Disclaimer:

2ManyShoez: Hm, I wonder what it'd be like if I created Shugo Chara.

FlippinWonka: Ahaha, you're amazing. I bet you could. –Glint- Dream about it. –Hair swirling around menacingly-

GreenMamushi: Ew, that mushy romance crud? Why would you want to be the monster that created that? –Shivers-

TheSpunky(Short)Alchemist: Haha you wish, you loser. –Points, laughs, and slaps thigh repeatedly-

2ManyShoez: -Angry pulse- Haha, I totally love these guys. –Not sarcasm at all-. So apparently I'm not good enough to own Shugo Chara. Therefore, I do not own Shugo Chara. Plz R&R!

The Meikyuu Butterfly

Chapter Eight: Deck the Halls

Homeroom (Normal POV)

In Nikaidou's classroom, the Seiyo girls chattered giddily and excitedly about the Christmas event, hoping to experience some shoujo manga moments. Most of the comments went along the lines of "Oh my god, I want to hear the results right now! I really want a boyfriend before the break~."

"Wow, people are really excited. It would be great if we had a Christmas dance," said Nadeshiko.

"You mean the girls? And whatever's fine for me," replied Amu with an indifferent expression.

Nikaidou entered the classroom with a flier in his hand. "Good morning, everybody. As you all know, the results of the voting we did on Friday for a Christmas school event came in, today." He paused to take a look at the paper. "The student council has decided to host a Christmas ball on Friday before the break. However, to add a twist, it will be a Christmas-themed masquerade ball. Please pick something lovely and Christmas-themed to wear. That is all."

The male Seiyo students just smiled wryly and made a few enthusiastic remarks, since the event was mostly for the girls' enjoyment. The girls burst into constant clamoring about their incitement, how awesome the ball would be, and most importantly, what they were going to wear.

Even Nadeshiko and Amu broke into an ecstatic conversation about their outfits for the Christmas masquerade ball.

"How rare. Our Miss Number One looks jovial. It's nice when you're not trying to be all Cool N' Spicy 24/7," teased Rima.

"Shut up, you," retorted Amu as her cheeks flushed a bit.

"Oops, I almost forgot. Everyone please shut up. I know you're excited, but you have to listen," scolded Nikaidou. "Because we have to help set up the Christmas ball, everyone in this class has been assigned to decorate the gym. I am going to pass out some slips, and people with the same letters and numbers will be partners. There are groups of four people. People in a group have the same letter on their slips. No swapping. Go find your groupies and your partner," informed Nikaidou as he handed out slips to everyone.

Amu stood up from her seat and mumbled to herself. "Okay, so I have to find A1."

Ikuto briskly stole her seat, grabbed her waist, and made her sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her stomach from behind. "Hey, babe. What'd you get?"

Amu attempted to yank off his arms, but sadly she was not strong enough to completely tear them off. 'Damn, I need weight training to get all of these perverts off of me…"

He blew in her ear and talked softly with his deep voice. "Tell me."

She squeaked and jumped up from his lap. "Not telling!" Amu stuck her tongue out and tried to speed walk away with the slip of paper in her hand.

Ikuto instantly spotted it in her hand and took it. He stuffed it in his pocket and grabbed her arms before she could steal it back. She struggled with his strong grip and squirmed around.

"Haha, you're so weak." Ikuto paused to interlock his fingers with hers and pulled her in towards his face. "Don't worry, Amu. I'll be there to protect you."

"Geez! Get off of me! What are you saying all of a sudden?" bellowed Amu in agitation. "Give me back my slip!"

Ikuto released her and stealthily peeked at what she got. Afterwards, he smirked and placed the slip on top of her hair. "Have fun in my group, Amu. I look forward to being your partner, too."

"What the hell? I'm stuck with a pervert like you?" she bawled.

"Heh, don't hide your happiness, Amu." He filed away with a smug grin.

Utau vigilantly pushed Amu and tried to hug attack Ikuto. "IKUTOO!"

He just sauntered away as he whistled casually.

"At least tell me what you got, Onii-chan. I got A2~."

"I already have my partner, Utau."

Kukai stepped in front of her and flashed a bright, toothy smile. "Yo. Looks like you're my partner. I have A2, too."

Utau walked past him and muttered a simple, "Whatever."

He rubbed his head and feigned laughter. "Haha, okay?"

Amu pressed her hand on his shoulder from behind. "Hey, I'm in your group. Work hard and don't get in my way." Her arms were stretched above her head as she coolly strode away.

Kukai's heart thumped slightly faster. "Uh, yeah," was all he could muster up the courage to say.

Amu strolled towards the back as she saw Nadeshiko, Rima, Dark, and Tadase. She grabbed Nadeshiko and Rima and pulled them to the side. "What the fck? That asshole is in your group?"

