Nerdz: Umm… WHY AM I THE LAST TO FIND OUT THAT IKUTO AND AMU BECAME A COPULE IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE MANGA?!

Ikuto: Cause you stopped reading it.

Amu: and you stopped watching the show after Ikuto left.

Nerdz: well that's not my fault! If it not about Ikuto then why even bother?! Then they made that stupid mini series about that bratty girl that could sense X characters. I'm not watching that crap! Buuuut if I knew that the manga kept the Amuto Arch going, I would kept watching it!

Ikuto: you should have joined the forum!

Nerdz: well I see that now! Ughh -_- Let's just get this over with.

Amu: she doesn't own anything :3

Heaven & Earth

Chapter 4: Bonding, with a Side of Pudding

Hurriedly, ink transferred from pen to the notebook paper as Nikaidou-sensei wrote on the chalkboard, twice as fast as my hand could move. The class was silent as we all tried to keep up. All morning long, he hadn't smiled, cracked a joke, or anything. Even if I was new, I could tell something was wrong.

"Hurry and get these notes written. There will be more up soon," he spat out, earning a groan from the class.

"Humph!" I grunted and chucked my blue pen down like it was laced with acid. "This is too much work…" I whispered quietly to myself. Massaging my stiff palm, I heard a slight chuckle from beside me. In shock, I turned to face Ikuto, who was starring at me, obviously amused by my reaction. A deep crimson flashed across my face as I glanced down at his notes; Ikuto had given up on the assignment as long time ago. I laughed as quietly as I could, but I still gained the attention of a few people. I stuck my tongue out at the smirking blue-haired boy, who laughed even more.

This was how we've been communicating for the past two weeks. Whenever I did something embarrassing (which was often), he would be the first to chuckle and flash that infamous smirk that sent chills up my spine. Although I was happy with the little communicating we had together, I couldn't help but feel frustrated that after two whole weeks of being back on Earth, this was as far as I've gotten. However, I didn't want to force myself onto him, and then have him think I was weird. That would be the whole mission down the toilet.

'Besides, I'm just happy he's even acknowledging me!' As this thought passed though my mind, I turned back to the front of the class, only to be greeted by Nikaidou-sensei's glare. Both mine and Ikuto's smile dropped.

"Is there something you would like the share, Hinamori-san?" he asked.

"Sensei, I'm touched," I teased, in attempts of lighting the heavy mood I was already feeling from across the room. "You finally got my name right." a few classmates laughed aloud; Ikuto smile for a bit, and then turned back towards the window.

"How about you laugh more about it in Detention." he spat out and began walking back toward the board.

"What?! For making a joke?!" I argued as u rose to my feet, feeling my blood boil. The class ooo-ed as Sensei paused in between two desk, whose occupants shrunk down in their chair, wanting to avoid the blow.

He slowly turend, his eyes dark, "No, for being a smart aleck." the room was complete silence as I watched the fire dance in Nikaidou-sensei's eyes.

"Nikaidou, chill out." a familiar voice broke the awkwardness. I turned to the desk beside me in shock. Ikuto looked intensely at Sensei' one arm still propped up as his rest his head in his palm. Although his posture was laid back, I notice his usually bright indigo pupils turn into a dark, cloudily blue. His eyebrows stitched downward as he and Sensei had a starring match to the death. I had never seen him so angry…

The class didn't know who to focus on more: their usually calm and collected classmate, who now exposed the rumored rebellion they had heard about; or their goofy Sensei that had suddenly turned cold. You could cut the tension in the room with a samurai sword, and it would still be difficult. I couldn't stand it, especially knowing that this all began because of my stupid comment.

"Okay, Nikaidou-sensei, fine!" as I spoke, everybody turend their attention toward me, "I'll be at detention. Happy?"

"Yes…" he mused, "and Mr. Tsukiyomi can join you." he began to walk back to the board.

"What?! He didn't do any-" but a warm touch paused my rant. I looked down to see Ikuto gripping the sleeve of my jacket. As much as I wanted to spaz out from his touch, his eyes were still dark.

"Sit down." he said through his teeth, before letting go and turning back to the window. I cooperated, too terrified to argue. The mood had turned stiff and tense; Sensei, sighing because he lost his train of thought, told everybody to get out tonight's homework and work until the bell rung for lunch. He would be in the teacher's lounge. For the next thirty minutes, everybody sat in silence, and worked.

'6:32pm', the digital clock showed; time was going by way too slow for my liking. I could have sworn it was just '6:32' five minutes ago.

I sat on one side of the picnic table and Ikuto on the other. Nikaidou had left us in the cafeteria/ detention room about twenty minutes ago. Before he went off to his meeting, he explained why he was in such a bad mood (his lizard died) and we caught the worst of his sour mood. However, we still shouldn't have back talked- blah, blah, blah.

Now it was just Ikuto and I in the big, grey cafeteria. He hadn't said anything since we go in here. It made me wonder if he was still mad from earlier. Most likely; I embarrassed him, didn't I? I let out a deep sigh; I won't be able to stand it if we spent the next forty minutes in silence. Gathering every piece of courage I had, I finally spoke. "Too bad about his lizard, huh?"

He scoffed, "He never had a lizard." he said, his eyes closed.

"But he just said-"

"He got dumped. That's why he's in a crappy mood." he spoke calmly. 'Maybe he not mad anymore…'

"How would you know?" I question. Although I made my voice uncaring, my heart fluttered widely as I became mesmerized by his features. I felt a blush creep up as his eyes flashed open and turned to me. I hitched a breath as he began to speak.

"Let's just say, I have my ways."

"Well, gee, that tells me a lot." I mused sarcastically, earning a laugh form his end. I liked making him laugh. He has a beautiful smile.

"You sure know how to make a good first impression." he stated, rhetorically, I think, as he got up and walked toward a large deep freezer that sat just behind my seat.

"Well…" I hummed as he walked back towards me. Ikuto plopped down on the bench beside me and passed me a chocolate flavored pudding cup and a spoon.

"Chocolate okay?" he asked as he peeled back wrapper and scooped a spoonful up, cramming it into his mouth.

"Yea, I like chocolate." I answered coolly as I did the same. About five minutes passed as we ate in silence. Every time I took a bite, he would watch me. I blush was attempting to form. 'No! Fight it!'

"Do you like what you see?" I huffed, my heart beating widely. Although I had been dead for years, I hadn't lost my cold attitude. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad… most likely good, that way I could keep our friendship at a distance. I fought the frown that desperately wanted to form as he spoke.

"Hmm, what's your name again?" he avoided the question, but I wish he hadn't said that!

I sighed, "Amu. Hinamori?"

He chuckled slightly, "Yea, sorry 'bout that." he finished off the rest of his pudding before jumping up and heading to the trash can. "So, what your story?" he asked as he returned he took a seat on top of the table.

Crap! I had been so excited about finally being able to meet him, I didn't even think of a cover story. What if it was already too late to make up something; I mean he knew my full name now.

My brain scrambled with excuses. "Um, well, it's really long and complicated…"

His lips curved into a smirk, "Try to explain it to me."

"Hmm, maybe one day. Gotta stay mysterious, you know?" I mused, not knowing where these words were coming from, but glad for them. I got up and threw my pudding cup into the trashcan; the whole time I walked I could feel his eyes on my back.

"Yea, I know." he said, chuckling a bit. I walked back to him and sat back down. Suddenly, he swooped up my hand and began writing on it. My heart began to beat rapidly as I prayed to Father that my hand didn't sweat! When he let go I started to read what he wrote, but he closed my hand into a fist before I could see. "Don't read it until I'm gone." he whispered, staring intensely into my eyes. Not as he did Nikaidou, but with an intensity that sent my hormones whirling!

"O-okay…" I manage to say, matching his tone. He smirked. His eyes were a bright blue again; he wasn't mad anymore.

"Well, my Mysterious Strawberry, nice talking to you." he whispered, letting his breathe fill my nostrils: chocolate and toothpaste; it smelt so good combined! He got up, slung his back over her shoulder and began walking towards the exit.

"B-but, wait! The bell wasn't dismissed us-" I began, but when he pointed skyward, I stopped; on queue, the bell rung. He smirked one last time before he slipped out the door.

I sighed as I finally let the long awaited blush spread across my face like wildfire. Happily, I collected my things and began for the exit, until I remember that he had wrote on my hand.

"Ahh!" I exclaimed and opened my palm. My hand had sweated since then so it took a minute to make out his scribbled hand writing. 'What if it's his phone number?!' I asked myself excitedly as I read the message.

You have pudding in your teeth.

My eye twitched as I re-read the message over and over. I growled before losing my cool.

"Ikuto!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the concrete walls; and I could have sworn that I heard that all too familiar chuckle, off in the distance.

Nerdz: haha, I liked the ending.

Amu: of course you did, you wrote it.

Nerdz: Touché -_-

Ikuto: I liked the ending too.

Nerdz: Really?! Why?

Ikuto: Because it ended.

Nerdz: -_- You're lucky I have to pee to bad to argue with you. I can't believe I'm finally continuing this story. I had to with all the reviews I been getting. So the plan is to post on Monday. I'll try to keep up with it this time. Thank yall. Hope you enjoyed. Please review : )