Disclaimer: Shugo Chara! © Peach-Pit
Rating: T for themes.
Story Notes: College AU, all main characters are older between 18 and 25. Main ship is IkutoXAmu, secondary feature is NagihikoXRima, other ships will most likely be hinted. Tadase will not feature heavily in this book.
AN: Another day, another story. Finally re-uploading some of my remakes though this one went through some serious overhaul. Hope it is all for the better.
Phoenix
Chapter 1: Amu Hinamori
Amu Hinamori stared wide eyed at the large establishment before her. Her honey suckle irises couldn't seem to fathom what was before her. Seiyo Arts Academy, in all its architectural glory loomed over the first year. But rather than intimidate her, it fascinated her. Curved archways laced the outside of the building, held by heavy columns of stone. She let out the breath she wasn't aware she was holding, she'd never seen such intricate circles and swirls etched into stone before. Her boots tapped lightly forward and she held out her delicate hand, hovering over the support beam, afraid to touch the equally delicate design. She shook her head, bobbing her bubblegum pink hair about her soft face; she had to get a hold of herself. It was her first actual day at the college of her dreams, she couldn't lose it now. Patting her cheek to bring her back to reality, she nodded and stepped confidently through the open wooden doors.
The delighted pink girl hesitated again once inside, it was all so large and spacious, Amu just didn't know what to do with herself. She hugged the small backpack she brought as she walked, unzipping and pulling out a schedule the school had sent her in the mail. She had Camera studies first. Her vision danced around from hallway to hallway, taking in the signs of classroom numbers. She slowly breathed in, trying to keep her brain from overloading. "You can do this." She mumbled as a sort of mantra, repeating it a couple times over. It did the job, calming her enough to decide which direction to take. She brushed through small crowds of artsy folk, all in clashes of different styles and personalities. She'd chosen something casual, a comfortable black tank shirt-dress over grey denim jeans, with appropriate accessories for flare. She wasn't much of a forward girl but all the different convergences of fashion; the types and expressions. Oh how much fun she was going to have! With an excited bounce, she ventured forth to her class.
"I'm Amu Hinamori, I hope to learn anything and everything about film and television. Uhh," She considered what to add to her introduction, she was in a small class of sixteen, including herself. They had been filed into a reasonable lecture hall; rows of seats with table attachments were ready to seat twenty-six or so kids. Amu had sat at the middle end, not wanting to sit at the back and not knowing the students who bee-lined for the front enough meant she wouldn't sit comfortably there. Most granted her half their attention, a few stared at the floor and nodded to music in their ears, the rare one or two observed her intently. A polite individual seated next to her, Amu wasn't sure whether male or female, smiled kindly to her as she spoke nodding in turn to what she said, "And uhh, I've worked in arts before so I hope my skills transfer."
"What have you done?" The chatty instructor beamed, interested.
"Oh, I…" Amu blushed lightly, her face only a fainter hue of her hair, "I dance, and draw a little and I've made cosplay-" She didn't mean to add the last part, the last time she'd used that term inside school she received many weird looks.
"So you work in costume design?" The instructor practically jumped up from his chair, knowing the term Amu used. She gained a number of more concentrated eyes at that. Students waited for her response.
"Well, yes, you could say that. I'm not professional or anything, my Mum taught me most of what I know in high school."
"I think you're going to fit in well here."
Amu half smiled, embarrassed, before nodding and sitting down finally. The uneasiness swept away from her at parking herself onto a seat once again, the next student rose, the ambiguous one. Their voice didn't help clue her in either, it was dainty and light but low enough to possibly be male.
"I am Nagihiko Fujisaki. I also dance, and I have modelled. Someone inspired me to join film and television. So here I am." The long haired individual smiled brightly, a few mumbles erupted and quickly he added, "I am indeed male," This stunned the class momentarily, only the teacher seemed unfazed.
"That's amazing Nagihiko! And how wonderful that you were inspired by someone, anyone I would know?"
"I think everyone might know her." Nagihiko glanced away, a smaller reserved smile gracing his thin lips, "Rima Mashiro." Another eruption of murmurs as the teacher perked.
