"Akimi! Amaya is downstairs waiting for you!" called out Mrs. Tomiko to her daughter. Akimi smiled happily, quickly tying her long maroon hair up in a ponytail, then ran downstairs to greet her friend Amaya Keito.
"Bye mother! I'll see you after school," she called out as she and Amaya headed out the door.
"Mrs. Tomiko smiled, watching her daughter through a window. 'That girl, she is always full of surprises,' she thought. She laughed, remembering the past when she and her best friend Sakura, now Mrs. Keito, walked to school together. Now both families had become the best of friends and moved around together often. Both very wealthy and generous. Their daughters had also grown up together.
Akimi Tomiko, age eighteen, walked alongside her friend on the sidewalk, her maroon eyes glowing with excitement. She was a beautiful young lady with long maroon hair, dazzling maroon eyes that were so strange but breathtaking. Like her family, she was kind to many people.
Amaya Keito, who was the same age as her friend, had long black brown hair and hazel eyes. She too was very pretty and kind. She suddenly began to speak. "Akimi, I'm so excited! It's our first day at school! I'm so nervous too."
"Don't be! I'm sure there is nothing to be nervous about," Akimi assured her friend as they approached the school. There, they saw many boys running around laughing and a few girls gossiping about their teachers in a corner. Akimi took one look at this, then quickly dragged Amaya into the tall grey building.
"There is nothing to be nervous about huh?" stated Amaya. She glared at her.
"I guess I was a little nervous," admitted Akimi while beginning to walk down the hall. Suddenly, she ran in to someone at the corner. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" she stopped all of a sudden. Her eyes met emerald green orbs. Before her stood a boy who had long red hair and green eyes that looked at her kindly. Suddenly, Amaya's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Akimi, are you alright?" Akimi, now fully aware of what was going on, gasped.
"I'm sorry! I'm very sorry!" she blurted out. The stranger smiled and bowed politely. Akimi's hand flew to the tear shaped ruby that she wore around her neck, blushing furiously. She then began to notice heat emitting from the stone. 'Why is it glowing? Could it be?' she thought. She then turned her attention back to the handsome stranger who now looked at her.
He smiled, then spoke. "Its quite alright miss," he informed. Akimi blushed again, then quickly turned her head trying to hide it from him.
"Akimi is quite shy around boys. She doesn't know how to react sometimes," stated Amaya, smirking at her friend.
"That's not true!" argued Akimi. The boy smiled at them.
"It's a pleasure to meet the two of you. My name is Shuichi Minamino," spoke the boy. "You must be the two new students. Come, I'll take you to get your schedules." He then headed down the hall.
Akimi walked beside him while Amaya followed from behind. "Thank you so much Shuichi," Akimi murmured, blushing once more. Her eyes looked downward. Shuichi glanced out of the corner of his eye and smiled.
Later, Akimi walked to her classroom. She stopped in front of the door and sighed. Then carefully, she slid it open and stepped inside. In that room stood a young woman with blue hair and brown eyes teaching a class full of students. The woman suddenly stopped talking and looked at her. Everything suddenly fell silent. All eyes turned to her.
Akimi shifted her feet uncomfortably, then made her way towards the woman. The woman smiled. "You must be Akimi," she stated. "I'm Sensei Sora, pleased to meet you and welcome to our school."
Akimi smiled, "Pleased to meet you as well," she said. Sensei Sora suddenly looked at her silent class. Akimi then noticed many people staring at her. She quickly looked down at the ground.
"Everyone, this is Akimi Tomiko. She is our new student. I expect everyone to make her feel comfortable at this school. Now, is there an empty seat anywhere?" asked Sensei Sora.
A hand in the back of the class rose. Akimi's eyes wandered there, her eyes suddenly widened in shock. She gasped. There sat Shuichi. He smiled at her and nodded. Sensei Sora then directed her to her new seat.
After sitting down, she turned her head towards him then quickly turned away when she saw him looking at her. "You didn't know I was in your class, did you?" he whispered to her. Akimi shook her head and glared at him, which made him chuckle again. "Don't worry, I'm not a stalker." Akimi relaxed, then turned her attention to the lesson.
Little did she know, there were two pairs of eyes on her. One glared at her out of jealousy. The other was filled with lust. Shuichi noticed this and quickly placed his hand over hers. Akimi looked at him, her eyes full of confusion. He smiled and shook his head as if saying there was nothing wrong.
During lunch, Akimi met up with Amaya, then she and her friend went to sit under a tree. "Wow, this school is amazing!" declared Amaya. Akimi laughed cheerfully and continued to until a shadow came over them.
Before them, stood a girl with long light brown hair and dark blue eyes. Beside her stood two other girls. "You! The one with the abnormal hair color! Come here!" she ordered. This caught many peoples' attention.
Akimi rose to her feet and glared at the other girl. Suddenly, Shuichi was beside her. "Miyako, you aren't supposed to treat new students with disrespect," he said calmly, his eyes firm. Miyako's hard expression suddenly changed from cruel to sweet.
