A/N: I recently found out that the spellings of the names was different than the ones I had been using. Thank you to the person who pointed that out to me. So they will be changed to the proper ones from here on out. Hope you guys enjoy. Please read and review.
-AMU'S POV-
When I woke up the first thing I did was open my bedside table's drawer and smiled when I saw all four of my new chara eggs was still there. I climbed out of bed and went to my bathroom to take a shower. When I got done I walked to my closet in nothing but a black silk towel. I walked into my walk-in closet and stopped when I reached the outfit I wanted. I quickly pulled on the purple and red leggings, the red skirt with purple lining the edge. I pulled the longsleeve purple shirt over my head, then the shortsleeve red shirt followed. It had a purple heart bleeding silver on the front. I pulled on my gothic kneehigh boots and walked out of my closet with towel in hand and a smile on my face.
"Amu, you look happy today." Ran said as she and her other three sisters came out of their eggs.
"I am." I said as I put my red X clip in my strawberry pink hair.
"Why desu?" Suu asked floating up to me with my schoolbag. I took it from her and headed for the door.
"You'll find out at lunch." I said walking out my door, but stopped in the doorway.
"You guys go ahead downstairs, I forgot something." I said going back into my room. I made sure they didn't follow me before going over to my bedside table and opening the drawer. I grabbed a rag from my bathroom and put it inside my bag ontop of my books, then picked up all four of my new eggs and placed them carefully inside my bag. Zena's egg cracked open and she looked up at me.
"What are you doin Amu?"
"Well you said you wanted to meet your sisters during lunch, so I thought I'd bring you guys along so you wouldn't have to try and find me. That and I never know when the others are going to hatch."
Zena smiled at me before going back into her egg. It closed after her. I clipped myb ag shut and carefully slung it over my shoulder, then headed downstairs. I was met by Suu and Dai who said Ran and Miki were fighting over the last piece of French toast sticks Suu had made for breakfast. I smiled at them before breaking one of mine in half and giving a piece to each, effectively ending their feud. With that I walked out the door saying bye to my parents as me and Ami started walking to school. Ami had started Seiyo Elementary two years ago. I always walk her to the roade leading to Seiyo Elementary before heading to Seiyo Middle.
"Bye nee-chan." Ami said as she saw a group of her friends.
"Bye Ami." I said as I turned to walke towards my school. I saw Tadase and Annie walking together. Annie's face was bruised, but Tadase was sporting a black eye, a split lip, and a broken nose. Just the sight of him looking like that made me smile. He deserved what he got and more. The first bell rang just as I took my seat. Ever since Kaito came over to our house over the summer I've been able to barely pay any attention to my teachers, but still pass all their tests because he taught me all the material.
'I've really got to thank him next time I see him.'
I thought as I looked out the window. The teacher called on me to read the sentence on the board in English and I inwardly sighed before standing up and reading the board. I almost laughed at the sentence. the teacher had said take my time because it's supposed to be one of the hardest sentences to translate. Kaito had me working on things much more difficult than this.
"Everytime it rains in the summer a colorful rainbow can be seen.
Everytime it snows in the winter our eyesight becomes not so keen.
All these words may be hard to say, but keep it up, practice is the key."
I sat down once I was done. The whole thing was stupid, but the prununciation of some of the words was supposed to be hard to understand. The whole class erupted into cheers and a chorus of 'Cool and Spicy' went around the room. I sighed again and turned back to the window. The bell rang to go to second period and I walked down the hall and headed for the roof instead.
"Amu..." Ran said.
"I know, I know, but I really just want to relax today." I said as I closed the door behind me. I climbed up onto the outlook building and laid down with my bag beside my head.
"I'm just going to take a nap here. You guys can go do what you want, just be back here by lunchtime okay? There's something I want to show you."
"Okay Amu." They all said before flying off. I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.
"So, do you normally skp class?" Zena asked crawling out of myb ag and sitting in the air next to my head.
"Sometimes yeah." I said with my eyes still closed.
"How come? Won't you fail your?" She asked.
"No, because my cousin Kaito taught me what they were learning in America. they're ahead of us, so what Kaito taught me is what our teachers are trying to teach us now."
"Oh, that's helpful."
"Hmmm."
"Do you like it here?" Zena suddenly asked.
I thought a minute before answering her question. Sure I loved the Guardians and all my friends, but yesterday was horrible.
"No, I honestly no longer care for this place like I once had." I said truthfully.
"Why?" I asked opening my eyes to stare at my new chara.
"How would you feel about leaving for a while?" Zena asked with a small smile.
"Huh?" I asked confused as I sat up. Leave? What did she mean by that?
"I'm talking about leaving this town completely, maybe even this state and starting a whole new life over. Just you, me, and my sisters."
Silence followed after Zena's explanation as I thought it over.
'A chance at a whole new life? I've got to say it sounds interesting. Sure, why the hell not? It's not like I have anything to stay here for.'
