Chapter I think 24ish?

~~Ikuto's POV~~

I think today was the most ridiculous day of my life.

First thing when everyone was awake, Tadase sat down at a table and began to write plans for the round.

Nadeshiko was leaving with Kukai to get things, and she told Amu to not let Tadase overwork himself.

And Amu took it to heart.

She would bring him tea and coffee and and snacks and sit on the table and talk to him so he'd take a break.

And each and every time she went over there I had to watch him grin and blush at her and try to flirt. Amu would smile back and talk to him, and my stomach felt like it was punching itself and I wanted to get her away from him more than anything.

I watched her every move. There was one time. Once. I saw her look up at me.

And in that moment I couldn't hold the emotion from my eyes. I let everything rush into them

Anger, jealousy, loneliness. All things I've let barely anyone see.

Her eyes widened and she frowned, looking concerned.

But then the idiot called her over and she refused to make eye contact with me afterwards.

I clenched my jaw and popped my neck.

~~Tadase's POV~~

Ikuto was on edge. He was watching Amu intensely. But what made me so happy was that she hadn't looked back at him.

Instead she was looking at me. Just what I've been wanting.

She came now, setting tea on the table this time. She lifted herself onto the table and sat next to it.

She pushed the paper out of my reach.

"Break time." She said.

I heard an audible crack from Ikuto. I cringed, I hate that noise.

She was too good. She didn't even realise the affect she had on me. Or.. I looked at Ikuto out of the corner of my eye. He wasn't watching me though.

I'd never seen him so stiff.

I turned my attention back to Amu, smiling.

This next week is my week to show Amu why I'm better than him.

~~Amu's POV~~

Tadase finally took a shower break and I flopped down on the bed that Ikuto wasn't on.

"That was exhausting." I sighed.

"You seemed fine with it to me." Ikuto said, a tightness in his voice.

I propped myself up on my elbows to look at him. "Speaking of you, did you really have to death stare me the whole time? How many fantasies did you come up with."

He looked at me with darkness clouding his eyes.

"One."

I laid back down. "Do tell." I said sarcastically.

"Snapping Tadase's neck."

I propped myself up again.

"Why are you so upset? It's not like you have any reason to be jealous. We're not dating or anything."

Slowly his head turned and he looked at me.

"How incredibly dense you are." He said.

"What–"

Within seconds he was on top of me, face so close to mine.

"You really don't understand a thing do you?" He put his head on my shoulder.

"What's wrong Ikuto?"

"Shut up. You don't get to do that."

He sounded so... Hurt...

He looked at me again. The expression on his face was something I cannot describe.

"You don't get to make me so helpless... Right after making me... So angry..."

"Angry?"

He sighed and stood up. I moved so I was leaning on the head board.

He sat next to me.

"Ikuto I'm worried what's wrong with you?"

He laughed and rubbed his temples.

"Shit."

I frowned.

"You.. This isn't fair... How can you..." He muttered.

"Ikuto..."

Suddenly he put his head in my lap.

"I-Ikuto!"

"No."

"What are you doing? Why are you..."

He looked at me sideways.

"Amu. Just... Shut up. Let me stay here."

"Why do you keep telling me to shut up?"

"Because I've heard you talking to Tadase all day."

I opened my mouth, and then shut it again.

".. You shouldn't get jealous so easily.." I muttered.

His eyes were shut and he didn't respond.

I'd never seen him like this before.

He was clutching onto my lap and his breathing was heavy.

I felt his hair, which was surprisingly soft.

I felt his breathing slow and he relaxed.

He was sleeping.

"I'm sorry Ikuto..."

"I don't forgive you."

He was not sleeping.

He sat up and looked at me. His stare was impossible to look away from.

"What are you sorry for."

"Making you like this.."

He shook his head and brought it closer to mine.

"Amu. You saw me looking at you. I know you did."

"Yeah well when you can feel that someone is burning a hole in your head, you look."

"But you ignored me."

"Yeah cause you're just a stalker... You're always staring at me.."

"But not like today."

He was serious.

"I won't apologise again." I said firmly.

"Good. I had no intention on forgiving you."

He stood and began to walk towards the door.

Something inside me flared up and I grabbed his hand.

He looked at me in surprise.

"You won't forgive me yet... You can't leave till you do..." I was blushing.

He still looked surprised.

