Room mates chapter eleven.
Leeloo-Chan: Thank you so much for your reviews again. From now on my updates should be on a weekly basis as my internet seems to have recovered, I intended to upload this sooner but was distracted by my Deviant Art account i'm under Leeloozorz if anyone wants to look me up :). I hope you enjoy the chapter :3 Review me please if you want me to smile ^^
*Bold = speech
*Italics = thought
*Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara or Ben and Jerry's.
Ikuto's point of view.
We had been sat in the destitute bar for less than an hour and I had already grown impatient, the guys obviously knew that there was something wrong with me but in part I think they were too scared to ask. I was the stable one of the group, the one that never changed and here I was reduced to nothing but nerves because of her.
"Be right back." I called to them before making my exit.
How can being away from her cause this much worry I grimaced to myself pulling out my cell, I hated having to resort to asking my father for help. But perhaps if I felt as though I was helping her I would be able to settle and enjoy the rest of my undoubtedly long evening.
"Hello Son, this is a surprise."Came Aruto's complacent voice
"Father, normally I would not ask but I need your help with something." My stomach churned in last minute concern, I had no idea if it was right for me to interfere or if my father would help but if it meant guaranteeing her happiness how could it be wrong?
"What a rare occasion, I'll do anything in my power what is it you need?" My father's voice seemed a little more on edge and less playful than his usual hedonistic self and so I decided that breaking the tension would be my first move.
"Don't worry dad I haven't killed anyone, it's for Amu-Chan." I hated the way my voice wrapped itself around her name possessively and I had no doubt that my father had heard it.
"Are we planning the wedding so soon Son?" His laughter peeled what was left of my nerves as I blushed profusely. I haven't even told her I love her yet let alone proposed…
"Don't be silly old man, I told you we are just friends. It is in my capacity as her friend that I am going to ask you to put in a good word in at the job she has applied for." My appeal for help hadn't originally been planned in my head as a demand, reining my feelings back I continued.
"That is of course if you have the chance and you don't mind father." I forced my tone into that of a pleasant respectful one and awaited his response with baited breath.
"It's not a problem at all Ikuto, forward me the details of the school later and it will be done. You don't have to be embarrassed you know I did far sillier things when in love with your mother." His gruff laughter soothed my tethered pride and I smiled.
"Thank you dad she deserves it, but I'm not in love with her." It was as if a weight had been lifted, I had never used our family's influence before for personal gain but there was no point at all in having it if someone as good as Amu could not benefit.
"Try and fool her all you want, but I have known you your whole life. I will make sure that the conversation remains private she will not know of your involvement unless you wish her too. Now onto more serious matters Ikuto… Go make me cute pink haired grandchildren." He cooed down the phone sadistically and I could not have ended the phone fast enough, Jeez my old man had no idea what the word appropriate meant.
I returned to Kukai and Nagi to find them both in high spirits, and then noticed the pitchers in either of their hands. Pushing my palm into my face I looked at both of them dejectedly.
"What is this?" I said pointing to two untouched pitchers of beer; strangely enough it was Nagi who answered first raising his half drank pitcher to clink against mine.
"Kukai has a secret to tell you, and we are celebrating the good and awful things about women." His yellow eyes danced mischievously and fell on their intended victim, Kukai.
"Alright Kukai, out with it!" I called clapping him on the back affectionately
"Ikuto I have been an awful friend to you, I've lied to you all this time and I just can't do it any longer" a genuinely repulsed grimace covered his normally care free face as I took the bar seat next to him.
"I am in love with Utau Ikuto, and for years we have held a secret on and off relationship behind your back. I know that her work is important and that I cannot distract her from it without hurting you but I love her Ikuto. I love her so much, and I don't want to be the guy she falls into bed with whenever she's home. I want her to be mine, and no one else's… I don't care who she is promised too I can't just sit back anymore, I won't."
Kukai had seemed to grow in both confidence and conviction as his speech went on clearly empowered simply by his sheer love for Utau, I found myself grinning at my old friend hell I had even almost cheered at one point.
"Well it's about time Kukai, I had been wondering how long it would take you. Truth be told I was starting to grow bored of waiting." I smirked at his surprised face smugly knowing that I had taken him off guard with my amenable tone.
"You…You knew this whole time about us?" His usually clear voice stuttered only resulting in more raucous laughter.
"Of course I did, I notice everything… You were just about as sneaky as Nagi and his hell beast." Seeing Nagi's red face only sent me into a spasm of further laughter as I clapped my hand against the wooden bar excitedly.
"Don't compare me to them, at least I managed to keep it up for years" Kukai stuck his nose in the air in fake pride as Nagi nearly stumbled from his stool.
"Kukai even you know about myself and Rima?" His usually polite tone had grown more tense in a matter of seconds as we both nodded our heads at our dejected amethyst haired friend.
"Well Ikuto no need to look like you're on high ground, you belong down here with the rest of us! Care to tell Kukai your secret or shall I?" Realistically I should have seen this coming, Kukai may be oblivious but Nagi never had been. An un-usually egotistical smile lit Nagi's face as he looked me over and I knew there was no use in trying.
