YAY! I have a break, FINALLY! I will definitely try to update more while I can! Okay, I will shut up now and let you continue on with the story!

Chapter 4

Tadase slammed the phone down. He had just spoken with the police, and of course to no avail, Amu could not be found. Amu had been gone for a month now, and he quickly growing frustrated. He had sent out a missing persons report, had everyone in his security up and searching twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. By this point every one of the staff in the Hotori household was pushed beyond their limits. However, the worst of it was not in just trying to survive all the back breaking labor, but the harsh commands, and abusive tactics of Hotori Tadase himself.

"YOU WORTHLESS SWINE! HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO TRACK DOWN A PINK HAIRED WOMAN?!"

"But sir, we-"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR EXCUSE IS, IF YOU CAN'T FIND HER BY THE END OF TODAY, YOU WILL ALL BE UNEMPLOYED, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF YOU EVER ARE ABLE TO GET A JOB AFTERWARDS, NOW GET YOUR ASSES BACK TO WORK!"

"Ye-yes sir! We will continue our search immediately!"

Tadase strode to his office, fury rolling off him in waves. (Imagine Evil King Tadase ) After knocking a few items off his desk he sat down and grabbed the picture of Amu he always had in sight. Stroking it lovingly, he held it to him as if it would somehow bring Amu back to him. Then a lightbulb went off in his head. How he had convinced Amu to marry him. His lips curled upwards in an evil smirk that would make even the devil himself cringe. He quickly stalked over to the door and grabbed a member of his security team.

"Security, get me on the phone with the Hinamori Residence, I have some things to discuss with the head."

-Amu's POV-

I leaned against the railing of the balcony to Ikuto's apartment. I was glad that Ikuto let me stay with him for this long. I felt like the joy and happiness I had lost was slowly coming back to me. But at the same time I felt a slight sense of dread. I couldn't help but feel that something was about to ensue. My dark thoughts didn't last long however though as I heard the front door creak open. I then heard a bag being dropped and footsteps approach me.

"How are you feeling Amu?" Ikuto yawned, most likely from just returning from his work at Easter.

"I'm great, I mean, I feel terrible that you're the only one working, shouldn't I be asking you that question?" I replied, her tsundere side showing a bit.

Ikuto simply shrugged his shoulders, and walked to the living room, plopping down on the sofa.

"You know, I don't really care, all I care about is that you're okay. I worry about leaving you here alone. Don't you ever get bored?" Ikuto responded, staring out the glass windows from his spot on the couch. (Ikuto, you cute kitty you :3)

"What? How could I get bored? Your apartment is so beautiful, not to mention, it has a nice view from here!" I exclaimed, shocked that he would think such a nice place so dull.

"Hmph, whatever you say Amu." Ikuto lazily replied, and began one of his little cat naps.

Still flustered, made my way to the kitchen.

"At the very least I could cook for him right? Now… how do I turn on the oven again, is it this switch? What does that light mean? Okay, I guess I will just start by making some sushi, I mean, where can you go wrong with sushi, it can be that hard, right?" Amu thought. (Those famous last words XD)

-Time Skip to 15 minutes later-

"Never mind, apparently you can screw up sushi. And I can't believe I left the oven on, the thing almost caught on fire! I am curious to know how Ikuto has been able to sleep through all the noise I've made."

Amu peeked her head into the living room only to be met with a face full of shirt with toned muscles under it. She let out a loud "eek" and jumped back about five feet from the sleepy Ikuto.

"What's going on? Is something burning? And why are you-" Ikuto paused once he saw the state of his kitchen. Then he blinked. Amu, still scared half to death, started to freak out.

"Oh God, what if he's mad! What if I've screwed it all up!?" Amu's panic was cut short when she heard a snicker come from Ikuto. She slowly peeked up at him to see him bent over laughing at the state of his kitchen. After a while she also started to join in, slightly embarrassed about her mess, but laughing nonetheless.

After the kitchen was cleaned, both Amu and Ikuto got ready for bed. Ikuto inquired if Amu had wanted to come sleep in his room for the night but she swiftly denied, mumbling about how much of a liability she thought she was being. After she closed the door the guest room that she was currently using she laid on the bed, relaxing a bit. It was then that she realized that her thoughts were all about Ikuto. It seemed that he was almost all she could think about. Before she fell asleep she came to the final conclusion on why. She was in love with Ikuto.

I can't tell you how hard it was for me to right this. But, I have made my resolution! If I want to be a better writer, I have to be willing to update faster, or write chapters that I feel like taking forever to write! Anyways, I hope you are all enjoying the start of summer! See you soonish… Hopefully.

~ Kaoru-chan