Whew! I'm kind of getting tired of this project... it's almost done now though. But Ikuto will always be with me, when not trapped in my closet.
Disclaimer: Please spare me.
Just like how Amu's feelings for Tadase were nothing like her feelings for Ikuto, their kisses were nothing alike.
Ikuto's kiss was cooler, but harder and less timid. It was fast and slow, aching and healing, and the pain of it swirled in her mind as the passion for it swelled in her heart. It touched the hole that had been worn into her by Easter and fear and insecurity and cozied in there to fill it instead of leaving it empty. And unlike with Tadase, with Ikuto, Amu knew she could never get enough.
She knew that this would never be enough.
She knew it would never be viewed as worth it.
And the pain within her increased and without thinking, she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away.
She pushed him away.
"This isn't right." she gasped, their faces still intimately close. Ikuto didn't say anything, just stared at her in silence. Amu's heart broke just looking at him, but she couldn't stop now. "Ikuto, I- in there, there's a lot of people waiting for me to- I just don't know if-"
Miki cautiously floated up to her. "Take a deep breath, Amu-chan. You're hyperventilating." Amu did as she was told, exhaled silently, and started again. "Ikuto, I do love you."
All of Amu's chara gasped, but she silenced them mid-squeal. "But no matter how much I love you, I don't want you to see me again."
Ikuto didn't reply, so Yoru spoke for him. "What the hell are you saying?" Amu took another deep breath. "I'm saying that every time we show up in each other's lives, we hurt each other. I don't want to hurt you anymore, Ikuto. So I won't not marry Tadase, and I'm pleading that you'll leave me." Ikuto shook his head.
"Please." Amu whispered. "Ikuto, I love you. But I can't stay with you for more than this moment. And I believe we'll get over each other."
Lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie lie...
She stood up, bent, and kissed him on the cheek. "No more pain from me, Ikuto." she whispered. "I'm sorry for what I might have already done."
She turned her back on him and walked away. Ran and Dia raced after her and pulled at her hair. "No, Amu-chan! You can't-" "I know what I'm doing." Amu muttered through clenched teeth. Good old somewhat-reliable cool 'n' spicy Amu was resurfacing. Fantastic.
Su floated up to her. "Please, desu!" "No." Amu said coolly, straightening her clothes and hair. And to her major surprise or minor shock, all four charas disappeared. It was doubtful they'd ever show up again. "I'm sorry." she whispered thickly.
She was almost to the marriage tent when Utau caught up with her. "Where have you been, you baka? Where's Ikuto, have you seen him?" "He changed his mind." Amu said shortly. "He's not coming." She looked Utau in the eyes. Utau understood. "Oh."
Outside, Ikuto sat on the bench beneath the cherry tree, petals cascading through his hair. He was expressionlessly staring ahead. Ikuto had never been one for gushy emotion.
"Rough night?"
He sprang back. A blue-black haired girl sat beside him, staring ahead, chin resting on her palm. "Who the-"
The girl laughed bitterly. "Doesn't matter now. Man, I was so close..." She illustrated with her index finger and thumb how close she had bee. She sighed and to Ikuto's astonishment, she began to fade, right there on the bench.
"Mom loved you, Dad." she whispered tearfully to him. "A lot. Too much. Don't ever, ever forget that. She wouldn't have done what she did if she didn't love you more than she thought she should. She didn't want you to know." She smiled at him, and without any sort of warning, she vanished, cherry petals keeping her shape for the smallest second before falling to the ground. Inside, a man recited, "Tadase Hotori, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Ikuto stood and ran a hand through his hair.
Amu nodded expressionlessly. "I do." she murmured.
Ikuto pulled on his jacket.
Tadase embraced Amu and kissed her passionately. She closed her eyes.
Ikuto walked off into the night.
A tear rolled, unnoticed, down Amu's cheek.
Sometimes, if you really love someone, you have to let them go.
*Amu is strangling and shaking Bella. It appears she will continue doing so until Bella suffocates or her neck snaps*
Bella: *wheezing* I'm just a girl... with a pencil. I was not... the one... who broke Ikuto's heart.
Amu: YOU'RE BLAMING ME?
Bella: Does it say 'Bella said, "Ikuto, stay away from me?"' No. It doesn't.
Amu: Since Ikuto left, thanks to you, I must admit the other ending was much better.
Bella: Then let's make it official!
Amu: Huh?
Bella: Stay tuned, my avid readers!
Tadase: *still within closet* WHAT IS THIS MATERIAL ON THE WALLS? WHY IS IT OOZING?
