My heart is yours.
It's you that I hold on to.
That's what I'll do.
But I know I was wrong,
And I won't let you down.

Sparks, Coldplay

Utau stared at Yukari while she frantically scribbled stage instructions on a movable whiteboard in the Sanjo household, but her mind wasn't following the basic instructions being given to her. All she could think about was Ikuto. It wasn't the romance-based fantasies that she used to be constantly thinking up; it was the thoughts of a concerned older sister.

She slowly put her hand in her pocket again to touch the piece of paper that Ikuto had slipped into her pocket while passing her on his way out. She couldn't help but feel worried, but a part of her was feeling smug that he had asked for help, and she hated that part to bits. What if he actually needed help with something? What if something serious had happened and he needed her? It was less than a month that Easter had decided to disband her contract, and even less for Ikuto. It wouldn't surprise her if Easter had threatened him to join their cult again – it wouldn't be the first time. She would never forget the time that Ikuto had tried to leave Easter, and neither would he.

She anxiously glanced at the clock and was relieved that it was forty minutes to one in the morning. A year ago she would've been gobsmacked that she had stayed up so late and would dive into bed, but now it was more natural than breathing. Being semi-nocturnal was part of the lifestyle of being an idol, and she knew it. But now she had priorities, and she had a schedule to boot. 'Yukari, I need to go.'

'Go to the bathroom later Utau, this is important!' Yukari growled, scribbling with more vigour. 'On the tour should you enter the stage from the stage wings, or should the lights turn on and BAM! You're there.'

'The second one sounds good to me. I have an appointment, and if I don't show up on time I'll feel horrible.' Utau admitted, feeling slightly self-conscious that she had said the truth so boldly out loud.

Yukari nodded. 'It can't be helped then. Return before three with some food – we need to head down to Osaka to set up the stage for everything. This tour will be the highlight of your fan's lives. We're leaving at four, so grab some clothes.'

Utau shot her boss and friend a smile and walked out of her apartment and down the shopping strip. She quickly ducked into a side street to shove on a huge purple hat with diamonds to cover her hair and some violet shades. When she walked back onto the street she looked like a completely different person. It wouldn't cross anyone's mind that the shadowy girl who just walked around the corner would be Utau Hoshina, the paparazzi's newest target since her mysterious move with her manager to a brand new agency. She snorted loudly; couldn't they just butt out for once? Honestly.

Utau's thoughts drifted to her manager. Yukari was changing. Only a month ago her boss had been cold and determined to catch the Embryo for Easter. She had lost all her morals, sensitivity towards others and had just been a horrid person to be around. She had cut all ties to her personal life and had started to drink until she lost majority of her memories of the previous day. Only her planner notes from the previous day could help boost her memory of the other day. To make matters worse, she had gone low enough to draw her own little brother into Easter's dark web of disasters. If Utau had asked Yukari for a break or even an appointment a month ago... the results would be disastrous.

But then again, the same could be said for Utau. The only difference was that Utau had been working for her family, not for a promotion and definitely not for a raise.

A month ago Utau had been a completely different person. The cold, hateful and bitter girl that she'd been had disappeared into nothing. Now, she had made herself a lifestyle that she loved and learnt a few things about herself – especially that she didn't love her brother. She looked up to him and admired him.

Utau peered at a store window and bit her lip to hide the smile that just wanted to break out. Despite her hat and glasses making her look, according to Yukari, 'like a depressed teenage delinquent' it was clear that she was far from depressed. Her whole face was beaming with silent joy.

Stepping into an alley, Utau walked past a huge cat sleeping in a cardboard box and was about to step onto the road and cross into the park when she saw the boy from yesterday's meeting in that exact park. Kurai? Kukai. His name was definitely Kukai. Usually if Utau saw someone that she knew, she would walk up and say something sarcastic to get their attention, but just by looking at him, she just couldn't bring herself to take his attention away from the soccer ball that he was juggling with his whole body. His chara was cheering him on while balancing his own little soccer ball on his head. Soon, she realised that it was a competition. A devious grin spread over her face; she liked competitions.

But Ikuto was waiting. Ikuto needed her.

Shaking the thoughts of the teen out of her mind, Utau tucked her hair into her hat, pulled the rim down and briskly walked past him. After going a far distance away, she turned around to see if she had destroyed his concentration. A small part of her shattered when he hadn't moved to see her walking past. He hadn't noticed.

'Just a jock,' she muttered to herself, while sprinting to Amu's house. Every step she took, the pain faded away into blissful nothingness. 'Just a jock,'

It was exactly twelve minutes to one when Utau arrived outside the Hinamori household. One second before she was about to press the doorbell, the door soundlessly swung open to reveal her brother.

'How did you know when to open the door?'

'For a dancing idol, your footsteps sound loud. Sensitive hearing, remember?' he replied after a yawn. 'Can we speak outside? Amu's finally crashed on the couch and you're bound to scream and wake her up.'

