Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara.
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"Amu, where are you going again?" her mother, seeing Amu packing her things up, angrily asked. "I didn't know anything about this so explain."
"Okaa-san, gomen. It happened so fast that I didn't have time to ask your permission," still busy wrapping everything up, she replied.
"Ok," her mother sighed. "Just tell me where you're going. You've packed almost all of your clothes. Aren't those too many for just a night stay at Nadeshiko-chan's house?"
"Okaa-san, I'm not staying at Nadeshiko's house," she frowned. "Remember when I entered a dancing competition."
"Too bad you didn't win there. You lost your chance to study dancing abroad," Mrs. Hinamori's face became sad.
"But one of the judges called me this morning. One of those who won quit by the last minute so they had me instead. I got to hurry before they leave me in the airport."
"Amu?! That is so fast! You can't leave like this…" her mom begged.
"Okaa-san, this is my dream. Now is my chance to reach it so please let me," Amu realized what kind of sorrow she was bringing to her family. "Just say goodbye to oto-san for me. I really have to go. I promise. When I come back, you'll see a whole new Hinamori Amu!"
As always, Amu's smile gave her mom assurance. "Well, what can I do. Follow your dreams, my daughter. I believe in you."
"Arigato, okaa-san," Amu bent down to talk to her sister. "Ami, I'm leaving. Take care of mother and father, ok?"
"Nee-chan, I wish you good luck. If you'll become a famous dancer, Ami will become a great singer then! Right, nee-chan?"
"That's right, Ami," she smiled at her.
"So I'm going already, okaa-san…"
"Take care of yourself. Call me right away when you arrive in France," her mother kissed Amu gently on the forehead. They watched her as Amu rode the cab and vanished from their sight.
----------ooo000ooo----------
Amu soon arrived at the airport and saw a couple of people grouping themselves. It must be them, she thought. She walked towards them and asked a handsome looking man who was probably at his early twenties, "Excuse me. Is this the group going to France? The ones who won the dancing competition?"
The man gave her an insulting look and said, "I don't know what you're saying. And we are not grouping here. It just so happens that we stand near each other." He smirked much to her dismay.
"I see. Thank you. I'll just go look for them," she turned her back and looked around.
"Hey, onna," he called. "Is that the group you're looking for? Hurry up. It looks like they're leaving you already," he pointed at the group. That's what you get from believing strangers easily.
"Eh?! Well, thank you so much!" and Amu ran quickly to them. "Wait! Please wait for me!"
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" one of them turned around.
"Sorry, I was a little late! I'm Hinamori Amu. Nice to meet you!" she said cheerfully. "I hope we can all be good friends. Dancing is really my passion."
"Um, sorry. Hinamori-san, but I think we're not the one you're looking for. You've got to be mistaken." They all laughed at her.
"You're not the ones who won the dancing competition?" They all said no. "Sumimasen…" Amu swiftly moved away. That was embarrassing. That guy!
Amu's phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hinamori-san, where are you? We're inside the airplane already," the moderator who was on the other line said. "Hurry. We're almost taking off."
"Huh?! Wait for me!"
----------ooo000ooo----------
Amu sighed as she sat on her seat. Unfortunately, her place was separated from the group because of late booking. "I don't know if this day counts as good or bad…" she said to herself. She turned beside her and to her surprise, it was not a person she would want to meet again. "Hey you!"
There was no response from the guy. He remained looking out the window.
"Hey! Are you listening?"
"What is it? You're very noisy…" he said nonchalantly.
"You lied to me, didn't you?"
"Lied about what?"
"You directed me to the wrong group. I shouldn't have believed you in the first place! They didn't even looked like dancers who'd be studying abroad. I got so embarrassed…"
"That's the point. You didn't think first thus, you suffered the consequences…" he sighed.
"I can't believe you!" Amu turned her back to face the opposite side. I hope we'll arrive soon…
----------ooo000ooo----------
The plane was landing already when Amu woke up. "It was a long trip…" she uttered to herself. She turned to the guy beside him and found him eating something. "We're here already. Isn't it nice? France is a very beautiful country. I am looking forward to sight seeings!"
"Not really. I've been here for how many times…" he smirked. "Don't tell me you haven't gone anywhere else except in Japan."
"It doesn't matter. I love our country. It's beautiful enough for me. I need not to see any other places. I am just here to study dancing," Amu replied, somewhat denying the fact. "Anyway, I got to go. I hope you enjoy your stay here," and she marched towards her group who was about to go down the plane.
