Hey, another chapter everyone!

Guess what? I'm getting the Shugo Chara artbook and the 2009 calender! All for a grand total of $61.39. XD I actually think it's worth it though.

Also, I was intending to make the next chapter or so a songfic. You'll see which song it is because when you read the chapter I will tell you. ;P It's not this chapter though.

Okay, anyway. Enough with my nonsense, read on and enjoy!

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Stolen

Part Eleven:

Night's Dawn and Farewell Embraces

I was having a transparent dream

It was a tender eternity

The faint, wind-like voice

Is calling me from the high sky...

-Megumeru ~Cuckool Mix 2007~ by Eufonius

Amu blinked sleepily as she heard someone talking. When had she fallen asleep? Yawning she sat up, aware that the talking had stopped as soon as she awoke. Rubbing her eyes, she stared blearily as the events of the previous night came over her.

She gasped, eyes wide, awake immediately.

"Amu, are you alright?" Nagihiko's concerned voice came from her right. She turned to him. He stood next to her, worry on his face. His lovely, flowing hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and he was wearing a white button-up shirt with blue jeans. He looked like a movie star or something.

She giggled a little, and Nagihiko smiled a little, seemingly relieved. "So how are you feeling?"

"Fine." She said, stretching. "A little groggy though. I'm so sorry to intrude like this, by the way, I hardly know you."

"Oh, not at all. I don't mind helping others in need."

Amu glanced around the simple, tidy home. "Where is your girlfriend now...?"

"Ah, Rima. She's out right now. I'm certain she'll be home soon." He said smoothly.

Amu's eyes widened as she looked around again. "Wh-where is the friend I came with?"

Nagihiko smiled politely again. "Mr. Tsukiyomi is showering, at the present. And I would like to add, you never informed Hotori of this, did you? I doubt he would approve of you being with a thief as wanted as him."

Amu cast her gaze downward. Now, this was what she had been afraid of. Afraid of how they would feel about Ikuto having 'stolen' her and ran away for their safety, else they would both be killed. It wasn't something she felt like she could tell Nagihiko; Amu didn't like the idea of worrying him.

"Amu...?" Nagihiko gently shook her shoulder. "It's all right if you don't want to talk about it now. But I think you might feel better if you told someone." He sighed, running a hand through his bangs as he stood up completely. "In the meantime, would you like some food?"

Amu got up off the couch she had been asleep on and nodded eagerly. "That sounds wonderful."

Nagihiko chuckled in amusement as he went to the kitchen, presumably to make food. "You can wait there, I'll make something."

Taking heed of his request, she sat down on the couch she had just been sleeping on, and gazed around the home. It was spacious, and very clean and almost new looking. The carper was a lovely shade of darker beige, and the walls were white. The home was two-stories, and the small staircase that lead to the upstairs was made of polished hardwood. Near the doorway that led to the kitchen, there was a small piano, with music sheets arranged atop it's shiny cover. Diagonally from the piano was a small dining table, with four chairs. Pictures lined the walls; most were paintings, but there was one of Nagihiko and a smaller young woman with wavy, golden hair and honey colored eyes. Amu assumed this was his girlfriend, Rima.

Sighing, she leaned back against the couch, and noticed a clock on the wall by it. According to the clock, it was about 2 in the afternoon.

Amu sat contentedly, a song she was unfamiliar with playing over and over again in her head, as she listened to the sounds of Nagihiko's cooking. If she listened hard enough, she could hear the clock ticking and birds chirping faintly from outside.

Her daydreaming was interrupted when she noticed that someone was in front of her. Blinking, she sat up and saw that it was Ikuto, an unfamiliar expression on his face and a towel around his shoulders. Ah, he was shirtless. Did that mean...she felt her gaze traveling downward but quickly caught herself. Ah well, he was still wearing pants. But did he have to go around in someone else's home shirtless?

"Go put a shirt on." She mumbled, turning away.

He smirked, raising an eyebrow, previous expression gone. Amu wondered if she had even seen that expression at all. "Aw, but you know you like seeing it off, Amu."

She gasped and choked on her own breath in surprise. "The hell? I do not!" She said quietly but angrily. "Now go before Nagihiko catches you doing this! It's weird!"

