A/N Hello guys! I'm back with the 3d chapter of "Pink". Ah, I'm so glad that I can finally update it! I hope you will like it and shower me with your impressions! *.*
WolfLoverLisa:
Me: oh, thank you for your sweet review, dear! *.*
Ikuto: what's with those shining eyes, Kit2000? It hurts to look.
Amu *whispers*: Ikuto, you can't stop surprising me. She is the author, after all. So be quite, or else she will force me to be stuck with you somewhere, and I hate even thinking about it!
Me: hmm…nice idea, Amu! *.*
Ikuto: and here are those shining eyes again… *rolls his eyes*
Amu: *gulps* somebody…HELP!!!
Here me roar -Mew-thanks a lot, dear! I'm glad that you like the story!
animeluver713hmm, really? When I was writing those lines, I didn't consider Ikuto being some crazy criminal .
Natsuya801923thank you very much for reading my story. I'm very glad that you enjoy it! ^^ Yes, Kuukai is great! That's why he is my second beloved male character from Shugo Chara after , yes, Tadase is a biologist here. I just can see him in that white robe and all busy with some plants and experiments. Haha. Oh, and thank you for giving me the idea about Amu's outfit. I wasn't even thinking about it before you pointed out this idea ^^v
Nesszthanks for your review! ^^ I'm not a big fan of Nagehiko and according to the story, he doesn't fit in the role of Utau's husband ^^''' that's why the wise guy here is Kuukai haha.
Ana Hinakotomany thanks, dear! I hope you will keep on reading it!
Kairou Watoshimioh, thank you very much for your warm words. I'm glad that my story reached your heart. And I'm very happy to share this fic with you, people. Thank you for becoming my reader ^^ I'm very flattered!!!
So, guys, now, let's read the 3d chapter!
Read, enjoy, and REVIEW! ^o^
Pink
Chapter 3
"Patience is the art of hoping".
"It is not necessary for all men to be great in action. The greatest and sublimest power is often simple patience".
"Patience and diligence, like faith, can move mountains".
He knew it. He perfectly understood it. Tsukiyomi Ikuto considered himself as a patient person with strong willpower, but after 3 months of waiting for a call from a certain pink-haired maiden, he started losing one of his greatest virtues.
He was sitting at his personal office and was tapping his fingers against a smooth surface of an oak table. There was a photo in his free hand and he was examining it closely. Lots of people were depicted at the picture, but only one colour managed to catch his attention.
Pink.
And he knew the person who wore that pink dress that day, the very day of his sister's wedding. She supervised to make him interested in her from the first sight. Well, knowing her, she didn't even think about it. It happened by accident, he just noticed her in a faceless crowd of guests and sensed as if his body was striked by a lightning. Since then he couldn't find peace.
He was seeking their meeting, but forced himself to be patient.
Violet eyes stopped on a single person at the picture.
Hinamori Amu of 18 years old, who was currently dating some "Tadase-kun".
Ikuto looked up and gazed at the white ceiling, his nape hit the back of his exclusive arm-chair softly.
Should he keep on waiting or should he just start to act? Patience was one of the supreme virtues of his character, but was it appropriate in this situation?
"It's been three months already..." he sighed and sat straight in his arm-chair. Throwing one last glance at the photo, he put it in one of the cases of his table.
His train of thoughts was interrupted by a phone ringing. The young man took out his cell-phone and pressed the green button.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Tsukiyomi! " Ikuto heard someone speaking French on the other end of the phone. The midnight-haired young man registered all the possible answers in his head with a sonic speed, and greeted the foreign partner using the same French language.
He couldn't know that that conversation would become decisive and significant to him.
OooooO
"Here is my beauty!" cried Kuukai and approached a tall blonde-haired lady with violet eyes, who was walking down the corridor.
"Nice timing, hubbie. I was worried that you would be late again," the lady rolled her eyes elegantly, letting her other half leave a kiss on her flushed cheek.
