Bip: Why does it feel like I'm running out of Shugo Chara characters that aren't charas? I mean Lulu's the last one…and she isn't even part of the manga…

Lulu: Stop acting like I'm not that important! Just how long is this story going to be?! I haven't made an entrance at all!

Bip: …

Lulu: …?

Bip: Wow, I just realized that…I'll have to think of a role for you, even if it's a tiny one.

Lulu: …Hey! I won't be ignored!

Bip: Don't worry, I'll think of something.

Lulu: You better! Bip does not 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 12: Amu's True Feelings

-Amu's POV-

Ikuto came home without using the door, but instead my balcony…again. Which almost gave me a heart attack. "Ikuto! Why can't you walk through the door like a normal person?" I said, I was doing my homework, and because of his surprising entrance, I accidentally drew a scribble that started from the top of my notebook to the bottom of my page, to the top left and…you get the idea. "Ack! You made me ruin my homework!"

"Don't blame things on others."

"Aw man…now I have to start all over…" I mumbled as I ripped the page out of the notebook.

Ikuto looked over to the bear that now sat on the corner of my room in a Santa outfit. It was an outfit I found in the back of my closet; it no longer fit me anyways. "Do you like it?"

"Huh?"

"The bear, I mean…"

"Oh, yea, I love it, it's so cute…Wait…did you get me this?"

"…" He glanced at me. "Well…what do you think? I have to return something for the scarf."

"Ohmigosh! Thank you so much!" I said, almost on impulse. "…Wait, where'd you get the money?"

"I find it on the floor."

"Find it…? Wait, you don't mean you went out and begged?"

"Of course not, but that's the best way for me to put it. I sort of found it on the floor, but it's a bit more complicated."

I think I'll stay away from this topic…Yea, time to change the subject… "So, um, where did you buy it?"

"I don't know."

"Huh? You mean you don't remember where you bought giant bear?"

"Er, no…it's sort of complicated."

"…" I get the feeling I shouldn't hear more on this subject, too…

At that moment I heard the sound of our doorbell. "Ikuto, turn back into a cat, hide in the closet if necessary." Just in case they happen to come into my room.

"Sure." He says and he hides under the bed. I heard my mother open the door and then she shrieked. Surprised, I ran down the stairs to see what was going on. Only after I was halfway down, I realized I should have stayed upstairs to call the police if it was a burglar or kidnapper. It was too late, though, since when I ran down, my feet made a lot of noise.

"What's wrong, mom?!" I yelled. My mother stood frozen at the doorway.

"I-I-It's…" She stuttered.

"What? What is it?"

"IT'S UTAU HOSHINA!!!!" My mother screamed.

Sure enough, Utau was standing there. She was wearing a coat with a high collar that reached her nose and a hat that covered up to her eyes. Even so, at this distance, anyone can tell it was Utau.

"Please! Don't scream my name!" Utau yelled at my mom. "I don't want fans to start mobbing me!"

My mom quickly shut her mouth and nodded her head.

Utau sighed, annoyed. "Hey." She said and turned to me. "Is your name Amu?"

"Y-Yea…!" I said, surprised. She was glaring at me. Ikuto, who had been in my arms jumped out and headed upstairs.

"I want to talk to you. Can I go up to your room?"

"Huh?!" Why would a singer…a superstar that I never met before want to talk to me? "Sure…I mean, wait, I don't even know you!"

Utau raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Ikuto ever mention me?"

My eyes went wide. "I-Ikuto?! You're looking for Ikuto?!" I was kind of mad. I glared at her, now. "Why are you asking for me, now…?"

"Demanding, aren't you."

I'd say you're the demanding one…

"Look, Ikuto said if I needed to find him, I have to come to this house and look for a girl named Amu." She took off her coat and gave it to my mom and hung it in the closet. "I made a deal with him and I can't just put it off since he did help me out with something." She said sighing.

My mom went into the kitchen and I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I turned around to see Ikuto coming down in human form as if he was completely used to walking down like that. "Hi, Utau."

Utau raised an eyebrow. "Why can't you just invite me over like a normal person instead of asking me to look for your sister first?"

