Long chapter is really fucking long. O_O Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I hope this is okay. It's kind of from personal experience, because it's easier to write what you know. So, here you are, dear readers.

I don't own Shugo Chara!

Chapter one~

Kukai started hitting the front door as hard as he could. There was no doubt his girlfriend and her family was going to be pissed, but that didn't matter right now. He was panting and bracing himself on his knees when the door was flung open. He looked up to see Tsukiyomi Ikuto standing there in his pajamas. Utau was behind him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ikuto yelled. "It's fucking three in the morning."

"It's Amu," he panted. Souko and Aruto came down the stairs, going pale. There were tear stains on Kukai's face. "She's gone."

"What are you talking about?" Ikuto asked. He knew Amu was Kukai's sister, but that was all he knew. "She's probably just out with the kiddy king." Tadase was her boyfriend, and the two of them hardly left the others side.

"You don't u-understand." He said, collapsing to his knees. He handed him a sheet of paper. "She left a suicide note."

Ikuto was the first to move. "Then don't just stay there. Get up and let's go." He grabbed his best friend's shirt and yanked him up. "If that's the case, we have to hurry." He rushed to his car after his father tossed him his keys. His sister rushed after them and dove into the back seat of the car. Souko grabbed the home phone and dialed 911.

"Where would she have gone?" Ikuto asked, stabbing his key into the ignition.

"She could have gone to the old bridge outside of town. The one that's abandoned. She used to go there a lot." Utau said, shaking and clutching her seat. She knew her best friend was depressed, but she'd never dreamed it would come to this.

"Alright," Ikuto said, slamming his foot to the gas.

The town was quiet, and empty. His car raced silently down the empty streets to the east side of town. He knew what bridge they were talking about. He goes out there with friends a lot and dives off the bridge. The water was always cold and deep, really deep. That was exactly the problem. He knew Amu couldn't swim from the summer before.

He turned onto a gravel road that led down to the abandoned bridge. There were rumors about it of course. Many people said someone died here and it was haunted. His headlights shined across someone's car.

"That's her car," Kukai said. As he pulled closer, he saw a figure on the bridge. "Found her," he breathed.

She was sitting on the bridge, on the railing of it and staring down. She heard them get out of the car, and then her brother's voice cut through the air. "Amu," She slid closer to the edge. He wasn't stopping her. "Stop please!" She sucked in a breath, close to the edge of tears.

She'd made up her mind already. Instead of saying anything, she jumped.

XXX

Ikuto watched as she jumped, and heard Utau scream. His slid his shirt off and raced forward, diving right off the bridge. Just let me get to her. She broke the water's surface first and he crashed under seconds after her. It was a high drop. She'd be far under within seconds if he didn't make good use of time.

He knew damn well she'd have a panic attack under the water. He swam deeper. Goddamn it all to hell, I can't fucking see anything. The water was nearly black at three in the morning. Ikuto stretched his arms, trying to feel around for her. His fingers went through strands of hair. Found you. Having no choice, he grabbed her hair and pulled her up, and then took him up in his arms.

He was gasping for air when he came back up. Damn, it was cold tonight. It was November. He waded to the sure, and stepped carefully over the rocks. "Ow," he said. In his mad dash out his front door, he hadn't bothered with shoes. Utau and Kukai were waiting as the blue haired teenage laid her down on the ground. She needed CPR, he realized.

I've never been so glad I learned this.

"Call 911 and let them know where we are." He said roughly and started the compressions on her chest. Had it been any other situation, he would have stared at her chest. It wasn't another situation though. She was about to die, and he was doing his damdest to not let that happen. He bent down and gave the two short breaths. She wasn't breathing normally yet. "Fuck," he grunted and started the compressions again. He kept pumping her chest, thirty times and then the two breaths.

She coughed and rolled to her side after one short breath. She started to breathe as he leaned down for the second breath. He leaned back and let her cough. She sat up slowly, her pink hair hanging down in wet tendrils. Then she looked over and saw a shirtless Ikuto. Her face turned red.

"Are you alright?" he asked seriously.

She'd never know Tsukiyomi Ikuto to be serious a day in his life. "Y-yeah." Her teeth were chattering from the iciness of the water. He grabbed the hoodie that Utau had brought him from his car. After taking a long look at her and seeing her teeth chatter and seeing her shaking from the cold, he draped it over her shoulders. "Thanks." She said quietly and looked away.

