Room mates Chapter Ten.

Leeloo-Chan: Thank you so much for the patience and kind reviews, I'm so glad that you all enjoy it. I had a little trouble writing this chapter for some reason but I hope you like it all the same. Review me please and let me know who your favourite character has been so far :) Also don't ask me why but I decided to give my chapters titles, so they are easy to follow I guess? haha 3

*Bold = Speech

*Italics = Thought

* Disclaimer I do not own Shugo Chara or Fruits Basket.

Amu's Pov.

I stretched out contently pushing my face further into the pillow. At the brim of my consciousness I could feel something, like a dark cloud circling above me threatening to rain and then it hit me like an on-coming vehicle.

"Oh God my head" I groaned into the darkness stretching myself out further attempting to shake my half asleep state, burying my head further into the silky black sheets. Wait… Black sheets when have I ever owned black silk sheets.

I sat bolt upright and looked around the room flustered, my eyes were met by darkness but I saw enough to know I had never seen this room before and given that I had seen everyone's room in the house barring Ikuto's it was pretty obvious I was either in his bed or I had been kidnapped. The more worrying part was that for a split second I almost hoped for the kidnap scenario.

Groaning once again I forced myself to leave the comfort of the bed and stand, my nerves where screaming at me to flee but the sheer burning curiosity was enough to make me pause. I had no idea who Ikuto really was, arrogance and sarcasm aside I knew that he was an unusually nice person to me but I had no idea what kept him working so hard or even what his favourite colour was.

I stood on tiptoes in an attempt to be stealthier and silently cursed the wracking pain building up between my temples, making my way first to his book shelf first. I pawed through volume after volume of different manga's in complete awe, he was the last person on the earth I would have expected to be a manga fan.

I beamed picking up the first volume of Fruits Basket and stroked the front page; I had lost my copy in the move from Tadase's and had yet to replace it. Flicking through the pages and seeing some of my favourite characters almost made me forget where I was for a moment but even in my state I still had enough sense to place the volume back where it belonged.

My toes itched towards the door anxiously and yet my curiosity had barely been satiated and even though the logical side of me knew that I should have been making my escape ten minutes ago there was something about Ikuto and how mysterious he was that made me want more than anything to work him out, like my own private puzzle.

I edged away from the door feeling my heart pummelling my chest in revolt and made my way to his desk. I had expected the mountains of forms and paperwork but what I hadn't expected where the photos that had advanced across his wall. There were many things I expected of Ikuto but sentimental was not one of them, an adorable picture of him and his family made me smile but before I had the chance to continue my prying search I was interrupted.

"When you are quite done, I was thinking of making breakfast. Would you like pancakes?" His disembodied drowsy tone had alerted me to the fact that I was no longer alone and my eyes scoured the darkness for its owner.

A creek in the corner of the room gave up his position and I watched as he shuffled lethargically into sight. He towered above me and I glanced behind him to see the make shift bed he had made from his chair and a blanket.

I was blushing crimson and could only pray that the darkness would do a good enough job of hiding it, my guilt however was going to be less easy to subside. So many questions circled my mind in a frantic haze, questions that realistically should have been on my mind the moment I had woken, like why was I asleep in Ikuto's room and what had happened last night?

My hectic thoughts were interrupted once again by his voice

"On second thoughts you might want to stay here and I will bring you breakfast." He smirked and ran his eyes down the length of my body.

For the first time since I had woken up I looked down at my attire and shrieked wildly, blushing furiously I pulled the nearest thing to me, a black jumper slung on the back of his desk chair and pulled it over my body. My legs where still stretched bare but at least I felt less exposed. Why am I wearing nothing but this ridiculous excuse of a night dress should be added to my list of questions too?

Ikuto grinned at me through the darkness

"That jumper suits you, wait here I'm going to go and make breakfast it won't take me long." He smiled at me sweetly and made his way to the door.

Before I could stop myself curiosity once again won its battle over logic,

"Ikuto, how long have you know…Been in the room?" I cursed myself inwardly for asking, my original plans had been to just pretend it never happened but for some reason my brain and mouth didn't seem to be wired properly.

