"U-Utau?" I exclaimed, staniding up.

Souko gave a wild, but only interested expression as she gasped. "You two know each other?" she asked, raising a hand over her mouth.

Utau nodded furiously. "were best friends, mom! Amu, how did you get here?"

I felt a random moment come on.

:T-that is an interesting story.."

"I have time now." She crossed her arms awiting an explination.

"So you found Yoru? Ikuto how could you have lost him!" she ate her soup, glaring at her brother.

"I didn't mean to! He ran away!" He said, drinking milk.

"Well, that was very nice of you to help him, Amu!" Utau explained.

I nodded. "You know that I love children.. Utau." I sipped my tea.

She smiled. "I know, I still think you would be a great day-care lady.." she trailed off.

I rolled my eyes, sipping tea. "I can't, I work at Easter."

She shook her head. "You just work there because Tadase is there!" She nudged me.

I blushed. "I-I d-do not!" "Who's Tadase?" a deep voice asked.

I looked across the table to see Ikuto suddenly interested.

I smiled. "He's nothing more than-"

"Nothing more than your future husband!" Utau giggled outward. I slunk in my chair.

"Utau!" I exclaimed. Ikuto smiled lightly, and sipped his milk again. Did he only drink milk?

"So," souko's voice approached my ears quickly. "Would you like to stay over to night?" she asked. I waved my hands in front of my face. "No need, I have a sister to get back home to, and Utau hasn't seen you guys in a while, anyway." I urged.

"Alright," she sighed, standing up. "I'm done, I have to prepare Yoru's dinner. Ikuto, when Amu is done her tonight you have to drive her home, ok?" he slouched down like a flimsy daisy, falling forward. "Why? I don't want to take her home.." He pouted now. I giggled, trying yet to muffle the sound with the end of her sleeve, and he looked at her. "what are you laughing about?" He asked, pouting still. "n-nothing." I held back giggles, standing up now.

"I'm done," I ut my plate away. "I should get go-" I started, but got cut off. "Amu, you don't have to leave yet." She insisted. "Let's go talk in my room, I'm sure you want to know more." She smiled sympathetically.

"So, I guess I owe you some facts," she started as I shuffled through her room, looking in all her stuff, while she layed on her bed, talking to me. "I don't get to see my family that often you see, because I'm in the music industry. My brother, Ikuto, is the runner of our buisness-" "Ikuto is?" I asked frantic.

He can barely take care of himself or be obedient, how would he run his own company?

"Isn't he a little- immature?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Definitely not when it come to our buisness," She stated.

I smiled. That's good to hear that he's only immature at home..

"So, after that fact, my mom lives on the other side of town, while Ikuto stays here until he needs to drive dow to the office for recordings and such." She said, relaxing,

She sat up, winking at me. "Hey, Amu, are you interested in my brother?" I nearly dropped the glass instrument I was holding, in shock. I looked at her, blushing. "Of course not! Why would I like someone of that low level, leaving Yoru at the park.." I mumbled near the end. I only blushed in reality because my love lif was never mentioned, and no matter what, I was always uneasy on the 'love' topic, to be honest.

Oh, well." She sighed. "He seemed different today, I thought you were making him change. Dang it ,you would have been adorable together, too.." she pouted childishly.

I laughed, and opened my eyes to look at the clock. It's that late already? Ten o clock?

"Utau, I need your brother to drive me home now, but it was nice seeing you, again!" I said, sprinting out the door.

I looked around their enormous house, only to find Ikuto sleeping on the couch. It was funny. I didn't have a sharpie on me at the moment, but I smiled. I could be childish too.

Perfect opportunity; locked on.

A seconds past and I already had my make-up case out of my purse, and fumpled with the powder brush. I swiftly glazed it across Ikuto's face, and cheek bones, smearing concealer everywhere. I may not be a make-up artist, but I wanted to try to make him look like a girl. And to top it off, he had perfect eyelashes that were long, swift, and a dark, navy blue, if you looked closer. He had lush lips, and a symetric jaw. Her make-up screamed to be all used on the same person.

