Yellow there! First story, woot! I do not own Shugo Chara or any of the characters mentioned. ^.^

Chapter 1

A short girl with striking pink hair bounded through the woods, humming a song she and her friend had been singing a few hours ago.

"Finally, peace and quiet," she mumbled to herself, letting out a long breath. All day, she'd been at her younger sister's elementary school, helping out as half of the teachers were out. She loved kids, but she had barely gotten any sleep all week and was dead tired.

She checked her small pink phone. It was about 4'o'clock. Her mother, a beautiful woman with long mousy brown hair and golden eyes, expected her home at 6.

"I have time," the girl thought, seeing a clearing appear in front of her. Approaching the clearing, she caught sight of a small red fox scurrying away, limping.

From the shadows nearby, a young man with longish midnight blue hair stood leaning against a tall tree while watching the girl. He had only been passing by, but the girl's striking pink hair had caught his attention. He knew who she was; almost everyone that went to his school did. She was Amu Hinamori, Seiyo High School's "cool and spicy" girl. Wondering what she was doing, he had stopped and made sure to stay hidden.

"Mister Foxy," Amu called softly out to the small injured fox. She sat down crossed-legged on the soft grass, holding out her hand.

The fox froze in place, whipping its head around, frightened.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Amu said gently, pulling out a pack of peanut butter crackers from her jean's pocket. She unwrapped it while keeping an eye on the fox.

Again, she held out her hand, this time with a cracker in it.

The fox stared at her. It seemed to want the food, but was still wary of Amu. Slowly, it inched its way closer to Amu. Once it was only a few centimeters away from her hand, it hastily snatched up the cracker and backed away, disappearing into the darkening forest.

Amu giggled a bit and let out a huge yawn. She was still exhausted and needed some serious rest. Checking her phone again, she read 4:15 PM.

"A little rest wouldn't hurt," she thought, lying back on the grassy forest floor with her hands behind her head, staring up at the tree-covered sky. After a few minutes, she felt her eyes start to droop, and a few seconds later, she had fallen asleep.

The boy in the shadows chuckled lightly at his fellow classmate and waited a few moments before silently walking over to her. Seeing she was shivering slightly, he swiftly pulled off his large black jacket. Setting it down on her, careful not to wake her, he slowly backed way. She immediately snuggled into it, trying to pull it around her.

"Goodbye," the boy breathed almost silently, and stalked off into the darkness.

Amu awoke about two hours later, stretching. She glanced around in a daze before realizing where she was.

"Crap!" she hissed, pulling out her phone to check the time.

It read 6:20 PM.

"Dang it!" She bolted up, knocking off the black jacket.

"Huh..?" she thought, picking it up and tilting her head to the side. "Whatever, no time."

Gathering the black jacket in her arms, she bolted off towards the front of the forest.

Once she arrived in the small park which led into the forest, she sprinted left. Her house was only a block away. Hopefully her mother wouldn't get too mad at her.

A few seconds later, she bolted inside her two-story house, panting heavily.

"Amu!" her mother scolded, rushing over to her.

"Sorry I'm late," she gasped, her hands on her knees.

"Never mind that," her mother sighed, going into the brightly lit kitchen.

Rummaging through a cabinet, she pulled out a small clear bottle of pills marked "Ms. Amu Hinamori".

"Take one now," she ordered, holding out a small white pill to her daughter. Reluctantly, Amu took the pill and forced it down her throat.

"Now Amu, you know how dangerous it is for you to run like that," she said, a frown on her face.

"Sorry mom," Amu grumbled, straightening up and putting on her "cool and spicy" face. "I just didn't want to be late again. It's not cool."

Sighing, as her mother had already gotten used to this mask Amu put on, she continued, "I've already told you, it's fine if you're a bit late, just be careful. You have your phone on you, right?"

Amu could've face-palmed.

"Right…"

Her mother chuckled lightly, patting her daughter's bubblegum-pink hair.

"Go get some rest dear. Tomorrow you have school and you know that it uses up all of your energy. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

"Okay mom."

Amu then bounded up the stairs to her room, shoving open the door, and setting the jacket down on her neat bed.

Collapsing on her bed, she glanced at it, and pulled out her phone to text her best friend.

Hey Utau, she typed, sending it.

What's up? Utau responded almost immediately.

Just got home. You?

Just playing around, messing with my bro. You've been okay?

Amu smiled fondly at her phone, silently thanking Utau for her concern.

Yeah. The medicine got a bit stronger, so not as much pain. Anyway, I found this black jacket with blue x's on the front in the middle of the forest. You know, the one near the park? I feel like I've seen someone who wears it. You have any idea?

Umm…it sounds like something my brother would wear. I'll ask him about it.

"Amu dear!" Mrs. Hinamori called. "Dinner's ready, and Dad and Ami are home!"

