Don't Bother Me
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, Jae, and rin03. rin03, thanks for the question regarding if there are more Guardian Characters for Sayaka in the future. I'll be honest and say that multiple Guardian Characters are usually a source of automatic Mary Sueness, which is what I want to shy away from. I don't plan on any more except for maybe one that would be part of the Utau stealing Dia arc, though this Guardian Character would be born of a different wish other than Amu wishing to be an idol. Yes, I already have an idea, but I still haven't decided if it'll be used yet since, trust me, this Guardian Character would result from a sort of tragic flaw in Sayaka's heart and provide awesome character development. Thanks for hearing out my initial ideas, Jae. rin03, at any rate, I hope this response answered your question adequately. I really tried to design Fumiko with enough flexibility to be a great Guardian Character on her own. After all, Ikuto has only Yoru, and we all know Yoru is amazing.
I had fun writing this chapter, even if it was hard in some places. Obviously, Ikuto's a mysterious character to write. In real life, I'm the oldest in my family, so I can relate to protective Ikuto on that level. On the other hand, Sayaka is the youngest, and portraying someone like Ikuto to Sayaka is a little difficult, even though I'm a little bit of a pervert like him. However, did I mention that Ikuto just simply winking in the opening anime series is about the best summary than can be given about him? No? Well, watch the earliest opening for the anime series and you'll see what I mean. He's totally at his best there, compared with subsequent opening series openings.
I'm not sure if I'll be doing another Ikuto POV for the next couple of chapters just because I want to delve more into Hansuke's role within Easter and thus advance this story. Things should move a little quicker now...
Chapter Seven
Smirking, I thoroughly enjoyed everyone's shocked reaction to my dropping in unexpectedly. Teasing and unpredictability were my forte since, in a way, it was my coping mechanism for dealing with the gravity of my world. A bunch of gullible grade schoolers were the perfect targets, especially Tadase, as he and I had a great deal of history together earlier in our lives. I hadn't directly confronted Tadase in a while, preferring to watch him quietly from afar and take careful note of the people in his life, all the more so since he'd became a Guardian and thus my official enemy. Fortunately, he seemed to be faring well. In fact, I felt quite reassured at witnessing Tadase's hostile reaction toward me. Yes, he still wanted to stay away from me...the "Black Cat of Misfortune."
For the past ten minutes, Yoru and I had managed to remain hidden aloft in the trees near the Royal Garden while simultaneously moving closer and closer to obtain a good view of the action inside. Finally, I landed nimbly on the roof of the greenhouse and listened to the Royal Guardians' chatter for an appropriate opportunity to make an entrance. Sayaka's being accused of acting shy was just right...so easy...to drop down to the floor through an already open glass panel in the side of the greenhouse and simply declare, "Yes, Sayaka is very shy, and I would know."
"What are you doing here, Tsukiyomi Ikuto?" Tadase snapped at me after jumping up and yelling my name once already, he and Kiseki practically bristling like, well, cats do when threatened. If only Tadase could realize the subtle irony of my silent observation...
"To have some fun, of course, nya!" Yoru announced gleefully, eyeing the other peeved Guardian Characters with a mischievous smile. Count on my loud Guardian Character to speak the obvious for me. Sometimes, he got me into trouble a little too much for my liking, at least even without the contributions I already made.
Nadeshiko's eyes narrowed at me in a dangerous way. "Why would you know if Takeda-san is shy or not?"
Damn, I'd better watch myself when that girl character changes, I noted to myself with a little uncharacteristic cringe welling up inside me, but the attention in the room swiftly centered on a frowning Kukai and an outright scowling Sayaka staring right at me. Daichi and Fumiko appeared to be just as troubled by Nadeshiko's question. In the growing tense stillness, everyone else in the room began to slowly yet surely suspect the same answer as those four did.
Not surprisingly, the babyishly crestfallen Yaya vocalized the rather obvious conclusion while her Guardian Character shook her head disapprovingly. "Ikuto tried to steal Fumiko before she hatched? How mean!"
"Souma-kun, why didn't you tell us this before?" Tadase demanded forcefully. All the while, he and Nadeshiko along with their Guardian Characters wore twin expressions of desperation to character change and whip my ass.
As Kukai briefly protested that he'd planned on bringing up the subject today, I couldn't help noticing Sayaka's furtive glance at Kukai's guilty expression and the subsequent hint of an equally guilty blush spreading over the cheeks of her face. So Sayaka hasn't told anyone about her meeting with me in the park, not even Kukai, I realized, considering the enormous potential of revealing this fact to the group, and quickly shed that idea. If anyone knew anything about keeping one's council for one's own reasons, that person was obviously me.
Meanwhile, Kiseki bellowed at Yoru: "You thieving cat, targeting a newborn servant is against the rules!"
"Always with the rules, Kiseki. You're boring me, nya." Yoru glanced smugly at each of the other angry Guardian Characters, his paws casually draped behind his back, finally resting his eyes on Fumiko. "Wanna play, Fumiko? We got along together so well the last time we met, nya."
Fumiko's brows drew together in suspicion before a wide smile broke out on her lips. "Why, sure, Yoru," she agreed with a geniality that aroused my own naturally wary nature.
Startled, Sayaka swiftly scanned Fumiko's face for any meaning behind her Guardian Character's unexpected reaction. Just because Fumiko's character was that of a spirited, honest would be self didn't mean that she couldn't be as underhandedly devious as Nadeshiko's creepy Temari. I think I've worn out my welcome, I thought sarcastically.