He pulled up her hair and reached down for the hair tie on her wrist. His breath came out harsh when he saw multitudes of scars. How long had this been going on? Ikuto didn't say anything as she tugged the rubber band off for him. He pulled her hair up and tied it to keep the cold hair off of her wet skin. "Don't scare us like that." He said roughly, and sat beside her. She only looked away, not saying a word. "Whatever made you jump off that bridge wasn't worth it, Amu. Got that?" he said.

Sirens and red and blue lights filled the night. Kukai was at the top of the hill, and talking to the police on the bridge. Her parents were waiting in their car to follow the ambulance to the hospital. 13 year old Ami was sitting in the back seat with her small hands pressed to the glass, wondering if her sister was okay.

Amu started to cry. Ikuto looked over horrified. What the hell do I do? How do I comfort her? He sighed. He never comforted girls, not even the girls he broke up with after short relationships.

In front of them Utau looked at her brother's terrified expression and hung her head. She looked at Amu, and to the top of the hill. Her eyes met her mother's, who was standing next to Aruto. They were rushing down the hill. Paramedics were behind them.

"Amu, Ikuto," Souko called out, draping a blanket around her son who was beside the sobbing girl. The middle-aged woman took this as her cue to help her, because she knew her son was hopeless in helping her. "Amu-chan," she knelt down in front of her and .

Aruto pulled his son off the ground and watched the shaking girl.

"They're going to kill me," she sobbed and clung to the woman who was her second mother. Souko rubbed her back and let her cry. "I can't go back there!" she wailed. That was when Utau came over and gripped her friend's arms, turning her to look at her.

"You can stay with us," she said. "Mom and Dad already know about everything." Later on, she knew this already, Amu was going to be so pissed that she had told. Right now she didn't even notice. "It'll be okay." She whispered.

Ikuto watched, confused and dazed. Who was going to kill her? What was going on? He looked at Amu, and saw the red and blue lights flashing across her face and reflecting in her eyes.

XXX

Kukai, Utau and Ikuto stood in the hospital impatiently. They hadn't released her yet. It had already been determined that she wouldn't go to a mental hospital, but her parents had made a huge scene. They made it clear. They're not taking her home. They kicked her out. The same words kept going through Ikuto's mind over and over again. How could they do that?

Kukai wasn't surprised though, not at all. He was still angry over it though. Their parents had stormed out of the hospital with their "golden child" Ami. Amu was left in the hospital room resting.

"Mom, Dad," Utau said, rushing up to them as they came out of Amu's hospital room.

Her father cut her off with one of his calming smiles. "Don't worry, Utau. She's staying with us." Ikuto heard that and his sister's sigh of relief. "Any objections?" He asked Ikuto.

He shook his head. "After that she needs a place to stay. Utau's her best friend, so it's probably for the best." Aruto clapped him on the shoulder.

"You did well," he said quietly and looked at him. "If it weren't for you, she'd be gone. She can't swim."

"I remember," Ikuto said, brushing off the praise. He didn't need to be praised for his actions. Even if he was an asshole at school, he did what he did to save Amu, not get credit. "Last summer, she freaked out at the lake."

"Well," Souko said, sliding off her long winter coat. "She's okay. She'll have to have counseling but physically she's fine."

Ikuto wondered what was wrong mentally though. She always seemed happy at school, and she always seemed really happy when the kiddy king was around. Speaking of him, where was he?

"Where's Tadase?" he asked. "Shouldn't he be here? He's her boyfriend."

Two cold looks turned to him. Utau and Kukai were giving him an icy look. "Don't mention his name around her, got that?" Utau seethed. He actually stepped backwards. Obviously, he'd struck a real chord. "He was cheating," She said after that. That surprised him a lot. She found out yesterday.

"You don't think that's why she tried to kill herself, do you?" he found himself asking the question he thought everyone else was thinking. He was wrong about that though.

"That's not why at all," Utau said crisply, and turned away.

Her brother got the message loud and clear. Don't ask questions, because he wouldn't like the answers.

