0_0 Wow, the first arc is FINALLY done, and I literally only have *counts* ten lines on the first sheet of the paper for the second arc. The rate I'm going, it's gonna take me a long time just to get THROUGH this story. So far, not nearly as popular as "The Distance Between Us", but still, a story that I plan to work my heart out for. ^_^
In this arc, our not-so-fearless heroine Amu Hinamori enters Seiyo University a week after she somehow passes the auditions, and we meet up with my next two OC's... What will prevail?
-"Welcome to Seiyo" Arc—
The outside of Seiyo University of the Arts was no different from a medieval castle in Amu's eyes. It was large, and the building was freshly painted tanned brown, the chocolate colored windows practically gleaming from the sunlight. There were three dorm areas, according to the brochure she had received after she had been enrolled: one for the newcomers, one for the intermediate students, and one for members of a higher group of students literally called 'High-Arts'. Not many had advanced to High-Arts on their first try, but there were prodigies. Amu wanted to be among them someday.
"So, we're in the 'Audition Class' dormitory over by the west hall," Nagihiko mumbled under his breath. "Strange, this doesn't feel any different from a high school…"
"What? Are you kidding me? I think this place looks AMAZING!" Amu exclaimed. "Look at this place, it's just plain HUGE! And we actually get to live at this school?" Nagihiko sweat-dropped at the girl's enthusiasm, chuckling. Then Amu tripped over one of the loose stones on the ground and tumbled into someone's arms. She glanced up into energetic emerald eyes.
"Whoa, watch your step there, pinky!" He replied jokingly.
"Pinky?" Amu hissed.
"Uh, yeah, your hair color." She paused, grabbing hold of a lock of her strawberry locks, and soon her face matched the color of it. The boy burst into laughter. "You're so cute when you do that! You pass!"
"Wait, what the heck are you TALKING about?" Amu exclaimed.
"Nothing, nothing!" Then he looked to the twins. "You three new here too?"
"Yes, we all are new here. My name is Nadeshiko Fujisaki, and this is my younger brother Nagihiko Fujisaki."
"And I'm Amu Hinamori."
"The name's Kukai Sohma, nice to meet you!" He gave the three a thumbs-up, causing both Amu and Nadeshiko to blush.
"So, are you new?" Nagihiko asked.
"Hardly. I just joined in last semester, mainly because one of my older brothers, Shuusui, works here, and it pays to have connections in this place sometimes." Kukai replied. "I'm a hip-hop dancer."
"Funny, you strike me as an athletic type of guy." Nadeshiko mumbled.
"I AM athletic, but it plays into my dance skills more. It just… dancing frees me as much as sports do."
Amu had to admit, he was energetic, handsome, and very confident… but Kukai was also the type to be calmer and had morals.
"So, you're a dancer too…" Nagihiko began. "Hip-hop seems like it'd be fun. Think you can teach me some things about it?"
"Sure thing, Nagi!" Then Kukai paused, and slapped himself upside the head. "Oh, crap! I forgot that I need to meet up with Utau! Nice meeting you guys, see ya around!" Then he dashed off.
Nadeshiko giggled. "He sure does have quite an energetic character."
"He's really cute too." Amu replied.
"I know, right? Did you see his hair?"
"Oh, and his EYES, gosh, they're so pretty." The two girls giggled.
Nagihiko sweat-dropped. "Can you not be girls around me…?"
"Well, this is it. Room 2A, Audition Class dormitory." Nadeshiko slowly opened the door, and she and Amu peered inside.
The room was dark and eerie due to the plain black curtains hanging over the fairly large windows, and the beds were pulled to different sides of the room, a closet near each of them. The beds were covered in dark blue sheets, and Amu even noticed a faint outline of a pallid of blood staining the sheets. The two looked to one another with fearful expressions.
"…Well, um, a-at least it's… clean…"
"I-It could definitely be much worse…"
"Wanna redecorate your side of the first or mine, Nadeshiko?"
"I vote yours, Amu. I've got the pink sheets ready and everything."
Nearly two hours had passed before Nagihiko had entered the room and found all of the previous bedspreads from the beds scattered all around the room, shamelessly replaced by pink and purple respectively. Amu and Nadeshiko were on their beds playing sevens, but both had immediately looked up once the door had opened.
