Nani: I'm back again with a new chapter!

Ikuto: Wow and it didn't take you like a year to update

Nani: I said sorry! If you were me, you would know how busy my life is becoming. I am going into my last year of college so there's internships, looking for jobs, passing my classes so I can graduate

Amu: Just ignore him. In the inside he's really happy that you're updating really soon he just doesn't want to show it because he doesn't think that's cool

Ikuto: Whatever

Nani: Awww, I love you too :)

Ikuto: I didn't say I love you

Nani: You didn't have to. I know in the inside you love me, just not as much as you love Amu

Amu: WHAT!? Don't say such things Nani

Ikuto: Why not, it's true!

Amu: *blushes*

Nani: Ah ha ha! So you do love me

Ikuto: Shut up

Nani: Amu do the disclaimer!

Amu: Nani does not own Shugo Chara or the Shugo Chara characters!

Chapter 26

Nali began to walk back to Amu's hospital room. "When visiting hours are over we'll go to my place and we'll come up with some plan. One way or another we have to get Ikuto to tell us everything and come see Amu. It won't take long for her to figure out something is wrong. I don't want her to get hurt because of this."

Normal POV

The group walked back towards Amu's hospital room. They stopped right before going in.

"Remember, we don't tell her anything about what happened. Got it?" Nali looked at the group as they nodded their heads.

She took a deep breath. "Alright, here we go."

They walked in to see Amu standing upright on the bed looking at the television. As soon as they walked in, her head turned towards them with a smile that quickly turned into a frown taking notice that a certain someone was not with them.

"Where's Ikuto?"

Nali POV

That dreaded question.

I glanced towards everyone and cleared my throat.

"He went home to rest. He wasn't feeling so well. When we found him, he was a little pale and he told us about not feeling well. We told Ikuto that you wanted to see him, but he really, truly, honestly looked terrible so we told him it was okay for him to go and rest." I quickly told her.

What the hell did I just say? Really, truly, honestly...Really Nali?

I hope she doesn't notice that I'm lyi-

"Tell me the truth. I know you're lying."

Well shit.

"No Amu, I'm not lying. Right guys? He wasn't feeling well so we told him it was fine for him to go home!"

"Yeah, you remember when we were younger how would would get when he wasn't feeling good," Noru added in.

Amu sighed. "I hope you guys don't think I'm an idiot you can lie to. I know what happened."

"What are you talking about." Noru continued his attempts to not tell Amu the truth of what happened.

"Just stop already. The nurses told me and before you say that they never specified who was fighting, they later came into the room after you girls left to check what was happening and talked about a blue-haired teenager and a purple-headed teenager fighting. I know two people who fall under such description plus you have a bruise on your face," directing her stare at Noru's cheek where a bruise was in-fact beginning to form.

"Well there's no point in keeping what happened a secret. It seems like Amu already knows," Tadase said.

"Now tell me where is Ikuto and why you both fought each other here at the hospital."

Noru went on with telling Amu what happened. She was shocked at the result in violence from the two. It was not surprising that they would get violent, but never with each other.

Ikuto was at his house lying down on his bed. It's been around a week in a half since he's seen Amu or the rest of their friends since he and Noru fought in the hospital. Living under the same roof made it difficult for Ikuto to avoid Noru, but somehow he has been able to do so.

One Saturday morning when Ikuto and Noru's parents were away on a business trip to France, Ikuto woke up to absolute silence. Noru could not be heard anywhere in the house. Although Ikuto did find it strange for there to be that much silence, he simply shrugged it off and got changed for the day.

He stepped out of his room and stopped. He looked to the left and to the right. Ikuto kept still and just listened. There was not any kind of noise coming within the home. Once again, he thought nothing of it and continued his walk into the kitchen. He walked to one of the cabinets and opened it to grab a glass.

Ikuto paused halfway as he reached towards the glass. He felt a presence behind him so he quickly turned around to hit whoever it was. As soon as he turned around, Ikuto saw a bat come at his way. A second later, he was knocked unconscious and dragged from the kitchen.