He rolled his eyes. "Right, weird. Fine, I'll go get a shirt." And he sauntered off. Amu shook her head in disbelief, silently willing her blush to disappear just as Nagihiko exited the kitchen, carrying a full plate of steaming food with him. She felt her stomach grumble at the sight, encounter with her shirtless—um, Ikuto—(Her what? What was she thinking?) all but forgotten.

Nagihiko seemed amused as he watched her eagerly dig into the food, devouring it even quicker than she would have thought possible. He was one great cook; this Rima must be a very lucky girl.

After finishing her food, Nagihiko took the plate and returned to the kitchen. Full and content, Amu leaned back against the couch until Nagihiko came back.

He scrutinized her for a moment before speaking up. "I should tell Hotori about this..."

Amu sat up in shock, eyes wide as she gazed at him worriedly. However, Nagihiko simply sighed and shook his head. "...But I won't. I should, but I won't. It's probably best you leave before Hotori decides to come over and visit. He wouldn't be please to find Mr. Tsukiyomi here. As you know, your...friend...is wanted by practically every police department. I'm amazed he hasn't been caught yet."

Amu, feeling ashamed again, stared at the floor. "I'm sorry, Nagihiko. But I just..! It's...rather complicated."

He sat down next to her, sighing. "I'm certain it is. And how long do you plan to stay, Amu?"

She bit her lip. "I think we'll leave by nightfall."

Nagihiko nodded, saying nothing. Not long after this exchanged, the front door opened to reveal the petite, pretty girl she had heard about. Rima, Nagihiko's girlfriend.

"Nagihiko, I'm back." He stood up, smiling to greet her and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Welcome back."

"So our guests are here, right?" She had an almost childish sounding voice. Her honey colored eyes fixed on Amu as she said this.

"They are. The other one should be in the room we've provided." Rima nodded and headed up the stairs without another word, most likely to her and Nagihiko's bedroom.

With a sigh, Nagihiko turned to Amu. "Well, there's something I must help her with. I'm afraid there isn't much to do here, but...if you wish to write, your belongings are in the room down the hall to the left."

Amu nodded gratefully. "Thank you for everything you've done for us. Be sure to thank your girlfriend, as well."

After promising he would, Nagihiko headed up the stairs and disappeared from view, leaving Amu with only her thoughts for company once more. She frowned, realizing that it was taking Ikuto a rather long time to just change clothes. Even though she had no idea where Ikuto's room was, she decided to wander for a bit and find it.

Humming the song that was strangely now stuck in her head, she turned the corner and was met with three doors; two on the right, one on the left. She knew the one on the left was hers, so now which was Ikuto's...?

She opened the first one. It was a bathroom; complete with shower, toilet, and sink. Shower. Oh, how Amu wanted one. But not just yet.

She opened the second door just a crack. When she realized she couldn't see anything, she frowned, opening it wider. Seeing no one, she was just about to leave when she walked right into someone. This someone wrapped their arms around her waist, breathing in her ear. Amu sighed, knowing she had found him.

"Oi, Ikuto. You gonna let me go?" She looked up to see his expression, but he wouldn't let her. Instead, he pressed his lips to hers, firmly, still holding the back of her waist. She returned the kiss, curious about his unusal behavior. She didn't have time to think about it when the kiss changed, and he was kissing her in such a way that it made her legs feel like rubber.

Pulling away, he then picked her up and walked into his room, closing the door behind them and setting her down inside.. Yet again, he kissed her before she could speak or even get a good look at his face; one hand was holding the back of her neck, the other around her waist. He pulled away from her lips only to briefly kiss her neck before returning to her lips. She felt like the world was spinning. Never had she ever had physical contact like this before.

But what troubled her was that he was saying nothing.

When they broke apart, it took all of Amu's energy to push him away. Then she took his face between her hands before he could turn away, and stared deep into his eyes. What she saw there hurt.

His eyes were full of a deep, dark sadness. It was the worst expression she had ever seen on him, and it faintly remembered from one foggy memory that an expression similar to this was one he made while she was feverish.

"Ikuto, are you all right?"

He didn't speak, but knelt on the floor, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her stomach.

She stroked his hair, concerned and unsure. "Ikuto?"

"Amu..." His voice was muffled in her shirt.