"Where would we go, and when would we leave?" I finally asked after a while. Zena's smile widened before she answered my questions.
"We can go anywhere you want. As for when we leave it's up to you. How soon do you want to leave and forget about this place?" Zena asked.
"Yesterday." I said as I laid down again. I was tired of this place.
"Alright then, it's settled. We'll leave tonight. When we get home pack some clothes, leave a note for your parents, then leave."
I froze. How could I have forgotten about my parents? What about Ami? Could I really just leave them?
"Don't worry about it, just explain to them in the not that you're leaving for you. You need this time away to sort everything out. Just let them know you love them and that they'll see you again someday." Zena said seeming to read my mind.
"Thanks Zena." I said with a smile. When she put it that way it made it easier.
"No problem, and I'll tell my sisters about this so don't worry."
"Okay."
"Amu!" Four distinctive voices called from the air. I looked up and saw my charas flying towards me. I noticed that Zena hid behind my hair before they could see her.
"Hey guys." I said as they finally reached me.
"Your in a better mood I see." Dia said.
"I am." I said with a smile.
"So Amu, what was the thing you wanted to show us?" Miki asked slightly curious as to what their bearer could have.
"Oh, I think I'll let her introduce herself." I said as Zena flew out from behind my hair and sat on my shoulder.
"Hey, my name's Zena, one of Amu's last four charas. Nice to finally meet you."
-NORMAL POV-
Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia weren't sure of what to say. But finally Suu was the first to break the silence.
"Nice to meet you too desu. My name is-"
"Suu." Zena said with a smile.
"You're Ran, you're Miki, and you're Dia." Zena said pointing to each in turn.
"H-how do you know all our names?" Ran asked.
"Because me and our other sisters have been inside Amu's bag all day. I heard your names when you guys were talking." Zena said simply. A smile still on her face.
"Oh, well welcome." Ran said.
"Hi." Miki said.
Everyone looked at Dia.
"What's wrong Dia?" Amu asked.
" I am just wondering how it is that you have eight charas, and I don't see any of this." Dia said skeptically.
"Zena, care to explain?" Amu asked.
"Sure." Zena said and flew over to her sisters. Amu laid back down and closed her eyes as Zena started to tell the others of how she and the other three chara eggs were born, and everything else.
"Dormant charas, who knew?" Dia said sitting down.
"When are we leaving?" Rand and Miki asked in unison.
"Tonight." Amu said sitting up.
"But what about your family desu? Won't you miss them?" Suu asked.
"Of course I will, but I need to do this. I need a chance to start over." Amu said standing up and stretching.
"Okay Amu, we'll come with you." They all said.
"Great." Amu said with a smile. She was glad they ahd agreed to come with her, she wasn't sure what she would have done if they said they didn't want to come.
"Are we going back to class?" Ran asked, but before Amu could answer all five charas turned towards the East.
"What is it guys?" Amu asked worried about their sudden change in behavior.
"Amu, we sense X-eggs." Ran said.
"Lots of them." Zena added.
"Then let's go." Amu said.
"Right." They all said. Amu grabbed her bag and ran back into the building, down the halls and out into the school's courtyard. She looked around, but did see anything.
"Amu! Over there!" Miki yelled pointing at a group of students unconcious ont he ground. Amu saw four X-eggs floating around destroying the flowerbeds Kukai and she worked on. That's when she heard one of the X-eggs say something.
"It's pointless! Everytime I try to grow him something it withers and dies!" The egg said as it released a wave of dark energy. It hit the flowers and they all wilted instantly.
"Amu we have to help them." Ran said.
"Right. My heart unclock!" Amu said and Ran got ready to character change with her bearer, but got pushed out of the way by Zena. Amu's red skirt changed to a black one with purple lining. Her leggings changed to fishnets with tears along the thighs and her boots changed to black combat boots. Her shirt also changed to a black t-shirt with the anarchy symbol on the front that looked like it had been spray painted in red. The shirt hung off her shoulders. She also had black fingerless gloves on her hands, and the clip in Amu's hair changed to a red anarchy symbol. She finished her transformation and both she and Zena spoke as one.
"Gothic Rebel." Amu said as she touched down again.
'Eh? Gothic Rebel?'
'Yeah, that's who you turn into when you character change with me.' Zena said from inside Amu's heart.
'Well, what can we do?' Amu asked as she dodged an attack from one of the X-eggs.
'We play.' Zena said and Amu could tells he was smiling.
'Play what?'
'Just trust me.'
'Alright.' Amu said taking a stance. She sidestepped one of the X-eggs just as another one shot towards her.
"Amu!" Her other charas yelled. Amu mentally flinched as the egg drew closer, but her body moved with Zena directing it. A black Stratocaster suddenly showed up in Amu's hands and she played it. Waves of bright red energy shot out fromt he guitar and headed for the X-eggs, completely surrounding them before closing in on them.