'I will not!' Utau growled, before Ikuto clamped his hand around her mouth. Utau scowled, but reluctantly nodded. She followed Ikuto through two streets until he finally arrived at a small playground. Utau planted herself on a swing and Ikuto followed suit. They sat in silence for twenty minutes, and for once Utau was patient and didn't yell at him to hurry up. She knew that he was organising his thoughts, and it was hard for him to take the initiative to open himself up.

'Why isn't Amu asleep on her bed, instead of her bed?' she asked, to distract him. He would tell her, it was just a matter of time.

Ikuto smirked. 'She felt like watching Napoleon Dynamite, and fell asleep during the opening scene.'

Utau laughed for a second, until she frowned. Something wasn't right. 'What I meant was how would her parents let her crash on the couch? I'm sure as hell Mum wouldn't let us do such a thing if we were still living with her. And how are you, a male teenager, allowed to stay at Amu's house around one in the morning?'

'All of her family is in Tokyo to support Ami while she models some clothes. Amu was left alone.' he muttered. Utau slowly started to sway forward and back on the swing.

'So, you're staying with her? Is that what you wanted to tell me?' Utau sighed. 'If it was, I don't think planting a piece of paper into my pocket organising a rendezvous point in the early hours of the morning is one of the brightest things you've done.'

Ikuto flicked Utau in the middle of the forehead causing her to slap his hand, hard. 'Don't be stupid, there's more.'

Utau's ears perked up. 'Fair enough, but before that, why would you go to such lengths to stay at Amu's? You have your own apartment that I pay for,'

Ikuto stayed silent for a second before answering. 'Not sure. I don't think that I want to go back to my apartment.'

That made Utau stop mid-swing. 'What's wrong with it?'

'I'm a seventeen year old living alone in an apartment with a chara that's invisible to majority of the human race. Its quiet.' he muttered while running his hand through his silky smooth hair.

'Oh. If you're lonely I could invite a few musicians that will be playing for my tour to see you. You all use instruments so it's not that hard to make a few friends.'

Ikuto chuckled. 'Utau, don't make me play dates with people I don't want to know.' he stopped chuckling. 'Besides...'

'Besides...?'

'I only want Amu's company.' he stated. His eyes slightly widened, as if he hadn't known that fact before the words had passed his lips, and Utau knew it. Ikuto's subconscious had spoken the truth for him, and now Utau knew what Ikuto needed her for.

'Ikuto?'

'Mmm?'

'How do you feel about Tadase?'

Ikuto shot her a look. 'I don't swing that way, if that's what you're asking.'

'No, no!' Her cheeks tinged a light shade of pink. 'I meant how do you feel about him as a person. His personality.'

Ikuto frowned. 'Not much, really. He's Amu's friend so I try not to piss him off, but he just wants to shoot explosive beams at me from his wand whenever I'm around.'

'Now how do you feel about Amu, compared to Tadase?'

Ikuto froze and his breath cut off. Utau just smiled softly at his shocked expression. It was about time that he finally figured it out. 'You've fallen. Hard.'

'It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.'

Amu blinked rapidly at the sunlight that seeped through the yellow curtains. She fumbled for the remote and switched the television off with a satisfying click. She was slightly disappointed that she had fallen asleep before the movie even started, but it couldnt be helped. There was always tomorrow. With a yawn she turned and snuggled into her warm pillow. The steady heartbeat of the pillow was so comforting and...Wait, what?

She slowly stood up and walked away from the couch. After she was a good ten steps away from the couch she turned around to confirm her suspicions. Her face burned with embarrassment when the reality of the situation she was in a few seconds ago hit. She had just been snuggling up onto Ikuto's chest. Before she could freak out and think about how relaxing and beautiful his heartbeat was, the sound of cards being shuffled loudly destroyed the silence.

Amu quickly grabbed her phone off the floor and flipped it open.

'Tsukasa, how can I help you?'

'Ah, Amu-chan. Today, you won't be able to meet up with me for lunch, so I'll check in with you on Monday. I promised your mother that I would check in with you after all.'

'Wait...huh? What d-'

'It would be useful to carry an umbrella. Goodbye Amu-chan.' he said, and with a click the line cut.

Amu sighed, but before she could even think about how that was going to affect her plans for the day, her phone rang with the sound of a whistle being blown. Within seconds she had it flipped open.

'What Kukai?'

Kukai's voice was broken up, and static filled her ear. 'Hinamo..., get to Seiy...igh... quick... with Ikut...'

'Kukai, I can't hear you at all. What the hell is going on?' Amu shouted into the phone. Ikuto sat up and stared at her with a befuddled expression.

'X-Eggs. Over fifty of them. All at school. Get down here with Ikuto now; it's useless just chasing them. We need our Joker.'

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