Author's Notes: Yay! The next chapter! I'm starting to get the hang of this once a week thing, despite my hectic schedule. Also, I've decided that the deadline for my contest is going to be when I release the 25th chapter, because let's face it, it will go that far. I thank those that have stuck it out with me so far. It makes me smile every time I get a new story or favorite alert.

Contest Rules: Write out your own little scene of Hotaru and Ikuto.

Prize: Getting their chapter into my story AND getting a request of a pic of Hotaru and Ikuto. I don't do porn, but you can pick anything else. lol That's a good prize, right? I might even color it!! 0.o That's drastic.

Rating: T

Dedication: Hikari1796 and Megane-Ichigo Rush for your awesome reviews.

Summary: Like any popular boy, Ikuto has many girls that chase him on a daily basis besides his sister, so there's only one way, in Ikuto's mind, to stop them. Have a fake girlfriend of course!

Chapter 19: Ice Cream Never Looked So Good

Things returned to normal…or normal as things could get.

"Please, I have no comment!!"

Hotaru was currently trying to dodge several reporters that had decided to bombard her after school. A small smile adorns her face.

'Ikuto understood…'

After the whole ordeal, Ikuto had told her how he had assumed something that had been totally off base. If she didn't know any better, she would've guessed that he had been jealous of Kairi, though she didn't understand why.

"Hotaru-san, a word, please?"

"Leave me alone!!"

Usually Hotaru didn't face the problem of paparazzi after the competition, but unfortunately for her it had slipped out on what town she lived in, and then from there her usual appearance. During competitions, she was all dolled up and wore contacts, but now…

…she sighs.

'This is so difficult.'

"So, your plan backfired…"

Nikaidou hangs his head dejectedly before turning a glare to the violin player.

"If you hadn't been so harsh with your words, this would've never happened."

Ikuto shrugs.

"You told me to be cold. How was I supposed to know that she would take it pretty badly?"

Nikaidou only sighs as he sits on the bench outside his house, his hand running through his hair.

"I didn't think she would either…It doesn't matter, the competition is over so we shouldn't have to worry about any more media."

"I don't know about that…"

Nikaidou raises an eyebrow as he turns his eyes to Ikuto, who is currently lounging in a tree.

"I noticed several reporters today following Hotaru."

Nikaidou waves his hand.

"Tabloids and small time magazines…They're not that big of a deal. They go away in a few days."

Ikuto nods his head as his sits up, a yawn escaping his lips.

"So, everything is back to normal?"

"Yes, it should be."

'Finally…I lost them…'

Hotaru had just managed to outrun the tabloid reporters, having been interrupted during her shopping trip. Looking down at the bag in her hands, she begins to check off things in her mental list.

"Alright, let's see…Groceries are done, so I just need to buy pens, Onii-chan's shampoo, and maybe I'll be able to window shop a bit."

Smiling happily to herself, she hurries off to the next store, the crowd bigger than she thought. Managing to squeeze through the crowds, she covers her eyes as some dust blows through. She had gone simple today, her outfit having been picked out by her brother. She never understood why, but her brother always seemed to have great taste when it came to her clothing, yet when it came to his…

Giggling softly to herself, another breeze causing her to hold down the skirt of her white summer dress, a white beret adorning her head, her hair billowing around her. She felt out of place.

"All dolled up and yet nowhere to go!!"

Hotaru frowns at El's comment, the angel having decided to linger with her while Kia and Lily helped her brother at home. Sighing, she begins to look for a specific shop.

"I'm not dolled up El…at least, I don't think I am…"

El makes herself comfortable on Hotaru's head, her head turning in every direction.

"You are! You're all pretty and yet no guy on your arm. You reconciled with Ikuto, why aren't you with him?"

Hotaru peeks at a window display, the items only showing that the store sold bags and purses of various sizes and brands. Turning her head away, she begins to look around once more.

"Because, I still have a few journalists tailing me and I don't want him involved in all the drama. It's ridiculous…I care about him too much to do that to him."

El peeks over the girl's head, making eye contact to show that she was serious.

