Hello, sweeties!

I'm eNCee Death, oh, but you can call me Deathy. This'll be the first fanfiction I've ever posted so if it's a bit below par compared to others you've read, now you know why. Anywho, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own any of Shugo Chara!'s canon characters.

The Turtle of Glass and Gold

When one thought of the supernatural in Japan, the first thing that probably popped up was the Yokai. They were, after all, powerful creatures that meddled with their mortal neighbours throughout the history of Japan. Some were just mischievous, playing harmless tricks and causing simple inconveniences. Others were more malicious, and dealt more grievous damage. Lots of Yokai seamlessly integrated into human society. There were also others, usually from dignified and traditionalistic clans, that chose isolation from creatures not of their kind.

However, Yokai weren't the only supernatural creatures in this land. In such a modern time increasingly more open to change and the new, other beasties from far off lands came to call Japan home. Dragons of all breeds, fairies of all kinds, monsters from the west, and even foreign deities were cosily blending in with the drones of humans walking about the country. It was hard, however, to live in an alien land. All sorts of trouble could fall upon a touring monster less than familiar with the complex lands of Japan.

That was where The Seiyo Embassy came in.

An agency formed to accommodate and monitor the foreign monsters living in Japan, Seiyo Embassy was a touring monster's best friend in terms of security, protection, and even housing. In exchange for their services, the monsters were charged in varying degrees of fees and taxes. The price was never too high so it was seldom any monster complained anyway. But perhaps the reason why monsters under Seiyo Embassy's protection were so cooperative was because the agency was just so active in their service. Their representatives or "Guardians" as the employees were called, were often dispatched to monitor or help out monsters that the Embassy deemed in need of help. Compulsory meetings – often held monthly or semi-annually – were attended in all the cities of Japan for the purpose of evaluating the well-being of Seiyo's clients. With such a beautifully transparent agency, one would think there wouldn't be any problems with the clients.

That thought would be ridiculously wrong.

In the main building of the Seiyo Embassy, hard at work in front of three large computer screens, with nimble hands practically gliding over the keyboard, there was one Guardian who seemed to be at his wit's end over a particularly stubborn client. His ears were flattened atop his head, expressing the Kitsune Guardian's disdain over the whole situation. His mahogany red eyes zoomed through the text that appeared on his screens, reading the data and accounts of a monster who had not been attending meetings for quite a while. "No wonder Takeida-san gave me his client. She hasn't been cooperating at all.." he muttered softly to himself. He had to comb back a few of his blonde locks with his hand, irritated by how they were blocking his view. He contemplated on whether he should have them cut but quickly dismissed the thought. His hair didn't bother him that much.

"Pays all fees and taxes on time, submits forms when needed, writes feedback on her stay in Japan, and pretty much does every requirement except for going to the meetings." The monster he was looking into had an immaculately clean account. Everything that needed her cooperation was done with impeccable timing, sometimes even in advanced, and she had no records of violence of any sort during her stay. It didn't make sense.

If she could do all that so well, why couldn't she just attend the meetings? They only lasted a few hours and were only hosted at the end of every month. All monsters had to do was go there, socialize a bit, submit a short report on their general status, and enjoy the buffet served there. What was it in meetings that made this monster not want to go? There had already been several attempts the Embassy had made to coax the client into coming. They had sent letters and Guardians over to inform her of her boycotting, to try and get her to change her mind, but all were in vain.

"Tadase Hotori, please come to the President's office. You are needed."

The sound of his name from the sound system got his attention, his ears perking up in attention. "I wonder what this is about." The sarcasm in his soft voice went unnoticed in the confines of his office. Tadase knew why he was being called, and he tossed a slightly irritated glance at the picture on his monitor. This is getting ridiculous, he thought with a sigh. Putting on the coat that had hung limply on his desk, he hustled out of his office and down the long hallways of the embassy.

