Hi again! I have gotten one review (thank you Adelaide Pitman!). And I know the first chapter was pretty short, so I decided to go ahead and post the second chapter. I know that just because people aren't reviewing doesn't mean there's no one reading it. But please, if you're enjoying my story leave a review!! I forgot to mention this in the first chapter, but I don't own Shugo Chara! or any of the characters in it - I only own this original storyline. Again, PLEASE R&R!!!!! I will love you forever if you do! Well, here goes.

Recap:

I just had to…was I nervous? I was never nervous. Why was I…

"Mendelssohn's violin concerto."

My bow screeched to a stop when I jumped at the sudden, deep voice behind me. I clutched my violin and slowly looked up and found the upside-down face of a blue-haired boy leaning over me. So that was why I was nervous.

"You played it flawlessly," he commented. He leaned closer and added, "That's a beautiful instrument you have, with a tone like silk."

I still said nothing as he walked around to the other side of the coffee table and sat on the couch across from me. He set his violin case on the table. I watched him closely as he slouched into his seat. Just going by his voice, I had guessed he was in his twenties, but now I could see that he was much younger. He looked about my age, but he must have been a foot taller. And what was with that blue hair?

"You're watching me like a hawk," he said bluntly.

"Well, you sneaked up on me like a cat," I fired back. "I've been told to watch creeps closely."

He chuckled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I was so impressed by your playing that I had to get closer to listen."

I smiled. "Normally I don't take kindly to guys who sneak up on me and try to flatter me without introducing themselves," I said. "But I'll make an exception, since you are a fellow violinist. I'm Cynthia North."

"Ah," he said. "North-san, the American. I've been told about you. Your Japanese is not nearly as bad as I would have expected."

I mentally wiped my brow as I surreptitiously drew my Japanese-English dictionary from my purse. Just incase. "Thanks," I said. "You pronounce my name like a Tokyo native, so I'll try to do the same for you. That is, if you ever tell me your name."

He laughed quietly and introduced himself without bothering to extend his hand. "I'm Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

My eyes opened wider as a gear clicked in my mind, making me recognize his last name. "Are you the son of Aruto Tsukiyomi-sensei?"

Ikuto tried to hide his surprise, but I caught the quick, involuntary widening and re-narrowing of his dark blue eyes. "You know of my father, then?" he said off-handedly.

"Of course," I replied, as if I had known of the Tsukiyomi clan for my whole life and not just discovered them in the past month as I crammed the Japanese language and culture into my skull. The Internet article I had found made Aruto's fame and fortune, followed by his sudden disappearance, seem like a fairy tale. His two children had only been mentioned in passing.

"I bet I could take some great pointers from you," I said, smiling. "Tsukiyomi-sama's story seemed almost unreal when I heard it. And it's been so long since he disappeared…" I stopped when I saw the hard look in Ikuto's eyes. I had thought this would be something I could use to get Ikuto to open up to me, but clearly he was still upset at his father for abandoning him. "Anyway," I stuttered, trying to recover. "I thought you'd be older."

Some of the hardness left Ikuto's cerulean eyes and he allowed a tiny smile. "I'm a third-year student at Seiyo High."

"Really? That's the school I'll be going to. That is, if I get this job."

Ikuto sat up and crossed his legs. "So you're here to audition, too?"

"Too?" I squeaked. I was going up against the son of Aruto Tsukiyomi-sama? I could kiss my job goodbye.

Ikuto smirked. "I think you'll be a worthy opponent for me. However, I must warn you, the judge is very biased."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Ikuto!"

We both turned to face the loud voice coming from down the hall.

"I didn't know you were here!"

Utau Hoshina-san, one of Japan's top pop idols, threw herself at Ikuto in a very undignified manner. He dodged, and Utau slammed face-first into the sofa.

Ikuto chuckled. "I can figure out your hugging pattern."

Utau quickly got up and dusted herself off. "Jeez, you're so mean."

"You're done recording?" Ikuto asked.

"Yeah, I just finished," Utau answered, sitting as close as possible to Ikuto and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so happy that can sing with your violin!" she giggled.

"It's Easter's orders," Ikuto said grimly. "And besides, the auditions haven't been held yet. It looks like I'll have some stiff competition," he added, almost smiling at me.

When that small fragment of Ikuto's attention was turned away from her, Utau seemed to notice me for the first time. "Oh. Who are you?"

"Cynthia North," I said.

"From America," Ikuto added.

"Oh, yeah. They told me about you," Utau said, scowling. "Sanjo-san said you can go in for your audition whenever you're ready. First door on your left."

"Thank you," I said, packing up my violin and shoving my dictionary back into my purse.

"I thought you were holding the auditions," Ikuto said.

"No, Sanjo-san said it would be unfair," Utau pouted.

"I wonder why?" Ikuto muttered.

I stood up, ready to head to my audition.

"Hey, can I kiss you?" Utau asked.

I slowed my movements a little, waiting to see what would happen and wondering if the rest of Japan knew about Utau's obsessive crush.

"No," Ikuto said, with the straightest face I'd ever seen.

"What?" Utau squealed. "But I haven't seen you in so long."

"No," Ikuto said again.

"Just one on the cheek?" Utau begged, puckering up.

"I said no. Hey, stop!"

"Hey, Ikuto?" I said, hoping to help him escape from Utau's overeager clutches.

Utau stopped trying to kiss him to growl at me. "Don't use his name so freely!"

"You just did," I muttered.

"That's because I'm his girlfriend."

"No, you're not," Ikuto said sternly.

Utau pounced on top of Ikuto, knocking him onto the floor. My view was now blocked by the coffee table, but I could still hear the smooching sounds and cries of protest that followed. The spell was broken when I felt myself blushing. Scolding myself for staring, I turned tail and dashed into the audition room.

So...? What did you think? Anyone, anyone? You know you want to review, and make me feel like I have fans. *wink*