? weren't wolf encounters . . . rare? why was it here? why was it staring into his house like that? so many questions bombarded him, but his head eventually grew fuzzy staring into the eyes of this canine. it slowly took a step towards him, making him flinch and charge his rake at it . . . but it didn't move, it didn't even flinch. he though that it would run away and retreat back to wherever it came from, but it continued to stare at him──making his heart and brain rattle more . . . what was he even doing? he needed to run back . . . but he only stared back at the canine──his legs were lodged into place . . .