Chapter One
And so the halcyon days end...
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STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIED.
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It was summer break. The heat radiating from the usual fiercely burning sun hid itself. It was odd considering it's summer. But the sky was painted gray and no light penetrated through it. It was so dark…so gloomy. It felt damp as I walked along the sidewalk in my casual wear.
But that was the day when he appeared, covered in a white dress shirt, the top three buttons left unbuttoned with a loosened tie and black pants, all stained with blood. The red was pooling on the sidewalk. His hair was encrusted with the dried up substance but I could still see his smooth midnight-blue hair and pretty face distorted in pain.
I didn't know how I did it but I managed to drag that man who was possibly three times my weight back to my home, the guestroom, without my parents notice.
The whole thing was like a dream. The me, who was taking off his clothes excluding the pants, cleaning his wounds and then patching them. Some looked like it was harmed from knives and bullets.
A part of me warned myself of this seemingly dangerous man but my maternal instincts kicked in and the thought left me as soon as it came.
He woke up once. He immediately bolted up. I jumped in surprise at the suddenness. He glared at me, eyes filled with hostility. The man was about to get up when I murmured to him to stay down, his wounds weren't healed yet. He paused; it felt like hours, before… surprisingly, he complied.
I finally noticed his eyes. It was a light shade of mauve and purple that reminded me of amethyst stones, I watched as it soften but caution was still evident.
He stayed at my place a total of three days and we never exchanged a word besides me telling him my name. He just nodded mutely, looking uninterested. I never bothered to learn about him or his name, my brain dropping hints to not to. Of course I was curious but it felt like my voice wasn't needed. He didn't seem to mind either.
One night when I was handing him over some congee, he spoke for the first time…
I flinched, seeing as I never heard his voice before.
His voice was almost inaudible but I heard it because of the close proximity.
"Thanks."
It was hoarse but his tone was gentle and filled with fluidity even though he's still injured.
The next day when I came into the guestroom to check on him…
The mysterious man who didn't looked too much older than me…was gone.
The bed was made and everything was as it were. It's as if he was never there in the first place.
The only thing left… was a grocery bag full of candy snacks that you can find at an old granny's house.
I felt like I've just been punked.
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C o o l & S p i c y !
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"Oh my gosh! Look! Look!"
She walked pass, school bag in hand dangling over her shoulders. Her iPod was in the other hand, earphones plugged in. Her two inches pass the shoulder pink hair flying after her. It was adorn by her signature red x clip. It pinned up a small messy ponytail on the upper left side.
(I noticed your eyes are always glued to me)
Many faces turned to stare at the sixteen-year old girl, a cool and mysterious aura surrounding her.
A squeal. "It's the cool and spicy Hinamori-senpai!"
Some compliments. "Look at her clothes!" A girl sighed dreamily. "I would give anything for her wardrobe." Her attire consisted of the normal school uniform, spiced up with a red belt, a mini case attached to it with chains, along with an upper arm cloth and fancy leg warmers.
You can have it.
(I got a lot to say to you)
Gossip was in the air. "I heard her mother's a famous writer for Buono! Magazine,"
No, she's a writer for Housewives' Knowledge.
"And her father's an award winning photographer! He took a lot of celebrity pictures! Even that famous singer, Hoshina Utau!"
No, he's a photographer for birds.
"Wow! She's so lucky!"
"Oh! Have you also heard of Hinamori Ami?"
"Isn't she that child star?"
"Yup! That's her little sister!"
"No way!"
Ami did a diaper's commercial…once.
And some insults. "It's so obvious that she's just trying to get attention." That sneer came from a jealous Yamabuki Saaya, the previous IT girl before the arrival of Hinamori Amu.
No I'm not.
"Tch, what's so great about her? Trying to act all cool and whatnot, what a faker." A girl to the left of Saaya complained.
"Who the hell does she think she is?" A girl on Saaya's right side finished.
I don't want this attention at all!
(Yeah I got a lot to say)
Amber eyes stared straight ahead, tuning out the hushed conversations among the student body with her iPod, a thumb twirled the volume higher.
The sophomores stared impassively. The freshmen stared in confusion. A kid with scruffy auburn red hair stepped forward bravely and dared to ask, "What's going on? Who is she?" innocently.
Silence.
(They taped over your mouth)
"…"
A random sophomore finally answered him. "Take some notes kid, Hinamori Amu is the school's IT girl." "If you want an unhappy high school experience then go ahead and cross her."