"I would never make my princess waiting for her knight more than a millisecond," he gifted her with his broad hearty smile. "By the way, do you remember Hinamori Amu?"
Kuukai stepped aside and let his escort come into a view. The girl in a bright pink fur-coat, white fur-hat and white leather high boots waved her hand at the older girl and smiled uneasily.
"She was with Tadase on our wedding," continued the red-head.
"I remember, Kuukai. I have a good memory on faces, moreover, we are good friends with Amu," she smiled briefly and outstretched a hand for a handshake. "It's nice to see you again, Amu-chan. What brought you here?"
"I…"
"Actually," interrupted Souma, scratching the back of his neck, "I met Amu in the street and couldn't leave her in that upset state of hers. So I invited her for a dinner with us. I hope you don't mind it, Utau?"
The Souma lady crossed her arms on her chest and closed her eyes dramatically.
"Of course not, but you make it sound as if I'm some kind of a monster that doesn't allow you make your own decisions. What will Amu-chan think about me?"
"Sorry," uttered the third person, "I didn't want to trouble you. I know that I am too many here, so I better go home. It was nice to meet you again Utau. And thank you for everything, Kuukai-kun". And Amu was about to turn and leave, but a gentle grip on her hand stopped her from doing so.
"Wait, Amu. You are telling nonsense!" demanded the blonde. "We will be happy if you share a dinner with us. We haven't seen each other for a long time. I am sure there are lots of things to discuss! So, don't be so stubborn and let us treat you as a dear guest".
Hinamori's eyes widened in surprise for a moment. She was so touched by Utau's words that she felt her eyes filling with tears. Oh, why was she so sentimental today?! When did she become so weak and vulnerable?
"Oh, common, Amu, don't make that gloomy face again," Kuukai laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Cheer up and forget about the problems! Don't let them get you down, girl!"
"That's right," agreed Utau and nodded, "I may not know the whole story, but I know the best medicine from depression."
"Yeah? And what is it?" Kuukai arched his eyebrow and glanced at his wife doubtfully. He knew: if Utau fell a victim of depression, then it was the hardest time for him to live.
"It's chilling out with good friends!" The blonde girl smiled broadly at his husband, who had a sweat dropped expression at the moment. "So, you are coming with us and have a dinner. And we won't take "no" as an answer."
"We're having a dinner? Then it's my treat today. Sharing a dinner with my dear family is something I've been missing for a long time!"
All three turned their heads to look at the owner of that velvet husky voice that appeared behind the group.
Amu's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the man from the first sight.
OooooO
Several minutes earlier
"Oh, yes, Monsieur Donne, I'll be very grateful if you take the responsibility of this project in your concern. It's a big pleasure to work with you. I will prepare all the needed documents and hire the designers. Yes, I'm looking forward to see this show as well…"
He was walking down the corridor while speaking with the partner from France by the cell-phone. Ikuto's fluent French was on the top. It was his pride and French people found the fact that their Japanese partner could speak their language, very appealing and convenient.
"I was about to ask you the same question" a light laugh escaped the young man's throat after hearing some lame joke from the other side of the tube.
Ikuto was so in the conversation, that he didn't see anything around him. He was just wandering down the long red-carpeted corridor and speaking a foreign language, that couldn't be understood by the people he was passing by.
But suddenly something bright-coloured caught his attention. It was an action of his sub-consciousness. Tsukiyomi stopped on his tracks and turned back sharply to make sure that he didn't see hallucinations.
Pink.
Yes, only this colour could make him lose his cool. The cell-phone was still pressed to his ear and the French man continued his talking, but Ikuto was far away from the reality now. He didn't hear the voice in the tube and he forgot where he was. The only thing his attention was drawn to was that bright pink fur-coat that the girl was wearing.
His hand slid from its position by his ear and went downwards slowly. A "disconnect" button was gladly pressed during that action. Violet eyes couldn't leave that unique person that was standing some meters away from him. The only thing he could see was her back but somehow he knew that it was her. Her posture and smoothness in her moves, not to mention, that pink colour—everything could prove that it was her!
