I can't believe it... I l-like that...that guy! Of all people! I mean, he's a stranger. A weirdo who finds amusement in teasing me and making me feel weird. A cat-thief pervert who does everything at his own pace dragging people around him to do his weird hobbies. A guy who not only teases you, he is also… always there when they need him, gives them support in the most necessary situations and...

Wait,

I was supposed to be badmouthing him!

I stood with Tadase contemplating on what just happened to me, about what I realized. I like ikuto that much I know, I have been denying this for awhile now. I guess Rima and Yaya noticed it without me knowing it myself…

I'm so slow…

For some reason now, I feel lighter. I wonder why? Why did realizing that I am in love with Ikuto made me feel relieved. It's as if the last piece of the puzzle was put into its rightful place.

All along, was realizing this all I needed? The reason I need to move on forward and face what Ikuto had been doing and to stop him?

I smiled bitterly at myself.

If so then…

I'm so dense.

"I'll help you, Amu," Tadase said interrupting me from my thoughts as I turn my head towards him, surprised at his sudden proposition, "I'll help you save him," he declared.

It was the first time I saw him act like a man than a prince for once. Well, Tadase is the kind of person to help someone in need . And from the look on his face, it seems that he knew that I realized something important. I then wondered if I was easily seen through.

Am I?

Tadase flashed an assuring smile at me, "Trust me, Amu. I want to help Ikuto-nii as well," he said in a serious tone that made me instantly believe him. He really wants to help him. It was clearly seen in his eyes. I smiled back at him in response, "then let's smack some sense to that idiot!"

...

I say that, but how the hell could I even do that? I ask as I stayed seated at the classroom the next day at school. I sighed, this is becoming quite problematic. I'm starting to feel like my words of saving Ikuto just yesterday were no less than empty lies. And I don't definitely want it to stay like that! Hinamori Amu always keeps her word!

Yaya out of the blue came unto me and called, "Amu! Let's go home together!" she grinned happily at me, "Rima's waiting by the door, so let's go!" I couldn't help but smile back at her. I then stood up, prepared my things and turned to her, "let's go then."

As we make our way out the school, we all happily talked to each other, something we haven't done in a while now. It made me miss this, so much. This was just like one of those normal days after school. Friends hang out, laugh, smile and exchange teasing jokes or stories about a certain guy in class...that normal. I seriously wouldn't consider my life a life if they weren't around. I love them…Rima and Yaya.

"Ne, ne, Amu," Yaya called me enthusiastically, "Rima and I are thinking of eating in the newest opened cake house downtown, wanna come?" she asks this but I feel that regardless of what my answer would be, she'd still drag me along. I smiled at them sheepishly, "cake, huh?"

I would very much love to have fun with them but Tadase told me that he will make an arrangement for me to meet Ikuto today and talk it out with him personally

"I'll come and meet you tomorrow, so don't make any plans!" was his last words before he walked in his flashy family car. He didn't even give me any time to voice out my own opinions on the matter before he left.

And the next day—today, he didn't even come to school, that was pretty unusual of him. But really, seeing an overly demanding side of Tadase was uniquely new to me. That or maybe I was just used to the princey Tadase.

"so" Rima said tilting her head to me, "you'll come, right?" she flashed a cute smile at me indicating how badly she wanted me to come. Her sparkling puppy dog eyes give her away. I smiled at her ruefully, "I don't think I can," I replied them quietly, a hint of regret was obvious in my voice as I voice out the reason, "I'm busy."

Both of them frowned at my response and eyed each other, worried...for me I assume.

"So something did happen." Rima turned to me. It is then that I conclude that...

Yep, I really am easy to read.

"Whatever it is, you can tell us," Yaya said, her happy face just then was replaced by a worried one. It was unusual of Yaya to show this kind of expression, usually she would just comically frown at things and cheer everyone up like how she would normally do things. So the thought that I was the cause of her being this way is very disheartening, "I'm very sorry," I shook my head, "I don't want to involve you guys!"

"Amu..."

"But surely, I will definitely tell you guys one way or another!" I immediately backed up what I said so as to not make my two dearest friends feel left out, "surely..."I clench my fists in frustration. There are so many things I'm keeping from them and I can't even do anything about it. I don't even know what I got myself into, and for me to thoughtlessly involve them is just wrong... I'm never going to forgive myself if anything happened to them...

