Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara.

-This is a bit Kukai centric. But pairings are still here.

-Thank you all for the reviews : D they made me so happy. I finally reached 200 reviews and it's all thanks to you guys.

-Thanks to the readers too. Please tell me what you think of this chapter. Please Review and tell me what you think. :D

-On to the Next Chapter!!!!

Troubled Feelings

Amu woke up the next morning, but she then realized she couldn't move much. She continued to struggle and when she couldn't move and all her efforts failed, she was released. She was free again and she was having mental block on what was going on. Well that was when she suddenly heard an all too familiar voice speak to her.

"Looks like you're finally awake Amu." Amu looked up and saw Ikuto staring at her.

"Ikuto…." She though back on what was going on and it all came back to her. What happened last night, how Ikuto ended up here and her horrible nightmares too.

"Don't you remember what happened?" asked Ikuto concerned

"No…I-I remember now…." She told him silently. "Thank you for helping me. I must have looked quite helpless last night didn't I?"

"Why would you worry about looking helpless? You looked scared." Said Ikuto. "I didn't expect to find you like that."

"I'm sorry…" apologized Amu. "I didn't mean to cause too much trouble."

"You didn't, but you got…you got me worried." He told her. He hesitated about the last part but he said it anyway. "If you were scared you could have at least said so."

"I know…." Said Amu "Utau was the one that helped me through it the night before."

"Night before?" asked Ikuto "What happened then? Why didn't you say anything?"

"You were the one who wasn't talking to me genius." Said Amu seriously "It's not my fault you made me think you hated me!"

"…" Ikuto was silent for a moment and then he asked "Did that bother you?"

"Did what bother me?" asked Amu confused.

"The fact that I wasn't talking to you. Did it bother you that much?" he asked again and Amu could see a small smirk forming on his face.

"N-no! I was not bothered by it! I was just confused as to why you weren't talking to me that's all." Said Amu with a huff. "Why does he have to make everything into some kind of joke?!?"

"You know I was only asking right? No need to make such a big deal out of it." Said Ikuto.

"W-well I…." Amu couldn't think of a comeback for that one. Her brain was still tired.

Ikuto chuckled slightly and then his voice turned into one of pure seriousness. "Amu, what was wrong with you last night, you were freaking out like crazy."

"It's nothing…" she told him silently.

"It didn't look like nothing." Said Ikuto.

"It's just….I just had a bad dream that's all. I'm fine now." Said Amu with a smile, a fake one.

"Stop doing that, you know I can see right through that right?" he asked, but there was no joke in the way he said it.

"…" Amu stayed silent and spoke after a little while. "Can I change and take a bath first or something...?"

"You really aren't going to tell me anything aren't you?" he asked her with a sigh.

"No, it's nothing like that. I will tell you, but please, not now….I can't." she told me.

"I won't force it out on you, but can you do me a favor?" Ikuto asked her.

"What is it?" asked Amu confused.

"Stop acting like that all the time." He told her.

"Acting like what?" asked Amu.

"Like nothing's bothering you and when you refuse to ask for help, acting like everything's fine when in reality it isn't." said Ikuto seriously wile looking at her.

"I'd rather not bother anyone than ask for help when I can deal with this on my own." Retorted Amu.

"Really? You're lucky, you have people to run to. Stop wasting it. Would you rather have it that you suffer alone than lean on someone from time to time? And the fact that you're making people worry. What you do affects others around you too." asked Ikuto.

"…" Amu stayed silent and was a bit shocked by what he said.

"You have people who're willing to help you Amu. Unlike me and Utau, you have more than one or two people that are willing to share your pain." Continued Ikuto with a sigh. "You can tell people something's bothering you, rather than keeping everything under you chest all the time."

Amu watched as Ikuto left the room in silence after that. She looked around her and she sighed. "Maybe he does have a point about that…." She thought before getting up and getting dressed.

Ikuto walked out of Amu's room with another sigh. "Why won't she tell me what's bothering her?" muttered Ikuto.

"Why is that bothering you?" Ikuto looked around to see Utau. She was looking at him seriously and continued her question. "Well? Why is it Ikuto?"

"What are you doing here Utau?" asked Ikuto.

"I wanted to see how Amu was doing." Said Utau as she walked closer to him "And then I find you here walking out the door, talking to yourself."

