Summary:
Amu spends the next month spending time with Ikuto… getting to know him and learn his habits. But what's going to happen on a visit from Tadase?
Author's Note:
All right, sorry for the long delay. It's been two weeks since the last release, but meh. I was debating whether I should release this one, or I should release AS. But for AS, I have a bit of a writer's block, but I'll get through it soon enough. This one is going to be involving a lot of trouble and problems that going to arise, seeing as Tadase ignites and begins the story. This is where our story begins.
Enjoy this chappie~ And review if you want to see/read what's going to happen next!
Total Word of Chapter Count: 7074
Misc. crap extras: 209
Disclaimer:
Shugo Chara and all related characters and elements are the property, copyright and trademark of Peach Pit and no ownership or claim on said property, copyright or trademark is made or implied by their use in the work(s) of fan fiction presented here. This fan fiction constitutes a personal comment on the aforesaid properties pursuant to doctrines of fair use and fair comment. This fan fiction is non-commercial, not for sale or profit, and may not be sold or reproduced for commercial purposes.
Chapter 2: Ouji's Visit
For a moment, nothing was said in the room.
"Wa-wait a minute," Amu started. "He's the bodyguard of whom?"
Her father laughed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. But to Amu, it sadly didn't seem to be that way… mainly because it was her disbelief and shock.
"To you, of course; I can't have you going around with just any guard right? After all, you're the daughter to me, and you know how my position is."
Shock had riddled anymore words that could be procured from her mouth.
Leaving it to his daughter to let the information sink, he turned back to Ikuto. "So, will you take the job? I'll pay you handsomely each week and you can use the money how you see fit."
"Actually, instead of giving me pay, would you allow me to stay in one of your special-set-aside guestrooms? And an erhu."
Amu looked up at Ikuto in confusion before switching her gaze to her father as if to ask him the question by what sort of instrument that was.
"I'm sorry, a what?" Tsumugu asked, unable to answer his daughter's confusion.
Ikuto's smile disappeared and was replaced with one that seemed… distant. "I've done some very far and wide traveling during my freedom from my Lord and master, and in that, I've traveled to rather distant places."
Interested, Tsumugu listened curiously.
"In one of the places I've traveled to, is over the sea, to the countries near this one. I had only recently reacquired these blades, having them left behind at a friend's house. In one of the countries, their country is almost very much like our own, but seeing as I was a traveler, they did not really stop me to ask questions. I happened across a shop that was playing some very beautiful music. I stepped in and discovered that there was a man playing an erhu. It's a very unique sound and I'll gladly play for you should I be able to get it."
Tsumugu seemed thoughtful but Amu was skeptical. Had he really traveled to another country? She may not know much of his life, but the story sounded a bit suspicious and some parts of it sounded a bit odd. Even the way he looked seemed out of place with the story. His face carefully sculpted, as if careful not to show any sort of emotion on his face. It remained stoic but something in his eyes told her something entirely different. It was… something fierce that was in his eyes about this particular instrument.
"And I'm supposing that it's impossible to buy it here?" Tsumugu asked after a moment of silence.
Ikuto nodded. "It's one of our neighboring countries… I believe you may have heard of them… The Chinese? But I hear that some Chinese do reside in our country, making the instruments…"
Tsumugu looked shocked at this new piece of information before he pulled back his good face and said, "All right, that will be my payment to you for protecting my daughter. But in return, I hope that you will not perform it in front me, my younger daughter, and my wife… better yet, away from the rest of the household."
"Eh?" Amu was confused. It was just an instrument, yet, why was Ikuto not allowed to play here?
Something flickered across his face before he nodded very slowly. "You're allowing me to play in front of the hime-sama here?"
"Yes, as she already knows of its soon-to-be existence and I'm pretty sure she will be very curious as to what it sounds like… just so long as you do not play the instrument here."
"Then playing it elsewhere will be difficult. Even if I go out to the farmland to play, people will still be able to hear me and my job would be to protect hime-sama… would you allow me my pleasure while I'm on duty?" He raised an eyebrow in question, as such a condition would be rather difficult to fulfill.
"At the end of the week, the family and servants of the household always leaves to check in with the family outside on the farmland, while my family and I go and talk to the farmers and collect the taxes. That is the day I shall allow you to play the instrument.
