DISCLAIMER: I don't own Shugo Chara in any way, shape, or form--how could I have found someone to make those freakin' awesome lock and key designs if I did?
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Hello everyone! Looks like I'm still in my Amuto mode, so I decided to write another story. So: I've decided that "When I'm Gone" will be this story's prequel, okay?
Time to get it started!
Thinking
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Chapter 1: Good Morning
"I know what I said, but still!!" Amu wailed, rolling on her bed in frustration. As of late, she couldn't get the memory of her and Ikuto kissing out of her head. Especially now, when she'd just woken up from another dream of that night--one that doubled her longing for the cat boy even more.
"It's okay, Amu-chan," Ran comforted sleepily.
Amu nodded as her cell phone rang. When she picked it up, a faint chime could be heard; the bell accessory Ikuto had left at her balcony door.
Flipping it open, she sighed, "Hello?"
"Good morning, Amu-chan," Nagehiko greeted. [[A/N: Does he call her Amu-chan?]]
"Morning," she yawned. "How's it going?"
"Pretty good for me," he implored.
"Is somebody in trouble?"
"Yup."
"Who?"
"You. Take a look at your clock, Amu-chan."
She did as she was told and when her mind registered the numbers, she screamed. Upon hearing this, Nagehiko closed his phone and turned to the other Guardians.
"She'll be here in 10 minutes, I believe."
--
Late, late, late, late, late, late! WHY AM I LATE TODAY?!
Amu weaved past people and through crowds, over dogs and around delivery men. Her poor charas were barely able to keep up with her.
I can't believe nobody woke me up! The big assembly was today--I even wrote it on the fridge! 'If I'm not up, go upstairs and yell until I am'--how much more clearer can that get?
Unfortunately, because of Amu's mental beat-up session, coupled with her speed, her charas couldn't warn her in time that she was running into the path of oncoming traffic.
"Amu-chan!" they shouted as loud as possible.
"Huh?" she snapped out of it, skidding to a stop. When she saw the huge hoard of trucks and cars about to hit her, she stayed that way.
"Amu!" another voice yelled.
Her head swiveled toward it just as a pair of strong arms grabbed her and she was spirited away from danger. Amu opened her eyes hesitantly, not realizing she had closed them.
"Ikuto!" she gasped.
"You goddamn idiot!" he replied.
"I didn't see them, okay? Besides, I'm really late for the--" she started to defend.
"The Guardian assembly," he finished.
"You remembered," she smiled gently.
"Of course I did," he smirked. "You wouldn't stop texting me about how nervous you were or if you should wear any special charms and what you were going to say. Don't you recall me offering my opinion?"
"U-Um," she stammered, recalling it perfectly.
"Checkered panties," he whispered in her ear.
"Stop being such a pervert!" Amu screamed. "And you could put me down, you know!"
"Yes, I know," he said smoothly as he began jumping from building to building, towards Amu's school. "But I don't think you really want me to for several reasons."
She didn't respond, but instead snuggled into his chest, inhaling his sweet scent. She started humming an easy tune, completely happy at the moment.
"I missed you," she told him suddenly. "But I didn't run into traffic on the chance you would save me. It really was an accident."
"I know, I'm not mad," he smiled. "I was just really scared. And I wasn't trying to make you miss me either--I've been studying a lot lately."
Amu blinked, surprised at this. "You've been going to school?"
Ikuto looked to the side. "Well, I figured since you can do it almost every day, then I might as well give it a try."
"That's great!" she beamed, bouncing forward a little, causing them to rock dangerously to the left.
"Amu, watch it!"
"If you don't want stuff like this to happen, wait until you tell me something happy!"
"That wasn't happy! It was a completely normal statement!"
"Ikuto, we're falling!"
"Amu, I'm working on it!"
"Oh, my god--it's birds…! Ikuto, you can't bite them out of the way!"
--
Somehow, they were able to make it there a few minutes before the assembly started.
"That…was exhausting," Ikuto admitted.
"Yeah," Amu agreed. "Do you want to come over later? I'll buy some taiyaki for you and Yoru."
