(Start Chapter)
Mind racing, heart pounding, and my flesh crawling; all of which were activated by Ikuto's tongue on my neck. It's amazing how much you want someone who, at one point of time, was just a memory. His fingers touched, trailing marks into my skin while mine carved into his. A sound escaped my mouth and my eyes met with his, a shimmering blue just as they were when he was a teenager. My breath hitched, shivers running throughout my body, back arching, all while Ikuto's breath ran against my neck.
"You seem happier today, Amu."
They're back. I almost couldn't help but frown and smile at the same time. My little chara's are back. Ran, Miki, Su, Ritsuka and... "Dia?" I was in complete shock that soon I found my face on the floor. I was sitting on a bar stool at the "bar", key word "was", when my guardian characters appeared.
"A little clumsy there, aren't we, dear?" I felt two hands wrap around my upper arm, picking me off the ground and sitting me back onto the stool. i flinched slightly when I made contact with the stool. "Still sore?" Ikuto asked me as he ran his hands down my sides to the top of my legs, then to my inner thigh.
"I-Ikuto!" It came out as a gasp mixed in with a moan.
"Mama, is he going to be my new dad?" I heard a gasp come from the chara's in shock from the news they were just receiving. I stiffened as I could feel Ikuto do the same from behind me. I had no thought that made sense in my head at this time, and I think Ikuto was just as baffled by my son's question. All I could think of was, "Uh...". Uh. Um. Herr... I had nothing! No answer to this. I could feel not only my son's eyes on me but Ikuto's too.
I had no answer. I mean, someday maybe but right now I am not ready to be in another marriage. I just wasn't mentally prepared or physically. I felt so bad, being this indecisive. I wanted Ikuto, I really did, but... I don't think I could stand the thought of a lover having another child from a marriage before and getting married without having an awkward relationship with the child. I worried about this with Ikuto.
"Um..."
"It's okay," I heard a light voice run into my ear. Tears where nearly brought to my eyes at the pain in his voice. "We're not really sure yet. Your mom has a lot to consider."
"Why?" Jesus! Why did my child have to be so blunt at times like this?
"Because she's a girl, and girl's are very fragile." He nearly whispered before moving his hands out from between my legs and walking off to where I think was his bedroom door closing with a slight "bang".
"Mama, is daddy okay?" I looked over to my son who had pure worry in his eyes. I was so confused.
"I think he's in jail..?" And then I realized it. Hikaru already thought of Ikuto as his dad. "Oh, you mean Ikuto..." I sighed and stood, walking over to him. "I really want to, you know, but I have to consider his feelings too."
"Mama..?"
"We need to go to your school, then we need to make a dentist appointment. Come on, Hikaru, we're going to be busy for a few hours." I grabbed his hand and walked through the kitchen and to Ikuto's room. "We're leaving for a little," I said, trying not to chock on what he had said earlier.
"School and dental stuff," Hikaru shouted, a sorrowful sound to his voice.
"Would you like to come?" I asked. We didn't hear anything. No sound... no yes or no... nothing. So I could only sigh and say, "We'll be back by dinner." I let go of Hikaru's hand and turned around. Hikaru walked in front of me, talking to the chara's about them coming too. They laughed together and smiled, but I could only feel a little sad.
When Hikaru the the five little beings turned the corner I heard something which made me nearly stop. I couldn't identify the sound until I felt a hand grab onto my arm with strength and another cover my eyes. I was pulled back into something firm, a human body. I now recognized the sound as a door opening. To slow Amu. I felt a light breeze move slyly around my ear which, in turn, sent shivers down my spine.
"Amu," he began to whisper, "It doesn't matter if you don't want to marry me now, but I guarantee you that I won't ever let you go. You're my prisoner now." And then I felt his lips on my neck, moving up to my cheek, then to my lips. It was short, but a subtle kiss turned to a passionate one, then suddenly he broke it off and I felt something cold against my right wrist. He released me so I did only what natural people do and set my gaze downward to my wrist.
I saw there the most damned, hilarious, unimaginable, pisser of a thing; one cuff on my right wrist to one cuff on Ikuto's left. "Kinky, right?" He said to me with a wink.
"B-but..."
"Even if I didn't want to go with you, now I really don't have a choice." He said, looking forward, pulling me along. I couldn't help but smile at his back. "Oh, daddy's coming," I heard Hikaru say. There was that smile on his face, the smile that shone above everyone else's. I noticed this glint in Ikuto's eye though. He smiled but was still hurt. After last night.. and my stalling...
So... We went to the school. It was a little embarrassing... Okay, not just a little, but quite a lot. When I was getting some papers signed for Hikaru, Ikuto was sitting there, right next to me with that same smirk as I tried to write on the paper with my right hand. My hand was shaking, I'm sure the principle was curious as to why we were handcuffed as he intently looked us over.