"Perfect." Said Ikuto sarcastically.

"So? Are you going to answer my question or not?" asked Utau. "Why does it bother you, and why do you even care?"

"Look I don't know what's going on okay. And you're right it is bugging me, but I don't know why. There happy?" asked Ikuto.

"Oh quite, just never thought that you'd be so dense as to not know up until now." Said Utau with a sigh. "Honestly…"

"Hey can I ask you something." Said Ikuto quickly changing the subject.

"Sure thing, what do you need?" asked Utau.

"Amu said you came in her room the other night. What happened then?" asked Ikuto.

"Oh that, well I heard her scream. She was panicking when I came in and if I had to guess, I'd say she didn't even notice I was already there until after a while." Said Utau "She was muttering something about her father if I remember correctly."

"That's odd…." Muttered Ikuto as he thought back to what happened the night he stayed in Amu's room.

"Why do you ask? What did Amu tell you about it?" asked Utau curious.

"That's just it Utau, she wouldn't tell me a thing about it." Said Ikuto.

"Then how did you know this stuff was bothering her? I doubt she just told you that I came in her room the other night because she had problems." Said Utau.

"Because the same thing happened last night too, during the storm." Said Ikuto "She was crying like crazy and when I went in her room she suddenly yelled something about her dad loving her."

"Well that's odd…" said Utau "Did she tell you anything about it?" she asked.

"She said she was fine, she just happened to have a bad dream." Said Ikuto.

"Bad dream eh? And you're buying that?" she asked him.

Ikuto shook his head and spoke "What am I? Of course not, even you should know better."

"I know, just checking." Said Utau "Maybe I can get some info today."

"Why? Where are you off to now?" asked Ikuto.

"I'm going with Tsukasa-san and Yukairi-san to the village." Said Utau "They said I could go."

"I hate you, you know that?" asked Ikuto teasingly.

"I know and I love you too. It's not my fault you have to prepare for being our 'future king'" She told him using a quote and quote mark with her fingers.

"Last time I checked you had to go to these meetings too princess." Countered Ikuto. "I don't think one of our lessons was falling for one of the townsfolk."

"Excuse me?!?" asked Utau shocked.

"Please, you remember Kukai Souma don't you?" asked Ikuto.

"This has nothing to do with Kukai. And besides, you can see something between me and Kukai yet you cant see your own situation with Amu?" asked Utau.

"…" Ikuto stayed silent, he began to think about what Utau was saying.

"See? You contemplate on that and hopefully you realize soon enough that something is going on between you two." Said Utau as she began to walk away from Ikuto. "I'm leaving Amu with you for now…good luck with Mai Ikuto, you're going to need it." And with that, she walked away.

Meanwhile, Inside the Souma Residence

Kukai was cleaning the tables of the restaurant when Daichi came in with a broom and a dustpan. Daichi soon helped Kukai with the cleaning, as they were getting ready to open up the restaurant.

"Kukai? Are you okay?" asked Daichi as he looked over at his brother.

"Yeah, sure…why do you ask?" asked Kukai.

"You're doing it again you know, spacing out." Said Daichi with a sigh "Something has to be bothering you."

"It's nothing. I'm just tired that's all." Said Kukai.

"Doesn't look like it." Said Daichi.

"Hey guys!" the two brothers turned around to find all of their friends standing by the door. Ran, Miki, Su, Dia, Nagi and even Rima was there.

"What are you guys all doing here?" asked Kukai surprised. "Did Saaya give you guys a break or something?"

"You're joking right?" asked Rima "The day the girl and her mother give us a break will be the day we're out of that house for good."

"Well just asking, but seriously why are you all here?" asked Kukai.

"All at the same time too." Added Daichi.

"Can you believe it? The Yamabukis are going for a three day trip away from here." Said Ran "It's a dream come true!"

"Seriously?!?" asked Kukai "That's awesome!"

"Tell me about it. Three days of utter freedom, it's great isn't it!" said Miki with a smile.

"So they'll be gone for a good three days right?" asked Kukai "But what about all the cleaning and housework? If you don't do them, she'll know you guys weren't doing your job."

"Nah, she'll never find out. We always clean the house before we do anything else, we still do our usual chores, but now it's minus Saaya's demanding orders." Said Rima.

