Summary: Amu is a debuting singer that has a lot of potential to break into the industry. However, when her record company decides to pair her up with Iktuo, a hot, famous singer, will sparks fly? Amuto 3
Thanks to 3:
FallenMusician
chocolistic -- thanks! ^_^ And good luck with your exams!!~ Though I think they should be done by now =.="
ellabell
Zakuro46
SUNCAT333
Tigerkira
Aoi Faith
Amanita Virosa-Amaranthus -- Yea, he can play the violin + guitar. I just thought that it would be kinda weird if he composed a song (which they are going to sing) on violin. =D But don't worry, his violin will pop up somewhere in the future! ^_^ Nah, its okay. XDD I play the piano so I'm attached to that. =)
Star Serenade
N e k o S o d a
KeikoHayasaka -- No, not yet. ^_^ But still, thanks for suggesting that song (wait, this is what you mean right? XD). I'll be using it later I think, if I can weave it into the story. =)
Morningstar04 -- thank you! *glomp* =D
sweettara10
babo123 -- I think jammed. Or maybe someone did lock them in. *snickers* ^_^
Bunny Music
iTragediex33
Lover Of Ikuto -- hehehe, I'm updating =D Love your nickname btw ^_^
Strawberry Porridge
tarouchoo -- LOL!! =D
Eevee-san -- YAY! CAKE!! Thanks!!
Swift Ninja Layla
Amulet CoolnSpicy08
Aznprid3x3 -- XD Updating!! thanks
xXVampire-ObsessedXx
For reviewing, adding the story to their alert/fave list! =D Thanks a lot guys!!! XD If I've forgotten anyone, I'm really sorry!!!! Please don't take offence =D *hugs* Yea, feel free to hit me over the head with something.
Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara. Nor do I own any of the songs, lyrics that are posted in the fanfic.
Italics – Thoughts (sometimes), singing, recapping
Recap:
The door wouldn't budge. He frowned at it. I frowned at it. "Here, let me try," I said, making him move over.
I pulled but nothing happened. I tried again, pulling with all of my strength but nothing happened again.
"Uh oh…was it because I slammed the door before?" I asked timidly, remembering my actions before.
Ikuto raised his eyebrows. "I guess we can camp here." He glanced at the couch. The very small couch.
"Eh!!!!!" I cried.
I was stuck with Ikuto for the night?!!!
Chapter 5 – Repayment
Amu POV
"GAHHH!" I bashed the door a couple of more times, praying that someone would hear me.
"It's 11pm, everyone's gone home now," Ikuto pointed out, sounding pleased with himself.
I turned to glower at him, refusing to admit defeat. "HELLO?!!!" I screamed at the door. I heard Ikuto chuckle behind me. I pursed my lips, annoyed.
Stuck with Ikuto for a night with a very small couch was too much for me to handle. I glanced at him and he sat on the couch invitingly (A/N: LOL!). I quickly turned away to stare at something else.
"You might as well get some rest," Ikuto said after a while.
I glared at him. "Exactly where did you have in mind?" I snapped, raising my eyebrows while blushing.
He smirked and patted the couch. "Why, here of course. I wouldn't want you to freeze to death."
I snorted in disbelief and refused to look at him after woods. My cheeks were burning and I could feel the heat radiating off them. I tried breathing in and out slowly to cool down my face.
"I'm not going to sleep there with you," I sniffed.
He chuckled. "You know you want to," he sang.
I pulled a face and glared at him with all the contempt I could manage. "Right…totally…" I turned away again before my will would be broken. It actually did looking quite inviting…
Before I knew it, the floor disappeared from me and I was being carried to the couch. Bridal style. I floundered in his arms, extremely embarrassed now but couldn't help but feel safe and strangely secure in his strong arms. "Let me go! Let me go!" I repeated over and over again.
And then he did. He just dropped me onto the couch. I scowled at him, rubbing my head. He merely grinned at me and then said, "Move over, I'm not going to fit."
Realization hit me and I felt a wave of heat crash over me. "What?! No way!!" My voice cracked.
Ikuto sighed and leaned closer to me. Instinctively, I pulled back into the couch and he promptly tucked himself next to me. I swear he could feel me burning. I wanted to push him off but I was too tightly wedged into the couch to even move my arm. I sighed loudly.
"See? You're not going to die from the cold at night."
I refused to look at him and I knew he was smirking. I settled with a loud 'hmph'. "Oh thank you so much! You are ever so considerate," I muttered sarcastically. "How will I ever repay you?" The words ringed in the room and I stiffened, realizing that I just said.
Ikuto chuckled again and I felt his warm breath on my face as he turned to look at me. I tried to wriggle my way out but it was too hard.
"Don't worry, you'll find a way to repay me." He was grinning foolishly.
I decided that I shouldn't say anything from now on. Pretend to sleep. Hopefully that way, I would actually manage to fall asleep and he would stop bugging me.
