Meilin: I AM EXTREMELY SORRY THAT THIS CAME OUT SO LATE...I wrote this whole thing out icluding the introductions and "Special Thanks To" and everything and fanfiction stalled and refreshed and deleted ALL MY WORK -_-
Ikuto: Now she's too lazt ot rewrite everything...
Amu: So...on with the story then?
Meilin: Yes please. -sobs in corner-

Ikuto: Aznpride16xx does not own Shugo Chara - Just the Plot

Behind A Smile – Chapter Fifteen: From the Beginning

Trust takes years to build and only seconds to break. So let's start from the very beginning.

Amu stood there in shock, clashing emotions running through her mind. Did she want to jump for joy? Or did she want to break down and cry? She was utterly confused. Her mouth was open but a lump was caught in her throat that she just couldn't manage to swallow.

"Don't keep the poor boy waiting!" one of the many crowding nurses cooed.

"Ikuto, please, stand up. We can talk about this later. Just…get back into bed" the pinkette begged.

He shook his head. "No. I'm not going anywhere until you give me an ans-" Ikuto's words were interrupted by his own cries. For a moment his vision blurred and his legs could no longer support him up. Amu held him up as best as she could though her legs were buckling underneath his weight.

The girl became worried when Ikuto's rosy cheeks drained to pale. She screamed his name and was in a state of panic. Her breath hitched as she felt a slimy substance on her hands. Oh, please, no! She thought. Hesitant to look, Amu shakily lifted one hand to eye level. "Blood," she breathed. "I need a doctor!"

The nurses dispersed from the doorway and scrambles around trying to gather items for their doctor. The physician was all set to perform another round of stitching while Amu sat outside the door.

"Miss…here, you should wipe your hands." A lady in white handed the pink haired girl a sanitary wipe and Amu gratefully took it. "Mr. Tsukiyomi is resting right now but you may go into his room if you'd like to."

Amu nodded and entered the patient's room. Making her way to Ikuto's bed, she watched him while he slept, combing her fingers through his soft hair.

"Why is it that things go wrong every time I'm around?" the girl mumbled underneath her breath.

"That's not true," Ikuto said feebly. His trembling voice startled her – not that his voice was scary or distasteful; she simply wasn't expecting him to be awake.

Amu looked at him sadly, guilt coating her heart. It is true. The rosette sat very still, looking into this dark blue orbs and he looking into her honey golden ones.

"It isn't your fault. It was the drunken driver's fault and at least the kid is safe, right?"

She agreed with what he was saying was the truth but that guilty feeling still lingered. Scooting over to the far left of his hospital bed, Ikuto patted the empty spot next to him. At first she hesitated but nevertheless laid beside him.

Somehow his presence calmed her. It was always like this – she would constantly be getting into some type of trouble and he would come to her rescue…but she was never the one to help him.

Ikuto snaked his arms around Amu's waist hissing while his stitches slowly stretched. Once again, she had the urge to panic saying things like, "don't push yourself," but he only held onto her tighter. Her many protests fell deaf on his ears and she gave up when she realized that his grip would not waver.

After a few moments of silence, she asked, "Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why would you go so far for someone like me?"

He thought about her question for a second and let out a soft laugh. "Why would you go so far for someone like me?" He asked, throwing her question back at her. "I hurt you more times than I can count. You've suffered all alone because of me, yet you still have the patience to stay by my side. Why?"

She didn't need any time to think of a response. Something inside her clicked together and her soul poured itself out to him. "No matter how many times I've tried to forget you, you're face is the only thing that pops up in my mind. I've constantly tired to leave Japan but I always find myself coming back to you. I wish I…I can't…" She sighed, "I don't know."

"Then why won't you give me an answer?"

She gripped onto his clothing and squeezed the fabric as her hands clenched together. She didn't want to go away but she didn't want to move any closer to him either. "Because you didn't trust me." At the corner of her eyes sat small beads of water. She shut her eyes tightly and rested her forehead against his chest.

His mind drew a blank. Nothing registered in his brain and he was speechless. She was right. He didn't trust her and on top of that he slapped her. She was right to feel hatred towards him at the time. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could take all of it back. I do but I can't. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Amu moved closer to Ikuto, her body molding perfectly to fit his. "Let me sleep for now. I want to remember the moments before all this happened. Let me dream for a little while longer." She shut her eyes and immediately slept overwhelmed her. Ikuto did not object. It was a long day after all, for the both of them. He decided to let her catch up on the beauty rest that she longingly deserved.

Looking at her sleeping face, reality seemed so distant now. The world seemed as if it was a peaceful place with no problems. Oh how he wished it was truly that way. He noticed on her face was a small blemish, the remnant of a cut that sat upon a faint bruise. He grazed his fingers over the wound as he recalled that awful day. He wished that he knew the truth. He wished that he could have taken Amu's side. Over all, he wished that none of this mess had ever happened. Maybe then he would have Amu's trust. Perhaps their relationship would be whole, whether it be as acquaintances, friends, or lovers. Right now, he was unsure of where their relationship stood but that question would have to be resolved when both parties were awake. And with that, Ikuto slowly drifted off into the darkness that awaited him.

