…Long time no see, hm? I am really sorry it took me two months to update this story. I'm sure you all are quite busy with school. I mean, I knew I would take longer to update, but I didn't realize how much busier sophomore year is than freshman. AP World… Speaking of tenth grade, our protagonist happens to be in that grade in this story (albeit, much farther into the grade than I am). Oh, and before I get started on this chapter, you may remember (probably not), but I had a goal to make 80 reviews before this chapter, and I did it! You all rock! Please don't give up on me, even if I don't take a while; I promise, I will update! Anyhow, enough of the rants, and onward to the story you've all been patiently waiting for. Just letting you know, to avoid confusion, this chapter takes place a little over two weeks from the last. I own nothing (it's been so long since I've typed those three words ;_;) and enjoy!
My fingers caressed the firm gate, feeling its rough texture against my soft fingers. It stood tall, serving as a boundary against all mysteries. What was beyond those gates? As my fingers continued to cascade down the gate, they came in contact with a cold substance. I drew my fingers away, noting the sudden metal on the gate. It was quite evident that a key would be used to unlock this gate. However, the question of where this key was the motif of my life since I moved here.
"Don't worry, your time to shine is coming soon." I rapidly turned around, facing the vast nothingness.
"You will reveal your inner power. It has come out in small dosages, but soon, you will reveal yourself entirely."
"Soon."
"Soon."
"Soon."
My eyes shot open, facing the tan wall above me. I was relieved to finally be seeing color. I gulped slowly, hugging my blanket close to my chest. What were up with these incessant dreams? I had grown quite acquainted with these dreams, but still, I could not help to wonder what they meant. Where was this "dream land" I always managed to appear to?
Sighing at the silence of the night, I sat up, and got off of my bed, slipping into the hallway and making my way to the bathroom. I stared into the window, brushing my fingers through my messy pink hair. I blinked a couple of times, watching myself keenly. They say you know yourself better than anyone, but to be honest, I hardly knew anything about myself. I am Amu Hinamori; that much I knew. But who was Amu Hinamori? What did my name actually mean? Why was I suddenly the chosen one of this prophecy?
Without a feeling of enlightenment, I retreated back to my bedroom, and noticed something sitting on my bed. At this point, I did not even need to question who it was. I closed my door and turned on the lights, placing my hands on my hips.
"Why are you in my bedroom this early in the morning?" I wondered, narrowing my eyes. "It's seven-thirty in the morning!" Ikuto glanced up at me, shrugging.
"I couldn't sleep, so I took a walk, and saw that you weren't in your room, so I took it that you were up."
"I could have been sleeping over at a friend's house," I pointed out. I let out a sigh. "Why are you up now?"
"I'm not exceptionally tired at the moment," Ikuto replied. "I'm always a bit restless a few days after my transformation. How about you?" I remembered that he had transformed the same day as Tadase's birthday three days ago, which I found quite ironic.
"I had another dream," I admitted, sighing. "It wasn't anything revealing, but they keep me up at night." The moment of silence was rapidly broken by the sound of Ikuto's cell phone going off. I cocked an eyebrow, as he unlocked his iPhone to read the message. As I watched him read it, I noticed how his eyes dilated.
"Shit," He grumbled.
"What's wrong?" He glanced at me, a worried expression upon his face.
"Amu, watch your back."
"Huh?" Before I could inquire further, he was gone with the speed of a jaguar. I turned around, wondering how literal his statement could be. Not to my surprise, there was nothing there. I closed the window, and laid down on my bed. Maybe I could drift back to sleep. However, even I knew that would be vastly unsuccessful, especially given Ikuto's warning. What did he mean by that warning?
A knock on my door startled me. I sat up again, and beckoned the knocker to come inside. The door swung open, revealing my little sister, who looked absolutely steamed.
"What's wrong with you Ami?" I wondered.
"Amu, why aren't you getting ready?! School starts in an hour! You're so slow!" My eyes widened. Shoot, I had completely forgotten about school.
"I-I haven't showered yet!" I jumped out of bed, and ran past Ami into the bathroom once more, only faintly hearing her cackling. How come my alarm had not gone off at seven? That's when it dawned on me that it was Saturday. I stepped out of the bathroom awkwardly, only to hear Ami remain laughing.
"Sissy, you're so stupid!" Ami could hardly speak between her giggles. I frowned, my arms crossed. "April Fools!" I had completely forgotten about that holiday.
"Ha. Ha." I grumbled, my face bright scarlet. "Well, I need to shower anyway." I closed the door behind me in the bathroom, silently cursing myself for my gullibility.