"And everything you do, you must report to Dia, her caretaker, who will report to me. I'm a very busy man, so I expect at least one report a week from her about you."
Tsumugu's stern gaze and firm order was resolute.
"Understood; under these conditions, I agree and accept the job as hime-sama's bodyguard." Ikuto pulled out a piece of paper (from where, Amu doesn't know) and a brush. He also withdrew an ink well and dipped it in before writing on the parchment their agreement. She watched in awe as Ikuto's fluid and graceful writing revealed itself in his brush and she watched as he signed his name. Mildly, she noted that even his fingers were long and elegant. Everything about this man seemed to be too pretty for her, yet still so rough and manly that she wondered how such a living paradox was real.
He handed the brush over to Tsumugu and he signed it as well before picking up the parchment and rolled it up, tucking it into the sleeve of his kimono. "You will start your duties today. You go everywhere she goes; aside from the times she needs her privacy. She is your master now."
Ikuto nodded and before Amu could say anything more to her father, he left the room as he slid the door shut with a loud bang.
"Now I serve you, Amu-sama," Ikuto smirked.
Feeling the same boiling anger that she felt earlier, she was about to retort when the door slid open again. This time, it was Ran with the meals. She set the trays in front of the pair and sat aside, ready to be called upon for anything that Amu might need.
She looked at her tray and discovered a piece of paper was there. She picked up, curious, and read what was written on it.
Not realizing it, she looked crestfallen before she giggled at the contents of the letter. It then changed to horror when she realized what the rest of the letter said.
Ikuto chuckled, causing Amu to look up and glare, "What's so funny?"
"You, my dear," he replied. His eyes half closed as he watched her blush blossom across her face in embarrassment. "And it's amazing how you're so not cute with that scowl across your face."
"SH-SHUT UP!" she managed to snap. Her heart had raced at the words he had used after "you." It made her heart flutter and she wondered unwittingly to what he would sound like should he be genuine about his feelings.
"I'm guessing the letter came from one of your suitors?" he asked with a slightly raised eyebrow again as he continued to eat his dinner.
"N-Not really…" she muttered as she set aside the letter and began to eat.
"Oh? Then what's with the rapid facial changes?" He picked up a piece of a vegetable before putting it into his mouth.
"Well, he apologized for the troubles I had faced while I was on my way to his home and said that he will take care of the matter himself so that the next time I go, that I wouldn't have to worry."
Ikuto raised an eyebrow before continuing to eat; he seemed skeptic.
"What?" Amu asked indignantly.
He merely shrugged and his eyes closed half way as if he seemed… he knew something that she did not. His smirk only became wider, "I really doubt that that ouji will be really to help; after all, he only has so much power for being an ouji."
Amu twitched in anger as she tried her utmost best to be nice to this man. "Tadase-sama isn't like that and he doesn't like to be referred by his title."
"What else does the letter say?" Ikuto ignored her comment.
"I didn't read that far into it before you bothered me," she growled, stabbing into a poor carrot.
He chuckled before he said, "I'm pretty sure that you already have finished reading the letter; I talked to you just after you finished, remember?"
"Oh, right, you joked with me for no apparent reason," she said sarcastically. "And it was so nice of you to not laugh."
Again, he raised an eyebrow, "Like it or not, you're going to be stuck with me until you can find a suitor to marry who can provide for you and for you to move out of this household."
She glared. She simply glared at this man.
He chuckled before adjusting himself, revealing a bit of his upper chest that caught her by surprise. Her glare was disrupted by the shock that overcame her face. He had so many…
When Ikuto realized what she was staring at, he quickly readjusted himself and sat a bit more upright. He regretted for a moment ever letting his guard down around this girl… but… it was so comfortable to talk to her, despite his want to tease her to no end to see her reactions.
"H-How'd you get so many of those… those scars?" she asked softly.
He looked at her for a moment before deciding how to answer:
With a smirk.
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Her anger again flared; he was avoiding the question, just like he had with any of the earlier inquires that she had made about himself.
"Of course, were you my lover, I wouldn't mind showing them to you," his eyes glinted with mischief.
She flushed with embarrassment and anger as she snapped, "Like hell I would!" Grudgingly, her poor dinner had to suffer her wrath as she stabbed, tore, and shredded them.
When she had calmed down at eating dessert, she glanced up for a moment at Ikuto to see what he was doing.
