»DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shugo Chara.«
»Another Side of Me «
»Chapter II: Meeting a Star«
»Lyss«
The plane landed on the Tennessee airport. Well, it's so small! That's why there are only small planes available. I went down the narrow stairs and landed on a sandy plain.
"My flip flops!" Oh! My flip flops! It became sandy! I tried to wipe it but a boy blocked my view.
"You should've worn stilettos." Yeah, he's right. I looked up. It was Tadase. I said 'Hi!'. He was incredibly taller than me now! He'd grown so tall. I wonder how old is he? But all I know is that I'm two years older. We went to the parking lot where an old Chevy was parked. I looked around trying to find something more appropriate for me. But, there's none.
"We're riding a Chevy?" I asked Tadase. He nodded. Oh! What's happening? I have never ridden a truck! Everyone was already in the truck. My parents are inside the car. Uncle Shokino was driving. Ikuto and Tadase were at the back. Ah! Where will I seat? I peeked through the window.
"Where would I seat?"
"At the back, there's a lot of space." My dad said.
"I can't,"
"Why not?" Now this is worse! Me, riding at the back? No! But because of my stubbornness, I opened the front seat and sat there. I don't mind if it was forbidden or not, but for me, it's the only place that I could seat!
"Shokino, is it all right?"
"Of course! It's fine with me!" We drove out the 'airport' and went to the main road. It was really dusty! It's like, there's a fog of dust blocking our way! Thank goodness I have worn my sunglasses, eye protection! I looked at the side, hoping to find some buildings, but nothing. Everything's a plain. All green! Grasses, animals, fences, urgh! Do they really call this a state? We drove further, and that's more like it! There is some old fashion buildings aligned on the side. It's very western! I hoped to find some shopping malls, but nothing! All I can see is meat shops, hardware stores, and everything that's not what I like! It's boring here! It is going to be. Then we drove into a road just like before, and at the end of it, there's a small white house waiting for us. Beside it, is some kind of a farmhouse? There are chickens all around, hope they don't pinch me! The truck stopped and I heard Ikuto and Tadase jumped off the back. They carried the luggage in front of the house. I jumped off the truck and removed my sunglasses. I looked at the house; an old woman came out of the front door. She's not that old, maybe at her late fifties?
"Kahoto! My son! Shaitou! Welcome back! Welcome!" my mother hugged her and as well as my dad. I saw Ikuto went inside the house without even greeting grandma Haruko.
"Utau? Is that already you? Our star!" She said with delight. I folded my arms across my chest and nodded. She hugged me. I felt delighted. 'Cause I missed her so much. Then she let go, I smiled at her.
"Can I go in?" I asked softly. She nodded. I walked towards the door stomping my feet. But before I could totally disappear from my grandma's sight, she shouted, 'Your room is still there!' The sound of 'Your room is still there' bothered me. My room? Did I ever have a room in this house? I ran up the stairs and opened every room I could see. I opened a dull old smelled room, an orange room, which I think was the smallest, a blue room, with a double deck bed, and a light red colored room. I felt the room attracted me. My favorite color! I went inside it, there was a small bed which I think was fluffy, and on the walls, where pictures of, me. I felt tears fell down my eyes, then to my cheeks. I wiped it immediately. There was some kind of an outfit that was like a cowboy costume. Well, since I'm in a 'country styled state' it's a normal outfit for them. Well, there's nothing wrong in trying it on right? I tried it on, to my surprise, perfect fit, perfect length, and perfect color. Cool! I didn't know it fits me, it looks good in me. How cool was that? Very cool! The door opened behind me, I don't know who that is. But I'm sure it's no one I know.
"U-ta-u? Utau?" it was kid. A little girl, and oh! She looks like me! I want to get near her! She's so adorable! But before I could make my first step, she slammed the door and ran away! I was taken aback. Why? Is there something wrong with me? Or, what's wrong with her??? I went out the room and looked around. She wasn't there. My gosh! Is she a, ghost???
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"Utau! Hey! Come here! Want to eat?" Uncle Shokino offered. They are eating snacks outside the house. I noticed Tadase was behind him, playing with a kid. Oh! It was that kid! I smiled and went near them.