"Rebellious Love!" Amu said and everyone watched as the wave of red energy enveloped the X-eggs, then disappeared, leaving behind four clensed heart eggs. Amu changed back into her normal self and Zena flew up to her and smiled.
"What was that?" Amu asked.
"That was one of your attacks when you character change with me. You'll learn all my moves the more you change with me. Come one, we should probably make sure they're okay." Zena said flying over to the students who were now waking up. She walked over to them and helped them sit up.
"Are you okay?" Amu asked softly.
"Y-yeah." The girl Amu was helping said as she stood up.
"Take it easy."
"Right, thanks Amu." The girl said. Amu's eyes widened when the girl said her name, that's when she realized they had the same second period. Her name was Seyisa.
"No problem Seyisa." Amu said with a smile. She pulled away when she was sure Seyisa would be alright on her own.
"Y-you know my name?" Seyisa asked.
"Of course I know your name, we ahve the same second period." Amu said calmly.
"I know, I just didn't expect the 'Cool and Spicy' Amu Hinamori to know my name. I feel so honored." Seyisa said.
"Please just call me Amu, and it's no big deal. Are you sure you're okay?" Amu asked trying to change the subject.
"Yes I'm fine thank you."
"No problem. Yous hould still probably go see the nurse just in case. Take care." Amu said then left and headed towards her house. When she got home her parents were gone. The had left a note saying they ahd to work late and dinner was in the fridge. Amu sighed, grabbed a slice of pizza, and went up to her room.
"Amu why'd you leave school desu?" Suu asked.
"Because I wanted to pack and get some sleep before leaving tonight." Amu said finishing her pizza. She then got up, grabbed her black suitcase from underneath her bed and started to pack. She packed about six outfits, shoes included, a couple of notebooks, a picture of her family, and her purple stuffed cat she had gotten from her parents when she was five. She zipped up her suitcase, then headed for her bathroom.
"I'm going to take a shower, after that I'llt ake a nap before writing the letter. Then we'll leave." Amu said. She didn't wait for any of them to answer her she just went into her bathroom and got in the shower. Her charas sat down on her bed and started talking amongst themselves. Arguing in Ran and Zena's case.
"Why did you push me out of the way when I was about to character change with Amu?" Ran asked.
"Because she asked me what she'd turn into when she character changed with me and that was the perfect time to show her. I'm sorry that I pushed you, but there was no time to explain." Zena said calmly.
"Yeah well next time tell me ahead of time!" Ran yelled before flying away. Zena sighed and looked out Amu's balcony window. That's when both eggs with purple and white patterns twitched. They al jumped up and shouted for Amu.
"What is it?" She asked as she came out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel.
"The eggs, they moved." Miki said.
"They did?" Amu asked walking over to her bed to look at them, but they didn't move.
"Hmmm." Amu said before going into her closet and coming out in a pair of sweatpants and a white tank top. She yawned as she moved the three unborn charas to the table. Then she laid down and in no time she was asleep. Her charas followed suite and went to sleep in their eggs. None of them noticed the two eggs twitch again.
-IKUTO'S POV-
"What do I have to do to get Amu to believe me when I tell her I love her?" I asked as I walked across the rooftops.
"I don't know nya." Yoru said as he flew behind me.
"Why did she think I said it out of pity?" I asked as I jumped to the next building.
"I don't know. Maybe because you always pick on her nya. Maybe she thought you were just saying it to help and didn't mean it nya."
I stopped and looked at my chara. Since when had he gotten so insightful?
"Well what can I do to show her I meant it?" I asked exasperated as I jumped onto another roof.
"Visit her nya. Visit and tell her again." Yoru said as we landed in a tree closer to the ground.
"I think you might be right Yoru." I said then jumped down onto the ground and started walking towards Amu's while trying to think of what to say to her when I got there.
-AMU'S POV-
When I woke up I walked over to my desk and pulled out a piece of paper. I quickly wrote a letter to my family explaining that I was leaving. Then signed it before folding it up and placing it on the desk. I walked back over to my bed and made it up. I noticed that my charas were still asleep so I laid down ontop of my bed and waited. This will be the last time I lay on my bed. The last time I'm in my room. The last time I stay in this house. I sighed and smiled sadly before standing up and walking over to my chara eggs. I carefully put all eight of them in the carrying case that I had remodeled to accomadate all of them and still have room. Then I picked up my suitcase, more like backpack, walked out onto my balcony, and jumped down to the street below. I turned back to look at my house bathed in the fading light of dusk bafore turning and walking away to the nearest airport. My charas stayed asleep until I had already bought my ticket and was sitting down in the back of the first class section of the plane. Zena was the one who woke up.
"Morning Zena." I said to the little rebel chara as she stretched and flew up to sit on my shoulder.
