Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara.

-This chapter focuses more on Amu's past being revealed.

-There's still a bit of Amuto in the end and some Rimahiko too :D

-It kind of depicts Amu's life from start to the present time.

-Just to clear some things out, the long italized thing is Amu's nightmare and at the same time most of her memories from the past.

-Thank you all for the reviews and please tell me what you think about this chapter :D

-Thanks everyone, now, on with the story!!! :D

A Blast From The Past!

Two whole days. That's about how long it's been since Ikuto and Amu talked to each other. Utau would come to her room, along with Tadase, Kairi and Yoru. Amu had remembered Yoru telling her to just give Ikuto time to think because he needed it. Amu clearly didn't mind giving the guy some time to think but it was killing her inside that he wouldn't even go to her room anymore.

Amu being the oblivious one, didn't know why, again, she even bothered to care. But it was pretty obvious to Utau and the others why and none of there were just saying anything for now.

That night, Amu had been having trouble sleeping, but this time, it wasn't about Ikuto. As she was sleeping she suddenly had a dream. One that jolted her out of her bed with a scream…

Amu was about years younger than she was. She was inside her home with a little baby Ami there, only a few weeks old. She was in Ami's room talking to her baby sister when suddenly, she saw her father come inside.

"Ah Onee-chan seems to be very caring isn't she?" said Tsugumu as he looked at his daughters.

"Otou-san!!" cried the little version of Amu as she ran to her dad.

"Now Amu, let's not shout, it could scare Ami ne?" said Tsugumu as he gave Amu a hug.

"Ah." Amu suddenly went to her sister's bedside and started to apologize. "Gomene Ami, I'll be quiet now."

Tsugumu smiled as he saw his daughters, and that's when the scene started to change, things faded and there was another picture…

"No! I want to see Okaa-san!" cried Amu, she was a bit older than the one in the previous scene, but nothing much has changed.

"Amu, Okaa-san…she isn't with us anymore." Said Tsugumu.

Amu didn't listen and kept on telling her father on how much she wanted her mother. "You said, she was just sick! You said those people would make it all better!" she argued.

"…" Tsugumu stayed silent, even he didn't anticipate the sudden death of his wife, Midori.

Again, the scene slowly faded and soon there was an image of Amu in their garden, she was about 11 years old now crying her eyes out. She couldn't take the sudden loss of her mother and she cried and cried for her to come back. It's only been a week since her mother's burial. But she knew that could never happen.

"Oi Hinamori!" Amu looked up, her eyes were bloodshot red. She saw there in front of he a 13 year old Kukai, a 12 year old Nadeshiko, a 12 year old Daichi and a 10 year old Yaya.

"Kukai…." Muttered Amu as they got closer.

"Matte, enough of the crying Hinamori." Said Kukai as he sat beside her and helped wipe her tears.

"B-but Okaa-san is gone! And I'll never see her again!" said Amu as she started to cry again.

"Ah…." Kukai didn't know what to say and he looked over at Nadeshiko for help.

"Amu-chan." She spoke. Amu looked at her best friend and listened "Souma-kun is right, no more crying."

"B-but…" Amu was about to protest when Nadeshiko spoke again.

"Yes I know, Midori-san is no longer here, but you shouldn't cry, or she'll be lonely." Said Nadeshiko with a smile.

"Lonely? How?" asked Amu, to her, her mother was gone forever.

"She's in a better place now, watching you, and I don't think she's happy seeing you cry." Nadeshiko told her.

"But where is she?" asked Amu.

"Up there." Kukai pointed up towards the sky, and Amu looked up. "You can't see her, but she's definitely there Hinamori. She's in a better place now. She might not be here but she's definitely up there." He told her with a thumbs up.

"That's right Amu, cuz now, you have to be strong for her. I'm sure she'll be pretty happy seeing you smile a lot." Said Daichi.

"And you know what else is there to be happy about?" asked Kukai.

Amu shook her head. "No…" she mumbled.

"You're still here. And while you are, you can always count on us to be there with you." Said Kukai as he ruffled her hair.

"That's right Amu-chan. You can always count on us. We'll be here with you through everything." Said Nadeshiko with a smile.

"And Amu-chii?" called Yaya as Amu now looked at her.