"Coming!"

Okay, well I'll bring it to school tomorrow. I've gotta go eat, bye, she quickly typed to Utau, and then ran out of her room, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.

Sniffing the air, she skipped with joy inside. It was spaghetti night, one of Amu's favorites.

"Thanks mom," she said calmly as her mother put down a bowl at her place.

Amu sat down and Ami shouted, "Big sis! I want you to take me to your school tomorrow!"

"Now Ami dear," Amu's father said to his youngest daughter. "You can't go to high school with Amu, you're not old enough."

"But I want to meet Amu's friends and her boyfriend!" she complained, stabbing a noodle.

Amu's father spit out his drink, which was hot tea.

"Amu-chan has a boyfriend?" he yelled, beginning to tear up. "NOOOOO!"

"Tsumugu, calm down!" Amu's mother ordered, patting him roughly on the back.

"I'm finished," Amu said coolly, leaving the dinner table, putting her stuff up, and heading to her room.

Once she got in her room, she turned on her small black laptop, and watched it come to life. When it turned on, she got on the internet, and immediately went to a chat site she'd been going on for the past few weeks. She logged in, and then clicked on "Private Message." She then found the person who she'd been talking to for the past week; MidnightCoffee. He was easy to relate to and she was eager to talk to him again. As usual, he was on.

Hey, she typed, stretching her arms above her head.

He responded immediately. Yo.

What is Mr. Kitty up to today?

On the other side of the city in a large, mansion-like house, a guy with midnight blue hair smirked slightly at his computer. This girl had given him the nickname Mr. Kitty because she said he reminded her of a cat.

Just listening to some music. How about you?

As always, she replied quickly.

Oh, just sitting here talking to you. And thinking about how to give back this jacket to someone.

A small smirk formed on his face, and he began to type.

Oh really? Why is it such a problem?

Because he's such a pain. He's my friend's brother and he always teases me and acts like a complete pervert.

The young man chuckled quietly, a goofy look on his face.

Well, good luck with that.

Yeah, I'll need it.

They talked for a couple more hours, until Amu's mom yelled, "Get off your laptop and get in bed!"

It was only nine, but Amu didn't object. She had to go to bed at nine.

Well, I'm going to go now, my mom's yelling at me to get off. Bye.

Night.

Amu shut down her laptop, turned off the lights, and crawled into bed.

"Ikuto Tsukiyomi," she thought, sighing heavily. She was not looking forward to giving back his jacket. He would tease her endlessly about sneaking into his house and stealing his stuff.

Thinking about the day to come, she finally drifted off to sleep.

A few hours into the night, she had a nightmare. There was a single long mirror in a dimly lit room. As she looked around the room, a voice hissed, "You're going to die. And I'm going to take your life."

Yelping, she whipped her head around, but no one was there. She then glanced in the mirror, and fell backwards in shock.

In the mirror, where her reflection should have been, was a dead-looking girl with her lungs and eyes on the ground, scarlet blood surrounding her.

She began to scream when she recognized the girl as herself.

"You will die," the voice whispered menacingly again.

Suddenly, the world became dark and she was falling into nothingness, screaming for help all the way down.

Gasping, she awoke, drenched in sweat.

"Just a nightmare," she thought, relieved.

She collapsed back on the bed, knowing she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Glancing at the clock, she sighed. It was 4:30 in the morning. She had enough sleep.

Walking over to her computer, she flipped it open and went to the chat site. Clicking on private message, she was surprised when it said MidnightCoffee was still on.

"Maybe he just left his computer on…but whatever," she thought, shrugging. Still, she clicked on his name, inviting him to chat.

Across town, the midnight-haired boy was surprised.

"She's up?" he muttered aloud to himself, reaching over to the keyboard.

Hey. What're you doing up at this time?"

Meanwhile, Amu had decided to take a quick shower and got dressed for school. While putting on her pants, her computer "ding'd" softly, and she slowly walked over to it.

Seeing his message, she replied, Yeah. Can't sleep.

How come?

Okay, don't think I'm stupid for saying this.

The boy scratched his neck, stretching and yawning.

I promise.

Nightmare.

About…?

Amu sighed, thinking of what to tell him.

That I was dead.

Do you know why you would have a nightmare about that?

Amu swallowed, knowing she was going to have to lie.

No.

I see. Well, let me give you a hug. *air hugs*

Laughing almost silently, she replied, Thanks.

Well, I've got to get going.

Smiling at her computer, she typed, Okay, see ya.

Glancing at her clock, she saw it read 5:00 AM.

Lying back down on her bed, she rested her head on her hands, thinking of this person she loved chatting with. He seemed like a playful, but also thoughtful person. She would like to meet him one day.

And with him in mind, she was able to doze for a little bit, dreaming of nothing.