It's Not in My Character
Chapter Two: It's Not in My Character to be Deceitful
Hyperventilating, I crawled out of my bed as quickly as I could, landing on the floor with an audible THUMP! I leaned against the mattress, my heart racing, unsure if this was a dream or not.
Oh my God, this shouldn't be happening! Mother never told me laying eggs was part of puberty!
Get yourself together, Amu! Don't be so weak, like you used to be! Figure out what to do before Misaki and Telulu come in!
U-uh, o-okay…well, I could always hide them somewhere inside…oh, that won't work because today's Cleaning Day…maybe I can take them with me during studies…damn, I'm sure someone would notice them…Wait! I've got an idea!
This was certainly a daring idea, because it required me sneaking out of the house in a matter of 17 minutes and 23 seconds, and sneaking back in without being caught.
But timing and meticulousness wasn't the thing that would make this feat difficult. It's the following fact that will make it difficult:
I've never snuck out of this house. Ever.
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It took me exactly two minutes to figure out a foolproof plan, leaving me with 15 minutes and 23 seconds to execute it. My plan was:
•First, climb up the roof and make my way to the west side.
•Once there, calculate how far it is to the ground. Do whatever necessary to hop down to the ground.
•Skillfully, wind through the garden (without being caught by the gardener), and get to the gazebo.
•Place the eggs under the floorboards.
I wouldn't have time for questions after that. Fierce determination glowed in my amber eyes, as I quietly slipped my window pane up.
I stepped out onto the rafters of our Prussian blue roof, trying not to slip on the morning dew that had rained down on the planks of wood. I grabbed hold to the fir wood and winced when a sharp pain erupted up my ring and pointer finger. Disregarding it, I ascended up the wood. It seemed to take forever for me to reach the ridge.
Shakily, I stood up, trying to balance myself and not make too much noise at the same time. I looked to see where the sun was.
Spotting it, I triumphantly looked towards the other direction, which must've been west. I climbed over the ridge, and nearly fell when I slipped on the dew. I clamped my mouth shut, still trying to be silent.
Trying to keep my breathing at a minimal, I slouched into a sitting arrangement, assessing how far it was to the ground from up here. Well, it looks like it's only around 9 feet—I could jump down and manage to survive since I'm 6'4" and only around 125 pounds.
I allowed my body to slide down to the bevel siding, where I peered down again. If I had one good quality, it was the fact that I didn't scare easily. Carefully, I slid the house shoes I had been wearing off, and laid them on the roof. Gulping down the lump that had formed in my throat, I dangled my legs over the side and pushed myself off.
I nearly cried out in joy when I landed on my knees (my kneecaps now throbbing from the impact). Instantaneously, I brought out my pocket watch to see how much time I had taken up.
I have 9 minutes and 3 seconds left, and I've only just made it off the roof. What am I going to do now?
Glancing around, I decided I could only follow through with the plan. I stood up erratically and began to sprint my way towards the garden. The tall weeds and flowers hid me from our gardener, Mister Sayamo, as I ran towards the gazebo. I tripped a few times, but managed to recover quickly.
Finally, I reached the gazebo. Crouching down to lay on my stomach, I took my four eggs out from the small bag that had been fit into my pocket.
I stuffed the bag in the gap between the floorboards of the gazebo and the grass. When that was done, I sighed in relief.
The plan worked! I leaped down from the roof and lived, I ran all the way here, and all before Misaki and Telulu come to wake me up…in my…room.
My entire body stiffened and an expression of horror and realization completely drowned away all relief that I had felt before. Frenzied, I fumbled for my pocket watch. Tears brimmed my eyes when I saw what it said.
I only had two minutes and one second to get back.
And considering it had taken me 13 minutes and 13 seconds just to get here, there was no way I could make it back.
You may think it's strange, but whenever I'm frustrated, I always cry. I don't know why, it's just impulsive. Maybe it's hereditary, or maybe it's just my own unique quality. I don't really like it, but I can't help it.
"It's impossible; I can't just hop back to my room," I whispered to myself, giving up all hope.
'Hey, Amu-chan! Don't cry! Everything's possible!' And you thought people couldn't have more than three heart attacks a day.
W-who are you?
'I'm your Guardian Character, Ran!'
Well, that's very nice 'Ran', but, like I was saying, there's no way I can just hop back to my room now.
'Oh? Well, then, change from a girl who can't just hop back to her room, to one who can! Character Change!'
Huh?
Abruptly, a strange sensation engorged my entire mind. The sensation was euphoric and…powerful? I felt a strange fluttering feeling down by my ankles. Glancing down, I nearly fainted. Because, there, right on both of my ankles, was a pair of tiny, shimmering, light pink wings.
When I tried to step out of them, I was sent flying in the air.
"WAAAAAAAAAH!"
Oh, oh, oh…Oh. My. God!! I—I'm flying!!?? This is—this is so…Oh my God!!!
The wings seemed to be parachuting me back to the east side of the house. Thankfully, I floated down to the fir planks gracefully.
I was too freaked out to just stand there, so I did the very thing I had wanted to do at the moment more than anything: I raced through the window and dashed towards my bed, too exhausted, terrified, and bewildered to do anything but sleep. Pulling the covers over my sweaty, trembling body, I let my mind gradually sink to a far, far away place.
BANG! My door flew open, and, for the sixth time that morning, I had a 'heart attack'.
"Your mother wants you to wake up!" Telulu's lazy, country voice called to me. She must've realized how unusual I looked, with my hand clutched over my pounding chest and a wild look in my amber eyes, because she actually seemed concerned of my welfare.
"Hey, kid, you okay?" she asked, her tone shifting from half-bemusement to half-alarm.
