Morg: Heyo!

Ikuto: You aren't going to make me look like an idiot in t his chapter, right?

Amu: She doesn't have to make you do anything to look like an idiot.

Morg: …

Ikuto: What are you implying?

Amu: Uh… that she doesn't own us…?

~Unspeakable~

Midori finished the final touches on the decorations hanging in her living room. She and Tsumugu had already gotten Amu and Ikuto dressed for the party. Kukai had no idea that he was receiving a surprise birthday party. Usually, Midori was the only one that acknowledged his special day, but even then it was usually just a hug and a wish that the day went smoothly for the boy.

Racing as fast as his legs could carry him without dropping the board games in his arms, Kukai sped over to Midori's to play with Ikuto and Amu. Now that the energetic boy knew how to wake them up, Kukai had played with the young spirits in the teenage bodies almost every day.

Midori and Tsumugu were still unaware of this; at least Kukai thought they were. He knew that he should tell them, but he enjoyed having a childhood even if he was older than he was supposed to be.

The house he was heading for came into view, causing the boy to speed up. He kicked his shoes off as he opened the door. "Hey guys! I'm here for some fun!"

The house was silent.

Kukai moved further in. The lights were off. If they were going to leave to go somewhere then they should have told him. This was a major let down for the excited boy. Not only did he not get to play with Ikuto and Amu, it was his birthday and he'd have to spend it alone. "Guys?'

Before he could flick the switch on to illuminate the living room, the shades sprang up revealing Midori, Tsumugu, Ikuto and Amu. Midori and Tsumugu had huge smiles on their faces. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY KUKAI!"

Dropping his games, Kukai stared in surprise. "A birthday party? For me?"

Midori beamed at him as she crossed the room to hug him tight. "Of course! Now that it can be more than just you and me celebrating, we're having a party!"

Tears sprang into his eyes and Kukai did his best to sniff them away. One escaped his attempts and slid down his cheek. "You guys are the best."

Tsumugu laughed before handing the emotional teen a birthday present. "This one is from Ikuto and me."

Kukai laughed as he took a seat on the couch between the two unaware teens. Ripping the paper off the present, Kukai found a photo album. The inside pages were blank, but it was a beautiful album. The cover was made of brown leather with designs in it. On the front in the center was Kukai's name. "I don't know what to say! I wish I had pictures to put in here."

Floating across the room with her usual grace, Midori placed a second package in Kukai's hands. "This is from me and Amu."

Under the colorful paper, Kukai found a colorful box. He lifted his eyebrows before removing the top of the box. Inside were stacks and stacks of photos. He vaguely remembered taking some of them himself with Midori, but most of them were of only him. They were action shots so he was always doing something or concentrating on something. The reddish brown haired boy wasn't even aware that Midori had been secretly taking photos of him.

This time his tears could not be sniffed back. "Oh you guys! Do you have anything else planned?"

Midori shook her head but Tsumugu jerked his towards the kitchen. "Just your birthday cake, why?"

Kukai stared at the box of photos. "Do you mind if we all just look through these first?"

Midori and Tsumugu shared a smile. "Of course we can."

The next two and a half hours were spent in laughter as Kukai reminisced with the only two adults that had ever cared about him. "This picture is from the park! How did you get these? I thought you weren't paying attention at all!"

Not only did he discover those, but also pictures of him with Ikuto and Amu since then. Midori just hummed a little tune. "There is this old saying that even if kids think they are being sneaky, their parents usually know what's going on."

Kukai sorted out the pictures he was going to keep in the box and the ones he was going to put in the album. "So you know that I can wake them up?"

Midori and Tsumugu exchanged looks. "You mean you can actually wake them? They didn't just randomly wake up?"
Kukai stared at Tsumugu in disbelief. "Of course I can! Here, watch this!"

Getting down on his knees in front of Amu, he took both of her hands in one of his. "Amu, its Kukai. I'm here to play. Come out and play with me!"

XXX AMU'S POV XXX

My little hands couldn't grasp the edge of my crib, but I wanted out so badly. I could hear my mama and I wanted to be with her. Mmmm… fingers. No! No Amu! Focus! Tears began leaking out of my eyes as I tried again and again to pull myself up to get out of the crib.

Footsteps neared my door and my mama's voice got louder. She sounded angry and that frightened me even more. My crying grew louder. I needed her to come in and comfort me. To feel her warmth while being in her arms. I wanted her to whisper and shush me so I could sleep.

The door flew open and my mother stumbled in. I cried louder and harder as my father followed her through the door. "You can't even keep the brat quiet! What kind of mother are you!"

"MAMA! MAMA! MAMA!"

My father took one look at my crying face before he crossed the room. Mama screamed for him to stop. "Don't touch her! Don't you fucking touch her!"

It was too late. My father slapped his hand across my cheek. The blow stunned me so I quieted down for a few seconds before crying even harder. His hand went up again when I felt something warm on my hands.

Amu, its Kukai. I'm here to play. Come out and play with me!

Slap!

My crying only got louder. The sobs ripping from my throat drowned out whatever that boy was trying to tell me.

Slap! Slap!

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up you stupid brat!"

"STOP HITTING HER!"

Mama managed to stumble to her feet and knock Papa away from me. She fell hard though when he pushed her back.

Amu, you can hear me. I know you can. Come on Amu, come and play with me.

The room around me started fading into a different one. A boy sat in front of me. I knew that boy. He and I played before. My hands were warm because he was holding them in his. That smile, I knew that smile. "Kukai?"