"She attends this school! You're on a similar schedule."
"I- we are?" He asked, half dazed by the fact.
"Sure! You'll probably see her around now and again."
"That's-" Nagihiko stared at his feet, a dopey grin hitting him as he blushed. Amu seemed to be the only person who noticed, seeing as she was sitting right next to him. "That would be amazing." He stood still for a second before realizing he could sit back down and when he did he seemed as relieved as Amu had. She gave him an encouraging smile, and the last few students introduced themselves. The lesson was cut shorter, due to the long get-to-know-you games and memory cues to remember each other's names. The instructor pleasantly touched on what they would be learning and what they would get to use throughout the semester before finally wishing everyone a happy first week.
Nagihiko reached out to Amu, lightly tapping her. "Yes?" She asked, a little awed by Nagihiko's feminine charm.
"Would it be terribly rude of me to join you for lunch? I don't know anyone here and you seem really nice."
"Did you miss orientation too?"
Nagihiko nodded, "Photo shoot." He explained.
"Dance." Amu agreed.
They both exchanged subtle looks of understanding as they walked out, side by side. Nagihiko untied his deep, dark blue locks, leaving only the straight fringe that dangled over his brow untouched. "Wow, you look so pretty." Amu sighed, Nagihiko glanced her way, caught off guard. His cheeks reddened and he sheepishly did the bow in his hair back up. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Amu slapped her face with her palm, "You're a guy. You're not pretty you are handsome. Strong and handsome!" She enforced, trying to fix the social blunder she'd just made.
"It's ok." Nagihiko waved a hand dismissively, "I get it a lot."
"No, I won't get it wrong a second time. Promise. You, Nagihiko Fujisaki, are a handsome male." She repeated determinedly.
He chuckled, shaking his head slightly, "You sure are a weird Amu. Good weird." He beamed, flashing a brilliant smile. As they continued through the hall a petite blonde bumped into Amu's shoulder, forcefully. The smaller girl could have been barrelled over if not for the fact she had Nagihiko to land on. He caught her instinctively, like a dancer, placing a hand over hers and the other under her back. He pulled her up carefully and furrowed his brow in the direction of the older girl. She quickly turned with the most apologetic pout.
"I am so, so sorry." She said, batting long lashes. "I just don't know my own strength." She placed a hand on her hip, holding the other over her heart in the most sincere of gestures, "Please forgive me," Her voice was as smooth as honey and Amu had sworn she'd heard it somewhere before, "Lucky your boyfriend was there to catch you. I couldn't even dream of how much that would have hurt." She continued. Amu's cheeks heated.
"We-"
"I'm afraid you have the wrong impression Utau. Amu and I are not dating." It clicked. This was the Utau Hoshina. She looked different without the stage outfits; Ami was always going on about her, Amu never considered what she'd look like in Summer casual. A white tank top with denim shorts, and a breezy sheer opal over-shirt that hung off all the right curves, Amu couldn't help feeling a little self-conscious now.
"That's such a shame, you look so cute together." Utau insisted, starting to inch further from them, towards her classroom.
Nagihiko chuckled, "I'm afraid my heart already belongs to another."
To this the blonde giggled, smiling slyly, "I wouldn't give up on just those words Amu." She winked playfully, "Sorry again." She waved them off before skipping away. Nagihiko's ochre eyes lingered over Utau suspiciously. Amu couldn't hazard a guess why; although it was likely due to her brain having fried from what had just occurred. It took the distracted boy another few moments before he realised he still had an arm around Amu.
"I'm so sorry." He apologised, instantly tearing his hands away. Amu was about to say there was nothing to be sorry for when her stomach grumbled loudly. The sound turned both of their attentions away from the whole situation. Looking back up at each they smirked before bursting into fits of laughter. "Let's get some food, shall we?" The indigo gentlemen gestured forward. They exchanged interests in arts as they wandered, thankfully without getting lost, to the upstairs cafeteria.
