I do not own any of the Shugo Chara franchise or the storyline of Toradora!
Episode 1: 氷の女王と黒猫 (Ice Queen and Black Cat)
Opening Song: "Pre-Parade" by Rie Kugimiya (Toradora Opening 1)
Summary:
Ikuto's target of interest is Amu, despite their special connection, Ikuto comes off short. Rima's heart of affection resides in Nagihiko, and despite their unique chemistry, Rima ends up being rude. Black Cat Ikuto with the reputation of bad luck and Ice Queen Rima who deemed herself royally cold. A pact is formed. Objective: Setting themselves with the other's best friend.
A take on of a Toradora! the plotline with that of the Shugo Chara Cast!
Perched upon power lines, the thick-to-thin electrical cords shook, a back to forth swing in tempo. The tawny feathered wings flapped, birds flew, and its moving figure casts a shadow over an unadorned, homey housing. Inside was a half-sized kitchen, linking to the living room. Off to the sides, the living area was branched out to two separate rooms, one quartered by a woman, currently sleeping. The other housed by a male, currently unoccupied, for the occupant already awoken. Also linked to the kitchenette was a bathroom, the sound of rushing water and splashing resonance.
"There is something in this world that no one has seen yet."
My eyes dilated, concentrating on the image at hand—my reflection. Upon the mirrored copy, I mentally compared my hair, my eyes, my nose, lips and etc. In mind, I held a lingering sigh, indeed I inherited the looks of my old man. From the shade of midnight blue hair, the hue of my eyes and down to the curb of my lips. It wasn't particularly bad that I was my father's carbon copy, he was a handsome man with talents of a phenomenon. He could have gotten any woman, but he settled for Souko... my mother. He disappeared from our lives at a younger age. My only knowledge was he sought for the pursuit of music, his own name was a play on his passion. Mother never got angry at the man, despite leaving her without a clue of his whereabouts, any announcement of his possible returning, no anger, no resentment… mother was kind. Her endearment to the man was easily shown, and every word spoken about the man was compliments of when they were 'still' together. Thanks to my mother's words, I can't hate the man, but I wish to have known him more. No, if anything, it was probably best I knew little before he left because if I didn't, I would have probably felt worse than I already do.
"It's something gentle and very sweet"
Mom and I live in a rundown structure, where just a small shower of rain has water leaking through the roof and seeped in the plaster of our walls, leaving a distinct stamp of its damage and traces of mold. We call this place, "home". Because the house is a bit rundown, we keep everything well clean and secured to prevent anymore spreading of mold or bringing in an unwanted guest, (or should I say pests). I stayed in the bathroom, continuing to stare and compare. Finally, the lingering sigh escaped my mouth, I stopped with my rejection, and I resumed to brushing my teeth. As soon as I finished, I threw away the empty toothpaste, only for it to tumble and fall to the floor; the items inside sprawled out. I groaned in annoyance and picked up the discards.
"And if you had been able to put your eyes on it, then you would yearn for it."
The room changed, from a simple living to a dark-cappuccino vanity, upon the wooden furnishing were maquillages: peach blossom gloss, patriot cherry rose lipstick, and petal perfume oil; the natural scent of Japan's national flora. A moisturizer that soothed her skin, an added plus of sun protection. Despite the lack of use, she had the foundation of natural, fair ivory and light ochre. There were the other valued cosmetics: eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, and blush. Along with a few hair decoration, ranging from small to big bows and to clips of assorted flowers. And simply, a comb. Center of the area was a feathered bedding—a canopy bed; that was a modern take on to the centuries-old stylings. Its four-long limbs were draped with beautiful white cotton. Upon the limbs tips, they held the white covers by its corners, as it shielded the occupant inside its chambers. In the chambers, a faint breath hitched, before falling back to tune to its breaths. Despite the soft expiration, mumbles also escaped the curved lips. Ivory blankets rustled, as a figure descended out of its slumber.
"That's why the world has hidden it."
