Welcome to my first AU! It's an AMuto, of course =]

It's another story! I know I should be updating the other ones, but this idea was floating around for awhile...

The Art of Seduction

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has always been the most popular in school. No girl has ever been able to resist his charms. But what happens when Amu Hinamori steps in? Could he have possibly met his match?

Read and review please. Happy writers make more updates!

The Art of Seduction

Chapter 1: The End of the World

Rosy strands of hair flopped against her forehead as she struggled to get her heart shaped clip tied over the side of her head. Her face tightened into a grimace, revealing a mixture of aggravation, anxiety and excitement.

"Hold still Amu-chan!" A blonde girl clad in a frilly green dress reached for Amu's hand, stopping her from making the damage worse. She glanced at the reflection of the pink-haired girl and resisted making a scowl of her own. "I'll do it desu."

Amu stared up at the girl behind her, eyes clearly expressing gratefulness. "Thanks Suu."

"I really don't know why you're so nervous Amu. It's just school," remarked a girl adorned with an interesting set of blue clothes topped with a light blue French barrette. She had always been the most stylish of them all. She leaned against the table before Amu with her arms crossed and waited for an answer.

But it wasn't Amu who responded. Instead, a redheaded girl who was settled on the bed beside the table spoke. "Miki, you know how Amu gets. All jittery and nervous around a crowd."

Amu shifted a bit at the words and noting that Suu had somehow miraculously saved the disaster in her hair, gave the blonde a small smile. But as soon as Amu realized that the blonde had already directed her attention elsewhere, staring off in the distance as she muttered what they were to have for dinner that night, the rosette turned towards the other two.

"It's not just school, it's a new school! And it's college!" Amu's golden eyes looked over at her friend's through the mirror. "And…" She looked down at her hands. "Ran's right. That's just how I am."

"I didn't mean it like that Amu!" Ran quickly sat up. "You'll amaze them all, you'll see. You shouldn't be worried. You're Cool and Spicy character will knock them down so hard, they won't know what hit them."

Her luminescent golden eyes immediately dulled and her expression dropped within seconds.

"Ran!" Miki chided.

"What? It's true. She'll be the most popular girl in school again." Ran cheered. "You can do it Amu!"

Amu groaned, slapping a hand against her face as Miki shot a malevolent glare at Ran's direction. Really, it amazed the blue headed artist how that hyperactive, loud-mouthed girl could be her older sister. Of the three, Miki had always felt like the oldest, what with Ran's constant sugar high and Suu's complete obliviousness to everything around her.

She stole a glance at Suu who was, as she suspected, once again humming to herself in her own little world as her eyes were completely unfocused. Sighing, Miki ignored her overzealous redheaded sister, uncrossed her arms and laid one hand on Amu's slightly trembling figure.

"Amu, you'll do great. You're beautiful and smart. Smart enough to get into the prestigious Seiyo Academy on full scholarship neh?"

Amu lifted her head past her arms and cowered back to hide beneath them.

"You're a great person Amu. Even if you didn't have that completely useless Cool and Spicy character of yours, people would still love you." Miki squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.

"I…" her voice was muffled before she finally raised her head to look Miki in the eyes. "I just wish that you three could come with me."

"Amu-chan. You know we would've, but you're the only one who got in."

"You should be happy desu!" Suu had finally broken away from her trance.

"I can't wait to see you amaze them Amu!" Ran squealed, almost reverting to her fangirl mode just at the thought of Amu's Cool and Spicy character. She had always been her number one fan despite growing up with her and knowing her true character.

Miki sent her sister another glare. She knew Ran was only making Amu more nervous, though she didn't doubt the truth in her words. Her childhood friend Amu had always managed to leave a lasting impression, never failing to become the most popular girl no matter where she went. But knowing Amu, which she did and had for the past 15 years (she practically considered her a 4th sister), Miki knew that she wasn't at all happy with being lavished with attention and adoration with a mix of fear.

Because, as Miki knew better than anyone else, Amu just wanted to be herself – and her true self was nothing like the confident person that she portrayed to others.

"It's okay Miki." Amu gave her a weak smile. "You guys should be heading back right?"

"But we haven't even gotten to help that much!" Ran cried. Her eyes swept through the length of Amu's bedroom, the very last room they had worked on. There was still some clutter of half empty boxes here and there, even if everything seemed to be in place.

