I want to give credit where credit is due!

So, I want you guys to give a big thank you to Mauveamigirl, because she helped with this chapter.

I was having serious writers block, and just could not decide on where this chapter will head in the case of Ikuto's gift to Amu, so she stepped in and helped decide.

Mauveamigirl has Amuto stories on her page and I'm sure she would love it if you checked those out. Also you could give her Deviantart account a look, I know she would appreciate it!

I also want to thank you all for the amazing idea's and suggestions for the gift and kitten name.

You guys are awesome!

Chapter Twenty-five

The party went relatively well, Yaya didn't get sick this year from eating too many sweets, the atmosphere with everyone laughing and getting along felt like we were one big family; and just having Ikuto there made my Christmas feel, whole.

I gave Tadase his gift, and he handed out those he had brought, then at the end of the day, I will admit it was one of the best holidays I've ever had.

I blinked when Ikuto stood with a stretch, motioning for Yoru to follow when I stood to walk with him to the door. It was getting late, but there was still a few hours until my curfew, so maybe Ikuto was taking me home early?

The three of us said our goodbyes, then headed out into the snow as it started to softly fall for a second time this month. With the poof of a character change, he scooped me into his arms and started in the direction of home, though instead of stopping at my place he walked to the apartment complex where he lived.

He made sure not to set me down until we were on the stairs heading to his apartment so I couldn't change my mind and head home.

Once inside his place, I started to shed my jacket as we both sat on the couch, Yoru hitting the fridge for munchies.

I was watching the neko Guardian Character when Ikuto set a wrapped box on my knee causing me to look back in time to see him lean back with his hands laced behind his head.

"What's this," it was obviously a Christmas present, I'm not even sure why I asked that.

He never replied, just gave a small shrug before looking away to gaze at the snow. It almost looked too pretty to unwrap. The paper was a gorgeous silver reflecting everything in the room like a mirror, around it was a amethyst ribbon tied into a very elegant bow.

After I got the box opened, I stopped breathing, my mouth dropping open as I quickly stood up to make sure I was seeing this clearly.

"Ikuto, this is," I couldn't find the words, my whole world was spinning so fast that I had to walk over to the glass doors and put a hand on their surface to keep myself from falling over.

"This... is," my hands were shaking so badly that I couldn't hold the box steady, his arms draping around my shoulders from behind to take the box from my grasp before I dropped it.

He slipped the ring from the tiny black velvet strip, and held it to my hand so the light would sparkle against the princess cut diamond. Holding me tightly to his chest so I would calm down and not have a panic attack, he purred low in my ear.

"Marry me, Amu?"

My head was suddenly so clouded that I couldn't think, my heart skipping at least three beats as I stared at this beautiful ring. Just the way the diamond on that tiny silver band was set magnificently, it was simple yet I had never seen a more beautiful ring in my entire life.

"Finish school, then move in here. You can visit your family when you want since they live so close, and what's better is I get to see you everyday. Say yes, and you'll finally be mine in every way."

I could not for all the pocky in the world, get my lips to move. I could only nod, still stunned by what was happening. He gently moved the band up my finger, placing a soft kiss on the side of my neck before he pulled back to let me gather myself.

"Wait, are you two out of your minds?! Your dad is going to kill you!" Miki screamed furiously, Ran putting her hands on her hips in disbelief while Dia and Su bobbed together watching quietly.

Yoru was too busy eating his sandwich to even care what was going on.

"Miki is right, maybe we should hold off on letting anyone know about this until after graduation," I turned as I spoke, his eyes causing my voice to waver at the end.

He nodded when I handed the ring back, then slipped it back in the little box and tucked it away in his hoodie pocket.

"Fair enough," he said while slipping just the tips of his fingers into the rim of my belt, tugging my body closer to his before catching my lips in a soft kiss. Gentle, yet so irresistible.

He pulled me with him to the couch, still kissing and sucking on my bottom lip until he plopped down with his fingers tugging me on to his lap seconds later. He pulled back from the kiss then, holding me tightly so I would follow as he laid back with my head on his chest; snuggling to watch tv.

He turned on some movie, though I didn't really pay enough attention to figure out what it was about. I actually fell asleep listening to the beat of his heart and the feeling of his fingers trailing up and down my spine.

When I woke up, Ikuto was kissing my forehead, my eyes trying to blink away the blur as I sat up to cover a yawn.

