Laying out on the sand, Ikuto was pretending to listen to Utau go into a detailed summary of the events that had occurred during his absence.
"Are you not going to swim?" Ikuto bent his head up slightly to see Amu coming out of the water, still in her coverup, soaking wet.
"No," Ikuto said laying his head back down, "Only little kids come to the beach to play in the ocean."
He sat up in shock from cold water being thrown on him. "How'd you like that?" Amu asked laughing while she held her stomach. It only took a moment before Ikuto moved to get up and Amu ran away screaming with Ikuto chasing after her.
Utau watched the two while shaking her head, "Good grief."
Kukai came out of the water himself shaking his hair out and sitting down next to Utau, "What's going on with those two?" He asked peeling off his wet shirt.
"I'm not sure," she answered, looking back towards them, "Just a crucial development."
"What's that mean?"
Utau just smiled at him and leaned into his side, "A good thing, I think."
Amu didn't get too far before Ikuto had gotten to her, grabbing her around the waist and twisting her around in the air. When she tried to struggle out of the hold, they ended up falling backwards into the water. Amu, laughing all the while.
"It's funny how things always turn out for you," Amu commented with a laugh. Ikuto's response was a splash in the face. Making her retaliate.
"What are you two up to?" Yaya asked with a shred smile on her face, "I guess a long trip would draw people closer. I sense a feeling of-" Ikuto splashed her in the face just to shut her up.
"Hey! No fair!" Yaya complained waving her arms around in the arm in agitation.
Nagihiko seemed to come out of nowhere and hit Amu and Yaya with a splash of water. Thus causing a chain reaction that branched out to all in the water.
~Flip the Paige~
The sun was beginning to set as Amu watched it with Ikuto for the second time. Everyone was rushing to pack up the vehicles and hit the road again.
"Are you going to drive Rosette to Germany?"
"You can't drive to Germany," Ikuto first pointed out, receiving a look from Amu, "And there isn't a chance in hell that thing is ever going to leave the country. We only keep it near airports around Japan in case we need it. We just ride the train in Europe."
"Good luck in Germany."
"Thanks, but I don't know what I'm suppose to be lucky about."
"Just in general," Amu responded with a grin, "You always seem to need a little."
"Alright, I don't care about the arrangement. But Amu is riding with me and no one is changing vehicles. Got it?" Yukari yelled in an effort to gather everyone.
"I'll ride with Yukari," Utau said, "I have some questions for Amu."
"Me too." Rima added with a curious smile on her face.
Of course Yaya was enthusiastic about the ordeal and wanted to be included.
"Please let me ride with you guys," Kukai pleaded with the girls, "I'll kill myself if I have to ride all the way home with those guys."
"You're better off with us," Nagihiko told him, "Considering the topic of discussion in the car, I don't think you want to be apart of that."
Amu laughed, "This is going to be an interesting ride home."
"If you want to get on Yukari's nerves, duck under a seat when she's not looking."
"That doesn't seem like a good idea." Amu commented, smiling at the idea, "Do you ever want to disappear like that with the band?"
Ikuto nodded, "It should be an interesting trip for me too."
Yukari honked the horn telling everyone to get in the vehicles, they were heading out. Kukai ran past Amu, "Hurry up or you'll get left behind. Again."
"Shut up and enjoy Nikadiou-sensei's broadway music all the way home!" Amu shouted back playfully.
Yukari seemed impatient, and Amu, regretfully, told Ikuto bye and ran towards the car too scared to look back.
"Hey, Amu." Amu stopped and turned to see his familiar smirk, "See you soon."
Amu smiled back at him before running towards the car, ready to endure the abuse she was sure to receive.
Ikuto watched the cars leave the parking lot and go in the opposite direction he was heading, as always.
He felt Aruto wrap an arm around his shoulder. "Son, I'm going to tell you something I've never told you before." Ikuto looked over at him, expectingly, "You're not very bright."
"That's it?"
"That's all that's necessary. I mean, haven't you ever seen a romantic movie in your life."
"Not until I met you, thanks."
"But, I suppose it will be fine." He smirked over at Ikuto, who was giving him a confused look, "Beautiful results. That's all that matters. Besides, I have always been partial to those star cross lovers."
Ikuto just rolled his eyes at his insane father, then looked in that direction one last time. He smiled, maybe one day he'd be able to go home himself. But it seemed he still had a long way to go.
AN: I just got home from an academic team match and felt like writing this chapter. I was pumped from getting a category solely devoted to Pokemon! Guess who got all of those right :P. The next chapter will be the last one. I hope you've enjoyed the story and will read to the end.