He was eating a strawberry and her eyes widened when she saw what he was doing.
When he became aware that she was watching him eat, he decided to tease her again. He put the strawberry to his mouth and kissed it so softly, it didn't look like he had kissed it all; in fact, it looked like he had just brushed his lips over the surface. He took the tip of the strawberry and his teeth grazed it as he moved it over his lips.
Amu was beginning to feel unnaturally hot and bothered her heart racing and her mind becoming muddled. What the heck was she thinking about? What the hell was he doing to the… the… strawberry?!
When his tongue flicked out against the strawberry before taking a very slow bite out of it, she flinched and suddenly, she felt molten lava form at her naval, causing her to squirm.
However, it was cut short when he finished the strawberry, but it only got worse as he licked his fingers so delicately, that for an instant, she saw a flash of it being her hand.
Instantly, she flushed so brightly red, she stuttered, "I-I-I'm d-done my d-d-d-d-dinner!"
Ran seemed to have been focused on a book she had brought out of her secret hiding place and snapped to attention when her master suddenly exclaimed that she had finished. She had entirely missed the exchange just then.
Just as Ran was about to guide her out of the room, she heard him say, "I'm going to make you want me so bad, that you can't resist me the next time I do something like that because now… you're mine."
At the word "mine," her body shivered with such delight that she clenched her eyes shut before rushing out.
As Ikuto heard her footsteps disappear, he buried his face in his hands.
"What the hell am I doing?"
The only thing that ran through his mind was his sudden lust for her… to see her slowly unwrapped from her suffocating kimono and to have her under him… and the face that she had just showed him as he was teasing her with the strawberry.
"Damnit, this wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered.
* * *
Amu couldn't stop thinking about him. She couldn't stop thinking about things that she knew she wasn't supposed to think about until she was married to a husband; her husband.
And yet, he managed to do that to her!
Her body shook with something that she didn't recognize; her body felt so unsure and suddenly so strange… it was as if this body was no longer her own and was suddenly afraid of what might happen if she was left alone with him. All he did was tease her to no end and irritate her! And yet, how could he possibly do that to her!
She felt so… so… so… violated!
Even though he hadn't touched her, but she wished he did.
Wait, what?!
She threw her futon's pillow at the wall, grunting in frustration. It was nighttime now, and everyone should be asleep now. She couldn't sleep without his face running through her mind. Why… Why… WHY?!
She couldn't understand what she wanted, what she exactly wanted from him. She wanted more, but she couldn't figure out what or why she wanted more. She grunted as she got up from her futon and went to collect her pillow before settling back on the place where she ought to be sleeping right now.
Why is that he's able to stir such… such… such strange emotions in me? She thought. I've only just met him!
She sighed, finally calming down as she began to think things through more clearly now that her body was slowly tiring itself out from… something she couldn't figure out.
I didn't tell him about Tadase-sama coming… I think that now he's my bodyguard, he ought to know things like this? In case something bad might happen… she thought. As much as she didn't want to tell him about Tadase coming, she felt like she had no choice; she didn't want to risk her family's safety for her own stubbornness of showing weakness to her enemy who, ironically, is her bodyguard.
But… as she began to think more about Ikuto, the more she began to realize that he hadn't told her anything about himself. He had remained something anonymous to her and was mysterious. Who were his parents? Did he have any siblings?
… More importantly, where and how did he get all of those scars?
Amu lay down to sleep, sighing in frustration that her late night musings were getting her nowhere. As she curled up under the blankets, she couldn't help but wonder what the future might bring.
* * *
In the next month, Amu sent letters to Tadase and he replied. He had been too busy doing something important to pay a visit in return for her try to his. When he finally agreed that he was able to come for a visit, Amu's household went into a flurry for preparation of the ouji's visit. She had sent a letter to him to not rush here, for their home was a mess, and that he ought to come a week later with his gifts and such that he was going to give and show her had she gone to his home. He sent back another letter saying that he agreed and that he will come in one week's time.
And in that month and a week, she somehow managed to grow tremendously close to the man that was the wandering ronin (or as she liked to call it, her drifter) as he endlessly teased her day in and day out.
The day before the Ouji was going to visit; Amu was sitting on the balcony, reading a book when Dia came up to her, tapping on her shoulder.