1 hour later…
I couldn't sleep. First off, I could feel his breath on my face which caused my hair to move gently every time he inhaled and exhaled. And of course, it wasn't comfortable to know that I was breathing in his breath! Secondly, sometimes I could feel his gaze on me. I felt paranoid. What if I had drool coming out of my mouth when I slept? Or if I snored? Thirdly, while I was waiting for sleep to come, I realized that maybe it wasn't such a good thing that I fall asleep. I had no idea what Ikuto could do to me while I was alseep….
Ikuto POV
Amu wasn't asleep. I could tell by her uneven breathing. Not to mention, she seemed to be radiating…awkwardness, if that was even possible. Did I put her in such an uncomfortable position? Sure, we both were cramped into a small couch…
I opened my eyes to get a peek at her. Her eyes were closed. She looked so peaceful. My eyes scanned her face and I noticed a couple of strands of her hair covered her face. I felt so tempted to pull them back but decided against that. Amu would definitely freak out at me.
She shifted a bit or tried to since it was pretty much impossible. I paused thoughtfully. It seemed like she wasn't going to get any sleep like this…
2 hours later…
She was breathing deeply. She was asleep. Amazing. She must have been very tired. I felt the urge to pull back the strands of her hair that obscured her face come again. Slowly, I reached out and pulled back the strands. She stirred and I paused. But she smiled contently and then smuggled closer to me, making me inhale deeply, taking in her refreshing scent. I froze. She looked so satisfied leaning on me but I got this feeling that she wouldn't be when she woke up. Despite that, I found myself enjoying the fact that she was smuggled close to me. Somehow it felt right.
Now that she was closer to me, I could properly observe her. Her skin was pale and smooth and I could just imagine my finger touching it. Her lips looked inviting as ever. I quickly shook my head.
Impulsively, I pressed my lips against hers for a quick second. Before she could even stir, I swiftly moved away.
She gave a sigh of happiness, still asleep. I smiled to myself and decided that maybe it was best if I slept on the floor, for her sake and mine. Reluctantly, I pried myself from her and tried to get comfortable on the cold, hard ground. Amu may not have realized it, but she had just paid me back.
Amu POV
I woke up, surprised that I even managed to get some sleep. I checked the time on my watch. It was morning.
I was shocked to see Ikuto on the floor. Had he fallen on the couch? Did I push him off? Did I snore so loud that he couldn't sleep next to me? I envisaged so many scenarios in my head, slightly panicking.
And then I remembered my dream. Or more like a nightmare. In my nightmare, Ikuto kissed me.
My hand flew to my mouth and I gently touched my lips. No, I was sure it was a dream…nightmare. (A/N: ^_~)
Ikuto suddenly gave a loud yawn, which in his way, was announcing that he was awake. I jumped and my hands flew to my hair, hoping that I didn't have terrible bed hair.
"Did you fall off the couch?" I asked him, when he looked more awake. He was now sitting upright on the ground and stretching like a cat.
He laughed. "Did you miss me?"
I gave a loud harrumph and snorted. "No," I replied stoutly.
He threw me a mischievous look before saying, "Well, I don't think you liked sharing the couch so I moved down here." He gestured to the floor.
I stared at him, too shocked to say anything else.
"Well, I think that there should be people at work now. Maybe if we shout, they'll hear us," commented Ikuto. But he made no attempt to stand up. I sighed. I guess that job was up to me.
I flung myself off the couch and in my haste I tripped. Ikuto moved lithely and managed to catch me before I fell to the ground. I found myself staring into his beautiful sapphire eyes. And then my eyes travelled to his lips. Urgh!! No! I pushed him away, blushing madly.
I mumbled thanks and walked towards the door. He looked bewildered.
"Amu! Good Morning!" My charas flew towards me. I smiled at them, and wondered where they had slept last night.
I stared at the door with determination. But before I could even start yelling or bashing it, it swung open, revealing Nikaidou. He looked utterly shocked to see me.
"Amu? What are you doing here?" he asked. He stared at my crinkled clothes and possibly my lovely bed hair.
My eyes widened, realizing what this could have implied. After all, this was Ikuto's private room. Hastily, I explained everything that had happened (minus the nightmare and Ikuto's teasing).
"Oh," was all the Nikaidou said. He turned to look at Ikuto. "Go to the Sound and Recording Department. We shall follow you shortly."
Ikuto nodded and left, winking at me before he did. I resisted my urge to whack him over the head with something hard.
I followed Nikaidou out of the room, enjoying the fresh breath of air. Nikaidou was silent throughout our whole trip. I could tell something was bothering him and piped my interest.
He glanced at me and smiled. "Sorry Amu. It's just…well, you still are a debuting artist. You have to be careful."
I gaped at him. "Seriously, nothing happened!"
Nikaidou chuckled. "Yes yes, I know. But the press and tabloids might think otherwise."
