~Introduction~

Hi! My name is TabbyCat2011. You may either call me Cat or Tabby. This isn't my very first story ever written. I have won multiple awards for my original works at different places. Recently stumbling upon Shugo Chara! I decided to write a one shot based upon Amu and Ikuto. I love these two particular characters. Ikuto's character is complicated. Amu's character is cute. Together they make a cutely complicated couple.

In the story, Musical Love, Amu plays the clarinet. After understanding Amu's personality, I found that I could imagine Amu playing the clarinet. Amu is spunky, yet she just wants to be cute, sweet and beautiful on the inside. The clarinet is a very spunky instrument. It seems like an instrument nobody wants to hear, but when played, it is a sweet, beautiful sound that is heard from the audience. The two complement each other. After explaining this, can you see Amu playing the clarinet?

The story takes place after the ending of the manga. Ikuto saying that he is traveling around to look for his father (and said he'd make Amu fall in love with him), I started thinking about Amu's future. I started thinking that maybe she developed a love for music. The clarinet complements this beauty, so this story was born. Musical Love is about Amu's adventure through college as a music major. She teaches lessons to the younger children at the local middle and high school. She loves to do to teach clarinet to the younger children. One day, she runs into somebody she thought she'd never see again. They have come to teach violin lessons to the children that are interested in learning the difficult instrument. Sharing the same room for lessons, will anything get done?

~Prologue – A New Chapter in Her Life~

The audience clapped as the orchestra ended their beautiful song. The director bowed as the orchestra players stood to recognize their applause. It was the last song of the concert. The orchestra director took the microphone from the announcer and cleared his throat. The audience sat down to await his announcement. Three audience members were smiling brightly as the director started to speak.

"Before the ending words, a recital is in order. One lucky member of the orchestra was picked to be the recipient of the Musical Love scholarship to any university/college that they desire. This individual showed great love for the musical arts. Their skills are amazing beyond belief. The scholarship was right for them. This great individual will be going to a university as a Music Education major. For the final performance, playing Fantasy, Amu Hinamori!"

The audience clapped as a pinkette stood pulling the music stand along with her. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail. It had grown out since the last time a lot of people had seen her. Her honey-brown eyes seemed to glow in intensity as she prepared for her recital. Taking a deep breath, Amu played a long, soft, low note on a beautiful, black clarinet. Her fingers started moving to the different keys for the notes. The audience was amazed by her almost perfect posture, the flow in which she played the piece, and her amazing knowledge on all different kinds of finger positions. The beautiful music wafer through the air. The audience stunned by its beauty. Some eve had their eyes closed to listen to the sound clearer. Amu's family smiled brightly as they watched their daughter/sister play in front of all these people. It was a huge step from when she was in middle school.

"Amu plays beautifully, mom," said Amu's little sister, Ami.

Their mother just nodded in agreement as she swayed to the beautiful clarinet music. As soon as it came, the music had stopped. Amu took a deep breath as she removed the mouthpiece from her mouth. She looked at the audience as they were silent for a moment. One person started to clap. Another followed. Soon everybody in the audience was clapping for her beautiful performance. The pinkette smiled brightly as she heard the applause. She bowed at the audience then sat on the chair again, pulling the music stand with her.

"Well, that definitely a beautiful performance," said the director, taking the microphone again. "Thank you for coming to the concert. I hope that the performances have met with your standards. Have a safe trip home. Seniors, have a wonderful college experience."

The microphone was turned off as the audience started to get up. Everybody was getting ready to head home. The concert was amazing. The Hinamori family grabbed their things and headed to the back of the auditorium. They wanted to congratulate Amu for her amazing performances.

~Scene Break~

Amu sighed in relief as she put the clarinet in her case. The case was a beautiful white color. It was made to look like a messenger bag for the teenager. She was able to carry it with her wherever she went. Her orchestra mates had come up to her and congratulated her for the performance.

"Amu! That was amazing!" shouted one girl. "I want to be just like you! You were flawless."

I messed up a couple of parts, Amu thought. I'm not flawless.

"It was truly amazing Amu," said another member. "I'm glad I got to sit next to you."

"Good luck at college Amu!"

Amu smiled at her orchestra friends. She was happy that she had gotten to know them. She picked up her clarinet case as she saw her family approaching. Hugging her friends one last time, she walked over to the them. Ami hugged her sister as soon as she saw her. Amu hugged her back and smiled. A small creature floated above Ami's head. It looked like Ami, but acted like a superstar. Amu couldn't see her. Their parents couldn't either. It giggled at the sisters' bond with each other.

"Amu, we're so proud of you," her papa said, hugging her. "You will do great at college. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks papa," she said, hugging him back.

Her mother's eyes watered at the corner. She hugged her daughter tightly. She didn't want Amu to leave for college. She would miss her oldest daughter dearly. Amu sighed as she patted her crying mother's back.

"It will be alright mama," she soothed. "I'll be back for the holidays."

~Three Months Later~

"Do you have everything Amu?" asked her father.

Amu nodded as she carried boxes out of the house. Her father and she were going to travel to the university to help Amu move into her dorm. First year college students were not allowed to have a vehicle on campus, so she needed her father's help to get the university. After the last box was packed, Amu jumped into the passenger seat of the car. Her father climbed in the other side. The pinkette waved at her mother and sister. Her mother was crying as her sister was waving widely to her. Amu chuckled.

"Alright papa, let's go," she said.

The car started to back out of the driveway. Amu laid her hand on the clarinet case as she sadly thought about her family. She was going to miss them while she was away. It was going to be hard on the teenager.

"Now Amu," her father started. "No boys."

"Of course papa," she said, laughing.

~Scene Break~

Amu finished unpacking the last box. She wiped her brow to get rid of the sweat that had formed upon it. She flopped onto her bed in the dorm. She hasn't met her roommate, but she was hoping they were nice. The pinkette looked at the ceiling as she remembered all the years that were behind her now. She remembered her middle school years really well. They were the best years that she ever had. All her friends were amazing. A flash of blue eyes appeared before her. She shut her eyes and shook her head.

Make me fall in love with you, she thought. Right Ikuto. I haven't seen you for so many years.

The ex-joker chuckled at her thought. Ikuto wasn't ever coming back. It probably took him this many years to find his father. He wasn't going to leave right after he found him. She continued to stare at the ceiling as her eyes started to become heavy. Amu sighed as she drifted off to sleep.

Welcome to my new life, she thought before falling asleep.

~Conclusion~

Did you make it through the prologue? If you have, congratulations. It took me nearly an hour and a half to type this prologue. It is only a certain length long as well. The introduction took most of the first page. I'm terribly sorry about that. I have a habit of explaining why I chose particular plots and particular characters for those particular plots. I hope you didn't really mind. Anyway, this is the beginning of, hopefully, a wonderful, romantic story for all Shugo Chara! readers out there in the world. Please, review. I don't mind hits, but I love reviews more. I'm so old fashioned. As mentioned in my gallery, I have a few chapters finished. Musical Love will be updated Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Yes, it will be on an update schedule. I wish to finish this story before starting new ones.

Thank you for reading. ~ I hope to get some reviews from you again.

~ Tabby