0_0 You all REALLY love Ikuto, apparently, because Tadase got absolutely no votes, which sucks, because I admittedly love his song choice as much as Ikuto's. XD
I even finished up this chapter in a week... So here I am, uploading a whole week earlier. ^_^
Thank me later, Amuto fanatics!
Chapter 7:
~Normal P.O.V~
"The winner is VERY clearly Ikuto Tsukiyomi!" Ikuto was a bit stunned by the announcement. Tadase, in contrast, was infuriated. Ikuto bowed a bit to the crowd. About fifteen seconds had passed before he looked up to Tadase and smirked.
"Now, Tadase, I believe you remember our bet…"
"You cheated!"
Ikuto was appalled. "How could I have cheated?"
"This is CLEARLY a karaoke contest, and you used an original piece!"
"There was no rule against using an original piece in this contest, and you're just mad that I'm better at music than you are, Kiddy King."
Tadase stormed off of the stage and walked over to Amu. "Enjoy Ikuto. I hope you two are very happy together."
"Tadase, w-what are you talking about?"
"…I'd rather not say… Why don't you ask him?" Amu looked up to Ikuto and then made her way to the stage.
"…Ikuto, did you and Tadase do something?"
"Huh?" He leapt off of the stage. "What do you mean by that?"
"Tadase told me to 'enjoy you'. W-What does he mean by that?"
"…Amu, listen, I can explain-"
"I'm listening."
"…We made a bet right before we performed, and… if I won, he wouldn't bother us about our relationship, and if he won, I would have had to-"
"So you bet ME?"
"Amu, it's not like-"
"You used ME as your end of a bet, Ikuto! That is just plain low! How do you think THAT would influence my overall decision? I brought you and Tadase here together in order to decide, and now I choose to be alone!" She started to storm off until Ikuto had grabbed her by the arm.
"Amu… Please… I want you to know… I'm in-" Then the lights suddenly shut off, causing everyone in the restaurant to yell out or worry.
Amu had managed to free herself from Ikuto's grip, whose cat eyes now gleamed within the dark restaurant as he scanned the area. He noticed a group of men storming the area, flashlights in hand. EASTER!
Then he heard a scream in the distance, along with more frantic yells from Rima and persistent snapping from Kukai.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?"
"Look, brat, unless one of you can tell me where to find EASTER's subject, then the girl comes with us."
"Amu!" Tadase hissed, now holding out his staff. "Release her!"
"Well, well, if it isn't the little prince."
Tadase furiously twitched. "Don't you dare… call me… A SIMPLE PRINCE! I AM YOUR KING! HOLY CROWN!"
The guards suddenly held Amu out in front of them, and Ikuto felt his heart collapse into the pits of his stomach the second her piercing scream filled the room.
"What the hell is wrong with you, TADASE!" Ikuto flipped over and instantly transformed into Black Lynx. Then he smirked, ramming the guard that was holding the now unconscious Amu. He reached down, lifting her up and holding her in his arms. "You want ME, right? Then don't involve all of these innocent people, let alone the person I'm in love with!"
"If that is the case… then the girlfriend—better yet, both of you should be sent over to EASTER."
"What?" The group of guards had all suddenly pointed guns at him, and Ikuto's eyes narrowed slightly, making him appear even more like the cat he was. "…That was just plain cheap."
"Start walking, Tsukiyomi!" Ikuto sighed heavily as he was led off by the guards, Amu still in his arms.
"Ikuto!" Utau called out. Ikuto glanced back at her, almost urging and persuading her that everything would turn out for the best. Then he was taken away. "IKUTO!"
"Amu!" Rima cried out, Nagihiko holding onto her.
Kukai balled his hand into a fist, emerald eyes blaring. "We can't just wait around and expect them to be safe!"
"I know exactly how to get to them." Tadase replied. "Just leave everything to me. I can rescue Amu and Tsukiyomi."
"Ikuto is my brother! I have to help somehow!" Utau exclaimed.
"You don't know what EASTER is even capable of… But I do, Utau." Utau was silenced immediately. Tadase was wrong. She did know. She knew just as well as Ikuto did. "Please, let me go and find them."
"No way, you're not going alone! We're all going." Nagihiko replied. "Amu and Ikuto are our friends. We have to be rational about this situation and support them, no matter what happens or who we're dealing with."
"Yaya wants to stomp on EASTER if it means getting Amu-chi back!"
"Well, I suppose I can go on ahead and clear my schedule to join in and save my best friend." Rima stated.
"Let's play this out to the best!" Kukai gave the group a thumbs-up. Tadase looked to Utau once more, who nodded in response. Then he sighed, appearing defeated.
"Very well… We shall all go… but be warned now. EASTER holds much darker intentions than you can imagine."
~Ikuto's P.O.V~
They locked me in a dark room with Amu, and by locked, I mean no windows, no keyholes on the inside of the room… only a faint glow of a red lamp to shower the room. Amu was still unconscious, lying on the only bed in the room. Thankfully, she hadn't been mortally wounded by Tadase's accidental attack, but it's been a few hours…
I unconsciously reached out a hand, placing it on top of hers. I cradled her hand, caressed my cheek with her hand… kissed it a few times... There was so much I wanted to do with her—to say to her.