My hair cascades over my body, my body felt numb and exhausted, as if I have slipped out of eternal sleep where my body has grown weak. Forcing my body to rise, and ignoring its wants to sleep, I straightened up. Once again ignoring my bodies' wants, instead of avoiding the radiance lingering out my window pane, I looked out towards it.
"To make sure that not just anyone can get their hands on it."
*Achoo* my nose crinkled from the sneeze, and I quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe my nose. I touched my nose, my mind imagines it red from the rough treatment of sneezing and wiping; it felt stuffy, dry and itchy…
…I was agitated.
"But at some point, someone will find it."
Upon one more reflection, I sighed to myself. Slow movements to exit out of the bathroom, I stood myself in the kitchen.
"That one person who is supposed to find it is also the one who will be able to find it."
A sneeze, another sneeze, sneezes and sneezes forcing its attacks, grabbing tissue over the tissue, over and over again. Maybe I should go see a doctor.
The two figures soon turned... "That's just how it is."
しゅ-ご-キャ-ラとと-ら-ド-ラ!
Sliding the black buttons into their respective holes, clasping the school uniform together. It's Monday… so today is combustible trash, I need to bring out everything. I grabbed the varying items fallen under, "combustible"—a broken ruler, torn rubber, kitchen scraps, and etc. From the plastic covered cylinders, taking the sorted out items, I dumped its contents into a random supermarket plastic bag. Double knotting it, I pulled the bunny-ears opposite, testing the knot's security. I put the trash aside at the front, once it was time to leave, I could take it out of the way. Separated by sliding doors, I entered the only gap that allowed obvious attachment to the two. From cement to tatami, the tatami pushed into the heel of my feet.
"Yoru, your still napping? It's already morning." Finding my voice in mumbles. A small "Nya~" was my only response as the black feline rolled to its side and ignore my presence.
I slid open my neighboring occupant's door, checking in on the person inside. I could see a lump of body sleeping on the futon, exhaling out peaceful breathes. My mother came home late last night again, supporting us. She's always exhausted when she comes home, I'm happy that she has times like this to rest.
"Ikuto, don't hide from me." I was halfway in position to leave her in sleep, I never turned to face her, but I could hear the rustling of sheets. Mother sat up. "Is it morning already?"
I finally turned to meet her eyes and gave a soft smile. "Hai, it's time to wake up."
She nodded and returned the gesture. "I'll be out in a minute." I nodded and shut the screen closed.
"I told you last night, don't make me repeat myself," I said in a small voice. I pulled over my shoulder a black blazer, stretching my arms to fit through the holes.
"I know, you start school today. The opening ceremony, congratulations on passing." Her voice was soft and weak but was sweet like honey. I couldn't look at her.
"Make sure you don't overwork yourself," I mumbled. Buttoning up the blazer, it was a good fit.
Mother started to settle herself at the table, as I started to set the food.
"The room seems darker, should I open the curtains?" Opening the rice cooker, puffs of steam emit out, the crackling of air bubbles sing to my ears. A wooden scoop in hand, I start piling the fluffy, white grain into two bowls.
"They're open." Judging by her silence, she was probably confused, but she got the idea once she looks towards the balcony. "Oh, that's a huge apartment building."
Once the rice was set, I moved on to plating, I plated the fried eggs and crispy bacon.
"Since it's been built, the sun isn't quite as shiny and it ruins my nap times." My voice was slightly sharp at the end, and I gave an unconscious scowl. I felt eyes dart at me, and I stare back, a small smile plastered on her face.
"You're beginning to look more like your father." She gleamed with happiness. I froze a bit from realization, I scowled again and ignored her words.
Opening the front door, I revealed myself to a familiar sight I see every morning. "Are you leaving? Have you eaten?" My mother's voice filled with concern.
"I ate."
Closing the door, trash in hand and a school bag slung over my shoulder. Steps down the rickety, old wood I threw the supermarket bag away with the other heaps of trash, covering it over with a green net.
Half-way to school, the neighborhood street finally connected to the main road; along came a view of teenagers dressed in Seiyo High attire.