She then crouched down to his level, staring him seriously in the eyes. "Is something the matter? You aren't acting like yourself."

He didn't answer her, but walked over to the bed, where he laid down. When she approached the bed only then did he speak.

"I'm tired. Stay here with me." He wasn't looking at her.

"A-alright." She lay down on the bed with him, surprised when he rested his head on her stomach and reached for one of her hands, holding it with his own. He didn't say anything more; his breathing became even and his eyes closed slowly.

Amu wasn't sure what to think of his actions. It was so unlike him. With her free hand, she stroked his hair again as she watched him sleep.

Was he thinking about his past? Worried about their sister? Their situation? If not that, then what? What was it that was troubling him to the point that he was no longer acting like himself?

Amu allowed her own eyes to slide shut, her mind full of worry for Ikuto and for their lives.

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He pounded on the desk. "You are full of shit, Nikaido. You let him escape."

Nikaido's sighed before he replied in his usual sarcastic tone of voice. "Sorry sir, we don't know where they went. It's completely not his style, so it's unpredictable."

Kazuomi was tempted to slam the phone down on the idiot's voice. He was tired of failures.

"Kill them both the second you see them, understand? And anyone they went to for help. Kill them all."

There was silence before Nikaido responded. "Yes, boss. Of course."

"You will not fail. If you fail again, it's you I intend to have killed. Are we clear? My stepson must be dead, and soon."

"What about your stepdaughter?"

Kazuomi sighed, running a hand through his thinning, gray hair, his mean little eyes set in a glare. "If she becomes problematic, I'll have Sanjou deal with her. That will be enough."

"Right then. I've gotta go. We're searching for your stepkid now." He hung up after that.

The director hung up the phone, folding his hands underneath his chin as he gazed directly ahead of him. Ikuto would be gone. What was left of Aruto Tsukiyomi, gone. The debt they were in, all gone. And all it took was killing the last son of the Tsukiyomi's. His wife wouldn't care; she was too far gone to know anything except denying the fact that her previous husband had gone somewhere. Utau wouldn't be a problem; if she became one she could easily be dealt with.

Satisfied, he leaned back in his chair, and waited for his little game to play out.

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Nikaido stood outside the car this time, lighting up a cigarette and taking a long, slow drag. He exhaled wearily. He was absolutely sick and tired of the chase, and wanted nothing more than to just laze about back home. Unfortunately, he was stuck with this worthless job and his boss had a stick—no, an enormous log—shoved up his ass and loved to cause problems for everyone else.

He drummed his fingers on the car as he stood, waiting for the others to return. They had all gone off in different directions to who-knows-where. He assumed that they would return soon enough, however; they were stuck in this as much as he was. He took another drag and exhaled again. He really needed to quit.

After another headache-inducing phone conversation with his wonderful boss, here he stood, deliberating on whether he should shut up and do the mission like he was told, or just tell the director to shove it and that he quit. It would be great to quit, but alas, Nikaido had no other job and had no clue who else would want him to work for them, considering his history with the police,all thanks to his current job.

Sighing, he dropped the cigarette to the pavement and ground it to ashes with the sole of his boot. This was really getting him nowhere, and his group was taking too damn long, wherever it was they were. He had only given them an hour each, however, so they should have begun to return by now.

He stared at the pay phone that he had just hung up, thinking hard. The hell. He was really considering quitting. Damn, he was losing it. He needed another cigarette.

So he lit up another, staring up into the sky, dyed lovely shades of fiery colors thanks to the setting sun. When night fell, they would be on the move again. How he would have loved to just stop and sleep, but they didn't have time for lengthy, comfortable naps like their targets did.

And the most unfortunate thing of all, was that his boss was right this time—they screwed up. They had missed a perfectly good chance to snare the two, and they had slipped up. Now, no one had a clue as to where they were. If he didn't know better, Ikuto had gone somewhere that was so unlike him that none of them would be able to guess. He may have gone somewhere the writer suggested, which made sense. None of them knew the writer, so no one could guess what kinds of hiding places would suit her personality best.

He sighed, closing his eyes just before he heard the footsteps of his returning comrades approaching.

Balancing the cigarette between two fingers as he exhaled, he muttered to himself. "About damn time."