"Morning Amu." She said and I smiled. It was well past eight p.m, but it didn't really matter at the moment.
"So, where are we going?" Zena asked as she looked out the window. I followed her gaze and saw the airport start to slide past us as the plane started to take off.
"Well this plane is headed to Vegas, if you want we can just find an appartment there until we get things figured out." I said as we rose up into the clouds.
"That's fine with me, but now that we're out here what do you want to do? Surely you don't just want to sin in an appartment in Vegas for the rest of your life?" Zena asked.
"No, but what can I do in Vegas? I'm only fifteen and I haven't graduated highschoo." I said exasperated. I hadn't thought this far ahead, what was I going to do? Just stay here until I run out of money then go back home? I felt something shift in the carrying case and I opened it to see the two purple and white eggs wiggle.
"Do you think..." I asked Zena as I picked up the two almost identical eggs. They felt warm, just like Zena's egg before it both wiggled again before floating up right infront of my face. I looked around worried that someone was watching.
"Amu, anyone other than a bearer can't see us charas or our eggs. Rlax." Zena said seeming to sense my unease.
'That's right. Tadase told me that once before. How could I have forgotten?'
I looked back from the almost empty first class cabin to the two eggs before me. The two suddenly started to crack, then they popped open simutainiously and two little charas were floating in their place. They looked identical except for what they were wearing and their hair. The one on the left had long, flowing, golden-blonde hair that went down to her back. She was wearing a pure white and purple goddess dress that hugged her small body snugly, but not too tightly. She had a tattoo on her right shoulder of the YinYang symbol. One half was white, the other half purple. She had a pair of white angel wings and had a small halo floating above her head. The one on the right had short cropped hair the same color as the other one, but she was wearing a dark crimson leather skirt and top, exposing her small stomach. She had a tattoo identical to the one on the other chara's arm in the same place. She had a red tail that came to a point, black wings, and two small red horns on the top of her ehad. They both had dark green eyes.
"Oh, seems like you two finally decided to wake up." Zena said flying over to the two new charas.
"Yeah, well seems like our bearer needed us." The angelic one said in a sweet voice.
"Seems she can't make up her mind on what she wants to do." The devilish one said in a voice like the angel, but slightly richer in tone.
"Well it's good to see you two out and about, but you should probably introduce yourselves to Amu." Zena said flying back over to me and sitting on my shoulder. I looked from her to the two new charas before me.
"Hello, my name's Amu." I said with a small smile. The angelic one returned the smile, but the devilish one just nodded.
"Nice to meet you Amu. My name is Nami, the angelic one, and this here is my twin sister-"
"Nemi, the demonic one." Nemi cut Nami off with a smile. I saw her fanged teeth and couldn't help but smile myself.
"Nice to meet you. Want to meet your other sisters?" I asked as I opened the carrying case.
"Sure." Nami and Nemi said in unison and my smile widened. I opened the carrying case all the way and poked each one of my chara's eggs. They all wiggled before popping open to reveal my four other charas.
"What is it Amu? Are you ready to leave?" Ran asked as she loated up out of her egg and stretched.
"We already left. Here, meet your other sisters." I said as Suu, Miki, and Dia floated up to join the rest of my charas.
"Hey, who are they desu?" Suu asked and Ran, Miki, and Dia all asked the same thing.
"These are two of your other sisters." I said motioning towards Nemi and Nami.
"Hello, my name is Nami." She said floating over towards the other and shaking their hands.
"I'm Nemi." She said barely even looking at the others. I sighed, it might take some time for her to warm up to the others.
"Nice to meet you." Ran said talking to both sisters.
"I'm Ran, this is Miki, Suu, and Dia." Ran said motioning towards each in turn.
"This is your pilot speaking. We'll be landing in Vegas in the next ten minutes. We thank you for choosing to fly with PanAm Airlines and we hope you enjoyed your flight. Please be sure to take all belongins with you when exiting the plane."
The loudspeaker cut off and I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"So who's left?" Ran asked floating over to the carrying case and looking at the last egg.
"I don't know, but I'm sure she'll hatch when she's ready." I said sitting down again.
-IKUTO'S POV-
I jumped up to Amu's balcony and slid the glass door open. I instantly noticed she wasn't here. I walked inside and went over to her door. I opened it and poked my head out. I heard something from downstairs. I walked out into the hall and stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard Amu's name.
"Where's Amu?" A male voice said, most likely her father.
"She's gone." A woman said and I could tell she was crying.
"Gone? Where did nee-chan go?" Her sister asked.
"She didn't say, she just left a note." The woman said again, I'm guessing it was her mother.
"Well, what does the note say?" The man asked again.
I listened closer and what I heard made my heart clench.
"Dear mom, dad, and Ami
I love you all dearly, and in no way is any of this to punish you. I just need time to sort everything out in my life. Some...things have happened in my life recently that have made me wonder about things. I promise that you'll see me sometime soon, but I won't be the same when I come back. I don't think I'll ever be the same. I love you all so much, but this is goodbye."
