Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara or the historical events that inspired this story.
I was born in Edo to an upper middle classed family. I was always referred to as beautiful, mainly because of my uncommon features. Not many girls were known to have pink hair and golden eyes. I spent most of my childhood playing with my friends Fujisaki Nadeshiko and Fujisaki Nagihiko. They both had long black hair that had a slight purple tint and hazel eyes.
Nadeshiko was a refined lady. She practiced calligraphy every morning and dance in the afternoons. She was always dressed in the finest kimonos which she lent to me all the time. She always took a liking to dressing me up. We often pretended we were geisha in Gion, charming men with our looks and conversation. She was smart too, well read in both hiragana and kanji – she spent a lot of free time writing poetry and playing the shamisen.
Then there was Nagihiko…my first crush. He was born to be a warrior. From a young age he trained to become a part of the imperial army. He often taught me in the disciplines of martial arts and swordplay, though it was forbidden for a girl to learn how to fight. He was a born strategist and it was his dream to become a general and win countless battles. It was my dream for him not to end up dead.
My life was simple, but happy. I was sure that nothing could happen to me once I remained in my oasis, the little ray of sunshine in the world that would always be safe. The same oasis that was dried up completely when the war started. The two main daimyo's were Hotori and Tsukiyomi. I lived in the heart of the Hotori prefecture.
One day when I was nine years old, the Tsukiyomi army invaded my village. I was terrified, hiding in the basement trying to tune out the sounds of my parents being killed upstairs. My sister, Ami sat crying in my lap. Hours later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I made Ami get behind me, and felt for the dagger Nagihiko gave me in the fold of my kimono. Even if died, I would protect my little sister.
I was more than surprised when I found that it wasn't an armed samurai that came for me, but instead it was a boy who could be no more than three years older than me. "Get away from me!" I shouted.
He shook his head and stepped towards me. "No, I don't think I will. Besides, I won't hurt you".
"Maybe you won't", I spat. "But someone else will". I was sure of it.
"Once you're under my protection no harm will come to you. Your sister too", he said.
"How can you promise that?" I asked. Something told me to trust him though my better judgment wouldn't let me.
"I'm Tsukiyomi Ikuto. When I turn 18, I'll be daimyo and then later, I'll be the next shogun", he boasted. "And by that time, you will be my bride".
Until then, my life had been going down a steady path, sure and unchanging. But at that moment, like a pebble being tossed into a stream, my life frayed out into different directions. This was the first step of many that led me to becoming the one and only Tsukiyomi Amu.
"Amu-chan wake up!" Ran shouted. "You're gonna be late for school!" The pink haired girl groaned and turned over in bed. That dream was just too vivid to recover from quickly.
"If you don't leave now, you'll miss Tadase-kun", Miki said. This made the girl jump out of bed. Amu was dressed and ready for school in record time.
"What are we waiting for?" she asked. "Let's go".
"The things we do for love-desu. How romantic", Suu gushed.
"YAY AMU-CHAN! YAY LOVE!" Ran cheered as the pinkette bolted down the street, her four charas trailing behind her. Amu reached the Royal Garden in record time while the new order of middle school guardians sat waiting for her. Said 'new order' went as following.
King's chair: Hotori Tadase
1st Queen's chair: Fujisaki Nadeshiko (hearts)
2nd Queen's chair: Mashiro Rima (spades)
1st Jack's chair: Souma Kukai (hearts)
2nd Jacks chair: Fujisaki Nagihiko (spades)
3rd Jack's chair: Sanjou Kairi (cloves)
Ace's chair: Yuiki Yaya (cloves)
Joker: Hinamori Amu (hearts, spades, cloves, diamonds)
"You're late", Rima quipped while sipping her hot chocolate.
"S-sorry but you know how it is when s-sensei gives so much homework, nee", she tried, knowing exactly how lame the excuse sounded. She never was a competent liar.
"Amu-chan was off in dreamland again!" Ran, Miki, and Suu shouted. Amu glared at them.
"You three are a bunch of traitors!"
"So that's what happened", Kukai said. "Classic Hinamori", he laughed.
"Amu-chi is so lazy!" Yaya said. "But what was the dream about?" Amu blushed a deep red and started flailing her arms around.