To hear my own thoughts from my mother's mouth...
"My looks already look like him, will my personality be encrypted with his too."
Somehow I kept my eyes on the ground, a cemented grey world with cracks, dents, rocks, and pieces of greenery sneaking its way through the small openings. Too bad I didn't notice the presence coming up behind me.
"Hey! Wait up!" A feminine shout, the sound of running feet edging closer, and I find myself being knocked or "bumped" from the side. The two girls stopped and faced me, suddenly their eyes widen in shock and gleamed with happiness.
"Iku- Iku- IKUTO~" I sweat dropped at their antics, are they swooning? I ignored them and was about to walk around them. "Gomen (Sorry), Ikuto-sama. I didn't mean to bump into you." -Sama? Suddenly she apologized with a bow.
At least she's sincere though… I nodded and tried to continue forward. Suddenly they stopped me in their tracks again.
"Nani (What)?"
"Please accept this."
Now both bowed, arms outstretched and presenting something in their palms. I looked at the contents and mentally sighed, no groaned the loudest I've ever been. Money was presented.
"What are you doing?" They didn't say anything, and placed the money in my hands, running off soon after.
To a normal person, this behavior is to be counted as odd. But for some reason, I'm not "normal" and at school, this behavior has been going on since last year.
"Did you see that? That's the luck offering."
"What's the luck offering?"
"Tsukiyomi is handsome and all, but he's all bad luck. Just like a black cat." My ears twitched. Black cat... "So if you happen to stumble upon Tsukiyomi and did anything to him, you have to give an offering so you won't be cursed."
"That's terrible!" I sighed.
I'm not bad luck, I'm just a human being.
Boys and girls run scared from the black feline since it was a kitten it has experienced nothing but shunning and be disregarded as bad luck. Somehow the innocent soul learned to not care in this world, and though it lives lone… it doesn't mean it's not in pain.
I felt grim. "Bad luck like a black cat", if only someone understood me. But no one has the courage and believed false-set rumors. This rumor started back when I was younger after father left. People teased me and ignored me when I tried to fight back, coincidentally, a flower pot fell from the 2nd floor and almost landed on a kids head. Ever since then, I was known as bad luck, what a stupid thing to happen. But those who had no knowledge of such rumors, girls would confess to me. It wouldn't hurt to try, but once they heard the rumors, they broke up with me. I realized then that my looks were the only thing keeping me from being completely shunned by the world. But no one even wanted to know how I felt, it hurts. I gave up my lonesome thoughts because I finally found someone. Someone who stole my heart, a girl who charmed me with just a first glance, someone who never judged me like the others, she is now the very reason I even attend school, (besides mother); Hinamori Amu.
My midnight blue eyes were fixed on the moving clouds as it passed slowly, going the direction the wind orders it to; the fluff of white, transparent cloud transcend as the blue sky was it's dependent. My face unvarying, feeling unruffled by the school's background and atmosphere. Again I skipped classes, finding the school to be a waste of time and how troubling it was. With this, I could just relax and not worry; I continued to stare up at the moving shapes, "I want to be a cloud." I let out without a thought, before sitting myself up from the grassy plains outside the school grounds. Turning my head to the left and leaning it back, I stared at a pink haired teen.
"You- you shouldn't be skipping." She stuttered, you could tell that she wasn't used to talking to someone like me, but she did give a good try.
"It's none of your business." Concluding that it was just another person that will annoy me, I laid back down and enjoyed the time I had. The girl felt frustrated a little.
I closed my eyes once again and through my eyelids, I could feel light peeking through. But it changed when the light vanished. My eyes shot open as I found my gaze fixed on the same girl that bothered me a minute ago; so she didn't leave. Her shadow casts over me, blocking any sun to reach my field of vision. I continued to stare, honey-yellow eyes clashing with midnight blue, a staring contest of sorts. It took a minute to take a good look at her features, she had pink hair, tied with an X to make a side ponytail. Honey pools for eyes, with a glisten in them. Her skin was indeed fair, with a petite figure. Her lips were curved down into a frown while she continued to stare at me.
