Yuki- Okay so I decided to update today because it's my birthday :3 That, and I finished it coincidentally. Maybe it's Birthday luck? :D

So, this chapters a bit short. Probably twice as long as the preview. Then the next chapter will be the last one. Then my whole attention will shift to Moon Dexterity.

I also have another story idea, but I'm not sure if I should even start writing it yet while I have Moon Dexterity up.

We'll see.

Enjoy.

Summary:
Tsukiyomi Ikuto has been mailing letters to a pen pal he was assigned to in kindergarten. Even though he was only supposed to talk to his pal for a month, he grown attached until high school. What will happen when his pen pal has come to his class?

I don't own Shugo Chara! in any way .

Ikuto- 15 - Kukai- 15

Nagihiko- 15 - Kairi- 15

Tadase- 15 - Yaya- 13

Utau- 13 - Rima 15

Amu- 14

Recap:

"Thanks, Ikuto." she said sweetly. Ikuto chuckled as he wrapped his arms aound her, pulling her into an embrace.

Everything would go uphill from here.

:Pen Pals:

Amu held her head high as she confidently walked through the halls. She knew that everyone found out about her situation, and she was not going to show anyone her weakness.

"Hinamori-san looks so strong. It's like nothing phases her..."

"She probably doesn't even care about what happened. How selfish."

"Don't talk so loud! She'll hear you!"

She rolled her eyes at the comments. Rumors didn't affect her.

Well, at least that's what she's trying to make everyone think.

She scoffed slightly as she opened her locker, getting the materials she needed for her next class.

Her emotionless expression broke once she had her face inside the locker. Her eyebrows slanted downwards as her eyes filled up with unshed tears. She sniffed slightly as she quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting to let people know that she was upset.

Pretending to be okay, killed her deeply inside. She hated not showing her true emotions, and being able to express herself.

"Hinamori-sama?" Her head snapped up, as she turned to see one of the girls that signed her up for the talent show. Her expression turned expressionless, almost cold.

"What do you want?"

The girl twitched at the sharpness of her voice. "U-Uhm, I was just wondering i-if you were still performing at the t-talent show."

Amu raised an eyebrow at the flustered girl. But in reality, she just wanted to crawl into a whole and cry all day and night.

"Of course I am. I don't back down from a challenge." She replied. The girl smiled sheepishly. "O-Okay. The whole school is rooting for you, Hinamori-sama!" And off she went. Amu sighed as she grabbed her books and walked to her class.

It was a good thing it was her last lecture, because she was just about to pass out from exhaustion.

:Pen Pals:

As the school bell rang, indicating that it was over, the halls were suddenly filled with high school students. Aching to go home to their families, or just wanting to take an after school nap.

Ikuto walked aimlessly through the halls, not in a rush like everyone else was. He spotted Amu, who had her head in her locker. He noticed that she was breathing rather rapidly, and he was surprised that no one else noticed.

Once he made it to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Amu, are you okay?"

Once hearing his voice, her head snapped towards him, her eyes wide and full of tears. The halls were almost empty, so Ikuto wasted no time in taking her hand and walking her to the outside world, so they could go back to his house.

She stayed silent as she let herself get dragged into Ikuto's care. She didn't mind that tears were pouring down her face. No one was around to see her pain.

When they made to his abode, she snapped.

"I can't do this anymore!" She yelled, throwing her bag on the ground in anger. "I'm tired of pretending that everything's okay when it's not. I'm tired of holding up this facade. I'm sick of people thinking that I don't care about how my life has gone up in flames!"

Ikuto stayed silent as he let her finish her rant. This was the third time this week that it had happened, and each time, it gets a little better.

She walked over to the recliner chair slowly, and plopped down. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly. Ikuto walked over to her and picked her up, then placing her on his lap. Her kissed her hair, before turning her around so she could bury her face in his chest.

"I'm tired, Ikuto..."

He knew that she meant that she was sick of feeling the way she was. He put his hand on top of her head, as he ran his fingers through her pink tresses.

"It can only get better, Amu."

She looked up at him, a pleading expression on her face. Her thoughts somehow traveled to the talent show that was tomorrow night.

"How could I sing at this state? The whole school sees me as some tough chick that nothing can phase." She buried her face into his chest.

Ikuto's eyebrows slanted downwards. He already had told her that she didn't have to do it, but she's stubborn. He knew that she really wanted to do this.

So the only thing he could do was encourage her. "You can do this, Amu. You're strong. Your song is inspirational, and will reach the hearts of other people." He ran his fingers through her hair again.

"I believe in you."

Amu looked back up at him with a small smile on her face. Before, when he would try to encourage her, she would just interrupt. But after hearing his words, she realized that with him by her side, she could do just about anything.