I nodded quickly and covered up with, "Y-yeah, I'm o-okay. Just a nightmare." Telulu stared at me carefully for a second, then turned away.
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The rest of the day went by normally, with Madame Rin going over how to multiply polynomials and explaining cause & effect; Lord Tsukari took up my own composed sheet music; I had lunch by the old beech tree; Ms. Yuki gave me one of her long lectures; and Ami, Mother, and I had dinner (father had gone on a business trip).
"So, Milady, how was your day today?" Misaki asked me. Currently, she was bathing me in a bubble bath I had only on Tuesday's—because it 'relieved me of the stress of the entire week'.
"Nothing really, Misaki. I just had an arithmetic quiz and had to turn in my piano project is all."
I had learned in my earlier years that adults didn't understand things that kids did. Like, when I had actually seen a flower walk around the house when my parents were out. I had told Misaki and Telulu. Because Telulu was a teenager then, she told me to "grow up". But Misaki had believed me. Misaki is only 5 years older than me, so back then, she was only 10 years old.
But now that Misaki was 21, I can no longer tell her these things. So, I decided only to tell her of my studies.
I held my breath as Misaki poured the basin of cold water over my head, washing away the soap in my hair.
"Hey, Misaki," I said tentatively.
"Yes, Milady?"
"Could I—have some time alone?" I asked. Misaki looked mildly shocked but nodded.
When I heard the bathroom door close, I let out a sigh and hugged my knees to my chest.
You may think it odd, but my mind tends to wander to subjects that have nothing to do with me. And today, I was wondering why my mother had looked so sad the other day.
Is it because father is gone for a week?
No, you idiot, she's too used to father being gone on business trips.
Was she really that disappointed in me? To the extent that would make her…cry?
Ah, don't blame yourself for everything!
I let my head tilt upwards, to look at the ceiling. I can't help but care for mother, even if she doesn't care for me. I let go of the embrace of myself, letting my legs slide against the porcelain bottom of the tub. I dangled them outside the tub, letting the bitter cold attack my fragile feet. Subliminally, I cupped my average breasts, and lowered my body deeper into the lukewarm water, until my nose just barely tapped the water.
I wonder why…I feel so…lonely.
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Once again, Misaki was brushing through my wet, waist-length, rose pink hair. Once again, I found myself searching the mirror for any changes. But tonight, I found one. In my glossy, amber eyes, I found a spark. A small spark, nothing much. But, it was a start.
"Hey, Misaki," I started.
"Yes, Milady?"
"What is…loneliness?" I inquired. I heard a small gasp from Misaki and she immediately stopped running my white comb through my hair. I inclined my head slightly to see what was wrong.
As far as I could tell, Misaki looked emotionless.
"Loneliness," she began quietly, "is when you're alone." Annoyed, I responded through gritted teeth, "I already know that! I mean…why would a person feel it?"
"Why?" she repeated me.
I nodded. Slowly, Misaki began brushing my hair again. Just when I thought she wasn't going to answer, she did.
"There are many reasons why people feel loneliness. It could just be mental, like how you feel something is missing in life. Or maybe it's something obvious, like when you're isolated from the real world. It could be because you don't have friends, it could be because you may not have a family, or maybe…" Misaki's voice trailed off.
"'Or maybe'?" I urged.
"Or maybe…because you yearn for a lover," Misaki finished softly.
"Lover?" I murmured under my breath. Unexpectedly, I heard Misaki giggle.
"You're blushing," she stated.
"Eh?!" I touched my cheeks, and discovered it was abnormally hot. "S-so?" I stammered. Misaki put my white comb down onto the desk and smoothed out my hair with her slim fingers. After awhile of the silence, she quit and began walking away. Misaki stopped when she was just about to open my bedroom door.
"Goodnight…Hinamori Amu," she whispered.
I froze in place, shock taking over my body. Servants are never supposed to refer to their masters in such an informal way. She could be severely punished if I told mother.
Will you tell mother?
No.
No, I wouldn't; because Misaki seemed to be my…friend. Yes, that was the word: friend. I smiled to myself, when my body froze over again at the memory of this morning's events.
Now, I get to ask my questions.
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It was easier to sneak out this time, since I knew my route better. What made it hard was that I couldn't see well in the dark. The weeds whacked at my small figure like razors, and all I could do was mutter a small "Ouch!" or whimper. It seemed like forever when I finally reached our gazebo.
Squatting down, I squinted hard to see the colorful eggs. After a minute or two, I managed to perceive the hot pink egg with hearts marked on it. I grabbed it and brought it closer to my face so I could see it more carefully.
So, it was a hot pink plaid egg with a black stripe running through its middle; and hearts were cut out from that black stripe. I could tell that this was the one that had supposedly 'talked' to me.
Whatever these things are, they're bad. They caused me to hear voices in my head…well, I always hear voices in my head, but this is different!
'Thank goodness, you're here!'
Holy crap!!! It's you again!
The egg abruptly heated up and began to quiver in my palms. I wanted to drop it, but some unknown force was preventing me from doing so. CRACK! The egg split into to two, and evaporated, revealing a small, fairy sized creature.
My jaw unhinged.
"Yo-ho, Amu-chan! I'm your Guardian Character, Ran!"
I passed out.
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A/N: Yes, I finally finished this chapter. Well, I wanted to exlain more about Amu, so: Amu, in this fiction, is obedient and lonely, but she's also clever and valiant. She's still a klutz (physical-wise) and she's still easily swooned over. She also has conflicts raging within herself, as you could see. Okay, done.
I know you all may be wondering where Ikuto is, but he doesn't show up until around chapter four, so I suggest you deal with it. Well, see you in the next chapter, where Amu meets Miki and Su and finds a mysterious Lock.