He was glad that he was being called during the quieter hours of the day. With few monsters coming in at this time, the Guardians often kept to their cubicles or in the many lounges that the Seiyo Embassy offered. His footsteps were equally silent as made his way up to the rather large door to his superior's office. On a side note, Tadase mused at the President's fondness for having lots of space. "Tsukasa-ojisan does love his space." he thought fondly.

His uncle was patiently waiting for him by his desk when Tadase finally arrived. He had occupied himself with a book, a fairy tale book no less, and was apparently so absorbed in the story that he had not noticed the younger blonde's arrival. In many ways, Tadase was Tsukasa's spitting image. They, with their platinum blonde hair and soft facial features, coupled with a slim, lithe body structure were often mistaken as brothers by strangers to the Embassy. Even among other Kitsunes, Tadase and his uncle were almost identical in appearance – save for the fact that Tsukasa's eyes were purple. "Tsukasa-san." Tadase greeted with a small bow. His voice seemingly snapped the older Kitsune out of his book and finally looked up to meet his gaze.

"Ah, Tadase-kun! Glad you came so quickly. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"Nothing I couldn't handle later, I assure you."

"Good, good. I assume what you were handling was the case Takeida-san couldn't take?"

"That's right."

Tadase saw the amused smirk that unfurled on his uncle's maw, and he couldn't help but feel that the older Kitsune was up to something. His tails, nine blond ones in total, shuddered in knowing dread. He could only return a small smile of his own to mask the unease that was starting to form in his stomach. "I suppose you called me to talk about - "

"Amu Hinamori, yes. Odd little dragon, she is. I've tried so many times to have someone get her to come to the meetings but she is quite adamant on not going." Tsukasa let out a troubled sigh and rested his chin on his hand. "I can't have a client not go to meetings. It worries me. Even though the Guardians who went to visit her assured me she was doing fine, it still bothers me." It was then, when Tsukasa's eyes met Tadase's, that the older Kitsune smiled sweetly at his nephew.

"Now that is where you come in, Tadase-kun."

"E-eh? Me? What do you mean?"

"It's simple, really. All I need you to do is go to where Amu Hinamori is and convince her to go the meetings."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, ojiisan. I don't do visits, I'm…nervous around other monsters."

His uncle only waved a hand at him dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous! You'll be fine. You're around the same age so she's more likely to trust you. Besides, I've already scheduled for your flight to Shirai and I won't let that money be wasted." he chuckled. "Oh, and one more thing. You'll have to pretend to be looking for a job at her shop, as I'm sure you've read that she owns, and work for her for a bit. Get some information. It'll be like you're undercover! Isn't that wonderful? Just like in the storybooks! Here you go. I'll send you a message with further detail on the subject. Right now you have to get to the airport!"

If only Tadase matched the enthusiasm his uncle was showing him. He wanted to pretend he was excited about the plan, but he honestly didn't want any part of it. There was a reason why he chose an office job that required minimal contact with other creatures. It wasn't that he hated company, but he was just more comfortable by himself.

Of course, now that his uncle had made up his mind about the matter of Amu Hinamori, there was virtually nothing Tadase could do to change the older Kitsune's mind. One way or another, his uncle would get his way, and Tadase was in no condition to try and wriggle himself out of this situation.

~••~••~••~••~••~

Before he knew it, he was halfway across the country to visit the small town of Shirai where his troublesome client resided. He kept quiet during the whole flight and was content to stare out the window to admire the clouds that his plane zoomed through. "What have I gotten myself into?" he said to himself. There was no way he could have anticipated being suddenly transferred from his office to a beach town, forced to observe and work for the client that got him transferred in the first place.

"Would you like some tea, sir?" a passing flight attendant offered. "With milk, please." he said with a smile, ignorant to the blush that slapped itself on the young attendant's face – and those of several other passengers who had seen the smile – as she prepared him his drink. It couldn't be helped since he was a Kitsune, and Kitsunes were quite famous for their beauty, so he tried to ignore the admiring glances colleagues and strangers alike shot him whenever he passed by.

To be honest, it was almost annoying.