"I-I couldn't tell you that! It's embarrassing", she said.
"I'm curious about it too, Amu-chan", Tadase said, immersing the girl in a full on sparkle attack. Usually, that could get her to do anything Tadase wanted, but under no circumstances was she going to tell him that she dreamed of being married to Ikuto! Amu turned her head fully away from him and his sparkles before she responded.
"If you all care so much about dreams, then go to sleep and have some. No need to bother other people", she said in her cool and spicy voice.
"So we're back to this now?" Nadeshiko chuckled. Her laugh was quiet yet melodic…like bells. Her time abroad had refined her into even more of a lady.
"Cool and spicy has returned!" Yaya said.
"The joker has changed personalities, yet again", Kairi said as he recorded it onto a notepad.
"H-hey, don't write that down!"
The silly arguments continued in the royal garden until a single voice rung out. "Yo", Ikuto said as he entered the room.
"Yo Ikuto", Kukai said. He'd gotten to know Ikuto a little better thanks to the time he spent with Utau.
"Tsukiyomi-san", Kairi said with a polite nod. He too was familiar with the black cat.
"What brings you here…Tsukiyomi Ikuto?" Tadase asked, on the brink of a character change. He was trying to be civil to avoid making an ass of himself in front of the two girls he liked at the same time.
"Amu brings me here, constantly; as does annoying you. Have you ever noticed that your squeaky voice goes to a normal octave when you say Tsukiyomi Ikuto?" he asked, mimicking the voice perfectly to earn laughs from all the guardians. Sure enough, the golden crown appeared on top of Tadase's head as he got a crazed look in his eyes. The king had returned once again.
"You dare mock your king? Come and face me mongrel!" he demanded in full character change.
"A mongrel is a dog, king" Kairi said. Yaya giggled.
"BOW BEFORE YOUR KING PEASANTS MUAHAHAHAHA!"
Rima sighed. "I'll get the bucket". Minutes later, the king's chair was back to normal and sulking in a corner.
Nadeshiko giggled. "I guess some things never change", she said fondly. Tadase sighed, sinking deeper into his emo corner. At this rate she would never take him seriously – especially not when she had Kukai and his athletic achievements to stare at every day.
"How did you guys deal with that before Rima donated her bucket?" Nagihiko questioned.
"It's Mashiro-san to you. If you insist on using my first name at least use an honorific", she said snobbishly.
"Oh Yaya knows Yaya knows!" The auburn haired girl said while waving her hands. "Na-chi used to ki-"
"Yaya-chan!" the older girl reprimanded. She did not need THAT brought up in front of everyone.
"Anyway", Tadase said after finally regaining his composure. "We should continue on with the meeting before classes start". He was hoping Ikuto would take his cue to leave.
"Alright, I get it. I'm kicked out", the black cat said. "Amu…I'll see you after school", he said before kissing her on the cheek and jumping out a nearby window.
"So I presume you'll be missing the afternoon meeting", Rima said, taking another sip of her drink.
"C-can you and Nagihiko cover for me?" she stammered, knowing that once Ikuto has summoned her there was no avoiding it. Besides that, the dreams she'd been having lately have left her with questions only Ikuto can answer.
"Anything for love", the devilish petite blonde teased.
"Oh, um Nii-chan", Nadeshiko said sweetly. Nagihiko twitched. That title only came with a hard to fulfill request.
"What is it Nadeshiko?" he asked strenuously.
"Can you cover for me this afternoon as well? Mom has been on my back about the recital that's coming up", she pleaded.
"Sure why not", he said. "It's not like I have anything to do", he added sarcastically. In actuality he had loads to do! Especially a little something called BASKETBALL PRACTICE! Starting five was no joke, and he was in the running for captain. But of course he couldn't say no to that darling, expectant little sister of his.
Kukai scratched his head. "Well, I wasn't gonna say anything but I was supposed to help Utau move into her new studio today", he said guiltily.
"Yes, nee-san said something about that. I'm going too", Kairi said.
"Aww, but Ichou you said you were taking Yaya for ice cream", the girl said with an adorable pout. Kairi started blushing and pushed his glasses up on his face.
"W-well you can come with me and we can go after that", he offered.
