Ikuto looked down. His eyes were drifted towards the concrete. Amu gasped when a huge red streak occupied his normally pale cheek. Amu looked from him to his sister.

Utau was looking at him in hatred.

"You killed dad! You wanted him dead, right? Because you didn't want another violinist better than you!" Utau made a finger jabbed in Ikuto's chest before she yanked it back in disgust.

"Utau stop!" Amu cried out. Two hands shoved Amu back, all the way back until they forced her down. Amu thought she would come in contact with the cold, hard unfeeling ground, but instead, she got submerged into icy water.

"Amu!" Ikuto yelled. Two thin arms came and yanked Amu out. The pinkette coughed and wheezed weakly as Utau huffed and growled underneath her breath.

"You, you, you! You killed him and I never got to see daddy!" Utau's voice broke. She slumped to her knees and started crying. She sounded...different. She didn't sound slutty or evil, or even malicious. She sounded like a little child who was beaten up. Amu's eyes softened.

Ikuto didn't move but Amu did.

"That is where you are wrong, Utau," Amu warmly smiled. She knelt down in front of Utau and sat on her knees as well.

"What do you mean?" Utau tried to glare at Amu, but came out as a surprised face.

"Ikuto didn't kill your father," Amu smiled.

"W-What? But Kazuomi…"

"Lied to you."

Utau's purple eyes widened. Her step father lied to her? But, he would never do that, would he? He would never do such a dirty sin, right? The art of lying!

"H-He would never!" Utau weakly protested but then stopped when Amu warmly draped a hand around her shoulder.

"He did, Utau. He lied. Ikuto never killed your father. He would never do something that cruel," Amu warmly smiled. (Chi: I was about to say, "He loves your father very much like you do", but then I had to stop myself because then people would think this is a yaoi story which it is NOT.)(Eri: Guess people don't understand the meaning of family love.)

Utau froze.

"S-so w-what happened?" Utau sniffled. Amu looked at Ikuto, who looked hurt more than hopeful.

"Ikuto, shall I tell her? Or do you want to tell?" Amu softly sighed.

Ikuto just walked up to the two girls, not even bothering to speak. He gave a rise and slump of his shoulders letting Amu know she could do anything she wants, making the pinkette frown.

"Utau, what really happened is that when Ikuto found your father after some time of searching, Kazuomi came out and killed your father and put the death's blame on Ikuto. He never did it, Utau-chan, he would never do something so cruel and heartless. I thought you knew your brother better than anyone," Amu frowned, "From whatever time I spent with him made me realize that he is not in the least bit cruel."

Utau's eyes widened. But then she wouldn't give up. She turned to Amu.

"B-But what about the blood, huh?! Ikuto was there!" Utau yelled.

"But did you see a dagger in his hands?" Amu asked.

Utau froze. Amu was right. Ikuto didn't have any dagger in his hands. Aruto had a huge stab through his heart. Whoever stabbed him through the chest pulled the dagger out.

"N-No, I d-didn't see anything," Utau whispered.

"Then he didn't do it. Ikuto didn't do anything wrong. And he suffered everything. Utau, he let you and your mother take out your anger and hate on him, if he didn't Kazuomi would have hurt you as well if you knew. That's why he kept it one big secret." Amu said.

"Yeah, it is all because of me, right?" Utau snorted.

"No, it isn't. It is all because of Kazuomi-san. He implied all this pain on him." Amu said.

Utau looked from the pinkette to her brother. Now she had that blank look on her face again and Ikuto inwardly cringed. What if Utau slapped him again? Or dunked him in the water fountain like she did to Amu?

Utau calmly got up. Amu did as well. Utau dusted off her clothes and then looked at the both of them with a blank face. She looked down, then she looked at Ikuto for the longest time possible.

Then she turned around, and said, without even looking over her shoulder.

"I will think about it. Goodbye."

Before either Amu or Ikuto could stop her, Utau disappeared from sight.

oOo

Ikuto lied down on his bed. Amu stroked his hair.