Ikuto POV

"Are you serious!? You hit him with a bat!?" I heard a lot of yelling as I started to feel the pain on my head from the bat.

"You could have killed him!" I heard another yell.

Why do these voices sound so familiar?

Although I didn't want to, I forced my eyes to open. Everything was blurry at first. I continued to blink in hopes that my eyesight would clear up.

"He's waking up."

I moaned as I lifted up my head and the pain increased. With a much clearer view of the people who had me here, my eyes widened as I recognized each and every one of my kidnappers.

Amu, Noru, Nali, Lulu, Tadase, Utau, Kukai, Rima, and Nagi stood right in front of me. My anger rose at the sight of them.

"What ar-" I stopped what I was going to say once realizing that I could not move. I look down to see rope and...I'M TIED TO A CHAIR!

My head snaps up. "You tied me to a fucking chair!?" I struggled against my restraints to no avail.

I screamed out in frustration.

"Untie me right now!" They did nothing but stare at my continuous and futile attempts to get free.

Lulu POV

After seeing Ikuto struggling in that chair for a few minutes, I felt my anger and frustration rise.

"Will you quit struggling already," I bark out at him, "Can't you see that you won't be able to get out?"

"Shut the hell up Lulu!" he screams back at me. That made me even angrier.

"I'll shut the hell up when you stop acting like a child and actually tell us, no more like tell Amu what's wrong with you. You can't even talk to your own brother without starting a fight!"

"You have no right to be in my business. And what are you judging me for? Don't you remember being a bitch or better yet still being the bitch that was friends with Saya? Or how about the times you did all those terrible things and being the bully?"

"Yes I was a bully and I was a bitch back then, but I came to terms on what I did to Amu. I talked with her, I talked with all of you about it. I took the time to reflect on my actions, but you? All you're doing is hiding! And may I remind you that you were also a bully? A big bully who did all those terrible things to Amu. Do I need to remind you of all those things you stupid son of a-" I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turn around to see Tadase.

I didn't realize everyone else was looking at me as well.

Tadase suddenly pulled me into an embrace.

"Lulu, please don't cry," he whispered into my ear.

What is he talking about? I lifted up one of my hands and touched my face to feel something wet. I didn't know tears had formed and started falling down my face when I was yelling at Ikuto.

He releases me and Utau runs up and hugs me too.

Utau looks at Amu. "We'll leave you two alone. We'll be upstairs in the living room waiting." Amu nods.

Tadase wraps his arm around my shoulder and Utau holds my left hand as we all head upstairs to the living room in Nali's mansion. (A/N Yup they have Ikuto tied downstairs in the basement)

Normal POV

As everyone headed upstairs and only Amu and Ikuto were left in the basement.

The silence was heavy.

Ikuto was still breathing a little heavy from his attempts of setting himself free. He avoided making any eye contact with Amu and kept his head down. He did not want to be here. All Ikuto wanted was to be locked in his room sleeping, eating, watching tv...anything to be away from Amu and all their friends. He did not want to talk about his feelings at all.

Amu stood a few feet away from him. He heard her footsteps as she began to make her way right in front of him.

Ikuto stared at her shoes as she just continued standing in front of him.

"Ikuto." He flinched slightly upon hearing her saying his name. He let out a sigh as he finally got the guts to look up at her.

"Amu."

Slap!

Nani: And I'm ending the chapter right here

Ikuto: ...

Amu: Read and Review. Wow I'm totally proud of you for updating so soon again

Nani: Thanks Amu! Please excuse any mistakes. I hate looking over my stuff so there are mistakes!

Ikuto: ...

Nani: Umm, Ikuto?

Amu: Eh, just leave him be. I think he's in shock that you've updated this quickly

Ikuto: ...

Amu: ...or maybe it has to do with the way you ended it

Nani: I'll try and update again soon! Until then, show this story some love :D