AN: I think Amu is like having a midlife crisis here here I guess. I also realized that it's actually spelled "kukai,". So I kinda fixed it toward the end. I also pulled this out of my ass.
Chapter III
Boys Are Stupid
"The quick red fox jumped over the lazy dog" spoke a speaker on the tv. A set of English lessons Amu and Kuukai had bought. After taking a few lessons, they both could translate and read English very well. But the speaking...
"De quicku brouwno fox jumped ova de lazy dog."
"Incorrect."
"HOW IS THAT INCORRECT?" Amu quickly reverted back to her native language in frustration. Amu worked part time in a small retail store to pay for the English classes, even majority of her allowance!
A very busy girl she was, she was barely able to visit her brother, the only time she could was on every other Sunday during their English lessons. During those times, Kuukai would slightly goof off trying to mess up and distract to where slight irritation would arise. Soon then, they both would get lectures from other students.
Kuukai shot up with her, holding his sister back before she broke the television. She sighed calming down, why is this so hard!?
"You're mispronouncing the 'R's." Kuukai informed.
"Ha?"
"And other letters mixed. Like the TH's." Kuukai pulled out their English alphabet from their previous classes.
"It's pronounced as thuh"
"Duh,"
"Thuh!"
"That's what I said!" Amu whined and slouched on her couch, lips pursing into a pout.
"Amu, this is going to take about 2 years to speak fluently." Kuukai informed with concern.
"Then two years it will be. I haven't seen him in three years anyway. Another two won't be a problem." As Amu spoke, she was very cold with her words. What was she planning? Kuukai had thought.
She had to be under stress, with her school, being a captain and number one on her tennis team. Then being the pitcher in baseball, how did she have the time for all this? Not to mention, learning English is like a another class.
Kuukai sighed, there was no way she's changing her mind.
When Amu said her words, she kind of wished she could take them back. What will she be doing in two years? She would be twenty. Would she be going to school still, or just working? She didn't know.
Amu's eyes flickered over to her guardians Suu and Dia. Would they still be here?
Her eyes saddened, they were her best friends. She clutched to her chest a bit, telling herself they're her. They are what she becomes.
She had become Ran, an honest and more physical girl.
She had become Miki, observant and creative girl.
Who will she be when when she becomes Suu and Dia?
Her brother said his goodbyes and left with a reassuring pat on her head.
As Amu headed back upstairs to her room, she looked at the pictures of her best friends since middle school. First one she picked up was her and Nagihiko, she remembered the time he admitted his secret to her at Nikaido-sensei's wedding. It took her time to understand, but nonetheless, they were the same person. Her secrets, worries were kept with him. She had two best friends in one.
Her memories flowed through her mind when she was first becoming friends with him. She felt herself smile of the nostalgia. Nagihiko had left to study dance at other countries, he still writes her letters. Sending photos and postcards, she's kept them all in a small scrapbook containing all her friends.
Slowly, she picked up another picture frame that contained herself and Rima Mashiro. The shy girl who loved to laugh.
Rima's parents were on the brink of divorce but soon was resolved by Rima. They found a new house on the other side of town. So every other Sunday, Amu makes sure she has plans for them to spend time together.
She began to remember how both of her best friends fought for her attention, and one of those moments she couldn't help but smile and laugh. Because throughout the beginning of her elementary and beginning of middle school years, Amu had never thought she could make friends. No matter how much she craved for friendship, everyone seemed to be intimidated by her outer character of "Cool-and-Spicy". Luckily, people had slowly grew up and stopped calling her that. But, she slightly liked being fought over. Because that meant they both wanted her attention.
Making friends, she even let herself cry a bit, because she was so thankful for the friends she had made. Skimming across her pictures on her desk, of her and brother. Then the one of her and Utau. Another of her and Yaya.
Yaya's family believed that she needed to focus on her schooling, which they were right… They had sent her to a private school. She would receive random texts from her if she was in one of her boring classes.
Then lastly, the one picture frame of her and Tadase.
It was one of those cheesy couple ones. Where Tadase was kissing her cheek, and Amu furiously blushing as the camera snapped the scene of them. Even though she was slightly embarrassed, she loved it. Because it was only the picture of only them together she had.
Amu plopped on her bed, and stared up at her ceiling with a sigh.
"I want to be…" she paused briefly, "reunited with everyone." Though, she knew that was slightly impossible.
