(A/N: I do not own Shugo Chara. Please review!)

Chapter 7

They were doing the rehearsal wedding. Nobody was in fancy clothing, but all of the bridesmaids, groomsman, best man, flower girls, and even the priest were there. Mr. Young, a tall, skinny man was organizing everything from where one stood, to what moment they should begin walking. At that moment, he was instructing Midori where and when to stand before walking down the aisle.

Amu was standing with the other bridesmaids, a few feet away. Mr. Young was going to work on the pairings a little while later. Amu smiled. It was usually by height, so she had nothing to worry about with being paired up with Ikuto. He was very tall, and even though she didn't want to admit it, she wasn't the tallest girl there. She looked at the other bridesmaids.

There were five bridesmaids in total, including Amu. Two of them were her aunts, Aika and Eri, her mom's sisters, and the other two were her mother's best friends, Macy and Jin. Amu wasn't the shortest bridesmaid. That was Macy. Jin was definitely the tallest, and then came her aunt Aika. Eri and Amu were almost the exact same height, but Eri was about a centimeter or two taller.

Amu looked at the groomsmen. She chocked back a laugh. They just looked really, really bored.

She had no idea who most of them were, besides Ikuto, of course. She looked at a tall man who looked similar to Aruto with dark hair and the same shade of eyes, although he looked much grimmer and wore glasses. She remembered being introduced to this man; he was Aruto's older brother, but she had forgotten his name.

She had no idea who the other three groomsmen were.

Amu's gaze moved towards her two younger cousins, Ran and Su, who were going to be the flower girls. Ran was six and Su was five. They were both sitting on the ground and coloring as they waited for Mr. Young.

A little boy watched them. He looked about six or seven. He was going to be the ring bearer. Amu smiled at him. He was so cute, for a little kid, of course. The little boy had blond hair and big blue eyes.

She watched as Su invited him to color with them, but the boy slowly shook his head.

Suddenly an arm wrapped around her. She was about to yell at Ikuto, when she turned her head and saw that it was Ikuto. It was Macy.

"Hey, Honey! How you doing these days?" she said with a big smile. Her Japanese was slightly accented, since she was America. Midori had told Amu that even in America Macy had an accent since she was from Texas.

"I'm fine," Amu said with a smile. "And you, Macy-san?"

"Just fine! Oh, won't you drop the san? Macy's my name and I'd like to be called that!" Macy said with a wink.

"Um, okay…" Amu smiled nervously. She liked Macy a lot, but sometimes she just didn't know how to respond.

"How's Aruto's son? He nice?"

Amu wanted to laugh out loud. But she swallowed that laugh. Hmm… what to say about Ikuto? Well, Macy, he's perverted, rude, egoistic, perverted, and inconsiderate, and he makes me feel totally uncomfortable, and he's perverted, and oh, did I mention perverted? Amu thought to herself. Then she frowned. But he's also sweet and wonderful… and he makes me feel special… "He's okay."

She raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't annoy you? I swear, Honey, that must be some kind of brother for him not to annoy you! I have three older brothers and they still annoy me! And Sweetheart, I'm almost thirty!"

Amu laughed. "No, he does annoy me, Macy. Trust me."

"Well if he gives you any trouble, you can always come to me," Macy said, winking at her.

"Thanks, Macy."

"Okay, bridesmaids and groomsmen!" Mr. Young announced. He walked over to them and smiled. The bridesmaids were standing in a line on one side of the brick pathway, which would be covered with a long shiny white carpet for the wedding, and the groomsmen on the other. "Okay…" He turned to the bridesmaids first. "Beautiful just beautiful! You're all beautiful!" He turned to the groomsmen. "Yes, okay, I see…" He smiled at both lines. "Okay! Now, you'll be walking out before the bride, understood? And after the flower girls. You'll wait until the flower girls are halfway down the carpet and then start heading out. Okay, you understand you'll be paired up, right? Now…" He examined them all. "We want to do this by height…" Amu looked at Ikuto and saw him smiling at her.

What? she mouthed.

He shrugged and then mouthed something back.

I don't know what you're saying, Amu mouthed. He winked at her and Amu's eyes narrowed. She really didn't feel like her blushing at that moment but her cheeks didn't agree.

