You-Youz: Please don't hurt me! I know I lied about updating soon but here's the new chapter.

Chapter 10: The Hot Spring

Utau and Amu sat in the hot spring in silent. Utau finally broke the silence, "So, what happen to your sister?" She noticed the hurt expression on Amu's face and quickly added, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." For a second, Utau thought that Amu going to stay quiet, but then Amu began to talk.

"My sister, Ami, was nine when she died. She was going to her dance recital with my dad that night. My mom was working late, so she told them to go first. I was studying in America at that time. They were on their way to the recital when a truck driver passed the red light and hit my dad's car. The impact from the truck was so powerful that both of them died on the spot. I remembered my mom called me that night crying so much. It was difficult for me since I was so far from home. I immediately booked a ticket to go back to Japan to accompany my mom. I couldn't believe how sudden their deaths were. I kept thinking that it was all a dream and kept believing that once I wake up, my dad and my sister are still alive. But that never happened. I wanted to move back to Japan after the loss, but my mom pushed me to go back and finish college in America. I didn't expect to lo-se my mo-m also after I gra-dua-ted from college." Amu sobbed.

Utau felt bad for being mean to Amu the first time they met. She did not expect Amu to go through so much pain. She pulled Amu into an embrace. "Cry it all out, it will make you feel better." Utau patted Amu's back lightly as Amu continued to sob. Utau felt a twist in her stomach as she hear Amu crying. She realized that Amu is not a bad person at all. She actually is a strong girl. She went through so much yet she never led anyone know how much pain she went through.

After Amu finished crying, she let out an embarrassed laugh, "I'm sorry for you to see me in such a state." Utau shook her head, "You're really strong. I'm sorry for being rude to you all these times." Utau lowered her head in shame.

"You don't have to apologize, I was pretty rude to you too. How about this? Let's start over. Hi, I'm Amu. Nice to meet you." Amu extended her arm to Utau. "I'm Utau. Nice to meet you too." She shook Amu's hand happily.

"We're friends now?" Utau nodded as she gave her new friend another embrace. After that, they started to talk about their lives. Amu found out that Utau is Ikuto's sister, but she is really protective of Ikuto, that is why she was mean to Amu.

"What about you? Are you dating that orange haired guy? You guys seem pretty close." Utau asked Amu. Amu laughed, "Me and Kukai? That would never happen. He is my childhood friend. I see him more as an older brother than a boyfriend. He just like to joke around with me." Amu lowered her body into the hot spring until the water was up to her neck. 'Ikuto would be so happy to know this. But I won't tell him yet, it is quite amusing to see him acting like this.' Utau smiled mischievously as she dipped her body lower into the hot spring.

Meanwhile,

Ikuto was inside the hot spring, when Kukai joined him. Ikuto glared at Kukai before moving away from him as if Kukai has a contagious disease.

"You know, I'm not sick or anything. You don't have to avoid me like you're avoiding the flu." Kukai laughed, but Ikuto just closed his eyes. "You like Amu, don't you?" The question caused Ikuto to swing his eyes open. He looked at Kukai with wide eyed. 'How did he know?' Ikuto thought mentally.

"You're wondering how I know? Easy. The way you look at her and the way you look at us when we're together. It's written all over your face. You know you're not the first person to like Amu." Kukai leaned against the side of the hot spring.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Ikuto retorted. Kukai laughed, "It's quite simple. I want to warn you. Don't you dare making her sad. She had been through so much and I don't want to see her cry anymore..." Ikuto interrupted him, "Aren't you her boyfriend, why don't you take care of her yourself instead of telling me this?" After that, he got out of the hot spring and stomped angrily away leaving Kukai smiling. 'This is getting interesting.' He tapped his chin in satisfaction.

After the hot spring, Nikaidou invited everyone to a BBQ near the beach. Some people were eating, others were chatting, and a few were strolling along the beach. Amu, Kukai, Utau, Ikuto, and Nikaidou were the only one left at the table.

"Here, Amu. Say ah." Kukai fed Amu a piece of meat, who opened her mouth reluctantly. He took a quick glance at Ikuto and was secretly enjoying the look on Ikuto's face. Ikuto had a grimaced expression on his face. Utau noticed Kukai teasing Ikuto and grinned. 'This is quite interesting.' She thought mentally before putting a piece of fish into her mouth. "You two, get a room. We don't want to see you lovebirds flirt anymore." Nikaidou teased Kukai and Amu before walking toward the beach. As for Amu, she blushed a rosy pink. Kukai pulled on her cheeks, "You're so cute when you blush, my dear." Ikuto twitched. He cannot stand it anymore and walked away angrily. Kukai could not help but laughed leaving Amu confused with what just happened.

"You're pretty slick, aren't you? Teasing Ikuto like that." Utau whispered into Kukai's ear. Kukai raised his brow, "Am I?" Utau pulled her head toward his ear, "Amu already told me everything, you can stop your acting now." Kukai pouted before responding, "You're no fun."

Amu did not pay any attention to Kukai or Utau, her mind was on Ikuto. She did not know why Ikuto was acting so weird lately. She did not even have time to thank him yet. "Hey guys, I have to go do something. See you later." Amu got up and followed in the direction Ikuto had just walked.

She paused when she saw Ikuto standing near the shore. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He turned his head slowly toward her before looking at the sea again. "Why are you avoiding me?" Amu asked him. He paused before replying, "I'm not avoiding you. You're just thinking too much." Ikuto said abruptly. "Then, why aren't you looking at me when I talk to you?" Ikuto turned his head toward hers. The light from the moon reflected onto her eyes making them sparkled. He used all the force he has to move his face away from her. "Aren't you afraid that your boyfriend will be jealous if he see you alone with another guy?" Amu repeated his word, "Boyfriend?" Ikuto continued to look at the sea, "That orange haired guy. Isn't he your boyfriend?" Amu laughed causing Ikuto to turn his head.

"Kukai isn't my boyfriend. He's just my childhood friend. That's just how he always act around me." Ikuto felt a huge boulder lifted off his chest. He was relieved to hear that she is not dating that guy.

"Oh! I almost forgot. I want to thank you." Ikuto stared at her with confusion. "For what?"

Amu bended down to play with the sand, "For giving me courage. I saw my crush the other day..." Ikuto felt the boulder being placed back onto his chest. He almost forgotten about her crush. He is nervous but at the same time he want to know what she said to her crush. He bit his lips in anticipation as he looked down at Amu.

Amu dusted her hands before getting up to face Ikuto, "I was shopping with my friends when he approached me." Amu scratched her head sheepishly. " If it wasn't for you, I would have ran away once I saw him. But that day, your words echoed in my ear and I faced my fear." Ikuto did not know if he was glad she took his advice or should he regret telling her those words.

"Anyway, that day he confessed to me, I was really happy. I didn't expect him to feel the same way about me." Suddenly, Ikuto's chest began to tighten making it harder for him to breathe.

You-Youz: I know the story is going pretty slow but bare with me for a bit longer. I'll promise you there will be more cute Amuto moments soon ;)