…

Jakela Haruhi was the best chef in the land, possibly the world, and he took it in stride. He was delighted to take in apprentices and show them the way to perfection, but he did not tolerate nonsense in his kitchen. He was strict and loud, the kind of person to crush your happy-go-lucky spirits within seconds, and many people feared him as much as they respected him.

So it was quite a shock when he was found whimpering in the corner of the kitchen by his staff, which quickly learned what had happened.

Apparently, his son-who was also an apprentice of Haruhi-had thought his father's meal the previous night lacked flavor and added extra wine to one of the plates to test out a recipe. Before he could taste it, and realize he had added too much, his father had called him to attend to another task and the other members of the staff had taken the plates out to the dinner table-including the plate that had been tampered with.

When a mistake in the kitchen is made, people tend to blame the head chef even if it was someone else's doing. So it was not entirely surprising to the staff when they found their boss being yelled at by Princess Emiko, who looked sickly pale-as if she was recovering from a horrible hangover.

"…the audacity of such a supposedly esteemed chef to allow an inexperienced idiot in the kitchen and perform such a heinous crime!" She was shouting.

"P-Please, your Highness, I was not aware…" Haruhi sputtered as he desperately glanced at his staff for some help. "I-I am deeply sorry for allowing my staff to do such a thing and having you intoxicated…"

Emiko gave him an evil look, making him cower even further, before she spun on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen. She heard the staff murmur before their employer began to shout, demanding which one of them screwed up his reputation.

She could not believe that she had been so distracted the previous night that she couldn't taste the overdose of alcohol in her meal. It wasn't too much to get her obviously drunk, but it was enough to get her tipsy. She didn't even realize she had been intoxicated until she woke up with a splitting headache.

The princess did not remember much of the night, but she did know that her guard had fallen and she had allowed the duke to see her true self. She was quite sure she had even told him of her childhood, followed by promising to meet him for a date, and that truly horrified her. Not that he was a horrid person or bad-looking, but…

"I will just tell him the truth and request that he forget what I had told him," she murmured as she made her way to the duke's room, with the purpose of cancelling the date and then off to sulk in her room. Emiko nodded to herself and was about to knock on the door when it was thrown open, revealing the duke himself.

"Oh, good, you are here," exclaimed Kukai excitedly. "I have a lot of plans!" Before she could protest, he grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her down the corridor.

"Now, wait," said Emiko as he led her to who-knows-where. "K-Kukai!"

He stopped, turning to her. "Yes?" She was about to tell him off when she saw the child-like glint in his eyes, a heavy weight forming in her heart.

"N-Nothing," she said quietly, looking away. Kukai grinned and began to drag her down the hall once more. It couldn't be too bad, right? It was just one date, after all.

…

Amu waved goodbye to her family, promising to meet them later at the palace, and headed down the paved street. She planned on stopping by the shop to see Miki and then back at the palace later in the evening to help her family settle in.

A smile formed on her lips as she remembered their reactions last night. Her mother had been stunned, she was pretty sure her father had started to cry, and Ami had looked like she had been named queen. To them, she supposed it was as if she had sealed the deal on the engagement.

"Excuse me."

The smile disappeared when Amu was grabbed by Tadase, her soft eyes turning hard and cold as she glared at him and wretched her arm away from his grasp. "Please do not grope me, Hotori."

"Amu, please listen to me," said Tadase. "You cannot marry Tsukiyomi Ikuto!"

Amu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?"

The blond haired duke took a deep breath, his aura darkening. "Amu, Tsukiyomi Ikuto is nothing but a black cat of misfortune and will do nothing but bring you misery. He is a heartless and cold person who will throw you away when he is done toying with you. It is dangerous to be around him. The rumors about the Tsukiyomi line are dark and mysterious."

"But they are just rumors," stated Amu, looking uninterested. "My affairs are not your concern, Hotori, so I request you move aside."

"Amu, Tsukiyomi Ikuto will ruin you," growled Tadase. "It is much better if you marry someone else…like me!"

The pink haired seamstress's eyes widened slightly and she nearly attacked him. "How dare you make such a bold comment to me, Hotori? I have been patient with your unwelcome advances, but this is crossing the line! My business is not yours, so stay out!"

Tadase clenched his fists when she brushed past him, starting to walk away, and something in him snapped. His face scrunched up and he let his true colors show, not caring who saw him as he harshly grabbed Amu and spun her around to force her to look at him.

