Author's Note: My co-author added and did most of this chapter, so I applaud my co-author, EternalNight88 for taking charge for me! (^.^) Although, story fans, you might almost throttle me because this chapter is few pages shorter than I would usually make it.
But don't worry! Another chapter is coming up. And when that one comes up, you will like it because that one will be longer!
Another thanks to Eri-chan for her hard work while school thought it was fun to kill me.
oOo
The Lock dangled from his fingers in a hypnotizing manner.
Amu stared at the artifact in between his fingers in horror.
"Amu, are you hiding something from me?" Ikuto looked at me with a pair of serious eyes.
Amu gulped.
"I…" Amu huffed and took a breath to calm her spiraling nerves down, "I got that in this package in the mail...mysteriously addressed for me. When I had managed to sneak past my parents and their dirty looks, I ripped it open. It was funny, considering I never got mail before."
Ikuto didn't make any facial movements.
"There was a note along with what it was labeled as - Humpty Lock. It said the owner of the Dumpty Key would be who I end up with, and my pain would be over with. It was signed Anonymous, Ikuto. There was no name. I thought it was hilarious. For one stupid second, I put it on my neck and laughed about Humpty Dumpty falling down from a wall. But then it glowed and all this power flowed through me and I knew this was no joking manner," Amu sighed.
Ikuto didn't move.
"Do you doubt me, Ikuto? What I am saying?" Amu looked at Ikuto with hurt in her eyes. She was serious, looking at Ikuto's cobalt ones with hurt and a withdrawn guilt. She was afraid that the person closest to her would just deny her of any voice - just like her parents and friends.
Maybe and hopefully not Ami, though.
Amu then took the necklace out of Ikuto's fingers and wrapped the chain around her neck. Closing the clasp, she didn't take her eyes off of him as the Humpty Lock began to glow brightly and vibrate, with that unexplained power that Ikuto couldn't explain.
Ikuto's eyes filled with tears and he lunged forward and roughly pulled Amu into a hug, one of the by far intimate hugs he had given.
"I have waited for so long…" Ikuto murmured, "For you."
Amu looked at Ikuto in confusion. She has a fiance who she doesn't know. She didn't meet him but the lock definitely promised her gradual love.
"Don't you see? I hold your Key."
Ikuto took out from his wallet he mysteriously had, the matching Dumpty Key. They glowed in harmony and the two stared wide eyed at the mysterious things. The things that controlled their fate, created just for them.
Then they nodded. They slipped the key into the lock.
A humpty lock
A dumpty key,
The two mysterious things
Controlling their fate
As if God knew that two of his children would be destined to each other.
A ordinary girl who bares the problems of the world
A ordinary guy who deals with the truth and the lies everyone around him seeming fake.
Bounded by fate as it intertwines their souls
Making a love no one has ever seen before
The girl that was once trapped in the silent nightmare
The boy who struggled in fear
A humpty lock
A dumpty key
Two mysterious things
Brought them together never to part
Even if the world around them has fallen apart
They are bounded by their everlasting love
As the humpty lock and the dumpty key
Unlock a different story
(Eri:Tell me readers if you liked my poem! I love to hear about it!) (Chi: I think it is awesome, Eri-chan!)
Amu's eyes watered. She hugged back, rather than trying to wiggle out of his arms like any other person in his life that wanted nothing more than to use him.
"I've...I've...waited for this my whole life…" Amu murmured against Ikuto's chest, spilling tears as she did so.
"Amu…..I l-love you…." Ikuto says in her ear and Amu can only muster to smile brightly and hold him tighter.
She felt content, happy, and so warm inside.
She found her Key to her Lock and a new beginning.
oOo
Ikuto handed a piece of paper in Amu's direction, waving it over her face.
"Hmm?" Amu tilted her head to the side, "What is this?"
"Orchestra audition try out. And this one is asking for position of flute players in the band," Ikuto tossed the latter pamphlet to Amu.
"They apparently do full orchestra concerts together, this band and orchestra," Amu murmured.
"So this orchestra never does only strings performance."
"Nope."
"You sure you want to hear loud brass at each rehearsal?"
"If it means I can hear you play your flute."
Amu blushed, "Fine." She feels Ikuto wrap one arm around her waist making her jump a bit. She looks up at him but sees him deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Amu asks and he looks down at her.
"Hmm…About us getting married," Ikuto says bluntly to his girlfriend who is now as pink as her hair colour.
