Panda: It's been a long time. Like, a year. Over a year. I'm such a horrible person.
Miki: We've missed this place...
Panda: So I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for not updating. I won't start about school-
Ran: Good.
Panda: -but I would also like to mention that since Shugo Chara has pretty much ended (excluding Shugo Chara-chan, which is really cute so you should read it if you don't want the SC magic to end!) it's been getting harder for me to write stuff. And I've started reading Bleach, which I really like even if it's pretty much the polar opposite of Shugo Chara, genre-wise. Anyways, so I've been focusing a lot of my creative energy toward that and other writings, so...
Suu: So she wants to say this. Disclaimer: Manga Obsessed Panda does not own Shugo Chara in any way, shape, or form. She wishes, though. And now she wants to get on with the story.
Panda: Yeah, what she said. So anyways, please read and review!
Recap
"I…I never thought of it like that," Amu faltered. "Well… I hated being the "Cool-and-Spicy kid". That label suffocated me."
"And that," Ikuto said with a bittersweet smile, "is probably how Utau feels right now."
Chapter 14~
Amu was silent, lost in thought. She had never hated Utau. Something about Utau had made Amu's heart soften toward the singer, despite the acts that Utau had committed against her. And now, hearing Ikuto say that, she realized why. "We're the same?"
"To an extent," Ikuto replied. He still watched her with semi-cautious eyes but relaxed slightly when they began to talk about Utau. "She has...issues."
"Doesn't everyone?" Amu giggled.
He smiled. "Yeah. But she has issues with herself-well, anyone with a chara does, but hers go far beyond the normal-which makes her...somewhat difficult to deal with."
"Eh?"
"He means that Utau-chan won't listen to anyone who tries to help her," Eru explained. "She does not believe in herself but she won't rely on anyone else."
"Sounds complicated," Ran murmured.
"And a little contradictory," Suu added.
"That's Utau." Ikuto sighed. "You had to have guessed it, though?"
"Huh?" Amu looked confused. Ikuto glanced at Eru then back up at the pink haired girl. After a couple seconds of tilting her head in bewilderment, Amu's eyes lit up. "Oh, I get it! Because of her guardian characters: an angel and a devil." Although Eru's not really much of an angel, she thought.
"Exactly." He smiled at her and her heart sped up a little. "You too."
"Me?"
"Mm. Think about your characters." He gestured to the pink and green charas. "Not exactly opposites but-"
"Not exactly the same either," she finished his sentence. She sat down on the ground. "I see." She sighed.
"What are you thinking?" Ikuto asked, sitting beside her.
He was so close that she could feel his body heat emanate from him and she almost lost her train of thought. "I...uh..." She closed her eyes then opened them. "Oh yeah!"
"Yes?" Ikuto waited for her to answer.
"Um...I forgot," she said with a sheepish smile. "Oh!" Her eyes lit up. "No wait, I remember!"
"For real, this time?" he smirked.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Yes. I was going to say that I wonder if I would have ended up like Utau."
"Depends. Can you sing?" he asked with a straight face.
"That's not what I mea-" she started to argue, until she saw his face crinkle with laughter. "You meanie!" She pouted.
And you complain when I call you a kid? Ikuto thought with a half smile. "I'm not mean," he defended himself.
She glared at him, then shook her head. "What was I talking about?"
"Singing?" he suggested innocently. He raised his hands in defense as Amu started to rage. "Kidding!"
"Amu-chan!" Eru was clearly not in the mood to watch the Amuto scene. She was anxious to discuss Utau. "You were talking about Utau and being similar to her."
Amu and Ikuto exchanged glances. "Right. Thanks Eru," Amu replied. "Do you think it would have happened?"
Ikuto's violet eyes hardened slightly. "Circumstances change people," he answered simply.
She searched his expression briefly. She decided not to push it. "Okay. But do you know of anything we can," she stifled a yawn, "do?"
He gave her a soft grin. "I know that you should probably be asleep right now, so advise you to go home."
"But-!" she protested.
"But good ideas come from a well-rested mind," he smirked. "If you want to save Utau, you're going to need to be wide awake to do so, Amu."
Her lips twitched upwards when he said her name. "Okay," she acquiesced reluctantly. "I'll try and think of something."
"Me too." He stood up and she missed the warmth immediately. "Come on." He held out his hand and helped her stand up.
"Bye, Ikuto." She lingered by the window as her charas (plus Eru) flew up to her side, Ran preparing to chara change.
"Tell Miki I say hi, nya," Yoru reminded them.
"We will," the two assured him.
"Bye, Amu." He crossed the room and gently touched the side of her face. "Thank you for coming by."
Amu blushed. "Um...it was...no problem," she mumbled.
Ikuto chuckled. "Good night."
"Good night," she echoed. With one last look at his room (and him), Amu hopped out the window and into the night.
She soared through the sky, her heart lighter than it had ever been before. "Ahh I'm so glad I went!" she exulted as she hopped over rooftops.
"We've got to tell Miki this," Ran giggled.
"She'll be so happy, desu!" Suu agreed.
"Not as happy as I am," Amu sighed with contentment.
"The main character is happy," muttered Eru. "All is well."
