I do not own Shugo Chara…

Chap 6

Amu rolled out of bed a couple days later and realized that she had absolutely no plans for the day at all.

"I guess I'll just wander around today and window shop then walk in the park." She verbally decided. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a dark blue and spaghetti strap. She brushed her now waist-high hair and hummed as she put it in a very similar style to the one she had when she was younger. Amu slipped on her shoes and grabbed her bag with a tiny cat motif which looked suspiciously a lot like Yoru.

That's funny. She thought, I've never noticed that….. she walked downstairs and called, "I'm going now!"

"All right! Be careful Amu-chan!" her mother called back. Then Amu was outside the door.

Amu walked around aimlessly, looking at store windows, texting Rima, Nagi, Yaya, and Utau. She was looking down at her phone when she heard a familiar sound. Amu's head snapped up. She knew this song! The girl hummed along with it as she ran to find its source. Again, it took her to the park, but this time to the middle of it where the fountain was. Where Utau sang it for the first time….. But, this was different from before. Every single note was pure and sweet. Only the artist who wrote it could play it so beautifully. Amu crashed through the bushes. There was already a crowd gathered around a tall wiry figure dressed in street clothes with a mop of shaggy blue hair on his head. His eyes were closed; a gentle smile decorated his lips as he played that old violin. Amu covered he mouth and stood still, caught in the spell of Ikuto's violin, thinking the words in her heart. She too closed her eyes and placed a hand on her heart. A warmth spread to her extremities. This is Ikuto's magic. She thought, He may be playful and rather naughty at times, but, he has a good heart. Amu opened her eyes, smiling as Ikuto played the last few notes. The crowd applauded. She slipped out, hoping that Ikuto hadn't seen her…..

Ikuto somehow knew that Amu was in the crowd. He felt it. Her face filled his mind as he played. The tender feelings that he had for her came out through his violin.

Amu. He thought and opened his eyes, just n time to see a small figure dart from the crowd. The almost magenta hair made him smile. She had come.

Just you wait. You can't escape me that easily Hinamori Amu. He thought mischievously, I'll catch up.

Amu lay on the grassy hill above the ocean. She took a deep breath of sea air and exhaled it, closing her eyes for just a minute.

"Just a minute" had turned into a half-hour. Amu woke with a start when she felt rather than saw something tall by her side. She was too scared to breath. The shadowed form turned and smiled.

"Ikuto!" she exclaimed.

His smile turned into a mischievous smirk as he twisted his body to where he was staring right into her eyes. His hands were on either side of her head. Amu blushed at the awkward situation Ikuto had put her in. Like always.

"Hello there." He said, grinning in a feline way. Amu's cheeks turned very, very red. She sat straight up, nearly knocking Ikuto over in the process.

"Careful." His feline grin turned into a flirtatious smile, "You really are tiny. I could barely pick you out when you left."

"Y-you knew?" Amu's voice went up a notch as she stood with her back against the tree. She was breathless for some reason.

Ikuto leaned right over her face, seeming to be taller than before.

Did he grow even taller? Amu thought.

"Yes I knew." He smiled and took her chin into his hands, "I know a lot of things." He whispered into her ear. Amu flushed and looked down, noticing his clothes for the first time. Her eyes went from his shoes all the way up to his face. Realization flooded her features.

Ikuto grinned, "Yes Amu. We met before that night. In that same park."

"Why didn't you say anything? I could've told the others and they would've come to see you…" she looked down again. Ikuto smiled and began to walk. Amu automatically followed him.

"Aren't you going to answer me?" the girl asked.

Ikuto put a long finger to her lips. "Not yet." His voice carried a warning. "We're being followed."

Amu tensed. A shiver went up her spine.

Could it be? She thought and saw a flash of black, No! she thought, shivering again.

Ikuto looked down at her, concerned. "Amu?"

"Just hide me Ikuto!" was her quiet, fearful reply.

Understanding dawned upon him as he nodded, covering her protectively with his arm, pulling her very close to him. Ikuto looked back into the shadows and met the gray gaze of the follower with an icy glare and kept walking. He kept Amu close to his side until they reached the beach. The girl completely relaxed when they stopped.

"Thank goodness!" she murmured, completely forgetting that Ikuto was holding her. Ikuto was silent before he spoke, his voice was grave, "Amu? Who was that guy?"

Amu's head shot up, "H-how did you guess it was a guy?"

Ikuto smirked, "I have cat-like instincts remember?" he said, but added mentally, Especially if it's someone I care about who's in trouble, namely you.

"Are you going to answer my question, Amu?" he demanded, attempting to hide the worry in his voice.

Amu looked down, "N-no one special."

Ikuto sighed and lifted her chin, "I can tell you're lying, Amu." He gently said.

Amu met his eyes, unable to hide the fear in them from the young man before her.

Ikuto's eyes gentled. He pulled her closer to him, "Why don't you trust me?" he asked.

