Hallucination?
"Don't move, please, I beg you not to move," a rough shaky voice whispered hoarsely into Amu's ear. He held her still after having dragged her off the swings into some bushes. "I won't hurt you at all. Just stay still and don't make any noise."
Amu stayed perfectly still though she could've fought; seeing the earnest in this strangers eyes – she had the strangest feeling that he could be trusted, though in his eyes there was mainly fear. She felt his heavy breathing which was almost a pant. He shifted them further behind the bushes.
"He's here..." he whispered with an unsteady voice. He bit his lips, trying to hold his breath.
Amu tried peeping through the gap in the bushes. Wearing simple sleek black jeans and a black shirt which was left unbuttoned that showed some of his well-built body; chains hanging out one pocket, stood a dangerous looking man whose face was covered by the darkness. He took a few steps into the park and already the stranger behind Amu was shaking, his hands so unsteady they slipped away from her mouth. The mysterious man in the dark edged towards under the street light but a quick loud bang distracted his attention. He never faced towards Amu's direction. She paused for breath though… it was some distance away and the light was rather dim but she recognised that shade of blue hair, its style. "Ikuto…" she whispered almost wanting to leap out of the bushes and run towards him if the stranger form behind hadn't sensed her movement, catching hold of her in time. The man who could've been Ikuto left. Subsequent to the passing minutes of silence, the stranger seemed to have loosened himself, his grip on Amu lighter.
"Shit, I told you not to move," he hissed at Amu with a glare.
Amu ran out the bushes as soon as the stranger let go of her. She didn't dare to turn her back on her, in case he'd attack her again, so she stood watching him with some distance between them. She kept glancing at where that guy was stood before. She wanted to find Ikuto.
The stranger studied Amu for a few seconds before running towards the exit of the park. "Hey, don't go near that guy you just saw," he suddenly shouted at Amu, "he's the most dangerous man on earth."
Amu patiently waited till he left for good before running out the park herself. She looked left and right and no matter how she tried to think, she couldn't recall which way that guy went. Her hands clutched together and she suddenly remembered the watch she was wearing. Looking at the time, Amu made her way back home, knowing she wouldn't find him tonight.
As expected she came back to a complete silent apartment. For her own sake she decided to check one more in Ikuto's room, all the whilst telling herself she was going to see no one. When she opened it however, she felt herself stopped breathing momentarily. Sleeping soundly on the bed was Ikuto. Amu quickly ran back into her own room, closing the door and sat on the bed, not even caring about her shoes that she forgot to take off.
"What the hell is happening?" Amu asked frustrated. First of all Ikuto goes out at night but denies it completely. It was too dark to tell but Amu thought she saw Ikuto outside. When she comes back, its like the other day - he's fast asleep in his bed, as if he's never been out. Something is wrong here. Amu clasped her hand over her eyes, "I need to ask him again…"
The next morning was hard for Amu. She couldn't concentrate on anything she was doing, spilling milk and dropping litter everywhere as she was making breakfast. She nearly caught fire on her apron too. A yawning Ikuto finally appeared for breakfast; now Amu was prepared.
"Why are you yawning?" Amu began.
"I don't know, I'm just really tired lately," Ikuto replied taking a bite of his toast.
"Have you been staying up late?" Amu prompted, "like if you went out late at night then obviously you'd feel tired."
Ikuto sighed, "I go to sleep quite early and AMU…" He smiled, "I do not go out during the night. Its too much effort and I prefer to have the rest and sleep. They do say sleeping is good for your skin."
Amu stared at him somewhat dissatisfied, "are you a girl Ikuto? I never knew you were that neat and tidy."
"Caring for ones own skin is the nature of both sexes," Ikuto smiled taking another bite. "I need to pay a small visit to the office today. Are you going to stay at home?"
Amu nodded. Ikuto left rather quickly today and Amu also quickly found herself alone again. It wasn't a good sign. Being alone only meant that she'd be thinking too much by herself. She laid on the long sofa staring up at the ceiling. "He denied it again." She blinked a few times and suddenly a more daunting idea popped into mind. "Maybe Ikuto isn't lying…" Amu gasped with the sudden realisation. All these strange events happened ever since she had that dream of stepping out her room at night, when she was not supposed to. What if… just maybe the possibility that Amu was ill… maybe everything that's happened was her dream or rather her delusions… Amu curled herself up into a small ball, "what's happening to me? Why did I imagine all of those things?"
Her thoughts were cut off by the ringing of her mobile. Amu picked it up, "hello."
"It's me, Nadeshiko and Yaya. Are you stuck at home today," Nadeshiko asked.
"Amu, do you want to come out and hang around us?" Yaya asked loudly.
"Ye- hey, I think I'm feeling…" Amu started, "how should I put it. I've not been sleeping well and I'm…"
"ARE YOU ILL?" both Nadeshiko and Yaya shouted down the phone.
"Well I think I am."
"Amu, that no good," Nadeshiko said slightly annoyed.
"Go to the doctors now," Yaya suggested, "don't wait around and think it'll be fine - that's so not gonna happen."
Amu smiled, "I'll go."