At the corner of my eye, I spot the same black car that belong to Tadase. I wasn't entirely sure about it until Tadase himself stepped out of there with his plain casual clothes, and as soon as he saw me, he immediately ran towards me. Not wasting any time he took my hand and dragged me to the car, to the absolute revelation of the students present and the Tadase fan club, "let's go!" he said urgently, "we have no time! Hurry!"

I reluctantly nodded and quickly picked up the pace.

Ignoring the furious glares around me, I stepped inside the car as it roared to life and drove off to the unknown...

"I'm sorry to have dragged you into this," Tadase started, smiling apologetically, "and thank you,"

I smiled timidly at him, "It's fine," At this point, I'm more worried what his fan club would do to me once this was all over, "I'm the one that wanted to help Ikuto," I grinned, "it's not something to apologize for."

He smiled back for a moment before shifting to the next topic, "but before this, you should know something about Tsukiyomi Ikuto," from the way that he used Ikuto's full name must mean that it must be serious business, that or he's just showing off, "Ikuto-nii is bound by a contract,"

That explains much...

"A contract that will have him obey every order given to him by the higher ups,"

He really has it hard, being toyed like that by useless adults. No wonder he had trouble trusting mom and dad back home. He would always avert his eyes whenever he meets them. It took him quite a while before he could meet them eye to eye, and finally treat them like his real family... It would have all stayed that way if it wasn't for those adults ruining it big time… they'll pay big time!

"Even I can't disobey them," he admitted, "so, sadly, all I can do for you is to bring you to Ikuto," he bowed his head in shame, "I'm very sorry Amu,"

Wow, the higher ups must be one hell of dictators for even Tadase to fear them... But by doing this, he must be, at some way also disobeying them right? All to save him…

"I understand."

He must really want to save Ikuto much, much more than I do...

The car came to a halt and I found myself in front of a skyscraper. I stared at the marvelous thing. I can't believe Ikuto is here in this large company building…

…that was a bit familiar to me…

…where heve I seen this before?

"This is where he is," Tadase said, "Easter."

I glanced at him. THAT'S IT! EASTER! It's that huge company that is always around the news. I heard that not only do they influence the media and several other companies, they are also into politics and the government…

A very influential company indeed.

"let's go," he said and we walked inside.

I was a bit hesitant to walk inside because other than the fact that this huge company is where Ikuto is held prisoner and that we are here to bust him out, I also feel a bit out of place here in my uniform. Tadase should have at least let me change my clothes…

And I might make an enemy of this place if this keeps up…

The guards stopped us halfway asking for something to identify ourselves with. But the moment they recognized Tadase, they immediately apologized and thus, moved out of the way. That alone broke my mouth open in shock. We then board the elevator up.

"Are you okay, Amu?" he asks as he pushes the button up to the last floor.

I smiled timidly at him and nodded, "I-I'm fine…"

He smiled back at me, "please endure it for a few minutes,"

Whoa! Tadase right now is awesome! He's like some cool dude!

Come to think of it, I used to like Tadase so much. I used to always wish for him to notice me and be even just a little...be close to him.

I was a stalker.

I giggled at the old memory of how I act all cool whenever I saw him but at the very second that I was alone somewhere, I act like a deranged fan girl... Ahh, the memories.

And without any warning, my feelings just disappeared… with me not even noticing it…

I wonder why?

Is it because of Ikuto?

Well, I guess that is to be expected…

Getting off the elevator to the last floor, the first thing I noticed is that the there wasn't anything much in here, it was just a straight hallway leading to the only door at the end. It must be a private room of some sort for the owners and/or visitors…

My body tensed up a bit after seeing how high we are. It was scary, I quickly looked away.

Just endure it a little more…

"Amu," Tadase called for me one last time, his hand holding the knob of the door firmly, he stares at me, "I'm opening it, behind this door is Ikuto. I'm counting on you," and with that last word of encouragement, Tadase opens the door.

The first thing I saw was this man who's back was turned to me, he was sitting comfortably on the sofa. He then turned to the door… to us as we stepped inside…

My heart skipped a beat.

It was him…

His blue hair and eyes… how I missed them.

Ikuto…

His eyes widen in shock and apprehension the moment his eyes were set on me…

"Amu?"

AND AT LAST THEY MEET!

Amu and Ikuto... how sweet is this?

Anyway, this chapter was a bit short and I apologize for that, there's not much my mind can process, I'm doing many things all at the same time... ^^

At any rate, please feel free to tell me what you guys think of this chapter and some constructive criticism might work too...

thank you very much!