A/N: I was originally going to make Krad and Satoshi brothers…but that would seem odd…all things considered. So…I'll be rethinking their relationship/connection. If I leave things between them somewhat vague in this chapter, it's because I haven't figured anything out yet.

Also, I deeply apologize for how long this took me to put up. I actually couldn't figure out how I wanted this second chapter to be written…I didn't want to be repetitive. But this seemed like the only good way to write it…so here it is. Also, my beta—yes, I got one and he is quite irresponsible, heh, but I love him—took his time in reading this. I understand he's been busy, and I'm responsible as well for not reminding him.

But it's finally here, and no use bellyaching about things you can't control. So…on with the basics:

A Little Romance

Disclaimer: I don't own DNAngel. Sugasaki Yukiru-san does.

Summary: Dark and Daisuke are brothers at a new school. Immediately, Dark becomes one of the popular guys, but a bad run in with the hottest guy in school, Krad, creates a rivalry Dark has never had before. Daisuke, on the other hand, quickly befriends Satoshi, Krad's . Krad and Dark desperately try to pry their younger siblings apart, but that proved futile. Takeshi, aspiring to become a writer, practices by writing plays for the school, and Krad and Dark become his new inspiration. So now, every time the school hosts a play, Dark and Krad are pushed together into the lead roles. Soon, one of them starts feeling attraction for the other...

Pairing(s): DarkKrad; SatoshiDaisuke; one-sided RisaDark; maybe TakeshiRiku (more of a platonic relationship than anything)

Warning(s): Risa bashing; language (mostly on Dark's, Krad's, and Takeshi's); YAOI; SHOUNEN AI; characters might be a little OOC, so I apologize beforehand; in this fic, Takeshi wants to be a writer, not a reporter

Rating: PG-13

If you don't like anything above, turn back now. You have been warned.

Chapter Two: Unexpected Intrigue

Krad sat down in his seat after hanging his schoolbag on its hook at his desk, and promptly began reading. His friends stayed clear from him, knowing the few minutes before class was his 'reading time' and any who disturbed him would have to endure his fiery temper.

All too soon in the blonde's taste, their teacher, Takeshima-sensei, walked into the room, and the Class Representative called all students to rise from their seats accordingly.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, sensei," greeted the class. The middle-aged man set down his briefcase, and waved for the class to be seated.

"Ohayo, ohayo…!" The moment everyone was seated once again, Takeshima's chocolate orbs were flitting deftly around the classroom, pausing only a few seconds on each face that stared back at him. "Hmm…we're missing someone!"

A quiet murmur rustled through the class as everyone shifted in their seat to see who was absent, only to turn back to the front, bewildered, after identifying that everyone in the class was present.

"Ah well," he sighed, "we will just have to continue class without him." He shifted through the many papers and folders within his briefcase, a frown marring his aging face when he didn't find what he was searching for. "Gomen nasai, minna," he said apologetically, closing his briefcase and heading for the door. "I seemed to have misplaced tonight's homework assignment. I'll only be a moment."

A split second before his hand even grazed the doorknob, there was a short, sharp knock, taking him by surprise. Bewildered, he immediately wrenched open the door, only to come face to face with an equally startled teenager; a very handsome one, at that.

Taking in the seemingly naturally colored purple hair, amethyst eyes, and flattering ensemble that was obviously not part of the school dress code, Takeshima smiled kindly at the boy before him as he straightened, motioning for him to enter the room.

"Ah, you must be the new student. Welcome to my class." Takeshima watched in amusement, but refrained from commenting, as the teen sauntered into his classroom, his expression and posture the very definition of 'aloof'.

Krad raised an eyebrow as he watched the new student make his way towards the teacher's desk. Taking in his appearance, the blonde straightened in his seat somewhat, amusement pulling at his lips. As expected, the girls reacted exactly as he had predicted, though some of the guys in his class surprised him.