"We do have respect for that house you know. Just not much with it's current owners. It was still Amu-chan's home." Said Ran.

"Sounds like you guys have actually been given a vacation after so many years." Said Daichi with a thumbs up. "Nice work."

"It's kind of surprising that they would just get up and leave isn't it?" asked Kukai.

"True, we were shocked as well. This must be something quite important to them if they're willing to leave us all alone in the mansion." Said Nagihiko.

"Can we please not worry about that now?" asked Ran "We actually get to have some fun for a few days. Relax."

"True, this will be a first in a while so might as well not waste it right?" agreed Dia.

"So? Anything new?" asked Miki "You guys haven't been visiting in a while, what's up?"

"Yeah Daichi, why aren't you guys coming to see us anymore?" asked Ran.

"Ah, Kukai said it'd be best to stay here first for now." Said Daichi with a sigh.

"Oh? That's not like you at all Souma-kun." Said Nagihiko "Whenever you feel like taking a break you usually go for it."

"Yeah, well…things have been going on around here." Said Kukai with a sigh.

"What things?" asked Rima.
"Long story." Replied Kukai plainly.

"Who are you and what have you done to Kukai?" asked Ran.

"She's right. You sound like someone who just lost something worth millions and you don't know how to get it back." Said Miki.

"Are you alright~desu?" asked Su worriedly.

"Guys, I'm fine." Replied Kukai. "Just tired."

"And since when did you get tired so easily?" asked Rima suspiciously. "Okay Kukai, time to speak up. What is going on with you today?"

"I take it you guys won't stop bugging me about it won't you?" asked Kukai in defeat.

"No, not a chance so you better start talking." Said Rima "Unless you want to sit back while Daichi tells us about it."

"No thanks. I'd rather tell my own life story." Said Kukai.

"So? What's bugging you?" asked Ran.

"It's kind of complicated. And not to mention hard." Said Kukai.

"When was anything too hard for you? Is it that bad?" asked Miki.

"It should be if it'd make him turn out like this." Said Nagihiko "What's wrong Souma-kun? Did we miss anything in the past few days?"

"Oh, you missed a lot." Said Daichi. Then he pointed to Kukai "He's been like that in a while since it happened."

"Since what happened?" asked Dia.

All of them were curious as to what could be bugging Kukai. They all sat down on chairs and listened to his explanation. They figured that whatever it was must have been big since the usually energetic and lively Kukai somehow looked like he got all that energy sucked out of him.

"Do you guys remember when Utau and I went to the mansion and told you about that Ryo guy?" asked Kukai as he looked at his friends.

"Yeah, you said that it had something big to do with Amu since their family was staying over at the royal palace." Said Rima recalling what happened.

"What's all this have to do with him?" asked Miki.

"A lot." Said Kukai.

"So? Keep going, we're all ears." Said Rima. "What did this guy do?"

"Well, that was the day it happened." Said Daichi. "Kukai realized something."

"And that would be?" asked Nagihiko.

"About Utau…" started Kukai "It's weird for me now you know? At first when I met her it was nothing special, sure she was a princes but I treated her like everyone else."

"Well yeah, she did say she got tired of being treated special just because of who she is right?" said Rima.

"I know that, and I respect it too. It was cool for me to treat her that way, I thought she was you know, different." Said Kukai "She's outgoing and fun to be around with, and man I think something's wrong with me."

"We all think Utau-chan's fun too~desu." Said Su with a smile.

"Yeah. And why would something be wrong with you for thinking that?" asked Miki.

"That's just it. Every time she comes here, I'm just happy, like I want her to even stay here so I can see her more. Stuff like that." Said Kukai.

"And that's a bad thing?" asked Ran.

"Kind of…" muttered Kukai.

"You…you like her!" said Rima "I knew it! You like her!"

"True, Kukai that's great." Said Dia with a smile. "She seems to enjoy being around you too."

"That's a good thing isn't it?" asked Ran "So why are you so bothered by it, it's not wrong to like someone."

"No it is wrong." Said Kukai "You guys, I've been trying to tell myself I don't like her okay?"

"Why deny it?" asked Miki confused "You like her, so what? It's an improvement."

