Blah blah blah!
Amu's POV
"Miss Hart-san, good morning." The driver of the car said as I got in.
"Good morning to you too." I said, checking to make sure I had everything I'd need.
"Where to, Hart-san?"
"Um...just take me to the mall. I need to do some Christmas shopping."
"And Ikuto-san? Will he be staying here?"
"Yes. But, um, after you drop me off, please come back to the house and wait for Ikuto to wake up. When he does, just bring him to the mall."
"Yes Hart-san." My driver said as the car started forward smoothly.
"Amu-chan, are we getting everyone's presents today?" Miki asked and I shook my head.
"No, not everyone's. Just some people, maybe more if I find a good gift for someone."
"What are you going to get for the stray cat?" Akemi asked and I frowned at her. 'Stray cat' was her name for Ikuto. She doesn't always refer to him like that, but sixty times out of a hundred she does.
"I don't know what I'll get him yet." I said, sighing. "What am I supposed to get him anyway? I don't know..."
What would I get Ikuto? I honestly couldn't think of anything to give him...
I'd considered a new violin, but that wouldn't be useful at all. He would always prefer his father's old violin...
Ikuto had joked about us eloping and, if I didn't think of something soon, i might actually do it...if our relationship wasn't technically legal since I'm a minor...Whatever.
"Maybe you could just wear something skimpy and prance around the house on Christmas day." Akemi smirked as my face went red.
"Absolutly not!" I hissed, my face hot. How could she even think I'd do that?
"Amu, maybe your vitamins will calm you down. You haven't taken any." Dia said and I nodded.
Reaching into my bag, I pulled a travel sized bottle of my vitamin pills, popping a couple in my mouth and took a sip from the water bottle I had with me.
The vitamins seemed to calm me down instantly. Well, not instantly, but I calmed down at a rather fast rate.
"I might just have to take him out and let him choose something..." I sighed, frowning. "I'm terrible."
"With Castiel and Derek, you always found nice gifts." Ran pointed out.
"I know but...They were different..." I muttered, turning to look out the window. I refused to admit it. I down right refused to speak what was going through my mind right now. "I'm sure I'll be able to find Ikuto something. I just...need to see it to know it's right."
"And that crosses my parents and sister off the list." I said as I walked out of the store. I'd just bought my mother's gift, so my family here is Japan was all taken care of now. "Next are my grandparents, Ms. Layla, and Marzia."
"We can get Ms. Layla a new suit or shoes." Su suggested and I shrugged.
"Maybe..." I mused, looking around. Usually gifts...jumped out at me.
"Are we getting a present for Castiel?" Su asked and we all looked at her. And then I face palmed.
"Fuck..." I muttered. I had totally forgotten Castiel. I hadn't gotten him a present in a while so...god damn. Do i really need to get him one?
"I'll get him a tie." I muttered, looking around for a store where I might find something for my grandparents.
"But...Castiel hates ties and would never wear them." Miki pointed out.
"Exactly. I might get him a lump of coal as a bonus, too."
"See? Amu's got the right idea." Akemi said, nodding.
I blew a strand of hair from my face and glanced at my watch. I hadn't realized it, but I'd already been here roughly two hours. it was 9:30 A.M. and I'd got here around seven twenty something...
"Maybe we should get something to eat..." I said and my Charas nodded.
So we went to the food court and bought breakfast. After we ate, I decided to buy a hot chocolate before we went on with shopping so I'd have something to drink.
As we were walking, something caught my eye, making me automatically change direction towards a store I'd never been in before.
The item that had caught my eye was a red and black guitar. It's design was enchanting, with a badass aura to it. I could hardly look away.
Until the name of the person it suited crossed my mind.
Castiel.
Immediately, I looked away from the guitar and left the store. Outside of the store, my Charas we looking around.
"Sorry for disappearing." I said and all five turned to me.
"Where were you?" Dia asked and I waved it off.
"No where important. Don't worry." I started to walk away from the store, not paying attention to where I was going.
And smacked strait into something hard.
I stumbled back, trying to catch myself, only to fall on my butt, almost dropping my hot chocolate . God, did I smacked into a wall or something...?
"You should watch where you're going." I groaned and looked up to see Castiel. Before I could blink, Castiel's hand were gripping mine and he pulled me up.
"...Thanks." I muttered, brushing myself off.
"Been shopping?" Castiel asked, pointing at my bags. "Random shopping or something else?"
"Well, last I checked it was December 8th, and Christmas is almost here. So I'm Christmas shopping." I held up the bags in my hands. "These are presents..."
Castiel gave me a look.
"...Okay fine. Presents and one or two things for myself."
"That's more like you." Next thing I know, Castiel took the bags from my hands, holding them in his own.
"Castiel, give me those." I said, trying to grab them.
