Pink

She had everything in this life. In her early 20s she gained fame, people’s adoration and real happiness of being loved by the most wonderful man on a planet. Souhma Kuukai. Of course she had never told him about it due to her sense of women’s pride, but deep in her heart the pop-diva knew that her husband was sent to her from above. Only in his arms she could feel herself a fragile and vulnerable girl, who needed to be taken care of. His kisses were magical, they could cast all her uncertainties and little fears away. Kuukai was her air, not even realizing his meaning in her life. Because she was proud, because she thought she couldn’t show a hint of her diffidence and because she wanted to look strong in his eyes. But if only he knew that all her independence fell apart every time he smiled at her and embraced her. Yes, she was a popular singer who had everything a girl could dream of, but the only aspect that made her different from all other singers and celebrities was her husband, her beloved Kuukai. He brought brightness to her world and now she sparkled million times brighter than ever. She loved and was loved in return. That was the greatest treasure for Utau. She was sitting in the large kitchen of their two-floored apartment, holding a glass of red wine in her right hand and watching as her beloved man was cooking a dinner for them. It was his hobby, but the blonde never complained, because his ramen was the best she had ever eaten. Kuukai noticed her thoughtful gaze and asked in a cheerful tone: “What is it, beauty? Does anything trouble you?” She answered right away, lifting her amethyst eyes to look at is face. “I was thinking about onii-chan”. “What about Ikuto?” the red haired guy dried his hand with a towel and sat beside his wife. “Ever since he met Hinamori…he has…changed…” “Yeah, I noticed it too. He has great interest in her, I’d say, but there is nothing to worry about, I think. Actually, I’d rather choose Ikuto to Tadase for the role of Amu-chan’s boyfriend”. The blonde raised her eyes on his smiling face and uttered thoughtfully: “You know, to my mind, Ikuto’s goal is not becoming Amu’s boyfriend. I had never seen him treating a girl like that”. “Yeah?” the green-eyed man scratched his nape in frustration. “Well, I don’t know him as well as you…maybe, you have a point. But what did you mean by saying that he is not into winning her heart?” The lady laughed heartily, taking his hand and intertwining their fingers. “It’s absolutely opposite. His main wish is to conquer her heart and marry her. He is not interested in wasting time for some temporary relations such as dating”. Souhma’s eyes widened in total surprise. “Whoa! Is he that serious?!” Utau dropped her gaze on her knees and spoke quietly but not without concern in her voice: “He told me once that it’s not a crush. He couldn’t describe his feelings back then but all he told me was that that emotion is much deeper and more meaningful than a simple crush”, she said sadly and looked up at her husband’s face that showed kindness and understanding. “Ikuto’s falling in love, ne?” he smiled with a corner of his lips. The blonde chuckled softly and shook her head. “No. He already did. I want to help him, Kuukai. If only you could know for how long I wished for this. He has always been aloof and independent, but now I see those changes in him and I want him to find a good woman that could take care of him. He never thinks about himself, only worries about the others. I like Amu-chan but will she be able to become special for him and return his feelings? I don’t want my brother to suffer from an unrequited love!” “Take it easy, beauty!” Souhma petted her head lovingly, sending the dear girl a gentle gaze, “I understand your worries and concerns, but let them be. It’s their lives, let them decide everything themselves. I wanted to help Amu too, but decided against it. If they are destined to be together, they will find the way to work everything out. But I won’t interfere in their relations and I advise you not to as well. Give them time. Ikuto is smart and quick-witted, I’m sure he will win this battle. The problem lies in Amu-chan. She still hasn’t recovered from Tadase’s betrayal. I saw her some weeks ago, she tried to look cheerful as always, but I know that she is still hurt and heartbroken, especially after finding out that Hotori is in Germany representing his researches. If to be honest, I don’t understand this guy. He must be really blind not realizing that his happiness is passing him by”. “Maybe she is really destined to be by Ikuto’s side?” Utau’s voice was wavering in uncertainty. She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her forehead tiredly. “I just want my brother to be happy. He may be a little headstrong but he has a sympathetic heart. Ikuto deserves happiness like no one else.” “You know what, beauty?” the young man kissed her quickly on the lips and stood up to continue his cooking, “Even if you could help, you can’t do anything. The last word belongs to Amu-chan. No matter how Ikuto wants her by his side, the right of choice belongs to her whether she says “yes” or “no”. Now, it’s up to him to find the right strategy to mend her broken heart and fill it with a new feeling he is ready to give her. That’s why I advise you not to interfere.” And she was glad that she talked to him about the problem that troubled her so much. She didn’t tell him that she had already tried to help her brother back in France. Utau decided that he didn’t have to know. Kuukai… he was a little younger than her, but the guy held rare wisdom in him. Today the amethyst-eyed diva had found one more feature of character that she loved in her dear husband. A men’s reasonableness. A glass of wine was gladly drunk till the very last drop.

