Chapter Six- Dinner with a Demon

Utau's POV

"Utau."

I looked up from my unfinished chocolate pudding on my plate and glared at the dark-haired boy sitting across me.

"Oh my, what's the occasion dearest brother? To think you would actually open your goddamn mouth-"

"Utau-"

"-and actually speak to me, although you've been ignoring me the entire dinn-"

"UTAU!"

My mouth instantly snapped close as I was stunned into silence. My brother had never been a person with a quick temper, and he had never ever raised his voice to me before.

"Listen to me Utau," Ikuto said, his eyes dark and glaring, unlike anything I had ever seen before.

"It's no longer safe here. You're going to the Kukais. I'll be staying here."

"But why-"

"It's too dangerous for you to be here."

"But Amu's not dangerous-" I gasped and clasped a hand over my mouth.

His eyes darkened, and instantly the mood in the room turned icy. Despite myself, I shivered in my seat as Ikuto glared frigidly at me from across the room.

"So you knew."

His every frost-laden word was filled with barely concealed contempt.

For the first time, I was able to appreciate why all the servants in the castle feared him, and why even our parents, despite their authority over him, gave him so much respect. He deserved every ounce of it he got.

"Go. There's a carriage waiting for you outside. Your luggage has been packed as well."

If this had been any other normal day, I would have yelled at him for letting the maids rummage through my room to pack the luggage.

Not today. He seemed to realise that as well, when he flashed me one of his trademark smirks. A smirk that I had grown up seeing, a smirk that I grew to love and associate with my brother, and a smirk that now sent shivers down my spine.

With that as his parting gift, he soundlessly got up from his seat and disappeared out of the dining room doors, leaving me still trembling in my seat.

After finally being on the receiving end of his hatred and anger, I was able to appreciate why he had such a fearsome reputation; when my brother was angry, he was a demon.

Ikuto's POV

The moment I left the dining room, my smirk instantly melted into a scowl. Glaring at anyone who passed by me, I finally made it to my bedroom and slammed the door shut, causing it to rattle slightly on its hinges.

Making a fist, I slammed it against the wall, causing the wallpaper to flake off slightly.

Hell, I was in a bad mood today.

Swallowing the urge to be destructive, I collapsed onto the bed and released all of my pent up frustration into a huge sigh.

After my anger died down, misery and guilt followed closely on its heels.

Being hated by the servants, I could deal with.

Respected by my parents, I accepted.

Hated, no worse, feared by my sister, I could not.

Staring out of the window, I watched as Utau exchanged a few words with the coachman, and then checked through the hastily packed luggage to ensure that everything was in place.

As I watched from the window, I was overcome with the urge to run down there, or even jump out of my window, wrap her in a huge hug and whisper the words "I'm sorry" as many times as she needed to hear them.

The next thing I knew, the windows were open and I was leaning slightly out of them.

Grimacing slightly, I ducked back into my room before Utau even had a chance to spot me, and slammed the window shut.

Then my clenched fist somehow found its way to meet my cheek, and I was suddenly filled with a throbbing pain in my cheek, and a strong urge to shed a few tears.

Needless to say, calm and collected Ikuto was back to his senses.

Wincing, I staggered to the full length mirror by my wardrobe and poked at the already swelling spot on my cheek.

It was going to look terrible when morning came around.

Utau's POV

The moment Utau reached the palace belonging to the Soumas, she was instantly calmed by the view laid out before her.

As the carriage passed through the golden gates of the castle, she could not help but look out of the window in amazement at the multi-coloured sea of flowers surrounding the castle.

As a close family friend of the Soumas, she was well aware of the slightly feminine hobby of the 4th youngest Souma, Rento.

Though put off by his weird feminine habits, she grudgingly gave him due respect for his ability to make the flowers bloom so spectacularly.

Utau liked flowers.

Too bad girly men were just not to her tastes. She preferred good-looking, sporty and strong guys.

The youngest Souma, Kukai was more to her tastes, and their ages more or less corresponded too. To top it off, she had a long history as playmates with him since young.

Yes, Kukai was the most suited to her. Not to mention that she had had a crush on the auburn-haired teenager from the moment she crossed the line known as puberty. (Not that she would care to admit it.)

Feeling much better, she settled back into her seat, allowing the first smile of the day to spread across her face. (She reminded herself to give Rento a peck on the cheek as thanks for that.)

Momentarily forgetting all the issues that had occurred that day, Utau hopped off the carriage and grabbed her luggage off the back. Waving cheerily to the coachman she had earlier reprimanded for his bumpy driving, she smiled as the Souma butler guided her through the front doors, making small talk as they crossed the hall.

Unconsciously, she already knew who she wanted to meet first. Inside her head, she could already see his sparkling emerald green eyes, and hear his voice call her name.

And then she heard a familiar voice from behind her. Without turning around she already knew who it was from the voice.

Freezing mid-step, her blood ran cold upon hearing the familiar voice. Too bad it was not the voice she wanted to hear.

She could recognise that high-pitched screech anywhere.

I am so so so sorry everyone! I deserve to be hated by all of you, if there is anyone still left that is. (cries from pure shame and guilt) I'm sorry for not updating for a few months… okay a year. Gosh, you have no idea how bad I feel, so here is a chapter for all of you!

I'm also thinking of doing a collection of Shugo Chara one-shots leading up to Christmas, just for you. It's my apology gift? (Pretty please with cherries on top, please forgive me!)

As you can see (or maybe not har har) my style has changed a bit. Or maybe a bit more than a bit. After all I've had a year to improve myself (again, sorry for the hiatus). Also I've given up on the disclaimer and dialogue bla bla bla at the beginning. It's my decision to drop it. :)

I'm kind of considering changing my pen name, what do you guys think? Darkdemon's Ashes is actually quite a mouthful huh? I was considering Kuro Onna, it seems cool hee hee. Besides no one really has a pen name like that? I considered Kurona. (I like using this name as my avatar name and such haha) Too bad there were quite a few people with similar names LOL. So what do you think of Kuro Onna?

Another thing, from now on I'll be replying all my reviews, either by PM or at the end of the chapter, depending on whether or not you have accounts :) Also I just enjoy talking hee hee.

As usual, constructive criticism is always appreciated. And tell me what you think about the new pen name, change of style and my idea of starting a series of SC Christmas one-shots. Love you all!