"The longer I try to deny the fact, the longer it hits me." Said Kukai "I can admit it, after that I started to think of her…well I wanted to be there for her all the time, more than just simple friends."

"Get to the point, what's wrong with that?" asked Rima.

"Don't you guys get it? She's a princess no duh, there's a law for that kind of stuff in case you haven't noticed." Said Kukai in a knowing tone.

"Oh…" they replied. They knew about that law. How a member of a royal family ay only marry another royal or a noble if their parents allow it. So if they were talking about the law here, Kukai was off the charts.

"Guys, I'm no royal, not a noble, and I am definitely not rich." Said Kukai, not like he ever cared that he was only middle class, but it bugged him this time. "I'm not saying I'd rather be rich, but it's kind of hitting me, I have no chance."

"That's what's been troubling you isn't it? Utau-chan's social status." Said Nagihiko.

"After the rumors around here, you don't want to know how many times I've been reminded that." Said Kukai with a sigh.

"What rumors?" asked Miki.

"That Utau likes Kukai?" said Daichi.

"When did that get out?" asked Rima, she didn't even remember any of the townsfolk knowing that him and Utau were close.

"Remember the Ryo incident?" asked Kukai "She needed a ride home, so we got her to a rental. I paid for it and told her to let me."

"Then she thanked him and well things happened after that." Said Daichi.

"If that was it, normally the people would only suspect that you knew each other." Said Dia "So what brought upon the rumors that she liked Kukai."

"When she kissed him." Said Dichi with a shrug. He remembered that moment like it was just yesterday, when Utau left and Kukai stood there too bewildered to even move.

"EH?!? WHAT?!?" they all screamed in shock. Was Daichi serious? They couldn't believe what they were actually hearing.

"When did this happen? Why didn't we hear about it?" asked Ran. "Tell us Kukai!"

"He kind of doesn't want to talk about it. He was like a ghost during our whole walk back here." Said Daichi.

"So you realized you had feelings for her after that?" asked Miki. "That's kind of new isn't it?"

"No, I thought about it even before that…And how it pissed me off when Ryo wanted to hurt her. I told you I wanted to rip the guy to pieces." Said Kukai and then he sighed "At first I actually thought there was a chance too, that she'd…for some miracle, would like me back."

"What made you think otherwise?" asked Nagihiko "It doesn't seem like an impossibility that she might like you back."

"Right? And if that were true, what could I do about it? I'd get her into trouble for one and not to mention my status really isn't a plus side on her family's part." Said Kukai.

"So what? You're just going to give up on her just like that? Come on Kukai, since when did you give up on anything?" asked Rima "Be a man!"

"It's not really that easy Rima-chan." Said Nagihiko. "Souma-kun does have a point, it would be hard, especially with Ryo as her most approved candidate."

"No kidding." Agreed Daichi "But I kind of agree with Rima on this one. Who cares if it's hard? Kukai you have to fight. At least do it for Utau if you won't do it for yourself."

"Stop thinking that you aren't good enough for her, please Kukai, you're a hundred times better than that Ryo guy." Said Miki happily.

"You really think she'd be much happier if you distanced yourself from her? Just because you think you aren't good enough?" asked Dia.

"It's not that, but sometimes it hits me that she would deserve better than Ryo and even better than me." Said Kukai "I know, I'm sounding pretty foolish right now right?"

"Definitely. It's not like you." Said Ran "Quit moping around. Come on Kukai, what if she does like you and you just give up?"

"Besides, if she doesn't like you, why would she have kissed you?" asked Miki with a grin "Even you didn't see it coming, it just happened."

"I know, I know." Said Kukai.

"If you know so much, you wouldn't be moping around here." Said Rima "Get up darn it Kukai, be a man and fight for her."

"Even if you aren't a royal, you aren't rich or a noble, I think she knows enough to choose you." Said Nagihiko.

"Thanks for the help you guys, but I still need to think about this. You're right though, I think I should stop with the moping part." Said Kukai.

"You bet we're right about that." Said Rima "This isn't like you at all."

"And we don't like seeing you depressed like that~desu." Said Su "We'll get worried about you."

"Sorry about that. Gomen minna." Said Kukai "But I feel better already!"

"Now that sounds more like you, just make sure you mean it." Said Ran with a laugh.