"The whole time…" Was his brief response, he flashed a quick smile before exiting the room and I was left to sink to his bed in despair, how the hell was I going to begin apologising for breaching his privacy…scrap that he would have to explain to me first what the hell I was doing here, if he played ball I would… Fair is fair.

I pushed the sleeves of his jumper over the tops of my hands and rubbed the cashmere cloth against my nose, it had been a habit of mine since I was very little my mother called it snuffling and I guess I had just never grown out of it. Inhaling deeply I smelt the same smell that lingered on my blanket and giggled, I was turning into some dam scent pervert.

The bedroom door creaked open once again and I threw my hands down to my sides as fast as lightning praying that he hadn't seen my embarrassing habit.

"It's not exactly the first time I've seen you do that weird thing with your nose, you do it all the time with your clothes and that blanket I gave you. Don't freak out I'm not here to judge." He shrugged his shoulders as I cursed myself, of course it would be too much for something to go right today however all the stress was bringing back my headache with a vengeance and so I simply put my head in my hands and stifled back sobs. The bed shifted next to me and a warm arm wrapped around my shoulders

"Cheer up! I made you pancakes with maple syrup your favourite!" He pinched my chin with two fingers so that my golden eyes were staring into deep blue hues, a strange feeling coursed through me as if I were on fire and my face burnt red. He placed his cool hands against my skin in response and made a tutting noise.

"You missy need to eat, before you get sick I don't want to end up looking after you again." It was such an adorable sentiment and he looked so sweet but I couldn't help but be overcome with guilt after who knows what I had put him through. Suddenly it was like I wasn't even in charge of my mouth anymore.

"Ikuto I can't tell you how sorry I am, I don't remember anything but if you had to sleep on that, and I looked at your stuff without your permission and I can only remember being drunk last night oh god I must have been awful… I am so, so sorry." Ikuto watched silently as the stream of apologies slipped from my mouth continually and shook his head.

Without releasing his hold on me he reached across with his free hand and placed a plate of piping hot pancakes and syrup on my knee.

"I'll make you a deal, you eat and I will fill you in on everything. But know this you have nothing to be sorry for and I am not mad at you at all." He smiled gently and traced gentle soothing circles across my back, I hiccupped and sobbed more

"Y..ou Prr..ommise?" I managed to stutter out between sobs, the last thing I wanted was for him to hate me. Ikuto nodded his head and smiled at me somehow managing to completely reassure me he then picked up the fork taking a deep cut of one of my pancakes and stuffed it into my mouth I took his suggestion and began eating.

"Okay so from the very beginning? It would seem that Rima and Utau challenged you to some form of drinking contest resulting in you being quite possibly the drunkest person I have ever spent an evening with." He smirked at me playfully before continuing.

"You saved me from a rather sticky situation with Saaya and I have to say that your acting was a little too convincing, if my father had seen it you would have given him a heart attack."

"Do I even…" Before I could finish asking he had placed yet another forkful of pancake in my mouth shaking his finger in front of my face and continuing as if I had never uttered a word.

"So after that you were leaning on my preeety heavy and I decided the safer course of action would be to bring you home, you drank another bottle of champagne in the car… to yourself and sang very loudly by the way you have a beautiful voice." He nudged me in the ribs and I almost died of humiliation right there and then.

"I carried you into the flat because you could barely walk after all the champagne had gone to your head, and of course there was no one home when we arrived." He face palmed at this and glowered into the distance but before I could ask he continued.

"The dress you wore is over there in my wardrobe I hung it up for you after helping you um… remove it? It was a corset back that you couldn't undo yourself and then when I thought you would leave you sort of collapsed on my bed in that…" I was close enough to him to see the pink tint highlighting his cheekbones but it was nothing compared to my reddened face, how embarrassing.

"You lay there for a while and talked to me about your secret of wanting to get that nursery job you applied for, and then you promptly went and fell asleep in my bed. I waited up for Utau to come home because I am a fantastic older brother and then slept in this chair so I could make sure you were all right after how much you drank. But it would seem you are fine and here we are now, no apologies needed I would do it again for you in a heartbeat." His broad smile stretched the corners of his lips upwards as he ruffled my bubble gum pink hair.