"Oh, thank you." He took his tea and delighted in its warmth as he sipped it down. Tea was often the remedy to ease his anxieties – he'd probably be drinking a lot of it with what he'd have to go through. The thought of having to cooperate with a stranger for quite possibly a year or so gave him enough reason to order a few – ten, to be precise – more cups of tea before his plane finally landed on the thin strip of runway that tiny Shirai had to offer in its equally small airport.

Shirai was quite a place though, that Tadase had to admit. Since it was a town exclusively for monsters, all the folk that wandered the streets of it did not hide their more….unhuman appendages. There was no need to hide their identities so they didn't. They also did not have to put a lot of restraint on their powers, and therefore used them to keep little Shirai quite a clean town.

"I almost forgot how much I liked monster towns." Tadase said happily. Even the atmosphere felt more relaxed here, and that relaxed the Kitsune as well. He took in a breath of the town's fresh air. The crispness of grass and flowers combined perfectly with the smell of the ocean, sending gentles breezes all across the town and effectively calming Tadase as he at last set foot in his new home. Or at least he'd hope it'd be like home.

With suitcases at hand and the address of his new living place in the other, he dove into the hubbub of Shirai's somewhat busy streets. The monsters of Shirai were very hospitable, very open, very friendly, and quite genuine by Tadase's deductions. They pointed him to where he needed to go in detail, which made finding his way a whole lot easier.

"Just follow this street until you reach a bookstore and then take a left."

"It's just a block from here. Not far at all, dearie."

"You'll know you're there when you see a turtle sign hanging in front of this large beach house. Can't miss it."

Only forty minutes passed before Tadase found himself in front of what was probably the biggest house he had seen in the entire town. His mahogany eyes were wide in awe at such a sight. Unlike the smaller buildings of stone and concrete, this house integrated woodwork with the stone and metal. He noted that it was a two-story house as well, which made him wonder just how many monsters were living in this house. He had to double check the address to see if he got the place right.

"This is it all right." he said dumbly.

The front of the house, clearly seen over the white picket fence that surrounded it, was apparently altered to accommodate large glass display windows, all of which boasted beautiful works of art molded and crafted onto glass. Tadase was impressed by the items on display, particularly that of a peacock whose glass tail was speckled with fine jewels and gold lining. These are incredible, he thought. He couldn't stop staring at these wonderful pieces that seemed to be staring back at him, their cold eyes of jewel seemingly full of life, a feat that only great glass artisians could accomplish. Upon looking up, he also saw the sign a local had told him about.

A sea turtle rendered in stained glass and gold lining hung securely in front of the house-turned-shop, its glass in varying shades of blue and green, engraved with the words: The Glass Turtle, which was probably the name of the business. "Even the sign's gorgeous." he exhaled in delighted disbelief. The art was so enthralling that he forgot what he was supposed to be doing and kind of just stood there looking at pieces by the window.

He failed to notice a figure coming out of the shop and walk towards him until they cleared their throat. "Can I help you?" the voice said in a cool sort of tone. Tadase let out a small gasp and took a step back as mahogany eyes met honey-gold. His cheeks flushed pink in slight embarrassment and he could only offer an apologetic smile. "Oh, yes, sorry about that. I came here for the job offer and I…" his voice trailed off as he registered the person, or dragoness, in front of him. Amu Hinamori, he thought to himself. He had seen her picture in her profile but up close, she seemed so different.

Tadase studied her. Wild bubble-gum pink hair glittered with what looked like shards of glass and gems and was partially held back by a stained glass headband, honey-gold eyes, fair skin tempered a light brown from exposure to the sun, her body a soft hourglass thin. A pair of avocado high waist shorts tightly held onto the white shirt she wore, further shaping all the right curves she had, partially covered by the sleeveless black hoodie on top. Striped socks rode along the length of her legs that stopped only inches from her shorts, and revealed just a flash of skin. Black boots tied by green laces lifted her up an inch or so in height, but that still made her a good five inches shorter than him. The thick glass-plated gold choker she wore housed one of the whitest pearls he'd ever seen in its center. Cast under mid-afternoon sunlight, she glowed, ethereal, as the glass danced rainbows on her chest.

