Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara
-Firstly I want to greet everyone A Happy New Year!!! : ))
-I know many are thinking that this is the chapter of the ball, but I made a few changes and the ball will come in the next chapter.
-This event happens nearly hours before the ball even begins.
-This focuses a bit more on Amu and her…choices.
-Please Review and tell me what you think of it. Any opinions are welcome :D
-On with the chapter and thank you everyone!!! : ))
Minutes Before the Ball: No More Reason to Stay
Today was the day, the day of the long awaited ball! The palace was filled with so much excitement and full of gossiping and lively people that the atmosphere had changed immensely. It was obvious to anyone that this was an event they didn't want to go wrong. So all the preparations were made and they made sure that there weren't any faults to it.
Meanwhile, while the palace was busy making preparations, Utau and Ikuto were too preoccupied at the moment. Sadly, it wasn't because of friends, but because of the fact that they were being called by tailors, and other people involved in the upcoming event.
Utau sighed as she tried on another dress that they wanted her to put on. "They treat me like some kind of doll…." She didn't mind getting dressed for events, but she figured that anyone who was asked to try about the 10th to 15th dress that day would at least be exhausted.
"Utau-san, your next dress is ready." A maid had come in after she had just changed back to her original clothes.
Utau groaned as the maid set the dress on the chair right next to her and left the room to give her some time to change. "You have got to be kidding me." She told herself as she picked up the dress and once more, changed.
Ikuto on the other hand was having just the same kind of problem. He too was getting called by dozens of people who were intended to help him get ready for the upcoming event. Ikuto didn't like it, but it wasn't like he was being given much of a choice.
"Let's think of it this way. The faster I get this done, the sooner I can go back to Amu." He kept that to himself but that was one thing to keep him from complaining.
The day went on that way and soon, it was over…well for the most part, since the ball was still to come. Ikuto was walking back to Amu's room and when he got there, he saw Amu seated on the bed.
"Hey, looks like you're pretty tired." He told her as he went closer.
"…" Amu didn't reply, she was too spaced out to even realize that Ikuto had come inside her room and had even spoken to her.
"Amu? You okay?" Ikuto asked again.
"…" still, he got no reply from the pink haired girl.
He started to worry now. He put both hands on her shoulder and she suddenly jumped a bit because of shock. "Ikuto?!?" asked Amu as she looked at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Ikuto stared at her for a while before he answered. "You do realize that you've been spacing out right?" he asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" asked Amu with a nervous laugh.
"Simple, I've been calling your name for a while now and then when you finally notice that I'm here you suddenly freak out." Ikuto told her.
"Oh…" replied Amu.
"So?" asked Ikuto.
"So?" Amu asked back.
Ikuto sighed and replied "Amu, I'm asking you what's wrong? You've been totally spaced out, which isn't normal not to mention you're silent for the most part so something has to be bothering you. Question is, what is it?" asked Ikuto seriously.
"Nothing, I'm fine. " answered Amu plainly.
"Sure you are." Replied Ikuto in a sarcastic voice. "Come on Amu, tell me what's going on because you know I'm bound to find out anyway."
"I told you Ikuto I'm perfectly fine." She smiled.
"…" Ikuto sighed and then he gave in…for now. He'd ask her about it later. He knew something was bothering her, that she was hiding something, and the fact that something was definitely bugging her but no matter what he did she wasn't going to say anything.
"Alright fine." Sighed Ikuto then he added "Are you sure?" he asked her.
"Why wouldn't I be?" asked Amu with another smile.
"Amu…" started Ikuto.
"Yeah?" asked Amu with a questioning look.
"It's bad enough that you aren't telling me that something's wrong, you don't have to make it worse by showing me a fake smile." He told her.
Amu's smile dropped in an instant. She's still a bit confused as to why Ikuto could see these little things and facades she puts up, but hey that's just how he is.
"See? What did I tell you?" asked Ikuto and then he smiled slightly. "Look Amu I won't be mad if still can't tell me, but please try to think things over okay?"
