Chapter 4
When Amu woke she heard loud cheering, then whining, then sweet rambling. Then she realized it was just in her head. She didn't cry, she knew it had happened, she just didn't know why. She saw Ikuto sleeping next to her. His arms were still around her, hugging her like a child did a teddy bear. She pushed him off.
Perverted cat. she thought.
It was a Monday: school. Amu rushed about, getting dressed and ready. The whole time Ikuto lay on the bed, his eyes closed, fingers and face twitching, as if wondering where his teddy bear had gone.
Stupid cat. she thought. He's probably forgotten all about them. He probably doesn't care even if he does know. Happy-go-lucky jerk.
"Do you know why it happened?" she heard a voice ask.
She turned. Ikuto was laying on his side, propped up on his elbow. His eyes were weary, but he tried not to show that he was tired.
"Do you ever sleep?" Amu was annoyed with him for pretending to be asleep.
"It's because you've found yourself Amu."
"What're you…"
"Your façade is gone."
Amu was confused at first. Then she remembered yesterday under the bridge. She had been speaking so seriously, then optimistically, then comfortingly. But not once did she feel the intrusion of one of her charas.
"You mean…I don't need them anymore?"
"Well not for their intended purpose at least."
"What…but…"
"I mean that you might not…"
"Shut up! Will you please just shut up?"
An expression of surprise flashed across Ikuto's face, but quickly melded into his regular smugness. And within a fraction of a second he was across the room, his arms wrapped tight around her.
"Now there's no need to yell is there?" he whispered seductively into her ear. She just stood, frozen in his grasp. Instinct told her to relax, to let herself sink into his arms and forget being angry. But then she snapped, tearing Ikuto's arms away from her.
"Get away from me!" she shouted as she shoved him away with all the strength she could muster.
"Don't you get it? I haven't found myself Ikuto! I can't do this without them! And you don't help at all! Despite whatever you think! Do you think that giving me false hope will make me believe everything you say! Do you actually believe that lying to me will earn you my trust? Well it just doesn't work that way!"
He was a statue as he listened to her, stunned into silence. He saw her breathes begin to shudder, and her eyes start to turn glassy.
"Do you know what you're doing to me?" She drew in a shaky breath. "I never want to see your face again!"
Ikuto stared at her. Her expression was almost too much for him to bear. Her face was twisted into a portrait of fear, pain, and anger.
"Amu…"
"I hate you!"
At those last words Ikuto's breath caught in his throat, and Amu dashed from the room, not sparing a moment to notice the look of agony on his face.