Of Arranged Marriages and Black Cats…
Amu Hinamori was a daughter of a multi-millionaire family. To her it was always a surprise seeing as her father was a psycho with a camera, who was always trying to get photos of her sister Ami, and her mother was a gossip-mad-poll-taking type of woman whose greatest ambition was to dress Ami up in the cutest, frilliest, girlish dress ever. Then again maybe it was the work of her grandfather that was keeping the business going, seeing as he was the only adult that seemed to have any brains in the family.
Said Grandfather was currently in her room informing her of the upcoming get together with her fiancé's family.
" They will be arriving at seven sharp so make sure that you are not late. Remember this will be your family soon and you mustn't make any mistakes that will make them hate you this early. I want you to wear the blue dress that Miki has chosen for you tonight. Understand?"
" Yes grandpa, I understand. I will not disappoint you."
"Good. Now tell me how your lessons are going so far? I hear that you have been causing quite a ruckus in that school of yours…"
"Nothing much grandpa. I got invited to join the Guardians and I refused. I don't need the rest of the class out to get me because I hang out with them anymore than I already do. The number of treats has already grown to astronomical proportions."
He laughed, " That's my girl. However if he does ask again I must insist that you agree. I have made sure that you get the role as the 'Joker', so you will be a freelancer in the Guardians so to speak. I must leave now, but continue to be the great grand-daughter that you are."
"Sure Gramps. Whatever you say"
"Later, Cool and Spicy." with that he left the room.
Turning her head to face the secret doorway that the servants used Amu spoke up once more, "You guys can come out now. He's gone."
"Awww how'd you know it was us?"
"I didn't I was only guessing Ran, but now you've made it a fact." With that said they all tumbled out of the doorway, falling head-first onto one another.
Amu's three best friends untangled themselves and made their way over to the table where she was currently sitting. Ran, Miki and Su were servants in the Hinamori house but they were also the only ones that Amu felt that she could be herself with. They were the ones who knew the real Amu Hinamori. The one who was shy and wanted to make friends with everyone, the one who was a very kind-hearted soul the one who loved to let loose.
"So, how is it going with Tadase? Has he said anything that is in the least bit in encouraging? Huh? Huh?" Ran asked.
"Your as energetic as ever Ran, and no he hasn't. I feel like he is trying to avoid me most of the time and the rest of it is filled with paperwork. I really don't know what is going on in his head. *sigh* I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle here."
"Don't give up ~desu. I'm sure that he is just trying to find the right time to tell you ~desu." said Su.
" Maybe some of my drawings will help you cheer up, Amu-chan."
Miki held up various pictures of Amu and Tadase together, Amu with Ran Miki and Su, Amu and the guardians having fun together, Amu in multiple dresses that were cute as well as gothic-punk style, Amu in the rain, Amu riding bareback. Ran, Su and Amu sweat dropped.
"Why are all the pictures featuring Amu-chan, Miki?" Ran asked.
"Because Amu-chan is the most inspirational subject that was available at the current time. And besides she looks the best and we are trying to cheer her up, so I thought that seeing pictures of herself would help."
"But Amu-chan isn't self-obsessed so why would seeing pictures of herself help at all ~desu?"
" Can we please stop talking about me as if I'm not here!" Amu interrupted. They all started to laugh.
A bell sound was heard and her friends left the room in a hurry. As servants they could not afford to dilly dally or else they would lose their jobs. So, as much as the trio would have liked to stay with Amu, they could not. Giving her an apologetic face they all made their way to the kitchen to make dinner.
Amu sighed and fell back onto her bed. Life as an ultra-rich girl was nothing but a nuisance. Flipping open her blackberry she checked her message inbox. There was a message from Tadase!!!!!
It read : Hi Hinamori-chan. I was wondering if u would like 2 come shopping with me, Monday after school. It'll just be u and me. Hoping u'll come, Tadase.
Amu couldn't contain her excitement and instantly replied 'Yes, I wud lv 2 come.' Maybe things weren't so bad after all…
________________________________________________________________________________________________
-- 7 o'clock, Hinamori Lounge --
Tadase's family were in the lounge making small talk with their soon-to-be-in-law family for the hundredth time this month. It seemed to the engaged couple that their parents were getting a bit too hopeful as they both neared the age of sixteen. Sure they could marry if they wanted to, with their parents permission, but seriously they were being a bit too OTT.