"You've helped me move all my stuff and you guys even stayed over. I think it's more than enough."

Miki looked uncertain. "Will you be okay living alone?"

"I'll be fine, really."

"Maybe we should get your parents and Ami to come too desu." Suu reached over at a box and pulled out a stuffed animal. "How will you live and eat desu? You must eat properly Amu-chan." Although her eyes were directed at the doll, her concern for Amu shone clearly through them. She pulled the doll close and embraced it as she closed her eyes trying to relax the expression of worry that spread across her face.

"I can't bother my parents. They have good jobs in the States. Ami is so Americanized I don't even know how she'd do here. I couldn't possibly make them come with me."

"But but but! Then why did you want to come here?" Ran squeaked in protest.

Miki rolled her eyes. "Maybe because it's one of the best universities in the world? Full scholarship and almost guaranteed jobs after graduation? If we had gotten in, our futures would be set too."

Amu sent her a crooked smile. "Come on, it's not that amazing."

Ran, Miki and Suu stared at her in disbelief.

"A-and, w-what's the use of that if I have no idea what I want to do with my life?" Amu stuttered, just beginning to feel the slightest bit guilty that she had been the only one to be accepted.

"Come on, it's totally amazing!" Ran hopped up, holding Amu's hands against her own. "And I can't believe that one of us, actually got in. Wait, I can believe it. This is Amu Hinamori we're talking about here!"

"Yeah, considering it was so out of our league we were just applying for it as a prank."

"And now our poor Amu must live all alone desu!" Suu cried out suddenly wearing a pleading expression.

"Well, not all alone. You guys applied to schools in Japan because of me, didn't you?"

The three immediately looked away.

"Well, no I just happened to want to go to school here." Miki raised an arm awkwardly to the back of her head.

"Me too desu."

"Me three."

"Thanks guys." A few seconds of comfortable silence passed as the four girls exchanged warm smiles.

"If you need anything Amu-chan, please call us. I'll cook you dinner!"

Amu chuckled slightly. "And have you travel 3 hours just to make me some food? I think I can handle myself."

Suu seemed slightly discouraged.

"But only because you trained me to cook all summer Suu."

The blonde immediately brightened up. Meanwhile, Ran was cheering "Yay Suu!"

Ushering them out of her apartment, Amu gave them one last hug. "I'm going to miss you guys. It'll be weird not having you around all the time."

With their eyes slightly moist, the three sisters immediately wrapped their arms around her.

"It's not like we're not here at all." Miki scoffed. "We're only three hours away. We can see you whenever we want!"

"Yeah! And it's way better than being back in the US. Then it'd just be impossible to see you."

"Remember to call." Ran said as she picked up her bag to leave.

"Well visit often desu." Suu whimpered, only to be dragged out by Ran who knew that her youngest sister would not stop crying for the next couple of hours if given the chance to begin. While Ran wasn't always the most level headed, she was the type who hated seeing people upset and made it her business to cheer them up. Crying in front of her was simply something that wasn't allowed.

"Bye Amu." Miki turned to leave, worry evident in her eyes.

"And Miki," Amu spoke before she closed the door behind her. "I really do think that you might actually be the oldest sister too."

The blue headed girl raised an eyebrow and joked. "Hmm. Maybe our parents confused who was who, seeing how we're triplets and all. I've had my suspicions for some time now."

The rosette laughed, before her lips finally settled for a grim line. "Thanks…for everything Miki. If it counts for anything, you've at least been like a big sis to me."

Miki looked at her with a warm grin donning her face, before walking out the door with a piece of advice she knew that the girl needed. "Don't get into too much trouble Amu."

"Miki!" Amu huffed, "Like I would!"

"And that includes being late."

The stylish blue haired girl briskly followed her two sisters at the end of the hall, stealing brief glances at her wrist watch as she counted down for the expected screeches.

"OH MY GOD! IT'S 8:15! I'm going to be LATE!"

"Will she be alright desu?" Suu cringed slightly at Amu's screams.

"Let's hope so. But if not, that's why we're here isn't it?"

Willowy leaves swayed in a blur of golden yellows, warm oranges and fiery reds. Amu pulled the edges of the blazer around herself, shivering slightly either from cold or nervousness. Looking around, she found a sign pointing in the direction of the freshman orientation and without hesitation her feet picked up the slack and hurried her along.