"You used to say that me in your letters," she replied dreamily, as her memories went through his head. "You always know how to make me feel better, even when the situation is completely shitty."

Ikuto chuckled. "That's what I'm here for. And I'll always be here for you," he gingerly stated as he pulled her chin up to his. "Because I love you."

Amu blushed lightly as she closed her eyes, letting Ikuto's lips lightly touch hers.

:Pen Pals:

The next day seemed to go by a little bit better. The other students noticed Amu's aura was a little brighter, and she was more approachable.

"Hinamori-sama, good luck at the talent show!"

"We'll be rooting for you!"

"I'll make T-shirts for you!"

Amu waved off all the comments with a small smile as she walked to her locker. She looked at the small picture of her family and her smile grew. She knew that they were watching over her. She could just picture Ami leaning over from above, trying to get a better view of what was going on.

She knew that her father was crying about his little sparrow, growing older. She knew that her mother was giving her that knowing smile, and cheering for her.

She knew that they never really left her.

"Amu."

She turned to see Rima, and smiled. "Hey, Rima. What's going on?"

"I'm just on my way out. Nagihiko owes me a parfait, so I'm going to see how this goes." Amu could tell by the smile on her face, that she was excited. She always knew that her and Nagihiko had something going on.

Amu smirked. "Well, have fun."

Rima nodded, not noticing her expression and caught up with Nagihiko who was waiting for her at the main entrance.

Amu chuckled as she turned towards the door. She was about to heard towards the entrance when someone grabbed her arm. She turned her heard quickly to see Ikuto, who smirked.

"You're not thinking of leaving without me are you?"

Amu giggled. "Of course not," she replied as she entwined her fingers with his. "Shall we?"

He smiled as he nodded towards the outside world.

:Pen Pals:

An hour went by, and Amu was at the auditorium. She looked out into the audience, and noticed that everyone was there. Almost the whole school. She could feel the sick feeling envelope inside her stomach. Could she really handle this?

"Hinamori-san. You're up!"

She could only nod as she slowly walked out on stage.

She breathed in deeply as she heard the cheers come from her classmates, and other peers.

"Hinamori-sama!"

"Hinamori-sama! See? I made the T-shirts!"

Amu chuckled. She suddenly felt relieved, and less nervous. She spotted Ikuto, who smiled at her and mouthed, You can do it. Amu nodded towards him as the music started.

Play Face Up by LIGHTS.

She could hear the music that she had made, and closed her eyes, letting her mind travel to different places. She suddenly saw sad faces, tears, and disappointment.

It's late and I am tired, wish I could spark your smile
The place is flying high but right now I wanna be low
Don't wanna move an inch, let alone a million miles
And I don't wanna go but I know I gotta go

I just want to feel alive

As her voice echoed throughout the auditorium, she heard the audience, but only faintly. Now, she was in her own world. All she saw was her own frivolous thoughts.

The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up

She lifted her hands towards the crowd, basically begging them to hear her plea. She wanted them to know, that whatever happens, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up

As she sang her words, some people actually physically did what she was telling them. And when some people looked at others, they suddenly felt something new. Like a new understanding.

Seems like the more you grow the more time you spend alone
Before you know it you end up perfectly on your own
The city's shining bright but you don't see the light
How come you concentrate on things that don't make you feel right?

I just want to feel alright

More people started to listen to the words, and they started to understand. They knew that Amu was just holding her emotions in.

The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up

Ikuto looked up at her and smiled. Her eyes were closed, as her eyebrows slanted downwards.

Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up

He could see the slightest trace of tears on her face. She missed her parents, and Ami.

I'm looking for more than a little bit
I'm gonna have to find my way through it
Gonna leave a mark, I'm gonna set a spark
I'm coming up off the ground, I won't be looking down

Her eyes opened, and she pushed her tears down before anyone else could see. She let out her emotions as much as she could. She couldn't help but think about her family that left her behind.

The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always going to rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up

She started to sing the last bit of her song, and most of the room were in tears.

Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up

The song ended, and everyone cheered their hearts out.

"That was amazing!"

Amu smiled at everyone in the audience, and walked off, completely satisfied with her performance.

:Pen Pals:

When Amu made it back to Ikuto's house she went straight upstairs, and picked up another picture of her family from the desk.

"If it wasn't for you guys, I would even have the courage to write songs..." She grazed the picture frame lightly with her finger, feeling the familiar burning in her eyes.

She let her tears fall, but she had a smile on her face.

She could just imagine her family up above watching over her. She could picture Ami leaning over her mother's arms, trying to get a better view. She could see her mother cheering her on, and her father weeping about how she had grown up.

It was then that she realized that they had never really left her after all.

Yuki- It may look half-assed, but I tried really hard. It's 4am, and I am going to bed.

Happy Birthday to meh. :D

ArAndArForYuki? :D