I had put on concealer, and was now dabling at the eye shadow, then soon, the eyeliner, and soon after, eventually I got out my mascara, and was combing his eyelashes with the black grit. It was fun, really. My mom was strict, but had her soft side, so when I grew up, I never had anybody to play make-up with me,and my mom refused her face to be a canvas for a seven year old. Though I had fun, and growing up, taking care of Ami was nice. I just wish… I could have had, a more, carefree, shall we call it childhood?

He started knitting his eyebrows toward each other, signaling his wake up. I threw mey make-up in my bag, then stood up. I shook his arm.

"Hey, wake up, you have to drive me home." I whispered, trying not to explode with tummy-pulling, ear-splitting, rude, laughter. I sighed replacing it. I tried to look at him with a straight face. Not possible. I cracked a bit until he was standing up beside me. He now looked like a tall, blunette model from some stuck up country. Maybe that had to do with his figure, face shape and the way his lips pouted and turned the wrong way.

I let a giggle escape, then, blushing, I walked toward the door.

He followed, and we were almost out the door, then Souko appeared.. a look of awkward content on her face, as her eye twitched.

"Ikuto?" She asked, dumbfounded and tramatized by her possibly gay son.

I was behind Ikuto, and he wasn't facing me, so I just mouthed 'no!' and crossed my arms around.

She seemed to get the idea, because she shook it off and smiled to me, and Ikuto turned around to see what I was doing, which was now whistling, looking impatient as I stod in front of the door, tracing my fingers along the iron handle.

I was pushed out the door by Ikuto's persistance, but when I walked by the closest window I shot a look of a smile at Souko and winked.

This was sure a fun family. Utau, she looked like her mother too, and she was very kind, unlike Utau sometimes, she get's very, very angry, and competitive. I wonder why? They have a dad to, don't they? If so, Is that persona from papa-san's side? So many un ansswered questions, not enough car ride to explain it all.

"So," he started. "tell me about this Tadase guy." What an intruder. I looked at his face.

A really, really, stupid, beatiful intruder. I blushed to myself. I mean, with the make up on. That's right, the make up.

She smiled. "He's a really wonderful guy, really mature, and kind, unlike you." I syuck out my tongue. He smirked, looking in the review mirror.

"Says the one who put this junk on my face." My jaw hit the floor I think.

"Y-You knew?" I stuttered, now embarassed that he was just playing.

He smiled. "Yeah, it's not too hard to feel your face, which fels like baby powder, and touch your eye to find a rainbow on your hand a second later." He simply stated.

"So you do have some kid in you still." He stared at the road.

I felt embarassed again. "why, Am I not like a normal teenager all the time?" I asked, depressed in a weird way that I was considered acting 'old.'

"You always act like that, you should really lighten up, it suits you better. Your only sixteen, and you act like a mature thirty year old." This made me dpreesed in a sense, because I couldn't help it, but I wasn't the type to be out of character unless was alone, or helping somebody like Yoru. I always took responsibility.

It made me smile though, thinking that somebody approved of me, the real me.

"what are you smiling at?" He asked. Closest thing, one guess, this isn't it, but;

"Your face." I smirked at him,

which he now looked at the road, his eyes shining bright, and yet he looked annoyed, though I swear it wasn't the dim light, or the colorful powder on his face, he wore a real blush.

I laughed at the thought.

I opened the door to get out, and I well did, and with that, I closed the door to his car, and walked to his car window.

"Hey, Ikuto." I said. He acknoledged me by staring directly into my eyes. I couldn't take his seriosuy, still, but oh well. I sighed, laughing. "tell your mom thanks for tonight, and also.." I went dangerously close to his face, more like his ear. He looked like he was enjoying the no-space thing, but I just ignored that, blosing in near his ear, whipering- "Ikuto, another thing; make-up comes off with a special remover, you should go ask your mom for that stuff." I backed away, laughing, while he just looked now annoyed, a really, annoyed… clown.

I waved and entered my house, and locking the door.

