*I do not own the rights to Shugo Chara! or its sequel. The original story belongs to Peach-Pit.
PROLOGUE
I trailed after the blue-haired boy, ultimately unsuccessful in keeping pace with him.
"Iku onii-chan?" He turned towards the me. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he murmured, turning away as we rounded a corner, approaching a snack store. Entering the shop, he headed directly towards the cookie section. It was clear there was something he wanted.
I peeked under his arm at the package he was now holding. Without any clear communication, he began to answer the little girl's thoughts. "These are fortune cookies," he said, holding out the small bag with his hand, looking at it with skeptic eyes, "My classmates say that they can tell you your future, but I think it's dumb. I'm going to see if it's true or not."
Ikuto focused back onto the bag, trying to find the price tag, but stopped shortly after, feeling a tug at his sleeve. "Hey, why don't you call your classmates your friends?"
He turned away to stare at the package, not wanting to look into her honest eyes, "Because I don't need friends."
A pause and a short intake of air.
"I'm not your friend?" At this point, Ikuto saw that he had to choose his words carefully if he didn't want her bursting into tears.
Sighing, he bent down to meet her at eye level, patted her head, and gave a small smile. "You're my only friend, Amu."
Her pink hair bounced as she gave him a brilliant smile, and stood proud. The boy, as soon as trouble was avoided, turned away to pay for the cookies.
A bell chimed as they left the bakery, with Amu begging him to open one. "Come on, Iku onii-chan!!" she cried desperately.
"Fine," complying with her wishes, he opened one and straightened the small slip of paper inside.
"What's it say?" Ikuto nonchalantly handed her the paper, hiding his smugness quite well. Her eyes widened and she patted him on the back.
"That's great! I wonder who it is," her thrill from learning of her position in Ikuto's life had not worn off, so she missed the shifting of his eyes, staring solemnly at the pink mess of hair.