"You cannot marry Tsukiyomi Ikuto," he yelled, attracting the attention of nearly everybody on the street as he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed hard. He shook her violently, not caring that a look of fear formed on her features. "You are supposed to marry me! You will be my queen, not his! I am meant to be king, not that buffoon! I will not allow it! I forbid you!"

"T-Tadase," said Amu, genuinely terrified at the normally calm man in front of her. She looked around for help, but the others on the street were clearly intimidated by the sudden possessiveness of the duke. "I…I am marrying Ikuto…"

Tadase sneered at her, releasing her shoulders and harshly cupping her chin so that he was practically squeezing her face. "What about that vermin is so much better than me, Amu? What does he have that I don't? I have everything he has and more!" Then he smirked, chuckling darkly. "Oh, I see; he does have something that I don't. He has much more money. That's what you're after, aren't you? You're just another gold-digging scarlet woman, aren't you?"

Amu tried to shake her head but he had a tight grip on her. "N-No, that's not it at all!"

The duke was lost to the outside world. "I used to think you were different than the other girls, Amu, but now I see you for who you are. You disgust me." He glared at her and she flinched, making him smirk. "You're nothing but a disgrace, and I pity any fool that thinks otherwise. Perhaps you deserve that black cat after all." He let go of her chin, violently thrusting her to the ground.

She fell back and looked up at him in fear, crying out when he stepped on her hand. "I don't understand; why are you doing this, Tadase?" The people on the street started to defend her, but the crazed look in Tadase's eyes made them back off and watch helplessly. Several people ran off, searching for someone who would stand up to the abusive duke.

The blond threw back his head and laughed. "Why am I doing this? How would you react when you get constantly rejected by the person you love? How would you react when the person you wanted suddenly gets engaged to your worst enemy?" Tadase looked down at her, scowling. "Perhaps I will do a favor to the world and get rid of you." Her eyes widened.

"Amu!"

Tadase and the others turned to see that two different people had called out her name, running and pushing through the crowd.

Ikuto immediately ran to his fiancée, asking if she was alright. She was shaking as she leapt into his arms, not caring who saw or if she didn't have any feelings for him. She could see her life flash in front of her eyes when Tadase threw her down. The prince hugged her, despite his shock, and his eyes landed on the bruise on her hand, along with the blood stains on her shoulders. He turned sharply to his rival, not releasing Amu, and was about to say something when someone else beat him to it.

"Don't touch my sister, you bastard," shouted Ami as she spun the duke around with incredible strength and began to throw several hits at him. She was blinded with pure rage, hitting every available spot on him. She aimed at his face, at his chest, anywhere on him as she shouted at him. She didn't care who saw or if she got arrested. "You have no right interfering with her marriage or her love life, or calling her those names! My sister would never love someone as possessive and abusive as you, Hotori Tadase!"

"Ami," exclaimed her sister, shocked by the eight-year-old's sudden behavior. Ami was the poster child for perfection; she was filled with life and happiness, and was always the person resolving fights. To see her lose her temper and lash out like this… "Please, stop!"

"Why? He deserves it for hurting you!" Ami replied, continuing to pound his face in. The duke held up his hands in defense, though that was all he could do. She had not once created an opening for him to attack, and he doubted that he could take on the surprisingly strong girl even if she did.

Ikuto couldn't help but smirk as he stood, helping Amu up and keeping her in his arms, and poke fun at his rival. "What a day, seeing the kiddy king get beat up by a mere child." Then his look darkened. "Though you should be grateful it is just a child and not myself, for I highly doubt I would let you live. I am not sure what was said here, but I already deem your acts unforgivable."

Ami landed another hit on the duke as he listened to his rival threaten him, and he growled as she began to falter from exhaustion. He saw the opportunity and pushed her away, very similarly to how he had pushed Amu. However, Ami was not as emotionally concealed as her sister and tears formed in her eyes as she tumbled to the ground and clutched her twisted ankle.

Ikuto, and everyone else on the street, soon learned where Ami had gotten her violent temper from as Amu gasped and pushed him away as she raced to her sister. Seeing her hurt and the tears in her eyes, Amu's face turned red and her eyes hardened as she glared darkly at Tadase.

Before he could process how badly he had screwed up, he was unconscious on the ground with a black-eye as Amu towered over him.

