Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara, sadly.

Amu danced between all the people trying to spot Nadeshiko. All she had to do was introduce her to 'Tadase-kun' and then she'd be on her merry way. The only problem with this plan was a certain catlike teenager coming towards her with an annoyed expression on his face. Remembering the animosity between the two boys, she grabbed Tadase's hand and dragged him further away. Once they were far enough away she heaved a sigh of relief and smiled triumphantly. "Lost him", she said.

"Amu", a voice called from directly behind her. "You weren't trying to get away from me, were you?" the girl palled several shades as she mentally cursed his elusiveness and flexibility. Before anything else, she pushed Tadase into the sea of people. If he ended up in a fight with Ikuto, he would never get to see Nade. She mouthed good luck before he disappeared completely.

"Who was that boy, Amu", Ikuto asked. Amu blushed a bit and ran her fingers through her hair.

"W-what boy? There wasn't any boy with me", she lied. It didn't make much of a difference whether he believed her or not. She was just trying to buy time.

"He was blonde…and had an irritating aura. Someone I don't like", he said. Amu flinched. Since when was he so perceptive?

"It was probably your imagination. Forget about it".

"I imagine you with no clothes on", he said with a smirk.

"W-w-w-WHAT?" Amu stammered. She acted like a love expert with Tadase, but was so easily flustered by Ikuto's smallest sexual gesture. He smirked knowingly.

"You really are only fifteen", he said. She shrugged.

"Obviously, I'm in tenth grade…but that doesn't seem to matter to you".

"Just what are you implying?" he asked, enjoying the game.

"It doesn't matter if I'm fifteen, twelve, or twenty five. You're still gonna have the same sick fantasies about me…and I might still make them come true", she explained. Ikuto's ears perked up at this.

"Well in that case…you want to get out of here. I already picked Nagihiko's lock", he offered. She shrugged.

"Why not", she had nothing better to do than tease him a bit. In her opinion it was nothing but well deserved payback.

After minutes of searching, Tadase caught sight of the girl he was looking for and was about to go up to her when someone stepped in front of him. He cringed inwardly, Lulu. This was going to be unpleasant.

"Tadase?" she asked. The girl couldn't believe her friend and crush could look so unlike himself. The disguise was nice, but it wasn't him and she didn't like that. Not at all. The boy was about to relinquish all hope when he remembered that he was in a disguise. At the current moment, he wasn't merely Hotori Tadase. He could be whoever he wanted to be, or more importantly the person Nadeshiko wanted.

"You've got the wrong guy", he said in a detached voice an octave lower than his real one. Lulu scrutinized him for a second. The look was different, as was the attitude, but she could spot him from a mile away. It was one of the advantages of a girl in love. She turned up her nose.

"If you say so", she said with an eye roll before walking away. Tadase breathed a sigh of relief. He really dodged the bullet with that one. Now nothing could stand between him and Nadeshiko, except his own fear that is. He shook the notion of fear out of his head as fast as it came. If Amu was competent, and he was hoping she was, Nadeshiko would be his if he just acted confident as if he were in charge. It was now or never. He let all doubt escape his mind as he walked straight up to the girl of his dreams.

(Nadeshiko's P.O.V)

I was chatting idly with a girl from the dance thing…Saaya I think. She's really annoying and she loves to talk about herself. Then all of a sudden she magically stopped talking which was a miracle in itself. I turned around to see what blessed force could have possibly shut her up and then I locked eyes with him. It didn't take me any time to know that was the boy Utau was talking about earlier…and she was not lying. He was cute, with a really innocent face that's a bit nostalgic to me for some reason. But his smirk, cocky demeanor, and laid back stance told me otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I like Souma-kun, but this one seems like something I can work with. Now all I have to do is get him to talk to me.

I smiled at him innocently, batting my eyelashes at him for good measure. That usually did the trick. He caught my glance and smirked before winking at some blonde girl. I rolled my eyes, womanizer I see. But he's interested; I know how people like him operate. I flipped my hair and turned sideways, giving him a full view of my silhouette. I snuck a glance to make sure his eyes were glued to me before I waved him over coyly.

"So the queen has summoned me", he noted. "To what do I owe this pleasure" the boy said seductively. My heart skipped a beat. Queen…I haven't heard that one in a really long time. I giggled.

