So as I said before Amu does something drastic in this chapter and as the title says we're meeting the evil stepmother! Dun dun duuuun! So sit back and buckle up it's going to be a bumpy ride on the emo-coaster!
I do not own Shugo Chara but I wish they'd dub it already so I can get it on Netflix! (Which I also do not own)
Nadeshiko didn't know what was more surprising that Amu and Ikuto came into the room soaking wet laughing as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world or the fact that Amu had broken the tension from before that was so thick you could cut it with a knife in less than half and hour. Then again it was like Amu to put a smile on your face when everything was so dark. Ikuto was no exception to Amu's charm. As a matter of fact Ikuto was a person benefiting it in the most and from what anyone could tell he was becoming fond of that charm, but it made Nadeshiko nervous.
Amu had been her best friend since pre-k and she even knew Amu's mother before she died. Nadeshiko more than anything, wanted Amu to be happy, she wished for Amu to find true love and live happily with said person, but then be careful what you wish for.
Nadeshiko was twelve when she first learned of her family heritage and what it meant for her best friend. Her father didn't want Nadeshiko left out and wanted her to help in Amu's caretaking as well. Of course at first Nadeshiko was for it and was more than happy to help her family and best friend but then at the breakfast table just a few days ago when Amu and all of her other friends came to visit all her ambition to help her friend become the living Amulet vanished and changed into worry. The last lines of the poem her father had read…
"When a living amulet shatters, a broken heart shall mend a thousand years of wrong."
…worried her. It could only mean one thing.
Amu was going to become broken in order for Ikuto to be restored.
Amu and Ikuto were talking behind her as she walked them to the room they had prepared for Ikuto. Ikuto was teasing her about her clumsiness rubbing off on him and Amu stabbed back with a retort about cats supposedly having good balance.
"We're here" Nadeshiko said as cheerfully as she could manage as she gestured to the door on her right, "This is your room Ikuto-sama."
Amu gawked at the huge luxuiurious suite that Nadeshiko called a "room".
The floor was hard white marble and the corners of the walls had long columns like the ones during the Greco-roman period, and it was saying quite a bit since the room was in the form of a pentagon. In between two of the columns was a large luxurious bed with a canopy that loomed over it and dark red velvet drapes that enclosed halfway around the incredibly soft looking bed. The room was spacious and simple, other then the bed and one dresser there wasn't much furniture.
"I'm sorry it's so plain," Nadeshiko said sincerely, "We were not expecting you so soon."
Ikuto simply whistled and smirked then made a cat-leap for the bed landing softly in the folds of the pillowy mattress, "Fine with me."
Amu was still gawking and flipping out at the room.
At the corner of her eye Nadeshiko could see Amu hoping around the room like an elementary student at an amusement park excited to explore every bot of it and made about three tri[s to the large walk in closet.
"Amu-chan, you'll be bunking with me tonight." Nadeshiko said stopping Amu in her tracks, "Huh?"
Nadeshiko smiled at Amu warmly, knowing full well her friend was already planning on staying in this bedroom, "We already phoned Tsumugu-san, he said he's in the city all night tonight anyway."
Amu nodded briefly understanding, "Oh yeah he was supposed to go to a seminar about the latest ringworm that's been going around. I completely forgot about it with the whole-" Amu blushed and stopped in her tracks and quickly glanced at Ikuto who had his eyes closed but a very obvious smirk gave away his consciousness, "date thing…heheh"
Nadeshiko bit her lip and tried her best to smile, but the look on their faces said enough to her. Those too were getting close, too close.
"Come on Amu, I'll lend you some of my pajamas." Nadeshiko said bringing Amu's attention to her, "You're choice".
Amu immediately lit up and ran up to Nadeshiko with stars in her eyes, "Iknowjusttheone!" She sprang and tuned quickly to Ikuto, "GoodnightIkuto!" then dragged Nadeshiko out of the room.
After Nadeshiko agreed to let Amu wear one of her more expensive silk pajamas that fitted like a princess dress tightly around the torso and loosely on the skirt and the sleeves billowed to her elbows, a set that Amu had her eye on since they turned 16, Amu calmed down and set up her futon while humming. Nadeshiko watched her friend's blissful mood not sure whether to be happy for her or deeply concerned.
After she finished Amu spun around and saw Nadeshiko a little more somber than usual Amu thought she still felt guilty about the whole "we've known about Ikuto and kidnapped you to find him thing".
"Hey, Nadeshiko are you still upset?" Amu asked softly. Nadeshiko slowly glanced at Amu and smiled, "About what Amu-chan?"
