This will be a two-shot, I think. Maximum will be three chapters. I figured that somehow, Ikuto has got to show his soft side towards Amu. I guess that's what inspired this and my other story, Pause and Rewind. Please tell me what you think.

Summary: "What do you want?" Such a simple question, he smirked. Her naïve personality lured him in like a predator to its prey. Her eyes stared curiously into his own dark orbs. So innocent… "You should know what I want." She seemed more confused. He leaned closer to the girl, and a ghost of a whisper graced his lips. "I want you."

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara.

..Pull the Trigger..

What are you doing?

Are you actually looking at me?

Whose eyes are you gazing into so tenderly?

Is it really my hand that you're stroking?

Am I supposed to like this feeling?

What are you doing to me?

What was going on? Amu gazed suspiciously at the chara in front of her. Why was Yoru here? More importantly, why was he here without Ikuto? She had been walking home from school by herself. It was calm and quiet. Her charas had left to do who knows what with Kiseki. They were probably up to some kind of mischief. Which brought her back to the grinning chara floating in front of her.

"Do you need something?" Her voice was slightly harsh. School had been hard on her that day. Cleansing two X eggs, bickering with Rima, and then running a mile because Mr. Nikkatsu had decided that the day was oh so nice out just because the sun wasn't behind the clouds. The day had taken a lot out of her. She wasn't in the mood for a scheming chara at the moment. All Amu wanted was to plop down on her bed and sleep. Sleep until the next day. Where, of course, the cycle repeated all over again.

The alley cat chara grinned cheekily at her. His blue ears stood up alert, and his little tail weaved around his waist. Paws grasped the appendage as he floated around. Amu had a suspicion that he was trying to look cute. What did he want?

"If it's cat nip, I don't have any." Amu tossed her hand off to the side as she proceeded to walk home to that lovely bed that was waiting for her. Yoru immediately flew in front of her again, halting her movements. Amu crossed her arms as she arched an eyebrow at the obviously plotting chara.

"It's not cat nip! But..if you do get some, tell me!" He smiled widely at her, revealing his pointy little teeth. Amu gave him a look that urged him to tell her what he really wanted. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

"Will you meet with Ikuto tonight?" Yoru stretched out his paws and waved them around. "It's nothing bad! Just a get together…" His glassy eyes looked at Amu hopefully. The pink haired girl was surprised. Meet with Ikuto? Was this a… She shook her head violently. It was not the time to think of such things! But still…Her eyes lingered to Yoru.

"Did he ask you to talk to me?" The chara nodded his head enthusiastically.

"He told me to tell you to be ready tonight. Go to the park at eight." Amu leaned closer to Yoru, trying to detect if he was lying.

"He really told you to tell me that?"

"Yupp!" Yoru laid back in a relaxed position, still floating in front of her. His eyes twinkled mischievously. "It'll be just the two of you." For some reason, that statement sent a hot blush up on Amu's face. The smirk on Yoru's face grew. Annoyed, she flicked him on the forehead, earning a loud 'oww! What was that for?' from the tiny chara. Amu ignored his complaints as she made her way through the town to get back home. She had just been taunted by something that was three inches tall. Head hung down in embarrassment, Amu sighed. She wondered what Ikuto wanted. Suddenly, her eagerness to sleep had vanished. Replacing it was an emotion that would probably be best described as anticipation.

Amu placed the dishes into the cabinets. It had been her turn to wash them, and she had done it all without a single complaint. It might have been because she was going to ask her parents a favor. But she never did complain about doing chores anyway.

Amu saw her mom walk into the living room that was adjacent to the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, she made her way over to the couch where her mom was sitting. Hearing footsteps, Mrs. Hinamori directed her eyes from the magazine she had been reading to her daughter.

"Yes, dear?" Amu fidgeted a little. She couldn't necessarily escape from the house so she needed permission. Hope flickered inside her for her mom to say 'yes.'

"Is it okay for me to go out at eight tonight?" Like what Yoru had done before, Amu looked at her mother in a hopeful manner, but she kept her 'outside character' intact. She had lived like that for thirteen years. No way was she going to slip up now.

Mrs. Hinamori regarded her daughter curiously.

"Where will you be going?" Amu made up an excuse quickly.

"Oh, just hanging out with some friends." Her hand waved through the air as if swatting a fly. "It's really nothing, but I was just wondering if I could go."

Her mother took her sweet time in replying. Each word was thoughtfully, or in Amu's mind, suspensefully, drawn out.

"I suppose…it would be okay. Just remember to come back home by ten." She smiled at her daughter whom she could tell was internally glowing with glee. On the outside, however, Amu walked away to her room in a carefree manner.