Tears kept streaming down my cheeks. I could not stop those. His smile didn't falter as he wiped a few of them away. "Don't cry Amu, its okay. Today is my birthday and I want to spend it with you. Do you want to play Ring Around the Rosie?"

He was gone. I was still in the crib and my mother wasn't moving. Papa advanced towards me with his hand raised. I hiccupped a few times but remained silent. Slowly, he backed away with an evil grin on his face. "About time you shut up."

The door closed and my tears fell.

XXX IKUTO'S POV XXX

People moving, people talking, people ignoring me. Was I invisible to them? Why was it that I could only look at them? No one looked at me twice or said a word to me. I'm sitting here! I am here! Someone just look at me!

Nothing. My eyes moved from person to person, but they ignored me completely. I wanted to get off the couch and go find something more exciting to do, but I couldn't move. I couldn't even look to see what was keeping me there.

There! That man looked at me! I didn't really like that look, but at least he knows I'm sitting here! Oh wait, he's coming over here. My hand? Why is he taking my hand? At least he helped me to my feet. Wait! Hey wait! I don't want to go with you, stupid pervert. Why can't I fight back? It's like I have no control, no choice but to follow him.

What is that? The sound of crying. Who would be crying? Wait. I know that person. I know them. The room fades and another comes into view. This is too weird, but I know her. She's crying and I have to make her stop. I can't hear her cry. I don't want her to cry. Not ever.

XXX NORMAL XXX

Kukai was about to call out to Amu again, but she started bawling. Having been through this once before and nearly kicked in the face, Kukai seized Tsumugu and Midori and pulled them away from the crying girl.

Midori wanted nothing more than to rush forwards and hold the sobbing pinkette. "Let me go Kukai!"

Kukai held onto their wrists as tight as he could. He knew that it would only be a matter of seconds. "Just watch!"

Without any warning, Ikuto sprang into action. It was like a flip of a switch. One moment he was staring at them and the next he was cradling the crying Amu in his arms. "Shhh. Its okay now Amu. I've got you. Calm down, Ikuto's here."

Midori and Tsumugu watched in awe. This had obviously happened to Kukai before, considering he knew to get out of the way as quickly as possible. "What?"

Kukai laughed at Midori's almost whispered response to the scene before them. "This would be a good time to get out that camera. He's going to hold her until she loses us again. I'm pretty sure she's too young to know what's really going on right now anyways."

Tsumugu grabbed a notebook from his bag sitting by the front door. He quickly ran back into the room and opened to a fresh page. Quickly he scribbled down everything that was happening. "Ikuto? How old are you?"

Ikuto looked up from the now hiccupping pinkette cuddled to his chest. "Twelve. Who made Amu cry?"

Tsumugu only smiled. "No one, she woke up from a bad dream. Tell me Ikuto, what were you doing before you heard her cry?"

Ikuto scratched his nose before dipping down to blow cold air on Amu's face. The girl giggled up at the boy holding her. "I was sitting on a couch until some old creep came and grabbed my hand to take me somewhere, but then I heard Amu and I was suddenly here."

Tsumugu almost forgot to write down what the boy was saying. He was too excited that his charges were awake and could answer questions. "What do you remember from your past."

Ikuto was quiet for a few minutes. Slowly his head lowered so he could stare into Amu's eyes. "Everything."

Kukai knew that tone. Ikuto had used it several times before. "He's not going to tell you anymore. Hey Ikuto! Today is my birthday! Do you and Amu want some cake?"

The blue haired boy looked up hungrily. "Sure! Amu might need a bib though."

Midori laughed before moving forward. "Don't worry! I have one that will be perfect for Amu."

Ikuto nodded and stood up still holding the snugly pink haired girl. Midori only motioned for him to follow her so he did. They settled down around the table. Ikuto sat next to Amu and Kukai while Midori and Tsumugu sat across from the three teens.

Amu wore a strawberry printed bib. A plate of cake and ice cream sat in front of all five people. Kukai did his best to wait until they sang the birthday song before he ate his cake. Amu didn't wait; she dug her fingers into the gooey mess and began stuffing it in her mouth. Ikuto chuckled as he waited for Midori to start the song.

"Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday dear KUKAI~ Happy Birthday TO YOU~!"

Laughing along with everyone else, Kukai blew out the single candle on his piece of cake before he dug in. "You guys are the best."

Ikuto nodded before grabbing his fork and carefully eating the dessert in front of him. Amu on the other hand, had cake and ice cream smeared around her plate, on the table and her face. Tsumugu couldn't help but snap a few pictures of the pinkette enjoying herself.

Ikuto stared at the girl next to him before turning back to his plate. "I am NOT giving her a bath tonight."

Midori laughed harder than she ever thought she would. Not only was Kukai's birthday and he was having a great time, but Amu and Ikuto had been awake longer than they had ever been, the park being the only exception. Her goal of having them heal each other was actually working. The two teens were also helping the only son she'd ever wished was hers.

.

Morg: Aw! Midori luvs Kukai!

Ikuto: Aw! Amu luvs Ikuto!

Amu: Aw! WHAT!

Morg: Oh jeez, calm down spaztard.

Ikuto: What does that even mean?

Amu: Who cares and I don't love you!

Ikuto: You do too!

Amu: No way!

Morg: Review sometime soon please so I can get out of here before they start making out.

Ikuto: You better hurry then.

Amu: She can stay! We aren't making out!