"Hai! Then it's settled Yaya's not going to the afternoon meeting either".
"Yes, and Tsukasa-san did ask me to do some shopping", Tadase said. "So it's agreed. Fujisaki-kun and Mashiro-san will handle the paperwork for today".
"No, nothing's agreed", Rima said. "I don't know about him, but I only agreed to cover for Amu. Don't throw your work on me. I have a life too", she said.
"Watching comedy doesn't qualify as a life nya", Yoru said.
"Why are you still here?" Kiseki roared.
"But she has a point", Rhythm said. "We have basketball today, right Nagi" Rhythm said.
"Be quiet Rhythm", Nagi scolded. "It's no problem. Practice doesn't start until five thirty".
Rima shut her eyes. "I'll do it if he does…I suppose", she said. Today, she would find something out once and for all. Soon after this decision, the school bell rung and the guardians headed to class – some rushing and others going at a slow pace, deciding that class would start when they were good and ready for it. Make these divisions at your own discretion.
While the guardians studied, a meeting of the minds was taking place in Easter headquarters. Those three nameless Easter scientists, who evidently did have names, were making one final attempt to impress Director Hoshina before their paychecks felt the consequences of not doing so.
"Well", Hoshina said, sounding slightly annoyed. "Do you have the embryo?"
"W-well not yet", Tsukumo said, fumbling around with his picture of Sanjou Yukairi for support.
"Then why are you here?" the director spat. He scratched the back of his head.
"Well you see, our department has found not only a way to increase Embryo searching productivity but also we've found methods of distracting the guardians".
"And that would be?" the man asked dryly. His plans had no room for any more empty guardians.
"Pairings!" Chichimura, the only girl explained.
"What".
"Relationships, after going deeper into our research of their social history, we have made predictions in their romantic patterns", the woman set a power point up and pressed play.
"First we have Amuto", said Tsukumo said. A picture of Ikuto carrying the pink haired heroine over rooftops was shown. "The guardian's joker Hinamori Amu is said to be romantically involved with your stepson Tsukiyomi Ikuto, though the age difference is questionable. Anyway, those two are the ones who cause the most damage".
"Next we have what I like to call Tadashiko or maybe Nadase?" Chichimura said. A picture of Tadase and Nadeshiko carrying papers into a break room was shown. They seemed to be deep in conversation. "These two are the brains of the outfit, and generally the guardian's leaders. Without them basically, everything goes to crap. Besides that, they seem to have a 'student council lovers' dynamic", she said while having her familiar mental rant about how some girls have all the luck.
"Anyway", Tsukumo said. "The third largest pain in our side would be Kutau", a photo of the two teenagers having a ramen eating contest came up on the screen. "These two are both formidable fighters, and Utau's charanari with Eru can purify X-eggs". Director Hoshina stared blankly – they were telling him nothing he didn't know already.
"Next there is Rimahiko", Manta said, finally entering the conversation. "They hate each other", he said flatly. "But evidently they still seem to be the other's favorite person…I don't know what that's about, but anyway, they're paired up in these notes so…" he said looking quite confused.
"It's called a love/hate relationship you dolt!" Chichimura snapped. "Any finally we have…"
"Kaiya!" Tsukumo said. "The budding more than friendship between the younger brother of the beautiful Yukairi-senpai and the Ace chair of the guardians. Romance runs in the Sanjou family", he said with hearts in his eyes. No one had the heart to tell him she married Nikaidou about a year ago.
"And how is any of…this going to help capture the embryo?" the director questioned.
"I was getting to that", Tsukumo said. "We plan to have the guardians and their allies distracted by their relationships in an interesting way".
"Its gonna be really fun to watch! Like one of those tragic movies", Manta added.
"But before we proceed, one question: how much do you consider Tsukiyomi Ikuto your son?" Tsukumo asked.
The director smirked darkly. "Not at all".
"Perfect…well in that case, we'll need that tuning fork one more time".
A/N: New story…again. This is gonna be a dream/reality or past/present thing going into all the girl's P.O.V's so basically there are gonna be two stories going on at once. I don't think it'll be too confusing but if it is let me know. Um, I guess that's it for now. Read and Review please!
