Ikuto's Baby-sitter, Chapter One

Is It A Cat?

Oh my God, I am so nervous. This is my last chance to help Ami. Oh my God, what if I don't get it? Then Ami—

Okay, Amu, focus. Blink, breathe, and smile. Confidence is great.

Too bad I don't have any.

Okay, um…What's another way to gain confidence? Uh, um, oh! I'll look everyone in the eye and smile at them. Blink, smile, blink, smile, and blink, smi— why are those two guys looking at me perversely? I looked down. Of course, I forgot to change out of my Seiyo High uniform when I got home. So now I'm stuck in an extremely short skirt that barley covers my strawberry underwear, a tight shirt that's nearly see-through, and a black tie. And my SH emblazed pin, that is of right now, sticking me in a very uncomfortable place. Ugh. Why are all school founders guys?

The metal door to my right opened, and a short lady with curly red hair and green glasses walked out with a clipboard. She was wearing a black skirt, a white collar shirt, a loose red tie, and a black blazer and black heels. Jeez lady, I thought. Lay off the black. A young, frazzled looking girl walked out behind her, obviously shaken.

"I'm sorry you didn't get the part, honey. But there are lots of other auditions for you to achieve your dream," She said in a sugary sweet voice. This was noticeably fake. Just like the job she got on her chest.

Ahem.

She marked something down, and then said my name, "Amu Hinamori?"

Her gaze searched the room until she met mine. I nodded, and attempted to stand. Keyword: attempted. That other girl really chased any level of confidence out of me. I fell back against the chair.

The redhead laughed and offered her hand. "Most people are nervous the first few times that they get here," she reassured me, while helping me to my feet. I just nodded, still as anxious as hell. How many people saw me fall?

"Come with me." She walked swiftly down a hallway, up two flights of stairs, down another hallway, and finally, to a small room with a blond man in a business suit sitting at a fancy desk.

"Sanjo-san, is this lovely lady and applicant?"

Sanjo-san made a noise that sounded like a cross between a fan girl scream and a girly giggle. She ushered me down. "Yes. This is Amu Hinamori. Amu, this is the CEO of Easter."

I waved my fingers shyly, and sat down on a leather chair. Suddenly, the red carpet on the floor became so much more interesting.

"Thank you, Sanjo-san. You are dismissed." He waved his hand and Sanjo left, the soft click of the dark door behind her. "So, Amu, tell me what you do in your spare time."

"I…I uh…I like to watch action and horror movies." I played with my ridiculously long fingernails.

He leaned forward, like that was the most interesting thing he's heard all day. "Have you seen Chukasen Ari ?" (Anyone seen One Missed Call? Well, that's what they called it in Japan. Cuz it was first made in Japan.)

My head jerked up. Chukasen Ari has been my favorite movie since I was 13. "Are you kidding? I love that movie!"

He leaned back and smiled. "Amu, do you like cats?"

"Cats are like, my favorite animal."

He smiled. "Okay then, you'll be baby-sitting one sneaky cat, so keep him out of trouble."

Wait, the guy asked me three questions. "So, I, I got the job?" I asked cautiously.

He smiled. "You're the only one that applied," He said, picking up a pen and a slip of paper. "This is your map of Easter. Ikuto, the 'sneaky cat', is usually hiding out in Room 317. If you can't find him, just ask a blonde girl in pigtails where he is." He gave me the paper that was circled with possible hideouts that Ikuto would be in. He told me that he'll have a schedule ready for me by the end of today. My first assignment was to find Ikuto and bring him back up here. When I stood up to leave, I was still confused.

"Wait…I'm baby-sitting a cat? Why don't you guys just keep him in a cage?"

He laughed. "Amu, he always finds a way to escape." And with that, he made a hand motion towards the door. I got the message and left.

I checked out the map. I was on Floor 4, and the rooms that I had to check where just below me. This would be an easy job. I walked down the hall to the first elevator. I pressed the down button and waited. And waited. "This one doesn't work." I moved on to the next one. The same thing happened. I tried the last elevator. "Why don't these stupid things work!" That was when I noticed a sign taped to every elevator. "Out of order…How can every elevator be out of order?" I shook it off and found the stairs. Slowly I walked down and watched for the sign I was looking for. Once a three came into view, I pushed open the door and took a deep breath. "Whoa." Everywhere, people with lattés, clipboards, phones, and bags where coming in and out of rooms. Beautiful people, probably actors and actresses, were sipping the lattés, answering the phones, writing on the clipboards, and digging through the bags. How am I gonna find a cat through all of these people? And this was just the hallway!

