A Kutau fanfiction that starts off sadly, but it will get better! If I continue it that is, because I might not, I don't know yet.

But please review? This is only my second fanfiction, so it might not be that good. Advice will help me improve!

Anyway, I hope you like it!

Like An Angel

Ambulances. Their sirens seemed to go on for eternity, and to Kukai's ears they were deafening. Night had fallen, but flashing blue and red lights made the street seem almost as bright as day. Glass was strewn everywhere. Metal, too, ripped into pieces, the sheer sight of it made Kukai feel as if he couldn't breathe. His surroundings seemed unnaturally white, like the world was just disappearing. Kukai couldn't think. Nothing seemed real. The night was in reality warm, but Kukai felt as if he were caged in ice. Everywhere around him were people in frightening uniforms, paramedics, rushing, their jobs right now vital. They were probably the most vital people in the world. Kukai looked around. No one's eyes were on him. He could just slip away, and be unnoticed. It would be so easy.

Feeling as if some other force, some other being was controlling his feet, Kukai turned and ran from that horrible scene, as fast as his legs were able to carry him, as urgently as whatever sickness was pulling him away.

Utau sat in the kitchen, attempting to scrape the last bits of ice cream out of the container. She gave up and threw the container in the bin with an irritated sigh. She was wiped. Work had been hell. Paparazzi had been, like, double hell. Was that even a place? Gah. Utau yawned and began to trudge upstairs. Just as she had gone two steps, there was a knock at the door.

The knock was so quiet she wasn't sure she'd really heard a knock at all. But then it happened a second time. Wondering who could be visiting at an hour like this, she went to the door.

'Kukai!' she exclaimed in surprise when she saw who it was. Then her eyes widened. 'What – what's wrong?'

Because she could tell immediately that something was wrong. Kukai stood completely still, his head down. She could hardly see his face. His stance was... strange. Wrong, somehow. And, his presence felt different. He was usually so energetic. He seemed... drained. Like he was hardly there at all.

'Utau...' Kukai began so softly that she had to strain to hear him. 'Can I stay at your place tonight?'

Utau couldn't see why not. Ikuto was upstairs, but he wouldn't care if Kukai stayed over. Their mother wasn't home. 'Yeah,' she said, not knowing what else to say. 'Come in.' She took his arm and led him inside, closing the door behind them.

Utau led Kukai into the kitchen. She was seriously alarmed. She had never seen Kukai so shaken up before, ever. He was always so cheerful. Even when he was down he was ten times more cheerful than anybody else around him. Utau sat the boy down at the bench. She still couldn't see his eyes.

She wanted to ask him what had happened, but at the same time she dreaded to. 'Uh... can I get you some water?' She tried to make her voice cheery, but it sounded strained and artificial even to her own ears.

The boy nodded once. Utau went to the sink, selecting a glass, and filled it with water. She stared at the water as it poured out of the tap. What was going on? She realised with a start that she'd left the tap on too long, and quickly turned it off. She went to Kukai, settling the glass in front of him.

'Here. Drink it, okay?' she commanded. She tried to hide the note of alarm in her voice.

Kukai stared at the glass for a moment, then slowly reached out and took it. He raised it to his mouth and drank obediently.

'Good,' Utau said, relieved.

Just at that moment, Ikuto entered. 'Oh?' he inquired, his eyes lighting up mischievously as he spotted Kukai. 'What is the Jack-Star-Guy-Chair-Something doing here at this time of night? Have I intruded on a secret lovers' meeting? Tut-tut, children –'

'GET OUT!' Utau screeched at him, then immediately lowered her voice as Kukai jumped slightly. 'Get out,' she repeated in a low voice, grabbing her brother roughly by the arm and pulling him out of the kitchen, into the hallway.

'Shut the hell up, would you?' she hissed at Ikuto as soon as they were out of earshot.

Ikuto looked taken aback. 'Why? I barely said anything...'

'Look, something's wrong okay? I don't know what, but I think it's serious. Don't just go running your mouth off like that, please.' Her voice was filled with fury, but Ikuto thought it also held a note of fear.

Ikuto looked harder at Utau's face. 'You're really worried, aren't you?'

She nodded, biting her lip, and Ikuto felt sorry for the girl. Utau straightened. 'Anyway, listen. He asked if he could stay here tonight. And I said it's fine.' She glared up at Ikuto, daring him to disagree.

He nodded. 'I understand,' he told her. 'I won't say anything upsetting to him. And he can sleep in my room tonight, okay? I'll sleep on the couch.'

Utau sighed, relieved. She hugged her brother. 'Thanks, Ikuto. I know you're responsible when it comes down to it.'

Ikuto popped his head back in the kitchen. 'Hey, Kid. You can bunk in my room tonight. I'll show you where it is.'

The boy nodded and, standing up, followed Ikuto out. Utau watched him go, and though the night was warm, she couldn't help but shiver.

Utau knocked softly on Ikuto's bedroom door. She pushed it open to see Kukai sitting stiffly on the bed. He moved slightly at her entrance, but didn't look at her.

'Um...' she began awkwardly. 'I've brought a change of pyjamas for you. They're clean and they'll probably fit; they're Ikuto's from a couple of years ago.'

'Thank you,' he said quietly.

As she watched her friend, Utau suddenly couldn't stand this any longer. She had to ask. It didn't matter if it upset Kukai to tell her, if there was something really wrong and it was hurting him like this, then she had to know.

Utau sat on a chair across from him. 'Kukai,' she began gently but firmly. 'I need to know what happened. What's making you upset like this?'

As she watched Kukai, she was afraid he wasn't going to tell her. But then he slowly looked up at her for the first time that night. As she saw his eyes, Utau was shocked. There was pain and so much fear in them, things that seemed to dull the usual green colour to a faint whisper of grey.

'Utau...' he began, barely audible. 'I-it's my p-parents... I've done something... terrible...'