Pairings: Mainly Amuto, but several others are included.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara, but I do own my plots.

Rating: M for minor sexual situations. Sorry, I have no idea why I put violence before, my mistake.

AN: Completely tired! There's an upcoming test and state testing next week as well, so this will be my last update in a while. Spring break is over though - I've been working on a oneshot during that time so there were no updates, sorry. For those looking forward to Black Corsair, I've started on that, and the twist is coming shortly. Don't miss it! Okay, now you can enjoy the chapter. c:

Warnings: OOCness, explained already. Change is good :D

Inconsistency

Hinamori Amu is what most people call a fickle lover. Never once settling down with one man, she claims she has no interest in them. But after that one-night stand, I can't seem to forget about her; nor the lacy lingerie that she left on the floor of my room. So here I am, a newly-hired student teacher for my beloved mentor, handing back her belongings in the middle of class. "And that's why you don't leave early in the morning, strawberry."

Before the wave of chaos could bring me to my knees in agony, I quickly dodge out of the way while my arm instinctively curves around her waist, pulling her to the side so that she did not fall. Burning coffee splatters on the floor and her legs. "Idiot!" I yell, quickly carrying her bridal-style and running out of the door towards the staff bathroom.

"P-Put me down!" she stutters, ruining her bubbly facade while her face flushes and her body gets noticeably warmer than before. "C-come on! I-I'm fine!" Of course, I'll just assume that it's the coffee's doing. When we finally get through all the stares and whispering and long, winding corridors, we arrive at the destination. Quickly opening the door and rushing into the shower area, I place her down and rapidly spray cool water on the wound.

"You need to cool the burn or it will swell," I say gently. "Your students will be worried. You should be more careful, really."

"H-Hmmph!" I chuckle at her stubborn attitude. "Wh-what are you laughing at?"

"How you can still be stuttering while you huff at me." I can't suppress the oncoming smirk tugging at my lips.

"W-Whatever!"

We sit there quietly as I continue to rinse off the burn with the shower spray until she awkwardly complains about how her leg felt like it was going to rot from how cold it had become. When I switch from cold to hot and go back to tending her frozen limb, the tension suddenly rises between us like steam, beginning to condense on our social terms instead of glass. I clear my throat as if to start something, but I don't. Amu turns her head away as to not look at me.

"So, I saw you and Rima talking from the hallway." The attempt for a conversation has been made by the female. You go, Ikuto, you wonderfully brave soul. "What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing important," I lie. "She was explaining how the schedule around her worked since Kukai isn't the clearest guy on the planet. What with the periods and all... No, I don't mean Kukai's period, although he might just have one once a month."

Amu lets out a laughter that shingles in my ear like bells, a sweet sound that took me back to the day when this all had started from the second she gracefully entered my life through the passenger door of my car.

"That would definitely explain a lot."

I give her a smile and then proceed carefully, Rima's warning clear in mind. "Amu, I want to talk. I'm not here completely because I have feelings for you and want to chase you down so that you would be mine." Her expression seems skeptical. I'm pretty sure I know the reason why, so I continue. "I chose this place because I knew Kukai and I needed more various credits and experiences in astronomy. You happening to also work here was like a bonus."

She let out a sigh. "You do understand that I'm not interested and that I won't ever be? That you were a toy? A mere whim of my actions?" The tone of her voice seems casual with the slight zing of insult in it. But then there's also the side to it that couldn't be described. Is it frustration? Fear? Anger? Desperation? I don't know about that, but I knew the answer to her question.

"I understand. I just want us to get acquainted with each other for the sake of our jobs and to make the situation easier. It felt like a whim to me when I was with you as well, so don't worry."

"... Of course," she almost spat, her eyebrows scrunching and her lip pulling into a devious little pout. Her personality is literally summed up in that bottom lip of hers. I let out a deep, rumbling chuckle that causes her eyes to shift towards the sight of my amused face.

"Just kidding," I say, ruffling her carnation hair with the palm of my hand. This removes her pout and replaces it with a confused frown. "Of course it wasn't a whim. I'm not like that," She stands there looking almost shocked at my reaction, with a pleased smile now hanging above her chin. This is the reaction she likes. This is what she wants. The idea that someone loves her even if she told them she didn't love them back.

"Hmph." Her face is back to being as red as the color of her coffee-burnt skin. We soon return to heading back down the hallway, the walk being empty due to the students already in class. I'm willing to bet Amu's class is a little confused as to where their teacher was right now. When we walk in though, all the high schoolers are in their seats reading the same section in their textbook. I give an astonished glance to the pinkette and she mouths to me, "I'm usually late and they're used to it."

"Oh." I mouth back, and she smiles lightly before turning away to organize her prints and such on the desk. I sit back in a rolling chair by the side, turning on a computer that looks as though it might be the same age as me. The students have it pretty rough, I think in my mind as I stare into the crack of Amu's macbook on the desk. After a few hours, I try to use the ancient computer in front of me and end up playing minesweeper.

Minesweeper.

