One-shot. Amuto Love :D It's pretty late...but it's still new years season!!! Happy Cow Year!!! (ox...maybe?)

I coughed slightly as I cleared my throat. Everyone in the gym waited for me to talk through the mike. I could feel my face getting hotter and hotter through the embarrassment. I cringed.

"Hinamori-san! Give it your best!" Tadase-kun encouraged me.

I smiled sweetly, feeling grateful for the support.

As I opened my mouth, ready to say..."Happy New Year!!!", but then I heard a two voices in the back.

"It's cool and spicy Hinamori Amu!!! I bet she's going to give a cool speech!"

"She probably won't say anything at all! That's how she is! Because..."

"She's cool and spicy!!!"

I could feel the expression on my face change. I was being drained...

"Happy new year... That's all." I said apathetically and walked away from the pedastal.

For some reason, and I don't even have the slightest clue why, the crowd stood up from their seats and started applauding, like they wanted an encore.

"Go Hinamori Amu!!! Cheers for the cool and spicy girl!!! Happy New Year!!!"

Are you serious?!?! Getting all excited for just barely five words... I thought I was going to collapse from exhaustion.

"Amu-chan! Great speech!" Nagihiko cheered.

"Don't even try it. We all know that wasn't what I wanted to say." I sulked.

"Ah~! But look at Amu-chi's fans!!! I'm so jealous!" Yaya bounced.

"Even though you rehearsed so hard...," Rima snickered.

I could feel the shame!!! All day yesterday, I wrote my "girly and happy" new year speech which I practiced over and over again.

Happy New Year guys! I hope we can all stay friends this year, too! Last year, I started out cool and spicy, but that's not who I really am! This year, my resolution is to restart myself! I love you guys!!! I love Tadase-kun!!!

"Where did my confidence go?!?!?!" I whimpered.

"Amu...Don't cry on me. You're soaking my clothes." Rima said coldly.

I clung onto Yaya who giggled as I smothered her in my salty tears of depression.

Then something suddenly came to me...

"Now that I think about it... THAT WOULD BE AN EMBARRASSING SPEECH!!!" I exploded.

I mean, saying that in front of the entire school... I'm glad I didn't say that speech at all!!!

"Now you notice?" Rima said.

"There she goes exploding again!" Yaya laughed.

"Hinamori-san, that really was a great speech." Tadase-kun came out of nowhere.

My hopes sank into his beautiful eyes. Oh, my prince! Thank you for letting me love you! I hope to love you this year, too. I sprinkled myself into dreamland.

"Now that school's over, let's all meet up at the festival." Rima explained.

"What time? We girls need to get dressed, you know!" Yaya smiled.

"How about 5:00? That way we can find each other before it gets crowded." Nagihiko suggested.

"That's great!" I cheered.

From behind me, I could feel Rima giving Nagihiko death glares.

"Uh... Rima, want to go get dressed at my house?" I tried to seperate them.

"Yeah! Then, see you guys later." Rima waved bye, obviously keeping Nagihiko out of the loop. Then she dragged me all the way to my house. I felt so loved...

Yaya went back to her house while Tadase-kun went to Nagihiko's house to get the yukatas. When we got to the entrance, Nagihiko's plan was perfect. Everyong was standing there, including Kukai. Only me and Rima were left.

"Sorry we're late! My dad wanted pictures...," I explained.

They laughed.

My eyes darted over to the prince, my hoping he would compliment my yukata was granted.

I was wearing pink, so I was completely confident in Tadase-kun being happy about it. He said I looked "pretty". I squealed happily.

It suddenly got crowded, and it was hard walking around without bumping into anyone. The food stand guy handed me my six takiyaki sticks. Smiling, I turned around to face my friends.

"I got the taki--" I paused.

They weren't behind me. I looked around and around. Nothing! There was too many people to recognize my friends. I couldn't believe it!

"I'm lost." I panicked, tears just about to swell up.

"What's this?" I suddenly heard a voice purring at me. "You'll get fat eating all that, Amu."

My eyes stared up into...

"Ikuto?!?!"

He only smiled in reply to me screaming his name in shock.

"T-This isn't all for me!" I retaliated.

He smirked. Did he believe me? Why was he smirking? I really wasn't going to eat all the takiyaki be myself, you know!!!

"T-These are for the others!!!" my blood was boiling.

"Others?" Ikuto's curiosity showed.

It couldn't be...he already figured out that I'm lost.

