~Bound by Blood~
~Chapter 11~

Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara!

WARNING: I apologize if I made Ikuto OOC in this chapter. Also, if I made any other character OOC I apologize for that too!

…..

Previously on Bound by Blood…

Amu and Ikuto enjoy a day off from everything in a meadow on a picnic. Later, they both fall asleep. Kukai and Utau have a moment because Utau was worried about Amu. She ends up falling asleep because of the stress, and Kukai tucks her into sleep in his own bedroom. He kisses her forehead quickly, and he leaves. Amu wakes up and moves to get something, but Ikuto grabs her and pulls her back down. They share a laugh, and Ikuto thinks, "Amu's mine, no one else can touch her."

And that's where we left off!

…..

Utau's eyelids fluttered open as the first streak of morning hit her eyelids. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, wondering whether she should get up or just stay in bed all day. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying that brief peace a morning usually brought her. She smiled, listening to the sounds of nature around her. The chirping of the birds, the faint shouting of the maids and butlers, the quietness of the early morning, and the slow breathing of someone next to her were all so blissful that day. Then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open. Wait, someone breathing next to her?! And, not to mention, there was no sound of a maid or butler coming into her room at all! Utau turned her head quickly, only to be met with a boy's face. His head of brown hair was kind of messy, almost as if he had just gotten out of bed himself. His eyelids were closed, his eyelashes-the ones a girl would strive to have but were wasted on a guy- barely brushed his cheekbones. Utau knew that if he opened his eyes, she would see the beautiful, endless emerald green his eyes were. Utau smiled and reached out to brush his cheek with the tips of her fingers. He stirred, but it didn't seem like he was going to wake up anytime soon. His head rested on his arms, which were on the bed, and he was bent over from a chair. He seemed to have fallen asleep while… taking care of her.

Utau felt her heart skip a beat as she stared at his lips. His face seemed so peaceful when he was asleep, free of worry. She felt herself smile before she could stop herself. Utau had been trying to deny her feelings for the brunette boy for a long time now. However, she couldn't hide it anymore. Now, she knew for certain that she really did have feelings for the boy. If she wasn't a vampire and he wasn't a human, she would probably consider getting together with him. After all, Utau would just continue to live for eternity. He would just die of old age. Utau didn't want to ever part with him, so she had had to keep her distance. Utau sighed and scooted even closer to the sleeping brunette.

"Please, just this once, let me love him peacefully." Utau whispered, kissing Kukai quickly and softly.

As Utau's eyes slid closed, Kukai's own fluttered open. He blinked once, and then he blinked another time. His eyes widened as he felt Utau's lips on his. He saw Utau's eyes open too, and the surprise that flickered through her amethyst eyes. He smirked to himself and pulled her closer. His hand slid to the base of her neck, supporting her head and deepening the kiss.

His own eyes closed, and somehow, he knew Utau's did too. He enjoyed the moment and the bliss that it brought him. He had dreamt of kissing her like this since he had first laid eyes on her.

Minutes later, they pulled apart. Both were breathing heavily for lack of oxygen. Kukai pressed his forehead against Utau's. A smirk formed as he began to speak.

"Damn, you're a good kisser." He said.

Utau just laughed, taking in a lungful of air. "You are too," was all she said before he captured her lips once more.

…..

Amu laid against Ikuto's chest, staring up at the clear, blue sky. She yawned a little, blinking. She turned her head, catching a glance at Ikuto's face. His eyes were closed, and he had his arms under the base of his neck. She smiled, watching his peaceful expression. He usually looked so pained or stressed while he was awake. Just watching him sleep with that expression, it was enough to make Amu smile with joy. Amu sighed and looked back up at the sky. It was noon, and everything was quiet. The sun shone down on them in bright rays, filling the atmosphere up with positivity. She basked in the sunlight, enjoying the feel of the sun kissing her usually pale skin.

"Amu…?" Ikuto asked, groggily. His eyelids fluttered open, still drooping with tiredness. He sat up, still trying to get a hold of his surroundings. After all, he was in direct sunlight. He was as weak as a regular human now. He looked at her for a moment, quiet. She stared back, tilting her head to the side. Then, he smiled.

Amu laughed. "How was your nap, lazy butt?"

"Fine, I saw you in my dreams…" Ikuto replied, snaking an arm around Amu's waist.

Amu leaned her head against his shoulder. "And, how was that?" She asked, curiosity lilting in her voice.

"It was amazing, Amu." He said, kissing her on the head.

She turned to him, her expression carefully neutral and calm. "Ikuto, I have a question…"

"Ask away." He replied.

"Why is it that you're willing to risk your life to be with someone like me? I mean, I'm not your status. I'm a low hybrid. I doubt your parents would accept me. After all, I'm the one thing vampires detest the most, right? I'm exactly before werewolves, but everyone else treats me like I'm one of them." Amu said.

Ikuto stared at her, speechless. What was Amu asking him? Was she actually asking him about their love? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. How should he tell her his feelings about her…? After what seemed like an eternity, he opened his eyes again.

