Chapter 4

Amu stared into the thick darkness not resting her gaze on anything in particular. She wrapped the blanket more tightly around her shoulders and snuggled deeper into her mattress. Her body felt sore from all the crying and sleepless nights she had endured since her first confrontation with Ikuto.

A new batch of tears sprung to her eyes and she let them run silently not bothering to wipe them away. Letting the tears trickle down her face, that was the only way she seemed to be able to feel anything anymore.

That was all she felt anymore, sadness. And a deep loss clung to her soul.

She rolled over to her other side. How could she have acted so selfish and jealous in front of Ikuto? How could she have used Tadase like that without even thinking about it?

Amu touched her lips a chill running through her. Not because she was repulsed by Tadase but because she was repulsed by herself. Her selfishness, thoughtlessness, immaturity, and jealousy. She didn't deserve a guy like Tadase, let alone a guy like Ikuto.

"Amu, you're going to be late for Ikuto's concert!" Ran shouted frantically flying to the light switch calling for Su's help. They both tugged at the switch until the lights turned out.

Amu groaned covering her eyes against the sudden bright light that was pelting her eyelids.

"There's no way in hell I'm going to that guy's concert." Amu declared pulling the cover up over her face ignoring her chara's outraged protests.

"Yes, you are!" Miki shouted grabbing the ends of Amu's strawberry colored hair yanking with all her might.

"Ouch!" Amu cried bolting upright. "Alright, alright, I'll go!" Amu shouted stomping to her closet yanking clothes off the hangers and throwing them around in a frenzy trying to find the right outfit. Her charas cheered behind her enthusiastically and Amu could only let out a soft sigh. It was a happy sigh though, her charas always gave her courage whether she wanted it or not. Not that she'd ever tell them that.

She wriggled into a soft white long sleeved cashmere top, matching it with a black miniskirt she wore over dark gray spandex, and black boots with multiple buckles completed her outfit.

She pulled her cherry colored hair out of the messy ponytail she held it in letting it fall gently to her shoulders. She clipped her overgrown bangs to the right with a little pink x clip. After applying more eyeliner and a little more gloss she spun around facing her charas striking a pose for them.

"So…" she said with a wink, "what do you think?"

Her charas let out a squeal of delight before assailing her with high-pitched compliments and swoons.

Amu smiled shyly and her attention was drawn to something shiny. She leaned over to her nightstand next to her bed picking up the silver bracelet Ikuto gave her. She wriggled it on quickly and bolted out of the house before her charas could squeal and ask questions.

But tonight's mission was clear. Make Ikuto hers again!

Amu pushed past the clusters of classy dressed sophisticated people crowding the concert hall. She ignored their looks of disdain and their pointed glares at her outfit. Who cares if she wasn't good enough for them? All she wanted was to be good enough for Ikuto.

She settled into her seat in the front row center. The only way she had even gotten that seat was to call in a favor last minute from her sassy friend, Utau. But after a 10 minute ear-chewing from Utau about breaking her brother's/old love's, Ikuto's, heart Utau agreed, on one condition. They get back together.

Amu sighed. She wanted them back together too, but life isn't always that easy.

After a half hour of fidgeting nervously in her plush red velvet seat the lights were suddenly shut off. The lights were brought up to a slow dim and then a bright light flashed spotlighting the stage, and there he was.

Ikuto stood in the center of the stage in his godlike glory. He was dressed in a sleek black suit, his ebony locks were stylishly messy and shining in the light, his charcoal colored eyes twinkled, and his instrument was poised on his shoulder casually.

Amu gasped. Ikuto had never looked so distinguished and handsome in his life. Her heart leapt to a new height when she looked at him.

She loved him so much.

Ikuto brought the hand with the bow up slowly and Amu felt as if she were watching him in slow motion. But as soon as the bow glided across the taught strings the concert hall came alive. Beautiful notes collided and danced together reaching the peoples ears causing multiple ooh's and ahh's from the audience.

Amu heard people's astounded whispers but she couldn't understand how they could be talking, she was so in awe she thought her ability to talk had been rendered. She leaned forward studying Ikuto closely. His fingers were resting so gently around the bow that it looked as if any moment it would just slip from his hand but it never did. He looked so at ease, his eyes were in a focused daze as if he were looking at a beautiful land that only he could see and it was calling to him. He didn't even seem aware that he was playing the instrument to perfection.

Than Amu realized it. Ikuto wasn't playing an instrument, he was the instrument. It was as much of a part of him as his fingers or eyes or…heart. Amu knew how it felt. Because she felt as if Ikuto was part of her and that piece of her had slipped away leaving her empty.

Amu leaned back into her velvet seat closing her eyes as Ikuto began his closing song before the intermission, the audience's favorite. She closed her eyes letting the music envelop her soul and she unconsciously brought her wrist to her heart gripping the bracelet on it with her free hand. The music felt like it was lifting her out of her seat. She opened her heavy lids to see Ikuto's ebony eyes staring intensely into hers. A blush creeped up her face but she refused to look away. Than she watched his eyes travel down to her heart where she was gripping her bracelet in front of. His eyes snapped back to her face his expression was quizzical but his eyes were sorrowful, he didn't believe her.

Amu drew in a deep breath and mouthed to him very gently, "I love you."

Suddenly the music stopped. The audience gasped as Ikuto stood motionless on the stage looking as though time had frozen. He stared directly at her and as those ebony orbs seared into her soul, they softened.

He smiled to himself closing his eyes and began playing all over again. But it wasn't the song he had stopped in the middle of. It was a new song. And as she listened she recognized it immediately. Her hand flew to her mouth and as she watched him uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks.

He was playing their song. The one he had written for her right before he had left. It was his last song to her. He had played it for her in the park right as the sun was setting on their last summer day together.

The notes pierced Amu's heart with a joyous tingle. She let the tears flood down her face as she gazed at her one and only love. But as all songs had to do it ended.

The crowd sat aghast staring at Ikuto, who smiled his lazy half smile at Amu before bolting off stage. Amu jumped up to follow him. She ran to the backstage area when her phone beeped at her stopping her short. She opened it quickly and read the text she had just received.

IKUTO: IM NOT FINISHING THE CONCERT. MEET ME IN THE PARK. NOW.