Hello! Bl00dyshad0w here! Just a heads up: The next chapter will be the last. If you took the time to read my ending that I wrote in my previous chapter, then you'll know what I'll be talking about: If I do publish the last chapter this week, then I'll take my poll of the week after. So yeah.
New chapter, UNLOCK!
Recap:
"We have something to tell you," said Rima. "Nagi and I….we think that you should follow your heart. That's all." They turned around and walked away.
"Follow my heart?" I questioned silently. "I don't even know what my heart wants me to do."
And with that, I left.
Time passed and it was now winter break. I could not stop thinking about Ikuto and his wedding.
Are they married already? Are they happy? Is he thinking about me?
I stared at my blank paper throughout class, wondering.
Follow my heart?
Nagihiko and Rima walked me home. They chatted by themselves the whole entire time while I stayed silent. They knew that trying to talk wouldn't help because I always gave a shrug, but they kept walking with me, just because they could.
I eventually stopped talking to my friends, and Kukai has become noticeably depressed as well. When his friends would toss him a basketball and ask him to play, his eyes would light up, but then looked down. Utau used to watch him play all the time. He would throw the ball back, apologize, and walk away.
During lunch, I quietly ate my food as my friends, excluding Kukai, chatted among themselves. They kept trying to cheer us up, but it was just no use.
"Excuse me," said Kukai as he stood up, picked his tray up, and left as everyone at the table stared at him. He put his tray away and started for the cafeteria doors.
I got up as well.
"Amu?" questioned Rima silently. Her sad eyes casted downwards after looking at me.
"I'll be leaving as well," I said as I put my half empty bento into my lunch bag. I quickly followed after Kukai who was already out of the room. I jogged up to him and then started walking by his side. He didn't acknowledge me.
"Kukai…" I started. There were things I wanted to say, but I just didn't know how to word them. I kept silent and prayed he didn't think I was an idiot or something.
We were walking towards the staircase that led to the roof.
"Are you sure you want to go outside without a jacket on?" I questioned. I wasn't wearing one either.
"You don't have to come with me if you don't want to," he said coldly. His answer made me blush slightly in embarrassment. "Sorry," he continued as he sighed. "I've been acting like a jerk lately. I almost forgot that I'm not the only one suffering."
"I-It's fine…"
We got up to the roof. The snow was falling slow and there was no wind or sun.
"Utau…" I started as I started walking towards the railings. Kukai followed behind me. "Utau really wanted to see this…"
"Yeah…" he said silently.
I grasped the ice cold railings and looked towards the mountains. Kukai turned around and leaned back.
"I miss her…" he said as his voice started to waver. I was sure he was crying. "I never would have thought I would fall for a girl like her," he said as he let out a pathetic chuckle. "I didn't even like her at first. But…there was just something that was drawing me towards her. And now she's gone, and I feel like someone just took a shot gun, aimed it towards my heart, and fired ten times." He sniffed and then wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve. I stared as he looked up towards the sky with his elbows resting on the railing. "It didn't take me that long to realize that I was completely in love with her." He turned his face towards mine, and I could clearly see the tears he let go. "Don't look so surprised," he started with a small smile. "You're crying too."
"Wh-What?" I didn't even realize it. I wiped the tears and looked away.
"You know exactly how I feel," said Kukai as he turned around. "You love Ikuto."
I quickly spun around and shouted, "so what if I do?!" I surprised not only Kukai, but myself. "It's not like it was ever meant to be! Ikuto and Utau are from two separate worlds! Even if they love us back, there would be no hope-"
"That's not true, Amu, and you know it!"
Our fists were clenched, our brows were furrowed, and our faces were steaming with anger. After bickering about the same thing over and over again, I stopped suddenly. Tears came down like a nonstop stream.
"He was so cold…" I started as I fell to my knees. I could feel the cold sting from the snow, but it didn't bother me after a while. "He was so cold when he left….he told me that he loved me, but was so cold…"
"Amu…" whispered Kukai as he dropped to the floor beside me.