Within seconds, all hell broke loose. A black fountain pen appeared above Sayaka's left ear, and she whipped it out, yelling, "Ink shot!"
A stream of blank ink flew at me from the pen, landing harmlessly in the bushes behind me as I narrowly dodged the projectile. Simultaneously, two sakura pins materialized on Nadeshiko's ponytail, her character having turned into a combative one with a naginata to brandish and a harsh voice to command, while Tadase's specter and crown emerged. As for Kukai, Daichi, Yaya, and Pepe, those four couldn't seem to decide if they wanted to join in on the character change parade.
"I'll kick your ass, Ikuto!" Sayaka challenged me, and Kukai grinned in response, apparently enjoying the tough girl routine. Yaya gasped at the use of "ass," and that sharp intake of air gave me an idea for a good comeback.
"I never commented on this matter before, but you have a foul mouth for a girl your age, Sayaka."
"Leave, Tsukiyomi Ikuto!" Tadase growled, effectively swallowing back the retort hanging off of Sayaka's lips. You know, using my whole name all the time was starting to become a little annoying...
Nadeshiko aimed her spear at me menacingly as she cautioned, "Get out of here, cat! I don't want to ruin my scones if I have to fight you!"
"No! I don't want Nadeshiko's scones destroyed!" Yaya gasped as if the butchering of scones were the worst thing that could happen in the world.
"Is this clashing really necessary? Can't we talk like civilized, grown up people?" I lightly protested, smirking directly at Tadase. "After all, you keeping getting taller and more like an adult every time I see you, Tadase. Shouldn't you act more grown up so you deserve to be treated with maturity instead of the Kiddy King you are?"
"Shut up, cat!"
An amused voice interrupted from the doorway: "Long time no see, Ikuto-kun." Jeez, how many more people were slated to make an appearance here? I didn't need the attentive stares from the grade schoolers upon their discovery that Tsukasa and I knew each other – well, except for Tadase, of course, and possibly his little servant Jack Kukai. "I'm pleased you came here this time."
I didn't have to turn around to know the voice belonged to one Amakawa Tsukasa. Even for being relatives, he and Tadase were extraordinarily alike - maybe it was in Tsukasa's subtle, seemingly unassuming demeanor, or maybe it had to do with his looks – Tsukasa even wore his sandy blond hair in a fashion similar to Tadase's. Seiyo Academy's principal sported light violet eyes always flashing with good-natured delight. I knew the act was a cover for hiding his inner mysterious and contemplative nature even better than I could conceal my true intentions with my stoic identity, and that was saying a lot. Finally, a simple outer look completed this illusion: a white, tucked in nehru jacket and white, belted slacks.
"Don't look too much into my visit here," I refuted cooly, whirling and nodding toward the group standoff across from me. "Tadase is merely leading another one of his parades with his loyal followers. I'll leave him to it."
Oh, shit, I inwardly cursed the moment I saw what Tsukasa's hand: catnip. The man had a weird love of cats and liked to carry around cat toys and food whenever he knew when I was hanging around the school and watching Tadase. Considering how...enigmatic Tsukasa was, I knew he had some method of tracking everyone's movements through his very accurate fortune telling. It had ultimately been Tsukasa who ended up being the main authority as to how I came into knowledge of the Humpty Lock and Dumpty Key...
"Hey, I wanna play, nya!" Yoru cried with abandonment as he floated up to Tsukasa, his eyes glued to the catnip as he patted at it a little. "Don't you wanna play, too, Ikuto, nya?"
Yaya giggled behind her hands, while the rest of the slightly taken aback assemblage tried not react as strongly as the young girl did. Abruptly, though, Sayaka's strained face cracked into a disbelieving look.
"I knew you could be provoked with cat stuff, Ikuto!" Sayaka accused me, but I didn't bother to affirm or deny it aloud. Why take the time to point out the obvious, especially when the obvious was embarrassing?
"Ikuto-kun, as entertaining as this scene could be, I believe it's best we say good-bye for now. The gates to the school close as soon as the Guardians' special meeting is over. If you don't want to spend the weekend here, I'd suggest you get going."
Like a gate has kept me out of the school so far, I silently replied as I brandished a devilish smile before letting my gaze wander to the open window pane in the approaching twilight.
"Later, Tadase," I called from my escape route after I'd character changed and jumped neatly to the window pane. He simply glared at me with intense dislike, along with everyone else, except for Tsukasa. Much as Yoru wanted to instinctually remain with the enticing catnip, he reluctantly followed me when he realized nothing else fun could be gleaned from this joint.
For some reason, I felt compelled to add, if nothing else, for the sake of her brave show of spirit, given how shy she was earlier: "You, too, Sayaka. Later."
"Isn't he the worst?" Sayaka complained loudly as I leapt safely away. "I need to join your little student council just to learn how to kick that cat boy's ass!"
"Sayaka!" Yaya gasped as I heard Kukai's thundering laugh of enjoyment, Tsuaksa-kun also laughing even as I knew the man had been frowning thoughtfully as if trying to figure out something. What was he planning? It would be just like him to give someone in that group the currently unused Humpty Lock in an effort to be contrary.
Author's Note: You know, I rewatched episodes 1-25 of the first season, and I just realized that Nagi is a very underrated match for Amu. I think they'd be great together just because they seem to get along with each other so naturally as good friends. The only reason why I have to question the validity of the the match, though, is the fact that he can't bring himself to tell his ultimate secret to her. I guess that's why I'm more of a Rima/Nagi person, because Rima already knows and accepts the duality of his nature.