A/N:

ThanksForReviewing!

EnjoyReadReview. :)

(PS: I really do thank the author : GARTH NIX. He's the one who inspired me to form this story. Check out his books! Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.)

And for those people who's wondering where Tadase, Rima and the others are, they'll show up eventually.

Chapter Ten

My hands balled into fists. I couldn't go. Not yet. Definitely no.

But my father was already found.

I couldn't explain the feelings that are exploding in my heart now. I closed my eyes.

Please help me, mother.

"Go, Amu. I understand." Ikuto murmured. He smiled and started to walk away. Yukio-senpai motioned me to go. But I couldn't.

"I'm only coming if he comes." I blurted out. Ikuto and senpai froze. I just said that out loud, didn't I?

"Why do you need him?" Yukio-senpai growled. Ikuto stared in confusion.

"B—because." I paused. "I need him to train me."

"Oh." Ikuto said, hiding his smile.

"Train you for what?" Senpai asked.

"Witchcraft."

"I thought you we're taking both?"

"Yeah. But now, I want to concentrate on witchcraft first." I winked.

"Wha-..?"

"You heard the girl." Ikuto said, grabbing me. "I'm coming, Yu-ki-yo."

"Whatever. Do what you wish." Yukio-senpai started to walk away. "We're leaving in the morning."

"Yeah, yeah." Ikuto rolled his eyes as senpai turned his back on us. Ikuto grinned.

"Train you?" He asked, smirking. I punched his head.

"Don't try to even think about dirty thoughts, you freaking idiot." I rolled my eyes.

"Aww. How un-cute." He murmured.

"There's no such word."

"I invented it."

"I don't care."

"Seriously Amu, why won't you treat me as your proper boyfriend?"

"Isn't it enough that I already lied to senpai to make you come with us?" I asked.

"Nope."

"Then suit yourself. I'm going to tell Yukio-senpai the truth."

"I don't think so." He said, grabbing me, so my back was touching his chest, hugging me behind.

"Ehem." A voice said, faking a cough. "Public display of affection. How romantic."

"What are you doing here?" I asked, sighing. This voice? Definitely the annoying necromancer.

"I was originally resting here in the first place. You were the ones who disturbed my peaceful sleep."

"Shut up, Nagi."

"Nagi?" Ikuto asked.

"Hey! Neko Neko-san? Is that you?" Nagi asked.

"Neko neko-san?" I asked, raising an eyebrow up.

"Yeah. It's the nickname we gave him because—.." Nagi was about to say, but Ikuto covered his mouth.

"Nothing. Now, could you please stop changing the topic and go home?" Ikuto recommended. Nagehiko laughed.

"No way."

"Just go home before I do something."

"Definitely no."

"You asked for it." Ikuto murmured. I sighed.

"Stop it." I shouted. "Seriously Nagi, why won't you go home?"

"Because I haven't fulfilled my task yet."

"Oh."

"So that means I'm coming with you three!" He said cheerfully. I could imagine it now. The reunion of the once best friends. The start of the disastrous reunion. I sweatdropped.

"I know what you're thinking, and I believe mine's much more worse." Ikuto whispered. I laughed.

"You're not that creative."

"Oh, please."

"Can anyone tell me what's happening?" Nagi pouted.

"None of your business." Ikuto answered.

"You never changed." Nagi sighed. I smiled. Even in some way, they're still friends, even if they want to kill each other that badly.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I answered.

"Then why were you smiling a while ago?" Ikuto asked.

"I was daydreaming."

"About me?" Nagi said, raising my chin so I could face him. Ikuto gripped his shirt.

"Seriously, go home before I can kill you."

"I said no."

"That's just a useless quarrel." Yukio-senpai said, approaching.

"Wait. Is it morning already?" Ikuto asked.

"Ba-ka." I murmured.

"Seriously. Why are you here when it isn't morning yet?" He asked senpai.

"Just checking on how many passengers we have."

"Oh." I said. "How many is there?"

"Seven."

"Ah. Seven.." I murmured. Wait. "What? Seven passengers?" I said, my eyes widening.

"Yeah. You, me, Tsukiyomi, Fujisaki, Souma, Sanjou-sama and I don't know."

"Kairi and Kuukai are coming as well?" I asked in shock.

"They demanded to go." Senpai sighed.

"Okay then. The more the merrier!" Nagi said. Suddenly, Ikuto pulled me to his side and whispered something.

"I don't want this." He whispered.

"Oh, you can bear with it. They won't really ignore you. Ikuto, they're you're ex-best friends aren't they?" I said. He sighed.

"That's not it."

"Then what is it then?"

"You being the only girl in this journey."

"Oh." I smiled. "Jealous?"

"You have no idea."

"That's a new emotion. Congratulations. Now, I can call you jealous-management issues guy." I teased. He rolled his eyes.

"Seriously. I don't want this." He sighed. I patted his head.

"It's fine." I assured him. "I'm loyal and committed."

"Yeah right." He murmured. I smiled.

I'm satisfied with this now. Nope, even more satisfied than satisfied.

-Nobody's POV-

"HInamori Amu, huh?" A boy with golden hair said, staring with Amu with interest. Apparently, he was on a tree, gazing at Amu, with a cloak on.

"I finally found you." He murmured.

"But that boy is going to be a problem." He added, staring at Ikuto with a wicked smile.