Wohoo! Last chapter + an Epilogue (which I think is super adorable ^_^ , let's just say Ikuto really shows his feelings for Amu without any hesitations now ;) ) Thanks for staying with me since I've been away. I know, it might have been tough for some dedicated readers, I just hope this ending won't disappoint you. My next posted story will be super special to me, just read the rather lengthy author's note at the beginning of it and you'll understand why ;) Anyhow, thanks for your patience with me! –violetrose92

I do not own Shugo Chara…..

Chap 20

It was hardly a contest. Ikuto won hands down. He tied up their pursuer as he remarked, "They'll be here any minute to put you into a cold, dark, dank prison cell where you belong; the police and my Tou-san's band. You'll get what you deserve."

"Tch!" the man scoffed, "You really are Aruto's son." He glared at the young, aspiring violinist.

Ikuto smirked and went to where he had moved his Amu…..along with the rest of their things.

The spot was safe, secluded and quiet. Amu was still unconscious at the moment, not seeing Ikuto's gentle smile. He brushed some of the stray pink strands out of her face almost hesitantly. Above them, the sky was barely lighting up in the dawn as Ikuto reverently took out his violin and began to play….

Music…..again. She stirred. Violin….she thought, Ikuto's violin…..B-but that's impossible! Amu's eyes fluttered opened to see a wiry silhouette. Ikuto's silhouette. She moaned almost silently, but, instantly the music stopped. The black shadow stopped and half-turned towards the awakening girl. Then she saw him. Everything. His eyes, his hair, his smile…

"W-what happened to me? I-I don't remember….." she held her forehead. Ikuto began to walk towards her. That same sweet expression that had so confused her before, on his face and in his eyes. He halted right in front of her. He was so tall, that Amu could only see his legs.

"Ikuto?"

The man dropped to his knees, eye to eye with Amu. His hands reached out for her.

"Ikuto?" she asked again, her voice quieter for some reason. Suddenly, she felt his strong fingers on the soft skin at the nape of her neck. Gently, those long fingers pressed her towards him. It didn't hurt at all, but rather it calmed her strangely. Her neck warmed, "Y-yes?" she stammered, breathless.

After a moment of silence, Amu heard Ikuto's voice low and gentle in her ear, "I found what I was looking for." His fingers caressed the back of her neck lightly, but, it still sent shivers down her spine.

"W-what do you mean?"

Ikuto's fingers stopped at the base of her neck. The gentle pressure sent more tingles throughout her.

"You, Amu." He murmured.

She gasped, "Don't tell me that….."

Ikuto moved his head from the side of her neck and rested a hand on her pink cheek, "Yes Amu. I was looking for you."

"B-but you already found me. I-I don't understand…."

Ikuto's smile gentled even more, "What I mean you baka, is that I was waiting for you to grow up enough." The familiar nickname held something more than just teasing…

"E-enough for what?" she stammered, her heart began to race as she thought of what it could be.

Ikuto bent again, resting his lips on her ear, and said "To come with me."

Amu gasped again, covering her mouth as what he just said finally registered.

"A-are you s-sure you want me to come with you? I-I'm still so young….."

Ikuto wrapped his arm around her and wove his fingers into her hair. He murmured into the soft strands, "Not too young for me."

Amu felt his lips rest on her head as he continued, "So, will you come willingly? Or will I have to kidnap you? Either way, I'm not leaving Japan without you. Not again." His tone was gentle and teasing, but, it held a certain weight of seriousness in it.

Amu was silent. Shocked. Tsukiyomi Ikuto was asking her to marry him in his own strange way.

"Amu?" Ikuto gently asked, lifting his head.

Amu smiled and looked up at him, "You, an adult, are asking me, a minor of only seventeen, to marry you. Do you realize that?"

Ikuto grinned, "Of course I do." He held her chin with his fingers, "But, I just so happen to love this seventeen year old ex-supergirl-minor-who-used-to-be-my-enemy."

Amu smiled, "Are you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with me tagging along? You won't be as 'free as the wind' with a wife and probably children, knowing you." she smiled and raised her eyebrow teasingly.

Ikuto's other arm brought her body inches away from his. His fingers still grasped her chin, his thumb ran along the side of her jaw, "Somehow, if it's you I'm tied down to, I don't mind." His grin was mischievous, "You had me tied down a long time ago."

Amu grinned and put her arms around his neck, "Are you positively positive?"

Ikuto smiled, "When have I not been?" his arms rested on her waist now.