"Do you think she would forgive me?" Ikuto asked.

"Of course she would. She is your sister," Amu smiled.

"But that look on her face told me otherwise…"

"Don't think negatively, Ikuto. She didn't say she wouldn't believe you. She has to consider it, Ikuto. She was fed lies all along. And now we just pushed truth in her face. It is a bit overwhelming to digest it, isn't it?" Amu smiled as she smoothed Ikuto's bangs down.

Ikuto sighed and nodded, completely enjoying Amu's gentle and feather-like touches.

"Yeah, I guess so." He murmurs into her hair.

Amu smiled and then got a beep from her phone.

"That thing again?!" Ikuto glared at the phone.

Amu laughed as she texted Tsukasa-san that she wanted to spend another night in Ikuto's room in the hospital.

"Shouldn't you be discharged from the hospital by now? I mean, Tsukasa will be more than happy to give you a room at his house. And that means no flirtatious nurses," Amu raised an eyebrow.

Ikuto thought about it.

"If he is coming tomorrow then can I tell him yes?"

"Yes to what, Ikuto?" Amu asked.

"That I want to stay at his house?" Ikuto asked.

"Oh, so no flirtatious nurses really convinced you didn't it?" Amu smirked.

Ikuto blushed a little and Amu laughed at his priceless expression. Amu ruffled his hair again, messing up all of her work and said, "Of course. Tell him, okay?"

Ikuto nodded. Then Amu withdrew her hand so she could go to sleep on a futon that was rolled up at the corner. She always had a habit of doing so, like she was still treating him like a patient. Instinctively Ikuto shot his hands forward and dragged Amu down.

"Wha- Ikuto!" Amu squealed.

"Yes?" Ikuto asked innocently.

"Wh-What are you doing? I have to sleep on my futon!" Amu struggled.

"Nope." He snuggled into her making Amu gasp at his sudden affection, almost cat like.

"What do you mean, no?" Amu asked in the middle of her struggling. Ikuto dragged her underneath the covers and sighed as he nuzzled her neck just like a cat.

"You are not sleeping on the futon anymore."

And with that little command, Amu couldn't resist the urge to go to sleep.

oOo

The blonde pig-tailed singer hurried to her home. She was horrified. She had to get her and her mother out of that bloody house as soon as possible.

Utau jammed the keys in and unlocked the door. When she did, she threw the keys in her purse and ran up to her mom's bedroom.

Kazuomi was at Easter, probably taking all the credits for her success. She decided. She will become that innocent singer she was before she got corrupted.(Eri: A little too late for that…)

Opening the door to Souko's room, Utau rushed in. Souko got up, her black mourning dress visible in the moonlight.

"Utau? What is the rush?"

"Hurry. We need to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Why?"

"Kazuomi killed dad."

"Impossible! I swear I saw Ikuto drenched in Aruto's blood!" Souko put her palms up to her cheeks in horror.

"No. It wasn't him. A girl named Hinamori Amu explained it to me. Ikuto-nii went to go find dad. When he found him, Kazuomi came out and killed dad. He then put the blame of dad's death on Ikuto-nii. I feel so regretful for doubting him all the time, but mom, we need to go. This house isn't safe. It is another foundation of lies, deceit, and trickery. I can't stand it and you shouldn't wallow up and blindly accept his sugar coated words of poison," Utau hurriedly tugged on her mother's arm.

"Ikuto...never killed Aruto…?" Souko's purple eyes filled with tears as she broke down crying.

"No, mother he didn't. And to think he went through all of this trouble," Utau whispered scared.

"I am such a horrible mother, to just assume things on my own son!" Souko cried, "What if he died because of malnourishment? Or what if he committed suicide?"

"He didn't," Utau whispered, "This Hinamori girl took care of him well."

That comment made her heart flutter. She was glad her son was safe and be able to open up.

"Okay, let's go," Souko sniffled and the two didn't even bother to pack.