"Oh, Nagi, hi!" Nadeshiko beamed.
"I see you two got comfortable really quickly." He joked. "Kukai wanted me to tell you that dinner is at 6:30, 'promptly'. Sound okay?"
"It's 6:10 now. This'll be a great time to go and explore the campus more!" Amu replied, now up from her seat.
"Amu, there's plenty of time for that." Nadeshiko stated. "We're going to be here all year too. I would rest a bit..."
"I know, I know. I'll be going first though, bye!" Then she exited the room, room key secure in her back pocket.
Nadeshiko smiled. "She never changes. How cute."
Amu strolled through the vast, restless halls, and down each corner were groups upon groups beginning to rehearse certain routines. Then her hearing became fixated on the distant sound of an instrument—a violin. She traced the melodious tune and found a green-haired girl peering into a classroom from the window; when she heard the footsteps, the girl jumped and glanced back at her.
"…You again... What do YOU want?" She hissed. Amu paused.
"Um… H-Himeko, right?"
"Go. AWAY. I'm trying to watch Ikuto practice before he goes to eat dinner."
"Ikuto?" Amu thought back to the blue-haired boy on the judge's panel and then blushed. Himeko noticed the expression and glared at her.
"Look here, you dirty maid, stay AWAY from him!" Amu's eyes narrowed. "There's no way that Ikuto would ever want to associate with someone as talentless, as BRAINLESS about this type of industry-"
"Okay, fine. Believe whatever you want. I don't even know anything about this Ikuto guy anyways, and I really don't care." And with that, Amu turned and left.
Himeko's eyes narrowed. "There's no way I'll lose. EVER."
When Amu arrived in the dining hall, she was perplexed by the size. It was at least three times the size of her home back in Sui's Kimono Emporium, and there were two pianos on each ends of the halls. There were four chandeliers hanging over three large tables, the light dimly golden. She noticed Nagihiko and Nadeshiko further off with Kukai and a few others and she reluctantly made her way over.
"Hey!"
"Oh, Amu, there you are!" Nadeshiko smiled at her. "We were starting to worry that you got lost on your way here."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, right! Hinamori, this is Yaya Yuiki, she's planning on being a ballet dancer!" Kukai gestured to an orange-haired girl with two ponytails tied in large red bows, who grinned toothily at Amu.
"Hiya!" Amu giggled a bit—she seemed rather childish.
"Rima Mashiro, a comedian in the making!" Kukai gestured towards a girl with long, curly blonde hair sipping her drink.
"Hello." Amu lightly blushed. She was a very cute-looking girl, and she resembled an Englishwoman—even her voice was soft and cute.
"And this guy here is Tadase Hotori; he wants to become a voice actor!" Kukai pointed to a boy with blonde hair. Now Amu was blushing more. He had to have been the cutest boy she had ever seen!
Tadase smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Hinamori." She held her blush more—she was going to burst like a cherry if she hadn't.
"I'll be back; I'm going to grab something to eat." Then Amu scampered off. The moment she had exited from the area, she squealed a bit. She kept her cool as soon as she entered the line.
Mere seconds later, someone came up from behind and covered her eyes, leaning forward a bit to whisper into her ear. "Guess who~" Amu's ears went crimson at the sound of the elongated tone. "Aw, you're blushing, how adorable~"
"C-Can you please let me go?" She was released, glancing up at Ikuto. He stared at her, blinking a few times.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
"That's because you went and freaked me out by doing that so suddenly! What's your problem anyways?"
"Geez, I was just teasing…" He leaned in a bit closer to her. "Why so serious~?"
She blushed furiously, looking away from him. "S-Shut up, I am NOT!" Ikuto began chuckling. "W-What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all." Then he pointed a thumb behind him. "I'll be heading off now. Enjoy your food." Then he was gone.
Amu leaned up against the wall, face still redder than a cherry, watched him leave, a hand gripped to her blouse. Then she felt an ominous dark aura from nearby and she jumped, slowly looking to her right. There was Himeko, her already dark aura growing ever more demonic.
