This could be a sequel to my other fanfic, "Rima's Amusement", but I don't think that one needs to be read to fully understand this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara.
"I-I-Ikuto-kun!"
Hmm…that was strange. And very new.
For once, it wasn't Amu's blushing face that was the odd thing out. It wasn't her stuttering voice, or her awkward manner, or her surprised eyes that stood out. It wasn't Tsukiyomi's smirking face, either. Or his violet eyes, his dark hair, his school uniform, or anything to do with him. It wasn't Hotori's angry face, or Yaya's confused one, or even Nagihiko's amused one.
The strange part was the way Amu said Tsukiyomi Ikuto's name. Instead of her regular "Ikuto", it was instead now "Ikuto-kun". And that made Rima wonder.
For as long as she had known Amu, Amu had always, always called Tsukiyomi by just his first name, without a suffix. And everyone knows that most of the time, the only time people call each other by just their names, without suffixes, they are either family, best friends, or lovers. Hence, the anger Hotori showed each time Amu called out Tsukiyomi's first name.
"Yes, Amu-chan?" Ikuto's voice was laughing, as he leaned closer to the pinkette, causing her to blush harder.
Rima could practically see steam coming out of Hotori's ears as he glared at Tsukiyomi.
The –chan on Amu's name was new, too. Especially because she knew that Tsukiyomi loved to tease Amu by saying only her name. Actually, she was surprised that, now that Tsukiyomi was using a suffix, he wasn't saying "Amu-koi". That sounded like something he would say to make Amu flip out.
"W-What are you doing here, Ikuto?" Amu asked, adding on, "-kun" at the last second.
"Am I not allowed to visit you, Amu-chan?" Tsukiyomi asked, leaning closer and making Amu even more flustered.
By now, Hotori was so angry that she knew an outburst was about to occur.
However, all Rima could pay notice to was the new detail on the end of Amu's name when said by Tsukiyomi, and vice versa. Rima knew that something had to have happened in order for this new development to occur. So all she had to wonder was…what?
Rima could tell that, whether they did it consciously or subconsciously, they had begun to call each other's names with suffixes because they wished to pursue a relationship. It wasn't for the better of a relationship to start calling another by their first name right away.
No matter what had happened, though, Rima knew that it meant Amu and Tsukiyomi were drawing closer.
If it had been anyone else Amu was getting closer to, Rima would have felt jealous (even if it was Hotori), but Amu was happier with Tsukiyomi around. Rima wanted nothing more for her friend than for her to be happy. If Tsukiyomi made her happy, then she, herself, was happy.
And Rima also knew that, no matter how wise Hotori could be at times, he didn't realize what this development meant. He didn't realize that Amu and Tsukiyomi were now probably closer than ever, or that he was losing Amu. Rima didn't know if he ever would.
No matter what, Rima had a feeling Hotori was losing the battle for Amu's heart, and by the time he realized he was going to lose, it would be too late.