"About tonight?" Amu asked rushed and glanced down as silky soft skirt of the gown she was wearing, "I mean I don't think your at fau-"
"It's not that Amu-chan" Nadeshiko interrupted, "I'm worried about you, liking Ikuto."
Amu was surprised at Nadeshiko's response. If anything, Amu thought Nadeshiko would be happy for her. Amu then blushed and wondered if Nadeshiko had secretly been in love with "Prince Ikuto" and Amu came clinging to the real thing and she was jealous, or that Nadeshiko thought Amu wasn't good enough to be with a prince and was worried Ikuto would find something better and leave. Then Amu started to worry about that and was beginning to freak out.
Nadeshiko could see the smoke coming out of Amu's ears as she paced around the room. Knowing her friend all to well she guessed Amu was worried Nadeshiko thought Ikuto was a player although his attitude fit the bill Nadeshiko knew Ikuto wasn't a Casanova in his past a doubted he was now. She tugged at Amu's sleeve to stop her and quickly said, "It's about the prophecy Amu-chan."
Amu sighed and breathed a deep sigh of relief but was still worried Ikuto would leave her for a super model. She then realized what Nadeshiko had said, "What about the prophecy?"
"Remember, "Nadeshiko bit her lip, "The last two lines. 'A broken heart shall mend a thousand years of wrong.'"
Amu nodded and thought about those lines, "A broken heart?" she muttered, The entire prophecy is about Ikuto so it must mean Ikuto's broken heart!
Shock dawned on Amu's face and Nadeshiko sighed believing Amu had understood what she was trying to tell her. If Amu realizes she's in danger now she'll stop whatever she is doing with the prince and just laylow. It was also a bit unfair to Ikuto but she knew if Ikuto truly felt anything for her friend he would rather stay cursed then hurt Amu.
"I won't let that happen!" Amu suddenly burst out surprising Nadeshiko, "I'll protect Ikuto's heart." Nadeshiko then realized Amu thought "a broken heart" meant Ikuto and it made sense for a person who wasn't considering the Living Amulet then Nadeshiko remembered Amu didn't know about her secret lineage. She wouldn't until it was too late too. Nadeshiko sighed deeply knowing she couldn't warn her friend and hoping Amu wouldn't be the victim of this tragic play.
Nadeshiko then changed the subject by tossing a pillow at Amu, "If you keep worrying like that I'm going to have to beat you." Nadeshiko said calmly picking up her pillow from the floor and fluffing it out. Amu then forgot about her worried and the two started a pillow fight until the exhausted each other out and soon they both fell asleep next to each other and feathers spew about the room.
The gold of morning came and the light dawned into Ikuto's room but since the windows were on either side of him the day didn't hit him directly. It merely shown through the mirror and danced upon him so he didn't feel any pain when he turned into his small cat self and peacefully slept through the transformation. It wasn't until a little later when the butler came into his room with a tray of breakfast, did he wake up and realize he was a cat.
"Your breakfast, Ikuto-sama." The butler said glancing nervously at the cat before him. Ikuto so used to playing the cat role just meowed a "thanks" and started looking around the bed ignoring the breakfast before him.
The butler just shook his head and walked away muttering that rich people ask for the weirdest things. Ikuto dug under the pillows and all through the blankets but he couldn't find his collar, "I know I had it on last night…. What happened to it?" Then it hit him when he and Amu were making out she had attacked his neck with her hand and it managed to snake all the way to his hair with the least bit of discomfort from the collar. He purred at the memory and his kitty face held a very distinct smirk on it.
Ikuto then guessed the collar must have come off around the koi pound at that time.
He neglected his breakfast and scampered outside to the koi pond. The koi gathered around him curiously and he gazed into the water trying to see if he could see his lost collar. He saw a koi toward the bottom dragging something long that looked like it would be about the right size of his collar. He stuck in his paw carefully and tried to swipe the koi but it darted out of the way just in time and Ikuto fell into the pound head first.
Since he wasn't a very good swimmer he clawed in vain at the water trying to get himself out of the pond that was deeper today then last night until a large hand picked him up and pulled him to safety.
It was Notori who had come to feed the fish and found Ikuto about ready to drown, "Here I order you the finest breakfast and you're trying to eat my koi."
Ikuto glared at him and spat out the water in his mouth, "Yuck, why would I eat those bottom feeders." Ikuto grunted and pulled himself out of Notori's hand. He then started shaking the water off of his fur and started licking his paw dry, he then began working on the rest of his body.