"Fine." Amu smiled then whispered, "I'll come." She pulled his head down and kissed him.

Ikuto rose from his crouch and pulled Amu up against him.

When they finally were able to breathe, Ikuto's hand once again rested on her cheek, "Amu." He murmured.

She lay her head on his shoulder and sighed, "I wonder how Tou-san is going to take this….." she giggled, "He leaves for only a week and when he comes back, his daughter is going to marry some stray violinist…."

Ikuto smoothed her hair, "I know. I have quite the scene in my head at the moment."

Amu smiled, "Yeah" she giggled again.

Ikuto was quiet, "Just say it on more time Amu." Was his gentle request.

"I love you Tsukiyomi Ikuto. Only you."

"That's all I wanted to hear." He smiled and kissed her neck.

Epilogue

Four years go by….

"Rika!" a voice called, "Don't run so far ahead!"

"But I wanna go to Tou-chan!" the three year old girl insisted.

"Rika!" The woman cried as the little girl ran out of her sight; one small body amidst hundreds of people, "Rika!" she cried out again, panicking, her amber eyes were wide.

"Kaa-san? Where did Onee-chan go?" the two year old boy, his eyes—the same color of his mother's—were frightened.

The young mother forced herself to take a deep breath, Calm down, Amu. She told herself then smiled down at the little boy on her hip, "Rika-ne is just like Tou-chan ne? Don't worry Aruto, we'll find her, 'kay?"

The little boy sniffed, "Hai, Kaa-chan!"

Amu smiled and kissed the little boy's mop of shaggy blue hair, Just like Ikuto's she thought. Suddenly, her head shot up as her long-accustomed ears picked out the sound of a violin. Entranced, Amu followed the strain to a small garden. An older man stood near the gate. His eyes were closed as he swayed to the violin's music. Amu gasped and walked right up to him.

"Kaa-chan?" little Aruto asked from her arms.

"Oh," she shook her head, "hai? Aruto?" she answered the child. The violinist stopped and looked directly at her. When he spoke, his voice was oddly reminiscent of Ikuto's, "Aruto ne? That's a name I haven't heard for a long time.

Amu's head snapped up. Again, she gasped when she met the older violinist's dark blue eyes.

Rika's pink head peeked out from behind the man's legs, "Kaa-chan!"

"Rika!" she exclaimed as the girl ran and hugged her mother's legs, "How many times have I told you not to run away like that?" Amu reprimanded.

"Sorry Kaa-chan…."Rika sniffed.

Amu sighed and knelt to hug her, "I'm just glad you're all right." She kissed the little girl's head.

"But Kaa-chan!" the little girl nearly jumped up and down with delight, "violinist-san plays just like Tou-chan!"

"He does?" Amu looked up, "I'm sorry if she was mistaking you, Sir. Her father plays the violin as well." She smiled at the fond memories of beaches and kisses… "and quite beautifully if I might add."

The man smiled, "You love your husband, don't you?"

Amu blushed, "O-of course! We've been through a lot together. Ever since we were young…."

The man's smile softened, "What is your name young lady?" he asked.

Amu snapped back into reality, "I'm sorry." She cleared her throat and bowed, her long hair fell over her bare shoulders, "Tsukiyomi Amu."

Amu didn't see the man's stunned expression, nor hear his sharp gasp, "Tsukiyomi…Amu?"

"Hai!" she beamed, putting little Aruto down who promptly shoved his finger in his mouth.

"Amu!" called a worried voice, "Rika! Aruto!"

Amu's heart leaped when she saw Ikuto's blue head coming towards them.

She raised her hand and lifted her voice, "Ikuto! Over here!" she called back.

Ikuto saw her frantically waving hand and ran up. He gathered her into his arms, "I found you." he said, relieved. He brushed her bangs out of her face, "Are you all right? What about the kids?" his relieved expression relaxed into his devilish smirk, "Fess up. Who lost who?"

Amu was insulted, she turned her head away and pouted, "Hmph! Do you think that I'm such and irresponsible mother as to lose my own children?"

Ikuto grinned and feigned nonchalance, "I don't know. You always were a bit of an airhead."

Amu placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot as she whirled to face him, in her eyes was that defiant spark that Ikuto found irresistible "Tsukiyomi Ikuto!"

That was exactly what wanted. He grinned mischievously and quicker then she could react, Ikuto had his arms around her waist and pulled her up and into him.

"Yes dear?" he said, their faces were inches away from each other, that daring smirk was on his face again.