"I'm not his sister!" I said. Ikuto looked at me, as if I did something I wasn't supposed to. "Uh… I'm his cousin's cousin's uncle's sister in law's younger sister's cousin's cousin twice removed!" I said. How did I remember that from so long ago…

Utau looked confused. "I…see…"

Ikuto sighed as if it was my fault and I glared at him. "Anyways, please come upstairs."

Ikuto walked ahead of me and Utau was behind me. So, when Ikuto and I arrived at the second floor, Utau hadn't yet.

"Um…can I borrow your parent's room so I can talk to Utau?" He whispered.

"WHAT?!" I yelled in a whisper. "What are you trying to say…do?" I crossed my arms and stared at him.

Ikuto's eyes went wid. "N-No! I didn't mean it like that! I'm a cat anyways! We're two different species!"

I narrowed my eyes. "So, you mean if you were the same species…?"

"No!" He yelled at me. Utau who had just arrived at the top of the stairs raised her eyebrows in question. "Look, we'll just use the guest room to talk okay?"

"…Tell me again why I can't be there?" I said, glaring at him. "Are you trying to hide something?" I turned to look at Utau. "Are…Are you guys going out…?" I said slowly.

"NO!" Both Ikuto and Utau yelled at me.

"There is no way I'll go out with this scatterbrain diva!" Ikuto yelled at me in a way that almost made him look desperate.

"What did you call me?!" Utau yelled at Ikuto. "A scatterbrain diva…DO I NEED TO MAKE SPEGETTI WITH YOUR BRAINS, CUT YOU UP AND COOK YOU FOR DINNER?!?!?!"

"…That's an interesting threat…" Ikuto said. "It doesn't make sense…"

I sighed. "Okay, just use the guest room." Why do I even bother…?

-Narrator's POV-

Ikuto closed the door and made sure she was gone.

Utau sighed. "Is this that important that you have to make sure that girl is gone…?"

Ikuto nodded. "I…don't want her to find out about this…"

"…" Utau said nothing as she thought hard. "This information…did you really need me to find it for you?"

"Well, you were going to visit that place, right?" Ikuto responded.

"Yes, well, I guess I was the only one who could possibly charm that guard to let me see the records…"

"You hid it from the media when you said you were going on a vacation, right."

"Yes, hard to believe you were able to find out that I was really going to visit my dad who was in jail."

"Well, I have my ways." Ikuto said, nodding. "I never would've thought that your father was the director of Easter. No offense, but I think Mr. Hoshina deserved it. Stealing money from that company was wrong."

"Shut up. I know what he did was wrong, but he's still my father." She paused for a moment. "Speaking of dad's…I found what you're looking for. He was locked up for that wasn't he?"

"…" Ikuto didn't respond.

"Well, he's still serving his sentence…for child abuse."

"…"

Utau sighed. "Since you're not going to respond. Here." She handed Ikuto a file. "I was able to make a photocopy of the file for you."

"…thanks." Ikuto finally said as he picked up the file.

Utau started to open the door. She turned around to face Ikuto again. "By the way, isn't it kind of sick to like your own family member?"

"Excuse me?"

"Last time, you admitted it when I asked if you liked Amu and now you're related."

"W-What, I…I…that's…I…" Ikuto couldn't think of anything to say.

Utau sighed. "Nevermind." She pulled opened the door, to see Amu standing there with a tray of tea in her hands.

Her eyes seemed to be wide with shock as she muttered "…Tea…?"

Utau glanced at Ikuto then back. "Um…"

"I see that you need to continue your conversation! I'll leave now!" She put the tray of tea in Utau's hands and ran downstairs.

Utau turned around to face Ikuto. "…Tea?" She said in a weak voice. Ikuto sighed and slapped himself on the forehead. "I'm sorry, Ikuto…"

"It's…no problem…probably…"

"Um, I should…probably go now…" Utau said as she also went downstairs, leaving Ikuto, feeling very regretful.