Her guardian characters floated above her. She smiled at them, she knew she can always rely on them. She had never felt this lonely in awhile, since she was younger she would always be afraid of to watch the house. But now she had friends, but since everyone is finding themselves, they started to drift apart.
Amu wished Kuukai was back to keep her company but he had school to attend to.
Then there was Ikuto, too. Ah, yes. Ikuto Tsukiyomi, the mysterious black cat that always came to her rescue.
Once he confessed his love for her once more when she was seventeen, she thought long and hard. She still thinks about it, if it would be better to be with him. Ever since Tadase hurt her, Kuukai was there but, sometimes Ikuto would take advantage of her loneliness.
But it's wrong
When she was twelve he was seventeen. That's five years. Yet, slightly pedophilic of how he confessed to a thirteen year old... Eighteen now, he's twenty-three. That's… a little better, but more completely wrong.
"He has issues," she thought in disgust. Finally deciding how wrong it was, how gross he was.
"Never." She then smiled and finger-fiving her guardians, who cheered her on. But, she did admit to herself deep inside, she had fallen for the cat of misfortune.
She hadn't spoken to him after his second confession, he didn't even update of where he was. Slightly mad, and she groaned yelling to herself,
"Why do I even care anyway!?" She looked back at her old pictures on her mobile phone, seeing when he was younger with Yoru's paws in the way of the camera.
Soon then, she remembered the time when she was in the road of stars. Ikuto discovering his would-be-self, of being free from Easter's clutches. Being free to be himself. She couldn't help but miss both Yoru and Ikuto's antics. They were never boring.
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. "
"The quick brownu fox jumps ova the lazy dog".
"Incorrect. "
Amu nearly screamed at her television. Quickly taking a breath she tried again. Attempting to pronounce each word it asked her to do. She would pass on some occasions but, so far, her 'R's are the most difficult for her.
It's for Tadase, she thought, to be reunited.
Instead of sitting on the couch, she was in the kitchen making dinner for her family that was out and about running errands. She cut herself and pouted. She still had trouble cooking, but she was learning.
"Do you want to Character Change?" Her clover guardian asked. Amu shook her head,
"No, I got it. I need to learn how to do this on my own one da-" Then the pinkette froze, not bothering to finish her sentence. She had the realization of why Suu was born. She wished to not only cook for herself and others but to be more responsible. To be a hostess. To be someone who is generous, kind, and a responsible person if she had a family. Amu slightly hoped she was a lot irresponsible so she can just keep Suu a little longer.
"Amu-chan?"
"Ah! Nothing Suu," Amu smiled nervously, "I was just dozing off is all!" She laughed anxiously. Her clover guardian blinked but then quickly smiled at her owner. Carefully teaching the pinkette of how to properly cut vegetables and other sorts.
"Amu-chan," Dia called out to the ex-joker. Once Amu had put the lid over the pot that boiled she looked over at her diamond character.
"What's up, Dia?" She asked curiously. Amu knew that Dia could read her the most, of what her thoughts and feelings that might be. Her yellow guardian character slowly floated to her then down into the palms of her hands and smiled softly up to her.
"We all have to grow up sometime," she spoke gently, "I know you're afraid as to we are too. But remember, not only we will be in the road of stars. More importantly, we will be you. So we're always with you." She smiled to her as Amu eye's began to water.
"When you play sports, or being honest with yourself and others. Ran is there! I see her everyday, you do too! Just not the way you want to see her. When you draw," Dia paused, "when you paint, play music. Miki is composing right with you." She then turned to Suu with a smile.
"When you cook, or clean. Do you see how Suu is right with you when you learn? That is how Ran and Miki are too! Every step of the way."
Amu's tears began to drip and shed down to her cheek. Dia doesn't speak as often. But, when she does, it's exactly what Amu needed to hear. Making her worries go away.
That's right, she thought, they're still there right beside me.
It's just that I'm growing up.
She remembered how she was so afraid to change. An extreme scaredy cat, afraid of the dark and ghosts even though they didn't really exist. Or did they?
She shuddered at thought, but quickly pushed them away.
She was afraid to be herself. However, as Amu grew older, she knew it was okay to change. All of the friends she had made, gladly accepted her little by little. She was so grateful of them.
Amu quickly took two of her guardians that she had left that she could see, quickly planting her lips on both of their heads as they screamed from embarrassment. Seeming as if a mother trying to give kisses to her children and them refusing to do so.
