Morg: Heyo! So it is my birthday (Not anymore!) so I'm presenting you with the present of this chapter!

Ikuto: Yeah.

Amu: So exciting.

Morg: People really love this story, you know.

Ikuto: I don't really care.

Amu: I wish you wouldn't have written it.

Morg: I do not regret not owning you.

Ikuto: Keep telling yourself that.

~Indebted~

It wasn't them. They didn't win. Everything crashed down around Amu as she forced a smile to stay in place. There were people still looking at them. There were others taking pictures and Amu didn't want any of them to see that she was devastated. The same questions kept swirling within her mind.

Why couldn't one good thing happen to her? How could they have lost? Everyone said they were going to win. Hadn't they danced perfectly? Why couldn't they have won?

Seeing that Amu was shocked due to their second place prize, Ikuto steered her through the rest of the evening and eventually took her back to their hotel room. It wasn't until they were alone and Ikuto was holding Amu close, after changing both of them into their pajamas, that Amu started to cry.

Ikuto was glad to see the tears. For the first time since he saved her at the auction, he wanted to see her cry. Crying meant that she was coming to terms with the fact that they'd lost and that she was going to be alright in the morning. She might look a little tough since her eyes were sure to be red, but Ikuto didn't mind as long as he got the old Amu back.

A few hours later, she fell asleep in his arms. Tears still streaming down her face.

XXX

Blinking up at Ikuto from where she was sitting on his lap, Amu gave a soft sigh. She hadn't wanted to get into the car, but did so when Ikuto asked her to. They were surely going to be heading back to Japan now that the competition was over, but Amu was still feeling sore from crying the night before. Not to mention her face was red and her eyes were puffy. She did not look good at all. "But I look horrible! I don't want to walk through the airport."

Ikuto only smirked as he pulled the pinkette from the car. He'd distracted her once they'd entered the private car in order to keep her from finding out where they were really going. It was clear that she was going to need a bit more than just a long cry before she was back to being her old self. He knew that she'd really wanted to win and the loss was a huge hit for her. "Who said anything about an airport?"

Amu gasped as she looked around. They were in an older part of Hong Kong. It wasn't dangerous at all and really well preserved. For it being the first time she left Japan, Amu didn't think she'd get to see much of the sites around the huge city, but Ikuto had surprised her. "Where are we?"

Taking Amu's arm and tucking it into his, Ikuto pulled the pinkette forwards so they could start walking around. He'd brought her there to sightsee and he wanted to make sure that she got the chance to see as much as possible. "An old district of the city that is now under protection of the government to keep it the same. It is an historical site. I thought you might like to see a few places before we fly home tomorrow."

Amu couldn't help herself. The blow of the loss was still there, but Ikuto was doing something kind for her so that she'd be able to take her mind off of the competition. "Thanks Ikuto!"

More surprised by the kiss on the cheek than the hug, Ikuto released the girl in his arms as she pulled away to look around. They walked through the old district for a few hours, hand in hand.

Before the day was through, Amu had seen more of Hong Kong than she ever thought she would. Not that she was complaining, but her feet hurt and she was exhausted. Moreover, she thought that the moment they returned to the hotel room, Ikuto would demand compensation for the day and make her have sex until the sun rose.

To her surprise, a bubble bath and Champaign awaited them. Ikuto wasted no time in striping himself and climbing into the warm water. He was just as tired as the girl he loved and didn't feel like doing anything but relaxing. "Aren't you getting in, too?"

Amu had been staring at the man with an uncertain expression but the way he lazily cocked one eye open to see if she was going to strip or not sort of gave her the confidence to join him. He wasn't ogling her body, however, Amu didn't know if she liked that fact. Any worries she had were completely put to rest the moment she entered the tub since Ikuto pulled her body close to his.

"Are you ready to go back tomorrow?"

The words whispered against her bare skin sent shivers down Amu's spine. Her actions paused, causing the sponge she'd been using to drop into the water. Ikuto's hands snaked around her waist to pull her closer to him. "I-I suppose so."

Ikuto hummed a response as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "I hope so. I can't wait to get you back in the apartment and do what I please with you."

The words were soft and comforting even though they held a tint of more within them. "Ikuto, do I really have to stop dancing now?"

The question had been expected. "No, you don't."

"But our deal! We made that deal and I'm supposed to stop because we lost."

Shrugging his shoulders, Ikuto tightened his grip around Amu's body though he didn't do anything more than that. "I'm sure we can work something out with Nagihiko. If you want to keep dancing then you should be allowed to."