Crying followed and I backed up into Amu's room and sat down on her bed.
"She's gone. She's really gone." I said as I hung my head. I was too late to say anything to her and now she's gone.
"Ikuto it's not your fault nya. She left for her own reasons." Yoru said trying to cheer me up.
"If I had just said something earlier then she wouldn't have left." I said holding my head.
"No, I think she would have left anyways nya."
"What do you mean?" I asked looking up at my chara.
"If I'm right, she left because of what she went through yesterday. With what Tadase said to her, what happened with her charas, and with the fact that she had grown tired of this place. She's gone to try and be on her own, away from all the things that cause her pain nya. She'll be back, she said so herself didn't she?"
"To see her family." I said.
"Yeah, but she will still come back nya." Yoru said.
He was right, she'll come back. I smiled to myself at the thought of seeing Amu again.
"Thanks Yoru." I said as I stood up and walked over to Amu's balcony. I looked back inside the room before jumping up onto the roof across the street and heading home.
-NORMAL POV-
Ten minutes flew by and in no time the plane landed. Amu grabbed the carrying case and fastened it around her waist and slung her bag over her shoulder before exiting the plane. She walked out of the airport and headed for the nearest store. She asked the clerk for a map of the city and walked back outside. She opened the map and found an apartment complex with cheap rent and headed for it. When she got there she knocked on the dirty windwo to get the landlord's attention.
"Yes? How may I help you?" A man in his twenties asked as he walked up to the window. He had short dark brown hair that went down to his shoulders, was skinney and tall, and had grayish looking eyes.
"Hi, I'd like to rent a room." Amu said, her 'Cool and Spicy' outer character shining through.
"How long?" The man asked as he rummaged through some drawers before pulling out a stack of papers and setting them on the counter infront of Amu.
"Till I quit paying." Amu said reading over the papers before signing them.
"Well then, enjoy your stay miss." The man said before handing her a set of keys.
"Thanks." Amu said before turning and walking up the stairs of the apartment complex to the third floor and walking down the hallway until she reached room C3. She pushed open the door and sighed. Inside there was a mini kitchen, a living room with a t.v, a bathroom down the hall, a room in the back. Amu guessed was the bedroom, and was dirty as hell.
"Suu?"
"Yes desu?" Suu asked floating up to look AMu in the eyes.
"I'm going to go out with Nami, Nemi, and Zena to get some groceries so we can eat, do you think you, Miki, Ran, and Dia can get this place cleaned up before I get back?" Amu asked hopefully. She really didn't feel like cleaning right now.
"Of course Amu. We'll have it done before you get back desu." Suu said with a smile.
"Thanks guys. Don't open the door to anyone other than me, do you understand?" Amu asked seriously. They all nodded and Amu reached inside her bag and pulled out her wallet. She slipped it into her front pocket before slipping out the door. She locked it behind her and put the keys in her pocket with her wallet. She walked down the stairs and started walking in the direction of the store she had seen on the map.
"Hey Amu."
"What is it Zena?" Amu asked in a soft whisper as she walked down the street of her new hometown.
"Before we go shopping for groceries how about we try to find you a job so you won't have to worry about money."
Amu thought about it and didn't think it was all that bad an idea.
"Okay, but what is there around here that I can do?" Amu asked as she walked down the crowded streets of Vegas.
"Well this place is full of all kinds of entertainment right?" Zena asked.
"Yeah, and?" Amu asked not really getting her point.
"Well then just get a job as a preformer." Zena said with a smile.
"What kind of preformer?" Amu asked curious.
"You can sing right?" Zena asked.
"Yeah..." Amu said slowly starting to see where Zena was going with this.
"Well there you go."
"I get stage fright when I sing infront of people." Amu said.
"Then just character change with me and you won't have to worry about it." Zena said. Amu thought about it. She honestly couldn't see the harm in this. If she did get a job, a good paying one, then she wouldn't have to worry about money. And she was here to start a new life right?
"Alright, sure. Where do you want to go?" Amu asked slightly excited.
"Not so fast. We can't go anywhere with your hair looking like that." Nemi said.
"What? Why not? What's wrong with my hair!" Amu asked.
"You look like a kid." Nemi said.
"Yeah well, I am a kid." Amu said in her defense.
"Yes, but if we want you to get a job in Vegas then you need to look like you belong here."
"I'm not sure I follow." Amu said confused.
"Just follow us, you'll understand once we get there." Nemi said before taking off. Amu sighed before following with the others flying behind her. Nemi led them down one street, up another, and down three others before finally stopping infront of a building.
"Where...are we?" Amu asked out of breath from trying to keep up with Nemi.
"A hair salon." Nemi said flying inside. Amu followed her inside knowing she wouldn't be able to argue with her new charas. They had a point, her hair did make her look childish. Who has pink hair anyways?
