She could still see it all clearly, even with her eyes closed. The cool breeze playing with her hair. The sharp pain as she squeezed her hands tighter on the metal rail. The flush of her cheeks. The warmth of his breath. The soft graze against her mouth.

"Amu-desu~"

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"Come on! Get moving! We've got things to do."

"You can't sleep through life, Amu."

Amu eyes fluttered open. She had fallen asleep at her desk again. She always seemed to fall asleep when she was doing her math homework. She got up and stretched her arms. Her alarm clock said it was well after midnight. When had she dozed off?

Amu strolled out to her balcony, instantly feeling the chill air. She went to rest her arms on the rail. Why had winter come so soon? She stepped in a pile of snow with her bare foot, hoping the shock of cold would jolt her awake. Amu seemed to be sleeping a lot these days, as those her dreams were a nicer, warmer place to be.

She laid her head against her arms. Maybe she could find her way back to the beach. She let her eyes shut to try to see the gleam of the water and smell the stinging salt and hear the-

"Do you realize it's twenty degrees out here?"

Amu's head shot up in surprise to see a face inches from her own. She gave a cry in surprise and fell backwards landing on her butt.

"That was graceful." Ikuto commented jumping onto the balcony, "It's also very flattering when a girl screams at the sight of me, by the way."

"What are you doing here?" Amu asked in a panic on the ground, her heart beating wildly.

"Another flattering reaction," Ikuto commented, crouching down to her level, "It's better than you kicking me I guess."

"I didn't fall asleep again, did I?" Amu asked, more to herself than to Ikuto as she pinched her arm as a test.

"I don't know," Ikuto took a scoop of snow in his hand and shoved it on her head. "Did you feel that?"

"That's cold you jerk!" Amu squealed, retaliating by throwing a handful of snow on his face.

Ikuto didn't react to the snow, just shook his head making the water drip off his face. The action was so unexpected it made Amu laugh at the sight.

Ikuto grabbed her by the hand and pulled them both up, "Come on."

"What?"

"I want to show you something." Ikuto said motioning towards the street.

"It's the middle of the night!" she complained trying to wrestle out of his grip.

"Yeah, so you might want to be quiet. Unless you want to wake the neighborhood." Amu slapped her free hand over her mouth. She had forgotten about her parents. How had she managed to scream and make so much noise before without them waking up? Amu was pretty sure she would die if her dad walked in at the moment.

Ikuto jumped over the rails of her balcony, tugging on her hand to follow. Amu took a last look back at her empty room before stepping over the rail. "Hold on." Ikuto said pulling her to him and jumping off.

It took all her will power not to scream. "Why didn't you just use the door?"

"That would take too long." Ikuto reasoned walking forward and pulling her along, "Come on."

Walking about a block in silence made Amu wish she had brought a jacket, or at least a pair of shoes. Tokyo was freezing in January. The only thing keeping her warm was Ikuto's hand in her own.

She was too focused on her hand, she forgot to watch where she was walking. "Ow," she had stepped on a piece of trash laying around.

"Why don't you have any shoes on?" Ikuto asked examining the bottom of her foot, "I've never heard of someone always forgetting their clothes."

"It's not my fault." Amu reasoned when Ikuto dropped her foot, "Someone kidnapped me from my balcony."

"I don't think you can call this kidnapping." Ikuto commented crouching down, "Jump on."

"What?" Amu asked staring blankly at him.

"Come on. There's glass and stuff on the street." Ikuto reasoned, "It'll go faster if you just cooperate."

Amu thought she must be really tired, since she just got on his back without a complaint. "An eighteen year old getting a piggyback ride," Amu commented with a sigh to herself, "How embarrassing."

"Would you prefer I carry you like a princess?"

"I'm good." Amu said with exasperation, falling against Ikuto's back. She could feel the muscles of his back through his shirt move with each breath. She wondered if he could feel her heart pounding with her chest pressed against his back. It was enough to make her blush furiously. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Patience is a virtue." Ikuto told her. Amu moved her head to give him a look. Ikuto turned to face her, "Relax. It's not far from here."