"If not for breakfast then why were you in the koi pond?" Notori probed as he began feeding the koi thoughtfully as the large hungry goldfish readily came to him in search of the food.
Ikuto flattened his ears remembering they did the same exact thing when he approached, Stupid fish don't even run when they see a cat, He tensed up and then shook again making sure he had all the water off, "I sorta lost the collar Amu gave me so I went looking for it."
"Oh," Notori said suddenly serious, "That necklace you had around your neck, Amu-chan gave that to you?"
"Yeah she made it." Ikuto said continuing his dry-bath.
"I see well I'll have the grounds keepers keep an eye out for it." Notori said, "As for you, it's about time for you and Amu to go home. Don't you think Tsumugu will be home soon and he expects to see Amu and Ikuto at home safe?"
Ikuto shook himself dry one more time and nodded. Notori threw the last bit of bread to the koi and walked toward the mansion. Ikuto just glanced one more time at the fish and followed Notori into the mansion where Amu was in her clothes from yesterday waiting for him. Amu looked at Ikuto with a confused look on her face, "Ikuto…. Why are you still a cat?"
Ikuto just sighed and hopped on her shoulder., "Sorry Amu, I lost the collar."
"Don't worry we'll keep an eye out for it." Notori reassured. Ikuto sighed again.
Amu smiled and patted his head, "It's okay Ikuto I'm sure they'll find it for us." She then picked up her purse and bade goodbye to all the Fujisaki's and left the house holding Ikuto's head close to her's as they walked home. Ikuto didn't mind it and began purring contently/ Amu blushed and scratched Ikuto's chin as they walked toward her home, I'll protect Ikuto's happiness no matter what!
The walk was silent but comfortable but when they approached the house, Amu could make out a large red car in the drive way, Who's car….? As they came closer Amu recognized the car and stopped dead in her tracks staring blankly at the car, It can't be…
Her hand stopped rubbing Ikuto's chin and fell to the side. Ikuto could sense something was wrong and looked at the car not fully realizing why Amu looked so afraid but worrying none the less, "Amu, what is it?"
"She's back…" she said weakly her voice cracking from apprehension. She startled Ikuto by moving to fast for Ikuto to respond, she lifted him off her shoulder and turned around and set him on the ground, and then kneeled down in front of him a very stern yet nervous look on her face made him stop and listen, "Ikuto, I need you to go back to the Fujisaki mansion and stay there until I call you okay?"
Ikuto was alarmed that Amu was sending him away but Amu's face looked absolutely terrified, "Amu what's wrong? Who's back?" Amu shook her head, "I'll explain later but you'll be safe at the Fujisaki mansion, go now!"
Ikuto nodded unsure and began to scamper off toward the mansion, "And watch out for traffic!" Amu shouted toward his retreating figure. Ikuto then stopped and noticed Amu had already turned around and was running back to the house. She was terrified of something, soething he didn't know about. He couldn't get the image of her expression out of his head and he couldn't leave her alone to face whatever was wait at that house.
Once Amu saw that Ikuto was already headed back she wasted no time in hurrying back to the house to make sure everything wasn't rampaged from Ren's usual tornado attack that desolates the entire house from kitchen to bathroom when she get's home on trips.
Amu wasn't afraid of Ren, to Amu Ren was just an obstacle in her life and she always met her head on. Ren was a spoiled, selfish, woman whose only good trait was her unbelievable beauty, but still nothing compared to Amu's mom.
She often ordered Amu around even as a little girl making sure Saaya was the best taken care of. But being the coward that she was, she only did this when Tsumugu was out. Now her dad was still in the city for the seminar, Amu knew Ren would be at her worst.
When Amu opened the door, she was surprised to see the house was still intact and Ren's bags were on the foyer still unpacked. It was unusual and it made Amu nervous, the only thing that would keep her in one spot is when she had something on her mind that she didn't like, She knows about Ikuto already
Amu swallowed hard and walked in the living room where the porcelain skin red lipped, long dark haired woman was sitting on the couch watching Amu approach glaring at her darkly.
Amu could feel the pierce of the glare Ren was giving her but just stood firm, "Good Morning Ren-san."
"Of course it is." Ren said darkly and rose up elegantly and face Amu who not only stood tall in front of Ren but glared back at her rebelliously. Ren then sliced her hand across Amu's face leaving a small but defied cut from one of Ren's many rings.
"How dare you even think about hitting my Saaya?" Ren spat, "trash like you!"