"N-nani?" asked Amu.

"You shouldn't cry. That's Yaya's job." Said Yaya with a smile. "Kukai's right, we'll be here no matter what happens!"

Amu looked at all her friends now, they were all there to help her keep going, and that's when she knew that enough was enough. She did have to be strong, they were right, her mother would be happier seeing her smile.

"Arigatou…" said Amu with a small smile.

"That's the spirit Hinamori! Come on, let's go see your Otou-san." Said Kukai.

"He's been very worried about you Amu-chan." Said Nadeshiko.

"Okay." Said Amu with a nod. She knew it would take her a bit more time to move on completely, but she knew she could take things one step at a time. With all her friends, Amu never thought of it as an impossibility, because with them she found her happiness and a light of hope.

Things started to fade and another picture started to come up. Amu was now at the age of 13, two years after her mother died, and she was back in full swing. She was in the gardens with Kukai and the now Nagihiko.

"Amu-chan." It was her father. He called her and she saw him emerge into the garden, but he was not alone.

"Otou-san…who's this?" asked Amu as she looked at the woman and a girl with red hair that seemed to be about her age.

"Ah, so you're Amu. My, what a pretty girl you are. Isn't she nice Saaya?" asked the unknown woman.

"Hai, I'm so happy to have her as my sister." Said the gild named Saaya.

"Sister?" Kukai and Nagihiko exclaimed at the same time and Amu's mouth was wide open.

"Hai, Amu-chan this is Saaya Yamabuki, she'll be a part of the family soon." Said Tsugumu "And she'll be your step mother." He then pointed to Saaya's mother.

"Step…mother?" asked Amu. "You're replacing Okaa-san?"

"No, of course not…" Objected Tsugumu "Your mother will forever have a special place in my heart."

"But…why?" asked Amu defensively, she didn't want a new mother.

"Amu-chan, this will be better for you and Ami, someone will be there to take care of you." Said Tsugumu.

"No! How could you?" asked Amu, she couldn't just get over this. "I'm doing fine on my own. I can take care of Ami, you can't just replace her."

"Hinamori calm down." Said Kukai as he and Nagihiko came to comfort her.

"Amu, please understand…" pleaded Tsugumu.

"Now let's not force her. This is just too shocking for her Tsugumu, let's go ahead and give her some time to think." Said Lady Yamabuki "Come now Saaya."

They left and Amu was alone with Kukai and Nagihiko. She sat down and tears started rolling down her face. "Hey now…" started Kukai.

"I can't believe this, it's only been two years…." She told them.

"We know Amu-chan…." Said Nagihiko "We were just as surprised as you."

"I don't get it, why would he do that?" asked Amu.

"Your dad just thinks it'd be nice you know, to have like some kind of mother figure around…" said Kukai.

"Ami is still a child, I guess he just wants Ami to grow up with a mother since she never met Midori-san to begin with." Said Nagihiko.

"But, how can I deal with that?" asked Amu "I don't want to have a new mother…."

"We know that it hurts and probably more so than we can tell, but you could at least understand your father's part in this." Said Kukai.

"He saw you a mess right after Midori-san had passed away and I guess it took you a bit longer to recover. He just doesn't want to see to that way again." Said Nagihiko.

"I guess…" agreed Amu. She had been sulking a lot, that she could admit.

"Why don't you just give this family a chance? Get to know them maybe?" suggested Nagihiko "And you never know, you might end up liking them in the end."

"He's right Hinamori, just give it a shot." Said Kukai in agreement.

"…" Amu thought about it for a second and answered. "I guess I can give it a try…"

"And remember, whenever you feel down…" started Nagihiko.

"We're just around the corner." Finished Kukai.

And that's when Amu decided to give her new step-family a shot to continue her new life…A few months after Tsugumu got remarried, he took in Ran, Miki, Su and Dia. They became close friends with Amu in an instant and they rarely went anywhere without her. After the four of them were taken in, Rima showed up a few months after Amu turned 14. Rima was much quieter than anyone else in the house, but as soon as she got to know Amu, they were instant friends as well.

