Disclaimer: I wish I owned Shugo Chara! Really, I wish I did. But I don't. Dang. Oh well. Dreams do come true, and I will make this dream come true. I WILL GET MY HANDS ON THE EMBYRO! MWAHAHAHAHA! Okay, kidding, kidding. I don't own the characters, only the plotline and the supreme fluffiness that I am putting them through. Ha!

Chapter Four

Surprisingly, Ikuto took me to different clothing shops, smiling as I paraded out of the dressing rooms in various designs of Gothic-punk. He even clapped sometimes. All in all, I was having a great time. We strolled across town, stopping at an ice cream shop that wasn't there the last time Ikuto was home. We stared down the menu options while waiting in line, and when the time came to order I ordered for both of us.

"One chocolate cone and one chocolate with dark chocolate swirls in it," I told the girl who was standing at the corner.

"Okay!" she said cheerfully. But I could see her eye Ikuto with interest. It made my face tighten up just a little.

"What makes you think I want chocolate?" he whispered into my ear.

"Because you love chocolate," I told him.

"What if my tastes have changed?"

I turned and looked him in the eye. "I know they haven't. You've always been a child at heart, and your love of chocolate has never changed. Now look me in the eye and tell me you don't want chocolate," I challenged.

He looked down at me, straight into my eyes. "I don't want chocolate," he began slowly, "because I'd rather have you."

I could feel my face heat up, but ignored it and put on my reliable stubborn character. "I'm sorry," I said sarcastically. "They don't make Amu-flavored ice cream."

"If only," he said dreamily. "And maybe drizzle you a bit in chocolate. Mmmm." He licked his lips. "That'd be nice."

I blinked, slightly thrown off. "That's a little creepy, Ikuto," I stated. Before he could defend himself, our cones were ready. I grabbed mine and left him to retrieve his plain chocolate one. He was grinning as he took one steady, long lick at the frosty treat.

"I wanted chocolate," he said happily.

"I know," I said drily. "That's why I ordered you it."

"You know me so well, Amu."

I denied, "That's not very true. There have always been lots of things I don't know about you."

"Really? I don't think so. I think you know everything about me that's important and that you need to know."

"That's putting a lot of faith into my skills of observation, you know." I sighed and worked on my ice cream cone, shutting up to enjoy the silence. When I was finally finished—because Ikuto had been done, of course—he grabbed a hold onto my sticky hand with his own sticky fingers. I made a face at him but he only squeezed my hand and pulled me closer to him as he walked. And that's all we did again: walk with each other. As we passed by the building that now occupied the place where an amusement park stood, my eyes watered up just a bit. I kind of missed those days, where I could laugh in a teacup with Ikuto who was way too big for that small space, or sit atop a merry-go-round pony with him behind me, holding me up and keeping me safe.

Ikuto wiped away the single the tear that had made its way onto my cheek. "There's no need to cry," he said. "What's in the past is in the past. We can live in the present and look forward to the future."

"But…I'm still so unsure of the future. I mean, I'll be graduating high school and you'll probably be off again, playing music—which by the way, you haven't played your violin once for me! Shame on you," I chastised.

He let out a soft chuckle, but continued to look worriedly at me. "Amu, why are you still fearing change?"

"Because I don't know what's going to happen," I said, feeling exasperated. "I don't know what I'm going to do, where I'm going to go, who will be there!"

"Well, I have a solution to all of those problems," he said, but I paid no attention to his words. I just plowed on as he opened his mouth.

"I'll be all kinds of sad when you leave, feel like crap because I'm sure Tadase-kun still has feeling for me and I'm stuck on you, Nagihiko is going to dance, Utau's singing, Kukai's training, Kairi and Yaya have another year of school. You'll be off playing music and I'll be here, lost," I ranted. Strong hands gripped my face, turning it upward and shutting me up.

"Amu." That's all he said, but his voice was enough to calm me down. I felt a little bit better at the warmth of his hand and the sure way he looked at me, but my heart clenched up at the thought of him leaving. "I have a solution, if you would just liste—"

"You'll be far, far away, playing music like you have been," I murmured. I started to wonder why it seemed like I was trying to push him away. Maybe I was. Maybe I was pushing him away so the pain of him leaving would hurt less because he wouldn't love me anymore. That would make sense. I didn't want to, but it seemed like it would be effective.

"Amu, if you would just listen," he began heatedly. But I wasn't hearing any of it. For some reason my ears just weren't processing the sound of his voice. Instead, my brain whirled.

"Ikuto, do you love me?" I asked without thinking.

"Amu," he growled. "If you would just listen to me for a moment here—"

"That's not an answer." I stood up on my toes and kissed his cheek. "Do you love me?"

"Jesus, Amu, yes. Yes, I do. Not would you listen?"

"No," I told him. "I don't feel like listening right now." My voice sounded like it was beginning to bubble up hysteria.

"Amu." He stroked my cheek soothingly, trying to calm me down. He wasn't being successful.

"Let's walk, Ikuto. I just want to move, and move, and move. Where's Ran when I need a character change?" I asked distractedly. "Then I could be jumping all over the place, all perky and cheerful. Just how Tadase-kun liked me, actually." Oh, God, I was babbling and I couldn't stop.

Ikuto took my hand and walked with me casually. "Oh, really?" He sounded generally interested.

"Yep. He was in love with Amulet Heart, a part of me but not quite me. Funny, huh? I think so, now. But at the time it was agonizing. I could never see why he liked only that part of me, especially that part. You don't like just a part of me, do you? I sure hope you don't," I babbled.

"No, Amu," Ikuto said, sounding on the verge of laughter. "I love all of you, but especially your stubborn side."

"Really? My stubborn side? That's a strange side to pick to love." I wanted to shut up, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. I felt like I was character changed with Ran—from a not honest girl to an honest girl and all that nonsense.

"Shut up, Amu," he murmured, pulling me to him. I complied. One long finger traced up my face and then he leaned down. I anticipated what he was going to do—boy, did I—and when he did, I was so happy. And I was so quiet. Thank God, I shut up. I kissed him back, slowly wrapping my arms around his neck and standing up higher on my toes so he wouldn't have to lean down so much.

"Now can I explain my solution?" he asked after pulling away.

"Solution to what?" I mumbled dreamily. He smile down at me.

"Never mind. I'm sure it can wait," he said, and went back to kissing me. I was happy in that moment.

Review and blah-blah-blah appreciated. And thanks bunches for the feedback, y'all! I love it! And I'm glad y'all like it 'cause so far I am ah-doring it. (Oh, I'm such an endearing author! Heehee!)

Thank y'all very much for the support! I'll keep working on getting around to explaining Ikuto solution, his situation, and all other things that have not been said, so hold on! More Amuto fluff to come!