Show Me Your Smile

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"Princess Amu," he started as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the sickening attempted sweetness within his voice.

I was ambushed as I was walking down the hallway that led to my room and thinking just how irritated I already was of this suitor.

I suspect he also guessed I was thinking him to be of a nuisance, since his eyes had something that resembled a glower in them as he spoke, "Princess," he started again, and this time I heard a strain in his voice.

Not quite willing to play along, I glared at him, "Whatever you want to say, speak now."

The glower became translucent and I inwardly smirked.

"We had a," he stopped and rubbed his chin, obviously thinking of a word, "a…misfortunate start."

I stared. Misfortunate? That was the word he mustered up? I tried to smother the snort I felt rising in my throat.

He looked slightly amused, as if guessing I what I was trying to resist. I resisted to glare at him again.

"Yes, misfortunate. I propose a new start, princess."

I was about to snap at him, when I realized that he had stopped and his back was bended at a complete right angle, ensconcing his black hat behind his back.

Mother would scold me mercilessly if she found out I had disregarded such respect.

A little speechless, I stopped and quickly said, "Stand, stand."

He stood up straight and smiled at me, "Is that a yes to my proposal?"

I froze at his last word and slowly said as I recovered, "Prince Rui, I apologize for whatever my parents have told you, but I will not be marrying you." Ikuto, this is what you asked for. I am trying.

"And why is that, princess?" I refrained from snapping at him to not stick his nose in other's business.

"That, dear sir," I say, nearly gagging at myself, "Is really none of your concern."

He looked a little surprised, "As your fiancé, I do say it is."

"You are not my fiancé," Self control, Amu, self control.

"Yes, princess, you are."

I nearly guffawed at his childish remarks.

I apologize, Ikuto. I really did try.

Daggers that I reserved for such repulsing suitors were launched with my eyes, "Are your ears not working? I am not your fiancé nor will I marry you!

"You will marry me," he demanded, seizing my arm.

I felt my anger blaze up instantly at his statement. I was not an object he could command.

Screaming and pointing un-Amu fingers at him was what first came into mind, but, as I sadly resorted back to my old self, I pulled myself loose and merely smirked coldly, "Really now? I suppose we all have our thoughts, some right, some very incorrect and confused with their facts."

"Your parents have graciously given us their blessings," he said, completely ignoring my sentence.

"What do you speak of?" Horror I skillfully concealed rose within me. Had my parents already agreed my hand in marriage with this man or was he merely toying with my mind?

Turning away before he had the chance to answer, I somewhat stomped all the way to my parent's working room.

I stormed into the room, shocking them with the great whirl of emotion flashing in my eyes. They were in the middle of a morning tea session and the herbal aromas surrounded me, slightly calming me down.

Forcing myself to calm completely down, I spoke, "Has my marriage already been decided?"

My mother was quite composed as she answered, "Not yet, dear. We have decided Prince Shin is quite the candidate and, after his marvelous offer and appeal, we have decided for him to be your fiancé."

I could feel my body shaking with anger, as soon as the words exited her mouth, entering my ears, and registered my shocked brain. "Without my consent?" Ice was dropping with every syllable.

Before she could answer I interrupted with cold fury, "Mother, I will not have this. I will not have him as my fiancé."

She sighed and I could hear her thoughts of disrespect and unruly behavior. I ignored them.

"I will not have him as my fiancé," I say again, as she did not reply.

After moments of silence, my father speaks up, "Amu-chan, understand you are entering a critical moment, not just for yourself, but for the kingdom. Think of them, before yourself. That is the responsibility of the royal family. Your mother and I will talk about this rational decision and call you when we have come to a conclusion."

I nod, seeing it was my time to depart the room.

Sighing and feeling a migraine about to erupt, I head to my room.

Amu-chan, understand you are entering a critical moment, not just for yourself, but for the kingdom. Think of them, before yourself. That is the responsibility of the royal family.

I understand the responsibility and the rules of our family quite well. Once the heir of the throne reaches his or her final teenage year, her, in my case, she must have a grasp on the laws and order of how the kingdom is ruled. The heir must also begin to make decisions that usually the King or Queen would make and, many times, must be wedded or have a fiancé, in the least, therefore the man who was to become her husband would also understand the protocols and to gain respect and loyalty before becoming the King.