"To skip class, there must have been a good reason. But what I see, your reason seems to be..." Purposely making her words unfinished, now it was my turn to frown.
"Looks can be deceiving." Smiling at my witty answer, the girl didn't move from her position.
"Then..." She started, the next thing the girl does shock me. She plopped herself right next to me, bringing her legs up and hugging it with her arms. "Why don't you give me your reason, we have time don't we?" She said.
I stared, this girl... Soon, my lips curved up, creating a smile; but not any smile, a genuine.
She returned a smile, "What's your name?" Curiosity getting the best of me.
"Hinamori Amu." She looked back at me with the same gleam I just had.
"Tsukiyomi Ikuto."
Again? How are you finding this money?" The lost and found cleric said in astonishment.
I shrugged. The only answer he got from me after so long. I exited out of the school, heading towards the pinned up pieces of paper near the front entrance. People have gathered around, there were smiles and groans of disappointment. I was in the back of the crowd, scanning the board for my name. Once I spotted it, I couldn't help but give a smirk. Suddenly there was a rustling of feet, and I mentally sighed. Everyone distanced themselves from me, in hope of not getting near.
"Don't get too close, we don't want bad luck on our first day of school." I heard students mutter. That's my cue to walk off.
"Ikuto-niisan."
"Tsukiyomi-kun." Behind me was Hatori Tadase, someone who I knew since young, and treated like a kid-brother. Next was Fujisaki Nagihiko, someone I was acquainted with last year.
"We're both in the same class this year, Nii-san." Tadase Hatori still has the habits of calling me, "Nii-san".
Tadase's family knew my family, and from there a kinship grew. A cute fact, he used to say he wanted to be, "King of the World" Though, I always kidded him by nicknaming him, "Kiddy King." Sometimes "Prince", since half the female population saw him as such. Fujisaki Nagihiko befriended me last year, as said before. We became pretty close, it was people like him that never judged a person on rumors. Though my way of teasing him, he looks a lot like a girl; "crossdresser".
The entrance ceremony ended soon, and everyone was settling in their homerooms and catching up with friends. The three of us took our time, catching up and anything important this summer. (It was more Nagihiko and Tadase catching, and me nodding.)
"New class year and the rumors are spreading like a wildfire." Penetrating eyes locked on me, along with weary looks.
"It's okay Nii-san."
"We know already, so it won't be unnecessary for everyone." I nod at their support and gave a small smile.
Close to homeroom, aka 2-C. "Ohayo (Good morning), Tadase-kun, Nagihiko-kun, and Ikuto-kun." The voice was silver bells-pleasing, it was her. "Hm... we're in the same class this year?" The pink smiled a little but tried to hide it by acting cool.
Amu Hinamori. Since last year, what I know, she has a habit of acting "cool and spicy"—or so her fans say. But unlike those "fans", I've had a real look of Hinamori Amu. A hand on her hip and her bag slung over her shoulder. Same old Amu, her hair, tied up with a red X to the side, the length still the same, her fashion style, petite and pale skin and especially her 'Fake Exterior'.
"You're in class C too? Amu-chan." Nagihiko asked with a welcoming smile.
Amu's presence was suddenly comforting, easing my tension from before. Amu nodded, her attention shifted, gaze at me. *Bump* did my heart just… beat?
"Do you still remember me, Ikuto?" Hope obviously shown, and brimming in her eyes. I didn't speak for a second, the sound of my name was honey; I felt my breath hitched.
I finally nodded, "Hinamori Amu." I answered, I mentally slapped myself as my voice came out sly.
Amu tried to hide her smile, as she nodded. But soon her lips furrowed up, as she said out the words.
"That's good." The softness and happiness in her voice, the scene could get any guy and their heart pumping. "Jya (Then), talk to you later, Tadase-kun, Ikuto, and Nagi-kun." As she walked steadily away.
"Ah," Tadase said. I watched Amu's leaving form, entranced.