Hearing his name and taiyaki in the same sentence, the cat chara popped out. "Amu, nya! She's got taiyaki for me, nya!"
She giggled when he went to purring and hugging her head in gratification. Ikuto flicked him off in annoyance.
"What was that for?" Amu and Yoru both asked; Amu the calmer of the two.
"Maybe I want to hug you and he was taking too long?" he implied.
Amu smiled warmly and jumped up, tackling him with affection. "Aw, don't get jealous! After all, you're the one I love!"
She gasped and immediately let go, backing away slightly.
I said 'love'. Oh, crap--I said I love him!
"W-Well, I've gotta go, so I'll see you later," she brushed it off. "Ikuto, do your best in school, okay? Bye!"
Amu tried to run away, but Ikuto grabbed both her shoulders and pulled her back, catching her in his strong grip before she fell.
"Hey!" she squirmed.
"Thank you," he spoke softly.
"Eh?"
"You finally replied. Remember when I stayed at your house? That time when Kiddy King confessed? I told you I loved you too and took you this long, but you finally said it back."
She kept quiet for a moment before replying: "You're welcome."
After a couple moments had passed and Ikuto still hadn't released her, Amu cleared her throat loudly.
"Oh, right--assembly thing," he apologized letting her go.
"Finally!" she sighed, bending forward.
"One more thing."
Hearing this, she turned around to look at him. Ikuto grinned his perverted grin and Amu had no time to prepare herself for it when he gave her a long kiss goodbye.
"See you later, over-ecstatic shortie," he whispered in her ear before swiftly pulling away from her and off to his classes.
"IKUTO! NOT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, YOU IDIOT!" Amu managed to wail after her stunned silence had passed.
"…And for any students that may be wandering the campus with a Cool 'N Spicy demeanor, the assembly is starting now. End of announcements for now, thank you."
"I'm coming--I promise!!!"
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Amu stumbled forward in a quick blur that could've been referred to as 'running up the stairs' for some people. Her body, finding that there were no more stairs to 'walk' over, was so surprised by this that she wound up falling forward and tripping, doing a face plant…on the stage and in front of all her peers.
"And lastly, here's Amu-chii, our Joker!" Yaya covered cheerfully. "Isn't she good at her job?"
That made Amu feel 2% better about the laughter surrounding her as she picked herself up.
"Damn it, that hurt," she muttered to herself as she took her seat.
"Hinamori-san, are you alright?" Tadase asked softly with a concerned look on his face.
The second she realized Tadase was next to her, she couldn't help remembering Ikuto talking about the 'Kiddy King's ' confession. Coupled with the next remembrance of her and Ikuto kissing afterwards didn't help her furious blush dissipate.
"Hinamori-san?" Tadase's features grew even more concerned.
"Amu-chan, did you catch a cold while rushing to get here?" Nagehiko questioned from her other side.
"I-I'm just fine!" she answered to both. "But, um, what are we doing again today?"
Yaya popped up from behind her chair. "The school gave us three internships for the school Ikuto-chii goes to, and, if you get one, you can go there for a week to see what it'll be like and what things you can do to help out both his and our school further!" she supplied. [[A/N: Does Yaya say 'chii' after everyone's name? If not, I'd still like to keep it that way--so much easier :D]]
"So, who's won so far?" Amu wondered breezily, (ignoring the Ikuto part of her explanation)noticing the giant wire ball that was being spun around by Rima. She assumed that the little plastic balls inside had the student's names on them.
"Nagehiko-chii got lucky!" Yaya grinned, pointing at the winner. "There was also Yamabuki-chii over there, and the last is…"
A ball slid out of the contraption and Rima picked it up. It opened, letting out a stream of confetti and once that was out of the way, she plucked the piece of paper out and unfolded it.
"…Hinamori Amu?" she read confusedly.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!"
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Yahoo! Chapter 1 done! I'm so proud of myself, hah! I'm so proud, I am letting you guys decide how to praise me!!
Awaiting the love:
Porcelain-Carrier-67