Chapter 3

(Amu's pov)

I heard the door open and close. I did not hear my sister's sweet voice anymore. "Ikuto, can I talk to you a minute? Please?" I asked quietly. I heard him walk over to my bedside and then felt him sit next to me while taking my hand in his. "What do you need Amu?" he asked me.

"Well" I began as tears started to fill my eyes again. "I don't want to be a burden to you, if I ask, would you please take Ami and care for her? I don't want to drag her down and I refuse to make you feel obligated to take care me" I started to cry harder. "Please, I'll sign whatever I need, but don't let Ami be taken away. I want her with people she knows that can take care of her. I don't know what really happened with my parents or how much she said what true, but I do know that she needs to stay with family" I told him while squeezing his hand. "You're her family now."

I felt Ikuto squeeze my hand back and heard him take a deep breath then slowly let it out. "Amu, I am sorry, I know that you love Ami, but I can't take her" he started to say as fresh tears soaked the bandages. "I know you feel like I just broke your heart, but the rest of the sentence is: I can't take her without you, I love you too much to let a little accident like this stop me from taking care of you" he finished. Then he hugged and kissed me. When he put his head on my shoulder, I felt my gown dampen.

"Ikuto, I don't want you to cry, this is why you have to give me up" I said while holding him. "Don't you see? I'm only causing you pain.

"My Amu, don't you realize? The reason I am crying is because the person is love is telling me to leave her alone" he whispered into my shoulder. "Please don't push me away" he asked softly and hugging me tighter.

"Okay Ikuto, I won't" I told him. "I only wanted to protect you from the monster that I have become."

"You're not a monster, you're going to be my wife. If you will still have someone like me. Don't forget Amu, when we first met, I truly was a monster, not by choice – I know, but a monster still. You showed care, love, and compassion for someone that was constantly trying to steal from you; and you showed me I did not have be what my stepfather wanted me to become. If I walk from you now, then I truly am still a monster" he told me. "Now, I know that you are tired, so why don't you rest. The rest of the gang wants to see you and I keep pushing them away to give you time to rest. So, get some rest, would you? It is getting harder and harder keeping Utau out of here" Ikuto told me against my neck.

I shivered when I felt him smile. "that's my Amu" he said then he laid me back and sat in the chair holding my hand as I fell asleep.

***The following day***

(Ikuto's pov)

Around 11 in the morning, a knock came on the door and a nurse was standing there. "I'm sorry to bother Hinamori-san and Tsukiyomi-san, but Tsukuyomi-san I have some paperwork for you at the front desk. Would you please come out here? It may take awhile but I promise we will take good care of your fiancée while you are busy" she told us.

I glanced at Amu when she said fiancée and her face was red, "F-f-fiancée?" she stuttered.

I looked at her and smiled and laughed quietly, "It's nice to know that you can still blush Strawberry. I'm going to see what they need me for. If you need anything, the call button is next your right hand. I love you Amu" I said as I walked to the door and followed the nurse out into the hall.

I followed the nurse to the receptionist who pointed to a group of people. There was a man standing in a black suit and a red tie while holding a briefcase. He had a man and a woman standing with him that I didn't recognize either. "May I help you?" I asked him curtly.

"You are Tsukiyomi Ikuto, are you not?" the man said.

"Yes, now my turn. Who are you and what do you want? I said in a cold voice.

"I am Sohma Renji, the woman with me is Anju and the other gentleman is Daisuke. I am a lawyer that represents Tsumugu and Midori Hinamori. I have paperwork that I need you to sign. Anju and Daiske are witnesses to the document signing" Sohma replied while shaking my hand.

"If there are any legal documents in that briefcase Sohma-san, you are going to have to wait for my lawyer to get here. I refuse to sign anything without him present" I told him. Then I took out my phone and called my lawyer and he said that he would be there in 30 minutes.

"I'm sorry to make you wait, but my lawyer will be in approximately 30 minutes. We will talk then" I stated. Then I turned to go the cafeteria and I saw Kukai and Utau walk in.

"Sohma-san, you have witnesses, right?" I asked and he nodded. "Well, the two who just walked in the door will be my witnesses" and pointed to my sister and Kukai. Then I walked to them before they could make to where I was and pulled them aside to explain to them what I knew.

Finally, my lawyer shows up and we all walked to the Hinamori's lawyer. "Sohma-san, this my lawyer, Saito Yuu. This is Tsukuyomi Utau my sister and her fiancé Souma Kukai" I said introducing everyone. "Can we get this show on the road please? I would like to know what the disgraceful parents have to say to me" I asked. They nodded and requested that we all follow them to a private room to go over the documents.

We all sat around a table and the lawyer took out a stack of paperwork. "Before I begin, I need to see everyone proof of identification, please." He said.

Utau and Kukai took them out of our wallets and went to hand them to the Sohma-san when my lawyer said, "I hope you are going to show yours as well" he said while taking his out well. I took Kukai and Utau cards with mine and handed them to Yuu. "Saito-san, thank you for being here" I said then sat back down.

The lawyers took notes of everyone's proof of identification, handed them back to respective personnel and Sohma-san opened the file.

"Tsukiyomi-san, I would like to warn you that some of these papers are not to be easy to read or listen too but you have to listen to this file in it's entirety to gain custody. Do you understand? He asked and I told him I understood. "Good, let's finally begin." And then started to read.

To the Courts of the County

Notice of Release of Parental Guardianship

We, Tsumugu and Midori Hinamori, do willingly and solely release any and all responsibilities of Amu Hinamori. Born on September 24, XXXX. Her blood type is O. She has pink hair and golden eyes. We hereby forfeit any rights or privileges for Amu Hinamori.