I let out soft sobs as Kukai wrapped his arm around me. I could tell he started crying again as well. When I started letting out uncontrollable sobs, he embraced me.
It felt a little comforting knowing that someone close to me was sharing the same pain. At least I didn't have to cry alone.
The bell rang.
"Come on," said Kukai as he got up. He held his hand out for me and I took it and pushed myself up while he pulled. "We're a mess."
We wiped the snow off our clothes and wiped our faces as we started heading inside. Before we separated to go to our classrooms I said, "thank you, Kukai. I'm feeling a little better now."
"Ditto. I'm glad you followed me." He turned around to leave.
"Kukai, wait."
He stopped and turned his head to the side. "What's up?"
"After school…I think you should play basketball with your friends again…"
There was a long pause. The remaining students lingering in the halls went down to all but two, which meant that class would be starting in a few moments.
A small smile appeared on Kukai's face before he turned his head. "Maybe I will."
After school, Nagihiko went up to my desk as I was putting stuff away. "So…at lunch…"
"It's okay, Nagi," I said with a smile. "Kukai and I are still depressed about what happened…but the talk him and I had made us feel a bit better."
"Really? That's good to hear."
We chatted as we walked down to the shoe lockers. He caught me up on the school's gossip, and apparently, our homeroom teacher was seen flirting with the principal, and people are claiming that she has a hidden agenda.
"That's not good," I started as we walked down the stairs. "If the teachers hear about this rumor, she could be in very big trouble."
"You never know with rumors," responded Nagi.
"Amu!" called Yaya as she jumped on top of me and started rubbing my face with hers. "I heard that you were feeling better! Yaya is so happy!"
"Same," said Rima as she stepped into view. Nagihiko traveled over to his locker to retrieve his shoes, as did I.
"You won't believe this!" came Tadase's voice as he approached me, Yaya, and Rima. "Kukai is actually playing basketball again!"
"That's good!" came Nagihiko as he approached us as well. "Things are finally looking up…"
"Now that you're feeling better," said Rima as she watched me put my indoor shoes away, "and since today is Saturday…want to have a slumber party? Yaya will come too."
"Yaya will?" questioned Yaya as she tilted her head slightly.
"Yes, she will," stated Rima.
"O-Okay…" I said as I stood up straight and looked at the two.
"Yaya will go ahead first and grab her stuff. I'm sure Yaya's dad will drive Yaya to Rima's home!"
"Okay," responded Rima. "and bring some sweets, too,"
"Don't need to tell Yaya that twice!"
"Then I'll hang out with Nagihiko," said Tadase as he looked over at his purple haired friend for approval.
"Sure, we can go to your place. You have a ton of Play Box 4 games, whereas I have none. Because I can't…" Nagihiko looked down all of a sudden.
"You'll be able to move to your own place soon, Nagi," I said as I playfully patted him on his back. "There, your mom won't tell you that you can't have video games because it screws up your life."
We all laughed. It was the first time I laughed in so long.
Before leaving, I asked Rima if we could go see Kukai in the gym to see how he was doing. She happily agreed. We were both bundled up well since the wind started picking up. I tugged my scarf up higher over my face and then stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jacket.
As we entered the warm gymnasium, we watched as a large group of boys go back and forth on the court, chasing after a ball.
"There he is," I said as I pointed at our friend. I smiled when I noticed he looked happier. He must have really missed playing.
After staring for a few more moments, both Rima and I were satisfied. Before leaving, Kukai noticed us, stopped for a brief second, and then gave us a thumbs up before chasing after the ball again.
"I'm glad," said Rima as she stared straight ahead as we reached my street.
"Yeah…me too…I'm going to have a hard time getting over him, but this is a start, I guess…"
"It's not like it was ever meant to be! Ikuto and Utau are from two separate worlds!" I replayed what I told Kukai in my head, and then recalled a memory I had with Ikuto...