Kukai laughed with his friends, talk about luck. They were on vacation, and now here they are cheering him up. "They're right, I don't have to keep denying it, but I cant just let it go either. If these feelings are real then I have to fight for it, until Utau tells me face to face that she doesn't want me around, I have to keep going. Giving up was never my thing and I won't start now…"

As Kukai was thinking these thoughts, someone happened to come inside the restaurant. They all turned to see Utau. Utau went over to Miki and the others and asked.

"What are you all doing here." She asked them…

"Speak of the devil…" Muttered Daichi.

Kukai hit his brother on the side and gave him a glare "Shut it Daichi."

"Ow! What was that for?" asked Daichi in a soft whisper.

Kukai didn't answer Daichi's question, but he did respond to Utau's. "Hey, um…they're on vacation. The Yamabukis are out and wont be back three days from now."

"Really?" Utau's eyes widened as she heard the news and then out of the blue a plan started to formulate in her head. "You mean to say you guys are all free for a whole three days."

"Pretty much, yeah." Said Rima with a shrug and then she asked "Why do you ask? Something up?"

"Kind of…" replied Utau with a smile.

"What brings you here Utau-chan?" asked Nagihiko with a smile "Free again today?"

"Not really, I just told Tsukasa-san and Yukairi-san that I would be here when they needed me." Said Utau. "I wanted to stay here and visit rather than stay in the palace with Ryo."

"Good point. So? What's that thing you were talking about? What's going on Utau?" asked Rima.

"Well you guys did say you were free right?" asked Utau again just to make sure.

"Yeah why?" asked Miki.

"I was wondering…how would you guys….like to go to the palace?" she asked them and that left them all dumbstruck and they all thought the same thing at the time, something along the lines of "No way! Is she serious?!?!" and Utau was in fact, dead serious about her little offer…

Back at the Palace….

Ikuto was bored, he was once again inside the throne room with his parents, but this time though, Mai and Ryo were there. "What I'd give to be with Utau right now." He thought to himself with a sigh. He was listening to Mai's rants, he never did pay attention, but then something caught his hearing.

"She's not supposed to be here you're highness! She's well enough on her own! She can go back to whatever wretched place she came from!" yelled Mai. "That girl is interfering with me and Ikuto."

"Mai…" spoke Aruto "I know you might think having another girl here is a hindrance for you, but I do respect Ikuto and Utau's decision, if they want her to stay and feel that she needs it, then we let her stay."

"Well that's a first." Thought Ikuto "He actually wanted Amu to stay…"

"But it's not fair! He's spending more time with her when he should be with me!" said Mai, she was whining now.

Ikuto rolled his eyes and muttered "I'd rather spend my time staring at grass grow."

"Now Ikuto, you shouldn't ignore Mai completely." Said Souko "She did come here to see you."

"No one told her to come here, in fact, she's more than welcome to take her things and leave." Said Ikuto bitterly. They really don't understand a 'no' coming from him.

"Now Ikuto…" warned his father.

"He's not the only problem highness. I think Utau's time in town should be limited. She's getting her self too associated to commoners." Said Ryo. "How dare those commoners think they can just be friendly with her."

This again, caught Ikuto's attention, he heard his father ask. "Did you encounter such a person Ryo."

"Yes I did, he was a guy that seemed awfully known around town and he just interrupted my time with Utau and she was okay with it!" said Ryo "She shouldn't be so trusting to filthy commoners."

"Looks to me like Kukai showed this guy who was boss. He's complaining like a girl." Thought Ikuto. Who else would Utau just go with other than Kukai?

"We'll try to talk to her." Said Souko warmly.

"Thank you very much." Said Ryo with a smile, one that Ikuto knew was fake.

"Now Ikuto, about what Mai's been telling us." Started Aruto. "She did come to see you, can you at least spend some time with her."

"I already did." Said Ikuto and a thought passed through his head "It's not my fault it took her hours to realize I skipped out."

"But Mai said you didn't take long." Stated Souko.

"Is there a time limit in which I have to stay too?" Ikuto asked "I already follow my duties here ever since you told me we were getting complains, now this?"

"Ikuto, she's only trying to be nice." Said Souko.

"She cant cling to me forever you know." Said Ikuto seriously, he was getting tired of this banter. "She can go elsewhere, it's not like I tell her to always be by my side."