"MY. IKUTO!" She bellowed. Amu was stricken with fright.
Now it all made sense. This Ikuto and Himeko's Ikuto were one…
And Himeko loved him.
Oh man. THAT was bad.
"W-Wait, I-!"
"SHUT UP! Go DIE, dammit! Rot in a hole and DIE!" Then Himeko stormed off, and Amu was practically shaking in her boots.
…So that was how envy felt.
Not a good thing. At ALL.
"Amu, you didn't get any food?" Rima asked. Amu sulked a bit.
"I couldn't afford anything. Some soba noodles were a thousand yen." She whined. "But it's okay. I already lost what little appetite I had…"
"Do you want me to pay for your food this time?" Nadeshiko asked, petting Amu's hair. "I don't want you to starve…"
"No, I'm fine…" Amu looked to her left and saw Himeko glaring daggers at her along with the rest of the group. Then said girl smirked and continued to eat her bowl of Shabushabu, as if taunting her; Amu could feel her blood boiling.
Just then, a bowl of rice flew directly over Amu's head, now hitting Himeko instead—head-first. Himeko let out a high-pitched shriek.
"WHO. THREW THAT?" Amu burst into laughter, and Himeko slammed her fist on the table. "You little SKANK, you did this!"
"What? I didn't!" Amu exclaimed.
"You are NOT going to get away with this!" Himeko had attempted to shove her back until Nagihiko stepped forward, shielding Amu.
"I did it, not her!"
"Stay out of this, cross-dresser!" His expression changed drastically, and he looked down at her, still cheerfully smiling.
"You want to be a star, right, Himeko? Stay off my back and my friends' backs or you're going to become a different kind of star." The cruelness in his tone was even frightening Kukai, who barely knew Nagihiko and of his 'dark side'.
"Nagihiko, calm down…" Nadeshiko grabbed him by his arms, and he eased up. She was the only one that could ever keep him at an all-time low.
"This doesn't involve ANY of you." Himeko got so close to Amu that the pinkette could feel her breaths down her chin—how she hated being so short… "This is between you and me, you brat."
Then a hand came between the two. "Ladies, no need to fight over a little mishap." The two looked up simultaneously—the person that had stopped them was Ikuto. "Right? What's the problem?"
Himeko's face went crimson. "I-Ikuto!"
Ikuto looked to the green-haired girl. "…Funny, I don't remember meeting you, so you have right to even use an ounce of familiarity."
Himeko blushed more. "So cruel, so very cruel… but still SO hot…"
Ikuto looked to Amu. "Care to explain?"
"She's been bugging me since before I entered the University. Don't worry about it, it's… it's no big deal…" Then Amu turned and left.
"Hinamori…" Tadase mumbled. Ikuto just watched as she exited the dining hall.
"Amu, I really am sorry about what happened between you and Himeko earlier…" Nadeshiko called as the two were preparing for bed. "But I don't think that sulking about it will ease the pain."
Amu sat down on her bed. "I'm not sulking, Nadeshiko; Himeko isn't even that important, she's just there. But she said that I don't know anything about the entertainment industry, and she's right."
"You have a talent. She's wrong. You deserve to be here as much as the rest of us do, if not more. You can prove to everyone in this place that this isn't just a school for rich kids or kids with connections."
"…Rich… Aah! The tuition! How am I gonna be able to pay to stay here for the year if I don't have the money!"
"Y-You could always try and find some work around the school, they're bound to be short on staff at the moment because the semester just started." Amu froze. "Check in the morning, before classes!"
"I will, I will!"
In the wee hours of six A.M, Amu exited her room, being extremely careful not to awaken Nadeshiko, and crept down to the Dean's Office located on the second door to the left, first floor.
"P-Pardon the intrusion." The dean was sitting at his desk working on papers, but looked up to her once the door had opened. Amu first looked around the room she had stepped into—the walls were tanned brown just like the outside of the school, and there were frames all around, some of awards, and others of certain past students. On the man's desk was a photograph of two children sitting in a field. The frowning boy looked so-
"Ah, good morning, miss. How may I help you?"
