Unexpectedly Accepting

A/N: This chapter, just like the previous chapter, makes references to, and has some spoilers for, Chapter 38! So, just another little warning. In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this one too!

-()-

They came in, all beaten and bruised, I had no idea what was going on. Midori didn't either, I could tell, but she still had that air about her, she made it seem like she did. So capable and strong, she was always like that, unlike me. At that moment, I could feel the tears as they began to well up in my eyes, desiring to fall, I wanted to flutter around my little sparrow (who was dressed in the oddest attire I had ever seen her wear (it was slightly on the inappropriate side too) ) and tell her that it was alright. I wanted to hear her tell me that she already knew that.

I wanted to hear her tell me that she did something cool, something amazing, like save the world. In her 'Cool and Spicy' way, of course, but her attitude, it all seemed so off. I couldn't say why, but my little sparrow appeared to be worried.

They all appeared a little off in their attitudes, as they stood in the entrance way (and they were all dressed in such odd clothes as well, was it Halloween and I just hadn't realized it! There was an angel, a pirate, a baby, the list could go on…) the boy in the pirate outfit was clinging onto Amu. Even though he was bigger than her in every way, shape, and form; he was a high school student, I could tell that much.

"What's wrong with Ikuto-kun, Amu?" Ikuto-kun? Who the heck was that? It didn't surprise me though; the way Midori knew these types of things. She was a woman; a mother and a wife at that, they had their ways of finding out information. Right then, information was what I wanted, but no one was going to give it to me.

Ami apparently knew one of them and jumped from her seat to rush over to the girl in the angel outfit (she looked rather familiar, but for the life of me I couldn't place her.) She then proceeded to attack the girl with those large, sparkling eyes that I could never deny. "Utau-chan! Utau-chan!" Ami was practically screaming it at the girl, who didn't even seem to be paying attention to anything besides the boy (the young man) who was hanging off of Amu.

Her eyes were worried too.

But, more importantly…that was Hoshina Utau! What was she doing in my house? Since when was my 'Cool and Spicy' daughter friends with her? And…what else had happened when I wasn't looking…?

That young man. Something about him was making me nervous. Was getting my stomach all twisted and knotted up. Amu was looking at him in a way that she never looked at anyone before.

"Mama, Ikuto…Ikuto had something bad happen to him…can I lay him down on the couch?" She was holding information back from us. I could tell, and the glance that Midori sent my way informed me that she knew this as well. What could we do though? Right then, someone was hurt, it was better to fix the problem first and question it all later.

Midori just nodded, she looked drained. And me…I didn't know what to do.

Amu started walking away from us, as Midori rounded up Hoshina Utau (who seemed rather determined to go after Amu and that boy…Ikuto, but who was being dragged away by another boy (Amu has too many male friends!) with brown hair) and the rest of Amu's little friends, she asked if any of them wanted a snack. None of them did.

Their eyes all seem so tired.

And Amu was alone with that young man. That Ikuto.

I didn't like it.

-()-

I shouldn't be doing this. I know. But, I'm curious…what does this Ikuto mean to Amu. And, as I glance around the corner at the two in the living room, I'm right to be anxious. He's sitting on the couch, Amu is trying to get him to lie down, but he's not releasing his grip on her waist.

He seems so desperate to hold on to her.

Like he's in love with her.

And Amu, she's still as 'Cool and Spicy' as the day she was born. She's being stubborn and whispering despairingly at him to let go and sleep. It's calming me. But then, that young man goes and messes it up again.

"You're so warm. Your hug…it was so warm too, Amu." Amu, he's using her first name, and she's not complaining. If anything, she's blushing. Her eyes are getting glassy too.

She's stuttering as she talks, "S-stop it Ikuto! Don't-don't tease me like that." The look on her face isn't matching her voice. She's biting her bottom lip, and appears to be rather stunned, even though she tried to make her voice tough. What happened to her being 'Cool and Spicy'?

"Besides…don't say stuff like that when you already have someone you like, jerk." A mumble, I barely hear it. Her voice is teasing and yet, it holds a hint of jealousy in it too. My heart's not ready to hear things like this! At least she's mentioned him liking someone else; perhaps he likes Hoshina Utau it would answer why the girl had gotten so possessive looking when Amu had taken Ikuto to the living room. My train of thought is brought back to the couple as Amu continues speaking, "And for the last time, let go, Ikuto! I swear, I think you've been holding onto me ever since I hugged you earlier."