OooooO

People can’t live all by themselves. They gather together into flocks and build cities and so, when time passes by, people lose their connection and become strangers to each other. In a commercial city named Tokyo there lived two persons who had absolutely different characters but it didn’t prevent their meeting. The world was round and small to Ikuto’s eyes. He could meet her anywhere but it happened at his sister’s wedding. It was ridiculous because after that fateful day his mind was filled with thoughts of a certain pink-haired maiden. And he started to meet her pretty frequently too. If to be honest, he couldn’t understand why he didn’t see her in the crowded streets before Utau’s wedding. And then Ikuto realized one important thing: those meetings were not ordinary but fateful. China didn’t live up to his expectations as well as France and Italy. He started to lose hope. His business trip was coming to the end and it worsened the young man’s mood to no limits. Tsukiyomi couldn’t sleep at nights. His appetite was on a low level. Oh, how he wanted to find what he had been searching for all those three weeks of his assignment. And all his efforts were for her and only for her. Because she deserved the best. Because he wanted to see sparkles in her golden eyes. Because he loved her with all his being. Ikuto sighed and lifted a collar of his jacket to protect his neck from cool wind. The weather was as grey and rainy as his mood. He didn’t like England, especially London for its unwelcoming weather. The amethyst-eyed young man took several steps and stopped on his tracks only to sneeze very hard and loudly. “Great! Just great! All I was lacking of was catching a cold!” he argued mentally and looked at the grey sky of the English capital. “It’s already the end of March and I still haven’t found it. I can’t come back home without it in a pocket.” Ikuto was tired, cold and hungry. Oh, why didn’t he check the weather broadcast in England when he was still in warm Italy? Who could know that the difference between the temperatures would be that perceptible? He sighed again. Complaining like that wasn’t in his character. He had always been collected and confident. He had a goal and he had to reach it no matter how hard it would be to do. The man stopped and clapped his cheeks twice, showing a determinate gaze to the world. She was worth of those complications of his. If it could bring a smile on her face, he was ready to turn the mountains upside down. But his exhausted stomach didn’t share the same enthusiasm as its master. It growled really loudly and showed objections with everything it could. Ikuto stopped again because of a stomach ache. He forgot to eat that morning and now was suffering from it. The producer winced in annoyance but decided not to argue with his body that needed rest. That’s why the handsome Japanese entered the nearest restaurant and ordered his dinner. While waiting for the meal to arrive, Ikuto’s gaze fell on a small jewelry shop on the opposite side of the road. It was a family shop with a pretty famous name. Also his eyes caught the writing on a front door that said that the shop was closing in 15 minutes. The man stood up abruptly and ran out of the restaurant, not remembering himself. His order was delivered a moment later.