She nodded and whispered a quiet "Okay."
"Alright. Look, do you want to take a walk with me?" he asked with a smile "It will help you at least take your mind off of things for now. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great Ikuto." Said Amu with a smile, and this time to Ikuto's surprise, it was a real smile.
"I wonder how long she can pull that off? Something's still bothering her though…" thought Ikuto, but he smiled at the fact that Amu was smiling a bit "It's an improvement…for now at least."
"Ikuto? Something wrong?" asked Amu as he looked at his figure that seemed to be dozing off to some other place or world.
"Hm?" asked Ikuto as he looked back at her. "What did you say?"
"I asked if you were okay." Stated Amu.
"Why wouldn't I be?" asked Ikuto confused.
"Well, you were spacing out just now, I thought something was bothering you." She told him.
"No, nothing's wrong with me Amu, I just happened to be thinking of something earlier." Stated Ikuto with a shrug "Worried about me again are you Amu?" he asked with a smirk.
"Can you please stop doing that?" asked Amu with a sigh "I mean, don't you ever get tired of smirking and making fun of me?" she asked while looking at him.
"Hm…If you think about it, no." he told her, the smirk still in place. "You know that's just one of the ways that I can show you I care right?" he suddenly told her.
"…" Amu stared at him shocked for the moment and then she smiled and answered "Well then, I guess I just have to get used to it don't I?"
"Hm, I thought that you were already used to things this was Amu." Stated Ikuto with a silent chuckle.
The two of them walked out the room and began their walk. Amu felt more comfortable this way and she almost forgot about her worries. She then looked around the palace and asked "Hey, what's with all the people running around from here to there?"
"It's the preparations for the ball. Just as expected they wanted everything to come out perfectly, so they're all doing this and that." Said Ikuto.
"Right…" replied Amu "I know that this is important, but don't you have balls almost all the time?" asked Amu.
"Yeah we do." Replied Ikuto then he asked "Why?"
"Then, what makes this one so different? I mean, it I just another ball right?" she asked him.
"Oh that. Well it's not like they've placed less thought on the past balls. This one is just the same as all the others." Said Ikuto.
"So, this is how you prepare for it every time?!?" asked Amu shocked.
"Yeah. It's such a pain though." Stated Ikuto with a sigh "Being called from here to there. Not very pleasing at all."
"Sure doesn't look pleasing alright." Stated Amu as she looked over to the people rushing around the palace.
"Trust me, it's not at all pleasing. You wouldn't want to know what it feels like right now." He told her.
"Why aren't you hurrying right now?" asked Amu.
"To do what?" asked Ikuto confused.
"Well, everyone else seems to be doing something and going from here to there, why aren't you? I mean, you are the prince, so shouldn't you be busy too?" she asked.
"I'm done with what I have to do." Stated Ikuto with a shrug and thank goodness for that."
"What about Utau?" asked Amu "I haven't seen her around at all."
"She must have been told to do something." Said Ikuto "I haven't seen her around either."
"I hope she's still hanging on." Said Amu with a light laugh.
"Hn, I'm sure she's fine. I mean, she should be used to all of this by now. It's not like this is the first time something like this has happened." Said Ikuto.
"I guess that's true enough." Said Amu.
The two of them continued to walk and each had drifted to their own world of thinking. Amu was thinking of some things and she wondered if she'll end up pushing through with her plan…question was, what was her plan? And why?
Meanwhile In Town
While the people of the palace and the royals were caught up in their preparations, the townsfolk were busy too. Mainly, we have Kukai and the rest of the gang. They were also preparing, but of course, things don't always go well and in their way.
Kukai had closed the shop and the restaurant and he and Daichi had come over to the mansion to visit the others before tonight. He had brought Yaya with him, to see that they wouldn't forget anybody when they had to go and leave for the palace. When the three of them got there, things weren't as peachy as they hoped for it to be.
"Rima!!!" Saaya shrieked.