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Amu awoke with a start, not realizing that she had dozed off herself. Blinking, she tried to sit up, but found a weight on her stomach. Ah. She had forgotten Ikuto was there.

Her sudden movement had awoke him as well; he blinked blearily and sat up to look at her. "Amu?"

"Sorry for waking you up. Feeling less tired?"

He smiled a little sleepily. "More awake, but still a little tired."

He snuggled back into her stomach, his arms wrapping around her. She flushed lightly. He was...so cute! Resisting the urge to giggle, she gently poked his cheek. "C'mon Ikuto, you're acting like less than half your age."

"Mmm..." he snuggled closer, sighing contentedly. "So let me be a kid for a while."

She rolled her eyes but leaned back again. After a short while, he released her and sat up to lay just alongside her. She turned to face him, her eyes questioning and a little worried. He only sighed, running a hand over his face. She knew that he knew what she wanted to ask him, but it was clear he had no intention of answering, even if her unspoken question was spoken aloud. Amu decided to try anyway.

"What was up with you? You weren't acting like yourself."

He cast his gaze downward, not meeting her eyes.

She sighed in exasperation. "Well, I guess if you're not going to tell me, then I won't bother you about it. I'm gonna go take a shower." She was about to get up and walk away when he seized her from behind, arms around her waist and his head in the crook of her neck.

"Don't go, unless you're going to take me with you."

She blushed at what that implied. "You are perverted to the core."

"Maybe."

"Not 'maybe,' it's 'definitely'."

"Yeah, alright."

She sighed impatiently. He still wasn't releasing her. "I'll be right back, okay? Try and get some more sleep, you still must be tired."

He yawned after she said this. "Fine..." And he released her.

She stretched as she stood, heading out the door into the hallway. Just as she was about to go and get her things, she heard someone playing the piano. It sounded so lovely, that she followed the sound out into the living room, where Nagihiko was sitting down at the instrument, playing with what seemed like little effort.

And what more, it was the very same song she had stuck in her head all day. She knew this song!

However, when she came closer, the playing stopped as he noticed her entrance.

"Ah, Amu. Were you asleep? I tried knocking on your door but you didn't answer."

She flushed lightly. "Yeah, I just went in to check out my room so I got tired and took a nap." Well, it's not entirely true, but it's not really a lie, either...because I wasn't in my room.

"Ah, I see." He smiled politely as he stood, closing the cover on the piano.

"That song...what was it you were playing just now? It's really beautiful, and sounds familiar as well. What is it called?"

Nagihiko glanced briefly at the sheet music he had been using. "Ah, this? It's called Futari no Kyori. I can't recall who composed it, however. But it is a lovely song, isn't it?"

"It truly is." She smiled a little. "Oh, and Nagihiko?"

He had been about to walk up the stairs again, but he turned to her with a smile. "I wanted to take a shower, so I was wondering if you had any shampoo?"

"It should be in there already. If it isn't, come and tell me." With that, he walked back up the stairs, presumably to where his girlfriend was. Amu giggled quietly. They were a well-matched couple, that much she could tell, even though she hardly knew either of them.

Exhaling heavily, she turned around and headed to the bathroom. As it turned out, Nagihiko was right and there was plenty of soap and shampoo there. Wanting to shower quickly, she closed the door, locked it, and stripped as she turned on the water, testing it for warmth. Once it was satisfying, she quickly got in, savoring the feeling of hot water over her skin. Ah, farewell smelliness!

She hummed the song that Nagihiko had been playing as she lathered her hair up with shampoo and scrubbed it clean. It was called...Futari no Kyori? It was really a pretty song.

After she was done rinsing and scrubbing herself to cleanliness, she changed into the spare clothes she had brought along and towel-dried her hair as best she could before brushing it. Once she was satisfied, she slipped quickly out of the bathroom and into Ikuto's room. He was asleep, but woke up as soon as she closed the door.

"Sorry." She said quietly. "Do you want me to go, or...?" She frowned at the look on his face. His expression was horrified, shocked. She walked over to him, eyebrows furrowed. "Ikuto, are you okay?"

He stared at her intently without saying anything to the point that it began to worry her. "Ikuto...?"

"You're not dead."

She blinked at the strange statement. "Erm...no."

