A/N: Hooray for spring coming! And as the world came back to life I felt the call of fanfiction… and so I wrote this little story. I hope spring finds you in good humor! And reviews make me unbelievably happy, so I'd truly appreciate if you left one (or two).

Oh yeah, and there might be a little bit of OOC... for both of them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara. If I did, fillers would be abolished from the anime.

What.

The hell.

WHAT AM I DOING HERE?

"WHAT!!" the yell left my mouth without warning. Rather loudly, I might add. My apologies to the poor customers who actually WANT to be here. At a party store.

With an annoying, perverted, good-for nothing—

"Aaah, Amu. I know you'll love this one," a dark-haired boy said pleasantly, bent over a rack of costumes. "You really must see it, you would look perfect in it," He straightened up and turned around, smiling.

Damn him.

Damn him from here to the moon and back.

No, scratch that—to Pluto and back. And Pluto isn't even a planet anymore, so nobody will care.

Wait—why is he coming back?

"Ikuto, honest to god, if this is anything like the last costume you showed me I am going to kick your ass sooo hard it'll feel like you have that broomstick jammed up…" A small child walked past me as I made my colorful proclamation loudly. Oops. It's my fault for corrupting today's youth.

But seriously, who can blame me right now? This is all Ikuto's fault! I mean, the pervert suddenly returned from college without warning and the next thing you know he was planning a costume party (LAME. It's not even close to Halloween). But as long as the "all-powerful god of sexiness" (not named by me) Tsukiyomi Ikuto is planning a party, everybody under the sun is sure to come. His college friends are even coming all the way here to his tiny hometown. Not to mention every single member of my class is buzzing with anticipation. A party! Hosted by a senior in college!

Party + college boys = TONS OF SMEXY BOYS.

That would be the thought running through the mind of every single female member of my high school. Even my fellow 10th graders.

And of course, where girls go the boys will follow.

All in all, this weekend is sure to be extremely… interesting.

"Ohhh Amu, don't be so cold to me," Ikuto purred, sliding his arms around me shoulders. My silent musings ended as I felt the heat rise slowly to my face.

God damn him.

"Ikuto, get your lecherous arm off of me," I said passively, reaching up and pinching his hand. Hard.

"OW!" he yelped, jumping off. He held his hand in pain as he eyed me from several feet away. Ha! Serves him right, stupid pervert. "Oh no, it's going to bruise!" he said in mock distress. I answered with an eyeroll (a move I have worked hard to perfect for Ikuto).

"You have no sense of restraint, do you?" I asked, laughing quietly to myself. "Ikuto" and "restraint" were two words that should never be used in the same sentence. I've known him too long. Since 5th grade, to be exact. And he has ALWAYS teased me. Even before I was a high school student he would make fun of me endlessly.

And you know what? As much as I hate to admit it, it kinda hurt.

It hurt to watch him go through airhead after airhead, whispering sweet nothings in their perfect ears, only to discard them at a moment's notice. I'm pretty sure he's had more girlfriends than I have outfits. And as a teenage girl I have quite a few.

But as he blew through girl after girl he would still find time to come tease me. At first it was just annoying. I mean, at 5th grade? Nobody wants to find themselves stalked by a crazy older guy. But he kept coming to me. By 8th grade he came almost every night to my balcony.

And I'll admit, it made me feel ridiculously happy and special. As an 8th grader I was beginning to understand that Ikuto was indeed drop-dead gorgeous. And he visited me! Instead of girlfriend XVII or whatever. But he never seemed to realize that I was growing up. Like when puberty finally kicked in. And I grew boobs.

Not a single thing. Moving on to girlfriend MVI.

For a while I cursed every god I knew. Allah, Buddha, God, Ra, you name it.

And finally, I just gave up.

Ikuto was about the only boy that failed to notice my changes. I began to get date offers daily to which I would always apologize and refuse.

Life sucked. My day: one undying love confession and one comment on my a) immaturity, b) attitude, etc. And yet that comment always made me feel more than any confession ever had. And as sucky as life was, it showed no signs of changing.

So earlier as I found myself being picked up bridal-style, I knew at once it was Ikuto. Taking me out on his latest whim. Where he would proceed to make fun of me in any way possible.

Which right now included trying to get me to try on the sluttiest outfits possible. Miniskirt-maid, playboy bunny, fairy princess—you name it, he's suggested it.

"Amu,"

Damn, I was lost in my thoughts again. I can't do that or else—

Warm breath ghosted over my ear making my whole body shiver. Tingles broke out over my skin, immobilizing me as Ikuto's voice whispered in my ear, "You still haven't looked at my latest suggestion,"

And seriously, I heard something inside my head snap.

(Probably the line holding back insanity).

And suddenly I wanted to get back at him. Badly. For the years of teasing he had provided me with.

He liked airheads, right?

My plan was born.

Step 1) I flashed him my most seductive-white-perfect-teeth-baring grin. Complete with slowly batting eyelashes and extra-plumpy-lips. This look had killed (well, not literally) almost every boy I had ever used it on before.

Wait, was that—a blush on his face? No, wait, that was just the fluorescent lights. I think.

Step 2) Simpery voice—activate!

"Ohmigod, Ikuto! Which one is it? Cause I'll totally try it on just-for-you…" I poured the sugar out of my mouth, inching closer as I whispered the last three words.

Step 3) Lean forward slightly… because thank god I'm wearing something that shows off my rather nicely-developed cleavage. All I have to do is lean forward… just a little more.

