A/N: Okay, so this is just to let all my reviewers know: regardless of whether you review anonymous or not, if you have a question, I'll try to answer it, 'kay? For those that have accounts I'll probably answer your question through a PM, so any anonymously-placed questions will be answered in the next chapter.

Now, here we go.

ami-chan: I haven't decided whether it's going to be Rimahiko or Ayahiko [yeah, we'll give it that for a ship name] yet. There's probably going to be instances of both, but I don't know which way it's going to go yet. :3 Rimahiko, albeit cute, I find is kinda tough to portray, as it's more underlying statements [generally on Rima's part] made that kinda makes the couple than anything. The basketball scene is more... Kuukai avoiding an ass-kicking from his cousin in a round of basketball. I tried to introduce him better in the third chapter, so, I hope it was better than the first two. :3

Now... Yay next chapter?

Sunday came faster than I'd expected, and before I knew it, I was jerked away from the end of the homework I'd got by my cell phone ringing next to me. I guessed that it was probably Tadase, and I assumed he was either reminding me of or calling to ask when we should meet this afternoon. My parents had taken Ami out to the park for a picnic, so I was all alone in the house. I'd told them Tadase may come over in the afternoon, of which they were all right with, thankfully. It was a good thing they trusted me with that sort of thing.

"Hello?" I greeted, unsure of who it actually was. The line was completely silent, but then I recognized the snickering of someone in the background, and then the sound of a violin. There was only one person that could be... But wouldn't he be the one playing the violin?

"Amu-nya~" I heard Yoru say, clearly in a secluded area from how audible yet whisper-like his voice was. "It's Yoru-nya~!" Well, that was surely a surprise... But the question was, where was Ikuto? The violin... No, it couldn't be. Was he the one playing the violin in the background?

"Yoru, where's Ikuto?" I asked, for some reason feeling as if I had to keep my voice down so he wouldn't hear. "And why are--"

"Shh! Listen, nya~" he ordered, and I stayed silent. The song I could hear in the background... It sounded almost sorrowful, as if it missed something or someone... But at the same time, it seemed glad, and able to wait for what it was missing. I felt so moved by the piece, but I wondered, what was missing? Where were the happy feelings coming from... And who, or what, was being waited for?

"Yoru? What are you doing?" I hear Ikuto's voice in the background, and I instantly froze. I didn't know what to do. Should I hang up and pretend Yoru was just playing with the camera, again? Or should I just leave it alone? I heard the phone being moved, and soon, a voice rang across the line.

"Hello?"

"Ikuto?" I queried, and I could almost feel the faintness of a smile that had [probably] crossed his face. "I haven't talked to you in a while!" I started, feeling rather enthusiastic. He was silent, but it wasn't all that hard for me to read him, even if I couldn't see him face-to-face.

"Miss me?" He asked, and I instantly flushed red. I could hear his laughter across the line, and I managed to obstinately deny that I hadn't. He laughed even more at my obstinate tendencies... As was usual. His chuckle was dark... Almost like chocolate. "Liar." His tone was quiet, seemingly dark like the alley-cat type he was, but somehow friendly. I couldn't figure out how.

"W-well of course I miss you, Ikuto," I snapped, not realizing how curt my tone actually was. "We're friends, after all!" My voice was a little squeakier than usual... Well, at least, it certainly wasn't that "squeaky" when I was talking to anyone else. Not even when I was speaking to Tadase. "How is everything going?"

"Great. I don't have too many regrets about joining the orchestra."

"That's good."

"Well... I have a performance soon."

"Good luck, Ikuto," I said, my voice soft and sincere. "I know you'll do well."

"Bye." His tone seemed a bit disgruntled and embarrassed as he said that, and he quickly hung up. I flipped my phone shut and leaned back in my chair, sighing. I wouldn't admit it outwardly, but for some reason, I really missed Ikuto. It was glad to know that he was all right, but... At the same time, I wished he was here. Sure, he liked to tease me, a lot, but he could also be serious, and it was almost... Adventurous to be around him.

I clearly hadn't realized the door downstairs had opened, at least, not until a very short, annoying three-year-old burst through my bedroom door [well, after opening it of course] with an enthusiasm that could rival even Ran's expendable sporty energy. What did I do? Well... I literally fell backwards in my chair, as Ami, my little sister, had scared the bejeezus out of me.

"Oneechan! Oneechan! Mama and papa are taking me to Utau-chan's singing!" Ami hollered, and padded over to me like the ecstatic child that she was. As I was laying on the floor shaking in absolute horror and fright – although the frightening moment was long over – my phone started to go off, again, and I quickly sat up and leaped onto the bed.

"That's great, Ami!" I said as I flipped the phone open to answer. "Hello?"

"Hello, Amu-chan. It's Tadase," I heard, and finally I was glad. No more strange phone calls for me. Regardless of my sister yelling and cheering about Utau's concert in the background, I somehow managed to continue the conversation. Hopefully Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia would be able to entertain Ami long enough for me to talk to Tadase.