I sat on my couch, thinking about the interesting night I had.

Ikuto is Utau's brother?

Utau's manager is her brother?

Souko is a single mother?

With three children?

That must be hard.

I sighed, turning on the television, and getting ready to relax.

I looked at my phone during a television commercial. I checked a voice message, and cautiously listened to it.

"Hello, this is an automatic message from- Hello, Amu?" Ithe voice that sounded ;ike a robot, was replaced by Tadase's voice.

"I'm so sorry to tell you, but we've hired a new nurse, and her second, so you will no longer be working here… I'm sorry, Hinamori." As th beep signaled the end of message, I almost dropped my phone, but all I felt was my eyes glaze over with tears.

Sure, I could find a new job.. But I didn't get to see Tadase, and really, I just wanted to be with him more.

He only used hinamori as my first name, anyway. I would prefer Amu-chan.

I was still staring at the screen, until I grew enough courage to close it.

I weaped into my legs as I held them close to my body. I needed someone to hold onto on these kinds of moments. I needed, somebody…..

As if on cue, her doorbell rang. She wiped away tears just leaning on her eyes with her free arm. Well- the one that wasn't hugging her body.

She answered the door, only to reveal Ikuto.

"Hey, you left your purse in the car, So I thought it would be nicer to drop it off now, rather than wait for another excuse to see me again," his face looked at my face carefully. "Were you crying?" He asked, sarcastically. "Because you look like cr-" He was about to say something horrible, but I found out that it would have been easier on my body to hear no words of sarcasm. Or truth.

I threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close, and he had to bend over.

"Hey wha-?" He asked, serious all of a sudden. "Are you okay? What happened in the 10 minutes I wasn't here?" He asked, looking for my face in the bundle of pink, sobbing fuzz.

"I lost- my job.." I sniffed. He coughed. "That's not the biggest deal-" "I know!" I snapped a little. He flinched, as I took that second to wipe the reforming tears. "I-it's just… a more personal thing about…" I whispered, hoping he heard me.

"So, what is it?" he did.

I waved my hand around a little, for emphasize. "I-It's none of your concern, youd probably just laugh at me anyway." I sighed.

He laughed. "Try me, I can be emotional too." He sat down on my couch, closing the door. He wasn't invited to the pity party..

I sighed, giving in.

"Ok, it's just that," I flicvked my hand around. "I liked my boss a lot, and he fired me… so I guess he didn't care…" I trailed off, looking at the pixels on the screen, awaiting a reply..

he chuckled loudly, and I turned my now enraged attention to him. "What's funny about my feelings? I told you I didn't need to tell you!" I yelled. He pated my back.

"It's just that," He laughed. "That means he wasn't interested!" I felt the tears, now coming in hatred, almost blow in my face.

He coughed, regaining composer. "How long were you working for him?" I sniffed. "A year and a half." I wiped a tear.

He laughed more. I was going to hurt him one of these times. I just noticed, he didn't have make-up on anymore. Oh well, it was funny while it happened.

"You should be looking towar guys who aren't stuck up jerks, Amu." He looked now, concerned.

I tisked. "Coming from you? I'd rather take advice from Tadase." I laughed.

"Tadase-huh?" He laughed. "the way you described him sounded like a jerk to me, anyway."

I flinched. "I only said perfectly nice things about him, how did he sound rude to you?" I asekd.

"Simple," He pointed out. "Most people who are nice, are usually faking it, or just trying to get popular. Like Tadase for example. He has the nicest personality, but did he really ever take the time to hear your side of the story? And how many times have you ever listened to his complaining?" he laughed. I thought about it.

I really always was, just a worker. He used me like his assistant to talk to, but really, other that asking me how my day was, with no detail, he's never bothered for my interests. Was I really just faliing for a crush? Maybe it was all just a sweet act. Like a puppy dog for treats.

He was right.

"Also," He looked around my house, smiling. "You'll find the nicest personalities in the funniest places, even the careless, annoying one's have stories too, you know." His words were sweet, just like trying to calm a little child. It was as almost if- "Just like you, an annoying side-narrator." He winked at me. What?

