The Locket
By Aikou-is-Kyouryoku
(AN: Omigod, finally! I got the chapter out. SEE. I told you all I would get it out by Friday! [I was never specific on which Friday]. Loopholes! I actually have a very good excuse as to why I am so late. One word: SCHOOL. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to one of mah best friends, Toshiaki-Gin. And no, I am not entirely sure I spelled that correctly. Nor do I care. I'm sure he knows who he is despite the spelling error. Anyway! This chapter is dedicated to this specific person because no other person wanted this chapter out more than he did. [You are such a nag, man!] Ha-ha, anyway. On with the story.)
"Ikutoooo! Put me down! Lemme go!"
Amu kicked, screamed, and pounded her fists against Ikuto's chest, begging him to put her down so she could go scurry off back to the Gardens.
With each passing second, Ikuto's patience wore thinner and thinner, though he did nothing to show it.
"Quit squirming," he commanded, glancing down at the struggling pinkette in his arms.
Resistance was futile!
Futile!
Of course, knowing Amu, she did not listen. She continued to struggle, and just as Ikuto began walking down the steep, grassy hill, he stumbled and fell over, using his palms to catch him.
Though he did not expect Amu to come falling down on top of him (as he should have), so his head wound up pounding against the hill.
Whiplash!
Ikuto let out a quite groan before looking towards the dazed, pinkette on top of him.
Rather than pushing her off violently, he took advantage of this situation.
He sat himself up, pushing himself up with his palms. Amu fell into his lap, and as Ikuto looked down towards her, his tail swished.
On Amu's end, she sat dazed. She hit her head on Ikuto's broad chest, and anyone would have been rather surprised that Ikuto had not gotten the wind knocked out of him.
Reality hadn't come back to her until she felt arms around her torso and a chin on right shoulder.
Amu blushed heavily, fidgeting in her seat. It only became worse when she realized Ikuto's lap was her seat.
Ikuto chuckled in her ear, his warm breath brushing softly against her cheek.
"L-Lemme go, p-pervert!" she stuttered, barely making an effort to squirm out of his hold. What was the point? She was stuck until Ikuto was done with whatever he wanted to say.
On top of that, if she were to somehow miraculously escape, he'd only carry her back here.
Eff.
"No can do," he replied calmly, resting his head against hers.
Oddly enough to Amu, Ikuto sounded completely at peace.
It finally hit her that he and she were alone.
Oh, well wasn't that just dandy?
"Well, you've gone and dragged me out here. Now what do you want?"
Amu just knew that Ikuto was smirking at her.
Stupid cat.
"Oh nothing in particular," he started conversationally. He loosened one of his arms, dropping his hand to her neck.
She could feel herself shiver as his index finger trailed down her neck and to the heart that hung from the sleek chain of the necklace.
The alarms went off in Amu's head.
Neh? This was sexual harrassment!
Sexual harrassment I tell you!
Just as Amu got herself ready to slip her arm out and land a slap right to Ikuto's cheek, Ikuto started speaking again.
"I see you've taken a liking to my little gift," he stated, fingering the locket as he did so.
Amu made a face, turning her head away in a stubborn gesture.
She could feel his deep amethyst eyes on her, his attention focused on nothing else.
As if every word and every facial expression held any importance.
Was Ikuto actually concerned of what she thought about a piece of jewelry?
This she found mildly interesting, and amusing. Though she knew if she tried to tease him about it, it would only get turned around on her.
It was a win, win situation for Ikuto.
Never question the skills of the master!
"Of course I didn't! It was forced on me!"
Ikuto dropped his hand.
"That doesn't tell me why you're still wearing it."
"I'd never hear the end of it!"
"Hmph."
Amu was silent for a moment, no longer feeling Ikuto's gaze on her. She turned her head slightly, noting that his eyes were closed. She blinked, thinking he was asleep, though he opened an eye, a smirk plastered on his lightly tanned face in a flash. "It's rude to stare, Amu." Amu made a face, feeling the heat returning to her cheeks. "Oh, shut up!"
Ikuto raised an eyebrow, about the only thing changing about his facial expression other than the other eye opening. Before Ikuto had the chance to speak, Amu opened her mouth first,
"Why'd you give this to me anyway?" Amu asked a bit more quietly, now looking down at the locket.