She couldn't believe that she was finally in college and to top it off, one of the best of the best! Amu Hinamori had actually decided to leave the United States to go study by herself. To go to Japan.

The last time she was in Japan must have been when she first met the triplets. She was only three or four years old then and her memory of it was hazy at best. Still, she mildly recalled leaving her birthplace to head for the United States and it was in the airplane, curiously only a few rows down, where she found the girls. They had hit it off immediately and coincidentally found that their parents were childhood friends.

Yet even if she couldn't remember Japan, the first few years of her life were spent here and Amu felt a strange connection to it. As if she belonged here. As if it had called her to come back.

And those girls had come along with her. They had applied to every school that had their programs of interest in Japan, just so that they could be near her. Since the day they met, they had been inseparable and it was true even now. Amu grinned, beyond grateful that she was blessed with friends like these.

The rustle of leaves woke Amu from her daze, causing her to look around in confusion as she soon realized that…she was lost. Amu Hinamori, High School Valedictorian, top of her class, was somehow incapable of following the simple arrows that led to the auditorium.

And she wasn't only lost. She was also late. On her first day of school in a foreign country, that is a school that could easily kick her out at a moment's notice and leave her completely without a place to live as well.

Well, she could always stay with the Nikaidou's. Although it hadn't been intentional, the girls had convinced their parents to move with them. Most likely, their father could not bear to see the youngest daughter, Suu away from home. Not that anyone could really blame him. Suu's welfare was a bit concerning at times.

It wouldn't be so bad to live with her three closest friends would it? She was sure that their parents wouldn't mind- that they'd probably be delighted to take care of their best friends' daughter, but she couldn't possibly intrude.

She cursed under her breath and kicked a pointed rock, perhaps hoping for it to show her where to go next.

"Ow!" But as her luck would have it, it landed something furry and blue against the base of a tree at some distance. She froze in place, eyes widening at the mass of blue fur against black.

It trembled slightly as if agitated before growling an indecipherable sound.

Slowly, the obscure glob rose upwards. Without her contacts, Amu couldn't be sure whether or not she was imagining the monster crawling against the ground, leaning forward as if to…stretch? And was that a …tail?

And then it rose up and looked as if it would tower over her if she had stood right next to it. Hearing the quick swish of leaves beneath its feet, Amu watched the image grow larger and larger, sensing its incredible speedy approach, before tightly shutting her eyes to let out a scream.

"Just SHHH!"A hand covered her mouth within seconds and she was forced to open her eyes to get a glance at the perpetrator.

Shimmering golden irises met intense azure orbs. For a moment, Amu couldn't even register what had happened and when she had finally noticed, could not pull herself away from the gaze of a surprised man – his eyes sparkling, yet dark and mysterious like the most beautiful night sky.

His eyes were wide, attention completely focused on the gilded honey orbs that seemed fluid with the way light reflected off of them. As if the waves of a golden sea were lapping over each other, her eyes were full of emotion, life, or maybe it was just utter shock.

He released her, pulling his hand away while keeping the gaze. Finally looking away, he spoke. "So what's a lost little kitty doing here?"

His voice immediately pulled a blush from Amu's face and seeing her reaction, he smirked.

"Ex-excuse me sir. I'm very s-sorry about the uh…rock." Amu stared down at the ground, wondering why her Cool and Spicy attitude wasn't kicking in.

"It's not sir. It's Ikuto Tsukiyomi." He rubbed his head and crinkled his nose. Leaning forwards to catch a glimpse of her, he spoke in the huskiest voice the flustered girl had ever heard. "But you can just call me Ikuto."

Amu jumped in place, her skirt fluttering in the motion of it. Looking up, her eyes met his unexpectedly and for another few seconds of silence, they stood dazed.

Then, finally catching herself, Amu pulled her gaze away, cheeks again a rosy hue. "I-I'm Amu Hinamori."

"Alright Amu. Was there a reason you were disturbing my sleep?"

"I- y-yes. Sorry a-again for that." Amu cursed inwardly. At this point, she wouldn't mind if her outward character took hold. At least she wouldn't seem like a stuttering fool.

"Do you always talk like that?" He raised an eyebrow at her. His expression seemed to twinkle with amusement. "I'd think it would have been a bit difficult to get through the Seiyo interview with a speech impediment."