"Have not!" His response is childish, and for a second I see a little boy in the young man who holds my daughter hostage, but that disappears all too quickly, "And I've already told you…that I love you. No one else."

He means it. I'm terrified.

"Idiot." It's soft, her reply to his confession. She has heard it before, he had said…when? How? What went on in my daughter's life that I wasn't aware about. When did Ikuto fall in love with her…and when did she fall in love with him?

She isn't saying that she loves him back, but I can already notice the signs that she cares for him. Amu probably isn't even aware of them herself yet, still too young. But her voice had been really soft when she had called him an idiot, almost in an amused, caring sort of way. And her eyelids had fallen, only just. Now a small smile is on her face, as she watches Ikuto (who's falling asleep, in such an odd position, he must be really tired) and her protests are forgotten. Instead, she's positioning him onto the couch, and just barely squeezing herself next to him.

I sigh.

"Let go, Ikuto." One more she whisperes a protest, near silent.

"Never."

That's gone and settled it then. He isn't letting go.

My eyes are unable to leave them as the two begin to fall asleep on the couch. Their outfits, I notice, matching in an odd sense of the way, and they appear so compatible; they can rest peacefully next to each other.

Ikuto is unconsciously pulling her closer to himself in his sleep. He's holding onto her, not the other way around, like it is in so many other relationships.

He needs her.

I sigh again. It's a losing battle, to try and deny what I see happening before my eyes. And I can't turn down something a man needs. A woman who will be there for him no matter what, in that way, I can picture myself in Ikuto.

It makes me feel old. It makes me feel sad. But it also makes me feel happy.

Ikuto is a good boy.

-()-

"You're…Ikuto's sister?"

"Yeah, that's right. And I don't think your daughter is good enough for Ikuto."

"I…see." Who knew such a cute pop idol with such a sweet voice could be so…stubborn and…mean.

"Do you really?" She's questioning me, really, what is up with this new generation, questioning their elders like that! "Ikuto loves your daughter. He'll do anything for her. Meanwhile, your daughter is still hung up on that little boy over there-" She points to the blonde boy (boy? I had thought he had been a girl up until now!) who is Amu's age; she continues, "-but they're already doomed. She loves Ikuto too. I know it, but that still doesn't mean that I accept it." Utau is talking like they're going to get married or something; with the way she makes everything sound so final.

Married…No, Amu is far too young to have any type of relationship that could lead to marriage. She's at the age of crushes…but I already saw it…

How she is slowly falling in love.

So maybe, one day, this rather rude musician and her brother were going to be my in-laws. My insides shudder, Ami will be ecstatic and Amu will be happy…but that's not all that bad…right?

-()-

By now all of Amu's friends have left except for Utau and Ikuto (who is still sleeping soundly beside Amu.)

"How can they sleep so perfectly next to each other? It took us a while before one of us didn't end up on the floor." I try to be as quiet as possible as I speak, since all the children are asleep. Only Midori and I are up.

"They've had practice." What the heck did she mean by that! "Ikuto stayed in Amu's room for three days. Remember when she was acting odd and we figured she had found a stray cat or dog…she did find a stray, just not an animal per say." Midori had always been so perceptive. Sometimes, like right now, I can't tell if that's good or bad.

"Oh…" My mind is dying. Too much information to take in over the course of one day.

And then finally, those tears I wanted to cry before are let loose, and Midori is right there, holding me. The scene from earlier, the words Ikuto had told Amu, I remember feeling them too. I understand them all over again as Midori continues to embrace me.

And, even though I still don't like it.

And, even though I still have to get used to it.

I accept it.

-()-

A/N: Mother's know everything, especially in fiction. Poor fathers, always being left in the dark like that! Anyway, my little take on what happens after the epic-ness that was Ikuto's arc in the manga (even though it's not really over with yet…) And, I highly doubt that anything like this is going to be happening in the manga, but well…that makes it fit right in to my series of unexpected things. This will be the last of the Amuto focused one-shots for a while; they'll probably be mentioned on the side in the next couple chapters, but nothing more than that. Anyway, take care everyone!

-LilyGinnyBlack-