After a while of paperwork signing, I was getting into the "parent's information" section. Ikuto was bored and looking out the window as I started to sweat. My information was fine... but I did not want to put Tadase's information in for the "father's information". Ikuto somehow, as always, noticed this. He took the pen from me and slid the paperwork over so it was no longer in front of me but him.
He swiftly wrote his name in, security information, mobile and home phone number and any other information the school seemed to need to know. He slid it back to me so I could finish filling it in. I was amazed to put it simply. His handwriting was so neat. I scribbled in my information and continued with the paperwork. Whenever something dealing with the "father" or a "male influence" Ikuto slid the paper over to himself and stole the pen.
When I slid the paper and pen to the principle he looked at us skeptically. "Hotori Amu and... Tsukiyomi Ikuto." He said our names slowly. "You're not married." He looked down at the paper, then to us. "Is Hotori Hikaru your son, Tsukiyomi-san?"
"No."
"Then why have you filled out the father's section?"
"Because he is currently in my custody, and I am considering a date as to when Amu and I will wed."
"Why is he in your custody and not his real father's?"
"He's in jail."
Ikuto spoke so sure of himself, as if the date of our wedding is tomorrow and Tadase was already dead so Hikaru could only be Ikuto's son, or if he really was the blood son of Ikuto. I almost believed him! I could see the shocked face the principle made from the corner of my eyes as I looked to Ikuto. I was just glad that Hikaru was in the school, wandering around to find his classes.
I turned back to the principle who just sighed. "Fine, I'll let this pass, but know that if your boy does get a low "B" or any lower, he's being kicked out." We both nodded, stood, and tried to go opposite ways which led us into being pulled back into each other and nocking heads. We bowed to the principle again and left.
Hikaru was waiting outside, talking happily with the charas. "Did you find your classes okay, Hikaru?" I asked him, bending down so I was eye-level with him. He looked at the handcuff on my wrist, which was held in the air because Ikuto refused to take his hand away from his neck. He'd done this in the care as well.
"Is mama in trouble with daddy?" He did that tilt-the-head-to-the-side thing.
It was a long conversation to the dentist. The chara's giggled, Hikaru was extremely blunt, and Ikuto continued to drive, making comments that were fun, but the look in his eyes said otherwise.
So... The dentist said he could see Hikaru "now." Ikuto and I, once again, signed paperwork and had to explain our, "situation." It was surprising that I remembered every word Ikuto had said because this time, he made me say it. I might not have been as convincing, but I tried.
(End Amu's POV)
(Hikaru's POV)
So before the dentist is ready to see me he hands me a toothbrush, some dental toothpaste, and mouth wash, saying he needed to, "speak some words with my parents." I'm here, looking in the mirror as I brush my teeth. I nearly choke from laughing out loud because it looks like I'm smiling the hugest smile I could ever possibly make. Reason: Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia are sitting here tickling me! I just looked down at them, an instead of making a nasty looking face, I just smiled. Toothpaste all over my teeth. The chara's laughed, including Ritsuka.
"At least they're pearly white," Suu and Ritsuka nearly said together.
I was then shown to the room I'd be staying for this "cleaning." The nurse asked me if I'd ever been to the dentist and I replied, "I've been to the dentist before so many time so know the drill." I tried to be funny. She didn't laugh to my disappointment. So I just crawled into the chair, smoothed out my hair and sat back. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine and it was almost as time stood still and slowly you turn to see what just caused the air to get so cold. I wish there was dramatic music for this kind of event.
"Have a seat," he says to me pleasantly. He walks over to me and I can just hear the sounds of other children's cries for sanctuary. He puts his hand out and we shake, he does so while practically laughing at me. He drags a chair over, pulling with him a tray of tools that looked directly out of some horror movie I'd seen recently. "Open up nice and wide," he says while peering inside my mouth.
And then it comes. The hook. Sharp and silver. I gulp hard, trying to withhold a shiver as another kid screams out in pain in the room next door. The dentist notices my freaked out expression and smirks at me, saying, "Oh, don't have a fit. This will just pinch a bit." He says this while trying not to grin. Do I hear that horror movie music now? I think so...
(End Hikaru's POV)
(Ikuto's POV)
I know how it is, the pains of the dentist. Once after getting home from the dentist, this is after the vicodin wore off, I found that talking only brings the toothache on because sometimes, honestly I just say the stupidest things. "Utau, just fuck him will you? Have loads of babies so I don't have to and mom will be happy." So... if my resolve goes south I'll just swallow my pride with an aspirin and shut my mouth. So maybe I took some vicodin then too... Utau does punch pretty hard, and she never just stops with one.
