YET ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: NOTHING'S CHANGED; STILL DON'T OWN IT!!

A/N: WELL, WE SURVIVED IKE!! WE GOT MAJOR WINDS AND FLOODING; MOM AND DAD UP IN HOUSTON GOT THE WORST, IT'S A MESS!!BUT EVERYBODY I KNOW IS O.K., IT'S JUST A MESS AND POWER OUT AND CHAOS. IT WILL CLEAR UP IN AWHILE, HOPEFULLY BEFORE ONICON!! (IT BETTER!!)

CHAPTER 7: RIDING OUT THE STORM PT.2

Amu went to the kitchen to get the flashlights. Ikuto followed her. The charas all rushed in, all of them panicking except for Yoru, of course. He is too cool to panic in front of the girls. While Amu calmed her charas, Ikuto checked the house to see if there was any damage.

"Everything looks like it's holding up well," he told Amu. He noticed Amu was looking frightened, so he decided to help keep her calm. "It will be alright, Amu. Don't worry; I'll protect you. Let's go into the living room; there is only the one window and it faces away from the storm winds so it shouldn't break." He put his arm around her shoulders as he led her into the room.

Amu did relax a little bit as they sat down next to each other. Ikuto kept his arm around her and was happily surprised when she snuggled into him for comfort.

"I'm glad you're here with me, Ikuto. If I'd have been home alone, I would have been really scared!"

"I'm glad I could help, too, Amu. You'd have been fine if you had been by yourself, though, I know you would have taken care of yourself. The girls would have helped you."

The charas agreed. "Yes, Amu! We will be there to help you whenever you need it!"

Yoru snikered. "Ya, but it is so much nicer to have us around to help you, nya?" Miki nodded shyly while the others giggled. Yoru flew around, proud that the girls agreed and hadn't argued with him.

The phone rang. (Just because the power is out doesn't mean the phone lines are out, FYI)

Amu shouted "It's Mom and Dad!" and jumped up to answer, but Ikuto held her back.

"Amu! Phones in a thunderstorm can shock you if you're not careful; let me hold it while you talk, and make it quick!" She nodded. Ikuto picked up the reciever. Amu's Mom was on the line.

"Amu! Oh, are you alright? We tried to get home before the storm but the trains were shut down.Is everything O.K.?" Mom's frantic voice screamed out of the receiver so loud that Ikuto easily heard everything she said.

"I'm alright, Mom!" Amu tried her best to sound confident and cheerful. "Everything is fine! It's really windy and there's a few trees down, but we'll be alright!" Amu almost choked when she realized what she had said. WE...

"We, sweetie? Who's there with you?"

"Um, well, one of my friends was making sure I got home safe and got stuck here with me," Amu stuttered.

"Well, I'm so glad they were so kind to help you while we were gone, Amu! We'll have to thank her properly when we get home. Ami has been crying for you, she wants to see you so much." Ami's voice wailed in the background. "Sissy! I want my sissy!"

Yoru snickered. Ikuto shook the reciever. Amu blushed furiously and stuttered into the phone. She couldn't let her Mom think she would lie. "Well, Mom, he's a guy but he's been a perfect gentleman and it's only been an hour or so. If the weather eases up he'll go home. But it's still thundering and lightning here; I really shouldn't stay on the phone too long."

"Thank you for telling me the truth, Amu! I'm proud of you! And I know I can trust you. We'll head home as soon as we can. I want to meet your friend, too, and thank him properly for helping you. We'll talk to you later!" Mom hung up the phone and Amu let Ikuto do the same.

Suddenly lightning crashed and thunder roared, causing Amu to jump and scream. Her charas flew about doing the same; Miki crashed into Yoru, giving him a reason to hold her and tease the others.

Ikuto calmly moved towards Amu and took her hand."Let's go sit for awhile; I want to talk to you."

He led her back to the living room. Once there, Ikuto pulled Amu close to him. "So," he purred, "There is something that I've been meaning to ask you."

Amu looked up into his awesomely beautiful eyes. "What?" her heart fluttered at the possible scenarios that might unfold.

Ikuto's hand came up to gently caress her face and tug at a lock of her hair. "What's the deal with the Kiddie King?"