Bip: Wow! We're at double digits!

Nikaido: Ahem…

Bip:…right, right.

Bip: I'm very sorry that this is 2 months late…I hadn't found the time to type this up…

Nikaido: (actually, she just forgot, and when she remembers she gets distracted.)

Bip: Hey! Don't talk about people's secrets behind their backs!

Nikaido: Right. Bip doesn't own Shugo Chara!

"Talking"

Thinking

"YELLING"

"Person saying something special or person thinking back to what another person said. You'll have to figure it out yourself :O"

Chapter 10: Christmas

-Amu's POV-

It's been a two weeks since it first snowed this year. Christmas was in less than 2 weeks! "ARGGGH!" I screamed. How could this have happened? Oh no! Oh no! Who can I turn to! The bank? No, I'm a kid, they wouldn't give me cash!" I flopped down on my bed, my brain crashed from thinking too hard.

I had only realized how close Christmas was last week. I can't believe Christmas can be so sneaky. I was searching through all of my clothes for any change I might have left in the pockets. In the end I only had ¥1,000 (A/N: Roughly $10, I think) to buy my family gifts and a gift for the person I chose in the Secret Santa game my class participated in. But now, the biggest problem was that I didn't have enough money to buy Ikuto a gift!

"Let me think this through. I still have ¥250 (A/N: I think that's about $2.50). What can I buy with that?" I thought for a moment. "Two packs of gum?" I was silent for a moment. "HELL NO!"

"Hey Amu, I'm back." Ikuto said as he climbed through the window.

"Oh, welcome back, Iku…" I saw where he climbed in from. "Why can't you use the kitty door like a normal cat?"

"It makes me feel confined." He said with out hesitation. Then he saw the money on my bed. "You don't have enough money for your Secret Santa?"

"No, I bought a gift already."

"Who did you choose anyways?"

"Tadase."

Ikuto gave me a look that seems to say "You cheated your way through, didn't you?"

"What's that look for?" I asked him.

"You were paired through a lottery right?" He asked still keeping that look.

"Yes! Yes we were!"

"You have some luck."

"Just stop making that face before I push you out the window."

He shut up after that. I went back to grumbling things I could buy for ¥250. "10 bags of chips? Can cats even eat that?"

"Hey, just who is that gift for anyways?" He asked.

"Huh?!" I said in surpise. Oh no, I can't tell him, er…can I? It's not Secret Santa. "Um…Why…why do you need to know…?" I asked nervously.

"I was going to sneak around to see if I can find out what that person wants for Christmas."

"Forget it then. That's cheating." I said indifferently. "Find a way to help me raise money instead."

"Why don't you sell lemonade? I saw a few kids do that on one of the programs your sister was watching."

I was about to yell at him when I realized he was serious. "It's the middle of winter." I wanted to add "You idiot!" but bit my tongue.

"Eh? Amu-chi doesn't have enough money to buy a present for someone?" Yaya said. It was lunch time and the student council was going around the school listening to student's problems. The people who happened to be in this wing of the school were Yaya, Nagehiko, and Rima.

"Why bother giving gifts?" Rima said. "All you have to do is say thank you when fans decide to get enough courage to give you a gift."

"That's … a little harsh, Rima." Nagehiko said, trying to be nice. Then he turned to me. "Hey, how about I lend you some money?"

"Eh?!"

"I can lend you at least ¥ 5,000. (A/N: Roughly $50)" Nagehiko continued.

"W-What?!"

"Not enough? ¥10,000 (A/N: Roughly $100) then."

"N-No! It's more than enough! Where the heck do a kid like you get so much money?!"

"Oh, you don't know?" Yaya said. "Nagehiko's parents are the founders of the famous Fujisaki Theater!"

"NO! NO WAY!" I shouted. How could I have not drawn the connection? That's the theater that earns more than one million yen per year!

"Oh, sorry Amu-chan." Nagehiko said. "That's all the money I currently have with me today. I can get more money tomorrow… Say, Yaya, Rima, how much money do you have with you?"

"¥12,000 (A/N: Roughly $120) in cash. ¥3,000 (A/N: Roughly $30.) in presents."

"¥13,500! (A/N: Roughly $135.)"

"Woah! I thought we were all elementary kids!" I yelled. What kind of adult gives a 5th grader ¥12,000? A forth grader ¥13,500? Forget it!

"We are." Yaya responded naturally. "But, all of the student council's parents are famous!"

"…famous?"

"Yaya's daddy is the principal of the Yuiki Ballet School." Yaya said with a smile. "Rima's parents are the founders of Mashiro Toys. Kukai's dad is the famous soccer player: 'Victory Shot' Souma. Kairi's family owns Sanjo Studios, the one that made Utau, Iru and the band Diamond famous."

"D…Did your parents bribe the school to let you guys be part of the student council?" I asked. "Oh, wait, what about Tadase? What does his parents do?"

Nagehiko looked surprised. Rima turned away from me. Even Yaya frowned. "We don't know." She said. "Tadase's never told us."