OooooO

It had been 3 months since she found out that Tsukiyomi let the cat live with him in his luxury apartment. Amu grew fond of the kitty. Actually, she wasn’t that happy about the fact that the kitty’s owner persuaded her to look after Yoru, but as the time passed by, she put up with her cruel fate. The popular producer insisted that Amu would work for him as a pet care-taker, when he was away for business trips. She was against that idea at first but then gave up with a sigh. Ikuto left for an assignment almost every month or even more frequently, and she just couldn’t leave a poor animal without proper treatment. So, the pink-lover decided to accept Tsukiyomi’s offer in order to prevent both of them from unnecessary problems. “Thank you, Amu, I appreciate your help,” he told her back then with a sense of relief and gratitude in his eyes. If to be honest, Hinamori started to catch herself thinking about the young man, who had such unusual eye-colour. He was away most of the time, and the girl noticed that she kind of missed him. Yes, maybe he was strange and sharp-tongued sometimes, but after some period of time his presence became a necessity for her. She didn’t know why. During those 3 months, she happened to know him a little better. They became good friends actually. She spent some of her free time in his company, when he was at home or on his days-off. He paid her for watching after Yoru. It was her job to take the cat to her house while the owner was away. Well, she couldn’t complain because she liked cats and having one around wasn’t that bad. Her mother was against it at first but then decided to let it be. If the cat could help Amu to cheer up a little and not to think about Hotori-kun, then Hinamori-san would close her eyes at all the mess the kitty was making, and let her daughter get some mental rest. But what the pinkette loved the most were those precious moments when Tsukiyomi would come to her house to take Yoru back. He was a real gentleman after all. He had never come with empty hands but brought different small gifts for her and her family from abroad. Ami got fond of Tsukiyomi onii-chan for all those European sweets he had been giving her after returning from a regular business trip. The older Hinamori liked the young man for his good behavior and gallantry. To her mind, such young men became rarity and Tsukiyomi was one of that kind. He even managed to charm the head of the family by bringing him a rare Chinese canary as a gift for Christmas. In some way Amu felt uncomfortable when her family started to speak about her boss in infused manner. Yes, he looked better than any other guy from her surroundings, but she still couldn’t understand why her younger sister was calling him onii-chan in the first place! When she asked Ami about that, the girl just giggled and answered: “Himitsu!” And that made the older sister feel even more alert. She caught them whispering about something behind her back but neither of them told her the reason of their behavior. Most of all Amu didn’t like to be left behind. Her sister and Tsukiyomi were up to something and she really didn’t share that enthusiastic atmosphere around them. She didn’t need all those gifts that he had been giving to make friends with her family. The only thing she adored secretly was the moment of his coming. Every time he crossed the threshold of her house, Yoru would run to Ikuto's side and wait until the man would take the cat under its paws and lift it high enough, so that they could look into each other’s eyes. That was the highest reward for her labours—the moment of their reunion. Yoru would look in his owner’s eyes very seriously and in deep concentration, while the young producer would do the same with a wry smile on his face. That was how they said “hello” to each other. Gold against amethyst. It was a men’s greeting. And Amu would watch the scene like charmed. But last time was different. Ikuto was the first one who broke the eye contact back then and then placed the piercing gaze of his dark amethyst eyes on her small frame. That gaze sent small shivers run down her body while her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She had never seen him looking at her like that before and it made her feel very vulnerable and unprotected. Her knees started shaking and she wanted to avert her eyes from his, only to keep her feet firmly on the ground. But he said something she hadn’t expected to hear: “I came only for 2 days, then I have to go on another assignment,” his voice