To say that the girl was pretty was an understatement. He had seen many faces in his time, but even Tadase had not seen a girl like the one before her. He needed a minute to compose himself, lightly scolding the fact that he had been gawking. "I was hoping the position was still open," he finally told her. He saw a flash of white as the pinkette smiled at him. "Oh, it is, and you couldn't have come at a better time." Her eyes looked at him with a professional coldness, studying him as he had her only moments ago, albeit without the dumbfounded look he had.

"You don't look like a glass maker. You don't have the smell on you. Hmm, could probably give you the counter." She placed a hand on her hips and bit her lips as she stared at him some more. "Yeah, that'll work. You look good with numbers. You any good with balancing books?" Accounting he could do. Tadase nodded in reply to the question, which made Amu relax a bit. "Great! I'll show you around," she grabbed his hand, possibly ignoring the small blush the sudden contact gave him, and pulled him towards the doors.

"I'm Amu Hinamori if you're wondering. 160 years old. Glass Dragon," she said with a passing glance at him. Her eyes told him he was to do the same, so he obliged. "Tadase Hotori. 165 years old. Nine-tailed Kitsune."

"Ooh, a fox. Don't see one of those here often."

"I suppose not. We're more comfortable in forests or big cities."

"You're missing out, then. Beach towns are always interesting. Got good festivals here, too."

Amu suddenly stopped in her tracks which consequently made him crash into her back. Before he could even speak, she spun around to meet his eyes again, the cold glint returning to those intense eyes of hers. "Wait a minute," she said evenly. Tadase suddenly felt a chill up his spine. Had she figured out who he was? Tsukasa would never forgive him if he was found out on the first day. "Y-yes?" the blonde managed to stammer. Scrutinizing eyes studied his face, her brows knitting together in concentration. "You," Amu muttered. This was it, he thought. He'd have his cover blown and be sent packing to Seiyo. Maybe I can make up a story. Although, I'm kind of terrible at lying, it'd be better than having to go back so soon. As her mouth opened to reveal his true identity, the pretty boy could only steel himself.

"Are you guy or a girl?" she finally said, her eyes refusing to let his gaze escape her.

"What?" he squeaked.

"You heard me. You a dude or chick?" At first he thought she was joking. Surely she was just toying with him, right? Tadase hated being toyed with. And yet, from the serious expression she had on her face, the question was indeed real. "G-guy," he finally answered. Seeing Amu's face shift to one of surprise so quickly was both relieving and degrading at the same time. She obviously hadn't figured out who he was, which took off a huge boulder of anxiety right off his shoulders. On the other hand, she also hadn't figured out his gender, which crushed whatever pride he had as a male in an instant.

Am I that feminine? A little part of him wept at how unmanly he was. How embarrassing, he thought to himself. "Really? Huh, had you pegged for a girl. You smell so pretty and, well, not to offend or anything but you kinda look like those shoujo characters from mangas." His pride was practically being grounded into dust at this point. "It's fine. I get that often," he chuckled weakly. "It's just how I am, I suppose."

It killed him even more to see a look of amused pity on the pinkette's smile. Kill me. She gently patted him on the shoulder and let out a small giggle. "Well, we'll just have to fix that, won't we? I bet I can get you looking manlier in no time. Take it as an apology gift for this little misunderstanding," she beamed at him with a warmth in her eyes. "Really sorry about that, by the way." As she pushed him through the doors of the shop, one he'd have to call home for the foreseeable future, he couldn't help but glance back at her, and admire the her upfront attitude. She seemed nice enough and was certainly honest with her thoughts. Who knew? Maybe this assignment would be an easy one.

And yet, in the back of his mind, he had a feeling that it would be anything but that.

I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a labor of love. I'd also really appreciate a review, as it could help me improve my writing. Constructive criticism is very welcomed, but please don't spam. Rate and Review! See you in the next installment, sweeties. (*￣▽￣*)ﾉ"