"So why is your father this way again? You told me that he was making Freeden more disciplined or something," I asked as we had our daily chat on our bench in the park. We were sitting very close to each other, but I didn't mind. He radiated warmth and smelt amazing. He tried something perverted once and a while, but he ultimately respected my space, which is why I was more comfortable with being close to him.
Ikuto stayed silent and processed my question. I was unsure if he was going to answer me or not, so I stayed silent as well and waited.
"He lost it after my mother committed suicide."
My eyes widened and I quickly looked over at Ikuto. "She..no…that's horrible…"
"She…went through many horrible things when she was young, which scarred her permanently. She was able to push that past aside for a while after she met my father, but her past was always there, haunting her. Often she would wake up in the middle of the night, screaming, and my father would try to calm her down. She eventually had to start taking medication, but of course that wouldn't help. I know she loved me, Utau, and my father, but she couldn't help herself…so she jumped off a cliff…"
Ikuto looked away and put a hand on his face as he lowered his head. I watched as his body shook.
"She was a commoner," he continued while looking away. "She was raised by her uncle since her father died before she was born and her mother just disappeared one day. Her uncle abused her…sexually…no one should go through something like that. That bastard is a monster! He's in prison for life, but I still think the death penalty should have happened instead!"
He was yelling at this point. I started crying as I wrapped my arms around him from behind.
"There is nothing I can say that will take your pain away, I know that," I said through sobs, "but even you said that she loved you. To think she went through something so terrible…I'm sorry, Ikuto."
I kept holding him until he stopped shaking. He really loved her.
After some time he turned around and hugged me instead. "I've never shared this with anyone," he whispered. "Thank you."
"Amu? Amu!" Rima snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"What?"
"We're here already, Amu. Geez, you're lucky I'm here to keep you on track."
Rima waited patiently in the living room as I changed and gathered my stuff for the slumber party. My dad came into my room as I zipped up my black duffel bag.
"Rima told me that you her going to sleep over at her place. There won't be any boys, will there?"
"No, dad!"
"There better not be…or else-"
"Or else you'll hang them by their balls. Alright, got it, thanks."
He sighed. "Your mom is coming home late again, so just text her. I'm sure she'll be fine with you going since you haven't had a sleepover in so long." He left the room.
Rima and I pretty much ran to her place as we pushed and shoved each other playfully. We knocked each other onto the snow once or twice before arriving.
"Is your mom home?" I asked as we walked through the gate.
"What do you think?"
"How is Kuma?"
"He missed you. He even learned your name and started howling it to the moon at night."
"Oh, shut up."
After taking our shoes off, I went up to Rima's room and placed my bag there before jumping onto her large fluffy bed that was surrounded by red curtains.
"You're so lucky!" I said.
Rima started changing. "Yeah, not really. It's a big house but there is no one here most of the time. It sucks."
Kuma came into the room. He was a bit wet from the snow, and when he saw me on the bed, he immediately jumped on it to attack my face with his tongue.
"No, Kuma!" shouted Rima as she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him off. "You're wet!"
The bell started ringing, which made Kuma run downstairs.
"It's probably Yaya!" I said as I jumped up excitedly. I rushed downstairs, slipped my shoes on, and then opened the door as I pushed Kuma back. The snow started coming down harder and the wind was blowing fast.
"Hurry!" came Yaya's voice. She wasn't that far, but she sounded like it. "Yaya's freezing!"
I hung my head as I ran to the gate and opened it for her. She waved to her dad before he drove off.
She slipped as we hurried inside.
After closing the door, I kicked my shoes off as Rima started coming down.
"It's a blizzard outside!" she exclaimed. "You two were out there for, like, thirty seconds, and now you're soaking wet!"
"Not really," I said as I touched my shirt. "It's just a little damp. I'm sure Yaya and I will be fine."
As we were heading upstairs Yaya asked Rima, "when is your mom coming back home?"
"Tomorrow night I think."