Without realizing, Nagihiko and Tadase's attention moved onto something else. Wait… did she just say my name?
"And then-" Suddenly they halted their conversation, noticing who was walking in front of them.
A girl with the height no more than a middle school student walked the halls, everyone sneaking glances at her, especially the boys, pink obviously printed on their cheeks. But they knew better, thinking they know what's really under all the beauty, it was an Ice-Queen.
Every person she passes, all would avoid her gaze. Her eyes of caramel candy, something sweet hid the Queen altitude of harsh.
"What's wrong, Nii-san?" The girl continued to walk.
"Nothing. I'm just going to skip today." Ikuto mumbled, the two friends frowned.
"Nii-san..." "*Sigh* See you in class, Tsukiyomi-kun." Nagihiko pushing a reluctant Tadase forward. Leaving the teen alone.
Ice Queen was approaching her destination—Room 2-C.
A wave goodbye to Nagihiko and Tadase, I turned a heel, suddenly I felt a shot to my abdomen. I took a step back. Everyone's voices suddenly got louder, then fell small; murmurs turning into whispers. Even though I had eyes on me before, everyone's gazes now are… agonizing.
"Oh crap. What kind of coincidence is this?"
"Tsukiyomi Ikuto and Mashiro Rima, already meeting each other? Why are the two meeting like this?!"
Who? I took a glance down, my eyes were transfixed with blonde locks. I took steps back, creating a distance between us. A girl stood in front of me, and if looks could me monotone, hers' were completely deadpan. I eyed her up down and noticed an apparent attribute to the girl. Chibi...-chan… her height. Small, just like a doll. But... Finally, her head moved, and quickly all the guys had hearts in their eyes. My thoughts were right, she looked almost as pretty as a doll, her pale skin, perfect complexion, candy-colored eyes, and curly locks. How could you not love it? She opened her mouth.
The air was cold and tense, there were shivers, and I tried to back away. 'She's here. Ice Queen-sama.' Their thoughts displayed on their faces, they too backed away. This girl was bringing a huge uproar-just without the roar; this girl... Noticing the change of atmosphere and how humans became chickens, I just continued to stare at "Rima". Was that her name?
"Really, the Black Cat and the Ice-Queen."
There it was again, the names. Ice Queen? I found myself imagining Rima, a small and cute girl, becoming an Ice Queen.
"Ice... Que-" I received an icy glare. Suddenly, I had repeated banter of insults.
"You're an idiot aren't you?"
'Eh?'
"Because all I could see if your stupid face ogling me without a word of apology. I'll excuse your insolence, but next time know your place commoner."
Emphasizing the word stupid and... commoner. She really is an Ice-queen. Suddenly I was jolted harshly, she just pushed me out of her way, acting all high and might; a royal. I stumbled to the side a bit, but never completely losing my composer. …what a b*tch.
Everyone stared shocked and were in awe; the scene they just experienced seemed unreal. The "Ice Queen", the girl is known to be rude, snarky and was "Royally Cold". Just dominated the boy, "Black Cat" deemed as "cursed", where anyone to cross his path would be experiencing a stroke of bad luck.
Black Cat, Ikuto and Ice Queen, Rima. Despite their lives were lived out differently, despite their on physique and personality contrast, and despite the way, they cope with their issues differ. In the end…
Both couldn't have been more similar, as they are different.
Ending Song: "Vanilla Salt" by Yui Horie (Toradora Ending Song 1)
Author Notes: Episode 1 Part 1, Complete! I've been meaning to write this fic. For about three years. I always thought, what if Rima and Ikuto were in the story, Toradora! So, I created this. Also, some of the things weren't exactly like the story and vice versa, because I kind of had to make the characters and plotline fit. Bye-bye!
P.S. CHECK OUT MY WATTPAD, "Made2352" aka Mai Yume to see the story which INCLUDES the songs already.
Review, Favorite or follow, or maybe none at all. I only take flames if they are about my writing, not on my couple choice. Some characters may be OOC (Out of Character) so they can fit the plot line of the story.