Night Fight
…a week after Amu had read Nikaidou's documents…
"Ikuto," Amu whispered into Ikuto's ear. She smiled as he rolled onto his belly. "Geez, you never wake up quickly do you?" She giggled, rolling up her sleeves, she began to poke Ikuto which made him fall out of his bed.
He stared at Amu, "alright. I'll go to work now."
"Eat breakfast first," Amu ordered, "your not allowed to skip- IKUTO!"
Ikuto blinked as Amu frantically grabbed his arm and started to look at it.
He yawned, "what's wrong?"
"Your arm. It's bleeding, what happened?" a flustered and worried Amu asked.
Ikuto looked down at his arm which was bleeding. "Oh, I have no idea but it doesn't really hurt. I'll wash it in the bath whilst I'm at it." Ikuto headed off to the bathroom. Amu stood very still, worried and frightened. She knew the answer straight away. Night Ikuto must've appeared last night and did something dangerous again. Being slightly more calm about this situation since it was the third night since Ikuto has been waking up with odd scratches here and there, Amu went to make Ikuto's bed. "This can't go on," Amu whispered. "If this continues then Ikuto will definitely be hurt. The other him is too dangerous…"
"Amu, I'm leaving now," Ikuto called startling Amu a bit as she was so deep in thought about him. "I took lunch already, so don't worry. I'll be back soon. Be a good girl."
Amu popped her head around the door and smiled, waving him off. He left, leaving Amu alone in the house again. "Ikuto, I want to protect you somehow." Amu stared at the clock, "I guess tonight I really will do it then."
It was always days like this when you were anticipating for something that it would go so slowly that it pained you to watch the clock tick so casually. Amu felt the same. Despite occupying herself for the entire day, going to school then off shopping with Nadeshiko and Yaya and then cooking dinner now. She still couldn't help but notice how slow time went and she could only pace up and down the house waiting for Ikuto to come back. It wasn't over when he was back either. Amu anxiously waited for the second half to go. She waited in her bed, listening hard and constantly staring at the clock until it was midnight. AS soon the clock struck 12, Amu bounced out of bed. This time whether consciously or subconsciously she found herself wearing more layers of clothing than she needed and took the thickest coat she could find from her wardrobe, despite the rather warm night weather. She didn't bother checking Ikuto's room this time, knowing well that he must be gone. She locked the door behind her and set out to look for Ikuto like she had done the other time after their argument. Amu found herself as frantic as before when searching for Ikuto but more mentally prepared. "Ikuto, where are you? You fail miserably as a father," Amu muttered under her breath. In truth, he has always been a good father to her and Amu didn't want to loose that fatherly love, not if it means she would have no more love from parents that others have or she should have.
"Amu, Amu, is that you?"
Amu turned slightly disappointed to see Tadase. "Tadase, what are you doing out so late?"
Tadase ran up to Amu, slightly out of breath. "I was just taking a night-walk. I do that a lot." He took hold of her hands, looked seriously at her, "Amu, where did you go?"
Amu looked back at the concerned Tadase. He was just too nice to care so much about her when they've not met for long. Amu felt guilty that she left so abruptly from the church but her emotions back then and her strong desire to see Ikuto blocked her common sense. "I'm sorry Tadase. I really missed my father, so I went home in a hurry."
Tadase smiled, "is that so. Amu, I was really worried when I came back and you weren't there. But now I'm glad it wasn't anything serious. You and your father must be close."
"Yeah," Amu admitted, "I guess we are."
"I wish I had a father too," Tadase whispered.
Amu held onto Tadase's hand tighter, giving him more comfort. She forgot Tadase was a orphan, "Tadase, I didn't mean anything. But you know, having a father could be a pain as well. I spend most my precious morning trying to wake him up."
Tadase smiled again, "I guess I'm lucky I don't have to fuss then."
"Yeah," Amu said. They stood there for a little while longer, Tadase holding onto Amu's hand still and not letting go. Then it struck Amu fast. The sudden appearance of Tadase distracted her. She didn't want to waste time here despite the fact that she'd quite like chatting to Tadase. She let go of his hands. "I have to go."