"Oh, hi, Tadase-kun," I replied. "Don't mind the, er... Background noise. It's my sister," I added quickly, my tone seeming a bit annoyed, not at him, but at her apparent inability to respect the fact that I was on the phone. I couldn't blame her, though; she was only three, after all.

"Is this a bad time?" He asked, and I quickly detoured his point.

"No no no, not at all! She's just very--"

" TEWL ME YOUR GWEATEST DESIIIIRE~ "

"--enthusiastic about how--"

" 'THE PEWRSON YOU DESIYWRE~' "

"--mom and dad finally got her--"

" WIF STWENGTH STWONG ENOUGH TO SHAKE DOWN THE VOWYUME~ "

"--tickets to one of Utau's upcoming--"

" TWY SHOUTING WIF A WOUD VOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICEEEEEEEEE~ "

"--Performances... AMI!" I hollered, muffling the phone against my shoulder as I had a short raging moment at my sister.

"Siiiiiiiiiiiiis! Come pway wif me!" Ami ordered, and I sighed.

"Not now, Ami, I'm--"

"Pwease, sis!" Ami tugged on my sleeve, and I sighed.

"I'll play with you once I'm off the phone, okay? For now, why don't you take the Great Charas to your room?" I suggested, throwing my four characters a, 'deal with her or else' sort of look. I saw Ran, Miki, and Suu stiffen; Dia looked slightly confused, but was ready to go along with the plan nonetheless. They flew out towards Ami's room, and thankfully, Ami followed them.

"Sorry, Tadase-kun," I apologized, my tone sincere.

"It's all right, Amu-chan. So... When do you want to meet?" He asked, and I thought for a moment. Well, at my house certainly wouldn't be a good idea at the moment... But perhaps my mom and dad would make Ami leave me alone because I had a friend over, though I doubted that would stop Ami regardless.

"Well, we could go to the park first, but I have a little bit of homework to finish," I replied. "Plus... Ami's in one of her moods, and she wants me to play with her..."

"Oh," he replied, and I could hear the disappointment in his voice. Perhaps he thought I was cancelling! Oh no! I couldn't let him think that.

"I'll see if I can't get her focusing on something else, though," I added quickly, my tone hurried to cover up what I'd said. "I think she's supposed to be leaving right away, though, so perhaps we could meet here instead?"

"All right, that's fine," Tadase confirmed, and I smiled to myself. "Is my coming over in a little while all right?"

"Sure," I replied, and as I said that, I heard my mother calling for Ami saying that they were going to leave soon, so she had best be ready. "It sounds like they're leaving quite soon, so I won't have to worry about having to entertain her," I said with an air of relief, allowing a sigh to escape. I could almost feel the smile behind Tadase's words as he replied.

"Okay, Amu-chan. See you in a little while," he said, and hung up. I quickly leaped up, opening the door a small crack to let my Guardian Characters in should they escape from Ami, and quickly finished the last question on my homework before stretching and closing it. Before I could have a moment to relax, however, Ami burst back into my room. She must have had like, a sixth sense to know I was off of the phone or something... I could swear she was psychic sometimes.

"Sis! Pway with me!" Her voice was ordering, but I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, Ami, but I'm busy! I'll play with you when you get back, okay?"

...And then, the waterworks started. The eyes that I couldn't resist...

"Fine, Ami," I said, completely regretting what I'd just said only seconds afterwards.

I would have been the one to answer the door when Tadase arrived, but I was too busy being overrun by my little sister. She literally had me running all over the house, and my parents weren't much help, either. The minute I heard the doorbell ring, though, I was glad my mother was around to get it, because I probably wouldn't have been able to get away from Ami either way.

I heard my mother's call from upstairs, and I looked to Ami for a quick second, telling her that I'd be right back. I didn't even turn to see the look on her face as I came down the stairs, nor did I know that Ami was following me. I was moving at a fairly quick pace, but what happened next... I clearly didn't expect. Ami had been behind me and, as my hand came back, she grabbed it, giving it a playful tug. It completely threw my balance off...

...And as a result, I crashed [almost] face-first on the floor. In front of the door. In other words, right in front of Tadase. I heard a shocked gasp and a small "uh-oh" from Tadase and Ami respectively, and as I sat up, I saw Tadase's face was level with mine.

"Are you all right, Amu-chan?!" He asked, sounding rather worried that I'd injured myself. Yes, I'm all right, other than completely embarrassing the pants out of myself in front of you and looking like a bumbling klutz of course, I thought, but didn't say anything. I rubbed the red spot that was on my face – or at least, it would have looked red to anyone looking at me, and this time, it was not becaus I was blushing like a maniac – where my cheek had hit the floor, then sent a scorching glare at Ami. My mother was helping the young girl put her coat on, and I assumed [thankfully] that they were leaving. They waved quickly to me and Tadase, and left... Leaving the house empty and quiet.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Tadase-kun," I replied, rubbing the back of my head. My hair was probably a bit messy, and I felt like a bumbling idiot, too. I was dressed in a short, pleated skirt – plaid and complete with pink and black, as well as a matching black belt with a skull buckle in the front – and matching pink and black leggings underneath. I was wearing a black and dark grey T-shirt as well; about one-third of the shirt was black on the right side, and the rest was a dark grey, with a vine-like rose pattern in black interspersed with the plain grey. I could feel a burning sensation on my cheek and arm where I'd slid a bit across the carpet.