----------ooo000ooo----------
Amu was completely amazed to see her new school. It was a very old mansion, but stood as proud as it was when it was first built. They immediately went to the main hall for a welcoming ceremony for them. "Good day, everyone!" the head master greeted the new students. They came from different countries and were all excited to further learn more about dancing. "I'm the head master, Antoinette Grosvenor and welcome to La Grandeur Academy. It has been half a century that the academy continues to raise and train gifted dancers from all over the world. It is sure the academy's pleasure for these talented dancers to carry its name. And it will always be our pleasure to bring out and improve everyone's talent and show it to the world."
The new students watched a spectacular performance from the graduating students. "Wow…" was all Amu could say. She imagined herself being like them after a few years. It will surely be great to able to dance like that. With all the passion in their eyes, I can say they truly love dancing.
When the program was over, they headed to their dorms. "I wonder where is my room?" Amu was worried who might her roommate be. She wished he or she would be friendly to her. "Finally, I found it." She read the name below hers. Yuiki Yaya. "Yes! A Japanese!" Amu slowly opened the door and found a very cute and young looking girl organizing her things. "Excuse me…" she said politely. "I'm Hinamori Amu. I guess we'll be roommates from now on…"
"Nice to meet you, Amu-chi!" the girl had a carefree smile.
"Amu-chi? That's…"
"Eh?! You didn't like it? Can't I call you Amu-chi? I thought since we're both Japanese we can be friends…" Yaya cried out loud.
"I didn't mean that," Amu tried her best to make her roommate calm down. "Amu-chi is really fine with me."
"Yehey! Amu-chi is now Yaya's friend!" What a sudden change of mood, Amu thought. The two talked about themselves for a very long time. Yaya told Amu about her family in Japan and how did she come to love dancing. "Amu-chi, you said you didn't have enough time to properly bade your family goodbye since you were call by the last minute, right?"
"Yeah, that's how it is…" she remembered her family. "I wonder how oto-san would feel. I didn't say goodbye to him."
"How about your boyfriend, Amu-chi? Did you tell him about this? My boyfriend went nuts when he heard that I'm leaving for France."
"Boyfriendddddd???!!!!!!!" Amu suddenly panicked. "I forgot to tell Tadase-kun!!!!" She hurriedly picked her phone and dialed his number. "Tadase-kun…" Feeling that she shouldn't hear their conversation, Yaya stepped out their room.
"Amu, you've arrived in France already." His voice was kind as always.
"Tadase-kun, I am so sorry. I didn't have any time to tell you about me going to France. It all happened so fast and I-"
"There's noting to apologize for. I was just a little worried if you've arrived safely there."
"Thank you so much for being so understanding. I didn't intend to leave without telling you…"
"It's fine, Amu. I'm not thinking that way. Besides, to study dancing abroad is your dream. I don't have the right to stop you." Then, he heard Amu crying on the other line. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just getting quite emotional here," she wiped her tears off with her hand. "I will miss you so much…"
"It gets lonely here without you. When you've reached your dream, hurry and come back to me. I am always waiting, Amu."
"Hai!"
Yaya knocked at the door and said, "Amu-chi, dinnertime."
"I have to go now, bye…"
"Take care of yourself, Amu. And… I love you…" Though Tadase had had said those words several times, Amu still found it shocking.
"Me-" and there was a busy tone. "Tadase-kun!" What happened? No way! I pressed the end call button! Amu, baka!!!!!!!
----------ooo000ooo----------
Ikuto knocked at the door of his grandparents. He hasn't seen her for a very long time. "Excuse me," he called out.
An old figure welcomed him. It was his harsh grandfather. "What are you doing here again?!"
"Grandfather, I know I'm not allowed to see her. So Please just give these to her," Ikuto handed down a bouquet of red roses and a box containing a diamond necklace.
"I'm afraid the woman to receive those is no longer here," the old man replied as he closed the door before him.
Just as when Ikuto was about to leave, his grandmother stepped out. "Ikuto-kun! You need to know something…"
----------ooo000ooo----------
"Amu-chi, let's go out after today's classes. I want to explore France," Yaya invited Amu as they walked their next class.
"Sure," she nodded. "After all, this is my first time in a foreign land."
----------ooo000ooo----------
Ikuto tried his best to accept what was before his eyes. Standing beside her tomb, he knelt down and cried. "Okaa-san…"
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Author's note: Action starts next chapter so stay tuned!