"Yes, Mr., um…"
"Tsukiyomi, Aruto Tsukiyomi." Amu froze up at the sound of the last name. {A/N: Originally, I wanted Tsukasa to be the Dean, as it would have played more into the true series of Shugo Chara... BUT then that would give Ikuto a boost. ^_^}
"Um, I entered the University after passing an audition, but my family is poor and I have no idea how to pay for the tuition." Amu bowed. "But I-I would really like to stay here, so I'd like to know if there were any work positions open! I'm very skilled at many types of housework, I'll do anything!"
"You remind me of Cinderella with that type of background." Aruto smiled, and Amu lightly blushed—the dean was very handsome, and his face was so… familiar, but she couldn't figure out where. "You're very cute as well, and I can tell that you're a very hard worker just by your aura. I'll look into any positions I can, Miss…"
"Ah, my name's Amu Hinamori! Thank you very much, sir!" Amu bowed again before turning to leave. Then Aruto chuckled a bit once she left the office.
Amu ran directly into someone's arms just as she was exiting the Dean's office. To her surprise, it was Tadase.
"Oh, Hinamori! Good morning." He smiled, and she blushed.
"T-Tadase, hi."
"I was worried about you yesterday, you ran off so fast after that incident with Lady Himeko… are you doing all right now?"
Amu was touched by his concern. He had actually been genuinely worried about her situation with Himeko. Someone had finally seen her.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm fine, really."
"…Okay, if you're sure…" He smiled again. "Well, I have a yoga class now. Maybe we'll be in the same classes for the year!" Before Amu could respond, he chuckled. "See you later, Hinamori!" Then he ran off.
"Y-Yeah…" As soon as he was gone, she blushed furiously, squealing and jumping in her one spot. "He's like a PRINCE! He's GOTTA be Seiyo's prince!"
"Actually, that's not a position here." Amu jumped, slipped over her own two feet and fell backwards into someone else's arms—Ikuto's. "You sure are jumpier than I figured you were."
"And AGAIN, y-you just freaked me out!" She broke away, steaming. Ikuto rolled his eyes in response.
"You're more noisy than jumpy… That's one annoying thing I've found in you, wonder how many more there are."
"H-HEY!" She hissed. "At least it's less annoying than you popping up out of nowhere like that ALL THE TIME!" Ikuto didn't respond, instead leaning in a bit closer. Amu stepped back, and when she had crashed into the wall, Ikuto had her cornered. He reached up an arm, leaning in closer. Amu had been trembling the entire time, eyes shut.
Then he whispered into her ear. "I want you to know… you have potential. What you lack will eat you alive, and you'll never be able to catch up to someone like Himeko, let alone a High-Arts member like me."
"I'm not here to become famous."
"Neither am I. But you got here because of your love of music. Otherwise, you would still be back in Osaka doing God knows what. Maybe living it up with your parents or something."
Amu's eyes went completely void of emotions, and she pushed him away—Ikuto was stunned by her brute strength, and the two continued to aimlessly stare at each other until Amu had opened her mouth to speak.
"…You really don't get it… do you?" Then she ran off. Ikuto was more confused than ever now.
Amu entered the room entitled 'Potsuro'. She had no idea what it was or what the very word stood for, but when she saw all of her friends there, she didn't care.
"Hinamori, you're in this homeroom!" Kukai called out, giving her a thumbs up. "That's making things livelier than they already are!" Amu blushed. This school was full of nothing but princes, apparently.
"Oh, please…" A muffled voice groaned. Then Amu scoffed, looking back at Himeko. Said girl was now blowing on her freshly polished nails, glaring at Amu. "She got in here by luck."
"Don't start, Hime." The girl next to her piped up. When Amu looked to her, she noticed short orange—almost blonde—hair and orange eyes. She looked as though she had just leapt from flames. "This isn't worth any more of your words." {A/N: This is my second female OC, Eri Tachibana. She's got that whole tiger appeal going on, but, secretly, orange isn't her natural hair-color. She dyes her hair a lot and cuts it short just for the industry.}
Amu couldn't tell if this girl was on her side or on Himeko's.
"Oh, c'mon, Eri, you're just as annoyed about it as I am." Himeko replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Eri eased up a bit, leaning into the half-hug.
…Himeko's side, obviously.