"I don't know…I think you're interesting", I said softly. "Why did you come?" I questioned in the same vulnerable voice. He slipped his hands around my waist as a slow song came on.

"I think you're beautiful, among many other…virtues", he said in my ear. A slight tingle went down my spine and I nearly sighed in contentment. Whoever this boy is, he's good.

"You talk as if you know me well", I noted. I've met him before, or at least seen him; of this much I'm certain. I looked into his eyes for a while, searching for the answer but it was hopeless. Those gray eyes only mesmerized me as I tried to coherently read what was behind them. I shook my head, trying to get a hold of myself. My mom would be disappointed right now. She always taught me that the girl had to stay in control of the conversation. A boy never has time to hurt you when you're running laps around his mind and he's running laps around your finger.

"You alright, princess?" he asked cynically, though it sounded a bit concerned. I glanced up at him confused. How could he care about me when I've barely known him five minutes? I don't even know his name.

"I'm fine, but you have to tell me. Do you go to Seiyo?"

"Yes", he replied, not caring to elaborate on his response.

"I knew it!" I frowned slightly. "But I still don't know who you are". He sighed and looked at me with sadness.

"You don't know who I am, but you know me", he said. Wait, what? That makes no sense!

"And how can that be so?" I asked. The song switched to a tango. The boy led me backwards with perfect rhythm. I'm a stickler when it comes to dancing and if a boy ever stepped on my feet or dropped me…well I don't think we could really work out. This person in front of me seemed to be all too aware of my fetish. That does it. I am gonna find out where he knows me from…and how I was stupid enough to pass this up.

"Let me tell you a story", he said.

"Um alright", I replied, waiting to see where he'd go with this.

"Once upon a time", he said. "There was there was a princess…no a queen and she ruled over her people. There was a knight who was always protecting her from the shadows but she wouldn't look twice at him unless he was standing next to her". Now that was cryptic…but strangely poetic.

"Now tell me", I said. "Did the queen hurt this knight?" I asked. It was a possibility I met him freshman year. I would have turned anyone down back then because of what happened to me when I was abroad. I made men the enemy and created a castle in my own mind. It was Utau and Souma-kun who brought me back out of my shell.

"Only in being separated from her", he said. I felt myself blush lightly as he caressed my fingers with his thumb.

"Well is there any way she can atone for her sins?" I asked bashfully.

"Maybe…with a kiss", he tried. Of course he wanted a kiss. Any boy would milk this kind of situation. But at least he's decent. You won't believe some of the crazy requests a girl is subjected to hearing these days.

"Anything for forgiveness", I said sultrily before pecking his lips gently. We separated, staring at each other. And there was one of those moments where time seemed to stop all together. I could tell by his expression that he felt it too. There was only one way to test things like this. I leaned towards him once more, but he was way ahead of me. His lips came crashing down upon mine as he explored the depths of my mouth. I kissed back of course, slowly at first, as trying not to bring too much attention to myself. I'm still a Japanese lady you know. But soon passion took over and I felt a heat spread all across my body. I kissed more hungrily. His hands rested on the small of my back while my arms were wrapped around his neck. We were acting as if we've been dating for years!

We finally broke apart and he looked into my eyes some more. A sly smirk was evident on his face.

"What!" I asked, getting a bit flustered under his gaze.

"You taste like cherries", he said.

"Well you taste like vanilla", I retorted. He nodded.

"We make a nice mix then".

"I think so too".

"E-excuse me Nadeshiko-sama", some freshman girl came up to me. I sighed in exasperation. What could anyone possibly want from me right now?

"What is it?" I asked politely, keeping on my outer character.

"Kukai-sama wanted to know if you'd save him a dance". That was when reality hit me. I like Kukai who I've known forever, not some mysterious stranger. He really is an excellent kisser though. I frowned at him.

"Maybe I should-"

"Say no more", he told me. "I know when to leave".

"No!" I said "don't disappear again!" the words were flying from my mouth before I even realized what I was saying. He pecked my lips and smirked a final time.

"I'll see you again before the sunrise", he promised. And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

(End of P.O.V)

"Rima, did you just see that?" Amu asked ecstatic. Almost the entire party had witnessed the exchange between Nadeshiko and the mysterious stranger. The pinkette was extremely pleased with herself. She never thought the plan would have worked out that well. Rima scoffed.

