Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara

I sigh as I watch the gardeners weed from my window. It has been a month since I left Ikuto's castle and I still miss it.

My parents had stared at me with silent horror when I went home and explained what happened. I notice my mother looking away with disappointment every time our eyes meet. My father suggested Tadase as a second candidate. When I refused, he had turned away, a sigh escaping his lips. "Then I suppose you'll have to find someone else.", he said warily.

But I don't want anyone else.

I think of Ikuto every waking moment and can't imagine loving anyone else. The part of my heart that contained Ikuto felt empty, and it hurt.

"Amu- Sama." The maid at my door bows, "Your mother requests your presence. She is in her chambers."

I stand up, adjusting my skirt, "I'll be right there." My maid bows out.

I walk in on my mother sitting at her desk shuffling papers. I am immediately handed one as I walk up, "This is the guest list for your party."

"My party?"

"Yes. Your birthday party." My mother looks up at me neutrally, "You still turn 18 even if you don't marry anyone, Amu."

"Yes, I- of course." The comment stung, she was constantly reminding me of my canceled engagement. I glance down the list, uninterested, my parents could invite whoever they want as long I had a few friends to talk to.

But one name catches my eye, "Tsukiyomi" was scrawled in among all the other names.
"Mother," I choke, "you invited Ikuto."

"Yes, I did." She replies, "What's wrong?"

"But, I- I- we..."

"There's no guarantee he'll come, Amu. It's just an invitation."

"He won't come. He hates me."

"Well, there's no harm in trying."

"Sure there is." I mutter despondently.

"Amu, there is nothing abnormal with inviting the royal family to a party. Do not make this any harder for your father and I." She sends me a hard stare, "Now, look over these songs for your dance."

"Are you just going to mope around the house all the time now?" I sat up a tiny bit from my position on my bed, to see Utau occupying my double doorway.

"Of course not, I've just been in my room for the past month."

"You're being stupid." She had invited herself in.

"I've been called worse."

"Just because Amu-"

"Let's not go there, Utau." I turned to my side, away from her.

"But it's true! She's nothing to get upset about!"

"Utau." I said, firmer, "Don't go there."

"To late." She held up the white envelope in her hand, "We have to go there now, she invited you to her birthday party."

"What?" She handed me the envelope and I rip open the flap. The invitation inside is on stiff, creamy paper with letters inked in black flourished calligraphy.

You have been invited to the birthday celebration party of Amu Hinamori.

"So are you going?" Utau asked after I don't react.

"No." I tossed the paper off the edge of my bed.

"Why not?"

I snorted, "Do I need a reason? Because I am antisocial. Because I don't like crowded places with dancing. Because-"

"Because you don't want to see Amu." Utau finished for me.

"Sure," I shrugged more causally than I felt, "that works too."

"You know Ikuto," Utau sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't like Amu either." I ignored the urge to defend her. "And?"

"But seeing you just moping around like this hurts." She combed through one of her pigtails with her fingers, "You love her. You really do. You don't have to say it out loud because everyone can already see. This isn't any of my business, but I'm your sister and I care about you. Go to this party, if it doesn't work out, then come home, never talk to her again. But if you two can be happy together, I'd rather you put your ego aside."

"This isn't about my ego." I muttered.

"I know." Utau chewed her lip nervously, "Mom died years ago, Ikuto." I stiffened and she touched my arm. "What happened, happened. Don't use what happened to them as a model for your life. You were a lot older than me when it happened. You remember mom much better and I get that. But Amu is different and you're different."

She waited for me to answer and when I didn't she added one last line, "Give her a chance."

Those words echoed in my head the rest of the day.