"Dia!" Amu greeted happily as Dia bent down for a hug. "How are you?"
Dia smiled back, "I've been doing great, thank you and the mark is all healed up now so Tsumugu said that I may come back to my duties now."
Amu seemed thoughtful. If it hadn't been for Ikuto, then Amu might not be sitting here now… let alone Dia. She suddenly felt intensely grateful for her drifter…. Wait, when did she give him a nickname? (And a fond one at that!)
"Miki is here today to paint you," Dia said as her eyes glanced toward the side. Amu's eyes followed to the side and smiled at her old friend.
Amu got up and went to hug her friend, who smiled and hugged her back. "Wow, you've really changed!"
Amu giggled as she surveyed her friend. She had spiked blue hair with almost luminescent blue eyes. She was said that she had been born under the moon and since that her life was in danger, her parents begged the gods to save her and when she was placed next to paint, her hair changed colors. It was said that it was because she was blessed with the gift of art that she was able to live; because she had such a bright future ahead of her. She had a fair complexion and wore a necklace around her neck with that of a spade with the attire of the family's artisan. Amu heard rumors that Miki might be secretly a tattoo artist…
However, Amu noticed her tomboy friend looking into the back of the room, where Ikuto sat, sleeping sitting upright. During the month and a week, Amu began to find a pattern in his sleep and discovered that he slept during the day often but what he did during the night, she didn't know because she always fell asleep before she could.
Her eyes sparkled with inspiration, "He's beautiful!"
"EH?!" Amu and Dia exclaimed in unison, snapping Ikuto to alert as he jumped up to standing with his hands poised at his swords.
He blinked when he realized that there was no trouble and yawned… like a cat, Amu noted as his other hand ran his fingers through his hair.
"Amu, Amu, please allow me to paint you with him!"
"E-Excuse me?!" Amu exclaimed.
Ikuto blinked, surprised. "Who's- Oh… she's the family artisan, isn't she? … Miki, am I right?"
Miki nodded quickly before she pulled Amu and Ikuto together with strength that didn't fit the girl. "No… no… that isn't right…" she frowned. She dragged the pair outside where the sakura petals were following again. Inspiration had struck her, Amu realized, and there was no way to stop her until her muse dried up.
"You sit like this… you sit like that… no… move your arm like that… yeah… no, no, Amu, move closer… Ikuto, was it? Oh, you're her bodyguard? All the more for me to paint you two together… No, take out your swords like this… ah, there we go… Amu, stop moving!"
They were sitting under the sakura tree then, Amu sitting so close to Ikuto that her back was touching Ikuto's arm. If she were to lay her head back, then it would rest on Ikuto's shoulder. She was sitting in the way that all proper ladies of her prestige sat with kimonos; however, Ikuto was sitting behind her with his sword resting on his other shoulder where it could be seen, instead of being blocked by Amu.
As Miki began to paint, her eyes totally absorbed in painting, Amu began to count how many sakura petals fell. Before she knew it, she leaned back gently into Ikuto's shoulder, causing him to flinch in the uncomfortable position. Before Miki could stop it, Ikuto had readjusted himself to make Amu more comfortable while making himself comfortable as well. He leaned back onto the sakura tree and then also, before he realized it, he dozed off, his head tilting over to the side and onto Amu's head.
"Eh?" Miki blinked when she realized what had just happened, but smiled. "Dia, come here and look- oh, Ran, you too!"
The pair came over and smiled. Ran even giggled.
"They look so cute," Ran gushed.
"Yes, they do, please paint them like that instead," Dia insisted.
"Well, I'm glad I have photographic memory, but this is even better than the pose I had made them do earlier… this looks more natural," Miki admitted with a grin. "I get to paint such a handsome and beautiful man like him with such a precious jewel like Amu. And look! I love how they contrast each other!"
Dia only smiled, "You ought to come over more… he teases her to no end, but we all can see it in his eyes that he's becoming more and more fond of her with each passing day."
Suu knocked on the door, "Girls, I have-"
"SHH!" Ran and Dia said quickly, rushing to Suu and making her suddenly quiet as they covered her mouth. They moved the food on a tray to the table and guided Suu to where they had been standing earlier. "Look."
Suu giggled and smiled. "Finally, they aren't bickering."
"So I've heard… I'm painting this way, now go away; I need to work in peace," Miki shooed.