"And where are the others?" Ikuto smirked again, teasing.

"Uh...uhm...," I stuttered.

No way in hell I was going to let Ikuto know I ended up lost! He'll think I'm a kid! I closed my eyes and pointed wherever my finger wanted to point.

"They're right there!" I shouted.

He let out a restrained laughed. This idiot always held in his laughing, didn't he?

"So they're flying?" he said.

"Huh?" I blinked.

I didn't understand what he meant. I didn't understand anything Ikuto ever says.

"Look-ey, right here." Ikuto lifted his finger and touched my pointing finger.

I realized what he meant. I'M SO STUPID!!! What kind of idiot points to the sky?!?! I didn't even realize I was pointing up! Why up?!?!

"N-No...uh...I'm not...I'm not--" my cover was blown!

"Not what?" he laughed, inching closer and closer towards me.

I sniffled, raising the white flag. Ikuto won.

"I'm lost." I admitted defeat.

Ikuto nodded, snickering. I knew he was going to laugh at me without even holding back. He did. I sank deeper and deeper into embarrassment. What a horrible way to spend New Years! I ended up eating all the takiyaki anyway...

Suddenly, I felt a quick movement brushing against my hand. Ikuto suddenly lifted my hand and was now holding my hand.

"I-Ikuto?" I blushed.

He smirked at me again. "Why are you so red, perverted shorty?"

I flamed and started waving my arms up and down, trying to make him let go of my hand. Ikuto tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me closer to him.

"Big brother will help you find your friends." he smirked, enjoying watching me morph into a tomatoe.

"Big brother, my ass." I sulked.

"Disappointed?" he looked at me.

"N-No! It's just, 'big brother' makes me feel like a kid." I avoided eye contact and stared at the food stands.

"Then you want me to hold your hand like a...," he said slowly.

"Like a...?" I turned to stare at him.

What was he going to say? He wouldn't mean holding hands like girlfriend and boyfriend?!?! I can't do that!!! Ikuto's such a pervert!!! No, I'm a pervert for thinking that! Do we look like a couple?! Holding hands like this, does it look like I'm his girlfriend?!

Ikuto snickered again.

"You're messing with me again?!?!" I screamed, realizing he was just kidding.

"It's your fault you fell for it." Ikuto snickered.

I was angry. I stomped off but I still held Ikuto's hand, dragging him with me.

What was I thinking?! Getting distracted by that sneaky alley cat was pointless! I need to go and find Tadase-kun and the others!

"Hey, Amu...," Ikuto called from behind me.

"What?" I replied, but I didn't look back at him.

"Amu...," Ikuto tugged at my arm, and I had no choice but to turn to him.

It better not be another prank. I swear this time I would beat him up real good!

Ikuto eyed the stand that was to the right. I looked over and suddenly bursted out laughing.

It was one of those, Catch It and Keep It stands. This version was catching fish. Ikuto's eyes were gleaming with excitement, even though his facial expression was cool-looking and didn't seem interested.

"You want to try...?" I snickered.

Ikuto turned to me with a smirk, "You'll never win against me."

I reacted with a jerk and dragged him down to the stand.

"Two paper fish nets, please!!!" I roared, scaring the man half to death.

"We'll see who wins!" I handed Ikuto the paper net and we started the contest.

This was the first time I've ever done this, but I knew the rules. Catch a fish with the paper net and crush Ikuto's pride!!! My fury was flaming wildly!!! My eyes directed towards the biggest goldfish in the tank. It was the size of my palm! That would definitely make Ikuto admit his loss!

With a dash, I jammed the paper net into the water and lifted it right under the fish. It came up! I actually caught a fish!

I turned to show Ikuto but suddenly my paper net ripped and the fish went splashing back into the water.

No way! I looked at my net in misery. Then I turned to Ikuto to see if he caught his fish yet. He had a confident smirk on his face, showing off his fish in a bag.

"You caught one?!" I demanded.

Ikuto laughed and asked the man to give him another paper net.

I was sulking, but Ikuto only teased me further, calling me 'Fish Killer'. The man gave Ikuto the net. Was he going to rub it in my face and catch another one? I was flaring.

Ikuto did something surprising though.

Gracefully, Ikuto lifted me to where he was, placing his arms around me and placing the net into my hand.

Of course I blushed. He was right there, next to me and touching me. His face was right next to mine!!! I was panicking.

