AHHH, I'M SO EXCITED!!! Episode 74 is coming out soon!!(It might even be out now. I'm gonna go look for it in a few minutes!!) Ugh, this si the shortest chapter so far... but the next one's long and I couldn't bleed this chapter and the next one together; it would be VERY long and I'm tired enough as it is!!! Listen everybody, we have 78 reviews as of right this second!! I'm SO happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only 22 more until you get a oneshot!!! YAY!!! I wanna write a oneshot really bad! And I'll make sure it's better than my first... ENJOY!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara so would you all stop breaking my heart by making me admit that over and over and over and over...

MORE GOOD NEWS!!!: In a little bit, I'm gonna upload a new fanfic!! YAY!!!! I know, I know, I should be contributing all of my time to this story..., nut I just have to post the next one!! I'll be trying extra hard to update both of them regularly and once my wave of projects and testing is over, updates will come much quicker for both stories. If you all have the time, I'd greatly appreciate it if you checked out my new story too and don't forget to REVIEW!!!! :)

'So… heavy,' Amu thought as she carried Ikuto's breakfast tray up to his room. It took the chefs a little longer than usual to make it today. Amu shrugged it off, thinking that she was just fretting over absolutely nothing. She opened the door to Ikuto's room and saw that he was sitting up on his bed, feet crossed, arms draped across his chest. As he heard someone enter his room, he cracked open his eyes and grinned at the pink haired girl standing in his doorway.

Amu walked over to him and he sat up, his legs hanging over the side of his bed. She handed him the tray and sat down beside him, swinging her legs that didn't quite reach the floor. It had been about five days since the ball and the things that Gaito told her were still ringing clearly in her head. She turned her thoughts over as she started to twirl a strand of pink around her finger. Ikuto took a bite of his toast and frowned. He took a sip from his cup of orange juice and cringed.

"Breakfast tastes weird today," he said, examining his orange juice in the morning sunlight, frowning deeply.

"What do you mean?" Amu asked, frowning too.

"I don't know. There's just some bitter taste to it." He put a hand up to his stomach. "And the rest of my body doesn't like it too much either." He suddenly dropped his toast and orange juice on the ground. His breakfast tray fell from his lap, a loud crashing sound echoing throughout the small room as it connected with the floor.

"Ikuto!" Amu worriedly exclaimed. She laid him down on his bed and pulled the bed covers on top of him. "What's wrong? What hurts?"

"Everything," he gasped. Sweat broke out on his forehead and his breathing became ragged. He trembled violently under the sheets. "So… hot."

Amu sprinted from the room, coming back a few moments later with a piece of cloth and ice along with a bottle of medicine and a spoon. She quickly wrapped the ice up in the fabric and brought it up to Ikuto's forehead. A spoonful of red-bitter medication soon found itself inside of the ill cat boy's mouth. She gently stroked his cheek and examined him anxiously, desperately looking for any sign of improvement. Amu's hand held cold to the sick Ikuto. He buried his face in it and sighed contentedly. He fell asleep and Amu sighed with relief.

Amu went back to the kitchens to get more ice, contemplating exactly what had happened.

'Has Gaito done something?' she asked herself, a frown marring her face. 'He did say that I had to stay away from Ikuto. He must have been the one to poison Ikuto's food. Or he could have asked Takasu of Miyu to do it too. Still, that doesn't change anything; Gaito is the one who had poisoned Ikuto. He has to be. I can't think of anyone else… Ugh, I'm getting a headache.'


Amu walked back into Ikuto's room and saw him shaking fiercely, teeth chattering loudly.

'I guess I won't need this ice, huh?' she thought, tiredly. She threw it off to the side and approached the now freezing Ikuto.

"Ikuto?" Amu asked.

"Cold…," he muttered through his teeth. Amu pulled his covers up higher, but soon came to a realization afterward with a loud groan.

He wasn't going to be able to warm himself up on his own.

She sighed and slid underneath his bed covers. She pulled him close to her chest and clasped her arms around him tightly. Ikuto sighed in content and nuzzled into her neck. She laid her head in his hair and closed her eyes. She listened to his breathing for a while and when she heard it return to normal, she sighed yet again and fell into an exhausted sleep.


"Amu." The young pinkette groaned and groggily opened her eyes. Expecting to see Ikuto smirking down at her, she instead saw Gaito standing beside the bed, looking down at her with a frown. Amu noticed her position; Ikuto's face buried in her chest and their arms encircling one another. She blushed, but soon forgot her embarrassment when Gaito beckoned her with his index finger. He started to walk towards the door, expecting her to follow. She carefully detached herself from Ikuto's arms and staggered towards the door.

Gaito stood out in the hallway, his arms crossed and a deep crease in his brow.

"What did I say to you before at the ball?" he asked in a dangerous tone.

"To stay away from Ikuto," she said emotionlessly. She wasn't going to should him any emotion especially her fear, which she was most definitely feeling while standing in front of him.

"Exactly," he murmured, looking at her hardly. "I must say, I'm quite stumped as to the reason why you wouldn't obey me."

Amu kept silent and averted her eyes to her shoes. She heard Gaito sigh and shift his weight.

"Amu, I'll say this one more time, loud and clear," he said darkly. "Stay away from that Ikuto boy if you want him to live as long as he can."

Amu's eyes snapped up and stared into Gaito's. Shock filled her from head to toe as she processed everything that he had said.

"What do you mean 'as long as he can'?" she asked him quietly.

"I mean as long as we let him." Once seeing Amu's horrified expression, he decided to continue. "He is a weakness to Halloween since he is a weakness to you. Halloween is hot on the Embryo's trail and Easter has no hope of catching up. I don't want Ikuto running free after this. I don't feel that I have the need to explain myself to one of my employees so you'll hear no more from me on this matter. Besides, I told you that there would be consequences if you stayed with that troublesome boy. If you continue to spend time with him, he will suffer the consequences." Gaito turned on him heel and walked away, leaving a frozen Amu standing in the halls.

Amu walked slowly back to Ikuto who was now sleeping peacefully. She sat down beside him and ran a hand through his hair. She contemplated her chances of avoiding all of Gaito's "consequences" that would befall Ikuto if she remained as she was. Despair rose up in her throat as she had an epiphany.

If she stayed away, Ikuto would insist on seeing her. If she told him what was wrong, he would insist that he could take care of himself even though she knew that he wouldn't be able to stand up to Gaito and all of his servants. He wouldn't remain safe if she didn't do what she was going to do.

She was going to leave, even if it broke both her heart and his.

I'm so upset, this story is starting to sound like another forbidden romance..., but don't worry. I still have a few juicy suprises up my sleeve!!! XD PLEASE REVIEW EVERYBODY!!! I love all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!