Rima shrieked as she heard Saaya scream for her name again. "Here we go again." Rima walked away from the garden where her friends were and spoke "I'll be back once she's done with me."
Nagihiko and the others sighed as Rima walked away. They didn't like the fact that they were running errands for Saaya when they too had things to prepare for. "She's doing this on purpose isn't she?" asked Miki in a knowing tone.
"Of course she is. She just wants to make sure that we don't get ready in time." Said Ran with a sigh.
That was a true fact. Saaya wasn't only trying to ruin Rima's day, but everyone else's too. Just seconds ago before she called for Rima, she called for Ran and then there was Miki and then there was Su and so on and so forth. In short, everyone was being called to do something so none of them could prepare for themselves.
Kukai sighed as he saw this and he spoke to Nagihiko "Looks like she's giving you guys a harder time than usual."
"She knows when to do so, I can give her credit for that much." Said Nagihiko "We've been trying to get away from work all morning, we even finished our housework earlier than usual too, but it seemed to all be in vain now."
"She surely is enjoying this, and I'm sure her mother is too." Said Kukai with a sigh.
"Well, even if Amu-chan isn't here anymore, we still are." Said Nagihiko "And it annoys me that she keeps on making Rima-chan do all the hard work."
"True, but that's just Saaya. She finds ways to make people sufferer and grovel on their knees for forgiveness." Said Kukai.
"Like that's ever going to happen. Rima-chan would rather do all this work than resort to that. Anyone would." Said Nagihiko.
"Again that's true, on the way I see things I think Saaya's just pissed that she can't find someone who does Hinamori's job right now that Hinamori's not here." Said Kukai.
"She's got no one to pick on anymore." Said Nagihiko as he realized the point.
"Hinamori's just too nice sometimes and if she thinks that Mashiro's the same then she's got to dream more." Said Kukai with a laugh.
"I guess that she just can't find anyone else that's willing to do her dirty work without complaining now." Said Nagihiko with a laugh.
"Yup." Said Kukai.
It didn't take that long for Rima to soon come back. She sighed as she sat on one of the chairs that were present in the garden and then she looked at the others and spoke "We haven't done anything for ourselves yet and the ball has yet to begin and now I'm already tired after all this work."
"No one blames you~desu." Said Su.
"That's right, no one does and no one will. Have you seen how she's treated everyone?" asked Ran with a sighed.
"How are we supposed to finish like this?" asked Daichi "Mainly, how are you guys supposed to finish like this?"
"That, I honestly do not know." Said Miki "I'm not done with Rima-chan and Su's dress yet."
Miki was the one who was in charge of making their dresses. She had quickly started with making them right after she found out that they have been invited, but with all the work she was given by Saaya and Lady Yamabuki, she had rarely enough time to work on a dress.
"What are we going to do~desu? If Miki doesn't get to finish the dresses then what are we going to wear?" asked Su.
"True, she's given us a mountain of chores that we still need to work on." Said Miki "Most of them are out here on the garden and if I don't do my job…"
Kukai thought about this for a moment before he spoke "Wait, so all you guys have to do is make sure that Miki finishes her work here right?"
"Yeah, but even if she does, will she have enough time to finish the dresses? She's still got two of the m to work on." Said Rima as she faced Kukai.
"That's the thing. I was thinking that maybe we can help." Said Kukai with a grin.
"Help with….making dresses?" asked Ran.
"No offense Kukai, but do you even know how to make a dress?" asked Rima.
"She's right Souma-kun, it's not as easy as it seems." Said Nagihiko
Kukai sweat dropped and replied "That's not what I meant."
"Huh?" asked Yaya "Then what is it Kukai?"
"I was thinking that maybe, while Miki's making the dress, we can do the housework for her." Said Kukai.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea." Agreed Daichi and then he added "That way, it's as if we're doing two things at a time."
"And it's hitting two birds with one stone too." Said Ran as her face suddenly lit up at the idea proposed by Kukai.