"Okay, go up to the counter and ask for a style cut and a dye treatment." Nemi said.
"Okay, okay." Amu said going up to the counter. There was a young woman probably in her late twenties working behind the counter. She looked up when Amu reached the counter and her eyes widened at seeing someone with pink-strawberry pink at that-hair.
"Yes? How may I help you?" She asked.
"I'd like a dy treatment and a styled cut." Amu said in a strong voice of her own. This time her outer character didn't have to come out.
'Hmm, seems this trip to Vegas has already helped me a little.' Amu thought to herself.
"Okay, we'll call you when a chair opens up. Please go sit in the waiting area and choose a style and color you'd like." the woman said with a smile. Amu nodded and went over to the waiting area. She sat down in one of the brown plastic chairs and picked up one of the magazines from the table and started to look through it.
"Ooh, you should get that one." Nami said pointing to a picture of a woman with bleach blonde hair, cut short to her shoulders.
"No, I wouldn't look good as a blonde." Amu said turning the page.
"Get this one." Zena said poitning to a picture of a girl with black hair cut into layers and straightened.
"I like the color, but not the style. And it seems like something's missing." Amu said turning the page again.
"Alright, then get this one." Nemi said pointing to a picture of a girl with black hair with pink colored bangs and highlights throughout her hair. Her bangs were cut to hang down into the left side of her face. The rest of it was straightened and went down her back. Amu smiled and marked the page.
"It's perfect." Amu said.
-AMU'S POV-
"Next!" The receptionist said looking at me. I stood up with the magazine and walked over to the only empty chair in the entire place.
"Okay, do you know what you want?" An elderly blonde woman asked as she walked up to the chair. She looked a little older than the receptionist.
"Yes I do." I said as I pulled out the magazine. I showed her the page and told her that I wanted to keep my pink hair, just make it look like pink highlights in black hair.
"Okay, let's get started." She said as she led the way over to the dye section of the salon. It didn't really take all that long, just an hour. Once the blacks ettled in, the woman went over the remaining parts of my pink hair to make them stand out, but in a good way. She also dyed my bangs pink. She blowdried my hair, then straightened it after cutting my bangs to make them hang over the left side of my face.
"Okay, you're done. Be sure to pay the receptionist on your way out." She said with a smile.
"Thank you." I said as I walked back towards the front of the salon.
"That'll be twenty-four fifty." The receptionist said. I nodded and pulled my wallet out of my pocket. I paid her the money and headed outside. I walked around a bit, trying to get the feel of the city we were staying in.
"Amu, let's go!" Zena said.
"Alright, but where do we even go for a job in this place?" I asked as I followed Zena and the others down the street.
"There." Zena said pointing towards a small black building with a neon purple sign on the front that said Midnight Mistress.
"Umm..."
"Don't worry about it Amu, Nemi and I checked it out while you were getting your hair done." Nami said in a reassuring tone.
"I don't know..." I said unsure. "How do we even know they want a-"
"Because we overheard the manager talking to one of their co-workers over a drink." Nemi said flying towards the building.
"So it's a bar?" I asked as I reluctantly followed them towards the building.
"No, it's a clube." Zena said.
"That just happens to have a bar." Nemi added with a smile.
"Fine. I'll ask them." I said with a sigh as I walked into the Midnight Mistress. It was a nice size inside, but it was empty. The chairs were up on the tables and there were only three other people in the room other than me.
"Go on Amu." Nami said with an encouraging smile.
"Right." I said taking a deep breath and walking over to the bar. I went up behind the two already sitting at the bar and sat next to them. The bartender, a boy no older than me with long shoulder lenght black hair and hazel eyes, came up to me and asked me what I'd like to drink.
"I'll just have a coke, it's too early in the day to start drinking." I said, letting my 'Cool and Spicy' character take over.
"Right, one coke coming right up." The bartender said before turning and making my drink. He set it down before me then walked over to the two beside me.
"Thanks." I said as I started to sip on my coke. The bartender smiled as he asked the two men if they wanted refills. The one right next to me was the oldest. He had short jet black hair that was graying on the sides. He was a thin mand and seemed nice enough. The man sitting next to him was younger and had brown hair that went slightly past his chin. He was pretty big, not completely fat, but not skinney either. He also seemed to be the kind of person that was hard to please.
"Amu ask them." Nemi said, but I ignored her. I had a plan of my own and it didn't involve randomly talking to the two beside me, at least not yet anyways.
"Hey." I said to the bartender and the two kept talking.
"Yes? What can I get you?" The bartender asked with a smile.
"A refill of coke would be nice." I said smiling back at him. He nodded and turned to refill my glass.
"Do you know anywhere I can get a job as a preformer?" I asked as he turned back around and handed me my glass. I noticed both of the men's voices drop as they tuned into my conversation, though they were trying to make it seem like they weren't listening.