sounded calm but too serious, as if he was trying to say something else but couldn’t find the right words. “Again?” was all she could utter in response, not even realizing that her face fell. “But you have just arrived. Can it wait? Yoru missed you so much!” It was true, but for some unknown reason she felt like she missed him more than the cat. “I know, Amu, but I have to finish everything before April. So, I’m asking you to look after our son a little longer”. She didn’t say anything about his last remark, actually she had already got used to his stupid jokes about Yoru being their son and so on. Right now she felt upset and Amu didn’t know why. She hoped that he would come for a week at least. “Aren’t you tired? It’s been 2 week since your previous arrival”. His features softened as he smiled at her warmly, placing the cat on the floor and walking closer to the girl. “I’m so flattered that you worry about my well-being, Amu-chan,” he said sincerely and bent down a little to look straight in her golden eyes that reminded him of the sun. She didn’t expect him coming that close. His face was just in some centimeters away from her own. And his eyes…oh, why did they have such rare and beautiful colour? While she was struggling against unusual emotions he made her feel by look at her so attentively and deeply, the dark-haired man began to speak: “You know, Amu, maybe we should start thinking about the date of our wedding?” The meaning of his words didn’t hurry to visit her head, but when it finally came to her, the so-called producer was already grinning like a Cheshire cat, showing all his 32 pearls of white teeth. The next moment Hinamori jumped several steps backwards from him as if he was some kind of fire. “Wh-what are you talking about?! It’s nonsense! Stop joking around, Tsukiyomi-san!” Yes, she tried to look cool and spicy but her hot cheeks were giving her true feeling away. Her heart was beating rapidly and she could swear that she heard its rhythm in her head. “Yoru, come to me, my boy!” Amu exclaimed taking the black cat in her arms. But what concerned Ikuto, his eyes got very focused on the nervous girl. He was glad to see the result of his efforts. At last, he saw the reaction he had been dreaming of during all the time they had been known each other. He dreamed to see how the walls around her heart would fall apart, when she would stop resisting and let the light in. Amu was on the edge of exploding. Her heart was beating like crazy and it felt a little painful, but a swirl of insane butterflies were dancing break-dance in her stomach, tickling the girl from inside. She felt scared, but it was not like when you were in danger. The feeling of this fear reminded more of learning something new and forbidden. He came closer and she tensed even more. His hand lay on the cat’s head in Amu’s arms. “I’ll bring him back in 2 days,” his voice sounded smooth and calm. She let him take the cat from her arms and then threw a glance on his face, which looked very thoughtful. “See you later, Amu, tell your family that I’m sending my best regards.” With those words he and his cat left the house. Before getting in his car, Ikuto looked up at Hinamori’s residence and then closed his eyes. His face showed great determination as he thought: “The time has come”.

OooooO

Sitting at the desk in her room a golden-eyed girl couldn’t kick a certain someone out of her pink head. Last time he came to bring Yoru, his behavior was strange. There were no jokes or stupid remarks from his side and it worried the girl’s heart. Was he sick or something? The only answer she got was his stern order: “Take good care of him. I’ll be absent for 3 weeks this time”. 3 weeks! It was too long… He was so careless not thinking about his health! Could a common human live in such a hectic rhythm? “Yoru, your daddy is a workaholic,” Hinamori told the kitty that was playing with a ball of yarn on her pink bed, “and he doesn’t even realize it”. The cat threw a short glance at her and meowed in a sign of approval. “He promised to be back by April, 2,” she said looking at a large calendar on the wall, “which means, that he is coming tomorrow”. Her face lit up in a gentle smile as she stood up and took the black cat in her arms. The animal purred in response. “Like father –like son,” Amu giggled, stroking a furry ear. Behind the girl there was a big calendar hanging on the wall. The date of April, 4 was marked with a pink crayon, and there was a small writing below the number, that read: “My Birthday!”