Oh boy! Why did pink looked so breathtaking on her? Ikuto felt his cheeks getting hotter.
It was his chance, the chance he was waiting for the whole long 3 months. His patience had been rewarded. Heavens sent this opportunity to him to succeed, and he had no right to fail.
Getting a grip of his emotions, Tsukiyomi put his cell-phone in the pocket (absolutely forgetting about Monsieur Donne) and walked towards the trio. Hmm, it was only now that he noticed the faces that surrounded the glamorous guest. It was his sister and her husband. What a coincidence!
"So, you are coming with us and have a dinner. And we won't take "no" as an answer."
A dinner? How interesting! He wouldn't even dare to dream about sharing a dinner with the pink-lover at the very first day of their meeting after 3 months of separation. But, he guessed, it was just his lucky day.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, he approached them from behind and exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"We're having a dinner? Then it's my treat today. Sharing a dinner with my dear family is something I've been missing for a long time!"
When the three turned back to see who had interrupted their conversation, Ikuto noticed a very shocked expression on the younger girl's face. And those little shining pearls in her eyes couldn't just go past his sharp gaze. He understood immediately that something happened, but tried not to show his concern.
The Souma lady noted Amu's reaction to Ikuto's appearance. The girl was looking at him like he was some kind of a ghost and Utau could swear that she saw her gulp.
"Yo, brother-in-law!" greeted the red-haired young man raising a hand and smiling broadly. "We didn't expect you showing up. Actually we thought…"
"That you are busy with my project, Ikuto," said Utau sternly, interrupting her husband.
"Ah, what a warm welcoming," the older man rolled his eyes dramatically. "By the way, sister, I'm already done with it, and let me remind you that those kinds of things are none of your concern."
"Anyway," continued the blonde, crossing her arms on the chest. "If you're free now, it'll be wonderful if you take us to a good restaurant since it's your treat," she smirked maliciously.
"Hai-hai," Ikuto raised his hands in defeat.
"Wait a minute!"
Everyone looked at the owner of that high melodic voice.
Amu recovered from her long stupor and now was looking Ikuto in the very eyes; hers were burning, showing her inner spirit.
"Could anyone explain me, what are you doing here?" the question was directed to a freak with midnight-blue hair, of course.
The married couple looked surprised, but Ikuto held his cool. A light smirk crossed his well-framed lips.
"Hello, Amu. It's been a long time. How is Tadase-kun?"
Her face turned red, maybe from embarrassment or maybe from anger.
"I asked you a question!"
"By the way," he continued not paying attention to her little outburst, "welcome to my ownership. I'm very honoured to have you as a guest here."
"What does it all mean?" her eyelids clapped in a total incomprehension.
"I work here, Amu. Don't make it look like you don't know it," he answered calmly. "I hope you noticed the name of the building when you were entering it," and there was that sly smile on his face again.
Amu looked at Kuukai inquiringly.
"We're at Tsukyoimi Producing Centre," he said quickly, not understanding what it was all about.
"So," she averted her gaze from Souma and threw it at a self-satisfied guy again, "since you're Utau's brother, you must be her manager!" she declared in a triumphal tone.
Ikuto lowered his head to hide a grin.
"Actually," started Utau, catching Amu's attention, "Ikuto is my general producer and a director of this Centre."
Her reaction was priceless to his eyes. Amu's orbs rounded as two spheres and amusement could be read all over her pretty face. She slowly turned her head to look at the person who, she thought, was just a common worker and couldn't find any words to describe her surprise.
Ikuto liked this situation. He discovered that he adored making her look at him like that. Nobody knew how long their eye contact would have last if not for Kuukai's interference.
"I suggest continuing our conversation at the table. So, brother-in-law, where are you going to take us?" and he clapped Ikuto's shoulder cheerfully, bringing him back from his little trance into reality.