And his eyes totally didn't just travel down for a second, did they?

He pointed silently at one of the bags, staring anywhere but me. He looked… worried.

Step 4) Turn up the smile wattage. Grab the costume. And flounce to the changing room.

Step 5) Change. And like the idiot I am, I failed to realize what kind of costume Ikuto would have picked for me.

Fuck.

But I was way past caring by now. And so, gritting my teeth I changed into the costume. Or rather, the scarce pieces of fabric called a costume.

Step 6) Parade. In front of Ikuto.

All I have to do is open the changing room.

Breathe.

I checked all the strings holding the outfit together. Secure.

So, yeah.

And I flung aside the door, striding our in what I hoped to be a sexy and confident manner.

The costume section went dead silent. I put on my best smile and pounced over to the dark-haired boy still staring at the rack of costumes. I reached up to tap his arm—but I froze as I heard a low whistle.

"Dude! Score!" a random man walked up to Ikuto, slapping him on the back. He cast me a sly glance as he continued, "Where did you find something like that?"

In my mind, I had it won. Tied down. Victory!

"Do I know you?" Ikuto drawled, turning around to find out whoever spoke to him.

And he froze.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked, putting on an air of mock concern. I looked down at my she-devil outfit, a mess of red bikini held together by sparkly red strings accompanied by horns and whip (who knew she-devils had whips? I sure didn't).

He was speechless. Knocked flat! My plan worked!

"Amu. Change. Now."

Huh? What? Wait, that was IT? Seriously? Five years of payback OVER? Oooooh no.

"What? Why? I like it!" I said, still pretending to be cute. And failing, apparently. Because without another word Ikuto grabbed my arm and dragged me back to the changing rooms. "Ouch, Ikuto! You're pulling too hard!" I complained, but the tears forming my eyes weren't related to the pain at all.

After five years he still didn't like me. I was still just his plaything. And that was it.

"Why in god's name would you do that, Amu?" he whispered, covering his mouth with the hand not dragging me along. And the anger and tingles grew until I snapped.

"WHY THE HELL DO YOU THINK I WOULD, IKUTO?" I yelled. He pushed me into the changing room, avoiding eye contact completely. "IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BIGGEST FUCKING IDIOT I'VE EVER MET, and…" my voice died as my throat was choked by sobs. The door closed in my face and tears spilled from my eyes.

My plan failed! I lost my sanity for nothing!

I began to change into my clothes, tears still flowing down my face. Hell, I didn't care. And neither did Ikuto.

"You're the idiot," he whispered from outside. My turn to freeze. I said nothing as he continued. "What were you thinking? Everyone in the store saw you… like that guy… and you don't care," he mumbled, mostly to himself. My shirt was halfway over my head. I pulled it on quickly and opened the door.

Ikuto stood in front of me, eyes fixed on the floor. His lips were set in a scowl, as were his eyebrows. But his cheeks were bright red.

A BLUSH!!!!

A flitter of hope grew in my chest along with a happy fuzziness. Slowly his eyes rose to meet mine sending bolts of lightning through every inch of my body. A flash of relief covered his face as he saw I was fully clothed. As happy as I was, I set a pout on my face, pretending to be upset. I held the costume in my death grip of a hand, staring at Ikuto.

"Amu, I… I guess I'm sorry. If you really want to wear that… to the party, I can't stop you," he said, his eyes saying the exact opposite. Something inside me tore apart at his pained eyes.

WHAT WAS GOING ON??

This is not even close to the Ikuto I know! Who is this man? Because the Ikuto I know would never ever reach up to dry my tears while looking at me with concern, causing my skin to catch on fire where his fingers brushed.

"WAIT. WHAT?" I deadpanned, confusion apparent on my face/

"Amu, I mean it," he smiled. Completely fake.

"Fine then. Maybe someone at the party will be able to compliment me," I huffed, making to walk past Ikuto back into the store. But instead I walked directly into an amazing-smelling broad chest. And arms captured me from behind.

"Don't," he whispered softly in my ear.

"What? That guy seemed to like it, so I'll bet plenty of guys at the party will too," I said, now just egging on this new Ikuto. Who squeezed me tighter against his chest.

"Forget it. Just forget what I said. You can't wear it," he said quietly. And now, I was annoyed.

"Damn it, Ikuto! Make up your mind! Seriously, you say one thing and…"

My voice wasn't coming out anymore. Did I go mute or something?

No. Wait.

IKUTO. IS KISSING ME!

I melted completely, dropping the costume to the floor as I brought my hands up to his silky soft hair. My brain was full of Ikuto's scent, his taste, his touch—

"OY. NO SOCIALIZING IN THE DRESSING ROOMS,"

I was going to murder the employee that just said that.

But before I could I was swept up as Ikuto grabbed me bridal-style for the second time in a day. I squealed and squirmed, attempting to get down (although not really trying that hard at all).

"IKUTOOOOOOO" I yelled, poking him furiously.

"What?" he smiled, the familiar mischievous glint returning to his midnight eyes. "We can look for costumes later… but I think there are some more important issues to take care of right now," he whispered, lips brushing my ear. He turned to leave but stopped.

And leaned down to grab the costume!

"IKUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?" I yelled, a note of panic sounding in my head.

"It could come in handy… later," he grinned, sending shivers down my spine.

"Ikuto, you are THE BIGGEST NO-GOOD PERVERTED…"

And his lips were on mine again.

Damn him. To Pluto and back.

Although now I know why he's coming back.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Well then, until next time… so long.