As Dia walked away from the artist, she suddenly stopped walking and paled as she turned to face the sleeping pair.
"Dia, what's wrong?" Ran asked, noticing her sister's sudden change in mood.
Suu stopped as well to look at Dia with concern.
"Don't you feel that?"
When the pair didn't understand, Dia had to explain softly and gently.
"Don't you feel like that this is the calm before the storm? That something bad is going to happen soon?"
Ran paled significantly and Suu only sniffled. Somehow, they knew that they were right; the household had become livelier with Ikuto and Amu together… even Tsumugu and Midori noticed. Ami had even come to love and adore Ikuto, almost just as much as she did with her sister.
Ran gulped, "We can only hope that this peace will last as long as it can… I don't want to see Amu-hime suffer… I've never seen her so stubbornly cute and happy before."
"And I don't think she realizes it either," Dia said sadly.
Suu smiled weakly, "We'll just have to wait and see."
The next day came and as agreed, came the Ouji.
That's when the trouble started.
* * *
After waking up suddenly in a position with Ikuto that shocked her to no end, she was reassured of Tadase's visit the next day and that she shouldn't panic about something like that… and it quickly became something in the back of her mind…
Amu was excited as she getting ready to greet her prince. Amu thought that this man was her suitor, the one man that was going to finally say that he loved her and that he was going to be willing to marry her. That he might just be that one for her.
Ikuto had gone ahead to see the carriage and see if it came all right. When he came back, he had cleared that it was all right and he didn't sense anything of trouble nearby. But Amu had heard what he added in an undertone to her father: "For now… For now it's peaceful, but for some reason, I have a very ominous feeling about what is to come."
She heard her father mutter some words back to Ikuto and together, they left the lobby. Even her mother looked worriedly at the pair. Recently, Ikuto had even gotten close to her father in ways that would have helped any daimyo tremendously. In a way, Ikuto had become someone very important in their family.
Even to Amu, as much as she didn't want to admit it.
But in her mind at that moment, she didn't care about what was going on between her father and Ikuto and instead, was focused on getting ready to meet Tadase.
His carriage entered the courtyard and she ran out to meet him with Ran and Dia running on after. Miki had told her yesterday that she was going to stay for awhile because her home was currently undergoing some troubles that she herself could not tell Amu. Miki, however, had said that she will remain indoors to meet him; she said that her skin burned easily at the time that Tadase was to come.
Amu fidgeted as she waited for Tadase to step out. When he did, his blonde hair was shown clearly in the sun as it was almost golden. His red-violet eyes seemed to smile at Amu when he saw that she was there to greet him as his mouth itself smiled.
"Amu!" he greeted as he clasped his hands around her own. For a moment, Amu recognized that he had hands that fit that of a man and abruptly, remembered Ikuto's fingers as he had played with the strawberry.
"Tadase-sama!" she greeted with a grin, shoving harshly aside that thought. This wasn't the time to think about Ikuto like that. Not now, not ever.
"I heard that you had gotten a bodyguard, where is he?" he asked, but before Amu could reply, Ran spoke up.
"Ouji-sama, please step into the sitting room so that you may have some tea as you converse," she said she bowed before him, gesturing her hands toward the entrance.
He nodded, "All right." He turned toward Amu and held out his hand with a smile, "Let us go and drink some tea, Hinamori-hime." He took her hand and led her into the room.
For a split second, she noticed that Tadase had used her name when he first saw her, but suddenly changed back to using her surname and honorific.
As she sat down, Ran poured tea for her and Tadase before they began to talk.
"Hime, did you really get a bodyguard?"
Amu nodded, sighing with a smile, "Yes, I have. My father asked him to." I guess he's too polite to suddenly really change calling me my name more personally.
"Then where is he? I would like to meet him," his eyes looked around the room for the bodyguard but could find no one that resembled on. Miki sat in the corner and stood up when he spotted her.
"I'm Miki, the Hinamori's artisan; it's a pleasure to meet you, Ouji-sama," she greeted, bowing.
"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you too," Tadase said with the slight bow of his head before he turned his attention to the female across from him, his eyes as if asking where he was.
Amu tilted her head in question; when she became aware of the fact that Tadase hadn't brought his brother. "Where's your brother?" she asked, ignoring Tadase's look of question.
