Amu: 16

Ikuto: 19

Tadase: 17

Utau: 17

Aruto: 38

Souko: 34

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara Peach Pit does.

.::. My Boyfriend's Brother Complex.::.

"Then, Cinderella and her prince lived happily ever after." Amu closed the book and smiled at the children. It was nap time, so while Ikuto played some soft lullaby music Amu decided to read then some fairytale stories. So far, she has read Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. There were only a couple of kids who were still awake, while the rest dozed off from the first two stories.

Ikuto was still playing his music when Amu reached down to tuck a child's blanket closer to his body. As she patted his hair, she felt a tug from her sleeve. Turning, she saw the little boy, Yoru (Ikuto's favourite) smile innocently up at her. As she scooted closer, the hold on Amu's sleeve loosened.

"Yes Yoru?" Amu whispered, not wanting to wake the kids near her.

"Thank you for ready us the story Amu-neechan." He gave Amu a tired smile.

She smiled in return and patted his head. "You're welcome." She then helped him get comfy on his pillow. It felt nice and heart warming to be able to assist with something like this. It has been ages since she's been content, and just doing this reminded her of her times with her baby sister Ami.

As she tucked the blanket, she notices a wrinkled photo lying underneath the pillow. Taking it out, she pointed to the people displayed in the photo. "Do you know who these people are, Yoru?"

Yoru nodded sleepily. "My mama," he pointed to a woman with short brown hair, "and papa," he pointed to a man with hair that almost looks like black, but more blue than ever. Gently smiling, she put the photo next to Yoru.

"Neechan," Amu smiled. "Do you think mama and papa would come back for me?" Oh, Amu thought. How was she going to explain that?

Amu rubbed his cheek softly as his eyes started to slowly close. "I'm sure," she whispered in return.

She stood up and headed over to where Ikuto was, as the ever slow movement of his hand told her that the lullaby was ending. His face was in a different place, a content and peaceful world, when he had opened his eyes, she could see how far away he was. It was a peaceful expression she had seen him wear.

"The kids asleep?" He whispered. Amu nodded and then turned to look at the sleeping children. Yoru was fast asleep, and the little girl Ran, was huddled up next to her friends, a smile on her face. Everything seemed innocent at that moment; the brightness and peacefulness it had given Amu was so thick, she let a smile embrace her.

Ikuto watched as Amu gazed at the little children in awe, wondering how she felt at that time. He bit his lip as he remembered the little girl in the car accident; she was just as innocent. He took away an innocent.

Clearing his voice, Ikuto tapped Amu's shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

Amu's eyes lifted to Ikuto's sapphire ones. "Where are we going?" she whispered.

"Don't we need to get you home? School ends around three remember? It's already quarter past five."

"Wow that long?" Ikuto nodded before turning around to put his violin back in its case. Amu gave the children one more look before walking towards the door, a smile spreading across her features.

Amu waited in the car as Ikuto emerged from the building, his violin nowhere to be found with him. Amu squinted her eyes in confusion but let the thought drift from her. It must be safer here than at home.

Ikuto sat on the driver's side, breathing in calmly as he did so. He was in a better mood than he had ever been with the kids before. They all seemed to love her in a very motherly figure. Of course, he thought, they never had a proper mother in their lives.

"You were good today," Ikuto suddenly spoke, turning his head to look at Amu's proud face. "They all seemed to love you."

Amu gently laughed out of embarrassment. "When you have practice with your baby siblings, you tend to know what they want." Ikuto bit his lip.

"What was your sister like?"

She turned in surprised. Ikuto was asking her about her baby sister? Her family? She wanted to cry and smile but then it would have seemed weird. Someone had asked her about her family and how she felt about it, even if it was someone she wasn't comfortable talking about her feelings with.

She closed her eyes and pictured her sister Ami. "She was annoying and wanted so much attention, but when she had that attention, she would do amazing things." She opened them and stared at Ikuto. "She loved to sing and be so happy. Usually when we go out, she'd ask me to pick her outfit for her. Of course, my taste in clothes was different from what she wanted, so we fought a lot on that."

A sob was rising in her throat as she saw Ikuto's thumb tracing away tears that spilled out from her eyes. Oh no how embarrassing, Amu thought. Probably thinks I'm a weakling.

"I'm sorry for your loses Amu. Whoever had taken their lives must be feeling like crap right now."

A surprising laugh came from Amu. "Whoever killed my family do not feel like crap or else they would be at my feet apologizing until the day I turn fifty."

Ikuto swallowed a lump in throat as he continued to listen. The words she used were strong and full of emotion, and yet it held that sympathy that he didn't quite understand. Nevertheless, she talked with hatred for the person, like venom seeping out with every word she took. She sounds like she wouldn't forgive them at all.

Wouldn't forgive me.