It was three o'clock by the time her classes had ended. With a wave of her dainty hand she bid Nagihiko goodbye before turning down the street towards her shared apartment. Every time Amu had come in and out of there she'd never had the chance to see whom she shared it with. It made her curious, and slightly uncomfortable to not know. She bumped into something, lost in thought, "I'm sorry." She instantly started, she'd dropped the contents in her hand; an overview of her classes and some introductory papers. Immediately she crouched down to pick the work up but was met with a neat pile already assembled by slender, yet masculine, hands. He held out the thin sheets with one hand next to another palm up. Amu absently reached for it, but shook her head, thinking twice, and quickly diverted her hand to the stack of paper. She stood back up, finally looking the person in the eye. What fantastic sky night blue eyes they were. The bubbly pink breathed in absently, holding onto it, the male before her was a fine example of man. He tugged at the collar of his t-shirt, a bland blue underneath a white over shirt, as he scratched his neck casually. His other hand had returned to the pocket of his jeans. The mysterious male tilted his head towards the girl, raising a brow at her lack of speech. He leaned forward slightly, still playing with the collar of his shirt.
"You mean to say thank you." He stated more than asked. That snapped Amu back into reality for a second time.
"Ah, yes, sorry, long day. Yes, thank you, and sorry for bumping into you." She could feel her cheeks warming, this guy was quite attractive but she didn't have the gusto to ask him out. She wasn't lying when she'd said it had been a long, exciting but exhaustible day. The corners of his lips twitched into life, a cocky smirk reined his features.
"It happens to all of us. First year? You'll enjoy your course," Not only was he attractive, but he was also older, Amu was glad she hadn't invested any gusto; he must have a girlfriend.
"Yeah, you- you're into Film and TV?" She asked meekly, shuffling her papers to give her hands something to do.
The handsome guy nodded, still smiling, "I'll probably see you around, name's Ikuto. Give me a shout out if you need any help from a diploma." He slipped by nonchalantly on the balls of his feet; he kept his body facing parallel to Amu. She held up a few fingers in a wave and he quickly added, "I'm single to answer your question." Winking, he let out an airy chuckle to himself before turning. Amu's knees suddenly felt like jelly. Was she just flirted with? Gathering those fingers into a fist she beamed at herself, this was the ultimate college experience. Not only was she going to a school with likeminded people keen on what they wanted to learn, but she was flirted with by an older class man. She let out a content sigh, her inner self enjoying the attention, but with a turn she dashed the thought of dating him away. Though flattering, Amu didn't feel the need to date anyone just now, especially with school having just commenced. She didn't let that ruin her good mood however and with an excitable step she skipped onward to her shared home.
The pan released a satisfying sizzle as Amu threw in the ingredients for her risotto. Stirring it absently she swayed to the music playing from her iPod dock on the counter. Her roommate was out again until late. "Maybe I should leave her some dinner." She mumbled to herself between an instrumental bridge. The chorus struck back up and Amu twirled and shook some salt a top her meal. She tip toed en pointe across to her plate, scooping the dish into two portions.
The television hummed with the news reports for the day as Amu washed her plate. She played with her lip, scrubbing at the remnants of food; she needed a better detergent for the kitchen. Glancing at the plate behind her, she dried off her hands and found the cling wrap to put it away. She left a sticky note atop it, offering it to her roommate.
'Hi roomie,
Just in case you get in late and are feeling peckish, I made too much risotto tonight so feel free to dig in.
Amu'
She stuck the note down and left for her room, turning the TV off as she wandered. Changing into something she could sleep in, she fell onto her bed with a content sigh. Today had been pretty damn close to perfect and she couldn't wait for what else was to come. With a smirk she pulled out her sketch pad and doodled some anatomy exercises. After an hour three of the examples started to look like the guy she bumped into and with burning cheeks she closed the book and stuffed it away. It was time for some rest. Amu had an early start tomorrow and with a yawn, she switched off the light.
101: Two uploads in one week. Now this is just suspicious.
337: What's going on? *picks marshmallow out of bag*
101: This manga I'm reading has updated twice in one week! That's sus.
337: But isn't it a good thing? *roasts marshmallow in palm*
101, hisses: Sussssssss.
337, eating marshmallow: Buwhawongwitmoarhips-
101: What?
337: SHIPS AHOY! *blasts off Iron Man style*