"Exactly. I mean, if all they want is for you to get your job done, then they wouldn't notice who did it as long as it gets done right?" asked Kukai and then his grin got bigger "All we have to do is make sure that whenever she's about to pass this way, someone's ready to make sure that Miki's seen doing her job."
"Hm, so we have to have…some kind of lookout?" asked Dia.
"Yes, that's why you guys have to make it look like you're doing your other jobs too." Said Kukai "That way, we'll know when she's about to check on Miki."
"But, where will Miki be?" asked Ran.
"She'll be working in her room. It's close to the garden so calling her would be no problem." Said Kukai.
"Sounds like a plan then?" asked Daichi.
"I say we go for it." Said Rima with a smile "If we get all our jobs done and Miki still get's to finish the dress then she's got no reason not to let us go right?"
"That way, we get to go for sure this time." Said Ran happily.
"So…you guys game?" asked Kukai with another grin.
"Sure!" they all replied in unison. None of them were going to back out of this one. I it was there one chance, they might as well take it. Kukai's given them an option that might actually work and they'd rather risk it than not go and end up not even trying.
"Alright then!" replied Kukai "Let's do this!"
They all split up and went to all the different corners and rooms of the mansion. Some of them got mops, brooms and other cleaning materials to make it look as though they were working.
Miki explained to Kukai and Daichi what needed to be done in the gardens. Instructions to follow, things to keep in mind, and tips to get the work done faster. It didn't take long for the two brothers to get the gist of things. They both had to admit, Miki's job was not as easy as it looked, but for all of them, they'd take it.
As they were all cleaning and keeping an eye for Lady Yamabuki or Saaya, Miki went to her room and started her own work. She knew that the faster she got things done, the faster they could stop this façade and the less chance of them getting caught. She knew she had no time to waste. And so, on went on their plan.
Later that day, Lady Yamabuki happened to pass by the halls and saw Dia and some others there working. She smiled to herself and spoke "I'm glad to see that you all know your place in this household." She told them smugly.
"Only if you knew you witch." Muttered Rima, only Dia and Ran were able to hear her quiet voice.
"Now all of you hurry up! I want this place to be spotless!" Lady Yamabuki then stormed back up the stairs and then into her room. They all heard the doors close with a huge SLAM!
"Looks like she's gone." Said Rima.
"How can she not see how spotless this place already is?!?" asked Ran with a huge sigh "Look at it! You can see your own reflection on the floor already! What kind of spotless is she aiming for?"
"The kind that you can only see in your own imagination. In short, the one that doesn't quite exist." Said Rima.
"Right." Replied Ran.
"We can put up with this." Stated Rima "It's just for a few more hours anyway, and I doubt it would take Miki that long to finish the dresses."
"True." Agreed Dia and then she smiled "I mean, this is Miki that we're talking about here isn't it?"
"This is her field and we'll leave things up to her from here on out." Said Rima "We just have to trust her."
"Right! Go Miki!" cheered Ran.
"What's all the commotion about!?!" it was Lady Yamabuki "You all better be working! I want to see you working when I get down there!" she yelled.
"She must have heard Ran when she was cheering for Miki." Said Dia with a sigh.
"Well that's that." Said Rima. "Nothing new there."
"Sorry." Apologized Ran.
"No need to apologize, it's fine. Not your fault anyway." Said Rima with a smile "Let's hope Miki finished fast. And so, the day went on just like that.
Back at the Palace
Utau was clear of all the duties for the day, she couldn't wait for the others to arrive and that was the one thing she was actually thrilled about. "I wonder where Ikuto and Amu are?" she asked herself silently.
As if Ikuto had heard her, he just happened to pass by the direction she was going to and they met. "Hey Utau." Greeted Ikuto.
"Hey yourself." She replied "Where were you? I haven't seen you or Amu up until now that is." Said Utau.
"We were walking around the palace earlier, but that's all there is to it." Said Ikuto.
"Really now? What's with that look on your face then?" asked Utau with a questioning look "Did something happen between you and Amu?"
