Church

"Well Amu, what will you choose?" Ikuto asked again.

Amu heard the impatient in his voice. She started to become quite desperate, her mind unable to think straight. What should she do, or what should she choose? Amu questioned herself in her mind, did it make a difference… this isn't Ikuto.

"I can't die here," Amu whispered.

"So you choose to be raped," Ikuto laughed, "pathetically weak."

He slipped his finger under her bra strap, sliding them off her shoulders. He leaned in kissing her neck again, licking down near her chest. Amu shivered, her body tensed up. Her eyes were too dry but her heart was crying within. She tried blanking out reality, thinking of it only as a dream, but his lips brushing over her bare shoulders and his breaths which tickled her skin always pulled her back. It was at this moment that she heard his voice… Ikuto's voice…clearly and loudly within her mind, her heart. He was calling to her, her kind and caring Ikuto was calling out to her in her mind… Do something Amu… You're not weak. Protect yourself, Amu… promise me you won't get hurt… Amu clenched her hands into a fist. She was more calm and there was a rush of blood flowing through her body that made her dizzy but also she felt daring. "I can't be hurt either," Amu said more loudly.

Ikuto paused and stared at Amu, who returned to him a stern look. Her expression seemed wild for the moment to Ikuto, wild and lost but also very desperate. He was so confused by her sudden change in temperament that he never noticed her hands moving towards the Knife.

"I can't be hurt by you either," Amu shouted, grabbing the knife, wrenching it from the ground and swinging it before her. The rush of fear mixed with her own determination to protect herself made everything happen too quickly. She felt the tip of the knife scraping across Ikuto's bare chest, blood seeping out from the wound, trickling down the knife and onto her hand. There was a faint cry from Ikuto as he backed away from Amu, leaning himself against a nearby tree.

Dizzy, everything around Amu seems to be spinning and she only faintly knew she had dropped the knife and was scooping her clothes up, holding them before her almost naked body and running out the bushes. She flung her torn shirt over her body and carrying her other clothes, she ran, not looking back and not daring to stop.

Ikuto smiled watching Amu run away. He picked up the knife wiping it clean before placing it back into his pocket. He ran a finger over the wound, "what's this? It doesn't even hurt…" Ikuto sighed staring up at the night sky. His heart finally relaxed and relieved, "that's right. You can't be hurt. Stay unhurt and god - please don't let us meet again. I don't have much time left…"

Xxx X xxX

The young boy whistled, walking down the almost night street. It was another peaceful day for him, as always with nothing much happening. He stopped however, having glanced across the road and a girl, clutching some clothes to her chest and who was not properly dressed was running frantically down the streets. He felt something was wrong and his better judgement told him to run after her. The girl was rather fast and it didn't help when she didn't seem to know where she was going. She hesitated with each turn she took but she just kept running on and on without stopping. He wanted to call out to her but was shocked. A car was beeping non-stop at the girl he was chasing after who had just carelessly ran out into the road. She stopped still in the road upon hearing the car and…

Fast and full of confusion but he leapt towards her, pushing her down onto the ground in the opposite road. He clutched his head which he seemed to have lightly hit.

"Are you alright?" he heard her ask with much concern.

"I'm alright, but you need to be careful" he said shaking his head and looking at the girl before him. She was young like him, the same age possibly. She had rather red eyes - from crying and her pink hair was messy, her clothes ripped here and there.

"Thank you for saving me," she said.

"What happened?" he couldn't help asking, not really paying attention to her thanks.

The girl flinched and began to stand up, ready to run away but he grabbed her hands gently, stopping her from leaving. "I'm sorry," he quickly said, "I didn't mean to offend you In anyway by asking. I was just concerned from the way you look."

"I'm sorry too," the girl said weakly.

"Do you not have anywhere to go?" the boy asked carefully.

The girl stared t him for some time and finally nodded in response to his question.

"I thought so. You didn't really seem to be headed off anywhere. You were just running around," he began to say, "its dangerous for a girl to wander around at night. How about staying over at my place for now?"

The girl backed away from him, gave him a weird look to which he realised what he had just said. Flustered he said, "I don't mean anything. I-I, when I said my place I meant the local church. I live at the church. There are other people there… it's a home for orphans, kids…its not a dangerous place at all. I wasn't thinking of doing anything bad. I was just I was…"

The girl laughed a little at his reaction. "It's ok. I think staying in the church is a good idea."

The boy nodded, "you know the way… err I'll walk ahead of you so you can see what I'm doing. I promise I'm not a bad guy,"

The girl giggled again and nodded. For some odd reason he felt that the girl in front of him was deeply hurt and needed protection. He somehow felt compelled that he should protect her or at least help her the best he could. "Erm," he began, "my name is Tadase Hotori."

"Nice to meet you, Tadase," the girl said from behind, "I-I'm Amu Hinomori."

"That's a nice name," Tadase commented but immediately blushed even though he couldn't see Amu's face. "Here, hurry up in."

Amu stepped into the church. It was warm inside and the first thing that caught her eye was the statue of virgin Mary holding a baby at the front of the altar. It was so pure and beautiful. The intricately painted ceiling of the church was even more mesmerising to Amu, happy angels singing and playing in heaven. This place gave her a sense of calmness and tranquillity that she couldn't find elsewhere. She felt right being here, safe.