Pictures, vivid memories started to flash when Amu was with Ran, and the others along with Rima too. Images of Amu's life of happiness with all her friends and her stepfamily. But then a memory took over. This was when the family Amu thought was all she wanted, was the family that would turn her whole world upside down…

A new memory had flooded in. Amu was running to Nagihiko's house and Ami was with her. It was in the middle of the night, a thunderstorm was brewing, she was soaking wet, but she couldn't care less. The storm was getting much stronger by every step she took, but she ran, and went on not caring. She didn't like storms, but she had to go on.

Her father had just died a few months before she turned 14, she was about to have her birthday in a few days, but she doubted she was going to enjoy it. After her father passed away, it's like her step-mother's attitude had completely changed in an instant. She was everything Amu never thought she would be, and Saaya, well, she was just as bad.

Amu knocked, or rather banged, Nagihiko's door open. Lucky for her, Nagihiko was the one that opened the door. "Amu-chan?!?" he asked in shock. "What are you….you're soaking wet!"

"Nagi…." She stated. "Please, I'm begging you, take her, please I'll do anything."

"Take who?" asked Nagihiko, then she was Ami lying in Amu's arms asleep with a coat draped over her.

"Ami please Nagi, please." Amu was crying now, she was begging and if she could, she would probably have gone on her knees just so Nagihiko would say yes.

"Amu-chan, what's going on?" asked Nagihiko confused, he's never seen her this bad since Midori left.

"She's just so small, I've got nowhere else to take her. I can't take her back…she'll get hurt. Please Nagi I'm begging you, take her in. I'll pay you if I have to, I'll do anything." Said Amu.

"Amu-chan, please tell me what's wrong." Said Nagihiko.

"I…I can't…I don't want any more trouble, I've caused enough just going here. I'll leave, just please take her." Said Amu.

Nagihiko stayed silent, he didn't know what to do, he wanted to help but he needed to know what was going on. "Okay, I'll take her in, but soon, you have to promise me that you'll talk to me about all this. Talk and explain."

Amu quickly nodded in reply. "Yes I promise, soon I'll tell you everything."

"Okay…" sighed Nagihiko as he took Amu from Ami's arms. She left a note to Nagihiko telling him to read it to Ami, it was her supposed explanation to her sister when she wakes up in their house.

"Thank you Nagi. Thank you so much." Said Amu.

"Amu-chan…" started Nagihiko but before he could go on Amu started to walk away, more like, run away. "Amu-chan!" called Nagihiko, but Amu didn't turn back.

"Gomene Ami, Nagi…gomen!" Amu said to herself as she ran through the storm. She could hear Nagihiko calling her to come back, but she wouldn't listen and she just continued to run.

The picture stopped to a scene where Amu just got home from Nagihiko's and as said, she was soaking wet. "I'm home…" called Amu, unfortunately, she didn't get a warm welcome.

"You brat!" Amu squinted at her step-mother's voice. "Where were you?!? And where's that child?!?"

"I…I took Ami to a friend's…" said Amu, she didn't say which friend she took her to. "Gomen….Yamabuki-sama."

Ever since this all started she called her step-mother Yamabuki-sama. Amu refused to acknowledge her as a part if her life, weather she was related to her biologically or not.

As Amu stood there facing Lady Yamabuki, she dreaded this memory, because this was not only the very night she went out in a storm to save her sister and let her go, but the night Amu had received her very first…'punishment'.

After that fateful night, a new scene again appeared, in which Nagihiko was now a part of the servants in the household. He had explained to the Yamabukis to let him stay, but in return they had to keep their word and loose all their ties to Ami completely. The Yamabukis couldn't care less about Ami so they let it go, and thus Nagihiko was taken in.

"You didn't have to do this Nagi." Said Amu sadly. "I felt bad enough for asking you to take care of Ami for me."

"No Amu-chan, you did the right thing. Now that I'm here, I finally understand your pain and suffering, if you had told me sooner…" Amu stopped him from here.

"I didn't want you to know, now even Kukai knows and he's been worried sick. All I've done to you guys is cause all sorts of trouble." Said Amu "Even after all you've helped me through."

"Amu-chan, you're wrong about that. You've been there for us a lot in the past, and now might be the right time for us to return the favor to you." Said Nagihiko "Besides, Nee-san doesn't bother taking care of Ami at all, and you may visit any time you want."