It's totally going to bite me in the ass one day, I thought, as I undressed myself and turned on the hot water. I stepped into the water, feeling the serene wetness upon my naked body. Showering was one of the most relaxing daily routines out there. Having the water slide down my body gave me a sense of tranquility, almost like when I start floating randomly. Still though, a part of me could not help but to wonder about that warning Ikuto gave me. What was he talking about? It was clear that it had something to do with that text he received, but I could not figure out what.
After applying shampoo and conditioner to my hair and shaved my legs, I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, drying myself. I wrapped a towel around my body, and went back to my room. I picked up my phone, and unlocked it, noting that I had no new messages.I decided to see if any of my friends were available. Perhaps I could see if they knew anything about the warning.
Wait, but how could I say that? I thought, realizing suddenly that they did not know about my contact with Ikuto. However, one of them did; the one I felt the most comfortable around and venting my life to. I searched through my contacts, and found Nadeshiko Fujisaki. I clicked her name, and pressed call.
"Hello?" Nadeshiko greeted politely on the phone.
"Hey Nade, it's Amu. I was wondering if you wanted to do something today. Another mall day maybe?"
"I'm really sorry Amu- I really want to, but I have to practice my dancing. Maybe the others are available?" I frowned and let out a sigh.
"Aw, alright, I'll do that."
"See you on Monday Amu!" Nadeshiko hung up the phone after that. I sighed, staring at my phone screen. I could see if the others were available, but I would not be able to mention to them Ikuto's warning. I decided to text them anyway. I started a group chat with them, asking if I could hang out with them. I brushed my hair thoroughly, and blow-dried it, when I finally got a reply.
Can't, was Kukai's brief reply. I was surprised by the lack of enthusiasm behind it. It was difficult to tell in a text message, but whenever I used to text Kukai daily when we were dating, he always included exclamation points and tons of emoticons. Seconds later, another message popped up in the group text.
Sowwy Amu-Chi, Yaya can't come. See you Monday :/. I giggled slightly, noting how Yaya used first-person even during a text. Though quite a nuisance at times, Yaya was really adorable. Finally, the last reply arrived.
Sounds fun! What time do you want to meet up? Upon seeing Tadase's reply, my heart started beating rapidly. I would be hanging out with Tadase alone?! If it had been any of the others alone, I would have been fine with it. However, Tadase and I only shared a few moments alone, and that was mainly at school. I remember distinctly the time we showed me around the school during gym. I spent that whole time checking him out. I gulped. It wasn't like I could cancel; that would be cowardice. Tadase was my friend just like anyone else; I could handle this. I just wouldn't mention the Ikuto thing.
I opened up a new chat with Tadase, and began typing my response. Maybe noon? We could get lunch or something. Immediately after I pressed enter, I regretted it immensely. If I saw anyone from the school, rumors would spurt and if any of Tadase's fans saw us…well, let's just say it wouldn't end well for me.
Great! I'll meet you at your house at noon exactly then. I think I still have your address from when I drove you home from the dance, but could I have it just in case? I sent Tadase my address, feeling increasingly nervous. After texting me back "see you then," I glanced at the clock, noticing it was already nine. Great, I had three hours. My stomach felt jittery, as I thought about my meeting with Tadase later. Would this be considered a date?! No, I knew he did not see me like that. Still though, I couldn't help but to feel a tinge of excitement.
"Don't be stupid Amu. This isn't a date," I muttered to myself, taking the towel off. I closed my window curtains immediately, realizing I almost forgot to. I looked through my drawer of clothes, contemplating what to wear. I was still meeting Tadase. Maybe it wasn't a date, but I still needed to look decent. I threw many sloppy t-shirts to the side, and looked through some of my nicer clothes. I picked up a skirt, stretching it slightly. Sighing, I tossed it to the side, and dug through my pants. I finally tossed a pair of black pants on my bed, and looked for a nice shirt. Over the shoulder? No, that might come across as trying too hard. I finally decided on a white t-shirt, and decided that wearing a denim jacket over it would look nice. I put on my bra and underwear, before proceeding to put on the outfit I had designed for myself. I glanced at myself in the mirror, admiring my outfit. No, something was missing… I looked through my closet, and pulled out a rainbow-colored scarf. I wrapped it around my neck, forming a circular pattern around me. I decided to wear my hair in a braid over my shoulder.
"Hey, I don't look half-bad!" I exclaimed, gazing at myself in the mirror. I turned around, grinning at my reflection. Maybe Tadase would think I looked good. Did it look like I was trying too hard? No, I don't think so. I decided to give up trying, and ate breakfast.
