Chapter 17: The Deal Breaker or the Deal Maker?
"Bye!" Tadase waved as five girls giggled away.
Amu looked at the girls who had been eyeing Ikuto all night. Great, now she probably had more rivals to deal with.
"Don't worry Amu-chan, I'm only here for you." He whispered seductively in her ear to her as he noticed the direction of her stare...or more glare.
"What? I'm not worried." She suddenly snapped out of it trying to hide her jealousy and watched as most of her graduating class walked away for the night to go home.
"I was thinking, maybe we should have one more meeting before summer." Nagihiko spoke up.
"I don't want it to be over yet." Rima mumbled beside him as he smiled at her.
"I think that's a good idea Nagi-chan." Tadase smiled at them. "Actually Tsukasa wanted to talk to us about something tomorrow anyway so it will work out."
"I wonder what?" Yaya speculated.
"We'll just have to see. I'm coming too." Kukai chimed in with Utau on his arm.
"I have a rehearsal tomorrow...I can't make it." Utau dismissed herself as if she was really needed there.
"Think your dear agent could get me a few promos at your shows?" Ikuto asked rather monotone.
"Well this is the first time you really talked to me...but I'll see what I can do. It's hard to say no to you Ikuto." She admitted.
"I thought you were over than obsession with me." Ikuto looked at her.
"What obsession?" She said angrily.
"Hey, hey, we'll see you tomorrow guys!" Kukai took Utau's hand and rushed her off.
"I'm going to go too. Nagi-chan...do you want a ride home?" Rima said quietly.
"If I'm not imposing." He agreed as they walked off.
"My mom's going to be here soon! Bye bye !" Yaya skipped off.
"Thanks Tadase." Ikuto said to Tadase suddenly.
"It really wasn't a big deal. Guess I'm kind of like the older brother now..." Tadase smiled at Amu and Ikuto.
"I wouldn't even dream of that." Ikuto lightly noogied Tadase's hair. "Still you're a pretty cool little bro."
"I'm not your little brother." Tadase felt agitated by his belittlement.
"Come on you two, not again." Amu said feeling the tension. "I said I wanted both of you around."
"And here I'd thought you'd picked me." Ikuto teased smiling at her.
"Well..uh..." She blushed.
"I'm going to go now. I'll see you tomorrow Amu-chan." Tadase ignored Ikuto and smiled at her.
"Bye Tadase, thank you!" She smiled back.
"Now what?" Ikuto asked her.
"I have to go home!" Amu said.
"Well that's no fun...but I guess since I still don't have a place I'm just going to have to go with you." He picked her up.
"I...uh..." She said as the space closed between their faces. But he already had turned into a half-cat with Yoru and scooped her up leaping around back to her house.
"Where are you going? You'll never get up to my room from down here?" Amu asked.
"One short stop before." Ikuto explained. "Why? You eager to get to your bed?" He teased.
"Oh shut it." She bit her lip. "Why are we at my front door?"
"Shh." He said and knocked at the door.
"Oh Amu-chan is home!" Her mother called from the door. She opened it to see a blue haired older boy beside her Amu. "Ikuto! How nice, did you walk Amu-chan home again?"
"Yes Mrs. Hinamori, I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all."
"Do I hear a boy at the door?!" Tsumugu yelled.
"Darling it's only Ikuto, Amu-chan's friend. He walked her home...isn't that sweet?" Her mother said to her father.
"Well..." He eyed up the boy.
"Actually there was something I wanted to ask." Ikuto spoke up, noticing Amu's father's accusing eyes.
"Ikuto?" Amu whispered looking at him for a moment.
"I was wondering if you would approve if I dated your daughter." Ikuto said flatly.
"Oh honey, of course we wouldn't mind! I thought you two were dating already!" Her mother nearly jumped for joy. Her father stood there with hard eyes grumbling.
Amu's mouth nearly dropped open...Ikuto? Asking for permission? He'd never done that around her? He'd never asked permission to sleep in her bed or anything?!
Ikuto smiled. So her mom thought that they were already dating...her father didn't look so pleased but hell...Yoru would help him if he ever got in trouble with him.
"Would you like to come in for a bit?" Her mother offered. Her father was already sitting on a chair twiddling his thumbs in a cross between anger and sadness.
"No, I'd better go, but thank you." Ikuto smiled. As he turned around to walk away Ikuto brushed Amu with his shoulder. "See you later Amu-chan."
Amu walked into her house already expecting the assault she'd get from her parents. Ikuto...was one hell of a sly cat he was.
"Amu-chan I'm so happy for you! Going into high school with a boyfriend!" Her mother sang dancing with tearful eyes.
"Who is his parents?" Her father grumbled questioningly.
"Uhm his real fathers name is Tsukiyomi a violinist...but his step fathers name is Hoshina."
"Hoshina? Like Utau Hoshina?" Her mother repeated.
"Yea that's his sister...his father owned easter."
Her parents went awkwardly silent. Her father couldn't rebuttal that lineage. Easter had a lot of money in their company even now that it was looking for a new line of work. Her mother was star struck, and knew Ami-chan loved Utau even after her minor fall from fame.
"I'm going to bed... it was a long night." Amu sighed and turned around. She heard her parents go back to chattering before she left.
"A long night?" Her father repeated.
"Utau's brother?" Her mother repeated.
She rolled her eyes and went into her bedroom.
"Nice parents."
She looked over to see Ikuto laying on her bed. "I don't know why that even surprises me anymore..." Amu rolled her eyes.
"So what did they think of you dating a cat?"
"They didn't say...they like your family though." She said nervously.
"That makes one of us. Utau is not that bad a guess...and my mom is getting better now." He stared at the ceiling.
"They like you Ikuto...and I'm going to get ready for bed." Amu left the room to get in her pjs.
"I..Ikuto..." Yoru suddenly floated over.
"Hmm?"
"Do you need me anymore?"
"What?"
"You're becoming more of who you wanted to be...I don't know how much longer I need to stick around. Your not really a stray anymore..."
"I'm still a stray you know...plus I need you to help me be the best I can be for Amu. I don't know how much I'll be able to save her if she keeps klutzing out." He looked over to Yoru who's face had turned from solemn to happy.
Amu had been peaking through the door. She smiled and walked out, in her pjs, as her guardians went over over to hug Yoru.
"What is this?!" Yoru asked, smushed with a hug from Amu's guardians.
"You're staying around longer!" Ran cheered.
"You're a pesky cat but we'd miss you." Miki admitted.
Yoru sighed. Amu laughed.
"So does this mean your going to get a place here?" Amu asked.
"Probably...I figured I might as well graduate high school. I think Utau is going to help me with my violin career. It should work out."
"Are you sure you dont need to be over in Europe?" Amu suddenly felt selfish.
"Nah, I wouldn't be happy there." He smiled flirting, as he grabbed the nape of her pjs once again and dragged her down to the bed.
"You don't have to be so pushy." Amu blushed.
"It's part of my charm." He shrugged, leaned over her and kissed her. "I mean if you think about it...its my key that unlocked your heart."
She felt her face turn a darker red. He waited for her to shove him off of her, but instead she just curled up beside him and fell asleep smiling. Ikuto laughed to himself, and wrapped his arm around her as he too fell asleep.