"Oh, I get it now. Good idea Amu." Nemi said as she and her sisters sat down on the bar.
"Well if you want a job as a preformer you've come to the right place. The Midnight Mistress is famous for the variety of preformers here. What kind of preformer are you? If you don't mind my asking." The bartender said as he sat down on a stool on the other side of the bar, seeing as how the place was empty and he didn't have anyone to serve.
"No, I don't mind. And I'm a singer." I said a little sheepishly. Sure Miki had taught me how to sing, and the few people who have heard me sing say I'm good, but I'm not so sure about my voice.
"Really now? You hear that Ben? The singer you've been looking for just walked through the door." The bartender said towards the brown haired man, Ben.
"Hn."
"Don't mind Ben, he's just hard to please. Once you get to know him he warms up to you."
"Right." Was all I said. I didn't really know what to say.
"So what's your name missy?" The man with the graying hair asked as he turned to face me.
'Should I use my real name? No, probably not. I am trying to start a new life here, so a different name would be best.'
"My name is Xena, Xena Tai." I said with a smile.
"Wel Zena, my name is Takki and that hardass over there is Ben." Takki said. I couldn't help but laugh at that.
"And my name is Jouin, but you can just call me Jo. Everyone else does." The bartender said.
"Right."
"Hold on now, we can't go giving her a job without first hearing her sing." Ben said standing up.
"As much as I alreadly like you Ben is right." Takki said with a sigh.
"Preform, then we'll decide if you get the job or not." Ben said as he went over to one of the tables close to the stage.
"I can sing any song I want?" I asked Takki nervously. I hadn't expected them to make me preform.
"Yeah, pretty much. Good luck." He said before moving over to the table Ben was sitting at and sitting in the chair next to him.
"Go up those stairs then just walk out onto the stage." Jo said. I nodded, but didn't move.
"Come on Amu, let's show them what you've got." Zena said flying backstage. I took a deep breath before following her.
"Zena. What am I going to sing?" I asked nervously.
"Don't worry about it. Leave that up to me." She said with a smile.
"But what if I get out there and choke?" I asked becoming even more nervous.
"Amu just take a deep breath. If you want I can character transform with you." Zena offered. I thought about it.
"Will it change my voice?"
"No, just your stage apperance."
"Okay, let's do this. My heart unlock!" I said and the humpty lock hanging around my neck started to glow. Zena flew up to me and we changed into Gothic Rebel. I noticed that my clothes were the same.
'How come my clothes didn't change this time?'
'Because they look cute, and Ben and the others saw you in these. You can't just randomly change clothes. Now come on, let's show them what we're made of.'
'Right.'
I walked through teh midnight blue curtains of the stage and walked up to the microphone.
"Start whenever you're ready." Ben said in a voice that said he already thought I'd suck. I picked up the microphone and stepped slightly to the side. I took a deep breath and let everything out as I started to sing.
"Asu nante konai you ni to
negatta yoru kazoekirenai
Yume mo ai monakushi
Ame ni utareta mama
naiteru, naiteru, naiteru...
kazaritsukinaide kono mama no watashi de ikite yuku tame
Nani ga hitsuyou
Jibun sae shinjirezu nani wo shinjitara ii no
Kotae wa chikasugite mienai
Kuroi namida nagasu watashi ni wa
nani mo nakute, kanashisugite
kotoba ni sae nara nakute
karadajuu ga itami dashite
taerarenai, hitori de wa
Yonaka ni nakitsukarete
egaita, jibun ja nai jibun no kao
Yowasa kakushita mama egao wo tsukuru no wa
yameyou...
Kazaritsukinaide ikite yuku koto wa kno yo no ichiban
Muzukashii koto?
Anata kara morau nara katachi ni nai mono gaii
Kowareru mono ga iranai
Kuroi namida nagashi sakendemo
Shiranu kao de ashita wa kite
Onaji itami ni butsukaru
Sonna hibi wo tsuzukeru nara
Tooku kiete shimaitai
wagamama to wakattemo...
Kuroi namida nagasu watashi ni wa
Nani mo nakute, kanashisugite
Kotoba ni sae nara nakute
karadajuu ga itami dashite
Kuroi namida nagashi sakendemo
Shiranu kao de ashita wa kite
Onaji itami ni butsukaru
Sonna hibi wo tsuzukeru nara
Tooku kiete shimaitai
Wagamama to wakattemo..."
When I finished I felt something wet on my cheek. I reached up and wiped away the tears that were streaming down my face.
'Amu?' Zena asked from inside my heart.
'I-I'm fine.' I quickly lied, but I knew she didn't buy it. Even if she wasn't in my heart right now and was able to tell what I was feeling I think she'd still know what had caused me to cry. I put the microphone back on it's stand, then walked down the steps of the stage. I stopped next to Takki and Ben. Both were staring wide-eyed at the stage not moving.