OooooO

It was already 2 AM when he arrived in Japan. No matter how strong his wish to see his pet was, the young man understood that he couldn’t pay a visit to the lady of his heart in such a late hour of night. That was why the dark-haired producer decided to go straight to his apartment and get some needed rest. Sitting in a taxi cabin, Ikuto couldn’t but think about his success in London. He put a hand into an inner pocket of his jacket and clenched a small velvet object. A smile of triumph found its perfect place on his pale face as he remembered his visit to a jewelry shop in the English capital. He made it just in time before the closure. There were lots of beautiful accessories, but Tsukiyomi needed only one of them all, and he couldn’t find the right one anywhere. His eyes were roaming around the glass-cases with golden and platinum rings in them, but nothing could catch his interest. “In no comparison with the sparkles in her eyes,” he thought bitterly, losing the last hope, but despite that gloomy mood of his, he decided to ask the owner before leaving the shop. “Is it the whole selection you have?” His English was as perfect as his French. The old man looked at the customer through his thick glasses very carefully and then spoke: “I can see your serious intentions, young man, but could it be that you can’t find a special ring for your lady?” Ikuto’s eyes widened a little in surprise while his cheeks coloured light pink. “You are right,” he answered politely. “She is very unique and deserves the best, but no matter where I tried to find the ring, I could find it nowhere. I haven’t seen any precious stones that could resemble the sparkling of her eyes”. Ikuto witnessed as the old man nodded understandingly and uttered: “Maybe I can help you, young man, but the price-” “The price doesn’t matter,” the producer hurried to interrupt the owner. “As I said earlier, she is worth of a whole fortune”. “Young love…” the seller smiled and hid in the other room but showed up again some moments later. He put a small box on the glass-case and opened it. As the box was opening slowly Ikuto’s eyes witnessed indescribable gorgeousness. “This is ‘The Beauty’s Mystery’,” declared the seller, showing a fair diamond on a white deco pillow. “It was found in India and brought to me by my companion, but I didn’t dare to work with it. There are not so many people that are ready to pay for this miracle. So, I decided to keep it like this until the right customer comes.” While the man was telling all those things, Ikuto couldn’t avert his eyes away from a crystal-pure stone that had an unusual shade of pink. It looked like a tear, but not like a tear of sorrow, but a tear of joy and happiness. Her happiness. There was no doubt that this precious stone was made especially for Amu by Mother Nature itself. Only for her. And he was ready to give it to the queen of his heart. “I’ll buy it,” he whispered still looking at the charming light-pink diamond that lay on a white deco pillow. The ring was ready 2 days later after his visit to that shop. Ikuto was given a thick catalogue of different designs of the wedding rings and he chose the most elegant yet classical platinum form. The dark-haired producer chuckled soundlessly and closed his amethyst eyes still holding the box in his inner pocket. He did love England… An hour later he crossed the threshold of his apartment.

OooooO

“Happy Birthday, my little sparrow!” exclaimed a cheerful father, hugging his daughter. “Oh, why do children grow up that fast?!” and he burst into tears still clenching his older child in his arms. “Dad, I’m not going anywhere,” said the one, whose Birthday it was, rolling her golden eyes, “if it’s what you are so afraid of…” “Happy Birthday, dear!” Midori-san walked to Amu and hugged her too, clapping her husband’s back encouragingly. “I wish you to find true happiness in your life!” “Thank you, mama,” the girl hugged her dear parents in return. “I’m already happy to have you all by my side”. “Onee-san!” Everyone turned their heads to look at Ami, who was holding Yoru in her hands. “Yoru came to greet you with your Birthday!” and she showed the kitty in her outstretched arms. Yoru was wearing a little blue tuxedo and a Birthday hat between his ears. He meowed in bewilderment and everyone burst into laughter. 