"Hello there." I said leaning towards the kid. She resembles me. A lot. She immediately hid behind Tadase, frightened.
"Gomen, she's a huge fan of yours." Tadase smiled. I smiled back. That's why. She's shy.
"Oh! How sweet! Come on, why don't you give Utau a hug?" I said walking towards the girl, I noticed she was blushing. How cute! She went near me and smiled. She was wearing her hair up into a pigtail like mine. She's just the height of my hips. I bent down and hugged her. I let go of her and pinched her nose. She giggled and kissed me on the cheeks. Cute! I went to the table and grabbed a food that was some kind of I don't know what to call it, but, it's delicious! The little girl went beside me. I haven't asked her name. What is it?
"Hey, what's your name?" I asked while smiling. The little girl's eyes widened.
"Saichi!" somebody called out from the gate. The little girl ran to the gate shouting 'Onii-chan! Kukai! Kukai!' She was happy to see the guy. It's like they were so close. Saichi hugged him. He was wearing some kind of shirt and a cargo pants. He was holding a skateboard. Cool! I wonder who he is. Tadase went near them and tapped that Kukai guy's back. Oh! Are they best friends? I think so. I went near them and called Saichi. I noticed that the Kukai guy was frozen on his place.
"Hey, Tadase. What happened to him?" I whispered. Tadase laughed and pulled the Kukai guy away. I could still hear them whispering 'Dude! It's Hoshina Utau! Blah blah blah…' I sighed and lifted Saichi. She's heavy, though.
"Put me down! Down! Down! No lift! I don't want to! No to Utau!" the little girl exclaimed. Saichi, she's so adorable! So cute! I put her down and pinched her nose.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked leaning towards her. Her eyes widened and sparkled. It's like she's very interested.
"Sing for us Utau!" she shouted. I felt my cheeks reddened. I looked at my family, and yes, they heard it. They wanted me to sing. I stood up and asked them what song.
"Butter Fly! Butter fly!" Saichi shouted. I pinched her nose again and giggled. I started singing it, everyone clapped their hands. I sang it the best way I can. I tried to give my best. I am not used to places like this. I don't sing in places without my crowd, but, I guess this is better. I don't need to disguise, because I'm with my family. I haven't felt anything like this before, but I like it more. My dad hugged me, I giggled.
"Yey, Utau! Yey!" Saichi shouted with glee. I smiled widely like there's no tomorrow. I can hear my family saying, 'She's really a star!' 'That's our Utau!' 'She's great!'. I wonder where Tadase and that Kukai guy went. I looked around, no one. I asked permission from my mom if I could take a walk to find Tadase. I started inside the house. I went everywhere, but no Tadase. I went at the backyard, nope. Final chance, the farmhouse. Ew. No, no, no! It's smelly there, I can't take it! No way! I don't want to. I really shouldn't go in there! Germs!!
* * *
"Utau!" someone called out, I felt goose bumps on my skin. I am in front of the farmhouse door, still thinking if I will go in.
"Who's that?" I shouted, then turned around. And, yes, there was Tadase. He waved at me. The Kukai guy followed, stunned.
"Hey Utau! It's you right? Hoshina?" Tadase asked while laughing. Well, duh! Who could I be? I nodded. I took a glance on that Kukai guy, who's now blushing. He's star struck huh?
"Why?" I asked Tadase with my arms across my chest. That Kukai is so weird! It's like he saw a ghost! Tadase laughed out loud then walked away. What's with him? I followed him with my eyes, still wondering what's with him. I glanced at the Kukai guy and he was looking down. What's with everyone? I started going back to the house when somebody called my name softly. It was the Kukai guy.
"Utau?" He repeated. I turned around, his hands are now in his pockets.
"Yes?"
"I am Kukai, Kukai Souma." Then he smiled a killer smile. Brown hair, green eyes, white teeth, cool clothing and skateboard, isn't that gorgeous? Ah! What am I thinking? Well, it's true. He wasn't like anybody else in showbiz. He's normal. Like what I wanted to be, a normal person. Could he help me? I hope so...
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