It took me forever to write this and it's short. How much does that suck? Oh I'm sorry. I've had all summer and what have I done? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I've just got loads of books and all I've done is read. Not write. Waaahh! I'm sorry – it was an accident! They were just staring at me and they took priority!...

Chapter 7

Amu's POV

Before opening the door to go outside, I took out my purse, opened it and lifted out a piece of card with a number on it. I was so sure I would never ring him. So sure...

I stared at it for a minute but then put the card back. There had to be another way. I'd talk to Miki, Ran and Su – they would give me some ideas.

Ikuto's POV

"Ran-nee, what are we doing today?" I listened as Ami-chan spoke excitedly with Ran-san, Miki-san and Su-san. I glanced at the front door of the school, anxious for Amu to come out.

"We're going to walk to the park – Su has made your favourite food – and we're going to have a picnic." Ran told her – equally excited. At that moment Amu walked out of the school – looking dazed. I knew immediately something was wrong, and so did her friends.

"Tsukiyomi-kun, Kukai-kun – look after Ami-chan for a minute, okay?" Miki-san told me while she watched Amu walk towards us. I nodded and so did Kukai – then the three girls ran towards Amu.

Although I couldn't hear what was going on, I kept an eye on them. Amu had spoken, and the other maids seemed to be shocked and upset. They spoke for a bit, and in the end Amu shook her head then hugged her friends. I wonder what's going on? Amu seems really down.

"Why is onee-chan upset? It's not because of Ami is it? Ami has been good!" Ami-chan said, looking even more upset than the other girls. I knelt down beside her and took her hands.

"I'm completely sure she isn't upset because of you." I told her gently, Kukai raised his eyebrows at me, I just grinned at him – then turned back to Ami-chan. "So don't get upset, okay? I'm sure Amu would prefer it that way." She sniffed, nodded and then smiled.

"Yes..." Ami-chan then cocked her head to the side thoughtfully. "You just called onee-chan by her first name." I was about to speak but then Amu, Miki-san, Ran-san and Su-san came back.

"Ami, what's wrong?" Amu's voice was laced with worry, and it made me want to hold her close. It took me all the strength I had to stay knelt down beside Ami-chan.

"Nothing, onee-chan!" She chimed to Amu. I smiled when I noticed that Ami-chan had the exact same honey eyes as Amu, but without the pink hair. Ami-chan had golden brown hair that was put up in pigtails with blue ribbons.

"That's good..." Amu smiled lovingly, but then her face fell and she frowned. It wasn't as pretty as when she smiled, but it was still incredibly beautiful. "Shall we get going then?"

"Yes! The park is just around the corner." Su seemed happy but there was a hint of worry there, which wasn't there before. Glancing around at the maids, I could see similar unsettled faces. They all kept glancing at Amu and when they did, they looked like they were going to burst into tears.

Three hours later at the park

Amu's POV

It felt like there was a huge pressure on my mind; I tried to have fun with everyone else but all I could think about was how impossible my situation was. Sure, there were cheaper schools out there, but none of them were boarding and there was no chance of Ami coming to live with me.

You could put Ami up for adoption.

I gasped in horror at my own sick thoughts. I could never do something like that – I knew that much. This was confirmed when Ami turned around and smiled brightly at me – I just couldn't help but smile back.

"Amu." I didn't need to look up to see who it was, but I did so anyway. Ikuto looked fabulous standing above me. I was sat in the shade of a tree while the others were playing football with Ami, and there was bits the of shining through the leaves and illuminating Ikuto's ivory skin.

"Uh..." I cleared my throat. "Hi, don't you wanna play football?" I asked as he sat down beside me. He shrugged slightly.

"I was about to say the same thing." He told me, and his voice was strangely neutral – no emotion. I bit my lip.

"Too much on my mind." I whispered watching everyone.

"What happened?" His tone was still neutral and calming. I sighed.

"The tuition fees for Ami have gone up. A lot. I can't afford them anymore. There isn't any other boarding schools I can afford either. She can't live with me and go to a school near the palace." Without realising I had started crying and I was mortified. He was the Prince and look at me; blubbering like a baby – I bet I looked like a eyesore to him.

But to my shock, Ikuto gently wiped away my tears with his thumb and put his arm around me. He didn't say anything and all I could do was breathe in his scent gently.

Finally he spoke quietly.

"Have you thought about accepting one of the offers you have been getting considering other jobs?"

I know it's short but it seemed like the best time to stop – and I just love that scene with Ikuto and Ami! It's seriously sweet!

Is there any possibility of reviews? I know it's been a while... but I luuuurve hearing what you have to say!

Please?

Zakuro

xx