"…Le Grande," was all he could utter before tearing his eyes away from her golden ones. He sensed that something was happening to him, but he didn't know what it was…yet.
Utau hugged her husband's arm happily and squealed in excitement after hearing the name of the most expensive restaurants in Tokyo.
OooooO
The evening was nice but Amu felt not in the mood to seat next to the weird person who was Utau's older brother. She didn't talk much to everyone's surprise. Only Kuukai knew the reason of her distress, but he decided not to bring up the topic. He didn't want to upset her even more by making her remember the hardships in relations between Tadase and her. He felt sorry for her. He really did and that's why he drawn all the attention to his family. And Utau was just so enlightened to tell about their wonderful life together.
Once in a while Ikuto would throw a short glance at the girl with gorgeous golden eyes that looked so miserable and frustrated. Something was really wrong. Could it be the result of some heart problems? He could just hope that it was like that, though he hated to see her so lost and thoughtful. But even in that pessimistic state, she looked beautiful in her gentle-pink long-sleeved dress. There was a nice deco bow made of pink beads on her neck. Looking at her splendid outfit, you could suppose that she was going to some expensive restaurant or a guest-night. But why did she come to his Centre? What could have happened? And why did he see those tears in her eyes when she turned to look at him in a corridor?
There were so many questions about this girl and he wished to know more about her, not just some ordinary information that he had already gladly collected, but something that could tell him about her personality, about her character.
Ikuto was pleased that she came into his life again after 3 months of waiting, but he preferred it happened under better circumstances. After all, she didn't come to see him, since she was so surprised when he appeared behind her.
The young man sighed deeply and glanced at the girl again. She was looking at her cute pink watch at that moment and sighed too.
"Sorry, guys, I have to go home," she looked up at the Souma couple and smiled apologetically. "I promised my mother to be at home at 7. Thanks for the dinner. It was wonderful."
As if only she had touched something on her plate. Ikuto frowned, but cooled down almost the next second. He didn't want to show his disapproval to the others.
"It's a pity, Amu-chan," Utau spoke sadly. "But promise that you will share another dinner with us?"
Amu showed a shade of a smile.
"Maybe some time later."
Tsukiyomi was about to say something, but was rudely interrupted by his sister's husband.
"Woah! Look at the window!" cried Kuukai in surprise. "It's snowing like in Antarctica!"
His wife glanced through the window.
"Hmm, you're right. Who could think that the weather gets worse?"
"I'll take you home."
Yes, finally he had said something. He didn't know why he suddenly became so silent; it seemed that he sensed the pink-haired girl's melancholy and fell a victim to it too. If to be honest, he didn't recognize himself.
"No, don't bother. I'll be alright on my own," said Hinamori and stood up from her chair.
"I insist," he replied calmly, though his gaze was firm and serious.
She looked at his face, and a shade of irritation showed in her eyes for a brief moment. But he did notice it.
"I think you should take Ikuto's offer, Amu," uttered the blonde considerately. "Look how terrible the weather is. We will not feel calm if you go alone. Let him take you home and we will know that you get to the place safe and sound."
She didn't reply. Actually Amu didn't know what to say. All she knew, that she didn't want to go with the freak who was obsessed with pink colour.
But her train of thought was interrupted by a smooth voice to her right.
"Let's go," he was already standing next to her with a determined expression on his face. "If you want, you may stay here and continue your date" he directed this suggestion to his relatives.
Both faces blushed a little, but Kuukai found his voice to answer:
"Thanks, we will accept this offer with great pleasure, dear brother-in-law," and he grinned showing his white straight teeth. "But firstly, we will see Amu to the exit."
"No-no, you don't have to," the girl shook her hands in front of herself. "I'll be perfectly fine, don't worry. Enjoy the evening. And thank you both for everything," and she sent them a soft smile.
"I'll take care of her. See you two later," the young man with violet eyes said shortly and turned to leave.
"Amu-chan, promise me that you let him take you straight to your house," uttered the red-haired man, looking in her eyes. Utau nodded, supporting her husband's request.