"I know Shuichi darling, but I need to talk to her about some important business," she said in a sing-song voice.
"I'm not your darling," growled Shuichi. Akimi gently tapped him on the shoulder. He looked at her. She smiled and shook her head telling him not to get involved. She then stepped forward to face Miyako.
"Whatever it is you need to talk to me about, I'm sure you can say it in front of everyone," insisted Akimi. Her calm eyes sparkled. Everyone murmured in agreement. This made Miyako's face turn red with fury and embarrassment. Beside her, her two friends shook their heads with disappointment. Miyako glared at the defiant girl before her. A new girl had dared to speak to her, the most popular girl in school, like that.
"I want you to stay away from Shuichi you evil witch!" she demanded, still full of anger. In a flash, Shuichi stood in front of Akimi staring coldly at Miyako.
"That's enough Miyako. I don't want to hear another word from you. You don't just tell people what to do. Its very rude," he spoke. His eyes flickered with rage. Akimi looked at him in surprise, but stayed silent. Miyako on the other hand ran followed by her friends. Shuichi then turned back to Akimi, his eyes softening. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine thanks to you. I appreciate what you did," she bowed to him and smiled. Shuichi suddenly began to blush.
"Radiant and hazardous! Now that's a woman," interrupted a voice. Akimi turned to find a boy with raven black hair and cold black eyes grinning at her. Shuichi's eyes suddenly hardened once more.
"What brings you here Ryoushin?" he asked coldly, his eyes full of hatred. Akimi became startled at the change in tone. She looked up at Shuichi in wonder.
The other students crowded around them full of curiosity. Amaya noticed this and glared at them, which made them run off. Amaya then turned her attention back to her friend and the two boys.
"What's the matter Shuichi? Have you lost your common sense? Can't a guy check out the hot new girl?" taunted Ryoushin. Shuichi clenched his fist, his expression still full of fury.
"Shuichi, please, don't do anything you might regret later on," pleaded Akimi trying to pull him away. Shuichi put his hand over hers, which stopped her. She glanced up at him fearfully.
"I won't have you make her one of your play toys Ryoushin. You stay away from her or I'll make sure you get arrested," warned Shuichi. Ryoushin glared at him, then smirked at Akimi.
"Oh, I see how it is. Shuichi has a crush! Whatever, as if I'm going to listen to you. See you later gorgeous," he said to Akimi, winking, then left. Akimi watched him leave, her eyes full of disapproval. She looked at Shuichi.
"A player?" she asked quietly.
"Worse, a troublemaker who dates thirty girls at once, gets them pregnant and leaves them after a week or two, but he is still well known. Stay away from him okay?" Shuichi suddenly looked deep into her maroon eyes. She smiled.
Amaya suddenly interrupted them with a small cough, which made them spring apart and blush. She smiled at Akimi knowingly then signaled her friend that it was time to get to class.
At the end of school, Shuichi stood at the entrance of the school, waiting for Akimi. He spotted her walking with Amaya and a group of girls, chatting with them. He smiled and walked over to them.
"Oh my gosh! Its Shuichi!" screamed the girls that surrounded Akimi and Amaya. They suddenly fainted from excitement.
"Mai, Yumi, Aya, Ran, Saki, are you alright?" asked a very confused Amaya. Akimi laughed pleasantly, then turned her gaze to Shuichi.
"You are very popular with the ladies here," stated Akimi. He chuckled at this.
"Do you need a ride home?" he asked. Akimi looked at him in surprise.
"No, Amaya and I live only a few blocks from here. Besides, I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble," she said.
"Its no trouble at all. I insist. Ryoushin might do something harmful to you if I just let you walk," he explained. Akimi smiled at him and nodded.
"Yo Shuichi! Can I have a word?" called out a voice. Shuichi turned to see a boy with black hair, slicked back, and brown eyes, who seemed a little younger than him.
"Excuse me," said Shuichi bowing to Akimi, then walked over to the boy. Akimi watched him, looking very puzzled. Amaya on the other hand went over beside her after having to help their friends get up. She looked at Akimi with an expression full of question.
"Yusuke, what is it?" whispered Shuichi. Yusuke looked at his friend, his face full of concern.
"Kurama, there is something I need to tell you," said Yusuke.
"Yusuke, you aren't supposed to use my real name in public," spoke Shuichi. Yusuke sighed.
"Kurama, who are those girls?" asked Yusuke urgently. Kurama looked at his friend in suspicion.
"They're new friends of mine. Why do you ask?"
"I don't trust them. They're hiding something. I'm thinking they are spies. You should be careful." Kurama shook his head at his friend.
"I sense no danger from them. I trust them," he insisted. Yusuke narrowed his eyes.
"Still, be on your guard," he warned. Kurama smiled and nodded then walked back over to where the girls were waiting for him. Akimi looked at him with concern.
He took her hand and smiled at her. "Lets take you home," he said, leading her towards his car. He watched as her eyes glowed in the sun, but he couldn't help but think about what Yusuke said.