"I'm in love with Amu." I managed to mumble shamefully.
"Whhaaat."Kukai screeched launching himself off the stool,
"I thought Utau was joking. Jeez how is that I don't know anything about this? You guy's tell me nothing anymore." He sniffed upwardly a clear case of sour grapes and I smiled.
"I had no idea myself; your delightful Utau dragged it out of me the other night. It would seem that a lot of people knew before me." I hoped this would salvage at least some of Kukai's spurned pride and took a long pull on my ice cold pitcher shivering slightly. I couldn't help but realise that I had now confessed my feelings to near enough everyone but her…
How did we end up like this? Here we sat three perfectly capable men sat in a line sipping desperately at our remaining pitchers wondering how the hell love had such a claim on us. One more clink of glass was heard followed by companionable silence, I expected that after the soon to come conversation we would at least hopefully come away from tonight with more than a hangover.
Amu's Point of View.
Half a bottle of rose down and I was fairly assured that Rima was near enough ready to crack, I sank my spoon deep into the frigid tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and smiled gleefully. I hated Ikuto for forcing his money on us but I loved my maple syrup and caramelised pecan treat. I exhaled sharply, just what did that idiot think he was doing anyway and how on earth did money mean so little to him? I mean I know his family is rich but still, suddenly I was alerted to a tapping pressure on my head.
"Hello Amu-Chan anyone home" a cheery Rima called clinging to one of my arms affectionately. I laughed in response and was joined by Utau who loved seeing the softer side of Rima's real personality.
"Hey Utau, do you think she's softened up enough?" I called mischievously to my blonde haired friend and was met with that dam smirk.
"So Rima-Chan you never told us what happened between you and Nagi the night of the party?" Utau's face was seemingly innocent as she coerced Rima into her "honesty trap" as she liked to call it. I couldn't help but wonder how she and her brother managed to seem so innocent… How devious.
"I took him back to my house; I wanted him to see my things. Plus he was starting to believe I was homeless." She smiled sweetly no doubt thinking of Nagi and I felt as though I could burst with pride.
"So are you two a couple now?" I prodded shamelessly desperate for more news.
"Not officially I guess, but it's pretty serious." She blushed pink as her dirty blonde curls fell to hide her embarrassment.
"Do you love him Rima?" an ever abrupt Utau demanded as I nudged her playfully in the side. Rima's blush lit up further as she played with her fingers intently, pushing and pulling them apart.
"Yes…" Her sweet voice echoed, barely a whisper before she was mobbed by myself and Utau.
"Oh we are so happy for you!" I cried wrapping her up in yet another affectionate embrace, usually Rima would not abide by physical affection but luckily in her love struck tipsy state she was more yielding.
"So what about you Amu are you tipsy enough yet to share what happened between you and my brother?" Utau smirked at me evilly as Rima clapped her hands with excitement.
"I told you both, I remember nothing! And besides Ikuto said it himself we are just friends." Inside I felt a strange sadness creep over me at my words but I refused to let it show or I would never hear the end of their accusations.
"What if he's lying, I saw the way he looked at you when you danced…Like you were something to eat, maybe he loves you?" Rima's logical tone sounded and resulted in calculated silence. I looked over to see Utau gazing at the floor, shifting uncomfortably.
"You seem awful quiet Utau? Isn't this the part where you cut in with something absurd?" I watched her lavender eyes intently and she shrunk under my gaze.
"Maybe I just have nothing to say, I don't always have an opinion you know!" Her wavering tone was enough to convince me she was hiding something and I sighed.
"You know something Utau I can tell." I pointed an accusing finger in her direction and she grinned nervously.
"I would never lie to you Amu-Chan you know that." Fake sweetness oozed from her tone and I grit my teeth determined.
"Lying is bad for your health Utau, out with it…" She looked from my face to Rima's forlorn.
"Okay so maybe I'm not telling you something, but I'm not lying not really…it's just something I can't, share." She looked to me pleadingly and I shrugged my shoulders, Rima's eyes darted between us impishly.
"Okay then Utau, in trade for not telling us that tell us one of your biggest secrets… Surely you can manage that no?" The electricity between the two's glares was a force not to be reckoned with, I almost considered relinquishing my spoon in order to break them apart but then thought better of it. If Rima and Utau where ever going to fight, that would be one fight I would want to run from with all of my might.
"I have a secret I can tell you I guess." Utau's un-certain voice met my ears and I watched absorbed as her shyness showed. For the first time since I had met her, I felt as though I was seeing one of the real aspects of her true self. In some ways she was so similar to Ikuto.
"I'm well I have been, for quite some time… In love with Kukai…" I almost choked as the realisation of her confession hit me.
"He is in love with you too! Why the hell aren't you two together and how long exactly is some time?" I couldn't restrain myself as intrigue forced question after question out of my mouth. Rima simply sat in some state of shock no doubt wondering how someone like Utau could be in love with Kukai. Utau smiled sadly as we rushed to her side
"We both know, and have…enjoyed each other's company. But it can be nothing more than that, or at least that's what I thought I'm trying to resolve something so that we can finally be together." She laughed nervously no doubt amused by our perturbed expressions.
