Hey! Sorry it took so long to update this. I just wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go with this. I wasn't really sure just what I wanted to happen in it. I just knew that I didn't want to be like, "Oh, she went to the party and then she went home." I was writing a draft in my notebook, and I think it turned out pretty well. Oh, and by the way, there's some DEFINITE Kutau in here, for those of you who ship them. I do too, but Amuto is my OTP. XP XP XP So hope you like it!

To Bear Love's Cross

Chapter 21

Amu finally got to Nagi's house. She knocked on the door politely. When Nagi opened the door and saw Amu, he grinned widely. It had been a long time since they'd last seen each other. Amu smiled back.

"Amu!" he exclaimed. "It's been a while! You haven't been showing up to the meetings lately! Where have you been?"

Amu's smile faded but she quickly hid her sad expression. "Oh, I've just been busy lately." Busy with a masked man, a gang war, and an irritating blue-haired teenager.

And irritating blue-haired teenager that she couldn't help running back to.

Amu shoved the thought out of her head. Nagi moved out of the doorway. "Come on in! We're about to start watching the movie!"

"What movie are we going to watch?" Her voice sounded distant, and even though she didn't notice, Nagi did. He made a mental note to ask her what was wrong later. "We decided we're going to watch 'The Darkside' first."

Amu cocked hre head to the side. "What's that about?"

"It's about a gang and a girl who falls in love with a member," Tadase explained, walking up behind Nagi. Amu smiled at him, remembering how he'd tried to help her. He leaned toward Amu's ear and whispered, "I voted against it, but I was in the minority."

Amu nodded and smiled. "Well, it doesn't really matter. It's just a movie."

Tadase gave her a strange look-a mix of doubt and worry-before saying, "Okay," and walking away. Nagi watched the exchange silently, wondering why that was significant.

Getting off the topic, Nagi turned to Amu and asked, "Do you want some pizza or chips?"

Amu smiled. "Definitely! I haven't eaten all day!"

Nagi showed her to the food table and she piled her plate with every unhealthy food she saw. When she thought she had enough to last through the movie, she went to the living room and sat down in the midst of her friends. Tadase, Nagi, Utau, Kukai-

Amu stopped on the last name. "Kukai?" she asked, puzzled. "Why are you here?" Realizing how rude that sounded, she quickly added, "You're definitely allowed to come, but how do you know about this?"

Kukai grinned his usual mischievous grin. "Utau invited me."

When Amu's eyes fell on the blonde girl sitting next to him, she saw that the older girl was blushing. Amu smiled deviously. "Oh, I see. Well it's nice to have you here. I'm glad Utau invited you."

Nagi grinned. "Well, now that we're all here, let's get started, shall we?"

The pinkette glanced at Nagi quizzically. "What about Kairi?" she asked.

Kukai answered this time. "The kid with the glasses? Yaya wanted him to come with her to do something, so he did. Yaya really likes him."

Amu nodded. "So is this everyone?"

Utau cleared her throat. "This is it. Let's start the movie!"

The movie was actually really interesting. They met when the girl was about to be attacked by a random guy. The main male character saved her. And suddenly they started seeing each other everywhere and the girl started falling in love with him. The guy was really mysterious so you could never tell what he was thinking or feeling.

Then there was one scene in the middle of the movie. The guy was lying on the ground. He was hurt badly and the girl was crying as she tried to help him.

"You stupid guy!" she wailed. "Why did yo go and get in a fight like that?"

The guy laughed quietly. "I couldn't help it. They were talking about you. They were interested in you. And it wasn't innocent either. I'm the only one who's allowed to be interested in you. No one else is allowed to look at you like that, innocent or dirty."

When he said that line, Kukai slowly placed him arm on Utau's shoulders and pulled her closer to himself. Utau was blushing, but she leaned into him in response.

Tadase saw that and glanced at Amu. Slowly but surely, he reached for her hand. When he was less than an inch from his target, Amu's hands flew to her face to she covered her mouth as the main character proceeded to let his thoughts and feelings show for the first time. She leaned forward so even if Tadase had the guts to he wouldn't be able to try Kukai's move. He sighed. A perfect chance, too.

The movie ended with the two main characters finally getting together, just like all stereotypical romance movies. Amu was staring at the screen in awe. "That was amazing!" she yelled. Utau and Kukai had gotten closer at some point through the movie so that Utau was even closer to him. She had one arm wrapped around his waist and the two's hands were intertwined. Amu turned to them. "Utau, what did you think of the-?"

Amu saw their position and her cheeks flamed. "O-oh..."

Utau blushed even redder than before and seemed to try and pull away from Kukai, but he didn't let her go. He learned toward her ear and whispered something. Her blush turned the same shade as an apple. She jerked away from him and turned her back to him, crossing her arms over her chest. "It was good. I liked it."

Kukai grinned mischievously. "So did I." He said it suggestively and hugged Utau tightly. The blonde's blush was record-breaking. She pushed his arms away. trying to get him off. "Get off of me!"

"Nope." The two of them continued bickering.

Tadase turned to Amu awkwardly. "So you liked it, Amu-chan?" he mumbled.

Amu's cheeks were actually starting to hurt because she was smiling so much. "That's one of the best movies I've ever seen!" she exclaimed. "It was so good! And I loved the main guy! He was so amazing! Tall, dark, mysterious, but he always comes through in the end..." She screamed like a fangirl. "He's so perfect!"

Tadase deflated. The complete opposite of himself. "He wasn't that great," Tadase mumbled, but Amu didn't hear him. She simply continued her monologue.