"Don't touch my sister, you bastard," she hissed, not realizing or caring that she had repeated the same words Ami had said. Suddenly enraged, Amu turned to the crowd and glared at them harshly. They all flinched. "And you! I don't care if you stand around and mind your own business, but seeing an innocent child get hurt and just standing there and watching like you're entertained! I cannot believe the lack of bravery and intelligence I see before me!"

"Amu, it's alright," said Ami from the ground, trying to calm her sister. People do things they later regret when they become angry. She was holding her ankle and staring at her sister pleadingly. Amu glanced at her and her features softened as she crouched down to hug her sister. The crowd took this time to flee, not bothering to check on the unconscious duke.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Amu asked gently. Her sister shook her head. "Where are Mama and Papa?"

"They want to finish up packing and sent me on my way to meet them there when I suddenly heard about a commotion involving Tadase and the prince's fiancée in the middle of the street," replied Ami, letting her tears fall as her ankle throbbed with pain.

Her sister kissed her forehead before turning to her fiancé. "Ikuto, can you please carry her back to the palace?" The prince nodded, carefully scooping up the child into his arms.

"Are you alright?" Ikuto asked, gently swaying the girl so that she fell asleep. Tired from her fight earlier, she was out like a light. Amu had a bruise on her hand and she was switching between rubbing her chin and her shoulders. She tried to be subtle so he didn't notice, but he noticed everything.

The fifteen-year-old was about to lie and say yes when she saw the look in his eyes, feeling confused and also touched by the genuine concern. She sighed. "Not really, no, but I'm only sorry that she got hurt trying to defend me. I should have tried to say something to Tadase earlier, but his sudden behavior just shocked me. I never saw that side of him."

"Yes, he doesn't show most people the truth behind his princely character," said Ikuto as they approached the palace gates. "This was not how I planned the day going." She gave him a questioning glance. "I had wanted to take you out on a date today, and even the idiot approved since he agreed to take your new friend, Emiko, out as well."

Despite the pain she felt, Amu blushed. "You wanted to take me on a date?" The prince nodded. "Why?"

"You are to be my wife," said Ikuto. "I want to get to know the beautiful young woman who I will marry." Amu turned a shade darker while she heard her sister giggle as they entered the palace. Ikuto was clearly leading the way, forcing the seamstress to follow him.

"You are supposed to be asleep," said Amu, glaring at the eight-year-old. Then her expression changed. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, fine," replied Ami dismissively as they entered a bedroom and Ikuto set her down carefully. "I would feel much better if you left me alone and went on that date." She smirked when her sister turned even redder, glaring at her.

Ikuto smirked slightly, clearly enjoying the sisters' teasing. "I will send a nurse for you, and will have your parents informed."

Ami shook her head. "No, do not tell my parents what happened. Papa will throw a fit if he finds out Tadase hurt both of us; he is very protective and even though he is not really a threat, I do not want him to do anything rash. Besides, he will refuse to let Amu out of his sights and it is very hard to create a romantic atmosphere with the girl's father in the room."

Amu raised an eyebrow. "You are too smart for your own good, Ami." Her sister smiled innocently. "But she is correct; the rumors will float around and my parents will most likely learn about what had happened." She crossed her arms, thinking. "Just say you tripped; you are clumsy enough to make that believable." Ami stuck her tongue out at her sister.

"You're one to talk," retorted the eight-year-old. "And what about Tadase?"

"I will have my parents press charges for assaulting my fiancée and future sister-in-law in my kingdom," interjected Ikuto, who had been mostly silent. "I personally do not care what happens to him, but my parents might say otherwise. Hopefully, he will be 'escorted' out of the kingdom and back to his land."

The pink haired teenager nodded, agreeing that the punishment was suitable for the abusive duke. She felt relief wash over her, knowing he couldn't bother her or her family anymore. "Just tell Mama and Papa that Tadase did not handle my engagement well and said some harsh words before help arrived. There is no need to worry Papa by saying he assaulted us."

"But how do I cover up the fact that you knocked him out?" Ami asked, raising an eyebrow. Her sister frowned.

"He insulted you and I snapped," she replied. "It is an honest answer, though very vague." Ami gave her sister a look.

"Papa might believe it but Mama is much smarter and sees right through us," she reminded.

The pink haired teenager sighed, sitting on the bed next to her just as a nurse bustled into the room and began to look at the young girl. "Alright, alright…let me think." She snapped her fingers. "Aha! Mama and Papa are well aware that Tadase has pestered me for years, and that I have constantly rejected him. I can say the announcement of my engagement with Ikuto made him much more persistent and when I continued to reject him, he said some harsh words and I lost my temper. It is the censored version of what happened."

