Taste of Summer

A cute little short story for readers of the Awakening… Even though school has broken up for the holidays, it seems trouble is still stalking her. Can she escape it, and, more importantly, does she want to? Amuto..x

Lorelei:Ugh. =_= I need some happy pills.

Ikuto: You look like a zombie that's been puked on by a dog.

Lorelei: T-T

Amu: ¬¬ Ikuto, now she's gonna cry. Sorry, she is already crying.

Ikuto: -_-'

Amu: Well?

Ikuto: Sorry.

Lorelei: o.o *Suddenly perks up.* IKUTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ikuto: Oh crud! START! START!

Amu: No one's said the disclaimer so we can't. Idiot.

Ikuto: *Glances at Lorelei running towards him* OKAY, OKAY! Lorelei doesn't own SHUGO CHARA! NOW GO!

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Chapter 4: Heating Things Up

After Amu explained the situation involving her and Ikuto in the middle of the night in a romantic fairground all alone together and goodness knows what else, everyone calmed down. In fact, everyone was so satisfied that they all settled down and had a tea party, Tadase dressed as a maid, pouring the tea.

You didn't believe that did you? In fact, chaos ensued, as one would expect. Amu, apparently not on Lady Luck's good side, didn't even get a chance to explain. Her friends all lost it before any words could escape her lips.

"You went on a date with him?!" demanded Rima, her caramel eyes growing a shade darker with each word, her breath heavy.

Amu swallowed, peering over her shoulder and opened her mouth when-

"Hi-Hinamori-san! Tha-that's Tsukiyomi Ikuto!" (A/N:Way to point out the obvious Tadase.) The heat flooded through his cheeks, dying his face a crimson deeper than his ruby eyes.

"N-" The word had barely formed on her lips, her eyes darting to Tadase.

"AMU?! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?!" exclaimed Nagihiko looking evidently disturbed at the thought of Ikuto and Amu on a date, alone. "HE'S A FREAKING PEDOPHILE!"

Ikuto looked at little exasperated at this description of him, but even he had to admit that it was slightly odd for a boy of seventeen to follow a girl of twelve to the beach and hit on her. Not just slightly, very. But he still didn't appreciate it.

Amu seemed to cringe when she thought of him this way. Rigidly, like a robot, she turned her head to glance at him and shuddered. Swallowing, she realized how the awkwardness of the situation was only escalating.

Kukai simply smiled sympathetically at her shrugging. He had to admit, he felt a little guilty for making this worse for her, but he was a little curious about what was going on between Ikuto and her, and this seemed a suitable way to find out. If only he had some popcorn…

"Amu? The date in the night?"

"It wasn't-"

"B-but he's Tsukiyomi Ikuto!"

"I know, I didn't-"

"You're dating a pedo…"

"N-"

"AMU! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Tsukiyomi Ikuto…"

"Why a pedo?"

Kukai was still silent, listening to everyone else talking over each other, munching quietly on a burger. He hadn't found any popcorn in anyone's bags so he'd just taken a burger… Hopefully whoever's bag that was wouldn't be mad.

"I'm going to put this on the school website if you don't tell me."

"Tsukiyomi… Ikuto…"

"How creepy…"

"We're getting married."

"Bestfriends-"

"Tsuki-"

"Pe-"

All three broke off mid-sentence, their blood turning cold as their eyes drifted from Amu to the strangely calm looking Ikuto, who was still, as expected, smirking. Not one of them said a word for a few seconds, their jaws hanging open. "WHAT?" they bellowed simultaneously when they found their voices.

"We're getting married." repeated Ikuto as he leaned into Amu's delicate neck. He raised an eyebrow at the Guardians before planting a kiss on her tender skin. His breath tickled her neck.

She went rigid. Her eyes wide, her mouth open slightly. She stared blindly ahead, raising her free hand to her neck. Stage one: shock. She blinked a couple of times, before the heat rushed through her cheeks. Taking in a deep breath, she let out a yell. Stage two: anger. "OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she shrieked, her hand curling into a fist. Her teeth clenched, she started hammering against his chest. Stage three: mind set of a psychopath.

"Ah, you always do like to play rough." he breathed, catching her fist as before she could strike him again. She was hyperventilating; he chuckled.

"M-marriage?!" exclaimed Rima, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"He k-k-kissed her!" Tadase couldn't tear his eyes away from where his lips had been on her neck.

"Ew…" Nagihiko shuddered, shaking his head as if fighting off thoughts that disturbed him.

Kukai's eyes were wide, his mouth open poised for the next bite, frozen. He blinked and frowned slightly. "You didn't mention that…" He took another bite of his burger, chewing happily.

"We're n-not g-getting married!" cried Amu staring over her shoulder as Ikuto held her tightly.

"That would be illegal.." muttered Ikuto. "We're just doing as much as is legal at the moment."

No one knew how to respond to this, except for the unanimous disgust painted over each of the individuals' faces, but for Kukai since he had his burger to support him through this disturbing situation, and he had already had hints. He wasn't as naïve as the rest of them either.

"Y-You s-shut up…" replied Amu, willing her voice to sound threatening, but she couldn't keep the stutter from it was her eyes met his. She swallowed, her blood pounding in her ears.

Ikuto glanced around at the audience. This scenario kept repeating itself; how dull. He would heat things up a little. The smirk on his lips became a little smugger, if that were possible, as one hand knocked out Amu's knees and he picked her up, bridal style.

"There's not much point me buying you a nice costume if you're not going to swim," He began to stride towards the ocean, the disbelieving eyes of Amu's friends trailing after him. "Although it's good to look at!" He raised his eyebrows suggestively, setting her on the sand, the waves licking her toes.

She immediately covered herself up, feeling bare and exposed after his words. She glanced about desperately, looking for somewhere to hide. She cast a pleading eye at her friends, but Rima was too busy deciding how best to extract revenge, Tadase too traumatized, Nagihiko too disturbed and Kukai enjoying his burger too much. She sighed in exasperation, when her eyes were suddenly drawn back to Ikuto.

He pulled off his shirt revealing a toned chest, and was about to pull down his trousers when she suddenly cried out; "N-No! Get a ch-changing room!" Her face was so red she looked like she had a fever. He chuckled, and slipped from his trousers.

She squeezed her eyes tight and, when she dared open them, saw Ikuto staring at her with a raised brow, arms folded. She felt relief flood through her; he was wearing trunks.

"What were you thinking?" He narrowed his eyes, inspecting her expression. "And they call me a pervert…" he added under his breath.

"WHAT?!" cried Amu, just catching his words. She stormed after him as he waded into the glittering expanse of water, her fists clenched. "What did you just say?!" He kept walking, and she kept following, barely aware of how high the water was getting against her body until she had to go on tiptoes to keep her head above the water.

He paused then and, glancing back at her, a smirk lingering in his eyes, dived under the water, vanishing beyond sight.

She froze. This was not good.

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Lorelei: Man I'm tired. My eyes hurt.

Ikuto: Happy pill?

Lorelei: Thanks. Sorry it wasn't that great today, but please review and I'll try and make it as good as possible next time round. =]

Amu: Not much in this dialogue then.

Lorelei: I'm tired, leave me alone. ¬¬

Amu: Fine, good bye. -_-'