Oh. He's going to get it!

Eventuaally, after I chased him out of my house, I grumbled goodnight as I slammed the door, and he waved and honked his car horn as he drove by. I smiled to myself, when he passed. It was funny, but that guy did make me feel better.

I walked into my house, and laughed under my breath.

The look on her face when I stole her cell phone! HAH! What a joke. Hinamori acts childish if she wants to, and its fun to be around her, because she falls for everything.

"Ikuto, your done playing dress up?" Souko puckered out her lips as she looked surprised. Did she really think I was playing dress up?

I grumbled. "It was Hinamori, not my doing- she put make-up on me while I was sleeping!" I retorted. She giggled. "I know, really. She is a fun one, but she acts a little mature for her age… right?" my mother asked, as we walked to the kitchen.

"She's actually pretty nice," I sighed, helping clean dishes. "She was really nice, after I cheered her up when we got to her place. She's fun to tease." I thought about it. Maybe She sould visit me more, for humor.

She looked at me in surprise. "Are you taking iterest in her, Ikuto?" nevermind, no humor purposes, mother will joke. "No!" I groaned. She laughed. "Yeah, you never have been too interested in females.." She trailed off. This again? "They are annoying, accept you And Utau. I can't stand them." I grumbled. I know I didn't hate girls, nor any female, actually. Just an incident happened once, that I never wanted to mention again. To anybody.

"Wait- what? Why was Amu upset?" souko asked. I washed the dishes again, and handed her a plate to dry off. "she lost her job. The guy she likes worked there or something." She sighed. She walked ot the room, appartly seeing something amazing in another room, or didn't care what I was saying.

"Mom?"
I asked. She turned to look at me, th most mischievious, excited glint in her eye yet.

I felt frightened. My mother was usually kid, caring, and gentle, but you can't stop her when she has an idea, and she'll stay upset for a very, long time if you ruin or doubt her plan.

I'll just go with it.

~ The next day ~ ~

I gripped my cellphone that was in my hand, the entire night, in case Tadase- mr. Hotori decided to hire me again. Or maybe not.

I clutched the pillow now, trying to let the idea go, as my hand felt suddenly wet, which I didn't notice, was all my sweat gathered up from holding the little hand held item all night yesterday.

I got up for my day. Maybe I would find something interesting today, or- I still have to support myself, why not go get a job? Work? That couldn't be any harm.

None of the sort.

I had a buisness, but that was only a part-time buisness. That's only when people requested my work or I posted something for a one-of-a-kind item auction. It wasn't something to make life out of, really.

As I left, pink hair tiesd up in a bundle to the side, with my glasses on, and a baggy t-short and shorts, and my classy, straw sandals, I walked out into the summer day.

I walked around looking for a job.

Ice cream shop.

Taken.

Fashion industries? Boutiques?

Too many hireed.

Market?

No, too little pay, plus, they have a load of boring costumers. Not fun.

Where too next? I was for sure. And I mean FOR SURE not going to work as a garbage man.

There were plenty more jobs surely.

Half the day had past, and I didn't have the slightest Idea where to work.

I didn't have enough currently to make and sell outfits.

I could sell things, but that would only get me a few dollars.

Resumes werent fun.

A lot of jobs required you to be older, I'm surprised I was allowed to work at Easter, and as a nurse.

I looked at the setting sun, as I sat on a park bench, slurping a smoothie. When it hit me. Literally.

I looked behind me, where the object that had hit my head had come from. I saw a child from behind a fence, from the preschool behind me, and he was pointing to what had hit me. I looked where his finger pointed, and it led to a big, red bouncy ball, the size of my stomache.

I passed it to him, and looked over at the preschool as he left. There was a sign on the window, it was pretty blurry, but I could just barely make out the words….'

It read clearly now; 'help wanted'.

I choked out a gasp as I ran to the door, knocking on it.

A grey haired woman answered. She was wearing a pink, doily lined nightgowned, and look like she just woken up. I sure hope I'm not the cause of her awaken.