"You must have done my hair too." I commented meekly fingering a bright pink strand, in response he ran a hand through the back of my locks and smiled.

"That I actually strangely enjoyed, you have beautiful hair Amu it's as unique as you are." He glanced away and I blushed furiously. Just because he said I wasn't allowed to say sorry doesn't mean I have to listen right?

"I am so sorry for what I put you through Ikuto, Thank you so much for what you did I don't think I will ever be able to repay you but I will try." I smiled gratefully and hugged him, at first he seemed shocked but he relaxed and returned my embrace.

"What else are friends for right? Now eat your pancakes before I get cross." He smirked at me teasingly and I glared back. I should be happy but then why do I feel disappointed?

Shrugging my unusual feelings aside I shovelled in more of Ikuto's home made breakfast pancakes, the man irritated me like crazy but I had to give him that… he could cook.

"Um, Amu you appear to have missed a bit." He laughed gaudily pointing at my face, in humiliation I ran my tongue slowly across my top lip and looked to him.

"Did I get it?" Ikuto froze staring at me, like so many other times my auric eyes met his azure ones and for a moment I was overwhelmed with alien emotions. He reached forward with his thumb and traced my bottom lip, it was then that Utau decided to make her grand entrance.

"Ikuto…Oh I'm sorry I didn't realise I was interrupting… it's never been an issue before… my mouth is moving too much… Shut up Utau, if anyone needs me I will be in the living room learning about boundaries." She muttered to herself before retreating to what I could only assume was the previously mentioned living room.

We sat there in complete shock staring at her retreating figure and then realisation dawned on me. No wonder she reacted like that here I was in her brother's jumper sat mere inches from him with his hand seemingly caressing my face. Oh that is going to take some explaining, and nothing is ever innocent in Utau's eyes.

"Delicious." Ikuto muttered licking the removed syrup from his thumb, it seemed as though he was trying to deflate the atmosphere and it worked.

"You are a pervert!" I shrieked before storming out of his room and past the many curious eyes of my friends in the living room.

I head Kukai's sharp whistle stopped short and replaced with an oomph sound which I could only assume was Utau elbowing him hard in the ribs for his vulgar behaviour before I closed my door and threw myself to the mercy of my bed.

Amu's pov.

So many strange things happen when I'm around Ikuto and I needed to work it all out, I knew that in no time at all Rima and Utau would be practically banging the door down to talk and it was for that reason and that reason alone that I had left the door unlatched, I don't think my head could survive an assault of that magnitude, not in the state it was in now.

As if on cue I heard my door open and stifled the irritable growl I had been holding back all morning. The bed sank on either side of me and I sat up ready to throw myself to the judgement of Utau and Rima. I glanced upwards and met beautifully violet eyes of course I would have to appease Utau first… She is his sister after all.

"Before you both jump on me and rip me limb from limb nothing happened between us, after you both got me so drunk I couldn't walk and Ikuto was the perfect gentleman, he took me home helped me out of my dress and even slept in a chair because I fell asleep in his bed. And now thanks to how drunk I was I can't remember our entire night…So goodbye fond memories of our first night out together…"

I slapped my head frustrated hoping that it would be enough to quiet any fanciful romantic dream scenario that they had forged in their minds.

"Ikuto was the perfect gentleman?" Rima smirked
"Helped you out of your dress?"Utau smiled slyly

No matter what I said they were just going to take it out of context and twist it to serve their own needs.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves; N-o-t-h-i-n-g happened I swear. He doesn't even see me like that."

The two seemed to look to each other momentarily before Rima took the lead on our conversation and immediately I realised my mistake.

"He doesn't, how would you know? And maybe you do though eh Amu-Chan?" Rima smiled triumphantly and high fived Utau a show of friendship I hadn't expected so early in their relationship from someone as stubborn as Rima.

"That's not even possible, we are friends…roommates and I'm pretty sure he would view me more as a household pet to be honest, so just drop it. Nothing is happening, no romantic scenes or secret rendezvous. It's time to move on ladies."