Damn. Now, I've done it… Ikuto thought. She'll never look at me the same way again. After all, who falls in love with someone of a different species? She doesn't like me anyways…

-Ikuto's POV-

After that, Amu avoided me. She made an excuse to leave the house almost immediately. Seeing that I probably won't get a chance to talk to her for a while, I stayed in her room and took out the file. It was mostly a description of what had happened. The most important thing I needed was when this person was going to be released. I searched around the papers, scanning everything, but I couldn't find it.

That's funny. Utau said that he was still serving his sentence so it should be here somewhere. I started shuffling the papers. Nothing.

I heard footsteps and hurried into the closet. The moment I finished transforming into a cat I realized I didn't have the file in my hands.

"…Ikuto?" It was Utau. "Hmm…Where did he go…?" The door closed again.

I came out of the closet as soon as I was human again. I stuck my head out of the room to see if I could find Utau. She was standing in the hall, looking in the other rooms. "I'm here."

"Oh, good."

"Didn't you already leave?"

"Yes, but I just remembered something." She bit her lip as if she was trying to decide if it was a good idea to tell me. "The papers…I was looking through it a few days ago. I was just skimming through it in the car. I had the window opened. I had just read that he was still serving his sentence when it flew out of my hands…"

"Flew…out…of…your…hands…" I repeated in disbelief.

"Yes! I'm sorry! The car started going faster and the wind…blew it out of my hands…" She sighed and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Ikuto. That must've been the paper you needed most, right…?"

I sighed. "It's alright. It's not your fault. Fate must've not wanted me to get that paper."

"…Alright." She turned around to head down the stairs. "I'll be leaving now…again…"

"Ok, Bye."

-Amu's POV-

Ikuto likes me… Ikuto likes me…? That thought continued to repeat in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut as I continued walking faster. I shook my head. It must be me hearing things. We're two different species!

As I was walking, a small drizzle started. What the hell? Isn't it winter, why's it raining? I walked into a nearby store and walked around, pretending to look at things. Outside, the light drizzle turned into snow. I guess it wasn't cold enough a few seconds ago…?

I sighed. I had already walked up and down the aisles at least ten times. The owner was starting to wonder what I was plotting. I walked outside and was glad I had a jacket with a hood on. I quickly pulled it on.

I walked to the end of the street and glanced around. Wait…where am I? I had just walked and walked without looking at where I was. I didn't recognize any of the houses or the name of the street.

Oh…shit…what am I supposed to do? I left without picking up my cell phone or wallet. I stood in the cold wondering where I could shelter for a bit. I finally decided that I should go back to the store for help.

When I got back to the store, it turns out they closed due to the snow. The snow really was starting to pile up. They probably wanted the employees to get home safe.

I quickly glanced around for another place for shelter. There seemed to be no other store. Then I saw a bus stop across the street. There probably might not be a bus, but it at least has a roof. And if a bus does come, I could ask the driver for help.

I had sat down on the bench. At least I was dressed for the weather so I wasn't freezing. I glanced at my watch, which I had brought with me, luckily. It was 5 o'clock already.

As I sat there waiting, my thoughts drifted back to Ikuto. Does he really like me? All I heard was Utau saying it was weird that Ikuto likes his own family member and when she says its me, I just blanked out until she opened the door. I didn't hear Ikuto's response, but for Utau to draw that conclusion, I would think that he had said yes.

If he likes me…that can't happen, can it? Two different species can't be together!

A cold wind blew and I shivered. I thought of something else at that time. Why am I worried only about us being two different species? Why am I not asking myself about what to say to him? I thought for a while, thinking of the time I had spent with Ikuto. It has been three months since he's been here. Or was it four? It felt a lot longer… I thought as I carefully counted the months again. Yes, it couldn't have been longer than four… It really feels a lot longer... As I thought this, I shivered; it was getting late and really cold…

-Narrator's POV-

Ikuto sat on Amu's bed, reading some manga. Hmm…Amu's taking a long time… Maybe she's downstairs…? Ikuto glanced at the clock. It's already seven. She's normally home by now since she doesn't like to miss dinner… Ikuto was about to change into a cat and go downstairs when he heard Amu's mother call.