"Well say it... Say you forgive me. You idiot... I'm worried..."

His eyes changed and and he was hugging me.

"Amu it made me so angry... Seeing you talk to him like that."

"I'm sorry..." My arms went around him.

I was sorry... I don't know why exactly. But every part of me was so sorry.

~~Tadase!s POV~~

I got out of the shower in a great mood.

But after ten minutes. I realised something was off.

Amu still brought me things but she'd stopped talking to me. And after being me something, she'd go sit on the bed with Ikuto.

They were discussing something I couldn't hear.

I saw him smirk, he was happy. And she laughed out loud.

Oh no. The cards were turned.

I began to write again. This was horrible.

Amu brought me little cookies and I stopped her from leaving. "

"Amu. Will you come with me for a minute?"

She nodded, confused.

I brought her out of the room and into the hall.

"What happened? We were talking and I got out and now..."

"Well... Ikuto was..." She trailed off.

"Ikuto. I'm sick of hearing about him. I'm sick of looking at him."

I looked her in the eyes.

"I'm sick of you looking at him the way you do."

She was quiet.

"Why can't you look at me like that..."

I leaned in and kissed her.

I swore I felt her mouth move just a tiny bit when I was ripped back.

I was expecting this. Ikuto.

He left with her, pushing me unnecessarily hard into a potted plant.

~~Ikuto's POV~~

I sat down with her in the empty parking lot in the back of the building.

I was so pissed at Tadase.

"Why did you let him do that?" I said, not meaning to.

"Oh yeah. I let him hold me against a wall and kiss me."

I looked at her. I had already been so rude earlier.

"...sorry." I said.

She looked at me.

"Ikuto. Why do I even care. Why do I care that you were jealous and angry. Why did I care when you were about to leave. I'm not supposed to care. Why when Tadase kissed me, could I do nothing but compare it to you. Why do I care so much about you when all you do is stare at me and make stupid remarks?!"

"Because you love me."

She actually almost punched me. But she stopped and put her face in her knees.

"What's wrong." I moved closer to her.

"You're right."

My heart felt like it stopped. Everything felt like it'd slowed down.

Amu had run away. I could hear her feet slamming on the pavement.

I couldn't chase her though. I leaned against a wall, blood rushing to my cheeks.

She... What was that...

I sat there for a while and decided not to go back till everyone was asleep.

Maybe she'd talk to me in the morning.

When I woke up Nadeshiko and Amu were gone. Tadase was giving me dirty looks the entire morning and I wanted to punch him.

Kukai was going on how it wasn't fair that we'd gotten to stay here with Amu yesterday and today she was gone.

It was around noon when Nadeshiko busted through the door. She was in hysteria.

"I've been calling you!" She shrieked at Tadase.

"My phones off–"

"I can't find Amu!"

True panic set in. I bolted up.

"Where."

"I don't know. We were walking and I turned around in 2nd street and she wasn't there."

I was gone. I ran to 2nd street. I pushed through the crowd, not thinking about anything but finding her.

There was a path that led off into a foresty looking section. I was reluctant to stray but I thought about all the possibilities.

Amu out of free will would've gone through here, and of she was kidnapped... The person would've brought her through here due to lack of people.

I ran down the path till I saw a head of pink hair, leaning against a railing, looking down at a small pond.

"Amu!" I leaned against it breathlessly.

"Ikuto!" There was a big grin on her face.

"I ran here... Nadeshiko said..." I panted.

"Nadeshiko? Where'd she go anyways... I was gonna..."

She stumbled and laughed.

I moved her to a tree and sat her down.

"Are you... Drunk?"

She brought her face very close to mine.

We were silent, my heart was pounding.

"Your eyes are purple, did ya' know that?"

"I did know that."

"Yeah... Well I mean you're always looking through your hair."

I rested my head the tree trunk.

"What did you drink?"

"Ikuto y'know I think your eyes are so pretty. They're like a girls eyes."

She couldn't even hold a conversation.

"Amu. Did someone give you something?"

"Yeah. You did. You gave me kiss youbig pervert."

I rolled my eyes.

"Amu, you have to tell me who had you drink something."

"If you grew your hair out you could look like girl."

I sighed. I brought my face close to her.

"Amu. You need to tell me."

Her eyes set and she kissed me.

I blinked, pulling back.

She started laughing. "Guess I'm the pervert now."

