A/N: I'm very sorry for the delay on this chapter. Have been a bit busy lately _ Exams coming up, was sick not once but twice :') Hello mister Flu. Please drop by again. I love you 3 lol. Besides, I accidentally deleted the document meant for this chapter. Lady luck is definitely on my side this month ;)
So I had to start over again. I personally think it gave me the chance to make this chapter much better. I hope it's worth the wait though! No more chatty chat here, let's go to chapter 4!
Chapter 4: A kiss and a familiar stranger
"I love your daughter".
The words resonated in her head. Her heart pounding, loud and fast. She hoped he didn't hear that. Especially seeing the fact that he was standing so close to her. He loves her. Thoughts ran through her mind. Does he really? She did not see that coming. Not at all. Why is that? She wondered. Wondering if it was love that bloomed today, or love that perhaps was there a lot earlier on. Years ago… back in the day, while fighting against the forces of Easter Company. Amu couldn't quite comprehend what just happened, what Ikuto just said in front of her parents.
Why would he do such a thing?
She was a little angry. Some sort of adrenaline was rushing through her body, going along with the streams of blood in her veins. It confused her. What was going on right now?
Meanwhile, her parents were staring at the two night revelers. A silence filled the area for a little while. The only thing making a small noise was the ticking of the big clock in the hall. Ikuto slowly ran his hand through his navy blue hair. It had gotten a little longer, Amu noticed. Such a silly detail to think about in a critical minute like these sixty seconds. It was clear he wasn't sure of what he was doing either. He started to speak again anyway.
"You see…. She's very important to me. I'd never let anyone or anything hurt her. I just got back in town and really wanted to see her. I shouldn't have called her out on a late night like this. So… if you want to blame someone, blame me. It's my fault." He lowered his head out of politeness towards the Hinamori couple.
"I see…" Her mother answered slowly. "I see that you are quite devoted to our daughter and I still trust you after all these years." Her eyes wandered towards her daughter Amu, quickly. Squinting her eyes, as if she tried to warn Amu. "Just make sure something like this doesn't happen again in the future". She pronounced the words carefully with a strict tone in it. Ikuto Tsukiyomi nodded at these words, like a young school boy promising not to do any naughty things again. Amu's father looked horrified, but that was no surprise. A typical reaction of him. If there was an award for world's most dramatic person, he'd definitely win it.
"I will keep that in mind. Don't worry!" He smiled a little. Oh god. Amu felt something flutter around, she simply loved that smile. She always had. Her body was shaking a little. Due everything. The unexpected meeting, the confession… due his presence in general. There was something strange about it that made her go crazy inside. That feeling had always been around. It made her dizzy.
When they were done talking, done talking with her parents it was time for Ikuto to leave. She saw him slowly leaning closer to her head. Her heart beat went up, so high. Something the strawberry hadn't felt in years. The seconds passed slowly. He came closer to her, and closer, until there was barely any space in between them. He gave her a soft, gentle kiss on her cheek, right next to her ear.
"I haven't forgotten my promise yet, Amu." He whispered to the flustered girl and walked away, into the deep night the city was covered in. Amu just stood there.
Flustered. Paralyzed. Staring at the dark area her old friend just disappeared into.
Amu couldn't sleep very well that night. She was baffled. What just happened? Was he serious? It made her blush even more. She kept spinning and turning in her bed. Even though she didn't have to work that morning, it still bothered her that she would miss her precious sleep like this. Especially when her mind was clouded with that one person she didn't even dare to think about for such a long time. Or at least tried not to think about him. Though he is here now. Kissing her cheek, confessing in front of her parents and even bringing up those words he said years ago. That promise. It frustrated her. Made her wish she had the courage to tell him he didn't have to try so hard, if he was serious about this. Cause she had known her heart for quite a while now.
The next day, she decided to go out of the house. To stroll around the house. To let out the thoughts. Or better said; to distract herself with other things than you know who.
Maybe it was almost instinctive, but she found herself in front of Nagihiko's house. She'd always go to him when something was on her mind. The guy was such a good listener. Even if she didn't actually tell him what was going on in her life, talking to him always made her feel at ease. She looked at her black watch, to see what time it was. 4:10 in the afternoon. He'd be home by now. She rang the bell near the porch of the house quickly. It was kind of awkward to stand in front of someone's home while not actually doing anything.
Tea time with Nagihiko. Highlight of the week. Since pretty much all of her friends left town for college and such, Amu didn't have many contacts anymore in the area. It's not like texting and video chatting with her old friends made her feel less lonely. Only a little. She was so grateful finding out that Nagihiko stayed. The strawberry girl couldn't really bear the thought of being all by herself again. Sitting on the traditional Japanese floor in the huge house Nagihiko lived in, laughing and drinking tea made her think about the good old days.
"Oh Amu. Rima told me she'd be back in town in a month or so!" That was one of the first things Nagihiko blurted out, when they sat down on the floor. Amu blinked a few times, wondering why Rima didn't tell her about her return. Ooh well, she thought. Nagihiko might have gotten closer to Rima past year than she was in the first place. Those two were pretty much a couple after all. Amu smiled at his words anyway, just a little. Her friend coming back was good news after all.
"That's awesome! How long will she stay?" The chatting continued, making Amu forget about last night's adventure with Ikuto for the first time, even if it was just a little. A little peace of mind. Perhaps this was something Nagihiko already knew he was back.
A silence broke, as Nagihiko asked her a weird question.
"Have you been in touch with this person named Utah lately?" Amu just looked at her. Pulling her soft, pink hair that was tied up in a ponytail for a change nervously. The name Utau reminded Amu of this certain person who happens to be the older brother of the blonde singer.
"No… not at all actually. Not since Utau and Kuukai… " Said Amu, not finishing her sentence since she knew Nagihiko was already informed about this matter anyway. Utau and Kuukai started dating one point in high school. It was Utau's final year and the former guardians weren't really surprised seeing the couple get together. It was the break up that shocked them. No one expected that. Yet, stuff like that happened, and the friends somehow always had hope that the ex-couple would get back together someday.
The dark haired boy nodded.
"Yeah… I thought so." He started speaking again, carefully this time. " She texted me the other day, since she didn't have your number anymore… wanting me to tell you that..." Amu already knew what was coming. It was so obvious.
"Ikuto is back." Amu looked away in a shy manner. Maybe she should've mentioned earlier that she already knew he was back, but there was no turning back the clock now.
"I know. " The pinkette's voice sounded a little softer than usual, avoiding the piercing, dark eyes of her friend.
"I already met up with him, yesterday." And that was all she wanted to tell about their wicked reunion. It was enough for today.
_
Little did she know that somewhere in the city, there was a young boy trying to obtain contact information of a certain strawberry princess. Whether it was her address or phone number, he had to find out. He was determined. Noctis looked at a picture, which seemed to be an old picture, filled with the smiling faces of two young children . "I'll find you. I'll definitely find you again. You can't escape, Amu. Not this time."