"I'll tell you why. I love you, Amu, that's why. It doesn't matter to me what you look like or what your genes are. It only matters what's inside, what your heart is like. Your heart is pure, beautiful, and everything a vampire looks for in a mate. I'm not exaggerating when I say this, Amu. Utau even saw how much light you radiate for 'someone of your status.' Trust me, I love you for you. If my parents don't accept you for who you are… Well, we're just going to run away. I don't care about the kingdom or my honor or whatever, I care only about you." Ikuto replied.

Amu felt tears well up in her eyes. What Ikuto had just said were such sweet words. She smiled, hugging him. She cried into his shoulder. "Thank you. Thank you for accepting me, Ikuto."

Ikuto hugged her back, nodding as he rubbed her back in small circles. "I'll always accept you, Amu."

…..

Utau frowned to herself as she sat on the kitchen counter of Kukai's home. She tapped her fingers against the cup, thinking to herself. A hand drifted up to her lips, touching them. She smiled as she remembered the intense make out session that she had just had with Kukai. Her hair was up in a bun to the side of her head.

She turned her head to the side, closing her eyes. She took a deep breath. She smelt the warm coffee next to her and the sound of Kukai tinkering. He was making weapons again, hurrying to finish up a deadline for one of his clients. She smiled. He was so hardworking.

I never knew he felt this way about me.

She didn't even know she felt that way about him. So, how was she supposed to know if he felt the same way about her? Utau was great at dishing out advice to others, but she never took her own advice. She was clueless about love when it came to her, almost as clueless as Amu. She didn't even realize the tingling feeling inside her was the warm, happy feelings she had for Kukai. She didn't notice that the warm fuzzy butterflies she always got in her stomach was the nervousness she felt over seeing him. Utau shook her head. All these years, she had fallen in love with Kukai… And she didn't even know it herself!

"Utau, are you going to drink that coffee?" Kukai asked.

Utau flinched, barely noticing that he was there at all. She blinked. This was one of the few times that she was caught off guard. Here she was thinking about Kukai, and he decides to sneak up on her and scare her. Okay, she doubted that he was doing it on purpose… but still!

She shook her head, sliding the mug of warm coffee over to the sweating, grime covered boy. He took the cup, sitting down on the stool across of her. He sipped the coffee quietly at first. His goggles were on his head, keeping most of his hair out of his face. He looked up then, a smile tugging on his lips. His emerald eyes were bright and energetic.

"What? Why are you smiling like that?" Utau said, raising a brow. She leaned her face into the palm of her hand. Her elbow rested against the table.

"No reason." Kukai replied, smiling even bigger.

Utau shook her head. "That smile is not "no reason", Kukai. You're thinking of something. Spill, now."

Kukai laughed. "You can't make me, Utau."

"Oh, really, you actually believe that I, Utau Hoshina, can't make you?! You're such a liar!" Utau said, jumping up and slamming her fist on the table.

Kukai nodded, jumping up too. He leaned in close to her face, slamming his fist on the table with her. "That's right, Hoshina. I doubt you could finish a ramen bowl faster than me. I doubt you even know what "ramen" is! After all, aren't you a princess?"

Utau narrowed her eyes. All thoughts of recent kissing and affection were gone. Now, it was war! Kukai was going down. No one challenged Utau Hoshina and came out a winner!

"You're on!" She shouted.

He smirked and nodded. "Fine, let's see who can get there the fastest!" He took off running, abandoning his work clothes at his seat.

Utau watched after him for two seconds before realizing what happened. "HEY! THAT'S CHEATING, YOU IDIOT!" She screamed, racing after him. Using her vampire speed, she caught up to him easily. Kukai was faster, which was almost impossible. He sprinted ahead a few centimeters. As the ramen shop came into view, both barreled into the door at the same time.

As the rushed into the shop, a few of the customers looked up in shock. The shopkeeper blinked in surprise then smiled at the sight of Kukai.

"Who came first?!" Kukai screamed at the shop keeper.

The shop keeper laughed. "Kukai, I see you've brought a friend this time. You guys were racing too…" He said, and then he paused in deep thought. "I'm sorry, but you guys were a tie. This little lady here came in at the exact same time you did."

Utau smirked, a triumphant smile on her lips. "Hah! How does it feel to be beaten by a girl, Kukai?"

"I was not beaten by you." He gritted out.

"Really? Then what do you call this?" She asked; she enjoyed the thought of torturing him.

"We got a tie. We both won." He said. Under his breath, he muttered, "Idiot."

"How do you feel to be tied with a girl then?" She replied. Then she added, "Excuse me, but I am not an idiot."

Kukai was not surprised that she had heard him.

"Well, let's see who wins the ramen eating contest then! I can already taste my victory! Good luck with beating me!"Kukai said, quickly shouting out his order of ramen.

Utau glared. "Not over my dead body!" She said, shouting out her own order of ramen.