"But all I want is to be by your side Ikuto-koi." Said Mai with a pout "that way people would know that we're together now."

"We aren't together Mai." He told her and he was getting annoyed at how she couldn't understand it when he told her to stop calling him that.

"See? Now he's just going to ignore me again!" yelled Mai "It's all that girls fault. He spends so much time with her, she must have poisoned his head with lies!"

"Don't you drag Amu into this Mai, I told you to stop before." Said Ikuto, he didn't want to remember what happened the last time he lost his composure.

"Why are you defending her?!?" shrieked Mai.

"My ears hurt…" muttered Ikuto.

"Why indeed…" Aruto asked himself. He saw Ikuto's facial expression take a huge turn when Mai started badmouthing Amu and that was something Ikuto never cared about when it came to any other girl.

"Can I go now?" asked Ikuto looking at his parents.

"No he can't, he won't listen of you let him go." Said Mai. "Why are you always ignoring me? We're supposed to get married soon."

Ikuto breathed then he said something that made Mai keep quiet for a while, in fact it made everyone clamp their mouths shut. "You know what Mai, I need to tell you something." Started Ikuto "I would never marry you. Because…" he stopped for a minute and let the last words flow out "Id rather marry a cow."

That's when Ikuto slammed the door shut behind him and walked out. He waited for a while and then it came, as he walked away, a loud and painful scream was heard coming from inside the throne room, the scream of a frustrated and embarrassed Mai…

Ikuto went inside Amu's room and found Tara, Kairi and Tadase there. She was sleeping again, but he didn't mind. He walked over to Tadase and asked "How is she?"

"She jut fell asleep recently, she was tired again." Said Tadase with a smile "But she's fine nevertheless."

"What did you do to Mai?" asked Tara "I heard the scream, we all did, I think everyone did."

"I told her I'd rather marry a cow and she screamed, end of story." Said Ikuto with a shrug.

"Isn't that kind of harsh?" asked Tadase as he sweat dropped.

"Was it? I don't really know, she was the one who kept on pestering me like there was no tomorrow anyway." Said Ikuto.

"Utau-san left with my sister, I heard they went to town." Said Kairi.

"Yeah, she left. I kind of heard Ryo complaining about it earlier. He's just pissed because Utau hates him." Said Ikuto.

"Sorry again about my siblings." Said Tara with a sad smile.

"We told you, it's nothing to be sorry about Tara-chan." Said Tadase. "Ikuto-nii doesn't hate you."

"No I don't Tara so stop feeling bad for what they do." Said Ikuto with a slight smile.

Tara was shocked for a bit. "You never smile like that before." She told him. "You seem happier these days."

"Must be something I picked up from Amu…." Muttered Ikuto.

"Um…well we better go." Said Tadase. "I still have some things to do."

"I will also take my leave." Said Kairi as he stood up too.

"Me too, I'll see you later then?" said Tara as the thereof them got up and started to walk out the door.

"…" Ikuto remained silent and soon, he went over and sat by Amu's bedside. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and spoke silently. "Hn, this isn't good…if what Utau said earlier was true, what would I do about that? Would you even let me Amu? Would you let me fall in love with you?" as he asked himself this, he went closer and kissed her forehead lightly then pulled away, going back to watching Amu sleep soundly unknown to what just happened….

Outside, Tadase, Tara and Kairi had their own discussion…one Ikuto didn't know of. "We were right." Stated Kairi "He does feel attracted to her."

"She made him smile like that, well then that should be obvious enough to tell." Agreed Tara.

"Demo…this will be a problem." Stated Tadase.

"Yes that's true, the other royals would never allow it, he is the successor to the throne and all." Said Kairi with a sigh.

"I guess we just have to leave it to fate." Said Tara "Only time will tell now…"

"Same thing with Utau-chan too." Said Tadase.

"Yes, it would seem so….it would seem so…" agreed Kairi as they ended, they all walked away from the room.

They're right though, only time will tell now. Feelings are slowly being discovered but their society would never allow it. How far are they willing to go? How long are they willing to take? And at what risks would all this result to? They've gotten themselves into trouble, just as their feelings are in a risk. Only time will tell….

Authors Note: That's it. I hope you liked this chapter. Please Review and tell me what you think! :D