I trudged through the hallway, jostled and pushed, until I made it out, standing right in front of Room 317. I heaved a sigh and opened the door just a crack. I peered inside. It looked empty, but this is a cat that we're talking about. He could be in every crack, corner, or little space. I searched frivolously, but found nothing. I went back to the hallway, noticing the silence. Where did everyone go? I walked around aimlessly, trying to find someone. I heard a noise that sounded like a stampede of people. Next came the screams. They sounded like fan girl screams and girly giggles. For a moment, I thought I heard Sanjo-san. After that, I saw what was coming. Right at ME.

A bunch of girls were chasing a blue haired boy. He was tall, lean, maybe 17 or 18, and he had shaggy blue hair and violet eyes. The girls behind him were screaming 'Iku-chan' repeatedly. I took several steps back, not wanting to be run over. I backed myself against the wall and watched them all run past. I let out a low breath and started towards Room 309. That's when I heard the human stampede, but this time I didn't have enough room to get out of the way. I was about to be ran over when somebody grabbed me and quickly pulled me into a room. We tumbled onto the floor. I opened my eyes, and stared straight into a pair of violet ones. That was the exact moment that I noticed our position. I was on top of him, and his arms were around my butt. I screeched and flew to the nearest wall. "St-stay back, you…you…" I fully realized who had saved me from the crazy fan girls. It was 'Iku-chan', and he was sitting on the floor rubbing his head. "Hey…are you okay?" I asked, crawling towards him.

"Ow…Yeah. Wait, who are you?" He leaned in, his face inches from mine. I instantly blushed, and recoiled.

"I'm Amu. I'm supposed to baby-sit some cat named Ikuto." I watched a smile play on his lips. "What the—Why are you smiling like that?" I looked at him cautiously. He wasn't looking at me like the two men in the lobby, but still…That smirk looked so mischievous.

"You're looking for Ikuto? Do you want some help? Because I just saw him."

I was still cautious, because my mom had taught me to never follow strangers. But then again…He did save me from a painful experience. "That would be great." I smiled and took his hand. He smirked again, although this one didn't look as sneaky.

"Cool." He led me out into the hallway, and pulled up the hood on his white sweatshirt. "You might want to put your hood up too," He said, nodding towards my red-short sleeved sweatshirt. I hesitated, but obeyed. We walked down a few stairs and out into a different hallway. I was going to put my hood down, but Iku-chan told me to keep it on yet. He led me in a dressing room for Hoshina Utau. "He's right in here," Iku-chan said, pushing the decorated door open. He went inside first, and I followed. "Now you can take off your hood." I slipped it off when he did.

A blonde girl with pigtails walked into the room, immediately freezing when she saw us. "IKUTO!" She screamed, running with her arms wide open. Wait…He couldn't be it, could he? Ikuto dodged her attempts to hug him. The blonde girl sat against the couch and pouted. "No fair…I never get to hug you."

"That's because I know your 'hug' pattern," He said. I tried to catch his eye, but he avoided my gaze. Ikuto was probably a popular name. I looked around for the cat, but I didn't see anything.

"Um…Ikuto? I don't see the cat here. Are you sure—" I stopped when the blonde girl glared at me. If looks could kill, I'd be dead in two seconds flat.

"Oh, Utau? This is my girlfriend, Amu." He smirked. Now I knew why he brought me here. Obviously, Utau likes Ikuto, and Ikuto wanted to aggravate her with me. With ME. Oh my God, I can't believe that I fell for this.

Utau turned on me and glared at me furiously. I backed up slowly until I hit the wall. I cowered over her tall figure. Please don't hurt me was the only thing that was going through my mind. She leaned in close to my face. "Who are you?" She barked.

"A-Amu Hina-amori. I'm I-Ikuto's baby-sitter." I shrieked, ducking and crossing my arms over my head.

"Utau! I was joking. I don't even know Amu." Ikuto came to my rescue and pulled Utau away. "She's just my personal assistant."

"WHAT?" I yelled, standing back up. "I'm baby-sitting you? But you said…the CEO said…you…You're supposed to be a cat!" I had to watch this guy? The image of stampeding fan girls made me shudder.

Ikuto laughed. "My stepdad? He always refers to me as a crazy, sneaky animal."

"…You'll be baby-sitting one sneaky cat…"I cannot believe that I did not see this coming. "So then…who are you guys?"