2 hours later, when the family was sitting at the table and eating a Birthday cake, the door bell rang and interrupted a cozy atmosphere in the room. “I’ll check who it is,” said the pink-haired girl standing up from her seat. She walked to the front-door and opened it only to reveal a giant bouquet of pink roses. Her eyebrows arched synchronically in total amusement. The bouquet was so big that it could barely fit the doorway. “Who can it be?” she thought and looked down only to see two long legs and modern stylish lacquered men’s shoes with pointed noses. Amu’s lips curved into a wide smile as she realized who this stranger was. No one of her male friends dressed like that and wore such expensive and exclusive shoes. They didn’t have enough money for that. But there was only one person that she knew could be easily called a ‘sharp-dressed’ man. And it was… “I thought you told me in your last SMS that you will be late for 3 days,” she built up her cool and spicy façade, crossing her arms on her chest. “Let’s say that I managed to finish everything earlier than I’ve planned,” she heard his velvet voice behind the roses. A hearty laugh escaped her mouth as she stepped aside and invited him to enter, which he did immediately. “Happy Birthday, Amu! I’m very glad that I made it in time to greet you personally. This is for you,” and he gave her the bouquet, smiling so handsomely and sincerely. “Tsukiyomi-san!” exclaimed the older female of the house, coming into a view. “What a nice surprise!” “Good evening, Hinamori-san! Let me greet you with your daughter’s Birthday. Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to meet and know her,” Ikuto bowed politely and took a small box out of his inner pocket and then gave it to the older Hinamori. “This perfume is especially for you.” “My-my, you are as attentive as ever, Tsukiyomi-san. Thank you! Please, join our celebration,” the woman said kindly, taking the box from his hands. He smiled back and looked at Amu inquiringly. “Yeah, I will be glad if you join my party, Tsukiyomi-san,” she answered his mute question, blushing a little. Ikuto then looked at his watch and exhaled. “Actually, I have some free time, so it will be my pleasure to share your celebration”. And he was led to the dining room where all the family was gathered together. Yoru had his own private seat at the table like a real member of a human family. The handsome producer laughed at the view. The atmosphere was very warm and friendly as they sat at the celebration table. Ikuto threw short glances filled with adoration at the dear girl and he could swear she tried to avoid his gaze in a shy manner. Hs heart was filling with courage and determination. He had to try. They said that it was easy to give than receive love, but it would feel billion times better to get the same feelings in return. And he dreamed about it. Oh, how he wanted to become a good support for her, to be loved by her! Ikuto sighed and looked at his watch again. “I’m really very sorry, but I have to go now.” “Oh, what a pity,” Hinamori-san frowned. “Thank you for the cake, it was very delicious.” He stood up and bowed to the elders. “Come again, Ikuto-nii!” Amu grinned, showing her straight white teeth. “I don’t have any business trips in the near month, so it means we won’t see each other soon. I can take care of Yoru myself till the next assignment,” he answered taking the cat in his arms. “You may come whenever you want, Tsukiyomi-san,” spoke the lord of the house, catching the young man’s attention. “We are always glad to see you”. “Thank you for your invitation, Hinamori-san, but I think your daughter needs some rest from care-taking. I caused her too much trouble,” and he placed his amethyst eyes on the fragile girl with long pink hair. “Yeah, you are right,” she said cheekily. “Let’s go, I will walk you to the exit, Mr. Troublemaker.” He just chuckled and followed her to the gates. But before leaving, he stopped in a little garden of the household. Amu looked at him inquiringly. “Amu, I need to tell you something,” he said firmly, looking her in the eyes. The cat jumped down from his grasp to the ground and started to lick his paw. “Yeah? What is it?” she answered, still not getting what his point was. The young man walked closer to her and stood an arm’s length away from her form. “Amu,” Ikuto started trying to sound confident, but in reality his heart was dancing Pasa Doble, while he could hear his rapid pulse in his ears. The maiden laughed unsurely. “What’s wrong with you? It’s not in your style to forget what you wanted to say.” He chuckled awkwardly at her sharp remark. “Well, if you know it already, I am going straight to the point.” And their eyes locked. “Marry me”. His voice was firm and powerful as his mirrors of soul. Her pupils widened while her pink lips twitched. “Stop kidding like that,” she whispered breathlessly. “I’m not kidding.” “You can’t be serious,” Amu shrugged her shoulders and looked away in perplexity, “why are you always joking around?” “Amu,” the way he pronounced her name made her heart skip a beat. “It’s not a prank.” And to prove the rightness of his words the young man took out a small velvet box of bright-pink colour and opened it. “I’m asking you to marry me with all the seriousness I am capable of.” Hinamori’s eyes widened to the measures of spheres as she glued her gaze to the luxury ring that was sparkling in the moonlight. If only she