OK! Chapter 10!

Woot! Woot!

I'm so excited!

Ikuto: ….

Me: don't be pissed. You're in this chapter!

Ikuto: And something bad happens.

Me: So you're still in it

Zane: We both are

Ikuto: yay

Me: Hold back you excitement. …

On with the disclaimer:

I (Kara) do not own shugo chara

Ok. Chapter 10

Let's get started.

Chapter Ten

Night Time Tears

It started drizzling.

But I didn't stop walking. Rain really didn't bug me (unless it's pouring) and I had nothing to do. I left the park and found myself in the city again. Despite the drizzle there were still plenty of people out and about. I started thinking about what I'd told Amu.

I left to protect them.

Had I?

I didn't say goodbye.

Why hadn't I?

Good question. You tell me.

Zane's voice breaks my depressing train of thought. I sigh.

Didn't I tell you not to eavesdrop?

Since when do I listen to you?

You never have.

Exactly.

I don't respond to that. I keep walking.

Akki…

What?

The doctor told me about the offer.

I stop in my tracks.

He what?

I had a right to know.

Like hell you did!

My life's at stake here too Akki. It's not just you.

I can't argue with that.

Are you going to hand him over?

I start walking again.

Akki?

I ignore him and keep walking.

I don't want to deal with this now.

Or ever.

Oh shut up and get the hell out of my head!

He shuts up for a minute.

Do you still care for him?

I don't know.

Yea you do. You just won't say.

I laugh. It's cold and bitter.

Since when are you a love guru?

…You know I love you.

Yea and I know I've told you not to.

It doesn't work that way Akki and you know it.

And how would I know that?

Because you love him.

I cut the conversation off there.

The rain picked up a bit.

But I kept walking. I wasn't going back home and facing Zane.

You love him.

I shake the thought from my head. What did he know? You can't love someone you haven't seen in seven years. What he thought was love I knew was nothing more then a rush. I stopped and looked in a window. I was soaked. My hair was sticking to my face. And my eyes looked tired. I hadn't slept all day. I was tired, but not so tired to the point I couldn't see Yoru peeking out from behind a light post. Either he couldn't find Ikuto or Ikuto was trying to find me. I sigh and keep walking. After a moment he follows. This doesn't surprise me. Yoru probably reported to Ikuto after that day's incident with Utau. And he's been eavesdropping on my conversation with Amu. Ikuto had more questions now more then ever. I sigh and stop walking. Yoru (who had been distracted by the fish in the window) bumped into me.

"Why don't you just tell me where Ikuto is?"

Yoru led me to a fountain.

It was dark now and the square was clear. Ikuto was waiting on a bench in front of the fountain. As I looked around I slowly recognized the place. This was the place where, for the first time I'd had Ikuto all to myself for a day. It had kind of been a date. And this was where we were supposed to go when I got out of the hospital. I stop by a street light. Ikuto ignores my arrival. I sigh.

"Did you choose this place on purpose?"

He looks up at me and smirks.

"Maybe. I mean, we had a lot of good times here."

"Yea we did"

He motions for me to come closer.

I shake my head.

"I'm not staying long, so cut to the chase."

He doesn't seem surprised.

"Hasty as ever"

"Cut the crap, what do you want to know? Rather…what do you want me to explain?"

"What do you mean?"

"Yoru eavesdropped on my conversation with Amu. And I'm sure he told you what I said."

"Mmmm so you knew he was there?"

I roll my eyes.

"Duh"

He smirks.

"Fair enough."

I sigh.

"Is this why you wanted me here?"

"No"

"Then what do you want?"

"I want to know what that man said to you that made you think you were a threat to us."

I smile. It was a small, sad smile.

"He said that I was special. That I couldn't let Easter control me. Actually, it was more like he wasn't going to let Easter control me. He said he'd make me special. More special then anyone else with a shugo chara. More special then you or Utau."

He seems surprised by that.

"The doctor hates Easter. They fired him and he wanted to take revenge. He told me if I didn't come with him he'd come after you two."

Tears form in the corners of my eyes. I break my gaze so he doesn't see.

"He said he was going to put me through hell. But he promised that he'd do worse to you. And then he'd…I-I couldn't let him. I wasn't important to anybody. Not to Easter and not to my mom. I wasn't necessary."

The tears begin to fall.

"I figured since I wasn't needed…it was better for me to go. But I was scared and told him no. So he had another one of his…followers attack me. That's why I was hurt when you found me.

I was full blown sobbing at this point.

"I was scared of what would happen to you guys…so when I woke up I went and found the doctor. I told him I'd go with him if he promised to leave you two alone."

And he wasn't even keeping that promise. I wipe my eyes and look up. Ikuto hadn't said a thing the whole time. He sighs and stands up. He walks over to where I'm standing. I don't move when he's a few feet away. I figured sine Utau got to slap me he deserves a hit. I wait for some smart ass remark. Or a slap. Either would do. But he doesn't say anything. And he doesn't hit me. I wait and wait. A minute passes. Then two. Then three. And he said nothing. The silence was killing me.

"You thought you weren't needed?"

Ikuto breaks the stifling silence. I look up at him surprised.

"I wasn't. Utau need you…but nobody needed me"

I drop my head. He sighs.

"You honestly thought you weren't needed?"

"I wasn't"

He laughs.

I go red.

"What's so funny?"

He smiles. And it was an actual smile. Not a smirk, not a sneer. An honest to god smile. Just like the ones I got when I played.

"Why are you smiling?"

"You're such a child"

I flush an even darker red.

"Akki…I needed you."

My eyes go wide.

"I was worried. And so was Utau. We both needed you."

He steps back.

"I would've thought you'd know that."

I can feel fresh tears form. I drop my head and let them fall.

"Stop crying."

I smile. Same old Ikuto.

I look up and smile through my tears.

"You know…I never thought I'd live to hear you say that. I actually never thought I'd see you again. But I promised myself I'd tell you something if I did."

He smiles and closes his eyes.

"And what would that be?"

I don't answer.

Instead, I run forward and wrap him in a hug.

"I'm sorry"