(A/N: Hello! I don't own Shugo Chara. Please review! Enjoy!)

Chapter 12

Ikuto woke up and stretched. He shook the sleep out of his head and then sat on the edge of his bed. He sighed. He then stood up and realized Amu standing in his doorway. His eyes widened. She was wearing her bikini under a tank top and shorts. She held a beach towel in her arms.

"Amu?" he said.

"Let's go to the beach."

Ikuto raised his eye brow at her. "What?"

"It's a nice day," she said simply. "I think we should go to the beach. Unless… you don't want to go…"

Ikuto blinked. "No… I want to go… but… it just took me by surprise."

Amu shrugged. "I'll wait in the car." She turned and was about to walk away when she stopped and sighed. She turned back to him. "Ikuto… thank you."

That took him by surprise even more than the beach idea. "Excuse me?"

She blushed and dropped her head. "Thank you… for bringing me back here… and… I'm… sorry… that it can't work out between us…"

Ikuto looked at her. He wanted to say, 'But it can, Amu!' but he knew it was no use. He sighed and smiled. "Amu… don't worry about it, okay? I… It's hard for me to understand but I'm going to try. I want to respect your wishes and for you to be happy… I'm going to treat you like a sister, and nothing more." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry—" she started.

He smiled at her. "It's over now. Let's go to the beach… sis."

She hesitated before nodding and turned and walked away. Ikuto sighed as she left. He then frowned as he dressed into his swimsuit. They were going to the beach… and Amu was going to wear a very hot bikini…

They drove in an awkward silence to the beach. Amu looked out the window and sighed. Ikuto surprised himself by only watching the street.

He punched the radio on but he couldn't focus on the lyrics.

Tsukiyomi Ikuto felt very awkward. And that was not a feeling he was familiar with.

They got to the beach after what seemed like a very, very long time and they took their things and headed for the sand. The beach was much more crowded and so was the board walk. What made it worse was that Ikuto kept seeing couples all around him.

He followed Amu onto the sand until she picked a spot. They laid out their towels and Ikuto sat down on his.

When he looked up he had to hold back a whimper.

Amu had stripped off her tank top and shorts to reveal a bright pink bikini. It was different than the one from the pool, and for some reason, seeing her like that made him even more….

Amu blushed when she saw him stare. "Ikuto…"

He quickly looked away and put on his sun glasses.

She then lay on her back on her towel beside his and started to sun bathe. She closed her eyes as she relaxed and soaked up some vitamin D.

Ikuto sat up and looked around the beach. He noticed some girls who sat near them giggle and wave his way but he rolled his eyes and ignored him. What did catch his attention was what he had dreaded most. A group of shirtless guys, that were probably in their early twenties, passed by them and were smirking and nodding towards Amu.

Ikuto tried to keep his breathing steady. And of course, trying to keep himself from jumping up and punching all those pretty boys in their pretty little faces.

"Ikuto? I'm going to go swim," she said, standing up and wiping herself her. Ikuto noticed that the group of guys were still hanging around a few yards away. Ikuto gritted his teeth. They were waiting for her…

He then smiled. "Amu, wait. You need sunscreen." He waved the bottle of sunscreen at her.

She blushed slightly, but then nodded in agreement. She took the sunscreen from him and started rubbing the substance into her skin. Ikuto was waiting… waiting for the question….

"Ikuto?" Amu said, giving him the bottle. "Can you do my back?"

"Of course, Amu," Ikuto said. He smirked at the group of guys as he started rubbing in the sunscreen into her skin. As he rubbed in the sunscreen, he started massaging her back, causing her to subconsciously moan and smile widely. He hoped he would make a sign to the guys. This is his girl.

He frowned. He shouldn't be thinking that. They had already decided… about brother and sister and everything… but… it was fine for a brother to be protective of his sister, right?

"Ikuto… what are you doing…?" Amu said in surprising bliss.

"Rubbing in your sunscreen, Amu. You know, I think I'll go swimming with you."

"Okay."

"But, Amu, could you help me with my sunscreen?"

"Okay." Ikuto stripped off his shirt and handed her the sunscreen bottle. He glanced over at the guys and smirked at them. Their smiles had vanished, but they were stilling waiting for some reason. Well he was going to give them a great show.

She started rubbing his back with the sunscreen and he gave the men, even the girls if necessary, a wide smile of pleasure. He was slowly making his mark. Then it was time for the killer. He plunged his hands in the sand and then smiled at Amu as she finished his back.

"Amu, can you do my chest?" Ikuto asked innocently.

She blushed and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh come on, Amu." Ikuto raised his eyes to show her that they were all sandy. "I don't want to get sand all over me. Especially because it would stick longer because of the sunscreen. Plus, we're siblings now. There shouldn't be anything weird between us."

She hesitated before nodding and started lathering his chest, although a thick blush stayed on her cheeks and her hands trembled shyly, but Ikuto didn't mind at all.

When they were finished, they stood up and walked towards the ocean. Ikuto let her lead so that she wouldn't notice him standing very close to her.

He reminded himself that he was just being a protective brother, nothing more. Everything was fine. It was perfectly normal for older brothers to be protective of their younger sisters, especially when other guys were involved.

Right?

Amu suddenly laughed and Ikuto looked at her.

"The water's so cold!" she cried out with joy. He smiled at her.

She laughed again and grabbed his hand and pulled him in. He felt a large chill wash over him. That water was really cold.

"Come on," she said with a smile. "You'll get used to it!"

Ikuto smiled sarcastically and nodded. "Sure. Used to it."