Amu was shocked. Was this truly the Ikuto she knew? She looked up at him, a question in her eyes, "Ikuto….."

Ikuto smiled, "All I'm asking is for to trust me enough to tell me what's going on."

Amu was silent. She bit her lip.

"Well?"

Her voice was quiet as she answered, "I-it's a guy from school."

Ikuto stiffened ever so slightly, "From school? Since when?" he quietly asked. His voice held no emotion. That was dangerous when it came to Ikuto.

Amu flushed, "It was only a little while after you left."

Ikuto pulled her just a little more towards him and raised his hand to her head. To Amu's surprise, he began to run his fingers through her hair, "What happened?"

It wasn't a request, it was a command.

Amu went on, "A-after I entered middle school that same spring, there was a guy who just wouldn't leave me alone." Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

Ikuto kept his voice level, "What was his name?"

"Seiji-kun."

Ikuto attempted to control the tension in his arms, but Amu felt his grip tighten slightly.

"Ikuto?" she queried, placing a small hand on his arm, "Are you all right?" she looked up at him, amber eyes worried.

Ikuto relaxed at her light touch instantly.

Ever since I left huh? He thought and clenched his fist mentally, If I hadn't have left, this creeper wouldn't have even gotten close to her. I would have made sure of that. He forced himself to calm down and met Amu's eyes, "Everything is fine. Don't worry." He smiled and cradled her in his arms. He whispered, "You've grown up Amu. Quite a bit."

Her confused look was adorable, "What do you mean?"

Ikuto's smirk was mischievous as he lowered his head to her ear, making sure his lips brushed it when he murmured, "You don't have much to go."

Amu flushed, "You told me that twice. 'To hurry and grow up.' What did you mean by that?" she was perplexed.

Ikuto smiled and said, "I'm not going to tell you. So give it up."

Amu sighed, "You're mean." She stuck her tongue out at him. Ikuto laughed.

"You may have made some improvement over the past five years, but, you're still really just a little kid." His deep blue eyes glinted at her, "Even at seventeen."

"You're still a kid even at twenty-two you know! Even if you're taller and cu-" Amu covered her mouth, silencing her rant. That was close! I almost called him cute to his face! He would've dangled that over my head forever! She thought frantically.

Ikuto cocked his head towards her slightly, "What was that?" he brought her as close as he possibly could, knowing how it would make her react. Amu could hear his heartbeat; feel his fingers running through her hair, deliberately separating each silken strand. Amu felt dreamy for a minute, but didn't answer and thought for the second time today, Is this really Ikuto? Ikuto holding me so close? Ikuto running his fingers through my hair? She composed herself and smiled innocently up at him, "I almost said something I would regret."

Ikuto grinned, "Is that so? Then I won't push it, on one condition."

"What's that?" Amu asked.

His grin softened into a smile, "You keep your head right where it is and just let me hold you. Deal?"

Amu was blown away, "Are you sure you're the real Ikuto? He was never this nice to me. Ever." She emphasized, eyes glittering up at him.

Ikuto detected fondness in her tone. His fingers ceased momentarily as they made their way through her hair and rested on her waist possessively. He tightened his grip and murmured, "Do you know very many 'Ikutos' that can play the violin like this one? Or," his tone lowered as he breathed onto her neck, "know exactly when and how to tease you to their advantage?"

Amu flushed and stammered, "N-no." Yep. This is definitely him. She hid her smile.

"Then it really Is me." He smiled and moved his lips into her fragrant strands. He murmured, "This is one side that I only want you to see. I would be caught dead before I let Utau or the others see how I am at this moment."

Amu blushed, giggled then obliged him as she laid her head on his shoulder once again. Dreamily she murmured, "I like this Ikuto better."

Ikuto sighed happily and pressed a kiss to her head. He wove his fingers into her hair. It's so soft and long. It suits her better than the other one did. He smiled fondly, lips hidden by the pink, I already thought she was cute before I left, but, I never expected to come back to this. She has grown up, very prettily if I might add. He opened his eyes and saw Amu, eyes closed leaning into him with a sweet smile on her face.

He smiled and held her tighter, I am definitely not going back without you. he kissed her temple lightly, I love you Amu. He thought, letting his lips linger for a few moments.

A/N: I had to change this chapter a lot from what it originally was. I personally think it is better. I hope you do as well, or at least better than my other chapters.

I also want to say, something very important. I will be returning to school on Saturday the 21st. After I leave, please don't expect any updates until mid-May. I'll see if I can type it up there and post it when I come back for the summer. I must say, I don't think this will be read as much as my other one seemed to be, so I'm not sure who would really care…I hope Ikuto isn't too out of character. I'm trying to keep his as close as I possibly can, but for me, he's a little difficult to depict *bites lip* so, I really hope I'm not disappointing anybody.

And one last thing, I will try to get up as many chapters as I possibly can before I go back, but, I don't think it'll all be done before my plane leaves…anyway, thanks! –violetrose