Morg: Heyo! Enjoy this chapter!

Ikuto: Only if you make it a lemon.

Amu: Not happening!

Morg: Well, it isn't, but only because I don't throw in random lemons.

Ikuto: You should start.

Amu: No thanks! She doesn't own us so she can't.

~Killed With Kisses~

Something strange was going on. Amu knew that something very strange was going on. Whenever Tadase happened to be around, Ikuto was suddenly by her side with his arm around her shoulders. A lot of the time he would whisper something ridiculously stupid into her ear. She never missed the looks that he sent to the creepy blond kid that never stopped watching her. Amu didn't know if she should be grateful or if she should punch Ikuto for his closeness. Either way, she was becoming used to him touching her. That alone was very dangerous.

On the other hand, Utau had decided that things were simply too interesting for her to leave quite yet. Something about needing to teach that Souma a real lesson after they tied in their eating contest. Amu wasn't sure why Nagi looked so disappointed when she pulled out more food when the contest was over, but it didn't matter anymore. Oddly enough, Rima looked a little put out as well. Amu decided not to think too much about it. She had other things to worry about.

The pinkette that wasn't human was glad to have Utau staying with her. Having someone else in the apartment helped her to relax even though it was just one more person she had to protect. Better Utau be there with her than somewhere where Amu couldn't protect her at all. That was, if she'd already been found out, which it was more than likely that they knew. They were just approaching her differently than they usually did. Amu felt on edge all the time.

Having Utau there meant more time with Kukai and more time with Kukai meant Ikuto was coming over as well. Before long, Amu found herself being alone with the taller teen. He still seemed a bit off to her and she didn't trust him completely, but she was spending a lot more time with him and getting to know him rather well. She couldn't say that about the creeper Tadase.

Because she wasn't human, Amu didn't sleep. She didn't need sleep. Sometimes she pretended that she was asleep and laid in her bed with her eyes closed and wished that she knew what it felt like to dream. That's what she was doing when she heard it. Maybe it was because her eyes were closed and hence her other senses were heightened, but she heard someone moving around her apartment. Not their footsteps, but almost just like their presence. They were stealthy and silent in their movements. That alone told Amu that it couldn't be Utau. The girl was still sleeping in the other bed. Someone had broken in.

While holding her breath so that she wouldn't make a sound either, Amu moved from her bed and across her room. This was her chance to discover who it was that knew that she was there. The moment she started moving, the other presence seemed to still until there was a sudden burst of speed and they were gone. Amu tore out of her room and down the hall to search the living room. There was nothing. Using her heightened abilities, she scanned for anything out of place. Finding even a strand of hair would be enough to tell her who it was considering she cleaned her apartment every night after everyone left.

Moving just as quickly as the other person had, Amu left her apartment and started searching the area to see if anyone was out and about near her place. Any little hint would be good. If she could terminate this person then she'd be free to keep living in this town with the first real friends she'd ever made.

If things got too risky then she'd flee. There was no doubt in her mind. She'd have to leave them all behind. They'd be fine without her. At that thought, Amu sat down on one of the roofs of a nearby house. They wouldn't be alright. The little voice in the back of her head told her so. If she left them, Easter could just come and take them to lure her back. If anything happened to one of her friends Amu wouldn't hesitate to help them or save them in any way she could. Even if it meant turning herself in. Now she remembered why it was that she avoided making friends in the first place. Any person that she had any contact was a liability to her freedom, but this was the first time that she'd met people that were worth giving up her freedom for. Who would've thought that they were all in the same town?

The wind whisked her pink locks by her face. The dark night did little to hamper her vision. Amu could see just fine. There wasn't anyone in the area. Whoever it was after her was good at hiding their movements. She'd just have to wait for them to try something else and possibly mess up. That possibility was small, though and Amu knew it. Still, she had to hope.

With her decision to stay no matter what made, Amu laid back on the roof to stare up at the stars. If anyone attempted to attack her, she'd feel them coming and be well equipped to stop them before anything could happen.

XXX

That had been a close call. He hadn't wanted to risk attempting to sneak in, but it had been a necessary test in his efforts to discover a weakness. He felt as though he was growing closer to her in the past days, if only that idiot would leave her alone so that he could make his move. He was tired of watching her. Tired of not being able to do anything and pretending to be a regular human. They were made to complete each other. There was no doubt in his mind that Easter would let him have her when they were finished restoring her. They'd be the ultimate team and he could always be with her. She'd like it too, after they program her too. Even if that was the only way that he could have her, he'd take it. Until then, though, he would try to win her over. If he could become better friends with the pinkette that wasn't human then he wouldn't have such a hard time getting her to trust him until he could trap her and take her back.

Watching her as she sat on the roof not far from him, the nonhuman boy wanted to expose himself and explain how they were the same and how they were made for each other, but his programming wouldn't allow him to. He'd have her. There was no doubt about it in his mind.