All the freshmen gulped and that was the end of that.
(Scribbled out the truth with their lies)
The hallways were noisy and crowded. But when she appeared, everybody's voices lowered to a minimal, an automatic path was cleared for her. It was the first day of school again. It's been officially one year since she enrolled here but yet, her overall friends: zero and enemies: countless.
(Your little spies)
Eyes filled with hearts, awe, envy and fright followed the girl's movements.
(Crush Crush Crush)
Ugh, will you stop staring already?!
(Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone)
She could still hear the contained whispers from the student body. It was only when she reached her homeroom, pulled open the door and shut it that she could turn off her iPod.
At last, the constant buzzing dissolved.
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The room was empty. I couldn't help but sigh a breath of relief and disappointment as I made my way to the back rows, grabbing a seat by the window.
It was always like this. The students would chatter away, making up lies as they go along. I can never get my real thoughts in order and always end up saying the opposite of what I'm really feeling.
No one understood me, not even my own family. There will always be this transparent barrier between me and everyone else.
I don't know what this feeling is, always pressuring at my heart. I'm guessing it's loneliness? I shook my head rapidly at this, trying to erase the thoughts.
I didn't mean to give off such an impression. I never really was good with words. It wasn't my fault my mom enjoys buying me clothes and has the weirdest tastes. They just assume I was a rebelling punk because I wear gothic Lolita fashions.
But I'm not like that…I'm not. I'm completely different!
I actually really want to try wearing girly clothes for once. I want to try wearing makeup, I want to try being a normal girl and do normal teenage things. Going to the movies, shopping with your girlfriends, randomly text messaging in class or going to gokons (1) and maybe get a sweet boyfriend.
I don't want all this attention. I don't want to be "cool and spicy".
I want to…
I just want to…
Be me.
It's suffocating to always have an outer character. It seems like I can never overcome my shell. So please god…just someone, anyone give me the strength…the courage…
Give me the power to be who I am.
And those were the exact words I muttered a week ago. I guess that sums it all up of why there's a floating pink fairy in front of me. Oh whoops, a shugo chara I meant.
Ran was covered in pink from head to tie. Her pink cap was partially covering her pink ponytail, a lighter pink cowboy-like handkerchief was around her neck along with a cute pink mini shirt and pink running shoes holding pink pompoms, yes pompoms.
I can see she's too entranced by the school, being the first time she's been in one. Otherwise, she wouldn't be so quiet.
"Ran?"
"Ran…"
"RAN."
"RAN!!"
A squeal resounded and she flew onto my nose, smacking it. It actually hurt.
"Oww…Ran, don't do that."
"Amu-chan! Amu-chan! Going to school is amazing! Can you take me here everyday? Everyday?" Hopeful pink eyes blinked.
I didn't bother to even answer her and just sighed again. I guess she took that as a yes since she's doing a little victory dance.
I stared inside my mini red case that was attached to my belt. Three colourful eggs came into view. One egg covered in pink, decorated with line patterns and pink hearts was the one where Ran hatched from
The second one was identical except it was blue and was covered with spades instead. The last one was green and had green clovers adorning it.
It'd be a lie if I said I didn't freaked out when the eggs appeared the next morning after my wish.
My hand twitched and a finger reached over to feel the blue egg, it was warm. I wonder when it will be time for it to hatch?
My hand quickly snapped back when the bell rang and all the kids started filing in.
I put back on my stoic mask and stared out the window, still feeling the curious stares drilling into my back.
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Twenty minutes passed by. The teacher was late.
Thump. The sound of dropping books and an "Ouch!" was heard.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds—
The slide of an opening door entered a man with long, slightly curly hair tied in a ponytail. He was dressed in a messy white shirt, orange tie and beige dress pants accompanied with a beige coat. He wore plain spectacles and had a goofy grin plastered onto his face. His books were dropping everywhere.
Many students watched him in amusement.
"Hahaha, sorry I'm late class!" He grinned.
"I'm new to the school so I got a little lost." He ended the sentence with a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head. That notion caused him to drop all of his books. It earned a few giggles while I scoffed at his stupidity.
"Call me Nikaidou-sensei, I hope we get along. Ahahaha…" He continued laughing, his voice went on but I wasn't paying attention.
I found his laughter annoying and he got even more annoying when he called me "Himamori" when he remembered he needed to take attendance.
Thankfully, homeroom ended quickly. I rushed out of the classroom as composed and as poker-faced as I could. Even though I did that, I still heard that annoying "Byebye" of his.