"M-marriage?!" She says shocked at his words she almost falls but Ikuto catches her and puts her on his lap, dragging her as if she weighed nothing.
"Yes marriage, I want us to get married sooner or later," He says quite boldly as he leans down to her ear. His breathe gently blowing on her ear making her blush more.
"Maybe after d-dealing with U-Utau….." She says trying very hard not to stutter because of the position she's in. (Eri: Don't you want to be Amu at this point?)
"How we are going to convince Utau?" He said matter of factly as if nothing just happened three minutes ago. Dropping it with a sigh she lays her head on his shoulder.
Amu softly smiled, "Don't worry. You will get her back."
"I am just scared, scared of the fact that what would she do and how would she react when I tell her the truth. Will she even believe what I say?" Ikuto says looking down at Amu with a worried glint in his eye.
"I am sure she will understand, but Ikuto you can't run away from this problem because at this rate she will continue hating you without a reason. Whether or not she believes you and treats you differently just remember that I am always by your side."
Amu sweet talked him into doing it and with a sigh he conjured up how he would say it.
Going back to their homes they both lay in there bed thinking about that day's events.
oOo
Before we left Amu sees Ikuto put something that looks like a picture in his pocket. With a deep breath he sighs and grabs Amu's hand tightly before walking out to find Utau.
oOo
[Time Skip] [Three months]
It was a perfect concert. It was called heavily by the people for an encore. Amu smiled to herself as she packed her flute up and Ikuto slung the violin case around his back. The two dropped off their instruments at Ikuto's room in the hospital and then they went into the streets. Then all of a sudden, Amu brightened up. Ikuto gave her a weird glance. Something was up.
"Mission: Reveal the Truth is underway. Objective: to persuade Utau into listening to you," Amu says dragging Ikuto around like one of those ragdolls like other normal couples would when shopping. Turning different corners and hiding in many different spots they continue their hunt for Utau.
Then they saw her.
After going to all those different places at the end of the day they spot her as she walks over to a park and sits on the water fountain looking up at the sky. She sighs and pulls out her phone texting somebody before hitting send and closing her phone.
Just then Ikuto's phone rings and he pulls it out. After a few seconds his eyes widened at the text.
Come out, I can see you, you bastard. Why don't you go home? I hate you!
-Utau
As he read those words whatever confidence he had gained had immediately left him pale as a ghost. Amu's eyes widened as she read through the text and she comforted Ikuto and stepped out of hiding.
Then an evil chuckle came from nowhere. Amu and Ikuto looked forward, scared. In front of them, sitting at the fountain, was Utau. And she was not the least bit happy to see those two back. Then Amu hit herself in the head knowing that Utau was on the edge of the fountain all this time.
"You two are all glamorous and shiny and famous. Why are you bothering to see me? Aren't I just some other C-grade singer in your views?" Utau was speaking more to Amu than Ikuto. Amu opened her mouth to retort but Utau beat her to it.
"Quit your puppy yapping. I know you just LOVE to kill someone's spotlight, don't you?" Utau's purple amethyst eyes slit dangerously at Ikuto now. She was talking about the past. Ikuto had taken what she called happiness from her.
Amu whimpered and Ikuto didn't move. Utau smirked and she laughed her head off in a dark way like villains would in movies filled of thunder, lightening, and lots of vampires.
Utau glared at Amu again, now pointing an accusing finger at Amu again.
"Well look who it it, little Miss I-have-a-restraining-order. What do you want, you bitch?" she says getting up from the fountain and gets up in her face.
"Don't hurt me! I just came here with Ikuto so that he can talk to you and tell you the truth." Amu said bittersweetly as she motioned for Ikuto to come out.
"Oh so what are you, his bodyguard?" Utau mocks and I make a smart retort.
"No actually I am his girlfriend," Amu says and walk away with a little skip in her step as Ikuto walks up to Amu.
Utau comes forward to come face to face with Ikuto. She had a blank face on and it was impossible to read any kind of emotions on Utau's face at the moment.
"Utau…" Ikuto starts only to be slapped by her hand. He never moved from the spot she slapped him as he holds his red cheek.
Amu's eyes widened.
Her eyes showing distaste in them…
.
.
.
TBC
DUN…..DUN….DUNNNNN! (Eri: w Aw Snaps!) (Chi: Shoot. Right at the climax)