At noon precisely, the doorbell rang, prompting my heart to accelerate like a racecar driver. I rose to my feet, and forced my feet to take me to the door. I turned the doorknob, totally unprepared to see the person on the other side of the door. Despite knowing full well he would be there, I was still taken aback by his handsome features. His ruby eyes glistened in the shining sun. His blonde hair looked so soft, that I had to resist the overwhelming urge to stroke it. The way his mouth formed a small smile upon seeing me made my heart melt. I was fairly certain my cheeks matched the color of his eyes.
"It is nice to see you, Hinamori-San," Tadase greeted, his voice as sweet as chocolate.
"H-Hey…" I faltered. He wore a nice pair of jeans that were not too skinny but were not sloppy at the same time. He wore a black shirt that matched his body perfectly. Black was not a color I would normally associate with him, but it complemented him well. However, I noticed him holding a bouquet of flowers. My eyes widened at the sight of them; were they for…me?!
"Oh, is this your friend Amu?" I glanced over at my mother, and nodded.
"Yeah, this is my friend, Tadase Hotori." I felt awkward upon saying his name, for some unknown reason. He extended his hand toward my mother's in a polite gesture.
"It is nice to meet you, Mrs. Hinamori," Tadase greeted, as they shook hands. Ami ran beside my mother. I narrowed my eyes. If she interferes with my day with Tadase, I swear…
"OMG, he looks like a prince!" Ami exclaimed, bouncing up and down. I noticed Tadase clench his fists, his eyes darkening.
"'OMG' Ami, really?" I rolled my eyes at my little sister. Tadase regained his nonchalant composure, and chuckled slightly. "Ah well, do you want to go Tadase-Kun?"
"Oh, sure!" I hurried him out of the house as quickly as possible, faintly noticing my mother and Ami exchange grins. Oh geez, they thought this would be a date…
As we started walking, there was an immediate silence between us. Awkward silences were absolutely the worst. I felt as if it was my obligation to break it, but I didn't know what to say. I contemplated asking exactly where we were going, but I felt immediately nervous.
"Um, Hinamori-San?" I nearly sighed a breath of relief, as Tadase broke the silence.
"Hm?" As I glanced at him, his eyes seemed dark and wondering.
"Can I…um, just go somewhere quickly? I just remembered that today is the anniversary of…something. I don't want to get you involved, but I feel like it's sort of my obligation to go, and-"
"Of course!" I accidentally interrupted. "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No, I was done." Tadase smiled at me. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. You don't have to come if you're uncomfortable, but I need to stop there before we get some lunch."
"It's fine!" I wondered if I should ask where we were going. Was it too personal or my business? Sure enough, we arrived outside of a graveyard. Tadase took a deep breath, and reached for the flower bouquet he had been holding. I let out a disappointed sigh. It was for the person he was visiting, not me. I felt extremely selfish for having these thoughts. I followed him into the cemetery, feeling as if I should be there for him if he got emotional. We walked past a myriad of gravestones, before arriving at a gravestone, reading Miyu Hotori. I watched awkwardly, as Tadase placed the bouquet at the bottom of her gravestone.
"Rest in peace Granny…" Tadase whispered solemnly. It seemed strange to me that he referred to his grandmother in such an informal manner. Perhaps even Tadase, despite his formal image, has a side full of informalities. It was adorable. I didn't know what to say, if I was even supposed to say anything.
"Actually, it was a year ago yesterday when she passed away." I looked at Tadase as he spoke. "March 31st. I was going to visit yesterday, but school and the guardian meeting got in the way. She was always the healthiest woman I knew for her age. Doctors always marveled at her extraordinary health, despite being an older woman. She was going to live to be over a hundred. Until one year ago, one day would change that." He seemed to be shaking.
"Tadase-Kun, I'm so-"
"I still don't get why he would do it. I just don't… I don't…" His shoulders were shaking, as tears began sliding down his cheeks. It was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever experienced, like the cries of a puppy. I put a hand on his shoulder, my blush augmenting in the process.
"I'm sure she would want you to move on," I whispered. "Well, not forget her I mean. But to look forward. You have your entire life ahead of you." I wanted to mentally slap myself. That was the worst comforting I had ever heard. "Sorry, that doesn't help…"
"No, it's okay." He wiped his eyes, and turned to face me, my hand falling to my side. "This is awkward for you. I appreciate you being here for me Amu-Chan- ah, err, Hinamori-"
"You can call me Amu," I told him, a warm smile on my face. He looked at me, smiling back. I was certain I was emitting heat from my face at this point.