And I decided to tell my story… even if she wouldn't hear it.
"…When I was ten years old, my father disappeared and went into hiding. He married into EASTER before I was born, and once the current heirs were killed in an accident, he was supposed to take over the company. When he left, the duty was passed over to me because the son of the heirs was still just a newborn… but I ran away, consumed with rage towards my father—rage towards myself for being so foolish. Heh. The running didn't last too long. They hunted me down in Europe and brought me back to Japan… Utau and I were raised inside of this cooperation, both of us developing different purposes for staying along the way. I was seventeen when I was given a certain task. In exchange, I was going to be granted freedom from EASTER… I became Black Lynx through an experiment to test the infusion of chemicals on the premature embryo in our bodies—the scientists called them our guardian angels. The experiment was a success… and now a part of EASTER remains with me for as long as I live. We met when I turned nineteen, just before my father's orchestral group scouted me. Amu, I know that you can't hear me… but I'm sorry that I got you involved with my world, and I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to speak with me again."
"Well, your world isn't nearly as dull as mine." I glanced down—she was awake. She was awake and smiling at me. "But I wish that you could have told me about EASTER sooner than now."
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Ikuto, as much as I've gone through since we first met, I doubt that there's anything like EASTER that can worry me." She suddenly grabbed my hand. "By the way… there's no way that I would ever want to stop speaking to you."
…That was it. She had me from those words. She's the one. She HAS to be.
"Amu… I l-" Then the door flew open, and in came security guards.
"Get the girl." Two of the guards had grabbed her by her arms, and she kicked, trying to break away.
"Let me GO!"
I jolted. "The hell do you think you're doing to her?"
"More experiments need to be tested. This girl would make a lovely guinea pig."
"Hey, I'm no one's pet project, sickos!" Amu roared. She stomped on one of the guard's feet and then punched the other in the throat before racing over to me. The guards blocked the door—I couldn't find an opening whether I had transformed or not.
"You're not laying a finger on Amu so long as I'm still BREATHING." I hissed, holding on to her a bit tighter.
"That can be arranged, Mr. Tsukiyomi." My eyes narrowed. "Rebellious and eager for the safety of the ones you love. You truly are your father's child."
A bald man (or so I like to think of him) walked into the room, appearing stern.
Kazuomi Hoshina.
"…What do YOU want?"
"No need to hiss. I simply want to better this company."
"Ikuto, who is this guy?" Amu asked.
"This guy here is the vice president of this company. But he's nothing to be scared of through that rough exterior." I looked to Kazuomi again. "You've got your president to the company. Why do you need me?"
"He resigned last month, stating that he wished to enter middle school like any other teenage boy. Therefore, you are next in line to-"
"I resigned myself from anything related to EASTER six years ago. I'm a grown man living my life! I'm a musician, I'm finally able to walk my own path… I can fully understand just why your own grandson wanted out of this place!"
"You know nothing about him! Don't take my grandson's behavior lightly at ALL, you worthless cat!" Amu slowly grabbed my hand and gripped it. I wrapped a hand around hers and held it just as tightly. "Have you ever once known the pain of losing someone you care about?"
"Every day." Amu was baffled.
"Well, this shall be another day that you feel that pain. Take the girl." They literally yanked Amu away from me, and the moment that her grip left mine, the moment I heard her cry out my name…
"Wait!" I had reacted. "…Please don't hurt her! I beg of you, I'll… I willingly will deal with the experiments in her stead! Please, Kazuomi!"
"…Do you give your word?" Kazuomi asked, still appearing stern.
"I swear it as long as Amu goes completely unharmed."
"Release the girl. We have what we wanted." The guards pushed Amu to the floor and she immediately got up and ran into my arms.
"Ikuto!"
"Shh… Don't worry, okay…?"
"You can't back out of your vows, Tsukiyomi." The guards drew in closer to me, and Amu held on tighter.
I couldn't put up a fight…
Not in front of her…
Not again…
"Ikuto… Don't do this…"
"I can't go back on this, Amu… It's either this, or you'll die because of me. I'm strong enough now, so don't worry about me." With that, I was pulled away from her. She reached out a hand, tears filling her eyes.
"Ikuto!"
I glanced back at her and smiled. "Amu… I love you." Now her tears were rolling down and spilling onto the floor.
~Amu's P.O.V~
He loves me…
Ikuto is in love with ME…
And then the guards took him away. I bolted for the door just as it began to shut… but it closed just as I had reached it.
I could feel all of my emotions pouring out as I began banging on the metal door. "Ikuto! Ikuto! IKUTO!" The metal made my hands sting, and my tears made it hard to focus… but still I yelled for him.
After about half an hour of yelling and crying in attempts to reach him, I felt my body collapse onto the cold metal floors.
I was alone for the second time…
Sure, it's short... But it holds a lot of details following the relationship of Amu and Ikuto, no?
^_^ Read and review, for the story is reaching its climax!
