Chapter 14: Too Close for Comfort

Ikuto looked at Amu sleeping on his bed once again. He looked back outside, leaning against the door of his balcony. They needed to find out who this Ruby person was fast...before Kage became too involved.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do any better last night."

"Your kidding me?" Ikuto looked at Amu. "You didn't do anything wrong. Plus that Ryuu kid and his sister proved to do some good. It's not your fault."

"How did you even get rid of the monster?" Amu asked.

"I used the lock and key...don't you remember?" Ikuto said smirking.

"I...I remember something..." Amu blushed.

"I just used it long enough for me to use the key's power...but judging that it seems to only work when we have a...ahem...connection, you must have been awake..." Ikuto's grin widened.

"Uhm..." Amu blushed as Ikuto's arms went around her shoulders. "I was thinking, maybe we should tell the others next time we follow Kage."

"I agree with that-" Ikuto started before he saw Kage walking past.

"Ikuto?" Amu looked at him and followed his gaze to Kage. "What's wrong?"

Ikuto had just last night dreaded the idea about Kage becoming too involved...now he was looking at Kage wearing his gloves. "He's wearing his gloves."

Amu felt her face drop. "But what can we do? Class is going to start soon."

"You go, I'll figure this out." Ikuto said. Amu looked hesitantly at him before walking off.

Ikuto watched Kage go to his locker. He couldn't dodge this. He walked over.

"So what's with the new look?" Ikuto said standing behind him.

"Oh what these?" Kage turned around to Ikuto. "Well after Amaya told me about how I used to wear them I found a pair at my apartment last night. Seems its the one thing I actually know about my past. Why? Problem with them?" Kage had caught on that something was up.

Ikuto took his hand swiftly and pressed it against the locker. Kage just gave him a harsh questioning look. Ikuto then took off the glove where his palm was in a swift motion. Kage took his hand back sharply.

"Got a problem? You know you are acting pretty weird for someone that has no clue about my past." Kage gave him a harsh look, and Ikuto swore he saw his eyes turn red for a minute as he put his glove back on. "If you're that nervous about me finding out my past-" Kage looked smug.

Ikuto glared back at him. "Nervous isn't the word for it. Watch what you decide to do...or you'll make a mistake you'll regret." Ikuto walked away. His mark didn't return...but Amaya was getting herself in too deep.

Amu sat in her classes waiting for lunch to come around. Kage wearing those gloves meant something was going on. He hadn't dismissed them before like they'd thought...clearly something about them had struck him...and more nerve-wracking was the idea that his mark may have returned. She went straight for her locker at break to wait for Ikuto.

"Amu."

She turned around and held her breath when she saw Kage standing in front of her.

"Ye-Yes?" She asked backing up, bumping into her locker.

"Wondering, you got a date to the formal?"

"Uhm...well yea I'm dating Ikuto. I-"

"Right. I just thought maybe you'd want a change of pace. Rumor has it he's the runner for King." Kage looked down at her. Amu felt her stomach twist. Ikuto was the King. His look on his face reminded her of the old Kage...she nervously eyed his gloved hands.

"...I guess not. See you around." He walked away, with a quick wave of his hand.

"Amu?"

Amu nearly jumped as she turned to see Ikuto standing by her locker.

"Did I die and come back as a ghost?" He raised his eyebrow.

"No...Kage talked to me again."

"What did he want?" Ikuto glared past her at Kage.

"He...he asked me to the formal."

"Reaally?" Ikuto dragged out. "He's getting a little to comfortable don't you think. So'd you let him down smoothly?" Ikuto teased the last part.

"Well...why would he think I wouldn't be going with you?"

"No clue. But I can tell you those gloves are just there do jog his own damn memory. No marks."

Amu breathed out a sigh of relief.

"But he's going to keep remembering if these things keep showing up. A second pair of gloves at his apartment sounds like it has Ruby all over it." Ikuto said warily. "She's got a problem with interfering."

"...you don't think...that maybe we're in the wrong for erasing his memory?" Amu said, looking intensely at her chara bag.

"Amu..."

"No really! Healing him makes sense...but what if what Ruby said to me was right...what if you didn't remember anything; your father...your mother...Utau? I mean is there anyway that he can remember without awakening his power...because if not...then he doesn't really seem healed does he?" Amu said looking cross at Ikuto.

Ikuto sighed. "I get your point." He turned and leaned back on the lockers and looked upwards in thought. "But if we can't heal him who can...even if we help him remember...its up to him to decide whether to strike out against us or see the damage he did...I'm not sure he cares enough about us alone to make that change."

Amu nodded. Ikuto was right...they needed to find another way to bring him back if he became the Cracked Lord again.

"Look we might have to think on it, but he could remember and his mark might not return...we don't know what happened enough to take action right now. Plus...no more Kage hunts for now. We'll get our chara to work on that one, those X-Monsters have done enough to you."

"Why do they always focus on me though?" Amu got slightly frustrated.

"Because you're the only one with four shugo chara. Three is rare Amu. Four...well hell...I'm not sure what that means, but you and the Lock seem to have a connection. You're out, and the Cracked Mark comes around the world's screwed." Ikuto explained.

"Well you have the key..."

"But they don't mess with claws." He smirked. "Plus I don't heal those things you do. Which is why I'm never letting you near another one of those damn things." He gave her one of those flirty-smirk smiles and kissed her before she even had a chance to blush.