Neither of the two had given any concrete evidence that they wanted to get married, nor had they professed any idea or hint as to whether or not this whole arrangement was to their liking or not. The marriage itself was like a business contract. Amu would be gaining control over the Amulet Fortune Corporation and Tadase would be in charge of Seven Seas Treasure Ltd.. Their marriage would serve as a sure sign that the merger that was proposed would be kept by both companies.
Said couple were taking a walk outside in the gardens and generally having a laugh. Tadase was acting a little weird but Amu didn't mind., she was spending time with her 'Prince' and that was all that mattered. The gardens looked lovely. Autumn was creeping among the sunshine of summer, leaving a trail of fiery golden red leaves in her wake. It was under one of the more spectacular coloured trees that Tadase and Amu laughed about there parents antics.
It was also where Tadase confessed to Amu.
"Amu-chan…"
"Hai, Tadase?"
"Ano, I-I-I'm in love with you."
"…"
"Amu-chan?"
"…"
BANG
"Ahhh! Amu-chan!"
After Tadase had confessed Amu had fainted and hit her head on the trunk of the tree they were standing by. At that moment everyone was crowding around her making sure that she was alright. Amu seemed to be out for the count and so Tadase offered to take her up to the infirmary.
By the time Amu had woken up it was midnight and most of the party was over. Amu peeked down the corridor and could see the light flickering at the end of the corridor, where the dining room (and most of the alcohol) was. Over-excited voices were heard but the drunkenness of the occupants had vanquished any chance of distinguishing what was being said.
I just hope I didn't do anything embarrassing… what was it that Tadase said? Why can't I -
'Amu- chan! What are you doing out of bed? You hit your head really hard when Tadase confessed his undying love, you should be in bed!'
'I think you already said the last one Dia. What's going on? Are the guests still here, or have they left?'
' Why? Is there a certain someone you want to see, hmm? Is there something you would like to tell the rest of us? Hmm? Hmmmmmnnnnn?'
'uh- er- that is to sa- wait, hold on a sec! I'm not hiding anything! What are you implying??'
'Nothing, nothing at all..la…lalalala…la!'
'You've been at the alcohol again haven't you? *sigh* never mind, I'll find out for myself.'
She headed down towards the laughter and was blissfully unaware of the look that had just crossed Dia's face. The normally cheery, make-you-feel-all-better-in-a-not-Su-way façade had disappeared. Pity had crossed that angelic face before the maid headed towards the balcony outside the infirmary.
'I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever get rid of her.'
'I don't like what we're about to do. Are you sure that this is absolutely necessary?'
'If we don't do this now then she'll be up for soo much more pain later. This is best for all of them. Trust me.'
'You say that Yoru, but I still can not get the picture of you tied up in knots because you were playing with string out of my head. Am I really meant to believe that you have become a responsible adult within the span of two days?'
'Shut up! That was a momentary lapse in concentration!'
'Really? Well then, tell me oh great one, what exactly were you using the ball of string for?'
'…'
'Speak up, I cant hear you.'
'Playing Greek heroes with Ikuto-nii san.'
'I despair for the you both. And to think that she's destined to be with that stupid, jerk of an overgrown, kid of a stray cat.'
' Wow… you know long words…'
'My suspicions have been proven correct. You are not an adult, your more of kid than he is.'
'Back to the topic at hand, how are we going to get those two to meet. I mean we can't lock them in a closet together, can we?'
'I really do despair, Yoru. OF COURSE WE CAN'T LOCK THEM IN A CLOSET TOGETHER!' by this time Dia and Yoru had retreated to her room and so the commotion was not heard by the rest of the household, but even if they had they would have been out cold from the alcohol. And, of course, Dia hadn't meant to put the sleeping pills inside the wine, it just kind of slipped out of her sleeve and into the beverage.
'Listen Yoru, I got a plan…'. As Dia related the plan back to Yoru a light bulb appeared over their heads, 'I think this might just work…' thought Yoru.