As Takeshima closed the door, Krad proceeded to pull the book he had been reading earlier, paying no attention to whatever followed next.

"I am Takeshima-sensei; it's a pleasure to meet you." Krad then heard the unmistakable sound of chalk against board, and almost immediately after, he felt a pair of eyes land—and stay—on him. Apparently noticing this, Kenji, who sat just behind him, nudged him, forcing him to look up. Krad, not liking the interruption—or how that amethyst gaze was affecting him, decided to ignore the scrutiny, and turned back to his book, allowing the printed words to pull himself away from reality.

To his annoyance, the moment the new guy—Dark, he vaguely recalled hearing Takeshima-sensei call him—began to talk about himself, he felt his attention wavering, moving from his novel towards the smooth, lilting voice of his new classmate.

"I like basketball, though I doubt I'll try out for the team," he said, eliciting whines of protest from every single girl in the room, "and I'm really interested in ancient artifacts. Strange, I know." Dark cut off to chuckle lightly, causing shivers to run down Krad's spine. "As for my dreams for the future," here, Dark's overly cheerful and flippant tone had taken on a resolute edge, causing the blonde to finally look up from the pages of his novel only to see an unexpected pair of determined amethyst, "I'd like to become a famous actor who can do just about any part."

Takeshima was obviously impressed, if the expression on his face was anything to go by. The girls, always reacting in exactly the fashion he had predicted, swooned, possibly at the thought of seeing him on stage—or the most likely doubtful possibility that he would take one of them as his girlfriend once he "made it big". The boys of the class, having already pegged him as a "prep" (or anything along those lines), were intrigued to say the least. Some were even taking a fast liking to him.

An almost imperceptible smirk graced Dark's handsome face, and Krad raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Dark turned his head slightly, and almost immediately afterwards, their eyes met. Amethyst widened slightly in surprise, caught off guard by the unexpected eye contact. Krad stared evenly back, daring the other teen to tear his gaze away.

It seemed like they had been staring at each other for hours when Takeshima's voice broke the silence between them, drawing Dark's attention.

"Well, we are seated in alphabetical order at the moment—it makes it easier for me to learn your names," Takeshima looked up just long enough to send a friendly smile Dark's way before turning back to the seating chart, "but why don't you sit next to Hikari Krad?"

Said blonde stiffened at the call of his name, frowning slightly. 'You have got to be kidding me…'

"Hikari, raise your hand so Mousey knows where you are."

Krad shifted in his seat, not at all happy, but raised his hand nonetheless, just high enough for the purple-haired teen to see. Dark nodded his thanks, and headed for his new seat. Krad watched him for a moment, amused by Dark's obvious attempt at looking anywhere but at himself, before immersing himself back into his novel as Dark sat down.

Satoshi blinked, his sapphire eyes widening slightly as he was jolted from his trance. A quick look around the room proved that no one had disturbed him; in fact, no one was paying him any mind, other than a few flirty glances many of the girls sent his way—all of which, he ignored. He shifted in his seat, confused.

Shiroi looked up from her desk at the clock, and then stood up, a wide smile on her pretty face as she gained everyone's attention. She waited patiently as they all shuffled back to their seats. After the clatter and screeches of chairs being pulled out from under desks and the muffled steps of countless feet settled down, Shiroi clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

"Minna! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend," her smile widened at this, if even possible, "and that none of you did anything too extreme!"

A few polite titters circled the room; Shiroi-sensei was known for her over enthusiasm about everything, causing her to become well acquainted with the doctors at the local hospital.

"Now, attendance—" Satoshi abruptly stood up from his seat, stopping his teacher mid sentence, and briskly made his way towards the door. Shiroi watched him apprehensively. "Hiwatari? Are you ill?" A quick glance over his shoulder immediately silenced her.

He stopped just short of the door, and wrenched it open. His eyes widened in disbelief and confusion.