"Ah, he said he'll be here soon enough with a few friends of mine who are willing to perform for you here." Tadase smiled. "I had really wanted you to meet them when you were coming for a visit, but you could not due to those bandits."
"How is the situation with the bandits?" Amu asked as she took a sip of tea.
"Ah… I think it has gotten worse," Tadase said softly, staring into the beverage with a solemn expression. "It's even more dangerous for women of all sorts to go out onto the streets, least they will not be seen again. The worst part of it all is that it's still in your region."
Amu blinked.
"My region? You mean the region that my father rules over?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so," he took a sip. "I have seen some precautions taken and I've already noticed a significant change in the bandits. I have my eye on the lookout for them, but I can't help but think that someone is stirring all this sort of trouble up, but my sources can't figure out who."
Suddenly, this visit of her beloved Ouji isn't turning out to how she wanted it to be at all. At the thought of this, she kept her disappointed face behind a mask of impassiveness.
"But I didn't come here to make you worry about such things as that; you're a hime, you shouldn't listen to me spouting this stuff," Tadase said with a weak smile. "But, I came here to see you after all; how are you?"
"I'm great, thanks," she said with a smile. "I'm just glad you're fine on your way here."
Before he could say anything more, Dia came and slid open the door to reveal four people. One of them had pale purple hair with blue eyes but with looks that were very similar to Tadase. The other three next to him were very elegant or very sophisticated.
Amu observed that the male in front with dark purple hair and amber eyes. He had long hair that was tied at the back of his head. He had a charming and comforting smile and the ideal posture for dancing. He wore a kimono of a tasteful color of blue and white with dark purple-black tinged in some places to accent his hair. Then two other heads appeared from behind, one with pink-purple hair with amethyst eyes and the other with blue-purple hair that matched his eyes.
The three of them wore kimonos, the female wearing a sakura kimono with various shades of pink. She hid her mouth with her hand hidden inside the sleeve of the kimono. Her hair was tied up at the back of her head with two sakura shaped flowers clipped in, to hold it in place. Her eyes looked around with curiosity and glanced over at the male standing next to her. He had his hair done up like that of a ronin and had a very boy-like smile. Amu got the feeling that he was the laid back one of the group who appeared to be the most outgoing of the trio. He wore a kimono of light blue, blue, and white. It was considerably plain in comparison to the girl, but he didn't seem to care.
"Hello, I'm Nagihiko Fujisaki; it's a pleasure to be able to finally meet you, hime-sama," the dark purple haired male said as he bowed to her. "This is my brother and sister, both of which are younger than I am."
The boy spoke up first, "But I act more like the older one, Nagi-kun." Before Nagihiko could retort anything, he bowed to Amu as he said, "I'm Rhythm Fujisaki; it's nice to meet you, Amu-sama."
"Oh? Already on a name basis?" the girl said in a soft, girlish voice that Amu was surprised. It was softer than what she had expected for the girl. It sounded as if she was the youngest of the three.
"I'm Temari Fujisaki, the youngest while Rhythm is the middle child," she explained. Amu could hear a chime of laughter on the tip of her voice, as if amused by her brothers' interaction.
"Well, she's awfully cute," Rhythm complimented. "I could see why Tadase-sama kept-"
"HEY!"
Amu blinked when she heard another voice come from behind, who busily pushed his way passed the three and into the room. This was the pale haired, blue eyed boy she saw earlier.
"Kiseki!" Tadase exclaimed. "You came with them?"
"Of course," he snapped angrily. He sat down like a spoiled child at the table, grabbing the meat buns that had suddenly appeared there.
Dia must of snuck them while Nagihiko, Temari, and Rhythm were introducing themselves… Amu thought.
"Kiseki-kun, how are you?" Amu greeted with a smile at the younger brother.
"I'm fine, thanks," he replied as he chewed on the bun. Amu felt almost irritated by his reaction.
"Kiseki…" Tadase began.
"Sorry, it's nice seeing you again, Amu-sama," Kiseki said, trying to sound sincere.
Temari giggled, "I see that even now, Kiseki will never stop being spoiled."
"I have to agree with you there," Rhythm laughed. "He's just as spoiled if he were the son of the Emperor."
"Guys…" Nagihiko warned. "We came here for a reason, remember?"
"So then, let's start!" Rhythm said enthusiastically and entered the room and stood in the middle of the cleared area of the room. Temari and Nagihiko followed as they each brought out a fan.
"Nagihiko-san and Rhythm-san are both dancers as well?" Amu asked, raising an eye-brow. This was the first time she's heard of a male dancer before. Her father had often only had female dancers to dance for them, never males.
"We're not ordinary dancers," Rhythm said with a wink.
Nagihiko sighed, "Rhythm, don't be flirting with the princess now."
"Nagihiko-san and his siblings come from a very distinguished dancing school from Fujisaki School; they're quite famous," Tadase explained.
"Gosh, it's so tiring hearing nii-san's full name being said," Rhythm commented. "Just call him Nagi-kun."
"Nagi-kun?" Amu repeated, paling slightly. "But to call him like that so… so…"
Nagihiko laughed, "It's all right, you can just call me 'Nagi-san', if that makes you feel better, Amu-sama."
"Rhythm doesn't like too much formality; he likes a comfortable atmosphere with everyone," Temari explained. Her eyes seemed to have smiled for her, instead of using her mouth. Her mouth this time was hidden by the tip of her fan.
"Now, can we get on with the performance we're supposed to be dancing?"
"Sure thing," Rhythm said, getting into position.
Tadase, Amu, and Kiseki sat down around the table, and watched the show proceed. Amu was in awe at how beautiful each of them performed, especially Nagi who surprised her with moves that she wasn't expecting that still managed to look graceful. They moved in sync with each other, following one another in such fluid movements that it looked so easy. If there was a mistake in the performance, they covered it up well. When they finished, Amu applauded the loudest while Tadase and Kiseki applauded as much as they would want to.
"That was wonderful; absolutely brilliant!" Amu exclaimed, her eyes glittering with admiration.
"Haha, I don't think that performance was that good," Nagi said. "I'm still mediocre at best and I still have long ways to becoming a great dancer."
"But you are pretty good today and in good form," Rhythm noted. He winked at Nagi when no one was looking, but him.
"So were you, Rhy," Temari giggled. "In fact, we all were."
"Nii-san," Kiseki said, turning to his brother. "I got to get going home soon; my lessons for today."
"Ah, yes, I forgot about those… and you can't go back with Nagihiko-san, can you?" Tadase realized.
"No, I'm afraid not; we're going to our next performance after we leave here," Nagi said apologetically.
"Ah, all right, come on Kiseki; let's go see if we can get a messenger… Excuse me a moment, hime-sama," Tadase excused as he got up and led his brother out from the room.
"Ah, so it's just us, is it?" Rhythm said as he sat down at the table and took a bun for a bite. Temari sat down after followed by Nagi. Temari picked one up and took a nibble as Nagi looked over at Amu.
"Did you really like our performance that much?"
Her eyes still shined with awe from the show. She nodded, "Yep… and I've seen a lot of dancers… partially why I'm so amazed was because I know how well you performed. I tried learning how to dance myself, but it didn't end up very well."
"Ah, dancing is a very difficult hobby," Nagi agreed; "but it's very soothing and worthwhile if you really put your mind to it."
She couldn't agree more.
"Oh, I heard you had gotten a bodyguard… where is he?" Temari asked, sensing the sudden pause in conversation.
"Everyone has been asking about that," Amu blinked. Why was everyone so curious?
"Well, it's probably because it's kind of rare for someone to have a personal bodyguard in this area, especially for a family like yours," Rhythm said.
"And we heard that he was randomly picked off the streets," Nagi recollected. "But he had showed some skill that not many ronins here know how to do."
"He had saved me from a bunch of bandits last month," Amu said. A month already? A month was already how long she knew him for? To her, it felt longer.
Before Nagi could say anything else, the door slid open so fast, that when it hit the wall, it gave it a loud bang.
"Tadase-kun!" Amu exclaimed as Ran suddenly stood up to move to her mistress.
"What's wrong?" Nagi asked, frowning when he noticed distress on Tadase's face.
"Hinamori-san… why is Ikuto here?" he asked, his voice shaking with an emotion that she couldn't recognize.
"Ikuto…?" Nagi, Temari, and Rhythm said in unison.
Before she could answer, she heard the familiar velvety, smooth voice, "Calm down, Kiddy King, there's no harm in me being here."