They exchanged glances at each other and spoke in sync. "Don't worry. He won't bother you." They had murderous glints in their eyes as they retreated to a corner and muttered abnormal, inhuman whispers with a dark aura around them. At the spur of the moment, everyone took a step away.

Nikaidou interrupted. "Haha, everyone be nice to each other, okay? Tomorrow we are starting our jobs in preparation for the Christmas ball, so be ready to work in the gym all day."

Dark approached Amu. "Yeah, be nice, Ichigo-chan." He wrapped his arms around her neck. "Are you going to apologize for that hit the other day? You know, the one that the blue haired bastard gave me this morning? Take responsibility for his actions." He advanced towards Amu's lips.

Ikuto immediately closed Dark's mouth with gray masking tape. "Hn, who is this blue haired bastard you speak of?" He shoved Dark against the wall.

Nikaidou nimbly chucked a chalkboard eraser at Ikuto.

"Ow, what the fck was that?"

Nikaidou whipped a ballpoint pen at him. "This isn't a freaking gang fight. Shut the hell up and show some goddamn respect," he said with an enraged expression.

Ikuto dared to retort back to this unknown dark side of Nikaidou. "What's wrong with claiming my partner?"

Dark chuckled and muttered something along the lines of, "Heh, busted."

Nikaidou lashed a ruler at him. "And you, transfer student. Stop screwing around. This isn't the Playboy Mansion." He paused and turned to Amu. "Himamori, pick a boyfriend, will you? All of you better cut the crap and clean tomorrow."

Next Day At the School Gym

Nikaidou spoke in front of his class. "Listen, everybody. Two classes will be here at the same time to get more work done. Get in your groups. Split into your assigned pairs and divide the work evenly. That's all. Make sure there's no crap, today~."

Amu, Utau, Ikuto, and Kukai all stood next to each other. Amu and Utau were crossing their arms, glaring at each other, while guys were staring at them hungrily with… indecent intentions. Ikuto stood with his arms casually stretched out. Kukai was smiling with broad shoulders and his hands on his hips.

He broke the awkward atmosphere. "I think Utau and I should put up the decorations. I suck at arts and crafts, so you know…"

Utau pouted haughtily. "This is such bull! I should be Ikuto's partner!"

"Stop acting like a little kid. Don't cause trouble to the people around you. Go work. Amu and I are making the decorations," reprimanded Ikuto. He picked up boxes of Christmas crafts with Amu and walked over to a table to start working.

Kukai kept his goofy, toothy grin. "Wow, this is the first time I've seen such a huge brother complex."

"Hmph, you just wish you were as great as my brother," replied Utau.

His head pulsed with irritation. "Hey, I'm not that into this pairing either." He chose to pay no attention to her and carry a box of fake icicles, wreaths, ornaments, stockings, holly, mistletoes, tinsel, and candy canes towards the wall.

Nikaidou spotted Utau. "Hey, Utau. Suck it up and get to work."

She grudgingly picked up her feet and walked over to Kukai's position near the gym wall. They both took some tinsel and started hanging it on some tiny hooks. Kukai glanced over and put up the tinsel more rapidly. Utau noticed and tried to decorate even quicker. Suddenly, they both glared at each other and broke out into a race. As they embellished the gym walls, they both muttered the same sentence. "Damn you!"

Meanwhile…

Ikuto was gluing together dolls and twisting wires into hooks through holes that were on their heads to make ornaments. Amu was stringing beads together into elaborate designs and making hooks for them, so that they could be hung anywhere to enrich the décor of the gym.

Ikuto peered over and scooted closer, while she was concentrating on her crafts. The bench abruptly creaked and caused Amu to look up. As soon as she realized how close Ikuto was sitting next to her, she scooted away.

"Aww, why are you so far away? Come sit on my lap again, my little strawberry."

"Shut up and get to work. Stu-pid." Her cheeks flushed a bit as she stubbornly focused on her beads.

Ikuto chuckled. Then, he looked in his box of doll parts and discovered a mistletoe. 'Wow, who uses these anymore? Oh, well. Let's see if it works.'

He pulled it out of the box and towered over Amu. She bent her neck backwards to see what he was up to. "What do you want from me? I'm trying to work."

Ikuto placed it on top of her head, so that she couldn't distinguish the mistletoe.

"What the hell did you put on my head?" She tried to grab it, but Ikuto snatched it away just in time.

Amu turned around and stood up. "Give me it right now."

He smirked. "Fine, fine. Here it is." He held out his closed hand with the palm facing upward. Amu tried to pry his hand open.

"Come on!"

Ikuto yanked his hand away and held the mistletoe above her head and in front of her eyes. He gently laid his lips on her forehead. "Got you~."

Amu's face brightened up by ten shades as she frantically tried to jab Ikuto.

Ikuto laughed heartily. 'As I thought, playing with my cute little Amu-chan is the best.' He grinned widely.

Amu paused with a flustered expression.