Disclaimer: I do NOT own Shugo Chara!

Chapter 11

The Wedding

A month later, at the beginning of November, the day of the wedding arrived.

And Amu was nervous. REALLY nervous. The night before the wedding, she paced back and forth in her temporary room at Easter's palace, where the wedding was to take place…where she would start living after tomorrow. It wasn't so much that she would miss home, she still hadn't seen much of it, and of course she would miss her parents…no, the thing that worried her most, was being accepted by the kingdom of Easter. The royal family already accepted her, so that was good, but she had yet to meet any of their subjects yet. As she worried and worried, somebody knocked at the door. She stopped pacing and look towards the door. "Yes? Come in."

She was surprised to see Utau enter her room. "Am I intruding?"

Amu shook her head. "Not at all." Now, Amu and Utau didn't really have much of a relationship. They had never really 'bonded' and really only met and talked with each when others were around. So this was, to say the least, a bit of a surprise. "Is something wrong?"

Utau frowned, closing the door behind her. "You're worried, aren't you? I saw it on your face at dinner. Ikuto noticed it, too."

Amu frowned. "Oh…"

Utau sighed, hands on her hips. "Hinamori, my brother loves you. He wanted to come here himself and talk to you, but I insisted that I go to see you instead." She looked at the ceiling. "It's not that I don't like you or anything, but…the idea of handing my brother over to anybody…I don't like it. We've grown up so close…" She looked back at Amu. "…wouldn't you feel the same way if your little sister were to get married?"

Amu nodded quietly.

Utau then smiled a little, softly. "In any case, I wanted to know if you would like to get to know each other more? Since after tomorrow we'll be sister-in-laws."

Amu blinked, shocked, then smiled. "Of course, I'd like that very much."

And so, until around ten o'clock at night, the two talked and talked, slowly building a friendship.

"Utau-san, if it's not prying too much…why do you always request that Kukai-kun accompanies me to your kingdom?" Amu asked, but having a feeling she knew the answer when she saw the other princess blush and look away.

"…He's kind to me. He doesn't try to flirt with me like other men. When we get chances to be alone and just talk…he smiles, and laughs…he sees me as a person." She smiled a little.

Amu frowned. "But…?"

Utau sighed. "He's a knight, and I'm a princess. It can never be."

Amu smiled. "You love him, don't you?"

Utau nodded, but kept her gaze on the floor. "It's not fair."

Amu looked thoughtful. "Have you tried to talk to your parents? Or at least get your mother's opinion?"

Utau frowned at Amu. "No, because our family has only had royal blood for many years-Kukai is not royalty."

Amu smiled sadly. "I'm sorry for prying."

Utau shook her head. "Don't be sorry, it's good to get it off my chest." She stood. "Thank you for listening. Promise you won't tell?"

Amu smiled and nodded. "I promise I won't tell."

Utau smiled. "Thank you. Have a good night, see you in the morning." With that, she left the room, once again leaving Amu alone.

Amu sighed, still unable to sleep, but lay on top of the blankets anyway. Just as she thought she might be able to sleep, there was a knock…at her window.

Amu jumped, startled. She looked at the window to see Ikuto on the ledge. She gasped, rushing to the window and opening it. "Ikuto!" She whispered harshly. "What are you doing? Sheesh, you're like a cat, climbing things and knocking at windows…what did you clib this ti…Ikuto!" She gasped as he suddenly pushed her back onto her bed, covering her mouth with his hand.

"Sh. Don't shout."

She nodded quietly.

Ikuto removed his hand from her mouth, wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his face in her hair. "I was worried about you. I wanted to make sure you're ok." He said, looking at her worriedly.

Amu smiled a little. "I'm fine, really."

He left hand in his hand in his right hand, lightly touching her engagement ring. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? After tomorrow there's no backing out."

Amu reached up and lightly touched his left cheek with her right hand. "I want to marry you, Ikuto. I just…" She sighed. "…what if your kingdom doesn't like me?"

Ikuto hugged her. "Don't worry. They'll love you-just as I do." He kissed her forehead.

Amu smiled at him, hugging him back. "Ikuto…" It was then that she realized he was on top of her, using one hand to support himself so that his weight wasn't on her. She blushed furiously. "I-Ikuto…?"

Ikuto noticed this then, too, and chuckled. He kissed his forehead before getting up and walking to the window. "We'll save that for tomorrow night." And with that, he climbed out her window and back the way he came, down the ivy on the wall of the castle and returning to his room.

That next day, in the afternoon…

Ikuto waited at the alter, with Tadase beside him as his best man.

And then the music began to play.

Ikuto watched as the doors opened and Amu began to slowly walk down the aisle with her father and mother, with Rima holding the end of the long veil. To him, she was breathtaking. She wore an all white wedding dress, with a good amount of tulle in the skirt to give it extra 'poof,' with lace along the hem and neck-line, with off the shoulder tank-top-like straps. She wore makeup, with white two-inch high heels, the necklace and bracelet he had given her, and her hair was all up in a bun.

Amu kept her eyes on Ikuto the entire time, reminding herself to breathe. He looked so handsome in his traditional clothes-his eyes not once leaving hers. She finally reached the end of the aisle, handing her bouquet to Ami, her maid of honor that had walked down the aisle before her, and Rima gently dropped the end of the veil before standing next to Ami.

Throughout the ceremony, Amu and Ikuto only took their eyes off each other when they had to.

It was then time for their vows.

Ikuto held Amu's hands in his hands. "Princess Amu-you brought color and light into my dark, lifeless world. I know we were forced to meet, but at the same time I think that it was fate. I promise that I will protect you, even at the cost of my own life. You're so important to me, and I plan on proving it to you for the rest of our lives."

Amu felt tears in her eyes, but quickly blinked them away when it was her turn. "Prince Ikuto-at first, I dreaded meeting you. I didn't want to marry you, much less even be around you. But then you saved me from my loneliness. You've helped me see how to trust somebody, and what it likes to be in love. Thank you, for everything."

They said their 'I do's' and then Aruto, the one who had been marrying them, said, "By the power given to me by the kingdom of Easter and the kingdom of Seiyo, I now pronounce you both husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." He smiled at his son and now daughter-in-law.

Ikuto and Amu shared a long, gentle kiss.

The ceremony and reception were filled with members from both kingdoms as well as royalty from other kingdoms-but Amu rarely talked to any of them, sticking by Ikuto's side the entire time.

After the reception, Ikuto held Amu's hand, leading her to a carriage prepared for them.

Confused, Amu asked, "We're not staying here?"

Ikuto chuckled, smiling softly back at her. "You didn't really forget about our honeymoon, did you?"

Amu blushed. 'Honeymoon…alone…with Ikuto…' They climbed into the carriage after waving good-bye to their family and friends.

And so their honeymoon began.

The next chapter is rated 'high T'! Review please!