knew that the same thing was happening with her eyes right now. Ikuto was watching her reaction very carefully. He couldn’t miss any changes in her features. The glamorous girl looked up at him very slowly until their eyes met. He noticed a trace of doubt and fear in her golden mirrors of soul and he understood her inner state right away. She wasn’t ready for such shocking news. “Tsukiyo-” But he hurried to silence her by pressing his index finger to her warm lips. His quite but emotional voice filled the air. “Please, listen to me. I know what you are going to say, but don’t say ‘no’ just now. I’m not forcing you to answer me right away. You have time to think and I will be waiting for as long as you need to find the true answer.” “But do you want me of all people?! I’m just a common girl who-” But he silenced her again, running his fingers through her soft pink locks. “It’s not my fault that my love has your name and voice, it’s not my fault that my love has your eyes and posture, your hands and appearance, your spirit and uniqueness. Am I guilty that I have fallen in love with you at first sight at Utau’s wedding? Is it wrong that I find your style appealing? I don’t think so…” he finished softly and closed the gap between them by pressing his lips to her forehead lovingly. The girl held her breath in unexpectedness. “I will be waiting for your answer, Amu,” he whispered after breaking that innocent kiss. “But you don’t have to rush. Take your time thinking about what I have told you today.” His hot breath was fanning the skin on her forehead and that sent shivers run down the girl’s spine. He had never been that close to her and her heart couldn’t slow down its crazy rhythm. “Patience is my main virtue. Happy Birthday.” And with those words he made several steps backwards and showed her a kind and boyish smile, the same smile she had seen on his lips back in Paris. She stood there like charmed just watching as he picked up his cat from the grass and exited their household. Amu came back to reality only when she noticed two red lights of his car that hid behind the corner.

OooooO

It was 11 PM when everyone went to their rooms, not forgetting to wish good-night to each other. Everyone except Amu. She stayed on the ground floor to watch the movie on TV. She sat in the living-room in front of a large plasma television and made herself comfortable. The screen was showing different scenes of the plot, but her eyes were not focused on what was happening in the movie she wanted to watch so much. Her mind was still busy, thinking of Tsukiyomi’s proposal. She had no courage to tell her family about it. She was afraid to even think about their reaction! But her brain just kept on playing tricks with her, replaying the scene of his confession over and over again. The girl dropped her face on her palms tiredly. She must have told him ‘no’ right away. It was ridiculous. He was 5 years older than her. What was he thinking confessing like that in the first place?! But most of all she wanted to know why she felt so doubtful about that entire situation. She agreed to think, but what was there to think about? Getting married to a guy who had weird tastes and strange vision of life? But…who also had the most beautiful eyes and a child-like smile…who was always there when she felt like crying in misery. Tadase had never done that for her. She was dreaming of marrying him and have her own happy family. But what did she do wrong? Why had her dreams turned into crystal shards? Was it her fault that everything turned out like this between them? “It is not my fault that my love has your name and voice…” she remembered Tsukiyomi’s words that he had told her that evening. Amu grabbed a little pillow and pressed to her face. Soundless squalls filled the room as she continued shouting in that pillow: “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!!! Just leave me alone!!!!” Her sufferings were interrupted by a door-bell. The girl looked up at the clock that showed 23:20. “Who can it be at this late hour?” she thought, before standing up and walking to the door. When she opened it and saw a newcomer, she had almost lost her balance from shock. “Tadase-kun!” her lips whispered audibly. “Amu-chan! I’m so sorry for intruding like this in such a late hour, but Happy Birthday!” the blond young man mumbled apologetically and outstretched his hand that was holding an ordinary bouquet of yellow roses. “I know that it’s quite surprising, but may I come in and explain everything?” The golden-eyed girl took the flowers absent-mindedly and let him enter. He was right. It was a surprise to see him right here and right now. No. It was a real shock for her to meet the man she loved under such unusual circumstances. “Amu, I came here right from the airport. I couldn’t arrive earlier, but I have great news!” Hotori was telling her something but