What in the world in minesweeper anyways? I click a few buttons and suddenly there's x's everywhere and I'm dead. I lose if I make a wrong move, and if I do, it becomes fatal and the smiley face is no longer smiling. More red x's plague the window in the screen. I doubt I could ever score higher than 100.

Is this supposed to be fun?

Typical of an ancient artifact like this chunk of plastic.

And that just about sums up the rest of the day: Amu and minesweeper. Whoot. I don't even pay attention to her lessons or the students. All I know is 34-25-36. That's all I know.

When the bell rings, everyone streams out of the room through the door like a drain, and soon the classroom is empty with a tumbleweed passing by. A few seconds after I get myself to shut off the computer and stand out, Rima rushes into the room and plops onto Amu's lap like the usual cushioned sofa. My eyes widen until Rima gives me the evil eye. "What are you looking at, punk?"

"Rima, he's your sensei. Be kind," Amu coos and begins massaging Rima's back playfully for a minute or so. "How was your day?"

"Fine. Everyone is so stupid though. It makes me wonder why I didn't just transfer out of this damned school."

"Why don't you then?" I say.

The short blonde doesn't even bother to turn and look at me anymore. "Because Amu's here, obviously." Amu doesn't seem to mind Rima on her lap while she's typing away on her laptop, although her face is now slightly damp with sweat. It wasn't that hot in here. Or is the blonde too hot for her? Alright me, stop with the jokes, they're not even funny.

"I don't like you," Rima decided in finality in her tone as if she were passing on a verdict to the audience, which in this case would be Amu. And I'm the suspect. "I hate you, actually."

"Rima, he hasn't even done anything. Be nice. He's going to be here for a while. It might seem like he's here for more, but he's not." She looks at me apologetically. "She hated every guy that came here for me, so don't take it personally."

Too late, my mind says.

"Look, now you're defending him? Shouldn't you be agreeing with me and chasing him off by now?" She looks at me and in her eyes I can read a "how dare you not take my message and scram the fuck off" from the glint in her irises.

"He's not here for that, Reems. Or at least, not completely. His interest in this subject in genuine."

"Very genuine," I cough in the back.

"Amu... I hate him."

"That's a nice opinion, Rima." Amu's phone buzzes lightly on the counter of her desk and she picks it up. "Hello? Who is this?" A few moments pass before Amu nods. "Yes. Yes. Okay." She smiles. "Thank you. Of course. Good bye." When she hangs up, Rima is already off her lap and picking up her bag. "Your parents are here, Rima. Do you want me to come with you?"

"Just up to the gates, Amu."

"Of course. Ikuto, I'll be back soon."

"Take your time," I lie through my teeth as the two leave. Of course, not without Rima sending me a glare for the 54835th time. I sit and wait in the chair for a while until I look out the window to stare at the two by the gates. Though they were far away, I could still identify them. It wasn't difficult either since most of the students had already gone home. The two seem to be in a serious conversation until a Maserati pulls up and takes Rima. Amu, with a deep sigh, starts walking into the school again. She looks... stressed. I wonder what they were talking about out there.

I don't have the time to ask about it because when she walks in, she immediately packs up her things and starts heading for the door. I try to follow her but she stops at the door and flips around to face my chest. With a sigh, she pushes me back a couple of steps and gives me the same look Rima had given me a million times before. "Please leave this school and find your credits somewhere else."

"Why?" I ask, uncertain of what the hell she was coming up with now. "I'm not bothering you. Or raping you. Or even doing anything worth being pissed off about. Is this because of Rima?"

"Look, I don't like you either. What Rima said put some sense into me, okay? Even my cells hate your cells."

"Your cells used to love me, remember?"

"My cells, as of now, want you to leave."

"They can get used to my cells again."

"Ikuto," she growled in all due seriousness. "Just get back out of my life."

"If memory serves right, you were the one who barged into mine. You can't back out of this one so easily," I smirk before remembering the fatal warning. "Ah, but that's not my, err, intention anyways. Is something going on? What did Rima tell you? I know you two are close and all but-"

"Look, Ikuto. If you don't leave, you'll be having a hard time. Put on your layers tomorrow... it'll be cold." That last statement left me shivering as she left the room. What did she mean by that? Oh, wait.

Ice demon mode.

Right.

What did Rima tell her? It's definitely Rima that changed her mind, but why? She went as far as to even warn me, but now she's turning the tables against me? Kids these days are so troublesome... I'd have to find out what Rima exactly is to Amu too. My curiosity hasn't been satisfied as of lately. Could it be family? They were more than friends for sure. Best friends? Who knows. Maybe the Internet...

For now though, I make a mental note to bring a sweater tomorrow. If I make one wrong move from now on... I wouldn't be a winner, but my chances of being victorious were already slim.

Just like minesweeper.

And that's the latest chapter! Might be a few mistakes around in there somewhere, sorry. Hope you can leave a review about what you thought and what you think will happen next! What do you think Rima and told Amu, and why do you think so? The truth might throw some of you off though. Until next time! c: