Sky: I'm baaaaaaaaaack!
Ikuto: You sound like a sheep.
Sky: Is that supposed to be an insult?
Ikuto: …..
Sky: You know what? I'm gonna make you sound like a sheep.
Iktuo: …Is that supposed to mean something to me?
Sky: grins evilly In front of Amu.
Ikuto: No! Please! Don't!
Amu: comes in Huh? What about me? Did someone say my name? looks over at Ikuto And why are you on your knees? Are you begging? starts to crack up
Ikuto: gets up No.
Amu: giggles You were, weren't you?
Ikuto: Just leave.
Amu: Why?
Ikuto: glares
Amu: Hmph. Fine. stomps away
Sky: smiles Do the disclaimer and I might not make you baaaaa in front of Amu.
Ikuto: You're so mean.
Sky: Disclaimer or Amu's gonna think you're a sheep instead of a kitty.
Ikuto: Fine. MewDetective RideHungerVA does not own Shugo Chara. Now can you please change the story?
"Amu-chan! Come over here!" Utau called, waving over her friend. "I think I found 'the One'!"
Finally, Amu thought grumpily as she trudged over to where Utau and Nadeshiko were. It's about time.
But Amu's thoughts turned a completely different direction once she saw the outfit Utau was holding. It was a devil costume, which Amu had no problems with. What she did have a problem with was the short, half-top with slash marks through it, the matching, super-short miniskirt, and the fishnet tights. And to top it all off, Utau had chosen a pair of peep-toe, three-inch black heels.
"Well? What do you think, Amu-chan?" Utau demanded.
"No way in hell am I ever going to wear that!" Amu exclaimed. "Its way too showy and totally not me. Does that shirt even cover anything? What about the skirt? And those tights? And what were you thinking when you picked out those shoes? Give it to Saaya or one of her friends." Saaya was a snobby and "popular" girl who was in the eleventh grade but declared Amu her rival the minute Amu stepped into Seiyo Academy last year. She was always scheming about how to get one of the popular guys: Ikuto, Tadase, Nagihiko, or Kukai.
Utau looked hurt but put the costume back nonetheless.
"Utau-chan!" Il exclaimed. "Stop!"
"Nani?" Utau asked, annoyed. "And keep it down, will you? The people here are gonna think I'm crazy."
"You should get this," Il suggested, indicating to the devil costume that Utau had just put back onto the rack.
"Me? But I already picked out a pop star costume," Utau protested.
"You already are a pop star," Il pointed out.
"True," Utau relented. "Fine."
"Wait!" an angelic voice called out. It was El, Utau's second chara and the complete opposite of Il. "If you're really going to change your costume, you should get an angel one."
"No," Il said. "Angels are stupid."
El crossed her arms over her small chest. "Are not."
"Are too."
"Well, devils are stupider," El retorted.
"That's not even a word."
"Yeah, it is."
"Nuh-uh."
"Uh-huh."
"Nuh-uh."
"Uh-huh."
"Nuh –"
"What about this one, Utau-chan?" Amu asked the pop idol, interrupting the two charas' argument. Amu was holding a half-devil/half-angel costume. On the right, the costume was all white and gold. There was a half-halo, a flowing sleeve with gold trim, a half-gold belt, half of a flowing miniskirt with gold trim, and one right foot white heel. The left side was completely red and black. The other half of the headband had one red devil horn. There was a tattered red sleeve, half of a black-studded belt, half of a red short and tattered miniskirt, and a black heel.
"I love it!" Il exclaimed.
"Me too!" El agreed.
The two charas glared at each other. They never agreed on anything.
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Utau thanked her friend.
Amu just shrugged. She didn't see what the big deal was: wasn't it just some clothes?
"But what are you going to wear, Amu-chan?" Nadeshiko asked, appearing behind a rack.
"Let's do you first, Nadeshiko," Amu suggested.
"I already have my costume picked out," Nade replied. "I did it with Nagi last weekend."
Amu smiled. "I already have a costume picked out. It's in here." She held up the shopping bag in her hand.
"Ooh!" Utau squealed. "Can I see it? Can I? Please, Amu-chan?"
Amu shook her head. "Not a chance."
"So when are you going to show us?" Nade demanded. Amu grinned to herself. It must be some suspense if even calm and collected Nadeshiko wanted to see it.
"During the dance, of course. What else would I wear?"
"Right. The dance," Utau repeated. "Duh. Of course – wait a second! You said you're not going to the Halloween dance!" She glared accusingly at her friend.
"I did?" Amu feigned surprise. "Really? Oh well." She turned around and began walking away. "I guess you won't be able to see my costume after all. Too bad, I guess."
"So you are going to the dance," Nade realized.
Amu waved an orange ticket in the air. "They're already on sale. Don't forget to buy one or the costume-shopping trip would've had no point."
"'Cool & spicy'!" Utau and Nade squealed together.
Amu grimaced. And to think they're actually my friends...
"Amu-chan!" Su exclaimed as Amu flopped down onto her new purple-and-black bed. "You're back! How was the shopping spree? Did you buy anything?"
Amu held up her bag.
"Yay Amu-chan!" Ran cheered, waving her pom-poms in the air. "You finally bought something! Did you get something for us?"
"I figured Miki could design your costumes. Which reminds me; I need you to do something for me, Miki."
Miki looked up from the sketch of the night sky she was working on. "Nani?"
"It's about my costume."
Unlike everyone else, Miki had no interest in knowing what Amu's secret costume was. So, against all odds, she was the only one allowed to see it before the dance.
Miki sighed but put away her pad and pencils and floated over to Amu's bag. Amu opened it briefly before closing it again. There was some rustling inside before Miki reappeared.
"Get it?" Amu asked.
Miki nodded. "I'll have it done before the dance, Amu-chan." As if to prove her point, Miki immediately sat down on the edge of Amu's desk and pulled out her sketch pad once more, flipping to a new clean page.
"So you're going?" Su said.
"Yeah."
"Yuh-tah!" Ran exclaimed.
The green and pink charas started dancing together in their happiness.
Amu, paying them no attention whatsoever, got up and walked out onto her balcony. She leaned her arms onto the cold, metal railing. Maybe I should get a jacket. It was quite chilly for October and Amu was only in jeans and a long-sleeve shirt.
"Why?"
Amu almost fell off of the balcony because she hadn't realized that her fourth chara had followed her outside.
"Why what?" Amu asked once steadied again.
"Why did you suddenly decide to go to the dance? Even Tadase-kun couldn't convince you."
Amu blushed at the mention of her crush's name. "I….I…..I honestly don't know, Dia."
A cold wind blew that left Amu shivering and her teeth chattering. If only Ikuto were here right now...
Amu shook herself of such thoughts: she did not like Ikuto. She liked Tadase. It had always been Tadase.
But Ikuto's so soft and cuddly; just like a cat.
"Amu-chan?"
"Huh?" Amu blinked.
Dia sighed. "You were spacing out again, weren't you?"
"Gomen," Amu apologized.
"Let's just go back in. It's cold out here, anyways." Dia was secretly smiling to herself inside.
You should get to know Ikuto-kun better before you rule out all options, Amu-chan.
Sky: Whatdya think? R&R?