I shook my head as my heart hammered.

She's drunk. I needed to remember not to be flirty until she was at least sober enough to remember.

"Ikuto. You were jealous."

"I was."

"You kissed me."

"I've done it before."

"I know."

"You've kissed me too."

"I did just now."

"Yes."

She stretched.

"I shouldn't be so mean to you." She yawned.

"No cause when your mean I get to punish you."

She looked at me over her shoulder.

"You love me no matter what though. When I'm worried or sarcastic or angry or just being stupid."

"Or drunk." I said.

She was quiet for a minute.

"Ya know Tadase doesn't like you."

"The feeling is mutual."

"Well I know why but I thought by now you guys would've stopped fighting."

"Well we were fine until you showed up."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

"I think we should go to that restaurant on 5th street."

I couldn't follow her train of thought.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"Yes."

I looked at her. This side of her was strange. No blushing, very honest.

She stood up and I followed.

"Don't leave." She said when we got on the main road.

"I won't."

She grabbed my hand and I looked at her in surprise.

"Just making sure." She said.

I looked straight ahead, heart hammering.

What's with her?

"Amu. Do you want me to carry you to the restaurant?"

"Yeah. Walking is boring."

I picked her up and carried her to the hotel. She forgot about the restaurant when I sat her down on a bed.

She was instantly tackled by the other three.

Most aggressively, Nadeshiko.

"WHERE DID YOU GO."

Amu was quiet.

"AMU!"

Amu smiled and said, "Nadeshiko I think I like your hair better up than down."

"..what."

"And I think I need a nap."

Amu laid down, resting her head on my lap.

All eyes turned to me.

I nodded.

"How did she..."

"No clue."

"Where was she."

"By a bridge."

"At least she didn't fall."

We didn't find out what happened until Amu woke up hours later, with no recollection of what she'd said or done.

"Oh... They were selling chocolate on the street."

I cringed.

"Were they filled with something?"

She nodded and I saw Kukai hit his head with hand.

She looked confused and the whole room was just emanating 100% done-ness.

"Alright so Amu needs to be watched at all times." Nadeshiko said.

Amu crossed her arms and wouldn't speak for the rest of the night.

~~Tadase's POV~~

I'd been waiting all morning. Ikuto got in the shower finally and I grabbed my chance.

It was the time. I was just going to be straight with her and see what happened.

"Amu.. Will you come with me real quick?"

"Oh, sure."

She got up and followed me outside and into the car.

When we started moving she asked me where we were going. Which I ignored because honestly I had no clue. I just told the driver to take us the last place he went.

"What is this about?" She eyed me.

"Well... Honestly..."

She nodded for me to continue.

"Amu I need to ask you something."

"Okay. Fire."

"Well... Do you have feelings for Ikuto?"

Her face turned red and she began to stammer out a no.

"Do you have feelings for me?"

Her reaction was the same.

I told the driver just to turn around and take us back.

"Well Amu, I have feelings for you. And so does Ikuto. And so does Kukai. And so does everyone you've ever talked to because you're enchanting."

She was flustered, didn't speak.

"And I will wait so as soon as you realise who you have feelings for, just tell me and I'll be here."

"T-Tadase I don't have feelings for anyone-"

"For right now. You can say that. But everyday, everyone falls in love with you more and soon you'll fall in love with one of them back."

"No-"

The limo stopped.

"And I'll do everything in my power to make sure that it's me."

~~Ikuto's POV~~

Something was definitely wrong. I got out of the shower to see everyone sitting quietly.

Amu was watching TV, Kukai was sleeping, Tadase was working, and Nadeshiko was in the other room.

I saw Amu's eyes flick to Tadase and my gut twisted.

She had a weird expression.

"Amu. I need you to come help move something." It was a stupid excuse, but she followed me.

We got out of hearing distance and I turned.

"Hey... Did Tadase say or do anything to you?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"You keep.. Looking at him."

"You're such a stalker-"

"It's bothering me."

Blood rushes to her cheeks.

"You've gotten a lot more honest."

"So he did say something?"

"Yes." Something in her eyes changed.

"What did he say?"

She smiled. "None of your business." She trailed her fingers over my chest as she walked away, sending shivers through me.

"Stop sexually frustrating me to get me to be quiet." I muttered.

She sure had gotten more comfortable with me.