"Ready everyone?" Mr. Kiyoteru started calling off names.

As Kūkai flirted with the girls, Ikuto leaned back against the bench in a slouched position. He covered his face with his hood and prayed that he'd be left alone until they left. Girls were such a bothersome species. They always blushed when given a compliment. Put on flimsy clothing and wore layers of make up. It was so disgusting. It almost made him look like a saint. Almost.

"Hinamori Amu?" His ears perked up in interest. "Hinamori Amu?"

The never-ending silence followed.

Ikuto stretched and got up with a yawn, ignoring the various doe-eyed girls. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I'm going to fi...get something I forgot from the dorms."

Kūkai waved him off good-naturedly. "Yeah, just don't miss the trip."

Ikuto stalked off to find his petite pinkette. He chuckled. If Amu thought she could get out of this by just not showing up...she had another thing coming. He made a beeline for her dorm and easily unlocked it. Her dorm was dark and the curtains were shut. He flipped on the light switch.

"Amu, Amu, where art thou?" Ikuto stepped into the center of her organized room.

To his right, he heard a fluttering heartbeat. He grinned and nudged it with his foot. The trunk. Of course, very original. He cracked the lid open and smirked when her neon hair peeked out from underneath. Her eyes widened when he pulled her out.

"H-how...did you..." she spluttered uselessly.

"If that's what you're wearing on the trip," he stepped back. "So be it."

Amu hastily changed in her bathroom with just a wooden door between them. Ikuto quickly stuffed all of her essentials into a suitcase and held the handle, ready to roll. Amu scowled at him as she stomped past him with her toothbrush. She pulled on her shoes and pulled on a coat, brushing past him angrily. He chuckled at her immature behavior.

"Ah, Amu, Ikuto," Mr. Kiyoteru smiled. "Glad you could join us. We were just about to leave without you."

"You should've," Amu muttered getting onto the bus.

Ikuto shrugged as he passed the confused teacher. "Girls will be girls."

"I guess so," he entered behind Ikuto and did a brief recap of their trip. "Okay, so the point is totals note on their special specimens! These are plants that have been handled with dangerous chemicals. Some are dangerous so I advise you to keep your hands to yourself. You should keep notes in your field book. Which also reminds me," he looked at them all sternly. "You all have been assigned a partner. It will be good for socializing when you enter the 'old people' world." He laughed along with a few other girls. "You both must take tested samples of the certain herbs. The rest of the information will be handed out when we arrive. I'll tell you your partners shortly after we arrive." He paused. "Any questions? None? Okay, let's go."

Amu looked a little peeved as the last two seats were next to each other. She sat on the inside seat and scooted in as far as she physically could, Ikuto slid in next to her bumping her elbow. The venomous glare she shot him reminded him vaguely of an enraged bear with a trap on its foot.

"You don't have to be so mad," he covered his amusement.

Amu fished in her pocket for her iPod and plugged in her headphones.

"Aww, come on Amu," he held the ear buds. "Don't give me the silent treatment."

Without turning to look, she held out her palm. He leaned down and kissed it, sending a bolt of electricity down her arm. Amu twitched and wiggled her fingers. He sighed in defeat and dropped the pink earbuds in her open palm. She plugged them in her ears and pressed play.

Ikuto turned away reluctantly, disappointed he didn't get his prize. Not very far behind, Kūkai watched them with interest. One girl crammed on either side of the small seat vying for his attention along with more females around his area. He might've been surrounded by girls but Ikuto was a fascinating subject to watch. Not only was this girl completely immune to his charm and attractive looks, she seemed to be mad at him...even giving him the silent treatment!

"Ahh, Souma-babe," the redhead purred dragging a finger along his chin and returning his emerald-eyed gaze to her. "What are you looking at?"

"Your delicious lips," he murmured earning a giggle. He smiled. Girls were so easily fooled. Just a seductive smile and a few compliments and they'd be wrapped around your finger - or if you're lucky, doing some dirty things to it.

Truth be told, he was a bit of a player. Of course, you probably know that by now. Kūkai was always looking for someone to keep him occupied and let him forget about his empty feeling. He felt like a little bit of him was always empty. He was never satisfied and no matter how many girls he slept with, the feeling would always gnaw away at him.

He mentally shook the thoughts from his head and resumed focus on the redhead. "Saaya...you're looking beautiful today."

"Oh, stop it!" She playfully scowled.

"I can't help it," he grinned slightly and leaned down, brushing his lips against her cheek.

Saaya liked it this way. Being a little boundary-pushing but a little resistant. He kept her around because she was always a little innocent in that playful way of hers. That and the fact that she was a terrific girl in bed.

Saaya giggled and took out her cellphone. With her attention diverted, he turned to the blond next to him. "Lulu..."

She twisted a blonde piece of hair and popped her bubble gum. "Souma...kiss me."

He smirked and leaned to his right. Ah, Lulu. So bold and demanding. That's what he liked about this one. She was always wanting him. She didn't care about whether he slept with another girl or even asked another one out, she just wanted him physically and that's what he gave her. A necklace or two would make her content when - and if - she ever got angry. The girl had a weird fascination with jewelry. Either way, he liked keeping her around to fool with.

Saaya slipped her phone in her purse and kissed his neck. He took his free hand and brushed it through her hair. Saaya gently bit him and moved one hand down to his waist, sliding beneath his jeans.

Man, what a life.