About a half hour later, Kukai interrupted the conversation with an idea of his own. "We should play truth or dare!"

Everyone hesitated. Kukai continued to press his case. "C'mon, it's not a real party without truth or dare!"

Amu glanced around the room. She shrugged. "Why not?" and moved so she was facing Kukai. He was smiling deviously. After Amu entered the game, everyone else did as well. They arranged themselves in a circle.

And so it began.

They started on Nagi, since he was the host of the party. He chose truth.

"Okay then..." Amu paused. "Is it true that you cross-dress and call yourself Nadeshiko?"

A faint blush tinted his cheeks. "Only when I was younger and I danced! Outside of that I dressed as a boy as much as I could..."

Everyone giggled. Except Kukai. He flat-out laughed.

Next it went to Kukai. He chose dare. Tadase spoke up. "I dare you to hold Utau's hand until it's your turn again." As long as he was being honest with himself, he was pretty sure Kukai wouldn't mind that dare; Tadase just wanted a few tips to try with Amu.

Kukai's eyes glittered. He turned to Utau and laced his fingers through hers. He started playing with her fingers a little. Tadase made a mental note.

It kept going around the circle before it was finally Amu's turn.

"Truth or dare?" Utau asked.

Amu paused for a moment before answering, "Truth."

Before anyone else could ask something, Kukai exclaimed, "How do you feel about Ikuto?"

No one said anything for a moment. Amu's cheeks were bright red. "Um... I-I..." Kukai stared at her, obviously anticipating her answer. "I-i... It's c-c-complicated..." Amu stuttered.

"Then explain." She obviously wasn't getting out of the question.

"D-dare?" she asked.

"Okay. I dare you to answer my question."

Amu looked at the ground. She cleared her throat. "I guess... I don't really know. I mean, he can be really nice when he wants to be. And he's there whenever I need him... Most of the time. He makes me want to be friends with him.

"But he's arrogant. He's always teasing me. He's confusing. And while I'm being honest, I'm still having a hard time adjusting to him being a gang leader. He makes me want to dislike him, but he makes me want to like him too. I can't really decide how I feel about him."

No one spoke. Amu could practically see the gears turning in Kukai's head. He nodded. "Next!"

The game continued as normal. They were the average truths and dares that were given in every game. When the ring got back to Kukai, he didn't let go of Utau's hand. Amu smiled tenderly at them. She wished that one day she could have a relationship like that. He would hold her hand like that and tease her lovingly. He would do something funny and she would laugh. He would say something sweet. She would blush and yell, "Ikuto-!"

Amu's cheeks flamed red. What did she just think?

She shoved that trail of thought deep into the depths of her mind, locking it tightly in a box and marking it "DANGER DANGER NEVER OPEN!"

Utau yawned. She looked at the time and gasped. Twelve o' clock AM. "Look at the time!" she exclaimed. Amu blinked rapidly. She needed to get home. Her mom was tense as it was; she didn't need to cause any extra stress by staying out late.

"I'm going to head out!" Amu said. "Thanks for letting me come! I had fun!"

"Amu, wait!" Nagi ran after her. She turned to look at him.

"Yes?" She looked into Nagi's eyes. He paused before asking his question.

"What's wrong? Something happened, didn't it?"

Amu stared at him for a few moments before laughing nervously. "Ha ha ha! What are you talking about, Nagihiko? Ha ha ha! Nothing's wrong! Ha ha ha!"

Nagi glanced at her doubtfully. "Amu-chan, please?"

With that one look, Amu was putty in his hands. "Come outside with me." She unceremoniously grabbed Nagi's wrist and pulled him out the door. "Please don't tell anyone else, okay? I don't want to worry anyone."

Nagi was getting nervous. What could've possibly happened that was so bad? "What happened?"

Amu took a deep breath, preparing herself. She tried not to look into Nagi's eyes as she said, "I was kidnapped yesterday."

Nagi stood frozen in his spot for a moment before his knees went weak. He leaned against the house. "W... What?"

Amu cringed. This was why she didn't want to tell anyone. But when Nagi asked like that, she couldn't say no to him no matter what it was. "I'm sorry..."

Nagi looked into her honey eyes. "No, no, why are you apologizing?" He straightened himself before hesitantly giving Amu a hug. "Are you okay?"

Unwilling tears welled up in Amu's eyes. "I-I'm fine." Nagi didn't respond. He just tightened his hold on her. Slowly, Amu hugged him back, trying to cry silently.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Amu," Nagi whispered. "You know I'm always here when you need to talk to someone, right? Please don't keep these things from me. Tell me when something is wrong. I'm all ears."

Amu sniffled and hiccuped. "O-o-okay."

A minute later, Amu had stopped crying. "You can let go now, Nagi." The purple-haired preteen released her. "I really have to get going, though. My mom is going to get worried."

Nagi smiled at Amu tenderly. "Okay. Be careful! And don't forget what I said."

Amu hopped on her bicycle and smiled back. "I won't." She waved at him. "Bye, Nagi!"

As she rode away, Nagi stared at her back, worried. "Why was she kidnapped...?" he whispered. Little did he know, Tadase had been peeking out the window, watching the whole exchange. He clenched his fists as anger slowly built up in his chest. No, not just anger. He was furious.

"Ikuto Tsukiyomi..." Tadase growled.

Guardian Angel, watch over those whose names you can read in my heart. Guard over them with every care and make their way easy and their labours fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, repentance if they fail.

Done! So, what did you guys think about this chapter? Good, bad, in between, flat-out weird? Review, fave and follow please!