"Yes, what would you like m'aam?" she asked, in her rigid whispers. I smiled. "This is a preschool, right? Could I possible work here?" I asked, in the most sweet tone my vocie could offer.

She smiled. "Oh, you saw the sign! Yes, yes, come in." And wth that.. she dissapeared.

I'm guessing I had to follow her inside? Ok.

I followed her into a house that smelled like old perfume and cookies over the fire. Or was that marshmallows?

She urged me to sit down, point with her cane in right arm.

"Hun, are you good with children?" She asked, rocking back and forth, back and forth, back an-

"Yes Mrs-?"

"Hartweather." She smiled.

"Oh, Mr Hartweather, I am wonderful with children, I love their smiles, and the way they act, and how cute they are! I just want to eat them up!" I giggled. She frowned.

"I better hope you wouldn't, deary..." Had this woman heard of a metaphor?

"I'm sorry- I just mean.. they are adorable."

She giggled. "I know, so, can I see your Id, resume, car license or passport by any chance?" she asked. I smiled, reaching into my worn out purse, and grabbing a slit of paper holding my face, and facts about me on it.

"My-my. 16..?" she asked, adjusting her eyes close.

Oh no, what If I don't get the job because of how young I am? I just want to be older! Fend for myself, like somebody older! I wish It was that easy, I want this job so badly. Kids are so cute, all kids are. I really, really want this job? Am I sweating? Oh I think I am. Oops, this looks suspicios, maybe she might think I'm not this child.. maybe a creep? I never pictured a girl as a creep or anything, of course.. but-

"Well, that just means you'll have a lot more time with the children, welcome to the job!" she smiled, passing my license ot me, giving me a hug. I nodded eagerly. MORE TIME WITH CHILDREN! MY DREAM JOB!

I sighed as I watched my mother pick up the phone. I played my war, and shootin games while my mother was looking through the phone book. Souko, why don't you just ask me to help you with things you don't know how to do..

"Ikuto?" she called. I got up, and walked over to her, smirking. "Mother, you need help finding a phne number?" I asked. She blinked. "Yes, I want to know if you knew Amu's number?" she asked.

Was my mother asking Amu on a date?

Why would she need something like that?

"Mom, why do you need-"

"I need it!" she panicked, and slightly screamed, like it was real important.

I told her the number, and watched her dial. How did I get Amu's number? Well, let's just say I find these things out from people…

(or Amu's notebook in her purse.)

"Hello- Amu?" she said.

I heard a slight buzzing sound form the cell, including the talking, im sure.

"I was just wondering, if you wanted a job?" she asked.

What?

Why?

How?

"Mother, give me the-" I dived for the small electronic, and she dodged.

"Amu," she hled me back by her free hand, talking so calm. "I am going on a trip for a while, and I need somebody to stay at my house and watch Yoru- so would you mind?" I leaped for her.

She ducked around, as I face planted.

It was true, my mother was leaving for a while, so I was going to be home alone for a month or more, and I wante it to stay like that.

"You got a job already? The preschool? That's the one Yoru goes to!" my mother chimed, as I sat up, rubbing my face repeatedly.

The preschool hey? That's a new one. I think Utau mentioned her likeing children, at the dinner.

"I Don't want Ikuto babysitting, because I don't trust him, of course! He acts like a five year old." She looked at her nails as if she was a gossiping teenager, fretting over her manicure.

Thanks mom. It's nice to know you don't trust me.

"I'll pay you fifteen dollars an hour, every day." She exclaimed.

My jaw dropped, as I heard the line go short. She was probably shocked, too. I didn't even get that much where I worked, of course, I was the manager. Wait- I got over that! But for babysitting, that's quite a haul, specially if you'll be a visiotr for a month.

"You'll stay? Thanks Amu!…no, no, you can stay in my room…Yeah, ok. Sounds good, see you then." She hung up, while I was just sitting there.

"Well, looks like You and Amu will be getting to know each other better, Ikuto." She winked.