This is the rewritten version of this chapter, this story was written quite a long time ago and I never picked it up after writing the first chapter. There's added context to this chapter so do reread.

This story is based on Shadows by Amy Meredith, the first series of events will be the same but will change later on. (Sorry about not putting a copyright, thanks to Guest for reminding me.)

The eyes that stared at him stood out vividly against the dark of the empty space, he felt a shift in the space but before he could register anything, the dark enveloped in choking hold-

Ryoma thrummed his fingers against thigh, staring at the changing of channels occurring on the television screen. "Akaya, would you stop changing the channels?" Ryoma said, his gaze turning to his friend seated next to him. "Also, get your feet off my lap," Ryoma added, glaring.

Akaya swung his legs off the couch, "It's not like there's something to watch," Akaya said. He paused his attack on the remote control, stopping it on a show about demons.

"Not like you would know, you're changing it so quickly," Ryoma said.

"Not like you're going to even watch it," Akaya shot back. "Touche," Ryoma said, a smirk playing on his lips.

They ceased bantering as Yukimura entered the room with a metallic tray of square pan pizza, home-made. Ryoma would have asked why didn't they just order some, but he hadn't wanted yet another lecture about how greasy and unhealthy it would be.

"About time," Akaya said, grinning, then promptly stopped grinning as Yukimura glared at him, "You're more than welcome to make your own food next time," Yukimura said, "since you're so impatient."

"He's just thinking with his stomach, like usual," Ryoma said.

"Shut up," Akaya grumbled, blowing a piece of his seaweed hair away from his face.

"Anyways," Yukimura smoothly interrupted them before they could go on, "A new person has arrived on this quaint little island," he said, frowning.

"What's his deal then?" Ryoma asked, wanting to know the source of his frown.

"It's nothing just a little peculiar,, it's just like he suddenly dropped into here, no trace that he was anywhere before now," Yukimura said, it was weird because nobody new ever came here that wasn't a family member, it only happened a couple of times, "Also, Atobe is coming back."

Ryoma groaned. Atobe was probably the most vain, narcissistic, person he ever had the displeasure of meeting in his life, the worst part was he had good reason to be, and the guy made well sure everyone knew it. He was rich, and Ryoma loathed admitting it but, he was handsome, and his family ran in the same circles that Yukimura's did. Which meant it was one of those important circles.

Ryoma wondered why he would even come back, he made his dislike of the island clear to everybody, his daddy has probably forced him to come back after one of his scandals or something.

"At least this is going to be interesting," Akaya said, grinning, "The mysterious, tall, dark, handsome new guy, and the rich boy coming back means there has to be something going on."

"I don't think his going to fit into the description you gave him," Yukimura said, smiling, "He's one of those pretty-boy types."

Akaya was about to open his mouth, but Ryoma interrupted, "Think about who's in the room before you say what you're about to." Ryoma was sure it would be something along the lines of, 'oh, not another pretty boy.' Yukimura would probably murder him during the night.

Akaya might've paled a bit after he came to the realization that he would've went to his doom with his words.

x

Ryoma sat at his desk, looking bored, for some reason he had decided to come to class early, and he already regretted it.

"Hello," someone called out from the seat behind him. Ryoma whirled around in shock, turning his gaze falling on a frail-looking boy with his eyes closed.

Ryoma hadn't even noticed that the boy was sitting behind him, and he felt uneasy about that fact, just how long exactly had the guy been there?

"Fuji Syuusuke," the boy said, his eyes still closed and his lips titled upwards in a serene smile. "Echizen Ryoma," Ryoma introduced himself back, smirking.

The students suddenly started to rush in, all extremely late, and the teacher followed after a few minutes as the bell rang to indicate the start of class.

x

Around the end of class, Ryoma felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, somebody was staring at him rather intently. He turned around, his golden eyes clashing with bright cerulean eyes, Fuji's eyes were open and the serene smile replaced by a smirk.

Ryoma turned away his body tensing as he broke the connection just as quickly as it had happened, he shuddered.

Behind him, even though Ryoma could not see him. Fuji chuckled darkly, going unnoticed because of the other noises in the classroom.

Fuji had just found his new project.

x

"Akaya," Ryoma called out to boy, "What are you doing standing around looking like a lost puppy?" He wasn't one to initiate conversation but the boy in question did in all honesty look like a lost puppy without the usual red-head boy next to him.

"Shut up," Akaya grumbled, "Bunta didn't come today." He offered as explanation, frowning. It was peculiar, Marui always came to the first day of school without fail in order to wreck havoc upon innocent, unsuspecting people who hadn't yet been warned about him.

"So you're going to come with me to check up on him," Akaya said, suddenly grinning as grabbed Ryoma's arm.

"No way," Ryoma said immediately.

"That's the price you pay for mocking me."

"I was being nice," Ryoma protested. Akaya snorted, Ryoma's definition of the word nice was definitely skewed. "I'll buy you Ponta." A little bribery never hurt.

"You can't bribe me."

"Are you sure about that," Akaya challenged, "I'm going to take you with me either way, so you might as well get something out of it."

Ryoma narrowed his eyes, "No," All he wanted to do was go back home, and collapse on his bed. Although that Ponta sounded a bit tempting, but still, no.

Akaya starts dragging him not caring for his opinon seeing as how he was bigger in body stature.

And body strength. "Too bad."

Ryoma glared holes into him, as he was being dragged. If only looks could kill, Akaya laughed masking the nervousness in his laughter. Ryoma was sure to get revenge on him later, but he didn't want to visit that place alone. Bunta's mom intimidated him.

He could only hope that they wouldn't end up murdering each other without Yukimura acting as a buffer between them two.

x