"What time is it?"

"Almost 11, so we should probably get you home."

I stood, trying to get my jacket on as I walked to the door behind Ikuto, my Guardian Character's looking drained as some of them yawned, others rubbed their tired eyes as the floated along.

I felt a little bad that they were so tuckered out; maybe today was too exciting for them?

The walk back was the same as usual, at the door mom actually invited Ikuto to come inside and stay for a while this time, so he agreed which brings us to where we are now.

Sitting in my room, he lounged back on the bed, so many memories of him being like this flooded my head simultaneously.

I smiled though, since it was nice to see him back in such a familiar atmosphere.

It was crazy, back then when he was secretly staying here, I was so used to him being around that it was a habit to see his face when I woke up. A small part of me even now looks over to see if he is there but he never is.

I fell back on the bed to stare at the ceiling, stretching as he rolled on his side to support his head in his palm.

"Now what?"

I looked over when he spoke, shrugging since I seriously had no clue.

"I know I need to pack, tomorrow we're leaving for that vacation thing."

"You're still not packed for that? You haven't changed at all," he smirked then plopped on his back again, shaking his head when I stuck my tongue out.

Yawning, I tried to speak but my words came out all muffled, eyes closing to ease the burning they were under from needing sleep.

"That's a good thing though. Some people change so much that, they're not even the person you once knew."

I could hear his sigh and my side, the bed shifting from his movement before he answered back calmly. I almost had to strain to catch what he said.

"Like the prince?"

I froze for a moment, thinking of that since he had hit the nail on the head. Nodding while keeping my eyes closed, I replied through another slight yawn.

"Exactly."

I could feel his arms snake around my body moments later, pulling me closer until I was firmly pressed against his chest. I smiled into his hoodie, and much like earlier, I drifted to sleep with the sound of his breathing as my lullaby.

When I woke, the sound of my mother's voice asking if I was packed made my body instantly sit up in bed panicked. I looked around to see Ikuto had gone home, which made me frown, but that was quickly washed away when she asked again about packing.

The sun glaring outside was a huge wake up call that I needed to get things in gear.

"Ah! No, I totally forgot to pack last night. I must have fallen asleep!"

Scurrying to my closet, I just started slinging things into a bag, making sure to pack a sufficient amount of outfits that would last and a few more just incase I split something or what ever the reason I would need to change.

Sliding around the corner on my socks so I could brush my teeth and hair before packing those necessities, I hurried and dressed myself then finally turned to face my Guardian Characters once I was finished.

"Ready?"

The all nodded in excitement then we were off, just making it to the train station right as the train arrived; everyone there waiting by the time we got there.

"You're late Amu-chiiiii," Yaya screamed over the crowd, waving her gloved covered hand to motion me to their group.

"Sorry," I muttered out of breath as I finally made it to their location, Ikuto shaking his head amused at my procrastination.

"We thought you were going to bail on us," Nagi's amber eyes brightened as he smiled warmly, that long, flowing indigo hair violently whipping around his body when a sudden gust of wind took everyone by surprise.

"Nah, I said I would be here and I'm here now, so let's do this."

We all boarded, talking about what our families got us for Christmas, and how stoked we were for this vacation.

"Where is Hinari," Rima asked as her tiny body sat between a bouncing Yaya, and a calm Nagi across from Ikuto, Tadase and myself.

"She is waiting for our arrival at the hotel. Her father has a limo waiting once we get off."

"Wahhh, a limo?! Oh, Yaya is loving this! This is going to be the best weekend ever, right, Amu-chi!?"

"I guess, if being pampered all day is what you like." I pursed my lips and gave a shrug, trying to keep my cool and spicy attitude when deep inside I had looked forward to this since day one.

And Tadase was right, as soon as we left the train there was a stretch limo waiting to pick us up. The driver greeted us happily, taking a bow before he started to load our luggage into the trunk; all of us standing there in awe.

Well, all but Iktuo, though I guess with how rich his family is, this sort of stuff was nothing new to him.

Inside the limo was so nice, it would have been a lot nicer if Yaya wasn't taking selfies and snapshots of every detail she could.

She would take a bunch of random shots, then grab someone and lean in for a group shot.

Her excitement made every laugh though, which lightened the mood and made the hour drive there all the more fun.