Ugh I knew it, this school year is going to suck just like last year. I really do hate high school.
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The day rushed by. All the teachers were the same. They explained the classroom rules; about respecting your teacher, your classmates, your classroom, blah, blah, blah, you know…the usual and then handing out the course's year outlines. Ran was "sightseeing" and squealing in joy the whole time. The only thing worthwhile today was the no homework.
Just two more years, I reminded myself, just two more years in order to get out of this place.
I followed the student traffic and made my way outside. I craned my head back to glare at the school. It was like a magical castle, all sparkly and glittery with the towers and cleanliness, the structure of the building looked like it came out of a fairytale. It doesn't even look like a high school. A vast viridian grass field surrounded it with expensive looking flowers in little huddles planted on them.
Little chirps from the birds caught my attention as I saw two of the said animals dancing around in the clear stroke of a blue sky.
As I returned my head back to its original position, everyone was scattered everywhere. Some students were making their way out the gates; some were heading to the soccer field while others lingered around. I overheard some girls making plans for karaoke. I could only sigh, wishing I were in their place.
Then go ask to join them Amu-chan!
I sighed again. "I would but that's not my charac—"
Whoa. Major hold up. Back up. What. The. Heck. Was. That?!
I whipped my head around, twisting my head left and right to see whom the voice came from. But nobody looked suspicious. Ran wasn't even paying attention, eyes still sparkling of her surroundings.
I shook my head, I was finally going insane.
Don't be a wimp. Go on!
Yes, going insane. I was a bit ticked seeing I was called a wimp. Why yes, I knew I was one but did it really have to say it?! Suddenly, a glow of blue caught my eyes and then I realized the baby blue egg was floating in front of me. The same event happened when Ran hatched when I was about cook her into a sunny side up three days ago.
I raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that I didn't spazz like the last time.
Crack. Crack. Break.
And…a little blue midget popped out of it.
Ran jumped in glee, pompoms floating in the air and mouth grinning from side to side. "Ohh! A new addition the family!"
My amber eyes narrowed, bringing my face closer and squinting at the little blue creature.
It had the same look Ran did but it had a sense of…arrogance to it? Her hair was covered by a baby blue painter's hat. She was clad in a little artist outfit and shorts, along with a newspaper bag. She was cute!
"Wow, that sure took a while. You're pretty slow Amu-chan." I take back my compliment. I glared at it but the blue shugo chara was unfazed, sending me a full-blown stare instead.
We continued glaring at each other until Ran interrupted us by doing another little cheer routine. We ignored her.
"So?" It spoke. I raised a finely trimmed eyebrow, not comprehending what it meant. It sighed in annoyance, probably thinking I was retarded. A vein throbbed on my forehead.
"Aren't you going to ask those girls," She gestured with a twist of her head "if you can join them?" She finished.
It took me a while for the gears in my head to start grinding…
One.
Two.
Three.
Is she nuts?! That isn't my character! That isn't my character at all! I'm supposed to be cool, calm and collected, indifferent etcetera, etcetera…not asking to go karaoke-ing.
As if reading my mind, the little midget said, "You really are a wimp." A smug smirk appeared on its face.
High school really sucks.
"No. No I'm not." I stated through gritted teeth.
A few students turned to look at me. Normal people are unable to see shugo chara's unless they have one of their own Ran explained a while ago so right now…
I conclude that I look pretty mentally unstable, seeing as I'm talking to carbon dioxide.
"Hmm…but aren't you lonely?" What the hell does she know?!
"Hey Ran…" It called and Ran stopped. It seem like they were sending each other telepathic messages. I tried to interrupt, "Hey you—"
"CHARACTER CHANGE!"
The x clip poofs into a heart clip.
Oh god.
This isn't good. Why? One, I started feeling a rush of girl power in me. Two, things started looking fluffy and sparkly in one of those shoujo manga's I secretly read. Three, the blue midget whose name I still have not gotten was grinning at me in triumph. Four, I said "Yoo-hoo" to the girls making karaoke plans earlier. They were staring at me weirdly. "May I—"
BOOM!
An explosion. Debris of the soccer field flew everywhere. Giant clouds of smoke surrounded the area but it cleared a bit.
Wow, saved by a terrorist attack but my eyes eventually widen.
What remains of the soccer field was…
A giant crater on the ground and…crimson.
Blood. Lots and lots of blood and puddles of it were sinking its way into the dirt.
