Me: Come on everyone, let's move on and go on with the story.
Amu: *crosses her arms, looking angry*
Tadase: *is still whimpering*
Ikuto: *has back to everyone*
Me: Come on! I know killing Amu was very sad, but the story must go on! If Amu didn't die, there would be no story! What's a detective to do?
Tadase: …
Ikuto: ...
Amu: Hmmph! …
Me: Hey, Amu, you'll still kinda be in the story…
Tadase: ?
Ikuto: …
Amu: Really?
Me: Yes, now do the disclaimer and you'll be in some of the chapters; I don't know about this one.
Amu: Tadase4eva does not own Shugo Chara.
Chapter 2~ Painful Love Hurts
Tadase couldn't stop wailing in agony. He felt like he had gone through far more pain than Amu had. His tears made his face soggy and Amu's sleeve as well. He wished that fate had taken his life rather than Amu's. Tadase felt so… alone. He was a nobody now; he carried nothing- only shame and a burning pit of disappointment. There was nothing for him to be happy about anymore, his one and only treasure was gone for good. Tadase felt like he had no life. No spirit. It hurt his heart, there was nothing out there for him anymore…
His face darkened. The color drained from his scarlet eyes. They emitted almost no light. Now, Tadase's wasn't empty, and an evil force hadn't taken over him, but Amu's death had taken a strong blow to his life. The tears he had managed to cry out had rusted his shining, silver heart. Tadase's eyes dried out, and a lump came into his throat. He slowly attempted to sit up, shaking from his weakness. He took a deep breath, and tightened his fists. They soon collapsed, because Tadase found himself crying softly again, his attempts to stop were useless. He had a look of trying to restrain on his face.
"Tadase!" Kiseki screamed. The two halves of his powder- blue eggshell were closing in on him. Tadase didn't try to stop his emotions, even as he watched his chara squirm and struggle to force the shells apart. "Tadase! Help!" Kiseki pleaded, but it seemed to make no effect on Tadase. He just blankly stared at the outrageous king-like chara with empty crimson eyes. Finally, the force from the shells took Kiseki over. He collapsed, not being able to hold up the halves anymore, and fell into the egg. After that, the egg soon closed, and Tadase could not hear anything except muffled yells coming from inside that he couldn't make out. Kiseki's egg was tainted with a black "?" sign, and his egg turned grey. However, the blue color underneath it was still visible.
Tadase wasn't tricked by Lulu's "Lucky Jewelry", the question mark was black. All of his unsecure feelings had caused Kiseki to turn into a "Perished Egg". (AN: I'll tell you what it is at the end of the chapter in my ANs.) The grey-blue egg drifted over to Tadase and landed in his hands. Tadase stuffed it in his pocket. It would take some time before Kiseki would hatch again. The egg felt dead cold in Tadase's leather coat pocket.
Meanwhile…
Rima stood under the full moon, picking wilted leaves from her long wavy hair and thorns out of her long brown jacket. The moon looked pretty today, but it was a light baby blue, looking almost sad. The indents and darker spots seemed to arrange themselves as a sad face. The stars lacked their usual, natural, glorious shine. They seemed to be faded out a little, as if they were mourning for someone. The cries of the animals seemed sad as well. Ah, it was a sad night for everyone.
She turned her wrist on the doorknob of Amu's house. Rima had heard sobbing and wailing from her house and was very curious as to what had happened in there. The door opened with an ear-splitting 'creak'! Rima shuddered, but went on to the stairs. Amu's house was usually a warm, friendly place, but now, it seemed so… empty, and eerie. Rima thought she would never say these words, but, this was scary.
Even with her uncertainty, for some reason she kept going, all the way to Amu's room. Her legs wouldn't stop, even if she wanted them to. It seemed like they had a mind of their own. Her own worry for her best friend kept her going, and soon, Rima noticed it. She stopped at the door. This was the moment of truth. Her eyes widened at the sight she saw at the door.