"Amu? Amu? Are you up there?" Ikuto heard her start to walk up the stairs and he ran into the closet to turn into a cat again.

Amu's mother opened the door. "Amu? Where are you?" She looked around the room, seeing she's not there, she closed the door. "It's so late, she isn't back yet?" She murmured as she called for her again, to see if she was in the other rooms.

As soon as Amu's mother left, Ikuto left the closet, as a cat. Amu still isn't home…?

Amu sat at the bus stop. It was snowing really hard now. She had been wondering the same thoughts the same time while remembering the times she spent with Ikuto. How long has he liked me…? Amu's face started turning red. Wait! If he's liked me for a really long time…then…Could all those times… Amu's face started getting redder.

Wait, it's not that I don't agree with any of this…why's that…? Amu shivered. Snow was piling up. It's really cold…

Amu's eyes started to grow heavy. I can't fall asleep! Where's the bus…Oh, wait, it's probably not making any rounds in this weather…

Before Amu's eyes closed, she saw the blur of someone walking towards her. "…help…" Then her eyes closed.

A girl with short, black hair and a see-through body stood in front of Amu. "Should I help her…?" She murmured. She was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, even though it's winter. The cold didn't bother her, since she didn't really exist. "If I help her now, will I continue to exist, or will I disappear…?"

"What are you doing?!" A voice yelled from behind the girl.

The girl turned around. "Are…you Eru?" The girl asked. "The other angel?"

"Yes. Now get away from her."

"I wasn't going to hurt her." The girl shifted her glasses. "I want to ask you something, though…"

Eru glared at the girl. "I have something to ask you, too, but first, we have to help her. She's going to die from freezing in this weather." Eru began to walk away. Seeing that the girl wasn't following, she reached out and tugged her by the collar of her t-shirt. "Don't think you can squirm out of this, you're going to answer my questions."

"I wasn't planning to leave. I needed to know some things, too."

"Why would you care, though?" Eru asked as she spread out her wings to prepare to fly. "When you get reincarnated, you'll forget your days as a 'ghost' anyways."

"I know, and by the way, I'm not a ghost, I'm a soul."

"Same thing."

Ikuto jumped out of the balcony of Amu's room and headed down the street. Now, where could Amu have gone…? It was snowing hard and as a cat, Ikuto didn't like to get wet, especially when in cat form.

Ikuto decided to go with his guts and headed down another block.

About ten blocks later, he thought he saw something in the sky, a black shadow against the pink sky. I must be seeing things… But, then, Ikuto saw it again and he paused. He glanced up and he saw the shape dive into some trees. I really don't think there are birds that huge and…were those black wings?

Damn it…I can't find Ikuto… Eru scanned the area around Amu's house as the ghost-like girl dangled in her hands. She was surprisingly heavy for a girl who was a ghost. She flew around in circles.

"Hey, Eru-san!" The girl shouted to her, pointing at something on the ground. "I think I see a cat…"

"Ok!" Eru hurried to dive down, but before she did that, she noticed something else in the sky, something that looked like wings. Wings similar to hers, except in a black color.

Eru landed in front of Ikuto, whose fur stood up in surprise. "Ikuto, you have to hurry to find Amu!"

Ikuto made an annoyed face and meowed. Don't you think I've been trying to do that…? Then he glanced at the girl next to Eru.

"Oh, this is…who are you…?"

"I don't have a name yet."

"Ok, anyways, let's go!" Eru grabbed Ikuto by the tail and flew up into the air. Ikuto just mewed in protest, he couldn't do anything when he's that high in the air.

They say cats can always land on their feet, but I'd still be dead at this height.

Ikuto turned back into a human as Eru and the girl hid themselves in some bushes in a nearby garden.

"Why couldn't you have just helped her instead?" Ikuto complained as he rubbed his back to stop the pain of being picked up from the tail.

"Because I'm an angel! I can't let her see me!" Eru yelled in a whisper. "Quick, she's at the bus stop!"

Ikuto sighed and started to walk towards the stop. A few feet away, Ikuto paused. Wait a minute, did she just say she was an…angel? No matter, I need to help Amu first!