"But here's the thing, even though you might think I'm crazy but, if they didn't hit and run and instead went my house telling them about what they did, I would have cried until I made a pool of tears at my feet and accept their apology. I would have forever hate their guts but, if that's how life is, what am I to do about it? At least they had the guts to come and tell me."

Shock replaced the questions Ikuto wanted to say. She would of forgave him? Was it that easy to do such a thing? She was a fragile girl who does not know the killer of an accidental hit and run chase was sitting right next to her! What would happen if she had found out this minute? Would she come to hate him or give out a little bit of forgiveness. Amu was a tricky person to understand with. She was so utterly confusing at times, it made his head spin like crazy. She was the only one that could make him like this.

"Don't be so naive there Amu," Ikuto's eyes stared off in distance, working himself off so Amu wouldn't see how her words were giving him chills down his spine. "Saying that stuff shows how weak and venerable you are to those who can take away your happiness. Take me for an example," both of their eyes turned to each other, sapphire and honey orbs. "You know I can take away your happiness if I wanted to—"

"Then why don't you?" Her voice was calm, a challenge he thought. It would have seemed like she was joking around, but looking into her eyes, she was far from teasing playfully. "I've already lost what's important to me, Tadase seems to drift farer with each second ticked. Who knows, I might be cheated on without me realizing it." Ikuto gulped down his dry throat and looked sadly into her eyes.

"Don't say something as stupid—"

"It's not stupid if it means such a great deal to me."

"Then calm down and stop talking to me like I don't know anything."

"That's just it Ikuto. You don't know anything about me!"

"Yes I do! Do I have to remind you all the little things your boyfriend talks about? God is it annoying. Every fucking sentence has you in it. It was like he was trying to show off something amazing. I can tell you're something special when he talked about you, but really Amu? You cannot tell me that I don't know you by that!"

Amu stared at him, her eyes wide in shock. She remembered the first time meeting him how he told her about the conversations Tadase talks about.He didn't tell her anything else about it, but he did gave her a fair amount on what he'd been talking about.

All of a sudden, it was like a flashback when Amu had a confrontation with Ikuto in the bathroom...

"Can you just stop acting like you know me? You don't FYI!"

"Oh so we're text talking huh? Ok BTW, I know so many things about you because whenever Tadase comes home all he talks about is you," he stepped closer "Every," and closer. "Little," even closer "Detail," he was overtaking her height by now. "About you,"

Amu closed her eyes, breathing in before attempting herself further. "No, that doesn't prove anything Ikuto."

"It gives me an understanding of you."

"No it doesn't."

"Yes it fucking does!"

"No it fucking doesn't!" Heavy breathing formed from both people. Amu's voice, sharpened to a scream was now cut into a whisper of wretchedness . "How can you say something like that if you do know everything about me Ikuto? You hardly know anything about me and what I was like before this happened. You cannot just look at someone in the eye and know their whole story. It takes time for that to happen." She twirled a lock of her hair and pushed it aside. "Like you said, you just begin to understand me."

Silence poured between them while Amu tried to calm down her thoughts. Why had she exploded like that was unanswerable to her. Ikuto was trying to purposely make her upset again to prove a point. It only makes sense why. Her mind was driving faster than the passing cars that went by.

"You're right," he suddenly said. "I don't know everything about you. And yeah, so I don't know what happened before the tragic thing in your life happened," he paused to stare intensely at her. Amu caught her breath when he continued. "But I do know what you don't want to happen." He reached out and fixed a stray of pink hair out of her eyes. "And I promise, I won't let you get hurt like that ever again Amu."

His voice was stiff but strong, but most of all, promising. She might as well take this lightly, for she knows that it unlikely to happen. His tone was serious, and it scared her for a minute there or two. That might as well be a start to a confession!

Wait, Ikuto confessing?

Amu suddenly laughed at the thought, and at Ikuto. Was he for real? Protect her from getting hurt again huh?

"Thanks Ikuto, you made me feel just a bit better..." She laughed again before continuing, staring into his confused sapphire eyes. "I'm s-sorry. It's just hard to believe a guy like you can protect me from getting hurt. No offence Tsukiyomi, but that's a boyfriends job, and if you notice or not, you're not my boyfriend."

Speechless. Utterly speechless. He just basically told her he liked her and all she said was that's a boyfriends job? Bitting his lip and turning back towards his car, engine roaring to life, he couldn't help but laugh along with her.

"Oh Amu, you make me want to do stupid things sometimes."

Amu rolled her eyes, smiling. "Don't say something as dense as that. It's bad luck."

Ikuto smirked, his hands getting ready to drive off onto the streets. "You don't know me Hinamori. Whatever I say is a beneficial factor for me." He then drove home, leaving small tire tracks in its wake.

So much fluff! Yeah it's the shortest chapter I've ever done so far. I just wanted to update so I can get down to the almost fun part of the story. Don't forget to review guys, I'll continue this story I promise (:

If you want to ask me any questions about this story, I am available for the answers.