"It's not like that." Replied Ikuto.
"Then what is it?" she asked him again. "Because what ever it is, it's definitely a something or you wouldn't be like that."
"I know, it has nothing to do with me…yet." Said Ikuto.
"Care to explain rather than making me guess?" Utau told him.
"Amu's hiding something, she herself admits it." Replied Ikuto. "And it's bugging me that she won't tell me about it."
"Then tell her to tell you about it." Said Utau.
"That's the thing, I already told her that, but she won't tell me no matter what I do." Said Ikuto with a sigh "She keeps no insisting that she's perfectly fine when obviously something's bothering her."
"She's closing herself off again." Mumbled Utau "Just like the first time we met."
"That's what's freaking me out." Stated Ikuto "I don't want her to end up doing anything reckless that will cost her."
"Where is she now?" asked Utau.
"In her room. She looked tired, so I let her take a break first." Said Ikuto. "I tried asking Tadase and the others about it, and they all gave me the exact same answer."
"Which would be?" asked Utau confused.
"Just give her time. I mean, ever Yoru told me that." Said Ikuto.
"But you can't get the thought out of your head now can't you?" asked Utau in a knowing tone.
"No…no I can't." admitted Ikuto silently.
"I think we should let her think things through for now." Suggested Utau "If she won't open up to you, you can't force her to do."
"I know…" Ikuto soon just walked off and left Utau standing there by the halls on her own.
Utau sighed as she watched him walk off somewhere else. She soon began to walk somewhere too and then she sighed as a thought passed by her head. "I know I told Ikuto to give her time as the others did…but was that really the right choice? What if she does something in the process of that given time?" Utau asked herself.
She knew Amu enough to know that if Ikuto says she's hiding something then there was no need to give it a second thought, she was indeed hiding something. Amu could never hide anything from her brother and she doubted that things would change.
As she continued to walk, she thought of one last thought. "Amu, please I am begging you, please may you not do anything reckless tonight as I fear…for all of our sake…especially for Ikuto…" then her figure faded as she walked away.
In Amu's Room
Amu sat on her bed thinking of things. She had enjoyed the walk with Ikuto and she didn't ever regret doing all the things she's done with him during her stay. She suddenly thought back to last night, back to her sudden and eerie conversation with Mai…
Flashback~Last Night
Amu stared at Mai and asked again "What do you mean this has something to do with Ikuto?"
"Oh isn't it obvious? You should know better of what you've been doing. Gossip has already been spreading around the palace." Said Mai as she scoffed.
"And why would I let what other people say about me affect me Mai? It doesn't matter to me what people think of me. What matters is what I think of myself and what the people close to me think of me." Said Amu. After all, she's never let rumors affect her life before, why would she start now?
"But do you care of what people think of Ikuto?" Mai asked her as if already knowing the answer.
"That would depend." Said Amu "I wouldn't believe what they say about Ikuto unless it comes from someone I trust. And this is about Ikuto and his life, I think he knows better of it than I do."
"I only came to you because you already know Ikuto would never hear me out." Said Mai with a smirk.
"…" Amu remained silent. She knew clearly why Ikuto didn't like Mai, but she didn't say anything about it.
"So here's the thing, I really don't care what people think of you either." Mai started "But I do care about the things people say about Ikuto and about his…future."
"So?" asked Amu "What does that have to do with me?"
"Simple, you…you're ruining his future, you're ruining the things that have already been planned for him. In short, you're a nuisance to his already planned and clear future. You are nothing but a pest." Said Mai.
Amu squinted when Mai said the word 'pest' but she didn't show it. Instead she asked "And how could you say that? How can you say that I'm ruining things for Ikuto?"
"The way he acts now, he's neglecting his duties. People of other royal nature don't find that very appealing for a prince, and to think he spends time with some…commoner. And it's not just Ikuto, but now Utau's acting strange as well." Said Mai.
"Utau's my friend, I don't control what she does Mai." Said Amu.