She could feel a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she stared down at it. She felt stupid for having the urge to smile. So what if Ikuto gave her a fancy locket that costed a bunch of freaking yen?
She felt Ikuto release her from his hold, leaning back onto his palms.
"You can try and guess. If you'd like to stick around that long."
Hell no. Amu thought, rolling off of Ikuto's lap and onto the grass. Before she could get up and run like hell back to the school, she chanced a glance at Ikuto's face.
Why, oh why did she chance a glance at Ikuto's face?
There on Ikuto's face was not a seductive smirk, not a teasing grin, but a pure, genuine smile. Amu sort of stared out of the corner of her eye in shock. That smile…it just seemed so, well, how could she describe it?
Lovely.
Amazing.
This was the second time she had seen Ikuto smile like that.
It just seemed so rare and so new to her.
And she'd known Ikuto for how long now?
Anyway, all thoughts about Ikuto aside, back to the matter at hand.
After seeing the look on Ikuto's face, Amu knew she couldn't leave. It just wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be faired.
Though, Amu had just realized that the ball was in her court.
She also realized that she was examining her locket again, and that Ikuto was watching her do it.
"U-Uhm…"
Eh…what was the question again?
Oh, oh right!
"God, you're mean! Just tell me."
Poor, poor, oblivious girl. Why must you be so oblivious when it came to stuff like this?
Ikuto huffed, "Oh, but I already have."
Amu paused, returning his gaze.
"What?"
Ikuto opened his mouth to say something, though he was cut off by a high-pitched voice that had both of them wincing.
"AAAAAAAAAMMMMMUUUUUU!"
Oh. My. God.
GO AWAY WHOEVER YOU ARE.
Her thought-prayer was not answered.
A tiny body rammed into the back of her head, and the moment of fluffiness was officially over. Damn…pening waters!
(AN: I'd just like to point out that the 'dampening waters' thing is an inside joke. And I know he's reading this story right now. xD)
Amu rubbed the back of her head, looking at what had just hit her head. Little Ran had fallen onto the ground, looking very much dazed. She looked up to see Miki and Suu coming over, Dia not far behind. Though, Dia was sort of pouting, throwing disapproving looks at Ran, Miki, and Suu.
Oblivious Amu was oblivious to her moody gestures.
"Tadase-kun wants you to go back to the Gardens, desu!" Suu announced, smiling up at her flustered chara bearer.
Amu's face appeared to fall, some sort of disappointment spreading through her that she wasn't expecting. "It's only been," she muttered, glancing down at her watch, "twenty minutes."
Seriously, Tadase?
She glanced up at Ikuto, who was now looking up at the sky. The smile had faded, now it's usual guarded expression.
Though Amu had a feeling he was somewhat disappointed that their time together had ended so quickly.
Unfairness!
"Uhm," Amu muttered a bit awkwardly, rocking onto her knees as she got herself ready to stand up. "I-I guess I have to go now."
Ikuto sort of shrugged. "I guess you do."
She looked to her charas. All but Dia looked utterly confused.
"So…bye."
Before Amu could push herself up, Ikuto took hold of her wrist and kissed her hand.
The guilt hit her harder.
Stupid Ikuto, always knowing how to make her blush or how to make her feel utterly guilty. In most cases, much like this one, he could do both at one time. She snatched her hand away, standing herself up and quickly walking away.
Ikuto watched her go, his expression unreadable.
He felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, shaking his head to and at himself.
Who would have thought that the day when he spent most of his money would be the day his second smile was bared?
What had to be the greatest benefit for Ikuto was whenever he saw Amu, she was wearing That locket. His locket. Every single day. And he became that much happier.
I think it's safe to say that this story is over.
Not much more to it, though I do like how my ending chapter turned out.
It was all nice and fluffy and just plain adorable.
At least, that's what my cousin says who read over my shoulder as I typed.
It was extremely hard to concentrate!
Ahem, anyway, I'm rambling.
Make sure you R&R. Tell me what you thought overall of my first chapter story.
In my honest opinion, I thought it came out great.
But I want to hear what my readers think! Enough of my rambling on and on and on…
Oh, crap. Okay I do not own Shugo Chara! or any of its characters!
Thanks for reading!