XXX

When Amu woke up, she shot up out of the hospital bed. The memories from last night rushed back to her. She flinched and remembered her parents coming in and yelling. 'We're so ashamed!' 'Why are you causing us trouble?' 'Why can't you be more like Ami?' The last one was always the one that got her the most.

"Good morning," she jumped off of the bed at the voice. "Sorry," she looked over and saw Ikuto. Her brother was asleep when his girlfriend in his lap. She remembered him from last night. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just jumped off of a bridge," she said dryly. His eyebrow quirked and he slid the blanket he had off of him.

"I see. At least you remember what happened." He said, and watched her bring her legs up to her chest.

"I guess," She shrugged.

"You're living with us now," he said, hoping he'd get a reaction out of her. Her head whipped towards him. "Yeah. You're living with us now."

"Says who?"

"My parents," he told her. Her shoulders slumped. She really wasn't going home. "Do you want to go home?" he asked, hoping to get an answer so he'd know a little about her. She shrugged like she didn't care. "We have school tomorrow," he said.

"Okay," Her reply was quiet.

She wasn't going to give him any answers at all, he realized.

XXX

The next day

Everyone was staring at her as she made her way to her locker. Their eyes dropped to her bandaged arm. Utau had bandaged all the way up her arm when she accidently reopened the wounds. Ikuto almost had a heart attack when he walked into his bathroom-merely wanting a shower-and saw Amu's forearm covered in scarlet. She learned that Ikuto really, really didn't like blood.

Her messenger bag's strap was across her chest, and her bandaged arm dangling at her side while she opened her locker. There were rumors already circulating. Whatever. Then Saaya came up to her. She really didn't have the patience for this today, but contained herself while shoving her books in her locker. I'd like to just shove myself in here to get away from her. She doubted that would work though.

"Did Ikuto save you last night?" she asked, in that damn accusing tone. She nodded grudgingly, stretching to put a notebook on the stop shelf. "Did his parents really take you in?" Oh, how did I know that one was coming? Amu was laughing in her head. She nodded again.

"Yeah, is that a problem?" she shot back, putting her red and black bag on the hook in her locker.

Saaya looked her up and down; her groupies were already forming a line behind her. "I guess not. Since I doubt my boyfriend would be interested in a charity case."

That got Amu's blood broiling. Sighing, she smiled sweetly. "That's just wonderful," she said sarcastically, shoving past her. "I've got better things to do with my life than listen to your annoying voice." She had her bandaged arm hanging down, clutching the notebook and text book she need.

"Ironic that you're talking about having things to do with your life when you just tried to end it, isn't it?" Saaya smirked. Sighing, Amu whirled around and walked up to her slowly. She wanted a reaction, and then she'd get one. Amu got in her face and stared at her with hate.

"Yes, I guess it is." She shrugged. "But tell me more, since you're acting like you know so fucking much about my life. Really, I make this face when I'm intrigued."

Onlookers kept their distance, but kept staring and whispering.

"What's going on?" Ikuto asked as he and one of his friends rounded a corner. Then he stopped when he saw Strawberry in Saaya's face. That's…a new development. Amu was always so shy and quiet though. The rumors must have pissed her off. He'd been in school for ten minutes and had already been bombarded with questions and fan girls. The second one was the terrifying one.

Amu looked like she had no problem standing her ground against the head fan girl herself though. Saaya shoved her suddenly and his eyes widened. If he went to help Amu now, she'd give him hell. He had a feeling she liked to do things on her own.

"Is this my Ikuto-koi's jacket?" she shrieked.

Ikuto realized she was wearing it. He'd told her to keep it for the day, but the sleeves were shoved up. She obviously didn't give a shit who saw those bandages. He cringed at the memory from this morning.

Her voice came through loud and clear though. Her words left even him speechless. She's got guts. "Yeah it is. Got a problem with it?" She shot back with a tone that could make the Terminator cringe. Saaya's face got red with anger as Amu spun on her heel, walking away.

She realized she was heading Ikuto's way, but her expression didn't change. As she passed him, she gave him a slight glance. Then she shrugged off his jacket and tossed it to him without even stopping to say anything.

She just continued on her way, her step never faltering. Ikuto found himself turning, looking at her go. His fuming girlfriend of the week was beside him, pulling at his arm.

"Ikuto-koi, can I wear your jacket?" she begged with wide eyes.

