Hey there everyone... I know it took forever again – but in my defense... alright – so I don't have a defense, but that's completely beside the point :) Amu-chan has a bit of a breakdown in this one unfortunately. Quick thanks to Snowiisan for nagging me (and also anyone else who reviewed)– I don't get anything done otherwise. Anyways... I hope you enjoy:

Chapter 9

Amu's POV

"Bye bye, Ami-chan!" Ran called as I led Ami to the front door of her school.

"Bye bye, Ran-nee!" Ami called back, waving a small pudgy hand. I tried to smile at Ami but I couldn't. It was around six in the evening, and even though we all wanted to spend more time here, we had to leave now if we wanted to get back at a decent time.

We walked into the reception and found the headmistress waiting for us. I knelt down beside Ami and took her hand in mine.

"I'll come and see you on my next day off, okay?" I told her quietly. Ami nodded sadly, her eyes watering.

"I'll miss you..." She mumbled to the floor. I couldn't help but scoop her up in my arms then.

"I will miss you too." I whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry it has to be like this." When I put her down and stood up, she went to stand next to the headmistress.

"I'm afraid I can only give you one month." The headmistress reminded me. I nodded numbly, waved goodbye to Ami and then went outside to where everybody was waiting for me.

I didn't speak as I got in my car, and put my key in the engine. The car groaned slightly as everyone else got in. I twisted the car key, waiting for the old car grumble to life but...

Nothing.

I twisted the key again and again – getting more and more frustrated.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" I muttered angrily. I stopped when I realised the others were watching me anxiously, and put my head on the steering wheel.

"Amu-chan?" Ran whispered to me. I wanted to cry but I couldn't – all I could feel was this devastating numbness.

"Does anybody know anything about cars?" I asked calmly – conscious that Kukai had come to my car to see what the fuss.

"No. Sorry." Ikuto said next to me, while everyone else shook there heads. I didn't say anything else as they got out of the car.

A few minutes later Daichi came up to me to say he had rung a mechanic – who had said they wouldn't be able to get anybody out to us until tomorrow. I groaned inwardly.

Well this just gets better and better.

"Kukai, your car is a seven seater, right?" I asked in that same calm, emotionless voice. He nodded. "Then you can take Ikuto, Ran and Daichi. I'll stay here." Kukai didn't protest, nobody did – they had realised that I had gone way past caring or even bothering to listen.

Only Ikuto spoke.

"Fine. I'll stay with you." He said quietly. Everyone stopped to stare at him, and then they quickly turned to me to see what I would say.

"Do whatever pleases you, Your Highness." I told him, my voice barely changing it's tone from before – making what I said seem icy. I waited for him to back down on his offer, but he just nodded.

Ran, Miki and Suu came up to hug me gently before they got into Kukai's car.

"Everything will be okay, Amu-chan." Suu promised. I just nodded again.

Ikuto was silent as we watched them drive off in Kukai's car, and I briefly wondered whether he had any important princely business tomorrow. When we finished waving them off and they were no longer in sight, Ikuto turned to me and watched me carefully.

"Is your car locked?" He asked softly. I nodded stiffly. "Then what do you say to finding a hotel to stay in for the night and getting something to eat? My treat, of course – because I owe you one." I stared at him, completely baffled.

"Why? I haven't done anything for you." I pointed out, but he just chuckled.

"I actually enjoyed myself today and I guess it's my way of apologising for... you know... the lick." Ikuto grinned in a way that said he wasn't sorry at all for the lick. I blushed at the memory but nodded slightly.

"I'm going to go against everything I believe and say okay... just don't go crazy, okay?" I told him sternly. It suddenly hit me how quickly he brought me out of my numb shell. I smiled slightly at the thought.

"Yes, ma'am." He laughed while saluting me, his midnight eyes twinkling. I couldn't help but laugh with him – but that quickly stopped when he grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of the town next to Ami's school.

An hour later...

The town only had one hotel and me and Ikuto walked towards it still hand in hand. My stomach seemed to be doing back flips, with the feeling of Ikuto's large hand encompassing mine. What annoyed me most, though was the fact that I couldn't tell whether I liked it or not. I felt tingly and shivery at the same time with the Prince being so close to me.

"So, Amu how long have you been working at the palace?" Ikuto asked, looking down at me.

"Oh, I'm eighteen now... so... um... three years." I mumbled, blushing under piercing gaze.

"You've been working here since you were fifteen?" He laughed. "How come I only noticed you a year ago?" I gaped at him.

"Noticed me?" I asked, confused. He smirked slightly, but there a trace of a blush on his face.

"I watched you... when I was in class... I saw you come out and hang the washing out in the courtyard with Ran, Miki and Suu." He told me, and I blushed furiously, letting go of his hand.

"I find that strangely perverted, you know." I grumbled, but Ikuto just grinned at me.

"Ah there's the hotel." He suddenly said. I looked up and saw the building named Hotel Eclipse. I couldn't help but gape. It was a pure black building among rows of sandstone buildings.

"Huh... I can't work out if it's beautiful or tacky." I laughed at it. Ikuto grinned.

Entering the lobby, we went straight to the reception desk and the receptionist looked up. Her face lit up as soon as she saw Ikuto, but then she glowered when she saw me next to him. Ikuto saw this, then grabbed my hand again, holding tight.

It was all I could do to remember how to breathe properly.

"How may I help you, sir..." The receptionist looked at me, "... ma'am?"

"We need a room." Ikuto told her. I cleared my throat – and Ikuto looked down on me – disappointment clear in his eyes. "Make that two." He amended. I nodded in satisfaction, while trying to figure out why he seemed so disappointed – he was the Prince for crying out loud! He had women laying their bodies down in front of him.

Which reminded me. Why had no-one noticed him? He wasn't trying to hide himself yet nobody recognised him at all. It was incredibly strange.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The receptionist piped up after typing something in on her computer at the desk. "We only have one room left. It's a double." My jaw dropped. There was no way in hell I would share a room with him – let alone a bed. I couldn't – I wouldn't. Ikuto just smirked that signature smirk of his as he handed the receptionist his credit card.

"We'll take it." He laughed.

Oops... cliffhanger. Did you like it? Didn't you? Either way – you know what I love: reviews!

Go on. You know you want to ;)

Zakuro xx