Tadase looked at me for a second, then pulled out his handkerchief and gently touched where my face had rubbed against the carpet. It stung, and I flinched a bit from the pain. He shook his head slightly, and I could see there was the faintest tinge of blood. It wasn't much, but the carpet certainly must have taken off enough skin for it to hurt. He folded up the handkerchief, still saying nothing, making sure the blood was inside it, and put it back in his pocket.

"Sorry about how Ami was acting earlier... She's kind of excited about Utau's performance," I said, my tone a little embarrassed and sheepish. We had gone upstairs to sit in my room for a little while; the both of us were sitting on my bed, with a few small snacks on the little table nearby.

Tadase shook his head. "No, it's all right; she's your sister, and she's young. She certainly looks like a handful," he added with a light chuckle.

"Yeah, she definitely is," I said with a sigh, and suddenly, the room went quiet. I could feel...

"I love you, Amu-chan."

...That same air coming over us that always did. But this time, it felt much, much different. I was having momentary flashbacks... First it was of how Tadase has bucked up and confessed to me. We'd been sitting in the same place... And it had been on White Day. I realized now that he'd been wearing the same white sweater that day... And then I remembered when Ikuto had been found with me, here, and the look I'd seen on Tadase's face. I remembered Ikuto's cynical, teasing look... And then Tadase's piercing, hurt gaze.

This time, I wasn't blushing as much. My expression looked a bit pained, and I didn't even realize I was staring off into space.

"Amu-chan?"

Tadase's voice snapped me back to reality with a small gasp, and I realized he'd laid a concerned hand on my shoulder, leaning in just a bit closer to me. I glanced at him briefly, and saw the concern in his eyes.

"Is something wrong?" He queried, and I stopped for a minute. Should I tell him? Should I speak about what it was that I was remembering? Sure, at first it hadn't been a bad memory, but near the end... No, I didn't want to remember that face. I now realized that my hands were shaking in my lap, and that Tadase looked really, really concerned about what was bothering me.

"I'm sorry, I was just... Remembering something," I started. "I was remembering... White Day. In the sixth grade." I was sure he could tell that wasn't what was bothering me, though. I looked down even further, and my hair fell in front of my eyes as I spoke. Gladly, it hid them from his view, so he couldn't see the reaction I was having to remembering what I was. "Then... I remembered when Ikuto... Drove you off. He was so cynical about it... And then I remembered the look on your face. In your eyes."

I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat, and Tadase himself said nothing. I don't ever want to cause you that sort of pain again... But... At the same time... I feel somehow conflicted... I wasn't entirely sure why I felt so conflicted, either. I was so fickle... I couldn't decide on anyone. No matter how many times Tadase might have shown affection towards me, I would always remember Ikuto as well... Because he'd also done the same, albeit in a much different manner. I knew I was drawn between eternally seeing the look on either Tadase's or his face when I had to make a choice...

It would be the same look from back then, no matter whose face it was on.

"Amu-chan..." Tadase's tone was much, much different than it had been before. It was more serious, focused, but somehow still gentle. "It's all right. You don't have to worry about it." I knew it was really none of my business to be stuck between that, but...

"I don't want to see you hurt like that ever again," I blurted, not realizing I'd spoken my thoughts aloud. I heard a small gasp, and quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. Oh god. What had I just said?! I really wished that, right now, the roof would crash down on me and completely bury my shame. I literally wanted to crawl in a hole and wallow in my shame.

My gaze slowly wavered over to Tadase's, seeing the shocked look in his eyes. It was pure surprise, though it wasn't a bad form of surprise, thankfully. He'd been taken aback by my words, it seemed... Oh no. I'm done for now. Someone, please, hit me over the head with a baseball bat, or something, before I say even more things I will thoroughly regret.

"Amu-chan," Tadase started, his voice low and soft. I could feel myself moving, but it wasn't of my own will; I was unsure of what was happening, as I was too busy trying to focus on a million things at once, most of that being my raging thoughts. Before I knew it... Tadase had hugged me.

"Thank you."

A/N: All right, Amuto fans! I have now thought of a way for Ikuto to show up briefly. Yes, I had an Amuto moment on the cell phone, but don't worry! Yes, there's a lot of Tadamu [especially at the end of this chapter] but my imagination has sparked. ^_^ Worry not, worry not.

Yeah. It was basically all Tadase and Amu in this episode. Sorry, no Rima to ruin the moment. She needs a day off every now and again, after all!

Um... yeah. More to come. I may not update tomorrow night since I'll have to be going to sleep early; have to get up earlier the next day. ^^

Anyway, read and review PLEASE!