So, I ended up borrowing ¥2000 (A/N: Roughly $20) from them. They wanted me to borrow more and when I told them that I can't pay them back, they just said that there was no need to pay them back. I just politely asked to go to the bathroom by then.

As I walked home, I wondered what made Tadase part of the student government. Wasn't he the student government president? So naturally, he should be rich and famous, too. So why doesn't anyone know about him? Oh, what was his last name again? I think it was…Hotori…

I kept thinking about that name as I walked home. There was something about that name. It sounded familiar; I seemed to have heard it somewhere. It wasn't like the name of a famous person like the rest of the student body. It's almost like a name that would be mentioned in a newspaper article for about a week, until the uproar died down.

The next day at school, we were to exchange presents with our Secret Santa. (A/N: I have no idea if Japan has Christmas breaks, so I'm not going to put the date -.-;;) Most of the people just got up to look for the person they had to give their gift to. I didn't. I just stared at the oddly shaped package in front of me. I was actually trying to decide something. I've liked Tadase-kun for 3 months now – since September. Should I tell him? They say that Christmas is one of the best times…

I was so deep in thought, I jumped when someone tapped my shoulder.

"Oh, sorry, did I scare you?"

Looking at me, was Tadase.

"Ah, n-no…n-not at a-a-lll!" No, of course you didn't surprise me so much, I could have died right now!

"Um…Actually, I'm your Secret Santa." He said in a slightly apologetic way.

"Huh?! Really?! C-Cuz, I'm yours!"

"Uh…really…?" He said, also stunned.

"Oh! Well…um…here!" I said handing him the package, abandoning all my plans from before.

He starred at the strangely wrapped package. "Is…Is it okay to open this later? I want to show you my gift first." He said and smiled.

"Oh…uh…Okay…I guess…" I said and followed him out of the room. What kind of gift is necessary to be shown? I thought you just give it to people…

He led me to the schoolyard. Behind this schoolyard, there is actually a small wooded area, not big enough to be called a forest, but it's not as small as a park either. There is barely a visible trail in this place. So as we walked, Tadase often had to snap a few branches so my clothes won't get snagged.

"I'm sorry, I haven't been here recently because of the work as a member of the student government. And no one else ever comes here, so the trail has really gotten worse."

"It's okay!" I wonder what kind of present involves going into these woods.

After about 15 minutes, Tadase shouted happily "Here we are!"

I walked a little further to stand next to him, to see what he was talking about (I was lagging behind a little.) There was a lake, completely frozen. It was like a skating rink.

"Oh, um…we're…a bit early. Wait, 5 more minutes…"

We stood there waiting. The sun was starting to set by this point. After 5 minutes, the sun was half behind the trees and half not. And at this angle, the sun shown both right through the trees and right above the trees and the light was reflected from the frozen lake. (A/N: I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if this is possible, but I was think about flowers, then I realized they'd be dead in winter so this was just a moments inspiration ^^;;)

"I…It's so…pretty." I said, still dazed. It was kind of like an oil painting an artist did of a forest right at sunset or sunrise. Except, they couldn't catch the light reflected from every curve of the lakes frozen waves.

"Um…I'm sorry…that this doesn't last for very long…" He said, embarrassed. "I didn't know what kind of present you'd like…I hope I'm not being cheap…"

"N-No! I really like it! Anyways…I feel cheap, now. Since, after all…I bought something for you, which can't last forever, but this will go on forever as long as the earth and winter is still here..."

Tadase smiles when he hears this. "I…actually came here a lot, when I was little. I've told you before, that I couldn't remember some of my childhood. But, this was one of the things I did remember."

Then…this place must be really important to Tadase-kun…

"But…it's strange, I know clearly that you are the first person to have come here with me, however, in some of my memories of this place, I remember vaguely, there was someone else…"

"Someone else…?"

"Yeah. And…I'm certain of this…but it really does contradict each other."

There was someone there, yet there wasn't a person there?

"Oh! It's so dark, now! Let's go back, Amu-san."

"Oh, sure!" The last bit of sunlight faded away as we walked back to the school.

When we got back to the school, everyone had gone home. It was just me and Tadase.

"Oh, your present. I haven't opened it…" Tadase said as he fumbled with the tape.

"I'm sorry, I taped it kind of awkward, since it wasn't a geometric shape.

When he finally got it opened, he looked at the cape and wand in surprise.

"I…uh…saw you looking at it when you went home from school…"

"Oh! I remember, now! Thanks!" Tadase said, grinning widely. "I remember that when I was little, I wanted to grow up to be a king. My parents promised that they would get me this when I first saw it when I was little. But, by the time they got around to buying it, it was sold out. When I saw it again, I was thinking of buying it…"

I'm glad he's happy with that… And then it hit me. We're alone. I could tell him how I feel, right here and now.

"Uh…Tadase-kun…"

"Yes?"

"I…uh…" I could tell I was blushing so I turned and looked down at my feet. "I really li…" like you! Why can't I say it?!

"Is something the matter?"