They started swimming for a while and riding on waves, actually having a good time. For a while Ikuto forgot all about the step-sibling thing.

After about an hour or so of swimming, they walked back in to their spot and dried off.

"Do you want to walk along the board walk?" he asked her.

"Sure," she said. She grabbed her tank top and put it back on. She then slipped on her shorts and buttoned it. "Let's go."

They walked together past shops and small restaurants, walking into a few stores every once in a while.

They walked into one store that sold summer dresses and jewelry. Amu seemed interested in a pink and light blue spaghetti strap dress.

"You want that?" Ikuto asked, looking over her shoulder at the dress.

Amu shrugged. "I don't know." She checked the price tag. It was surprisingly a reasonable price for a dress. Or at least, what dresses should cost. "Yeah, I think I'll get it."

Images of Amu in that dress flooded his mind and he nodded in agreement.

Amu handed him a few bills. "Would you mind purchasing it? I'm going to just browse around a little more."

"Sure," he said. He took the money and then walked over to the cash register. He smiled as he pushed the money into his pocket and took out his own wallet. If he let her pay, what kind of man would he be? He'd just casually push her money back into her bag when he got the chance.

He bought the dress and then turned to look for Amu in the store.

He found her by the entrance to the shop and was about to walk towards her. When he noticed a guy standing in front of her. Ikuto realized the guy was speaking with a wide grin on his face and Amu was smiling and blushing. Ikuto clenched his fists and walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Hello, Amu. Got your dress for you," he said with a smile while narrowing his eyes at the guy. The guy looked younger than him, but a year or two older than Amu. He wore only swim trunks and had a ripped body. He had short light brown hair and amber eyes. Amu's smile had vanished and she was staring at the ground, a blush still deep on her face.

"Oh, dude? Who are you?" the guy asked.

"Her boyfr—" Ikuto stopped himself. He was just a… protective brother. Not her boyfriend. But the only way this guy would back off would be if…

"My step-brother, Chad-san," Amu answered. Damn her.

The guy seemed to relax and he smiled. "Oh, that's cool."

"Yeah, it's cool, 'Chad,'" Ikuto said with a smile. "Now if you excuse us—"

"Hey, I'm going to catch lunch with some of my friends," the guy, Chad, said. "Want to join us?"

Before Amu could answer, Ikuto answered for her. "Sorry, Chad, but me and my… sister are having some sibling bonding time here at the beach. So, bye, bye."

Ikuto, without taking his arm off of Amu, lead Amu past Chad and into a random restaurant for lunch. When they got inside, Ikuto took his arm off of her.

Amu glared at him. "What the hell was that about?"

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Dammit, Ikuto, what's wrong with you?" she hissed.

"Me? Really?" Ikuto shook his head. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Amu stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Amu. Are you seriously telling me that that guy wasn't flirting with that you just now?"

Amu rolled her eyes. "So what if he was? What is it to you? Ikuto, we're not together! You shouldn't even care! You're supposed to treat me like a sister!"

"Well guess what?" Ikuto tried to control his temper. "I do care."

"Hello, table for two?" Amu looked away and turned towards the hostess.

"Yes, thank you," Amu said softly.

"Follow me," the hostess said with a smile. She led them towards a table in the back. A tall young man went over to the table and handed them menus.

"Hi," he said, smiling at Amu. Ikuto sighed. Was every good looking guy at the beach after his girl? No, sorry… his… sister… At least this one was wearing a shirt. "I'm Kaoru. I'll be your waiter today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Water," Ikuto said.

"Mm hmm," Kaoru said quickly, not looking at him. "And for you, Miss?"

"Um…" Amu stared at the drinks options on the menu. "Iced tea, please."

"Of course," the waiter said with a smile. He winked at her and then headed back to the kitchen.

Ikuto gritted his teeth as he looked over the menu. He decided that he hated the beach.

"I'm thinking of getting the fried fish. You?"

"I'll get the same."

Amu sighed. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, Amu," Ikuto said with a smile. They didn't have to wait long until the waiter came back.

"So, Sweetheart. Ready to order?" he asked with smile.

"Yeah," Ikuto said sourly. "We'll have two fried fishes with a side of rice."

"Anything else?" he asked, not taking his eyes off of her.

Ikuto decided he was downright tired of this guy and kicked him hard in the shin from under the table.

Kaoru yelped in pain and Amu looked at him surprised.

That was when Kaoru actually looked at Ikuto in bewilderment.

"Nothing else, thanks," Ikuto said with an innocent smile. "Oh, but make it to go, okay? We would rather eat on the beach."

"We would?" Amu asked, baffled.

"Yes, we would. Go, now, Kaoru." Ikuto said smiling.

Kaoru left, looking very disappointed and Ikuto smiled happily at that.

"Ikuto? What happened? Why'd he yell like that?"

Ikuto shrugged. "Maybe he stubbed his toe?"

Amu left the topic and Kaoru came back with two take out boxes. Ikuto paid for the food, grabbed the boxes and took Amu's hand and left, living a tip on the table.

After they left, Kaoru muttered curses under his breath. If those two were in a relationship, the blue haired dude could have just said so instead of kicking him and making look like an idiot in front of a hottie like her.

And he didn't even leave a tip! Kaoru began wiping the table and noticed a white piece of paper.

He picked it up and his eyes widened.

It read, 'Here's a little tip for you. Flirt with MY girl again and you'll be beaten into a pulp and I doubt any girl will look at you twice.'

Kaoru decided not to flirt with that pink haired girl any more.