Tadase walked briskly, not stopping to look at anything in the brightly lit windows of the passing shops. It was cold and he wanted to get home as soon as possible. Tired, he turned the corner onto the street that will lead him to the close subway station that will then lead him to his warm house. He had stayed late to finish some stuff for the Guardians. He had stayed after they all left, saying he will only be there a couple of minutes, but instead worked a couple of hours. The boy was planning to go to the zoo tommaro with the rest of his guardian friends, so he didn't want the shadow of unfinished work lingering as they had fun. Smiling at this thought, he eagerly pressed on into the night.
Tadase turned the corner again, almost to the subway; he could see it at the end of the street. It was a very crowded street, many of the most popular shops and markets lined the wide road, in the center there stood an angel-shaped fountain. Here he stopped and gazed at the beautiful angel, standing strong and tall, protecting the paser byers as they hurried along to the next store, or stood in a group laughing and talking.
"Tadase will you hurry up!" and arrogant voice called from near his right ear. He turned and saw Kiseki floating there, looking as tired as he was himself.
"Sorry, it's a very pretty statue."
"I know I know but we look at it every time we come here! It's getting annoying!" The Guardian Character said, drifting back into is blue egg.
Tadase looked back up at the serious, proud face of the angel. "That's because it has the same effect on me every time."
He turned to go, but something caught his eye. Turning to see what it was, Tadase thought he caught a glance of bright pink hair, moving quite fast. He smiled. Hinimori-san- is she always out this late? The boy moved forward to greet her.
And stopped.
Next to the laughing girl stood a tall boy, rather like a man. He looked bord, but had an unmistakable glint of a smile in his eyes. He was wearing a tight uniform, showing that he had long, thin legs and the same form his arms. He looked at Hinamori-san with an unreadable expression.
It was Ikuto.
What is he doing here!? Tadase thought as he pushed forward, determine to help Hinamori-san, forgetting his tiredness and coldness. What is he doing with her!?
But something made him stop.
The two went into a restaurant. Hinamori-san looked reluctant, only going in when Ikuto said something, smirking. Amu looked guilty and then reluctantly entered the restaurant. Looking into the warm restaurant, Tadase saw them sit down and take off they're coats. They ordered, Amu yelling at Ikuto and Ikuto looking amused. They talked, Amu slowly getting more conferrable with her kidnapper, and Ikuto watching happily. The food came. Amu ate it with no fuss. No madness, no... No anything, except happiness. Her meal was very expensive. Ikuto looked happy at his catch. He noticed the happiness, and there was a feeling in his eyes, malice, happiness, proudness..... guilt?
As Tadase watched, feelings started to grow in him. Madness at Himamori-san, tiredness at the long day, longing, sadness, painfulness, uncertainty, guilt, betrayal and most of all... jealousy.
It started snowing.
As the feeling were about to explode, Tadase saw Ikuto get up, and say something to Amu. She nodded, and he left toward the bathroom. She sighed and sank back in to the chair, talking to her guardian characters. Tadase deiced to talk to her. He opened the door to the restaurant.
"I-I don't like him! Not at all!" Amu was saying, bright red in the face.
"Aw come on! There's that stubborn character! It's so obvious!" he guardian charas giggled.
"Is it really that obvious!?"
"So you admitted it!"
"W-what!? I did?!"
And they kept rambling on, but Tadase wasn't listening.
I want to…I want to…I want Amu to love me. I want to be her love; I don't want Ikuto to be it… I want to be… I…
I want to be Ikuto.
Some one shoved in to him, and he stepped back wards as if wrenched from dream. "Watch where you're standing k-" But the man didn't finish his sentence, Tadase was already halfway down the street.
The door slammed. Tadase stood there, breath coming out harshly, showing as clouds in the cold air. He slowly sank to the ground, sitting on the floor, existed, trying to recover. Breathing slowly, he concentrated on the floor in front of him, fighting a silent battle with an unknown foe. He closed his eyes tightly, losing the battle. His breath only coming out harder, his heart pounding faster. Kisaki, sensing something wrong, floated out of his eggs, looking worried
"Is there something wrong Tadase?"
Tadase said nothing, still breathing hard and looking at the floor.
"Come on Tadase, what's wrong?"
"I…" Tadase stammered "I… think…. Ugh." He winced again, his hands shivering, not from the cold.
Kiseki floated to Tadase's shoulder and tried to look into his face that was mostly concealed by his bangs. "Come on, are you hurt?"
Tadase did not answer again; he was clutching his chest, still breathing hard. A black light shown, coming from Tadase. Coming from his heart.
"Tadase!" cried Kiseki. Eyes wide, he drifted down behind the crouching boy, since the dark light was blinding.
The boy looked up, not seeming not notice the blinding light, his eyes were clouded over, he was sweating. "I…." he said again, his voice strange, not his own. "I want to be…." He winced. Looking down at the ground again.
In a weak voice he said "Ikuto…"
The light stopped as soon as it had begun, an egg floated down to the ground, pearly black. As it touched down it made al little thump, but no more sound was cast in the silent corridor. Kiskai stared at Tadase, Tadase stared at the floor, not daring to look up. Even if he already knew what will meet him.