"Doesn't Ikuto realize that you like him now? I mean, you did go all dark and gloomy…"

Hotaru only blushes as she averts her eyes, the same question having been buzzing around her head.

"I don't know…He hasn't brought up the whole ordeal. It seems like he's avoiding it and I'm more than glad to go along with that."

El frowns.

"You are such a coward."

Hotaru's eyes widen as she loses her temper a bit.

"Hey! I'm just….I get nervous…"

Hotaru turns her gaze downwards after spotting several people giving her bewildered looks.

"A-Anyways, I-"

Hotaru stops, a flash of pink having appeared in her vision. Turning her head, she spots Amu…

….and Tadase?!

Hotaru ducks her head, her body beginning to follow the two.

"Notes: Hotaru is nosy."

Hotaru disregards El's words as she follows the two into a store. It's when she notices the merchandise that she realizes that the store she had entered was the one she had been looking for. Quickly hiding behind a bookshelf, she begins to look for her much needed pens, her ear slightly pressed to the shelf.

"Can you hear them El?"

El, glad that she could fly, floats over the shelf, her head peaking over the edge.

"Oh, Tadase is a smooth talker."

Hotaru's head snaps up, a small pink hue on her face.

"What?!"

"Hotaru-san?!"

Hotaru turns her gaze downward, her body freezing a the sight of Kairi. She begins to stutter, embarrassed at having been caught eavesdropping.

"K-Kairi-kun! W-what're you doing here?"

Kairi lowers his head, desperate to hide the blush beginning to appear on his face.

"I-I was just shopping for a few things."

Hotaru tilts her head as she smiles, her eyes taking in Kairi's outfit. His clothing choice reminded her of a ninja, the black suiting him well, but what caught her eye was his lack of spectacles. She almost didn't recognize him.

"M-Me too."

"Hotaru, you're going to be spotted!!"

"What?"

Hotaru turns around just in time for her eyes to lock with Amu's, a cold sweat beginning to settle in.

"Hotaru-chan? What're you doing here?"

"W-Well, I-"

She points behind her only to realize that Kairi had ran off. She mentally frowns as she laughs it off, her eyes easily spotting something that caught her eye earlier.

"Just some shopping, you know? I was, um, looking at this blossom barrette."

Amu leans forward, her eyes in slight awe.

"Oh! It suits you, you should buy it."

Hotaru regrettably puts the accessory down before turning to the two pre-teens.

"Not today. I've already spent my money on groceries."

Amu nods her head in understanding, having only been able to get the bag she wanted due to Tadase having purchased the hair barrette in her hair.

"Oh, well, do you want to come with us? We're actually going shopping for the Guardians and then we're going to get some ice cream."

Hotaru smiles warmly, feeling guilt at having worried everyone during her depression.

"Yes, I'd like that."

"Notes: Hotaru cares about her friends."

Hotaru only blushes as El continues to write things in a notepad, all three being observed by the disguised guardian.

"That was close, I almost got caught. I have to be more cautious. I have to keep an eye on the guardians."

Despite his words, Musashi noticed that Kairi's attentive gaze was only on the lavender-haired girl.

"The shopping is done. Thanks for coming along."

Hotaru shakes her head as Amu smiles.

"It was no problem, really. I'm glad that I was invited along."

All three were presently relaxing at a park, Hotaru and Tadase having returned with ice cream cones.

"Go ahead, take the one you like."

"Oh, then I'll take chocolate."

Tadase hands Amu the ice cream cone, making himself comfortable next to Amu as Hotaru began to enjoy hers, pretending not to watch the scene before her.

"Then I'll have vanilla. Yay, I love vanilla."

Hotaru and Amu emit steam as their faces turn a deep red, Hotaru turning her face away.

'That boy is too cute for his own good…Poor Amu doesn't stand a chance…'

"Oh, and thank you for this. Does it really look good on me?"

"Yes, it does. It makes my heart race."

Both girls had frozen at this point, Amu red from the compliment, Hotaru from the straight forward remark. El rises from her spot on Hotaru's beret, her voice loud despite it's high pitch.