"Friend? You? Don't joke with me." Said Mai with a scoff. "When did she ever need a friend? Utau's already got riches, everything anyone would ever ask for in their life, she has it all."
"…" Amu stayed silent and she felt bad for this girl "Riches and fame…they can't buy you real friends Mai, money can't do that." Then she added "And your wealth…that can't buy you Ikuto either."
"Excuse me?!?" Mai was shocked at Amu's sudden statement.
"I know the real reason you're here is because you want me away from Ikuto right?" Amu started "You hate it don't you? The fact that he spends more time with me, the fact that I've gotten close to him, and in reality you just can't accept that…and now…you're just plain desperate."
"H-how dare you!" said Mai.
"Why else would you be here right now if it wasn't for that?" asked Amu knowingly "I know you hate me Mai, it wasn't that hard to figure out."
"Well then you know what I want, why don't you do it?" she asked with anger in her voice.
Amu smiled at her and spoke "And why would I follow orders from you?" she asked "Last time I checked, you and I were never and will never be in good terms with each other, or do you not remember that?"
Mai looked at her with anger in her eyes and then smiled "Fine, you've got me out of your back."
"Excuse me?" asked Amu, she knew that Mai giving up just like this was way too good to be true. Something was definitely up.
"I might be out of this, but what do you think Souko and Aruto-san are going to think?" she asked Amu.
"…" Amu stayed silent, the one thing she didn't want to be asked about was this. How things wouldn't work between her and Ikuto just because of social status.
"I thought so." Replied Mai "I know you're sane enough to know this, a royal can only marry another royal or a noble, so…you're just off the list."
"Would that really matter?" asked Amu.
"Of course it would, who do you think you are? You're no noble and definitely no royal at that." Said Mai.
Technically, Amu is considered a noble, as a Hinamori that is. Problem is, no one knows of her existence so things don't go so well with her social status at all. Amu sighed at the thought and shook her head.
"Besides…" stared Mai "What are you still doing here?"
"What?" asked Amu confused.
"Shouldn't you be going? You're well again and certainly don't need taking care of, so basically there isn't any other reason that you should stay." Said Mai.
Amu simply stared at Mai as she continued talking "Well? All you've been doing now is hold Ikuto and Utau back and nothing more. You're simply here now because of your own personal selfish reasons am I right?"
"…" still she didn't reply.
"You're of no use, sooner or later Ikuto will have to marry, and there isn't anything else you can do about it. The more you stay, you just hold him back, you'll do nothing than disappoint king Aruto and queen Souko's wishes for him." Said Mai.
Mai soon turned to walk out the door, she gave Amu one last glance before closing, no, slamming the door behind her…leaving a silent and speechless Amu…
End of Flashback
Amu sighed and then looked on the piece of paper she was holding. She smiled one last time at the room as she scanned it and then she stood up from her seat. Amu placed the sheet of paper under her pillow and started walking out the door. She had taken all her things and left nothing but the piece of paper in the room.
As she was walking out the door, she couldn't help but glance one more time before she whispered "I'm sorry Ikuto…Utau…but…she's right. Right now, there's just no reason for me to stay anymore…I'll be doing nothing more but hold you back…"
Amu walked out the door and closed it behind her, and she quietly sneaked outside. This was the last time she'd see the palace, because from that they forth she decided to push through with her decision, and nothing was going to stop her. There was no more reason…no more reason to stay…or so she thought…
Unaware to Amu, a certain girl followed and watched as she left the care of the palace, of Utau and of Ikuto. She smiled with a triumphant smirk, this girl and turned back to mutter to herself "My work…was a complete success…the little fool…"
Another girl watches, as Amu leaves the mansion and she, one with a kind heart grieves of what she's seen. She quickly makes her way to the palace grounds and speaks "I have to tell Ikuto-san…before it's all too late…"
Two different girls, two different motives, will the other make it in time? Before…everything is all too late?
Authors Note: That's it! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Please Review and tell me what you think!