"That sounds believable," said Ikuto, looking thoughtful. "That will be the story we will have to tell to the 'gossipers' of the kingdom." He smirked at Amu, who gave him a curious expression. "It puts Tadase in a bad light and it shows that my new fiancée is a fiery demon. I do like that delicious angle." He sighed. "It really is a shame that I completely missed you punching him, seeing as how I was temporarily distracted by this annoying girl. That would have been a sight for sore eyes."

"What a sadist," muttered the two Hinamori sisters.

Ami then came up with a brilliant plan. She pretended to yawn, stretching her arms casually as the nurse wrapped bandages around her ankle. "Amu, I'm really quite tired so could you please leave? I feel like I will need my energy when Papa bursts in, and I'm sure you don't want to be around when he says he needs to embrace you to make sure you're alright."

Her older sister grimaced. "Yes, that would be disastrous," she agreed. "Will you be alright?"

The eight-year-old snorted. "I'm resting on a bed that is big enough for a giant and his wife, not to mention that it is softer than the clouds. Later on, I will be eating the finest foods in the land with my family. I have always dreamed of being treated like a princess and now I finally am. I think I'll be more than alright, Amu."

The pinkette rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she turned and began to walk out of the room. "Fine, fine; sweet dreams, Princess Ami of the Spoiled Brat Kingdom." Ikuto glanced at the young girl, nodding to make sure she was really alright, before following his fiancée.

Ami frowned at the nickname but it disappeared quickly to be replaced by a wicked grin as she cheekily replied, "I will do my best for the future queen of Easter! Make sure you have don't make me an aunt before I'm nine, alright?"

Amu whipped around, her face turning unbelievable shades of red as she sputtered to find her voice. Her younger sister smirked, looking quite triumphant as she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"You…you…why you little brat," exclaimed Amu, sounding completely flustered.

The brunette continued to wear that blasted smirk as she added, "Now, Ikuto, weren't you bringing my sister out for an unforgettable first date?"

Ikuto quickly put together the pieces and smiled devilishly as he took Amu by the arm and began to lead her out. "I believe I was; thank you, Ami. And don't worry; you won't be an aunt until you're at least twelve or so."

The seamstress glared at him, her anger redirected as they entered the corridor. "What nonsense are you talking about? And where are you taking me?!"

The prince continued to drag her along. "You know, your sister is really something; I think I would enjoy having her as an in-law."

Amu snorted. "Of course you would; you're too alike, sometimes. But you didn't answer my question! Where in the world are you taking me?!"

Ikuto finally stopped and turned around, smirking slightly at her. "Weren't you listening at all, my dear Amu? I'm taking a beautiful pink-haired seamstress out on a first date, of course."

…

I don't own Shugo Chara!

*bangs head against computer desk*

I'm such a terrible person. I have so much to do, and I keep procrastinating! I still need to finish up my summer homework and I only have a month left! I also need to get back on a normal sleeping schedule, actually put away my clothes instead of randomly throwing them around my room and shoving them into piles in my rather small closet, work on my other stories, figure out a new exercise and diet plan that I'll actually stick with, and…agh!

I swear, they made being a teenager so much more easy and fun on TV and in books. Damn you people for raising my expectations of life!

Anyways, I am so sorry for not updating sooner! I finished a majority of the chapter actually, but I wasn't sure how to end it or continue at a certain point (I was stuck at the scene where Ami points out their mom would notice something was up).

Please forgive me! I also lied and said this would be the date-chapter, but I felt a confrontation with Tadase was needed. Now, all we have to deal with is Utau and the other crazy princesses in the land that want Ikuto.

And I may or may not put in the date with Emiko and Kukai. Maybe just a short scene or the aftermath, most likely. And because I'm a twisted person, I may have Utau cause trouble for both couples in one way or another. Maybe Saaya, since I already mentioned her somewhere and be honest: nobody likes her.

There are so many different directions I want to take this story in, and I can't decide which way I want to end things with! Don't worry, though; I have a plan. Will it work out?

As Daniel Radcliffe (playing Harry Potter) in the Deathly Hallows movie said, "…when have our plans actually worked? We plan, we get there; all hell breaks loose".

Anyhow…I apologize if you're waiting for an update on my other story, Fantasy; a new chapter will be uploaded soon, I promise!

Alright, I hope you know what I am going to say next. Don't hesitate to tell me what you thought or if you found any mistakes anywhere!