I sighed, rubbing my temples, hating the last responsibility.

As I walked into my room, I realized I had many papers to write for my different Mistresses. Sighing again, I merely sat down on my wooden chair, very tired at the mere thought of quill and paper.

The past year, I have been studying so much on the sorts of problems a leader has to solve; I was surprised I still had space in my mind.

Plopping upon my bed, I stared aimlessly at the ceiling, seeing nothing. Suddenly a teasing, blue-haired man smirked down at me, "Amu-chan."

A familiar tug at my heart was immediately vanquished when I sat up and shook my head.

There was no time to think of such things. I had to continue studying and working hard, so in time, when I was to be Queen, I would not, could not, be useless or dependent on the king.

I heard a meowing sound and I grinned. Yoru and Miki. What a couple. They lived underneath my bed, but would often leave the palace and take strolls around the garden. Seeing them cuddle with one another often made me selfishly jealous.

I sighed and looked out into the garden, caught in my own thoughts.

"No," I said stubbornly, staring at what Ikuto called a 'swing'. It was nothing, but a piece of wood between two pieces of rope hung from a tree.

"This is a worrisome free ride," he teased, "Besides, I'm here to protect you."

I crossed my arms, "I'm not the least bit scared." Truth was, the 'swing' did not look very safe and, after my incident with a bucking horse, I was terrified not having both feet planted to the ground.

"Alright, show me," he pushed.

I huffed and slowly made my way to the swing.

"Sit here," he patted the wood, as if I did not know.

I remained silent, as anxiety was catching up to me. I sat upon the wood, wincing as it creaked.

"Ready?" Ikuto asked, from behind.

I had no choice, but to nod, and suddenly I was being pushed.

Forgetting to hold tightly onto the ropes, I instantly fell forward. Feeling my cheeks start to heat up, I held my head high, but could not ignore the trembling in my knees.

Unfortunately Ikuto noticed how wobbly I was standing and came close to me.

"Amu," he said, a little too seriously for the situation, "Why pretend to be so brave all the time?"

I stuck my nose into the air, "Because that is who I am."

"Really, I don't think so? You should start undoing that façade Amu. Don't look away from me. Letting others help and comfort you is not something to be ashamed of. It's human nature. Amu, let others see the real, beautiful, caring you. They'll like it a lot, but no one can steal you away from me."

I laughed and tapped his nose lightly, "Never."

"Amuuu," I looked up, a little startled and was surprised to see Ran and Su standing there, looking amused once again.

I glared, "Don't even start."

Ran grinned widely, saying nothing.

Su merely smiled and said, "Amu, your parents want to see you in their tea room."

I nodded and walked briskly past them, cheeks burning as they giggled.

Glancing back at them as I went through door, I couldn't help, but smile at the sight of my two best friends laughing. If I was the cause of their amusement, then let it be.

As I ambled leisurely to my parent's tea room, I could not help but feel ever the more frustrated. They know perfectly well I had already chosen who I wanted for a husband, or have they forgotten?

"Princess Amu," I heard a drawl near my ear and shuddered.

Not even giving him an acknowledgement, I asked, "What is it?"

"Little Miss Princess asking the great King and Queen to keep away her big, bad fiancé," he simpered, as I stared wordlessly at his style of talking.

"Speaking in such a way to the princess will have disciplinary actions," I say, a little rudely. I was not in the mood.

He merely smirks, which I completely ignore and continue walking, leaving him behind.

Thoughts pound my mind. What sort of man is this? Why is he so desperate to be my fiancé?

"Mother, father," I nod in greeting as soon as I walk into the room.

"Dear," my father says quite professionally, "we have come to a conclusion."

Silence.

"Which is?" I felt a blood vessel throbbing. Please, father, save the drama for the plays.

"Prince Shin may continue to pursue your hand in marriage and when time is right, the Queen and I will decide."

I could feel unhappiness floating from Prince Shin, but he nevertheless bowed and left the room.

"He may continue to court me?" I ask nonchalantly, keeping my unruffled exterior. Inside, I am shrieking, loud and hard.