Standing there before him, equally bewildered, was a boy who was a head shorter than him, causing him to stare up with wide, rose colored eyes. A mop of spiky red hair framed a heart shaped face that had turned a dusted pink as the boy lowered his hand. He was slim and the uniform looked baggy on him, but in a cute way.

Satoshi adjusted his glasses to hide how startled he was with his train of thought, and for some unknown reason, the shorter boy blushed a darker shade of red.

"…Anou…" he began to say, somewhat uncertainly.

"Is someone there, Hiwatari?" called Shiroi, her tone chipper once again, though laced with confusion. Satoshi stepped aside, and redhead stepped through the doorway hesitantly. "Why, ohayo!" She gave the new boy enough time to turn towards her before she continued, "And who might you be?"

Flustered, the red eyed boy replied, "Anou…I'm Niwa Dasuke…"

"Ah!" cried Shiroi, "Hai! You're the new student, right?" He nodded timidly as he glanced about the room. "I am Shiroi-sensei, but you can just call me Satori; welcome to my class!"

"Eto…arigato, sensei…"

"Oh, pish-posh! No need to be so formal!" Shiroi glanced over at Satoshi affectionately and added, "You'll start sounding like Satoshi soon; he's the only one who calls me Shiroi-sensei."

"Hn," was all Satoshi said in reply as he walked back to his seat, taking no notice of the routine swooning as he passed. He reseated himself at his desk and made himself comfortable to ignore his surroundings as he usually did. But the moment his teacher suggested the redhead share information about himself, Satoshi was quite irritated to find he couldn't stop his attention from shifting and reaching out in the general direction of the new kid.

"Anou…I live with my oniisan," he started timidly, if a bit unsurely. "He's in the eleventh grade. Eto…I really love to paint, and I draw on occasion," a small, barely perceptible pause, "so you might find me in the art room a lot. I sort of like to act as well, but not as much as my oniisan. I'm thinking about joining the swim team." He paused again, and Satoshi glanced up to find he had tilted his head and was currently rubbing his neck bashfully. The girls' reaction to that was immense, and Satoshi's lips twitched—as if to smile—when Daisuke blushed a darker shade of red and looked away. "Anou…as for my dreams for the future..." Satoshi turned to look at him now, intrigued. "…I want to be a great artist who could paint or draw just about anything…"

Daisuke looked up and stared directly at Satoshi. He shifted, uncomfortable, but didn't look away. Satoshi, realizing what he was doing, forced himself to look out the window, frowning slightly.

"That was wonderful, Niwa!" said his teacher as she clapped exitedly. "I certainly hope your dream comes true!" The redhead uttered a timid thank you. "Now, to find you a seat…!" There was another pause, one that irritated the blue-eyed teen, as Shiroi scanned the classroom. He stiffened when he felt her eyes land on him. "Ah! How about you take a seat beside Hiwatari over there?"

Satoshi frowned slightly at that, but only glanced at the desk beside him before forcing his attention back outside the classroom.

"…H-hai."

Shiroi gave Daisuke enough time to reach his seat before crying out, "Now, minna! Time for algebra!"

A groan was the class's response as they pulled out their notebooks and textbooks.

Satoshi, knowing all too well that today's math lesson would be nothing compared to the new student currently seated beside him in occupying his interest, sighed softly as he opened his textbook to the very back where the hardest problems that were allowed to be in an eighth grader's math book lay.

'Why in the world did I go back to school?' he thought sulkily.

VOCABULARY:

Sensei – Teacher/Mentor
Ohayo gozaimasu – Good morning (overly polite)
Gomen nasai/Gomen – Sorry/I'm sorry/My deepest apologies (polite)
Minna – Everyone
Anou/Eto – hesitation word; sort of like 'um' or 'uh'
Arigato – Thank you
Oniisan – Elder brother/Older brother
Hai – Yes

Thanks for reading. I'll try to hurry up with the third chapter. And again, I apologize for how late this was.