Kukai: So, who's the pairing this chapter?

Laura: You and Utau!

Utau: Really?

Ikuto: ...Why isn't it Amuto?

Laura: Ikuto, that's in the chapter after the next! Utau, do the disclaimer, please?

Utau: Laura doesn't own Shugo Chara, or any of the characters.

Laura: Oh, and I'm having major writer's block for all my stories, so it'll be a while before Diary of a Heartbreaker is updated, okay? Now let's GO!

Chapter 4

Utau and Kukai walked along, a little bit of an awkward silence between them.

"Hey...Yuki....why'd you come to this kingdom?" Kukai asked, looking at the sky. "We've nothing important, or fascinating, we're just....a kingdom."

Utau sighed. "I live in this kingdom," she quickly made up a lie, "but...my parents are overprotective, so they shut me and my sisters away when Ya-Piko-chan was a baby...but now, they felt we needed to see the world, so they sent us out for about 6 months....even a year..."

Well, she wasn't really lying...her parents did shut her and her sisters away for most of their lives.

Not like she cared. She was content with being rich and famous, with everything she wanted, and not having to lift a finger.

She was happy to be fawned over and loved...happy to believe she was one of the prettiest girls in the kingdom...

Right?

Truth be told, she wasn't. She had always yearned to be free, unlike her sisters. She hated being like a bird in a cage, too fragile to be let out.

Worst of all, she just hated being alone. She had her sisters...and her servants...but no real friends.

Honestly, she was happy to be spending 6 months out of the castle.

"Oh....that's tough.." Kukai sounded sympathetic, and Utau merely shrugged.

"I deal with it," she said quickly. "So...Kukai, right?" she asked. "I need a job..." she sighed.

Might as well get one.

"Job? Oh, you could work at the bakery!" Kukai grinned, and grabbed her arm. "Come on, Yuki!"

Utau tipped her head. Bakery? She didn't know how to bake.

"But I can't-" Utau was cut off by Kukai.

"Can't bake?" he smirked. "Don't worry. You can actually sell the goods. I'll do the hard stuff with my brothers," he winked. "Now, let's get you started!"

Utau smiled, and followed Kukai through the market.

–

"Aaaaand....here it is!" Kukai grinned, showing off the bakery. "Awesome, isn't it?"

"....Tsuki..yomi...bakery..." Utau rolled her eyes. "Gotta say, that's the lamest name I've ever heard! It lacks creativity!"

Kukai shrugged. "Meh. As long as we get customers!" he winked, and dragged her inside.

Utau's eyes widened. She'd never been inside a bakery before....she could smell freshly baked food, and she could feel warmth through the one door leading to the back, where the ovens lay.

Kukai laughed. "Cat got your tongue?" he asked, patting her on the head.

Utau looked over. "What are you doing, p-peasant?!" she stuttered.

"Peasant?" Kukai blinked.

Shit. I've just given myself away, haven't I? Utau thought frantically. "Y-yeah! After all, I am better than you!" she looked away pointedly.

"Oh?" Kukai faced her, eyes glinting. "Wanna bet? I can beat you at a challenge of my choice."

Utau smirked. "You're on, wimp."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" wailed a voice. "You musn't fight!"

Kukai sweatdropped. "Leave us alone, Tadase!" he begged. "Pleeease?"

Utau looked over and groaned. Sure enough, he was right beside them, looking afraid.

"Don't fight!" he started to cry. "Pwease!"

Utau exchanged an exasperated glance with Kukai, who flicked Tadase's forehead.

"We're not gonna fight, you idiot!" he rolled his eyes. "Just...a friendly competition. Right, Yuki?"

Utau nodded. "Yeah!" she lied quickly.

Tadase looked puzzled. "Yuki?" he blinked. "Who's Yuki?"

"She's Yuki, you dummy!" Kukai laughed, pointing at Utau. "Forgot your own guest's name already!"

Tadase rubbed his eyes. "Really?"

Utau darted over, covering his mouth with her hand. "Iiiiiiot!" she laughed nervously.

Utau sighed. "Go away, Tadase. So, Kukai. Let's just get this challenge over with. What is your choice of challenge?"

Kukai merely smiled. "You'll seeeee~!" he sang, and walked away, intending for him to follow her.

Utau walked a ways behind Kukai, looking around her as he led her through the marketplace again.

They stopped a glimmering lake, where Kukai turned to Utau. "This," he gestured to the lake, "is-"

"Hinamori Lake..." Utau finished, astounding. "My tutor told me, it was named after my- the royal family, but...I just didn't think..."

Didn't think it would be this beautiful... she thought to herself, before shaking the thought off. "So, what's the challenge?" she asked.

Kukai removed his shirt, and dove into it. "Beat me at swimming!" he laughed, starting to swim.

Utau's eyes were wide. She couldn't swim; she had never been taught!

But she couldn't lose. She's just have to try to learn as she swam.

She jumped in sloppily, and sank into the deep water, struggling to keep up with Kukai.

"Wher-e-t-to?" she managed to call in between trying to stay afloat, and going faster. "T-the-r-ro-ck?"

Kukai shook his head. "The island!" he pointed to an island at least 30 metres away. "See you there!"

He took off, swimming in smooth, powerful, and very fast strokes.

Utau's eyes widened, and she flailed her arms around, sinking a little. The water was deep.

Very, very deep.

Fear flashed in her eyes as she started to sink, trying to alert Kukai that she was drowning.

Kukai, however, was too far ahead to notice, as he reached the island. "Ha! I win!" he turned to the water. "Huh?" he tipped his head. Utau was nowhere in sight...

"Can she...not swim?" Kukai's eyes widened.

"YU-NO. UTAU!" He darted back into the water, swimming as fast as he could to reach the drowning girl.

Utau's eyes grew faint. She wouldn't make it...

A hand grasped hers.

Her eyes widened. Kukai?

Kukai pulled her out of the water, holding her up with his arms while trying to stay above the water.

"K-kukai? Why?" she gasped.

"Are you unharmed...Princess Utau Hinamori of the Guardian Kingdom?"

Utau's eyes widened. No! It couldn't be!

How did he know?