He was so angry that he shook, unable to say anything.
Ikuto walked in with his hands tucked in his sleeves. His swords rested on his hip and he had a casual, calm air about him. He had that characteristic smirk that Amu had to learn the hard way was his number one recognizable trait. He leaned against the wall, watching Tadase. For a second, Amu thought she could see a tail when he smirked at Tadase's reaction.
"You shouldn't be here with Hinamori-sama!" Tadase said childishly. Amu blinked. Wait a minute, how did Tadase and Ikuto know each other?
He raised an eye-brow, "Oh, really? I wasn't aware there was a law that I shouldn't be with Hinamori-sama," he smirked bigger.
Amu felt like her feathers were ruffled as well. He was picking on her too!
"I am your master that you should obey, or you don't get your payment!" Amu snapped even more childishly.
This time, Ikuto turned to the pinkette with an even more amused and wider smirk. "I think I already had my payment."
She blinked, dumbfounded. What did he mean? The erhu had yet to arrive, so how did he already receive his payment?
"Payment? I already gave you your payment?"
"Yes, you did, although, you were much too scared at the time to notice," he said brazenly.
As Nagi, Temari, Rhythm, Ran, and Tadase watched Amu, her mind went back to the first time she met him.
For a moment, she didn't understand until…
"AH!!!" she screamed with her face turning vividly bright red. "You… you… you…!!! You really didn't… You really did! H-how could you?!"
Ikuto's smirk couldn't be any bigger then when he saw the realization dawn on her face.
"What did he do, Hinamori-san? If it was that bad, I'll go kill him myself," Tadase said. Although, she couldn't tell if he was serious enough, she was in too much of shock and surprise to really say much other than say what was going through her mind at the moment about that… moment.
The worst part was… she couldn't tell anyone about it; it's far too embarrassing and humiliating. The run-in had been her fault after all.
"It's not that bad," Ikuto said as he got up. "Just be glad it's me other than some stranger who would have taken advantage of you in no time at all."
"Ad-Adavantage…?" Nagi echoed.
Ran realized it first, "He… he touched you?"
"Of course he tou-" Tadase began.
"I'm not talking about that," she snapped at Tadase. She went up to Amu and held her hands in her own. "You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"
"It… really wasn't that bad…" Amu said quietly.
* * *
Without anything else to say, Nagihiko, Temari, and Rhythm had left for their next destination while Tadase and Kiseki were on their way home in a carriage. In the end, Tadase couldn't figure out what it was that Amu was talking about when Ran stepped in. She had told him straight out that he shouldn't worry; that it was nothing bad or horrible enough to fire Ikuto. After all, the incident had been before he was hired and it had been once, Ikuto confirmed it.
Dia had gone out that night to verify it further. Ran and Dia had told the group not to say a single word of who Amu's bodyguard was, and would not explain the reason why, no matter how much they asked.
Now, it was only Amu and Ikuto in the same room. Her father and mother had decided to turn in for the night and her little sister had gone to sleep way before her parents did. Ran had left to head to bed, tired from the day's work as well as the event earlier that night.
The silence that sat between them was stifling and Amu wanted to smack the stuffiness out of the air.
"I'm sorry," Ikuto said after awhile.
The room had gone dark now, the candle light blown out. The full moon's light shined into the room and the evening was mildly warm… getting colder… little by little. From where Amu lay, she could see Ikuto's silhouette.
"For what…?" She was playing ignorant, not knowing what he was talking about. She wanted him to apologize again. But she was disappointed as she heard him sigh.
"You know what I'm talking about."
Suddenly, Amu was struck with the sudden feeling of sadness. Startled, she sat upright and shuffled out of her bed and found Ikuto standing by the window, looking out into the sky. He turned to look at her, surprised by the sound and by the rapid movement. Concern rippled on his face, trying to be buried underneath the smirk. "Is something the matter?"
She didn't know what to say. The world suddenly felt eerily quiet and lonely when she looked at Ikuto at that moment. He stood alone in the moonlight, with an expression that Amu recognized as his smirk. But before he had turned to face her, he had the loneliest look that she had ever seen on his face. Something stirred inside of her that she didn't know what to call it. It wasn't that same feeling when he was eating the strawberry, but it stirred something in her nonetheless.
"Amu…"
"Hmm…?"
"Would you let me kiss you?"