It wasn't long before they took an alley that showed the back of a few buildings. "Here it is." Ikuto announced once they reached an old looking door to a one of the smallest buildings in the area.

Ikuto set Amu down and pulled a key out of his pocket. Amu looked at him with an arched brow. "This is it?"

"You have to go inside." Ikuto told her, opening the door and holding it for her to enter. She walked in cautiously. It was dark except for light that shone through the crack of a closed door. Amu looked back at Ikuto and he pushed the door open, the light instantly blinding her.

"What took you so long?"

"Amu-chan! You made it!"

"Strike up the band."

Amu stared at everyone gathered around waving at her and laughing as if they were all in on some kind of private joke. "What...is this?" Amu asked, not sure what was going on.

"This," Aruto said coming up beside her and throwing an arm around her shoulder, "Is the opening of The Music Box." Amu looked around the room again to see instruments ranging from violins to cellos and drums to cymbals and CDs to vintage records. Nothing was in a particular order or setting, but somehow that gave the place a little more charm.

"He picked the name." Ikuto threw in gesturing towards Aruto.

"I didn't hear any objects to it."

"Well, I made them."

"Nonsense," Aruto commented, waving his hand in the air, "I distinctly remember you saying 'It does feel like we're cramped in a small box in here.'"

Ikuto started to open his mouth in protest, but he stopped himself and just sighed, "Whatever." Amu laughed at the two. Maybe they would always be this way.

"Look at me Amu-chii!" Yaya exclaimed holding a cello twice her size, "I'm going to be the next Ya Ya Ma."

"That's Yo Yo Ma Yaya." Kairi explained as she attempted a few chords.

"I know what I said." Yaya replied with a smile.

"Aren't you suppose to be taking pictures for the website?" Tadase asked her, reminding her of her of the job she had volunteered for.

"Oh yeah!" Yaya said throwing the cello to Kairi and heading over to the band. "Smile." The trio gave big smiles as they continued playing a tune for everyone to dance to.

Yaya took shots of Yuu and Yukari watching the spectacles by themselves and Nagihiko twirling Rima around in a circle.

"Get a shot of this Yaya." Kukai yelled at her, taking Utau in his arms and dipping her on the dance floor.

"Kukai!" Utau screamed with a laugh as they both went falling down to the ground.

"Now if you'll excuse me," Aruto said to Amu, "I have to go strike fear into the soul of my daughter's boyfriend."

"Make sure I get a picture of that!" Yaya told him as he approached the couple on the dance floor. Amu shook her head at the spectacle. She really did associate with strange characters.

"He says that, but he actually likes Kukai pretty well." Ikuto told her watching Aruto shake his fist and chase Kukai around the dance floor, "He helped us set up shop yesterday."

"Are you helping with your dad's business?"

"It's partially mine," Ikuto explained spreading his hand to show off the room, "We entered a partnership."

"So," Amu started looking up at him, "Does this mean you're staying?"

"I got a room right upstairs."

Amu smiled and looked away, not quite bold enough to ask what else was on her mind. But Ikuto must have known what she was thinking. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear making her look back towards him. He leaned down and captured her lips. His lips moved softly against her own; she closed her eyes and responded in the same way.

Yes, it was so much sweeter than a dream.

"That one's going on the website." Amu looked over and say all eyes on her, with a lot of sloppy smiles. Yaya was not far away, giving her a cheeky grin while waving her camera in front of her.

A strong blush rose to her face.

"Yaya! Give me the camera!"

~Flip the Paige~

Amu never did get that camera from Yaya, too many people against her cause. But it was for the best. Looking back years from that moment, everyone could remember when everything first began. Even when their lives started to change and drift apart, they always knew they could return to The Music Box, a place where they could always be together. And when you come together with the people you love, that's when you know you're truly home.

And Amu and Ikuto tended to be at home more than anyone.

My first story is finally completed. I feel so accomplished, and yet, so sad. Thanks for everyone who took time to read and review my story, nothing fuels an amateur writer as much as readers. :)

This story is dedicated to my friend, Truck Driver Bill, who let me hitchhike with him all the way to New York (there's a grand story behind that).

Sincerely,

Flip the Paige