Awoken by the pain from his back, Ikuto reached over to the bedside table to pop in another painkiller. Surprised by the lack of warmth, Ikuto's midnight blue eyes fluttered open to reveal an empty space beside him. Amu? He tried to get up to find her but the moment he lifted his feet off the bed a sharp shock ran up his spine. He sighed and settled himself on the bed once more, leaning his head back on the pillow. He stared at the ceiling wondering where she went. He was so anxious to hear her answer. If her answer was "no" then he would let her be. But if it happened to be "yes" then he would hug and kiss her, let her know how much she meant to him, whisper sweet nothings into her ear and never again let go of her. Where are you?

Back at the Souma and Tsukiyomi household, Utau and Amu were sitting in the living room discussing the pinkette's current situation.

"You love him, don't you?" The blonde asked.

"Of course, I do. I just don't know what I should do. I want to be with him but after what he did…I'm not so sure."

"You know, you're only delaying what's inevitable to happen," Utau reasoned.

"What do you mean?"

Utau stood up from the couch and exhaled lightly. "Think about it, Amu. Just remember this: every second that ticks by, something horrible might happen to one or both of you. Take yesterday, for example, that drunken motorcyclist could have killed my brother. What would you have done then?"

Amu looked down at the steaming tea in her hands. The inevitable? While she was thinking to herself, Utau decided to leave her with one last though.

"Choose quickly, but don't make a choice that you'll end up regretting." With that being said, Ikuto's sister walked out of the room and into the kitchen.

Why is Utau so smart with words? Ugh, I hate when she makes me feel guilty. But…she's right; nothing is going to change if I don't do anything.

Amu took a deep breath, stood from the comfy couch, and set down her tea cup. Taking all Utau had said into account, the pinkette made up her mind and left the house. Utau stood by the door, smiling and watching the girl go win what she deserved.

"That's my girl," Utau chuckled to herself. "Go get my brother."

Back at the hospital, Amu impatiently jabbed her finger into the elevator button. Deciding that the door was taking too long for her liking, she ran down the hallway and opened the door to the stairwell. Climbing three flights of stairs to reach room 122 - Ikuto's room - adrenaline rushed through her veins. She wasn't going to wait a second more to tell him her answer.

"I have an emergency!" A nurse urgently spoke to the nearby doctor. "Patient 122's heart rate has gone flat."

At that moment, Amu felt her heart stop beating as well. It skipped a beat, stopped entirely, and dropped down to her stomach. No. I'm too late? "Excuse me; I need to see the patient in that room. Please let me in!"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. The doctor is doing everything he can to save that man. I cannot allow any interference," the doctor's assistant stated calmly.

"I need to see him. I can't lose him, not again!" The girl was breaking down into hysterics, her heart now beating three times faster than the normal rate. I'm too late. Why did I have to be so stubborn!

The nurse picked up a walkie-talkie and held it close to her lips. "I need security to escort a woman down to the temporary waiting room." No later than thirty seconds later, a man dressed in black came up and ushered Miss Hinamori to the first floor.

"I'm sure you would rather be in this room then-"

Suddenly, she cut him off mid-sentence. "No! I'd rather wait with-"

Returning the "favor," the security guard lightly nudged Amu into the room.

"Amu?" She knew that voice; that all too familiar velvet tone.

"Ikuto?" She voiced, surprised and relieved at the same time. "You're okay? What are you doing here? I thought you were in room 122."

"I'm fine. I was moved into this room soon after you left earlier. And why are you crying?" He answered chronologically.

She squealed his name and tackled him into a hug. He was taken back by this but nevertheless embraced her as well. "Yes," she whispered.

At first he didn't understand what she meant, but something clicked in his mind a split second later. "Wait, what?" He said pushing her shoulders back so that her face could be seen.

She leant back on his chest, closing her eyes, and breathed, "I want to be your bride."

His face light up instantly.

"But…" Oh boy, the dreaded "but." Ikuto waited for her to continue, hoping that whatever was about to come out of her mouth wasn't unfortunate. "…you didn't believe me when I told you about Saaya. You even slapped me out of anger. It scared me; I'm not going to lie anymore. I'm afraid you're going to do it again one day. But regardless, I will still love you and I want to be your wife. But I want to wait. I'm sor-"

The male tightened his grip around her frame. "We'll take it slow then. I don't mind. You said yes and that's all that matters to me."

"I…Ikuto."

"And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you. I didn't understand it myself but if you want me to get help, I'll get it. Whatever it takes, I'm never letting you go. I'll earn back your trust again. I want you to believe in me. Days, months, even years, I'll regain your trust back somehow."

"And you've already got back some of it," she smiled.

Love can make a person do crazy and unimaginable things. True love and trust are not easy things to come by, but when you have it cherish it. Treat it as if it can shatter into a million pieces, because once it's broken, it will be nearly impossible to repair – like a million piece puzzle. I will start from the beginning and I will finish it, definitely.

End Chapter Fifteen - Behind A Smile Has Ended

Meilin: THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!
Ikuto: And since it's late, Meilin will not be rewritting the "Special Thanks To" again. It takes way too long.
Amu: BUT let us know if you think you've reviewed all the chapters. If you have, you get to be in the next Shugo Chara Fanfiction!
Meilin: And we're almost to 250 reviews...so lets make it happen! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH ME THROUGH ALL THIS I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!

PS...I have three other Amuto stories planned out and one YuukiXZero and UsuiXMisaki FF in progress. Let me know which couple you would like to see :D
See you next time my lovelies!