What is it? Why can't I say it…I feel as if there's more than one reason for me not to tell him… We were quiet for a moment. Well…just get it over with!

"I like you Tadase-kun!"

"I like you too, Amu-san."

"Huh? Really?" Well…that was easier than I thought!

"Yeah! We can be friends forever! That's how much I like you!"

"H…H…HUH?!?!?" It felt like a ton of bricks just dropped on my head. He…doesn't get it...

"Uh…Is something wrong?"

"No…no…it's nothing. It's getting dark, let's go home…"

-Narrator's POV-

(wow, haven't been to this POV for a while xD)

Oh…did I say something wrong to Amu-san? Tadase thought.

(well that POV was short…)

-Amu's POV-

Well, all that told me is that I was either a) too hasty or b) will never win his heart. I thought as I walked home. Well…actually, there could be an option c) he still likes Ran.

When I reached my house, a light snow fell and I hurried inside.

"I'm home!" I yelled to my parents.

"Welcome back!" my mother said as I took off my coat and hung it on the rack. "Huh? Oh, Amu…weren't you wearing a scarf this morning?"

"Hmm?" I looked around my neck to see it wasn't there. "Oh…I must've left it at school…I'll go back tomorrow and find it." Even though I wanted to enjoy my day off…

The next day, I began my search outside of the school. Finding nothing, I went inside and also found nothing.

"Hmm…where could I have left it?" I tried to think back to yesterday's events. I went to school early, so I could have left it at the classroom, but I just checked there. So, after school, then? But, I checked outside too… Then I realized it. When I went to that lake! It must've snagged a branch and I didn't notice it slipped off!

After realizing that, I zipped my coat back on and hurried there.

I arrived at the lake about 30 minutes later because of all the branches I have to move out of the way (these things grow really fast…). After the snow yesterday, the lake looked even prettier.

But, I didn't see the scarf. I started walking towards the lake when I realized I couldn't see it anymore, it was covered in snow.

"W…Wait…a minute…I'm not…standing on the lake…right?" I said and didn't move as I took a step towards the direction I came from, there was a creak. No doubt about it, I was on the lake. Without thinking, I started running back to the shore. Bad move. The lake continued to creak and I can start to see the cracks where the ice broke. Why did the ice get thinner today?! Pretty soon, I saw the shore; the snow there looked a lot thicker

And that's when I heard a loud crack and the ice beneath me gave in.

"Kyaaaaaa!" I screamed.

My legs were underneath the water before someone grabbed me and pulled me up. I was shaking too much to see who it was that time.

"Sheesh. Are you an idiot? What are you doing here of all places?"

That voice… "I-i-i-ku-ku-to!" I said through my chattering teeth. Although it was just my legs that touched the water, the wind was making both my legs and me freeze.

"W-W-W-ha-ha"

"Save the questions for later or else you'll freeze." He said and began carrying me back to the school.

At the school, Ikuto let me sit down at a chair and turned the radiator on as high as possible. Eventually, my teeth stopped clattering and I could talk straight again.

"So, answer me, what were you doing there?" Ikuto said immediately after my teeth stopped their movement.

"I should be asking you that! After all, Tadase said no one ever goes there…"

"Tadase?" said Ikuto, raising his voice a little.

"Um, yea…he took me there yesterday. I thought I left my scarf there."

"Oh…"

"So what were you doing at the lake?"

"Um…no reason anyways…that lake…I used to go there when I was little, actually."

"Er…you mean where you were a kitten?"

"Well…uh…yes…you could call it that way…I guess…"

"Huh…Tadase said he used to go there when he was little too…"

"Did he?" Ikuto said, raising an eyebrow. "I actually went there with someone else before…"

"Y…you did?! Who was it?! Was it Ta—"

"Look, why don't you just wait here, I'll see if there's anyone around to check if you have frostbite, just in case."

"Hey! Don't change the subject! Hey!" I called him as he walked down the hallway. "Damn!" I tried to get off the chair and start walking, but my legs hurt the moment I put my feet down on the floor (A/N: Ikuto put two chairs together so she won't have to put her feet on the ground.)

D…Damn it…why won't he answer me…Why won't he…maybe…it was Tadase, then?

Bip: Yea…um…I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible…

Nikaido: Gee…I wonder when that'll be.

Bip: S…Shaddup!

Bip: And I know Christmas past like 2 months ago, but I really procrastinated so if I had finished this sooner, it would have been around the beginning of January T-T

Nikaido: Please Review!

Q: Ah, I see you finally returned from 2 months hiatus. Mind telling us next time?

A: Er…I'll pass on this one…

Q: Answer the question above.

A: Um…I pass again (:

Q: …Okay…then when will the next update be?

A: …I'm sorry, I'm not a fortune teller, I can't predict the future.

Q: I thought you had plans for at least when the chapters come out!

A: Yeah, but that all went out the window when school started x3

Q: Okay, last question. Why are you up at 7:36 AM on a no school day?

A: …Why did you have to ask T-T …

Q: Please answer question above.

A: Ok, you sadist, I thought there was school today… .