So…my computer…broke. DX I was so upset! I lost all my files and I needed a whole new hard drive that I had to send the computer away for. It took so long and I feel so bad. . I was doing so good with updating too. o.o Then when I did get it back I started school again (which has been a mess of hard work since college application will start soon… OH GOD!) and I also have a job. D: AHHHH!

Ikuto: It's okay. We understand.

You understand? What happened to the real Ikuto.

Ikuto: Nothing. I'm him…sooo I'm gonna be in this chapter right?

*face palm*

Onto reviews!

Winter Knight: Thank you! Utau is a very angry person. xD

vampire-charmer-101: hello there snazzy Jessica. Aruto is quite the hotty… And I DON'T DESERVE THIS COOKIE! It's been like months. I think like 3 or 4 or maybe more! (that rhymes heh) Not good! I don't deserve it! Plus it's probably moldy by now…

MaddiLuvsYou: Ahh thank you! I hope you didn't forget about this story too much. D:

Lil' Phoenix: Your review made me really happy! I'm never good at pulling off smooth story lines (in my opinion anyway) and to hear you say I did it this time makes me so happy! Now if only I could get to reviewing more…

Mimpy: Thanks! :D

XxSingingAgonyxX: I do! I just wanna steal him and put him on a shelf in my room. O.O Anywho, yes your prediction was pretty good! I was very surprised when I saw it. XD Sorry about the wait again. T.T Yoru will be here soon!

rayrayy: That it does. That it does…

gkanimefan: Thank you so much! And I want to congratulate you on making the 50th review! Yaaaay! :DDD

Okay disclaimer time. :D Take it away Kukai!

Kukai: Me? Oh…uh, I don't even know what to say. I'm barley in this story and you picked me? Wow.

Utau: SHE DOESN'T OWN SHUGO CHARA! NOW JUST WRITE!

Kukai: D:

Uhhh sorry Kukai. Moving on!

Different Worlds

Chapter 10: Playing Dead

The carriage slowed to a stop and Utau turned around to face Amu in the back.

"Okay, we're here. Here's the plan. Are you a good actor?" She asked suddenly.

Amu looked at her skeptically. "Depends on what I'll be doing."

"Don't worry. It'll be easy."


Ikuto slumped over in the chair he had been in for hours. It was dark in the small room but Ikuto knew there wasn't anything to see in the room anyway. It was completely empty besides himself and the chair he was in. He leaned back and closed his eyes in agony.

He'd never felt so utterly helpless and guilty before. If Amu died because of him, he'd thank Kazuomi himself for finishing him off and ending the agony. He had thought he could fix everything by leaving Amu but he had been wrong. And how painful it had been leaving her too.

He still couldn't get the image of her sobbing form out of his head. She had been frozen to the spot and had to just walk away.

He remembered clearly how when it had started to rain he had gone back to check on Amu and make sure she was okay. What he had seen was far from okay. He followed her as she walked home in the rain until she was in the gardens again, sobbing the whole way there. Then as she lay there on the ground sobbing he had to leave. He knew if he watched any longer he wouldn't be able to stay away. He had wanted to comfort her so badly. To tell her he had been lying. To tell her everything about why he had to leave.

But that was out of the question. Instead he came back empty handed and ended up here. He hoped she was okay. He knew at this point she and Tadase would be married. She'd get over him and be happy. She had to. As long as she stayed in the castle she'd be safe.

Just then the door opened and a stream of bright light flooded into the room. Ikuto squinted his eyes against the light and could make out a burly figure coming into the room.

"Get up. You're being moved." The figure said in a husky voice.

Ikuto stood and was led out into more light. He walked down the familiar halls of their headquarters, being pushed from behind by his new friend.

They reached a door and the man pulled it open to reveal Kazuomi and Utau. Kazuomi was at his desk and Utau was sitting in a chair against the wall, watching Ikuto with cold eyes.

Ikuto stumbled his way into the room and looked into Kazuomi's face. "What do you want from me now?"

Kazuomi smiled. "Actually I wanted to show you something." He said slowly.

He nodded to the other side of the room and Ikuto looked over there quickly. The blood drained from his face as he saw a sack with something large and unmoving inside it.

"W-what is that?"

Kazuomi smiled. "Why don't you look for yourself."

Ikuto's legs felt like lead and his heart was pounding in his ears. He walked over to the motionless sack and picked up the side that was tied closed, then quickly ripped off the knot and opened the sack.

Amu's body lay motionless inside.

Ikuto couldn't breath, couldn't think, couldn't even see for a moment. This couldn't be. It couldn't be.

"No…" he whispered.

Kazuomi laughed from behind him. "See? You didn't have to be the hero. Once I wanted her dead her fate was sealed. Bring him back to his room. Oh and throw the corpse in there with him."

The burley man grabbed Ikuto and pushed him towards the door. He slung the bag over him shoulder and brought them back to the room Ikuto had been in originally. He threw the bag into the room after Ikuto and it made a loud thump as it hit the floor.

Ikuto crawled over to the sack as the door closed and dropped them into darkness. He pulled Amu's body out of the sack quickly and lay her down. He could feel a tear slide down his cheek but he wiped it away quickly.

He put one hand on her cheek and brushed away another tear with the other. He looked down at her still face. She didn't look very peaceful which saddened him.

Just then the door opened again but shut quickly. Ikuto looked up at the blond who had entered with rage.

"You murderer!" He shouted.

"Shhhh!" She lunged at him and covered his mouth.

"No! Why should I listen to anything you have to say? You killed her! You killed her!" He wanted to strangle her and make her feel the same pain he was feeling, even though he knew it'd be impossible to physically harm someone that much.

"Shut up, you idiot! Amu it's okay, there aren't any camera's in this room. It's just pitch black and empty." She said quickly, before Ikuto could get another word in.

At those words Ikuto's head shot in Amu's direction. In disbelief he watched her eyes open as she sat up quickly.

Ikuto stared at her wide eyed but her expression was emotionless.


Amu couldn't believe how upset Ikuto had seemed. But she supposed he had felt responsible for her "death" and therefore was guilty. And just because he didn't love her didn't mean he necessarily wanted her dead. She had had her eyes closed and had no idea what his reaction had been besides silence and then screaming at Utau.

"You're…alive?" he asked slowly.

Amu nodded. "Yes. I wasn't really dead. That was our way of sneaking in here."

"Why would you sneak in here? Do you really want to be dead?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Well I couldn't let you get yourself killed."

Ikuto's eyes were searching her, but she remained emotionless. She wasn't going to let him think she was so helplessly in love with him that she had come to save him to get him to fall for her. She knew that when this was over she'd leave Ikuto and he'd be free to live whatever life he chose. She'd be happy just knowing he was alive and well.

"Amu…I-"

"Now's not the time for feelings." Utau snapped. Amu could tell she was still pissed about Ikuto's secretive nature and the unknown relationship between Amu and him.

"She's right." Amu agreed. "What's next in your plan?"

Utau looked thoughtful for a moment. "We need to sneak out of here. I know a route we can take without much trouble. If things go bad we'll have to separate though."

Amu nodded in agreement but Ikuto frowned. "If we separate, isn't that more dangerous?"

Utau shook her head. "Not if we get out quickly."

I'm really tired so I think this must end even though it's kinda short. I need to get around to updating other fics of mine but hopefully now that I've written this I'll be out of my writing slump. :D

Ikuto: Lots of me. I approve of this chapter.

Of course you do…