The students! My mind screamed. Everybody in that area was wiped out entirely.
Anguished cries and yells resonated everywhere. My heart clip quickly reverted to its original x.
The blue midget and Ran looked on nervously.
Stampedes of students started running, one of them pushed me thus leading me to meet the dirt. I just made eating someone's dust literal.
Ran was beside me. She started looking worried. "The Yakuza (2)…" She whispered.
"The Yakuza?" I repeated.
"Easter…" The blue midget added. Easter?
I looked on, concern overwhelming me. The students on the soccer field! I didn't know what possessed me to do it but my feet started moving on its own.
"Hey!" The blue midget called after me.
While the other students were trying to run away from the exploded area, I was running towards it.
Suddenly, another explosion. I flew back with force, scraping against the ground.
"Amu-chan!" Ran floated quickly to me.
I was mesmerized at my bloodstained palms and knees. My uniform was ripped in places but I was distracted.
A sparkle and a flash of yellow, a shining clover-like lock.
I whipped my head around, almost getting whiplash but I didn't mind.
A boy about my age all bloodied and tattered with blonde hair ran passed me. It was like I was in a movie because the moment he passed me, it felt like everything was in slow motion. It was a bit blurry but I could tell, the blonde was handsome. I also noticed a small prince-like person wearing a crown floating beside him. That thing looked similar to Ran and the blue midget.
But is this really the right time to be thinking about those sorts of things?! God, I really need a boyfriend.
That was when another person appeared, a bit older. His whole form was covered in black with a tail… and…cat ears?!
With graceful feline-like movements, the man chased after the boy from before. It seems like they didn't notice me.
I gasped when the man's arm evolved into a giant blue claw, swinging it toward the running boy.
The latter didn't seem to notice.
"Look out!" I called in desperation but neither heard me.
The claw hit him…hard. The blonde boy cried out in pain, drops of blood splattered everywhere. He then fell to the floor, half unconscious.
I was scared, a thread away from hyperventilating. I saw the boy struggling to get up but coughed out more blood instead and fell back down. The man with cat ears and midnight blue hair walked towards him slowly.
Wait, what…?
A quiet breeze blew, blue locks whipping against his face. Most of the students evacuated to a safe area already so it was eerily quiet.
Then…recognition dawned on me. It was the injured man from a month ago! I couldn't see his face properly but the moment I first met him was unforgettable. The mysterious air, the flawless movements, the calm fury...
But why…?
I almost didn't notice Ran urging me to help the half-dead boy. How can I do that?! I'm only good at being cool and spicy! And…that—that man! He's…!
I continued watching. I watched as the man I saved a month ago picking up the boy by the collar. I watched as he swiped the shiny clover-like lock I spotted earlier, I also watched when the cat man dropped the boy roughly to the ground.
Ran gasped loudly, "The Humpty Lock!"
The Humpty what?
"We can't let him have it!" Ran exclaimed, almost in panic mode. "Amu-chan! You mustn't let the lock fall into the hands of Easter! Amu-chan!"
I was dumbfounded. I saw him raising his claw-like arm again as if he was about to deal the finishing blow.
"If you want something done, you have to do it yourself Amu-chan! Save that boy!"
I knew Ran was right.
"I…"
I don't know what's going on and I'm seriously afraid as hell. But I knew. I had to do something. I just…I just had to.
"I know."
Suddenly, all signs of danger rushed out of me. My fists clenched tightly and I stood up with all the strength I could muster.
My fearful eyes faded into one of determination.
The blue midget finally smiled.
"By the way…" She said, "My name's Miki." It was genuine.
The last thing I saw was the same cold amethyst gaze from him, the widen eyes of the blonde from earlier, Ran grinning before glowing…lots and lots of glowing.
"Unlock... my heart."
Sparkle.
Spinning.
Blue.
Miki went back into her egg.
Spades.
The Humpty lock.
Glitter.
Hair going loose.
Sleeves. Laces. Leggings.
The blinding light expanded.
A wink.
A blue dominated background.
Pose.
"Chara-nari! Amulet Spade!"
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Author's Note: Because Amuto is the next SasuSaku. x)
Yuck, this chapter took me a while. I'm trying out a new writing style to make it easier on the eyes but I don't think it's working too well.
So, shall I continue?
! Kat.
Vocabulary:
(1) Gokon - A group blind date with participants looking for potential girlfriends/boyfriends.
(2) Yakuza - Crime organizations that operate in Japan.