"Alright… Well, thanks, Amu-Chan. You really a good friend." He reached for my hand for a split second, and squeezed it lightly. I was like a volcano, finally erupting by that simple gesture. I must have looked like a total idiot with my reddened expression. Why did I have to have such a big crush on him? I froze suddenly, hardly even noticing his hand slip away from mine.
"Is something the matter, Amu-Chan?" Tadase asked. I shook my head slowly, and forced a smile.
"No, I'm fine," I reassured him. "We should get some lunch." He nodded, exiting the graveyard with me. However, I felt my insides freezing up, now contradicting the volcano. I had just accidentally admitted to myself that I had a crush on Tadase. Sure, it was probably fairly obvious. However, confirming it in my mind just made it all that real. I, Amu Hinamori, had a gigantic crush on Tadase Hotori. I smiled involuntarily. Was it too soon after breaking up with Kukai? No, that was two weeks ago, and besides, that relationship lasted a week.
"Oh, Amu-Chan, would you like to get pizza? I know a really good pizzeria that Kukai's family happens to own."
"Oh really? Sure, sounds good!" I followed Tadase into a pizzeria that happened to be called Souma's Pizza. As I entered, it dawned on me that I had been here before.
"I've been here before!" I exclaimed, as we sat down in a booth. "The very first day I had moved to Seiyo, I came here with Ami, my sister. That was even before I met Kukai."
"Oh really? That's coincidental." As a man arrived at our table, I realized that he was the same guy that served Ami and me all that time ago.
"Hey Tadase!" He greeted, grinning at Tadase. Tadase waved back at him.
"Hello Unkai, how are you?" Tadase greeted politely.
"I'm good man, just working. Geez, couldn't you have gotten Kukai out today; he's been refusing to leave his room all day, not even accepting Kaidou's offer to play soccer. He never passes on that opportunity!" Tadase let out a sigh.
"That's right… It's been a year today."
"A year? Since what?"
"Since…you know, Utau dumped him." Unkai's face nodded in understanding. Tadase turned back to me. "That's why he couldn't come today." I nodded. They really must have been close…
"Oh, who's this chick? You got yourself a girlfriend Tadase?" I lowered my eyes
"Oh, no, she's my friend. This is Amu Hinamori. She's also a guardian."
"Ohhh. Oh wait, you look awfully familiar."
"Yeah, I ate here on my first day in Seiyo," I reminded him.
"Right! Oh wait, that name sounds familiar. Are you that chick who dated Kukai for a second?" I nodded slowly, raising an eyebrow. Tadase and I ordered our food, which were two plain pizzas, and it was brought to us rapidly. We began eating our pizzas in silence.
"Amu-Chan." I glanced up, noticing Tadase averting eye contact.
"What's up?"
"I…I need to get something off of my chest." He looked at me directly in the eyes. "I really need to tell you something." My cheeks turned bright red. He leaned closer over the table. I held my breath, wondering how to react. I had never actually gotten the chance to kiss Kukai, considering that turned into an utter failure. "It's about my grandmother." I relaxed slowly, mentally slapping myself for thinking he was going to kiss me.
"What is it?" Tadase took a deep breath, and proceeded to continue.
"Well, a year ago, technically a year and a day, she was pronounced dead. It wasn't any of the typical deaths you would expect from an elderly woman, not a heart attack, or a stroke, or anything like that. It was murder." My eyes widened. Tadase opened his mouth to continue, when we suddenly heard a crashing noise outside. A few screams were heard throughout the pizzeria. We looked at each other quickly, and stood up, leaving money on the table to pay for our pizzas.
To our dismay, when we arrived outside, we saw absolutely nothing out of the normal. We exchanged suspicious glances.
"Amu-Chan, behind you!" I heard Tadase yell. Before I could react, the world suddenly began to blacken. I fell to the ground, the last thing I could hear being Tadase shouting my name repeatedly.
Forgive me readers. I update after two months, and I give you a filler chapter with a cliffhanger. However, there are many hints to important events. Amuto fans- sorry. You probably hate me after this chapter. Don't lose hope in this story though for that reason; Amuto will happen later! If any of you remember the thousands of filler episodes in the anime, this was slightly based on that one with Tadase and Amu going to an aquarium or something like that. Anyway, I can definitely promise I will update sooner than two months, considering Winter Break is next month, and I will almost definitely update during that time. However, cross your fingers for a sooner update! Please review/favorite/alert! Answers are coming quite soon, and the major climax is coming up, however, that does not mean this story is ending anytime soon! Big stuff is coming, so stay tuned!