"I see." He flopped down on the bed, his eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling, his expression so similar to the one he wore earlier that day.

She cautiously lay down on it as well, keeping a careful distance from him. He was really and truly worrying her now. This wasn't like him.

They were both silent. Tiring of the silent, Amu began softly humming that song to ease up some of the tension. It was quiet, but she was sure that Ikuto could hear her.

After a moment, he spoke up. "I'm sorry, Amu. I'm sorry."

She stopped humming to respond, feeling more confused than ever. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

He glanced at her before sighing and turning away. "It's nothing. Forget it."

However, he rolled over so he was sitting up but leaning over her, one hand on either side of her head. His eyes weren't sad anymore, but distant. And somehow, she felt like this was worse than any of his pained expressions that she had seen. Far worse.

She had been expecting it when his lips met hers, prepared. She kissed him back carefully, still partially worried about him. One of his hands moved, but the other remained in place. The hand that was free stroked her face, cheeks, neck, collarbones; then moved to her shoulders, trailed down an arm, over her stomach, and her waist before returning to it's previous position. He stopped kissing her and stared at her intently again. This expression of his was unnerving.

"Ikuto..." She murmured worriedly, "you aren't alright, are you?"

He didn't answer, but lay back down alongside her gazing at her. She turned to face him as well as he casually draped an arm around her waist.

"It's nothing." He said quietly. "Nothing you need to worry about." He kissed her forehead before laying his head atop hers, holding her closer.

She felt strangely tired after the shower, so once again, she let her eyes flutter shut, but only for a moment....

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When Amu awoke, she found that she was strangely cold. Shivering, she awoke, rubbing her arms up and down. Glancing around, she frowned, wondering why Ikuto wasn't there.

It was just around dinnertime, probably. And it was cold. She trudged out of his room to get her coat. Slipping it on, she returned to his room and flipped the switch on and glanced around the room. Something wasn't right, Amu could feel it in the pit of her stomach. That's when she noticed it. Her notebook, lying on the side of the bed where he had been. With shaking hands, she reached for it, and opened it. Inside was a note, unsigned, but she knew too well who it was from. Tears that she couldn't stop welled up in her eyes as she read the letter, her tears blurring the words written in his handwriting. She threw the letter down and slid to the floor, covering her eyes.

Amu,


I'm an idiot. I don't need you to tell me how much of an idiot I am, I know it already. I'm just being a noble idiot, but that doesn't matter to me right now. My stepfather will never rest until I'm dead, I know it. And I know I've been just dragging you down with me. I don't think it's fair. Just because I was interested in you doesn't mean I ever had the right to just involve you in my problems. So I'll not involve you any more than you already are.


Since you've found this, you should have figured out that I've left. I don't think Nagihiko and that midget girlfriend of his know yet. Tell them if you want, it's up to you.

Since you're with friends, you should be safe. I know they wouldn't dare to come after you once I go to them. They won't have any purpose for you anymore. I don't have any real regrets, only that I don't want to leave you. Since it's for your safety, I have no other choice.


We probably will never meet again. Yeah, I know you're definitely thinking what a noble idiot I'm being right now. But that's okay.


I'm sorry for this. I'm so sorry. I hope you'll be able to forgive me for this, someday.

PS: Keep on writing that story. You're better than you give yourself credit for.

She sobbed as she curled up on the floor. What an idiot she was. How come she never noticed these signs sooner? How? How?

Clenching the letter in one hand she cried like she hadn't in many years.

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"Stepfather."

The one voice he hated the most came over through the line. "What is it this time, brat? Come to gloat?"

"No." The word was cold and hard.

"I'm turning myself in. The chase is over."

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This was...such a...long...chapter. -dies-

There you have it! Sadness in a little sad bundle. I made Ikuto super huggy in this because he figures it's his last time with her and he wants to um...be clingy while he can.

As for the song that Nagi was playing on the piano, it's a song from the Shugo Chara OST. It's a really pretty song that's played in a few Amuto moments. Look it up sometime, it's a nice song.

Yeah, there wasn't much Rima in this chapter. She'll be in the next one more.

And also, songfic most likely next chapter. I also realize that I make them sleep a lot. Um...sorry. I need some way to pass the time. XD I'll try to make them sleep less.

Read and review you guys! PLEEEASE!