"So? How'd I do? Did I get the job?" I asked, but didn't get any response. I sighed and walked up to the bar where Jo was standing wide-eyed, looking at the stage. I set down a twenty, then walked out the door. Zena undid the character change as we walked down the street.
"Amu..." Zena said in a knowing voice full of sympathy.
"Don't Zena, please." I said as more tears fell down my face. I had thought I was over it all, was going to leave it all behind me. But singing that song, and finally getting a chance to let it all out, brought all the feelings I had been trying to hide from to the front of my mind.
"Zena! Zena wait!" A voice called out from the direction of the Midnight Mistress. I turned around to see Takki, Jo, and Ben running towards me. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes before they could see them.
"Guess I wasn't good enough, sorry to have wasted your ti-"
"Are you kidding! That was amazing!" Jo said.
"I've never heard anyone sing like that before, with so much emotion." Takki said with a smile.
"You were...something else. You've got the job, if you want it." Ben said holding out his hand.
"Of course I still want it." I said as I shook his hand.
"Can you come in tonight?" Takki asked.
"Sure, what time?" I asked as I released Ben's hand.
"Ten o'clock." Ben said.
"No problem. Do I have to sign anything?" I asked.
"You'll just have to fill in an application, but that's about it." Jo said.
"Oh, okay then. Well I've got to go shopping for dinner tonight. I'll see you guys later tonight." I said with a smile.
"Okay, bye." Takki said as they all turned and wlaked back towards the Midnight Mistress. I smiled to myself as I went into the store and bought some food for everyone to eat. When I finally got back to my apartment I wanted to crawl into bed and stay there a while. Suu and the others oudid themselves. The place was spotless, it almost seemed to sparkle it was so clean.
"Amu, you're back!" Ran said as she flew up towards me.
"Yeah, I am. Here, let me cook us all something to eat, then I want to take a nap for a little while." I said as I moved intot he kitchen. I pulled out things needed for soup. A few hours later it was done.
"Alright, come and get it guys." I said as I poured myself a bowl, then seven others. We allw ent to the table and ate. When we finished Suu did the dishes.
"Hey Amu?"
"Yeah Miki?"
"What'd you do to your hair?" She asked curious.
"I cut it and ahd it dyed." I said as I moved over to the bed and crawled under the sheets.
"Guys wake me up at nine okay?" I asked, I need to be up before ten.
"No problem Amu." All seven charas said in unison making me smile.
"Thanks guys." I said as I closed my eyes.
-NORMAL POV-
When Amu was finally asleep Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia all turned on Nami, Nemi, and Zena for answers.
"Why does Amu want to be woken up at nine desu?" Suu asked.
"Because she has to be somewhere by ten and she wants to be sure she's up in time." Nami said.
"Where does she have to go?" Ran asked.
"Work." nemi said in a bored tone, though truthfully she was glad to be talking to her other sisters, even if it was about something so trivial.
"Work? Where does Amu work?" Miki asked.
"What does she do?" Ran asked as Miki asked her question.
"When will she come home? Will we be able to go with her desu?" Suu asked as both sisters asked their questions.
"Girls! Calm down. Yes she has as job, she works at a club called the Midnight Mistress. She sings, and I'm not sure when she'll get home, and I'm sure she won't mind." Zena said as she flew over to Amu and laid down next to her. She closed her eyes and went to sleep. Ran, Miki, Nami, Nemi, Suu, and Dia alld id the same. Across the room the clock on the wall continued to tick away, and before any of the sleeping inhabitants of the room knew it it was nine forty-eight. The chara egg in AM's carrying cas cracked and poppled open revealing a small girl with straight jet black hair going down to just past her shoulders, a dark midnight blue dress with a skull and crossbones on the front and black shoes.
"Amu said she wanted to wake up at nine, but my sisters fell asleep." The little girl said as she flew across the room to her sleeping bearer.
"Amu, AMu wake up. It's already nine forty-nine." The little chara said and Amu stirred before sitting up.
"Hnn." Amu said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Amu you should get ready." The chara said in a soft whisper so as not to wake the others.
"W-who are you?" Amu asked sleepily.
"I'm your last chara, my name's Yumi." Yumi said with a small smile.
"Thanks Yumi, and it's nice to meet you." Amu said as she got up and got dressed for her job. She pulled on a longsleeve purple top with silver letters spelling out the words 'Rebel Child' on the front, a pair of black skinney jeans with holes in the knees and a pair of black tennis shoes. Yumi flew back over to her egg and it started to close behind her.
"No problem, be sure to wake the others, they want to go with you." Yumi said before going back inside her egg. Amu finished getting dressed then woke the rest of her charas. They all went out the door and headed for the Midnight Mistress.
A/N: See how much I love you guys? I made this one extra long. Now I'm going to try and write another one, but no promises. Please read and review.