Amu couldn't believe her ears. Could Ikuto really let her dance? She knew he was concerned about her traveling alone, and she didn't really blame him considering she wasn't all the comfortable traveling alone just yet. "Do you mean in competitions."

Ikuto fell silent at that. He wanted to say yes and make Amu happy. He wanted for her to get the chance to do exactly as she wished, especially because he knew that her entire life had been full of doing things because she had to not because she wanted to. But this was a bit different. This was also about her safety. "No, I don't think I can allow that. You'll be traveling a lot, and I'd see less of you. I'm sure Nagi would appreciate your help if you just help him teach some classes or something. That way, you get to dance, Nagi gets help and I get you."

Amu was blushing again. Ikuto had really thought about it even before she'd asked him. Here he was doing something considerate again, making her feel loved. For him to have thought about it before she asked meant that he was thinking about what she would want rather than just what he wanted. It was almost impossible for her to believe. "Really?"

Ikuto could hear the worry in her voice. Sure, he'd taken away her ability to go to school after she was kidnapped by her classmate, but that wouldn't happen again. Amu would constantly be with Nagi and Tadase so there was no reason for Ikuto to worry about a thing. Rima would go sometimes, too, and Yaya was usually around as well. "As long as nothing happens like last time then there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Amu nodded without looking back as Ikuto placed a couple of kisses on her shoulders. Her heart was racing, but she wasn't sure if it was because of how gentle Ikuto was being or if it was because she was just that thrilled about continuing to dance.

Ikuto smirked against her skin. He was tired and he could feel how tired she was as well. "We'll talk to Nagi tomorrow on the plane. Let's go to bed for tonight."

Amu was lifted out of the tub and deposited on the bed. She was expecting Ikuto take her, but just like he hadn't done anything in the tub, Ikuto did nothing more than pull her into his arms as they fell asleep a bit damp and definitely naked.

XXX

Nagihiko glanced around the plane to see everyone sleeping much like they had been on the way to Hong Kong. Amu had been slightly put out when they'd gotten to the airport and she found out that Ikuto had a private entrance. It had taken the man many kisses and quite a few explanations to get Amu to look at him again.

Moving to sit next to his boss, Nagi knew that Ikuto needed to tell him something considering the man had given him the 'I'll talk to you later look'. "What's up?"

Ikuto looked over to see the dance instructor sitting across the aisle from him once more. "Why aren't you cuddling Rima?"

"Because I know we need to talk. Spill it quick so I can get back."

"I want Amu to keep dancing. Let her teach a class or something so she can be happy. If anything happens to her then you are going to be in far more trouble than Rima ever was."

Nagi smirked as he leaned back in his seat. "I knew you loved her but I had no idea that you would go against yourself in order to make her happy."

Ikuto glanced around to make sure everyone else was asleep. "You better keep your mouth shut or I will suddenly have a problem with employees dating other employees."

"Don't you think that is a little hypocritical?"

Sighing, Ikuto leaned his head back on his chair. He couldn't move his arms or else he would have run a hand down his face. Instead, he left them snuggling Amu closer to his side. "Right, so will you do it?"

"You didn't exactly leave me room to say no, did you?"

Smirking, Ikuto glanced at the other man from the corner of his eye. "I didn't intend to. This will make everyone happy. Pay her if you want to. I want you to make Amu feel like she's a normal employee, just don't let anyone touch her if they don't need to."

Understanding what his boss meant, Nagi returned his own smirk and stood to walk away. "I'll talk more about it tomorrow with Amu when she shows up at my place."

"Don't count on it. I'm not planning on leaving the apartment tomorrow and neither shall Amu."

Shaking his head, Nagi walked away. "Too much information, boss. Too much."

Chuckling, Ikuto looked down at the girl next to him as she slept thousands of miles above the ground. Brushing a piece of the pink hair that made Amu look only more beautiful out of her face, Ikuto had to admit that he did love her. Even if he could only say it in his head for now, his entire being moved and lived for her. Sometimes he might be a little harsh, but only when he was afraid he was going to lose her. Amu was his. The sooner she got that through her head and accepted it, the better off they would be. He would even consider giving her more freedoms.

Shifting her head in her sleep, Amu began to mutter some soft words. "mmmmmm…. Ikuto… akdjlfsdjlk…"

Smirking that his name had come from her lips even when she was asleep, Ikuto placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. Amu was definitely his. And even if he didn't act like it, he was hers as well.

.

Morg: Definitely not as long as I wanted but oh so good!

Ikuto: Just go back and add a lemon or two!

Amu: I think it is good as it is. In fact, delete the whole story!

Morg: Nope! Now review please! It is my birthday!