Merlee: Hello everybody! So anyway-

Miki: She's about to say that it's her first-ever fanfic.

Merlee:-glares at Miki- Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't :T

Yoru and Miki: She was.

Merlee: -sighs- Well, anyway...

Su: It's an Amuto story!!

Merlee: Shut up -.-; don't give it away :T

Ran: They'd find out one way or another.

Dia: -giggles- especially after they read the first line.

KusuKusu: You made it obvious!

Merlee: GUH! . Shut up everybody :T Now, I need SOMEBODY to do the disclaimer!

Miki: Merlee doesn't own Shugo Chara or any of the characters or places. She's merely a very obsessed fan.

Merlee: -pouts- I am not obsessed :T

Everyone else: -glances at Merlee's room that's plastered with shugo chara posters-

Miki: She only talks about it ALL THE TIME.

Merlee: o.O; shut up :I

Ran: You forgot to tell them the important stuff

Merlee: They'll get it soon enough :O

I missed Ikuto.

I looked out my window. At what I couldn't decide, but maybe I was dreaming Ikuto's return. Either way, my family, scratch that, everyone seemed to notice my depression. My family and friends would ask "Amu-chan? Is something bothering you?" Every time, I'd answer in the same, simple way. "Huh? Oh, no. I'm fine!" Then giggle "Peachy!"

But the truth? I wasn't all right. Not even in the slightest. Ikuto had gone off to find his father, and I wasn't okay with that. It hurt. Every part of me ached, and I hid it from everyone. Everyone except for my Charas. I couldn't exactly hide it from Ran, Miki, Sue, and Dia, considering the fact that all four were parts of me. I didn't make a point to, either. My charas helped me through it all, and I thanked them for that.

"It'll be okay, desu!" Su said in her light and cheery voice. "He said he'd come back when he found he father. Have faith, desu!"

"Yeah, Amu-chan! You aren't your usual, optimistic heroine self!" Ran said.

I sighed. "I know. I'm just…" I sighed again. "lonely. Things have been boring around here since Ikuto left, and I just…" I buried my face in my hands.

Miki floated up to me and sat on my shoulder. "I know how it is, Amu-chan. But at least you know he's okay. He called you the other day, right?"

Dia was in front of me now. "You shouldn't be that lonely. You have the Guardians to talk to, right?"

I walked over to my bed, flopped down and squeezed my pillow tightly. "It isn't the same. They don't… treat me the same as Ikuto did, and I just need that feeling again. It became such a big part of my life and now it's…" I hugged my pillow tighter and let a tear roll down my cheek "it's gone."

Miki stood next to Dia. "I thought you said you didn't love Ikuto before. What's the deal? Do you love him?"

Su and Ran stood next to Dia and Miki as well, all waiting to hear my response. I sat up quickly and shot a glare at Miki. "No, I do NOT love Ikuto!! Why does everyone think that? I just miss him, that's all!"

"Amu-chan…" Miki said and shook her head. "I wasn't going to say this but-"

Ran finished for her. "You make it obvious!"

I felt myself blush. "I-I I don't love Ikuto!!"

Dia giggled. "Amu-chan, you're blushing!"

"Amu-chan loves Ikuto, desu!" Su held her hands up to her face in that cute, Su-ish way.

I fell backward on my bed. "I do not!"

My four charas danced around my room, chanting "Amu-chan loves Ikuto! Amu-chan loves Ikuto! Amu-chan loves Ikuto! Amu-chan loves Ikuto! Amu-chan loves Ikuto!"

"Noooooooooooooo!!" I said.

"It's okay, desu!" Su chimed. "You can tell us all about it! We're your charas, after all, desu!"

I groaned and buried my head into my pillow. "Guuuuh! I don't love Ikuto!"

Ran pitched in. "Yes you do!"

I looked at my charas from the side of my pillows and felt myself blush. Dia was dancing around as she sang "Amu-chan is blushing! Oh, her heart aches with grief! Whoa Oh Oh!"

I plugged my ears with my fingers, but I could still hear Miki. "Amu-chan is in love!"

I pounded my hands and feet on the bed like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum. I felt like Ami when Mom and Dad wouldn't by her the doll (That looked like Ran, I might add) a few days before her birthday. (She somehow managed to get it for her birthday, but that's beside the point.) "I don't love-!"

My cell phone rang.

It was Ikuto.

I jumped a mile high. "GAAAAAAAAAAH!" I shouted "What should I do?!"

Ran laughed. "Answer it!"

I picked up my phone and pressed the "talk" button. I felt myself blush. "H-hello?" I answered, my voice shaking noticeably.

"Amu! I need your-" I heard a gunshot in the background somewhere. It sounded close to Ikuto.

"Ikuto?! What's wrong?! Are you-"

"I'm in America and I got caught up in gang action! I need your help!"

"I don't think I can-"

"I need to go now. Get on a plane and head for a city called French Lick, Indiana. Look for the hotel called 'The West Baden'. I'll hire a driver to pick you up at the airport. Take someone with you. Anyone but Tadase."

"But-"

"Staying at The West Baden will be expensive, but tell them that Zac Lopez is your father and you need to stay in the room next to his. They'll give you room 113 for a week free. I'll meet you there."

"Ikuto! I-"

He hung up.

"-can't just leave Japan…"

I closed my phone with a sigh. I got up, took out my suitcase, packed it with my favorite clothes, put in my Japanese-to-English translator they passed out at school one day, and took out my notebook. I wrote a letter to my family saying

Mom, Dad, and Ami,

Please don't worry about my absence. There's something really important I have to do for someone who is very important to me overseas. Please don't call the police, I'll be back soon and I'll be safe. I'm going to take a friend or two with me. Please, don't worry.

Love,

Amu-chan

My charas looked confused. "Amu-chan, what's going on?" Miki asked.

I sighed and let another tear roll down my cheek. "Ikuto… he's in trouble, and he's asked me to help him."

"Amu-chan, you're leaving Japan, desu?" Su asked.

More tears rolled down my cheeks as I nodded. "Ikuto needs me now. I can't just leave him..."

"Go go, Amu-chan! That's our heroine, Amu-chan!" Ran cheered, but Dia looked worried.

"And you're going with just us?" Dia asked.

I shook my head. "No. I'm bringing two people."

"Who?"

"I'm pretty sure Nagi will know English, and Rima… she'd get upset if I didn't bring her."

"And you're going to ask them now? In the middle of the night?"

I nodded. "The sooner the better."

Dia gave a slight smile. "So, you do love Ikuto?"

My charas grew silent, awaiting my answer once again. I giggled slightly despite the tears rolling down my face. "Yes," I said, "I think I do."

Merlee: Okay, was that long or short?

Ikuto: Why am I in a gang?!

Merlee: ...cuz.... I dunno o.o;

Ikuto: ...

Amu: is he gonna die?!

Merlee: Yep.

Amu&Ikuto: WHAAAAAAAAT?!

Merlee: Relax I was being sarcastic :I Besides, Ikuto is one of my favorite characters o.o;

Ikuto: Stalker!

Merlee: o.o; I'm just going to end this now e.e;

Ikuto: You can't do that!

Merlee: Watch me.