"Alright, stupid. I'll teach you how to catch fish." Ikuto said brotherly. It pissed me off.

"The net's made out of paper, so it's delicate and even more delicate when it's wet. You don't want to catch a fish that's too heavy, because it'll puncture the paper." Ikuto explained.

"So that's why my fish fell out!" I exclaimed.

Ikuto smirked.

"You want to get a small, light fish. Which one do you like?" Ikuto asked, wrapping his arms around me.

I was turning red and I knew it! I tried to focus on the fish as hard as I could. Then I saw a cute little blue colored fish with a really long flowing tail.

"That one!" I brightened up.

Ikuto held my hand and motioned it gracefully. I realized I had to dip it into the water lightly and just lift the fish out of the water. I waited for a second, seeing if it was going to tear again.

It didn't!

"Here you go, little lady!" the man smiled, handing me the fish in a bag.

"Was that fun?" Ikuto smirked.

I gazed at him. Ikuto was a little set back, but he just asked me what was wrong.

"You're thinking of eating it, aren't you?" I said somlemnly.

He only snickered at my weird reasoning.

"Thanks. That was really fun!" I smiled happily.

It really was fun! I thought I was going to be miserable without the others but I guess I was wrong. The cosplaying perverted weirdo guy wasn't so bad after all.

Suddenly, there was a loud pop in the sky. The fireworks were starting.

I stared at it happily, and when I turned to face Ikuto, he was staring at it, too. The expression on his face was a little distant though.

The Ikuto today was pretty fun. It'd be a lot cuter if he was like this all the time, instead of the grumpy, Easter Ikuto. But the usual Ikuto was a teasing pervert.

Now that I think about it, Ikuto is a weird idiot... I made a sour face.

"Why are you staring at me?"

I was sucked back in to reality.

"I-I w-wasn't really staring!" I crossed my arms and put up a tough front.

"Pervert." Ikuto laughed, stepping closer to me.

The pervert is you, stupid! I thought.

"Hey, Ikuto..."

"Hmm? What is it, perverted Amu?" Ikuto smirked.

"Since it's new years, what's your resolution?" I asked randomly.

"Don't know...," he said bluntly. I felt distant again.

"Amu's resolution is to lose her perverted ways." Ikuto smirked.

"No it's not!!!" I panicked, blushing.

Ikuto laughed, staring at the banging fireworks.

"I think it's about time I start trying to find my true self." I said quietly.

Surprisingly, Ikuto heard me. I guess it was his super cat hearing. He looked at me weird, curious.

Curiosity killed the cat..., I thought to myself.

"I mean, I have four shugo charas, you know. That's too many personalities for one person. I've been thinking, and isn't it time to try and figure out what I want to be, and stuff like that." I laughed at what I was saying.

"Hmm~! That's pretty deep..." I felt a little embarrassed when he said that. "For a perverted shorty, that is."

Scratch that! I was going to kill him!!!

Ikuto didn't say anything but just patted my head. I tried to reason, but he didn't say anything. He only smiled as he kept patting me.

Ikuto's resolution... What is it? I know he desperately wants the embryo... I don't know what Ikuto's wishes for either. I also want to know why Ikuto's nice to me... We're enemies, right?

Suddenly, he twitched and let go of his hand. Staring behind me.

"Hinamori-san!!!" Tadase-kun called out faintly. He was completely out of breath.

"I've been looking for you!" Tadase-kun breathed heavilly.

I felt a little guilty.

"AH! Tsukiyomi Ikuto!!!" Tadase shouted.

"Yo, Tadase." Ikuto smirked, backing away from me.

"Why are you with Hinamori-san?!" Tadase demanded. "Are you using dirty tricks to get the embryo?!"

"N-No, Ikuto's just---" I tried to explain.

Of course Tadase-kun would think that. Ikuto is the enemy, that's why.

"Four points for coming to the rescue. Minus three points for being late." Ikuto smirked.

"This isn't a game, Tsukiyomi Ikuto!" Tadase came close to me to protect me from Ikuto.

"It's New Years, Tadase. Let Oni-tan enjoy his date with Amu." Ikuto smirked.

"D-Date?!?!" both Tadase-kun and I panicked.

"Amu, I had fun." Ikuto whispered into my ear then pulled back and walked away.

"Y-You!!!" I flushed.

"Tsukiyomi Ikuto!!!" Tadase shouted again.

"Amu!!!" I could hear the others catching up with us.

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