Cuxie: Aloha kiddies! Sorry for the wait.

Amu: How could you cut off at such a traumatic moment?

Cuxie: Uh, hello? Ever heard of a cliffhanger?

Amu: I disapprove.

Cuxie: Well I reapprove your disapproval, which means this chapter is now officially approved of. ^-^ Rolling!

Amu's POV

"Oh, Amu-chan!" Yaya wrapped her arms around me, crying dramatically. "I can't believe Tadase-kun would be so mean!" I found myself, absurdly enough, consoling my younger friend at the moment. We were riding with Rima, whose personal driver (the solution to most of her parents' problems) was our usual mode of transportation. I had managed to withhold my tears until I was safely hidden in the backseat, sandwiched between two of my best friends.

Yaya had started to cry with me and continued long after I'd stopped.

"Yaya, please. Now isn't the time for tears," my smaller blonde friend said, assuming an air of authority. "Now is the time for planning."

"Planning?" Leave it to Rima to take charge or my heartbreak.

"We have to have a plan of attack. You're not just going to sit back and let him go, are you?"

I hesitated. Was I? I didn't want him to leave, but I couldn't control him. "It's not a matter of me letting him, Rima. He's made up his mind."

She shook her head at me, her blonde curls brushing against my shoulders as she did so. "Honestly, Amu. I didn't think you'd give up so easily."

I huffed impatiently. "Well, what am I supposed to do then? Lock him in a cage?"

"I like that idea," Yaya said mischievously.

"It won't come to that," Rima assured us. "You're going to change his mind, and I'm going to tell you exactly how to do it." Raw determination showed on her otherwise soft and innocent face. Whatever 'plan' she'd just come up with, there was no talking her out of it.

"Rima's got a plan!" Yaya squealed excitedly.

Leaning my head back against the seat, I closed my eyes and sighed. What did I just get myself into?

"Rima...I still don't see what shopping has to do with keeping my boyfriend in town." We were on the Shopping Line, which is to say we were on the district street were every store lining the block was a clothing or music store. We went in and out of all the clothing stores, browsing for only a few minutes at a time until we came to Rima's personal favorite spot.

Petite Koi: Rima's favorite store because they were known for having a large section catered to people of her, um, stature. It was a pretty feminine place. The kind you would go to when thinking frills, lace, and ribbons. Not that I was too opposed to those things, but I normally didn't do them to such an extent. Rima, on the other hand, had the small build and soft features created for just this fashion.

And Yaya found everything adorable, so she was right at home as well.

"I told you Amu; this is Phase One." Rima sifted through several racks, making faces and occasionally smiling when she found something of interest.

"Yeah, but you never explained what Phase One means," I pressed. Rima was holding back the details, for suspense most likely. She was such a plotter. All I knew was the main objective; I needed to make Tadase want to stay, without seeming like that was what I was trying to do. I needed to make him change his mind, while making him think that staying was his idea. And to do that, according to Rima, I needed to become the perfect girlfriend. One he couldn't stand to be away from. 'The thought of leaving me behind would be too much for him to bear and he'll immediately nix the whole boarding school idea,' is what Rima had said.

Which means the thought of leaving me behind isn't all that unbearable for him now, I thought miserably.

"Phase One is the Eye Candy phase. We need to make you look irresistable," she said, holding up a somewhat racy lace blouse that I would never be allowed to leave the house in. "And we know that Tadase likes you best when you're all pink and girly."

"Amu-chan, check this out!" Yaya came over to us. She held up a layered light pink miniskirt with cream-colored lace trimming. "You've got to try it on! It'll look perfect on you!"

Rima nodded approvingly. "Nice work Yaya." My blonde friend pulled one of the shirts off of the rack and shoved it at me. "Try this on with it."

After some poking and prodding, I was shoved into a changing room. I emerged feeling distressed, but pretty. The ruffles on the skirt brushed softly against my legs. The shirt Rima gave me was cream-colored and vintage-looking with a large pink heart that looked as if it had been painted in watercolor. It all blended well with my hair color, and although I'd been reluctant to try it on, I was already imagining what accessories would make the outfit pop a little.

"Gorgeous," Yaya sighed. Rima smiled at me.

"See? This is the easiest plan ever." I wasn't convinced of that yet. "When he sees you tonight he won't be able to take his eyes off you."

I blanched. Tonight? "You can't be talking about Utau's concert."

Rima gave me a confused look, her eyebrows furrowing delicately. "Of course. Why not?"

I could think of a lot of reasons why not. For one, this didn't strike me as a concert-ready outfit. More like a romantic date outfit. For another thing, it was way too soon to put the plan into motion. I may look nice, but I didn't think I'd be able to look Tadase in the face tonight. I'd almost forgotten we were both going to the concert. "Rima...I don't think I can do it. Not tonight."

"Amu-"

"We can put the plan off until tomorrow, right? I mean, can't we save this outfit until-"

Crossing her arms, the little blonde fixed me with a look that broke no argument. "Amu Hinamori, now is not the time to be stalling! If you want to keep your boyfriend you better start acting like you've got some ambition."

"Yeah," Yaya added. "There's no time for waiting."

I sighed. It was useless to argue when I was outnumbered. "Fine. But I really don't think this outfit is concert-appropriate."

"Who said this is all we're buying?"

Unknown POV

Reluctant to spend anymore money on a cab, I spent most of the day walking around town, slowly becoming familiar with the oddly-named streets and unpronounceable store names. To my utter dismay, I hadn't been able to keep up with Ikuto. He took so many back streets and hidden passages that I'd quickly gotten lost trying to follow him. I had had a brief moment of panic when the thought crossed my mind that I'd never be able to find him again.

But I urged myself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't help me. I needed to think clearly if I was going to find him. And before I found him, I need to figure out how I'd speak to him. I had been unable to stop myself from going in a bookstore. A beginner's guide to speaking Japanese was a wise investment.

The street I was on now was lined with clothing stores. I longed for the money and time to go into any of them. At home, I'd never had the expenses to dress fashionably, and it seemed I wouldn't have that here either. Not unless I found a job and a place to stay pretty fast. Part of me had been hoping I could stay with Ikuto...

I stopped outside of a store called Petite Koi. The sight of a single understandable word amist all the jumbled characters put me at ease. I peered inside, briefly considering going in. I gasped as I caught sight of someone coming out of the store. The pretty pink girl! The pink-haired girl I'd seen with Ikuto, who I'd already begun to think of as his sister, was walking out. She was carrying a shopping bag, walking with two friends: a younger sweet-looking girl with long lustrous blonde hair, and a perky-looking girl with pigtails who walked with a slight bounce in her step.

They didn't seem to notice me as they walked by. I watched them walk away, anxiety creeping into my chest. Should I follow her? Then, suddenly, a thought struck me: She may be the only chance I have of finding Ikuto again!

I raced after her.

Cuxie: I swear these stories write themselves! This is not how I saw this chapter going...

Amu: I think we're on the right track.

Cuxie: SERIOUSLY? O.o

Amu: Yeah. By next chapter we should finally learn the name of the Unknown, the concert will be happening, which means me, Tadase, and Ikuto will finally be in the same room after two years, which is sure to be interesting. And-

Cuxie: Ok, ok! Don't give the whole thing away. Sheesh. R&R before Amu spoils anything else!

Amu:(shrugs)