"Thank you Nagi…" said Amu with a smile "But I don't think I'll be able to see her much now…"

After that scene, everything faded. The last thing that could be seen were slight memories of Amu, enslaved, tormented and suffering…She could hear the voices in her head, some, she didn't even know it was true….

"You're nothing but a filthy child, without your father you're nothing special at all."

"Otou-san must have regretted having you as a daughter."

"Oh I am so sorry, but my step-daughter died just a few months ago, she ran away and never came back…."

"It was so sad, she…she sold my other little sister to some stranger for money…."

"Oh what a disgraceful child that must have been."

"You must have grieved for her loss…."

Words of pain, insult and hurt. With those years, Amu's world was shattered to pieces. Only her friends were there for her. She's been called worthless, and claimed dead for years and now, every time she heard those words she only felt numbness….

One last voice was heard, one that belonged to Amu's father Tsugumu… "Amu….what a disappointment you turned out to be…you really are nothing more but a useless child…."

Amu jolted up from her bed with a scream. She was breathing heavily. "No…Otou-san…." She whispered to herself. That nightmare was like a flashback of her whole life. But the last part was one thing she couldn't forget…

"Otou-san…he would never say that…he…he loved me….didn't you Otou-san?" she asked herself…but then she couldn't contain the fear, the pain that nightmare brought to her….

"No!" she let out a yell and soon someone slammed her door open.

"Amu? Amu are you okay?" Amu looked up, her eyes filled with tears, it was Utau, and she was panting hard.

Amu looked like seeing Utau was just some kind of dream, she continued to cry, ignoring everything else. Her hands were covering her face and she kept muttering to herself. "No…it can't be true, it can't…"

"Amu, what's going on? What's wrong?" asked Utau frantically, she's never seen Amu like this before and she was starting to worry.

"…" Amu just continued to cry, it was like she was in her own little world.

Utau sighed and started to comfort her, she wouldn't force anything out of her now, she didn't want to. For now, Utau would let her cry, and she hoped that one way or another, Amu would open up once she was ready to do so…

That Morning….

Amu was able to go back to sleep lat night thanks to Utau's help. Now, she woke up and expected the bright morning sun to greet her, but instead there was none. Amu got up, sitting on her bed and looked out the window…

"That's odd, it's incredibly cloudy today…" she told herself.

As Amu was thinking to herself, someone came into her room and spoke "Nice to see that you're awake…."

Amu turned around and saw Kairi there. "Kairi, what are you doing here?" she never expected him of all people to be the one to check on her.

"Utau-san told me to go see you." Said Kairi "She said you were troubled last night."

"Oh right….Utau was here last night…" said Amu. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake her, I never thought anyone would hear me."

"Yes, well Utau-san's room is the closest one to yours, other than Ikuto-san that is." Said Kairi.

Amu was part thankful that it wasn't Ikuto that ran in her room last night, she didn't want him to see her like that. "But why would he come here anyway? He isn't even talking to me anymore." She thought.

"Hinamori Amu-san." Said Kairi.

"Yeah?" Amu looked at him and continued "And Kairi? It's just Amu okay?"

"As you wish, Amu-san." Said Kairi.

Amu sighed, she would have liked it better if he didn't add the 'san' part, but who was she to tell him that, it was a start at east. "What is it Kairi?" asked Amu.

"Well, I would want to talk to you, about what happened with Mai, that is if you don't mind." Started Kairi.

Amu didn't like remembering what happened, but he was just asking so she didn't mind reliving it for just a while. "Sure thing, which part of that?" she asked.

"She really is like that, as Utau-san and Ikuto-san had said, other than Tara, they don't get along with Ryo and Mai." Said Kairi and he continued "Which would explain Ikuto-san's current distance from you."

"I still don't get why he isn't talking to me Kairi. Did I do something wrong?" asked Amu. "Maybe it would have been better if I went back to…"

"No." Kairi interrupted "He wouldn't want that. In fact, none of us would want that. It would be much safer and advisable for you to stay here in the palace for now." He stated.

"But, what good would that be to all of you? You've been taking care of me longer than you should have." Said Amu "And a part of me really wants to go home."