"Well..." Amu hesitated. "Not all." She could think of a list about a mile long that was still wrong with everything. After all there was Tadase. And Utau. And then not to mention her schoolwork and Guardian duties... "ARGH!"
"Eru!" Suu scolded. "Let Amu-chan be happy!"
"The main character's happiness is short-lived," Eru continued, scribbling the words onto the little notebook she always seemed to have, "when she realizes that only one of many problems have been solved." Just then, the book was jerked from Eru's hands. "Hey!"
"I'll give it back when we get home," Ran told her, holding the notebook hostage.
Amu barely heard her charas arguing. Even though what Eru said was true, she still felt content inside. Ikuto wasn't mad at her anymore. She was almost positive that the only reason she felt happy was because of that resolved issue. I think...I think I just might... She shook her head. The moment I think I might be in love with someone, I end up hurting them, she reminded herself.
"Amu-chan!" "Amu-chan!" "AMU-CHAN, WATCH OUT!"
"What?" She reentered reality just as she skidded into the balcony door. There was a loud "Ow!"
"We warned you," Ran sighed, shaking her head. "It's a miracle it didn't break." She knocked on the glass. A minute later, Miki opened the door carefully. "What took you so long?"
"I fell asleep," she yawned. "But that huge crash woke me up. What was that?"
Amu glared at the three charas who were laughing hysterically. "Shut up!" she said, blushing. "I..uh...wasn't looking where I was going..."
Miki sleepily stared at the group. "So was it a success or a failure?"
"Success," they all chorused, except for Eru who said, "Failure!"
"I see..." Miki rubbed her eyes. "Can you guys wait til morning to tell me about it? I'm really" yawn "tired."
"But but but.." Ran said, pouting. "I want to tell you NOW. Oh, and Yoru says hi."
"Thanks. Hi back to Yoru." Miki's face softened into a smile. "As happy as I am that the majority of you guys had a good trip, I'd like to point out that Amu-chan still has school tomorrow."
"EH?" Amu's mouth dropped. "Oh no! That's right! Okay, I've got to get to bed NOW."
The charas sweat dropped as they watched Amu speed around the room. "She's moving so fast she's a blur, desu," Suu commented.
"The heroine moves inhumanly fast when she is panicking," Eru mumbled as she wrote in the notebook she had stolen back from Ran the minute Amu had crashed into the door.
"Good night!" Amu finished changing and brushing her teeth and she threw herself onto her bed.
"..." The room was almost silent as Amu tried to fall asleep. But her heart was racing too quickly and too much adrenaline pumped through her veins for her mind to rest...and the sound of her charas trying to stifle snickers was just a little distracting.
"I can hear you," she said irritably.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" they all burst out laughing. The dam that had held back the pent up energy and excitement broke. They could not stop giggling.
"Amu-chan, you should've seen your face when you hit the door," Ran gasped.
"Or as you were getting ready for bed," Miki, who appeared to be almost wide awake, added. She imitated the wild, panicked look that Amu had worn.
"The main character has a natural affinity for being strange," the angelic chara pronounced, also barely concealing a smile.
"Just be quiet and go to bed!" Amu snapped, sitting straight up in her bed as red flooding her cheeks.
"Now, now, Amu-chan, don't go to sleep angry, desu," Suu soothed.
Amu pouted as she settled back under her covers. "You guys are so mean," she muttered sulkily, listening to the guardian characters' chuckles continue.
"Ahhh now she's in a bad mood," Ran commented cheerily.
A mischievous smile appeared on Miki's face. "I bet I can make her smile." Ran snorted her disbelief. "Hey, Amu-chan?"
"Yes?" Amu asked warily.
"Good night. Sweet dreams...about Ikuto," Miki said sweetly.
Amu blushed again. "Th-that..." she protested. Then she relented, smiling a little shyly as she pulled her blankets up to her chin. "I will," she murmured as she rested her head on the soft pillow. "Good night everyone."
"Good night!" the characters chirped in unison right before sleep overtook Amu.
Random Add-on which has nothing to do with the story but is funny anyway:
"Okay, hand it over," Miki whispered as Amu's and Eru's light snores filled the room.
"Urgh..." Ran groaned, pushing over a small cluster of rice crackers and cookies. "I can't believe you got that."
"Hey, you're the one that bet on it," Miki smirked triumphantly, grabbing the snacks and sticking them into her eggshell.
Suu shook her head. "You shouldn't have bet her three days' worth of snacks, desu," she reprimanded disapprovingly.
"I didn't think she'd be able to make Amu-chan smile with that cheesy line!" Ran protested.
"Now what am I supposed to eat?" Ran complained.
"It's your fault," Miki pointed out cheerily, climbing back into her egg. "Good night!" The blue egg shut.
"Good night," Suu yawned, shutting her own egg.
Ran stared at the spade and clover eggs. Then, her stomach growled. "My midnight snacks..." she whimpered, as she closed her egg around her.
Panda: YAY FOR FINISHING ANOTHER CHAPTER (ignoring the fact that it's a year after the last chapter was posted). Thank you so much for reading! Please review! Feedback is very much appreciated. (: I love you all!