"You think?"
"It's never certain with her," said Rima quietly.
After coming back to Rima's room, we talked, played video games, talked some more while eating sweets that Yaya brought, and then I went downstairs to cook some dinner. I made spicy curry.
"Thank you for the food!" we all said before digging in.
Kuma tried begging for food, but we all ignored him, or at least tried to since he looked so cute. Eventually, he left to do his own thing.
"Yaya is going to turn on the TV," said Yaya as he got up and snatched the remote from the kitchen counter. She sat back down and pointed the remote at the television. The first channel that came on was the news.
"Boring! Yaya, change it to drama or something." exclaimed Rima.
Before Yaya pressed on the button, I quickly told her to stop. Her and Rima looked at me funny before looking back at the TV.
It was showing a young Japanese woman at a foreign location. She was standing in front of a palace.
"I'm here at a place that has been unknown to many for years. A small island called Freeden. Finally, after being unknown for so long, people have begun to recognize it, and will appear in the maps soon. Word has it that Freeden has had very close relationships with Japan. Freeden is a monarchy. Currently, there is king, Aruto, who rules the land, but his wife died a few years ago. There are also his daughter Utau, the beautiful princess, and Ikuto, the handsome prince."
It showed the pictures of the three.
"I was fortunate enough to get to interview the prince."
Ikuto walked up next to her. I stared at the screen intensely. He hasn't changed a bit, though his face looks a lot more serious.
"I know you're a busy man, Ikuto, so I thank you for coming."
"I'm happy to be here."
"So I heard you lived in Japan with your sister for a while. Why was that?"
"We were just site seeing."
"Liar," murmured Yaya as she crossed her arms.
"And how was school there? Did they treat you like a normal student?"
He paused for a moment.
"They didn't at first, but then they got used to me and my sister after a while. It was a great experience for the both of us since we're homeschooled."
"That's great! And I hear you're getting married soon. When is it going to happen?"
"He isn't married yet?" I said out loud.
"Next month."
"And what's your bride's name again?"
"Saaya."
"What a beautiful name. I'm sure you two will be the perfect couple! I can't wait for the wedding! And…this may seem like a silly question, but do you know what the wedding colors are going to be?"
"Saaya wanted it pink…like…Amu's hair…"
There was a long pause.
"Eeeehh?!" cried Rima and Yaya. I sat quietly in my seat as my heart raced. I thought, he just said my name…he said my name…
"I'm sorry, who is Amu?"
Ikuto snapped out of it and regained composure. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound weird. She's off this anime that I saw in japan, but I'm sure I mispronounced the name."
"All is well. Again, thank you for coming and I hope I can be at that wedding!"
The commercials started playing.
"That liar!" cried Yaya as she abruptly stood up. "That liar is so in love with Amu! He doesn't love this Saaya person at all!"
Rima looked over at me, and I at her.
"So," she started. "How do you feel about this?"
I looked over at the TV once more before saying, "I know what I'm going to do now."
"What are you going to do?" Asked Yaya as she sat down.
"I'm going to Freeden."
Bl00dyshad0w: Yes! Finally! I let some tragedy into this story! woop!
Amu: Moster. How dare you.
Bl00dyshad0w: Hey now. Some of the greatest pieces of literature are tragedies.
Amu: Yeah, well...
I hope you guys have been in love with reading this story as I have been with writing it! YOUR REVIEWS MAKE ME FEEL WARM INSIDE!
I mean...uh...ignore that part.
Anyways. review, favorite, follow, lick your screen, do whatever you feel like doing. And like I said earlier:
LAST CHAPTER IS COMING UP NEXT! :D :D :D
Feeling like reading this story in Ikuto's POV? Review that you want it, or better yet, vote on my page.
I really want to draw a cover for this story but my Fujitsu is being a jerk so I can't. Anyone who is super amazing at drawing want to draw me a cover? Yeah? Yeah? Anyone?
And um...I think that's it! Until next time!