"I wish you would just leave me ALONE!" Amu blurted out. "Why do you have to pick on me like this?"
"Amu, stop it, she's not worth the energy." Rima said, now clinging to the girl's pants leg—she was much shorter than Amu had assumed, even shorter than she was, which was only making her cuter. "She's nothing but bark."
"Even so, this is getting WAY out of hand!"
Now Himeko was up on her feet. "And just what are you going to do if I keep speaking my mind about you? Hit me? Curse me out?"
Amu didn't reply, and Himeko stepped closer to her. "Back off."
"Or you'll do what?" Himeko pushed the girl, and Amu stumbled a bit. Nadeshiko and Kukai had to restrain Nagihiko—if he jumped into the confrontation, someone was going to be a casualty. "Who's gonna stop me, crybaby?"
Himeko pushed her again, and Amu snapped, throwing a punch aimed for Himeko's throat. Eri swiftly caught the punch before it even came close to interlocking, pushing Amu away. Tadase caught her, and Amu blushed.
"T-Thank you."
"You little slut!" Himeko roared. She was ready to attack when the door-hinge suddenly flew open, nearly taking the door off with it.
"That's quite enough, Miss Toboe." Himeko stood frozen. "All of you SIT."
Everyone immediately sat in the chairs and the students on the stage sat where they were once standing.
"This is NOT over." Himeko whispered under her breath to Amu, who shivered a bit from the cruelty in her tone.
"No talking, Miss Toboe." The teacher was a woman in her late twenties with medium length reddish hair curled at the tips in a black business suit. "Hello, class of Newcomers A, my name is Yukari Sanjo-Nikaidou. You can call me Mrs. Nikaidou. I'm the head of the musical talent of the Academy. Well, University, I should say. Today, we will allow you to become accustomed to your new settings, but tomorrow… the real work begins anew."
"What if we don't choose to sing?" Eri piped up suddenly. "My singing is terrible! In fact, I want to be an idol, but for modeling or voice acting!"
"Modeling ties in with other forms of art here, so you don't necessarily have to sing. There is also theater, media, studio arts, creative writing/playwriting, and dance. For assignments when you are required to sing in this course, your fellow students will be allowed to coach your vocals." Mrs. Nikaidou stated. "And don't feel pressured or ushered into other arts. Go on and dance to your own beat."
"Hey, Yukari, tell us about the instrumental classes!" Kukai called.
"That's MRS. NIKAIDOU to you, Sohma!" She snapped. Then she calmed. "Ah, the instrumental performance course… Very few of our students are enlisted in them, but there are a few High Arts students among them, the most prominent being Takumi Fuse and Ikuto Tsukiyomi."
"…Tsukiyomi…" Amu mumbled. Then she thought of Aruto, the Dean of students. Aruto Tsukiyomi… Ikuto Tsukiyomi… Tsukiyo- "WHAT?" Her voice rattled the entire room.
"Keep it down, will ya?" Himeko hissed.
"Is there a problem?" Mrs. Nikaidou called out, a stern expression on her already aging face. Amu got up and bowed.
"Please excuse me." Then she took her seat again. Eri chuckled a bit to Himeko. Tadase patted the girl's hand a bit, and Amu nodded to him, mentally stating that things were fine.
"Continuing… For the instrumental performance courses, you must audition at the end of each semester, but slots are limited. Very few, even less than those chosen at the auditions to enter the University, will be chosen. But on to the real focuses of this meeting. At the end of October, there will be a performance event called the Autumn Breakthrough. For this event, only groups will be allowed to gather together and showcase their talents to the University. Groups can be up to six people, and anyone is allowed to participate. I recommend that each group is formed of people you feel comfortable around, and that you all execute your skills to the fullest—all of the students and staff will be watching."
Amu looked to Nadeshiko, who smiled back and waved to her. Then she knew it was clear. If she wanted to succeed in certain contests at this school, then she wanted to work with Nadeshiko. Nadeshiko had an elegant singing voice already, and apparently hers could suffice enough to get her through.
The bell sounded, and then Amu stood up. Just as she had, Himeko shoved past her, knocking the pink-haired girl back into her seat, walking over to Nadeshiko.
