Roommates Chapter twenty.
Disclaimer: Shugo Chara and its characters of course belong to Peach Pit.
Author's note: Hey everyone, just another short up-date. I hope you enjoyed this installment, I wasn't too sure about it myself but I was told to post it so here it is :P
The next chapter will be about the wedding, and after that I plan to do maybe a few more chapters but then that's it for this story :( So review me please and let me know what you would like to see before the story ends? And I guess now would be a good time to mention that I am going on holiday for a week so chapter updates/PM replies may take me a little longer than usual. Hope you are all well.
All my best,
Glitch.
Amu's POV.
In hindsight I guess I should have seen how this could be a possibility, how my wedding rehearsal would turn into complete and utter chaos. Yet even as I watch Utau nearly blow a fuse in frustration I can't help but shake my head exasperated. These things never go to plan, ever! But here I am getting ahead of myself. My name is Amu Hinamori and this is my wedding rehearsal.
I hadn't though it possible before, the idea that Ikuto could be any more attentive than he already was would seem absurd and yet here I was. He nuzzled my hair with his nose, arms looping loosely around my almost none existent bump as I laughed fondly.
"You are going to be late." I whispered, trying honestly to fight his distractions.
"Some things are worth being late for." He smirked playfully.
"I hope you're joking!" Utau screeched from behind the door, as I slumped further into Ikuto's arms.
She barged in then, throwing all consideration for privacy aside as she leered at us from the now open door way.
"Ikuto you can leave her side for more than five minutes to get changed, she's not going to get any more pregnant while you're gone." She smirked pleased as he shrugged nonchalantly, untangling himself from my arms.
"Be back soon sweetheart." He called over one shoulder as Utau fake heaved next to me.
"Do you guys always have to be that sweet, it's disgusting!" She tilted her nose up in fake disappointment before placing her hands against my stomach affectionately.
"How's my little nephew doing?" Utau sneered evilly, eyeing the door.
"Your niece is fine." Ikuto called back rather angrily, as I let out a long withdrawn sigh.
It had been this way since they had all found out. The group were fixed on it being a boy and Ikuto claimed he could sense it was a girl, of course we wouldn't know either way until the scan. But still it made them happy to bicker and it made me happy whenever I heard the pride linger in Ikuto's tone.
We had agreed that very night, that no matter what, his parents were not to find out until after the wedding. Utau and Ikuto thought I was insane for worrying, but gave in when they realised the extra pressure it would have put on the big day anyway.
And so here I stood, getting dolled up by Utau once again, still at least this time it was for my wedding rehearsal. I guess some things were just inescapable and I'd be lost without Utau, and so I stood patiently as she pushed and shoved me into whatever form it was she desired.
So the basic plan seemed to be have a pretend wedding, then get a meal and argue over who got to pretend do their speech first. While somehow hiding the fact that yes my dress had in fact changed, and no it definitely had nothing to do with the fact that I'm pregnant. Keeping Kukai's mouth shut presented a challenge in itself, so to say I was nervous didn't even come close, I was petrified.
We arrived at the building and it was flawless, I glanced at Ikuto shyly from behind my bangs and smiled. To think we would be getting married here tomorrow it was almost like something from a fairy-tale. Utau and Rima took their place by my side as Ikuto was swept off to wait by the altar an apologetic smile plastered against his usually so mischievous face.
"I'm so excited, I feel like I'm going to burst!" Utau squealed shaking me vigorously as Rima shook her head, a mass of blonde curls bouncing from side to side.
"Save it all up for tomorrow Kid." Aruto interrupted in that same resounding tone he seemed to always possess.
He took my arm gently with a smile; my parents were unavailable for the rehearsal. No doubt too busy with my younger sister. If I was being honest it would be a wonder if they made it tomorrow at all. But none of that mattered, not now.
"Thank you so much for this Aruto." I beamed at him with all my might as he shook his head dotingly.
"Amu-Chan you are family now and it's my honour." He seemed so much taller now as I watched him carefully from the corner of my eye, much more serious than I had ever seen him behave before.
"Just don't let me fall tomorrow." I laughed glancing away from him embarrassed.
"Not now or ever." He smirked in response and I couldn't help the high almost hysterical laugh that escaped me in answer.
We walked slowly at first as I gripped Aruto's arm like some kind of anchor, Utau and Rima trailing behind either side of me sniggering unhelpfully at my lack of balance no doubt. Ikuto no doubt knowing my distress winked at me before taking my hand and pulling me into him, against his heart. With one last brave smile thrown in Aruto's direction I finally noticed my knees for the first time since I woke up had stopped shaking.
