Hey guys, it's Anya! Sorry for the late update, but there has been a lot going on in my life lately. However, things are looking up so I hope to get Chapter 21 up within the next two weeks. Also, really quickly, I would also like to add that I have made a website with updates about my story. A link is on my profile page so be sure to check it out. That website will also be where news about a sequel for this story (I have decided to make one) will be once I'm done with this story. Unfortunately, this story only has about 3-5 more chapters so be sure to check out the site once this fanfiction is finished.


Chapter Twenty

The events from the previous night were still a complete blur. I have no idea how I came to be at Ikuto's house or how I started crying in front of him yet again. Normally I would be furious with him, but he had covered himself pretty well. Apparently last night, after I had fainted, he took me back to his place inconspicuously. He even took my cell phone and e-mailed Ryuu-san, who was coincidentally going out of town yet again the next day, saying that I would be spending the night at a friend's house and wouldn't be home until late the next day. Completely trusting me, Ryuu-san believed the story that Ikuto had told her.

He did well.

"I'll be home at about four, so I'll walk you home when I get back." Ikuto told me as he headed out the door for work.

"Why do I have to wait for you to get back?" I inquired. I babbled on, "I'm almost an adult; I can take care of myself. I don't need you looking out for me—"

"Amu," I could feel my cheeks glowing red, "I'm not letting you walk home alone after last night. Rest up." Ikuto informed me.

Hoping that he couldn't hear the quick beating of my heart, I said, "Whatever. Goodbye then."

"Later." He gave his farewell and left the house without another moment's hesitation.

I sat on his couch by myself, staring at the dormant television. My face was still red as could be and my heart was drumming. Why was I acting so strangely? I pulled in my legs close to me and buried my face into my knees. What was making me so flustered? Was it because he said my name? I shook my head violently. No, that could not be it! I was not flustered over it!

Wanting to erase every thought in my head, I reluctantly turned on the television. That show that Ikuto had been watching the last time I had come over, Shugo Chara, was on. The show seemed somewhat interesting the last time I had seen it on, so I decided to sit down and watch the rest of the episode.

"…because no matter how many days are left until this park is closed, today is my beginning." The girl on the show, the same as the one I saw last time, spoke to a boy while spinning in a teacup at an amusement park. I grimaced ironically at the television screen; this was the exact opposite of what I wanted to see. Despite my distaste towards the scene, I decided to keep on watching it. It was bound to get better, right?

While watching the third episode of Shugo Chara, my eyelids became heavy from weariness. I suppose that despite sleeping for a long time last night, my body didn't rest too well. I could feel that my body didn't want to stay awake, but my mind wanted to stay alive and watch the rest of the show. However, as soon as a commercial for Yoplait yogurt came on the television, I could already feel that I was long gone into dreamland.

I slowly opened my eyes, but not completely. I could hear Ikuto speaking somewhere in the background. I looked down to see a blanket covering my body, probably put there by Ikuto. The gesture slightly warmed my heart. I shook my head back and forth again, not wanting to think about things like that! Instead I perked up my ears to hear what Ikuto was saying on the phone, curious to hear what he was talking about.

"Still no luck, eh?" I had to strain to hear him speaking. "Well I'll keep trying too. Thanks, Utau."

Utau? Who was Utau? I could hear the phone click shut, so I closed my eyes and began breathing deeply. Ikuto may not be coming into the room anytime soon, but I wanted to make sure that it looked as authentic as possible when he came in. Wait… why should I be pretending to be asleep? It's not like I did anything wrong. Sure, I wanted to hear what Ikuto was saying on the phone, but that was only curiosity. So…why was I curious? I opened my eyes and sat up straight with fury; there was no reason why I should be hiding!

"So you're awake?"

Startled, I stood up and turned to see Ikuto standing at the end of the hallway. He was leaning against the wall with a slightly troubled look on his face. Most average people wouldn't notice it, seeing as how one would have to be pretty intuitive to catch it.

"Thanks for the blanket." I blurted out, not so sure what to say.

"So do you want me to walk you home?" Ikuto offered.

I had no idea what I should say. My heart wanted me to say "no," but my mind wanted me to say "yes." What was with me? Normally I would have one sure answer. I was never an indecisive person before this moment.

"Only if you want to." I finally answered after what seemed like hours to me, but only moments to him.

A smirk swept his face as he asked with a mischievous tone, "Do you not want to go?"

A blush crept its way across my cheeks as I answered, "T-that's not what I meant! I just didn't want you to go out of your way!"

His smirk only seemed to grow with my statement. My entire body felt like ice, despite the warmth on my cheeks. Did I just stutter? Hinamori Amu does not stutter…ever! While I was devastated with it, Ikuto's confidence seemed to be rising through the roof with my little speech impediment.

"Sure, sure." Ikuto walked over to his kitchen without giving another glance at me. "So what do you want for dinner?"

Not wanting to give Ikuto the wrong idea, I retorted, "Who said I was staying?"

"So you want to go?" Ikuto looked over at me with that same smirk on his face.

"I…" I couldn't answer him. It's not like I wanted to stay, but I didn't want to go. I looked away from him and at the television set that Ikuto most likely turned off when he came home. I replied, "I don't care what we have for dinner."

"Got it." Ikuto replied with a smug tone, probably wearing the same smirk.

While staring at the television set I pulled in my legs to my body again and buried my face into my knees. I could hear Ikuto rummaging through his kitchen in the background, probably looking for something to cook. I, in fact, was starving. I hadn't eaten anything all day and had just slept for the majority of the day.

Since I had some time to myself, I began thinking. Why was I acting so flustered around Ikuto? I never blushed or stuttered around others. This behavior was strange, even for me. I may be smiling more since Kuukai became my friend, but my behavior had practically remained the same. Why were simple comments from Ikuto making me act so strangely?

"Get your shoes on." Ikuto told me.

I jumped a little at the sudden comment. I turned around to see Ikuto standing at the front door. Was he taking me home? "Where are we going?" I asked.

With the same smirk on his face, he informed me, "We're eating out."

It looks like Ikuto is taking Amu out for dinner. Will more than just an evening meal happen, or will it be just some boring dinner? Next time: chapter twenty-one, "Secrets Revealed." Until next time!

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