A/N: Thank you for the reviews and support! I really appreciate it ^_^ Will try my best to keep you entertained, haha.

Can't wait to finish the story, even though I am just starting it! Writing it somehow makes me feel so happy! Have you guys ever experienced a feeling like that, about something?

I personally feel that the previous chapters have been very Ikuto centered. It is not really a problem for Ikuto lovers perhaps, but I feel like I should give Amu some deeper thoughts. Some meetings with friends and other activities to do, instead of thinking about this kind of hot and awesome cat boy.

In the end, I don't care if this story becomes popular or not, if there is at least one person that enjoys reading it, that makes my day already. I'm currently trying to make my chapters longer, to give to story a little more dept. And of course, make the guardians appear for the first time in this story, sometime soon.

Tips and hints are always welcome! I love to develop my writing style constantly.

Hope you guys enjoy it!

Love,

MellowMellow.

Chapter 3 A midnight confession

"I know what you were trying to do, Amu…" His deep voice gave her the chills. She still wasn't able to turn around, to face this mythical person that once was a part of her life.

"Don't go there… Stay with me please…"

There almost was a nervous tone underneath the calm.

Amu finally gained the strength to turn around and blinked a few times.

Where her eyes deceiving her? Or was it the truth. She felt her hands shaking. Well, scratch that, she felt her whole body shaking. This wasn't natural, this wasn't what supposed to happen.

A blue haired young man looked at her, smiling. Such a cheeky smile.

Ikuto.

Finally, he was here, after all those years.

With her trembling body, there was only one thing she could think of doing. Well, perhaps, only one thing she was able to do. In a fast pace, she buried her face into the chest of this blue haired young man. His warmth was surrounding her, giving the young strawberry a feeling of peace. She was home.

Ikuto wrapped his arms around her, firmly. Amu felt a small tear, out of happiness perhaps falling down her cheek.

"Missed me so much huh?" This voice of his. He was in the picture after years for only 1 minute and already able to bring out the tease. Perhaps some things never change after all. Amu was a little startled and tried to escape from his grasp.

"Hey let me go! Who said I missed you? Who would miss you in the first place?" She almost yelled. A little nervous. There was no way Ikuto wouldn't be able to tell that this was a lie and Amu knew that too. Yet she did it anyway. It was some sort of natural response to his existence, in her opinion. She couldn't avoid it.

He tightened the embrace and chuckled.

"Too bad miss strawberry, I'm not letting you get away anymore." The last sentence was almost a whisper. It sounded kind of sensual. Amu felt her heart race and a blush appearing on her usually pale face. And felt a little weird for thinking of Ikuto's voice as sensual. She stopped struggeling.

They stood there for quite some time. Just like that. Hugging. Embracing each other. Amu had no idea how much time they had spent in the end, just standing there… in quite an interesting position she'd never expected to execute with the blue haired perverted cat named Ikuto. She still couldn't believe it for a hundred percent. It was just so unreal.
This boy was actually here…

Ikuto raised his voice. " You know, as I much I'd love to touch you all day long… " He paused. Probably waiting for the easily irritated pinkhead to punch him, which she did. Along with an annoyed sigh.

"Pervert" she mumbled softly in his chest. He slowly let her go.

"Let's go for a walk?" Amu nodded. They slowly strolled down the streets. Amu felt a little uncomfortable. She kept having the feeling that he'd vanish again. Or that this wasn't reality. It still hadn't reach her mind yet, somehow. She decided to walk close to him, so that he wouldn't be able to get away so easily. Even though that sounded extremely possessive, it was the truth. Her truth. Every now and then, their hands accidentally brushed against each other.

Even though the silence wasn't so uncomfortable, not at all actually, Amu decided to break it.

"So… when did you get back? Did you manage to find your father in the end?" she spoke calmy, even though it definitely didn't feel like that from the inside. Hail the cool and spicy mask. It never really vanished and was quite handy in situations like this.

Ikuto started speaking after a few seconds.

"I found my father eventually, yeah. Took a few years though." He paused and stopped walking. "Found out that he build up a pretty good life for himself in Europe these days. Decided to stay with him for a while… He needed it. Was better to lay down low for the time being anyway… to avoid Easter company." He shrugged a little, pronouncing the name of this horrifying company they fought with for so long in a very soft manner. As if no one as allowed to hear it.

"But, I'm back and that is what matters." Amu nodded and spoke. She noticed he didn't answer the question of how long he was back… but she ignored it. She knew more than anyone that Ikuto wouldn't tell people things

"Yeah, I guess you are right about that. " She replied. "So… what are you going to do now? Where do you stay? Does Utau already know you are back?" Again, she bombed him with questions. Not only because she was curious, but also because she simply liked the sound of his voice. He hadn't spoken to her in years, so in a way, he had something to make up for. A smile appeared on his face. A genuine smile. Amu remembered how that used to be so rare… A smiling Ikuto. Ikuto Tsukiyomi, a smiling kitty. She liked this version better than the gloomy version. He seemed much more alive than she'd ever seen him. Well, except that time in the old amusement park perhaps.

"So greedy for information." He pinched her cheek. "I like that side of yours." And with Amu's face, flushed red again he started telling about the current situation.

To summarize it, he basically said that he had gotten himself a place – not that weird. His mother was still married to his stepfather, so it's only imaginable he wouldn't like staying at their place very much. The blue haired boy recently found himself a job and was still sorting things out.

Amu was relieved hearing that he'd been doing well and was able work things out at his own pace.

Eventually, they kept talking and talking that night. Catching up. Ikuto was in particular curious about all the guys she dated… Amu felt a little uncomfortable talking about that, since the reason she didn't date anyone – not even gentle king Tadase – was the blue cat himself. She didn't tell him about that part though.

Some hours later, he walked her back to her home. The girl hoped her parents didn't notice she was gone, otherwise she would be in huge trouble…Amu slowly opened the door and tried to sneak in. Ikuto, protective as he sometimes can be was still standing behind her, making sure she would enter the house safe and sound. She looked up to see two pairs of eyes that looked quite familiar were piercing through her. Her mother and father were standing in the door opening.

"Amu." Mrs. Hinamori spoke in a really serious manner. Ouch. That was not what she expected.

"Where the hell have you been all night? You know that the streets are dangerous, yet you went away, all by yourself? Do you have any idea how worried we were about you? Do you?" Her mother started ranting, panicking like any mother would.

It scared the strawberry girl. She wasn't used to this. Not at all.

Before Amu could speak up to apologize for her behavior, or at least say anything, someone else spoke for her.

"I am very sorry, mister and Mrs. Hinamori." It was Ikuto. He placed his hand gently on Amu's shoulder.

"It was my fault. I really wanted to see her." Her parents seemed a little surprised. They too hadn't seen or heard from Ikuto in ages. What a big reunion today…

It was silent for a while.

"So she was with you the whole time?" Even though her mother sounded strict, Amu could spot a sign of relief in those hazel brown eyes of hers.

Ikuto nodded. "Yes. I ensure you nothing happened that you wouldn't approve either." His gaze pointed at Amu's father, who was standing behind Mrs. Hinamori, in horror like usual.

"I… well, even though this might not be the right time, but since we are here anyway…"

Ikuto stumbled out his words. His hands were shaking a little.

"what are you doing Ikuto?" Amu spoke slowly, wondering what was going on in that weird mind of his.

He took a deep breath, briefly looked at Amu and somehow regained the power to speak again. This time, a little bit more like he'd do.

"I love daughter."