I nodded my head feeling as though I had done my argument more justice this time and looked at Utau to see her shaking her head in disappointment.

"You are quite possibly the densest person I have ever met in my entire life! But I think it adds to your charm."she placed a thin arm around me and pulled me into a one sided embrace before leaving the room.

"What the hell was that about Rima? Did I miss something?" I looked to my best friend and she clucked her tongue impatiently.

"I'm going to give you some really good advice now so I want you to listen carefully! Because you know I hate doing this rubbish." She smiled politely making sure she had my full attention before continuing.

"Just because Tadase hurt you does not mean you should shut yourself off to love or think you're not good enough. There is a man out there somewhere who loves you and when the time comes that you are ready, you should open yourself up to love him back. Because you deserve it and because you can't let fear win."Rima squeezed my shoulder gently shaking her head,

"It's not your fault you're a little slow Amu-Chan I think it's your way of protecting your heart, I just think that, and believe me it kills me to say it but I think that there is someone else out there who can take better care of it." She smiled at me in an uncharacteristically warm fashion before leaving the room, she paused once in the doorway briefly and I was a little concerned that she was coming back in for more but despite my fears she moved on and I was finally free to collapse and think on what my friends had said.

Honestly my head felt as if it were about to implode I could not remember the last time I had felt this bad and the mysterious riddles spun by my two best friends did nothing to ease my oncoming migraine. I grumbled viciously into my pillow letting go of all the hangovers bitterness finally, but I was still left more confused than ever.

"What the hell was with that speech and why the hell am I dense?" I shouted into my room before returning to abuse my all too forgiving pillow.

"I'd imagine it would be because they both care about you, and want you to be happy." I didn't even need to look up to know who it was I knew his voice as if it had been with me my whole life and if I was being honest it scared me that Ikuto had become such a large focus to me so soon, friend or not.

"What do you want Ikuto, have any none straight forward advice you want to drop on me before my migraine fully kicks in?" My voice came out a little more irritable than I intended and I immediately regretted it, it wasn't his fault I was hung over and it wasn't his fault I was in a bad mood.

"I came to cheer you up; I prefer you when you're all pleasant don't tell anyone though…it would ruin me." I grinned at him gratefully he always knew what to say to make me smile.

"And how do you intend to cheer me up?" I challenged him as he came to sit by me.

"I need a drink before I start work on all that paperwork you nosily checked on before and I am assuming that you need some girly time to clear that head of yours, So I am going to take the guys out with me and before you complain I have left my card with Utau and Rima they already went out to buy ice cream and dvd's so just do me a favour, grab a shower and have a great night."

I frowned at him Ikuto was being more nice than usual and it was unsettling, no matter what he said I was not going to just take his hard earned money. The most concerning part was that Ikuto didn't really drink and I doubted that work would ever be enough to make him.

"Ikuto is everything okay with you, you seem troubled? And I will pay you back for whatever they buy." Ikuto smirked at me

"Aren't girls supposed to enjoy being treated, you will do no such thing enjoy your night, that will be more than enough payment for me." He smiled at me firmly and it was clear that the conversation was closed, but that didn't mean I couldn't ask him what was wrong again.

"Okay but you didn't answer my question, is there something bothering you? You are there for me all of the time so if there is then I want to help you." I looked at him confidently and he shook his head.

"You are more perceptive than I gave you credit for, but honestly it is nothing I can't handle and nothing you could help me with. I just need a night with the guys." He smiled a crooked smile and although I was curious I had delved into his privacy too much already today and he deserved better.

"Okay Ikuto you win, I hope you have a good night tonight." I smiled at him and he ruffled my hair in response.

"You too Amu, but be warned I think Utau was buying wine." He smirked at me gleefully and I almost cried there and then I groaned out loud.

"No more alcohol, please no." I heard him laugh at me as he left the room and I pushed my head further into the pillows as if in defiance, I refused to drink anything else tonight not after how I felt today but knowing Utau I wouldn't have a choice.

Leeloo-chan: Hope you enjoyed it, next chapter is split between girl and guy time and we get to find out more about the relationships of other characters. Review me if you want more ^^