"Hi, Nadeshiko!" Amu's blood boiled at the girl's overly peppy tone.
"Hello, um, Himeko."
"I couldn't help but ask… who does your make-up?"
"What? I actually don't wear any make-up…"
"Oh, wow, really? Then you must always look this elegant and refined!" Nadeshiko smiled a bit.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome! Well, see you later!" Then she ran off. Amu walked past Himeko, and the green-haired girl smirked before exiting into the hall.
"Nadeshiko, what was up with THAT?"
"I'm not sure… but I think that she just called me pretty."
"Well, you ARE pretty…" Kukai said completely out of the blue. Nadeshiko's face went crimson, and Kukai blinked a few times. Then the brown-haired boy chuckled nervously. "O-Oh, hey, look, time for my next class, bye!" He fled. {A/N: A touch of KuNade? Maybe even... the START of KuNade?}
"Aw, Nade, you like him~"
"N-No way, n-not in the least!" She was shuttering, which only led Amu to giggle. "W-Well, what about you and Tadase Hotori? I saw how close you two were getting!"
Now it was Amu's turn to blush. "What? I just MET him, how would I-? D-Don't turn this all around on me!" Then two seconds later, they were back to laughing.
Yaya came out of nowhere, clinging to both girls. "Hey, hey, no need to start thinking about the school's sexy princes!"
"Princes?" Nadeshiko asked.
"Soon, the newcomers are going to pick their class 'royals'! It's a silly thing, but it's something started by the High-Arts back when they were in our shoes!" Yaya replied. "So far based on all of the gossip, a lot of people want for either Tadase or Kukai to act as their prince for all types of reasons!"
"There's Tadase's cute, princely face…" Amu mumbled.
"And Kukai's limitless energetic personality." Nadeshiko finished. "And both of them are quite handsome indeed…"
Then another bell sounded.
"…NOOOO!" The three dashed off.
"So, you think that one of the newcomers called Amu Hinamori is something special?"
"She has boundless potential and enough skill to get through a preliminary round, but a lack of confidence is only going to hurt her in the long run." Ikuto brushed a navy lock from his eyes. "Kind of a shame though… She really could be good if she saw that. What about you, Takumi? Any particular newbies you're looking forward to seeing during the Breakthrough?"
Red eyes glinted up into cerulean, and even Ikuto felt about five percent threatened by the expression alone.
"My victim is up for me to decide."
Amu, Nadeshiko and Yaya raced into the theater room only for a large metal cage to fall from above and entrap them. Nadeshiko tugged ferociously on the bars while Yaya clung to Amu, who was mentally shaken but physically keeping her cool.
"Hey, what's the big deal?" Amu roared. Then a male teacher with medium length orange hair in all directions pulled into a ponytail stepped up, smiling egotistically.
"And THIS, class, is why you never stumble on to a production of a mystery ensemble in the works~" He looked to the three girls. "You'll end up exactly like this if you enter into the wrong place at the wrong time, just like in the movies. Now then, I'll gladly let you out when you give your names~"
"My name is Nadeshiko Fujisaki." Nadeshiko replied, tone calm and gentle as usual.
"Ah, so you're the female Fujisaki twin! I met your brother earlier by coincidence, what a nice boy-"
"Yaya Yuiki, and LET ME OUT!" She was practically crying, though both of her companions could easily see through her childhood façade. "Yaya HATES being in cramped places!"
Amu sweat-dropped at the response—the girl's crying was directly in her ear. "…Amu Hinamori, who is now greatly ANNOYED."
"Ah, Himamori, I remember hearing about you on the panel!"
"Wha—my name is HINA, not Hima!"
"My apologies, Himamori." Amu got irked more. "I'm Yuu Nikaidou, the head of the theater courses. I'm also a robotics instructor if anyone is interested."
Rima raised her hand. "Are you by any chance related to Mrs. Nikaidou?"
"She's my wife."
"Yuu and Yukari Nikaidou." Amu mumbled under her breath.
"It sure sounds like it was always meant for them to end up together." Nadeshiko replied, smiling as he unlocked the cage and released the girls.