The old trick still worked. Promptly, Amu's cheeks turned red, but, instead of turning away from him, she smiled up at him and slid her arms around his neck "You are so lucky I love you." she said. Ikuto's grip tightened.

"What was that? I didn't quite hear it."

"I said," Amu rose onto her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, "You. Are. So. Lucky. I. Love. You."

"Oh really?" Ikuto teased.

"Tou-chan and Kaa-chan are at it again." sighed Rika.

The older man smiled, "This is normal for them?"

Both children nodded their head vigorously.

"I see." The man smiled mysteriously and pulled Rika onto his knee. "Tell me, Rika-chan. How did your Tou-chan and Kaa-chan meet?"

The girl eagerly went into the tale, "Well, they didn't like each other at first and they actually fought on opposite sides. Tou-chan was a bad guy and Kaa-chan was a good guy and Tou-chan worked for someone called Easter. They were looking for these pretty, shiny eggs with hearts on them."

The man's eyebrows rose, "Really?"

"Yup! And then and then Tou-chan fell in love with Kaa-chan, but she liked somebody else. It was a really, really, really long time before Kaa-chan fell in love with Tou-chan and they got married and had me and Aruto." The little girl beamed.

The mysterious man turned his face back to the young couple, now very close together.

"Say it one more time." Ikuto demanded, smiling.

Amu smiled and pulled his head down once again, "I. Love. You. Ikuto." She murmured.

Ikuto smiled and pulled her head closer, "Su was right." She said directly into her ear, "I did marry you so I could hug and kiss you all I want."

Rika and Aruto covered their eyes simultaneously.

"I dare you." Amu said, her eyes glinting even more from that fire. Ikuto could hardly suppress himself.

"That's one thing you don't want to ask me. You should know that by now." His eyes glinted as he murmured something incomprehensible into her ear.

Amu flushed, "O-of course I kn—"

Before she could finish, Ikuto brought his lips to hers and held. When they separated he said, "I warned you."

"Warning NOT taken." Amu giggled mischievously and began to turn. Ikuto was not about to let her get away so easily. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back, "Come here. I'm not done with you yet." He kissed her neck. Amu laughed, "That's enough Ikuto! We're probably scaring this poor man." She smiled and relaxed against him.

"So?" his smile was gentle and teasing. Amu smiled back up at him.

The man was stunned.

"Is that really you Ikuto?" he asked.

Ikuto's head snapped up. His eyes were shocked, "Tou-san?" he inquired disbelievingly. He released Amu. Rika and Aruto went to her. Now she was stunned. Her pink head swung from man to man, "Ikuto? Is he really—"

Ikuto's smile was her answer.

Tsukiyomi Aruto smiled at his son and opened his arms, "Ikuto."

Ikuto hugged him unashamedly, "Finally, after nine years of searching for you."

Aruto smiled at his son, "Do you still have my violin?"

The young man grinned and unslung the violin case from his back, "Of course."

The older man seemed afraid to open it at first. His fingers hesitated then undo the clasps running reverent hands over the polished wood surface. "You've taken good care of it."

Ikuto's grin softened into a smile, "How could I not?" he put and arm around Amu's shoulder, "It's what brought me and Amu together."

Amu smiled back and leaned her head on his shoulder while Rika and little Aruto hung onto her legs.

Ikuto squeezed her shoulder and placed a soft kiss on her temple before releasing her, "Let me introduce you properly. This is my wife Amu." She bowed respectfully.

"A pleasure to me you Aruto-san."

He pointed at the pink haired Rika, "That little troublemaker is Amu's daughter Rika."

The young woman punched him in the shoulder playfully, "She's yours too."

"Tou-chan!" the little girl wailed and wrinkled her nose at him. Ikuto chuckled then bent to little Aruto's level, "and," he swung the little boy up into his arms, "this is our son, Aruto."

A/N: All done! ^_^ I love how this turned out. I know in the manga Aruto makes an appearance at the end of Encore, I think, but, I like the idea of Ikuto taking Amu and their family with him to go looking for his father and having one of their children find him ^_^

Also, I want to again, thank everyone for their patience as I've been away at school. This story is finally done and the next one might take a little longer because of the massive editing project it is lol

I hope you've enjoyed You Had Me Tied Down a Long Time Ago (yes, I did change the name as suggested, so, you're not reading the wrong story if you've been following it) It was a lot of fun to write!

Thanks!
-violetrose92