"No." Castiel said, holding them out to his left. I grabbed for them and he moved them to his right. When I tried to grab them once again, he held his arms up.
Even though I knew it was a hopeless effort, I jumped, trying to grab them, bit my hands only skimmed the bottom of the sides.
"Castiel, I will pull your hair if you don't give me those bags!" I threatened, reaching a hand towards his red hair.
"No thanks, I'm good." Castiel said, ducking away.
"Seriously, Castiel." I hissed, making him chuckle and continue to elude me with my shopping bags his hostage. "Castiel!"
"Just relax Amu, I'm trying to be nice." Castiel said, finally standing still. "Let me carry these for you."
"No, now hand them over."
"Amu, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You either agree, or I'll let you take the bags and more or less stalk you this whole day."
Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose and gave up.
"Fine. Come on, I need to find presents for my grandparents."
My grandma's gift was easy. I found a beautiful tea set that I could give her. She was crazy about tea, by the way. My grandfather's present was a bit harder but, with Castiel's surprising helpfulness, I found a gift for him too.
"Who's next?" Castiel asked.
"Ms. Layla and Marzia." I said, pulling Castiel out of the store by the arm.
We walked, everyone calm...Except Akemi and Blade, since Blade had apparently pissed Akemi off and she was now screaming profanity as she chased Blade, ready to kill him.
"Ms. Layla..." Castiel murmured to himself, regret evident in his voice.
"It hurt her, you know." I said, not looking at him.
"What?"
"When you left. It hurt me and Ms. Layla. Sure, I cried. But she cried ten times harder, like a mother who'd just found out her son was killed."
"Oh."
"Oh? You hurt the woman that took you in and practically raised you when your own mom had a drinking problem, and that's all? Oh?"
"Amu...I never meant to hurt you guys."
I blinked, surprised to find tears in my eyes. I stepped in front of Castiel, finally able to say what I'd wanted to know for so long.
"Then why did you leave us? Why, Castiel? After everything, after so long, you left. Why?" In that instant, we were no longer in the mall, it was only a traitor and me.
"Because they said they'd kill you if I didn't!" Castiel's outburst shocked me so much I had to step back. Had he really just said that?
"They...what?"
"They said that, if I didn't join they'd kill you and Ms. Layla. I...I was scared and I loved you both to much to let anything happen to you. So, I swore alliance...just to keep you safe."
He's lying.
The thought crossed my mind, but was quickly thrown away.
Castiel sounded so honest. He was even trembling as he looked away, seeming to be in shame because of his actions.
"Castiel..." I blinked, letting my tears fall. "You...bastard!" I launched myself at him, half-heartedly punching his chest, crying. "Why didn't you tell us? We could've helped you...You're so stupid...I could've-everyone could've...You stupid idiot..."
"I'm sorry." Castiel murmured and I felt his arms wrap around me. "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't."
"And all the times you tried to kill me?"
"I never wanted to, stupid. I always had a back up plan. Remember that time when I had you pinned down and, the next second, you were able to knock me off you easily?" I nodded, pressing my face to his chest, my hands resting on his chest, on either side of my head. "I knew that no one had me under surveillance, so I let you throw me off. A failed mission I reported. Another one of the stupid punishments I got for failing."
"Castiel...You just should've told us." I whispered.
"Amu...Just forget it, okay?" Castel said, holding me at arms length so he could see my face. "Let's just...pretend it never happened okay? Just don't hold it against me anymore."
"But-"
"Amu, please." Castiel said, his eyes shining with regret for everything. "Just do this, for me." I slowly nodded and Castiel wiped the tears from my face. "You know what'll make me the most happy about this?"
"What?" I asked.
"You won't hate me anymore." For the first time, in so long, Castiel smiled the same caring smile I'd always loved about him before. "And you won't scowl or glare at me. You'll smile, like before."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I won't lie. Ever since that day, your smile was never the same bright thing it once was. But, every now and then, more recently, it's just as bright as I remember."
I couldn't help but smile, and that smile made Castiel grin.
"See? There's that smile." Castiel motioned to our left, where a public bathroom was. "Now why don't you go clean up and then we can go find our presents for Ms. Layla."
"Okay." I said and headed into the bathroom where i carefully erased all signs of my crying, grateful I'd worn light makeup.
But I couldn't help smiling.
Castiel hadn't ever really left me. He'd been forced to leave me.
And now Castiel was back...
My Castiel was back.
Oh dear, what is this? The bond between Amu and Castiel is...growing stronger? I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees the risk this is, right? Oh my my my, what if Castiel still loves Amu? And, what if maybe, just maybe, Amu still has lingering feelings for Castiel?
Well, my dear lovely readers, you will all just have to wait and see. so, until the next update! Please remember to review, and goodbye!