He hurried to the bus stop.

-Amu's POV-

"Hey…mu…Hey!" I heard someone say to me.

Be quiet. I'm tired. I want to sleep…

"Sorry Amu…" the person whispered. Then I felt a sharp pain on my right cheek.

"Ow!!!" My eyes shot opened and my hand went to touch my cheeks which stung. "…ow…" I looked up to see Ikuto staring at me with worried eyes. "…Ikuto? Oh! I'm so glad you're here!" I yelled as I hugged him.

He hugged me back and then I remembered Ikuto and Utau's conversation and quickly let go. "Um…why are you here…?"

"To save you from being frozen! Duh! Can you walk?"

I nodded as I got up. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. Ikuto raised an eyebrow. "You look too tired to walk…"

"No…I'm fi-i-i-ine…" My sentence was interrupted by a yawn.

"You're not, here I'll carry you." Ikuto said as he squat down to let me get on.

"Uh…" I could tell I was blushing. There was no point in arguing so I got on. "Wow…You're so warm!"

"Please don't say that with a goofy grin on your face, Amu."

"Sorry…"

We were both silent on the way home. Halfway through, I decided to say something. "Was…Was what she said true?"

"What?"

"What Utau said…" My voice trailed off and I could tell I was blushing.

"I didn't mean it." Ikuto replied instantly.

I felt my eyes go wide. "…What…?" That was all I seem to manage to say. Why am I so shocked?

"Utau asked me some stuff about you before and to get her to stop, I just said that I liked you." Ikuto said quickly.

"Oh…um…is that so…?" I started to feel tears come down from my eyes and my chest started to hurt. Why do I feel like this? Pretty soon, I couldn't fight back the tears and I used my hand to wipe them away.

"Amu, we're almost home, you have to go in alone, I can't carry you or else they'll suspect stuff…" His voice trailed off as he turned to look at me. "A-Amu! Why are you crying?!"

"It's –hic- noth –hic-ing." I managed to say. No matter how many times I had wiped away the tears, they just kept flowing back out, I couldn't use any excuse.

"Amu…" Ikuto put me down and looked at me in the face. "Did I say something…?"

"N-No!" I actually don't know why I'm crying but I have a clue… "L-Let's just go back in…"

"Um…Ok…" Ikuto turned away and into the bushes around the house looking very confused.

I did my best to wipe away the tears and opened the door. "I'm home mom!" I called.

"Amu! Where were you?!" My mother scolded me.

I turned so I wasn't facing her. That way, they can't see how swollen my eyes were. "I'm sorry, I went kind of far. I took the bus. It started snowing so it took forever for the bus to come…"

My mother sighed. "Alright, Amu. Just don't do it again. Make sure to plan the route next time you go out. Your dinner is on the table."

"Uh…I don't really feel hungry… Can I eat later?" I turned to head upstairs.

"Sure. I'll leave it on the table."

"Thanks mom."

Upstairs, Ikuto wasn't in my room. He was taken away by Ami to play. I flopped down on my bed, thinking about today. I rolled around my bed slowly thinking again and again. There was no doubt in my mind now that I had cried so much from his words.

I like Ikuto…

Bip: Woot! This fic might actually end sooner than I predicted xD

Lulu: But I still haven't made an appearance!

Bip: Don't worry I've got a role for you :33

Lulu: …By the way, about this chapter…

Bip: I know the situations seem out of the blue…

Lulu: …

Bip: What, I can't help it I had to make it longer. Other wise it would have ended when Utau gives Ikuto the file ò_ó

Lulu: …What ever… T_T Please review.

Q: Wow, looks like its back to one month intervals…?

A: …o.o

Q: What's that expression for?!

A: …Er…

Q: Don't pretend you don't know!

A: Next question please.

Q: T­_T Ok, preview for next chapter?

A: Um…Ok, I'll tell something! ^.^

Q: What is it then?

A: What Ikuto really is will be revealed xD

Q: Wait isn't he just a cat…?

A: Nope and we're out of time xD bye byes…

And btw, i made a new fic :D check it out plz...