This chapter is really short, I'm sorry. BUT, it's a really crucial chapter, because it builds foreshadowing and such...
~ Amu POV ~
" Ami! Noo!" the little girl with pink hair cried, whilst being pulled back by her sobbing parents. " Don't go! Ami!"
Outside, it was raining hard, the raindrops falling just as fast as the tears on the eight year-old's face. Inside, the cries and mourns were just as loud.
A priest stood on the podium, his expression sad and sympathetic. He tried to give a small smile at the pinkette, but to no avail did he lighten up her mood. He motioned to the girl's mom, who nodded her head and walked to the microphone stand.
" Hinamori Ami was a very nice girl. She was always there to cheer on everyone, and she had huge, inspiring dreams of becoming a singer." She spoke softly into the microphone.
" Her smile made people want to smile. Her laugh made people want to laugh. Her voice and kind words made people want to speak up for themselves, or sing along. Her presence itself was one that made everybody want to jump and dance." The tears were escaping along the edges of her eyes at an uncontrollably fast pace.
The little pinkette's dad cried even louder, loudly sobbing about "his little sparrow", and the pinkette finally broke through his iron grasp. She ran to the coffin at the front which held her sister, and gave it a big hug.
" Ami! I love you! I never hate you!" she cried, and the people in the room had gone even quieter to honor the girl. The raindrops could be heard - pit pat pit pat - through the church roof, while the little girl sobbed her heart out.
" She lived a short, but sweet five years, and those years will always be remembered. Hinamori Ami will always be remembered - not just in our minds, but in our hearts as well." The girl's mom ended her eulogy, and walked away to give her some space.
" Amu-chan! Wake up!" I heard a voice.
" What?" I snapped my head up to look at the speaker. A tearjerking nausea was buried deep in my chest, and it was wanting escape. I needed to get out of whereever I was at the moment, in order to shed the tears that were threatening to fall out of my eyes. I tried to hold back the tears, but I felt them start to well up, knowing they would escape soon.
It was Tadase. Oh no. For the past few days, maybe even weeks, I've been avoiding him. Only because Ikuto lied to him about me wanting to go out with him. Stupid Ikuto. He's causing me even more trouble! Everytime Tadase was walking down the hallways the same time as me, I'd turn to the nearest classroom and hide behind the door. Everytime he tred to sit next to me at lunchtime, I'd move seats next to Ikuto, and avoid eye contact. Everytime he'd try to talk afterschool, I'd say I was busy, and leave abruptly. I'd always have a chance at avoiding him.
Although, for some reason, Ikuto would always be at my side. When I needed to hide, he would know just when and how to cover me up.
" You looked really cute while sleeping in class." Tadase walked from across the room towards my desk with a smile and a dark red blush planted on his face. I was sleeping in class? I looked around, noticing that everyone had left already - even the teacher.
" Uh. Sure." I mumbled. " I have to go. I need to use the bathroom." I gathered my belongings, then stood up to leave.
" No, wait. Why are you avoiding me?" he asked with innocent eyes. I could feel the tears building, about to let loose. " Why do you keep walking away when I want to talk to you?"
I took a few steps towards the door, but as I tried to run to the bathroom, Tadase managed to grab my wrist and face me towards him. Then, the wave of sadness washed over me. The tears finally let loose from the dark corner of my mind, where I tried to keep them in.
" Amu-chan?" Tadase gasped in disbelief. " D-don't cry! I didn't mean to make you cry! Oh no!" He panicked, and tried to get me to calm down. Suddenly, the classroom door burst open, and in the doorway, stood none other than Ikuto.
" What happened, Kiddy-King?" He sent Tadase a dark glare.
~ Ikuto POV ~
I was walking down the hallway, looking for Amu. It's been a couple of days, and she still hasn't seemed to fall for me. After I told Tadase that she wanted to go out with him, my plan was in session. First off, I just need them to keep it a secret. While Amu keeps hiding from him, Tadase will believe that they are already together. To finish it off, I'll get Amu to deal with him, by either 'breaking up' with him, and telling him it was all a lie. Amu will keep hiding from him, by staying by my side, since no one else knows! It's perfect!
I walked to Amu's classroom door, and stayed out of sight from the other side of the door, but stayed near enough to be able to see her. Tadase was with Amu... wait, Tadase isn't supposed to be with Amu! This'll ruin everything!
