The second day already seems easier than the first when she wakes up for breakfast. Junko has already left to take Miyu to school and she has left breakfast on the table for her. It doesn't surprise her that Junko didn't wake her up herself. She probably assumes she's still mad about their conversation yesterday and that doesn't usually mix well with the crankiness that naturally comes with her waking up. She scratches her head and yawns before sitting down to do a prayer.

After she's done eating, the dishes are put away and she grabs the holy water needed to be put all over the lawn. She always wondered if the holy water was just an extra precaution; Junko put enough spells around their house where not even the king of Devils could break through easily. Despite that, she can't help but admit she feels better about the extra precaution. The great thing about it is all the spells and prayers don't bother ordinary humans. If she were to ever bring a friend home with her, she will know right away if they were possessed in any way.

Popping a piece of toast in her mouth, she finally leaves the premises of her home and heads for school.

A few whispers greet her as soon as she gets to the school gate. It bothered her the first day, but now that she knows a little more about the school and what the students are like, she feels better prepared. The whispering is pretty bad, but so far there seems to be less of a chance of confrontation compared to her last school. If she wants the rumors to stop, she's going to have to be more of an aggressor. She looks to her right where three girls are obviously whispering about her. They occasionally look her way with expressions that show clear distaste. Akane bristles. I guess the sooner I start the better.

While she's thinking this, the girls continue with their hushed conversation, oblivious to the fact that Akane has noticed.

"Honestly, what's so great about that girl?" one of them says, sucking her teeth. "For Rem-san to approach her yesterday…who does she think she is?"

"She's probably getting close to Rem-san's girlfriend just so she can get cozy with the other student council members too," the other girl says spitefully.

"I swear, if she gets close to Shiki-san, she'll get what's coming to her," the third girl mutters, but the other two stiffen when they realize who has walked up behind her.

"If you're going to whisper about me, I'd appreciate it if you weren't so obvious about it," Akane says casually with a hand on her hip, her bag hanging from the other hand.

The third girl yelps in surprise and whirls around to look at her accusingly. "Wh-What do you think you're doing?"

"Me?" Akane bats her eyelashes in mock innocence. "I'm not doing anything except eavesdropping on the lunatics who are badmouthing me."

The third girl is almost at a loss for words. "Wha-? What did you just call us?"

Ease up on the insults, Akane. Save them for the pricks you won't be able to persuade. She takes a moment to study them – narrowed eyes, crossed arms, shallow personalities. She figures they aren't worth getting to know anyway.

She gives them a smile that makes her look poised, confident. "For someone who whispers so loudly, it's no wonder you need some things repeated for you."

The second girl is unable to keep the anger from showing. "You…are you trying to pick a fight?"

"I'm not trying to do anything," Akane argues. "I came over here with the slight hope that I could introduce myself to some potential friends but instead, I got one-dimensional girls who get jealous over every single person that threatens their little harem fantasy."

Two of the three girls are struck speechless with anger leaking from their bodies. The first girl however, has the courtesy of looking ashamed and averts her eyes. Akane manages to keep herself from smirking triumphantly and turns her back on them. "Instead of believing everything you hear, why don't you make an effort to see if the source is credible?" She gives them one final glance. "And instead of hiding behind your fantasies, how about you try to make them a reality?"

She walks away before they can say anything else, but the victory is short-lived. She can't help feeling annoyed over girls like this. All they want to do is put their frustrations out on someone rather than face the hard truth. It's infuriating. At her last school, some of the popular boys exploited that by leading girls on and letting them fight it out amongst themselves. In those cases, the object of their affection isn't any better than them.

She's so lost in thought she lets out a yelp in surprise when someone pats her shoulder from behind. She turns around to see Ritsuka staring back at her.

"Geez…I was calling your name for a while now. I was starting to think you were ignoring me," she pouts.

Akane giggles. "Sorry about that. I just had a confrontation with a few girls that were whispering about me. Their attitude got to me a bit."

Ritsuka's expression goes from shocked to annoyed, much to Akane's surprise. "I can't believe this! How can people be so bitter? It's like they have nothing better to do."

Akane laughs at her remark. "Wow, Ritsuka-chan. This is my first time seeing you so annoyed."

She gives her an incredulous look. "Why are you so surprised? Of course I'll get annoyed! Especially when it comes to things like this."

Akane pauses, remembering what one of the girls said. Rem-san's girlfriend. She grimaces. "Now that I think about it, you probably went through it too, didn't you? Being Rem's girlfriend must be tough."

"Huh?" Her face completely flushes and she turns away. "N-No, well, yes – it was hard at first. I realized after a while though that I can't let any of them get to me. Doing so means that they win and I refuse to lose to people who can't talk to me about it properly."