"Aack! I can't take it anymore! You're such a smooth talker!"

"Huh? What?"

"I agree."

Tadase turns his head to his Chara, a blush starting to form on the blonde-haired boy's face.

"Kiseki, you too? Well…I just thought it looks like Amulet Heart's, so…"

Amu flinches, Hotaru not missing the action. As far as Hotaru knew, Amu was her own love rival.

"Hinamori-san, it's dripping!"

"Oh!"

"It'll leave a stain. Here, hold onto this, I'll go wet my handkerchief."

All is quiet before Hotaru giggles at Amu's expression, the girl seeming to be on cloud nine.

"He's so nice…"

"He's a natural playboy…"

Hotaru had to give that to El, Tadase seemed that way. Really smooth with his words and actions. Hotaru notices the ice cream beginning to drip more and leans forward, her hand open.

"Here, Amu, let me hold Tadase's cone. They're both beginning to drip."

Amu only nods her head as she passes the cone to Hotaru, the young girl beginning to lick the slipping drops. Hotaru shakes her head before turning her head back to her ice cream only to notice someone else licking it. Hotaru's face becomes deep red.

"I-Ikuto-kun!!"

Hotaru flinches backwards, Ikuto only smirking at her reaction.

"Hey."

"When'd you get here? I didn't even notice!"

Ikuto's grin only widens as he sits, his tongue sticking out to taunt her. Hotaru motions for Amu to stand, the girl now standing behind her.

"Sneaky like a cat, remember?"

Hotaru turns her head away, her heart fluttering in her chest. Hotaru was desperately trying to act indifferent towards Ikuto, doing her best to cancel out the way she acted after having been "dumped." Ikuto's next words cause her to lower her eyebrows in a mock glare.

"Are you eating two? You can get fat that way."

"No! This one is Tadase's…Ugh!"

She begins to shake with embarrassment, her ice cream beginning to drip onto her hand, her mind not registering it.

"Tadase's…I see…"

Ikuto's eyes follow Tadase's ice cream cone before Hotaru lowers her face to his level.

"Don't think about it. If you want some so badly, you can have some of mine."

"Hotaru's emotions are easy to read."

Hotaru snaps her head up to the angel Chara, her eyes wide.

"El?!?!?"

"I really like it…"

"Huh?"

Hotaru's eyes lock with Ikuto's amethyst orbs, her breath caught in her throat.

"…cinnamon." (A.N.: Yes, I know, originally he says chocolate, but I have to change it since Amu has chocolate.)

Frown on her lips, face a deep red, she turns her head away, her voice wavering.

"Did you expect me to say something else?"

Hotaru quickly shakes her head, her locks swaying with the action. He didn't want to admit it, but Ikuto had hardly recognized Hotaru. Her outfit was different from what she usually wore, but her brother's cheeky grin now made sense.

…she was cute.

"Please, don't tease me. It confuses me…I never understand why you do it."

As if knowing that his look alone could sway Hotaru, he grins, his pose seeming to cause an aura of sparkles around him.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm curious about you."

"Huh?!"

Utau's words begin to echo in Hotaru's mind, her blush deepening several shades.

"Ikuto's never cared for a girl like this before…"

Amu glances between the two, both unmoving when Ikuto begins to chuckle, Hotaru's glare returning.

"Heh."

"You did it again!"

Ikuto places a hand on his forehead, his laughter growing a bit from Hotaru's response. Hotaru seemed to have a bit of a bite lately, but he had to admit that he enjoyed it.

"You're so fun to tease."

"How dare you?!"

Hotaru steps forward, wanting to yell when Ikuto suddenly rises, his height easily surpassing her own. What had mainly startled her though…was not his sudden action of standing but instead…his hand, had deviously, pushed Tadase's ice cream cone…

…onto her mouth and cheek.

Amu's eyes widen, unsure of whether to gasp or laugh at the situation.

"We've completely lost them."

"It's because you were shopping."

"But I really wanted this. I thought they came this way, but-Oh! There's the king!"

Kairi easily dodges out of sight by lurking behind a tree. Tadase was jogging back to where he had left the two females.