"I…" the girl averted her eyes from the couple uneasily, "ok, I promise."
"Take care," they said in union.
Amu just nodded and followed her personal driver for the evening.
In one of the giant mirrors of the hall she noticed how tall Ikuto was. She could barely reach his shoulder when she was walking next to him on her high hills. Tadase was nearly the same height as her and it felt more naturally to be on the same eye-level.
Tadase-kun…
It hurt. Even thinking about other things made her remember the blond guy. And it felt really painful.
Ikuto noticed her saddened expression. Yes, he wanted to ask her about the reason of her gloomy mood, but at the same time he perfectly understood that she didn't trust him. She had proved it with that annoyed look in the restaurant some minutes ago. Even if he dared to ask her, he wouldn't get a reply…at least for now…
He stopped by the cloakroom and took their upper clothes. Her bright-pink fur-coat was very soft to touch and had a tiny smell of expensive perfume. Ikuto hold it out in his hands and looked at the maiden, who was about to take her clothes from his grip, but failed, because he shook his head and said:
"I'll help you to wear it."
She rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, but there is no need to."
The intelligent young man pouted lightly.
"Oh, common, Amu, let me play a gentleman."
She just bit her lower lip in irritation and walked closer to him. He faced her back and helped her to put on the fur-coat; a satisfying smirk was plastered on his face during that action.
When she was ready, he put on his scarf and black coat and they walked out of the building, with him holding the door for her.
His attitude started to annoy her. She didn't know why. It had to feel really very nice when a man treated you like a princess, but it seemed…awkward to her. Tadase had always showed those signs of respect and care, but everything felt just wrong when this guy was doing the same little things all the men usually did to impress their ladies. She was so unsure, and the worst thing was that she was afraid that she would fall for those tricks again. No! She didn't want it to happen, especially concerning this strange guy.
And he opened a door of his car to her. Why was he doing it? What did he want to achieve by doing all those magic things? She would never look at him like she had always looked at Tadase-kun!
Ah, she remembered him again…and she had promised to herself that she wouldn't think about Tadase that day.
"Get in."
She heard a velvet voice.
She did what she was told without complaining. If to be honest, she was so tired of thinking and musing. All she wanted—to get home as soon as it was possible. And the fastest way to do it was accepting his help.
Amu sat in the passenger seat of an expensive foreign sedan Chrysler 300C Hemi. The moment her thrusted escort shut the door, the maiden closed her eyes and exhaled. Some seconds later she heard him getting in the car himself. An engine purred to life and they smoothly drove away from the restaurant.
"Where do you live?" was his question, and Amu felt like she was interrogated.
"You may leave me at the nearest subway station," she told him indifferently.
"Hmm, and now you're going to break your promise," his words sounded reproaching. Actually, he longed to find out where she lived.
Her eyes flew open as she turned to her left and stared at him.
"How did you know? I thought you were out of the restaurant when I…"
"I heard you there, Amu. And I agree with them that it's dangerous to walk alone in the dark when it's snows so hard," he replied never leaving his eyes from the road. "So, I'm taking you home and don't try to resist."
The girl gritted her teeth and turned away from him sharply. She laid her elbow on the arm-rest and plopped her chin on her palm, staring at the window instantly.
"Shibuya, Empire Street, 90."
"Hmm?"
Amu's nerves were on the edge of exploding.
"It's my address."
"I heard it, I am just surprised that you have already given up," a light husky laugh filled the salon of the car.
Amu's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Just shut up and take me home already. I'm not that happy to be stuck with you in this car."
"Ha-ha. I wonder why you hate me so much," he chuckled offensively.
"I don't hate you," Hinamori answered thoughtfully, watching the passing by scenery in the window, "I'm just too tired to argue with you."
"Ok, I'll leave you alone, though I feel very flattered to know that you don't dislike me."
There was a pregnant pause for some minutes before he spoiled it.