I snorted and decided to change the subject. "We've finished the song. I wrote the lyrics and Ikuto-"
"I did nothing as usual," Ikuto interrupted, scaring me half to death as I didn't expect him to be behind us. I realized we had reached the Sound and Recording Department. I looked at him, confused but could have sworn that he shook his head ever so slightly.
"Yes, I thought so. That's why we are here." Nikaidou gestured to the room, which was filled with strange machines, computers and people.
I placed myself on a chair and fell silent. Of course, Ikuto wouldn't want people to know that he composed the song. Did that mean I was taking credit for the song? I cringed. It wasn't mine. It was Ikuto's.
The Sound and Recording Department already were working on arranging the song. Ikuto must have given them the manuscript for it. I sighed and watched Ikuto sit nonchalantly across me. Unbidden, my dream flashed through my head and I jumped violently, almost falling off the chair. Ikuto looked at me, puzzled. I blushed but was grateful that everyone was engrossed in their work that they didn't notice me.
"This is boring," Ikuto muttered to me.
I nodded politely, not sure of what else to say. Nikaidou had left us and had joined with the other staff to help out with the song.
Too preoccupied with staring at the other people in the room, I missed what Ikuto had just said. "Hmmmm?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the staff.
"I said did you have a good sleep last night?" repeated Ikuto, with a touch of annoyance.
I quickly turned to look at him and realized that he had leaned closer towards me. Oh God. His lips. I glanced the other way and mumbled, "I had a strange dream but apart from that, it was fine,' I replied stiffly. I shifted myself so that I was further away from him.
Ikuto's POV
Strange. Did she just move away from me? My heart sank a bit.
So she had a strange dream. I wanted to ask her what it was about but she was looking the other way, as if she was pretending to ignore me. Was she angry at me for some reason? I sighed. I quietly observed her, noting her flushed complexion and how she simply refused to look or acknowledge me. Maybe that was my imagination…
I caught myself staring at her lips and quickly averted my gaze to somewhere else. My eyes landed on Nikaidou, who was watching me thoughtfully. Meeting his gaze, he was frowned at me and I followed suit. He obviously wasn't happy with my "relationship" with Amu. I wonder why? Was it because I could destroy her image? That didn't strike me as right. Not to sound arrogant, but wasn't I meant to bring her to fame? Wasn't that the intention of pairing us up together for her debut?
I stood up and decided to question Nikaidou about it. He noted my approach with raised eyebrows.
"What is it?" he asked quietly.
I knew Amu was watching us curiously. "That's something I should be asking you," I whispered softly.
Nikaidou stared into my eyes, calculatingly. "It's just…the way you act with Amu. It's a bit too dangerous, don't you think?" The warning in his voice was evident.
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?" I growled.
Nikaidou turned to look at the Amu and smiled at her inquisitive expression. I waited impatiently for his answer.
"The Board won't appreciate you getting attached to her." He turned to face me. "Remember, you need to remain single."
I gazed at him coolly and then snorted. "Come on! I'm not getting attached to her. It's just fun teasing her."
Nikaidou laughed. "Well, it doesn't look like it from my point of view." He paused thoughtfully. "I'm just warning you, just in case. Please be careful." Nikaidou strode off towards the staff, leaving me frustrated.
"We're actually ready to record the song now," announced one of the staff. "We'll be going through a couple of practice runs soon, so please get ready."
I sighed and tried to read the lyrics over again. But I couldn't concentrate on them. Furious thoughts ran through my mind. Whatever I did…it was always controlled by the Board. It was all Gozen's fault.
Amu bounded forward, smiling and looking eager. I stared at her from the corner of my eye and felt my heart sink. She was too naïve. I wondered if she was up for a life in front of the camera all the time. I wondered if she would attract attention from Gozen and be forced to live the way I did. Fury rose within me when that notion hit me. I moved closer to Amu, who sensing my approach, turned and beamed happily at me, her face radiating.
No, I thought determinedly while smiling back. I wasn't going to let that happen. It was never going to happen.
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^ The horizontal line thingie wasn't working for me o.O
Another chapter done!! Well, sorry for the shortness! Urghhhh the story is progressing too slow!! =.="
Thank you all for reviewing!!! =D It made me feel so much better! =D More please? LOL! I'm too greedy XD I'm really sorry that this chapter is really late!! I had a writer's block =.=" Actually, I do believe that I still have writer's block. It took me too long to finish this chapter. A pretty bad chapter, please forgive me!
Ehhh a bit emo towards the end. XD But nothing TOO bad, just some thoughts.
And I quickly wrote this chapter because I there was no Amuto in Chapter 35 =) There wasn't that much fluff in this, but did you enjoy it?
Also, I know lots of people are going to ask this, so their song will be No Air by Chris Brown and Jordon Sparks. I hinted it in Chapter 3 – Out of Breath. LOL. Lame, I know =D
School is back. I won't have much time to update but I will do my best =D But I'm dedicating my whole life to school now, so it seems. Chapter 6 will be probably here soon though? Just review and it'll be faster, because I'll have motivation. =D LOL!
No flames, yea? XD