I do not own anything.

The somber girl, smacking her head into the wall, was in the process of forgetting last night. Considering how she flapped her mouth on and on like a drama queen, she wanted to kill herself or anyone who saw that conspire; but at the moment, the victims, aka all the people at the park, were unknown to her.

"Amu, dear, when are you going to get out of bed? We have news." Midori called from down the stairs. Amu loved listening to her mother's protecting voice, but not at that moment.

Slithering off her bed, the bundled caterpillar-girl coiled her way out of her room to the stairs.

"Yes, Mother dear." An exasperated voice mocked.

"Your father, your sister, and I will be going out of town for a few days," Her mother informed her husband's sweet sparrow.

"How's that news?" Her daughter, still bitter over her memories, groaned. She was ready to get back to her bed to mull over her harmful thinking.

"One of the Tsukiyomis will be coming over to keep watch over you, my sweet Sparrow~!" His father waved to her, afraid to anger his daughter.

"What?! Which one?" In a start, Amu snapped up, almost tripping over her blanket.

"Tah, tah, Onee-san~!" The ten-year-old pushed her parents out with her suitcase in tow. Amu didn't know what to do after that. Clearly they were afraid of her, but why? It's not like she had anger management issues.

Standing alone in her house, Amu struggled with her options—lying in bed or making hot cup of tea. She was emotionally tired, which made the bed look appealing; but her throat was parched. It wasn't a decision anymore. Her lead feet eventually made it to the kitchen.

The once caterpillar-girl, transformed to an actual girl, set a kettle atop the open flame and leaned back on the counter waiting.

Now was the time to mull over the details. Maybe she should just forget the Tsukiyomi brothers and run off with some other boy. It wouldn't be tarnishing Yoru's memory. Speaking of which, he hasn't shown since last night. The thought was depressing, but all she could do was hope he was in a better place like everyone says.

"Toast would go nice with tea," She thought to herself, moving towards the packaged loaf of bread.

"Greeted with breakfast, huh? And here I was thinking you'd avoid me." Amu definitely wished that Souko's voice became manlier.

With her palms' digging into the counter edge, the distressed damsel counted slowly from one to ten, before continuing with her breakfast preparation.

"So, it's silence, I see. I'll follow." He bowed a head and took a seat on the bar stool.

After settling with a peanut butter sandwich and tea, Amu quietly nibbled and sipped two seats away from him. Despite the long, grueling minutes of eating her breakfast, he never uttered a word and just gazed at her.

"Why are you just sitting there?" She added a vicious bite.

"Why, what would you prefer me to do?" He complied submissively. It scared her.

"I don't know. It's just that… I don't know." The high-school teen murmured under her breath, pushing away her plate.

"It's just that?" The college boy pressed the matter.

"Well, you're always telling me that you love me and trying to force me to accept that," She confessed her worries. Amu had expected him to take charge of the conversation, and that thought sometimes eased her. She wouldn't have to worry about her next words, but this was strange.

"I am not going to push my feelings onto you. If you don't want a relationship, I'm fine with just conversation," He replied to her woes. Despite his accepting eyes, she doubted him. If they were going to do a conversation, then she'd use it to divert his motives.

"Okay, then answer me this. What if Cinderella never ran?" Despite being random, Amu knew where she was going with this.

"Then she would have had a quicker happy ending with Prince Charming." After a pause, he revealed his thoughts on the matter. Amu found his lack of snickers and sneers a kind gesture, but this is where she got him.

"No, she would have been arrested for treason for impersonation because the prince would not have been so determined to have her by then," His sweet Strawberry clucked with pride.

"Then you believe that her looks is what got her there." He rose an eyebrow in a questioning manner.

"Well, that and the chase she gave him. When you work for something, it just makes you want it more. It makes it as if you deserve it even more than you did before." She crossed her arms, already triumphantly convinced she won this argument. The smug pride on her face made him chuckle.

"Why tell me this?" His silky voice blurted, as he moved a seat closer to her.

"Because it's just like what you and I are doing. You want me because you can't have me. Now run along to whatever fling you desire." Amu sassed, standing from her chair.

"If I couldn't have you, I wouldn't be here," Ikuto presented his cards, stunning her.

"And, that's where you are trying to abuse the effect of your looks and conniving words have on women. You're cheating. Stop," She demanded, stomping her foot like a spoiled child.

"Then, you stop." Yet again, the amazing Ikuto stuns her. He stood up, towering over her.

"Stop what?"

"Stop looking at me with those watery eyes that are pleading for me to whisk you away in my arms." His smirk reported utter confidence on the matter. Whether Amu did feel that way or not wasn't for him to announce to the world… of her small kitchen.

"Excuse me?" She balked with a sneer, stepping up to him. She jutted her chin out to appear trepid.

"You could run away any moment, and you don't have to drop your shoes, seeing as you are barefooted. But, look where we are. You're still with me, and I'm still with you. What's more to prove?" Ikuto tried to bargain with her complex mindset.

"Why are you like this? Why do you always try to act like everything is simple and easy?" Amu griped.

"It's not easy. It's just simple, but I guess if you didn't see that then you wouldn't be my little Strawberry. Things are simpler than you give it credit for being, Amu." He leaned into her without touching her.

"Are you trying to flatter me with your words so that you can describe me as so stupid that I cannot see simple things?"

"Why do you always twist words as drawn swords? You're complicated and defensive. I will lay it out for you. This is not my forcing my feelings on you. It's my way of responding to your questions. I want to remain by your side. Is that okay with you?" The blue-haired beau offered her his proposals with his stupid smirk. She was better than this… or maybe not.

"Even if I said no, you'd still do it." Amu feigned a frustrated sigh, trying to appear unapproachable; but her hitched breath kissed his aching lips. At the same time, both of their gazes dropped to the other's lips and looked up just to get caught by their partner. Though caught, the corners of his lips rose high as if insanely proud.

"Why can't you ever be honest? Just be honest and say, 'Yes.'" He advised.

"No," She immediately retorted with a growing smile.

"Then no kiss for you," He said, tapping her nose with his finger. His body moved back, but her hands found the back of his neck and pulled him in. With the contact of their lips, she sealed her fate—Ikuto and always him. It was a quick peck, but still ground-breaking.

"You had better enforce your statement, or more kisses will be stolen," She stated.

"Fine, I'll just have to claim the injustice done to me." He pushed her back to the counter as he plundered her lips. Rather than the first gentle peck, he claimed those lips with cathartic "justice". His lips moved in a message to tell her that she can't run anymore, and her lips responded in a strong, desperate motion.

Just as Amu sighed into the kiss, a shrill squeal and a flash split the mood. In each other's arms, the two turned to see a little ten-year-old with a camera.

"I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. You guys were fooling us so that we'd leave you alone," The small bundle of sunshine gushed, making a little dance.

"So you took a picture of that, Ami?" Ikuto gained a nod from the little girl and responded, "Send me it."

"Ikuto!" Amu slapped his shoulder and shifted out of his arms.

"Does that mean more silence?" He pouted.

"I doubt that. She'll have to explain herself after this picture is shown to Mom and Dad~!" The little girl was taking too much pleasure in this.

"Sorry, Ikuto, I'll see you tomorrow." Amu edged towards her sister, but Ikuto didn't let her move a step farther as he grabbed her hand and spun her to him.

"So that means there's a future for us." A boyish grin broke out on his face. Amu just wanted a picture of that.

"Maybe." Definitely

Quick Ending, I know. I didn't know how to end it. Thanks for enduring.