Akane looks at her in awe. "Amazing, Ritsuka-chan! You're tougher than you look!"

She giggles. "Thanks, I guess. I didn't do it alone, though. My brother, Rem-san, and his friends helped scare away my pursuers as well."

"Even so, at least you have the courage to stand up for yourself. I've met many classmates who couldn't even do that much – ah!" Akane flinches when a girl suddenly bumps into her. Before she can say anything, the girl with long dark hair looks up with a sour look on her face.

"Can't you watch where you're going?"

Akane blinks, surprised by the rude remark. "Excuse me?"

The girl then crosses her arms, her emerald eyes narrowed at Akane. Another girl with short red-brown hair comes to her side and glares at Akane as well.

Akane's brow twitches. Ah, I see. The stuck up assholes have finally made their appearance. She decides to start off civilized. "Is there a problem?"

The girl with the emerald eyes answers. "Possibly."

She smiles with irritation. "Oh?" This bitch.

The other girl says angrily, "What do you think you're doing, glaring at Haruko-sama like that?"

Ritsuka steps in, sounding just as irritable. "You and Nakamura-san were glaring first. What is it that you want?"

Haruko continues her glare-off with Akane and says, "Nothing. I'm reminding the new girl to remember her place, is all."

Ritsuka's tone turns sharp. "Nakamura-san, you're out of line."

Akane scoffs and puts her hand on Ritsuka's shoulder. "It's ok, Ritsuka-chan," she says and steps forward. Judging from the way Haruko carries herself, how prim and polished she looks and the way her friend addresses her, it's pretty obvious what kind of girl she is. "Those are some bold words coming from a bratty rich kid. If I'm too breathtaking for you, just say so."

The other girl bristles and steps towards her. "You-!"

But Haruko puts a hand up to stop her. She smiles mischievously, which irks Akane. "Interesting. You think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?"

There's no doubt she's demeaning her, but Akane doesn't take the bait. "You could say that. You could also say that I'm being a little smug. I'm sure you're very used to that, Haruko-sama."

Akane can tell that she hit a nerve, especially with the mocking way she addressed her. She mentally pats herself on the back for being able to piss her off.

The other girl is about to bite back, but Ritsuka steps in. "Nakamura-san. Watanabe-san."

They look at her.

Ritsuka's gaze deepens. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother my friend. If I remember correctly, you have an interest in Mage-san, right Watanabe Emiri?"

The girl flinches and averts her eyes. Ritsuka turns to Haruko.

"And I believe you've been looking at Urie-san for a while now, Nakamura-san."

She only frowns at her in response.

"I'm sure you don't want either of them to hear that you're making a scene."

"What scene?" Emiri snaps. "We're only talking."

Ritsuka doesn't lighten up. "That may be true, but it wouldn't be that hard to have them thinking otherwise."

They're both glaring at her now. Haruko looks away with distaste and reluctantly walks away. Emiri sucks her teeth and follows after her without saying anything else.

As soon as their out of view, Ritsuka sighs. "I hate doing that…"

Akane blinks. "Doing what?"

She looks at her a bit tiredly. "Using Rem-san and the other members of the student council to fend them off. It makes it seem like I'm hiding behind them."

Akane still feels a little annoyed by the encounter but decides to use that energy towards teasing her friend instead. "Oho? Well, if I had a hot boyfriend and some hot male friends, I wouldn't mind hiding behind them sometimes."

Ritsuka turns red with embarrassment. "I-I already told you, it's not like that!"

She gives her a sly grin. "Not like what? You've already admitted that Rem is your boyfriend, remember?"

"Yes, but, well…" she trails off and sighs again. "It's complicated…"

"I doubt it," she chuckles and just when she's about to continue teasing her, a loud shout echoes down the hall.

"Ritsukaaaaaaaa!"

The two of them jump in surprise. Some of the students around them are muttering about the sudden rise in noise level. "Wh-What was that about?" Akane asks startled.

Ritsuka sighs tiredly. "You're about to find out in a second."

Just as she finishes her sentence, a guy comes into view and is sprinting towards them in what looks like full speed. Akane steps back, exclaiming in surprise, but Ritsuka doesn't move an inch as she watches the guy jadedly.

As soon as he reaches them, he bends over with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Akane looks at the guy questionably, unsure of what to say, but Ritsuka has it covered.

"You seem to have a lot of energy so early in the morning, Nii-san."

Akane looks at her with raised eyebrows. Nii-san?!

