An exquisite black spaghetti dress that landed just below the knee with elegant frills on the hem. Even if the design was simple, if worn by the "right" lady, it would look fantastic, at least, that's what the manager of the store stated. Apparently, it was true, and Amu was the perfect example. Her slender and curvy body allowed the dress to simply glide over it, catching her best features, which were her slender legs. On her feet were a pair of one-inch kitten heeled shoes with a miraculously designed flower on the front-and-center of it. Her right wrist had a silver sterling bangle. She didn't want to be too flashy, not that she could, even if she wanted to. Along her left wrist was a small purse with her cellular phone and about twenty dollars.

Ikuto watched secretly from the corner of his eye as he was flipping through the Zero magazine.

Well, she's certainly pampering herself for this guy, don't you think? – Yeah, she really is.

Even so, Ikuto had to admit, Amu looked beautiful. He looked down at her bracelet and couldn't help but smile as a flashback played through his head.


"C'mon, Amu, it's already five o'clock, can't you just hurry and pick something?"

She wandered around the store, looking for the perfect accessory. Her eyes finally landed on a bracelet. He saw what she was staring at and came over. He motioned her to try it on and she did. It was such a simple bracelet, nothing special to it, but something about it caught her eye.

"So, is this what you want?"

She looked up at him and nodded. He simply smiled and paid for it at the register.


How much did it cost? Lord knows that even though it was simple, it wasn't cheap, but it was worth it. It was for Amu afterall. How long has it been since then? Oh, it was on their first Christmas and Ikuto offered to buy her anything she wanted. Of course, she was hesitant at first, but after a good talk together, she agreed that she'd eventually pay him back. And she did, she bought his favorite foods and prepared a large dinner; it was delicious.

Amu turned around and caught his gaze. She teased him a bit.

"Well, if you're going to stare, you might as well comment, Ikuto."

He dazed back into reality and smirked. He really loved it when she teased him, although, he could do a better job than she could, for sure.

"You want my honest opinion, Amu?"

He stood up from the bed and approached her, ruffling her hair a bit. She gasped playfully and grabbed his wrists, preventing him from anymore actions. She laughed.

"Looks like I've got you tied down."

He joined in on the laughter and removed himself from her grasp slowly. Much to her surprise, she embraced him, and she wasn't planning on letting go.

"Amu?"

She ruffled his hair until it was messy, signalling that she was waiting for what he was going to say.

"What do you like about that guy? Yuichi Fumio."

Her fingers stopped and she placed her hands around his neck, bringing her a bit taller and up to his level.

"I don't know. Probably nothing, maybe. I … I just took his offer for the whole thing that happened earlier, you know?"

Ikuto backed away from Amu, a bit upset.

"Ikuto?"

She approached him, a worried expression on her face.

"Do you have feelings for his guy or something?"

He had a disdainful look on his face, which worried Amu even more.

Could it be?

Amu didn't know how to answer. Was she supposed to have feelings for Yuichi?

"I … I don't know, Ikuto. I mean, he's nice and all, I guess. But I don't really know him that well. But more importantly, why do you want to know? Is there something wrong? You can talk to me, you know."

Amu stood in front of him, looking at him as he averted his gaze. He didn't know what to say. What was he supposed to say anyway? "Oh, I don't want you to go out with that guy because I love you"? No, he couldn't. He couldn't order her around like that, it just didn't seem right.

Ironically, there was a knock at the door, three raps. It took a few seconds before Amu registered in her mind that it was probably Yuichi. Oh, what was she thinking? Who else would come at eight in the evening? Sheesh. She took a glance at Ikuto, wondering if he still had an answer for her, but he didn't say anything. He merely opened the door, taking a good look at Yuichi. The least he could do was try to be nice, right?

Yuichi couldn't have looked any more handsome. Even with his black and white tuxedo, and a red rose pinned on his left chest, just below the pocket, where a hanker chief laid, neatly folded, he looked like a million bucks – Of course he does, he's freakin' rich.

Ikuto mentally kicked himself in the head and sighed as he opened the door completely, letting him get a view of their dorm room. At first, Yuichi was about to walk in, but figured it wouldn't be polite, after all, he wasn't invited to their room. He was only responsible for taking Amu to the Ménage à Trois and back – safe, content, and unharmed, for if not, Ikuto would have his head.

Amu had stood by Ikuto's side, not wanting to see Yuichi yet. She was still eager to get an answer from him. She held his forearm, letting him know that she wanted an answer before she left. He simply looked down at her and smiled.

"Have a good time, Amu."

He led her to the entrance and allowed her to be taken by Yuichi, who kindly offered his arm to her, which she accepted of course. See the two of them stand side by side made Ikuto boil, but he didn't want to ruin it for Amu; she spent a lot of time getting dressed. Yuichi and Ikuto had somewhat of a mini-stare-down before Ikuto gazed away from him and smiled weakly at Amu, then looking back at Yuichi.

"You have three hours to make her happy; three hours. Make the best of it."

He smirked at him, as Yuichi remained unfazed and merely smiled brightly. He sighed and turned his attention on Amu once again.

"See you later, then, 'kay?"

Shockingly, Amu released from Yuichi grasp and hugged Ikuto, smiling at him.

"I'll be fine, dad."

Ikuto laughed and gently shut the door as they walked down the corridor. As he stood there, listening to their footsteps fading until there were no more, he couldn't help but slamming himself against his bed, sighing deeply.

"I'm supposed to be happy for her, right?"

He rummaged through his night-stand drawer and found a photo. It was spring and also, spring break of his second year here. Within the photo were millions of memories from that day.


"Excuse me, sir? Can you take a photo of my friend and I, please?"

"Sure, click this button, right?"

"Yep!"

Amu ran back to Ikuto, bumping into him slightly.

"Sheesh, watch it, Amu."

"Sorry, sorry!"

Deciding it was a perfect opportunity to tease her, he pinched her cheek.

"Gah, Ikuto! Let go!"

He began laughing, but stopped when Amu grabbed his cheek and pinched it, staying in place.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

"I'll let go if you let go, Ikuto!"

Neither of them moved nor budged, it was a picture-perfect-moment.


Ikuto sighed contently as he recalled that day. When had he fallen in love with her, you wonder?


"Geeze, Ikuto, you're so mean, you know?"

"Nope, I don't know."

He lay on his bed, with a cold towel on his forehead and a thermometer in his mouth. Indeed, he had gotten sick because of the cafeteria lunch; those were always bad. He took the thermometer from his mouth, despite the fact that Amu was arguing against him to take it out after a full five minutes.

"Don't fret, Amu. I'm fine; no fevers or anything, just food poisoning. You don't have to get all medical-nurse on me, you –"

Amu had shut him up when she placed a spoonful of chopped up strawberries into his mouth. To him, it seemed as if time had slowed down. Had he expected the moment, of course, but he wasn't thinking then and there, and therefore was caught off-guard.

"Just be quiet, Ikuto," Amu teased with a smile that was nearly breaking out into laughter.

He chewed slowly and opened his mouth for another bite, one by one, until the entire bowl of sliced strawberries were gone.


Had he lost the only chance he had with her? – Probably.

"That bastard, Yuichi. He's probably on a field day with Amu."

He thought about the many possibilities they could do in a restaurant; chat, befriend one another, kiss, hug. It all disgusted him because he wasn't the one getting the treatment Yuichi was probably going to get.

"I should be the one there, not Yuichi."