"So Tadase can kiss, great...and where have you been with Ikuto for the past hour?" she asked as if in a daze.

"I-I-I-I-In Nagi's room" she admitted while blushing profusely. Rima's ears perked up at the mention of his name. She started twiddling her thumbs.

"But what's gonna happen when she finds out she was kissing a band geek and not some skater boy? He's gonna be heartbroken and it's going to be your fault", Lulu snapped. At this Yaya rolled her eyes.

"Yaya thinks the only heartbroken one is you, Lulu-chi". The small girl adjusted her powder pink dress and flipped her hair that was actually out for once.

"Just where are you going?" Rima asked.

"Yaya is going to socialize. If Tadase can do it, why not Yaya?" she asked with a wink before sauntering away.

A pair of eyes watched her every step as she vanished into the crowd. "She's beautiful", Kairi said. The bitterness of not having her continued to nip at his mental sanctum.

"Hi Kukai!" she said in her high pitched cheery voice.

"Hey!" he said enthusiastically. He wasn't sure who exactly he was talking to, but he liked her attitude. The girl was small, he guessed she was probably just a freshman fan girl but her face was too familiar. "What's your name?" he asked.

She pouted. He smiled, it was a little cute. "Kukai doesn't remember me…how mean. Yaya is Yaya! Yuiki Yaya from the guardians!" she informed. Contrary to ALL her friends, she actually believed that honesty is the best policy. She wouldn't be hiding herself from anyone.

"Oh yea, I remember. How have you been…you changed", he noted. She was most definitely not the small girl he used to spoil. Now she had a striking figure and was not afraid to show some skin.

"Kukai changed more than Yaya did. You don't even talk to Yaya anymore", she said sadly. "You made me lonely", she admitted, dropping the third person. He smiled at her and scratched the back of his head.

"Sorry Yaya…how can I make it up to you?" he asked. He never liked making girls upset.

"Well for starters you can stop ignoring me…and on Monday you can buy me ice cream", she tried.

"So you still love sweets, rite. How did you get so…" he searched desperately for an adjective.

"Sexy" she finished. "Yaya has her secrets".

"You want to let me in on them?" he asked.

"Maybe", she said "but…maybe not".

(Nagihiko's P.O.V)

I am going to find that girl with the blonde hair. I don't know why exactly I would want to find someone like her again, but I do. She's so cynical and smart and…irritating, but that's what makes her so interesting. All everyone ever does is pretend, but this girl is actually a real person. She says what she feels and can state her opinion intelligently and offensively. I've got a plan to track her down. First off, her favorite color is orange. That means her jewelry, book bag, and car if she has one are going to be that color.

Secondly…her symbol was a pen. That means she has to be a writer of some sort. I doubt someone as jaded as her could write anything but the hard truth so I can rule fan-fiction out. And she doesn't strike me as the poetic type, so I've narrowed it down to journalism. What I'm gonna do is skim through the school newspaper and look for the person responsible for the most pessimistic sounding article.

And finally, she's friends with Amu. As of late, a whole bunch of people associated with the pink haired girl have been appearing around my friends and I. Among them is the boy who just tongued down my little sister. I'm gonna have to deal with that later. I can't believe someone actually broke her that quick. The idea of what he could make her do is a bit disconcerting. Let's just hope this one isn't that much of an asshole. I really don't feel like beating the shit out of anyone. Anyway, if I can pinpoint their little group it would be easy to single that girl out. I mean how many girls are there with wavy blonde hair down to their thighs that are less than five feet tall? Hopefully not too many.

(End of P.O.V)

After the party ended Nadeshiko stripped her elaborate costume and crawled into bed with nothing but a silk mini robe on. She was tired, but she couldn't sleep. She still remembered the boy's promise that he's see her again before the sunrise. It hardly seemed feasible, but somehow she believed him. And to no one's surprise as the clock struck three she heard a tap on her window.

A/N: Yes, more suspense! Unfortunately, regents week is officially over as of tomorrow and I probably won't be able to update as frequently. I hate school -_- anyway Review please! I'll try to neglect some homework to update this week.