"Hinamori-san! Sorry, I couldn't find a water fountain and-"

His eyes widen at the sight before him. Amu seemed to be the only one to acknowledge him for Hotaru was unmoving, her eyes locked with Ikuto's. His ice cream cone, he noticed, was on her mouth, Ikuto's smirk in place, his hand below the cone.

"Ikuto Tsukiyomi?! What are you doing? Leave Nikaidou-san alone!!"

Ikuto's eyes look at Tadase from the corner of his eye, his grin only growing in size.

"Sorry, it was a defense reaction. She started to get a bit angry, so I thought I'd cool her down."

Hotaru snaps out of her reverie, her hand lowering the cone from her face.

"You did that on purpose! It had nothing to do with my reaction!"

Ikuto leans toward Hotaru, Hotaru backing up a bit, the playful glint in Ikuto's eye making her nervous.

"Hey, Tadase, you love vanilla, huh?"

"What?"

"You're still a kid, aren't you?"

That's all is said before Ikuto suddenly runs his tongue along Hotaru's cheek, the girl freezing at the contact.

'He's licking me…? He's licking me!?'

Ikuto continues this as Tadase turns red, obviously not used to this kind of…scene. After awhile, Hotaru regains her voice, her head beginning to move away from Ikuto's mouth.

"I-Ikuto! What're you do-?!"

She's cut off as Ikuto's hands grip her face, easily forcing his lips onto hers as he licks off the remaining ice cream. Everyone's eyes widen, El responding by writing down more notes.

"Ikuto is a playboy of sorts as well…"

Pulling away, both heavy-lidded, Hotaru whispers softly.

"I-Ikuto…kun…"

"Delicious."

Tadase charges forward, scepter in hand, anger apparent despite the tinge on his face.

"I'm not going to take this anymore! Character change!"

Ikuto's ears transform into those of a cat as he sticks out his tongue once more, easily jumping out of Tadase's reach.

"You used to eat a lot of vanilla ice cream while sitting on my lap."

"Shut up!"

All is quiet as the two boys disappear, both girl's stunned at the turn of events.

"Both end up getting dumped."

Hotaru and Amu snap their eyes to El, the small pencil writing in the spoken words.

"What?!"

Hotaru sighs as she throws away Tadase's ice cream, quickly finishing off what was left of hers.

"What should we do?"

Eyeing the bags, Hotaru begins to grab a few, the weight a bit heavy since she had already picked up her own.

"Um, I think I can…"

"Hotaru-san! Joker!"

Both look up to notice Kairi, his stance a bit awkward. Hotaru can't help but smile.

"Kairi-kun!"

Kairi doesn't say a word as he takes the bags from Hotaru, the girl a bit confused.

"Oh, you don't have to, I-"

"I just happened to be passing by, so I'll help you."

Amu smiles widely, a few giggles emitting from the goth-styled girl.

"Really?! Thanks!"

"Oh, and…here."

A bag is suddenly shoved into Hotaru's hands, a questioning look in her eyes. She opens the bag, her eyes sparkling at the item inside.

'Oh…the barrette I wanted…'

"I happened to be passing by and thought that it suited you. Consider it my present for winning the nationals."

Hotaru envelops Kairi into a hug, her voice a whisper in his ear.

"Thank you for everything, Kairi-kun."

Placing a small kiss on his cheek, she pulls away, her hands quick to remove her beret and clip the flower barrette into her hair. Kairi watches in awe, the urge to touch his cheek high.

'You do look cute…but you always seem more beautiful when a flower is in your hair…'

Kairi quickly turns away, Amu holding her sides, desperate not to laugh as El writes one more note. Hotaru is only confused by everything.

"Hotaru is a natural playgirl as well…"

Author's Note: I must admit, this was one of my favorite chapters to write. rofl I enjoyed the little ice cream escapade.

I hope a few of you enter the contest...please? I just want to see everyone's ideas!

Okay....I'm judging by length, description, and grammar. That's all!! Oh...and if I the story pulls me in really. Whatever catches me eye.