"Here are your name tags," the young assistant passed out a sticker sheet and a few pens. "Please follow all rules and regulations. There are emergency exits located in every room. Please sign in at the front and you'll be assigned to your rooms accordingly."

Mr. Kiyoteru quickly herded all of them to the desk to sign in and get their name tags. Amu was still giving Ikuto the silent treatment and Kūkai was for once, free of girls at the moment. They were all in the restroom at the moment, catching up on gossip and putting on their make-up. As soon as he sighed in, he made sure to bump into Amu.

"Ah, Hinamori-san," he quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to do that. Do you need any help?"

"I'm fine, thank you," she nodded and grabbed her suitcase handle before rolling off.

Kūkai stood, frozen for a moment at what just happened. Amu was very...straightforward. And she had this cold aura at the moment. Ikuto must've really ticked her off. Kūkai quickly went to get a drink of water and brushed his mouth off. No wonder Ikuto wouldn't stop pestering her..

Back in Amu's room, he continued asking her questions. And she continued ignoring his presence period. She pretended he didn't follow her to her room and stayed there while she picked her things out.

"Are you going to be like this all day?" Ikuto asked again.

"Where did I put my toothbrush?" Amu unzipped her bag and rummaged through it.

"You don't have to be so mad," he insisted poking her.

"I know I brought it," she ignored him and kept looking. "Did I put it in the front pocket? No...maybe oh, here it is."

Amu picked up the plastic tool triumphantly. Ikuto groaned inwardly and sighed. "Can I still apologize?"

"Ah, did I forget my books?" Amu quickly dug through her bag again.

"Amu..." he poked her again. "I'll make it up to you."

She finally turned and narrowed her eyes. "Really? Can you call a cab and send me back?"

Ikuto smiled. "No...but I can do something else if you want."

"I want to go back," she said adamantly. "I didn't want to come here in the first place!"

"Oh, stop complaining." Ikuto said.

"I won't." She crossed her arms.

"Are you really going to be like this?" He repeated frowning.

"Did I really have to come?" She shot back.

"Yes," he said matter-of-factly. "Yes, you did."

"Why?" Amu set her toothbrush back in her bag. "I could've just did the essay and be done with it."

"That'd be no fun," he complained.

"And what exactly," she raised an eyebrow, "is your definition of fun?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He slipped back to his 'seductive mode' as Amu liked to refer it as.

"N-no," she stuttered. "Not really."

The memory of her dream came back to her. Heat flushed her face and she suddenly became embarrassed. Unfortunately, she remembered every vivid detail. The way he looked at her...the touch of his gentle cool fingers...it sent a blaze through her entire being. Her heart accelerated.

He took her hand in his and put it to his cheek, kissing her palm and giving her a slanted look. "I'm sorry."

Amu pulled her hand back and looked away. "Hmph! F-fine! I forgive you."

"Really?"

"Do I have to say it twice?"

"Yes."

She smiled brilliantly at him. "I forgive you, Tsukiyomi Ikuto."

He straightened. "Let's go. We need to get into our partner groups."

Amu nodded and they quickly both went to where the mass of students gathered. Mr. Kiyoteru handed out the packets and quickly told each person about their partner. Everyone was quickly sped to the lab and began filling out the information. Ikuto patiently waited as the names were called off. Amu jumped when her name was read.

"Hinamori you're with Hotori."

Amu shrugged at Ikuto when she was greeted by a blond boy. He smiled at her and they went. Ikuto sighed and was put with Kūkai. He wrote down his observations and already filled half of the paper. Kūkai went on and on about his party nights and funny girls. Ikuto didn't realize it but he kept looking back at the blond and pink duo.

"Ah, you jealous?" Kūkai finally awoke him from his stupor.

"What?" Ikuto locked his eyes on Kūkai.

"So what was this one again?" Kūkai pointed to the plant in front of them.

"Kūkai..."

"No, I'm sure it's not that." He continued filling the paper out and looking for a tag.

"I'm not jealous," he muttered.

"You spend a lot of time with Amu." Kūkai finally said.

"So?"

"Did you start...you know liking her in that way?"

"And what way would that be?"

"You know Ikuto," he nudged him. "Well, at any rate, my roomie seems to like her as much as you do."

"Who?" Ikuto glanced over casually. "Nah, he just met her."

"And she's blushing why?" Kūkai tapped his pencil.

"Amu blushes easily," Ikuto replied coolly.

"Oh," Kūkai raised an eyebrow. "Funny, Hotori looks like he's about to hold her hand."

"Look at that," Ikuto peered over her shoulder. "That girl of yours is coming over here."

"What?" He whirled around worriedly wondering which girl of his he was talking about. "What girl...oh. I cannot believe I fell for that."

Ikuto was striding towards the two with an eerily calm expression.

[A/N] I'm not dead guys. Christmas just whisked me away for a while and so did something called high school. It's a ridiculous place to be, honestly. Amuto all the way! Yoo! Go be your hot jealous self, Ikuto!

[ Special Character Skit! ]

Ikuto looked at the drooling girls with mild interest. "Do I really have to do this kitana411?"

"If you still like your manhood..."

He gulped audibly. "If you put it that way...kitana411, Amu and I hope you had a happy holiday..."

The authoress narrowed her eyes threateningly.

Ikuto frowned but relayed the rest of his message. "Read and review, she doesn't own me or Shugo Chara and...nya~!"

"Bai-bai!" She waved cheerfully.

~kitana411