"Oh, and I'll just have all of you newcomers know ahead of time something about me…" Mr. Nikaidou's voice got very low, almost malicious. "I don't take lightly to children. When it comes to acting with me, I'll never give you the benefit of the doubt."
Amu and Yaya both clung to Nadeshiko, who looked to each of them before looking back to Mr. Nikaidou.
"No worries though! We're all going to have a lot of fun with this, aren't we?"
"Righto, Nikaidou!" Kukai replied with both thumbs up. Nadeshiko smiled back at him.
"As you all have likely been instructed, the real work begins after today… and you WILL have all of your skills executed to the very last extent."
Just then, the door swung open, and in came a young man with short silver hair that midway concealed his crimson eyes. To Amu, this boy almost resembled a highly stereotypical kind of vampire. Even his skin was pale enough, and his gothic-like attire only added to the effect.
His eyes tinted to Amu. "You. Are you Amu Hinamori?" His calm yet extremely mellow voice practically ruined the perfect image. {A/N: Meet the last of my OCs and my only boy, Takumi Fuse. He looks like a vampire boy, kinda like Zero Kiryuu, but more... well, he isn't emo at all, or carrying a gun that kills them, or... really likes a pointless girl with no good back story or even LOOKS good-Sorry, I just detest Vampire Knight, forgive me.}
"A-Ah, yes…?" He pulled out a note from his baggy black jeans.
"I bear a message for you from a close friend of mine." Amu took the note, staring up at him. His eyes… frightened her a bit. Then the young man looked to Mr. Nikaidou. "My apologies for interrupting your course, Mr. Nikaidou."
"Ah, no worries, Takumi! You kept things short and to the point as usual." Then the young man now dubbed Takumi exited the classroom. The girls immediately flocked to Amu and tried to take the note away. Amu was dumbfounded.
"That guy was Takumi Fuse! He's one of the High-Arts members! How do you two know each other?" They asked at once, shocking Amu a bit. "Can you let me meet him? Are you two dating?"
"W-What? No, I don't even know him!"
"Aah, he's SO hot~"
"He gives off that sexy, gothic bad boy aura and EVERYTHING!"
Amu sighed, and the moment that the bell rang, all of the girls finally decided to go off and stalk the High-Arts guys and dispersed. Nadeshiko, Rima and Yaya watched as she opened the note.
'Meet me in Piano Room 3 as soon as you finish your dinner. And actually eat this time or you're going to stay a shrimp…' Amu peered into the envelope and pulled out a thousand yen bill.
"Seems you have an admirer, Amu." Nadeshiko beamed. "Look, he's even offering to pay for your dinner."
"But I-I don't know who sent it."
"That's why it's called an ADMIRER! You're not supposed to know who he is or what his true intentions are against you!" Yaya beamed. Now Amu felt more afraid than curious. "You've gotta go and meet him, go find out who he is!"
"Wh-Wait, but he might-"
"Amu Himamori-" Mr. Nikaidou called.
"It's HINA!" She hissed.
"-You're wanted in the dean's office."
"Gah, what now?" Amu exclaimed.
"Don't worry; we'll cover for you until you get back." Rima replied. "We'll keep the note nice and warm for you too."
"I have a job for you, Miss Hinamori." Aruto began, resting his chin atop his now folded hands. Amu hated the expression on his face—he looked too much like Ikuto, and it was practically going to drive her insane.
"Y-Yes?"
"After dinner each night, you will be assigned to clean up after the students have left. That way, no one would notice you and you could quickly pay off your tuition for the trimester."
"That's perfect! Thank you, I promise to work very hard!"
"You'll begin tonight."
She then remembered the anonymous note she had received in class from Takumi Fuse. The admirer would be waiting for her after dinner. "T-Tonight?"
"Is that a problem?"
"N-No, not at all…" Amu sighed. "I'll be ready to work, sir."
"Excellent."
Mentally, Amu was fixated on the near impossible sensation of how to be in two places at the same time. She had to know just who this 'admirer' was, but she needed to be able to work to pay off her tuition more.
As soon as she left the office, she had an idea in mind.
"Nadeshiko, I need you to do me a huge favor." Amu exclaimed as soon as she had returned to her dorm room. "You have to find out who's behind that note for me!"