"If you don't feel well, I advise you to listen to some music," and he turned on the CD-player.
Powerful orchestra music broke out from the dynamics and filled the salon of the car. After the interlude, a strong woman's voice began singing.
Amu blinked several times in bewilderment and turned her head to look at the driver.
"I thought you were a pop-idol's producer."
"Yes, I am. Why?" he answered and threw a short glance at her surprised face.
"How can you listen to this old music?" it was beyond her understanding. He and liked such kind of music? He had to be kidding.
Ikuto rolled his eyes affectingly.
"Amu, it's Georges Bizet's "Carmen", one of the most famous operas in the world, why wouldn't I like it? I'm a musician after all, classics is in my veins."
She was looking at him like people usually stare at aliens with 6 heads.
"Heh, you are so out-fashioned. Nobody listens to this old piece of junk."
He glanced at her disapprovingly.
"And you are a Jpop fan, I assume," he smirked to himself, "then, let me tell you, dear Hinamori-san, that all those one-day's songs dye as fast as the season ends. Classical music lives forever. "Carmen" was composed more than a century ago and it's still very famous and lovable by people."
"Yeah-yeah," was her sarcastic answer.
"Do you know the plot of this opera?"
His sudden question caught her out of guard.
"I heard something about it," she lied, trying to save her cool façade.
"It's about a gypsy girl, who made an honest soldier fall in love with her. She was very tempered and freedom-loving. But her hot-blooded nature became the reason of her misfortune. She broke up with that soldier and fell a victim of a passion towards another man, who was a toreador. This "piece of junk" that we are listening now is Carmen's famous habanera—a song of a powerful and passionate love. It sounds like a challenge. And it painted in that soldier's heart forever."
Amu listened to his every word and couldn't believe that the person that was sitting next to her was so educated and interested in classics. His obsession with pink colour wasn't the only oddity of his.
"It's a French opera, but now it's staged all around the world," the young man concluded his narrative and stopped the car. "We're here."
"Huh?" Amu blinked and looked at the window. They were parked by the gates of her house. "Oh, I….thank you for driving me home," she said quietly, feeling a sudden shyness overwhelming her.
He turned to face her and showed a handsome smile.
"It was my pleasure. I hope we will see each other again sooner than you think," and that handsome boyish smile turned into a Cheshire cat's grin.
Amu pouted her pink lips; a very cute action to Ikuto's eyes.
"Write down your phone number, Amu-chan. You already have mine, so I want yours too," he said enthusiastically, taking a dark-blue notebook out of the inner pocket of his coat and then opening it on some random page.
And the colour of that page was…
"You must be kidding…" uttered Amu in bewilderment quietly, looking at the cute pink pages of his notebook.
"No, I'm serious, so, will you give me your phone number?" the guy's eyes shone with hope.
Well, she was not talking about the seriousness of his request, but she looked up at him and said firmly:
"Of course not! I have to go. Farewell."
After those words she opened the door and was about to get out of the car, when she heard his mumbling.
"Ah, what a pity, it seems that today is not my lucky day," Tsukiyomi put his notebook back into his inner pocket. "Well, I already have your phone number, anyway, but I thought that you would be so kind and give it to me personally."
Amu's face reddened from fury that she felt was filling her veins right now. She sent him the last glare full of disgust and contempt and after shouting "Stupid freak!", jumped out of the car and slammed the door of a luxury auto as hard as she could.
Ikuto just followed her rapidly retreating figure with his violet eyes through the side window of his beloved vehicle.
Oh, how he adored to see her losing her temper!
With a satisfied smirk he drove off to his apartment.
OooooO
A/N Yes! It's done! It took me quite a while to finish this chapter, but I tried my best to upload it as fast as possible, because I wanted to share it with you so much, dear readers!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, I will be glad to answer you.
Oh, and as always, I have a request for you. If you find any rude mistakes (especially in grammar tenses), please, tell me. I will be very grateful for your help!
Many thanks!
And now….PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON!!! ^.^