My father and mother nod simultaneously.

"Is there a reason to this nonsense?"

"He is quite the catch," my mother replies, "Has a fortune merely in his back pocket. He is prince of Zengo and uniting our kingdoms will not only benefit us, but the people too."

I thought for a minute and asked, "Is there actually a kingdom named Zengo?"

My mother looked a little ruffled, "I suppose there is," she said after a surprised silence.

I nod, a little solemnly as warning bells and suspicion went off within my head and I knew I had to research about Zengo. Zengo, Zengo…why did the kingdom sound so… distasteful to the tongue?

"Honey," my mother suddenly says to my father, touching his cheek, "Would you excuse the ladies for a moment."

He looks ruffled for a moment, "We still have things to discuss," he pointed out.

My jaw nearly drops as I observe my mother bat her eyelashes and whisper, "How about we discuss them later…tonight?" I feel my eyeballs popping out of their sockets.

A dazed voice replies, "Of course," and the stunned king walks out of the room.

I watch the door shut and stare up at my mother, the Queen, in disbelief.

She simply shrugs, "With men, our feminine sides are always their weakness."

I nod weakly, unable to say anything and struggling to recover.

As I'm overcoming my shocked state, my mother begins, "I see you're very upset over this whole ordeal and I feel very regretful you must be put in this situation. It's not quite fair for you."

Now fully recovered and nearly breaking my façade, by yelling a line along "Since when has it ever been fair for me?" I simply say, "Well, isn't this life? It's never quite fair."

Mother took me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes, something that she hasn't done for ages. I always thought she had feared to see the dagger laying in them.

Today, there were none. Just the eyes of a heart-broken girl who unwillingly let her mother see her for the first time.

"Oh, dear," she said gently, taking me into her arms, "I'm so sorry. I know you are waiting for him, but time is running out."

I instantly stiffen and tug out of her embrace, "I have no clue what you speak of."

Her eyes twinkled a little, "Amu, dear, a mother always knows."

I repress a blush I feel coming up.

"It's hopeless, anyway," I say, looking down and feeling my façade break completely away, leaving me very much so weak in front my mother. I feel like a toddler again, leaning into my mother's comfort.

Letting others help and comfort you is not something to be ashamed of.

Ikuto's words rang in my ear and I succumbed to them and to my mother's arms that were eagerly surrounding me in maternal reassurance.

"It's not fair," I murmur.

"Oh, darling, we're women. We take our duties seriously. It's for the kingdom, for our people."

I look at her, feeling my eyes blaze, "I say that is to be changed."

Mother chortled in a way that made me feel ridiculous, "Amu, dear, as women we have no chance to change what it is."

I put my nose into the air, defiant, "I will change that."

She looked at me with such kind eyes, I felt myself becoming a child once more, "If you can," she simply said.

"But why, why do you and Papa desperately want me to get married at a time like this?"

Mother sighed and attempted to run her hand through her grey bun.

"There are reasons, child," she started, "that are far beyond your maturity. This is no way to insult how mature you are now," she said calmly, catching the narrow in my eyes, "Even Papa and I aren't too sure. What I can tell you is if this marriage is successful, our kingdom will be safe." She leaned back into her chair, closing her eyes.

I waited.

Finally, seeing as no more information would come from her, I gave her a little bow and exited the room.

What I can tell you is if this marriage is successful, our kingdom will be safe.

Why did I feel as though that one mere statement carried more than a double meaning? Reasons beyond my maturity?

I growled and stomped around, ignoring the looks I was getting from the maids and butlers. If I were to break my façade, why not start with my anger stage? No one knew that 'cool and spicy' Princess Amu had the capacity of feeling angry. I nearly laughed. This 'breaking mask' ordeal was harder than it seemed…but you made it seem so easy Ikuto. I need you by my side. Please come back soon.

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2nd chapter!! WOOT! This chapter will get the plot going and I have planned interesting things for this story:)

Hopefully, you took a break from your busy lives and had a fun time reading this chapter.

And, even though I find this very mudane and useless, I'm sure everyone knows I don't own Shugo Chara!.

Alrighty, I'm done rambling. lol. Now, tell me what you thought of this chapter! :D