XXX

Utau was up and cooking breakfast by the time Amu came back. Neither girl said a word about the pinkette's absence that morning. Utau knew better than to bring something up that Amu obviously didn't want to talk about. This was not the first time she'd witness this sort of behavior and her past experiences told her it would be fruitless to bring it up again.

Thankful for the silent, non-judging atmosphere, Amu joined her friend at the table to eat what was cooked. The eggs were a little burnt but all in all it was a good meal. "Thanks for the meal."

Utau only nodded as she watched her friend dig in. She was happy to help Amu out by making breakfast for the girl since Amu cooked all the time, but something was off this morning. The tall blonde knew that it had something to do with why Amu had been gone that morning. Before she could open her mouth to utterly the sounds to form a word a knock sounded at Amu's door.

As if the pinkette had been anticipating it, she was out of her seat and to the door within seconds. Utau was used to her moving fast, but this was a little ridiculous. Again, she said not a word.

"Rima? What brings you over here so early in the morning?"

The shorter blonde strolled into the apartment as if she belonged there. One more chair at the table was filled as she sat down and stared without emotion at the other two girls. "I have a date today and I need your advice."

"No way! A shortie like you got a date? Who are you blackmailing?"

Rima narrowed her eyes at the famous popstar. "Nagihiko asked me out. Well sort of."

"Either he did or he didn't. Which is it?"

The glare Rima had fixed on Utau never diminished, but then again, Utau returned the look of disdain with pleasure. "The date was part of a bet we –"

Utau flicked her hand into the air and turned her head as if she was bored. "I knew it; the only way someone like you would get a date is if a bet was involved."

"Shut the hell up, Senorita Giant."

"What the hell did you just call me, Tiny Legs?"

Amu decided this was the part where she should cut in. "Rima made a bet with Nagi at the soccer match. If we had won the game then she would've won the bet. Since it was a tie they both won. So Rima has to go on a date, but Nagi has to hold up his part of the bargain and be a slave."

"Ohhhhhh." Utau rolled her head from one side to the other so that Rima had a clear view of her unimpressed face. "Figures you would demand that he be your slave. Something so precious shouldn't even go outside."

"Do you want something so precious to kick your ass?"

Once again, Amu felt the need to intervene. "What do you need help with, Rima?"

The shorter of the two blondes turned to her pink haired friend with that same faint hint of worry on her face. "I don't know how to act on a date."

Utau couldn't help but snort at that confession. "Are we supposed to be surprised?"

Amu cut off her friends before another bicker fight could commence. "And you are coming to me for help? I don't know if you can't tell, but I'm no good with boys."

Laughter rang out from across the table, causing two sets of golden eyes to turn to the third girl. "I doubt that Amu has ever been kissed!"

Amu blushed a little, but Rima scoffed at that. "Oh please! Amu is beautiful, I'm pretty sure that at least one boy has stolen a kiss. What about Ikuto, or hell! Even Tadase has been sure to try."

Amu averted her eyes to the floor. She was about to respond with there was no one that could attest to being kissed by her. That was only because her kisses were lethal. Utau beat her to the punch to answer, however. "Amu doesn't kiss people. Amu doesn't hug people either. At least she didn't use to. I'm noticing some changes though. You let people get closer to you now, Amu. I'm glad for you though."

The pinkette's head snapped up so she could look into Utau's eyes. Her friend looked truly happy for her. Utau was right though, Ikuto was definitely allowed inside of her no go zone. For some reason she just couldn't say no when ever he approached her. It was like some unspoken law that Ikuto could touch her. Amu would like to see anyone else get close to her though. "She's right, I don't like to be touched, but I'm working on it. Ikuto doesn't know, but he's helping me out with that."

Rima nodded her head rather quickly as if she really didn't care. "That's nice and all, but what about me? I have a date tonight!"

A sigh escaped Amu's lips before she could stop it. "Honestly Rima, Nagi wouldn't have asked you if he didn't want to go out with YOU."

Utau nodded in her bored way. "Yeah, he wants you to just be you. Don't try to act any differently."

"But I'm usually a huge bitch to him."

"Apparently he's got some kind of fetish."

Amu cut in once again before anything else could start between them. "That isn't true. Nagi knows that you aren't always like that. He likes you anyways so even if you are a bit on the cold side. Just remember that, but don't try to act too nice. Just be you."

Utau nodded but Rima still didn't look convinced.

.

Morg: There you go! The date is coming up in the next chapter!

Ikuto: So I'm the only one allowed close to Amu, huh? I like that.

Amu: I don't.

Morg: You rarely like anything.

Ikuto: No, she likes it all. She's just pretending that she doesn't.

Amu: This isn't pretend.

Morg: They're fighting again. Time to leave.

Ikuto: Come here, Amu. I'll show you just how much you enjoy it.

Amu: No way! You stay over there!

Morg: Review please!