"Where are the couple's children?" Mr. Young asked.

"I'm here," Amu spoke up.

"Here," Ikuto responded.

"I think that you two will be paired up, and you'll stand in front!" Mr. Young said with a smile. Amu's eyes widened and she saw Ikuto smirk at her.

"Uh, are you sure? He's just, you know, a lot taller than me—"

"Of course I'm sure! Now, both of you go in front of the line and link arms!" Mr. Young said with a big grin on his face. Amu had the sudden urge to slap him as she walked in front of the line. Ikuto smirked at her and they moved close together and linked arms.

"This is nice, isn't it?" Ikuto whispered to her, so only she could hear.

"No, it's not," Amu snapped back, but also in a low voice so it was inaudible to the others.

"I want to kiss you again."

"Now just shut up!" Amu hissed. Amu looked in front of her to her little cousins and the blond boy. "Hey, Ikuto?"

"Yes, my love?"

Amu rolled her eyes. She had decided it wasn't worth it anymore to scold him for the nicknames; he'd just continue with it anyway. "Who's the ring bearer?"

"Hikaru. He's my cousin."

Amu smiled. "He's so cute!"

Ikuto looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Cuter than me?"

Amu smirked at him. "No contest."

"That hurts, Amu… Now I really want to kiss you." Amu rolled her eyes. "After this is over, we should go swimming."

"Swimming?"

"In our pool."

"Pool?" Amu looked at him, baffled.

Ikuto smirked. "Have you been living under a rock? The pool. In our pool house? On the other side of the house?"

Amu looked at him blankly. How was it that she'd never seen their pool house? How was it that she'd never realized they had a pool? Amu rolled her eyes at him. "And why would I want to go swimming with you?"

"Because you love me," Ikuto answered.

Amu's cheeks slightly turned a light shade of pink. "Try again."

Ikuto sighed and smiled at her. "Because it lots of fun?" Amu thought for a moment. Then nodded. "And because you love me." Amu pinched his arm. He laughed softly at the failed attempt for pain.

The rehearsal was soon over and Ikuto led Amu over to Aruto, who was talking with the best man, who was unfamiliar to Amu, although she guessed he was a close a friend.

"Hello, Ikuto-kun. It's nice to see you again," the man said. He had short light brown hair and golden eyes.

"Hello Yui-san, it's nice to see you too."

"And this is Hinamori-san's daughter?" he asked.

"Yes, this is Amu-chan," Aruto said with a smile. "Amu-chan, this is my best friend Hotori Yui."

"It's nice meeting you, Hotori-san," Amu said with a smile. Yui gave her a small smile in return and shook her hand.

"I apologize that Tadase and Mizue couldn't make it to the rehearsal. Mizue took Tadase to an overnight retreat with some of her friends and their sons."

Aruto laughed softly. "No worries, Yui-kun. This is only the rehearsal. No guests were obliged to come. "

"Dad?" Ikuto said. "Where's the key to the pool house?"

"Are you going to take Amu-chan swimming?" Aruto asked. Ikuto nodded and Aruto smiled. "All right, then. The keys are on the hook in the main hallway."

"Thanks Dad. Let's go Amu—"

"Wait, did you ask Midori?" Ikuto looked at him and Aruto smiled. "Just to be sure that's it's all right if Amu-chan swims now."

"Fine," Ikuto said reluctantly.

He turned around and led Amu towards Midori, who was talking with her sisters. Aika was holding Su in her arms and Eri was holding onto Ran's hand.

"Excuse me, Midori-san?" Ikuto said, interrupting the conversation between the three sisters. Amu noticed that Eri looked slightly annoyed at Ikuto, while Midori didn't seem to care.

Midori gave them a big smile. "Yes, Ikuto-kun?"

"Would it be all right if I took Amu swimming in our pool in the pool house?" asked Ikuto with a small smile.

Midori smiled brightly at him. "Why, yes! Of course!" Midori turned towards Amu and smiled warmly at her. "Go right ahead! Oh, but be careful, all right?"

"Thank you," Ikuto responded.