"Tadase, who is this?" a voice asked.

Amu turned away from the pretty ceiling to see a man walking out from a side door.

"Let me introduce," Tadase said rather enthusiastically, "this is the owner of the church, Tsukasa Amakawa. This is a friend of mine that I just met, Amu Hinomori. She's in a rough situation at the minute so I offered to let her stay here."

Tsukasa stretched out his hand towards Amu, "nice too meet you. If you need any help then don't hesitate to ask. Aside from me and Tadase here, we have a bunch of kids living with us here. If you don't mind them being noisy or anything then for as long as you need, feel free to stay here."

Amu took Tsukasa's hand and shook it. "Thank you but is it really alright?"

Tsukasa smiled, "this church was built to help everyone. Tadase there's a few spare rooms down below. Take Amu to one of them."

"Yes sir," Tadase said leading the way.

Amu paused before completely going off with Tadase, "are you not going to even ask about what happened?"

"Amu, this is a church. Anyone who comes here will be offered love and care. I know everyone has their secrets too and you don't need to reveal them if you don't want to," Tsukasa said as well as making a cross sign with his hands. "Take this place to be your home too."

Amu nodded. She followed Tadase who seemed to be more chatty than when they were coming to the church, to her room. He stood outside her room for several minutes, talking on about the church and all sorts of random things until he realised he should really let her have some rest. He waved goodbye to Amu, telling her he'd wait for her to have breakfast next morning before properly leaving.

All alone now. Amu looked around her new room. It was smaller than the one in her house but was warm and cosy. The decorations were simple but they were pretty in their own way. It had an en-suite bathroom too which was quite handy. Amu threw herself onto the bed and found she couldn't move a muscle at all. Was she tired from the running or mentally tired from the whole ordeal. Whichever it was, the pain came back to her. She clutched onto her pillow, buried her face init. "Ikuto…where is Ikuto and who was he?" she asked. "But he is Ikuto…why does he hurt me this way?" The questions playing over and over her mind again and again turned into a kind of medicine, putting Amu to sleep for the first time ever since her nightmares began.

There was a light nock on the door early in the morning waking Amu up. She opened her eyes to see the place she was in, slightly confused and scared at first to find that she was in a unfamiliar place but then as she remembered everything, she calmed down again. She quickly washed up and opened the door to find a smiling Tadase.

"Amu hurry, they want to meet you," Tadase said holding her hand and dragging her up the stairs to the small dining room. Amu waved at the children and Tsukasa who was already seated and was waiting for her. She sat herself down and began to eat with everyone. The children making a mess and being naughty at times but it was a blessed atmosphere, a happy and carefree one that also made Amu feel this way. She smiled and laughed along with them; these innocent and kind people.

"Amu, how long are you going to stay?" Tadase asked.

Amu thought deeply. She didn't know where Ikuto was but even if she found him or if she returned to her home, her supposedly rightful home, will she be returning to the Ikuto she feels safe with or the Ikuto who is a scary stranger to her. These thoughts and uncertain reality made Amu conclude one thing; she can't return home. She wouldn't know how to face Ikuto either even if it was the one she most wants to see, not after what he did to her last night. It was impossible to not remember his breath and hands upon her. She shivered from the thought. "I'll be staying here for a long time if that's alright."

"Absolutely," Tsukasa said, 2do you go to school Amu?"

"Yeah," Amu replied, "but I will take these couple of days off."

Tadase patted Amu's back, "take things easy."

Amu smiled at Tadase. Here in the church with her new friend Tadase, she was going to put her thoughts and emotions back right and hopefully relive and stray from her nightmare.

3 Days Later

"Amu, I'm going out to do the shopping," Tadase said, "do you mind being in the confession box today?"

Amu blinked at Tadase and put on a sorry look, "no way. I mean. Me trying to listen to people's problems and give advice. NO. I've just been here for a few days so…"

Tadase patted Amu's head, "there will be barely anyone but just in case someone does wish to confess - at least there will be someone."

Amu nodded. She couldn't argue past Tadase, he just seemed to have the charm and power to convince people, especially with his sweet, angelic smile that Amu now loves to see. She waved goodbye to him and with a happy smile herself went into one side of the confession room. Being in there was especially quiet and Amu found herself very serene. Time seemed to go really slowly. From the small holes that was part of the pattern of the door, she peeped out, looking to see if anyone was there. She sighed, looks like there wouldn't be anyone. She was going to look away when the door to the church opened and someone entered. Curious Amu peeped but as soon as she did her heart raced and once again, she felt blood rush throughout her body. She clutched onto her clothes. She didn't know what she felt, she was too confused and too mixed.

"God, I've never set foot in a church before in my entire life. I never planned to either but I have no more choice. I'll believe in you, I'll do anything so I beg you… please return Amu to me… I really want to see Amu again…"

Amu placed a hand onto the door, wanting to push it open but also scared to do so. "Ikuto…" she whispered, uncertain of whether to go to him. "Is that really you, Ikuto?"

[AUTHOR P.S: Thank you for voting everyone. I read every comment carefully and have considered your views. You may find it strange that I didn't in the end go for either choices from the poll but why I've done so… well keep reading. I promise what was in the vote will happen in the future plot - but I thought it was less-fitting for now. I guess its just me having a sudden change in story plot. PLEASE DO NOT HATE ME! Please continue to support this story!]