"Yes, I understand that you miss your friends, but even they have agreed to keep you here." Said Kairi.

Amu then remembered that Ikuto once told her that whenever she wished to deliver some kind of message to her friends Kairi would be more than welcome to do the job. "That's right, Ikuto sent you to them once right? He told me about it." Said Amu.

"Yes, and whenever you need to give them something, I'd be honored to help you." Said Kari with a smile "It's the least I can do for you."

"Thanks Kairi, but I could order you around like that all the time. I'll think about it though, I haven't heard from them after all. It would be nice to write once in a while." Said Amu.

"I'm sure they'd all like to hear from you as well." Agreed Kairi. "Now, about what happened last night, I'd like to know if you're doing well now."

"Well kind of, nor completely I guess but I'm getting better. I never did get to thank Utau for keeping me company last night. Where is she?" asked Amu.

"She has duties today with my sister. I'm afraid the rest of them are just as busy. I know you weren't expecting me at all today." Said Kairi, even he knew better.

"Okay…" replied Amu.

"Did you experience any pain last night?" asked Kairi. "Utau-san said you were quite shaken, and you didn't even say much."

"I'm sorry, I just…happened to have a nightmare that's all." Said Amu with a smile. "I never really thought of it much now, so I'm okay."

That wasn't true though. Amu's thought about that nightmare a lot, and she couldn't seem to get it out of her head even if she wanted to. As hard as she tried, it just wouldn't go away…

"I see, well I hope you truly are fine now." Said Kairi, he knew he was still missing something but didn't dare ask.

"I am. It's nothing you should worry over Kairi, I'm really fine." Said Amu.

"I understand." Replied Kairi with a sigh. Soon, he got up from his place and started walking out the door. "Well, I'll see you later then Amu-san."

"Okay, bye Kairi, and thank you for coming to check on me." Said Amu.

"Yes of course, that's nothing. Whenever you need anything, please don't hesitate to give me a call." He told her sincerely.

"Yes thank you." Replied Amu.

"Goodbye Amu-san, I'll see you later." And with that said, Kairi walked out the door, closed it, and was soon gone.

Amu looked over that her window again and noticed that there was still no sun outside. "I forgot to ask Kairi all about the weather we were having…I wonder if it's going to rain soon…"

Meanwhile, down at the Mansion…

Rima was outside cleaning the tables and arranging the chairs in the garden. They've just had tea and most of the others have been called by Lady Yamabuki to do household chores again.

Rima looked up at the sky and saw how dark it was starting to get. "How odd…" she muttered to herself…

"What's odd Rima-chan?" asked Nagihiko who seemed to have walked into the garden.
"Nagi, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be inside?" asked Rima. She didn't want Nagihiko to end up getting to some kind of trouble.

"I'm done with everything I needed to do. I worked on them beforehand." Explained Nagihiko. "Now, what seems to be so strange to you, if you don't mind me asking."

Rima and Nagihiko have grown closer through the weeks and they rarely argued now. "Well, it's getting dark, but it's not even dawn yet."

"Yes, the weather must be shifting this time." Said Nagihiko "It should be raining soon."

"You don't think this will cause up some kind of storm do you?" asked Rima "You know I don't feel comfortable about that thought of a storm hitting now."

"Yes, that would be a bit…troublesome." Said Nagihiko.

"You know how much she hates them don't you Nagi?" asked Rima.

"I do, and she might freak out once that happens." Said Nagihiko "She had bad memories with storms such as this."

"How bad was it?" asked Rima "You know, since a last storm has hit here?"

"When storms ever hit here, it's usually just for a day or two, but it gets pretty strong." Said Nagihiko "It's kind of unavoidable most of the time."

"I think I can see that." Said Rima and then she asked "You think she'll be okay if ever one hits?"

"I honestly don't know, it's been long since the last time. But I really do hope that she'll be fine by then." Said Nagihiko with a sigh.

"But the way she acts is understandable. She's been through more than we can ever imagine." Said Rima.

"Yes she has, but now I only hope she can make it thought his one night without loosing it." Said Nagihiko.

"I know she can do it. She's with them so she has to be fine." Said Rima.

"I really do hope so…." Said Nagihiko with a sigh.