Ikuto took Amu's hand again, leading her towards the door when they heard Eri loudly 'whisper' to Midori. "Are you sure your daughter spending all that time with that boy?" Ikuto stopped walking. Amu turned her head towards her aunt. "I mean, look at him. He's what? Nineteen? Twenty? I've seen him look at her, Midori. He looks as if he's going to take advantage of her. You should be more careful with Amu-chan."

Midori frowned at her sister and caught her daughter's eye. She narrowed her eyes. "Eri. Ikuto-kun is an amazing young man. He is going to be a wonderful older brother to Amu. I'm ashamed of you for thinking so wrongly of him."

"Come now, Midori," Eri continued. "I see him holding her hand, whispering to her, making her blush. I don't think that it's right having him with her all the time. He's so-"

"Stop talking about him like you actually know him. I don't ever want you to talk about him that way again, understand? Ikuto-kun is about to become my son and I really don't give a damn what you think." Midori turned around and walked towards the doors to the house, passing by Amu and Ikuto. She turned her head towards them and smiled warmly at them. (A/N: I think I made Midori a little out of character here, but she has snapped )

Amu didn't even know what to say.

"I like your aunt," Ikuto said as they started walking again, still hand in hand.

Amu frowned. She didn't like what Eri said about Ikuto. Before they entered the house, Amu turned her head back towards her aunts. Aika was tickling Su in her embrace, while Eri was watching them leave, scowling at them.

They walked towards the staircase and then up the stairs, all the while holding hands.

Ikuto walked Amu to her room. "You have a swimsuit, right?"

Amu raised her eyebrow at him. "Uh, yeah. Of course I do." Ikuto laughed and followed her into her room. "You're going to have to leave."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"I need to change."

"Okay."

"Ikuto."

"What?"

"Stop being perverted and leave."

"Can I just close my eyes?"

"Like I can trust you to just 'close your eyes.'"

Ikuto sighed. "Fine, I'll leave. Stay here, okay? I'll go change and come back to your room. You don't have to bring a towel, by the way. We have towels in the pool house."

"Okay, thanks," Amu said. Ikuto smiled at her and leaned in towards her.

"I deserve a kiss, right?"

"And why do you deserve a kiss?"

Ikuto wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead against hers. "Because I've been a good boy."

Amu laughed. "And how have you been a good boy?"

"Well, I didn't kiss you at the rehearsal like I wanted to."

"Ikuto…"

"One kiss?" Ikuto pulled her closer to him. "You're just so irresistible…" Amu's cheeks burned bright scarlet. Ikuto leaned in closer, and when she didn't deny it, he pressed his lips to hers. She felt him smile against her lips and Amu closed her eyes, but then Ikuto parted from her. "Let's change before we get too deep into the kiss." Ikuto smirked at her and Amu scowled at him.

"Get out!" Amu demanded.

"As you wish, my Princess," Ikuto said as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Amu turned towards her dresser and got out her bathing suit. It was a pink bikini top with purple stripes and a black bikini bottom. She groaned when she remembered she had left her one piece at home. She really didn't feel like wearing her bikini in front of Ikuto. Especially since they were going to be swimming. Alone.

She quickly slipped into the bikini and looked at herself in the mirror. She decided she looked all right, but she quickly wrapped herself in her own beach towel. She grabbed her flip flops and slid them on when she heard a knock on her door. She opened the door to see Ikuto smiling at her in only dark blue and black swim shorts and black flip flops.

Amu tamed the red blush that wanted to rise to her cheeks. Ikuto smirked at her.

"Amu, why don't you take off that towel? I told you there was some in the pool house."

"Sorry, Ikuto. I don't feel like walking around in just my swim suit to the pool house. Especially since there are still guests here."

"Don't worry about them. They're either still in the back yard or in the front yard. The pool house on the side of the house."

"Still."

"Fine, Amu. Do whatever you want. I got the key, by the way, so let's just go."

"Okay, fine."

Ikuto smirked again as he took one of her hands, leaving the other to support her towel. He led her to a door on the side of the house which led outside, which led to the pool house. The pool house was a glass mini house with the capacity of a large pool and multiple pool chairs and even a few tables. There was also a towel rack and shelves that were lined with white towels. The pool house was also pretty tall, so there was a diving board on the pool.