Late into the evening…
Out of breath, Amu hurriedly tried to open the door to which she found wasn't locked. A bad feeling swept over her as she pushed it open to see a angry Ikuto standing at the doorway. "Where did you go off to?" he asked directly.
Amu figured something like this would happen so she was fully prepared. She held up the shopping bag in front of his face, "It's obvious where I went."
Ikuto eyes Amu, "well hurry up and cook dinner already. I'm starving."
"I guessed that was the issue here…" Amu murmured to herself.
"I heard that," Ikuto said taking the shopping bag from Amu. "Go and wash your face and then hurry and cook. I'm starving. Here I'll take your coat for you too…"
"Ok, ok, don't rush me," Amu said, running into the bathrooms.
Ikuto set down the bags, patting Amu's coat for any dust when a slip of paper fell out from the pockets. Picking it up he took the liberty in reading it too; his carefree attitude changing straight away.
In the bathroom, Amu who suddenly remembered the paper ran out to see with frustration that he was holding it already. She was too late.
"What's this Amu?" Ikuto asked rushing towards her. He gently took hold of her arms, pulling her closer to him, "Amu are you unwell?" He placed a hand over her head, "why have you got a doctor's appointment?"
Amu found her throat very dry. She didn't want to tell him that she was going to see a psychologist or the fact that she has hallucinations. "I've just got a cough, nothing much to worry about."
"Are you sure?" Ikuto asked with a worried voice.
Amu broke away from Ikuto's gentle hold and headed towards the kitchen, "I'll start cooking now so-"
Ikuto pulled Amu out of the kitchen, "if your unwell then I'll cook. GO rest in your room."
"No," Amu said, "I'm perfectly fine."
Amu put on the apron and was about to pour oil into the pan but most of it spilled onto the floor from Ikuto's sudden shouting, "CUT THE CRAP!"
Amu looked at Ikuto who was obviously really mad.
"If you were fine then why go to the doctors?" Ikuto continued, "AMU… what have I done?"
"I don't know what you mean?" Amu asked back truthfully, "what are you trying to say?"
"You've been avoiding me recently…"
"No I hav-"
"DON'T TRY TO DENY IT," Ikuto shouted again, "you used to always tell me everything. Every day after school, you'd talk non-stop to me about your day, even the littlest detail of what colour carpet you walked on - you tell me everything and wouldn't stop even when I told you to shut up. When your ill you'd cling to me and whinge like a child. Its been like that for the past 3 years up till recently Amu… I'm not blind. I can feel it."
"Ikuto, I really am…" Amu started but couldn't finish. She didn't know how to explain it. She didn't understand herself either so how could she explain.
"You have nothing to say to me," Ikuto stated. He forced a small smile, "don't bother cooking. Just go and rest. I remember I still have things to do. I'm heading out for the night."
"Ikuto…" Amu called seeing him about to leave, "I'm sorry. Please-"
"I'll be back slightly later than your curfew," Ikuto said, "make sure you go to sleep before I come back. Rest well Amu." With that last comment Ikuto left.
Amu clutched at her chest. Everything just went wrong. She knew clearly that Ikuto was hurt and that in turn added to her own misery. She shouldn't have kept anything form Ikuto, not her nightmare, not her hallucinations, not anything. "In the end I'm just selfish," Amu cried, realising that everything started when she wanted to get out her room after the set time. Whether she has or it was just her delusion that she has done so, it was inevitable that she had betrayed Ikuto with that action or thought. Not wanting to be disliked by him, she stayed away from him to keep her guilt a secret and now she's hurt him. "I'm sorry Ikuto…"
Silence in the house wasn't new to Amu, but it was never this lonely. She waited in her own room straining to hear the sound of a door opening or closing. There was none. It wasn't exactly her curfew yet, there was still half an hour left. Amu put on her coat and went to wander in the streets, hoping she'd see Ikuto. In actuality, she wanted to find and look for him but maybe she shouldn't do anything else or anymore. Waiting is the only thing to do now. Amu breathed in the fresh air which calmed her down. It was about time she head back home and really rest.
As she approached her own house she stopped. There was a stranger in front of the gate peeping around, holding a picture in his hand. He spotted Amu in an instant, "you," he said pointing at her.
Amu took a step backwards as he took steps forward. He was dressed like a gangster, a chain hanging from his chest pocket, but then somewhat mixed with sports clothing such as his trainers.
"What is it?" Amu asked timidly, knowing it was quite safe since if she screamed, someone would hear.
"You live around here?" he asked, tapping his feet at the same time. Was he impatient?
"Yes, kind of," Amu replied.
"Then," he said holding the picture he held in his hand towards her, "have you seen this guy?"
"Ikuto…" Amu couldn't help but gasp as she stared at the picture. Though it wasn't the usual Ikuto. It was the one from her dream. The same cold stare and cruel expression… This isn't real, Amu thought to herself, the Ikuto in that picture isn't real. This stranger isn't real… I'm hallucinating again…
[AUTHORS-P.S. Please support me and read my other stories: Don't DOUBT Him: .net/s/6427620/1/Dont_DOUBT_Him and Royal Revenge: .net/s/6475806/1/Royal_Revenge] THANKYOU AGAIN FOR REVIEWING!