Reasons are as stated: We will not be responsible for an invalid for the rest of our lives. We refuse to finish raising the scarred monster that she has become.

Responsible Party: Tsukiyomi Ikuto.

Reason: He told us that he would take and protect that monster while holding the one who caused it. If he wants it so badly, he can have her.

If he refuses: Amu Hinamori will become a ward of the state until she reaches 18 years old age.

Signed:

Tsumugu Hinamori

Midori Hinamori

Tsukiyomi Ikuto

There was a line above my name that I was to sign if I accepted responsibility of her.

Then there was another paper that was placed in front of me.

To the Courts of the County

Notice of Release of Parental Guardianship

We, Tsumugu and Midori Hinamori, do willingly and solely release any and all responsibilities of Ami Hinamori. Born on March 21, XXXX. Her blood type is O. She has light brown hair and brown eyes. We hereby forfeit any rights or privileges for Ami Hinamori.

Reasons are as stated: We refuse to keep a pyromaniac under our roof. She deliberately set out to hurt her sister. It that little demonic monster that caused the injuries to Amu, forcing us to give up parenthood. We despise her and may God have mercy on anyone who chooses to take care of such a monster.

Responsible Party: Tsukiyomi Ikuto.

Reason: He refused to let us take care of the problem. He should have let that Ami monster die in that fire. If he wants to protect her so badly, he can have her.

If he refuses: Ami Hinamori will become a ward of the state until she reaches 18 years old age.

Signed:

Tsumugu Hinamori

Midori Hinamori

Tsukiyomi Ikuto

The Sohma-san looked at me as I picked my pen to sig my name and said, "I have other paperwork for you to sign as well if you will please hold off on signing these."

To the Courts of the County

Notice of Adoption

I, Tsukiyomi Ikuto, agree to take full parental responsibility of Ami Hinamori. Aged 10 years old. Born on March 21, XXXX. Blood type O.

Underneath that was a certificate of adoption changing her name from Hinamori to Tsukiyomi.

I looked at the lawyer and said, "I accept full responsibility of both of them. However, I will not change her last name unless she wants. You will have to wait once more while I call my friends and ask her"

I picked up my phone and dialed Nagi's number and Utau answered. I put her on speaker and requested that she bring me to Ami and put her phone on speaker as well. "Sure, she's playing games with Nagi in the living room, hang on."

"Ikuto-nii? What's wrong?" a young voice came through the phone.

"Ami, I have a question for you, and you don't have to answer right now, okay?" I told her.

"Hai, but what's wrong Ikuto-nii?" she asked me for the second time.

"Ami, you know how two days ago, your mother and father told you not to call them that anymore?" I asked gently.

"Hai" she said softly. Then she started to yell, "I hate them! They blamed me for Amu-nee. I'm not a bad girl. I wouldn't hurt her!" Then she started to cry, "I wish I could have you as a daddy. I wish Amu-nee was my mama. Can you do that Ikuto-nii? Please can you make that happen?" she asked me through her tears.

"Actually, Ami I was calling to ask if you would like me to adopt you and have your name changed to mine" I told her through the phone. "With your permission Ami, may I sign these documents officially making you my daughter?" I asked her.

"Hai, thank you Ikuto-n – I mean Papa. Thank you for taking care of me and my sister. I love you my new PapaNeko" she said while crying.

At the name of PapaNeko, Rima, Nagi, Kukai and Utau all started laughing. I just looked at the phone while shaking my head. "Love you Ami, bye" I said hanging up the phone then I turned to the lawyer and told him show me the full contract.

"Here is the packet. You need to look it over. If you agree with it everything sign and initial wherever it tells you too. Anju is a notary, so whatever you sign today legal and binding" he said as he handed me the folder.

I read through the pages and found something that I did not like.

"Excuse me Sohma-san, but why does it say that both Amu and Ami will be giving up their inheritance from their grandmother?" I asked.

"Ah, you weren't supposed to see that. You were supposed to just sign the papers but now that you have; I will have to explain" he started, and I glared at him. "When Obaa Hinamori died, she left a Will. In that Will, it stated that no one was able to touch any of the money set aside for any and all children and grandchildren except for the person it was left for. There is even a clause that explains if one of the children dies, the money was to be given to a non-profit organization."

"Obaa Hinamori gave Amu and Ami half a million dollars apiece. Tsumugu and Midori feel that since these girls are monsters, they should get the money. The Will states that if the children give up their inheritance willingly then they would be able to have it" he said as he finished explaining why that phrase was in there.

"I will not sign a document that allows those monsters to steal anything else from Amu or Ami" I said as I pushed the packet back to the lawyer.

Yuu took the packet and told me that all we need to do is cross out the sections that we did not agree with. He said that usually a new set would be typed but since the Hinamori's chose to disown the girls, they had no say in how the paperwork was handled.

"Cross it out Yuu. I will not allow Amu to have anything stolen from her" I told my lawyer and he did.

Once all the paperwork was signed, Daisuke handed me a piece of paper. "Please read this to Amu when you see her. Tell her itoko Daisuke says hi and that she will always be my family. My mom and the rest of the family do not agree with what her sister and my Oba Midori and brother in law Oji Tsumugu did and with what they are trying to do. I want to thank you for taking care of my cousins" he said then he shook my hand.

"I will Daisuke, thank you" I said as I shook his hand. I walked out of the room as a father to a ten-year-old girl and guardian of my future wife.

Author's notes:

Itoko means cousin

Obaa-san means grandma

Ojii-san mean grandpa

Oba-san mean Aunt

Oji-san uncle