she didn’t listen. She wanted to know only one thing… “Why didn’t you call me, Tadase-kun?” The guy shuddered a little. “I tried million of times! But the phone service was telling that I dialed a wrong phone number…I didn’t know how to contact you!” She was looking at him with her sad golden eyes. “There are lots of different methods to drop me some lines: SMS, e-mail, usual post mail, if the worst comes to the worst…” “Look, Amu-chan, I know that I was wrong not telling you about my trip. I was shocked myself when those professors invited me to go with them to Germany. You can’t imagine what…” But she wasn’t interested in listening to his fairytales. “Tadase…why did you come? Only to tell me about the success you achieved in Europe?” Her words brought him back to the sinful Earth. “No! Of course not! I wanted to see you and ask you about something,” with those words he took out a little red box from his pocket and opened it, taking the stunned girl’s hand in his free one. “Amu, dear, sweetheart, I want you to be by my side forever. Please, let’s get married!” and he dropped on one knee in front of the pink-haired maiden. To say that Hinamori was shocked, it would mean nothing. She stood in total stupor with her mouth opened, but Tadase considered her reaction as a good sign. He smiled and continued: “I was invited to work for German University of Science and Research. I agreed and now I have to live abroad, so I came to take you with me. It’s bad that you haven’t finished your studying in the University here, but we will think about it later. We can always find a good job for you in Germany, the main thing is that we will always be together from now on.” She heard his every word but couldn’t utter anything. Her gaze fell on a small ring that he was still holding. It was a pretty silver ring with a small shard of sapphire. Of course it went in no comparison to that Ikuto had offered her earlier. Was it a joke of fate? It could be seen only in some movie, where the girl got two proposals at the same day. But this second time she felt nothing but disgust. All Tadase’s words were like a castle built on sand, there was no confidence in the next day. She dreamed to hear him saying that he wanted to marry her. But something felt terribly wrong. No…everything was wrong! Amu suddenly realized that she didn’t love this boy anymore. He killed those beautiful feelings in her heart with his indifference a long time ago. Her soul was bleeding and the love for him was leaving empty skies within. Her dream was pure and she was sure that their fairytale would last forever, but fate happened to fail. Amu took a deep breath and stopped his enthusiastic speech by announcing: “I will not marry you, Tadase-kun,” despite the fact that her heart was crying in pain, her voice sounded firmly. The blond’s eyes showed incomprehension. “W-why? What’s wrong, Amu-chan?” “I will never cry that we will be oceans apart, Tadase-kun. You made your choice a long time ago—the very first time when you forgot to call me and tell me that you would not come on our date. You chose your carrier over me that time. I don’t regret about loving you, I only regret about not realizing what kind of a fool I was while waiting for you during all those times,” a single tear rolled down her cheek, but she hurried to wipe it away quickly. “Amu, sweetheart, don’t say it like that, please…” he started to beg her, but the girl showed him to be quite. “Our love is dead, Tadase-kun. I’m not the same Amu you knew. I used my pain to never let you break my heart again. I will survive this separation. You took a piece of my heart with your love and I have never thought that our relations would fall apart. You love biology more than me and I haven’t realized it until the trip to France. You didn’t come back then and I found out that it was the last drop,” she straightened herself, freed her hand from his grasp and said seriously, looking him in the eyes “I’m breaking up with you. Let you find a woman who will manage to love both you and your job.” “Amu, wait!” “Good-bye, Tadase-kun! Thank you for greeting me with my Birthday”. She told him coldly, forcing him to stand up and walk towards the front door. “Amu-chan, please, listen to me…I can explain!” But she had already closed the door behind him. It hurt… but she thought it would feel worse. Somehow… she felt alive right now. A part of her young heart was cold and empty, like someone had torn a piece out. That coldness was slowly killing the last hope. But still she wanted to believe in finding her true love. Oh, how she wanted to be understood and loved in return! She was giving her love for granted and it was thrown away like some kind of trash in the end. The pink-haired maiden greeted her teeth in anger and offence. Some minutes later Midori-san found her older daughter in the kitchen, devouring the Birthday cake wildly.