"I'm Ikuto Tsukiyomi, age 17. Actor and lead singer of the band Blue Strays." (Honestly, I have no idea. I thought of Stray Cats, but then I didn't know if somebody else had already used it.) My stepdad is the CEO of Easter, and we own the EEntertainment channel. (Lol, again, I have no idea.) I can't believe you never noticed any of my band posters or movie posters in the halls." He smiled and pointed behind me. I turned and saw a collage of pictures, posters, and clippings from newspapers and magazines. All of them were about Ikuto Tsukiyomi. "I do comedies and romances. But this summer, I'm going to do an action." Ikuto nudged Utau, and she explained in monotone who she was.

"I'm Utau Hoshino, the CEO is my dad (I know that Utau's last name IS Tsukiyomi), I'm 20, and a professional singer." She rolled her eyes. "Now get out of my dressing room, little girl."

Little girl? I'm 17! How dare she call me little! I ignored her. "So, I'm confused. Am I your personal assistant or your baby-sitter?"

"OUT!" Utau yelled, shoving us towards the door.

"Both," Ikuto muttered. The door slammed, and we were thrust out into the hallway.

I clapped my hands. "Well, my first assignment is to bring you up to your stepdad." I snatched his arm and attempted to pull him in my 'designated' direction. He stayed put. I pulled harder this time, but he wouldn't budge. "Dude, what up?" I asked.

"You have to say please." He smirked.

"Please." I tried to pull again, but his arm just slipped out of my grasp.

"Not like that. Here, let me show you." I blushed as he pulled my face toward him. His hair tickled my cheek as he nuzzled my neck. "Please," He whispered.

I pushed him away at once. "Ew! No way, you perv!" I took his arm and heaved. He didn't move an inch.

I stared at him in disbelief. I actually had to do that to get him to move. I gulped and copied him. "Please…" I muttered.

He smiled. "Okay. Let's go." He lifted me up bridal-style and practically flew up the steps. We got to the familiar dark door and he set me down.

I was at lost for words. "How…how did you…?" He wasn't even panting! And he ran up the stairs!

"I would've gone faster if you didn't weigh so much." He smirked and opened the door.

He did NOT just make fun of my weight! I'm not even fat! I was going to say something, but the CEO—and my boss—was right in front of us.

"Ikuto…good to see you." He motioned to me. "Amu, here is your schedule." He handed me a slip of paper. "And here is your pay." Ikuto's stepdad gave me a twenty.

"My first paycheck? But I didn't even do anything!"

"Well, you managed to get Ikuto to me. Usually, I have to pay a lot of people to find him. But you, how did you manage to get him here?"

I glared at Ikuto, still feeling the tickle from his soft blue hair. "I have…ways." I spoke through gritted teeth. Luckily, he didn't notice.

"Well, I certainly like your ways then. I'll see you tomorrow." He waved me away.

I nodded and turned. I stuck my tongue out at Ikuto when I walked past him. Wow. I can't believe it. I got twenty bucks and I've only been here for…I checked my cell. "Holy crap, I have to go!" I ran down the hallways and stairs, out the building and to the street. "Where did I put my bike?" I found it swiftly, and hopped on. I sped towards the hospital.

"Hey Ami…How's it going?" I moved towards the gray hospital bed slowly.

My little sister raised her delicate hand. She gave me a thumbs up. "Real good. The nurse gives me a sucker when I'm good." She smiled a big smile, flashing her teeth. I laughed.

My hand almost went to her head, but I stopped myself. Ami didn't know this, but I really missed her tangle of curly brown hair. She didn't have any left, because of the chemo. "Well, it's good that you're happy. I got a job today. I have to baby-sit Ikuto Tsukiyomi. Have you heard of him?" I asked softly, fighting back the urge to pet her missing hair. Don't break down now, Amu.

"Sissy got a job? Wow…I've never heard of Ikuto Tsukiyomi, but I know Iku-chan from Blue Strays! Maybe they're brothers."

I giggled. "I have to go now…But I'll ask Ikuto if he knows Iku-chan…Love you." I kissed her forehead and left.

"Bye!"

End of chapter one

2651 words and four pages. Well, I hope you liked it. This was kinda fun, actually. Well, see you next time!

~B-chan

Next Chapter Preview:

"I need you tonight."

"Eek! What the hell-GET OUT!"

This better be worth it.

Chapter Two: Let's Play Pretend