Because That Is How We Are

Chapter 2: She's Not Just That Into You

Ikuto sat under the tree in total peace. He was having a surprisingly good day. Maybe he could go tease Amu for something, just to top the day off. Yes, today was a very, very good day. Or at least it was until suddenly—

"I've been looking for you."

"Get lost kid. Go back to your kiddy king," Ikuto replied darkly.

"Tadase is being lame," Nagihiko snorted sitting himself down—uninvited as well, Ikuto grumbled mentally. "And he was making lovey eyes with Amu so I decided to—"

"He was what?" Ikuto interrupted. Nagihiko smiled a smile not quite unlike Ikuto's.

"Tadase and Amu were making lovey eyes at each other," Nagihiko repeated, a bit too innocently. "It was driving me crazy so I just left."

"…"

"Well, actually, I'm not quite sure if it was just Tadase shooting love vibes at Amu. I mean to say that she might not have been sending them back," Nagihiko replied slowly.

Ikuto's heartbeat sped up. Was it possible that she didn't like the kiddy king?

"It might've been Kukai," the long haired boy put in thoughtfully. Ikuto frowned.

"You weren't sure?" he asked, struggling to keep anything out of his voice.

"Yeah, I think Amu might have a thing for him," Nagihiko gossiped with the other whose cat ears and tail were now sticking out. At that comment, Ikuto's left ear twitched in irritation.

"You really think so?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. For some odd reason, Ikuto then pictured himself tossing the possible love rivals off a bridge. He shook his head to get the images out of his mind.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do think so," Nagihiko replied pointlessly.

"Nagihiko? The others are missing you at the meeting," a little girl's voice rang out. Nagihiko looked up, all mischief gone from his eyes.

"The love vibes coming from Kukai, Tadase and Amu were making me sick," Nagihiko replied. Something similar but not quite confusion flittered across Rima's usually impassive face before she nodded, still looking directly at Nagihiko. She switched her view to the blue haired cat-boy.

"The love in the air was getting quite thick," she said thoughtfully.

Ikuto swore quietly, but not quietly enough. Nagihiko and Rima shared a look that went completely unnoticed by Ikuto, who was too busy planning the murder of two specific boys.

"I can't see her liking anyone else than Tadase," Rima said forcefully.

"No, I think she likes someone else," Nagihiko said slowly. Ikuto shifted his head slightly to the side. He dearly wanted to ask who, but used at his self-restraint to stay silent.

"Who could that be?" Rima asked for Ikuto sweetly.

Ikuto listened closely.

"Kukai of course," Nagihiko snorted and Ikuto scowled.

He refused to lose to thus Kukai guy that Tadagay…wait…Tadagay? Ikuto smirked. Nice nickname kiddy king, he thought. Now if only he could remember where he heard it….

Either way, he was gonna pummel those stupid munchkins until they—holy crap! Ikuto turned pale. He was starting to sound like Utau. Utau. She had some problem with Kukai right? The cat-boy shuddered when he remembered how his sister had stalked him and then badgered him about how some jerk-off had made a bunch of dumb blonde jokes then ran like hell. Little coward. Make that smart little coward.

Yes, Ikuto had indeed made Utau recite every dumb blonde joke and let him write them down. He patted his pocket and was satisfied to find they were in there. Now he could black-mail his sister into killing Kukai. Assuming he even needed to black-mail her. After all, Utau did have a habit of holding long grudges. And as for the kiddy king? Well, Ikuto wasn't quite sure, but he'd find a way to get him out of the way.

Without a word, Ikuto left the two younger kids.

When the cat was out of ear shot, Nagihiko cracked up.

"It worked!" he laughed. Rima smiled.

"You don't think he'll hurt them that bad do you?" she asked, worry slightly coloring the tone of her voice.

"Don't worry, Rima," Nagihiko said promptly. "Kukai and Tadase will be fine."

Meanwhile….

"Hey Utau!" Ikuto called to his sister who was positively fuming.

"Yes, Ikuto?" she asked sweetly, her mood changing in a matter of seconds.

Ikuto smirked, a dirty little grin dancing in his eyes.

"I think I have an idea for you to get back at the kid who was tossing dumb blonde jokes at you," the cat replied, almost singing he was so happy.

"I'll do anything for you!" Utau declared. Ikuto's smirk grew larger.

"here's the plan," he said and told his Utau his idea. Utau smiled brilliantly.

"I'm on it," she said and bounded off.

Poor little Ikuto was so happy he failed to notice that Yoru had found out the whole plan and was on his way to see Miki as soon as Utau was gone.