So, lesson learned. A few days later, still had the toothache and drank a little. Bad idea when dad wants to go golfing. And this, ma`dam or sir, I do not drink and drive because I'd nock out my teeth with one swing. I just shook my head and stayed in the cart. Bored, yes. Injured, surprisingly no.
I've been to the dentist many, many times so I know what happens behind those walls, I know the drill. That poor child will wish he got dentures instead. And as I think of all of this Amu is just sitting next to me, a light blush on her face as another family waiting to be called in for dentistry work gazes at the cuffs connecting Amu and I. I gaze up for an instant and see Hikaru staggering back to us. I lightly tap Amu on the shoulder and point in her son's direction.
She's up. She's running. And I'm digging my heals into the carpet to make it all the more pleasurable to me and harder for her. What? It's like being on skies. (Do not try at home for these stunts are only done by professionals.) When she finally gets to Hikaru, holding him by one shoulder and tugging at the cuffs with the other. "Honey, are you okay?" She asks desperately. He just nods his head in an almost retarded way.
"It's just some drugs. Would you rather he be medicated or crying in pain?" I say this as if nothing is wrong with it, but... then again nothing is wrong with this fact. I don't know how much he takes medication so maybe it has a higher affect on him but at least he isn't in pain.
"Let's just pay and get him home." I smile as she holds Hikaru's hand, trying to avoid shiny things and colorful things. They seem to be a heavy attraction to both mother and son at the moment.
Once we're at home I see that it's nearly four o`clock and dinner tonight will be sushi that I bought yesterday and is in the fridge with some rice and teriyaki. Oh, but it'll be just to easy to do this wile dragging Amu around, so instead I'm going to make her think otherwise.
"Amu, will you close your eyes for just one moment?" I say as I slowly lean towards her. She does with a light blush. As I lay light kisses to her neck and ear, lightly nibbling here and there I do something just... naughty. Without her realizing it I took the cuff of of my wrist, put it around the over door handle, and put it on Amu's other wrist. When I pull away from her, her face is flushed and has a dazed look to her.
Won't. Last. Long.
(End Ikuto's POV)
(Amu's POV)
How did this ever happen? Why me?
Oh, and Ikuto has officially made a number one house rule. Nicknames.
"So, Angel Eyes, how do you like your new accommodations?" Ikuto asked, standing next to me while he gazed at the rice cooker. What really got on my nerve was that he was just sitting there, yes sitting on a bench, while watching the rice cook. First, he get's to sit and I am forbidden from trying to do so. Also, everyone knows that a rice cooker never cooks under watchful eyes. Finally, Hikaru is just sitting over on the other side of the kitchen doing something! I don't even know what he's doing but he's doing something that doesn't involve helping mama escape.
"Iku- I mean, Commander Sexy," I say reluctantly then continue, "Can you oh so pretty please with a mountain of chocolate ice-cream with fudge, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips with a side of chocolate covered strawberries and cherries on top un-cuff me so I can go to the bathroom?"
"What do you think, Gostoso?" Poor Hikaru, he just might have the most uncommon nick name out of the three of us. But, he likes it. He said that he wanted to learn Portuguese and maybe live there a few years after he moves out in the future, hence the nickname meaning "delicious".
"I think we should let mama go to the bathroom," I smiled gratefully at my son, so proud! "But I think someone needs to escort her so she doesn't run." And just as fast as my smile came, it was gone.
"B-but I'm a mama," I began but was cut off by Hikaru.
"Daddy's seen you naked so it's okay."
Was this a joke?
"Alright, let's go, Angel Eyes," Ikuto said as he unlocked on my the cuff and put it back around this own wrist. It was so sudden, but I thought of taking the key from him, and escaping... but there had to be a catch, it couldn't be as easy is in the movies... "And just in case..." That's it, that plan flew out the window before it was even fully done being thought of. He expanded his waistline just enough to let the key slip down into his pants. No, not his pocket, his pants. He turned his head towards me and winked. "You'll have to do a lot of convincing to get that key."
A blush spread across my cheeks and did the one thing that came to mind... Ran. Not only was I having a panic attack but I was going no where. Literally. Ikuto just decided to sit down when he saw me make a run for it, and in turn made me begin to clumsily run in place while holding a, not only uncomfortable, unladylike, and bazar, but just plain... Just... Yeah. It probably looked as if I was trying to attempt a summersault while balancing the statue of liberty on my back and trying to work the moonwalk.
"Amu! Character change!" Before I knew it I had that surge of power form in my chest and spread to my legs every time I character changed with Ran, and that thing happened... I was OFF! Ikuto trailing along behind me barely making it to his feet as I ran around the house in circles.