"Well, well, well. Look what we got here."

The two froze. In horror, Utau and Souko looked at Kazuomi, who managed to slip in the house without a trace and was leaning on the frame of Souko's bedroom door.

"D-Don't even start me on that! You killed Aruto!" Souko yelled.

"I did."

"Then why did you do something so heartless?" Utau whispered.

"Because I am one. I do not care about him. I wanted you, Souko, to marry me, but you were just in love with him. Then you got married to him! Not even sparing another glance to me! So I had to do what I had to do. I killed him. And now, Souko, there is nothing coming in between us. Nothing, you are mine and mine alone….." Kazuomi raised his arm.

Souko winced and waited for the impact. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see her own daughter tumbling down for the ground. Kazuomi slapped Utau.

"Utau!"

oOo

Ikuto and Amu woke up. They smiled once they found that they were in each other's arms.

"Hello. Did you have any nightmares?" Ikuto asked.

"Nope. All thanks to you."

"That's good."

A knock came to the door and Amu looked at Ikuto. He reluctantly let go of the pinkette and Amu opened the door. Tsukasa came in.

"Hey Tsukasa?"

"Yes?"

"Ikuto wanted to ask you if he could stay at your house."

"Sure that would be fine! I guess you are fine enough to be discharged from the hospital, huh?" Tsukasa smiled at Ikuto, who in turn gave a tiny smile.

"Okedoki~" Tsukasa sang, "Pack it up and I have another guest bedroom for you to stay in. Unless you would like to share with Amu-chan~"

Ikuto thought about it and said, "Sharing is caring."

Tsukasa clapped his hands together and said, "That's the spirit! Come on!"(Eri: Not your average father.)

Amu, flustered, helped pack her own stuff and then Ikuto's personal belongings before going out. Ikuto looked at his nameplate that was slid on the holder right outside of his room.

Ikuto took the name plate and snapped it in two. An action that made Amu flinch.

"What? I am not staying here anymore right?" he asked.

"Yeah, but it is the place where we first met and trusted each other. It is a little hard to say…" Amu trailed off.

"To say goodbye? I know. But at least I have a little memento of that place," Ikuto smiled as he slung an arm around Amu's shoulder. Amu's Humpty Lock and Ikuto's Dumpty Key glowed in harmony. The both of them smiled.

"Come on silly," Amu smiled. The two of them joined hands and walked down the hallway.

oOo

That night, Amu and Ikuto set up Ikuto's space in Amu's room. Apparently they decided simultaneously that they would share a bed. (Chi: NO DIRTY THOUGHTS! No lemons!)

Amu yawned and Ikuto did as well.

"I guess no more working at the hospital, huh?" Amu smiled.

"Well you are a full-fledged musician and an artist. And don't forget education. You need to get a degree of some sort," Ikuto warned Amu.

"Yes, daddy. And what about you? You are a talented violinist, but you have to study first!" Amu wagged a finger like a mom would, making Ikuto laugh.

"Yes, mommy."

The two laughed as they drew the covers and went into a peaceful and for once, nightmare-free sleep.

oOo

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Amu quivered and shot up from her sleeping position. Quick as a cat, Ikuto shot up awake.

"Who is it?" Amu whispered.

"I don't know, Amu. Let's go find out."

"Good thinking. I will get the door first."

"What? Why?"

"Ladies first, remember?"

"I hate that phrase. Makes women look like sacrificial lambs sometimes."

"Are you coming or not?"

"Fine."

The two padded down the hallway, past Tsukasa's room and down the stairs and to the front door. Amu took a deep breath and opened the door. What they saw before their eyes made them almost call the ambulance.

A beaten up, bloody, and bruise-covered Utau and Souko at their doorstep.

"Please," Utau cried weakly with tears in her eyes, and Souko did the same thing too.

"Please save us," Souko finished.

Ikuto looked at the two of them.

"Utau...and mom…?"

.

.

.

TBC