Nagihiko started to help Rima with the clean up while in a deep thought, they could only both wish the best for their friend in the upcoming storm…

Later that Night….

Thunder sounded with a huge BOOM in Amu's room. Amu was cuddled into her bed with a pillow. She buried her head in the pillow and was breathing heavily. Nagihiko and Rima were right, it was a storm, a big one at that. Amu wasn't afraid of the thunder, she was afraid of the storm itself.

"Calm down Amu….it's going to be fine…it's going to end soon…" she told herself, but another clap of thunder boomed and she screamed a bit.

The storm reminded Amu of her memories, her fear of all of them coming back to haunt her. "No…it was just a bad dream…" she continued to tell herself.

The thunder continued and Amu was now holding her pillow so tight, that if she was holding something harder, her hands would probably end up bleeding. She heard a knock on her door, but didn't mind it, she was too focused with the sound of the storm.

She heard the door open, and footsteps approaching, but no one spoke. Amu didn't even turn to look at who it was, she just anticipated that it was just Utau coming to check up on her again. The suddenly….she saw them…the horrid pictures and memories in her head….

"No! I want to see Okaa-san!"

"B-but Okaa-san is gone! And I'll never see her again!"

"Hai, Amu-chan this is Saaya Yamabuki, she'll be a part of the family soon."

"She's just so small, I've got nowhere else to take her. I can't take her back…she'll get hurt. Please Nagi I'm begging you, take her in. I'll pay you if I have to, I'll do anything."

"Where were you?!? And where's that child?!?"

"Oh what a disgraceful child that must have been."

"Oh I am so sorry, but my step-daughter died just a few months ago, she ran away and never came back…."

"Otou-san must have regretted having you as a daughter."

"Amu….what a disappointment you turned out to be…you really are nothing more but a useless child…."

It all came back to haunt her. The night she took Ami to Nagihiko's house, the night she got punished, the night she lost everything…Amu tried shaking it all off, but she couldn't help it anymore….

"No! He didn't hate me!" she screamed with tears falling from her eyes.

"Amu?!?" It was Ikuto, he was the one who walked into the room and he was shocked by her sudden outburst.

"No…Otou-san loved me and Ami…I didn't mean to cause anyone so much trouble…." She was talking to herself again, panicking.

"Amu what are you talking about?" Ikuto couldn't bear seeing her like that so he took her face into his hands and looked at her. He saw fear, and sadness in her eyes, and the again, thunder was heard.

Amu screamed a bit softly this time, but still she was heard. "Amu? You're not afraid of thunder are you?" asked Ikuto softly. He went closer and sat at the side of Amu's bed and pulled her into a hug.

Amu gasped slightly but was once again distracted by the sound of thunder. "No…" she muttered "It's…it's not that…" she told him. She was still crying.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"It's….it's just coming back…" replied Amu.

"What's coming back?" asked Ikuto confused.

"I…I…" she didn't know what to tell him and the nightmare still lingered in her head.

"It's okay Amu, it's alright now. It's just a storm. It'll pass." Said Ikuto soothingly. He continued to hold her as she cried and she held on to him as if never wanting to let go.

"Ikuto…I'm sorry….don't go…please?" she begged him.

"No Amu, I wont go anywhere." He promised "I'll be right here until this whole thing dies down."

"T-thank you…" she told him.

"Not a problem. You better get some rest…sleep now Amu." Said Ikuto as he brushed away strands of her hair from her face. "It'll be over once you wake up okay?"
"Okay…" Amu didn't bother arguing, she didn't want to. She was comfortable enough there and she was glad Ikuto was finally talking to her again.

She was happy. Because of him, she forgot about all her worries. Ikuto on the other hand was getting worried sick. He's never seen her look so defenseless and so weak. This would be a first and he wanted to be there. He felt bad for ignoring her for two whole days, even he could admit as much.

The two of them stayed like that for the rest of the night, and as unintentional as it seemed, Amu soon fell asleep, right there in Ikuto's arms. The last words that he heard her mumble was "Thank you…Ikuto…" before he fell into his own deep slumber while holding Amu tightly in his arms….

Authors Note: Thank you everyone. I hope you all liked this chapter. Please Review and tell me what you think about it. Thank you, you guys are the best :D!!!!