"Ran! How is this helping me?" I screamed at her. Every time I passed Hikaru, however, I screamed, "Save mama!" No, he just seemed amused.
"But Amu! This might be our last chance to do these kind of things with you!" And as if my world just stopped my mind couldn't comprehend what Ran's words meant. However, at the same time as the world stopped turning, I continued to run, not noticing one bit that I was slowing down and eventually stopped.
"What do you mean?" All I could do was stare as my chara's gathered.
"They're leaving soon. Going on a long trip," Hikaru said, rounding the corner. I looked around and saw that we stopped in front of the hall bathroom and Hikaru's bedroom. "We won't need them soon and they'll return to where they came from."
"Hikaru?" Ikuto's voice seemed so loud behind me. "What do you mean?"
"Ran, Miki, Suu, Dia, Yoru, and Ritsuka; they're all going to disappear soon." I was shocked. My son understood this kind of stuff? My son is actually mature? My little boy isn't my little boy but a, somehow, older, mature man? I don't understand to much right now. It seemed as if they spilt without my knowing or approval.
"Leaving?" I asked, my voice cracked. I felt as if I suddenly fell, out of my own body and into a sea. A viscous sea where a storm was hitting. "No...way..."
"When?" I looked back to Ikuto who stood, leaning against the wall, his arm officially free from the handcuff. His eyes told it all, I wasn't the only one who was devastated by our other selves' disappearance.
"We don't know." Dia muttered.
"It'll be soon though," Miki said, looking to Hikaru, then to me.
"Why... How does... How do you know Hikaru?" I had extreme difficulty trying to figure what I really wanted to say. I looked from the would-be-selves to Ikuto, to Hikaru. I felt like I was in the center of everyone, being cornered into a lion's den to be shredded to pieces then pleasurably eaten.
"Just a feeling." He had a dark look in his eyes that made me worry that maybe he was sick, or had a mental disorder.
As if reading my mind Ikuto asked, "Is this feeling something we should worry about?" He paused for a second then re-worded it. "I mean, for you. Is it something we should go to a doctor for?"
"No, I'm fine, I just get bad feelings ever since... I don't really remember when." He paused, thinking about it. He seemed to give up as he shook his head. "Since when I was a baby maybe?"
Ikuto nodded, and I was beginning to feel a soar spot beginning to grow in my spine as I swiftly when from looking at Ikuto to looking at Hikaru. I shook my head and decided just to look down at the ground. I wiped my eyes, fear that at some point I would cry, but there was no sign of tears, or the threat of them.
"Dinner should be ready. Let's eat and we can look deeper into this later over some popcorn and a movie that no one's interested in." His voice sounded worried, and close. Made sense as I felt hands under my arms, lifting me up. "Maybe some food will make us feel better." I could only nod at him.
(End Chapter)
I can't begin where to start. "Sorry it took so long?" Hmm, maybe a, "This was my third out of 2 billion drafts and this one just happened to be finished first and the best one?" Well, whatever it is, I'm trying my hardest! :)
Responding to the Reviewers Corner!
TheQueenOfMe
Please don't cry. It'd make me cry so much if you did! D: I just hope this chapter can be a peace offering. :) I will have the time soon to type the next chapter up. Going on major vacation! I'll make it so it comes sooner. On top of it all, the house explained in the story was a house I once lived in. :) Most of the houses described in my stories are houses that I've lived in. I think bringing awesome architecture into a story and not always worrying about the cloths brings more of an understanding of the surroundings. :)
aquris
Look, we have something in common, I like this story too. :D Sorry about the lack of M though, maybe another a later chapter? ;) Hope that this story only gets better for you.
Again, sorry about the lack of M, forgive me! And for the part about updating soon... didn't really happen, but, I hope this chapter was just as good as you expected. :)
CreativeJournalist
Hahaha, was that an invitation? ;) Okay, going to chill on the creeper factor now... Anyways! Haha, hope this chapter was just as crazy as anyone could never guess. A little depressed at the lack of 10 reviews but I can always look forward to you. :)
After thoughts!
Okay, so it took forever to get this chapter out, I really hope you'll forgive me, but I also hope the next chapter will come out much much sooner. I do admit that I am very disappointed towards the lack of 4 reviews that I wished for, but I got through it. I'm also looking into the future and seeing only 2 to 4 more chapters. And, I plan to have a "dedication" chapter at the end.
Not to play favorites, but this "dedication" chapter will be dedicated to CreativeJournalist and TheQueenOfMe for being my most supportive reviewers for this story. If you'd like something special, just tell me. It's all for you two. :) I don't even know if I can say how much I love you two!
Loves!