Her cheeks blazed in embarrassment but most of all, her eyes flared with fury. She glared up at him with a sharp, cold stare just managing to force him to take a slight step back. "I'm looking for the freshman orientation."

Ikuto sighed and weaved his hand through his hair. "I liked the stuttering. It was cute."

"Like I care whether you like it or not!" She practically screamed, though her cheeks were once again betraying her.

His teasing grin dropped slightly. Usually, if he had said something like that to a girl, really any girl, they'd be swooning at his feet. In all his years at school, it had been his gift, blessing and curse. He attracted the female population like a magnet and they'd follow him wherever he went.

At some point, the nickname "Sex God" had stuck with him. Not that there wasn't a reason for it. For the most part, he wooed girls, had his way with them, and moved on to the next. No strings attached. And they didn't seem to mind either. They went to him regardless, knowing exactly what they were getting into.

But sometimes, just sometimes, he needed to be alone. A man could only take so much mindless sex, well maybe not, but even so Ikuto would occasionally find it all pointless. Because at the end of it all, he was still alone. Still as much of an outcast as he had been in his youth. It wasn't that people didn't want to get to know him. It was very much the opposite. It seemed that they were too eager to and he never truly trusted anyone to genuinely want to know about him rather than be in it for the popularity, or sex, or money.

Which was why he was found in the outskirts of the campus, just to get away from it all. Usually, during these times, he'd have Yoru to keep him company – the only friend he really trusted. But there was some meeting today and all the guardians of his year, the senior class, including Yoru who was the acting Jack, had to attend.

And being the Joker, Ikuto was supposed to attend as well. Not that he ever had in the previous 3 years. He was sure that they'd all assume that he wouldn't be showing up – because he wasn't going to be showing up. Besides, it wasn't a good opportunity to pick up girls either. Freshmen were too young for his tastes. He'd really only go for a senior, or junior maybe.

"Hello? I need to get to the Freshman Orientation."

Amu's innocent voice brought him back to his senses. His eyes widened slightly at the words.

"…Did you say Freshman Orientation?" That sounded oddly familiar. Like that meeting the guardians had spoken about.

"Uh…yeah." She looked up at him curiously at the change. His figure had seemed almost lonely before like a stray cat, but now it seemed as if he was back to normal.

His eyes twinkled mischievously, smirk raised higher than normal. "You're a freshman here?"

She crossed her arms, looking somewhat peeved that he hadn't given her directions yet. "Yes, now can I get the directions? I'm running really late."

He leaned towards her with determination to regain his well known prowess of making girls fawn at his feet. There was something about this girl. Something in the way she crossed her arms and glared at him. Something that no other female had ever done to Ikuto Tsukyomi in the history of his time here or ever, really.

Whether he liked this 'something' was yet to be determined.

"Well, aren't you going to show me the way?" She questioned cheeks getting rosier as he got closer.

"No. Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm lost? And you know where everything is." She pointed a finger at his clothes. "You're a student here."

He looked at her, amusement leaking through his voice. "And I would help you because…?"

"For the self satisfaction of doing a good deed…?"

A barely contained chuckle escaped his mouth. "Good deed?"

When she realized the conversation wouldn't be going anywhere, she stomped forward poking a finger at his chest as she sternly spoke. "Look, I'm late for the freshman orientation, so I'd appreciate it if you could at least show me the way. It won't take more than a few minutes of your time. But what it will do, is save me the trouble of getting kicked out of school."

His lips were pressed together in strain, as if trying to contain laughter. "You think you could get kicked out over something like that? You're just the cutest little kid, aren't you?"

She glared at him, clearly unamused.

"Besides," he watched her from the corner of his eyes, lips slowly moving upward in a smirk. He leaned in ever closer, brushing against her cheek with his own as he whispered the words all too breathlessly into her ear. "I don't do anything without getting something in return."

Her body almost gave into a spasm as she forcefully shoved him away. "Y-You p-pervert! F-forget it! I'll find it myself."

Ikuto frowned slightly. His usual charms were failing. The world must be ending soon.

But with the way her cheeks were crimson, it wasn't a complete failure was it? And why was it bothering him so much? So it was one girl who didn't go completely weak at his words.

Slightly distraught, Ikuto mumbled the directions to Amu.

Her smile was almost as warm as her eyes as she said a hurried thanks, before running off.

Yes, that girl was an interesting one. He'd have to be careful.

Hm. Rating may go up. Entirely up to the reader.