Amu didn't say anything she even ignored the throbbing pain from her cut and stood firm, "If it weren't for your father I wouldn't put up with you. You'd be off to military school where you could learn some manners."
Amu stayed silent, "I'm surprised you haven't talked my dad into that yet." Amu said calmly but the venom in her voice was obvious. Ren smirked feeling a sense of triumph over her "control" over Tsumugu, "A matter of time."
She looked around bitterly then glared at Amu, "So where is it?"
Amu looked at her blankly, "What?"
Ren glared at her, "Don't play games with me. You know what."
Amu just stayed quiet.
"That filthy mongrel you brought home." Ren spat as she lifted her cell phone, "And just like your yappy little puppy it's going to the pound to be put down."
Amu took in a deep breath Thank God Ikuto's safe at the Fujisaki mansion
Amu lifted her gaze to meet Ren who was shaken that Amu looked so calm, "He's not here. I found where he belonged."
Ren stood up not sensing any dishonestly in Amu's response she shut her phone and strode to the couch, "Good I don't want to even see that thing and you better be telling the truth, If I see a single sign of the mongrel he's as good as dead."
Amu took the opportunity to leave, she turned around and walked up the stairs calmly and shut her room door slowly leaning against it. She sucked in a sharp breath and slid down relieved and terrified that Ren's threat wasn't an action. Amu felt horrible, all the happiness that she had built with Ikuto in these past few days now suddenly came crashing down. Ren wouldn't let Amu out of her sight now that she had a reason to put Amu on her shit list. All happiness would be on hold until Ren got board of ruing Amu's life.
Amu noticed it was quiet in the house. Ren was probably thinking up ways to make Amu's life more miserable, but then a mild scratching sound broke the silence. Amu knew the sound well and lifted her eyes toward her balcony door across the room.
Ikuto had always had trouble getting in the balcony door when it was closed and there he was trying to paw his way in. Amu stood up quickly to let him in and he immediately jumped into her arms.
"Ikuto!" Amu gasped, "What are you doing here?"
Ikuto purred and pushed against her shoulder to look at her, "I couldn't leave you looking so scared like that."
Amu blushed and tears began forming in her eyes, "Stupid, I wasn't scared for myself, I was scared for you!"
Ikuto noticed the cut on her cheek as a tear merged with a drop of blood as it slid down her fair face, "What happened?"
Amu shook her head and put him on the Balcony, "Ikuto you have to leave or else-"
The sound of the door opening and Ren's voice came into the room, "Yes, we have a stray cat, I believe it has rabies my husband is out and it's attacking my stepdaughter hurry and get here quick, thank you!" Ren shut her phone and glared at Amu, "Did you really think I believed you, stupid?"
Amu just stood there shock and fear in her features and tears brimming and falling down her face but then rage set in and all her patients snapped. She ran over to Ren, grabbed her phone out of her hand, slammed it on the floor, and stomped on it.
"You bitch!" Amu screamed and slapped Ren across the face. Ren was taken aback. Never before had Amu retaliated against her no matter how badly she treated her or how much she dumped on her Amu stay calm and patient but now that this cat was being on the verge of being put down and the world rid of another filthy animal Amu reacted like a mad person. Ren also gawked at Amu as she left everything in her room behind and bundled the dirty animal into her arms. Amu turned back only once more leaning halfway off the balcony her eyes so fierce for a moment Ren thought she'd catch fire from the glare, "Like hell I'm going to let you kill Ikuto."
Amu then took a leap of faith out of her balcony and landed safely, but not so gracefully, unto the lawn and ran from the yard into the park behind their house, "Don't you dare come looking for me!"
Amu only ran for a short while until she spotted the perfect place to hide where no one would expect to find her. She ran across the street then up the fire escape stairs of the small aloe green apartment and knocked on the door hard with her right hand while cradling Ikuto in the other hand. The door creaked open and Suu stood in front of them surprised to see Amu and Ikuto looking so forlorn. Amu was panting as if she had just run a marathon and when she caught her breath she asked, "Suu can we stay with you for a while?"
See! I bet you all didn't see that coming didja? Well yeah Ren is a total birch and she was going to have Ikuto put down like she did with Amu's first puppy that her mom bought her before she died…. I don't know if I mentioned the puppy before I think I did in the third chappy but eh idk but it gets good in the next chapter we get to see how awesome and completely clueless Tsumugu is and was now that this whole thing has happened.
Thanks for all who Read and Reviewed!
Review count: 232 whoo!