Amu was lying there, limp and still. Rima's eyes narrowed. Tadase looked at her blankly with teary eyes. A cup laid on the floor, as well a shiny silver dagger. Not understanding what had happened, Rima rushed towards Tadase, looking angry. How could he possibly do this to HER best friend, and his first real crush? She glared at Tadase with enraged golden eyes. He ignored her and started crying again.
"You insolent fool! You mad man! Y-Y-You- You-" Rima spit all her anger out at her boss, trying to find the correct words for her insults. But nothing came out, Rima couldn't say anything, except break up and let tears run her face. Strangely enough, no tears fell to the floor. Her eyes were dead dry. She couldn't even do fake tears. Rima couldn't cry. Instead she could only sit next to the weeping blonde and pat his back gently. From the way he was now, Rima could tell that he wouldn't do this.
"Come on, Detective Tadase," Rima urged in a calm voice. "You have to report a murder to Officer Souma. Then, we can show all the evidence to Judge Sanjo. And you'll get a new rank and a new badge." She offered. But Rima knew right, then and there that nothing could take the place of her fallen friend that had meant so much to him.
Rima tried to give him a hug, which she had never done to anyone but Amu, but Tadase had grown and she was too small. She put on a glove and picked up the cup with one hand. In the other, she wiped the tears that were staining Tadase's face wet. As soon as she'd done that, it seemed like magic. Tadase opened his scarlet eyes and managed to ask in a weary voice, "Do you think solving this case is worth it? I don't really care about my rank… Just Amu…"
"Do it for you, Tadase. Do it for me. Do it to bring justice to criminals everywhere. Do it for… Amu." Rima was surprised at her own words. She had never comforted anyone before, and preferred people comforting her. However, making Tadase feel better had lightened up her mood, too. Maybe this was a start to having a new, selfless character. In her other hand, Rima picked up the dagger and stared at the blade. She widened her eyes, and in small print, initials were on the rough, steel handle. Had Tadase seen this? She pondered. Glancing back at Tadase, who was staring at the stars out the window, she thought, probably not.
This… this dagger… Rima's mind wondered. Her hand moved out of the way so she could see the initials. Rima failed to read the initials on the hilt. It was too faded and worn out to see what letters were carved out of the steel. All of a sudden, the door busted open, and Kairi came in, panting heavily. He was followed by a police force.
"M-Mashiro-san! Hotori-kun!" He stammered, trying to catch his breath.
"W-w-what happened?" Tadase's voice shook. Kairi paused a moment, and replied, "Fujisaki-kun found a trail of blood leading here. What we want to know is what happened here." Then his gaze wandered to Rima, to Tadase, then to the dead body of Amu. He rushed over, knees quivering.
Rima stared hard at the judge. "I was just going over to the police station," she started. "To report a murder. Tadase found her here, and with this cup and dagger lying on the floor." She held up the two items.
"So, Tadase, what happened when you found her here? Perhaps it was Amu's blood that was on the streets." Kairi asked, clearly showing weakness in his voice.
"N-no. It couldn't be. I was here, downstairs before she died, getting her some water. I-I would have seen her if she left the house. When I came up, she was still here with us, then, she withered away right before my eyes." Tadase tried to keep the tears from coming.
"How do even know it was a murder? This dagger doesn't have any signs of blood on it." Kairi asked. But the blonde was nowhere to be seen. However, Rima knew where he had gone.
"There he goes, again." Rima sighed, glancing at the starry night looking completely exhausted. Kairi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Love hurts." He replied. Kairi knew, he had liked the lovely joker as well. "Give him some time to calm down and rebuild his strength."
Rima's only reply was a sigh.
Me: All done! This chapter is especially long!
Ikuto: I still think you're making me the murderer.
Me: Come on! The murderer was a GIRL, and you're a BOY. Unless, you're girl in disguise… *glares at Ikuto and the girls*
All Girls & Ikuto: We didn't do it!
Me: Sure you didn't… Please R &R.