"Ah, Amu-chan!" They whined, and as Amu stood up straight she let out a laugh. Her guardians watched her in awe, it's been years that they heard Amu laugh intentionally. Her cute distinctive giggle, with her shoulders rising up and down as she did so. Her guardians smiled widely at their owner, flying up giving her her kisses on her cheeks. Amu then began to blush and whine.
"Guys! Stooop!" They both released, all of them laughing together. It was as if she was back in her elementary school days, loving every moment of nostalgia she had.
The next day, Amu was able to play the piano in the cafe without hesitation even she was thinking of Tadase. Her playing the piano was more fluent, happier and elegant. The thought of her childhood crush actually helped her more now, confident to see him.
Utau Hoshina quickly sneaked out of her jobs to surprise her partner during work. She even texted him during the time to make sure he was still at the cafe. She quickly disguised herself by wearing a hat, tucking her long blond hair into it. She placed thick shades over her eyes and quickly headed out with her manager covering for her.
Utau's cheeks heated up at the thought of seeing her romantic partner, Kuukai. She never felt this way. Not even with her brother Ikuto, it was a completely different feeling. Her heart pounded, she even became shy around him at some moments.
As she arrived at the cafe, she panted for breath. Two of her guardians waving their small hands to cool off her face. She stood up straight, her heard the familiar sounds of piano in the distance.
"Amu?" She questioned aloud to herself. Utau hurried more, she hadn't seen that girl in a few years either, she was more excited now. She jogged to the cafe, quickly opening the door witnessing the scene. Amu's clever, slender fingers pressing each key with a smile on her face. It was the exact technique that Utau had taught her to do. It was as if she character changed with Miki, but as Utau watched carefully, Amu had not. Her clips were the same, she herself were the same.
Utau guessed she had found out her would-be-self of Miki, she had remembered the time she suffered when Ran was gone. However, Amu was no longer suffering. Amu was herself, she was Miki. Utau watched in agape at Amu's music, that she was even thinking of lyrics already.
She's changed, Utau thought. Not just physical appearance either. Amu's pink hair had grew a lot longer, it reached to her lower back. She still styled her hair with x clips in there. Giving that 'spice'.
All her baby fat soon shedded off her cheeks, her body growing taller and matured. Utau then slowly walked forward still watching intently of her old friend. Soon then, she began to sing the lyrics she was already thinking to Amu's piano.
Amu, quickly looked up as she continued to play. She knew that voice, that voice all over her tv every time Ami had turned it on. She knew that voice, that rang in her ears through the radio. She knew that voice from anywhere, especially from their 'Last Battle'.
"Utau!" Amu called out, her playing slowly faded as did Utau's voice. Quickly, Utau turned away, pretending as if she wasn't singing at all. Amu knew though, she knew the real Utau inside.
Kukai then came sweeping up Utau off her feet, twirling her around rapidly. Utau's cheeks turned red as Kukai's did as well but filled the room with his laughter. He set her down to her feet, her eyes trying to focus but a kiss was planted on her lips making her lose focus even more. Kukai then pulled back and hugged her tightly, his mouth smiling widely.
Utau in awe once again, she smiled softly and returned his hug. No words were exchanged between them. They didn't have to exchange words to say how they're feeling or what they thinking. They already know what they're thinking. Kukai nuzzled into Utau's shoulder as if he were a child, though he towered over her.
"Ah," Utau looked up at her lover, "you have stubble," she casually touched his chin and Kukai grinned even more.
"Yeah, I thought I'd try something new!"
Amu watched the two talk together, it was as if they never separated. The way they touched and held each other casually, it was so natural. She wondered if she was able to do that one day. Maybe even to Tadase… soon then the thought of Ikuto came to her head and groaned to herself again. Of course this would happen.
She slightly envied the couple, but just seeing them together made her smile.
Amu quietly left the cafe to let the couple have their free time left before Utau had to go back to work. Hands clasped behind her back, she hummed to herself as she walked home in the twilight. Utau had learned to love someone else besides her own brother, Ikuto. Kukai is the perfect fit for her too.
Since his odd disappearance, he had not only hasn't contacted Amu, but his own sister too. Amu wondered if he will ever appear, or did he just leave like Tadase? Amu pursed her lips into a pout, "Boys are stupid." She said aloud to the empty street.