"Thanks mom." Mrs. Hinamori's eyes gleamed. Wonder who the lucky guy was…

Amu receded into her room. Her eyes landed on the closet. Without reasoning her actions, she began to pull out outfit after outfit. She checked off her list as she went.

"Too frilly. Too girly. Too jock. Too simple." Amu sighed. She wished Miki was there to help her. But oh well, she'd work it out somehow. After a couple of more of changing outfits, Amu finally settled on a short black skirt with a red and white short sleeve shirt. It wasn't the best, but she was presentable. Giving herself a once over in the mirror, Amu nodded in satisfaction. It will do. Not too flashy for her first dat…Realizing what she was about to think, she quickly shook her head again. It was not a date. Just a meeting. Amu looked over to the clock. 7:48. Her heart did a little flip flop as she left the house and took off. Her feet led her to the town's park where Ikuto would be waiting. A slight tint of pink graced her face as she made her way through the pathways.

She had not seen Ikuto in the park. Amu had checked every nook and cranny. Perhaps she was just early. Spotting a nearby bench, she plopped down onto it. A small fountain squirted water from behind. The soft trickle of water contrasted with the silence of the desolated park. Amu sat, fidgeting with her skirt. Now all she had to do was wait.

This was just ridiculous. Amu sat with her arms crossed in an angry fashion. She had been sitting on that bench for about a full hour. Not even the steady flow of the fountain behind her could soothe her mind now. Ikuto still hadn't come. Amu gasped as realization dawned on her. Could it be that it was all a joke? If that was the case, she would make sure that Yoru would never see the light of day again. Or maybe…She bit her lip. Could Ikuto have stood her up? She waved that thought away too. It made it sound like they were on a date. And, with a dejected feeling, Amu knew that they were not on a date at all.

The sky had grown dark, and Amu's eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness. The truth sank bitterly into her. Ikuto wasn't coming. Rejection filled her entire being, and she shook with emotion. She was such a fool. Why in the world had she fallen for that alley cat? He would never return her feelings. She was a kid in his eyes. A kid that he loved to tease.

Hands clenched as Amu stood up. A single tear flowed down her face, and she wiped at it furiously. She wouldn't give Ikuto the satisfaction of crying over him. Her foot took a step forward and was immediately halted by a voice. A voice that made her heart clench. With happiness or anger, Amu didn't care. He was finally here.

"Planning to leave?" Amu looked back at the amused male. He was clad in his school uniform as he stood in a carefree manner on the ledge of the fountain. Dark orbs gazed at her as he hopped down to the ground and stood in front of her.

"I..umm.." Amu couldn't seem to make any coherent sentence. All of her overwhelming emotions had dissipated when she saw him. Why did he have to be so damn perfect?

Ikuto lowered his head towards hers. The amusement never left his eyes.

"Cat got your tongue?" Amu gulped. She should be hating him. Ikuto always kept his cool even when he had done wrong. And with him standing there like that, it seemed as if he didn't even realize that she had been waiting for him for an hour and a half. Amu felt like punching him. Knock some sense into him so he could see what he was doing to her.

"You're late." She spoke quietly. Ikuto stepped back a little.

"I had some business to attend to. Did you wait long?" Amu bit her lip. She completely wasted her whole evening waiting for him. But she didn't yell at him. She had to keep her cool. Amu gave a bittersweet smile.

"Actually, I'm done waiting. I should probably go back now." She couldn't help but feel that her words had some sort of double meaning. By the way Ikuto's eyes darkened, she had a feeling that he thought so as well. "Bye then.." She mumbled softly as she once again, turned away.

"Why don't you stay longer?" His voice beckoned her to look at him. She struggled to keep her composure and focused her gaze on two birds perched on a tree branch. One, clearly a female, snuggled into the feathers of the other. A slight smirk graced Amu's features. Perfect example of two lovebirds. Her thoughts were away from the male behind her as she observed the actions of the two birds. The male was starting to flap away and she noticed that the female was trying to follow him. With a slight rustle of feathers, the male broke free of the snuggling. Gently and quietly, he flapped away and soared into the night. Amu stared with pity at the now, alone female bird. It curled itself up into a slight ball form and stood still on the branch. She was waiting, Amu realized. Always waiting for the other to initiate a move.

With newly reformed determination, Amu stiffened and took another step.

"Amu…"Ikuto spoke quietly out to her. She cut him off and answered in that same soft tone.

"Goodbye." And without waiting for any other words to be shared, Amu took off.

She would do no more waiting.

What did you think?

Please read and review.