He looked down at her. "No," he said and walked towards the boy's locker room with his friends, with his varsity jacket slung right over his shoulder.

XXX

By the end of the day, Amu was ready to add a few more people to her shit list. Rima was one of them at the moment though. If you whisper my name one more time, I will cut you. She thought. Utau laughed beside her. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" Amu asked, looking sheepishly. Ikuto was in front of her, silently laughing. She'd never noticed that he sat in front of her in this class.

"Well, it's better to cut her than yourself, right?" Ikuto said. When he didn't get a reply, he turned to see Amu give him a look that could make flowers wilt. "Okay, touchy subject. I'm sorry." He apologized. She shrugged and turned to Utau again. Jesus, she was so infuriating! He didn't know what she was thinking at all because of that shrug. Is that what my smirk does?

There was laughter from across the room. "Yeah, and then her parents kicked her out!" Rima was gossiping as usual. Ikuto listened to his sister and Amu's conversation.

"I'm not saying I hate her," Amu paused. "But if she was on fire, I'd roast marshmallows." He choked on his own laugher as he listened. Utau laughed and Amu kept going. "I'm not saying she's a slut, but I'm surprised they haven't made her black hole on check in place on Facebook yet." He laughed harder and couldn't cover it up. "The check in place would be called super massive black hole of no return."

Amu only kept going because of Utau's-and even Ikuto's-laughter. Rima heard thought, because she complained loudly.

"Ugh, what is that smell?" she groaned.

"Probably you," Ikuto called out. The pinkette behind him fell back laughing as Rima blushed bright red. Amu even wiped away a fake tear.

"How long do you think she'll go on about Tadase leaving her?" Another girl whispered.

Ikuto went to talk, but a fiery voice cut him off. "Please, I'd get more action from a tampon." Amu called out. Ikuto's eyes widened. He had no idea she got like this. Come to think of it, he didn't know anything about any side of her.

Amu laid her head down on her desk. "You're a lot different than I thought you'd be." Ikuto told her.

"I just don't have patience for today. Besides, if everyone wants to talk, I don't really see the point in putting up a mask."

A mask…? He stared at her hair and then his sister. It was obvious Utau knew everything there was to know about Amu. So, he wasn't the only one with a mask.

Utau poked her best friend. "Do you want to go get some Ramen?"

"Are you and Kukai going to suck face while I'm there?" There was silence. "No, thank you." She said. "But thank you for inviting me though." Utau forced a smile. She was trying so hard to not let anyone really see the turmoil inside. Amu always did that.

XXX

Ikuto Tsukiyomi dived into the water like he always found himself doing after school. Swim practice was an everyday thing for him and right now, he wanted to be underneath the water to escape everyone who was branding him as a hero. God, I just did the right thing.

His friends were full of questions, and were hell bent on asking them. They just wanted the full story, and he wasn't going to tell them. He could at least give her some privacy.

When he came back up, he gripped the ladder and climbed out of the pool. Saaya rushed over to him gushing about a new sale. He just nodded his head and played along. It was easier to just appease her then to find something he really wanted to talk about.

"…your jacket?"

"Huh?" he asked, coming out of his thoughts. She pouted. Was that supposed to look cute?

"Why did Hinamori Amu have your jacket?" she asked, grabbing his hands and leaning up to kiss his cheek.

He raked his hands through his hair and he dried off with a towel. He'd just be totally honest about it. "When I pulled her out of the lake she was freezing, so I let her wear it. I told her to keep it for the day." He dried his hair and ignored her stare of hate.

"Kukai said you gave her mouth to mouth."

He groaned. That idiot didn't know how to stay quiet. "Well, yeah." He said. "It was kind of needed." She huffed and crossed her arms. It was a little too bitchy that she'd rather Amu have been hurt then receive mouth to mouth from him. "Saaya," he began.

He didn't get to finish though, because she jumped forward and kissed him hard. He grumbled and pushed her off of him, making his way to the locker room. First, he showered, and then dried off. He checked his phone and found a text from Utau. Do you think you could give Amu a ride back to the house? He sent her a text back saying yes and changed into his clothes. She texted back fast. You'll find her in the library.

After he was ready to go, he grabbed his keys and made his way to the library.

-Kelsey