Re: New story, I bumped up the rating for safety!

Rano-chan: This sounds pretty depressing.

Re: I noe, but…. Idk it just sounded interesting to write!

Rano-chan: It's short.

Re: Yeah, but awesome!

Rano-chan: Someone do the disclaimer.

Tadase (Tadagay): Re does not own Shugo Chara otherwise…Okay, I am like, sooo not reading this!

Re: Otherwise Tadase would be gay!!!

Amu sighed, leaning her naked body against the side of her and sliding down until she hit the floor. Her body shook with the usual pain, and she pulled her knees to her chest as tightly as she could. The physical pain was always bad, but the emotional was beyond belief. And today was just not her day.

The doors to her balcony swung open, letting in the cold winter chill. She suppressed a sob, hoping her visitor wouldn't notice that she was in the room. He didn't need to deal with her, the mess. It was better to let him think that she was fine.

"Amu?" he called softly, and a small gasp accidentally escaped her mouth. She could here the footsteps making their way toward her, but she buried her head between her chest and knees.

"Go away," she mumbled, he sighed and sat down next to her. "Go away, Ikuto," she repeated with more force. Ikuto wrapped his arms around her fragile body and gently picked her up to put her on the bed. She didn't fight it, even though every cell in her body told her that these types of things were supposed to trigger a reaction. She leaned a while ago to just keep quiet.

Amu climbed into the sheets and curled up into a ball, her body was now shivering from the lack of warmth. Ikuto sighed again and climbed in as well, bringing her body closer to his, so that they were practically touching. He might've just been in the freezing cold before, but now he felt like a space heater. She cuddled in, gripping his shirt tightly.

"You can't let this go on," he told her, rubbing soothing circles on her bare back, as more sobs racked her body. "You have to tell someone, it's just-"

"I-It wasn't t-them," Amu managed through her tears. She didn't want to hear the words Ikuto used, sick, horrible, and terrifying. "It wasn't them," she repeated.

"Then what-" Ikuto stopped to think it over, he slid his hand up to her head playing with the strands of her bubblegum pink hair. Amu looked up to analyze his face. He thought about it for a little longer. "Oh, Amu," he said when he realized the answer. Ikuto pulled her closer as she cried harder.

"I-It was scary," she cried, gripping onto Ikuto harder than necessary. Amu felt so helpless at this point. He was the only one keeping her buoyant.

"I know," he whispered, and then suddenly his voice changed. "When I get my hands on him, I'll-"

"Please no!" she begged reaching for his face. "No, don't. Please no." Amu wouldn't bring him any closer to her screwed up life than he already was. She wouldn't allow it, she just wouldn't.

Ikuto looked confused, "But why-". Then he stopped and shook his head. Sometimes it was just better to try not to understand, and if it made Amu calm down, than that would be even better. "Just go to sleep Amu, I'm here," he comforted; bring her so close that she was pressed up right against his chest, her face against his warm neck.

"I'm scared to sleep," she confessed wearily, tangling their legs together and pressing her feet against his calves so they wouldn't be cold.

"I told you. I'm right here. Nothing is going to hurt you; I won't allow it at all." He kissed her forehead softly. Amu yawned and cuddled closer, before easily drifting to sleep.

When Ikuto was sure she wouldn't wake up, he gently pulled away just enough so he could see the damage. This had been going on for so long that Ikuto was always prepared for the worst. But luckily, today wasn't so bad. There were a few marks on her neck that he couldn't identify what kind in the dark, but otherwise everything else was old. This in his book was a very, very good thing. He finally let himself return to their original position when he completed his check up, and brought his lips to her year.

"I promise to protect you, Amu." He vowed. And if Amu could really hear him, she would've cried again.

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