Suddenly, he straightens up and grabs Ritsuka by the shoulders. She looks at him unfazed. "Ritsuka, how many times have I told you to keep your pendant on at all times? This is the second time in a row you've decided to leave it at home!"

"Nii-san, don't you think you're overreacting? I'm only heading to school, you know," she says to him matter-of-factly.

He tightens his hold on her shoulders, his teal eyes gleaming. "Seriously, Ritsuka? After all you've been through too–"

"Nii-san," she interrupts him and looks to Akane. "I'm with a friend right now. I'd appreciate it if you introduced yourself to her."

He blinks at her and then turns to where Akane is, surprised to see someone actually standing there. He lets go of his sister immediately and turns to her apologetically. "Sorry. I didn't notice that Ritsuka was talking with someone."

Even though I was right in your view? Akane is about to say as much, but pauses when she gets a good look at him. Waves of red hair, beautiful eyes, good build, flawless skin – she covers her mouth in surprise. Ritsuka-chan's brother is hot!

Ritsuka giggles and her brother widens his eyes before smiling. "Uh, thank you."

Akane blinks. "What?"

Ritsuka starts laughing then. "Akane-san, you said that out loud."

"Eh?" She blinks again before she looks at them in horror. "Ehhhhhhhh?!" N-No way! Akane, you idiot!

Ritsuka continues laughing until her brother grabs her by the nose. "Oi, Ritsuka, you're laughing too much. You're embarrassing her."

"I get it, I get it. Let go, Nii-san!" She rubs her nose as soon as he lets go and glares at him with tears in her eyes. He smiles playfully in return.

Akane smiles, suddenly grateful to be around such a warm group and addresses the brother directly. "So, what is your name? Or should I call you Ritsuka-chan's hot brother from now on?"

He chuckles before answering. "Tachibana Lindo. It's a pleasure to meet you."

With a grin, Akane says, "I'm Yamakazi Akane. A pleasure to meet you as well."

They continue talking for a while, until Lindo suddenly remembers something and tells Ritsuka they need to head to the student council room before class begins. Ritsuka looks slightly concerned and this doesn't go unnoticed by Akane. Ritsuka apologizes and says she'll be back before class starts. As they walk down the hall, Akane watches them for a bit, wondering what the student council members are like. According to Ritsuka, Rem, Lindo and Urie (that rose bastard she still had yet to see again) are all a part of the council. Ritsuka isn't a member but apparently is invited to all of their meetings. She wonders if it's because of her connection to Rem.

Instead of dwelling on it, Akane starts heading for class, not at all excited about the whispers that will surely be circulating around the room. As she's walking down the hall, a guy bumps into her shoulder and they stop walking at the same time. Akane looks over her shoulder with a frown, wondering if the guy bumped into her on purpose or if he overestimated the space between them.

The guy doesn't turn around right away and instead, she hears him mumbling about something that "smells nice." Akane's frown deepens. Should she say something or walk away? She decides to do the former.

"Um…are you ok?" It's a pretty lame question for a simple bump in the shoulder, but his behavior seems strange to her. When he still doesn't say anything, she takes a step towards him but halts when he finally turns her way.

"You there…" he says with a wide grin on his face and approaches her. She lets him come to her, but steps back when she realizes he's getting too close. She takes a few more steps back before deciding to stand her ground and is surprised when he's suddenly in her face.

"H-hey…" she stammers but is struck speechless by the sheer beauty of this guy. His red eyes are piercing through her and her heart rate accelerates. She no longer feels she can move.

The mysterious boy continues to smile but there is something sinister about it. He closes his eyes as he takes a whiff of her. She stiffens. He starts sniffing her neck, her shoulders and then down to her chest where she blushes in embarrassment. What… what is he doing?!

"Such a nice smell…" he says and for a second she's wondering if he's aroused. This only embarrasses her further. He then looks up at her. "You."

"Wh-What?" She's surprised that she can talk, given how choked up she's feeling right now.

His smile turns amused, feline. "What are you, exactly?"

Her chest tightens and luckily, she regains her senses. She moves back several steps, feeling somewhat violated. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He straightens up and starts to chuckle. She could have sworn that for a second, his eyes were glowing.

Suddenly creeped out, she turns on her heels and walks away but at a much quicker pace. The whole time she's walking down to her class, she feels like his eyes are still on her, watching her every move.

Author Note: Hey guys! Sorry that I waited so long to update from Chapter 1. This is my first fanfiction, so I'm getting used to how things work. I appreciate the support, so I just wanted to take the time to say, thank you! The times I update chapters will vary unfortunately, but I'm just letting you all know now that I won't leave the story hanging. Please feel free to keep leaving feedback as you move further into the world of Dance with Devils :D