"You may as well come clean Utau, maybe we can help eh?" Rima's analytical tone made me understand that she had become more than willing to help our new friend in whatever capacity she could and I smirked.
"A problem shared is a problem halved Utau-Chan." I beamed brightly in an attempt to dispel some of the dark atmosphere that had begun to surround us.
"I wish it was that simple but I suppose telling you isn't exactly going to make things worse." She laughed humorously and I could see the strain in her lavender eyes, I rubbed her arms affectionately in an attempt to comfort her." Allowing herself an exasperated sigh she shrugged her shoulders and began her story.
"A year before I met Kukai-kun I was care free and shallow, I didn't believe in love or marriage. But one day one of our companies Easter ran into trouble with a man named Hoshina; my family had always been there for me and allowed me to experience every selfish whim so if there was anything I could do to make it easier I would. I saw how much Ikuto struggled in my father's absence, he was young then. Far too young to handle something this big on his own. As for Hoshina well he was just another typical man, he wanted power and stake within the company knowing this I went to him and offered myself as a bridge. Through marriage Hoshina would gain some semblance of power and control and our family would get keep Easter." She sighed despairingly and shook her head.
"Utau you can't mean that? Why would you do that?" I could hardly believe what I was hearing, completely overcome with concern I gripped her tightly.
"That company meant the world to my family; I couldn't just sit there and do nothing." Steadytears started to stream down her face as we held her shaking form.
"Surely your parents would have stopped it?" Rima seemed to be just as confused as I was but Utau's response only made it worse.
"I convinced my parents I was in love with him, the only one that knows the truth is Ikuto and Kukai. I was only nineteen years old, that slime bag made me draw up a contract. I'm trapped." She shuddered helplessly in my embrace as I quelled the tears threatening to escape.
"I didn't mind at first, I never believed in love at first sight and I always preferred being on my own. It was only when I met Kukai that everything changed, at first it was just rebellious fun but I knew there was something more. Before I knew it I was head over heels in love with him with no possible way to be together." She smiled wistfully and I found myself crying harder, Rima's sudden movements jerked me from my saddened state and I looked up to see her tiny form shaking with rage.
"Now is not the time for crying or feeling sorry for ourselves, Utau we are going to help you with this. You deserve to be happy and that scum will not get away with this" she marched determinedly back and forth, the living room a blur of blonde waves and fierce eyes. Utau took her petit hand gently and laughed
"I would be more than grateful for your help but tonight should be about happier things, I want to forget thing and have fun so let's move past it?" She smiled hopefully and I couldn't bring myself to say no to her.
"Besides this means we don't have to sneak around anymore so be prepared to gag a lot." She laughed manically wiping the tears from her eyes as we curled into each other on the sofa.
"Hey Amu?" came Rima's voice through the silence.
"Yeah Rima?" I replied hesitantly.
"So you are in love with Ikuto right?" I could feel her devious smile burning into the back of my head as I blushed scarlet.
"For the millionth time, NO!" I screamed at her, only causing Utau to laugh harder.
"He loves you… he told me so." Rima smiled deviously once again.
"What… when…did he?" I asked nervously, my entire body felt as if it were on fire.
"No, but if you didn't love him why would you care?" A growl erupted from deep within my throat as I pounced on Rima. I mean being interested in whether someone told your friend they loved you is just common sense, it's normal. It does not automatically mean that I'm in love with him, sometimes I worried about the way Rima and Utau's logic seemed to work.
Exhausted from the limitless drama of the evening we curled up together and laughed away the awkwardness.
"Hey Amu, I get that you don't love him but you think he's cute right?" Utau's voice seemed calmer now and if it wasn't for what she was asking me I would have been grateful.
"You won't leave me alone until I answer right?" I shook my head exasperated; I didn't need her to answer me. When it came to Utau she was like a dog with a bone, I was no getting out of this unless I was honest.
"Fine he's cute." I shyly mumbled barely audible.
"What was that sorry?" Rima and Utau called in mocking unison, god sometimes I hated the fact that now there were two of them to gang up on me.
"I said I think that Ikuto is cute…" growling at them impatiently, I glowered as they danced around me like school girls singing childish songs.
"You know what they say Amu, attraction is the first step to love." Utau cooed in my ear delightedly as Rima laughed.
Still they had a point, not that I would ever admit it to him but I did think Ikuto was handsome. However did finding someone attractive mean that I wanted to be with them? I felt as though I had been bulldozed, so many confessions and so much drama meant that I barely had the strength to think straight let alone have a serious conversation with myself regarding Ikuto, that man confused me so much at times…However I did know, that the minute he came home we needed to talk about Utau, everything else could wait until later.
Leeloo-Chan: So obviously for the purpose of this story Hoshina is younger and not Utau's step dad, I wanted a twist for Utau and Kukai's relationship but I didn't want to make up a new character because I hate that . It would seem that Amu is becoming a little less dense? And the next chapter will be back to beautiful Amuto Fluff ^^ (tbh I hated this chapter . haha)
Also despite the fact that my documents titles are underlined and the fact that I re-underline them in the edit document segment, for some reason they upload differently... So my apologies for that :)