He suddenly grabbed her wrist when she stood up, and then she started crying. Why is she crying! Shizz, what did he do? I kicked the door open, and glared at Tadase.
" What happened, Kiddy-King?" I asked, while holding back a growl that was daring to leave my throat.
" Tsukiyomi Ikuto! This isn't your concern!" he yelled.
" Then, why is Amu crying?" I screamed back at him. He was starting to piss me off.
" STOP!" Amu yelled, causing Tadase and I to stop glaring at each other and to look at her.
" Enough! It wasn't Tadase's fault! He didn't do anything! Why are you even here? Stupid Ikuto." Her eyes were starting to return to its normal gorgeous golden honey color, and her mood seemed to change. I suddenly noticed how her eyes seem to gleam in the light, and it was so mesmerizing, I almost got lost while staring.
" Wha- what? But, you were crying... and... you were in tears... and... yea..." Tadase mumbled with a confused expression on his face, breaking my hypnotic gaze on Amu.
" Tadase, look, I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you. It's just that, I told you I'm not looking for a relationship." She explained in a half-sad, half-happy tone. Oh no, she wasn't supposed to explain yet! I need more time for her to hide from him, by staying with me!
" What? But, Ikuto said that you wanted to go out with me..." he trailed off, staring at me with a betrayed look on his face. I smirked.
" You believe it?" I said. He turned away to glance at Amu, then grabbed his stuff and walked away.
" Great... thanks a lot, Ikuto!" she said in a sarcastically.
" Your welcome." I replied with the same sarcasm.
~ Amu POV ~
They were fighting... over me. It was my fault they were yelling at each other, and it was all because I started crying, again.
I grabbed my belongings, once more, and headed out the door. There was play practice afterschool, so I headed straight to the theater, hoping to avoid Ikuto and Tadase. I've had enough of Ikuto! I stared down at my shoes, not bothering to look at what's in front of me.
" Hey! Watch it!" a snobby voice faintly echoed through my head, as I felt myself falling towards the ground. Instead of hitting the ground, as expected, two arms caught my body.
" Wha- what?" I turned around to see my savior. A boy with green hair, and glasses squinted his eyes to look at me. " Kairi?"
" Hello, Hinamori-san. Please be sure to watch your step. We wouldn't want anything terrible to happen, now do we?" he said in a courteous manner. My cheeks started to burn up, after realizing that he was still holding my body against his. He actually felt... warm, and it felt nice.
" Humph. When the Great Yamabuki Saaya is in the hallways, you should pay close attention!" Saaya exclaimed. Kairi let me go, then looked at her with an apologetic expression.
" Sorry, Yamabuki-san. We didn't mean to cause you a disturbance." he said so politely, and so kindly. I never realized that he was always such a good person. Always such a nice friend. " Anyways, we will be heading first. Shall we go, Hinamori-san?" he extended his arm, lending me his elbow.
I linked elbows with Kairi, and headed to the theater. " O-ok. Let's go." I involuntarily stuttered.
From behind me, I heard a " Humph." from Saaya. " Talking dolls, let's go." She snapped her fingers and strutted away, followed by her crew of 'best friends'. One girl, Lulu, I believe, turned to face me before leaving. She had on an apologetic look, and mouthed the words, " Be careful of who you trust."
~ Ikuto POV ~
I was in the theater already, waiting for my princess to arrive. After all, we can't practice without the reason for the play! Nikaidou was obviously starting to get impatient. He was pacing back and forth, as if in deep thought about something really important.
Finally, Amu walked in. With Kairi. Their elbows were linked together. And she was smiling.
Her smile made me want to swoon. Never before had I seen such a smile that was so... genuine. My heart started to race, pounding hard and fast (that what she said) againt my ribcage.
Why is she with Kairi? I thought Kairi started the bet so that I could get the girl. Why is he with her? Are they dating? Does she like him? Does he like her? He's actually touching her elbow! I'm supposed to hold her. She's mine.
Many questions stirred in my mind. I tried to shake them off by looking at the pacing Nikaidou, rather than the two people walking towards me.
But, some questions were just questions that I couldn't stop thinking about, Did she replace me? Did I even have a place reserved in her heart? Will I ever have a place in her heart?