We stood at the alter watching our friends as Kukai made awful jokes and Rima leant around Utau's lithe frame to stick her tongue out at Nagi, and yet it only made me love them more. Just as I was about to step down from the alter, desperate for a bathroom break and some real food the door to the church creaked open to announce the last person I would have ever expected.
At first I almost didn't understand. Things were moving too quickly, and I could only watch bewildered as Ikuto pushed me behind him defensively.
"You are not welcome here." Ikuto seethed barely holding back his hatred.
"I suggest you leave now!" he continued to bellow out as Kukai and Nagi slowly slid to either side of him in silent support.
"I came here to speak to Amu, I deserve at least that. And after we have spoken if she still wants me to leave I'll understand." Tadase smiled the way he used too, when he was all sweetness and charm and yet I felt myself shiver in response.
I tugged on Ikuto's arm carefully drawing his attention before leaning up on tip toes to whisper to him.
"Let me just find out what he wants, it will be quicker than this standoff."
I watched as Ikuto's eyes drew with hurt swiftly followed by confusion and traced the lines of his frown delicately before stepping out from behind him.
"I'm here what do you want?" I shouted allowing my voice to travel across the isles.
"You're not dressed up." Tadase responded almost confusedly.
"You're normally always dressed up these days, it suits you." He continued as I looked back warily to see Nagi and Kukai place their hands against Ikuto almost holding him back.
"Tadase I haven't seen you since the day I came to get my things, now I'll ask you again, why are you here?" I smiled reassuringly at Aruto. Who had slowly began making his way with Souko towards our group on the stairs, and mentally patted myself on the back at the way my voice hadn't even seemed a little scared.
"You might not have seen me Amu-Chan but I saw you, I had to make sure you were okay, that you were safe." His red eyes slid from mine to the group behind me as I felt a shiver run its way down my spine.
"You stalked her?" Ikuto announced incredulously glaring at Tadase with all of his might.
"You need to give me one reason, one really good reason why I shouldn't beat the crap out of you just for looking at her, just for breathing the same air as her you repulsive pathetic excuse of a human being." Ikuto continued in an almost whisper building in tempo, too calm and collected to be anything short of terrifying.
"Amu your temporary guard dog needs a new leash." Tadase responded with a sneer.
But I'd had enough, enough of my past hurting Ikuto. My past and Tadase had been behind every misunderstanding Ikuto and I went through, my inability to believe someone was interested in me, my crushing self-esteem and my inability to trust. I wasn't going to let him ruin another day of my life, not again.
"You are not welcome here Tadase, not here or in any part of my life. I am getting married tomorrow to the man I love, the man I have waited for all my life. It's over; I'm filing a restraining order. I suggest you leave now while you still can." I watched him calmly from where I stood, sheltered by my new family and smiled.
"You still love me though Amu-Chan, I can feel it." Tadase retorted desperately.
"What you can feel is your delusions Tadase; go home you've done enough." Rima smugly supplied arms crossed defiantly as she looked to me proudly.
"I'll make you love me again." Tadase vowed as he left the church melodramatically.
"Good luck with that weirdo." Utau snorted in response as the three of us broke down in laughter.
"I'm sorry Amu but Rima was right, it's a good job Ikuto found you because you clearly have awful taste in men." Utau cackled holding her sides hard.
"The worst." Rima agreed joining in.
Wiping a tear from my eyes I looked from one girl to the next as we all broke out in bouts of wild laughter. Ikuto still stood static behind me whispering covertly to Nagi and Kukai, it made me sad to know that even now he felt as though he couldn't relax, as though he had to be on guard.
Striding in front of him I gripped the collar of his shirt tightly pulling him down as far as I could muster and kissed him for all I was worth, long and deep. I could hear the cat calls and what was no doubt Kukai wolf whistling in the background, my cheeks reddened as Ikuto sighed into our kiss finally letting go of his worry.
"I do Mr Tsukiyomi." I whispered with a wink as I leant away from him.
"I think you're supposed to say that before the kiss, Mrs Tsukiyomi." Ikuto responded eventually, a little red in the face but as happy if not happier than before.
Today was never going to be perfect, and no doubt tomorrow would have it flaws. But right now all that mattered was what we had already. Come rain or shine, hell or high water we had a family. Something that would protect us even at our worst, and as I looked into the eyes of the man that I was born to be with I couldn't help but feel complete. What good could worrying ever do, when all I needed to know was that as long as we still loved each other nothing would ever, nor could ever tear us apart.