Ikuto took off his flip flops and placed the key on a hook next to the door. He smirked at her before diving into the water, splashing water onto the cemented floors. Amu rolled her eyes. Show off, she thought. She looked back at the pool. His head was then visible and he took in a gulp of air.

"Come on in, Amu!" he exclaimed.

"I'm coming," Amu assured him. Ikuto shrugged before going back under the water. Amu took this chance to quickly take off her towel and her flip flops and head towards the pools edge. She quickly got in before he resurfaced so he didn't get to fully see her in her bikini out of the water.

Ikuto then resurfaced on the other end of the pool. He looked around and then saw her and smiled. He swam over to her. "Hey, Babe, you finally decided to join me."

"I'm not your babe and I had already decided. You're just not patient."

"Oh, really?"

"Really. You're very impatient."

"I was talking about the babe thing. Because last time I checked, you were definitely my babe."

Amu looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "Last time you checked…? What does that even mean?" Ikuto laughed and grabbed her and pulled her under the water by surprise. They resurfaced and Amu spit out the water she had in her mouth. "What did you do that for?"

He smiled at her. "You looked like you needed to refresh yourself?"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Amu smiled mischievously at him. "Okay, wise guy, we'll see who needs to be refreshed." Amu swam a little bit away from Ikuto and then splashed him in the face. Amu laughed at Ikuto's confused look.

Then he smirked at her. "Oh, so you want to splash?" Amu laughed as he began splashing her and she splashed back. The splash fight lasted a few more moments before Ikuto wrapped his arms around her, preventing her arms from moving, and pressing her onto his bare chest.

"No fair!" Amu complained. "You're stronger than me! You can't do that! "

"Yes I can," Ikuto replied with a large grin on his face. Amu struggled against his hold, but it was no use, he wouldn't release his grip on her.

Amu sighed. "Fine, you win."

"I know."

Amu rolled her eyes. "You're so modest, Ikuto."

"Only for you, Amu-koi." She looked up at him. He smiled down at her.

"Hey, can you let me go now?"

"And why would I want to do that?"

"I told you won! The game's over!"

Ikuto leaned his head closer to hers. "And when did I say this was a game?"

Amu violently started flushing. "S-s-shut up… Let me go, Jerk!"

"No."

"Jerk!"

"Kiss me first."

"No! Let go of me."

"No."

Someone laughed behind them, causing them both to turn. A boy with golden eyes and dark blue hair. His hair was like Ikuto's, but more or less spiked out everywhere. He wore a black t-shirt and dark jeans.

Ikuto scowled at him. "How did you get in here, Yoru?"

The boy continued laughing and then when he had calmed down, he began. "And hello to you to Ikuto!"

"How did you get in here?" Ikuto repeated. "And what do you want?"

"I asked your dad where you were and he told me the pool house. He gave me the spare key, since you usually spend all your time under the water and probably wouldn't hear me when I knocked."

"What do you want?"

Yoru smiled at them. "Come on, Ikuto! I want to meet my almost step-cousin!" Ikuto slowly let go of her as Yoru came to the edge of the pool. "Hiya! I'm Tsukiyomi Yoru, Ikuto's wonderful and awesome cousin."

Amu gave him a small smile. "I'm Amu."

"Now that you're all introduced, what do you want, Yoru?" Ikuto asked coolly. "I know it's not to swim, since you hate the water."

"Seriously, I just came by to meet Amu and say 'hi' to you again," Yoru responded with a smile.

Ikuto shrugged. "Fine."

"You thought I was going to try and steal Amu from you, didn't you?" Yoru said with a grin.

"Shut up, Yoru," Ikuto responded.

Amu rolled her eyes. "I'm not his."

"Don't worry, Ikuto! I already have a girlfriend," Yoru said.

"Miki said yes?" Ikuto asked.

"Yeah!"

Ikuto gave Yoru a smile. "Good job, kid."

"Well, I guess I'll be going. Nice meeting you, Amu-san!"

"Nice meeting you too," Amu said with a small smile.

Yoru grabbed the spare key and turned towards the door. "Oh!" He looked back at them. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about you guys, if you don't want me to." Yoru winked at them and then left.

(A/N: Chapter 7: DONE. Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter will be updated soon enough.)