"Wait Amu," Tadase called.
Amu shouted behind her back to him, "I'm sorry. There's something really important for me to do now. I have to go."
Tadase stood there for a few minutes wondering whether to follow or not but Amu had already disappeared. He made his way back to the church though he felt a small numb in his heart, seeing Amu leave him. "I hope you'll be alright Amu. I'll pray for you."
Amu on the other hand started to quicken her pace, now almost running hopelessly down any path she could find. Was it really pointless to look for him when she didn't know where he would be? "Night Ikuto where are you? Come out," Amu said frustrated that she had wasted too much time. She stood there for the moment under the brightly lit street lamp and tried to think, but nothing came to mind. It wasn't surprising; after all, she barely knows night Ikuto. Amu glanced everywhere around her and set a fleeting look some few streets further where a crowd of gangsters seemed to have gathered. "No way," she murmured, "he's involved? It looks so perilous." Amu swallowed hard, taking a heavy step forward towards the place. "If he is going to be anywhere then he's going to be there."
...In the darker part of the streets, more and more people crowded, shouting and cheering, banging the walls with sticks and poles, like a mad mob. A circle formed around one particular sinister looking young man, who already held a knife dripping blood in his hands. His dark blue hair was already partly soaked red. He glared in front of him where a few people held another beaten man in bondage.
"Let go of him."
"Why should we?" one of the men said tightening his grip on the hostage, "you know how long we've waited for our revenge on you two."
The crowd began to cheer again, getting rather excited by the simple prospect of getting the chance to shed some blood tonight.
"Then I hope you all will enjoy your trip to hell," the man holding the knife hissed, making several swift moves that startled the crowd, taking out a good bunch of them at the same time.
The few men holding the hostage started to join in, themselves holding blades and knife and all sorts of weapon.
"Don't get cocky, DEATH REBEL!" a thug shouted.
He turned replying by stabbing his knife into the thug's abdomen, his dark blue hair soaking in more blood.
"Ikuto...leave me..."
Ikuto gave a stern glare, "Kukai, I'm not leaving you. But I'll punish you later for this."
Still heavily beaten up and tied up on the floor, Kukai gave a weak smile, nodding, knowing it was his luck that he had such a good friend. He knew he owed Ikuto more than anyone else and till now he still couldn't believe why he did something so reckless for him to end up like this. Kukai struggled now, trying to free himself from the ropes. All the time he didn't dare take his eyes of Ikuto. He understood how violent and good at fighting Ikuto was but there was simply too many enemies. It'll soon tire him out and... Kukai's eyes widened in horror, watching as a thug with an axe swung it behind Ikuto who wasn't quick enough or prepared to meet with the blade.
"BEHIND YOU IKUTO!" Kukai screamed in pain and fear. He couldn't bare to watch.
Ikuto turned around at Kukai's warning and the blade of the ace reflected in his eyes as it descended towards him. Ikuto moved but simply wasn't quick enough for the axe was already... then in the corner of his eyes he saw her after hearing her voice desperately call out his name. "IKUTO...you can't die. I won't let you die. IKUTO..." A voice he recognised and somehow felt familiar with.
Pink hair filled up Ikuto's vision, replacing the silver of the axe. He gazed in fear and utter disbelief as she stood before him, between him and his death. Blood ran down her neck, she looked at Ikuto with such kind eyes, it haunted him now.
She smiled softly at him, "Ikuto...I've finally found you." Her blood still seeped out, colouring her neck a deep red - so why can she smile so longing, so loving so kind towards him like that?
Ikuto stared into her eyes which only had his own reflection in them; she only had him in her eyes. "Why?" Ikuto finally whispered, "Amu...Hinamori..."
Amu didn't reply; her eyes closed shut.
[AUTHOR P.S: CHECK OUT my NEW AMUTO fanfic: A Kiss from My Rebel: .net/s/6506367/1/A_Kiss_From_My_Rebel] PLEASE REVIEW TOO!