"Why can't you go?"
"I have to start clean-up work today after dinner for payment, so I can't. Please? Just see who's in the room for me, you don't even have to go in!"
"…All right. Just this one."
"Thank you, Nadeshiko~!" Nadeshiko warmly smiled.
After dinner had ended, Amu naturally stayed behind, and the Fujisaki twins went off on their assigned 'mission', off to Piano Room 3; they were a bit spiteful that they had to reach the room all the way on the fourth floor, but nonetheless, they would do anything in their power in order to please Amu. It was a blessing and a curse.
"Here." Nagihiko pointed to a door with a sign labeled as such.
"Ooh, this is good, really good… Let me handle it from here, okay?" Nadeshiko peered in through the tiny classroom window.
The room, like many of the other extravagant rooms in the University, was draped in gold—golden chandeliers, golden brown walls that glowed from the dim light of the chandeliers, and of course, a golden grand piano to complete the ensemble.
She then noticed a young man with navy blue locks sitting at the piano on the other side of the room. His brilliant and emotionless cerulean eyes were completely deadlocked on the door, as if he were expecting someone to walk inside and catch him in the act… whatever it could have been. When Nadeshiko caught his gaze and noticed him get up from the piano with a sigh, she scurried away from the glass window, clung to Nagihiko for a few seconds and then dashed off.
Nagihiko was dumbfounded by her sudden panic. "H-Hey, Nade-!"
"Hey." Ikuto opened the door to the classroom again, and Nagihiko felt his veins go cold. Oh. THAT was why Nadeshiko had fled so quickly. "Were you spying on me?"
"N-No…" His perfect Nadeshiko imitation was beginning to slide out.
"…Oh, you're that guy that was trying to break up that Hi-something girl and Amu before." Ikuto took a good luck at him. "You really do look a lot like a girl… I almost couldn't tell."
Nagihiko sweat-dropped. "Um, thanks?"
"So, what'd you want? I'm… kind of in the middle of a practice session."
"I-I… Amu can't make it here…"
"…Wait, what?"
"I said Amu can't make it-"
"No, no, I got that, but… Amu was supposed to be coming?"
"Didn't you send her a note earlier, asking her to meet you here?"
"…I didn't send a note to anyone, let alone to Amu… why do you think I would…?" Ikuto turned and went back into the piano room, taking a seat at the piano. "I'm not even the sentimental type…"
"…Then who sent it?"
"I have no idea." Then Nagihiko noticed a cat-like glint appear in his elder's eyes. Immediately, his blood pressure rose. "I can figure it out for you… but I'd like some compensation in exchange for my help."
"C-Compensation? Who, me?"
"Yep. You're going to do me a favor, and I can break some information on Amu's little 'admirer' and trace it. Have we got a deal?"
Nagihiko thought for a moment, whined a bit, eased up enough to return to his 'Yamato' façade, and then reluctantly shook Ikuto's hand. "Deal…"
"That's great to hear. I am looking forward to working with you during the Fall Breakthrough now, Mr. Fujisaki."
Amu returned to the dorm and found Nadeshiko drawing a picture before plastering it on the wall. It was fairly well done—a picture of Kukai Sohma in her desired image. And what was that image? Him, with a cool thumbs-up, a left eye wink, and a grin. Amu noticed a hand-drawn picture of Ikuto sitting on her bed.
"…You sure are drawing a lot. So, did you figure out who was behind the note?"
"Ikuto was in the piano room alone. He was even acting suspiciously when we found him in the classroom..." Nadeshiko replied. Amu was frozen. "But Nagihiko said that it wasn't him who sent the note."
"…We can't let this leak."
And much to Amu's disappointment, news about the random note from High-Arts member Takumi Fuse, about her relationship to him… her newfound relationship with Ikuto… and about the possibilities of cheating mishaps had spread like wildfire.
"Gossip."
So ends the "Welcome to Seiyo" arc!
0.0 That... was actually one of the longest chapters I have EVER written, I've done almost 6,000 words! Actually, maybe it IS over 6,000 now that I'm adding my own dialogue to it. *Went and counted: 6,815 plus* ^_^ Still, pretty good!
